Marussia will field a single car for the rest of the Russian Grand Prix, out of respect for Jules Bianchi, who remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital following his accident in Japan it was confirm an hour before Friday Free Practice one (10/10/14).
Reserve driver Alexander Rossi had been placed alongside Max Chilton on the Sochi entry list, but the team later wrote to the stewards stating its intention to withdraw the second car.
In a statement on Friday morning, Marussia said it felt running just one car for Chilton was "the appropriate course of action under the difficult circumstances of the weekend".
Bianchi's car has been built up on his side of the garage, while both cars feature the #JB17 graphic in support of the Frenchman and his family.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix at Sochi autodrom near Sochi for Formula 1 first ever F1 race in Russia.
So predictions for the race itself, Lewis Hamilton for the win in the Mercedes, Nico Rosberg second in the other Mercedes, and Valtteri Bottas third in the Williams. Don't forget Felipe Massa, the two Red Bull drivers, the two Ferrari drivers, or the two McLaren drivers either for a podium place.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Review of Round Thirteen and final round of the 2014 United SportsCar Championship and the final round of the North American Endurance Championship at Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia for the annual Petit Le Mans.
Wayne Taylor Racing team won the race overall and Prototype class too of Jordan Taylor, Ricky Taylor and Max Angelelli in their Corvette DP, Chevrolet 5.5L V8. While, Action Express Racing team finished in second place in their Corvette DP, Chevrolet 5.5L V8, with the drivers of João Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi and Sébastien Bourdais; they were eleven seconds behind the leaders. Meanwhile, Chip Ganassi Racing team finished in third place in their Riley DP, Ford Ecoboost 3.5 L V6, with the drivers of Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Scott Dixon; they were a lap behind the leaders in the end.
Meanwhile, quick mention to the DeltaWing Racing Cars team who finished in fifth place two years ago in their DeltaWing, finished in fourth place this time in their DeltaWing DWC13, Mazda 1.9 L in-line 4 turbo, with the drivers of Katherine Legge, Andy Meyrick and Gabby Chaves; they were 5 laps behind the leaders in the end.
In Prototype Challenge Class (all teams using Oreca FLM09 race car), Starworks Motorsport team won Prototype Challenge Class and finished in sixth place overall; with the drivers of Renger van der Zande, Mirco Schultis and Alex Popow; they were 5 laps behind the leaders.
In GT Le Mans Class, Team Falken Tire team won GT Le Mans Class and finished in ninth place overall in their Porsche 911 RSR; with the drivers of Wolf Henzler, Bryan Sellers and Marco Holzer; they were 9 laps behind the leaders.
In GT Daytona Class, Paul Miller Racing team won GT Daytona Class and finished in twenty-fourth place overall in their Audi R8 LMS; with the drivers of Christopher Haase, Bryce Miller and Matthew Bell; they were 24 laps behind the leaders.
And so who are this years champions as its the final round of the season. In Prototype Class, João Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi won the drivers championship, while Action Express Racing took the teams championship; while Chevrolet took the Engine manufacturers championship.
In Prototype Challenge Class, Jon Bennett and Colin Braun won the drivers championship, while CORE Autosport took the teams championship.
In GT Le Mans Class, Kuno Wittmer won the drivers championship, while SRT Motorsports took the teams championship; while Porsche took the Manufacturers championship.
In GT Daytona Class, Dane Cameron won the drivers championship, while Turner Motorsport took the teams championship; while Porsche took the Manufacturers championship.
To give the end of the first season of the United SportsCar Championship of 2014.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
2014 Japanese Grand Prix review of round fifteen of the F1 season at Suzuka, and thoughts on the race, and thoughts of Jules Bianchi's crash.
The result itself will be forgotten in the future due to the headlines from Suzuka last week. With Nico Rosberg took pole on Saturday and stayed into the lead ahead of team-mate lewis Hamilton after the safety car went in. Rosberg stayed in the lead, until lap 29, when Hamilton managed to overtake Rosberg for the race lead at turn one, with Rosberg struggling with oversteer. To give Lewis his eighth Grand Prix win of the season.
While, team-mate Nico Rosberg finished in second place in the Mercedes to give the team its eighth one-two finish of the season.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel finished in third place,in the Red Bull, to complete the podium.
Hamilton has now improve his lead of the F1 driver championship from 3 points to 10 points ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg. While Daniel Ricciardo only managed a fourth place finish in the race, his is now 73 points behind Hamilton with four races to go.
So my thoughts on Jules Bianchi's crash from last week, as you guess this post is from Thursday and not Monday. So I could gather my thoughts without being angry or confused as I wanted a more calmer view on things.
First off thoughts and prayers are still with Jules Bianchi's friends and family.
For starters I think it was a good thing that FOM did not show the footage from the accident on Sunday, as from the spectators' video footage and photographs of the accident showed how vicious the crash is and it was disturbing footage to show from the footage from Youtube.
