ThePitcrewOnline

16th August 201726th August 2017

What Does The Future Hold for WSBK

The World Superbike paddock gets back underway this weekend as the circus heads to the Lausitzring in Germany to begin the second leg of their 13 round season. This season more than any other and the direction the World Superbike series has gone down, has come under plenty of scrutiny from people who follow it closely.

Looking at it from a fans point of view, you can see why people aren’t forking out the cash to go and see the racing. Having only two manufacturers at the front without any real threat from Aprilia, Yamaha, MV Agusta, Honda and BMW week in, week out, gets slightly repetitive and dare I say, boring.

I will never fall out of love with motorcycle racing, real racing fans will, I’m sure, agree with me on that. But, in the grand scheme of things, something has to change to allow the other manufacturers to be competitive on the world stage of production motorcycle racing.

This is nothing against the likes of Jonathan Rea, Chaz Davies and Tom Sykes. It’s amazing to have three genuine world class British riders fighting it out at the front every race weekend, we couldn’t ask for anymore as British racing fans. In my opinion, they could all be competitive in MotoGP, given they were on the right equipment at the right time.

The same can be said for several other World Superbike riders. Pata Yamaha teammates Alex Lowes and Michael Van Der Mark could win races if their package could compete with Kawasaki and Ducati.

Stefan Bradl is a former Moto2 World Champion, yet struggling to get into the top 10 at each round. Through no fault of his own, the new Honda Fireblade simply hasn’t been able to be fast on the world stage. Their decision to go with Cosworth engines may prove to be a direction they’ll regret taking.

Eugene Laverty is a World Superbike race winner and has also proven he can be quick on an unfavourable Ducati GP14 MotoGP bike. Maybe it will take a year for the Irishman to understand a Superbike again, having been away on MotoGP duty since 2014.

Leon Camier has been hugely impressive on the MV Agusta, a former British Superbike champion who should be expecting to fight for victories week in week out with the talent he has. However, the MV itself is based on an old model bike and the results Leon is delivering for the team are incredible considering the age of the motorcycle.

The list could go on. My point here is, imagine all of these boys mixing it with Rea, Davies, Sykes and Melandri at the front every weekend. THAT would be worth its weight in gold for every motorcycle racing fan. Yes, for other countries it may get slightly boring seeing the Union Jack every weekend but real fans would watch the close racing regardless.

We only have to look at the competitiveness of British Superbikes to see what a level playing field can do. The popularity of the series is sky high and the racing it provides from virtually every manufacturer on the grid only enhances that. Stuart Higgs has got the balance absolutely right with privateer teams having just as much chance of success as the more factory backed outfits.

Lets travel back to the ‘Golden Age’ of World Superbikes. King Carl had 90,000 British fans flocking to Donington and over 120,000 to Brands Hatch each year and until his accident at Phillip Island, he was undoubtedly the man to beat. Not just on track but off track as well, his confidence bordering-on-arrogance persona was marmite but everyone ended up embracing him.

After Foggy’s retirement, the paddock was still treated to unbelievably close racing between every manufacturer in the paddock. In 2000, Colin Edwards and Noriyuki Haga went head-to-head whereas Neil Hodgson, Chris Walker and John Reynolds all created goose-bump moments with their fantastic wildcard performances. A year later, Edwards and Troy Bayliss went at it with Bayliss pipping the American, but through Ruben Xaus, Regis Laconi and Tadayuki Okada in the mix and you’ve got yourself a stacked field of closing racing, not to mention the annual trip to Sugo for the Japanese round – Tamada, Kitagawaw, Serizawa, Ryo and Takeda, the list goes on.

We all remember Edwards and Bayliss fight it out at Imola in 2002, one of the greatest battles I’ve ever seen on a race track in any series. Steve Parrish seemingly agreeing, it was one of the best races he ever commentated on. But when will these glory days come again? When will we see another vintage year of Superbike racing that captivates us all once more?

Elliott York

@journoyork

15th August 201715th August 2017

Why F1 2017 is a must-have for any F1 Fan!

With F1 2017, Codemasters will publish their 8th official F1 game. We will show you why the game is a must have for every F1 fan, and for everyone who is in love with racing games. With the NDA of the closed beta ending on Tuesday, you will get also my very own opinion and review as a long term F1 player.

Bildergebnis für f1 2017 game

The 25th of August in this year is not only the day when the F1 World Championship’s summer break ends with free practice at the Belgian GP, and Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton continue their fight for the title—it’s the day when Codemasters publish their new F1 game. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!

New features:

Career Mode: Realistic engine rules:

The Career Mode in the F1 games reached a new level on last year’s game, when Codemasters finally introduced a real atmosphere with a paddock, your own starting number, a career mode that lasts 10 seasons and the all-new feature to improve the team’s car with updates on different areas, that helps you to catch up with your rivals.

But in this year’s game, the whole thing is reaching another level again. Like you see in the trailer above Codemasters didn’t only improve the R&D system massively, they also implemented F1’s restriction on engine parts.

Like in real life you have to manage your whole power unit package now. Not only the ICE (internal combustion engine), but also the many other parts of the complex current V6-hybrid engines. And on top of that, also your gearbox which you are only able to change every six races without a penalty.

That means that you are not able to push your car to hell on every weekend of the season like last year—especially when you sitting in a McLaren-Honda or other less reliable cars, you have to look after the car as in real life or get hurt by an engine penalty.

