"Kimi Raikkonen has a run in a Lotus F1 Team car." © Andrew Ferraro/Lotus F1 Team
Earlier on today, the Internet suffered a nuclear meltdown when images emerged of Formula 1 returnee Kimi Raikkonen peddling at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia.
As his preparation to take the Lotus seat vacated by Robert Kubica / Nick Heidfeld / Bruno Senna continues, the Finn utilised the session to reacclimatise himself to the rigorous and violent nature of not-quite so modern Renault R30.
That Raikkonen should make his track return on the 30th anniversary of Niki Lauda’s comeback for McLaren can be seen as either a fortunate coincidence, or a neat marketing scoop.
Should it be the former, then all well and good – coincidences happen from time to time. If they didn’t, the world would be a rather odd place full of no surprises.
If the date was specifically selected to fall in line with Lauda’s return, then a marketing angle was missed. In saying that, this morning’s “Kimi Fever” may have rendered that tactic irrelevant anyway.
For now, here’s a brief video released by Lotus. Raikkonen, who famously says little, predictably did not say much in the feature.
How terribly nice, although one must admit “The Return of a Legend” is probably a tad over the top…
Kyalami layout (1982). © Creative Commons.
Without the public displays of placated aggravation and sugar-coated cat calling, Formula 1 would probably fall from the public eye.
Formula 1 loves controversy; it feeds off of it.
This is not to forget the often-epic drama that is Grand Prix motor racing of course, but that is merely an expensive sideshow to infinitely more expensive politicking.
Constant deployment of news, irrespective of its trivial nature, keep the pub experts (that’s you and I) chattering feverishly for hours and days on end.
[Not that I visit public houses that often – austerity and all that lark, y’see !!]
For the most part, the controversy generated within the walls of Formula 1 is generally harmless techno-babble nonsense, incomprehensible to the most eloquent accountants and middle-management types.
Whereas modern Formula 1 likes to gets down and dirty amidst the details of highly stringent regulations (Bahrain debacle aside), the sport does its best to avoid highly political battles, for these cast Formula 1 in a dispiriting light.
At the start of 1982, Formula 1 got it very, very wrong.
Striking Hard…
As they struggled for control of the sport in the late-1970’s, both FISA (then the governing body for motorsport) and FOCA (the Formula One Constructors’ Association) maintained a tense battleground.
The organisations – led by Jean-Marie Balestre (FISA) and Bernie Ecclestone (FOCA) – would spend several years fighting a bitter feud over Formula 1’s governance, licences and lucrative commercial matters.
It would see two Grand Prix having their world championship status revoked (1980, Spain; 1981, South Africa), following the withdrawal of factory teams, Ferrari, Renault and Alfa Romeo.
Prior to the opening Grand Prix of the 1982 season, FISA introduced new harsh new clauses into driver super licence contracts – clauses noted by an astute Niki Lauda.
The critical terms included an agreement forcing drivers to stay with any given team for a minimum of three years, potentially giving FISA a grip on the driver transfer market. Competitors would also have to make their earnings public, while never publicly criticising the governing body.
Incensed by these clauses, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (led by Didier Pironi and Lauda) decided to strike prior to the opening practice session in Kyalami, much to the chagrin of the promoter.
Escaping from the circuit in a bulbous orange bus – despite the promoter’s best efforts – the drivers headed for a hotel in Johannesburg, where they remained holed up overnight.
Support for the strike wasn’t completely unanimous amongst the drivers, especially with a number of the younger competitors. Faced with the possibility of their racing careers stalling before they had even hit top gear, Keke Rosberg and Manfred Winkelhock fiercely objected to the action.
…But Not For Too Long
Meanwhile, Toleman’s Teo Fabi broke ranks, joining his team on Friday morning, while March racer Jochen Mass was unaware of the protest, having chosen accommodation away from the rest of the Formula 1 contingent. Often known for his apolitical nature, Mass showed up at the circuit the following morning, completely oblivious to the fuss.
In the Brabham camp, Ecclestone sacked reigning world champion, Nelson Piquet, and his teammate Riccardo Patrese, although he would rehire them prior to qualifying.
Eventually, the GPDA came to temporary agreement with FISA, delaying the battle for a just short period. When practice did start, Rene Arnoux took pole ahead of Piquet*, Gilles Villeneuve and Patrese.
*Interestingly, Ecclestone and Piquet had a minor (and short-lived) falling out due to the strike; ensuring that when the Brazilian returned to the paddock, the spare car was numbered and set-up solely for Patrese. Piquet’s first timed lap of the weekend was the one that gave him his front row position in qualifying.
Lauda – his comeback now a second-tier story – suffered an off in qualifying; he would assume 13th on the grid, despite a bent suspension arm.
Arrows substitute Patrick Tambay decided to retire rather than take his contracted drive with the team, gifting ex-Formula 2 champion, Brian Henton, a late drive. Tambay, who was replacing the badly injured Marc Surer, had developed an intense distaste for the sports politics, while also remaining unsure of the features within the Arrows A3.
Ensign’s Roberto Guerrero was withdrawn from the event prior to qualifying, when his ex-Formula 2 team manager, Willi Maurer, took exception to his charge racing in Formula 1, claiming the Colombian had another year to go on his F2 contract.
Amidst his earlier noise and bellowing, Fabi failed to qualify, despite the field cap being raised to twenty-six cars.
While this garnered headlines, it was all very embarrassing for a sport, which always emerges from these politicised looking extremely unkempt.**
**The sport wasn’t the only embarrassed element. The night before the Grand Prix, Lauda made an appearance on South African television apologising to fans for the disruption, while Pironi addressed the raceday crowd over the Kyalami PA with a similarly contrite message.
Some time after the chequered flag dropped, the top six drivers offered their helmets as raffle prizes for the somewhat discontent audience.
Later in Paris, drivers were fined and some paid up. As a result, the GPDA was forcefully disbanded following the Kyalami debacle, laying dormant until a few days prior to the 1994 Monaco Grand Prix.
In place of the GPDA, the Professional Racing Drivers Association (PRDA***) was created, although that was somewhat less grandiose in stature and less successful as a result.
***The PRDA was also a United Stated based union called the “Polish Racing Drivers Association” (now known as “Polish Racing Drivers of America”); however one did not have to be either Polish or a professional racing driver to qualify. If I recall correctly, Paul Newman was a notable member.
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The Race (January 23rd)
In the race itself, Alain Prost won with a stunning comeback drive following a mid-race puncture.
After starting 5th, the Frenchman jumped to 2nd off the line, eventually taking the lead from teammate Rene Arnoux thirteen laps in.
Prost controlled the race for a further thirty tours, before his Michelin tyre shredded in the Kyalami heat, gifting the lead back to Arnoux. Limping back to the pits for a lengthy stop, dropping to the edge of the top ten and losing a lap in the process.
With fresh rubber, Prost surged back up the order, unlapping himself and reaching the top six by the fifty-third tour.
Within two laps, the Renault pilot had made short work of John Watson (McLaren) and Keke Rosberg (Williams) to grab 4th.
By lap sixty-three, Prost had also forced a way passed Ferrari’s Didier Pironi and Carlos Reutemann in his Ford-powered Williams for 2nd, leaving only Arnoux in Prost’s way.
It would not be long before the lead changed hands once again. Struggling for tyre grip, Arnoux lost all semblance of pace in the second half of the race.
Despite holding a lead of approximately forty seconds at the mid-point, Arnoux’s lead shrunk dramatically as first Reutemann removed chunks from the gap, with the searing Prost soon finishing the job.
