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Category: General
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Narasim Racing from Odisha makes its debut in National Championship at Coimbatore
Udipta Kumar in action at the Kari Motor Speedeway in Coimbatore on June 9. An INDIAinF1 image Coimbatore, 19 June 2018: Last weekend, a new team made its debut in the National Championship. Though the rider, Udipta Kumar is not new on the circuit, it is refreshing to see a new team from the State of Odisha, where racing is not very popular. Though there are a couple of clubs who have taken interest in rallying, not many have taken part from the State in the National racing championships.
So Odisha’s first-ever professional motorcycle racing team named Narasim Racing, generated interest as it took part in the Nationals. A podium seemingly slipped out of an encouraging debut in Round 1 at Coimbatore on June 9. But the pioneering outfit from Odisha prepares stronger for Round 2 of Motorcycle Racing Nationals, and even targets Malaysia Racing Championship, stepping abroad in July.
The only professional motorcycle racer from Odisha, Udipta Kumar along with Piyush Ranjan from Patna have come together to put the first-ever motorcycle racing team from Odisha on the national map. They become a member of the Federation of Motorsports Club of India under the banner “NARASIM RACING”.
“Odisha has become a hub of sporting activity, spreading sports culture and hosting big tournaments in many a discipline. But being the only athlete in motorsports from my State, it gives me a great honour and immense pride to represent a race team licensed from Odisha. As any pioneer, we have just started the journey, more miles to go,” felt Udipta. “Together we can make it happen. It’s a big dream and a high goal to achieve but we are ready to fight equipped strongly in both sporting and technical areas,” said Piyush Ranjan. The team plans to race not only in the National championships but also set high goals like joining Malaysia championship this year itself.
The team had its debut in Round 1 of National Motorcycle Racing Championship held at Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore from June 8 to 10. The team had a great debut despite some teething troubles in technical issues, with its lead driver Udipta, showing great pace in the premier class Pro-Stock 301-400cc class. Though an unfortunate accident in front of him, saw him crash out of the race, it was a very positive outing for the team. Piyush too was affected by a fall under unfriendly wet weather conditions. Udipta Kumar was astride a prototype of KTM 390, and Prostock 165cc with Piyush Ranjan riding a YAMAHA R15.
Then the team is set for Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship from July 27 to 29 at the reputed Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur, where Udipta will be riding in Supersport 600cc category and Piyush taking part in Super 250 category.
The team showed they are capable of quick times even as they punched above their weight being competitive with experienced teams who had multiple resources at their disposal. The team managed to rope in support from MadmonkeyMotomotives, a Chennai outfit who tunes their bikes and found technical sponsors in Team zoomers Racing and Sirius Motorsports. Pinky from Chandigarh will be the associates while EBW will be the individual sponsors of Udipta.
After acclimatisation and getting used to the set-up with a 10th place in the Free Practice session, Udipta Kumar started the season qualifying 6th. A stunning start in Race 1, zooming past to lead the pack as the bunch went into the first corner. Wet track conditions saw riders go down like coins, but Udipta managed to hold to 3rd place despite the cat-fight and held on for half the race distance of 5 laps, looking good for a podium place.Then an unfortunate incident in front of him where Udipta had no control. The rider in front of him slipped and crashed and Udipta was caught with no time to take evasive action as he ran over the crest-fallen bike and his bike took a beating, putting him out of the race.”It was an unfortunate incident beyond my control. We showed some good pace which is encouraging. The unavoidable crash right in front of me was disappointing but we move on as it is a racing incident. That only makes us more determined for the upcoming round. We have good pace and a good bike,” the lanky Udipta quipped.
Piyush Ranjan crashed in free practice session due to a shortfall in gear-lever while running 4th fastest. The crash made him unable to attend any further activities as he nurtures a broken collarbone. He needs to settle without any points but with a confirmation of being able to fight well for the championship.”We are sorry for the crash which forced us to stay away from the round but the championship is still very open. We missed 2 races of Round 1, We missed 50 points for sure. But we have four more rounds and so 8 races to go with 200 points still up for grabs. And we are `quick’ in the debut session so with time, we can place ourselves well at the top.” Piyush concluded with a sigh talking about the Round 1 mishap.
