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Tag: featured
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Another podium for Bengaluru schoolboy Ruhaan Alva in Italy
File photo of Ruhaan Alva in action. Photo: by Team Alva Adria (Italy), 16 July 2018: India’s Ruhaan Alva came up with a fighting drive to finish on the podium with a fifth place in the sixth round of the Easykart Italia Championship at the Adria International Raceway here on Sunday. It was Ruhaan’s second consecutive podium finish following his first runner-up place in the previous round.
Ruhaan, the 12-year old schoolboy from Bengaluru and supported by Play Factory, Sona Miller and Birel Art India, started the 100cc category final in 17th spot but cut through the field to finish fifth.
The top five finishers were presented with trophies on the podium.
Earlier, in the pre-final, Ruhaan had shown impressive pace to move from 12th to fourth before getting involved in an incident that pushed him down to 15th which put him 17th on the grid for the final race that followed.
“I was quite happy with my pace through the weekend and was hopeful of strong result. Unfortunately, I could not qualify higher than 17th for the final, but had a good run to finish fifth which put me on the podium,” said Ruhaan who is among the six drivers selected by the prestigious International Easykart Driver Talent program organized by Birel ART in Italy.
Ruhaan Alva’s next round is in September after the summer break in the championship.
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Double for Babit Lyngdoh: DMSC JK Tyre 2018 Autocross
Dimapur (Nagaland), 16 July 2018: The 4th DMSC JK Tyre 2018 Autocross successfully concluded here late on Sunday, with the Meghalaya duo of Babit Lyngdoh and Kamlesh.
Driving through twisty and hairpin turns inside the track in front of delighted crowds, Babit completed a grand double, winning the Open as well as the Above 1.1 Categories. He hit the post in a record-breaking 2:00.47 in the Open category and was equally fast (2:03:81) in the Above 1.1 category.
Kamlesh proved to be the star in the SUV category, needing 2:14.13 to emerge the victor. Sandeep Sharma of Delhi underlined his class, taking the second position in as many as three categories. He took 2:03:22 to finish behind Babit in the Open category, 2:03:91 in the Above 1.1 Category and 2:14:50 in the SUV class for two runner-up places.
Local lad Dennis Assumi too had the distinction of coming third in two races, the Open and the SUV categories
Over 60 drivers from different parts if the country participated in this three-day event organised by the Dimapur Motorsports Club. The winners were rewarded with trophies and cash prizes
Results: Open Category: 1. Babit Lyngdoh (Meghalaya, 2:00.47); 2. Sandeep Sharma (Delhi, 2:03.22); 3. Dennis Assumi (DMSC, 2:04.28)
Above 1.1 category: 1. Babit Lyngdoh (Meghalaya, 2:03:81); 2. Sandeep Sharma (Delhi, 2:03:91); 3. Obeth (AMAM, 2:04.09)
SUV category: 1 Kamlesh (Meghalaya, 2:14.13); 2. Sandeep Sharma (Delhi, 2:14:50); 3. Denis Assumi (DMSC, 2:18.91)
Below 1.1 cc: Imli Pongen (2:06.50); 2. Atoka Awomi (2:09.78); 3. TomitoShohe (2:09.81)
Rookie: Imli Pongen (2:06.06); 2. Atoka Awomi (2:11.34); 3. Jaki Trang (2:11.41)
Special category (Lady): Phoebe (Meghalaya).
About JK Tyre Motorsport: JK Tyre has always been closely associated with the world of sports. Almost three decades back the company laid down a long term and sustained approach to promote Motorsport. Participating in this form of the sport has helped the company in continuously updating its products to meet the challenges of gruelling Indian conditions. The sport at that time in India was perceived for elite but JK Tyre took upon itself to package and redesign the sport to suit the masses. The company not only made the sport affordable but also equivalent to International operating standards. JK Tyre’s foray into Motorsport was a well thought out strategic decision to not only use and develop this virgin branding platform but also to realize the dreams of making India a force in the World of motorsport.