Massive R&D system:

As mentioned in the beginning of the article and also seen on the video trailer above, the R&D system is now way more complex. The players are now able to improve very specific parts of the car and, as British Youtuber “aarava” called in one of his videos, there is a whole “tree” of improvements of the car now.

And also here the player have to decide what section of the car should be improved. This section could be again be payed with Resource points, that the player is earning with the practice sessions, that are more intense in this year’s game than last year.

Like in real and like in F1 2016 each car has his very own specific strengths and weaknesses. To the last year’s sections of engine, chassis and more comes the point of reliability. Yes, in F1 2017 there are finally real car issues, like an engine failure or as mentioned before failures of the engine parts. A big plus for every fan that loves the details of the sport!

Classic Cars:

If you don’t live under a rock, you probably already know that Codemasters is bringing the Classic Cars back into the new game. The first—and also last—time we saw this was in F1 2013. Now there are not only more Classic Cars—they will also be implemented into the career mode.

But first let’s see what kind of cars are in there:

Ferrari:
1995 Ferrari 412 T2
2002 Ferrari F2002
2004 Ferrari F2004
2007 Ferrari F2007

McLaren:
1988 McLaren MP4/4
1991 McLaren MP4/6
1998 McLaren MP4-13
2008 McLaren MP4-23

Williams:
1992 Williams FW14B
1996 Williams FW18

Renault:
2006 Renault R26

Red Bull:
2010 Red Bull RB6

Well then, how will the classic cars work in career mode?

Screenshot zu F1 2017 (PS4) - Screenshots

Simple. According to Creative Director Lee Mather there is a rich guy called “Jonathan” who owns some classic cars and during the career mode he runs certain events: letting the player jump in a faster modern Renault R26, for example, and with that the player has to catch slower cars that start the race before you.

Screenshot zu F1 2017 (PS4) - Screenshots

But next to the career mode there are also some special game modes with the classic cars and the player is able to use them in time trial for example.

A little mention here, like you saw maybe in the video from McLaren’s Lando Norris above: with the 1988 McLaren MP4/4, which is only available in the limited edition of the game, you are able to use a h-gearshift next to your wheel, like the car had in real life back in this time. A very cool feature, we think!

Beta Review – my very own opinion:

Thankfully as a longtime F1 player and the head of the biggest German F1 league I was invited for the second time for Codemasters Beta this year, after they started their beta programme one year ago with F1 2016.

The beta took part in different phases, each phase with different game modes or improving things from the last phase.

The Driving:

This year showed a massive change of aerodynamic regulations in F1. The cars are wider, the tyres are much bigger and the times are faster than in every F1 year before. Most of the real drivers are saying currently that the 2017 cars are much more fun and much more difficult to drive.

And you will feel this immediately in the game, no matter if you play with a wheel or a control pad. The cars are much faster in the corners and you will be able to push the car to every section of the circuit, especially with the wheel. Like in reality the tyre wear is much less than in the previous years, so you can push more, but:

Managing of the car:

As mentioned above with the reliability, you also have to manage the car with the fuel like in real life. Fuel saving is much more important in this year’s game and you will probably not finish a race if you drive with the “Standard Fuel Mix” for the whole time. So you need to drive some slow laps now, using Fuel Mix 1 or just lift and coast. Some races will definitely be decided by that factor.

Graphics:

I played the game only on the Xbox version, but i have to admit that the graphics, especially of the cars, seems to be much better. Everything looks more realistic and the colour schemes are just insane. But have a look at your own in Codemasters’ gameplay videos.

Classic Cars:

In the beta you were able to test some classic cars in the first weeks. To be honest I didn’t play too long with those cars, but the lovely V10 sound of the Ferrari F2002 I enjoyed that for hours, and I don’t talk trash: compare it to a real onboard and you could not hear a difference between that and the game. Definitely a really sweet part of the game, that you will enjoy!

Racing against AI:

The AI is just awesome in F1 2017. Simple to say. Sure in the beta there were some strange moments here and there, which is pretty normal for a beta. But the racing against the AI in my opinion was no doubt as good as in any other game before. I had some fights with them which I normally only get when I play against my league colleagues. They are fighting back, racing against you in the corners and with the new “AI slider” you are finally able to decide for your own how strong the AI should be and this worked perfect for me.

With the new manual pitlimiter and manual exit of the pitbox there are also new driving assists that makes the game more realistic.

Multiplayer:

For me as a league driver, the multiplayer online mode is probably the most important point in the F1 games. Any long term player will know that Codemasters had some real issues in the last games. With F1 2016 they had done already a big step.

But with F1 2017 there will definitely be more happy faces for every league driver—especially as Codemasters gave every beta tester the opportunity to test the first multiplayer beta for some weeks. And with that, I’m also able to tell you something about that:

First of all the wheel to wheel racing and when both cars touches each other: While on some games in the last years there were horrible strange situations, taking the other player with a little touch on the sidepod 500 metres into the wall, there is now a really real responsibility of the cars. You can now really race against your friends or against your rivals in the league without have any thoughts about things like mentioned above. Also Codemasters fixed many glitches from last year game, that makes the online feeling more enjoyable.

Mention for all Xbox players: the game finally has the session list from previous games back and the hopper system from the last two games are away.

F1 2017 – A must have?

For me as an F1-Fan, a league driver who is going into his seventh season, and a lover of racing games since my childhood—definitely yes! But for a casual gamer, a normal F1 fan?

