INDIA in F1

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  • Narain Karthikeyan spearheads Racing Team India’s endurance debut

    Narain Karthikeyan spearheads Racing Team India’s endurance debut

    Dubai, 11 Feb 2021: Racing Team India will take its first step on the road to the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend when it makes its debut at the season-opening round of the Asian Le Mans Series in Dubai.

    The all-Indian squad, spearheaded by a star-studded driver line-up of Narain Karthikeyan, Arjun Maini, and Naveen Rao, will compete in the LMP2 category over two, four-hour-long races at the Dubai Autodrome. The endeavor is partnered by JK Tyre, India’s largest supporter of Motorsport for over three decades.

    The two runnings of the 4 Hours of Dubai will take place on February 13th and 14th, respectively.

    The series will then move to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit for another round of two, four-hour races on February 19th and 20th.

    Racing Team India’s Dubai debut will make it the first outfit with an all-Indian driver line-up to compete in international endurance racing.

    If it secures an invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which takes place in June 2021, it will become the first squad flying the Indian tri-color to take part in the iconic twice-around-the-clock endurance classic at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France. The race is considered to be one of the trifectas of legendary motor races alongside the Monaco GP & the Indianapolis 500. It is the world’s oldest sports car race, which has been held every year since 1923. The distance covered in this one single race is equivalent to 18 Formula 1 races, thus making it the most extreme test of man and machine in the world of motorsport.

    Fielding the Le Mans-winning ORECA 07 with technical support from reigning Asian Le Mans Series champion team Algarve Pro Racing, Racing Team India has already displayed a promising turn of speed. The car has a 4 litre V-8 engine which produces 600 bhp and has a top speed in excess of 320 kmph.

    Karthikeyan ended the first day of testing, also held in Dubai, at the top of the timesheets. The success of the project lies in the combined efforts of the team which are now being synchronized.

    Padma Shri Awardee and India’s first Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan said, “It is an incredibly proud moment for me to be representing our nation’s first all-Indian endurance racing team. I have flown the flag for our country across various motorsport disciplines from Formula One to NASCAR and SuperGT racing. I’ve raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans once before, and it was an incredible experience, one which I always wanted to repeat. However, I couldn’t have imagined anything better than to compete there for an Indian team. I’m extremely grateful to the ACO for giving us the platform to compete. They have been incredibly supportive from the first time we approached them, and this support has been instrumental in getting our team up and running.

    “As for the weekend ahead, I’m looking forward to it. Arjun, Naveen, and I have considerable racing experience between the three of us. Our package has also been quick through testing. We did have some issues on the second day with traffic and difficulty in switching on the new tyres. But there’s a lot of speed in the car and I’m confident we can deliver a strong result on our debut.”

    Former F2 and European Le Mans Series racer Arjun Maini said, “Firstly, it’s great to be back behind the wheel again, and to be flying the colours for an all-Indian team makes the experience even more special. Endurance racing is a format I’ve come to enjoy during my time racing in the European Le Mans series. I believe it plays to my strengths as a driver. It feels strange to think that of the three of us I have the most endurance racing experience. I’ve competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and I can tell you it’s an incredible feeling. I’m really looking forward to going back there. We have a strong package, a proven driver line-up and with support from Algarve Pro Racing, who I know well, I believe we have all the ingredients in place to make it happen.”

    2020 IMSA Prototype Challenge Champion Naveen Rao said, “My entire career has been spent racing sports cars and for me, Le Mans is the absolute pinnacle of competition. I have spent a long time dreaming about one day driving in this iconic event and I am grateful for the opportunity to do it for a team representing the country in which I have my roots. I’ve got a good feeling for the car, the three of us have struck up a strong relationship and I believe we genuinely have a package that can help us fight at the front.”

    Racing Team India is also very proud to be associated with JK Tyre, as one of our inaugural partners. JK Tyres has been and continues to be the largest supporter of Indian motorsport for over 50 years. They have been instrumental in developing and supporting both Narain and Arjun over the past two decades and their commitment to the Racing Team India program demonstrates their commitment to the future of the sport as well.

    Sanjay Sharma, Head-Motorsport, JK Tyre said, “At JK Tyre we have been steadfast supporters of Indian motorsport over many decades. Not only have we created a robust domestic motorsport ladder but we have always been extremely proactive when it comes to identifying, grooming, and supporting the international racing careers of some of our most talented youngsters. Now, with Racing Team India we have yet another chance to create history for Indian motorsport. We are confident the team has what it takes to be successful and race at Le Mans which would deliver the breakthrough that Indian motorsport needs.”

