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The legendary “Monte” – Volkswagen starts the WRC with a classic
From the hunter to the hunted: Volkswagen’s mission to defend its titles in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) opens with a genuine motorsport classic at the Rally Monte Carlo, as the “Monte” is the oldest rally in the world. From 14 to 19 January, the French pairing of Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia will line up for the first time as defending World Champions in both the Driver and Co-Driver competitions. Together with team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), they are the team to beat in the Manufacturers’ Championship, in which they can also count on able assistance from Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN). The first of the 13 rallies on the 2014 calendar is immediately one of the hardest nuts to crack in the WRC. Virtually unpredictable conditions and 15 testing special stages on asphalt, ice and snow in the French Maritime Alps, not to mention night stages and temperatures well below freezing – the Rally Monte Carlo is one of the greatest challenges in motorsport, a Volkswagen release said
Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), ina Volkswagen Polo R WRC .
“We line up at the Rally Monte Carlo with start number 1 on one of our Polo R WRCs for the first time,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “This honour is reserved for the World Champion, and is something we are very proud of. However, this does not mean that we will be arrogant or complacent this season – particularly not at the iconic ‘Monte’. We will approach it with the greatest respect, maximum concentration, and absolute commitment. It is easier to win a World Championship title than it is to defend it. And that is our goal. The 2014 ‘Monte’ will give us the first indication of where we stand compared to the new-look opposition. We are looking forward to it.”
Victory at the “Monte” – a question of prestige
Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco, the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Indianapolis 500, the Rally Dakar and the Rally Monte Carlo – they are the five most prestigious motorsport competitions in the world. This year’s “Monte”, as the mother of all WRC rallies is affectionately known by fans, features four former winners. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia, now driving for Volkswagen, won in 2009. They were followed in 2010 by Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen, who will race for Ford in 2014, and fellow Ford pairing Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri who triumphed in 2011. However, all three of these duos are missing the icing on the cake – their victories all came in the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) in a car complying with the Super 2000 regulations. A “Monte” win in the World Rally Championship? Only old hand François Delecour from France – also in action for Ford in 2014 – can boast one of those.
New rules, new challenge
A new sporting format and a new challenger – the 2014 World Rally Championship season has a number of new features for fans and competitors alike. The previous qualifying procedure at gravel rallies is omitted. Instead, the starting order will now be based on the current World Championship standings. Detailed amendments have also been made to the rules allowing competitors to return under Rally2 regulations. Over the course of the season, the itineraries for the rounds of the World Rally Championship will be standardised. In the future, the rallies will all begin with the start ceremony on Thursday and end with Sunday’s final stage at about midday. The final special stage will always form the so-called Power Stage, in which bonus points are up for grabs in the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championship for the first three cars. However, the “Monte” is an exception to the rule when it comes to the itinerary: it ends with the final special stage – “Sospel – Breil-sur-Roya” – in the dark on Saturday evening.
Home race for Sébastien Ogier – Gap hosts “Monte” start
Home banker? Well, there can certainly be no doubting that this is a home race for one man. The Rally Monte Carlo begins in the birthplace of the reigning World Rally Champion – in Gap. The town, with a population of 40,000, hosts the opening two days of the Rally, before the WRC circus heads to Monaco. For Sébastien Ogier, this means both an extra incentive and a little extra pressure. Scores of friends and family are expected in his home town to support the Volkswagen works driver at the start of the “Monte”.
Ice spies and tyre tactics – skill and flair are the order of the day in the Alps
Rain in the Service Park, dry conditions at the start of the stage, snow in the middle and ice at the end – the standard madness at the Rally Monte Carlo. Selecting the right tyres for a loop consisting of three special stages is a real gamble. Winter tyres with and without spikes, soft and super-soft slicks are available to the drivers, who can call on the detailed information they receive from their trusted ice spies. Nowhere in the World Rally Championship is it more important for the weather crew to be perfectly coordinated and communicate clearly than at the legendary “Monte”.
