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  • Shivani Pruthvi, first Indian woman to take part in Asia Auto Gymkhana

    Shivani Pruthvi, first Indian woman to take part in Asia Auto Gymkhana

    Shivani Pruthvi  after being felicitated by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences recently. Photo: India in F1

    Bengaluru, 11 July 2019: A three-member Indian team, including a woman driver, representing the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs in India (FMSCI) will take part in the first round of the Asia Auto Gymkhana championship to be held at Yogyakarta in Indonesia on July 13.

    Shivani Pruthvi of Davangere, Sahil Khanna, and Karan Malik will represent India in the event which will see 39 drivers from 12 countries vie for top honours.  The trio will be up against contingents from Taiwan, Singapore, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and the host country Indonesia. There, all competitors will drive identical race-prepped Toyota Agyas (aka Wigo in the Philippines) on multiple gymkhana course layouts in a knock-out format. “It is a great honour to represent India and we will strive our best to bring laurels to the country,” said Shivani.

    Team India at the registration desk on Thursday. An INDIAinF1 image

    New for 2019 is the introduction of the ladies championship, run under the support of the FIA’s “Women in Motorsport” program. With this, FMSCI has selected Shivani Pruthvi to be India’s first female representative. Shivani has recently taken part in the South India Rally, the first round of the Indian National Rally Championship at Chennai along with her mother as the navigator in the only all-woman team. A couple of days back, Shivani was felicitated by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences before heading to Indonesia for the first round of Asia auto Gymkhana championship.

    The31-year old Sahil Khanna is the current reigning Autocross National champion in the Stock 2w class 1100 to 1400cc for 2019. He also won the third place in the T1 category of Desert Storm 2018 . The 26-year old Karan Malik won overall 2nd place in the T2 category of Desert Storm this year. Shivani, who is just 21 years, won the Times Women’s driver in 2018 and retained the title this year. She also did well in the INRC first round in Chennai with her mother Deepthi as co-driver last month.

    The AAGC’s first event in 2019 will take place under the city night lights of Yogyakarta, located on the Indonesian island of Java.

  • Ace Indian driver Jehan Daruvala raring to go: F3

    Ace Indian driver Jehan Daruvala raring to go: F3

    All of the vital information ahead of F3’s fourth round of 2019
    File photo of Jehan Daruvala, Prema Racing. FIA Formula 3 Championship, at the Austria round in June. Credit: Team Daruvala

    Silverstone, 11 July 2019: Ace Indian driver Jehan Daruvala, touted as the next best chance of an Indian in F1, will begin the Round 4 after his triple podium in a positive manner. Daruvala (82) is just eight points behind his Prema Racing teammate Marcus Armstrong (90) in the championship standings and is raring to go.

    Daruvala came second in the Sprint race and his strong performance in both races of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, the Round 3, saw him close the gap to 8 points, remaining second in the FIA F3 Championship behind Schwartzman from Russia. This weekend at the famed Silverstone circuit will be a support event to the iconic British Grand Prix, which will remain in the calendar for another six years and agreement paved the way for meaningful financial dealings for the race hosts.

    Another Indian Arjun Maini will also be seen in action at the Silverstone F1 weekend as he will race in the F2 along with compatriot Mahaveer Raghunathan, who returns after being kept out for one event.