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Marquez takes ninth Sachsenring win in style; Rossi storms to 2nd from P6: MotoGP Round 9
Marc Marquez after winning the German GP at Sachsenring on Sunday. A MotoGP image Chemnitz (Germany), 15 July 2018: A tactical masterclass saw the reigning World Champion Marc Marquez, the number 93, to be able to pull clear to take an incredible ninth German GP win in a row – from his ninth pole in the MotoGP World Championship Round 9 at Sachsenring, 8 km from here on Sunday.
Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has re-written another piece of history in the Pramac Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, storming from a ninth pole in a row to take his ninth win in a row across all classes. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoG) took second and maintains his second place in the standings after an impressive bounce back after a tough Friday at the track, with the podium completed by teammate Maverick Viñales.
At lights out it was Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) who got the holeshot from pole, moving from third into the lead as Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) slotted into second – with Marquez shuffled back into third. Rossi made a good start from sixth to move into fourth ahead of teammate Viñales, with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) the key man to lose out from fifth.
Once at the front, Lorenzo set about putting the hammer down, making it the sixth race in succession the Mallorcan has led. It didn’t take too long for Marquez to make his way through to be the man behind his compatriot, however, and a game of cat and mouse began at the front as Marquez reeled in the rhythm ahead of him.
Meanwhile, Rossi attacked Petrucci for third and moved through, as Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) then crashed out at Turn 12, the Brit’s say in the podium fight over early. Lorenzo was holding firm at the front, but Marquez then chose his moment and struck – taking over in the lead and leaving Lorenzo to be reeled in by Rossi.
That the Italian did, and the rider from Tavullia got his own hammer down once past to try and claw back some time to Marquez, but it wasn’t to be. The number 93 pulled the pin with perfect timing, with enough grip left to see him make a gap and keep it until crossing the line for the stunning ninth win in a row at the Sachsenring – and all from pole.
Rossi was then safe in second for another podium finish, but teammate Viñales left it late to complete the rostrum. First Petrucci was the man pushing to pass a Lorenzo struggling with grip, before Viñales arrived on the scene and attacked the Mallorcan and then the Italian to take third and a second successive podium.
That made Petrucci top Independent Team rider in a well-fought fourth, just ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team)’s stunning ride to fifth. Bautista was the fastest man on track for a good number of laps and kept that incredible form to the end, the final man able to muscle past Lorenzo by the flag.
Lorenzo took P6 ahead of a tough day for teammate Andrea Dovizioso, with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) putting in a solid ride to eighth. Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) improved from his worst qualifying of the season so far to take ninth despite the difficult weekend, with an incredible ride from Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) putting the Brit in the tenth to take KTM’s first top ten of the season.
Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) was top rookie in eleventh and takes over at the top of the Rookie of the Year standings, ahead of Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who was caught in an early incident that saw Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) make contact with Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and both go down; also affecting Iannone and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing). Miller finished P14, with Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) between him and Iannone. Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) completed the points.
Now summer awaits but it’s not too long until we’re back at Brno for the Czech GP – where the second half of the Championship will hit top gear straightaway as the pressure starts to ramp up towards the season finale…
MotoGP™ Race Results
1 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA 41’05.019
2 – Valentino Rossi (ITA) YAMAHA +2.196
3 – Maverick Viñales (SPA) YAMAHA +2.776
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First Independent Team Rider
4 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA) DUCATI +3.376eom/db -
Brilliant Binder takes maiden Moto2 win
Moto2 podium on Sunday. A MotoGP image The South African took an immaculate victory as the Championship takes another twist in an unpredictable race
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) claimed the first South African intermediate class win since 1980 at the Pramac Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland after a sublime ride, beating Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) to victory as the Spaniard claimed his best Moto2™ result in second, with Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) claiming his first Grand Prix podium in third.
