Recap of the last round of WRC from last weekends Round Eleven of Rally de Catalunya.
Last weekends was the eleventh round of the World Rally Championship at Rally de Catalunya (6th - 8th October) was won by that was won by Kris Meeke in the works Citroën C3 WRC.
While, M-Sport World Rally Team driver and current WRC champion Sébastien Ogier finished second in his Ford Fiesta WRC, Ogier was twenty-eight seconds behind Meeke at the end. Meanwhile, M-Sport World Rally Team driver Ott Tänak finished third in his Ford Fiesta WRC, Tänak was thirty-three seconds behind Meeke at the end of the rally.
While in the WRC Trophy (crews entering World Rally Cars used between 2011 and 2016), that was won by Eurolamp World Rally Team driver Valeriy Gorban in his Mini John Cooper Works WRC. Valeriy Gorban finished in twenty-fourth place overall, he was twenty-three minutes behind Meeke 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 M-Sport World Rally Team driver Teemu Suninen in his Ford Fiesta R5. Teemu Suninen finished in eighth place overall, he was thirteen minutes behind Meeke at the end of the rally.
While in WRC-3 class (Group R1, R2 and R3 cars) that was won by Nil Solans in his own backed Ford Fiesta R2T. Nil Solans finished in twenty-eighth place overall, he was twenty-eight minutes behind Meeke at the end of the rally. With that result, Nil Solans did clinched the J-WRC Championship this season with a round to spare in his own backed Ford Fiesta R2T, contracts to Nil Solans for winning the WRC3 championship as-well his WRC3 Championship he won early on the season.
Highlights of the rally below, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Twelve of the 2016 WRC season for Wales Rally GB in three weeks time.
Review of the sixteenth round of the 2017 F1 season at Suzuka, Suzuka City for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Overall, a dominating race weekend for Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. Lewis Hamilton was on pole for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, Hamilton took the advantage at the start and comfortably lead the race, then on lap four it got better for Hamilton championship challenge when rival Sebastian Vettel retired with engine problems. Despite a late charge from Max Verstappen for victory with Hamilton additionally complaining of vibrations from his car, it was enough to conclude with a race win in this seasons Japanese Grand Prix for Hamilton's eighth race win of the season.
While, Max Verstappen finished second place in the Mercedes, Verstappen was a second behind Hamilton at the end.
Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo finished in third place in the other Red Bull to complete the podium, Ricciardo was ten seconds behind Hamilton at the end of the fifty-three lap race.
Lewis Hamilton still leads the Drivers' Championship from Sebastian Vettel after Hamilton's win and Vettel's second DNF of the season, but the gap is now improved from thirty-four points to fifty-nine points in the standings with four races to go. While, Valtteri Bottas is third in the standings is now fifty-nine points from Malaysia to now seventy-two points behind Hamilton after his fourth place finish at Suzuka.
Lewis Hamilton could win his fourth Drivers' Championship in Austin. If Hamilton wins the race, with Vettel no higher than sixth in the United States Grand Prix.
While Mercedes still leads F1 Constructors' Standings, the gap is now gained from one hundred and eighteen points to one hundred and forty-five points for Ferrari who are second in the Constructors' Standings with four races to go.
Mercedes could win their fourth Constructors' Championship in Austin. Mercedes needs to win the race at the United States Grand Prix no matter what happen to Ferrari's result in Austin.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Mercedes - 8
Lewis Hamilton - 9 (pole, race win)
Valtteri Bottas - 7 (finished fourth, fastest lap)
Red Bull Racing - 8
Daniel Ricciardo - 8 (finished third)
Max Verstappen - 9 (finished second)
Ferrari - 7
Sebastian Vettel - 7 (DNF, Spark plug)
Kimi Räikkönen - 7 (finished fifth)
Force India - 8
Sergio Pérez - 7 (finished seventh)
Esteban Ocon - 9 (finished sixth)
Williams - 5
Felipe Massa - 6 (finished tenth, lap down)
Lance Stroll - 5 (DNF, Wheel)
McLaren - 6
Fernando Alonso - 7 (finished eleventh, lap down)
Stoffel Vandoorne - 5 (finished fourteenth, lap down)
Toro Rosso - 5
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 5 (DNF, Accident)
Pierre Gasly - 6 (finished thirteenth, lap down)
It was confirmed yesterday, after the conclusion of qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix (7/10/17), that Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz, Jr. will race for the Renault Sport F1 Team from the United States Grand Prix in two weeks time, in place of Jolyon Palmer, and complete the remainder of the season for the team.
