Review of the fourth round of the 2017 MotoGP season at Circuito de Jerez, Jerez in southern Spain.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Repsol Honda Team rider Dani Pedrosa on his works Honda RC213V. Second was Repsol Honda Team rider and current MotoGP champion Marc Márquez on his works Honda RC213V, he was six seconds behind Márquez at the end. While, third was Ducati Team rider Jorge Lorenzo on his works Ducati Desmosedici GP17, he was fifteen seconds behind Márquez at the end.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-four 600 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider Álex Márquez on the Kalex. Second was Sky Racing Team VR46 rider Francesco Bagnaia on the Kalex, he was three and half seconds behind Márquez at the end. While, third was Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Miguel Oliveira on the KTM, he was five seconds behind Márquez at the end.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Estrella Galicia 0,0 rider Arón Canet on the Honda. Second was Marinelli Rivacold Snipers rider Romano Fenati on the Honda, he was three hundredths of a second behind Canet at the end of the race. While, third was Leopard Racing rider Joan Mir on the Honda, he was fifteen hundredths of a second behind Canet at the end of the race.
Monday, 8 May 2017
2017 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps Review
Review of Round two of the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship at Spa-Francorchamps.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing team won the race overall and the LMP1 class too of Sébastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima in their Toyota TS050 Hybrid. While, second place was the other Toyota Gazoo Racing to complete a Toyota one-two finish, with the team of Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi in their Toyota TS050 Hybrid, they were two seconds behind the leaders at the end of the race. Meanwhile, third place was the Porsche Team of Timo Bernhard, Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber in their Porsche 919 Hybrid, they were thirty-five seconds behind the leaders at the end of the race.
In LMP2 class (all cars using the Gibson 4.2 L V8 engine), G-Drive Racing team of Roman Rusinov, Pierre Thiriet, and Alex Lynn in their Oreca 07 won LMP2 class. They finish in seventh place overall and they were thirteen laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
While in GTE Pro class, was won by AF Corse of Sam Bird and Davide Rigon won in their Ferrari 488 GTE. They finish in seveneenth place overall and they were twenty-two 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 Mathias Lauda in their Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE. They finish in twenty-fifth place overall and they were twenty-seven laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
Highlights of the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps below, enjoy.
Next Stop 24 Hours of Le Mans in six weeks time for Round three of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing team won the race overall and the LMP1 class too of Sébastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima in their Toyota TS050 Hybrid. While, second place was the other Toyota Gazoo Racing to complete a Toyota one-two finish, with the team of Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi in their Toyota TS050 Hybrid, they were two seconds behind the leaders at the end of the race. Meanwhile, third place was the Porsche Team of Timo Bernhard, Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber in their Porsche 919 Hybrid, they were thirty-five seconds behind the leaders at the end of the race.
In LMP2 class (all cars using the Gibson 4.2 L V8 engine), G-Drive Racing team of Roman Rusinov, Pierre Thiriet, and Alex Lynn in their Oreca 07 won LMP2 class. They finish in seventh place overall and they were thirteen laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
While in GTE Pro class, was won by AF Corse of Sam Bird and Davide Rigon won in their Ferrari 488 GTE. They finish in seveneenth place overall and they were twenty-two 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 Mathias Lauda in their Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE. They finish in twenty-fifth place overall and they were twenty-seven laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
Highlights of the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps below, enjoy.
Next Stop 24 Hours of Le Mans in six weeks time for Round three of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Tuesday, 2 May 2017
2017 WTCC Round 2 Recap - Race of Italy
Review of Round Two of the 2017 World Touring Car Championship season was the Race of Italy, Autodromo Nazionale Monza on the outskirts of Milan, Italy.
In the opening race, Sébastien Loeb Racing driver Tom Chilton took the race win in his Honda Citroën C-Elysée WTCC and also took the WTCC Trophy win. Second was ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport driver Rob Huff in his Citroën C-Elysée WTCC, he was three tenths of a second behind Chilton in the end. While third was Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team driver Tiago Monteiro in his Honda Civic WTCC, he was two and half seconds behind Chilton in the end.
