On International Women’s Day, and especially this year, it feels like a great time to celebrate the incredible women working in motorsport and give encouragement to future generations of women that will work in our industry.
I’m proud to be a woman working in motorsport and there is a great network of strong, brilliant women doing a wide variety of roles across the industry. Of course, the percentage is a lot smaller than men in the industry, but I do have confidence that as time goes by more women will enter as barriers are broken down and girls become more aware of their opportunities; which will happen if we increase the visible role models to spread the message.
There are many opportunities for women to get into motorsport in and what we need to do is educate girls that they have whatever opportunity they want and that they shouldn’t feel like those jobs are unavailable to them because of their gender.
There are so many different jobs you can do in motorsport – from things like engineering and mechanics, to the media side of it in marketing and PR and, like me, presenting. Then there are roles from HR and finance to legal positions and health and fitness. The only barrier is perception and lack of visible role models. I feel there is starting to be a sea change in attitudes towards this and in girls studying STEM subjects, which is something I’m very passionate about as I studied biological sciences at university.
There are a couple of important initiatives at the moment promoting women in motorsport that I think are fantastic.
Photo: Glenn Dunbar/Williams F1.
Racing driver Susie Wolff runs an initiative with the Motor Sports Association called ‘Dare to be Different’ which is a community to inspire girls who want to work in motorsport by providing access to these role models and connecting them in the industry. It shows that there is a great community of female talent in motorsport – we just need to make the world aware of it to help it grow.
The FIA (motorsport governing body) is also striving to do important work in this area and already has an FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, which aims to attract young women to motorsport. On 7th March this year, in recognition of International Women’s Day the following day, the FIA will official launch its European Young Women Programme. This is a two-year project based on a cost-effective ‘arrive and drive’ karting slalom format in central urban locations. It will be promoted to young women between 13-18 years old in eight countries and the girls that progress with be supported by the FIA through a sporting and educational programme.
As part of our marking of International Women’s Day, we talked to the
promising young Dutch racer, Beitske Visser, on her impressive karting
career, her brief spell at Red Bull, her new partnership with BMW and
more.
Emily Inganni: What first got you into racing? Beitske Visser: My father used to race in touringcars, and when I was 3 he did a 24h race in karting and I saw a little baby kart and since then I was asking for that kart. my parents found me a bit too young then but on my 5th birthday I finally got it and went directly to the track and started
EI: How did the racing community take to you as a woman? – Were you treated any differently? BV: I have been in the racing world since I was 5 so I grew up in this world and it’s normal to me, for sure sometimes there are people thinking that I’m not as good just because I’m a girl but as soon as you show you are quick and up there they will respect you.
EI: After such a successful karting career, how did you find the transition to single seaters? BV: There are a lot of new things you need to learn, but it’ll soon feel normal
EI: What did you learn from Red Bull and what’s it like seeing the likes of Carlos Sainz now in F1? BV: I learned a lot there, they help you with everything you need also between the races, like physical training and simulator time
EI: You are now part of BMW’s junior programme; how does their programme differ from Red Bulls. How did it feel to win your first race for BMW in the GT4 Series last year? BV: The main difference is that Redbull prepares you for formula 1 and BMW prepares you for GT, DTM or Formula E.
It was amazing to win in Barcelona, BMW worked very hard to prepare the GT4 and then this was the debut for the car in a race, so to win it immediately is an amazing feeling
EI: Do you have any special number that you like to race with? BV: No, I don’t really mind the number, but I prefer not to have nr 13
EI: Was there ever a point where you thought you would have to give up racing entirely? BV: At the end of every year there is Always some time that you don’t know what is going to happen next but I never had the feeling that I had to give up racing, I Always kept working hard to try and achieve what I wanted to race the next year
EI: What has been the best moment of your career so far? BV: I don’t really have 1 best moment, There are quite a few moment in my career which are really good memories
EI: What’s your goal for 2018 and beyond? – Where do you want to get to? BV: I can’t say jet what I’m driving this year but for the long term I would love to go to DTM or Formula E
EI: Finally, what advice do you have for anyone looking to start racing? BV: Just keep enjoying what you are doing and then the speed and results will come
It’s safe to say that Gosia Rdest had a pretty good start to her 2018 season, winning her class at the 24 Hours of Dubai in early January behind the wheel of an Audi GT4 entered by Phoenix Racing. Then, she became one-half of the first ever all-female driver paring in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge when she raced an Audi R8 LMS GT4 alongside Ashley Freiberg at Daytona.
As part of our series of interviews for International Women’s Day here at ThePitCrewOnline, Gosia was kind enough to speak to us about her career, and also about how she sees the state of women’s motorsport at the moment.
Source: audi-mediacenter.com
Jenny Rowan: How did you become interested in motorsport when you were younger and what made you want to become a racing driver? Gosia Rdest: It was a love from the first lap. Once when I was 12 my father took me to indoor karting and it was it. But I remember to also be so angry on that day – because my dad turned out to be faster than me. I wanted to beat him. Later on we made a bet – if I stand on a podium in an amateur karting tournament, he would buy a kart for me to train. And I won.
It’s common for future racing drivers to have parents or somebody else from family dedicated to motorsport who helps them have their first steps into that world. Not in my case. Nobody in my family has ever had anything to do with motorsport so I didn’t have that backgroud. I had to figure things out myself. That passion went out straight from me.