15 special stages, over 380 kilometres, two Service Parks
The Rally Monte Carlo traditionally winds its way through the French Maritime Alps and thus through the hinterland of the principality. The mother of all the stages on the 2014 rally promises to be the special stage between Vitrolles and Faye. At 49.03 kilometres, it is one of the longest on the WRC calendar. The final stage, from Sospel to Breil-sur-Roya, will also play a crucial role. Its 16.55 kilometres form the Power Stage. The fastest three cars here will earn bonus points towards the championship. The anomaly: starting at just after nine o’clock in the evening, the Power Stage at the “Monte” will take place in the dark. The Service Parks are another anomaly: the cars will be maintained in Gap on the opening two days of the Rally, with the harbour in Monaco – a stone’s throw from the famous Rascasse corner from the Formula One Grand Prix – providing the backdrop to the second Service Park on the final two days.
Quotes ahead of the Rally Monte Carlo
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“Our main goal is obviously to defend the title. It is never easy to win a title, but successfully defending it is even more difficult. I am certain that the other teams will put us under pressure. However, I am confident about the new season on the back of such a successful 2013. We have made small improvements to the Polo R WRC. For example, it is now even more reliable. A new manufacturer is joining the series in 2014, in the form of Hyundai, and this will make the competition even fiercer. That is what I am really looking forward to in Monte Carlo. I am also pleased that the ‘Monte’ will start from my home town of Gap this year. That is an extra incentive for me to be the fastest come the end of the rally.”Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“For me, the start of the new season is a completely different situation to one year ago. Back then, both the team and the car were new to us. We are now familiar with everything. However, the first rally of the season in Monte Carlo is always a challenge. I will try to finish in the top five at the ‘Monte’. The Rally Monte Carlo is an extremely unusual rally. Tyres will play a major role, as the Service Park is not located in the mountains. As such, you have to speculate on what the weather will be like up there. The ‘Monte’ features 30-kilometre special stages, on which you are driving on dry asphalt for 20 kilometres and ice for the remaining ten. 20 kilometres of asphalt on spikes is just as awkward as 10 kilometres of ice on slicks. Choosing the right tyre is the biggest challenge. Do you opt for snow tyres with spikes, snow tyres without spikes, super-soft slicks or soft slicks? You have to find the perfect compromise between these four options.”Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“The main goal is to claim the odd podium finish in 2014. This is only my second ‘Monte’. I lined up there in 2011 and crashed out on the first special stage. This means the ‘Monte’ is a completely new experience for me. As such, I will not put all my eggs in one basket, but will take a rather cautious approach. My goal is to complete the rally and finish in the points. I did not race at the ‘Monte’ last year, so my expectations there are not as high as the rallies I drove in 2013. I would be happy to get through the Rally Monte Carlo without any mistakes this year.”Did you know …
… the Polo R WRC completed the first special stage in its World Championship history at the Rally Monte Carlo? Sébastien Ogier caused quite a shock in winning last year’s opening stage, “Le Moulinon”.
…the Rally Monte Carlo was not originally planned as a motorsport event? Back at the start of the 20th century, the residents of Monaco were looking to attract tourists to the Côte d’Azur in the winter months. It was for this reason that Prince Albert I gave the green light for the inaugural “Monte” in 1911.
… the first “Monte” in 1911 started from Paris? 23 cars started out from the French capital, crossing the finish line in Monte Carlo 1,020 kilometres later.
… the first winner of the “Monte” was Henri Rougier (F)? The cyclist, pilot and racing driver from Marseille crossed the line first in his Turcat-Méry 24CV.
… the first Rally Monte Carlo was not just about speed? Besides the time spent driving, a jury was also on hand to judge the elegance and comfort of the cars, as well as their condition when they reached the finish.
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Chandhok rues bad luck which cost him a shot at the victory
Dubai, 12 Jan 2014: Indian racing driver Karun Chandhok got his year off to a brilliant start with a 3rd place finish in the SP2 class victory at the Dubai 24hours. Chandhok, driving the Dubai 24hours for the second time in his career, drove for the Nissan GT Academy Team RJN, which suffered mechanical issues through the night, costing the team a chance at victory.Chandhok, driving the No. 126 Nissan 370Z Nismo joined Nissan GT Academy winners James Moffat, Tor Graves and Ashley Oldfield in Asia’s leading endurance race, a press release from Adrenna Communications said. The No. 126 car was fighting with the RJN sister car for the win when the team suffered issues into the night, costing them more than 2 hours in the pits. The team was at one point 16 laps behind the leader and managed to unlap themselves 5 times but was too late.
