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  • Rallye Monte Carlo 2022 Preview – The Hybrid Era starts!

    Rallye Monte Carlo 2022 Preview – The Hybrid Era starts!

    Time for the fiftieth world rally championship season to start with the new rules and new cars that were launched on Saturday evening. The driver movements are well documented as well, so let’s get on and review this incredibly iconic rally. With four days of competition ahead, lets take a look at the stages.

    The 90th running of this event this year is based in Monaco instead of Gap and with 296km over 17 stages the challenge of this rally remains as tricky as ever. We may not see any snow, but there will almost certainly be ice on the stages making it a big challenge to stay on the road.

    Shakedown takes place on Thursday the 20th of January with a short 2.29km stage that starts at 9:31 local French time.

    Later the same day the opening ceremony takes place in Monaco followed by two stages run in the dark: Luceram / Lantosque (15.20km) and La Bollène-Vésubie / Moulinet (23.25km)

    Friday’s itinerary consists of two attempts of Roure / Bevil (18.33km), Guillaumes / Péone / Valberg (13.49km) and Val-de-Chalvagne / Entrevaux (17.11km) with just a tyre fitting zone between the morning and afternoon loops

    Saturday begins with Le Fugeret / Thorame-Haute (16.80km), before presenting the challenge of two passes of Saint-Jeannet / Malijai (17.04km) and Saint-Geniez / Thoard (20.79km)

    Sunday features two loops of La Penne / Collongues (19.37km) and Briançonnet / Entrevaux (14.26km). The second pass of the latter will be the rally’s Power Stage.

    The usual crews will be challenging for the podium spots I suspect.

    Let’s hear from the drivers!

    Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

    Team Toyota poses for a photograph during the WRC launch at the Hangar 7 in Salzburg, Austria on January 15, 2022.

    Sébastien Ogier

    “I’m at the beginning of a different stage in my career, and as I’m not taking part in the full championship the feeling is a little bit different to usual for me at this time of the year. But being part of this programme with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is still exciting and going to Rallye Monte-Carlo is always special for me. I’m still a competitor and I still want to win, so I will be giving my best to perform. I know the team has been working very hard to be ready with this new generation of car and big steps have been made in every test. I’ve had the chance to do three days of testing in the GR YARIS Rally1 in December and another day last week, all to prepare for this event. It’s quite a big change and it’s an exciting challenge to try and adapt to that. But I think going to Monte Carlo will be a huge challenge for everybody: There’s more uncertainty than ever going into this rally.”

    Elfyn Evans

    “This is an exciting time in our sport and I’m looking forward to the challenge of these new cars. Since I first tested the GR YARIS Rally1 we’ve made some good progress, but it’s impossible to know where we stand relative to the competition until we get to Monte Carlo. So much has changed and it’s a clean sheet of paper. It’s not been easy to jump from a car that was so well-developed, where everything was coming quite easily, and into something that is a lot more unknown. The additional power from the hybrid system makes a huge difference and how you manage it could be worth quite a lot in certain cases. We’ve already learned a lot in testing and I’m sure we’re going to continue learning a lot during the year, starting in Monte Carlo. It’s a rally that’s always a bit of a lottery with the weather anyway, and now the base has moved south there’s a lot of new stages and different terrain to get to grips with.”

    Kalle Rovanperä

    “My feeling with the new car is good and we have some good preparation behind us. With any new car there are always many things to work on and to improve, but I feel we have been making good progress all the time. It’s been especially interesting to get used to the boost from the hybrid. It gives you much more power, and that’s usually a good thing, but it can also be a bit tricky in certain points if you’re not ready to use it. As a driver you need to think about how to use it and if you can do that better than the others it could make quite a big difference. Rallye Monte-Carlo is going to be quite special this year. It’s always a tricky rally but this year we are going to have a lot of new stages as well as a totally new car. Friday and Saturday are going to be long days without mid-day service and if you can get through those days without issues that will already be quite good.”

    Hyundai Motorsport

    2022 FIA World Rally Championship, WRC Launch 2022,
    15 January 2022
    X
    Photographer: Vincent Thuillier
    Worldwide copyright: Hyundai Motorsport GmbH

    Thierry Neuville

    “Our main target in Monte-Carlo is to finish and gain experience in the car. I don’t think we are going to have a completely dry event but I don’t think it will be full of snow either; as usual, we are expecting a mix of conditions. Because of this, it’s very hard to have the perfect tyre choice for all the stages, so it’s all about compromise next weekend – the driver who does it best is going to be the most competitive. Choosing the tyres is not so easy because you have to collect a lot of information, trust yourself and commit. It will be a challenge, but I like driving in these conditions, so it is going to be exciting.”

