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Author: David Bodapati
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M-Sport Ford’s Sebastien Ogier & Julien Ingrassia take 5th Monte-Carlo win: WRC
Ogier celebrates Monte Carlo win on Sunday. WRC Round1. An M-Sport image Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia notched up their fifth consecutive Rallye Monte-Carlo victory this afternoon, their sixth overall win on home soil. The French reigning FIA World Rally Champions arrived back in the Principality 58.3 seconds ahead of Toyota newcomers Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja who finished a career-best on the event. Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila rounded out the podium on what has been one of the trickiest and incident-packed ‘Montes’ in years.
After the season-opener Ogier takes an eight-point lead over former team-mate Tänak in the Drivers’ Championship with Latvala and Kris Meeke on equal points, one point further behind. M-Sport Ford and Toyota are also on equal points at the head of the Manufacturers’ Championship, 15 points ahead of Citroën who are in turn four points ahead of Hyundai, the team having a disappointing start to their Championship campaign.
With just the final two stages to run, Ogier was able to control the pace and the Frenchman was also aware he didn’t have the optimum tyres to fight for victory on the Power Stage. “It’s been a difficult weekend,” he said. “Often in Monte-Carlo, you have to face hard conditions but this was extremely hard. I’ve never struggled so much with tyre choices, but in the end, we win and I’m super happy with that. Every driver did mistakes this weekend; I did too – just a few less.”
Tänak was delighted with his performance on his debut outing with the Japanese manufacturer. Not prepared to risk his best finish in Monte-Carlo, the Estonian was relieved to start the season with a top result having had a really good feeling with the car and an almost faultless rally. Latvala was also cautious, determined to start the season on a high and kick-start his campaign with important points.
Behind the leading trio, drama unfolded in the closing two stages. Kris Meeke was able to hold off a charging Thierry Neuville, who won the pair of stages and ultimately came to within 10.7 seconds of overhauling the Briton. Both were set to finish fifth and seventh respectively, until Esapekka Lappi dropped time in the first stage with an off into a snow bank, and then crucially threw away fourth in the Power Stage when he went off the road and plummeted to seventh. Both Meeke and Neuville moved up a position and, with the pace Neuville was setting, he also overhauled Elfyn Evans in the Power Stage to take fifth overall by one second. Bryan Bouffier also had an off-road excursion; he finished eighth with Craig Breen ninth for Citroën.
Jan Kopecky claimed 10th overall and maximum points in the FIA WRC 2 Championship category, and Enrico Brazzoli won the FIA WRC 3 Championship for two-wheel drive cars.
The FIA World Rally Championship contenders now head to more snow in the Scandinavian forests for Rally Sweden (15-18 February).
Rallye Monte-Carlo – Final Provisional Classification (subject to scrutineering)
1. Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 4hr 18min 55.5sec 2. Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 4hr 19min 53.8sec 3. Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 4hr 20min 47.5sec 4. Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle Citroën C3 WRC 4hr 23min 38.6sec 5. Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 4hr 23min 49.3sec 6. Elfyn Evans / Daniel Barritt Ford Fiesta WRC 4hr 23min 50.3sec 7. Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC 4hr 23min 53.0sec 8. Bryan Bouffier / Xavier Panseri Ford Fiesta WRC 4hr 26min 35.0sec 9. Craig Breen / Scott Martin Citroën C3 WRC 4hr 28min 02.2sec 10. Jan Kopecky / Pavel Dresler Škoda Fabia R5 4hr 35min 38.5sec -
Dovi second in the MotoGP official test Day 1; Lorenzo third
Dovi on Sunday. A Ducati image Day 1 of official MotoGP testing concludes at Sepang with Dovizioso second and Lorenzo third on their Desmosedici GP18 bikes The first day of official testing at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, taking place from today until 30 January, concluded a couple of hours ago. The track conditions, which were damp due to the rain that fell overnight until the early afternoon, significantly reduced the useful track time for the MotoGP riders.
Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo were in any case able to get the best out of the afternoon to carry out back-to-back tests between the 2018 and 2017 versions of the Desmosedici GP.
Towards the end of the session both factory Ducati riders fitted a soft rear tyre on their GP18 machines to set their quickest times.