    The Stakes       
    Two weeks after the amazing action in Austria’s mountains, the F3 paddock rolls into the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire countryside for Round 4 of the FIA Formula 3 Championship at Silverstone.
    PREMA Racing’s Marcus Armstrong had the early pace at the Red Bull Ring, going fastest in practice and then nabbing pole position in qualifying, but it was Hitech Grand Prix’s Jüri Vips who took the win in Race 1 after a measured drive to stand on the top step of the podium for the first time this season. Armstrong and Championship leader Robert Shwartzman looked on course to return PREMA to winning ways in Race 2, only for the teammates to break the golden rule of racing and collide on the final lap. The New Zealander suffered a puncture and ended up P19, while the Russian was relegated to third after a time penalty meaning Jake Hughes landed his and HWA RACELAB’s first F3 win.
    Shwartzman (90 points) still leads the way in the Drivers’ Championship, though his lead has been cut to just eight points by teammate Jehan Daruvala (82) in second place. Vips (63) leaps up to third after bagging 31 points in Austria, more than any other driver. PREMA (226) are still sitting pretty at the top of Teams’ Championship, 150 points in front of second-placed ART Grand Prix (76). Hitech (71) are just five points behind in third.
    Silverstone Circuit is the venue for the fourth round of the championship. Famed for its high speeds, fast corners and long straights, the drivers will look to fly around the former airfield on Pirelli’s hard compound tyre. With 30 cars ducking and diving around the track, they’ll have to remain grounded if they are to come out on top during another incredible weekend of racing.
    Warm Up // Jüri Vips – Hitech Grand Prix
    “Silverstone is one of my favourite circuits on the calendar. I really love the fast sections of corners and everything is combined so it’s very fast but very technical at the same time. That fits me just perfectly. It’s one of the rounds that I look forward to the most.
    “Every corner is a challenge, some more than others, but it probably has the most challenging section of corners on the calendar. Out of the first four corners, Maggotts and Becketts are some of the hardest of the season. You have to drive perfectly. It’s the easiest place to make a big time difference in that sense, which I like a lot.
    “Silverstone is definitely a driver’s track. Last year, overtaking was very difficult but I think this year it will be easier because after Maggotts/Becketts it’s not that difficult to follow a car and we have a DRS zone there.
    “If you get hot temperatures and your car has oversteer and slides a lot you can get quite tired, not physically but mentally, because you’re fighting the car quite a lot. It’s not that your muscles get overloaded, it’s just that you have to think about what the car is going to do a lot more so it’s harder.
    “Tyre degradation is probably going to be quite high, especially on the front tyres, so we’ll have to set up the car for that and take care of that during the race. It’s an interesting new set of skills that we have to learn in F3.
    “I can’t wait, I’m really looking forward to it. I’m going to get pole position and win both races, or at least that’s what I’m planning for!”
    Mario Isola, Pirelli Head of F1 and Car Racing
    “Silverstone is known as the ‘home of British motorsport’ so it’s a very significant race for many teams and drivers in the F3 championship. The biggest question mark will be the new asphalt, which nobody has had a chance to drive on yet, while the weather in England at this time of year is also often variable. The 30 Formula 3 drivers will all be fighting on the hard tyre and will need to manage them to the end on this demanding circuit.”
    Season Stats
    8 The gap between Robert Shwartzman and PREMA Racing teammate Jehan Daruvala at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.
    31 The number of points Jüri Vips took from Round 3, the most of any driver.
    7 The number of different drivers who have led races so far this season.
    235 The total race distance in kilometres a driver will cover at Silverstone in Round 4.
    Noteworthy
    Hitech Grand Prix’s Jüri Vips became the first non-PREMA Racing driver to win a race this season when he was victorious in Race 1 in Austria
    Vips, Lirim Zendeli and Marcus Armstrong all led an FIA Formula 3 race for the first time at the Red Bull Ring
    Six drivers from five different teams have earned a bonus point for setting the fastest lap so far; PREMA’s Armstrong and Jehan Daruvala, Vips of Hitech, Jenzer Motorsport’s Yuki Tsunoda, Jake Hughes of HWA RACELAB and ART Grand Prix’s Christian Lundgaard
    Just eight points separate Robert Shwartzman and Daruvala at the top of the Driver’s Championship
    19-year-old Italian racer Federico Malvestiti will make his F3 debut when he drives Jenzer Motorsport’s number 15 car at Silverstone
    Nine different drivers have stood on the podium in the opening three rounds
    Seven different drivers scored points in both races of Round 3 – Shwartzman and Daruvala of PREMA, Vips and Leonardo Pulcini of Hitech Grand Prix, ART Grand Prix’s Max Fewtrell, Jake Hughes of HWA RACELAB and Zendeli of Sauber Junior Team by Charouz
    Data (GMT+1)
    Friday
    Free Practice: 08.35 – 09.20
    Qualifying: 16.50 – 17.20
    Press conference: 18.30
    Saturday
    Race 1: 09.25 (20 laps)
    Press conference: 10.25
    Sunday
    Race 2: 1.05pm Indian Standard Time (20 laps)
    Local time: 08.35 am

    Following are the Indian Times

    QUALIFYINGFRI 12 JUL 2019, 21:20 (GMT+5.5)

    RACE 1SAT 13 JUL 2019, 13:55 (GMT+5.5)

    RACE 2SUN 14 JUL 2019, 13:05 (GMT+5.5)

