Your basket is currently empty!
Author: David Bodapati
-
As we enter a new season, INDIA in F1 dot com, thanks all the motorsports enthusiasts and fans
Bangalore, 31 Jan 2015: As we begin the season, www.INDIAinF1.com enters its 10th year, and on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the revamped website, we salute all the Indians in the world of Formula One, especially, the Force India F1 team and the Indian origin first F1 lady team principal, who is at Sauber F1 team.
We also fondly remember the efforts and contribution to the Indian sport by the two greatest ever Indian talent Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok. We also acknowledge the Indian origin German Balbir Singh, who made his presence felt in the F1 circles with his expertise as team personnel. At this time, we also acknowledge the hard work and efforts of Vicky Chandhok, former President of Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) and the Jaypee group for the successful conduct of Formula One race in India for three years. We hope and urge the new president Bharat Raj of India Mines Group, to continue the efforts to bring back the show-piece event. An interview with the current FMSCI president will appear soon.
As a culmination of decades of effort and passion, when Narain Karthikeyan, the fastest Indian in the world, became the first Indian driver in Formula One (F1), the site began in 2005, but soon had to close for various technical reasons. Earlier, in 2002, when the founder of this site (yours humbly) became the second Indian journalist to cover an F1 race live (at Sepang 2002), the idea was to bring out an exclusive F1 magazine in India. However, as the first F1 website in India, we were able to withstand and began regular updates from Jan 2011, and today thanks to our supporters, fans, we have more than 1000 regular visitors to the site everyday. At one point, we have gone below 3-lakh site mark in the Alexa rankings.
Today we start a series of articles on Indians and Indian contribution to the world of Formula One.
-
Sauber team presents the new Sauber C34-Ferrari, the 2015 F1 car
Hinwil, 30 January 2015: The Sauber F1 Team presents the new Sauber C34-Ferrari on its Media Portal. The Sauber F1 Team will go into the 2015 FIA Formula One Championship with new drivers Marcus Ericsson (SE, 24) and Felipe Nasr (BR, 22). Raffaele Marciello (IT, 20) has signed as test and reserve driver. The roll-out of the new Sauber C34-Ferrari will take place at the first winter test in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain).
With regard to the 2015 season, team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said: “2014 was a very disappointing year. However, this is in the past, and we now focus on what comes next. We have learned our lessons and are confident for the new season.”
The team principal’s prediction for the new season is short and concise: “We have to improve, and be able to fight for championship points.” For the Sauber F1 Team 2015 is its 23rd season in Formula One; it is the fourth oldest of the current brands.
Monisha Kaltenborn is optimistic about the new driver line-up: “I am delighted about our two new drivers who bring a breath of fresh air. Both are young, talented and highly motivated. On their way to Formula 1 both stood out through victories in Formula BMW and Formula 3. Both then finished this career progression off in the GP2-Series. While Marcus looks back to one season in Formula 1, Felipe will have his rookie year in which he comes fully prepared due to his role as test and reserve driver at Williams last year. I feel confident with regard to our drivers.”
Marcus Ericsson also looks into the future with optimism: “I am pleased about being a member of the Sauber F1 Team. After a difficult season, we want to move forward and fight in the mid-field like the team previously did. From a driver’s point of view, I want to continue to learn and establish myself as a Formula One driver. I have the feeling of being in the perfect environment to do so. In Formula One it is difficult to have precise targets, as it depends on the overall package. It is clear that we want to be fighting for points.”
Felipe Nasr explains: “In my rookie season there is a lot to learn, and especially as I have not yet driven on some circuits yet. In general, I am ready to take on this challenge. In my role as test and reserve driver for Williams last year, I was involved in every race weekend. Furthermore, I also had the chance to drive the car a few times, so I think I have a certain understanding of Formula One. Now I am taking the next step in being a race driver, and I am looking forward to bringing my experience from 2014 as well as to supporting the Sauber F1 Team in getting back into the points.”
Test and reserve driver is Raffaele Marciello who, as well as other series, won the 2013 Formula 3 Championship in an outstanding way. Last year he had two podium finishes and won the main GP 2 race in Spa-Francorchamps. Raffaele will also have the opportunity to participate in some Friday practice sessions during Grands Prix. Monisha Kaltenborn said: “Raffaele’s previous career is impressive. Therefore it is a logical step for us to give him the opportunity to become more familiar with Formula 1. As a team we are pleased to be there with him on his way to the pinnacle of motorsport.”
Raffaele Marciello explained: “I am really pleased to be a member of the Sauber F1 Team, which has a long tradition of building up excellent drivers. I really think that this is the best choice for my future career. I am also happy to compete for one more season in the GP2 Series, which, together with my new F1 role, will give me a very busy 2015 season. I want to thank the people at the Ferrari Driver Academy who are responsible for giving me this important opportunity, and now I really can’t wait to start delivering my best.”
