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Category: India In F1
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Bumper grid For ROKiT British F4 2023 Season Opener: Jaden Pariat
Donington Park (Leicestershire, UK), 19 April 2023: Changes for British F4 2023 include a complete grid reversal for race two which should ensure plenty of overtaking action. Also new is that the fastest time set in qualifying sets the pole position for race three. The weekend’s first race order is determined by the second-fastest time set in qualifying.
Who are the ones to watch? Jack Sherwood (Chris Dittmann Racing), Isaac Barashi and Jaden Pariat (Phinsys by Argenti), and James Higgins (Fortec Motorsport) return after their tasters at the end of 2022, with winter testing to help them prepare for their full 2023 campaigns. Rodin Carlin’s Louis Sharp has every chance of being a front-runner; the New Zealander finished fourth overall last year, with 12 podiums including two wins, despite being too young to compete in the first event of the year. Daniel Guinchard performed well in the Rookie class at Donington and has a year of experience and a race win under his belt before moving to CDR for 2023.
New for 2023 includes Deagen Fairclough, ROKiT Racing Star esports winner. As 2022 British Kart champion and double World Finals winner, Gabriel Stilp arrives at Hitech Pulse-Eight with a strong pedigree. Fellow Hitech Pulse-Eight team-mate Will Macintyre is used to success, graduating to British F4 as Ginetta Junior Rookie Champion. Virtuosi’s Kai Daryanani chose yet another route to British F4, moving from karts to a UAE winter campaign in preparation. The full entry list will be revealed on Thursday.
Donington Park’s National circuit layout is the drivers’ first chance to make their mark with the fantastic atmosphere of the TOCA paddock and crowds to spur them on. Among others, the Rookie Cup was won in 2015 by Dan Ticktum, now an NIO 33 Formula E driver, and Dennis Hauger (2018) who clinched his first Formula 2 win in Australia this month. Five rookies are set to compete for 2023 honours: Rodin Carlin’s Josh Irfan, Gustav Jonsson (CDR), Isaac Barashi (Argenti), Douwe Dedecker (Virtuosi), and Gabriel Stilp.
It’s about more than drivers – teams compete too. Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Alex Dunne sealed the 2022 Drivers’ title, but it was Carlin that took the Teams’ Championship. Seven teams are battling for Teams Championship honours in 2023, all seasoned single-seater teams involved in pathways into or from British Formula 4. The highest two scoring entries per team count towards the Teams’ Championship points.
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Loeb and Al Attiyah head to Sonora Rally, Mexico, to resume W2RC duels: Rally Raid
Sébastien Loeb and Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah resume their fascinating duel for supremacy in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) at this weekend’s Sonora Rally, a new event in the FIA cross-country calendar that runs over varied terrain through northern México from April 22-28..
Loeb and his Belgian co-driver Fabian Lurquin currently lead the Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ Championships by 16 points from the Qatari and his Andorra-based team-mate Mathieu Baumel, although both crews encountered problems at the recent Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. That enabled Czech rival Martin Prokop and round two winner Yazeed Al-Rajhi to close the gap at the top of the points’ standings.
Al-Rajhi’s maiden win in Abu Dhabi means that Toyota Gazoo Racing holds a 41-point cushion over Bahrain Raid Xtreme in the Manufacturers’ standings, with the Baic ORV operation in third and the X-raid Mini JCW Rally Team two points further adrift in fourth.
Organised by Aventura Events with the support of Mexican ASN OMDAI and series-promoting A.S.O., the Sonora Rally has attracted 27 FIA entries, including 12 in the FIA T1+ category. Italy’s Eugenio Amos and Argentina’s Juan Cruz Yacopini join Al-Rajhi at the wheel of Overdrive Racing Toyotas, while Loeb’s Prodrive Hunter BRX is joined by Guerlain Chicherit at the wheel of a GCK Motorsport Hunter and a pair of X Rally Motorsport Hunters for the Brazilian duo of Cristian and Marcos Baumgart.
