Red Bull Racing Week – the quiz
Iain Hopcroft (MotoRapido Team Manager) Q&A: 2017 ‘Not gone to plan’
Despite not being able to run their Superbike at Cadwell Park – due to a John Hopkins injury – I caught up with team manager, Iain Hopcroft. Iain discussed the team’s season so far and how it hasn’t gone to plan, the plan for 2018 and the prospects of a wildcard appearance at Donington Park next season!
How has 2017 gone for you so far?
So far, not to plan. During pre season testing with John we were extremely fast and to be honest, I was hoping that we could continue that positivity into the racing season. We arrived at the first round at Donington Park and we were very fast so all was looking good but we had three crashes, which is unheard of for most teams and especially John. in the morning warm-up, John’s final crash was coming out of Goddard’s and he broke his foot.
We moved on to round two, at Brands Hatch Indy and then Oulton park. John was still in pain. That put us on the back-foot for the opening part of the year. Obviously, it’s hard to recover from the points loss and puts pressure on the rider. Also, with round two and three being so close together, it gave little time in between to heal.
When the North West 200 came along and then the Isle of Man TT, it was a welcome break for us to refocus and for John to get back to full fitness.
However, we then arrived at Knockhill. John was pushing hard and he fell off. This time, he broke his hand. We had some ECU problems at Knockhill, which is unheard of but for some reason, it’s happened a lot this year to a few other teams too. So Knockhill was just super frustrating. The plan at the start of the year was to aim for the top six, get into the showdown and work it all out from there.
Snetterton was pretty good. John had a little punch-up with his bike on Saturday – after a bit of over-revving around Coram Curve. The races were strong. We were very happy with that. Since then, things haven’t been too bad – until we got to Cadwell Park and again, John injured himself and put himself out for the Sunday races with ligament damage.
There’s been a bit of pressure on John, as he was brought into the team to deliver. A rider of John’s caliber expects to be fighting at the sharp end of things. Especially after we had strong races together in 2015.
Back to this year, we’re aiming for the top eight now, seeing as we can’t get into the Showdown. We want to end the year strong with some silverware.
How much have ECU problems or machine issues held you back this year?
We have had a good year so far with a couple of minor issues. The team has been fantastic all season long and I couldn’t fault them. The Knockhill issue was a minor Motec problem which is totally out of our hands but was soon rectified by the technical support of Motec.
What is your aim for the rest of the year?
John is aiming to give the team podiums at Silverstone! it’s a track that he really enjoys and has held the lap record there in previous years. It is also a triple-header, so with 75 points up for grabs, it’d be nice to take them all.
The last four tracks are tracks that John loves so we head into them with great positivity. Brands Hatch GP is also a good track, as John gave us a podium there in 2015 so the run-in to the end of the year shows a lot of promise.
What are the advantages of using the Ducati? You guys were the only team for a long time to run the Panigale.
Since the Panigale came out in 2012, we were the only team in the world to run the bike. In 2013, WSBK introduced it. Our relationship with Ducati is very strong. It is great that Paul Bird has decided to use Ducatis as it brings along a team friend in Giovanni Crupi, who is also Shakey’s crew chief.
How close are you to the Paul Bird Motorsport team?
We know that John and Shane are different so setting the bike up is also quite different. We all get along very well and it is great to have a Ducati Corse engineer (Giovanni Crupi) in the paddock. If there are any questions, we can ask the factory and they will help. Giovanni has been instrumental in the design of the Panigale and he has been very helpful with the chassis set up in the past.
There’s no difference at all with the bikes. Paul Bird may have a bigger budget than us, meaning their access to having more spare parts or their ability to test is greater. PBM buy exactly what Moto Rapido buy. The engine specs are the same. The difference is that we build our engines and PBM use Ducati Corse but as you can see from the speed trap data, our engines are fast too.
Given that you’ve said you get along well, would John help ‘Shakey’ if he needed it?
No. It’s all about winning races and yes, they’d have a laugh and a joke about it all but neither of them would share information like that. They are racers.
What do you as a team and John as a rider have to do to get in the top six every weekend?
Honestly, an extra 100cc wouldn’t go amiss! No, seriously, all weekend we are good in practice and qualifying. This year, I believe that the pressure has been on John from the get-go. From this point onwards, you’ll see a different kind of ‘Hopper’. The team didn’t consider Cadwell Park their favourite circuit and John doesn’t either so up until he crashed, we had been mega happy with where we’d been all weekend. John being out of the races on Sunday didn’t show the amount of effort that went in over the weekend. The team has worked amazingly well, so I wouldn’t change anything on that front.
The Motostar championship is going OK this season, do you agree?
It’s not going bad at all. It’s been really good! It was more a project for us to work with Moto3 stuff as some of the team had worked with it before. Thomas is amazing at feedback and he is good with PR, sponsors and everyone in the team, which really helps with the team harmony and if John’s having a bad day, Thomas normally brings home some silverware which balances it all out – otherwise we’d all be suicidal! It’s nice to have a second rider in the team because it does relieve some of the pressure from John.
