AutoSport - October 24, 2024 UK

F1 More US GP drama as Leclerc stars
B R I TA I N ’ S B E S T M OTO R S P O R T W E E K LY 24 OCTOBER 2024
U N I T E D S TAT E S G P
Ferrari dominates
latest F1 farce
Brilliant Leclerc leads 1-2
but Verstappen-Norris
controversy strikes again
‘That is incorrect, what Max did’

LANDO NORRIS
‘They complain about a lot’

M AX V E RSTA P P E N
TOP 10
BTCC
DRIVERS
PLUS OF 2024
Tanak victory keeps WRC title fight alive
ETHERINGTON/MOTORSPORT IMAGES
Cover images
Steve Etherington/Malcolm Griffiths/
Motorsport Images
PIT & PADDOCK

4 F1 scraps fastest lap point
Another close fight but is this 6 Single-seater stars head to Macau

8 Mexican Grand Prix preview
really what we want to see? 9 Opinion: Alex Kalinauckas

11 Opinion: Stefan Mackley
Let’s start with the positives. Ferrari’s form in last weekend’s United
States Grand Prix showed that there are three teams currently RACE CENTRE
in contention at the front of Formula 1, a situation nobody but 12 United States GP report and analysis
the most optimistic fan would have predicted back in March. 28 Tanak win keeps WRC title fight alive
Charles Leclerc’s eighth GP win was well taken (see page 12). 32 World of Sport: ELMS; DTM; Super GT;
And now for the not-so-positive. Without wanting to sound like TCR World Tour; MotoGP
a broken record, it is very disappointing that we can no longer
enjoy an F1 title fight in which the main protagonists race each
other fairly and don’t end up off the road. We didn’t get satisfactory
FEATURES
38 How Hill finally conquered the BTCC
on-track battles in 2021 and we aren’t in 2024, either.
As Alex Kalinauckas argues on p9, Max Verstappen appears to 48 TOCA supports season review
have perfected the art of running deep into a corner and forcing 54 FIA Motorsport Games preview
a rival off-track without censure. It’s pretty easy to have your front
axle ahead at the apex if you don’t intend to make the corner. And at CLUB AUTOSPORT
Austin last weekend, he even managed to do it twice and make it so 65 MRL plans GT3 series after pilot race
that the other driver got a penalty! Great for his championship points 66 Turkington and Morgan to contest Birkett
score, not so wonderful for anyone who enjoys fair motor racing. 68 British Rally title showdown preview
Speaking of which, it’s also time for our British Touring Car review 69 Opinion: Stefan Mackley
this week (p38). It really says something when the BTCC frontrunners 70 National reports: Brands Hatch Festival;
could teach F1 a thing or two about clean contests and sportsmanship, Silverstone; Oulton Park; Mondello Park
but the title fight between Jake Hill and Tom Ingram displayed the
sort of class Autosport likes to see. Marcus Simmons talks to some
of the key figures to find out how Hill took his first crown – and
FINISHING STRAIGHT
78 What’s on this week
picks out his top 10 drivers of the season.
Here’s hoping we get to see proper racing in Mexico this weekend… 80 From the archive: 1968 French GP
82 My favourite car: Armin Schwarz
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P I T + PA D D O C K
Fastest lap point
NG/MOTORSPORT IMAGES
scrapped as 2026
cars given boost
FORMULA 1
Formula 1 will scrap the fastest lap point for 2025 and has given Ricciardo grabbed fastest lap
the 2026 cars more downforce to ease performance concerns. point on his last F1 start
The fastest lap point was introduced in 2019 to spice up the
action and give drivers who finish in the top 10 something
extra to race for. It also unlocked some strategy options June but, following concerns expressed about their likely
for teams to try to deny their direct rivals the extra point. performance level, work began on making potential tweaks.
But the fastest lap point never really delivered on its promise The FIA’s head of single-seater matters Nikolas Tombazis
to improve the spectacle, and usually fell prey to drivers who says the new version of the regulations should make the cars
happened to have a large gap to the car behind them, so they around one second per lap slower than the current challengers,
could make a late pitstop for fresh tyres to collect the point. and two seconds per lap quicker than under the previous iteration
The rule was further put under the spotlight at last month’s of the rules that was presented to the teams in Montreal.
Singapore Grand Prix, where RB’s Daniel Ricciardo snatched the “There has been an increase of performance of the car by
point away from McLaren driver Lando Norris. Norris is involved probably about 50 points of downforce,” he said. “This has
in a title fight with Max Verstappen, driving for RB’s parent team brought the performance from what maybe was minus 40%
Red Bull, which reignited discussions over alleged collusion compared to current cars, to around minus 15% in terms of
between the two squads. F1 will now do away with the extra downforce. In terms of performance, the resulting lap time
point from the 2025 season onwards, restoring the 25 points for of the cars is very close to current cars.”
a race win as the maximum a driver can score in a grand prix. The changes made in the latest draft of the regulations
The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council rubber-stamped the include several alterations to the front wing, more scope for
rule change as it gathered last week to discuss a wide range devices around the front floor and a larger diffuser. The new
of topics across the championships it sanctioned. cars won’t run as close to the ground as the current generation
The governing body also approved plans to double the amount of venturi-based machinery.
of free practice time reserved for young drivers. From 2025, The FIA has also made further tweaks to the sporting and
teams will have to hand a Friday first practice session to a rookie financial regulations for 2026. One notable change is an offset
driver on two weekends per car, up from one session per car. to the cost cap for Sauber, which will run as Audi in 2026, to
The move comes in the wake of plans for a rookie sprint race compensate for the higher salaries of its staff in Switzerland.
at Abu Dhabi’s post-season test being called off for 2024, Sauber has long argued its staff costs are a big handicap due
with F1 set to revisit the idea for 2025 instead. to the much higher wages and cost of living in Switzerland
As discussed in the most recent F1 Commission, the council compared to teams in the UK and Italy. The FIA has agreed
also agreed to a raft of changes and refinements to the all-new that Sauber’s situation is not fair and will work on a cost cap
2026 F1 technical regulations. An outline for the next generation offset based on independently available salary data.
of F1 cars was revealed ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix in FILIP CLEEREN & JONATHAN NOBLE
Rule tweaks should

increase pace of the
new F1 cars for 2026
FIA
4 AUTOSPORT.COM 2 4 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 4
JEP/MOTORSPORT IMAGES
Lotterer (standing)
could leave Porsche
as world champion
Lotterer out as Porsche shakes up enduro squads

WEC/IMSA roster across its WEC and IMSA the IMSA ranks after a solo Makowiecki, 43, is leaving
programmes involves reducing season in WEC to team up Porsche after 11 seasons
Three-time Le Mans 24 Hours the full-time line-up from three with Mathieu Jaminet in #6. largely in its GT ranks, which
winner Andre Lotterer has to two drivers in the former Cameron’s seat alongside included a GTE Pro class win
been dropped from Porsche’s series. Kevin Estre and Laurens Nasr in #7 will be taken by at Le Mans in 2022. He and
factory World Endurance Vanthoor, who lead the WEC Briton Nick Tandy, who moves Porsche have “agreed to
Championship squad as part points with Lotterer, will drive over from the sister car. conclude their collaboration”.
of a revamp of its 2025 LMDh the #6 963 LMDh as a duo, Jaminet and Campbell Porsche stated that Lotterer
line-up. The German is leaving while Michael Christensen, will respectively join the #5 and Cameron’s contracts expire
the Porsche Penske Motorsport who shares this year with and #6 crews for Le Mans and, at the end of this year, but did
team along with fellow WEC Makowiecki and Matt Campbell, according to Porsche’s press not specifically state that they
driver Frederic Makowiecki will race #5 with Julien statement, “selected races”. are leaving the manufacturer.
and new IMSA SportsCar Andlauer. The Frenchman Estre and Vanthoor will drive Porsche was unwilling to clarify
Championship title winner has been promoted to the the #6 and #7 IMSA cars at whether the drivers will
Dane Cameron. PPM squad after impressing the longer races that make continue their relationship
What was described by in the Proton customer 963. up the Michelin Endurance with the marque.
Porsche as a “tweak” of its Campbell will return to Cup segment of the series. GARY WATKINS
Pourchaire Pourchaire’s eclectic

2024 will now take
gets Peugeot him to sportscars
test chance
WEC
LEVITT/MOTORSPORT IMAGES
Sauber Formula 1 reserve Theo

Pourchaire will be given an outing
in Peugeot’s Le Mans Hypercar at the
World Endurance Championship rookie
test in Bahrain next month. A first
chance in a sportscar comes at the
end of a season in which he has raced
in Super Formula and IndyCar with after a first season in sportscars with been promoted to a race seat for 2025.
Impul and Arrow McLaren respectively. Inter Europol in LMP2, which included Alpine academy member Victor
The 2023 Formula 2 champion a second in class at the Le Mans 24 Martins will drive an Alpine A424
will drive a Peugeot 9X8 2024 on Hours. They will share the two LMHs LMDh at the test in Bahrain and
3 November along with former F2 with Paul di Resta and Malthe Jakobsen, Arthur Leclerc, who is a Ferrari F1
sparring partner Clement Novalak. who took part in the rookie test with development driver, a 499P LMH.
Novalak has been given the opportunity Peugeot in 2022 and 2023 and has now GARY WATKINS
F3 cars won’t be in
Macau but some of
its recent stars will be Yelloly joins
Honda family
IMSA
Increased involvement of the Honda

Racing Corporation USA in the Acura
IMSA SportsCar Championship helped
persuade Briton Nick Yelloly to join the
TRIENITZ/MOTORSPORT IMAGES
Honda brand for next season. It was
“one of the pieces of the puzzle” that
led him to leave BMW after six years
as a factory driver.
“The GTP programme has taken
a big hike with HRC coming more
on board, with more personnel from
HRC working with Meyer Shank Racing,”
Rising stars lead entry for said Yelloly (below), who was announced
as part of the MSR line-up with Renger
van der Zande as his team-mate last
new-look Macau Grand Prix week. “That was something I felt was
quite exciting. I know how good a team
MACAU champion Alex Dunne, who moves MSR is after racing against them in
across to Prema from MP, and 2023, so a lot of things came together
Three Formula 3 race winners Noel Leon (Pinnacle). to sway my decision.
are among a raft of drivers from Multiple current Formula Regional “It was a particularly big decision to
the series to effectively step down European Championship drivers leave BMW after so long. But I wanted
a level of the single-seater ladder to have also been confirmed, including to see how I performed in a new
contest next month’s Macau Grand James Wharton (ART) and Tuukka environment.”
Prix, while Italian F4 conqueror Taponen (R-ace), who are second Yelloly, 33, explained that his goal
Freddie Slater is among the stars and third in the points ahead of now is to add a Daytona 24 Hours victory
to graduate upwards. this weekend’s Monza finale. to his triumphs at the Nurburgring and
F3 cars have traditionally contested Meanwhile, progressing to the Spa endurance classics with BMW
the Macau World Cup event, but Formula Regional competition will in GT3 machinery. He hopes that one
organisers revealed earlier this year be Slater, who this week is tackling day Honda will take the Acura ARX-06
that they would swap to Formula the final shootout for the Silverstone LMDh to the Le Mans 24 Hours so he
Regional machinery for the 2024 Autosport BRDC Award. As well as can complete the set.
edition on 17 November, saying driving for Prema in Macau, Slater “I want to win Daytona and Le Mans,
it was “a natural consequence has also been formally confirmed so I have all four of the big 24-hour races
of the evolution of the junior at the squad for FRECA next season. on my CV,” he explained. “I feel I will
single-seater landscape”. “I’m just super, super happy to stay be fighting for the win at Daytona and
However, the change has not with Prema for another year,” said the for the IMSA championship next year,
stopped a host of this year’s F3 racers 16-year-old. “My journey just started and the hope is that in the future
from appearing on the 27-strong but hopefully this means many more Acura or Honda will go to Le Mans.”
entry list announced this week, and years to come with this great team.” The full-season drivers in the second
these drivers include championship Alongside the F3, FRECA and F4 MSR ARX-06 will be Tom Blomqvist and
frontrunners Oliver Goethe and graduates, Super Formula Lights Colin Braun, who will be reprising their
Dino Beganovic. race winners Rikuto Kobayashi and race-winning 2023 partnership.
Red Bull junior Goethe finished Jin Nakamura (both with TOM’S) are GARY WATKINS
an eventual seventh in the standings among a Japanese contingent tackling
after foregoing his slim chance to the event. There are two unconfirmed
take the title by skipping the Monza drivers on the entry, with both MP
finale and instead replacing F1- and PHM having a seat available.
bound Franco Colapinto at MP Ferrari World Endurance
Motorsport in F2. He will now Championship Hypercar drivers
continue with the Dutch squad Antonio Fuoco and Yifei Ye are on
for another Macau attack after the 23-strong entry for the GT World
taking ninth in last year’s GP. Cup at Macau. They will drive Ferrari
Ferrari Driver Academy member 296 GT3s for AF Corse and Harmony
Beganovic, meanwhile, will again Racing respectively. All five former
race for Prema, and rounding out winners of the event – Maro Engel,
the F3 victors so far signed up is Mari Laurens Vanthoor, Edoardo Mortara,
JEP
Boya (Pinnacle), who was fourth in Augusto Farfus and Raffaele

Macau in 2023. Other F3 competitors Marciello – will take part.
entered include 2022 British F4 STEPHEN LICKORISH & GARY WATKINS
FINE FOR CROWD INVASION

Organisers of Austin’s United States
Grand Prix have been fined €500,000
by the FIA for an early track invasion
by spectators, of which €350,000 is
suspended. At the end of the race at
the Circuit of The Americas, throngs
of spectators entered the track on
the start/finish straight while cars
were still coming on their cooldown
laps after taking the chequered flag.
PULLING’S FORMULA E TEST

Alpine Formula 1 Academy drivers
Sophia Florsch and Abbi Pulling will
get their first taste of Formula E
machinery when they compete in
the all-female test with Nissan next
month. The afternoon session at the
Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia on
NASCAR Tyler Reddick became the first NASCAR stock car racer to flip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 24 years 7 November has been designated for
during last weekend’s Cup contest. The 23XI Racing Toyota driver escaped unscathed but risks being eliminated female drivers, with F3 driver Florsch
from the playoffs. Penske Ford’s Joey Logano gambled on making his fuel last as others stopped to win the and F1 Academy points leader
race and become the first driver to make it into the Championship 4. Photo by Motorsport Images Pulling set to test the all-electric
championship’s new Gen3 Evo car.
BOURDAIS FOR BAHRAIN

Sebastien Bourdais will return to the
More changes Martins Sesks drove
non-hybrid Puma
MCKLEIN/MOTORSPORT IMAGES
Ganassi Cadillac World Endurance
squad for the series finale in Bahrain
for WRC 2025? on Rally Poland

next month. The IMSA regular with
the team will share its solo V-Series.R
LMDh with Earl Bamber and Alex
WRC Lynn as he did in Qatar in March.
The World Rally Championship technical STATUS QUO AT FERRARI

rules for next year could face yet another There will be no changes to Ferrari’s
U-turn, with the prospect of hybrid power factory Hypercar class line-up in the
being removed from Rally1 cars. WEC next year. Confirmation of the
This latest twist in a long-running saga status quo in the two works 499P
over the regulations has been triggered Le Mans Hypercars for a third season
by a change to the hybrid unit user guide for a full repair, instead of a reset on-site. follows the announcement of contract
from control supplier Compact Dynamics. Teams believe the change, brought in at extensions for Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas
Hybrid power was set to remain in the Acropolis Rally Greece in September, Nielsen and Miguel Molina.
place until the end of 2026 before the FIA will significantly raise hybrid unit repair
proposed a raft of changes to the cars for costs, with M-Sport arguing it would no KING IS NOT CROWNED
2025 in February, including the removal of longer be financially viable. Toyota and Briton Harry King missed out on the
hybrid. WRC teams pushed back against Hyundai have both agreed to remove German Porsche Carrera Cup title at
the changes, resulting in the current hybrid power from the cars if it will the Hockenheim finale last weekend.
Rally1 regulations staying put in what safeguard M-Sport’s involvement. The Allied Racing driver finished
was seen as a U-turn from the FIA. An FIA e-vote has since been held, second to Huub van Eijndhoven in
However, Compact Dynamics’ new with a decision yet to be announced. race one to keep his hopes alive,
safety guidelines stipulate that if the The controversial points system could but ninth second time out thanks
130kW hybrid unit suffers three shock also change, with a proposal set to be to contact while leading meant
errors over 15G or one over 25G, it has to voted on at the next Motor Sport Council. Larry ten Voorde took his fourth
be stripped apart and sent to the supplier TOM HOWARD title by 28 points over King. Team
GP Elite’s Ariel Levi inherited his
first series victory in the finale.
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ROUND 20/24
PHOTOGRAPHY
F1 MEXICAN GRAND PRIX PREVIEW
17 1
13
2
3
16
15 14
11
12
10 9
7
8
Mexico City
Length 2.674 miles
Number of laps 71
4
5
DRS detection
DRS zone
6
UK START TIMES TYRE ALLOCATION
HARD MEDIUM SOFT

Friday 25 October
FP1 1930 FP2 2300
Saturday 26 October
FP3 1830
QUALIFYING 2200 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 INTERMEDIATE WET
Sunday 27 October CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

RACE 2000
Drivers Constructors
CATCH THE RACE LIVE
SKY SPORTS F1 1 Verstappen 354 1 McLaren 544
BBC RADIO 5 LIVE 2 Norris 297 2 Red Bull 504
3 Leclerc 275 3 Ferrari 496
GALLOWAY
Highlights 4 Piastri 247 4 Mercedes 344 Ferrari closing points gap to Red Bull
CHANNEL 4 2300 5 Sainz 215 5 Aston Martin 86
MEXICO CITY STATS
Previous winners Podiums

2023 POLE POSITION A certain Michael Schumacher
2023 Max Verstappen Red Bull Lewis Hamilton 6
Charles Leclerc took his first F1 podium
2022 Max Verstappen Red Bull here in the 1992 race Max Verstappen 5
1m17.166s
2021 Max Verstappen Red Bull Nigel Mansell 4
2019 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes POLE LAP RECORD Riccardo Patrese 4
2018 Max Verstappen Red Bull Daniel Ricciardo Ayrton Senna 4
2017 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1m14.759s (2018) Denny Hulme 4
2016 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Jack Brabham 4
RACE LAP RECORD
2015 Nico Rosberg Mercedes Alain Prost 3
Valtteri Bottas
1992 Nigel Mansell Williams Gerhard Berger 3
1m17.774s (2021)
1991 Riccardo Patrese Williams Valtteri Bottas 3
O P I N I O N P I T + PA D D O C K
Max is playing rules to perfection

You may consider Max Verstappen cynical, but his success against Lando Norris in
Texas was a clever reading of driving standards rules that urgently need revision
ALEX KALINAUCKAS
f you want to understand how brilliant – genius, The main dispute is how F1’s 2024 ‘Driving Standards Guidelines’
even – a Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen is, watch – a copy of which Autosport has seen – just don’t cover what he’s
I exactly how he attacked Lando Norris at the start
of the 2024 United States Grand Prix. And then
doing. And that is: turning defence into attack. A la Brazil 2021.
The point where cunning eases into crafty in a giant run-off area.
‘defended’ against him late in the race. While you can head to Autosport.com to read a full outline of
Both the Turn 1 and Turn 12 Verstappen vs Norris battles were the DSG, the key point here is that Norris’s move fulfilled two of
essentially the same cynical tactic from the world champion. the three outside attack requirements covered in the document.
Here rises the spectre of the 2021 Brazilian round. And how And it only failed to meet the third of them because Verstappen
heading into Interlagos’s Turn 4, with Lewis Hamilton bearing dived to reach the apex first.
down in arguably the Briton’s greatest ever F1 win, Verstappen Here, GPS trace data becomes critical. Looking at the lap in
steamed on with the inside line he’d taken in defence. Both flew question and the tour before, Norris braked at the same point
into the run-off and the Red Bull remained ahead. each time and made the corner, obviously, the first time. The
There are differences here to Brazil 2021 – but they matter. only car that braked later was Verstappen’s in the clash that
At Austin, Norris did complete the outside overtake off-track. had them both off the road.
However, McLaren didn’t order him to give the place back and Norris was penalised because he overtook off the track.
attack again. When this writer asked him why not, team principal But in adding “Car 4 had little alternative other than to leave
Andrea Stella explained that “for us, there was no need to give the track because of the proximity of Car 1, which had also left
back the position” – because of Verstappen’s tactic. the track” to explain why Norris was only given a 5s penalty and
For Hamilton in that Interlagos classic, he was able to pass a short not 10s, the stewards’ argument is badly undermined. Given their
while later anyway and went on to win. Verstappen wasn’t even acknowledgement of the Red Bull’s presence, what happened was
investigated in that case and here – in doing what the 2021 Mercedes either the fair outcome or surely Verstappen should have been
couldn’t in a different run-off – Norris was penalised five seconds. penalised for forcing Norris off and sliding off the track himself.
After he’d said, “the defending car goes straight at the apex” of In his defence, echoed by team boss Christian Horner,
Verstappen’s Texas move, was this Brazil 2021 repeated for Stella? Verstappen said in the post-race press conference: “It’s very
clear in the rules: outside the white line, you cannot pass.”
The Austin race was a penalty-fest, but George Russell’s
“The FIA can help solve this sanction for how he passed Valtteri Bottas is important here.
He was essentially penalised for doing what Verstappen did,
problem. It needs to enforce but as the attacker the whole time. Verstappen’s move doesn’t
comply with two points of the inside overtake guidelines and
another ‘Max Verstappen rule’” only meets the first because he shoots to the apex.
As the rules don’t cover attacking as a form of defence, all the
responsibility still lies with Norris. That’s the genius of Verstappen’s
“That was extreme because of the speed at which Max missed moves. He’s forcing the issue by racing to the apex – so the original
the apex in Brazil,” he replied. “If you turned into Max, it was a big attacker either chooses to crash or will lose out under the rules.
crash at the time. This one was a much slower speed so it could be The FIA can help solve this problem. It surely now needs to
a more benign situation. But defending by going off the track? enforce another ‘Max Verstappen rule’. While the short-lived 2016
This cannot be permissible.” edition dealt with dubious moving under braking, the governing
Yet the Brazil point remains pertinent. After a little digging, it body must codify how turning defending into attacking is
became clear that although the speed specifics of Turn 4 Brazil and specifically legal or outlaw the race-to-the-apex dive art Verstappen
Turn 12 Austin are different, McLaren insiders are convinced that has perfected. It should do one or the other before the next race in
Verstappen’s manoeuvre here is of the same class as Brazil 2021. Mexico – but these things tend to be handled in the winter.
Class is the key word. Because Verstappen is so good, he’s A third option would be to scrap the guidelines entirely and start
perfected essentially the same tactic within F1’s current racing again. Because they are being stunningly, cynically exploited at
rules guidelines approach first introduced in 2022. That is a huge the moment. And that just isn’t right.
problem. The cynicism of what’s happening sours the taste of
P12 US GP REPORT
what was otherwise another brilliant F1 race.
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O P I N I O N P I T + PA D D O C K
A marketing challenge
Formula E has created a problem for itself by allowing a gap of several weeks
between races in the 2024-25 calendar the series announced last week
ST E FA N M AC K L E Y
wouldn’t put it in as a TBD with the date secured get on top of the new Gen3 Evo machines.
if I wasn’t highly confident that we’re over the “None of us wants to see that size of gap during the season,”
“I line already, at least technically over the line says McLaren team principal Ian James. “Will we use it to our
if not contractually over the line. I have high advantage? Of course, we’ll do whatever we can to continue to
confidence that it will go ahead.” develop and in a way it’s an opportunity to learn from the first
As comments go, those made by Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds events that we’ve had with this new [Gen3 Evo] car and new
back in June have perhaps not aged well. Particularly after approach. So we won’t waste any opportunity that comes through
last week’s revised calendar announcement. that. But would we rather be racing? Of course we would.”
When the original 2024-25 Formula E calendar was revealed, Formula E organisers were quick to spin the news about the
this writer asked why a TBD remained on the calendar and lack of a 17th race on Thursday, boasting about the 16 confirmed
just how confident Dodds was that a venue would in fact be races and insisting that “work is already under way to build and
announced for the proposed 8 March date, thus creating maintain engagement with fans all season long, with more details
a 17-race schedule for the first time. to be announced in the coming months”.
Fast-forward four months and the latest A vague statement, in part due to things still
World Motor Sport Council meeting held last 2024-25 FORMULA E CALENDAR being very much up in the air about an as-yet-
VENUE DATE
Thursday has confirmed that the upcoming unannounced event that will be held on the
Formula E campaign will be made up of 16 Sao Paulo (BRA) 7 December date originally slated as the TBD. A variety of
races, with no venue found for the TBD slot. options are on the table, some more likely
Mexico City (MEX) 11 January
On the face of it, 16 races at 10 different than others. The most outlandish of them
locations, consisting of city street and Jeddah (SAU)* 14-15 February all could be a non-championship race.
permanent race tracks including the Given that F1 looked at the idea of an all-
Miami (USA) 12 April
Homestead-Miami Speedway and a truncated rookie race at the end of the current season,
version of the Jeddah circuit used by Formula 1 Monte Carlo (MCO)* 3-4 May it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that
– both for the first time – represent a diverse Formula E might actually go down that route.
Tokyo (JPN)* 17-18 May
and strong offering. But there can be no The championship is already hosting an
escaping the chasm that losing a race in Shanghai (CHN)* 31 May-1 June all-female session on the final afternoon
March has created. A two-month gap now of Valencia pre-season testing next month.
Jakarta (IDN) 21 June
exists between the double-header in Saudi Offering those same drivers the chance to
Arabia and the standalone US outing. Berlin (DEU)* 12-13 July compete in a race, even if unofficial, would
What’s just as concerning is that this is the certainly be one way to generate headlines
London (GBR)* 26-27 July
second year in a row where a race has been during the mid-season gap.
lost from the calendar, the Hyderabad E-Prix * Double-header events All of this remains speculation, however,
having been dropped last season after the and the fact of the matter is it will most
newly elected local government, which had probably be a fan event of some kind,
vehemently opposed the event, came into power. where drivers sign autographs, pose for pictures and talk
In that instance a gap of six weeks appeared, which about how much they would rather be racing.
understandably left drivers, teams and fans frustrated, as any As proven over the past decade, Formula E is not afraid to
momentum built from the opening rounds seemed to ebb away. go against convention and push traditional boundaries. It has
Generating ‘noise’ has been both one of Formula E’s strengths introduced initiatives such as Fanboost, whereby fans could
and weaknesses, especially since Dodds took the helm 18 months decide by voting which driver they would like to see get an
ago. For six months of the year, races and the storylines produced extra surge of power during a race.
by them have helped to create headlines and bring the all-electric It’s a delicate line, though. Novel concepts can either be
championship to the world’s attention. But for the other half of applauded or seen as nothing more than cheap gimmicks. The
the year, when no racing takes place, the championship almost jury is still out on just what side of the fence the 8 March event
seems to go into hibernation. will fall on, but the bottom line is there can be no real substitute
Not having a race for two months during the season is certainly for a race. All of which means Formula E’s second decade is off
not going to help with that, even if it allows teams more time to to a bumpy start before the season has even got under way.
2 4 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 4 AUTOSPORT.COM 1 1
RACE CENTRE
FORMULA 1
FERRARI DOMINATES AS F1
TITLE FIGHT GETS UGLY AGAIN
Charles Leclerc was imperious around Austin but it was another day
when on-track nonsense failed to do Formula 1 justice
MAIN IMAGE: GALLOWAY
ALEX KALINAUCKAS
PHOTOGRAPHY
1 2 AUTOSPORT.COM 2 4 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 4
U N I T E D S T AT E S G P R A C E C E N T R E
Leclerc claimed
his third win of the
season in style,
although the focus
was diverted
ust past the halfway stage of Formula 1’s 2024 claiming “if they hadn’t fought with each other, they would have
United States Grand Prix, Will Joseph told his been able to win” the sprint Verstappen ultimately edged.
McLaren charge Lando Norris that they were facing On average stint pace in the sprint – once the two SF-24s
a “Germany Situation”. But, given how he went on to had stopped being thrown at each other – Red Bull had just a
win last Sunday for Ferrari, the Austin story was in 0.009-second average lap time advantage. Essentially nothing,
fact about how Charles Leclerc pulled off another even with Verstappen having had the benefit of driving in free air
successful ‘Austria Situation’ for the Scuderia. to help with Austin’s classic rear-tyre thermal degradation quest
For Austin 2024, read Austria 2022. Both and the two Ferrari drivers were treating their mediums anything
included sprint events, where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won but gently in the critical early-stint phase.
the shorter contest and Leclerc triumphed in the pukka GP race. Anyway, Leclerc had come into the main Texas contest
At the Red Bull Ring two years ago, Leclerc and his team-mate acknowledging he’d “been struggling a little bit with the feeling with
Carlos Sainz diced hard early on in the sprint, which allowed the car”. Sainz was only the second Ferrari in sprint qualifying and
Verstappen precious time to escape and win. In the Austin from there scrapped savagely to be the one that chased down and
sprint edition, they engaged in an even more brutal battle. beat Norris in the sprint, then shone brighter in GP qualifying.
Quizzed after his team’s eventual GP 1-2 – something Ferrari But, just as with Austria 2022, where he “worked quite a lot on
would have taken at Austria 2022 too but for Sainz’s late engine my driving” – specifically there on how to better treat medium
failure – team boss Fred Vasseur insisted “they did a good job”. Pirellis over a race stint – Leclerc kept at it.
Hardly convincing, with McLaren team principal Andrea Stella At the end of the 19-lap Austin sprint contest, where all the drivers
R A C E C E N T R E U N I T E D S T AT E S G P
ran the mediums that had been predicted to be key to the race result
after all but Sauber had burned one of only two hard compound sets
per car in Friday practice, Pirelli engineers clocked tyres close to 100%
wear across the grid. This gave vital information on exactly how long
the mediums would last, albeit with the variable that around 60kg of
GP fuel weight was missing from the first race.
In 2024, of course, teams can alter car set-ups post-sprint – ahead
of GP qualifying. Leclerc feared that as ride heights went down across
the grid as the teams realised the Austin plank wear issue was much
reduced with the track resurfacing for this year, “the others would
improve a lot more” with such changes. In reality, for what turned
out to be his main rival for much of the race – Verstappen – the
opposite occurred.
After the sprint, the Dutchman had a bigger rear-wing
arrangement fitted “for race set-up” – per Red Bull motorsport
advisor Helmut Marko. But, as this combined with the other set-up
settings that ultimately determine a car’s aerodynamic balance, it
“seemed to engineer into the car a bit more understeer”, revealed
team boss Christian Horner. “That then sort of killed the front tyres –
compared to [the sprint], where we didn’t have any understeer and
the car was very quick,” he added.
But, before that mattered, there was the small issue of how neither
Leclerc nor Verstappen was starting the GP contest
on pole. That was Norris’s position – cemented
when George Russell crashed his Mercedes at the Red Bull’s ace ran the
penultimate corner in GP qualifying (see page 15). McLaren off on the exit
Fortune might have aided McLaren on a track
Stella expected his squad to “struggle most” of the
final six. But as Vasseur sagely noted, overtaking
is “not a drama in Austin” – starting with its famed,
sharply uphill, Turn 1 hairpin. The one where the
ETHERINGTON
2015 world title fight between Lewis Hamilton
and Nico Rosberg got a little too close for comfort.
When the lights went out for the 56-lap main
event, Norris reacted well and quickly moved over to
cover Verstappen. But, although he’d come far on the inside line,
“AS THEY SQUABBLED, ON THE INSIDE

there was still room enough to petulantly chuck a cap through
what little space there was left. And Verstappen didn’t hesitate.
LECLERC WAS GLEEFULLY STEAMING