Sauber C34-Ferrari
After a season with the most comprehensive technical changes in the history of Formula One, there are significantly fewer regulation changes for the 2015 season. During the development of the new Sauber C34-Ferrari the Sauber F1 Team’s engineers focused on three areas: performance in slow corners, weight reduction, as well as braking stability.
Eric Gandelin, chief designer of the Sauber F1 Team, explained: “We were able to gain a lot of experience during the course of the 2014 season, which will have an influence on the Sauber C34.”
Aerodynamics traditionally play a key role in the development of a new car. But on this occasion it wasn’t only a question of optimising downforce and drag, but also improving the balance of the car and its responses in particular through low-speed corners.
The greatest visual difference compared to the Sauber C33 can be found around the nose section, which is now bigger in volume and lower to the ground following further changes to the technical regulations. This has a considerable impact on the aerodynamics of the entire car: the nose and front wing play a key role in determining how the air flows around the front wheels and how effectively the central and rear sections of the car function aerodynamically. The new design of the wheel rims has progressed in a similar direction, in the interests of optimising airflow around the front wheels.
The front suspension concept has changed little, with the springs and dampers again pushrod-actuated. However, the engineers put a lot of effort into improving the feedback from the steering for the drivers.
The sidepods of the new Sauber C34, are now slimmer than those of the Sauber C33, despite higher cooling requirements from the new power unit. This has been made possible by modifications to the attachment of the side crash elements. In addition, the architecture of the radiators, which are now positioned horizontally, has been fundamentally revised. The engineers also paid great attention to the flexibility of the cooling system, which can be adapted precisely – and individually for the various components – to the ambient temperature and circuit characteristics. For example, small air vents on the side of the cockpit are only used in certain situations.
Beyond this, the rear section as a whole is less voluminous, which benefits aerodynamic efficiency.
The car’s minimum weight has been increased in line with the FIA’s technical regulations, up from 691 kg a year ago to 702 kg now. The engineers, of course, set out to undercut this figure in order to give themselves ample room for manoeuvre when it comes to weight distribution – an important factor in determining how the car uses its tyres.
Modified powertrain
The car’s engine, energy recovery system and gearbox are again supplied by Ferrari. The 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engine has a rev limit of 15,000 rpm. The technical regulations allow for certain components to be completely redesigned for the 2015 season. The aim has been not only to increase the power from the turbocharged engine, but above all to optimise the car’s energy recovery and energy storage capability.In terms of its concept, the engine is very much comparable with last year’s, but its architecture has changed significantly, necessitating numerous adjustments to the chassis.
The exhaust tailpipe is again positioned centrally between two pylons, though they are no longer supported by the rear crash element, but by the gearbox housing.
The spring and damper elements at the rear axle are again pullrod-actuated, but otherwise this is a totally new construction with separate lower wishbone legs. In addition, the engineers worked on improving the mechanical traction. Besides a number of other parts, there will be optimised gear ratios to support this effort.
As with its predecessor, the packaging of the Sauber C34 presented the engineers with a genuine challenge. After all, in excess of 40 electronics boxes have to be accommodated, of which more than 30 require cooling.
New parts to follow in stages
A first impression of the value of these measures will be obtained at the first test in Jerez. “Later on it will be crucial to see where we stand in comparison to our competition,” explained chief designer Eric Gandelin.
The Sauber F1 Team will use a roll-out version of the car for the first test at Jerez. Some components are still from the Sauber C33 and will be successively replaced by new parts. “We will use the time up to Melbourne to ensure we’re as competitive as possible when we line up on the grid for the season opener,” added Eric Gandelin.
eom/Sauber launch press
Sauber Motorsport Ag photos release
-
Mercedes AMG Petronas completes first day of running 2015 F1 Wo6 hybrid car
Silverstone,
Mercedes AMG Petronas image of F1 W06 at Silverstone on Thursday 29Jan2015. 29 Jan 2015: MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS today completed a first day of running with its 2015 specification Formula One car during a Promotional Event at Silverstone.
The F1 W06 Hybrid, powered by the PU106B Hybrid Power Unit, first departed the garage at 13:13 this afternoon in icy conditions at the Northamptonshire circuit.
Driven first by Nico Rosberg, then Lewis Hamilton, the car completed a total of 18 laps (47.2 km) before a blizzard brought filming to a halt.
The team will now ready the F1 W06 Hybrid for its public track debut in Jerez on Sunday 1 February.
eom/Mercedes AMG Petronas release
-
McLaren-Honda begins new era with MP4-30
#McLarenHonda
#MakeHistory
McLaren-Honda – the name evokes stirring memories of the past; of Ayrton Senna battling Alain Prost for supremacy; of classic red and white machines dominating for season upon season; of an iconic team writing one of the defining chapters in the motor racing history books.
