DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Sat, 20 Sep 2025 04:35:00 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-superbike-league-accelerates-towards-inaugural-season-with-200-qualified-riders-and-ducati-debut-639490.html Mumbai Sep 19 The Indian Superbike League ISBL the countrys first professional motorcycle racing league has taken a decisive step towards its maiden season picking up 200 riders for the official qualifying for Season 1 via rider classification rounds to distribute the 1200 entries it has drawn Rider classification rounds held in Ahmedabad Bangalore and Chennai have drawn an overwhelming 1200 entries across Pro Amateur Female and Rookie categories with 200 riders officially qualifying for Season 1This is the first time India has seen such a structured pathway for motorcycling talent Riders werent judged on speed alone but on fitness riding technique prior racing experience offtrack discipline and personality The goal is to create complete athletes who can match international standards both on and off the trackA standout moment came in Chennai where Ducati superbikes were rolled out on the track For many riders it was their first exposure to worldclass machinery a taste of the benchmark ISBL wants to set for Indian motorsport The move signals ISBLs commitment to delivering a professional ecosystem one that goes beyond racing to include infrastructure safety and internationallevel competitionPranav Bakre Director ISBL said The response has blown past our expectations What weve uncovered is an extraordinary reservoir of Indian talent that was waiting for the right stage Were building not just a league but a culture where speed discipline and sportsmanship come together With the Pune round around the corner were ready to open a new chapter for motorsport in IndiaISBL isnt just about a race weekend Its about creating a gateway for Indian riders to move from grassroots enthusiasm to professional international racing The leagues classification journey shows the appetite for a sport that has long lacked a structured platform in the country said a release issued on the occasionWith Pune set to complete the classification cycle all eyes now shift to the ISBLs muchanticipated inaugural season one that promises to redefine Indias place on the global motorcycling mapThe Indian Superbike League ISBL is Indias firstever professional motorcycle racing league poised to revolutionise the Indian motorsports landscape ISBL has been constructed to inspire innovate and inculcate an immaculate ecosystem that harnesses homegrown talent alongside giving a platform for riders technicians and motorsports professionals to excel in the global arena IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-superbike-league-accelerates-towards-inaugural-season-with-200-qualified-riders-and-ducati-debut-639490.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 20:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/mugello-podium-seals-pro-am-silver-for-mahaveer-raghunathan-at-italian-gt-championship-638825.html Mugello Sep 16 Indian racer Mahaveer Raghunathan made history at the Italian GT Endurance race in Mugello clinching a hardfought P3 overall and P2 in the PROAM class This performance secured him the runnerup spot in the 2025 Italian GT PROAM Endurance Championship making him the first and only Indian to achieve this milestone Raghunathan drove car number 51 for AF CORSE teamed with Lorenzo Ferrari and Riccardo Ponzio piloting a Ferrari 296 GT3 and the trio scored 12 points in the main race The race began with the AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 team starting from P2 after a great qualifying lap by Raghunathans teammate who held the position solidly through the first stint During his own stint Raghunathan faced intense challenges as several lapped GT Cup cars appeared just ahead after the pit window costing crucial time as he carefully overtook without contact Despite being compromised by traffic he executed the manoeuvres cleanly and preserved position with disciplined race craftThroughout his second stint Raghunathan displayed mature defensive skills including holding off a direct challenger for the entire stint while constantly navigating around slower GT Cup trafficespecially difficult on Mugellos tight and technical layoutReflecting on his performance Raghunathan noted significant improvements in handling traffic and race craft compared to earlier in the season setting a positive tone for the final rounds My main takeaway is to use everything Ive learned fighting with other cars having a good race craft and challenge for the title in the last two rounds of the Sprint championship Mahaveer statedThe focus now shifts to the final stages of the Italian GT Sprint championship with Raghunathan determined to fight for the top spot Im looking forward to being back on the podium in two weeks at Imolawhich will host the penultimate sprint roundand Im committed to bringing all my experience to the title fight Mahaveer Raghunathan concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/mugello-podium-seals-pro-am-silver-for-mahaveer-raghunathan-at-italian-gt-championship-638825.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/isrl-names-hyderabad-as-venue-for-round-two-637708.html Hyderabad Sep 10 The Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL on Wednesday announced Hyderabad as the host city for round 2 of the league naming GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium Gachibowli as the venue for races A symbolic exchange of the ISRL Helmet along with unveiling of the poster took place at the event reflecting the strong collaboration between the league and the State Government in promoting the states sporting ecosystemApplauding the role of ISRL in introducing internationalstandard recognised motorsport to Telangana Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari stated Telangana has always believed in empowering youth through sports by creating worldclass venues and training opportunities The GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium is a stateoftheart facility where dreams turn into reality and athletes are prepared to compete on the global stage for all sports Motorsport through ISRL is a shining example of how competitiveness in sport builds character resilience and individual growthBy opening Telanganas doors to such internationalstandard leagues we are diversifying opportunities creating jobs and ensuring the longterm sustainability of our investments These platforms ignite aspirations foster a culture of excellence and firmly place India and Hyderabad on the global sporting map he addedEeshan Lokhande cofounder of ISRL said This announcement is a testament to both our acceptance and the deeprooted passion for motorsport in this region With ISRL we aim to unlock remarkable sporting and entertainment opportunities for Hyderabad and its youth The support from the Government of Telangana and SATS reflects the states vision of building a vibrant sports ecosystem ISRL is more than just racing its about creating pathways for athletes inspiring the next generation and demonstrating that worldclass infrastructure in India can proudly host globalstandard sporting eventsVenues like this become revenue drivers for the government while private sector participation further strengthens the culture of investment in sports infrastructure Platforms such as ISRL contribute to the economic impact of motorsport tourism and create a meaningful pathway for youth development and skillbuildingFans can experience the thrill live this OctoberDecember across major Indian cities Pune Oct 2526 Hyderabad December 67 and Kerala December 2021With the rider lineup now sealed all roads lead to Pune in October 2025 as ISRL kicks off its second season promising an unparalleled mix of racing entertainment and fan engagement IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/isrl-names-hyderabad-as-venue-for-round-two-637708.html Wed, 10 Sep 2025 20:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/he-is-very-calculated-in-his-comments-rosberg-on-wolffs-criticism-of-antonelli-637684.html New Delhi Sep 10 Former world champion Nico Rosberg believes Toto Wolffs recent public criticism of Kimi Antonelli is a move by the Mercedes CEO and labelled his former boss as a very calculated man Although he admitted he was surprised by Wolffs comments Rosberg believes it is just a move to put pressure on the Italian driverIts a surprising one because at the moment the only choice you really have is to just give Kimi the most time possible in the most calm way possible and that means also not criticising him publiclyAnd so this change of tone from Toto for the first time ever usually theres a reason behind it Toto is very calculated in his comments Perhaps hes wanting to put some pressure on Kimi and his family to try a different approach modify their approach and review their approachBut the fact of the matter is Kimi is a generational talent we all know that but its more difficult for him than we all thought so far And its a bit strange that its still so difficult said Rosberg on Sky Sports The F1 ShowIn what is his first season in Formula 1 Kimi could not have been asked to fill the shoes of anyone bigger than Lewis Hamilton The 19yearold has scored 66 points across 16 race starts this season and currently sits in eighth position on the World Drivers Championship tableHamilton had labelled Antonellis outing at Monza in which he finished at ninth place as underwhelmingUnderwhelming this weekend Underwhelming You cant put the car in the gravel bed and expect to be there All of the race was underwhelming It doesnt change anything on my support and confidence in his future because I believe hes going to be very very very good But today was underwhelming said Wolff IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/he-is-very-calculated-in-his-comments-rosberg-on-wolffs-criticism-of-antonelli-637684.html Wed, 10 Sep 2025 18:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ekitike-ready-for-tough-competition-at-liverpool-with-isaks-signing-637125.html New Delhi Sep 8 Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has expressed enthusiasm over the clubs blockbuster signing of Alexander Isak calling the competition for places in the squad an exciting challenge The Swedish forward joined from Newcastle United in a British record deal worth 125 million pound while Ekitike himself became Liverpools thirdcostliest recruit of the summer after Isak and German midfielder Florian Wirtz who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for 100 million pound plus addonsEkitike has made a strong start to life at Anfield scoring three goals in his first four outings for the reigning Premier League championsSpeaking to reporters on Sunday Ekitike acknowledged the competition brought by record signing Isak but welcomed the challengeWhen you play for the best teams you inevitably expect to be competing with the best players Isak is a player I used to watch so seeing him arrive is a pleasure Its going to be tough competition but Im going to work hard to be good and perform well so that its just the coachs problem he saidThe French striker arrived this summer after an impressive 202425 season with Eintracht Frankfurt where he scored 15 goals in 33 Bundesliga matches earning himself a bigmoney move to LiverpoolEkitike is still awaiting news on whether he will earn his first senior start for France in Tuesdays clash against Iceland At club level the Liverpool striker has already indicated his willingness to be flexible with his role should another forward be brought into the lineupEkitike suggested the left flank as a potential position he could fill though that spot is currently occupied by Cody Gakpo who has started all four of Liverpools games this season contributing one goal and two assistsSpeaking to French media the 22yearold also admitted he relishes the added pressure and spotlight that comes with representing the reigning Premier League championsObviously my life has changed Its a big move and Im watched a thousand times more but Im taking it positively its really good Its the position I wanted to be in he saidWhen you have this kind of standard you have to show that you belong here and you have to continue to perform But its a position that I like and that I want to keep IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ekitike-ready-for-tough-competition-at-liverpool-with-isaks-signing-637125.html Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f2-racer-arvid-lindblad-proud-to-carry-indian-roots-on-global-stage-in-motorsports--637167.html New Delhi Sep 8 Eighteenyearold Formula 2 sensation Arvid Lindblad who has Indian roots from his mothers side is very proud to represent Indian heritage on a global stage and revealed that it is something he carries with him In an exclusive conversation with IANS Lindblad reflected on representing the Indian lineage and spoke on drawing inspiration from seventime World Champion Lewis Hamilton Im very proud of my Indian heritage My mum is Indian and Im very proud of that I carry that with me Ive been sort of raised in the UK but Ive been very close to my grandparents and really raised in Indian culture And its something Im very proud of Its something that is very much part of my life Lindblad told IANSHe currently sits in seventh spot in the FIA F2 Championship while driving for Campos RacingLindblad is also a part of Redbulls Junior Drivers Programme and is learning from the absolute best in the sport while also claiming he would not be where he is if it were not for the instrumental support of the team especially Helmut MarkoWhen it comes to drawing inspiration Lindblad did not have to look further than the only black driver in F1 history to win a World Championship let alone seven in Lewis HamiltonGrowing up Lewis was the one I sort of looked up to the most When I started karting there werent really many people of colour and I found that to be quite a nice link Also I thought it was cool His first year in F1 was the year I was born and he was doing very well when I started getting into the sport He was the one with whom I felt the closest relation in the beginning And then as Ive sort of come up through the ranks Id say that theres no one that I really idolise But Id say I just look up to them all he saidAny conversation regarding the greatest drivers in the sport is incomplete without threetime defending champion Max Verstappen I have an immense respect for them all I mean the level that the drivers compete at now in F1 is extremely high Obviously Max I think especially is competing at a really high level I mean what hes doing at the moment I think weve not really seen before in F1Lindblad stepped up to FIA Formula 2 with Campos Racing in 2025 after a lone season in Formula 3 where he finished fourth in the Drivers Championship thanks to his four victories After having already claimed the record of becoming the youngest to win a race in F3 he then went on to break the same record in F2 with a win in the 2025 Jeddah Sprint race The 18yearold reflected on the historic achievement whilst also claiming that being on top of the podium in F3 was more special in terms of contextIt was good to just sort of get the season started in Jeddah I mean obviously it was a special feeling to have broken another record like I did in F3 but Id say the record in F3 in my first race was a bit more special The record itself meant more than in F2 It was just nice to sort of have won the race knowing how challenging the step was and just to really get the season started he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f2-racer-arvid-lindblad-proud-to-carry-indian-roots-on-global-stage-in-motorsports--637167.html Mon, 08 Sep 2025 18:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-pierre-gasly-signs-contract-extension-with-alpine-636798.html Monza Sep 6 Pierre Gasly has committed his longterm future to Alpine by signing a contract extension that will see him race for the French manufacturer until at least the end of the 2028 campaign The 29yearold joined Alpine ahead of the 2023 season and has since scored two podiums while also playing a key role in helping the team secure sixth place in the Teams Championship last seasonIm thrilled to commit my longterm future to Alpine As a Frenchman especially driving for a French car company it makes me feel very proud Since I joined in 2023 I have always felt that this team is the right place to be for the future Gasly said in a statementFlavios support and belief in me Francois commitment to the Formula 1 project as well as the people we have in Enstone made this a natural decision and I want to be here in years to come and deliver on our joint objective to win races and World Championships Were all in this together and I look forward to continuing this special storyGaslys previous contract wasnt due to expire until the end of next season but both sides were keen to extend that deal by a further two years and so put pen to paper ahead of this weekends Italian Grand PrixAlpine Executive Advisor Briatore hailed Gaslys efforts at Alpine so far Since I returned to the team I have always stated how important it is to build and grow the competitiveness of BWT Alpine Formula One TeamWere well prepared for the new era of Formula 1 beginning in 2026 and now we have our lead driver confirmed to bring us well into the futurePierre has been an immense asset for the team during this challenging period I have been very impressed with his attitude dedication and talent and we look forward to continuing this project together for a long time said Briatore IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-pierre-gasly-signs-contract-extension-with-alpine-636798.html Sat, 06 Sep 2025 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/moto-gp-alex-marquez-stuns-with-lap-record-pole-at-catalan-grand-prix-636813.html Barcelona Sep 6 Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP delivered a sensational performance during qualifying for the Grand Prix of Catalonia storming to pole position with a new alltime lap record of 137536 The Spanish rider produced a phenomenal final sector to secure the top spot in front of a home crowd edging out Fabio Quartararo Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP and older brother Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo Team in a thrilling Q2 sessionQuartararo was one of the standout stories of the day having fought his way through a dramatic Q1 session The Frenchman clocked a 137906 to not only break the lap record at the time but also secure a place in Q2 He carried that momentum into the second session briefly taking provisional pole before Alex Marquezs late charge blew the field away It was a significant statement from Alex who looked confident and composed throughoutMarc Marquez meanwhile looked threatening in the closing stages but suffered a frontend scare at Turn 5 while chasing his brother in the final minutes Despite the moment he managed to hold onto a frontrow start setting the stage for an electric showdown between the two brothers and QuartararoQ1 had already delivered major shocks with big names like Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin failing to progress The session saw Quartararo and Fabio Di Giannantonio emerge from a starstudded field which included four former World Champions Bagnaia could only manage 11th while Martin settled for 8th both missing out on a chance to contest poleQ2 was equally chaotic with Pedro Acosta setting what appeared to be a new lap record before having it deleted for a track limits infringement Acosta eventually qualified fifth narrowly behind Franco Morbidelli who put in one of his best qualifying performances of the seasonWith a front row consisting of both Marquez brothers and a resurgent Quartararo the stage is set for a blockbuster race in Barcelona The Catalan crowd will be hoping for more fireworks when the lights go out for the Sprint and Grand Prix IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/moto-gp-alex-marquez-stuns-with-lap-record-pole-at-catalan-grand-prix-636813.html Sat, 06 Sep 2025 16:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-norris-goes-fastest-in-final-practice-session-ahead-of-monza-qualifier-636857.html Monza Sep 6 Lando Norris topped the timesheets in the final practice session at Monza ahead of the Italian Grand Prix posting a best lap of 1m 19331s Charles Leclerc thrilled the home Tifosi by finishing second just 0021s off the McLaren driver while Norris team mate Oscar Piastri claimed third 0165s adrift The session began slowly with most drivers spending the opening 10 minutes performing tyre scrubbing on hard compounds Focus quickly shifted to Qualifying simulations as the track evolved Lewis Hamilton carrying a fiveplace grid penalty from last weekend was among several driversalongside Norris Ollie Bearman Gabriel Bortoleto and Carlos Sainzto run wide at Turn 1 due to tailwind conditionsRacing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar was the first to switch to soft tyres but couldnt better team mate Yuki Tsunodas earlier time of 1m 20775s on hards Max Verstappen later surged ahead with a 1m 20040s on softs before improving to 1m 19688s although his lap was hampered by a wheeltowheel moment with Esteban Ocon during preparation lapsHamilton briefly moved up to second using mediums with Alex Albon going third on softs In the final 15 minutes Norris returned to the top with his 1m 19331s lap Piastri closed the gap but remained third ahead of Verstappen and George RussellLeclerc despite a scare at Lesmo 2 and an earlier oversteer at Parabolica recovered on softs to finish second Bortoleto impressed in sixth ahead of Hamilton Hadjar Kimi Antonelli and AlbonThe rest of the top 20 included Nico Hulkenberg Fernando Alonso Sainz Franco Colapinto and Tsunoda Liam Lawson ended 16th after floor damage repairs followed by Bearman Pierre Gasly Lance Stroll and OconNorris had topped the timesheets in the second free practice on Friday evening while Hamilton had the best time in the first sessionAll eyes now turn towards the Qualifying session scheduled to begin at 730 PM IST IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-norris-goes-fastest-in-final-practice-session-ahead-of-monza-qualifier-636857.html Sat, 06 Sep 2025 19:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-daniel-ricciardo-named-global-ambassador-for-ford-racing-636696.html London Sep 5 Former Formula 1 star Daniel Ricciardo has revealed his next career move joining Ford Racing as a global ambassador after stepping away from the grid last season Ricciardo an eighttime Grand Prix winner had kept a low profile since losing his F1 seat after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix He recently admitted he was on a bit of selfexploration while trying to figure out who I am beyond racing On Friday the 35yearold confirmed his new role with Ford Racing the highperformance division of the Ford Motor Company through social media posting a slick video alongside a short message Kicking back but always seeking the thrill Nothing does it better than a Ford Raptor Proud to be the newest ambassador of Ford RacingIn a blog post on the Ford Racing website Ricciardo elaborated on the collaboration While my racing days are behind me my love for anything with wheels will always remain high and for that I am proud to be partnering with Ford to become a Global Ford Racing Ambassador he wroteHe explained that his work would focus on one of Fords most popular performance brands I am going to be working closely with the Ford Racing team and specifically focus on the amazing Raptor brand and lifestyle that Raptor has become for many of Fords customersRicciardo also expressed enthusiasm for what lies ahead I couldnt be more excited for all the amazing drives ahead with Ford and for all the incredible projects Ford Racing has in its pipeline From F1 to Dakar and from Le Mans to Bathurst few companies have been at this for as long as you guys have From what I have seen we have an incredible future ahead and I am so proud to be joining the teamAcross a career spanning 257 F1 starts Ricciardo built a reputation as one of the sports most charismatic figures He recorded three pole positions eight victories 32 podiums and scored more than 1300 points while representing HRT Toro Rosso later AlphaTauriRB Red Bull Renault and McLaren IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-daniel-ricciardo-named-global-ambassador-for-ford-racing-636696.html Fri, 05 Sep 2025 20:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-monaco-grand-prix-to-run-on-calendar-until-2035-636658.html New Delhi Sep 5 Formula 1 on Friday announced a landmark extension that will keep the Monaco Grand Prix on the calendar until 2035 The deal builds on the existing agreement with the Automobile Club of Monaco which had been due to run through 2031Since its first inclusion in F1s inaugural season in 1950 the Monte Carlo race has stood as the jewel in the crown of the World Championship The narrow 33kilometre street circuit demands supreme skill and concentration from drivers while its glamour and setting in the heart of the Mediterranean make it one of the most famous sporting spectacles in the worldThe streets of Monaco have been echoing with the sound of Formula 1 since the earliest days of the sport so Im delighted to announce the extension of this fantastic event to 2035 said F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali It is an iconic race that is loved by all drivers and fans with a unique vibe thanks to its location on the worlds most glamorous PrincipalityI would like to say a special thank you to His Royal Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco Michel Boeri President of the Automobile Club of Monaco and everyone involved in securing the longterm future of this historic partnershipHis Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco hailed the renewal as a continuation of the Principalitys deeprooted sporting tradition The renewal of the Monaco Grand Prix until 2035 is in keeping with a sporting and historical tradition to which the Principality remains deeply attached he saidI can only welcome this renewed commitment which is testament to our collective success the excellence of our collaboration with Formula 1 and the unique place that Monaco occupies in the international motorsport landscapeMichel Boeri President of the Automobile Club of Monaco expressed his gratitude and underlined the significance of the new deal I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco for his unwavering support as well as to Stefano Domenicali for his continued trust Boeri saidThe Automobile Club de Monaco is delighted with this fouryear extension which reflects the strong and enduring relationship between Formula 1 and the Principality of Monaco This agreement reaffirms more than ever our commitment to delivering an exceptional unmatched and worldrenowned race weekend to the passionate fans who travel from all over the globe to attend the Monaco Grand Prix first held in 1929I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding work of the F1 community and all the volunteers as well as that of the Monegasque institutions whose involvement is essential to the success of this extraordinary eventThe Monaco Grand Prix continues to deliver moments of history In 2024 Charles Leclerc became the firstever Monegasque driver to win his home race while in 2025 Lando Norris claimed his maiden Monaco victoryMultiple champions Fernando Alonso Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have all triumphed here joining legends such as Ayrton Senna Alain Prost Michael Schumacher Niki Lauda Sir Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-monaco-grand-prix-to-run-on-calendar-until-2035-636658.html Fri, 05 Sep 2025 17:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-lewis-hamilton-shocked-by-hardcore-penalty-ahead-of-first-ferrari-monza-gp-636532.html Monza Sept 3 Lewis Hamilton says he was left shocked by the fiveplace grid penalty that will compromise his first Italian Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver this weekend but insists he is very motivated to fight back in front of the Tifosi Hamilton who will start no higher than sixth at Ferraris home race was sanctioned after stewards at Zandvoort ruled he had failed to slow sufficiently for doublewaved yellow flags during reconnaissance laps before last Sundays Dutch GP The incident was not investigated until after the race which he crashed out of and the decision to penalise him came hours later In addition to the grid drop Hamilton received two penalty points on his FIA Super LicenceSpeaking about the punishment for the first time on F1s arrival at Monza Hamilton admitted the timing had been frustrating Of course he replied when asked if he was unhappy with how late the decision was made I landed back home and then saw that I had got this penalty and I was really really shocked to be honest But it is what it is Its obviously not black and white The fact is if you look at the stewards report I did lift but to their liking not enough so thats why I guess theyre saying not moreHamilton described the sanction as especially severe To get the penalty and get penalty points was pretty hardcore but I learn from it and there is no point whinging about it Ill move forwardThe seventime world champion acknowledged that the penalty adds an extra hurdle to what was already shaping up to be a tight qualifying sessionIts going to be challenging this weekend Qualifying is already so close between us all So just getting into Q3 is tough getting in the top five is very very tough and on top of that to be set back five places is not great when youre going into your first Monza GP with FerrariStill Hamilton insists he is embracing the challenge But it gives me more to fight for and Im very motivated to make up those places regardless IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-lewis-hamilton-shocked-by-hardcore-penalty-ahead-of-first-ferrari-monza-gp-636532.html Thu, 04 Sep 2025 22:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ferrari-unveil-special-livery-at-monza-in-honour-of-nicki-lauda-636181.html New Delhi Sep 3 Ferrari have revealed the special livery that Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamiltons SF25s will wear at this years Italian Grand Prix to celebrate 50 years since Niki Laudas championshipwinning season It also marks the first race at Monza for seventime World Champion Hamilton since joining the Scuderia Featuring more prominent white on the engine covers alongside retro numbers and wheel covers the car pays homage to the colourway of the Ferrari 312T that Niki Lauda took to the 1975 Drivers Championship and which earned the team the Constructors title in the same yearFerrari head to Monza off the back of a tough outing at the Dutch Grand Prix with both Hamilton and Leclerc retiring after crashes although the drivers had been buoyed by the improved pace of their car as the weekend progressedHamilton has been given a fiveplace grid penalty for Ferraris home race at Monza after he was found guilty of a yellow flag breach prior to the Dutch Grand PrixHamilton crashed out of Sundays race after losing control of his car at Zandvoorts Turn 3 amid drops of rain before teammate Charles Leclerc collided with Mercedes rival Kimi Antonelli through the same section and made it a double DNF for the ScuderiaAhead of Ferraris second home event of the season it has been confirmed that Hamilton will lose five positions from wherever he qualifies next time out due to a transgression relating to double waved yellow flags during the prerace reconnaissance laps in the NetherlandsDue to the nature of the track the Race Director had informed all participants that the last corner before the pit lane would have double yellow flags waved This was to ensure the safety of those on the grid and in the pit laneThe regulations require that any driver passing through a double waved yellow flag marshalling sector reduce speed significantlyWe looked through the available telemetry within the FIA system We also requested the team to provide us with their telemetry data All of this took some time and this decision was delayed as a result read a report from the stewards IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ferrari-unveil-special-livery-at-monza-in-honour-of-nicki-lauda-636181.html Wed, 03 Sep 2025 16:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/isrl-season-2-rider-auction-attracts-global-stars-sets-new-benchmarks-in-motorsport-635666.html Pune Sep 1 The Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL the worlds only franchisebased supercross platform delivered a spectacle off the track with its season 2 athlete auction From intense bidding wars to fresh faces entering the big league the auction proved that Supercross in India is no longer just a sport but a marketplace of speed and star power ISRL is the only motorsporting property in the world where athletes enter a formal bidding and auction system creating a oneofitskind fusion of sports commerce and entertainment Riders from Australia Europe the USA Indonesia Japan and the South Asian circuit dominated proceedings keeping team owners on their toes and cementing ISRLs position as the fastestgrowing motorsport property in the country France led the charge at the auction commanding top bids with 13 riders being selected across teamsKyle Peters commanded the auctions top price at Rs 2070000 making him the most soughtafter rider of the nightRugved Barguje stole the spotlight for the local contingent drawing a Rs 950000 contract one of the highest ever for an Indian in ISRL season 2 auctionThe pursuit of Hugo Manzato and Calvin Fonvielle sparked the most dramatic exchange of the night with relentless backtoback raises from competing franchisesAt just 16 years Jack Nunn from Australia became the youngest athlete to sign in the 250cc category signalling a generational power shift in the leagueIndewheelers Motorsports secured Greg Arenda and Maxime Desprey while Tricolor Motorsports opened with Adrien Malaval and Paul Haberland in the 450cc categoryA record Rs 60000000 six crore was spent by the six franchise teams underlining the growing commercial strength of ISRL through the auctionISRL is not just building a racing league we are creating a new sports economy for India where athletes teams brands and fans all converge The Season 2 auction has shown the world that India is ready to back motorsport at scale and this is just the beginning of our global journey said Veer Patel Director Indian Supercross Racing LeagueThe 155 riders went under the hammer including 109 international and 34 Indian riders Only 36 riders were successfully auctionedFans can experience the thrill live this OctoberDecember across major Indian cities Pune Hyderabad and Kerala and join the excitement online with FlirtWithDirt With the rider lineup now sealed all roads lead to Pune in October 2025 as ISRL kicks off its second season promising an unparalleled mix of racing entertainment and fan engagement IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/isrl-season-2-rider-auction-attracts-global-stars-sets-new-benchmarks-in-motorsport-635666.html Mon, 01 Sep 2025 14:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/vinod-shailendra-seize-dakshin-dare-lead-karnatakas-aieman-sagar-ready-for-final-assault--635395.html Anantapur AP Aug 30 Team Ashvas Vinod Singh and Shailendra Singh seized the overall lead on the penultimate day of the Motorsport Inc fmsci 14th Dakshin Dare crosscountry rally with a clean and calculated drive on Saturday The Indore duo piloting a 1300cc Maruti Gypsy prepared by Dr Perk Customs capitalised on a misstep by overnight leaders Adith KC and codriver Harish KN The ThrissurBengaluru pair from Team VM Motorsports lost significant time after a brief offroute excursion dropping them to third overallHolding steady in second place are Chikkamagalurus Aieman Ahmed and Bengaluru codriver Sagar M Team VM Motorsports who delivered another day of controlled aggression We still have to do 7727km twice tomorrow and we are ready for the challenge stated codriver SagarThe stage win for the day was claimed by Kolkatas Raunak Jana and Uday Ganguli of Bros Racing who set a blistering time of 46 minutes 27 seconds on the 3344km selective section We were pushing only in certain sections and our target is to finish with a steady pace said RaunakTeam VM Motorsports demonstrated strong depth with four of its five cars occupying positions in the overall top five This includes team principal Vamcy Merla who fought back from Fridays mechanical issues to be in the top five and Shillongs Phoebe Nongrum with seasoned codriver Venu Ramesh Kumar who finished the day an admirable fourth overall and first in the Ladies classOrganisers were forced to cancel the final stage of the day due to safety concerns Despite having bouncers police personnel and local marshals hundreds of spectators crowded the area so the stewards took this decision said Jaidas Menon a former multiple National champion and promoter of the Dakshin DareThe rally concludes on Sunday with competitors facing two runs of a long 7727km selective section promising a dramatic finish and later moves back to Bengaluru for the Prize distribution eventProvisional unaudited resultsCumulative Overall for all three days after leg31 Vinod Singh Shailendra Singh Team Ashva 05 hours 26 minutes 19 seconds2 Aieman Ahmed Sagar M Team VM Motorsports 0529073 Adith KC Harish KN Team VM Motorsports 05 3043Stage winners of SS4 Day31 Raunak Jana Uday Ganguli Kolkata Bros Racing 46 minutes 27 seconds2 Vinod Singh Shailendra Singh Team Ashva 0047523 Archit Jindal Aashish Bhaskar Team Ashva 004807Class LeadersClass 2 Group T1 1 Aieman Ahmed Sagar MClass 10 Group T2 1 Vinod Singh Shailendra SinghLadies Class 1 Phoebe Nongrum Venu Ramesh Kumar Team VM Motorsports 053214Class 5 Group T1 Vamcy Merla Ashwin Naik Team VM Motorsports 053720Class 11 Group T2 Archit Jindal Aashish Bhaskar Team Ashva 041355 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/vinod-shailendra-seize-dakshin-dare-lead-karnatakas-aieman-sagar-ready-for-final-assault--635395.html Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-cadillac-sign-veteran-duo-of-bottas-and-perez-for-2026-season-634380.html New Delhi Aug 26 Cadillac have signed veteran duo Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas to be their drivers when the team joins the Formula 1 grid for the first time in 2026 The American squad who are backed by General Motors and will be led by former Marussia Sporting Director Graeme Lowdon will become the sports 11th team next season Cadillac have opted for experience with their lineup signing Checo Perez and Mercedes reserve Bottas who boast 527 Grand Prix starts and 16 Grand Prix wins between them on multiyear dealsIt marks a remarkable return for the veteran duo both 35 after they lost their respective F1 race seats at the end of last seasonPerez took some time out to consider his future goals and spend time with his family after leaving Red Bull while Bottas stayed in the paddock as a reserve for Mercedes following his Sauber exitMexican Perez brings immense F1 experience having competed for Sauber McLaren and Force IndiaRacing Point before moving to Red Bull where he helped the team win the Teams Championship in 2022 and 2023Joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career said Perez From our first conversations I could sense the passion and determination behind this projectIts an honour to be part of building a team that can develop together so that in time we will fight at the very front Cadillac is a legendary name in American motorsport and to help bring such a fantastic company to Formula 1 is a huge responsibility one Im confident of taking onIm proud to be part of such an ambitious and meaningful project from the very beginning Im really pleased to be part of such a dynamic lineup and together I believe we can help shape this team into a real contender the team of the Americas Were counting on support from across the continent and we want to make everyone proudFinlands Bottas enjoyed incredible success at Mercedes playing a key role in the Silver Arrows winning the Teams Championship every year from 2017 to 2021From the moment I began speaking with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team I felt something different something ambitious but also grounded said Bottas This isnt just a racing project its a longterm visionIts not every day that you get a chance to be part of something being built from the ground up and helping shape it into something that truly belongs on the F1 gridIve had the honour of working with some of the best teams in the world and I can already see the same professionalism and hunger hereThis is an iconic brand with a big legacy in American motorsport and to be a part of the story as it enters the world stage of F1 is incredibly special for me Im looking forward to representing the American spirit of racing on the greatest circuits in the world Id also like to thank Mercedes for their unwavering support and sportsmanship in facilitating such an exciting step IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-cadillac-sign-veteran-duo-of-bottas-and-perez-for-2026-season-634380.html Tue, 26 Aug 2025 18:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-cadillac-shut-down-rumours-of-horners-role-back-lowdon-as-team-principal-634437.html New Delhi Aug 26 Formula One newcomers Cadillac have firmly dismissed speculation linking former Red Bull boss Christian Horner with a role in their setup reiterating their full backing for current team principal Graeme Lowdon ahead of their 2026 debut The General Motorsbacked outfit which will enter the sport next season as the 11th team on the grid appointed Lowdon as its first principal last December Rumours had swirled following Horners exit from Red Bull last month but Cadillac moved quickly to quash themThere have been no talks with Christian Horner no plans to do that Cadillac F1 chief executive Dan Towriss who also runs TWG Motorsports told reporters So Id like to officially shut down that rumour Our support belief backing is 100 in Graeme LowdonOn Tuesday Cadillac also announced its maiden Formula One driver lineup signing racewinning veterans Sergio Perez and Valtteri BottasPerez a sixtime Grand Prix winner previously raced under Horner at Red Bull but was dropped at the end of 2024 with two years left on his contract after struggling alongside fourtime world champion Max VerstappenHorner who became Red Bulls team principal in 2005 built the outfit from midfield contenders into multiple world champions within five years His sudden exit last month led to speculation over his next move but Cadillac has made clear they are charting their own path under LowdonWhile Lowdon is untested as a principal he has prior experience as chief executive of the nowdefunct Marussia team formerly run by Manor Motorsport Cadillac has also been recruiting aggressively from other F1 outfits including Red Bull and is already said to be larger in scale than US rivals HaasThe team will operate across Indianapolis North Carolina and Silverstone combining American and European bases Cadillac F1 forms part of TWG Motorsports the motorsport arm of billionaire Mark Walters TWG Global which also owns Andretti Global in North AmericaTowriss stressed that the project is firmly focused on its own leadership and visionOur support belief backing is 100 in Graeme Lowdon he repeated making clear that Cadillac is committed to their chosen direction as they prepare for a landmark first season in Formula One IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-cadillac-shut-down-rumours-of-horners-role-back-lowdon-as-team-principal-634437.html Tue, 26 Aug 2025 22:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/isrl-introduces-rider-retention-mechanism-ahead-of-season-2-auction-633322.html Pune Aug 21 As the Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL accelerates toward its highly anticipated Season 2 Auction in August the league has introduced the Rider Retention mechanism For the first time in Indian motorsport history franchise teams are now permitted to retain a limited number of riders from their previous seasons roster adding a new layer of strategic depth to teambuilding and auction dynamics Internationally athlete retention is a practice with most established sporting leagues Now ISRL brings this competitive structure to Indian Supercross reinforcing the leagues growing stature on the global motorsport stage With a recordbreaking 155 riders from 23 countries registered for the Season 2 auction the retention mechanism provides teams with the opportunity to preserve core strengths while preparing for intense bidding battles in the weeks aheadThese are exciting times for the ISRL as we head into Season 2 India is fast becoming a premier destination for Supercross With rider retention in play team selection will demand sharp strategy Were confident this season will feature the highest caliber of racing ever seen in India and possibly Asia Eeshan Lokhande CoFounder Indian Supercross Racing LeagueThe rider retention mechanism allows each season 1 franchise to retain up to two riders limited to one per category ahead of the auction This cap forces even topperforming teams to make calculated choices emphasising continuity and longterm planning without compromising the competitive balance of the leagueRetention announcements by teamsBB Racing has retained Jordy Tixier one of the leagues top performers from Season 1 and winner of the All Stars category marking himself as a dominant force on the track With a refreshed squad being built around him BB Racing aims to climb even higher in season 2Jordy is a rare combination of skill pace and determination We believe this fresh lineup around him will make us serious title contenders Atul Chordia BB Racing Team OwnerIn a bold move Mohite Racing has chosen not to retain any riders opting instead to rebuild from the ground up With the vast talent pool available this year they plan to construct an entirely new team during the auction phaseWe evaluated our options and believe that going in with a clean slate allows us to approach Season 2 with renewed focus and precision said Abhishek Mohite Mohite Racing Team OwnerReise Motorsports will continue their campaign with star rider Thomas Remett who secured third place overall in the 450cc category last season With Remett as the anchor the team will reengineer its squad to vie for top honoursThomas has been a fan favourite and a fierce competitor Were excited to build a winning team around him said Yogesh Mahansaria Reise Motorsports Team OwnerThe reigning champions Big Rock Motorsports will only retain Thanarath Penjan 250cc India Asia champion However they have decided not to retain Matt Moss and Reid TaylorMatt and Reid were vital to our championship run and we thank them for their contribution With Thanarat back were excited to build a fresh stronger team for Season 2 said CS Santosh CoOwner Big Rock MotorsportsGujarat Trailblazers are retaining Enzo Polias a dynamic and reliable presence in the 250cc international category Theyre also eyeing a return to the junior category with Brian Giles the Thai prodigy who won hearts and lit up the crowd with his performances across all three venuesEnzo gives us strength and stability Brian brings flair and excitement Were aiming for the perfect balance this season said Dhrumil Patel Gujarat Trailblazers Team OwnerWith the auction set for the end of August the introduction of rider retention has made the teambuilding format more dynamic and strategically rich Franchise teams now navigate a thrilling blend of continuity and competition balancing retained talent with fresh prospects The stage is set for highstakes drama intense bidding wars and some of the most competitive racing Indian motorsport has ever seen IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/isrl-introduces-rider-retention-mechanism-ahead-of-season-2-auction-633322.html Thu, 21 Aug 2025 15:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/moto-gp-marquez-battles-past-bezzecchi-to-end-red-bull-ring-winless-streak-632396.html Spielberg Aug 17 The Red Bull Ring jinx is over for Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo Team as for the sixth time on the spin the runaway MotoGP title race leader clinched maximum points His path to BWIN Grand Prix of Austria victory wasnt a simple one though as eventual third place finisher Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing led for large parts before rookie star Fermin Aldeguer BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP the Sunday silver medallist mounted pressure on Marquez in the closing stages However neither were able to stop the 93 winning MotoGPs 1000th race Having fluffed the start in the Sprint Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo Team nailed it to flirt with claiming the holeshot from polesitter Bezzecchi but it was the latter who held onto P1 It was red vs red on the opening lap as Marc Marquez chucked it up the inside of Pecco and Turn 3 from deep but Pecco was able to hold onto P2 on the run down into Turn 4A lap later Marc Marquez made that Turn 3 effort stick to move past his teammate into P2 with Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM Factory Racing making Alex Marquezs life difficult after the KTM star got a great launch from the third row Enea Bastianini Red Bull KTM Tech3 then grabbed P5 from Acosta before the Italian ran wide at Turn 1 as Alex Marquez took his Long Lap penalty a lap later that saw him drop to P11At the front Bezzecchi set the fastest lap of the Grand Prix on Lap 4 to hold Marc Marquez 06s behind him while Pecco defended P3 from Acosta That lead was being chipped away at by Marquez though and at the start of Lap 8 it was 02s between Bezzecchi and Marquez with Pecco 11s behind in P3A few laps down the line saw Marquez drop to 09s behind Bezzecchi in what was now the biggest gap between the pair for pretty much the entire Grand Prix Was the 93 just cooling his front tyre or was this Bezzecchi demonstrating superior pace Meanwhile Bezzecchis teammate Jorge Martin saw his Grand Prix end after Aprilia Racings 1 crashed at Turn 7 on Lap 14On Lap 18 of 28 the gap was back down to 02s as Marquez reeled in Bezzecchi And in the battle for P3 Acosta put an aggressive move on Pecco at the penultimate corner on the same lap to move into P3 and its a move that cost the Italian two places as Aldeguer followed Acosta throughThen the blue touch paper was lit in the battle between Bezzecchi and Marquez Turn 3 saw Marquez throw it up the inside and down the hill into Turn 4 Marquez led Bezzecchi counterattacked at Turn 6 to retake the lead before Marquez parked his Ducati on the inside of Bezzecchi at Turn 1 on Lap 20 to snatch the race lead batonAldeguer was a rider on the move The rookie shoved his way past Acosta at Turn 2B and his pace was unbelievable Aldeguer was the fastest rider on track and on Lap 22 of 28 the 54 was 17s behind Marquez and 11s away from BezzecchiThat soon became 11s away from Marquez and 05s off Bezzecchi Aldeguer set a 130120 on Lap 22 over half a second quicker than the top two and it was the same on the next lap And on Lap 24 Aldeguer was P2 at Turn 3 to now act as Marquezs main threat for victoryFour to go Aldeguer was 09s away from Marquez and after passing Bezzecchi two tenths were taken out of Marquezs lead Two more tenths were taken on the next lap so it was now 07s between the Spaniards at the front with three to goMarquez steadied the ship with two to go though His lead was up to 09s and now it was only a mistake that would cost him another victory as Aldeguer just ran out of steam And heading onto the final lap the buffer remained at 09sNo mistakes were made on the run to the chequered flag as Marquez won the 1000th MotoGP race and grabbed a 25point haul for the first time at the Red Bull Ring Double wins in the last six Grands Prix and that seventh MotoGP title creeps closer Aldeguer was superb to push Marquez in the latter stages and Bezzecchis weekend was another to remember as the Italians strong form continues thats backtoback podiums for the first time since 2023 for BezAcosta led the KTM charge on home turf in P4 and 18s behind was another KTM in the form of Bastianini No podium but a double top five signals a good day at the office for the Austrian manufacturer Joan Mir Honda HRC Castrol battled his way to a positive P6 while Brad Binder Red Bull KTM Factory Racing came home in P7 after he was embroiled in some intense fights Eighth went the way of a disappointed Bagnaia who lost ground in the latter stagesRaul Fernandez Trackhouse MotoGP Team held off Alex Marquez for P9 with the latter unable to recover from his Long Lap penalty Franco Morbidelli Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team pocketed P11 ahead of Johann Zarco CASTROL Honda LCR Luca Marini Honda HRC Castrol Ai Ogura Trackhouse MotoGP Team and first of the Yamahas Fabio Quartararo Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP the Frenchman taking the final point in a weekend to forget for the Iwata factory IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/moto-gp-marquez-battles-past-bezzecchi-to-end-red-bull-ring-winless-streak-632396.html Sun, 17 Aug 2025 22:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/fmsci-national-racing-championship-anish-shetty-and-bhuvan-bonu-dominate-round-1-in-coimbatore-631272.html Coimbatore Aug 10 For connoisseurs of motorsport the Kari Motor Speedway on the outskirts of Coimbatore the thrill and speed of cars and bikes pushing the limits was on full view as the Royal Enfield Continental Cup presented by JK Tyre and JK Tyre Novice Cup brought nailbiting action to life Part of the 28th JK Tyre Racing Championship the weekend saw exciting races in its two categories as Anish Shetty and Bhuvan Bonu came out all guns blazing in Round 1 which concluded over the weekendAnish dominated the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup To win a hattrick of races spread over Saturday and Sunday was a sight to watch If competition in the twowheeler category was made to look woefully onesided by Anish born in Hubli and settled in Bengaluru he had slogged hard for it These bikes weighing close to 200 kg are not easy to tease on the track Anish showcased fitness and form and above all speed to catch the attention of one and all The weather pattern over two days was differentSaturday was sunny and bright where Anish showed that the rich field belonged to him He has been racing bikes since age 15 Now at 30 he is the seasoned master who is reaping the rewards for working hard and pushing his bike The GT Cup grid is a mix between the seasoned riders and novices who have emerged from a trial of sorts from the street to circuit Perhaps one more boy who could match Anish in terms of challenge was Kayan Zubin Patel from Mumbai Kayan was not as fast as Anish but the third race of the weekend saw defending champion Navaneeth Kumar from the previous season bouncing back to second placeOverall in the standings Anish Shetty is way ahead with 30 points Kayan is at 19 points and Navaneeth at 12 points It has been a fruitful weekend and all the hard work paid off said Anish Shetty For the young drivers who were also part of the grid as novices watching Anish was a learning experience He showcased speed and style with his bike Among the amateurs Bryan Nicholas from Pondicherry was just too good as he won all three races 36 points Behind him was Johring Warisa 27 points from Umrangso Kabir Sahoch from Vadodara was third in overall standing with 18 pointsIn the JK Tyre Novice Cup Bhuvan Bonu was too fast for the rest of the field The 15yearold from Bengaluru who trains in the United States of America was pushing his car effortlessly At some stages it looked as if he was in a different car altogether Indeed to be getting the racing juices flowing all through two days Bonu was confident I kept getting better and better I enjoyed the weekend said the ladAs for the rest of the field comprising Ojas Surve and Abhijit Vadavalli it was more of watching Bonu tease his car on two days in succession He did not want to say much on how faster his car was on an incidentfilled last race on SundayProvisional Race resultsRoyal Enfield Continental GT CupRace 1ProfessionalsAnish Shetty 1346628Kayan Zubin Patel 1352 702Ashish Patel 1401852AmateursBryan Nicholas 1408432Johring Warisa 1408629Saran Kumar 1425828Race 2ProfessionalsAnish Shetty 1339635Kayan Zubin Patel 1342676Navaneeth Kumar 1349416AmateursBryan Nicholas 1402450Johring Warisa 1407477Kabir Sahoch 1415237Race 3ProfessionalsAnish Shetty 1328442Navaneeth Kumar 1331330Kayan Zubin Patel 1331493AmateursBryan Nicholas 1344805Johring Warisa 1348084Saran Kumar 1407926JK TYRE NOVICE CUPRace 1Bhuvan Bonu Team MSport1359719Abhijit Vadavalli Team Momentum 1410391Ojas Surve Team DTS Racing 1426937Race 2Bhuvan Bonu Team MSport1414815Ojas Surve Team DTS Racing 1427489Parthik Ashok Team DTS Racing 1428154Race 3Bhuvan Bonu Team MSport1454313Parthik Ashok Team DTS Racing 1516183Lokithingeash Ravi Team DTS Racing 1516263 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/fmsci-national-racing-championship-anish-shetty-and-bhuvan-bonu-dominate-round-1-in-coimbatore-631272.html Sun, 10 Aug 2025 17:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-cross-country-rally-veteran-lhakpa-tsering-gears-up-for-asias-most-challenging-race-in-thailand-631082.html New Delhi Aug 9 Lhakpa Tsering one of Indias most seasoned crosscountry rally drivers gears up to compete in the prestigious Asia Cross Country Rally AXCR 2025 Held from August 8 to 16 in Thailand the rally will cover over 3400 kilometers through some of the toughest terrains ranging from dense forests and mountain trails to riverbeds and demanding offroad stretches This ultimate test of endurance navigation and resilience will bring together elite teams from across AsiaOften referred to as the Dakar of the East AXCR 2025 will feature competitors from Thailands Toyota Gazoo Racing Indonesia Japan Korea Taiwan Laos Cambodia Malaysia Vietnam and India The route starts and ends in Pattaya challenging participants over nine intense days that demand mental grit physical strength and impeccable teamwork Lhakpa Tsering will drive the latest Toyota Hilux a machine known for its power and durability in extreme conditionsIts an honour to represent India at the Asia Cross Country Rally and even more special to carry the hopes of the Northeast with me This opportunity is a big step not just in my journey but also for aspiring motorsport talent from the region Im grateful to JK Tyre the Department of Youth Affairs of Arunachal Pradesh and Tanor Engineering for believing in me and supporting this dream said Lhakpa Tsering Abu Tayeng Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs Arunachal Pradesh says By leveraging the States natural scenic beauty and topographical similarities to Southeast Asia through these initiatives the government envisions creating a dedicated ecosystem for talent incubation ecotourism promotion and regional pride enhancement This strategic vision will showcase Arunachal as a vibrant center for adventure sports drawing tourism investment and youth innovationSanjay Sharma Head Corporate Communication amp Motorsport JK Tyre said Lhakpas participation marks a proud moment for the northeast region which continues to emerge as a growing force in adventure and endurance sports Weve been actively promoting motorsport in the region for several years now and supporting Lhakpa on this international platform is a natural extension of that commitment he further added Backed by JK Tyre Indias leading promoter of motorsport for over four decades alongside the Department of Youth Affairs Arunachal Pradesh and Dilling Tatak founder of Tanor Engineering a top infrastructure firm from the region and Doc Rider Lhakpa is all set to take on this international challenge IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-cross-country-rally-veteran-lhakpa-tsering-gears-up-for-asias-most-challenging-race-in-thailand-631082.html Sat, 09 Aug 2025 12:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/jk-tyre-racing-season-2025-set-to-kick-off-in-coimbatore-on-aug-9-630873.html Coimbatore Aug 8 The adrenaline is set to rise as JK tyre racing season 2025 kicks off this weekend at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore on August 910 The 2025 season will witness 10 races of Novice Cup and eight races of Continental GT Cup spread across three rounds The opening round promises thrilling ontrack battles as racers aim to make a strong start in the Novice Cup and the Continental GT Cup With entries from across the country from Jammu Delhi Sikkim Mumbai Hyderabad Bangalore and Chennai the stage is set for an exciting weekend of racingFor twowheeler enthusiasts the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup promises highspeed drama with its unique ProAm format where amateur and professional riders compete together After a nationwide talent hunt Street to Track Royal Enfield held zonal selection rounds across North South East amp West zonesA total of 64 amateur riders were selected from these zonal selections who then joined 50 professional riders for the final selection round At the end of the selection process 24 of the fastest riders in Amateur and Pro each will raceThe selected riders will now ride identical racetuned Continental GTR650s powered by Royal Enfields awardwinning 648cc engine Now in its fifth year the GT Cup continues to grow in popularity and intensityThe Novice Cup introduced in 2018 as part of JKNRC features Indianmade Formula cars and is considered the most soughtafter entrylevel singleseater category in the country ideal for amateurs starting out in formula racingThe grid this year comprises of 27 racers representing five professional teams namely Bangalore based Team Avalanche Racing owned by exracer Fazal Malik Team MSport owned by international racing star Armaan Ebrahim Team DTS Racing owned by former national racing champion Diljith TS Team Momentum Motorsport owned by exracer Rasheed Khan and Team Delta Speeds owned by racing driver Mohit Aryan IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/jk-tyre-racing-season-2025-set-to-kick-off-in-coimbatore-on-aug-9-630873.html Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-zak-brown-sees-cadillacs-entry-as-a-value-add-despite-rival-threats-630261.html New Delhi Aug 5 McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes Cadillacs entry into Formula One next year will ultimately enhance the sports ecosystem rather than dilute its resources even as the General Motorsbacked outfit begins to draw talent and attention away from existing teams The muchanticipated arrival of Cadillacapproved in March after a gruelling 764day entry processwill see Formula One expand to 11 teams for the first time in nearly a decade Despite initial resistance from F1 and several teams who feared a reduction in their revenue share Brown maintains the addition will provide net gains especially with Cadillacs financial muscle and marketing reachI think of employees they are definitely going to take a lot more than they give which is fine Brown said during the Hungarian Grand Prix My general view is if someone wants to go work for a rival team then shame on meCadillacs base in Silverstone places them strategically close to several rival operations including McLaren Mercedes and Aston Martin making recruitment and poaching a logistical reality But Brown whose team is enjoying a dominant 2025 campaign after clinching the 2024 Constructors Championship is unfazed by the competitionon or off the trackFor sponsors I think theyll bring more new to the table than take he noted confident that Cadillacs presence will unlock new commercial avenues rather than simply recycle existing dealsThe American manufacturer is expected to bolster Formula Ones rapidly growing US presence With three races now staged in the United StatesAustin Miami and Las VegasCadillacs brand appeal and sponsorship pull could further energise fan engagement stateside Their commercial operations are also supported by TWG Global chaired by billionaire Mark Walter who according to Bloomberg boasts an estimated net worth of 125 billionWill we get a better US TV deal more American presence I think their sponsors and Cadillac will spend money in the sport the teams get a percentage of that so I see them as a value add to the sport Brown explainedWhile acknowledging the shortterm turbulence Cadillacs entry might bring Brown remains bullish on the longterm benefits Im not worried about maybe some of the shorttermness of them are going to take an employee here or there or poach a sponsor here or there I think the contribution will be bigger than that IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-zak-brown-sees-cadillacs-entry-as-a-value-add-despite-rival-threats-630261.html Tue, 05 Aug 2025 22:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/rafael-camara-seals-2025-formula-3-championship-with-dominant-victory-629769.html Budapest Aug 3 Rafael Camara clinched the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Drivers Championship in emphatic fashion securing his fourth win of the season at the penultimate round The Trident driver converted pole into victory leading every lap and demonstrating his dominance in damp conditions Camaras win gives him a commanding 48point lead with just one round remaining making him the 2025 champion His consistency and pace throughout the season have earned him the title with one race to spareJust finished the Feature Race also closing the Championship Just very happy how we managed the whole season I think we have been very strong since the beginning Now we can relax a bit before Monza enjoy the moment a bit because during the Championship its always difficult to enjoy moments because you always need to keep your focus so just enjoy the moment Thank you to everyone for the support for cheering for me and just going to enjoy it now Thank you said CamaraThe race began under a rolling start with Camara holding off Mari Boya and Tuukka Taponen Boya kept the pressure on early setting the fastest lap and attempting a move on Lap 3 but couldnt find the grip to challenge A Lap 4 crash involving Brad Benavides brought out the first Safety CarOn the restart Camara again pulled clear Teammate Charlie Wurz climbed to P6 while Ugo Ugochukwus promising charge ended in a collision with Gerrard Xie bringing out a second Safety Car Once racing resumed Camara controlled the field with confidenceFurther down the order Nikola Tsolov produced a standout drive climbing from 13th to sixth executing several clean overtakes and nearly reaching the podium fight Wurz Nael and Tsolov closed in on Taponen in the final laps but the Art Grand Prix driver held onto third behind Boya IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/rafael-camara-seals-2025-formula-3-championship-with-dominant-victory-629769.html Sun, 03 Aug 2025 14:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/rahil-pillarisetty-grabs-pole-position-in-rolon-round-of-national-motorcycle-racing-championship-629521.html Coimbatore Aug 1 Hyderabads Rahil Pillarisetty RACR Castrol Power1 delivered a stunning lap late in the qualifying session to take pole position in the premier ProStock 301400cc Open category to kick start his campaign in the Rolon Round of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2025 at the Kari Motor Speedway here on Friday Others who qualified for pole positions in their respective National championship categories were Raj Kumar Coimbatore Motul Sparks Racing in Super Stock 165cc Intermediate Mohamed Mikail Thiruvallur Mad Rabbit Racing in Stock 301400cc Novice and Charu Sreekara Kedarnadh Tirupati Motul KTM Gusto Racing India in Stock 165cc NoviceThe 27yearold Pillarisettys best lap of one minute 10972 secs which he clocked at the fag end of the session saw him pip Petronas TVS Racings teenage riders Chiranth Vishwanath from Bengaluru and defending champion Sarthak Chavan Pune with less than a second separating the frontrow trioI am happy to be back on the Yamaha R3 after a few seasons on KTM I had a good lap today but it is all so close and I look forward to tomorrows race said 27yearold Rahil who announced his presence on the grid in the first round in June when he won Race2 holding off Sarthak in a tense finishChiranth the 17yearold Bengalurean said I had some issues with my bike but Rahil was quick I am not happy with P2 for tomorrows race Hopefully I will do betterSarthak 18 shrugged off his P3 qualification The pressure will be on him Rahil tomorrow I will try to do my best in the race he saidJammus Raivat Dhar qualified for pole position in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup Honda CB300F while in the Petronas TVS India OneMake Championship Chennais Mohan Babu Expert and Jagathishree Kumaresan Women also from Chennai grabbed pole positions in their respective classesProvisional results Qualifying top 3 best lapsNational ChampionshipProStock 301400cc Open 1 Rahil Pillarisetty Hyderabad RACR Castrol Power1 01min 10972secs 2 Chiranth Vishwanath Bengaluru Petronas TVS Racing 0111249 3 Sarthak Chavan Pune Petronas TVS Racing 0111262Super Stock 165cc Intermediate 1 Raj Kumar Coimbatore Motul Sparks Racing 0123303 2 Mohammed Samrul Zubair Hyderabad Motul Sparks Racing 0124517 3 Kamal Navas Chennai Rockers Racing 0124683Stock 301400cc Novice 1 Mohamed Mikail Thiruvallur Mad Rabbit Racing 0118533 2 Varun Patil Bengaluru Mad Rabbit Racing 0119447 3 Jagadeesh Nagaraj Bengaluru Motul Sparks Racing 0119703Stock 165cc Novice 1 Charu Sreekara Kedarnadh Tirupati Motul KTM Gusto Racing India 0127101 2 Tejash BA Tumakuru Mad Rabbit Racing 0127428 3 Rajender Beedani Hyderabad MAI Racing 0127433Petronas TVS India OneMake ChampionshipExpert Apache RR 310 1 Mohan Babu P Chennai 0116625 2 Siddesh Sawant Kolhapur 0117099 3 Abdul Basim Chennai 0117310Women Apache RTR 200 1 Jagathishree Kumaresan Chennai 0127718 2 SP Shuria Bengaluru 0128185 3 Elakiya Ravi Chennai 0128580Idemitsu Honda India Talent CupHonda CB300F 1 Raivat Dhar Jammu 0123424 2 Tejash BA Malappuram 0124022 3 Amit Prasad Bengaluru 0124175 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/rahil-pillarisetty-grabs-pole-position-in-rolon-round-of-national-motorcycle-racing-championship-629521.html Fri, 01 Aug 2025 22:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-mclaren-ceo-predicts-title-fight-between-norris-and-piastri-will-be-a-coin-toss-629005.html New Delhi July 30 The 2025 Formula 1 season continues to thrill with McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris locked in a fierce battle for the championship Heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix Piastri holds a slender 16point lead over his teammate following a dominant win in Belgium but according to McLaren CEO Zak Brown the fight between the two is too close to callSpeaking to Sky Sports F1 Brown admitted that there is little to separate Piastri and Norris on current form with the team having secured 10 wins from 13 races so far this season most of them onetwosThey both do because theyre winning a lot and getting onetwos Brown said when asked who currently holds the momentum I think Oscar was a little disappointed with qualifying in Belgium Lando was very happy Im sure hell be a little bummed that he didnt win today but its coming off of two wins I think its going to be a coin toss every weekendBrown was full of praise for the 24yearold Australian Oscar is a machine And whats impressive is how aggressive he is and yet he always brings the car home Thats quite a talentDespite McLarens recent dominance and Max Verstappen slipping 81 points behind championship leader Piastri Brown is not ready to count the Red Bull star out just yetI think its too early Its looking good but Max theres a lot of racing left to go Weve got a nice gap but I wouldnt say were there Brown cautioned Weve all been around this sport too long To start dancing before youre in the end zone is a very dangerous thing to doTeam Principal Andrea Stella echoed Browns view on the closeness of the intrateam fight emphasizing that both drivers will be given equal opportunity to let the championship play out on meritThere is very very little between our two drivers and this is because the two drivers are racing at very very high level said Stella We are lucky at McLaren to have two drivers that are deservedly fighting for the World Championship I think the difference will be made by the accuracy the precision and the quality of the executionStella pointed to recent examples where small mistakes or unfortunate circumstances decided race outcomes We saw in Silverstone that a sporting issue for Oscar during the Safety Car restart and penalty cost him the race In Spa it was always going to be very difficult for Lando to keep the position starting first at the Safety Car restart At the same time I think Lando didnt help himself by not having a great gap on the finish line So I think the execution is what is going to make the main differencePiastri and Norris teammates since 2023 have enjoyed a respectful rivalry While Norris had the edge last season Piastri has come into his own in 2025 currently edging the Briton 76 in qualifying battles IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-mclaren-ceo-predicts-title-fight-between-norris-and-piastri-will-be-a-coin-toss-629005.html Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-hamilton-defends-fantastic-kimi-antonelli-amid-rookie-season-struggles-628813.html New Delhi July 29 Lewis Hamilton has come out in strong support of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli insisting the 18yearold is doing fantastic despite mounting criticism over his recent performances in Formula 1 I cant imagine what its like at 18 or try to imagine what its like at 18 to do what hes been doing Hamilton told Sky SportsI think hes been doing fantastic to be thrown in at the deep end at 18 He didnt even have his driving licence when he started racing so I think its a lot on someones shoulders and I think hes doing a great jobAntonelli who replaced the seventime World Champion at Mercedes this season began his F1 career with a string of solid results including five points finishes in the first six races and a podium in Canada However a dip in form has followedThe Italian crashed out with Max Verstappen in Austria failed to score at Silverstone and endured a disappointing weekend in Belgiumfailing to get out of SQ1 and Q1 before finishing outside the points He was visibly emotional during postrace interviewsThe pressure isnt entirely new Antonelli also struggled under the spotlight in 2024 when he crashed during his F1 practice debut at Monza amid intense hype He later admitted to being mentally and physically exhausted ahead of his home race at Imola this year drained by the obligations that came with racing on Italian soilBut Hamilton believes Antonelli is handling the pressure as best as anyone could at such a young ageHes got a great group of people around him I think hes just got to take it in his stride which I think he is said HamiltonAnd as I say hes got Bono Pete Bonnington Hamiltons former engineer beside him so he couldnt have anyone better IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-hamilton-defends-fantastic-kimi-antonelli-amid-rookie-season-struggles-628813.html Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/fim-bajas-world-cup-harith-noah-finishes-fifth-at-baja-aragon-2025-628496.html New Delhi July 28 Indias Harith Noah representing the Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team delivered a gritty and determined performance to finish overall in the 450cc category of the FIM Bajas World Cup at Baja Aragon 2025 Over the course of three challenging stages across the Spanish desert terrain Harith clocked a total time of 716320 placing him among the elite finishers in a field stacked with top international competitorsHeld from July 25 to 27 in Teruel the 41st edition of Baja Aragon tested riders with its demanding mix of highspeed gravel tracks rocky climbs and soaring summer temperatures true to its reputation as one of the most iconic events on the rallyraid calendarHariths finish came as part of a competitive top five which included fellow Sherco TVS rider and rally veteran Lorenzo Santolino Sanchez of Spain who clinched the overall victory with a time of 638590 Lorenzo was followed by Neels Theric of France and Javi Vega Puerta of Spain Konrad Dabrowski of Poland riding for Duust Rally Team finished fourth just ahead of Harith in fifthSpeaking after the race Harith Noah said It feels great to finish strong at Baja Aragón This rally is never easy its fast unpredictable and physically tough There was a lot of dust but I stayed calm and focused on having a clean race After everything earlier this year I just wanted to ride clean stay focused and enjoy the race Im happy with how I felt on the bike and this result gives me confidence heading into the next part of the seasonThe result is particularly meaningful for Noah after a disrupted start to his 2025 season In January he was forced to withdraw from the Dakar Rally following a wrist fracture sustained during the Prologue He returned to action in May at the South African Safari Rally W2RC Round 3 but a crash on Stage 1 May 18 following a collision with a jackal resulted in another fracture in his right hand cutting short his comebackHaving completed his rehabilitation Noahs performance in Spain marks a confident return to competitive form While Baja Aragón is not part of the W2RC it served as a valuable opportunity for Noah to test his fitness regain rhythm and prepare for the remaining rounds of the World RallyRaid Championship including the BP Ultimate Rally Raid in Portugal September and Rallye du Maroc October IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/fim-bajas-world-cup-harith-noah-finishes-fifth-at-baja-aragon-2025-628496.html Mon, 28 Jul 2025 18:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-russell-calls-for-a-reset-after-mercedes-struggle-at-spa-628527.html New Delhi July 28 George Russell has called on Mercedes to revert back to their earlierseason setup after the team endured another underwhelming performance at the Belgian Grand Prix Despite finishing fifth at SpaFrancorchamps Russell admitted the result flattered the true pace of the car as he finished more than 35 seconds behind race winner Oscar Piastri The Briton gained just one position during a relatively uneventful race benefiting early from Alex Albons struggles in the wet conditions But beyond that Mercedes were largely unable to challenge the frontrunnersWe need to understand why weve lost so much pace in recent races Russell was quoted as saying by Formula 1com Of course its frustrating for all of us as a team P5 was probably flattering the real pace of the car so Im at least happy we got the maximum possibleMercedes had shown promise earlier in the season Russell himself clinched victory at the Canadian Grand Prix in June but the last three races have seen a marked dip in performance According to Russell the slide may be traced to a strategic shift the team made two months agoWe made a clear change of direction a couple of months ago and I think since that point weve taken a step backwards Sometimes it takes a few races to understand what the real reasons are for that lack of pace but clearly it seems like we need to revert back to what we had earlier in the seasonMeanwhile rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli had a tougher outing in Belgium The 18yearold Italian failed to make it past Q1 in qualifying for both the Sprint and the main race After overnight setup changes including a new front wing designed to boost downforce Antonelli started from the pit lane and made two pit stops en route to a P16 finishDespite the result Antonelli drew positives from the adjustments and felt more at ease in the carToday I had more confidence in the car definitely with the new wing I had more stability and that was helping Antonelli said Also the car felt more connected so I definitely took some confidence backLooking ahead to the next round in Budapest Antonelli is focused on turning around his qualifying form crucial on the twisty overtakingunfriendly HungaroringNow is the time to really try and work for Qualifying because when you start at the front its completely another story he said Especially for Budapest where its even harder to overtake we really need to do a good Qualifying and start at the front IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-russell-calls-for-a-reset-after-mercedes-struggle-at-spa-628527.html Mon, 28 Jul 2025 21:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-oscar-piastri-extends-title-lead-with-win-at-rain-hit-belgian-gp-628309.html Stavelot July 27 Oscar Piastri secured a crucial victory at the Belgian Grand Prix holding off McLaren teammate and championship rival Lando Norris in a dramatic wettodry race at SpaFrancorchamps The win extends Piastris lead in the Drivers Championship to 16 points marking a pivotal moment in the title fight Rain delayed the 44lap race by nearly 80 minutes but once the action began on Lap 5 Piastri wasted no time making his move Starting alongside Norris who was on pole the Australian got a superior launch through Eau Rouge and completed a clean pass along the Kemmel Straight before the Les Combes braking zone That move proved decisive as Piastri established and maintained a slender lead of around one second in the opening stagesWith the track drying rapidly strategic decisions came into play Piastri was the first to pit switching to medium tyres on Lap 12 Norris stayed out for an extra lap and opted for hard tyres rejoining nine seconds behind after his stop Though Norris closed the gap in the final stint Piastris tyre management was exceptional The margin narrowed to 31 seconds with two laps remaining but a small error from Norris at La Source extended the gap to 34 seconds at the flagBehind the McLaren duo Ferraris Charles Leclerc finished a distant third 20 seconds adrift but fended off pressure from Max Verstappen The Red Bull driver winner of Saturdays Sprint finished just 15 seconds behind Leclerc after a quiet but persistent chaseHamilton climbed 11 places in his Ferrari after a pit lane start and was one of the first