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Category: Indians Abroad
News about Indians racing in different motorsports events abroad
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Jehan Daruvala qualifies P7; to start P4 in the Sprint: F2
Sakhir, 18 March 2022: Indian racing star Jehan Daruvala qualified P7 in the qualifying session today and will start P4 in the Sprint race on Saturday. The Prema Racing driver clocked 1:41.115.
Virtuosi Racing rookie Jack Doohan took an emphatic first pole position of the year in Formula 2, utilizing an almost empty track to set a 1:40.542, when the majority of the field were busy in the pitlane changing their tyres.
ART Grand Prix’s Théo Pourchaire and Hitech Grand Prix’ Jüri Vips attempted to beat the Australian’s time in the second half of the session, but both felt short and had to settle for second and third, respectively.
The Australian’s effort means that a Virtuosi driver has taken pole in the opening round three seasons in a row, with Guanyu Zhou achieving the feat in 2020 and 2021.
All 22 cars emerged from the pitlane when the lights went green, but the session was red-flagged before they’d all made it out on the tarmac as Ayumu Iwasa’s DAMS came to a halt, forcing a stoppage as the marshals wheeled it off the track and out of the session.
The remaining 21 cars fed out onto the track when the session resumed, led by Van Amersfoort Racing duo Jake Hughes and Amaury Cordeel, who had seen their F3 counterpart Franco Colapinto take pole in the third tier earlier on Friday.
Looking to make it two VAR drivers on pole, Hughes was sat in P1 after the first set of flying laps, setting a cool 1:41.469 to lead Doohan. The British driver remained there after the second lot of fast lap, this time beating the morning’s quickest man, Felipe Drugovich.
PREMA had yet to set a representative time and opted to run their pairing in the gap, with Jehan Daruvala emerging in fifth, while Hauger had to settle for P13. Doohan had also decided to make the most of the empty track and delivered a statement lap, launching to first by more than half a second thanks to two purple sectors.
1:40.542 had become the time to beat as those who had gone into the pits at the halfway point returned to the tarmac with a fresh pair of soft Pirelli boots.
Vips was the only driver to come close to Doohan on the first run of the second set of tyres, but the Hitech racer’s effort was only good enough for second, as he fell two tenths short of the Australian.
Pourchaire briefly put himself on the front row but saw his time deleted for exceeding track limits. Dusting himself off, the ART Grand Prix driver went again and matched his previous effort, going second once again, one-tenth off P1, to push Vips down to third.
There was still time to be found in the final minutes as Ralph Boschung put his Campos in fifth between the two Carlin drivers, with Logan Sargeant in fourth and Liam Lawson in sixth.
Daruvala left it late, but the Red Bull junior returned to the track with just enough time to spare and found the pace for seventh.
After leading for much of the session, Hughes had fallen to eighth at the flag, which still marked a solid effort for VAR on their debut. Richard Verschoor earned Trident a spot in the top 10, taking ninth, with Drugovich ending Qualifying in 10th.
The Brazilian MP Motorsport racer will start from pole on Saturday evening’s reverse grid at 7.40pm local time.
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Kush Maini gets upto speed quickly with a P3 for Feature Race: F3
Sakhir, 18 March 2022: Indian racing star Kush Maini got into speed at his first outing and did a creditable job taking P3 in the qualifying session for Sunday’s Feature Race even as Formula 3 newcomers Van Amersfoort Racing got their competitive debut in the category off to the best possible start on Friday, as Franco Colapinto took pole position with a lap time of 1:46.249.
When asked how pleased he was, just one-tenths off the pole time, Kush, the MP Motorsport driver said: Honestly really pleased. I think Free Practice we were struggling a bit, so we just made a few tweaks to the balance and it looked like it sorted itself out and I could do some consistent laps and I kept improving and improving. Considering I haven’t done a single-seater Qualifying in over a year, and coming in as a rookie, I’m pretty happy with third on the grid. Also, our race runs were strong in the test so I think the goal will be to try and get in front of these two.
