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Carlin confirms Ameya Vaidyanathan for FIA Formula3 Euro Championship
Carlin confirmed that Indian racer Ameya Vaidyanathan remains with the team for the full 2018 season competing in the FIA Formula Three (F3) European Championship.
The 2017 season was a standout season for Vaidyanathan who took a race victory in the Euro Formula Open Championship at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The 21-year-old has now confirmed that he will remain with the team for a third season for the FIA F3 Championship.
Vaidyanathan started racing late at 18, but gained experience in various championships beginning with a Ginetta GT car before he entered single-seaters and switched to the BRDC British F4 Championship, taking a handful of podiums along the way.
Vaidyanathan then competed in the BRDC British F3 Championship and moved on to the Euro Formula Open Championship for the 2017 season. In Spa, Vaidyanathan took a fine win which saw him make an incredible move for the lead of the race to ensure he stood on the very top step of the podium – his fifth podium of the 2017 season.
“It’s great to be moving up to FIA Formula Three in what is now my third year with Carlin,” said Vaidyanathan. “Staying in the team was a no-brainer because I can see everyone’s commitment towards achieving the highest standards. I’ve really learned so much during my time at Carlin thus far and I’m keen to put everything to good use to find my feet in such a competitive field.”
Trevor Carlin, racing director, said: “This will be our third season working with Ameya and we’re pleased to see how much he has grown and accomplished in that time. He took his maiden win in the Euro Formula Open Championship at Spa and has been consistently improving his race craft. We are extremely pleased to be working together in such competitive championship and look forward to seeing what he can achieve.”
Vaidyanathan will be out on track for pre-season testing towards the end of March at both the Hungaroring and Red Bull Ring before the 2018 FIA Formula Three European Championship gets underway at street circuit Pau in May.
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Productive Rally weekend for Hyundai i20 R5
Photo – Hyundai Motorsport Alzenau (Germany): Hyundai i20 R5 customer teams took victory in three different national championship events last weekend, as series across Europe began their 2018 seasons.
Reigning champions Iván Ares and José Pintor took maximum points from the Rali do Cocido (March 17), the opening round of the Spanish tarmac championship. The i20 R5 crew outpaced both their fellow R5 runners and drivers in nationally homologated N5 machinery.
Carrying a new livery for the new season, incorporating Hyundai’s Performance Blue, the pairing wasted no time in establishing themselves at the front of the rally with two fastest times at the start of the rally. A scare – skating wide into a field – dropped them momentarily to third overall. However, they immediately rebounded, regaining one position as they took the three points on offer for the winning the TC Plus power stage.
Four more stage wins followed before the close of the rally, sealing a fantastic victory to start an expanded season in Spain, with a total of 11 events making up the 2018 season.
Perfect record preserved in Paraguay
The combination of the i20 R5, Hyundai Paraguay and Diego Dominguez continued to be the team to beat in the country. Dominguez and co-driver Edgardo Galindo were on the pace throughout the Rally Trans Itapúa (March 16-18), winning four stages on Saturday alone as they surged into the overall lead. As well as the performance they were able to rely on the i20 R5, as their rivals found trouble on the rough gravel roads.
A controlled run through the four stages on the final day of the event allowed them to cruise to a third victory of the year by over a minute. The result kept them at the head of the Paraguayan championship, but also put them in the lead of the South American FIA CODASUR Championship, which attracts the top crews from across the continent.
Fast on the French tarmac
Bryan Bouffier led three i20 R5 crews onto the start line of the Rallye Le Touquet – Pas de Calais (March 16-17). The Frenchman was making his first start in the national championship for five years, and his first competitive start in an i20 R5, run by the Onyx Racing by Enjolras team. Bouffier and co-driver Gilbert Dini were the fastest R5 entrants overall throughout the two-day event which formed the first round of the French Tarmac championship.
Such was the pace of the car that on two occasions they beat teams in former WRC machinery to claim the fastest stage time overall, extending their advantage at the top of the R5 category at the same time. The pair ended with nearly a minute in hand over their closest rivals in the all-important class standings, announcing their intentions the season to come.