    Note: This article is first published in AutoTrack.

  • F1, teams agree for freeze of Power Unit development

    F1, teams agree for freeze of Power Unit development

    Paris, 11 Feb 2021: The first meeting of the F1 Commission in 2021 was held today, 11 February, in an online format. The FIA and Formula 1 confirm that positive discussions took place on a number of key topics relating to future Sporting, Technical and Financial Regulations as well as the future direction of Power Unit regulations.

    2021 Calendar

    The group was updated on the “TBC” space on the current version of the 2021 calendar. It is the intention of Formula 1 to fill the position with a race at Portimão in Portugal on the dates already held in the calendar. The final agreement is still subject to contract with the promoter.

    Robust COVID-19 protocols enabled Formula 1 to run 17 events in 2020 and will enable us to run a World Championship again in 2021. While changing circumstances may require flexibility, the FIA and Formula 1 are working at all levels from government to local organisation to ensure that the calendar goes ahead as planned.

    Proposed Regulation Changes

    In order to permit a more equitable distribution of tyre testing during 2021, and taking into consideration the challenges presented to this programme due to the move to 18” tyres and the COVID-19 Pandemic, the FIA, following the request of Pirelli, proposed to increase the number test days allocated for such purpose from 25 to 30. This proposal was accepted unanimously.

    Overview of key next Formula 1 generation car and PU objectives and proposed anticipation to 2025

    In a significant development for the sport that reflects the unity and collaborative spirit between the FIA, Formula 1 and the teams, a vote on the freeze of Power Unit development was undertaken during the meeting, and the proposal was unanimously agreed by all teams and Power Unit Manufacturers. As such, engine development will be frozen from the start of 2022.

    A high-level working group has been established including current and potential Power Unit manufacturers and fuel suppliers.

    The definition of the objectives for the next generation of F1 car and Power Unit is of the utmost importance to the FIA and Formula 1, and together with teams and Power Unit manufacturers, there is strong alignment on the overall goals – particularly the need to reduce cost and reach carbon neutrality.

    The key objectives for the 2025 Power Unit are:

    • Environmental Sustainability and social and automotive relevance
    • Fully sustainable fuel
    • Creating a powerful and emotive Power Unit
    • Significant cost reduction
    • Attractiveness to new Power Unit manufacturers

    Environmental Accreditation

    The FIA is pleased that Formula 1 and a number of the teams have achieved the highest level of FIA Environmental Accreditation. This was discussed during the Commission, with a glide path outlined for all teams to reach the highest level of Accreditation over the coming years, with this goal being integrated into the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations.

    Cost control

    As 2021 sees the introduction of a cost cap for the first time in Formula 1, various topics around controlling costs and how this overall objective can be achieved over the coming years were tabled during the meeting.

    As part of this, a working group will be created – including the drivers themselves – to discuss the topic of driver and senior team management contracts.

    Race weekend format

    All teams recognised the major importance of engaging fans in new and innovative ways to ensure an even more exciting weekend format. There was, therefore, broad support from all parties for a new qualifying format at some races, and a working group has been tasked with creating a complete plan with the aim to reach a final decision before the start for the 2021 Championship.

    Note that all regulatory changes are subject to approval by the World Motor Sport Council.

  • DS Automobiles commits to Gen3 era of ABB FIA Formula E Worlds

    DS Automobiles commits to Gen3 era of ABB FIA Formula E Worlds

    DS Automobiles has today announced that it has committed to the Gen3 era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship starting in Season 9.

    The sole French manufacturer on the Formula E grid, DS Automobiles has been involved since Season 2, partnering with Chinese racing team TECHEETAH since the start of the Gen2 era in Season 5. Together, the duo has become a formidable force on the grid, claiming twDS Automobiles has today announced that it has committed to the Gen3 era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship starting in Season 9.o consecutive driver and teams’ championships, seven race wins and 15 podiums to date.

    DS Automobiles is the only competitor to have produced two different driver champions. French driver and DS E-TENSE ambassador Jean-Eric Vergne took the title in Seasons 4 and 5. His Portuguese team-mate, Antonio Felix da Costa, is reigning champion. The pair will look to make history once again behind the wheel of the DS E-TENSE FE20 in Season 7 this year.