China’s Guoyu Zhang and Yunliang Zi represent the BAIC ORV team in a pair of BJ40s. Sebastien Halpern currently holds seventh in the Drivers’ Championship in his Mini John Cooper Works Plus and the Argentine is joined by Denis Krotov in a two-car X-raid Mini JCW Team that rounds off the T1+ entries.
American trio top T3 field in México
Eleven crews will line up in the FIA T3 series-production cross-country vehicles in a competitive section that is being dominated by three American drivers after two rounds. Third overall and maximum T3 points in Abu Dhabi have given Seth Quintero a five-point category lead over his Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team USA team-mate Austin Jones, both at the wheel of South-Racing-built Can-Ams. Quintero’s co-driver Dennis Zenz leads Jones’s navigator Gustavo Gugelmin by five points in the T3 Co-drivers’ Championship.
Mitch Guthrie and Kellon Walch have persevered with the prototype MCE-5 T3M this season and are a distant third in the points’ standings.
Red Bull Can-Am Factory Racing’s Francisco Lopez and Cristina Gutierrez hold fourth and fifth in the rankings and are entered in their Maverick X3s.
Competition comes from four South Racing Can-Am Team Mavericks in the hands of Sweden’s Mattias Ekström, Chilean driver Hernan Garces and the Argentine duo of David Zille and Diego Martinez.
The X-raid Team has entered a prototype Yamaha YXZ 1000 R for the Portuguese duo of João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro and French veteran Claude Fournier drives a BRR-run Can-Am to round off the FIA entries
Rokas Baciuška heads FIA T4 category
Only four FIA T4 crews have made the trip to the Sonora Rally. Red Bull Can-Am Factory Racing’s Rokas Baciuška won the category in Abu Dhabi and finished second at the Dakar Rally and leads the series by 48 points after two rounds.
The Lithuanian again teams up with Spaniard Oriol Vidal and faces competition from an Xtreme Plus Polaris in the hands of Japan’s Shinsuke Umeda, Spaniard Eduardo Pons in a South Racing Can-Am and Italy’s Rebecca Busi, who teams up with Frenchman Sébastien Delaunay to drive an FN Speed Team Can-Am.
The new addition to the FIA cross-country calendar is also the first event of its kind to be staged in México that is sanctioned by the sport’s governing body. Formerly a round of just the FIM series, the event has been revised to adhere to FIA regulations and is the brand child of American racer Darren Skilton and his team.
Action will be fought out over five legs and a provisional 1,249 competitive kilometres in a route of 2,091km between the bustling city of Hermasillo, the fishing and resort city of Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) on the Gulf of California and the Arizona-México border town of San Luis Rio Colorado in northern México.
The demanding off-road event will pass through the state of Sonora en route towards the Sea of Cortez and across the cactus deserts of historical Caborca before reaching the famous dunes of the Altar Desert and on to the ceremonial finish in San Luis Rio Colorado’s El Bosque park
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Jehan Daruvala to test Mahindra Car for the first time in Berlin: Formula E
London (UK), Tuesday, 18 April 2023: Indian racing star Jehan Daruvala is scheduled to test a Formula E car for the first time at the Berlin round from April 22 to 23.
Daruvala is a Mahindra Racing reserve driver. The 24-year-old is fulfilling his Mahindra duties alongside a fourth full season in the Formula 2 Championship.
”ROOKIE TEST: @DaruvalaJehan will drive for us at the @FIAFormulaE Official Rookie Test after the Berlin E-Prix, making his debut outing in a Formula E race car,” Mahindra Racing tweeted.
Mahindra Racing is the only Indian outfit competing in Formula E though Tata-owned Jaguar is also part of the electric racing series. The Indian team will have two drivers taking part in the test.
Formula E Press Release
Formula E and the FIA today revealed the full line-up of the 23 drivers confirmed to participate in the first rookie test for the GEN3 race car next Monday (24 April) following Rounds 7 and 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at the Tempelhof Airport circuit in Berlin.
The test is exclusively for drivers with no previous experience driving a Formula E car on-track and who hold a minimum International Grade B license. The test day is designed to encourage new and emerging talent in the premier electric racing series with the chance to showcase their skills in the driving seat of the GEN3 race car – the fastest, lightest, most powerful, and most-efficient electric race car ever built.
