Motorsports Racing News & Blog Articles

Esteban Ocon is hopeful of another strong performance at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, with the Frenchman keen to score big after a fifth place finish at the track in 2022.

The BWT Alpine F1 Team driver says he enjoys driving around the Red Bull Ring and has scored points on all bar two of his visits to the track, the Frenchman retiring from the Austrian Grand Prix in 2021 and the Styrian Grand Prix of 2020.

Ocon says the track presents some ‘interesting challenges’ with its elevation changes and low and high downforce sections, but he is looking to score points for a fifth consecutive race weekend. And he believes the sprint race format will offer chances for the team.

“It’s good to be back in Spielberg as I really enjoy coming back here,” said Ocon.  “I had a good result here last year, so we hope to have another good weekend like that.

“As for the track itself, it presents some interesting challenges with the tight low-speed corners contrasting with the faster infield corners at Turn 6 and 7. Also, the significant elevation changes add to the challenge and make some of the braking zones tricky.

Fernando Alonso hopes to build on his second place finish in the Canadian Grand Prix two weeks ago with another strong performance this weekend at the Red Bull Ring.

The Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula 1 Team driver finished strongly in Canada despite unwarranted concerns over his fuel system, and he believes the team will be able to show good pace once more this weekend in Austria.

Alonso currently sits third in the Drivers’ Championship after the first eight races of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the same position Aston Martin hold in the Constructors’ battle, and the Spaniard is keen to help them improve and take the battle to the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team in second.

“It was great to return to the podium in Canada,” said Alonso.  “The upgrades we brought to the car seemed to be working well and we will continue to optimise the setup as we go into Austria.

“It’s a fast and short lap here and it usually provides some good racing and overtaking. You have to be careful of the run-off areas and try to avoid damage to the cars with the harsh kerbs.

Don "Big Daddy" Garlits, born on January 14, 1932, is a legendary figure in the world of drag racing. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest drag racers of all time and is often referred to as the "Father of Drag Racing." Here are some key highlights of Don "Big Daddy" Garlits' career:

1. Innovations and Pioneering Spirit: Garlits was known for his relentless pursuit of speed and his innovative approach to dragster design. In 1957, he introduced the revolutionary rear-engine dragster, shifting the driver from the traditional front-engine layout to the rear. This innovation significantly improved safety and vehicle performance, forever changing the sport.

2. Records and Championships: Throughout his career, Garlits set numerous records and won multiple championships. He won a total of 17 NHRA Top Fuel championships, the most in NHRA history. His pursuit of speed resulted in multiple record-breaking runs, including becoming the first driver to surpass the 170 mph, 180 mph, 200 mph, and 270 mph barriers.

3. Swamp Rat: Garlits' dragsters, often referred to as "Swamp Rat" cars, became iconic in the world of drag racing. He continuously refined and improved his dragster designs, pushing the boundaries of performance. The Swamp Rat series of dragsters became synonymous with Garlits' success and innovation.

4. Wynn's Jammer: Garlits partnered with Wynn's Friction Proofing to create the Wynn's Jammer dragster, which helped popularize corporate sponsorship in drag racing. This partnership showcased the potential for sponsorships in motorsports and paved the way for future collaborations between racers and companies.

Sébastien Loeb and Nasser Al-Attiyah are rivals in the World Rally-Raid Championship, but are more than happy to help each other out when needed. With Al-Attiyah continuing his quest for the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas on 8/9 July, Loeb will substitute for him in the #125 ABT CUPRA XE machine at Extreme E‘s Island X Prix.

Ironically, the scheduling conflict is between races in Italy as the Cross-Country Bajas is running the Italian Baja in the northern part of the country. The Island X Prix takes place on the island of Sardinia west of the Italian Peninsula.

Loeb is the reigning Extreme E champion, winning the 2022 title for X44 alongside Cristina Gutiérrez with a victory in the Copper X Prix. He was replaced by series reserve driver Fraser McConnell for the 2023 season as X44 switched from Prodrive to Carlin for technical support; Loeb races for Prodrive in the W2RC.

With Loeb and Gutiérrez, the latter also a W2RC racer, X44 finished sixth and second in the 2022 Island X Prix doubleheader. In joining ABT CUPRA, he will partner with Klara Andersson, whom he races against in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

“I’m looking forward to returning to Extreme E after two seasons in the past,” said Loeb. “It’s a competition that’s similar to rallycross, so I think I’ll be on the pace and ready to fight. It’s also going to be great to discover a new team and meet up with Klara again.”