Jordan Berfa and Damien Augustin finished eighth overall. Starting the season with a fresh challenge on tarmac after winning last year’s gravel championship the Turbo ABP Competition run team were consistent throughout in their i20 R5, showing the same reliability – of both car and crew – that led them to their 2017 championship.
The final i20 R5 car, run by Sarrazin Motorsport for Quentin Giordano, was also a fixture in the top-10. However, Giordano and Frédéric Vauclare were forced out of the rally with two stages remaining.
Hungarian customers battle in Austria
Three more i20 R5 customers were in action at the Rebenland Rallye (March 16-17), which brought together the entries for the Austrian championship and the Mitropa Cup.
Hungarian teams LPWM Sport and Korda Racing were represented by Lovász Pál and Szabolcs Várkonyi respectively. The two crews were locked in battle for almost the entire event just outside of the top-10 overall. They finished 16th and 17th, with the Korda pairing ahead.
The i20 R5 customer line-up at the rally was completed by Hans Peter Haid at the wheel of the Gassner Motorsport-owned car, making his second start with the team following January’s Jänner Rallye.
Consistent pace in Ireland and Holland
Eugene Donnelly gave the i20 R5 its seasonal debut in Ireland at the opening round of the Irish Tarmac Championship, the West Cork Rally (March 17-18). Still adapting to his new chassis, and to competition after taking a year out in 2017, Donnelly was a constant in the top-10 finishing in ninth overall in another event headed by older spec WRC cars.
Another consistent result for an i20 R5 customer came in the Zuiderzee Rally (March 17-18) in Holland. Bob de Jong finished fifth overall to start his campaign in the domestic championship.
Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Deputy General Manager Andrea Adamo said: “This last weekend was a great one for our customers, and so it was very strong for the Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing department.
“The best advertisement for the i20 R5 is the results on the stages, so to have victories the events in France, Spain and Paraguay covering tarmac and gravel is a special moment. Of course, while our customers have now made fast starts to their national campaigns it is important that we now work to support them through the rest of the year, so they can end the year as well as they have started.”
About the Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing department
Hyundai Motorsport GmbH established its Customer Racing department in September 2015 with the aim of enhancing Hyundai’s motorsport image around the world – in parallel to its successful WRC programme. Following its debut the i20 R5 quickly proved popular with teams and drivers across Europe. The car is designed so that both professional and amateur drivers can compete in the full range of international, regional and national championships where R5-specification cars are eligible. In February 2017 the Hyundai Motorsport announced their second Customer Racing project, a car designed to the TCR regulations, which the Customer Racing department will oversee alongside continuing to support their existing clients.
Further information about Hyundai Motorsport is available at: http://motorsport.hyundai.com
Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Release
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Aishwarya Pissay geared up for Desert Storm challenge
Bikaner (Rajasthan): Indian National women’s racing and rally champion Aishwarya Pissay from Bengaluru, representing TVS Racing team, is hoping for a strong finish in the country’s major cross-country event, the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm 2018, with the first-leg scheduled to start here this evening and conclude late at night.
After Sunday’s ceremonial flag-off in Noida, the participants arrived here for the start of the first leg that comprises two Special Stages totaling about 70 Km
File photo of Aishwarya Pissay by Anand Philar and scheduled to start in the evening.
Having finished fourth in the Raid de Himalaya rally while becoming the only female rider to complete the grueling course in the ‘Xtreme’ category, Aishwarya has been entered in the Group B (up to 250cc) class for the Desert Storm that has 43 riders in the fray.
Looking ahead to the weeklong event that has 900 Km of Special Stages while covering a total distance of 2,500 Km, Aishwarya, 22, said: “I am better prepared this year unlike in 2017 when I packed on the second day itself after suffering multiple crashes.
“I am happy to have joined the TVS Racing team and it is a huge lift for my career. With the team’s support, I hope to do well this time around.
