| UPDATE: |
| October 2016 News |
IMSA SportsCar Championship
Oct 1 - Eric Curran and Dane Cameron were
crowned as Prototype champions, while Action
Express Racing was awarded the team title for the
third consecutive year.
Other series champions crowned at the event were
Corvette Racing’s Tommy Milner and Oliver
Gavin in GT Le Mans, Starworks Motorsport
drivers Alex Popow and Renger van der Zande
in Prototype Challenge and Christina Nielsen and
Alessandro Balzan in GT Daytona, giving
Scuderia Corsa its second consecutive team title in
the class.
Nielsen made motorsports history by becoming the
first female driver to win a major full-season
professional sports car racing championship in
North America.
Oct 1 - Eric Curran and Dane Cameron were
crowned as Prototype champions, while Action
Express Racing was awarded the team title for the
third consecutive year.
Other series champions crowned at the event were
Corvette Racing’s Tommy Milner and Oliver
Gavin in GT Le Mans, Starworks Motorsport
drivers Alex Popow and Renger van der Zande
in Prototype Challenge and Christina Nielsen and
Alessandro Balzan in GT Daytona, giving
Scuderia Corsa its second consecutive team title in
the class.
Nielsen made motorsports history by becoming the
first female driver to win a major full-season
professional sports car racing championship in
North America.
| RACE NEWS & VIEWS |
| Most recent news is at bottom of page. |
Chevrolet was recognized as winner of the
manufacturers’ championship in both the
Prototype and GTLM classes, while Audi won
the GTD manufacturer title. Michelin was the
winning GTLM tire manufacturer.
manufacturers’ championship in both the
Prototype and GTLM classes, while Audi won
the GTD manufacturer title. Michelin was the
winning GTLM tire manufacturer.
| Germany's Matthias Dolderer won Indy Air Race as well as Red Bull Air Race Championship |
Air Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Oct 2 - Germany's Matthias Dolderer is the 2016 Red
Bull Air Race World Championship champion after
sweeping to the title with an emphatic and emotional
victory at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing
circuit in the USA.
On a day of high drama in the skies above the famous
'Brickyard', the star flier of 2016 delivered another
scorching performance to take the race win from Nigel
Lamb and Pete McLeod, claiming the Air Race world
title for the very first time in the process after his nearest
title rival, Matt Hall, suffered a devastating pylon hit in
the Final 4 round.
Coming in to the race weekend in Indianapolis with a
commanding lead in the title race over Hall, Dolderer had
a chance of claiming the 2016 Red Bull Air Race title if
various scenarios played out. He also knew he had to win
if he wanted to wrap up the championship before the final
round in Las Vegas however, and fired a warning shot
across the bows of Hall in the Round of 14 by setting
fastest time.
Hall comfortably flew into the Final 4 after his Round of 8
rival, Martin Šonka, recieved a three second penalty for
hitting a pylon. There he was joined by Lamb and
McLeod. This kept the pressure on Dolderer, especially
when Japan's Yoshihide Muroya flew a brilliant time of
1m03.77 seconds, which was just 0.1 seconds slower
than Dolderer had flown earlier in the day.
The German showed why he's been the star of the 2016
season however when he delivered the weekend's best
flight to defeat Muroya, flying a sensational 1m02.8s to
take the final spot in the final emphatically.
"I reckon I've got a second in me," commented Hall
before the Final 4. The Australian would need that and
more if he wanted to win and take his title fight to the
championship final.
Oct 2 - Germany's Matthias Dolderer is the 2016 Red
Bull Air Race World Championship champion after
sweeping to the title with an emphatic and emotional
victory at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing
circuit in the USA.
On a day of high drama in the skies above the famous
'Brickyard', the star flier of 2016 delivered another
scorching performance to take the race win from Nigel
Lamb and Pete McLeod, claiming the Air Race world
title for the very first time in the process after his nearest
title rival, Matt Hall, suffered a devastating pylon hit in
the Final 4 round.
Coming in to the race weekend in Indianapolis with a
commanding lead in the title race over Hall, Dolderer had
a chance of claiming the 2016 Red Bull Air Race title if
various scenarios played out. He also knew he had to win
if he wanted to wrap up the championship before the final
round in Las Vegas however, and fired a warning shot
across the bows of Hall in the Round of 14 by setting
fastest time.
