Italian racer Michela Cerruti has signed on for a full-season Auto GP World Series campaign with Super Nova.
Auto GP will not be a completely new environment for Cerruti. The Roman competed in two rounds last season with MLR-71, earning a best finish of 8th at the Nürburgring. Her eventual total of five points from the four races left her 19th in the standings come year end.
Following two post-season tests at Jerez and Vallelunga with the British squad, Cerruti confirmed her position and is not shying away from her title ambitions, but knows some vital steps need to be taken.
“For a driver, it is good to know that I have a winning team and car combination and we worked very well in the testing together. I know that I need to improve and the team has already showed that they will help to guide me,” Cerruti commented. She added, “It is the first time I have worked with a non-Italian team and I admire the way that Super Nova work and appreciate and understand that we are pushing for a common goal. The team work is a key factor and it is important to see that the team believes in me so that I can concentrate on driving, knowing that everything else is taken care of professionally.”
A former winner in the Superstars Series (now the SuperTouringSeries) and the Italian GT Championship, the 26-year-old has enjoyed some other experience in single-seater categories, having raced in the FIA European F3 Championship, the Toyota Racing Series, F3 European Open and (interestingly) Formula Middle East.
Cerruti becomes the 2nd driver to sign up to the Auto GP World Series following the unveiling of Andrea Roda Virtuosi UK last month.
See also: “Auto GP confirms partial calendar and Eurosport deal”
Organisers of the Auto GP World Series finally unveiled a partial calendar for the 2014 season this week.
With February almost upon us, it marks an incredibly late reveal for the series, but they have announced that it will be paired with the WTCC for the opening three rounds of the year at Marrakech, Paul Ricard (both April) and the Hungaroring (May).
From there, Auto GP will support the Italian GT Championship at Monza (May-June), the ELMS (Red Bull Ring, July) and DTM (Nürburgring, August), however details of the final two rounds of the year have yet to be released.
On a more positive note, the championship has also announced that each race is to be aired live on Eurosport.
Series boss Enzo Coloni commented, “Auto GP is very pleased to continue the collaboration with the WTCC, a consistent partnership that enabled our drivers to race in an excellent environment and with spectacular crowds over the last few years. The same goes for the DTM. We started cooperating with them last season and we look forward to a successful path for the future.”
Coloni also made reference to the new partnership with the ELMS and added that more is still to come. “For the first time we will also line-up together with the ELMS Championship. We will shortly announce the two final round of the season and there might be some great surprises coming…”
Meanwhile, Andrea Roda is to race in Auto GP once again this year, having secured another season with the Virtuosi UK squad. The Italian scored a best finish of 4th (twice) in the series last year, ending the year 12th in the standings.
Roda notes that, “We got considerably closer to the podium in the final part of the season and I want to keep that trend throughout 2014. Now I know how to manage a 550-horsepower car and I think I can put myself in the spotlight.”
No other drivers have yet to be revealed, but there is plenty of time.
© Fernando Alonso
Following the success of its début exhibition in 2013, Zoom returns to London next month with a fresh series of photographs from the Formula One paddock.
Taken by a cast of Formula One drivers, team members and a number of its known characters, the shots go some little way to opening up viewers to the lives of those within the sport.
Thankfully, many of the pictures go beyond the mere confines of paddocks and hospitality units, offering up an alternative view of those who live and breathe Formula One – a category of sport and entertainment that can appear bizarre and absurd, to say the least.
Whether it Nico Rosberg posing with the vintage Mercedes W154, as he touches the sport’s illustrious history, or Fernando Alonso’s now famous shot of the roaring crowds at Monza following last year’s Italian Grand Prix or Christian Horner with his miniature donkeys, Zoom portrays an angle of the sport rarely witnessed on television – and this collection is all the better for it.
As with previous edition, the photographs are to go to auction in association with Nikon, under the experienced eyes of COYS and will be hosted by BBC Formula One lead presenter Suzi Perry.