He squeezed his RB20 into the gap Norris had left “driving like a
muppet”, per the Briton, and ran his title rival brutally wide on exit.
THROUGH TO LEAD TO THE ESSES”

Both cars were forced off track and Norris was left to reflect how
“I can’t just dive up the inside of someone, run off and then keep the
position in normal running, but for some reason, it’s completely
OK in lap 1 and Turn 1”. For his part, Verstappen said “there was
a gap on the inside, so I went for it”. But he was doing so in front of Sainz, not Norris, as the Spaniard had
As they squabbled, on the inside Leclerc was gleefully steaming been able to nip ahead of his former McLaren team-mate and set off
through to lead on the plunging run down to the Esses sequence – after Verstappen on the opening tour. He’d finished that with a gap
having been on third-starting Sainz’s inside when the Spaniard of 0.6s to the Red Bull, which was already trailing Leclerc by 1.7s.
“got the worst of it” and had to check up behind the brief leaders. But the first lap hadn’t been without a bit more angst, as Sainz dived
Over the race’s laps 7-24 phase, where Leclerc was Monza to Verstappen’s inside at Turn 12 at the end of Austin’s main straight –
metronomic in the 1m39s Verstappen couldn’t regularly replicate, the scene of so much controversy still to come. Verstappen held on
the Monegasque’s average pace was 1m39.528s as he leapt clear. and both cars shot off into the run-off and the Red Bull stayed ahead.
Verstappen was shipping 0.524s a lap at his 1m40.052s average. An Autosport enquiry to the FIA revealed that this, along with his
shove on Norris at Turn 1, was assessed by
race control officials. But, in both cases,
Disconsolate Hamilton it was decided not to escalate them to the
leaves the scene after stewards for further appraisal. This is
beaching his Mercedes why no timing screen messages noting
the incidents ever arrived.
Those initial early gaps weren’t to matter,
as Hamilton’s awful Austin weekend ended
when he lost the rear of his W15 at lap two’s
conclusion at the exact same spot Russell
had had his very similar incident in GP
qualifying. This was just before Leclerc
made a rare GP error and locked up
briefly at Turn 1.
MAUGER
The safety car was called to cover

the Mercedes’ recovery, with the
QUAL IFY I N G
HONE
A good start for
Norris from pole,
but what’s that
coming up the hill? Is
it a Verstappen?
It’s clear why Lando Norris reckoned the lap that netted him
pole position at Austin was “the best of my career”. The
McLaren hadn’t been the happy package of Singapore. Team
principal Andrea Stella had feared the significant wind factor
of this place was putting the MCL38s on edge, but his squad’s
efforts “to adapt to the wind” paid off come Q3 and the setting
sun of last Saturday evening.
Ride heights had been lowered across the grid post-sprint,
MAIN IMAGE: S BLOXHAM
which in McLaren’s case meant Norris was in for a very bumpy

ride in the weekend’s second qualifying session. Having been
encouraged by engineer Will Joseph to “trust the car and
don’t overload the combined” – which meant not going too
aggressive on the requirements to brake and turn at several
Austin corners – he set off.
Norris knew McLaren was “a bit down to Red Bull” in
Austin’s “faster corners” – the not resurfaced Esses and the
corners leading up the to last. He therefore had to “risk that
little bit more”. The result was a bouncing, “bottoming”, per
Norris, wild and on-the-edge lap. The Esses were particularly
jumpy for the Briton. Then at the plunging Turn 19
penultimate left, he saved a wild snap on the exit kerbs.
“It was close, it was on the edge, but it’s what I needed,”
Leclerc must be Norris said afterwards.
laughing as he Verstappen was still to come. He shipped time to Norris in
BAGNALL
takes decisive lead the straight-heavy middle sector, but again it was Turn 19
where pole was decided. In sprint qualifying the evening
before, Verstappen’s perfectly judged commitment had
resulted in a 3mph gain to Mercedes’ George Russell and the
neutralisation lasting until the start of lap six. Restarting, Leclerc had critical 0.012-second
hit the gas at Turn 19 on the tour before and, while Verstappen initially difference for that session. A “It can never be
went with him, no Turn 1 lunge was forthcoming this time. day later, Verstappen turned known if Verstappen
Instead, Leclerc shot back to be 1.3s ahead, with Sainz still 0.735s in “probably a bit late, tried
would have toppled
adrift of Verstappen. Sainz stayed in DRS range until lap eight, but here to carry a bit more speed”.
“for a lap I had some sort of issue that meant that I had very little power His wider line meant he had
his title rival had
at the exit of the corners”. He complained over the radio that he could to downshift gathering things Russell not crashed”
smell fuel – potentially a worrying leak. Ferrari “didn’t see something up and the previous 0.2s gap
clear in the data” of what was occurring, per Vasseur. He added: “It he’d built to Norris in the track’s longer and other fast turns
came back to normal. It was strange but I don’t know yet [what caused was completely gone. Norris led by 0.031s.
the issue, in his post-race media briefing].” It can never been known if Verstappen would have toppled
The result was that at the start of lap nine, Verstappen was 1.55s clear his title rival on the second Q3 runs had Russell not crashed at
and Sainz was “most importantly” out of DRS threat. “And then you are Turn 19 – Mercedes’ previous form disappearing in the added
in that 1.5-3s gap that is the worst for tyres and car balance,” Sainz Saturday heat, with Lewis Hamilton the shock Q1 faller. But
added. “Which meant I just had to settle until the pitstop windows.” the Dutchman had been 0.17s up at the end of sector one and,
Behind, although it appeared he was being significantly dropped, although Norris’s first sector two was mighty, Verstappen
Norris was doing likewise. “Lando, because of losing the time at the surely would have adjusted at Turn 19.
start,” said Stella of Norris’s consistent run in the low-1m40s post- The yellows covering Russell’s crash thwarted everyone
restart, “needed to accept that he needed to control the pace in else, but particularly Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. He felt that the
the first [real] part of the stint.” lower track temp made the car come alive and he’d just
Norris dropped to a maximum of 3.76s back from Sainz and was charged to run 0.15s adrift of Verstappen – and 0.02s up
3.5s adrift when Ferrari went aggressive and strategically attacked compared to Norris’s run one at this point – in the first sector.
Verstappen with an undercut attempt. On lap 21, Sainz came in to But he had to settle for the third he’d banked on run one
switch to the hard tyres. ahead of Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari.
Verstappen was brought in to do the same four tours later and duly
SP RI NT RAC E
Scrap out of Turn 1 gave
Norris his chance to make
amends for qualifying
TEE
Russell and two

Ferraris in pursuit
The sprint race for the 2024 United was easily rebuffed. The Mercedes
States Grand Prix was all very then tumbled back through the
familiar. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen hotly pursuing Ferraris and was
started on pole having produced just ahead of team-mate Lewis
a confident SQ3 final lap the night Hamilton at the flag. The second
before and won by a chunk in Mercedes driver had been pushing
front of the bumper Austin crowd. too hard on the mediums trying to
The RB20 even looked to be back stay close to the Ferraris early on,
to its predictable, smooth and while Russell was doing the same
connected best. to outrun them.
But there were critical Tyre degradation would define
differences in the second time Norris’s final laps. All the leaders
in two years that Verstappen led were running mediums that had
every lap of this 19-tour contest – been used in sprint qualifying, but
particularly his 3.9-second victory Norris’s had done an extra lap.
margin versus 9.5s in 2023. The This and his early efforts to catch
Verstappen left him with “tyres
“Norris had just enough completely finished by the end”
momentum to reach the
S BLOXHAM
and contributed to his last-lap

start of the Esses ahead Turn 1 lock-up that let Sainz by.
of the Mercedes” Leclerc chased but DRS from
the first Ferrari aided Norris to
others were right with him. telling him Verstappen was high-speed corners such as Turn 12 and he then smartly shut
At the start, Verstappen easily “potentially” hurting his rears Turn 19, the Dutchman was the door on Turn 15’s inside line,
covered the inside line of the excessively – the action just behind pulling a critical few tenths each which caught out Leclerc and got
sharply uphill Turn 1 left, but the was enthralling. Carlos Sainz and time, while in sector two Norris pointlessly investigated. Behind the
main action came just behind the Leclerc were adding even more generally reversed the Red Bull’s two Mercedes came the impressive
Red Bull – with Ferrari’s Charles scarlet spurts to Texas as they fully gains in the first sector’s Esses. Haas pair, Kevin Magnussen and
Leclerc squeezing the other front wrung the red necks of their SF-24s Russell had one look at passing Nico Hulkenberg, while Liam
row starter, George Russell. Their in an intra-Ferrari battle lasting Norris into Turn 12 at the end of Lawson’s defending of 16th
close proximity on a wider line five laps. Sainz cut and Leclerc the main straight on lap six, plus enraged Fernando Alonso, who
meant McLaren’s Lando Norris thrust – the latter off the track at Turn 15 a few moments later, but got jumped by Alex Albon.
could immediately bounce back the braking-turning requiring Turn
from his “shocking” last SQ3 lap 15. Finally, Sainz got through with Sprint win was sweet
that had left him starting fourth. a neat dive here, outdragging his for Verstappen
Norris stayed tight on the inside team-mate away.
line and gained massively when By this stage, Norris had fallen
Russell and Leclerc ran close. to 1.4s back from Verstappen and,
Norris had just enough momentum although he rallied with Russell
to reach the start of the Esses breathing down his neck, he
ahead of the Mercedes and was couldn’t get close enough to attack.
suddenly chasing his title rival. Verstappen was finding that
GALLOWAY
Norris stayed in DRS range for he could just “go a little bit faster
the first three tours but, while this without having to worry with the
was on the tense side – McLaren balance of the car” and so in the
emerged 4.3s behind. Fears he’d need repairs for a “bit of an issue” Red Leclerc escapes as Sainz
Bull had spotted in its data that was highlighted by Gianpiero Lambiase shadows Verstappen
were unfounded as that “was relative to the understeer that he had in before his undercut
the car, so [the message] was really about how much front wing to put
into the car for the hard tyre [at the service]”, per Horner.
Leclerc, with a 10.7s lead when Verstappen stopped, stayed out only
one more tour to lap 26 – having urged his engineer, Bryan Bozzi, not
to “leave me out too long” after Sainz had come in.
“For me, there wasn’t a lot of reasons for me to go still longer,”
Leclerc later said of this point, where how his big Baku stint one lead
disappearing post-pitstop was rather relevant. “And when you have
cold tyres, you don’t want to have pressure from behind because you
just want to bring the tyres nicely up to temperature. I did not want
to find myself in that scenario and I made it clear.”
“WE ALREADY KNEW BEFORE

THE RACE THAT FERRARI WAS
VERY LIKELY THE BEST CAR” DUNBAR
Leclerc rejoined with a 6.4s net lead over Sainz, while Norris and The final two-stop killer was the 2024 sprint rules and the permitted
his trailing team-mate Oscar Piastri now ran at the head of the field. set-up changes, as the cars and drivers, with some notable exceptions,
Norris finally came in for hards on lap 31, Piastri passed by Leclerc were just better at tyre management overall on Sunday.
in an uncontested, DRS-assisted Turn 12 swoop on lap 31, plus with When Norris pitted, Leclerc – who soon “adjusted” to his own
that major tyre life advantage of the Ferrari’s fresh mediums. The one-stop along with all the other leaders – enjoyed a 7.4s lead over
Australian, who eventually finished fifth, was pitted on lap 32. Sainz. They still had 24 laps left to run and these played out in different
But while they’d been pounding around on their ageing mediums, ways for the red cars.
the McLaren duo had been doing something that ultimately ended Sainz knew he’d “boxed really early for that hard tyre”, but “from
this event as a strategy contest. This was consistently setting personal then on, I felt really comfortable, very confident, and we were very
bests in the low 1m39s bracket Leclerc had owned earlier, even with quick again”. This meant, after it had initially risen in the first eight
that old rubber. laps after the eventual winner’s pitstop, he cut Leclerc’s lead down
“In the middle of our first stint, we were struggling a little bit with to 4.6s by lap 47. After this, they had to lap a gaggle of backmarkers
tyres,” Stella revealed. “But the tyres started to go better – I think when and the lead stabilised.
the graining cleaned. We could put together some green sectors and lap It was even extended at the flag, ending at 8.6s, where Leclerc
times. Then we decided it was not a two-stop, it should be a one-stop.” claimed stint two “was all about managing behind”. Stella, meanwhile,
Pirelli had insisted throughout the build-up that this would be a two- reckoned “the two Ferraris did not necessarily need to push 100%”.
stop event. But the timing of the Hamilton safety car ended up being “We already knew before the race that Ferrari was very likely
critical. Coming so early in the race, it meant “that those who had the best car,” he added.
started on mediums could extend their stint, while it also meant the As brilliant as both Ferrari drivers were last weekend – aided by what
tyres were put under less stress during the crucial early stages, when is understood to be a front wing upgrade allowed to be undeclared in
the cars are running with a heavy fuel load”, per Pirelli motorsport the official car presentation submissions because it remained the
boss Mario Isola. same aero shape, with the gain coming in another form – that isn’t
This combined with the major track evolution factor at this largely what this event will ultimately be remembered for. Because it got
resurfaced track. Autosport understands the Circuit of The Americas ugly, yet again, between Verstappen and Norris.
will be asked to resurface the rest – mainly through the bumpy Esses The McLaren had come out of the pits with a six-lap-life tyre
section – for 2025. advantage and a 6.6s gap to close to the Red Bull. At a rate of 0.516s
Norris closed in on
Verstappen with a six-
DUNBAR
lap tyre life advantage
How
Verstappen’s
defence drove both
the Red Bull and
McLaren off the
track at Turn 12
BAGNALL
“IF ANYTHING, WE THOUGHT THE
each time, Norris got that down to DRS range in 12 tours.
A thrilling battle then played out, with a very bitter ending. After
INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE FOR MAX

four laps with DRS but no attack, Norris first had a look at Turn 12 on
lap 47 – Verstappen had just locked up at Turn 11 – then they fought
PUSHING LANDO OFF THE TRACK”

through Turns 13-16. Next time by, Norris had another Turn 12 feint,
then Turn 1 suddenly became another attacking spot.
Verstappen began defending the tight inside line here before
both had moments of peril on lap 50, Norris with a Turn 9 rear snap
and Verstappen a Turn 12 lock-up. On lap 51, Norris’s Turn 12 attack as, per F1’s 2024 Driving Standards Guidelines, these state a driver
soon became a Turn 14 thrust that brought him oh-so-close with attacking on the outside as Norris was, must “have the front axle
the Red Bull. at least alongside with the front axle of the other car” at the apex.
Then, on lap 52, it happened. Norris had finally been able to stay Verstappen’s latest example of turning defence into attack made
really tight to Verstappen through the Esses having again made the sure this didn’t happen.
Red Bull close off Turn 1’s inside. Norris shot onto the main straight Inevitably, Verstappen slid long and both drivers were completely
with just a 0.4s deficit and then with a 12mph top speed advantage off the track in the run-off, from which Norris powered around the
via DRS, was finally able to truly pounce. outside to finally, disputedly, get ahead.
Verstappen had jinked a bit left the previous time here, but now he Just as with their lap-one clash, there was a radio exchange of
went way further towards the inside. Norris’s speed took his front views, plus a pretty dodgy subsequent late chop by Norris to defend
wheels clearly ahead before he braked at roughly the same piece a Verstappen attack at Turn 1 at lap 53’s commencement. Soon a
of asphalt he’d done so on lap 51. Verstappen didn’t. penalty was handed down for the Turn 12 run-off incident. To Norris.
GPS trace data reveals that Verstappen braked significantly later, When Autosport asked Stella why McLaren hadn’t ordered Norris
which sent him shooting towards the apex. This is a critical element, to quickly cede the position back to Verstappen to avoid all threat of
that 5s penalty, he replied: “Because on the pitwall and under my
Ferrari for Ferrari: responsibility – but there was complete agreement by all the people
Leclerc and Sainz soak involved in this interpretation – this situation did not need to be
in their moment investigated. And if anything, we thought the investigation should
be for Max pushing Lando off the track. For us, there was no need
to give back the position.”
Norris afterwards said that what was “incorrect is what Max did”.
Verstappen and Horner, meanwhile, could only point to previous
examples of drivers being penalised for overtaking off-track –
as Verstappen was here in 2017 – as a deflection defence.
For Verstappen this was still “a great result”
and a race from which “we learned a lot”.
For Norris, the ending, added to the two
NEXT
points he shipped finishing only third in
the sprint, was a “momentum killer” for
his title hopes.
Still, at least Leclerc was left feeling
F1 REPORT
“we couldn’t have dreamed for better” Mexican Grand
Prix
as the Texas sun beat down and the 31 October issu
HONE
e
champagne rose.
T RACKSID E V I E W
KALINAUCKAS
No head for heights:
an Alpine spins at
COTA’s Turn 1 high point
You can’t miss the giant US

and Texan flags at the Circuit 11
of The Americas. The former flies
gigantically above the already
towering Turn 1 left-hand hairpin. Austin
It’s here Autosport heads for Length 3.426 miles
12
the sole practice offering of Number of laps 56 8
the United States Grand Prix 15
6
weekend, because there’s even 19 10
more elevation to be found. 9
7
Specifically, a photographer’s
20 16 14 13
tower that overlooks the Austin 5
17 4
track’s opening corner and
provides a stunning vista across 3
18
the rolling plains that lead up to
south of Texas’s capital city. We’ve
2
repeated our trip here from 2023,
where the slow-speed oscillations DRS detection KALINAUCKAS
on the bad bumps across Turn 1’s
DRS zone
apex had left the ground-effect cars 1
bouncing comically. But for this Trackside view
year at Austin, the section running
from Turn 16-Turn 3 and the Esses’
commencement had been
resurfaced to remove this issue – “When finally armed with softs, Max Texas Lone Star flies
new jet-black asphalt freshness Verstappen shows the tighter line is over Turn 3 Esses entry
baking under the blazing sun. ideal – the RB20’s rear utterly planted”
At this stage of the weekend,
there are plenty of clouds blowing the various cambers around Turn haven’t been sufficiently warmed ideal – the RB20’s rear utterly
over; this provides shade relief to 1’s apex – to be expected with the from the preparation tours – always planted on exit.
everyone watching but an added corner traversing the hill’s crest a challenge here given the need to The Red Bull is easily the
challenge for the drivers. – the cars just won’t turn in initially protect the rears for the final turns. most stable car at Turn 3 and the
“At least the bumps have gone,” nor stay stable under acceleration. Gasly even spins his Alpine before devastatingly fast opening left of
we mutter as cars slither and Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas snaps Russell does likewise in the W15. the Esses – where we head for FP1’s
squirm out of Turn 1 on sighter violently sideways the first time Two lines begin to emerge – final third. It skips off the inside
laps. Pirelli insiders had suggested through, while Pierre Gasly’s Alpine those sacrificing speed on the kerb with a definite thud, but it’s
that Turn 1 was comfortably the and then the two Mercedes cars tighter one and grappling with not squirming and sparking like the
slipperiest point of the resurfacing are just understeering off into the rears kicking up on exit, and others – particularly the Mercedes.
work and now the drivers were the run-off. Lando Norris is still those still trying to make the wider This, surely, we conclude, is the
finding out just how much. doing this at the 10-minute mark. approach work. When finally armed best place to watch ground-effect
Although the only bouncing now The problem is trying to carry with softs at the halfway point, Max F1 cars in action.
comes on the tighter line through too much speed in with tyres that Verstappen shows the former is ALEX KALINAUCKAS
RUSSELL RESCUES SIXTH

FROM MERCEDES’ HIT
AND MISS WEEKEND
George Russell rescued a solid sixth
place for Mercedes after starting from
the pitlane following his Turn 18
qualifying crash, as the Brackley team’s
inconsistency again reared its head.
Russell and Lewis Hamilton both
showed pace in sprint qualifying that
suggested Mercedes could contend for
pole, but Hamilton’s sole flying lap was
hindered by a yellow flag prompted
by Franco Colapinto’s Turn 12 off.
Russell dropped behind the Ferraris
in the sprint owing to tyre degradation,
falling from second to fifth, while
TEE
Hamilton suffered with rear graining.

But qualifying for the GP was even worse;
Hamilton failed to clear the Q1 hurdle,
blaming a set-up issue encountered after
Lawson cooks up a storm
fixing a front suspension problem that
lingered through the sprint. Russell
made Q3, but his crash meant that he
at Alonso’s expense
had to take older-spec components, Liam Lawson celebrated his return we nearly crashed, like I did with
necessitating a pitlane start. to F1 with ninth – and a new rivalry, Lance [Stroll] two years ago, at
Hamilton was out of the race by the as he managed to earn the ire of 300-something [km/h], and then he
end of the second lap after beaching his Fernando Alonso over the course squeezed me out of the corners to
car at the same corner, but Russell went of the weekend. the track limits,” added Alonso.
long on the hard tyres and passed Sergio Their spat kicked off in Saturday’s Alonso got his own back slightly in
Perez on the mediums to collect sixth. sprint race. In their battle over 15th, qualifying after overtaking Lawson
“When we’re in the window, we’re Lawson saw Alonso looming large on their Q1 out-laps, disrupting the
there,” Russell reflected. “When we’re in his mirrors and moved across to Kiwi enough for him to note “he’s
not, it bites. And that happened to cover the line before moving back doing exactly what he said he’d do”
me [in qualifying].” into the usual position for the over the radio. “He said he would
“Russell had insane pace,” Red Bull’s Turn 12 braking zone. screw me, and I guess he kept his
Helmut Marko told Sky Germany. This forced Alonso to drop deep word,” Lawson explained afterwards,
“Had he started at the front, it could while passing, which allowed Lawson although it didn’t stop the RB driver
have been different…” to achieve a switchback into the next from logging the third-best time in
corner and park his car on the apex the first qualifying phase.
to ensure the Aston Martin could not Lawson impressed in the race and
throw its nose down the inside. “The dispatched Lance Stroll around the
AlphaTauri [sic] is such an idiot,” outside of Turn 6. The New Zealander
Alonso exclaimed of the RB driver, then put a tidy move on Alonso on
audibly upset at the robustness lap 11 into the Turn 12 braking zone
of Lawson’s defence. and then covered off all bases in the
The two were seen afterwards following corners. Alonso kicked up
‘in discussion’ over the sprint race the dirt in Turn 14 in an effort to
ETHERINGTON
events. “On the straight, I think find a way back past.
A double points
finish in the
sprint and Nico
Hulkenberg’s
ALL PHOTOGRAPHY: MOTORSPORT IMAGES
eighth place
in the grand prix
lifted Haas two
points ahead of
RB in the battle
for sixth in the
constructors’
GALLOWAY
standings.
MAUGER
Albon compromised at Turn 1,
Colapinto scores a point
Alex Albon thought Williams would Lawson and Fernando Alonso.
retire his car after damage sustained In the other car, Colapinto was the
in his Turn 1 clash with Esteban master of his own fate in pushing for
Ocon, as the two coalesced at the a hard-tyre start for the grand prix,
uphill pinch-point. and earned a point for his troubles.
During the contact, Valtteri Bottas The Argentinian defended well from
knocked Albon’s diffuser as the field Sergio Perez in the middle phase of
closed up, which Albon explained the race and, after stopping, pounced
made the car “really bad, particularly on Yuki Tsunoda’s Turn 1 spin and
through left-handers. I’m not too Pierre Gasly’s hard-tyre struggles
sure why we didn’t [retire].” to get into the top 10.
PEREZ FAILS TO BREAK A spin in sprint qualifying cost
Albon the chance to join team-mate
A bid to double his score by
taking the fastest lap was denied
DOWN MIDFIELDERS Franco Colapinto in SQ3, and the
Anglo-Thai ended up using it as an
by Esteban Ocon’s late stop for softs,
which was motivated by Alpine’s
Sergio Perez spent both of his races at extended test session to trial set-ups four-point deficit to Williams in the
Austin stuck behind some of the more for Sunday’s grand prix – although he constructors’ standings. “It wastes
traditional midfield runners en route at least managed to interlope on the tyres – take care of the planet!”
to seventh in the grand prix. ill-tempered battle between Liam Colapinto joked after the race.
The Mexican missed out on sprint race
GALLOWAY
points after losing time in Yuki Tsunoda’s
wheeltracks, which let the Haas duo of
Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg
scamper out of his clutches.
Tsunoda reprised that role during the
grand prix, which stalled Perez’s early
progress, although the Red Bull driver
eventually got past on the 17th lap. After
stopping, Perez emerged behind Franco
Colapinto, who provided a stern defence
despite the hard tyre delta between them
– the Argentinian was yet to stop.
Colapinto eventually gave way,
electing not to damage his tyres further,
but Perez was now 25 seconds behind
Oscar Piastri. Russell then passed Perez,
who had started ninth, with two laps to
go, snatching sixth.
Q& A
PIERRE GASLY medium was the better I expect him to at least leave me understand. I’m frustrated right
ALPINE DRIVER compound for the race. We had 20cm of race track so I can leave now, but looking at where we
a slow pitstop, lost four or five my inside wheel on the line. But if were at the last two races, there’s
Are you disappointed seconds in the pits, exited he goes on the line, the best I can definitely some improvement.
to finish 12th? in the traffic and do is be on the kerb as I’d rather
Yeah, it wasn’t struggled massively avoid contact. Does it feel like a turning point?
good enough. We on the hard. That’s the positive, I’ll say that.
haven’t executed Was it a positive I agree. Today we didn’t do the
in the best way. What do you weekend overall? best job in the race and still
We made a good think of the There are some positives. finished P12, not too far from P10,
start. I was in P6, penalty for In qualifying, we have some so it clearly gives us hope that if
managing the tyre, passing Alex potential. There are conditions we execute a stronger race we
where everything was Albon off-track? where the car seems to work. might have one or two chances
looking good. Then Haas I don’t agree with it, but The first stint felt like it was well to fight for that last point. It’s very
played their cars and decided I accept it. The FIA always has managed and the pace was there frustrating as a team when you
to put the pressure on with one the last word, but I’m sure we’re to hang on to that sixth place. see Williams get that last point.
[Kevin Magnussen]. We just fell going to talk about it. I’m side But the hard tyre was very bad, With different decisions we could
for it and reacted when the by side with Alex at the apex, so there are clearly things to have been there, but that’s F1.
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U N I T E D S T AT E S G P T E C H
GIO RGI O P IOLA
RB18
CASE CLOSED ON
RED BULL ‘BIB’ UPROAR
The Austin weekend opened with acrimony
over Red Bull’s floor as it became apparent
that the team had a device to adjust the
front section (known as the ‘bib’) height
from within the cockpit. Its rivals became
aware of this because the bib section is an
open-source component. All teams have access
to the relevant documentation for open-source
components in a central FIA folder.
The suggestion was that the team could
theoretically change the floor height from
qualifying to the race, thus bypassing parc
ferme regulations. In theory, an adjustable
device would allow a team to run the car low
in qualifying and raise it for the race. According RB19
to Red Bull, however, the bib adjuster could
not be used while the car was fully assembled,
although McLaren implored the FIA to
investigate further and determine if it had
been used during parc ferme previously.
The FIA later considered the uproar
over Red Bull’s bib adjuster a closed
chapter, as the governing body could
find no evidence that the system
had been used between qualifying
and race. Max Verstappen’s number
one mechanic Ole Schack was seen
showing the FIA how the system
could be accessed through the
bulkhead, but only with a socket
on the end of a long metal rod. BIB DEVICE HAS BEEN IN
JAKE BOXALL-LEGGE EXISTENCE SINCE 2022
RB20
RED BULL CHANGES PATH WITH UPGRADES

