Review of round eighteen and the final round of the 2014 MotoGP season at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia for the Valencia GP.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Repsol Honda Team rider and current double MotoGP champion Marc Márquez on his works Honda RC213V. It was Marquez's 13th race win of the season as the 21-year-old set another premier class record, eclipsing the previous benchmark of 12 victories in a single season set by Mick Doohan in 1997. Second place was the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi on his works Yamaha YZR-M1, he was two seconds behind Márquez at the end. While, third was the other Repsol Honda Team rider Dani Pedrosa on his works Honda RC213V, he was fourteen seconds behind Márquez at the end.
In Open class (Full control ECU system, hardware and software), NGM Forward Racing rider Aleix Espargaró won Open class and finish seventh place overall on his Forward-Yamaha YZR-M1, he was 38 seconds behind Márquez at the end.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-four 600 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Interwetten Paddock Moto2 rider Thomas Lüthi on the Suter. Second was Marc VDS Racing Team rider and current Moto2 Champion Esteve Rabat on the Kalex, he finished of with 346 points this season, a new record for Moto2, passing Marc Marquez previous best of 328 from 2012; he was two tenths of a second behind Lüthi at the end. While, third was Caterham Moto Racing rider Johann Zarco on the Caterham Suter, he was eleven seconds behind Lüthi at the end.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Jack Miller on the KTM. Second was Calvo Team rider Isaac Viñales on the KTM, he was two tenths of a second behind Miller at the end of the race. While, third was Estrella Galicia rider Álex Márquez on the Honda, he was a second behind Miller at the end of the race.
With third place was enough to give Álex Márquez 2014 Moto3 title, Álex Márquez was 2 points ahead of Jack Miller; his podium finish in third for the title also marks the first time in the history of Motorcycle racing that racing brothers have both taken World Championship titles with Marc Marquez already the MotoGP champion for 2014. Contracts to Álex Márquez for winning the Moto3 championship.
And so who won what in which class, MotoGP Champion: Marc Márquez, Open Class Champion: Aleix Espargaró, MotoGP Manufacturers' Champion: Honda. Moto 2 Champion: Esteve Rabat, Moto2 Manufacturers' Champion: Kalex. Moto 3 Champion: Álex Márquez, and Moto3 Manufacturers' Champion: KTM.
Contractions to the Champions this season.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Monday, 10 November 2014
2014 Brazilian Grand Prix Review and thoughts
2014 Brazilian Grand Prix review of round eighteen of the F1 season at of the F1 season at Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Interlagos on the outskirts of São Paulo, and thoughts on the race as well.
Good points
A dominating race weekend from Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes, fastest in practice, pole postion on Saturday to conclude with a race win on Sunday to give Nico his fifth Grand Prix win of the season.
While, team-mate Lewis Hamilton could've won the race, but he went off road to give Nico Rosberg the race win in Brazil. But, Hamilton still finished in second place in the Mercedes to give the team its eleventh one-two finish of the season.
Meanwhile, Felipe Massa finished in third place,in the Williams, despite having a five second stop and go penalty for speeding in the pit lane, to complete the podium.
Lewis Hamilton still leads the drivers' championship from team-mate Nico Rosberg, but the gap is now reduce from 24 points to 17 points in the standings with one race to go at Yas Marina Circuit at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for double points in two weeks time.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Good points
- Mercedes (Nico Rosberg, pole to race win; Lewis Hamilton, finished 2nd)
- Felipe Massa (finished 3rd)
- Jenson Button (finished 4th)
- Nico Hülkenberg (finished 8th)
- Valtteri Bottas (finished 10th)
- Daniel Ricciardo (DNF, Suspension)
- Romain Grosjean (DNF, Power unit failure)
A dominating race weekend from Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes, fastest in practice, pole postion on Saturday to conclude with a race win on Sunday to give Nico his fifth Grand Prix win of the season.
While, team-mate Lewis Hamilton could've won the race, but he went off road to give Nico Rosberg the race win in Brazil. But, Hamilton still finished in second place in the Mercedes to give the team its eleventh one-two finish of the season.