The auction takes place at the InterContinental London Park Lane on Friday February 7th and is in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Special guests on the night are to include former Formula One World Champion Damon Hill and Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner.
Running alongside the auction is a competition in this week’s UK Metro, where shots entered by amateur photographers are gunning for a Nikon camera, an invitation to the auction and the opportunity to picture displayed.
Competition winners will also receive a copy of the second edition of the Zoom book, which is to be officially launched shortly. To enter the Metro competition, follow this link.
© Nico Rosberg
© Sebastian Vettel
© Lewis Hamilton
© Christian Horner
One of the issues with racing at Brands Hatch’s “Indy” circuit is the length of the layout — or indeed the lack of it.
With close-to 30 Formula 3 cars circulating the Kent track at just over 40 seconds per lap, Brands Hatch becomes of the few venues where backmarkers play havoc with leaders.
Such is the difference between the front and rear of the field at this level, that lapping can begin prior to the halfway mark. Shortly thereafter, the track order will resemble a mess of front runners and the lower ranked pilots.
By the time the close of the race approaches, even the midfield are falling a tour in arrears. As blue flags flutter vigourously, one can have sympathy for those being put a lap down.
With the packs so close, drivers are delicately attempting to balance competition with their close rivals, while also doing their utmost to not be penalised for blocking.
Most succeed. Others, well…
For more, check out Leigh O’Gorman’s Instagram page.
Leigh O’Gorman
Swedish rising star Jimmy Eriksson has become the first racer to join the RUSSIAN TIME GP3 squad for 2014.
It will be Eriksson’s second year in the category, following a less-than-successful foray with Status Grand Prix. Over the course of the sixteen-race season, the Swede struggled for consistency, ensuring he scored no points.
After a difficult year in the F3 Euroseries in 2011, Eriksson stepped back to the German F3 category the following season, where he dominated in a relatively small field, before moving to GP3 last year.
Happily for Eriksson, the RUSSIAN TIME GP3 effort is effectively run by the Motopark squad – the same group that helped Eriksson to his German F3 title in 2012. “I’m excited to have been given this opportunity to join RUSSIAN TIME for their first foray into GP3, and it does feel a bit like coming home. I share some very fond memories with this team, culminating in the ATS Formula 3 Cup title in 2012 – our most recent season together.”
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old knows full well that this may still be a tricky year for the Russian-German unit, as they embark on their GP3 début. “The guys are new to GP3 and this is an ultra-competitive championship, but their record from GP2 last year – winning the teams’ title on their first attempt – highlights everything this group of people is capable of. With the experience I have now gained, I’m confident of fighting much closer to the front of the field and challenging for some strong results this year.”
Whether he finds a comforting setting in the RUSSIAN TIME squad will be key to Eriksson’s future in the category.
Rising Belgian star Stoffel Vandoorne has made a move to the GP2 Series with ART Grand Prix.
The 21-year-old moves switches from the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, after losing out on the title in a tense battle to fellow McLaren protégé Kevin Magnussen.
Super Formula and Super GT veteran racer Takuya Izawa will join Vandoorne at the famed French team.
Vandoorne arrives in the GP2 Series with quite a high pedigree, having enjoyed much success since his entry into car racing in 2010. A champion from the off in the Formula 4 Eurocup Series (now French Formula 4), Vandoorne also took the Eurocup Formula Renault title in 2012, before coming 2nd to Magnussen in his début FR 3.5 campaign.
Quite naturally, the Kortrijk native has only the top prize in mind, but knows that this will be no easy task. “I’m very excited to have been selected to race for the ART GP2 team for 2014. Having won the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 in 2012, and having finished second in the World Series by Renault 3.5 in 2013, I feel I’m making good progress towards my ultimate goal: Formula 1.
“I’m definitely not making any predictions, and I’m certainly not under-estimating the drivers I’ll be racing in GP2 this year, many of whom are very good indeed, but as I say I’ll be aiming to win with ART and I very much hope that that success will help me on my way to my ultimate goal: Formula 1.”