The opening stages of the Moto2™ race where chaotic. First, Miguel Oliveria (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had a moment on the last corner of the opening lap, luckily staying on after getting out of shape – making contact with the helpless Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP) as he tried to pass. Then a lap later, Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) crashed out of P2 at the same corner, with Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) having to take avoiding action, running into the gravel and dropping down to 26th. The drama wasn’t over, with Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) highsiding out of contention at T2 on lap three, leaving Marini, Mir and Binder at the front.
The Italian held station at the front, before Mir went up the inside at Turn 1 to take the lead of the race. Five laps later, Binder then made his move, first getting past Marini at Turn 1 before slicing his way through on race leader Mir at the bottom of the Ralf Waldmann corner. The South African wasn’t able to create a gap, but his lap 10 move proved to be the race-winning overtake, with Binder looking like he was on rails around the Sachsenring as he eventually claimed victory by 0.779 seconds, with 0.154 splitting Mir and Marini in P2 and P3.
Further back, Oliveira had re-grouped and got himself up to fourth after passing Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) and home rider Marcel Schroetter (Dynavolt Intact GP). The Portuguese rider couldn’t bridge the gap to the front three though and settled for P4, with Lowes getting the better of Schroetter on the last lap to claim his best result of the season in fifth – the German sixth at his home Grand Prix.
After his tangle with Oliveira, Vierge crossed the line P7, with Simone Corsi (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2), Fabio Quartararo (MB Conveyors – Speed Up Racing) and Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) rounding out the top 10.
Remy Gardner (Tech 3 Racing) produced a gritty ride as he continues his return from two broken legs, with Bagnaia brilliantly salvaging P12 – his Championship lead now cut to seven points though. 13th was Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) after his heavy Saturday crash, with Dominique Aegerter 14th (Kiefer Racing) and Augusto Fernandez (Pons HP40) earning another point scoring ride in 15th.
So, it was a magnificent maiden Moto2™ victory for Binder, while the Championship pendulum swings again with Oliveira cutting the gap to Bagnaia as the paddock heads for the summer break.
Moto2™ Race Results
1 – Brad Binder (RSA) KTM 39’46.3067
2 – Joan Mir (SPA) KALEX +0.779
3 – Luca Marini (ITA) KALEX +0.933 -
Marquez edges Petrucci by just 0.025 to take pole: MotoGP Round 9
Independent team rider and Friday’s second-fastest Petrucci was denied his first pole on Saturday. A MotoGP image After the first runs in the session, it was Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) on the provisional pole as the Spaniard was the first to break Marquez’ previous pole lap record from 2015, before the first charge on the second exit saw Lorenzo threaten that – with Petrucci in close pursuit. Over the line, the two took over at the top, with Petrucci just ahead, as Marquez began his third run – later crediting the two-stop strategy as a key to his ninth pole at the venue.
On that last dash with the clock counting down, the number 93 was just off in the first sector, put in a personal best second sector and then a red third one – meaning he was up on the previous best overall. But it was mere hundredths and it went right down to the wire, with a solid final sector seeing Marquez just maintain the advantage and pip Petrucci by the tiniest of margins. That means it’s exactly the top two from last season, except then, it was over a tenth and a half, and this year it’s half a tenth covering the front row.
Viñales wasn’t able to improve and stayed fourth, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) moved up to fifth after coming from Q1 and Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) found some more pace on Saturday to complete the superstar-studded second row – with every one of them keen to get the launch of their lives and move forward at lights out. With Lorenzo ahead of them on the front row, that could be a task. The front row riders share 11 titles between them – but so do the second.
On the third row, the former podium finisher at the venue Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) took P7, ahead of practice pacesetter Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and the on-form Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team), with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) rounding out the top ten. The number 26 has an impeccable record at the track – it’s the venue at which he’s had the most success, along with Valencia – and could be one to watch when the lights go out.
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) starts P11 and Q1 graduate Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) starts P12, with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) hot on their heels in thirteenth. Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) complete the top fifteen on the grid after Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), who just missed out on a place in Q2, received a six-place grid penalty for the race following ‘irresponsible riding’ in FP3; now starting P19.