Chandhok rued the bad luck but was happy to start the season with a podium finish. He commented, “This is a great start to the year for me and I would like to thank the Nissan GT Academy Team RJN for this opportunity. It was a crazy race and at one point we looked fast enough for the win. You need luck in a 24 hour race and we didn’t get our share of the luck but we fought back and took a podium finish. It’s a shame we had a few problems as we were matching the pace of the sister car at the start of the race. The podium is a massive reward for the RJN boys so it was good to get it for them”
Chandhok was invited to join the Nissan GT Academy Team RJN. The academy takes people who are good at video games and, in a matter of months, turns them into professional drivers. Over 765,000 people participated in last year’s Academy, held through a special free demo made using technology of the new Gran Turismo®6 game. A record 42 gamers gathered at the final selection round this year to compete in the process of turning them from virtual to real racers.
Chandhok added “This is a fantastic program initiated by the Nissan GT Academy where gamers have a chance to race in the real world. It was interesting to work with the graduates in a cost-effective program which can take a young kid from his couch to the highest levels of racing with Nissan at Le Mans. This event has been an education for me, learning about GT Academy. I have only seen it from the outside before and have read about it in magazines. I hope it will launch in India soon. It’s good to see these guys getting the opportunities that people like me didn’t have. They have been given a golden opportunity and they need to make the most of it.”
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Karun Chandhok finishes 3rd in Dubai 24hrs -
Nico Hulkenberg gets No.27, the number popularised by Villeneuve
Paris, 10 May 2014: The FIA has released the drivers’ permanent numbers. Nico Hulkenberg of Force India will have the No.27 that was popularised by famous driver of yesteryears Gilles Villeneuve and his teammate Sergio Perez will have No.11.
World champion Sebastian Vettel will have No.1 this year and as long as he is champion and later switch to No.5 which he chose. The supposed to be unlu
cky 13 is back with Pastor Maldonado opting for it.Please find below the official entry list to the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship:
Choosen Race N°
Driver’s Name
Company Name
Team Name
Name of the Chassis
Name of the Engine
1 *
Sebastian VETTEL (DEU) RED BULL RACING (AUT) Infiniti Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing Renault 3
Daniel RICCIARDO (AUS) RED BULL RACING(AUT) Infiniti Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing Renault 44
Lewis HAMILTON (GBR) MERCEDES-BENZ GRAND PRIX LTD (DEU) Mercedes Gp Petronas Formula One Mercedes Mercedes 6
Nico ROSBERG (DEU) MERCEDES-BENZ GRAND PRIX LTD (DEU) Mercedes Gp Petronas Formula One Mercedes Mercedes 14
Fernando ALONSO (ESP) FERRARI SpA (ITA) Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari 7
Kimi RAIKKONEN (FIN) FERRARI SpA (ITA) Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari 8
Romain GROSJEAN (FRA) LOTUS RENAULT F1 LTD (GBR)** Lotus F1 Team Lotus Renault 13
Pastor MALDONADO (VEN) LOTUS RENAULT F1 LTD (GBR)** Lotus F1 Team Lotus Renault 22
Jenson BUTTON (GBR) VODAFONE MCLAREN RACING LTD (GBR) McLaren Mercedes McLaren Mercedes 20
Kevin MAGNUSSEN (DEN) VODAFONE MCLAREN RACING LTD (GBR) McLaren Mercedes McLaren Mercedes 27
Nico HULKENBERG (DEU) FORCE INDIA FORMULA 1 TEAM LTD (IND) Sahara Force India F1 Team Force India Mercedes 11
Sergio PEREZ MENDOZA (MEX) FORCE INDIA FORMULA 1 TEAM LTD(IND) Sahara Force India F1 Team Force India Mercedes 99
Adrian SUTIL (DEU) SAUBER MOTORSPORT AG (CHE) Sauber F1 Team Sauber Ferrari 21
Esteban GUTIERREZ (MEX) SAUBER MOTORSPORT AG (CHE) Sauber F1 Team Sauber Ferrari 25
Jean-Eric VERGNE (FRA) SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO SPA (ITA) Scuderia Toro Rosso Scuderia Toro Rosso Renault 26
Daniil KVYAT (RUS) SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO SPA (ITA) Scuderia Toro Rosso Scuderia Toro Rosso Renault 19
Felipe MASSA (BRA) WILLIAMS GD PRIX ENGINEERING LTD (GBR) Williams Team F1 Williams Mercedes 77
Valtteri BOTTAS (FIN) WILLIAMS GD PRIX ENGINEERING LTD (GBR) Williams Team F1 Williams Mercedes 17
Jules BIANCHI (FRA) MANOR GRAND PRIX RACING LTD (RUS)** Marussia F1 Team Marussia Ferrari TBA
Max CHILTON (GBR) MANOR GRAND PRIX RACING LTD (RUS)** Marussia F1 Team Marussia Ferrari TBA 1MALAYSIA RACING TEAM SDN BHD Caterham F1 Team Caterham Renault TBA 1MALAYSIA RACING TEAM SDN BHD Caterham F1 Team Caterham Renault * For the duration of his F1 career, Sebastian Vettel chose N°5