to switch from the intermediate tyres at the crossover point to eventually finish seventhPiastris Spa triumph marks his third win of the season and sends a strong message in the championship battle With a 16point advantage and momentum on his side the Australian now leads a McLarendominated title race heading into the summer break IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-oscar-piastri-extends-title-lead-with-win-at-rain-hit-belgian-gp-628309.html Sun, 27 Jul 2025 23:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-verstappen-fends-off-piastri-to-win-spa-sprint-race-628125.html Stavelot July 26 Max Verstappen secured his first Sprint win of the 2025 Formula 1 season at SpaFrancorchamps triumphing in a tense dash during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend The Red Bull driver delivered a bold overtake on polesitter Oscar Piastri during the opening lap and held firm under pressure to take a commanding victory Piastri had made a strong start maintaining the lead into Turn 1 but Verstappen capitalized on superior pace and grip to move ahead later in the lap Despite growing threats from both McLaren cars Verstappen showcased his defensive skills to maintain P1 throughout the race Piastri and teammate Lando Norris completed the podium in second and third respectivelyIt worked out really well That is the only real opportunity that youre going to get against them and we got it into Turn 5 I knew it was going to be very tough keeping them behind so it was very much like cat and mouse with DRS battery usage and the whole race was within seven tenths I couldnt afford to make big mistakes I had one tiny hiccup into the last corner but apart from that it was a great result to keep them behind To have a win here at Spa for me its a Sprint win but it still counts and Im very happy with what we did out there said VerstappenCharles Leclerc took fourth for Ferrari after briefly challenging the McLarens early on Haas enjoyed a productive outing with Esteban Ocon finishing fifth and rookie Ollie Bearman eighth Williams Carlos Sainz came home sixth while Racing Bulls Isack Hadjar secured the final point in seventhSprint Qualifying on Friday had seen Piastri take his first Sprint pole with a stunning 1m 40510s lap over fourtenths ahead of Verstappen Norris lined up third Drama continued into the race start Alpines Franco Colapinto began from the pit lane due to a rear wing change while teammate Pierre Gasly was unable to start after a water system failure on the grid Tyre strategy was largely uniform with all drivers opting for medium compounds except Colapinto who gambled on softsVerstappens win sees him collect the maximum eight points from the Sprint a relief after a string of poor outings for the team IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-verstappen-fends-off-piastri-to-win-spa-sprint-race-628125.html Sat, 26 Jul 2025 17:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-piastri-leads-verstappen-norris-with-commanding-lap-in-spa-sprint-qualifying-628051.html Stavelot Belgium July 25 Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive lap to top Sprint Qualifying clocking a 1m 40510s to go quickest ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris Norris had initially set the benchmark with a 1m 41128s only to be bettered by Verstappens 1m 40987s However Piastris late flyer put him firmly on top of the timesheets Ferraris Charles Leclerc was best of the rest though nearly eight tenths off the pace Esteban Ocon impressed for Haas by securing fifth with teammate Oliver Bearman taking seventh They were split by Carlos Sainz in the Williams Alpines Pierre Gasly ended up eighth after a strong Q2 showing while Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls and Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber completed the top tenDespite topping Q2 with a 1m 41412s Norris couldnt match Piastris pace in the final session Piastri himself narrowly avoided elimination having his initial Q2 lap deleted for exceeding track limits at Eau Rouge His followup time of 1m 42169s saw him scrape into Q3 just 0041s ahead of Racing Bulls Liam Lawson in 11thJoining Lawson on the sidelines were Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull George Russell Mercedes and Aston Martin duo Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll who could only manage 14th and 15thThe major surprise came in Q1 where Lewis Hamilton suffered a highspeed spin at the final chicane leaving him 18th overall and out of contention early He was joined by Alex Albon narrowly missing the cut Nico Hulkenberg Franco Colapinto and Kimi Antonelli The young Mercedes driver spun at Stavelot and had to continue on damaged tyres ultimately finishing well off the paceThe stage is now set for Saturdays Sprint with Piastri leading the way IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-piastri-leads-verstappen-norris-with-commanding-lap-in-spa-sprint-qualifying-628051.html Fri, 25 Jul 2025 23:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/mahaveer-raghunathan-holds-p2-in-italian-gt-championship-after-mugello-round-627579.html Italy July 23 As the Italian GT Championship reaches its halfway mark Mahaveer Raghunathan continues to make a strong impression in his debut season with AF Corse currently holding P2 in the overall Sprint Championship standings just two points off the leader and P3 in the Endurance Championship Mahaveer shares driving duties in the Endurance Cup with Italian racers Lorenzo Ferrari and Riccardo Ponzio forming a strong and wellbalanced trio for AF CorseMahaveer and his codrivers began the season with a strong showing at Misano finishing P4 despite an earlyrace contact that cost them valuable time The team recovered well with solid pace and strategy but missed the podium by just 1 secondIn race 1 Mahaveer finished P2 with competitive pace and a smart strategy In race 2 he delivered a stellar drive jumping to P1 after the pitstop and maintaining the lead under pressure He dominated the restart and crossed the finish line with a commanding race win moving to the top of the championship standingsA strong qualifying effort saw the team start P3 Mahaveer and his teammates maintained frontrunning pace throughout the race and brought the car home in P2Despite carrying a 15second success handicap from the previous win the team finished P4 narrowly missing the podium by just onetenth of a secondFinished P5 after an unfortunate sequence of events A poorly timed safety car right after the pitstop neutralized their strategy preventing tyre warmup and leaving Mahaveer vulnerable at the restart A subsequent contact led to further position lossesMahaveer shared Overall the first half of the season has been solid Four podiums and a win are encouraging but I know we can push for more Ive learnt a lot not just about raw speed but about race craft restarts and managing races under pressure Im looking forward to applying those lessons and coming back stronger at Imola on August 3rdFrom the Pit Wall Amato Ferrari Team Principal AF Corse said Ive been working with Mahaveer since the WEC rookie test in Bahrain last November Hes a very focused driver always immersed in driving and racing Since joining the team Mahaveer has adapted well to the Ferrari 296 GT3 The engineers are pleased with his progress He is working well alongside Lorenzo Ferrari in the sprint and in the endurance championship with Lorenzo and Riccardo Ponzio The goal for all of us is the same to win the championship so we keep pushingWith two more rounds each in the Endurance and Sprint formats still to come Mahaveer Raghunathan and the AF Corse team are in strong contention fully focused on turning earlyseason promise into a championshipwinning campaign IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/mahaveer-raghunathan-holds-p2-in-italian-gt-championship-after-mugello-round-627579.html Wed, 23 Jul 2025 17:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/only-one-can-get-it-coulthard-compares-mclarens-intra-team-duel-to-2021-title-fight-627437.html New Delhi July 22 As the 2025 Formula 1 season hits its halfway mark a thrilling battle is brewing not between rival teams but within McLaren itself Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are locked in a highstakes title fight separated by just eight points after 12 races Former McLaren driver and F1 veteran David Coulthard believes this internal duel could echo the intensity of the unforgettable 2021 battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton a rivalry where only one could be crowned championCoulthard who raced in 246 Grands Prix and scored 13 wins in his career is thoroughly enjoying the PiastriNorris duel and believes the young Australians current lead is fully deservedIf it were half a World Championship Oscars won Coulthard remarked I dont think anyone could say he hasnt deserved to be leading he was leading before the McLarens came together in Canada But if Lando turns it around in the second half of the season hes doing it against someone thats a talented thirdyear F1 driverPiastri holds a slender eightpoint advantage largely thanks to five wins compared to Norriss four But as Coulthard sees it the true test of championship mettle is yet to comeThe battle between the two McLaren drivers reminds Coulthard of the fierce and controversial 2021 showdown between Verstappen and Hamilton Its a bit like 2021 where some people are still so vocal about what happened only one driver could win Both Max and Lewis drove like World Champions that year but only one of them could have the titleThat sense of dual excellence he believes is mirrored in the dynamic between Norris and Piastri where both drivers have shown worldclass form but only one will take the crownDespite the rising tension Coulthard applauded McLarens handling of the situation so far saying the team has managed the rivalry smartly I think McLaren have handled it really well I think both their drivers are on the tamer side of animal than the wilder side of animal so that probably makes it a little bit easierHowever he was quick to add that moments like these might not come again urging both drivers to seize the opportunity This could also be their only chance to win a world title we dont know what 2026 brings we dont know what the future is so youve got to seize the momentCoulthard was especially impressed by how Piastri has stepped up in his third year in F1 Thats why Im really impressed with how Oscar has stepped up this year But Landos response over the last two races is showing his quality as wellHe believes the final outcome will mirror 2021 again two deserving contenders but only one trophy I think its going to be one of those things where both of them deserve it but only one can get itCoulthard isnt surprised by the ontrack clash between Norris and Piastri in Canada In fact he saw it coming because hes lived it I predicted the coming together because Ive been there and done that I crashed into Mika he crashed into meDrawing from his partnership with Mika Hakkinen at McLaren from 1996 to 2001 Coulthard recalled the inevitability of such flashpoints when both drivers feel they can win Its always going to be the case that no matter how tight a team is once you have the intensity of both drivers having a chance to win then thats going to get more and more complicatedDespite McLarens dominance Coulthard was quick to remind everyone that Max Verstappen though 69 points behind Piastri cannot be ruled out especially if Red Bull brings key upgrades You cant rule Max out he stated while singling out the Dutchmans stellar Qualifying effort at SilverstoneI think for the championship we all know its going to take an upgrade to unlock some performance Where Red Bull are right now and if they were frozen its difficult to imagine that the second half of the season circuits are suddenly going to suit Red Bull better than the first halfIt will take an upgrade from Red Bull to give him the consistency Are they capable of doing it Absolutely Have they done it before Yes Is Max exceptional Absolutely IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/only-one-can-get-it-coulthard-compares-mclarens-intra-team-duel-to-2021-title-fight-627437.html Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-marquez-masters-rain-to-seal-sensational-pole-at-sachsenring-625808.html HohensteinErnstthal Germany July 12 Marc Marquez returned to familiar territory at the Sachsenring to clinch a dramatic pole position in wet and wild conditions during MotoGP qualifying for the German Grand Prix Despite the rain playing havoc with grip and visibility Marquez produced a stunning lap late in Q2 to edge out Johann Zarco by just 0151s and secure his 73rd career pole in the premier classThe qualifying session was full of drama and unpredictability The rain had persisted since the morning erasing the dry line that had begun to form in FP2 In Q1 Zarco was the early standout clocking a 128370 to top the session and advance along with Maverick Viñales Others like Miguel Oliveira narrowly missed out despite spirited runsQ2 saw immediate chaos Viñales was thrown off his bike at Turn 4 on the outlap moments before Jack Miller suffered an almost identical crash at the same corner Both riders walked away unharmed but the tone for a treacherous session was setBrad Binder laid down the first timed lap before Franco Morbidelli briefly took the top spot with a 129776 Then came Marquez With eight minutes remaining the championship leader took charge with a 128730 later improving that time despite a minor scare at the top of the Waterfall section At one point Marquez held a lead of over a second on the chasing packZarco kept chipping away and got within 0065s of Marquez with a stellar lap in the dying minutes But just as the pole seemed under threat Marquez responded His final lap was enough to keep Zarco at bay even as Morbidelli tried one last attack before crashing out at Turn 8The front row is rounded off by Marco Bezzecchi who showed strong pace in the tricky conditions Morbidelli starts from fourth alongside rookie Pedro Acosta and the determined Alex Marquez who is racing with a fractured left handRow three features Fabio Quartararo Fridays fastest rider Fabio Di Giannantonio and Miller Binder Francesco Bagnaia and Viñales complete the top 12 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-marquez-masters-rain-to-seal-sensational-pole-at-sachsenring-625808.html Sat, 12 Jul 2025 17:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-karting-championship-to-commence-on-july-12-625615.html Coimbatore July 11 As many as 74 youngsters representing 10 teams across four categories form highly competitive grids as the first round of the MECOFMSCI National Karting Championship Rotax Max Classes starting on Saturday The Championship comprises six rounds with the grand finale slated for November 89 The four National champions in the Senior Max Junior Max Mini Max and Micro Max categories identified at the conclusion of the championship will represent India in the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Bahrain November 29 to December 6The 2025 season is featured by the introduction of the Mini Max category for racers under 11 years of age positioned between the Micro and Junior Max classesThe Senior Max has attracted 34 entries Bengaluru racers Rishon Rajeev Birel Art India and brothers from Peregrine Racing Rohaan Madesh and Ishaan Madesh are expected to dominate while the competition among the trio is likely to be close and thrillingThe Junior Max category will be headlined by last years champion Punes Arafath Sheikh Crest Motorsports and Chennais Eshanth Vengatesan MSPORT with a clutch of rookies ranged against themCompetition is expected to be extremely sharp in the Mini Max class which has a bunch of racers who have moved up from Micro Max Rivaan Dev Preetham Chennai MSPORT along with Hamza Balasinorwala Mumbai Crest Motorsports Rehan Khan Rasheed Chennai MSPORT Yatharth Gaur Faridabad Leapfrog Racing and Danish Dalmiya Pune Rayo Racing who were consistently claiming podiums in the Micro Max class last year have all moved to the new Mini categoryThe departure of the top five leaves the Micro Max field open with Bengalurus Shiv Tummala of Peregrine Racing and Mumbais Aarav Surekha of Rayo Racing being the front runnersSaturdays schedule has official practice qualifying rounds and heats while the prefinals and finals are slated for Sunday IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-karting-championship-to-commence-on-july-12-625615.html Fri, 11 Jul 2025 16:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/red-bull-sack-f1-team-principal-christian-horner-625207.html New Delhi July 9 Red Bull have sacked team principal and CEO Christian Horner effective immediately bringing an end to a highly decorated 20year tenure at the helm of the Formula One team The shocking news comes amidst what has been a turbulent year for Red Bull After the departure of highly influential figures Adrian Newey Jonathan Wheatley and Rob Marshall Horner becomes the latest to leave the teamLaurent Mekies who was the team principal of Racing Bulls will replace Horner Racing Director Alan Permane will take over as the team boss at the sister teamThe last year and a half has been an absolute privilege to lead the team with Peter It has been an amazing adventure to contribute to the birth of Racing Bulls together with all our talented people The spirit of the whole team is incredible and I strongly believe that this is just the beginningAlan is the perfect man to take over now and continue our path He knows the team inside out and has always been an important pillar of our early successes Mekies said in a statementIn January 2005 Horner was appointed to head the team becoming the youngest team principal on the grid at the time Christians first win as an F1 team principal came at the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix a breakthrough that would lead to five more victories that seasonHorner led the team to six Constructors Championship title and eight Drivers title sinceOliver Mintzlaff managing director of Red Bull said Wed like to thank Christian for his exceptional work over the last 20 years With his tireless commitment experience expertise and innovative thinking he has been instrumental in establishing RBR as one of the most successful and attractive teams in F1There has been turbulence in the Red Bull garage since the beginning of 2024 With rumours of Max Verstappen potentially leaving Red Bull for rivals Mercedes in 2026 this news further adds to the speculation on a potential exit for the reigning fourtime world champion IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/red-bull-sack-f1-team-principal-christian-horner-625207.html Wed, 09 Jul 2025 16:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-bearman-handed-10-place-grid-penalty-at-british-gp-for-red-flag-infringement-624570.html Northamptonshire UK July 5 Ollie Bearman has been handed a 10place grid penalty for Sundays British Grand Prix following a red flag infringement during the weekends third and final practice hour The session had already proven eventful for Bearman the Haas driver earlier sparking a red flag after losing a piece of bodywork from his car out on track which resulted in the marshals having to retrieve the part But there was worse to come for the Briton when a second red flag was thrown in the latter stages owing to Kick Saubers Gabriel Bortoleto spinning off and becoming beached in the gravelAs he headed into the pit lane at the Silverstone Circuit Bearman had a spin of his own and hit the barriers losing the front wing from his VF25 in the processWith the incident happening under red flag conditions it was subsequently investigated by the stewards who opted to hand the 20yearold a grid drop of 10 places for Sundays raceFerrari driver Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets during Saturdays final practice session for the British Grand Prix leading the way from Piastri Verstappen and Norris with Yuki Tsunoda an encouraging fifth for Red Bull Bearman taking sixth before making the mistake while entering the pitlane and Albon putting Williams back into the top 10 positionsRussell was the fastest of the Mercedes cars on a so far difficult weekend for the Silver Arrows placing eighth over the Racing Bulls of Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson Hamilton and the other Williams and Haas machines of Carlos Sainz and Esteban OconNext up was Antonelli in 14th as the Saubers of Nico Hulkenberg and Bortoleto along with the Aston Martins and the Alpines brought up the rear Fernando Alonso placing in front of Franco Colapinto Stroll and Pierre GaslyBritish driver Lewis Hamilton the seventime World Drivers Champion won the 2024 British Grand Prix driving for Mercedes IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-bearman-handed-10-place-grid-penalty-at-british-gp-for-red-flag-infringement-624570.html Sat, 05 Jul 2025 20:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-max-verstappens-masterclass-clinches-pole-at-british-gp-qualifying-624595.html Northamptonshire July 5 Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass at Silverstone clinching pole position for the 2025 British Grand Prix with a sensational lap of 124892 The Red Bull ace left no room for error as he edged out McLarens Oscar Piastri by just 0103 seconds in a nailbiting Q3 shootout Piastri had looked set for his first pole of the season after topping the early Q3 timesheets but a costly mistake on his final lap left the door open Verstappen seized the opportunity with trademark precision putting together a flawless final run to grab the top spotLando Norris will line up third in the other McLaren unable to improve on his initial time Behind them George Russell will start fourth for Mercedes narrowly ahead of Lewis Hamilton who had briefly challenged the frontrunners during the early phases of Q3Charles Leclerc will start sixth while Mercedes young star Kimi Antonelli finished seventh Ollie Bearman qualified eighth but will drop down the grid due to a 10place penalty for a red flag infringement in practiceFernando Alonso continued his consistent form for Aston Martin in ninth while Pierre Gasly capped off a strong session for Alpine in tenthFurther down it was a disappointing session for Williams with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon only managing 11th and 14th Red Bulls Yuki Tsunoda found himself marooned in 12th while Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar slotted into 13thThe drama of Q1 saw Alpines Franco Colapinto crash out at the final corner triggering red flags and ending his session in last place Eliminated alongside him were Lawson Bortoleto Stroll and HulkenbergAll eyes now turn to Sundays race where Verstappen will aim to convert pole into another dominant victoryEarlier in the day Ollie Bearman was handed a 10place grid penalty for Sundays British Grand Prix following a red flag infringement during the weekends third and final practice hour The session had already proven eventful for Bearman the Haas driver earlier sparking a red flag after losing a piece of bodywork from his car out on track which resulted in the marshals having to retrieve the part IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-max-verstappens-masterclass-clinches-pole-at-british-gp-qualifying-624595.html Sat, 05 Jul 2025 23:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-tim-mayer-announces-bid-for-fia-presidency-says-governing-body-can-do-better-624378.html New Delhi July 4 American motorsport official Tim Mayer has confirmed that he will stand for the presidency of the FIA motorsports global governing body in this Decembers election Mayer 59 will challenge current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem who has been in the role since December 2021Mayers decision comes less than a year after Ben Sulayem sacked him as a Formula 1 stewardMayer told BBC Sport that his decision to run was not driven by personal grievance Its not personal Mayer said But I felt the FIA could do better for the member clubs for the motorsport communityWith more than 15 years of experience as an F1 race steward and leadership roles in major US championships such as Indycar IMSA and the American Le Mans Series Mayer believes he has the right blend of experience I can bring value to our stakeholders whether they are small clubs in underserved regions or whether its the Formula 1 track Im equally comfortable in both places he saidMayer also stressed that he has broadened his focus beyond motorsport As much as I come from motorsport Ive spent the last six months educating myself on the mobility side and what that opportunity is To me actually thats the larger opportunity the opportunity to have a global impact for sustainability for accessibility and for safety all around the world Mayer saidMayer was dismissed as an F1 steward after representing the Circuit of the Americas in a right of review hearing last year regarding a fine imposed for a crowd invasion at the end of the US Grand Prix He revealed to BBC Sport that Ben Sulayem believed an element of that hearing was a personal attack on himAs for his chances in the upcoming election Mayer said The goal is to go to the clubs and demonstrate to them that there is a viable alternative IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-tim-mayer-announces-bid-for-fia-presidency-says-governing-body-can-do-better-624378.html Fri, 04 Jul 2025 16:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-to-race-in-austria-through-to-2041-with-new-extension-623514.html Spielberg Austria June 29 The iconic Austrian Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar through 2041 inclusive following the longterm extension of Formula 1s contract with promoter Projekt Spielberg GmbH amp Co KG The Austrian Grand Prix boasts a long and prestigious history in Formula 1 having appeared on the calendar 37 times with the first race taking place in 1964The Red Bull Ring situated in the Styrian mountains first hosted the event in 1970 and offers one of the most picturesque settings for a Formula 1 race with drivers navigating the 43 km circuit known for its elevation changes and mix of high and lowspeed corners that encourage wheeltowheel battlesThe circuit dropped off the calendar in 2004 but in 2010 the late Dietrich Mateschitz invested in the Red Bull Ring funding renovations that revitalised the facility and led to its return in 2014Since then the race has become a favourite among fans and drivers alike A roll call of greats from Formula 1s 75year history have taken the top step in Austria including Alain Prost Niki Lauda Michael Schumacher and Alan JonesStefano Domenicali President and CEO of Formula 1 said Austria has long been an incredibly special race for Formula 1 so its fantastic we have secured the longterm future of a Grand Prix so deeply rooted in the sports historyThe vision and passion of Dietrich Mateschitz gave the race the investment and attention that allowed it to return as an incredible event on the Formula 1 calendarEach year returning to the stunning Styrian mountains is a highlight an experience that evokes incredible emotion among our drivers teams and fans alike creating an atmosphere unlike any otherI want to extend my sincere thanks to Mark Mateschitz and Thomas Uberall and his team for their unwavering dedication to excellence and to our incredible Austrian fanbase whose enthusiasm and loyalty continue to elevate this iconic raceFour drivers from the current grid have also claimed victory in Austria Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Charles Leclerc and George Russell have all triumphed at the Red Bull Ring with Verstappen holding the record for the most wins on five four under its guise as the Austrian Grand Prix and once when it featured as the Styrian Grand Prix in 2021Mark Mateschitz added I am delighted that Formula 1 will remain at the Red Bull Ring for many years to come I am proud to continue my fathers legacy and to preserve the rich history of motor racing in Styria and at the Red Bull Ring with and above all for the people of the regionAustrias close ties to Formula 1 are an excellent foundation for our longterm partnership Working together we intend to continue this success story for many years to comeThomas Uberall General Manager of the Red Bull Ring said This longterm commitment to us by Formula 1 is a great honour and a wonderful challenge that we are happy to undertake on behalf of the fans and the Murtal regionThe new contract is of inestimable importance for the future The longterm security of the Austrian Grand Prix will trigger further investment in infrastructure and means tremendous added value for the Murtal region for Styria and for Austria IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-to-race-in-austria-through-to-2041-with-new-extension-623514.html Sun, 29 Jun 2025 17:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/keshav-maharaj-becomes-first-proteas-spinner-to-bag-200-test-scalps-623549.html Bulawayo June 29 South Africa standin captain Keshav Maharaj on Sunday created history by becoming the first Proteas spinner to clinch 200 Test wickets He achieved the feat in the ongoing first Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club On second of the first Test Maharaj reached the milestone by dismissing his counterpart Craig Ervine He is now the ninth South African bowler overall to reach 200 Test wickets He achieved the feat in his 59th Test match Over the course of his career he has taken fivewicket hauls in an innings on 11 occasions and has claimed four wickets in an innings six timesSouth Africas alltime leading Test wickettaker is Dale Steyn who claimed 439 wickets in 93 matches at an impressive average of 2295 He is followed by Shaun Pollock with 421 wickets and Makhaya Ntini with 390With regular skipper Temba Bavuma sidelined by a hamstring strain the 35yearold Maharaj has taken over the captaincy of the South African national cricket team for the first time South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first in the match that got underway in Bulawayo on SaturdaySouth Africa declared their first innings at 418 runs powered by a brilliant century from 19yearold Luan Pretorius who played a memorable knock of 153 runs off 160 balls His innings featured 11 fours and 4 sixes With this feat Pretorius became the youngest South African to score a Test century reaching the milestone at just 19 years and 93 days oldLower down the order Corbin Bosch also made a significant impact with the bat scoring a century off 124 deliveries On his Test debut Dewald Brevis impressed with his aggressive approach smashing 51 runs off just 41 balls IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/keshav-maharaj-becomes-first-proteas-spinner-to-bag-200-test-scalps-623549.html Sun, 29 Jun 2025 21:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-russell-leads-fp1-as-dunne-shines-on-debut-at-austrian-gp-623261.html Spielberg Austria June 27 George Russell continued his redhot form after winning the Canadian Grand Prix opening the Free Practice session of the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix with a fastest lap of 105542 at the Red Bull Ring The Mercedes driver edged out home favourite Max Verstappen by just 0065s with McLarens Oscar Piastri a further 0155s back in third The session featured two debutants from Formula 2 Alex Dunne leading the F2 standings stepped into Lando Norris McLaren and made history as the first Irish driver to participate in an F1 weekend in over two decades Dunne impressed with a P4 finish just 0224s off Russells benchmark Ferrari also ran F2s Dino Beganovic in place of Charles Leclerc though mechanical issues hampered his runningVerstappen using a substitute race engineer with Gianpiero Lambiase off for the weekend reported setup concerns and experienced a lockup in his RB21 Meanwhile teammate Yuki Tsunoda had a wide moment as he continued to struggle for consistencyLewis Hamiltons session was disrupted by a gearbox issue forcing him back to the pits while Beganovics Ferrari was seen up on stands with the floor removed A couple of yellow flags briefly paused the action triggered by spins from Fernando Alonso and Esteban OconAs the soft tyres came into play in the second half of the session Russells earlier benchmark held firm despite drops of rain reported late on Behind the top five which included Alpines Pierre Gasly Gabriel Bortoleto P6 and rookie Kimi Antonelli P11 also made notable appearancesWith unsettled weather looming teams now turn their attention to preparing for FP2 set to begin later on Friday IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-russell-leads-fp1-as-dunne-shines-on-debut-at-austrian-gp-623261.html Fri, 27 Jun 2025 20:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-alex-dunne-to-replace-mclarens-lando-norris-in-practice-1-at-austrian-gp-622548.html New Delhi June 23 McLaren Formula 1 Team have announced that their Driver Development Programmes Alex Dunne will take part in Free Practice 1 at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix in place of Lando Norris The 19yearold began karting at eight years old securing his first European karting title in the 2019 WSK Champions Cup OKJ Category He made his singleseater debut in the 2021 Spanish F4 Championship securing pole position and a podium on debut In his 2022 season he picked up a combined 16 race wins whilst competing in the British UAE and Italian Formula 4 Championships earning him the British 4 Championship before going on to earn the vicechampion title in the GB3 Championship the following yearIts an amazing opportunity to be able to drive during FP1 in Austria Im really looking forward to getting laps in behind the wheel of the MCL39 and supporting the team with the setup for the race weekend aheadIve been preparing well for the sessions taking part in Testing of Previous Cars tests in the MCL60 and spending time on the simulator which has been a fantastic learning experience Thank you to Zak Andrea and Alessandro for their faith in me Its a great step within my development with the McLaren Driver Development Programme and Im really excited to join the team trackside said AlexAlex was announced as part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme in May 2024 whilst competing in FIA Formula 3 He now races for Rodin Motorsport in FIA Formula 2 and serves as reserve and development driver for McLaren Formula E TeamAlex will get behind the wheel of the MCL39 as part of his development within the McLaren Racing pipeline which has an overarching aim to help drivers progress towards Formula 1 IndyCar and Formula 1 IndyCar and the teams upcoming World Endurance Championship entryEarlier in the year Pato OWard took part in FP1 at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix The team will announce who will drive in the remaining two Free Practice sessions in due course which will complete the teams four young driver outings as mandated in the 2025 Sporting RegulationsIts great to be able to give Alex the opportunity to run in Free Practice 1 and for him to get valuable time behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car as part of his development The team are pleased to be working with him more closely and for his support across the weekend where he will be providing useful feedback to help with the cars setup The rookie sessions are fantastic for seeing the talent of tomorrow and enabling that rare chance to get time in a current car so we look forward to seeing him on track said Andrea Stella McLaren Team Principal IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-alex-dunne-to-replace-mclarens-lando-norris-in-practice-1-at-austrian-gp-622548.html Mon, 23 Jun 2025 19:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/isrl-season-2-sees-50-pc-hike-in-rider-registration-with-record-155-entries-621966.html Pune June 19 Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL the worlds first franchisebased Supercross league has attracted a recordbreaking 155 riders registering for the next season which is over 50 percent growth from Season 1 With riders hailing from 21 countries across six continents the 2025 roster showcases a powerful blend of world champions rising stars and homegrown Indian talentFrom India top performers like Ikshan Shanbhag and Rugved Barguje who stood out in Season 1 reaffirm ISRLs commitment to nurturing Indian racing talentGreg Aranda France 6X German Supercross Champion Anthony Bourdon France Vice Champion French SX1 Maxime Desprey France French MX amp SX Champion Justin Starling USA AMA SX veteran with 106 main events Alexander Fedortsov USA 2025 SMX Next AMA National Champion and Luke Clout Australia AMA SX top 5 World Supercross Championship rider are the globally renowned supercross athletes who are joining the league for the first timeMatt Moss Australia 9X Australian Champion ISRL Season 1 450cc Champion Jordi Tixier France MXON World Champion Reid Taylor Australia ISRL Season 1 250cc International Champion Lorenzo Camporese Italy 5x Italian SXMX Champion are the returning international starsEeshan Lokhande cofounder of ISRL said Supercross in India is clearly on a sharp growth trajectory and this years volume and quality of rider registrations reflect that momentum The fact that weve attracted some of the most respected international names alongside every major Indian Supercross rider is a reflection of the trust weve built globallyJohn Short USA Top 10 AMA SX who will be racing at ISRL for the first time shared Ive competed in leagues in various countries and when I saw what the ISRL accomplished in Season 1 I knew I wanted to be part of it Im excited to race in India and connect with fans and athletes from around the globe Back home in the US we do a lot of Supercross so I feel like my skills are polished and Im ready to see how I stack up against some of the best international talentAs the rider registrations are officially closed for Season 2 the final list of registered riders will now be reviewed by team owners ahead of the Mega Auction which will determine franchise rider lineups IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/isrl-season-2-sees-50-pc-hike-in-rider-registration-with-record-155-entries-621966.html Thu, 19 Jun 2025 18:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-rally-cship-aishwarya-pissay-eyes-victory-in-round-2-621246.html Nashik June 14 TVS Racings Aishwarya Pissay Indias only FIM World Cup winner and a 3time world champion is all set to continue her charge in Round 2 of the 2025 FMSCI National Rally Championship for 2wheelers here on Sunday Brimming with confidence after a dominant win in Round 1 at Indore last month the 2019 FIM Baja World Cup Ladies Champion and 11time national title holder is on track to secure a record seventh national rally titleFresh from her international campaign where she secured a second overall finish in her class at both Baja Aragon and Hungary Aishwarya currently holds third position in the 2025 FIM Bajas World Cup standings making her return to domestic competition even more impactfulThis round being a tarmac rally its going to test both precision and endurance said Aishwarya Ive focused heavily on tarmac training in the leadup and Im ready to go all out Winning at Indore was the perfect season opener and I want to carry that momentum forward and strengthen my grip on the championship added Aishwarya who is supported by Petronas TVS Racing along with Micro Labs IIFL and Surana CollegeThe Rally of Nashik will feature a 175 km Special Stage run thrice in the forward direction from Veernagar to Aadgaon Deola totalling 525 km of competitive racing primarily on broken tarmac The overall rally distance including liaison will be 1225 kmThe ceremonial flagoff was held on Saturday from Amboli Holiday Home Tal Trimbakeshwar with all competitive stages set for SundayPromoted by Godspeed Racing the sixround MRF MoGrip fmsci National Rally Championship for 2Wheelers 2025 remains one of Indias premier twowheeler rally series sanctioned by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India fmsci IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-rally-cship-aishwarya-pissay-eyes-victory-in-round-2-621246.html Sat, 14 Jun 2025 22:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-e-case-acb-summons-ktr-on-june-16-621066.html Hyderabad June 13 The Telangana AntiCorruption Bureau ACB has summoned Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS Working President and former minister KT Rama Rao for questioning in the Formula E case on June 16 The ACB has issued notice to Rama Rao directing him to appear before it at 10 am on MondayThe antigraft agency had earlier given him a notice to appear on May 28 The BRS leader however informed the agency that as he planned to leave for a foreign tour he would appear before them after he returnedAs a lawabiding citizen will definitely cooperate with the agencies even though the case is nothing but pure political harassment As I have planned to leave for the UK amp USA for multiple events much in advance will appear in front of them the moment I come back Informed the same to ACB Officials in writing he had said in his statement on May 26KTR as the BRS leader is popularly known returned from the US in the first week of this monthThe former minister had appeared before the ACB on January 9 in the case relating to the conduct of the Formula E race in Hyderabad in January 2023 when the BRS was in powerThe ACB in December last year booked a case against KTR former Special Chief Secretary Municipal Administration and Urban Development MAampUD Arvind Kumar and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authoritys HMDA former Chief Engineer BLN Reddy for alleged Rs 5488 crore irregularities in the FormulaE dealThe FIR was registered on a complaint by Principal Secretary MAampUD M Dana Kishore who stated that foreign remittances were made without prior approvals of the relevant regulatory authorities which resulted in additional tax burden to the HMDA to the tune of Rs 806 croreThe complainant also alleged that the payment was made while the Model Code of Conduct was in effect for the elections to the state Legislative Assembly without any prior approval of the Election Commission of IndiaThe FIR was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as under Indian Penal Code IPC sections 409 criminal breach of trust and 120B criminal conspiracy IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-e-case-acb-summons-ktr-on-june-16-621066.html Fri, 13 Jun 2025 19:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/fernando-alonso-to-be-only-aston-martin-car-in-spanish-gp-618990.html Barcelona June 1 Aston Martin have confirmed that Lance Stroll will miss the Spanish Grand Prix as the Canadian is scheduled to undergo a medical procedure following pain in his hand and wrist Stroll took part in Qualifying at the Circuit de BarcelonaCatalunya on Saturday and finished 14th but the team announced a few hours later that he will sit out the rest of the weekend A statement released by Aston Martin read Over the course of the past six weeks Lance has been experiencing pain in his hand and wrist which his medical consultant believes is in relation to the procedure he underwent in 2023 As a result his medical team have confirmed that he will not race tomorrow and he will undergo a procedure to rectify these issues before focusing on his recoveryStroll suffered fractures and a broken toe in a cycling accident during the 2023 preseason which required surgery and a period of rehabilitation Despite initial doubts from his medical team about whether he could compete in the early races he made a successful return for the season opener in Bahrain finishing an impressive sixthAhead of the 2024 season Stroll revealed that he had adopted a more cautious approach to his training routine Now in his seventh season with Aston Martin having joined the team in 2019 when it was still operating as Racing Point the 26yearold currently holds 11th place in the Drivers Championship with 14 pointsHis results have helped place the British team eighth in the Constructors standings while teammate Fernando Alonso yet to score points this season is set to start Sundays Spanish Grand Prix from 10th on the grid Due to the sporting regulations Fernando will be their only car competing in the race IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/fernando-alonso-to-be-only-aston-martin-car-in-spanish-gp-618990.html Sun, 01 Jun 2025 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-piastri-edges-norris-verstappen-to-secure-pole-position-in-spanish-gp-618930.html Barcelona May 31 Oscar Piastri secured his fourth pole position of the season in a thrilling end to Qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix here on Saturday The McLaren driver edged out teammate Lando Norris in the final moments of Q3 and will hope to rebuild his lead in the race on Sunday with the British driver just three points short Piastri had set the pace through Q1 and Q2 but Norris looked to have stolen the spotlight with a stunning opening lap in Q3 to grab the provisional pole However Piastri responded when it mattered most clocking a 1m 11546s on his final run to outpace Norris by 0209s and seal the front spot on the gridMax Verstappen delivered another consistent performance to line up third for Red Bull narrowly ahead of George Russell The Mercedes driver set an identical time to Verstappen but was classified fourth as he crossed the line laterLewis Hamilton was the fastest Ferrari in fifth finishing ahead of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli in sixth and teammate Charles Leclerc in seventh Pierre Gasly secured the eighth for Alpine with Racing Bulls Isack Hadjar continuing his impressive run in ninth Fernando Alonso delighted the local crowd by placing his Aston Martin in 10thJust missing out on Q3 was Williams Alex Albon threehundredths of a second off the mark He was followed by Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber in P12 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls Lance Stroll Aston Martin and Ollie Bearman Haas all exiting in Q2Q1 saw several surprises with Nico Hulkenberg Kick Sauber Esteban Ocon Haas and home favourite Carlos Sainz Williams eliminated early the latter finishing a disappointing P18 Alpines Franco Colapinto suffered a pit lane issue and could not improve ending up 19thYuki Tsunoda had a tough session finishing 20th and last for Red Bull significantly off Verstappens pace IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-piastri-edges-norris-verstappen-to-secure-pole-position-in-spanish-gp-618930.html Sat, 31 May 2025 23:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-lando-norris-delivers-lap-record-at-monaco-gp-qualifying-to-seal-pole-617845.html Monte Carlo May 24 Lando Norris stunned the paddock by securing pole position in a dramatic Monaco Grand Prix qualifying session on Saturday The McLaren driver delivered a blistering 109954 lap in the dying moments of Q3 which is also a track record at the circuit edging out local hero Charles Leclerc and teammate Oscar Piastri in a closely contested finish McLarens strategy to allow both drivers two flying laps on fresh soft tyres paid dividends with Norris claiming the top spot just after Leclerc had momentarily led the charts Piastri completed the top three continuing his impressive formLeclercs Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton recovered from a crash in the final practice to finish fourth while championship leader Max Verstappen struggled and could only manage fifth for Red BullIsack Hadjar starred for Racing Bulls with a remarkable sixthplace finish ahead of Fernando Alonsos Aston Martin and Esteban Ocons Haas Liam Lawson followed closely in ninth while Williams Alex Albon secured the final spot in the top tenCarlos Sainz missed out on Q3 after struggling for grip during his Q2 run leaving him 11th Red Bulls Yuki Tsunoda followed in 12th still adapting to the teams latest setupSaubers Nico Hulkenberg capitalised on issues faced by Mercedes drivers qualifying 13th George Russell suffered a power failure in Q2 and placed 14th while rookie Kimi Antonelli placed 15thFurther down the order Gabriel Bortoleto narrowly missed the Q2 cut in the other Kick Sauber machine with Haas racer Ollie Bearman the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll and Alpine pair Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto also falling at the first hurdleBearman will drop to the back of the grid with his 10place grid penalty for a red flag breach during Friday practice while Stroll is also set to drop a position thanks to his sanction for an FP1 clash involving LeclercIn the overall analysis Piastri leads the Driver Standings with 146 points with Lando Norris following behind with 134 points Defending champion Max Verstappen is third with 124 points while Russell and Leclerc complete the top five with 99 and 61 points respectively IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-lando-norris-delivers-lap-record-at-monaco-gp-qualifying-to-seal-pole-617845.html Sun, 25 May 2025 00:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-norris-converts-pole-into-victory-at-monaco-gp-617952.html Monte Carlo May 25 Lando Norris delivered a masterclass in precision and composure to claim victory at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix converting his pole position into a triumphant win on the iconic Monte Carlo streets Despite a massive lockup on the opening lap the McLaren driver navigated the races complexitiesincluding Virtual Safety Car periods traffic and the newly mandated twostop rule at the circuitwith strategic brilliance Ferraris Charles Leclerc racing on home turf applied relentless pressure throughout the race However Norris maintained his lead even as Max Verstappens alternate strategy briefly saw the Red Bull driver at the front Verstappen delayed his second mandatory pit stop until the penultimate lap momentarily taking the lead but ultimately finished fourth after rejoining the trackOscar Piastri Norriss teammate secured third place ensuring a double podium finish for McLaren This result tightened the championship standings with Piastris lead over Norris reduced to just three points Lewis Hamilton had a lonely race en route to fifth place making up a couple of spots following his postQualifying penalty for impeding Verstappen with rookie Isack Hadjar taking a fine sixth over Haas Esteban Ocon and team mate Liam LawsonWilliams bagged a double points finish with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz in P9 and P10 denying the Mercedes of George Russell who grew frustrated at Albons defensive driving earlier in the race and picked up a drivethrough for an illegal overtakeHaas driver Ollie Bearman put on a strong recovery from his 10place grid penalty and some wild moments in the opening stages to take the chequered flag in 12th position followed by fellow rookies Franco Colapinto Alpine and Gabriel Bortoleto Kick SauberBortoleto hit the barriers at Portier on the opening lap after a scrap with Kimi Antonelli but bounced back to finish just ahead of Lance Strolls Aston Martin experienced team mate Nico Hulkenberg and Yuki Tsunodas Red BullAntonelli was the final finisher in 18th having completed his pit stops extremely late in the race with Fernando Alonso retiring for Aston Martin amid engine trouble and Alpines Pierre Gasly dropping out via a clash with Tsunoda exiting the tunnel IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-norris-converts-pole-into-victory-at-monaco-gp-617952.html Sun, 25 May 2025 23:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-2-kush-maini-becomes-first-indian-to-win-in-monaco-with-sprint-race-triumph-617841.html Monte Carlo May 24 Kush Maini secured victory in the Monte Carlo Sprint Race for DAMS Lucas Oil converting pole position at the Circuit de Monaco The Indian driver held off fellow Alpine Academy talent Gabriele Minì who finished second for PREMA Racing and became the first Indian driver to win a race at the iconic venue P1 first Indian to win in Monaco too Its a great honour and a dream come true I want to say thank you to DAMS and everyone who has supported me We keep believing said MainiMaini got the perfect start but Luke Browning fell down the order to fifth by Turn 1 His poor getaway allowed Gabriele Minì to climb up to P2Into Mirabeau Lindblad attempted a pass on Jak Crawford for third but contact between the two allowed Browning back past for fourth and ahead of the American The Campos driver emerged from the tangle in third but was later handed a 10second time penalty for causing a collisionWith DRS enabled Minì was on the rear wing of the race leader the gap hovering at 03s in the opening 10 laps while the pair pulled over eight seconds clear of Lindblad in thirdThe gap was neutralised on Lap 12 when the Safety Car was deployed to recover Joshua Duerksens AIX Racing car The Paraguayan driver was left in the barriers ahead of Portier following contact with MP Motorsports Oliver Goethe out of Mirabeau that left the AIX with raceending damageBack to racing conditions entering Lap 15 Maini escaped from DRS range to Minì behind while Lindblad had Browning right on his gearbox in the battle for third on the roadGoethe was on the move again sneaking his MP car up the inside of Victor Martins at La Rascasse to take P9 on the road Contact between the pair resulted in a 10second time penalty for GoetheWith 10 laps to go Minì was back to within 02s of the race leader while Lindblad had dropped back by over 10 seconds in order to set up a laterace charge to minimise his time penaltyThe Red Bull Junior Team driver was told to push on Lap 22 and he immediately upped his pace to put a buffer between himself and BrowningBy the final lap he was on the rear wing of Minì in second with Maini a further couple of seconds up the roadWith Lindblads time penalty applied it gave Browning P3 and dropped the Campos driver to eighth positionCrawford wound up fourth ahead of Richard Verschoor Sebastián Montoya Leonardo Fornaroli as Lindblad completed the points in P8 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-2-kush-maini-becomes-first-indian-to-win-in-monaco-with-sprint-race-triumph-617841.html Sat, 24 May 2025 23:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-lance-stroll-handed-grid-penalty-for-collision-with-leclerc-in-monaco-fp1-617688.html Monaco May 23 Lance Stroll has been handed a oneplace grid penalty for Sundays Monaco Grand Prix following his collision with Charles Leclerc during the first practice session on Friday The incident occurred in the early stages of Free Practice 1 FP1 when Stroll having moved aside to let another car through attempted to return to the racing line under braking at the tight Turn 6 hairpin Unaware that Ferraris Leclerc was right behind the Aston Martin driver cut across and was hit from behind causing damage to both cars and bringing out a red flagLeclercs Ferrari sustained front wing damage while Strolls AMR24 suffered broken rear suspension and required a gearbox change forcing the Canadian to sit out the rest of the sessionAfter reviewing video footage and hearing from both drivers and their teams the stewards ruled that Stroll was wholly to blame for the incident The stewards determined that Car 18 Stroll cut across the path of Car 16 Leclerc at Turn 6 causing Car 16 to collide with Car 18 read the decision documentCar 16 suffered damage as a resultThe report added that Stroll had been warned by his team of Leclercs approach but he failed to hear the radio message The stewards noted that Leclerc had no chance to avoid the collision and that Strolls action directly caused the crashWe considered that Car 18 was wholly to blame for the collision Car 16 was not in a position to avoid the collision that took place In the circumstances we imposed a onegrid position penalty for the race and one penalty point on Strolls licenseIn addition to the oneplace grid drop Stroll has also received one penalty point on his super licenseThe penalty adds to Aston Martins difficult start to the Monaco weekend as they look to bounce back after a challenging few races Stroll will be hoping to recover in Saturdays allimportant qualifying session on the streets of Monte Carlo IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-lance-stroll-handed-grid-penalty-for-collision-with-leclerc-in-monaco-fp1-617688.html Fri, 23 May 2025 22:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-russell-concerned-by-baked-in-flaws-in-mercedes-2025-car-after-imola-struggles-617014.html New Delhi May 19 George Russell has sounded the alarm on Mercedes 2025 Formula 1 campaign admitting that underlying issues in the cars performance could derail the teams hopes of competing at the front as the season enters its warmer phase The British driver endured his most underwhelming Grand Prix of the season at Imola finishing seventh after starting third on the grid a result that left him visibly frustrated and searching for answers Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the EmiliaRomagna Grand Prix Russell didnt hide his concern about the direction of Mercedes development The trends are pretty clear When its hot were slow When its cold were quick That was the same last year he said referencing the recurring struggle Mercedes has faced across two consecutive campaignsDespite Mercedes introducing upgraded front suspension and a new front wing at Imola parts that had raised hopes within the garage the car once again faltered when track temperatures rose While Russells disappointing result was partially shaped by an unfortunate Virtual Safety Car timing and a questionable strategic call the core issue he said lies deeper than raceday circumstancesWeve been doing everything with the setup to try and find solutions but theres clearly something more fundamental in the car he acknowledgedRussell currently sits fourth in the drivers standings 47 points adrift of championship leader Oscar Piastri While the Mercedes driver has managed to punch above the cars true performance so far with four podiums in the first six rounds the limitations became stark at ImolaIts not the first race this season where weve been slower than Ferrari or even on par with Williams Russell admitted Weve just somehow managed to get a result out of it on those occasions But today we were very lucky to finish P7 in all honestyMercedes second driver rookie Kimi Antonelli had a disappointing home debut as well forced to retire with a throttle issue Yet with Verstappen lacking consistent support at Red Bull and Ferrari also faltering in recent races Mercedes remains second in the Constructors ChampionshipHowever they trail McLaren now clearly the form team by a daunting 132 pointsRussells assessment reveals a growing concern within the Brackleybased squad about their inability to adapt to different track temperatures The cars tyre performance appears to fluctuate drastically depending on conditions echoing Mercedes troubles from last season when they were more competitive in cooler races but lost pace in the summer heatThe 2025 car which was expected to be a significant evolution still seems to carry forward the same inconsistencyI wouldnt say were running out of ideas to solve the tyres Russell noted but as I said its sort of baked into the car Drawing parallels with Ferraris own past struggles he pointed out how the Scuderia had gone from a car that excelled in qualifying to one that now performs better in race trim albeit without fully understanding the change We need to find a better compromise especially ahead of the next race Russell urged Were approaching summer and it doesnt really bode well for us We need to think quick IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-russell-concerned-by-baked-in-flaws-in-mercedes-2025-car-after-imola-struggles-617014.html Tue, 20 May 2025 00:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-piastri-pips-verstappen-for-pole-in-drama-filled-emilia-romagna-gp-qualifying-616692.html Imola Italy May 17 McLarens Oscar Piastri delivered a stunning lap in the dying moments of Qualifying to clinch pole position for the EmiliaRomagna Grand Prix 2025 here on Saturday The Australian upstaged Red Bulls reigning World Champion Max Verstappen and Mercedes George Russell in a chaotic and incidentpacked session Verstappen looked set to continue his dominant run after leading the initial Q3 laps but Piastri produced a blistering 1m 14670s on his final run edging out the Dutchman by just three hundredths of a secondGeorge Russell impressed by taking third despite opting for medium tyres rather than the grippier softs for his final attempt Lando Norris could only manage fourth in the other McLaren while Aston Martins Fernando Alonso rounded out the top fiveThere were surprises deeper in the field with Williams Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon shining in sixth and seventh Lance Stroll Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar and Alpines Pierre Gasly completed the top 10It was a qualifying session to forget for Ferrari at their home race Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton who reported persistent brake issues during practice failed to make it to Q3 and will start 11th and 12th Hometown favourite Kimi Antonelli couldnt match teammate Russell and was 13thAlpines Franco Colapinto advanced to Q2 on pace but was sidelined after a heavy crash in Q1 which brought out red flags and left his team with overnight repairs to deal withHaas endured a difficult day as Esteban Ocon and rookie Ollie Bearman both exited in Q1 Bearmans best lap came just seconds too late following Colapintos crashThe sessions biggest scare came from Yuki Tsunoda who suffered a highspeed crash and barrel roll early in Q1 Thankfully he escaped unscathed though his Red Bull sustained significant damageAll eyes now turn to Sunday with Piastri leading the grid into what promises to be a thrilling race at Imola IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-piastri-pips-verstappen-for-pole-in-drama-filled-emilia-romagna-gp-qualifying-616692.html Sat, 17 May 2025 23:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-vasseur-sees-spain-flexi-wing-rule-as-gamechanger-for-ferrari-616339.html New Delhi May 15 With Ferrari languishing over 150 points behind surprise Constructors Championship leaders McLaren just six races into the 2025 Formula 1 season team principal Frederic Vasseur believes a midseason rule change could offer the beleaguered Scuderia a potential turning point Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports F1 from Ferraris Maranello headquarters Vasseur called the upcoming frontwing technical directive a potential game changer suggesting it could significantly shake up the performance hierarchy particularly at the sharp end of the gridThe rule introduced by the FIA in January and set to come into effect at the Spanish Grand Prix May 30 June 1 will reduce permitted flex in front wings from 15mm to 10mm It is designed to tighten interpretations around aerodynamic flexibility a grey area several top teams including McLaren and Red Bull are believed to have been exploitingThe biggest one probably will be Spain because we have a clear change of regulation with the completely new front wing Vasseur said This could change a little bit the picture of the championship Lets wait for thisWhile the Frenchman was quick to temper expectations saying the championship leader postBarcelona would likely remain unchanged He emphasised that the competitive landscape in terms of pure car performance could see a meaningful shift It could be a reset on the immediate picture but not on the championship he notedFerraris optimism about the regulatory change seems rooted in the belief that rivals particularly McLaren may have the most to lose Both Christian Horner of Red Bull and now Vasseur have hinted that the performance of McLaren whose drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris currently sit first and second in the standings may take a hitHowever the Wokingbased team has remained defiant Norris and Piastri have expressed full confidence that the FIA directive will not compromise their current form Their technical team too appears relaxed indicating that their aerodynamic designs already align with the spirit of the ruleThe FIA has already trialled a similar intervention earlier this season restricting rear wing flexibility during the Chinese Grand Prix That change however had little to no impact on the pecking order But Vasseur believes the upcoming front wing directive could be far more influential especially given how critical frontend aerodynamics are to overall balance and tyre managementExpectations were skyhigh for Ferrari heading into 2025 especially after their highprofile signing of seventime world champion Lewis HamiltonYet the results have been underwhelming Ferrari sits third in the Constructors Championship while Hamilton is a distant seventh in the Drivers standings 12 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc in fifthWhile Hamilton managed a Sprint win in China and a third place in the Miami Sprint his fullrace pace has been inconsistent and qualifying struggles continue to haunt his adaptation to the red machineVasseur acknowledges the uphill battle The car is not at the level that we were expecting I think in this situation its even more difficult for a new driver to adaptHe added If you are flying and winning every single weekend its much easier to adapt But I would say that as long as the collaboration is positive and constructive Im quite confident about the futureTensions briefly flared in Miami where Hamilton grew visibly frustrated over the team radio regarding strategic decisions during the race His comments heard live by millions raised questions about his comfort within Ferraris raceday operationsBut Vasseur was unperturbed Im never upset with this as long as we are able to have a good discussion after They are not happy sometimes with the result or with the strategy or with the balance of the car and they are live for millions of peopleHe emphasised the importance of constructive debriefs over midrace heat Most important for me is the content of the debrief IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-vasseur-sees-spain-flexi-wing-rule-as-gamechanger-for-ferrari-616339.html Thu, 15 May 2025 18:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-releases-colourised-footage-of-first-race-to-celebrate-75th-anniversary-615937.html London May 13 To mark the 75th anniversary of this historic occasion Formula 1 has released restored and colourised footage of the first race as a moment in history brought to life On May 13 1950 the cars raced off the line to start the very first Formula 1 World Championship at Silverstone UK The event part of a sevenrace series at the time set in motion 75 years of excitement drama and innovation which have led to the global sporting phenomenonA team of experts at Formula 1 have expertly brought the race footage and a historic news reel to life showing the victory by Italys Giuseppe Nino Farina in the Alfa Romeo in vibrant colour and giving new perspective to the making of the first Formula 1 World Drivers Champion which will forever stand as a milestone in world sportUsing advanced Al software reference imagery and manual painting techniques the process painstakingly implants the original colours of the scene onto the moving imagery bringing to life the people and surroundings of that daySpecific elements such as the sky grass cars and faces are electronically painted manually to truly bring the scene to life using images of the cars and subjects and F1 archive footage to ensure accuracyThe release of the footage is part of a day of celebration from Formula 1 which also includes a 24hour YouTube stream featuring 7 full classic races highlights from across the decades and the drivers and team principals from the current F1 grid reflecting on their earliest memories of the sportStefano Domenicali president and CEO of Formula 1 said 75 years ago today our sport roared to life and we are privileged to continue the incredible legacy of the brave drivers who raced for the ultimate prize on this day in 1950 It is fantastic to see this footage brought to life in full colour and an amazing way to mark this historic momentToday is a day when we can pay tribute to those who have come before us drivers engineers team owners and of course our fans without whom we would not be in the position we are today For 75 years we have innovated and driven the world forward exciting our fans with feats of human endurance and speed that continue to amaze Here is to the next 75 years and beyond for this incredible sport Avanti Tutta he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-releases-colourised-footage-of-first-race-to-celebrate-75th-anniversary-615937.html Tue, 13 May 2025 16:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-chaos-at-alpine-as-team-boss-oakes-leaves-amid-driver-swap-614497.html Beijing May 7 The Alpine Formula 1 team has been plunged into chaos with news that Oliver Oakes has resigned as Team Principal just ten months after joining the team BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces that Oliver Oakes has resigned from his role as Team Principal read a team statementAs of today Flavio Briatore will continue as Executive Advisor and will also be covering the duties previously performed by Oliver OakesOakes resignation comes one day after it was widely reported that driver Jack Doohan was to be replaced from the next Grand Prix onwards by reserve Franco ColapintoBriatore 75 has long been associated with the Enstonebased team serving as Team Principal during its Benetton and Renault eras Under his leadership the team captured three Constructors and four Drivers ChampionshipsHowever his tenure ended in disgrace after the 2008 Crashgate scandal in which driver Nelson Piquet was instructed to crash deliberately during the Singapore Grand Prix to help teammate Fernando Alonso winThe fallout led to Briatores exit from Renault and a subsequent ban from FIAsanctioned events later overturned by a French courtThe Italian made a shock return to the F1 paddock in July 2024 and was widely thought to wield considerably more power at Alpine than his title would suggest with Oakes having little influence behind the scenesOakes resignation is the latest in a series of senior management departures at Alpine reflecting deeprooted instability at the top of the organizationOtmar Szafnauer took over as Team Principal in early 2022 but left in July 2023 as part of a sweeping leadership shakeup that also saw the exits of Chief Technical Officer Pat Fry and longserving Sporting Director Alan PermaneBruno Famin briefly succeeded Szafnauer but stepped down in August 2024 making way for OakesThe upheaval at Alpine has also extended beyond the leadership tier Technical Director Matt Harman and Head of Aerodynamics Dirk de Beer both resigned in early 2024 while Rob White a veteran with over two decades at Renault and Alpine stepped down as Operations Director in May 2024 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-chaos-at-alpine-as-team-boss-oakes-leaves-amid-driver-swap-614497.html Wed, 07 May 2025 09:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/karna-kadur-musa-sherif-top-aprc-inrc-for-a-grand-double-613169.html Chennai April 27 After a lapse of three years Bengalurus reigning National champion Karna Kadur of Arka Motorsports won a round of the FIAAsia Pacific Rally Championship 2025 at the Madras International Circuit here on Sunday It was a nearflawless drive in the Volkswagen Polo by the 36yearold Kadur who was greatly aided by his experienced codriver Musa Sherif from Kasargod as the duo combined beautifully to also clinch the crown in the first round of the FMSCI Indian National Championship 2025 powered by Vamcy Merla and organised by the Madras Motor Sports ClubFinishing second in APRC was Kadurs teammate and Englandbased former National champion Amittrajit Ghosh codriver Ashwin Naik Mangaluru while Delhis Harkrishan Wadia codriver Harish KN Bengaluru completed the APRC podium after Philippos Matthai Harish KN who was running third retired with a mechanical problem about five kms from the finish of the days last Special StageWadia who drove brilliantly today made a lot of ground to make up a twominute penalty he had received yesterday for an early checkin at the Start Time Control to win the Junior APRC 28 years and younger class ahead of overnight leader Arnav Pratap Singh Rohit N and Abhin Rai Moideen Jasheer KMKadur attributed his success to a judicial blend of caution and aggression After a long time we had a troublefree run The car was great and just about everything fell into place We had carefully planned our strategy and it was executed flawlessly We could have gone faster but in view of the rising temperature we had to exercise some caution A few competitors suffered as they did not back off and having seen this I kept something in reserve in case I needed to push hard Anyway its a good start to the season Also my codriver Musas calls were spoton and it greatly helped he saidGhosh had to overcome a misbehaving VW Polo which was put together about three days before the event after his Mahindra XUV 300 packed up during testing We had issues with the car throughout the weekend Today we lost the clutch and it slowed us down But considering everything including having only a few days to prepare this VW Polo we did pretty wellWadia could hardly believe his luck in finishing third in APRC and topping the INRC2 category The twominute penalty I copped yesterday for early checkin at the start hurt me a lot Though I was on pace through the two days two minutes kept getting added to my time However I guess I got lucky in the end with Philippos retiring while I made 50plus seconds on my rivals todayAnother notable performance came from Bengalurubased Tarushi Vikram Vybhav Mukund Rao who took the honours in the Women INRC class displaying good pace and control IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/karna-kadur-musa-sherif-top-aprc-inrc-for-a-grand-double-613169.html Sun, 27 Apr 2025 18:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-sebastian-vettel-praises-lando-norris-for-speaking-up-on-mental-health-612783.html New Delhi April 24 Fourtime Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has praised McLarens Lando Norris for showing courage in speaking openly about mental health Vettel believes Norris honesty will inspire young fans and break the outdated view that showing emotion is a sign of weakness in sport Norris who began the 2025 season as one of the favourites for the world title after a strong 2024 has had a mixed start to the new campaign While he won the seasonopener in Australia he has since struggled with consistency and lost the championship lead to teammate Oscar Piastri after a fourthplace finish in Saudi ArabiaOver the past few seasons Norris has spoken openly about the pressure of racing including feeling anxious before races and losing his appetite Some critics see this as a sign of vulnerability but Vettel strongly disagreesSpeaking to Sky Sports F1 Vettel said Selfdoubt is the most natural thing there is but its the most unnatural thing to talk about and thats wrong I think its very courageous of him to open up I hope the media supports him and shows it as strength not weaknessVettel who retired from Formula 1 in 2022 has always been known for his thoughtful approach to life beyond racing He compared Norris openness to other top athletes like Lewis Hamilton and Novak Djokovic who have also discussed mental wellbeing publiclyIn the past drivers were expected to be tough and silent about their emotions Now things are changing Drivers still race hard but theyre also speaking about the pressure they feel and thats a positive shift Vettel addedHe also shared how learning that his childhood hero Michael Schumacher had moments of selfdoubt helped him deal with pressure during his own racing careerI was relieved when Michael told me he had selfdoubt It helped me realise I wasnt alone Vettel said IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-sebastian-vettel-praises-lando-norris-for-speaking-up-on-mental-health-612783.html Thu, 24 Apr 2025 17:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-aston-martin-boss-cowell-dismisses-contract-talks-with-verstappen-612126.html Jeddah April 19 Andy Cowell dismissed speculation linking Max Verstappen with a potential move to Aston Martin despite ongoing rumours about the reigning World Champions future with Red Bull Even though the season is only four races in Verstappens relationship with Red Bull has become a major talking point in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix paddock This followed comments from Red Bulls motorsport adviser Helmut Marko who admitted he had great concern over Verstappens future with the teamMarkos remarks led to a flurry of questions directed at Verstappen during Thursdays official press conference in Jeddah with Aston Martin being floated as a possible landing spot even though the team currently has Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll under contract through at least 2026During Fridays team principals press conference Aston Martins boss Cowell became the latest to weigh in addressing questions about whether the Silverstonebased team would be interested in signing VerstappenWere incredibly fortunate that weve got two incredibly experienced drivers signed for the next two years and that means I can just focus on trying to help improve the business and the art of making a fast race car said the Aston Martin Team Principal and CEOPressed further as to whether this was a confirmation that there is no room for Max Verstappen in 2026 Cowell added Im saying that my head is full of improving the company so that we can make a fast race car for Lance and FernandoWith former Red Bull designer Adrian Newey already making the move from Milton Keynes to Silverstone and Honda set to join Aston Martin next year after their stint with Red Bull theres a growing sense that the team could offer Verstappen a familiar environmentHowever for any such move to materialize in the near future it would require a significant shakeup of Aston Martins current driver lineupFernando Alonso for his part brushed off any concerns about potentially losing his seat calling the chances of teaming up with Verstappen very unlikely Still he acknowledged that the rumours serve as a compliment to the strides Aston Martin has made in recent seasonsThis shows the project were in the future that this team has As I said always even last year when I extended the contract I will drive for as long as I feel fast and I feel competitive and the team needs me behind the wheel Alonso saidBut my contract is much longer than my racing career so I will stay with this team for many years in a different role And if that means I can win a World Championship while Im not behind the wheel I will still feel very proud of the project IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-aston-martin-boss-cowell-dismisses-contract-talks-with-verstappen-612126.html Sat, 19 Apr 2025 15:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-well-see-more-of-hamiltons-magic-predicts-russell-612019.html Jeddah April 18 Mercedes driver George Russell feels that his former teammate and seventime World Champion Lewis Hamilton will deliver more magic in the ongoing season as he continues to get to grips with his new car at Ferrari After ending his 12year partnership with Mercedes Hamilton has begun a new chapter with Scuderia this season and is still getting to grips with the SF25 His best race finish so far has been P5 in Bahrain However there was a standout moment when the Briton claimed victory in the seasons first Sprint in Shanghai a performance Russell believes showcased exactly what Hamilton is capable ofWhen asked during the media day ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix about how he views Hamiltons time at Ferrari so far Russell responded I dont really know to be honest After Fernando Alonso hes the most experienced driver on the grid a seventime World Champion and hes an incredible person and racing driverWe saw it in China second race of the season on pole in the Sprint wins the race comfortably I know what hes capable of and its not easy going into a new team and the competition is tough but hes an amazing driver and Im sure when things start to click as they did in China well see more of that magicReflecting on his own season so far Russell is satisfied with his performance having secured podium finishes in three of the first four races Mercedes currently sit second in the Constructors Championship behind McLaren though they trail by 58 pointsThat said Russell admits some of those chances may have resulted from occasional mistakes by McLaren who are still widely regarded as the team to beat in the seasonMy aspirations are to fight for the World Championship and being realistic we dont have a car to fight McLaren They could probably have finished first and second in every race this year but theyve given the rest of us a few opportunities Russell saidMyself and Max Verstappen have jumped on the podium probably one too many times because of a few little errors and well take it but I dont imagine those errors continuing for 24 racesLooking back on his drive to P2 last time out in Bahrain Russell suggested that he expects a tougher fight from the Silver Arrows competitors during the weekend ahead in JeddahIt was a great race great weekend in Bahrain the 27yearold said It was sort of the validation we needed from the car going to a totally different trackA lot of tyre overheating versus the easy degradation of Suzuka and China to see whether we have built a more rounded car and we clearly have But I expect this weekend still the competition to be toughRed Bull had an off weekend I expect them to be fast here similar to Suzuka because there are some similarities with the highspeed smooth tarmac But then again weve got the softest compound of tyres which is also good its what weve been chasing for a little while Im really happy to see Pirelli bringing that forward IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-well-see-more-of-hamiltons-magic-predicts-russell-612019.html Fri, 18 Apr 2025 19:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/jason-saldanha-thimmu-uddapanda-win-thailand-rally-title-609087.html