It doesn’t stretch resources, which is good. The way it has worked out this year is that Sean Willers does the tyres for both Thomas and John. Tom Brown, who is the second mechanic on the Superbike, uses his knowledge of the Moto3 to the benefit of Thomas. That’s been evident right from testing in Cartagena. They both work alongside Matt Balchin who is Thomas’s main mechanic.
We haven’t decided on our plans with regards to Motostar next year. We want to follow Thomas through his career and into the British Talent Cup and see what happens.
How close to the WSBK Ducati side of things are you?
Ducati Corse don’t use Motec and they can’t really help us out because there are no circuits in BSB – apart from Assen and Donington Park – that replicate anything on the WSBK level. Throttle mapping is different, suspension will be different and also, they run traction control whereas we can’t. In other words, the WSBK Ducati is totally different to our MotoRapido Ducati or Paul Bird’s BeWiser Ducati.
Was there a view to do wildcards at WSBK?
If we had a better start in BSB, then a wildcard would’ve definitely been on the cards. We are certainly looking at that for next year. I think it’s a really cool thing to do and a good opportunity to show WSBK what we have and what we can do. Dorna need an American too. John has a huge personality and a tonne of fans so he would definitely attract people to watch him.
What is the plan for 2018?
John Hopkins – I’d love that but who knows at this stage. It’d be nice to run a Superbike and a Superstock bike. We’d probably run something else too but we aren’t too sure what. We help out the Boast Plumbing team in the Ducati Tri-Options, which runs Joe Collier, Jon Railton and Levi Day. It’d be a great match and great to see Joe’s progression continue further if he wins the Cup.
Thomas has been accepted into the British Talent Cup but the plan for that championship is to not interfere with any BSB rounds and it is only planned to be six rounds anyway. It’d leave him available to do anything that he wants to do within BSB. We have a few more rounds left to decide on that one just yet.
It would be really nice to have a second bike if we could have the sponsorship to cover it. With a second bike, you double your team size. It’d be a case of who that second rider would be, whether or not they had their own crew chief or preferred mechanics etc. There’s a lot of talented people in this paddock and I’m sure that if you are going to pick a rider from a team, they’ll come with someone. Resources wouldn’t be an issue. We were left in the lurch with the Lloyds British sponsorship, after they went bust. Luckily, we have some very good sponsors this year which has been amazing and we can’t thank them enough.
We support some of the CoolFab series riders too, with the likes of Ollie Walker and Ryan Hitchcock. It’s nice to see a rider progress through the ranks.
Next year, if John’s here, we are looking at Showdown places. John is hungry for the championship, especially after the 2011 title fight. We know he can fight for the championship and he knows that he can too. He will not give up trying for a BSB championship until he has won it. We as a team give him the best package possible every weekend.
Images by Gareth Davies of Full Factory Photgraphy.
McLaren-Honda: A decision is near
After a dissapointing Belgian GP weekend and another upcoming very difficult Italian GP, the decision of McLaren’s engine situation for 2018 is near. We reflect some of the options and showing also the opinion of a long McLaren Fan.
Friday 14 July 2017.
Engineers return Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL32 Honda, to the garage.
Photo: Andrew Hone/McLaren
ref: Digital Image _ONZ3713
The speculations that are going on since the first winter test in February, could end finally in the next days – we reported about the engine dilema of McLaren back in the end of July before the Hungarian GP.
The huge damaged partnership between the british racing team and Honda are on the crossroad for weeks now. At the Belgian GP Channel 4 commentator and ex-F1 driver David Couldhard forced McLaren-CEO Zak Brown the deadline, of the decision of the engine deal. The answer: In the next two weeks, at least in September.
The reason of this is clear: As every other teams McLaren working on the 2018 car for weeks now. And now they coming into a stage, where they have to know with what engine they will start next year. But not only for McLaren the time is running, also for the potential new partner of Honda, Toro Rosso have to know at least at the Italian GP this week, with which engine supplier they will start in 2018.
Toro Rosso-Honda – The only way out for McLaren
Despite Honda’s Yusuke Hasegawa and Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost denied a conversation between the japanese manufactur and the Italian team, there are conversations right now – McLaren got also a inquiry supplying Toro Rosso with an gearbox next year, as they are the only team that running with Honda engines currently.
Sunday 26 March 2017.
Eric Boullier, Racing Director, McLaren.
World Copyright: Sam Bloxham/McLaren.
Ref: Digital Image _J6I3310
It would make sense for everyone. Honda has no longer the pressure of building a winning-engine immediatly, McLaren are free for Renault and could do an engine swap with Toro Rosso, and the italian Red Bull-Junior team could test the Honda engines for an possibly supply for the Red Bull-A team in 2019.
According “Auto Motor und Sport” the Red Bull company is open minded for a deal between Honda and Toro Rosso.
