The 2023 Race of Champions took place over last weekend 28-29th January) at Pite Havsbad in Piteå, Sweden, 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle.
The 2023 Champion of Champions was won by former DTM Champion Mattias Ekström, who beat Mercedes F1 reserve driver Mick Schumacher, 2-0 in the final.
While in the Nations' Cup, Norway team of former World Rally Champion Petter Solberg and WRC driver Oliver Solberg took victory ahead of All Stars team of F2 Champion Felipe Drugovich and WRC driver Thierry Neuville, in a closely fought 3-1 final.
Contracts to the Champions for 2023.
Tuesday 31 January 2023
Monday 30 January 2023
2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona Review
As the title says a Rolex 24 at Daytona Review of the race.
Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian team won the race overall and Daytona Prototype international class too of Tom Blomqvist, Hélio Castroneves, Colin Braun and Simon Pagenaud in their Acura ARX-06, Acura AR24e 2.4 L Turbo V6.
While, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport team finished in second place in their Acura ARX-06, Acura AR24e 2.4 L Turbo V6; the team of Filipe Albuquerque, Louis Delétraz, Brendon Hartley and Ricky Taylor they were four seconds behind the leaders. Meanwhile, Cadillac Racing team finished third place in their Cadillac V-LMDh, Cadillac LMC55R 5.5 L V8; the team of Sébastien Bourdais, Scott Dixon and Renger van der Zandek; they were ten seconds behind the leaders.
In LMP2 class (all cars using the Gibson 4.2 L V8 engine), Proton Competition team of James Allen, Gianmaria Bruni, Francesco Pizzi and Fred Poordad in their Oreca 07 won LMP2 class. They finish in seventh place overall and they were twenty-two laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
In LMP3 class (all cars using the Nissan 5.6 L V8 engine), AWA team of Wayne Boyd, Anthony Mantella, Thomas Merrill and Nicolás Varrone in their Duqueine M30 - D08 won LMP3 class. They finish in fifteenth place overall and they were forty-six laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
In GT Daytona Class, Heart of Racing Team of Roman De Angelis, Ian James, Marco Sørensen and Darren Turner in their Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 won Daytona Class. They finished in sixteenth place overall; they were fifty-four laps behind the leaders.
In GT Daytona Pro Class, WeatherTech Racing team of Maro Engel, Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella and Cooper MacNeil in their Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo won Daytona Pro Class. They finished in seventeenth place overall; they were fifty-four laps behind the leaders.
Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian team won the race overall and Daytona Prototype international class too of Tom Blomqvist, Hélio Castroneves, Colin Braun and Simon Pagenaud in their Acura ARX-06, Acura AR24e 2.4 L Turbo V6.
While, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport team finished in second place in their Acura ARX-06, Acura AR24e 2.4 L Turbo V6; the team of Filipe Albuquerque, Louis Delétraz, Brendon Hartley and Ricky Taylor they were four seconds behind the leaders. Meanwhile, Cadillac Racing team finished third place in their Cadillac V-LMDh, Cadillac LMC55R 5.5 L V8; the team of Sébastien Bourdais, Scott Dixon and Renger van der Zandek; they were ten seconds behind the leaders.
In LMP2 class (all cars using the Gibson 4.2 L V8 engine), Proton Competition team of James Allen, Gianmaria Bruni, Francesco Pizzi and Fred Poordad in their Oreca 07 won LMP2 class. They finish in seventh place overall and they were twenty-two laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
In LMP3 class (all cars using the Nissan 5.6 L V8 engine), AWA team of Wayne Boyd, Anthony Mantella, Thomas Merrill and Nicolás Varrone in their Duqueine M30 - D08 won LMP3 class. They finish in fifteenth place overall and they were forty-six laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
In GT Daytona Class, Heart of Racing Team of Roman De Angelis, Ian James, Marco Sørensen and Darren Turner in their Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 won Daytona Class. They finished in sixteenth place overall; they were fifty-four laps behind the leaders.
In GT Daytona Pro Class, WeatherTech Racing team of Maro Engel, Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella and Cooper MacNeil in their Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo won Daytona Pro Class. They finished in seventeenth place overall; they were fifty-four laps behind the leaders.
2022/23 Formula E World Championship - Diriyah ePrix - Round 2 Recap
Review of Round Two of the 2022-23 Formula E season held on the Riyadh Street Circuit in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, for two races that weekend for Formula E only two night races of the season.