“As part of my preparations for the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm 2018, I spent a few days in Jaipur, working on my riding skills on desert tracks, thus giving myself more time on the bike and also overall fitness. So, I am as ready as I could be for the challenge.”
This year, the Special Stages are located around Bikaner and Jaisalmer, and the riders will have to negotiate treacherous desert tracks dotted with sand dunes. The event will conclude on March 23 with a gala prize-distribution ceremony.
AP Media Comm. release
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Dovi vs Marquez lights the fuse at Losail
Close fight at the flag in the Quatar opener of 2018 season on Sunday. A MotoGP image. Opening the season with a sensational last lap performance, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) beat Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to the line at the Losail International Circuit by just 0.027s, lighting the fuse on 2018 from the very first race. And the ‘Doctor’ Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) completed the podium, putting in another Sunday stunner from Row 3 of the grid.
Frenchman Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) shot off pole position to take the lead into the first corner but there was nothing to split the top ten riders in the opening laps, and it looked as if any one of them could fight for the victory throughout the 22-lap thriller. With fastest laps flying in on each lap, Zarco was still able to keep hold of the lead.With big battles taking place behind him, the French rider kept calm at the front whilst Rossi made his way through the field to get into podium fighting positions by the third lap, hunting down his fellow Yamaha in the lead. Marquez was never far away from the fight, sitting in the top five as soon as the lights went out. As ten laps had been completed riders were getting into a rhythm, but you could sense action was on the horizon.
Silent assassin Dovizioso moved up to third position on lap 11 as he spent the start of the race working through the field, passing his countryman Rossi who slipped back to the riders fighting for fifth. A clear battled had now developed for the podium, with Dovizioso and Marquez closing in on Zarco and they were able to make their move on the 18th lap, with Zarco losing two positions into the opening corner – as Dovizisoso took the lead.
Dovizioso and Marquez then began to break away, pushing themselves to the final corner of the final lap – taking no prisoners. Reigning world champion Marquez made his move through turn 15 but he was unable to make it stick, and Dovizoso led into the final corner meaning he was able to slingshot his Desmosedici over the line, 0.027s ahead. Another last lap showdown, and another Dovizioso victory in style.
Behind the duo, Rossi fought off his rivals to secure a safe third position ahead of top independent rider Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), whilst Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) made some strong moves on the closing laps to complete the top five.
Comeback king Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) crossed the line in sixth after being down in 14th on the opening lap, just ahead of Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), who made his 200th start in the premier class. Early race leader Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) crossing the line in eighth after struggling more in the latter stages, with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) completing the top ten.
Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) opened the season in 11th, ahead of top rookie Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) who crossed the line in the top 12, as Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) salvaged three points from a tough weekend in 13th. Making his MotoGP™ debut, Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) took a top 14 finish and his first points, ahead of Karel Abraham (Angel Nieto Team) who takes home the final point from Qatar in 15th.
It was a bad start to the season for Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who crashed out of the top six fight on the 13th lap at turn two, whilst Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) had a start to 2018 to forget and the Spaniard crashed out on the same lap – finding his brakes unresponsive at turn 16.
The paddock will now pack up and head to Argentina from 6th – 8th April for the second round of what is set to be a phenomenal MotoGP™ season – and the fuse is already lit.
Race Results
1 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) DUCATI 42’34.654
2 – Marc Márquez (SPA) HONDA +0.027
3 – Valentino Rossi (ITA) YAMAHA+ 0.797
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First Independent Team Rider
P4 – Cal Crutchlow (GBR) HONDA +2.881.source: motoGP press release
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Dovizioso begins 2018 campaign with a bang; Marquez 2nd ahead of Rossi
As night fell in Qatar, Marc Marquez climbed to the second step of the podium at the Losail International Circuit after fighting for victory all the way until the last corner. Andrea Dovizioso just edged Marc out at the chequered flag by a mere 0.027” but the reigning World Champion will fly back to Europe tomorrow knowing that he’s shown great pace and scored a brilliant result at a track that is notoriously tough for him and the Repsol Honda Team.
