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 2021 World Rally Championship at the Rallye Monte Carlo (21st-24th January), that was won by Current WRC Champion Sébastien Ogier in his works Toyota Yaris WRC.
While, Elfyn Evans finished second in his works Toyota Yaris WRC. Evans was thirty-two seconds behind Ogier at the end of the rally. Meanwhile, Thierry Neuville finished third in the works Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC, Neuville was seventy-three seconds behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Manufacturer entries competing in cars built to Group R5 specifications), that was won by Toksport WRT driver Andreas Mikkelsen in his Škoda Fabia R5 Evo. Andreas Mikkelsen finished in seventh place overall, he was over seven minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
While in WRC-3 class (Open to privately-entered cars; Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won by Yohan Rossel in his own backed Citroën C3 Rally2. Yohan Rossel finished in eleventh place overall, he was twelve minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Next stop, Round Two of the 2021 WRC season for Arctic Rally Finland in five weeks time.
Last weekend was the sixteenth annual Dubai 24 hour race at the Dubai Autodrome in Dubai (15-16th January). GPX Racing team was victorious at the Dubai 24 in their Porsche 911 GT3 R; with team of Julien Andlauer, Frédéric Fatien, Alain Ferté, Mathieu Jaminet and Axcil Jefferies came out on top to win this years Dubai 24 hour race in 600 laps in total.
While the Team WRT came in second place in their Audi R8 LMS Evo; with team of Frank Bird, Benjamin Goethe, Louis Machiels, Kelvin van der Linde and Dries Vanthoor as drivers. They were a lap behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hour race.
While the Mercedes-AMG Team HRT Bilstein team came in third place in their Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo; with the team of Khaled Al Qubaisi, Patrick Assenheimer, Maro Engel, Hubert Haupt and Ryan Ratcliffe as drivers, they were a lap behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hours race.
Last week (15/1/21), Toyota launch their new Le Mans Hypercar race car the Toyota GR010 Hybrid for this seasons World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans. And according to Toyota it will have a total power output of 940 bhp.
Toyota unveiled its 2021 new LMH race car on Friday, instead of using their 2.4 litre twin-turbo V6 engine, Toyota will use an all new 3.5 litre twin-turbo V6 engine that produce 670 bhp. Also, Toyota will use a single front-axle hybrid system, which can produce up to 268 bhp, meaning the new Toyota GR010 Hybrid is a 940 bhp Four-wheel-drive monster race car.
Toyota have also announced the driver pairings for the FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans campaign this season, reigning champions Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez will drive the #7 car this season. While, Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley will drive the #8 car for the whole of 2021.
A big season ahead for Toyota.
It was confirmed on Monday (11/1/21), McLaren has signed an option to become one of Formula E's 12 teams for the 2022/23.
McLaren has been blocked from entering Formula E because its McLaren Applied division is the exclusive battery supplier to the series. However that contract is due to expire at the end of the 2021/22 Formula E season, meaning that the ban will be lifted.
It therefore gives McLaren the chance to join the series in two years' time, when the new Formula E Gen3 car comes into place.
It might be the right time for McLaren to jump into Formula E with their electric technology, with Audi and BMW about to leave the series at the end of the year. Its perfect timing for McLaren to step into Formula E.
It was confirmed on Tuesday (12/1/21), both this seasons Australian and Chinese Grand Prix are both postponed already because of Covid-19 restrictions.
The Australian Grand Prix was set to be the first round of the season, on March 21st, with strict rules on international arrivals in Australia because of Covid-19 restrictions is now moved to November 21th for the twenty-first round of the season. Means the Bahrain Grand Prix will be the first race of the season on March 28th.
While the Chinese Grand Prix was set to be the third round of the season, on April 11th, just like Australia with strict rules on international arrivals in China because of Covid-19 restrictions is now postponed with no date has been outlined (could be round the end of the season if lucky).
Coronavirus, officially named Covid-19, that has killed nearly 2,000,000 people, with over 91,000,000, cases reported.
Meanwhile, this was also confirmed, Formula 1 has added two more races to its 2021 calendar taking the total number of races confirmed so far to 24. Imola in Italy will host a Grand Prix once again for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on April 18th for the second round of the season. While Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimão on the Algarve, will set (not yet confirmed) to follow on May 2nd as the Portuguese Grand Prix for the third round of the season.