Reuniting such an illustrious partnership brings with it the heavy weight of expectation, but all at McLaren and Honda are working to write a fresh chapter in Formula 1, one that respectfully nods to the past, but boldly looks to the horizon.
Today’s reveal of the new McLaren-Honda MP4-30 – McLaren’s first Honda-powered car for 23 years – speaks volumes about the progressive nature of both companies. It is a thoroughly refined evolution of last year’s McLaren, it is the only chassis on the grid to be fitted with Honda’s RA615H Hybrid power unit, and it features an evolved colour scheme that firmly contextualises McLaren’s brand in the 21st century.
MP4-30 – new technical DNA in the mix
In 2015 McLaren-Honda intends to maintain the momentum it achieved during the second half of 2014, when an intensive technical development programme for the MP4-29 allowed the team to establish a solid position within the chasing pack.
Relatively stable technical regulations between seasons have permitted our engineers to evolve some of the newer philosophies explored on last year’s season-ending car while also adding some exciting new technical DNA into the mix.
Moreover, our restructured and strengthened engineering departments have gained the conviction to embark on a number of changes of direction. With that in mind, the MP4-30 has been developed to provide us with the most effective and practical base package. It is a foundation – offering up a number of new exploratory development paths for our engineers, aerodynamicists and drivers to pursue during the season, and on into next year.
The car has been aerodynamically developed over the winter, and the result is a pretty, elegant design with a refined nose-box solution, slimmed rear-end packaging – particularly around the gearbox – and the incorporation of an all-new power unit under its tightly contoured bodywork.
Honda: a truly bespoke engineering solution
The partnership with Honda is particularly exciting: to achieve success within the technical regulations requires a bespoke engineering solution that can be achieved only in collaboration with a works partner. Honda will provide the know-how, the expertise and the muscle to make rapid progress – and to keep pushing development, on all fronts, during the season. The partnership will be a work in progress, but it will only strengthen over time.
Achieving our ambitious targets will not happen immediately – winning in Formula 1 is a lengthy, iterative process, and one that will gather collective momentum from season to season – but, with the MP4-30 as a base, McLaren and Honda feel they are ready to make quick and efficient progress towards a successful future.
Partners new and old – a formula for success
The team’s preparations for 2015 have drawn upon the considerable resources of ExxonMobil, who have been working with our new colleagues at Honda for two years on developing new technologies and formulations of Mobil 1 engine lubricants for the Honda V6 turbo. In turn, the team’s technology partner, SAP, provides its secure HANA Enterprise Cloud solution which underpins the entire McLaren Group, strengthening and simplifying the way the team runs its data management and modelling.
There are significant milestones to commemorate in 2015: this year marks McLaren’s 30th consecutive year of partnership with TAG Heuer, while both Johnnie Walker and Hilton Worldwide are celebrating 10 years with the team. Such long-standing relationships underline McLaren’s ability to support and enhance any blue-chip brand’s global marketing programme.
Joining us for 2015 are international news broadcaster CNN and professional services company KPMG, which have both formed important strategic alliances with the McLaren Technology Group. McLaren-Honda is also pleased to welcome back the global coffee brand Segafredo Zanetti, which first partnered the team during the original McLaren-Honda era.
Fernando will begin on-track testing of the new MP4-30 at Jerez de la Frontera on Sunday February 1st.
#14 Fernando Alonso
@alo_oficial
Age 33 (July 29 1981)
GP starts 234
Titles
2 (2005, 2006) Wins 32
Podiums 97
Poles 22
Fastest laps 21
“Although the winter period is a time for rest and relaxation from racing, my motivation could not be stronger for the new season. I’ve done a lot of training during the winter break, to reach my peak physical fitness, and I’ve been working hard in preparation for this new era of McLaren-Honda. I’ve never felt better, or more ready for a new season.
“Of course, we’re prepared for a steep learning curve, but it’s clear to see that inside McLaren-Honda there’s total commitment, and a real change in feeling, as we start this new partnership. We’re all focused on the challenge ahead, and I feel extremely honoured to be part of a relationship that has shared so much history together. My aim is to help write a new chapter in the history of McLaren-Honda. We understand the effort and teamwork required to take McLaren-Honda back to where it should be, at the front of the grid, and all our energy as a team is focused on that goal.
Our first target will be to learn the maximum from the car at the pre-season tests, understand the package, and extract as much performance as possible. That won’t be easy or trouble-free, but we’re ready for that. Why? Because our key focus will be on development. Historically, McLaren has already been characterised by its ability to bring updates to the car quickly, and develop a strong package. It’s going to be a real privilege to be the first person to drive the new McLaren-Honda MP4-30 at Jerez, and I can’t wait to begin what I’m certain will be a very exciting new chapter in my career. I’m as motivated now as I was when I was given my first opportunity at the wheel of an F1 car.
