Scuderia Ferrari: 2019 Abu Dhabi GP Preview.

This Sunday’s race will be the eleventh Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It has always been held on the 5.554 kilometre-long Yas Marina Circuit over a distance of 55 laps. The first time Formula 1 cars raced in Abu Dhabi dates back to 2009, when Sebastian Vettel won for Red Bull.

Unlucky track. Over the years, Yas Marina has never been a propitious track for Scuderia Ferrari, the team never having won here, although it has finished second and third three times. There’s a particularly bitter memory of 2010 when the Maranello team arrived in Abu Dhabi with Fernando Alonso leading the world championship, 8 points ahead of Red Bull’s Mark Webber and 15 points ahead of the Australian’s team-mate, Sebastian Vettel. A strategic error left the Spaniard down the back of the field, so that the German took the title, beating Alonso by four points.

In other years. As for the aforementioned second places, two of them came courtesy of Alonso, in 2011 behind Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren, in 2012 behind Kimi Raikkonen’s Lotus and last year Vettel was second to Hamilton’s Mercedes. The three third places were down to Kimi in 2015 and Sebastian in 2016 and 2017.

Double points. In 2014, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final round of the season, became the only Formula 1 championship race at which double points were on offer. It was a device aimed at keeping the championship battle as open as possible right down the very end. The idea was scrubbed as from the following year.

Charles. While Sebastian has three Abu Dhabi wins to his name, Charles has only raced here once, when he finished in a great seventh place for Sauber-Ferrari last year. It was a strong finish to the season and it was followed by the best possible start to his preparations for joining Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow, as he drove the Ferrari at Yas Marina in the test that usually follows the final race of the year.

FERRARI STATS ABU DHABI GP
GP contested 10
Debut 2009 (Kimi Raikkonen 12th; Giancarlo Fisichella 16th)
Wins 0
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 3 (30%)
Podiums 6 (60%)

Charles Leclerc 

“Abu Dhabi, the last grand prix of the season. Most of the paddock is probably looking forward to enjoying their holidays. From my perspective, I am actually pretty sad that I won’t be feeling that adrenalin rush behind the wheel for the next few months. At this race, everyone is pushing to the maximum as, for most drivers, there’s nothing to lose.
The race starts in daylight and ends at night, which is something pretty special that we don’t experience anywhere else. Another aspect that is different here is tyre degradation, which is something we have to get accustomed to and anticipate.
It always makes for an interesting race and I am very much looking forward to my last outing of the season with Scuderia Ferrari.”

Sebastian Vettel 

“As well as being the last race of 2019, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marks the start of the 2020 season in many ways, with most teams trying out ideas for next year during Friday free practice. Then, as usual on the Tuesday and Wednesday after the race, there’s the test session when we will able to evaluate the tyres for next year and those for 2021.

Focussing on work for next year is not a problem during the morning sessions on Friday and Saturday as conditions then are so much hotter than those experienced during qualifying and the race that they are less useful in terms of working on set-up and race configuration.

Yas Marina features a lot of slow and medium speed corners. In contrast to Sao Paolo, Pirelli has brought its three softest compound tyres to this race. Nevertheless, it is likely to be a one-stop race, because overtaking is very difficult despite the fact there are two DRS zones. It means qualifying well is very important.

It is an opportunity for us to finish the season on a high but we know the competition is strong, so it should be an exciting race.”

Mattia Binotto Team Principal

“Abu Dhabi is the last race of what has been a long season for everyone. For us at Scuderia Ferrari, it was a year of new beginnings, with team members taking on new roles and Charles in his first year with us and our aim was to build the foundations for the future.
Of course there were highs and lows: the first part of the season did not go the way we wanted, but I certainly value the way we all stood together, rolled up our sleeves and fought back.

Particularly noteworthy was the way we reacted after the summer break, with three race wins in a row and a run of six consecutive poles positions, as well as our win in Monza, just days after the incredible celebration of the 90 years of the Scuderia, in Milan, in front of a huge crowd.

Of course finishing second will never be good enough for Ferrari and we are looking ahead to a very intense winter to keep building as a group. The aim is to come back stronger to be up to the challenges that await us.

As the season draws to an end, I would like to say thank you to our tifosi all over the world for their passionate support all year long. This weekend, we will try to give them the best possible result with which to finish the season.”

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY - Scuderia Ferrari

McLaren Racing: 2019 Abu Dhabi GP Preview.

Yas Marina circuit is the central focus of Abu Dhabi’s man-made Yas Island, which also features seven hotels, a golf course and a concert arena. Construction of the 5.554km/3.451-mile anti-clockwise track began in 2007 and it hosted the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November 2009.

The track has several unique features, including air-conditioned pit garages, a pit-lane exit that passes underneath Turn One and grandstands that overhang the run-off area at Turn Seven. Even the timing of the race is special because it’s the only twilight race of the season, getting underway at 1710hrs local time, 30 minutes before sunset. The 55-lap race ends after dark, under the glare of the world’s largest permanent lighting system.