With Magnussen now promoted to the McLaren Formula One and ex-World Champion Jenson Button approaching the twilight of his career, the door may soon be opening for Vandoorne to step up.
Alongside his ART Grand Prix duties, the Belgian racer is also the new McLaren reserve, which – naturally – increases his workload for the time ahead. “I’ll be working with the other drivers to develop the car using the simulator, which is something I’ve been doing since I became a McLaren Young Driver.”
Vandoorne continued, “I’ll also be present at many Grands Prix, and I’ll be integrated into the race team’s programme, assisting Jenson and Kevin wherever I can.”
While Izawa may not seem like the most obvious driver choice for a team like ART, the 29-year-old does have some pedigree in the sport and it would be silly to ignore his links to Honda.
A runner-up in the Super GT Series in 2009 (alongside ex-Formula One driver Ralph Firman), Izawa went on to place 3rd in the Formula Nippon Championship (now Super Formula), losing out to Kazuki Nakajima in the final race having started the finale as joint-leader.
While Izawa may not be heading for Formula One any time soon, there is little doubt that Izawa knows how handle powerful single-seaters, so it would be foolish to write him off as a backmarker. The Japanese racer commented that, “I am feeling emotions, which I never felt before. This will be a big challenge for me; however, understanding the importance of what comes beyond this challenge, I view it as a project where I definitely have to succeed.”
Whereas many up-and-coming drivers shower press releases with tales of super confidence that pours from every syllable, Izawa is refreshingly fresh and honest when it comes to acknowledging pressure – although that may have a little to do with his added maturity. “Of course, I feel pressure. I should be confident with what I learned during the six years I competed in the top category in Japan,” says the Tokyo born racer. He added, “I will take a new step forward toward global racing as a driver who inherited Honda’s Challenging Spirit. I am grateful for Honda for giving me this opportunity and for all people who supported me to this date.”
The move comes with the announcement that McLaren and Honda are to enter into a partnership with ART Grand Prix, as the latter partially restructure their GP2 and GP3 Series outfit following the split from Lotus at the end of 2012. The team recently unveiled Sébastien Philippe as the new GP2/3 team manager for ART, while the Frenchman will also act as CEO under the guide of Frédéric Vasseur and Nicolas Todt.
A former driver with ART, this is a move that Philippe is keen to embrace. “This is just like coming home because I have known this team since the beginning when I raced for them back in the mid 90s. I am extremely proud and happy to return as ART Grand Prix has become one of the major teams in motorsport and a major training ground for the high performance racing championships.”
As of yet, the French squad have not announced any drivers for their GP3 Series entry.
If nothing else, Vandoorne’s move to GP2 could set up a tense battle with reigning European F3 champion Raffaele Marciello, who is expected to be announced at Racing Engineering shortly.
After much speculation, Antonio Fuoco has finally been announced as the Ferrari Driver Academy placement in Prema Powerteam’s FIA European F3 effort.
Still only 17-years-old, Fuoco won the Formula Renault Alps Series in 2013 with the Prema Junior team in what was his first year of car racing.
Having guided Swiss-Italian racer Raffaele Marciello to the European F3 title last season, Prema have taken another Ferrari protégé in the hope that he will deliver further success.
Rene Rosin, manager with the Prema Powerteam squad, believes Fuoco can add to his Formula Renault glory. “I’m very happy to continue the work we started with Fuoco in last season’s Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS series. He has some superb potential and his career so far reminds me Raffaele Marciello.”
If nothing else, promotion to Formula 3 with Prema offers Fuoco some much needed stability at a time when the level of competition rises significantly. Rosin agrees, noting that, “Prema is a second home to young Antonio and his jump to Formula 3 is an obvious continuation for our relationship.”
Fuoco is the third driver confirmed by the Italian team. The 17-year-old will race alongside Lotus junior Esteban Ocon and Dennis van de Laar; however a fourth driver may still come Prema’s way.
