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  • TeamByTeam MotoGP Preview: Marc VDS Honda

    Another team that are keeping their rider line up consistent is the Marc VDS team, as Jack Miller and Tito Rabat spearhead the Marc VDS Honda outfit for the 2nd year running. An unexpected maiden victory for Miller in the tricky conditions at Assen was one of the highlights from 2016, whilst Rabat will be looking to get a solid season under his belt after a difficult start to his MotoGP career. Although for the second consecutive year, the team suffer from a far-from-fit line up. After Jack Miller’s foot and leg injury last year, Rabat has arm and collarbone injuries, meaning that it may be a case of making it through the first rounds for Rabat and not pushing to the absolute limits.

    As we know, the Honda is certainly not the easiest bike on the grid to ride, however the aforementioned injuries picked up by the two youngsters haven’t helped with their preparations for this season. The new Honda “big bang” engine though has enabled Miller at least to become more comfortable on the bike, commenting on how the bike is now “more calm for the rider and you can focus on hitting the lines.”

    A repeat victory in 2017? 2016 showed how the weather can allow for people like the Aussie to win races. Jack is still only 22 years old and he’ll be looking to impress further this year in the hope a factory ride will come calling sooner rather than later. His Spanish team mate is now 27 years old and after picking up a nasty injury to both arms and collarbones at the Sepang test, the start of 2017 looks like it will be tough for the former Moto2 world champion. Miller is entering his third season with a Honda under him and his 2nd with the Estrella Galicia outfit, meaning that he will be looking to beat the 57 points he scored last season. Rabat’s best finish of his MotoGP career was 9th at last year’s Argentine Grand Prix, his only top 10 in the whole season. Rabat may be out of time if things fail to change in 2017.

    Unfortunately, I’m expecting another tough year for the Spaniard. I’m sure were all hoping he can stay injury free and challenge for some decent points every weekend, as we all now the talent he posses. As for Jackass, I feel he can certainly penetrate the top 10 on more than one occasion. If the weather throws up a surprise, expect the Aussie to be challenging for the the top six and maybe we can see him add to his sole victory.

    The team itself is one that has fingers in many pies. CEV Junior Moto3 championship, Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP – there’s definitely a ladder that riders in the lower ranks can look forward to following. The question is for this season is whether the team can transfer the form from the lower classes into the premier class and give Rabat and Miller the results they deserve. One thing is for certain, if the team get another freak win, there will be a party long into the night, with the likes of Jack Miller in the team, there’d probably be a party anyway.

    Elliott York @journoyork

  • DAVIS BACK FOR TEAM HARD

     

    Team HARD are happy to announce that Toby Davis returns to the VW Racing Cup for 2017.

    The former karter, who finished 3rd in the Junior KTM championship before moving to F250 National’s, entered Tony Gilham’s scholarship competition in 2015.

    Toby won and was awarded a fully funded driver in the VW Cup last season. He took 5th place in his first race at Rockingham, coming from last on the grid after the car had a few technical issues. This showed the tenacity and determination of Toby, the same traits which awarded him the drive with Team HARD in the first instance.

    He attained two pole at Donington and again showed his race craft in the final round at Brands Hatch. He did not start Race 1 due to technical issues and had to start from the back of the grid for the second race. He came through the field to finish 5th and in the finale took 3rd to round off a competitive season.

    In preparation for 2017, Toby had this to say:

    “The pre-season for me has been a lot of hard work, building relationships with local companies and bringing new partners on board. That said, I realised I could always be physically fitter, so I’ve joined a local football team in Cardiff, which has helped a lot in getting me ready for the new season!”

    Speaking with Toby about winning the scholarship to drive for Tony Gilham, he found it overwhelming to describe his emotions.

    “I can’t describe the feeling! Honestly, it was like winning the lottery. Throughout my career to date, it’s been my father and I scraping together a very small budget to go kart racing and have fun competing at a much lower level. It goes without saying that we had a great time, and I was lucky to be racing at all. But the scholarship that Tony puts on, it offers people like myself the opportunity to show what we can really do, and I honestly can’t explain how grateful I am for that opportunity. I don’t take it for granted and I try to keep my feet firmly planted on the ground!”

    Like any racing driver at this time of year, Toby’s thoughts switch to the 2017 season and we asked him what his ambitions were for the forthcoming year as he builds on his first season from 2016.

    “Last season was very much a learning curve for me. I had a lot of pace, we had a few mechanical issues and I made quite a few mistakes as well. To win in my second ever car race shows what might have been, and I had a couple of pole positions and some podiums to boot, which was great. I would love to compete for regular race wins and if I can sort out the mistakes, I’m hopeful we can fight for the title. Beyond the racing, the main goal is to continue to work closely with Team-HARD. to find the budget for 2018 and beyond and stay with the team as a fully-fledged car racing driver, and to earn my place as the Scholarship winner.”

    His team boss, Tony Gilham, had this to say about Toby.

    “Toby is an exceptional young talent and one that we recognised as a potential future champion after winning our Team HARD scholarship last year. He went on to take a race win on his debut weekend which was an amazing achievement and just highlighted the quality of the talent that came through the scholarship programme with no less than 6 other drivers progressing to race with is in 2016.

    It was very important to move into year two with Toby and continue his progression and we have been working so hard over the winter to put together a package to get him back out. He has been very good with our partners and shown that he has what it takes on and off track. Now we look forward to seeing what Toby can produce with the experience of last year under his belt.”

    This seemed the perfect time to sit Toby down and ask him the Quick 10 questions:

    QUICK 10 WITH…..TOBY DAVIS

    1. What is your favourite circuit and why?

    Snetterton – in my karting days we raced on long circuits in Superkarts and my first race win came at Snetterton. I love the flow of the new 300 layout and it’s very much about maximising the apex speed and carrying momentum forwards in the cars, something that comes naturally to me thanks to many years of karting.