Bangkok March 30 Mangalores Jason Saldanha and Thimmu Uddapanda of Kodagu began the season with a bang winning the first round of the Thailand National Rally Championship RAAT in RC 21 class in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday They also finished a creditable second in the Overall category despite losing time behind a stuck car in Special Stage 4 Driving a Suzuki Swift 14L turbo for Team Insight amp Ally they made it their second consecutive victory at the RAAT taking home the coveted title It is a mixed bag We are very happy to have won our class and the feeling to lift the Indian flag high is a proud moment But for the time lost behind a stationary car we would have won the Overall honours too said Saldanha and Thimmu about the SS4 incident where they could not continue as a car blocked the road The organisers are yet to decide on the scratch time when the provisional results were announced The duo were fastest in three Special Stages SS and clocked an overall time of one hour 3220 seconds for a total distance of 8150km including a competitive stage distance of 3863km in the eight SSThere are three physical stages The Sanamachai Forest Park stage is the longest at 175km the Rubber Research stage is 134km and the Wang Nam Sai is the shortest at 773kmSaldanha born on March 24 1987 is a skilled Indian rally driver making waves in both the RAAT and the Indian National Rally Championship INRC Originally from Mangaluru he now resides in Belur Karnataka where he continues to hone his craft in motorsports Thimmanna born on December 24 1989 in Ammathi on the other hand brings in experience and stability to the partnership with his expertise in navigation He made his debut at Coimbatore in 2018Saldanhas breakthrough moment came in April 2023 when he and his codriver Thimmanna Uddapanda popularly known as Thimmu made history by becoming the first Indians to win a title in their class in the Thailand Rally Nationals Driving for Team Insight amp Ally the duo etched their names in the record books with this remarkable achievementIn December 2024 Saldanha delivered another stellar performance at the INRC Blueband K1000 Rally their home rally Competing in the INRC 2 category alongside Uddapanda Thimanna in a Maruti Baleno RS 10 for Arka Motorsports he secured an impressive secondplace overall finish and clinched first place in the INRC 2 class Earlier in the season at the INRC Blueband Rally of Hyderabad he and Thimanna finished fifth overall and third in their category Saldanha also put up a strong fight at the 2024 Robusta Rally the penultimate round of the INRC In a tightlycontested race he narrowly missed a podium finish placing fourth overall just a second behind Aditya Thakur in the INRC 2 categorySaldanha and Thimmu continue to improve their game and are a formidable force in Indian motorsports showcasing their talent on both national and international rally circuits Their next event will be the South India Rally in Chennai from April 24 to 27 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/jason-saldanha-thimmu-uddapanda-win-thailand-rally-title-609087.html Sun, 30 Mar 2025 18:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-we-made-a-mistake-says-marko-about-lawsons-dropping-by-red-bull-608732.html New Delhi March 28 Helmut Marko Red Bulls motorsport advisor has admitted that the team may have made a mistake in their handling of Liam Lawsons promotion and subsequent demotion after just two races in the 2025 Formula 1 season Lawson who had been given the seat alongside Max Verstappen after Sergio Perezs exit was dropped following disappointing performances in Australia and China He has now been sent back to Red Bulls junior team Racing Bulls in a swap with Japans Yuki TsunodaSpeaking about the decision Marko acknowledged that the teams approach might not have been ideal His performance was unfortunately not good enough and that comes from selfconfidence he told BBC Radio 5 Live We were worried that his confidence was so damaged that he couldnt bring his normal performanceThe decision to swap Lawson with Tsunoda has left many wondering about Red Bulls longterm vision At the end of the 2024 season they had chosen Lawson over Tsunoda only to reverse that decision within two races of the new campaign Marko explained that Tsunoda had made a big step and had become a more confident and wellrounded driverIts strangeafter four years now in his fifth year he has a much stronger personality Marko said He did two very good races but his strategy didnt work at Racing BullsHowever critics argue that the move appears reactionary rather than strategic Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde described it as a panic move a sentiment seemingly echoed by Red Bulls lead driver Max Verstappen who liked van der Gardes Instagram postWhile Marko insists that Lawsons return to Racing Bulls is not a demotion and that he still has a future in F1 history suggests otherwise Gasly and Albon both rebuilt their careers after being sent back to the junior team but they never returned to Red Bulls main lineupThis isnt the first time Red Bulls driver decisions have been questioned Last spring they extended Sergio Perezs contract until the end of 2026 rather than pursuing Carlos Sainz who became a free agent after Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton Perez started the 2024 season well but struggled later leading Red Bull to pay him off and replace him with Lawson Now after just two races that choice has also been reversedMarko admitted that with hindsight Red Bull might have acted differently At the beginning of the year Sergio Perez finished second twice and was performing he said It just came later that Sergio had problems with the car and his performance droppedWith Tsunoda now in the second Red Bull seat the Japanese driver has until the end of the season to prove himself Marko made it clear that this wasnt a temporary experiment We believe he can do the job he statedWhile the focus has been on Lawson and Tsunoda Marko subtly hinted at a much bigger issuekeeping Verstappen happy The Dutchman has won three consecutive world titles with Red Bull but Marko admitted that if the teams performance declines his star driver could explore other options All the top drivers have performance clauses in their contracts Marko revealed So we have to make sure Max gets a car where he can win IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-we-made-a-mistake-says-marko-about-lawsons-dropping-by-red-bull-608732.html Fri, 28 Mar 2025 17:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/tsunoda-to-replace-lawson-at-red-bull-from-japanese-grand-prix-608544.html New Delhi March 27 After the struggling start of the Formula 1 season Red Bull have confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda will replace Liam Lawson from the Japanese Grand Prix onwards Lawson endured a difficult run in the opening two races of the season in Melbourne and Shanghai He faced DNF in the season opener before finishing 12th in the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend following the disqualifications of Charles Leclerc Lewis Hamilton and Pierre Gasly The pressure was mounting on Red Bull to extract the full potential of their second car to aid reigning world champion Max Verstappen in the team standingsLawson raced alongside Tsunoda in the latter stages of 2024 after replacing Daniel Ricciardo at the thennamed RB team and his performances were enough to earn him a promotion to Red Bull as Verstappens new teammate in 2025 following the exit of Sergio PerezRumours quickly mounted that the 23yearold could be replaced at the team as early as Round 3 in Japan and now it has been confirmed that Tsunoda will fill Lawsons seat when F1 returns to Suzuka on April 46 with Lawson returning to the Racing Bulls squad alongside rookie Isack HadjarAfter making his debut for the thennamed AlphaTauri squad back in 2021 Tsunoda has continued to develop as a driver across the years that have followed the Japanese racer having outscored his recent teammates including Nyck de Vries and Daniel RicciardoThe 2024 campaign was one that Tsunoda heralded as one of my best after scoring 30 of his teams 46 points across the seasonHe went on to make his test debut for Red Bull at the postseason test in Abu Dhabi but it was subsequently confirmed that Lawson rather than Tsunoda would replace Perez at the Milton Keynesbased outfit in 2025Tsunoda now in his fifth campaign in Formula 1 went on to state that he could understand why the team chose Lawson insisting that he didnt feel super angry or disappointed upon hearing the newsBut with Lawsons Red Bull tenure ending after just two races Tsunoda has been given his opportunity to race alongside Verstappen at the championshipwinning squad starting with his home event at SuzukaLaurent Mekies Team Principal of Racing Bulls said Were incredibly proud of Yuki earning his welldeserved move to Oracle Red Bull Racing His progress last year and more recently from the very start of 2025 has been nothing less than sensationalPersonally and collectively it has been an immense privilege to witness those progresses for all of us in Faenza and in Milton Keynes Yukis energy and positivity has lightened up every corner of our factories and of our garage and he will always be a Racing Bull We wish him all the success he deserves at ORBREveryone here at VCARB is looking forward to working hard with Liam to give him the best environment possible for him to shine in our car and to express the talent we all know he has He fit in so well last year and we cannot wait to challenge ourselves and grow as a team With Isack having started so strongly with us already we know we have a young and strong lineup IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/tsunoda-to-replace-lawson-at-red-bull-from-japanese-grand-prix-608544.html Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-piastri-pumped-to-have-earned-maiden-pole-after-early-struggles-in-china-gp-qualifying-607849.html Shanghai March 23 Oscar Piastri was pumped to claim his first Formula 1 pole position in Qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix after admitting to some struggles earlier in the session After Piastri displayed good pace in Saturdays Sprint earlier in the day the Australian continued to look in strong form during Qualifying grabbing a provisional pole in Q3 before sealing it for real by the chequered flag However when it was put to Piastri after stepping out of the car that he had seemed hooked up throughout the day the 23yearold joked Im glad it looked like that because it didnt feel like thatQ3 I just found a lot of pace Q1 and Q2 I was genuinely struggling The car just came alive in Q3 and I think I came alive in Q3 Im happy with what I did at the end it was still the laps were a little bit scruffy Im just pumped to be on pole so Im very happy said Piastri the McLaren driverFellow McLaren driver Lando Norris meanwhile faced some ups and downs during Saturdays qualifying session in Shanghai He had taken the final point on offer with P8 in the Sprint before aborting his final flying lap during Q3 in Qualifying meaning that he could not improve on his time in P3Norris aborted his final flying lap in Q3 leaving the Briton in third place on the grid for the Chinese Grand Prix Despite this the Briton spoke positively about improvements made to the car prior to Qualifying and blamed his own errors for any strugglesIm always disappointed if Im not on pole but Oscar deserved it today Hes done a very good job all weekend so Im happy for him his first pole in Formula 1 so its always coolJust a couple of mistakes on my side again its kind of been my case this weekend The car was feeling a bit better I felt a lot more comfortable with the car so it was a step in the right direction especially from yesterday where I was struggling a lot and even this morning I was struggling a lot so a much better direction that were going in Im not too disappointed said Lando IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-piastri-pumped-to-have-earned-maiden-pole-after-early-struggles-in-china-gp-qualifying-607849.html Sat, 22 Mar 2025 17:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-2025-marc-marquez-storms-to-sensational-pole-in-argentina-grand-prix-606546.html Buenos Aires Argentina March 15 Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo Team has now taken backtoback poles for the first time since 2019 with another stunning performance at the Gran Premio YPF Energia de Argentina His 136917 is the first ever 136 of the venue a new lap record and puts him a quarter of a second clear at the top Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP who was close on Friday too is next on the chase in second with Johann Zarco Castrol Honda LCR making some magic in third for Hondas first front row since 2023 just 0042 off the 73 aheadA hot lap early on bagged Franco Morbidelli Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team a slot at the top with Jack Miller Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP in hot pursuit in P2 provisionally but the final four minutes were going to be dramatic as everyone hit the track for their shot at going into Q2It was all over at Turn 2 for Somkiat Chantra Idemitsu Honda LCR who fell and would therefore not improve whilst Ai Ogura Trackhouse MotoGP Team replicated his fellow rookie a lap later likewise missing out on a Q2 passage On the first lap of his second run Joan Mir Honda HRC Castrol came to the fore and went P2 demoting rival Miller to P3 and joining Morbidelli in the pole shootoutMarc on fireThe business end of qualifying Q1 ignites and straight away the lap record was obliterated by none other than Marc Marquez who was fractionally outside the firstever 136s motorcycle lap of the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit A huge performance by Johann Zarco LCR Honda CASTROL put him provisionally in the front row which would be a first for Honda since 2023 at MugelloWith the final five minutes beckoning it was full throttle to try and better their lap time Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP was following his brother whilst Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo Team salvaged P4However it was his teammate Marquez who was lighting up the time screens on his penultimate flying lap he set the first and only 136 lap of the Termas de Rio Hondo track A 136917 sees him go from pole his first backtoback poles since 2019s Austrian and British Grands Prix Brother Alex secured P2 and Zarco clung on to a first Honda front row and his first since 2023s seasonclosing Grand Prix in ValenciaDark horses in top placesIt was fourth place for Pecco who seeks to make a traditional fast start off the line but hell have El Tiburon Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for company too with the 37 putting himself right in amongst the sharp end of the gridCompleting the second row Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team less than a tenth of a second off the front rowFabio Quartararo Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP secured his best qualifying of the season so far in P7 ahead of Q1 ascendant Morbidelli Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing goes from P9 one place ahead of Mir with the 2020 World Champion making it two Hondas in the top tenBrad Binder Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Alex Rins Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP round out the Q2 field with Rins taking his best grid slot since Sepang last year IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-2025-marc-marquez-storms-to-sensational-pole-in-argentina-grand-prix-606546.html Sat, 15 Mar 2025 22:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/verstappen-wary-norris-cautious-as-2025-season-set-to-kick-off-on-sunday-606210.html Melbourne March 13 As the 2025 Formula 1 season gets underway at the Australian Grand Prix reigning world champion Max Verstappen has acknowledged that Red Bull might not be the fastest team at the moment while Lando Norris has played down suggestions that McLaren are the team to beat After starting 2024 in dominant fashion Red Bulls grip weakened in the latter half of the season with McLaren and Ferrari mounting a serious challenge While Verstappen managed to clinch his fourth consecutive Drivers Championship Red Bull were beaten in the Constructors Championship by McLaren Heading into 2025 Verstappen is expecting an even tougher battleI know that we are not the quickest at the moment Verstappen told reporters on media day But its a long season If you had asked the same question here last year by the end of the season everything looked completely different So a lot of things can always change quite quickly in Formula 1Red Bulls RB21 showed flashes of improvement during preseason testing but Verstappen remains cautious about the cars outright competitivenessNaturally theres an improvement from last year but there are still things we need to work on he explained Bahrain was just a test and now were at a completely different track Well see how we stack up hereWhile Red Bull are managing expectations McLaren have been tipped as early favourites following their strong preseason showing However Norris who pushed Verstappen hard in 2024 has dismissed the idea that McLaren have an edge over their rivalsI dont think we are superior to our competitors Norris said Theres been a lot of talk but I really dont think were any further ahead than we were last season Its going to be a tough weekend and well be fighting with everyoneWith McLarens lateseason resurgence last year some rivals have suggested that the team may have an advantage heading into 2025 However Norris was quick to reject such claims hinting that the narrative may be exaggeratedI dont know what other teams are doing but they love a chat thats for sure he joked But it doesnt matter Well see what happens in the next few days We had a good test in Bahrain but that doesnt mean were quicker than the others I think people will be surprised when the real racing startsThe 25yearold also suggested that lowfuel testing times may have given a false impression of McLarens pace adding I think a lot of teams were hiding things We dont think were ahead of anyone Were in a very similar ballpark to our three main rivals and we need to work hard to stay ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/verstappen-wary-norris-cautious-as-2025-season-set-to-kick-off-on-sunday-606210.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-russell-confident-in-mercedes-progress-but-finds-mclaren-favourites-606232.html Melbourne March 13 George Russell believes that Mercedes have taken a step forward with their new Formula 1 challenger for the 2025 season but admits that McLaren is without doubt the favourites heading into the Australian Grand Prix Mercedes endured a mixed 2024 campaign showing flashes of brilliance with four race wins including a 12 finish in Las Vegas but also struggling with inconsistency ultimately finishing fourth in the Constructors Championship behind McLaren Ferrari and Red Bull After preseason testing in Bahrain Russell is optimistic about Mercedes progress but remains cautious I mean the car is feeling good to be honest Russell said on media day Last year even though we finished in the lowest order that we have done in the last three years we won the most number of races I have confidence that this car is going to be slightly more consistent not quite as peakyRussell admitted that while Mercedes may not hit the extreme highs of last season such as their dominant victory in Las Vegas he hopes to see fewer low points as well We might not see those mega highs like we saw in Vegas sort of wiping the floor with everybody but then hopefully were not going to see those lows as well that we saw at a few races he explainedHowever despite Mercedes improvements Russell made it clear that McLaren look like the team to beat in the early stages of the season We cant kid ourselves we know McLaren are without doubt the favourites right now they look absolutely dominant Im sure theyre going to be the ones to beat he statedWhen asked about how quickly the pecking order will become clear in 2025 Russell pointed out how unpredictable last season was You look at the first six races of last year and nobody would have predicted that Red Bull wouldnt comfortably win both championships he saidOf course they won with Max Verstappen but it wasnt a walk in the park or it shouldnt have been a walk in the park Lando Norris and McLaren kept them on their toes and obviously McLaren won the Teams ChampionshipWith a record 24race calendar in 2025 Russell emphasized the importance of consistent development Anything can change very quickly now Especially when you have a 24race season youve got to keep on working hard you cant give up and its going to be very difficult for all the teams to strike that balance between this season and then also into nextAs Mercedes enters a new era following Lewis Hamiltons move to Ferrari Kimi Antonelli is preparing to make his Formula 1 debut with the team The Italian teenager who has been highly rated throughout his junior career is excited but keeping his expectations in check Its amazing Obviously its a dream come true Ive been waiting for this moment my whole life The winter felt pretty long Im not going to lie Antonelli said ahead of the race weekend in MelbourneWhile he acknowledges the challenge of stepping up to F1 Antonelli is aiming for a solid start to his career Im super happy to be here I think its a special place to do the first Grand Prix Im really looking forward to seeing once we hit the ground how we can doWhen asked about his goals for the weekend the rookie remained realistic Its hard to say I dont really know what to expect because its my first Grand Prix so I dont want to set anything too high I just want to do a clean weekend with a nice rhythm in order to be able to build up from that pointFortunately for Antonelli he is already familiar with Albert Park having raced there in Formula 2 last year I know the track so I dont have to learn it You understand the track where you can overtake where you can defend the best so definitely racing here in F2 was a good help last year IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-russell-confident-in-mercedes-progress-but-finds-mclaren-favourites-606232.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/most-exciting-period-of-my-life-hamilton-ahead-of-australian-gp-606197.html Melbourne March 13 Seventime Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is stepping into a new era of his legendary career as he prepares for his debut race with Scuderia Ferrari at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix on Sunday Speaking ahead of the season opener on the media day Hamilton described this moment as the most exciting period of my life as he gets set to don the iconic Ferrari red for the first time in a competitive raceAfter spending eleven years at Mercedes Hamilton made the decision to switch to Ferrari a move that has sent shockwaves through the F1 world For Hamilton the transition has been surreal After years of seeing the red garage from a distance he now belongs to itIm very very fortunate Ive had this amazing career in F1 Starting with McLaren here in 2007 was an epic feeling then starting with a new team again in Mercedes was incredibly special I think this is very reminiscent probably of my first year Hamilton told reporters on media dayFor all those years Ive walked up and down the paddock looking at the red garage and now Im actually in it Its a really nice feeling Hamilton said his excitement unmistakableHamiltons first race weekend with Ferrari comes after an intense winter of adjustments From adapting to Ferraris different engineering philosophies to getting used to Maranellos culture the Briton has embraced every challengeIts a different way of working the whole team works completely differently Youre looking at things from a different perspective which makes it exciting and challengingIm still learning this new car Its quite different to what Ive driven my entire career in terms of Mercedes power Coming to Ferrari power is something kind of new and Im enjoying that challengeThe weight of expectation on Hamilton is immense The Briton is following in the footsteps of Ferrari legends from Michael Schumacher to Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel However despite the external noise Hamilton remains focused on his own standardsIve not joined this team and been made to feel any pressure The pressure I put on myself is ten times higher than any other pressure that can be put upon meThe Scuderia has not won a Drivers Championship since 2007 and while Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz made progress Hamiltons arrival signals a clear intent to fight for glory once moreAfter a short but promising preseason in Bahrain Ferrari enters the Australian Grand Prix with cautious optimism Hamilton too is keeping his expectations in checkWeve only had three days in the car so its difficult to know where we stand with everyone else he admitted Weve just tried to keep our heads down and focus on our job It looks like its going to be close between us all IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/most-exciting-period-of-my-life-hamilton-ahead-of-australian-gp-606197.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-indias-kush-maini-named-as-test-and-reserve-driver-for-alpine-team-605837.html New Delhi March 11 Kush Maini became the first Indian driver in Formula 1 since 2012 joining the BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team as their latest test and reserve driver for the 2025 season This makes him the only Alpine F1 reserve driver actively competing in the Formula 2 Championship where he will be racing for Dams Lucas Oil Mainis announcement marks the end of a 13year hiatus for an Indian talent to be part of an F1 team As part of his role the 24yearold will use the driverinloop simulator at the squads Enstone base to support their car development and setup objectives as well as participating in the TPC programme Testing of Previous Cars to continue to improve his skillsMaini joined a pool of reserve drivers at Alpine that also includes Paul Aron Ryo Hirakawa and former Williams supersub Franco ColapintoMaini first joined the Alpine Academy in October 2023 before going on to race in the 2024 F2 season during which he scored five podiums including a race win in BudapestAs he enters into his third Formula 2 campaign Maini will also take on the position of Test and Reserve Driver for the Alpine F1 teamI am delighted to step up to the role of Test and Reserve Driver for BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team this season said Maini in a statement released by franchise Since joining the Alpine Academy ahead of last year I have been incredibly welcomed in the entire Alpine family and I am thankful to Flavio Briatore and Oliver Oakes for their continued supportI am looking forward to getting more track time in Formula 1 machinery in this role and to build on what I have already learned with the team in 2024 Im very excited to begin the role as soon as possible but for now my focus is on my third season in Formula 2 kicking off this weekend in Australia he adddAs part of his role the 24yearold will use the driverinloop simulator at the squads Enstone base to support their car development and setup objectives as well as participating in the TPC programme Testing of Previous Cars to continue to improve his skillsHe joined a pool of reserve drivers at Alpine that also includes Paul Aron Ryo Hirakawa and former Williams supersub Franco ColapintoWe are very happy to announce the expansion of Kushs role in the Alpine Academy to include Test and Reserve Driver duties for the team this seasonKush has impressed the team across his TPC performances and Formula 2 results whilst we have been working with him and we expect he will continue to do so in 2025 Julian Rouse Alpine Academy Director commented IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-indias-kush-maini-named-as-test-and-reserve-driver-for-alpine-team-605837.html Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-adrian-newey-begins-tenure-as-managing-technical-partner-at-aston-martin-604425.html Silverstone March 3 Adrian Neweys era as the Managing Technical Partner of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team has officially begun The acclaimed British designer has started at the teams Silverstone headquarters as was announced back in September 2024 During his time in Formula One which has earned him the accolade of one of the greatest F1 designers in history Newey was part of the Williams McLaren and Red Bull teams winning 12 drivers championships and 13 constructors crownsThe 65yearolds arrival at Aston Martin is a major coup for owner Lawrence Stroll who has invested heavily in the team with the ambition of turning them into title winners Neweys reputation for designing innovative and competitive cars particularly at the start of new regulatory periods makes him a valuable asset to the teamNewey has joined a team that has already made significant strides in recent years with the recruitment of top engineers a stateoftheart new factory and a works engine partnership with Honda from 2026With the new season two weeks away fans got the first chance to witness their new car AMR25 across three days at the Bahrain International Circuit There were mixed fortunes for the squad during the three days of preseason testing in Bahrain which culminated in a busy final day after Alonso stepped in for unwell team mate Lance Stroll during the morning sessionWhile Stroll initially returned to action in the afternoon the Canadian completed 34 laps before handing back over to Alonso due to still not feeling well meaning that the twotime World Champion recorded a total of 82 laps throughout FridayThe 2025 Formula One World Championship gets under way in Australia with 58 laps around Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit The weekends first free practice session begins on March 14 and lights out for the Grand Prix takes place on March 16 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-adrian-newey-begins-tenure-as-managing-technical-partner-at-aston-martin-604425.html Mon, 03 Mar 2025 15:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/weve-gone-through-a-lot-together-hamilton-on-reunion-with-trainer-cullen-604465.html New Delhi March 3 Seventime Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has opened up about reuniting with his former trainer Angela Cullen ahead of his highly anticipated debut season with Ferrari Describing Cullens return as really exciting Hamilton is embracing the start of a new journey with familiar support by his sideCullen who was a key member of Hamiltons inner circle from 2016 until their parting ahead of the 2023 season had been a constant presence in the paddock during his dominant years with Mercedes After spending time away from the sport she has now rejoined the British driver as he embarks on his multiyear deal with the iconic Scuderia FerrariIts always important to have a good foundation of people around you Hamilton was quoted by Formula 1com as saying Ive generally had a very good base for many many years so I still have all the team that I had last year but Ive brought Ange in on top of that We have a great relationship me and Ange weve known each other for a long long time weve gone through a lot togetherHamilton explained that Cullen took a couple of years off to spend time with her family and travel but she was eager to accept his offer to be part of this new adventure Asking her to come and start this new chapter with me and her accepting it was really exciting and weve been having a blast this past month together has been really awesomeThe Britons move to Ferrari marks one of the most significant transitions in F1 history and as he continues to settle into his new surroundings he is already relishing the experience When asked about how he was adjusting to Ferraris environment Hamilton expressed his enthusiasm about donning the famous redI think red suits me so its good he said with a smile We tested it out last year in a couple of outfits Honestly its an honour to be a part of this historic team Red is the colour of passion and of love theres a huge amount of passion in this team also with the fanbase that they have the Tifosi and you see that with everyone at FerrariHamilton also highlighted the unique experience of being part of an organisation where the racing and manufacturing teams operate under one roof Obviously at Ferrari youve got the car manufacturer as well but were all under the same roof So when I cross the road and go to the wind tunnel for example I see other members of the team theyre not necessarily on the race team but theyre still a part of the team Its really really special to see that and experience that each dayHis integration into the Ferrari family has been smooth with team members making an effort to make him feel at home Theyve gone out of their way to make me feel welcome Honestly its been the best month Ive had the best time Its been tiring weve definitely all been pushing but this is the time of focus Hamilton remarkedEveryone has their heads down solely focused on doing the best we can and as am I just trying to make sure that we bring our best each day IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/weve-gone-through-a-lot-together-hamilton-on-reunion-with-trainer-cullen-604465.html Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-australian-gp-allows-post-race-track-walk-603483.html Sydney Feb 26 Organisers of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix have lifted a ban on spectators entering the track at the conclusion of the race The ban on the traditional postrace track walk was implemented after spectators in 2023 broke through safety fences and barriers and entered the Albert Park track before all the cars had finished the raceFootage from the event showed spectators within meters of F1 cars while the race was ongoing A subsequent safety investigation found that some fans thought the race had concluded because cars were going slowly behind the Safety CarFollowing the 2024 race the Australian Grand Prix Corporation praised the behavior of fans and said it would reconsider the ban Xinhua reportsWere thrilled to announce the return of the End of Race Track Walk in 2025 It is a unique and cherished experience for fans seen the world over and at the conclusion of this years race fans will once again be given access to the track to help celebrate our 2025 winnersFor fans joining us on Race Day in 2025 stay tuned you will be contacted ahead of this years event with information about how when and where youll be able to safely gain access to the track the organisers said in a statementSteve Dimopoulos the Minister for Tourism Sport and Major Events in the state of Victoria said on Wednesday that the return of the track walk would be exciting for F1 fans according to ABC NewsHe added that it would allow fans to get up close and personal to the drivers and the winning team as they assemble near the start line and also to the podium and trophy presentationOrganisers said earlier in February that they are expecting the 2025 Australian F1 Grand Prix to be held on March 1416 to beat the 2024 record crowd number of 452055 attendees IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-australian-gp-allows-post-race-track-walk-603483.html Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-carlos-sainz-replaces-sebastian-vettel-as-gpda-director-602927.html London Feb 23 Carlos Sainz has been elected as the new director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association GPDA replacing Sebastian Vettel The Williams driver was voted in by his fellow competitors and will work alongside George Russell chairman Alexander Wurz and legal advisor Anastasia Fowle The GPDA which represents the interests of F1 drivers has shifted its focus beyond safety to broader issues including regulations and the fan experience Sainz expressed his commitment to helping shape the sports futureHis appointment comes at a time of tension between drivers and the FIA Recent rules on jewellery racing attire and conduct penalties have caused unease Last year the GPDA called for more respect from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem who dismissed their concernsThe GPDA originally founded in 1961 and revived in 1994 following the tragic deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger has traditionally been focused on safety However under chairman Alexander Wurz it has expanded its scope to ensure the sports regulations serve the best interests of fans teams and drivers alikeWith his deep passion for F1 and its evolution Sainz sees his new role as more than just an honorary title I am passionate about my sport and think we drivers have a responsibility to do all we can to work with the stakeholders to forward the sport in many aspects Sainz said in a statement released by GDPA on Sunday So Im very happy and proud to do my part by taking on the directors role in the GPDALast year the GPDA penned an open letter to Ben Sulayem urging for greater respect and drivers to be treated like adults The FIA president responded defiantly asserting that the governance of the sport was not up for debateWe are delighted to welcome Carlos as GPDA Director said GPDA chairman Alex WurzHe has been an active and engaged member of the GPDA for several years and we sincerely appreciate his commitment in stepping up to this vital role IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-carlos-sainz-replaces-sebastian-vettel-as-gpda-director-602927.html Sun, 23 Feb 2025 18:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/moto-gp-jorge-martin-undergoes-surgery-after-pre-season-crash-in-sepang-600443.html Noale Italy Feb 8 Reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Martin underwent successful surgery on his right hand after suffering a crash during preseason testing earlier this week in Sepang Malaysia Despite fracturing both his hand and foot in a highside crash the Spaniard did not require surgery on his left foot his team Aprilia Racing confirmed on Friday Martins crash occurred on Wednesday when he lost grip and was thrown off his bike hitting the tarmac face first and shattering his helmet visor The 27yearold subsequently returned to Europe where he underwent surgery in BarcelonaJorge Martin has undergone surgery for a displaced fracture of the head of the right fifth metacarpal with reduction and percutaneous fixation using an intramedullary screw Dr Xavier Mir stated in Aprilias official releaseThe functional recovery will start in a short time period according to the clinical statusAprilia has not yet confirmed whether Martin will be fit to participate in the upcoming test in Thailand next week or in the seasonopening Grand Prix at Thailands Chang International Circuit on February 28Michelins racing boss Piero Taramasso suggested that the internal tyre temperature on Martins bike was 15 degrees Celsius lower than optimal which could have contributed to the crash However Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola disagreed with this assessmentIm glad that Jorges operation went well and now we hope for a speedy recovery his health is the priority Rivola was quoted by MotoGPcom as saying Regarding the crash I would like to make it clear that our data in no way confirm the statements made by Piero TaramassoI believe that the riders safety should be the priority and I have already suggested setting a meeting with all the teams to deal constructively with what is clearly a critical situation as evidenced by the number of injuriesMartin was not the only rider to suffer injuries during the Sepang preseason test Trackhouse Racings Raul Fernandez also withdrew from the threeday test after fracturing his hand and foot Meanwhile VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio fractured his collarbone while attempting a wheelie IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/moto-gp-jorge-martin-undergoes-surgery-after-pre-season-crash-in-sepang-600443.html Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/moto-gp-defending-champ-jorge-martin-ruled-out-of-sepang-test-requires-surgery-on-hand-and-foot-599932.html Sepang Feb 5 Reigning Champion Jorge Martin of Aprilia Racing is headed back to Spain for surgery on his hand and foot after suffering two crashes on Wednesday as the second was a sizable high side at the Sepang International Circuit In a shock start to his title defence he has been officially ruled out of the Sepang Test He was sent flying from his Aprilia at the Malaysia Test and was taken to hospital for further evaluationsMedical checks have diagnosed him with a right hand fracture and fractures in his left foot which rules him out of any more testing duties in MalaysiaHe has also undergone a CT scan and MRI and both those were negative for any head injuries Now hell head back home to Spain for surgery on his hand and foot scheduled for later this weekJorge Martin has been diagnosed with a right hand fracture and fractures in his left foot He has undergone a CT scan and MRI both of which were negative for any head injuriesHe will stay in hospital overnight and tomorrow he will fly back to Europe to undergo surgery on both his right hand and left footJorge Martin suffered a closed fracture of the 5th metacarpal head of the right hand and a closed fracture of the 3rd 4th and 5th metatarsals of the left foot read the statement by Aprilia racingJorge Martin made history at the 2024 MotoGP World Championship by becoming the first independent rider to clinch the title in the modern era After 20 Sprints and 19 Grand Prix everything came down to the final race of the season at the Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona where the Spaniard secured the crown despite finishing third in the final race of the season IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/moto-gp-defending-champ-jorge-martin-ruled-out-of-sepang-test-requires-surgery-on-hand-and-foot-599932.html Wed, 05 Feb 2025 21:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/toto-wolff-calls-lewis-hamiltons-ferrari-photos-iconic--598575.html New Delhi Jan 30 Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted that seeing Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari red for the first time was an emotional moment likening it to watching an expartner move on After 12 recordbreaking years with Mercedes Hamiltons highly publicized move to Ferrari became a reality last week when the first official photos of him at the Maranello headquarters were released Hamilton a seventime world champion posed in Ferraris iconic red overalls and conducted his first official Ferrari photocall before getting behind the wheel of one of their cars The images quickly went viral symbolizing the dawn of a new era for both Hamilton and the sport itselfSpeaking at the Autosport Awards Wolff confessed that seeing Hamilton in Ferrari colors stirred emotions It was like seeing an ex with someone new Its a little bit like you divorce amicably and its all good and then you see your partner for the first time with a new friend Wolff was quoted by Sky SportsDespite the emotional impact Wolff expressed admiration for the way Hamiltons Ferrari introduction was executed But Im really happy for him and I told him that those pictures were iconic It was so well curated and no surprise with Lewis he addedWith Hamilton now embarking on his Ferrari journey Mercedes has turned their attention to the future placing their faith in the 18yearold Italian prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli The rookie sensation who recently passed his driving test will step up alongside George Russell in the 2025 seasonWolff believes Antonelli is more than ready for the challenge Hes been in the team integrated for such a long time Weve known him since he was 11 and in that respect hes been prepared Hes ready to go and he cant wait said WolffMercedes is set to launch their new W16 car on February 24 just a day before its shakedown in Bahrain and two days ahead of preseason testing The Silver Arrows are looking to bounce back after an inconsistent 2024 campaign which saw them finish fourth in the constructors championship with just four race winsReflecting on the previous season Wolff acknowledged the struggles Mercedes faced with the W15 We were scratching our heads a lot last year particularly in the beginning he admitted Like all the other teams we had ups and downs we had some very dominant performances and then other races that were not so goodNow with Antonelli stepping up Russell leading the charge and a fresh car concept in development Mercedes is determined to make a strong comeback At the end of the day when the flag drops were going to see in qualifying in Melbourne where we stand Wolff concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/toto-wolff-calls-lewis-hamiltons-ferrari-photos-iconic--598575.html Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-johnny-herbert-dropped-as-race-steward-by-fia-598328.html New Delhi Jan 28 Formula One race steward Johnny Herbert will no longer serve in his role after reaching a mutual agreement that his role was incompatible with his media duties Herbert who won three Grands Prix during a 160race career between 1989 and 2000 worked as a Sky Sports Pundit for a decade before taking up his role as a steward Following his appointment the 60yearold continued media duties as an analyst for select websites It is with regret that we announce today that Johnny Herbert will no longer fulfill the position of F1 Driver Steward for the FIA Johnny is widely respected and brought invaluable experience and expertise to his roleHowever after discussion it was mutually agreed that his duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible We thank him for his service and wish him well in his future endeavours read the statement by the FIAHerbert was a part of the fourperson stewards panel who handed Verstappen two 10second time penalties in Mexico for clashes with title rival Lando Norris Following the race Herbert commented in an interview with Action Network that he did not think the penalties would stop Verstappen from forcing Norris off the track in the futureHe came under heavy scrutiny after the Mexican GP as Max Verstappens father Jos commented on the British stewards tendency to talk to media outlets stating The FIA should take a good look at the staffing of the stewards who they put there and whether there is no appearance of a conflict of interest and Herbert shouldnt talk to the press at allFrom 2012 to 2022 Herbert was a regular contributor to the Sky Sports F1 channel He was an occasional presence as one of the insiders in Sky Race Control during practices qualifying sessions and races alongside Anthony Davidson Damon Hill Nico Rosberg and Paul Di RestaHerbert also runs a charity event called the Johnny Herbert Karting Challenge every year for charities like the Halow Project which is now held at Capital Karts in London This event invites celebrities and professional racing drivers to compete in indoor gokarting and is now in its 20th year IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-johnny-herbert-dropped-as-race-steward-by-fia-598328.html Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/mercedes-to-unveil-2025-formula-car-on-february-24-597831.html Brackley Jan 27 MercedesAMG Petronas Formula One Team has confirmed that their 2025 Formula 1 car the MercedesAMG F1 W16 E Performance will be officially unveiled on February 24 This unveiling marks the dawn of a new era for the Silver Arrows as they prepare to compete with a refreshed driver lineup following Lewis Hamiltons departure to Ferrari The W16 will be revealed just days after Mercedes showcases its livery at the inaugural season launch event at The O2 in London While specific details about the location of the car launch are still under wraps the reveal comes less than a week after the F1 75 season launch event where all ten teams will gather to preview the upcoming championshipThe W16 will feature a continuation of the sleek black livery introduced in 2020 which was heavily influenced by Hamiltons advocacy for diversity and inclusion within the sport Team Principal Toto Wolff recently confirmed that the black color scheme will remain an integral part of the cars design symbolizing the teams commitment to their valuesThe 2025 season heralds significant change for Mercedes on the driver front With seventime world champion Lewis Hamilton departing for Ferrari the teams lineup now consists of George Russell and rookie Kimi AntonelliRussell who has grown into a leadership role within the team will guide Antonelli a rising star making his Formula 1 debut Antonellis promotion signals Mercedes investment in nurturing young talent as they look to maintain their competitive edge in the sportMercedes is among the latest teams to announce the launch date of their 2025 car joining the likes of Williams Haas and FerrariAfter the car launches all ten teams will travel to Bahrain for preseason testing scheduled from February 26 to 28 These three crucial days will allow teams to finetune their cars ahead of the seasonopening Australian Grand Prix set to take place from March 14 to 16 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/mercedes-to-unveil-2025-formula-car-on-february-24-597831.html Mon, 27 Jan 2025 20:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/new-era-in-the-history-hamilton-on-his-first-visit-to-ferrari-hq-596498.html Maranello Italy Jan 20 Seventime World Champion Lewis Hamilton shared his excitement on social media after visiting Ferraris headquarters in Maranello for the first time on Monday Hamilton is gearing up for his inaugural season with the legendary team Ferrari having made the switch from Mercedes to replace Carlos Sainz and partner Charles Leclerc Hamilton posted another update featuring a photo of him standing outside the factory in a sharp allblack suit alongside a Ferrari F40 sports car The British driver expressed gratitude for achieving his dream of racing for FerrariThere are some days that you know youll remember forever and today my first as a Ferrari driver is one of those days Ive been lucky enough to have achieved things in my career that I never thought possible but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red I couldnt be happier to realise that dream today Hamilton wrote in a post on InstagramToday we start a new era in the history of this iconic team and I cant wait to see what story we will write together he addedThis week Hamilton is expected to complete various preseason tasks at Maranello including meeting team members and conducting simulator work ahead of his first yettobeconfirmed run in a Ferrari F1 carHamilton finished the last Formula 1 season behind Mercedes teammate George Russell at seventh place with 223 points including two race wins in British GP and Belgian GP Hamilton drove his final race with Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last month and finished fourth ahead of Russell to end his 11yearlong association with the Silver ArrowsThe 18yearold Andrea Kimi Antonelli will fill Hamiltons shoes at Mercedes for the upcoming season with Valtteri Bottas in reserve IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/new-era-in-the-history-hamilton-on-his-first-visit-to-ferrari-hq-596498.html Mon, 20 Jan 2025 19:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-aston-martin-appoint-andy-cowell-as-team-principal-amid-major-overhaul-594735.html London Jan 10 Aston Martin Formula 1 has announced Andy Cowell the new chief executive officer who will now also serve as the team principal Cowell renowned for his tenure as the head of Mercedes F1 engine division from 2008 to 2020 joined Aston Martin in October Known for engineering dominance that helped Mercedes secure multiple championship titles Cowell brings unparalleled expertise in both leadership and technical innovationCowells appointment as team principal comes with a clear mandate to guide Aston Martin through organisational rest Reflecting on his new role Cowell said I have spent the last three months understanding and assessing our performance and Ive been incredibly impressed by the dedication commitment and hard work of this team With the completion of the AMR Technology Campus and our transition in 2026 to a full works team we are on a journey to becoming a championshipwinning teamThe restructuring sees Mike Krack the outgoing team principal reassigned to a new role focused on performance at the racetrack While this shift may appear as a demotion the team emphasizes Kracks invaluable trackside expertise in maximising onground resultsThe changes also introduce Enrico Cardile formerly of Ferrari as chief technical officer Tasked with overseeing car design Cardile is expected to infuse fresh innovation into the engineering pipeline Though no start date has been announced his appointment is eagerly anticipatedAdding to the technical firepower is Adrian Newey a legendary figure in car design who will join as managing technical partner on March 2 Newey will work closely with Cowell sitting at the apex of Aston Martins design and engineering hierarchyTom McCullough a longtime performance director is transitioning to a role within Aston Martins other racing categories ensuring his vast experience continues to benefit the groupThe teams restructure is part of a broader multiyear strategy spearheaded by billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll The ambitious plan involves significant investments including a cuttingedge factory at Silverstone and a stateoftheart wind tunnel set to become operational soonAston Martins longterm vision aligns with their 2026 transition to a full works team coinciding with their takeover of Honda engines from Red Bull These moves underscore the teams determination to not just compete but dominate at the highest level of Formula 1The changes come after a mixed performance over the past two seasons In 2023 Aston Martin emerged as Red Bulls closest challenger with twotime world champion Fernando Alonso securing six podiums in the first eight races However the team struggled to maintain its development pace falling behind competitors in the latter half of the yearA similar pattern emerged in 2024 where strong qualifying performances were often undone by the inability to sustain momentum through the season Dan Fallows who had joined as technical director in 2022 was removed from his position last year but remains with the group in a different capacityAmid these changes Fernando Alonso remains central to Aston Martins aspirations The 43yearold Spaniard who signed a twoyear extension last year will be with the team until the end of 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-aston-martin-appoint-andy-cowell-as-team-principal-amid-major-overhaul-594735.html Fri, 10 Jan 2025 17:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ktr-quizzed-for-over-six-hours-by-acb-in-formula-e-race-case-594610.html Hyderabad Jan 9 Telangana Anticorruption Bureau ACB questioned Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS Working President K T Rama Rao for more than six hours in the FormulaE race case on Thursday Accompanied by his lawyer Ramachandra Rao the former minister reached ACB headquarters in Banjara Hills around 1010 am amid tight securityHe came out of the ACB office around 5 pmThe BRS leader told reporters that he cooperated with the ACB officials by answering all their questions He said he was ready to appear again whenever called by the agencyLater he told party workers at BRS headquarters Telangana Bhavan that the ACB officials found it difficult to ask questions as they also realised that there was nothing in the caseKTR as Rao is called said the ACB officials repeated their questions He reiterated that there was no corruption in the case as the FormulaE organiser confirmed receipt of the money transferred to themKTR was reportedly questioned on the basis of the statement given by Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar who was quizzed by the ACB for six hours on WednesdayThe investigating officials focussed on KTRs role as then Minister of Municipal Administration and Urban Development MAampUD in signing the agreement to conduct the FormulaE race in 2023 when BRS was in powerArvind Kumar who was Special Chief Secretary MAampUD department was questioned on whose instructions he had issued orders to transfer the money to UKbased FormulaE Operations FEOKTR Arvind Kumar and the former Chief Engineer of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority HMDA BLN Reddy have been accused of transferring about Rs 55 crore in violation of rules to FEO for the second edition of the FormulaE race in HyderabadThe ACB last month registered an FIR against them for alleged irregularities in payment by HMDA to FEO and associated entities without adhering to established financial procedures The FIR was registered under Sections 13 1 A and 13 2 of the Prevention of Corruption Act along with Sections 409 and 120 B of the Indian Penal CodeThe ACB had summoned KTR on January 6 He however returned from the ACB office after his lawyer was not allowed to be present during questioning KTR had submitted a letter to the ACB requesting it to defer his questioning till the Telangana High Court pronounces its order on his quash petition The ACB issued another notice to him the same day directing him to appear before it on January 9 The High Court on Tuesday dismissed KTRs petition to quash the FIR The court also refused to pass orders to ACB not to arrest himOn a petition by KTR the Telangana High Court on Wednesday allowed the presence of a lawyer during questioning The court said a lawyer may be present at a visible distance from the accused during the questioning IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ktr-quizzed-for-over-six-hours-by-acb-in-formula-e-race-case-594610.html Thu, 09 Jan 2025 22:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-announces-multi-year-extension-with-iconic-belgian-grand-prix-594361.html Stavelot Belgium Jan 8 Formula 1 has agreed a multiyear extension with the Belgian Grand Prix that will see the sport race at the iconic Circuit de SpaFrancorchamps in four of the next six years The extension which includes Grands Prix in the 2026 2027 2029 and 2031 seasons follows significant investment at the circuit in recent years including the addition of two new grandstands increasing capacity by 10000 and enhancement of the offtrack entertainment and fan experienceThe Belgian Grand Prix was one of the races that made up our maiden Championship in 1950 so as we kick off our 75th anniversary year it is fitting that we can share the news of this important extensionSpaFrancorchamps is rightly lauded by drivers and fans alike as one of the finest racetracks in the world and it has played host to some incredible moments over its many seasons in Formula 1 In recent years it has undergone significant work to improve the facility and overall fan experience and I would like to pay tribute to the promoter and the Government of Wallonia for their dedication and passionate support for Formula 1 in Belgium Stefano Domenicali President and CEO of Formula 1The Wallonian circuit is celebrated by fans and drivers alike for its mixture of long straights and challenging fast corners including one of the most famous sections of racetrack in the world as drivers power through Eau Rouge and Raidillon then on to the Kemmel straightThis year the Belgian Grand Prix welcomed 380000 fans across the race weekend in a gripping three days of action which saw Mercedes Lewis Hamilton claim his second win of the season and his fifth at SpaBuilt in 1921 SpaFrancorchamps was one of just seven circuits to be part of Formula 1s maiden championship in 1950 and has since hosted 57 Grands PrixSpanning 7004km its the longest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar and has seen some of the sports most decorated drivers including Ayrton Senna Michael Schumacher Niki Lauda and Sebastian Vettel win there From the current grid Lewis Hamilton Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen have also taken victory at the circuit IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-announces-multi-year-extension-with-iconic-belgian-grand-prix-594361.html Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-magnussen-reflects-on-missed-ferrari-and-red-bull-chances-594208.html New Delhi Jan 7 As Kevin Magnussen steps away from Formula 1 following the conclusion of the 2024 season the Danish driver reflects on pivotal moments in his careerchoices and circumstances that could have led him down an entirely different path From debuting with McLaren to nearmisses with top teams like Ferrari and Red Bull Magnussens journey has been one of unfulfilled potential and immense pride Magnussen burst onto the F1 scene in 2014 making his debut with McLaren at the Australian Grand Prix where he claimed a stunning podium finish in third place However that result would prove to be the peak of his rookie season As McLarens performance began to decline Magnussen struggled to deliver consistent results ultimately losing his seat to Fernando Alonso in 2015Reflecting on his time at McLaren Magnussen acknowledged the challenges of joining the team during their downturn It took McLaren 10 years to get back to the form they had in 2012 Magnussen told Autosport I hit it right at the beginning of that downward trend If I had come two or three years earlier it would have been a different storyMagnussen admitted that his lack of consistency on race days also played a role in his early struggles I was quicker than Jenson Button on pace but he outscored me in races I needed to calm down and finish races If I had done that I think it would have been a completely different story I just had to finish the races you know just calm down a bit It was not like I needed to do things better I needed to hold back a little and then I think it would have been a completely different performance in terms of consistency and so on I think I was unlucky to lose that seat that year and that kind of changed my trajectory and my career loop he addedAfter his McLaren exit Magnussen spent 2015 as a reserve driver before returning to the grid with Renault in 2016 His fortunes began to improve when he joined Haas in 2017 By 2018 the teams strong earlyseason performance provided Magnussen with hope for a brighter future It was my third year in F1 I was 24 or something23 You know anything was still possible he continued I still believed it was possible And there were moments when I felt it was going in that directionIn 2018 we had a really good car in the first half of the year Charles Leclerc had just arrived in F1 with Sauber And the start of his first season wasnt great And mine was really good And then suddenly Ferrari was reaching out Suddenly I was driving in their simulator not for Haas but for Ferrari They were sniffing around And I thought okayI was already getting excited about where this was going But then Charles started to really kill it And I heard nothing he saidAnother crossroads emerged after Daniel Ricciardo departed from Red Bull in 2018 Magnussens management spoke with Red Bull boss Christian Horner who suggested a potential seat at Toro Rosso now AlphaTauri However Magnussen turned it downa decision he now questionsChristian said Theres nothing at Red Bull but we can talk about Toro Rosso I said No no lets not do that which I probably should have done The guy who got that Toro Rosso seat ended up at Red BullAs Magnussen closes the chapter on his F1 career he is candid about his shortcomings but harbours no regretsI could have done more for sure There were times when I didnt work hard enough but then there were times when I worked my butt off I dont think theres anything I could have done to change the course of my career I really doubt that he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-magnussen-reflects-on-missed-ferrari-and-red-bull-chances-594208.html Tue, 07 Jan 2025 18:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/sanjay-takale-set-to-become-first-indian-driver-at-dakar-in-cars-category-592240.html Pune Dec 27 Top Indian rally driver Sanjay Takales debut at the iconic Dakar 2025 will be a historic day for India as it will be the first time ever an Indian will take part in the fourwheel section of any class at the Mother of all Rallies Dakar which is beginning from January 3 2025 in Saudi Arabia The gruelling route with 12 stages of over 8000 km is a daunting task even for the experienced Punes aerpace racer Takale the first Indian to win an Asia Pacific Rally Championship title in the production class has partnered with Compagnie Saharienne a French Historic Rally Team to race a Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78 at the 2025 Dakar Classic He will be the first Indian to race the Dakar Classic as a car driver with Maxime Raud as his codriverMy goal is to simply experience the might of Dakar and have fun driving in the dunes It is a long journey and will be a good learning experience I am also very proud to be the first Indian to get this opportunity to drive on a fourwheeler at Dakar said TakaleSome regions of the route have been a nostalgic experience for this Pune driver who as a backpacker visited more than 100 countries from 2001 to 2007The motorsport addict began his career with motocross races in June 1987 and won over 100 trophies till 2001 and bid goodbye with a big win at the bike national round at Nashik as a TVS factory rider before he drifted into endurance rallies in 2009 A veteran in the Indian National Rally Championship and the Malaysian Rally Championship he is a regular in the AsiaPacific RalliesAfter many more laurels in the fourwheel section he became the first Indian to get glory for India at the APRC winning the Production class title in 2013 In 2018 he switched up gears and made his Rally3 debut at the World Rally Championship3 at Rally FinlandHe bagged a creditable 14th in his class behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta R2 despite virtually no seat time along with codriver Darren Garrod and repeated it at the 2019 edition In 2022 he represented Team India at the FIA Motorsport Games and finished eighth along with codriver Mike Young in his first tarmac rally in a Peugeot 208 Rally4Takale is also a regular at the Asia CrossCountry Rally winning the T2 category in an Isuzu DMax in 2011 In August 2024 he drove his Toyota Hilux Revo to 13th place in the T1D class for an overall 23rdBorn on February 2 1968 in Manjri village the director of Aerpace an Indian transportation company will have Frenchman Maxime Raud as the codriver and the duo will be piloting a Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78The 2025 Dakar Classic runs along with the main Dakar Rally from January 3 to 17 in its 47th edition the sixth in Saudi Arabia The route starts at Bisha crosses the Empty Quarter and will finish in Shubaytah on January 17The race format consists of 14 days of racing divided into 12 stages The marathon 48hour chrono stage will be 950 km long Five stages will feature separate routes for cars and bikes and there will be one mass start stageThis Dakar promises more navigation and a classic run with 94 cars in the fray with 36 rookies and is being treated as a learning debut for the Indian speed maestro from Pune who intends to make a mark among the rookies The 86 to 98 low average class driver will be on a 722 number car the only car from India in Dakar 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/sanjay-takale-set-to-become-first-indian-driver-at-dakar-in-cars-category-592240.html Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-leclerc-says-ferrari-did-incredible-job-in-second-half-of-2024-campaign-592131.html New Delhi Dec 26 As the 2024 Formula 1 season concluded in a dramatic finale in Abu Dhabi Charles Leclerc took a moment to reflect on Ferraris rollercoaster journey through the year Despite falling short in their battle for the Constructors Championship against McLaren Leclerc hailed the Scuderias impeccable execution and growth as the defining aspects of their campaign Ferraris season was marked by stark contrasts The team began the year on a challenging note securing only two wins before the summer break A slump in performance during the midseason races saw them struggle to keep up with rivals Red Bull and McLarenHowever a resurgence in the latter half of the season powered by a series of impactful upgrades brought Ferrari back into contention Leclerc highlighted the significant strides the team made during this period The first part of the season wasnt easy We were definitely not the fastest car We were actually struggling for performance But the second part of the season weve done an incredible job mostly for improving the car in terms of pace Lecler told F1The upgrades developed at Maranello not only improved the cars outright speed but also elevated Ferrari to the status of McLarens primary competitor Several lateseason races even saw Ferrari fielding the fastest car on the gridLeclerc credited Ferraris operational efficiency as the cornerstone of their progress From strategic decisions to raceday management the Scuderia demonstrated precision and focus allowing them to remain in contention for the Constructors Championship until the final race The highlight of this season has definitely been the execution To be fighting for the Constructors at the end of the year until the very last race if you look at the performance weve had in the first part of the year thats where I think weve done a particularly good job On that Im very proud he saidLooking ahead Leclerc stressed that Ferrari must build on their progress without relying solely on momentum He drew lessons from previous seasons where strong finishes did not translate into dominant starts in subsequent yearsMomentum is not really a thing There have been quite a lot of examples on our side where we finished a year strong and then struggled at the beginning of the year after Weve pinpointed what went wrong during those winter breaks and paid the price at the start of the next seasonThe Monegasque driver underscored the importance of learning from past experiences particularly in optimizing winter development In the last four years weve taken steps in the right direction With Carlos Sainz weve pushed the team into a very good place But this winter we need to stay on it to ensure we start 2025 in the best possible wayLeclerc also touched upon the evolution of the team over recent years Having experienced championship contention in 2022 and now 2024 he emphasized the growth of Ferraris personnel and their readiness to compete at the highest levelIve grown a lot as a driver and I think weve grown a lot as a team For many people on the team it was their first time fighting again with Ferrari at the top This experience is invaluable as we move forward IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-leclerc-says-ferrari-did-incredible-job-in-second-half-of-2024-campaign-592131.html Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-isack-hadjar-joins-rb-for-the-2025-season-591075.html Milton Keynes UK Dec 20 Isack Hadjar will make his Formula 1 debut in 2025 after signing a deal with RB Red Bull Racings sister team to become Yuki Tsunodas teammate Red Bull junior Hadjar impressed in his second season in feeder series F2 finishing runnerup to Kick Sauberbound Gabriel Bortoleto with Campos RacingAfter Sergio Perez parted ways with Red Bull ahead of 2025 and Liam Lawson stepped up from RB in his place there was a vacancy at RBThe 20yearold Isack has been driving for the prestigious Campos Racing team in F2 where he quickly established himself as one of the most promising young prospects Isacks trajectory has continued on the sharp upward curve in recent years with big wins coming at classic Grand Prix venues including Imola SpaFrancorchamps and SilverstoneIsack will be following the footsteps of Max Verstappen Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo as he becomes the 19th driver to be promoted to Formula One from the Red Bull Junior Program which started back in 2001Im very excited to step into my new role at VCARB this is huge for myself my family and all the people who have believed in me from the beginning The journey from karting through the ranks in singleseaters to now being in Formula One is the moment Ive been working towards my whole life it is the dream I feel like Im stepping into a whole new universe driving a much faster car and racing with the best drivers in the world Itll be a huge learning curve but Im ready to work hard and do the best I can for the team Isack said in a statementI look forward to working with and learning from Yuki Ive always looked up to him he went through the Red Bull Junior Program like myself and weve shared a similar path to F1 Hes very experienced and will be good to learn from he addedLaurent Mekies Team Principal of Racing Bulls said Were excited to have Isack with us next year bringing a new and fresh dynamic to the team alongside Yuki in 2025 His journey to Formula One has been nothing short of outstanding he has shown remarkable growth with a series of impressive results in the junior singleseater ranks He has the talent and drive necessary to compete at the highest level and we have every confidence that he will adapt quickly and make a significant impact I believe Isack and Yuki will make a great team Yuki brings invaluable experience to the team hes shown incredible resilience and maturity which will be crucial for the team as we strive to hit all our aims and objectives in 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-isack-hadjar-joins-rb-for-the-2025-season-591075.html Fri, 20 Dec 2024 17:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f-1-mercedes-name-bottas-as-reserve-driver-for-2025-season-590883.html London Dec 19 Mercedes AMG Petronas have announced Valtteri Bottas as a reserve driver for the 2025 season after the Finn and Kick Sauber parted company following the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Valtteri Bottas heads home back to the threepointed star as Third Driver for 2025 Mercedes AMG Petronas said in a statementBottas drove for Mercedes for five seasons alongside Lewis Hamilton from 20172021 securing all 10 of his career wins with the Silver Arrows as well as his 20 pole positions in Formula 1He had joined Sauber known as Alfa Romeo at the time for the 2022 season after Mercedes chose to promote George Russell in his place the Finn enduring mixed fortunes with the Swiss team ranging from finishing a strong 10th in 2022 to failing to score at all in 2024When Kick Sauber opted not to resign Bottas for 2025 instead choosing a combination of Nico Hulkenberg and Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto the Finn began talks with Mercedes about a reserve role in a bid to stay in the conversation as he pursues a racing return in 2026 His reserve role will involve him attending most if not all the Grands Prix and supporting regular race drivers Russell and debutant Kimi AntonelliReturning home to the Mercedes family as third driver for 2025 is whats next and I couldnt be more pleased said BottasI want to thank Toto Wolff Mercedes team boss the team at Brackley and everyone at the threepointed star for welcoming me back with open arms Despite the challenges of the past few years I know that Ive still got so much more to contribute to F1 Since I was a fiveyearold kid growing up in Nastola Finland my focus has been on achieving success in the top tier of motorsportIve been fortunate to have enjoyed many incredible moments in my 12 years of racing in F1 so far As I return to the place where so many of those moments were achieved Im looking forward to using all the knowledge Ive gained to help the team to perform and progress towards our goal of fighting for world championshipsWolff added Welcome home Valtteri Its great to have you back His impact and contribution in the five years he was with us previously as our race driver was immenseAlong with scoring multiple Grands Prix wins he played a vital role in five of our championship victories His technical feedback and input were important in helping us to those successes and pushing the team forward Not only that but he was also a fantastic colleague and team member His dry sense of humour and personable nature made him a firm favourite with everyone at Brackley and BrixworthIn his role as Reserve Driver all those qualities will be incredibly important in helping us compete for world championships and supporting both George and Kimi on track IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f-1-mercedes-name-bottas-as-reserve-driver-for-2025-season-590883.html Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/telangana-acb-books-ktr-in-formula-e-race-case-590889.html Hyderabad Dec 19 Telanganas AntiCorruption Bureau ACB on Thursday registered an FIR against BRS Working President and former minister KT Rama Rao in connection with alleged financial irregularities during the Formula E race held in Hyderabad last year The antigraft agency named K T Rama Rao KTR as Accused No 1 A1 in the FIRFormer Special Chief Secretary Municipal Administration Arvind Kumar has been designated as A2 and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority HMDA Chief Engineer BLN Reddy as A3The case has been booked under four sections of the Prevention of Corruption ActThe FIR was registered two days after the state Cabinet gave its nod following Governor Jishnu Dev Varma giving permission to try KTRThere are allegations that Rs 55 crore was transferred from HMDA funds to Formula E Operations FEO without requisite approvalsKTR as then Minister for Industry allegedly sanctioned funds for the race bypassing established proceduresDeputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka had said in January that the Formula E race was conducted last year by the previous government to benefit a company and Hyderabad and Telangana were in no way benefited from it The then government had agreed to pay Rs 110 crore to the company and out of this Rs 55 crore were paidThe remaining amount was to be paid in two instalmentsFormula E cancelled the second Formula E race Season 10 scheduled in Hyderabad on February 10 2024 The announcement was made after a decision by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department MAUD of the Telangana government not to fulfil the Host City Agreement signed on October 30 2023Formula E Operations FEO said it was left with no choice other than to formally give notice to MAUD for breach of contractThe Congress government issued notice to senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar for serious violations with regard to the agreement The official was asked to explain why the huge financial expenditure of Rs 46 crore plus the tax amount of Rs 9 crore was paid from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority HMDA resources even before the agreement was signedKTR defended the previous governments decision to bring the Formula E race to Hyderabad and declared that he was ready to go to jail Denying the allegations of corruption he said he tried to elevate Hyderabads global image especially through the Formula E race IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/telangana-acb-books-ktr-in-formula-e-race-case-590889.html Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-liam-lawson-to-race-for-red-bull-in-2025-590825.html Milton Keynes UK Dec 19 Red Bull have announced Liam Lawson as Sergio Perezs replacement to race alongside fourtime world champion Max Verstappen in the 2025 Formula 1 season New Zealand native Lawson joined the Red Bull Junior Programme in 2019 and after multiple junior formula successes made his Formula One debut with Scuderia AlphaTauri at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix in place of the injured Daniel Ricciardo He scored his first championship points in just his second outing at the Singapore GP and completed five races in all for the team After taking up his Reserve Driver role with both teams at the start of 2024 Lawson returned to Grand Prix racing with Racing Bulls with a pointsscoring finish at this years United States Grand PrixNow after completing the season with RB the 22yearold takes the next step in his career with a seat at Red BullTo be announced as an Oracle Red Bull Racing Driver is a lifelong dream for me this is something Ive wanted and worked towards since I was eight years old Its been an incredible journey so far I want to say a massive thank you to the whole team at VCARB for their support the last six races have played a huge part in my preparation for this next step Lawson said in a statementI also want to thank Christian Helmut and the whole Red Bull family for believing in me and giving me this opportunity I am super excited to work alongside Max and learn from a World Champion I have no doubt I will learn from his expertise I cant wait to get going he addedChristian Horner Red Bull Team Principal and CEO said Im delighted to announce that Liam Lawson will join the Team in 2025 Liams performances over the course of his two stints with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls have demonstrated that hes not only capable of delivering strong results but that hes also a real racer not afraid to mix it with the best and come out on topHis arrival continues the Teams long history of promoting from within the Red Bull Junior Programme and he follows in the footsteps of championship and racewinning drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and of course Max Verstappen Theres no doubt that racing alongside Max a fourtime champion and undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers ever seen in F1 is a daunting task but Im sure Liam can rise to that challenge and deliver some outstanding results for us next year IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-liam-lawson-to-race-for-red-bull-in-2025-590825.html Thu, 19 Dec 2024 15:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/karnataka-1000-rally-gill-takes-lead-on-day-1-thakur-kadur-still-in-contention-589787.html Tumakuru Karnataka Dec 14 Arjuna Awardee Gaurav Gill and codriver Aniruddha Rangnekar began on a cautious note but finished the first day with an overall lead