  • Arjun Maini, Mahaveer Raghunathan to race in F2 during the British GP week-end

    Silverstone, 11 July 2019: Two Indian racers talented Arjun Maini and regular Mahaveer Raghunathan will feature in the F2 race, run as a support race during the British GP weekend and as the teams and drivers of the F2 paddock land at the former airfield of Silverstone for Round 7 of the 2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship, two weeks after the sensational action in Austria’s Styrian Alps.
    Arjun Maini, will be racing in the second and last of his two races in F2 championship this season while MP Motorsport’s Mahaveer Raghunathan returns to F2 this weekend having served a one-event suspension that saw him miss both races in Austria for amassing 12 penalty points for infringements during Virtual Safety Car periods.
    Carlin’s Louis Delétraz went fastest during practice for the first time this season, before Championship leader Nyck de Vries pulled off a masterclass in qualifying to take pole position early in the session. Nobuharu Matsushita chased the Dutchman down superbly in the last few laps to earn his first F2 Feature Race win, calling it the best drive of his entire career over the radio as he took the chequered flag. The ‘firsts’ continued in Sunday’s Sprint Race, as Sérgio Sette Câmara and his DAMS machine took victory for the first time in 2019. The Brazilian leapt to the front from third on the grid and put in a measured display to stay there until the end.
    De Vries (152) has pulled further ahead in the Drivers’ Championship, and now has a 37 point lead over Nicholas Latifi (115). Sérgio Sette Câmara (107) has climbed to third, just eight points behind his teammate. DAMS lead the way in the Teams’ Championship with 222 points, though second-placed UNI-Virtuosi Racing (182) have closed the gap to 40 points. ART (158) are 22 points further behind in third.
    Round 7 of the season takes place at Silverstone Circuit, famed for its high speeds, fast corners and long straights. Race strategy will be crucial as teams and drivers look to get the best possible performance from Pirelli’s hard and soft compound tyres. A number of British drivers will hope to enjoy victory on home soil, but the rest of the grid will have designs of their own in what should be another incredible weekend of F2 action.
    Warm Up // Jordan King – MP Motorsport
    “I’ve always been quite successful at Silverstone. My first ever car race was there in Formula Palmer Audi and I got pole and finished second which started off a good love affair as they say! I suppose the highlight at this level is winning there in back in 2016. I probably had the best part of 50 people there – friends, family and partners. It felt good to be there with lots of people who had come on the journey with me and who had supported me.
    “I enjoy Silverstone. It is a real pleasure to drive. It’s an old-school circuit and there is something special about driving there – with it being your home Grand Prix it’s like a double win. From what you see as a driver, the fans look amazing, there’s plenty of colour in the crowd and you like to think that all the union flags in the grandstand are for you.
    “It’s really fast and it’s physically one of the hardest tracks of the year on your neck, shoulders and arms. It’s tricky with all the high-speed corners and tyre degradation is normally quite high. That makes for another interesting aspect to the racing angle.
    “Although it’s high-speed and it’s hard to follow through the corners you can still overtake. The two main overtaking spots are into Brooklands and Stowe but battles go on for more than a couple of corners.
    “I used to be a lot more stressed about the smaller details but now I’m just driving for the moment, to help the team, push the guys forward. I’m still setting goals and trying to achieve things but I’m not going into qualifying thinking ‘I have to be top five’ because it’s unnecessary pressure. I’m just going out and driving the best that I can.”
    Mario Isola, Pirelli Head of F1 and Car Racing
    “Silverstone is known as the ‘home of British motorsport’ so it’s a very significant race for many teams and drivers in the F2 championship. The biggest question mark will be the new asphalt, which nobody has had a chance to drive on yet, while the weather in England at this time of year is also often variable. We expect quite a big performance gap between the two nominated compounds in Formula 2, which should hopefully lead to some interesting strategies. The soft will need careful management on this demanding circuit but will offer a considerable performance advantage.”
    Season Stats
    37 The points gap between Championship leader Nyck de Vries (152) at the top of the standings and Nicholas Latifi (115) in second place.
    4 The number of times a DAMS driver has picked up bonus points for the fastest lap this season. Sérgio Sette Câmara and Nicholas Latifi have both done it twice.
    357 The number of racing laps completed so far this season.
    95 The number of laps De Vries has led so far this season in his ART Grand Prix machine.
    Noteworthy
    The F2 race lap record at Silverstone is 1:42.512, set by Nobuharu Matsushita with ART Grand Prix in 2017
    Matsushita’s Feature Race win in Austria is not only his first ever Feature Race victory but also Carlin’s first win since Lando Norris won the opening race of the season in Bahrain last year
    That victory means all three British teams (UNI-Virtuosi Racing, BWT Arden and Carlin) have won at least one race this season going into their home event
    The British round of the FIA Formula 2 Championship is also the home event of Callum Ilott of Sauber Junior Team by Charouz, Campos Racing’s Jack Aitken and MP Motorsport’s Jordan King
    Dorian Boccolacci, who competed in the first five rounds of the 2019 F2 Championship with Campos Racing, also returns to the F2 paddock with Trident this weekend. The French driver has previously raced for the Italian outfit in GP3.
    Seven different drivers have won races this season: Aitken, Matsushita, Nyck de Vries, Sérgio Sette Câmara, Nicholas Latifi, Luca Ghiotto and Anthoine Hubert
    If De Vries wins this weekend he will match Artem Markelov for the record highest number of wins in the modern era of FIA Formula 2. A win in both races would see the Dutchman surpass the Russian
    De Vries has stood on the podium six times in the last five events, including three wins, the longest current podium streak in the championship. Sette Câmara is next best with three podiums from three events
    Mick Schumacher battled brilliantly during the Sprint Race in Austria. Starting 18th on the grid he finished fourth and might have grabbed his first F2 podium had it not been for good defending from De Vries in third
    Data (GMT+1)
    Friday
    Free Practice: 11.55 – 12.40
    Qualifying: 15.55 – 16.25
    Press conference: 18.00
    Saturday
    Feature race: 15.45 (29 laps)
    Press conference: 17.05
    Sunday
    Sprint race: 10.00 (21 laps)
    Press conference: 11.05
  • Laguna Seca set to put on stunning off-track show for fans

    Laguna Seca set to put on stunning off-track show for fans

    From the Paddock Show to Go-Karting, there’s action aplenty for trackside fans to enjoy during the Geico U.S. Round at Laguna Seca in 2019

    A World SBK image

    Monterey (California), 11 July 2019: With the momentum in the championship changing hands in recent rounds, the 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is ready for another twist and turn at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca circuit, situated in Monterey, California, USA. Whilst on-track drama will keep fans glued to the action, there are plenty of things to take part in off-track.

    Starting with the Paddock Show, it will feature an array of activities, from fan competitions and live commentaries of the sessions to exclusive chats with the very best riders in WorldSBK. Know the quirks and all the behind the scenes information throughout the weekend, before getting your chance to meet the stars of the WorldSBK show on Saturday – as part of the SuperShow. Team managers, riders and paddock celebrities will all be in attendance, with the ‘Party in the Paddock’ to finish the day off. Be sure not to miss out after what will be a scorching opening race day! More of the same follows on Sunday, with rider chats and fan give-aways!

    A unique experience in WorldSBK is the ability to get up close to the immediate celebrations from the podium. Once again, included in the ticket price, fans can get close to their heroes and enjoy the aftermath with all of the emotions. Get soaked with the spray, celebrate with your favourite rider and be part of the party atmosphere that has become synonymous with the WorldSBK podium – accessible for all.

    Watch the WorldSBK action from another angle too, with the Motul Action Box at garage number 22, to be immersed into the reality of watching on from the pit lane. The nerves combined with the electrifying action will be sure to make it an unforgettable experience.

    There is a unique opportunity at the Geico U.S. Round, as fans will be able to take their own motorcycles on the famous Laguna Seca circuit between 11:35am and 11:55am on Saturday morning. An escorted lap around the breath-taking 3.602km (2.238mi) layout, featuring iconic corners in the motorsport, such as the Corkscrew and Rainey’s. Conditions and supplementary tickets will be available from the Ticket Office.

    If the 55m elevation change of the real circuit isn’t enough, then Go-Karting is also available from Friday to Sunday between 09:00 and 16:00. Take out your competitive edge against friends, to see who is the next best thing when it comes to getting around a short, sharp circuit in the quickest time possible. For the children, there is Mini Moto from the same times at the Marketplace.