Carlos Sainz 

“After an incredible race and result in Brazil, it was amazing to take the trophy back to the factory and share the achievement with the whole team. I’m aiming to end the season on a high and there is still a lot to fight for in the last race. I’m fighting to finish sixth in the Drivers’ Championship and, even though it’s not going to be easy, we have prepared thoroughly for the weekend and I have confidence we can have a good race.

“Abu Dhabi is a fantastic venue and the perfect place to celebrate the close of the season. Starting the race in the evening and finishing it under the floodlights is always an interesting challenge. Although our P4 in the Constructors’ Championship is secured, I hope we can score some good points with both cars to round out a positive season.”

Lando Norris

“My first year in Formula 1 has been an amazing experience and I feel that I’ve gained a lot of experience since lights out in Melbourne. I’m pleased to be finishing the season at a circuit I know well, having scored a podium here in F2 last year, as well as completing the 2018 post-season test. It’s an interesting circuit with a few unique features that keep the racing interesting. I’m looking forward to another exciting weekend and to giving it my all one last time this year.”

Andreas Seidl - Team Principal

“After the great result at Interlagos, it’s time to go racing again. We took time last week to celebrate Carlos’ podium and our confirmed P4 in the Constructors’ with the whole team back at the factory. But now, we have our heads down again and are focused on the task at hand. We know that we need to keep pushing at every opportunity if we want to earn more podiums, and the Brazilian Grand Prix provided all the motivation we need to achieve this goal.  

“We now turn all our attention to the final race of the season, where we will aim to end the year on a high. We’ve made good progress over the season and we want to carry that into the final race. With our Constructors’ position confirmed, we are now targeting the best possible positions in the Drivers’ Championship. Carlos is well placed to fight for sixth and Lando can also climb positions this weekend. Our passion and motivation remain strong and we’re looking forward to fighting until the very last lap of the season.” 

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY - McLaren Racing. 

Williams Racing: 2019 Abu Dhabi GP Preview.

We’re off to the United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi for the final round of the 2019 Formula One World Championship. The Yas Marina Circuit is dominated by a 1,233m long straight between turns seven and eight and is one of the longest tracks on the calendar. The iconic Yas Hotel provides a spectacular backdrop as the drivers race into the night, bringing the curtain down on the weekend and the 2019 season.

Dave Robson, Senior Race Engineer

The final race of the season takes place in Abu Dhabi, which should all but guarantee warm and dry conditions, complicated only by the often unrepresentatively warm conditions of FP1 and FP3. As a result, most teams will focus their weekend preparations on FP2, leaving FP1 to explore more medium-term items.

We will continue to work on both race setup and car development as we look to finalise some of our preparations for the FW43. Both drivers will have busy and detailed run programmes on Friday.

The Yas Marina circuit has become the traditional venue for the season’s final race, and it offers a good blend of corners, separated by two long DRS straights. The third sector is challenging, especially in qualifying when the tyres can begin to struggle. Pirelli have provided their softest compounds for this event, a combination last seen in Singapore, and a significant contrast to the selection in Interlagos. The C5 ‘street circuit’ tyre should offer good grip in qualifying but getting the most out of it for the full 5.6km lap could be the biggest challenge facing the drivers and engineers this weekend.

Robert Kubica

Abu Dhabi is quite a difficult track, but we will try to optimise the car the best we can for the last race of the season. It will be my final Grand Prix with Williams, and so I would like to put everything together for the boys and for the team.

George Russell

I’ve got mixed feelings as it is going to be sad to do the last race of the year, but I’m also excited to get back out to the warm weather of Abu Dhabi. I have good memories there as winning the FIA Formula Two Championship last year was a really special feeling, and something I will remember for a long time to come.

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY: ROKiT Williams Racing.

Racing Point: 2019 Abu Dhabi GP Preview.

Lance Stroll

“Abu Dhabi is the season finale and the organisers always put on quite a show. The track layout isn’t my favourite, but the event is always a lot of fun - it’s a great place to go racing. The infrastructure is impressive and it’s arguably the best that we have in Formula 1. What they’ve done with the event is amazing.

“The track in Abu Dhabi is quite challenging. It’s a long lap with plenty of corners and the high temperatures make it very demanding on the tyres. The most technical part of the lap is the middle sector and particularly the chicanes. It’s important to get your braking point just right and you also need to ride the kerbs.

“Overtaking can be quite challenging, but that’s the same as most circuits. As always, we’re going to try and pick off as many places as we can. The twilight conditions in Abu Dhabi are unique but I’m pretty zoned in from start to finish so it’s not really a distraction. You almost forget you’re driving in the evening because the lights work so well.”

Sergio Perez 

“It’s important we end the season on a high in Abu Dhabi. It’s been a long year and there is still a lot at stake. Brazil didn’t go well for us – even though we scored points – and we need to come back strong this weekend.

“Yas Marina is a track that’s all about braking and traction. It’s hard on the brakes and you need to set up the car so that you have good rear stability. Good traction out of the corners is also important for a quick lap time. The long straights offer some overtaking opportunities but you need to be quite brave on the brakes. In the race, you often find yourself either attacking or defending, especially towards the end of the race.