Renault announced at last months Singapore Grand Prix, that it had signed Sainz Jr. on loan from Red Bull for 2018, though plans to replace Palmer as early as the Malaysia Grand Prix were eventually shelved.
Palmer consequently stayed on but, having qualified in fourteenth place for tomorrow's Japanese Grand Prix, Palmer announced on social media that Sunday's race will be his last with the team.
Renault swiftly communicated that Sainz Jr. will join Nico Hülkenberg for the final four Grands Prixs' of the season, while Sainz Jr's place at Toro Rosso will be taken by Daniil Kvyat.
But the two will be team-mates from the United States Grand Prix in two weeks time. Means Gasly will not win the Super Formula finale at Suzuka which is on the same weekend as the United States Grand Prix, where Gasly holds a strong chance of taking the title in the series.
Overall, happy for Carlos Sainz, Jr. and completely gutted for Jolyon Palmer, despite he finished sixth in Singapore three weeks ago it was perfect opportunity/excuse to replace him with Sainz, Jr.. In my opinion Palmer should have finished the season off with Renault. So want next for Jolyon Palmer, my guess out of a drive for 2018, despite there are drives available at Williams and Sauber.
As for Carlos Sainz, Jr. a new challenge ahead, early then expected.
Review of Round Ten and the final round of the 2017 British Touring Car Championship season was at Brands Hatch's Grand Prix Circuit, in Kent.
In the first race, Laser Tools Racing driver Aiden Moffat took the race win in his Mercedes-Benz A-Class and also took Independents class win. Second was Speedworks Motorsport driver Tom Ingram in his Toyota Avensis (2015), he was three tenths of a second behind Moffat in the end. While, third place was Adrian Flux Subaru Racing driver Ash Sutton in his Subaru Levorg GT, he was fifteen tenths of a second behind Moffat in the end.
While, Jack Sears Trophy (for top 'Rookie Driver' in the series) was won by Power Maxed Racing driver Senna Proctor in his Vauxhall Astra, he finished in sixth place and was sixteen seconds behind Moffat in the end.
Meanwhile in the second race, Team BMW driver Colin Turkington took the race win in his BMW 125i M Sport. Second was Halfords Yuasa Racing driver and outgoing BTCC Champion Gordon Shedden in his Honda Civic Type R, he was sixteen tenths of a second behind Turkington in the end. While, third place was Halfords Yuasa Racing driver Matt Neal in his Honda Civic Type R, he was two seconds behind Turkington in the end.
Meanwhile, Independents class was won by Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo driver Mat Jackson in his Ford Focus ST, he finished in fourth place and was four seconds behind Turkington in the end.
While, Jack Sears Trophy was won by Eurotech Racing driver Brett Smith in his Honda Civic Type R, he finished in eleventh place and was eight and half seconds behind Turkington in the end.
Finally in the third race, Handy Motorsport driver Rob Austin took the race win in his Toyota Avensis (2012) and also took Independents class win. Second was Eurotech Racing driver Jack Goff in his Honda Civic Type R he was three seconds behind Austin in the end. While third place was Adrian Flux Subaru Racing driver Ash Sutton driver in his Subaru Levorg GT, he was five seconds behind Austin in the end; and enough for Ash Sutton to be 2017 BTCC Drivers' Champion for his first title to beat Colin Turkington by twenty-one points in the last round of the year.
While, Jack Sears Trophy was won by Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo driver Rory Butcher in his Ford Focus ST, he finished in twelfth place and was twenty-seven seconds behind Austin in the end.
And so, this years champions, Ash Sutton took the BTCC Drivers' Championship. BMW took the Manufacturers'/Constructors' Championship. Team BMW took the Teams' Championship. While, Tom Ingram took the Independents' Trophy. While, Speedworks Motorsport took Independent Teams' Trophy. And Senna Proctor took the Jack Sears Trophy.
That's the end of 2017 British Touring Car Championship season. Contracts to the Champions in BTCC this season. And now for the 2018 Season.
Review of Round Eleven of the 2016 World Rallycross Championship season was the World RX of Germany, at Estering on the outskirts of Hamburg, North West Germany.
In the four Heats, those were won by Mattias Ekström, Timmy Hansen, and Petter Solberg (winning twice).