    Other things to keep an eye out for are the vast merchandise opportunities, to affiliate yourself with your WorldSBK hero. The Ducati Island Experience should be on everyone’s Laguna Seca bucket list, whilst the Rev Limiter Zone and FREE manufacturer demo rides are also available. Don’t forget, children 15 and under are admitted for FREE with a full paying adult and for those who want an authentic experience, trackside camping is available throughout the weekend.

  • F1 to continue at Silverstone for another five years

    Silverstone, 10 July 2019: Formula 1 is delighted to announce that the Formula 1 British Grand Prix will continue to be held at Silverstone at least until the end of 2024. The agreement between Formula 1, the British Racing Drivers’ Club and Silverstone Circuit was signed yesterday in London, in the run-up to the Formula 1 Rolex British Grand Prix 2019 weekend.

    The British Grand Prix has been part of the Formula 1 World Championship right from the start, with the 1950 edition of the race, held at Silverstone on 13th May of that year, being the very first of the 1006 Grands Prix that have taken place to date. Silverstone has hosted the British Grand Prix a further 51 times, with two other circuits, Aintree and Brands Hatch providing the venue on five and seventeen occasions respectively. Only the Italian Grand Prix can boast of featuring for the same length of time on the calendar of the top level of motorsport.

    Great Britain has played a vital role in the sport’s history and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Seven of the ten teams competing in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship are based in the UK, with motorsport being an important economic and technological contributor to the country. This year, Great Britain also has the largest number of drivers on the grid, with five times world champion Lewis Hamilton joined by the talented Lando Norris and George Russell.

    On the eve of the 70th British Grand Prix weekend, Formula 1 and Silverstone Circuits have announced that far from this being the last F1 Grand Prix at the historic Northamptonshire venue, a new chapter has begun, thanks to a new agreement that will keep F1 at the circuit for the coming years.

    With the future of one of F1’s most venerable and revered circuits now assured, Formula 1 Managing Director, Commercial Sean Bratches and Formula 1 Managing Director, Motorsport Ross Brawn explain why Silverstone, the track that hosted the very first world championship race in 1950, remains a key component of the incredible machine that is Formula 1…

    Sean, concluding this agreement secures Silverstone’s place on the calendar. What does that mean for the image of Formula 1 going forward?

    Silverstone sits in the pantheon of Formula 1 as one of the great races. In golf you have events like the Masters or the British Open, in tennis you have Wimbledon, and Silverstone is a race that falls into that category. It has an incredible heritage in Formula 1 and we definitely wanted to preserve that. And I think its Silverstone’s status among the great venues that enriches the Grand Prix calendar. It resonates with fans, it’s enormously popular with teams and drivers and it showcases our sport in its best light.

    Getting to this point was a lengthy process. On a personal level, how pleased are you that the future of the race has been secured?

    I’m an eternal optimist and always believed we would get over the line. I think there was a strong will on both sides to make this happen, but it always had to be an agreement both parties were happy with – that there is a sustainable model for Silverstone to proceed with but which also fulfills our goals in having a broad calendar with a truly global footprint but which maintains Formula 1’s DNA. In the end, both Silverstone and Formula 1 want the same thing – to put on an incredible spectacle at a venue that is beloved by the sport.

    What does retaining a venue such as Silverstone say about the future of other ‘heritage’ races in Formula 1?

    I think one of the things we have always been cognizant of is that Formula 1 is a sport that deeply cherishes its heritage and that it is important for us to safeguard that as much as is possible. Over the past two years, we’ve reached agreements with many of the great, historic venues in our sport. We have reached agreements with Spa and with Suzuka, we have a long-term agreement in place with Monaco, and we are engaged in a very constructive dialogue with Monza at the moment.

    The shape of the future calendar becomes a little clearer after today. Are you pleased with how it’s looking?

    It’s gratifying to be able to secure this agreement with Silverstone and it maintains that strand of heritage in the sport’s DNA. But by the same token, it’s clear that since 1950 the calendar has been extraordinarily dynamic and we see that as a positive.

    It’s exciting to bring new venues to the table and it’s always good to have people and places that want to sit at our table. We have a number of parties vying to bring Formula 1 to their territories and we are exploring multiple opportunities in that regard. That kind of dynamism is good for the sport and good for fans.

    We are of course staging F1’s first Grand Prix in Vietnam next year and that’s hugely exciting, and we’re also returning to the Netherlands. Indeed, racing at Zandvoort crosses the divide, if you like. We’re bringing back an event with enormous history but it’s almost like venturing to a new territory, as Formula 1 hasn’t raced there in 35 years.

    Looking at what Silverstone is doing in terms of development at the circuit. Does that kind of activity help F1’s offering?

    It does, but the truth is that Formula 1 myopically focuses on Silverstone for the two weeks from when we begin to set up for the Grand Prix to when the last truck leaves, and that’s true of every circuit we visit. But, the kind of infrastructure and activity Silverstone is investing in is hugely important to us because not only does it provide us with a wonderful canvas on which to display our show, it also, if done and executed properly, ensures success going forward for the circuit. It is important for us that our promoters are sustainable and successful.

    Finally, the announcement comes just ahead of what’s set to be a big show this weekend. Are you looking forward to it?

    Absolutely. There’s a huge amount happening this weekend. It’s our second Bond in Motion race and here at Silverstone, race 1007, our friends at Aston Martin Red Bull Racing will be bringing something special to their cars and to the look of their drivers this weekend. We’ll also welcome Craig, Daniel Craig as a guest. We’re looking forward to seeing a great many stars at Silverstone so it promises to be a wonderful weekend. We’ve got great tennis across the river and great racing just a bit further north of the river! I’m really looking forward to it.