    2. Who is/was your racing idol?

    That’s an easy one, and not always a popular choice – Jason Plato. Not just because he’s the most successful touring car driver, and has to be one of the most talented touring car drivers of all time, but also because of his ability to bring on board sponsors and partners and market himself and his team to them.

    3. Who would you regard as your toughest opponent?

    Your toughest opponent is always the one that has beaten you most recently. For me that’s Phil House. He has a lot of experience and makes very good racing decisions (knowing when to overtake, for example), and I suspect he never had any contact in 2016! He’s also the reigning champion, and I’ve learnt a lot from studying him both on and off track. He did a great job in 2016 – hopefully I can do a better job in 2017!

    4. Considering racers of all time, you are a team principal and money is no object. Which two racers would you have in your team?

    If I was team principal of a touring car team, it would be Jim Clark and Jason Plato. Jim Clark has to be one of the most rounded drivers of all time, and won in pretty much anything he drove.

    5. If you could invite four famous people to dinner (past and present), who would you invite?

    Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Tony Gilham. Think of the marketing opportunities that Tony and I could offer them!

    6. Personal racing number? What is it and the reason behind it?

    I was always number 20 growing up and in karting because of Michael Owen’s goal against Argentina in 1998(!) Tony’s kindly loaned me #34 as a synergy with the team, which I’d love to hold onto if I end up in BTCC – that entirely depends on whether Mr Gilham wants to have a play or not at the same time…

    7. What is the best race you have been involved in?

    In terms of the racing, Silverstone 2016 in the MSA British Superkart Championship. Any one of about 5 drivers could have won that race and I ended up 2nd. It was incredible! (It’s on You Tube)

    8. Is there a race or series you have not competed in, that you would like to or had wanted to?

    Easy – BTCC. That’s the goal for me, and I’m in the right place to eventually make that happen. I’m still a massive fanboy for BTCC and I’m like a small child whenever I go to an event!

    9. How did you get into motor racing? What ignited that spark?

    My father always used to watch the F1 and loved his bikes. He’s entirely at fault, we’re both petrolheads! My first memory as a young child was the 1994 Japanese Grand Prix, which was won on aggregate by Hill from Schumacher due to the weather. That was pure, out and out, who could go fastest in the wet, and Hill just held on. I have watched that race back many, many times and it’s still my favourite race of all time. They did 10 laps or so at the end of pure qualifying runs, right on the limit.

    10. What is the best advice in racing you have been given?

    My family as a whole have always been incredibly supportive, my mother has always been at the racing, sometimes watching between her fingers! Her advice has always been never give up on your dream. My dream is to drive in the BTCC, and through the incredible generosity of Team-HARD, I have been given an opportunity to get there. What was once a dream is now a tangible possibility, and I will never give up working as hard as I can to improve all aspects of being a racing driver to achieve that.

    We would like to thank Toby for taking the time out from his busy preparations to take part in the Quick 10 and for supplying the photographs. Best of luck for 2017 Toby.

    Go Hard…..or…..Go Home

    Toby Davis Promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbNoHhev59Q

    Toby Davis Twitter: @TobyDavis34

    http://www.team-hard.com/

    Neil Simmons

    Twitter: @world_racing

    Images courtesy of Toby Davis

  • TeamByTeam MotoGP Preview: Pramac Ducati

    For the Pramac racing squad, 2017 will be their 16th consecutive season in MotoGP and this year could be their best one to date. There’s a Desmosedici GP17 in their ranks in the hands of Danilo Petrucci after he won the inter-team battle against Scott Redding last season, which means the Italian will get the same package as factory boys Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso. However, that may not be the best thing in the early part of the season. Scott will have a bike that is a proven race winner, whilst Danilo’s is yet to reach such stages. It might only be a short-term advantage but Scott might have the upper-hand early doors on his Italian teammate.

    So, can we expect Petrucci to be competing with the likes of five-time world champion Lorenzo? It will be a fascinating challenge for him that’s for sure, as the GP17 will be the most competitive bike he has ever ridden. He’ll be looking to get this year off to a better start, as a testing crash at Phillip Island last year meant he had to miss the opening four rounds. No such crashes this year though for the 26-year-old, who will be looking to add to his podium finish at Silverstone back in 2015. Petrucci has excelled as a rider having left the Ioda team and you get the feeling that he could produce something special in mixed conditions. And, if there is an issue with the factory team riders, Petrucci may well get a call up. It’s all experience after all.

    As for Redding, he is on board a bike that has proven race winning potential, as factory riders Dovizioso and now Suzuki pilot Andrea Iannone proved in 2016. Race wins, in the dry at least, will probably be a step too far for Scott. For me, the Gloucestershire born rider can definitely challenge for the top 6 as there is no doubting that the youngest ever GP winner is quick. Redding has had a difficult pre season, however he seemed to have found a set up that works in the final pre season test, good news for us Brits. But, with tricky weather conditions always a threat at Assen and the Sachsenring, Scott could give Paolo Campinoti’s team a much-deserved victory. His 3rd place in The Netherlands last season was a real indicator of the Brit’s talents.

    The Pramac team have had a lot of mixed fortunes over the last few years but podiums have prevailed. In 2015, Petrucci put the bike on the podium in monsoon-like conditions at Silverstone and a year later, Redding did the same at Assen. Petrucci momentarily led last season’s German GP, whilst setting the fastest lap of the race in Holland. More of the same in 2017 perhaps?

    An intriguing battle to see who will come out on top between these two is certain and it adds yet another sub-plot to the 2017 championship. Another dimension to the series with yet another rivalry brewing. Fallouts from last year look to spill over into this season, so just what exactly lies ahead? Stay tuned.