The controversy over Red Bull’s entirely new course after its woeful (raised) trailing edge, stating in the rear tyre to limit tyre squirt
front ‘bib’ adjustment device rather Monza outing, telling Dutch media its pre-event notes that “more entering the diffuser.
overshadowed the effect of the that “everything that was planned local load is generated while The team also revised the profile
upgrades that it brought to Austin. had to be thrown in the bin”. maintaining flow stability”. The of its sidepods, reworking the floor
Max Verstappen revealed that the The team introduced a new edge vorticity at the edge should also junction to the vertical inlet to
team had effectively plotted an wing to the floor with a cambered strengthen the airflow ahead of ensure it could get more out of
its more streamlined bodywork
RED BULL HAD package and reduce the use of
N E W F LO O R E D G E cooling louvres over the top.
WING IN USA Team principal Christian Horner
reckoned that the Austin upgrades
had not only added performance
to the car but also given Red Bull a
better understanding of the RB20
after a mid-season dip in form.
However, the decision to introduce
slightly more understeer into the
set-up post-sprint caused the
team slightly more grief on the
harder compound tyre.
JAKE BOXALL-LEGGE
19 Lawson #30 17 Hamilton #44 15 Colapinto #43 13 Stroll #18 11 Hulkenberg #27
no Q2 time 1m34.154s 1m34.062s 1m33.759s 1m33.544s
20 Russell #63 18 Zhou #24 16 Bottas #77 14 Albon #23 12 Ocon #31
1m32.974s 1m34.228s 1m34.152s 1m34.051s 1m33.597s
FREE PRACTICE 1 SPRINT QUALIFYING RACE QUALIFYING SEASON STATS

POS DRIVER TIME POS DRIVER TIME POS DRIVER TIME
DRIVERS’ PTS BEST BEST
1 Sainz 1m33.602s Q3 1 Verstappen 1m32.833s Q3 1 Norris 1m32.330s CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH QUAL
2 Leclerc 1m33.623s 2 Russell 1m32.845s 2 Verstappen 1m32.361s 1 Verstappen 354 1 1
3 Verstappen 1m33.855s 3 Leclerc 1m33.059s 3 Sainz 1m32.652s 2 Norris 297 1 1
4 Norris 1m33.868s 4 Norris 1m33.083s 4 Leclerc 1m32.740s 3 Leclerc 275 1 1
5 Piastri 1m33.908s 5 Sainz 1m33.089s 5 Piastri 1m32.950s 4 Piastri 247 1 2
6 Hamilton 1m33.963s 6 Hulkenberg 1m33.183s 6 Russell 1m32.974s 5 Sainz 215 1 2
7 Russell 1m34.093s 7 Hamilton 1m33.378s 7 Gasly 1m33.018s 6 Hamilton 177 1 2
8 Magnussen 1m34.096s 8 Magnussen 1m33.398s 8 Alonso 1m33.309s 7 Russell 167 1 1
9 Alonso 1m34.112s 9 Tsunoda 1m33.802s 9 Magnussen 1m33.481s 8 Perez 150 2 2
10 Tsunoda 1m34.313s 10 Colapinto 1m34.406s 10 Perez no time 9 Alonso 62 5 3
11 Hulkenberg 1m34.364s Q2 11 Perez 1m34.244s Q2 11 Tsunoda 1m33.506s 10 Hulkenberg 29 6 6
12 Gasly 1m34.375s 12 Gasly 1m34.363s 12 Hulkenberg 1m33.544s 11 Stroll 24 6 8
13 Lawson 1m34.443s 13 Stroll no time 13 Ocon 1m33.597s 12 Tsunoda 22 7 7
13 Albon 12 7 9
14 Albon 1m34.618s 14 Alonso no time 14 Stroll 1m33.759s
14 Ricciardo 12 8 5
15 Stroll 1m34.619s 15 Lawson no time 15 Lawson no time
15 Magnussen 8 8 9
16 Perez 1m34.638s Q1 16 Piastri 1m34.881s Q1 16 Albon 1m34.051s
16 Gasly 8 9 7
17 Ocon 1m34.806s 17 Ocon 1m34.917s 17 Colapinto 1m34.062s
17 Bearman 7 7 11
18 Bottas 1m35.041s 18 Albon 1m35.054s 18 Bottas 1m34.152s
18 Colapinto 5 8 9
19 Colapinto 1m35.248s 19 Bottas 1m35.148s 19 Hamilton 1m34.154s 19 Ocon 5 9 9
20 Zhou 1m37.219s 20 Zhou 1m36.472s 20 Zhou 1m34.228s 20 Lawson 2 9 15
WEATHER Sunny then cloudy, air 26-27C WEATHER Sunny then cloudy, air 28C WEATHER Sunny, air 29-30C track 32-35C 21 Zhou 0 11 14
track 32-33C track 30-32C 22 Sargeant 0 11 12
23 Bottas 0 13 10
SPRINT RACE 19 LAPS – 64.89 MILES
CONSTRUCTORS’ PTS
POS DRIVER FINISH TIME LED TYRE FASTEST LAPS CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Verstappen 31m06.146s 19 M 1m37.463s 1 McLaren 544
2 Sainz +3.882s M 1m37.552s 2 Red Bull 504
3 Norris +6.240s M 1m38.045s 3 Ferrari 496
4 Leclerc +6.956s M 1m37.748s 4 Mercedes 344
5 Russell +15.766s M 1m38.301s 5 Aston Martin 86
6 Hamilton +18.724s M 1m38.372s 6 Haas 38
7 Magnussen +25.161s M 1m38.602s 7 RB 36
8 Hulkenberg +26.588s M 1m38.746s 8 Williams 17
9 Perez +29.950s M 1m38.452s 9 Alpine 13
GALLOWAY/MOTORSPORT IMAGES
10 Piastri +37.059s M 1m37.567s 10 Sauber 0

11 Tsunoda +38.363s M 1m39.136s
QUALIFYING BATTLE
12 Colapinto +39.460s M 1m39.335s
Verstappen 18 1 Perez
13 Stroll +41.236s M 1m39.532s
Hamilton 5 14 Russell
14 Gasly +41.995s M 1m39.438s
Leclerc 12 6 Sainz
15 Ocon +42.804s M 1m38.835s
Leclerc 1 0 Bearman
16 Lawson +44.008s M 1m39.237s
Norris 15 4 Piastri
17 Albon +44.564s M 1m39.198s WEATHER Sunny, air 28-29C track 37-40C Alonso 14 5 Stroll
18 Alonso +46.807s M 1m39.250s Gasly 8 9 Ocon
19 Zhou +52.842s M 1m39.705s WINNER’S AVERAGE SPEED 125.172mph
FASTEST LAP AVERAGE SPEED
Albon 3 0 Colapinto
20 Bottas +54.476s M 1m39.642s 126.532mph Sargeant 0 13 Albon
Ricciardo 5 12 Tsunoda
Zhou 1 17 Bottas
SPEED TRAP (QUALIFYING) Magnussen 3 13 Hulkenberg
Hulkenberg 0 1 Bearman
RB 207.7mph
Red Bull 207.4mph GP qualifying sessions only, not sprints. Events removed
Haas 207.1mph when one driver in a team could not record a representative
lap time for reasons outside their control
Ferrari 207.1mph
Alpine 206.8mph WINS POLE POSITIONS
NEXT RACE
Mercedes 206.5mph Verstappen 7 Verstappen 8
Leclerc 3 Norris 6
McLaren 205.5mph
Norris 3 Leclerc 3
Sauber 205.2mph
27 October Hamilton 2 Russell 2
Williams 205.0mph Piastri 2
Aston Martin 204.3mph
Mexico City GP Russell 1
Mexico City Sainz 1
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STARTING GRID
9 Perez #11 7 Alonso #14 5 Piastri #81 3 Sainz #55 1 Norris #4
no Q3 time 1m33.309s 1m32.950s 1m32.652s 1m32.330s
10 Tsunoda #22 8 Magnussen #20 6 Gasly #10 4 Leclerc #16 2 Verstappen #1

1m33.506s 1m33.481s 1m33.018s 1m32.740s 1m32.361s
GP RESULTS ROUND 19/24 (56 LAPS – 191.63 MILES) LAP CHART

POS DRIVER TEAM FINISH TIME LED TYRES
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
1 Charles Leclerc (MCO) Ferrari 1h35m09.639s 51 Mn, Hn
Hulkenberg
Verstappen
Magnussen
Colapinto
Hamilton
2 Carlos Sainz (ESP) Ferrari +8.562s Mn, Hn
Tsunoda
Lawson
Russell
Leclerc
Alonso
Piastri
Bottas
Norris
Albon
Perez
Stroll
Gasly
Sainz
Ocon
Zhou
3 Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull-Honda RBPT +19.412s Mn, Hn
4 Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren-Mercedes +20.354s 5 Mn, Hn
G 4 1 55 16 81 10 14 20 11 22 27 31 18 23 43 77 44 24 30 63
5 Oscar Piastri (AUS) McLaren-Mercedes +21.921s Mn, Hn
1 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 14 27 44 18 30 24 43 77 23 63 31
6 George Russell (GBR) Mercedes +56.295s Hn, Mn 2 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 14 27 18 30 24 43 77 63 23 31
7 Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull-Honda RBPT +59.072s Mn, Hn 3 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 14 27 18 30 24 43 77 23 63 31
8 Nico Hulkenberg (DEU) Haas-Ferrari +1m02.957s Mn, Hn 4 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 14 27 18 30 24 43 77 63 31 23
9 Liam Lawson (NZL) RB-Honda RBPT +1m10.563s Hn, Mn 5 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 14 27 18 30 24 43 77 63 31 23
6 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 14 27 30 24 43 77 63 31 18 23
10 Franco Colapinto (ARG) Williams-Mercedes +1m11.979s Hn, Mn
7 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 27 14 30 24 43 77 63 31 18 23
11 Kevin Magnussen (DNK) Haas-Ferrari +1m19.782s Mn, Hn, Mn 8 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 27 14 30 24 43 77 63 31 18 23
12 Pierre Gasly (FRA) Alpine-Renault +1m30.558s Mn, Hn 9 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 27 14 30 24 43 77 63 31 18 23
13 Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin-Mercedes -1 lap/+1.726s Mn, Hu 10 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 27 14 30 43 77 63 31 18 23 24
11 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 27 30 14 43 77 63 31 18 23 24
14 Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) RB-Honda RBPT -1 lap/+8.212s Mn, Hn
12 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 27 30 14 43 77 63 31 18 23 24
15 Lance Stroll (CAN) Aston Martin-Mercedes -1 lap/+16.983s Hu, Mn
13 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 27 30 14 43 63 77 31 18 23 24
16 Alexander Albon (THA) Williams-Mercedes -1 lap/+18.092s Mn, Mn, Hn 14 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 27 30 14 63 43 77 31 18 23 24
17 Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Sauber-Ferrari -1 lap/+34.333s Mu, Hn 15 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 27 30 14 63 43 77 31 18 23 24
18 Esteban Ocon (FRA) Alpine-Renault -1 lap/+42.112s Mn, Hn, Su 16 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 22 11 27 30 14 63 43 31 18 23 77 24
17 16 1 55 4 81 10 20 11 22 27 30 63 14 43 31 18 23 77 24
19 Zhou Guanyu (CHN) Sauber-Ferrari -1 lap/+49.240s Mu, Mu, Hn
18 16 1 55 4 81 10 11 27 22 30 63 14 43 31 18 23 20 77 24
R Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1 laps-accident Hn
19 16 1 55 4 81 11 27 30 63 14 43 31 18 23 20 10 22 77 24
WEATHER Sunny, air 29-30C track 43-44C 20 16 1 55 4 81 11 27 30 63 14 43 31 18 23 20 10 22 77 24
WINNER’S AVERAGE SPEED 120.827mph FASTEST LAP AVERAGE SPEED 126.705mph. 21 16 1 55 4 81 11 27 63 30 14 43 31 18 20 23 10 22 77 24
22 16 1 4 81 55 11 27 63 30 43 14 31 20 18 23 10 22 77 24
23 16 1 4 81 55 11 27 63 30 43 14 31 20 18 23 10 22 77 24
FASTEST LAPS RACE BRIEFING 24 16 1 4 81 55 11 27 63 30 43 14 31 20 18 23 10 22 77 24
POS DRIVER TIME GAP LAP 25 16 1 4 81 55 11 27 63 30 43 14 20 31 18 23 10 22 77 24
SPRINT RACE PENALTY
26 16 4 81 55 1 11 27 63 30 43 14 20 31 23 18 10 22 77 24
1 Ocon 1m37.330s - 53 PIASTRI 5s penalty for
27 4 81 16 55 1 27 63 30 43 20 11 31 18 10 23 22 77 14 24
2 Colapinto 1m37.611s +0.281s 46 forcing Gasly off the track
28 4 81 16 55 1 63 30 43 11 20 31 27 10 22 23 77 14 24 18
3 Russell 1m37.656s +0.326s 42 29 4 81 16 55 1 63 30 43 11 20 31 27 10 22 23 77 14 18 24
GP GRID PENALTIES
4 Norris 1m37.679s +0.349s 55 LAWSON required to start from 30 4 81 16 55 1 63 30 43 11 20 31 27 10 22 23 77 14 18 24
5 Sainz 1m37.763s +0.433s 42 the back – additional power 31 4 16 81 55 1 63 30 43 11 20 27 31 10 22 23 77 14 18 24
unit elements used 32 16 81 55 1 4 63 30 43 11 20 27 10 22 23 77 14 31 18 24
6 Leclerc 1m37.834s +0.504s 39
ZHOU five-place penalty – 33 16 55 1 4 81 63 30 43 11 20 27 10 22 23 77 14 31 18 24
7 Piastri 1m37.883s +0.553s 42 additional power unit 34 16 55 1 4 81 63 30 43 11 20 27 10 22 14 77 31 18 24 23
8 Lawson 1m38.091s +0.761s 54 elements used 35 16 55 1 4 81 63 30 43 11 20 27 10 22 14 77 31 18 23 24
9 Verstappen 1m38.117s +0.787s 42 RUSSELL required to start from 36 16 55 1 4 81 63 30 43 11 20 27 10 22 14 77 31 18 23 24
the pitlane – breach of parc ferme 37 16 55 1 4 81 63 11 43 20 27 10 30 22 14 77 31 18 23 24
10 Magnussen 1m38.210s +0.880s 56
conditions 38 16 55 1 4 81 63 11 43 20 27 30 10 22 14 77 31 18 23 24
11 Gasly 1m38.311s +0.981s 55
39 16 55 1 4 81 63 11 43 27 30 10 22 20 14 77 31 18 23 24
12 Hulkenberg 1m38.404s +1.074s 51 GP PENALTIES
40 16 55 1 4 81 63 11 27 30 10 22 43 20 14 77 31 18 23 24
13 Perez 1m38.514s +1.184s 45 RUSSELL 5s penalty for forcing
41 16 55 1 4 81 11 27 63 30 10 43 20 14 22 77 31 18 23 24
Bottas off the track
14 Albon 1m39.084s +1.754s 54 42 16 55 1 4 81 11 27 63 30 10 43 20 14 22 77 31 18 23 24
GASLY and NORRIS 5s penalties
15 Tsunoda 1m39.193s +1.863s 54 43 16 55 1 4 81 11 27 63 30 10 43 20 14 22 77 31 18 23 24
for leaving the track and gaining
44 16 55 1 4 81 11 27 63 30 10 43 20 14 22 77 31 18 23 24
16 Stroll 1m39.214s +1.884s 54 an advantage
TSUNODA 5s penalty for forcing 45 16 55 1 4 81 11 63 27 30 43 10 20 14 22 31 18 77 23 24
17 Alonso 1m39.261s +1.931s 52 46 16 55 1 4 81 11 63 27 30 43 10 20 14 22 31 18 23 77 24
Albon off the track
18 Zhou 1m39.272s +1.942s 53 47 16 55 1 4 81 11 63 27 30 43 20 10 14 22 31 18 23 77 24
19 Bottas 1m40.575s +3.245s 53 48 16 55 1 4 81 11 63 27 30 43 20 10 14 22 31 18 23 77 24
49 16 55 1 4 81 11 63 27 30 43 20 10 14 22 31 18 23 77 24
20 Hamilton no time - -
50 16 55 1 4 81 11 63 27 30 43 20 10 14 22 31 18 23 77 24
51 16 55 1 4 81 11 63 27 30 43 20 10 14 22 31 18 23 77 24
52 16 55 4 1 81 11 63 27 30 43 20 10 14 22 18 23 77 31 24
TYRES 53 16 55 4 1 81 11 63 27 30 43 20 10 14 22 18 23 77 31 24
54 16 55 4 1 81 11 63 27 30 43 20 10 14 22 18 23 77 31 24
KEY: H - Hard M - Medium S - Soft I - Intermediate W - Wet n - New set u - Used set
55 16 55 4 1 81 63 11 27 30 43 20 10 14 22 18 23 77 31 24
HARD MEDIUM SOFT
56 16 55 4 1 81 63 11 27 30 43 20 10
KEY: 1 Classification 1 Lap number 3 Safety car lap

G Starting grid 24 Lapped 23 Pit entry
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 INTERMEDIATE WET
63 Overtook 23 Overtaken Retirement
UNITED STATES GP
DRIVER RATINGS
F1 returnee Lawson completes a high-scoring quartet alongside the Ferrari
duo and the reigning world champion, while Hamilton brings up the rear
J A K E B OX A L L- L E G G E
RED BULL MERCEDES FERRARI
M AX VE RSTA P P E N S ER G IO PE RE Z L E W I S H AM I LTO N G E OR G E R USS E L L C H A RL ES L EC L ER C CA RLO S S A I NZ
Started 2nd ------------ Result 3rd Started 9th -------------- Result 7th Started 17th ------------------ Result R Started 20th --------- Result 6th Started 4th --------------- Result 1st Started 3rd ------------ Result 2nd
9 4 2 6 9 9
Almost Didn’t get full Poor luck or Weekend of If this was purely Got boxed in on
impenetrable suite of Red Bull poor driving? wildly different on the race, it’d opening lap, so
defence against upgrades, but Probably both. fortunes. be a 10 – but could not enjoy
Norris eventually still a below-par Up to 12th by Qualifying crash conservatism same fortune
paid off. Race day showing. Lost Q3 lap end of first lap, but sloppy to force pitlane in sprint and fourth as Leclerc. Battled
performance tailed off good enough for in the gravel by end start, but he worked on grid costs a point. through power unit
versus sprint, and eighth through track of second lap in perfectly with strategy Otherwise, decisive issues to keep tabs
overcommitment limits, and made largely unforced error. in race. Made progress into Turn 1 and built on Verstappen, and
against Norris at heavy weather of Had “no grip” in Q1 with overtakes, commanding lead off exploited undercut to
Turn 1 cost lead. Car passing Tsunoda and elimination, suffered enjoyed benefits of the back of that. Lost emerge ahead after
positioning was good, Colapinto. Caught with graining in the contra-strategy, and a smidgen of time to stops. Perfectly judged
but probably over- and passed by Russell sprint, and felt sprint capped it off with Sainz on hard-tyre tyre life in sprint, and
extended in final at the end, having pole went begging Perez pass. Hit with stint, but knew tyre forced Norris into an
showdown. Looked shipped over 30 with yellow flag. A five-second penalty advantage would error with last-lap
unassailable in sprint. seconds to top five. nightmarish weekend. for forcing Bottas off. pay off at the end. pressure at Turn 1.
McLAREN ASTON MARTIN ALPINE
LA N DO N OR R IS O S CA R PI A ST R I F E R N A ND O ALO N S O LA NC E STR O L L P I ERRE GA SLY E STEB A N O CO N
Started 1st ---------------- Result 4th Started 5th -------------- Result 5th Started 7th -------- Result 13th Started 13th --- Result 15th Started 6th -------- Result 12th Started 12th --- Result 18th
8 6 5 4 6 5
Did he defend Couldn’t find Reaching Q3 An anonymous Stellar in Scarcely had
hard enough same magic was better weekend. Passed qualifying. chance to shine
at Turn 1, and on hard tyres than expected by Lawson on Looked lively after Turn 1
should he have that let Norris having missed outside at Turn 6 in opening stint collision with
given Verstappen the challenge Verstappen. out in sprint, but and then went into preserving sixth place. Albon. Ended up at
place back? Hard tyre Didn’t hit car’s race pace was lacking the gravel to lose Reckoned Alpine was the back. Was severely
pace was electric and maximum in and he dropped further places. duped by Haas into compromised and
put him in podium qualifying, and had through the order. Defence against Albon pitting early for hards. couldn’t take medium
contention and fierce solid if unspectacular Lost three places at was good, particularly Pace evaporated on tyres any deeper into
battle with title rival. race running on his start after getting in Turn 14-15, but did second stint in phase the race. Snatched
Last-lap sprint-race own. SQ1 elimination boxed in, and then little else of note. where medium was fastest lap point from
lock–up cost second to through track limits lost places to a Haas, Made Q2 by the skin better. Hit with Colapinto at the end
Sainz after acing start. and sprint penalty for RB and Williams to of his teeth, although five-second penalty on softs. Behind Gasly
Reckoned qualifying forcing Gasly off were show Aston’s alarming car regression is for passing Albon all weekend, but had
lap was “perfect”. avoidable errors. lack of form. mostly to blame. off-track. been sans upgrades.
Starting from the back

didn’t stop Lawson making
a points-bagging splash
GALLOWAY/MOTORSPORT IMAGES
WILLIAMS RB SAUBER
A L E X A L BO N F RA N CO CO LA P IN TO YUK I TS U NO DA L I AM LA W S O N ZH O U G UA NYU VA LT TE RI BOT TA S
Started 14th --- Result 16th Started 15th --- Result 10th Started 10th --- Result 14th Started 19th --------- Result 9th Started 18th --- Result 19th Started 16th ---- Result 17th
4 8 5 9 3 5
Not much Lost a place at Impressive A 60-place grid Saved from Outqualified
of a way to start, but grew start lifted him penalty didn’t starting last by Hamilton,
celebrate 100 into the race to eighth, and deny him Lawson penalties so that’s
races. Fluffed on alternative soaked up Perez chance to and Russell something.
sprint qualifying with strategy. Defended attack for 16 laps. make statement in pitlane start. Made Performed as
Turn 19 spin, and well from Perez before Medium-hard strategy qualifying, with third up some ground in expected in 2024
dropped out in Q1. wisely ceding position didn’t work out versus fastest in Q1. Made up opening laps thanks grid’s worst car, and
Largely had nowhere when it started to hurt Lawson’s hard- six places in opening to chaos ahead, but late strategy switch
to go in Ocon Turn 1 his tyres. Employed medium, frustration two laps, and long undid good work to one-stopper forced
clash, which forced a medium tyre offset to leading to Turn 1 spin opening stint on hard with Turn 1 spin after a 40-lap stint on
two-stopper and left clear Gasly and broke while on cusp of top tyres helped overcut carrying too much hard tyre. Lucky to
him out to dry. Not into top 10. SQ3 10. Sprint race defence Tsunoda. Dispatch of speed uphill. Unable make qualifying after
aggressive enough appearance also versus Perez similarly Gasly vital for points to recover from there, brake fire at end of
in battle with Stroll noteworthy, even if he stout, but ultimately finish. Bullied Alonso suffering tyre drop-off sprint forced repairs
and Gasly. did overcook his tyres. came to nought. with lap 11 pass. in middle stint. in the break.
HAAS TO P 1 0 AV ERAGE RATINGS
AU TOS P ORT ’S RA N KI N G AF T E R RO U ND 1 9 * RE A DE RS’ RA N KI NG AF TE R RO U ND 1 9 *

* Excludes Ollie Bearman (9.5), Colapinto (8.5) * Excludes Bearman (9.0), Colapinto (8.5)
and Lawson (9.0) and Lawson (8.8)
8.0 GIVE YOUR

DRIVER RATI
KE V I N MAGNUSSE N N ICO H U L K EN BE R G
NGS
Started 8th --------- Result 11th Started 11th --------- Result 8th autospor t
.com
8 7
7.0 driver-rati /f1/
Made up a place Got better of two ng s
on Hulkenberg Haas strategies,
in sprint despite as one-stop paid
running older- off. Dispatched
spec car before parc Alonso after safety 6.0
ferme reopened, and car, and going long
outqualified team- ensured his undercut
mate to break into Q3. was untroubled by
Looked good value for Gasly. Sixth on sprint
Norris 8.0
Verstappen 7.8
Leclerc 7.8
Piastri 7.5
Russell 7.3
Sainz 6.8
Hulkenberg 6.3
Gasly 6.1
Albon 5.9
Norris 8.0
Leclerc 7.7
Verstappen 7.6
Piastri 7.5
Sainz 7.1
top-10 result, but two-

Russell 6.9
Hulkenberg 6.7
Hamilton 6.3
Alonso 6.1
Albon 6.1
Hamilton 6.2
grid was exceptional,

stopper took points but a poor start forced
chance away. Defence him into battling
against Tsunoda and Tsunoda to score.
racecraft in second Lock-up on final Q2 lap
stint very impressive. cost a top-10 berth.
R A C E C E N T R E W R C C E N T R A L E U R O P E A N R A L LY
Tanak delays
Neuville’s coronation
The Belgian must wait until the final round in Japan to become champion
as his Hyundai team-mate kept his own slim title hopes alive
TOM HOWARD
PHOTOGRAPHY McKLEIN
n tennis terms the Central European Rally

represented the first real match point moment for
I Thierry Neuville in his relentless 12-year quest to lift
the World Rally Championship title. The scene was
set perfectly. An asphalt rally where being first on
the road is an advantage, featuring stages in Germany not a million
miles from his and his Hyundai team’s home. But one thing that
the WRC can guarantee in spades this season is unpredictability.
As has often been the case for Neuville – a five-time
championship runner-up – the Belgian was made to wait for glory
again as fate intervened while on course for a career-defining
moment. Neuville only needed to outscore team-mate Ott Tanak
by two points to seal rallying’s ultimate prize. But after a wild
Sunday, during which even world champions made errors, it
was his nearest rival that triumphed to take the title fight to
next month’s Japan finale. had previously struggled to tame the i20 N on asphalt, come to the
“Obviously we came here with the hopes of winning the fore. A decision to go his own way on set-up rather than following
drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles in Germany, and a lot of supporters Neuville and Tanak helped the Norwegian, facing an uncertain
came down to line the stages to live an incredible moment with future for 2025, come alive.
us, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be,” said Neuville. But Mikkelsen’s bright start faded by stage five. Having dropped
The phrase ‘it wasn’t to be’ was apt for several drivers as the to sixth overall, he drifted wide on the leaf-covered road and
Central European Rally was, in the words of eventual winner clattered a fence that tore the front from his i20 N, resulting in
Tanak, “very demanding”. It was demanding on several levels, retirement. Mikkelsen did rejoin the rally on Saturday, only for
with crews completing stages in the Czech Republic, Germany a puncture to end any hopes of Super Sunday points.
and Austria. Throw in multiple surface changes, unpredictable By stage four, nearly half of the Rally1 cars had suffered hybrid
weather and increasingly dirty roads and you have the perfect failures. Toyota’s rising star Sami Pajari, making his first Rally1
recipe for a challenging event. outing on asphalt driving a fourth GR Yaris, was the first to lose
The start was, however, predictable as Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier the hybrid boost before Mikkelsen and the M-Sport duo Adrien
ended Thursday’s two Czech stages following the ceremonial start Fourmaux and Gregoire Munster lost the use of hybrid following
in Prague with a 0.9-second lead over Neuville. The surprise was particularly hard landings from the same jump in Strasin 1, the
the driver in third spot as Hyundai’s Andreas Mikkelsen, who longest stage of the rally at 16.6 miles.
Evans ended up as Neuville’s wait will

top Toyota driver go on for at least
in second spot one more month
Tanak kept clear
of trouble for his 21st
WRC victory, taking the
title fight to Japan
next month
“We came here with the