The team is now focused for Round 2 of National Championship which is scheduled at the Madras Motor Race Track, Chennai from July 6 to 8.
Talking about the weekend, Kaushik, team manager, said: “We lost four clear podiums. Both the riders were fast enough to fight as their timings reveal. And we had better bikes than others. Often it is bad luck but we got a confirmation that we are fast enough to fight with the factory teams. Being everything new, it is always difficult to handle the situation, but we have faith in our squad. We are working really hard to get things done in a much better way for Round 2”.
Narasim Racing team prepares their lead rider on the Starting Grid. Image by Mohanty The team seems to be high on motivation apart from being better in technical specifications. And it might have lost the podiums, or even a win or two, in Round 1 but they showed that they have the pace to fight at the top. And it will be coming very stronger in Round 2. With the Malaysia Championship in the offing, a confident team manager expects big news in Round 2 of the National Racing Championship and further on in the Malaysia Championship later this year.
The Team is a joint-venture with the following details:
Team owners and riders: Udipta Kumar, Piyush Ranjan.
Team Manager: Kaushik Sriram (Chennai).
Technical partner: Madmonkey Motomotives (Chennai).
Electronic team: Sirius Motorsport (Chennai).
Photographer: Lincoln Mohanty (Bhubaneswar).
Business Administrator: Srinish Nair (Chandigarh).
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World Council approves electric series for World Rallycross Championship from 2020
World Rallycross to become electric series from 2020. File photo courtesy FIA Paris, 9 June 2018: The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council has approved plans for the FIA World Rallycross Championship to be an electric series from 2020.
IMG has collaborated with the FIA and a number of car manufacturers on this project for the last eighteen months, whilst working hard to ensure privateers can also compete in the new Championship.
We will continue to work closely with the car manufacturers in the run-up to the 30 July deadline for their commitment to the electric Championship.
The FIA has appointed single suppliers for two key common parts of the Championship car: ORECA has been appointed as the single supplier for the chassis and Williams Advanced Engineering has been appointed as the single supplier for the battery.
Paul Bellamy, IMG’s Senior Vice President for Motorsports said: “We are pleased about the single supplier appointments as the success and track record of each company speaks for itself.”
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Driven to be bold: Motorsport & women
Around the globe International Women’s Day 2017 will be marked in many ways, with thousands of different activities planned to celebrate this year’s theme, ‘Be Bold for Change’. It’s a theme woman involved in motorsport have championed since the dawn of the motoring age.
Within a decade of motor racing first capturing the public imagination in the 1890s, women such as French racer Camille du Gast (competing in the Paris-Berlin race) and English driver Dorothy Levitt (at the Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb in the UK) were boldly pushing the boundaries of speed.
The trend continued through the interwar period as a succession of pioneering female drivers competed in events such as illustrious Targa Floria but female motorsport entered its first Golden Age after World War II, with Pat Moss and Anne Hall breaking new ground in rallying and Maria Teresa de Filippis becoming the first woman to take part in a Formula One race at the 1958 Belgian Grand Prix.
These and other pioneers have been joined by many others in the decades since, but it was on the rally stages that the greatest mark was made, with Michèle Mouton and co-driver Fabrizia Pons becoming the first women to win a World Championship rally in Sanremo in 1981. The following year the female crew were Vice World Champions.
Throughout, the pathway for women to the top of the motorsport remained tough, with Mouton believing that more needed to be done to encourage female participation in motorsport.
It was fitting, then, that when FIA President Jean Todt resolved to tackle the issue he called on Mouton to head up the Federation’s Women in Motorsport Commission.
In the years since, the Commission has grown in strength and purpose, with 74 national Women in Motorsport representatives now working on behalf of their ASNs and with the Commission.
At grassroots level the Commission has supported the development of a number of young racers including France’s Lucile Cypriano and Spaniard Marta Garcia who competed in the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, with Garcia taking the title in 2015. Cypriano has since become a race winner in the SEAT Leon Eurocup and is this year targeting participation in the French Porsche Carrera Cup. Garcia last year made the transition to single seaters in Spanish Formula 4 and is hoping to undertake a full campaign in the Spanish national F4 championship this year.