Andrea Dovizioso ended the day in second place with a best lap of 1’59.770 while Jorge Lorenzo was right behind in third with a time of 1’59.802.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 1’59.770 (35 laps)
“I’m very satisfied with the first day of testing and the feeling with the Desmosedici GP18: the new bike gives me some good sensations, especially when I come off the brakes and turn it into the corner. It’s still too early to give a definitive opinion, but I’m happy with how we have begun this test. Let’s hope that the weather in the next couple of days allows us to carry out the work schedule and the back-to-back tests we have planned.”Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team #99) – 1’59.802 (38 laps)
“The feeling with the new bike was good right from the start and the first test of 2018 began positively. The GP18 is much closer to my riding style and it turns better on the gas in mid-corner. We set a really great time on what is the first day of testing on a particular circuit like Sepang, and to see four Ducatis in the top 5 is another positive sign for sure. I have the feeling we are on the right path, even though of course we still have to improve several aspects.”eom
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Dani Pedrosa tops the standings on day 1 in Sepang, Marc Marquez 7th: MotoGP first test
Dani Pedrosa, the fastest at the MotoGP Sepang-first test at on Sunday.. Image by Srinivasa Krishnan for INDIAinF1.com 28Jan2018 Dani Pedrosa set the fastest time of the opening day of the Sepang test, with a mark of 1’59.427” on his 55th lap (out of 56), while Marc Marquez ended seventh overall with a best time of 2’00.290” on his 50th lap (out of 51).
In typical Malaysian fashion, the morning dawned under heavy rain, so the asphalt was still wet when the track opened at 10 a.m.
Marquez made one run on wet tyres, Pedrosa a few more, but both riders really began working on development of the RC213V after lunchtime, by which time the track had properly dried. They completed a few laps on the 2017 bike and then went out on the prototype 2018 machines, which were using different engine specifications.
Dani Pedrosa
1ST 1:59.427 (56 LAPS)
“Of course it’s good to start the testing with the fastest time, so we’re happy with that. We had some rain in the morning and therefore the chance to do a few laps on rain tyres, and we felt good from the beginning. In the afternoon, when the track dried, the asphalt kept improving lap by lap, and that was positive for the many changes we had to try. We have three bikes here, and they have the same setup but different engines. Basically, we worked on the engine package, trying to collect as much information as possible and to get a feeling with each different specification; that’s one of the main areas we have as a target for this test. There are still points we need to work on in order to understand more. We also need more laps on used tyres, as we didn’t get any long runs in today. Of course we’re still in the early stages but so far the feeling is good.”
Reigning World champion
Marc Marquez finished 7th.
7TH 2:00.290 (51 LAPS)
“I think today was a busy day for everybody because when you get back on your bike after the winter, you need to find the rhythm again and get used to riding at a demanding track—especially here. That said, I’m quite happy with how we started because we were working on three different bikes with different engines, one from last year and two with different specifications, and therefore it was quite an intense day. We had to adjust many, many things, which is quite normal, but so far it seems the new engine is better. Of course we have two more days to improve the setup and keep working on the engine, electronics, aerodynamics, and so on. It was just the first day and the feeling and rhythm were positive already!”
Sepang Day 1
Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Time/Gap 1 PEDROSA Dani 26 SPA Repsol Honda Team 1:59.427 2 DOVIZIOSO Andrea 4 ITA Ducati Team 0.343 3 LORENZO Jorge 99 SPA Ducati Team 0.375 4 PETRUCCI Danilo 9 ITA Alma Pramac Racing 0.696 5 MILLER Jack 43 AUS Alma Pramac Racing 0.751 6 ROSSI Valentino 46 ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 0.806 7 MARQUEZ Marc 93 SPA Repsol Honda Team 0.863 8 ZARCO Johann 5 FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 0.994 9 CRUTCHLOW Cal 35 GBR LCR Honda Castrol 1.095 10 ESPARGARO Pol 44 SPA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1.141 11 RINS Alex 42 SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar 1.200 12 NAKAGAMI Takaaki 30 JPN LCR Honda Idemitsu 1.237 13 VINALES Maverick 25 SPA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1.287 14 ESPARGARO Aleix 41 SPA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1.439 15 RABAT Tito 53 SPA Reale Avintia Racing 1.485 16 IANNONE Andrea 29 ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar 1.600 17 SMITH Bradley 38 GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1.672 18 MORBIDELLI Franco 21 ITA EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1.734 19 BAUTISTA Alvaro 19 SPA Angel Nieto Team 2.301 20 GUINTOLI Sylvain 50 FRA Suzuki Test Team 2.437 21 REDDING Scott 45 GBR Aprilia Racing Team Gresini -
Sebastian Ogier and Julien Ingrassia continue to lead: An M-Sport Ford World Rally team’s view
FAN FAVOURITE OGIER
INCREASES MONTE LEAD
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia continue to hold a popular lead at Rallye Monte-Carlo – increasing the EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC’s advantage at the head of the field.