The Bengaluru driver did not get much time in the car as he got into F3 hardly a month back. “Obviously, I missed the test because I had no idea until a couple of months ago I was even going to be in this Championship. Honestly, as a racing driver, you don’t really lose your instinct. With the help of my team, who have helped me every step of the way, and my teammates, who are a lot more experienced than me, I feel as good as I’ve ever felt,” he added
With the morning preparations in practice done and dusted, all the drivers headed out onto the field to set the grid orders for the first Sprint and Feature Races of the year in a 30-minute session.
After the opening run of laps, it was Grégoire Saucy who jumped to the head of the timesheet, placing himself just over one-tenth of a second in front of practice pace-setter Roman Staněk.
Most of the drivers returned to the pit lane as the session reached the halfway point, however, two remained on track to set their own laps – ART Grand Prix’s Juan Manuel Correa and MP Motorsport driver Alexander Smolyar. Correa climbed into third place, while Smolyar lowered the benchmark at the head of the field, going fastest by three-tenths of a second over Saucy.
With 10 minutes remaining, the rest of the drivers sprung out of the pit lane and set their minds on their final push lap. Colapinto, who appeared competitive in practice, delivered VAR its dream debut by moving to the head of the pack, where he wouldn’t be displaced.
Staněk came the closest to besting the Argentine, with his effort sitting just a mere six-hundredths of a second down. Meanwhile, Kush Maini produced an impressive final lap for MP Motorsport to go third.
With the Qualifying order setting the starting grid for Sunday’s Feature Race, Saturday’s Sprint Race starting order is decided by flipping the top 12 in Qualifying.
It means that Carlin’s Zak O’Sullivan will start on pole position on Saturday, with PREMA Racing’s Oliver Bearman alongside him for company on the front row after both drivers ended Qualifying in 12th and 11th respectively.
ART Grand Prix had all its drivers finish inside the top six, with Saucy, Victor Martins and Correa classifying fourth through sixth, ahead of Zane Maloney and Smolyar. Isack Hadjar and David Vidales rounded out the top 10.
The field of Formula 3 drivers will race for the first time this year on Saturday, with the Sprint Race getting underway at 12.45pm local time.
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Jehan Daruvala enters one more F2 season with eyes set firmly on Formula 1
Mumbai, 17 March 2022: Indian F1 hopeful Jehan Daruvala heads into this weekend’s season-opening Bahrain round of the Formula 2 championship with his sights set on battling for the win.
The 23-year-old from Mumbai has a strong record of success at the Sakhir desert track, winning his first Formula 2 race at the venue in 2020 in his debut season before following it up with a podium there last year.
Driving for reigning champions Prema Racing this season and having set the second-fastest time of pre-season testing at the same venue, Jehan heads into the weekend as one of the favourites.
Prema have won in Bahrain in three of the last five seasons.
A win would mark the perfect start to a season in which Jehan is hoping to become the first Indian to win the Formula 2 title.
Jehan said, “I can’t wait to go racing again. Getting some time off at the end of last year was good and I’m now raring to get the season underway. Bahrain is where I took my first Formula 2 win, it’s a track that suits my driving style and I’m pretty sure we can do well there again. The competition will be tough but we came away in a strong position from testing, I’m feeling at home with the team and we go into the weekend confident that we can get some big results.”
Jehan will hit the track on Friday, March 18th for practice and qualifying. The weekend’s Sprint race will be held on Saturday, March 19th, with the main Feature race scheduled for Sunday, March 20th, before the start of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix
Jehan, who is also part of the Red Bull Junior Team, is heading into his third season in Formula 2, the feeder-series that sits below F1 on the single-seater ladder.
He raced for Carlin in the last two seasons but has made the move to Prema Racing this year.
The Italian racing powerhouse is the most successful outfit in Formula 2, having delivered three of the series’ five drivers’ champions, including Ferrari Formula 1 race winner Charles Leclerc and Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time world champion Michael.
Jehan, who finished third in the Formula 3 standings while racing for Prema in 2019, is looking to emulate this duo and follow Australian Oscar Piastri as the squad’s third straight Formula 2 champion.
He is eyeing a step up to F1 in 2023, which would make him only the third Indian to compete in motorsport’s top tier.