Meanwhile, Felipe Massa finished in third place,in the Williams, despite having a five second stop and go penalty for speeding in the pit lane, to complete the podium.
Lewis Hamilton still leads the drivers' championship from team-mate Nico Rosberg, but the gap is now reduce from 24 points to 17 points in the standings with one race to go at Yas Marina Circuit at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for double points in two weeks time.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Friday, 7 November 2014
Marussia F1 team/Manor folded
Marussia's administrator, FRP Advisory, confirmed on Friday (7/11/14) that the Formula 1 team has ceased trading and all employees will be made redundant, following unsuccessful discussions with potential investors.
Marussia entered administration last month but had hoped to return to the grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, having skipped the United States and Brazilian Grands Prix.
However, the deadline to find a new backer has passed, leading to the Banbury-based team being wound up and the loss of 200 jobs. Which also includes their GP3 team Manor Motorsport as-well.
This season the team scored their first and only points in Formula 1 at the Monaco Grand Prix earlier this season, with Jules Bianchi who still remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital, after his serious crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.
First of all, I very feel sorry for the staff and their family at the team at this moment of time. Secondly, It's a very sad day that a team like Manor have folded who has 25 years experience as a team that helped the early careers of developing talent like Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton in their Formula Renault days, and taking Formula 3 titles with the likes of Marc Hynes and Antônio Pizzonia back in the early 2000s that now has folded. It really saddens me today to here the news.
So why did a team like Manor has gone bust, in my view for a few simple reasons like I said from last week, one reason is the payout to the Concorde Agreement that makes payout to small teams less money to those teams. For example, Marussia only get $10 Million for finishing tenth in in the Constructor standings last season. While the big red fat cats of Ferrari gets $112 million without even racing is disgusting, that a team of Ferrari who have been a complete failure for the last seven seasons get that amount of money due to their history in Formula 1. It be like a Premier League team who not won a League title for nearly a decade gets £70 million without hitting a ball at the start of a season because of their history.
Another reason is that the cost of the power-units this season, in 2013, the V8 engines cost between £5-10 million per season to the teams; while this seasons V6 turbo hybrid engines have doubled or even trebled, now costing between £15-20 million per season that has steeped up the budgets for this season and for next season too.
And the final reason is when the Caterham, Marussia and HRT entered the sport in 2010, under FIA that time President Max Mosley they were promised that the sport would have a budget cap of around £42 million and governing body the FIA failed to impose this. And also, the current FIA under Jean Todt as President are partly to blame as-well too for Marussia folded with not putting in a budget cap or even capping the price of the V6 turbo hybrid engines instead of focusing on Formula E and WRC as this would not happen under a Max Mosley era in my opinion for the teams like Caterham and Marussia. And that is possibly why a team like Marussia did not survive in Formula 1.
Meanwhile, the Caterham F1 Team is trying to relaunch using crowd funding. The administrator Finbarr O’Connell says that supporters will receive unique rewards, including a once in a lifetime opportunity to get your name on the Caterham F1 car competing in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The opportunity to support Caterham F1’s return to the grid will close when it reaches its £2.35 million funding target by next Friday (14/11/14). I can't see that happening due to do as its too much you are asking the fans to do, I personally think that few of the big teams or even Bernie Ecclestone should help the team out, it's only £2.35 million.
Final thoughts is this, unless if your a Toyota, BMW, or even a Ford, Formula 1 is not economically viable sad to say, unless the rules are change it will help the likes of Caterham, and the Saubers. And the sad fact is this, the last successful Formula 1 team without manufacture backing is Jordan (now Force India) back in 1991. How pathetic is that.
A sad day in Formula 1.
Marussia entered administration last month but had hoped to return to the grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, having skipped the United States and Brazilian Grands Prix.
However, the deadline to find a new backer has passed, leading to the Banbury-based team being wound up and the loss of 200 jobs. Which also includes their GP3 team Manor Motorsport as-well.
This season the team scored their first and only points in Formula 1 at the Monaco Grand Prix earlier this season, with Jules Bianchi who still remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital, after his serious crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.