    Elliott York @journoyork

  • MotoGP Qatar Preview: Arabian Nights

    It. Is. Back. MotoGP returns this weekend for round one of the championship, coming from the Arab Gulf State of Qatar. The Losail International circuit has been a permanent feature on the ever-expanding MotoGP calendar for 13 years now and since 2007, it has hosted the first race of the year. The only race to be held under floodlights, the Qatari Grand Prix looks set to be yet another cracker, with rider and team changes abundant.

    Reigning champion Marc Marquez hasn’t won at Losail since 2014, starting what would be a run of 11 Grand Prix victories for the five-time champion. A 3rd place in the race last year was a solid platform for his title challenge and nothing less than a podium will suffice again. Looking for his 56th win and Honda’s 3rd at the track, Marc will want to kick off his season just as a reigning world champion should. However, the 24-year-old has experienced some struggles in testing, only shadowing Maverick Vinales at the Phillip Island test. A war of words has begun between the two, suggesting that 2017 will not be without it’s intense rivalries. Will Marc deliver on Sunday? Only two wins suggest not, however, he’s only been off the podium four times at Losail in his illustrious career. Just what will happen come race day?

    Runner up in the championship for the past three seasons, Valentino Rossi still hasn’t given up the dream of title number 10. He arrives at Losail off the back of a pretty tricky pre-season test, although as we all know, The GOAT is a Sunday man. Four victories at Losail see Valentino as one of the favourites to win at the weekend, although it was only 4th for the Italian in the race last year. He has never won from pole at the Qatari Grand Prix and his last pole came in 2007, when he finished 2nd. Rossi hasn’t started two consecutive seasons with 4th place finishes in his whole career and that stat could all change when the chequered flag drops on Sunday evening. There are also new factors in the Yamaha team, such as Maverick Vinales, the wing ban and the absence of Jorge Lorenzo. Could the change suit Rossi? After all, he has a reputation for reinventing himself each year. Don’t discount The Doctor in Doha just yet.

    Jorge Lorenzo joins Ducati for 2017 and whilst the team haven’t won at the Losail circuit since 2009, – with Casey Stoner – Jorge Lorenzo has won six times at the venue throughout his career, with three of them coming in MotoGP. The Spaniard could be set to update the records too: having won the last race of 2016 with Yamaha, if he wins the Qatari GP on the Ducati, he will replicate Valentino Rossi’s record breaking achievement with Honda and Yamaha in 2003 and 2004 – and nothing would get the GOAT’s goat more than Jorge pinching one more achievement. Lorenzo is the only rider on the grid to win at the track in all three classes and will want to join Casey Stoner as the 2nd rider to win there on two different makes of bike. Can Jorge kick-start his championship challenge in the same way as last year or will he and the Bologna Bullet bite the Arabian dirt under the night sky? Time will most certainly tell.

    Maverick Vinales took 4th place in the championship last season, with four podiums – including one win at Silverstone. Sixth in the race last season, Vinales will be looking to start the Yamaha chapter of his career in the finest style, meaning nothing less than a win will do. Just one win throughout his career at the track – 2012 in Moto3 – mean that he may not have the race form but he has the pace from testing to counter that. Topping all four tests on the Yamaha, including the Losail test earlier in the month, Vinales must be one of the favourites. His youthful exuberance will be exploiting the Yamaha to the maximum, potentially firing him into the distance in the points standings or into the distance in the gravel. One thing is for sure, Vinales will be there on Sunday. His pre-season form indicates he’s ready and it might be a situation that the only person that will beat Maverick is Maverick himself. Will he be Yamaha’s new Top Gun in Qatar?

    Andrea Iannone always goes well at Qatar. But of course, we’ve only seen him on the Ducati in the premier class. How about the Suzuki? Will the combination of an Italian who rides with his heart on his sleeve and a bike that allows you to take liberties with it work under the artificial lighting? Form suggests that Suzuki as a manufacturer will not enjoy the Qatari Grand Prix, having never had a podium at Losail. But Iannone at least has pace around the tight and twisty venue. He got to 4th before crashing in 2014, he took a third in 2015 and crashed out of 2nd in the race last year, not to mention a win in 2009 in the 125cc class and two other podiums in Moto2. Iannone’s form is slightly woeful however, with just 49 points collected in the 2nd half of last year (injury was a major factor in that). Will a change of surroundings help or hinder the seagull-hating Italian? Personally, I think we have another title challenger. But what do I know?…

    Now if you fancy a dark horse for a victory at Losail, look no further than Andrea Dovizioso and his Factory Ducati. The partnership has seen two – 2nd place finishes in the last two seasons, with the huge kilometre long front straight working well for the rocket-ship Ducati. Dovizioso doesn’t just have race pace either, having taken pole in 2015 and finishing the first test day at Losail this season on top. With no bowling ball teammates in the shape of Andrea Iannone knocking him down this season, a solid start in Losail could be the start of some serious momentum from Dovi if previous years are to go by. I’ll have a fiver one him for a win on Sunday.

    Away from the big six and you have Dani Pedrosa, who comes to a circuit he has never won at in any class of racing. In fact, there has been no pole for Pedrosa at the track and only a fastest lap in 2005’s 250cc is his race showings. But Pedrosa does have six podiums to his name at the venue but not one of them have come from the last two seasons. It may well be a tricky start to the year yet again for little Dani. However, big changes have happened on his side of the Repsol Honda garage. He has brought in former MotoGP championship contender and fellow Spaniard Sete Gibernau as a rider coach. This follows suit with other riders, such as Valentino Rossi hiring Luca Cadalora. The word is from inside Honda that Dani is reinvigorated for 2017 and that he has quietly gone about his business, potentially ready for a title scrap. It may well be his year if he can keep it all together.