On lap sixty-nine, Prost cruised by Arnoux with ease to take a memorable win and nine points.
Arnoux’s pace continued to fall away once Prost had passed. Displaying encouraging pace in the rarefied air, Reutemann continued to catch the ailing Renault at two seconds per lap; finally drawing to the rear of Arnoux with four tours remaining.
The Argentine pilot made short work of the Frenchman, grabbing the runner-up sport as they headed into the first turn for the seventy-fourth time, ensuring that Williams’ normally aspirated Ford engine would split the turbo-powered Renault’s on the podium.
Niki Lauda also put on an impressive display in his comeback drive with the McLaren Ford team. Despite his two-year absence, the Austrian showed he had lost little of his race craft, with a fighting drive from 13th on the grid to 4th in the race.
Lauda had spent much of the event following Rosberg and teammate Watson, passing both on laps sixty-seven and sixty-eight respectively. Following a near race long battle, Rosberg’s and Watson’s tyres fell away, along with their pace, solidifying their 5th and 6th places.
Neither were threatened by Michele Alboreto (Tyrrell) or Elio de Angelis (Lotus) – both of whom just missed the points in 7th and 8th; while Eliseo Salazar led his ATS-Ford teammate Manfred Winkelhock home to the flag in 9th.
There was disappointment for some of the perceived front-runners. Neither Brabham finished as Nelson Piquet spun off (lap 3) and Ricardo Patrese suffered a turbo failure (lap 18). Both Ferrari’s also suffered mechanical failure’s, ensuring neither finished.
Former ABBA drummer Slim Borgudd made himself known thanks to a mid-race spin. The Swede spent a brief period executing a three-point turn on the far side of the circuit, after a short rolling the wrong way down the road.
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Alas, the 1982 South African happened by the skin of its teeth and in doing so, became the final Formula 1 World Championship race to held in January; however the follow-up event in Argentina, scheduled for March 7th, was rather less fortunate.
And so as the world turned, the Falklands turned to war…
1982 South African Grand Prix (Rd 1, 77 laps) Pos Driver Team Time / Gap 1. Alain Prost Renault 1:32.08.401 2. Carlos Reutemann Williams Ford +14.946 3. Rene Arnoux Renault +27.900 4. Niki Lauda McLaren Ford +32.113 5. Keke Rosberg Williams Ford +43.139 6. John Watson McLaren Ford +50.993 7. Michele Alboreto Tyrrell Ford +1 lap 8. Elio de Angelis Lotus Ford +1 lap 9. Eliseo Salazar ATS Ford +2 laps 10. Manfred Winkelhock ATS Ford +2 laps ... 18. Didier Pironi Ferrari +6 laps (DNF) Notable Retirements R. Riccardo Patrese Brabham BMW +59 laps R. Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari +71 laps R. Nelson Piquet Brabham BMW +74 laps 1982 Drivers’ Championship (Rd 1) Pos Driver / Team Points 1. Alain Prost 9 2. Carlos Reutemann 6 3. Rene Arnoux 4 4. Niki Lauda 3 5. Keke Rosberg 2 1982 Constructors’ Championship (Rd 1) 1. Renault 13 2. Williams 8 3. McLaren 4 Full results can be found here.
Yesterday afternoon, the FIA banned the controversial reactive ride system, pioneered by Lotus (formerly Renault).
That the technology – which regulates ride height changes whilst under braking – had apparently been approved by the FIA a year ago, making the current situation desperately annoying.
There have been persistent rumours that Lotus (then Renault) and Mercedes ran the system late last season, gaining time measured only by several blinks of an eye.
This is a shame of course, as one was eagerly awaiting an explanation of the technology, that made sense to my Luddite ears.
Not only has the 2012 Formula 1 season lost a story to tell every week, the sport has also now dismissed the first round in a key television battle – Anderson (BBC) vs Kravitz (Sky Sports F1) – that was sure to enthral millions.
Most importantly, I would really like to know what technology the reactive ride suspension was potentially linked with, to make it suddenly such a potent device, after one full year of activity… Now that would peak my interest.
As an aside, part of me also believes this headline grabbing ban is a rather timely intervention to deflect from the continuing horror news that is emerging from Bahrain.
Especially following yet another weekend that saw the sad deaths of two more people, one of whom an 11-year-old boy, whilst their respective funerals come under further scrutiny from security forces.
With less than three months to the start of the 2012 British Formula 3 season, the series is slowly beginning to fill out its field, with seven drivers now signed up to compete for the title.
Both Carlin and Fortec have so far announced three drivers each, although that is expected to climb before the championship kicks off in Oulton Park over Easter weekend.
Carlin were the first to reveal a challenger for the coming year with British talent Jack Harvey returning to familiar surroundings. Following the announcement, the 18-year-old Harvey was clear about his intentions:
“I’m really looking forward to staying with Carlin for my second year in British Formula 3. My goal for the season is to win the championship; I have a great team around me at Carlin who I believe can help me to achieve this ambition.”
The Lincolnshire-born racer will be partnered by former-Fortec pilot Harry Tincknell, with Red Bull protégé Carlos Sainz Jr also joining the fray.
For Tincknell, this will be tense return to the wheel, having broken a knuckle joint in right hand during a test at Spa-Francorchamps in November. With his hand close to fully healed, the 19-year-old is determined to focus on winning the championship.
“It was a hefty shunt and a bad injury – the specialist said it was one of the worst he had seen – but I’m really happy with the way my recovery has been going and I’m making progress daily and I’m getting back the full range of movement in my hand. Unfortunately it has interrupted my winter training programme and I’m having to play catch-up now.
“The plan is to hopefully get out on track in a junior car towards the end of the month to make sure my hand can cope with the vibrations and stresses, and then to progress from there. I’m confident that by March I will be back to top form.”
Having run six cars in 2011, Carlin are reducing their efforts to just five entries this year following complaints from opponents. Headed by eventual champion Felipe Nasr and Danish rival Kevin Magnussen, Carlin won eighteen of the thirty races in British Formula 3 last season.
Fortec have already confirmed Pipo Derani for the coming season. After a season with Hitech last year, the Brazilian will be partnered by Formula Renault UK champion, Alex Lynn and Formula Renault Eurocup racer Felix Serralles – both of who raced for Fortec in their previous campaigns.
Following a dominant campaign in 2011, Lynn is undaunted by the challenge ahead:
“I am looking forward to cracking on with F3 now and, hopefully, having nearly as good a season… It’s going to be tough to win the championship, as it is my first year, but I’m confident that if we all work hard and do a good job then we can be fighting for the championship come the end of the year.”
With this latest step looming large, the Puerto Rican Serralles has more modest aims:
“I am very pleased to be racing again with Fortec – I know that they will be the best team for me as I progress to Formula 3 – and very excited to be among the first drivers to try the new car from Dallara. I know that it will be hard to adapt, though, and will be giving it everything.”
It is believed Fortec are to run four cars once again; however there are no indications as to who may be occupying the final seat.
There will be more announcements soon as budgets begin to come together, although there remains the possibility of a slight decrease in numbers for the International Class.
With a new car entering the International Class competition for this year and a new engine package arriving for 2013, rising costs may temporarily limit the viability of the championship.
In the Rookie Class, Formula Ford GB racer Spike Goddard will be joining T-Sport. The rookie category was a troubled one last year, after only three drivers entered over the ten rounds.
The honours eventually went to Kotaru Sakurai, although the Japanese pilot spent much of the season alone in the class. It is hoped that Dallara’s newly grandfathered F308-11 chassis may help boost numbers.