    Ott Tänak

    “I think there is some uncertainty heading to Monte-Carlo, so it is important that we get through the rally without any major issues and keep the car running so we gain as much experience as possible – that will be the priority. Rallye Monte-Carlo is not as much about pure performance; it is about the reliability and the small decisions you make. Of course, we want to finish well and score many points for the championship this weekend. The very first stage in the dark with the new car will certainly be an adventure.”

    Oliver Solberg

    “Starting my first WRC campaign in Monte-Carlo is going to be very exciting. I think we have realistic expectations for the event – the most important part for us is just finishing and helping the team as much as possible. Rallye Monte-Carlo is an event where everything can happen; a stage can start with snow and end with tarmac, so it’s a very interesting and unpredictable way to begin the season with the new cars, but it’s also very exciting. I know I will take some time to find my feet but I have the best guys in the team to learn from.”

    M-Sport Ford WRT

    Sebastien Loeb

    “It’s a radical change of scenery after spending three weeks on the Dakar Rally but it’s still very exciting to be at the start of the Monte Carlo Rally, especially with the WRC’s new hybrid era.

    “I’m also proud of this collaboration with Malcolm’s team, working with them has been talked about throughout my career but never quite managed to happen, so thank you all, M-Sport, Ford Performance and Red Bull for finally making this happen on such an amazing event.

    “For this rally, I will certainly be less prepared than the other drivers but the feeling with the Puma Hybrid Rally1 was immediately very good and everything just came together. I am looking forward to having fun this weekend with Isabelle, my new co-driver, and the whole M-Sport team.”

    Craig Breen

    “It is always something very special competing on Rallye Monte Carlo, but to be doing it for the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, is a dream come true! The team has done an unbelievable job building and developing the Puma Hybrid Rally1 and it really shows. It is by far the best rally car I have ever driven and with the addition of the hybrid unit, it is going to add another dimension to the rally. Paul and I are relishing the challenge and are really looking forward to the year ahead with M-Sport and Ford.”

    Adrien Fourmaux

    “For Rallye Monte-Carlo, we will try to do our best, feel the car and understand its level of performance compared to the others. It will be the first time here in the top category of the WRC, I have been here previously in the Fiesta Rally2, my first appearance was already a top ten overall finish! I love these roads; I have performed quite well in the past so I have good hopes. By the way it’s a new era for everyone so we’ll need the perfect match between the car’s reliability and driving skill to perform well until the end of the rally. We hope to deliver the best result as we can, everything is possible!”

    Gus Greensmith

    “I’m excited to be a part of the 2022 M-Sport Ford World Rally Team as we head into the most significant rule change in WRC history. The team has done a great job developing the new car, and I feel really comfortable driving it. We’re all confident the car should be a lot more competitive than recent years, which will hopefully give us more opportunities to fight near the front. I was happy with my improvements last season, and I want to build on that going into 2022. I was within a second of my first stage win last year, and I feel that with the new package, this is definitely an achievable goal, and we also want to try to push for our first podium as well. Monte Carlo has always been a tricky opener for the championship, but I have done the rally a few times now, and with the new car feeling so good, I am really looking forward to the challenge. It will be essential to build the speed throughout the weekend, especially with this being Jonas and I’s second rally together. Thanks again to all the team for all the hard work they have put into the Puma Hybrid Rally1, and I hope we can repay them with a good result in Monte.”

    Summary

    Well, we are set for another gripping season of top-level rallying. Which team have done the best job with the new regulations and who will take victory this weekend? Make sure that you are following the action online and pop back at the end of each day for my daily reports.

  • Pirelli set for 2022 Motorsport season

    Pirelli set for 2022 Motorsport season

    Formula 1 is moving from the 13 inch to the 18 inch Pirelli tyres for the 2022 season. Pirelli say they are confident that the new tyres work well with the new Aerodynamic package for the season. Pirelli are also pushing forward with new products for the WRC and GT championships

    During a press conference Mario Isola, Head of Motorsport at Pirelli, explained “this year’s motorsport season marks a turning point for us. We have new products for all our major championships, starting with Formula 1, which reinforce the close links with our road car product. We’re also continuing our mission for increasingly sustainable motorsport, in line with our company strategy, having been awarded an important environmental certification from the FIA at the end of last year.”

    Formula 1

    When considering the design of the tyres Isola said “Formula 1 drivers had wished they had tyres that were less prone to overheating and less degrading. With our new design we have achieved these goals, as was proven in the post-season tests in Abu Dhabi.”

    Courtesy of Pirelli

    The tests were done with converted 2019 cars meaning the tyres haven’t been tested using the 2022 aerodynamics on track however Isola is positive “over the year we will develop further with all 10 teams, which is important because we make a base tyre for all teams not just for the top team or bottom team.”