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Principal Günther Steiner said that the team is focused on finding a balance between their strong qualifying results and weaker race day performance, with Nico Hülkenberg crossing the line in fifteenth place after starting fifth at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Steiner added that the team has found some “leads” as to why VF-23 can put up a front row qualifying result but struggles to remain in the points, and said that once they nail down what the cause is, they will take that finding into account as they develop next year’s car. 

“We’re investigating the very good performance we have in qualifying and not-so-good performance during the race at the moment. We’re trying to pinpoint it but for the next races we’re maybe going to try and find a sweeter spot between the two sessions, qualifying and the race, so something in the middle. We’re working hard on it and trying to find out what we can do over the next races to make it better.

“We’ve got a few leads and for sure it will impact the VF-24 design. We obviously have to take that feature out of the car next year.”

Both Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen have played a key role in this investigation according to Steiner, who said that they remain optimistic that they’ll be able to solve the issue that is causing such high tyre degradation and a lack of race pace.

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team’s Kevin Magnussen is excited to take on another sprint weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix, and said that he enjoys the heightened intensity that the “fast-paced” schedule provides.

“I’m looking forward to another Sprint. I like Sprint events, there’s more stuff happening throughout the weekend and the pressure is on straight away after the first practice. You’re really performing and battling for important stuff. 

Magnussen noted the importance of getting the first and only practice session right, with the first competitive session right at its heels with qualifying. 

“Even FP1 has way more pressure because it’s the only practice you get so you have to find your rhythm and hit your marks early on and quickly to maximize your rhythm for qualifying. It’s just a more focused and more fast-paced weekend, and I quite enjoy that.” 

Having achieved two points finishes in Austria with Haas, Magnussen said that he is unsure why the Red Bull Ring tends to be a good track for him, but hopes that he will find similar success this year as he has had previously. 

One of the most famous and iconic motorcycle races in the world is the Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy). It is an annual event held on the Isle of Man, a small island located in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. Here are some key details about the Isle of Man TT:

1. History: The Isle of Man TT has a rich history dating back to 1907, making it one of the oldest and most prestigious motorcycle races. It has a reputation for its challenging course, high speeds, and dangerous nature, which has contributed to its allure.

2. Course: The race takes place on the public roads of the Isle of Man, covering a 60.73-kilometer (37.73-mile) circuit known as the Snaefell Mountain Course. The course features a combination of twisty narrow roads, fast straights, and treacherous mountain sections, including the famous mountain climb and descent.

3. Categories: The Isle of Man TT includes various categories of races, including Superbike, Supersport, Superstock, and Lightweight races. These categories determine the type of motorcycles and specifications that can participate.

4. Speed and Records: The Isle of Man TT is known for its incredible speeds. Riders often reach speeds exceeding 320 km/h (200 mph) on certain sections of the course. The race has seen numerous records set and broken over the years, with lap times and average speeds continuously improving.

The Dakar Rally is exclusively held in Saudi Arabia (for now?), but some would say the rally truly begins in Europe as teams congregate their vehicles at a port there before boarding ships to the race location. According to a report from TV3, this port will move to Barcelona, Spain, for the 2024 edition. The Amaury Sport Organisation has not confirmed the news.

The port of departure was traditionally the Marseille-Fos in France, providing a lingering connection to the rally’s roots when it began in Paris before racing to Dakar in Senegal.

Teams bring their cars and bikes to the port—itself a process that showcases the grid’s diversity as larger operations haul their vehicles in trucks while privateers and traditionalists directly drive them to France—where they receive initial inspection. For the 2024 Rally, the port will be open at the end of November.

Once everyone is approved and accounted for, which takes a month to complete, the vehicles are loaded onto ferries that will take them across the Mediterranean to Yanbu in Saudi Arabia. Shakedowns are scheduled for 2/3 January, followed by final technical scrutineering on 3/4 January. The race begins on 5 January.

Barcelona first hosted the Dakar Rally in 1989, with teams arriving from Paris for the Prologue stage which went through Avinguda Meridiana, Carrer d’Aragó, and Carrer de Tarragona. The city did so again in 2005, beginning at the Venetian Towers and running to Castelldefels. Vehicle checks for the latter took place at the Palau Sant Jordi.

Spencer Pumpelly will make his return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Saturday at the Chicago Street Course, driving the #07 Chevrolet Camaro for SS-Green Light Racing. Somewhat ironically, the Chevrolet will be sponsored by Sam Sweis‘ Volkswagen dealerships in Orland Park and Oak Lawn.