In rallying the Commission last year organised its most ambitious talent search yet. Launched in conjunction with the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation, the Women’s Cross Country Rally Selection initiative provided three all-female crews with the chance to compete in a round of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.
The success of the venture led to the driver and co-driver who showed the most promise – Emma Gilmour and Sandra Labuscagne – receiving a funded drive in the 2016 Italian Baja and the Baja Portalegre, with the support of the Automóvel Club de Portugal.
The Commission has also supported the rise of young rally star Tamara Molinaro and this year the Italian will step up to the FIA ERC Junior Under-27 category alongside co-driver Ursula Mayrhofer as a factory Opel driver
Elsewhere, Molly Taylor, who has been supported by the Commission, last year became the first woman to win the Australian Rally Championship. Her title defence, as a works Subaru driver, begins this month.
2016 was also a notable year for providing a female drag racing champion in the shape of Finland’s Anita Mäkëla who won the FIA European Top Fuel category for the second time in her long career.
Women are increasingly represented at the pinnacle of motorsport, in Formula One, with Former F3 racer Tatiana Calderon from Colombia recently being appointed to the role of development driver at the Sauber F1 Team where FIA Women in Motorsport Ambassador Monisha Kaltenborn is Team Principal.
Kaltenborn is not the only female powerbroker in F1, with Claire Williams – also a member of the FIA’s Commission – continuing to help guide the Williams F1 team in her role as Deputy Team Principal.
Elsewhere, former Indycar driver and F1 hopeful Simona de Silvestro is this year competing in the highly competitive V8 Supercars series in Australia as a full-time driver with Nissan Motorsport. The drive follows de Silvestro became the first woman to score points in a Formula E race, with ninth place at last year’s Long Beach ePrix.
Away from the track, the motorsport continues to give women the chance to excel in a huge array of disciplines – with an increasing number of women involved at the highest levels of officialdom, in engineering, design and in administration and promotion. A key example was last year’s FIA World Rallycross Championship round in Norway, which was officiated over by an all-female panel of stewards for the first time in FIA World Championship history.
This year is set to be another year of intense activity for the Commission. At last year’s Commission seminar in Portugal, Mouton announced details of a new Europe-wide driver search programme, which Mouton said: “we hope to develop in different countries and regions.”
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, motor sport can confidently claim to be a truly equal opportunities endeavour that has been (and continues to be) bold enough to drive change.
FIA release
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Mathana, Aravind B win AVT Gold Cup Million Endurance Race for 2-wheelers
Mathana Kumar (left) and Aravind Balakrishnan, winers of the AVT Gold Cup Million Endurance Race at the MMRT circuit at Sriperumbudur on Sunday, February 25. Image by Anand Philar Chennai,25 Feb 2018: The pair of Mathana Kumar (Trichy) and fellow-rider Aravind Balasumbramanaim (Chennai), representing Honda Ten10 Racing team, emerged overall champions in the AVT Gold Cup Million Endurance Race for two-wheelers at the MMRT circuit, here on Sunday.
It is one of the firsts by Madras Motorsports Association (MMSC), as awareness about Endurance races is yet to reach the masses in India. “The Madras Motor Sports Club has been the pioneer in developing and promoting motorsport in India since 1953, and we look to further improve in the years to come. It is the club’s endeavor to provide more opportunities for competitors, and to this end, various progressive programmes were chalked out and this is one of them,” said an organiser.
Kishor VS and Antony Peter (Apex Racing Academy) finished second overall ahead of Honda Ten10 Racing team’s Senthil Kumar and AS Alexander. All three podium pairs completed 41 laps.
The final outcome of the 90-minute race had more to do with the team strategies and just about the pace of the riders. Each team comprised of two riders.
As per the regulations, the minimum time a rider could ride was for 20 minutes and the maximum time was set at 45 minutes. After the minimum time and before the maximum time elapsed, the rider had to make a mandatory rider change. The mandatory stop time for a rider change was set at 1 minute.
During the course of the race, a team had to make a mandatory fuel stop for which the motorcycle must have remained stationary for at least 3 minutes. The teams were allowed to do a tyre stop as well but this was not mandatory.