The Blue Oval continues to hold more fastest times than any other manufacturer and has led from the very first stage. With a resurgent Elfyn Evans climbing to sixth, and Bryan Bouffier producing a solid drive in eighth, all three top-specification Fiestas are also positioned safely inside the top-ten.
Team Principal, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said:
“It’s been another strong day for the team with Sébastien consolidating his lead and Elfyn climbing to sixth with the potential to go even further tomorrow.
“Sébastien really is a master of strategy, and he proved that today. Identifying the first and most challenging stage to make his move, he took more than a minute out of Ott [Tänak] and it’s just been a case of controlling the pace since then.
“Elfyn too has shown great speed and hinted at what could have been were it not for that unlucky puncture on Thursday night. He’s up to sixth now and with less than half a minute separating him from the two positions ahead, there’s a chance to gain even more tomorrow.
“Bryan also has really impressed. This is his first time behind the wheel of one of these new-generation world rally cars and he is delivering a very intelligent drive that could be rewarded with a solid result tomorrow.”
OGIER AND INGRASSIA
LEADERS AFTER STAGE THIRTEEN
Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia continue to hold a popular lead at Rallye Monte-Carlo. Controlling their position behind the wheel of the EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC, the French pairing hold a 33.5 second lead ahead of the final 63.98 kilometres.
Making it count when the conditions were at their most challenging, Ogier took more than a minute out of his main rival on the opening stage alone. Consolidating his lead thereafter, just four more stages now stand between the home crowd favourites and a sixth Monte victory.
Stage performances:SS9: 2nd (+22.2)
SS10: 4th (+15.0)
SS11: 2nd (+15.3)
SS12: 6th (+10.6)
SS13: 8th (+16.0)Sébastien Ogier (1st) said:
“We started less than 15 seconds in front of Ott [Tänak] and now we have an advantage of 33 seconds so I am happy with that.
“We had a really good first stage in extremely challenging conditions where we managed to take a lot of time. It was a bit trickier after that, but it’s never easy to manage the gap when the conditions are this difficult. It’s not my style to take unnecessary risks so maybe I was a bit too careful, but it’s been a good day overall.
“We still have 64 kilometres to go and I know Ott will give it everything until the end so we cannot afford to relax, and will need to stay focused with good pace in the morning.”
EVANS AND BARRITT
SIXTH AFTER STAGE THIRTEEN
Continuing their fight back, Elfyn Evans and Daniel Barritt have climbed to sixth place overall with the potential for further gains behind the wheel of their EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC tomorrow.
Despite being disadvantaged by their early running order through this morning’s snow-strewn stages, the pairing kept their heads and pushed hard to gain time on their rivals.
As the snow cleared for the afternoon loop, Evans upped his pace with a string of competitive stage times. Not even an intermittent issue with the intercom could slow his speed – the Welshman just 2.9 seconds adrift of the fastest time on SS12 whilst only hearing 40 percent of the pacenotes.
With just 21.7 seconds separating him from fourth place, and four tricky stages left to contest, Evans could yet make further advances and there remains all to play for.
Stage performances:
SS9: 8th (+1:32.3)
SS10: 6th (+22.0)
SS11: 3rd (+18.3)
SS12: 4th (+2.9)
SS13: 2nd (+2.1)Elfyn Evans (6th) said:
“It’s not been the easiest day for sure, but I think we can be satisfied with our performance. We saw a lot of contrasting and challenging conditions today – and the morning stages were especially difficult. With our road position considered, I think the pace was pretty good.
“There’s just over 20 seconds separating us from the guys ahead, but it looks as though the conditions could be a bit more settled tomorrow. That will make it difficult to produce any big gains, but we have to keep going and see what’s possible.”
BOUFFIER AND PANSERI
EIGHTH AFTER STAGE THIRTEEN
Bryan Bouffier and Xavier Panseri currently hold eighth place on their maiden outing with the EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC.
Discovering the performance of the top-specification Fiesta, the Frenchmen have delivered an intelligent drive through the event’s typically challenging terrain.
Making the right calls on the tyres and driving to the conditions, the pairing could well be rewarded with a solid result come the end of the rally.
Stage performances:
SS9: 7th (+1:32.1)
SS10: 8th (+33.1)
SS11: 8th (+47.5)
SS12: 9th (+13.2)
SS13: 9th (+22.0)Bryan Bouffier (8th) said:
“This has been a typical day at Rallye Monte-Carlo with a lot of different and challenging conditions. It’s what makes this rally so enjoyable, and it has been a lot of fun.
“At times it can be difficult to adapt the pace to the slippery sections and those with more grip, but it’s been a good day and I am quite happy.”