On Friday's race, that was won by TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team driver Pascal Wehrlein in his Spark-Porsche. Second was Avalanche Andretti Formula E driver Jake Dennis in his Spark-Porsche, he was half a second behind Wehrlein in the end. Meanwhile, third was Jaguar TCS Racing driver Sam Bird in his Spark-Jaguar, he was three and a half seconds behind Wehrlein in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
On Saturday's race, that was won by TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team driver Pascal Wehrlein in his Spark-Porsche. Second was Avalanche Andretti Formula E driver Jake Dennis in his Spark-Porsche, he was twelve tenths of a second behind Wehrlein in the end. Meanwhile, third was NEOM McLaren Formula E Team driver René Rast in his Spark-Nissan, he was four and half seconds behind Wehrlein in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Three of the 2022-23 Formula E World Championship season at Hyderabad, India for the Hyderabad ePrix in two weeks time.
On Friday's race, that was won by TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team driver Pascal Wehrlein in his Spark-Porsche. Second was Avalanche Andretti Formula E driver Jake Dennis in his Spark-Porsche, he was half a second behind Wehrlein in the end. Meanwhile, third was Jaguar TCS Racing driver Sam Bird in his Spark-Jaguar, he was three and a half seconds behind Wehrlein in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
On Saturday's race, that was won by TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team driver Pascal Wehrlein in his Spark-Porsche. Second was Avalanche Andretti Formula E driver Jake Dennis in his Spark-Porsche, he was twelve tenths of a second behind Wehrlein in the end. Meanwhile, third was NEOM McLaren Formula E Team driver René Rast in his Spark-Nissan, he was four and half seconds behind Wehrlein in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Three of the 2022-23 Formula E World Championship season at Hyderabad, India for the Hyderabad ePrix in two weeks time.
Saturday 28 January 2023
Cadillac V-LMDH
This week (26/1/23), Cadillac launch their new Le Mans Daytona hybrid race car the Cadillac V-LMDH for next seasons IMSA SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship.
Cadillac unveiled its 2023 new LMDh race car on Thursday in Daytona. Cadillac will use 5.5L V8 engine and hybrid package that produces 670 bhp with the chassis produced by Dallara. And race prepare in FIA World Endurance Championship by Chip Ganassi Racing, and IMSA SportsCar Championship by Chip Ganassi Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing.
A new challenge ahead for Cadillac in 2023.
Cadillac unveiled its 2023 new LMDh race car on Thursday in Daytona. Cadillac will use 5.5L V8 engine and hybrid package that produces 670 bhp with the chassis produced by Dallara. And race prepare in FIA World Endurance Championship by Chip Ganassi Racing, and IMSA SportsCar Championship by Chip Ganassi Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing.
A new challenge ahead for Cadillac in 2023.
Monday 23 January 2023
2023 WRC Round 1 recap - Rallye Monte Carlo
Recap of the last round of WRC from last weekends round 1 of Rallye Monte Carlo in Monte Carlo of course.
Last weekend was round one of the 2023 World Rally Championship at the Rallye Monte Carlo (19th-22nd January), that was won by Sébastien Ogier in his works Toyota GR Yaris Rally1.
While, Current WRC Champion Kalle Rovanperä finished second in his works Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. Rovanperä was nineteen seconds behind Ogier at the end of the rally. Meanwhile, Thierry Neuville finished third in the works Hyundai i20 N Rally1, Neuville was forty-five seconds behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Manufacturer entries competing in cars built to Rally2 specifications), that was won by PH Sport driver Yohan Rossel in his Citroën C3 Rally2. Yohan Rossel finished in ninth place overall, he was over ten minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Next stop, Round Two of the 2022 WRC season for Rally Sweden in three weeks time.
Last weekend was round one of the 2023 World Rally Championship at the Rallye Monte Carlo (19th-22nd January), that was won by Sébastien Ogier in his works Toyota GR Yaris Rally1.
While, Current WRC Champion Kalle Rovanperä finished second in his works Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. Rovanperä was nineteen seconds behind Ogier at the end of the rally. Meanwhile, Thierry Neuville finished third in the works Hyundai i20 N Rally1, Neuville was forty-five seconds behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Manufacturer entries competing in cars built to Rally2 specifications), that was won by PH Sport driver Yohan Rossel in his Citroën C3 Rally2. Yohan Rossel finished in ninth place overall, he was over ten minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Next stop, Round Two of the 2022 WRC season for Rally Sweden in three weeks time.
Monday 16 January 2023
2023 Dubai 24 Hour race review
Last weekend was the eighteenth annual Dubai 24 hour race at the Dubai Autodrome in Dubai (14-15th January).
