Molina will start from the back in Hockenheim. © ITR
Audi Team Abt Sportsline driver Miguel Molina has been demoted to the back of the grid for today’s DTM race at the Hockenheimring.
Molina had qualified in 6th place; however stewards discovered that his car was missing a dummy camera and therefore did not conform with the technical regulations.
He will now start from 23rd on the standard compound Hankook tyre.
Sato victorious in Hungary. © Auto GP World Series.
Kimiya Sato stole a stellar Auto GP victory at the Hungaroring from 9th on the grid.
Driving the leading Euronova entry, Sato asserted himself against the thin field to win ahead of one-time leader Tamas P’al Kiss and podium debutante Andrea Roda.
It is understandable – Sato will miss the sixth round later this year duet to clashing commitments in the GP2 Series {note 1}.
The Japanese driver made a stunning start to grab five places on the opening lap, before setting his sights further up the table.
By lap seven, Sato had passed Sam Dejonghe into the tightening turn two and eventually did the same to Marcus Pommer, with race leader P’al Kiss surrendering the lead to Sato shortly thereafter.
With his tyres still strong, Sato built enough of a gap over P’al Kiss to emerge ahead of the Hungarian following his own stop on lap 20; however the Japanese driver fell back toward P’al Kiss as his own rubber faded.
As Sato’s fronts wore, Zele Racing’s P’al Kiss closed to with 1.2s, but could do no better than that, allowing the Euronova racer to claim his second victory of the season.
A calamitous stop from Pommer’s Super Nova crew (which included pitting one lap too late and a loose wheel flying into the fast lane of the pits) brought Roda into the podium fold and like Sato, he was struggling for grip toward the end; however he was too far clear of the chasing Kevin Giovesi to have to worry.
Giovesi passed Dejonghe at the two-third’s point, with the pair initially followed by Pommer. Unfortunately for the German driver, Pommer received a 35s post-race penalty, dropping him to 10th.
Pommer’s demotion gave positions to Yoshitaka Kuroda (6th, Zele), Michele La Rosa (7th, Euronova) and Super Nova duo Vittorio Ghirelli (8th) and Michela Cerruti (9th).
{note 1}
Should Kimiya Sato continue on his run and win the Auto GP World Series, he will become the first entrant since Romain Grosjean in 2010 to take the crown despite missing part of the season.
Sato proved decisive on track. © Auto GP World Series.
Tambay (centre) celebrates with Wittmann (left) and da Costa (right). © DTM.
Adrien Tambay secured his first DTM pole position today in his Audi Team Abt machine.
The Frenchman made certain of the result following a late burst, which gave him the top spot over Marco Wittmann (BMW Team RMG) and Bruno Spengler (BMW Team Schnitzer).
Tambay’s best – a 1:32.272 – headed of a challenge from DTM debutante (BMW Team MTEK) Antonio Felix da Costa; however the Portuguese racer had two of his best laps discounted when he was found to have breached the track limits.
Da Costa’s error promoted Marco Wittmann to the front row. Wittmann, who ran well in free practice, maintained his good pace during qualifying, initially topping Q1 and edging through Q2 in 7th place. Former champion Spengler, too, grabbed 3rd with a fabulous last lap, placing just ahead of da Costa.
It will be an all-Audi third row, with Mattias Ekström qualifying ahead of Miguel Molina in the Team Abt Sportsline fight, while Edoardo Mortara (Audi Team Abt) and Martin Tomczyk (BMW Team Schnitzer).
Timo Glock missed out on Q3 by just 0.008s. The former Formula One racer headed off Audi pairing Timo Scheider and reigning champion Mike Rockenfeller and last year’s runner-up Augusto Farfus
Rookies Nico Müller and Maxime Martin filled out the seventh row, while veterans Joey Hand and Jamie Green could do no better than 17th and 18th respectively.
It was a horrific qualifying for Mercedes. Gary Paffett and Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes HWA) were the best of the marquees machine, finishing 15th and 16th respectively.
To make matters worse, all five cars to drop out of the first section of qualifying were Mercedes entries, led by DTM-returnee Paul di Resta (HWA, 19th), followed by Daniel Juncadella (Mucke Motorsport, 20th), Robert Wickens (21st), Christian Vietoris (22nd – both HWA) and Vitaly Petrov (Mucke Motorsport, 23rd).
2013 DTM Series (Rd 1, Qualifying, Hockenheim) Pos Driver Team Time 1. Adrien Tambay Abt Audi 1m32.272s 2. Marco Wittmann RMG BMW 1m32.419s 3. Bruno Spengler Schnitzer BMW 1m32.600s 4. Antonio Felix da Costa MTEK BMW 1m32.608s 5. Mattias Ekstrom Abt Audi 1m32.624s 6. Miguel Molina Abt Audi 1m32.787s 7. Edoardo Mortara Abt Audi 1m32.898s 8. Martin Tomczyk Schnitzer BMW 1m33.113s Q2 9. Timo Glock MTEK BMW 1m32.603s 10. Timo Scheider Phoenix Audi 1m32.706s 11. Mike Rockenfeller Phoenix Audi 1m32.717s 12. Augusto Farfus RBM BMW 1m32.739s 13. Nico Muller Rosberg Audi 1m32.756s 14. Maxime Martin RMG BMW 1m32.792s 15. Gary Paffett HWA Mercedes 1m32.834s 16. Pascal Wehrlein HWA Mercedes 1m32.840s Q1 17. Joey Hand RBM BMW 1m32.885s 18. Jamie Green Rosberg Audi 1m32.986s 19. Paul di Resta HWA Mercedes 1m33.639s 20. Daniel Juncadella Mucke Mercedes 1m33.746s 21. Robert Wickens HWA Mercedes 1m33.875s 22. Christian Vietoris HWA Mercedes 1m34.242s 23. Vitaly Petrov Mucke Mercedes 1m34.367s
Blomqvist was fastest, but no pole. © FIA.
Tom Blomqvist stormed to the top of the FIA European F3 ‘Qualifying 2’ timesheets this evening; however a penalty for changing his Volkwagen engine has earned the Jagonya Ayam with Carlin driver three ten-place grid penalties.
The penalty gives Max Verstappen pole position for both of tomorrow’s races. Blomqvist will also carry a ten-place grid penalty for race one in the third round at Pau.
Blomqvist made certain of the initial result by twice being the only driver to break the 1’32” marker. Indeed come the end of session, Blomqvist’s best of 1:31.655 was almost four-tenths quicker than the nearest quick man Verstappen.
Despite the penalty, Blomqvist was delighted with his effort. “That was the best qualifying I have ever driven in my career and I am very happy with it. I am almost lost for words. It wasn’t easy, because the team had to replace the engine before qualifying.”
He added: “It was possibly one of my strongest qualifying sessions I’ve ever had. I felt really on it and knew we were running very well throughout so it’s a nice way to repay the team for all of their hard work.”
While Esteban Ocon, Antonio Giovinazzi, Antonio Fuoco and Felix Serralles seemed content to head the time sheets through the opening 15 minutes of 20, Blomqvist made his presence felt when he jumped to the top of the standings with a 1:31.958s.
Verstappen followed that up with a 1:32.014s, while Ocon maintained the pressure by lapping some three-hundredths slower than his Dutch rival; however no-one had any answer for Blomqvist’s next run, which put the Volkswagen-powered driver beyond the reach.
With slightly older engines, Verstappen and Ocon could do no better, while Giovinazzi rose to 4th with three minutes remaining, when he clocked up a 1:32.105.
Ed Jones registered a lap six-hundredths for 5th and Antonio Fuoco had a better go at qualifying today, when he assumed 6th spot ahead of Felix Rosenqvist and race one winner Lucas Auer. Felix Serralles and Nicholas Latifi rounded out the top ten.
Disappointingly, Jordan King could only manage a best of 19th, having finished on the podium earlier in the day.