** Subject to confirmation
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Sahara Force India forges technical partnership with Motegi Racing
Sahara Force India is delighted to announce the beginning of a new technical partnership with Motegi Racing, the high performance wheel brand.The new partnership will see the team’s 2014 car fitted with wheels carrying the iconic Motegi Racing brand. Sahara Force India will also benefit from Motegi Racing’s knowledge in wheel technology to help drive forward performance.Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Operating Officer: “I’m very happy to announce our partnership with Motegi Racing. 2014 is a landmark year for Formula One with so many changes to the regulations and in order to be competitive we have to focus on developing all areas of the car. It gives me great confidence to have the expertise and experience of Motegi Racing supporting us at such an important time. Our technical team will be working very closely with them to enhance the performance of our wheels.”Jody Groce, President Wheel Pros LLC: “We are very excited about the partnership with Sahara Force India as part of our growth at the highest level of global motorsports. This is a milestone achievement for our company as we prepare to supply our Motegi Racing wheels to compete at the pinnacle of racing technology in Formula One. It’s an interesting time to be involved in Formula One and we are honoured to become Sahara Force India’s technical wheel partner as the sport prepares for one of the most significant technical transformations in its history. This program provides the perfect technical platform to communicate the continuous evolution of the Motegi Racing brand. Motorsport is a proving ground for our technology to hone the performance authenticity of our brand.”About Motegi RacingThrough technical partnerships with leading professional racing teams, Motegi Racing competition and high performance tuning wheels are designed and engineered for performance. Motegi Racing is a Wheel Pros brand. Wheel Pros products are sold worldwide in more than 20 countries on four continents and through a U.S. Network of more than 10,000 active dealers. It is one of the world’s largest suppliers of branded custom wheels, performance tires and related accessories for cars, SUVs and light trucks. For more details visitwww.motegiracing.comAbout Sahara Force India Formula One TeamSahara Force India Formula One Team was founded in 2008 when Dr Vijay Mallya, Chairman of India’s iconic UB Group, launched the first-ever Indian Formula One team. The cars incorporate the colours of the Indian flag and the team is a sporting representation of the emerging generation of young, aspirational Indians and the growing strength of India as a nation. In 2011 a historic partnership was agreed as Sahara India Pariwar became co-owners of the Silverstone-based team. With the support of Sahara, the team is now driven by two of India’s greatest industrialists who both recognise the value of using sport as a marketing platform to build some of India’s biggest brands. For more details visit: www.saharaforceindiaf1.comeom -
Bharat Raj, Shrikant Karani to fight FMSCI presidential elections
Bangalore, 22 Dec 2013: Bharat Raj, Chairman of the Karnataka Motor Sports Club, has emerged as a strong contender for the post of the President of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India with Vicky Chandhok forced to step down from the coveted post after two successful terms in office. The greatest achievement during his tenure, is perhaps, the arrival of Formula One to the Indian shores. The elections are scheduled to be held in Chennai on Dec 23 and the results are expected to be announced on 8 Jan 2014 due to Madras High Court, which ordered the results to be kept in abeyance (in a sealed cover) before going for Christmas holidays.
Bharat Raj, however, is expected to face a tough challenge from veteran motorsporst administrator and organiser Shrikant Karani of Sportscraft, Mumbai. Karani filed an injunction against the elections contending against an FMSCI ruling which prohibited him from contesting elections as Sportscraft is a profit-making body.
The elections held today were for the five council berths. The council in turn elects the President and other office-bearers. If the Hon. Court probibits Shrikant Karani, Bharat Raj is likely to elected unanimously as President of the Federation. The other scenario, where the Court allows his nomination, the nine-member Council will elect the President.