     

  • Stage set for thrilling season five finale in New York City

    The final two rounds of the 2018/19 ABB FIA Formula E Championship will take place on the streets of Red Hook in Brooklyn this weekend (13-14 July). The most unpredictable, most competitive season so far will end with the crowning of the fifth FIA Formula E Champion.

    The 2.32 km long circuit is set against the stunning backdrop of the Lower Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. While the track, with its 14 turns winding through the heart of Brooklyn, has a formidable reputation thanks mainly to its unforgiving concrete surface.

    Last time out

    Similar to this year, New York also hosted a double header season finale in 2018. Sam Bird and Jean-Eric Vergne went into the weekend as rivals for the championship title. In a day of high drama on the challenging circuit in Brooklyn, Vergne went from last on the grid thanks to a technical infringement during qualifying to finishing Saturday’s race in fifth place. Sam Bird was unable to capitalise on Vergne’s qualifying position, so the result was enough to put Vergne out of reach of his rival. Vergne won the title with the second race still to run. To top it off the Frenchman managed to finish the 2017/18 season on a high by winning the final race on Sunday, but Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler wrapped up the teams’ championship with second and third place for Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt respectively beating Vergne’s TECHEETAH team by a narrow two point margin.

    Current standings

    At the last outing of the current season, double points are again on offer as one race is held on Saturday and one on Sunday. Reigning champion Jean-Eric Vergne leads the way with his name at the top of the standings. He could be the first driver to defend his title and – for the first time in Formula E’s history – win the crown in two consecutive seasons. While the Frenchman has a comfortable margin, there are seven other drivers mathematically still in contention for the drivers’ championship title who will do everything in their power to beat the DS TECHEETAH driver. The team championship standings look equally as tight, four teams head into the season five finale still in with a chance of winning the title. DS TECHEETAH, who top the table travelling to New York will be doing their upmost to not lose out to Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler again this year.

    While none of the drivers is American, there are two Formula E teams racing under an American flag: BMW i Andretti Motorsport and Geox Dragon. Neither of the two teams is in contention for the title anymore, but both will be eager to score the best possible results in front of their home crowd.

    Gen2 debut season

    The championship finale also marks the completion of a very successful debut season for the radical new Gen2 car, which was introduced at the start of season five. The futuristic looking FIA Formula E car has almost double the energy storage capacity in comparison to the first generation car and is able to go the whole race distance, making the mid-race car swaps of previous seasons a thing of the past! This leap forward in efficiency demonstrates the continuous progress made in the development of electric vehicle technologies and will benefit much more than world class racing drivers in the near future.

    Championship Standings

    Driver Standings:

    Jean-Eric Vergne              DS TECHEETAH                         130

    Lucas di Grassi                 Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler           98

    Mitch Evans                     Panasonic Jaguar Racing            87

    Andre Lotterer                 DS TECHEETAH                         86

    Antonio Felix da Costa      BMW i Andretti Motorsport          82

    Robin Frijns                     Envision Virgin Racing                81

    Sebastien Buemi              Nissan e.dams                           76

    Daniel Abt                       Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler          75

    Sam Bird                         Envision Virgin Racing                69

    Jerome D’Ambrosio          MAHINDRA RACING                   65

    Oliver Rowland                 Nissan e.dams                           63

    Edoardo Mortara              VENTURI Formula E Team          52

    Pascal Wehrlein                MAHINDRA RACING                   52

    Felipe Massa                    VENTURI Formula E Team          36

    Stoffel Vandoorne             HWA RACELAB                          31

    Alexander Sims                BMW i Andretti Motorsport          24

    Maximilian Gunther           GEOX DRAGON                          20

    Alex Lynn                        Panasonic Jaguar Racing            10

    Gary Paffett                     HWA RACELAB                          8

    Oliver Turvey                   NIO Formula E Team                 6

    Jose Maria Lopez              GEOX DRAGON                          3

    Nelson Piquet Jr.              Panasonic Jaguar Racing            1

    Tom Dillmann                  NIO Formula E Team                 0

    Felipe Nasr                      GEOX DRAGON                          0

    Felix Rosenqvist               MAHINDRA RACING                   0

  • Shahan, Avalakki continue to dominate: JK Tyre Karting Nationals

    Bengaluru, 8 July 2019: Agra’s Shahan Ali Mohsin and Bengaluru’s Mihir Suman Avalakki continued their good form to hold on to the lead after Round 2 of the Rotax Class of the JK Tyre-FMSCI National Karting Championship 2019 at the Meco Kartopia on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

    Shahan (MSport) looked at ease over the weekend as he won race 1 and finished second in another to notch up 86 points and take his total tally to 175 points in the Senior Max Category.

    Manav Sharma of Faridabad, who was outperformed by Shahan in the opening round, however, accumulated two more points than him by finishing second in the pre-final and winning the final this time around. The Peregrine Racing driver has a total of 173 points now and is sitting on the second place.

    MSports’ Bala Prasanth finished fifth in both the races to collect 78 points and take the third position with 160 points.

    In the Junior Max Category, it was a clean sweep for Birel Art as they took all the podium places, led by another local lad Mihir. He did not have the best of starts to the round, finishing only fourth in the opening race.

    But he came back to clinch the second place in the final race to pocket 83 points and take his total tally to 172 points. He is tied on points with his team-mate Rishon after two rounds, who won both races of the day to amass 89 points. Ruhaan Alva is on the third spot as he posted two third place-finishes to collect 82 points to take his total tally to 165 points.

    In the Micro Max Category, it was Peregrine Racing’s Ishaan Madhesh who came up with another powerful performance and won both the races to extend his tally to 178 points. His team-mate Jagrat Detroja is on the second spot with 166 points while Anshul Sai Shivkumar is in the third place with 157 points.