While in the main race, Polestar Cyan Racing driver Thed Björk took the race win in his Volvo S60 Polestar TC1. Second was Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team driver Tiago Monteiro in his Honda Civic WTCC, he was two seconds behind Björk in the end. While third was ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport driver Rob Huff in his Citroën C-Elysée WTCC and also took the WTCC Trophy win, he was two and half seconds behind Björk in the end.
Next stop Race of Hungary at Hungaroring for Round Three of the 2017 World Touring Car Championship season in two weeks time.
In the opening race, Sébastien Loeb Racing driver Tom Chilton took the race win in his Honda Citroën C-Elysée WTCC and also took the WTCC Trophy win. Second was ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport driver Rob Huff in his Citroën C-Elysée WTCC, he was three tenths of a second behind Chilton in the end. While third was Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team driver Tiago Monteiro in his Honda Civic WTCC, he was two and half seconds behind Chilton in the end.
While in the main race, Polestar Cyan Racing driver Thed Björk took the race win in his Volvo S60 Polestar TC1. Second was Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team driver Tiago Monteiro in his Honda Civic WTCC, he was two seconds behind Björk in the end. While third was ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport driver Rob Huff in his Citroën C-Elysée WTCC and also took the WTCC Trophy win, he was two and half seconds behind Björk in the end.
Next stop Race of Hungary at Hungaroring for Round Three of the 2017 World Touring Car Championship season in two weeks time.
2017 WRC Round 5 recap - Rally Argentina
Recap of the last round of WRC from this weekends Round five of Rally Argentina.
Last weekend was the fifth round of the World Rally Championship at the Rally Argentina (28th-30th April) that was won by Thierry Neuville in his works Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC. While, M-Sport World Rally Team driver Elfyn Evans finished second in his Ford Fiesta WRC, Evans was seven tenths of a second! behind Neuville at the end. Meanwhile, M-Sport World Rally Team driver Ott Tänak finished third in his Ford Fiesta WRC, Tänak was thirty seconds behind Neuville 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 Škoda Motorsport driver Pontus Tidemand in his Škoda Fabia R5. Pontus Tidemand finished in tenth place overall, he was seventeen minutes behind Neuville at the end of the rally.
Highlights of the rally below, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Six of the 2016 WRC season for Rally Portugal in three weeks time.
Last weekend was the fifth round of the World Rally Championship at the Rally Argentina (28th-30th April) that was won by Thierry Neuville in his works Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC. While, M-Sport World Rally Team driver Elfyn Evans finished second in his Ford Fiesta WRC, Evans was seven tenths of a second! behind Neuville at the end. Meanwhile, M-Sport World Rally Team driver Ott Tänak finished third in his Ford Fiesta WRC, Tänak was thirty seconds behind Neuville 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 Škoda Motorsport driver Pontus Tidemand in his Škoda Fabia R5. Pontus Tidemand finished in tenth place overall, he was seventeen minutes behind Neuville at the end of the rally.
Highlights of the rally below, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Six of the 2016 WRC season for Rally Portugal in three weeks time.
Monday, 1 May 2017
Confirmed: Sauber F1 Team using Honda power units from 2018 and onwards
It has been announced yesterday, before the start of the Russian Grand Prix (30/4/17); Sauber F1 Team has signed a new engine partnership with with Honda to supply the team their power units from the start of the 2018 F1 season.
Sauber's new deal with Honda will bring to an end its long-term partnership with Ferrari, which is providing year-old engines to the outfit through 2017.
Although Honda has struggled since its return to F1 with McLaren in 2015, Sauber expects the agreement to "certainly unveil future opportunities" for both parties.
In my opinion, this is no major surprise that the news has happen yesterday. As this has been rumoured for the past weeks that Sauber will swap over to Honda power units for 2018 season.
This is a very good deal for Sauber, as I believe that the Honda power units will cost less compared to the current year old Ferrari power units engines they are using currently. As this would help the financial side of Sauber of reducing debt with the team.
However, the current Honda power units are under-powered and unreliable if it does continue going into 2018 this could be the wrong decision for Sauber.
Don't forget, this would be the last season the team will use the Ferrari engines at the end of a 20 year partnership (minus the BMW Sauber days).