2014 FIA European F3 Championship (Rd 2, Qualifying 2) Pos Driver Team Time 1. Max Verstappen Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:32.014 2. Esteban Ocon Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:32.044 3. Antonio Giovinazzi Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:32.105 4. Ed Jones Carlin-Volkswagen 1:32.164 5. Antonio Fuoco Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:32.208 6. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke-Mercedes 1:32.228 7. Lucas Auer Mucke-Mercedes 1:32.258 8. Felix Serralles Team West-Tec-Mercedes 1:32.278 9. Nicholas Latifi Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:32.314 10. Jake Dennis Carlin-Volkswagen 1:32.327 11. Tom Blomqvist Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:31.655* 12. Dennis van de Laar Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:32.344 13. Mitch Gilbert Fortec-Mercedes 1:32.445 14. John Bryant-Meisner Fortec-Mercedes 1:32.575 15. Gustavo Menezes Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:32.688 16. Jules Szymkowiak Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:32.740 17. Sean Gelael Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:32.776 18. Alexander Toril ThreeBond/T-Sport-NBE 1:32.861 19. Jordan King Carlin-Volkswagen 1:32.871 20. Spike Goddard ThreeBond/T-Sport-NBE 1:32.887 21. Felipe Guimaraes Double R-Mercedes 1:33.011 22. Riccardo Agostini EuroInternational-Merc 1:33.208 23. Roy Nissany Mucke-Mercedes 1:33.231 24. Sandro Zeller Zeller-Mercedes 1:33.365 25. Hector Hurst Team West-Tec-Mercedes 1:33.798 26. Michele Beretta EuroInternational-Merc 1:33.377** 27. Tatiana Calderon Zeller/Mucke-Mercedes 1:33.361*
Notes:
Penalties
Tom Blomqvist and Tatiana Calderon; 10-place grid drop (using different engine, following previous round).
Michele Beretta; 5-place grid drop, (causing collision in race one).
2014 FIA European F3 Championship (Rd 2, Qualifying 3) Pos Driver Team Time 1. Max Verstappen Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:32.185 2. Esteban Ocon Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:32.242 3. Antonio Giovinazzi Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:32.251 4. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke-Mercedes 1:32.256 5. Antonio Fuoco Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:32.257 6. Ed Jones Carlin-Volkswagen 1:32.304 7. Lucas Auer Mucke-Mercedes 1:32.382 8. Dennis van de Laar Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:32.501 9. Jake Dennis Carlin-Volkswagen 1:32.512 10. Nicholas Latifi Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:32.591 11. Tom Blomqvist Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:31.958* 12. John Bryant-Meisner Fortec-Mercedes 1:32.626 13. Felix Serralles Team West-Tec-Mercedes 1:32.636 14. Mitch Gilbert Fortec-Mercedes 1:32.753 15. Sean Gelael Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:32.814 16. Gustavo Menezes Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:32.829 17. Jules Szymkowiak Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:32.829 18. Spike Goddard ThreeBond/T-Sport-NBE 1:32.906 19. Jordan King Carlin-Volkswagen 1:32.937 20. Alexander Toril ThreeBond/T-Sport-NBE 1:32.940 21. Felipe Guimaraes Double R-Mercedes 1:33.040 22. Riccardo Agostini EuroInternational-Merc 1:33.360 23. Michele Beretta EuroInternational-Merc 1:33.479 24. Roy Nissany Mucke-Mercedes 1:33.483 25. Sandro Zeller Zeller-Mercedes 1:33.601 26. Hector Hurst Team West-Tec-Mercedes 1:33.892 27. Tatiana Calderon Zeller/Mucke-Mercedes 1:33.483*
Notes:
Penalties
Tom Blomqvist and Tatiana Calderon; 10-place grid drop (using different engine, following previous round).
Auer leads the field. © FIA.
Lucas Auer claimed his and Mücke Motorsport’s first FIA European F3 victory of the season at the Hockenheimring today.
The Austrian led every lap from pole, extending the gap to runner-up Ed Jones (Carlin) each time around to win by 7.1s after 22 tours.
It was a stellar start for Auer, who pulled away from the line perfectly; however his fellow front-row man, Antonio Giovinazzi, was less efficient, with the Italian losing a place, bringing Jones to 2nd spot.
Such was Auer’s prowess; the Mücke man pulled out a few tenths each tour around, with Auer leading Jones by 3.5s come the halfway mark. That would continue to grow, as Jones’ Hankook tyres began to fade in the final eight laps.
Despite this, Auer continued to press his advantage home eventually taking his first “proper” FIA F3 race victory, after his previous success came via the stewards office at Brands Hatch last year. “My start was good and the pace was great throughout the race,” said a triumphant Auer. “Nevertheless,” he continued, “it wasn’t an easy race. Driving consistent lap times during the entire race distance was an important factor and I managed to do so.”
Jones endured a far more intensive battle for position. With each lap around, the Dubai-native was tailed by Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam); however the Lotus Junior Team racer struggled to pressure Jones sufficiently to encourage an error.
“I had a good start and already managed to take over second place in the first corner. Lucas was too quick for me, but I succeeded in keeping Esteban at bay. That wasn’t easy, because he was quick,” said the jubilant Jones, adding later, “this is my first year in the championship so to have a result like this during only the second weekend shows our potential.”
Unfortunately for Ocon, his Mercedes-powered machine ran out of fuel on the final lap, promoting Jordan King (Carlin) to the last podium spot, with Ocon falling to 9th position.
It was ample reward for King, having worked hard on his race starts during the off-season. The Briton passed John Bryant-Meisner (Fortec) and Felix Rosenqvist (Mücke) at the start. King noted, “My first few laps in particular were very good. At the start, I managed to gain one place, I got another one in the second corner and I made up more places on the inside line at the hairpin.”
Jones gained further positions when Max Verstappen and Nicholas Latifi collided at the hairpin on lap one, allowing King to rise to 4th as he avoided the carnage. “I overtook another opponent in the Mercedes arena and thus I was already fourth after only one lap.”
Tom Blomqvist was another who had a close call as the chaos unfolded. “It was a tough first lap, there was a collision at the hairpin and I had to run completely off track to avoid it which meant I lost quite a few places.” After the safety car, Jones went on something of a controlled charge. “From then on in it was a case of putting pressure on Esteban [Ocon] and seeing what happened. I pushed really hard in the final few laps and took a bit out of my tyres but it paid off because Ocon had a problem and I was close enough to get past.”
Aside from the Verstappen / Latifi spillage, there followed another crash in the Sachs curve when an over ambitious Michele Beretta powered into Alexander Toril, who in turn hit Gustavo Menezes, bringing out a brief safety car for two laps. Giovinazzi’s race would not last beyond the opening lap – the Jagonya Ayam Carlin racer suffered a collision with Ocon, ending the Italian’s race straight away.
After the restart, Blomqvist pressured Rosenqvist to assume what would later become 4th place; however the Anglo-Kiwi could not hold onto the pace of the front-runners. About his 12-points, Blomqvist was phlegmatic. “We were a little fortunate on the final lap to move up to fourth position but it’s very good to come away with more points. The pace was there and we were able to prove it once I had passed Felix [Rosenqvist] for fifth.”
Rosenqvist dropped behind Blomqvist to take a quiet 5th place ahead of Mitch Gilbert – the latter of whom made decisive pass on Felix Serralles at the restart.
A more confident Jake Dennis would also pass Serralles – albeit on lap 6 to take 7th position and the prize for top rookie finisher. Oddly enough, the Racing Steps Foundation man would have the French National Anthem played in his honour on the podium…
Serralles would have little choice to accept 8th after he passed the struggling Ocon prior to the line, while Spike Goddard claimed his first ever European F3 points, courtesy of a retiring Dennis van de Laar three laps from the end.
Antonio Fuoco could do little with his poor grid position. From 17th, the Italian could only climb to 11th place; however luck played into his hands as few of the early title contenders scored well today.
Auer centred the podium celebrations. © FIA.