Stats and Facts
- Circuit length: 5.412 km
- First race: 2017
- Jehan’s Bahrain debut: 2020
- Wins: 1 (2020)
- Podiums: 2 (2020, 2021)
- Jehan 2021 result: 2nd (Sprint 1), 4th (Sprint 2), 6th (Feature)
- Prema pole positions: 1 (2017)
- Prema wins: 3 (2017, 2020, 2021)
Weekend Schedule
Free practice: Friday, March 18th at 1505 IST
Qualifying: Friday, March 18th at 2155 IST
Sprint race: Saturday, March 19th at 2210 IST
Feature race: Sunday, March 20th at 1610 IST
About Jehan Daruvala
Jehan Daruvala is a racing driver from Mumbai, India. He began karting at the age of 10 in 2009. Two years later, he was picked up as one of the three winners of Force India’s ‘One From a Billion’ talent hunt. In 2013, he became the first Asian to win the British KF3 karting championship. A proven winner, Jehan has won in every category he has competed in. He is currently racing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, which is a feeder series to Formula 1 and takes place on the same weekends. Already a multiple winner in the category, Jehan’s goal for the 2022 season is to claim the title which would boost his chances of becoming only the third Indian on the Formula One grid.
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Pragathi Gowda, Deepa, Anushriya land in England for McLaren Formula Woman finals
Bengaluru, 1 March 2022: Pragati Gowda, the talented youngster from Bengaluru, rushed back from the Rally of Coimbatore on Sunday night and took a flight to England Monday morning, to take part in the Global Finals selection and was at the Nottingham Raceway, for the Formula Women McLaren trials on Wednesday. The other two to represent India are Deepa S John from Kerala and Anushriya Gulati, a racing champ from Uttarakhand.
“I am super excited and nervous at the same time. I am trying to adapt to the weather here. The weather is too chilling. I am looking forward to a new adventure in my life and tomorrow is going to be very special as it is the selection day. Just now, I finished my practice and came back. Trying to sort out certain things but yes, it is all going good and I am looking forward to a great run tomorrow,” the 19-year MBA graduate, who made a winning INRC debut in Itanagar in 2020 December, told INDIAinF1.com through an exclusive voice file over WhatsApp.
Pragathi Gowda, left, and Deepa John are well-prepared for the English weather but we missed Anushriya Gulati at the McLaren Global Finals venue on Tuesday. INDIAinF1 photo The attacking speedster, found the going tough in Coimbatore due to mechanical issues with a fan failure on Day 1, and as they were speeding to make up time on Sunday, their drive shaft broke in Special Stage (SS) 6, which halted their progress. Along with navigator, Trisha Jagannath, she returned to Bengaluru on Sunday itself, and took the Monday morning flight.
“I just finished practice at another circuit and I am too excited right now. It is really cold here and getting adapted to this weather is tricky, but fun. It is a new learning experience for me but it is also thrilling to be here and am looking forward to the practice session, qualifier and selection race tomorrow morning. Driving in this biting cold and representing India in itself is a wonderful feeling and I am eager to have a go,” said Deepa John, who beat a bevy of biggies in Vadodara last November. The automobile engineer by profession came first among women’s category and third in expert category during India trials.
Deepa John, is a gifted fresher from Thiruvananthapuram, a find at the India Formula Women selections. On the other hand, Anushriya Gulati, despite racing only for a couple of years both at the Madras Race Track and Kari Speedway is both a biker and an open-wheel Formula racer. She was also credited with a ride to the Khardung La pass up the mountains and when she moved to racing four-wheeler, she won the Rookie title in the JK Tyre National Championship beating seniors like Mira Erda. These two along with Pragathi, won the India trials. The Formula India Women selections were conducted in November 2021 at the Erda Speedway in Vadodara. Another Indian, Manisha Kelkar, will also take part in the Global Finals but not as an Indian contestant as she directly chose to come to the UK and successfully finished her assessment.
Manisha Khelkar file photo of Dec 2021 The trio will represent India at the finals to stand a chance to be a McLaren Customer Racing Driver. The three drivers came out flying among 23 contestants who were assessed over five parameters namely, driving ability, karting craft, physical fitness, media skills, and a general written test.