Sauber's new deal with Honda will bring to an end its long-term partnership with Ferrari, which is providing year-old engines to the outfit through 2017.
Although Honda has struggled since its return to F1 with McLaren in 2015, Sauber expects the agreement to "certainly unveil future opportunities" for both parties.
In my opinion, this is no major surprise that the news has happen yesterday. As this has been rumoured for the past weeks that Sauber will swap over to Honda power units for 2018 season.
This is a very good deal for Sauber, as I believe that the Honda power units will cost less compared to the current year old Ferrari power units engines they are using currently. As this would help the financial side of Sauber of reducing debt with the team.
However, the current Honda power units are under-powered and unreliable if it does continue going into 2018 this could be the wrong decision for Sauber.
Don't forget, this would be the last season the team will use the Ferrari engines at the end of a 20 year partnership (minus the BMW Sauber days).
2017 Russian Grand Prix Review, Valtteri Bottas Wins!
Review of the fourth round of the 2017 F1 season at Sochi Autodrom, in Sochi for the Russian Grand Prix, includes thoughts on Valtteri Bottas first Grand Prix win.
Overall, a good race to watch despite there was no overtaking after the first lap. With both Ferrari drivers on the front row of the grid (first time since the French Grand Prix in 2008), Sebastian Vettel on pole and Kimi Räikkönen second on the grid it was third place Valtteri Bottas had a lightning start and took the lead and took a strong lead over Vettel, while his team-mate Lewis Hamilton struggle throughout the race.
With twenty laps to go Vettel started to reduce the gap over Bottas. With a few laps to go, Vettel was right behind Bottas. But it was not enough at the end to overtake him, to give Valtteri Bottas with his first race win of the season and his first Grand Prix in Formula 1.
While, Sebastian Vettel finished in second place in the Ferrari, Vettel was six tenths of a second behind Bottas at the end.
Meanwhile, Vettel's team-mate Kimi Räikkönen finished in third place in the Ferrari to complete the podium, Räikkönen was eleven seconds behind Bottas at the end of the fifty-two lap race.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Mercedes - 7
Lewis Hamilton - 6 (finished fourth)
Valtteri Bottas - 9 (race win)
Red Bull Racing - 6
Daniel Ricciardo - 6 (DNF, Brakes)
Max Verstappen - 6 (finished fifth)
Ferrari - 8
Sebastian Vettel - 8 (pole, finished second)
Kimi Räikkönen - 8 (finished third and fastest lap)
Force India - 8
Sergio Pérez - 8 (finished sixth)
Esteban Ocon - 8 (finished seventh)
Williams - 6
Felipe Massa - 7 (finished ninth, lap down)
Lance Stroll - 6 (finished eleventh, lap down)
McLaren - 5
Fernando Alonso - 6 (DNS, Gearbox)
Stoffel Vandoorne - 5 (finished fourteenth, lap down)
Toro Rosso - 5
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 6 (finished tenth, lap down)
Daniil Kvyat - 5 (finished twelfth, lap down)
Haas - 4
Romain Grosjean - 4 (DNF, Collision with Palmer)
Kevin Magnussen - 5 (finished thirteenth, lap down)
Renault - 5
Nico Hülkenberg - 8 (finished eighth)
Jolyon Palmer - 3 (DNF, Collision with Grosjean)
Sauber - 4
Marcus Ericsson - 5 (finished fifteenth, lap down)
Pascal Wehrlein - 4 (finished sixteenth, two laps down)
Next stop Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona in two weeks time for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Overall, a good race to watch despite there was no overtaking after the first lap. With both Ferrari drivers on the front row of the grid (first time since the French Grand Prix in 2008), Sebastian Vettel on pole and Kimi Räikkönen second on the grid it was third place Valtteri Bottas had a lightning start and took the lead and took a strong lead over Vettel, while his team-mate Lewis Hamilton struggle throughout the race.
With twenty laps to go Vettel started to reduce the gap over Bottas. With a few laps to go, Vettel was right behind Bottas. But it was not enough at the end to overtake him, to give Valtteri Bottas with his first race win of the season and his first Grand Prix in Formula 1.
While, Sebastian Vettel finished in second place in the Ferrari, Vettel was six tenths of a second behind Bottas at the end.