“Last but not least, I’m excited to be sitting alongside Jenson [Button], a great team-mate and a very experienced competitor. Together we’ll push the team forward, to learn, to progress, and eventually to achieve the best possible results together. We are ready for the new era.”
#22 Jenson Button
@JensonButton
Age 35 (January 19 1980)
GP starts 266
Titles 1 (2009)
Wins 15
Podiums 50
Poles 8
Fastest laps 8
“The off-season has really brought about a sense of renewal coming into 2015 – continuing my relationship with McLaren, getting married, and now embarking on such an exciting chapter: McLaren’s new partnership with Honda. I’ve trained hard over the winter, and I’m absolutely itching to get going in the new McLaren-Honda MP4-30.
“It’s been interesting to spend time in the factory during the past few weeks: you can really sense a feeling of reignited optimism and positivity around the building. I’ve never seen such motivation amongst the guys – we’re all massively keen to get going in Jerez and to work hard on developing our new car. But we’re under no illusion that it will be easy – there’s a huge challenge ahead of us to try to pull back the gap to our rivals, but we’re certainly up for it. We ended last season with great momentum and clear progress, and I’m determined to carry that forward into 2015.
“I’m also looking forward to working with my new team-mate, Fernando [Alonso], and I’m confident that our joint experience on track will pay dividends in our development race to get our team back to the front of the grid. I’m hugely motivated to make more history in this new McLaren-Honda era.”
Kevin Magnussen
Test and reserve driver
@KevinMagnussen
Age 22 (October 5 1992)
GP starts 19
Titles 0
Wins 0
Podiums 1
Poles 0
Fastest laps 0
“Although, naturally, I was disappointed to not be selected for a McLaren-Honda race seat for 2015, I’ve put it behind me and I’m now fully focused on the year ahead.
“McLaren-Honda evokes so many great memories in race fans all over the world, and I’m really proud to be a part of this team at the restart of such an important and historic partnership. My new role as McLaren-Honda’s test and reserve driver is a really important responsibility, and I’m determined to prove my abilities and show what I can do not only on track, but also behind the scenes in the simulator, analysing the data and giving valuable feedback to the engineers. Our fight back to the front of the grid is our main focus, so it’s going to be down to me to work really hard to develop the MP4-30 and make a real difference to its performance in Fernando’s and Jenson’s hands.
“My aim is, of course, to return to a Formula 1 race seat as soon as possible, so I’ll be giving it 100 per cent, both on track and off it, to build on my last year’s experience, to show what I know I’m capable of, and to reward the McLaren-Honda team’s faith in me by keeping me on board.”
Ron Dennis
Chairman and chief executive officer, McLaren Technology Group
“McLaren Technology Group is driven by the relentless pursuit of technological perfection, and, perhaps more than any other element of our portfolio, Formula 1, which is the remit and responsibility of McLaren Racing, and now McLaren-Honda, most famously epitomises that.
“McLaren-Honda is a partnership focused on performance, technology and innovation, and there’s no better example of that than the results achieved in our first collaboration in the 1980s and 1990s. I was Team Principal all those years ago and, while I don’t tend to like looking back to the past, our previous record of sustained success was certainly instrumental in creating the confidence to make the decision to partner with Honda again. Now, there’s real hunger to demonstrate the capabilities of the huge talent pool we share between us, and I’m totally committed to driving progress and achieving further success.
“Although our renewed alliance began again many months ago, the launch of the McLaren-Honda MP4-30 marks the start of a lengthy journey. We’ve come a long way already and, although there’s a lot of work to do before we can expect to repeat the level of success we enjoyed together 25-or-so years ago, it’s already clear that there’s enormous synergy and potential in our partnership, and I’m positive that, together, we’ll get to where we want to be: winning Grands Prix and eventually World Championships as McLaren-Honda.”
Eric Boullier
Racing director, McLaren Racing
“The start of the 2015 season is actually the culmination of a period of great change, and change for the better, plus a huge amount of hard work from everyone in our team.
“It’s almost a year since I arrived in Woking, and, together with Ron and Jonathan [Neale, Chief Operating Officer, McLaren Racing], began an extensive restructure within McLaren Racing. We’re now seeing the benefits of that extensive restructure, and the result is a strengthened, skilled and efficient team, characterised by undimmed commitment from everyone throughout our organisation.
“For a team with such incredible heritage as McLaren, being able to build on our past successes is hugely important to us. It’ll take time to attain the levels of success we aspire to, but you may rest assured that, in concert with Honda, we are totally focused on fulfilling the potential of our exciting new partnership.