Meanwhile, though Vicky Chandhok sent a subtle hint welcoming the incoming team in his annual news letter and later through his announcement that he would be stepping down paving the way for newcomers, experts feel that it is a strategic move to keep himself out of harm’s way as the International Federation of Motorsports (FIA) has now become a member of International Olympic Association (IOA) and the Indian Federation, an ASN (official member country) of FIA, has to follow the rules and regulations of the National Olympic Association which states that no office-bearer can continue for a third successive term.
With the Formula One race in India ruled out for 2014 due to scheduling problems, Chandhok, found it is right time to take a sabbatical from the helm. However, the veteran administrator who was the son of Indhu Chandhok, one of the founders of FMSCI and father of Karun Chandhok, the second F1 driver from India, is expected to represent India in the international fora in some honorary capacity, what with his savvy skills to take forward the motorsport in the country.
An announcement on Dec 23 said: “After a second extended term of being FMSCI President, Vicky Chandhok today confirmed that he will not be standing for re-election for the upcoming year.”
Chandhok, along with the Jaypee Group and other FMSCI council members including Vijay Mallya, played a key role in bringing Formula One to India and was helped by the great urge of FIA and the wish of ring master Bernie Ecclestone who thought that, the F1 bandwagon visiting India and the Asian country being on the regular calendar of F1 would benefit the sport more than India gaining from it. But the tax problems and other bureaucratic red tape were also named as reasons from removing India from the 2014 calendar. F1 is expected to return to the country in 2015 as JP group has a contract with the commercial rights holders of F1.
After an earlier stint of 3 years at the helm of the Federation from 2005 to 2007, Chandhok was elected to the Presidency again in 2010. The last 4 years have seen a big boost in Indian motorsport, not just with the Formula One Indian Grand Prix but also with domestic motorsport in general. Auto manufacturer support has increased with involvement in car and bike championships as well as the Indian National Rally Championship. Under his aegis, the first ever Indian National Times Speed Distance Rally Championship was also launched.
Chandhok said, “This is a difficult decision for me but after being President for 7 out of the last 9 years, and living and breathing Indian motorsport on a daily basis, it is time to pass the baton on. The federation has seen many wins over the past few years, including, most notably Formula 1 coming to India as well as the Asian Road Racing Championship for Bikes. There have been so many positive changes to Indian motorsport with the introduction of new championships, and I am glad to have played a pivotal role in making it happen. The first ever FMSCI Automobile Conclave has helped us in bringing more manufacturers into our various championships. From an international perspective, India has a much larger presence in world motorsport with 14 people joining international commissions and I’m glad that I have played a part in building these international relations with the FIA, FIM and CIK.”
The last 4 years have seen significant developments in the Indian motorsport arena. Karting and single-seater racing has given young Indian drivers the perfect platform to hone their skills before going to race internationally. The JK Tyre National Karting Championship continues to flourish and the introduction of the JK Racing India Series, MRF 16000 and MRF Challenge 2013 has helped prepare young drivers to face the challenges of international competition. Saloon car racing in India has established its own niche with the introduction of the Volkswagen Polo R Cup and the Toyota Etios Trophy. Rallying in India has recovered after a couple of difficult years and now has increased manufacture presence from car giants Volkswagen, Mahindra and Maruti.
Chandhok added, “Young drivers now have ample platforms to chart out their motorsport career starting from karting to F3 style cars. Rallying, a discipline where I personally spent many years competing, has now stabilised over the last 12 months. It has also been very heartening to see the support that organisers, promoters and competitors have extended to me personally, and the federation especially over the past couple of months. I have had a very passionate team of people to work with and none of our achievements would have been possible without the determination and hard work of the entire team.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity that I was given to improve Indian motorsport and I am confident that we can look forward to more successes in the future. There is a plenty of work to be done in supporting the Jaypee Group and Formula One Management, as well as the vehicle manufacturers to improve the sport in India. I will of course continue to be a member of the FMSCI managing council and look forward to lending my support to the new President and his team,” he added.
On the other side of the success, the new office-bearers will have to work that much harder not only to keep up the good work but also to bring in transparency and professionalism to the National body. Just like FIA, its parent body, the Indian Federation, guards its accounts and dealings in great secrecy. Time has come now to publish the audited reports and take responsibility by creating strong mechanisms for accountability.