“When you get to the final race you just need to keep focused on the job ahead. Everybody is starting to think about next year, but you want to finish the season well so that you can go on holiday feeling happy. Nobody wants to have a bad final race so we will do all we can to end the year with a strong performance.”

Otmar Szafnauer - CEO and Team Principal

“We’ve dusted ourselves down after a tough race in Brazil and are determined to bounce back with a better result in Abu Dhabi. It’s a circuit we’ve gone well at in the past – particularly with Checo, who has scored points there in every race with the team since he signed in 2014 – so we’re feeling positive heading into the weekend.

“The Yas Marina is a great setting for the season finale. Although it gets very hot during the day, the evening is much more pleasant and the circuit looks spectacular under the lights. They really know how to put on a show and the facility itself is first class, which I’m sure the whole paddock appreciates at the end of a long season.

“It’s been a transitional year for the team and optimism for 2020 is high. But for now, the focus is on scoring points this weekend. Reclaiming sixth place in the Championship will be a big task – but we all want to end 2019 on a positive note and will keep fighting until the very end.”

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY Sport Pesa Racing Point F1 Team

Holton Motorsport becomes the first team to commit to 2020 Projekt E series

Norwegian team Holten Motorsport AS has become the first team to commit to Projekt E for the inaugural electric rallycross season in 2020.

Holten Motorsport has had a long association with the FIA World Rallycross and European Rallycross Championships. 

Daniel Holten was the first driver to campaign a Volkswagen Beetle in the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2015 in partnership with Eklund Motorsport.

The previous year he raced a Ford Fiesta ST in World RX and in a Euro Supercar. He has also competed in RX Lites and RX Sweden since making his debut in 2010. Earlier this year Holten was crowned Norwegian Rallycross champion in a TouringCar Fiesta. 

As the progression to electrification in motorsport gathers momentum, Holten Motorsport AS were keen to be among the first to make that move and sign up to the series. However, they are yet to announce their driver line-up for the Projekt E series. 

"This move to Projekt E will push us in the right direction for EV technology development," said Nils Reimers, Holten Motorsport Project Manager. 

"It is a fact that motorsport is the spearhead for new automotive technology and Projekt E brings us on to a technological platform that makes our advances and learning relevant in a changing automotive industry."

Michael Sakowicz, CEO and Founder of STARD is delighted that Holten Motorsport has signed up to the Projekt E series. "The official Projekt E presentation by STARD and IMG was just a few weeks‘ ago, yet we are already starting to see commitments from teams as they prepare for this new undertaking," he said.

"We are delighted that Holten Motorsport are the first team to officially announce their participation. Projekt E is here. We were not talking two years in advance - you can buy the kit and race in 2020. It´s as simple as that.

“At a recent meeting in Vienna we were able to provide the team at Holten AS with the opportunity to drive the car and this totally sold the concept. We are now looking forward to working with Holten AS as our customer on their path to a new era of racing.”

Written By - Junaid Samodien

Red Bull Racing: 2019 Abu Dhabi GP Preview.

Max Verstappen 

“After a great weekend in Brazil, the Team is in good spirits to have one final go at it in Abu Dhabi. We move from a flowing track like Interlagos to a tight and twisty circuit at Yas Marina where the car needs to be set up in a completely different way to Brazil in order to get the best out of it. This is always a challenge in Abu Dhabi as we transition between day and night practice sessions with FP2 the most important session as it gives you the most representative read of qualifying and race conditions. Looking back I think we can be pleased with our season this year, which is our first with Honda, and hopefully we can end it on a high this weekend before everyone breaks up for Christmas and New Year.” 

Alex Albon 

“I like Abu Dhabi and Yas Marina is quite a cool track that I know well. Everyone has different views on it but I like it. I think the last sector is pretty good, it’s technical, and every corner is very similar to the other so if you’re good in one, you’re good in most! The weekend will have a different atmosphere for two different reasons. Firstly because it’s the last race of the season, so everyone is looking forward to the Christmas break and getting some rest. Secondly, Abu Dhabi is usually where the championship is decided in the junior categories like F2 and F3, which is what I was doing before F1. We have the test to look forward to the week after the race, but my focus right now is on finishing the year strongly and on a high so we take this momentum into 2020.”

PREVIEW PROVIDED by Aston Martin Red Bull Racing F1 Team 

Toro Rosso: 2019 Abu Dhabi GP Preview.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool.

Pierre Gasly

“It's the last race of the season so it's a special weekend. It's going to be very important for all of us at Toro Rosso as we want to finish as high as possible in the Constructors'Championship, I'm also in with a chance of ending up as the best driver from outside the top three teams in the Drivers' classification. We want to end the season in a good way, not just for our pride, but also because where you finish in the championship has an impact on our development work and our performance level for next season. Our championship fight adds to the excitement this weekend, although I can imagine that 'exciting' might not be the right word to describe how Franz feels about it!