    Note: Results were not received from the organisers
    Provisional Standings after Round 2:
    Micro Max:
    1. Ishaan Madesh (Peregrine Racing) 178 points; 2. Jagrat Detroja (Peregrine Racing) 166 points; 3. Anshul Sai Shivakumar (Birel Art) 157 points    Junior Max:
    1. Mihir Avalakkai (Birel Art) 172 points; 2. Rishon (Birel Art) 172 points; 3. Ruhaan Alva (Birel Art) 165 pointsSenior Max:
    1. Shahan Ali Mohsin (MSports) 175 points; 2. Manav Sharma (Peregrine Racing) 173 points; 3. Bala Prasath (MSports) 160 points
  • Decade of dominance: Marquez makes it a perfect ten at the Sachsenring

    Decade of dominance: Marquez makes it a perfect ten at the Sachsenring

    The Championship leader reigns the Ring as the battle for the podium heats up

    Marquez takes 10th win at Sachsenring on Sunday. A MotoGP image

    Sachsenring, 7 July 2019: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) completed a decade of dominance at the Sachsenring, winning in style in the HJC Helmets Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, the ninth round of the MotoGP World Championship here on Sunday.

    Attacking early to take the lead into Turn 1 and not looking back, the reigning Champion made it ten wins in a row in Germany, all from pole. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) completed the podium. Marquez’ win for the seventh successive time in the premier class at the Sachsenring also equals Valentino Rossi’s record of premier class wins in a row at one venue, set in Mugello from 2002-2008.

    Despite a bad start Marquez kept it pinned into Turn 1, the last of the late brakers able to emerge in the lead as Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) slipped back from second to sixth at the start; Viñales, Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Crutchlow all getting past the Frenchman. The first shot of drama would come from the Frenchman too as Quartararo’s race suddenly ended at Turn 3 on Lap 2,  the rookie going to get back past Ducati Team’s Danilo Petrucci but the front washing away in his first ever premier class crash out of a race.

    The battle at the front at that point was more a freight train, with Marquez conducting the pace from Viñales as Crutchlow and Rins demoted Miller down to fifth. The top four started to edge clear of the rest, but edging clear of everyone was King of the Ring Marquez as a 1:21.228 – a new lap record – on Lap 5 saw his lead creep up to just under a second. The man in second was Rins, and he was also stretching his advantage over Viñales and Crutchlow to the same distance, but Marquez was in the groove.

    The seven-time Champion showed exactly why the Sachsenring is his playground, not powering away at a rapid rate but instead eking out a tenth here and there, his lead gradually increasing until he suddenly put the hammer down. Lap 10 saw Marquez go 0.4 faster than Rins as the gap rose above the two-second barrier. From then on, there was no stopping the now ten-time Sachsenring winner.

    The battle for the second and third steps on the podium was heating up, however. Crutchlow was shadowing Viñales, who in turn was sitting a second back from Rins, with the gap remaining constant between the trio as we passed the mid-stage of the race. And the battle for fifth place was very much on as Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso and Petrucci were going head-to-head with fellow GP19 rider Miller, Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro in a close fight for big points.

    Nearer the front though, disaster then struck at the top of ‘The Waterfall’ for Rins. 0.9 clear of Viñales and Crutchlow, the Suzuki man suddenly skitted out at Ralf Waldmann corner for his second consecutive DNF. With the man on the chase down and out, it left Marquez with an unassailable 4.9 lead.

    The last ten laps were just about controlling the gap for Marquez as he saw a 10th Sachsenring win appear ever closer, but who would finish second? Crutchlow had been attached to Viñales’ back wheel for some time to put the Spaniard under pressure and with two laps to go, the duo were separated by nothing. But the number 35 then had a scare at Turn 10; a warning sign that saw Crutchlow running wide and subsequently keeping it calmer to give up the chase. Just ahead, Marquez crossed the line to win his fifth race of 2019, the seventh consecutive year he’s won five or more races in a premier class season – a record that sees him surpass MotoGP™ Legend Giacomo Agostini and nine-time Champion Rossi, both of whom managed to do it for six straight years.

    Viñales crossed the line to take his second straight podium, with Crutchlow getting his equal best result of the year in third and his first rostrum since Qatar GP. The Brit’s ride was even more impressive as he battled a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a small fracture to the top of his tibia this weekend following a cycling mishap. Behind the top trio, meanwhile, there were important points in the Championship to be decided just down the road.

    Rossi had lost touch on the battle for fourth in the latter stages, and it was Mir vs the three Ducatis. With Marquez out in front, second in the Championship Dovizioso needed to limit the damage as much as possible but Petrucci wasn’t going to let his teammate have it all his own way. The Italians exchanged P4 at the bottom of ‘The Waterfall’ before Dovi went to get back past Petrucci into Turn 1 with three to go and they both ran wide; Miller diving up the inside of both. Dovizioso was aggressive though and attacked the Australian as the battle between the Ducatis went down to the wire, Petrucci leading them onto the last lap. The Mugello winner would ultimately hold fourth as the chequered flag came out, a terrific performance after his big crash in Q2, with Dovizioso producing another fine fight back to take P5 from P13 on the grid. Miller was forced to settle for a solid sixth.

    Mir picked up his third consecutive top ten in seventh, a great ride from the rookie, with Rossi ending his run of three-straight DNFs with a P8 at the Sachsenring. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) finished ninth in Germany, the first time he’d raced in the premier class at the track after missing out last year, with Jorge Lorenzo’s replacement Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) grabbing his second top ten of the season in front of his home fans.

    Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) put in a stunner to take P11 from last on the grid, ahead of a tougher race for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pol Espargaro. Andrea Iannone (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was 13th and top Aprilia after a crash for teammate Aleix Espargaro, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) riding through the pain barrier to P14. Karel Abraham (Reale Avintia Racing) completed the points.