A group of seven riders, split by just over one second, fought for a podium position for almost the entire race. Dani Pedrosa was among that group, although a poor feeling with the rear tyre forced him to settle for seventh.
Marc Marquez
2ND
“What a race! I’m really happy with our second place finish because this is one of the tracks on the calendar where we struggle most. After the pre-season test we knew what we could expect. With the hard front tyre I was struggling a bit in the left corners but with the medium I wouldn’t have finished the race. I tried to pass Dovi in the last corner but he beat me. Honestly, I was expecting that, but I had to try the move anyway, to see if there was any way we could make it happen. In the end, Dovi had something more than me and he deserves this win. Even if he was a bit behind at the start, I was waiting for him–I was waiting for the red! I knew his tactic was to push at the end and when he passed Zarco I said to myself, ‘let’s go!’ I followed him and almost went wide, but it was a great race and a great show. The thing I’m most happy about is that, this time, we were able to stay with him on the straight and this is very good.”
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Sunday guide for the Qatar MotoGP
MotoGP™
Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) takes his third pole position in the MotoGP™ class, beating Jorge Lorenzo’s best lap from 2008. He is now the second French rider overall in the premier class after Christian Sarron (6 pole positions). He is also the first French rider to start a season from pole position since Pierre Monneret in Reims 1954.This is the first time there are two independent team riders on the front row since Motegi last year with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) ahead of Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing).
In second place on the grid is Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda Team) who won the MotoGP™ race in Qatar in 2014. He was also second on the grid two years ago and eventually crossed the line in third.
This highest Ducati rider is Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) in third place on the grid, which is his fifth front row start in the MotoGP™ class, to make it three different manufacturers represented on the front row for the third successive time in Losail.
Heading the second row is Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda CASTROL), his best qualifying result since he was fourth also in Aragon last year.
As last year in Losail, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) is in fifth place on the grid. He has been the first Ducati rider across the line for the last five years at this track.
Taking the final place on the second row is Alex Rins (Team SUZUKI ECSTAR), which is best qualifying result on what it is his 14th start in the MotoGP™ class.
Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) starts his 200th MotoGP™ race from seventh on the grid, his worst qualifying result since Australia last season. For the last two years in Qatar, Pedrosa finished in 5th place in Qatar, from 7th place on the grid. He has never won the opening race of the year since moving up to the MotoGP™ class in 2006.
Second Yamaha rider on the grid, Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) is in eighth place on the grid, which is his worst dry-weather qualifying result since the German Grand Prix last year.
Heading the third row of the grid is Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) who is the most successful rider on the grid in Qatar with with 6 wins (3 x MotoGP™, 2 x 250cc, 1 x 125cc).
Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), who won last year in Qatar from pole position, will start from the final place of the fourth row.
Moto2
Alex Márquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) qualified on pole position for the fourth time in the Moto2™ class, equalling Mika Kallio and Álex Rins.Lorenzo Baldassari (Pons HP40) starts from second on the grid which is his best qualifying result in what it will be his 69th Grand Prix start in the Moto2™ class.
Top rookie last season, Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) starts from the front row for the second time in the intermediate category. He will be aiming to become the seventh Italian rider to win in this class.
Winner of the last three races in 2017, Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is the highest non-Kalex rider on the grid. He crossed the line in fourth last year in Losail.
Romano Fenati (Marinelli Snipers Team) starts from fifth on the grid for his rookie debut, which the best qualifying result for a rookie since Sam Lowes also qualified in fifth back in 2014.
As in Qatar last year, Danny Kent (Beta Tools – Speed Up Racing) starts from sixth on the grid, equalling his best ever starting place in his Moto2™ career. This is also the best result for Speed Up since Simone Corsi was the fifth-fastest qualifier in Aragon last year.