Since the last rookie test in 2020, several drivers have made the step up to a full-time race seat. Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing), teammates Sacha Fenestraz and Norman Nato (Nissan Formula E Team), Jake Hughes (NEOM McLaren Formula E Team), and Sérgio Sette Câmara (NIO 333 Racing) all participated in the last rookie test held in Marrakesh.
Following the 2023 SABIC Berlin E-Prix double-header of races on Saturday 22 April and Sunday 23 April, rookie drivers representing all 11 teams in the championship will get the opportunity to shine in two three-hour sessions on Monday 24 April. Tackling the high-grip and energy-sapping concrete slabs initially designed for aircraft – not cutting-edge electric race cars – means the Hankook tyres will be pushed to their limits on the abrasive surface.
Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer, Formula E, said:
“Formula E is leading the way in motorsport for technological progress and innovation, so we are excited to capture that same dynamic spirit and give the next generation of racing talent the chance to show what they can do in the GEN3 race car.”
“The roster of drivers set to take part is a ‘who’s who’ list of the most exciting and ambitious talent in all of the motorsport with some huge accomplishments among them. We cannot wait to see what they will do behind the wheel of the GEN3, a race car at the leading edge of performance and innovation.”
Pablo Martino, Head of Sporting Matters, FIA, said:
“Nurturing the next generation and developing the stars of the future is a cornerstone of our focus in Formula E. We are working hand-in-hand with the championship to maximise opportunities for up-and-coming talents. A key aim of the test day in Berlin and the FP0 session in Rome is to offer promising young drivers an insight into the championship and allow them to familiarise themselves with the ground-breaking GEN3 car – another significant step towards our longer-term goal of integrating rookies even more tightly into the heart and the fabric of Formula E race weekends.”
Formula E is increasingly seen as a proving ground for the most talented drivers. After winning the 2019 FIA Formula 2 title, Nyck De Vries joined Formula E where he immediately showed his world-class racing ability to become the 2020 FIA Formula E World Champion. De Vries races for F1 team Scuderia AlphaTauri this season.
Current Formula E world champion Stoffel Vandoorne (DS PENSKE) combines his electric racing career with F1. As well as defending his Formula E title this season, Vandoorne is a reserve driver for the Aston Martin team in F1. Vandoorne moved to Formula E following success in his early career and has earned a place on the McLaren Young Driver Programme.
Building upon the Berlin test, in Rome just under three months later, a 30-minute Free Practice session will be held prior to Rounds 13 and 14 of the Rome Hankook E- Prix (Saturday 15 July and Sunday 16 July), for competitors aged 18 and over who have never previously raced in Formula E. All teams are obliged to run at least one driver in this session.
Drivers to watch:
Victor Martins, Nissan Formula E Team: Current reigning champion of the FIA Formula 3 Championship, Victor Martins will be testing with the Nissan Formula E Team. Martins has been a member of the Alpine F1 Academy since his 2020 Formula Renault Eurocup Championship win. Following his success to date, he has made the step up to the FIA Formula 2 Championship where he is currently competing for the 2023 season.
Felipe Drugovich, Maserati MSG Racing: 2022 Formula 2 Champion and reserve driver for Aston Martin and McLaren F1 teams will test for Maserati MSG Racing. He was the first member to be announced in the AMF1 Driver Development Programme, two days after winning the F2 Championship. He had his first go behind an F1 car in November 2022 when testing at Silverstone. This opportunity allowed him to obtain his FIA Super License and to drive in Free Practice at the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Alongside Formula E’s Stoffel Vandoorne, Drugovich was added to the list of reserve drivers for Aston Martin for the first 15 races of the 2023 season.
Sheldon van der Linde, Jaguar TCS Racing: Reigning 2022 DTM champion, Sheldon van der Linde will get his first opportunity in Formula E with Jaguar TCS Racing. He currently competes in the DTM Championship alongside Formula E’s Rene Rast. As a BMW Factory Works driver, he is also competing in the GT World Challenge Europe Championship and IMSA SportsCars Championship, where he took P2 in class in the 2023 12 Hours of Sebring. His older brother Kelvin van der Linde, two-time ADAC GT Masters champion also debuted in Formula E earlier this season as a replacement for the injured Robin Frijns in Diriyah, Hyderabad, and Cape Town.