“I think, our strategy worked well today. I went out first, built up a lead which my team-mate Aravind maintained. On my second run, I suffered from cramps, but somehow, I managed to complete my turn,” said an overjoyed Mathana who rode the Honda CBR 250 bike.
The results (Provisional):
Overall / Honda CBR 250: Mathana Kumar / Aravind Balasubramainam (Honda Ten10 Racing) 1 (41 laps, 01hr, 31mins, 38.048secs); 2. Kishor VS / Anthony Peter (Apex Racing Academy) (41 laps, 01:31.57.186); 3. Sethil Kumar / AS Alexander (Honda Ten10 Racing) (41 laps, 01:32.06.461).
Pro-Stock Open (301-400cc): 1. P Sai Sahil / G Vikas Kumar (40 laps, 01:31:50.690); 2. K Raja Pandian / Varun Patil (38 laps, 01:32:06.038); 3. Aakash Rajshakha / Bhumik Lalwani (37 laps, 01:32:53.352).
Pro-Stock Open (130-165cc): 1. Yashas RL / K Kannan (39 laps, 01:31:45.003); 2. A Amala Jerald / C Rajkumar (Honda Ten10 Racing) (39 laps, 01:32:11.871); 3. Sarath Kumar / PK Mithun Kumar (Honda Ten10 Racing) (39 laps, 01:32:31.469).
Stock (130-165cc): 1. Aditya Rao Immaneni / Karthik (39 laps, 01:32:00.317); 2. Manoj Y / A Ryhana Bee (38 laps, 01:31:47.013); 3. Anand R / Narayanan K (38 laps, 01:33:29.028).
eom/MMSC release
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FMSCI promotes Women In Motorsport concept at Auto Expo; celebrates women’s day
Aishwarya Pissay at the feet of a Master, Bullet Bose, browsing through old photos of Bullets racing at Sholavaram. 2017 photo by www.INDIAinF1. New Delhi, 12 Feb 2018: Women’s Day, usually observed on March 8, arrived early for the FMSCI.The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs in India (FMSCI) said that it rolled out an ambitious plan for women in motorsport here on Monday and pledged to make motorsports an attractive and viable for women across the country.
The Federation, which is the governing body for motorsport in India and a member of the FIA, the international federation, along with its arm, the Women in Motorsport (WIM) celebrated and felicitated its leading lady drivers and lady riders at the Auto Expo in Greater Noida. “The process of hunting for talented girls and women had begun,” it announced in a press release.
“We encourage our affiliate clubs and association to add events specifically for women during all competitions to draw ladies into the sport,” said Ms. Sita Raina, chairperson of FMSCI-WIM. “The federation will give every possible support to organisers who try to create a platform for women,” she added. However, the details of the plan were not immediately clear.
India’s top women in motorsports, including national motorcycle champion Aishwarya Pissay, LGB Formula 4 racer Sneha Sharma and ace rallyist Bani Yadav were felicitated by the Federation at the Auto Expo in Greater Noida on Monday. Watch out for more news on Women in Motorsports in INDIA! Your website will soon profile the Ladies on the Fast Track!
The FMSCI has set up a pavilion at the Auto Expo for the first time and has showcased a host of racing cars, bikes and karts to promote the sport among youngsters.
Among other things, the FMSCI intends to go the extra mile to provide proper guidelines, training, and quick licenses to help women participate at the national level. It also aims to extend additional support to upcoming and existing racers to make them move on to the world stage.
Bani Yadav, the only Indian woman to have won all the major rally titles in the women’s category in India, was pleased with the efforts of the governing body and felt that this would see many young girls to take up the sport.
“I really appreciate FMSCI’s mission. As a woman, I know how difficult it is to come into the sport. But I believe if the right platform is created, a number of women will come forward to race or rally,” Bani said during the felicitation ceremony.
Sneha Sharma echoed Bani’s thoughts: “I would like to believe that if we all have managed to come into motorsport, then many others can do so too. They just need the right kind of guidance and a few opportunities and this is exactly what Women in Motorsport’s vision and mission is all about.”