Carlin Motorsport have signed Tom Blomqvist, Antonio Giovinazzi and Sean Gelael to the FIA European F3 effort for this season.
Unlike previous seasons, the Blomqvist-Gelael-Giovinazzi group are being backed by the Jagonya Ayam group and are (on paper) split from the main Carlin effort.
Jagonya Ayam – Indonesia’s version of KFC – have been a personal backer of Sean Gelael for some time and also helped keep Giovinazzi with Double R last year. Blomqvist, a former Red Bull junior driver, joins the Carlin squad for third season of European F3, following spells with EuroInternational and ma-con.
Throughout last season, both Blomqvist and Giovinazzi displayed plenty of speed, with Blomqvist showing his metal in the early rounds, before the team began to fall backward through the season; however the Anglo-Kiwi driver still finished a very respectable 7th in the standings.
After a difficult opening, Giovinazzi began to pull things together as the season aged – eventually the former Formula Pilota China champion scored 20 of his 31 points in the final six races of the thirty-race calendar.
Gelael, meanwhile, scored no points with Double R in 2013, but did display some consistency and growth of confidence in the second-half of the season.
For Carlin, the British squad have shown themselves to be the dominant force in British F3, but they have yet to take a title on European ground. While it may take quite a step up in performance from his drivers, team boss Trevor Carlin believes that could change.
“This is a massive commitment from the sponsor and we are proud to be chosen as the team to take these Sean, Tom and Antonio forwards in their careers,” commented Carlin. “We are very proud to be able to represent the Jagonya Ayam brand in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. We feel the combination of experience and potential of Jagonya Ayam with Carlin can compete for championship honours.”
On the other side of the Carlin garage, Ed Jones and Jake Dennis were confirmed some weeks ago, while it is believed that Jordan King is to complete the Carlin sextet.
Andre Negrao has joined Rene Binder to complete the GP2 Series driver pairing at Arden International.
The Brazilian switches to the Formula One feeder category from Formula Renault 3.5, where Negrao spent three seasons with International Draco Racing.
In those three seasons, Negrao has taken two podiums, and has taken a best series classification of 10th in 2013; however the 21-year-old will still need to do much more than that
Arden team manager Julian Rouse does not believe Negrao’s lack of top results will be an issue. “There is always a lot to learn in GP2 as a rookie, but Andre looked like he adapted very well to the car in the Abu Dhabi in the tests and so we are confident he can have a strong first season. The important thing is that he fits in well with the team and works hard and we have no doubt he will do that.”
While Negrao has earned a few respectable results in FR3.5, one cannot help but feel this may be Arden’s weakest pairing since the Josef Kral / Jolyon Palmer duo of 2011.
Both Negrao and Binder possess touches of speed, but have done little in their brief careers to truly light up the board. It will interesting to see if this changes in 2014.
The British Formula Ford Championship is working to a return to form, following an often difficult and frustrating 2013 season.
A mixture of shallow fields and stiff competition from the new-for-2013 BRDC Formula 4 category and the Protyre Formula Renault Series did much to dent the once hugely popular category.
However, as witnessed last year when the series introduced aerodynamic wings to its format, the series is not afraid to make changes when considered necessary.
There have been a couple of significant alterations to the category’s sporting regulations this season, with the second of the weekend’s three races being run as a reverse grid race. Also, a split of a £30,000 prize fund is on offer for drivers who prove successful during the season.
A spokesperson for the series commented at the recent AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL show in Birmingham that, crucially, “no further technical changes are planned, as teams aim to save money following 2013’s expenditure.”
Already seats are beginning to fill with Harrison Scott returning for another go at the title with Falcon Motorsport, while 2013 part-time racer, Connor Mills, is to go full-season with Meridian Motorsport.
Making series debuts with Falcon and Meridian respectively will be Chris Mealin and Ashley Sutton – the latter of whom is returning to motorsport following a serious car crash suffered two-and-a-half years ago.
