Motorsports Racing News & Blog Articles

Williams Racing will run with a modified livery for this weekend’s British Grand Prix as the Grove-based outfit begin their celebrations for their eight-hundredth Grand Prix within the FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

The race at Silverstone was meant to be race eight hundred for the team but will instead be race seven hundred and ninety-nine after the cancellation earlier in the season of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix due to awful weather in that region of Italy.

Race eight hundred instead will now be the Hungarian Grand Prix later in the month, and Williams have opted to run their special livery, which contains a Union Jack on their engine cover, for both this weekend at Silverstone and next time out at the Hungaroring.

Williams made their debut as a team in the 1977 Spanish Grand Prix and as a constructor in the 1978 Argentine Grand Prix, and they have been one of the most successful teams in the history of Formula 1, taking one hundred and fourteen victories.

Founded by the late, great Sir Frank Williams and Sir Patrick Head, they have taken nine Constructors’ Championships and seven drivers’ championships, with the likes of Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve all taking titles with the team.

The British Grand Prix will give Williams Racing a good reference point to see how competitive they have become with their recently upgraded FW45, according to Head of Vehicle Performance, Dave Robson.

Williams have only secured two top ten finishes so far during the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season, with Alexander Albon taking tenth place in the Bahrain Grand Prix in March and seventh in the Canadian Grand Prix last month.  Logan Sargeant has yet to score his first points since joining the team ahead of the current season.

Robson says both drivers will race with the same package this weekend at Silverstone as they did last weekend in Austria, but it will be a big test for Williams to see just how far they have come since bringing significant updates to the car earlier in the year.

“Silverstone is always a good test of the car and the drivers, and following races in Canada and Austria, the British Grand Prix weekend is a very useful reference for the updated FW45,” said Robson.

“Both drivers continue with the same basic package as they raced last weekend at the Red Bull Ring, but they will each have a new aerodynamic item to look at in FP1 as part of our ongoing R&D programme.”

Alexander Albon hopes to be in contention for points this weekend at Silverstone, but he believes the Williams Racing team may not be as competitive as they were in Canada and Austria.

The British Grand Prix is a home event for Williams, and a little bit for Albon as well, and he loves driving around one of the best tracks on the FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar.

Albon secured Williams’ best result of the season in the Canadian Grand Prix three weeks ago when he finished seventh, and he was in points contention again last weekend in Austria before missing out after ending up eleventh. 

He has doubts, however, that they can be as strong this weekend on a much different style of track to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Red Bull Ring.

“A home race for the team and in some ways a home race for myself as well,” said Albon.  “I love this circuit it’s one of the best tracks of the year.

After ending the Austrian Grand Prix with a fifth-place finish, Fernando Alonso is aiming for a return to the podium this weekend at Silverstone, the home race for the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula 1 Team.

The Spaniard, who remains third in the Drivers’ Championship after the first nine races of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season, says last weekend was a challenging one for the team but it was good to leave the Red Bull Ring by scoring ten more points.

Aston Martin will officially open their new Technology Campus ahead of the Silverstone weekend, and Alonso is keen to reward everyone by scoring big points for the team.  And he says the new facility is a ‘real signal of intent’ for Aston Martin’s future within the sport.

“We are fresh from Austria where we scored some good points as a team in what was a challenging weekend that had mixed weather conditions and the Sprint format,” said Alonso.  “Now our focus is on our home race at Silverstone.

“It’s always great to race around this historic circuit. I’ve been in the new Technology Campus this week and every time I’m here it’s very impressive and an exciting place to work. It’s a real signal of intent for the team’s future.

Pierre Gasly is eager to see what the benefits of the BWT Alpine F1 Team’s latest updates work on their A523 during the British Grand Prix weekend as he bids to secure a seventh top ten finish of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season.

The Frenchman finished on the road in ninth last weekend at the Red Bull Ring but was one of the drivers handed a time penalty for exceeding track limits post-race, which relegated him to tenth behind Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula 1 Team’s Lance Stroll.