MS7 by BMW M Team WRT was victorious at the Dubai 24 in their BMW M4 GT3; with the team of Mohammed Saud Fahad Al Saud, Diego Menchaca, Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer, Dries Vanthoor and Jens Klingmann came out on top to win this years Dubai 24 hour race in 621 laps in total.
While the Herberth Motorsport team came in second place in their Porsche 911 GT3 R; with team of Daniel Allemann, Ralf Bohn, Alfred Renauer and Robert Renauer as drivers. They were thrity-two seconds behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hour race.
While the KFC VR46 by BMW M Team WRT came in third place in their BMW M4 GT3; with the team of Sean Gelael, Maxime Martin, Valentino Rossi, Tim Whale and Max Hesse as drivers, they were two laps behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hours race.
MS7 by BMW M Team WRT was victorious at the Dubai 24 in their BMW M4 GT3; with the team of Mohammed Saud Fahad Al Saud, Diego Menchaca, Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer, Dries Vanthoor and Jens Klingmann came out on top to win this years Dubai 24 hour race in 621 laps in total.
While the Herberth Motorsport team came in second place in their Porsche 911 GT3 R; with team of Daniel Allemann, Ralf Bohn, Alfred Renauer and Robert Renauer as drivers. They were thrity-two seconds behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hour race.
While the KFC VR46 by BMW M Team WRT came in third place in their BMW M4 GT3; with the team of Sean Gelael, Maxime Martin, Valentino Rossi, Tim Whale and Max Hesse as drivers, they were two laps behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hours race.
2022/23 Formula E World Championship - Mexico City ePrix - Round 1 Recap
Review of Round One of the 2022-23 Formula E season held on the shorter version of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit in Mexico City, Mexico.
The race was won by Avalanche Andretti Formula E driver Jake Dennis in his Spark-Porsche. Second was TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team driver Pascal Wehrlein in his Spark-Porsche, he was eight seconds behind Dennis in the end. Meanwhile, third was Mahindra Racing driver Lucas di Grassi in his Spark-Mahindra, he was nineteen seconds behind Dennis in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Two of the 2022-23 Formula E World Championship season in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia for the Diriyah ePrix in two weeks time.
The race was won by Avalanche Andretti Formula E driver Jake Dennis in his Spark-Porsche. Second was TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team driver Pascal Wehrlein in his Spark-Porsche, he was eight seconds behind Dennis in the end. Meanwhile, third was Mahindra Racing driver Lucas di Grassi in his Spark-Mahindra, he was nineteen seconds behind Dennis in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Two of the 2022-23 Formula E World Championship season in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia for the Diriyah ePrix in two weeks time.
Tuesday 10 January 2023
Top Six worse American Constructors and Engine builders that enter Formula 1
Andretti Autosport IndyCar team (5/1/23) confirmed last week their intention to enter Formula One as the eleventh team in conjunction with General Motors brand Cadillac. Although, unless a deal between the ten teams, FIA and Liberity Media can happen it won't happen at all. So this post is the Top Six worse American Constructors and Engine builders that enter Formula 1 that came from the USA (excluding Haas or Dorilton Capital owned Williams).
Starting with Number 6:
Number 6: 1974-76 Team Penske
Story: Team Penske entered the Formula One from 1970 (using McLaren chassis for a few Grand Prixs), 1974 till 1976. Although the cars were built at the British base, the team held an American licence. Team Penske enter F1 for the final two Grand Prixs of 1974 with two more full seasons. Their best season came in 1976 with John Watson winning the Austrian Grand Prix, so far this has been the last time an American constructor won an F1 race. Giving the team to finish fifth in the Constructors' Standings with 20 points in 1976. Still, at the end of the year, Roger Penske decided to withdraw from the sport to concentrate solely on Indycar racing instead.
Number 5: 1986-87 Ford (turbo era)
Story: Ford and Cosworth during the turbo era never produce a turbo engine focusing on developing the DFV V8 engine instead. Until late 1983 when Ford lost their top four teams to BMW (Brabham), Renault (Lotus), Tag Porsche (McLaren), and Honda (Williams) to turbo power. By the 1984 British Grand Prix, Ford and Cosworth anounced they will build a turbo engine for 1986 F1 season. Cosworth designed an inline four-cylinder turbo engine based on an engine block from the Ford Escort. However, that was abandoned due to the crankshaft breaking multiple times during testing, resulted the engine was a V6 turbo engine instead named the Cosworth GBA.
