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Esteban Ocon feels his 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season was his best year so far in the sport, and all that was missing from it was a top three finish.

Ocon finished eighth in the Drivers’ Championship with ninety-two points, with his best finish coming in the Japanese Grand Prix when he finished fourth, and his performances helped the BWT Alpine F1 Team secure fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship.

The Frenchman says the targets the team set out were accomplished during the 2022 season, and he hopes they can build on their performance in 2023.

“I think it does,” Ocon is quoted as saying by Motorsport.com when asked if 2022 represented his best season in Formula 1.  “The only thing that I missed this year is in the end a podium. But for different circumstances we didn’t get those, but hopefully we can get some of that next year.

“All the targets that we set ourselves are accomplished. We finished fourth in the constructors’ championship. It is also my best season in Formula 1 in terms of points.

Tom McCullough insists it is unrealistic that the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team can challenge for the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in 2023, and he says Fernando Alonso accepts that.

Alonso has joined Aston Martin after leaving the BWT Alpine F1 Team at the end of 2022, the Spaniard coming in to replace the now-retired Sebastian Vettel.

Having already said that the 2023 car will be significantly different to what was seen on track in 2022, McCullough, the Performance Director of the Silverstone-based team, says they are keeping their feet firmly on the floor heading into next season.

McCullough says it would be great for Aston Martin to begin challenging the top three teams on the grid – Oracle Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Ferrari and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team – on a regular basis, and from there, only then can they think of fighting for championships.

“I think fighting for World Championships next year is, let’s be realistic, that isn’t going to happen,” McCullough is quoted as saying by PlanetF1.com.  “We’re on a journey. We are growing as a team. We’re getting stronger as a team. I think Fernando is going to add significantly to that as well.

As the division responsible for Toyota‘s NASCAR operations, Toyota Racing Development will provide full factory support for five Xfinity Series cars in 2023, an increase from four the previous year. Announced Thursday, TRD will continue to back three Toyota GR Supras for Joe Gibbs Racing while Sam Hunt Racing expands to two.

With Xfinity champion Ty Gibbs graduating to the Cup Series, his #54 has been replaced by the #20 which will be piloted by John Hunter Nemechek. Nemechek spent the last two seasons in the Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports, winning seven races and the 2021 regular season championship. He also ran a part-time Xfinity schedule for JGR and SHR, winning with the former at Texas in 2021 and recording the latter’s best race finishes to date with a pair of top fives.

2023 will be Nemechek’s second full season in the Xfinity Series after placing seventh in points in 2019 with GMS Racing.

“I’m appreciative of the opportunity to get back to competing full time in the Xfinity Series,” said Nemechek. “JGR is a group that I know I can win with after getting that win at Texas in 2021. I’m excited to get to work on the 2023 season so we can go out and win some races and compete for a championship.”

JGR’s #18 and #19 swap roles as Sammy Smith will run for Rookie of the Year honours in the former, which was previously their multi-driver car. This role will now be filled by the #19—vacated by Brandon Jones‘ move to JR Motorsports—with Ryan Truex as the first confirmed driver with six starts planned. Like Nemechek, Truex raced for both SHR and JGR in 2022 with one and five starts respectively, recording a best finish of third at Atlanta in the JGR #18.

Anticipation for Season Nine of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is building incredibly quickly, with virtually all the teams having released their Gen3 challengers to the world.

Friday has seen two launches ahead of the exciting start to the Gen3 era, with the returning ABT CUPRA Formula E Team having released their livery during the start of the morning. The Germans have since been joined by the NIO 333 Formula E Team, who have released a serious contender for the best looking car on the grid, titled the ER9.

NIO have launched a stunning turquoise-based livery, which features splashes of red, blue, white and black, with the design having features which represent the team’s Chinese roots. It is an incredibly good looking car and one that NIO really hope will take them back into the midfield and perhaps even further than that. Gen2 wasn’t the kindest to the side, who were a regular backmarker throughout the second generation of the all-electric series.

However, Gen3 is a fresh start for all the teams and gives NIO a much needed opportunity to get back into the point-scoring positions. From the outside, there seems to be a real sense of optimism around the NIO camp, with the side having posted regular videos of the ER9 during private testing. This portrays a real sense of confidence amongst the team, who’ll be dreaming of returning to the highs they achieved in Season One when Nelson Piquet Jr. claimed the inaugural Drivers’ Championship.

Whilst a title in Gen3 is likely a step too far, the side do boast a young and exciting line-up, which consists of Dan Ticktum and the rapid Sérgio Sette Câmara. Ticktum remains with the team for his second season in Formula E, whilst Sette Câmara is making the switch from Dragon/Penske Autosport. If the car is up to scratch then the young duo could really shine in Season Nine, something they’ll be aspiring to do.