    Don’t forget LCR’s Cal Crutchlow either. The Brit has a best of 4th place at Losail, coming in 2012. The double race winner comes into the 2017 season off the back of a great 2016, although he failed to finish the last couple of races in Malaysia and Spain. Whether Cal can launch a serious title challenge is questionable but podiums are possible and Cal knows it. Will he bring Britain some much needed good news in Qatar?

    Don’t discount Aleix Espargaro from springing a surprise either. The Aprilia rider was on form throughout testing and as the bike improves, he too becomes quicker and more accustomed and confident with his package for 2017.

    The biggest shock could be set to come from Alvaro Bautista. The 32-year-old has been flying throughout pre-season testing onboard his GP16 Ducati. He has one win at Losail, which came in 2006 on his way to the 125cc title. He is one of only three riders on the grid to finish in the points for the last seven races of 2016 – the other two are Vinales and Dovizioso.

    Don’t discount the Tech 3 Yamaha pairing either. Jonas Folger has been sublime through testing and outperformed reigning double Moto2 champion and teammate, Johann Zarco. Tech 3 are fielding a brand-new line up for 2017 and the first time they’ve ever fielded a line-up consisting of two rookies. Can they be a surprise in Losail. Crutchlow, Dovizioso, Edwards, Toseland and Spies are all former team riders who have glistened in Qatar.

    Other mentions through the field include the other two rookies – Sam Lowes and Alex Rins. Lowes rides an Aprilia in 2017 but his form in Losail isn’t particularly great. A crash out of 2nd in 2015 and a jumpstart in 2016 mean he hasn’t had the best of relationships with the track. Alex Rins on the other hand joins Suzuki, who, like mentioned before haven’t had great successes at the track. But Rins has had a podium, in Moto3. He has also never finished lower than 10th at the track and he’ll be looking to keep that statistic going on Sunday.

    KTM also return to the championship with Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro piloting the Austrian machine. Both riders know this will be a development season but that’s not to say they won’t want points from the off in Qatar. Bradley Smith started from the front row back in 2014 and ran with the leaders until crashing out of 5th. Pol Espargaro has one win at the track, in 2013 on a Moto2 Kalex. His best finish has been 7th in the premier class at the track but that might be an end of season goal for the team more than a wishful thinking start.

    Other riders making up the grid include 2016 revelation Hector Barbera and his teammate Loris Baz, who is yet to score points in Qatar. Esteve Rabat and Jack Miller on the Marc VDS Honda will want to get their season off and running, although Rabat is carrying an injury from the Sepang test in February. Karel Abraham returns from an appalling season in WSBK, partnering Bautista at Aspar Ducati, albeit on a GP15 Ducati. Pramac Ducati have an unchanged line up, with Danilo Petrucci on the factory GP17 whilst Scott Redding rides the GP16 model.

    Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

  • TeamByTeam MotoGP Preview: Monster Tech 3 Yamaha

    The Yamaha satellite team have an all-rookie line up for 2017, which some may have questioned when they first announced it. However, you will do extremely well to find someone who doesn’t think that Johann Zarco and Jonas Folger will mix it up with the leading teams on more than one occasion this year.

    Zarco joins Tech 3 with two consecutive Moto2 world titles under his belt. Many rookies find their first year in the premier class extremely difficult, look at Tito Rabat for example, who was Moto2 world champion before Zarco. For the Frenchman though, this doesn’t seem like it will be the case. Admittedly comparing the two is harsh on Rabat, as he had arguably the most difficult bike on the grid (Honda), whilst Zarco has last year’s Factory Yamaha which most consider to be the easiest bike to ride. No matter, for Johann to go just 0.4 seconds slower than Maverick Vinales at the Sepang test was somewhat extraordinary. The 26 year old again impressed in Qatar, finding himself only half a second down on Vinales. It goes to show what a great bike the Tech 3 is but it also indicates just how fast the Cannes born rider is.

    Potentially the most impressive man across the tests though was Folger. I will openly admit that I was sceptical about whether or not the German could cut it in the premier class, but boy have my doubts well and truly disappeared. Jonas is fast, very fast. For me, getting to within a second of Maverick at Sepang was impressive, but to then go to Phillip Island and Qatar and finish 4th and 7th overall was astonishing. Not to mention being within 0.5 seconds of a potential world champion at both circuits. Folger has a great wealth of experience too, in both 125cc/Moto3 and Moto2. He will have mastered his own technique and like Zarco, that may be incredibly important to Tech 3, who endured their first season without a podium from a rider since 2007.

    Talking of circuits, Tech 3 also have their favourites. Phillip Island is a circuit that Yamaha on a whole do well at. Smith took a podium in 2014 at the track and there was a double top ten for the team at the track last year. Misano saw Bradley Smith take a heroic 2nd place, whilst Catalunya was home to a 5th place for Pol Espargaro, likewise at Le Mans. Yamaha enjoy circuits with long corners and big, wide esses, like Brno. Jonas Folger won the Moto2 race last year, whilst Johann Zarco won there in 2015. Losail may go well for the team too, seeing as Bradley Smith managed a front row in 2014 and that Cal Crutchlow put the bike in 4th in 2012. Expect an upset with the French-based team.

    I think it is safe to say that both men look comfortable and will be upsetting a few factory teams right from the off. Not only that, but I’m predicting a hugely competitive inter-team battle to see who can come out on top. I’m sure the pair will be eying up that Factory Yamaha seat once The Doctor decides it’s time to call it a day…

    Eliott York @journoyork

  • Ayrton Senna and the Unfinished Bussiness with Williams

    2011 Monaco Grand Prix – Saturday
    Monte Carlo, Monaco
    28th May 2011
    Pastor Maldonado, Williams FW33 Cosworth.
    World Copyright:Steven Tee/LAT Photographic
    ref: Digital Image _A8C6407

    What do you think when you say Williams F1? It’s hard to say because there has been a long journey since the famous team was born in 1977.  Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve: this illustrious list of big names who won the title driving a Williams.