But Honda have other plans. The Japanese people want’s to show the world that they could rise the bad situation into a good one, and this only with McLaren.
Is McLaren-Renault a better solution? – Looking to 2020/2021
On the other hand this could be a big risk, as McLaren will be the big loser if Toro Rosso or Red Bull getting their stuff together with Honda, and Honda will build a stronger engine as Renault in 2018 and also need to pay for that and also looses all the big money from Honda.
Definitly, the solution with Renault, driving the same PU alongside the workteam and also the big Red Bull team as a customer, could not be a long term solution. But it is also known that this solution will be no long term relationship with Renault – It should be giving the team better results till the next engine revolution in 2020/2021, where McLaren will be looking for a new manufactur till that. The new engines, will be probably a V6-Bitturbo with KERS. Many manufacturs showed their interests in the last meetings. So it is more than possible, that McLaren considering this.
But for sure, probably no one would swap the position with Zak Brown, Eric Boullier or the Executive Comitee. The british team has moved themselves in a dilemma. Ferrari and Mercedes don’t wanna supply them and Renault also is not available, as long as they have four teams to supply.
Sunday 28 May 2017.
Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren MCL32 Honda, on the grid.
Photo: Andrew Hone/McLaren
ref: Digital Image _ONZ0291
McLaren and Honda – The partnership is already broken
There is no question if the partnership from McLaren and Honda is broken – The question is how strong they could recover from that. The pressconference from last Friday showed that the tablecloth between the two companys is at their last breaths.
McLaren lost their trust in Honda – And Honda showed again in Belgian with the Spec 3.6, that they are currently not good enough, to compete against the other manufacturs. After running the new 3.6 Spec on last fridays practise sessions, the mechanics had to changed back the engine to Spec 3.5 on Vandoornes car, after Honda found another issue overnight.
In Belgian both McLaren’s getting passed from every side on the long straight. Everyone knows the end: Alonso retired again and Vandoorne finished only the back of the field – On a track where Alonso drove from P22 to P7 in last years season, where everybody thought that Honda reach the turnaround.
Coming now to Monza, the best known highspeed circuit of the calender, everyone knows how difficult the weekend will be for McLaren-Honda. Probably their best finish will be a place in the Top 15.
But as written about, with Toro Rossos engine deadline end at this weekend, the F1 world will probably know next week how McLaren and Honda continue in F1
The words from a McLaren Fan
We know what media thinks about the matter. We know what experts say. We know what Alonso and his Fans think. But what a true McLaren Fans, that sticking with the team for many years, with different drivers, different engine suppliers and different people on the board thinking abou the current situation. We talked with McLaren-Fan Owen Davies and asking him for his opinion.
“This is a difficult moment for the team clearly, certainly for new boss, Zak Brown. McLaren will be better placed to make a better educated judgement about what changes need to be made than us fans. From what I’ve read, all I know is the current level of performance seems untenable in the short term (let alone the longer term) for McLaren. In these circumstances, change seems inevitable now to most fans. I trust the team to make the right call for the future though.” – Owen Davis/ @f1mclarenfan on twitter
Alonso to Williams: wishful thinking or winning combination?
When Formula One returned to action at the end of the summer break, it looked as though Ferrari’s decision to retain Kimi Räikkönen had brought silly season to an early close.
But during preparation for the Belgian Grand Prix, the driver market was given a second wind when rumours emerged that Williams had offered Fernando Alonso a seat for 2018.
At first glance, it seems like a sensational story—the final, erratic death throes of what’s been a rather damp silly season. The two parties just don’t seem in the slightest bit compatible. Alonso is hunting for his third world title; Williams is currently fighting to hold off Haas and Toro Rosso to fifth in the Constructors’.
Then there is the monetary aspect: while Williams is believed to have only the sixth largest budget of the ten teams, Alonso’s services come with a price tag in the tens of millions.
But on the other hand, there remain several details in the background of this story that suggest an Alonso-Williams tie-up would be a serious consideration for all involved.
For one thing, this is not your average silly season rumour, sparked out of nowhere and fanned into a frenzy overnight—it was first reported in the highly-respected German publication Auto Motor und Sport.
It also goes without saying that (financial questions notwithstanding) Williams would love to have Alonso driving next year’s FW41. In terms of base performance he would represent a marked upgrade on Felipe Massa, and as teammate to the maturing Lance Stroll, Alonso’s experience and ability would prove the ultimate benchmark—as Stoffel Vandoorne can no doubt attest.
Nor is that the only benefit to the team of signing a driver of Alonso’s calibre. When quizzed on the rumours by SkySports in Belgium, Williams’ technical director Paddy Lowe said: “You need great drivers and great cars to win races. With a greater driver in the team, everybody is motivated to work that bit harder for performance because they know it’s going to be exploited and deliver great results.”
