INDIA in F1

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  • Buriram awaits as MotoGP testing heads for Thailand and the newest venue on the calendar

    Buriram awaits as MotoGP testing heads for Thailand and the newest venue on the calendar

    New country, new culture, new challenge…but the same incredible riders ready to take on the track. It’s time for Chang International Circuit in Buriram to debut in MotoGP™, with a three-day test giving the grid their first taste of the venue ahead of the first ever PTT Thailand Grand Prix in October.

    So where is Buriram? About five hours from Bangkok, in the north east of the country. The 4.6km track, built in 2014, has so far only challenged WorldSBK to its five right-and seven left-handers. That means it’s a total reset from Sepang – where Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) was fastest, putting in the quickest ever laptime around the track – and there’s a new whole new set of records to be established.Ducati have begun 2018 very satisfied with their progress over the winter. Both Lorenzo and 2017 runner up teammate Andrea Dovizioso have good things to say about the GP18 and Team Manager Davide Tardozzi hinted at Sepang that there could be much more to see at Buriram, too. The Borgo Panigale factory were the pioneers of winglets and then aero-fairings in recent history – could there be another innovation ready to come out of hibernation at Sepang?

    For Honda, they have their own aero-fairing to investigate further but spent the first test focused largely elsewhere and on the engine, with reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and teammate Dani Pedrosa joined by HRC test rider Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) on testing duty. There were a lot of positive reports at Sepang, and Pedrosa and Crutchlow made their presences routinely felt at the sharp end of the timesheets. Marquez ended Sepang a little lower down, but wasn’t concentrating on a time attack…

    Yamaha, meanwhile, will be hoping to use the heat of Buriram and the possible lower grip levels to their advantage. After two very positive first days testing at Sepang for both Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi, Day 3 was a little more difficult for the Iwata marque. As well as refining their new bike and attempting to fully eradicate any trace of low grip woes, Yamaha also had an aero fairing on track at Sepang and there were positive reports – will we see the same again, or another iteration of the idea?

    Team Suzuki Ecstar were also contributors to aero-watch – but more of the headlines were stolen by Alex Rins, who begins his second season fully fit and has shown some impressive pace. But it’s good reading for teammate Andrea Iannone, too – with the Hamamatsu factory looking like they’ve averted the mistakes of preseason last year and are ready to get back in the hunt nearer the front.

    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing were another with aero innovations in the first test and showed an incredible step forward as they begin their sophomore season. Despite Pol Espargaro sitting out Day 3 after a hard crash, the 2013 Moto2™ Champion was more than a second quicker than in 2017, and teammate Bradley Smith eight tenths further forward. At Buriram, there’s no 2017 marker against which to measure their ever-impressive progress – but there’s also no advantage for anyone else. Sadly, however, Espargaro will sit out the test in Thailand due to injury.

    In the Independent Team ranks, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Johann Zarco remains locked into refining what he will run this season – and there will be a new face on the other side of the Tech 3 garage. Hafizh Syahrin will be testing at Buriram, with a view to taking on the seat vacated by Jonas Folger. The Malaysian rider, who has a number of podium finishes in Moto2™, has been consistently fast in the intermediate class and now becomes the first from his nation to take on MotoGP™. He’ll feel the pressure, but for the ‘Pescao’, the most important thing to show will be consistent progress.

    There are other four rookies already having tested their new steeds – reigning Moto2™ Champion Franco Morbidelli and teammate Tom Lüthi at EG 0,0 Marc VDS, Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemistu) and Xavier Simeon (Reale Avinta Racing). Nakagami had the upper hand at Sepang and the Japanese rider has so far been the benchmark – but his fellow debutants will be pushing hard to hit back.

    Progress is also the buzzword for riders who have changed teams for 2018, too. Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) has been a stunner so far as he takes to life on a Ducati and already seems on the pace with teammate Danilo Petrucci. Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) is another who seems happy in his new home. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), meanwhile, remains making progress at Aprilia, with searching for more power the name of the game over winter.

    Preparations for 2018 are now at full speed. So who will stake an early claim on Buriram? Find out from the 16th February for the first ever three days of MotoGP™ action in Thailand, from 9:30 to 17:30 local time (GMT +7). And on Friday and Saturday, the final fifteen minutes of the session are reserved for practice starts.

    Then, as always, there’s After the Flag rounding up all the action after the…flag!

    eom/MotoGP release

  • FMSCI promotes Women In Motorsport concept at Auto Expo; celebrates women’s day

    FMSCI promotes Women In Motorsport concept at Auto Expo; celebrates women’s day

    Aishwarya Pissay at the feet of a Master, Bullet Bose, browsing through old photos of Bullets racing at Sholavaram. 2017 photo by www.INDIAinF1.

    New Delhi, 12 Feb 2018: Women’s Day, usually observed on March 8, arrived early for the FMSCI.

    The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs in India (FMSCI) said that it rolled out an ambitious plan for women in motorsport here on Monday and pledged to make motorsports an attractive and viable for women across the country.

