Tom Sykes extends his contract with BMW Motorrad for 2021 World Superbike season

Kevin Peterson02 mins

The 2013 WorldSBK championship title winner will remain with BMW for 2021 WorldSBK season being joined by new signing Michael van der mark in a revised line up. Sykes joined BMW in its factory WSBK return last year from Kawasaki earning four podiums with the all new BMW S1000RR ranking eighth in all the standings. The 2020 WorldSBK championship has only three rounds complete in a revised eight-event schedule, Tom Sykes’ deal extension and van der Mark signing shows that BMW has already prepared for 2021. “Tom has been part of our WorldSBK team from the very start and is an important pillar of this project” said BMW motorsport director Marc Bongers. “We are pleased to be able to continue along the common path in 2021 which we embarked upon with the first tests back in December 2018.” “This gives us continuity, which is very important for the successful development of a project. We have already achieved a lot together, and the goal is now to definitively close the gap to the front-runners.” the director added. “Tom’s extensive knowledge of the BMW S 1000 RR and his input will play a key role in achieving this.” The brit is yet to get his first win with the BMW team having his 50th career pole position at the Phillip island opener. The announcement comes as bad news for 13 time WorldSBK and ex-MotoGP rider Eugene Laverty, who has been dropped from the factory racing squad less than half-way through his current deal.

Spa return may be ‘difficult’ for Charles leclerc a year on from Anthoine’s death

Kevin Peterson03 mins

The Ferrari driver says it will be difficult to return to Spa 12 months after his friend Anthoine Hubert died in a horrifying accident during Formula 1 support race. The 22-year-old BWT Arden team driver was killed during the feature Formula 2 race at Spa-Francorchamps after a high speed crash which overshadowed last year’s Belgian grand prix. “The Spa-Francorchamps circuit has a very special place in my heart” “While it is here that I took my first win it is also where we lost our friend Anthoine last year. It will be difficult to return to this track and he will be in our thoughts all weekend” said Charles in a Ferrari preview to this year’s race. Pierre Gasly was also affected by the passing on of Hubert who was his friend and fellow countryman. They had lived together as they pursued their motorsport careers. “However this year returning to Belgium will also be a sad moment because it is just one year ago that Anthoine lost his life after that terrible accident in F2 race at Spa-Francorchamps.” the AlphaTauri driver said. “I had known him since I was seven years old in karting and we were in the same school together organised by the French Motorsport Federation, from when I was 13 to 19, we shared an apartment for 6 years.” “I think everyone on the paddock will take time to think of him.” The frenchman also added Spa is his favourite track and racing through all those high speed corners is a great thrill. “I really enjoy driving it and have had great races there in the past.”

Reschedule of the FIA Bahrain WEC season finale by a week

Kevin Peterson03 mins

The FIA World Endurance Championship season finale at the Bahrain circuit in November has been moved forward as a result of scheduling of two Formula 1 races at the same venue. The second eight hour fixture of the 2019/2020 World Endurance Championship at the Bahrain circuit had been set for November 21 but has now been moved up to November 14. This fixture change occured as a result of the november 29 and December 6 Formula 1 grand prix that were announced on Tuesday. This date change means that the round eight of the 2019/2020 WEC season will now clash with the 12 hours of Sebring which will be the final event of this year’s WeatherTech SportsCar championship in North America. WEC boss Gerard Neveu said “As we stated very clearly when we announced our revised calendar in April, dates were subject to further change according to the evolution of the current health crisis, or because of the calendars of other FIA world championships. “We are very fortunate that BIC is ready and willing to be so accommodating and, indeed, welcoming to the WEC in what will be an extremely busy period for them.” The boss also added that the clash with Sebring was less fortunate and the compressed racing schedules in the remaining half of the year have been brought about due to an unprecedented situation and believed that there would be minimal impact on both series. This is the second time that the FIA Bahrain WEC season had been moved as it had originally been scheduled to be round five of the 2020/2021 season on December 5. The 2020 Bahrain WEC will start as planned at 2:00 pm and finish 10:00 pm local time.