First of all, I very feel sorry for the staff and their family at the team at this moment of time. Secondly, It's a very sad day that a team like Manor have folded who has 25 years experience as a team that helped the early careers of developing talent like Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton in their Formula Renault days, and taking Formula 3 titles with the likes of Marc Hynes and Antônio Pizzonia back in the early 2000s that now has folded. It really saddens me today to here the news.
So why did a team like Manor has gone bust, in my view for a few simple reasons like I said from last week, one reason is the payout to the Concorde Agreement that makes payout to small teams less money to those teams. For example, Marussia only get $10 Million for finishing tenth in in the Constructor standings last season. While the big red fat cats of Ferrari gets $112 million without even racing is disgusting, that a team of Ferrari who have been a complete failure for the last seven seasons get that amount of money due to their history in Formula 1. It be like a Premier League team who not won a League title for nearly a decade gets £70 million without hitting a ball at the start of a season because of their history.
Another reason is that the cost of the power-units this season, in 2013, the V8 engines cost between £5-10 million per season to the teams; while this seasons V6 turbo hybrid engines have doubled or even trebled, now costing between £15-20 million per season that has steeped up the budgets for this season and for next season too.
And the final reason is when the Caterham, Marussia and HRT entered the sport in 2010, under FIA that time President Max Mosley they were promised that the sport would have a budget cap of around £42 million and governing body the FIA failed to impose this. And also, the current FIA under Jean Todt as President are partly to blame as-well too for Marussia folded with not putting in a budget cap or even capping the price of the V6 turbo hybrid engines instead of focusing on Formula E and WRC as this would not happen under a Max Mosley era in my opinion for the teams like Caterham and Marussia. And that is possibly why a team like Marussia did not survive in Formula 1.
Meanwhile, the Caterham F1 Team is trying to relaunch using crowd funding. The administrator Finbarr O’Connell says that supporters will receive unique rewards, including a once in a lifetime opportunity to get your name on the Caterham F1 car competing in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The opportunity to support Caterham F1’s return to the grid will close when it reaches its £2.35 million funding target by next Friday (14/11/14). I can't see that happening due to do as its too much you are asking the fans to do, I personally think that few of the big teams or even Bernie Ecclestone should help the team out, it's only £2.35 million.
Final thoughts is this, unless if your a Toyota, BMW, or even a Ford, Formula 1 is not economically viable sad to say, unless the rules are change it will help the likes of Caterham, and the Saubers. And the sad fact is this, the last successful Formula 1 team without manufacture backing is Jordan (now Force India) back in 1991. How pathetic is that.
A sad day in Formula 1.
Thursday, 6 November 2014
It's Official - Felipe Nasr joins Sauber for 2015
It's been confirmed late last night (5/11/14) that Williams test driver Felipe Nasr will join Sauber for the 2015 Formula 1 season.
The Carlin GP2 driver who is currently second in the standings will moved to Sauber alongside former Caterham driver Marcus Ericsson, which means that both of Sauber's 2014 drivers Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez will be replaced next season.
This is possibly the most surprising news to the 2015 Formula 1 season as it was that Ericsson's team-mate would be either Sauber's current reserve driver and former Caterham driver Giedo van der Garde or keeping Esteban Gutierrez for a third season; and for Nasr to stay in GP2 and stay with Williams as a reserve driver.
But, Sauber have gone for Nasr instead and gone for inexperience, which means Nasr is bringing in more money from Brazil. And a opportunity to race with a Grand Prix team in 2015 rather than possibly waiting for a drive and be a Williams test driver instead.
The main question for Sauber next season it the right decision for the team to go with inexperience drivers for 2015? time will tell.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
The Carlin GP2 driver who is currently second in the standings will moved to Sauber alongside former Caterham driver Marcus Ericsson, which means that both of Sauber's 2014 drivers Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez will be replaced next season.
This is possibly the most surprising news to the 2015 Formula 1 season as it was that Ericsson's team-mate would be either Sauber's current reserve driver and former Caterham driver Giedo van der Garde or keeping Esteban Gutierrez for a third season; and for Nasr to stay in GP2 and stay with Williams as a reserve driver.