2014 FIA European F3 Championship (Rd 2, Race 1; 22 laps)
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Lucas Auer Mucke-Mercedes 35:03.745s
2. Ed Jones Carlin-Volkswagen +7.120s
3. Jordan King Carlin-Volkswagen +11.625s
4. Tom Blomqvist Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW +17.173s
5. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke-Mercedes +19.993s
6. Mitch Gilbert Fortec-Mercedes +21.056s
7. Jake Dennis Carlin-Volkswagen +22.142s
8. Felix Serralles Team West-Tec-Mercedes +23.266s
9. Esteban Ocon Prema Powerteam-Mercedes +23.731s
10. Spike Goddard ThreeBond/T-Sport-NBE +25.410s
11. Antonio Fuoco Prema Powerteam-Mercedes +29.472s
12. Felipe Guimaraes Double R-Mercedes +32.500s
13. Sean Gelael Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW +37.689s
14. Sandro Zeller Zeller-Mercedes +50.657s
15. Hector Hurst Team West-Tec-Mercedes +51.584s
16. Alexander Toril ThreeBond/T-Sport-NBE +55.957s
17. Michele Beretta EuroInternational-Merc +58.463s
18. Tatiana Calderon Zeller/Mucke-Mercedes +1:00.008s
19. Dennis van de Laar Prema Powerteam-Mercedes +1 lap
10. John Bryant-Meisner Fortec-Mercedes +1 lap
Retirements:
Gustavo Menezes Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen +4 laps
Roy Nissany Mucke-Mercedes +8 laps
Riccardo Agostini EuroInternational-Merc +16 laps
Jules Szymkowiak Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen +16 laps
Antonio Giovinazzi Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW +22 laps
Nicholas Latifi Prema Powerteam-Mercedes +22 laps
Max Verstappen Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen +22 laps
© DTM.
Phoenix Racing Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller claims he is ready and looking forward to defending his DTM title.
Rockenfeller, 30, won the title last year ahead of his BMW rival Augusto Farfus, with the eventual champion only twice finishing outside of the top five, as he turned in a stellar display of speed and consistency.
As impressive as that consistency was, the German racer is looking to the opening round with a healthy degree of aggression. “I’m happy to return to Hockenheim and to attack,” said Rockenfeller. “Everybody is travelling to the first race with high expectations, and so am I: my goal is to manage a good start into the season and immediately score plenty of points.”
Rockenfeller’s two races outside of the top five in 2013 both came at Hockenheim – something which the reigning champion is keenly aware. “My two races at Hockenheim last year were fair to middling at best, so I‘ve got high ambitions here for 2014.”
Yet Rockenfeller makes just one of seven champions who currently hold sway on the grid. Alongside the Audi man with title honours are his stable mates Timo Scheider (2008 & 2009) and Mattias Ekström (2004 & 2007), BMW’s Bruno Spengler (2012) and Martin Tomczyk (2011) and Mercedes duo Gary Paffett (2005) and Paul di Resta (2010).
For di Resta, the Scot returns to the DTM category after three years away with Force India in Formula One and he is determined to pick up where he left off; however the 28-year-old knows that is will not be an easy task as that. “It feels great to be back in DTM. Other drivers may have acquired more experience with these cars during my three-year absence competing in Formula 1, for sure, but I can adapt relatively easily and quickly to new circumstances, which I proved in Formula 1.”
Beyond the other champions, Rockenfeller must also face off several newer faces on the grid. Nico Müller (Audi Team Rosberg) crosses from the Formula Renault 3.5 Series; as does his BMW rival Antonio Felix da Costa (Team MTEK), while Maxime Martin (BMW Team RMG) has transferred over from the Blancpain Endurance Series. Former Formula One driver Vitaly Petrov also makes the move to DTM, albeit with the Mercedes’ Mücke Motorsport squad.
The debutants will also be fighting off the other relative new boys in the series: Daniel Juncadella, Robert Wickens, Christian Vietoris and Pascal Wehrlein – all of whom have entered the category in the past three seasons.
Although several championships have been racing for some time now, this weekend marks the beginning of the 2014 DTM season.
The German touring car category – now 30 years since its first start and so international in flavour – gets under way, as always, at the historic Hockenheimring.
Audi pilot Mike Rockenfeller will be keen to defend his crown, but with rivals Augusto Farfus, Gary Paffett and Christian Vietoris amongst others snapping at ‘Rocky’s’ heels, the 30-year-old will have a battle on his hands.
And that’s before one considers the return of former champion Paul di Resta as well as young up-and-comers Dani Juncadella and Antonio Felix da Costa.
‘Rocky’ mastered consistency last year, as he took eight top-five finishes from ten races. Interestingly the two events where he missed out badly were both at the… Hockenheimring.
© Leigh O’Gorman.
Auer took a dominant pole. © FIA.
A late run by Mücke Motorsport’s Lucas Auer helped the Austrian to race one pole for the opening FIA European F3 race at the Hockenheimring this evening.
Jagonya with Carlin driver Antonio Giovinazzi joins Auer on the front row – his best qualifying position at European level – having led much of the latter half of the session.
With cool weather drawing in, Auer breached the top positions in the final five minutes with a 1:32.523s. He would improve by almost one-and-a-half tenths with less than two minutes remaining, demoting Giovinazzi.
Auer noted later that: “In free practice, we already noticed that we had a good speed. It is great that we were able to make use of this in qualifying and that I am now on pole position. Of course, I want to get the maximum out of the race tomorrow, so I would love to win, no matter what the weather conditions are.”
It marks a return to form for the Mucke team, who struggled throughout the opening race weekend at Silverstone two weeks ago, to which Auer commented: “A big hand to my team kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport and our engine partner Mercedes, because we have made a big step forward after the season opener at Silverstone.”
Yellow flags in the final moments of the session curtailed any chance of further fast laps in the field; however few seemed close to Auer’s pace.
Despite losing the top spot, Giovinazzi remained happy with the outcome. “Today has been a really good and strong day for me and for the team. We knew from this morning that the car had pace and that we would be able to do something here. I was on provisional pole until three minutes from the end so although it’s a shame to lose that I’m very happy with lining up second. Tomorrow, we aim to get off the line quickly, focus and see what happens.”
Ed Jones also impressed, with Dubai racer placing his Volkwagen-powered Carlin machine 3rd on the grid, just ahead of Van Amersfoort’s Max Verstappen. “Everything came together really well for me this afternoon and although we didn’t get the best out of things in free practice we more than made up for it in qualifying,” said the delighted Jones. He continued, “The track was much better to drive so that made my job a lot easier too. I think it’ll be very interesting tomorrow because we’re all very close but we have to get a good start and aim for that podium.”
Esteban Ocon was next, just two-thousandths shy of the second row, having topped the session with five minutes left; however the Frenchman could not improve on that effort. Tom Blomqvist made it three Carlin prepared cars in the top six, while Nicholas Latifi (Prema Powerteam, 7th) will partner Felix Rosenqvist (Mucke, 8th) for tomorrow’s opener.
John Bryant-Meisner (Fortec, 9th) and Jordan King (Carlin, 10th) fill out the fifth row. Antonio Fuoco endured a difficult qualifying, with the Ferrari youngster qualifying a disappointing 18th after he was repeatedly caught in traffic.
A large number of laptimes were deleted during the sessions, when drivers continued to breach track limits around turn one, despite a second pre-qualifying drivers meeting. Tatiana Calderon had qualified in 17th place, but will start from the back of the grid after she used a different engine from the previous round at Silverstone.
Auer prepares prior to qualifying. © FIA.