Hall comfortably flew into the Final 4 after his Round of 8
rival, Martin Šonka, recieved a three second penalty for
hitting a pylon. There he was joined by Lamb and
McLeod. This kept the pressure on Dolderer, especially
when Japan's Yoshihide Muroya flew a brilliant time of
1m03.77 seconds, which was just 0.1 seconds slower
than Dolderer had flown earlier in the day.
The German showed why he's been the star of the 2016
season however when he delivered the weekend's best
flight to defeat Muroya, flying a sensational 1m02.8s to
take the final spot in the final emphatically.
"I reckon I've got a second in me," commented Hall
before the Final 4. The Australian would need that and
more if he wanted to win and take his title fight to the
championship final.
His challenge was over a mere second or two into his run
though, after he clipped a pylon at the very first gate.
The world title was now there for Dolderer to take, and he
didn't disappoint. He topped Nigel Lamb's time of
1m04.326s by almost a second, with a 1m03.335, erupting
in a show of raw emotion inside the cockpit the second
victory was confirmed to him over the radio.
"It's amazing, we worked really hard for it," commented
Dolderer as he fought back tears. "There's so many
emotions and it's hard to get it under control. Thank you
to my whole team and to my family."
Also making history in Indianapolis was Polish pilot Luke
Czepiela, who flew the perfect run to take the first
Challenger Class win of his career.
French woman pilot Melanie Astles also claimed her first
podium finish in the race, flying just 0.569s slower that
Czepiela to claim second, while Great Britian's Ben
Murphy couldn't match his time sheet-topping practice
times and had to settle for third after a pylon hit at Gate 2
during his final run.
though, after he clipped a pylon at the very first gate.
The world title was now there for Dolderer to take, and he
didn't disappoint. He topped Nigel Lamb's time of
1m04.326s by almost a second, with a 1m03.335, erupting
in a show of raw emotion inside the cockpit the second
victory was confirmed to him over the radio.
"It's amazing, we worked really hard for it," commented
Dolderer as he fought back tears. "There's so many
emotions and it's hard to get it under control. Thank you
to my whole team and to my family."
Also making history in Indianapolis was Polish pilot Luke
Czepiela, who flew the perfect run to take the first
Challenger Class win of his career.
French woman pilot Melanie Astles also claimed her first
podium finish in the race, flying just 0.569s slower that
Czepiela to claim second, while Great Britian's Ben
Murphy couldn't match his time sheet-topping practice
times and had to settle for third after a pylon hit at Gate 2
during his final run.
| Canadian pilot Pete McLeod |
Penske Hires IndyCar Driver Newgarden
Oct 5 - Josef Newgarden has been signed to drive the #2
Team Penske-Chevrolet for 2017, replacing Juan
Montoya whose term with the iconic team lasted three
years and included a championship runner-up finish and
an Indy 500 victory.
Newgarden, 25, makes the switch from Ed Carpenter
Racing, having finished the 2016 campaign in fourth, as
best of the rest behind a Penske 1-2-3. He has three
IndyCar victories to his name, on a road course, street
course and oval.
“When you look at the top talent in the series, both from
a driving and commercial perspective, Josef is near the
top of the list,” said Roger Penske.
“We are always looking to build toward the future and
when we had the opportunity to talk with Josef, we knew
that he would be a great fit with our program.
“He’s a fantastic driver on the track and will be great with
our partners off the track.”
Newgarden himself commented: “For any open-wheel
racer – or any racecar driver in general – Team Penske is
a dream job."
Newgarden, who graduated to IndyCar in 2012 on the
back of winning the Indy Lights championship, becomes
the first American to race in Penske’s IndyCar team since
Sam Hornish Jr. in 2007.
Oct 5 - Josef Newgarden has been signed to drive the #2
Team Penske-Chevrolet for 2017, replacing Juan
Montoya whose term with the iconic team lasted three
years and included a championship runner-up finish and
an Indy 500 victory.
Newgarden, 25, makes the switch from Ed Carpenter
Racing, having finished the 2016 campaign in fourth, as
best of the rest behind a Penske 1-2-3. He has three
IndyCar victories to his name, on a road course, street
course and oval.
“When you look at the top talent in the series, both from
a driving and commercial perspective, Josef is near the
top of the list,” said Roger Penske.