“I would like to really appreciate the federation for this wonderful step. They have been a huge pillar of support for me and now with this novel initiative, I am sure many more women will come up in the sport, making the whole racing scene in the country much more exciting and more challenging,” Aishwarya concluded.
eom/fmsci press release
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FMSCI’s Sujith Kumar elected Vice-President of FIM Asia
Bengaluru, 5 Feb 2018: Seven-time Indian National Rally Champion, Sujith Kumar, was elected Vice- President of FIM Asia on behalf of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) at Thailand on Saturday. Sujith was also the head of the Indian Motorcycle (2W) Racing Commission.Hailing the historic win for India as an important step for Indian motorsport, Akbar Ebrahim, FMSCI president said: “This is a significant development for Indian motorsport.”
Ebrahim who has been bring a string of upgrades and important enhancements in the Indian motorsports set-up at the top added: “We will continue to work towards promoting every discipline of motorsport in the country.” Sujit was nominated as the Indian candidate by the Federation.
With an unprecedented 11 candidates contesting for four posts of Vice-President position at Saturday’s General Assembly in Bangkok, the outcome was difficult to predict. However, when the results were announced, Sujith Kumar won with a comfortable majority of votes to become the first Indian representative to join the Board of FIM Asia, which is the governing body for motorcycle racing for 28 countries in the region. He will hold the position for a four-year term that began immediately.
As Chairman of the FMSCI’s Two Wheeler Racing Commission, the Bangalore-based Sujith has already had a positive impact in Indian motorcycle racing, advancing rider training, safety and licensing standards for competitors and race officials. Beyond national competitions, he has been responsible for bringing international events to India, including a round of the Asia Road Racing Championship to Madras Motor Race Track and the Asia Cup of Road Racing to Buddh Circuit. He has also given support and encouragement to the increasing number of Indian racers competing in the international circuit and off-road events.
Speaking after the election results were announced, Sujith said, “My interest is purely about the development of two-wheeler motorsports and the good of the riders. I believe this is the right time to ensure that India is represented on motorcycle racing’s governing body and can influence the development of the sport in the best possible way.”
“During 2018 we will have more international events coming to India and more Indian riders competing in other countries and championships. It is an exciting time and we are extremely fortunate to be working together with strong sponsors who recognise the commercial importance of motorcycle racing and are committed to making things bigger and better.”
Sujith is joined on the FIM Asia Board by Vice Presidents from Bahrain, China and Guam and new President, Stephan Macky Carapiet of Philippines.
eom/David Bodapati
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Madras Motor Sports Club upgraded paddocks inaugurated
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L to R – Khushru Madan, Ajit Thomas, Indu Chandhok, Gopal Madhavan, Vicky Chandhok and Akbar Ebrahim. Image by Anand Philar Upgraded Paddock complex unveiled at MMRT
- Second Paddock on western side with own circuit
- MMSC VIP Hospitality suites, 20 spacious garages
Chennai, February 2: The trip around the Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT) taking the mediapersons to the new Paddock Building on the West was a nostalgic tour for the two `grand daddies’ of Madras Motor Sports Club.
Two founding members, Indu Chandhok and Gopal Madhavan, were excited to talk about their days. The passion, the commitment and burning desire for motorsport resulted in the duo along with a few others procuring 300 acres of farm land. “We have to negotiate with hundreds of people including the 67 farmers who sold us the land. We had to purchase in small bits and pieces and for some bits there were more than a dozen heirs who had to be the signatories for the registration. We bought the land for Rs.12 lakh, which was a huge amount and we could not sustain the loans and we sold off 100 acres after a year or so for Rs.12 lakh,” revealed Mr Chandhok, who is also one of the founding fathers of FMSCI, the Indian Federation.
In keeping with its reputation as an institution always on the move and in step with the swiftly changing times, the Madras Motor Sports Club on Friday unveiled a significant upgrade to the Paddock and related facilities. A new pit complex with garages and hospitality suites has been developed at a cost of over Rs 20 Crore, at India’s first FIA-licensed track here.
In a matter of a year, the MMSC carried out massive development work with 20 pit garages, a spectator viewing terrace and VIP hospitality suites that can accommodate up to 400 people along the the pit-lane on the eastern side, thereby creating a truly international-standard facility at the MMRT in Irrangattukottai, near Sriperumbudur.