I would say: yes! Because this year’s game is not only an improved version of the very good F1 2016, it has so many more features and the cars are just a lot more fun to drive. Also, there are so many things that are like in reality now, for example you see the new intros of the races in the gameplay above which is exactly the one that F1 fans know from the TV broadcast of the real race weekends, the new whole story about the engine party and managing of the car—details that makes the game much more realistic.

In my opinion F1 2017 will be the best F1 game yet and everyone who was in love with F1 2016, will like F1 2017 much more!

F1 2017 will be released on August 25th on PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One.

15th August 201729th August 2017

Ian Hutchinson: I Had Doubts Over My Comeback

There aren’t many people that I absolutely idolise in bike racing. Valentino Rossi, Carl Fogarty, John McGuinness and maybe Troy Bayliss but above all of them, Ian Hutchinson. The ‘Bingley Bullet’ nearly lost his leg numerous times and undertook every risk possible to make-sure he would be able to ride again. When I got the chance to interview this superhuman, I was delighted. So here it is, an exclusive with the 14-time TT winner himself.

Can we expect an Ian Hutchinson championship win this year?

Yeah, I’m here to try and win races and we are doing a good job. We did a good job last year; last year I wasn’t really in the championship to try and win it so it was a surprise to be where I was. We need to put a bit more effort into being in the championship and to be in a position to win it this year. Unfortunately, we will have to miss a race for the TT but it’s a longer championship this year so hopefully I will gain back the points that I lose.

Do you like the new Superstock 1000 race format?

I think it could’ve been done a bit differently. We wanted more track time across the weekend and it’s something new, if back-to-back races brings in more interest in the Superstock class for the public then it’s a good thing. Either way we are getting more track time so it’s all good.

We’ve seen a lot of riders struggle on the BMW, but you seem to ride it effortlessly – how is that?

Well, I haven’t been on the bike in the Superbike class so that’s completely different but in the Superstock class it’s a fantastic bike and that has been proven by many riders. There’s definitely more challenge this year from Kawasaki and Suzuki, so we are having to work harder trying to improve the bike. On the roads it has a little bit of edge with regards to speed. Every now and then a bike seems to come along and work better in road racing and the BMW is in that position at the moment. I don’t really know what that one thing is because it doesn’t feel anything special compared to other bikes. The BMW has an easier throttle connection and control of power is definitely easier. All bikes are a bit of a handful around the TT with 200BHP so ‘easy’ might not be the word to use there but the power distribution is pretty good.

How do you adapt from Roads to Short Circuits?

My riding style in short circuits is smooth so I don’t make mistakes, so when I go to the roads then I can ride exactly the same as I do on the short circuits. Some short circuit riders are far more committed on short circuits so they might have to change a style whereas I’ve always been able to transfer and do both.

How do you physically prepare for Roads and Short Circuits?

The balance for me is that wherever and whenever you fall off you can get hurt and I don’t want to get hurt. I barely do anything special; I ride trials bike and I do a bit of motocross. I do stuff for fun really, not so much actual training.

How did you get engaged in bike racing?

Just through passing my test at 17. I did some trials riding when I was 15 and 16 and then got into road bikes, and then into racing.

After your crash at Silverstone 2010, did you ever consider your career over?

Yes, definitely. I worked hard to comeback and I had the doubts it would not happen. After 30 operations on your leg and the potential of losing your leg numerous times, then you have to think that it might be over. I just enjoyed winning so much before it and wanted that feeling back. Thats all I race for is that feeling of winning and I don’t like any other positions so that drove me on to be back where I wanted to be.

How are the Tyco team to work in?

They’re great to work with. I dont tend to want for many things but if I do want something they get in straight away. Everything seems to work very smoothly. They’ve been doing the roads and the British championship for a long time now, so they know what needs doing. The team doesn’t get flustered and it is a tiring job doing all the rounds in BSB and the roads. Obviously they do still get tired but they don’t seem to get down about it and if you’re getting the results then that helps as well.

Do you like a rivalry with someone in the class?

It’s all about racing and this year I’ve got Richard Cooper and Danny Buchan in the championship, both ex Superbike winners and podium finishers and both being Superstock champions. It makes it better for me to be beating people of that calibre; it isn’t like I’m just winning a support race, you’re beating people who were podium finishers in BSB last season.

Can we expect more fireworks between you and Michael Dunlop at the TT this year?

The rivalry is between first and second in any race wherever you go. I’m out there to win races and we need to concentrate on what we need to do and what we need to win.

When do you see yourself retiring? We see riders such as Michael Rutter who are in their 40s, will you get to that age?

I never think about it. It could have all come to an end seven years ago when my leg got squashed. I will just take each year as it comes; if I’m competitive and I’m having fun then I will carry on but if I was finishing 15th then I wouldn’t be doing this championship. So I just take each as it comes and if I’m enjoying it, I’ll continue.

Thank you to Gareth Davies of Full Factory Media and Photography for the image. For prints and canvasses, you can contact him here.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

15th August 201715th August 2017

Doviziso: It Was a Crazy Race!

Andrea Dovizioso branded the Austrian Grand Prix as a “crazy race”, having defeated Marc Marquez in one of the best head to head race-long battles MotoGP has ever seen. The Italian took his third victory of the season and gave me Ducati their second consecutive win at the circuit.

“It was a crazy race, but to be honest the whole weekend was incredible, and in particular the final curve of the last lap, but I managed to remain clear headed and was aware that Marquez was going to try and pass me”, began the Italian, who now moves into 2nd in the championship, 16 points behind Marc Marquez.