    The idea is that the drivers can push harder and get closer to the car in front when the tyres are factored into the new aerodynamic regulations. When asked if he was worried about less strategic variability with more durable tyres he replied: “I hope we don’t have less strategic variabilities because the way we have designed the tyre we hope to continue to have different strategies. However, with less degradation it is possible to have less pitstops, but as I always say for me it is not an issue as long as we have good races and action on track.”

    Courtesy of Pirelli

    WRC

    Pirelli have been a part of rallying since 1973, being a part of change in technology including the introduction of hybrid cars for 2022. Terenzio Testoni, Rally Activity Manager for Pirelli, said that “the hybrid cars are heavier and have a change in performance which we considered when designing the 2022 tyre”.

    Testing for the tyre has been held throughout 2021 but with the Monte-Carlo round coming soon there will be plenty of time to develop the tyres further. They will however include a reinforce structure and improved studs for the ice tyres.

    Sébastien Loeb (FRA) performs during WRC Msport test in Alpens. (Courtesy of Red Bull content Pool)

    GT Racing

    Formula 1 is not the only series switching to 18 inch tyres. GT Racing are moving from 16 inches to come closer to road car technologies, making the transfer of knowledge and skill easier.

    The new range of tyres are the P Zero DHF and will be used in every class, GT2, GT3 and GT4. These tyres are designed to increase performance, be more versatile and improve the balance between the front and rear tyres due to a new family of materials used for construction.

    Sustainability in Motorsport

    Sustainability was a key focus within the press conference. Robert Reid, the FIA Deputy President for Sport stated that “ sustainability is very important, especially because motorsport is not considered good for the environment so we have to do everything we can.”

    He continued: “The FIA has its target to be net zero carbon by 2030 and were declared carbon neutral at the end of 2021. To help our members we have our accreditation of one, two or 3 stars based on basic, good or best practice in sustainability. We currently have 70 members with one, two or three star ratings”

    These accreditation’s are set to become mandatory in the future to help motorsport do all it can to become sustainable. Pirelli has a 3 star accreditation meaning they use the best practices, Isola explained “we had to look at everything, the logistics, materials. We have not used single used plastic for the last 2 years and the 2022 team kit is made from recycled materials”.

    Courtesy of Pirelli

    With sustainability in mind Pirelli are set for the 2022 season of big changes and development throughout. For each championship the tyres are a key part of the vehicle set up and performance on track. It is also important that the drivers feel confident they can push hard without the tyres running out of grip. This is why Pirelli have worked with teams and drivers of all the championships to develop these 2022 tyres.

  • Formula E Reveals New Porsche Safety Car

    Formula E Reveals New Porsche Safety Car

    The all-electric Porsche Taycan will be the new Formula E safety car, launching at the first race of Season 8.

    Shortly ahead of the first race of Season 8, Formula E has launched their new safety car. The Porsche Taycan is the first fully electric sports car made by Porsche.

    Under the striking and colourful paint job, designed to represent all current Formula E teams, is 560kW of power, allowing the machine to reach top speeds of up to 260kh/h.

    The aim is for this vehicle to highlight the “social values such as diversity and community” of all teams, as well as paying homage to the commitment of all 22 drivers.

    Image Credit: Formula E

    Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, Thomas Laudenbach, commented that “The distinctive design illustrates our commitment to the successful future of this innovative racing series. Although we’re rivals out on the track, we’re spreading this message to the world together. What’s more, we hope that this also enables us to appeal to a younger target audience who are not yet motorsport fans.”

    Jamie Reigle, Formula E’s CEO added that “In designing the Formula E Safety Car, Porsche reimagined the critical on-track safety function to be a powerful symbol of the championship’s commitment to an electrified future and the unity of the competitors in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.”

    Feature Image Credit: Formula E

  • WRC 2022 is Go!

    Check out the new cars from Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, M-Sport Ford WRT and Hyundai Motorsport!

    Hyundai Motorsport were first to launch their new i20 Rally 1. The driver line up was announced some time ago. Here is a reminder though. Thierry and Ott will complete the whole season with Dani and Oliver sharing a third car.

    2022 FIA World Rally Championship, WRC Launch 2022,
    15 January 2022
    X
    Photographer: Vincent Thuillier
    Worldwide copyright: Hyundai Motorsport GmbH

    Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT will have three drivers doing the full season, Elfyn, Kalle and Takamoto, plus Seb and Esapekka sharing a car throughout the year.

     

    Finally, M-Sport Ford WRT are bringing the Puma Rally 1, ending the long run of top-level Fiesta’s being built by the team. In terms of their line up, we have Craig, Gus and Adrien doing the full season and Seb Loeb also competing in Rallye Monte Carlo.