“There's always something a bit sad about the final round, as it means we won't be racing again for around three and a half months. It's something that will dawn on me on Sunday night, the sense that the season is over. Here at Yas Marina, I've won the GP2 feature race, but I've been less successful in Formula 1. All the same, I really like this track, especially the last sector which is very technical. It has a nice flowing rhythm. I like it also because it's nice and warm when we come from the cold in Europe, and the fact I clinched the GP2 title here means it brings back happy memories. Of course, the race takes place at night so it's a bit cooler in the cockpit, not that it is anywhere near as demanding as the Singapore night race. It can be a complicated race, and you have to manage the car very well because the conditions are not straightforward, so I can't wait to get there and end the season on a high.

“Whatever happens on Sunday, I will be happy about how this season has gone, particularly my return to Toro Rosso in the middle of the year, and I will never forget my first visit to an F1 podium after coming second in Brazil. But I will also enjoy having some time off once the racing is over. I will spend some time with friends and family in France for a couple of weeks around Christmas time, as I had hardly had any time to see them this year because my work schedule was so busy. After that, I'll start training seriously, going to Red Bull's training camp in the States from the end of December to be as well prepared as possible for next season. The best way to enjoy the winter break is to do well in the last race of the year and that's another reason to work really hard on this final weekend in Abu Dhabi.”

Daniil Kvyat

“I like coming here and have good memories of winning the GP3 title in 2013 with a victory in the feature race, knowing I would be joining Toro Rosso the following year. It was a great moment, obviously and very happy days.

“This last race will be another opportunity to get a good result to end the season on a high. I always enjoy the Yas Marina track, to be honest, even though it has those huge run-off areas but still, the configuration itself is quite interesting. We can play around with the lines quite a lot there. The third sector is pretty challenging.

“We race under the floodlights, which is cool and I enjoy the whole business of racing at night. The track provides a few overtaking opportunities too and I will push as hard as I can to have a good race to end the year.

“The last round in Brazil was simply brilliant for the team, even if personally, in recent races, I haven't got the results I was looking for. You fight and give your best but sometimes it doesn't work. The last race of the season is always exciting. Exciting and even a little bit sad because it's like a huge chapter of your life has just closed.

“Then comes a short break before it all starts again. It's time to go home and sort your personal things which maybe you're not used to anymore, so you have to learn how to live a normal, everyday life for the first couple of weeks, then you start enjoying normal-day life and then it's back to racing.

“It's the same every year. I will stop training for a few days, but generally, I like keeping busy so I will do a lot of boxing over the winter with my trainer and maybe some karting. I'm never fully inactive. I don't just lay on the sofa all day long. I can't do that because then I get lazy.”

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY Scuderia Toro Rosso

Haas F1 Team: 2019 Abu Dhabi GP Preview.

The checkered flag has yet to drop on the 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship, but after 20 races spread across the globe, the finish line is clearly in sight as the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is set for Dec. 1 at Yas Marina Circuit. 

With only five point-paying results in the 20 races run so far, Haas F1 Team occupies ninth in the constructors’ standings, 29 points behind eighth-place Alfa Romeo and 27 points ahead of last-place Williams. The performance ended a burgeoning trajectory for the only American team competing in Formula One. After back-to-back eighth-place finishes in the 2016-2017 constructors’ standings where Haas F1 Team scored 29 points and 47 points, respectively, the organization battled at the top of the midfield in 2018, finishing an impressive fifth in the  standings and nearly doubling its points haul from the year before with a final tally of 93 points.

The success of 2018 has made 2019 a bitter pill to swallow, but the silver lining of enduring a season of adversity is that it has made Haas F1 Team a battle-tested and resilient group – one that is ready to bounce back in 2020.

The fourth-year outfit turned its attention to 2020 in late August following the FIA-mandated summer shutdown. While it still worked to get the most out of its current car, the learnings of what didn’t work in 2019 have helped shape the direction of next year’s car. That said, opportunities to perform and learn even more exist before the final checkered flag in Abu Dhabi. This was absolutely the case in the penultimate Brazilian Grand Prix a fortnight ago where Haas F1 Team drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen advanced to the third and final round of qualifying for the first time since the Spanish Grand Prix in May.

The opportunity for more bright spots like the one earned in Brazil exist in Abu Dhabi. Grosjean owns three point-paying finishes at Yas Marina Circuit – fourth in 2013, ninth in 2015 and another ninth last year. And Magnussen earned his best Abu Dhabi Grand Prix result last year when he finished 10th behind his teammate as Haas F1 Team scored its fifth double-points result of 2018.

The race begins at twilight and ends under the lights, providing an appropriate environment for a 2019 season in its own twilight. 

Guenther Steiner - Team Principal

Abu Dhabi is the season finale, and it’s also the finale of Haas F1 Team’s fourth year. It’s been a tumultuous one, but as the adage goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. With the adversity the team has faced this season, do you actually feel stronger going into 2020 because of how this year’s experiences have forced the team to adapt and troubleshoot?
“It was obviously a tough year for us in our fourth season. You learn and, overall, we’re pretty strong anyway. We had to learn some lessons to get better. Next year will be a new book and, hopefully, we go back to the kind of performances we had in 2018.”

If there is one thing you could do over this year, what would it be?
“One thing I would do is to just do something different after we introduced the upgrade in Barcelona. I would listen a little bit more to the drivers and be a little bit more self-critical.”