The development work has already received rave reviews from the competitors and aficionados. The spacious garages for the teams allow the competitors and their teams to have plenty of space to work on their cars and bikes.
The new pit complex follows on from the upgrade done to the race control room with state-of-the-art hardware installed last year as well as India’s first and only bespoke a drag strip. A second paddock on the western side with its own short circuit allows the MMSC to effectively split the track into two and host two separate events concurrently.
Also being developed is a full-fledged, permanent rally track measuring 7.5 Kms. The MMSC is working closely with triple Asia-Pacific Rally champion Gaurav Gill to start a driving academy in the near future.
Earlier, work on widening of the run-off areas and resurfacing of a few sections of the track was also carried out as the circuit received FIA Grade-2 certification. The MMSC is thus the only private motorsport club in India owning an international race track.
Reviewing the development work, MMSC president Ajit Thomas said: “It has been a long journey for MMSC from its humble beginnings 66 years ago. Even after we moved our racing activities from Sholavaram to the new track near Sriperumbudur, we constantly strove to improve, not just in terms of conducting events, but also upgrading facilities over a period of time.
“In 2014, the track received FIA Grade-2 certification, but in keeping with our philosophy of ever onward, we decided to refurbish and upgrade the existing facilities at considerable expense. The new paddock and facilities will allow us to host not just racing events but also create a venue that auto manufacturers, sponsors and agencies would be proud to use for their events.”
Speaking on the occasion, Indu Chandhok, one of the founder-members of the Madras Motor Sports Club and the Trust, said it was due to the largesse of the late Chief Minister Dr MGR, who was a regular visitor to the Sholavaram Races, that the MMRT project was made possible.
The Sholavaram track belonged to the Army and the Navy who wouldn’t allow any upgrading nor resurface the surface which was being used for testing tanks. Indu approached the CM informally who immediately granted permission to the MMSC to buy the land after first offering it free which the club declined, said Indu Chandhok.
FMSCI president Akbar Ebrahim recalled his first race at the MMRT in 1990, driving for Wallace Sports managed by Vicky Chandhok while Gopal Madhavan who was in charge of the project was felicitated along with Indu Chandhok.
About Madras Motor Sports Club
The Madras Motor Sports Club has been the pioneer in developing and promoting motorsport in India since 1953, and we look to further improve in the years to come. It is the club’s endeavor to provide more opportunities for competitors, and to this end, it has chalked out various progressive programmes. From the days of Sholavaram , MMSC built its own racetrack which was inaugurated in 1979 and secured its FIA Grade-2 international certification in 2014, making it the only club which owns such a facility that has been further upgraded with international-standard Paddock, complete with VIP hospitality suites, 20 spacious garages and a separate Paddock on the western side with its own circuit. The club has organised the Porsche Super Cup, Formula Campos, Formula Asia, Asian touring car championships, Formula 3, Tata Prima Truck racing championship, the FIM Asia Road Racing Championships (2-wheelers) besides a host of other motorsport events over the years. The club also has active participation for its events from vehicle manufacturers who also use the Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT) extensively for testing their products.
eom/with inputs from MMSC press release
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Toyota Gazoo Racing confirms Alonso for Le Mans 24 Hours and Endurance Worlds
Alonso image courtesy Toyota Gazoo Racing team TOYOTA GAZOO Racing confirmed the name of Formula One double champion Fernando Alonso in the line-up as it announced its drivers for the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season on Tuesday.
The team has officially submitted its entry to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and will participate in all eight rounds of the 2018-19 season with two hybrid-powered race cars as it targets victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the WEC World Championships.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will again utilise its 1,000hp TS050 HYBRID car, which won five of nine races in 2017. Development of hybrid technology remains an integral element of TOYOTA’s participation in endurance racing as part of the company’s commitment to making ever-better road cars.
The driver line-ups for the two TS050 HYBRIDs are now confirmed, with the #7 car competing with an unchanged line-up of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and José María López.
The #8 TS050 HYBRID features a revised driver line-up, with Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima joined by two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso.