In the first semi-final that was won by PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver Petter Solberg in his Volkswagen Polo GTI. Second was EKS RX driver Toomas Heikkinen in his Audi S1, he was two and half seconds behind Solberg in the end. While, third was Team Peugeot-Hansen driver Timmy Hansen in his Peugeot 208, he was three and half seconds behind Solberg in the end.
In the second semi-final that was won by EKS RX driver and outgoing World Rallycross Champion Mattias Ekström in his Audi S1. Second was Team Peugeot-Hansen driver Kevin Hansen in his Peugeot 208, he was two seconds behind Ekström in the end. While, third was GRX driver Niclas Grönholm in his Ford Fiesta, he was five seconds behind Ekström in the end.
In the final race, EKS RX driver and outgoing World Rallycross Champion Mattias Ekström took the race win in his Audi S1. Second was Team Peugeot-Hansen driver Timmy Hansen in his Peugeot 208, he was two and half seconds behind Ekström in the end. While, third was EKS RX driver Toomas Heikkinen in his Audi S1, he was four seconds behind Ekström in the end.
Next stop World RX of South Africa at Killarney Motor Racing Complex for Round Twelve and the final round of the 2017 World Rallycross Championship season in six weeks time.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Suzuka City for Honda's home race.
So Predictions for the race, for the win, I predict that, Sebastian Vettel for the win in the Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton second in the Mercedes, and Max Verstappen third in the Red Bull. Don't forget Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo, Kimi Räikkönen, and the Force India drivers as well for a podium place.
Review of the fifteenth round of the 2016 F1 season at Sepang International Circuit, outside of Kuala Lumpur for the Malaysia Grand Prix.
In an entertaining Lewis Hamilton was on pole for Sunday's race for his seventieth pole position in Formula 1.
In a damp to dry sunny Malaysia Grand Prix, Hamilton took the advantage at the start and lead with Max Verstappen behind him in second, until lap four when Verstappen overtake Hamilton for the lead of the race. Verstappen comfortably lead the race throughout in a mature drive from the 20 years old with a race win in this seasons Malaysia Grand Prix for Max Verstappen's first race win of the season for his first since last seasons Spanish Grand Prix.
While, Lewis Hamilton finished second place in the Mercedes, Hamilton was thirteen seconds behind Verstappen at the end.
Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo finished in third place in the other Red Bull to complete the podium, Ricciardo was twenty-two seconds behind Verstappen at the end of the fifty-six lap race.
Lewis Hamilton still leads the Drivers' Championship from Sebastian Vettel, but the gap is now improved from twenty-eight points to thirty-fours points in the standings with five races to go as Vettel only managed a fourth place finish despite he had to start back of the grid after a Turbo failure in qualifying. While, Valtteri Bottas is third in the standings is now fifty-one points from Singapore to now fifty-nine points behind Hamilton after his fifth place finish in Malaysia.
While Mercedes still leads F1 Constructors' Standings, the gap is now gained from one hundred and two points to one hundred and eighteen points for Ferrari who are second in the Constructors' Standings with five races to go.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Mercedes - 7
Lewis Hamilton - 8 (pole, finished second)
Valtteri Bottas - 6 (finished fifth)
Red Bull Racing - 9
Daniel Ricciardo - 8 (finished third)
Max Verstappen - 10 (race win)
Ferrari - 8
Sebastian Vettel - 9 (finished fourth, fastest lap)
Kimi Räikkönen - 8 (DNS, Battery)
Force India - 8
Sergio Pérez - 10 (finished sixth)
Esteban Ocon - 6 (finished tenth, lap down)
Williams - 7
Felipe Massa - 7 (finished ninth, lap down)
Lance Stroll - 7 (finished eighth, lap down)
McLaren - 8
Fernando Alonso - 6 (finished eleventh, lap down)
Stoffel Vandoorne - 10 (finished seventh, lap down)
Toro Rosso - 5
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 5 (DNF, Engine)
Pierre Gasly - 6 (finished fourteenth, lap down)
Haas - 4
Romain Grosjean - 4 (finished thirteenth, lap down)
Kevin Magnussen - 4 (finished twelfth, lap down)
Renault - 5
Nico Hülkenberg - 6 (finished fifteenth, lap down)
Jolyon Palmer - 5 (finished sixteenth, lap down)
Sauber - 4
Marcus Ericsson - 4 (finished eighteenth, two laps down)
Pascal Wehrlein - 5 (finished seventeenth, lap down)
Next stop Suzuka Circuit in a weeks time for the Japanese Grand Prix.