Alonso is not a questionable rookie like Pastor Maldonado or Bruno Senna, nor is he a former winner seeing out his twilight years like Massa or Rubens Barrichello—he is a proven champion with both the ability and the drive to win again, whose presence at Williams would lend total credence to their ultimate goal of becoming title contenders once again.
But would Alonso even entertain an offer from Williams? If a credible shot at the 2018 title is not something Williams can provide him, what makes them any more attractive an option than joining Renault instead, or even remaining at McLaren?
At the very least, Alonso might be tempted into switching to Williams by nothing more than a desire to enjoy racing again. After three years of disappointment at McLaren-Honda, the prospect of driving a package with no horsepower deficit or reliability concerns to hold him back may prove all the enticement Alonso needs to make the move.
There’s also next year’s driver market to consider. With no championship seats available to him now, Alonso’s next best hope is that the final year on Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes contract results in a vacancy at the Silver Arrows for 2019.
And if Alonso is planning on just “seeing out” the 2018 season until a better drive becomes available, he will find more freedom to do so at Williams than with McLaren or Renault—either by insisting on certain performance clauses in case the need for an early exit arises, or by negotiating to take a fraction of his usual superstar salary in return for an open one-year deal.
There is also the chance, however slim it might seem at present, that Williams will in fact be the team to join in 2018.
As well as commenting coyly on the merits of signing a “great driver”, Paddy Lowe also told Motorsport following the Belgian Grand Prix weekend that he was overseeing “substantial changes” to Williams’ design philosophy in the process of constructing next year’s FW41.
His words came at the same time as Felipe Massa criticised the team for falling behind in the 2017 development race—the assumption is that Williams is already calling a halt on this year’s programme to allow Lowe a headstart on designing a much more competitive 2018 challenger.
If that is the case, it would mark the next major step in Williams’ painstaking long-term plan to return to its former status as one of F1’s top teams. The first phase came in 2014, with the acquisition of Felipe Massa and a Mercedes engine supply, and a substantial increase in budget supported by new title sponsors Martini.
The result was the rapid FW36, which between Massa and Valtteri Bottas took more than four times the podiums than its predecessor did points finishes (not to mention pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix) and lifted Williams up from ninth to third in the Constructors’ standings.
Since then, Williams has enjoyed consistent running within the championship top five—its best string of Constructors’ results since its partnership with BMW in the early 2000s—and has created the perfect foundation from which to take its next great leap forward.
In Paddy Lowe, Williams has the talent capable of designing a race-winning FW41; in Martini, Lawrence Stroll and their past seasons’ results, they now have the money needed to make that design a reality.
None of that will be lost on Alonso, who has been on the grid long enough to know the signs of a team making genuine progress.
All that remains in doubt is whether Williams’ promises can sway him more than McLaren-Honda’s.
Formula 2 unveils new car for 2018
On Thursday afternoon at Monza it was time for the FIA to reveal the package that will be run in the newly branded Formula 2 season in 2018, which took the place of the GP2 series this year. Currently, Formula 2 runs a chassis and engine package that was introduced in 2011, and with the overhaul of the junior single seater ladder by both the FIA and Liberty Media, now is naturally the right time to upgrade the series’ machinery.
The chassis will still be supplied by Dallara, and the new V6 turbo charged engine by Mecachrome. But perhaps the most obvious, and controversial, difference is the introduction of the halo cockpit protection device, which is being introduced in Formula 1 from 2018 as well. The aim with this new model was to ensure that racing will continue to be exciting, while still keeping costs down so as to make the series accessible.
At the launch in the Monza paddock, Ross Brawn was keen to emphasise the desire to keep promoting and expanding junior single seater racing. The ultimate goal is that fans can follow their favourite drivers from Formula 4 all the way to, hopefully, Formula 1. This new car is the first real taste of what Liberty Media and the FIA hope Formula 2, and other junior categories of motorsport, can become – a thrilling series in its own right and the perfect preparation for aspiring racing drivers.
Monza Preview: can Ferrari fight back?
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Formula One returns off the back of a thrilling Belgian Grand Prix in which Lewis Hamilton clinched a well-deserved win. This week, the drivers will return to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza for the thirteenth round of the 2017 F1 season. With just seven points – the difference between first and second place separating Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel – things could soon change at the ‘Temple of Speed’ this weekend.
Ferrari: Is the comeback on?
Ferrari impressed at Spa last weekend, despite the track seeming to not suit the set up of their car. Vettel pushed Hamilton all the way to the end, coming close at the end of the safety car restart. He dived up the inside, only to fall foul of the Mercedes’s top line speed. The upgrades to the SF70-H certainly worked wonders at the Belgian circuit. Ferrari will be looking for another win at their home race in front of the passionate Tifosi this weekend and with their showing in Spa, they can certainly be a safe bet on taking the chequered flag for the first time since 2010.
They will need to nail their qualifying position at the circuit and the support of the passionate Italians will certainly provide the team with some much needed confidence. Vettel will want to win his first Italian Grand Prix in Ferrari red, chasing the record five wins that the legendary Michael Schumacher achieved in his time as a Ferrari driver. Expect the Italian team to be riding high with the support of the home crowd behind them.