Meanwhile, Vettel's team-mate Kimi Räikkönen finished in third place in the Ferrari to complete the podium, Räikkönen was eleven seconds behind Bottas at the end of the fifty-two lap race.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Mercedes - 7
Lewis Hamilton - 6 (finished fourth)
Valtteri Bottas - 9 (race win)
Red Bull Racing - 6
Daniel Ricciardo - 6 (DNF, Brakes)
Max Verstappen - 6 (finished fifth)
Ferrari - 8
Sebastian Vettel - 8 (pole, finished second)
Kimi Räikkönen - 8 (finished third and fastest lap)
Force India - 8
Sergio Pérez - 8 (finished sixth)
Esteban Ocon - 8 (finished seventh)
Williams - 6
Felipe Massa - 7 (finished ninth, lap down)
Lance Stroll - 6 (finished eleventh, lap down)
McLaren - 5
Fernando Alonso - 6 (DNS, Gearbox)
Stoffel Vandoorne - 5 (finished fourteenth, lap down)
Toro Rosso - 5
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 6 (finished tenth, lap down)
Daniil Kvyat - 5 (finished twelfth, lap down)
Haas - 4
Romain Grosjean - 4 (DNF, Collision with Palmer)
Kevin Magnussen - 5 (finished thirteenth, lap down)
Renault - 5
Nico Hülkenberg - 8 (finished eighth)
Jolyon Palmer - 3 (DNF, Collision with Grosjean)
Sauber - 4
Marcus Ericsson - 5 (finished fifteenth, lap down)
Pascal Wehrlein - 4 (finished sixteenth, two laps down)
Next stop Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona in two weeks time for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Senna's Greatest Race: Japan 1988, Winning his first World Driver's title!
Its has been 23 years today, that Ayrton Senna has past away from us (read previous post). So we've got to celebrate Senna life, never forget Ayrton's achievements in Formula 1.
Six years back, I did a post on one of Senna best race's at Monaco in 1984, were he finished second place in an under-powered Toleman. Five years back, I wrote about his race win at Phoenix in USA back in 1990 in his McLaren. Four years back, I wrote about Senna's famous win from the 1986 Spanish Grand Prix were he beat Nigel Mansell by 0.010 of a second. Two years back, I wrote about Senna's first Grand Prix win at a very wet Portuguese Grand Prix. Last year, I wrote about Senna winning at home for the first time in 1991.
This year another Great Ayrton Senna race win from the 1988 season, the penultimate round of the 1988 F1 season. Senna started on pole at Suzuka. However, Senna stalled his MP4/4. But a sloping grid at Suzuka, helped him to restart his car and place at fourteenth place. Senna knew he had nothing to lose and everything to gain in this race, and knew he could seal the championship here. By the end of the first lap he was eighth place, and by the fourth lap he was sitting in fourth position. Then on lap 27 Senna passed Alain Prost for the lead, and took the lead for the rest of the race to win. With victory in the race, Senna clinched his first World Driver's title.
Highlight video of the race below.
Six years back, I did a post on one of Senna best race's at Monaco in 1984, were he finished second place in an under-powered Toleman. Five years back, I wrote about his race win at Phoenix in USA back in 1990 in his McLaren. Four years back, I wrote about Senna's famous win from the 1986 Spanish Grand Prix were he beat Nigel Mansell by 0.010 of a second. Two years back, I wrote about Senna's first Grand Prix win at a very wet Portuguese Grand Prix. Last year, I wrote about Senna winning at home for the first time in 1991.
This year another Great Ayrton Senna race win from the 1988 season, the penultimate round of the 1988 F1 season. Senna started on pole at Suzuka. However, Senna stalled his MP4/4. But a sloping grid at Suzuka, helped him to restart his car and place at fourteenth place. Senna knew he had nothing to lose and everything to gain in this race, and knew he could seal the championship here. By the end of the first lap he was eighth place, and by the fourth lap he was sitting in fourth position. Then on lap 27 Senna passed Alain Prost for the lead, and took the lead for the rest of the race to win. With victory in the race, Senna clinched his first World Driver's title.
Highlight video of the race below.
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