Did this year produce a silver lining in relation to next year in that when it comes to car development, you know which direction not to go in 2020, and that you also have personnel who are a little more battle-tested?
“Yes, I would say there is a silver lining. We started to react during the summer break to work on the 2020 car – to try to avoid the mistakes we’ve made this year. We don’t want to repeat them. We’re just moving forward, analyzing and working hard on the 2020 car.”

You have a record 22 races next year. How impactful will the shortened winter testing schedule be on team personnel?
“For sure it will be tough next year having 22 races for the first time. I’m sure we’ll learn some lessons there – how to deal with things better. On the other side, the shorter winter testing and then no in-season testing – that will help a little bit with having more races. It’s a bit less travel and less work for testing. The team will be challenged a lot. Team personnel will be at a limit.”

Do you expect the 2020 season to be a bit of an arms race in Formula One, where in the year before the cost cap is implemented, teams will go on spending sprees to bulk up their respective infrastructures before the $175 million budget restriction is in place for 2021?
“As always, the big teams will always have an advantage. They just have more resources and more people to develop the 2021 car to the new regulations, while at the same time developing a 2020 car. The budget cap comes in place in 2021. In the first years I don’t see a big difference in how the pecking order between the teams stacks up. There will still be the big three and then the rest. We know that. Hopefully, the gap closes a little bit to the big ones over time. For sure, we will try to do our best with whatever we have got to develop a good 2021 car.”

Romain Grosjean

Abu Dhabi is the season finale, and it’s also the finale of Haas F1 Team’s fourth year. It’s been a tumultuous one, but as the adage goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. With the adversity the team has faced this season, do you actually feel stronger going into 2020 because of how this year’s experiences have forced the team to adapt and troubleshoot?
“Yes, the team is getting stronger year on year. Obviously, we had three years where we improved each season. This year – our fourth – it’s been a disappointing season in terms of performance. That doesn’t mean that all the work we’ve done behind the scenes isn’t great. As I’ve said many times, the team has been working very well and we’ve got the maximum, if not more than the maximum, of the car most of the time. We need to see the positives, and that’s that we’ve gotten stronger. We’ve been able to analyze more and we’ve been able to get ready for 2020.”

Did this year produce a silver lining in relation to next year in that when it comes to car development, you know which direction not to go in 2020 and that you’re also part of a team that is a little more battle-tested?
“Yes, I think this year was positive in that we’ve learned where not to go. We’ve learned what we need to look for. We’ve learned that communication needs to be key. This year, the feeling was that from Barcelona, things obviously didn’t go as expected. Maybe if we’d reacted earlier, things could have been different. That’s something we’ve learned this year and, as I’ve said, that’s the first time we’ve been in this situation. It’s not easy to adjust and to know what to do, but now we’re much better prepared for the future. I’m very much looking forward to 2020.”

What is the first thing you’ll do to begin the offseason?
“I’m going on holiday with my wife. We haven’t had the chance to spend as much time together as we’d have liked. Then after our holiday, we’re into Christmas with the kids and so on. We’ll be spending two weeks off with them and making sure they get the time back from their daddy ,which they didn’t get with all the traveling we have.”

When it comes to your physical training, do you take a little break during the offseason or is the offseason a time where you ramp it up?
“I like to ramp it up, to push it hard. Obviously, knowing your body is very important, and you know that rest is part of training. So, I will take some rest, but I love training and I love activity in the winter. I go cross-country skiing, hit the skating rink, I train on the bike and in the gym. I work on getting fit for the new season, making sure I’ve not left anything on the side when it comes to being ready for winter testing then Melbourne.” 

Kevin Magnussen

Abu Dhabi is the season finale, and it’s also the finale of Haas F1 Team’s fourth year. It’s been a tumultuous one, but as the adage goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. With the adversity the team has faced this season, do you actually feel stronger going into 2020 because of how this year’s experiences have forced the team to adapt and troubleshoot?
“I definitely think so. I think the team has learned a lot this year, not in terms of results, but in terms of performance. Overall, the team has done a really good job this year and really stepped up. Obviously, we’ve had a difficult car, but that’s really how the team has proved itself this year, in terms of how we’ve worked with the car and worked around the problems we’ve had. I think we’ve had a much more difficult car than, say, 2017. I think we’ve handled things much better and gotten more out of it. Also, it’s allowed us to be much better prepared for next year. We’ve come a long way and we all feel pretty excited about next year.”

Did this year produce a silver lining in relation to next year in that when it comes to car development, you know which direction not to go in 2020 and that you’re also part of a team that is a little more battle-tested?
“I really think it’s down to what we learned this year, and especially that we’ve learned a lot that we can use into next year’s car. We all feel we need to take a different direction next year, which has obviously already been taken. The development of next year’s car is well and truly underway – it has been for a little while. A lot of the stuff we’ve been doing this year is in preparation for next year. I wouldn’t say we gave up at all on this year’s car, but we knew we had to shift focus onto the 2020 car instead of trying to save this year’s model. That’s better for us than if we’d tried to turn the 2019 car around. It’s better just to try and get what you can from the current car, but really try and focus on 2020.”