hopes of winning the titles in
Germany, but it was not to be”
The lack of hybrid was the least of Fourmaux’s concerns, the
Frenchman strangely 1m33.4s off the pace in seventh overall
come the end of Friday. Frustrated, he declared that he was
struggling with “everything” on the car and that “something
was wrong”, which required a thorough investigation.
At the front, Neuville – who has had to engage damage Katsuta returned
limitation mode starting first on the road for the last seven and scored useful
consecutive gravel rallies – was thriving with the road position points for Toyota
advantage on asphalt. The Hyundai hauled itself into the rally
lead by the end of stage five before going on to extend Neuville’s
lead over Ogier to 6.4s on slippery roads that were hard to judge, Tanak’s effort briefly elevated his i20 N to second ahead of Ogier
made even worse by light drizzle. With Tanak a further 1.4s back before the Estonian dropped his pace too much in stage 10 and fell
in third and Toyota’s Elfyn Evans only 15.1s in arrears, the battle back behind the Toyota that was only 2s adrift of leader Neuville.
for victory was tight, but Neuville knew if he could maintain this The 2024-spec Neuville has rarely made an error, a loss of
display the world title would be his come Sunday. concentration in Sardinia being his only real mistake. It’s why
But the rally gods chose not to shine on Neuville on Saturday he is leading the championship, having scored points in every
as fog made the morning stages that straddled the Germany/ round. However, in stage 12, he made two mistakes. A 360-degree
Austria border wet, and like driving on ice. The conditions spin after touching the wet grass was recovered quickly, but
were responsible for several drivers making unscheduled moments later he careered off the road, luckily onto a large
trips to the scenery, including Neuville. grass run-off area. In an effort to return to the road, he became
Neuville’s lead had been reduced to 0.5s after Tanak produced briefly stuck in a ditch. More than half a minute was lost as
a stunning time to win stage nine but, according to the 2019 world he dropped to fourth and effectively his hopes of sealing the
champion, “Cyril [Abiteboul, Hyundai team boss] didn’t like our world title evaporated.
first stage time and we started to get some messages”. Abiteboul “It was a long corner and you don’t see the exit very well because
clarified these were made with the manufacturers’ title fight with it is uphill and when I entered the corner, it turned more than my
Toyota in mind, reminding Tanak of the risks he should avoid. pacenotes told me,” explained Neuville.
Ogier flew before
infuriating himself
with a late error
Now resigned to bringing the car home, Neuville wasn’t the only
driver to be caught out. Ogier, who inherited the lead, survived “I feel angry with myself in the
a small moment, but admitted “it was easy to make a mistake”,
while M-Sport duo Fourmaux and Munster both enjoyed trips into
moment and I’m very sorry for
fields, now with working hybrid units. Fourmaux’s was the most
spectacular as he skidded onto the grass and brushed the trees.
the team, I tried my best”
However, the mysterious issue with his car came to light. M-Sport
had made wholesale changes overnight but didn’t change the front cutting this year had been praised by the drivers earlier in
differential, which had developed a fault that effectively changed the event, but conditions were evolving fast in the opposite
the Puma to a rear-wheel-drive-only version. His day came to an direction for the leading runners.
end when he lost the rear in stage 10. This would prove to be the downfall of rally leader Ogier
The battle for the rally victory turned into a three-way fight. as the eight-time world champion made costly mistakes for the
Tanak reduced Ogier’s advantage to 1.1s after stage 12 before Ogier third event in succession. He lost the rally lead in the first pass
reeled off two stage wins to end the day with a slender 5.2s margin, through Am Hochwald, where he misjudged the braking at a
while an under-the-weather Evans was third, 14.0s in arrears. It junction and ran onto the grass, handing a 1.9s advantage to
was looking very good for Toyota in the manufacturers’ battle, Tanak. This gap was reduced to 1.5s before the second pass
with Ogier picking up 18 provisional Saturday points and Evans 13. that proved even more damaging. Six hundred metres into the
The WRC’s new points system is complex and divides opinion, penultimate stage of the rally, Ogier was caught out on the dirt
but it has certainly ensured that Sundays are no longer sedate at a fast right and clattered into the trees.
affairs – a conveyor belt of action and chaos is a better description Normally a master of controlling his emotions, Ogier let out
as crews fight for 12 crucial Super Sunday points. screams of anger as he clambered from the car. It was the only
Hyundai has been the master of this new discipline, while it stage where route note crews were not allowed to pass to provide
has been a weakness for Toyota. The latter proved true again as up-to-date road evolution information to the drivers. “I feel angry
another ‘black Sunday’, as Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala with myself in the moment and I’m very sorry for the team, I tried
calls them, unfolded. First Toyota lost Pajari, who had been highly my best,” said Ogier. “It was really my main target to help them
impressive to head into Sunday sitting the top six. However, the achieve the manufacturers’ title.”
young Finn came into a left-hander in stage 15 too fast, resulting With the shockwaves caused by Ogier’s accident, Abiteboul
in his GR Yaris finding a ditch and being pitched into a roll. once again reminded Tanak of what was at stake and his driver
With every pass, the stage became increasing dirty, aided by the duly delivered a steady Power Stage time, missing out on the
placement of anti-cut devices or the lack thereof. Efforts to curb bonus points, to seal a 21st WRC victory and perhaps one of
the toughest of his career.
“It is never easy but I’m happy to come out without
mistakes,” said Tanak, who took the victory by 7s from
Evans, with Neuville third.
The returning Takamoto Katsuta, benched for Rally Chile,
finished fourth but impressed throughout and proved to be a
life-saver for Toyota after claiming the maximum 12 Super Sunday
points. Despite Ogier’s late exit, Toyota actually decreased
Hyundai’s lead in the manufacturers’ title race to 15 ahead of the
Japanese finale, but it could have been even closer.
For Neuville, it wasn’t the title coronation
he’d dreamed of, but he will take a 25-point
NEXT REPORT
lead over Tanak into the decider. The WRC
title battle is most certainly not over, but
Title-fighting Hyundai it’s very much a case of championship point Rally Japan
crews joined by Martin to Neuville. One thing that is for certain: a 28 November
and Evans on podium Hyundai driver will win the championship
issue
for the first time.
W R C C E N T R A L E U R O P E A N R A L LY R A C E C E N T R E
RESULTS WRC ROUND 12/13, CENTRAL EUROPEAN RALLY, 17-20 OCTOBER

POS DRIVER / CO-DRIVER TEAM / CAR TIME
GRYAZIN AGAIN AS WRC2
1 Ott Tanak (EST) Martin Jarveoja (EST) Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT / Hyundai i20 N Rally1 2h37m34.6s
TITLE FIGHT NEARS CLIMAX
2 Elfyn Evans (GBR) Scott Martin (GBR) Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT / Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +7.0s
3 Thierry Neuville (BEL) Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL) Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT / Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +39.8s
4 Takamoto Katsuta (JPN) Aaron Johnston (GBR) Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT / Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +1m21.0s
5 Gregoire Munster (LUX) Louis Louka (BEL) M-Sport Ford World Rally Team / Ford Puma Rally1 +3m41.9s
Nikolay Gryazin (RUS)

6 DG Sport Competition / Citroen C3 Rally2 +9m17.6s
Konstantin Aleksandrov (RUS)
7 Oliver Solberg (SWE) Elliott Edmondson (GBR) Toksport WRT 2 / Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 +9m34.1s
8 Filip Mares (CZE) Radovan Bucha (CZE) ACCR Toyota Dolak / Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 +11m41.5s
Mikolaj Marczyk (POL)

9 privateer / Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 +12m10.6s
Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL)
Kajetan Kajetanowicz (POL)

10 Orlen Rally Team / Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 +12m20.3s
Maciek Szczepaniak (POL)
OTHERS
The WRC2 title will either be won by Sami 20 Jourdan Serderidis (GRC) Frederic Miclotte (BEL) M-Sport Ford World Rally Team / Ford Puma Rally1 +22m10.6s
Pajari or Oliver Solberg after Yohan Rossel’s
31 Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR) Torstein Eriksen (NOR) Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT / Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +43m20.0s
hopes faded away in dramatic fashion at the
Central European Rally. Rossel required a 32 Adrien Fourmaux (FRA) Alexandre Coria (FRA) M-Sport Ford World Rally Team / Ford Puma Rally1 +47m45.1s
victory to keep his title bid alive, but only R Sami Pajari (FIN) Enni Malkonen (FIN) Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT / Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 SS15-accident
after last month’s Chile win was finally
R Sebastien Ogier (FRA) Vincent Landais (FRA) Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT / Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 SS17-accident
rubber-stamped following a stewards’
hearing on the eve of the rally.
An FIA petition led by the world STAGE TIMES
motorsport governing body’s road sport STAGE FASTEST LEADER SECOND
director Andrew Wheatley prompted Rally SS1 SSS Velka Chuchle (1.58 miles) Ogier 1m49.3s Ogier Katsuta +0.6s
Chile stewards to review a protest from
SS2 Klatovy 1 (7.32 miles) Neuville 6m00.2s Ogier Neuville +0.9s
Solberg’s Toksport Skoda team over a
notional time issued to Rossel that helped SS3 Klatovy 2 (7.32 miles) Ogier 5m54.0s Ogier Neuville +3.2s
him to victory. Although new evidence,
SS4 Strasin 1 (16.58 miles) Evans 13m25.6s Ogier Neuville +0.3s
not available for the original hearing, was
examined, the petition was dismissed. SS5 Sumavske Hostice 1 (10.47 miles) Tanak 9m24.5s Neuville Ogier +2.7s
While the stewards’ hearing went in SS6 Klatovy 3 (7.32 miles) Katsuta 5m47.8s Neuville Ogier +3.3s
Rossel’s favour, the start of the rally didn’t
SS7 Strasin 2 (16.58 miles) Neuville 12m59.0s Neuville Ogier +6.9s
as his victory bid was derailed on stage two.
Rossel was fortunate to get away with a wild SS8 Sumavske Hostice 2 (10.47 miles) Ogier 9m12.5s Neuville Ogier +6.4s
brush with a bank that pitched his Citroen SS9 Granit und Wald 1 (12.46 miles) Tanak 10m51.8s Neuville Tanak +0.5s
C3 Rally2 onto two wheels. A roll was
SS10 Beyond Borders 1 (15.12 miles) Evans 12m50.2s Neuville Ogier +2.0s
avoided but damage to his right-rear wheel
cost him 32.5 seconds. Rossel recovered t SS11 Schardinger Innviertel 1 (10.78 miles) Ogier 9m23.8s Ogier Tanak +4.5s
o fifth before two off-road excursions on SS12 Granit und Wald 2 (12.46 miles) Tanak 10m34.8s Ogier Tanak +1.1s
Saturday resulted in a loss of more than
14 minutes, leaving him outside the top 10. SS13 Beyond Borders 2 (15.12 miles) Ogier 12m33.6s Ogier Tanak +4.1s
The rally was won by his Citroen SS14 Schardinger Innviertel 2 (10.78 miles) Ogier 9m03.5s Ogier Tanak +5.2s
team-mate Nikolay Gryazin (above),
SS15 Am Hochwald 1 (7.56 miles) Fourmaux 6m09.2s Tanak Ogier +1.9s
who delivered a commanding victory
after taking the lead on stage four. Gryazin SS16 Passauer Land 1 (9.24 miles) Katsuta 7m24.1s Tanak Ogier +1.5s
took his second win of 2024 by 2m23.9s SS17 Am Hochwald 2 (7.56 miles) Evans 6m09.4s Tanak Evans +9.4s
from Filip Mares, with Miko Marczyk third.
SS18 Passauer Land 2 (Power Stage) (9.24 miles) Katsuta 7m22.3s Tanak Evans +7.0s
Title contender Solberg survived two
trips to the grass run-off to finish second
DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
on the road in the Rally2 class, 16.5s behind
1 Neuville 225; 2 Tanak 200;
Gryazin, but the Swede wasn’t registered
3 Evans 185; 4 Ogier 166;
for WRC2, having already completed his
5 Fourmaux 146; 6 Kalle Rovanpera
seven points-scoring rounds in Chile.
(Toyota) 114; 7 Katsuta 102;
Solberg could still lift the crown if Pajari
8 Dani Sordo (Hyundai) 44;
doesn’t finish either first or second in 9 Pajari 41; 10 Munster 37.
November’s Rally Japan finale. “In the title WRC2 1 Solberg 123; 2 Yohan Rossel
fight I do feel a little bit more positive,” said (Citroen) 111; 3 Pajari108.
Solberg, who will follow events in Japan
from home. “Normally when I watch, it MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
goes good for my competitors, so maybe 1 Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT 526;
I will disappear somewhere!” 2 Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT 511;
3 M-Sport Ford World Rally Team 267.
Nicolas
Lapierre’s Cool
Racing team became
the only two-time
winner in the 2024
season
JEP
Cool finale as ELMS titles run to the wire in Portugal
EUROPEAN LE MANS SERIES Robert Kubica and Louis Deletraz. the Polish-flagged squad behind AO by TF
ALGARVE CIRCUIT (PRT) That second place for the Tom Ferrier- – a setback they would not overcome.
19 OCTOBER led squad was enough for Edgar, Kubica Championships in all three remaining
ROUND 6/6 and Deletraz to be crowned champions as classes were also decided at Portimao, each
nearest rival Inter Europol Competition in decidedly dramatic fashion. AF Corse
Lorenzo Fluxa, Ritomo Miyata and finished fourth. The title is Edgar’s first in successfully retained its crown in LMP2
Malthe Jakobsen stood tall in the 4 Hours endurance racing since making the switch Pro-Am after a bold strategic attempt at an
of Portimao, the European Le Mans Series from single-seaters, it’s a third for Kubica upset from Algarve Pro Racing was only
season finale. In a grandstand conclusion and a fourth for Deletraz in four years. Also, foiled on the last lap. APR’s Alex Quinn
to a tightly contested season, two of the it marked a second consecutive success for tried to significantly extend his final fuel
championship battles were decided on Kubica and Deletraz together after they stint to grab the class win that would have
the very last lap of the race. claimed the final LMP2 title in the World landed them a shock title. However, Quinn
It says much about the unpredictable Endurance Championship last year. was overtaken by Proton Competition’s
nature of LMP2 this season that the Cool Inter Europol, meanwhile, was left Bent Viscaal on the final lap, which in
Racing trio became the first repeat overall disillusioned by the outcome of the finale, turn gave AF Corse the crucial two-point
winners, having also claimed the Barcelona pointing to an improper 10-second pitstop advantage to seal the title with fourth place.
season opener back in April. Here, a penalty as key to their defeat. It was The Italian squad was put in that position
United Autosports drive-through penalty initially handed to Sebastian Alvarez, Tom thanks to the efforts of Matthieu Vaxiviere,
for contact with Panis Racing gifted them Dillmann and Vlad Lomko for an alleged who had fought his way past Richard Mille
the lead. Miyata and then Jakobsen did not Virtual Safety Car infringement. That was by TDS’s Mathias Beche in a battle that had
relinquish it, the car finishing 2.5 seconds eventually rescinded, but only after it had seen the two repeatedly come to blows.
up on the AO by TF ORECA of Jonny Edgar, already been served. This, crucially, put Even more dramatic was the conclusion
to the LMGT3 championship battle, which
wasn’t decided until the very final corner.
Iron Lynx Lambo won
It was only then that Iron Lynx driver
LMGT3 crown after late
gift from the Dames
Andrea Caldarelli passed Iron Dames’
Michelle Gatting for the lead, in a move
that looked like it might have been
orchestrated. That was because the
scenario played out in such a way that
Caldarelli, Hiroshi Hamaguchi and Axcil
Jefferies required a win to deny fifth-placed
Kessel Racing the title.
In LMP3, meanwhile, a late-race charge
meant RLR M Sport driver Gael Julien
rose past both of his direct championship
rivals from Eurointernational and Team
Virage to finish second behind outgoing
champion Cool Racing, securing the
title for himself, Michael Jensen and
Nick Adcock in the process.
JEP
DAVEY EUWEMA
WORLD OF SPORT RACE CENTRE
Bortolotti seals Roar emotion: Mirko

Bortolotti lets rip
DTM crown
after wobble
DTM
HOCKENHEIM (DEU)
19-20 OCTOBER
ROUND 8/8
Factory Lamborghini driver Mirko

Bortolotti clinched his maiden DTM
title with a fifth and a second-place
finish in the Hockenheim decider.
GRUPPE C GMBH/DTM
Having missed out on the crown in both

2022 and 2023, the Italian finally claimed WEEKEND WINNERS
the big prize at the third time of asking
after outgunning Kelvin van der Linde EUROPEAN LE MANS SERIES
and Maro Engel in a three-way fight. ALGARVE CIRCUIT (PRT)
Bortolotti arrived at the former LMP2 Lorenzo Fluxa/Ritomo Miyata/
Malthe Jakobsen
German Grand Prix venue with a Qualifying again proved to be the key
Cool Racing (ORECA 07)
healthy 15-point lead in the standings, on Sunday, with Bortolotti leading a LMP2 Pro-Am Giorgio Roda/Rene Binder/
but his advantage was overturned by van front-row lockout for SSR Performance Bent Viscaal
der Linde in the opening leg. The South and van der Linde struggling to fifth Proton (ORECA 07)
LMGT3 Andrea Caldarelli/Hiroshi
African, representing Abt Sportsline on in an effective role reversal between
Hamaguchi/Axcil Jefferies
its final weekend with Audi, claimed the pair. This already put Bortolotti Iron Lynx (Lamborghini
pole position by two tenths of a second back in front in the title race, but Huracan GT3 EVO2)
and then set about converting that the championship was essentially LMP3 Miguel Cristovao/
into a third race win of the season. decided in his favour when van der Manuel Espirito Santo
Cool Racing (Ligier JSP320)
A resurgent Lucas Auer in the Winward Linde dropped to 11th on a disastrous
Mercedes kept him honest throughout opening lap due to what he described DTM
the race, even leapfrogging him in as a lack of grip. Handicapped by 20kg HOCKENHEIM (DEU)
the pits with an overcut, but van of success ballast, the 28-year-old was Race 1 Kelvin van der Linde
Abt Sportsline (Audi R8 LMS Evo II)
der Linde was able to strike back never really in a position to fight his Race 2 Luca Engstler
at Turn 2 to reclaim the lead. way back to the front and would go Grasser Racing (Lamborghini
Bortolotti, meanwhile, climbed up on to slip further back to 12th. Huracan GT3 EVO2)
to fourth on the opening lap, having Aware that his chief rival wasn’t in
LE MANS CUP
qualified a frustrated seventh in his the reckoning, Bortolotti played it safe
ALGARVE CIRCUIT (PRT)
SSR Performance Lamborghini. But in the race, staying out until lap 19 of Audunn Gudmundsson/Colin Noble
in the second stint, Auer’s Winward 37 before completing his stop. That Team Thor (Ligier JSP320)
team-mate Engel barged his way past allowed the similar Lamborghini of
INTERNATIONAL GT OPEN
at Turn 8, sending Bortolotti wide off Luca Engstler to come through on tyres
MONZA (ITA)
the track. With van der Linde going that were already up to temperature James Kell/Dean Macdonald
on to win the race over Auer, the Abt and snatch the lead from him, before Greystone GT (McLaren 720S GT3 Evo)
driver was able to take a two-point streaking away by two seconds. The
lead in the standings at the mid-point 34-year-old came back at Engstler in the NASCAR CUP
LAS VEGAS (USA)
of the season’s final weekend. final quarter of the race and put him Joey Logano
under real pressure for the lead, but Team Penske (Ford Mustang)
GRUPPE C GMBH/DTM
Luca Engstler won the the German held his nerve to clinch
POWERED BY
final DTM race of 2024 his first victory since the Oschersleben
opener. However, the job was done
for Bortolotti, who celebrated his first
championship success in any category For full results visit motorsportstats.com
since his triumph in what was then
known as the Blancpain GT Series
Endurance Cup in 2017. having been compromised by an
Behind Engstler and Bortolotti, overnight Balance of Performance
Rene Rast crossed the line in third adjustment. But that was enough for
to help Schubert BMW secure the his employer Mercedes to clinch the
teams’ title. Engel finished way manufacturers’ championship as all
back in 10th in the last of the three titles went to different brands.
championship-contending cars, RACHIT THUKRAL
Safety car helps
SARD Toyota end
winless streak
ENDO/MOTORSPORT IMAGES
SUPER GT Luck played a hand
AUTOPOLIS (JPN) as SARD won for first
20 OCTOBER time in four years
ROUND 6/8
The SARD Toyota team ended a four-year the #23 Nissan Z from Katsumasa Chiyo, WEEKEND WINNERS
win drought as Yuhi Sekiguchi and Yuichi who had experienced two leads of more
Nakayama took advantage of a well-timed than 15 seconds wiped out by the first two
SUPER GT
safety car period to win at Autopolis. safety cars, when the caution was called, AUTOPOLIS (JPN)
In an eventful three-hour race featuring dropping him behind Nakayama. Yuhi Sekiguchi/Yuichi Nakayama
four caution periods, the Toyota GR Supra The SARD driver then pulled away to the SARD (Toyota GR Supra)
rose from 10th on the grid to score an tune of nine seconds before the final safety
TCR WORLD TOUR
unlikely victory. Sekiguchi charged up to car period that effectively ended the race. ZHUZHOU (CHN)
fourth in the opening stint, but the key Behind Chiyo and Quintarelli, the sister Race 1 Mikel Azcona
to SARD’s win was the third safety car NISMO car of Mitsunori Takaboshi and BRC Racing (Hyundai Elantra N)
interlude that came just as Nakayama Atsushi Miyake was third thanks to a late Race 2 Ma Qing Hua
Cyan Racing (Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR)
exited the pits after his final stop. pass by Miyake on Naoki Yamamoto’s
POWERED BY
Sekiguchi had handed over to Nakayama Team Kunimitsu Honda Civic Type R-GT.
at the first stops, while main rivals, led TOM’S Toyota pair Sho Tsuboi and Kenta
by the #23 NISMO Nissan, all had driver Yamashita finished seventh to take a
changes to complete in the second stops. two-point lead into the final two races. For full results visit motorsportstats.com
Ronnie Quintarelli had just taken over JAMIE KLEIN
Ma Qing Hua beat

Girolami in race two
WSC/JUN QIAN
Azcona breaks duck as Ma lands popular home win

TCR WORLD TOUR with rain arriving and then getting heavier harried the Argentinian the whole race.
ZHUZHOU (CHN) throughout. Urrutia, who is not in title The Chinese driver then made his move
19-20 OCTOBER contention, immediately let his team-mates on the final lap with an aggressive pass
ROUND 6/7 past, but it was soon clear the Hyundai at Turn 4 to claim a popular home win.
of Azcona had better pace in the wet. Rob Huff finished ninth and seventh,
Mikel Azcona claimed his first win of the Azcona overtook all three Lynk & Cos recovering from a pair of 15th-place
season in the first TCR World Tour race and built a seven-second lead. The 2022 starts after he was blocked in qualifying.
held in China at the Zhuzhou circuit, world champion then claimed a long Huff was treating the weekend as a
while Ma Qing Hua claimed a crowd- overdue first victory of the season and familiarisation session with the Volcano
pleasing first victory on home soil with put himself back in title contention. Motorsport Audi team ahead of Macau.
a last-lap pass on Nestor Girolami. Second was the Honda of Esteban With points leader Norbert Michelisz
The Lynk & Co Cyan Racing team Guerrieri, who capitalised on the slow having a conservative weekend,
looked set to dominate after Santiago wet pace of the Lynk & Cos, passing both finishing seventh and eighth, the
Urrutia led a 1-2-3 lockout in qualifying, Ehrlacher and Bjork with a daring move Hungarian’s lead is just 10 points
with team-mates Thed Bjork and Yann at Turn 3 with four laps remaining. over Guerrieri, with seven drivers in
Ehrlacher right behind. In the second race, Hyundai’s Girolami contention going to the Macau finale.
The weather changed before the race, started from pole, while Ma’s Lynk & Co NEIL HUDSON
RACE CENTRE WORLD OF SPORT
Marquez overcomes his own hurdles

MOTOGP Martin grabbed a stunning pole by over on the way into the third turn was a source
PHILLIP ISLAND (AUS) half a second. Even Marquez was unsure of mystery even to him. Yes, there were
20 OCTOBER of his chances as he pulled up next to the mistakes up ahead, but even a slow-motion
ROUND 17/20 points leader ahead of the green lights on replay doesn’t quite reveal the sorcery
Sunday. Which was the moment he decided by which he surged through the pack.
By his own admission, Marc Marquez is to remove a tear-off. A necessary breach If nothing else, it was a masterpiece
a master of making his life difficult. But of etiquette, he explained, because a “big of track positioning.
if he can still win despite the obstacles insect” had met its end in the middle of his Crucially, leader Martin wasn’t pushing
he threw into his own path – literally – visor. In keeping with the Marquez script, to make a break in a long race for which
in Australia, then heaven help his rivals the tear-off couldn’t just disappear on the the field had little tyre information. So
when he steps up from a year-old Gresini stiff breeze. No, it had to settle under his by the time Marquez sailed past Franco
Ducati to the factory bike in 2025. bike, and then, after frantic efforts while Morbidelli’s Ducati for third on lap six
After exploring various methods for the last riders took their places, under his of 27, Martin was less than two seconds
missing out on the front row of late, rear tyre. A staggering piece of bad luck no ahead. It was very much game on.
the Spaniard finally nailed qualifying. traction control system was going to handle. Francesco Bagnaia and Marquez stayed
That there was zero dry practice outside Marquez had to live with it, inevitably together, just behind Martin, and on lap 12
the timed sessions played right into his taking off in a cloud of smoke and we were treated to an increasingly rare
hands. That’s because Marquez, like Pramac wheelspin. He was 13th entering the wheel-to-wheel battle among MotoGP’s chief
Ducati’s Jorge Martin, can find the limit first corner, his chances seemingly shot. protagonists. Bagnaia swept past Martin
right out of the box – a decisive factor as FP1 Just how the eight-time world champion at Stoner, only for Martin to muscle back
was cancelled for rain and FP2 was damp. ended up tackling Enea Bastianini for sixth through at Miller. Bagnaia was forced to pick
up the bike and an opportunist Marquez
Bizarre issue caused Marquez seized that moment to grab second.
to make a smoky getaway By half-distance, Martin and Marquez
but he was soon charging were edging ahead into a race of their own.
Marquez stalked his countryman until lap
24, when he pounced at Miller once more.
GOLD AND GOOSE/MOTORSPORT IMAGES
But Martin wouldn’t lie down. Next time

into Doohan, he snatched back the lead.
But later that same lap, Marquez decided
enough was enough. The move into Miller
was aggressive, causing both riders to go
wide. But the wrong-footing meant Marquez
could exit with a focus on speed rather than
defending the counter into Siberia. That
earned him a crucial couple of yards on
POWERED BY
RESULTS MOTOGP ROUND 17/20, PHILLIP ISLAND (AUS), 20 OCT (27 LAPS – 74.624 MILES)
Bagnaia struggled for
POS RIDER TEAM TIME
form but is still in
title contention 1 Marc Marquez (ESP) Gresini Ducati 39m47.702s
2 Jorge Martin (ESP) Pramac Ducati +0.997s
3 Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +10.100s
4 Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA) VR46 Ducati +12.997s
5 Enea Bastianini (ITA) Ducati +13.310s
6 Franco Morbidelli (ITA) Pramac Ducati +15.434s
7 Brad Binder (ZAF) KTM +15.450s
8 Maverick Vinales (ESP) Aprilia +16.636s
9 Fabio Quartararo (FRA) Yamaha +18.757s
10 Raul Fernandez (ESP) Trackhouse Aprilia +19.345s
11 Jack Miller (AUS) KTM +19.932s Marquez enjoys
third GP win of 2024
12 Johann Zarco (FRA) LCR Honda +20.295s
13 Alex Rins (ESP) Yamaha +22.210s
14 Luca Marini (ITA) Honda +24.239s WEEKEND
15 Alex Marquez (ESP) Gresini Ducati +24.591s WINNERS
16 Aleix Espargaro (ESP) Aprilia +30.499s
MOTO2
17 Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Tech3 KTM +30.533s
Fermin Aldeguer
18 Takaaki Nakagami (JPN) LCR Honda +30.765s Speed Up (Boscoscuro)
19 Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) VR46 Ducati +45.393s
R Joan Mir (ESP) Honda 25 laps-accident MOTO3
David Alonso
R Lorenzo Savadori (ITA) Trackhouse Aprilia 17 laps-pain/injury
Martin led early on Aspar Team (CFMoto)
NS Pedro Acosta (ESP) Tech3 KTM Sprint accident/injury
after his stunning
pole position lap Winner’s average speed 112.512mph. Fastest lap M Marquez 1m27.765s, 113.369mph.
QUALIFYING 2 1 Martin 1m27.296s; 2 M Marquez 1m27.890s; 3 Vinales 1m27.991s; 4 Bezzecchi 1m28.375s;

5 Bagnaia 1m28.478s; 6 R Fernandez 1m28.498s; 7 Morbidelli 1m28.622s; 8 A Marquez 1m29.009s;
which he built an advantage big enough 9 Rins 1m29.059s; 10 Bastianini 1m29.996s; 11 Binder 1m30.290s; 12 Di Giannantonio 1m30.336s.
to hold to the flag and seal a victory that
must rank above those he scored at QUALIFYING 1 R Fernandez 1m29.397s; Bastianini 1m29.545s; 13 Marini 1m29.727s; 14 Zarco 1m29.786s;
Aragon and Misano this season. 15 Acosta 1m29.817s; 16 Miller 1m29.909s; 17 A Fernandez 1m30.149s; 18 Mir 1m30.448s; 19 Quartararo 1m30.635s;
Bagnaia faded dramatically and was 20 Espargaro 1m31.808s; 21 Nakagami 1m31.835s; 22 Savadori 1m32.213s.
10s down on Marquez at the end with
his tyres shot to pieces. SPRINT RACE (13 LAPS – 35.930 MILES)
Marquez’s daily drama on Saturday was a 1 Martin 19m13.301s; 2 M Marquez +1.520s; 3 Bastianini +4.368s; 4 Bagnaia +6.879s; 5 Morbidelli +9.623s;
first-corner braking mistake for the sprint. 6 R Fernandez +15.249s; 7 Di Giannantonio +15.905s; 8 Espargaro +19.280s; 9 A Fernandez +21.126s; 10 Marini
He recovered fast, but the shorter race +21.194s; 11 Quartararo +21.379s; 12 Rins +21.483s; 13 Mir +23.528s; 14 Nakagami +34.055s; 15 Savadori +38.324s;
meant Martin could let all his pace loose R Bezzecchi 11 laps-accident; R Vinales 11 laps-accident; R Binder 11 laps-accident; R Acosta 10 laps-accident;
at the front. Thus Marquez had to settle R Miller 7 laps-accident; R A Marquez 5 laps-accident; R Zarco 4 laps-accident.
for second, while Bagnaia had to live Winner’s average speed 112.155mph. Fastest lap Martin 1m27.831s, 113.284mph.
with his team-mate Bastianini sailing
past to complete the podium. RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Martin 424; 2 Bagnaia 404; 3 M Marquez 345; 4 Bastianini 331; 5 Binder 192;
Now 20 points down on Martin, Bagnaia 6 Acosta 181; 7 Vinales 171; 8 Morbidelli 151; 9 Di Giannantonio 150; 10 Espargaro 136.
has much to ponder. Robbed of dry practice
time and all the Ducati data that comes CONSTRUCTORS’ CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Ducati 611; 2 KTM 285; 3 Aprilia 267; 4 Yamaha 104; 5 Honda 60.
with it, he never got it together in Australia.
Can he learn to just jump on the bike and
fly like his rivals do? And can he handle
Marquez in the same garage next year?
The most dramatic incident of the
weekend was a high-speed sprint crash
at Doohan involving Marco Bezzecchi
(VR46 Ducati) and Aprilia’s Maverick
Vinales. While both escaped serious injury,
Bezzecchi was unimpressed by Vinales
showing him the middle finger as the Italian
lay motionless in the initial aftermath.
And Pedro Acosta? KTM’s star rookie ran
off the road when it mattered in practice
NEXT REPORT
on Friday, thus missing out on Qualifying 2. Thailand GP
He then fell in the sprint – a tumble that 31 October
put him out of action for Sunday. issue
RICHARD ASHER
SE ASON REV I E W
BTCC
HILL CAN MOVE