JR: In 2014 you made the jump from single-seaters to touring cars – what made you make the switch and what is your ultimate goal? GR: Let’s be honest – motorsport is expensive and single seaters are super expensive. I couldn’t afford that. In lower single-seater series, Formula 4 or 3, it’s harder to gain sponsorship than in touring cars cups. Of course I still wanted to race so I switched to touring cars which turned out to be also great. The competition level is very high. My dream and my long-term goal is to drive in DTM. But also to stay in motorsport as long as I can because racing is simply the love of my life. When I will be finished with racing (which I hope will happen as late as possible), I would like to work with young drivers.
JR: How would you look back at your 2017 season? GR: It was a year of many ups and downs. Two podiums in Hockenheim in Audi Sport TT Cup, 1st place in KIA Lotos Race in Hungaroring, signing a contract with Phoenix Racing, one of the most successful German teams, to race in GT4 European Series in 2018 – theese were definitely the bright moments to enjoy.
It was a year of being extremely busy as I entered two racing series – Audi Sport TT Cup and 5 rounds of ADAC TCR Germany. Meanwhile I managed to gain my Masters Degree in journalism and management in social media. I also became a project manager of my new business concept which is One Day Tour, offering unique tours around Poland.
Finally it was a year of struggle as I faced my worst injury so far – I broke a foot bone during qualifying in Zandvoort. The track was slippery after the rain and I hit a barrier. It was a bad luck. I had no idea it was that serious so I continued the racing weekend and was 4th in the race. On Monday a doctor put my leg in a plaster. I went through an extra-fast recovery process and didn’t miss any race. Maybe sounds crazy but that’s how I am. I never back down. Oh, and I gained a new skill – braking with my right leg.
Gosia Rdest, Philip Ellis, Finlay Hutchison
JR: Huge congratulations on getting your Masters Degree last year! How was it balancing the studying with your racing? GR: Well, with my tense schedule it was not easy. Some drivers decide to stop their studies because of racing and I completely understand that decision. It was a big struggle to make that all work and I must admit I also managed thanks to my understanding teachers. Well, I had to do tons of additional work to recompense the time when I missed lectures and activities but I’m grateful they let me do this.
JR: You got your first taste of your 2018 car in Dubai in the last few days – how did it feel and what are your hopes for the rest of the year? GR: Simply amazing. I couldn’t wish for a better start into the new season and a new car. First, I was very stressed, because I didn’t know how would I find myself in a stronger and rear-wheel drive car but after my first practice session I already knew we are going to become best frineds with my Audi R8 LMS GT4. The car is dynamic, fast, aggressive and oh-so enjoyable to drive. And it looks so sexy!
As for my hopes for the upcoming season it is to be fast, competitive and show better and better performance each round. I want to learn as much as I can. I think I stepped onto the right path with joining Phoenix Racing Junior Programme. We have planned together a development path for me, I’m going to test GT3 car later this year. And what’s also very important, the feeling between the team and me is very good. I can feel that strong support and it means a lot for a driver to find herself (or himself) confident and comfortable with the team.
JR: In October you appeared on stage at the Warsaw Moro Show as part of the FIA’s European Young Women Programme – what was that like to be a part of? GR: I was not exactly a part of that FIA programme. I’m invited year by year to Warsaw Moto Show. It’s one of the biggest motorsport events in Poland. But I strongly support any initiative which encourages girls to step into the world of motorsport. I’m always willing to involve in any action. Lately I was invited by Audi America to team up with Ashley Freiberg in one car in the IMSA Continental Sports Car Challenge at Daytona as a part of #DriveProgress campaign. The aim is to promote women in motorsport. I was proud to take part.
JR: How would you sum up the state of women’s motorsport? There’s lots of female talent around at the moment, including yourself, so do you think things are improving? GR: I believe in equality at any field and I’m so happy that nowadays girls get more opportunities. Racing is still and will long be a sport dominated by men and that’s why I think it’s especially important for a young girl to get that helpful hand from inside and get the message “you are welcome here”. Not the message “you don’t suit here, go back to girlish stuff” what I personally faced many times, mostly when I was starting my career, not even from drivers but from their dads.
There’s still a lot to be done. Last year I had a little unpleasant episode. We were at the drivers briefing before a race, forty men, two women in a room, discussing the incidents from the last race showed on a screen. There were quite a few and no one commented but when it came to my incident some old driver said in irreverent tone “ah but it’s a girl”. Like it was obvious I’m a girl so I can’t drive. Maybe it was supposed to be funny but I felt like everybody was laughing at me. Of course it was just a silly unpleasant episode but it’s really not OK if you hear such things too often. I mean, yes I’m a girl, but still manage to compete with everybody in the room on the equal rules. I know racing is a tough game and I’m totally OK with that but I’m not OK with disrespectful comments.
But you cannot let such small things go to your head and mess up with your confidence. I know it but I also know that being a girl in a men’s world can be sometimes hard. That’s why I’m always willing to share that message with any girl who wants to race – “you are welcome here”.
But answering your question, generally yes I think things are improving. Society mindset is changing for the better. I’m very happy to see more and more lady racers. I was used to be the only female diver on the grid but in Audi Sport TT Cup 2017 I had two female competitors. The changing room got a little bit crowdy but it was great.
And I’m still waiting for a grid boy.
JR: Do you have any advice for young girls trying to pursue a career in motorsport? GR: Do not let anyone talk you out of your passion. If you really feel it, if you love it, do it. When you’re fast, you’ll leave bad talkers behind. But be prepared for a hard work because that’s what any professional sport is – a hard work indeed. And motorsport is a really tough sport so be prepared to it and don’t expect any special treatment. I think when drivers put helmets on, the sex doesn’t really matter. You have to show you’re a fighter there but also show a strong character out of the track.