The Global finals will witness about 70 participants who would be competing against each other on March 2 and 3 at the PF1 International circuit which is the largest outdoor karting circuit in UK. Then 15 shortlisted drivers will head to Croft Circuit on March 3 for a further round of finals. Then the top 10 participants will head to Sweden for a final shootout on a different terrain, that is Ice. The final six will have two reserve drivers while the top four will get a drive in the British GT championship where McLaren will have two cars, with two drivers each.
Fans who wish to send their wishes to the three Formula India Women can comment here and we will forward them to the star drivers.
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Advait Deodhar and Alberto Panebianco confirmed for Euro NASCAR2
Bengaluru, 16 Feb 2022: Not Only Motorsport announced today two of their drivers for the 2022 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season. Advait Deodhar will join the Italian team in the EuroNASCAR 2 championship driving the #90 Chevrolet Camaro, while Rookie Trophy winner Alberto Panebianco extended his partnership with Not Only Motorsport to race the #89 Chevrolet Camaro. Both the Indian and the Italian will go for the EuroNASCAR 2 title.
Deodhar made his way into EuroNASCAR 2 through the regularity based Club Challenge and made his competitive racing breakthrough at Brands Hatch in the 2021 season. The 31-year-old from Mumbai scored his maiden NASCAR win to become the first Indian to park his car in Victory Lane in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. 5 top-5 and 6 top-10 finishes in the last season made Deodhar one of the title contenders and in 2022 he wants to fight for the championship until the very last race.
“I’m very happy to be back in EuroNASCAR. I have a lot of unfinished business from last year, unfortunately.” said Deodhar, who lost his brother last year. “It started off well but then I had a personal tragedy in my life and I think because of that my head was not in the right space. I was expecting from the year to win the championship but unfortunately that didn’t happen. The plan was to step up to EuroNASCAR PRO but I’ve got unfinished business in EuroNASCAR 2. I want to give it another shot and aim for the title and nothing less! I’m training very hard in the gym and in the simulator. I’m gonna move to Not Only Motorsport. They have a strong package and the drivers always had a setup they were confident with. We all want to win and this is why it’s a good move.”
In his EuroNASCAR 2 rookie season, which was his first in competitive auto racing, Panebianco convinced by winning the Rookie Trophy in tenth place overall – he had a 5 points advantage on Leevi Lintukanto. The Venaria Reale native scored 2 top-5 and 6 top-10 results as well as 4 Rookie Trophy race wins. With a lot more experience and new knowledge about the car and tracks in his pockets, Panebianco is poised to aim for a top-5 finish in every race and have a word in the EuroNASCAR 2 title battle.
“I’m really happy to continue my career with Not Only Motorsport,” said Panebianco, who found his way to EuroNASCAR through a contest organized by Not Only Motorsport. “We want to win together and achieve good results overall. We are working in the right direction and I’m proud of the progress we made since Valencia last year, hopefully this attitude will take us high in the standings. The goal is to think about ourselves and learn from every second in the car. I believe this is the only way to reach the ultimate target. I’m ready for an exciting season and I’m confident the best is yet to come, both from me and the team. We will carry the momentum into this season and keep progress together. I can’t wait to be back in the car!”
Not Only Motorsport is a relatively young team in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, having joined the Championship in 2020. In 2021, the Italian organization scored its maiden EuroNASCAR 2 with Naveh Talor at the wheel of the #90 Chevrolet – the car Deodhar will take over in the 2022 season. With all his experience, the Indian is poised to take Not Only Motorsport to the next level. With Panebianco, the team has a certain consistency that could be key. The rest of the team’s lineup will be announced at a later date.
The 2022 NWES season will kick off on April 9-10 at the legendary Hockenheimring in Germany. All qualifying sessions and races will be broadcasted live on EuroNASCAR’s social media profiles – YouTube, Facebook, Twitch – and on Motorsport.tv.
Featured Image Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard
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Maini finds a new home in Haupt Racing team: DTM series
Bengaluru, 16 Feb. 2022: After a successful rookie season in Germany’s premiere racing series, Maini will look to build on his solid foundation as he joins the team that brought 2021 champion Maximillian Gotz to the title, a press release said here on Wednesday.