Jack Aitken, Envision Racing: Current competitor in the IMSA SportsCars and DTM Championships, Jack Aitken makes his debut in Formula E for Envision Racing. Racing in the new Cadillac V-LMDh, he won IMSA’s 2023 12 Hours of Sebring following an incident that saw the GTP cars in front of him crash into each other in the final minutes of the race. He is a former reserve driver for the F1 team Williams Racing where he raced for the team at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, replacing George Russell. His previous experience includes ADAC GT Masters, European Le Mans as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Linus Lundqvist, Avalanche Andretti Formula E: Reigning Indy Lights champion and 2020 Formula Regional Americas Champion, Linus Lundqvist will test for Avalanche Andretti in the rookie test. No stranger to single-seater racing from his F3 days where he was named the BRDC British Formula 3 Champion, he has also raced the infamous 24-Hours of Daytona in 2019 and 2022.
Daniil Kvyat, NIO 333 Racing: Former Red Bull and AlphaTauri Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat will make his debut in Formula E for the NIO 333 team. He currently competes in LMP2 in the FIA World Endurance Championship, and next year will race for Lamborghini Squadra Corse as a Factory Works Driver. He has also driven at the infamous brickyard in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Indianapolis Road Course race and is scheduled to make three more appearances later this year.
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For Supercross Nationals: Visit INDIANmotorsports.in, follow the links here
- Hero MotoSports debut to challenge favourites Petronas TVS Racing
2. Petronas TVS mounts challenge for one more year of dominance with 9 champion riders
3. Jordi Grau Rodriques in India to launch Hero MotoSports Supercross campaign.
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Shifting to IndianMotorsports.in
INDIAinF1.com has a new home. Due to technical upgradation, our website is being re routed to a new URL www.INDIANmotorsports.in, kindly check it for all Indian domestic motorsports news along with the regular updates for Formula 1, MotoGP, WRC, World SBK (WSBK) and others.
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All set for Red Bull Showrun: David Coulthard raises the curtain for media in Mumbai
Mumbai, 11 March 2023: The exciting gala programme of the Red Bull Showrun has come to India again. And it’s time for motorsports fans in India to steer their attention back on the streets of Mumbai. The acclaimed Red Bull Formula 1 car would be on display and the former F1 driver David Coulthard, will take you on a course of delight and fun as he attempts one more run in India following his 2009 first show and the high-altitude show in the Himalayas a few years later by the Red Bull team.
“There is a lot of change in India since my last visit in 2009, the city has grown big and Formula 1 continues to grow in popularity and Red Bull happens to be very successful with the sport and very successful in India and even during the dominant period for Lewis (Hamilton) and Mercedes, Red Bull car was able to put in strong performances,” said Coulthard.
“Make sure not to blink, and soak in the whiff of burnt rubber as a mean machine from a decorated team whizzes past you,” said a Red Bull quote and for Do’s and Don’ts tomorrow visit the Red Bull page here.
Multiple race-winner and veritable legend David Coulthard is all set to bring the adrenaline-pumping roar of his engine to the Maximum City. The only team to have won the Indian Grand Prix returns to India after famously conquering the world’s highest motorable road at Khardung-la, dazzling Mumbaikars at the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, and delighting Delhi with some slick moves at the iconic Rajpath boulevard. Be there to witness it live. The curtains were off at a Press Conference attended by the Photo Editor and adviser of this site, Srinivasa Krishnan in Mumbai today.