    The Federation, which is the governing body for motorsport in India and a member of the FIA, the international federation, along with its arm, the Women in Motorsport (WIM) celebrated and felicitated its leading lady drivers and lady riders at the Auto Expo in Greater Noida. “The process of hunting for talented girls and women had begun,” it announced in a press release.

     “We encourage our affiliate clubs and association to add events specifically for women during all competitions to draw ladies into the sport,” said Ms. Sita Raina, chairperson of FMSCI-WIM. “The federation will give every possible support to organisers who try to create a platform for women,” she added. However, the details of the plan were not immediately clear.

    India’s top women in motorsports, including national motorcycle champion Aishwarya Pissay, LGB Formula 4 racer Sneha Sharma and ace rallyist Bani Yadav were felicitated by the Federation at the Auto Expo in Greater Noida on Monday. Watch out for more news on Women in Motorsports in INDIA! Your website will soon profile the Ladies on the Fast Track!

    The FMSCI has set up a pavilion at the Auto Expo for the first time and has showcased a host of racing cars, bikes and karts to promote the sport among youngsters.

    Among other things, the FMSCI intends to go the extra mile to provide proper guidelines, training, and quick licenses to help women participate at the national level. It also aims to extend additional support to upcoming and existing racers to make them move on to the world stage.

    Bani Yadav, the only Indian woman to have won all the major rally titles in the women’s category in India, was pleased with the efforts of the governing body and felt that this would see many young girls to take up the sport.

    “I really appreciate FMSCI’s mission. As a woman, I know how difficult it is to come into the sport. But I believe if the right platform is created, a number of women will come forward to race or rally,” Bani said during the felicitation ceremony.

    Sneha Sharma echoed Bani’s thoughts: “I would like to believe that if we all have managed to come into motorsport, then many others can do so too. They just need the right kind of guidance and a few opportunities and this is exactly what Women in Motorsport’s vision and mission is all about.”

    “I would like to really appreciate the federation for this wonderful step. They have been a huge pillar of support for me and now with this novel initiative, I am sure many more women will come up in the sport, making the whole racing scene in the country much more exciting and more challenging,” Aishwarya concluded.

    eom/fmsci press release

  • Circuit de Magny-Cours extends contract, to host WorldSBK until 2022

    Circuit de Magny-Cours extends contract, to host WorldSBK until 2022

    A file photo of SBK race by Dorna.
    Magny-Cours, 8 Feb 2018: Circuit de Magny-Cours and Dorna WSBK Organization are thrilled to announce a contract extension, which will see the French Circuit host the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship until 2022 following a press conference attended by Mr Saulnier (Chairman of the Board), Daniel Carrera (WorldSBK Executive Director), Marc Saurina (WorldSBK Commercial & Marketing Director) and Loris Baz (Gulf Althea BMW Racing Team).

    History was made at the ever-popular French Round in 2017, the stunning weekend saw Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) crowned WorldSBK champion for the third time in succession, becoming the first rider to ever reach this feat.

    Providing fantastic racing, the Circuit of Magny-Cours has been home to the French round since 2003, with world-class facilities and welcoming racing passion not only from the French but from an international fanbase. The Circuit de Magny-Cours will continue to host WorldSBK racing action until 2022, which will come as a delight to many.
    Chairman of the Board of Magny-Cours Circuit, Serge Saulnier emphasizes “To secure the presence of WorldSBK over the next 5 years at Magny-Cours, is a mark of mutual trust towards the future of this discipline.”

    WorldSBK Executive Director Daniel Carrera explains: “Continuing to visit the French circuit of Magny-Cours was an easy decision to make, and one which will welcome stunning racing action for seasons to come. Hosting a world class event with fantastic facilities, passionate fans, and hard-working staff, we look forward to returning to France for the next five seasons.”
  • FMSCI’s Sujith Kumar elected Vice-President of FIM Asia

    FMSCI’s Sujith Kumar elected Vice-President of FIM Asia

    Bengaluru, 5 Feb 2018: Seven-time Indian National Rally Champion, Sujith Kumar, was elected Vice- President of FIM Asia on behalf of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) at Thailand on Saturday. Sujith was also the head of the Indian Motorcycle (2W) Racing Commission.

    Hailing the historic win for India as an important step for Indian motorsport, Akbar Ebrahim, FMSCI president said: “This is a significant development for Indian motorsport.”

    Ebrahim who has been bring a string of upgrades and important enhancements in the Indian motorsports set-up at the top added: “We will continue to work towards promoting every discipline of motorsport in the country.” Sujit was nominated as the Indian candidate by the Federation.

    With an unprecedented 11 candidates contesting for four posts of Vice-President position at Saturday’s General Assembly in Bangkok, the outcome was difficult to predict. However, when the results were announced, Sujith Kumar won with a comfortable majority of votes to become the first Indian representative to join the Board of FIM Asia, which is the governing body for motorcycle racing for 28 countries in the region. He will hold the position for a four-year term that began immediately.