Looking down on Carlos Huertas and Jack Harvey at Brands Hatch. © Leigh O'Gorman
With the 2012 season fast approaching, I have been examining the future of The Motorsport Archive.
Recently, I opened a page with the lovely people at gofundme.com.
For those who have not visited gofundme.com before, it is a site dedicated to allowing anyone to raise money online for just about any idea, event, project or cause your family, friends & personal contacts might believe in.
Up until now, this venture has been self-funded, with much money spent site updates, travelling and accommodation and all the other elements needed to cover motor racing.
The Motorsport Archive’s page with gofundme.com in 2012 aims to serve two purposes.
With the aid of donations, it is my pledge to increase exclusive content on the site, while also maintaining the quality of the works posted. It may also fund a ham sandwich or two on a race weekend.
As an aside to that, all donations will be split evenly with a charitable organisation – most likely motorsport orientated – to be revealed at a later date.
For more information on The Motorsport Archive 2012 project, please see below.
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“The Motorsport Archive is a blog providing exclusive trackside coverage of UK and European based motor racing events, while also featuring podcasts and Q&A sessions with drivers and key personnel from the world of motorsport.
Débuting in March 2008, the site is dedicated to producing high quality content about motorsport, through extensive research and by talking to the people who make things move.
Whether it be news, interviews, opinions or historical features, the mantra is always “quality is the most important element.”
Last year, I became an active member of the motorsport media, covering the Cooper Tyres British Formula 3 Series from numerous venues around the United Kingdom and Europe and in 2012, trackside coverage is set to expand.
Alongside the aforementioned British F3 Championship, there will be an extra focus on endurance racing as The Motorsport Archive adds the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the Blancpain Endurance Series to its growing roster.
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So what is this page all about? Well, simple really.
Up until now, this venture has been self-funded, with much money spent site updates, travelling and accommodation and all the other elements needed to cover motor racing.
With the aid of donations, it is my pledge to increase exclusive content on the site, while also maintaining the quality of the works posted. It may also fund a ham sandwich or two on a race weekend.
As an aside to that, all donations will be split evenly with a charitable organisation – most likely motorsport orientated – to be revealed at a later date.
—-
Those who have made appearances on The Motorsport Archive include Formula 1 stars Heikki Kovalainen and Daniel Ricciardo, as well as rising stars Alexander Rossi (GP2) and Felipe Nasr (2011 British F3 champion) and IndyCar drivers Justin Wilson and JR Hildebrand.
The blog has also hosted sessions with former Grand Prix drivers Jaime Alguersuari, Giancarlo Fisichella and Mark Blundell, Radio Le Mans presenter John Hindhaugh and designers Jos Claes (Dallara, Formula 3) and Ben Bowlby, architect of the fledgling Delta Wing Project.
I am passionate about motorsport and what I do on the blog and will continue to pursue it as long as is possible – it is something that I want to eventually do professionally.
Thanks so much for your time in looking at this.”
Leigh O’Gorman
www.themotorsportarchive.com
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Copyright: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic
Amongst all the digital ticker-tape, Bruno Senna has been confirmed as the final piece in Williams’ 2012 Formula 1 puzzle.
After enduring two difficult seasons with HRT and Renault (now Lotus), the Brazilian assumes the seat vacated by veteran Rubens Barrichello.
It is a move that will surely mark the end of Barrichello’s Formula 1 adventure after nineteen seasons in the top flight.
One wishes Senna and teammate Pastor Maldonado all the best for 2012, but one must be realistic about the difficulties the Williams team are currently facing.
Having been overtaken in the Constructors’ Championship by Force India, Sauber and Toro Rosso last year, both Senna and Maldonado have a tough time ahead.
Overhauls in the engineering department have seen Technical Director Sam Michael leave for McLaren, while Chief Aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson also departed.
This has been compounded with Patrick Head’s recent sidestep out of the Formula 1 team to Williams’ Hybrid Power organisation.
Senna has the advantage of some previous experience with the Renault engine, but whether he possesses the ability to transfer worthwhile information is a different matter.
The team’s young pairing will also be pushed to the limit by a new design team, led by former McLaren man Mike Coughlan and while there is little doubt Senna and Maldonado possess a certain speed, Williams will be hoping their relative inexperience does not trip them up in the long run.
With Valtteri Bottas waiting in the wings, Williams are flush with youth – one hopes that will lift them out of their current slump, but in the eyes of this amateur, it seems rather unlikely.
The rest of today will see much talk about the Senna name returning to Williams. Bruno’s uncle Ayrton originally tested for the squad in 1983, before finally moving to the team eleven years later.
Maldonado has not had an uncle who has raced in Formula 1. Bottas is managed by Austrian investor and racing driver Toto Wolff, who also happens to own some shares in the Williams Formula 1 team.
© James Bearne / Formulatwo.com
Victorious in the 2010 Formula 2 Championship, 20-year-old racer Dean Stoneman was on top of the world.
After finishing ahead of Jolyon Palmer in the junior series, the Englishman soon impressed in the F1 Young Driver Test with Williams in Abu Dhabi.
There was also a move up to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with ISR in the offing. For the young man from Hampshire, 2011 was looking like a stellar year.
That all came to a halt in February last year when Stoneman was diagnosed with testicular cancer, leaving the Englishman sidelined for a year while he underwent treatment.
Following a major operation at Spire Southampton Hospital last August, Stoneman is now eyeing 2012 with optimism. At the recent AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL show in Birmingham, the young Briton spoke to TheMotorsportArchive.com about what lies ahead. “It’s all going in the right direction. The main focus is fitness now. I’m on programme at the gym with my trainer, which is designed to build stamina, and body strength, which was completely lost during my treatment,” says Stoneman, his quite demeanour belying his racing driver status.
“I received two courses of chemotherapy including a new ground breaking type of treatment for which I was one of the first people in the UK to receive it. This allowed me to me in a position for to have a massive operation in August. I’m now checked every two months with no further treatment as such required.“
Unsurprisingly, the nature of the treatment heavily interrupted Stoneman’s fitness regime – something he is very keen alleviate should he find a full-time racing seat for 2012. “The treatment prevented any form of serious exercise for most of 2011. Racing fitness is something I’m aiming for of course. You have to be at peek fitness to drive at the highest level and having been where I have for most of last year its work in progress, but by start of this season I will be ready.”
Stoneman recently had his current fitness level pushed to the limits at a Formula Renault 3.5 test at Motorland Aragon in Spain – a test that left the Briton feeling somewhat confident. “I was pushed physically in the test. I did experience some fatigue, which was to be expected. I took part simply to get back in a car and evaluate where I was. “It was great to be back behind the wheel and I would like to thank ISR so much for the chance. I was totally comfortable in the car; felt like I had never been away.”
The ordeal has left the 21-year-old with a new found sense of perspective, grateful for the help and good feelings that came from all sides of the motorsport industry. “The support I received was incredible and provided me with a massive boost. The BRDC in particular were very supportive along with a number of leading drivers who were in regular contact with me. I can’t thank everybody enough for their kindness. My family and team around me have also been a major help in getting me through a tough twelve months.”
Asked whether he had solid plans for the upcoming season, Stoneman was keen to temper expectations; however he is also open to options beyond European borders. “We have lots of possibilities for this year which we are still evaluating. I want to return at the highest level possible with the best possible team. It’s hard to commit until we have weighed up all options both in Europe and in the US. It’s been great to have so much interest shown in me.”
With his options open for now, Stoneman flew to Las Vegas this week to test an Indy Lights machine. Whether this points the Englishman to horizons anew remains to be seen.
Indian’s fledgling i1 Super Series received something of a respite last week with the confirmation that it is now going ahead in next month.