The race this weekend at Silverstone is the home event for the team and Gasly says that gives everyone extra motivation to perform, and having back-to-back events also gives him an immediate opportunity to secure another good result.

“What I like about to back-to-back races is the fact there is an immediate opportunity to race again and prove a point,” said Gasly.  “It’s the Enstone team’s home race and that adds additional motivation to race for the staff members who will no doubt be at the race weekend in big numbers in the grandstands!

“Silverstone is one of the most famous and historic circuits in racing. It’s an exciting track, high-speed with some good overtaking chances especially into Turn 3, Turn 6 (Brooklands), Turn 9 (Copse), Turn 15 (Stowe) and Turn 16 (Vale).

Pirelli Motorsport will introduce a new construction of slick tyre this weekend at Silverstone, with Mario Isola insisting they were needed due to the increased speed and loadings being put through the tyres with the current cars.

Speeds have skyrocketed this year, which is the second season of the new aerodynamic regulations within the FIA Formula 1 World Championship season, with faster cornering meaning increased loads on the tyres.

Isola, the Motorsport Director at Pirelli, says the new tyre construction will give them extra resistance against fatigue but should not affect their on-track behaviour, and the ten teams will get full use of them for the first time this weekend since having the chance to run with a couple of sets during practice for the Spanish Grand Prix.

“The British Grand Prix will mark the debut of a new slick tyre construction, using materials that have been brought forward from their anticipated introduction next year,” said Isola.  

“This change in specification was made necessary due to the increased performance of the cars seen since the start of the season – both in terms of outright speed and loadings – compared to the pre-season simulation data supplied to Pirelli by the teams last winter, and the fact that this trend is only set to increase as the championship goes on.

The Short-course Off-road Drivers Association‘s 2023 season is over before it began. On Thursday, the series announced no races will take place in 2023, though specific reasons were not publicly given.

“Thank you for everyone’s patience this season but unfortunately SODA will not be holding any races during the 2023 season,” reads a statement. “Emails will be sent out to members with additional information.”

2023 was supposed to begin at Wisconsin International Raceway on 29 April, marking the second straight year that the off-road series kicked off a season at a pavement oval track primarily used for stock car racing. However, snags while building the infield course and poor weather forced the event to be postponed to 2024.

With WIR off, the new opener would have been this weekend at Tigerton MX run by Fantasy Moto. The track would have hosted the third round as well on 22 July. After another month off, the final two races would take place in September at the Outagamie County Fair on 16 September and the Sunnyview Exposition Center on 29/0 September. The OCF hosted SODA in 2022, while Sunnyview in Oshkosh welcomed the original SODA in the 1990s and last hosted racing in 2011.

SODA had also planned to partner with the Monster Truck Nitro Tour to bring the latter’s trucks to SODA race weekends.

Red Bull Romaniacs is an extreme enduro race that takes place in Romania. It is regarded as one of the toughest and most challenging off-road motorcycle races in the world. Here are some key details about Red Bull Romaniacs:

1. Race Format: Red Bull Romaniacs is a multi-day event that typically spans four to five days, with each day featuring a different stage or "offroad day." The race includes a prologue and several offroad days where riders tackle demanding and technical terrains.

2. Terrain and Conditions: The race takes place in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, providing a diverse range of terrains and challenging off-road sections. Riders encounter rocky trails, steep inclines, dense forests, river crossings, and other natural obstacles, putting their skills and endurance to the test.

3. Difficulty Levels: Red Bull Romaniacs offers multiple classes or difficulty levels, allowing riders of varying skill levels to participate. The race features a Gold class for elite riders, a Silver class for advanced riders, and a Bronze class for amateur and less experienced riders.

4. Navigational Challenges: In addition to the demanding terrain, Red Bull Romaniacs presents navigational challenges. Riders must follow GPS tracks and navigate through checkpoints along the course, adding an additional layer of complexity to the race.

Akinori Ogata will make his 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season début on Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, driving the #53 Chevrolet Camaro for Emerling-Gase Motorsports.

