Review of Round Eight of the 2016 World Touring Car Championship season was the was the Race of Argentina, Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo, north of Argintina.
In the first race, Sébastien Loeb Racing driver Tom Chilton took the race win in his Citroën C-Elysée WTCC and also took Independents class win. Second was Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team driver Rob Huff in his Honda Civic WTCC, he was eight tenths of a second behind Chilton in the end. While third place was Citroën Total WTCC driver Yvan Muller in his Citroën C-Elysée WTCC, he was thirteen tenths of a second behind Chilton in the end.
While in the second race, Citroën Total WTCC driver and current WTCC Champion José María López took the race win in his C-Elysée WTCC. Second was ROAL Motorsport driver Tom Coronel in his Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 and also took Independents class win, he was two seconds behind López in the end. While third place was Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team driver Rob Huff in his Honda Civic WTCC, he was over two seconds behind López in the end.
Next stop Race of Japan at Twin Ring Motegi for Round Nine of the 2016 World Touring Car Championship season in four weeks time.
Tuesday, 9 August 2016
Monday, 8 August 2016
Predicting who goes where in F1 2017
With the Formula 1 summer break still on for the next three weeks. With recent news from the last month that Nico Rosberg staying at Mercedes till 2018, Daniel Ricciardo staying at Red Bull till 2018, and Kimi Räikkönen staying at Ferrari for another season. The main question I am writing on this blog is who's goes where in 2017? with a few predictions of my own.
With Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull are retaining their drivers for 2017. While the other eight teams have either one or no drivers signed yet, so far there is still thirteen drives available, so lets start with the first team McLaren.
McLaren will keep Fernando Alonso for another season. The second seat is the question either Jenson Button to retain or promoted Stoffel Vandoorne for the McLaren drive for 2017. It will be properly more than likely that Stoffel Vandoorne will be promoted to main McLaren seat for 2017.
Then is Williams, Williams will more than likely they will retain Valtteri Bottas for another season. While the second seat is up to grabs, with uncertainty if Felipe Massa remains at Williams next season. Other choices are Jenson Button, Pascal Wehrlein, Alex Lynn, or Lance Stroll for the second seat. But, by guess a Williams return for Jenson Button may happen for 2017.
Next is Renault, Renault will more than likely they will retain Kevin Magnussen for another season. With uncertainty if Jolyon Palmer remains at Renault next season, don't be surprise that Sergio Perez joins the team with sponsorship form Mexico
Over at Force India, they will keep Nico Hülkenberg for another season. While there is uncertainty if Sergio Perez remains at Force India next season, more than likely he's of to Renault next season, so who would replace him it will be either Pascal Wehrlein with Mercedes backing or maybe and my guess Sauber driver Felipe Nasr coming in with sponsorship from Brazil will outbid discounts for cheaper Mercedes power units.
At Sauber, will more than likely they will retain Marcus Ericsson for another season. If Felipe Nasr does leave the team, either Jolyon Palmer or Pastor Maldonaldo will get the second drive and my guess Jolyon Palmer will come in with his sponsorship.
While at Toro Rosso they will keep Carlos Sainz Jr. for another season. The second seat is the question either retain Daniil Kvyat or promoted Pierre Gasly for the Toro Rosso drive for 2017. It will be properly more than likely Pierre Gasly will be promoted to main Toro Rosso seat, as I doubt Kvyat will be remain after a horrible return to the team after his demotion from Red Bull, also with the return of Renault power units to the team Gasly as a French driver won't harm their relationship with Renault.
Haas will more than likely retain both Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutiérrez for another season.
Finally, Manor it will be difficult to retain Pascal Wehrlein for another season unless Force India and Williams doesn't wants him, but I believe he will remain with Manor for another season. While the second seat will go to either Esteban Ocon or a returning Alexander Rossi with my guess goes to Ocon making the team a Mercedes B-team. Also, I doubt that Rio Haryanto will return due to his sponsorship troubles from Indonesia.
Those are just a few of my predictions who will go were in 2017. Some may not happen and some of that will be confirmed in the months to come.
With Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull are retaining their drivers for 2017. While the other eight teams have either one or no drivers signed yet, so far there is still thirteen drives available, so lets start with the first team McLaren.