Think you know what’s going to happen in the German GP? You might be the only one…From 14:00 (GMT +2) the grid will be back out to race and see who will take the momentum into the summer break.
MotoGP™ Qualifying Results
1 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA 1’20.270
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First Independent Team Rider:
2 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA) DUCATI +0.025
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3 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI +0.057 -
It’s an all Italian affair: Marini and Bagnaia join Pasini on Moto2 front row
First-ever all-Italian front row in Moto2. A MotoGP image Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) grabbed his second pole of the season at the Pramac Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland to finish 0.181 seconds ahead of fellow Italian Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46), with his teammate, Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46), rounding out the front row to make it an all-Italian front three for the first time ever in Moto2™.
The intermediate class took to the Sachsenring in beautiful conditions and it was the eventual pole sitter who came out the blocks with all cylinders firing, climbing to the top of the timesheets to set his benchmark time of 1:23.787 on his fourth flying lap – a time that would go unbeaten. The two VR46 riders went out in tandem with Bagnaia leading Marini around the 3.6km circuit, with the latter going 0.002 quicker than his teammate to claim his second consecutive front row start. Bagnaia had to settle for third, but will be confident of challenging for the win in Sunday’s race to try and extend his Championship lead over Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – the Portuguese rider starts 15th.
Fourth and the leading KTM was Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) as he launches from the front of the second row, with 0.001 splitting the British rider from Bagnaia. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) recovered from a crash in FP3 to qualify fifth on the grid, with FP2’s quickest rider Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP) rounding out Row 2 at the team’s home Grand Prix.
After a heavy fall at Turn 8 in FP3, Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was able to earn a seventh place start in qualifying, with teammate Joan Mir just 0.013 behind him in eighth. At his home Grand Prix, Marcel Schroetter (Dynavolt Intact GP) will launch from ninth in a bid to stand on the rostrum for the first time, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in 10th – less than four tenths from pole position.
Fabio Quartararo (MB Conveyors – Speed Up Racing) was an early faller in the session at Turn 3, the Frenchman will have work to do from P18 if he’s to claim his third consecutive podium. Meanwhile, Khairul Idham Pawi (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) also crashed at Turn 3 late on – both riders were ok.
Less than a second covers Pawi in P24 to pole in what is an incredibly tight intermediate class field. Who will take victory at the German GP tomorrow? Find out when the Moto2™ riders go racing at 3.40 pm Indian time (12:20 local time -GMT +2) on Sunday. Watch live on Sony Ten in India.
Moto2™ Qualifying Results
1 – Mattia Pasini (ITA) KALEX 1’23.787
2 – Luca Marini (ITA) KALEX +0.181
3 – Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) KALEX +0.183 -
Dani Pedrosa to be named MotoGP Legend in Valencia: Hall of Fame
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (L) with Pedrosa during the announcement. A Dorna Sports image Paris, 12 July 2018: As decided by the Permanent Bureau formed by FIM President Vito Ippolito and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, three-time World Champion Dani Pedrosa will become a MotoGP Legend when he hangs up his leathers, with the Spaniard set to be inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame at the season finale at Valencia. Pedrosa won the 125 Championship in 2003, the 250 title in 2004 and 2005, and is one of the most successful riders of all time in the premier class.
Pedrosa’s international career began in 2001 in the 125 World Championship. As a rookie, he took two podiums and finished his first season within the top ten overall in eighth. The following year he took his first wins – three of them – to finish the season third overall, before he went two better in 2003 and won his first title with five wins.
Despite breaking both his ankles in a crash at the end of 2003, the ‘Little Samurai’ then moved up to the 250 World Championship for 2004 – and won on his debut. At 18 years and 202 days old Pedrosa became the youngest rider to win in the class, and it was on his way to becoming the youngest ever intermediate class World Champion at 19 years and 18 days old. In 2005, he defended the crown.