With two Grand Prixs postponed and a Grand Prix added in, this F1 calendar will change during the first half of 2021 (even up-to August).
All I can say is stay safe everyone.
With Honda set to leave the F1 Championship at the end of the 2021 season for the fourth time in their Formula 1 history. Back in 1992 when Honda left Formula 1 for the second time, Honda sort-of stayed in F1 with a tuner company, parts manufacturer and Super Formula/Super GT team known as Mugen Motorsports (similar to Audi relationship with Abt Sportsline) know as Mugen-Honda in F1 from 1992 (1991 unofficially with Tyrrell preparing the 1990 Honda V10s, while Honda focus on McLaren with new V12 engines) till 2000 Mugen was in F1 using the base of the Honda V10 engine from the 1990 season and developing it partly finance from Honda, teaming up with the likes of Arrows (Footwork), Team Lotus, Ligier/Prost and Jordan through that period in F1.
Could we see the Honda power-units stay in F1 beyond 2022 as Mugen-Honda, that's a question I can't ask but more of a fantasy I would like to see. Anyway, this post will be Top six Mugen-Honda Engine F1 race cars that have raced in Formula 1.
Starting with Number 6:
Number 6: 1996 Ligier JS43 (Before anyone starts, If Panis didn't won Monaco the car wouldn't made my list at all and that's the reason why is not high on this list either)
Story: Ligier JS43 was designed by Frank Dernie and Loic Bigois. The Ligier JS43 used the Mugen-Honda 3 litre V10 producing around 690 bhp. The Ligier JS43 took Ligier to a Grand Prix win in 1996 with Oliver Panis at the infamous Monaco Grand Prix for Ligier's final Grand Prix win in F1. The Ligier JS43 took Ligier to sixth in the Constructors' Standings in 1996 with 15 points.
Number 5: 2000 Jordan EJ10
Story: Jordan EJ10 was designed by Mike Gascoyne, Tim Holloway, Bob Bell and John Iley. The Jordan EJ10 used the Mugen-Honda 3 litre V10 producing around 770 bhp. Overall, the Jordan EJ10 took Jordan to sixth in the Constructors' Standings in 2000 with 17 points best result of two third place finishes for Heinz-Harald Frentzen at Brazil and at Indianapolis during 2000. With more better results where halted early in the 2000 season with gearbox issues meaning the team and car could've finish higher then the result should have showed.
Number 4: 1997 Prost JS45
Story: Prost JS45 was designed by Loic Bigois. The Prost JS45 used the Mugen-Honda 3 litre V10 producing around 710 bhp. The Prost JS45 was the first Prost-badged car following Alain Prost's acquisition of Ligier in February 1997. However, the car had been designed and built beforehand, therefore retained its Ligier designation of JS45. Anyway, the Prost JS45 took Prost to sixth in the Constructors' Standings in 1997 with 21 points best result of two podiums with a third place finish for Olivier Panis at Brazil, then a second place at Barcelona for Panis during 1997. Best results for the Prost team too, after the 1997 season the team went into declined.
Number 3: 1999 Jordan 198 (Before anyone starts, If the team didn't finish one-two at Spa the car would've be way lower on my list nor the reason why is not any higher on this list either)
Story: Jordan 198 was designed by Gary Anderson, Mike Gascoyne and John Iley. The Jordan 198 used the Mugen-Honda 3 litre V10 producing around 710 bhp. The Jordan 198 took Jordan to a Grand Prix win in 1998 with Damon Hill at the infamous Belgian Grand Prix for Jordan's first Grand Prix win in F1 while Ralf Schumacher finished second as-well making it a Jordan one-two finish, while Schumacher finished third at Monza a race later to give the team three podium finises in 1998. Overall, the Jordan 198 took Jordan to fourth in the Constructors' Standings in 1998 with 34 points.
Number 2: 1995 Ligier JS41
Story: Ligier JS41 (excluding the engine and floor it was a Benetton B195 underneath) was designed by Frank Dernie and Loic Bigois. The Ligier JS41 used the Mugen-Honda 3 litre V10 producing around 670 bhp. Overall, the Ligier JS41 took Ligier to fifth in the Constructors' Standings in 1995 with 24 points best result of two podiums with a third place finish for Martin Brundle at Spa, Olivier Panis took a second place at Adelaide during 1995.