ELSEWHERE
IN THE TEAM
Teemu Suninen said:
“I’m really thankful to the mechanics who were able to repair the car last night as we’ve had a really good day today. I was really pleased with my pace and was able to learn a lot about this difficult rally – especially about the weather, and about the tyre choices. It’s a shame about the mistake yesterday, but today has been much better for us.”
Eric Camilli said:
“We had a problem with a fuel pump sensor on the first stage this afternoon [SS11]. We tried everything we could to fix it, but at the end it wasn’t possible to continue.
“It’s been a disappointing weekend because the pace was good and we really wanted to push for the victory, but it wasn’t to be.”
OVERALL
CLASSIFICATION
1. Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia (Ford Fiesta WRC) 3:30:30.9
2. Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja (Toyota Yaris WRC) +33.5
3. Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila (Toyota Yaris WRC) +59.2
4. Esapekka Lapp / Janne Ferme (Toyota Yaris WRC) +3:05.8
5. Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) +4:40.1
6. Elfyn Evans / Daniel Barritt (Ford Fiesta WRC) +5:00.2
7. Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +5:33.6
8. Bryan Bouffier / Xavier Panseri (Ford Fiesta WRC) +5:43.4
9. Craig Breen / Scott Martin (Citroen DS3 WRC) +8:49.0
10. Jan Kopecky / Pavel Dresler (Skoda Fabia R5) +14:04.4-ENDS-
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WRC – OGIER PULLS CLEAR
Sébastien Ogier’s lead over Ott Tänak has increased significantly after Saturday’s first two stages, the Frenchman setting a blistering pace and taking nearly a minute out of his former team-mate on the super tricky snow-filled opener. The Estonian pulled back a few seconds in the following stage but remains one minute 3.4 seconds adrift heading into a re-run of the loop. Jari-Matti Latvala has powered up the leaderboard from fifth to third, overhauling team-mate Esapekka Lappi and benefitting when Dani Sordo slid off the road into retirement
Today is another long one for the crews and takes in two identical loops of two stages this morning before rounding off the day with one more stage and then the long drive back to Monaco for the halt. Overnight snow made conditions incredibly difficult, mild conditions then turning the snow to slush which made it treacherous for everyone and benefitted those running further down the field as cleaner lines started to appear. Ogier may have pulled clear and only been beaten by Andreas Mikkelsen on the stage, but the Frenchman was lucky not to be hampered by a broken wheel and described the stage as the ‘worst of his career’. Tänak managed to claw back 15 seconds with fastest time in the shorter St Leger Le Melezes stage, despite complaining about a damper problem. Latvala, hot on Lappi’s heels last night, took full advantage this morning and is now just over 25 seconds ahead, his younger team-mate describing conditions in the opening stage as ‘not on this planet’.
Kris Meeke has moved one place up the leaderboard into fifth courtesy of Sordo but he lost more than 10 seconds with a spin in the first stage. Bryan Bouffier has inched closer, despite playing it safe, but has Elfyn Evans and Thierry Neuville on his heels looking to improve their positions on the season opener. They are seventh and eighth respectively, Evans having a spin and Neuville a small overshoot. Craig Breen, opening the road today, had the worst of the conditions and is ninth ahead of FIA WRC 2 Championship contender Jan Kopecky. Jean-Baptiste Franceschi continues to top the WRC 3 category in his Fiesta R2T.
eom
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Back with a bang: the wait for the #SepangTest is over
Testing, testing: 1, 2, 3 days of action in Malaysia mean one thing and one thing only: MotoGP™ is BACK!It’s that time of year again: the Sepang test. Now a mainstay of preseason excitement as it heads up the agenda as first track action of the year, the sweltering heat and challenging layout of the Malaysian venue is once again ready to welcome the class of the new MotoGP™ season: 24 riders, 12 teams, and one World Championship title up for grabs. The questions are many, and the answers will be hard fought.
Beginning on the 28th January, there are eight hours of track action per day over three days, and motogp.com will offer extensive coverage. That includes regular updates throughout the three days, as well as interviews, action clips and a special end-of-day wrap-up show. So here we go – #2018 starts now…
Can Marquez maintain his momentum?
The man wearing the crown as the engines prepare to fire up in 2018 is Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), and Sepang will give us the first glimpse as to the six-time World Champion’s form heading into the year. So far, Marquez has only relinquished his hold on the premier class title once – in 2015 – and his name is penciled in as a key favourite. And his teammate, Dani Pedrosa, is always a big threat – and the most recent race winner. Honda were the only manufacturer who brought a 2018 prototype bike to the Valencia test – also ridden by LCR Honda Castrol’s Cal Crutchlow – so Sepang will prove interesting.