“It was a very difficult situation because if Marc had closed the door coming out of the corner, he would have forced me out and passed me. Instead I was able to resist his attack and I went on to win”, he continued.

Dovizioso concluded by saying, “I’m very satisfied with the way we managed the entire weekend with my team: understanding the right choice of tyres was really difficult but we did it. We had a great race, we’re making up points in the championship, and we’ve got all the right cards to fight for the title.”

This is the first back to back victory at the same circuit in consecutive seasons since Casey Stoner at Phillip Island, from 2007 to 2010. Dovizioso also becomes just the 4th Italian to win across all classes at the Red Bull Ring, alongside Ivan Goi, Andrea Iannone and Franco Morbidelli. Andrea Dovizioso also moves eight points clear of Maverick Vinales, the top Yamaha.

Image: MotoGP

15th August 201715th August 2017

Chandler Warren-Gray Q&A: Bradley Has Tremendous Amounts of Talent

In our latest interview, we catch up with Chandler Warren-Gray, the Team Manager for Buildbase Suzuki, which runs Bradley Ray in Superbikes and Alex Olsen in National Superstock 1000. Chandler speaks of Bradley’s mesmerising season so far, the plan moving forward and also about Sylvain Guintoli’s presence in the Bennetts Team. On top of that, he highlights the differences between the two bikes and gives us an insight into how both the Suzuki teams co-ordinate.

How has 2017 been so far this year?

2017 has been an incredible year for us. We’ve taken it very steady, as it is our first year with Bradley and Bradley’s first year in the British Superbike championship. The plan was to focus on learning the tracks on a big 1000cc bike and getting used to the bike’s behaviour and yes, it has been a very steep learning curve at some stages but we are all incredibly proud of what Bradley has achieved. Suzuki as a factory are incredibly proud of him too. Bradley has exceeded the Hawk Racing Team’s expectations. He is punching well above anything we could have imagined, even in our wildest dreams. I think that considering this bike is new to us and Bradley, we are doing brilliantly!

What were your expectations at the start of the year – surely you can’t have expected to beat Sylvain and Taylor like he is doing?

Absolutely not at all. We never set any targets for Bradley. It was all about learning the bike, learning the teams’ way of working and learning the tracks on a superbike. Because we haven’t set any targets, it meant that Bradley is relaxed but mainly, he is enjoying himself in his rookie year. Bradley raced very well in his opening races and therefore has set his own targets and expectations – which every rider does the same – whereas we haven’t at the beginning of our journey together and still haven’t done so.

Has Bradley found it difficult to adapt?

It has been quite difficult for Bradley, in terms of adjusting to how a 1000cc bike should be ridden on some circuits. However, he is a natural. He is a natural rider with tremendous amounts of ability, the way he rides a motorcycle isn’t one you see very often. He rides it like MotoGP riders do. That seems like a huge comparison but one that is accurate and is shared by the motorbike community alike. Some tracks have caught us out and at others, we as a team haven’t made the most of, but Bradley is amazing and has made such a huge difference in our project. We’ve made great strides in our project and are very happy together.

Where do you think the future lies for Bradley Ray?

I believe he is a huge talent and the team believes he is a huge talent. You can never stop the Suzuki MotoGP team coming for him, maybe even to WSBK with a Suzuki! For us, it is about developing him as a rider, the bike and us as a team. I’d like to think the future lies firmly with Suzuki in whatever championship, those decisions will be taken when it’s right to do so. Obviously, moving forward, we have a plan for him next year, a plan that has been talked about and strategised. There are conversations taking place and also contract obligations to adhere to, however we know he’s happy with us and we are happy with Bradley. It is still early days to have a concrete answer on his future. The BSB paddock likes a good gossip, people talk nonsense and throw some rumours around but for us as a team, it is about the team progressing and continuing with Bradley for next year somewhere within the Suzuki outfit.

There are some rumours about Sylvain maybe not staying on the Bennetts side much longer, are they just rumours?

Rumours are rumours. There’s a lot of rumours in the paddock. 99% of which are rubbish and speculative. We as a team do not get involved in that. When results don’t come in, of course there’s always a lot of speculation but mainly from outside the garage. Inside the garage, none of us think that is the case. We are harmonious and everyone is working together.

So Sylvain will still be there at the end of the year?

It is early days to answer that question. I am mainly working on Buildbase Suzuki and our focus is Bradley. We need to remain grounded with Bradley and keep progressing. Sylvain is a big name and everyone associates him with a World Superbike championship so maybe the pressure was on him way more than on Bradley. However, I won’t be doing a disservice to anyone; Sylvain has developed the bike tremendously well and is someone who has a wealth of experience which counts for a lot too.

Apart from the colours, what are the main differences between the Bennetts Suzuki and the Buildbase Suzuki?

Haha, one is red and the other is blue! There is obviously a bit of a difference as they are the more “factory” team. You could say that Buildbase are the more “satellite team” but there isn’t a huge difference in the way that we operate. There are engine differences as you’d expect between factory teams and satellite teams but we all work together. We share data, ideas and the riders also talk to one and other. The crew chiefs converse together but for me, “sharing data” is a big umbrella to cover. The teams talk together successfully. Not every idea they have works for us but that is because we have a mildly different bike and a very different rider. As an example, Bradley’s lean angle is far more acute than Taylor’s and or Sylvain’s. Our corner speed is very different too; settings will only work if our rider can make them work for him and ultimately for the team.

What is the plan for the remainder of 2017?