Arjun Maini The 2021 season marked a new chapter in Maini’s life, as the Omega Seiki Mobility backed racing driver became the first Indian to compete in the German Championship. Maini demonstrated incredible one-lap speed, finishing in the top five in several practice and qualifying sessions, and his perseverance was ultimately rewarded with a fine second place in the season-ending race at the Norisring.
The DTM series was revitalized when it switched to the GT3 regulations in 2021, with a slew of supercar manufacturers joining its ranks. This included the likes of Ferrari, McLaren, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Audi to name a few. The new format also ensured that the championship remained one of the most competitive racing classes outside of Formula 1, with current Williams driver Alex Albon competing alongside former stars such as Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock, and Markus Winkelhock in a sprint format that captivated audiences from around the globe.
Despite the influx of new manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz maintained its dominance, with the Stuttgart-based behemoth winning both the Manufactures’ and Drivers’ titles in 2021. In fact, Mercedes’ continued support is a testament to Maini’s performances in 2021, with the championship winners offering the Indian the opportunity to compete with one of their flagship teams in the form of HRT.
HRT has a long history in motorsport, having competed and tasted success in a variety of GT championships such as the Asia Le Mans Series, the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the GT World Series, and the DTM. Given their wealth of experience, Maini will be hoping to capitalize on their acumen as he seeks to establish himself as a consistent front runner.
After only a few days of testing in 2021, Maini has had a much more structured off season, with the Indian currently racing in the Asian Le Mans Series. Maini, who is sharing the car with team owner Herbert Haupt is currently in the UAE competing in all four rounds of the championship and is the team’s lead qualifier.
The Indian will also contest the preseason tests in his official DTM Mercedes AMG car prior to the season opener in Portimao, Portugal, between April 30 and May 1, 2022.
Arjun Maini:
“I’m thrilled to be joining HRT. Having achieved the majority of my goals in 2021, I’m better prepared to face the challenges of the upcoming season, and my goal is to become the first Indian race winner in DTM.
“Given the Haupt Racing Team’s pedigree, I believe we can mount a series fight for a top five finish in the championship, with the objective being to accumulate as many podiums and wins as possible.”
“I feel at ease in the car, and after an entire season last year, I genuinely believe I am better equipped to navigate the subtleties involved in driving the Mercedes AMG GT3 racecar to extract the best of its Potential.”
Mercedes AMG:
“I am convinced that, together with our teams and the high-quality driver line-up, we can deliver success in the new season as well,” Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, adds.
Ex-DTM driver Thomas Jäger is Mercedes-AMG’s sporting director DTM. “In its debut season, DTM has shown how high the sporting aspiration of this series is. The teams and drivers involved are the absolute top level in GT racing. Accordingly, for us at Mercedes-AMG, it is an obligation to support our teams in the best possible way,” Jäger says.
Ulrich Fritz, Managing Director of Haupt Racing Team (HRT):
“Strategic aspects played the major role in the selection of our driver line-up for the 2022 DTM season – a decision that was made together with Mercedes-AMG. We are confident that, with Luca Stolz and Arjun Maini, we will line up with a very competitive package for Haupt Racing Team.” -
Arjun Maini to take part in Asian Le Mans for HRT
Dubai, 8 Feb. 2022: This season, Haupt Racing Team will compete in the Asian Le Mans Series for the first time. The team from Meuspath is set to line up with one Mercedes-AMG GT3 in all four of the series’ races. Alternating at the wheel of the #6 car, with its striking blue and yellow livery, will be Hubert Haupt (GER), Arjun Maini (IND) and Rory Penttinen (FIN). The first race of the season gets underway at 13:30 CET on Saturday, 12th February, at Dubai Autodrome.
The calendar for the Asian Le Mans Series comprises four races. The opening weekend in Dubai (12th to 13th February) sees the teams contest two four-hour races. One week later (19th to 20th February), the series moves to Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi for another two four-hour races.