Could Lorenzo catch Dovizioso at Ducati?
The man who took Marquez to the wire over the spectacular 2017 season was Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team). His form was stunning, taking Ducati back onto the top step six times throughout the year. His teammate, five-time World Champion Jorge Lorenzo, is the only man other than Marquez to have taken the MotoGP™ crown since the younger rider’s graduation to the premier class – so can a year in red turn the tables and see Lorenzo back on top? Or will years of development and a new mentality keep ‘DesmoDovi’ leading from the front at Borgo Panigale?
Does the ‘Doctor’ have a tenth title up his sleeve?
2017 had some big ups and downs for Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) – including his 300th premier class race start, at Silverstone, and a broken leg not long after. But three weeks later the ‘Doctor’ was back, at MotorLand Aragon, and he put in a stunner to duel his teammate for fourth. Starting the season healthy and showing no signs of slowing down, can Rossi take that elusive tenth? Yamaha will be pushing hard to move forward from 2017, and Sepang could be pivotal for both.
Will 2017 testing top gun Maverick Viñales strike back?
Fastest, fastest, fastest, fastest – that was Maverick Viñales’ CV during preseason last year as he got on the Movistar Yamaha for the first time. And the Spaniard won the first two races, too, before then going on to finish the season in third overall. After a winter of keen development for Yamaha – including a private test at Sepang in November – will Viñales come out the blocks swinging once more? And if he does, what does that tell us about the season as a whole?
Should sophomore Zarco be a favourite for victory?
After a stunning debut season, debut podiums and the coveted Rookie of the Year title, there are a lot of eyes on Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) as he enters his second season. Routinely top Yamaha over the second half of 2017, that named the Frenchman as a real podium contender much of the time – so will 2018 be the season that changes that from podium to victory? With good initial reports on the Yamahas he tested at Valencia at the end of last year, Zarco will be arriving at the Sepang test asking ‘why not?’
He’ll also be gunning for the first ever World Championship for top Independent Team rider. But the competition for that will be tough, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) just four of the names that will be standing in his way.
Who will win the battle of the rookies?
The Rookie of the Year crown is one that you can’t defend. One of Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), his teammate Tom Lüthi, LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami and Reale Avintia Racing’s Xavier Simeon will be the fastest newcomer in 2018 – but which one? Morbidelli is reigning Moto2™ Champion and was dueling Nakagami for fastest rookie when they both first tested the machines – but Simeon was recovering from injury and Lüthi wasn’t even able to take part. Sepang will be the Swiss rider’s first taste of his 2018 bike…and he’ll be pushing hard to play catch up. Will track records remain true to form? Or will one of the newcomers stage a surprise?
Can KTM keep closing in?
2017 was an impressive debut as the Austrian factory went from drawing board to top ten finishes with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith. After development having raced forward at an awesome rate throughout the year, how will KTM blast out the blocks for 2018?
There’s also Team Suzuki Ecstar to contend with, who will want to hit the ground running with Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins. Aiming to get off to a better start than last season, the 2016 race-winning manufacturer have another year of experience with their machine – as do both their riders, having started from zero last year.
Beginning on the 28th January, the track will be open from 10 a.m. (GMT+8) to 6 p.m. on each of the three days as the first answers to these questions begin to appear on the horizon. motogp.com will offer extensive coverage of the #SepangTest, including regular updates throughout the three days as well as interviews, action clips and a special end-of-day wrap-up show. Don’t miss it – MotoGP™ is BACK!
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Reigning champions from top motorsport series all over the world join ROC Riyadh line-up
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File photo from Race of Champions organisers. The field of driving royalty competing in next week’s Race Of Champions has been boosted by a host of drivers who dominated top motorsport series in 2017
- Reigning champions joining the ROC Riyadh line-up include 2017 Le Mans winner and FIA World Endurance Champion Timo Bernhard, DTM Champion René Rast and FIA World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson
- Mexico’s 2017 European Le Mans Series Champion Memo Rojas will take to the track too, alongside 2017 NASCAR Mexico Champion Abraham Calderon and young Swedish charger Joel Eriksson
- They join a stunning ROC field featuring F1 stars, Indy 500 winners, Le Mans legends and rallycross aces such as David Coulthard, Juan Pablo Montoya, Tom Kristensen, Petter Solberg, Lando Norris, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Josef Newgarden and Helio Castroneves
- ROC Riyadh will take place inside the King Fahad International Stadium on February 2-3. For more info see www.raceofchampions.com
Many of the reigning champions who dominated motorsport series all over the world in 2017 have joined the field of driving royalty assembling for next week’s Race Of Champions – to be held on February 2-3, 2018 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Riyadh’s King Fahad International Stadium.The ROC Riyadh field already includes some of the greatest names in the history of motorsport such as Formula 1 stars, Indianapolis 500 winners and Le Mans legends. Now they will be joined by a host of current stars who are at the top of their game in everything from rallycross to touring cars to endurance racing to NASCAR.