“I firmly believe that our team is stronger than ever, and that it’s in the best possible position to push the development of the MP4-30 forward. Progress is our purpose, and we’ve seen firm evidence of that from the very beginning of our renewed relationship. We acknowledge that our journey will require a huge amount of hard work, dedication and application from everyone involved, in both Woking and Sakura, but we’re ready and committed to building on the foundations we’ve already established in order eventually to enjoy the results we crave.
“McLaren and Honda are completely integrated and united in our purpose, and we share a fantastic sense of optimism: that together, in time, we’ll create another legacy of success.”
Yasuhisa Arai
Senior managing officer, Honda R&D Co Ltd; chief officer of motorsport
“Today is obviously a very exciting day for me and for Honda. It’s not every day that you’re involved in a launch of a new Formula 1 car and a start-up of a new partnership.
“As you can see with the new MP4-30, we’ve dedicated ourselves as one team with McLaren to creating a new car that compromises on nothing – either power or aerodynamics.
“Yet, in the midst of the excitement, both myself and our engineers are 100 per cent focused in both Sakura and Milton Keynes to prepare for Jerez and beyond. We’re confident that the technology is there, and I’m looking forward to see how it will perform.
“We’re about to commence a long season, with numerous challenges, but Honda is determined to face them head-on. After all, we’re here to drive Formula 1’s technology forward and give our fans a thrilling ride.”
MP4-30 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Chassis
Monocoque Carbon-fibre composite, incorporating driver controls and fuel cell
Safety structures
Cockpit survival cell incorporating impact resistant construction and anti-penetration panels, front impact structure, prescribed side impact structures, integrated rear impact structure, front and rear roll structures Bodywork
Carbon-fibre composite. including engine cover, sidepods, floor, nose, front wing and rear wing with driver-operated drag reduction system Front suspension Carbon-fibre wishbone and pushrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
Rear suspension
Carbon-fibre wishbone and pullrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system Weight Overall vehicle weight 702kg (including driver, excluding fuel)
Weight distribution between 45.5% and 46.5%
Electronics
McLaren Applied Technologies. Including chassis control, power unit control, data acquisition, alternator, sensors, data analysis and telemetry Instruments McLaren Applied Technologies dashboard
Lubricants & Fluids Mobilith SHC™ 1500 Grease – High temperature drive-shaft tripod lubrication
Mobilith SHC™ 220 Grease – Low rolling resistance ceramic wheel bearing lubrication
Mobil SHC™ Hydraulic Oil – High pressure, high temperature hydraulic fluid used for chassis, transmission and power unit actuation
Brake system Akebono brake calipers and master cylinders
Akebono ‘brake by wire’ rear brake control system
Carbon discs and pads Steering Power-assisted rack and pinion
Tyres
Pirelli P Zero Race wheels Enkei
Radio
Kenwood Paint AkzoNobel Car Refinishes system using Sikkens products
Power Unit
Type Honda RA615H
Minimum weight 145 kg
Primary PU components Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)
Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU-K)
Motor Generator Unit – Heat (MGU-H)
Energy Store (ES)
Turbocharger
Control Electronics
Internal Combustion Engine
Capacity 1.6 litres
Cylinders Six
Bank angle 90-degree vee angle
No of valves 24
Max speed 15,000 rpm
Max fuel flow rate 100 kg/hour (above 10,500 rpm)
Fuel consumption 100 kg ‘lights to flag’ regulated fuel capacity limit
Fuel injection Direct injection, single injector per cylinder, 500 bar max
Pressure charging Single-stage compressor and exhaust turbine, common shaft
Fuel
ExxonMobil High Performance Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel) Lubricants
Mobil 1™ Engine Oil – High protection low friction lubricant and coolant, for high durability and improved fuel economy Energy Recovery System
Architecture Integrated Hybrid energy recovery via Motor Generator Units
Crankshaft coupled electrical MGU-K
Turbocharger coupled electrical MGU-H
Energy Store
Lithium-Ion battery, between 20 and 25 kg Maximum energy storage, 4 MJ per lap MGU-K
Maximum speed, 50,000 rpm Maximum power, 120 kW
Maximum energy recovery, 2 MJ per lap
Maximum energy deployment, 4 MJ per lap
MGU-H
Maximum speed 125,000 rpm Maximum power unlimited
Maximum energy recovery, unlimited Maximum energy deployment, unlimited Transmission
Gearbox
Carbon-fibre composite main case, longitudinally mounted Gear ratios Eight forward and one reverse
Gear selection
Electro-hydraulically operated seamless shift Differential
Epicyclic differential with multi-plate limited slip clutch Clutch
Electro-hydraulically operated, carbon multi-plate Lubricants
Mobil 1 SHC™ Gear Oil – Low traction loss, high efficiency gear and bearing lubricant and coolant eom/McLaren perss note
-
Formula One and Pirelli: All the numbers from 2014
Milan, 29 January 2015: As Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motorsport director, explains: “Each year, we’ve traditionally published all the numbers that tell the story of our Formula One season. Last year we faced the biggest challenge that we had experienced since entering the sport, thanks to a completely new generation of cars that featured very different characteristics to before. Nonetheless, we met all our targets of helping to provide entertaining races, plenty of overtaking opportunities, diverse strategy options and an average of two pit stops per car at each grand prix, despite the many unknown factors for everybody. This year’s tyres will be evolutions of the 2014 tyres, with just one completely new tyre: the supersoft, which has a fresh rear construction and compound. The 2015 tyre range will be on track at Jerez in just a few days from now, but in the meantime, we hope you enjoy looking back on the classic 2014 season from a tyre point of view.”