“We are always looking to build toward the future and
when we had the opportunity to talk with Josef, we knew
that he would be a great fit with our program.
“He’s a fantastic driver on the track and will be great with
our partners off the track.”
Newgarden himself commented: “For any open-wheel
racer – or any racecar driver in general – Team Penske is
a dream job."
Newgarden, who graduated to IndyCar in 2012 on the
back of winning the Indy Lights championship, becomes
the first American to race in Penske’s IndyCar team since
Sam Hornish Jr. in 2007.
| Josef Newgarden |
Montoya's destiny is still in doubt. Penske is believed to
have offered him the role of test driver for their rumored
forthcoming IMSA Prototype project, together with the
option of running a fifth Penske entry in the Indy 500.
have offered him the role of test driver for their rumored
forthcoming IMSA Prototype project, together with the
option of running a fifth Penske entry in the Indy 500.
Juan Motoya said he wishes
to be a full-time driver in
IndyCar next year.
to be a full-time driver in
IndyCar next year.
Mercedes Clinches F1 Constructors
Championship
Oct 9 - Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg ran away with the
win in Suzuka Japan today. After a poor start, his
teammate Lewis Hamilton worked his way back to finish
3rd.
Today's win marks the 15th race won by Mercedes this
year - out of a total of 17, and remember back in May,
both drivers took each other out at the beginning of the
Spanish Grand Prix.
With four races yet to run, Mercedes AMG has decisively
won the Formula 1 Manufacturer championship.
Mercedes started their own team in 2013. They have won
the Constructor's championship every years since 2014!
Mercedes engines also powered Brawn to the
championship in 2009 and McLaren in 1998.
Championship
Oct 9 - Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg ran away with the
win in Suzuka Japan today. After a poor start, his
teammate Lewis Hamilton worked his way back to finish
3rd.
Today's win marks the 15th race won by Mercedes this
year - out of a total of 17, and remember back in May,
both drivers took each other out at the beginning of the
Spanish Grand Prix.
With four races yet to run, Mercedes AMG has decisively
won the Formula 1 Manufacturer championship.
Mercedes started their own team in 2013. They have won
the Constructor's championship every years since 2014!
Mercedes engines also powered Brawn to the
championship in 2009 and McLaren in 1998.
| Nico Rosberg led from the start today in Japan. |
TEAM
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Force India
Williams
McLaren
Toro Rosso
Haas
Renault
Manor
Sauber
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Force India
Williams
McLaren
Toro Rosso
Haas
Renault
Manor
Sauber
POINTS
593
385
335
134
124
62
47
28
8
1
0
593
385
335
134
124
62
47
28
8
1
0
| 2016 Constructor Standings |
| Mercedes Team Celebrate at Suzuka. |
F1 Mexican GP - Vettel Vexed
Oct 30 - A huge crowd of over 100,000 fans showed up
to watch the F1 race in Mexico City.
There was controversy (and some harsh words) over this
race from the first lap to the last.
At the start of the race, pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton led
the way down the long front straight toward the first turn.
The Brit overestimated his speed and continued straight
through the grass, bypassing the first two turns, gaining a
tremendous lead over the entire field.
Young, hard-charging Max Verstappen moved inside of
and slightly ahead of Nico Rosberg at the first turn, but
banging into him. Rosberg cut across the grass and
grabbed the position back.
Further back in the field, several cars collided, sending
Pascal Werhlein into the barrier. This brought out the
safety car which enabled the rest of the field up to catch
up with Hamilton.
No penalties from race control came down for either of
the Mercedes drivers' who held onto their positions even
though taking shortcuts through the grass. Later, officials
said Hamilton's telemetry showed he backed off, so they
considered that as making up for the error.
As Sebastian Vettel tried to get around Felipe Massa on
lap 13, he radioed, "He’s stupid, he’s slowing himself
down because he’s defending so hard." (Vettel called
Fernando Alonso "stupid" on Friday.)
Verstappen was running in third place ahead of the
rapidly closing Vettel when he locked up at Turn 1 on lap
68 and ran across the grass run-off area as Vettel was
passing him. However, Verstappen held on to the
position. Soon his Red Bull team told him to give the
position to Vettel, but Verstappen did not.
Infuriated, Vettel began bitching over his radio.