Ford awarded the engine exclusively to Haas Lola for 1986 finishing eighth in the Constructors' Standings with 6 points, when the team folded at the end of the year. Benetton got the exclusive deal for 1987. By the end 1987, with the turbo engines would be outlawed for 1989, Ford discontinued the GBA program altogether for 1988 focusing on a new V8 engine instead. The engine best results came in 1987 when Benetton got two third place finishes and the team finish fifth in the Constructors' Standings with 28 points in 1987. Ending Ford and Cosworth experimenting in turbo engines.
Number 4: 1985-86 Haas Lola
Story: The team founded by Carl Haas in 1984 after an agreement with Beatrice Foods, a US consumer products conglomerate, which competed in Formula 1 by the middle of the 1985 season with 1980 F1 champion Alan Jones as one of their drivers and Lola developing the cars. With the exclusive right to use Ford new turbo engine for 1986 as three year deal everything looking good for 1986. Until, the team main sponsor Beatrice Foods withdrawn surport during 1986, resulting the sponsors leaving the team at the end of 1986. Resulting the team ending at the end of 1986 with Ford moving to Benetton for 1987, Alan Jones retiring and Lola switching over to Larrousse for 1987. Carl Haas focusing on his Indycar team instead.
Number 3: 1989-93 Chrysler (via Lamborghini)
Story: Chrysler bought Lamborghini in 1987, with Chrysler developing a V12 engine for F1, Chrysler rebadge the engines as Lamborghini for 1989. However, results never materialise, with best result of third place for Aguri Suzuki at the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix with Larrousse. Never having a top team despite testing with McLaren during 1993. Resulting Chrysler leaving Formula 1 at the end of the 1993 season and Chrysler selling Lamborghini in 1994 with either brands never entering in Formula 1 again.
Number 2: 2010 USF1 Team
Story: US F1 Team founded by Peter Windsor and former Ligier technical director Ken Anderson and investment from Chad Hurley (co-founder of YouTube), with their factory located in Charlotte, North Carolina marked as an all-American team to enter for the 2010 season. However, the team stopped work on its car due to financial problems and poor organising from both founders. The team never entered into Formula 1 as a team, by mid-2010 the FIA World Motor Sport Council conducted a disciplinary hearing into USF1's failure to compete in the 2010 season. The team was fined and banned from competing in any FIA-sanctioned championship.
Number 1: 2000-04 Ford (via Jaguar)
Story: Ford bought Jackie Stewart's Stewart Grand Prix Formula One team in June 1999. Around September 1999, Ford renamed the team as part of its global marketing operations to promote their Jaguar premium car company. Despite this branding, they continued to use full-works Ford Cosworth engines in the cars, no Jaguar engineering was involved and also served as Ford's official Formula One full-works team going into the 2000 season. By 2000, Ford thought Jaguar will fight with the likes of Ferrari and McLaren, unfortunately through their five years owning the team, Ford wasn't challanging the big teams. But, the small teams likes Sauber and Jordan. Their best results was only seventh in the Constructors' Standings in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Ford chose to sell the operation near the end of 2004 despite a more consistent showing in its previous two years as Ford wanted to concentrate on World Rally Championship instead. In mid-November 2004, energy drink company Red Bull purchased the Jaguar Formula One team from Ford and renamed it as Red Bull Racing from 2005. Making this the worse American Constructors and Engine builders that enter Formula 1.
Although there are Strong rumours that Ford may return to Formula 1 by 2026, watch this space.
Starting with Number 6:
Number 6: 1974-76 Team Penske
Story: Team Penske entered the Formula One from 1970 (using McLaren chassis for a few Grand Prixs), 1974 till 1976. Although the cars were built at the British base, the team held an American licence. Team Penske enter F1 for the final two Grand Prixs of 1974 with two more full seasons. Their best season came in 1976 with John Watson winning the Austrian Grand Prix, so far this has been the last time an American constructor won an F1 race. Giving the team to finish fifth in the Constructors' Standings with 20 points in 1976. Still, at the end of the year, Roger Penske decided to withdraw from the sport to concentrate solely on Indycar racing instead.
Number 5: 1986-87 Ford (turbo era)
Story: Ford and Cosworth during the turbo era never produce a turbo engine focusing on developing the DFV V8 engine instead. Until late 1983 when Ford lost their top four teams to BMW (Brabham), Renault (Lotus), Tag Porsche (McLaren), and Honda (Williams) to turbo power. By the 1984 British Grand Prix, Ford and Cosworth anounced they will build a turbo engine for 1986 F1 season. Cosworth designed an inline four-cylinder turbo engine based on an engine block from the Ford Escort. However, that was abandoned due to the crankshaft breaking multiple times during testing, resulted the engine was a V6 turbo engine instead named the Cosworth GBA.