Molly Taylor became the first female rally driver to win the Australian Rally Championship in 2016. Even outside of rallying, she clearly enjoys a challenge, having taken part in the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon in December last year.
With International Women’s Day on the horizon, we asked Molly a few questions about her aims for the season ahead, as well as what inspires her and how she has overcome challenges in her path to success.
Alison Finlay: I’m sure you work hard on and off the track. What does an average non-race day entail for you? Molly Taylor: No day is the same, which is what I love about the job. Depending on the calendar it could be anything from going over previous Rally notes to prepare for an upcoming event, travelling to a dealership to attend a function, filming, presenting, or working with the team at Subaru HQ. Preparing physically for the role is also important, so there is always some form of training built around what is happening at the time. Generally a lot of travelling and variation!
AF: How did it feel to win the Australian Rally Championship in 2016? MT: It was an incredible feeling. A dream I’ve had for so long and although it was a long time coming, it also came sooner than I was expecting to be honest. For me the biggest enjoyment was sharing that sense of achievement with our whole team.
AF: How do you bounce back from a difficult race? MT: Rallying is a rollercoaster and most of the time there are more lows than highs. For me, the first thing is to realise why the event was difficult and understand how I can learn from that experience for next time. When you have a clear target and know what you need to do, then finding the motivation to get back out there and do better is easy.
AF: What are your passions away from rallying, and do you still get the chance to enjoy them? MT: My life pretty much revolves around motorsport, so that’s definitely my lifestyle rather than just my job. I love cars in general and am starting my own small car collection. Being a part of that car culture where everyone appreciates these amazing machines & their history is a pretty cool experience. Aside from cars I really enjoy my training and have competed in a few triathlons and just taking up mountain biking. Being an Aussie, water sports are also one of my favourite hobbies! Generally the things I enjoy complement my driving, so it’s a great fit in that regard.
AF: What advice would you give to girls looking to enter the world of rallying? MT: Do it! It can seem daunting from anyone looking from the outside, but one of the best things about our sport is the people. It’s really like one big family and I guarantee there will be so much support out there to anyone wanting to take the first step.
AF: If you weren’t driving a rally car, but still working in the industry, what job would you do? MT: I’d love to have my own team one day. I love the engineering and business aspects of the sport so I’d say I’d be in a role which brings them both together.
AF: What’s the most challenging place you’ve raced? MT: Probably somewhere like Ireland. The roads are really narrow, slippery, bumpy and the conditions are always changing. The locals are also incredibly quick, so it really pushes you.
AF: Did you ever doubt yourself, and how did you overcome it? MT: All the time and I can still be guilty of it. I think it’s probably more common than people may say. For me, the biggest thing is to just concentrate on my job and what I can control. If I know I’m doing the very best I can do, then usually the results follow.
AF: You come from a strong rallying family – how did this encourage you, and what was the best bit of advice your received from them? MT: It certainly gave me the exposure to the sport, but there was never any push to get involved myself. It wasn’t until
I was about 16 that I really considered it. I’d say the best piece of advice i was given was to find my passion and then give 100%. Whether it was rallying or not, they would also say to both my sister and me that we had to find a passion for something in life.
AF: How was it driving with your mother, Coral Taylor, as your co-driver? MT: It was a great experience! And something pretty special, I don’t think there’s many mother/daughters who have competed In the junior world Rally championship together?! She’s the ultimate professional, so when the clock starts it’s a driver/codriver relationship regardless.
AF: What are your aims in 2018? MT: To win the Australian Rally Championship! We definitely have more unfinished business here..
This is a name you may not be familiar with but Ana Carrasco is a woman who should be celebrated in motorsport. Born in Spain in 1997, Ana started riding motorcycles when she was 3 years old. It was clear there was passion there and it appears Carrasco embraced that. Why wouldn’t she?
The Spaniard raced in Moto3 which is normally used as a route to MotoGP. She raced in the series for three years. Regardless of gender, she was just another signed racer. She proved this at Malaysia in 2013 by becoming the first woman to score points in Moto3 World Championship and the first in any class. She did this all being the tender age of 16.
Sian Williams: How old were you when you started racing? Ana Carrasco: I started when I was 3 years old becuase my family were always relationship with this world, my father is mechanic and he was working on racing in the past and I did my first race with 4 years old.
SW: What drew you to motorcycles as a child? AC: When I started riding a motorbike was just like a hobby for weekends and free days, I enjoyed a lot so I never wanted to stop doing this.
SW: Did you feel much pressure entering the Moto3 world championship as a female at the age of 16? AC: Was difficult becuase everything was new, I had ti addapt myself to every situation and was no easy because I was really young. I feel some preasure becuase everybody were looking yo me and the first races were not easy.
SW:Do you feel you were treated differently by people in the paddock because of your gender? AC: No, I always feel good and confortable inside the paddock.
Source: motogp.com
SW: How did it feel to win in Portugal last year for the first time in dramatic fashion and making history at the same time? AC: Was incredible for me, was the present of all the hard work se did in the last few years. The races was really really funny so I enjoyed a lot and finished with a victory was unbelieveble.
SW:You’re only 20, what is the plan for 2018 and beyond? AC: The plan formativo 2018 is fight for the tittle un World Superbike Championship in Supersport 300 class, this is the goal. And looking yo the future I want to be able to to race in MotoGP in some years.