Germany’s Timo Bernhard will make his ROC debut after a stunning year for Porsche in which he took his second win at the Le Mans 24 Hours (alongside Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber) before adding the overall FIA World Endurance Championship. He will be joined in Riyadh by his fellow countryman René Rast, who stunned the tin-top world by sealing the 2017 DTM crown in a Team Rosberg Audi in his first full year.
Sweden will also be well represented in Riyadh, starting with another ROC debutant: 2017 FIA World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson had a dazzling year, at one point taking five successive wins to see off a star-studded field and romp to the crown. Young Swedish charger Joel Eriksson will be in action too, after a season in which he took seven FIA European F3 Championship wins and was pipped to the title by British ace Lando Norris. The pair can now resume hostilities next week…
There will also be two Mexican drivers making their Race Of Champions debuts in Riyadh after sealing championships in 2017. Triple Daytona 24 Hours winner and four-time Grand-Am Champion Memo Rojas added the European Le Mans Series title to his impressive racing roll of honour, and he will now be joined on the ROC parallel track by newly-crowned NASCAR Mexico champion Abraham Calderon.
> Watch Rojas, Calderon and the VUHL 05 ROC Edition prepare for Race Of Champions in Riyadh
The new arrivals will have their work cut out against a line-up of motorsport legends including double Indianapolis 500 winner and F1 veteran Juan Pablo Montoya, who will defend the ROC Champion of Champions crown he won on his debut in Miami last year. Fellow Indy 500 winners Helio Castroneves and Ryan Hunter-Reay will be in action too, alongside reigning IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden.
‘Mr Le Mans’ Tom Kristensen and double FIA World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg.will compete alongside 13-time F1 grand prix winner David Coulthard and newly-crowned 2017 FIA Formula 3 European Champion Lando Norris. ROC Factor winners from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East will also earn the chance to take on this illustrious line-up of driving superstars.
Bernhard said: “Believe it or not I visited the Race Of Champions way back in 1989 when it came to the Nürburgring. That day I was just watching with my Dad but ever since I’ve been waiting for my chance to compete – and now that day has arrived! I’m really looking forward to racing on the famous ROC parallel track, and it will be a true privilege to take on such an amazing field of great drivers from all over the world who are all experts in their own fields. Bring it on…”
Kristoffersson added: “I’m thrilled to be competing at the Race Of Champions for the first time in Riyadh next week. I’ve long been a fan of the event and I’ve learned even more this year because my WRX team-mate Petter Solberg won’t stop talking about how great it is! Now I can finally experience ROC first-hand. It’s an honour to represent Sweden together with Joel Eriksson. Of course it will be a big challenge as a rookie, but I used to race touring cars so I hope that mix of experience can help me adapt quickly to all the different cars. Either way I look forward to putting on a great show for all the fans watching in the stadium and all over the world.”
The Race Of Champions is an annual contest which is now in its 30th year. It brings together some of the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s major disciplines – including Formula 1, IndyCar, Le Mans, World Rally and the X Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.
In recent years ROC has visited some of the world’s best stadiums: the Stade de France in Paris (2004-2006), London’s Wembley Stadium (2007-2008), the ‘Bird’s Nest’ Olympic Stadium in Beijing (2009), Düsseldorf’s Esprit Arena (2010-2011), the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok (2012), Bushy Park Barbados (2014), London’s Olympic Stadium (2015) and Miami’s Marlins Park (2017).
Now the event is heading to the Middle East for the first time to soak up the heat of Riyadh. Saudi motorsport fans – including women for the first time at an international event – have a chance to watch the speediest action the city has ever seen as many of the world’s greatest drivers push to the absolute limit on a brand new parallel track winding its way around the confines of the King Fahad International Stadium.
The Race Of Champions is run over two days: first comes the ROC Nations Cup (on Friday February 2) when drivers pair up in teams based on nationality – including the hosts Saudi Arabia – to bid for the title of ‘World’s Fastest Nation’. Then on Saturday February 3 it’s time for the Race Of Champions itself, when teamwork goes out of the window and it’s a flat-out battle for individual glory.