David Coulthard speaking to the media at Mubai on Saturday. Photos by Srinivasa Krishnan exclusively for for INDIAinF1.com Our own Suhail Chandhok, put the spotlight on David Coulthard. The run will be on:
Date: 12th March, 10am onwards (gates open at 8am)
Venue: Bandra Bandstand, Mumbai
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TVS Apache RR 310 in Gameloft’s Asphalt 8
Bengaluru, 15 Dec 2022: TVS Motor Company, a reputed manufacturer of two-wheelers and three-wheelers globally, announced today its partnership with Gameloft for brands for Asphalt 8: Airborne featuring its flagship motorcycle, TVS Apache RR 310. It makes TVS Motor the first Indian two-wheeler manufacturer to bring a virtual racing experience of its motorcycle to Gameloft’s Asphalt 8, one of the world’s leading motor racing game. This integration marks TVS Apache’s foray into the world of gaming, extending its commitment to deliver an unparalleled racing experience to its 4.8 million+ customers, online as well as offline. It is in line with the growing interest for gaming amidst the racing enthusiasts and target audience for TVS Apache, making this integration another medium for the company to engage with enthusiasts across the world even when they are off their motorcycles.
The TVS Apache series built out of TVS Racing, is based on the “Track to Road” philosophy. This philosophy manifests itself in each of TVS Apache motorcycles through the best-in-segment performance, technology and unique stye.
Commenting on the partnership, Vimal Sumbly, Head Business – Premium, TVS Motor Company, said, “TVS Motor Company is excited about its partnership with Gameloft for brands, as it brings TVS Apache RR 310 in the popular gaming franchise – Asphalt 8: Airborne. TVS Apache series has been instrumental in flourishing premium motorcycling culture and is a popular brand among motorcycle enthusiasts and the Gen-Z. We are sure that this collaboration with Gameloft will help in increasing the awareness for TVS Apache brand, targeting a new set of audience while engaging online with our customers. With initiatives like these, TVS Apache has become one of the fastest growing brands in its segment, and continues to demonstrate its focus on bringing innovative platforms to connect with the customers.”
Speaking on the integration, Alexandre Tan, SVP Brand Partnerships & Advertising at Gameloft for brands, said, “TVS Motor is a great partner and we are excited that they are joining us for the first time in this new competition. With this new partner, we are thrilled to bring new innovative and exclusive in the game, creating a deeper connection with the TVS Motor brand and the Asphalt franchise community.”
Key highlights:
- As part of this association, gamers across the world can now compete against each other on TVS Motor Company’s flagship motorcycle – the TVS Apache RR 310
- With this new integration, the 4.8 million TVS Apache customers and owners worldwide will get an all-new platform to experience their favourite TVS Apache RR 310 virtually in an exciting setting
- TVS Motor is the first Indian two-wheeler manufacturer to bring its motorcycle to the popular gaming franchise
- Players will discover the new TVS Apache branded booster & billboards and the new TVS Apache World Series Season. In the process, they also stand a chance to win exciting prizes
- TVS Apache customers find keen interest in online gaming, and this association is set to bolster the brand’s awareness and imagery in engaging newer audiences
- The TVS Apache RR 310 integration in Asphalt 8: Airborne can be experienced in Career, Player vs Player and Multiplayer modes
About TVS Motor Company
TVS Motor Company is a reputed two and three-wheeler manufacturer globally, championing progress through Sustainable Mobility with four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Hosur, Mysuru and Nalagarh in India and Karawang in Indonesia. Rooted in our 100-year legacy of Trust, Value, and Passion for Customers and Exactness, we take pride in making internationally aspirational products of the highest quality through innovative and sustainable processes. We are the only two-wheeler company to have received the prestigious Deming Prize. Our products lead in their respective categories in the J.D. Power IQS and APEAL surveys. We have been ranked No. 1 Company in the J.D. Power Customer Service Satisfaction Survey for consecutive four years. Our group company Norton Motorcycles, based in the United Kingdom, is one of the most emotive motorcycle brands in the world. Our subsidiaries in the personal e-mobility space, Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG) and EGO Movement have a leading position in the e-bike market in Switzerland. TVS Motor Company endeavours to deliver the most superior customer experience across 80 countries in which we operate. For more information, please visit www.tvsmotor.com
About Gameloft for brands
Gameloft for brands offers leading advertising and gamification solutions to help brands better connect with their audiences. Through interactive content and immersive experiences supported by its extensive in-game media network, Gameloft for brands leverages its longstanding gaming expertise to engage people in meaningful ways with an unparalleled level of transparency and safety. Gameloft for brands has received the TAG Certification Against Fraud Seal and follows MOAT’s standards. To date, Gameloft for brands has delivered more than 10,000 campaigns for prestigious brands such as Air France, Coca-Cola®, Ferrero, Ford, FOX™, Automobili Lamborghini, ING, Netflix, Procter & Gamble, Samsung and LEGO, in over 40 countries around the world (North America, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, etc.) and our work has been honoured with over 50 awards from marketing organizations.