SW: What more do you think/want to achieve? AC: I try to look always on the seasson that is is starting. When it finish I focus on the next one. Step by step.
SW: Did anyone ever say you couldn’t race because of your gender? And if they did, do you use those comments as extra motivation? AC: I think some people think is possible and others not but I don’t care so much about this. I’m focus to work with the people I have around and achive our goals.
SW: What advice would you give young girls dreaming or racing motorcycles? AC: The advice is that is important to enjoy and do what we love so if they like motorbikes just try to do the best they and enjoy always.
In her role as Head of Communications at Williams Martini Racing, Sophie Ogg is a familiar face in the F1 paddock. In this interview she talks about working her way up through the motorsport ladder and what life is like in one of the fastest paced jobs in the world.
Georgia Beith: How did you get involved with working for Williams F1? Sophie Ogg: Motorsport was always a passion and something I just wanted to be around. My first experience was a British Touring Car Championship race at Oulton park that my dad took me along to when I was about 12 years-old and I immediately caught the motorsport bug! I gained some work experience with a local race team, and then built contacts from there. I worked up through a number of race series including Formula BMW, Formula Ford, British GT, A1GP and WTCC before stepping into Formula One with Williams back in 2010.
GB: What does your role as Head of Communications entail? SO: As Head of F1 Communications, I am responsible for creating and implementing a communications and digital strategy for our Formula One and Heritage operations to support the business aims of the Williams Group. I oversee a two press officers but also work with all the divisions across the company regarding F1 looking after internal and external F1 communications, social media platforms, our CSR programme, announcements, launch events and fan engagement. In a nutshell I take all the information from inside the team, and work out what and how best to communicate it to the fans and media. The role is extremely diverse and a 24-hour a day job, so the challenge is to remain proactive as well as being versatile enough to react to the changing climate both at track and away from it.
GB: What would your typical working day during a race weekend look like? SO: At the track, race weekends are quite formulaic up to a point. We have a schedule which constantly evolves, social media to manage, news to monitor, media interviews to oversee and content to create and then during sessions I’ll be based in the garage. Whatever happens, it’s up to me to decide how we handle it from a communications point of view, whether it’s a good result or a bad one. It’s also great being able to work with the engineering team as well as the senior management to construct any statements. The main thing people notice in this role is the fast pace at which you need to operate, things change so fast from an accident or failure on track, to a last-minute driver change before qualifying, and all need to be managed accordingly in the moment.
GB: What is the most challenging aspect of your job? SO: There are the obvious things like it being a 24/7 job, dealing with difficult situations or leaks in the media, but the toughest challenges are being reminded that it is a dangerous sport. Everyone involved knows the risks, but it doesn’t stop it being emotionally tough when things do go wrong. I’ve lost a number of friends over the years, Dan Wheldon and Henry Surtees to name a couple, and Suzuka 2014, having to inform our drivers about Jules’ crash following the race, and then us subsequently losing him, is something that stays with you. The support everyone gives each other in the paddock is like a family but times like that are really tough.
GB: What has been the highlight of your time working in Formula 1/motorsport? SO: One of my favourite memories would be Pastors’ win in 2012, I had to ask someone where to go after the race as I had never recced what do when you win – it highlights the thing I love about racing – the fact that anything can happen! But I’m also really proud of the 40th anniversary fan event we put together at Silverstone last year. Putting together the whole plan for the 40th was fun, but hard work, and that event was the culmination of a crazy idea one day the year before, and a lot of work to pull it all together! It was also incredible to see the fan reaction, and to also be reminded of the goodwill and support Williams had from everyone both inside the paddock and outside. The number of well-known personalities and ex-F1 drivers and champions that turned up is testament to that!
GB: Have you always been a fan of motorsport? Was it always a goal of yours to work within motorsport? SO: Motorsport was a passion and something I just wanted to be around. Ever since my dad took me to Oulton Park when I was 12. No one in my family was involved, but my nan knew someone who was involved in a local single-seater race team and so passed on a telephone number. I made the call and from that, I started washing wheels and helping out on events, basically doing anything just to be involved and learn more about the sport and make as many contacts as possible in the industry. From then it was never a question, motorsport was where I would always want to be.
GB: Was there ever a time in your motorsport career when you faced challenges or obstacles because of your gender? SO: To be honest, the only real challenge I had was outside of motorsport. My friends and some of my teachers couldn’t understand my passion for motorsport and so didn’t understand that this was a serious thing I wanted to do. Careers advisers told me to get a more realistic career goal and friends would mock me for not wanting to go out on a Friday night because I was heading to a race track at 6am Saturday morning! Within the industry though, I have never faced any real issues. I think because I worked my way up from the bottom, and had a genuine interest and passion for engineering and racing, everyone I have come across has accepted me, trusted me, and treated me as an equal. When I first meet anyone new, many of them do appear to look at me like I am just another PR person who will be a pain and make their life difficult, but as soon as I’ve had just one conversation and told them what I am about, and why I am there, their opinions seem to change. I do think this is the case for men or women though, people will always find it easier to have more respect for people who have worked from the bottom and travelled the same path as them through motorsport ranks. I would like to think that I have earned my place.
GB: Do you feel life has changed for women in motorsport in recent years? How do you see it changing in the future? SO: I think it is much easier for women now. When I started there were pretty much no women in the paddock, but I always felt at home in a man’s world because most of my best friends were male – mainly due to me having more in common with them as my favourite things were football and racing cars! But I can see it could be intimidating. These days there are a lot more women though and things are changing to encourage women to follow their passion whatever that may be. Programmes like Dare 2 Be Different are helping highlight all the various career paths as well. I think this will only continue in future. But I do believe that everyone should be encouraged to follow their passion, both men and women. Nothing should stop anyone following their dreams.