2014 FIA European F3 Championship (Rd 2, Qualifying 1; revised) Pos Driver Team Time 1. Lucas Auer Mucke-Mercedes 1:32.387 2. Antonio Giovinazzi Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:32.505 3. Ed Jones Carlin-Volkswagen 1:32.547 4. Max Verstappen Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:32.586 5. Esteban Ocon Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:32.588 6. Tom Blomqvist Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:32.602 7. Nicholas Latifi Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:32.634 8. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke-Mercedes 1:32.688 9. John Bryant-Meisner Fortec-Mercedes 1:32.708 10. Jordan King Carlin-Volkswagen 1:32.740 11. Jake Dennis Carlin-Volkswagen 1:32.786 12. Mitch Gilbert Fortec-Mercedes 1:32.860 13. Felix Serralles Team West-Tec-Mercedes 1:32.916 14. Jules Szymkowiak Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:33.041 15. Dennis van de Laar Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:33.042 16. Spike Goddard ThreeBond/T-Sport-NBE 1:33.183 17. Antonio Fuoco Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:33.233 18. Riccardo Agostini EuroInternational-Merc 1:33.236 19. Alexander Toril ThreeBond/T-Sport-NBE 1:33.252 20. Roy Nissany Mucke-Mercedes 1:33.278 21. Gustavo Menezes Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:33.316 22. Sean Gelael Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:33.496 23. Felipe Guimaraes Double R-Mercedes 1:33.780 24. Michele Beretta EuroInternational-Merc 1:33.818 25. Hector Hurst Team West-Tec-Mercedes 1:34.022 26. Sandro Zeller Zeller-Mercedes 1:34.074 27. Tatiana Calderon Zeller/Mucke-Mercedes 1:33.183*
Notes:
Penalties
Tatiana Calderon; 10-place grid drop (using different engine, following previous round).
Michele Beretta; 5-place grid drop, suspended (failed to manage track limits on several occasions).
Giovinazzi showed Friday practice pace at Hockenheim. © FIA.
Antonio Giovinazzi headed both of today’s FIA European F3 free practice sessions at the Hockenheimring.
Having proved speedy at times during the opening weekend at Silverstone two weeks ago, the Italian showed pace again at the German Grand Prix circuit.
Looking content, Giovinazzi commented that, ‘the pace is good, the car feels quite nice’. His Carlin team also ran long stints of approximately 10-11 laps, with which both team and driver appeared happy.
Lucas Auer made his presence felt in both sessions, with the Austrian coming closest to Giovinazzi during the quicker second session, helped no doubt by a new set of tyres in the late stages.
It will come as some relief to the Mucke squad, who struggled for pace all the way through the opening round. Mucke’s other primary competitor, Felix Rosenqvist, also showed well on the timesheets.
Max Verstappen also placed highly during the latter running, despite being some eight-tenths off the pace during the initial session. Round one race winners Tom Blomqvist, Antonio Fuoco and Esteban Ocon did not rise to the top, but threatened on occasion.
Commenting on the conditions, Blomqvist noted: ‘the track remained rather slippy following the previous night’s rain storm […] but that there is more time to come.’
It was something of an interesting session for Michele Beretta. The Italian suffered the attention of the stewards for breaking track limits on a number of occasions, before getting pinged for speeding in the pitlane.
2014 FIA European F3 Championship (Rd 2, Free Practice 1) Pos Driver Team Time 1. Antonio Giovinazzi Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:34.019 2. Esteban Ocon Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:34.064 3. Tom Blomqvist Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:34.166 4. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke-Mercedes 1:34.270 5. Antonio Fuoco Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:34.386 6. John Bryant-Meisner Fortec-Mercedes 1:34.414 7. Lucas Auer Mucke-Mercedes 1:34.438 8. Mitch Gilbert Fortec-Mercedes 1:34.472 9. Felipe Guimaraes Double R-Mercedes 1:34.590 10. Jordan King Carlin-Volkswagen 1:34.687 11. Sean Gelael Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:34.706 12. Ed Jones Carlin-Volkswagen 1:34.804 13. Max Verstappen Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:34.807 14. Riccardo Agostini EuroInternational-Merc 1:34.847 15. Felix Serralles Team West-Tec-Mercedes 1:34.916 16. Jake Dennis Carlin-Volkswagen 1:34.916 17. Gustavo Menezes Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:34.947 18. Nicholas Latifi Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:34.981 19. Dennis van de Laar Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:35.076 20. Tatiana Calderon Zeller/Mucke-Mercedes 1:35.154 21. Jules Szymkowiak Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:35.360 22. Spike Goddard ThreeBond/T-Sport-NBE 1:35.408 23. Alexander Toril ThreeBond/T-Sport-NBE 1:35.684 24. Sandro Zeller Zeller-Mercedes 1:35.741 25. Michele Beretta EuroInternational-Merc 1:35.818 26. Roy Nissany Mucke-Mercedes 1:36.200 27. Hector Hurst Team West-Tec-Mercedes 1:36.519 2014 FIA European F3 Championship (Rd 2, Free Practice 2) Pos Driver Team Time 1. Antonio Giovinazzi Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:33.135 2. Lucas Auer Mucke-Mercedes 1:33.337 3. Max Verstappen Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:33.352 4. Esteban Ocon Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:33.510 5. Tom Blomqvist Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:33.599 6. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke-Mercedes 1:33.654 7. Antonio Fuoco Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:33.686 8. Nicholas Latifi Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:33.728 9. Jordan King Carlin-Volkswagen 1:33.747 10. Ed Jones Carlin-Volkswagen 1:33.752 11. John Bryant-Meisner Fortec-Mercedes 1:33.948 12. Jake Dennis Carlin-Volkswagen 1:33.963 13. Sean Gelael Jagonya Ayam/Carlin-VW 1:34.106 14. Riccardo Agostini EuroInternational-Merc 1:34.177 15. Dennis van de Laar Prema Powerteam-Mercedes 1:34.221 16. Felipe Guimaraes Double R-Mercedes 1:34.223 17. Tatiana Calderon Zeller/Mucke-Mercedes 1:34.248 18. Gustavo Menezes Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:34.345 19. Mitch Gilbert Fortec-Mercedes 1:34.401 20. Alexander Toril ThreeBond/T-Sport-NBE 1:34.413 21. Felix Serralles Team West-Tec-Mercedes 1:34.446 22. Spike Goddard ThreeBond/T-Sport-NBE 1:34.514 23. Jules Szymkowiak Van Amersfoort-Volkswagen 1:34.527 24. Michele Beretta EuroInternational-Merc 1:34.819 25. Roy Nissany Mucke-Mercedes 1:34.864 26. Hector Hurst Team West-Tec-Mercedes 1:35.083 27. Sandro Zeller Zeller-Mercedes 1:35.427
When Ayrton Senna was killed at Imola during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, I was just 12-years-old.
Following the delay after the crash, Dad switched off the television and we went for a drive in the Curragh countryside. At this point, his death had not been announced and to be honest after the crash, I did not think too much of the developing situation.
Going for a drive was just something we did on a Sunday, but normally we waited until after the race. I was a child after all – what did I know? Not much was said – not that I remember at least – until he turned on the radio (it was Des Cahill on RTE Radio 1 if my memory serves).
Later on, a touch stunned and not quite in the frame of mind to comprehend or form coherent thoughts, I ventured down the road to a friend’s house.
We played a bit of football for a while and did little else. There really wasn’t a whole lot else to do. Some time later, another friend emerged, cheerily proclaiming aloud that ‘another one bites the dust.’
Not quite sure how to respond, we just played a little more football. We were children after all.
Did I cry? Weep for someone that I had never met? No. Life just went on. There was never any need to embellish it more than necessary. I was merely a child after all.
Amidst today’s tributes for the late Roland Ratzenberger, there were further rumblings regarding the possibility of a Formula One Grand Prix in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan in 2016.
While there is no doubt that Baku could host a Grand Prix (with the right amount of money in place and there is enough of that), current events in a German courtroom must make one wonder just how realistic these excerpts of information are.
At the moment, there are those near the top of Formula One who are desperately attempting to paper over news that alludes to Bernie Ecclestone’s trial in Munich and for some that works fine.
Then again considering Baku’s desperation to become a tourist destination, nothing is impossible, although anyone who witnessed the absurd and chaotic GT race around the city centre in 2012 can attest to the madness caused when an ill-thought event springs up. Thankfully, last year’s event was far more sane, if rather blighted by the cold November weather.