    An incredible and dominating era shared with McLaren and Ferrari, that goes from the early eighties to the end of the millennium. But when I think of Williams I see a yellow lid in front of me, I hear a Brazilian accent  shouting above the screaming engine,  I feel a green flag flying in my beating heart, the legend of Ayrton Senna that tells an unfinished story from the FW16, this car was, unfortunately, the last car he would ever drive, the car he wanted so much to win the title in but betrayed him by not even finishing one race. The Williams team certainly has been through many different situations in its time: Wins, World championships, domination, good times and bad but they have always come through the tough times to fight another day.

    Many other great drivers have passed through the British team during its forty years, Jenson Button started his career here in 2000, showing all his great talent.

    So we can say, for sure, that Frank Williams has always been able to discover new and talented drivers. Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Rosberg to name but a few. Some of the biggest names in Formula One history have, at one point, driven for the Williams team. This year marks 20 years since they won their last world championship with Jacques Villeneuve at the helm. The competition has seen many new teams joining over the years, Ferrari, Renault, Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren, some of these teams doing a better job, sadly Williams has lived for many years in a kind of limbo and it seems they can’t get out of the rut they are stuck in.

    So now, when I think of Williams most of my thoughts refer to the former glory of this legendary, once dominating team, Times have changed, they have never given up.  I fondly think of Sir Frank always there no matter was is thrown at him and the team he holds so dearly to his heart. Who knows maybe one day, with the right engine, we will see Willliams return to their winning ways.

    Massimo Trapanese

     

  • Max Looks At The Forhcoming Season In His Own Unique Way.

    IF IS F1 SPELT BACKWARDS! (YES, MURRAY…)
    MAX AND JAKE’ S SIDEWAYS GLANCE AT THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE 2017 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

    MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS MOTORSPORT

    LEWIS HAMILTON: Britain’s most universally loved sportsman can put his put his foot on the throttle again, after trying to rob James May of his title “Captain Slow” in Abu Dhabi. Can he regain his title now that Roscoe has retired?

    VALTTERI BOTTAS: How will he compare being thrust into the limelight against the slowest driver on earth? Will the dynamic between these two make the wolffe howl like it did with Lewis and Roscoe?

    RED BULL RACING

    DANIEL RICCIARDO: The man in the team with the Colgate “gleam” could, just could, fulfil his dream this year and win the world title. Well, there is a fly in the ointment, in the name of Max Verstappen, the precocious 12 – year – old Dutch nipper. Jug, straight glass, or shoe, Daniel?

    MAX “VROOM” VERSTAPPEN: If you think this lad’s fast now, just wait until he reaches his teens! Some older drivers, such as Massa, have been known to scream “Get this kid out of here!”. But Massa has retired now, right? “The best thing to happen to F1 since sliced bread”, as Stirling Moss once said about Lewis Hamilton.

    SCUDERIA FERRARI

    SEBASTIAN VETTEL: “What is he doing, the fool, he hit me not once, but twice”…Seb describing the assault by Daniil Kvyat ‘s Red Bull in Russia? No, it’s his reaction to Maurizio Arrivabene’s reaction to the German quadruple world champ for letting his emotions get the better of him to not only let it affect his on-track form, but force the Ferrari team to buy a swear box so large that there was no longer room for the cars. Needs to remember just how good a driver he is this year to get on top of it all, emotionally at least. Ferrari just MAY have the car to let him rise to the top again, but then we thought that this time last year…

    KIMI RAIKKONEN

    I didn’t think it possible for “The Ice Man” to appear any less frozen when interviewed, but last year it happened. In fact, I don’t even know why anyone bothers to interview him these days. “Go away, I’m not interested” looks to be his attitude to just about everything these days. How I would love an interviewer to say to him “You are being paid a bloody fortune to never win while in the car, and be as miserable as sin out of it, , so answer my ******* questions you stroppy git!!!” File that under “unlikely event”.

    WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING

    FELIPE MASSA: But didn’t I just see him retire? He’s back! His front! In fact, all of him that we never thought we’d see again will be on the grid in Melbourne, making this the shortest retirement in F1 since “Our Nige” threw his red Ferrari gloves into the Silverstone crowd in 1990, only to re-appear with – funnily enough – Williams the following year. Who will believe him next time he says he’s finished with F1? Fake News?

    LANCE “OUT FOR A” STROLL: It may well be true that Willy had to find a driver with a rich Dad so as to pay for all the money spent on Felipe Massa’s retirement party, but hang on one moment – this driver proved to be the dominant force in Euro F3 last year, so this is no “pay – driver” scandal, any more than Max Verstappen only got into F1 because of his father being an ex-F1 driver. If Willy can give him a good enough car, expect Lance to become the most exciting thing since “pulled pork”.

    FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM

    SERGIO PEREZ: Perhaps the first person to prove that McLaren were falling from grace, considering his year with the team proved to be his worst in F1. “Speedy Gonzalez”, as he is affectionately known by nobody except this writer, now has as many GP podiums as his great predecessor, Pedro Rodriguez – seven. Mind you, times have changed a bit since Pedro’s days, and two of Rodriguez’s podiums were wins. But the true measure of Checo’s performances is just how well he performed against The Incredible Hulkenberg.

    ESTEBAN OCON: Esteban Gutierrez sneaks back into F1 via a false surname. “Oh con them into thinking you are somebody else”, somebody said…and the new name was born! I have a sneaking suspicion that he will perform better this year…

    SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO

    CARLOS “BEANS MEANS” SAINZ: The fastest Spaniard in F1 last year (sorry Fernando, blame Honda…oh, you did!) finds himself paired with Red Bull demotee Kvyat again this year (much to the shock of Pierre Gasly) and has clearly proved he has the talent to oust one of the “Old Wild Men” in a top team, but question is, which one? There is a bit of a log jam up there at the moment. Yet another person I would have rather seen at Ferrari this year than “Curt Kimi”.