What is the first thing you’ll do to begin the offseason?
“I’m going to get lots of friends and family over to London from Denmark. We’re going to have some fun and relax for a bit. I’ll enjoy not having to go to the airport every other day.”

When it comes to your physical training, do you take a little break during the offseason or is the offseason a time where you ramp it up?
“I won’t be taking time off from physical training. It’s part of my everyday life. I think it’s really refreshing to get into a nice rhythm without being disrupted by traveling and races which, although we love racing, in terms of training, it’s not ideal. You can’t train as hard over a race weekend as you can in off weeks and weekends. The winter is really where you build up your base fitness and prepare for the coming season.”

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY Haas F1 Team

Projekt E unveils five-round 2020 calendar.

IMG has today unveiled the Projekt E calendar for the 2020 season, featuring five European rounds, and one track yet to be announced. 

The Projekt E series has been created to introduce electric technology into the World Rallycross Championship weekends (in 2020) and will use technical partner STARD’s “REVelution” EV powertrain systems which will produce up to 450kW (613bhp) combined power, 1100Nm of instantaneous torque and produce a top speed of 240km/h, fitted to a current World RX chassis.

The aim of the series is to evaluate electric racecars in a World RX environment in accordance with the phased electrification of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2021, which has been approved by the WMSC.

Projekt E will make its debut in Belgium at the 913m purpose-build Spa-Francorchamps World RX track on May 16-17, before traveling to Norway for round two at the legendary Hell circuit on June 13-14.

The third round is still somewhat of a mystery, as only the date has been published: 18-19 July, with the circuit to be announced at a later date. Round four takes the series to the iconic "The Green Hell" Germany’s Nurburgring, where World RX will visit for the first time in 2020.

The season finale of the inaugural Projekt E season will take place at the World RX of Riga in Latvia.

Written By - Junaid Samodien

'My main focus is World RX because it's just so good' - Andrew Coley.

Andrew Coley talking to Timur Timerzyanov
PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World RX Media.

MEEGGGAA…. A word that can have a variety of meanings, but it is also a word that is often used by the voice of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, and it is also a word that describes the man himself – Andrew Coley.

Andrew Coley is a motorsport commentator and presenter hailing from East Sussex in England. He joined the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2014, as the official presenter and lead commentator.

Coley is arguably one of the great motorsport commentators of the 21st century. While Martin Brundle, David Coulthard, Ben Edwards or even Jack Nicholls, etc. are great commentators, but none of them can truly match Andrew Coley’s passion and enthusiasm for the sport. Most lead commentators live the sport through media reports and come along as book smart individuals, with experts to support them in the commentary box. 

World Rallycross Commentary team: Andrew Coley (left) and Dan Rooke (right)
PHOTO CREDIT: Andrew Coley.

Coming from a motorsport/rally background, Coley’s knowledge about rallycross is reflected in his commentary. But it’s important to never forget that behind every commentator there is a hard-working team. This is no different in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. They say: ‘Dynamite comes in small packages’. Well, that statement is 100% true. The team behind the scenes is relatively small compared to other motorsport series, but they produce an incredible product for the fans.

In addition to the production team, Neil Cole and Laura Winter are on the ground with live interviews minutes before and after a race. While Dan Rooke, an experience rallycross driver joins Coley in the commentary box. 

Rooke and Coley…. Are a match made in heaven! Coley has a high-intensity style of commentary, while Rooke has a calmer approach which works remarkably well. 

Rooke is a great addition to the commentary team and is able to notice anything that Coley might have missed, which adds to the broadcast. He also has great technical knowledge that can provide better insight for the viewer.  

ANTI-LAG on… Ready to Race lights are on… and it’s go, go, go…. Let’s get to know Andrew Coley a bit more. 

Junaid Samodien: Where did it begin for you? How did you get involved in motorsport?

Andrew Coley: I used to watch the Formula 1 with my dad when I was a kid, and then my mom and dad took me to watch rallycross at Brands Hatch when Will Gollop was the European champion. Then we started watching some rallies. I used to race radio-controlled cars, as a kid – I loved it!

Then finally I went to rally school for my nineteenth birthday and drove a Mk2 Ford Escort. I have never driven a rear-wheel-drive car before and I just loved it. I fell in love with driving a car on loose surfaces and I wanted to compete, I said to the instructors: ‘I am really serious, I don’t want the you did really well. I want to know if I am any good or not.’ They said: You are and you need to practice, but you have good natural talent behind the wheel. So, I bought a Vauxhall Nova rally car and went to regional rallies. This is where it all started.

Just competing in the airfield rallies or rallies on military landing and other events in the South East of England - I did that for two or three years trying to move up the ranks which we did. We got up to National Level. 

Andrew Coley piloting his Vauxhall Nova 1.6 rally car.
PHOTO CREDIT: Andrew Coley.

JS: Having made the transition to commentary. Would you ever consider returning to competitive racing?