ABT Sportsline‘s highly anticipated return to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is edging ever closer, with the Germans having revealed their livery for the upcoming Season Nine and the start of Gen3.

It wasn’t just a livery reveal for ABT, though, as they announced that Spanish automaker CUPRA would be collaborating with their Formula E project, highlighting an extremely exciting time for those involved with the ABT CUPRA Formula E Team. The two are already partners in Extreme E and claimed a famous win at the season finale in Uruguay a couple of weeks ago, with the pair set for a new adventure together.

With Robin Frijns having switched from Envision Racing and the returning Nico Mueller forming the team’s line-up, the side are understandably “looking forward” to getting going in Mexico City on 14th January.

“We are happy and also proud to have CUPRA at our side for our Formula E comeback,” said Hans-Juergen Abt, CEO of ABT SE.

“Our two brands have enjoyed a close and successful partnership for years on the racetrack and on the road, which is now reaching a new level. We are looking forward to the new adventure and I am sure we will attract a lot of attention on and off the racetrack.” 

NEOM McLaren XE‘s début season in the Extreme E ended on a strong note when Emma Gilmour and Tanner Foust overcame a practice wreck to finish runner-up in the Energy X Prix. On Thursday, the team announced the duo will return for the 2023 season.

“I’ve had an incredible first season with McLaren in 2022. We’ve really grown as a team, and it was lovely to be rewarded with a podium finish in Uruguay,” said Gilmour. “I’m excited to be staying with McLaren for 2023 and can’t wait to get stuck into some new races while educating our audiences about the damaging effects of climate change.”

The team was formed in June 2021. Gilmour is the first female driver to be a part of McLaren Racing at any division, joining the team after being Veloce Racing‘s reserve and making two starts in 2021. Conversely, Foust—an American rally and drift icon—was brand new to Extreme E

“It’s been awesome to be part of McLaren and Extreme E in 2022 and I’m thrilled to be racing again for the team in 2023,” commented Foust. “It’s been so much fun to race in some exciting locations with Emma and the team, while educating and inspiring sustainable action. I’m excited to see what 2023 holds.”

Their 2022 began with a bang when they made the Final in the opening Desert X Prix. After falling short of repeating in either of the Island X Prix rounds, McLaren rebounded to return to the Final at the Copper X Prix, during which they also earned bonus points for the Continental Traction Challenge. At the Energy X Prix, they finished second ahead of champion X44 to place fifth in the championship.

Dutch fans will be able to see their heroes close up for at least three more years after Circuit Zandvoort signed a new contract to host Grand Prix until the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season.

The Dutch Grand Prix was initially scheduled to return to the Formula 1 schedule in 2020 but the race was one of those to be cancelled due to the outbreak of coronavirus.  The first race at the track took place in 2021, with home hero Max Verstappen taking victory for Oracle Red Bull Racing, a feat he would repeat in 2022.

Zandvoort’s initial contract was set to expire after the 2023 event, which will see two Dutch drivers competing in Verstappen and Nyck de Vries, who will make his full-time debut in Formula 1 with Scuderia AlphaTauri after being brought in to replace the BWT Alpine F1 Team-bound Pierre Gasly.

“We are looking forward to the upcoming Grands Prix,” said Jan Lammers, the Sporting Director of the Dutch Grand Prix and a former Formula 1 racer. 

“With great races in which Dutch fans can now enjoy no less than two Dutch drivers. Of course, we will again offer an extensive and surprising entertainment program. With this we are again offering the ultimate race festival.

Toby Price and Paul Weel‘s 2022 Baja 1000 literally went up in flames when their Trophy Truck caught fire after 170 miles, but they will be back in 2023 with a more than capable truck. On Thursday, the Team Australia duo revealed they had purchased Andy McMillin‘s Trophy Truck as McMillin ends his full-time racing career.

McMillin, a five-time Baja 1000 champion, announced his retirement from full-time competition on Wednesday and that he had sold his truck. The truck, a Chevrolet AM31, uses motors from Joe Gibbs Racing and is a Mason Motorsports AWD like the one Team Australia ran at the Baja 1000. Price and Weel previously raced a Geiser Brothers 2WD at the Vegas to Reno and Baja 400.

“Team Australia is back in the game, Paul is not giving up that easy. He loves this sport and got amazing people behind him,” wrote Price. “Huge big thanks to Andy McMillin, we wish you all the best mate and I’m sure it’s not the end of the #31. Team Australia is ready to go again after our bad run in the Baja 1000 this year.”

2022 marked Weel’s first season competing in SCORE International while Price has occasionally dabbled in the series since 2012. Price finished runner-up in the 2019 Baja 1000 alongside Nasser Al-Attiyah, both of whom have won the Dakar Rally.