GB: As a female role model within motorsport, what advice would you give young girls apprehensive about pursuing a career in such a male dominated industry? SO: Don’t let anyone tell you that you that you can’t do something. Don’t be intimidated and don’t try to be something you are not. Get experience, make contacts and be prepared to work from the bottom up. Motorsport is more than just a job, it’s a way of life, and so you need to love it to be prepared to work that hard for something I think. All the women I know who are successful in motorsport, from mechanics and engineers, to press officers and lawyers do it because they love their jobs and they don’t see themselves as being ‘different’ or doing something out of the ordinary in any way.
Daniel Ricciardo lowered the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya’s unofficial lap record during Wednesday’s testing session, setting a time of 1:18.047s on the new hypersoft tyre.
The Australian’s lap was more than three tenths faster than the previous record set by Felipe Massa during testing in 2008, and nearly six tenths below last year’s fastest testing time, set by Kimi Räikkönen.
Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were close behind the Red Bull. Their best flying laps, both set on the ultrasoft tyre, were four and five tenths adrift of Ricciardo respectively, but still comfortably within the 1:18s.
These times came as teams focused on performance runs during the morning session, the result being that many of Wednesday’s laps were among the quickest of 2018 testing so far.
Steve Etherington/Mercedes AMG F1
Fourth fastest was Sebastian Vettel. The German was given an unexpected extra session on Wednesday morning as teammate Kimi Räikkönen was unwell, but opted to concentrate on long runs rather than challenge Red Bull and Mercedes on the hypersoft—however, he did manage to lap within a second of third-placed Bottas despite running on the soft compound tyre at the time.
Three tenths behind Vettel came Brendon Hartley and Fernando Alonso, both setting closely-matched 1:19.8s on the ultrasofts. Alonso had looked set to enjoy McLaren’s first trouble-free day of testing so far when he ran among the pacesetters during the morning and notched up 47 laps early on.
However, an oil leak before midday resulted in an engine change that cost Alonso over six hours of track time—the Spaniard was only able to fit in another 15 minutes of running at the end of the day, bringing his Wednesday lap count up to 57.
Steven Tee/LAT Images/Pirelli Media
Carlos Sainz was seventh fastest, being the first driver above 1:20s and the only one of the day to set his time on the medium tyre.
Although Sainz’s best lap was ultimately two seconds off Ricciardo’s benchmark, he did contribute to Renault leading the way in terms of mileage on Wednesday. The Spaniard logged 88 rounds of the Barcelona track during his morning in the RS18, before teammate Nico Hülkenberg added a further 102 after lunch.
Their combined 190 laps puts Renault second so far in the number of testing laps completed per team, with 602 to Mercedes’s 658.
Renault Sport F1 Team
Romain Grosjean was eighth-fastest on a 1:20.237s. Haas ended the session with the second-lowest lap total when an oil leak on Grosjean’s car limited him to 78 laps across the day.
Räikkönen, who recovered to run in the afternoon, and Hülkenberg, were the lowest-placed manufacturer drivers in ninth and eleventh respectively, split by the Williams of Lance Stroll.
Force India, Sauber and Williams occupied the bottom spaces on the leaderboard with Esteban Ocon, Charles Leclerc and Sergey Sirotkin.
But although the three midfield teams were an average of three seconds off Red Bull’s pace, they were all much higher on the day’s lap charts. Leclerc’s 160 and Ocon’s 130 were beaten only by Ricciardo in terms of laps done by an individual driver, while Stroll and Sirotkin recorded 143 for Williams between them.
FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 -WRC Mexico(MEX) – WRC 08/03/2017 to 12/03/2017 – PHOTO : @World
The WRC heads for much warmer climes in Mexico after the snow and ice of Monte and Sweden! Thierry Neuville leads the championship after a brilliant drive last month. Seb will want to fight back on the classic stages that make this incredible event. Its held at over 2,200 metres, and this has a very big effect on engine performance, with every 1000 metres leading to a 10% loss of engine power.
Big news is that a certain nine-time World Champion will be making his return with Citroen in Mexico, but this does mean that Craig Breen will not be competing, and that is a shame considering his drive to second in Sweden. Last year, Kris Meeke won this rally and he’ll be hoping he can do the same again to get his season going. Certainly, the car will go a lot better this year with the handling problems sorted.
Toyota suffered last year as well, but with a whole event completed and a year to work on their car will almost certainly feature near the front with the combined talents of Jari-Matti, Ott and Esapekka.
Here’s the details then of the stages that await them!