    As Chairman of the FMSCI’s Two Wheeler Racing Commission, the Bangalore-based Sujith has already had a positive impact in Indian motorcycle racing, advancing rider training, safety and licensing standards for competitors and race officials. Beyond national competitions, he has been responsible for bringing international events to India, including a round of the Asia Road Racing Championship to Madras Motor Race Track and the Asia Cup of Road Racing to Buddh Circuit. He has also given support and encouragement to the increasing number of Indian racers competing in the international circuit and off-road events.

    Speaking after the election results were announced, Sujith said, “My interest is purely about the development of two-wheeler motorsports and the good of the riders. I believe this is the right time to ensure that India is represented on motorcycle racing’s governing body and can influence the development of the sport in the best possible way.”

    “During 2018 we will have more international events coming to India and more Indian riders competing in other countries and championships. It is an exciting time and we are extremely fortunate to be working together with strong sponsors who recognise the commercial importance of motorcycle racing and are committed to making things bigger and better.”

    Sujith is joined on the FIM Asia Board by Vice Presidents from Bahrain, China and Guam and new President, Stephan Macky Carapiet of Philippines.

    eom/David Bodapati

     

     

  • Grid kids to replace grid girls; Unique op for young racers, karters to watch F1 at close quarters

    The joint initiative will involve the local Grand Prix promoter working alongside ASNs – the FIA-recognised national sporting authorities – who will provide a unique opportunity to youngsters and their families to be part of one of the most exclusive and exciting moments of the whole race weekend.

    The youngsters will be chosen by their motorsport clubs on merit, or by lottery, and will already be competing in karting or junior formulae. The lucky few will then be able to accompany and stand alongside the 20 best drivers in the world on the grid as they prepare for the race.

    FIA President Jean Todt said: “Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motor sport and the dream of every young racer competing the junior series that make up the FIA’s single-seater pyramid, from karting all the way to F1. We are therefore delighted to bring that dream a little closer by giving the future champions of our sport the opportunity to stand alongside their heroes on the grid in the build-up to the race start. For the wider FIA, this is an excellent initiative that provides additional support to our member ASNs in their efforts to grow motorsport worldwide through a unique reward they can make available to youngsters participating in their national series.”

    Sean Bratches, F1 Managing Director of Commercial Operations said: “This will be an extraordinary moment for these youngsters: imagine, standing beside their heroes, watch as they prepare to race, the elite of the elite in motorsport, to be there, alongside them in those precious few minutes just before the start. What an unforgettable experience, for them, and their families. An inspiration to keep driving, training and learning so that they can dream of one day being there themselves. What better way to inspire the next generation of Formula 1 heroes.”

    The Grid Kids will be chosen at every Formula 1 race, and where possible, also for the major feeder series like F2 and GP3. They will be accompanied by their immediate family who will have paddock access for race Sunday.

    ends/F1 /FOM release

  • Second win for Jean-Eric Vergne in a nail-biting finish: Formula E

    Jean-Eric Vergne fended off his team-mate Andre Lotterer in a tense fight around the streets of Santiago to claim his second victory in Formula E and the first one-two in the history of the electric street racing series.

    The pair exchanged blows in the closing stages of the race with a gaggle of cars waiting behind to pounce, ensuring a nail-biting finish to the inaugural E-Prix in the Chilean capital.

    Vergne led away from Julius Baer pole position with a number of cars making moves behind. Lotterer jumped Sebastien Buemi off the line to move into second place, but Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver Nelson Piquet Jr. caught them both unaware with a bold late-braking move around the outside of the first corner.

    As the field streamed through the opening section, the squeeze came in the mid-field with Jose Maria Lopez running out of road in close proximity with Sam Bird and hitting the wall on the outside of Turn 2.

    The safety car was deployed to clear both Lopez and the stricken Venturi of Maro Engel who went into the barriers at Turn 7.  Piquet looked to have lost out on the restart, but piled the pressure on Vergne with a move for the lead only a few corners later.

    Vergne placed his car well and held off a fast-charging Piquet despite a bump from behind, which wouldn’t be the only close-call in his wing mirrors for the remainder of the race.

    Approaching the pit-stop phase, Vergne started to extend his lead to over three seconds as Piquet fell into the grasps of Lotterer. The German scythed his way into second place past Piquet and set his sights on his team-mate.

    Lotterer slowly reeled in Vergne moving into his slipstream and drew alongside into the main overtaking point at Turn 1. Both drivers came perilously close to exchanging paintwork, but Vergne held his nerve and forced Lotterer to retreat.

    However, Lotterer hadn’t thrown in the towel yet and tried to mirror the move again but misjudged his braking and hit the back of Vergne. Smoke poured from Vergne’s wheels as his team-mate was pushing him from behind.

    Despite the helping hand from Lotterer, both cars managed to avoid the wall and the threat of other cars behind to deliver maximum points for TECHEETAH and vault the team to the top of the standings. It marks the first victory for Vergne since the season-finale in Montreal last year, which was also his first in Formula E.

    Joining the two TECHEETAH drivers on the podium was Sebastien Buemi, showing once again that the form of Renault e.dams in Hong Kong was merely a blip. Buemi slipped backwards on the long run down into the first corner and struggled to match the pace of his rivals in the early phase of the race.