Moto3™
Niccolò Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) is on pole position for the fifth time on what will be his 103rd Grand Prix start so far. He will be aiming to take his second Moto3™ race win in Losail, his fourth overall to become the most successful rider on the current grid.In second place on the grid is Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3), his fourth successive front row start. After Valencia last year, he will be aiming to win his first back-to-back Grand Prix races. He crossed the line in third last year in Losail, his second podium finish at this time.
The highest placed KTM rider is Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider), who missed that race last year due to collarbone injury sustained after a crash during the first practice session. He will start from the front row for the seventh time of his Grand Prix career and will be looking to become the first Argentinean rider to finish on the podium in the lightweight class since Willy Perez at Spa back in 1986.
Heading the second row of the grid are Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia), which is their best ever qualifying result in the Moto3™ class.
Marco Bezzecchi (PruestelGP) qualified in sixth place on the grid, his best dry-weather qualifying result since he was fifth in Assen last year.
Jakub Kornfeil (PruestelGP) qualified in 11th, his best qualifying result since he was fourth in Misano back in 2016.
As last year in Qatar, John McPhee (CIP – Green Power) starts the opening race of the season from 12th on the grid. He eventually crossed the line in second position.
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Johann Zarco of Monster Yamaha Tech3 smashes lap-record for pole as MotoGP season begins
Johann Zarco, centre, takes pole for the first GP of the MotoGP season on Saturday. Image by MotoGP A lot has changed in the ten years since Jorge Lorenzo set the world alight on his premier class debut, but the Qatar pole lap record hadn’t. Set by the Majorcan in 2008, the Losail lap time remained steadfast in the record books for a decade and was the oldest of its kind until Saturday of the 2018 Qatar GP and a scorcher from Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3). The Frenchman, now heading into his second season, marked his return to the venue at which he first led a premier class race in serious style – uncatchable ahead of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to set a 1:53.680. So the reigning Champion starts his title defence from two tenths behind in second, and top Ducati Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) completes the front row and the trio of those who broke the record.
With strong winds throughout the day and the track temperature cooling as night fell for qualifying, the session revealed another piece in the puzzle of the first race of the year. Behind the top three, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was next up heading the second row to make it 75% Independent Team riders in the top four, with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) – the man on provisional pole after the first run – taking the middle of Row 2. But Marquez says the 2017 Championship runner-up has the best race pace – something that will be revealed on Sunday.
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), meanwhile, kept his great pace at Losail rolling for his best ever qualifying position to lock out the second row, after Suzuki mounted the biggest challenge to Ducati on Friday.
Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) heads up an all-star Row 3 with some serious potential for fireworks, with 17 World Championships crammed into three grid places as the Spaniard heads Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi and Ducati Team’s Jorge Lorenzo. Lorenzo, who suffered some technical trouble in FP4, says he is out of position – and Rossi says the battle at the front could be more than ten riders. And Lorenzo, as well as being the previous pole record holder, is also the most successful rider at Losail across all classes – but Rossi beats him in the premier class with four to Lorenzo’s three wins.
Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) completed the top ten after moving through Q1, with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) two tenths back in P11 to make it more than ten riders within a second of pole. Meanwhile, 2017 polesitter and winner Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) lines up in P12 – but also showed incredible consistency on a long run in FP4…
Valentino Rossi expects to fight it out for the #QatarGP with more than ten riders and Losail always serves up a desert storm. Don’t miss the 2018 season opener, with the lights going out at 19:00 local time (GMT +3) as the battle well and truly commences.
Qualifying Results
First Independent Team Rider
1 – Johann Zarco (FRA) YAMAHA 1’53.680
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2- Marc Márquez (SPA) HONDA +0.202
3 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA) DUCATI + 0.207Source: MotoGP™ press release
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Alex Marquez takes pole in the desert: Moto2
The Spaniard was unbeatable in the first qualifying session of 2018; looking strong for Sunday
It’s been a faultless weekend so far for Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) at the Qatar GP and that continued in qualifying, with the Spaniard setting an unbeatable time that took him to the top of the order midway through the session to stake an early claim on the first win of the year. He will be joined on the front row by a resurgent Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40), with his countryman Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) completing the front row – just over half-a-second adrift of pole.