ANY MOUNTAIN
Jake Hill became the British Touring Car champion of 2024, and a lot of
factors went into his defeat of Tom Ingram, Ash Sutton and the rest
MARCUS SIMMONS
PHOTOGRAPHY JEP
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
This year’s
patient, measured
approach didn’t
stop Hill racking up
highest number
of race wins
o win the British Touring Car Championship, you in May, when steering failure as a result of repeated contact
don’t have to drive at ten tenths all the time. For Jake from others speared him off the road at the Druids hairpin.
T Hill in 2024, it was all about driving at eight fifths.
Confused? Well, let’s explain… Hill had a
But, of course, while the old saying that ‘the most important
nut is the one behind the steering wheel’ holds true, the car has
reputation as a naturally gifted driver who could to be pretty good too. WSR went to work over the winter refining
sometimes overreach in his bid to attain the unattainable, the 3 Series, while a new evolution of the old faithful B48 BMW
who was always on the limit. This season he banished that powerplant was developed by long-time engine partner Neil Brown
to the extent where, remarkably, he finished in fifth position Engineering. “We all felt that the front grip we were getting just
in eight of the 30 races. When that result offers you 11 points wasn’t enough from the 2023 car,” continues Hill, “and also the
to the 20 of the race winner, those points soon stack up: eight engine… They’d used that same block for the last five years, and
fifths equal more than four wins. it was just getting a bit long in the tooth. We managed to go to
“I just needed to try and cut out a couple of little mistakes,” the newer two-litre BMW engine that was available, and that just
Hill admits as he basks in the afterglow of his first ever title in gave a more stable platform throughout. It was definitely not a
car racing. “Cast my mind back to 2023, and Croft was a prime Hyundai beater in a straight line, but it was a lot better. Those
example – I like to think that I’ve got pretty good car control, but were the two massive areas where we improved the car, and
I spun in two races that weekend and cost myself a load of points, also the weight distribution. Dickie [Dick Bennetts, WSR boss]
just trying too hard when the car’s not underneath you. That was managed to really pull some strings with getting it better,
a very valuable lesson in the sense that ‘if the car’s not there mate, and all those things pointed in the right direction.”
don’t chase it, you’ve just got to take what you can’. The ironic Hill’s long-time engineer Craig Porley, with whom he has worked
thing that I did learn a big lesson from was in that race two where since 2020, admits that development-wise “we were left with no
I did spin, where I was trying to chase [Dan] Rowbottom, if I’d choice with the fantastic job that Alliance did last year. They moved
stayed where I was I would have got reversed-grid pole and won the game forward, and anyone wanting to compete with that had
like Colin [Turkington, team-mate] did. Let’s try and iron out to do the same.” In 2023, of course, Alliance’s NAPA-liveried Ford
those little bits – take what you can because ultimately that’s Focus STs showed crushing domination, enabling Ash Sutton a
going to be worth more than binning it.” relatively easy run to the title. For 2024, over at Tom Ingram-led
The new approach added up to Hill’s Laser Tools-liveried West Excelr8 Motorsport, there was a big leap forward with development
Surrey Racing BMW 330e M Sport claiming 29 finishes, 28 of them of the Hyundai i30 N Fastback. There was too on the BMW at WSR,
in the points, 26 in the top six. The only DNF came at Brands Hatch although it took longer to become evident.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
A Kentishman in
the autumnal Brands
sunshine. But when the Porley crunches the
rain came that proved data for Hill…
a boon
…but at Thruxton his

driver just needed to kick
the chicane tyre stack…
“ I T H I N K T H E M E N T A L I T Y S I D E O F I T, …which was clearly

T H AT ’ S W H E R E I T ’ S R E A L LY S H O W N , the key to a double
haul of victories
T H AT Y O U C A N B O U N C E B A C K ”
Here, also, it’s worth pointing out that, while Ingram’s engineer the start of the season, but Brands [in May] was an example
Spencer Aldridge very much leads development on the Hyundai, where it just didn’t work for us. We went back to the drawing
and ditto Sutton’s man Antonio Carrozza on the Ford, at WSR the board a little bit, and the rest was history from Snet on. That’s
technical chief on the BMW has long been John Waterman, who when our season really took off. We wouldn’t be where we
looked after Turkington from 2020-23. This puts the achievements are now without the changes on the car, that’s for sure.”
of Hill and Porley in perspective, in the sense that their title was “After Brands I was feeling pretty low,” reflects Hill. “We were
won with a car that wasn’t necessarily developed around that driver. slow. Colin and Adam [Morgan, in the third of the WSR BMWs]
“West Surrey and John Waterman did a fantastic job with the managed to make it work. It’s the first time I can honestly say we
car upgrades over the winter,” acknowledges Porley. “I did a bit were a bit lost with it. Me and Craig dug ourselves into a bit of a
with them, but predominantly it was John and Steve Buckle [chief hole. We don’t really know what went wrong. Then the steering
mechanic] and Dick on that side, and NBE did a fantastic job with failed in race two. We came back super-strong. I think the
the engine. We were hoping to take steps forward, but what we mentality side of it, that’s where it’s really shown, that you can
weren’t expecting was the first lap out in pre-season testing – it was bounce back. It was so early in the season that we just needed
evident that we had a very different race car with all of the changes. to have a blinder. Those damp, wet conditions went on to
There were signs that it was going to be a fast race car, but it was become my favourite this year. And at Snetterton the car
a step back to go forwards. Pre-season testing was probably the really was just so wonderful to drive.”
hardest we’ve been through in really working hard to find a new Snetterton, indeed, is where Hill crushed his opposition in
operating window for the car. We got it into a sensible place for qualifying, and sped to victory in each of the first two races.
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IN ASSOCIATION WITH
It was a resounding turnaround from a pretty dismal performance Oulton damage was
at Brands, and showed mental strength. Part of the reason for a big setback for
this, reckons Hill, is down to his fiancee giving birth to their son hopes of Sutton
in November last year. “Completely, yeah,” he agrees. “You don’t
necessarily realise you’ve changed at the time, but after a couple
of rounds I noticed that I was thinking about things differently.
It’s the mentality side that changes – Craig noticed it, so did
Mark [Blundell, Hill’s manager] pretty early on, and obviously
it was a positive. I think I’ve just chilled out even more. Those
angry spikes I’d get in the car if I was being beaten up a little
bit, and then you would end up making a mistake or firing
“THOSE ANGRY SPIKES I’D

GET IN THE CAR, THEY JUST
DON’T REV ME UP ANYMORE”
someone off, they just don’t rev me up anymore. Nice and to pre-hybrid set-up didn’t work either, so we had to find
calm all the time. Of course things still annoy you every a new path and fortunately we got there.”
now and then, it’s just how you react to them.” The final piece of the jigsaw was wet-weather set-up – and
So much of sport is down to psychology, and this could arguably let’s face it, if you’re going to compete in the BTCC, this is quite
be applied to the effect of a change in weight distribution of the important… The rear-wheel-drive BMW isn’t supposed to be at
BMW. Since the introduction of the hybrid system for 2022, WSR its best in slippery or greasy conditions, but Hill reckons that he
had been bemoaning that the restrictions on where the kit could and Porley had “actually found this sort of magic set-up and way
be located were more detrimental to the rear-wheel-drive 3 Series of going about it at Silverstone in 2023, when we won the first race
than its front-driven opposition. Over the winter of 2023-24, BTCC and we were leading the second by a country mile until the boost
organiser TOCA didn’t so much as give concessions to WSR; instead sensor failure. It was coming, and as we developed the car a little
it relaxed the regulations for the whole field on hybrid placement. bit more over the winter it made it even easier in the wet, in the
Now, in the BMW, the hybrid could be moved further towards way that the engine was so much more driveable in those sort of
the rear and lower. wet conditions. When it was torrential like it was in race three at
“Everyone had to carry the weight of the hybrid, but it was Silverstone [2024], the BMW still suffers quite badly. But when
where that weight was going, and that really hurt us,” explains it’s that normal wet or greasy conditions, my God we’re fast.”
Porley. “From pre-hybrid, through the various small regulation “The engine has been a massive part of it,” adds Porley. “We hope
changes like where we were allowed to put ballast in the car, it we can find a little bit more over the off-season, because Swindon
was just constantly working against us and we had a 2% shift in do a fantastic job on the Hyundai engine and everyone else has to
weight distribution from pre-hybrid. TOCA listened as they do play catch-up, and that’s what motorsport’s all about. We’ve got a
when we showed them the numbers, showed them the facts, and target on our back now, but equally we’re not resting on our laurels.
that allowed us to make the shift – we’re still not back to where We’ve got gains we need to make to take it to Excelr8 and Alliance.
we were pre-hybrid, but we’re closer to it, and that’s had a huge “Some of it was the engine and some of it was we found a few
effect on the car. I think that’s where it had such an effect on little tricks that worked for us in the wet. It’s an interesting battle in
us having to rework the set-up, but unfortunately going back the wet. If it’s a greasy circuit and we’re all out on slicks, then we
ROU ND BY R OU ND
Donington National Brands Hatch Indy Snetterton Thruxton Oulton Park

R1 Tom Ingram R1 Colin Turkington R1 Jake Hill R1 Jake Hill R1 Tom Ingram
R2 Tom Ingram R2 Colin Turkington R2 Jake Hill R2 Jake Hill R2 Josh Cook
R3 Aiden Moffat R3 Ronan Pearson R3 Rob Huff R3 Ash Sutton R3 Jake Hill
Newly developed Hyundai Crushing domination from This time it’s Hill on form. Poor start from poleman More chicane-skipping
is a weapon out of the box, Turkington. He claims pole After a poor Brands, he takes Ingram, who can’t see the controversy for Ingram, but
allowing Ingram to win wet and then his BMW cruises pole and wins the opener lights, gives Hill the jump this time he keeps his win in
opener from pole. Hill loses home in race one to beat from Thompson, who is on in opener and he beats race one after early fight with
second to Sutton late on as Cook and Sutton. He doubles his sole outing of 2024 with Cammish and Sutton. Sutton, with Cammish third.
his tyres fade. Ingram wins up later in the second race, WSR and passes Sutton. Hill Ingram recovers to win race Cook blasts from eighth to
early battle with Sutton in in which Ingram wins a is magnificent in wet second two, but penalty for skipping the lead within a lap in race
dry second race before both high-cholesterol scrap with race, overcoming a 10s chicane drops him to third two on the soft tyres. Ingram
demote early leader Hill. Sutton for second. It’s penalty – and then some – behind Cammish, so it’s is left in his wake, while Hill
Morgan leads finale, but then another Scottish reversed- to beat Cammish and Cook. another victory for Hill. nabs third late on from
lock-up allows Huff and grid triumph at the end of On drying track, veteran Huff Morgan leads early in Cammish. Great drive from
Moffat through. Huff fades, the day, Pearson taking his takes first win of comeback finale before Sutton comes Hill in finale takes him past
and it’s Moffat who wins maiden win from team-mate season after intra-Toyota through for first win of 2024 Taylor-Smith for second, then
from Turkington and Sutton. Chilton, with Sutton third. fight with Moffat and Cook. from Cammish and Ingram. Doble on last lap for win.
s c a n a n d u s e c o d e MDASAD
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IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Ingram versus Sutton

was a recurring theme,
here at Brands Indy
“THE BIGGEST THING WAS IF

get murdered by the front-wheel-drives. If it’s a greasy ANYONE WAS GOING TO BE BRAVE
circuit and we’re all out on wets, I’d say the balance
shifts towards the rear-wheel-drives if we look after our ENOUGH TO GO ONTO SLICKS”
tyres, whereas if it’s sensibly wet then it’s a reasonably
even fight, but, as we saw at Silverstone, in monsoon
it goes to front-wheel-drives. So it’s a really funny
dance that you do – how wet and what tyres you’re
on in those conditions.” that we had to stay with the wets. The reason why we thought we
This is why, at showdown time at Brands Hatch on 6 October, could have the advantage above Tom was based on Silverstone
confidence was swelling within the Hill garage. The steady drizzle race two, where in very similar conditions we had the legs on him.
since mid-afternoon had turned things around. Yes, Hill had taken “The thing in those conditions is that the new wets that were
victory in race one, but only after a first-lap shemozzle at Druids introduced a few years ago, they’re very much like working with
had eliminated Sutton and Josh Cook and delayed Ingram, and a slick, whereas the old wets were quite forgiving, they lasted a
then Turkington had moved over for his title-chasing team-mate. long time and there was quite a big operating window with the
In the second race, Ingram was blisteringly quick, passed both pressures. These new wets are very peaky and the pressures
BMWs and took victory so that he entered the finale just one prove to be critical. One of the things Jake said to me on the
point adrift of Hill. The Hyundai was clearly a quicker car, grid before race three at Brands was just, ‘Please, please get
and Ingram is always superb at Brands. the pressures right’. There’s nothing like putting the pressure
Now, though, the track was wet, but not massively so. “The on me! Had I got it wrong, there’s every chance we would have
biggest thing was if anyone was going to be brave enough to go onto gone backwards in that race. I’ve never felt that kind of pressure
slicks,” recounts Porley. “Everyone keeps an eye on each other in to get it right, flicking back through my notes to see what
those circumstances. But from our point of view we were confident adjustments we’d made in similar conditions.
ROU ND BY R OU ND
Croft Knockhill Donington GP Silverstone Brands Hatch GP

R1 Colin Turkington R1 Colin Turkington R1 Colin Turkington R1 Tom Ingram R1 Jake Hill
R2 Josh Cook R2 Jake Hill R2 Ash Sutton R2 Jake Hill R2 Tom Ingram
R3 Tom Chilton R3 Rob Huff R3 Dan Cammish R3 Tom Ingram R3 Ash Sutton
Turkington’s reputation as Once again it’s Turkington Turkington makes it a Ingram wins opener on Opening-lap Sutton/Ingram/
‘King of Croft’ is embellished all the way in the opener, hat-trick of all-the-way a soggy day, but has to Cook drama gives Hill a path
with pole and his 15th win with Cook beating Morgan first-race wins, while Sutton hang on from Hill, who is through to second, then he
at the venue, with Ingram to second after both demote and Hill get better of Cook let through by team-mate is let through for victory by
and Cammish chasing home. Taylor-Smith. Turkington to join him on the podium. Turkington. Cammish claims Turkington, who solidly
Toyotas play tyre strategy goes to medium tyre in race It’s wet for race two, and third. Ingram doesn’t have defends from recovering
well again, with Cook two and is happy with third, Sutton passes Turkington pace in race two, so Hill leads Ingram. BMWs can’t hold
winning race two on softs but has no answer to ‘softs’ on opening lap to claim home Turkington, with Cook back Ingram in race two,
after great move on Huff. duo Hill and Rowbottom. honours, with Hill third. in third. Final race is so wet it where Hill is second from
Turkington spins down field After a miserable day, Ingram Ingram is up to second, but almost doesn’t happen, but Turkington. Rain before
after contact from Sutton. gets into reversed-grid mix stone through radiator puts monsoon abates slightly for final race is prelude to utter
He’s in the barriers with and loses out in splendid him out. He charges from Ingram to win a very close domination by Sutton, while
Ingram clash in finale, won fight for win with Huff in the back to second in a battle with Sutton. Cook is Hill picks them off to claim
by Chilton from Cammish. finale, with Chilton third. finale won by Cammish. third as BMWs struggle. second ahead of Cook.
R E V I E W BTCC
“Tom is an immensely talented driver but Jake played it sensibly.

Turkington took four
By lap two there was [Dan] Cammish and Ingram ahead, and I
poles, including
could just see from the car positioning from Jake and the throttle here at Knockhill…
pick-up and everything on the TV footage, the nerves finally settled
and I thought, ‘Yeah, we’ve got this’. And he just started picking
people off from there on. We settled into a rhythm. It got a bit dicey
with Cook and I was straight on the radio saying, ‘Mate, we don’t
need the position, let him have it unless I tell you otherwise’, and
fortunately the next lap Cook made a mistake and Jake was through
without any dramas. The first thing I said was, ‘Don’t go after Ash
“ I T H O U G H T, ‘ W E L L I F Y O U ’ R E H A V I N G
T O D O T H AT M AT E , Y O U ’ R E S C R E W E D ’,
IN THE NICEST WAY POSSIBLE”
make friends. I felt sorry for Mikey, but sometimes
you have to be a bit of an arsehole when it comes to
these things. That’s another side of the mentality that’s
changed this year – there’s no holds barred, if it’s on
[Sutton, who won the race] – we don’t need it, just hold fire’. I’m doing it, simple as that. And ultimately it got me those couple
He listened, and the rest is history as they say.” of extra wins or points here and there. I probably didn’t need to
“I was pretty calm,” reckons Hill. “I genuinely was. The way me do a couple of those moves, but when it comes down to it, we
and Craig go about it is you have to be patient. Initially we knew we always know how tight this championship is, and as we found
might suffer a bit, but if you just give it two or three laps, everything out a couple of points can really be the difference.”
will come right. And also I’d heard that Tom had to put another new “He’s just shown that maturity this year that we’ve been trying
set of fronts on after the two laps to the grid. I thought, ‘Well if to drill into him,” smiles Porley. “It has been like working with a
you’re having to do that mate, you’re screwed’, in the nicest way different driver. What’s won him the championship has been his
possible. I was so happy with the conditions that had come – race three performances. Before, we’ve often done well in race one
they’re just me through and through. Tom shot off, and then the and two, and it’s then gone to pot a little bit, not always our own
BMW came alive, and his car started falling off quite a bit. And fault. This year there’s been so many times where he’s just settled
also no one was exploring the proper wet lines in places, and without getting into a fight that he doesn’t need to get into, and
we did him round the outside of Surtees where there’s just so picked up points for fourth or fifth. Equally you’ve got the flipside
much more grip. I was a bit surprised that a few of them of races like Oulton, where he just bided his time, let the two
weren’t doing it, because it’s an awful lot quicker.” Vauxhalls use their hybrid, and sat there waiting, kept his
For all the success of his patient, measured approach, Hill tyres good and then got it on the last lap in a great way.
still claimed the title with the most race wins of anyone – eight “The work we’ve done with Jake has been five years in the
versus six for Ingram, five for Turkington and three for Sutton. making [since the driver and engineer first linked up in their
It’s a balancing act of risk versus reward. For example, had he not AmD Honda days in 2020], and that’s what made it as emotional
divebombed poor old Mikey Doble for a race-winning move on the as it was and a prouder achievement. It’s been a long old slog
last lap at Oulton Park in June, his path to the title would have been to get there and we’ve managed to do it.”
just that little bit harder. “You have to do it while it’s there for the
P48 TOCA SUPPORTS REVIEW
taking,” Hill points out. “We’re here to do a job, we’re not here to
DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
…while Cook’s Scottish
weekend didn’t all go to plan POS DRIVER TEAM/CAR
1 Jake Hill (GBR) West Surrey Racing / BMW 330e M Sport
2 Tom Ingram (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport / Hyundai i30 N
3 Ash Sutton (GBR) Alliance Racing / Ford Focus ST
4 Colin Turkington (GBR) West Surrey Racing / BMW 330e M Sport
5 Dan Cammish (GBR) Alliance Racing / Ford Focus ST
6 Josh Cook (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport / Toyota Corolla GR Sport
7 Aron Taylor-Smith (IRL) Power Maxed Racing / Vauxhall Astra
8 Adam Morgan (GBR) West Surrey Racing / BMW 330e M Sport
9 Rob Huff (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport / Toyota Corolla GR Sport
10 Tom Chilton (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport / Hyundai i30 N
11 Dan Rowbottom (Alliance Racing Ford Focus ST) 186; 12 Mikey Doble (Power Maxed
Racing Vauxhall Astra) 148; 13 Aiden Moffat (Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Corolla GR
Sport) 138; 14 Andrew Watson (Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Corolla GR Sport) 120; 15
Sam Osborne (Alliance Racing Ford Focus ST) 93; 16 Ronan Pearson (Excelr8 Motorsport
Hyundai i30 N) 77; 17 Chris Smiley (Restart Racing Cupra Leon) 70; 18 Daryl DeLeon
(Unlimited Motorsport Cupra Leon) 48; 19 Dan Zelos (Excelr8 Motorsport Hyundai i30 N)
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AUTOSPORT’S TOP 10 DRIVERS
JA KE H ILL TO M I N GRA M A S H SU TTO N CO LIN TU RKI N GTON JO SH COO K
1 2 3 4 5
While the WSR brains Had it not rained in the Seems a bit wrong to The four-time Did a wonderful job
trust unlocked what afternoon of 6 October, put him here, but Hill champion hasn’t been with new-build Toyota
they could from the he’d likely be a two- and Ingram were both crowned since 2019, initially beset by
BMW, Hill tapped into his time BTCC champion. The superb. Sutton did what he but at age 42 he can still be teething problems. Two wins
own skills to finally become Hyundai was monster quick, could with an ageing Ford blindingly quick, as evinced owed much to tyre strategy,
the complete BTCC driver. except in a certain window of Focus and, when it allowed by four poles and the but from post-Thruxton
Generally nailed the vagaries wetness. Fantastic season- him to, he put in some Goodyear Wingfoot Award round four to pre-finale
of tyre strategy. His speed long performance and staggering performances for qualifying. Perfect team Brands he was outscored
and racing skills did the rest. superb racecraft as ever. to remind us of his class. player to aid Hill’s quest. only by Ingram and Hill.
DAN C A MMIS H ROB HU FF A RON TAY LO R-S MITH TO M CH I LTON ADA M MO RGA N
6 7 8 9 10
Very inward-looking Forget his position in The ever-cheerful There were times Impossible to split
driver who managed the points table. Huff Dubliner hit a new when the veteran from Rowbottom,
to eradicate the peaks claimed two victories peak in his second- looked absolutely so we’ll base it on
and troughs of 2022/23 to get on his return to the BTCC time-around BTCC career as a contender, but too often points position… Put in some
a superb level of consistency after 19 years away, and both Power Maxed Racing coaxed something would go wrong sparkling qualifying efforts to
and move onto the flanks of were magnificent displays of more speed out of the with his car or there would prove that there were three
the title fight. The next target racecraft. The Toyota wasn’t venerable Astra, especially be a strategy miscue, or just contenders in WSR BMWs,
is to keep the consistency the best car, and he had to in second half of the season. plain good old-fashioned bad but did not get the rub of
while rediscovering the make the transition after There or thereabouts and luck. Three podiums were the green in races. Deserved
peaks – but not the troughs. many years in TCR machines. dominant Independents title. topped by strong Croft win. more than his one podium.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 PTS
3 3 5 4 R 12 1 1 9 1 1 5 5 3 1 6 16 5 5 1 5 3 3 5 2 1 5 1 2 2 421
1 1 4 7 2 18 6 16 4 4 3 3 1 2 4 2 4 3 R 10 2 5 R 2 1 4 1 3 1 6 413
2 2 3 3 3 3 3 20 5 3 5 1 2 16 18 4 5 4 6 5 4 2 1 R 4 12 2 R 5 1 365
4 5 2 1 1 8 8 15 7 9 7 7 20 7 15 1 9 14 1 3 9 1 2 7 5 2 R 2 3 5 346
8 6 10 18 7 5 4 2 13 2 2 2 3 4 5 3 6 2 9 7 8 8 11 1 3 5 4 5 4 4 346
6 4 9 2 16 11 14 3 3 5 6 6 8 1 8 8 1 7 2 4 R 4 4 4 6 3 3 R 7 3 327
7 11 14 10 10 4 12 12 15 10 9 8 7 5 3 5 7 13 4 11 12 9 8 3 12 9 9 6 6 12 224
14 7 7 15 4 10 7 18 11 8 8 4 4 17 7 13 17 9 3 6 R 6 5 8 11 7 6 R NS 10 201
18 9 6 11 R 9 9 14 1 12 10 9 10 11 12 7 2 6 8 12 1 7 7 15 17 11 7 R 16 R 195
11 R 11 6 6 2 15 5 6 6 11 R 6 R R 9 8 1 14 9 3 16 12 16 7 R 12 9 9 14 187
44; 20 Bobby Thompson (West Surrey Racing BMW 330e M Sport) 34; 21 Scott Sumpton (Restart Racing Cupra Leon) 20; 22 Nick Halstead (Excelr8 Motorsport Hyundai i30 N) 7.
MANUFACTURERS 1 BMW 818; 2 Ford 795; 3 Hyundai 694; 4 Toyota 644. TEAMS 1 NAPA Racing UK (Alliance) 724; 2 Team Bristol Street Motors (Excelr8) 609; 3 Team BMW (WSR) 560;
4 LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ (Speedworks) 497; 5 Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing 427; 6 Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport (WSR) 412; 7 Toyota Gazoo Racing UK
(Speedworks) 367; 8 Restart Racing 181; 9 Duckhams Racing with Bartercard 85; 10 Zeus Cloud Racing with WSR 34. INDEPENDENT DRIVERS 1 Taylor-Smith 564; 2 Doble 466;
3 Smiley 396; 4 DeLeon 354; 5 Sumpton 342. JACK SEARS TROPHY 1 Doble 490; 2 Osborne 437; 3 DeLeon 360; 4 Sumpton 343; 5 Pearson 299; 6 Halstead 299; 7 Zelos 147.
S E AS ON R EVI EW
While there was utter domination in some of the TOCA

support categories, others boasted nervy title battles
that went right down to the wire
STEPHEN LICKORISH
PORSCHE
BRITISH FORMULA 4
CARRERA CUP GB
ALL PHOTOGRAPHY: JEP
D E AG E N FA I R C LO U G H
GEORGE GAMBLE
TOCA SUPPORTS REVIEW
MINI CHALLENGE
DAN ZELOS
PORSCHE SPRINT
CHALLENGE GB
SEB HOPKINS
REVIEW TOCA SUPPORTS
Knockhill marked the start

of Gamble’s title fightback
PORSCHE
PORSCHE CARRERA CUP GB
The storming drive that clinched George Gamble the Porsche Carrera Cup STANDINGS
POS DRIVER POINTS
GB title was certainly a memorable one. He was simply unstoppable in
tricky wet conditions for the Brands Hatch finale as he passed a succession 1 George Gamble 105
of rivals to charge towards a title he eventually won quite comfortably by 2 Charles Rainford 98
seven points, despite virtually nothing separating the top four heading to
3 Hugo Ellis (left) 95
Kent. Yet that impressive display was far from the only example of Gamble
blasting through the field – a feat that proved key to his title success. 4 Will Martin 93
The first recovery job came at Brands earlier in the year. Clutch failure 5 Matthew Rees 62
in the first race put Gamble on the back foot but he surged up the order
6 Harry Foster 55
from 13th to fourth to salvage five vital points in race two. There was then
an even more dramatic comeback at Donington Park later in the season
after a bizarre qualifying clash with title rival Will Martin left Gamble with if they too struggled for consistency at times. That all meant Brands was
a broken radiator and starting last. But he rose to eighth in the opener essentially a winner-takes-all shootout and each of the contenders had
and then got on the podium in the second contest on a weekend where a spell in the prime position. But Martin ruled himself out when he spun
he gained 20 places. “I think, if I didn’t lose my splitter in the second race, into the gravel at Paddock when leading the opener. Ellis then struggled
I could’ve fought for the lead there,” says Gamble. far more in the rain of race two and Rainford just had no answer to
However, the one setback he struggled to recover from came at Croft Gamble’s blistering performance. It was the perfect tonic for the Midlander
when Martin clattered into Gamble at Clervaux in the first contest and left on his return to the championship after a tricky Toyota British Touring
the Century driver in the barriers. “That was a bit of a killer really but, from Car campaign last season. “After such a tough year last year, it was such
that point onwards, we were on a constant comeback,” adds Gamble. “We a relief to be back at the front and building that confidence,” he says.
were 30 points behind and then we led it into the final round – so it’s been Some of the Pro-Am runners also played cameo roles at the front as
a bit of a roller coaster. You’re always negative after something like that class champion Angus Whiteside and Abbie Eaton each took outright wins
[Croft]. When we got to Knockhill and the pace was strong, then I thought, during a season in which virtually everyone’s fortunes fluctuated wildly.
‘Let’s just go for it every round’, and it worked out. The odds were against
us, but we still managed to do it.”
Gamble’s strong second half of the year coincided with a reversal in
fortunes for early pacesetter Martin. The Eden Race Drive competitor
began the campaign with six podiums in the first eight races. But it turned
sour from Knockhill, as track-limits penalties and a clash with Stephen
Jelley halted his charge. His strife allowed the much-improved Hugo Ellis
(Team Parker) and Charles Rainford (CCK Motorsport) into the mix, even
“WE WERE 30 POINTS BEHIND AND