This year’s field features 37 cars, 23 of which – more than ever before – will line up in the GT class. The teams will not only be battling it out for the title in the Asian Le Mans Series, but each class winner will also be rewarded with a starting place at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In Rory Penttinen, HRT has acquired a wealth of experience in the Asian Le Mans Series: The Finn started every one of the races in 2021, winning the Team and Driver titles in the LMP3 class. He will share the cockpit with team owner Hubert Haupt, with Arjun Maini being the third driver: Like Penttinen, the 24 years-old Indian, who drove in the DTM last year, will be making his race debut for Haupt Racing Team in Dubai.
Hubert Haupt, team owner Haupt Racing Team / HRT #6:
“I am already hugely looking forward to the Asian Le Mans Series. Four races in two weekends in the Emirates – it is going to be great. The series also offers us a good opportunity to get closer to the organisers, ACO. A start at the 24 Hours of Le Mans could be interesting for us in 2024.”
Arjun Maini, driver HRT #6:
“I am really pleased to be driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 again in the Asian Le Mans Series, and to be doing so for an established team like HRT. We have a strong line-up, so we will hopefully be able to produce some strong performances. I Have great memories of the tracks at Dubai and Abu Dhabi where I have driven in earlier Championships and am really looking forward to capitalise on my previous experiences of Endurance racing in Asia and Europe. ”
Rory Penttinen, driver HRT #6:
“I have very fond memories of the Asian Le Mans Series, as last year’s victory in the LMP3 class was one of my biggest successes as a racing driver. I would now like to repeat that in the GT class with Hubert and Arjun. With a bit of luck and a top performance, we can do it.”
Ulrich Fritz, Managing Director of Haupt Racing Team:“This is our first time competing in the Asian Le Mans Series, and we will be up against some strong opposition in the GT class. Despite this, we have high hopes, particularly as we have enjoyed great success at Dubai Autodrome in the past. We will work very hard to add to that success now.”
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Hero MotoSports, 1st Indian team to win a Dakar Stage and a podium
Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), 15 Jan 2022: Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – Hero MotoCorp, completed its Dakar 2022 campaign with a stellar result as both team riders crossed the final finish line in Jeddah on Friday.
You can read Harith Noah’s Dakar 2022 report is here. Report of the other Indian team Sherco TVS is here.
Dakar 2022 will go down in history as the edition that saw an Indian manufacturer win a Stage in the world’s toughest rally for the very first time!
With one stage win and one stage podium, this has been Hero MotoSports’ best-ever performance at the Dakar Rally so far. This was the team’s sixth consecutive appearance at the rally.
All through 2021, the team participated in multiple races, constantly upgrading their machines, and reaching the top positions. They entered the Dakar Rally battling several last-minute hurdles – including two of their riders getting unfit for the race due to injuries. The Dakar 2022, however, turned out to be a watershed moment for the team and Hero MotoCorp, as the team overcame challenges and achieved a historic result. Having won the hearts of fans around the world, the team has been receiving congratulatory messages all day long.
Joaquim Rodrigues, the star performer of the team, finished the last stage of 163 kms between Bisha to Jeddah with yet another top-15 finish.
For JRod, who lost his brother-in-law and mentor Paulo two years back at the Dakar, walking back into the same event each year has been a battle with himself. After making it to the podium of an FIM World Championship race in 2021, JRod entered Dakar 2022 with great confidence. Riding stronger than ever, he delivered his best ever performance at the Dakar – bagging his maiden stage win and also a 3rd place stage finish – which he dedicated to his mentor. He goes back proud from his fifth appearance at the Dakar with a 13th position in the overall RallyGP class rankings.
Having performed consistently throughout the Rally, Aaron Maré was not far behind, securing 15th place in the overall standings of the RallyGP class.
Even though Aaron Maré joined the team as a last-minute replacement for injured Franco Caimi, he adapted with the team and his new bike quickly, and proved to be a great team player. His consistent and praiseworthy performance this Dakar has earned the young rider attention from far and wide.
With seven of the world’s top manufacturer teams battling for the top prize, Dakar 2022 was the most competitive edition ever. 12 grueling stages and over 8000 kilometers later, the Hero Rally 450 machine proved its mettle yet again with no technical failures.
Even though the team rode with only one of their original riders JRod, the presence of CS Santosh at the camp greatly boosted the team’s confidence and morale. With eight top-10 stage finishes – including a 1st and 3rd position – the team flies back from Jeddah, far more confident than they were at arrival two weeks back.