    What do you all think? For me the Puma has the best livery and is just simply fantastic to look at.

    The Hyundai and Toyota look pretty much as you’d expect them to look, given their last few cars, but they do have to have a certain look about them given the manufacturers have invested in the cars and development.

    Let’s be glad that they are in the championship.

  • 2022 WorldSBK Season Preview

    Yes fans, the new superbike season is nearly here, and if it’s anything like last season, we’re in for a real treat.

    wsbk
    WSBK Navarra 22.08.2021
    Picture courtesy of Ducati Racing

    Thirteen rounds of action packed racing await, and hopefully we’ll have a Phillip Island round, which has been pencilled in at the back end of the year, which as of yet we still await the dates to be announced. Round 13 is also unknown as of yet. It seems that we won’t be returning to Navarra in Spain this time round.

    So the season kicks off for round 1 in Aragon, Spain on the 8th of April. We will have another Spanish round in Catalunya on the 23rd of September, and as mentioned above it seems no Navarra round.

    After that we’ve got Assen, then the first of two trips to Portugal, for Estoril and Portimao later in the year. The UK round at Donington Park is smack bang right in the middle of summer on the 15th July. Will we have bright sunshine, or a complete washout? Either is possible lets be honest. Returns to Misano, Most in Czech Rep, Magny- Cours, France, Argentina, and Mandalika in Indonesia are all on. With question marks above round 12 Phillip Island and 13 still to be announced.

    WorldSBK Portimao 03.10.21 Race 2 Bautista Picture courtesy of Aruba.it Ducati

    There has been a couple of changes to rider line-ups so far, a few of the most notable are Scott Redding switching the red of Ducati for a blue, red and white livery of BMW Motorrad. Alvaro Bautista will take the seat vacated by Redding, and will join the Aruba.it Racing Ducati team. Honda HRC will have two new Spanish riders join them, Iker Lecuona from MotoGP and Xavi Vierge from Moto2. Eugene Laverty is back on a BMW for the Bonovo action team and he will be joined by Loris Baz who makes a return to WorldSBK.

    It will take some doing to replicate last season, but I am really excited to see how the new riders for Honda HRC will handle the jump to WorldSBK. They’re both young but definitely talented. Honda didn’t produce one of their finest seasons last year, with both Bautista and Haslam struggling for form most of the year, although Bautista did improve in the last few rounds. If Honda can get their bike working, I think both riders can challenge for good results this season.

    Bautista had blistering speed when he made his WorldSBK debut on a Ducati in 2019, and was challenging Jonathan Rea for the win every race in the early part of the season. Although he couldn’t maintain the form right through the season, he did pick up a good few wins early on. Rinaldi had a couple of good races last season, and if Bautista can pick up where he left off last season, I think both riders will provide a stiff test for Toprak and Johnny.

    2021 WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu. Picture courtesy of Yamaha Racing.

    Scott Redding was a thorn in both Toprak and Rea’s side last season, providing us fans with one of the most exciting seasons ever. There was no doubt that the Ducati was an absolute missile last season and Scott knew exactly how to inflict the most amount of damage with it. Finishing 3rd behind two of the most talented riders ever to grace WorldSBK is definitely no mean feat. I really hope BMW can provide Scott with a fast bike, because we all want to see him charging hard every race.

    Johnny will still be seeking world championship number 7 next season and he knows full well Kawasaki will have to improve their bike if they are going to wrestle that title away from Toprak.

    Is it too early to make a prediction? Of course it is, but why not, so here is mine.

    Championship result top 3:

    1. Toprak Razgatlioglu
    2. Jonathan Rea
    3. Alvaro Bautista

    Race Dates:

    1. Aragon Round – MotorLand Aragon – 8,9,10 April
    2. Dutch Round – TT Circuit Assen – 22,23,24 April
    3. Estoril Round – Circuito Estoril – 20,21,22 May
    4. Emilia – Romagna Round – Misano World Circuit – 10,11,12 June
    5. UK Round – Donington Park – 15,16,17 July
    6. Czech Round – Autodrom Most – 29,30,31 July
    7. French Round – Magny – Cours – 9,10,11 September
    8. Catalunya Round – Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya – 23,24,25 September
    9. Portuguese Round – Autodromo Internacional do Algarve – 7,8,9 October
    10. Argentinean Round – Circuito San Juan Villicum  – 21,22,23 October
    11. Indonesian Round – Mandalika International Street Circuit – 11,12,13 Nov
    12. Australian Round – Phillip Island – TBA*
    13. TBA*

    Rider and Team line-up so far:

    • Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK: Toprak Razgatlioglu / Andrea Locatelli
    • Aruba.it Racing Ducati: Alvaro Bautista / Michael Ruben Rinadi
    • Kawasaki Racing Team: Jonathan Rea / Alex Lowes
    • BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: Scott Redding / Michael van der Mark
    • Team HRC Honda: Iker Lecuona / Xavi Vierge
    • GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team: Garrett Gerloff / Kohta Nozane
    • Motocorsa Racing: Axel Bassani
    • TeamGoEleven: Philipp Oettl
    • Kawasaki Puccetti Racing: Lucas Mahias
    • Barni Racing Team: Luca Bernardi
    • Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: Eugene Laverty / Loris Baz
    • OUTDO TPR Team Perdercini Racing: Loris Cresson
    • MIE Racing Honda Team: Leandro Mercado / Hafizh Syahrin

    * Race Calender and rider/team line-up taken from http://WorldSBK.com

     

  • A brief history of Silverstone

    A brief history of Silverstone

    We’ve all been there: Race Weekend.

    The thrill and excitement. The smell of the fuel. The sound of the engines. The anticipation for the race to start. The energy building. The lights going out. The speed of the racers. The elation when the racer you support wins or the deflation when they don’t. We as fans feel it all.

    But, how did Silverstone get to where it is today?

    Built in 1942 and used up until 1947 as RAF Silverstone, its sole purpose was for Wellington Bombers in WWII to take-off at the airfield that used to occupy the space. At the end of the war it was left abandoned.

    RAF Silverstone. Prior to racetrack. Courtesy of: Sportskeeda

    In 1948 the Royal Automobile Club were thinking of bringing back motor racing to England and chose the abandoned airfield located in Northamptonshire as the start of their journey. 30th June 1948 a one-year lease had been secured and later that year in October the first international Grand Prix was held. Behind the scenes a lot of effort took place, 620 marshals were hired, 170 tonnes of straw bales were used and 10 miles of signal writing put into place. The event drew in an audience of 100,000 spectators. The RAC Grand Prix victory went to Luigi Villoresi.

    We couldn’t speak about Silverstone’s rich history without Formula One. During an F1 race there is an average of 52 laps to complete at Silverstone and the circuit length is: 306.198km/ 190.263miles.

    Silverstone circuit explained. Courtesy of: Pinterest

    Notable F1 moments:

    1950 – King George VI and our now Queen (Elizabeth II) visited and watched the racing. This was the one and only time that a reigning Monarch had done so. The race was won by Giuseppe Farina.

    1960 – Graham Hill was cruising to victory ahead of Jack Brabham but with only 5 laps till the chequered flag, Hill spun off, leaving Brabham to take the win.

    1971 – Jackie Stewart won that years race and along with it a new lap record.

    1983 – Alain Prost hailed victorious, claiming his first win at Silverstone.

    1998 – Michael Schumacher oddly won that years race whilst being stationary in the pits.

    2008 – Local-boy Sir Lewis Hamilton took victory (and would go on to win 8 times).

    Hamilton wins at Silverstone. Courtesy of: BT

    2022 – F1 will return to Silverstone 1st – 3rd July.

    F1 British Grand Prix 2021 | Silverstone – Link to tickets.

    Notable track moments:

    1964 – Trying to improve safety for the competitors and their mechanics, a new pit lane separate to the main track was put in place.

    1975 – Brand new pit garages were erected and a chicane was added at Woodcote.

    1987 – The s-bend was removed and replaced with a sharp left – right bend on approach and larger pit garages were also added.

    1990’s – A massive renovation took place to the circuit, which remains today – extra seating was erected and changes were made to the layout of the track eg. run-off at Copse was increased and Stowe became tighter. Further alterations have since followed.

    2000’s – A new pit and paddock complex was built between Copse and Abbey and a new “arena” complex was ready for the 2010 season.

    2018/19 – In 2018 the track was resurfaced but drainage issues forced the Moto GP race to be cancelled. Ahead of the 2019 race, the track was resurfaced yet again.

    It has become the home of iconic British Racing, with it’s incredible history stretching back all the way to those days in 1948. It is instantly recognisable and is one of the fastest tracks on the racing calendar.

    But, it wasn’t all about cars. Britain had a taste for Motorbike racing also. During a motorbike race there is an average of 20 laps to complete at Silverstone and the circuit length is: 5.89km. With 8 left-hand corners, 10 right-hands and a 770m long straight.

    Moto GP circuit is slightly different from F1 course. Courtesy of: Silverstone website

    On the weekend of 13th August 1977 the British Motorcycle Grand Prix debuted. It was to be legend Giacomo Agostini’s final race, he finished a respectful 9th and American Pat Hennon on the Texaco Heron Team Suzuki took victory.

    Notable Moto GP moments:

    1978 – Another American won, this time it was Kenny Roberts (Yamaha) who took the win, in-front of two Brits – Steve Manship and Barry Sheene.