    Buemi and Bird re-enacted their close duel in Marrakesh in the battle for fourth place, with the DS Virgin Racing driver hounding the back of his gearbox. The group held station until the mid-race car swaps, which saw Rosenqvist leap up the order ahead of Bird – allowing Buemi to focus on Piquet and surpass his fellow champion to secure a spot on the podium.

    Rosenqvist – who entered Santiago as the points leader and the winner of the past two races – started way back in 14th after a dismal qualifying session, but salvaged points in fourth place.

    Bird picked-up the additional point for fastest lap and took the chequered flag in fifth after a slow pit-stop and benefitting from Piquet’s late lunge on Buemi into Turn 1. Piquet looked to re-take the position he lost earlier but locked his brakes and ended up losing time reversing out of the run-off area.

    Piquet’s team-mate Mitch Evans followed close behind in seventh, with Jerome D’Ambrosio, Antonio Felix da Costa and Nico Prost rounding out the top 10 points-paying positions.

    The next stop on the Formula E calendar sees the series return to Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for the third edition of the Mexico City E-Prix for round five of the FIA Formula E Championship on March 3.

    Jean-Eric Vergne, TECHEETAH, said: “The race has been great for me today, I qualified first and won the race, it cannot get any better. I think the first stint was really good and then after a few laps in the second car my lap trigger activated one extra lap. I have no idea how it happened but, basically I was doing the race one lap longer – that’s why I had a huge amount of pushing from my team-mate Andre who was then on a different strategy. It was fair racing – at one point we did collide but there was nothing really we could do, I decided to go on the inside and he went differently so we just collided. I think we had eight wheels locked actually, so I’m extremely lucky. It’s the first one-two in the history of Formula E!”

    Andre Lotterer, TECHEETAH, said: “I’m extremely happy about this – the first two races probably looked worse than they were but it was promising on pace in the race, and I only tested three days in Valencia, so it takes time. These guys have a lot of experience, and there are no bad drivers. I’ve been working hard, the team has helped me a lot to do some work in the simulator, I’m really happy to be JEV’s team-mate as he’s helped me a lot as well. I’ve had pace all weekend, in qualifying it went well, I may have hit the wall a bit but I went for it, so that’s what matters! I’m still finding my way in the car, the race and to overtake – it’s a different world. At one stage we lost radio, so I didn’t know what the game was so I tried overtaking him and got so close and nearly didn’t make the corner, but that’s what I’m still learning – how to calculate everything.”

    Sebastien Buemi, Renault e.dams, said: “First of all, I have to say congratulations to TECHEETAH as they are the customer team and they were faster than us today – well done to them, they’ve done a great job. For us, I think we could’ve done a bit better, but I lost two places at the start, and then I had massive wheel-spin. At the pit stops I thought I could’ve overtaken the Jaguar, but we were scared of an unsafe release, so we stayed in the garage to avoid that. Towards the end it was difficult because I was very quick, but Rosenqvist tried to overtake me – but not today, which was important!”

    2018 Santiago E-Prix (Rd 4)

    1 – Jean-Eric Vergne, TECHEETAH, 1:01:24.514s (28)
    2 – Andre Lotterer, TECHEETAH, +1.154s (18)
    3 – Sebastien Buemi, Renault e.dams, +1.959s (15)
    4 – Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra Racing, +2.793s (12)
    5 – Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing, +4.490s (11)
    6 – Nelson Piquet Jr, Panasonic Jaguar Racing, +6.364s (8)
    7 – Mitch Evans, Panasonic Jaguar Racing, +7.099s (6)
    8 – Jerome D’Ambrosio, DRAGON, +13.308s (4)
    9 – Antonio Felix da Costa, Andretti Formula E, +14.811s (2)
    10 – Nico Prost, Renault e.dams, +21.092s (1)
    11 – Tom Blomqvist, Andretti Formula E, +32.924s
    12 – Luca Filippi, NIO Formula E Team, +44.127s
    13 – Edoardo Mortara, Venturi Formula E Team, +49.398s
    14 – Oliver Turvey, NIO Formula E Team, +1:12.282s

    DNF – Alex Lynn, DS Virgin Racing, 26 Laps
    DNF – Nick Heidfeld, Mahindra Racing, 23 Laps
    DNF – Lucas di Grassi, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, 21 Laps
    DNF – Daniel Abt, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, 11 Laps
    DNF – Jose Maria Lopez, DRAGON
    DNF – Maro Engel, Venturi Formula E Team

    Driver standings

    Jean-Eric Vergne, TECHEETAH – 71
    Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra Racing – 66
    Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing – 61
    Sebastien Buemi, Renault e.dams – 37
    Nelson Piquet Jr, Panasonic Jaguar Racing – 33

    Team standings

    TECHEETAH – 89
    Mahindra Racing – 87
    DS Virgin Racing – 69
    Panasonic Jaguar Racing – 54
    Renault e.dams – 44
    Venturi Formula E Team – 30
    Andretti Formula E – 14
    Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler – 12
    DRAGON – 12
    NIO Formula E Team – 9

    eom/FIA release

  • Champ Drugovich unstoppable in MRF Challenge; Maiden career win for Nikanth Ram

    Champ Drugovich unstoppable in MRF Challenge; Maiden career win for Nikanth Ram

    Chennai, 4 Feb 2018: Young Nikanth Ram from Coimbatore and in Arka Motorsports livery chalked up maiden win of

    MRF Challenge 2017 champion Felipe Drugovich (centre) flanked by second-placed Presley Martono (right) and third-placed Rinus van Kalmthout at MMRT, Chennai on Sunday, 4 Feb 2018. Image by Anand Philar.

    his saloon car racing career as the first round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Racing Championship 2018 concluded at the MMRT circuit, here on Sunday.