    The summer break is now upon us and Marquez will doubtless be the most relaxed after extending his lead once again. But next up is Brno and it’s a good venues for some key rivals…as well as a few weeks away, giving the likes of Quartararo time to come back swinging. Will the reign continue? The Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky will decide…

    Marc Marquez: “My plan was try to lead from the beginning to the end, that was my mentality. For that reason the start wasn’t perfect but I took a lot of risk in the first corner, I braked so late and I was able to be in there and then the first two laps I was just cruising and trying to understand the limit of the track after the rain. Then when I saw the tyres were ready, I was ready and the bike was ready, then I started to attack. I started to do low 1:21s, that was my rhythm in the first ten laps, and apart from that, when I saw Rins was three seconds behind me, then I started to save the tyre and finish the race.”

    Top-3 Race Results:

    1 – Marc Marquez (SPA – Honda) 41’08.276
    2 – Maverick Viñales (SPA – Yamaha) +4.587
    3 – Cal Crutchlow* (GBR – Honda) +7.741

    *Independent Team rider

  • Rea takes first triple treat of 2019 ahead of Razgatlioglu and Bautista

    In the final action of the weekend for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, it was yet another thrilling encounter from lights-out to the chequered flag. It was action right from the start, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) coming out on top after another tough scrap with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing).

    Heading towards Turn 1 for the first time, Jonathan Rea rocketed from pole position to grab the holeshot, ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing), whilst Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) blasted into third. At the Old Hairpin however, Bautista was passed by home-hero Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Chaz Davies had a strong opening, running as high as fifth, right behind his teammate. It was a nightmare for Jordi Torres (Team Pedercini Racing) one lap later, as the Spaniard retired.

    With the race settling down, on Lap 3, Razgatlioglu took the lead at the circuit where he took his first WorldSBK career podium. With a strong out-braking manoeuvre at the Melbourne Loop, he was able to pinch the advantage. However, two laps later, Rea took the lead back and one lap further on, Haslam momentarily got ahead of the Turk at the Foggy Esses. At the Melbourne Loop, Razgatlioglu recovered and the 22-year-old was back in second.

    Razgatlioglu was able to retake the lead from Rea, with the two riders dancing side-by-side around the Donington Park circuit. Another late-braking move at the Melbourne Loop saw him retake the lead and then, putting the hammer down. Razgatlioglu and Rea broke clear of the fading Haslam in third place, whilst Alvaro Bautista was all over the rear-end of the five-time WorldSBK race winner.

    With 12 to go, it was a rare error at the Foggy Esses from Toprak, allowing Rea to cut through and take the lead back from the young Turk. A lap later, and the battle for third started to ignite with Bautista taking the final podium position from Leon Haslam. With all the swapping, slowly but surely, Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha) was now closing down Leon Haslam, with Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in sixth. Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was seventh from tenth on the grid, whilst Davies had slipped to eighth.

    There was a change in the battle for fifth place, as Alex Lowes forced Baz wide at the Foggy Esses, with the British rider getting ahead into the Melbourne Loop. Even further back, double winner from Donington Park in 2018, Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team), got ahead of Davies for eighth place.

    In the closing stages, there were two battles: for first and second between Rea and Razgatlioglu, and for third place between Bautista, Lowes, Haslam and Baz – with Lowes getting ahead of Haslam with just three laps to go. Going into the final lap, half-a-second split the leading two, whilst Bautista had a small buffer for a safe third place.

    Coming to the line for the final time, Jonathan Rea completed a Donington Park hat-trick at home, the first triple he has achieved this season. Razgatlioglu took another podium with second and Alvaro Bautista took his first podium of the weekend, although he now trails the reigning WorldSBK champion by 24 points. Alex Lowes was fourth whilst Leon Haslam completed the top five, only just ahead Loris Baz.

    Tom Sykes was the best of the rest, with Michael van der Mark taking a hearty, hard-earnt eighth, ahead of Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK), who completed the top ten after a disappointing Prosecco DOC UK Round. Peter Hickman (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was 11th, ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team), with Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK), Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and Alessandro Delbianco (Althea Mie Racing Team) completing the points.
    P1 – Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)

    “It was incredible, a similar story to Misano with Toprak in Race 2. It was really difficult, he was so strong on the brakes, but my team gave me a great bike and physically this weekend I felt really good, so I was able to extract the best potential from my ZX-10RR. In free practices, I was a little bit unhappy about the setup, and we were quite far away, 0.9 s from the fastest lap time, but step by step we arrived and three race wins, and back in the lead of the championship I can’t quite believe it. We will keep working like we are doing and we go to Laguna next week, which is another good track for us, but I enjoyed the atmosphere here. There were a lot of people here at Donington and now let’s see what happens”.

    P2 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing)

    “Yesterday with the wet conditions we didn’t go well. We tried a similar setup to Misano but I didn’t feel good on the bike and it was sliding a lot at the rear, so I was waiting for today because I was expecting a dry race and I felt really strong on those conditions. The Tissot Superpole Race was good but it wasn’t perfect. We focused on Race 2, which was more important for me. I did a good start, I followed Johnny and after I overtook him we had a small fight together but he was strong and fast. On the final two laps, I tried to attack him again but it was impossible. I am happy with another podium and now we see what will happen in the US”.

    P3 – Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati)

    “Today was important for us to finish the race. We crashed in Misano Race 2 and yesterday again. I knew it was meant to be a tough weekend for us because we are struggling a lot in this kind of tracks that are bumpy and with have poor grip. In the Tissot Superpole Race, I tried to stay with the front group. I pushed as much as I could and physically I was destroyed at the end of the eight laps because the bike was moving a lot and I had to put so much energy in trying to keep the bike straight and not lose too much time exiting the corners. In Race 2, I tried to do the same. I did a good start and remained with the front group. I pushed hard and had to use double my energy, but I managed to finish on the podium, and I am happy because we struggled a lot this weekend. Now we have to improve the weak points of our bike, but I look forward to the next race”.