AC: I’d love to, but its money. It’s so expensive and I think if someone else wants to pay for it, I am more than happy to have another go. I am very lucky; I very occasionally get to do a rallycross race and I am very grateful for that. It’s an expensive sport at all levels. Yes, I’d love to be back behind the wheel. If I won the lottery, I’d quit commentating immediately and join the World Rallycross Championship.

JS: Is there any series you’ve ever considered commentating on?

AC: Prior to World Rallycross, I commentated on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) with Kris Meeke and Guy Wilkes. I commentated on Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – I did that for many years. I did the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but at the moment I am focused mostly on Rallycross. I try to fill my calendar with rallycross first of all. You know then after that the little jobs come in and you can slot those in, but my main focus is the World Rallycross Championship because it’s just so good. 

JS: If you could have anyone as your co-commentator. Who would it be and why?

AC: First of all, Dan (Rooke) has done a brilliant job. 

As a guest, I would love to have Kenneth Hansen [14-time European Rallycross Champion]. I think he would be great – to be fair Andreas Bakkerud would be a brilliant co-commentator, I think Timmy Hansen, Kevin Hansen as well. To be honest with you, you know who the good talkers are from watching the TV and who doesn’t enjoy talking quite so much. So, you take the best drivers in World Rallycross Championship and if they are not competing I’d love to have them as a co-commentator. I would also like to try a spotter as a co-commentator because I think it would bring a different dimension to the sport.

JS: Would you rather consider a rallycross driver, spotter etc. as a commentator rather than someone outside the sport?

AC: Absolutely, it should be someone in the sport. It’s my job to be the hype man and it’s their job to be the expert. You know.. I am the guy that should get excited and they should be the guy that tells me why I am excited. A lot of the time I know the answer to the question, but the point is that the viewers and fans like to hear it from the expert driver and that is the way it should be. 

[Coley's voice] “look at that everyone smashed in the first corner my goodness me.. Dan, why have they smashed into each other at the first corner?” And, he tells you why. I tell you what and he tells you why. 

I think if you have two lead commentators then you have two people desperate for the air time and crashing into each other, and if you have two drivers it goes too analytical and you don’t get the passion. You have your hype man and your expert. Kenneth would be great because obviously, he’s the most successful rallycross driver. He’s super calm as well he’d be the total opposite to me. 

JS: What are your thoughts on Projekt E having climbed onboard the Ford Fiesta launched in Latvia. Do you think fans will embrace the change?

AC: Projekt E will be the support category for the World Rallycross Championship. So, the main category will be even faster, and at the moment the Projekt E cars are as fast as the Supercars now. 

So, the issue that all-electric motorsport has at the moment is noise. Up until now, all motorsport fans are passionate about noise and they are not going to be that passionate about something that is quiet because that is human nature. People don’t like change, but it is the future of transportation and if you look back at it in 50 or 60 years from now, you would have kids who are saying: ‘God, weren’t old cars noisy.’ It’s the same way that when we look at a steam engine and say that it’s too slow. At that time it was cutting edge, and at the minute these are the fastest two-litre turbocharged engines in the world and they make incredible noise and I love anti-lag and I will miss it. But if you want the best drivers in the world and the best manufacturers in the world and you want them all competing at the highest level. 

The manufacturers are not interested in petrol and diesel engines they are only interested in electric at the moment, so that is the way the championship is looking to go. Time will tell! I say it to all the fans who ask me: “If you made all motorsport electric right now and everyone went electric for 2020. What would be the best one to watch?” And, the universal answer is Rallycross. It’s short and sharp. We are still going to start with five in a line, we are still going to have contact into turn one, we are still going to be sideways in the dirt, and we are still going to do the jumps. If you take the noise away from any of the others, then I think you take away 50% of the spectacle. I think the noise actually is only 20% of that [in Rallycross].  

JS: You have visited a number of Rallycross tracks globally. Would you draw/design your ideal Rallycross track?

The Andrew Coley rallycross track has a 60%/40% split between asphalt and gravel. It's a fast-flowing track with three jumps, including the iconic Nitro RX jump (concept), with a tight loop section that heads under the jump followed by a fast curved section before reaching the third jump and ending off the lap with a Spa-Francorchamps styled gravel/joker section. A true driver's track!  

Liam Doran offered his opinion on Andrew Coley’s Rallycross track design: “This is sick!”

A very special 'Thank You' to Andrew Coley for taking some time out of his very busy schedule to chat with us.

Written By - Junaid Samodien
Co-Editor - Franco Theron [PedalFest SA]
Circuit drawn by - Andrew Coley
Pictures By - Andrew Coley/FIA World RX Media

Late deal secures World RX of Riga in 2020.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World RX Media. 

The FIA World Rallycross Championship will remain in Latvia for the 2020 season after a late deal was struck with World RX promoters IMG. 

Latvia joined the World RX calendar in 2016 and has since become a clear fan and driver favorite. 

The future of World RX in Latvia seemed bleak after organizers of the event could not provide IMG with any guarantees (including financial) due to the Latvian national government only preparing their budget at the end of each year.