    The work that Formula E and the FIA have done to shape the Gen3 era focuses on delivering a new generation of progress both as a sport, reaffirming Formula E’s position as the pinnacle of electric racing, and in the future of electric mobility. Gen3 will bring performance and efficiency benefits including more powerful, lighter cars, faster charging and cost controls, all increasing the competitive and unpredictable racing Formula E has become known for.

    Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, said: “DS Automobiles securing a place on the grid for Season 9 and beyond reaffirms Formula E’s position as a technology proving ground and marketing platform for the world’s leading automotive manufacturers. We look forward to breaking new ground during the next phase of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with DS Automobiles.”

    The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will make its Season 7 debut in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia with two night races, at 17:00 GMT (20:00 local time) on February 26 & 27.

  • Ducati, NetApp sign 4th year spnsorship for 2021 MotoGP

    Ducati, NetApp sign 4th year spnsorship for 2021 MotoGP

    Bologna (Italy), 11 Feb 2021: After three years of collaboration with excellent results in the MotoGP championship, Ducati is pleased to announce the renewal of the partnership with NetApp for the 2021 MotoGP World Championship, a press release said on Wednesday, Feb 10.

    Last year’s MotoGP season was out of the ordinary. Despite the unique challenges, five Ducati riders earned points that would help land Ducati its coveted Constructors’ World Championship.

    Riding high on the success of 2020, we are happy to say that NetApp’s sponsorship will continue for a fourth straight year, as the US-based company will continue helping the Ducati Corse division fully exploit their data’s potential in the racing world.

    Francesco Bagnaia with his machine proudly displaying the Net-App logo

    Ducati, with the help of NetApp, has been busy delivering innovation and carrying out numerous digital projects, ranging from the data management on the HPC simulations for motorcycle aerodynamics to the collaboration of development of connected motorcycles, including development of the distributed data storage for the backend of the Ducati Link app.

    Luigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse:“Thanks to NetApp, in 2020 we were able to collect and work with new data in totally new race conditions and setup an even higher performing and more innovative bike. We are now ready to provide our new official riders Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia a highly competitive weapon for the new challenge of the MotoGP World Championship. Through data, we were able to understand many key points that helped us compete and win the Constructor Championship and explore many interesting solutions during our development and tests”.

    Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding: “It gives us great pleasure to continue the partnership with NetApp, as we consider innovation as a core component of our strategy for the future and for our success”.

    Cesar Cernuda, NetApp president: “We have seen a tremendous evolution through digitalization in the entire automotive industry. We are happy to be part of this journey, supporting Ducati to bring its customers and riders a more safe, fun, and high performing experience, while contributing to the company’s overall success.”

    The 2021 MotoGP World Championship, gets underway March 26–28 in Qatar.

  • #WeRaceAsOne will become official Environment, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) platform for F1

    #WeRaceAsOne will become official Environment, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) platform for F1

    Paris, 10 Feb 2021: Formula 1 confirmed on Wednesday, that the initiative “We Race As One” popularised with hashtag #WeRaceAsOne last year, will become the official Environment, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) platform for Formula 1 long into the future and will continue to be used across the sport

    Formula 1 confirmed on Wednesday, that the initiative “We Race As One” popularised with hashtag #WeRaceAsOne last year, will become the official Environment, Social and Corporate (ESG) platform for Formula 1 long into the future and will continue to be used across the sport. The Initiative launched last year, supporting the #PurposeDriven Movement by the FIA will now continue.

    The initiative was created in June last year ahead of our return to racing following the break in the Championship due to COVID-19. On our return to racing we wanted to show our determination to tackle the major issues that we as a sport, but also society, are facing. Those issues are important to the longer-term future of our sport, but equally have a major impact on the communities we race in and countries around the world.

    On our return to racing in 2020 we wanted to recognise the two major issues dominating society’s consciousness during that time, COVID-19, and inequality.

    Throughout the season we paid tribute to people around the world for the incredible strength and fortitude shown against the global pandemic. Rainbow was chosen by Formula 1 to sit alongside #WeRaceAsOne as it became a symbol used internationally to bring communities together. Equally we used our restart to show that we as a sporting community stand united against racism and are doing more to address inequality and diversity in Formula 1.

    This was highlighted at every race with the 20 drivers uniting in their support of ending racism before the start of the race. We plan to include a moment before the start of each race this season to show our united support for important issues and will be discussing this with the drivers and the teams ahead of the start of the season.