McLaren will keep Fernando Alonso for another season. The second seat is the question either Jenson Button to retain or promoted Stoffel Vandoorne for the McLaren drive for 2017. It will be properly more than likely that Stoffel Vandoorne will be promoted to main McLaren seat for 2017.
Then is Williams, Williams will more than likely they will retain Valtteri Bottas for another season. While the second seat is up to grabs, with uncertainty if Felipe Massa remains at Williams next season. Other choices are Jenson Button, Pascal Wehrlein, Alex Lynn, or Lance Stroll for the second seat. But, by guess a Williams return for Jenson Button may happen for 2017.
Next is Renault, Renault will more than likely they will retain Kevin Magnussen for another season. With uncertainty if Jolyon Palmer remains at Renault next season, don't be surprise that Sergio Perez joins the team with sponsorship form Mexico
Over at Force India, they will keep Nico Hülkenberg for another season. While there is uncertainty if Sergio Perez remains at Force India next season, more than likely he's of to Renault next season, so who would replace him it will be either Pascal Wehrlein with Mercedes backing or maybe and my guess Sauber driver Felipe Nasr coming in with sponsorship from Brazil will outbid discounts for cheaper Mercedes power units.
At Sauber, will more than likely they will retain Marcus Ericsson for another season. If Felipe Nasr does leave the team, either Jolyon Palmer or Pastor Maldonaldo will get the second drive and my guess Jolyon Palmer will come in with his sponsorship.
While at Toro Rosso they will keep Carlos Sainz Jr. for another season. The second seat is the question either retain Daniil Kvyat or promoted Pierre Gasly for the Toro Rosso drive for 2017. It will be properly more than likely Pierre Gasly will be promoted to main Toro Rosso seat, as I doubt Kvyat will be remain after a horrible return to the team after his demotion from Red Bull, also with the return of Renault power units to the team Gasly as a French driver won't harm their relationship with Renault.
Haas will more than likely retain both Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutiérrez for another season.
Finally, Manor it will be difficult to retain Pascal Wehrlein for another season unless Force India and Williams doesn't wants him, but I believe he will remain with Manor for another season. While the second seat will go to either Esteban Ocon or a returning Alexander Rossi with my guess goes to Ocon making the team a Mercedes B-team. Also, I doubt that Rio Haryanto will return due to his sponsorship troubles from Indonesia.
Those are just a few of my predictions who will go were in 2017. Some may not happen and some of that will be confirmed in the months to come.
Jack Sears (1930-2016)
Jack Sears, the first man to win the British Touring Car Championship title, has passed away at the age of 86 it was confirmed on Sunday evening (7/8/15).
‘Gentleman Jack’, as he would become known during his successful career and in the years that followed, Sears won the 1958 BTCC title driving an Austin 105 in Class C (then known as the British Saloon Car Championship) after a shootout with fellow class dominator Tommy Sopwith. Tied on the same number of points at the end of the season, the duo went head-to-head in Riley 1.5s, with Sears emerging on top.
Sears took his second title in 1963, this time battling for overall wins in the seven litre Ford Galaxie.
Sears also gained notoriety for topping 180mph on the M1 in a factory AC Cobra Coupe testing prior to the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans. The run has sometimes mistaken, cause of the subsequent 70mph speed limit in the UK.
The Sears name lives on in the BTCC with the Jack Sears Trophy were its rewarded to the for top 'Rookie Driver' in the series in each year since 2015.
R.I.P. Jack Sears
‘Gentleman Jack’, as he would become known during his successful career and in the years that followed, Sears won the 1958 BTCC title driving an Austin 105 in Class C (then known as the British Saloon Car Championship) after a shootout with fellow class dominator Tommy Sopwith. Tied on the same number of points at the end of the season, the duo went head-to-head in Riley 1.5s, with Sears emerging on top.
Sears took his second title in 1963, this time battling for overall wins in the seven litre Ford Galaxie.
Sears also gained notoriety for topping 180mph on the M1 in a factory AC Cobra Coupe testing prior to the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans. The run has sometimes mistaken, cause of the subsequent 70mph speed limit in the UK.
The Sears name lives on in the BTCC with the Jack Sears Trophy were its rewarded to the for top 'Rookie Driver' in the series in each year since 2015.