Official Press Conference.
PHOTO CREDIT: Biķernieku trase

A late deal was struck after the Mayor of Riga confirmed his interest in retaining the event for 2020. As a result of the City of Riga saving the Latvian round, the name for the 2020 event will change from the NESTE World RX of Latvia to the NESTE World RX of Riga.

“The work towards securing the 2020 event has started way back and although it seemed barely possible, we did not lose hope to fill a spot on the 2020 World RX calendar,” said Raimonds Strokšs, RA Events and Neste World RX of Riga director.

“I am extremely grateful to Riga City Council and IMG for their support, and decisiveness to reach an agreement and secure the necessary funding, that allow us to once again welcome you back to the Bikernieki circuit for a round of the 2020 FIA World Rallycross Championship.”

In addition to hosting round nine of the World Rallycross Championship, Latvia will also stage the fifth and final round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship for Euro Supercars and the sixth and final round of Euro Super1600. 

The Latvian round was one of two events marked as ‘to be confirmed’ when the 2020 World RX calendar was officially announced at the end of last month. The one remaining destination for World RX – on July 18-19 – will be revealed in the coming weeks. 

Written By - Junaid Samodien

Raymond disappointed with Cape Town result but looks to future after "great experience" with GCK.

Frenchman Cyril Raymond had a disappointing end to his maiden World Rallycross season after being disqualified for a trackmarker infringement at the season finale in Cape Town. 

Raymond had the worst start to a weekend ending Q1 in 12th overall after being handed a 5-second penalty for hitting the trackmarkers. Q2 saw the Frenchman hit the trackmarkers for the second time in a day, leading to disqualification from the race and pushing him down to the tail end of the field overnight.  

On day two, he fought back and claimed a ninth-place finish overall, after overtaking Oliver Bennett and Matvey Furazhkin in his qualifying race. Raymond's 2019 season came to an end following Q4 with a fifteenth place finish overall. 

"My first FIA World Rallycross Championship is now done and of course I’m a little disappointed with my result in Cape Town because we had the pace for the semi-final and final but my mistakes around the trackmarkers cost me that - I think I’m the king of the track markers now," Raymond said.

The Frenchman claimed his best result of the season at the World RX of Barcelona earlier this year. A fifth-place finish. 

Raymond concluded his maiden FIA World Rallycross campaign in thirteenth overall. 

"I had such a great experience this year with GCK and want to thank Guerlain [Chicherit] and the team for the amazing job on the Clio - we improved a lot every race and for next year, the Clio is well prepared, so it’s good for the future," he adds. "Now, we prepare for the off-season and let’s see what the future holds."

Written By - Junaid Samodien

A world-class karting track has opened in Johannesburg.

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY: Formula K.

A state of the art high-end short circuit racing track has opened in Benoni, Johannesburg.

The Formula K circuit has been designed and constructed to the exact specifications required by the CIK/FIA governing body to enable classification as a “Grade A” short circuit. This makes it the only circuit in South Africa currently eligible to host world championship go-karting events.

Where it all began.

The circuit is the culmination of a vision by two brothers in 2008, Phillip and Marius Swanepoel of Formula K SA, who’ve been involved in the karting world since the 1990s. 

“We can say without prejudice that this is the best track in South Africa, and is certainly one of the best 'Arrive and Drive' tracks in the world,” Philip Swanepoel said.

The official circuit layout and business park.
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY: Formula K.

The Formula K circuit is a breath of fresh air in South Africa because circuits of this caliber are typically reserved for racing drivers and their own machines, but that is the difference. The circuit will be furnished with a fleet of rental karts for the public in the search of an adrenaline boost.  

In addition to this, the track will also have a full-service centre. 

"It's not just rental karts. It's everything. We sell, we service, we tune, we race, we have a driving academy. We'll have a rotation. Mornings will be open to members and those who own karts, and afternoons (noon onwards) will be geared towards group rentals, birthday parties, corporate events, and of course drop-in rentals."

Circuit Talk.

In its standard karting configuration, the track is 1.51 km's in length, but can easily be modified to extend to 2.1 kilometers, with the addition of two back straights and a chicane. The layout can also be configured into a baby karting circuit that shrinks to less than a kilometer in length. 

"Drivers will experience many aspects of the track: There are fast sections, technical sections, a great variety of corner types, elevation changes, and several turns which are noticeably banked – a real test of driving acumen were simply figuring out your ideal racing line will take time, patience and skill," the Formula K press release said. 

That's not all folks.

The Formula K circuit forms part of a first-of-its-kind business and lifestyle park.  

The Formula K Business Park will overlook the circuit, featuring a pit building with a clubhouse containing conference facilities, a restaurant, gym, restrooms, retail stores and more.

In an explanation plan, the Formula K circuit will feature a number of new additions in the near future, including a skidpan for advanced driver training, a K53 training ground, and facilities for supercar enthusiasts.

Also available soon will be a mountain bike track and BMX track for those more inclined to a fossil fuel-free, recreational activity. Furthermore, 4x4 tracks and a Warrior obstacle course for those looking for a dose of adventure without having to venture into the wilderness will be developed.

FOR MORE INFORMATION HEAD TO https://www.formula-k.co.za/

Written By - Junaid Samodien