Pumpelly has been tasked as a road course ringer in the Xfinity Series since 2021, racing for JD Motorsports and SSGLR with a best finish of nineteenth at COTA in his maiden series start. However, his starts afterwards have been plagued by misfortune as he has not finished an Xfinity race since and failed to qualify in his latest attempt at Watkins Glen in 2022.

He raced for SSGLR at the 2022 Portland event, where he was involved in a late crash and finished twenty-ninth.

“We are looking forward to having Spencer back with us this weekend in Chicago,” team owner Bobby Dotter stated. “We had Spencer in our car at Portland last year, and he did a good job all weekend, and we’re confident that we can do that again this weekend. Racing in downtown Chicago is a big deal for myself personally, as a Chicago native, so running well here would really be a great feeling.”

In his main trade, Pumpelly is one of the top GTD drivers in IMSA with a pair of class wins at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. He finished second in class in the most recent edition in January; one of his team-mates Andy Lally is also a NASCAR road course specialist. Pumpelly has also raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, making four starts in the 2010s with a best finish of fourth in GTE Am in 2012 and 2018.

After a year’s hiatus, the 2023 FIA World Rallycross Championship makes a welcome return to Höljes, Sweden. Around 50,000 fans are expected to attend the Magic Weekend as the chasing pack attempt to halt runaway championship leader Johan Kristoffersson.

For rallycross fans, the Höljes Motorstadion needs no introduction, having hosted rallycross events there since 1976. The iconic banked Velodrome, the fast gravel downhill section, and the jump into the last corner have all seen plenty of action over the years and have contributed to the track’s iconic status. Per Eklund won the track’s first event, and the history of Swedish drivers doing well at their home event continues to this day. Both Kristoffersson and compatriot Timmy Hansen have secured top honours here before, most recently when Hansen took victory at the last event in 2021.

Fans are already at the track, setting up the so-called ‘Happy Street’ connecting the circuit to the campsite area, where the legendary party atmosphere will continue long after the day’s racing has finished. However, the on-track action promises to be just as scintilating.

As has become a theme of these event previews, the smart money for victory must still be on Kristoffersson. He remains unbeaten in all SuperPole sessions in World RX history, and has secured two dominant victories in Montalegre and Hell, giving him a thirteen point lead as the championship heads into round 3. The nearest man to him in the championship is Finland’s Niclas Grönholm. The CE Dealer Team driver has been the very model of consistency so far this season, having achieved a podium finish in both events so far. The question remains as to whether he can actually take the fight to Kristoffersson and take that elusive victory from him.

Grönholm’s teammate, Klara Andersson, has been equally impressive this season. Currently fourth in the championship, she has proven herself against the rest of the field, taking the fight to them, including some excellent battles with her hero Sébastian Loeb. Loeb himself will be wanting to propel his Lancia Delta Evo-e RX1 further up the field than he has so far. The 9-time World Rally champion has demonstrated excellent pace so far this season, but has yet to convert that into a decent result. Unlike Timo Scheider, who put in a superb performance in Hell to finish on the podium in his 2022-spec SEAT Ibiza. He will be desperate to repeat that success.

Borja Pérez Casimiro hopes to make his Dakar Rally début in 2024, and plans on taking that step by entering the Rallye du Maroc in October. The latter is typically used as a dress rehearsal for Dakar Rally competitors and is the final leg of the Road to Dakar programme, which grants free Dakar admission to the best riders with no prior experience in that rally.

Pérez comes from a background in motocross, while also having competed in enduro and cross-country rally. In 2022, he was one of six riders from Melilla competing in the Campeonato de España de Cross Country (Spanish Cross Country Championship); he finished fifth in the 2021 edition.

Melilla is a Spanish autonomous city along the border of Morocco, making the Rallye du Maroc a natural stop for Pérez. In April, he ran the Morocco Desert Challenge and finished twenty-fourth overall; in an interview with El Faro de Melilla, he called completing the race “a great surprise” as “only 40% of the participants managed to finish it completely. It was the largest beast of a competition that I have run. It is already a very tough test and the weather took it to the extreme with the consequences that you already know.”

He is also the vice president of the Federación Melillense de Motocicliso, Melilla’s motorcycling federation.

“t will not be easy but with the experience I have gained, I know what points I have to work on to improve,” Pérez continued. “It is an extreme discipline that exhausts your body and mind, and the feeling of finishing each stage is an enormous satisfaction that cannot be described.”