A few will get off on the news of a race in Baku – others might be a little more circumspect. If money is delivered, then a Grand Prix upon the Azerbaijan streets could very well happen, but earnest declarations that the race will definitely happen are a touch premature, if not laughable.
But it could all be deflective nonsense and if this news gets people to not talk about Mr Ecclestone’s trial in Munich, then the purpose has been served, right?
When Roland Ratzenberger crashed brutally during qualifying for the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, Formula One was forced to face mortality for the first time in eight years, but the death the following day of Ayrton Senna cast a shadow over Ratzenberger’s tragedy.
Twenty years on, Ratzenberger’s memory breathes, as does his legacy. Leigh O’Gorman spoke to the drivers who raced against and knew him, as they remember Roland Ratzenberger – Formula One’s forgotten man.
20 years
“It is hard to describe.” Considering for a moment, the words of Mika Salo – a former Ferrari Formula One driver – stumble for a moment. “He was a nice guy; he wanted to have a lot of fun. He was very passionate about racing for most of his life – anything to just to be racing.”
An early Saturday afternoon during the second qualifying session of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix and Ratzenberger is on it.
Behind the wheel of the Nick Wirth designed Simtek, the 33-year-old pitched his Ford-powered machine through Imola’s historic sweeps – too hard in fact. A mistake on his previous lap, rendered Ratzenberger’s front wing weakened and subject to the extreme forces of gravity at high speed.
Robbed of turn in control, the Simtek ran straight on at the quick Villeneuve Corner at approximately 196 mph. Hitting the wall almost front on, Ratzenberger’s chassis absorbed the tremendous forces of the collision, with its occupant receiving what would quickly prove to be fatal injuries.
The following day, the face of the tragic Austrian filled the back pages of newspaper sport sections, only for his image to virtually disappear when Senna crashed during the race.
Roland Ratzenberger: a now distant figure lost during a horrific weekend of destruction.
Rise through the ranks
July 4th, 1960. The day after Sir Jack Brabham enjoyed his first of three French Grand Prix successes, Roland Ratzenberger was born in the Austria city of Salzburg.
In some areas shy and in others a boisterous, Ratzenberger’s early years almost seem unremarkable. His parents – Rudolf and Margrit – gave their son a relatively simple middle-class upbringing, within the confines of what could be best described as a standard civil service environment.
As years passed, the young Ratzenberger grew obsessed with motorsport and most things mechanised. His eagerness to toy with machinery and rising determination to compete led the young man to enter soapbox derbies and by his mid-teens, Ratzenberger had joined Salzburg’s kart racing club.
Come the early-1980s, he made his first foray into the sport in German Formula Ford; however his relatively modest background meant budgets remained tight. Meanwhile, Ratzenberger did his best to ensure interested parties remained so by knocking at least two years off of his age…
Occasional budgetary set backs did little to hold Ratzenberger and he finished as runner-up to Stefan Neuberger in the 1985 German Formula Ford 1600 series. A move to England to compete in the famed Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch came in 1985, yet unlike some of the monied entrants to the race, Ratzenberger’s appearance was rather more humble.
“Roland was probably the last driver that I can remember that would turn up in a transit van, with a trailer and a Formula Ford on the back,” notes three-time Grand Prix victor and former rival Johnny Herbert. “He would be the guy that would mechanic it, refuel it, start it up, warm it up, get kitted up, get in it and get out and race.”
A non-finish in 1985 did not deter the Salzburg man and he returned a year later to take the competition by the scruff of the neck. Herbert – who had by this stage moved to Formula 3 – remembers the race. “When I started, when Damon [Hill] started, Mark Blundell – we were all there. He won the Festival, which was a big thing at that time,” notes the 49-year-old. “He had that natural racing instinct […] and was very good at visualising what was going on.”
Japan and emerging versatility
Ratzenberger’s Formula Ford success failed to open the doors necessary for him to move up the ladder to Formula One. Slow progress in Formula 3 and touring cars hampered efforts, but a spell in the British F3000 championship was more promising; however opportunities were sluggish to emerge.
Now approaching 30, Ratzenberger decided to look east, specifically Japan, crossing over in 1989. During a break in his Formula One career, Herbert also moved to the Far East where he chanced upon his former rival. “I met up with him in Japan in 1990 and he was racing for Toyota,” remembers Herbert. “He was always their main man. He was in the SARD [team] and was bloody good at that, he was really competitive and really mighty in qualifying.”
“The first time that I came across [him] was when I did British F3000 and he was around,” recalls ex-racer Andrew Gilbert-Scott. As the 1990s dawned, Ratzenberger moved to Japan in an attempt to keep his career alive and was followed a year later by Gilbert-Scott, a graduate of Eddie Jordan’s racing stable. He continues, “It was a special kind of time. It was an attractive place to go, the prize money was good and you were a professional driver.”
Versatility being a virtue, both Ratzenberger and Gilbert-Scott competed in Japanese F3000, Touring Cars and the All-Japan Prototype Championship, with the pair becoming teammates at Stellar International Racing through 1992 and ’93. As Gilbert-Scott notes, “The touring cars were fun things to do and in Japan, the racing drivers tended to do quite a few categories – Roland was also doing Group C [prototypes] at that time with Toyota.”
Yet despite his moderate success, Ratzenberger’s supercharged motivation occasionally led to frustrations. “He had quite a fiery temper if things weren’t quite going his way; he could get upset quite quickly. Everything he did was kind of flat out. He wasn’t shy and was tremendously good value, but put him in a competitive situation and the fire would really rage.”
It was with the SARD Toyota team in 1993 that Ratzenberger achieved his biggest success when he, along with Mauro Martini and Naoki Nagasaka, won the C2 Class at Le Mans.
Finally Formula One and Simtek
Unexpectedly, Ratzenberger arrived in Formula One at the beginning of 1994 with the new Simtek squad, after securing a five-race stint on the back of $500,000 worth of sponsorship from live music agent Barbara Behlau.
However, according to his Simtek teammate and future sportscar legend David Brabham, all was not well. “It was pretty difficult for Simtek because the car that they had designed […] didn’t reach the expectations. Money was such a scarce thing, the team couldn’t develop, but both Roland and I got on with it.”
While Brabham was familiar with the team, Ratzenberger was not. The Austrian failed to qualify for the opener in Brazil and was off Brabham’s pace in Japan. “It took him a little while to get used to the car. It wasn’t until the day before his accident that I drove his car in practice and the team said ‘could you jump in the car and give us some feedback?’ I came in within three laps and said ‘the brakes are horrible, they just don’t work’, so they changed the brakes and then his pace picked up.”
At the third round at Imola, Ratzenberger was confident, but toward the halfway point of the second qualifying session, he ran hard over the kerbs at the Variante Bassa corner. Remembering the incident, Brabham notes, “When he went off, he didn’t come in. He did some zig-zags to check the tyres and the car and he went off to do another lap, but unfortunately he never came around again…”
Such was the force of Ratzenberger’s eventual crash at Villeneuve, that a hole was punched in the car. The Austrian was pronounced dead at Maggiore Hospital in Bologna a short while later – a victim of a basilar skull fracture – becoming Formula One’s first fatality since 1986.
Distraught, Simtek carried on and the next day, Brabham raced. “I had never dealt with a situation like that before. I remember sitting with the team and they said ‘if you want to race, it is entirely up to you’. It helped everybody focus on something; I just thought ‘I’ve got to race for the team’, because I felt it was the only way we were going to get through it.”
Always Remembered
There is little doubt that Senna’s death the following altered motorsport forever, however Brabham insists that Ratzenberger’s fatality could also have forced changes. “There’s always something to take out of it. [Imola] changed the sport in many ways, particularly in terms of safety; not just for the cars, but also for drivers.”
In the ensuing grief, the loss of Senna was palpable, but for those inside motorsport, Ratzenberger’s death hit hard. Rather than dwell upon sorrow, Herbert and Salo look upon those days with some fondness.