    1979 – 1981 – Americans dominated the podium: Kenny Roberts took a second victory (1979) and a third (1980). Kenny Roberts and Randy Mamola took 2nd and 3rd behind Jack Middleburg (Suzuki) (1981).

    1986 – Australian Wayne Gardner (Honda) took the top-spot. Some may recognise the name – 2021 Moto 2 Champion Remy Gardner’s Father.

    Wayne and Remi Gardner. Courtesy of Herald Sun

    1987 – Eddie Lawson won from Wayne Gardner and Randy Mamola. The racing then left Silverstone in favour of another British track: Donington. But returned in 2010 with modern-day Moto GP.

    2010 – Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) took the flag from Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) and Ben Spies (Yamaha).

    2011 – Another Australian lifted the trophy this time it was Casey Stoner’s (Honda) turn. With Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) and Colin Edwards (Yamaha) third.

    2013 – All Spanish podium consisted of: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha), Marc Marquez (Honda) and Dani Pedrosa (Honda).

    2015 – All Italian podium: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati).

    2016 – Maverick Vinales (Suzuki) took the win ahead of British-man Cal Crutchlow (Honda). The first time a Brit in Moto GP had stepped onto the podium since 1984. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) was third.

    2018 – The race was cancelled due to torrential rain and the circuit having drainage issues.

    2020 – Cancelled again this time due to Global Pandemic – Covid-19.

    2021 – Current Moto GP Champion Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) took victory from Alex Rins (Suzuki) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia).

    2022 – Moto GP will return to Silverstone 5th – 7th August.

    British Grand Prix MotoGP | Silverstone  – Link to tickets.

    Silverstone also hosted for a brief while the World Superbikes Championship, from 2002 – 2007 and then again 2010 – 2013.

    Notable World Superbike moments:

    2002 – First time at Silverstone and American Colin Edwards (Honda) won race one with Australian Troy Bayliss (Ducati) winning race two.

    2003 – Neil Hodgson was victorious for both race one and two.

    2006 – Troy Bayliss won both race one and two.

    2007 – Once again Troy Bayliss won race one but race two was cancelled. WSBK didn’t return again until 2010.

    2010 – Celebrations were in order as Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) triumphantly won both races.

    Winning looks good. Courtesy of CircuitProDigital

    2011 – Carlos Checa (Ducati) decided to check-out and won both races that weekend.

    2013 – Jonathan Rea (Honda) took first in race one and Loris Baz (Kawasaki) claimed the win for race two.

    Donington became the new home for WSBK afterwards.

    Silverstone Race Circuit also has hosted the British Superbike Championship from 1998 – present.

    Notable British Superbike moments:

    1998 – James Haydon (Suzuki) wins the first BSB race at Silverstone with familiar name Troy Bayliss (GSE Racing bike) winning the second race.

    1999 – Troy Bayliss (Ducati) won both races for the weekend.

    2000 – Two Brits dominated this time round – Neil Hodgson (Ducati) won the first race and Chris Walker (Samsung Crescent bike) won the second race.

    2006 – 2007 – Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) spectacularly won all four races.

    2012 – Alex Lowes (Honda) claimed both race victories.

    2019 – Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha) took to the podium and took his maiden victory in the second race. Whilst Josh Elliott (OMG Racing UK.com) took the first race win.

    Winning maiden victory for Tarran. Courtesy of: Eurosport 2

    2022 – BSB will return to Silverstone 15th – 17th April.

    British Superbike | Silverstone – Link to tickets.

    As we immerse ourselves in the racing, witnessing wheel-to-wheel fighting and cheering on the competitors, we say the names given to parts of the circuit but never think twice about where these names originated from.

    The story behind the name:

    Abbey and Luffield – Luffield Abbey remains were discovered 200 metres from Stowe corner.

    Becketts and Chapel Curve – Ruins of the chapel of Thomas Beckett are close to the circuit.

    Stowe Corner – Named after the school which resides not too far away.

    Maggotts – Maggotts Moor Field is also close to the track.

    Copse – A small wood used to be adjacent to the corner.

    Club Corner – In honour of the RAC Club.

    Woodcote – Named for the Country Club, located in Woodcote Park in Surrey.

    Hangar Straight – Two aircraft hangers originally lined the circuit where the straight sits.

    Hamilton Straight – Named in 2010 in honour of the achievements of British racing driver Sir Lewis Hamilton.

    Village – Commemorating Silverstone Village.

    Ireland – Named for Innes Ireland (GP driver and President of the British Racing Drivers Club).

    Wellington Straight – Vickes Wellington Bombers were based at RAF Silverstone.

    Brooklands – Named for the world’s first purpose-built circuit at Weybridge, Surrey.