of 25 seconds over Aroor Arjun Rao and Satish Rajagopoal in the Karnataka 1000 Rally the sixth and final round of the fmsci Indian National Rally Championship 2024 here on Saturday However the championship fight goes to the wire with table toppers Karna Kadur codriver Musa Sherif of Arka Motorsports and Himachal Pradesh driver Aditya Thakur and navigator Virender Kakshyap who are second in the leaderboard still in contention The Himachal pair finished fourth overall at the end of Day 1 of the event organised by Karnataka Motor Sports Club In third at the end of four stages on Saturday are Jason Saldanha and Timmu Uddapanda The Delhi driver Gill faced power issues after the water crossing and lost time in the first two stages of the day Jason Saldanha and codriver Thimmu Uddapanda were the fastest in SS1 while Aroor Arjun Rao and codriver Satish Rajagopal clocked the best time in SS2 and SS4 But the seventime National champion played a coolheaded game and made up time in the third stage after finishing sixth and seventh respectively in the first two stages Meanwhile Championship leader Karna Kadur and codriver Musa Sherif of Arka Motorsports were stuck in a bush in the second stage which cost them dearly They will be running again on Sunday but have lost valuable points affecting their title hopesHassans Jason Saldanha and local codriver Timmu Uddapanda are leading the INRC2 class followed by Aditya Thakur Virender Kashyap and Fabid Ahmer codriver Milen GeorgeOn Sunday the rally will run another two Special StagesProvisional Results after Day 1 Leg 1 Saturday INRC Overall 1 Gaurav Gill privateers Delhi Anirudha Rangnekar Pune2 Aroor Arjun Rao Mandovi Racing Mangaluru Satish Rajagopal Bengaluru3 Jason Saldhanha Arka Motorsports Hassan Thimmu Uddapanda KodaguINRC2 1 Jason Saldhanha Arka Motorsports Hassan Thimmu Uddapanda Kodagu2 Aditya Thakur Chettinad Sporting Solan Virender Kashyap Shimla3 Fabid Ahmer Chettinad Sporting Palakkad Milen George Cherian Kottayam INRC3 1 Daraius Shroff Chettinad Sporting Mumbai Arjun Dheerendra Bengaluru2 Arjun Rajiv Chettinadu Sporting Vinay Padmashali Both Bengaluru3 Vishak Balachandran Chettinad Sporting Anil Abbas both Ernakulam IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/karnataka-1000-rally-gill-takes-lead-on-day-1-thakur-kadur-still-in-contention-589787.html Sat, 14 Dec 2024 20:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/all-eyes-on-hattrick-seeking-gaurav-gill-as-k1000-rally-flags-off-589524.html Tumkur TN Dec 13 Top Indian rally driver Gaurav Gill will be hoping to claim a hattrick of titles as the iconic Karnataka 1000 K1000 rally was flagged off for the 48th edition on Friday with competitive Special Stages on dirt tracks The 56 drivers in the fray will look to perform to the best of their abilities to clinch the National Championship which is wide open in all the classes except the Gypsy class The rally was flagged off at the ceremonial start here on Friday eveningThe historic Karnataka 1000 rally the sixth and final round of the fmsci Indian National Rally Championship organised by the Karnataka Motor Sports Club KMSC will have Arjuna Awardee Gaurav Gill as the cynosure of all eyesThe Delhi driver stole the limelight in the last two rallies with an amazing fightback and has an outside chance of winning a historic but elusive 8th INRC titleThe 2021 champion Aditya Thakur along with codriver Virender Kashyap also fancies his chances The 2022 champion Karna Kadur with experienced Musa Sherif as codriver is leading the championship and is hot favourite and just needs to finish the rally in the top ten Kadur leads with 119 points followed by Thakur on 94 and Gill on 80There will be two physical stages The Theertharama stage will be 2078 km long and Hatyalu is 1607 km long The two stages will be run twice each on Saturday and once each on Sunday all in the forward direction This year also the liaison distance is a short 8256kmsAditya Thakur from Chettinad Sporting tops the INRC2 class with 122 points with defending champion Harkrishan Wadia of Arka Motorsports is on 106 points and Fabid also from Chettinad Sporting is in third place with 101 pointsIn the INRC3 class Daraius Shroff from Chettinad Sporting is leading with 132 points followed by Arnav Pratap Singh of Snap Racing with 118 points and Jeet Jhabakh also from Chettinad Sporting in third with 100 pointsWith Shroff pulling out at the last minute due to ill health Pratap Singh has a chance to clinch both the INRC3 and Junior titlesAneeshnath and Amritha the husband and wife pair are leading the fmsci Classic Challenge Cup and Aneesh said that this final round is crucial and it is a doordie rally Baljinder Singh has already taken an unbeatable lead and clinched the Gypsy class with a round to spareK1000 is a historic rally running from 1975 and is one of the three longestrunning rallies in the world We are striving to make this a better and more competitive rally every year as the drivers look forward to K1000 said Gautam president of KMSCWe are happy to see the championship wide open till the last round and the successful National Championship on its last leg continues to be highly competitive The popular K1000 has a special place in every drivers heart and we look forward to another eventful round said Premnath the Promoter and head of Blueband SportsThe Special Stages will be run on Saturday and Sunday followed by the prize distribution on Sunday evening at Tumkur IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/all-eyes-on-hattrick-seeking-gaurav-gill-as-k1000-rally-flags-off-589524.html Fri, 13 Dec 2024 22:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-fernando-alonso-still-dreaming-of-third-world-championship-588898.html New Delhi Dec 11 The 43year old Aston Martin F1 driver Fernando Alonso is still dreaming of his third World Championship having last won the title in 2006 I still dream Why not I know 2026 is probably my only chance because 2025 is extremely difficult but I am still dreaming F1 is for dreamers probably because anything can happen Lets see Alonso was quoted as saying by BBCAlonsos expectations will be high as Adrian Newey has committed his longterm future away with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team in 2025 Neweys move to the British car manufacturer was announced in SeptemberDuring his time in Formula One which has earned him the accolade of one of the greatest F1 designers in history Newey has been a part of Williams McLaren and Red Bull teams Neweys designed cars have won 13 drivers championships and 13 constructors crownsAlonso claimed Neweys arrival was destiny after the duo had come close to working together a number of times in the pastExpectations will be high because it is a new car change of regulations car made by Adrian Probably or at least to start it will be my last season in F1 Because my contract finishes at the end of 2026 It is the time of delivering and the time of truth High expectationsDestiny It seems like destiny always I was missing the opportunity But he came now at the end of my career and I will still enjoy as much as I can try to learn from himWe have this mutual respect We exchanged some messages and spoke from time to time and it seems like we connected always We never worked together but we were always in the same frequency when we talked in the past I am looking forward And for Aston Martin it is a big thing added AlonsoNewey will join a team that has already made significant strides in recent years with the recruitment of top engineers a stateoftheart new factory and a works engine partnership with Honda from 2026Expectations suggest that Aston Martin has the potential to field one of the fastest cars in the 2026 season putting Alonso in a solid position to fight for his third World ChampionshipAll my career I have been driving cars that were maybe not the best in that moment even my two World Championships In 2005 the McLaren was the fastest car but their reliability was bad so we compensated with that and won the championshipAnd then in 2006 they were very similar but the Ferrari and Michael Schumacher had a little bit too many DNFs especially in Japan at the end of the year and I won the championshipI keep delivering and motivated and I am not feeling like I am driving in circles because every year I still have the hope that will be the season I could have a fast car concluded Alonso IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-fernando-alonso-still-dreaming-of-third-world-championship-588898.html Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indias-kush-maini-wins-historic-formula-2-constructors-championship-at-abu-dhabi-gp-588468.html Abu Dhabi Dec 9 Kush Maini scripts history again in the Formula 2 2024 season The Invicta Racing team clinched the F2 Constructors Championship making the 24yearold the first and only Indian to win a FIA Constructors World Championship at the pinnacle of Junior Formula This monumental achievement adds to a stellar year for Kush who earlier became the first Indian to claim an F2 pole position Despite the ups and downs of the season Kush played a pivotal role in Invictas success securing five podiums including a race win in Hungary His pole position in Jeddah set the tone for the teams dominant campaign culminating in their victory by a 345point margin over Campos Racing Kushs former teamFor the final race Maini put on a solid qualifying round in Abu Dhabi resulting in P6 and had even better starts in both races He gained 6 positions in the sprint on his first lap and 3 in the feature on his first lap However some damage on his floor put him on the back foot for the sprint while a stalled pitstop hampered his plans of finishing the season on a high in the feature race on SundayNot the year I wanted it to be given how we started but still a lot of positives to take away including a Constructors Championship Thank you to everyone at Invicta for a good run and wish them all the luck for the future Looking forward to whats next for me and raring to go for next year said Maini after the stupendous featThis historic victory not only cements Mainis place in Indian motorsport history but also underscores his resilience and determination throughout a challenging yet rewarding season As he looks ahead to the next chapter of his journey Kush carries the hopes of a nation aspiring for greater representation on the global motorsport stage IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indias-kush-maini-wins-historic-formula-2-constructors-championship-at-abu-dhabi-gp-588468.html Mon, 09 Dec 2024 13:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-motorsports-giant-indu-chandhok-passes-away-588152.html Chennai Dec 7 Indu Chandhok the doyen of Indian motorsports with which he was actively associated for over six decades passed away on Saturday morning He was 93 and leaves behind two sons one daughter seven grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren Indu Chandhoks son and Madras Motor Sports Club MMSC vicepresident Vicky Chandhok said The Patriarch of the Chandhok family passed away in his sleep this morning Total legend he was BIC lived his life filled with a great sense of humour until the end He was a fantastic father and protector In a way he was also the patriarch of Indian motorsports who saw the big picture with a clear vision for the growth of the sport The family and the motorsports fraternity will miss himMMSC president Ajit Thomas said In Indu Chandhoks demise the MMSC and Indian motorsports have lost a giant and an institutional figure He was instrumental in providing definitive direction to motorsports in India and we are now enjoying the fruits of his untiring efforts He also shaped MMSC to what it is today We deeply mourn his passing away and offer condolences to his familyBorn in Kolkata on July 22 1931 and then moving to Chennai erstwhile Madras in 1932 Indu Chandhok blessed with boundless energy and varied interests led an active life He was one of the foundermembers of the Madras Motor Sports Club in 1953 and later the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India FMSCI in 1971 of which he was the president 197879 besides being integral part of the Trust that purchased and developed the Madras International Circuit erstwhile Madras Motor Race Track at Irungattkottai near Sriperumbudur and about 40 Kms from ChennaiOff the track he was involved with the Punjab Association Trust of which he was the Chairman the DAV School Camp Tonakela the Madras Round Table which he founded the Masonic Lodge president of the Indian Motor Parts Dealers Association the 41 Clubs of India an association of exRound Tablers whose international President he becameIndu Chandhok was best known for his long and enduring contribution to the growth of motorsports in the country His involvement with motorsports for the last 60 years first as a competitor and later as an organiser earned him the sobriquet of Godfather of Motor Sports in IndiaHe passed on his motorsports genes to his son Vicky Chandhok a former National Rally Champion and grandson Karun Chandhok Indias second Formula One driver after Narain Karthikeyan who is now a wellknown F1 race commentator and analystFormer FMSCI president Shramik Masturlal put it best when he said Indu was an institution in himself His cofounding of the FMSCI his huge efforts in making Sholavaram races what it became the creation of the new track from scratch the birth of the MMST etc all bore the stamp of Indus efforts in furthering motorsports to unimaginable levels Indu leaves gigantic footprints An era has passed IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-motorsports-giant-indu-chandhok-passes-away-588152.html Sat, 07 Dec 2024 14:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/four-years-of-unforgettable-moments-will-stay-with-me-forever-sainz-ahead-of-his-final-race-with-ferrari-588185.html Abu Dhabi Dec 7 Formula One driver Carlos Sainz said the four years of unforgettable moments with Ferrari will stay with him forever as the Spaniard will participate in his final race in red at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday Sainz who joined the Maranellobased side in 2021 and became the third Spanish racer to drive for them has bagged four race wins with Ferrari including 26 podium finishes in 88 races so far He also attained six pole positions with Ferrari during his time with the side and will look to add another on SaturdayFour years of unforgettable moments celebrations great battles on track and invaluable lessons learned These memories will stay with me forever Grazie ScuderiaFerrari Sainz wrote on X formerly TwitterSainzs teammate Charles Leclerc will wear a special helmet to thank the Spaniard for his time in FerrariSpecial helmet for a special teammate Thanks for these 4 years together Lets push to the max for that last weekend together Leclerc said on XSainz will drive for Williams Racing from next season with seventime world champion Lewis Hamilton set to replace him at FerrariReflecting on how he will look back on this chapter of his career ahead of his switch to Williams in 2025 Sainz commented First of all I think its going to be quite emotional quite intense not only because of it being the last weekend but also for how much is at stake with the constructors titleAt the same time its been a tough year in general with a lot going on in the background but I think I have to be quite happy and quite proud of how I handled every situation through the year and how I managed to push myself to get to the end of the year still in good shape in good form and ready to fightIn terms of what it would mean to win the constructors title with Ferrari before he leaves the team Sainz responded It would mean everything to be honestI think its the best way to say goodbye to my home these last four years the team that Ive given my absolute best to for the last four years Ive enjoyed every single moment with them and to say goodbye with a constructors title would be the perfect signoff or the perfect goodbyeIm also honest with you in saying its not a long shot but its a difficult one being 21 points behind two of the fastest drivers and one of the fastest teams and to recover those 21 points in one weekend requires perfection from our side and probably not an optimal weekend or a bad weekend from their sideIts still going to be difficult but Ive seen worse things in racing happen before Were going to give it our best shotIn his Formula 1 career to date the 29yearold has participated in 205 races achieved four race victories 26 podiums garnering 1254 career points and is currently sitting fifth in this seasons Drivers Championship After becoming the only nonRed Bull Racing driver to achieve a race victory in 2023 Sainz most recently took victory at this years Mexico Grand PrixFor his own personal target this weekend Sainz said I would obviously love to contribute to that constructors title with a winIn the end a win is what we need I think were going to need to have both cars on the podium if we want to clinch the championship unless something very disastrous happened to McLaren That is my target IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/four-years-of-unforgettable-moments-will-stay-with-me-forever-sainz-ahead-of-his-final-race-with-ferrari-588185.html Sat, 07 Dec 2024 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-mclaren-gain-advantage-in-constructors-race-as-norris-piastri-secure-front-row-in-abu-dhabi--588240.html Abu Dhabi Dec 7 The final qualifying session of the season at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix saw Lando Norris claim pole position with teammate Oscar Piastri joining him on the front row The result was a significant moment for the team as they geared up to challenge for their first Constructors Championship in years The opening segment of qualifying brought its share of surprises but none more shocking than the early exit of Lewis Hamilton in his final qualifying session for Mercedes A stray bollard knocked onto the track by Kevin Magnussen led to Hamilton running over it damaging his car and compromising his lap He finished a disappointing 18thOther drivers eliminated in Q1 included Alex Albon Williams Zhou Guanyu Kick Sauber Franco Colapinto Williams and Jack Doohan Alpine who was making his firstever F1 qualifying appearanceIn Q2 the battle for a top10 finish intensified with Max Verstappen setting the early pace However Carlos Sainz Ferrari and Nico Hulkenberg Haas impressed with strong laps with Hulkenberg notably making it into the top four a remarkable effort considering the backdrop of his farewell race with HaasCharles Leclercs session ended in frustration after his fastest lap was deleted for exceeding track limits Despite an improved effort he found himself eliminated in 14th relegated to the back of the grid due to a 10place grid penalty for an engine changeVerstappen set the early benchmark in Q3 with a 122945 but it was Norris who surged in the final runs delivering a blistering 122595 to secure his second pole position of the season Piastri also delivered when it counted clocking a 122804 to lock out the front row for McLarenFor McLaren this result was a huge boost as they head into the race with a real shot at securing their first Constructors Championship since 1998 As for Hamilton his early exit in his final qualifying session for Mercedes was a sombre moment but the sports most decorated driver remains determined to finish the season on a high note IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-mclaren-gain-advantage-in-constructors-race-as-norris-piastri-secure-front-row-in-abu-dhabi--588240.html Sat, 07 Dec 2024 23:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-extends-chinese-grand-prix-contract-until-2030-588002.html Shanghai Dec 6 Formula 1 has announced a fiveyear extension of the Chinese Grand Prix ensuring the iconic Shanghai International Circuit will remain on the calendar through the 2030 season The announcement follows Formula 1s successful return to Shanghai in 2024 after a fiveyear hiatus The event attracted a staggering 200000 fans and witnessed Max Verstappen dominate the Sprint and the main Grand Prix cementing the race as one of the seasons highlightsSince its inaugural race in 2004 won by Rubens Barrichello the 545km Shanghai International Circuit has been celebrated for its unique layout and technical challenges its distinct corners such as the tightening sequence of Turns 1 and 2 and the highspeed highg Turns 7 and 8 are loved by drivers and deliver thrilling ontrack actionThe circuit has produced 10 different winners over the years with Lewis Hamiltons six victories and Fernando Alonsos two being standout performances among current driversThe contract extension comes as Formula 1 enjoys unprecedented growth in China The fanbase has soared to over 150 million with more than half of these fans beginning their F1 journey in the past four years Notably women make up 50 of this audience showcasing the sports broadening appealViewership figures highlight this surge in interest with TV audiences in 2024 rising by 39 compared to the 2023 season average On social media Formula 1 has added over a million followers across platforms such as Weibo WeChat Toutiao and Douyin bringing its total Chinese digital audience to 44 millionThe Chinese Grand Prix will feature prominently on the 2025 calendar scheduled for March 2123 as the seasons second round It will also host the years first Sprint event as well as the inaugural round of the F1 Academy further boosting the weekends significanceStefano Domenicali President and CEO of Formula 1 expressed his excitement Our return to China this season for the first time since 2019 was a fantastic moment for the sport and it is incredible to see the levels of support that we enjoy in the country continuing to grow yearonyear Shanghai is an incredible city and the racetrack is a wonderful test for our drivers so I am delighted that Formula 1 will continue its successful partnership with the Chinese Grand Prix for a further five yearsGuo Jianfei Chairman of Shanghai Jiushi Group Co Ltd the event promoter echoed this enthusiasm For many years Jiushi Group and our subsidiary Juss Sports have always adhered to our original intention to strive for excellence in event organization and this renewal is a testament to that Looking ahead we will continue to work closely with all partners further strengthen our engagement with international audiences through the event platform and consistently improve the event quality IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-extends-chinese-grand-prix-contract-until-2030-588002.html Fri, 06 Dec 2024 17:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-williams-drivers-penalised-five-place-grid-penalty-for-abu-dhabi-gp-588026.html Abu Dhabi Dec 6 Williams Racings Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto have both received fiveplace grid penalties for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix following the replacement of critical gearbox components in their cars The decision confirmed by the FIA stewards marks a challenging conclusion to the 2024 season for the Grovebased team The Williams duo of Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto have both been hit with fiveplace grid drops for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after the team replaced gearbox components on both cars read the statement from Formula 1s official websiteIn the leadup to the final race of the season Williams opted to replace the gearbox cases and cassettes along with the driveline gear change and auxiliary components on both Albons and Colapintos cars These changes brought their gearbox allocations to six for Albon and seven for Colapinto exceeding the permitted five per season under Article 292 of the FIA Formula 1 Sporting RegulationsAs a result both drivers will drop five grid places at the Yas Marina Circuit The penalty comes after a series of incidents that put immense strain on Williams resources Both drivers endured significant crashes in recent rounds including in the wet conditions of the Brazilian Grand Prix and the perilous qualifying session at Las Vegas forcing the team to repeatedly repair and replace damaged partsWilliams has faced a turbulent second half of the 2024 season and the latest setbacks further compound their difficulties With the team firmly holding ninth place in the constructors standings they appear to be playing the long game prioritising a functional car for the final race over grid positioningDespite the penalties the team is determined to end the season on a positive note and prepare for the postseason test next week Former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is set to debut for Williams during the test a move that signifies the teams ambitions for the future IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-williams-drivers-penalised-five-place-grid-penalty-for-abu-dhabi-gp-588026.html Fri, 06 Dec 2024 19:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/hamilton-reflects-on-final-year-at-mercedes-says-i-underestimated-the-challenge-587798.html Abu Dhabi Dec 5 As Lewis Hamilton gears up for his 246th and final race with Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix the seventime Formula 1 champion has opened up about the emotional rollercoaster that has defined his farewell season with the Silver Arrows Speaking during Thursdays Drivers Press Conference Hamilton admitted to underestimating the challenges of his final year with the team following the announcement of his move to Ferrari for 2025Hamiltons revelation of his impending switch to Ferrari sent shockwaves through the F1 paddock earlier this year and the repercussions were immediate within Mercedes Reflecting on the start of the season Hamilton described the tension in his relationship with the teamThe first meeting with Toto Wolff at the beginning of the year was awkward of course so it was awkward from the getgo he admittedThe awkwardness was compounded by a teambuilding paintball event shortly after the news broke which Hamilton described with a mix of humor and reflection The day after when I took some of the team paintballing they had just found out So theres been loads of moments through the year I got shot at a lot by people loads of bruises People went in on me that dayHamilton admitted that while he anticipated challenges the reality of his final season was far more difficult than he had envisioned I anticipated it would be difficult but massively underestimated how difficult it would be It was straining on the relationship very early on it took time for people to get past it he saidThe strain extended beyond his professional relationships affecting his own ability to cope with the emotions of leaving the team that had been integral to his recordbreaking careerSo many of you have been here my whole career so some of you I think youve all seen the worst in me and the best of me And Im not going to apologise for either because Im only human and I dont always get it right And I would definitely say this year has been one of the worst in terms of handling that from my side which I will work on trying to be better atAnd as I said just remember the good times Ive built some incredible relationships If you imagine when youre going through a season together with so many people not only on those race weekends are you riding the highs and lows together but in their personal lives through marriages through divorces through loss of family members through cancer through all sorts youre going through these journeys with these peopleSo its a really beautiful journey you go on together and being there for so long the emotions run so deep IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/hamilton-reflects-on-final-year-at-mercedes-says-i-underestimated-the-challenge-587798.html Thu, 05 Dec 2024 19:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/dutch-grand-prix-to-exit-in-2026-after-contract-extension-587500.html London Dec 4 The Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix will remain a fixture until 2026 following a oneyear contract extension announced by Formula 1 and the event promoter However the promoter has decided that 2026 will mark the final chapter of the race at Circuit Zandvoort The Dutch Grand Prix will conclude at its peak after four successful editions with two fantastic races still to goIn 2025 the event will take place from August 29 to 31 The date for the final event in 2026 which will include a Sprint for the first time at the Dutch Grand Prix will be announced next yearFormula 1 and the Dutch Grand Prix promoter have announced a oneyear contract extension which will see Circuit Zandvoort remain on the Formula 1 calendar through the 2026 season After much consideration and discussion the decision has been taken by the promoter not to remain on the calendar after 2026 F1 said in a releaseThe return of the Dutch Grand Prix in 2021 coincided with a period of dominance for local hero Max Verstappen and been crowned world champion in each of the four years the event has run to date In the years since the event has grown into a centerpiece of the racing season attracting thousands of passionate fans to its picturesque coastal venue Known for its electrifying atmosphere and the iconic banked corners of Circuit Zandvoort the race quickly became a fan favoriteMax Verstappens dominance during this period has only added to the allure of the Dutch Grand Prix With three victories on home soil and multiple world championships during this time Verstappen became synonymous with the event cementing it as a mustsee spectacleI am incredibly grateful for the work that the team at the Dutch Grand Prix have done in recent years They raised the bar for European Grands Prix in terms of event spectacle and entertainment supported the development of young talent by hosting F2 F3 and our F1 ACADEMY series and have also pioneered sustainable solutions that have inspired our events around the world as we drive towards being Net Zero by 2030 Stefano Domenicali President and CEO of Formula 1All parties positively collaborated to find a solution to extend the race with many options including alternation or annual events on the table and we respect the decision from the promoter to finish its amazing run in 2026 I want to thank all the team at the Dutch Grand Prix and the Municipality of Zandvoort who have been fantastic partners to Formula 1 he addedRobert van Overdijk Director of the Dutch Grand Prix expressed pride in the events success and explained the decision to conclude its run in 2026While todays announcement signals the end of a monumental era we are confident there is plenty more for fans to look forward to at the Dutch Grand Prix in 2025 and 2026 including the Sprint in 2026We are a privately owned and operated business and we must balance the opportunities presented by continuing to host the event against other risks and responsibilities We have decided to go out on a high with two more incredible Dutch Grands Prix in 2025 and 2026 he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/dutch-grand-prix-to-exit-in-2026-after-contract-extension-587500.html Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ocon-was-informed-of-early-alpine-exit-on-morning-of-qatar-gp-report-587517.html New Delhi Dec 4 The decision taken by Alpine to release Esteban Ocon ahead of his final race for the team at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was made on the morning of the race at the Qatar GP on Sunday As per reports by Motorsportscom Alpines decision to release Ocon who will be joining Haas from the next season before the final race of the 2024 F1 season was conveyed to the Frenchman a few hours before the start of the Qatar GPThe change allows Esteban to be released to Haas to drive in the postseason test in Abu Dhabi and to hand an early debut to Jack DoohanThe French racer took to social media on Tuesday to post an emotional farewell message to the team he drove for four years Along with the message Ocon uploaded a photo of his farewell helmet that he had specially designed for the race at Abu Dhabi but will not be given the chance to wearI apologise that I will not be able to come see you in person and have a proper farewell As you know the plan was always to race one last time this weekend and personally say goodbye to you all next week I was looking forward to both of those things This is not how I wanted things to end That said the world of F1 is small and I am sure I will see many of you again soon I would also like to wish nothing but great things to my friend Jack as he takes this next big step in his career at this weeks Abu Dhabi Grand Prix read the message posted by OconOcon had joined the team in 2020 under the Renault name and went on to drive the team for 156 Grand Prixs He achieved his sole victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix where he fended off fourtime champion Sebastian Vettel for the race win and has netted a further three podiums while racing alongside Daniel Ricciardo Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly I leave AlpineRenault with great memories and the pride of having been the driver who brought the teams best results since its return to the sport climbing the top two steps of the podium in Bahrain Hungary and BrazilIt was also an honour to play a part in finishing P4 in the Constructors Championship in 2022 I know how much all of those moments meant for everybody and feeling that sense of achievement and joy alongside the team is what I am taking away with me he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ocon-was-informed-of-early-alpine-exit-on-morning-of-qatar-gp-report-587517.html Wed, 04 Dec 2024 15:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/aishwarya-pissay-wins-third-bajas-world-cup-medal-587250.html Dubai Dec 3 Ace Indian rider Aishwarya Pissay once again made history by securing third place in the 2024 FIM Bajas World Cup Aishwarya also became first and only Indian to achieve three World Championship medals in MotorsportsCompeting in the 450cc and Ladies classes the Bengaluru rider faced technical challenges including navigation system issues during the final round which kept her out of the final classificationDespite the setbacks her points from earlier rounds were enough to secure her a second runnerup spot on the Bajas World Cup leaderboardThis rally was a true test of resilience Unfortunately technical issues with the navigation system on both days kept me out of the general classification but every challenge brings a valuable lesson Rally life often throws the unexpected at you and this experience has only fueled my determination to come back strongerDespite the setbacks Im immensely proud to have secured 3rd place in the World Championship for India This marks my third World Championship podium in the history of the sport and Im deeply grateful for the unwavering support of my team fans and everyone who continues to believe in me Aishwarya saidThe 29yearold motorsports icons remarkable efforts have been supported by TVS Racing as well as cosponsors IIFL Micro Labs and Surana College IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/aishwarya-pissay-wins-third-bajas-world-cup-medal-587250.html Tue, 03 Dec 2024 11:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-oscar-piastri-claims-qatar-sprint-victory-following-late-switch-with-lando-586821.html Doha Nov 30 Oscar Piastri secured a dramatic win in the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint at Lusail International Circuit on Saturday benefiting from a lastmoment team strategy where McLaren teammate Lando Norris ceded the lead just before the chequered flag Norris dominated the 19lap sprint early on converting his pole position into a commanding lead Meanwhile Piastri starting third quickly muscled his way past George Russells Mercedes into P2 at Turn 2 From there the Australian held firm under pressure from Russell showcasing his defensive prowessThe battle between Piastri and Russell was a highlight of the race Despite several bold attempts by Russell to reclaim second place including a near pass into Turn 1 but Piastri maintained his positionThe turning point came in the final moments Norris managing tyre degradation dropped back slightly allowing Piastri to close the gap In a nod to team strategy and reciprocity for Piastris support in Sao Paulo Norris moved aside on the final straight ensuring his teammate took the winBehind the McLarens Russell delivered a solid thirdplace finish continuing Mercedes push to stay competitive Ferraris Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc followed closely in fourth and fifth the latter winning a thrilling duel against future teammate Lewis Hamilton who finished sixthThe McLaren onetwo strengthened the teams lead in the constructors championship extending their advantage over Ferrari to 30 points With just a handful of races left McLarens cohesive approach exemplified by the NorrisPiastri dynamic positions them strongly with just two races to go IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-oscar-piastri-claims-qatar-sprint-victory-following-late-switch-with-lando-586821.html Sat, 30 Nov 2024 22:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/definitely-not-fast-anymore-hamilton-admits-after-disappointing-qatar-gp-sprint-qualifying-586751.html Doha Nov 30 Seventime Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton admitted that he is definitely not fast anymore after finishing seventh in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint qualifying on Friday Hamilton who is in his final season at Mercedes was 0399 seconds slower than teammate George Russell who will start the sprint race second behind McLarens Lando NorrisSame as every other qualifying not that great Im just slow Same every weekend Car felt relatively decent You know no issues Not really much more to say Hamilton said after the qualifyingHamilton holds the alltime record for F1 pole positions with 104 well ahead of Michael Schumachers 68 However in his recent pairing with teammate Russell Hamilton has faced challenges Over 22 races including six sprint events Hamilton has outqualified Russell just six times Excluding sprint sessions the qualifying record stands at 517 in Russells favour with an average 016second advantage per lap for Russell this seasonUntil teaming up with Russell Hamilton had never been consistently outqualified by a teammate Reflecting on this Hamilton commented humorously Who knows Im definitely not fast anymoreFridays qualifying set the sprint race grid for Saturday followed by another session to determine the grand prix lineup Despite setbacks Hamilton remains optimistic noting the cars pace and backing Russell to contend for the poleWhen you are always back where I am it makes it almost impossible to compete for wins from there But thats the sprint Ill do what I can tomorrowAsked whether there were any positives Hamilton added Not particularly The positive is the car is fast and George should be able to shoot for pole tomorrow IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/definitely-not-fast-anymore-hamilton-admits-after-disappointing-qatar-gp-sprint-qualifying-586751.html Sat, 30 Nov 2024 19:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motorsports-all-ten-teams-formula-1-and-fia-agree-to-new-diversity-and-inclusion-charter-586378.html Monaco Nov 27 Formula 1 management on Tuesday announced the introduction of a formal Diversity and Inclusion DampI charter which has been agreed by all ten teams Formula 1 and the FIA to build a more diverse and inclusive place to work The charter has been created with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering which alongside Sir Lewis Hamilton delivered The Hamilton Commissions original report in 2021 the stakeholders informed in a release on Tuesday The charter results from the reports recommendation that the motorsport sector commits to improving diversity and inclusion across all organisations The charters implementation will also be supported by Formula 1 partner Mission 44 the charity set up by Lewis Hamilton Mission 44 has also recently released research that indicates that programmes including pledges commitments or codes drive accountabilityThe sport is committed to creating supporting and delivering on actions measures and outcomes to build a more diverse and inclusive workplace Over recent years every team and stakeholder in Formula 1 has acted and implemented initiatives to improve diversity access and opportunity within the sportAt Formula 1 fully funded engineering scholarships for underrepresented groups have been introduced apprentice and intern schemes created and F1 ACADEMY the femaleonly series has been launched to name a few key examplesThe charter is an important step in agreeing on a set of clear joint principles to maintain momentum and continue to maximise diversity across Formula 1 and it sets out a collaborative approach to improve the sport in the months and years aheadThe charter sets out the vision and mission for the sport and lists four key pillars of focus to identify and remove barriers to attract and retain a rich diversity of people in our workplaces improve our ways of working and engage with stakeholders to drive innovationThe Four Pillars are to target and support initiatives that seek to attract underrepresented groups to motorsportTo put in place processes to mitigate bias in various stakeholder organisations and create cultures of inclusion so a diversity of people can thrive in the sport They will aim to listen to and encourage all perspectives in the design development and delivery of our products and services encouraging the supply chains to do this too They will also communicate their commitment to DampI with their external stakeholders listening learning and improving to deliver a more inclusive experienceRepresentatives from Formula 1 the FIA and all 10 teams will work together as part of the Formula 1 Diversity and Inclusion Working Group and as part of the charter This will now evolve into an implementation group that will deliver more initiatives and further formalise the sports collaborative approach by introducing measurable and timebound projects and key performance indicatorsOur sport is rightly recognised for its elite performance and innovation and we are clear that the only way to maintain and improve those exceptional standards is to welcome diversity of thought ideas and experiences said Stefano Domenicali President amp CEO of Formula 1The sport is fiercely competitive and were all committed to employing the very best talent We know from The Hamilton Commission report that there are opportunities for us to work collectively to find and nurture that talent and significant change has already been put in place across the sport The charter is the next important milestone on that journey and we are all committed to making our sport more open and diverse he saidMohammed Ben Sulayem President of the FIA said The diversification of motorsport is paramount to its continued success By ensuring equal opportunity for equal talent increasing accessibility and joining together in our commitment to uphold this charter we will drive forward change This landmark partnership between Formula 1 the teams and our Federation signifies a united course of action which I am proud to be a part of IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motorsports-all-ten-teams-formula-1-and-fia-agree-to-new-diversity-and-inclusion-charter-586378.html Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-national-rally-cship-gaurav-gill-comes-back-to-take-lead-on-day-1-of-robusta-rally-585784.html Ammathi Kodagu Nov 23 Arjuna Awardee Gaurav Gill and codriver Aniruddha Rangnekar overcame initial hiccups and performed admirably to take the lead after Day 1 in the Robusta Rally the fifth and penultimate round of the fmsci Indian National Rally Championship 2024 here on Saturday Gill the Speed Maestro from Delhi was forced to start on a cautious note as their intercom failed resulting in no calls and he had to drive from memory After losing 174 seconds to Karna Kadur who was fastest in Stage 1 Gill bounced back brilliantly to clock the fastest times in the remaining five Stages and took a handsome lead of over 53 seconds by the end of the dayIt has been a perfect day The stages were rougher than I expected with massive stones and boulders but we managed to overcome all odds as our tyres performed well We had decent speeds and the goal is to bring back the car home tomorrow said Gill the seventime National championChampionship leaders Karna Kadur and codriver Musa Sherif of Arka Motorsports were second overall followed by Hassans Jason Saldhanha and local codriver Timmu UddapandaJason Saldhanha overtook former National champion Aditya Thakur Chettinad Sporting in the final stage of the day and was also leading in INRC2 class with Thakur in second place ahead of Jahaan Singh Gill of Snap Racing Chettinad Sportings Daraius Shroff from Mumbai the championship leader in the INRC3 category took a 20second lead over Abhin RaiFabid Ahmer Harkrishan Wadia Philippos Matthai and Chetan Shivram were some of the top casualties on Day 1 On Sunday the rally will run another six Special Stages at Woshully and Margoli estatesProvisional Results after Day 1 Leg 1 SaturdayINRC Overall1 Gaurav Gill privateers Delhi Anirudha Rangnekar Pune 00 57 minutes 351 seconds2 Karna Kadur Arka Motorsports Bengaluru Musa Sherif Kasargod 00582833 Jason Saldhanha Arka Motorsports Hassan Thimmu Uddapanda Kodagu 0059051INRC2 1 Jason Saldhanha Arka Motorsports Hassan Thimmu Uddapanda Kodagu 00590512 Aditya Thakur Chettinad Sporting Solan Virender Kashyap Shimla 00593673 Jahaan Singh Gill Snap Racing Chandigarh Suraj K Prasad Bengaluru 0100315INRC3 1 Daraius Shroff Chettinad Sporting Mumbai Arjun Dheerendra Bengaluru 01004432 Abhin R Rai Arvind Dheerendra Ideal Racing both Bengaluru 01010663 Arnav Pratap Singh Snap Racing Gurugram Rohit N Bengaluru 0101338Ladies Class 1 Anushriya Gulati Arka Motorsports Dehradun Karan Aukta 01040802 Nikeetaa Takkale Pvt Pune Raghuram Saminathan Coimbatore 01055283 Phoebe Nongrum Snap Racing Shillong Nash Ross Hyderabad 0108182Junior INRC 1 Abhin R Rai Arvind Dheerendra Ideal Racing both Bengaluru 01010662 Arnav Pratap Singh Snap Racing Gurugram Rohit N Bengaluru 01013383 Arjun Rajiv Chettinadu Sporting Vinay Padmashali Both Bengaluru 0104449 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-national-rally-cship-gaurav-gill-comes-back-to-take-lead-on-day-1-of-robusta-rally-585784.html Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-national-rally-cship-gaurav-gill-reigns-supreme-in-robusta-rally-wins-back-to-back-races-585894.html Ammathi Kodagu Nov 24 Seventime National champion Gaurav Gill displayed enough speed and skill to emerge triumphant in the Robusta Rally the fifth and penultimate round of the fmsci Indian National Rally Championship 2024 here on Sanday Notching up his second straight win after the success in the Rally of Hyderabad last month Arjuna Awardee Gill along with codriver Aniruddha Rangnekar was in superb form and exhibited controlled aggression on the final day for a comfortable win and bagged a full 40 pointsThe win saw Gill drawing closer to tabletopper Karna Kadur Musa Sherif of Arka Motorsports who finished second overall The 2021 champion Aditya Thakur Virender Kashyap upped the game in the last stage to pip local favourites Jason Saldanha Thimmu Uddapanda by a second to take overall third placeIt is a nice feeling to win backtoback races I must thank my team probably the smallest with just four mechanics who have put in a lot of hard work to give me a perfect car I think I am getting better as a driver I would say I was in total control in both Hyderabad and here My first aim this season has been to bring the car home and I am happy that I managed to do that in two consecutive rallies this season he saidHimachal Pradesh duo Aditya Thakur and Virender Kasyap won the INRC2 class beating the Karnataka pair of Jason Saldanha and Thimmu Uddapanda while Mangalurus Dean Mascarenhas Gagan Karumbaiah powered his way from 11th to third in the classIn INRC 3 class Daraius Shroff Mumbai and Arjun Dheerendra of Chettinad Sporting the championship leaders won by over a minute to stay at the top GurugramBengaluru pair of Arnav Pratap Singh and Rohin N of Snap Racing came second and Jeet Jhabakh of Hyderabad with Sekar of Erode as codriver also from Chettinad Sporting pushed his way to the third place Arnav Pratap also won the Junior INRCDehraduns Anushriya Gulati codriver Karan Aukta won the Ladys class followed by talented Nikeetaa Takkale Raghuram Saminathan in second and Shillongs Phoebe Nongrum Nash RossProvisional Final ResultsINRC Overall1 Gaurav Gill privateers Delhi Anirudha Rangnekar Pune 01 hour 40 minutes 366 seconds2 Karna Kadur Arka Motorsports Bengaluru Musa Sherif Kasargod 01415703 Aditya Thakur Chettinad Sporting Solan Virender Kashyap Shimla 0144273INRC21 Aditya Thakur Chettinad Sporting Solan Virender Kashyap Shimla 01442732 Jason Saldhanha Arka Motorsports Hassan Thimmu Uddapanda Kodagu 01442853 Dean Mascarenhas Pvt Mangaluru Gagan Karumbaiah Virajpet 0144518INRC31 Daraius Shroff Chettinad Sporting Mumbai Arjun Dheerendra Bengaluru 01450242 Arnav Pratap Singh Snap Racing Gurugram Rohit N Bengaluru 01461033 Jeet Jhabakh Chettinad Sporting Hyderabad V Sekhar Erode 0146538Ladies Class1 Anushriya Gulati Arka Motorsports Dehradun Karan Aukta Jubbal 01522092 Nikeetaa Takkale Pvt Pune Raghuram Saminathan Coimbatore 01550733 Phoebe Nongrum Snap Racing Shillong Nash Ross Hyderabad 0205490Junior INRC 1 Arnav Pratap Singh Snap Racing Gurugram Rohit N Bengaluru 01461032 Abhin R Rai Arvind Dheerendra Ideal Racing both Bengaluru 01475323 Arjun Rajiv Chettinadu Sporting Vinay Padmashali Both Bengaluru 0149146 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-national-rally-cship-gaurav-gill-reigns-supreme-in-robusta-rally-wins-back-to-back-races-585894.html Sun, 24 Nov 2024 17:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-russell-pips-sainz-to-take-pole-in-las-vegas-gp-585583.html Las Vegas Nov 23 Mercedes driver George Russell delivered a stunning performance to claim pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix narrowly beating Ferraris Carlos Sainz by just 0098 seconds The result marked Russells first pole since the British Grand Prix in July and Mercedes best showing in months Mercedes looked strong throughout the weekend with Lewis Hamilton dominating the early practice sessions and Russell topping the charts on Saturday morning However it was Russell who emerged as the star in qualifyingThe Britons session was far from smooth Early in Q3 he clipped the wall damaging his front wing and forcing a quick repair in the garage But instead of faltering Russell regrouped insisting on going out last in the final shootout to take full advantage of the improving track conditionsHis decisive lap of 132312 edged out Sainzs 132410 who had held the provisional pole for much of the sessionSpeaking after qualifying Russell expressed his elation Its an incredible feeling to be on pole here in Vegas The team has worked tirelessly and after hitting the wall I knew I had to stay calm and deliver when it counted Thankfully everything came together in the endThe top three saw an unexpected contender in Alpines Pierre Gasly 132664 who secured a remarkable third place Gaslys performance shocked the paddock as Alpine had not been tipped to challenge the frontrunners this weekendBehind Gasly Ferraris Charles Leclerc endured a frustrating session Mistakes on his first and final laps hindered his progress yet he salvaged fourth place hinting that a shot at pole was within reach had things gone differentlyRed Bulls Max Verstappen starting will start Sundays race from fifth place found himself unusually off pace The reigning champion was unable to extract the best from his car trailing behind title rival Lando Norris of McLaren who starts sixth For Norris the stakes are high as he must finish ahead of Verstappen in Sundays race to keep his title hopes alive heading into the next round in QatarFor Hamilton qualifying was a bitter pill to swallow The seventime world champion topped the second session raising hopes of a frontrow start but two critical mistakes in Q3 left him languishing in 10th Hamilton admitted postsession that he was frustrated with himself and had let the team down at a crucial momentElsewhere Red Bulls Yuki Tsunoda secured an impressive seventh place outpacing McLarens Oscar Piastri in eighth Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg delivered a solid performance to take ninth ahead of HamiltonThe final Q3 shootout was delayed by nearly 30 minutes after a crash by Williams rookie Franco Colapinto at the end of Q2 The incident led to an extended red flag period as marshals cleared the track adding to the tension of an already dramatic eveningLas Vegas GP Qualifying Top 101 George Russell Mercedes 1323122 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1324103 Pierre Gasly Alpine 1326644 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1327835 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1327976 Lando Norris McLaren 1330087 Yuki Tsunoda RB 1330298 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1330339 Nico Hulkenberg Haas 13306210 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 148106 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-russell-pips-sainz-to-take-pole-in-las-vegas-gp-585583.html Sat, 23 Nov 2024 14:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-i-didnt-really-want-to-come-back-after-brazilian-gp-admits-hamilton-585122.html Las Vegas USA Nov 21 Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he briefly considered walking away from Mercedes before the seasons conclusion following a disappointing Sao Paulo Grand Prix The seventime world champion who will leave Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the season spoke candidly about the frustrations of a turbulent 202324 campaign and his readiness to close his 12year chapter with the Silver Arrows After crossing the finish line in Sao Paulo Hamilton made cryptic remarks over the team radio hinting at an emotional farewell to the team Postrace he told Sky Sports that he could happily go and take a holiday fueling speculation about his immediate futureMercedes later downplayed his comments attributing them to farewells directed at team members who would not attend the final three races in Las Vegas Qatar and Abu Dhabi However Hamilton revealed during a press conference in Las Vegas that his feelings at the time were genuineI mean in the moment thats how I felt like I didnt really want to come back after that weekend Hamilton saidHe added that the frustrations stemmed from a difficult season and his determination to avoid a repeat in the future Its frustrating when you have a season like this which Im pretty sure I wont have againor at least Ill work towards not having again It wasnt a great feeling in that moment but Im here Im standing strong and Im going to give it absolutely everything for these last few racesHamiltons emotional weekend was compounded by remarks from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff In the recently published book Inside Mercedes F1 Life in the Fast Lane Wolff commented on Hamiltons departure to Ferrari stating he liked the move as it prevented the difficult situation of potentially parting ways with the 105time race winner down the line Wolff also referred to Hamilton as having a shelf life a phrase that sparked widespread debateWolff has since clarified his remarks claiming they were taken a little bit out of context and reiterated that Hamilton at 39 remains a formidable competitorWhen asked if he felt the need to prove a point to Wolff Hamilton dismissed the idea Honestly I feel in the best place Ive been all year mentally and considering how bad the last race was I think that says enough Ive been around this game for a long time Hamilton acknowledged the challenges he has faced throughout his illustrious career pointing to the criticism and microaggressions that have come his way over the years However he emphasised his resilience and determination to finish strong with the team he still holds dearTheres been so many things said about me over the years so many microaggressionsnot from my boss because weve achieved a lot togetherbut in general he said Nothing can take me down Im still here still fighting and Im going to continue to pushHamilton affirmed his commitment to giving his all for Mercedes in his final races with the team Ive got a team that I genuinely still love and even though Im leaving I want to make sure I give them the best I can in these next races If they provide a car that wants to stay on track then hopefully well have a better result IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-i-didnt-really-want-to-come-back-after-brazilian-gp-admits-hamilton-585122.html Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motorsports-indian-siblings-johann-and-geoffrey-emmanuel-script-history-in-qatar-races-584201.html Chennai Nov 18 Collegian Johann Emmanuel from Chennai scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win all three races in the 300 SSP category of the Qatar Superbike and Superstock Championship over the recent weekend at the iconic Lusail International Circuit in Doha Qatar His elder brother 20yearold Geoffrey Emmanuel brought more cheer to the family by finishing on the podium in all three races in the 600cc category during the races conducted on November 16 and 17 weekendIt is the first instance of Indian brothers finishing on the podium in all the races they participated in the same championship though in different categoriesAstride a Kawasaki Ninja 300 the 18yearold Johann Emmanuel a firstyear Visual Communication student at the Madras Christian College made a significant impact by winning all three races on debut in his categoryThough short on seat time Johann qualified in second position which he converted into victory after a fierce battle Later in Race 2 the youngster kept his nerve despite losing a gear which dropped him to fifth but recovered brilliantly to post a win by a 14second margin In Race 3 it was a lightstoflag win for Johann as he completed a historic hattrick sparing some 18 seconds to his nearest challengerI really enjoyed the races But the three wins its a surreal feeling My performance here has boosted my confidence for my future races a delighted Johann was quoted as saying in a release on MondayMeanwhile Geoffrey Emmanuel a thirdyear BCA student at the Madras Christian College exhibited remarkable resilience and skill riding a Kawasaki ZX6r to earn three podium finishes in as many races He finished third in Race 1 after starting from P11 on the grid as he fought his way through the pack for a podium Later he repeated the performance by finishing third in Race 2 which he started from P6Geoffrey who is confirmed to participate in the FIM Moto 2 Junior World Championship next year fared better in Race 3 by finishing second despite being forced off the track into the gravel when in the lead on the last lap to complete a commendable performance over the weekendReflecting on the weekend Geoffrey said Overall I am pleased with my performance though it was disappointing that I couldnt win Race3 when in the lead as I was forced onto the gravel but managed to get back for a P2 finish These experiences will help me to prepare better for my future races IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motorsports-indian-siblings-johann-and-geoffrey-emmanuel-script-history-in-qatar-races-584201.html Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/arjun-shares-speedy-incredible-moments-from-indian-racing-festival-584070.html Mumbai Nov 18 Actor Arjun Kapoor who is the owner of Speed Demons Delhi team of Indian Racing Festival shared some speedfilled moments from the tracks Arjun took to Instagram where he shared a video from the Indian Racing Festival In the clip he is seen meeting fans watching the race sitting in a race car and signing autographsWhat a season its been Full of adrenaline speed and incredible moments on and off the track Cant wait to do it all again next season SpeedMeetsSpirit IndianRacingFestival IndianRacingLeague F4IC IndianF4 he wrote as the captionOn the film front the actor is currently basking in the success of his latest release Singham Again which released on Diwali The film stars Ajay Devgn in the title role alongside Akshay Kumar Ranveer Singh Tiger Shroff Kareena Kapoor Khan Deepika Padukone and Jackie Shroff It is the fifth installment of Shettys Cop Universe franchise The movie has been given a spin of RamayanaDirector Rohit Shetty was overjoyed as Singham Again became his 10th and fastest Rs 100 crore movieRohit took to Instagram where he shared photographs of the films that have crossed the Rs 100 crore benchmark which includes Singham Again Sooryavanshi Simmba Golmaal Again Diwale Singham Returns Chennai Express Bol Bachchan Singham and Golmaal 3The filmmaker captioned the post SINGHAM AGAIN my 10th and fastest 100 cr film For the past 16 films one thing that has remained constant is your love thank you for all the support and love humbledArjun had said that his character Danger Lanka feels like he is connecting to the roots of where my career began in 2012 with IshaqzaadeComing back with a character like Danger Lanka feels like Im connecting to the roots of where my career began since I played Parma in Ishaqzaade another intense role Arjun saidThe actor is overthemoon to see the kind of reaction he is getting for playing the antagonist in the Rohit ShettystarrerThe response to Danger Lanka has been nothing short of heartening fans seem to enjoy this raw unapologetic side of me said the actorEvery role shapes you and this ones reminded me of the fire that started it all I owe it to the audience for embracing this transformation and joining me on this journeyArjun expressed his gratitude to Rohit Shetty for trusting him with the character of Danger LankaThe actor added And of course Im grateful to Rohit sir for trusting me with this character and helping me bring this new and improved version to life IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/arjun-shares-speedy-incredible-moments-from-indian-racing-festival-584070.html Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/jorge-martin-crowned-motogp-world-champion-bagnaia-wins-final-race-583986.html Barcelona Nov 17 After 20 Sprints and 19 Grand Prix everything came down to the final race of the season at the Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona as Jorge Martin made history at the 2024 MotoGP World Championship by becoming the first independent rider to clinch the title in the modern era The Spaniard secured the crown despite finishing third in the final race of the season Even though Francesco Bagnaia took the race win Martins consistent performance throughout the season was enough to ensure he finished ahead in the standingsI dont know what to say said Martin after the race I could not even ride in the last laps I started crying a bit It was a really emotional race and I want to thank my people It has been a really long journeyBagnaia racing for the Ducati Lenovo Team dominated the final Grand Prix leading from the start and fending off strong pressure from Marc Marquez The Spaniard riding for Gresini Racing finished second completing a podium that also included Martin The result was a fitting conclusion to a thrilling season that saw Marquez and Bagnaia deliver unforgettable performances in the final raceThe race itself was actionpacked Bagnaia made a strong start holding off challenges from Martin and Márquez who were both fighting for crucial positions Martin needing to finish at least ninth to secure the title rode a calm and calculated race As the laps unfolded a battle between Aleix Espargaro and Alex Marquez for fourth place added to the excitement with both riders showing great determinationWhile Bagnaia controlled the race at the front it was Martins consistency that ultimately clinched the title Despite pressure from Marquez the 89 maintained his position and crossed the line in third securing his maiden MotoGP World ChampionshipAs the 2024 season concluded the focus shifted to the future with Martin set to debut for Aprilia in the upcoming Barcelona Test IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/jorge-martin-crowned-motogp-world-champion-bagnaia-wins-final-race-583986.html Sun, 17 Nov 2024 22:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/goa-aces-clinch-indian-racing-league-title-583987.html Coimbatore Nov 17 Raoul Hyman and Gabriela Jilkova not only delivered a 12 finish for Goa Aces JA Racing but also helped the team clinch the Indian Racing League Championship as the curtains came down on the 2024 edition at the Kari Motor Speedway here on Sunday Going into the final race which began after sharp showers the Goa Aces led Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers by just two points but the latter virtually handed over the championship on a platter within seconds after the race commenced from a rolling start following a crash Ruhaan Alva sandwiched between polesitter Hyman and Jilkova in P2 lost the rear of his car slid across the track and rammed into Akash Gowda Speed Demons Delhi just as they approached the startfinish line leading to their retirement The Safety Car made a brief appearance before racing resumedThereafter Hyman and Jilkova cruised along towards the checkered grid with the former eventually winning by 28 seconds as they came up with a 12 finish for their team which followed Saturdays win by their teammate Sohil Shah Mohd Ryan Chennai Turbo Riders completed the final podium line for the dayWe are very happy for the 12 finish We are grateful to the team for giving us cars that won the races for us It is their hard work which enabled us to win the championship said HymanSettled for the second position Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers Malaysian driver Alister Yoong finished a distant seventh on the last dayF4 Indian Championship Bengalurubased Ruhaan Alva Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers notched a grand double in the FIAcertified Formula 4 Indian Championship at the Kari Motor Speedway on Sunday but it did not prevent South African teenager Aqil Alibhai Hyderabad Blackbirds from clinching the title Alva finished second in the Championship Alibhai enjoying a successful season with six wins had two podium finishes P2 and P3 today which fetched sufficient points to win him the crownAlva displayed rare sparks of aggression as he won the days first race starting from P5 on the reverse grid easily outpacing Alibhai and Divy Nandan Bangalore Speedsters He carried the momentum to win the next from P4 ahead of Canadian Hady Noah Mimassi Chennai Turbo Riders and Alibhai In both races the 18yearold came up with a couple of daring moves to notch deserving winsAn unperturbed Alibhai played it smart With one eye on the points he was content to run in P2 behind Alva in the first race as the Indian took the honours by over nine seconds Alibhai had enough lead on thirdplaced Nandan to survive a fivesecond postrace penalty Alibhai said I wanted to finish the season with a win but it was not to be But I have had a good season and I am very happy to win the championship Going forward lets see where this success takes meThe P2 finish ensured Alibhai the championship as he led Alva by 29 points going into the final race which had a maximum of 26 on offerFor the several Indian drivers the season in F4 was an eyeopener in the context of the level of competition at this level The championship made it affordable for the homegrown racers to take the next step up in their racing careers and the experience should stand them in good stead going forwardThe results ProvisionalIndian Racing League Race2 DriverB 25 mins1 lap 1 Raul Hyman UK Goa Aces JA Racing 2639020 2 Gabriela Jilkova Czech Republic Goa Aces JA Racing 2707684 3 Mohamed Ryan India Chennai Turbo Riders 2729813 Best Lap Raoul Hyman 0110359Formula 4 Indian Open Race2 25mins1 lap 1 Ruhaan Alva India Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers 2655114 2 Aqil Alibhai South Africa Hyderabad Blackbirds 2714880 3 Divy Nandan India Bangalore Speedsters 2724987 Best Lap Ruhaan Alva 0106492Race3 1 Ruhaan Alva India Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers 2700884 2 Hady Noah Mimassi Canada Chennai Turbo Riders 2710373 3 Aqil Alibhai South Africa Hyderabad Blackbirds 2716425 Best Lap Ruhaan Alva 0106386 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/goa-aces-clinch-indian-racing-league-title-583987.html Sun, 17 Nov 2024 22:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/mercedes-maro-engle-wins-thrilling-fia-gt-world-cup-in-macao-583891.html Macao Nov 17 Mercedes Maro Engel has taken his second career FIA GT World Cup victory after an ultraclose battle between the leading group on wet Guia Circuit with the MercedesAMG ace capitalising on mistakes from Antonio Fuoco and Raffaele Marciello in the closing stages of the race Nine years after his victory in the inaugural running of the FIA GT World Cup the German secured his second triumph in what was also the third straight victory for MercedesAMG in the worlds most prestigious sprint race for GT3 machinery following the manufacturers successes in the previous two editions with current BMW man Raffaele MarcielloThe race got underway with the safety car leading the pack for the first four laps leaving the 22 runners with 12 tours of racing action to decide the 2024 FIA GT World CupOnce the racing commenced polesitter Marciello initially settled into the lead in his BMW M4 GT3 from fellow frontrow starter Dries Vanthoor Ferraris Fuoco and Engel who were trying to go around the outside of the Italian as they were negotiating the Lisboa cornerFrom that moment on the top five completed by another BMW of Augusto Farfus were running pretty much nose to tail Vanthoor initially managed to stay within 05s of the race leader but his attention quickly had to shift from attacking to defending with thirdplace man Fuoco looking very raceyWith nine laps to go the 296 GT3 with the 24 Hours of Le Mans winner behind the wheel launched a successful attack on the M4 GT3 of the Belgian into R Bend the final corner of the circuitFrom that moment on it went from bad to worse for Vanthoor who was immediately under pressure from Engel The two came together in the mountain section of the circuit with the Team WRT BMW driver brushing the wall at Turn 12 after a nudge from Engel which ultimately led to him retiring the carFuoco in the meantime went on to pursue Marciello and within one lap reduced the gap to his leading compatriot from 15s to 04s Three laps from the checkered flag Fuoco managed to repeat his RBend move now at the expense of Marciellos raceleading BMWThe race was however far from over and the two continued their fray for the coveted FIA GT World Cup Eventually the victory was not meant for any of them as both outbraked themselves going into the Lisboa corners with the two cars making contact but making the cornerThis led to Engel inheriting the lead and going on to win his second FIA GT World Cup crossing the line over 11s clear off his nearest rival The German received a 5s penalty for his coming together with Vanthoor but this did not alter the finishing order2018 FIA GT World Cup winner Farfus went on to finish second delivering success for Macaubased Team KRC which operated his M4 GT3 this weekend with Sheldon van der Linde rounding out the top three in another BMW IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/mercedes-maro-engle-wins-thrilling-fia-gt-world-cup-in-macao-583891.html Sun, 17 Nov 2024 13:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-racing-cship-tijil-rao-dominates-in-formula-lgb4-title-race-583811.html Coimbatore Nov 16 Top driver Tijil Rao moved one step closer to clinching the overall drivers championship in the Formula LGB4 category in the grand finals of the 27th National Racing Championship here on Saturday On an actionfilled day at the Kari Motor Speedway Tijil who was runnerup in the same category last year showed that he has learned fast from his disappointment and improved by leaps and bounds in the 2024 season In the lone race of Saturday Tijil Dark Don Racing timed 2302750 minutes in 15 laps to seal the victory Saran Vikram from Momentum Sports was second in 2303725 while Dhruv Goswami MSport was third at 2304 504Though Tijil started second on the grid he had no problem in surging ahead He has been in dominant form after having finished runnerup in the 2023 season His rise from the ranks of karting five years ago to racing cars in the LGB4 category has been marked by consistency this season through all the roundsConditions on Saturday were tricky after showers and receding light and the fact that the top three raced close made for good viewing Two more races are scheduled for Sunday though in aggregate points Tijil is poised to seal victoryIn the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup which provided a lot of thrills Navaneeth Kumar from Pondicherry was first after the race was cut to six laps due to an accident Navaneeth timed 748397 while Anish Shetty was second 750894 Though Rohan R was classified as third he had to be removed from the track following an accidentEarlier in the morning Rohan had finished the first bike race with comfort even though the track was tricky after the rains He completed the nine laps in 1144984 Navaneeth Kumar was second in 145320 while Anish Shetty was third 1145470 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-racing-cship-tijil-rao-dominates-in-formula-lgb4-title-race-583811.html Sat, 16 Nov 2024 21:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-carlos-sainz-to-make-his-first-outing-with-williams-on-december-10-583595.html New Delhi Nov 16 Carlos Sainz will make his first outing with Williams during Formula Ones postseason tests in Abu Dhabi on December 10 the team confirmed on Friday The move comes as the Spaniard prepares to transition from Ferrari where he has spent the last three seasons to Williams for the 2025 season Sainzs departure from Ferrari paves the way for seventime world champion Lewis Hamilton who is making the switch from Mercedes to join the Scuderia next yearThe postseason test at Yas Marina will mark an important step in Sainzs integration into the Britishbased Williams teamThis early opportunity will allow both Carlos and Williams to begin building their relationship the team said in a statement The test session will provide a valuable chance for Carlos to begin integrating into his new team environment and he will drive the FW46 for the first timeWhile Sainz gears up for his new chapter Hamilton will not participate in testing with Ferrari due to existing commercial commitments with Mercedes leaving his official Ferrari debut likely to come during preseason testing in Bahrain from February 26282025The Abu Dhabi test will also mark the final track session of the year for teams as they prepare for the 2025 season IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-carlos-sainz-to-make-his-first-outing-with-williams-on-december-10-583595.html Sat, 16 Nov 2024 01:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-george-russell-reflects-on-special-brazil-gp-on-second-anniversary-of-first-win-582983.html New Delhi Nov 13 Two years on from that careerchanging day in Sao Paulo when the Brit won his first ever Formula One race George Russell reflected on how 17 years of hard work and dedication culminated at Interlagos and why November 13 2022 laid the foundations for a new chapter in his career It was such a special day crossing the line in first position having dreamt of that moment ever since I was a kid especially after a tough season There was so much effort that had gone into turning that season around so it was good to get a real sense of belief back into everyone Russell told the Mercedes media teamWin number one for George was a particularly significant one for the team as he became the first driver to win a Grand Prix for Mercedes having come through our team Junior Programme Having been with the team since my junior days and travelled around all those races as a reserve driver being able to achieve victory for everybody who had contributed was really special he addedDespite being emotional himself after the race the reaction of those around him in the immediate aftermath of the biggest moment of his career to date was not lost on GeorgeI will always remember seeing Ricci Musconi Georges Race Engineer for 2022 crying with emotion afterwards That meant so much to me because he was someone who had won so many races and championships yet my victory meant so much to him and the rest of the team That is what will stick with me the longestWhile lifechanging moments in time often teach a person about who they truly are for George Sao Paulo 2022 was more a confirmation of the belief he had always had in himselfI never doubted myself that I would be able to achieve a victory so I would not say I learned anything specifically about myself I had a strong season on the same level as Lewis a great driver with 100 victories to his name In a different era I knew there was no reason why I could not be fighting for World Championships said GeorgeNext year will see George play the role of the more experienced driver in Mercedes for the first time in his career as 18yearold F1 rookie Kimi Antonelli comes on board for 2025 If the opportunity arises again next season I am sure we can be successful again and because Kimi is a great driver there is no reason he should not be right up there with me in the same way I was right up there with Lewis in the beginning he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-george-russell-reflects-on-special-brazil-gp-on-second-anniversary-of-first-win-582983.html Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/alpine-to-use-mercedes-power-units-and-gearboxes-from-2026-582546.html New Delhi Nov 12 Alpine has announced a landmark partnership with Mercedes securing a supply deal for power units and gearboxes that will run from 2026 through to the end of 2030 This marks a significant shift for the French team which will transition from its own inhouse engine production to a customer supply from the German manufacturer The move comes on the heels of Alpines decision to close down their works engine programme at the end of the 2025 season as part of their ambitious Hypertech transformation project This shift is expected to streamline Alpines operations allowing them to focus more on the chassis and aerodynamics side while benefiting from Mercedes proven power unit reliability and performanceAlpine had been in discussions with various manufacturers over the last few months with Mercedes emerging as the ideal partner to meet their future goals The team will continue to produce its own power units until the end of the 2025 season after which it will transition to Mercedes power as the sport adopts new power unit regulations focused on greater battery power and 100 sustainable fuel usageIn a brief statement Alpine confirmed The multiyear agreement will see MercedesBenz supply Alpine with Power Units for the duration of the new regulations era from 2026 until at least 2030 Alongside the Power Unit Alpine will also be supplied with Mercedes gearboxes from the 2026 seasonThis shift comes at a moment of broader change for Alpine who recently achieved a double podium finish in Brazil and rose to sixth place in the constructors championship As part of their new direction the team is now led by Team Principal Oli Oakes and guided by veteran advisor Flavio Briatore signaling a revitalized push toward the front of the grid IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/alpine-to-use-mercedes-power-units-and-gearboxes-from-2026-582546.html Tue, 12 Nov 2024 18:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-fia-confirms-niels-wittich-has-stepped-down-as-race-director-582653.html New Delhi Nov 12 Niels Wittich has stepped down from his role as FIA Formula 1 Race Director with immediate effect marking the end of his tenure in 2022 Wittich initially shared the position with Eduardo Freitas as part of a dual replacement structure following Michael Masis departure However in 2023 Wittich became the sole Race Director overseeing all Formula 1 races The Federation Internationale de lAutomobile FIA announced Wittichs departure on Tuesday and confirmed that Rui Marques would take over the role starting with the Las Vegas Grand Prix Marques a seasoned figure in motorsport brings a wealth of experience to the positionannounced Wittichs departure on Tuesday and confirmed that Rui Marques would take over the role starting with the Las Vegas Grand Prix Marques a seasoned figure in motorsport brings a wealth of experience to the positionHis resume includes roles as a track marshal scrutineer national and international steward Deputy Race Director and Race Director across multiple championshipsMost recently Marques served as the Race Director for both Formula 2 and Formula 3The FIA can confirm that Niels Wittich has stepped down from his position as F1 Race Director to pursue new opportunities read the governing bodys official statement Niels has fulfilled his numerous responsibilities as Race Director with professionalism and dedication We thank him for his commitment and we wish him the best for the futureWittichs departure signals a shift in the FIAs race management structure Known for his firm and decisive approach Wittich handled several highstakes decisions throughout his time as Race DirectorAs the new Race Director Marques will now oversee race procedures regulations and safety protocols at the pinnacle of motorsport beginning with the muchanticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-fia-confirms-niels-wittich-has-stepped-down-as-race-director-582653.html Tue, 12 Nov 2024 23:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-mercedes-keen-on-solving-slow-corner-weakness-as-2024-season-winds-down-582182.html New Delhi Nov 11 MercedesAMG Petronas Formula 1 Team has redirected their focus for the remaining races of the 2024 season toward diagnosing a critical weak spot poor performance in slowspeed corners Following a challenging season marked by inconsistency and an elusive podium finish streak the team is working to ensure the issue doesnt carry into their 2025 challenger Since the summer break Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have struggled to keep pace with competitors Russells podium at the Japanese Grand Prix in September remains the teams only topthree finish over the last seven races despite introducing significant upgrades to the W15 most recently at the United States Grand Prix in AustinIn the race debrief following the Sao Paulo Grand Prix Andrew Shovlin Mercedes trackside engineering director highlighted the issue Where we tend to be weak is in the slowspeed corners particularly where there are interconnected turns Its in these corners which require a lot of car rotation that we struggle most Shovlin was quoted by Sky Sports as sayingThis update was expected to elevate our base performance and it has but it didnt address our specific issues with cornering Were confident there are fundamental elements we need to work on and thats what were focused on now so the W16 can tackle these areas effectively he saidMercedes performance since the summer break has placed them in a unique position in the Constructors Championship They currently sit in fourth place unable to challenge the top three teams Red Bull McLaren and Ferrari yet comfortably ahead of Aston Martin This unusual no mans land in the standings has given the team an opportunity to shift its focus earlier than usual toward learning what they need to improve for next seasonThe main takeaway from these recent races is that our weak spots remain consistent particularly in those tricky interconnected corners Shovlin said This is normally where we trip up With our position in the championship pretty much fixed were now concentrating on what we can learn to strengthen next years carThe remaining races in Las Vegas Qatar and Abu Dhabi present a valuable chance for Mercedes to experiment with different track configurations Shovlin outlined the benefits of each remaining circuit in aiding their understanding of the W15s limitations and evaluating areas for improvementLas Vegas has long straights and lowspeed corners Qatar is highspeed and Abu Dhabi is a mixture of both he said These tracks allow us to see where we stand and compare performance to our rivals whether its Red Bull McLaren or Ferrari Were using these races to help measure the gap we need to close over the winterAhead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix George Russell voiced his frustrations with the W15 calling it the most inconsistent car hes driven in his three seasons with the team Since joining in 2022 Russell has seen Mercedes dominance wane following significant design regulation changes that have challenged the teams development strategyReflecting on the 2022 seasons porpoising era when cars were bouncing due to aerodynamic oscillations Russell said Back then it was unpleasant and hard to push because you knew the car was going to bite This season is different You think youre close to the limit and sometimes it all comes together but the next lap its like youve lost all performance This year has been the most inconsistent Ive ever seen the teamThe unpredictable nature of the W15s performance has complicated Mercedes efforts to develop a consistently competitive package While the upgrades have shown promise on some tracks they have struggled to deliver the hopedfor results consistently leaving the drivers and team with more questions than answers as they look to 2025With the Las Vegas Grand Prix approaching Mercedes priority is maximising the learning opportunity each race provides Their aim is to carry insights from each corner and track layout into their winter development program which is expected to play a crucial role in designing a W16 that addresses the weaknesses of the W15Every race now is about confirmation and understanding Shovlin explained These remaining races will allow us to test our theories and ensure that were on the right path for next yearThe Las Vegas GP is scheduled on November 2224 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-mercedes-keen-on-solving-slow-corner-weakness-as-2024-season-winds-down-582182.html Mon, 11 Nov 2024 17:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/i-had-to-find-my-own-feet-after-fathers-accident-says-michael-schumachers-son-mick-581768.html New Delhi Nov 9 Mick Schumacher son of Formula 1 icon Michael Schumacher opened up about the challenges and inspirations that have defined his racing career Mick who has been following in his legendary fathers footsteps revealed how he had to find his own feet in Formula 1 after his fathers skiing accident curtailed the guidance and support he once had Michael Schumacher the seventime Formula 1 champion suffered lifealtering injuries in a tragic skiing accident in December 2013 when Mick was just 14 The accident changed their lives leaving Mick to navigate much of his professional racing journey independently But even now years later Mick follows lessons his father instilled often recalling both his fathers competitive spirit and his challenging guidanceI was a crazy kid everything my dad did I did Mick said in the latest insights shared through Matt Whymans new book Inside Mercedes F1My dad was always very open to me trying out whatever I wanted to do and racing is all I wanted to do because I enjoyed it the mostMick described the balance his father struck between encouragement and demanding excellence recounting a memorable karting race where he attempted a bold late brake to save time Michaels response wasnt just praise but a challenge Yes but you should have braked like that in every corner Such moments Mick said taught him the importance of commitment and precision in racing Whenever he felt like I was not taking it seriously he would say Mick would you rather go and play football with your friends If so we do not need to do all of this I insisted that I wanted to race and he said Okay then lets do it properlyHowever everything changed in 2013 the year before Mick entered Formula classes With his father no longer able to guide him through the critical transition from karting to more competitive racing Mick faced new challenges Then my dad had his accident he shared I started racing in the Formula classes the year after and from that point onwards I had to find my own feetMicks talent and resilience eventually led him to F1 where he joined the Haas team in 2021 He made his F1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix finishing 16th Over two seasons Mick gained invaluable experience but found himself navigating the tough realities of the sport aloneAfter his stint with Haas he became a reserve driver for Mercedes while simultaneously pursuing opportunities in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine He continues to use his fathers teachings drawing from the technical insights and resilience he learned from MichaelDespite his drive and achievements Micks hopes of a 2024 return to F1 were recently dashed when Sauber now owned by Audi selected 18yearold Gabriel Bortoleto over him IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/i-had-to-find-my-own-feet-after-fathers-accident-says-michael-schumachers-son-mick-581768.html Sat, 09 Nov 2024 14:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/only-forward-thinking-wins-wolff-on-hamiltons-move-to-ferrari-and-mercedes-future-581792.html New Delhi Nov 9 Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff who had sensed the possibility of Lewis Hamiltons exit has revealed the drivers decision brought mixed emotions as he reflected on both their successful partnership and the realities of an evolving F1 landscape Seventime world champion Lewis Hamilton announced his departure from Mercedes to join Ferrari from the 2025 season Hamilton 39 had initially appeared committed to finishing his career with Mercedes repeatedly expressing his dedication to the team However in 2023 he signed a one plus one year contract a structure that contained an escape clause allowing him the freedom to leave if he desired In February 2024 Hamilton activated the clause opting for a multiyear contract with Ferrari beginning in 2025 The decision sent shockwaves through the paddock with Wolff admitting that while the move was on his radar he didnt fully expect it to come to fruitionThe switch not only positions Hamilton at Ferrari taking the seat of Carlos Sainz but also leaves a key vacancy at Mercedes Wolff decided to seize this as an opportunity to invest in youth offering the seat to 18yearold Andrea Kimi Antonelli a rising star who represents Mercedes future ambitionsReflecting on the timing and terms of Hamiltons contract Wolff revealed insights into Mercedes strategy and the difficult balancing act of managing an elite drivers career In Matt Whymans new book Inside Mercedes F1 Life in the Fast Lane Wolff shared I like the situation it avoids the moment where we need to tell the sports most iconic driver that we want to stop He elaborated on his reasoning noting that while Hamilton remains one of F1s sharpest talents age and cognitive performance inevitably come into playWere in a sport where cognitive sharpness is extremely important and I believe everyone has a shelf life So I need to look at the next generation Wolff explainedFor Wolff the first signs of Hamiltons potential departure came indirectly Just two weeks before Hamiltons formal announcement rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr father of the Ferrari driver called Wolff with subtle hints about potential changes This was followed by unusual calls from drivers expressing interest in joining Mercedes leaving Wolff increasingly aware that something was going on When a text to Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur about taking our driver went unanswered Wolffs suspicions were confirmedThe official news came when Hamilton visited Wolffs home in Oxfordshire England for a meeting They chatted casually discussing holidays and the offseason but Wolff sensed Hamilton had something important to say Were recruiting from Ferrari now weve got this guy Wolff joked to which Hamilton replied Ooh theres something I need to tell you In that moment Wolff recalled he understood that the unthinkable was happening Though taken aback Wolff immediately shifted gears Instantly its OK what are we doing with this There is always opportunityHamiltons choice was also influenced by Mercedes recent struggles and Ferraris resurgence Mercedes has faced declining performance in the latter half of the season with Hamilton calling his recent tenthplace finish in Sao Paulo a disaster Ferrari on the other hand has seen a lateseason revival winning two of the last three races and mounting a significant challenge for the constructors championship With Hamiltons own results slipping the appeal of Ferraris upward trajectory grew strongerHamiltons decision marks the end of an era for Mercedes but paves the way for a fresh approach As Wolff concluded in the book This is the nature of Formula 1 a sport where only forwardthinking wins IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/only-forward-thinking-wins-wolff-on-hamiltons-move-to-ferrari-and-mercedes-future-581792.html Sat, 09 Nov 2024 15:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/kush-maini-completes-another-successful-formula-1-test-with-alpine-in-qatar-581456.html Doha Nov 8 Indias motorsport sensation Kush Maini was back in action at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar on Thursday The young driver took to the track as part of his Formula 1 testing with the BWT Alpine F1 team who are coming off a double podium from the weekends Grand Prix at Sao Paulo The test marked the fourth one for Maini in the last six months He has now tested with the team in their Formula 1 car at Austria Italy Abu Dhabi and QatarThe multipleday test at Qatars brandnew circuit marked Mainis first time racing on the track where he will be back in action shortly for the last leg of his Formula 2 seasonMaini was back in his F1 car a few weeks after his test in Abu Dhabi at the Yas Marina Circuit where he had another stupendous showing His consistency with the BWT Alpine F1 team car has made him a top contender for the reserve seat for the Enstonebased outfitWith three confirmed graduates into F1 from this years F2 class Kush Maini could be another addition to this supremely talented pool in the near futureLater this month Kush will be returning to Qatar for his Formula 2 race With just two races left in the 2024 season Kushs Invicta Racing team is in pole position to secure the Constructors Championship This will make Kush the firstever Indian to have a Formula Racing championship to his name With five podiums including one race win this year Kush has been instrumental in getting his team to this spot With the season he has had India would likely have a driver on the F1 grid after 13 long years IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/kush-maini-completes-another-successful-formula-1-test-with-alpine-in-qatar-581456.html Fri, 08 Nov 2024 13:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/iconic-european-venues-at-risk-as-f1-considers-rotational-calendar-581592.html New Delhi Nov 8 Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that the European calendar is at risk with the prospect of hosting races on a biannual basis being assessed Liberty Media Corporation the owners of Formula One Group have already made a number of changes to the F1 Calendar which is already at a recordbreaking 24 races this season We have some news to share very very soon with regard to the possibility in the midterm to have some rotational European Grand Prix and some other new options coming later Domenicali was quoted saying to a Liberty Media investors call by motorsportcomWith the sports popularity steadily rising the number of venues in recent years has seen a major addition in the United States of America and the Middle East through the likes of Las Vegas Jeddah Qatar and MiamiThis is something that of course we will clarify in the due course It is true that we have a large demand for new possible venues that want to come in and our choice will always be balanced between the right economic benefits that we can have as a system and also to leverage the growth on the market that we can see potential that will be beneficial for us to grow even further our business he addedEurope currently plays host to ten races in the calendar with Silverstone Great Britain Hungaroring Hungary Red Bull Ring Austria Baku Street Circuit Azerbaijan Imola Circuit and Monza Circuit Italy Zandvoort Netherlands Circuit de Monaco Spa Belgium and Barcelona being the venues Madrid has been confirmed as an addition from 2026 onwardsSpa Monaco Monza Imola and Zandvoort some of the most iconic venues in motorsports are out of contract in 2025 and run the risk of being dropped altogether Silverstone 2034 Madrid 2035 Hungary 2032 and Austria 2030 all have longterm deals as of now which would make a rotational schedule a challenging task IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/iconic-european-venues-at-risk-as-f1-considers-rotational-calendar-581592.html Fri, 08 Nov 2024 18:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/sergio-perez-reflects-on-disastrous-sao-paulo-gp-says-nothing-really-worked-580629.html Sao Paule Nov 5 For Sergio Perez Sao Paulo Grand Prix proved to be a frustrating affair with the Red Bull driver admitting that nothing really worked during his chaotic race at Interlagos Perez began the day in 12th after a disrupted qualifying session which was delayed due to rain and ended in frustration as both Perez and his teammate Max Verstappen were eliminated in Q2 after a late red flag caused by Lance Strolls crash Starting from P12 Perezs race quickly unravelled with a firstlap spin an error that sent him to the back of the field and left him fighting to recover Team boss Christian Horner branded the incident annoying as Red Bull missed an opportunity to capitalize on the performance gap and earn valuable pointsReflecting on his difficult race Perez explained to the F1 media team that a combination of factors derailed his progress starting with cold tyres and a wheelspinheavy start We started with very cold tyres and then not having a car in front I lost the clutch had massive wheelspin and spun at Turn 10 It was a disaster he said Then we pitted before the red flag so nothing really workedDespite making up ground and battling through the midfield Perezs race continued to be marred by challenges including a wide moment while attempting to overtake Liam Lawson for ninth place which allowed Lewis Hamilton to sneak past ultimately leaving Perez stranded in 11th just outside the pointsLooking ahead Perez remains optimistic about upcoming races noting progress despite the disappointing result in Sao Paulo With the Las Vegas Grand Prix next on the calendar he hopes for a smoother outing and the chance to close out the season on a high Meanwhile Horner remains confident in Perezs resilience stating Hell brush himself down and fight back in Las Vegas IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/sergio-perez-reflects-on-disastrous-sao-paulo-gp-says-nothing-really-worked-580629.html Tue, 05 Nov 2024 23:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-2024-finale-set-for-barcelona-catalunya-following-valencia-flood-580533.html Madrid Nov 5 MotoGP on Tuesday confirmed that the Circuit de BarcelonaCatalunya will host the 2024 season finale from November 15 to 17 This change comes after the original event scheduled in Valencia was cancelled due to catastrophic flooding in the region which has deeply affected the local community The decision to shift the venue to Barcelona was made with careful consideration of the circumstances and the need to support the affected areas A statement from MotoGP highlighted the logistical advantages of the Barcelona circuit noting MotoGP requested the authorities to race in Barcelona as it was the best possible choice The track is the easiest option for fans who were already planning to attend the MotoGP season finale The location and circuit are also the most efficient choice providing a close to seamless alternative for personnel and logisticsThe season finale in Barcelona promises to be an exhilarating showdown especially for twotime world champion Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati who is in a fierce title race against Pramac Racings Jorge Martin With only 24 points separating themMartin leading with 485 points to Bagnaias 461the stakes could not be higherThe pressure is on Bagnaia who recently reduced Martins lead by securing a crucial victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix in SepangThe upcoming race weekend is particularly significant for Martin as he has the chance to clinch the championship by winning the sprint race on November 16 With his exceptional performance throughout the season the Spanish rider is wellpositioned to secure his first MotoGP title IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-2024-finale-set-for-barcelona-catalunya-following-valencia-flood-580533.html Tue, 05 Nov 2024 18:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/hamilton-admits-frustration-with-mercedes-w15-says-i-could-happily-take-a-holiday-580235.html New Delhi Nov 4 After a disappointing Sao Paulo Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton admitted hed prefer to take a holiday rather than finish the season in his struggling Mercedes W15 The seventime world champion endured one of his most challenging weekends securing just one point after a tenthplace finish while teammate George Russell nearly fought for a win before a questionable pit stop cost him the lead Despite the results Hamilton found solace in a cherished prerace experience driving one of his hero Ayrton Sennas iconic McLaren MP45Ba moment Hamilton called the greatest honor of his careerReflecting on the race at Interlagos Hamilton didnt hold back his frustration with the cars performance We were just slow he told Sky Sports F1 The car was really really tough The team could have won also today so at least one car was behaving a lot betterKnown for his typically optimistic mindset Hamiltons remarks after the race were unusually candid and reflective of his seasons struggles with the W15 He continued explaining the cars problems Its like a plank of wood Its like no suspension Its bouncing on the tyres everywhere and you cant get on the power anywhere Its just the worst ride I think the worst ride that weve definitely ever had particularly through cornersWith just three races left before he leaves Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025 Hamiltons words reveal his impatience with the W15s limitations I could happily go and take a holiday he addedHamilton is now gearing up for his final races with the Silver Arrows in what will likely be a bittersweet farewell after 12 seasons and six world championships with the teamYet in a weekend marked by disappointment Hamilton still found a silver lining when he was invited to drive Ayrton Sennas 1990 McLaren MP45B around the Interlagos circuit Hamilton who has a deep connection to Brazil and was made an honorary citizen in 2022 described the experience as very very emotional The significance of driving Sennas cara vehicle he had idolized watching as a childwas not lost on Hamilton I was just revisiting my childhood as I was watching Ayrton race here as a kid he said to F1 TV Hearing that sound watching him drive here winning that raceI just couldnt believe that I just had that chance to do that and it was really the greatest honour of my careerHamilton visibly moved was met with a resounding ovation from the Brazilian crowd many of whom had waited in the rain for hours to see him drive To do it here in front of this beautiful crowd here in Brazil who stood out in the rain all day yesterday and then have been here since 4am or 3am this morning A very very special day he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/hamilton-admits-frustration-with-mercedes-w15-says-i-could-happily-take-a-holiday-580235.html Mon, 04 Nov 2024 21:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-lando-norris-grabs-pole-max-to-start-p17-as-rain-hit-qualifying-sets-up-high-stake-clash-at-interlagos-579910.html Sao Paulo Nov 3 In a session with five red flags Lando Norris secured the pole position yet again as he hopes to erase the 44 point gap to Max Verstappen with the Dutchman having to start at P17 at the Interlagos Circuit on Sunday After the Qualifying session was delayed to Sunday due to the treacherous weather conditions on Saturday rain continued pouring onto the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace as chaos followed in the qualifying session Lewis Hamilton who in the past has won the Brazil GP three times in his iconic career was eliminated from the top 15 fray His final lap saw him move up to 14th but late dashes by Lando Norris and Liam Lawson pushed the British driver back into the bottom five alongside Oliver Bearman Haas Franco Colapinto Williams Nico Hulkenburg Haas and Zhou Guanyu Sauber The winner of the Mexico Grand Prix last weekend Carlos Sainz saw his session come to an early end as he spun out at turn two which caused the second red flag of the session The drivers returned to the track with just over five minutes left and it was Lando Norris who went fastest Just as the McLaren driver approached the checker line Aston Martins Lance Stroll went into the barricades causing a red flag The Red Flag saw the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez both eliminated in Qualifying 2 With the Dutchman finishing 12th in Qualifying and him having to serve a fiveplace grid penalty for changing of power unit the title hopeful will have to start from 17th place The theme continued for the third qualifying session as well as the other Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso spinned into the barricade at Turn 11 to cause the fourth red flag of the session The drivers returned to track only for Alex Albon who was sitting comfortably at P2 at the time was involved in a crash at turn 1 which saw the Williams car take heavy damage and resulted in the fifth red flag of the sessionWith just three minutes left to go all drivers came out all guns blazing in hopes of securing a front row spot Lando secured the pole position but teammate Piastri ended falling down to eighth place George Russell moved up to second place ahead of the surprise third place finish by Yuki Tsunoda followed by Estaban Ocon in fourth place amd Liam Lawson rounding out the top five With just three hours from now till the race teams will be scrambling to fix any and all damage caused by the accidents as a promising Brazil GP has the potential to help Lando Norris bid for a first ever World Championship title IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-lando-norris-grabs-pole-max-to-start-p17-as-rain-hit-qualifying-sets-up-high-stake-clash-at-interlagos-579910.html Sun, 03 Nov 2024 18:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/new-start-times-confirmed-for-rescheduled-sao-paulo-gp-qualifying-and-race-579770.html Sao Paulo Nov 3 The FIA and Formula 1 have confirmed rescheduled timings for both qualifying and the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after Saturdays qualifying session was moved to Sunday due to poor weather conditions The session had been due to run at 1500 local time on Saturday afternoon at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace but the start of Q1 was postponed when torrential rain along with thunder and lightning hit the circuit resulting in pools of water forming on the track Formula 1 reportsAs the rain continued to fall in the time that followed and with the forecast suggesting there would be no abating in the weather it was announced that qualifying would not be able to take place with the session now set to run on Sunday prior to the Grand PrixIt has now been confirmed that qualifying will take place at the new time of 730 local time on Sunday morning ahead of the Grand Prix at 1230 localFollowing the conditions in Sao Paulo today the decision was taken not to proceed with Qualifying due to poor visibility standing water on the track and fading light An FIA and Formula 1 statement readSafety is always the paramount consideration in such circumstances and while as much time as possible was given to allow conditions to improve they sadly did not We have huge appreciation for all the fans that stayed at the circuit in hope of seeing cars on track todayTherefore the decision has been taken after consultation with the stewards to schedule Qualifying for 0730 local time on Sunday morning ahead of the Grand Prix at 1230 local This will ensure we maximise the chances of providing the fans with a day of racing action given the ongoing weather forecast for tomorrow afternoon and both the FIA and Formula 1 believe this time change is necessary and the right thing to do for all our passionate fans it addedRed Bulls Max Verstappen heads into the grand prix leading McLarens Lando Norris by 44 points in the world championshipNorris reduced his deficit by three points by winning Saturdays sprint while Verstappen was classified fourth dropping one place because of a time penalty for exceeding the permitted speed in a virtual safety car period IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/new-start-times-confirmed-for-rescheduled-sao-paulo-gp-qualifying-and-race-579770.html Sun, 03 Nov 2024 10:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/sao-paulo-grand-prix-mclaren-switcheroo-secures-win-for-lando-norris-in-sprint-race-579580.html Sao Paulo Nov 2 Lando Norris has taken victory in the Sprint Raca at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix with McLaren opting to switch their drivers two laps from the finish which allowed the Briton to lead teammate Oscar Piastri in a onetwo result Piastri enjoyed a strong start when the lights went out drawing clear of Norris while Max Verstappen tried to chase Charles Leclerc for third But as the 24lap event headed towards its close the squad opted to put championshiphopeful Norris in front handing him the maximum of eight pointsVerstappen completed the top three behind them the Red Bull crossing the line hot on the tail of Piastri though the Dutchman was noted for a Virtual Safety Car infringement afterwards while Charles Leclerc took fourth for Ferrari ahead of team mate Carlos Sainz in fifthMercedes George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly were sixth and seventh with Sergio Perez working his way forwards to add to Red Bulls tally in eighthNorris had looked on course to claim pole for the event throughout Sprint Qualifying the McLaren driver setting the pace during SQ1 and SQ2 However it was team mate Piastri who surged ahead in SQ3 to take P1 on the grid in the final moments demoting Norris down to secondNot proud about it but we worked well as a team together so I thank Oscar Weve done a great job as a team Today was the result that we wanted Oscar deserved it but were doing what we have to do so I thank him and the team We had great pace so Im looking forward to qualifying and the race tomorrow said Norris in the postrace interview Following the Sprint Rcae the drivers will next be in action during qualifying for the Grand Prix later on Saturday followed by the race on Sunday IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/sao-paulo-grand-prix-mclaren-switcheroo-secures-win-for-lando-norris-in-sprint-race-579580.html Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-bearman-to-replace-ill-magnussen-for-haas-at-sao-paulo-gp-sprint-579381.html Sao Paulo Nov 1 Rookie driver Ollie Bearman will take Kevin Magnussens seat for Haas on the first day of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix stepping up as a lastminute replacement after Magnussen reported feeling unwell With the Sprint format in play this weekend the condensed schedule leaves no room for setbacks making Bearmans role on Friday even more pivotal for the teamFridays sole practice session will be Bearmans only chance to gather data and dial in the car before taking on Sprint Qualifying marking a challenging yet exciting opportunity for the young driverMagnussens sudden illness has created a fresh hurdle for Haas as Sprint weekends allow only one hour of practice before competitive action begins Although the team is hopeful Magnussen may recover in time to race Bearmans presence will offer continuity should he be needed throughout the weekendBearman who will officially join Haas as a fulltime driver in 2025 has already had his fair share of action this season as a reserveIn April he filled in for Magnussen during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after the Danish driver exceeded the penalty limit and in Saudi Arabia Bearman took over for an ill Carlos Sainz at FerrariJust last weekend Bearman also participated in Free Practice 1 for Ferrari in Mexico City where he was involved in a dramatic ontrack collision with Alex Albons WilliamsBearmans time with Haas next season will see him team up with Esteban Ocon with Nico Hulkenberg set to leave for Sauber and it appears that Magnussens own career with the team could be winding down The Sao Paulo Grand Prix will be Bearmans chance to gain additional track time with the team hell soon call homeMeanwhile Aston Martins Fernando Alonso was notably absent from his Thursday media duties for the second week in a row due to an intestinal infection that required treatment in Europe As one of F1s most experienced drivers Alonsos resilience is wellknown and hes expected to be fit to compete when the action begins on Friday IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-bearman-to-replace-ill-magnussen-for-haas-at-sao-paulo-gp-sprint-579381.html Fri, 01 Nov 2024 20:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/lewis-hamilton-to-drive-ayrton-sennas-1990-mclaren-as-a-tribute-at-brazilian-grand-prix-579062.html New Delhi Oct 30 Seventime World Champion Lewis Hamilton will honour his hero the late Ayrton Senna by driving the legends titlewinning McLaren MP45B in a tribute event at the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend The event named Senna Sempre Senna Always marks 30 years since the iconic driver lost his life at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix an incident that left an indelible impact on Formula 1 This weekend there will be the Sao Paulo Formula 1 Grand Prix an event broadcast by Band and BandSports And this year which marks 30 years since Ayrton Sennas death the threetime champion will be honoured in Interlagos The Senna Forever event will take place on SaturdayThe McLaren that Senna drove to win his second championship in 1990 will return to the track this time driven by none other than Lewis Hamilton reported Band a Brazilian news outletHamiltons demonstration lap which will take place after the F1 sprint and qualifying session is the latest in a series of tributes to Senna by the F1 community throughout the 2024 season Earlier this year Sebastian Vettel a fourtime World Champion honoured Senna at Imola by driving Sennas 1993 McLaren which is part of Vettels collectionMcLaren also paid homage with a special livery inspired by Sennas iconic yellow green and blue helmet at the Monaco Grand Prix where Senna famously claimed six victoriesHamilton who has long revered Senna as a role model debuted in F1 with McLaren in 2007 and has often expressed the influence Senna had on his racing career He has won three times at Interlagos the same track where Senna electrified Brazilian fans and was named an honorary citizen of Brazil last year further cementing his connection with the Brazilian legendIn 2017 Hamilton received a raceworn Senna helmet after matching Sennas pole position record at the Canadian Grand PrixWith Hamiltons recent announcement that he will be joining Ferrari on a multiyear contract beginning in 2025 the tribute also marks a fitting moment to reflect on his journey a journey that parallels Sennas in many ways The 39yearold Briton has broken numerous records including surpassing Michael Schumacher with over 100 race victories and pole positions solidifying his place as one of the sports alltime greats IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/lewis-hamilton-to-drive-ayrton-sennas-1990-mclaren-as-a-tribute-at-brazilian-grand-prix-579062.html Wed, 30 Oct 2024 21:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/sainz-eyeing-good-jump-after-securing-pole-at-mexico-city-gp-578897.html Mexico City Oct 27 Ferraris Carlos Sainz is eyeing a perfect start in the Mexico City Grand Prix after taking a stunning pole position ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris during what had been a dramatic qualifying session featuring a red flag in Q2 and two shock exits in Q1 Verstappen enters the race with a 57point lead over Norris who needs to gain nearly 12 points per race on the Red Bull driver to overtake him in the remaining five racesNorris qualified his McLaren just 0089 seconds behind Verstappen while Sainz dominated with a pole position lap 0225 seconds faster than the Dutchman showcasing Ferraris recent surge in formCharles Leclerc Ferraris second driver and winner of last weekends United States Grand Prix starts fourth followed by Mercedes George Russell and Lewis HamiltonAll eyes are on the top four as they head to the seasons longest first corner where the strong slipstream effect could favour those starting in second and thirdProbably the biggest difficult thing will be the run down into Turn One and starting on pole with a slipstream noI just need to make sure I do a good 0100kmh which is the most important thing when you start on pole just make sure you do a good jump And from there obviously do the best I can to defend Sainz saidI have two guys behind fighting for quite important things and the run down into Turn One should be interesting I have obviously less to lose in that sense he addedTo boost his title hopes Norris needs to win the race and hope the Ferraris finish between him and Verstappen But the Briton fears the pace of the Ferraris Leclerc has taken two wins and a second in the last four racesNorris who needs to win the race and hopes Ferraris to finish ahead of Verstappen to bolster his title hopes The last few weekends theyve been extremely quick and quicker than us so its I dont have the confidence to say yes we can just beat them on pace Like today not on their level said Norris who needs to win the race and hope Ferraris to finish ahead of Verstappen to bolster his title chances I had definitely nowhere near close to 03 seconds left in the car So it was more that they just went quicker I was at the limitVerstappen was pleased to secure a frontrow start after a challenging Friday during which he completed only six laps due to an engine issue that left him with basically no dataWe were massively on the back foot Verstappen said After yesterday I knew it would be a tough weekend but we kept making little improvements with the car Qualifying felt better and to be on the front row is an incredible result if you look back at yesterday IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/sainz-eyeing-good-jump-after-securing-pole-at-mexico-city-gp-578897.html Sun, 27 Oct 2024 21:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/i-did-the-correct-thing-norris-defends-his-penalty-move-on-verstappen-578025.html Austin Oct 21 McLarens Lando Norris believes he did the right thing by not giving the position back to titlerival Max Verstappen for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in the United States Grand Prix on Sunday The move handed a fivesecond time penalty to Norris which dropped him to fourth place after finishing third with the gap back to Verstappen standing at four secondsI mean clearly I didnt give the position back because we thought we were in the right clearly we werent I still think we were considering Max went off the track normally if you defend your position and you go off the track you have to give the position up In that case I was ahead I kept my position because he needed to give it back and thats the way it is Norris explainedI think I did the correct thing but I dont make the rules Max drove well it was a fun race between us a good battle He defended well he did everything he had to do he addedFerraris Charles Leclerc won the race ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz to gain the maximum points for the team on the weekend But it was not the ideal weekend for McLaren as both cars finished behind podium places with Oscar Piastri coming home fifth However Norris who started the race from pole position also bagged six points after finishing third in the Sprint raceNorris went on to criticise his own performance at the Circuit of The Americas as he continued I didnt have enough today I didnt drive particularly well It was a tough challenge out there with the tyres and the car it was a difficult dayIts tough when youre on the limit and youre trying your best tyres are old and hot and its slidey its easy to make mistakes those things happen But yeah I didnt do enough today I didnt drive well enough I get that so I need to make some improvementsWhen pushed on whether he could still take the positives from his race result on Sunday given the challenges faced across the event the 24yearold reflected Yeah its tough I think our only position we could have got today is third the Ferraris were on another level comparing to us todayDifficult to expect a lot more honestly I think even if I led after Turn 1 I would have finished third at best so when you look at it like that I was only one position away from where I should have finishedBut that one position is probably the most critical because its against Max Im not happy with today at all we struggled as a team I didnt do a great job and both are not what we need right now so well both try better next time IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/i-did-the-correct-thing-norris-defends-his-penalty-move-on-verstappen-578025.html Mon, 21 Oct 2024 12:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-rally-cship-gaurav-gill-cruises-to-comfortable-lead-in-rally-of-hyderabad-577822.html Hyderabad Oct 19 Arjuna Awardee driver Gaurav Gill began with a bang and cruised into form to take the lead navigating the tricky and rough stages in the Rally of Hyderabad the fourth round of the FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship 2024 here on Saturday Gill along with codriver Anirudha Rangnekar took the overall lead while the pair of Daraius Shroff and Arjun Dheerendra are leading the INRC3 class and Chetan Shivram and Shivprakash were at the top in the INRC2 class In the final stage SS4 was red flagged after only four cars crossed the finish line as a few cars toppled out Three top guns 2021 champion Aditya Thakur defending champ Arjun Rao Aroor and INRC2 leader Harkishan Wadia suffered causalities Daraius Shroff is leading INRC3 after three stages and Chethan Shivram tops the INRC2 class also after three stagesEarlier Delhi speed maestro and seventime National champion Gill clocked the fastest time in the first Special Stage and took a commanding lead of 17 seconds on former champion Chetan Shivram codriver Shivaprakash of Bengaluru with Arnav Pratap Singh and Gulbargas Rithesh Guttedar following the top guns in the first stageGill kept his momentum with a combination of caution and aggression in the next three stages to cruise into a comfortable lead after Day 1 Chethan was fastest in JVR2 the second Special Stage by 62 seconds by Gill bounced back with another 15 second margin on Chethan in the third stage and retained his overall leadProvisional Results Day 1 All times after SS3 onlyINRC Overall 1 Gaurav Gill privateer Delhi Anirudha Rangnekar Pune 00hour 52 minutes 119 seconds 2 Chetan Shivram E Shivaprakash AampA Motorsports Both Bengaluru 0052360 2 Jason Saldhanha Arka Motorsports Hassan Thimmu Uddapanda Kodagu 0053295INRC2 1 Chetan Shivram E Shivaprakash AampA Motorsports Both Bengaluru 0052360 2 Jason Saldhanha Arka Motorsports Hassan Thimmu Uddapanda Kodagu 0053295 3 Ritesh Guttedhar Pvt Gulbarga Suraj M Bengaluru 0053479INRC3 1 Daraius Shroff Chettinad Sporting Mumbai Arjun Dheerendra Bengaluru 0054130 2 Shashank Jamwal Arka Motorsports Himachal Aseem Sharma Chandigarh 0054038 3 Arnav Pratap Singh Snap Racing Gurugram Rohit Bengaluru 0054076Ladies Class 1 Anushriya Gulati Arka MS Dehradun Karan Aukta 0056432 2 Nikeetaa Takkale Pvt Pune Arvind Dheerendra Bengaluru 0058147 3 Phoebe Nongrum Snap Racing Shillong KP Aravind Bengaluru 0106356Junior INRC 1 Abhin Rai Ideal Racing Moideen Jasheer both Chikmagalur 0054556 2 Arjun Rajiv Chettinadu Sporting Vinay Both Bengaluru 0054261 3 Ajay Sankar Pvt Coimbatore Vybhav Mukund Bengaluru 0056065 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-rally-cship-gaurav-gill-cruises-to-comfortable-lead-in-rally-of-hyderabad-577822.html Sat, 19 Oct 2024 22:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/horner-hits-back-at-mclarens-paranoia-as-fia-clears-red-bull-in-ride-height-controversy-577741.html Austin Oct 19 Christian Horner Red Bulls team principal has defended his team against accusations regarding a rideheightaltering device on the RB20 as scrutiny intensifies during the 2024 United States Grand Prix This comes after McLaren and other rival teams raised suspicions that Red Bulls car might have breached Formula 1s regulations by using the device during parc ferme conditions where no adjustments are allowedThe controversy erupted after McLaren alleged that the device in question located on the bib at the front of the cars floor could potentially allow Red Bull to change the cars ride heightZak Brown McLarens CEO was vocal about his concerns stating that Red Bulls explanations dont stack up and demanding massive consequences if the team was found guilty of exploiting the device illegallyHowever Horner was quick to downplay the situation claiming the FIA had already reviewed the matter and found no issues Horner suggested the uproar stemmed from paranoia among rivals rather than any wrongdoing by Red BullThe FIA is totally happy with our explanations Horner told Sky Sports Theres been a bit of moaning from one of our rivals and the FIAs job is to look into these things But this is a component thats been publicly available for the last three years and theres nothing untoward about itHorner hinted that the complaints might be a distraction tactic from McLaren who are currently locked in a fierce battle with Red Bull in the Constructors Championship Sometimes when things arent going perfectly in your own house you try to light a fire somewhere else he saidFollowing the initial practice session in Austin Red Bull conducted a demonstration of how the bib adjuster operates for FIA officials who inspected the car to ensure compliance A spokesperson for the governing body clarified that they were checking that all the cars comply with our new requirementsDespite the FIA being satisfied with Red Bulls device the governing body added additional seals to the bib adjuster for the Austin race weekend to ensure no possibility of manipulation in parc ferme conditions The FIAs singleseater director Nikolas Tombazis stated that the controversy was likely a nonstory moving forward as the issue had been resolvedFerraris team principal Frederic Vasseur expressed trust in the FIAs handling of the situation but he made it clear that if Red Bull had exploited the device it would constitute cheating If they used it its clearly cheating said Vasseur But we have to trust the FIA to do their job and see what happensMax Verstappen holds a 52point lead over McLarens Lando Norris in the Drivers Championship and McLaren is ahead of Red Bull by 41 points in the Constructors standings with six races remaining in the season With such fine margins tensions between the two teams have escalated especially in light of McLaren being asked to alter a rearwing device at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix earlier in the seasonHorner however remained unfazed by the ongoing scrutiny Our car has come under more inspection than any other in the pit lane over the last three years he said We are totally comfortable with the situation IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/horner-hits-back-at-mclarens-paranoia-as-fia-clears-red-bull-in-ride-height-controversy-577741.html Sat, 19 Oct 2024 14:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/you-leave-a-legacy-of-always-being-yourself-hamilton-on-ricciardos-f1-career-576101.html New Delhi Sep 27 Seventime World champion Lewis Hamilton lauded Daniel Ricciardo for leaving a legacy of being himself during his entire Formula 1 career after Team RB confirmed his departure and named Liam Lawson as the Australian drivers replacement for the remainder of the season on Thursday Ricciardos career in F1 came to an immediate end after the announcement qhich meant that the Singapore Grand Prix was his last career race in which he finished 18th with the fastest lapdanielricciardo its been a honour to compete with you over the years Ill never forget the battles the laughs and drinking out of your shoe gross but glad I got to do it with you budYou leave a legacy of always being yourself which in this sport is never easy Youve taken it all with the biggest smile and I salute you for it There is so much more for you up ahead and I cant wait to see what you do next Always here for you man Hamilton wrote on XThe Australian returned to an F1 race seat last year in Hungary with AlphaTauri and stayed on when they became RB for this seasonRicciardo has scored points five times this season including an impressive fourth place in the Sprint race in Miami and currently sits 14th in the drivers standings trailing teammate Yuki Tsunoda by 10 points However his performances havent been enough to secure a spot within the Red Bull familyHe has achieved eight wins 32 podiums and 1329 points in 258 Grand Prix appearances His career spanning 14 seasons saw him claim his best finishes with third place in the Drivers Championship in both 2014 and 2016 Throughout his career he drove for HRT Toro Rosso Red Bull Renault McLaren and RB IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/you-leave-a-legacy-of-always-being-yourself-hamilton-on-ricciardos-f1-career-576101.html Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-norris-believes-championship-title-is-definitely-possible-against-verstappen-575768.html New Delhi Sep 25 Lando Norris has set his sights on chasing down World Championship leader Max Verstappen believing its definitely possible if McLaren can maintain the form that saw them dominate the Singapore Grand Prix The British driver put on a masterclass at The Marina Bay Circuit beating Verstappen by more than 20 seconds to significantly reduce the Dutchmans championship lead The 52point gap between Norris and Verstappen is daunting but with six rounds and three Sprint weekends left in the season Norris is confident in McLarens progressSpeaking to Sky Sports F1 the 23yearold expressed optimism This is what Ive got to do this is what I need this is what we need to do as a team Weve executed things perfectly as a team especially to get Oscar into P3But we need to do it at every race until the end of the year if I want to have a chance to get Max Were working hard and if I keep doing what Ive done this weekend then its definitely possible he saidWith 180 points still available including those from Sprint races and fastest laps Norris needs to close the gap by an average of 866 points per weekend to catch Verstappen by the final race in Abu Dhabi Reflecting on the challenge ahead Norris acknowledged the formidable task of competing against Red Bull and VerstappenIts against Max and Red Bull the most dominant pairing Formula 1 has ever seen But our car is quicker than theirs right now and thats a credit to the team And thats not necessarily changed in terms of Its the same team and its the same driver So I have some of the toughest competition that Formula 1 has ever seen in the sportMcLarens team principal Andrea Stella echoed Norris cautious optimism noting that the title fight is still in Verstappens hands but they were encouraged and more optimistic after Singapore McLarens recent success also saw Oscar Piastri secure a podium finish extending the teams advantage over Red Bull in the Constructors Championship to 41 pointsStella emphasised the teams goal We need to maximise every weekend ensuring both drivers finish ahead of Max If we can bring some upgrades this mission will become easier We recognize the potential nowfinishing with two cars ahead of Max is possibleAs the season resumes at the United States Grand Prix in October the championship battle heats up and all eyes will be on Norris as he continues his pursuit of Verstappen hoping to take the fight down to the wire in Abu Dhabi IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-norris-believes-championship-title-is-definitely-possible-against-verstappen-575768.html Wed, 25 Sep 2024 19:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/teacher-turned-racer-diana-pundole-mother-of-two-eyes-international-glory-575271.html New Delhi Sep 23 She confessed that winning the FMSCI Indian Car Racing Championship 2024 in the Saloon category has been a rollercoaster of emotions Diana Pundole may be thrilled to be the firstever woman to win a mixedcategory championship in a Saloon car on a National Level However a mother of two and a teacher from Pune was not aware of this until she stepped out of her vehicle after the last race and was approached by excited media people And that is when it struck me that I had made history I had been so focused on the seasons races that all my energies and concentration were devoted to the top spot of the podium I did not think about the championship at all I just wanted to win as many races as I could This of course was a long and gruelling path of hard work maintaining peak physical fitness mental fortitude and a whole lot of sacrifices made where my family friends and social life took a back seat Diana told IANSFor someonewho has always been fascinated with being behind the wheel ever since her parents drove in the quiet lanes in Pune where she grew up Diana loved goingkarting as a child but never thought of it as anything more than a hobbyThis of course was exacerbated by the environment I was exposed to which was extremely conducive to the spirit of competition in racing My late father religiously watched F1 races every Sunday and we were glued to the screen with him His excitement rubbed off on us all and we too loved the sport and learned to understand motorsport As soon as I was 17 years old my mother was quick to recognise my excitement and eagerness to learn to drive a manual car which I mastered in no time Since then there hasnt been a single time when I did not want to get behind the wheel of any given car I am ever thankful for this gift my talent to her she saidThe first time Pundole was in the first lane was for the National Racing Championship 2018 Smiling that she did not go with any plan the champ recalled There was a twoday Nationwide Talent Hunt competition held in 2018 for women in Coimbatore The requirement was only to know the basics of driving I decided to go with no intention of winning but only to find out if a person like me could stand on the national level when it came to racingIt turned out that I was one of the top six winners who were awarded a years worth of sponsorship to participate in theNational Racing Championship that same year That was my first ever experience in professional racingNow that she had won a fully sponsored drive in a national championship and decided to pursue this her family had mixed feelings While they were worried but also proud I had just won a fully sponsored drive in a national championship it was a big deal My father who I wish had lived to see this day would have been my biggest supporter and it felt like he was pushing me forward to follow my heart and live my dream Yes the family was very supportive too I wouldnt have been able to pull this off without their unwavering support she assertedTalking about the dismal ratio of women in motorsports in India and Diana feels one of the main contributors to the lack of female drivers is finances The sport has always been an expensive one given the mechanical intricacies of these cars and the people employed to produce the perfect engineering required for them to be in race conditionAlso usually racing drivers would have first started karting when they were around five or six years old They would have needed exceptional talent to be noticed by a sponsor or wealthy parents willing to pay for the best quality training Women are rarely given the same encouragement on a micro level and from the same age they tend to start training much later than men thus it becomes hard for them to find sponsors or teams that would take a chance on themWith no formal training in motorsport before she started racing on a professional level with her peers most of whom are seeded welltrained race drivers often from the second generation in their families Pundole stresses We really need to create more awareness about the possibilities of careers in the world of motorsport and more training schools and courses in this areaAdmitting that corporate backing is crucial for the growth and sustainability of motorsport in India primarily due to the high costs associated with the same she feels investments can lead to improved infrastructure such as better racetracks and support servicesThis will benefit both the sport and the corporations involved Brands can enhance their image by associating with exciting racing events whilst motorsport gains prestige and reliability through established companies Frankly corporate backing is essential not only for the financial viability of motorsport in India but also for fostering a vibrant ecosystem that encourages participation talent and broader public engagement Diana feelsSmiling that now the future holds endless possibilities for her and she is going to meet her sponsors and coaches to calculate the most resultoriented plan for the immediate future Diana said A strategy that will help me achieve my ultimate goal to represent India at the international level to win races abroad This win has opened doors to multiple possibilities in India itself in terms of endorsements and sponsorshipsI have also been approached by some prestigious racing teams in the UAE and Europe she concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/teacher-turned-racer-diana-pundole-mother-of-two-eyes-international-glory-575271.html Mon, 23 Sep 2024 16:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/racer-diana-pundole-mother-of-two-eyes-international-glory-575274.html New Delhi Sep 23 She confessed that winning the FMSCI Indian Car Racing Championship 2024 in the Saloon category has been a rollercoaster of emotions Diana Pundole may be thrilled to be the firstever woman to win a mixedcategory championship in a Saloon car on a National Level However a mother of two and a teacher from Pune was not aware of this until she stepped out of her vehicle after the last race and was approached by excited media people And that is when it struck me that I had made history I had been so focused on the seasons races that all my energies and concentration were devoted to the top spot of the podium I did not think about the championship at all I just wanted to win as many races as I could This of course was a long and gruelling path of hard work maintaining peak physical fitness mental fortitude and a whole lot of sacrifices made where my family friends and social life took a back seat Diana told IANSFor someonewho has always been fascinated with being behind the wheel ever since her parents drove in the quiet lanes in Pune where she grew up Diana loved goingkarting as a child but never thought of it as anything more than a hobbyThis of course was exacerbated by the environment I was exposed to which was extremely conducive to the spirit of competition in racing My late father religiously watched F1 races every Sunday and we were glued to the screen with him His excitement rubbed off on us all and we too loved the sport and learned to understand motorsport As soon as I was 17 years old my mother was quick to recognise my excitement and eagerness to learn to drive a manual car which I mastered in no time Since then there hasnt been a single time when I did not want to get behind the wheel of any given car I am ever thankful for this gift my talent to her she saidThe first time Pundole was in the first lane was for the National Racing Championship 2018 Smiling that she did not go with any plan the champ recalled There was a twoday Nationwide Talent Hunt competition held in 2018 for women in Coimbatore The requirement was only to know the basics of driving I decided to go with no intention of winning but only to find out if a person like me could stand on the national level when it came to racingIt turned out that I was one of the top six winners who were awarded a years worth of sponsorship to participate in theNational Racing Championship that same year That was my first ever experience in professional racingNow that she had won a fully sponsored drive in a national championship and decided to pursue this her family had mixed feelings While they were worried but also proud I had just won a fully sponsored drive in a national championship it was a big deal My father who I wish had lived to see this day would have been my biggest supporter and it felt like he was pushing me forward to follow my heart and live my dream Yes the family was very supportive too I wouldnt have been able to pull this off without their unwavering support she assertedTalking about the dismal ratio of women in motorsports in India and Diana feels one of the main contributors to the lack of female drivers is finances The sport has always been an expensive one given the mechanical intricacies of these cars and the people employed to produce the perfect engineering required for them to be in race conditionAlso usually racing drivers would have first started karting when they were around five or six years old They would have needed exceptional talent to be noticed by a sponsor or wealthy parents willing to pay for the best quality training Women are rarely given the same encouragement on a micro level and from the same age they tend to start training much later than men thus it becomes hard for them to find sponsors or teams that would take a chance on themWith no formal training in motorsport before she started racing on a professional level with her peers most of whom are seeded welltrained race drivers often from the second generation in their families Pundole stresses We really need to create more awareness about the possibilities of careers in the world of motorsport and more training schools and courses in this areaAdmitting that corporate backing is crucial for the growth and sustainability of motorsport in India primarily due to the high costs associated with the same she feels investments can lead to improved infrastructure such as better racetracks and support servicesThis will benefit both the sport and the corporations involved Brands can enhance their image by associating with exciting racing events whilst motorsport gains prestige and reliability through established companies Frankly corporate backing is essential not only for the financial viability of motorsport in India but also for fostering a vibrant ecosystem that encourages participation talent and broader public engagement Diana feelsSmiling that now the future holds endless possibilities for her and she is going to meet her sponsors and coaches to calculate the most resultoriented plan for the immediate future Diana said A strategy that will help me achieve my ultimate goal to represent India at the international level to win races abroad This win has opened doors to multiple possibilities in India itself in terms of endorsements and sponsorshipsI have also been approached by some prestigious racing teams in the UAE and Europe she concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/racer-diana-pundole-mother-of-two-eyes-international-glory-575274.html Mon, 23 Sep 2024 16:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/inde-racing-finishes-on-podium-in-fim-e-xplorer-world-cup-575292.html CransMontana Switzerland Sep 23 INDE Racing the first Indian team in the FIM EXplorer World Cup an electric offroad race scripted history by claiming third place in the competition The only bike racing team ever from India amassed 479 points across four rounds to seal their thirdplace finish in their debut season Bonnell and Honda Racing team finished ahead of INDE Racing in first and second place with 498 and 490 points respectivelySandra Gomez INDE Racings female rider claimed the top spot at the end of the season with 271 points while Spenser Wilton and Runar Sudamann put together 162 and 46 points respectively to finish third in the mens categoryYesterday was a very good day for the team we earned a mens P3 and a womens P1 and then we ended up clinching the third overall in the World championship This is INDEs first World Championship podium at the FIM EXplorer which is super cool The track was rough lots of rocks but the team worked hard all weekend and it was a full team effort to get a position on the podium Wilton said after the raceSandra Gomes also weighed in saying The goal was to be involved and battle against the leading group in the last two races and I am very happy with myself for having done that The track was a lot more supercross than I am used to and I needed to give my everything I got off to a good start in both the races and went on to finish first on the day before and second yesterday to win the overall championshipINDE Racing began the season on a positive note with a firstplace finish for Sandra and a fourthplace finish for Spenser in Osaka on February 1617 followed by a second consecutive podium for Sandra in Oslo on May 34 To finish the season Sandra and Spenser pulled through with two podium finishes in the doubleheader in CransMontanaWe have about 300 million bikers in India and every young kid who gets a bike now dreams of racing with it Its amazing that we have put together a team that they can cheer for because so far the teams Indians support have had no affiliation to the country To finish third overall in our very first season and give them the opportunity to cheer for a team that truly belongs to the country is a special feeling INDE Racing owner Abhishek Kankanala expressed his delight at the result IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/inde-racing-finishes-on-podium-in-fim-e-xplorer-world-cup-575292.html Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/atiqa-mir-takes-pole-position-in-iame-pre-season-cup-2024-karting-575329.html Ras al Khaimah UAE Sep 23 The 9yearold female karting sensation Atiqa Mir took a stunning pole position in the curtain raiser event the IAME PreSeason Cup held at RAK Track in Ras Al Khaimah UAE in sweltering conditions Atiqa was in top form securing a stunning lap time of 4477 seconds and setting an event record in the process With the top competition of 24 karts in the event Atiqa showed maturity as her kart did not start on the grid and she missed three laps of qualifying She did not let this affect her performance as the team was able to fix her kart and Atiqa managed to get the crucial five laps which secured her pole positionIn the prefinal starting from the pole Atiqa had an issue with the engine at the start and got passed by three karts Atiqa fought hard in the race but an unfortunate penalty of three seconds dropped her down to eighth placeSpeaking about securing a pole position Atiqa said This sure could be one of my highlight races Taking a pole position which set an event record and getting a close finish at the 4th rank was the highlight of my recent race IAME PreSeason Cup 2024The race was a tough one under sweltering conditions but I managed to secure a lap time of 4477 secs An unfortunate penalty caused an initial setback but I managed to make a comeback with a few fast laps and finished just half a second behind the leader missing 3rd place by just 005 secs That was close I enjoyed this race a lot there were odds but I came around she saidStarting the final in the 8th place Atiqa dropped to 11 places on Lap 1 due to a Turn 1 incident And then she started one of the most remarkable recoveries putting a string of fastest laps and caught right back up to the leaders on the last lap She finished just half a second behind the leader missing 3rd place by just 005 secs IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/atiqa-mir-takes-pole-position-in-iame-pre-season-cup-2024-karting-575329.html Mon, 23 Sep 2024 21:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-2024-bagnaia-charges-to-a-groundbreaking-pole-as-marc-marquez-crashes-574939.html EmiliaRomagna Italy Sep 21 Francesco Bagnaia of Team Ducati set a stunning time to claim pole position for the Gran Premio Pramac dellEmiliaRomagna the 14th race of the MNotoGP calendar for 2024 The Italian destroyed the lap record for the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli clocking an unbelievable 130031 claiming a 0214s advantage over Championship leader Jorge Martin Prima Pramac Racing The rider 89 was on provisional pole in the opening moments of the session before being pipped by his title rival in the final five minutesMeanwhile it was another great result for Ducati Lenovo Teams Enea Bastianini with The Beast charging to the third and final spot on the front row improving on his final flying lapQ1 brought further drama to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli with Alex Marquez Gresini Racing MotoGP crashing early at Turn 1 The 73 sprinted back to the box ready for a final time attack the broadcaster of MotoGP in India Eurosport informed in a release on SaturdayMiguel Oliveira Trackhouse Racing was at the top of the standings early on before Brad Binder Red Bull KTM Factory Racing improved sending the 33 and Oliveira through to Q2 after strong laps Once Q2 got underway Martin set the pace clocking an early 130245 breaking the lap record instantly Meanwhile there was early drama for Marc Marquez Gresini Racing MotoGP with the 93 falling at Turn 3The action was left into the final minutes with tension building as every rider tried to improve on their time from the first run It was a spectacular show for the Misano crowd as red sectors appeared from Bagnaia and Martin The 1 smashed the lap record setting an incredible 130031 to place twotenths clear of Martin Binder briefly jumped to third before Bastianini found further timeMarc Marquez on third rowBinder was demoted to fourth in the closing moments heading the second row of the grid with a great starting ground for the Tissot Sprint and Sundays Grand Prix The South African will have tough competition in the second row after Pedro Acosta Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 placed a remarkable fifth as the rookies pace continues to improve Acosta ended the session in fifth with Marco Bezzecchi Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team holding onto the sixthplace spot on the gridMarc Marquez will start from row three after he was unable to improve on the time set in his first run after returning to the circuit The eighttime World Champions best time came on lap three leaving him 0849s adrift from pole Maverick Vinales Aprilia Racing starts from eighth as Fabio Quartararo Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team placed P9 in another standout performance from the FrenchmanFurther back Jack Miller Red Bull KTM Factory Racing starts from P19 on the grid as the Aussie is left with a lot of work to do later on Miller is not the only rider who aims to carve through the field as Alex Marquez will start from the 21st position after an earlier Q1 crashIndian fans can catch all the action from MotoGP 2024 EmiliaRomagna Grand Prix Main Race LIVE on Eurosport and Eurosport HD from 115 pm IST onwards on Sunday IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-2024-bagnaia-charges-to-a-groundbreaking-pole-as-marc-marquez-crashes-574939.html Sat, 21 Sep 2024 19:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/pune-set-to-host-third-leg-of-fmsci-2w-rally-sprint-championship-574741.html Pune Sep 20 After two actionpacked rounds in Chennai and Bangalore the FMSCI Indian National Rally Sprint Championship 2024 for twowheelers will head to Pune for the third round on Saturday The grounds surrounding the Nanoli Speedway will witness more than 95 entries the highest participation ever for the West Zone battle it out in the monsoon sprint rally in a bid to qualify for the final round in DecemberIts fantastic to see such strong participation in the third round With over 95 entries the competition will be fierce and I am happy to see top riders from the nation ready to set the trail ablaze in the FMSCI Indian National Rally Sprint Championship 2024 in Pune I am sure the riders are raring to go We are happy to see more riders step up to take part it is a great sign for a growing sport said Gautam Shantappa vice president FMSCI on the occasionSuhail Ahmad who dominated multiple categories with victories in Group A upto 550cc Bullet Class upto 550cc and Open Class upto 550cc in the Chennai leg and finished second in the Open Class upto 550cc and Bullet Class upto 550cc in the Bangalore leg will also be seen attempting to better his timings with the Sahyadri mountains and perennial Indrayani River in the backdropPune is a city which boasts a rich culture of dirt biking and offroading I am looking forward to some fierce competition from the riders in the West Zone I am sure I will enjoy competing against some of the prominent riders at this circuit in one of the most beautiful settings for rallying in the country With the final round a couple of months away the pressure is on to better your timing and make sure you are in the best form Ahmad commentedThis picturesque monsoon rally is a highlight in the Indian racing calendar and Badal Doshi from Mumbai Amarendra Sathe from Pune Pinkesh Thakkar from Pune and Rajesh N Swami from Raigad are a few of the prominent riders from West Zone vying to qualify for the final roundThe FMSCI Indian National Rally Sprint Championship 2024 for twowheelers will feature 13 classes designed to foster a fair and competitive environment to bring the best of Indian ridersFollowing the Pune leg of the FMSCI Indian National Rally Sprint Championship 2024 the series will continue to unfold across India The championship will move to Indore for Round 4 on October 5 followed by Round 5 in Guwahati on November 24The season will culminate with the finals in Pune or Bangalore on December 1415 where the top contenders from each zone will compete for the ultimate title IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/pune-set-to-host-third-leg-of-fmsci-2w-rally-sprint-championship-574741.html Fri, 20 Sep 2024 16:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/verstappen-penalised-by-fia-for-swearing-at-singapore-gp-press-conference-574780.html Singapore Sep 20 Reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has been reprimanded by the FIA for using inappropriate language during Thursdays press conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix The Red Bull driver was summoned by the stewards for his remarks which were deemed coarse and rude after he swore while referencing his cars performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix earlier this seasonAfter reviewing the transcript and hearing from both Verstappen and Red Bull representatives the stewards determined that the language was unsuitable for broadcast The FIA emphasised that public statements from World Championship participants must adhere to generally accepted standards as drivers serve as role models both on and off the trackThis is clear in the regulations of the FIA and has been reinforced through previous cases brought before the Stewards in Formula One in particular in Las Vegas in 2023 The Stewards reviewed the transcript of the FIA Thursday Driver Press Conference in Singapore and Max Verstappen driver of car 1 used language to describe his car at the Event in Azerbaijan which is generally considered coarse rude or may cause offense and is not considered suitable for broadcast read the statement released by Steward on FridayThe stewards acknowledged that Verstappens use of the language was not directed at anyone and that English is not his first language but they highlighted the importance of maintaining professionalism in public forumsVerstappen apologised for his behaviour during the hearingInstead of imposing a fine the stewards have mandated that Verstappen complete public interest work as specified in the FIAs regulations underscoring the governing bodys commitment to maintaining high standards in the sportDespite the penalty Verstappen enters the Singapore weekend with a commanding 59point lead over Lando Norris in the drivers standings while Red Bull is in a tight battle with McLaren in the constructors championship trailing by 20 points IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/verstappen-penalised-by-fia-for-swearing-at-singapore-gp-press-conference-574780.html Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/we-want-govt-to-help-motorsports-by-not-putting-barriers-for-its-development-says-former-f1-driver-karun-chandhok-574507.html Chennai Sep 19 The 2011 Indian Grand Prix has a unique place in the history of Formula 1 racing and Indian motorsports It is the first and only Formula 1 Grand Prix which had two Indian drivers racing Narain Karthikeyan for HRT team while Karun Chandhok represented Team Lotus Both were test drivers for their respective teams and had stepped in regular drivers Jarno Trulli and Daniel RicciardoFrom that eventful day when India had two drivers on the circuit an Indian Grand Prix held at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida and an Indian team Force India F1 Around a decade later none of these things are there Karthikeyan and Chandhok have retired from Formula 1 the Force India F1 team is defunct there is not Indian Grand Prix and the Buddh Internation Circuit hosts occasional racesThere are some young Indian drivers Kush Maini Jehan Daruvala are on the international circuit but nowhere close to the Formula 1Karun Chandhok now a television commentator and a track consultant says motorsports authorities need to fix the issue from the bottom so that India can one day have many drivers in the top echelons of the sportThe sport has changed a lot obviously You know Narain and I were over a decade ago in Formula One so its been a long time Its in the sportBut thats you know gone away a little bit And I think we have to fix the issue from bottom up Chandhok told IANS here on ThursdayHe believes that the country should build more race tracks more karting circuits to attract drivers at young age provide them with topnotch facilities and utilize the facilities to build an ecosystem for motorsportsThats the reason we have built this karting circuits here at the Madras Motor Sports Club This is the only Commission Internationale de Karting CIK certified kartink track and will start the kids at a young age said ChandhokChandhok the second Indian driver to race in Formula 1 said both he and Karthikeyan did not get to start on a kart due to lack of a circuit and that is the reason why they have built this global standard karting track in Chennai called the Madras International Karting Arena MIKAChandhok said this will make taking up motorsports more affordable as the talented kids will not have to travel abroad to start gokartingIf a youngster now has to go to say Malaysia or middle East it costs a lots of money But with MIKA here it will be more affordable and we will also look to organise many competitions of international standard to build the karting ecosystem said Karun Chandhok who has literally seen the track come alive from a drawing on his laptop to an actual track on ground He currently works with race design company Driven International as a consultant for race tracksNow that they have put in the karting track in place and with more race tracks coming up in Bangalore and Pune Karun Chandhok hopes more youngsters to benefit from the racing ecosystem to propel the country back to the topHe wants the automotive industry to nurture the racing ecosystem and says though the government may not support motorsports like it does with other sports it should not put barriers in its way and rather ease things for motorsportsI think at the end of the day India is a country where we have a lot of socio economic issues which are more important than motor racingI think we have to be realistic If the government is going to put money into sport they will put it into Olympic sport or hockey or badminton or you know sports which really have a bigger mass appealBut I think the reality is in motor racing is different And so thats why I say it comes back to the automotive industry that has to support motorsports in the countryWhat we need and what we want is the government not to put any barriers So for example even if theyre not investing money if they can remove barriers for importing technology importing cars importing gokarts importing helmets and equipment for the kids to use If we can get duty waivers if we can get customs clearance support things like that are what the government can do to support the sport said Karun ChandhokIndias second Formula 1 driver also emphasised on sustaining the motorsports ecosystem so that it can put the country back on the global stage just like when he and Narain Karthikeyan did during their heydays IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/we-want-govt-to-help-motorsports-by-not-putting-barriers-for-its-development-says-former-f1-driver-karun-chandhok-574507.html Thu, 19 Sep 2024 19:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-bahrain-to-host-2025-pre-season-testing-573731.html New Delhi Sep 16 Formula 1 and FIA the world governing body of motorsport have announced that the Bahrain International Circuit will host three days of preseason testing in 2025 on February 26 27 and 28 The track has hosted preseason testing on six separate occasions since 2009 with its consistent weather conditions mixture of high and lowspeed corners and two long straights enabling F1 teams to gather maximum data for the campaign ahead the Formula 1 saidArriving on the calendar back in 2004 Bahrain was the first Middle Eastern venue to host an F1 race and celebrated its 20th anniversary with the 2024 edition of the eventIn the 20 years since the first Grand Prix the 541km circuit has delivered nine winners from five different teams with Lewis Hamilton Fernando Alonso Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc all claiming victory from the current gridThe 24round 2025 F1 season which will mark the sports 75th year is set to kick off with the Australian Grand Prix from March 1416 and conclude with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the weekend of December 57 taking in trips to five of the worlds seven continentsAs part of the continued drive for sustainability with the sport on track to become Net Zero by 2030 a significant percentage of freight will remain in Sakhir for F1s return ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix from April 1113 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-bahrain-to-host-2025-pre-season-testing-573731.html Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-great-mika-hakkinen-to-inaugurate-karting-track-at-madras-international-circuit-573822.html Chennai Sep 16 Motorsports in India will get a big step up when double Formula One World Champion Mika Hakkinen inaugurates the Madras International Karting Arena MIKA on Thursday Sep 19 The inauguration function will be attended by Indias former F1 drivers Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok The momentous occasion dubbed MikaMIKA will witness Flying Finn Hakkinen F1 World Champion in 1998 and 1999 launching the track located adjoining the startfinish straight at the iconic Madras International Circuit about 40 Kms from Chennai thus ushering in a new era as the Madras Motor Sports Club now in its 71st year reaches another milestoneThe MIKA circuit which has been under development for almost a year was designed by UKbased Driven International with Chennaiborn Karun Chandhok advising on the