    DANIIL KVYAT: Sebastian Vettel’s favourite driver will hope to have the continuity of a full season in the same team this year (Well, other than him being promoted to a top team mid-season, but I think the chances of that are just about the same as the England Football team winning the next World Cup). Go Danny Boy, prove them all wrong! (Just be careful not to hit the back of a red car on the first bend, I don’t think our bruised ears can take any more…)

    MCLAREN HONDA FORMULA ONE TEAM

    FERNANDO ALONSO: Let’s hope McLaren give the second fastest Spaniard in F1 (blame Honda…haven’t I said that once before?) an F1 car this year rather than a GP2 (whoops, Formula Two now) car. If rumours are true that he may head back to Renault if Merc don’t come knocking on the door towards the end of the year, that would make an incredible sequence: Renault, McLaren, Renault, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault…enough to make one’s head spin even without few glasses of “Johnny Walker”.

    STOFFEL VANDORNE: “Stop all that porn” makes his full-time F1 debut this season, after spending a year off working as a milkman in Japan, driving a Honda milk float. Massive talent, but will Fernando be faster than him? (Where have I heard something similar before?) Jenson has kept the seat warm for him, and promises to be lurking not too far away.

    HAAS F1 TEAM

    ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Massively talented driver who deserves a GP win soon, but I fear that this will not be the team that allows him that opportunity. Yet another driver I would have liked to have seen in a Ferrari (and I still have another – “Now there’s a novelty”, as Eric Morecambe would have said) rather than “Fun Finn”. Time is running out quicker than McLaren’s patience with Honda for this man to land a top drive.

    KEVIN MAGNUSSEN
    Finished second in his first Grand Prix, and it’s been downhill ever since. That’s a career the wrong way round, Kevin! This has hardly been all the Dane’s fault though; lost a coin-tossing contest with Jenson Button for the McLaren Honda seat alongside Alonso for 2015 (boy was he relieved) and then found himself in an underdeveloped Renault Lotus Enstone last year.

    RENAULT SPORT FORMULA ONE TEAM
    THE INCREDIBLE HULKENBERG: I would have seen him in the second Ferrari this year, but instead of red he has gone yellow this season (I thought The Hulk was green?) and I can’t say I blame him, given the form of this team last year. Still, this year’s car looks good, and there are signs that Renault have their act together rather more than last year. So, good luck to The Incredible.

    JOLYON PALMER
    Seems a funny name for Jonathan to have given his talented offspring, since his son is younger than him, but hey-ho. This man, in my eyes at least, showed signs of developing into an excellent F1 driver last year, and fully deserved his place after a first-rate win in the GP2 championship in 2014. Gave “The Great Dane” far more trouble than was expected of him last year, and is proving a credit to his dad, more than he deserves perhaps for giving his son one of the strangest names since “The Incredible”.

    SAUBER F1 TEAM

    MARCUS ERICSSON: Last and very possibly least if last year was anything to go by, the Sauber team. For Marcus, at least it gave him a chance to show the F1 world what he could do more than with his time driving the Caterham 7 the previous year. Seems to have seen off Felipe “where is he now?” Nasr, which was somewhat of a surprise. Expect no fireworks from this team, other than from Monisha Kaltenborn if her drivers collide with each other as often as they seemed to be doing last year.

    PASCAL WEHRLEIN: “That was not meant to happen!”, you could, and quite rightly too, have expected Pascal to have hollered when he found that, when the music stopped, he found that his car would be more likely to be parked at the back of the grid than the front, as he was expecting. Big Bad Wolffe apparently didn’t rate one year’s hard experience racing a Manor, usually very well, last year as “enough experience” to put this clearly gifted some-time Mercedes prodigy in with Lewis this year. Rather different to Red Bull’s attitude regarding young Vroomstappen, eh? Well, I know which kind of thinking I prefer, and I can’t help feel sorry for Pascal. Go out there (again) and show ‘em, lad!

    MAX SCOTT

  • Getting Back To The Top

    Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.
    Friday 24 March 2017.
    World Copyright: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Images
    ref: Digital Image _31I9457

    Last season, 2016, proved to be relatively disappointing for Williams, Mercedes and Ferrari increased the gap, Red Bull surged past and began winning again and Force India managed to nab fourth place, Hulkenburg’s pass around the outside of Suzuka’s final chicane being a metaphor for the battle between the two, the Force India driving into the distance, away from the Williams.

    2017 sees a massive overhaul in the technical regulations, the cars are wider, the teams are allowed more aero parts on the cars and the tires are wider and less sensitive to temperature change, which will allow the drivers to push more during the races. Williams interpretation comes in the form of the FW40 (named to celebrate team’s 40th year in the sport) was the first car to (sort of) be revealed, the team released a digital render of the car a day before Sauber officially launched their car.

    The car features a shark fin, common on many cars this year, but is one of few to have a T wing mounted on the end of the fin. The front and rear wings have been swept back as per this new rules and the thumb nose remains on the end of a front that also features an S duct, which was run by Mercedes last season. The team haven’t been as aggressive with the side aero as Mercedes or Ferrari, rather going down a similar path as Red Bull, going with a more simplistic design. Toward the end of testing the car sprouted a second wing, similar to the T wing, much lower, almost with touching distance of the rear wing. The rakes at the start of the sidepod’s remain, as do the tuning veins to the side of these, but they have been extended, to take advantage of the width increase for this season. Title sponsor Martini’s livery remains, with it’s brilliant white base and flowing stripes, which do look slightly odd, the way they widen along the shark fin the abruptly end. The team have cemented a new partnership with heavy vehicles manufacturer JCB and Stroll brings a reported £20 million to the team.