    The Loop – Simply the shape of the corner.

    The names may change over time and the circuit may yet again see change and growth. But one thing is for sure, racing unites fans and brings them together to enjoy the absolute ecstasy of the event. We all have our personal memories of a certain race at this legendary track, whether we were there in person soaking in the atmosphere or watching on TV – sitting on the edge of our seats. The magic of Silverstone will always live on.

     

     

     

    Featured image: 2019 race win. Courtesy of: Ultimate Motorcycling Magazine 

  • Maserati joins Formula E

    Maserati joins Formula E

    Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer, Maserati, have announced they will be joining Formula E in Season 9.

    When the new Gen 3 Formula E cars launch, a new team will be lining up on the grid. It has been announced that Maserati will be joining the all-electric series from Season 9.

    Maserati, and their Folgore electric brand, are “proud” to be returning to single-seater motorsport after a long 60-year absence.

    “We are very proud to be back where we belong as protagonists in the world of racing. We are powered by passion and innovative by nature” stated their CEO, Davide Grasso. He continued by saying “We have a long history of world-class excellence in competition and we are ready to drive performance in the future.”

    Maserati’s successful motorsport history includes an F1 World Championship, won by Jan Manuel Fangio in 1957, and two Indy500 wins, in 1939 and 1940. Arguable, Maserati’s greatest successes came in Sportcar and GT racing, with 4 Targa Florio wins and, more recently, 14 FIA GT titles since 2004.

    Image Credit: Formula E

    The news comes after the announcement that three giant teams – Mercedes, Audi and BMW – will be leaving the sport at the end of Season 8. This much-needed boost will help to quash some of the discussions around the future of Formula E and the potential success of the Gen3 era.

    CEO Jamie Reigle commented that “Formula E races in the heart of the most iconic cities in the world and is followed passionately by a progressive global audience. Our millions of fans will be thrilled to see Maserati line up on the grid as one of the world’s elite electric car brands.”

    Alejandro Aga, Founder and Chairman, continued this by stating that “The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the pinnacle of electric racing. It provides the perfect environment for the most dynamic and innovative high-performance car brands to showcase their technological capabilities alongside their sporting ambitions.”

    Feature Image Credit: Formula E

  • Raul Fernandez Believes he is “Moral Champion”

    Raul Fernandez Believes he is “Moral Champion”

    In an interview with Spanish Autosport, Raul Fernandez claimed that he is the “moral” Moto2 champion in 2021. He believes his team placed “stones and obstacles” in his way, preventing him from taking the title.

    Raul Fernandez is the Moto2 rookie who burst onto the grid in 2021, claiming a phenomenal 12 podiums, 7 pole positions and 8 race wins. The latter surpasses the previous record held by Marc Marquez, who won 7 races in his rookie Moto2 season.

    These results saw him clinch 2nd in the Moto2 championship, eventually won by his KTM Ajo teammate Remy Gardner. He missed out on the title by just 4 points.

    When speaking to Spanish Autosport, Fernandez stated that “no one knew how to guide” him and his team of “inexperienced” mechanics. He believes this played a role in him failing to secure the title in his maiden Moto2 season.

    “The problem we had is that my whole team – and when I say my team I mean my mechanics, who I was very lucky to find such a special group – were inexperienced and nobody knew how to guide us. And that is why today we don’t have the championship crown. But morally it has been proved by the result that I am the strongest rider, with more wins, poles, fastest laps.”

    “Remy is the champion, he has scored more points, but really with the speed we had and being a fish that swims against the current, I honestly feel morally champion. What we have done, being all new and getting to know each other this year, it’s impressive.”

    Image credit: MotoGP

    Fernandez then stated that he felt “stones and obstacles” had been placed in his way by his team, handing the championship to his teammate. He claimed that having a “figure” in the team to guide and support himself and the mechanics would have helped them secure the title.

    “I have lacked a hand to guide us, a hand to tell us, like little children before they trip over a stone, to be careful. A figure that would guide us and open the way for us, a figure that would want to help us to win, not a figure that would put stones and obstacles in our way so that we wouldn’t succeed. That was the key.”

    “It has cost us sweat and tears. In the middle of the year we talked and all of [my mechanics] were having a hard time. We were all looking forward to the end of the season.”

    Their strong performances across the 2021 season mean that both Fernandez and Gardner will be moving up to MotoGP, joining the Tech3 KTM Factory Team for 2022. Back in August, when his promotion was confirmed, Fernandez stated that “it’s the dream of any rider to arrive to this class”.

    Feature image credit: KTM Press.

  • Formula E Launches Gen3 Cars and Introduces New Cost Cap

    Formula E Launches Gen3 Cars and Introduces New Cost Cap

    Ahead of the 2022/2023 season, Formula E has provided us with a glimpse at their new net-zero carbon Gen3 cars, as well as announcing a new cost cap for manufacturers.