layoutThe 12kmlong MIKA circuit is a drivers delight with fast straights and flowing yet challenging corners and built to a global standard that will ensure it is certified to host even World Championship events something that is very much on the MMSCs radar the MMSC informed in a release on MondayThe MIKA facility provides spacious garages a control room a lounge and such conveniences designed to provide a comfortable setting for both competitors and spectators alike The track will be opened to the public from September 21With the MIKA going operational the MIC which was inaugurated in 1990 will further enhance its status as the hub of motorsport activity in India encompassing track racing rallying motocross and kartingThe MIC boasts of a 37 km long racing circuit that enjoys FIAs Grade 2 certification apart from a dirt track customised to conduct Nationallevel Rally events for both cars and twowheelers The facility also has provision for twowheeler motocross competitionsMMSC president Ajit Thomas said The Madras International Karting Arena is a logical extension of MMSCs expansion plans to convert MIC into a multidiscipline motorsport facility that will cater to both competitive and leisure activities for allcomers including the corporations Obviously it is a matter of pride for MMSC to have built the CIKcertified Karting track as part of our continuing efforts to make significant contributions to develop and promote motorsport at the grassroots levelKarun Chandhok said Im very excited to be heading to Chennai for the launch of the MIKA track Ive worked on a range of track designs around the globe from F1 to Karting with the team at Driven International but this is a very personal project as its obviously my home track Its been designed and built to be at par with the best tracks in the world and I feel like the track layout is going to be one that the drivers all enjoyIts great that Mika Hakkinen and Narain Karthikeyan are available to join us for the launch To have both of Indias F1 drivers along with a double Formula 1 World Champion as we launch this next big step for Indian Motorsport is going to be very special he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-great-mika-hakkinen-to-inaugurate-karting-track-at-madras-international-circuit-573822.html Mon, 16 Sep 2024 23:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/azerbaijan-gp-hamilton-and-ocon-to-start-from-pit-lane-norris-up-to-15th-573563.html Baku Sep 15 Lewis Hamilton of Mercerdes and Alpines Esteban Ocon will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the pit lane after taking multiple new power unit elements following qualifying breaching their allowances for the season Mercedes driver Hamilton had qualified for the race in seventh on Saturday but has now installed a fifth Internal Combustion Engine ICE of the season on his W15 The Briton has also taken on a fifth turbocharger TC fifth MGUH and a fifth MGUKFor Alpines Ocon who has endured a turbulent weekend so far on what will be his 150th Grand Prix he has also taken on a new ICE TC and MGUH to breach his allowances for the season However the Frenchman had qualified last on Saturday after being plagued with reliability woes across a number of sessionsMercedes drivers George and Lewis had a tough qualifying session on Saturday struggling with traffic and tyre warmup In the end they finished fifth and seventh respectively and will start Sundays race from the third and fourth rows of the grid respectively Charles Leclerc will start from pole position with Oscar Piastri alongside him on the front row of the gridYesterday the car was amazing it felt great and I honestly think it could have been at least on the second row today But we came today and all of a sudden the tires didnt work well today said Lewis Hamilton to Sky Sports F1 postqualifyingHamilton and Ocon will be alongside Lando Norris at the back of the grid after the McLaren driver was unable to get out of Q1 after Ocons crash caused a yellow flag and the championship contender did not get the chance to record another lapNorris was set to start at 17th in Baku but the McLaren championship challenger will now climb to 15th courtesy of Gasly and Hamiltons penaltiesThe penalised drivers plus Norris and many others on the grid will hope they can move up the order in the race with overtaking opportunities aplenty around the street circuit in Azerbaijan IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/azerbaijan-gp-hamilton-and-ocon-to-start-from-pit-lane-norris-up-to-15th-573563.html Sun, 15 Sep 2024 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-azerbaijan-gp-will-go-down-as-one-of-the-better-races-of-my-career-says-oscar-piastri-573592.html Baku Azerbaijan Sep 15 The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was full of chaotic moments but after hanging on for nearly 30 laps it was Oscar Piastri who pipped Charles Leclerc to win the race The Australian deemed it to be one of the better races of his career I went for a pretty big lunge and managed to pull it off and hang on for dear life for the next 35 laps The last couple of laps when Leclerc dropped out of DRS were a little bit more relaxing but theres no such thing as a relaxing lap around here so it was hard work I think that definitely goes down as one of the better races of my career said Piastri in the postrace interviewOscar Piastris win was McLarens first win at the Baku City Circuit and took them past Red Bull in the race for the Constructors Championship The British car manufacturer now sits 20 points ahead of Red Bull with 476 points and hopes to end their reign which has seen them win the trophy for the past two seasonsConsidering where we started when I joined the team last year we were literally last and now we are leading the world championship Its full credit to the team and for the turnaround weve managed to have first in terms of improving the car but also helping me improve as well he addedPiastri overtook Leclerc in the 20th lap and did not give the Monegasque driver any room to fight back into the race Leclerc went on to admit the teams mistakes and said he would learn from itIt is enjoyable youve got many opportunities every lap I think maybe McLaren had less downforce and in the straights they were very quick in the corners we were a bit quicker I couldnt get as close as I wanted and eventually we lost the race when I didnt defend as well as I could have at the end of the straight Sometimes you make mistakes and Ill learn from it said Piastri IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-azerbaijan-gp-will-go-down-as-one-of-the-better-races-of-my-career-says-oscar-piastri-573592.html Sun, 15 Sep 2024 20:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-sainz-destroyed-perezs-deserved-podium-says-christian-horner-573597.html Baku Azerbaijan Sep 15 Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz suffered heartbreak after a close race for the final podium position in the penultimate lap at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as both drivers ended up crashing into the barrier Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes the incident cost Perez a deserved spot on the podium which would have been his first since the Chinese Grand Prix in April He deserved more than that I just watched the replay and Carlos drifted across the circuit He Checo deserved a podium It destroyed his race and a lot of damage It has cost us a lot of points in the Constructors said Horner to Sky Sports F1Perez started the race at fourth spot and was in a solid position after his pit stop The Red Bull man was on track to move ahead of Oscar Piastri who had pitted on the 15th lap but was held up by Piastris teammate Lando Norris which allowed the Australian to move ahead and hunt down Leclerc and grab the victoryUnfortunately he lost quite a bit of time on his outlaps after Alex Albon Then Lando cost him dearly which gave Oscar the track position Without that he would have won the race today he addedOscar Piastris win was McLarens first win at the Baku City Circuit and took them past Red Bull in the race for the Constructors Championship The British car manufacturer now sits 20 points ahead of Red Bull with 476 points and hopes to end their reign which has seen them win the trophy for the past two seasonsHorner went on to say that there is still a lot of racing to do in the season and Red Bull will be hoping to reclaim their top spotThere is still a lot of racing to do It was a magnificent race at the front for so many laps Were disappointing it came to close like that when it didnt need to concluded Horner IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-sainz-destroyed-perezs-deserved-podium-says-christian-horner-573597.html Sun, 15 Sep 2024 21:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/aston-martins-adrian-newey-announcement-slightly-premature-says-christian-horner-573358.html Baku Sep 14 Adrian Newey has committed his longterm future away from Red Bull as he will be joining the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team in 2025 Following a ceremony which took place on Tuesday announcing Neweys move to the British car manufacturer Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner claims the announcement is premature Its obviously a massive announcement for Aston perhaps slightly premature considering hes still contracted to Red Bull until the early part of next year I can understand that theyre excited about Adrian joining their team but in the meantime hes still got an RB17 to finish Thats going really well and making good progress said Horner as quoted by the Formula One websiteDuring his time in Formula One which has earned him the accolade of one of the greatest F1 designers in history Newey has been a part of Williams McLaren and Red Bull teams Newey won 12 drivers championships and 13 constructors crownsNewey will join a team that has already made significant strides in recent years with the recruitment of top engineers a stateoftheart new factory and a works engine partnership with Honda from 2026Horner went on to admit that Neweys move to Aston Martin did not come as a great surprise to himWell it wasnt a great surprise I think it was becoming clearer and clearer that was the route that he was going to go rather than into retirement or any other team Obviously itll be a new challenge for him Well be sad to see it when he leaves next year but we wish him all the best for the future I look back with great fondness the 20 years almost that we spent together the highs and lows during that period But we look forward to the future and I think were well positioned for that added the Red Bull team principal IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/aston-martins-adrian-newey-announcement-slightly-premature-says-christian-horner-573358.html Sat, 14 Sep 2024 17:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/aston-martins-adrian-newey-announcement-slightly-premature-says-christian-horner-573362.html Baku Sep 14 Adrian Newey has committed his longterm future away from Red Bull as he will be joining the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team in 2025 Following a ceremony which took place on Tuesday announcing Neweys move to the British car manufacturer Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner claims the announcement is premature Its obviously a massive announcement for Aston perhaps slightly premature considering hes still contracted to Red Bull until the early part of next year I can understand that theyre excited about Adrian joining their team but in the meantime hes still got an RB17 to finish Thats going really well and making good progress said Horner as quoted by the Formula One websiteDuring his time in Formula One which has earned him the accolade of one of the greatest F1 designers in history Newey has been a part of Williams McLaren and Red Bull teams Newey won 12 drivers championships and 13 constructors crownsNewey will join a team that has already made significant strides in recent years with the recruitment of top engineers a stateoftheart new factory and a works engine partnership with Honda from 2026Horner went on to admit that Neweys move to Aston Martin did not come as a great surprise to himWell it wasnt a great surprise I think it was becoming clearer and clearer that was the route that he was going to go rather than into retirement or any other team Obviously itll be a new challenge for him Well be sad to see it when he leaves next year but we wish him all the best for the future I look back with great fondness the 20 years almost that we spent together the highs and lows during that period But we look forward to the future and I think were well positioned for that added the Red Bull team principal IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/aston-martins-adrian-newey-announcement-slightly-premature-says-christian-horner-573362.html Sat, 14 Sep 2024 18:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-qualifying-charles-leclerc-secures-fourth-consecutive-pole-in-baku-573383.html Baku Sep 14 Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc finished Qualifying in pole position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for the fourth year in a row Oscar Piastri finished threetenths of a second behind the pole sitter with Carlos Sainz set to start at third spot in the race on Sunday Qualifying 1 started off with a shocking result as Championship contender Lando Norris was knocked out after finishing 17th The Mclaren drivers final lap was forced to be cut short due to a yellow flag which did not give him the chance to make iut of the first session Alongside Lando Daniel Ricciardo Valtteri Bottas Zhou Guanyu Sauber grid penalty and Esteban Ocon will be starting at the back of the gridThe lap was easily good enough but it was a yellow flag so I had to back off said Lando Norris On potentially making up positions he added I dont think its as easy as that honestly following is pretty much impossible around here and overtaking is a lot worse than what everyone thinksOliver Bearman Yuki Tsunoda Pierre Gasly Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll were the next five racers who were eliminated from top 10 contention as they were eliminated in Q2Williams Franco Colapinto who has recently replaced the struggling Logan Sergeant out qualified his teammate and will start at ninth place on Sunday Max Verstappen and Red Bulls struggles continued as the Dutch driver was out qualified by teammate Sergio Perez as the former finished at sixth place whereas the Mexican will start at P4George Russell put his Mercedes in fifth place whereas Lewis Hamilton faced a battle to get his tyres up to temperature en route to seventh placeCharles Leclerc secured pole with a time of 1 minute 41365s on the board It was all set to be a front row lockout for Ferrari had it not been for Oscar Piastris final lap which saw him finish above the SpaniardIts one of my favourite tracks of the season I really like it it hasnt been an easy weekend because of the crash in FP1 it didnt make me lose confidence as I knew that the pace was there but youve got to be back up to speed In Q3 and qualifying it was all about trying to stay as far as possible from the walls and on the last lap I went for it a bit more and the lap time came very nicely said Leclerc in the postqualifying interview IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-qualifying-charles-leclerc-secures-fourth-consecutive-pole-in-baku-573383.html Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/9-yr-old-racer-atiqa-mir-picks-up-nine-places-at-wsk-super-cup-italy-572226.html New Delhi Sep 10 Ace karting champion Atiqa Mir from Kashmir showcased her resilience and racing spirit despite a weekend fraught with challenges at the prestigious World Series Karting WSK Super Cup at Franciacorta Circuit Italy The 9yearold was driving for the BabyRace team in the seriesFrom the outset Atiqa was on pace during her practice sessions settling in quickly with the team and adapting to her kart I had the opportunity to drive for the champion team BabyRace and from the first practice session I felt comfortable The team worked hard to get the kart to my liking and I learned a lot from my amazing teammates she saidHowever things didnt go as planned as the weekend rolled In qualifying Atiqa was unable to secure a fast lap as the group rolling compromised her best chance leaving her 15th though she was confident she could have finished in the top 5 Heat 1 brought even more disappointment when an engine failure on the formation lap forced Atiqa into a DNFShe rebounded in Heat 2 making up five places to finish 10th only to receive a penalty that dropped her back to 14th for forcing another driver off the track In Heat 3 Atiqa was running 10th when another driver collided with her pushing her back to 17th The other driver was penalized for the incidentStarting 19th in the prefinals Atiqa fought hard to climb five places and finish 14th In the finals she started in 35th but made up nine places to secure a 26th place finishAtiqa shared It was a weekend full of incidents most of them beyond my control However I learned a lot from driving with the best in the world and knowing I had the pace to challenge them My race pace was strong and with a better track position the results could have been very differentDespite the setbacks Atiqa remains optimistic about the experience A big thank you to the BabyRace team who made me feel at home right away and taught me so much about driving and setupHer performance in Italy while not yielding the results she hoped for has added valuable experience to the racing trajectory and she looks forward to her next opportunity on the track Atiqa is now gearing up for Middle East circuits IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/9-yr-old-racer-atiqa-mir-picks-up-nine-places-at-wsk-super-cup-italy-572226.html Tue, 10 Sep 2024 22:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-legendary-car-designer-adrian-newey-to-join-aston-martin-on-long-term-deal-572140.html Silverstone UK Sep 10 Adrian Newey has committed his longterm future to the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team The acclaimed British designer will begin working at the teams Silverstone headquarters from March 2025 taking up a new role as Managing Technical Partner The 65yearolds arrival at Aston Martin is a major coup for owner Lawrence Stroll who has invested heavily in the team with the ambition of turning them into title winners Neweys reputation for designing innovative and competitive cars particularly at the start of new regulatory periods makes him a valuable asset to the teamI am thrilled to be joining the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team I have been hugely inspired and impressed by the passion and commitment that Lawrence brings to everything he is involved with Newey said in a statementDuring his time in Formula One which has earned him the accolade of one of the greatest F1 designers in history Newey has been a part of the Williams McLaren and Red Bull teams winning 12 drivers championships and 13 constructors crownsLawrence is determined to create a worldbeating team He is the only majority team owner who is actively engaged in the sport His commitment is demonstrated in the development of the new AMR Technology Campus and wind tunnel at Silverstone which are not only state of the art but have a layout that creates a great environment to work in he addedNewey will join a team that has already made significant strides in recent years with the recruitment of top engineers a stateoftheart new factory and a works engine partnership with Honda from 2026This is huge news Adrian is the best in the world at what he does he is at the top of his game and I am incredibly proud that he is joining the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team Its the biggest story since the Aston Martin name returned to the sport and another demonstration of our ambition to build a Formula One team capable of fighting for world championships said owner Lawrence Stroll IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-legendary-car-designer-adrian-newey-to-join-aston-martin-on-long-term-deal-572140.html Tue, 10 Sep 2024 17:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-karting-championship-chennai-racers-varun-hari-eshanth-rivaan-clinch-titles-571564.html Bengaluru Sep 8 Chennai racers Varun Hari Praveen Eshanth Vengatesan and Rivaan Dev Preetham emerged champions in their respective categories in the fourth round of the MecoFmsci National Karting Championship Rotax Max 2024 at Meco Kartopia track here on Sunday Chennais 11yearold Rivaan MSPORT dominated the Micro Max category winning both the prefinal and final races as did his teammate Eshanth in the Junior Max classIn contrast Varun Hari Praveen shrugged off a P3 finish in the prefinal behind former champion Rohaan Madhesh Peregrine Racing and Hunner Singh Birel Art to win the final comfortably He finished ahead of another multiple champion Ruhaan Alva MSPORT and MadeshThe results ProvisionalSenior Max Final 16 laps 1 Varun Hari Praveen Chennai Peregrine Racing 1511207 2 Ruhaan Alva Bengaluru MSport 1514077 3 Rohaan Madesh Bengaluru Peregrine Racing 1516317 Prefinal 5 laps 1 Rohaan Madesh 0453038 2 Hunner Singh Gurugram Birel Art India 0454067 3 Varun Hari Praveen 0454838Junior Max Final 14 laps 1 Eshanth Vengatesan Chennai MSport 1401468 2 Arafath Sheikh Pune Crest Motorsport 1403229 3 Aarav Dewan Gurugram Leapfrog Racing 1405584 Prefinal 12 laps 1 Eshanth Vengatesan 1113275 2 Arafath Sheikh 1113371 3 Aarav Dewan Gurugram Leapfrog Racing 1114202Micro Max Final 12 laps 1 Rivaan Dev Preetham Chennai MSport 1240762 2 Hamza Balasinorwala Mumbai Rayo Racing 1240836 3 Yug Jain Vadodara Peregrine Racing 1241217 Prefinal 10 laps 1 Rivaan Dev Preetham 1017041 2 Hamza Balasinorwala 1017246 3 Yug Jain 1023919 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-karting-championship-chennai-racers-varun-hari-eshanth-rivaan-clinch-titles-571564.html Sun, 08 Sep 2024 19:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/carlos-sainz-holds-no-grudges-after-williams-switch-says-ill-always-be-a-ferrari-driver--571262.html Monza Sep 7 Lewis Hamiltons unexpected switch to Ferrari created a ripple effect which shook the 2025 Formula 1 drivers grid Unfortunately due to the move Carlos Sainz had to vacate his seat at Ferrari and after months of rumours the Spaniard announced he would be joining Williams on a multiyear deal Following his final Italian Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver Sainz claimed that even though his time with the Red Brigade may be coming to an end he will always be a Ferrari driverThere are many examples in the grid or in the past where every time theres been a Ferrari driver that obviously has had also success but also a good relationship with the tifosi has then been remembered and has been treated really well from the tifosi all around the world wherever they go Sainz said to The AthleticI do believe thats my case also Thats why Ive always said that once youre a Ferrari driver youre always a Ferrari driver No one can take that away from you Ive had the pleasure of doing it for the last four years and yeah Im gonna enjoy it as much as I can he addedSainz made the switch from McLarens papaya orange to Ferraris Tifosi red in 2021 and has gone on to win three races for the team in four years Despite an untimely end to his career at the team Sainz went on to state that there are no hard feelings towards any party involved in the moveThe fact that Im leaving at the end of the year I think there is nothing really that is wrong with me and Ferrari A seventime world champion happened to want to come to Ferrari in the last years of his career and I had to move aside and to obviously leave my space to Lewis I have no hard feelings regarding that he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/carlos-sainz-holds-no-grudges-after-williams-switch-says-ill-always-be-a-ferrari-driver--571262.html Sat, 07 Sep 2024 15:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/adrian-newey-to-join-aston-martin-on-a-five-year-deal-worth-30-million-pounds-report-571342.html New Delhi Sep 7 Renowned Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey is set to join Aston Martin next year in a move that could significantly boost the teams chances of becoming world championship contenders In a career spanning over four decades Newey has reportedly signed a fiveyear contract worth up to 30m pounds per year including bonuses and addons as per a report by BBC SportThe 65yearolds arrival at Aston Martin is a major coup for owner Lawrence Stroll who has invested heavily in the team with the ambition of turning them into title winners Neweys reputation for designing innovative and competitive cars particularly at the start of new regulatory periods makes him a valuable asset to the teamDuring his time in Formula One which has earned him the accolade of being one of the greatest F1 designers in history Newey has been a part of the Williams McLaren and Red Bull teams Newey won 12 drivers championships and 13 constructors crownsNewey will join a team that has already made significant strides in recent years with the recruitment of top engineers a stateoftheart new factory and a works engine partnership with Honda from 2026Neweys appointment is expected to be announced at a news conference at Aston Martins F1 base at Silverstone on Tuesday He will start work in early March in time to have a significant impact on the design of the teams 2026 car With his expertise and the teams significant investment Aston Martin could become a major force in Formula 1 in the years to comeAdrian has been linked to many teams and would be an asset to any team but we dont have anything to announce said an Aston Martin spokesperson to the BBC IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/adrian-newey-to-join-aston-martin-on-a-five-year-deal-worth-30-million-pounds-report-571342.html Sat, 07 Sep 2024 20:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-bearman-to-race-for-haas-at-azerbaijan-gp-following-magnussens-one-race-ban-570968.html New Delhi Sep 6 Oliver Bearman will step into the empty Haas seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix following Kevin Magnussen being hit with a onerace ban after being penalised for clashing with Alpine rival Pierre Gasly during the Italian Grand Prix with the penalty points received tipping him over the limit for the season Its definitely more of a challenge stepping in to race as a reserve driver with limited preptime and so on but Im in the fortunate position of having done it earlier in the year with Scuderia Ferrari so I can at least call on that experience Bearman said in a statementIve also had four FP1 sessions with the Haas F1 Team in the VF24 already this season so undoubtedly that will also prove to be valuable in tackling the full race weekend in Baku The team is in good form at the moment and Ill do my best to be prepared with the time we have available The aim is to get out there and have a solid weekend in Azerbaijan he addedThis news follows after the Haas F1 Team signed Bearman to compete for the US team on a multiyear contract beginning with the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship The 19yearold Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member is currently an official reserve driver for the team while contesting the FIA Formula 2 Championship for Prema RacingBearman in his additional role as reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari made a memorable Formula 1 debut back in March in Saudi Arabia substituting for the sidelined Carlos Sainz becoming the thirdyoungest racer in Formula 1 history A mature performance from the then 18yearold from Chelmsford saw Bearman classified seventh and firmly in the points on his oneoff race appearance behind the wheel of the SF24Im excited that Ollie will be driving the VF24 alongside Nico in Baku Hes already shown great promise in his FP1 outings and postseason test and he performed very well when he drove for Scuderia Ferrari in Saudi Arabia picking up points in the process This is another excellent opportunity for both Ollie and the team to work together this time throughout an entire race weekend and he couldnt ask for better teammate than Nico to provide him with a reference added Ayao Komatsu Team Principal of Haas F1 Team IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-bearman-to-race-for-haas-at-azerbaijan-gp-following-magnussens-one-race-ban-570968.html Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-ferrari-appoint-loic-serra-as-chassis-technical-director-570775.html Maranello Italy Sep 5 Scuderia Ferrari have appointed Frenchman Loic Serra as chassis technical director the Formula One team announced on Thursday The 52yearold will replace Enrico Cardile who joined Aston Martin as chief technical officer in June earlier this year Ferrari said that Serra will assume his role on October 1 Enrico Gualtieri will continue as powerunit technical director Serra was linked up with the BMW Sauber team from 2006 to 2009 before joining Mercedes after BMW withdrew from Formula 1 He went on to become Mercedes performance director in 2019Earlier Ferrari announced that Serra would join the team as head of chassis performance engineering However the reassessment of the teams technical structure by boss Frederic Vasseur following Cardiles departure led to his promotion to chassis technical directorCurrently Vasseur has been acting technical director since Cardile left the team At Ferrari Serra will reunite with seventime world champion Lewis Hamilton who will join the side next yearIn last weekends home Italian Grand Prix Ferraris Charles Leclerc won the race with Charles Sainz finishing fourth behind Mclarens Oscar Piastri and Lando NorrisFerraris onespot gamble paid off on the fresh asphalt of Autodromo Nazionale Monza to score the maximum points to curtail the lead to defending champion Max Verstappen and Norris in the driver standings IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-ferrari-appoint-loic-serra-as-chassis-technical-director-570775.html Thu, 05 Sep 2024 19:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/2w-national-racing-cship-spotlight-on-young-guns-in-round-4-570790.html Chennai Sep 5 Several gifted teenagers who have shown courage to take on their peers with pace and panache are set to take a step up in their quest for glory in the fourth and penultimate round of the MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 at the Madras International Circuit here on Friday The threeday event with 18 races besides official practice and qualifying sessions and over 100 entries promises to be a humdinger given that the leading title contenders across all categories are closely bunched and can ill afford to drop any championship points It has been the kind of championship that has witnessed more than its share of heartstopping moments and tight finishesThe ongoing season has heralded the emergence of two 17yearold protagonists in TVS Racing teammates Sarthak Chavan Pune and Bengalurus Chiranth Vishwanath Their fierce noholdsbarred rivalry in the two premier classes the ProStock 301400cc Open and ProStock 165cc Open has lit up the championship having also greatly benefitted from their exposure at the Asian level with Sarthak even scoring a couple of podium finishesThe Pune youngster has enjoyed tremendous success in the PS 301400cc Open class with five wins from six and heads the leaderboard In the popular PS 165cc Open category the pair have denied each other precious points courtesy of a couple of crashes after making contact when racing wheeltowheel but are very much in the title huntSarthak is placed third behind teammates the multiple National champion Jagan Kumar and KY Ahamed while Chiranth is fifth behind Deepak Ravikumar the other TVS Racing rider Just 40 points separate the fiveAnother 17yearold local talent Abdul Basim Rockers Racing leads in the Novice Stock 165cc class on the back of six consecutive wins while in the Girls Stock 165cc category schoolgirl Rakshitha Dave RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate is ahead of fellowChennai racer Jagathishree Kumaresan One Racing only by one point Incidentally Rakshitha had two fifthplace finishes last weekend in the FIM Asia Women Cup of Circuit Racing in ThailandThree riders Raj Kumar RDX Torque Racing RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate teammates Kaushik Subbaiah Ganesan and Aldrin Babu are only 20 points apart in the Stock 301400cc Novice Class which was accorded National Championship status at the start of the current season and has consistently boasted grid of over 20 ridersIdemitsu Honda India Talent Cup is made up of superquick NSF 250R bikes and handpicked young riders Mohsin Paramban the 22yearold from Malappuram leads the championship with three wins and two secondplace finishes in six outings after surviving a few close racesLeading in the various categories of the Championship which are designed to identify and nurture talent by providing them a Nationallevel platform to showcase their skills are Senthil Kumar C Coimbatore RR310 Open with four wins Harshith Bogar Bengaluru Rookie RTR 200 with five wins and Saimah Ali Baig Pune Girls RTR 200 with two wins IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/2w-national-racing-cship-spotlight-on-young-guns-in-round-4-570790.html Thu, 05 Sep 2024 22:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-supercross-racing-league-145-riders-register-for-season-2-570131.html Pune Sep 2 After the overwhelming success of the inaugural Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL season the second season of the league is set to break new ground attracting an impressive 145 riders from around the world The auction for Season 2 of the ISRL is expected to be held in October The response has been nothing short of extraordinary with athletes from the USA Spain France Germany Sweden South Africa Australia Thailand Indonesia and India joining the fray There has been a notable increase in the registration of Indianorigin riders compared to Season 1 highlighting how more and more domestic athletes view the ISRL as a premier platform to showcase their skills and compete on an international levelSeason 2 will see the return of fan favourites like 9x Australian Champion Matt Moss Reid Taylor MxON World Champion Jordi Tixier and Asia Motocross Champion Thanarat PenjanNew faces including AMA Pro Motocross Champion Mike Alessi French Supercross Champion Greg Aranda French Motocross Champion Maxime Desprey and Australian Motocross Champion Luke Clout will also join the league bringing fresh energy and competitionIndian talent is equally wellrepresented with riders like 3x Indian Supercross Champion Rugved Barguje Indian Supercross Champions Shlok Ghorpade and Ikshan Shanbhag ready to make their markEeshan Lokhande Cofounder amp Director of the ISRL shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming season The response to Season two has been phenomenal We are witnessing a new era in Indian motorsports where the ISRL is not just a platform for international talent but also a catalyst for the growth of Supercross in India Our goal is to elevate the sport further and deliver a season that is bigger bolder and faster captivating fans around the worldMatt Moss 9x Australian Champion said Season 1 was a fantastic experience for me both on and off the track Travelling to India was definitely a cultural shock but in the best possible waythe people were amazing and the hospitality was second to none The racing itself was really competitive and enjoyableAs we head into season 2 Im confident that any small issues from the first season will be ironed out making it even better Im especially excited to see the increased competition with more riders from the USA France and Australia joining in I cant wait to get back out there and see what Season 2 has in store Matt Moss saidThe ISRL second season is scheduled from January to March 2025 across multiple rounds in various Indian cities IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-supercross-racing-league-145-riders-register-for-season-2-570131.html Mon, 02 Sep 2024 19:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-leclerc-wins-italian-grand-prix-ahead-of-piastri-norris-569937.html Monza Italy Sep 1 Ferraris Charles Leclerc won the Italian Grand Prix with a onestop strategy and finished ahead of two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris here at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on Sunday Norris made a solid start from the pole position initially maintaining P1 before Piastri overtook him at the second chicane later in the lap From that point on the Australian led for most of the raceWhile most teams opted for a twostop strategy Ferrari took a gamble with a onestop approach for Leclerc and Carlos Sainz putting them at the front of the field in the later stages of the raceHowever as Sainz struggled with worn tyres both Piastri and Norris overtook him to claim second and third positions Leclerc meanwhile managed to hold on for an emotional victory on Ferraris home turf finishing 26 seconds ahead of PiastriNorris secured an extra point for setting the fastest lap ending the day in third a result that offered some consolation for the Briton who had hoped for a stronger finish to boost his championship bid Sainz settled for fourth while Lewis Hamilton in his final Monza race before joining Ferrari next year finished fifth for MercedesMax Verstappen moved up one spot from his original grid position to finish sixth keeping ahead of Mercedes George Russell who took seventh Sergio Perez added three points to Red Bulls tally by finishing eighthIt was a good day for Williams with Alex Albon securing two valuable points in the ninth and Kevin Magnussen finishing tenth for Haas despite both team drivers receiving time penalties for separate incidentsFernando Alonso narrowly missed the top ten finishing 11th for Aston Martin while Franco Colapinto finished 12th in his F1 debut for Williams Daniel Ricciardo finished 13th for Red Bull despite receiving two penalties early in the raceEsteban Ocon led Alpine in 14th ahead of teammate Pierre Gasly in 15th with Valtteri Bottas following in 16th for Kick SauberNico Hulkenberg ended the race in 17th for Haas Zhou Guanyu was 18th for Kick Sauber and Lance Stroll was the last classified runner finishing 19th for Aston Martin Yuki Tsunoda was the races sole retiree after his RB was involved in a collision with Hulkenberg IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-leclerc-wins-italian-grand-prix-ahead-of-piastri-norris-569937.html Sun, 01 Sep 2024 21:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-mercedes-name-kimi-antonelli-as-hamiltons-replacement-for-2025-569716.html Monza Italy Aug 31 Mercedes have announced the promotion of F2 driver Kimi Antonelli to replace the Ferraribound seventime world champion Lewis Hamilton in the 2025 Formula 1 season The Italian driver will be partnering up with George Russell for his rookie season Antonelli will surely have big boots to fill as he forms the teams academy lineup for the coming seasonIt is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025 Reaching F1 is a dream Ive had since I was a small boy I want to thank the team for the support theyve given me in my career so far and the faith theyve shown in me I am still learning a lot but I feel ready for the opportunity Im also really excited to become Georges teammate He came through the teams junior programme just like myself and is someone I have a huge amount of respect for Kimi said in a statementKimis meteoric rise through the lower ranks of motorsport saw him join the teams junior programme as a 12yearold in 2019After great success in karting including FIA Karting European Championship and WSK Euro series titles he graduated to singleseaters where he stormed to both the ADAC and Italian Formula 4 titles in 2022 before claiming the 2023 Formula Regional European ChampionshipThe Italian made the step up to FIA Formula 2 for 2024 and has handled it superbly Hes claimed two victories so far this season including an impressive Feature Race in BudapestOur 2025 driver lineup combines experience talent youth and outandout raw speed We are excited about what George and Kimi bring to the team both as individual drivers but also as a partnership Our new lineup is perfect to open the next chapter in our story It is also a testament to the strength of our junior programme and our belief in homegrown talent said Team Principal Toto WolffRussell who is currently placed eighth with 122 points in the Driver Standings said Im really excited to be partnering with Kimi for 2025 His record in junior formula has been formidable and his promotion is truly deserved Hes a fantastic young talent and a fellow graduate of our junior programme I look forward to using the experience Ive gained from my own journey to provide guidance to Kimi as he makes the step up to F1 I know how much of a support Lewis was for me throughout my time as a junior driver and since Ive been his teammate Ive learned so much from him and I hope to play a similar role for Kim IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-mercedes-name-kimi-antonelli-as-hamiltons-replacement-for-2025-569716.html Sat, 31 Aug 2024 15:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/kush-maini-completes-second-formula-1-test-with-alpine-f1-team-in-italy-569324.html Imola Italy Aug 29 Kush Maini Indias sole representative in the highly competitive Formula 2 series has successfully completed his second Formula 1 test with the Alpine F1 Team here at the Imola circuit The twoday test at Imola a track renowned for its challenging layout and rich motorsport history saw Maini behind the wheel of the Alpine A522 Kush was a part of a twoday testing event for the Alpine team alongside Jack Doohan who recently secured a promotion to Formula 1Wednesdays event marked his second opportunity to test in an F1 car following his impressive debut test earlier this year at Red Bull Ring Mainis continued performance at the tests reflects his rapid development and readiness for the next levelThis latest test comes at a crucial time as the teams reserve driver spot opened up earlier last week presenting a opportunity for Maini With his consistent performances in Formula 2 and now two successful F1 tests under his belt Maini is emerging as a strong contender for a potential reserve driver role for the 2025 seasonAfter 99 laps and close to 500 Km of high speed and adrenaline Kush shared his thoughts on his day Cant thank Alpine enough for this opportunity Very strong day both qualification and race pace looked very good Cant wait for the next oneFollowing his impressive performance at Imola Maini couldnt have asked for any better preparation for the second leg of the Formula 2 season Representing Invicta Maini will return to action at Monza over the coming weekendWithin a span of three months he has performed consistently at two F1 tests represented the Alpine F1 team at the iconic Goodwood Festival of Speed and also bagged his first ever Formula 2 win by winning the sprint race at the Hungarian GPAs the Formula 2 season resumes this weekend just coming off an F1 test a confident Kush will look forward to returning to the podium IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/kush-maini-completes-second-formula-1-test-with-alpine-f1-team-in-italy-569324.html Thu, 29 Aug 2024 13:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-norris-wins-dutch-grand-prix-ahead-of-verstappen-leclerc-568678.html Zandvoort Netherlands Aug 25 McLarens Lando Norris claimed victory in the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort defeating championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull denying him a fourth consecutive home win on Sunday Starting from pole position Norris initially lost the lead to Verstappen off the line as the Red Bull driver surged ahead at the first corner and created a gap Despite this setback Norris fought back as the race progressed finding extra pace while Verstappen struggled with grip issues Norris reasserted his lead and maintained it throughout eventually finishing more than 20 seconds ahead of Verstappen This win added to his Miami victory earlier in the season helped reduce Verstappens championship leadCharles Leclerc also delivered a notable performance moving from sixth to third to secure a podium finish for Ferrari amidst a tough weekend McLarens Oscar Piastri finished fourth after losing track position due to an extended first stintFerraris Carlos Sainz finished fifth ahead of Red Bulls Sergio Perez and the Mercedes pair of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton Russell and Hamilton who opted for late second pit stops to switch to soft tyres aimed for the fastest lap but Norris ultimately set the benchmarkAlpines Pierre Gasly came in ninth while Fernando Alonso took the final point for Aston Martin by overtaking Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg late in the race Lance Stroll finished 12th but was demoted to 13th due to a fivesecond penalty for speeding in the pit laneAlex Albon who started from the back of the grid due to a disqualification related to Williamss illegal floor upgrade ended up 14th Esteban Ocon and Logan Sargeant finished 15th and 16th respectively with Yuki Tsunoda in 17th Kevin Magnussen who started from the pit lane finished 18th while Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu both from Sauber rounded out the field after two pit stops eachNorriss performance allowed him to reduce Verstappens championship lead from 78 points to 70 with nine races remaining IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-norris-wins-dutch-grand-prix-ahead-of-verstappen-leclerc-568678.html Sun, 25 Aug 2024 22:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/alpine-promote-jack-doohan-to-formula-one-seat-for-2025-568232.html Zandvoort Netherlands Aug 23 Alpine added yet another piece to the 2025 Formula One driver lineup on Friday by promoting academy driver Jack Doohan to the team for next season I am so happy to secure promotion into a fulltime race seat in 2025 I am very grateful for the trust and belief by the teams senior management There is so much work ahead to be prepared and ready and I will give my best in the meantime to absorb as much information and knowledge to be ready for the step up Doohan said in a statementThe Australian will be replacing Esteban Ocon after the French driver confirmed his move to Haas for next season Doohan will be signing for the team after having spent two years with Alpine and will be the second rookie on the grid alongside Haas Oliver BearmanReally just trying to make sure that if I need to jump in the car and when I do then Im more ready than ever And then I can make sure that we do the best and especially for when I do become a fulltime driver very soon that Ill be making the most of it he addedDoohan was a part of Red Bulls driver academy set up from 201721 before making the switch to Alpine in 2022 He started off as a rookie in Formula 2 and was named the teams reserve driver in 2023 Doohans time at Alpine has seen him participate in numerous tests at incurrent F1 venues and driven in multiple practice sessions the latest being at Silverstone this yearI have worked with Jack back in 2019 and I am fully aware of his raw talent and potential He is a very hard worker behind the scenes and his commitment is hugely valued by the entire team said team principal Oliver Oakes We look forward to working with both Jack and Pierre in order to keep developing the car and bring the team up the grid IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/alpine-promote-jack-doohan-to-formula-one-seat-for-2025-568232.html Fri, 23 Aug 2024 14:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/irish-rider-louis-oregan-dies-after-crash-in-qualifying-session-at-manx-gp-566994.html New Delhi Aug 19 The 2024 Manx Grand Prix was struck by tragedy as Irish rider Louis ORegan lost his life following a crash during the events opening qualifying session The incident occurred on Monday at Kates Cottage a notorious spot on the mountain section of the 3773mile 60km course The crash happened at approximately 1650 BST leading to the session being redflagged and not restarted reported BBCORegan 43 originally from Ireland but living in Didcot England was an experienced competitor at the Manx Grand Prix His journey in this historic event began in 2013 when he made his debut in the Newcomers A Race securing an impressive 12th place Over the years ORegan demonstrated his skill and passion for the sport with his best performance recorded in 2019 when he lapped the course at an average speed of 1147 mph during the Junior RaceIn a statement race organisers expressed their deep sorrow at the loss With great sadness the organizers of the Manx Grand Prix can confirm that Louis ORegan 43 has died following injuries sustained in an accident at Kates Cottage during the opening qualifying session of the 2024 event the statement read Louis an Irishman who lived in Didcot England was an experienced competitor at the Manx Grand Prix having made his debut in the 2013 Newcomers A Race finishing 12th He recorded his personal best lap speed in the 2019 Junior Race lapping at an average speed of 1147 mph We extend our heartfelt condolences to Louiss partner Sarah his family loved ones and friends IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/irish-rider-louis-oregan-dies-after-crash-in-qualifying-session-at-manx-gp-566994.html Mon, 19 Aug 2024 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-racing-league-to-introduce-night-race-with-star-studded-lineup-566660.html New Delhi Aug 17 The Indian Racing League IRL featuring Indian sensations Akhil Rabindra and Nikhil Bohra alongside Swiss great Neel Jani and multiple other leading motorsports talent from India and abroad will kick off at the Madras International Circuit on August 2425 followed by Indias firstever night race at the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit on August 31September 1 Leading the talented IRL lineup of 24 drivers including male and female drivers split into six teams of four each will witness the likes of Akhil Rabindra and Neel Jani The league will also witness female racers driving alongside their male counterpartsRabindra made history in 2019 as the only Asian selected by Aston Martin for their Racing Academy later clinching the inaugural IRL title in 2022 Jani a fan favourite from Switzerland brings an impressive resume winning the World Endurance Championship and the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016Akhilesh Reddy Chairman amp Managing Director of RPPL welcomed the new and the returning drivers back to the grid Were thrilled to welcome our returning drivers and new competitors to the most exciting season of the Indian Racing Festival yet As the premier showcase of top racing talent from India and beyond we pride ourselves on delivering exhilarating action With new teams a night race and a unique franchisebased format featuring both men and women racers competing on the same track this season promises unmatched thrillsThe six teams will feature two Indian and two foreign racers including one female As such six women racers will compete with their male counterparts on the same track all whizzing around in their rapid Wold Thunder GB08s the singleseater cars that can achieve a top speed of 240 kmphThis year the returning Fabienne Wolhwend and Gabriel Jilkova among others will try to match Sarah Moores accomplishment from 2023 when she became the first female race winner in IRL historySix teams will participate in the league including newcomers Kolkata Royal Tigers Kolkata stalwarts Speed Demons Delhi Delhi Goa Aces JA Racing Goa Hyderabad Blackbirds Hyderabad and Chennai Turbo Riders Chennai and former champions Bangalore Speedsters BengaluruRaoul Hyman a successful BritishSouth African driver will be one of the returning faces in the IRL this season alongside his partner from the previous year Sohil Shah In the IRL two teammates share one car across five intense rounds with the highestscoring pair winning the Car Championship and the highestscoring cars winning the Team Championship Hyman and Shah had clinched the 2023 Car Championship by earning the most pointsShah one of the many promising Indian drivers vying for glory in the IRL said The Indian Racing League is a testament to the excitement and passion for motorsports in our country Its amazing to witness and be a part of the budding motorsports scene in India The grid here is extremely competitive pushing each of us to our limits and showcasing the immense talent we haveWohlwend who finished second twice in IRL 2022 and won the Team Championship he will be participating this season too said Participating in the Indian Racing League has been an incredible experience Its exciting to be part of the worlds first genderinclusive franchise racing league where everyone has a chance to shine The spirit here is unmatched driving us all to achieve our best The growing popularity of the league among Indian fans is truly inspiring too and their support motivates us to push even harderThe IRL will also serve as a thrilling stage for rising stars like Ruhaan Alva who made history last year as the youngest race winner Joining him are peers Shahan Ali Mohsin and Rishon Rajeev fresh off their successes in the Formula 4 Indian Championship and debutant Julius Dinesen a 17yearold prodigy from Denmark with a F4 title to his name IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-racing-league-to-introduce-night-race-with-star-studded-lineup-566660.html Sat, 17 Aug 2024 16:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/enea-bastianini-triumphs-at-british-motogp-secures-weekend-double-at-silverstone-563929.html Silverstone Aug 4 Enea Bastianini of Ducati clinched victory at the British Grand Prix completing a remarkable weekend double at Silverstone The race saw Bastianini taking the chequered flag ahead of new world championship leader Jorge Martin and twotime MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia Bagnaia who started second on the grid for Sundays main race quickly overtook polesitter Aleix Espargaro to lead the opening lap However as the race progressed he found himself embroiled in a fierce battle for third after Jorge Martin surged past him with eight laps remainingMartin a frontrunner throughout the contest appeared poised for victory maintaining a solid grip on the race But on the penultimate lap the Pramac Racing Ducati rider ran wide at turn three providing Bastianini the perfect opportunity to seize the leadBastianini capitalised on Martins error with a dominant final lapandahalf creating an immediate gap and securing a decisive win Bagnaia meanwhile narrowly fended off a challenge from sixtime MotoGP champion Marc Marquez to claim the final podium positionWith this victory Bastianini solidified his position in the championship standings while Martins secondplace finish propelled him to the top of the leaderboard now leading by three points Reigning champion Bagnaia dropped to second place and Bastianini held firm in third Marc Marquez with his strong performance sits fourth in the standingsThe MotoGP season continues with the Austrian Grand Prix on August 18 where riders will once again compete for crucial championship points IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/enea-bastianini-triumphs-at-british-motogp-secures-weekend-double-at-silverstone-563929.html Sun, 04 Aug 2024 23:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/durand-cup-2024-youthful-chennaiyin-go-down-fighting-to-indian-army-in-opener-563217.html Jamshedpur July 31 Chennaiyin FC went down fighting to the Indian Army in their Durand Cup 2024 opener at the JRD Tata Sports Complex Stadium here on Wednesday The Marina Machans lost 10 in a narrow margin with the goal coming on the cusp of halftime Assistant coach Noel Wilson named a youthful starting lineup for Chennaiyins opener handing the captains duties to 20yearold Bikash Yumnam Ahead of goalkeeper Samik Mitra Bikash partnered with YV Praful Kumar in central defence while wingerturnedfullback Alexander Romario Jesuraj and Sachu Siby flanked the pairNgangom Raman Singh sat deep with Ganeshpandi S in central midfield screening the backline Further ahead Komal Thatal and Vincy Barretto hugged the touchline as wide attackers Meanwhile Irfan Yadwad led the line with youngster Lalpekhlua dovetailing the lone forwardThe first half was more about Chennaiyins defensive mettle than their attacking prowess The Marina Machans defended against the Indian Armys gritty physicality and neat passing pressing aggressively when triggered but retaining shape when bypassed Additionally when the opponents did work the ball through to their forwards custodian Mitra was on hand to thwart themMitra was called into action twice in the first half both times the Chennaiyin goalkeeper stood tall to parry a shot away from Indian Army striker Liton However there was nothing the 23yearold could do to prevent Litons thunderbolt from punching the top corner in the 42nd minuteMeanwhile Chennaiyins best chance of the first half fell to Irfan who used his quick feet and rapid strides to create space for himself twice Both times though his subsequent shot at goal met a strong hand from the opposing keeperMitra continued his fine performance on the other side of the break preventing Shafeel PP from extending the Indian Armys lead with his fingertipsAs the half wore on two quick chances fell the Marina Machans way past the hour mark first to Irfan whose shot from a tight angle just missed the post and then to substitute Vishal R who glanced a header narrowly wide of the goalLater both Jesuraj and Vincy tested their luck but couldnt score the elusive equalising goalChennaiyin FC will look to bounce back quickly from the loss when they take on Jamshedpur FC on August 4 in their second group game IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/durand-cup-2024-youthful-chennaiyin-go-down-fighting-to-indian-army-in-opener-563217.html Wed, 31 Jul 2024 22:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-to-return-to-buddh-international-circuit-in-2025-563173.html New Delhi July 31 MotoGP has signed a new contract with Invest UP the Government of Uttar Pradeshs agency that facilitates international investment into the state The agreement confirms the Indian Grand Prix will be on the calendar from 2025 to 2027 inclusive The event will continue to be held at Buddh International Circuit which made its debut on the MotoGP calendar in 2023 A new agreement signed directly with the Government of Indian region Uttar Pradesh confirms MotoGP will return to the Buddh International Circuit for the next three seasons With a population of over 14 billion people and more than 200 million motorcycles on its roads India is a key global market for MotoGP our manufacturers and many of the sports partnersTwowheeled transportation counts for nearly 75 of the total number of vehicles used daily read the statement posted on MotoGPs websiteIndia also has a healthy established audience for MotoGP with further scope to grow in coming seasons The inaugural Grand Prix at Buddh saw more than 100000 fans come to see history made as the worlds most exciting sport raced in the country for the first timeThis new agreement signed directly between MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sports and the government of Uttar Pradesh provides the perfect backdrop to further the success of both the sport and motorcycle industry across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-to-return-to-buddh-international-circuit-in-2025-563173.html Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-carlos-sainz-signs-2-year-contract-with-williams-racing-562743.html Wantage UK July 29 Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has signed a twoyear contract with Williams Racing with options to extend which will come into effect from the next Formula 1 season The Spanish driver will race alongside Thailands Alex Albon in the 2025 season after losing his current Ferrari seat to seventime world champion Lewis Hamilton In his Formula 1 career to date the 29yearold has achieved three race victories 23 podiums over 1100 career points and is currently sitting fifth in this seasons Drivers ChampionshipAfter becoming the only nonRed Bull Racing driver to achieve a race victory in 2023 Sainz most recently took victory at this years Australian Grand Prix just ten days after surgery for appendicitis and has scored four further podiums so far this season Sainz has had no shortage of suitors with Williams SauberAudi and Alpine all keen to get his signature but it was James Vowles Williams project that ultimately got the Spaniards seal of approvalSainz said Williams is the right place for him to continue his Formula 1 journey and vows to bring the team to the front of the grid I am very happy to announce that I will be joining Williams Racing from 2025 onwards It is no secret that this years driver market has been exceptionally complex for various reasons and that it has taken me some time to announce my decision However I am fully confident that Williams is the right place for me to continue my F1 journey and I am extremely proud of joining such a historic and successful team where many of my childhood heroes drove in the past and made their mark on our sport he said in a statementThe ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where it belongs at the front of the grid is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity I am convinced that this team has all the right ingredients to make history again and starting on January 1 I will give my absolute best to drive Williams forward alongside every single member of the team Sainz addedWilliams Team Principal James Vowles said In Alex and Carlos we will have one of the most formidable driver lineups on the grid and with huge experience to guide us into the new regulations in 2026 Their belief in this organisations mission demonstrates the magnitude of the work going on behind the scenes People should be in no doubt about our ambition and momentum as we continue our journey back to competitiveness we are here we are serious and with Doriltons backing we are investing in what it takes to return to the front of the gridI also want to thank Logan for everything he has done for the team and know he will continue to fight hard for us in the races ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-carlos-sainz-signs-2-year-contract-with-williams-racing-562743.html Mon, 29 Jul 2024 22:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-esteban-ocon-joins-haas-on-multi-year-contract-562018.html Stavelot July 25 Haas F1 team have signed a multiyear contract with Esteban Ocon who is set to join the American outfit alongside rookie Ollie Bearman in 2025 This announcement comes on the heels of Kevin Magnussens departure at the end of the current season Ocon will be the first Grand Prix winner to drive for the team since its inception in 2016Esteban Ocon 27 brings a wealth of experience to Haas with 146 career starts and a career spanning stints with Manor Force India Renault and Alpine Ocon has scored 425 points in his career including three podiums and a memorable maiden victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021Ocons relationship with Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu dates back to 2014 when Komatsu engineered Ocons first F1 test with Lotus at Valencia Team owner Gene Haas emphasized the importance of having a driver with a proven pedigree in F1 noting Ocons consistent performance and ability to score points as key factors in the decisionIt was important to me that we have a driver with a known pedigree in Formula 1 and as a Grand Prix winner Esteban undoubtedly fits that brief said Gene Haas in a statement released by team on ThursdayEstebans proved himself in the teams hes raced for as someone whos continually in the mix and scoring points its that continuity were keen to capitalise on as we look for increased performance gains ontrack We have a blend of youth and experience in our future driver lineup and Im excited to see the resultsEsteban Ocon expressed his excitement about joining Haas praising the teams spirit work ethic and ambitious plans for the future He also looked forward to reuniting with Komatsu and contributing to Haass growth trajectoryIll be joining a very ambitious racing team whose spirit work ethic and undeniable upward trajectory has really impressed meId like to thank Gene Haas and Ayao Komatsu for their trust and support and for our honest and fruitful discussions these last few months On a more personal note Im very happy to be working with Ayao again as hes been a part of my debut when I first stepped into a Formula 1 car during my Lotus Junior days more than 10 years agoHaas has exciting plans and clear targets for the future and Im very much looking forward to working with everyone in Kannapolis Banbury and Maranello and being part of this great project IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-esteban-ocon-joins-haas-on-multi-year-contract-562018.html Thu, 25 Jul 2024 15:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/seidl-departs-audi-names-former-ferrari-chief-binotto-as-new-f1-boss-561764.html Neuburg July 23 Audi have announced former Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto as the new boss of their Formula 1 project on Tuesday Earlier this year German car maker Audi took full ownership of the Sauber team which will be run under the Audi banner from 2026 with an allnew power unit currently being developed inhouse in Germany Binotto 54 will take charge of the operation on August 1 as Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer based at the Sauber factory in Hinwil Switzerland He will report directly to the board of directorsIn the restructuring former McLaren Team Principal Andreas Seidl who joined Sauber in January 2023 as CEO of the Audi team is departing along with Audi executive Oliver Hoffmann who was overseeing the project Binotto served as Chief Technical Officer at Ferrari before being promoted to Team Principal in 2019 He left the role in 2022 after three years and had been with the Scuderia since the mid1990sI am delighted that we have been able to recruit Mattia Binotto for our ambitious Formula 1 project said Audi CEO Gernot Dollner With his extensive experience of more than 25 years in Formula 1 he will undoubtedly be able to make a decisive contribution to AudiExplaining the restructure Dollner added Our aim is to bring the entire Formula 1 project up to F1 speed by means of clear management structures defined responsibilities reduced interfaces and efficient decisionmaking processes For this purpose the team must be able to act independently and quicklyI would like to thank Oliver and Andreas for their important work in establishing our entry into Formula 1 and their commitment to preparing it he saidNico Hulkenberg who will leave Haas at the conclusion of the season to join Kick Sauber is the first driver confirmed to be a part of Audis team The German driver called the move interesting and very excitingSince 2022 Chinese racer Zhou Guanyu and Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas have represented the Hinwil team however when the current campaign concludes it is unclear what lies ahead for either driver IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/seidl-departs-audi-names-former-ferrari-chief-binotto-as-new-f1-boss-561764.html Wed, 24 Jul 2024 00:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/alpine-f1-team-nears-technical-partnership-with-mercedes-for-2025-report-561582.html New Delhi July 23 Alpine Formula 1 team is on the verge of striking a significant technical partnership with Mercedes that could revolutionise their competitive edge possibly starting as early as 2025 This potential collaboration marks a pivotal moment for the French manufacturer as it contemplates the future of its Renault works engine program amidst growing financial concernsAccording to Autosport report Alpine has been scrutinising the costbenefit ratio of continuing its investment in developing its own power unit This internal debate intensified after rival Audi secured an exclusive technical partnership with BP and Castrol Renaults current fuel and lubricants supplier Amidst these uncertainties new Alpine F1 advisor Flavio Briatore has emerged as a strong proponent of transitioning to a customer engine deal arguing that such a move could be more advantageous for the teamBriatores advocacy led Alpine to explore partnerships with various manufacturers ultimately narrowing the field to Mercedes Talks between Alpine and Mercedes have reached an advanced stage with Briatore frequently seen at the Mercedes motorhome during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend While a final contract has yet to be signed highlevel sources indicate that an agreement in principle has been reached and the remaining details are being ironed outThe proposed partnership with Mercedes would be comprehensive akin to the arrangement Aston Martin currently enjoys This would include not only Mercedes customer engines but also their rear suspension and gearbox effectively aligning both teams rear ends Initial discussions have centered around a 2026 start date coinciding with the introduction of new turbo hybrid power units in F1 However there is an outside chance the partnership could commence in 2025 if negotiations are concluded promptlySwitching to Mercedes engines in 2025 would require Alpine to make adjustments to their 2025 car which is already under development Despite the additional effort the switch could yield an immediate competitive boost given the widely held belief that the current Renault power unit lags behind its rivals in terms of powerThe timing of the deal also hinges on Renaults plans for its current F1 engine facility in ViryChatillon Engineers at the facility would need to be reassigned to other projects if the change occurs within the next few monthsWhile both Mercedes and Alpine have refrained from commenting publicly on the negotiations Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has expressed openness to a customer engine deal Thats a complicated situation because we like the thought of replacing Aston Martin with another team because of the sheer learning youre doing Wolff said ahead of the British Grand Prix He emphasised the organisational benefits of supplying more power units which could accelerate development and improve reliabilityWolff added It didnt go beyond the point of exchanging opinions or having exploratory discussions Alpine need to take a decision do they want to continue with their Formula 1 engine programme or not And only when they have taken that strategic decision we would dive into our agreements But were openminded and thats what we have told them IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/alpine-f1-team-nears-technical-partnership-with-mercedes-for-2025-report-561582.html Tue, 23 Jul 2024 15:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/rider-registration-for-isrl-season-2-sees-record-entries-in-first-3-weeks-560426.html Pune July 19 The Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL the worlds firstever franchisebased motorsports championship has witnessed an astonishing global response for Season 2 rider registrations The rider registration started on June 21 and since then the league has seen a remarkable 50 registrations in just the first three days While season 1 witnessed over 50 registrations in the first 45 days season 2 has already crossed 100plus registrations in the first three weeks the organisers said in a statementIn just a month registrations have soared past the 102 mark achieved last year Among these are 52 riders from season 1 who have reregistered to be part of the exhilarating experience With entries coming in from countries such as France Germany Austria Denmark Spain the USA the UK Australia Italy Canada the UAE Thailand and Indonesia the rider pool for season 2 is notably diverse Rider registration for season 2 of ISRL closes in early August promising an exciting and competitive lineup for the upcoming seasonAmong the star athletes who have reregistered for the season 2 auction are Matt Moss 9time Australian MX and SX Champion Jordi Tixier World Champion MX2 2014 Thomas Ramette Nico Koch Julien Lebeau Hugo Manzato Thanarat Penjan and Ben Prasit Hallgren Their continued participation underscores the leagues credibility and the high standards it has setAdditionally new registrations include prominent athletes like Luke James Clout Mike Alessi Gregory Aranda and Maxime Desprey further bolstering the leagues competitive lineupIndian talent continues to shine as well with prominent riders like Rugved Barguje Ikshan Shanbhag and Sarthak Chavan reregistering for the upcoming season Their participation promises to keep the excitement and competitive spirit alive among the home crowdThe rider registration process includes three exciting racing categories 450cc international riders 250cc international riders and 250cc IndiaAsia mixEeshan Lokhande CoFounder amp Director of the Indian Supercross Racing League said We are thrilled to see such an overwhelming response from riders across the globe for season 2 of the Indian Supercross Racing LeagueThis surge in registrations is a true testament to the growing popularity and influence of ISRL and bolsters the leagues appeal as a premier platform for toptier Supercross talent We are delighted to see the return of previous participants and to greet new athletes a diverse mix from 13 different countries fostering a truly global supercross community This further motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries and delivering an unparalleled racing experience for both the athletes and our fans worldwide he saidThe ISRL second season is scheduled from January to March 2025 across multiple rounds in various Indian cities IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/rider-registration-for-isrl-season-2-sees-record-entries-in-first-3-weeks-560426.html Fri, 19 Jul 2024 17:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/scuderia-ferrari-announces-shock-departure-of-td-cardile-amidst-aston-martin-switch-rumours-557622.html New Delhi July 9 In a shocking turn of events Scuderia Ferrari have announced that Technical Director TD Chassis area Enrico Cardile will be leaving his post after working with the team for nearly two decades Frederic Vasseur the Team Principal of Ferrari will be temporarily overseeing the Chassis Area Scuderia Ferrari HP announces that Enrico Cardile is leaving the company therefore relinquishing his role as Technical Director TD Chassis AreaAfter almost two decades with Ferrari Cardile has handed in his notice and therefore with immediate effect and as an interim measure the Chassis Area will be overseen by the Team Principal Frederic VasseurEveryone at Scuderia Ferrari HP thanks Enrico for all his hard work over so many years said the statement posted by the team on X The statement was a shocking turn of events and it is rumoured that the veteran at his post has left Ferrari amidst ongoing talks with Aston Martin as the British car manufacturer hopes of competing at the top of the gridCardiles hiring at Aston Martin is a result of the teams extensive recruitment efforts The team recently revealed that Andy Cowell the former head of Mercedes F1 engines will become its Group CEO in OctoberIn addition the team has a strong chance of securing the services of design legend Adrian Newey is considering his options after announcing that he will be leaving Red Bull in 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/scuderia-ferrari-announces-shock-departure-of-td-cardile-amidst-aston-martin-switch-rumours-557622.html Mon, 08 Jul 2024 20:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/lewis-hamilton-ends-945-day-drought-to-win-record-extending-ninth-silverstone-gp-557332.html Silverstone July 7 The 2024 Silverstone Grand Prix was one for the ages An emotional victory for Lewis Hamilton who won his home race for a record extending ninthtime which was his first victory since the 2021 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix The Silverstone GP was the 104thrace win for the seventime World Champion but perhaps one of the most emotional ones yet as it came after a 945day wait and also as it was his last home race with MercedesI cant stop crying its been since 2021 just everyday getting up to fight to train and put my mind to the task and work as hard as I can with this amazing team This is my last race here with this team so I wanted to win this so much for them because I love them and I appreciate them so much and all the hard work theyve been putting in over the years Im forever grateful to everyone at this team at Mercedes and all our partners said an emotional Hamilton in the post race interviewMcLaren will be disappointed with the result on Sunday Their two drivers were poised perfectly to finish the race in P1 and P2 and could have secured a double podium which would have taken the team past Ferrari in the Constructors Championship but will have to settle with a P3 and P4 finishIt was tough It was enjoyable it was fun battling these guys These tricky conditions are always on a knife edge and youre risking a lot So many things good but a few too many letdowns today and as a team I dont think we quite did the job we should have done or good enough But still lovely to be on the podium here at Silverstone added Lando NorrisSilverstone GP brief results1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes2 Max Verstappen Red Bull3 Lando Norris McLaren4 Oscar Piastri McLaren5 Carlos Sainz Ferrari6 Nico Hulkenberg Haas7 Lance Stroll Aston Martin8 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin9 Alex Albon Williams10 Yuki Tsunoda RB IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/lewis-hamilton-ends-945-day-drought-to-win-record-extending-ninth-silverstone-gp-557332.html Sun, 07 Jul 2024 22:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/james-vowles-suggests-williams-mid-season-change-could-be-on-the-cards-557261.html Silverstone July 7 Williams team principal James Vowles has confirmed that Logan Sergeants seat may be under threat and even admitted that a midseason change may be on the cards for the team There will be a line in the sand where we have to make a decision and at that point both for 2025 and maybe for something this year well make a decision on it But were not there today said Vowles to Sky Sports F1Logan is currently in his second year with the British team and has not been able to perform up to the mark The team currently sits at ninth place in the Constructors ChampionshipLogan all the way through has been provided with the opportunity to retain his seat thats in his control I need performance thats at Alexs level I need him to be there day in and day out fundamentally added the British engineerWilliams is perhaps thinking ahead to the future of the team without Sergeant having already offered Albon a multiyear deal with the team Rumours suggest that the side may be looking into bringing in F2 sensation Kimi Antonrlli who is backed by Williams engine partner MercedesMy priority at the moment is lets sort out the car because weve underperformed in that area Not Logan not Alex Once we have a car at the right performance level then lets assess what were costing ourselves if we are costing ourselves he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/james-vowles-suggests-williams-mid-season-change-could-be-on-the-cards-557261.html Sun, 07 Jul 2024 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/haas-sign-multi-year-contract-with-ollie-bearman-starting-from-2025-season-556455.html Kannapolis USA July 4 Haas Formula 1 team have signed British teenager Ollie Bearman on a multiyear deal confirming him a driving seat from the 2025 season The 19yearold Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member is currently an official reserve driver for the team while contesting the FIA Formula 2 Championship for Prema Racing Bearman collecting his first win of the 2024 campaign last weekend in Austria in the Sprint race to add to his tally of four victories from a stellar rookie season in 2023Bearman in his additional role as reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari made a memorable Formula 1 debut back in March in Saudi Arabia substituting for the sidelined Carlos Sainz in doing so becoming the thirdyoungest racer in Formula 1 history A mature performance from the then 18yearold from Chelmsford saw Bearman classified seventh and firmly in the points on his oneoff race appearance behind the wheel of the SF24He participated in two FP1 sessions for the Kannapolis outfit in 2023 in Mexico and Abu Dhabi respectively followed by a fullday in the VF23 at the endofseason test in Abu Dhabi Announced as an official reserve driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team in January of this year Bearmans work with the team this season includes six FP1 sessions with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend marking his third appearance in the VF24 with Hungary Mexico and Abu Dhabi to followIts hard to put into words just how much this means to me said Bearman To say out loud that I will be a Formula 1 driver for Haas F1 Team makes me so immensely proud To be one of the very few people who get to do the thing what they dreamed of as a child is something truly incredible To Gene Haas team owner Ayao Komatsu Haas Team Principal and everyone at Haas thank you for believing in me and for trusting me to represent your teamIve really enjoyed working with everyone since the first time we met in Mexico and I cant wait to enjoy this moment with them and hopefully many more in the future he addedHaas Team Principal Komatsu said Its an exciting thing to be able to give a young driver as talented as Oliver Bearman his first fulltime seat in Formula 1 Were looking forward to further developing him as a driver and reaping the benefits of his talent both inside and outside of the carOlivers a great guy and a very welcome addition to the team when he joins us for the FP1 weekends Now we know that relationship is going to be longerterm its a positive thing for all concerned