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Abu Dhabi GP: Hamilton leads Russell in final FP1 session
Lewis Hamilton headed FP1 of F1 Abu Dhabi GP from George Russell, with Charles Leclerc ending up third amid rookies.
It was dry running in FP1 of F1 Abu Dhabi GP at Yas Marina circuit which went on smoothly apart from lots of sliding around for almost everyone on the grid. The Mercedes pair set the pace at the front with Lewis Hamilton on top with a 1m26.633s lap.
He headed George Russell (1m26.853s) with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (1m26.888s) in third from Red Bull pair of Sergio Perez (1m26.967s) and Liam Lawson (1m27.201s) – where the Kiwi replaced Max Verstappen. Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel (1m27.268s) started his final weekend in sixth.
Ferrari’s Robert Shwartzman (1m27.429s) was seventh in place of Carlos Sainz, with McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo (1m27.619s) in eighth, Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas (1m27.655s) ninth and Williams’ Alexander Albon (1m27.840s) 10th.
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly was 11th with teammate Yuki Tsunoda 13th behind Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. There was a moment involving the AlphaTauri pair and Haas’ Pietro Fittipaldi which surprised the Frenchman during the session.
Alfa Romeo’s Robert Kubica was 14th in place of Zhou Guanyu, as Williams’ Logan Sargeant was 15th in place of Nicholas Latifi. The American added another superlicense point despite a Turn 1 spin after a lock-up. He escaped the barrier just to continue on.
Haas’ Kevin Magnussen was 16th from Fittipaldi, who took Mick Schumacher’s car. McLaren’s Pato O’Ward had a scare on his session start but the team fixed Lando Norris’ car to send him out in 18th from Alpine’s Jack Doohan in Fernando Alonso’s car and Aston Martin’s Felipe Drugovich in Lance Stroll’s car.
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Brazil GP: Magnussen has first F1 pole amid red flag and rain
Kevin Magnussen took F1 Brazil GP pole for the sprint race from Max Verstappen and George Russell after red flag and rain.
Q1:
The first part in F1 Brazil GP qualifying at Interlagos, it was a intermediate start after rain between FP1 and qualifying in the sprint weekend. But with no rain in the air, drivers started to switch to slick compound in a gamble mode.
There twitchy moments for several in tricky conditions as Haas’ Kevin Magnussen had his lap deleted. AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly was the first to switch to the soft compound with others following suit as the lap times started to lower down.
It was late improvements for many as Ferrari just managed to make it through to Q2 finishing 12th and 14th. McLaren’s Lando Norris was the fastest after all the hectic running with a 1m13.106s lap from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Alpine’s Fernando Alonso.
The bottom half saw Williams’ Nicholas Latifi (1m15.095s) just miss out in 16th from the Alfa Romeo pair of Zhou Guanyu (1m15.197s) & Valtteri Bottas (1m15.486s), while AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda (1m16.264s) was 19th and Haa’s Mick Schumacher (1m16.361s) 20th.
Q2:
It was dry running in second part of F1 Brazil GP qualifying but some gambled on old sets from Q1 for their first run where Mercedes were the late ones to switch. They got the lap in at the right time as it started raining towards the business end.
Despite that, lap times continued to improve. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the pace with a 1m10.881s lap where he led Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in the Top 3. The bottom half was decided just before the chequered flag fell.
Williams’ Alexander Albon (1m11.631s) lost it by 0.044s after he selected to pit with AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly (1m11.675s) in 12th after replays showed him racing Alpine’s Fernando Alonso – where the latter made it in the Top 10.
Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel (1m11.678s) was 13th as replays showed an off moment at Turn 1 which hampered his attempt with teammate Lance Stroll (1m12.210s) 15th behind McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo (1m12.140s).