2006 marked Pedrosa’s debut in the premier class. On the podium first time out in Jerez and then needing only four races to take his first win when he took to the top step in Shanghai, one of the most successful premier class riders ever had arrived on the scene. He took another win in his rookie year, at Donington Park, and ended the year in the top five.
In 2007 Pedrosa was second overall to only Casey Stoner and added more wins and podiums to his tally, and he was in the top three in the Championship in 2008 – despite breaking his right hand in pre-season testing and sitting out the US GP after injuring his left hand at the German GP. In 2009 he managed the same top three despite more struggles with injury, and in 2010 was runner-up once again. 2011 was another battle through the pain barrier, before an incredible assault on the title in 2012 that saw the Spaniard only narrowly miss out on the crown – and win the most races that year.
Pedrosa file photo by MotoGP In 2013 Pedrosa was leading the standings before a collarbone break and was third overall, and in 2014 he suffered with arm problems throughout the season and despite that, took another win. 2015 began with career-saving surgery to fix the problem, and Pedrosa was back on the top step towards the end of the year at Motegi and at Sepang. In 2016 he won at Misano as he destroyed the field, and 2017 saw him make another piece of history as he took to the top step in the 3000thrace counting towards the World Championship, in Jerez. He also won the season finale in style, underlining an incredible achievement: he’s the first rider in history to win at least one Grand Prix per season for 16 consecutive years.
After taking the third most podiums of all time behind only Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini, Pedrosa retires at the end of 2018 – and will now join the ranks of MotoGP™ Legends.
“Dani Pedrosa is a true great,” says Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports. “A World Champion on 125cc and 250cc machinery and one of the most successful riders we’ve ever had the pleasure of watching, Pedrosa has contributed an incredible amount to the world of motorcycle racing over a long and distinguished career in MotoGP. With a legacy that includes his incredible winning run over so many years, and so many wins and podium finishes, we’re very proud that he will be inducted as a MotoGP Legend.”
Pedrosa will join a long list of greats that have been or will be made MotoGP™ Legends that includes Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, Daijiro Kato, Eddie Lawson, Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, Jarno Saarinen, Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, Marco Simoncelli, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, John Surtees, Carlo Ubbiali, Alex Crivillé, Franco Uncini, Marco Lucchinelli, Randy Mamola, Kork Ballington and the late Nicky Hayden.
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Dhruv Mohite leads Volkswagen Ameo Cup 2018 after first round
· Akshay P Bhivshet (Goa) and Shubhomoy Ball (Bangalore) lead the Junior Cup with both at 108 points
Pune, 11 July 2018: Volkswagen Motorsport India’s one-make series – Ameo Cup Round One was dominated by Dhruv Mohite winning both races over the weekend. With the two victories, Dhruv is currently leading the championship with a big lead of 40 points over Affan Sadat Safwan Islam (Chittagong) and Saurav Bandyopadhyay (Thane) in second and third position respectively. After Round 1, Affan and Saurav are both tied-up with a total score of 80 points.
In the Junior Cup, rookies Akshay P Bhivshet and Shubhomoy Ball are locked in a close battle for the leader board position.
The fight for the 2018 Ameo Cup Championship will resume in Round 2 at Madras Motorsport Race Track (MMRT) in Chennai on 22nd and 23rd July 2018.
Sirish Vissa, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport India said, “The Ameo Cup 2018 – Round One was an exciting round for us and the drivers. Dhruv had been dominant in Coimbatore and his overall lead proves that. The battle for second, third and fourth position are closer than ever before. Round 2 presents a chance for Affan, Saurav and Jeet to close the gap at the top.”
Vissa further added, “Round 2 is going to be an exciting battle with multiple contenders eyeing podium finishes. The weather and track conditions at MMRT are going to be quite different when compared to Kari. Moreover, for all the new drivers, it is going to be a whole new circuit as they haven’t got any testing time there yet.”