R.I.P. Jack Sears
Tuesday, 2 August 2016
2016 BTCC Round 6 Recap
Review of Round Six of the 2016 British Touring Car Championship season was at Snetterton Circuit on the 300 Course, in Norfolk.
In the first race, Silverline Subaru BMR Racing driver Colin Turkington took the race win in his Subaru Levorg GT. Second was Halfords Yuasa Racing driver and current BTCC Champion Gordon Shedden in his Honda Civic Type R, he was three second behind Turkington in the end. While third place was Motorbase Performance driver Mat Jackson in his Ford Focus ST and also took Independents class win, he was four seconds behind Turkington in the end.
While, Jack Sears Trophy (for top 'Rookie Driver' in the series) was won by RCIB Insurance Racing driver Michael Epps in his Toyota Avensis, he finished in twentieth place and was forty-three seconds behind Turkington in the end.
Meanwhile in the second race, Motorbase Performance driver Mat Jackson took the race win in his Ford Focus ST and also took Independents class win. Second was Silverline Subaru BMR Racing driver Colin Turkington in his Subaru Levorg GT, he was a second behind Jackson in the end. While third place was Halfords Yuasa Racing driver Matt Neal in his Honda Civic Type R, he was two seconds behind Jackson in the end.
While, Jack Sears Trophy was won by Speedworks Motorsport driver Matt Simpson in his Honda Civic Type R, he finished in seventeenth place and was nineteen seconds behind Jackson in the end.
Finally in the third race, Halfords Yuasa Racing driver and current BTCC Champion Gordon Shedden took the race win in his Honda Civic Type R. Second was Team JCT600 with GardX driver Rob Collard in his BMW 125i M Sport, he was half a second behind Shedden in the end. While third place was Handy Motorsport driver Rob Austin in his Toyota Avensis and also took Independents class win, he was four seconds behind Shedden in the end.
While, Jack Sears Trophy was won by MG Racing RCIB Insurance driver Ashley Sutton in his MG6 GT, he finished in fourteenth place and was seventeen seconds behind Shedden in the end.
Next stop Knockhill Racing Circuit for Round Seven of the 2016 British Touring Car Championship season in two weeks time.
In the first race, Silverline Subaru BMR Racing driver Colin Turkington took the race win in his Subaru Levorg GT. Second was Halfords Yuasa Racing driver and current BTCC Champion Gordon Shedden in his Honda Civic Type R, he was three second behind Turkington in the end. While third place was Motorbase Performance driver Mat Jackson in his Ford Focus ST and also took Independents class win, he was four seconds behind Turkington in the end.
While, Jack Sears Trophy (for top 'Rookie Driver' in the series) was won by RCIB Insurance Racing driver Michael Epps in his Toyota Avensis, he finished in twentieth place and was forty-three seconds behind Turkington in the end.
Meanwhile in the second race, Motorbase Performance driver Mat Jackson took the race win in his Ford Focus ST and also took Independents class win. Second was Silverline Subaru BMR Racing driver Colin Turkington in his Subaru Levorg GT, he was a second behind Jackson in the end. While third place was Halfords Yuasa Racing driver Matt Neal in his Honda Civic Type R, he was two seconds behind Jackson in the end.
While, Jack Sears Trophy was won by Speedworks Motorsport driver Matt Simpson in his Honda Civic Type R, he finished in seventeenth place and was nineteen seconds behind Jackson in the end.
Finally in the third race, Halfords Yuasa Racing driver and current BTCC Champion Gordon Shedden took the race win in his Honda Civic Type R. Second was Team JCT600 with GardX driver Rob Collard in his BMW 125i M Sport, he was half a second behind Shedden in the end. While third place was Handy Motorsport driver Rob Austin in his Toyota Avensis and also took Independents class win, he was four seconds behind Shedden in the end.
While, Jack Sears Trophy was won by MG Racing RCIB Insurance driver Ashley Sutton in his MG6 GT, he finished in fourteenth place and was seventeen seconds behind Shedden in the end.
Next stop Knockhill Racing Circuit for Round Seven of the 2016 British Touring Car Championship season in two weeks time.