    While Ram, a 21-year old commerce graduate from Coimbatore, bagged full points, team-mate Ashish Ramaswamy from Bengaluru achieved a double by winning the second race earlier, but retired with an expired engine in the weekend’s third outing.

    Meanwhile, 17-year old Brazilian Felipe Drugovich stamped his authority in the MRF Challenge 2017 as he swept to victory in both the races run today to finish the season with 10 wins from 16 outings over four rounds.

    Drugovich, who had sealed the championship on Saturday itself, had few problems in Race 3 after easing his way to the front of the field. He set such a hot pace that midway through the 20-lap race that he finished some 11 seconds in front of second-placed Indonesian Presley Martono who was followed home by Rinus van Kalmthout from the Netherlands.

    In the final race of the 2017 MRF Challenge later in the day, Drugovich, starting second on the grid, got a jump on pole-sitter Rinus van Kalmthout of the Netherlands in the very first lap and then gradually increased the lead to notch another fluent win.

    While Drugovich finished the season with 333 points, Martono (254) and Kalmthout (247) completed the top three positions in the championship.

    In the day’s first saloon car race, Ashish Ramaswamy was again the dominant force despite starting fourth on the reverse grid. He jumped two places by the end of the first lap, tailed leader Vidya Prakash for a couple of more laps before moving into the lead. Thereafter, he kept increasing the lead to emerge a comfortable winner while veterans Vijaya Kumar and Vidya Prakash finished behind him in that order while pole-sitter Nikanth Ram was a non-finisher following a spin.

    Nikanth, however, was handed a victory on the platter in the next outing when Ashish, enjoying a massive lead after starting from pole, retired with the engine problem in a fourth of the eight-lapper. Nikanth who was running second, made the best of the situation to score a maiden win in his saloon car racing career and finished ahead of Prime Racing’s Raja Ram and Biren Pithawalla of Team N1.

    The results (Provisional): MRF Challenge – Race 3 (20 laps): 1. Felipe Drugovich (Brazil) (33mins, 09.353secs); 2. Presley Martono (Indonesia) (33:20.422); 3. Rinus van Kalmthout (Netherlands) (33:21.398). Race 4 (20 laps): 1. Drugovich (30:08.812); 2. Kalmthout (30:13.094); 3. Martono (30:16.118).

    National Championship – Saloon cars: Indian Touring Cars (Race 2, 12 laps): 1. Ashish Ramaswamy (Arka Motorsports) (23:25.024); 2. B Vijaya Kumar (Prime Racing) (23:51.922); 3. D Vidya Prakash (Prime Racing) (23:58.350). Race 3 (8 laps): 1. V Nikanth Ram (Arka Motorsports) (15:55.693); 2. C Raja Ram (Prime Racing) (15:59.000); 3. Biren Pithawalla (Team N1) (16:11.372).

    Indian Junior Touring Cars (Race 2, 11 laps): 1. Kamlesh Parmar (Team N1) (23:55.103); 2. Chrys D’Souza (Unimek Racing) (24:24.572); 3. Prabhu AS (Arka Motorsports) (24:24.812). Race 3 (8 laps): 1. D’Souza (17:48.207); 2. Prabhu (17:48.434); 3. Nikunj D Vagh (Team N1) (17:49.100).

    Esteem Cup (12 laps): 1. Raghul Rangasamy (Performance Racing) (24:20.853); 2. Vinod S (Team N1) (24:33.727); 3. Archit Mylanda (Performance Racing) (25:06.829).  Race 3 (8 laps): 1. Rangasamy (16:21.542); 2. Vinod S (16:30.865); 3. Mylanda  (16:43.432).

    Super Stock (12 laps): 1. RP Rajarajan (Performance Racing) (24:55.565); 2. Srinivas Teja K (Performance Racing) (25:18.133); 3. Swajit Acharaker (Team N1) (23:38.158 + 1 lap). Race 3 (8 laps): 1. Srinivas Teja K (16:52.869); 2. Acharaker (17:02.854); 3. Rajashekar R (Infinite Piston) (17:09.812).