The competitors will take to the track in a stunning range of supercars that have been specially prepared for the event to test them to the absolute limit. Vehicles in action include the Vuhl 05 ROC Edition, Ariel Atom Cup, Xtreme Pickup, Whelen NASCAR, KTM X-Bow Comp R and the ROC Car. To prevail, drivers will have to master this mix of machinery that will put all their hard-earned skills to the test, forcing them to adapt their driving style as they make regular switches between cars.
But that’s not all. The Race Of Champions is a non-stop show from start to finish and also features stunt shows on four wheels and two plus plenty of other entertainment to keep the race fans on the edge of their seats
ROC President Fredrik Johnsson said: “At the Race Of Champions we have always loved to take drivers from all sorts of different disciplines and throw them together in identical machinery to see who comes out on top. This year is no exception, and we have assembled another line-up of driving greats from all over the world.
“Our field now contains a mix of legends and current champions from Le Mans, IndyCar, Rally X, Formula 1, Touring Cars, NASCAR and more. If you’ve ever wondered which type of motorsport really has the best drivers of all, next week’s ROC Riyadh will give you the perfect chance to find out!”
For access to rights-free high-resolution imagery and to keep up with all the latest news ahead of this year’s event please visit www.raceofchampions.com, Race Of Champions on Facebook plus @raceofchampions and #ROCRiyadh on Twitter.
eom/posted by David Bodapati, a press release from RoC
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Defending champ Ogier-Ingrassia lead after opening night stages: Rallye Monte-Carlo, WRC
S Ogier and navigator Ingrassia lead after first round in the Rally Monte Carlo, the season opener of the WRC on Wednesday. An M-Sport Ford Rally team image Reigning FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier has made the perfect start to Rallye Monte-Carlo, the Frenchman scooping the first two stage wins and a 17.3 second lead after Thursday’s opening night stages. Andreas Mikkelsen heads Hyundai’s challenge in second with team-mate Dani Sordo third a further 8.3 seconds adrift of the Norwegian.
“M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia lead the first round with a 17.3-second advantage aboard their EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC.
“As five-time winners of the prestigious event, the pairing knows exactly what it takes to master the notoriously challenging conditions. This year’s fixture threw up an immensely challenging opener – Sisteron, in reverse, in the dark – but Ogier and Ingrassia did not falter,” added a Ford Team release.
Sébastien Ogier (1st) said:
“We knew it would be tough to cross the icy section with slick tyres and we actually had a spin there. I think almost everyone had a moment in there, but luckily we didn’t lose too much time. The rest of the stage was also very tricky with the grip changing all the time and it was challenging to know where you could and couldn’t push.
“I was happy with the car and in these conditions and you need to be comfortable or you don’t have any chance to be fast. There are still some small things here and there that we can do to improve, but I’m happy and it’s a good start.”
The eagerly awaited 2018 FIA World Rally Championship kicked off this evening in Monaco, the crews leaving the famous Casino Square late afternoon and then heading directly into two daunting stages en route back to the overnight halt in Gap. Ogier was on the pace immediately, despite a low-speed spin on sheet ice, and the Gap-born driver overnights happy with his early performance. Mikkelsen, in his first full season with Hyundai, lost the brakes in the first stage but sits just 17.3 seconds adrift and ahead of Sordo who returns to the Championship with his former co-driver Carlos del Barrio.
Behind the leading trio, Esapekka Lappi surprisingly heads the trio of Toyota drivers. The Finn is on a mission not to make mistakes and while admitting his pace wasn’t the best, he was happy his confidence was building in tricky conditions. Toyota newcomer, Ott Tänak, is five seconds further behind in fifth having hit a bank in the first stage and suffering from massive understeer. Jari-Matti Latvala, in the third Yaris WRC, spun twice and played a gamble with three super soft tyres, admitting he needed to try something different. Craig Breen is seventh in the lead Citroën C3 WRC but the Irish driver stalled and got stuck in snow in the first stage and then struggled in the second when he ran out of time to set the tyre pressures before the start; a nightmare start to his 2018 campaign. Bryan Bouffier, drafted into the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team for this event, is eighth and Kris Meeke ninth. The Northern Irishman made a stupid mistake in the opener, spinning and then reversing into a ditch which cost him a precious minute. Eric Camilli holds 10th overall and leads the FIA WRC 2 Championship contenders ahead of Jan Kopecky.
Elfyn Evans has also had a bad start and is down in 16th overall, the Welshman picking up a puncture which he had to stop and change. Thierry Neuville fared even worse, the Belgian one place behind after locking up and skidding into a snow bank.