“We had a lot of fun. He was very serious about racing, but we always had a lot of fun and we did a lot of things together,” says Salo. Herbert finishes: “He was a real, real gentleman. It’s nice having those memories about him, because he was a decent fun loving guy, who thoroughly enjoyed and was immersed in racing itself. Bless him.”
For the celebrating four teams, those precious moments before Gary Watkins – Autosport journalist – begins the first post-race press conference of the FIA World Endurance Championship are full of feverish chatter.
Sitting centre is Toyota’s Anthony Davidson – he, with his team mates Sebastien Buemi and Nicolas Lapierre are now proud recipients of the RAC Tourist Trophy following their triumph in the ‘Silverstone 6 Hours’.
…or the ‘Silverstone 5 hours, 23 minutes’ if you so wish. The rain certainly held its sway on a dreary and cold Easter Sunday.
Despite the effort, the Briton appears relatively fresh, although his appearance was no doubt bolstered by lingering traces of adrenaline, as he sizes up the tangible rewards before him.
Points will also be on Davidson’s mind. Toyota dominated this event, whereas Audi stumbled – neither finished – while Porsche, 3rd in this instance, may still have some way to go before they can truly press for winners honours.
As the nine tabled drivers (Toyota’s Alexander Wurz is just out of shot) purge information from the day’s events, as details fill once gap-studded stories, giving life to the tales soon unfolded.
Sitting behind the manufacturer drivers are the three pilots of the privateer Rebellion Lola – Nick Heidfeld, Nico Prost and Mathias Beche.
A good effort again by the Swiss squad, but they are some long distance away from the monied entrants and, to be fair, the competition in the P2 category was a touch thin.
The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is next. Coming this weekend, it represents one of the final times the manufacturers and privateers alike can get in some competitive mileage before the monstrous Le Mans in June.
With respectable weather expected, it will also give an indication as to whether Toyota truly do hold a good hand and will tell more about the capabilities of the Audi and Porsche hybrids.
© Leigh O’Gorman.
Sainz Jr (1) edges Martsenko to lead into turn one. © WSR (Florent Gooden / DPPI).
DAMS’ and Red Bull junior driver Carlos Sainz Jr dominated the opening race of the second Formula Renault 3.5 round at Motorland Aragon.
The Spaniard led from pole, after fending off an aggressive Nikolay Martsenko (Comtec) from the line, but was unchallenged thereafter.
In clear air, Sainz Jr extended a gap almost every lap around, eventually securing a lead of 14.3s come the end of 25 laps.
Such was Sainz Jr’s dominance; the 19-year-old had pulled a gap of more than 30 seconds beyond those outside the top four.
Yet despite his margin of victory, Sainz Jr was candid about how he almost lost it into turn one. “After a delicate start, where I honestly thought I would lose a few spots, I didn’t expect the gap to increase so quickly, in as much as qualifying was very close.”
Martsenko not only held on to 2nd place, but even pulled more than ten seconds over his chasing rivals to score his first podium in the category – something the Russian put down to his decision to run a higher downforce setting than those around him.
“My good start was probably due to the fact that I was the only car at the front of the grid that had a high-downforce configuration,” said Martsenko. “I managed to overtake Oliver [Rowland] before having a good battle with Carlos at the first corner. Then, he pulled away, so I made the most of it to assure this first podium finish.”
A tricky start and missed apex in turn one by Fortec’s Rowland saw him drop from the front row to 4th; however the Racing Steps Foundation driver took 3rd back when he passed Zoel Amberg (AVF) on lap 13; however by then Martsenko was lost in the distance.
The Briton noted: “My start was a little difficult, in as much as I had already messed up at Monza. The race pace was good, but it is so hard to overtake on this track.”
As Rowland moved up to the podium place, Lotus’ Marlon Stockinger took advantage to claim 4th, relegating Amberg to 5th, but despite his best efforts, the Filipino was unable to take Rowland in the final laps. Over the line, Rowland held Stockinger at bay by a mere two-tenths.
Amberg, meanwhile, continued to fall backwards toward Robert Merhi (Zeta Corse) and Matthieu Vaxivière (Lotus), but neither could push beyond Amberg. While 7th was not necessarily an ideal result for Vaxivière, the Frenchman was pleased having started 13th on the grid.
Sergey Sirotkin (Fortec) took 8th place ahead of the Arden of Pierre Gasly – the latter of whom drove the race with a damaged nosecone – and Pietro Fantin closed out the top ten for Draco Racing.
A delighted race one podium. © WSR (Jean Michel Le Meur / DPPI)
2014 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (Rd 2, Race 1)
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Carlos Sainz Jr. DAMS 43m14.984s (25 laps)
2. Nikolay Martsenko Comtec +14.335s
3. Oliver Rowland Fortec +24.291s
4. Marlon Stockinger Lotus +24.488s
5. Zoel Amberg AVF +33.825s
6. Roberto Merhi Zeta Corse +34.652s
7. Matthieu Vaxiviere Lotus +34.942s
8. Sergey Sirotkin Fortec +37.387s
9. Pierre Gasly Arden +38.622s
10. Pietro Fantin Draco +42.885s
11. Norman Nato DAMS +43.309s
12. Will Stevens Strakka +46.232s
13. Jazeman Jaafar ISR +48.853s
14. Meindert van Buuren Pons +49.922s
15. Marco Sorensen Tech 1 +51.361s
16. Luca Ghiotto Draco +54.250s
17. Roman Mavlanov Zeta Corse +57.127s
18. Beitske Visser AVF +59.760s
19. Matias Laine Strakka +1m05.335s
Retirements:
Oliver Webb Pons +24 laps
William Buller Arden +24 laps
Stanaway testing with Status GP. (c) Andrew Ferraro/GP3 Series Media Service.
Kiwi pilot Richie Stanaway will make his full-time return to single-seater racing this season in the GP3 Series with Status Grand Prix.
The 22-year-old is to drive alongside Nick Yelloly and Alfonso Celis Jr, having completed five test days with the Irish-Canadian squad in recent weeks.
The opening race in Barcelona will not be Stanaway’s GP3 debut – the Kiwi competed in four races at the tail end of the 2011 season, before moving on to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. However a heavy crash at Spa-Francorchamps in 2012, which resulted in a back injury, prematurely curtailed his season and temporarily brought his single-seater days to a close.
As an official factory driver of the Aston Martin Racing team, Stanaway spent 2013 competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (in the LM GTE Pro class), as well as the Porsche Supercup with DAMS. Stanaway will continue his duties with Aston Martin for the rest of this season.
Undeterred by previous setbacks, Stanaway – who is also part of Gravity Sport management’s roster – is keen to make the most of the opportunity ahead. “For my single-seater career, I always hoped my injury was a bump in the road, not the end of the road. Branching into GTs last year was an important step for me, and I’m very happy to be staying with Aston Martin in a parallel programme, but I am also extremely grateful to have another opportunity on the single-seater ladder. And the GP3 Series is an ideal place for me to do that.”
Stanaway added: “The GP3 testing has gone well. To date we have not yet shown the full potential of me and the #27 Status GP car over a single lap, but the build up has been effective and I have learned a huge amount about what’s required to succeed in GP3.”
Status GP team principal Teddy Yip Jr commented: “Richie is a real talent whose progress we always followed through the ranks, and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to race with him now. He complements Nick and Alfonso perfectly in the team. Like us all, Richie is hungry for success, and has fitted in extremely well into the organisation. We’d like to thank Aston Martin Racing and Gravity Sport Management for making this possible, and we look forward to a successful season together.”
The GP3 Series commences in a little over two weeks, as a support to the Spanish Grand Prix.
It has been something of a thundering start to the FIA European F3 season for Esteban Ocon.
In his opening three races, the French teenager nabbed one win, two further podiums, two pole positions and one fastest lap.