Stage
local time (mexico)
gmt
Thursday 8th March
shakedown (Llano Grande)
9:00
15:00
Start day 1 (Leon)
18:15
0:15
SS 1 – Monster Street Stage GTO (2,53 km
20:08
2:08
End of day 1
21:38
3:38
Friday 9th March
Start day 2 and Service A (Leon – 15 min)
9:30
15:30
SS 2 – Duarte – Derramadero 1 (26,05 km)
10:33
16:33
SS 3 – El Chocolate 1 (31,44 km)
11:21
17:21
SS 4 – Ortega 1 (17,23 km)
12:41
18:41
SS 5 – Street Stage Leon 1 (1,11 km)
14:02
20:02
Service B (Leon – 30 min)
14:42
20:42
SS 6 – Duarte – Derramadero 2 (26,05 km)
16:00
22:00
SS 7 – El Chocolate 2 (31,44 km)
16:48
22:48
SS 8 – Ortega 2 (17,23 km)
17:41
23:41
SS 9 – Autodromo de Leon 1 (2,30 km)
20:06
2:06
SS 10 - Autodromo de Leon 2 (2,30 km)
20:11
2:11
Flexi Service C (Leon – 45 min)
21:26
3:26
Saturday 10th March
Start day 3 and Service D (Leon – 15 min)
7:30
13:30
SS 11 – Guanajuatito 1 (30,97 km)
8:33
14:33
SS 12 – Otates 1 (26,37 km)
10:11
16:11
SS 13 – El Brinco 1 (9,98 km)
11:08
17:08
Service E (Leon – 30 min)
12:48
18:48
SS 14 – Guanajuatito 2 (30,97 km)
14:21
20:21
SS 15 – Otates 2 (26,37 km)
15:34
21:34
SS 16 – El Brinco 2 (9,98 km)
16:48
22:48
SS 17 – Autodromo de Leon 3 (2,30 km)
17:38
23:38
SS 18 – Autodromo de Leon 4 (2,30 km)
17:43
23:43
Flexi Service F (Leon – 45 min)
18:33
0:33
SS 19 – Street Stage Leon 2 (1,11 km)
20:26
2:26
Sunday 11th March
Start day 3 and Service D (Leon – 15 min)
7:30
13:30
SS 11 – Guanajuatito 1 (30,97 km)
8:33
14:33
SS 12 – Otates 1 (26,37 km)
10:11
16:11
SS 13 – El Brinco 1 (9,98 km)
11:08
17:08
Service E (Leon – 30 min)
12:48
18:48
SS 14 – Guanajuatito 2 (30,97 km)
14:21
20:21
SS 15 – Otates 2 (26,37 km)
15:54
21:54
SS 16 – El Brinco 2 (9,98 km)
16:38
22:38
SS 17 – Autodromo de Leon 3 (2,30 km)
17:38
23:38
SS 18 – Autodromo de Leon 4 (2,30 km)
17:43
23:43
Flexi Service F (Leon – 45 min)
18:27
0:27
SS 19 – Street Stage Leon 2 (1,11 km)
20:26
2:26
Let’s hear from the drivers then!
Hyundai Motorsport
2017 FIA World Rally Championship Round 03, Rally Mexico 08-12 March 2017 Dani Sordo, Marc Marti, Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC Photographer: Sarah Vessely Worldwide copyright: Hyundai Motorsport GmbH
Thierry Neuville
“We head to Mexico on the back of our fantastic win in Sweden, so our motivation and morale could not be higher. Mexico is a nice event and one that brings back good memories. I got my first podium there in 2013, and then scored Hyundai Motorsport’s first ever podium just one year later. The rally has a more relaxed atmosphere, and it’s generally a lot calmer for the drivers. We arrive a bit earlier than normal in order to acclimatise and adjust to the time difference. It is the first event of the year with higher temperatures – and altitude – making it a unique and enjoyable challenge.”
Andreas Mikkelsen
“Rally Mexico is an event I’ve done three times in the past. It’s a beautiful rally with stages that are similar from one season to the next, so we know them well. It is always a warm event, so we have to take extra care of the brakes. It is also quite a rough rally, which means it very easy to make a mistake. There is typically a lot of road cleaning, and with stages being held at altitude the engine is down on power, so it requires a slight change of driving style. After finishing on the podium in Sweden, our first one with Hyundai Motorsport, I’m ready to fight for another strong result.”
Dani Sordo
“I was pleased to see the team score its first win of the season in Sweden, and I am happy to be returning to the line-up for Rally Mexico. I have always enjoyed driving on the Mexican stages, which are lined with many passionate rally fans, who cheer and support us throughout the weekend. Road cleaning in Mexico can create a big difference between those first on the road and those behind. I hope we can benefit a bit from our position and compete near the front to help the team defend our manufacturers’ championship lead.”
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Jari-Matti Latvala
“I always like going to Mexico and enjoying the warmth and the sun for the first time after the winter. The stages have sections that are very fast and sections that are very slow, and there are a lot of loose rocks off the line so you have to be precise with your driving. If we can finish on the podium that would be really good for the championship. It’s clear that the performance is there in the car. We had a good gravel test in Spain last week: of course, in Mexico it is going to be warmer but it is the best you can do in Europe at this time of the year. We had some updates to the suspension and I could feel that the traction and the grip under braking are better than what we had at the end of last year.”
FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 -WRC Mexico(MEX) – WRC 08/03/2017 to 12/03/2017 – PHOTO : @World
Ott Tänak
“Rally Mexico will be my first event on gravel in the Yaris WRC. I have many new things to learn, but we had two days of testing in Spain last week which were very useful. We tried as many different things as possible, just to understand how the car reacted. The early feeling with the car on gravel is quite good: there are still some things to get used to and some things that we can develop. In Mexico we will have a better road position, starting fifth. The road sweeping has a big effect there, so this should help us. I have quite a bit of experience in Mexico now, so I feel comfortable going there and I think we have a good chance to fight for the top positions.”
Esapekka Lappi
“This will be the first time that I have competed in Mexico, although I did do the recce last year so I have some idea of what to expect. The surface is similar to the gravel roads in Spain, where everybody has done their pre-event testing, but I think the stages will be much rougher on the second pass. The altitude will also make a big difference: I have never driven those kinds of conditions where the air is really thin. It means there is less power from the engine, so you may have to drive in a slightly different way. I am quite happy with how my season has started and hopefully we can continue that in Mexico. The main target for me though has to be to do every stage and gain that experience for the future.”