    This season the rainbow will no longer feature alongside the #WeRaceAsOne platform. While the COVID- 19 pandemic is still an ongoing battle, we are focussing the platform on the three core pillars of our ESG strategy. Those pillars are sustainability, diversity & inclusion, and community. These areas are a priority for the sport where progress has already been made but with more commitments to be delivered in coming months and years.

    In 2019, Formula 1 set out its ambitious sustainability, diversity, and inclusion strategy to improve the long-term future of our sport. This included our commitment to be net zero carbon as a sport by 2030 and create a more inclusive and diverse culture across Formula 1, attracting more diverse talent across technical, commercial, corporate, and on-air roles. Additionally, the plan, in partnership with the FIA, looks at promoting a diverse driver talent pipeline by identifying and systematically eliminating barriers to entry from grass roots karting to Formula 1.

    As set out in our #WeRaceAsOne announcement last year, recent events have reinforced the importance of those issues and the need for us to accelerate and take further action to make our sport better, improve opportunity and have a positive impact on the world we live in. Since 2019, we have put in place the necessary actions, reviews, and structures to ensure we deliver on our 2030 and other commitments. While work has been constant and important plans delivered*, we know we need to continue to deliver on this plan and show our fans, partners, and society that Formula 1 is committed to playing its part.

    This year, Formula 1, the FIA, and the Teams will most notably focus on:

    • Creating a clear path towards sustainably fuelled hybrid engines, something that will be of significant importance to not only the sport but the automotive sector.
    • Reducing the amount of single-use plastic bottles and cutlery and food waste in the pit and paddock.
    • Rolling out internships and apprenticeships within Formula 1 for under-represented groups to provide access to a promising career in the sport.
    • Funding scholarships for talented engineering students from diverse and underprivileged backgrounds with work experience opportunities at F1 and the Teams during their studies.
    • Growing F1 in Schools – already the world’s leading school-age STEM education challenge.
    • Working with our promoters around the world to establish and deliver programmes that leave a positive and lasting community impact.
    • Helping to grow awareness and support for the W Series, the FIA Women in Motorsport Inititiatives and all the talented young female drivers coming through the ranks.
    • Moving towards new freight methods through adapting containers for use on modern aircraft and other modes of transport.
    • Continuing to develop our remote operations capabilities where action to date has already eliminated c.70 tonnes of freight being taken to each race.

    We have united as a sport in our firm commitment to make lasting change and Formula 1 together with the FIA, the teams and our partners will continue to push ahead with our plans.

    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO, Formula 1, said:

    “Our WeRaceAsOne platform was very effective at raising the awareness of socially important issues and our steadfast commitment to make a positive change. We are very proud of it and the teams have embraced it fully. While our commitment through words to tackling issues like sustainability and diversity in our sport are important, it is our actions that we will be judged on. We have already made good progress on our sustainability plans and you will see strong actions being executed this year across all three of our WRAO pillars. We know we must continue to move forward on these issues and the whole sport is united in doing this in the months and years ahead.”

  • The 2021 Ducati Lenovo Team presented online

    The 2021 Ducati Lenovo Team presented online

    • Lenovo announced as Title Partner of the factory Ducati team in MotoGP as Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia wear the Ducati squad’s official colours for the first time
    • Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding: “We’re starting the new season off the back of the Constructors’ World Title won last year. In 2021 there are many new things, from our Title Partner Lenovo to our riders Jack and Pecco. We look forward with optimism to the new season”
    • Luca Rossi, Senior Vice President of Lenovo: “Lenovo and Ducati—two brands that share the core values of high speed, powerful performance and relentless innovation—have chosen to elevate their partnership to its highest level… we look forward to taking our technology integration to new heights and empowering Ducati’s racing team to extend MotoGP’s significance for years to come”
    • Luigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse: “Jack and Pecco are extraordinarily talented, and they already have experience on our bike. I believe that with them, we can fight not only to defend the constructors’ title but also for the Riders’ Title”

    Borgo Panigale, Bologna, 9th February 2021 – The Official Presentation of the 2021 Ducati Lenovo Team took place today with an online event streamed on Ducati.com, Ducati’s YouTube channel, and official Facebook page. During the presentation, Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, unveiled the new “all red” Desmosedici GP bikes that Jack Miller, 26-year-old from Australia, and Francesco “Pecco Bagnaia, 24-year-old from Turin, will ride in their first season as official riders of the Borgo Panigale-based squad in the MotoGP World Championship.