    #GBRWorldSBK at Donington Park: Race 2
    1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
    2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) +0.365
    3. Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) +5.930

  • Double for Sethu, Ravikumar, Abhimanyu; Easy win for Ryhana Bee: MMSC Bike Nationals

    Double for Sethu, Ravikumar, Abhimanyu; Easy win for Ryhana Bee: MMSC Bike Nationals

    Deepak Ravikumar (centre), who scored a double in the Pro-Stock 301-400cc category, flanked by KY Ahamed 2nd (left) and Amarnath Menon 3rd, at MMRT on Sunday. Photos by Anand Philar

    Chennai, 7 July 2019: Bitter rivals on the track, TVS Racing and Idemitsu Honda Ten10 Racing shared the honours on the concluding day of the second round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship at the MMRT, here today.

    Deepak Ravikumar (TVS Racing) and Rajiv Sethu (Idemitsu Honda Ten10 Racing) completed a double apiece in contrasting styles. Ravikumar was in a league of his own with an authoritative win by the proverbial country mile in the premium Pro-Stock 301-400cc race, his second of the weekend, while behind him, Amarnath Menon (Team Alisha Abdullah) denied TVS Racing another 1-2 by pipping KY Ahamed.

    Sethu repeated his yesterday’s Race 1 win over TVS Racing’s Jagan Kumar for a double in the Pro-Stock 165cc class. After exchanging leads with Jagan through the race, Sethu made a heart-stopping pass on the last corner of the last lap to pull off a superb win while Ahamed scrambled to third spot.

    Bengaluru-based Anish Shetty (Idemitsu Honda Ten10 Racing) survived a close fight with Mathan Kumar (Erula Racing) to win the Pro-Stock 200-300cc race with Abhishek Vasudev, also from Bengaluru, a distant third.

    Also achieving a double was Abhimanyu Gautam (Sparks Racing) in the Novice (Stock 165cc) class, sparing nearly three seconds to Venkatesan I (Motomania) while Mohan Babu (Rockers Racing) completed the podium.


    Ryhana Bee, winner of the Girls race

    Meanwhile, defending champion in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category, Ann Jennifer suffered a rare defeat as she finished third behind her Sparks Racing team-mate Ryhana Bee and Alisha Abdullah (Team Alisha Abdullah) in the five-lap race. It was Bee’s maiden win in the championship as she made capital of a favourable situation that had pole-sitter Jennifer fumbling at the start and then getting caught up in traffic. While Bee disappeared in the distance, Jennifer could not pass Alisha and decided to hold position with an eye on the championship points.

    In the hot mid-afternoon sun, Chennai youngsters Varoon Sadasivam, Kavin Samaar Quintal and Geoffrey Emmanuel finished in that order on the FIM Moto3-spec NSF 250R bikes in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup One-Make Championship after favourites, Md Mikail (Chennai), winner of Race-1 yesterday, and Kritik Vasant Habib (Gadag, Karnataka) retired early in the eight-lap race. Mikail crashed at the start, while Habib too went off in the third lap.

    The results (Provisional):

    National Championship:

    Pro-Stock 301-400cc (Race 2, 8 laps): 1. Deepak Ravikumar (TVS Racing) (15mins, 31.358secs); 2. Amarnath Menon (Team Alisha Abdullah) (15:45.432); 3. KY Ahamed (TVS Racing) (15:45.558).

    Pro-Stock 200-300cc (Race 2, 8 laps): 1. Anish Shetty (Idemitsu Honda Ten10 Racing) (16:22.798); 2. Mathan Kumar (Erula Racing) (16:22.876); 3. Abhishek V (Idemitsu Honda Ten10 Racing) (16:55.918).

    Pro-Stock 165cc (Race 2, 8 laps): 1. Rajiv Sethu (Idemitsu Honda Ten10 Racing) (16:07.033);  2. Jagan Kumar (TVS Racing) (16:07.152); 3. KY Ahamed (TVS Racing) (16:09.355).

    Novice – Stock 165cc (Race 2, 6 laps): 1.Abhimanyu Gautam (Sparks Racing) (13:10.877); 2. Venkatesan I (Team Motomania) (13:13.508); 3. Mohan Babu P (Team Rockers Racing) (13:15.079).

    Girls (Stock 165cc, 5 laps): 1. A Ryhana Bee (Sparks Racing) (11:11.579); 2. Alisha Abdullah (Team Alisha Abdullah Racing) (11:20.990); 3. Ann Jennifer AS (Sparks Racing) (11:21.078).

    One-Make Championship:

    Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup – Honda NSF 250R (Race 2, 8 laps): 1. Varoon Sadasivam (Chennai) (14:53.899); 2. Kavin Samaar Quintal (Chennai) (15:03.271); 3. Geoffrey Emmanuel (Chennai) (15:32.943).

    Honda CBR 150 (Race 2, 6 laps): 1. Lal Nunsanga (Aizwal) (13:28.925); 2. Lalrinzuala Tlau (Aizwal) (13:29.167); 3. Samuel Martin (Bengaluru) (13:30.521).

    TVS Open (Apache RTR 310, Race 2, 8 laps): 1. Vivek Pillai (Chennai) (16:01.298); 2. Karthik Mateti (Hyderabad) (16:16.321); 3. Soorya PM (Chennai) (16:18.106).

    Novice (Apache RTR 200, Race 2, 6 laps): 1. Venkatesan (Chennai) (13:13.644); 2. Manoj Y (Chennai) (13:14.210); 3. Lakshmipathy Balaji (Vellore) (13:15.231).