A note from the stewards said that the incident would be
investigated after the race.
Oct 30 - A huge crowd of over 100,000 fans showed up
to watch the F1 race in Mexico City.
There was controversy (and some harsh words) over this
race from the first lap to the last.
At the start of the race, pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton led
the way down the long front straight toward the first turn.
The Brit overestimated his speed and continued straight
through the grass, bypassing the first two turns, gaining a
tremendous lead over the entire field.
Young, hard-charging Max Verstappen moved inside of
and slightly ahead of Nico Rosberg at the first turn, but
banging into him. Rosberg cut across the grass and
grabbed the position back.
Further back in the field, several cars collided, sending
Pascal Werhlein into the barrier. This brought out the
safety car which enabled the rest of the field up to catch
up with Hamilton.
No penalties from race control came down for either of
the Mercedes drivers' who held onto their positions even
though taking shortcuts through the grass. Later, officials
said Hamilton's telemetry showed he backed off, so they
considered that as making up for the error.
As Sebastian Vettel tried to get around Felipe Massa on
lap 13, he radioed, "He’s stupid, he’s slowing himself
down because he’s defending so hard." (Vettel called
Fernando Alonso "stupid" on Friday.)
Verstappen was running in third place ahead of the
rapidly closing Vettel when he locked up at Turn 1 on lap
68 and ran across the grass run-off area as Vettel was
passing him. However, Verstappen held on to the
position. Soon his Red Bull team told him to give the
position to Vettel, but Verstappen did not.
Infuriated, Vettel began bitching over his radio.
A note from the stewards said that the incident would be
investigated after the race.
The Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo drew nearer Vettel
over the next couple of laps. As Ricciardo went to pass
him on the inside he slid, made tire contact, perhaps
forcing Vettel to change his line and go straight, causing
more contact with Ricciardo through the turn. Vettel was
able to hold on to fourth.
At this point Red Bull began to tell Vettel something F1
Race Director Charlie Whiting had said when Vettel
interrupted and yelled over his radio, "Oh yeah, Well
here's a message for Charlie - Fuck off. Honestly, fuck
off." This was heard by everyone tuning in to the
broadcast and it remains to be seen if Vettel will be
punished for this outburst.
Verstappen joined the Mercedes drivers in the green
room after the race. He was soon notified that he was
being penalized 5-seconds. Vettel then appeaered on the
podium and recieved the trophy for 3rd. A few hours
later, Vettel received a 10-second penalty for moving
under braking in defending his position from Ricciardo.
This then moved Ricciardo into 3rd, Verstappen into 4th
and Vettel into 5th!
Nico Rosberg retains a 19-point lead over second-place
Hamilton in the championship with 2 races left. This was
Hamilton's 51st F1 win, tying him with Alain Prost.
over the next couple of laps. As Ricciardo went to pass
him on the inside he slid, made tire contact, perhaps
forcing Vettel to change his line and go straight, causing
more contact with Ricciardo through the turn. Vettel was
able to hold on to fourth.
At this point Red Bull began to tell Vettel something F1
Race Director Charlie Whiting had said when Vettel
interrupted and yelled over his radio, "Oh yeah, Well
here's a message for Charlie - Fuck off. Honestly, fuck
off." This was heard by everyone tuning in to the
broadcast and it remains to be seen if Vettel will be
punished for this outburst.
Verstappen joined the Mercedes drivers in the green
room after the race. He was soon notified that he was
being penalized 5-seconds. Vettel then appeaered on the
podium and recieved the trophy for 3rd. A few hours
later, Vettel received a 10-second penalty for moving
under braking in defending his position from Ricciardo.
This then moved Ricciardo into 3rd, Verstappen into 4th
and Vettel into 5th!
Nico Rosberg retains a 19-point lead over second-place
Hamilton in the championship with 2 races left. This was
Hamilton's 51st F1 win, tying him with Alain Prost.
| 3rd Place Trophy - Max thought he had it, Vettel got it and had it taken away and Ricciardo ended up with it! |
| Nov 1 - Sebastian Vettel apologized to Charlie Whiting and the president of the FIA, Jean Todt about his outburtst during the Mexican Grand Prix. The FIA has decided not to take any action against Vettel over his offensive languange, but said a similar further breach will result in an FIA Tribunal. |