A stellar effort for a rookie in any championship, let alone a rookie in championship of this calibre. With the Prema Powerteam squad, Ocon has displayed a prowess and ability to adapt not often seen by young drivers at this level.
That the new engine reacts in a similar fashion to the motors that power the lower Formula Renault categories helps, for the 17-year-old is a graduate of just such a category.
That Ocon also has the powerhouse that is Prema and the Lotus F1 Junior Team supporting him must not go underestimated either.
Yet, the débutante will no doubt be looking over his shoulder, because lying in wait is another rookie, Antonio Fuoco – also impressive, also a winner, also a Prema driver, but a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
With another rookie, Max Verstappen also proving a speedy young thing and the presence of F3 veterans Felix Rosenqvist and Tom Blomqvist, this is already looking far more competitive than last year’s championship.
But there is still such a long way to go…
Leigh O’Gorman
This should have been a time of anticipation for the returning Signature Racing.
An occasion when the famed French company thrust their hand upon the FIA European F3 Championship and brought the fight to the Volkswagen and Mercedes-powered entries.
However when the Renault-engined squad launched into testing at the Hungaroring recently and later the Red Bull Ring, something was dreadfully wrong.
Where the likes of Prema Powerteam, Carlin and van Amersfoort fought for the leading places and times during the sessions, Signature were struggling.
The cars, initially piloted by Oscar Tunjo and Tatiana Calderon, proved slow during their first running at the Hungarian circuit and things would go no better on the following day.
For the second test at the Spielberg circuit, Marco Sorensen replaced Tunjo in an effort to bring in a more experienced head, but he could do no better.
Reports emerged of a 20 kph deficit on the straights began to emerge, as the French black-and-gold cars remained rooted to the foot of the time sheets.
Come Silverstone and it’s all over. With the engine unit homologated for the season and therefore pinned for the season, Tunjo was withdrawn and Calderon transferred to Zeller Racing with Mücke.
Signature were left with no drivers and an under-powered engine that few would touch. There are no prizes for last position, but lots of potential to damage reputations and no sensible driver would risk that.
And so the curtains are drawn, before light had even had an opportunity to shine. Whether Renault or Signature return to make amends in 2015 though…
© Leigh O’Gorman.
The feel was certainly different on Good Friday. For a start, there were far more Red Bull replica shirts present than before.
The slight throng of hands clutching pen, paper and camera phones were noticeable and became even more prominent during the autograph session prior to the opening FIA World Endurance Championship race today.
That this Good Friday was warm, if a touch breezy, probably brought a few extra punters; keen for an autograph and the briefest of moments with a star.
And don’t underestimate him. Mark Webber is a star.
Oh, maybe not in the way Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso are stars, but still the man attracts. And while it is his status that the ACO and the FIA will play upon when promoting this eight-date world tour, there is little doubt that Porsche have brought the Australian in to capitalise on his skill and speed.
For Webber, there is the matter of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a lot of unfinished business. It is not 1999 and this is no incorrectly designed Mercedes. In the Porsche 919, Webber will also see an opportunity for a World Championship and that should be more than enough to get his blood pumping.
But take care today, for while blue skies courted Friday’s Free Practice, heavy clouds drew on raceday, doing much to turn the Easter meeting upside down.
© Leigh O’Gorman.
Fuoco leads the field at the start. © FIA.
Antonio Fuoco claimed his first FIA European Formula 3 Championship victory at a cold and windy Silverstone this morning.
The Italian teenager fronted an all-rookie podium; alongside runner-up Max Verstappen and 3rd place man Esteban Ocon.
Fuoco (Prema Powerteam) jumped teammate and poleman Ocon off the line and led a close gaggle of four cars through the Village-Abbey-Arena section.
As the quartet poured onto the Wellington straight, taking care not to collide, Fuoco filtered into the lead ahead of Ocon, who led Tom Blomqvist (Jagonya Ayam Carlin), who led Verstappen (van Amersfoort).
For a time Ocon pressed Fuoco; however the new leading man – with two new tyres – held sway, while Ocon – on used Hankook rubber – began to struggle as the race aged somewhat.
Blomqvist too was beginning to lose precious grip in the early stages, allowing Verstappen to pass into the Loop, but the feisty Blomqvist fought back briefly, only for Verstappen to solidify the position shortly thereafter.
The move was investigated for a time following suspicions that it had been completed under yellow flags; however the race stewards would conclude that it was a clean move.
Verstappen’s move for 3rd cemented one segment of the race. Seeing 2nd place just ahead, the Dutch racer zeroed in on Ocon, allowing Fuoco more freedom to drive away in the lead.
As Ocon mirrors and concentration began to fill with Dutch youth, Fuoco drew away, eventually building a lead on 4.7s come the chequered flag. This would be Fuoco’s first Formula 3 victory and it was done in style. “My race start was fantastic,” said the victor. “I managed to overtake Esteban right away. I believe that was the key to success. This was my first weekend in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and I am really delighted that I can already celebrate my first win.”
Behind Fuoco, the slowing Ocon held Verstappen at bay – for a time – but the move was inevitable. The decisive move came on lap 11, when Verstappen played a dummy on Ocon through Abbey, before diving inside for the runner-up spot. Ocon played aggressive for a few corners in an effort to retake his position, but Verstappen had sealed the deal.
The Dutch racer commented that: “I made a good start and I was able to battle for the top positions right away. Towards the middle of the race, my tyres started to degrade but I still maintained a good pace.”
With the two positions escaping, Ocon held his final podium place with little threat from behind, ensuring the rookie maintained the points lead prior to the next round at the Hockenheimring. For Ocon, the race was a mixture of positive and negative elements. “Antonio’s start was better than mine so that allowed him to overtake me for the lead. In the first two laps, I was faster, but I couldn’t overtake him. Perhaps, I was running too closely behind him at that time and ruined my front tyres while doing so.”
Nicholas Latifi made it three Prema Powerteam entries in the top four, following a long and forceful battle with Blomqvist. The Canadian lost his 4th place off the start, but pushed the Carlin man for several laps; a battle that saw the pair swap position twice during the fifth lap.
Latifi would finally complete the job on lap nine, when he made a stellar pass around the outside of Blomqvist in Copse.
The slowing Blomqvist would lose out further still when teammate Antonio Giovinazzi passed for 5th on lap 14. Admittedly, it was the end of an intriguing journey for Giovinazzi, who fell from 6th to 11th at the start, before passing Jordan King and John Bryant-Meisner (both lap 2), Felix Rosenqvist (lap 9) and Lucas Auer on lap 11.
The spinning Ed Jones gave Giovinazzi another position – also on lap 11 – bringing the Italian to the rear of the struggling Blomqvist.
For Blomqvist, 6th would be the best he could muster, although had there been another lap, he may have fallen behind the recovering Rosenqvist.
It had been a disastrous weekend for the Mücke team. Mechanical and set-up issues had left the German squad struggling and it saw Rosenqvist’s title challenge stutter badly at the first hurdle – again.
The Swede had made a good start. From the seventh row, Rosenqvist had jumped to 9th on the opening tour and was 8th a circulation later, although he would lose two places at the halfway point. Jones’ spin and difficulties for Auer and King brought Rosenqvist up to 7th, but that was the best he could manage following a frustrating weekend.
A disappointed Rosenqvist later noted: “We were a little bit stronger after making some set-up changes for the final race, but we still obviously can’t be happy. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and we need to improve the situation quickly, but I’m confident we’ll be able to fight back. It’s still very early days in the season and we’ll do absolutely everything to turn this around sooner rather than later.”
Auer would claim 8th on the final lap, when he passed the damaged King; the latter having partially broken his front wing a few laps previously. Indeed despite the removal of front end grip, King held on remarkably well irrespective of the pressure coming from behind.
Felix Serralles could not pass King and thus settled for 10th and the final point. It marks a positive result for the Puerto Rican, who started on the eighth row and passed Bryant-Meisner and Dennis van de Laar on his way to the top ten.