(This article is edited on Dec 23 at 3pm)
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File photo of Vicky Chandhok with Bernie Ecclestone. An Adrenna Communications photo -
Svendsen-Cook storms back into title race
Chennai, 21 Dec 2013: British driver Rupert Svendsen-Cook stormed back into the title fight with a dominant win in Race 4 of the MRF Challenge 2013 Round 3 at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain. Svendsen-Cook won the race ahead of Shinya Michimi and Sam Dejonghe as his main title rivals faltered. Championship leader Tio Ellinas was given a drive through penalty for a jump start while Arthur Pic had to retire after a collision with Renan Guerra. Earlier in the day Tio Ellinas beat Svendsen-Cook & Pic to win Race 3.
In Race 3, Rupert Svendsen-Cook started on pole position alongside Tio Ellinas. Svendsen-Cook had a clean start and went into the lead with Ellinas and Sam Dejonghe behind him. Arthur Pic starting in fourth position held on to his position in front of Brazilian driver Renan Guerra. Svendsen-Cook made a mistake on lap 3 allowing Ellinas to get a run on him and pass him on the main straight. On the same lap Pic made a move on Dejonghe to move into third place. While Ellinas started to slowly pull away, Pic started to close in on Svendsen-Cook with 5 laps to go. Pic made a move on Svendsen-Cook on the final lap but could not make it stick and ended up finishing in third place. Ellinas crossed the finish line to take his third win out of the last four races to increase his championship lead with Pic second and Svendsen-Cook third. Renan Guerra, who was in fourth place had to retire with a mechanical problem. Harry Tincknell finished in fourth place ahead of Sam Dejonghe and Shinya Michimi
Raj Bharath was once again the fastest of all the Indian drivers with a 11th place finish. Tarun Reddy ran as high as 13th place before finishing in 16th place while Vikash Anand retired from 15th position.
In Race 4, Shinya Michimi started on reverse-grid pole position alongside Sam Dejonghe. Both front row drivers started well holding their positions while Svendsen-Cook had one more of his trademark starts and jumped to third place from fifth on the grid. Ellinas moved into fourth place with Harry Tincknell and Arthur Pic behind him. Svendsen-Cook made a move on Dejonghe and got past him on lap 2 and then set his sights on Japanese driver Shinya Michimi. It took him another 2 laps but Svendsen-Cook got past Michimi to take the lead on lap 5. Behind him there was action all around with Ellinas getting past Dejonghe for third place. Tincknell, Pic and Guerra were involved in a close battle which ended with Guerra colliding with Pic forcing both drivers to retire on the spot. The drama continued when Ellinas was given a drive though penalty and was forced to come in to the pits to serve the penalty, putting him out of the points. With both Pic and Ellinas out of the points, Svendsen-Cook took advantage to cross the finish line in first in first place with Michimi second and Dejonghe third. Behind them Tincknell picked up another fourth place with Ryan Cullen and Camren Kaminsky in fifth and sixth places respectively.
The Indian driver enjoyed their best finish to date with an 8th & 9th place for Vikash Anand and Raj Bharath. Both drover very well to move up the field and into the top 10. Tarun Reddy retired after a collision on lap 1.
Championship leader Tio Ellinas was excited after yet another double podium finish. He said, “In Race 3 I had a good start but Rupert had a better start. I managed to pass him in a couple of laps and after that it was just a matter of keeping him behind me. I am glad I was able to increase my lead after Race 3. In Race 4 I moved a little but did not jump the start. It is unfortunate that I got a drive through penalty but that’s how it goes. This is my first race off the podium but am glad that my championship lead is still intact.”
Race winner Rupert Svendsen-Cook was happy with a double podium finish and a small change in his luck. He commented, “I am happy to take a dominant win after yesterday’s Race 2 retirement. The car felt much better than the morning and I was sure that I would be in with a good chance. I have inched closer to the top two guys in the championship so can’t wait to get to India for the final round.”