Series organisers, Machdar Motorsport, had initially been forced to delay the inaugural event by two months to avoid a clash with local district elections.
However following a calendar reshuffle, the series is now due to finally begin at the Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar on February 11th.
The delay means a race at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit is no longer possible, although a round at Dubai Autodrome has since replaced that event.
Dates for Bahrain and Abu Dhabi remain unchanged, while the final round is now to take place at the Buddh International Circuit in New Delhi on April 1st.
Two brief points. None of the proposed calendars have been approved by the FIA as of yet. It is also somewhat surprising that one has to hear this from a competitor as opposed to the series itself.
While no one wants to spread bad news, it does help that the series announces fairly fundamental schedule changes…
2012 i1 Super Series Provisional Calendar Feb 11th-12th Doha, Qatar Feb 25th-26th Sakhir, Bahrain Mar 10th-11th Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi Mar 17th-18th Dubai Autodrome, UAE Apr 1st-2nd New Delhi, India
Nasr will be racing the #58 Michael Shank Racing at Daytona. © felipenasr.com
Chevrolet-Corvette’s dominated the DP Class at the “Roar Before the 24” practice sessions at Daytona International Speedway last weekend.
SunTrust Racing topped a group of five Chevrolet’s following three days of running at Daytona, with Max Angelelli, Ryan Briscoe and Ricky Taylor filling driving duties.
A best lap of 1:4.142 around the famed Floridian circuit on Sunday was enough to give the #10 SunTrust machine the edge over both Action Express entries, headed by the David Donohue, Darren Law and Christian Fittipaldi trio.
João Barbosa, Terry Borcheller, JC France and Max Papis assumed 3rd spot, a mere 0.333 shy of the top at the close of play. The #99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing and the #90 Spirit of Daytona machines took 4th and 5th respectively.
Chip Ganassi’s BMW Riley finished the tests 6th overall, leading the way for the 2011-spec machinery in what was a far from stellar weekend. The reigning champions suffered a collision on Saturday evening with the #24 Alex Job Racing Porsche, ending the proceedings for the Telmex backed squad.
Risi Competizione Ferrari ended the weekend the quickest of the GT Class machines. Toni Vilander set their quickest time (1:49.239) in a busy Saturday session, with the #03 Extreme Speed Ferrari, #23 Alex Job Porsche and the #18 Muehlner Motorsports Porsche all within a quarter-of-a-second.
Reigning GT champions Andrew Davis and Leh Keen finished the weekend in 16th at the wheel of their #59 Brumos Racing Porsche. Germany’s Marc Lieb and US-native, Hurley Haywood partnered Davis and Keen during the tests.
Whereas SunTrust and Risi Competizione may have grabbed the headlines, Brazil’s Felipe Nasr – winner of last year’s Sunoco Rolex 24 Challenge – turned heads with a confident display throughout the three-day blitz at Daytona, having topped the December test at the circuit.
In a full field, the 2011 British Formula 3 Champion helped his Michael Shank Ford Riley into the top ten, alongside Firestone Indy Lights stalwarts, Jorge Goncalvez and Gustavo Yacaman. NASCAR and Grand-Am regular, Michael McDowell, is heading the young team.
With the calm hand of Grand-Am racer Ozz Negri guiding Nasr through his Daytona début, the Brazilian has adapted quickly to his temporary surroundings.
Having come through the ranks of Formula BMW and British F3, Nasr has tasted many of the circuits on the Formula 1 calendar; however Daytona International Speedway presents something of a first for the Brazilian – high banking.
Yet cool as ever, Nasr sees that as only part of the challenge, helped by racing on Rockingham’s partial oval during his time in British F3.
“Rockingham is an oval but the banking is a lot less accentuated. [Daytona] looks great – it’s smooth, pleasant and a pleasure to drive. The “esses”, coming out of the banking, leading to the infield, needs attention and has to be taken smoothly, as the whole circuit.“
The circuit isn’t the only element new to the 19-year-old. With its wider track, weighty downforce, 500 bhp Ford engine and coupé chassis, the Daytona Prototype is a significant departure from previous machinery Nasr has contested.
“On the paper, it shows such an enormous difference. To look at, it is even more! But on track it is so good to drive! I was smiling all through the entire lap, enjoying it each lap more and more.
“You can put the car in the precise points that you want. The power for me was the biggest difference, Wow! That was amazing! And the brakes were just what you need them to be. What for me was very different and I had to make a quick adaptation (…) was the fact that I could not see the front wheels! It was a first for me.
“The car is a great pleasure to drive; it is good that we have 24 hours ahead to enjoy it!”
The Rolex 24 will also be Nasr’s longest race by some margin. After several seasons competing in events that rarely lasted longer than 30-40 minutes, the Brazilian is facing this new challenge with vigour and determination.
“Just like in every race you have to divide your challenges in parts and this is what I will do, divide the twenty-four hours in 48 different 30 minutes F3 races. Each outing will be a race by itself, and I am concentrating on these periods.
“The tires are a critical item, as with the new ones you can get just two good laps out of them and then they deteriorate and the times fall and fall, we will need to take good care of them.”
Fully aware of the difficulties that lie ahead, Nasr is confident that his preparation will help him through the endurance.
“Physically I have been working as usual to keep my good form – remember that being a closed car the heat inside gets quite high – and mentally I have been using the simulator to increase my mileage in the track.
“Let’s call it the 48 Hours of Daytona!”
At this stage, it appears that Felipe Nasr next step beyond Daytona could be either Formula Renault 3.5 or the GP2 Series. Regardless, should his current form continue, it may not be too long before the Brazilian catches Formula 1’s wandering eyes.
Qualifying for the 2012 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona kicks off on Thursday January 26th at 8.30pm (UK), although no UK or European coverage has been confirmed as of yet.
Motors TV will be showing fourteen hours of the race live from 8pm (UK) on Saturday January 28th until 9pm the following evening, with a break during the late hours. The station will also be broadcasting the full 2012 Grand Am schedule.
My sincere thanks again to Carlos Lua for facilitating the interview with Felipe.