The third round of Volkswagen Ameo Cup 2018 will again be held at the Madras Motor Race Track in August, followed by the fourth round at Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida in October.
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Sebastian Vettel wins; Hamilton recovers to finish second: British Grand Prix
Vettel waves after winning the British GP on Sunday. An FIA image Silverstone, 8 July 2018: Sebastian Vettel capitalised on a Turn 1 collision between Kimi Räikkonen and Lrewis Hamilton that sent the Briton to the back of the field to claim his 51st career win at the British Grand Prix. Hamilton later staged a superb recover to finish second ahead of the second Ferrari of Kimi Räikkönen.
At the start, Vettel got away superbly to take the lead ahead of pole position man Hamilton. The Briton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas also swept past and Hamilton found himself third as the field went through Abbey.
The situation was then made worse for Hamilton as Raikkonen braked too late and collided with the right rear of the Briton’s Mercedes. Hamilton spun off track and dropped to 17th place. Raikkonen later received a 10-second time penalty for causing the collision.
At the front, Vettel was free to pull away and by lap eight the German had built a 5.7s lead over Bottas, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen a further four seconds behind. Raikkonen was now fourth ahead of the second Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo and the Renault of Nico Hulkenberg.
However, Hamilton was powering through the pack, and on lap eight he had climbed back to eighth place behind Sauber’s Charles Leclerc. He was, however, now 25.7s behind Vettel. He made light work of passing the Monegasque and then breezed past Hulkenberg on lap 10 to sit 13.0 behind fifth-placed Ricciardo.
Raikkonen pitted on lap 13 to serve his penalty and after the hold he took on medium tyres to emerge in 10th place.
Verstappen was the next to pit, on lap 17, with the Dutchman also taking medium tyres. The Red Bull driver emerged in fifth place.
Behind him, Raikkonen was now on a march and in short order he dismissed Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Leclerc and Nico Hulkenberg to sit in sixth place ahead of the next pit stop, on lap 18, for Ricciardo.
Leclerc was the next to visit pit lane but immediately after his pit stop he reported a problem and he was told to stop his Sauber. He pulled off track at Turn 3 where his strong run of recent points finishes ended.
Vettel then pitted on lap 20, taking on medium tyres. He rejoined in the lead and after Bottas made his stop the German led ahead of the Finn and Hamilton. Hamilton was now 5.8s behind the championship leader but he required a pit stop.
That stop arrived on lap 25, with the Mercedes driver taking on mediums. He rejoined the action on sixth place, 11s behind Raikkonen and 28.2s behind race leader Vettel.
The German was now 3.5s clear of Bottas, with Verstappen almost 10 seconds further back and with Ricciardo fourth ahead Raikkonen.
Bottas then began to close up to Vettel and on lap 30 the gap was down to 2.8s. Hamilton too was picking up the pace and by lap 30 he was running quickest and closing in on Raikkonen.
Red Bull then pitted Ricciardo for a second time on lap 30, with the Australian taking on a fresh set of soft tyres. He rejoined in sixth place, behind Hamilton, who was now just 4.9s behind Raikkonen.
The complexion of the race changed completely on lap 32. Marcus Ericsson overcooked his entry to Turn 1 and he lost the front end of his car. He spun and careered off track and into the barriers.
The safety car was immediately deployed and during the caution, Vettel, Verstappen and Raikkonen all pitted for fresh soft tyres as the field bunched up.
Bottas now led the race behind the SC, with Vettel second ahead of Hamilton, Verstappen, Raikkonen and Ricciardo.
On the restart Bottas held his advantage ahead of Vettel and Hamilton, bit behind them Raikkonen attacked Verstappen. He passed the Dutchman but the Red Bull driver returned the favour in the next corner and he held onto fourth place.
The Safety Car was almost immediately deployed again as behind the leaders Carlos Sainz tried to pass Romain Grosjean in to Copse. It was tight, with Sainz leaving little room, and the result was that the Frenchman clipped the back of the Spaniard’s Renault and they both went off track and out of the race.