All cogs going in the right direction, I’d say a top five isn’t out of our reach. The data shows that we aren’t far away. I’d like to say we can get a podium but then again, why wouldn’t I say that? It would have to contain an element of luck but I have no doubts in our rider’s talent or the team’s ability. I have no doubt that we can make everything work if everything falls nicely for us.

Surely that’d be a nice bonus for Bradley then? A test on a MotoGP bike maybe?

Haha nice try! I’d like to think that would happen but I am personally unsure that will happen this year. However, all of us in the entire Hawk Racing outfit have expressed our will for Bradley to move on in the right direction in the future. The plan is for us to continue working together. I believe that he will stay with us, progress together and hopefully put us in the showdown in 2018 and maybe deliver Suzuki a title. I think it is very much achievable.

We would like to thank Chandler for his time and wish the team the best successes for 2017 and beyond. Image courtesy of Gareth Davies of Full Factory Photography.

13th August 201713th August 2017

Formula 2 Midseason Report

It could be very easy to write off the 2017 Formula 2 season as something of a one horse race. But with twelve different podium finishers, and every team scoring points, it has been anything but. While Charles Leclerc may be grabbing all the headlines, it would be unfair to overlook some of the other drivers and teams who have been performing well this season. However, for every driver exceeding expectations, there have been those who have failed to deliver.

High Flyers

Perhaps an unexpected stand out star has been DAMS driver, Nicholas Latifi, who recently tested for Renault at the mid-season Formula 1 test at the Hungaroring. For the majority of his single seater career the Canadian has flown under the radar, performing well enough to pick up a few points here and there, but never delivering any results that made him stand out. This season has been something of a breakthrough for Latifi, picking up a win and five podium finishes on his way to a fourth place in the driver standings. What is perhaps most impressive about Latifi’s season so far is that prior to the 2017 season, few had him pegged as a race winner, and expected his teammate Oliver Rowland to comfortably out perform him.

Whilst they may have been somewhat eclipsed by star of the season Charles Leclerc, his fellow GP3 graduates have certainly than measured up to their more experienced competitors. ART’s Alexander Albon has acclimatised to the series well, showing consistency by scoring points in every round but Silverstone – with the exception of Baku, which he missed due to injury. The Thai driver needs to score more podiums to get on terms with his teammate, but considering it is his first season, he has surpassed expectations. Similarly, Nyck de Vries – who partnered Albon and Leclerc last year – started his season looking a little shaky, tyre management in particular being an issue, but has worked his way into his stride too, even earning himself a sprint race victory. If their respective teams can continue their form in 2018, and provided that both drivers stay in Formula 2, then it would not be surprising to see them as contenders for the championship next year.

In terms of team performances, DAMS and Russian Time have been far above the rest of the field in terms of consistent results and good performances from both of their drivers. They probably have the two strongest line-ups, but it looks set to be a two horse fight for the team title this year. Despite Leclerc’s best efforts, Prema will struggle to stay on terms with their two rivals. Though the Italian team currently sits ahead of Russian Time in the standings, that is more to do with the below-average outing the Russian team had in Hungary. It is a particular impressive resurgence for DAMS who have struggled in GP2 since they won both the driver and the team title in 2014.

While not as consistent as their more successful counterparts, some credit has to be given to Pertamina Arden, who scored their first race win at this level since 2012, courtesy of Norman Nato. It is encouraging stuff for a team who have struggled badly in recent years. The team benefitted from an overhaul at the start of the season, and they will be pleased to see their hard work yielding the results they desire.

While he currently trails both Rowland and Leclerc, what is most impressive about Artem Markelov this season is how much he has improved since just 2016. The Russian used to be a driver synonymous with inconsistency, quick but always hampered by his overly aggressive driving style and tendency to lose his head. But this year he has been vocal about his focus on working to calm himself down and think about the long game, and it shows. Save for his failed overtake on Oliver Rowland in Hungary, his previous flashes of brilliance have turned into a fully fledged championship campaign, and has put him at the front of the field at this level for the first time in his career.

Above all, however, 2017 has been a story of one man; Charles Leclerc. The nineteen-year-old Monegasque driver as dominated qualifying and the feature races, and leads the championship standings by a very healthy margin of fifty points, displaying immense speed and mental strength along the way. With only four rounds and eight races left to run, you would be hard pressed to find someone willing to bet against him taking home the title in November – though he is on track to seal the deal well before the final round in Abu Dhabi.

Under Achievers

It may be a little harsh to consider Oliver Rowland‘s performance in Formula 2 underwhelming, but by the standards he set himself at the beginning of the season, it is just that. While none would claim he doesn’t have the talent or the speed to claim the title, the twenty-four-year-old has been outshone by Leclerc – though his performance was somewhat unexpected. As someone who stressed the importance of bringing home the F2 title in order to progress up the single seater ladder, to be trailing by fifty points at this stage in the season makes his task very difficult indeed.

Since their entry into GP2 in 2005, Racing Engineering had developed a reputation of a team guaranteed to give their drivers the tools necessary to perform at the top end of the field. But last year’s runners up currently sit in eighth in the team standings, with only twenty-nine points to their name. The Spanish team, and their drivers – Gustav Malja and Louis Deletraz – have been vocal about their struggles with set up and pace. While it is too late to rescue their form from previous seasons, the team can hope to use the summer break to finish their season in a better place than they are currently.