Roar Before the 24 Testing (January 6th-8th, Combined Times)
Pos Drivers Team Times
Daytona Prototype Class
1. Angelelli/Briscoe/Taylor
SunTrust Chevrolet 1:41.142
2. Donohue/Fittipaldi/Law
Action Express Chevrolet 1:41.338
3. Barbosa/Borcheller/France/Papis
Action Express Chevrolet 1:41.475
4. Fogarty/Gidley/Gurney
Bob Stallings Chevrolet 1:41.541
5. Garcia/Gavin/Magnussen/Westbrook
Spirit of Daytona Chevrolet 1:41.655
6. Hand/Pruett/Rahal/Rojas
Ganassi BMW Riley 1:41.761
7. Allmendinger/Negri/Pew/Wilson
Michael Shank Ford Riley 1:41.762
8. Dixon/Franchitti/McMurray/Montoya
Ganassi BMW Riley 1:41.868
9. Dalziel/McNish/Popow/Potolicchio/Viso
Starworks Ford Riley 1:41.880
10. Goncalvez/McDowell/Nasr/Yacaman
Michael Shank Ford Riley 1:41.883
11. Braun/Jonsson/Krohn/Zonta
Krohn Ford Lola 1:42.398
12. Frisselle/Frisselle/Lowe
Doran Ford Dallara 1:42.437
13. Defoor/Forbes-Robinson/Johnson/Pace/de Quesada
50+Predator/Alegra BMW 1:45.047
GT Class
1. Beretta/Bertolini/Vilander
Risi Competizione Ferrari 1:49.239
2. Brown/Cosmo/Sharp/van Overbeek
Extreme Speed Ferrari 1:49.337
3. Collard/Holzer/Leitzinger/MacNeil
Alex Job Porsche 1:49.423
4. Gruber/Lester/O'Doski/Thomas
Muehlner Porsche 1:49.465
5. Assentato/Lazzaro/Longhi/Segal
AIM Autosport Ferrari 1:49.514
6. Farnbacher/Farnbacher/Keating/Pilet/Simonsen
TRG Porsche 1:49.581
7. Asch/Baldwin/Burtin/Ragginger/Sellers
Burtin Goldcrest Porsche 1:49.629
8. Cisneros/Edwards/Kauffmann
NGT Porsche 1:49.649
9. Aguas/Kauffman/Pastrana/Waltrip
AF Waltrip Ferrari 1:49.653
10. Bertheau/Goosens/Henzler/Pumpelly
TRG Porsche 1:49.668
11. Lally/Lietz/Potter/Rast
Magnus Porsche 1:49.669
12. Bremer/Edwards/Liddell
Stevenson Camaro 1:49.714
13. Bell/Maassen/Miller/Wilkins
Paul Miller Porsche 1:49.765
14. Edwards/Marsh/Milner/Taylor
Autohaus Camaro 1:49.811
15. Bergmeister/Long/Neiman/Rockenfeller
Flying Lizard Porsche 1:49.815
16. Davis/Haywood/Keen/Lieb
Brumos Porsche 1:49.865
17. Bruni/Fisichella/Matos
Risi Competizione Ferrari 1:49.918
18. Auberlen/Dalla Lana/Johnson/Said
Turner BMW 1:49.941
19. Cameron/Nonnamaker/Nonnamaker/Nonnamaker/Sahlen
Sahlen Mazda 1:49.951
20. Bell/Carter/Curran/Plumb
Stevenson Camaro 1:49.957
21. Marsal/Muller/Muller/Said/Werner
Turner BMW 1:49.980
22. Bomarito/Franchitti/Hinchcliffe/Trembley
SpeedSource Mazda 1:50.015
23. Bell/Eversley/Graeff/Yarab Jr.
Magnus Porsche 1:50.019
24. Cumming/Estre/Faulkner/Gomez/Keating
TRG Porsche 1:50.025
25. Stippler
Audi AG R8 1:50.484
26. Ave/Haylen/Peterson/Soulet/Valverde
Racers Edge Dodge 1:50.606
27. Al Masaood/Al Mehairi/Kane
Oryx Audi 1:50.859
28. Blaylock/O'Young/Paquette/van
Blankers/White Porsche 1:50.907
29. Englster/Murry/Safina/Schaldach
Liqui Moly/Mitchum Porsche 1:50.958
30. Doyle/Hedlund/McCarthy/Michaelian
TRG Porsche 1:50.962
31. Cook/Earhardt/Harrington/Hill
Rick Ware Ford 1:51.060
32. Dempsey/Espenlaub/Foster/Long/Putner
Dempsey Mazda 1:51.068
33. Miller/Rettich/Schneider/Shoff
Alliance Autosport Porsche 1:51.151
34. Avenatti/Faieta/Poordad/Sweedler/Wagner
Alex Job Porsche 1:51.267
35. Ardagna/Costabat/di Guida/Salazar
TRG Porsche 1:51.307
36. Fergus/Finger/Greer/Hotchkis/Trinkler
Dick Greer Porsche 1:52.474
37. Baas/Canache/Norman/Pirro/von Moltke
APR Audi 1:52.478
38. Del Vecchio/Grunnet/Kester/McKee
Acumen Porsche 1:53.741
39. Baughman/Mason/Yeakle Michael
Baughman Corvette 1:55.648
40. Espenlaub/Jonhson/Kitch Jr/Rogers
Dempsey Mazda 1:57.387
© Machdar Motorsports.
Fledgling Indian motorsport series, the i1 Super Series, hit another hitch today, with a two-month postponement.
The Supercar championship which was due to start in two weeks has been pulled due to local district elections. It’s a decision sure to cause extreme embarrassment for series promoters, Machdar Motorsports, especially with the running of the 11th Auto Expo in New Delhi this week.
Darshan M, CEO of series promoter Machdar motorsports was quoted in the Hindustan Times as saying:
“…the Buddh International Circuit has been asked by the district administration not to have any public events close to the dates of polling. As such, we have to postpone our whole calendar since the Indian race is central to the interests of team owners and sponsors.”
Despite suspicions of a lack of investment, Darshan also said the several franchises are on board, heavily reducing the cost of the series to the promoter; however the names of those franchises have not been revealed yet.
The i1 Super Series has already suffered several setbacks, with a number of previous postponements and calendar rescheduling. The series was originally to begin in December of last year, before a six-round schedule was confirmed to start this month.
That became five rounds when the opener at the Yas Marina circuit was cancelled, although the series’ visit to the Abu Dhabi venue is still pencilled in.
Beyond the obvious delay, this postponement presents a secondary problem for Machdar Motorsports. Should the i1 Super Series actually begin in March as they now hope, the series will find a number of its International Driver class returning to their primary championships.
Of the International contingent, Giancarlo Fisichella, Armaan Ebrahim and Mika Salo will be returning to their respective seats. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Karun Chandhok, Neel Jani, Pippa Mann, Sakon Yamamoto and Mathias Lauda all are in the process of landing full or part-time drives in their various categories.
Jean Alesi and Cyndie Allemann are also preparing for drives in the US.
The i1 Super Series was due to start at Malaysia this month, followed by events in Bahrain, Qatar, India and Abu Dhabi. It is hoped the series will finally begin in late March.
Fisichella (centre) will be competing against numerous ex-F1 drivers. © i1 Super Series.
Former F1 racer, Giancarlo Fisichella, is confident he can make a mark in the inaugural i1 Super Series.
The championship, which commences later this month in Malaysia, is a single-make racing championship taking in ten races at five venues, with a field of eighteen drivers.
The champion, come the series conclusion in early March, will win a prize fund of $2 million USD.
Although an Indian-based series, Fisichella is one of a number of international drivers invited to the series – including Heinz-Harald Frentzen and former world champion Jacques Villeneuve – however the Italian was keen to emphasise his desire to be competing.
“I always had a special relationship with India since my Force India days, so when I received the invitation, I could not refuse it. It is also good to keep fit by racing and the i1 Super Series plays a great role in attracting top drivers.”
Since he left Formula 1 at the end of 2009, Fisichella has been competing in the Le Mans Series (GTE Pro category) alongside Gianmaria Bruni in the powerful AF Corse machine, taking the category title last year.
With only 260 bhp emanating from the 1500cc Powertec engine, the i1 Super Series Radical SR3 is no match for Fisichella’s championship winning Ferrari 458, but despite the drastic difference in terms of power and grip, the 38-year-old had switched machinery with little fuss.
“Recently I had to change my style from F1 to GT cars and had no problems adapting myself to the characteristics of the Radical, which is actually a good, fun machine.
“I immediately found speed and enjoyed it. [It’s] quite neutral in handling – good grip and very predictable.”
A recent test at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi saw Fisichella register the 2nd best time, only five-hundredths shy of top-man Frentzen, with India’s Karun Chandhok 3rd, just ahead of racing veteran Jean Alesi in 4th spot. Villeneuve did not partake in the opening test.
With the field spread by relatively small margins, the Italian is confident the series will serve viewers well, however when asked if prior venue experience will give him an edge, he was sceptical.
“Not really, but having the experience always helps. Times will be very close in qualifying and for this, racing will be very competitive, which should be good for all motorsport fans.