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Mercedes: one eye on the competition
Mercedes left Spa as a team of mixed fortunes. Hamilton claimed a dominant pole and a win that he had to fight until the bitter end for, whilst Valtteri Bottas had a race to forget. On the safety car restart, he was left vulnerable on his soft tyres to the attack of Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi Räikkönen, forced off the track and recovering to fifth. Mercedes brought the fourth and final reincarnation of their engine to Spa in order to get around the lower oil burn regulations that come into play for engines introduced after this weekend. It was a decision that flared tempers within Ferrari as the Maranello outfit have yet to introduce the latest incarnation of their engine.
Mercedes surely will be tentative as they enter the Ferrari hunting ground. The circuit itself seems to favour the Silver Arrows with its long straights and low drag, however, Ferrari’s showing at the previous race where the circuit wasn’t one of their strongest will have put Mercedes on the alert. Hamilton will be aiming for Mercedes’s fourth consecutive Monza win and the chance to finally become the championship leader after trailing Vettel all season. Expect Mercedes to keep one eye on the competition, but focus on the job ahead.
Trouble brewing at Red Bull
Red Bull seemed to put themselves in a strong position in Spa. Despite the misfortune of Max Verstappen’s sixth DNF this season, Daniel Ricciardo managed to fight his way onto the podium and claim a third place after a couple of disappointing races. The Austrian team also ran some aero trails which proved critical towards their success in Spa and could potentially earn them success in Monza. Red Bull tested a new spec low-drag rear wing on Ricciardo’s car. This set up will suit the low-downforce track and long straights that Monza is famous for.
However, despite this positivity, Verstappen is set for grid penalties at the circuit after his fourth and final combustion engine failed on the ninth lap of the Belgian Grand Prix. This will no doubt make the young Dutchman hungry to carve his way through the field, hungry for success. However, the doubts over Renault and over their ability to provide a competitive engine will continue to rage, casting Verstappen’s future potentially into doubt.
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Force India: Round Two?
The boxing gloves came out once more at Spa as Force India teammates Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon came to blows not once, but twice. They clashed in the opening lap with Perez bumping his teammate into the wall as they came towards Eau Rouge. However, things did not end there. On lap 30, Perez squeezed Ocon into the wall in a similar place as they came up towards Eau Rouge, however, on this occasion the outcome was not so favourable. It ended Perez’s race with a puncture as he spilled debris onto the track, bringing out the safety car. However, Ocon’s race was also compromised by a broken front wing and he limped home in ninth position. Such loss of points have forced the team to take a similar approach to Mercedes last season and introduce new rules of engagement.
Monza will be the first race that these will come into play and although, it seems that the racing will become diluted, it is easy to consider things from Force India’s viewpoint. They do not want to lose any more points and surrender the fourth place they hold in the constructor’s championship as it would affect funding for next year.
McLaren: The curious case of Fernando Alonso
McLaren had a race to forget in Spa. Stoffel Vandoorne had a 65 grid penalty to take as a result of exceeding his quota of power unit elements and for changing his gearbox. Fernando Alonso had similar mixed luck. He failed to get into Q2 due to a failure within the software running in his car as taking Puhon flat confused the system and left the Spaniard with no power. This continued into the race as despite a good start, Alonso retired on lap 26, reporting that once again there was no power. It’s a phrase that has sadly become the norm over the McLaren team radios. However, shortly after the race, Honda reported that they could not find fault with Alonso’s power unit.
The former world champion had cut a sullen figure all weekend, using his radio to voice his opinion of the car, and things are not likely to change at Monza. The long straights will not favour the Honda engine and it’s likely that the team will have another weekend to forget. Alonso is also poised to take penalties as a result of taking a new upgraded engine to the race, it is hoped that by doing so, McLaren will be in a stronger position for the Singapore GP, considered one of the lower-power circuits. However, the question for McLaren is over Alonso’s future. The former world champion has made it clear that he is unhappy with the technology in the car and that he has other offers on the table. Although it will be a race to forget for McLaren, the future of Fernando Alonso will still loom large over Monza.
The Italian Grand Prix will commence on Friday 1st September with practise at 10am local time, followed by qualifying on Saturday 2nd September at 2pm local time. The race will be held on Sunday 3rd September at 2pm local time.
Sarah Jarvis
Irwin: It felt like the whole of Northern Ireland was cheering for me
It was the greatest lap you’ll ever see at the North West 200. Despite years of battling and emotional stories, it still surprises us. Glenn Irwin was the winner of the main race this year, beating Alastair Seeley in a head-to-head dogfight around the famous Triangle course. In his own words, Glenn Irwin recalls the final half a lap.
“It was pretty surreal! On each and every lap of the race I could pick certain people out in the crowd. People I didn’t even know, they were just waving at me like I was a hero or something! I took the time to look at them too, even though I was doing 200mph or whatever it was! On the last lap, that all went out the window – not intentionally but I had to focus myself.