If Antonio Fuoco’s teammate was anyone other than Charles Leclerc, then maybe his struggles this season would not be so glaringly obvious. Despite pulling out some promising qualifying performances, and scoring one podium in Austria, he has floundered while his fellow Ferrari Academy Driver has dominated the field. Regardless of how well his teammate is performing, he has not been as impressive as his fellow GP3 graduates – who, while struggling at first, have started to replicate their form from previous years. Just last year, Fuoco was involved in the GP3 title fight, driving for a team not as strong as his rivals’, but a mistake-ridden run and lack of pace has seen him nearer the back of the grid.

The summer break offers a chance for recuperation and can provide a blank slate for some drivers and teams, and there is every chance for them to put to bed the demons of the first half of the season, and turn things around. Equally, there is nothing to say that those who are on top right now will necessarily remain so.

13th August 2017

Shaun Winfield Q&A: I Need To Believe I Can Do This

It could be considered that Shaun Winfield has been the forgotten man in the Anvil Hire Tag Racing Yamaha Team. The Derbyshire rider has been setting some of his quickest times and was less than a second off pole position at Brands Hatch in April. However, everyone else is also going faster than previous times. I speak to Shaun as he explains his journey in British Superbikes so far, his season to date and also, what it takes to be in Britain’s premier motorsport championship.

How has your career in Superbikes been so far?

It’s been a tough ride. I got chucked in the deep end when I got the ride. The first time on a Superbike was at Oulton Park and at the time, the team ran Mitchell Carr. He broke his wrist 10 minutes before practice and my dad said, ‘fancy having a go on it?’ and I rode it out, as I was never going to turn down a Superbike ride – it’s a dream chance. The difference between a Superstock 1000 bike and Superbike at the time was incredible. The geometry of the bike, having never been on slicks before, rear thumb brake, power delivery, no traction etc all meant that there was quite a few things I had to get over. I finished ahead of Aaron Zanotti and Jennie Tinmouth so I was mega happy to not come last in the race. I did a few more rounds, at Thruxton and then the last round of the year so it was great to get the time on the bike before starting properly the next year (2015).

Last year was a bit tough. We changed to the Yamaha from Kawasaki – where my best result was 16th – so I had to try and ride a completely new bike. We got some data off teams at the start of last year but we mainly had to develop the bike ourselves. Having James Rispoli as a teammate helped in some ways. He was a very quick rider and I learnt a lot with his lines at tracks. Josh this year is really helping though, as he has such a wealth of knowledge whereas I have only had a couple of years on the Superbike and I’m still learning. My pace is getting stronger each year.

How has 2017 been for you so far?

This year is going really well actually. Having Josh – like I’ve said – has been pivotal in developing the bike and bringing knowledge to all of the team. I’m doing my personal bests every time I step on the bike. The pace this year is ridiculous and it seems like lap records don’t mean a thing. Everyone is upping their game and although I’m beating my lap times from last year, I’m nowhere again, so I’ve just got to keep pushing and chipping away.

Does having Josh as a teammate help you or is it pressurising?

This weekend, I’ve tried Josh’s seat and I felt a lot more comfortable on the bike. The way he rides the bike is definitely where we need to be. I look at photos mainly, to compare my style against his. One thing that the photos have shown is that I am more on the front end of the bike than what Josh was. His seat is a lot lower than mine and that has helped me out a lot.

It is pressurising because people from the outside look at me and say, ‘why aren’t I doing it?’ but you’ve got to consider Josh’s experience and you can’t buy that or get it overnight. Josh has been out riding factory bikes for years whereas I’ve never had the opportunity. I do get slated quite a lot. He knows everything there is to know about Superbikes and hopefully, that knowledge will come to me overtime.

Is it easier on the Yamaha in 2017, given you’ve had the year on it in 2016?

We’ve had a lot of new bits, such as the engine for example. It has been harder solely because of the pace and you just have to keep pushing harder every time you go out on track. The bike is essentially the same bike as last year. I’m happy when I do my personal best but in all honesty, we want to be in the points. The problem is that everyone else is improving and that makes it so much harder. I was only 0.8 off pole at Brands Indy and I was down in 18th on the grid, also within a tenth of the old lap record. Last year with that time, it would have put me on the front two rows. Sadly, we aren’t in last year anymore!

Where do you feel you could improve the most?

Racing is all about mindset. I think you’ll find that a lot of quick riders have no barriers. However, sometimes I feel that there’s something holding me back, but I don’t know what. Believing is another thing. I need to start believing that I’m here for a reason and that I’m in Superbike because I can do it. It’s a big thing to be in British Superbikes and there’s a lot of pressure involved in it and I think I need to get in my head that ‘I can do it’.

Do you think going to the National Superstock 1000 championship might help?

It’s worked for a lot of people. Taking a step back can be useful. However, it is a step back! If it doesn’t go right then you’ve had it. There’s that pressure of having to be up the front because you’ve taken a step back. If you don’t make it work then you make yourself look a bit of an idiot. There’d be more pressure on me going back than what there would be if I continued doing what I’m doing now.

Presumably, you’d be staying with Tag Racing if you stayed in the Superbike class?

I can’t see why I’d move! People only say that I’m here because my dad is paying for it, which he isn’t. My dad wouldn’t put me on a Superbike if he didn’t think I could do it. I am here because of my dad but, if I couldn’t do it, then he’d rather put someone else on it and he has told me that before. If he thinks that a different class would be better for me then he’d put me in that class. If you enjoy racing and that is what you want to do, you may as well do it.

How tough – both mentally and physically – do you have to be to ride a Superbike?