Q3:
It was dark to start with in final part of F1 Brazil GP qualifying where Leclerc was on the intermediate tyres to soft compound for rest of the nine drivers. The Monegasque didn’t pit and continued on to set a lap but eventually pitted to switch to slicks.
There was more misery for Ferrari as a red flag stalled their progress after Mercedes’ George Russell beached himself in the gravel. He went off and while trying to save himself he did a donut which got him beached in the gravel and session over for him.
It was Haas’ Magnussen on provisional pole with a 1m11.674s lap from Red Bull’s Verstappen and Russell in the Top 3. McLaren’s Norris was fourth from Sainz, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon & Alonso, Hamilton, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Leclerc in the Top 10.
With rain falling, Perez ventured out on the intermediate but eventually pitted without setting a lap, while the likes of Leclerc and Verstappen were already out of the car. Hamilton ventured out as well but pitted without setting a lap.
That secured first-ever pole for Magnussen and Haas in F1 where he is due to start the Staurday’s sprint race in first place alongside 2022 champion Verstappen (1m11.877s). Despite the one causing the red flag, Russell (1m12.059s) was third from Norris (1m12.263s) and Sainz (1m12.357s) in the Top 5.
The Spaniard will serve his penalty in the Sunday’s grand prix, as Ocon (1m12.425s) was sixth from Alonso (1m12.504s), Hamilton (1m12.611s), Perez (1m15.601s) and Leclerc (8m43.744s) in the Top 10.
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Pragathi Gowda makes India proud: FIA Rally Star cup
Chennai, 12 October 2022: Australia’s 19-year old Taylor Gill, a mechanic by profession, and Bengaluru’s Pragathi Gowda from India were declared winners of the FIA Rally Star Asia-Pacific Final which concluded at the Madras International Circuit, here on Wednesday.
A four-member Jury, after considering the timesheets and then interviewing the finalists, declared Gill, who hails from New Castle, as the overall winner of the Final while 25-year old Pragathi won in the women’s category. She will represent the Asia-Pacific region in the women’s World Finals in Peru in January 2023.
The qualifiers for Stage-3 today were put through two phases of timed runs. At the end of the first phase, the list was narrowed down to six contenders based on their times. The top six were then given another run to decide the quickest. The six drivers were then interviewed by the four-member jury who then announced the winner, taking into consideration the performances, fitness and driving skills.
Pragathi, a post-graduate in finance, who juggles between profession and motorsport, said: “I am super happy. I will do my best to make my country proud. Winning the Rally Star is the biggest recognition I have received and I have worked very hard for it. I would like to tell all the women out there to not lose hope. This is the happiest moment in my life.
“On the first two days, it was more of a tarmac run, but today, it was more gravel which I am very comfortable with and so was very confident. I just stuck to my basics and did what I had to do. I was not happy with my first run today, but I completed the second with ease.”
Taylor Gill, struggling to contain his emotions, said: “I don’t have the words to describe my feelings now. Coming into the Final here, I just wanted to enjoy myself and put everything together. A couple of weeks ago, I did one day in a cross car in Australia, but the Rally Star cars here are vastly different. Right now, I am over the moon.”
The Asia-Pacific winner will join the other continental finals champions. Two winners of these events join the selection of drivers for the first FIA Rally Star Training Season in 2023. The last spot in the FIA Rally Star Training Season will go to the winner of the Women’s Final, which is due to take place in Peru.
The winner of the FIA Rally Star Asia-Pacific Final will be representing the region in the 2023 FIA Rally Star Training Season. Besides six rallies in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally3, the Training Season package includes physical and intellectual assessment, driver coaching and testing. The aim is to equip the successful contestants with the attributes they need as they attempt to secure a drive in the FIA World Rally Championship in the future.
At the end of 2023, the best four FIA Rally Star Team members are rewarded with a season in the FIA Junior WRC Championship in 2024. For 2025, three drivers go forward into a second Junior WRC season. And if one of the FIA Rally Star Team members wins the title, they secure a WRC2 campaign in a Rally2 car for 2026 with a Rally1 drive their next target.