“We are racing for trophies and for money and the show will benefit from it.”
The i1 Super Series kicks off at Sepang International Circuit on January 21st, with a second race a day later. Following that, the series travels to Bahrain (February 3rd-4th), Qatar (February 10th-11th), New Delhi (February 25th-26th) and Abu Dhabi (March 9th-10th). For more information on the i1 Super Series, check out their website.
Giancarlo Fisichella will be joining Risi Competizione for this month’s Daytona 24 Hours, before taking up his regular position with the AF Corse squad for the opening round of the World Endurance Championship at Sebring (US) in mid-March, with the Le Mans Series opener at Paul Ricard taking place in April.
My sincere thanks to Enrico Zanarini at Movie & Sport Management for facilitating the original interview.
Security forces have been spending much of the last five days breaking up violent protests and demonstrations in Sitra, an island just south of the Bahrain capital of Manama.
Following the death of 15-year-old Sayid Hashim Saeed on New Years Eve, pro-democracy protesters state a tear gas canister fired by police killed the teenager. State media have launched a counter-claim, citing Saeed received his injuries from a petrol bomb, while attacking said security forces.
According to on site human rights activists, the funeral also became a source of violence, with the procession being broken up by riot police; using tear gas, stun grenades and iron bars.
Officials have since been at pains to denounce the procession as an illegal march, filled out by saboteurs, determined to block roads and attack security forces.
Whichever side one chooses to believe, it cannot be denied that this is still a very difficult time for a country waging war with itself, nearly a year after the initial demonstrations began.
Protests have grown in intensity in recent weeks, although we have not yet witnessed a repeat of the extreme tactics used by police at that time.
Somewhat selfishly, one cannot help but note that the i1 Super Series is due to race in Bahrain in little over four weeks, with the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix following two months later.
Six days after the Formula 1 visit, GP2 are set to host a stand-alone event at the Sakhir International Circuit, with the World Endurance Championship due to race there later in the year. Manama is just over twenty miles north of the Grand Prix circuit.
Last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix had been cancelled following pro-democracy protests in the territory, with the police being accused of torture and excessive force.
An independent report released in November backed up many of these accusations; however the situation in the country appears to remain tense.
Time has a tendency to fly and soon the motor racing season will be upon us again and – realistically – it seems unlikely that the situation in Bahrain will resolve itself soon.
As violence in Bahrain escalates once again, the FIA may need to be called into action very soon – and this time, they cannot afford to stumble drunkenly around a painful situation (again).
With their inaugural Formula 1 Grand Prix a recent memory and the i1 Super Series to come later this month, India is seeing a rapid surge in motorsport interest.
As noted on this site recently, Caterham Cars announced club level championships for India and Malaysia, with potential Chinese and Middle Eastern excursions in the offing. Now Mercedes-Benz are eyeing the potential for expansion within India thanks to the launch of the JPSI Performance Driving Academy at the 11th Auto Expo in New Delhi this week.
The soon to be operational academy is designed to provide a platform to nurture emerging racing talent in the country, although it appears at this early stage to be aimed towards those interested in Touring Cars and club-level motorsport; however that is open to change over time.
Amongst several new motoring technologies, Mercedes-Benz have also used the Auto Expo to display its latest roadster, the SLS AMG, as well the latest model DTM machine.
Ferrari, too, have also indicated an interest in bringing sportscar racing to India, although the implementation of this may still yet be a long way off.
Whether this translates to the wider public is still to be seen, but it is certainly a positive step for the Motorsport Association of India (MAI), as they endeavour to boost the popularity of motor racing in what is a key global market that is growing in importance.
Mercedes-Benz were far from being the sole car company at the Auto Expo, with up to fifty brands pitching for business.
Unlike difficult recent expeditions in Korea and Bahrain, manufacturers appear keen to display their wares in the Indian and surrounding markets – wise considering the area’s sizeable population and growing middle class demographic.
Beyond the purely sporting aspects, Mercedes-Benz enjoyed significant growth in India from January to November last year, with the manufacturer seeing a 31% increase in sales throughout the country. This growth is expected to continue throughout this year.
It must be noted, however, that Mercedes-Benz are still a long way off India’s major automotive players, Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki, who together represent approximately 61% of the industry.
It seems the chaps at “Ten Tenths Motorsport Forum” have this photo of me interviewing Felipe Nasr at Silverstone as one of their “Photo of the Year” selections for 2011. How nice.
The shot was taken by esteemed Formula 3 photographer Richard Brewer following the weekend’s opening race, in which Nasr finished in 3rd place behind victor Kevin Magnussen and runner-up Scott Pye.
The chat was brief, but I was trying not to split myself all the way through it. Eventually we had to stop momentarily and explain to Felipe the intricacies of his “trophy position”. We laughed about it afterward when he saw the shots – lovely chap.
He’s racing in the Daytona Prototype category at the 24 Hours of Daytona next month and has already proved himself fastest in the opening tests earlier this month. Last time we were chatting, Felipe mentioned a possible Formula Renault 3.5 drive for next year, although I have heard nothing further since.
Nasr is good. Very good in fact. Not only is the Brazilian quick, he is also intelligent. He may very well be a star of the future.
Have a look around as there are some other great shots in the collection. Thanks to Jake Yorath for notifying me of this.
For more from Richard Brewer, check out his website at formula3pics.com.
Felipe Nasr displays his wares.
© formula3pics
Ladies and gentlemen,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. That is all.
Hooray.
🙂
Leigh O’Gorman
It is highly unlikely that many were more shocked than Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari yesterday afternoon following the driver announcement at the Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1 squad for 2012.
The young duo, who have been partnered together at Toro Rosso squad since the middle of 2009, were both dropped by the team in favour of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.
Toro Rosso Team Principal Franz Tost remarked that he was “…pleased that we have been able to reach an early decision on our drivers for next year, because it means we can all give our full attention to 2012, without any distractions.”
While I have little issue with his choice of driver line-up, it has to be said that the middle of December is not exactly early.
Tost also noted “…when Scuderia Toro Rosso was established in 2005, it was done so with the intention of providing a first step into Formula 1 for the youngsters in the Red Bull Junior Driver programme. It is therefore part of the team’s culture to change its driver line-up from time to time in order to achieve this goal.”
Again, no issues here, but one wonders if the lack of an experienced hand harmed the progress of Buemi and Alguersuari in the first place?
Ricciardo has some little experience, but not much, while Vergne has painfully little car racing behind him. With the days of mass testing now a memory, are a few seasons of basic car racing realistically enough for Vergne?
This is not to take away from Vergne’s success in the junior categories, such as British Formula 3 and Formula Renault 3.5, but the Frenchman is being propelled into Formula 1 with a similar experience level to that of Alguersuari when he was promoted in the middle of 2009.
Alas, the lateness of the decision leaves painfully few good opportunities for Buemi and Alguersuari going into next year.
Even outside of Formula 1, the pair may struggle to source a competitive seat, irrespective of the Championship, although it is not inconceivable that they may find themselves in a World Endurance Championship programme. Yet that avenue presents a similar solution, in that front-running doors are closing quickly.
The problem here is not that Alguersuari and Buemi have been dropped, but rather they have been let go at a time when a majority of motorsport’s solid opportunities have been taken.
I wish both Ricciardo and Vergne all the best, but one hopes to not be writing a similar piece in two years time, on the off chance Carlos Sainz Jr and Daniil Kvyat step into Red Bull’s junior Formula 1 team.