2014 FIA European F3 Championship (Rd 1, Race 3, Silverstone)
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Antonio Fuoco Prema Dallara-Merc 34m13.614s
2. Max Verstappen Van Amersfoort Dallara-VW +4.731s
3. Esteban Ocon Prema Dallara-Merc +9.325s
4. Nicholas Latifi Prema Dallara-Merc +17.322s
5. Antonio Giovinazzi Carlin Dallara-VW +21.667s
6. Tom Blomqvist Carlin Dallara-VW +25.945s
7. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke Dallara-Merc +26.266s
8. Lucas Auer Mucke Dallara-Merc +32.033s
9. Jordan King Carlin Dallara-VW +33.437s
10. Felix Serralles West-Tec Dallara-Merc +33.814s
11. John Bryant-Meisner Fortec Dallara-Merc +34.027s
12. Dennis van de Laar Prema Dallara-Merc +34.448s
13. Hector Hurst West-Tec Dallara-Merc +35.474s
14. Alexander Toril T-Sport Dallara-NBE +35.792s
15. Ed Jones Carlin Dallara-VW +38.021s
16. Roy Nissany Mucke Dallara-Merc +39.821s
17. Michele Beretta Eurointernational Dallara-Merc +42.527s
18. Gustavo Menezes Van Amersfoort Dallara-VW +43.205s
19. Tatiana Calderon Jo Zeller Dallara-Merc +45.972s
20. Jules Szymkowiak Van Amersfoort Dallara-VW +48.697s
21. Spike Goddard T-Sport Dallara-NBE +1m16.767s
Retirements:
Riccardo Agostini Eurointernational Dallara-Merc 16 laps
Sean Gelael Carlin Dallara-VW 15 laps
Mitchell Gilbert Fortec Dallara-Merc 1 lap
Jake Dennis Carlin Dallara-VW 0 laps
Felipe Guimaraes Double R Dallara-Merc 0 laps
2014 FIA European F3 Championship (Rd 1) Drivers' Championship (Pts) 1. Esteban Ocon 58 2. Antonio Fuoco 52 3. Tom Blomqvist 43 4. Nicholas Latifi 38 5. Max Verstappen 28 Rookie Championship (Pts) 1. Esteban Ocon 65 2. Antonio Fuoco 61 3. Max Verstappen 33 4. Jules Szymkowiak 30 5. Jake Dennis 27 Teams' Championship (Pts) 1. Prema Powerteam 104 2. Jagonya Ayam with Carlin 72 3. Van Amersfoort 37 4. Mucke Motorsport 35 5. Carlin 29
Ocon dominated in Silverstone. © FIA.
Esteban Ocon claimed his first international Formula 3 victory at Silverstone today; in what was only his fourth ever race in the category.
The French youngster showed his class with a fabulous start, destroying the field in the opening few laps, ahead of fellow podium sitters Nicholas Latifi and Antonio Fuoco.
Indeed so good was Ocon’s opening few tours that the Frenchman pulled a clear three seconds clear in the first half-dozen circulations. From there, Ocon managed the race with ease, maintaining his Hankook tyres, while keeping Latifi at a reasonably safe distance.
Once the gap between Ocon and the chasing Latifi had grown to three seconds, the leading Prema Powerteam racer held steady, eventually winning by 3.8s after 18 laps. “I am really delighted,” exclaimed the first-time winner. “In this race, my start was better than in the first one and I managed to hold on to first place. Initially, I tried to pull a gap. Later, my goal was to save the tyres, to drive consistent lap times and to bring victory home safely.”
Latifi charged home to his first podium in the European Championship, while Fuoco – a further 1.5s in arrears – made it three Prema Powerteam entries in the top three. While lamenting the early gap to Ocon, the Canadian Latifi was delighted with his podium success. “My second place is making my very happy. In the early stages of the race, Esteban was faster, which was his great advantage later on. He was able to benefit from his margin in the second half of the race and turned it into victory.”
Like Ocon, Fuoco also made a good start; in this instance passing race one victor Tom Blomqvist on the approach into turn one. “I am very happy for being on the podium for the first time after my second race in Formula 3 already. My start was really good, I managed to overtake Tom Blomqvist right away and I came 3rd.”
For a brief period, the Jagonya Ayam Carlin racer kept close to the rear of Fuoco; however Blomqvist would fall back after a time, bringing the Anglo-Kiwi racer toward the clutches of the chasing Jordan King and Max Verstappen.
Starting back in 7th, King made another good launch off the line, jumping both Verstappen and Jones in one swoop, before laying pressure into Blomqvist come the seventh tour. With King under the rear wing of Blomqvist, Verstappen drew into the battle, as the trio pressurised each other into an error.
Alas, it would come from King on lap 16 – an attempted move on Blomqvist, saw the Carlin man momentarily fall off the circuit at Maggots, gifting 5th to Verstappen; however the Dutch rookie would not have enough time to steal 4th from Blomqvist.
Jones enjoyed a quiet race to 7th spot, although it is less likely that Antonio Giovinazzi and Dennis van de Laar could lay to such a claim.
Both Giovinazzi and van de Laar battled for much of the running, starting with Giovinazzi slipping by into 8th on lap two. From there, the pair were rarely split by more than one second, yet van de Laar was unable to make up the deficit.
John Bryant-Meisner held off a late charge from Felipe Guimaraes to collect the final point for 10th position. Where Bryant-Meisner rose one spot to 10th off the line, Guimaraes’ climb was more than impressive.
From 17th, the Brazilian had taken three drivers on lap one, before sweeping by Gustavo Menezes (lap 1), the mechanically disabled Felix Rosenqvist (lap 2) and Lucas Auer (lap 6).
The race was not without its clumsiness. Lower down the order on lap three, Roy Nissany ran off track exiting Stowe, allowing Spike Goddard an opportunity to pass for position. Unfortunately Nissany disagreed with this notion, deciding instead to punt Goddard into a spin, with the latter retiring on the spot.
Hector Hurst too had an off, with the Team West-Tec driver clouting barriers close to the end.
2014 FIA European F3 Championship (Rd 1, Race 2, Silverstone)
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Esteban Ocon Prema Dallara-Mercedes 33m53.215s
2. Nicholas Latifi Prema Dallara-Mercedes +3.678s
3. Antonio Fuoco Prema Dallara-Mercedes +5.148s
4. Tom Blomqvist Carlin Dallara-VW +9.264s
5. Max Verstappen Van Amersfoot Dallara-VW +11.237s
6. Jordan King Carlin Dallara-VW +11.914s
7. Ed Jones Carlin Dallara-VW +19.293s
8. Antonio Giovinazzi Carlin Dallara-VW +20.649s
9. Dennis van de Laar Prema Dallara-Mercedes +21.877s
10. John Bryant-Meisner Fortec Dallara-Mercedes +23.533s
11. Felipe Guimares Double R Dallara-Mercedes +24.078s
12. Lucas Auer Mucke Dallara-Mercedes +24.548s
13. Gustavo Menezes Van Amersfoot Dallara-VW +30.106s
14. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke Dallara-Mercedes +31.293s
15. Felix Serralles West-Tec Dallara Mercedes +32.009s
16. Mitch Gilbert Fortec Dallara-Mercedes +32.766s
17. Jake Dennis Carlin Dallara-VW +33.362s
18. Alexander Toril T-Sport Dallara-NBE +40.060s
19. Tatiana Calderon Jo Zeller Dallara-Mercedes +46.004s
20. Sean Gelael Carlin Dallara-VW +48.528s
21. Michele Beretta EuroInternational Dallara-Mercedes +49.158s
22. Roy Nissany Mucke Dallara-Mercedes +1m01.985s
23. Riccardo Agostini EuroInternational Dallara-Mercedes +1m02.208s
24. Jules Szymkowiak Van Amersfoot Dallara-VW +1m03.172s
Retirements:
Hector Hurst West-Tec Dallara Mercedes +3 laps
Spike Goddard T-Sport Dallara-NBE +16 laps
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