Ford awarded the engine exclusively to Haas Lola for 1986 finishing eighth in the Constructors' Standings with 6 points, when the team folded at the end of the year. Benetton got the exclusive deal for 1987. By the end 1987, with the turbo engines would be outlawed for 1989, Ford discontinued the GBA program altogether for 1988 focusing on a new V8 engine instead. The engine best results came in 1987 when Benetton got two third place finishes and the team finish fifth in the Constructors' Standings with 28 points in 1987. Ending Ford and Cosworth experimenting in turbo engines.
Number 4: 1985-86 Haas Lola
Story: The team founded by Carl Haas in 1984 after an agreement with Beatrice Foods, a US consumer products conglomerate, which competed in Formula 1 by the middle of the 1985 season with 1980 F1 champion Alan Jones as one of their drivers and Lola developing the cars. With the exclusive right to use Ford new turbo engine for 1986 as three year deal everything looking good for 1986. Until, the team main sponsor Beatrice Foods withdrawn surport during 1986, resulting the sponsors leaving the team at the end of 1986. Resulting the team ending at the end of 1986 with Ford moving to Benetton for 1987, Alan Jones retiring and Lola switching over to Larrousse for 1987. Carl Haas focusing on his Indycar team instead.
Number 3: 1989-93 Chrysler (via Lamborghini)
Story: Chrysler bought Lamborghini in 1987, with Chrysler developing a V12 engine for F1, Chrysler rebadge the engines as Lamborghini for 1989. However, results never materialise, with best result of third place for Aguri Suzuki at the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix with Larrousse. Never having a top team despite testing with McLaren during 1993. Resulting Chrysler leaving Formula 1 at the end of the 1993 season and Chrysler selling Lamborghini in 1994 with either brands never entering in Formula 1 again.
Number 2: 2010 USF1 Team
Story: US F1 Team founded by Peter Windsor and former Ligier technical director Ken Anderson and investment from Chad Hurley (co-founder of YouTube), with their factory located in Charlotte, North Carolina marked as an all-American team to enter for the 2010 season. However, the team stopped work on its car due to financial problems and poor organising from both founders. The team never entered into Formula 1 as a team, by mid-2010 the FIA World Motor Sport Council conducted a disciplinary hearing into USF1's failure to compete in the 2010 season. The team was fined and banned from competing in any FIA-sanctioned championship.
Number 1: 2000-04 Ford (via Jaguar)
Story: Ford bought Jackie Stewart's Stewart Grand Prix Formula One team in June 1999. Around September 1999, Ford renamed the team as part of its global marketing operations to promote their Jaguar premium car company. Despite this branding, they continued to use full-works Ford Cosworth engines in the cars, no Jaguar engineering was involved and also served as Ford's official Formula One full-works team going into the 2000 season. By 2000, Ford thought Jaguar will fight with the likes of Ferrari and McLaren, unfortunately through their five years owning the team, Ford wasn't challanging the big teams. But, the small teams likes Sauber and Jordan. Their best results was only seventh in the Constructors' Standings in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Tuesday 3 January 2023
Ken Block 1967 - 2023
It was confirmed on Monday night (2/1/2023) Ken Block died at age 55 in a snowmobile accident near his ranch in Woodland, Utah. The Wasatch County sheriff's department reported that Block had been riding in the Mill Hollow area when his snowmobile upended on a steep slope and landed on top of him. Block was declared dead at the scene of the accident. Condolences goes out to the family and friends of Ken Block.
Block was also one of the co-founders of DC Shoes. After selling his ownership of DC Shoes, Block shifted his focus to Rallying. Block contest Rally America with Subaru and Ford during 2005 till 2015 winning sixteen rallies.
Block rallied in the WRC with Subaru and Ford, with best result of seventh at Rally Mexico in 2013.
Block will be remembered with the gymkhana series which have drawn multi-millions views on YouTube.
Gone but not forgotten.
R.I.P. Ken Block
Block was also one of the co-founders of DC Shoes. After selling his ownership of DC Shoes, Block shifted his focus to Rallying. Block contest Rally America with Subaru and Ford during 2005 till 2015 winning sixteen rallies.
Block rallied in the WRC with Subaru and Ford, with best result of seventh at Rally Mexico in 2013.
Block will be remembered with the gymkhana series which have drawn multi-millions views on YouTube.
Gone but not forgotten.
R.I.P. Ken Block
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