THEN WE LED INTO THE LAST ROUND
– S O I T ’ S B E E N A R O L L E R COA ST E R ” Martin was flying high after Croft
event before his season unravelled
PORSCHE SPRINT CHALLENGE GB
While four drivers arrived at the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Brands Hatch
Qualifying pace was
finale separated by as many points, it was actually the Porsche Sprint
key to Hopkins’ success
Challenge GB that had the closest finish. Seb Hopkins prevailed over Max
Coates by just a solitary point at the end of a season that boasted plenty
of close races. Ultimately, a couple more fastest laps for Coates or fewer
poles for Hopkins could have made all the difference.
The introduction of the more powerful, more aerodynamic and more
exciting RS version of the Cayman added a new dimension to the series
for this year. But it was Team Parker’s Hopkins, who had previous Porsche
experience in British GT, that stole the early advantage and his pole at the
Snetterton opener was a sign of things to come. In fact, he always set
the first or second fastest time in qualifying throughout the season,
which gave him a great platform to build from.
But it was Coates’s consistency and lack of errors that kept him in the
“ TO CO M E AC R O SS T H E
L I N E B Y J U S T O N E P O I N T,
T H AT ’ S A L L I T T A K E S ”
hunt. Matters came to a head between the pair in the second race at Oulton
Park, when Hopkins made a wildly ambitious lunge on Coates into the
chicane, but succeeded only in clattering into the Graves Motorsport driver
and putting himself out. Worse was to come in the officials’ room as Hopkins
was not only given a six-point deduction for the clash but also a 10-place
grid penalty for the next round at Croft. “In hindsight, if that incident had
STANDINGS
PORSCHE
never happened, we would’ve been going into the Croft weekend with a
POS DRIVER POINTS
really healthy points gap,” says Hopkins. “It did make it a bit more difficult
than it should’ve been. I started 11th for the first race at Croft but it was 1 Seb Hopkins 187
my drive of the year going from the back to second place.” 2 Max Coates 186
Hopkins describes getting pole in North Yorkshire, ahead of his grid
3 Will Jenkins (left) 178
demotion, as a “message to the others”. A win and a second in the other
two races certainly got his title bid back on track, only for another DNF – 4 Tom Bradshaw 166
this time following a tangle with Toby Trice at the Donington Park hairpin, 5 Ethan Hammerton 121
which was deemed a racing incident – to threaten to undo all the hard work.
6 Oliver Cottam 105
“To pick myself back up from that was very difficult,” Hopkins admits.
Coates was also impressive in the wet conditions at Silverstone and had
a fantastic scrap with Toro Verde’s Tom Bradshaw in the second contest. than to win the championship, second was not good enough,” concludes
Despite missing out by the narrowest of margins, he still arrived in Kent with Hopkins. “To come across the line by just one point, that’s all it takes –
a 10-point advantage. But it was Coates’s turn to err as an optimistic move it doesn’t matter if it’s [the winning margin] 30 points or one.”
around the outside of Bradshaw at Druids resulted in contact and a damaged Bradshaw and Hopkins’s stablemate, Will Jenkins, also arrived at Brands
car dropped Coates back. And, although he closed on Hopkins initially in the still just about in contention but, despite them both winning four times
finale, it was not enough to end his title drought. “There was no other goal (bettering Coates’s three), they could not quite get on terms with the lead duo.
Coates and Hopkins got a bit

too close for comfort at Oulton
REVIEW TOCA SUPPORTS
MINI CHALLENGE
STANDINGS
POS DRIVER POINTS Zelos retained his place at
the head of the Mini field
1 Dan Zelos 731
2 Max Hall (left) 679
3 Nathan Edwards 654
4 Jamie Osborne 645
5 Dominic Wheatley 619
6 Tom Ovenden 591
More Mini Challenge glory for Dan Zelos always looked the most likely result
heading into the season. With two titles already to his name and the field
lacking established frontrunners and instead mainly comprising young
drivers still learning the ropes, further Zelos domination was on the cards.
And, while Zelos did indeed end up taking the spoils, there were several
surprising elements to the year for the Excelr8 Motorsport driver.
“We never expected to win the title with a round to spare and never his impressive results over the past few years enabled him to finally get
expected to get an opportunity to race in British Touring Cars,” he says. Zelos a BTCC call-up with Excelr8 – an opportunity he grabbed with both hands.
sealed the spoils at the penultimate Knockhill event after a super consistent Before that, Zelos faced a few threats in the early part of the Mini season
campaign during which his worst finish was fifth. But the early coronation and there were some entertaining races, including a thriller at Snetterton
only arrived after team-mate Max Hall suffered driveshaft failure in Scotland. where he made a series of impressive overtakes that culminated in a last-lap
“I had no idea it was even possible going into the final race!” Zelos continues. Bomb Hole move on Hall to seal his third win of the weekend. “Going into
“I went out all guns blazing to fight hard but didn’t really have to.” round one, we felt we had a good advantage over the rest of the field, but the
While that fourth place unexpectedly netted him the championship, rest of the field very quickly caught up,” adds Zelos. “A couple of drivers I’d
been coaching in the Coopers for a number of years, so I had no doubt they’d
get up to speed quickly and sometimes they used a few of my own tricks!”
Hall was one of those young whippersnappers and signalled his intent by
“I WENT OUT ALL GUNS taking two wins around Brands Hatch Indy. But a driveshaft problem in the
middle Kent race, allied to tangling with Lydia Walmsley at the preceding
BLAZING TO FIGHT HARD
Donington Park event, left him already on the back foot in the title battle.
B U T D I D N ’ T R E A L LY H A V E T O ” Another to grow stronger as the year progressed was fellow Excelr8 rookie
Nathan Edwards, who also scored five victories and just pipped Jamie
Osborne to third in the standings, albeit still well adrift of Zelos.
BRITISH FORMULA 4
Deagen Fairclough was not lacking any confidence heading into the on qualifying, and he only once STANDINGS
British Formula 4 season. Ahead of the first round, he made it clear finished outside of the top five. POS DRIVER POINTS
the title was his target and told Autosport: “We’re here to break records.” Record after record tumbled and 1 Deagen Fairclough 583
Well, Fairclough is a teenager of his word and sure enough produced a the title never looked like it was
campaign of unprecedented domination to secure the championship going anywhere else. Although, 2 Alex Ninovic 360.5
with five races to spare. by his very high standards, 3 Reza Seewooruthun 272
Some of the statistics surrounding the Hitech driver’s season are just Fairclough’s year did not get off 4 James Higgins 269.5
staggering. Winning 14 of the 20 non-reversed-grid races is impressive, to the best of starts. “Having that
as is starting on pole for 15 of the 20 races where the order was based mistake in qualifying in the first 5 Jack Sherwood 230
round put us P3,” he recalls. “I 6 Leo Robinson 164
was a little bit gutted because all
of the days prior to the first round that we had testing I was P1. That set
me back a little bit but then, in the first race, we jumped them all at the
start and won.” And he never looked back from that point onwards.
There were a few slight hiccups along the way, such as a couple of
clashes with his closest rival, Rodin’s Alex Ninovic, at Brands Hatch and
Snetterton, and getting caught up in a first-lap tangle on the Silverstone
Grand Prix track, while Fairclough was denied another win when his
car conked out at Thruxton. But these were all minor blips as he
subsequently rocketed clear of the rest.
Ninovic was the only one who could really take the fight to Fairclough,
Fairclough broke series’ and did triumph five times, but lacked the consistency to match the
win record en route to title pacesetter. Reza Seewooruthun (Hitech) and James Higgins (Rodin)
were the only other drivers to prevail in non-reversed-grid bouts.
AUTOSPORT’S TOP 10 DRIVERS
C H AR L ES RA I N FOR D H U G O EL L I S WI LL MA RTI N A L EX NI NOV I C M AX H A LL
10 9 8 7 6
Given how close Next of the Carrera Cup Martin is the highest- Much has been It was easy to forget
the Carrera Cup protagonists is Ellis. placed of the defeated written about Deagen at times that this was
contenders were The Team Parker racer Carrera Cup pack, Fairclough’s British Hall’s first full season
heading to the Brands Hatch was contesting his third thanks to his early-season Formula 4 dominance, but in the JCW Minis and that he
finale, all four deserved a Porsche season but took form. Despite striking a it is also noteworthy just how is only 17 years old. Having
spot in our top 10. Fine a notable step forward to late deal to return to the GB far Ninovic finished ahead made his debut at the end
margins separate their fight more established rivals. series after a year in North of the rest in second in the of last year, the Cooper
performances but, inevitably, His best result last year was America, and signing with standings. The Australian graduate was immediately
one must be bottom of the one podium, but underlined Dino Zamparelli’s new Eden was the only one able to on the pace and was a
quartet, and that is Rainford. his improvement by scoring Race Drive squad, Martin get in the same postcode double winner at just the
He did finish runner-up in the the most non-reversed-grid enjoyed a flying start. Team as the Hitech racer at times, second event at Brands.
standings but scored fewer wins of all (three). Ultimately, and driver gelled instantly and they enjoyed some Some early clashes and
wins than the rest (George Ellis lost too much ground to win straight out of the box intense scraps, but he could reliability misfortunes
Gamble also won twice, but at the Donington Park and enjoyed another three not consistently challenge dented any ambitions of
also scored maximum points opener, where he had to strong weekends to build Fairclough as the season matching runaway points
for top Pro entrant another take avoiding action from a commanding lead. But it went on. Massive 222.5-point leader Dan Zelos, but five
two times) and Rainford was Sid Smith and damaged his all went downhill thereafter deficit means he cannot be wins and a further three
the only previous frontrunner car, which also put him at and spinning off at Brands higher, but five wins and second places still marked
with the continuity of staying the back when race two finale summed up the 88.5 points ahead of third Hall out as a potential
at the same squad as 2023. was run at Brands. second half of his campaign. is still meritorious. star of the future.
ZAMAX COATE
N E MALO NSEY SE B H O P KI NS GE OR G E GAMB LE DA N Z ELO S DE AG EN FAIRCLO U GH
5 4 3 2 1
Another year and The reality is Hopkins Considering how close Normally, dominantly There was only ever
another example should have won the the Carrera Cup title wrapping up a title one contender to finish
of Coates falling Sprint Challenge title battle was, it might in August and not top of the pile this year.
agonisingly short of winning more comfortably – and he seem strange for Gamble to finishing a race lower than Fairclough was near-faultless
a title among the TOCA admits his attempted move be five places ahead of any of fifth would guarantee you all season and it’s a measure
supports. Understandably on Coates at Oulton Park his rivals. But the manner in a number one spot in our of his character that he still
devastated to finish just one made his task far trickier. which he clinched the glory top 10. But, unfortunately notched up the wins long
point shy of Seb Hopkins in Was supreme in qualifying in the Brands rain was a true for Zelos, his impressive after the British F4 title was
the Sprint Challenge, but and the Porsche series’ champion’s drive. How he Mini results came in the secured. He was particularly
that is still a tremendous point-scoring system (with continually responded to any same year Fairclough did impressive in the rain, which
achievement, especially its narrow margins between setback during the season something very abnormal he in part attributes to his
when you consider Hopkins each finishing position) was also mightily impressive and reset record after record family’s limited funding
was the category pacesetter. naturally keeps title battles as he gained almost 50 in British F4. Take nothing meaning he never had
The eventual champion’s close. But, ultimately, the places from his starting away from Zelos – it was wet-weather tyres during his
better qualifying record fact he only prevailed by positions during the year a brilliant campaign, but karting years, and was quite
(average race-one position one point means he is fourth – no mean feat in a series his win percentage of 38% simply a pleasure to watch.
was 1.33 compared to of the champions in our where overtaking has compared to Fairclough’s Even though his opposition
Coates’s 4.33) means he top 10, despite battling historically proven to 47% means he has to drop was not the strongest, it
edges ahead in our rankings. more experienced rivals. be pretty challenging. back to second this year. was still a masterclass.
LET THE GAMES
BEGIN AGAIN
Motorsport’s ‘Olympics’ is back for its third edition this week and it’s bigger than ever
TOM JEFFRIES
ollowing an expanded 2022 event, the FIA Single Make GT (basically a one-off event of the Ferrari
Motorsport Games is being scaled up again Challenge), plus a new F4-specific Esports race.
F for the 2024 edition, which kicks off this week.
It will be the third iteration of what’s colloquially
The 2022 Games catered for Rally2, Rally4, and Historic
Rally categories. All three return, but this time there are
known as the ‘Olympics for motorsport’ – an asphalt and gravel-specific contests for each category (along
FIA-run competition in which teams compete for their with the combined), offering drivers more avenues in which
country in a diverse mix of motorsport events. to compete. These will take place in and around the Ricardo
Much of the 2024 event will take place at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo circuit, with gravel taking in six stages, a Super Special
Tormo. It’s a track that’s perhaps better known for motorcycling Stage and a medal stage for the top three, while Tarmac will
than cars – it has hosted MotoGP annually since 1999 – but until have eight stages, a Super Special Stage and the medal stage.
27 October it’ll play host to many of the 26 categories (up from This makes it 14 for the combined rally, with an additional
just six in the first iteration and 16 for the second). Among the two Super Special Stages and a seven-mile medal stage,
regulars, such as Formula 4, GT and TCR, new events include adding up to a maximum of nearly 140 miles.
The Esports category has also been expanded with the new F4
BENICHOU/SRO
competition. The FIA already runs the FIA F4 Esports Global

Championship within iRacing, but its F4 contest at the Games will
use the Spa layout because iRacing does not have a model of the
Valencia track. Meanwhile, Esports GT, which runs on Assetto Corsa
Competizione, will be racing at a virtual Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
Two other changes come in Off-Road and Karting, where
new Mini classes have been added for drivers aged from eight
to 12. The inclusion of much younger drivers in these two arrive-
and-drive categories is important to the Games, according to
Stephane Ratel, founder and boss of promoter SRO.
“We want to promote youth and diversity, and to go down to a
younger age exactly embodies what the Motorsport Games is about,”
Ratel stresses the Games’ he says. “We want as many countries represented, we want as
focus on youth, diversity many categories represented. Motorsport is very often perceived
and accessibility as very expensive, with all the luxury and sparkles of Formula 1.
For the general public, it seems not accessible, while the FIA
MOTORSPORT GAMES PREVIEW
2 0 2 4 EVE N TS
CIRCUIT
GT
In the GT class teams of
two will take to the track
in hour-long races. Drivers
will use GT3 machinery
and conduct a driver
PECKS/SRO
swap midway through
the race. Team UK scored
one of its two medals in
the class in 2022, with
Sam Neary and Ian Loggie behind the wheel of a Mercedes-
AMG GT3. This time Chris Froggatt and James Cottingham
will represent the UK, driving a Ferrari 296 GT3.
GT SPRINT
Single drivers will take to the track in a GT3 car for the
sprint, which will last at least 40 minutes. Eight drivers,
including Spaniard Daniel Juncadella and Turkey’s
Ayhancan Guven, will compete, while 2023 British
This year GT champion Darren Leung represents the UK.
more than 700
competitors from 85 SINGLE MAKE GT
countries will take New for 2024, Single Make GT is essentially the Ferrari
part in the Games Challenge category. Bronze-rated drivers will take part
in a 30-minute-plus-one-lap race around Ricardo Tormo
in a Ferrari 296 Challenge car, with Welshman James
PECKS/SRO
Owen taking part for the UK.
FORMULA 4
Popular F4 class won in One of the most popular
2022 by future Mercedes classes, drivers compete
F1 driver Antonelli
in identical Tatuus F4
chassis around Circuit
Ricardo Tormo. Future
Mercedes F1 driver Andrea
BENICHOU/SRO
Kimi Antonelli won last

time around, showcasing
the competitiveness
of the field.
TOURING CAR
“As the Games is developing it’s TCR returns after a successful run in 2022. Brit Jenson
Brickley looks to be in a good place for a medal – he’s
more successful in the grassroots currently leading the TCR Spain standings and took
a first and a third at Ricardo Tormo just three weeks
categories. It needs to be affordable” before the Games.
DRIFTING
and motorsport has to be for everyone.” The most-subscribed car class of 2022, drifting once
And that highlights another aspect of the Games – accessibility again features in the Games. Last year’s Motorsport UK
and equality are behind a lot of the decisions made. “We started Drift Pro Champion Lwi Edwards will be the UK’s entrant,
with GT [in the 2018 FIA GT Nations Cup] with these big expensive behind the wheel of his BMW E36 LSX.
cars, but as the Games is developing it’s more successful in the
grassroots categories,” adds Ratel. “And if you’re talking RALLY
grassroots, it needs to be affordable.” RALLY2 AND RALLY4
Entry fees are surprisingly low – it’s €800 (around £670) to Both Rally2 and Rally4 have three options for drivers
enter either of the Esports categories, while the four-hour Karting to compete in – just gravel, just asphalt, or a mixture
Endurance category costs less than €4000 for a team of three – of the two. Stages will take place in and around Circuit
and Mercedes will partner the games, with the Mercedes AMG Ricardo Tormo, for 100km (gravel), 110km (Tarmac), and
GT3 becoming the exclusive car for the Esports GT category. an additional 11km medal stage for the top three drivers.
It’s all part of that push towards the grassroots of motorsport,
with F4, Karting, Karting and Auto Slalom, and Cross Car
PREVIEW MOTORSPORT GAMES
Mini all being arrive-and-drive. This helps smaller countries or

competitors with modest budgets, since the cost of shipping cars,
mechanics and everything else a race team needs is removed.
Ratel believes this also means that running the events
themselves costs less, and encourages more people to join the
Games. “The cost of organisation is lower than organising the cost
of the bigger categories, where you need track rental, marshals –
it’s a far bigger organisation to organise circuit racing than it is to
organise karting, or Auto Slalom, or Esports,” he says. “It’s essential.
We want youth, we want diversity, we have quite a lot of female
drivers. It’s exactly what the Games were designed for.”
This push for equality extends to the nations. In a departure from
HISTORIC RALLY the Olympics, ASNs (national sporting authorities) can only send
Historic Rally has two categories – for cars produced one entry per event, with mixed-gender squads mandatory for team
between 1970 and 1975, and between 1976 and 1981. events such as Karting Endurance or Slalom. This not only keeps
As with Rally2 and Rally4, drivers can compete on costs down but allows smaller countries to compete more fairly
gravel, Tarmac, or both. with larger ones – no stacking the deck with multiple people
from the same ASN to increase their odds.
OFF-ROAD Encouragingly, this approach is enticing even more countries
CROSS CAR (SR/JR/MINI) to enter the Games. From an initial 20 in the 2018 Nations Cup,
Cross Cars are bike-engined off-road buggies, with races 49 entered the 2019 Motorsport Games, 72 entered in 2022 and
taking place on a purpose-built facility next to the Aspar a whopping 85 will be featuring in 2024. Of these, 114 drivers
circuit where the karting will take place. The addition of and 70 nations will be taking part in Esports, while there will
the Mini category offers drivers as young as eight the be 136 Karting competitors.
chance to compete.
KARTING
SPRINT (SR/JR/MINI)
The Karting element
expands, with Senior,
Junior and – new for
this year – Mini classes,
again offering a race for
BEAUMONT/SRO
drivers between eight

and 12 years old. Races
are 15km (Mini), 25km
(Junior) or 30km (Senior).
ENDURANCE
Twenty-four teams of three drivers will take on the Far from being a struggle to get smaller countries involved, it’s
four-hour endurance karting race at the Aspar Circuit in getting countries with a richer motorsport heritage involved that
Valencia. Karts are supplied by the FIA, allowing for an is a challenge. “I would say that the large ASNs are often a bit
arrive-and-drive approach to determine the best team. blase,” reckons Ratel. “They have a lot of motorsport, and they
have not completely embraced the FIA Motorsport Games yet.
ELECTRIC STREET Some of them did – the UK, Germany, some of them are very
AUTO SLALOM active. Spain of course is hosting the games. But some others are
Mixed-gender teams will take part in an event similar still not very into it, while many smaller motorsport countries that
to auto solo in an FIA-supplied FWD electric street car.
This year that’ll be the Hyundai KONA Electric N Line. Tom Coronel won tin-top gold
in 2022 – and this year his son
KARTING SLALOM Rocco is due to race a kart
Also open for mixed-gender teams, drivers aged between
14 and 16 will compete in 20kW electric karts. Two teams
race simultaneously on identical courses.
ESPORTS
GT
Easily the most popular class of 2024, the Esports GT class
will use Assetto Corsa Competizione. British racer Kieran
Prendergast will fly the flag, hoping to follow the gold
medal scored by James Baldwin last time around.
F4
Another new category, the F4 Esports category will use
iRacing. British sim racer Matt Caruana will represent
the UK. The FIA and iRacing launched a Global Esports
DEUMILLE/SRO
championship earlier in 2024.
MOTORSPORT GAMES PREVIEW
Italy topped the

medals table in
second running
of the Games in
France in 2022
BENICHOU/SRO
you would never imagine would even be present with

two drivers are coming with 10, and that is a great
“Nothing comes overnight. In
satisfaction for us.” motorsport, when you launch
The UK is one of the most active ASNs at the
Games. It had the third-largest delegation in 2022 something new, it takes time”
with 19 drivers (Belgium sent 22, while Spain sent 26
and hosts France 14 – this year they’re only sending
eight). This time 25 competitors from the UK will possible to get enough competitors from enough nationalities.”
be taking part in 16 categories, with team captain It’s perhaps little surprise that Truck Racing has had to be
Chris Froggatt leading the charge. delayed given that the European Truck Racing Championship
It all points towards an event that’s growing. There’s still room to has drivers from just five countries, with two of those – Hungary
expand, with Cross-Country Rally a potential event for 2026. It’s not and Portugal – only having one driver each in the field. Five of
to say that everything has had such an emphatic response, though: the seven circuits the series visits have no home drivers, and the
Truck Racing and a Rally All-Stars category were both slated for cost of renting or transporting trucks, not to mention running
2024 but dropped due to lack of interest. “Truck Racing was a bit them, will also have been considerable.
complicated, in terms of the number of participants, so we have While Truck Racing may not have a large following in Spain,
postponed it,” explains Ratel. “We’ll see next edition if it will be the Games are very open to the idea of adding events that fit
the host country’s passion for sport. “I would say a bit like the
Olympics, which have a number of categories that are selected
by the host city or host country – it could be the same with the
Motorsport Games,” says Ratel.
So far, the games have all been held in Europe – first Rome with
Vallelunga, then Marseille with Paul Ricard, and now Valencia
with Ricardo Tormo. As the event draws an increasingly global
interest, moving away from Europe must be seen as the next step.
The Race of Champions – which has held just seven of its 33
events outside of Europe – announced recently that Sydney will
be its host in 2025. That the not-too-dissimilarly-run ROC, where
teams of professional drivers compete for their country, is still
running more than 30 years after its inaugural event will surely
provide some measure of confidence to the Games.
Ratel is confident that the Games will become an intrinsic event
in motorsport. “Nothing comes overnight,” he says. “In motorsport,
when you launch something new, completely new, it takes time. I
think the progress in only three editions is there, and I believe that
it will become a very major event in the motorsport calendar.”
With more than 700 competitors from 85 countries, plus
partnerships with Mercedes and Hyundai, that “major event”
status Ratel and the FIA are after seems to be on the way.

Autotel
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MOTORSPORT JOBS CLASSIFIEDS
TECHNICAL SERVICES MANAGER DESIGN ENGINEER - AERODYNAMICS

Alpine F1 Team Aston Martin F1 Team
As part of the Alpine long-term plan to compete for F1 World About the Role:
Championships we are looking to add to our talented team with • Imagine a role where your passion for aerodynamics meets the
individuals who are motivated to significantly contribute to our cutting edge of Formula One innovation. As a (Graduate) Design
relentless pursuit of excellence. engineer within the Aerodynamics Department, you’ll have the
We are looking for a Technical Services Manager to organise and unique opportunity to be at the forefront of the generation of
oversee maintenance across our extensive site at Enstone, the aerodynamic design concepts, collaborating directly with
determining appropriate responses and planning preventative and Senior Technical Leadership, Design Engineers and
reactive maintenance as required. Aerodynamicists, to contribute to our mission of consistently
securing a top-three spot in the FIA Constructor’s Championship.
The Role
Skills and Attributes:
Key Accountabilities in this role will be: • CATIA Expertise: Proficiency in CATIA V5/V6/3DX, with a focus on
• Providing ‘First Fix’ support for production equipment and test advanced surfacing techniques would be an advantage.
rigs to ensure continuity of operation. • Strong understanding of CAD design techniques.
• Maintain and develop relationships with key technical partners • Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to surface modelling
to improve scope & service delivery. and design accuracy.
• Provide technical support to the project delivery team and • Collaborative Mindset: Ability to work effectively within a
operation heads of departments. multidisciplinary team.
• Review and update the appropriate asset list for the department. • Problem-Solving: Creative problem-solving skills to optimize
• Create and manage effective planned maintenance regimes for aerodynamic shapes.
operational equipment. • Adaptability: Willingness to question conventions and embrace
• Optimise the use CAFM and Help Desk applications and report modern approaches.
on key metrics. • Passion for Racing: Share our racer’s spirit and hunger for competition.
• Compile Root Cause Analysis reports for any significant event.
Additional Skills:
The Person • Understanding of aerodynamic principles would be beneficial but
• The successful candidate will ideally have a relevant electrical or not necessarily essential
mechanical qualification with a hands-on approach to facilities
Qualifications:
maintenance. Strong knowledge of mechanical and/or electrical
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Automotive Engineering,
plant will be essential.
Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• You will be confident in a team environment with the ability to lead
• Experience in high-level motorsport or aerospace environments
and organise a small team. Your communication will be excellent
would be beneficial
along with your ability to plan and prioritise tasks and projects.
MOTORSPORT JOBS
To apply now visit www.motorsportjobs.com To apply now visit www.motorsportjobs.com
COMPOSITE AND TEAM MECHANICAL SUPPORT - ERS ENGINEER

JAGUAR TCS RACING Honda Racing UK
Fortescue Zero Main Responsibilities;
What you will do • Manage and look after each ERS System and ERS control data
• Assemble, adjust, repair and disassemble the team’s composite at F1 Trackside.
components on event and at the factory. • Attend the mission control room to support the trackside
• Assemble / repair / maintain components, pit and garage • Provide instruction to ERS technicians
equipment and car hardware as required. • Provide instruction to Chassis team relating to High Voltage
• Liaising with race engineering, prepare wheels, tyres and TPMS System Operation
units and then arrange fitting, before managing tyres during • Understand updated control specification (algorithm), create and
sessions at race and test events. Will include in-session pressure setup control data for ERS System.
adjustments, tyre running and supplier / engineer liaison. • Summarize the running result and Report Faults
• Assemble and maintain race and test garage infrastructures and • Daily report; Create and Report Daily trackside feedback
hardware both on event and when at the factory. information etc.
• Provide hands on support for factory operations as required. • Support dyno testing activities in Japan, UK and any customer site
• Ideally, possess a good vehicle wrapping skillset; able to • Some training in Japan might be required
confidently wrap complex bodywork and garage infrastructure • Any other reasonable tasks as required by the Company
components. Knowledge, Skills and Experience;
• Provide feedback of any component issues and problems. • Significant ERS exposure and experience
• Adhere to all Jag FE and wider business processes and policies. • Advanced ERS / Battery analysis, monitor and development
• Follow all safety regulations in all venues. experience
• ERS testing methodologies
About you • Knowledge of F1 Power Units
• Experience of solid composite trackside assembly and on event • Ability to analyse data from Power-Unit reliability and
repair experience, in a motorsport environment. performance aspect
• A confident team player, familiar with the fast paced and • Fault finding and diagnostic abilities
ever-changing requirements of a race and test team. • Track-side experience
• Be able to work independently to strict deadlines as well as • Excellent document presentational skills
being a strong team player. • Familiar with analysis tools such as ATLAS, System Monitor
• To be able to work under their own initiative when necessary. • An adept communicator, able to build good relationships across
• To have a ‘can do’ proactive attitude and proactively support others. all cultures both internally and externally
• Complete tasks given within agreed time frames. • Fluency in spoken & written English is essential. Competence in
• Flexible attitude to working hours. Japanese or another European language is desirable
Want to advertise a motorsport job?