When Weel made his racing return in 2020 after taking the previous decade off, he began taking part in desert events with Best in the Desert and the Australian Off Road Championship. The two have competed against each other in AORC and the Stadium Super Trucks.

With Season Nine of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship rapidly approaching, the Avalanche Andretti Formula E Team have become the latest outfit to reveal their Gen3 challenger to the world, with it boasting a bold red and black livery.

Following a strong Season Eight, which saw Jake Dennis claim sixth in the Drivers’ Championship and a flawless victory at the London E-Prix, the American side will have high hopes to start Gen3 with a bang, especially as they are officially a Porsche customer side.

Following a sixth place finish in the Constructors’ Championship last season, Avalanche Andretti have switched to Porsche powertrains for Season Nine and the new regulations, which has also seen the experienced André Lotterer brought into the side, replacing Oliver Askew. After building in stature throughout the final year of Gen2, Avalanche Andretti have a perfect chance to stake their claim in the Season Nine title, with everybody being on a level playing field when it comes to race data.

Season Nine will be Dennis’ third with the American outfit, with the British driver recognising the importance of “getting up to speed” as “quick as possible”, with so much to be learnt with the new era of Formula E cars.

“I’m looking forward to my third season with Avalanche Andretti Formula E. Season 9 brings a lot of changes and getting up to speed with these changes as quick as possible will allow us to excel in the field. Everyone starts on a level playing field and the new racetracks on the calendar will also be a challenge for everyone. I’m excited to get started and working with my new teammate to get us right to the front of the field.”

Albert Park will continue to hold the only race in Australia despite a pitch from South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas about Adelaide possibly re-joining the FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar in 2023 to replace the cancelled Chinese Grand Prix.

The streets of Adelaide last held a Grand Prix back in 1995, with every race since being held at Albert Park in Melbourne.  Damon Hill took both the last victory in the season closing Adelaide race in 1995 and the first win in Albert Park, which was the season opener in 1996.

Malinauskas said that Adelaide would be willing to host a race again in 2023, feeling it would be a great opportunity for South Australia to have Formula 1 back in the state.

“Naturally, we’re alive to any opportunity that may present itself, and we will put our best foot forward as a state when it comes to our position on the international calendar when it comes to major events,” Malinauskas said to Speedcafe.

However, Andrew Westacott, the Chief Executive of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, has poured cold water on that speculation, revealing that the recent contract extension signed between Formula 1 and Albert Park that runs until 2035 prevents any other venue hosting a race in Australia.

Zak Brown does not believe the Chinese Grand Prix should be replaced unless the right race can be found to fill the void in the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar.

For the fourth consecutive year, the race at the Shanghai International Circuit has been removed from the Formula 1 schedule due to the COVID-19 regulations in China, with restrictions on positive cases meaning it would have been difficult for the sport to come to the country.

The last Chinese Grand Prix was held prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 back in 2019 when it hosted the sports one thousandth Grand Prix, and in the announcement made last month about it’s 2023 cancellation, the statement from Formula 1 said: “Formula 1 is assessing alternative options to replace the slot on the 2023 calendar and will provide an update on this in due course.”

The Portuguese Grand Prix at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve and the Turkish Grand Prix at Intercity Istanbul Park – both tracks held races in 2020 and 2021 as replacement races for cancelled events – have been touted as replacement venues, whilst some are calling for the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit to return to the calendar for the first time since the 2017 season.

Whilst Brown, the CEO of the McLaren F1 Team, says that the cancellation of the Chinese race is a shame, Formula 1 would be wise to ensure any replacement venue is suitable for the championship and any race should be brought in not just to fill the gap.

Buggyra Tatra Racing will field three trucks at the 2023 Dakar Rally, adding another familiar face in Martin Šoltys. Šoltys will drive the #503 Tatra 815 with Roman Krejčí as his co-driver and David Hoffmann as mechanic.

Šoltys made his Dakar début in 2018 with Buggyra, and recorded stage finishes as high as fifth (Stage #1 in 2020). He departed Buggyra for Big Shock Racing’s IVECO PowerStar in 2022, but failed to finish after retiring six legs in.

“I was given the opportunity to take part in the construction of a new special that adheres to the proven Tatra draft,” said Šoltys. “To save weight, we went back to the cab from the Tatra 815, which is lighter compared to Phoenix. We will have our Gyrtech engine with an Allison automatic transmission. Thanks to the fact that I have been involved in the construction of this car from the beginning, I know it down to the last screw. This could help us solve any technical problems well during Dakar.”

Buggyra’s Truck programme was unveiled in November at the Rudolfinum in Prague, albeit with no driver confirmed for the Tatra 815. Jaroslav Valtr will race the #505 Tatra Phoenix, also making his return to the team after last racing for them in 2016. Radovan Kazarka is running the Dakar Classic in the #900 Tatra Puma.