Citroen Abu Dhabi WRT
Kris Meeke
“Mexico is a bit like Catalonia, one of the gravel rallies where we were pretty competitive last year. Since then, we have made further improvements to the C3 WRC, so I have high hopes that we can get among the frontrunners. Of course, a lot of our rivals had reliability issues related to the altitude last year and are bound to be a lot better prepared this time around. It’s definitely an event that I like: as the full power of the cars is not available, you have to be as clean as possible in your driving. I’m also pretty pleased with our recent tests. We seem to have made more progress, especially on the dampers in conjunction with Öhlins. That was Sébastien’s impression too. In any case, I’m really looking forward to it. We need to make the most of running seventh on the road on day one – that will be key in getting a good result.”
Kris Meeke, Paul Nagle during last years Rally Mexico. Photo credit, Citroen Racing
Sébastien Loeb
“This is a rally that I have always loved, so I have high hopes I will enjoy these stages in the C3 WRC, which is an exciting car to drive. Other than that, I have the same uncertainties as everyone else: although I hope to be more or less on the pace, I have no idea where I stand in relation to the other drivers, so I can’t wait to get started! You have to bear in mind that this is still the world championship! The other drivers haven’t stood still over the last few years… In any case, I’m pleased with the testing we did. I covered almost 500 kilometres in two days. I found the C3 WRC well balanced and I felt that it had improved again since my last test outing at the end of 2017. I have tried to give myself every chance by spending some time in a DS3 WRC beforehand to get the feeling and my reflexes back, and by watching some onboard video footage from previous rallies. 28% of the course is going to be new to me, compared with just 4% for the others, but that’s pretty positive because it is one of the events I still know best. However, my memories of the 72% that I have driven before go back six years, so I’ve done a little bit of work so that I don’t feel completely disorientated. I hope my position in Friday’s running order (11th) will help me to get my bearings because with the current regulations, you really need to have a good first day, otherwise your rally suffers.”
M-Sport Ford WRT
Sébastien Ogier
There’s always a special feeling when we return to Rally Mexico – because it’s where everything started for me 10 years ago! It was our first event in the world championship, and the story started with victory in the Junior WRC.
“Since then we added a couple of podiums and victories at the highest level which means that I obviously have Rally Mexico in my heart! We’ll for sure do our best to continue this love story with another strong result and are looking forward to the great Mexican atmosphere!
“This might be the first gravel event of the year, but it has its own unique character which sets it apart from the more traditional gravel rallies. The altitude is higher than anything else we experience throughout the year and the thinner air means a lot less power than we’re used to.
“Those conditions – linked with the pretty high temperatures – are practically impossible to reproduce in Europe which means we are counting even more than usual on the job done by our engineers in the climatic chamber to get the maximum performance.
“The loose gravel can also pose something of a challenge for the early runners and, even though we won’t be the first car on the road next week, there will still be a lot of fast drivers behind us. We need to try and stay as close as we can on Friday morning. Then, we can see where we are and push for the best possible result.”
“Rally Mexico is an event that I really enjoy. It’s such a colourful rally with a great atmosphere and we’ve done well there in the past. It’s one of those events where a clever run can deliver the results. You need to get the balance between speed and risk just right, and that’s exactly what we’ll be aiming for next week.
“When you think about this event two things come to mind – the heat and the altitude. We’ve got to get quickly acclimatised to the environment – both in terms of our physical fitness and our driving style. The thinner air can see the power reduced by as much as 20 percent so you’ve got to be tidy and keep the momentum through the corners.
“We’ll have a good road position, but that’s not without its challenges as there’s an added risk of rocks being pulled onto the racing line. We’ll need to stay focused and hopefully we can deliver a strong result to kick-start our 2018 campaign.”
Teemu Suninen
“Mexico is one of the special events on the calendar where we face some really extreme conditions. The weather is always warm, and the high altitude means that we feel the lack of oxygen. It has an effect on the drivers, but also on the cars with 20 percent less power than the more traditional gravel events.
“It’s a shame that the winter weather prevented us from testing, but that’s the way it goes sometimes and we will have to make good use of the Shakedown to get accustomed to the feeling of driving here in Mexico.
“It’s difficult to estimate our chances next week. I won the WRC 2 class here a few years ago, but this year will be completely different and I expect the competition to be really tough. I’ll try to concentrate on my own driving and then we will see where we are.”
After two rounds and two different winners, who could win this event? Road position will have a big impact on the kind of pace that the drivers will able to produce on the stages. Then there’s the thin air…. All the teams have done a lot of work to minimize the effects of this on these unique stages!
McLaren suffered another day of limited mileage on Tuesday as F1 testing resumed in Barcelona, finishing the day bottom of the lap charts and with the second-slowest time.
After minor mechanical faults cost the team valuable track time last week, McLaren was left again on the back foot when Stoffel Vandoorne’s MCL33 broke down twice in the morning with a pair of battery failures shutting down his Renault engine.
And although McLaren seemed to resolve those issues in time for the afternoon, Vandoorne was not out for long before this session was also cut short—this time, owing to a hydraulics problem.
In total, Vandoorne completed just 38 laps across the whole of Tuesday, and finished last-but-one on the timesheets with a best of 1:21.946s.