Nyck de Vries on his campaign as the top 2019/2020 Formula E rookie

Kevin Peterson06 mins

Mercedes-Benz EQ managed to have a perfect end to the season in the Berlin E-Prix at Tempelhof Airport as Stoffel Vandoorne led home Nyck de Vries for a Silver Arrows 1-2. Stoffel Vandoorne drove a perfect race to win the first championship for the German team with de Vries coming second to his teammate in the Driver’s Championship after making a late move on Sebastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams) earning his spot as the best-placed rookie in 2019/2020 season. “Honestly going into basically the last day I didn’t even realise that everything was still so open considering everything we went through,” said de Vries. “I really thought we could have a good day and achieve a good result as a team but I didn’t realise that (second) was actually still on the table. I checked after the race and Stoffel wouldn’t have finished there without my move on Buemi!” Vandoorne made the offer of a cold one to his team-mate by way of recompense for his last-ditch efforts, though it was never going to be any of his winners’ Moet & Chandon, which ended up on the concrete apron at Tempelhof. The team principal Ian James was also very crucial to the win  after putting the Brit through the ringer in that crucial Round 11 showdown – the team chasing second spot and bragging rights in the standings into the final few laps of the season. De Vries was very confident in both his abilities as a racer, and with his team’s tactics and energy management strategy to produce. “When you’re in the car, you don’t think about what if – you follow the instinct and you trust the team because we manage the race strategically,” added the 25-year-old. “I just trust the guys, saving energy and having a go later on in the race. It also depends on who you’re racing because Seb (Buemi) is fair and straightforward. At the end of the day, you’re racing and you want to go for it. If there is a gap, you take it.  “All the pressure just melted away once I’d crossed the finish line. On previous occasions, I’ve often got close to finishing on the podium, but unfortunately, it just never happened for me, so it felt really good to have finally succeeded. “Overtaking was harder on the third layout than on the first two that we raced on, which is why we thought we could see a chance of finishing second, and luckily, our plan worked out. De Vries’ first year in Formula E left the Dutchman positive, having been well aware of the unique challenge served up by the all-electric street racing championship.  “I knew it was going to be very unpredictable, very challenging, very different,” said de Vries. “You really can’t take anything for granted and every day is a new day.  “You have to manage energy and fight as well. That compromise is difficult and sometimes you really don’t know when it’s smartest or safest to use up your reserves with the competitiveness of the whole category and especially the midfield. “In Berlin, the challenge was multiplied. The order changed upside down from one day to another and it’s not that suddenly the car is wrong or you have lost something. The package can be competitive, but it’s so extremely tight and it’s so tricky to get it right all the time – especially on that one lap in qualifying. “You have to remember that in practice you have two laps in 250 kW – two chances to pick up your references. Being in Berlin for such a long time, everyone started to get closer and then every day someone will get it right.  “That means if you want to be there all the time, you have to get it right all the time, and that’s a tough, tough challenge.” 

Analysis and data behind vinales dodged disaster in Austria revealed

Kevin Peterson02 mins

Alpinestars have broken down data from Vinales Sunday near disaster during the MotoGP of Styria, in Austria which saw the 25-year-old jumping off his bike on lap 16 due to brake failure. The bike slammed into the air fence bursting into flames as he slid along the track into the gravel. Alpinestars have broken down the data of the incident which saw the Yamaha rider come out unscathed. A close look at the information shows that the rider was travelling at 218 km/h when he made a decision to jump off the bike as the built-in airbags deployed milliseconds before initial impact protecting the catalan as he hit the tarmac at over 20g. Vinales registered 23.45g while sliding along the tarmac which was quickly followed by another heavy impact which was well over 20g, as he continued to slide for another 4.8 seconds before slowing down to a tumble for 1.9 seconds. The airbag technology in the suit highly contributed to the safety of the Yamaha rider because he was immediately able to get back on his own feet. This was the second scary incident that the Monster Energy rider had been involved in, the first being a week prior as he was lucky to avoid  being hit by a flying motorcycle in the Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco crash. 

Renault withdraws appeal against Racing point ruling

Kevin Peterson03 mins

Renault racing team have announced their decision to withdraw an appeal against Racing point for copying Mercedes’ rear brake duct system on their RP20 car which were deemed illegal stating that “concrete progress in safeguarding originality in the sport” as their reason behind standing down. Race stewards docked Racing point 15 points and a further 400,000 euros fine for breaching sporting regulations since the season opener in Austria, however they were allowed to keep the offending parts on the car. Renault had joined Ferrari in protesting the stewards’ decision seeking stricter punishment against racing point. Ferrari is the only team chasing the matter after Mclaren and Williams overturned their own similar announcements but on the tuesday before Belgian grand prix, Renault announced they had requested to withdraw that appeal saying that “the controversy of the start of the season should be put behind us” “Renault confirms that it has requested to withdraw the appeals lodged against the stewards’ decisions in relation to BWT Racing Point F1 Team’s brake ducts,” “Beyond the decisions, the matters at issue were vital to the integrity of Formula One, both during the current season and in the future. However, intensive and constructive work between the FIA, Renault and all Formula 1 stakeholders has led to concrete progress in safeguarding the originality in the sport by way of amendments to the Sporting and Technical Regulations planned for the 2021 racing season, confirming the requirements to qualify as a Constructor. “Reaching this strategic objective, in the context of the new Concorde Agreement, was our priority. Ferrari are still in pursue of the appeal with Racing point lodging their own appeal against the same after Racing Point’s CEO and Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer having been unhappy about the severity of the punishment, and telling the media that Racing point “need to clear our name”.

could Daniel Ricciardo’s next move be a ‘make or break’?

Kevin Peterson02 mins

Former Formula 1 world champion and Mclaren driver Jenson Button declared he was extremely shocked by Daniel Ricciardo’s move from Redbull to Renault. Ricciardo has been struggling to find success at Renault having over a season and a half without a podium finish at the french racing team. Jensen said he would have loved to have seen him in Redbull the last couple of years pushing Max Verstappen and it would have been a great battle to see. He also added that he was impressed at Ricciardo in Renault than what he ever did in Redbull because he (Ricciardo) was over his teammate (then Hulkenberg) in his first year. Now having seen what Hulkenberg can do in Racing point shows his strength and for Ricciardo to do the same would be very impressive. While Renault has been struggling during Ricciardo’s time there, Mclaren has made tremendous improvement having finished ninth in the 2017 season, went to fourth last season and the same they currently occupy in the constructor’s championship after six races and one podium. They will be hoping for greater success in 2021 with Ricciardo’s arrival coinciding with a return to mercedes engines. Jensen who is a former Mclaren driver said that this was a ‘make or break’ opportunity for Ricciardo adding that he was a young driver who has got to start moving towards a team that can give him race wins and possibly a championship.