he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/haas-sign-multi-year-contract-with-ollie-bearman-starting-from-2025-season-556455.html Thu, 04 Jul 2024 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-hes-not-going-to-change-says-christian-horner-on-verstappen-ahead-of-silverstone-gp-556114.html Silverstone England July 3 The ripple effects of what transpired in the final ten laps of the Austrian GP is expected to be on full display at the Silverstone Grand Prix this weekend Three time World Champion Max Verstappen and the only man who has shown any kind of threat to the Dutch Lando Norris made contact at the Red Bull Ring which resulted in Norris having to retire the carRed Bull team principal Christian Horner has made comments on the event and how Verstappen will react this weekend stating he is not going to changeI understand theyve Max and Lando spoken already I dont think there is any issue Certainly from Maxs side hes not going to change Theres an element I think of Lando learning how to race Max and theyre discovering that Inevitably there is going to be more close racing between the two of them as the cars look so close over the forthcoming races said Horner to Sky SportsNorris won his first ever race at the Miami Grand Prix earlier in the season and has constantly finished in the top threeMclaren as a team has drastically improved this season to the extent that Verstappen himself admitted that Red Bull may not be the fastest car on the circuit anymoreNorris and Mclaren know that Red Bull is in a vulnerable position but they have failed to capitalise on their advantage as the team should be winning races more often and will hope Landos home race at the British Grand Prix falls in his favourMax Verstappen is a hard racer hes probably one of the hardest racers on the circuit and everybody knows that if youre going to race against Max hes going to give as good as he gets Im sure its going to be a partisan crowd for the British drivers as it is for Max in Holland but I think whenever we go to those tracks there is always respect for the other drivers Horner addedVerstappen has a comfortable lead in the drivers championship with 237 points to his name Lando being his nearest competitor sits at 156 points a gap which widened when Lando was forced to retire his carHell have his head down and he wont change Hes the racer he is and Im sure hell race just as hard this weekend concluded the Red Bull team principle IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-hes-not-going-to-change-says-christian-horner-on-verstappen-ahead-of-silverstone-gp-556114.html Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-russell-finishes-on-top-after-verstappen-norris-collision-in-austria-gp-555271.html Spielberg June 30 George Russell clinched victory amidst high drama involving a collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in the Austria Grand Prix at Red Bull Ring on Sunday The collision was triggered when Verstappen in a bid to maintain his lead moved over on Norris as the McLaren driver attempted to pass The impact forced Norris into an early retirement and earned Verstappen a 10second penalty for causing the collision This incident was the culmination of a tense multilap duel during which both drivers had aired grievances about the others aggressive driving tacticsRussells triumph marked Mercedes first victory since the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix Despite being under considerable pressure from McLarens Oscar Piastri in the final laps Russell showcased his skill and composure maintaining his lead to take the checkered flag Ferraris Carlos Sainz secured the final podium spot finishing ahead of Mercedes Lewis Hamilton who overcame a fivesecond penalty for a pitentry infringement to finish fourthVerstappen despite the penalty managed to finish in fifth place holding his position as Nico Hulkenbergs Haas was 237 seconds behind The Dutch driver had appeared to be cruising towards another victory with a substantial lead over Norris before the race turned on its head during the final pit stopsBoth Verstappen and Norris pitted simultaneously for their final stops but a slower stop for Verstappen and Red Bulls decision to fit slightly used medium tyres while Norris received a new set set the stage for an intense showdown Rejoining the track just 17 seconds apart Norris rapidly closed in on Verstappen setting the scene for the dramatic events that followedThe two drivers engaged in a fierce battle with Norris at one point accusing Verstappen of making illegal moves under braking Norris managed to overtake Verstappen at Turn Three on lap 59 but was penalized five seconds for exceeding track limits Their duel continued until the pivotal moment on lap 62 when Norris attacked on the outside and Verstappen moved back towards him The resulting collision caused punctures for both drivers effectively ending their chances of victoryWhile Verstappen managed to limp back to the pits with minimal damage Norriss car suffered severe damage leading to his retirement from the race Despite the controversy Verstappen extended his championship lead which now stands at 81 points over Norris heading into the British Grand Prix IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-russell-finishes-on-top-after-verstappen-norris-collision-in-austria-gp-555271.html Sun, 30 Jun 2024 22:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-verstappen-pips-piastri-norris-to-win-austrian-sprint-race-in-austria-555034.html Spielberg Austria June 29 Red Bulls Max Verstappen outperformed the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to win the Sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday Verstappen held the lead since the start before Norris soon closed in and briefly moved into P1 with a bold overtake only for the reigning world champion to reclaim the position moments later in a squabble that enabled Piastri to pass his teammate Behind the top three drivers who maintained that formation to the chequered flag despite some more moments of excitement George Russell and Lewis Hamilton sandwiched Carlos Sainz followed by the recovering Charles Leclerc and Sergio PerezSainz got the jump on Russell with a fine move around the outside of Turn 4 as Hamilton held sixth over the faststarting Leclerc Perez Kevin Magnussen and Lance Stroll the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly dropping out of the top 10 placesHaving kept Piastri behind him Norris went on the attack lighting up the timesheets to close in on Verstappen and on Lap 5 bravely sent his car up the inside of the Red Bull at Turn 3 just about slowing it down at the apex to emerge with the leadBut more excitement swiftly followed as Verstappen responded with a lunge at Turn 4 where Norris exit was compromised and Piastri managed to slip past his teammate with Sainz the two Mercedes drivers and Leclerc all watching onTalking about his performance after the Sprint Verstappen said It was a good first lap I would say but then once the DRS opens its very hard to get out of it it took a few laps A few exciting battles as well but I think once we cleared the DRS then I could do a bit more of my own race and it looked all a bit betterYou could see they McLaren have two cars that are pushing flatout trying to of course make it difficult for me and we had to work for it in that race A few things to think about where we could do better for tomorrow especially I think tomorrow is also going to be a longer race and harder on the tyres so its going to be quite interesting to see how that will evolve he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-verstappen-pips-piastri-norris-to-win-austrian-sprint-race-in-austria-555034.html Sat, 29 Jun 2024 18:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/unleashing-potential-why-motorsports-deserves-a-spotlight-in-india-554947.html New Delhi June 28 India is the largest twowheeler market in the world with a collective number crossing over 035 billion and a whopping 214 million units sold in 2023 and a growth rate of 243 YoY yet from a motorsport perspective we are still evolving Globally motorcycle racing is segmented into offroad racing both either on circuits or open courses road racing trials speedway and track racing In India dirt biking adventure performance and track racing are gaining traction but there is a need for a broader product portfolio beyond the imports that dominate the market today The high cost of bikes spares accessories tracks trainers and physical opportunities remains a significant barrier for many enthusiastsOne could say that motorsports in India is on the cusp of a revolution The past few years have seen a significant uptick in interest and participation across various forms of motorsports from the Indian National Rally Championship INRC to the recent addition of MotoGP The core audience of motorsports in India is the 1845 age group which is predominantly male but we have been seeing growing enthusiasm among women both in terms of participation as well as consumption which is a clear indicator that India is ready to embrace motorsports as a mainstream sporting and entertainment avenueThe advent of the internet has significantly changed the mindset of riders and enthusiasts creating a more informed and passionate community according to their likes and dislikes India has a leading play when it comes to social media platforms particularly Facebook hosting some of the largest motorsport communities globally This digital revolution has connected riders and fans fostering a vibrant motorsport cultureThe Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India FMSCI has played a pivotal role in promoting and supporting motorsports in the country over the past few years Eshan Lokhande cofounder of ISRL told IANS The FMSCI has been instrumental in bringing highprofile international events such as MotoGP and Formula E to India and ensuring their smooth operation by overseeing logistics safety and regulatory compliance The federation provides resources like trained marshals and medical support which are critical for the successful execution of any motorsport eventAdditionally the FMSCI has worked closely with local promoters and international bodies like the FIA and FIM to foster a conducive environment for motorsports Their continuous advocacy for better policies and infrastructure has significantly contributed to the growth and recognition of motorsports in India positioning our country as a burgeoning hub for the sport on the global stage he further addedHowever the recent successes particularly with the Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL have been heartwarming The inaugural season of the ISRL saw a seasontotal attendance nearing 30000 enthusiasts cheering for their teams and sports celebrities It opens a new avenue for brands and partners to cater to the niche audience that directly impacts the financial growth of the league thus laying a strong foundation for the sports expansion in India Packed stadiums in Pune Ahmedabad and Bangalore have proven the viability and acceptance of motorsports in India setting the stage for future growthWhile ISRL has garnered significant attention its essential to highlight the contributions of other motorsports events in India The INRC has been pivotal in promoting rallying as a sport consistently attracting toptier talent and fostering a robust community of rally enthusiasts Similarly the Indian Racing League IRL has been instrumental in nurturing young driving talent providing a platform for drivers to compete in highstakes environments and gain international exposure Providing a platform for drivers to compete in highstakes environments and gain international exposure he concludedThe entry of MotoGP into India marks a monumental step forward This prestigious event not only boosts the sports popularity but also contributes to the development of worldclass racing infrastructure further solidifying Indias position on the global motorsports mapDespite the large population and growing interest India has only a few internationally recognized motorsport stars like CS Santosh Gaurav Gill Harith Noah Narain Karthikeyan and Jehan Darukhanwala For a country with 14 billion aspirations this is a stark contrast To truly elevate motorsports in India we must focus on several key areas developing worldclass tracks and facilities to host both local and international events encouraging corporate investment in motorsport teams and events creating opportunities for broader participation through an opendoor policy securing increased government support to provide necessary resources and recognition and implementing grassroots programs to nurture young talent from an early age These steps are essential to transforming India into a significant hub for motorsports and fostering a thriving competitive environment for enthusiasts and professionals alikeA thriving motorsport industry in India will place the country on the global sports map attracting international tourism and investment It will also open up new career opportunities in sports engineering and management contributing to the overall economic development Motorsports can inspire millions of young Indians fostering a spirit of competition innovation and excellence The recognition of motorsports as a viable career path can lead to the emergence of new champions who will carry the Indian flag on international podiums IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/unleashing-potential-why-motorsports-deserves-a-spotlight-in-india-554947.html Sat, 29 Jun 2024 13:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-lance-stroll-signs-contract-extension-with-aston-martin-for-2025-and-beyond-554513.html Silverstone UK June 27 Aston Martin have announced that Lance Stroll will continue to race for the team into the new era of F1 regulations in 2026 ending speculation over his Formula 1 future Stroll has played an important role in the Aston Martin project since he first joined the Silverstonebased team in 2019 He has now completed more than 150 F1 starts with three podiums to his nameThe extension gives the team an unchanged lineup for a third consecutive season bringing valuable continuityIm super happy to have committed to staying with the team for 2025 and beyond Its amazing to see how far weve come in the last five years weve grown so much as a team and theres still so much more to look forward to Stroll saidMike Krack Team Principal Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team said We are delighted to confirm Lances future with Aston Martin Aramco He has played a key role in building this team His technical feedback alongside his committed simulator work has helped contribute to the continuous development of the car each seasonThe consistency and stability of both Lance and Fernando remaining with our team is a great platform to continue to realise our ambitions We look forward to creating some more incredible memories and achieving further success together he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-lance-stroll-signs-contract-extension-with-aston-martin-for-2025-and-beyond-554513.html Thu, 27 Jun 2024 18:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-pierre-gasly-signs-multi-year-extension-with-alpine-554544.html Enstone UK June 27 Alpine F1 Team has confirmed that Pierre Gasly has committed to a longterm contract with the team The agreement an extension to his current contract will take Pierre into the 2025 season and beyond the Formula 1 team announced on Thursday The Frenchman is in his second season with Alpine and with 140 race starts in Formula 1 is a driver with vast experience to take the team to the next level longtermIn his 32 starts with the team Pierre has amassed 67 points and brought home two pieces of silverware which includes third place in the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix Sprint Race and then a memorable third place in the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix at ZandvoortAfter confirming Esteban Ocons departure at the end of the season the team will announce Pierres teammate for the 2025 season in due courseI feel very much at home with this great team I enjoy being a real part of both the Formula 1 project and the wider Alpine Cars vision said GaslyIve been officially here for over 18 months and it has always been the plan to build a longterm project with the Team While on track its been a challenging season so far I remain faithful to the project and I am not going anywhereI am happy with the changes made the hard work and the direction the team is taking There is a lot of potential in this teams personnel and resources Im excited for what is to come in the future and right now Im focusing on the everyday details that we are putting in to improve our performances he addedTeam Principal Bruno Famin is delighted to retain Gaslys services but would not be drawn on the identity of his prospective teammateThe extension of Pierres contract with the team is very pleasing He is a driver with huge experience in Formula 1 and continues to show huge amounts of potential ontrack he saidFor Alpine as a brand he is a great ambassador and we therefore look forward to continuing our collaboration While this is important for our future we do have to keep our eyes close to what is coming and that is focusing on improving our current packageWe have high ambitions this current season and we will work tirelessly to achieve those things We will take our time in deciding Pierres teammate and we are excited with the options we have on the table Famin added IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-pierre-gasly-signs-multi-year-extension-with-alpine-554544.html Thu, 27 Jun 2024 20:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/no-pit-stops-in-the-fast-lane-gaurav-gills-training-academy-producing-future-champs-553644.html New Delhi June 24 With 16 screws in his body the airport detectors go in a tizzy whenever he is to board an aircraft But nothing stops Gaurav Gill the only Indian rallyist to win the Arjuna Award 2019 Marking his debut in the World Rally Championship WRC in 2018 making him the only Indian driver to do so he is also the only Indian to win an international motorsport championship across race and rally series and has driven over 80 international ralliesBeing the first Indian to win and hold three titles of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship APRC NewDelhibased Gill is now not only focussing on his career but also ensuring that future champs are groomed in this country where motorsport is still considered a rich mans sportDriving is not just a science but also an art It would help if you learned to listen to the machine and talk to it One must acquaint himselfherself with how the vehicle will react in different conditions Trust me I have seen many top rallyists talk to their cars said the seventime Indian National Rally Champion Gill who runs the Gaurav Gill Advanced Driving Academy in the Capital which has students aged 13 to 60 yearsWhile many people assume it is easy to drive a race car the inside cabin exceeds 65 degrees temperature and on top of that the driver and codriver wear suits and inner layers that are fireproof You lose up to five to seven kilos of water weight over the weekend in hot rallies people getting sick dehydrated and even passing out So this is a very extreme sportOn one hand the school offers intense workshops for multiple days for different categories of drivers and on the other Gill is hired for personal driving lessons mostly by those who want to make it to the professional category Their training is not normal cars but highly sophisticated machines that behave quite differently Just because you can drive your street car does not mean you can handle a race one and that is where training comes in he assertsFor training professional category students he takes them to Europe or Africa and uses WRC cars including Subarus and Evos as the drivers must get an idea about the surface and track where they would be racing in the futureOf course we have experience weekends too people passionate about a race car drive get to tick it off their bucket list We have around eight driving coaches who have won different championshipsWith many of his students winning the INRC and his school having trained more than 300 people the champion was the first to start a rally school in India in 2008 JK Tyres has been a key player in pushing the academy and my career over the last five years Not to mention the Vamcy Merla groupWhile the head office of the school is in New Delhi it now mostly operates in the South That is where our clientele is Frankly people down there are more inquisitive and eager to learn the finer nuances of racing No wonder on the national grid you see more South Indians participating as compared to their counterparts in the North Also major rallies are held in that part of the country There are less than ten per cent of North Indians in the entire grid of motorsport in this countryStressing that over the years there has been an increase in the number of women coming to learn at his academy Gill elaborates It is heartwarming to see them breaking the gender barrier Many of them are now participating in INRC and other major ralliesTalk to him about how winning the Arjuna Award made people take notice of this sport and the rallyist says There is so much visibility now The media has started giving more space Earlier it was more of a passion and now many people realise it can be a profession too But look let us be clear it is a unique sport It is not a common mans sport and will never beHe however insists that It is a growing sport with an upward trajectory though it needs more support from the government and corporates Citing Kenyas example which allows the import of specialised cars and their parts without duty for those holding the local federations license Gill feels the same policy here will reap rich dividends here I had put a lot of stress on the Sports Ministry They seemed interested but nothing came out of it Maybe because we are a small and niche communityJust back from the Indian Championship round one he has recently got a brand new Fiesta imported from England by JK TyreI am looking forward to winning tougher rallies and preparing more students to take on the world so that we get the support and exposure we truly deserve he concludes IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/no-pit-stops-in-the-fast-lane-gaurav-gills-training-academy-producing-future-champs-553644.html Mon, 24 Jun 2024 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/spanish-gp-verstappen-pips-norris-to-top-spot-hamilton-breaks-podium-drought-553545.html Barcelona June 23 Max Verstappen has won the Spanish Grand Prix marking his seventh victory out of the ten races that have taken place during the 202425 season It was Lando Norris who started the race at pole but lost the lead in the very first corner when he went too wide trying to block a charging Verstappen giving surprise contender George Russell the space to move from P4 to P1 Lando Norris fell to P3 just seconds later and fell behind the Red BullVerstappen went on to overtake the Mercedes in the third lap and secured a marginable lead that ultimately secured the second consecutive win for the threetime world championDespite the poor start Lando was in the thick of the action He engaged in brilliant wheel to wheel action with Russell and a P2 finish for the British driver also secured the trophy for Driver of the Day for the Mclaren starLewis Hamilton recently spoke on the improvement of performance in the car after recent upgrades which was on full display on the day as he overtook his Mercedes teammate to secure a P3 finish in what was the seventime World Champions 198th podium finish and his first since the Mexico GP last seasonThe two Ferraris came close to disaster as they had contact between them in the very first lap Another cause for concern for the team will be the lack in race speed which was expected as the team introduced major new upgrades to the car but still seemed to be the fourth fastest team on the track which saw Leclerc finish fifth and Sainz end at sixth placeWith the win Max Verstappen has now scored 219 points in the drivers championship building a sizable lead on second placed Lando Norris who has 150 points to his name Red Bull on the other hand have a cause for concern in the Constructors Championship as Sergio Perez once again disappointed with his outing The side has 330 points followed by Ferrari at 270 points and Mclaren at 237Spanish Grand Prix brief resultsMax Verstappen RBLando Norris MCLLewis Hamilton MERGeorge Russell MERCharles Leclerc FERCarlos Sainz FEROscar Piastri MCLSergio Perez RBPierre Gasly ALPEsteban Ocon ALP IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/spanish-gp-verstappen-pips-norris-to-top-spot-hamilton-breaks-podium-drought-553545.html Sun, 23 Jun 2024 21:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/rider-registration-opens-for-indian-supercross-racing-league-season-2-mega-auction-552998.html Pune June 21 The Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL the worlds firstever franchisebased Supercross league has opened rider registration for mega auction ahead of season 2 The rider registration includes four exhilarating racing categories 450cc international riders 250cc international riders 250cc IndiaAsia mix and 85cc junior classSeason 1 generated immense curiosity amongst motorsport enthusiasts attracting over 104 registrations including defending champions from multiple countries such as the USA Italy France South Africa Australia Thailand and IndiaSome of the leading names that battled for the win were Matt Moss 9time Australian MX and SX Champion Jordi Tixier World Champion MX2 2014 2022 Prince of Paris SX2 Thomas Ramette Hugo Manzato from France Caleb Goullet Reid Taylor from Australia and Brian Gyles from Thailand a sensation in Season 1s 85cc categoryRugved Barguje a 3time Indian national champion represented India with pride alongside Ikshan Shanbhag Prajwal Vishwanth Sarthak Chavan and Shlok GhorpadeEeshan Lokhande CoFounder amp Director of the ISRL said We are excited about Season 2 and confident that it will surpass the phenomenal success of our inaugural season India offers mega stadiums and venues capable of hosting supercross races allowing us to continually expand and enhance the leagueMany riders thoroughly enjoyed our worldclass tracks which were designed to provide thrilling and competitive racing experiences Inquiries for participation have been pouring in from across the globe ISRL is building a mega rider pool of athletes from around the worldRugved Barguje 3time Indian National SX Champion said The inaugural season of ISRL was unforgettable I experienced different terrains and demanding weather conditions with Bangalore being particularly tough due to its soil The races in all cities were thrilling and the crowd support was phenomenal The organizers did an excellent job transforming Supercross in India Riding on a proper Supercross track was a dream come true I am excited for Season 2 of CEAT ISRLJordi Tixier World Champion MX2 2014 added The first season was excellent I didnt expect it to be that good I really enjoyed the people the track and the fans I was surprised by how well the organizers did They listened to the riders improving race by race and we saw the difference between Pune and Bangalore The fans were awesome and it was great to see the Indian peoples passion for Supercross The organizers were fantastic constantly improving Season 01 was unforgettable and Im super excited to be back for Season 02 Looking forward to more memoriesBrendan Sipple who raced for Reise Motosports said Season 1 was unforgettable and I feel blessed to have taken part The tracks were amazing the racing was awesome and the fans were crazy The teams and organization were fantastic working hard to ensure we had everything we needed and that the tracks were perfect Im very excited for Season 02 and cant wait to see what they have in store I look forward to visiting new cities racing for supportive teams and watching Supercross grow in India Cant wait to come backThe upcoming season scheduled from January to March 2025 will feature multiple rounds across various Indian cities Organised in partnership with the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India FMSCI the ISRL promises an unparalleled blend of action entertainment and fierce competition IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/rider-registration-opens-for-indian-supercross-racing-league-season-2-mega-auction-552998.html Fri, 21 Jun 2024 14:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-wolff-confirms-police-action-after-anonymous-email-suggests-systematic-sabotaging-of-hamiltons-mercedes-553140.html Barcelona June 21 Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has involved the police in investigating an anonymous email accusing the team of sabotaging Lewis Hamiltons car The email targeting F1 personnel and media claimed to be from a team member and alleged systematic sabotaging of Hamiltons car strategy and wellbeing Mercedes strongly denies the accusations stating the email did not originate from an employee Its not from a member of the team When we are getting these kinds of emails and were getting tons of them it is upsetting particularly when there is somebody talking about death and all these things said Wolff to reporters during the Spanish GP weekendWolff visibly upset confirmed police involvement and vowed to find the culprit behind the email and potential followup messagesOn this particular one I have instructed to go on full force We have the police inquiring about it Were researching the IP address We are researching the phone All of that because online abuse in that way needs to stop People cant hide behind their phones or their computers and abuse teams or drivers in a way like this added WolffLewis Hamilton has had a stellar 12year career with Mercedes which has placed him amongst the alltime greats in the history of mot racing The British driver will be leaving the team at the end of the ongoing season and will be joining the famous Ferrari Racing Team from next season onwardsI dont know what some of the conspiracy theorists and lunatics think out there Lewis has been part of the team for 12 years We have a friendship We trust each other We want to end this on a high We want to celebrate the relationship If you dont believe all of that then you can believe that we want to win the constructors world championship And part of the constructors world championship is making both cars win So to all of these mad people out there take a shrinkThere will always be people that have the laptop on their chest in their bedroom and just typing away if people feel like they want to abuse and hit out and hide behind a madeup Instagram account or anything else that for me is come up say who you are and well take the criticism and discuss he saidBut dont hide If emails are being sent or telephone numbers are being used for these messages then for me the joking stops and we will pursue it whether that is successful or not But there are limits to certain things IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-wolff-confirms-police-action-after-anonymous-email-suggests-systematic-sabotaging-of-hamiltons-mercedes-553140.html Fri, 21 Jun 2024 23:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-one-deformation-was-clearly-visible-says-helmut-marko-on-mercedes-front-wing-dispute-552525.html New Delhi June 19 The 2024 Canadian Grand Prix saw Mercedes replace the front wings of the car The newly placed wings were seen bending noticeably which is against the rules of the sport as it ensures better aerodynamics Following this incident Red Bull reportedly filed a complaint with the FIA to ensure fair racing a fact that has now been confirmed by the teams advisor Helmut MarkoThey have a new front wing and on the TV pictures from Montreal you can clearly see that Russell and Hamiltons wings are bending noticeably However the wings had the necessary strength when they were approved That doesnt surprise me I dont know how often we had to check our wings said Marko to OE24 an Austrian newspaperDespite a poor start to the 202425 season Mercedes have significantly improved since their upgrade before the Monaco Grand Prix which has put Red Bull under pressure The Montreal GP saw Russell and Hamilton finish in third and fourth respectivelyThere is a precisely defined procedure with weights under which a wing must not bend It is a popular game of pushing everything to the limit so that it passes the technical inspection During the race the wing then lowers which ensures better aerodynamics Exactly it has come up again and again when the deformation was clearly visible in the television images added MarkoWith the Formula One calendar now stopping in Barcelona for the next race all eyes will be on Red Bull as many questions are being raised about the teams dominance in the races leading up McLaren Ferrari and Mercedes are all on the hunt and will be hoping to give the Austrian car manufacturer a run for their money It will be interesting to see how other cars stand in front of the Champions as the track will expose the true balance of powerThis rule of thumb should apply to us too If we are strong in Barcelona then hopefully we will be strong next week in Austria and a week later in Silverstone These three races will say a lot about the true balance of power That is why our people are working to the limit these days In addition Sergio Perez badly damaged his car in Monaco and Montreal concluded the 81yearold IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-one-deformation-was-clearly-visible-says-helmut-marko-on-mercedes-front-wing-dispute-552525.html Wed, 19 Jun 2024 22:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/carlos-sainz-reveals-teams-without-confirmed-driver-lineup-for-next-season-have-offered-him-a-contract-552202.html New Delhi June 18 Carlos Sainz is perhaps one of the most watched racers on the grid now as the talented Spanish Ferrari driver is on the lookout for his next Formula One team The former McLaren man is currently amidst his final season as a driver for the Scuderia as he will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton in the 2025 season Following weeks of speculation Sainz has now confirmed that he has an offer from every team that does not have a confirmed driver lineup in the coming seasonThere isnt one option There are various I wont lie to you All the teams that havent signed both their drivers for next year Im on their list They have offered me a contract and I could sign with them tomorrow But I wont sign tomorrow I will be calm and make a decision soon said the Ferrari driver on the Spanish TV Show El HormigueroAt the current time only Red Bull and Ferrari have a confirmed lineup for next season but Mercedes are reportedly courting young 17yearold sensation Kimi AntonelliAccording to recent reports Williams and Sauber are currently leading the race to sign one of the hottest commodities in motorsports Sainz also went on to say he will take the decision very soonI have my options on the table ready to take a decision And I will take the decision very soon because I want to get it out of the way and focus on what remains of this year with Ferrari added the threetime Grand Prix winner IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/carlos-sainz-reveals-teams-without-confirmed-driver-lineup-for-next-season-have-offered-him-a-contract-552202.html Tue, 18 Jun 2024 19:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ocon-reflects-on-valuable-lessons-from-hamilton-as-he-eyes-future-in-f1-551714.html New Delhi June 16 As Esteban Ocon prepares to depart Alpine at the end of the season the French racer has shared insightful reflections on his time working alongside seventime Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton Ocons journey marked by highs and lows has been deeply intertwined with the Brackleybased Mercedes squad where he was a junior team member GP3 titleholder and later the F1 teams reserve driver in 2019In a conversation with the High Performance Podcast Ocon opened up about the moments that left him amazed while working with Hamilton This period followed a challenging phase for Ocon who lost his seat at Force India after the 2018 season but found solace and learning opportunities at Mercedes Now as he navigates his fifth and final season with Alpine Ocons career management by Mercedes keeps him linked to the powerhouse teamReflecting on his time as Mercedes reserve driver Ocon shared how Hamiltons dedication and professionalism stood out beyond his natural talent I remember Lewis coming from different marketing events and all these things in a race weekend Lewis is a very busy man Ocon recounted Apart from racing thats some of the differences compared to some drivers who are more focused on the racetrack Seeing how he switches his focus from one thing to another amazed me He was straight away on point back with his engineer after something completely differentWhat impressed Ocon the most was Hamiltons ability to seamlessly transition between his numerous offtrack commitments and the intense focus required for racing Hamiltons meticulous approach including maintaining paper boards with notes left a lasting impact on Ocon He always had his paper boards with notes and he was always having notes not to forget things from one year to another or one session to another This is what I do as well nowAdmitting that he had never taken notes before observing Hamilton Ocon now follows a similar practice storing meticulous notes on his phone for his engineers Performance meetings problems to fix all of the points that we have to go through that Ive put basically as an example Ocon explained If I dont write them at the exact moment that Im going to come out of the car I will not remember exactly or theyre going to be much more vagueOcons adoption of Hamiltons strategies underscores the profound influence the champion has had on his career If I go to a marketing event and then come back and Im like I had something very interesting but I dont remember it imagine how much that would cost basically to us to our performance IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ocon-reflects-on-valuable-lessons-from-hamilton-as-he-eyes-future-in-f1-551714.html Sun, 16 Jun 2024 18:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-supercross-racing-league-season-2-to-begin-in-january-next-year-551160.html Mumbai June 14 After the resounding success of its inaugural season the Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL has announced the season 2 slated to kick off in January 2025 and run until March Recognised as the worlds first franchisebased supercross racing series ISRL is elevated the adrenalinefueled action to new heights with an extended 60day seasonSeason 2 of the ISRL promises to be an exhilarating spectacle with an increased number of races and new stadiums set to captivate motorsports enthusiasts across the nation Rider registration for the upcoming season will be commencing by the end of June 2024 following a surge in inquiries from riders worldwide eager to compete in one of the most thrilling racing events on the Indian calendar The rider auction for season 2 is scheduled for the month of October 2024 the organisers said in a statementWe are thrilled to announce the commencement of Season 2 of the Indian Supercross Racing League said Veer Patel Cofounder amp Director of Indian Supercross Racing League After the phenomenal success of our inaugural season the anticipation for the upcoming season is palpable We have received overwhelming interest from riders across the globe reflecting the growing popularity and prestige of the ISRLLakshmi Narayanan B Chief Marketing Officer added The excitement and enthusiasm generated in Season 1 were truly remarkable creating a unique niche audience in India that never existed before We are eagerly looking forward to an even bigger and more exciting Season 2Building on the momentum of its debut season ISRL season 2 is bigger bolder and faster than ever before and will feature an expanded roster of races and new stadiums promising fans an even more electrifying experience IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-supercross-racing-league-season-2-to-begin-in-january-next-year-551160.html Fri, 14 Jun 2024 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/india-men-and-women-make-winning-start-in-asian-team-squash-championships-550756.html Dalian China June 12 The Indian mens and womens teams made a winning start in the Asian Team Squash Championships 2024 here on Tuesday The teams began positively in the group stages The men were without the promising Abhay Singh who pulled out due to injury The women spearheaded by Rathika Suthanthira Seelan beat Macau and Mongolia while the men headed by Velavan Senthikumar began with a convincing 31 win over Kuwait before falling short against Japan according to information provided by the SFI on WednesdayIndias results scores received so farMen India bt Kuwait 21 Velavan Senthilkumar bt Athbi Hamad 114 115 114 Rahul Baitha lost to Md Alkhanfar 811 1210 811 119 211 Suraj Kumar Chand bt Bader Almoghrebi 116 117 116Women India bt Macau 21 Rathika Suthanthira Seelan bt Liu Kwai Chi 114 114 115 Pooja Arthi Raghu lost to Yeung Weng Chi 611 511 211 Janet Vidhi bt Yeung Wai Leng 119 611 1412 119India bt Mongolia 30 Rathika bt Ariunbileg Altankhuyag 112 113 114 Pooja bt Myadagaa Dogsom 111 111 111 Sunita Patel bt Saran Khishigbaatar 111 111 111 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/india-men-and-women-make-winning-start-in-asian-team-squash-championships-550756.html Wed, 12 Jun 2024 23:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-verstappen-wins-enthralling-wet-dry-canadian-gp-549945.html Montreal June 10 Red Bulls Max Verstappen returned to winning ways late on Sunday taking victory in an absorbing Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix run in changeable weather conditions Rain before the race left the track wet for the start and saw most drivers opt for Intermediate tyres with polesitter George Russell of Mercedes leading the first 21 laps before being overtaken by McLarens Lando NorrisThe McLaren appeared to be managing its tyres much better than the chasing pack and Norris pulled out a 10second lead by lap 25 but the Briton was left to rue a badlytimed Safety Car deployment to clear Logan Sargeants Williams demoting the McLaren down to third behind Verstappen and Russell reports XinhuaAs the track dried Verstappen and Russell pitted together for dry tyres on lap 45 but Norris who still had good pace on his old Intermediate rubber stayed out for two more laps before pitting for his set of slicksThe Briton emerged sidebyside at the pit exit with Verstappen but the Dutchmans superior grip saw him retake the lead at Turn 2 Russell was also able to pass the McLaren for second with his warmer tyres and looked set to hunt down Verstappen for the lead but an error at Turn 9 saw him drop back down to third behind NorrisA second Safety Car was deployed for an incident involving Ferraris Carlos Sainz and the Williams of Alex Albon Both Russell and teammate Lewis Hamilton pitted for new tyres while Verstappen Norris and the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri stayed outVerstappen expertly managed the subsequent restart with 11 laps to go as Norris Piastri Russell and Hamilton all fought for position behind him allowing the Dutchman to bolt into a lead he would hold to the flagIt was a pretty crazy race a lot of things were happening We had to be on top of our strategy calls said Verstappen afterwardsAs a team we did well today We remained calm pitted at the right time The Safety Car worked out nicely for us but even after that we were managing the gaps quite wellThat was a lot of fun Those kinds of races you need those once in a whileBehind Verstappen Norris took second ahead of Russell who rued a missed opportunity of a potential victory after having led the first 21 lapsHamilton finished an unhappy fourth ahead of Piastri with Fernando Alonso taking sixth for Aston Martin ahead of teammate Lance StrollDaniel Ricciardo finished eighth for RB with the two Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon rounding out the top tenIt was a dismal race for Ferrari with both Sainz and Charles Leclerc retiring after having run uncompetitively all weekend with Red Bulls Sergio Perez fresh from signing a new twoyear contract also having a torrid time and retiring on lap 51 after having clouted the wall while running outside the pointsVerstappens sixth Grand Prix win of 2024 sees him extend his lead in the Drivers Championship and the Dutchman now has 194 points Despite not scoring Leclerc remains second with 138 points with Norris closing on the Monegasque with 131In the Constructors standings Red Bull now lead with 301 points Ferrari are second on 252 with McLaren third on 212The tenth round of the 2024 F1 World Championship is the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de BarcelonaCatalunya on June 23 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-verstappen-wins-enthralling-wet-dry-canadian-gp-549945.html Mon, 10 Jun 2024 09:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/asia-road-cship-mohsin-kavin-remain-steady-in-race-2-of-rd-3-549900.html Motegi Japan June 9 The Honda racing India team showcased their unwavering determination in Race 2 of Round 3 of the 2024 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship Despite the challenges riders Kavin Quintal and Mohsin Paramban exhibited remarkable consistency and grit in the fiercely competitive AP250 class race on Sunday After securing crucial points for the team in the first race of the weekend the Indian duo faced the task of maintaining their momentum against a field of international talent Although they couldnt add to their points tally in todays race their efforts reflected a relentless pursuit of excellenceMohsin Paramban starting from the 20th position on the grid displayed commendable consistency and strategy Throughout the race he remained competitive leveraging his experience to navigate the challenging circuit effectively Parambans disciplined approach allowed him to finish in 17th place with a time of 2220928 demonstrating his capability to hold his ground amidst a tough lineup of riders even if it didnt translate into points for the team this timeReflecting on his performance Paramban said Todays race showed my improvement even though I missed scoring points for the team The competition was tough so I focused on staying consistent When I saw Kavin drop out I followed the pattern and finished without errors This experience taught us a lot and we shall be enhancing our strategies for better results in the upcoming roundsMeanwhile young talent Kavin Quintal who had a promising start from the 18th position faced unforeseen mechanical issues His initial laps were strong showcasing his resilience and skill as he pushed hard to stay competitive Unfortunately a mechanical failure forced him to exit the race in the 6th lap dashing his hopes of securing additional pointsQuintal remained optimistic despite the setback Today I started strong but mechanical issues with my machine hampered my plans Given yesterdays results I was confident of securing additional points in this race as well Unfortunately I was unable to finish the race However this round has also provided us with a lot of learning and I thank my team and trainers for supporting me With a positive outlook I am looking forward to better results in the upcoming rounds he statedThe 2024 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship now in its 27th edition is Asias premier motorcycle road racing competition attracting top talent from across the continent The championship comprises six rounds starting with the official test and season opener at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand followed by races in China and Japan Subsequent rounds will be held in Indonesia Malaysia and conclude in Thailand IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/asia-road-cship-mohsin-kavin-remain-steady-in-race-2-of-rd-3-549900.html Sun, 09 Jun 2024 23:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/weve-got-our-eyes-on-that-win-says-russell-after-first-mercedes-pole-since-2022-549778.html Montreal June 9 Canadian Grand Prix qualifying session was an exciting one with George Russell and Max Verstappen both finishing with the exact same time 11200 and Lando Norris coming in third place just 0021s behind Despite the identical time it will be the Mercedes of Russell that lines up at the front of the pack as he finished his lap before the Dutch racerUpon finishing on the pole for the first time since 2022 Hungarian Gp the Englishman expressed his joy at the result Oh amazing It feels so good it feels so good So much hard work back at the factory has gone into this We said it in Monaco we hope this is the start of something for our season and I think it is Ive missed this feeling Its awesome here Every time we come to Montreal its such good energy from all the fans Im excited for tomorrow Obviously the first steps done but now weve got our eyes on that win said Russell in the postrace interviewMercedes will be hoping for a clean race start and hope that the new upgrades that they introduced at Monaco will keep Russell ahead of Verstappens Red Bull as they aim to secure their first win of the seasonWhy not Of course lets go for it I think the cars been feeling amazing Since we brought some upgrades to Monaco weve sort of really been in that fight now so were going for it tomorrow added the British pole sitterHamiltons woes continued as the seventime world champion finished seventh in qualifying and did not manage to keep up with the pace of his teammateAh I just wasnt really quick in qualifying I lost a ton of time I reckon I lost half a second probably going into qualifying Just the grip wasnt there I didnt make any changes to the car All of a sudden the grips not there said a dejected Hamilton IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/weve-got-our-eyes-on-that-win-says-russell-after-first-mercedes-pole-since-2022-549778.html Sun, 09 Jun 2024 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-perez-signs-two-year-contract-extension-to-continue-at-red-bull-till-2026-end-548611.html London June 5 Mexican driver Sergio Perez has signed a twoyear contract extension and will continue at Red Bull Racing till the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season Perezs existing deal signed in 2022 was set to expire at the end of the current campaign but Red Bull have moved to keep him onboard for at least the next two terms The 34yearold Perez is currently fifth in the 2024 Drivers Standings with 107 points in the list topped by Max Verstappen of the Netherlands with 169 pointsThe Mexican drivers decision to agree to a twoyear contract extension comes amid a particularly busy driver market with most outfits yet to confirm their full driver lineups and plenty of conversations taking place behind the scenes Perez though will be extending his stay at Red Bull into a landmark fifth season and beyond having joined the squad from Racing Point now Aston Martin back in 2021Since then Perez has taken five Grand Prix victories spread across 2021 2022 and 2023 and bagged three pole positions claimed over the latter two years He finished a careerbest second behind teammate Max Verstappen in the championship last season helping Red Bull achieve a maiden onetwo result alongside the constructors titleI am really happy to commit my future to this great team It is a challenge like no other racing for Oracle Red Bull Racing both on track and off track I am delighted to be staying here to continue our journey together and contribute to this teams great history for two more years Being part of the team is an immense challenge and one I love Perez said of his contract renewalRed Bull team boss Christian Horner added Now is an important time to confirm our lineup for 2025 and we are very pleased to continue working together with ChecoContinuity and stability are important for the team and both Checo and Max are a successful and robust partnership securing our first ever onetwo finish for the team in the championship last year he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-perez-signs-two-year-contract-extension-to-continue-at-red-bull-till-2026-end-548611.html Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-esteban-ocon-to-leave-alpine-at-the-end-of-season-547904.html Enstone UK June 3 BWT Alpine F1 Team have confirmed the departure of Esteban Ocon at the end of the ongoing Formula 1 season following the conclusion of the Frenchmans contract During his fiveyear stint with the team Ocon recorded his and Alpines first Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix Ocon recorded two further podiums during his five years achieving second place at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix his first visit to the rostrum in Formula 1 and the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix where he finished in third placeHe achieved a best finish of eighth in the 2022 Drivers Championship contributing to the teams fourthplace finish in the Constructors Championship that yearThe news comes after a difficult race weekend for Alpine in Monaco when Ocon collided with Pierre Gasly on the first lap earning him a fiveplace grid penalty for this weekends Canadian Grand PrixOcon in a statement said Its been a significant period of my life to be racing at this team in Formula 1 While Ive been here for five years as a fulltime racing driver my professional career started at Enstone back when I was a teenager so it will always be a special place for meOcon added that he will announce his future plans soon and keep his focus on the remainder of the season We have had some great moments together some tough moments as well and I am certainly grateful to everyone in the team for these memorable times I will announce my plans very soon but in the meantime my full focus is on delivering on track for this team and having a successful remainder of the seasonAlpine said they will confirm their 2025 driver lineup in due courseAlpine Team Principal Bruno Famin said We would like to first thank Esteban for his commitment to the team for the past five years During his time we have celebrated some fantastic moments together the best of which came at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix with a memorable race winWe still have 16 races to complete in 2024 together with a clear objective to continue to work tirelessly as a team to push for the best ontrack results We wish Esteban the very best for the next chapter of his driving career when that moment comes he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-esteban-ocon-to-leave-alpine-at-the-end-of-season-547904.html Mon, 03 Jun 2024 19:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-grand-prix-postponed-to-2025-due-to-operational-considerations-546572.html Noida May 29 The global governing body of motorcycle racing FIM announced the postponement of the Indian Grand Prix 2024 to 2025 due to operational considerations The event was earlier scheduled at Buddh International Circuit as the 16th race in the 2024 calendar after the San Marino GPThe FIM IRTA and Dorna Sports announce that the Indian Grand Prix will not take place in 2024 with MotoGP postponing its return to the country to early 2025 due to operational considerations read the MotoGP statementFollowing advice from the Government of Uttar Pradesh as the state continues its longterm commitment to MotoGP the sport will return to Buddh International Circuit in March 2025 when weather conditions are expected to be optimal for spectators and riders alike it further addedPreviously the inaugural edition of the MotoGP Grand Prix of India set new benchmarks in motorsport history drawing over one lakh enthusiastic spectators from India and across the globe with a global telecast across 195 nations it was truly a global phenomenon that proudly announced Indias arrival in the global arena of MotoSports IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-grand-prix-postponed-to-2025-due-to-operational-considerations-546572.html Wed, 29 May 2024 16:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/chennai-to-host-fmsci-indian-national-rally-sprint-championship-2024-546124.html Chennai May 27 The FMSCI Indian National Rally Sprint Championship 2024 2Wh is set to kick off next month in Chennai promising an exhilarating season of highspeed action and innovative features Spanning six rounds across India the championship is set to captivate motorsport enthusiasts and competitors alike The marquee competition will be held on June 1 and 2 at the Madras International Circuit while Round 2 will follow on July 2021 in Bengaluru to complete the South Zone qualifiers The action then moves to Chandigarh North Zone for Round 3 on October 0506Round 4 will take place in Guwahati East Zone on November 2324 and Round 5 unfolds in Goa West Zone on December 0708 The Top 5 riders from each qualifier will feature in the Finals on December 1516 in Pune The event introduces several firsts that set it apart For the first time a Veterans Class has been introduced celebrating the enduring passion and skill of competitors over the age of 50Additionally the championship will now feature a Team and Manufacturers Trophy encouraging teamwork and recognising the efforts of teams and manufacturers in building competitive spirit and innovationStarting from Round 3 each event will also include a novice training session on the day before the competition aiming to identify and nurture new talent and ensure that riders across the country can experience the thrill of rally stagesCommenting on the initiative FMSCI Vice President Gautam Shantappa said We are immensely proud to support the Indian National Rally Sprint Championship 2024 an event that truly embodies the spirit of motorsportsBy providing opportunities for amateur riders and introducing the Veterans Class we are making this championship more inclusive and accessible to enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels Hosting this prestigious event is a significant responsibility and we are looking forward to working with FB Motorsports he said We are thrilled to bring these exciting new elements to the Indian motorsports enthusiasts the National Rally Sprint Championship said Farad Bhathena Director FB MotorsportsOur goal is to make this championship more inclusive and supportive of all levels of competitors while continuing to deliver the highoctane rallying that fans love he addedThe 2024 season promises to be an unforgettable journey through the varied terrains of India showcasing toptier talent and contributing to the growth of motorsports in the country Fans riders and teams are invited to join for a landmark series in 2wheeler rallying in IndiaEncouraging a diverse range of participation the competition will comprise 12 championship classes with cash prizes awarded to the top three berths in each category In addition there will be a special class for local novice riders from each zone IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/chennai-to-host-fmsci-indian-national-rally-sprint-championship-2024-546124.html Mon, 27 May 2024 19:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-leclerc-beats-piastri-sainz-to-take-pole-position-in-monaco-545628.html Monaco May 25 Ferraris Charles Leclerc charged his way to pole position in the Monaco Grand Prix with a stunning qualifying display on home soil getting the better of McLaren rival Oscar Piastri and Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz in Saturdays allimportant qualifying sessions Leclerc avoided any slipups to safely make it through Q1 and Q2 before unleashing his full potential in Q3 where he provisionally posted a time of 1m 10418s and then bettered it with an electric 1m 10270s a target none of his rivals could beatPiastri went on to put his McLaren in second spot ahead of Sainz and teammate Lando Norris while reigning world champion Max Verstappen had to settle for sixth after hitting the wall at Sainte Devote on his final qualifying lap It means the Dutchmans run of successive pole positions comes to an end having claimed the previous eight in a row and drawn level with Ayrton Senna in the alltime list and leaves him with plenty of work to do on race dayMercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will sandwich Verstappen on the grid in fifth and seventh respectively as RBs Yuki Tsunoda Williamss Alex Albon and Alpines Pierre Gasly all starred to reach Q3 Esteban Ocon could not match the pace of teammate Gasly as he narrowly missed the Q2 cut en route to 11th in the second of the Alpine machines while recent qualifying star Nico Hulkenberg had to settle for 12th after briefly leading the way in the early minutes of Q1Mirroring Ocons experience Daniel Ricciardo could do no more than 13th and had to watch Tsunoda lead RBs charge in the pole shootout as Aston Martins Lance Stroll and the other Haas of Kevin Magnussen completed the Q2 order A dramatic first qualifying phase which brought several trafficrelated incidents and plenty of squabbling for track position claimed two big names in the form of Fernando Alonso and Perez who will line up back in 16th and 18th respectively for Sundays Grand PrixLogan Sargeant is set to start between the aforementioned Aston Martin and Red Bull drivers in his Williams while Kick Saubers weekend at the back of the field continued with Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu ending qualifying as the slowest runners IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-leclerc-beats-piastri-sainz-to-take-pole-position-in-monaco-545628.html Sat, 25 May 2024 22:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/mumbai-set-for-night-racing-after-two-decades-60-super-cars-25-super-bikes-to-take-part-545340.html Mumbai May 24 In all over 60 Super Cars and 25 Super Bikes will roar to action on Saturday evening as night motor racing returns to Mumbai after nearly two decades in the Drag Star Night Race The competitions will take place at the restricted Juhu Airport once a haven for racing and offroading among the elite In keeping with the times the night offers the modern avatar of racing Drag Racing Several categories have been earmarked to make each race a battle between equals Among them are Up To 450 BHP 451 to 599 BHP 600 to 799 BHP and 800 BHP and above for Super Cars and 850cc1100 and 1100 to 3000cc for Super Bikes the organisers informed in a release on FridayThe JK Tyrebacked Drag Star Night Race promises high adrenaline and nonstop thrills as cars and bikes race in pairs along a 400metre stripThis is a highend racing event Spectators will witness some of the fanciest and fastest cars go against each other After pioneering the racing movement in India we are now focusing on exciting motorsports events at such exclusive locations to attract the youth Sanjay Sharma HeadCorporate Communication amp Motorsport JK Tyre informed on FridayAs the Traction Partner JK Tyre will equip a Super Car with their new premium tyres Levitas Ultra and pit it against a Formula 4 car in an exhilarating raceWe will see a mix of factorybuilt and modified cars and bikes In addition to Ferraris Lamborghinis and McLarens electric cars like the Mercedes EQS Audi RS etron GT and Porsche Taycan EV will also make an appearance Rongom Mukerji of Elite Octane the organisers of the Drag Star Night Race saidWe have received a tremendous response from not only owners of Super Cars and Bikes but also from race enthusiasts We are expecting a full house marking a successful return of racing to the city he was quoted as saying in a release on FridayAmong the Super Bikes are BMWs Suzuki Hayabusas and Kawasakis to name a few IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/mumbai-set-for-night-racing-after-two-decades-60-super-cars-25-super-bikes-to-take-part-545340.html Fri, 24 May 2024 23:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/aarav-dewan-14-emerges-champion-in-meritus-cup-karting-junior-class-544043.html Bengaluru May 20 Gurugrams 14yearold Aarav Dewan emerged as a new talent winning his major championship in style dominating the wet conditions to clinch the FMSCI Meritus Cup for the Indian Karting Academy Trophy The youngster is in the OK Junior class in the third and final round at the Meco Kartopia track It is a very competitive event and I am so happy to get my maiden trophy I thank my team and family who supported me all through said Aarav a Class 8 student at Heritage Experiential School DelhiAarav of the Leapfrog Racing team started P5 and went on to win the final race with a display of exceptional skills in wet conditions to beat Eshanth Vengatesan of MSport by a handsome margin of 22 points and annexed his maiden title in the FMSCI Cup eventIn the Micro class the 11yearold Rivaan Dev Preetham of MSport completely dominated the season with an allwin record and won the championship in the MicroMax class with 102 points ahead of teammate Rehan Khan In the Senior class the 18yearold Bengaluru driver Siddharth Rooso of Kartkrew Motorsports won the title ahead of teammate Ethan JoyBrief ResultsMeritus Cup ChampionsMicroMax 1 Rivaan Dev Preetham MSport 102 points 2 Rehan Khan R MSport 86 3 Rishik R Reddy Peregrine Racing 54OK Junior 1 Aarav Dewan Leapfrog Racing 92 points 2 Eshanth V MSport 70 3 Arafath Sheikh Crest Motorsports 68Seniors 1 Siddharth Rooso Kartkrew Motorsports 90 2 Ethan Joy Kartkrew 77 3 Aditya Sharma MSport 66 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/aarav-dewan-14-emerges-champion-in-meritus-cup-karting-junior-class-544043.html Mon, 20 May 2024 18:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/hemanth-muddappa-breaks-national-record-at-10th-vroom-drag-meet-543738.html New Delhi May 19 Hemanth Muddappa a 12time National champion was in his element once again becoming the fastest quartermiler in India as he broke the national record at the 10th edition of the Vroom Drag meet On his way to winning the grand triple in the Bikes Open event which is held along with the Round 1 of the FMSCI Indian National 4w Drag Championship at the Taneja air strip near Hosur on SundayMuddappa of Mantra Racing set a time of 09264seconds in the Super Sport 4stroke 1051 to 1650cc class to break the previous record of 9298sec set at the same Taneja track by Jordanian Fahim Zahrani in 2023Foreign riders are allowed in the Open events by FMSCI the Indian federationThe Bengalurubased champion put the 2024 Suzuki Hayabusa built by Mantra Racing to good use touching top speeds of 270kphHe also broke his own record in the Super sport 851 to 1050cc class with a 9415sec run that erased the 9480sec he set at Amby Valley in 2016 astride a BMW S1000RRHe won the Unrestricted 551cc and above class to complete the grand treble as he brought the Indian flag to the mast once again with two records on the final day of the event Muddappas next outing will be at the Drag Nationals at ChennaiBrief resultsD2 4s Super Sport 4stroke 1051cc to 1650cc 1 Hemanth Muddappa 09264 seconds 2 Alimon Saidalvi 09815 3 Faraz Ahmed 09879E3 Unrestricted 551cc and above 1 Hemanth Muddappa 09372 2 Ataulla Baig 09647 3 Aymaan Baig 09734D1 Super Sport 4 stroke 851 to 1050cc 1 Hemanth Muddappa 09415 2 Niranjan R Kumar 10404 3 Saurabh Parab 10471 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/hemanth-muddappa-breaks-national-record-at-10th-vroom-drag-meet-543738.html Sun, 19 May 2024 18:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/dunne-and-stenshorne-join-mclaren-driver-development-programme-542822.html Surrey England May 16 McLaren on Thursday signed Alex Dunne and Martinius Stenshorne for their Driver Development programme Both currently race in Formula 3 Dunne for MP Motorsport and Stenshorne for Hitech PulseEight Were pleased to announce that Alex and Martinius have joined our Driver Development programme said Stephanie Carlin Director of F1 business operations who runs the programme in a statement They are both exciting and promising young talents within motorsport with proven records on track in their respective junior categories including this seasons FIA Formula 3 ChampionshipThe entire team is looking forward to welcoming Alex and Martinius to the McLaren family and well be working closely to support their development within our talent pipelineEstablished in 2022 McLarens Driver Development program directs young talent into the Formula E IndyCar and Formula One racing seriesAfter winning the British F4 Championship with Hitech Grand Prix in 2022 Dunne made an impression on McLaren Earlier in the year the 18yearold Irishman secured his maiden F3 points with an impressive effort in BahrainIts an honour to join the McLaren Driver Development programme said Dunne Im looking forward to getting started with the team McLaren provides the perfect environment for me to develop my skillset as I continue my journey in motorsport Im grateful for Zak Brown and Stephanies support and Im excited to meet the rest of the team at MTCHaving competed in rallying in the past Norwegian Stenshorne was a frequent junior driver and has already experienced F3 success with an Australian Sprint race triumphIm incredibly excited to join the McLaren Driver Development programme its an honour to now be part of the McLaren family said Stenshorne The team has a great history of developing talent so Im looking forward to growing with the team and learning from their expertise as I continue on my journey towards the top of motorsport Thank you to Zak Stephanie and the entire team for their faith in me I cant wait to get started IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/dunne-and-stenshorne-join-mclaren-driver-development-programme-542822.html Thu, 16 May 2024 17:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-newey-expects-to-join-new-team-at-the-end-of-season-542862.html New Delhi May 16 Formula 1 most decorated designer Adrian Newey is expected to join a new team at the end of the 2024 season following his decision to leave Red Bull after 19 years Neweys decision to leave his role as Red Bull chief technical officer after 19 years was announced earlier this month and according to BBC report Newey is now looking for new team to join handsI am seriously considering changing teams going somewhere else and doing another four or five years or whatever Newey said to his manager Eddie Jordan in a You tube video I feel a little bit tired at the moment but at some point Ill probably go againTo walk away from Red Bull was a very hard decision but it was one I needed to take for a whole host of reasons They had been my familyHowever he didnt disclose with which team he will join hands but almost all the F1 teams are in the line to have Newey in the team It was reported that Newey had discussions with Ferrari and Zak Brown the CEO of McLaren Racing has stated that they never say never to hiring Newey James Vowles the principal of the Williams team claimed to have approached him and had a light conversationNewey also revealed the decision to keep working beyond retirement age had been influenced by two factors One was that his father retired at 65 and kind of lost his way a bit just lost his mojo a bitThe other was asking motorsport veterans Bernie Ecclestone and Roger Penske still working in their 90s and 80s respectively about retirementThey both said the brain is like muscle it needs exercise so you need to keep doing that he saidThe scandal involving Red Bull team principal Christian Hornerwho has been accused of sexual harassment and coercive controlling behavior by a female employeepartially impacted Neweys decision to leave Red BullHorner has been exonerated after one internal probe and rejects the accusations While the complainants appeal is still pending and should ultimately result in the same outcome more developments are anticipated over timeLewis Hamilton who is joining Ferrari next season earlier said he is keen for Newey to join him in Maranello IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/f1-newey-expects-to-join-new-team-at-the-end-of-season-542862.html Thu, 16 May 2024 19:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-alex-albon-signs-multi-year-contract-extension-with-williams-racing-542528.html Oxfordshire UK May 15 Formula 1 driver Alex Albon has signed a multiyear contract extension with his current team Williams Racing on Wednesday Although the exact length of the contract has not been revealed the statement posted by Williams states that it will take the partnership into the new era of Formula 1 regulations which is set to come into action from 2026I am incredibly happy to be remaining with Williams Racing and to continue working with such a talented and dedicated team of people It has been a difficult start to the year but since joining Williams we have made significant progress together and I have seen the huge changes happening behind the scenes to take us back to the front of the grid Albon said in the statement issued by WilliamsThis is a longterm project that I really believe in and want to play a key role in which is why I have signed a multiyear contract The journey will take time but I am confident we are building the right team to move forward and achieve great things in the years to come he addedThe 28yearolds journey in motorsports has been interesting to say the very least He started his career in the pinnacle of motorsports in 2019 when he signed for Red Bulls sister team Toro Rosso now known as RB He then went to Red Bull racing in the same season and drove alongside current World Champion Max Verstappen before being replaced by Sergio Perez at the end of the 2020 season He returned to the grid with Williams Racing in 2021 and has been a driver for them ever sinceWe are delighted to secure Alexs longterm future with Williams Racing He has exceptional talent technical input and dedication to the cause and this is a huge vote of confidence in Williams and the journey back to competitiveness that we are onSince joining Alex has consistently demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure and signing him for the longterm is a big piece of the puzzle of moving us up the grid read the statement by Williams team principle James Vowles IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-alex-albon-signs-multi-year-contract-extension-with-williams-racing-542528.html Wed, 15 May 2024 18:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-ferrari-confirms-signing-of-ex-mercedes-staff-ambrosio-and-serra-ahead-of-hamilton-stint-541978.html Maranello Italy May 13 Formula 1 giants Ferrari on Monday confirmed the signing of exMercedes Jerome dAmbrosio as their deputy team principal and Loic Serra as head of chassis performance engineering Both will start with the team on October 1 Born in Belgium in 1985 DAmbrosio was a successful racing driver up until 2020 as he notched up a win in GP2 and three in Formula E along with 20 F1 Grands Prix appearances from 2011 to 2012 for Virgin Racing and LotusAmbrosio has been appointed second in command by team manager Fred Vasseur and will oversee the Ferrari Driver Academy which features Oliver Bearman who made his race debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand PrixThe Frenchman Serra who will be reporting to Ferraris technical director Enrico Cardile will oversee various areas in his role at Maranello including track engineering aero development aero operations and vehicle performance IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-ferrari-confirms-signing-of-ex-mercedes-staff-ambrosio-and-serra-ahead-of-hamilton-stint-541978.html Mon, 13 May 2024 22:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-2024-mir-and-marini-back-in-the-saddle-for-french-grand-prix-540169.html Le Mans France May 7 With the season now in full flow the Honda team is back on track for the French Grand Prix after an important weekend last time out in Spain in the MotoGP 2024 Championship Made world famous for two and fourwheeled endurance races the Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix circuit sits just outside the town of Le Mans and has featured fulltime on the World Championship calendar since 2000 Joan Mir did well in front of his home fans to recover to twopoint scoring results in the Sprint and the Spanish Grand Prix Recreating that form and improving throughout the French GP weekend will be the objective again The last race showed what Mir and his team can do throughout the weekend building each session to maximise the potential of their packageFinally when we look at what happened in Jerez we have to be content we achieved the maximum that we could Doing the same again this weekend is the goal Le Mans is a different kind of track with lots of slowspeed corners so we need to work to setup for that as much as possible Its true it has been a bit of a tricky track for me in the past but we approach with our goals and our plan this weekend said Joan MirOn the other side Luca Marini continues to work on improving his feeling with the Honda RC213V Experimenting with setup options during the postrace test should give the Italian more tools when he arrives in France for Friday practiceAnother opportunity for us to make improvements My team and I are giving our maximum to make progress and we enter the French GP weekend with the same intensity Its important to stay focused and make the most of every opportunity we are presented The weather in Le Mans can be quite wet and cold so lets see what we can achieve said Luca Marini IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-2024-mir-and-marini-back-in-the-saddle-for-french-grand-prix-540169.html Tue, 07 May 2024 19:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/norris-takes-first-f1-win-in-miami-gp-539639.html Miami Gardens US May 6 McLarens Lando Norris took advantage of a midrace Safety Car period to beat Max Verstappen and win his first Formula One Grand Prix in Miami Norris had been running sixth in the early stages of the race but everything changed when the Safety Car was deployed on lap 29 after Kevin Magnussen tangled with Logan Sargeant at Turn 3 sending both into the barriersCrucially for Norris he was the only one of the leading runners not to have changed tyres by this point and was thus able to pit without losing the lead he had inherited as others had pitted reports XinhuaWhen racing resumed on lap 33 Norris had the pace to hold off the threat from Red Bulls Verstappen and managed the gap for the rest of the race to score a fairytale first Grand Prix win on his 110th startAbout time huh said Norris who had lost a potential debut win at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix when a late rain shower had caught him out as he was leading the raceWhat a race its been a long time coming but finally Ive been able to do it Im so happy for my whole team Ive finally been able to deliver for them A long day a tough race but finally on top so Im over the moonThe whole weekend has been good Ive had a few setbacks along the way I knew on Friday we had the pace and just a couple of mistakes here and there but today we managed to put it together we put the perfect strategy it all paid offMcLaren had brought upgrades to Miami and Norris had shown genuine pace on his way to victory crossing the line 76 seconds ahead of the previously dominant Verstappen The Dutchman who had won Saturdays Sprint event and led the early stages of the Grand Prix also cut the chicane on lap 22 and struck a plastic bollard with Red Bull saying the incident cost him some performanceBehind the top two Ferraris Charles Leclerc rounded out the top three with teammate Carlos Sainz fourth after overtaking Norris teammate Oscar Piastri who subsequently needed to pit for a new front wing ruining his chances of pointsVerstappens teammate Sergio Perez had a lowkey run to fifth place ahead of Mercedes Lewis Hamilton in sixthYuki Tsunoda had a fine drive to seventh in his RB with Hamiltons teammate George Russell following in eighthFernando Alonso took ninth for Aston Martin and Esteban Ocon scored the beleaguered Alpine squads first point of 2024 with tenth placeDespite being beaten to victory Verstappen extends his lead in the Drivers Championship and now has 138 points Perez remains second on 101 points and Leclerc is third on 98Red Bull remain top of the Constructors Championship with 237 points Ferrari are second with 189 points with McLaren third with 127The seventh round of the 2024 F1 World Championship is the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola Italy on May 19 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/norris-takes-first-f1-win-in-miami-gp-539639.html Mon, 06 May 2024 10:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-mir-salvages-top-ten-in-dramatic-jerez-sprint-537266.html Jerez April 28 There was hardly a lap without incident as the Spanish GP saw Joan Mir battle through the field running as high as sixth before recovering to tenth after contact Marini unharmed after a late fall Overnight rain and morning showers gave the MotoGP World Championship grid a brief morning practice session to adjust to the conditions With this knowledge in hand the Repsol Honda Team head into Q1Starting from 20th on the grid Mir was able to make a strong start to the race and immediately make forward progress His march would be immediate and constant as other riders around him hit troubles or fell afoul of the lingering wet patches on trackRunning into the top six in the final stages of the race contact with former teammate Marc Marquez saw Mir lose multiple positions as he was forced off Recovering to tenth at the line Mir missed out on points by a single positionI was feeling a lot better with the bike today and I was riding well The conditions werent easy with some wet patches still on track and it was a chaotic race I made a great start and I overtook a couple of guys breaking away from the group behind me and I was with Raul Fernandez most of the race I then had contact with Marc Marquez and I lost three or four positions Last year there was a similar incident between Quartararo and myself and I had a double long lap penalty the next race said MirLuca Marini made an even stronger start to the race than his teammate flying up into 16th after starting in 22nd position Maintaining this position would see Marini on the edge of the top ten in