Physical fitness is a major thing, especially around tracks like Silverstone. You have to be holding on to it, particularly when it is bucking and weaving everywhere. You have to keep in the best shape that you can. I got sponsored by a local gym recently and they’ve been helping me out with diets and personal training sessions.

Mental state of mind is just as important. Like I said earlier, you have to be able to believe in yourself. I used to watch Shane Byrne on TV and now I’m riding against him every weekend. There’s a photo of me and him from years back and he was there for one of my first ever minimoto races.

What is the aim for the rest of the year?

To go out and get in the points as much as possible. That’s difficult when there are ten riders out there who could probably win a race. It’s going to be difficult to get a top 10 but if we keep going in the right direction and keep pushing then we should be OK and get there eventually.

I would like to thank Shaun for his time as well as the whole Tag Racing Team for allowing me to interview him. Image courtesy of our very own Gareth Davies, of Full Factory Photography.

12th August 2017

Double Podium Joy For Buchan At Thruxton

National Superstock 1000 championship leader Danny Buchan hailed a weekend in which he came away with a win and a third place. The Morello Kawasaki man said that “tyre preservation was essential” and that race one was all about being “smart”. The 24-year-old also paid tribute to the late Mark Fincham, who lost his life in the same race on Sunday afternoon.

“Well I think we need to start by stating the tragic loss of Mark Fincham, which was a shock to everyone. His friends, his family and everyone he knew in the paddock will mourn his loss. The results of the weekend don’t really matter in these circumstances as you’re taking in everything that happened”.

Buchan continued, stating that the racing was “alright” but he would’ve liked to be “a bit higher up” in the second outing.

“Racing wise it was an alright weekend. A 1st and a 3rd isn’t the end of the world but I’d liked to have been a bit higher up in the second half of the race but it was cut short. I do truly believe that if I had another couple of laps, then I would’ve at least been fighting for the win. I actually got held up by Chrissy Rouse, who got ahead of me but then ruined his tyre so I sat behind him for a lap and then a gap formed to the leaders. I came into the last chicane and got around the outside of Michael Rutter but knew I couldn’t make it around Adam Jenkinson, so I sat in third and took the points. I’m happy with the weekend. The pace was good and although I would’ve liked to be a bit higher up in race two, it was still OK”.

Buchan also criticised the movement towards blaming Pirelli for tyre issues by other riders.

“Everyone is blaming Pirelli or this, that and the other but for me it’s about riding smart. I’m not saying Richard Cooper rode worse than me but what I am saying is a lot of people seemed to have chunking tyres. I had some myself, right towards the end of the race and I saved my tyre. It was all about tyre preservation; it was nothing to do with tyres delaminating. We know the surface at Thruxton is abrasive because we’ve been coming here for years and therefore, we know tyres don’t last there. So, what teams should be doing is working on a set-up that allows the tyres to last and not blow apart”.

The Basildon Bullet also commended his first race performance, saying, “the first race was all about being smart. We knew all weekend that the races were going to be all about tyre conservation and for me, I did that”.

The former Superstock 1000 champ was also happy to finally win at Thruxton on a bike bike.

“I’ve never won a race at Thruxton so I was mega happy to win there. I won on the 400s run there but never won there on a proper bike. There’s a 20 point lead in the championship and the tracks that are coming up have been good to me in the past. I enjoy Cadwell, Silverstone and then the Showdown rounds too”.

Image courtesy of Gareth Davies of Full Factory Photography

11th August 201712th August 2017

Why Evergreen Kimi Raikkonen Continues to Stay at Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen’s last three years at Ferrari have dominated by rumours over whether the team would dump him in favour of a younger charger.

The Finn’s F1 obituaries have been written plenty of times during his second spell at Maranello as a roster of drivers including Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez have their names linked with Ferrari’s second seat.

And yet, every year, the publishing of all those obituaries are postponed again.

Ferrari have always been reluctant to rock the boat with their driver pairings unless a genuine star becomes available.

Since the change of the millennium 17 years ago, the Scuderia have

Despite being well behind teammate Vettel, Raikkonen’s relationship with the German has paid dividends for Ferrari –
GP UNGHERIA F1/2017
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO FERRARI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE) Ferrari Media

changed their line-up just six times. Raikkonen himself only joined Ferrari at the expiry of a lengthy McLaren contract in 2006.

So it should come as little surprise should Ferrari announce that they will retain the 2007 World Champion as well as Championship leader Sebastian Vettel for 2018.

The dynamic between Raikkonen and Vettel is helpful to Ferrari if somewhat unusual in Formula One.

While Michael Schumacher had a dutiful teammate in Rubens Barrichello during the juggernaut era of 2000-04, the feeling between Raikkonen and team leader Vettel is somewhat more harmonious.

The 37-year-old is not a demonstrative character and while Monaco and Hungary – where Ferrari lined up behind Vettel to deny and denied Raikkonen victories – proved the Iceman’s fire still burns, he is not a man to hold a grudge and this is a characteristic that Ferrari value.

Raikkonen has played the team role well in 2017 GP GRAN BRETAGNA F1/2017
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO FERRARI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE) – Ferrari Media

Certainly, there would have been more uproar at Mercedes during the tempestuous partnership between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, while the atmosphere is bubbling at Red Bull too.

Force India’s Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez have shown this season the cost of letting teammate issues fester, losing out in Canada and Azerbaijan.

Raikkonen is also helped by the fact that aside from Fernando Alonso, there is no obvious replacement available for next year. The Prancing Horse will not look at Alonso, even if the Spaniard now regrets moving to McLaren-Honda.