But, Sauber have gone for Nasr instead and gone for inexperience, which means Nasr is bringing in more money from Brazil. And a opportunity to race with a Grand Prix team in 2015 rather than possibly waiting for a drive and be a Williams test driver instead.
The main question for Sauber next season it the right decision for the team to go with inexperience drivers for 2015? time will tell.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Monday, 3 November 2014
2014 United States Grand Prix Review and thoughts, and Brazilian Grand Prix predictions
2014 United States Grand Prix review of round seventeen of the F1 season at Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas, and predictions for this weekends Brazilian Grand Prix.
Good points
Bad points
The race itself was a very good race to watch, with Nico Rosberg took pole on Saturday and stayed into the lead ahead of team-mate lewis Hamilton. Rosberg stayed in the lead, until lap 24, when Hamilton managed to overtake Rosberg for the race lead at the end of the back straight. To give Lewis his tenth Grand Prix win of the season.
While, team-mate Nico Rosberg finished in second place in the Mercedes to give the team its tenth one-two finish of the season.
Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo finished in third place,in the Red Bull, to complete the podium.
Hamilton has now improve his lead of the F1 driver championship from 17 points to 24 points ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg with two races to go.
And so this weekend is the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos outskirts of São Paulo for round eighteen of the season. So predictions for the race, Lewis Hamilton for the win in the Mercedes, Nico Rosberg second in the other Mercedes, and Felipe Massa third in his Williams. Don't forget Valtteri Bottas, the two Red Bull drivers, the two Ferrari drivers, or the two McLaren drivers for a podium place as-well.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Good points
- Mercedes (Lewis Hamilton, race win; Nico Rosberg, finished 2nd)
- Red Bull Racing (Daniel Ricciardo, finished 3rd; Sebastian Vettel, finished 7th, despite started the race from pit lane after changing all six components of his power unit before the race)
- Williams (Felipe Massa, finished 4th; Valtteri Bottas, finished 5th)
- Pastor Maldonado (finished 9th)
Bad points
- Jenson Button (finished 12th)
- Kimi Räikkönen(finished 13th)
- Daniil Kvyat (finished 15th)
- Force India (Nico Hülkenberg, DNF, ERS failure; Sergio Perez, DNF, collision on the first lap with Adrian Sutil, which conclude with a seven place grid penalty for Brazil)
- Sauber (Esteban Gutiérrez, finished 14th; Adrian Sutil, DNF, collision on the first lap with Sergio Perez)
The race itself was a very good race to watch, with Nico Rosberg took pole on Saturday and stayed into the lead ahead of team-mate lewis Hamilton. Rosberg stayed in the lead, until lap 24, when Hamilton managed to overtake Rosberg for the race lead at the end of the back straight. To give Lewis his tenth Grand Prix win of the season.
While, team-mate Nico Rosberg finished in second place in the Mercedes to give the team its tenth one-two finish of the season.
Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo finished in third place,in the Red Bull, to complete the podium.
Hamilton has now improve his lead of the F1 driver championship from 17 points to 24 points ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg with two races to go.
And so this weekend is the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos outskirts of São Paulo for round eighteen of the season. So predictions for the race, Lewis Hamilton for the win in the Mercedes, Nico Rosberg second in the other Mercedes, and Felipe Massa third in his Williams. Don't forget Valtteri Bottas, the two Red Bull drivers, the two Ferrari drivers, or the two McLaren drivers for a podium place as-well.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
2014 6 Hours of Shanghai Review
Review of Round six of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship at 6 Hours of Shanghai held at Shanghai International Circuit on the outskirts of Shanghai, China.
Toyota Racing team won the race overall and WEC LMP1 class too of Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi in their Toyota TS030 Hybrid.
While, the second Toyota of Alexander Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima took second place in their Toyota TS030 Hybrid to complete another Toyota one-two finish, they were 72 seconds behind the leaders at the end of the race. Meanwhile, third place was the Porsche Team of Marc Lieb, Romain Dumas and Neel Jani in their Porsche 919 Hybrid, they were a lap behind the leaders at the end of the race.