I wanted to lead every lap of the race, just in case there was a red flag but of course, the last lap is the only one that counts! I actually have very little memory of the last lap, until I arrived at Metropole and I could see a back-marker in the distance. I was like ‘no, no, I don’t need this’, because I knew I had the beating of Alastair but this was going to bring him back into play. I knew that my strongest part of the track was the ‘Coast Road’ and I didn’t think that he’d be able to get passed me there – that’s not me being cocky, that’s just how it felt.
When I got to the back-marker, I knew I had to get passed him but I also knew that I couldn’t do anything silly. I didn’t want to make contact with him or cause anyone harm so I was a bit more reserved. Alastair took the gamble and passed both of us into Church Corner. It was weird though; I guess a lot of people would panic when Alastair took the lead and I think the crowd probably did. However, I was sat there thinking, ‘what has he done? Genuinely, what has he done that for?’. It was a weird feeling that made me think that. I think the adrenalin of it all gave me this ‘invincible’ feeling. It’s nothing against Alastair and we get on well and have a lot of respect for each other.
I knew I was strong coming up Black Hill and into the Juniper Chicane, especially on the brakes. I got Black Hill probably the best I have ever got it and just dropped it down the outside of him. I then aimed for the inside of the track where there’s a few bumps, to stop him trying to retaliate. Luckily, he didn’t retaliate and I held my position.
That moment of crossing the line was just unbelievable! I was like, ‘F**k, F**k, F**k, I’ve won! I’ve done it! I’ve done it!’. I saw my mechanic running up and then I saw my brother too! I was doing a burnout in front of a massive crowd who were cheering me on. It was just such a speechless moment! It felt like the whole of Northern Ireland was cheering for me. It was unbelievable and it still kind of chokes me up now.
I could hear the crowd as soon as I crossed the line. They roared. It was such an amazing feeling. I’ve watched it back since and now, I can hear them around the final part of the lap too. To be able to hear them over the footage is extremely rare in road racing. It was just mega! It was one of the most surreal experiences since racing.
When I saw my brother run on the circuit, it was class! I knew exactly what he was feeling as I’m the same when I’m watching him race in the British Supersport class. To have him there, it was absolutely unbelievable. It was a very, very special moment and I was proud to share the moment with him. My dad was there too and he said to me, “you’ve done something that I could never do” and I replied to him and said, “it’s not that you couldn’t do it, it’s the fact you didn’t do it”. The main thing is that the Irwin name is there now!
I stayed in the hospitality after the race in my leathers until about 9pm! I’m the kind of person who doesn’t want to be part of just one selfie or sign just one shirt or whatever on one side of the room and not make my way over to the other side. There was a guy there called Chris Esler who unfortunately got paralysed in a motocross accident years ago. I saw him in the corner of the room, so I made my way down to him. However, I knew there and then that I couldn’t make my way to just one person so I just went with it. I really enjoy meeting the fans and signing caps or whatever! I had a lot of drink handed to me, that’s for sure! I went off to have a quick freshen up, before coming back for more! I think the organisers were really impressed by that.
I’m just the same as everyone else at the end of the day. I’ve done something really cool and in all fairness, I just want to enjoy myself with everyone else! Mervyn White was a happy man that night too, as he’s had a lot of criticism over the last few years. He’d had no luck with the weather and he took a big decision to delay the big NW200 race. He got the race he deserved!
It was great to see all my sponsors happy too, as without them, my career would look very different. It was also great to see James Jamieson from James Jamieson Construction who is massive sponsor of mine and my brother, Andy. He’d been watching me from York Hairpin and again, without him, my career would look very, very, very different indeed.
There were so many emotions! Grown men don’t cry but actually, they really do! I saw James Jamieson again and he couldn’t speak! I was just walking around thinking ‘this is f*****g class!’. It was a bit like being a horse trainer I guess. When you work so hard and put so much effort in and then when it all finally comes together, it’s the best thing ever! It was great to see the emotion of someone who has done so much for me!
I never really had the moment to celebrate with the team because they were already rushing back for the boat back to the mainland UK, as we had a test at Knockhill. However, when I got to Knockhill, we had a good meal out and a catch up. Paul Bird was absolutely over the moon!”.
Image by Gareth Davies of Full Factory Photography
F2 Preview: Taking to the track at the Temple of Speed
The dust has barely settled on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps as the Formula 2 paddocks rocks up to the Temple of Speed – the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The classic, high speed track with its long straights and tight chicanes always makes for exciting racing, with plenty of opportunities for overtaking around the three-and-a-half-mile circuit. It is also the home race for three of the teams, including front runners Prema Racing, as well as for drivers Antonio Fuoco and Luca Ghiotto.