Meanwhile Meridian have also confirmed that they will field a third car during this campaign, while Falcon are set to field at least four entries.
As well as maintaining its live television exposure in the UK on ITV4, the series continues as a support to the highly popular British Touring Car Championship. British Formula Ford still has a long way to go if wants to repair the damage inflicted upon in the past fifteen years, but the series does look like taking steps in the right direction.
Former Italian Formula 3 champion Riccardo Agostini has joined EuroInternational for their latest assault on the FIA European Formula 3 Championship.
It represents an odd sidestep for Agostini, who competed in the opening half of the Auto GP World Series for Manor MP Motorsport, as well as a single Formula Renault 3.5 race weekend with Zeta Corse.
Agostini’s Italian F3 title victory earned him a Ferrari Formula One test day at Fiorano. Now 19-years-old, Agostini has returned to full-time competition with the little Italian team. “I have accepted this new challenge with the EuroInternational Team […] determined to follow the road that the FIA indicated to the young drivers,” said Agostini, adding thereafter: “I look forward to compete in a high level environment such as the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, which I believe to be the appropriate series to continue with, after winning the Italian F3 title in 2012.”
According to Autosport’s Marcus Simmons {note 1}, EuroInternational are in the process of adding a second full-time driver for the coming season, while carrying on with their existing ATS Formula 3 Cup campaign.
{note 1}
“EuroInternational expands European Formula 3 line-up for 2014” (Autosport.com; January 13th, 2014)
Leading GP3 Series squad Arden International have confirmed the first two drivers for the 2014 GP3 Series campaign.
Romanian racer Robert Visoiu will be staying with the British squad for a second season, while Patric Niederhauser moves to Arden from Jenzer Motorsport.
The Banbury based team, headed by Technical Director Julian Rouse, took the Drivers’ Championship last season with Daniil Kvyat, but came home 2nd in the Teams’ Championship behind ART Grand Prix.
Another year with the Arden squad could be key for the 17-year-old Visoiu. Following a reasonable début year in 2012, Visoiu took two reverse grid victories last season, but struggled to make waves in the main Saturday races, often due to tricky qualifying results.
However the teenager from Pitești believes he is moving in the right direction. “I feel I’ve learned a lot during the previous year and now I am ready to step up to a more consistent evolution. Arden plays a key role in my development and I am confident that with their help I will be able to reach my goals.”
Rouse is well aware of Visoiu’s qualifying difficulties and knows that if the Romanian can improve on those elements, then he may be a title prospect. “He is very strong in the race conditions and if we continue to develop his qualifying pace he will be a very strong competitor in GP3 this season.”
The year also brings a touch of stability for Visoiu, who will be driving the same machine that he had last year – a first for the young man. “It will be the first time I get the chance to race the same car in two consecutive seasons and that makes me feel very positive about 2014!”
Meanwhile Arden have brought in the more experienced Niederhauser to sit alongside Visoiu. Niederhauser, a 22-year-old driver from Münsingen in Switzerland, took two wins in his opening GP3 Series campaign in 2012, but suffered a severe downturn in results last year that saw him drop to 13th in the standings.
From being a potential title challenger, Niederhauser will be hoping to rebuild his reputation in 2014 and despite only having one day’s post-season testing with Arden in November, he believes a shot at the title is a must. “It will be my third year in GP3 so my goal is to fight for the Championship. It will be an immense pleasure to work with them and I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my career.”
For Rouse, building relationships is the key to building a title hunt. “Patric is a proven race winner in GP3; […] even though we only worked together for one day during the testing the relationship between Patric and the team was very strong and now we need to focus on developing this further in the pre- season testing.”
Either, as both Visoiu and Niederhauser enter their third years in GP3, they know they need to score big.
Macau racer Andy Chang has confirmed he is to move up to British Formula 3 this season with Double R Racing.
The 17-year-old, whose full name is Chang Wing Chung, brings little in the way of experience having only competed in four race weekends thus far in his career {note 1}.