Ogata first raced in the series in 2018 at Phoenix, finishing thirty-third for MBM Motorsports. After two years away, he ran a race apiece for Jimmy Means and B.J. McLeod at Richmond and Martinsville, respectively.

He returned to MBM for an expanded slate in 2022, entering four races and qualifying for two. However, he retired from both.

Much of Ogata’s focus has been in the Craftsman Truck Series, where he has raced part-time since 2014. He entered the Atlanta race there in March for G2G Racing and finished seventeenth. Ogata also has three prior starts there, retiring from the first two in 2017 and 2018 and placing thirty-seventh in the 2021 edition.

Otherwise, the 49-year-old’s emphasis is in late models at Hickory Motor Speedway, scoring four victories since 2022 and being the first Japanese driver to win there. He is one of six drivers from Japan to race in a NASCAR national division alongside Hideo Fukuyama, Shigeaki Hattori, Kenkō Miura, Kenji Momota, and Toshio Suzuki (Kamui Kobayashi is set to become the seventh in August), with Suzuki being the only other to have competed in the Xfinity Series.

In terms of track length, the 2023 Island X Prix will be half of that from 2022 at just 2.9 kilometres versus the 6.2 km of last year. However, what it might lack in distance is compensated with plenty of speed.

“It’s a really fun course and quite different compared to last year,” said Championship Driver Tamara Molinaro. “After Waypoint #7, we used to take a tight right hairpin, but now we have a slight right followed by a left over the crest, which is way faster behind the wheel.

“The new part of this course is comparable in some ways to Chile, which had more of a rallycross feel to it which I’m sure a lot of the drivers will like. The first part is probably bumpier: the surface has changed a little since we were here last year, which could be interesting.”

The general route design has remained the same since the inaugural race in 2021, but it has received a facelift for 2023. For example, the starting location and run through multiple available lanes are now located further south from usual. Once the cars merge, they have more ground to cover before making the sharp left onto a terrain change. This is followed by an easy right rather than a hard hairpin, while the the second and third sectors are not as technical as in the past.

These changes are intended to maximise car speed.

Formula 1 has officially announced the highly-anticipated calendar for the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season, setting the stage for another year of exhilarating racing action. The schedule, revealed today, promises a captivating lineup of races across iconic circuits worldwide.

With 23 races in total, the 2024 season will offer fans a thrilling spectacle, showcasing the world’s top motorsport talent in intense battles for supremacy. From legendary circuits like Monaco and Silverstone to newer additions such as Zandvoort and Miami, each race promises to deliver high-speed drama and gripping on-track rivalries.

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming season, stating, “We are delighted to unveil the calendar for the 2024 Formula 1 season. It’s a carefully crafted schedule that combines the sport’s rich heritage with exciting new destinations. Fans can expect an unforgettable year of racing as the drivers and teams push the limits on these iconic tracks.”

The 2024 calendar features a balanced mix of classic and modern venues, ensuring a diverse range of challenges for drivers. As the championship battle intensifies, the racers will face demanding circuits that test their skill, speed, and strategic prowess.

Several drivers shared their thoughts on the calendar, highlighting their anticipation for the upcoming season:

In 2013, Austin Dillon won the first NASCAR race on dirt in four decades when he claimed the NASCAR Truck Series victory at Eldora Speedway. A decade later, he returns to the Ohio dirt track for the Superstar Racing Experience on 10 August.

“I love dirt racing. It’s so much fun, and Eldora Speedway has been such a key place for my dirt racing career over the years,” Dillon stated. “I’m thrilled to be able to join SRX Racing at a track that has a lot of history and means so much to me personally. I can’t wait to make more memories at Eldora Speedway and battle along some of the most accomplished names in motorsports.”

Dillon is yet another NASCAR veteran to join SRX, whose founder Tony Stewart is a three-time Cup Series champion and owner of Eldora. The 2018 Daytona 500 winner is currently twenty-eighth in points.

Other NASCAR faces competing at Eldora include Matt Kenseth and SRX championship contenders Hailie Deegan, Brad Keselowski, Bobby Labonte, Ryan Newman, and Ken Schrader.