    The iconic Ducati red colour returns to predominate the two bikes’ liveries where the Lenovo logo also stands out. Announced as Title Partner of the Italian team with a three-year agreement, Lenovo is a technology leader in PCs, smart devices, data center, services and software solutions – becoming Ducati’s sponsor and partner in 2018. Over the past three seasons, the company has contributed to developing new strategies and innovations related to racing as a Technical Partner of the team. With the new agreement, Lenovo will guarantee even greater support to the official Ducati squad, which from this year will be named Ducati Lenovo Team.

    Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic situation, the 2021 MotoGP season currently sees 19 Grands Prix confirmed. It will officially get underway on 5th March in Qatar with a day of testing reserved for rookies and test riders, in which Michele Pirro and the Ducati Test Team will also participate. On 6th-7th March, Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia will finally take to the track with their new team at Losail International Circuit for the first official two-day test for 2021, followed by three more days of testing, also in Qatar, from 10th-12th March. Doha Circuit will also set the stage for the first two Grands Prix of the year, held in the evening, from 26th-28th March and 2nd-4th April.

    Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding:“It is always a great emotion to start a new racing season, which as always we face with dedication and incredible passion, driven by the support of the Ducatisti all over the world. We start strong after winning the Constructors’ World Title last year, despite the complexities that have forced us to overcome obstacles and situations that we have never experienced before. In 2021 there are many novelties, starting with the riders: Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia. They are now the young riders of our official team after gaining experience with the Pramac Racing Team. This year Lenovo, which has already accompanied us since 2018, becomes the new Title Partner of the Ducati Lenovo Team. Together with our factory team’s riders, we also have Ducati’s MotoGP riders Johann Zarco and three of the best talents coming from Moto2, Enea Bastianini, Luca Marini and Jorge Martin. They will be a very young and future-oriented presence in the championship. We look forward to the start of the 2021 season on 28th March in Qatar and as always #ForzaDucati”.

    Luca Rossi, Senior Vice President of Lenovo: “The global motorsports market is expected to continue to grow by 10 per-cent annually through 2025(1) driven in part by the role of IT in the increasingly data-driven world of motorbike racing. This is why Lenovo and Ducati—two brands that share the core values of high speed, powerful performance and relentless innovation—have chosen to elevate their partnership to its highest level. Through Lenovo’s mission to enable intelligent transformation, we look forward to taking our technology integration to new heights and empowering Ducati’s racing team to extend MotoGP’s significance for years to come.”

    Luigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse:“The start of a new season is always a special moment, and this year even more, as we have a completely new team. We have two new riders with us, Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia. Both are extraordinarily talented, they’re young, but they have already a lot of experience on our bike. Jack and Pecco have great potential, and I think that together we can fight not only to defend the Constructors’ Title won in 2020, but we can also aim for the Riders’ Title. As per this year’s regulations, we cannot modify some of the bike’s components. Still, during winter, we have been able to work on many other aspects to improve our bike’s competitiveness and be ready to start the new season. From 2021 we will also be able to count on even greater support from Lenovo, which has been our partner since 2018 and with whom we have worked very well together over the past few seasons. I’m sure that together we will be able to achieve even greater success this year while entertaining and bringing excitement to all the Ducatisti around the world.”

    Jack Miller (#43, Ducati Lenovo Team):“The emotions I felt seeing my all-red Desmosedici and wearing my new suit for the first time were incredible! I still have to realize that I’ll be part of the official Ducati Team this year. It’s taken a long way to get this far, and finally being “in red” gives me a great sense of satisfaction, but also the right motivation to continue working with commitment and dedication towards my future goals. I am looking forward to this new adventure and will try to get some important results this season”.

    Francesco Bagnaia (#63, Ducati Lenovo Team): ” This will be a significant season for me because for the first time I’ll be wearing the colours of an official team. I’m proud to have achieved this first goal, and this year I will set my sight on even greater results. It has always been my dream to become part of the official Ducati Team. I will try my best not to disappoint any expectations. I’m sure I have all that I need to be competitive right from the start and aim high”.