MRF Challenge 2013 Calendar:
Round 1: October 25-27, 2013, New Delhi, Buddh International Circuit (Formula One Support Race)
Round 2: November 28-30, 2013, Bahrain, Bahrain International Circuit (World Endurance Championship Support Race)
Round 3: December 19-21, 2013, Bahrain, Bahrain International Circuit (Gulf Racing Festival)
Round 4: February 14-16, 2014, Chennai, Madras Motor Race Trust
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Tio Ellinas in Chennai on Saturday. An Adrenna photo -
Esteban Gutiérrez completes Sauber line-up for 2014; Sergey Sirotkin is test driver
Hinwil, 21 Dec 2013: The Sauber F1 Team is pleased to announce that Esteban Gutiérrez will stay on for the 2014 season, completing the driver line-up together with Adrian Sutil.
The Mexican first tested with the team at Jerez in late 2009. The following year the talented youngster was signed as ‘affiliated driver’, and 2013 saw him in his debut season as a Formula One driver finishing 16th as the best rookie in the drivers’ championship.
Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal:
“We are pleased Esteban will drive for us in 2014, because we believe he is a talented young racing driver. Last season he experienced first hand how hard it can be for a rookie to step into Formula One. Nevertheless, throughout the season he improved significantly in qualifying as well as in the races and finished the year as the best rookie in the drivers’ championship. Often the results didn’t fully reflect his performances. I am confident Esteban will be able to use his experiences to gain results, and this will be helped by the fact he is very well acquainted with every member of the race team.”
Esteban Gutiérrez:
“I am happy to be able to continue as a driver for the Sauber F1 Team. It was a steep learning curve last season, but by working closely with the team I was able to improve continuously. It will be my fourth year with the team, the second as a racing driver, and I feel comfortable in taking the next step. The technical challenges in 2014 will be massive. Therefore it will be even more important to know well the people you are working with. I will do my very best to improve even more and support the team the best way I can.”Sergey Sirotkin becomes test driver for the Sauber F1 Team
The Sauber F1 Team is pleased to announce Sergey Sirotkin as its test driver for the 2014 season.
Sergey joined the team in August 2013 and has been gaining more and more insight into Formula One since then. He has spent several days at the factory in Hinwil and has been working with the engineers. In late September he drove a demo-run at the new track in Sochi, which will host the Russian Grand Prix in 2014. In October he tested a 2009 Ferrari at Fiorano. The Sauber F1 Team’s aim is to prepare Sergey for his debut in Formula One.
Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal:
“We have been working with Sergey since August, and he has been able to gain more and more insight into Formula One. Now he is taking the next step towards the top level of motorsport in his new role as a test driver. Our experience of him is as a very focused, calm and talented driver. Now we will continue to support him, including obtaining his super license. Our goal remains to prepare him for a debut in Formula One.”
Sergey Sirotkin:
“It’s a big chance for me to become the test driver for the Sauber F1 Team. I will work hard to improve myself and to extract the maximum out of this opportunity. Formula One is very complex, so it is important to get an opportunity like this. My main focus next year, however, will be the World Series by Renault, which is very competitive. This will give me the chance to prepare even better in order to be ready for the next big step.” -
Sauber F1 Team announces Adrian Sutil as its driver for 2014
Hinwil, 13 Dec 2013: The Sauber F1 Team is pleased to announce Adrian Sutil as one of its drivers in 2014. The German will embark on his seventh season in Formula One with the Swiss outfit, said a Press Release here on Friday.
Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal:
“We are pleased, that we were able to sign Adrian, particularly as we have been wanting to work together with him for a while. Adrian had already visited the factory at the end of September to have a look at the infrastructure. Adrian is not only very fast, but also brings a lot of experience, which is very important looking at the new regulations for next year. We welcome Adrian to the Sauber F1 Team and look forward to a successful collaboration.”
Adrian Sutil:
“I am very happy that we found common ground. Although I have known for a while where I wanted to go, in the end the negotiations took a bit longer than planned. However, now I will have all the more reason to celebrate during the Christmas season. I’ve been in contact with Monisha for a while and she always gave me the feeling my qualities are valued. After six good years driving for Force India, with a lot of highlights, it’s now time to embark on a new challenge. I am determined to do my part in order to have a successful future together with the Sauber F1 Team. The long and successful tradition in motorsport, combined with an impressive factory and one of the best wind tunnels in F1, have been fascinating me for a long time. Thank you to Peter Sauber and Monisha Kaltenborn for your trust in me.”The second driver for the 2014 season will be announced at a later date.
eom
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Final round of Motorcycle Nationals in Chennai from Saturday
Chennai, 13 Dec 2013: The Madras Motor Race Trust will play host for the final round of the Indian National Motorcycle Championship from Saturday under the aegis of Federation of Motorsports Clubs in India.