It was a mixed weekend for Prema in Spa, their pace was exceptional and Fuoco seemed to be making steps forward in scoring his second podium of the season. But the disqualification of Charles Leclerc from the feature race was a blow they will want to recover from quickly, particularly since this is the second case where Leclerc has lost points due to a technical infringement. Given that both of their drivers are members of the Ferrari Driver Academy, they will be eager to impress the Tifosi, as well the heavy Ferrari presence over the race weekend. Baring any errors, there is no reason why the Monegasque cannot dominate in Italy as he has done in the past; having claimed pole at the track in 2016 during his triumphant GP3 campaign.
But Leclerc and Prema will not be the only team looking to recover from what was ultimately a disappointing weekend in Belgium. Both of the DAMS drivers were hit with trouble that saw them collecting results which are not reflective of their abilities. Neither Oliver Rowland nor Nicholas Latifi have performed exceptionally well at the track in the past, but it is vital for the Brit’s championship campaign that he perform well. A bad weekend could see Leclerc’s lead extend into the uncatchable territory.
Just a single point separates DAMS from Russian Time at the top of the team standings, after the latter scored three podiums in Spa, compared to the French team’s measly haul of just one point. Last year Russian Time had a reasonable outing at Monza, though it was not their current driver Artem Markelov who was bringing home the points and podiums. Ghiotto will be looking to perform better in front of his Italian fans, especially now he is driving for a more competitive team. His first race win of 2017 has evaded him as of yet, and a home crowd advantage might just be what he needs to get him there.
Like their fellow GP3 graduate, Antonio Fuoco, both Nyck de Vries, now of Racing Engineering, and ART’s Alexander Albon both stood on the iconic Monza podium in 2016, and will be surely looking to replicate those results this year. In Spa de Vries showed all the signs that his switch of team has not harmed his performance as he secured a second and a fifth place finish. But it is early days in his new partnership with the Spanish team and an adjustment period should be expected, however he has set the bar very high for their expectations.
Spa also seemed to indicate that Racing Engineering can recover their reputation as a top junior formula team, given their subpar performances in the early part of the season. Traditionally, the team has had strong line-ups which have always bolstered its standing in the team championship – running the likes of Lucas di Grassi and Alexander Rossi in previous GP2 seasons – so the addition of McLaren junior and F2 race winner Nyck de Vries can only be an asset for the team. Monza is their chance to prove that they can work their way up the standings and finish their season strongly.
Albon, meanwhile, has suffered a dip in form since his early points scoring run this season, something which is perhaps a consequence of the injury he picked up prior to the Baku round. Therefore, Monza may be a track he finds troublesome, if the shoulder injury is still an issue, given its heavy braking zones and its notoriously bumpy surface, but the British-Thai driver could do with a string of good results to reinvigorate his season.
The ART driver is not alone in this regard. Coming off the back of his first win, in not just Formula 2, but in any significant level of single seater racer, MP Motorsport’s Sergio Sette Camara has a huge task to follow up that achievement. Whilst it is somewhat unlikely that he will repeat his Belgian victory, given how unexpected it was, and the absence of front running drivers, it does give the youngest driver on the grid something to build upon. For the Brazilian who was dropped by Red Bull’s junior programme there is a point to prove as well, but memories in motorsport are very short indeed, and his triumph in Spa will be quickly forgotten if he cannot perform well at Monza.
There is no reason to suggest that if Charles Leclerc has a trouble free weekend then he will manage to extend his lead at the top of the standings. But, of course, that is easy said than done, and the Ferrari junior driver has suffered from his fair share of bad luck so far this season. Therefore, it is in the hands of his competitors to stop his championship campaign from becoming a runaway train.
Italian GP: Ferrari Have Their Best Chance to End A Seven-Year Hoodoo
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel left the Belgian Grand Prix just seven points apart in the World Championship standings.
Hamilton’s win means that should he win ahead of Vettel in Monza then the two would be level-pegging after the European season.
Ferrari showed their teeth through the race though and arguably looked every bit as quick on raceday on a track that was supposed to suit Mercedes.
Monza again looks favourable to the Silver Arrows, but were Ferrari to take a home win it wouldn’t exactly upset the formbook.
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER FERRARI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE)
Vettel was close in Spa but couldn’t overhaul Hamilton and Mercedes
Vettel will be able to give Ferrari quite a detailed analysis of the Mercedes rear end having spent 44 laps with it in full view at the Belgian Grand Prix.
His rear-gunner Kimi Raikkonen was hampered by a 10-second stop/go penalty for failing to slow for double-waved yellow flags.
Following a Safety Car on lap 30 to retrieve the various bits of Sergio Perez’s Force India that had been strewn across the circuit after he once again clashed with teammate Esteban Ocon, the damage to the Finn was neutralised.
Raikkonen and Vettel have both extended their stays at Ferrari, suggesting that the Scuderia want to maintain consistency with their driver line-up.
Ferrari have made a habit of ending hoodoos in 2017 and the Italian Grand Prix – their home race – offers another chance to break another duck.