Should the race should have happen despite having Typhoon Phanfone on the out-skits of Japan for a wet race? And my answer is yes, Formula 1 have been to wetter places a round the world for a Grand Prix such as Fuji, Sao Paulo and Spa to name a few examples that have been wetter races that Suzuka had last weekend, personally the race from 20 years ago was much more wetter race when you see the footage from that race.
But, the race should have started a few hours earlier in my opinion if the Typhoon was near the track to avoid the bad light if needed anyway, they should have sacrifice the viewers ratings from Europe.
Overall, I think the accident was a complete freak accident what we saw with Jules Bianchi's crash from last week. Maybe if the JCB wasn't there and Jules hit the tyres barriers instead, it would have been a different story. Maybe he will be out for a Grand Prix rather than a long time. I highly doubt it he will be back this season. If he does recovered, which will take time, I think he may take a very long time or may never race in a Formula 1 car again, time will tell what will happen with Jules Bianchi.
All I can say now is for Jules is to keep fighting just like Michael Schumacher with his skiing accident, and some latest report that Schumacher is improving. Which is great.
Final thoughts is that motorsport is dangerous sport. No matter if its Go-Karting, motorbikes, Formula 1, Indy Car, any kind of Motorsport is dangerous, but motorsport can be safer between tracks, fans, specators, tracks marshells, people in pits, cars and drivers too.
Jules Bianchi's family has revealed the extent of the head injuries he suffered in a crash during the Japanese Grand Prix.
While the 25-year-old remains in intensive care at the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi in a critical but stable condition, it has been confirmed that he has suffered a diffuse axonal injury.
Such an injury is usually the consequence of the forces of a rapid acceleration or deceleration of the head and affects the nerves in the brain.
Its severity can vary over a wide range.
"This is a very difficult time for our family, but the messages of support and affection for Jules from all over the world have been a source of great comfort to us," said Bianchi's family in a statement.
"We would like to express our sincere appreciation.
"The hospital will continue to monitor and treat Jules and further medical updates will be provided when appropriate."
The family thanked FIA Medical Commission president Professor Gerard Saillant for his presence at the hospital, and also Professor Alessandro Frati, neurosurgeon of the University of Rome La Sapienza, who has travelled to Japan at Ferrari's request.
"They arrived at the hospital today and met with the medical personnel responsible for Jules' treatment, in order to be fully informed of his clinical status so that they are able to advise the family," the statement added.
"Professors Saillant and Frati acknowledge the excellent care being provided by the Mie General Medical Center and would like to thank their Japanese colleagues."
Recap of the last round of WRC from last weekends Round eleven of Rallye de France.
Last weekends was the eleventh round of the World Rally Championship at the Rallye de France (3rd- 5th October) was won by Jari-Matti Latvala in the works Volkswagen Polo R WRC, to win the rally overall. Meanwhile, team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen finished second in the other works Volkswagen Polo R WRC, Mikkelsen was 44 seconds behind Latvala at the end. Meanwhile, Kris Meeke, finished in third place in the works Citroën DS3 WRC. Meeke was 65 seconds behind Latvala at the end of the rally.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won by Quentin Gilbert in his own backed Ford Fiesta R5. Quentin Gilbert finished in fifteenth place overall, he was over 10 minutes behind Latvala at the end of the rally.
While in WRC-3 class (Group R1, R2 and R3 cars) that was won by Alastair Fisher in his own backed Citroën DS3 R3T. Alastair Fisher finished in twenty-first place overall, he was 19 minutes behind Latvala at the end of the rally.
Highlights of the rally bellow, enjoy.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye
Review of Round Nine of the 2014 World Touring Car Championship season was the Race of Beijing, at Goldenport Park Circuit, on the outskirts of Beijing.
In the first race, ROAL Motorsport driver Tom Chilton took the race win in his Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1. Second was was Citroën Total WTCC driver and current WTCC champion Yvan Muller in his Citroën C-Elysée WTCC, he was over two seconds behind Chilton in the end. While third place was Citroën Total WTCC driver José María López in his Citroën C-Elysée WTCC, he was five seconds behind Chilton in the end.
Meanwhile in TC2 class (the old s2000 cars such as BMW 320 TC, SEAT León WTCC and so forth), was won by Liqui Moly Team Engstler driver Franz Engstler in his BMW 320 TC. He finished in tenth place overall and 54 seconds behind Chilton in the end.
While in the second race, Lada Sport Lukoil driver Robert Huff took the race win in his Lada Granta 1.6T and Lada's first ever race win in the WTCC. Second was ROAL Motorsport driver Tom Coronel in his Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1, he was under a second behind Huff in the end. While third place was Citroën Total WTCC driver Sébastien Loeb in his Citroën C-Elysée WTCC, he was three seconds behind Huff in the end.
Meanwhile in TC2 class, was won by Liqui Moly Team Engstler driver Franz Engstler in his BMW 320 TC. He finished in fourteenth place overall and was a lap behind Huff in the end.
Next stop Race of Shanghai, at Shanghai International Circuit for Round Ten of the 2014 World Touring Car Championship season in a weeks time.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