eom/a pirelli press note
-
Toby Sowery beats Raj Bharath to win MRF Challenge 2014
Raj Bharath finishes 3rd on Sunday. Photo by Raj Bharath’s PR team Irungattukottai (Chennai), 25 Jan 2015: 18 year old Toby Sowery was crowned MRF Challenge 2014 Champion after finishing on the podium in Race 3 at the finale at the MMRT in Chennai. Sowery is the third Champion of the MRF Challenge and at 18 years, the youngest as well. Ryan Cullen won his first race of the weekend ahead of Sowery and Oscar King in Race 3 while King took his first win of the series ahead of Matthew Solomon and Gustava Myasava. Arjun Narendran won his first MRF FF1600 race ahead of Goutham Parekh in another thrilling race with the top 2 finishing less than a second apart from each other.
Sowery finished on top of the standings with 221 points with Cullen in 2nd place with 174 points. Raj Bharath finished in 3rd place, making him the highest Indian finisher in the MRF Challenge. Kyle Mitchell, who missed the final round, had 112 points with Tarun Reddy finishing 5th in the Championship with 87 points.
In Race 3 of the MRF Challenge 2014, Cullen took the lead into the first corner ahead of Sowery and Gustavo Myasava. For the first time this weekend all drivers got through the first few corners safely. Behind the top 3 was King leading the Indians Tarun Reddy and Raj Bharath. Cullen and Sowery pulled away from the rest of the field while Myasava had a battle on his hands holding off King and Raj after Reddy was forced to retire with a fuel pump problem. On lap 7 both King and Raj got past Myasava but the top 2 were too far ahead. Cullen made up for the disappointment of yesterday to take his first win this weekend ahead of Sowery and King. Raj finished in 4th place with Myasava and Matthew Solomon in 5th & 6th places respectively.
In Race 4 of the MRF Challenge 2014, Matthew Solomon started on reverse grid pole alongside Myasava. Solomon held on to the lead with Myasava and King right behind him as they finished the first lap. The top 6 drivers were closely bunched up for the first half of the race with Myasava applying constant pressure on the leader. On lap 8 as Solomon tried to defend against Myasava, King pulled off the overtaking move of the weekend as he drove around the outside of the two drivers to go into the lead. King pulled away from the pack to take his first ever win in the series. Solomon managed to finish in 2nd place, taking his first podium in the series as well. The battle for 3rd was a 4-way battle with Myasava getting the final podium spot ahead of Cullen, Sowery and Raj.
MRF Challenge 2014 Champion Toby Sowery commented, “It is just an unbelievable feeling to win this title. It felt great to fight with such good drivers in what was a highly competitive field. A big thank you to MRF and the organizers for doing such a great job and giving me such a good car to fight with. Every race every round has been a challenge so am happy to come away with the title. Driving in Chennai has been unbelievable and from the first session I have felt comfortable on this circuit and am happy to win the title here. I hope to use this experience to help me in my next season as well. ”
In the MRF FF1600 Race 2, Arjun Narendran starting on reverse grid pole, led into the first corner ahead of fast starting British driver Hamish Robinson, who jumped into 2nd place from 5th on the grid. Race 1 winner slotted in into third place and quickly passed Robinson and set off after the leader. Advait Deodhar also passed Robinson and joined Parekh in catching the leader. As in Race 1 there was nothing to choose from the top 3. Narendran crossed the line to take his first win with Parekh finishing in 2nd place and Advait in 3rd. Karthik Tharani Singh survived a first lap crash which damaged his front wing to finish in 4th position, ahead of Robinson and Anshul Shah.