    About Lenovo  
    Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$50 billion Fortune Global 500 company, with 63,000 employees and operating in 180 markets around the world. Focused on a bold vision to deliver smarter technology for all, we are developing world-changing technologies that create a more inclusive, trustworthy, and sustainable digital society. By designing, engineering, and building the world’s most complete portfolio of smart devices and infrastructure, we are also leading an Intelligent Transformation – to create better experiences and opportunities for millions of customers around the world. To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Weibo and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

  • Bakhru, Samervel win Ajmera IndiKarting Clash of Pros

    Bakhru, Samervel win Ajmera IndiKarting Clash of Pros

    Mumbai, 7 Feb 2021: Mumbai teenagers Raaj Bakhru and Raiden Samervel won the Ajmera IndiKarting Clash of Pros racing event here in Wadala, Mumbai on Sunday.

    Bakhru won 2 races and was second in one race to win the Pro Senior, while Samervel won all three races to win the Pro Junior.

    Some of India’s best talent from around the country participated in the 2 day FMSCI sanctioned event, inspite of numerous Covid related protocols in place. More than expected entries in the Pro senior meant that the seniors would be split into groups and would therefore get 4 races each, with 6 races in total.

    Bakhru qualified on pole in the Pro Senior with a laptime of 27.491, a mere tenth of a second ahead of Rahul Deshpande and Ojas Surve. Samervel bagged pole in the Pro Junior ahead of Veer Sheth and Nirvaan Chandna.

    Race 1 saw Bakhru stamp his authority to win from pole ahead of Deshpande and Neville Tata who climbed up from seventh on the grid.  Deshpande won race 2, while Bakhru won race 3. Surve and Aditya Patnaik, were second and third in race 2 and 3. Former National Karting Champion and JK Formula 1300 Champion – Aaroh Ravindra started last and showed his class to win race 4 ahead of Bakhru and Ishaan Barde who completed the podium.

    Barde won race 5 after an intense battle with Ravindra. Surve followed in third. Race 6 was won by Aditya Pandit ahead of Patnaik, while Paarth Damani drove well to make it on the podium for the final race.

    Samervel dominated the Pro Junior. He started from Pole in Race 1 and won ahead of Sheth and Chandna. Race 2 grid which was based on Race 1 results reversed, saw Samervel start from eighth and carve his way through the field to eventually win the race. Hoshmand Elavia and Chandna were second and third respectively. Samervel started from pole in race 3 and won ahead of Sheth and Elavia.

    The overall Pro Senior was won by Raaj Bakhru on 21 points, ahead of Aaroh Ravindra by a mere half point. Aditya Patnaik’s consistency took him to third with 18 points. Raiden Samervel on 30 points dominated the Pro Junior ahead of Elavia and Sheth on 18 and 16 points respectively.

    “We are very happy to see motorsport pick up again. Young racers travelled from Delhi, Hyderabad and other places around India for the race. Some of them will be traveling abroad to race as well and we wish them the very best” said 8 time National Champion and promoter of IndiKarting, Rayomand Banajee.

  • Ferrari Driver Academy 2021 starts with 8 drivers

    Ferrari Driver Academy 2021 starts with 8 drivers

    Maranello, 8 Feb 2021: This morning marked the twelfth year of courses for the Ferrari Driver Academy, the Prancing Horse programme established in 2009 with the aim of preparing talented youngsters to one day drive for Ferrari in Formula 1.

    Seven young men and Maya. This year, there are eight young drivers that will be trained and supported by the Ferrari Driver Academy, six of whom were in Maranello this morning. Mick Schumacher was absent with the good reason that he is working with the Haas F1 Team with whom he will make his Formula 1 debut this season. Dino Beganovic will join his fellow students tomorrow as he is returning from Abu Dhabi, where he took part in the second and third rounds of the Formula 3 Asian Series. As at the start of any academic year, the more experienced drivers who, partly because of the pandemic, had not seen one another for a while, spent some time before the bell sounded to recount what they had been up to over the winter. For two of them, this was a more nerve wracking and serious moment: Australian James Wharton is just 14 and was selected at the FDA Scouting World Finals, as the best of the youngsters from around the world and 16 year-old Dutch girl Maya Weug, who very recently won the FIA “Girls on Track – Rising Stars” to become the first girl to join the FDA. They make up the 2021 intake.

    Busy week. Welcoming the students was Head of FDA, Marco Matassa, Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto and Sporting Director Laurent Mekies. This week the drivers will take part in the usual start of the year Camp, consisting of five demanding days of lessons on various topics, from technical matters to regulations, marketing and communications, as well as some physical and mental aptitude tests, as well as sports and two days of karting on the Lonato track, run by Tony Kart, a long time partner of Maranello’s young driver programme. Over the course of the year, the FDA will follow each driver personally with support on and off the track, organising specific activities, depending on their level of experience and the type of race category in which they will be competing.