2011 Formula 2 Test of Barcelona (December 13th-14th)
Circuit de Catalunya. © Creative Commons / Will Pittenger
Day One
Miki Monras and Christopher Zanella set the pace over the final two-day Formula 2 test of the season in Barcelona.
Monras took advantage of fresh tyres during cool morning conditions to run quickest setting a time of 1:35.950, with only Mihai Marinescu coming close to toppling the swift Spaniard.
The afternoon sessions saw times fall away somewhat; however that would not stop Christopher Zanella from setting the day’s 3rd best time in the afternoon, albeit with overboost employed bringing the 1.8 litre Audi engine up to 500bhp.
It was a notable performance from Zanella, who is still recovering from a recent snowmobile accident.
Vittorio Ghirelli was the highest finishing F2 débutante on day one. The GP3 runner registered the 4th quickest time overall, pipping Markus Pommer and Maxime Jousse to the top-four.
Pos Driver Time Gap 1. Miki Monras 1m35.950s 2. Mihai Marinescu 1m36.092s + 0.142s 3. Christopher Zanella 1m36.533s + 0.587s 4. Vittorio Ghirelli 1m36.723s + 0.773s 5. Markus Pommer 1m36.874s + 0.924s 6. Maxime Jousse 1m37.292s + 1.324s 7. Alex Fontana 1m37.439s + 1.489s 8. Scott Malvern 1m37.641s + 1.691s 9. Edoardo Liberati 1m37.656s + 1.706s 10. Kelvin Snoeks 1m37.685s + 1.735s 11. Hector Hurst 1m37.710s + 1.760s 12. Riccardo Brutschin 1m37.932s + 1.982s 13. Daniel McKenzie 1m38.726s + 2.774s 14. Aaron Steele 1m39.320s + 3.370s 15. Sasha Radola 1m39.406s + 3.456s 16. Mauro Calamia 1m39.448s + 3.498s 17. Sandro Zeller 1m40.389s + 4.839s 18. Alex Craven 1m43.393s + 7.443s
Day Two
Zanella went on to top day two, with the Formula 2 race winner setting his best time (1:37.075) in the morning.
Markus Pommer made it close though – the German pilot coming within 0.014 of the top spot in the afternoon.
Marinescu fell just over one tenth shy for the second consecutive day, this time assuming 3rd place once the chequered flag flew, while European Formula 3 Open champion, Alex Fontana, claimed 4th, some three-tenths shy of Zanella.
Matheo Tuscher, Edoardo Liberati, Hector Hurst and Marinescu all topped the afternoon “overboost” session at various points, but none were quick enough to topple Zanella’s overall best.
Pos Driver Time Gap 1. Christopher Zanella 1m37.075s 2. Markus Pommer 1m37.089s + 0.014s 3. Mihai Marinescu 1m37.183s + 0.108s 4. Alex Fontana 1m37.333s + 0.258s 5. Edoardo Liberati 1m37.379s + 0.304s 6. Riccardo Brutschin 1m37.426s + 0.351s 7. Daniel McKenzie 1m37.478s + 0.403s 8. Kelvin Snoeks 1m37.574s + 0.499s 9. Vittorio Ghirelli 1m37.575s + 0.500s 10. Matheo Tuscher 1m37.608s + 0.533s 11. James Cole 1m37.743s + 0.668s 12. Scott Malvern 1m38.047s + 0.972s 13. Hector Hurst 1m38.089s + 1.014s 14. Max Snegirev 1m38.141s + 1.066s 15. Mauro Calamia 1m39.050s + 1.975s 16. Sasha Radola 1m39.362s + 2.287s 17. Sandro Zeller 1m40.288s + 3.213s 18. Alex Craven 1m42.613s + 5.538s
Also on track during the second day of the test was reigning Formula 2 champion, Mirko Bortolotti.
The Italian piloted the latest development of the Formula 2 car, proving to be nearly two-seconds quicker than the pace of the “regular” runners.
Bortolotti spent four sessions running through new elements, all of which are set to be implemented for the opening round at Silverstone in April. The series is et to release further details up the upgrade at a later date.
Feature Race
Daniel Ricciardo took his second Formula Renault 3.5 victory on the streets of Monte Carlo.
The Australian held Robert Wickens at bay for all thirty laps, although the Canadian’s challenge was twice hit by safety car periods. A distant Brendon Hartley completed the podium.
A poor start by Hartley gave Wickens an easy 2nd spot, yet the Carlin racer could not break the quick and assured Ricciardo, despite the Australian rarely possessing a lead larger than one second.
Monaco’s tight confines ensured Wickens had little opportunity to push Ricciardo over the edge, allowing the ISR man to claim the victory by a mere four-tenths.
Once passed off the line by Wickens, Hartley settled into 3rd, neither challenging nor being challenged for position thereafter.
Kevin Korjus took 4th spot for Tech 1 Racing, but only after Albert Costa received a ten-second penalty for jumping the start, dropping the Spaniard to 9th. Costa struggled for a time with a rather loose Epic Racing machine; however Korjus proved too weak to force an additional error from Costa.
It could well have been 4th for Alexander Rossi. The American spent the first half of the event on Costa’s tail, eventually passing the Spaniard into Sainte Devote on lap 17.
However, it was destined to be a brief 4th for Rossi. While lapping Oliver Webb through Massenet, Rossi’s right rear clipped Webb’s left front, pitching the Fortec racer hard into the barriers.
It brought out the first safety car on the day, temporarily promoting Costa back to 4th place and bringing Korjus into play. Meanwhile, Webb crawled back to the pits to retire.
Just behind Korjus at the flag were Nelson Panciatici (5th, KMP Racing) and Arthur Pic (6th, Tech 1).
Like their Estonian rival before them, neither Panciatici nor Pic could effort a way passed Korjus, frustrating their fading title ambitions further, although the pair had closed to the rear of the Costa / Korjus battle thanks to a little help from Jan Charouz and Anton Nebylitskiy.
Trying for 8th spot on the fifteenth lap, Nebylitskiy unwisely dived down the inside of Charouz at the Grand Hotel hairpin, only to interlock wheels.
As each car wrapped around the other, Nebylitskiy damaged his front right suspension, while Charouz – momentarily airborne by the contact – also permanently hurt his machine. Both retired moments later at the entrance to Portier, bringing out the first safety car period.
Jean-Eric Vergne originally crossed the line 7th, but like Costa, the Carlin man took a ten-second post-race penalty, this time for unnecessarily taking to the pitlane exit at the race start.
It would drop the Frenchman to 12th.
Adrien Tambay became the fourth driver in four rounds to sit in the number 18 Pons Racing machine, although the son of the former Grand Prix driver brought his Renault-powered machine home a respectable 7th.
Tambay had the experienced Chris van der Drift biting at his heels, although the Mofaz driver had little extra to force an error from the inexperienced Tambay. Both came home ahead of Nathanael Berthon who claimed the final points place for ISR.
It was a necessary result for Wickens that brought the Canadian back into the championship hunt. For Vergne, it was a difficult weekend in an arena where victories really count. Just ask Daniel Ricciardo.