    Vidiem Superbikes Cup (Support race) – Race 2 (8 laps): 600cc – 1.Siddhanth Koundinya (Bengaluru) (15:30.765); 2. Vishwadev Muraleedharan (Coimbatore) (15:39.311); 3. Ritesh Sapre (Mumbai) (15:45.182).

    eom/MMSC release

  • Fluent win for Ashish Ramaswamy in saloon car race; Felipe Drugovich seals MRF Challenge title

    Fluent win for Ashish Ramaswamy in saloon car race; Felipe Drugovich seals MRF Challenge title

    MRF Challenge 2017 Champion Felipe Drugovich. An MRF image

    Chennai, 3 Feb 2018: Bengaluru lad Ashish Ramaswamy (Arka Motorsports) destroyed the field in the saloon car race to launch his campaign in the MRF MMSC fmsci I

    Ashish Ramawamy of Bengaluru, winner of Saloon car race at MMRT on 3Feb2018. Image by Anand Philar

    ndian National Racing Championship 2018 in style at the MMRT circuit, here on Friday.

    The day’s focus, however, was on the fourth and final round of MRF Challenge. Championship leader Felipe Drugovich, the 17-year old from Brazil was not the fastest man on the track as he finished third and sixth in the double-header which was enough for him to seal the 2017 title with still two more races to be run on Sunday.

    While Drugovich sealed the championship, Rinus van Kalmthout from the Netherland and Indonesian Presley Martono won the day’s first and second race, respectively. The results took Drugovich’s tally to 283, well ahead of Martono (219) and Kalmthout (212).

    Starting third on the grid behind pole-sitter Martono and Drugovich in the first race, Kalmthout was off to a brilliant start as he slipped past the front runners to take the lead in the very first lap. Thereafter, it was a virtual procession as the Dutchman scored his third win of the season ahead of Martono and Drugovich who was subsequently docked 10 grid positions for the next race due to “fuel infringement”.

    The second race was red-flagged after just one lap following three different incidents, including that involving reverse grid pole-sitter Alex Karkosik (Poland) who spun off the track. On re-start, Singapore’s Danial Frost led much of the race, reduced to 15 laps before he went off and dropped to third while Martono won from Kalmthout.

    The saloon car race was a one-horse affair as pole-sitter Ashish Ramaswamy never looked back after a flying start and finished some 30 seconds ahead of veteran B Vijaya Kumar (Prime Racing) and V Nikanth Ram (Arka Motorsports) who kept exchanging track positions in the latter part of the 12-lap race.

    Even as Ashish pulled away into the distance, Nikanth Ram opened a good lead over Vijaya Kumar. However, in the second half of the race, Nikanth Ram spun, conceding his advantage to Vijaya Kumar who caught up and moved into second spot. Ram then barely held on to his podium position with another veteran Vidya Prakash sitting on his tail on the last lap.

    Prabhu AS (Arka Motorsports), RP Rajarajan and Raghul Rangasamy, both Performance Racing, took the honours in the Indian Junior Touring Cars, Super Stock and Esteem categories, respectively, of the saloon car race.

    The results (Provisional):

    MRF Challenge – Race 1 (20 laps): 1. Rinus van Kalmthout (Netherlands) (30mins, 22.676secs); 2. Presley Martono (Indonesia) (30:29.174); 3. Felipe Drugovich (Brazil) (30:31.552). Race 2 (15 laps): 1. Presley Martono (Indonesia) (22:50.733); 2. Rinus Van Kalmthout (Netherlands) (22:52.713); 3. Danial Frost (Singapore) (22:54.318).

    National Championship (Saloon cars, 12 laps): Indian Touring Cars – 1. Ashish Ramaswamy (Arka Motorsports) (23:18.381); 2. B Vijaya Kumar (Prime Racing) (23:48.765); 3. V Nikanth Ram (Arka Motorsports) (23:56.477).

    Indian Junior Touring Cars: 1. Prabhu AS (Arka Motorsports) (23:48.082); 2. Kamlesh Parmar (Team N1) (24:08.005); 3. Nikunj D Vagh (Team N1) (24:48.633).

    Super Stock: 1. RP Rajarajan (Performance Racing) (25:04.844); 2. Srinivas Teja K (Performance Racing) (23:23.023 +1 lap); 3. Swajit Acharaker (Team N1) (23:42.600 +1 lap).

    Esteem Cup: 1. Raghul Rangasamy (Performance Racing) (24:46.448); 2. Vinod S (Team N1) (24:58.109).

    Vidiem Superbikes (Support Race, 8 laps) – 600cc: 1. Siddhanth Koundiya (Bengaluru) (15:32.243); 2. Vishwadev Muraleedharan (Coimbatore) (15:46.550); 3. Arthur Fernando (Tuticorin) (15:46.887).  1000cc: 1. Rish Agarwal (Bengaluru) (15:06.577); 2. Himanish Amla (Bengaluru) (15:32.545); 3. Yokeshwaran K (Coimbatore) (16:03.838).