    Programmes. Mick Schumacher will continue his development in Formula 1, at the wheel of the Haas F1 Team car. The arrival of the German means there are now four FDA members past or present on the F1 grid: apart from Charles Leclerc, one must not forget Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll. Also on the scene and present at several races will be Callum Ilott in his role as the Scuderia test driver. The youngster from Cambridge will still enjoy the thrill of racing as he will also be taking part in a GT programme, at the wheel of a Ferrari for some of the most famous sports car races.

    Formula 2. Robert Shwartzman and Marcus Armstrong will race in the junior category. The Russian stays with the Prema team and his clear goal is to win the title, given his 2020 performance in the category when he took four wins, the most of any driver, as well as proving to be very consistent. Marcus, who drove a Ferrari Formula 1 car for the first time two weeks ago in a test at Fiorano, has recently switched to the DAMS team and is more determined than ever to be a front runner.

    Formula 3. Last year, Arthur Leclerc finished second in the Formula Regional championship, even though he took more poles and wins than anyone else. His performance has earned him a step up to Formula 3 for this year. Arthur can once again count on the support of the Prema team and right from the start he should be a protagonist.

    Formula Regional. Last year, Ferrari Driver Academy students did very well in the European Formula Regional championship and this year, the Maranello marque can again count on a very quick driver in the shape of Dino Beganovic. The Swede, born in 2004, made his single-seater debut last year and made a very positive impression in the Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA, taking his first win at Imola and demonstrating consistency on his way to third in the championship. Over the past two weeks, as part of his training, Dino competed in the Formula 3 Asian Series, which uses the same car that he will race in Europe in Formula Regional. He has already demonstrated a clear affinity for the car, finishing on the podium four times from nine races.

    Maya and James. Lastly, two new arrivals, Maya Weug and James Wharton. The Dutch girl had her first taste of a Formula 4 car during the FIA “Girls on Track – Rising Stars” programme and will continue in this category. As for James Wharton, his age means he has to continue racing in karts in 2021 and so the FDA has prepared a programme to get him ready for single-seaters, including a series of tests in the second part of the season. Have a good year guys!
    Mattia Binotto Team Principal & Managing Director Scuderia Ferrari
    quoteToday marks the official start of the new season for the Ferrari Driver Academy. It’s an important moment, not just for the eight participants in the 2021 academic year but also for the whole Scuderia. We have always said that the FDA is not just a school that has to help the best youngsters make it to Formula 1, but that above all it must train those that one day will be the standard bearers for Scuderia Ferrari in the top level category of motor racing.
    We achieved that with Charles Leclerc and we are pleased that this year, another driver who grew up with us, Mick Schumacher, will also make his F1 debut. Apart from the well known names of Callum, Robert, Marcus, Arthur and Dino, listed in order of their ages, I am very pleased to welcome the two new students, Maya Weug and James Wharton, who join the Academy this year. Their arrival is important because it also confirms the effort we are putting in when it comes to making motorsport more inclusive.
    I wish all of them the very best of luck and hope that they will progress and be successful during this season which they should tackle with humility, determination and with a desire to learn, without ever forgetting that they are following their dream.quote
    Marco Matassa Head of Ferrari Driver Academy
    quoteThe start of a new year for us at the Ferrari Driver Academy is always a very special moment. We are pleased to see our drivers again and say welcome to our new intake knowing that we can expect an intense season. In 2020, our drivers got excellent results and that can only spur us on to try and do even better in 2021, because looking for continuous improvement is the basis of Ferrari’s and therefore also the FDA’s philosophy.
    I want to extend a special welcome to our newcomers, James Wharton and Maya Weug, whose arrival signals new frontiers for the Academy. James is actually the winner of the first FDA Scouting World Finals. This event featured six finalists battling it out for a place on our programme, chosen from a large group of very young drivers from around the world, thanks to our collaboration with ACI, Tony Kart, Motorsport Australia and Escuderia Telmex.
    Maya is the first girl to join the FDA through our partnership with the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission’s global programme to find the best young female drivers, a project we really believe in. We can’t wait to start working with all these youngsters to prepare the groundwork for another year of good results.
  • Hamilton to continue with Mercedes for 9th year