Monday, 1 August 2016
2016 24 hours of Spa race review
Last weekend was the annual 24 hours of Spa race (30-31st July). The Rowe Racing in their BMW M6 GT3; with team of Philipp Eng, Maxime Martin and Alexander Sims came out on top to win this years 24 hours of Spa race in 531 laps in total.
While the AKKA ASP team came in second place in their Mercedes-AMG GT3; with team of Tristan Vautier, Renger van der Zande, and Felix Rosenqvist as drivers. They were two minutes behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hour race.
While the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT came in third place in their Audi R8 LMS; with Laurens Vanthoor, Rene Rast and Nico Müller as drivers, they were over two minutes behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hours race.
While the AKKA ASP team came in second place in their Mercedes-AMG GT3; with team of Tristan Vautier, Renger van der Zande, and Felix Rosenqvist as drivers. They were two minutes behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hour race.
While the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT came in third place in their Audi R8 LMS; with Laurens Vanthoor, Rene Rast and Nico Müller as drivers, they were over two minutes behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hours race.
2016 WRC Round 8 recap - Rally Finland
Recap of the last round of WRC from last weekends Round Eight of Rally Finland.
Last weekends was the eighth round of the World Rally Championship at the Rally Finland (29th-31st July) was won by Abu Dhabi Total World Rally Team driver Kris Meeke in his Citroën DS3 WRC.
While, Jari-Matti Latvala finished second in the works Volkswagen Polo R WRC, Latvala was twenty-nine seconds behind Meeke at the end. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Total World Rally Team driver Craig Breen finished third in his Citroën DS3 WRC, Breen was one hundred seconds behind Meeke at the end.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won by Škoda Motorsport driver Esapekka Lappi in his Škoda Fabia R5. Esapekka Lappi finished in eighth place overall, he was five minutes behind Meeke at the end of the rally.
While in WRC-3 class (Group R1, R2 and R3 cars) that was won by Printsport rakky driver Ole Christian Veiby in his Citroën DS3 R3T. Ole Christian Veiby finished in nineteenth place overall, he was seventeen minutes behind Meeke at the end of the rally.
Highlights of the rally bellow, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Nine of the 2016 WRC season for Rallye Deutschland in three weeks time.
Last weekends was the eighth round of the World Rally Championship at the Rally Finland (29th-31st July) was won by Abu Dhabi Total World Rally Team driver Kris Meeke in his Citroën DS3 WRC.
While, Jari-Matti Latvala finished second in the works Volkswagen Polo R WRC, Latvala was twenty-nine seconds behind Meeke at the end. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Total World Rally Team driver Craig Breen finished third in his Citroën DS3 WRC, Breen was one hundred seconds behind Meeke at the end.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won by Škoda Motorsport driver Esapekka Lappi in his Škoda Fabia R5. Esapekka Lappi finished in eighth place overall, he was five minutes behind Meeke at the end of the rally.
While in WRC-3 class (Group R1, R2 and R3 cars) that was won by Printsport rakky driver Ole Christian Veiby in his Citroën DS3 R3T. Ole Christian Veiby finished in nineteenth place overall, he was seventeen minutes behind Meeke at the end of the rally.
Highlights of the rally bellow, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Nine of the 2016 WRC season for Rallye Deutschland in three weeks time.
2016 German Grand Prix Review
Review of the twelfth round of the 2016 F1 season held at the Hockenheimring, Hockenheim, in South-West Germany, for the German Grand Prix.
Overall, a dominating race weekend for Mercedes, dominating in practice, dominating in qualifying, and most importantly dominating in the race for Mercedes driver and current Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton. Nico Rosberg on pole for Sunday's race, the race was once again decided by the first corner of the first lap of the race with Hamilton overtaking Rosberg in a lightning start to the first corner where Hamilton took the lead and stayed there and dominated the race to conclude with this seasons German Grand Prix for Hamilton's sixth race win of the season.