Fernando, 36, will make his LMP1 race debut at Spa-Francorchamps in May and will compete in all rounds of the 2018-19 season which do not conflict with his existing Formula 1 obligations.
Anthony Davidson, who won five races in 2017 alongside Sébastien and Kazuki, will remain an important member of the team, bringing his World Championship-winning experience to a new role as Reserve and Development Driver.
Two-time Le Mans winner Alex Wurz will continue as Team Advisor and Ambassador having made a significant contribution since taking the position in 2016.
Akio Toyoda（President, TOYOTA Motor Corporation）
“I am looking forward to seeing how much TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will grow when our drivers and all team members take what they have learned thus far in endurance racing and add to it what they will gain from Fernando’s experience. The entire team is excited about this opportunity for growth. Through the challenge of WEC endurance races and, among those, on the grueling roads of the Le Mans 24 Hours, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will do its best, together with Fernando, to outdrive the competition.”Hisatake Murata（Team President）
“This WEC season is unique because it features two editions of the Le Mans 24 Hours so we are all looking forward to it. I believe we have an extremely strong driver line-up with real strength in depth. Fernando is a rookie in WEC but he brings speed and experience gained from many years at the top of his sport. We are all excited to work with him but endurance racing is a team effort and we know all of our drivers are performing to a very high level. I would like to thank Anthony for his professional approach in difficult circumstances; he remains a strong part of our driving line-up and he will be busy this season.”Fernando Alonso
“I am very excited to participate in the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time. It is a race which I have followed closely for a long time and it has always been an ambition of mine to participate. Endurance racing is a different discipline compared to single-seaters and I enjoyed my first taste of it at Daytona. I am looking forward to working together with, and learning from, Sébastien and Kazuki, who are both very experienced endurance drivers. It will be a steep learning curve for me but I am ready for this challenge and I can’t wait to get started.”
Fernando Alonso in TS050 HYBRIDFull text of Akio Toyoda statement:
“I want to drive an LMP1 car…”
“I want to race in Le Mans…”
“I want to win…”To Fernando Alonso, I say thank you so much for choosing Toyota as a partner for making your Le Mans dream come true.
I am extremely thrilled that Fernando, who has battled it out in numerous races and seen things that nobody on our team has ever experienced, will be driving for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing.
I believe that having Fernando get behind the wheel for our team will only make our cars better.
I am looking forward to seeing how much TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will grow when our drivers and all team members take what they have learned thus far in endurance racing and add to it what they will gain from Fernando’s experience. The entire team is excited about this opportunity for growth.
Through the challenge of WEC endurance races and, among those, on the grueling roads of the Le Mans 24 Hours, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will do its best, together with Fernando, to outdrive the competition.
And, toward our ultimate aim of providing our customers with ever-better cars, I hope we will be able to race with shared aspirations at heart.
We welcome Fernando and, together with Sebastien, Kazuki, Mike, Kamui and José for a total of six drivers, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will go all out toward achieving all of our goals.
I look forward to everyone’s support of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing this season as well.
Thank you.
Driver Profiles:
Sébastien Buemi
Born 31 October 1988, Aigle, Switzerland
Le Mans debut 2012
Le Mans starts 6
Le Mans best result 2nd (2013)
WEC starts 43
WEC wins 10
WEC best season 1st (2014)Kazuki Nakajima
Born 11 January 1985, Okazaki, Japan
Le Mans debut 2012
Le Mans starts 6
Le Mans best result 4th (2013)
WEC starts 37
WEC wins 7
WEC best season 2nd (2017)Fernando Alonso
Born 29 July 1981, Oviedo, Spain
Le Mans debut 2018
Le Mans starts 0
Le Mans best result n/a
WEC starts 0
WEC wins 0
WEC best season n/aMike Conway
Born 19 August 1983, Sevenoaks, Great Britain
Le Mans debut 2013
Le Mans starts 4
Le Mans best result 2nd (2016)
WEC starts 37
WEC wins 2
WEC best season 3rd (2016)Kamui Kobayashi
Born 13 September 1986, Hyogo, Japan
Le Mans debut 2013
Le Mans starts 3
Le Mans best result 2nd (2016)
WEC starts 26
WEC wins 1
WEC best season 3rd (2016)José María López
Born 26 April 1983, Río Tercero, Argentina
Le Mans debut 2017
Le Mans starts 1
Le Mans best result n/a
WEC starts 8
WEC wins 0
WEC best season 6th (2017)About TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship: Toyota first competed in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 1983, marking the start of a long period of participation in endurance racing. Since 1985, Toyota cars have raced in 19 Le Mans 24 Hours races, achieving a best result of second place on five occasions. Toyota entered the revived WEC in 2012, combining the expertise from Toyota Higashi-Fuji Technical Centre, where the hybrid powertrain is developed, with Toyota Motorsport GmbH’s support and facilities for chassis development. The multi-national team includes engineers from Toyota’s motorsport and hybrid department, who deliver technology and know-how back into road car development. Since 2012, Toyota, the 2014 manufacturers’ and drivers’ World Champion, has participated in 48 WEC races since its debut in 2012, earning 14 pole positions, winning 16 times and finishing on the podium a total of 41 times.