    Hamilton to continue with Mercedes for 9th year

    • Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton will race together for a ninth season in 2021
    • New agreement includes joint commitment for greater diversity and inclusion
    • With six drivers’ championships and 74 race wins, Lewis is the most successful driver in the history of the Silver Arrows

    Brackley, 8 Feb 2021: The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team announced that the reigning Formula One World Constructors’ Champion, Mercedes, and the reigning F1 World Drivers’ Champion, Lewis Hamilton, will continue together in 2021. The Mercedes works team and Lewis agreed a new contract which will see one of the sport’s most-successful collaborations will continue for a ninth consecutive season.

    A press release on Monday said: “A significant part of the new agreement builds upon the joint commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport that was made last year by Lewis and Mercedes. This will take the form of a joint charitable foundation, which will have the mission of supporting greater diversity and inclusion in all its forms in motorsport.

    “Lewis made his F1 debut with Mercedes F1 engine customer team McLaren in 2007 and has been powered in all his 266 Grands Prix by Mercedes-Benz engines. He joined the Mercedes works team in 2013 and has since won 74 F1 races as well as six Drivers’ Championships with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. In 2020, he broke Michael Schumacher’s win record and is now all-time race win record holder in Formula One.

    Lewis Hamilton
    “I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes teammates. Our team has achieved incredible things together and we look forward to building on our success even further, while continuously looking to improve, both on and off the track.

    “I’m equally determined to continue the journey we started to make motorsport more diverse for future generations and I am grateful that Mercedes has been extremely supportive of my call to address this issue. I’m proud to say we are taking that effort further this year by launching a foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the sport. I am inspired by all that we can build together and can’t wait to get back on the track in March.”

    Toto Wolff, CEO & Team Principal
    “We have always been aligned with Lewis that we would continue, but the very unusual year we had in 2020 meant it took some time to finish the process. Together, we have decided to extend the sporting relationship for another season and to begin a longer-term project to take the next step in our shared commitment to greater diversity within our sport. Lewis’s competitive record stands alongside the best the sports world has ever seen, and he is a valued ambassador for our brand and our partners. The story of Mercedes and Lewis has written itself into the history books of our sport over the past eight seasons, and we are hungry to compete and to add more chapters to it.”

    Markus Schäfer, Non-Executive Chairman
    “We’re very happy to keep the most successful F1 driver of the current era in the most successful F1 team of the current era. Lewis is not only an incredibly talented driver; he also works very hard for his achievements and is extremely hungry. He shares his passion for performance with the entire team which is why this collaboration has become so successful. But Lewis is also a warm-hearted personality who cares deeply about the world around him and wants to make an impact. As a company, Mercedes-Benz shares this sense of responsibility and is proud to commit to a new, joint foundation to improve diversity in motorsport. Opening the sport to under-represented groups will be important for its development in the future and we’re determined to make a positive impact.”

  • Mujeeb, Musa win INRC contender Hampi round

    Mujeeb, Musa win INRC contender Hampi round

    Hampi (Karnataka), 7 Feb 2021: Seven-time National champion co-driver Musa Sherif combined with Mujeeb Rehman as team Kasargod to drive their INRC2 car to overall honours in the Indian National Rally Championship Contender round that concluded the INRC 2020 season here on Sunday.

    The Kasargod duo rallying a Snap Racing prepared VW Polo clocked the best time of 01 hour, 01min, 2.200seconds for the 50.4-km special stage distance run in four Special Stages. Ritesh Guttedar M and co-driver Lokaranjan HJ, also in INRC2 class Volkswagen Polo, took the second spot trailing by over one minute, despite clocking best times in two of the four Special Stages timing 01:02:30.700. However, they were later disqualified by the stewards for a Parc Ferme violation.

    Thus, PSR Yeswanth and co-driver Bharath SM came second overall bringing their INRC4 car home in 01:03:36.300. Ruthvik M Gowda and co-driver Sudheendra came third. Avinash DC and co-driver Kenneth Harsha came fourth in their Honda City VTech while Deepak Chandra and co-driver Mohan Raj, also in an INRC4 car came fifth. Nidhi Sachdeva and co-driver Dheeraj KV brought their Gypsy home in sixth, the last car to finish among the 9 entries. BC Roopesh and Phalguna Raghavendra had a DNF, as they pulled out in the second stage due to a mechanical breakdown.