If you are recruiting in motorsport and wish to advertise with Autosport in print and digital
please contact james.robinson@motorsport.com or call +44 (0)7717 883 990
60 AUTOSPORT.COM 2 4 O c t o b e r 2 0 2 4
MOTORSPORT JOBS CLASSIFIEDS
HEAD OF SIMULATOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCED RACE CAR MECHANIC

McLaren Racing Pegasus Classic Engineering
Principal Accountabilities: We are seeking candidates on a self-employed basis who strive for
• Providing simulator development leadership & direction. perfection and aspire to work in an environment where quality is
• Recruiting, developing & mentoring a Group of world class paramount. The individual must be able to operate with a high level
engineers & technicians. of detail and accuracy and have an enthusiasm for classic cars.
• Providing line management and pastoral supervision.
• Delivering against the development priorities specified by Senior Your responsibilities will include –
Management. • Race Car preparation for events
• Delivering the test programme via preparation & maintenance of • Ground up rebuilds and restorations
simulator hardware & software. • Gearbox rebuilds
• Ensuring alignment of simulator hardware & software with the • Fiberglass bodywork fitting
real world (e.g. tracks, chassis hardware, ECU software).
• Attendance at Race meetings and Test days both in the UK and
• Enabling rapid adoption of trackside software & models in the
Europe
simulator.
• Managing prioritisation of customers’ feature requests & faults Who we are looking for –
alongside longer-term projects. • At least 8 years of experience in a classic car restoration and
Knowledge, Skills and Experience: race preparation environment.
Essential • Previous race-team experience would be beneficial but not
• World class knowledge of DIL simulator hardware, software & essential.
systems integration technology. • A general knowledge of light fabrication and welding would be
• Qualified to postgraduate level (or equivalent industrial preferred, but not essential.
experience) in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, • A perfectionist with a sharp eye for detail and a passion for
Physical Sciences, Control Engineering or a related discipline. classic cars. Good at hitting deadlines and targets, and able to
Extensive knowledge of the following: follow detailed instructions.
• Developing and using models in Matlab / Simulink / C++;
• Great communication skills, with a positive ‘can-do’ attitude, a
• Motion cueing and human factors;
strong work ethic, always on time, and organised.
• Graphics rendering;
• Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems; • Eagerness to learn new skills and enjoy working as part of a
successful team
Desirable
• Experienced in the application of simulator technology to a • Hold a Full UK Driving Licence, preferably with BE certification or
high-end motorsport setting. willing to undertake training and qualification.
MOTORSPORT JOBS
PAINT AND PATTERN SHOP PRODUCTION CONTROLLER OPERATIONS PLANNER

Red Bull Racing Williams Racing
Job Description Key Responsibilities:
Red Bull Technology has a new vacancy, within the Production • Schedule Management: Generate and manage accurate works
Control Group, for a Paint and Pattern Shop Production Controller. orders, optimizing daily capacity to inform make-vs-buy
decisions and maintain precise delivery dates.
The role will provide a clear, unambiguous and achievable • Lead Time Expertise: Develop comprehensive knowledge of
production plan for both the Paint Shop and Pattern Shop, component and assembly lead times, collaborating with
understanding & controlling their capacity, in line with agreed qtys stakeholders to inform planning teams effectively.
and in accordance with production control and business priorities. • Production Efficiency: Ensure smooth movement of parts
They will ensure all assemblies carry an authentic build structure through production, addressing non-conformance reports
and bill of materials, whilst following company procedures of part promptly.
traceability, consumption and parts management. • Stakeholder Communication: Liaise across departments to
Reporting to the Production Control Team Manager, the successful maintain clear priorities and provide insights on upcoming
applicant will be Epicor (or similar business system) fluent, used to demands, including scenario modeling for capacity challenges.
working to challenging deadlines in a fast-paced environment and • BOM Oversight: Ensure availability of all sub-components for
knowledge of the Turnaround demands on the business. Whilst manufacturing processes.
prior experience in a similar role is not essential, the successful • Delivery Commitment: Manage promise dates and delivery
applicant will need excellent organisational skills and attention to commitments, communicating clearly with internal customers
detail. The person will have the ability to work closely within an and stakeholders about necessary adjustments.
already established, tight-knit, team. Excellent communications • Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with Production
skills are a must for this role. Schedulers to generate work lists based on accurate priorities
and delivery dates.
At Red Bull Technology we offer more than just a job. Beyond • Procurement Coordination: Partner with the Procurement team
competitive salaries, our comprehensive benefits package to expedite delivery of required works orders.
includes private health care, life assurance, and a company-
contributed pension scheme. You’ll also enjoy perks like an on-site The Ideal Candidate:
gym, fitness classes, daily food allowance, free barista style hot Proven experience in production control and scheduling, capable
drinks, and of course, lots of Red Bull to keep you firing on all of managing multiple complex assembly portfolios.
cylinders! • Engineering background, preferably with knowledge of modern
Composite and metallic production techniques.
• Interest or experience in Motorsport – professional or personal.
• Degree level qualification in Production Management is
advantageous.
Want to advertise a motorsport job?

If you are recruiting in motorsport and wish to advertise with Autosport in print and digital
please contact james.robinson@motorsport.com or call +44 (0)7717 883 990
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MRL runs successful pilot race for GT3 Legends series
CLUB RACING O HISTORICS O F E AT U R E S
Fe s t iva l
double
for S m it h
ld M oto rsp or t driver
Oldfie
takes vic tor y, b ut fa ce s
Middlehurst appeal
BRC contenders prepare British racer wins at BTCC champions to tackle

for Cambrian decider Ferrari world finals club racing contests
N AT I O N A L N E W S C L U B A U T O S P O R T
MICKK WALKER
A total of 23 GT3s from

2006-15 took part in the
pilot race at Silverstone
GT3 Legends series off to a strong start

MRL chairman of the Royal Automobile Club. shift going on in historics, not just with GT3.
“There’s a lot of interest, and people have Look at Peter Auto with their Endurance
The new GT3 Legends series due for told me they’ve already sold cars,” Lynn told Legends series featuring early to mid-2000
launch next year looks set to fly, judging Autosport. “We’re bringing new blood to the cars, and these being a little newer than that.
by the success of a pilot race run at classic scene. We’ve got an exciting calendar If I was coming into historics now, I would
Silverstone last Saturday. for next year, including a couple of European relate to these cars more than a Lotus
A total of 23 early-generation GT3s, run events, followed by some good stuff in the Cortina. It’s an age thing.”
across three classes covering 2006-15, lined UK. There’s much to look forward to.” MRL’s newly appointed CEO was also
up as promotor Motor Racing Legends The 50-minute pilot race was won by at Silverstone. Pierre-Antoine Lecoutour
signed off its 2024 season. The series is Matt Holme and Andrew Jordan in an previously spent 10 years running Peter Auto
the creation of Shaun Lynn – historics racer, ex-Callaway-run Corvette. “This series in Europe and has been tasked by Lynn, who
car collector and father to Hypercar ace looks very good, there’s quite a bit of describes 2025 as a “building year”, to expand
Alex – who bought MRL earlier this year. buzz about it,” said Jordan. MRL’s historic remit. “A lot of credit to
After a transitional season, Lynn has now “To have this amount of cars for the first Duncan and his team,” said Lynn. “Race
fully taken the reins from Duncan Wiltshire, race is impressive. It’s an opportunity for promotion is a lot of work, for no money!”
who has already stepped into a new role as teams and for MRL. There’s definitely a DAMIEN SMITH
British Army support Partnership worked well

at Brands, despite result
could continue for 2025

BRITISH GT GR Supra GT4 was run in a
camouflage livery. Historics
Speedworks Motorsport boss racer Benjamin Tusting was
Danny Buxton has revealed running seventh after 40
he is keen to continue a minutes, but an unscheduled
partnership with the British pitstop due to a holed radiator
Army first formed ahead of caused the car to finish 10 laps
JEP
this season’s final British GT down despite series veteran

round at Brands Hatch. Michael O’Brien claiming
Speedworks, which fastest lap. has been brilliant and the create a package for 2025. From
competes as Toyota Gazoo “To have the British Army crew have been faultless. my side, I’m buzzing – just
Racing, collaborated with the involved for next year would “We’ll do a deep dive and apart from the [Brands] result
Army for the two-hour season be a dream come true,” said look at the value the Army has and what could have been.”
finale last month where the Buxton. “The combination had from this experience and ED HARDY
C L U B A U T O S P O R T N AT I O N A L N E W S
HILL TO PARTNER
GINETTA RACER Turkington has previously
HART IN FUN CUP driven 325ti on trackdays
BRSCC
Recently crowned British

Touring Car champion Jake Hill
will tackle this weekend’s Fun
Cup finale alongside Ginetta
Junior frontrunner Charlie Hart.
Rookie pairings who win on
their Fun Cup debut receive
a £10,000 prize, and that is the
target for Hill and Hart, who
was third in this year’s Ginetta
standings, at Oulton Park.
BMW CAR CLUB GB

“I helped coach Charlie for
Elite over the last three years,”
JEP
explained Hill. “His dad Chris
[a past Fun Cup champion] said,
‘Look, Fun Cup have put on
a prize of 10 grand if a new pair
come in and win a race’. So he
BTCC team-mates Turkington and
was like, ‘Do you want to do it with
Charlie?’ And I said I’ve always
wanted to have a go at one.
Morgan enter Birkett in BMW 325tis
“We’re just going to go and 750MC opportunity to do a bit of racing with a bit
have fun. It will be really nice as less pressure and I can just go and enjoy the
well to race with a lad that I’ve Colin Turkington will team up with fellow event. I’m not quite sure what to expect; I’m
coached. I’ve never done that yet, BMW British Touring Car racer Adam not sure I’ve ever done an endurance race
so I’m looking forward to that, Morgan to contest this weekend’s before – my whole career has been sprint
and Charlie boy’s a good lad.” Birkett Relay at Silverstone. racing. The relay seems like a completely
The duo are part of a 30-car Turkington and Morgan will be joined by unique way to go racing and hopefully the
grid, featuring several other BMW Car Club committee member Paul handicappers look on us favourably!”
high-profile names as well as Laramy in a trio of BMW 325ti machines for Turkington is not the only BTCC
regular pacesetters. British GT the six-hour contest, which has scratch and champion on the entry list, however. Tim
stars Phil Keen and Ian Loggie handicap prizes. Four-time BTCC champion Harvey will return to the Birkett for the first
are also on the entry, along with Turkington has previously driven a 325 on time since he was part of a Chevron B8 team
former BTCC ace Anthony Reid. trackdays and is looking forward to a rare that enjoyed scratch success in 1986. He
MARCUS SIMMONS & outing on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit will be part of a four-car squad of Suzuki
STEPHEN LICKORISH and the chance to sample endurance racing. Swifts, built for the 750 Motor Club’s new
“I’m good friends with Neil McDonald, Swift Sport Challenge series, which also
who runs the BMW Car Club GB race series,” comprises Ryan and Scott Parkin, Adam
explained Turkington of the Team BMW Blair and Dan Silvester. Away from the
entry. “Neil’s been asking me for a few years track, a road-going Swift will be converted
if I would like to do the Birkett but, for some into race specification during the contest,
RICHARD STYLES
reason, it hasn’t worked out in the past. to illustrate how accessible the category is.
“I’m really looking forward to it – it’s an STEPHEN LICKORISH
N AT I O N A L N E W S C L U B A U T O S P O R T
Welsh wizard called the TATE’S NEW ROLES

right strategy in Imola rain Former Donington Park managing
director Christopher Tate will
become chair of the Motorsport UK
Council, succeeding Tom Purves,
and take a place on the governing
body’s board of directors at the start
of next year. Tate has held a variety
of positions within motorsport and
already sits on several Motorsport UK
committees. “There are important
years ahead for motorsport
everywhere, and there is much to be
done – I look forward to it,” he said.
FERRARI
WEST AT BMW SUMMIT
Jason West has won this year’s
Owen enjoys Ferrari world final success Ramair BMW Championship, the
first year it has run with the Classic
Sports Car Club and without Kumho
FERRARI leaderboard. He moved to the front when sponsorship. West has taken class
the rain intensified in the final minutes, glory before, but never the overall
An inspired tactical decision helped forcing the leaders to stop for wets. title. The M3 E46 driver was positive
Briton James Owen to victory in the Ferrari “Before the red flag the track was wet in about the series’ 2024 growth and
Challenge world finals at Imola last Sunday. sector two and everyone was tip-toeing along,” also the switch away from control
Owen, who races in the Am class with the explained Owen. “I thought that, if I were tyres – and he has his own unusual
Meridien Motorsport - Engstler team and will on wets, I’d be able to gain track position and source, purchasing used British
represent Team UK in this year’s FIA Motorsport then hold people off in sectors three and one. Touring Car tyres from a team.
Games, crossed the line first in his 296 Challenge “When I was in the pitlane during the red, the
in a dramatic, rain-affected race interrupted by team were saying, ‘Are you sure about this?’ It was BRSCC BMW SERIES SHARE
a red flag. The 38-year-old Briton was crowned a gamble because I’d really gone for it over the Five of the British Racing & Sports
Am champion for the event that brings together first couple of laps and was up to fourth in Am. Car Club’s BMW 1 Series Supercup
cars from Ferrari’s one-make challenge series, “It hadn’t actually started raining at the restart cars ran as an invitation class on
while Bence Valint took the Pro title with third. but, in the wet sector, everyone was squirming the Compact Cup grid at Silverstone
Owen, who is in his second year of racing, around. Halfway around the third lap, it started earlier this month as a prelude to the
called for wet tyres shortly before the reds. He to hammer down. Everyone else was hanging on categories joining forces next year.
persuaded his team to make the change during for dear life and I was able to get into the lead.” Pacesetter Matt Parkes set a time
the stoppage before progressing rapidly up the GARY WATKINS 1.5 seconds faster than Compact Cup
polesitter Steven Dailly in qualifying,
although the margin was narrower in
the races when the Supercup cars
started from a secondary grid.
Historic FF1600 champion Shinner REMEMBERING VAN KOUWEN
eyes more modern race outings The life of Gerrit van Kouwen, winner
of the 1984 Formula Ford Festival
who died earlier this year, was
FF1600 The 21-year-old retired after 21 laps celebrated at last weekend’s Brands
during Sunday’s grand final after a tough Hatch contest. The event was named
Historic Formula Ford champion Saturday meant he had to compete in the after the Dutchman in consultation
Spencer Shinner would like to tackle Last Chance race having failed to break with his family, who were in
more events in modern machinery next out of his semi-final. “I just didn’t get into attendance, including wife Suzy
year, despite a difficult Formula Ford the flow,” said Shinner following his semi- and brother Martin. He said: “We
Festival at Brands Hatch last weekend. final performance, where he finished 14th, didn’t expect so many people [to
just outside of the automatic qualification remember him] and, as a family,
GARY HAWKINS
Shinner was part of spots for the final. we’re very proud.” A replica of
Oldfield’s Festival line-up The Cornwall-born driver was full of van Kouwen’s winning Lola T644E
praise for the 2013 Oldfield Motorsport Van (below) was put on display and
Diemen JL13 that he drove at the weekend, also took to the track.
adding: “I would like to do more in modern
cars next year, it’s nice to keep a challenge.”
Having landed the Historic Formula Ford
crown this season, Shinner also spoke about
how he “would like to defend his title next
season” but said it’s a case of “balancing the
GARY HAWKINS
racing budget with university fees as well”.

JACOB AWCOCK
Four-way fight for BRC spoils
JEP
RALLYING Toyota Yaris Rally2 (above). to the final but, of course, we works, it gives us all a chance.”
Creighton and Ingram head will give it our best shot,” said Cronin, however, says his
The outcome of the British the points, and victory for Creighton, who took victory last chances are slim, admitting:
Rally Championship will either would clinch the title. time out on Rali Ceredigion. “It would require Will, Chris
be settled in a spectacular However, Pryce and Cronin Ingram, who has scored and Osian to all have really
four-way contest on Saturday’s are still in contention and the three wins this season (on the bad days in the office and
Cambrian Rally in the forests format of normal points scores North West Stages, Grampian that’s not going to happen.”
of North Wales. being multiplied by 1.5 for the and ‘other’ Rali Ceredigion) Joining the entry will be
William Creighton, Chris finale leaves the contest open. added: “The only plan is World Rally champion Stig
Ingram, Osian Pryce and Keith If Pryce wins with Creighton to try and deliver my best Blomqvist, who will drive a
Cronin are all in contention second, Pryce would be performance. I need to avoid Mini Cooper S. Organised by
over 60 stage miles, which champion, while Cronin needs any mistakes and drive well.” Ian Hunt, the outing for Stig
will be held in Clocaenog Creighton and Ingram to finish Pryce, BRC champion in and co-driver Paul Morris is
and Alwen. Ford Fiesta Rally2 lower down the order for a 2022, said: “There’s four of us in celebration of 40 years since
drivers Creighton, Pryce and shot at his fifth BRC crown. going for the title and, because Blomqvist’s 1984 WRC crown.
Cronin will take on Ingram’s “There are a lot of variables of the way the points system PAUL LAWRENCE
Caterham champions crowned Hat-trick of wins secured

Cook the 310R title
BARC for Cook gave him the glory.

Paul Goldstein claimed a brace
Caterham Motorsport and the of titles over the weekend, first in
Caterham Graduates Racing Club Roadsport before a recovery drive
brought their respective seasons from the back of the grid in the
OLLIE READ
to a close at Donington Park last Graduates Sigma 135 category

weekend, with 19 races taking place secured another. Bruno van Dyke,
and champions being crowned. an Academy frontrunner, moved
The destiny of the 310R up to Roadsport for the season
Championship went down to the finale and romped to a pair of wins. In the Seven UK Championship, less
wire, with Harry Cook claiming the Victory in the Autumn Trophy, an than half a second covered the top two
title against season-long rival Taylor amalgamation of the two Caterham in each race. William Smith and Harry
O’Flanagan. The latter led after Academy classes, went to White Senior won the opening races before
dropped scores heading into the Group champion Paul Oggelsby from Samuel Smith, who had come second
meeting, but a hat-trick of wins Dean Burden and Alex Coombes. on both occasions, headed the finale.
O P I N I O N C LU B AU TO S P O RT
Highs and lows of the Festival

A commemoration off-track was somewhat overshadowed
by events on it after another controversial conclusion
ST E FA N M AC K L E Y
here’s a unique atmosphere in the paddock drivers at the front of the field was perhaps lacking compared
immediately following any Formula Ford Festival, with other editions. Two-time winner Niall Murray was a
T one that consists of disappointment, hard luck
stories and no shortage of ‘what if’ scenarios.
no-show due to other commitments in Ireland, while there
were no entries from Kevin Mills’s frontrunning outfit. Nor
Drivers and teams that have spent days testing, was there any presence from the Team USA Scholarship.
battling through heats and semi-finals to come within reach of Even so, the likes of two-time victors Rory Smith and Joey
the ultimate prize and a place in history leave empty-handed as Foster were competing, and the latter could well have won the
there can only be one winner. This year, for the time being at event outright for the third time but for an incident, the fallout
least, Josh Smith added to his triumph in 2018 with Oldfield of which is set to rumble on for a few more weeks.
Motorsport and, in many ways, it was perhaps fitting that it The Firman driver ended up in the gravel at Clearways having
was his car that should win. tried a move to the outside of leader Josh Smith. The matter
The triumphant Van Diemen sported a tribute livery and the was looked at by the clerk of the course, then the stewards at the
same ‘200’ number with which Gerrit van Kouwen had claimed behest of runner-up Chris Middlehurst, but both sets of officials
his own Festival victory 40 years ago. The likeable Dutchman was came back with a verdict of no further action being necessary.
an ever-present figure at the Brands Hatch blue-riband event, The reigning Walter Hayes Trophy (WHT) winner, who
only missing the 2020 edition because of COVID-19 restrictions will look to defend his crown next month, now plans to take
and last season’s fixture due to the illness that would ultimately the matter to the National Court in a situation similar to what
claim his life earlier this year. happened at the Silverstone event two years ago. In that scenario
To celebrate the memory of van Kouwen and his achievement at the WHT, on-track winner Max Esterson was handed a five-
four decades ago, the event was named after him, while a replica second penalty for a similar incident with Tom Mills. That also
of his 1984-winning Lola T644E was put on display in one of the went to the National Court, with the appeal unsuccessful.
garages and also took to the track in a demonstration run over the While there are parallels between the two, there are also
weekend. His family were in attendance, including wife Suzy. crucial differences. Both took place on a long, sweeping right-
This writer had the privilege of speaking with his brother Martin, hand bend with the leading car on the inside but the optimal
racing line in wet conditions being at the very edge of the track.
In the case of Esterson versus Mills, however, the latter had
“The whole situation has left placed his car much further alongside, before the American
lost control briefly and slid into his opponent, making contact,
a somewhat bitter taste in and forcing him off.
In last weekend’s incident, at no point did Foster’s front wheels
the mouths of many” move past Smith’s rear tyre, nor did Smith lose control or make
any contact – although it could be argued there would have
been had Foster not taken to the gravel. If anyone should feel
who recalled the experience of supporting his older sibling at aggrieved, it is Foster. Instead, the appeal is being taken up
Brands as a 12-year-old, when van Kouwen became the first by Middlehurst who, although directly behind the incident,
man to set a lap under the 49-second barrier at the Festival. was in no way impeded by what occurred ahead.
The final in many ways proved to be a fitting tribute, consisting Middlehurst made it clear that Smith should have been
of several changes for the lead, controversial incidents and an penalised just as he had been for an incident at Clearways during
outcome that remained unknown until the chequered flag – the heats. In that instance, Smith had moved to the inside of
and even after it! The race was helped by a new initiative leader Jason Smyth and forced him off, but the pair were
implemented by the organising British Racing & Sports Car Club, directly wheel-to-wheel and a penalty for Smith – in the form
which was to add laps run behind the safety car back onto the of a one-place grid drop for the semi-final – was merited.
total race distance. It meant that the scheduled 20-lap final Regardless, the whole situation has left a somewhat bitter taste
was extended by five laps, a move certainly welcomed by in the mouths of many and capped off an event that showcased
fans and drivers for a contest that lasted nearly 30 minutes. both the good and the bad of Formula Ford.
What was noticeable, however, was that despite entries being
P70 FESTIVAL REPORT
slightly up on last year generally, the number of top-quality
Smith seals
second Festival
victory amid protest
BRANDS HATCH For now, at least, Josh Smith added into Clearways due to a problem with the
BRSCC FORMULA FORD FESTIVAL to his Festival success in 2018 after gear linkage, Smith moved to the inside
19-20 OCTOBER claiming the spoils for Oldfield Motorsport before edging his rival off into the gravel.
ahead of reigning Walter Hayes Trophy The Van Diemen JL13 driver, who was
Torrential rain, controversial collisions, victor Chris Middlehurst, but with the sporting an homage livery to van Kouwen,
off-track feuds and a provisional winner latter likely to appeal the result. was handed a one-place grid drop for the
characterised the 2024 edition of the Smith’s path to the final had been one of semi-final as punishment, demoting him
Formula Ford Festival last weekend controversy as early as the dry third heat, to second, where he would eventually
at Brands Hatch. which he won having taken pole position finish having recovered from as low
The annual blue-riband event, which in a wet qualifying. The former British GT as fourth at one stage.
this year was named in honour of Gerrit driver, who only contested one FF1600 Middlehurst’s journey to the final had
van Kouwen to mark the 40th anniversary event this year in preparation for the come via two victories, the Van Diemen
of his own Festival victory after the Festival, initially lost the lead off the line LA10 driver edging Luke Cooper and
Dutchman passed away earlier this year, to fellow front-row starter Jason Smyth Morgan Quinn in the second heat before
provided plenty of drama that is set as the pair began to gap the field. dominating the second semi-final,
to rumble on for several more weeks. But, when Smyth missed a gear change which was held in possibly the wettest
of the conditions on Sunday. Smyth, who
Foster charged up from recovered to second in the heat after his
22nd before going off excursion, finished four seconds adrift.
It left Middlehurst on pole for the
final followed by Team Dolan team-mates
Jordan Kelly and Smyth. For Bernard
Dolan’s outfit, the weekend was ultimately
a case of what could have been, with
ALL PHOTOGRAPHY: GARY HAWKINS
four of the squad’s cars inside the top

five on the grid for the final, Quinn
finding himself fifth behind Smith.
Kelly, last year’s National Formula
Ford champion who had won both
the opening heat and first semi-final
comfortably, found himself in the lead
coming out of Druids on the first lap.
N AT I O N A L R E P O R T S C L U B A U T O S P O R T
RO LLE R COA STE R WEE K E ND FO R R EI GN IN G W I NN ER
Rory Smith had to battle from

the back in each race
Two-time Festival winner Rory Smith But a small lapse in concentration

was left to rue a combination of bad had dire consequences with just one
Middlehurst (r) luck and costly mistakes as he ultimately corner remaining. “I was just trying to be
finished second failed to become the first driver to win sensible, I wasn’t planning to do a crazy
but plans to appeal back-to-back events despite being lunge [into Clearways] but he [Josh Smith]
the result and one of the favourites. made a small mistake,” said Rory Smith.
Smith’s victory The Medina Sport JL18 driver “I thought, ‘If I go to the outside and get
claimed pole for the opening heat in good traction out of the last corner, I might
dominant fashion but disaster struck be able to overtake’. I just misjudged it,
as he approached the grid before the race dropped a wheel in the gravel, and was
even began. “I was just getting some heat lucky to even get back on the track.
in the rear tyres and pulling up to the box I’m gutted.”
on my last burnout when the driveshaft Crossing the line in 13th meant he
failed,” he said. “It’s never happened agonisingly missed out on automatically
Middlehurst had run slightly wide in before, it was just a freak failure.” progressing to the final by one spot, and
the wet conditions before slotting into It meant he had no option but to pull off instead lined up on the front row for the
second ahead of Smyth, and the recovering to the side of the track and watch as the eight-lap Last Chance race. It was a contest
Smith, who had briefly dropped to fifth other cars began the race without him, he dominated, giving himself a starting
behind the fast-starting Cooper. and he was forced to compete in the grid position of 25th for the final.
The complexion of the race then turned Progression race just a few hours later to Despite having benefited from an
on its head approaching Clearways on the stand any chance of racing on Sunday. incident-filled race with two safety cars
second lap, with Smyth diving to the inside After starting 23rd and needing to finish on a wet track, he crossed the line in
of Middlehurst. The 18-year-old moved in as high up as possible to give himself a sixth place and was left to rue what
front but clipped the rear of his team-mate better grid position for Sunday’s semi-final, could have been.
Kelly ahead, which sent both of them he produced a stunning display to win the “We struggled a bit for pace, I think the
spinning. “We’re really good friends and race in just 12 laps. Back in 22nd for the track changed quite a bit [from earlier in
he’s the last person I would want this to opening semi-final held in wet conditions, the day],” he said. “We’ve got two nice
happen to,” said an apologetic Smyth. Smith showcased his prowess as one of laurels and two trophies in the back of the
With Middlehurst forced to check-up the strongest drivers at the event as he truck, so you’d think we’ve had a great
to avoid the melee ahead, Smith took made his way up to third and challenged weekend, but it doesn’t feel like that.”
the initiative and surged from fourth eventual final winner, Josh Smith. JACOB AWCOCK
into a lead that, ultimately, he would
not relinquish. Middlehurst maintained
second from Hugh Esterson and Cooper,
and kept the new leader in arm’s reach
during the opening half of proceedings,
slowly reducing a gap that never exceeded
one second.
The race’s biggest threat began to
materialise from behind, though, in the
shape of Joey Foster. The two-time outright
Festival winner in 2003 and 2017 had only What could have been
started 22nd for the final, having found for Smith without car issue?
himself in the Clearways gravel during the
semi-final after taking avoiding action.
The Firman driver had claimed fourth
C L U B A U T O S P O R T N AT I O N A L R E P O R T S
in the second heat after a broken front

anti-roll bar left him just seventh in a wet
qualifying but, after deciding to save his
new set of tyres for the final, unlike most,
Foster was on a charge. He moved into
fifth at the expense of Quinn on lap nine
on the outside line into Paddock Hill
and passed Esterson, who had dropped
behind Cooper, two tours later.
His progress was momentarily halted by
the first of two safety cars, though, after
fellow Firman driver Leanne McShane Smyth and Smith nearly
became stranded on the inside of tangled in the heats
Clearways. As Smith and Middlehurst
pulled away at the restart on lap 15,
Cooper was slow to react and was demoted defences and, on lap 22, spied a gap on the the clerk should look at that,” said
immediately by Foster on his now favoured outside into Clearways but one that began Middlehurst. The runner-up lobbied the
outside line into Paddock, performing the to diminish as Smith moved across, and officals to look into the incident, with
same move on Middlehurst just a tour later. Foster found himself in the gravel. After a verdict of no further action, a view
However, any assault on Smith had flooring the throttle so as not to get stuck, shared by the stewards four hours after
to wait, after Kelly found himself in the Foster rejoined into the path of Smyth, the chequered flag, with it noted that
Paddock barrier at the top of the hill who had been running sixth after his Middlehurst “advised that he wished
having gone off at high speed, but earlier incident, and the collision sent to take the matter to the National Court”.
was unhurt. A second safety car was both into the gravel and retirement. “I was just trying to make the car as wide
required, with six laps left after five With the stranded cars covered by local as I could and I couldn’t believe it when
tours were added to compensate for yellow flags for the remaining three laps, it Joey came up behind, he had amazing
the time lost under both cautions. meant a potential overtaking spot was off pace,” said Smith. “He was right behind me
Foster immediately launched his car limits for Middlehurst, who was now back [into Clearways] and then he wasn’t.” When
to the outside of Smith at Paddock, but in second ahead of Cooper, Esterson and asked if he had made contact, he said: “Not
carrying too much speed into the bend Quinn. With Smith covering the inside line at all, there’s not a blemish on the car.”
meant he ran slightly wide and had to slot into Paddock, the order remained the same Team boss James Oldfield added: “I can’t
back in behind having shown his hand. “I until the chequered flag, at least on track. believe we’ve won it again, this was just
knew I had to make it count,” rued Foster. “It seems like Josh ran Joey off the road an idea six months ago.”
He continued to probe at Smith’s – he did that a few times this weekend and STEFAN MACKLEY
HIG H, W IDE AND HAND SOM E P ROV ES THE DI FFER EN CE I N HISTOR I CS
Darwin Smith produced an start and positioned himself over the 15-lap affair, looking
incredible defensive display on the outside but a lapse in down the inside of Paddock Hill
in treacherous conditions to concentration led to him skating multiple times, but Smith was
claim victory in the Historic off into the gravel, dropping wise to his moves and placed
Final, beating Tom Hawkins down the order and eventually his car perfectly to allow him
by just over half a second retiring later in the race. to swoop back around into
after a race-long tussle. After his storming start, Smith the lead each time.
As the lights blinked out, Smith began to come under pressure Smith, who had even led the
shot off the line, jumping from from Hawkins, who had also weekend’s dry opening heat in
third to first before the braking charged up from fourth on the his Van Diemen RF90 after a wet
point of Paddock Hill Bend. grid to slot into second by the qualifying left him second on
Polesitter Tom McArthur looked end of the opening lap. Hawkins the grid, ran faultlessly to keep latter had climbed from 11th.
to redeem himself after a poor began to pile the pressure on Hawkins’s Swift SC95 at bay. “He As the pair shot up the hill
was behind me from lap three towards Druids, Liston looked to
Smith soaked up all of and he never left,” said an elated the inside but, with Higgins not
Hawkins’s pressure Smith (right) following his victory. expecting a Van Dieman RF88 to
“We kept the high, outside line come alongside, he turned in and
[following testing] and it worked the pair made contact. Higgins
well today and kept him behind.” was sent into a spin as both came
ALL PHOTOGRAPHY: GARY HAWKINS
Further back, the battle for to a halt just off the racing line,
the final podium place was hotly allowing Samuel Harrison in a
contested between last year’s 1971 Elden to move ahead and
Historic winner Richard Higgins complete the podium in his
and William Liston, the former first weekend in the car.
having started second while the JACOB AWCOCK
WEEKEND WINNERS
D ESTI NAT I ON OF M AZDA C HA MP ION SH IPS DE CID ED
Eight Mazda MX-5 races spanning three