the penultimate lapsUnfortunately Marini would also count himself as one of the victims of the treacherous conditions as he fell from the race right at the end Unharmed in the fall Sundays race brings new opportunitiesIt was a crazy race there were a lot of wet spots and the wind was very high It was really easy to make a mistake and especially in the Sprint race where everyone is pushing a lot and trying to overtake a lot its quite difficult Especially for us where we are struggling in normal conditions it made it really hard I fell alone like many other riders at Turn Five There was a lot of wind and a big wet patch on the outside I am okay and we try again tomorrow said MariniBoth riders will get another chance to show their speed on Sunday in the 25lap Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 00 de Espana IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/motogp-mir-salvages-top-ten-in-dramatic-jerez-sprint-537266.html Sun, 28 Apr 2024 12:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/hulkenberg-to-leave-haas-for-sauber-at-the-end-of-f1-season-2024-536880.html Hinwil Switzerland April 26 German Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg will leave Haas at the end of the season to join Sauber in 2025 the two teams confirmed on Friday The German racer signed a multiyear deal with Sauber and in 2026 will become the first driver for Audis entry into the F1Nico joined hands with Haas in 2023 after three years of gap from a fulltime F1 circuit and has been one of the grids inform drivers this seasonId like to extend my thanks to Nico for his contributions to the team in the time that hes been here with us hes been a great team player and someone we very much enjoy working with team principal Ayao Komatsu said in a statement put out by Haas on FridayHis experience and feedback have proved invaluable to us in terms of improving our overall performance a fact thats clearly evident in both his qualifying and race performances in the VF24 this seasonTheres a lot more racing to go this year so we look forward to continuing to benefit from his inputs throughout the remainder of the 2024 seasonNico demonstrated his skill at an early age winning four titles in the most significant singleseater junior categories between 2005 and 2009 Prior to making his Formula 1 debut in 2010 he gained notoriety in 2008 during test drives He would go on to participate in almost 200 races for seven different Formula 1 teamsWe are very pleased to welcome Nico back here in Hinwil from 2025 and to compete with him in Formula One With his speed his experience and his commitment to teamwork he will be an important part of the transformation of our team and of Audis F1 project said Andreas Seidl CEO of Sauber Motorsport AG and Audi F1 factory teamRight from the start there was great mutual interest in building something longterm together Nico is a strong personality and his input on a professional and personal level will help us to make progress both in the development of the car and in building up the team he addedNico participated in the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC alongside the Formula 1 season in 2015 which was a unique step for drivers of his generation On his debut Nico won the 24 Hours of Le MansIm returning to the team I worked with back in 2013 and have fond memories of the strong team spirit in Switzerland The prospect of competing for Audi is something very special When a German manufacturer enters Formula 1 with such determination it is a unique opportunity To represent the factory team of such a car brand with a power unit made in Germany is a great honour for me said Nico HulkenbergTeam Haas is positioned at the fifth of the Constructor Championships table with 12 points in five races IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/hulkenberg-to-leave-haas-for-sauber-at-the-end-of-f1-season-2024-536880.html Fri, 26 Apr 2024 15:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/nikhil-dhruva-amp-nikeetaa-secure-titles-in-inac-2024-536361.html Pune April 24 Nikhil J of JK Tyre clocked a blistering 125094 to beat fancied Dhruva Chandrashekar who managed only 126267 in the INAC1 800 to 1650cc class in the finals while Nikeetaa Takkale excelled as a woman driver in the FMSCI Indian National Autocross Championship 2024 INAC at the Nanoli Stud Farm The two fastest drivers in the class saw tough competition in the top INAC1 classHosted by the Indian Automotive Racing Club the INAC witnessed an exhilarating display of speed and skill with the National champions decided in the finals This was the first of the 12 Nationals organised by FMSCI which completed the Nationals 2024 and Indian champions were declared Philippos Matthai of MRF clinched the title in the INAC1 1651 to 2400cc being the only driver in the fray The championship finals also highlighted outstanding performances from Dhruva Chandrashekar Mazdayar Vatcha Nikhil J Daksh Gill and Nikeetaa Takkaleamong others across various categories Nikeetaa Takkale the JK Tyre driver hoisted the women in the motorsports flag with a commendable performance by a lady driver competing on equal footing with menDhruva Chandrashekars triumph in the INAC 2 Open Class with a timing of 126738 in VW Polo underscored the intensity of competition with his closely contested victory against Philippos Matthai and Nikeeta Takkale showcasing the pinnacle of racing excellenceIn INAC 3Open Class Hyderabads Mazdayar Vatcha emerged victorious with a standout performance of 130657 with Goas Amey Desai coming in second with a time of 131277 followed by Praveen Dwarkanath with a time of 133474In the womens category of Time Attack event Punes Nikeeta Takkale secured first position with a time of 131380 followed by Tarushi Vikram with 132988 and Nikita Nair coming in 3rd with 201456 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/nikhil-dhruva-amp-nikeetaa-secure-titles-in-inac-2024-536361.html Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-max-verstappen-powers-to-victory-in-chinese-grand-prix-535610.html Shanghai April 21 Max Verstappen converted pole position into victory in a Chinese Grand Prix full of incidents and overtakes to make it four wins from five races so far this season McLarens Lando Norris secured second position while Red Bulls Sergio Perez finished third Ferraris Carles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz followed in fourth and fifth respectivelyMore to follow IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-max-verstappen-powers-to-victory-in-chinese-grand-prix-535610.html Sun, 21 Apr 2024 16:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-norris-stuns-with-wet-pole-for-chinese-grand-prix-sprint-race-in-shanghai-535315.html Shanghai April 19 Lando Norris will start from pole position in Saturdays F1 Sprint in Shanghai after having his fastest lap removed and then reinstated in a thrilling rainaffected qualifying session Norris best time of 157940 was a full 13 seconds ahead of Mercedes Lewis Hamilton and came after the McLaren drivers time was initially deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 16 before quickly being reinstated With the Shanghai International Circuit having recently been resurfaced with a layer of bitumen the track proved extremely slippery as rain intensified in the closing stages of the session Several drivers slid and ran wide in the damp conditions and Charles Leclerc was lucky to avoid damage as his Ferrari tapped the wall following a highspeed spin reports XinhuaBehind the front two Fernando Alonso ended the session third for Aston Martin with championship leader Max Verstappen only fourth in his Red Bull after having run wide at the end of his first push lapCarlos Sainz took fifth for Ferrari ahead of Verstappens teammate Perez in sixth Leclerc recovered from his mishap to finish seventh with Norris teammate Oscar Piastri in eighthValtteri Bottas will start the Sprint ninth for Sauber with teammate Zhou Guanyu delighting the partisan crowd by ending the session tenth at his home circuitGeorge Russell was a notable casualty of the rain that began to intensify towards the end of Q2 failing to get a banker lap in early and finishing up 11th The Haas twins of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg ended up 12th and 13th with RBs Daniel Ricciardo 14th and Alonsos teammate Lance Stroll 15thFurther down the field the five drivers condemned to start 16th to 20th after having fallen in the first segment were the Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon Williams Alex Albon Yuki Tsunoda in the second RB and Albons teammate Logan SargeantReflecting on the achievement postsession Norris said Im extremely happy first of all A big thanks to the whole team It was tricky youre always nervous going into a session like this especially for quali when you almost know its going to rainJust as had happened in the mornings practice session a dry patch of grass on the infield of Turn 5 appeared to have been set alight by sparks from passing cars forcing the start of Q2 to be delayed while marshals extinguished the flamesThe Chinese Grand Prix weekend is the first of six in 2024 to feature a Sprint event with Saturday mornings 19lap race to be followed by the qualifying session for Sundays Grand Prix IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-norris-stuns-with-wet-pole-for-chinese-grand-prix-sprint-race-in-shanghai-535315.html Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/gaurav-gill-puts-on-commendable-performance-in-rally-of-otago-534274.html New Delhi April 14 JK Tyres Gaurav Gill showcased a strong performance in the Rally of Otago securing a top 3 finish on day 1 He maintained his third position consistently until stage 10 However an unexpected challenge in stage 11 forced him to withdraw from the raceGaurav Gill and his New Zealandbased codriver Jared Hudson were piloting a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car when at the 72km mark in Special Stage 11 SS11 the car hit a pothole causing a suspension issueDespite their attempts to fix the car the duo was forced to withdraw from the race Apart from this technical setback Gill demonstrated strong performance throughout the rally showcasing his dedication to the sportThe Otago Rally is amongst the most historic rally events in the world and has been held every year since 1976 This year the rally has drawn a field of 117 cars the largest in four yearsA customary mix of challenging sections comprise the 16 special stages that make up the rally The stages consist of fast flowing open public roads blind brows as well as gravel strewn sections which offers a unique challenge IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/gaurav-gill-puts-on-commendable-performance-in-rally-of-otago-534274.html Sun, 14 Apr 2024 21:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/gaurav-gill-finishes-day-1-of-otago-rally-in-top-three-534000.html New Delhi April 13 JK Tyres Gaurav Gill put himself in the battle for the win with a topthree placing at the end of the opening day of the Otago Rally in New Zealand Piloting 2022 APRC champion and 10time Otago Rally winner Haydon Paddons Hyundai i20 N Rally2 machine Gill and his NewZealand based codriver Jared Hudson were third on the timesheets a little over 30 seconds behind overall leader Jack Hawkeswood and 11 seconds adrift of secondplaced Robbie StokesOn day one the drivers navigated through eight special stages Gill lost fifteen seconds on stage 5 due to an error but the tripleAPRC champion offered proof of his outright speed by winning stages 4 7 and 8Gaurav Gill said It has been a very unique experience the superfast stages are so distinct and varied from one another that I would describe them as extremely fast I have never driven this fast before We had a pretty good start in the morning stages and now were trying to become better at maintaining our rhythm on the trickier parts We are up against cars more powerful than ours That makes a difference and the settings are ideal for them We are happy with our performance today and will try to replicate the same tomorrow ensuring a podium finishThe Otago Rally is amongst the most historic rally events in the world and has been held every year since 1976 This year the rally has drawn a field of 117 cars the largest in four years A customary mix of challenging sections comprise the 16 special stages that make up the rallyOver 144 km of competitive stages the contestants demonstrated their driving prowess on Saturday On Sunday another 130 kilometres of stages will be drivenThis is Gills first time competing at the Otago Rally which with its stages made up of fast flowing open public roads blind brows as well as gravelstrewn sections offers a unique challenge Gaurav is the threetime winner of the Rally of Whangarei which also takes place in New Zealand IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/gaurav-gill-finishes-day-1-of-otago-rally-in-top-three-534000.html Sat, 13 Apr 2024 18:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/japanese-gp-verstappen-edges-out-teammate-perez-to-claim-pole-position-532599.html Suzuka Japan April 6 Red Bulls Max Verstappen continued his reign of pole positions in the 2024 season by clinching P1 on the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix Teammate Sergio Perez joined Verstappen on the front row underlining Red Bulls formidable presence at the sharp end of the grid Despite a valiant effort from Perez Verstappens mastery prevailed with the Mexicans time falling just short of his teammates benchmarkThe world champion improved his last effort to a 1m 28197s after recording the quickest time in the early laps of Q3 with a lap of 1m 28240s Perez made a heroic effort but in the end his time was just 0066 seconds slower than Verstappens placing him in P2Behind the Red Bull duo Lando Norris secured third place displaying his raw talent and determination Carlos Sainz riding high on the wave of his recent victory in Australia secured a commendable fourth place further solidifying Ferraris resurgence in the championship battleFernando Alonso emerged as the leading Aston Martin in fifth showcasing his enduring skill and experience on the iconic Suzuka circuit Meanwhile birthday celebrations were in order for Oscar Piastri who delivered a stellar performance to secure sixth place on his special dayIn the midst of the grid a familiar face found himself in an uncharacteristic position Lewis Hamilton a stalwart of Formula 1 could only manage seventh place alongside his future Ferrari teammate Charles LeclercFurther down the order George Russell faced scrutiny from the stewards for a pit lane incident in Q1 casting a shadow over his ninthplace grid slot Yuki Tsunoda competing in front of his home crowd rounded out the top 10 hoping to deliver a strong performance on familiar territory1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1281972 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 1282633 Lando Norris McLaren 128489 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/japanese-gp-verstappen-edges-out-teammate-perez-to-claim-pole-position-532599.html Sat, 06 Apr 2024 13:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-supercross-racing-league-aims-for-nationwide-footprint-evaluates-15-stadiums-532318.html Pune April 4 The Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL is gearing up for its second season with ambitious plans to expand its reach across the nation and has evaluated 15 stadiums for potential future races The ISRL aims to build on the success of its inaugural season after season 1 saw remarkable achievements with each stadium operating at over 90 capacity and attracting close to 30000 overall attendees setting a new benchmark in motorsports in India the Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL informed in a releaseThe first season of ISRL has been a spectacle of speed and skill featuring 48 of the top Indian and international riders across five competitive race categories with six participating franchisee teams cheered on by passionate crowds in three spectacular venuesVeer Patel Cofounder amp Director of the Indian Supercross Racing League shared his excitement for the future The success of ISRLs inaugural season has been truly phenomenal solidified our position in the global motorsports landscape and has sparked significant interest from brands eager to align with our growing platform Supercross currently engaging about 20 million fans in India and is poised for explosive growthOver the next three years our aim is to a captive audience of 150 million propelling Supercross to new heights in India and exponentially growing the sport As we gear up for Season 2 of the Indian Supercross Racing League we are thrilled by the overwhelming support from fans and participants driving us towards a bigger bolder and faster experience he saidThe forthcoming season promises to be a magnet for international talent and a platform for global brands to showcase their products and services to a diverse audience The inaugural season laid a strong foundation setting new standards for motorsport viewership in IndiaIt provided a vital platform for automobile ancillary companies to showcase their products to a broad audience bridging a threedecadelong gap and fostering a dynamic automotive ecosystem The second season aims to build on its inaugural success exploring new horizons and bringing the adrenalinepumping action of Supercross to more fans across India and the world IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indian-supercross-racing-league-aims-for-nationwide-footprint-evaluates-15-stadiums-532318.html Thu, 04 Apr 2024 20:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/champion-driver-gaurav-gill-all-set-for-otago-rally-in-new-zealand-530585.html New Delhi March 26 Arjuna awardee Gaurav Gill is all set to participate in the Otago Rally in New Zealand scheduled to be held in Dunedin from April 1214 Gills entry in the event is being backed by Indian businessman Vamcy Merla who is also a promoter of the Otago Rally which is being held as a round of Asia Pacific Rally Championship APRC 2024 Indias fastest Rally driver JK Tyres Gill will take the place of 2022 APRC champion and 10time Otago Rally winner Haydon Paddon and will be driving Paddons Hyundai i20 N Rally2 The fourwheel drive i20 N Rally2 weighs 1230kg and is equipped with a 16 litre turbocharged engine fitted to a 32mm air restrictor and a fivespeed sequential gearbox Gills sponsors informed in a release on TuesdayThe Otago Rally is amongst the most historic rally events in the world and has been held every year since 1976 Headlining a field of 117 cars the Otago rally this year is the largest in four yearsThe 2024 edition will play out over 16 timed special stages spread over a distance of 280 kilometres comprising a mix of tarmac and gravel surfacesGill will be seen competing with American Rally Champion Brandon Semenuk a crowd favorite driving his Subaru H6 local drivers including Tim Smith in his Subaru Andrew Graves in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3 Emma Gilmour driving the Citroen C3 Rally2 Ben Hunt driving his Skoda Fabia Robbie Stokes in his Ford Fiesta and Jack Hawkeswood in his Toyota Yaris AP4Talking about his participation in New Zealand Gaurav Gill said Following a gap since my last international appearance at the Rally of Greece last year Im really looking forward to getting my 2024 campaign off to a strong start with the historic Otago Rally in New Zealand Im grateful to JK Tyre and Vamcy Merla for this opportunity The Hyundai i20 N Rally 2 car I will be driving is a prospective winner and my goal is to extend this winning run into the year 2024Sanjay Sharma HeadMotorsport JK Tyre amp Industries said We are looking forward to seeing Gaurav Gill behind the wheels of the Hyundai i20 N Rally 2 car this time a first for both Gill and us The car has a proven track record of victories and the Otago Rally has presented us with an exciting opportunity to unleash this powerhouseWere confident that Gills unparalleled skills combined with the cars capabilities will pave the path for success he addedSpeaking on Gills participation Vamcy Merla said Im glad to contribute to Indian Rallying wherever possible and my endeavor to promote Indians at international rallying events have already started yielding results With Indias best rally driver Gaurav Gill behind the wheel I look forward to seeing the Indian flag on the podium IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/champion-driver-gaurav-gill-all-set-for-otago-rally-in-new-zealand-530585.html Tue, 26 Mar 2024 20:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/clash-of-titans-steals-the-show-as-chetan-shivram-wins-a-triple-529175.html Mysuru March 18 Former Indian National Rally champion Chetan Shivram showed great skills as he raced past the flag winning the title in three different classes at the mighty Clash of Titans a feature event run for the winners of different events in the threeday of Autocross on the 18km twin track on Sunday Nikeetaa Takkale of Pune won the Ladies class defeating a strong field The 2019 INRC overall champion Chetan Shivram won the prestigious Unrestricted and Indian Open classes before bagging the 1600cc class alsoJenu Johnson narrowly lost the 1600cc class but annexed the upto 2000cc class Another INRC former sub group National champion Vaibhav Marathe of Goa won the 1400cc class Vidit Jain took the SUV class while Darshan Nachappa Kokkengada won the Gypsy class IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/clash-of-titans-steals-the-show-as-chetan-shivram-wins-a-triple-529175.html Mon, 18 Mar 2024 10:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-2-kush-maini-gets-maiden-podium-this-season-in-jeddah-527685.html Jeddah March 10 Kush Maini who is part of the Alpine Academy and racing for Invicta Car no 9 put up an impressive show to finish on the Podium in P2 in the 28 Laps Feature race in Formula 2 Starting in Pole Position Kush got off to a brilliant start and opened up the gap However an incident on Lap 1 brought out the safety car from Lap 2 which closed the pack On the restart after a few laps Kush once again made a brilliant restart on his Supersoft tires to ensure that Jack Crawford was out of his DRS rangeAfter an early mandatory pitstop he found himself 3 Seconds ahead of Enzo Fittipaldi in a net Second Position However many cars had not yet made a stopFittipaldi had extremely good pace and was able to pass Kush After the next Safety car Kush found himself in 4th Position behind Correa and Cordeel with eight Laps to goCordeel was on the defensive with Correa passing him into the first corner but as the pair squabbled on a corner exit Maini was able to clear the Belgian to improve to third on the roadCorrea finally made his stop on Lap 26 to leave Kush Cordeel Crawford Antonelli and Hauger to scrap for the podium placesOnto the final lap and Kush led a DRS train down to fifth and kept P2 for Invicta but a threecarwide drag race for the final podium position went the way of Hauger who finished just 0031s ahead of Crawford in fourth and Cordeel who dropped to fifth by 0127sI think it was a positive race especially after yesterday where we really struggled so I am really happy the team and I switched it around Today we were really competitive Obviously Enzo was in a different league today so congratulations to him I think I am happy with P2 We need to analyse a little bit more on where we can catch Enzo but good points today said KushI think Qualifyingwise we knew that we would be on the money The car is great We had a few doubts in the races but now that that is cleared up I feel we can be competitive all throughout and I am looking forward to Melbourne The first lap on the second set I dont feel like I maximised it The second lap I feel like I did but I just ran out of tires at the end I think Ollie did a great lap I feel I could have challenged a bit harder if I had put it together in that first lap he addedFIA Formula 2 will move to Melbourne from March 2224 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-2-kush-maini-gets-maiden-podium-this-season-in-jeddah-527685.html Sun, 10 Mar 2024 15:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/hero-motosports-team-rally-wins-the-abu-dhabi-desert-challenge-2024-525540.html Abu Dhabi March 2 Hero MotoSports Team Rally won the 33rd edition of the prestigious Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge on Saturday registering the first triumph for the 7yearold at a World Championship race This follows their historic Dakar Rally podium finish in January 2024 Rally GP class rider Aaron Marè won the race for Hero MotoSports showcasing a phenomenal performance at the 6day desert rally Even though Aaron joined the team as a substitute for factory rider Sebastian Buhler who is still recovering from his Dakar crash the young South African who lives in Dubai performed at his peak to win two Stages lead the race for four straight days and eventually finish on the winner podiumCollecting several points from the round win Hero MotoSports has catapulted to the top of the manufacturers leaderboard in the FIM World RallyRaid Championship W2RC 2024 this is also the first time an Indian manufacturer has reached this level on a global stageThe second factory rider for the team Ross Branch finished just outside the podium in fourth place By finishing 2nd in the Rally GP class at this second race of the season Ross has raised his total points to 50 making himself the leader of the World RallyRaid Championship 2024 another first for Team Hero MotoSportsFondly known as the Kalahari Ferrari Ross started well at the start of the rally with a win in the Prologue stage However while leading the race on Stage 1 he faced a mechanical issue With a bit of luck and smart effort he could continue in the race and make it to the finish Even though the issue set him back by over 45 minutes from the lead Ross made continuous efforts until the end winning multiple StagesThe Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is popular for its 100 sand and desert terrains and a highly intensive week of racing under the hot sun in the Rub Al Khali Empty QuarterTeam Hero however faced a few setbacks even before the race commenced Customs clearance issues and a lastminute rider replacement left the team with just under a day to prepare for the raceRegardless the lean team consistently outperformed their competition and eventually won the RallyThe next challenge for the team is in less than a month the BP Ultimate RallyRaid to be held in Portugal and Spain the third round of the W2RC 2024 As leaders of the World Championship in both the Rider rankings and the Manufacturer rankings the team will aim to continue their strong run and chase better resultsWolfgang Fischer Team Manager and Head Hero MotoSports Team Rally said the team was happy to win in Abu DhabiWe are very happy to be at the finish line as winners of this iconic race As a team our achievement is triplefold its our first victory at a World Championship race its the first time we are leading the World Championship Rider rankings with Ross and its also the first time Hero is leading the Manufacturer rankings in a World Championship It has been a rollercoaster week for us a lastminute replacement for Sebastian and then delayed arrival of our bikes from customs said FischerHowever I am really happy with how Aaron stepped up to the challenge and did a wonderful job all through the race bringing us this fantastic result Ross was also able to earn the maximum points in the World Championship Im extremely happy with what the team has achieved and look forward to the rest of the season A big thank you to all our partners and fans for their continued support and love he addedTalking about his triumph Aaron Maré said Im super happy to get the overall victory at ADDC I cant thank Hero MotoSports Waffi and the team enough for getting me up here It was an amazing opportunity and I made the most of it I was also fortunate to ride along with Ross Branch who came fresh from his Dakar podium and learnt a lot from him We were teammates several years back and it was a wonderful time spent with him here I look forward to the upcoming races in the year IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/hero-motosports-team-rally-wins-the-abu-dhabi-desert-challenge-2024-525540.html Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-2-championship-kush-maini-makes-a-massive-recovery-from-p22-to-p7-525533.html Bahrain March 2 Kush Maini who is part of the Alpine Academys sporting car number 9 and representing the Invicta team drove an amazing Feature Race after starting absolutely last in the opening round of the Formula 2 Championship Feature Race which was over 32 laps here on Saturday Kush went on the prime tyres like the majority of the drivers and ensured that he had a long and consistent stint before changing to the faster soft tyres He was the last to pit and fortunately well timed with a Safety Car and he exited the pits in P11With fresher tyres he made good progress through the field by first passing both the Prema cars driven by Bearman and Antonelli He was continuously closing the gap till he finished the race in P7Was really happy when we got Provisional Pole on Thursday because that meant that we were able to deliver over one Lap Was a day with the highest of highs and then the Low when we were told much later that my Qualifying times wont count because I was disqualified due to a technical reason Kush Maini saidEven though it did not change the performance I had to start both races from the back of the grid I tried to make as many positions as I could he addedIn both races and so as a team we also have enough data to go into the next round It was also good to get some points in the feature race Looking forward to racing in Saudi Arabia next week IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-2-championship-kush-maini-makes-a-massive-recovery-from-p22-to-p7-525533.html Sat, 02 Mar 2024 23:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/yuven-sundaramoorthy-confirms-competing-in-2024-firestone-indy-nxt-series-alongside-abel-motorsports-524372.html New Delhi Feb 28 Yuven Sundaramoorthy the racing sensation of Indian heritage is set to ignite the tracks of the 2024 Firestone INDY NXT Series The 37th edition of the openwheel motorsport event promises thrills and spills as Yuven Sundaramoorthy takes on the competition alongside the esteemed Abel Motorsports teamAs the primary support series for the IndyCar Series now in its second year under the Indy NXT banner following its acquisition by Penske Entertainment in 2022 the 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone season is gearing up for an exhilarating rideWith a 14race schedule announced by INDYCAR including the addition of another oval to better prepare drivers for the diverse skills required in NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition the stage is set for highoctane actionThe season kicks off on March 10 on the Streets of St Petersburg Florida setting the pace for what promises to be a gripping campaign Fans can mark their calendars for two doubleheader weekends May 1011 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and June 2223 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey CaliforniaThe champion will be crowned on Sunday September 15 on the Nashville Super Speedway marking the first time this venue hosts the seasonending eventEvery race of the 2024 INDY NXT series will be streamed live on Peacock with live coverage of practice and qualifying available on INDYCAR LIVE ensuring fans dont miss a single moment of the actionConfirming his participation Yuven Sundaramoorthy expressed his excitement stating Its an honour to be part of such a prestigious event and to represent my Indian heritage on the racing stage Im grateful for the opportunity and excited to showcase my skills against the best in the sport With the unwavering support of my team and fans Im determined to give it my all and leave a lasting impression with every lapBuilding on his stellar performance during the 2023 USF Pro Championships season Sundaramoorthy showcased his prowess in the USF Pro 2000 program before making the leap to Indy NXT with Abel Motorsports With two impressive top10 finishes in four races across three events in Nashville Portland and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Sundaramoorthy has proven his mettle on the trackIn 2021 Sundaramoorthy clinched four wins and secured five more podium finishes culminating in a commendable thirdplace standing in the USF 2000 title race As the sole IndianAmerican driver to triumph within the IndyCar ladder system his victories at revered tracks such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Barber Motorsports Park have solidified his status as a rising star in motorsport IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/yuven-sundaramoorthy-confirms-competing-in-2024-firestone-indy-nxt-series-alongside-abel-motorsports-524372.html Wed, 28 Feb 2024 10:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/bigrock-motorsport-dominates-grand-finale-of-indian-supercross-racing-league-523623.html Bangalore Feb 25 Home team BigRock Motorsport emerged victorious in the inaugural season of the Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL which concluded with a breathtaking Grand Finale here on Sunday In an exhilarating display of skill and determination BigRock Motorsport secured their place as the champions of the inaugural ISRL season The team dominated the Grand Finale replicating their outstanding performances from earlier racesStar athlete Matt Moss riding the Kawasaki clinched first place in the 450cc international race solidifying his position as a true Supercross championThe 250cc international race was once again led by the formidable Reid Taylor of BigRock Motorsports as he showcased his prowess on the track In the 250cc India Asia Mix category the dynamic rider Thanarat Penjan of BigRock Motorsport riding the Kawasaki claimed the top spot adding another feather to their capThe Grand Finale drew an unprecedented crowd of over 8000 spectators taking the total physical attendance to over 30000 for the season setting a new global record and creating an electric atmosphereThe racing spectacle exceeded expectations captivating the audience with highspeed action daring manoeuvres and nailbiting finishes The event marked a new chapter in Indian motorsports bringing together racing enthusiasts distinguished guests and topnotch riders from around the worldAs the inaugural season concludes the CEAT ISRL looks forward to building on this success continuing to provide a safe and competitive platform for riders of all ages and skill levels The league remains dedicated to promoting youth development and environmental sustainability embodying the spirit of sportsmanship and excellence IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/bigrock-motorsport-dominates-grand-finale-of-indian-supercross-racing-league-523623.html Sun, 25 Feb 2024 19:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/excitement-revs-up-indian-supercross-racing-league-heads-to-thrilling-finale-in-bengaluru-523501.html Bengaluru Feb 25 The Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL is gearing up for its grand finale set to ignite the tracks at the Open Ground Chikkajala here on Sunday After the exhilarating rounds in Pune and Ahmedabad the anticipation is palpable as riders from BigRock Motorsports and Mohites Racing Team prepare to lock horns in the ultimate showdown of speed and skillWith the dust settling from the first two rounds BigRock Motorsports emerges as the frontrunner commanding the points table with an impressive tally of 388 points Mohites Racing Team however isnt far behind surging to second place with podium finishes in both the 85 and 250 cc categoriesNotable performances by Reid Taylor and Ben Prasit Hallgren have electrified fans setting the stage for a gripping finale As riders hit the track for the practice match on Saturday the rugged terrain of Bengalurus Open Ground presents a formidable challengeMatt Moss the star athlete of BigRock Motorsports labels the track as the toughest of the tournament citing its demanding nature and lack of traction With falls and skids marking the practice session riders must summon all their skills to conquer the relentless courseThis one is very tricky the practice round was tough it was not easy to ride The track is full of slip with very less traction which made the race more tougher But at the same time it did provide a thrill to ride I really enjoyed the practice round and looking ahead on the final race day Moss told IANSThe showdown in Ahmedabad between Matt Moss and Jordi Tixier of the BB Racing team adds fuel to the fire as tensions escalate on the track A verbal altercation ensues after Tixiers bold move knocks Moss out of contention in the final lapsMoss undeterred vows to retaliate in Bengaluru setting the stage for a thrilling rematch between the titans of supercross racing I will beat him things got heated up in the Ahmedabad leg but this will be more interesting I talked with my team we looked at what went wrong in the previous legAs the ISRL reaches its crescendo all eyes turn to Bengaluru for the epic finale With riders primed for battle and adrenaline coursing through their veins the stage is set for a spectacle of speed skill and sheer determinationWith the final lap approaches only one thing is certain the Bengaluru round of the ISRL will be a showdown for the ages where champions will rise rivalries will reach their zenith and the true spirit of supercross racing will shineWith riders poised to push the limits of endurance and agility the ISRL finale promises to deliver edgeofyourseat action and unforgettable moments IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/excitement-revs-up-indian-supercross-racing-league-heads-to-thrilling-finale-in-bengaluru-523501.html Sun, 25 Feb 2024 12:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/3rd-test-yashasvi-jaiswals-century-shubman-gills-fifty-help-india-extend-lead-to-322-runs-521129.html Rajkot Feb 17 nbspOpener Yashasvi Jaiswal notched up the second century of the ongoing series while Shubman Gill supported him with an unbeaten fifty to help India extend their lead to 322 runs and take a strong grip in the third Test against England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium here on SaturdayRavichandran Ashwins overnight withdrawal from the match because of a family medical emergency meant India were one frontline bowler short ahead of Day Three But others stepped up with Mohammed Siraj taking 484 especially fuelled by a strong spell after lunchKuldeep Yadav impressed in the morning with his pace turn and variations to take two scalps while Ravindra Jadeja also picked two wickets and Jasprit Bumrah triggered the collapse by taking out Joe Root as England lost their remaining eight wickets for just 95 runs giving India the 126run lead and momentum in the match which wasnt a realistic possibility in the morningIn their second innings Jaiswal showed restraint before attacking Englands bowlers to make 104 and retired hurt shortly before stumps due to back spasms Gill also cashed on the tiring England bowlers by batting at his own pace and remained 65 not out at stumps with Kuldeep Yadav giving him company on threeAt the start of the final session Jaiswal and Gill were content with tiring out Englands bowlers But something changed in the 27th over as Jaiswal moved from 35 off 73 balls to 49 off 76 balls pulling and smashing Anderson for a six and two fours He then smacked Hartley over longon for two sixes the first of which fetched him his fiftyJaiswals onslaught continued when he punched and swept Joe Root for boundaries followed by lofting Rehan Ahmed for six But the highlight was Jaiswal reversesweeping Ahmed for backtoback fours He then cut through coverpoint for four to raise his centuryGill took on Root by lofting over longoff for six and then pulled Mark Wood for another maximum to get his fifty as well in 98 balls After being troubled by back spasms twice Jaiswal had to retire hurtGill continued to flay boundaries even as Rajat Patidar pulled straight to midwicket and fell for a tenball duck Despite that India managed to make 152 runs in the final session on Day Three and have taken a firm grip on this Test with England left in a dire situation to save the matchBrief scoresIndia 445 amp 1962 in 51 overs Yashasvi Jaiswal 104 Shubman Gill 65 not out Tom Hartley 142 Joe Root 148 lead England 319 all out in 711 overs Ben Duckett 153 Ben Stokes 41 Mohammed Siraj 484 Ravindra Jadeja 251 by 322 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/3rd-test-yashasvi-jaiswals-century-shubman-gills-fifty-help-india-extend-lead-to-322-runs-521129.html Sat, 17 Feb 2024 18:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-car-racing-round-1-chetan-surineni-abhay-mohan-win-biren-pithawalla-diana-pundole-triumph-521168.html Chennai Feb 17 Bengaluru teenagers Chetan Surineni and Abhay Mohan emerged triumphant in the MRF Formula 2000 and MRF Formula 1600 races respectively to enjoy a winning start to their campaigns in the fmsci Indian National Car Racing Championship 2024 which commenced at the Madras International Circuit here on SaturdayEarlier Mumbais Biren Pithawalla N1 Racing pulled off a fine win in the premium Indian Touring Cars class while Performance Racings Hatim Shabbir Jamnagarwalla from Chennai topped the Indian Junior Touring Cars segment and Chandigarhs Angad Matharoo Buzzing Hornet Motorsport topped the Super Stock categoryLate in the evening Punes Diana Pundole won the MRF Saloons Toyota Etios race with ease in a race interrupted by a safety car period following a threecar collisionMeanwhile Nellores Viswas Vijayaraj and Arya Singh from Kolkata took the front row in that order for their team DTS Racing after a startstopstart qualifying session interrupted by a red flag due to an ontrack incidentThe eightlap race in the MRF Formula category witnessed some fine action Polesitter 17yearold Jaden Rahaman Pariat from Shillong looked poised to win in the F2000 class going into the last lap when disaster struckThere was some issue with my car and I had to switch off and switch on eight times in the last lap Luckily I had a sufficient lead and managed to finish second said a disappointed Jaden after he virtually gifted a win to Surineni 17 who was trailing throughout the race Another Bengalurean Tarun Muthaiah finished thirdIn contrast the 15yearold Abhay Mohan comfortably won in the Formula 1600 class ahead of the Mumbai pair of Zahan Commissariat and Raaj Bakhru who was docked a 20second penalty for a jump startBiren starting from pole was off to a good start and held off Ritesh Rai Arka Motorsport with cousin Ananth Pithawalla N1 Racing running third The position remained unchanged until the latter half of the eightlap race when Ananth squeezed past Rai at Turn3 with contact between the two and moved into P2 behind his cousin Biren In the penultimate lap Ananth retired when the left front tyre which was on a slow puncture burst and Rai regained the second spotBy then Biren had pulled off a sufficient lead to win handily followed by Rai and Deepak Ravikumar Performance Racing making his debut in this classThe results Provisional all 8 laps unless mentionedMRF Formula 2000 Race1 1 Chetan Surineni Bengaluru 1249401 2 Jaden Rahman Pariat Shillong 1320579 3 Tarun Muthaiah Bengaluru 1358255MRF Formula 1600 Race1 1 Abhay Mohan Bengaluru 1349827 2 Zahan Commissariat Mumbai 1400386 3 Raaj Bakhru Mumbai 1423370Indian Touring Cars Race1 1 Biren Pithawala Mumbai Team N1 1521359 2 Ritesh Rai Chennai Arka Motorsports 1522782 3 Deepak Ravikumar Chennai Performance Racing 1534211Indian Junior Touring Cars Race1 1 Hatim Shabbir Jamnagarwala Chennai Performance Racing 1535231 2 Srinivas Teja Chennai Performance Racing 1541732 3 Nikunj Vagh Mumbai Team N1 Racing 1553915Super Stock Race1 1 Angad Matharoo Chandigarh Buzzing Hornet Motorsports 1648478 2 Balaprasath Coimbatore DTS Racing 1652781 3 Anirudha Arvind Chennai Redline Racing India 1654402MRF Saloons Toyota Etios Race1 1 Diana Pundole Pune 1810588 2 Anirudha Arvind Chennai 1815446 3 Jai Prashanth Coimbatore 1815850 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-car-racing-round-1-chetan-surineni-abhay-mohan-win-biren-pithawalla-diana-pundole-triumph-521168.html Sat, 17 Feb 2024 20:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ferrari-confirm-lewis-hamilton-as-driver-for-2025-f1-season-515564.html Maranello Italy Feb 2 Seventime F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton will make a sensational switch from Mercedes to Ferrari next year on a multiyear contract the Italian team confirmedScuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025 on a multiyear contract the teams statement readHamilton has raced for the Mercedes since the 2013 season and has won six of his seven world titles with the team adding to the crown he achieved at McLaren earlier in his career He had also recommitted to Mercedes last summer signing a new deal to keep him aboard through 2025 but this will now be cut short to allow for his shocking moveThe 39yearold has termed his move of leaving Mercedes as one of the hardest decisionsI have had an amazing 11 years with this team Mercedes and Im so proud of what we have achieved together Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old Its a place where I have grown up so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to makeBut the time is right for me to take this step and Im excited to be taking on a new challenge I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family especially Toto for his friendship and leadership and I want to finish on a high together I am 100 committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows one to remember Hamilton was quoted by F1Hamiltons decision comes after two challenging seasons for the Brackley squad who have struggled to adapt to F1s latest ground effect era and have dropped behind Red Bull in the pecking orderOn Thursday evening Mercedes confirmed that both they and Hamilton would be parting ways at the end of 2024 with Hamilton activating a release option in his contract Ferrari soon followed by announcing the seventime world champion would be joining from 2025 on a multiyear contractIt means Hamilton will link up with Charles Leclerc who recently agreed an extension with the Scuderia beyond 2024 while Carlos Sainz will have to make way at the end of this yearFollowing the announcement that Hamilton would be swapping the Mercedes for Ferrari Sainz the driver he will be replacing released his own statement via social mediaFollowing todays news Scuderia Ferrari and myself will part ways at the end of 2024 We still have a long season ahead of us and like always I will give my absolute best for the team and for the Tifosi all around the world News about my future will be announced in due course said Sainz IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ferrari-confirm-lewis-hamilton-as-driver-for-2025-f1-season-515564.html Fri, 02 Feb 2024 13:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-lewis-hamilton-to-join-ferrari-for-2025-season-report-515364.html New Delhi Feb 1 Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton is set to bid farewell to Mercedes and don the iconic red Ferrari for the 2025 season as per reportsHamilton whose contract with Mercedes is set to expire at the end of 2025 will make the move to Ferrari replacing Carlos Sainz according to Sky Sports News The seventime world champion holding the record for the most wins 103 and pole positions 104 in F1 history will join forces with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari Leclerc recently signed a new contract with the team solidifying the prospect of a formidable partnership with HamiltonHamiltons departure from Mercedes marks the end of a historic era having joined the team in 2013 and securing six world titles The British driver who has not won a race since December 2021 was previously linked to Ferrari for the current season but opted to extend his stay with Mercedes until the end of 2025 alongside teammate George RussellDespite the recent struggles especially since the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where Red Bull gained supremacy under the new 2022 regulations Hamilton remains a formidable force in the sport His move to Ferrari is anticipated to inject fresh dynamics into his illustrious careerThe 39yearolds potential shift to Ferrari has been a subject of speculation throughout his F1 journey with ties to the Italian team dating back to his debut with McLaren in 2007 Notably Hamilton clinched his first world championship with McLaren in 2008 before joining Mercedes in 2013 forming one of the most successful partnerships in F1 historyDespite having discussions with Ferrari last year team principal Frederic Vasseur had previously claimed that the team did not extend a contract offer to Hamilton The British driver in May 2023 hinted at contemplating his careers conclusion at different teams including a return to McLaren where he began his racing journey at the age of 13 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-1-lewis-hamilton-to-join-ferrari-for-2025-season-report-515364.html Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/argentina-grand-prix-cancelled-due-to-current-circumstances-in-country-514885.html New Delhi Jan 31 The 2024 Argentina Grand Prix has been cancelled just weeks before the start of the MotoGP season it was announced on Wednesday Slated to be the third race on the calendar in April Argentina Grand Prix had been abruptly axed Speculations swirled and rumors pointed towards spending cuts under the new administration led by President Javier Milei as the primary causeMotoGP in an official statement revealed that the events promoter had cited an inability to guarantee the essential services required to meet MotoGP standards Due to the current circumstances in Argentina the promoter of the event has communicated that it is currently unable to guarantee the services required for the Grand Prix to take place in 2024 at MotoGP standardsThis event will not be replaced on the 2024 calendar MotoGP hopes to return to race at Termas de Rio Hondo in 2025The disappointment among fans was palpable knowing they would miss out on the iconic Termas de Rio Hondo circuit action Adding to the blow the announcement clarified that the Argentina GP would not be replaced on the 2024 calendarFrancesco Bagnaia the reigning champion from Ducati found himself in a unique situation Eager to chase a third consecutive championship win the cancellation of the Argentina GP disrupted the rhythm of the season Bagnaia known for his skill and determination now faced an unexpected threeweek gap between the Portugal GP on March 24 and the Americas GP in TexasThe unexpected turn of events prompted riders and teams to reevaluate their strategies and training regimens The extended break offered both challenges and opportunities forcing competitors to stay sharp while adjusting to the revised scheduleDespite the setback the Qatar GP on March 10 will mark the beginning of what promised to be a recordbreaking 21round season IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/argentina-grand-prix-cancelled-due-to-current-circumstances-in-country-514885.html Wed, 31 Jan 2024 22:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/isrl-indias-first-dirt-track-racing-series-kicks-off-on-sunday-at-pune-514064.html Pune Jan 28 The Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL Round1 made its debut at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex here on Sunday The Balewadi Stadium transformed with dirt tracks awaited the roar of 450cc engines and the distinct scent of gasolineSupercross a motocross variant unfolded within the stadiums confines featuring offroad daredevils navigating steep jumps and obstacles The shorter straights and tighter turns distinguish supercross tracks from traditional motocross setupsWith international and Indian riders the competition unfolded across three rounds culminating in the crowning of the champion rider and team The six teams that are participating in the ISRL are Gujarat Trailblazers BB Racing SG Speed Racers Bigrock Motorsports Mohites Racing Team and Reise MotorsportsThese teams are backed by big names in the field of motorsport Multiple car rally champion Gaurav Gill is one of the partners in Team Gujarat Trailblazers On the other hand Bigrock Motorsports is owned by CS Santosh an icon of Indian motorsport and Dakar finisherAs for the riders there was a mix of experienced and young talents in each team Among these multitime French Supercross Racing Champion Thomas Ramette raced for Reise Motorsport in the 450cc class In the 250cc Indian and Asia mix category Indias Ikshan Shanbhag from Team BigRock Motorsports was one of the promising youngsters to look out forThe roots of the Indian supercross traced back to the prestigious Rodil Trophy in Pune in 1984 infusing an international flavour into the nations motorsport scene The Indian Supercross Racing League aims to rekindle that excitement and engage fans in thrilling displays of skill and speedAmidst the starstudded teams the riders showcased a mix of seasoned veterans and promising youngsters French champion Thomas Ramette representing Reise Motorsport led the 450cc class while young talents like Ikshan Shanbhag from Team Bigrock Motorsports marked their presence in the 250cc categoryThe ISRL also became a platform for budding talents with 1012yearold riders captivating audiences in the 85cc Junior category As the league progressed excitement soared promising a spectacle of speed skill and daring stuntsPostPune the league would rev its engines in Ahmedabad Feb 11 before culminating in Delhi Feb 25 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/isrl-indias-first-dirt-track-racing-series-kicks-off-on-sunday-at-pune-514064.html Sun, 28 Jan 2024 21:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/isrl-2024-jordi-tixier-wins-450-cc-as-bigrock-motorsport-dominate-round-1-of-inaugural-season-514102.html Pune Jan 28 Jordi Tixier from France of BB Racing riding the Honda secured first place in the 450cc international race as the Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL made its debut in India and witnessed an overwhelming response for the inaugural race here on SundayBigRock Motorsport lead stood first as a team at the event Australian racer Reid Taylor of BigRock Motorsport riding a Kawasaki led the 250cc international race taking the team ahead Thanarat Penjan from Thailand of BigRock Motorsport riding the Kawasaki won the 250cc India Asia Mix providing additional support to the teamBigRock Motorsport surprised the Pune crowd by taking the podium in all categories at the first CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League ISRL a pioneering franchisebased Supercross competition held at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex here on Sunday The first race of Season 1 held at Pune displayed an impressive lineup of international champions and emerging Indian stars across four categories 450cc international riders 250cc international riders 250cc IndiaAsia mix and the fiercely competitive 85cc junior class With top riders from around the world converging in India the series will serve as the ultimate proving ground for global Supercross supremacy The league is committed to providing a safe and competitive environment for riders of all ages and skill levels Veer Patel Cofounder and Director of the CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League expressed his enthusiasm after the first race of Season 1 by stating We are overwhelmed by the response we received from the Pune crowd and the enthusiasm was unbeatable The CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League will establish India as the focal point for Supercross for the world The riders displayed their unmatchable skills and commitment to the sport We appreciate the strong participation and grit to win the race by all individuals We congratulate the winners and the teams for their amazing participation At CEAT ISRL we look forward to delivering an exceptional experience for fans in Ahmedabad he saidCommencing with a spectacular debut in Pune where 10000 spectators flocked to the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi the action will shift to Ahmedabad on February 11 at the EKA Arena Transstadia The leagues final event will take place in New Delhi The CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League will conclude its thrilling season with the last race scheduled at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on February 25 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/isrl-2024-jordi-tixier-wins-450-cc-as-bigrock-motorsport-dominate-round-1-of-inaugural-season-514102.html Sun, 28 Jan 2024 23:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ricky-brabec-wins-the-2024-dakar-rally-with-adrien-van-beveren-on-the-podium-in-third-510342.html Saudi Arabia Jan 20 7967 km of rallying across Saudi Arabia came to a conclusion by the breathtaking Red Sea at Yanbu with Honda Teams Ricky Brabec taking the top step of the Dakar for a second time making history as the only American to do so After spending much of the first week amongst the front runners the 2020 winner took the reins after the gruelling 48hr chrono and despite a onesecond margin to second place Ross Branch at the end of stage seven the Californian never looked back and rode to a faultless Dakar win with nearly eleven minutes in hand In what has been a calm and collected display throughout the rally by the 32yearold he also added another stage win to the ten he has already collected in his Dakar career to date and leaves round one at the top of the 2024 World RallyRaid Championship standings At his ninth attempt of the Dakar Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren stood on the podium that has eluded him over the past few years after taking a hardfought 48hr Chrono stage victory the sand specialist found his rhythm in the second week and had an immense battle with Ross Branch and teammate José Ignacio Cornejo for the podium Despite a near miss with a camel yesterday he fought right to the end for the runnerup spot but had to make do with the final podium place One of two Chilean riders in the Honda Team Nacho Cornejo had one of his careerbest performances at the famous rally from off he led in the standings and racked up a hattrick of magnificent stage victories also fighting for an elusive podium Unfortunately a fuel pump issue put paid to his fight yesterday and his final sixth place did not reflect on what a truly outstanding performance he produced His fellow Chilean Pablo Quintanilla has been the runnerup twice at the Dakar and as the most experienced member of the team was eager to turn his twelfth participation into victory Unfortunately for the Dakar legend the 48hr Chrono would put paid to his chances when he ran short of fuel on the first day of the tough stage Despite the disappointment he battled on helping his teammates and also taking valuable points in the World RallyRaid Championship With the new generation Honda CRF450 now a rallywinner the Honda team put on a powerful display on their first outing in 2024 as the stage wins racked up over the two weeks Tosha Schareina opened proceedings with the prologue victory Nacho Cornejo gained the accolade of the most stage wins this year with three Adrien Van Beveren banked two and Pablo Quintanilla and Ricky Brabec took one apiece to make seven in all With the team fully deserving of some rest and recuperation they will reconvene in April for the RallyRaid in Portugal from April 27 IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ricky-brabec-wins-the-2024-dakar-rally-with-adrien-van-beveren-on-the-podium-in-third-510342.html Sat, 20 Jan 2024 15:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/historic-stage-win-for-harith-noah-in-rally2-class-at-dakar-rally-508369.html Hail Saudi Arabia Jan 15 Indian motorcycle rider Harith Noah created history on Monday by becoming the first from India to win a Stage in any class at the prestigious Dakar Rally as he won the 678km Stage 8 in the Rally2 category for Bikes here on Monday Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team rider thus improved on his own 2021 record of finishing in 20th place P20 with an overall 11th position P11 in Stage 8 The 30year Kerala rider covered the technically challenging stage of 458km Special and 220km Liaison from Al Duwadimi to Hail in 3 hours 42 minutes and 12 seconds on Monday Harith Noah was third overall in the general ranking for the Rally2 class while he is in Overall P13 after eight stages in the general ranking On Monday he finished Stage 8 in a creditable P11 just 07 minutes and 09 seconds behind the overall leader in the bikes section Four more days are left in the gruelling Dakar 2024 edition which concludes on January 19 Harith Noah the rider from Shoranur in Kerala thus became the fastest rider from India in the Dakar Rally history with 11th place in Stage 8 With four more days to go he is taking it day by day to keep his cool to complete his fifth attempt successfully Harith became the fastest at Dakar in 2021 when he completed the tough rally in 20th place beating the Indian record of pioneer CS Santoshs P36finish In this edition he also got a top3 finish in Rally2 class in Stage 3 Thankfully for the riders Stage 8 at Dakar lessened the intensity a little with the 458km timed special split into two sections a 179km Liaison joining the two very different halves The first leg consisted mainly of sandy tracks and dunes but the second was more challenging with stones and rocks covering much of the final 119 km leading to the finish in Hail Felt good on the bike and my sickness is getting better too I guess everything feels good when you do good I am focused on navigation and am pushing when comfortable I lost some time trying to find the way in the second part Tomorrow is another day and the Dakar is far from over said Harith Noah from Saudi Arabia Earlier on Sunday in Stage 7 Noah finished an Overall general ranking of P13 and P5 in his class Rally2 despite being troubled by running nose throughout the day On Tuesday Stage 9 would be from Hail to Al Ula IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/historic-stage-win-for-harith-noah-in-rally2-class-at-dakar-rally-508369.html Mon, 15 Jan 2024 21:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/dakar-rally-quintanilla-bounces-back-for-stage-5-win-van-beveren-joins-him-on-podium-507137.html Al Hofuf Saudi Arabia Jan 11 Pablo Quintanilla made his mark on short run in the first of the big dunes as he took the win on the fifth stage of Dakar Rally 2024 here on Thursday Thursdays stage took in 118km of sand dunes through Saudi Arabias Empty Quarter as riders made their first tracks into the jawdropping landscapes towards Shubaytah Setting off early from the AlHofuf bivouac riders were also faced with an arduous energy zapping 527 km road section which would require some serious concentration during on the bike before they were then thrown into the deep dunes on a hot day in the Eastern Province Joining Quintanilla on the podium was Adrien Van Beveren in second place the Frenchman using his vast sand riding experience to get back up to the sharp end by being fastest for much of the day before dropping just 37 seconds to his teammate José Ignacio Cornejo and Ricky Brabec were assigned with opening the stage once theyd got to the start of the special and although they both clinched some of the time bonuses on offer it wasnt enough for the Chilean Cornejos eleventh place finish cost him the lead of the overall standings and he now trails Hero Motosports Team Rallys Ross Branch by over a minute in the battle at the top Despite nearly going over his handlebars heading down a dune Brabec also reduced his time in the standings as he remains in a podium position after his seventh place finish in the desert Skyler Howes made some positive adjustments to his Honda CRF450 Rally in the morning and this enabled him to manoeuvre himself across the extensive sandy section catching the riders ahead as he sneaked himself into the top ten just under five minutes behind Quintanilla Next up is the mammoth 48 Hour Chrono which will be the biggest test of this years event with David Castera the Dakar Rally organiser already admitting he wont be gaining many fans after it Hidden waypoints will prove to be a navigation nightmare if the fatigued competitors lose their focus With a reverse starting order in place from Thursdays results Quintanilla will be the one to benefit as he will set off last out of all the RallyGP riders With a total of 835 km to ride the special will contribute a hefty 626 km as the Empty Quarter dunes will look to take no prisoners at the halfway point of the rally Action restarts on Friday morning at 7 am where theyll complete the stage back to Shubaytah and a much needed rest day in Riyadh further north IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/dakar-rally-quintanilla-bounces-back-for-stage-5-win-van-beveren-joins-him-on-podium-507137.html Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ross-branch-wins-opening-bike-stage-of-dakar-rally-2024-505278.html Riyadh Jan 7 Ross Branch of Botswana won the Dakar Rally 2024 Saudi Arabia opening bike stage according to the competitions official website He won after being rewarded for stopping to help rider Tosha Schareina after the Spaniards raceending crash on Saturday reports Xinhua The Hero factory rider got the 25 minutes he had spent helping Schareina deducted from his time catapulting him into the lead by almost a dozen minutes from Ricky Brabec Chinese Kove team player Fang Xiangliang won the 51st position in the bike race In the quad competition Taguatur racing team player Marcelo Medeiros won the first position followed by Varga Motorsports Juraj Varga The car stage was won by Guillaume de Mevius and Xavier Panseri of Overdrive Chinese 212 Hanwei Motorsport team players Han Wei and Ma Li won the 30th position in the car stage The same teams players Sun Xiangyan and Tian Yu won the 129th position Also Chinese Yunxiang China T1 team players Sun Ping and Liao Min won the 92nd position in this category while the same teams players Liu Feilong and Wang Yicheng won the 107th position The 5th edition of the Dakar Rally 2024 Saudi Arabia kicked off on Friday from AlUla Competitions will conclude in Yanbu on January 19 with the participation of elite drivers and riders worldwide IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/ross-branch-wins-opening-bike-stage-of-dakar-rally-2024-505278.html Sun, 07 Jan 2024 09:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indians-fabid-ahmer-set-for-first-international-outing-at-qatar-international-rally-505173.html Coimbatore Jan 6 Multipletime INRC winner and Keralabased driver Fabid Ahmer is set to become the first Indian rally driver to compete in the Qatar International Rally a round of the prestigious FIA Middle East Rally Championship next month This will be the maiden international outing for Fabid Ahmer The Qatar International Rally marks the start of the Middle East Rally Championship Supported by JK Tyre Motorsport Fabid and his codriver Milen George will drive a Subaru Impreza 4WD Rally car prepared by Dubais Toolbox Autoworks The event is set to be held from Feb 13 2024 and will feature some of the finest upandcoming rally stars from around the world The rally in a revised threeday format will be conducted in 13 timed special stages traversing through 62249 km Last year the rally had 23 international teams participating from over 13 countries driving topclass cars such as Volkswagen Polo GTI Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo Ford Fiesta R5 etc making it an adrenalinedriven event Despite this being his first time competing internationally Fabid heads into the event determined to make his mark and showcase not just his exceptional driving skills but also put the prowess of Indian rally drivers on the world map Its a dream come true to represent India in the Middle East Rally Championship I am honoured to carry the hopes of my country and make history as the first Indian driver in this renowned championship With the unwavering support of JK Tyre I am confident in my abilities to navigate the challenges that come my way and compete at the highest level Fabid said Fabid a driver who hails from the Palakkad region with a proven track record has earned his international debut thanks to wins at numerous rallies and championships at the domestic circuit in the last eight years including consistent wins in the Indian National Rally Championship the pinnacle of Indian rallying In addition to JK Tyre Fabid will also be supported by the offroad club Dudes of Dunes who will serve as his hospitality partner IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/indians-fabid-ahmer-set-for-first-international-outing-at-qatar-international-rally-505173.html Sat, 06 Jan 2024 18:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-e-cancels-hyderabad-e-prix-505005.html Hyderabad Jan 6 Formula E has announced cancellation of second Formula E race in India which was scheduled in Hyderabad next month and has also given notice to Telangana authorities for breach of contract It announced an update to the Season 10 race calendar with the cancellation of the Hyderabad race Round 4 scheduled for February 10 The announcement was made after a decision by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department MAUD of the Telangana government not to fulfil the Host City Agreement signed on October 30 2023 Formula E Operations FEO has been left with no choice other than to formally give notice to MAUD that it is in breach of contract FEO is considering its position and what steps it may take under the Host City Agreement and applicable laws All of FEOs rights in that regard are reserved FEO said The Hyderabad EPrix would have been the only official FIA World Championship event in India in 2024 and was part of a multiyear agreement between Formula E and the Government of Telangana Other host cities confirmed on the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship calendar for Season 10 include Tokyo Shanghai Berlin Monaco and London The season begins next Saturday 13 January with the Hankook Mexico City EPrix We are extremely disappointed for the huge motorsport fanbase in India We know that hosting an official motorsport world championship race is an important and prestigious occasion for Hyderabad and the whole country The President of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India FMSCI Akbar Ebrahim and his team have been incredibly supportive in bringing Formula E back to Hyderabad They share our disappointment in the decision of the Government of Telangana which means that will not happen said Alberto Longo CoFounder amp Chief Championship Officer Formula E Jeff Dodds CEO Formula E said It is deeply frustrating that we cannot build on the success of the inaugural race last year which delivered almost 84m USD in positive economic impact to the region We are also disappointed for our major Indian partners particularly Mahindra and Tata Communications Racing in Hyderabad was important to showcase the benefits of adopting electric vehicles in a market where pollution from vehicle engines has a massive impact on public health and the environment The decision not to host the Formula E race was taken after a change of guard in Telangana last month The maiden race was held in February last year when Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS government took the initiative to bring the motorsport to Hyderabad Hyderabad had become the first Indian city to host the prestigious race The 28km track featuring a total of 18 turns has been laid alongside Hussain Sagar Lake using the existing roads for vehicular traffic A total of 11 teams and 22 drivers had participated in the race IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/formula-e-cancels-hyderabad-e-prix-505005.html Sat, 06 Jan 2024 12:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/chennai-teenager-geoffrey-emmanuel-set-for-fim-juniorgp-world-cship-503419.html Chennai Jan 2 Chennai teenager Geoffrey Emmanuel has confirmed his participation in the FIM Junior World Championship 2024 and he will be representing AGR Team astride a KTM The FIM JuniorGP 2024 comprises 14 races spread across seven rounds The first round is scheduled to be held in Italy April 2021 Spain will host two rounds and Portugal four including the final round Nov 2324 Looking ahead to the new season Geoffrey who made his international debut in 2022 participating in the Hawkers European Talent Cup at the age of 17 said Im very excited to be part of the AGR Team and to be able to train with 111 Management to improve my career as a professional rider I cant wait to have new experiences with my new team Geoffrey will be shifting to Spain in February to prepare for the 2024 season According to team owner Anscari Nadal having an Indian rider like Geoffrey is a challenge but the goal is to nurture his talent and help him progress in the FIM Junior GP eventually leading to a Wild Card promotion in the World Championship In 2023 Geoffrey made history as the first and only Indian competitor in the FIM JuniorGP riding a KTM for the Cuna de Campeones team Although he didnt score any points his overall improvement was encouraging Reflecting on his 2023 experience Geoffrey said It was a steep learning curve Adapting to a new bike unfamiliar tracks and tough competition was not easy However I managed to narrow the gap with the frontrunners placing more emphasis on personal growth and improvement rather than specific results Geoffrey however tasted success in the Malaysian Superbike Championship 2023 competing in the Group A MSBK 250 category Despite facing challenges in Round 2 where he finished fifth he showcased his skills in the Round3 doubleheader by securing third place in Race 1 and topping Race 2 for his maiden international victory He also achieved an overall third place finish in the Championship standings IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/chennai-teenager-geoffrey-emmanuel-set-for-fim-juniorgp-world-cship-503419.html Tue, 02 Jan 2024 12:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/with-dozen-national-titles-hemanth-muddappa-becomes-most-decorated-motorsports-athlete-500519.html Chennai Dec 24 Tentime Indian National drag racing champion Hemanth Muddappa from Mantra Racing became the mostdecorated motorsports athlete with an unprecedented dozen National titles as he remained unbeaten in the top two classes and emerged a double champion in the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship which concluded at the Madras International Circuit MIC in Irungattukottai near here on Sunday He made it a sweet double as he emerged triumphant in both the Unrestricted class and the 1051 to 1650cc class in the fourth and final round He won the Unrestricted class and the 1051 to 1650cc categories despite suffering a wheelie at the start in the later race and annexed the top place in both Round 3 and Round 4 races held today to bring his tally of National titles to a grand dozen He remained unbeaten in these top two classes in all the four rounds throughout the year Earlier in the morning he won the 4stroke Unrestricted category astride the Suzuki Hayabusa beating archrival and Bengaluru mate Alimon Saidalvi clocking a blistering 07746 and went on to claim another first place in the 4S 1051 to 1650cc class beating another stalwart Mohammed Riyaz of Hyderabad with a time of 7779sec Riyaz who came third in the Unrestricted class had the consolation winning the 551 to 850cc Super Sport class where Muddappa could only finish third behind another Hyderabad rider Mirza Jahangir who took second It is a grand dozen and I am proud of the long and strong relationship with Mantra Racing that has brought a lot of happiness not to talk about the hard work and struggles we underwent throughout the year It is an amazing journey and I am glad we got a double My thanks to all the boys my family and my supporters said Muddappa who is nicknamed as LightningR1 for his brute speed Both Hemanth Muddappa and Mantra Racing have began the journey at the hallowed track of MIC and have dominated the National Drag scene like no other team at all circuits in the country and have produced great results and records culminating into 12 National titles a record in the Indian drag racing history said Sharan Pratap who tunes the champions bikes IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/with-dozen-national-titles-hemanth-muddappa-becomes-most-decorated-motorsports-athlete-500519.html Sun, 24 Dec 2023 15:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/rakshith-dave-bags-creditable-second-in-malaysian-sbk-championship-debut-498650.html Sepang Dec 19 Indian teenager Rakshith Dave bagged two podium places in the third and final round to clinch a creditable runnersup spot in his debut season in the Malaysian Superbike Championship 2023 which concluded here at the Sepang International Circuit Rakshith who made his international debut in Round 1 with a stunning double victory in his class went on to bag the second place in the highlycompetitive Championship in Malaysia In Round 3 Rakshith won two podiums a second and a third place in the MSBK 250 B Race category but had to be content with the second in the overall standings of his class for the championship In the in the 8lap Race 1 he timed 20min 53558sec and later clocked 2041903 for a second place in Race 2 Earlier astride a Honda CBR250RR Rakshith won both the Round 1 races in his class in the Malaysia SBK 250cc category B category at the famed MotoGP circuit the Sepang International Circuit Kuala Lumpur Rakshith bagged the Weekend Warrior Trophy in the first round Chennais Rakshith 15 a Class X student of Lady Andal said I am very happy to take a second place in the prestigious Malaysian Super Bike Championship I am really elated and this gives me a push to continue my dreams I thank my family my team and crew who have worked really hard for this season and I hope to launch a new and better season soon Rakshith made his debut at the Madras International circuit in 2020 after he was selected for the Honda India Talent Cup and took a podium in his very first race In the next two years he scored many victories and podiums and graduated to NSF 250 class and went on to take part in the inaugural MiniGP India series in 2022 In 2023 he not only won the second place in the Idemitsu Honda 2023 Championship but also won the overall title in the teenage class of the MMSC Sprint Rally The highlight of 2023 for Rakshith came when he was selected to represent India in the Asia Talent Cup 2024 to be held over six rounds across as many countries He was one among the 10 riders to be selected from the Asia Pacific Region The MSBK championship consisted of six races over three rounds at the same venue in Sepang After winning both the races in Round 1 he came back strongly to win the second race in Round 2 after some technical issues with the bike prevented him from starting Race 1 In Round 3 he achieved another two podiums to finish the season on a bright note with 111 points just 4 points behind Muhd Izrul Huzaimie Amran who won the 250B class title IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/rakshith-dave-bags-creditable-second-in-malaysian-sbk-championship-debut-498650.html Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-car-racing-fierce-battles-for-titles-on-the-cards-in-final-round-497195.html Chennai Dec 15 With expectations high of some close battles for titles a grand and thrilling finish is on the cords in the fourth and final round of the FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship 2023 at the Madras International Circuit on the weekend A compact card of seven races across six categories will be headlined by the two MRF Formula categories the 2000 and 1600 with the everpopular touring cars in three classes and the Formula LGB 1300 completing grids The battles for championship titles in both F2000 and F1600 are as close as they can get with a maximum of 75 points on offer across three races Chennais experienced campaigner Sandeep Kumar heads the points table in F2000 with a tally of 118 points well clear of Kolkatas Arya Singh 93 Chetan Korada 91 also from Chennai is placed third ahead of the Bengaluru youngster Aditya Swaminathan 86 The F1600 has boiled down to a threeway battle involving Bengalurus Chetan Surineni 87 Mumbais Veer Amar Sheth 825 and Nellores Viswas Vijayaraj 54 The touring cars categories have two races scheduled with a maximum of 50 points In the premier Indian Touring Cars class Chennais Gurunath Meiyappan of Race Concepts who won three of the eight races requires just five more points to clinch the championship ahead of Team N1 Racings Biren Pithawalla 95 from Mumbai Last years champion Coimbatores Arjun Balu Race Concepts has had a disastrous season as he failed to score a point in four of the eight races that neutralised his three wins He is currently third in the championship with 93 points Thrissurs Diljith TS DTS Racing with seven victories in eight starts enjoys an unassailable 85point lead over his closest rival and is virtually assured of the title in the Super Stock class Two Chennai drivers and Performance Racing teammates Akkineni Anand Prasad 172 and Deepak Ravikumar 169 head the pack in the Indian Junior Touring Cars class with four wins apiece The Formula LGB 1300 category will witness a fourway tussle for the championship involving Diljith 136 Raghul Rangasamy MSport 123 Nellores Viswas Vijayaraj DTS Racing 111 and Deepak Ravikumar Ahura Racing 90 Summing up the season MMSC president Ajit Thomas said This weekend will see the conclusion of another season that had its quota of ups and downs Through it all our sponsors MRF Tyres the competitors the Media and volunteer officials have been very supportive for which MMSC is thankful We are sure that the upcoming round will maintain the trend of close wheeltowheel racing especially since the championship titles are up for grabs IANS https://dailyworld.in/motorsports/national-car-racing-fierce-battles-for-titles-on-the-cards-in-final-round-497195.html Fri, 15 Dec 2023 13:30:00 +0530