The team will also field two Can-Ams for Aliyyah and Yasmeen Koloc in the T3 category.

After five Baja 1000 victories and many more victories in the desert, Andy McMillin is calling it a career. On Wednesday, he announced he will retire from full-time competition and has sold his Trophy Truck. While this does leave the door open for an occasional return, he will no longer pursue the SCORE International World Desert Championship or other related titles.

“This was not an easy decision by any means, probably the hardest of my life actually, but is one that is best for my family and I at this time,” said McMillin.

“Racing is in my blood and is my passion; I still think about it non-stop and I don’t think that will ever change. We are keeping our pre-run trucks, chase trucks and all of our pit equipment because I know I’d still like to race in the longer races in whatever capacity or opportunity presents itself.

“I look forward to lots more pre-running adventures with my dad and soon my own kids. Sharing the culture and adventure of Baja is really why we do all of of this to begin with.

“I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who believed in me, entrusted me to pay their paychecks, represent their brands, chased me around Baja and supported me in the races from near and far. None of this would have been possible without any of you.

The calendar for the 2023 FIA World Rallycross Championship has been revealed, featuring the welcome return of some classic rallycross circuits. After being ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, the calendar includes a mix of old favourites, returning venues from last year, and a brand new venue in Asia.

Following a successful debut year for the all-new electric RX1e class, the championship promises to blend old with new in its tenth season in 2023. The action kicks off on familiar ground. Just like 2022, the first round is a standalone FIA European Rallycross Championship event at Nyriád, Hungary’s “red cauldron.” Then the WRX action begins in Hell, Norway, in mid-June. The Magic Weekend remains on the calendar, as the championship makes its way to Höljes, Sweden, for round two. Appropriately enough, this will be the championships 100th round, so expect a great event full of celebrations.

Round three finally sees rallycross come home, as the championship heads back to Britain for the first time since 2019. The championship so far features no Formula 1 circuits manipulated to suit rallycross, but is instead on proper purpose built rallycross tracks, including the iconic birthplace of rallycross: Lydden Hill. From there, the series moves to Belgium, not to Spa-Francorchamps as in the last few years, but back to Mettet, one of the original WRX circuits, back for the first time since 2018. The ever-popular Montalegre, Portugal, in its newly configured form, will be round five of the championship

The third iconic track making a comeback is Estering, Germany, site of such memorable moments as Kevin “Round The Outside” Eriksson earning his nickname at turn one in 2016, and Andreas Bakkerud somehow limping home in his Ford Focus RX, despite major damage to one of his wheels. For the final rounds, the championship heads outside of Europe for the first time in its new electric era. Treading familiar ground, the penultimate event weekend will be at Killarney International Raceway, South Africa, scene of the closest ever finish to the championship as Bakkerud and Timmy Hansen finished absolutely equal on points. Finally, the series heads to Asia for a round at an as-yet undisclosed venue.

Arne Dirks, executive director of Rallycross Promoter GmbH, believes the calendar “represents the very best of rallycross and…has been the subject of a huge effort behind the scenes in recent months.” Speaking of the mix of circuits this year, Dirks said “we have been committed to returning to Cape Town to showcase World RX in front of the enthusiastic South African fans, and we are hugely excited to be adding a new event in Asia to the line-up, which truly underscores the series’ World Championship credentials. At the same time, the re-introduction of three charismatic European venues in Lydden Hill, Mettet and Estering reflects our desire to celebrate rallycross’ rich heritage and traditions while embracing the sport’s electric future.”

With the ninth season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship just around the corner, the calendar for the first season of the new era of the sport has been completed, following the addition of the first ever Portland E-Prix.

The Portland E-Prix completes the Season Nine calendar, with the race set to take place on the 24th June; however, the circuit is subject to homologation. It means that Season Nine and the first year of Gen3 will see four new host cities, with Portland joining Hyderabad, India, Cape Town in South Africa, and São Paulo in Brazil as new hosts.

Of course, India, South Africa, and Brazil are new countries for the series as well, unlike the United States. The USA has a long history with the all-electric championship, with previous races in the nation having taken place in Long Beach, Miami and New York City. Portland was confirmed on the calendar following a meeting of the FIA Motor Sport Council, who also announced that a location in Seoul, South Korea, is being looked into for Season Ten following construction to the Season Eight circuit that was used.

Going back to the news about Portland, Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer, Formula E is “excited” to announce that the USA will be remaining on the calendar next season, with it being an “important market” for the sport. The race will also be a home event for the Avalanche Andretti Formula E Team.

“We are excited to bring the premier electric motorsport world championship to Portland for the first time in June next year. There is a big, passionate fanbase for professional sports in the city, together with strong ecological credentials which makes Portland a perfect host for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.