Verstappen is locked in a long-term contract at Red Bull while Ricciardo will also remain there until at least the end of next year, and it will be difficult to convince any of the top brass there to part with either driver early.

It will be similarly difficult to persuade them to release Carlos Sainz either, with the Spaniard likely to remain at Toro Rosso next year despite voicing discontent at recent races.

The driver market for 2018 has also been kind to the Iceman GP UNGHERIA F1/2017
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER FERRARI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE) Ferrari Media

2018 will also come too soon for the highly rated Charles Leclerc, who has impressed in F2 this season. With Ferrari having tight bonds to both Haas and Sauber, the Monegasque driver is likely to be loaned to Sauber next season.

This time last year Perez looked a good option for Ferrari, but his everlasting spat with Ocon and the two’s collective penchant for near misses at Force India will likely have put off Sergio Marchionne and Maurizio Arrivabene. Ex-teammate Nico Hulkenberg, previously linked with Ferrari for 2014, signed a long-term contract with Renault at the end of 2016 and will not leave Enstone soon.

While observers and pundits continue to write about the end for one of Formula One’s unique characters, Raikkonen looks likely to remain at Ferrari for 2018 at least.

With Vettel also rumoured to be casting longing looks at Mercedes, don’t be surprised if Kimi’s ice cream doesn’t melt away beyond then, either.

11th August 2017

Fernando Alonso – A little column about the all time greatest

While the last race weekend on the Hungarian GP showed us again, why Fernando Alonso is still one of the best drivers on the grid, the Spaniard turned 36. A good reason for me to look at the driver and show what makes him so special.

I won’t lie: Fernando Alonso is my favourite F1 driver, and maybe some of the things that I’m about to say are not from a neutral point of view.

But the fact that he is my favourite driver was not always true. I didn’t cheer for him in his championship years, because i didn’t watch F1 (unfortunately) back in those days. So i will start with the time when I started watching F1, and this was at the middle of 2009.

As a Ferrari fan back in the days of 2009 and 2010, a dream came true when the Spaniard joined the Prancing Horse.

I remember many people who didn’t like him back in this time. Even many Ferrari fans were very critical about the decision, to take Kimi Räikkönen out and let Alonso drive there.

But Fernando showed the Tifosi and the world very soon why Ferrari was right to catch him. With the first win on his first race for the Italian team he was was the new star. But I think, with his win in Monza, Italy, in front of all the Tifosi, every Ferrari fan back then starting to cheering for him. He was the new star after Michael Schumacher and until today one of the most popular Ferrari drivers of all time.

I don’t want to rewrite the whole Ferrari story, because we all know how it’s gone back in then.

But i want to write something about 2012. For me the 2012 season was a very special one. I don’t know why, but what Alonso did then was magical. Let’s be real: the F2012 was a very poor car at the start of the season. But like today Fernando did everything possible to keep the title hopes for him and Ferrari alive.

With the win from nowhere in the rain in Sepang he showed again his brilliant driving skills in difficult conditions. And after Ferrari starting to understand the car and improved it with an massive update at the in-season tests in Mugello before the Spanish GP, Alonso was always there.

Especially his magic win at the European Grand Prix in Valencia, in front of his home crowd, was just mind blowing. Sure, the win wouldn’t would have been a win without the failures of Vettel’s Red Bull or Grosjean’s Lotus. But whoever saw the race live will know that Alonso’s moves starting from eleventh were brilliant. Overtaking several cars at the start, he moved his way through the field. The win at the end was just amazing and—for me—with Kimi Räikkönen and Michael Schumacher on the podium, it was the best race ever.

Unfortunately in Hungary, exactly five years ago, Ferrari started to drop back in pace. At this time Alonso lead the Drivers’ Championship by forty points from Mark Webber. The second half of the season after the summer break was a nightmare for every Ferrari fan and fans of the Spanish driver. Two pointless races in Belgium and Japan and a dominant Red Bull/Vettel combination made it possible to turn Alonso’s points lead into nothing.

We all know the dramatic season final in Sao Paulo 2012: Vettel’s crash on the start, the hope for all the Tifosi and then the disappointment of losing another title within two years.

We also all know how Alonso and Ferrari fell apart in 2014. And we all know how much worse his partnership with McLaren and Honda went.

But nevertheless, Alonso always showed his skills and his talent, the same as since his first year in F1 with Minardi. The difference between Fernando and the other top drivers on the grid, is the simple fact that he has never had a really poor year coming from him.

He has always been competitive. With the V10 engines, with the V8 engines and now with the V6 engines; with Michelin, with Bridgestone and with Pirelli tyres. With a bad car or a good car; in an F1 car or on an IndyCar. On a dry or on a wet track. He always shows his skills, and no matter what happens he is always there.

And I think his last three years with McLaren-Honda showed much more of the “human” Alonso. It reminds me how Michael Schumacher was getting much more popular in his Mercedes years, because he made the best of his situation back in the disappointing years.

And in the same way, Alonso has showed his patience in the last three years. I don’t know many people who don’t want to see him back on the top. When he came to the autograph session on my first live Grand Prix in Austria few weeks ago, the people went crazy—more than for any other driver.

For me it was a special moment to see my childhood idol next in front of me and it is still a little bit unreal. But that’s another story.

I’m more than certain that we will see Fernando Alonso at the top again someday. And I’m also sure that he will stay in Formula 1, fighting like a Samurai who will never surrender. As he said few months ago: he will not turn away from the F1 stage, without being competitive again.