While, Daniel Ricciardo finished in second place in the Red Bull, Ricciardo was seven seconds behind Hamilton at the end.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen finished in third place in the other Red Bull to complete the podium, Verstappen was thirteen seconds behind Hamilton at the end of the sixty-seven lap race.
with Lewis Hamilton's win in Germany and Nico Rosberg only managing a fourth place finish at Hockenheim, Lewis Hamilton has now improve his lead of the F1 driver championship from six points to nineteen points ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg with nine races to go.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Mercedes - 8
Lewis Hamilton - 9 (race win)
Nico Rosberg - 7 (pole and finished fourth)
Ferrari - 7
Sebastian Vettel - 7 (finished fifth)
Kimi Räikkönen - 7 (finished sixth)
Williams - 5
Valtteri Bottas - 6 (finished ninth, lap down)
Felipe Massa - 5 (DNF, Suspension)
Red Bull Racing - 8
Daniel Ricciardo - 9 (finished second and fastest lap)
Max Verstappen - 8 (finished third)
Force India - 8
Nico Hülkenberg - 9 (finished seventh)
Sergio Pérez - 7 (finished tenth, lap down)
Renault - 4
Kevin Magnussen - 5 (finished sixteenth, lap down)
Jolyon Palmer - 4 (finished nineteenth, two laps down)
Toro Rosso - 5
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 6 (finished fourteenth, lap down)
Daniil Kvyat - 5 (finished fifteenth, lap down)
Sauber - 4
Marcus Ericsson - 5 (finished seventeenth, two laps down)
Felipe Nasr - 4 (DNF, Power unit)
McLaren - 7
Fernando Alonso - 6 (finished twelfth, lap down)
Jenson Button - 8 (finished eighth, lap down)
Manor - 5
Rio Haryanto - 4 (finished twentieth, two laps down)
Pascal Wehrlein - 6 (finished seventeenth, two laps down)
Haas - 6
Romain Grosjean - 6 (finished thirteenth, lap down)
Esteban Gutiérrez - 7 (finished eleventh, lap down)
Next stop Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix in four weeks time.
Overall, a dominating race weekend for Mercedes, dominating in practice, dominating in qualifying, and most importantly dominating in the race for Mercedes driver and current Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton. Nico Rosberg on pole for Sunday's race, the race was once again decided by the first corner of the first lap of the race with Hamilton overtaking Rosberg in a lightning start to the first corner where Hamilton took the lead and stayed there and dominated the race to conclude with this seasons German Grand Prix for Hamilton's sixth race win of the season.
While, Daniel Ricciardo finished in second place in the Red Bull, Ricciardo was seven seconds behind Hamilton at the end.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen finished in third place in the other Red Bull to complete the podium, Verstappen was thirteen seconds behind Hamilton at the end of the sixty-seven lap race.
with Lewis Hamilton's win in Germany and Nico Rosberg only managing a fourth place finish at Hockenheim, Lewis Hamilton has now improve his lead of the F1 driver championship from six points to nineteen points ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg with nine races to go.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Mercedes - 8
Lewis Hamilton - 9 (race win)
Nico Rosberg - 7 (pole and finished fourth)
Ferrari - 7
Sebastian Vettel - 7 (finished fifth)
Kimi Räikkönen - 7 (finished sixth)
Williams - 5
Valtteri Bottas - 6 (finished ninth, lap down)
Felipe Massa - 5 (DNF, Suspension)
Red Bull Racing - 8
Daniel Ricciardo - 9 (finished second and fastest lap)
Max Verstappen - 8 (finished third)
Force India - 8
Nico Hülkenberg - 9 (finished seventh)
Sergio Pérez - 7 (finished tenth, lap down)
Renault - 4
Kevin Magnussen - 5 (finished sixteenth, lap down)
Jolyon Palmer - 4 (finished nineteenth, two laps down)
Toro Rosso - 5
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 6 (finished fourteenth, lap down)
Daniil Kvyat - 5 (finished fifteenth, lap down)
Sauber - 4
Marcus Ericsson - 5 (finished seventeenth, two laps down)
Felipe Nasr - 4 (DNF, Power unit)
McLaren - 7
Fernando Alonso - 6 (finished twelfth, lap down)
Jenson Button - 8 (finished eighth, lap down)
Manor - 5
Rio Haryanto - 4 (finished twentieth, two laps down)
Pascal Wehrlein - 6 (finished seventeenth, two laps down)
Haas - 6
Romain Grosjean - 6 (finished thirteenth, lap down)
Esteban Gutiérrez - 7 (finished eleventh, lap down)
Next stop Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix in four weeks time.
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