“Eldora is not new to Austin. It’s a place that he’s found success and had some great career moments,” offered SRX CEO Don Hawk. “It’s my belief that Austin can jump in at Eldora against the best in the business and be right in the hunt from the drop of the green flag.”

Marco Andretti is back in a stock car, or would it be more accurate to say stock truck?

As part of a new partnership with Gainbridge via parent Group 1001, Spire Motorsports announced Wednesday that Andretti will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series début on Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He will drive the #7 Chevrolet Silverado RST.

“I can’t wait to get my feet wet in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series,” said Andretti. “I’m grateful for Group 1001 and Spire Motorsports for making this happen. I have a lot of laps in an IndyCar around Mid-Ohio. It’s going to be a bit different but a lot of fun. The Cup Series guys I have spoken to said I will love it.”

Gainbridge is closely affiliated with Andretti Autosport, with the former’s CEO Dan Towriss being a co-owner in the team alongside Andretti’s father Michael. The younger Andretti raced for the team in the NTT IndyCar Series from 2006 through 2020, winning twice before transitioning to an Indianapolis 500-only slate.

Since retiring from IndyCar, Andretti has mainly focused on closed-wheel racing such as IMSA and NASCAR. In 2022, he ran the Xfinity Series race at the Charlotte Roval but was taken out by a crash and classified thirty-sixth. He also competed in the Superstar Racing Experience that summer, winning the championship by two points, and he will try to defend his SRX title in 2023.

ARCA Menards Series West points leader Landen Lewis will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series début on Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, driving the #04 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Roper Racing.

Only seventeen years old, Lewis has enjoyed a burgeoning career in stock car racing’s regional divisions. In 2021, he won the ARCA Menards Series race at DuQuoin after leading every lap from the pole. The following year, his ARCA West début at Kern also saw another victory before he upgraded to run the rest of the season.

He became an ARCA West full-timer for the 2023 season, driving for McGowan Motorsports. After six races, he has a two-point advantage over Sean Hingorani for the top spot and notched a win at Portland.

Although Roper Racing typically fields Fords, Lewis’ #04 is a Chevrolet. Such a quirk also happened at Mosport in 2019 when Roger Reuse raced for Jordan Anderson Racing using Roper’s owner points.

The #04 ran the first ten races of the 2023 season before taking the next two off, then returning with team owner Cory Roper at Nashville. Kaden Honeycutt entered the first seven rounds before Johnny Sauter took over for three. The entry is thirty-first in owner points with Honeycutt scoring its best finish of ninth at Bristol Dirt.

The SCORE International World Desert Championship will retain the same four races in 2024, but that and when they take place are basically the only certainties when the schedule was released Wednesday.

As has been the case since 2019, the season will begin with the San Felipe 250, followed by the Baja 500, Baja 400, and ending with the premier Baja 1000. However, only San Felipe has a confirmed location as the eponymous town will serve as both the start and finish on 23 March. The 250’s race day is a week earlier than in 2023, which took place in April and was won by reigning SCORE champion Luke McMillin.

The Baja 500 will run over two months after the season opener. The 2023 edition, claimed by Bryce Menzies, was a loop from and to Ensenada. This format will also stay for the Baja 400 in September, which sets the starting lineup for the Baja 1000. Like in previous years, the starting order for the 500 will be determined by the results from San Felipe; the latter has qualifying for Trophy Truck and its variations.

The 1000’s route has evolved throughout the years, existing in both loop and point-to-point formats along the Baja California peninsula. For 2023, the 1000 will go in reverse of its traditional direction, starting south in La Paz and heading north towards Ensenada.

“Mexican races are the cornerstone of SCORE and to have all four races south of the border for the ninth consecutive season and ninth time in SCORE’s long history is a distinct honor and a wonderful privilege,” said SCORE president Jose Grijalva. “We welcome the challenge to continue to add to the illustrious SCORE Baja racing legacy. And to finish the season with the iconic SCORE Baja 1000 always attracts racing extremists from around the world and 2024 will be another one-of-a-kind experience with the Granddaddy of all Desert Races.”