eom/Toyota Motor Corporation release
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TVS road-racing champs to hone the riding skills of Apache owners
National champions in their respective classes Aiswarya Pissay (left), Jagan Kumar (4th from left) listen as Pradeep (right, TVS Motorsports) explains to the Apache riders in Bangalore recently. A TVS image Apache riding skills training (ACE) participants in Bengaluru recently. A TVS Racing image Bangalore, 23 Jan 2018: TVS Motor Company kickstarted the Apache Racing Experience (ARE) 2018, for the owners of the TVS Apache series recently. The TVS Apache series first-round saw racing enthusiasts experience the full range of Apache motorcycles on the Meco Kartopia race track recently.
After a detailed theory session on track riding by National champions Jagan Kumar, Harry Sylvester, KY Ahmed, Kannan Subramaniam and Aishwarya Pissay, they were taught technique and riding skills on the race track. Track riding techniques, braking and cornering were taught before timed laps for each category of Apache RTR 160, 180 and 200 were recorded to declare the winners.
Apache Racing Experience is a platform for TVS Apache owners will be held across 24 cities in 2018-19, ARE will culminate at MMRT in Chennai. The final round will see winners across the cities compete in their respective categories – Apache RTR 160, 180 and 200 – to become the ARE Winner (category wise). TVS Racing will support the activity with necessary gear and ensure that the riders undergo professional training at the race track astride TVS Racing motorcycles, prior to the final race.
eom/posted by david bodapati/bng/TVS release
Caption: National champions in their respective classes Aiswarya Pissay (left), Jagan Kumar (4th from left) listen as Pradeep (right, TVS Motorsports) explains to the Apache riders in Bangalore recently. A TVS image
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US Motorsport legend Dan Gurney passes away
Dan Gurney, one of racing’s most well-respected stars, has sadly passed away aged 86. The American driver was renowned not only for his numerous successes behind the wheel in a variety of disciplines but also as an innovator who had a great influence on the development of motorsport for many years.
Gurney was a winner of four Formula One Grands Prix and drove for almost all of the sport’s most iconic teams including Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Brabham and Lotus. Perhaps the most impressive triumph, however, came in a car of his own construction – the stunning Eagle-Weslake – at the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix.
He also drove to victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans that same year and, during the podium celebrations, spontaneously sprayed champagne – an action that would lead to one of motor sport’s most recognisable traditions and ensure an eternal legacy that plays out after every race all around the world.
As well as competing at the very highest levels in Formula One and Sports Cars, Gurney drove to many successes in both NASCAR and IndyCar, as well as many other series in the United States.
Gurney will also be long remembered for the technical innovations he brought to the sport, including most famously the ‘Gurney flap’ which increases downforce without great cost to aerodynamic drag.
FIA President Jean Todt said: “I would like to pay tribute to Dan Gurney, he was a great driver who truly inspired my love of motor sport, and I was very fortunate that he became a good friend. We owe a lot to his character and his innovations, and I know that motor sport would not be what it is today without him. My thoughts, and those of the whole FIA family, are with his loved ones at this difficult time.”
eom/FIA press release