    About Madras Motor Sports Club

    The Madras Motor Sports Club has been the pioneer in developing and promoting motorsport in India since 1953, and we look to further improve in the years to come. It is the club’s endeavor to provide more opportunities for competitors, and to this end, it has chalked out various progressive programmes. From the days of Sholavaram , MMSC built its own racetrack which was inaugurated in 1979 and secured its FIA Grade-2 international certification in 2014, making it the only club which owns such a facility that has been further upgraded with international-standard Paddock, complete with VIP hospitality suites, 20 spacious garages and a separate Paddock on the western side with its own circuit. The club has organised the Porsche Super Cup, Formula Campos, Formula Asia, Asian touring car championships, Formula 3, Tata Prima Truck racing championship, the FIM Asia Road Racing Championships (2-wheelers) besides a host of other motorsport events over the years. The club also has active participation for its events from vehicle manufacturers who also use the Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT) extensively for testing their products.

    eom/MMSC release

  • FORMULA ONE TO STOP USING GRID GIRLS: F1 management’s stunning announcement

    The outdated practice of using a female-body to attract fans and attention, in the form of Grid Girls, is under review for the last few months by the new Formula One Management and despite many drivers, officials and other stakeholders realising the importance of such decision, many also felt that it has been part of the game and harmless to have such display of female beauty to use as a photo-op and to attract sponsors or fans. But once for all the new Liberty management, who have taken over from old commercial rights holders headed by Bernie Ecclestone have put a full stop to such show `fast cars, fast girls’. But no one expected this decision to come so soon. This website believes it is a right decision and will advocate for stopping the Grid Girls in the Indian domestic races too to respect and provide dignity to the voices of gender equality and promote the idea of a different meaning to `Women in Motorsport’.

    Formula 1 will end the long-standing practice of using walk-on grid girls, commencing with the start of the 2018 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season. These changes also apply to our other motorsports series that take place during the Grands Prix weekends.

    Formula 1 considers the time spent by teams and drivers on the grid before a race as one of celebration, where guests and various performers can add to the glamour and spectacle of the Grand Prix, enabling promoters and partners to showcase their countries and products.

    Sean Bratches, Managing Director, Commercial Operations at Formula 1 said: “Over the last year we have looked at a number of areas which we felt needed updating so as to be more in tune with our vision for this great sport. While the practice of employing grid girls has been a staple of Formula 1 Grands Prix for decades, we feel this custom does not resonate with our brand values and clearly is at odds with modern-day societal norms. We don’t believe the practice is appropriate or relevant to Formula 1 and its fans, old and new, across the world.”

    eom/A Formula One Management press release

     

  • Jorge Lorenzo sets fastest two-wheeled circuit lap at Sepang: MotoGP first test ends

    Jorge Lorenzo sets fastest two-wheeled circuit lap at Sepang: MotoGP first test ends

    Jorge Lorenzo of Ducati tops on the third day of the first MotoGP Test at Sepang on Tuesday. Photo by Srinivasa Krishnan

    MotoGP riders complete first preseason session feeling optimistic about the year ahead
    The Ducati GP18 has made a sensational start to the MotoGP preseason with Jorge Lorenzo guiding it to the fastest ever two-wheeled lap of Sepang today in a time of 1’58.830. The Spaniard moved ahead of early pacesetter Dani Pedrosa, who was fastest on the opening day but second fastest today, with Cal Crutchlow, Andrea Dovizioso and Jack Miller completing the top five as four manufacturers featured within the top ten. Testing for the premier class continues from 16-18 February at the Buriram circuit in Thailand, which will host a round of the MotoGP World Championship for the first time in October this year, according to a Angel Nieto Team MotoGP release.
    The Repsol Honda Team adds that it concluded a positive first test of 2018 in Malaysia, with Dani Pedrosa second-fastest with a best lap time of 1’59.009” and reigning World Champion Marc Marquez just over 3 tenths of a second behind him in seventh place, with a best lap of 1’59.382”.
    Third Day’s Report:

    Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) decimated the competition on the third and final day of the #SepangTest, setting the fastest ever lap around the Malaysian venue with a 1:58.830. His closest challenger was Repsol Honda Team’s Dani Pedrosa – the fastest man on Day 1 of the test – who was just over a tenth and a half behind his compatriot. The number 26 is also the holder of the pole lap record. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) took P3, only half a tenth behind the RC213V of Pedrosa ahead of him.

    It was a day without the rain that had affected Sunday and Monday’s action, and Lorenzo put in 48 laps overall, topping the timesheets on Lap 21. The Spaniard had also crashed earlier, but then went out and set his best effort. The 1:58.830 lap will not count as the official record due it having been set outside a race weekend, but it is the quickest recorded lap on two wheels. The previous best belonged to Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and was set during testing in 2015. Lorenzo said there were marked improvements in the GP18 when compared to last year’s machine.

    Pedrosa did 58 laps and similarly set his quickest lap early, on Lap 9. Only 0.009 away from breaking into the 1:58 bracket, the ‘Little Samurai’ was the quickest Honda of the test. He was working with one bike in the garage sporting Honda’s new aero fairing and one without, whereas teammate Marc Marquez opted to go aero-fairing free on Day 3, saying the innovation needs bigger setup changes to be evaluated. The reigning Champion ended the third day in seventh and got through a long workload of 75 laps; his best a 1:59.382 after opting to forego a timeattack lap.