Ferrari Media
While McLaren struggled, their rivals took advantage of the prime conditions in Barcelona to embark on the long run programmes traditionally seen in the second week.
Sebastian Vettel recorded the most individual mileage of the day with 171 laps, as well as ending the day fastest by two tenths from Valtteri Bottas.
However, Mercedes ran the furthest of any team on Tuesday, surpassing Ferrari by six laps by combining Bottas’s 86 laps in the morning with Lewis Hamilton’s afternoon total of 91.
Max Verstappen—who split Bottas and Hamilton to be third fastest—lost running in the final hour of the afternoon when his Red Bull stopped on track, but nevertheless logged 130 laps to be Vettel’s closest challenger.
Sauber, Renault and Williams also broached the 100-lap mark (the latter two teams splitting running between both of their drivers), while Haas and Force India came close with 96 and 93 laps respectively.
Sahara Force India F1 Team
In an unexpected turn, Toro Rosso and Honda endured the first difficult day of their new partnership on Tuesday. After accomplishing a respectable 53 laps in the morning session with Pierre Gasly at the wheel, an unknown issue kept the STR13 confined to the garage for most of the afternoon, with Gasly adding only a single lap to his total after lunch.
But despite those troubles, Gasly still managed to end the day fifth fastest and best of the rest with a 1:20.973s, putting the Frenchman less than six tenths off Vettel’s benchmark.
Kevin Magnussen was sixth and the last of Tuesday’s drivers to be within a second of the pace. He finished ahead of Renault’s Nico Hülkenberg and Carlos Sainz, who were separated by just 0.023s despite setting their laps on different tyre compounds.
Sergey Sirotkin enjoyed more profitable running than his first week of F1 testing, and was the highest-placed Williams in ninth. Two tenths separated the Russian from Sergio Pérez in tenth and Marcus Ericsson—who notched up 120 laps for Sauber—in eleventh.
Lance Stroll was Tuesday’s slowest runner behind McLaren’s Vandoorne, even though his 1:22.937s was set on the hypersoft tyre. However, with the Canadian making it to 86 laps despite sharing his day with Sirotkin, it’s likely Stroll’s programme was focused more on distance than outright pace.
Today, Tech3 Racing owner, Herve Poncharal, confirmed that his independent team will enter a partnership with the KTM Factory Racing Team from next season.
Speaking to MotoGP.com’s ‘After the Flag‘ show, following the conclusion to the test in Qatar, Poncharal revealed the details about the new partnership:
HP: “We have a three-year deal, in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Each year, in ‘19 we’ll have ‘19 spec, there will be four bikes on the grid with the same spec – the factory team and the Tech 3 operation. It will be the same in ‘20 and same in ‘21, which is something you always look for and always want…We always tried to be the ‘official’ junior team [for Yamaha] but it was never really the case, but it will be the case where we are going. The manufacturer is involved in Moto2™ and Moto3™, there will be a clear path. Young riders from the first day in the championship will go through Moto3™ and Moto2™, then to MotoGP™ with the junior team – and then, if they’re good enough, they will eventually move to the factory team. This is being part of the family and you know what family means to me. Even though the bike could be under the performance of what we have now, there is room for improvement, development, sharing ideas of how to make the package better – and at least to be part of that project and have people listening to us, trying to grow all together.”
The new manufacturer in question is KTM. For an independent team such as Tech3, a working partnership with full support from a factory outfit is the holy grail in grand prix racing. Not least because it alleviates a considerable amount of financial pressure from the team. Without factory support, any development parts or ‘upgrades’ for the bikes have to be researched and funded by the independent team – at considerable cost. This has been the case throughout Tech3’s association with Yamaha, barring a brief period in late 2010 when the factory offered support to Ben Spies. Under the new deal with KTM, all research and development costs are left with the manufacturer. Additionally, Tech3 have entered this new partnership with the promise that at least one of their riders will be given a factory contract.
This deal also secures the immediate future of Johann Zarco. The Frenchman has been tipped by many to become MotoGP world champion sooner rather than later. Without factory support, it is almost impossible to achieve. Tech3 could not hope to hold onto him without this newly signed deal. As Poncharal stated when he first announced the split with Yamaha: “I have been presented with an offer too good to turn down.”
Announcing the new deal today, Pit Berier (KTM Motorsport Director) made this statement:
PB – “We are very happy to join forces with Tech3 in MotoGP from 2019. The team has many years of experience and achieved a lot of great results in this championship. Their professional structure will make us even stronger. Having four KTM RC16 on the grid is also another big step for us, both for the development of our MotoGP bike and expanding KTM’s structure in the paddock. From the Red Bull Rookies Cup up to MotoGP there is a clear path to the top. We are looking forward to start a great cooperation and I’m thankful towards Hervé Poncharal for the future trust in KTM.”
The new deal will greatly benefit both parties. KTM might be the newest manufacturer on the grid – having made their full debut at Qatar in 2017 – but they have serious ambitions to become championship contenders in the near future. Acquiring a highly experienced satellite team such as Tech3 can only benefit the Austrian team, especially given that this deal means they will have four factory-spec machines competing from 2019 onwards. In terms of the development war, which can affect the championship almost as much as the riders, having four identical machines in operation provides KTM to close the gap to their rivals far quicker than before due to more data being continuously collected. Four bikes also greatly increases the chance of finishing higher in the manufacturers’ championship – which determines how much prize money each outfit receives.
Today, Tech3 Racing owner, Herve Poncharal, confirmed that his independent team will enter a partnership with the KTM Factory Racing Team from next season.