2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Rnd of Monaco (Rd 4, 30 laps) Pos Driver Team Time/Gap 1. Daniel Ricciardo ISR 46:10.332 2. Robert Wickens Carlin +0.403 3. Brendon Hartley Gravity-Charouz +11.474 4. Kevin Korjus Tech 1 Racing +15.168 5. Nelson Panciatici KMP Racing +16.069 6. Arthur Pic Tech 1 Racing +16.662 7. Adrien Tambay Pons Racing +22.484 8. Chris van der Drift Mofaz Racing +23.233 9. Albert Costa Epic Racing +23.921 10. Nathanael Berthon ISR +25.360 FL. Daniel Ricciardo ISR 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (Round 4) Drivers’ Championship Pos Driver Points 1. Jean-Eric Vergne 100 2. Robert Wickens 89 3. Alexander Rossi 70 4. Albert Costa 64 5. Kevin Korjus 62 Teams’ Championship Pos Team Points 1. Carlin 189 2. Fortec 94 3. Epic Racing 65 4. Tech 1 Racing 72 5. ISR 59
Race One (May 14th)
Kevin Korjus took his second Formula Renault 3.5 victory of the season in the opening race at Monza in May.
The Estonian held off Carlin’s Jean-Eric Vergne to the flag, although Korjus spent much of the event under pressure from the other Carlin-racer, Robert Wickens. Daniil Move completed the podium with an assured drive.
Korjus ran 2nd behind poleman Cesar Ramos during the opening tours, but a fifth lap error by the Brazilian Ramos in the Rettifilo allowed Korjus through to the lead.
It would take Wickens a further five laps to make a rather cheeky pass on Ramos. After several overly aggressive defensive moves by Ramos, Wickens gently tapped the rear of the Brazilian, tempting the Fortec runner into a light spin. As a result, Wickens would receive a four-place grid penalty for the second race.
Ramos would continue to fall backwards, enduring several more spins. He would retire four laps from the end, completing a miserable day for the Fortec racer.
Not content with 2nd, Wickens charged Korjus for the lead, with the latter outbraking himself at the Rettifilo, allowing the Canadian into the lead.
Wickens lead would last barely half-a-lap. A clutch problem slowed the Canadian dramatically going through Ascari, before his Carlin ground to a halt shortly afterward. It gave Korjus an unchallenged lead and race victory.
Vergne, meanwhile, surged up the order after starting on the sixth row, assuming 7th spot on the opening lap. Beyond the Wickens and Ramos retirements, passes on Stéphane Richelmi (lap 2) and Move (lap 6) helped Vergne up the order, improving further when Sergio Canamasas spun into retirement at the Parabolica.
Vergne came close to Korjus at the flag, missing out on victory by 1.611 seconds. Move enjoyed something of a quiet run to 3rd – the Russian did not feature the pace to threaten the leaders, nor was his position threatened from behind.
Chris van der Drift too had a quiet race to 4th, aided by a pass on Richelmi early on, while Brendon Hartley had a tougher run to 5th, thanks to overtakes on Jake Rosenzweig (lap 4), Albert Costa (lap 8), Ramos (lap 12), Daniel Zampieri (lap 14) and Richelmi (lap 22).
Richelmi would fall further still when Daniel Ricciardo surged by the Monegasque driver on the 22nd tour, completing an emphatic drive for the Aussie, who had started 26th and last. Richelmi would take 7th at the flag.
Walter Grubmuller rose slowly up the order to assume 8th spot after starting on the seventh row; however he was well ahead of the late charging Oliver Webb.
Starting 19th, Webb rose to 9th following late moves on Alexander Rossi and Andrea Negrao. Negrao held off a rearguard charge to take the final points place. The Brazilian held a seven-car train at bay to take 10th at the chequered flag.
2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Rnd of Monza (Rd 3, Race 1, 28 laps) Pos Driver Team Time / Gap 1. Kevin Korjus Tech 1 Racing 46:33.880 2. Jean-Eric Vergne Carlin +1.611 3. Daniil Move P1 Motorsport +3.908 4. Chris van der Drift Mofaz Racing +12.962 5. Brendon Hartley Gravity-Charouz +16.178 6. Daniel Ricciardo ISR +17.126 7. Stephane Richelmi Draco Racing +24.226 8. Walter Grubmuller P1 Motorsport +25.929 9. Oliver Webb Pons Racing +37.448 10. Andre Negrao Draco Racing +38.496 FL. Robert Wickens Carlin 1:38.627
Race Two (May 15th)
Jean-Eric Vergne took a controversial victory at Monza in the weekend’s second Formula Renault 3.5 race.
The Carlin racer took the chequered flag just half-a-second ahead of ISR’s Daniel Ricciardo, only for Vergne to be given a ten-second post-race penalty for exceeding track limits.
However Vergne appealed the decision successfully and the win was given back to the Red Bull junior several days after the event.
Ricciardo led off the line, although the initial threat appeared to come from Tech 1’s Kevin Korjus; however early contact between Korjus and Vergne would prematurely finish the Estonian’s race.
Vergne damaged his front wing in the clash, but it would not be enough to stop the Frenchman slipstreaming by Ricciardo for the lead at the Roggia chicane.
Ricciardo did push Vergne over the limit on the eleventh lap, leading Vergne to take to the escape road at the Roggia – a defence that brought the contentious penalty.
For the remainder of the race, Vergne held Ricciardo at bay, with the Australian struggling to get close enough on the straights to force the issue.
Alexander Rossi lay close by in 3rd for the duration of the running, but the Fortec racer did not possess the extra pace to topple the leading pair.
Always within three seconds for the top spot, Rossi drove a sensible race that may have given him a victory on a different day, but there was little the American could do to topple the masterclass ahead.
Rossi’s Fortec teammate Cesar Ramos endured a tough run to 4th. The Brazilian partially made up for his race one horror showing to battle off Albert Costa (Epic Racing) and Arthur Pic (Tech 1).
It could have been much more for Costa. The Spaniard clashed with Carlin’s Robert Wickens for 3rd on the entry to Ascari on the seventh tour, taking Wickens out of the race and leaving Costa aerodynamically wounded.
Now passed by Rossi, Ramos and Pic, Costa continued passing Pic on lap twenty-one. Despite constant pressure to the flag, Ramos held 4th, while Costa retained a top-five at least.
Along with Anton Nebylitskiy and Daniil Move, Pic received a ten-second post-race penalty for a jumpstart, relegating the Frenchman to 9th.
Pic’s penalty promoted Chris van der Drift to 6th, just ahead of Nelson Panciatici (7th) and Sergio Canamasas (8th). It was a fabulous drive by van der drift, who climbed from 16th at the start 10th by the third lap – from there, the trio fought with Nebylitskiy, Stéphane Richelmi and Andre Negrao over the lower points positions,
Van der Drift made the decisive move on the sixth lap, jumping ahead of the sluggish Panciatici and Nebylitskiy. After several laps of pressure, Canamasas cracked on the final lap, leaving Van der Drift and Panciatici to slip by. Negrao lost several seconds in the final few laps, securing 10th spot and the final point.
2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Rnd of Monza (Rd 3, Race 2, 28 laps) Pos Driver Team Time/Gap 1. Jean-Eric Vergne Carlin 46:31.454 2. Daniel Ricciardo ISR +0.508 3. Alexander Rossi Fortec +3.073 4. Cesar Ramos Fortec +11.669 5. Albert Costa Epic Racing +12.016 6. Chris van der Drift Mofaz Racing +21.426 7. Nelson Panciatici KMP Racing +21.792 8. Sergio Canamasas BVM-Target +22.637 9. Arthur Pic Tech 1 Racing +22.688 10. Andre Negrao Draco Racing +25.243 FL. Daniel Ricciardo ISR 1:38.776 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (Round 3) Drivers’ Championship Pos Driver Points 1. Jean-Eric Vergne 100 2. Robert Wickens 71 3. Alexander Rossi 70 4. Albert Costa 62 5. Kevin Korjus 50 Teams’ Championship Pos Team Points 1. Carlin 171 2. Fortec 94 3. Epic Racing 63 4. Tech 1 Racing 52 5. P1 Motorsport 51
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