    Behind Crutchlow in third – the Brit another who did a lot of laps, completing 65 – was the second Ducati Team rider of Andrea Dovizioso. ‘DesmoDovi’, like teammate Lorenzo, took a tumble but escaped unscathed. The Italian ended the day just over a tenth off the top three, and completed 51 laps. Just behind him was another impressive performance for another Borgo Panigale machine; that of Alma Pramac Racing’s Jack Miller. Switching from Honda, the Australian proved his adaptation once again with a 1:59.346 as his best after 36 laps – completing the top five despite proving the first crasher of the day.

    Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was the rider who broke the Ducati and Honda stranglehold on the timesheets first, going sixth quickest but only 0.002 off Miller and the top five. Rins, who struggled with injury in 2017, has had a rapid start to his sophomore season and put in another half century of laps at Sepang. Teammate Andrea Iannone, after suffering a number of technical issues in testing so far, was twelfth fastest but managed an increased 62 laps for the Hamamatsu factory as they aim to reset after a more difficult 2017.

    The top Yamaha was nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi, with the ‘Doctor’ slotting into eighth and one of the late improvers. A 1:59.449 on Lap 52 of 54 saw him just pip Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Johann Zarco in the last few minutes of track action, after the number 46 had been second fastest on Day 2. Teammate Maverick Viñales – fastest on Monday – was P18 on the third and final day, but is within the top six overall with his previous best. Both Yamaha riders had their new aero-packages on track, and Independent Team rider Zarco also tried the fairing on Tuesday.

    Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) made it both Pramac machines in the top ten on Day 3 as he ended Tuesday 0.017 seconds off Zarco. ‘Petrux’ was also the fourth Independent Team rider within that quickest ten, and just pipped fellow Independent Ducati rider Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) to the honour. Rabat was a crasher on Day 3, but was unhurt. He did 35 laps and was just 0.019 off Petrucci in an incredibly tight midfield on the timesheets. The next quickest Independent Team Ducati was Angel Nieto Team’s Alvaro Bautista, who was P15.

    Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) led the charge for the Noale factory in P13, and put in his quickest lap on his final exit – the last rider in the 1:59s on Day 3. One of Aprilia’s key focuses has been increasing their horsepower and reconfirming their work over the winter with Espargaro and Scott Redding. Redding continued his adaptation with another 56 laps in the bank.

    Meanwhile, at Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, it was test rider Mika Kallio leading the way on the timesheets for the Austrian factory. They debuted a new aero package, and Kallio did a best of 2:00.464. Bradley Smith did a 2:00.969, with Pol Espargaro sitting Tuesday out following his big crash on Monday. The Spaniard has no fractures but the crash, at Turn 4, was a fast one.

    Of the four rookies, it was Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) who was the quickest once again on Day 3. The Japanese rider was fourteenth quickest overall with a 2:00.71, tantalisingly close to the 1:59 bracket. Reigning Moto2™ Champion Franco Morbidelli was around half a second off that and second fastest of the new riders in the field – but the number 21 was 0.021 ahead of Viñales for an impressive scalp. Xavier Simeon (Reale Avintia Racing) was a further three tenths back, with Tom Lüthi (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) the final rookie on the timesheets. It is, however, the Swiss rider’s first test on his new machine, having been sidelined for Valencia due to injury. He crashed at Turn 4 in a slow incident, but picked the bike up and continued.

    That’s a wrap on the first action of the year, but MotoGP™ will be back before you know it – getting a first taste of Buriram in Thailand ahead of the 2018 debut of the Thailand GP. The test there begins on the 16th February.

    Sepang Day 3

    Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Time/Gap
    1 LORENZO Jorge 99 SPA Ducati Team 1:58.830
    2 PEDROSA Dani 26 SPA Repsol Honda Team 0.179
    3 CRUTCHLOW Cal 35 GBR LCR Honda 0.222
    4 DOVIZIOSO Andrea 4 ITA Ducati Team 0.339
    5 MILLER Jack 43 AUS Alma Pramac Racing 0.516
    6 RINS Alex 42 SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar 0.518
    7 MARQUEZ Marc 93 SPA Repsol Honda Team 0.552
    8 ROSSI Valentino 46 ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 0.619
    9 ZARCO Johann 5 FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 0.681
    10 PETRUCCI Danilo 9 ITA Alma Pramac Racing 0.698
    11 RABAT Tito 53 SPA Reale Avintia Racing 0.717
    12 IANNONE Andrea 29 ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar 0.785
    13 ESPARGARO Aleix 41 SPA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1.132
    14 NAKAGAMI Takaaki 30 JPN LCR Honda 1.241
    15 BAUTISTA Alvaro 19 SPA Angel Nieto Team 1.375
    16 KALLIO Mika 36 FIN KTM Test Team 1.634
    17 MORBIDELLI Franco 21 ITA EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1.696
    18 VINALES Maverick 25 SPA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1.717
    19 ABRAHAM Karel 17 CZE Angel Nieto Team 1.744
    20 SIMEON Xavier 10 BEL Reale Avintia Racing 1.954
    21 REDDING Scott 45 GBR Aprilia Racing Team Gresini