The team will next be seen in action at the second race of the year under the FIM World Rally Raid Championship, at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in March 2022.
Wolfgang “Waffi” Fischer, Team Manager
“What a Dakar, after all the struggles we had a few weeks before the start! We are really proud of the performance of our riders, bikes and the team – a superb job done. The highlight was definitely the maiden Dakar stage victory for JRod and Hero MotoSports, underlined with a very strong third place at the hardest and most competitive, stage 11. Our last-minute entry Aaron did a perfect job, adapting seamlessly with the team, and keeping a cool head always, he proved to be a fast learner and team player.
The Dakar Rally was the most competitive ever, with seven manufacturer teams fighting for the top prize, and only 1:30 hrs dividing the top 15 after the 4000-race kilometers. It was a bit unfortunate for JRod to lose over 50 mins at the initial phase of the rally, preventing us from gaining more top positions in the overall tally.With zero technical problems and a total of eight top-10 results in the new RallyGP class of this Dakar, we look forward to the next W2RC race in Abu Dhabi in March, and the soonest return of our mates Basti and Franco. Thanks to the Hero family and all our partners who contributed to our success story – to be continued!”
Joaquim Rodrigues
“Extremely happy to be here! I’m really happy with my performance – it was a great Dakar for me and for the team. With the fantastic performance of the Hero Rally 450, we’re together now fighting for the top positions. My win this time is definitely the cherry on the top for me, and I can’t express how happy I am for myself and for the team to have finished yet another Dakar!”
Aaron Maré
“I’m beyond happy, it’s a dream come true! It’s been the longest 163 kms of my life in the last stage. It’s the end of a successful Dakar. I took it easy today, riding smooth and avoiding any mistakes or crashes. It’s been an overwhelming experience for me, and I’m very grateful to Hero MotoSports Team Rally for their confidence in me, and for all the hard work they’ve put in.”
Stage 12 Rankings – RallyGP class:
1. Pablo Quintanilla Monster Energy Honda 01h 40m 00s
2. Toby Price Red Bull KTM Factory Team + 18s
3. Jose Ignacio Cornejo Monster Energy Honda + 29s
4. Joan Barreda Bort Monster Energy Honda + 01m 13s
14. Joaquim Rodrigues Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 07m 44s
22. Aaron Maré Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 13m 34s
Overall Standings of the Dakar 2022 – RallyGP class:
1. Sam Sunderland GasGas Factory Racing 38h 47m 30s
2. Pablo Quintanilla Monster Energy Honda + 03m 27s
3. Matthias Walkner Red Bull KTM Factory Team + 06m 47s
4. Adrien van Beveren Monster Energy Yamaha + 18m 41s
13. Joaquim Rodrigues Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 01h 15m 44s
15. Aaron Maré Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 01h 49m 00s
Overall Standings of the Dakar 2022 – All classes:
1. Sam Sunderland GasGas Factory Racing 38h 47m 30s
2. Pablo Quintanilla Monster Energy Honda + 03m 27s
3. Matthias Walkner Red Bull KTM Factory Team + 06m 47s
4. Adrien van Beveren Monster Energy Yamaha + 18m 41s
14. Joaquim Rodrigues Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 01h 15m 44s
16. Aaron Maré Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 01h 49m 00s
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All 3 Sherco TVS riders arrive at the finish: A sherco report of Dakar 2022
Jeddah, 15 Jan 2022: We want to honor our riders who gave everything they had until the very end. There were smiles and fatigue at the finish, but the feeling of having completed a great Dakar and of having taken the brand new 450 SEF Rally to the finish was outstanding. After two weeks of racing and more than 8,000 kilometers covered, our 3 riders have reached Jeddah and the finish line of this 2022 Dakar. At the end of a final special where they once again had great performances (LS P9, RG P11, HN P23), Lorenzo Santolino finished in 11th place overall, close to a top 10 in which he remained for almost the entire race. Rui Goncalves finished 24th. Unluckily, our Portuguese rider encountered several minor technical problems, which caused him to lose a lot of time. This was disappointing when you see the excellent times, he was able to produce throughout this Dakar. Despite a solid race and following a technical incident Harith Noah ends up out of the standings, in the experience category. This 2022 Dakar was punctuated by many strong moments. Rui Goncalves climbed on the podium of stage 4, while Lorenzo Santolino remained in the top 5 in the general classification until the start of the 2nd week. Embarking on the incessant yoyo of the specials, he ended up downgrading, but he left his mark on this edition alongside the big names in the discipline. It is obvious that he is a potential major contender. Harith Noah pushed and learned every step of the way. He paid attention to instructions and became consistent. He was approaching the top 20, until his retirement on stage 10. This was a major test run for the new 450 SEF Rally, which will have made its debut in the sands of the Sahara. The valuable feedback from the riders allowed the whole team to work hard during these 15 days to continue development and bring all the machines to the finish. We will have the opportunity to meet the Sherco Factory Rally team throughout this season with Lorenzo Santolino still riding the 450 SEF Rally in the other events of the new FIM World Rally Championship. -
Jehan Daruvala to race with Prema in Formula 2
Mumbai, 14 Jan. 2022: India’s top racer Jehan Daruvala’s Formula 1 aspirations received a massive shot in the arm, with Italy’s three-time F2 champions Prema Racing signing him up for the 2022 season.