Arjun Narendran was delighted to take his first win in the category and third win of the weekend after winning the two Indian Touring Car races as well. He commented, “This weekend has been perfect for me with 3 wins. I was happy to be so competitive in the MRF FF1600 category as I was not happy with the races I did here last year. These cars are really good and the competition is so close and fierce that it is really enjoyable to battle with these guys.”
MRF Challenge
In its third year, the MRF Challenge 2014 will feature 16 MRF Formula 2000 race cars, which have been made in India by JA Motorsport based in Coimbatore, in collaboration with Dallara, world’s largest racing car manufacturer and also Jayem Automotives Ltd, which is a strategic partner for Tata Motors Ltd. The Formula 3 style car has been built by JA Motorsport in technical collaboration with Dallara, and is considered to be the fastest of its kind in Asia. The MRF Formula 2000 is powered by a 2.0 litre 210 BHP Renault Sport Engine and will have a Hewland 6-Speed sequential gearbox. The race car has also been crash tested to FIA F3 safety standards and will race with MRF ZLO slick and wet tyres.
The MRF Challenge has fielded a strong driver line-up in the last two seasons, with drivers going on to win races in GP2 and British Formula 3. The MRF Challenge Alumni include GP2 drivers like Arthur Pic, Tio Ellinas, Jon Lancaster, Conor Daly, GP3 drivers like Ryan Cullen and Carmen Jorda, Former Formula 2 Champion Luciano Baccheta and British Drivers Harry Tincknell (WEC) and Rupert Svendsen-Cook.
MRF Challenge 2014 Calendar:
Round 1: October 17-18, 2014, Doha, Losail International Circuit (Night Race)
Round 2: November 14-15, 2014, Bahrain, Bahrain International Circuit (World Endurance Championship Support Race)
Round 3: January 24-25, 2014, Chennai, Madras Motor Race Track
eom/MRF press release
-
E23 Hybrid represents a new era for Lotus F1 team
Enstone (UK), 26 Jan 2015: Lotus F1 team revealed the 2015 E23 Hybrid and Mathew Carter, Lotus F1 team CEO said: “The E23 Hybrid represents a new era for Lotus F1 Team, not only in the change to a Mercedes Benz Power Unit, but also it is the fruition of a busy winter behind the scenes. Improvements within our Design, Aero and Simulation departments have all contributed to the development of a car which is a huge step forward. As a team we are confident that the new car coupled with additions to the Race team will enable a huge leap forward and we are full of optimism going into the new season. It is time to put the disappointment of last season behind us and benefit from 12 months of hard work; we are ready to return to our rightful place at the pinnacle of the sport.”“The E23 Hybrid represents a massive step forward for us. It’s no secret that we struggled with last year’s car so we’ve targeted every area that caused us an issue. We’ve made strong progress in the wind tunnel as well as in areas such as packaging and cooling, saidNick Chester, Lotus F1 team Technical Director. “We expect the E23 to perform far, far better than its predecessor. In terms of what’s new, obviously a massive change for us is a new Power Unit supplier. We made this change as it looked and looks to be the one area of the car which could bring us the greatest performance gain. It’s not just performance, but reliability and driveability as well as packaging and cooling too. The E22 did deliver good figures in the wind tunnel, even if it was difficult to unlock its potential, so we’ve paid more attention to making the characteristics of the car more adaptable. In terms of the suspension, we were delivered something of a blow last year when the front-rear interconnected suspension was outlawed mid-season. The E23’s suspension design is specific to the updated regulations so we’re not trying to update a system originally intended to work a different way. We learnt a lot in many areas of the car over the course of 2014 so there are many lessons which have been applied. We know we’ve made a big step. We won’t know how our car will fare in relative terms until we’re out in action at a Grand Prix, but we certainly expect to be much more competitive than last year,” he added.
A Lotus F1 team image -
Inter begins partnership with Sahara Force India
23 Jan 2015: Sahara Force India is delighted to announce the launch of a new partnership with leading insurance broker Inter. The multi-year deal will see Sahara Force India display Inter’s logos on the front wing of the new VJM08, on the drivers’ suits and on the team gear.
Inter is major player in the insurance market in Mexico and Latin-America with over 35 years of experience delivering bespoke products to its clients. The assoThe 2015 Sahara Force India F1 Team livery.
Sahara Force India F1 Team Livery Reveal, Soumaya Museum, Mexico City, Mexico. Wednesday 21st January 2015.ciation with Sahara Force India demonstrates Inter’s desire to continue building its international business base by capitalising on the unique global reach of Formula One.
Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director of Sahara Force India: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Inter to the Sahara Force India family. This partnership highlights the growing global appeal of our brand, a trend reflected by the interest generated by our team launch in Mexico City. This multi-year deal is another important step in our long-term strategy to continue moving towards the front of the grid.”Juan Ignacio Casanueva, CEO of Inter: “Inter is committed to the highest standards with both our clients and our partners – a philosophy that is reflected by the approach of Sahara Force India. The way the team has opened up to Mexico in recent years shows how they, too, believe in the strength of this market and in the role the country can play on the world stage. We have a long history of supporting Mexican talent in various categories of motorsport so it’s exciting to partner with a team with a Mexican driver in the year that Formula One returns to Mexico City after a 23-year absence. We are excited to be part of Sahara Force India’s journey and we are looking forward to sharing in the team’s success in the coming seasons.”ABOUT INTERInter is a Mexican firm with over 35 years of experience that has become the market leader in insurance brokerage in Latin America. It has more than 4,000 corporate customers in over 150 countries. Its business goal is to generate increasing profitability and provide the best brokerage services being an expert in integrated risk consulting.Inter is a proud partner of Sahara Force India Formula one Team and looks forward to a great deal of success, both on and off the track.eom/Sahara Force India press release -
2015 E23 Hybrid represents a new era for Lotus F1 team: Team principal
Enstone (UK), 26 Jan 2015:
Lotus F1 Team is proud to present its 2015 challenger; the E23 Hybrid.
Matthew Carter, Lotus F1 Team CEO:
“The E23 Hybrid represents a new era for Lotus F1 Team, not only in the change to a Mercedes Benz Power Unit, but also it is the fruition of a busy winter behind the scenes. Improvements within our Design, Aero and Simulation departments have all contributed to the development of a car which is a huge step forward. As a team we are confident that the new car coupled with additions to the Race team will enable a huge leap forward and we are full of optimism going into the new season. It is time to put the disappointment of last season behind us and benefit from 12 months of hard work; we are ready to return to our rightful place at the pinnacle of the sport.”Nick Chester, Lotus F1 Team Technical Director:
“The E23 Hybrid represents a massive step forward for us. It’s no secret that we struggled with last year’s car so we’ve targeted every area that caused us an issue. We’ve made strong progress in the wind tunnel as well as in areas such as packaging and cooling. We expect the E23 to perform far, far better than its predecessor. In terms of what’s new, obviously a massive change for us is a new Power Unit supplier. We made this change as it looked and looks to be the one area of the car which could bring us the greatest performance gain. It’s not just performance, but reliability and driveability as well as packaging and cooling too. The E22 did deliver good figures in the wind tunnel, even if it was difficult to unlock its potential, so we’ve paid more attention to making the characteristics of the car more adaptable. In terms of the suspension, we were delivered something of a blow last year when the front-rear interconnected suspension was outlawed mid-season. The E23’s suspension design is specific to the updated regulations so we’re not trying to update a system originally intended to work a different way. We learnt a lot in many areas of the car over the course of 2014 so there are many lessons which have been applied. We know we’ve made a big step. We won’t know how our car will fare in relative terms until we’re out in action at a Grand Prix, but we certainly expect to be much more competitive than last year.”eom/Lotus F1 team release
Lotus reveals E23. Image courtesy Lotus F1 team -
Raj Bharath finishes third overall in MRF Challenge 2015
Irungattukottai (Chennai), 26 Jan 2015: Raj Bharath became the first Indian driver to finish in the top three of the champioinship. The grand finale of the MRF Challenge 2015 which concluded at the Madras Motor Race Track on Sunday saw Indian prodigy Raj Bharath finish third in the championship the first Indian to have achieved this significant milestone in the four-year history of the international championship.
Raj started his 2014 MRF Challenge season on an ominous note with a win and a second place at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar and emerged as a true championship contender and of course the fastest Indian driver by far! (out of four participating).
In round two at Bahrain International Circuit, Raj secured a pole position in qualifying — showcasing his raw speed and talent in an extremely competitive grid made up of drivers from UK, Germany, Australia, Russia, South Africa, Brazil and Austria to name a few. He became the first Indian driver in the history of MRF Challenge to qualify on pole position.
At the final round held in Chennai over this weekend, Raj worked hard to consolidate his position in the championship amongst stiff competition from his rivals and ultimately managed to clinch third overall in the standings – a commendable achievement considering the level of talent on the grid.
“It has been a good season at MRF Challenge – it was of course great to be back in the car after not having raced in 2014. After Qatar it was clear that we would be fighting for the championship despite some bad luck we had in the first round [pit lane start due to mechanical issues]”, commented Raj.
“Bahrain was also a good weekend and although Chennai didn’t exactly go to plan we were still able to be consistently in the points throughout the four races and secure third place in the standings”, he added.
“I’d like to thank my parents for all their support and I’m now aiming to put together enough sponsorship to race in Formula 3 or GP3 next season.”
eom/Press Release from planetsurf creations
Raj Bharath finishes 3rd on Sunday. Photo by planetsurf creations