In LMP1-L class (a new category this season, designed solely for privateers without hybrid systems in their cars), the Rebellion Racing team of Nicolas Prost, Nick Heidfeld and Mathias Beche in their Rebellion R-One with a Toyota RV8KLM 3.4 L V8 engine won LMP1-L class class. They finish in seventh place overall and they were eight laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
In LMP2 class, the G-Drive Racing team of Julien Canal, Olivier Pla and Roman Rusinov in their Ligier JS P2 with a Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 engine won in LMP2 class. They finish in ninth place overall and they were eleven laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
While in GTE Pro class, was won by Porsche Team Manthey team of Patrick Pilet and Frédéric Makowiecki won in their Porsche 911 RSR. They finish in sixteenth place overall and they were twenty-one laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
While in GTE Am class, was won by Aston Martin Racing team of Paul Dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy, and Christoffer Nygaard in their Aston Martin Vantage GTE. They finish in twentyth place overall and they were twenty-three laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
Next Stop 6 Hours of Bahrain in three weeks time for round seven of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Toyota Racing team won the race overall and WEC LMP1 class too of Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi in their Toyota TS030 Hybrid.
While, the second Toyota of Alexander Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima took second place in their Toyota TS030 Hybrid to complete another Toyota one-two finish, they were 72 seconds behind the leaders at the end of the race. Meanwhile, third place was the Porsche Team of Marc Lieb, Romain Dumas and Neel Jani in their Porsche 919 Hybrid, they were a lap behind the leaders at the end of the race.
In LMP1-L class (a new category this season, designed solely for privateers without hybrid systems in their cars), the Rebellion Racing team of Nicolas Prost, Nick Heidfeld and Mathias Beche in their Rebellion R-One with a Toyota RV8KLM 3.4 L V8 engine won LMP1-L class class. They finish in seventh place overall and they were eight laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
In LMP2 class, the G-Drive Racing team of Julien Canal, Olivier Pla and Roman Rusinov in their Ligier JS P2 with a Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 engine won in LMP2 class. They finish in ninth place overall and they were eleven laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
While in GTE Pro class, was won by Porsche Team Manthey team of Patrick Pilet and Frédéric Makowiecki won in their Porsche 911 RSR. They finish in sixteenth place overall and they were twenty-one laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
While in GTE Am class, was won by Aston Martin Racing team of Paul Dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy, and Christoffer Nygaard in their Aston Martin Vantage GTE. They finish in twentyth place overall and they were twenty-three laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
Next Stop 6 Hours of Bahrain in three weeks time for round seven of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Sunday, 2 November 2014
It's Official - Marcus Ericsson joins Sauber for 2015
It's been confirmed after United States Grand Prix Qualifying (1/11/14) that Marcus Ericsson will join Sauber for the 2015 Formula 1 season on a one year deal.
The former GP2 driver will moved to Sauber after a season with Caterham F1 Team, who are currently in administration at this moment of time.
It has been rumoured a few days before the United States Grand Prix that he might get the seat at Sauber for next season, which he has now. Would he be a right choice for the team? time will tell.
As for Marcus Ericsson team-mate next season, no word yet, but it has been rumoured that Sauber will promote Sauber reserve driver and former Caterham driver Giedo van der Garde, who could bring in around £7 million in McGregor sponsorship or keep Esteban Gutierrez for a third season, which brings in money from Mexico.
New Challange ahead for Marcus Ericsson in 2015.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
The former GP2 driver will moved to Sauber after a season with Caterham F1 Team, who are currently in administration at this moment of time.
It has been rumoured a few days before the United States Grand Prix that he might get the seat at Sauber for next season, which he has now. Would he be a right choice for the team? time will tell.
As for Marcus Ericsson team-mate next season, no word yet, but it has been rumoured that Sauber will promote Sauber reserve driver and former Caterham driver Giedo van der Garde, who could bring in around £7 million in McGregor sponsorship or keep Esteban Gutierrez for a third season, which brings in money from Mexico.
New Challange ahead for Marcus Ericsson in 2015.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
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