The 23-year-old from Mumbai will also remain a part of the Red Bull Junior Team for the third successive year. Red Bull has nurtured the likes of four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel, reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen, race winners Daniel Ricciardo and Pierre Gasly, among many others.
Jehan has already scored multiple victories and podiums in the Formula 2 championship. He will strive to consolidate on these performances, converting his raw speed into more wins to become Prema Racing’s third straight drivers’ champion.
“I am thrilled to join hands with Prema once again,” Jehan said in a press release. “Charles (Leclerc) and Mick (Schumacher) clinched F2 titles for Prema Racing and went on to race in F1 the very next year. I hope to follow in their footsteps,” he added.
Jehan will also have a broader role with Red Bull this year. He will not only drive the team’s Formula 1 simulator at its base in Milton Keynes but will also undergo regular evaluations at the team’s fitness facilities in Austria, just like Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
In Prema Racing, Jehan joins the most successful team to race in the Formula 2 championship. The Italian racing powerhouse has delivered three of the series’ five drivers’ champions, including Ferrari Formula 1 race winner Charles Leclerc and Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time world champion Michael.
Jehan will look to emulate this duo while also scoring a hat-trick of titles for Prema Racing, following Schumacher in 2020 and Australian Oscar Piastri last year.
During his earlier stint with Prema Racing in 2019, Jehan had finished third in the Formula 3 championship, after a season-long title battle with his teammates.
Prema Formula 2 team principal Rene Rosin said, “We have had a great relationship with Jehan when we raced together in FIA F3. We have deep respect for his skills and work ethics. He fits our team very well and I’m looking forward to see how much progress he has made in the last couple of years. He performed impressively in post-season testing. Together with the Red Bull Junior program, we will provide him with all the support he needs to pursue his goals.”
The FIA Formula 2 championship, which sits one rung below Formula 1, has served as the proving ground for many of today’s Formula 1 drivers.
Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Lando Norris, Mick Schumacher, Guanyu Zhou, Yuki Tsunoda and even Lewis Hamilton who won the series when it was run as GP2 made the step up to F1 after shining here.
The series this year will feature 14 rounds and 28 races starting on March 18, 2022 in Bahrain with the season-finale set for November 20, 2022, in Abu Dhabi. All races will be held as support events to Formula 1, including at iconic venues like Monaco, Silverstone, Spa and Monza.
About Jehan Daruvala
Jehan Daruvala is a racing driver from Mumbai, India. He began karting at the age of 10 in 2009. Two years later, he was picked as one of the three winners of Force India’s ‘One From a Billion’ talent hunt. In 2013, he became the first Asian to win the British KF3 karting championship. A proven winner, Jehan has won in every category he has competed in. He is currently racing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, which is a feeder series to Formula 1 and takes place on the same week-ends. Already a multiple winner in the category, Jehan’s goal for the 2022 season is to annex the title which would boost his chances of becoming only the third Indian on the Formula One grid.