Mario Isola says drivers will need to work hard to manage their tyres this weekend at the Red Bull Ring so not to overheat them, with the roughness of the track and the quickness of a lap giving them little to no rest.

Lap times in dry Qualifying conditions will be a little over a minute long, the shortest lap time on the FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar, and driving around ten corners in such little time puts a lot of strain on Pirelli’s tyres.

Isola, the Motorsport Director at Pirelli, says getting good traction and braking are key elements of getting a good lap time on the board around the Spielberg track, but managing the tyres to avoid overheating is also important.

“The Red Bull Ring is a circuit where tyres get no rest,” said Isola.  “The cars race through the track’s 10 corners in a lap time of just over a minute, and the few straights mean that there is little reprieve for the tyres.

“The asphalt has a fairly high micro and macro roughness, due to the age of the surface, while grip is high at the start of the lap. Traction and braking are key elements, while particular attention will have to be paid to managing tyre overheating.

On 22 June, The Checkered Flag spoke with Justin Gerlach as he prepares to compete in the Rallye Breslau and complete the application process to race in the 2024 Dakar Rally.

The full transcript of the interview is available below. Some text has been altered from the actual dialogue to improve readability and remove verbal pauses.

An article on the interview can be read here.

Transcript

TCF: Tell us a little bit about your career so far, like how you got into rally and how the plans to race Dakar came together.

JG: Back then, it all started when I was five years old. I got a motorcycle for my birthday. I didn’t really expect it, but that’s probably where it all started. My parents decided that I should try that out. It just was a hobby for a very long time. I did some local races and just trained a bit together with my father. Just for many years, I switched to bikes, got a little bigger, but I was just like, ‘It was really a hobby for me.’

The period between the 2023 and 2024 Dakar Rallies has been a curious stretch for Team Audi Sport as they returned to the drawing board following a disastrous showing at the former. After testing in May to examine what specifically went wrong, the team will now have a bone tossed at them by the FIA.

According to reports from MARCA, the FIA has agreed to provide the Audi RS Q e-tron E2 with more power for the 2024 Rally under Equivalence of Technology. The car will now run on 286 kW, a 23-kW increase from what the team began the 2023 race with.

Equivalence of Technology, equivalent to Balance of Power seen in sports car racing, is a system intended to level the playing field between the top-level T1+ and T1.U classes; the former is for petrol-based vehicles while electric cars like Audi’s fall under the latter. Although alternative fuel sources are growing in popularity in recent years, gasoline and internal combustion still remain the premier choice for performance reasons. Indeed, T1+ has dominated the World Rally-Raid Championship and Dakar, with the Toyota Hilux T1+ winning both in 2022 as well as the 2023 Rally while the Prodrive Hunter won seven stages at the latter race.

Under Article 13.3 of the W2RC regulations, EoT can be applied by the W2RC Committee either between races or every three stages of at least 150 km for marathon rallies such as Dakar. The latter is a four-day process, using the three stages to accumulate data on T1+ and T1.U entries before implementing the EoT changes on the fourth to roll out for the fifth.

However, its first usage in Stage #5 of the 2023 Rally proved highly controversial as Audi’s car was upgraded to have 266 kW, an eight-kW increase. Toyota protested the decision, though ironically ended up dominating the rally the rest of the way.

It feels like common sense that if you’re going to take out another driver on purpose for any reason, publicly relaying that threat beforehand is not going to please NASCAR.

Unfortunately for Sheldon Creed, telling his team about wanting to wreck Sammy Smith and then delivering on it has costed him. On Tuesday, NASCAR announced Creed has received a 25-point penalty for such an action, dropping him from seventh to eighth in the standings. Specifically, it was deemed a violation of Section 4.4.B of the rulebook that prohibits “attempting to manipulate the outcome of the Race or championship” and “wrecking or spinning another vehicle, whether or not that vehicle is removed from Competition as a result.”

The incident occurred during Saturday’s Xfinity Series event at Nashville Superspeedway. Dissatisfied with Smith’s driving, Creed told his #2 Richard Childress Racing team over the radio that Smith “is trying to get wrecked. I’m calm but I mean this nicely, if he holds it on my door on entry like that again, I’m going to slow down and turn right.”

Although his team warned that NASCAR “will bust your ass for that,” Creed carried out his warning anyway on lap 69, moving up in turn two and clipping Smith in the right rear. The contact sent Smith spinning into the outside wall before Creed spun too, the latter being hit by Brandon Jones as he tried to weave between them.

While Creed was able to recover and finish seventeenth, Smith retired in thirty-fourth.