Qualifying for the intermediate class was a drama-filled affair as ever, as the floodlights came on and the temperature dropped, creating perfect conditions in the battle for the top spot on the grid.
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Miguel Oliveira is in good shape at a circuit where he battled for the podium last year and lines up heading the second row. He’s joined by rookie sensation Romano Fenati (Marinelli Snipers Team) who has shown incredible form on his first weekend, with returning 2015 lightweight class Champion Danny Kent (Beta Tools – Speed Up Racing) taking sixth and equally impressing.
Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) and Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) complete the top ten, despite a crash for the Brit during qualifying – rider ok.
We’re ready to go racing on Sunday in Moto2™ and with 12 riders within a second of each other, it’s set to be very close. Watch the title contenders and key players kick off their campaigns on Sunday from 17:20 local time (GMT +3).
Moto2™ Qualifying Results
1 – Álex Márquez (SPA) KALEX 2’00.299
2 – Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) KALEX +0.308
3 – Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) KALEX + 0.236Source: MotoGP™
Alex Marquez take Moto2 pole at Qatar on Saturday. A MotoGP image. , Moto2™
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Jean-Eric Vergne scores an impressive victory: Formula E Round 6
Jean-Eric Vergne scored an impressive lights-to-flag victory today, 17 March, in the Punta del Este E-Prix – round six of the 2017/18 ABB FIA Formula E Championship. The TECHEETAH driver had to work hard for his second win of the season, as he was chased right from the start by reigning champion Lucas di Grassi in his Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler machine.
Earlier in the day, fans were treated to a flat-out qualifying session, although as the intensity rose in Superpole, a number of drivers exceeded track limits resulting in a shuffling of the order before the grid formed up. This resulted in Vergne and di Grassi on the front row, with DS Virgin Racing’s Alex Lynn and NIO Formula E Team’s Oliver Turvey on the second row.
As the lights went out, the front runngers made it through the first few corners in grid order, but the race was quickly neutralised by a safety car period to recover the stricken car of Nick Heidfeld, whose Mahindra stopped on track with a technical problem.
After racing resumed, Renault e.dams’ Sebastien Buemi, who had made it back through on Vergne’s team-mate Andre Lotterer after being passed early on, saw his streak of two wins in Punta del Este come to an end as he clipped the wall on lap 11. This damaged the rear of the car and forcing him to retire.
Back at the front, the Brazilian driver di Grassi was right under the rear wing of the leader, and as the two entered the pit lane for their mandatory car change there was nothing between them. They exited the pits as they entered them, and on the out-lap di Grassi drew alongside Vergne but he was unable to make the move stick. Despite losing time in the attempted move, it wasn’t long before he was putting pressure on Vergne once again, and this was to be the story of the remainder of the race. Di Grassi repeatedly came within inches of the lead, but ultimately the Frenchman in front held on to take the chequered flag in first place.
Behind the lead pair there was another tight battle, this time between the DS Virgin Racing team-mates Alex Lynn and Sam Bird. Bird started the race in ninth, but quickly made up positions and ended up leap-frogging his stable-mate who faded in the latter stages. Bird latched onto the back of the fighting front two, but while he was ready to make the most of any incidents ahead, ultimately he secured a well-earned return to the podium in third place.
Despite falling back, Lynn still took his best finish of the season so far in sixth.
One of the stand-out performances of the day came from Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s Mitch Evans, who had qualified on the front row but was penalised as the weight distribution did not conform to the technical regulations. This meant he had to fight through from 16th place to an impressive fourth, with a sensational pass on Alex Lynn one of the highlights of the race.
Mahindra’s Felix Rosenqvist finished in fifth place and, like Evans, had a strong fight through the field after a difficult morning for the team, which has been in strong form since the start of the year.
Englishman Oliver Turvey couldn’t replicate his maiden podium last time out in Mexico for the NIO team and collected a handful of points a place further back in seventh.