Victory for the Prancing Horse would be their first in Northern Italy for seven years since Fernando Alonso won in his first visit as the crowd favourite. They certainly have not been as competitive since then.
Mercedes have a small edge in outright engine power following an upgrade for Belgium, but there is still little to choose over a race distance as Ferrari have also made steps with their bodywork.
Should Vettel leave Italy a points advantage still intact, his title chances will look healthier than at any other point this season.
Why Fernando Alonso could end up in Indycar in 2018
Fernando Alonso in IndyCar for 2018? What was impossible to think a few weeks ago, is getting pretty serious after the Belgian GP. Now it seems to be, that a year out in the indycar series could be the last chance for the two time world champion to get a competitive car in F1.
Sunday 30 July 2017.
Fernando Alonso, McLaren.
Photo: Steven Tee/McLaren
ref: Digital Image _R3I4275
Currently these are not just serious weeks for McLaren (article is incoming in the next two days) – but also their star driver is facing a tough few weeks of decisions, probably on the destiny of his career.
After a solid performance for McLaren-Honda in the Hungarian GP back at the end of July, everyone was sure that a extension of the McLaren-contract was only few weeks away. But now, after the Belgian GP everything looks different.
After more engine problems in Saturday’s Qualifying, everyone thought about points when the Spaniard was running P7 after a tremendously strong start. But again, a few laps into the race the Honda Powerunit showed the poor performance on the long straight.
Alonso got passed car by car on every lap and his radio messages were angrier then ever before. In the end he pulled the car into the garage, after he told the team that he had some engine problems.
The media reported after the race, that he pulled the car into the garage on purpose. Honda said on Monday, that they didn’t find any problems on the power unit. The suspicion gets stronger when you listen to the team radio, before he reported the engine problems – In that team radio Alonso asked engineer Mark Temple if there was any rain coming. After receiving a negation of his question, the Spaniard told the box “engine problem, engine problem”.
Options for Alonso look slim, after Ferrari extended the contracts of both drivers into 2018 for Räikkonen and until 2020 for Vettel, and the extension of Bottas’ Mercedes contract looks as good as safe. Renault’s team boss Cyris Abiteboul indicates that the french team, isn’t currently the right location for the two time world champion. “There is one thing, i don’t want: A frustrating Fernando in a Renault.”
Next to stay with McLaren, who are probably getting forced to hold the Honda engine in 2018, the spanish driver doesn’t have many options. “My market value was never higher”, he told the media after the race on sunday. “I will win next year, no matter where i am”, he told the media before the summer break.”
But what does he mean with that?
Sabbaticalyear from F1 – Going to Indycar?
If we piece the puzzle together, there is one realistic option that is available for Alonso. And this is the Indycar series. Why? Here are some points:
Winning car with Andretti
If Alonso will go to the indycar series, he will get the spare place on the Andretti team for sure – the team that he competed alongside McLaren in the indy500 with in May. Andretti is one of the best teams in the series and with Takuma Sato they have also the current Indy500 winner in the team. Honda also resolved the engine problems that stopped Alonso at this maiden race a few laps before the end – and differently to F1, they have the best engine.
Popularity in the USA
In the whole month of May, starting with his first test with the indycar, Alonso was getting more popular on every event. Hundreds of autographs and fans stood there cheering for the McLaren-Honda-Andretti team from the grandstands. The Spaniard admitted a few days after the race, that he enjoyed the warm welcome to the world of the Indycar series, because he got respect from every side, from the other teams, drivers, fans and media. “Thats different in F1” he said.
New try at the Indy500
With a full season of Indycar, Alonso could attend the Indy500 directly, and with a high chance again with McLaren. He could give the whole story another go – Something he could only try in some years again, if he stays in F1, because the Monaco GP will again collide with the Indy500 in 2018.
Most competitive driver
The Indy500 showed that Alonso is not only able to impress with an F1 car. The Spaniard in his current form in F1, could possibly let his driving skills shine, in a series where the drivers are most of the time more important than the cars.
The best option for McLaren
For McLaren this scenario would be also a good one providing that they are forced to stick with Honda in 2018. It would be much easier to look at 2018 and give Honda a last chance of building a stronger engine package, without the pressure of staying with Alonso. A driver replacement for one year could be Jenson Button, for example. Alonso stays with Andretti in the Honda family and could stay in touch with the woking based team.
F1-Comeback in 2019
The most important point is, that Alonso also has the opportunity to come back into F1, probably stronger than he is now. In 2018 he could also wait and see if Honda (if they will stay with McLaren) get their problems solved – if now, he could use other options. The contract from Lewis Hamilton expires at the end of 2018 and also Renaults goal is, to be fighting for victories and the championship in 2019. The two time world champion could see the whole evolution of the driver market from a relaxed point of view from the USA and decide than what he wants, without risking another year of driving in the midfield.
It will be another cracking decision at McLaren in the weeks to come. We will have to wait and see!