The first of possibly three-to-four signings for Double R, Chang débuted in single-seaters toward the tail end of last year with two weekends in British Formula Ford, followed by a pair rounds in the Formula Masters Series.
The Macau-born racer moves straight into the International Class with Double R. It represents a huge step up for Chang – a factor acknowledge by Double R boss Anthony Hieatt. “It’s a big step up for him but with a good testing plan in place we’re confident he’ll be able to get up to speed pretty quickly.”
Despite Chang’s relative lack of experience, Hieatt was impressed by the results achieved in his brief car racing tenure. “He hasn’t driven the car yet but he’s shown well in the car races he’s done and, of course, he has a good karting pedigree. We’re confident he’ll improve well during the British season in preparation for the Macau Grand Prix at the end of the year.”
Before Chang enters the British series, he will enjoy an additional two days of testing, followed by one round of the F3 Open Winter Series next month.
{note 1}
From the World Karting Championship, where he came 12th overall in 2012, Chang entered British Formula Ford with Falcon Motorsport at Rockingham, before taking some reasonable results at Silverstone, including a trio of 6th place finishes in the 11-car field.
Upon returning, Chang took a best of 10th overall in the final round of Formula Masters with Eurasia Motorsport, before securing a very respectable 7th place in the non-Championship Macau round.
With nothing to report in the word of Formula One, Bloomberg TV interviewed Christian Horner yesterday in an attempt to get quotes about something to do with F1.
The Red Bull Team Principal was prodded about the new technical regulations that are coming into force this season, with the main focus being on the resized engines and hybrid units.
During the interview, Horner commented that, “I think you could see a very high retirement rate, maybe even 50 per cent in the first race,” which is a fair enough assumption of course; however it can be equally tempered by saying “I could have eggs tomorrow morning.”
With no evidence beyond what they have run in their own factory and taking into account information collected by their engine provider, Horner’s quote actually means nothing at all.
There is some validity to his words however. Whenever there are rules changes, reliability also becomes somewhat tricky, as designers and engineers get a feel for their now living and breathing machines and their limitations, as the Red Bull man explains: “Petrol is a challenge this year because we are limited to 100 kg of fuel to start the Grand Prix with, but more reliability issues in the early races will be a key factor – and of course we only have five engines for the whole year.”
As is often the case, this was peddled around a few spots in a manner befitting an approaching hurricane, but alas there really isn’t anything in the interview that isn’t fodder material.
Cars have retired before – it will not be the end of the road and the teams will figure it out. It may even be quite refreshing, as sometimes races that regularly finish with large numbers of cars intact can offer an impression of manufacturers not pushing machines to the edge {note 1}.
And that somewhat indirectly leads to a series of rumours that have been doing the rounds during the winter break – particularly those related to engine power and reliability.
There has been some talk that Mercedes possess the most powerful, yet the most fragile unit, while Renault’s pursuit of quick and steady may prove a successful solution. Except that is most likely nonsense – it could be correct, but it could also be nonsense for the simple reason that no one really has a clue where their rivals currently are at.
As it stands, no engine has yet been fully pushed to limits in modern F1 machinery; we certainly have yet to see cars go up against each other on track and finally the teams and manufacturers are definitely not going to tell us where they are in terms of development.
There really is nothing there at all to suggest any solid story, as the comparison data simply does not exist yet. Remember, it is only then that we will find out the true order of the field. Anyone who believes otherwise at this early stage is either fooling you or being fooled.
So, should you read a piece that confidently explains at this early stage who holds the advantage, then please ask yourself:
‘Who wrote the piece in question?;
From where are they obtaining this information?;
How are they making such data comparisons?;
What story are they really trying to sell?’
Right now Formula One merely playing the game of flailing one’s arms maniacally, proclaiming in a loud voice “I’m here, over here…” It is a tactic that has worked for a great many years, so why change now?
Beyond that, there was precious little in the Bloomberg piece that will do much to turn the head of the avid F1 fan – certainly nothing that will not be said a thousand times over in the next two months.