    With the car due to officially launch in spring 2022, Formula E has provided some insight into the changes we can expect to see in their Gen3 cars. This new generation of all-electric racing machines will be used from season 9 onwards and, overall, will be more efficient and faster.

    The teaser images shared at the end of November don’t give away too much about the car’s design but they do start to show the angular shape of the chassis and wings. This look has been inspired by an “aero-efficient delta wing of a fighter jet”.

    The design also boasts a wider rear and a lack of wheel covers. The latter feature should allow for closer wheel-to-wheel battles as the cars will be able to cope with more considerable contact.

    Image Credit: Formula E

    When it comes to the technical specs, the most notable development is the increase in regenerative energy, harnessed from the braking system. Up to 40% of a Formula E Gen3 car’s power will now be produced in this way.

    Additionally, all racing cars will also have a front and rear powertrain, with 250kW of energy coming from the front of the car and 350kW coming from the back. This development means that the Gen3 car will have more than double the amount of energy when compared to the Gen2 model. Thanks to this added front powertrain, the Gen3 car will also be the first formula car to not feature a rear hydraulic brake system.

    With the overall cars being lighter and smaller than their Gen2 predecessor, the Gen3 machine will have a more efficient power-to-weight ratio and will be capable of top speeds of up to 200mph.

    In addition to the changes to the cars, for the 9th season of Formula E teams and manufacturers will face a new cost cap. This means that powertrain manufacturers will be limited to spending €25 million across two consecutive seasons. However, with most teams already working on their Gen3 machines, this cost cap is unlikely to have an immediate effect on the teams.

    Image Credit: Formula E

    When discussing the developments we will see in the 9th series, Formula E’s CEO Jamie Reigle stated that: “In designing the Gen3 car, we set out to demonstrate that high performance, efficiency and sustainability can co-exist without compromise. Together with the FIA, we have built the world’s most efficient and sustainable high performance race car.”

    “The Gen3 is our fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient racing car yet. It is a creature designed for its habitat: racing on city streets in wheel-to-wheel combat. We look forward to witnessing it inspire and excite the next generation of motorsport fans in cities around the world from Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.”

    Feature Image Credit: Formula E

  • What Next For JR 65 ?

    So for the first time in over 5 years, the number 65, not number 1, will adorn the front end of Jonathan Rea’s Kawasaki ZX-10R. In the immediate aftermath of the Indonesian race, Rea looked shell shocked, yet as always was gracious in his praise for the new champion.

    Jonathan Rea Misano WSBK. Picture courtesy of Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK

    No one can argue that the Northern Irishman is a proper gentleman both on and off the track. Look beneath the grin and cordial demeanour however, and you’ll discover a burning desire to win. It can hardly come as a surprise that winning means so much to the 6 time world champion, yet more than anything, it is his relentless hunger to keep proving himself, which is really awe-inspiring.

    In Toprak Razgatlioglu, Rea has met an opponent just as hungry as he himself is. An opponent who leaves nothing behind on the track and pushes Rea to another level. Yes the Kawasaki struggled in a lot of areas, out performed in terms of top end speed, by not only the Ducati’s, but also by the Yamaha’s. What was of more concern, certainly of trying to find a solution, was the stability issues, especially into hard braking corners which plagued the Kawasaki all season. Rea was using “Marc Marques” skills saving what could have been several nasty crashes. The save at Donington Park springs to  mind, as Rea somehow managed to “motocross” his way off-road down the Craner Curves, still managing to rejoin the race. He was not as lucky in Portimao and was involved in a really scary high speed crash, walking away from a mangled ZX-10R.

    Michael van der Mark, Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes at Magny-Cours WSBK 2019. Image courtesy of Yamaha Racing

    A certain Valentino Rossi finally hung up his leathers this year at the age of 42, putting a bookend to 3 decades of racing. Rossi never lost his hunger for competing at the top level, and when new, younger opponents came onto the scene, he was able to reinvent himself, applying what the younger riders were doing and honing his craft.

    I could see Rea doing something similar, extending his career for several more years. Certainly the talented crop of young riders in WorldSBK at the moment, will push Rea further. Not only Toprak and Scott Redding, but also the likes of Axel Bassani, Andrea Locatelli, Garrett Gerloff and the talented Iker Lecuona who comes from MotoGP.

    Jonathan Rea at the 2020 Philip Island Test. Picture courtesy of Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK

    The future is a hard thing to predict, but what does look certain is WorldSBK continuing to provide action packed racing, whether or not Jonathan Rea is still there. Although as fans of the sport, we all still hope he is there for many years to come.