According to a press release here on Friday, a total of 26 races are expected to take place with leading 2-wheeler manufacturers Honda, Yamaha and TVS Racing taking part. The promoters, MMSC, also confirmed that 10 riders from Nepal will take part in this weekend’s races.
In the Group D 165cc Novice class, Meka Vidhuraj leads the championship with 155 points. A Muralidharan and S Sahay are in second and third places respectively with 123 and 121 points each. All three riders won a race each in the last round.
In the Group D 130cc Novice category, KY Ahamed Is leading the championship with 158 points, with M Sethu Babu in second place with 107 points and R Venkatraman in third place with 83 points.
K Jagan was crowned champion in the 165CC Group C category in the last round after winning 5 out of the 8 races so far. Behind him the battle for second place is close with S Vivek Pillai and Sumit Lucas Toppo both tied on 94 points.
In the Honda CBF Stunner Novice category, championship favourite Meka Vidhuraj will have to work hard to ensure he takes the title with a 28 point lead. After winning the first five races on the trot Vidhuraj has struggled the last couple of races allowing R Venkataraman to close in with all to play for in the final round. Akash Dingare is in third place with 91 points.
Sumit Lucas Toppo is in sight of the Honda One Make Championship in the CBR 150cc open category. He has a 57 point lead over R Ramesh Kumar with 75 points still available.Ananth Raj lies in third place with 79 points.
The Honda One Make Championship with their CBR 250cc bikes sees former Moto3 rider Sarath Kumar in a comfortable lead over Rajni Krishnan. Rajni missed the last round as he was racing internationally. This has given Sarath a 39 point lead with two races remaining. Sumit Lucas Toppo is 3 points behind Rajni and will be looking to challenge India’s top two riders this weekend.
The Yamaha One Make Championship with the YZF R15 Novice category has Akash Dingare and Muralidharan fighting for the championship with 1 point separating the two. Mizoram rider Lal Rindika is in third place, albeit a further 24 points away.
In the Yamaha One Make Championship in YZF R15 Open category, early favourite Shyam Shankar continues to hold on to the lead after struggling in the last round. Mathana Kumar is in second place 9 points off the leader with M Sudhakar and P Ananth Raj fighting for third place in the championship.
The TVS One Make Championship with the third TVS Apache RTR 180 Novice will see a three-way battle for the title. KY Ahamed is leading the championship on 127 points with S Sahay on 116 points and Lal Rindika on 115 points. Lal Rindika stormed back into contention after winning all three races in the last round.
In the Apache RTR 180 open category, which is part of the TVS MMSC One Make Championship, Ananth Raj is in the lead with 147 points. S Prakash is second with 118 points followed by Mathana Kumar on 100 points.
eom
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Sergio Perez joins Hulkenberg at Sahara Force India with multi-year deal
Silverstone, 12 Dec 2013: Sahara Force India is delighted to announce the signing of Sergio Perez as race driver for the team in 2014 and beyond, said a Sahara Force India press release here today.
The 23-year-old Mexican completes Sahara Force India’s 2014 line-up alongside Nico Hulkenberg and helps create one of the most exciting pairings on the grid.Team Principal Vijay Mallya, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Sergio to the team. He brings a healthy mix of youth and experience, and I’ve been very impressed with his recent performances. He already has several podium finishes to his name and being chosen by McLaren last year was a clear indication that he is a driver to watch for the future. We also recognise Sergio’s incredible talent and we are proud to have him in our team. He clearly has great speed and plenty of fire in his belly. Our job is to make sure he settles in quickly by creating the right atmosphere so that he can realise his potential. By pairing Sergio alongside Nico, we enter the new season with an extremely competitive line-up, which will go toward helping us achieve our goals for the new season.”After signing the deal Sergio Perez commented: “It’s great to announce my new team as Sahara Force India. Coming here was always my first choice and I’m really happy everything has now been confirmed. I want to say thank you to Vijay and the whole team for giving me the opportunity. This is a young team with a lot of determination and they’ve produced competitive cars for the last few years. It’s all change for next season with the new regulations, but I already have a good feeling about 2014. My plan now is to visit the factory and get to know everyone in the team.”eomPeez (left) with Team Principal Vijay Mallya after the announcement. A Sahara Force India photo