{note 1}
Nonsense, of course. You know full well that they are pushing hard.
The middle of October and it was an uneasy weekend for some of Raffaele Marciello more devoted fans.
Come the penultimate round of last year’s FIA European F3 Championship at Vallelunga, smoke began to billow from the Swiss-Italian racer’s Dallara. A moment of hesitation, a brief stall and the temperatures began to rise until the engine seized under the pressure.
Under the lights, Marciello’s Mercedes-powered Prema Powerteam machine clung resolutely to its grid slot, while the field dodged and edged their way around the obstacle. From that moment, poleman Alex Lynn was away and gone – this race was his.
Meanwhile starting last, Marciello’s sole title challenger, Felix Rosenqvist, cut through the pack, but despite the aggression Vallelunga is not the most forgiving of tracks for those lodged in the pack.
Rosenqvist eventually claimed 9th to nab a few points – not enough in the end however. Despite the obvious disappointment, Marciello was able to breathe a sigh of relief. On a different day at a different circuit, the outcome could have been very, very different.
That weekend, I happened to be staying in the same lodge as the “Lello” fans and while still reasonably confident, the mood had noticeably sullied. A week later at the Hockenheimring, Marciello finished the job once and for all. This time there were no mistakes.
For more, check out Leigh O’Gorman’s Instagram page.
© Leigh O’Gorman
Malaysian racer Jazeman Jaafar has joined Formula Renault 3.5 squad ISR for what will be his second season in the Formula One feeder category.
After claiming a podium in Monaco last season, Jaafar is keen to push for the title with the Czech squad, yet while the 21-year-old displayed plenty of flair on occasion, his season was also peppered with some difficult moments.
The Petronas sport backed racer tested with ISR late last year and according to Jaafar, the rapport was immediately apparent. “I quickly gelled with the team, felt comfortable in the car and had a very productive day. Since then, we’ve had a number of meetings and developed a clear strategy for the year ahead,” said the Kuala Lumpur native.
It was a sentiment echoed by ISR team boss Igor Salaquarda. “Jazeman quickly made a very good impression with everyone at the team at last year’s test, with his positive attitude, great work ethic and a steely determination, and we saw just how quick he can be as well.”
For ISR, the Czech squad will be hoping for an upturn in fortunes following a patchy 2013 season. With a graduate list that includes Daniel Ricciardo, Sam Bird and Esteban Guerrieri in the past, there is some pressure for Jaafar to succeed.
Yet with the hard work beginning in earnest soon, Jaafar appears delighted to have this detail in place. “It’s great to have my plans finalised early in the year so that I can focus on my second season of Formula Renault 3.5 and be as well prepared as I can be ahead of the first race.” He concluded, “We have a series of pre-season tests ahead so this will give me time to build a strong relationship with the team personnel and start to develop the car ready for the opening round in Monza in April.”
His seat at ISR confirmed, Jaafar also maintains his place in the junior ranks of the Mercedes Formula One team, having run three times with the Anglo-German squad last year, including a full driver evaluation test at Silverstone in November.
The Formula Renault Organising Committee, along with series promoters Fast Lane Promotions have revealed the first seven teams that will take part in this years Alps Series.
The series, which is entering its fourth year, will see the return of Tech 1 Racing, Arta Engineering, Jenzer Motorsport, TS Corse and BVM Racing – the latter of whom have already confirmed Dario Capitanio for the coming season.
See also: “Capitanio stays with BVM for second Alps campaign (January 10th, 2014)”
British motorsport veterans Fortec Motorsport have joined the Alps series to add to their Formula Renault 3.5 and Eurocup campaigns, while JCS Motorsport, who recently took over Interwetten.com Racing from Michael Schneider, are also entering the fray.
See also: “Eurocup Formula Renault opt for team stability (December 13th, 2013)”
More announcements are expected soon and a reasonably healthy grid is anticipated.
TheMotorsportArchive.com 