    Williams’ driver situation is well documented, Rosberg’s shock retirement left a seat at Mercedes and it quickly became clear that it would be Bottas who would replace him at one of the sports top seats. With F3 champion Lance Stroll already signed and Martini’s requirement for an experienced driver over 25 to be one of the driver’s, the only option was to coax Massa out of retirement. The Brazilian quickly agreed and the shortest retirement in F1 history was complete. Stroll has had a tough start in testing, with a couple of accidents in the first test, but it is better he does it in testing rather than in Melbourne (like Maldonado in 2012). This should be Massa’s final year in F1, I imagine he will be consistent and quick, a good point scorer and if Stroll is even with him or outperforms the Brazilian, he will have performed well.

    One must always be careful reading into testing too much, but everyone knows that the Mercedes engine in the back of the Williams will be powerful and reliable. The car looks fast enough, maybe not on the pace of Ferrari or Mercedes, but the team look to be at the top of the midfield and looking forward. Williams look to be set for another showdown with Force India and will be determined to take back fourth or higher in the constructors. Renault could be a threat if their engine is good enough, but realistically Williams have to beat Force India this year, try and get more podiums this year to elevate themselves up the grid and toward the “big three” (Mercedes, Ferrari and Williams).

    The team need a strong start to the season, as the inevitable development race will be triggered at the beginning of the European season. If a rival makes a large leap ahead of Williams in that time, the Grove squad will need a points buffer whilst they work to retaliate. The first few races could prove unpredictable affairs as the drivers adjust to the new racing that the new rules will provide. Massa’s experience will be vital in this situation, as he has driven through multiple rules changes. Stroll needs a strong start, Formula One is a tough world if you aren’t performing and his testing incidents will have put a few more eyes on the Canadian.

    Adam Brewer

     

  • Porsche Carrera Cup GB Around The Corner

     

    2017 season heads to the start line with over half the grid set to do battle for overall honours

    The Porsche Carrera Cup GB, the fastest single marque GT racing championship in the UK, will begin its 15th season at Brands Hatch on 1 / 2 April with over half the field racing for overall glory in the Pro category. The battles throughout the 22 car grid will stretch across 15 rounds and eight race weekends.

    The anticipation of a hotly contested season, headlined by a round in support of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is fuelled by an exceptionally talented and experienced grid. Over half the competitors are ranked in the Pro category, and of those, half again have already won at least one championship in the course of their careers.

    Best placed to cause a surprise is a quartet of Porsche Carrera Cup GB Rookies who will be looking to make waves amongst the established Pro contenders. Fresh from his Ginetta GT4 Supercup title, Tom Wrigley from Chirk has already been making the most of the pre-season with IN2 Racing. His 2016 challenger and fellow race winner, Londoner Jamie Orton (Redline Racing), will be resuming their battle in 2017 as both adapt to the rear-engined 911 GT3 Cup.

    Established endurance champion and race winner Ross Wylie from Dumfries will return to single marque racing, bringing with him a new team, Slidesports. The partnership began earlier in Wylie’s career and resumed recently with a successful one-off endurance race with the team in a Cayman GT4 Clubsport.

    After rising through the single seater ranks to the heights of GP2 and most recently winning races in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, Tio Ellinas is making the switch to sports car racing for 2017 with JTR. Already a winner with JTR in seasons gone by, the Cypriot star brings with him Formula One experience and undoubted race-winning potential as the season unfolds.

    Leading the charge of the returnees is reigning champion Dan Cammish (Redline Racing) from Leeds. After taking the record in 2016 for most wins in a season – 12 from 16 starts – the 2015 and 2016 champion will face his toughest challenge yet. Graduating to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup for 2017, Cammish will have to miss rounds eight and nine at Snetterton from his concurrent Porsche Carrera Cup GB campaign due to a clash of dates.

    First among those looking to capitalise on this will be Cammish’s closest challenger from 2016, Bristol’s Dino Zamparelli. Launching his 2017 campaign with JTR, Zamparelli will be reunited with former coach Nick Tandy and will race alongside the second-placed Rookie of 2016, Lewis Plato. Plato, from Billericay, showed strong pace in his first season and is ideally placed to convert that into results for his second.

    Another driver with championship winning potential is Porsche Carrera Cup GB 2016 / 2017 Scholar Charlie Eastwood from Belfast. Buoyed by taking the 2016 Rookie title and his first race win, Eastwood tasted victory over the winter in a dominant one-off race with the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. Also successfully chasing the winter sun, and off-season experience, was Redline Racing team mate and 2016 podium finisher Tom Oliphant from Leamington Spa. Oliphant made a name for himself in his debut season with a series of fearless overtaking manoeuvres and plans to return stronger than ever.

    Joining this top trio at Redline Racing and relishing a step up into the Pro category for 2017 are Edinburgh-based brothers Euan and Dan McKay. Both showed strong pace in their debut seasons, taking first and second in the 2016 Pro-Am1 category respectively, and often raced comfortably inside the top 10.

    However, the Pro-Am1 category will maintain its competitive nature with a similar split of newcomers and returnees. Alex Martin (Pro-Am1) returns for the first time since racing the ‘Type 997’ GT3 Cup in 2011, joining championship stalwart and father Rupert Martin (Pro-Am2) at Team Parker Racing.

    Alex will undoubtedly feature in the category title race, as will Justin Sherwood (Team Parker Racing) as he looks to build on his seven Pro-Am1 podium finishes in 2016. Another podium finisher, Peter Jennings, returns with G-Cat Racing, while experienced racer Graeme Mundy steps up to a full campaign in the category with Team Parker Racing.