Another storming drive to finish in the points came from Argentinean Jose Maria Lopez. The DRAGON driver sat on the penultimate row of the grid as the lights went out and fought his way through to finish in a valiant eighth position. Lopez also took the honour of setting fastest lap and earning an extra point.
Jerome D’Ambrosio jumped up a couple of place in ninth and Maro Engel rounded-out the top-10 with the final point for Venturi.
The next round of the 2017/18 ABB FIA Formula E Championship will see the all-electric series race on the streets of Rome for the first time on 14 April.
Jean-Eric Vergne, TECHEETAH, said: “I’m obviously very happy. I’m not focussing on the championship, but I’m focussing on each race. Obviously winning the race today in those conditions is to me one of the best drives. Racing against Lucas, who is the current title holder, was really tough. I don’t think I’ve won that many races but it was one of the ones I’m most happy with in terms of my driving. Today winning races proves that hard work pays off. We’re the only private team and for us to beat the other guys, we have to work twice as hard as them.”
Lucas di Grassi, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, said: “First of all, congratulations to Jean-Eric and Sam. For Jean-Eric on the win, but for Sam to come from ninth on the grid. It was a really tough race for me, and to be honest JEV didn’t make many mistakes, I tried very hard – and I had the fastest car today. Starting second, on the dirty side, I tried very hard at the end to overtake him. I’m very satisfied with the car that I have but today we could’ve got 20 points and we only got 18. We know that in Formula E, when you get the chance you have to grab it. JEV defended very well so there was very little margin for me to attack, I think he did a small mistake coming into the last sector – we ended up touching a little bit and got super close. I tried my best, the car was super competitive – that won’t be the last time the team will fight for victories.”
Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing, said: “We were a little bit fortunate with Buemi having an issue, getting damage. I don’t know what happened to Daniel in the second stint, but that was again another position gifted to me. The pace was good today to be fair, I just wanted these two to fight a little bit more. I ran out of laps but a very strong race, it was nice to get another podium and we needed it from where we started. It was damage limitation in the championship as JEV is streaking away as he did an amazing job, and it’s great to see Lucas back on it too. One thing I would like to say is last week, Britain lost an amazing journalist – a great man who brought so much energy to others. It’s not a win, it’s the best I could do, but I would like to dedicate this to Henry Hope-Frost.”
2018 CBMM Niobium Punta del Este E-Prix (Rd 6)
1 – Jean-Eric Vergne, TECHEETAH, 50:43.809s (28)
2 – Lucas di Grassi, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, +0.447s (18)
3 – Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing, +2.611s (15)
4 – Mitch Evans, Panasonic Jaguar Racing, +4.075s (12)
5 – Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra Racing, +4.224s (10)
6 – Alex Lynn, DS Virgin Racing, +7.672s (8)
7 – Oliver Turvey, NIO Formula E Team, +11.818s (6)
8 – Jose Maria Lopez, DRAGON, +12.612s (5)
9 – Jerome D’Ambrosio, DRAGON, +22.242s (2)
10 – Maro Engel, Venturi Formula E Team, +26.293s (1)
11 – Antonio Felix da Costa, Andretti Formula E, +27.335s
12 – Andre Lotterer, TECHEETAH, +38.731s
13 – Luca Filippi, NIO Formula E Team, +39.926s
14 – Daniel Abt, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, +43.139s
15 – Nico Prost, Renault e.dams, +47.194s
16 – Tom Blomqvist, Andretti Formula E, +59.299s
17 – Edoardo Mortara, Venturi Formula E Team, +1 LAction from Formula E race on Saturday. An FIA image ap
DNF – Sebastien Buemi, Renault e.dams, 29 Laps
DNF – Nelson Piquet Jr, Panasonic Jaguar Racing, 25 Laps
DNF – Nick Heidfeld, Mahindra Racing, 1 LapDriver standings
Jean-Eric Vergne, TECHEETAH – 109
Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra Racing – 79
Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing – 76
Sebastien Buemi, Renault e.dams – 52
Nelson Piquet Jr, Panasonic Jaguar Racing – 45Team standings
TECHEETAH – 127
Mahindra Racing – 100
DS Virgin Racing – 93
Panasonic Jaguar Racing – 86
Renault e.dams – 59
Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler – 58
Venturi Formula E Team – 35
NIO Formula E Team – 33
Andretti Formula E – 20
DRAGON – 19Source: FIA press release
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Ogier-Ingrassia claim 4th Rally Mexico win: WRC
Seb Ogier and Ingrassia win Mexico Rally on Sunday. An FIA image Reigning FIA World Rally Champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia claimed a fourth Rally Mexico win today to retake the lead in the Championship. After a determined fight from the start, the Ford Fiesta WRC crew ultimately crossed the finish line with over a minute in hand to Dani Sordo and Carlos del Barrio. This was also the first time a Ford has won in Mexico since Markko Martin raised the trophy in 2004. Sordo moved into second in the day’s opening stage when Kris Meeke ran wide and toppled his C3 WRC on its side; he and co-driver Paul Nagle managed to continue but dropped to third in the process.