The Safety Car left the track at the end of lap 41 and Bottas again held the lead ahead of Vettel and Hamilton, with Verstappen fourth ahead of Raikkonen and Ricciardo.
Vettel than began to exert pressure on Bottas and after a long tussle the German managed to sneak past the Finn with a good move under braking into Brooklands.
Behind them Verstappen spun and then retired from the race.
Bottas, whose tyres were fading, was then passed by Hamilton and he quickly slipped into the clutches of Raikkonen who brushed past his compatriot to take P3.
And that was the way it stayed with Vettel crossing the line ahead of Hamilton to take his 51stcareer win, putting him tied third with Alain Prost on the list of most wins in F1.
Hamilton’s superb recovery from the back of the field was matched to some degree by Räikkönen’s march to the podium from 10th after serving his penalty. Bottas was fourth ahead of Ricciardo with Hulkenberg sixth for Renault. Esteban Ocon took seventh for Force India ahead of McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, Haas’ Kevin Magnussen and the Toro Rosso of Pierre Gasly.
2018 Formula 1 British Grand Prix – Race
1 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari –
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 2.264
3 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 3.652
4 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 8.883
5 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing 9.500
6 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 28.220
7 Esteban Ocon Force India 29.930
8 Fernando Alonso McLaren 31.115
9 Kevin Magnussen Haas 33.188
10 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso 34.129
11 Sergio Perez Force India 34.708
12 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren 35.774
13 Lance Stroll Williams 38.106
14 Sergey Sirotkin Williams 48.113
15 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 6 laps
16 Romain Grosjean Haas 15 laps
17 Carlos Sainz Renault 15 laps
18 Marcus Ericsson Sauber 21 laps
19 Charles Leclerc Sauber 34 laps
20 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso 51 laps.eom/db
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Triple crown for Bengaluru’s Hemant Mudappa in National Drag Race
Chennai, 8 July 2018: Bengaluru’s Hemant Mudappa scored a hat-trick of wins in three different categories to dominate the first round of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Drag Racing Championship at the MMRT, here on Sunday.
Mudappa was the quickest in the premier Super Sport Unrestricted class while also topping in the 1051cc and Above, and the 851-1050cc categories.
The results (Provisional):
Super Sport Unrestricted: Hemant Mudappa (Bengaluru) (08.589secs); 2. Hafizullah Khan (Bengaluru) (08.598); 3. Manohar BN (Bengaluru) (9.285).
4-Stroke – 1051cc and Above: 1. Hemant Mudappa (Bengaluru) (08.762); 2. Hafizullah Khan (Bengaluru) (09.063).
851-1050cc: 1. Hemant Mudappa (Bengaluru) (08.538); 2. Anosh Khumbatta (Mumbai) (08.987); 3. Manohar BN (Bengaluru) (09.252).
361-550cc: 1. Aswin Kumar R (Chennai) (12.903); 2. Kevin Seetharaman (Hyderabad) (13.238); 3. Antony Peter (Coimbatore) (13.350).
Up to 165cc: 1. Jagan Kumar (Chennai) (14.210); 2. Aravind Ganesh (Chennai) (14.482); 3. Gowtham R (Bengaluru) (15.096). 166-225cc: 1. Harshil Thakur (Mumbai) (14.536); 2. Vaibhav Mathre (Mumbai) (14.657); 3. Sameer Ali (Mumbai) (15.103).
2-Stroke – Up to 130cc: 1. Hussain Khan (Mumbai) (14.409); 2. Aravind Ganesh (Chennai) (14.595); 3. Syed Nadeem (Bengaluru) (14.598). 131-165cc: Hussain Khan (Mumbai) (12.706); 2. Md Touheed (Bengaluru) (13.310); 3. Aiyaz (Bengaluru) (13.337).