    A new team and driver will be joining the Pro-Am2 competition, Welch Motorsport and Matt Telling. Telling has experience of the ‘Type 991’ 911 GT3 Cup from endurance outings, while Welch Motorsport is a veteran of TOCA weekends. The second category newcomer is David Fairbrother, who graduates from the Cayman GT4 Clubsport with Slidesports.

    Looking to make the most of their Pro-Am2 experience will be Shamus Jennings (G-Cat Racing), Iain Dockerill (Asset Advantage Racing) and Peter Parsons (The Race Car Centre), all three category podium finishers in 2016. However, favourite to take the honours remains Peter Kyle-Henney (IN2 Racing), the Chopard Fastest Lap winner of 2016 looking to go one step higher after his second place finishes in the category championship in 2016 and 2014.

    Pre-season form

    At the first official tests of the season, on Silverstone’s National circuit and at Donington Park, times looked tighter than ever with fractions separating each car. While the Pro category returnees will undoubtedly go into Friday free practice at Brands Hatch with the advantage of experience, several factors could see that rapidly eroded by the newcomers. An increased tyre allowance (up to three new sets per weekend and a maximum of 24 over the course of the season) may affect the dynamic of qualifying, while points are no longer awarded for pole position or fastest lap.

    In both Pro-Am1 and Pro-Am2 categories, times were hard to monitor as various Pro category drivers swapped in and out of cars to help team mates with their pre-season preparations.

    Rounds one and two will take place on Sunday 2 April at 10.00 (rolling start) and 15.40 (standing start) respectively, with live coverage of round two on ITV4. Follow the battles at @CarreraCupGB on Twitter and @carreracupgb on Instagram.

    Neil Simmons

    Twitter: @world_racing

    (c) images courtesy of Porsche Carrera Cup GB

  • Haas Season Preview: Can the colourful Americans improve on their debut season?

    photo courtesy of HAAS F1 Team.

    Haas F1 were the last team of the 2017 preseason to reveal their new car; the VF 17 challenger. In it’s first year Haas F1 became the first American constructor to win points in its F1 debut and first constructor overall since Toyota in 2002 to score points on debut.

    Romain Grosjean made a 6th place finish in Australia and team best 5th in Bahrain to exceed the Carolina based outfits expectations early season but saw only three points finishes the rest of the season. Difficulty with Brembo brakes and operational issues led to only one point in the second half of the season.

    Race strategist Ruth Buscombe was also snagged by Sauber and went mysteriously absent halfway through the season which hurt the team as well. Despite this, Grosjean’s early points were enough to finish the team 8th in the Constructors Championship ahead of Sauber, Mannor and even French giant Renault.

    Manor gone from this years grid, the team should be clear of a struggling Sauber, but should want to take another step forward in the championship which will put them head to head with a number of likely foes who had impressive pre-seasons and R&D such as Renault, Toro Rosso and with their woeful testing in Barcelona, McLaren as well. Is the Haas VF 17 a car that can challenge in the midfield?

    Drivers

    Romain Grosjean
    Haas kept its French driver Romain Grosjean who joined the team ahead of the the 2016 season. He scored all 29 of their points gaining with a 5th place in Bahrain. Grosjean is a strong driver and with seniority could be considered the ‘#1’ in the team.

    Kevin Magnussen
    Kevin Magnussen left Renault under somewhat of a cloud citing frustration at a “lack of commitment” though the French manufacturer was also not happy with his performance. Nonetheless, Magnussen should be an instant improvement upon Guttierez (now signed with Formula E) and the benefit is mutual for him and the team at this juncture. This will make 3 different teams in his 3rd season for Magnussen and gives him an opportunity a growing team to prove himself against a solid driver in Grosjean.

    Pre-Season Testing in Barcelona

    Testing went well for Haas, as driver Romain Grosjean recorded 76 laps around Catalynya on the final day of testing bringing his two-week testing total to 346 laps, 1,610.63 kilometers (1,000.799 miles). His teammate Kevin Magnussen meanwhile did 369 total laps, 1,717.695 kilometers (1,067.326 miles) during his two weeks of testing. In total Haas ran an impressive 715 laps or 3,328.325 kilometers (2,068.125 miles) during its 2017 preseason test. This, compared to only unning 474 laps from last year.

    Magnussen did 119 laps on the final Thursday, the most of Haas preseason. His quickest lap Thursday also was his quickest of the preseason – a 1.20.504 on his 62nd lap with the Pirelli P Zero Purple ultrasoft tyre. That time placed Magnussen fifth among 13 drivers participating.

    After a spin in the morning of the the last day of testing, and a sensor issue which stranded him later that morning, Romain Grosjean posted his best time on afternoon of the last day of testing with a 1.21.110 on Pirelli P Z Purple Ultrasoft tyres puting him 10th of 13 drivers. After bringing the VF 17 back to the garage a water leak was discovered preventing the team from running in the final 30 minutes of on-track running.

    2017 Predictions

    It was said by Romain Grosjean that Ferrari were ‘sandbagging’ and that they were not allowed to use all of their Ferrari PU in Barcelona testing. Exciting, even though you’d assume Renault and Mercedes were also turned down in testing. I think that Haas have done a very good job developing an advanced areodynamic package, there are some very interesting details they have gone with such as front facing elements of the bargeboards, and designs to the floor which are similar to top teams like Mercedes, so it’s nice to see them doing that.

    With things at McLaren seemingly going from bad to crisis, I’m going to predict they shock McLaren and Renault, finishing above both but unable to catch the outstanding car Toro Rosso have built finishing them a very respectable 7th in the WCC with Grosjean finishing ahead of Magnussen.

     

    Written by
    Jeremiah Doctson ‪@JDFormula1 ‬