The FIA WRC 3 Championship is being led by Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Franceschi in a Fiesta R2T.
Rallye Monte-Carlo – Provisional results after Section 1
1. Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 38min 09.8sec 2. Andreas Mikkelsen / Anders Jæger Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 38min 27.1sec 3. Dani Sordo / Carlos del Barrio Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 38min 35.4sec 4. Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC 38min 47.2sec 5. Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 38min 52.2sec 6. Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 39min 05.2sec 7. Craig Breen / Scott Martin Citroën C3 WRC 39min 12.1sec 8. Bryan Bouffier / Xavier Panseri Ford Fiesta WRC 40min 00.8sec 9. Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle Citroën C3 WRC 40min 22.5sec 10. Eric Camilli / Benjamin Veillas Ford Fiesta R5 40min 52.0sec -
Sahara Force India, Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 team withdraw EU complaint
Joint release by Sahara Force India and the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team:
We have decided to withdraw the complaint we lodged with the European Commission in 2015 on the subject of anti-competitive practices in the sport of Formula 1.
We have been greatly encouraged by the dialogue that has been introduced following the appointment of Chase Carey as Executive Chairman and CEO of the Formula 1 commercial rights holder and his new management team. Their approach has brought a new culture of transparency to the sport and illustrates willingness to debate fundamental issues such as the distribution of the prize fund monies, cost control and engine regulations.
We are encouraged and reassured by the even-handed and fair negotiating approach taken by the new management of Formula 1 to all the teams and their issues. While the concerns leading to the compliant were fully justified, we believe this new approach provides the necessary degree of assurance that our concerns will be looked at objectively, and we prefer to resolve the issues facing the sport through dialogue rather than a legal dispute.
We want to support this transformational process in Formula 1 and thus have resolved to withdraw our complaint with immediate effect.
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Rally Monte-Carlo to kickstart the WRC season:
A file photo of WRC action by FIA. Rallye Monte-Carlo, the oldest and most famous rally in the world, kick starts the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship and this year runs one week later than normal (25-28 January). While essentially an asphalt rally, the event’s winter slot in January almost certainly guarantees a tricky mix of dry and wet roads, treacherously slippery ice and snow. As such, tyre choice is always a gamble and compromise, as all these conditions could be found in one stage requiring drivers to be able to read the road, manage pace and tyre wear throughout not just one stage but an entire loop.
The teams now have one year behind them with the new generation of World Rally Cars, but competition is sure to remain as fierce and unpredictable as each manufacturer demonstrated rally-winning pace in the debut season with the cars. While most of the driver line-ups stay the same, there are nevertheless some exciting new combinations sure to add another dimension in Monte-Carlo. Reigning FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier remains with M-Sport Ford with Elfyn Evans as his regular team-mate. Bryan Bouffier, however, joins the squad as something of a specialist with eight starts and one victory to his name. Hyundai will be fielding Thierry Neuville, Andreas Mikkelsen, and Dani Sordo, who returns this season with former co-driver Carlos del Barrio. Ott Tänak will make his debut for Toyota, partnering Jari-Matti Latvala and Esapekka Lappi, both of whom won events for the Japanese marque in its first season back in the WRC last year. Citroën regulars Kris Meeke and Craig Breen round off the manufacturer entries for the all-important season-opener.
The FIA WRC 2 and WRC 3 Championship crews will be back in action and Rallye Monte-Carlo is also the opening round of the FIA RGT Cup.
Before any of the action gets underway, however, the WRC Season Opening celebration will kick off the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship in Monaco on Thursday afternoon.
THE 2018 ROUTE
As ever, Casino Square in Monte-Carlo will host the start ceremony on Thursday and the crews immediately head into the first two night stages as they make their way back to Gap for the overnight halt. Thoard-Sisteron is effectively new, running in the opposite direction for the first time in the WRC. Friday the drivers head south of Gap for the longest day of the event covering two loops of three stages and 144.88 competitive kilometres, Roussieux-Eygalayes and Vaumeilh-Claret new to the itinerary this year. Saturday is another long but largely familiar day and takes the crews back to Monaco for the overnight halt. Sunday’s two stages see the drivers twice over the iconic Col de Turini and La Cabanette-Col de Braus, which is again new this year and will also run as the closing Power Stage. The traditional prize-giving then takes place in front of Monaco’s Place du Palais Princier, one of the highlights of the season.
Three stages will be broadcast live on television; SS12, SS15 and SS17, with all stages also available live on the newly launched WRC All Live on the WRC+ platform.
RALLY DATA
Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:1,642.40 km
388.59 km (23.66%)
17eom/FIA press release