different categories formed the bulk of the
supporting programme at this year’s Formula
Ford Festival, with the outcome of all the
championship titles still to be decided. The
hardest fought was for the original Mk1 cars,
and a final race showdown ended with Thomas
Langford clinching both race and title.
FORMULA FORD FESTIVAL
Heat 1 Jordan Kelly (Van Diemen RF06, above)
The first of the championships to be settled
Heat 2 Chris Middlehurst (Van Diemen LA10) was the Clubman class, which was secured by
Heat 3 Josh Smith (Van Diemen JL13) Jonathan Greensmith in a last-race turnaround. Bliss finished second
Progression race Rory Smith (Medina Sport JL18) He triumphed on a bad day for Paul Bateman, but won CityCar Cup title
Semi-final 1 Jordan Kelly (Van Diemen RF06) who brought a narrow points lead to Brands
Semi-final 2 Chris Middlehurst (Van Diemen LA10)
Hatch. The first race was a chaotic affair on a
Last Chance race Rory Smith (Medina Sport JL18)
Historic final Darwin Smith (Van Diemen RF90)
damp track and helped second-place finisher third following an eventful race. Luke Pullen, an
Final (25 laps) 1 Josh Smith (Van Diemen JL13, Greensmith to close the gap to Bateman. outsider for the title at that stage, triumphed.
below); 2 Chris Middlehurst (Van Diemen LA10) Restarted after a crash, it also marked Jamie Helped by a new clutch and gearbox fitted
+0.143s; 3 Luke Cooper (Swift SC20); 4 Hugh Turner’s first race win. Bateman’s car was hit overnight, victory and fastest lap for Langford
Esterson (Ray GR); 5 Morgan Quinn (Van Diemen twice after a slow start as the full grid scrambled in race two lifted him two points clear of
RF99); 6 Rory Smith (Medina Sport JL18).
towards the first corner and damage meant he Sparrow in the title chase. A seemingly
Fastest lap Joey Foster (Firman) 1m01.491s
(70.71mph). Pole Middlehurst. Starters 30.
played no further part. inevitable red flag interrupted the decider
Chris Dawkins won race two with a bold lunge and, after a safety car restart, Sparrow went
at Druids, but Greensmith in second had done for broke at Paddock Hill but succeeded only
more than enough to beat Bateman to the title. in firing his car into the gravel trap. He was,
The erstwhile points leader started 30th in his however, first on the scene to congratulate
repaired car but failed to make enough progress. Langford when he finished a winning drive.
In a relatively dry Supercup opener, defending The first CityCar Cup flying lap produced four
champion Aidan Hills drove a tactical race at the casualties at Paddock and a red flag. A couple of
head of a frantic field to maintain his top spot. tours into the restart the safety car was needed
Patrick Fletcher, runner-up in the points, was and, soon after it withdrew, another multiple
also second in the race. incident, this time out of Graham Hill Bend,
Hills still needed to survive Sunday’s pair caused another stoppage. A result was declared
of contests to retain the title and he sealed it with Richard Jepp the winner, but second man
by heading Oliver Allwood and Fletcher in the Stuart Bliss had done enough to be crowned
morning. Hills shadowed Fletcher for a while and champion. Race two had an immediate red flag
even fell to third but benefited when his rivals and another that ended things early again,
had separate moments. The newly crowned as Chris Mackenzie won narrowly, while
MAZDA MX-5 CLUBMAN
Race 1 Jamie Turner champion completed a winning treble in the Bliss slipped to third from an early lead.
Race 2 Chris Dawkins finale from eighth on a partially reversed-grid. VW Golfs dominated a pair of Evolution Trophy
In the Mk1 Championship, Langford and races, both of which were restarted after red
MAZDA MX-5 SUPERCUP Adam Sparrow arrived on equal points and in flags. Tony Absolom’s V6-powered Mk2 narrowly
Races 1, 2 & 3 Aidan Hills Saturday’s race they survived a multi-car crash beat Adam Marshall’s Mk5 in race one, and
at Clearways, which caused a stoppage. Sparrow the tables were turned second time out.
MAZDA MX-5 CHAMPIONSHIP
Race 1 Luke Pullen finished second after the restart, with his rival BRIAN PHILLIPS
Races 2 & 3 Thomas Langford
CITYCAR CUP
Race 1 Richard Jepp (Peugeot 107)
Race 2 Christopher Mackenzie (Citroen C1)
EVOLUTION TROPHY
Race 1 Tony Absolom (VW Golf Mk2)
Race 2 Adam Marshall (VW Golf Mk5 GTI, below)
Langford (75) claimed two

For full results visit: tsl-timing.com wins and Mazda crown
C L U B A U T O S P O R T N AT I O N A L R E P O R T S
A successful pilot
and a cracking
quadruple win
SILVERSTONE
MSVR/MRL
19-20 OCTOBER
The pilot race for the new GT3 Legends

series and a remarkable winning streak
shared top billing as Motor Racing Legends
signed off its 2024 season in style on the
Silverstone Grand Prix circuit last weekend.
Matt Holme and Andrew Jordan in an
ex-Callaway Chevrolet Corvette took the
maiden victory for a series that next year
will cater for the earliest generations of
GT3 machinery, from 2006 to 2015. Yes,
such cars are now rightly considered
‘historic’. Jordan’s charge in the second
half of the 50-minute race on Saturday Jordan Corvette (left) fought
afternoon proved decisive, his ’Vette through to top GT3 pilot race
demoting the Lamborghini Gallardo
shared by Jack Tetley and Nick Maton in
the final minutes before sprinting away Saturday evening, as Harry Barton and pole in his Jaguar E-type, but was ganged
to a comfortable victory. A soloing Marcus Oliver Reuben won for a second year in up on by not one but two Cobras before a
Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff in an Audi R8 succession in the former’s TVR Griffith. dreadful downpour led to a sensible safety
was third having led the early stages. Barton set a rapid pace in the opening car deployment. When the rain ceased and,
“It was brilliant fun,” said Jordan, stint to establish his lead, then executed having lost out to both, Spooner found
whose upbeat assessment of the pilot race a perfect strategy to take their victory. himself back in the lead after the stops,
summed up positivity surrounding MRL’s They stopped relatively early compared to but was powerless to prevent Greensall
new venture (see News). “I haven’t had that some of their Lotus Elan rivals to take the steaming past. But he just held off Patrick
much fun in a racing car for a long time. I five-minute refuelling stop. That knocked Blakeney-Edwards, sharing Gregor Fisken’s
look forward to some more fun next year.” them down the order but, in the final hour, AC Cobra, to keep second.
The Historic Touring Car Challenge Reuben cycled back through to the lead. Spiers and Greensall were admittedly
kicked off the Saturday action, with On Sunday, Richard Colburn gave his lucky in the HRDC Gerry Marshall Trophy.
another three-car fight offering a great gorgeous Beta Tools Alfasud Sprint a Jack Moody was dominant in his Daily
spectacle on a wet but drying track. glorious debut in the Historic Racing Express Rover, only to forget to shut his
Jonathan Bailey, having taken over from Drivers Club Allstars thrash, leading son door when hopping out and back in again
Andy Middlehurst in the ‘Green Beast’ James in an older Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint. at the mandatory pitstop. A drive-through
Nissan Skyline, had too much power for Then an amazing winning streak began. penalty handed the win to Greensall in
Darren Fielding’s BMW after the E30 M3 “I’ll see you at teatime,” joked Nigel Spiers’s Hermetite Capri.
had emerged from the pitstops with the Greensall to partner John Spiers at lunch, The hat-trick followed in the Stirling
lead. Early pacesetter Ric Wood “killed” his ahead of them hopping from Shelby Cobra Moss and Woodcote Trophy. Spiers built
tyres and retired, which left Toby Partridge to Ford Capri to Lister Knobbly to Ford a lead in his Lister Knobbly, then handed
and tin-top legend Steve Soper to inherit Mustang in four consecutive races. over to Greensall during a safety car
the final podium spot in their M3. Remarkably, they won all of them. interlude, Nigel completing the job without
The three-hour Royal Automobile Club First, the duo conquered MRL’s hour- drama. The Lister Costin Chevrolet of Nick
Pall Mall Cup ran into a pretty sunset on long Pre-’63 GT race. Howard Spooner took Jarvis and Scott Malvern might have made
them sweat. But Jarvis spun on the opening
Stirling Moss/Woodcote Trophy win lap and chose not to pit during the safety
was one of four for Greensall/Spiers car, leaving Malvern with too much work.
He charged to second and set fastest lap,
but finished more than 40 seconds down.
The dynamic duo then completed
their amazing quadruple in the Jack Sears
Trophy, prevailing in a terrific three-way
Mustang battle over Jack Ruddell and Matt
ALL PHOTOGRAPHY: MICK WALKER
Johnson/Robert Ross. “I’d like to thank the

three teams that ran our four cars, which
ran faultlessly,” said Spiers. “That’s not
easy to achieve. It’s a brilliant end to the
season. Just a shame we have to wait
five months before it kicks off again.”
DAMIEN SMITH
PERFECT PORSCHE Said to be the 2010 British GT championship-winning car run by Trackspeed
and driven by David Ashburn, this Porsche 997 was updated by Gregor Fisken. “It was then bought
by Andre Bezuidenhout, whose father was a great friend of David Piper,” said current owner Paul
Phillips, who shared the car at Silverstone with Nigel Greensall. The Perfect Circle livery and green
flash are a nod to Piper, whose Porsche 917 wore these colours to victory in the 1969 Kyalami 9 Hours.
WEEKEND WINNERS
GT3 LEGENDS
Matt Holme/Andrew Jordan (Chevrolet Corvette)
HISTORIC TOURING CAR CHALLENGE

Andy Middlehurst/Jonathan Bailey
(Nissan Skyline GT-R)
RAC PALL MALL CUP

Harry Barton/Oliver Reuben (TVR Griffith, below)
HRDC ALLSTARS & CLASSIC ALFA CHALLENGE

Richard Colburn (Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint)
CALLAWAY CORVETTE Run by Callaway, this ’Vette won the ADAC GT title in 2013 in the hands of
PRE-’63 GT Diego Alessi and Daniel Keilwitz, while Oliver Gavin also scored two wins in it in 2014. It was later sold
John Spiers/Nigel Greensall (Shelby Cobra) to Norway, then JRT brought it to the UK this year. Following a Spa 24 Hours support race appearance,
the MRL meeting marked its British debut. “We got a base set-up from Callaway for Spa, we’ve made
HRDC GERRY MARSHALL TROPHY
one click on the damping since we’ve had it and that’s it – unusual for me!” said Andrew Jordan.
John Spiers/Nigel Greensall (Ford Capri)
RAC STIRLING MOSS AND WOODCOTE TROPHY

John Spiers/Nigel Greensall
(Lister-Jaguar Knobbly)
HRDC JACK SEARS TROPHY

John Spiers/Nigel Greensall (Ford Mustang)
MIGHTY MORGAN This Morgan is one of two cars that scored shock wins in the European GT3
season double-header at Silverstone in 2009. Current owner Roger Whiteside, who shared the car
last weekend with Harry Barton, bought the Aero Supersport and its prototype from the Morgan
For full results visit: tsl-timing.com museum. After writing off the prototype, Whiteside transferred this car to his Chevron B8 preparer,
Simon Pragnell at Foxcraft Racing. Whiteside plans to run the car in MRL’s new GT3 series next year.
Johnson’s
Europa charged
up to Pickering’s
Sunbeam in
Swinging Sixties
Tiger just outruns Lotus

to secure Pickering gold
OULTON PARK Johnson, who was in the faster car overall first BMW, Slicks and Open race, as
CSCC and feeling confident, had already pitted qualifying had been on a wet track and
19 OCTOBER when the incident occurred. He fought the sun had since emerged. Nathan Wells
hard to regain the lead he earned before quickly built up an unassailable lead in his
The Swinging Sixties contest came down the stops and also had to contend with BMW M3, although he was aided by a safety
to a fascinating scrabble for position obstruction by a backmarker, gaining car that did not collect him while Stuart
between Stephen Pickering’s Sunbeam over 7s on the final lap to close the gap to Amphlett’s BMW bumper was retrieved.
Tiger and Malcolm Johnson’s Lotus Europa Pickering to under 2s, but had to settle for Leading Open driver Stephen Nuttall
as the Classic Sports Car Club season the runner-up spot. Connor Kay was third benefited from dry tyres in the second
concluded at Oulton Park last weekend. in an MG Midget, having qualified on pole. half of the race, finishing second, ahead
Pickering managed to overcome a He made up a lot of ground later on after of Slicks winner Dominic Malone’s Porsche,
20-second pitstop penalty by stopping losing out to quicker cars whose drivers whose rubber also came into its own.
during a safety car period for the retrieval made better tyre choices for the race itself. Race two took place on a fully dry track
of Nicholas King’s Aston Martin DB4. Tyre choice played a major part in the and it was Nuttall who was unstoppable
More Fiesta success for Kelletts Double win sealed Kellett

Fiesta honours in style
MONDELLO PARK Daly, poleman Michael Connolly was also

MPSC unable to hold off a late-race attack from
19-20 OCTOBER Kian O’Brien, the Dallara-VW proving more
nimble than the larger machines around
A week after his father Alastair won the Mondello National circuit. Connolly
the UK Ford Fiesta ST240 title, William looked far more assured in race two, but
Kellett clinched the ultra-competitive finally Daly found a way past, leading
Fiesta Zetec crown in the best possible briefly before heading to the pitlane with
fashion, by winning both races at the mechanical woe. This handed Connolly
Mondello Park finale. the lead but he reeled off the final lap with
Kellett fought off a series of one eye on the mirrors as O’Brien put on his way through the pack to take third.
opponents to take the flag in an another late charge, although he ultimately Already crowned as the champion,
exciting opening contest by half had to be happy with second again. Michael Cullen blasted away from the
a second. The second race, if anything, Leo Richardson drove well to take the Irish Strykers grid, seemingly headed for
was even more of a thriller. Starting honours in the first Junior Mini Challenge another dominant victory. In the closing
sixth, Kellett forged his way to the race, despite huge pressure from Joshua stages, he slowed right down, but was still
front and managed to hold off a strong Henry for the duration. Jack Fildes capable of holding Kevin McGrath at bay
challenge from championship rival Sean completed the podium having charged for the win. Cullen did it again in race two,
McGovern to take an impressive double up from a lowly grid position. Henry crossing the line well ahead of the rest.
win and, with it, his second Zetec title. then pipped Richardson off the line in Cullen enjoyed further success in the
Driving his father’s Dallara World the sequel and eased away for the win, Fiesta ST opener to take yet another win
Series machine, Darragh Daly charged to clinching the title in the process. Logan in a race that was restarted after a first-
the front of a small BOSS Ireland grid to Hoey followed him home, while the corner shunt. Class newbie Jack Connachy
take a popular victory. Having fallen to impressive Fildes once again scythed was second, with Derek Graham driving
WEEKEND WINNERS
STEVE JONES
STEVE JONES
Wells enjoyed two
victories in Cheshire OULTON PARK
SWINGING SIXTIES
Stephen Pickering (Sunbeam Tiger)
this time, despite having spent the morning preparer Richard Chamberlain held on for
RAMAIR BMW/SLICKS SERIES/OPEN SERIES
dealing with multiple electrical problems the win in their 911, as the red flag came Race 1 Nathan Wells (BMW M3 E46 GTR)
with his Caterham and starting far behind out when Stuart Daburn’s rapid TVR Tuscan Race 2 Stephen Nuttall (Caterham Seven)
the BMW field. Malone was second, while got stuck in the Old Hall gravel when he
STEVE JONES
BMW winner James Card was fourth in his had been running third. Russell and Elliot NEW MILLENNIUM & TURBO TIN TOPS
M3. Wells had to retire after contact with Paterson’s Morgan was also impressive, Nathan Wells (BMW M3 E46 GTR)
Niall Bradley damaged the rear of his car. leading early on before sealing second.
MODERN CLASSICS & FUTURE CLASSICS
But Wells was the winner of a somewhat Steve Simpson’s yellow Peugeot 206 took Aidan Farrell/Richard Chamberlain
chaotic New Millennium encounter, which him to another Tin Tops win, but only (Porsche 911, above)
was red flagged on the opening lap after a after edging a race-long tussle with Adam
three-car scramble into Cascades ended up Brown in his Fiesta. The Ford proved TIN TOPS
with Paul McGuinness’s Abarth 500 upside the better car to have during the damp Steve Simpson (Peugeot 206 RC)
down. Luke Yeomans in another BMW M3 qualifying session and Brown made the
MAGNIFICENT SEVENS
was second in the restarted race, having most of his pole position, holding off the John Cutmore (Spire RB7)
made up enough time to take advantage of more powerful 206 for several laps. The
a short pitstop penalty for the similar car familiar Honda Integra of Nigel Ainge and For full results visit: tsl-timing.com
of Mark Smith and Arran Moulton-Smith. Danny Cassar was not with them, having
The Future/Modern Classics race, run in limped into the pits on the opening tour. MONDELLO PARK
FIESTA ZETEC
dusk conditions, was also rather disjointed, Elsewhere, Magnificent Sevens went
Races 1 & 2 William Kellett
although two of the three caution periods the way of John Cutmore’s Spire, which
were due to cars breaking down, rather has been the car to beat all season. FORMULA BOSS IRELAND
than crashing. Aidan Farrell and Porsche RACHEL HARRIS-GARDINER Race 1 Darragh Daly (Renault World Series)
Race 2 Michael Connolly
(Renault World Series)
JUNIOR MINI CHALLENGE

Daly was a popular winner Race 1 Leo Richardson
in BOSS Ireland opener Race 2 Joshua Henry
IRISH STRYKERS
Races 1 & 2 Michael Cullen
FIESTA ST
Race 1 Michael Cullen
MICHAEL CHESTER
MICHAEL CHESTER
Race 2 Derek Graham
IRISH LEGENDS
Races 1 & 2 Scott Jackson (below)
Race 3 Lee Malone
SEAT SUPERCUP IRELAND

superbly to complete the podium. ran away and hid from his SEAT Race 1 Dave Maguire
Points leader Ross Barnes led away in the Supercup competitors in the early Race 2 Stephen Wright
second race, but an on-form Graham was stages of their first race. Unfortunately
MICHAEL CHESTER
soon past and away for his first ST win. for him, the red flags flew following
Cullen was second at the flag, with Darragh an incident and, on the restart, he was
McMullen third, but fifth was enough outdragged by Dave Maguire. Parr was
for Barnes to clinch his first title. subsequently demoted again by the
Scott Jackson was the driver to beat charging Paul O’Brien and, to add insult
in Irish Legends, taking two strong wins, to injury, was later given a 10s penalty
but Lee Malone was first across the for a jump start, which dropped him
line in race three, from Owen Lawlor to fifth. Stephen Wright took race
and Gordon Brown. two, from Parr and Maguire, who
Despite running a lower power ECU, also clinched the championship.
courtesy of his pole position, Paul Parr LEO NULTY For full results visit: timing.ie
Steiner spills
the beans in
new memoir
BOOK REVIEW in motorsport stretches far back beyond significant developments each time the
GUENTHER STEINER Haas, with his career really getting going American is mentioned.
– UNFILTERED in rallying in the late-1980s. Yet reading Unfiltered in order on the first
Guenther Steiner It is this longevity that is crucial to attempt is a difficult challenge, as those
RRP £22.00 the early stages of what reads very much familiar with Steiner’s story will want to
like a first-person storybook, with Steiner leap to certain controversies or incidents.
Unfiltered by name, portraying himself as a fallible protagonist. The aptly titled ‘Hasta la Vista, Baby’
unfiltered by nature. And while it isn’t an entirely black-and- closing chapter was where this writer
Guenther Steiner white matter, team owner Gene Haas is started, as the full account of his
concedes he has never cast as the antagonist of the piece – despite departure from Haas is recounted.
been one to do things the traditional appearing a hero in the early stages. Then there is 2021, with Nikita Mazepin’s
way and this memoir of his time with It is the evolution of this relationship on- and off-track behaviour and a livery
Haas follows that methodology, spilling that really keeps the pages turning, with clearly inspired by the Russian flag. This
more beans than is polite and using
more colourful language than a Steiner is famous
Mike Bassett team talk. for letting the
From the formation of his initial idea expletives fly
for Haas to the conclusion of his time with
the team – via a brief stroking of Eddie
Irvine’s ego – Steiner is his inimitable self
throughout as he tells a story that seems
fresh despite it being one that fans have
GIBBONS/MOTORSPORT IMAGES
watched play out in the very recent past.

For fans who have joined the F1 party in
recent years, Steiner is simply the potty-
mouthed leader of the Haas team who
seems to feature on Drive to Survive
more than even most drivers due to his
distinctive character. But his involvement
FINISHING STRAIGHT
Known for
straight talking,
youtube.com/AUTOSPORTdotcom
Steiner is true to
form in this book.
Diplomacy is in
short supply
Why Verstappen’s move on Norris is more controversial

than it seems – F1 US GP race reaction
Ferrari dominated in the USA, with Charles Leclerc leading a 1-2.
The incident between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris was also a
big talking point. Alex Kalinauckas and Mark Mann-Bryans caught
up in the paddock after the race to chew over this year’s US GP.
W HAT’S ON
HONE/MOTORSPORT IMAGES
INTERNATIONAL NASCAR Trucks Series Silverstone 750MC

MOTORSPORT Round 21/23
Homestead, USA
26 October
Birkett Six-Hour Relay
Mexican Grand Prix 26 October Livestream via
F1 World Championship Live Premier Sports alphalive.co.uk
Round 20/24 streaming, Sat 1630
Mexico City, Mexico Brands Hatch MSVR
25-27 October Australian Supercars 26-27 October
all preceded the events of early 2022 in Live Round 11/12 Clio Cup GB, EnduroKa,
Ukraine, which saw Mazepin and Uralkali’s Sky Sports F1, Sun 1955 Surfers Paradise, Australia Miata Trophy, MSVT
relationship with Haas abruptly end. Highlights 26-27 October Trackday Championship,
Although some of these topics were Sky Sports F1, Sun 2300, Live BT Sport 3, Sat 0630, MSVT Trackday Trophy
covered in Steiner’s previous book, they Channel 4, Mon 0030 BT Sport 4, Sun 0400
are dealt with in more of a reflective way Silverstone 750MC
this time around, with considered thoughts Thailand MotoGP Formula Regional 27 October
offered rather than heat-of-the-moment Round 18/20 European by Alpine BMW Car Club, Clio Sport,
reactions. What this new perspective allows Buriram, Thailand Round 10/10 Hot Hatch, Ma7da,
Steiner is the opportunity to focus on the 25-27 October Monza, Italy Type R Trophy
issues that had the most impact on the Live 26-27 October Livestream via
long-term success of the team, while giving BT Sport 2, Sun 0715 Livestream YouTube alphalive.co.uk
smaller topics only a passing mention. Highlights
What makes this book so enjoyable is ITV4, Mon 2000 Brazilian Stock Cars Cambrian Rally
that you can only read it with the voice of Round 10/12 British Rally Championship
the former Haas team principal running NASCAR Cup El Pinar, Uruguay Round 6/6
through your head. Far removed from Round 34/36 27 October Llandudno, Wales
the shackles of a race weekend and the Homestead, USA Livestream on 26 October
responsibilities of putting the team first, 27 October Motorsport.tv, Sat 1800,
Steiner is even more Unfiltered here than Live Premier Sports 2, Sun 1500
he was in the garage. Only on a couple Sun 1800
UK MOTORSPORT
of occasions does he say that he can’t
reveal certain names or details. NASCAR Xfinity
Whisper it quietly, but Christmas is Round 31/33 Oulton Park
beginning to approach and, if you’re a Homestead, USA BRSCC
Formula 1 fan, this book is something 26 October 26 October
that we would totally recommend Live Premier Sports Fiesta ST150, Fun Cup, Cambrian Rally
JEP
putting on your list to Santa. streaming, Sat 1930 Zeo Prototype Series
SAM HALL
FINISHING STRAIGHT
SCHLEGELMILCH
FROM THE ARCHIVE

World championship leader Graham
Hill awaits the start of the 1968
French Grand Prix from his ninth-
place grid slot at Rouen-les-Essarts,
the spots of rain visible on his Lotus
indicating that the dry running
enjoyed by the earlier support races
was definitely not going to extend to
the day’s main event. Hill and team-
mate Jackie Oliver had spent much
of practice trimming back their rear
wings, which at one point were
exerting so much pressure that they
were almost lifting the front wheels
off the ground. After trying the car
with and without its aerodynamic
appendage in Sunday morning’s
impromptu, untimed practice
session, Hill picked the former
option for the race, and was in a
comfortable fourth position when
a broken driveshaft forced him to
retire. A particular beneficiary of his
exit was Jo Siffert, who pulled over
next to where Hill had parked up
so he could borrow his visor.
While Jacky Ickx drove brilliantly
to score his maiden grand prix win
for Ferrari, the event is remembered
chiefly for the appalling lap-three
accident that claimed the life of
Honda driver Jo Schlesser.
For more great photographs,

visit motorsportimages.com
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F1 More US GP drama as Leclerc stars

B R I TA I N ’ S B E S T M OTO R S P O R T W E E K LY 24 OCTOBER 2024

‘That is incorrect, what Max did’

‘They complain about a lot’

PIT & PADDOCK

Another close fight but is this 6 Single-seater stars head to Macau

really what we want to see? 9 Opinion: Alex Kalinauckas

NEVER MISS Visit autosport.com for other ways

Rule tweaks should

Lotterer out as Porsche shakes up enduro squads

Pourchaire Pourchaire’s eclectic

gets Peugeot him to sportscars

Sauber Formula 1 reserve Theo

Increased involvement of the Honda

Boya (Pinnacle), who was fourth in Augusto Farfus and Raffaele

FINE FOR CROWD INVASION

PULLING’S FORMULA E TEST

BOURDAIS FOR BAHRAIN

for WRC 2025? on Rally Poland

The World Rally Championship technical STATUS QUO AT FERRARI

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F1 MEXICAN GRAND PRIX PREVIEW

UK START TIMES TYRE ALLOCATION

HARD MEDIUM SOFT

Sunday 27 October CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

MEXICO CITY STATS

Previous winners Podiums

Max is playing rules to perfection

“AS THEY SQUABBLED, ON THE INSIDE

LECLERC WAS GLEEFULLY STEAMING

THROUGH TO LEAD TO THE ESSES”

The safety car was called to cover

which in McLaren’s case meant Norris was in for a very bumpy

Russell and two

and contributed to his last-lap

“WE ALREADY KNEW BEFORE

lap tyre life advantage

INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE FOR MAX

PUSHING LANDO OFF THE TRACK”

You can’t miss the giant US

RUSSELL RESCUES SIXTH

Hamilton suffered with rear graining.

events. “On the straight, I think find a way back past.

13 - 27 OCTOBER 2024 27 OCTOBER - 10 NOVEMBER 2024

GIO RGI O P IOLA

RED BULL CHANGES PATH WITH UPGRADES

FREE PRACTICE 1 SPRINT QUALIFYING RACE QUALIFYING SEASON STATS

10 Piastri +37.059s M 1m37.567s 10 Sauber 0

10 Tsunoda #22 8 Magnussen #20 6 Gasly #10 4 Leclerc #16 2 Verstappen #1

GP RESULTS ROUND 19/24 (56 LAPS – 191.63 MILES) LAP CHART

KEY: 1 Classification 1 Lap number 3 Safety car lap

RED BULL MERCEDES FERRARI

M AX VE RSTA P P E N S ER G IO PE RE Z L E W I S H AM I LTO N G E OR G E R USS E L L C H A RL ES L EC L ER C CA RLO S S A I NZ

McLAREN ASTON MARTIN ALPINE

LA N DO N OR R IS O S CA R PI A ST R I F E R N A ND O ALO N S O LA NC E STR O L L P I ERRE GA SLY E STEB A N O CO N

Starting from the back

A L E X A L BO N F RA N CO CO LA P IN TO YUK I TS U NO DA L I AM LA W S O N ZH O U G UA NYU VA LT TE RI BOT TA S

HAAS TO P 1 0 AV ERAGE RATINGS

AU TOS P ORT ’S RA N KI N G AF T E R RO U ND 1 9 * RE A DE RS’ RA N KI NG AF TE R RO U ND 1 9 *

8.0 GIVE YOUR

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RACE PARTS

Laura Crawte