In the FIA World Rally Championship, Ogier takes a four-point advantage over arch rival Thierry Neuville, the Belgian enduring a nightmare weekend running first on the road. Andreas Mikkelsen, Kris Meeke and Jari-Matti Latvala are closely matched in third, fourth and fifth respectively. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Hyundai continues to top the leaderboard and takes a 12-point lead over M-Sport Ford after three rounds. Citroën is just one point adrift with Toyota fourth.
Today’s itinerary included just three stages, the long 24 kilometre Alfaro stage and then two runs through Las Minas, the second one counting as the all-important Power Stage. Ogier led into the day and was faultless through the first two stages, saving tyres for a push for additional championship points. He initially claimed four for second fastest, but after the Stewards deemed he did not go around the elements of a chicane correctly he was penalised 10 seconds. The penalty had no effect on his overall result, but docked him of the Power Stage points. Sordo moved into second on the first stage when, in similar style to last year, Meeke had a final day moment. The Northern Irishman slid wide and ended up in a deep gully with the car on its side. Fortunately he was able to get the C3 WRC back on the road but he lost over 30 seconds to the Spaniard and slipped to third overall.
Andreas Mikkelsen brought his i20 Coupe home in fourth after clouting a bank in the second stage and admitted it was good points in the bag during a weekend when he was not really on the pace. Nine times FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb picked up points for fifth overall after a stunning return to the WRC and his first gravel rally since 2013. The Frenchman will be back in action on the next round in Corsica, again partnering Meeke. Neuville finished sixth after a torrid weekend but he picked up an additional three points in the Power Stage, helping him maintain a close watch on Ogier in the Championship standings. Jari-Matti Latvala finished the highest of the Toyota runners in eighth.
In the FIA WRC 2 Championship, Pontus Tidemand took victory by an enormous margin over Gus Greensmith and, in the FIA WRC 3 Championship, although Tom Williams completed the final stage he retired on the road section back to service.
The FIA World Rally Championship now returns to Europe for Rallye de France-Tour de Corse (5-8 April).
Rally Mexico – Final Provisional Classification
1. Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 3hr 54min 08.0sec 2. Dani Sordo / Carlos del Barrio Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 3hr 55min 11.6sec 3. Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle Citroën C3 WRC 3hr 55min 27.2sec 4. Andreas Mikkelsen / Anders Jæger Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 3hr 55min 46.4sec 5. Sébastien Loeb / Daniel Elena Citroën C3 WRC 3hr 56min 32.6sec 6. Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 4hr 03min 11.0sec 7. Pontus Tidemand / Jonas Andersson Škoda Fabia R5 4hr 04min 32.7sec 8. Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 4hr 09min 45.1sec 9. Gus Greensmith / Craig Parry Ford Fiesta R5 4hr 11min 17.3sec 10. Pedro Heller / Pablo Olmos Ford Fiesta R5 4hr 18min 26.1sec