Number 1: 1999 Jordan 199
Story: Jordan 199 was designed by Mike Gascoyne, Tim Holloway, Bob Bell and John Iley. The Jordan 199 used the Mugen-Honda 3 litre V10 producing around 710 bhp. The Jordan 199 was an evolution from last years' car the 198 with a better aerodynamics underneath. Overall, the Jordan 199 took to Jordan to third in the Constructors standings in 1999 with 61 points with six podiums including two wins for Heinz-Harald Frentzen at Magny-Cours and at Monza. Making the Jordan 199 the best F1 Mugen-Honda powered F1 race car that have raced in Formula 1.
Happy new year to all, with the first post of 2021. And just like last year, this post is seven predictions for 2021, if this happen or not this more of a fun post on what might happen.
Number 1, Williams to announce a Power-Unit deal with Renault for 2022 F1 season. Williams to score at least 25 points in the F1 Constructors' Standings in 2021.
Did this prediction last year and got it wrong, Williams F1 Team scored zero points last season with a limited budget which include losing their title sponsor before the season start. Going into 2021, I am predicting that Williams will score at least 25 points in the F1 Constructors' Standings and that would be enough for at least top eight of the F1 Constructors' Standings in 2021.
Number 2, A privater LMH/LMP1 team to win this seasons 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Really? Yes really, here's the thing with Toyota the only manufacture in all new Le Mans Hypercars class this season. Meaning there will be more of a change that a privater Le Mans Hypercars or a privater LMP1 team to win this years 24 Hours of Le Mans this season, privater teams like ByKolles, Glickenhaus and Alpine have got a perfect chance to win Le Mans this year before Peugeot, Audi and Porsche arrive next year.
Number 3, Ferrari to win at least two Grand Prixs in 2021.
Ferrari had a bad 2020 F1 season only managing three podiums last year no even winning. I think Ferrari will have a better season going into 2021, ambitiously from my side of predicting that Ferrari will win at least two Grand Prixs next season.
Number 4, Bentley to announce a return to Motorsport via Formula E for the 2021/22 Formula E season, while the Andretti Formula E Team will announce an power-unit partnership with McLaren.
Really? Yes really, with the recent news that Audi will leave Formula E championship at the end of the season returning to Le Mans along with sister VW brand Porsche (although staying in Formula E for the time being). Recent news that another VW brand Bentley wants to expand their Motorsport with either racing at Le Mans or Formula E. My guess would be the later and entering the Formula E Championship as a works team from the 2021/22 season onwards replacing Audi.
Meanwhile with recent news that BMW will pull out at the end of the season in Formula E, leaving Andretti Formula E Team without no suppler. I could see McLaren stepping up as their new power-unit partner going into 2021/22 Formula E season too meaning two new car manufactures coming into Formula E next year.
Number 5, Both Red Bull teams will announce a deal to use the Honda Power-Units for the F1 2022 season and beyond renaming them as Mugen-Honda
With recent news that Honda will leave Formula 1 at the end of 2021 season as an engine manufacture once again. Both Red Bull teams want to keep the Power-Unit beyond 2022, which include some Honda mechanics want to say in F1 too. A deal will happen between Red Bull and Honda to keep the power-unit in F1 beyond 2022, renamed as Mugen-Honda.
Number 6, Gresini Racing will announce a deal to use Suzuki or Honda bikes for the 2022 MotoGP season onwards.
Yet again this might not sound stupid as it seems. With Gresini Racing splitting from Aprilia after 2021 MotoGP season. Gresini Racing need new machinery going into 2022, a deal will happen between Gresini and Suzuki as their satellite team. If that deal doesn't happen, plan B will be a return to Honda bikes for the first time since 2014 going into 2022.
Number 7, Fernando Alonso to score three or more podiums in 2021.
With Fernando Alonso returning to Formula 1 after two years away with Alpine F1 Team (previously Renault), I am predicting that Fernando Alonso to score three or more podiums in 2021.
As I said at the start of the post, this is a fun post on what might happen, would any prediction might happen? maybe one or two, I have to wait till December to find out.
