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The Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona brought the 2024 MotoGP World Championship to a conclusion last weekend at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The outcome produced the first MotoGP World Champion for an Independent Team in the MotoGP era. We cover last weekend's GP and the start of the 2025 season at the Barcelona test. Tons of MotoGP news follows.
The Heineken Silver Grand Prix of Las Vegas lights up the strip late-night Saturday/Sunday morning, depending on your locale. We preview the Vegas race, which kicks off three consecutive weekends to wrap up the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship.
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For more news, visit the home page of SARNIMOTORSPORTS.
Jay Geils Memorial TV Links:
Thursday, November 21st: Formula 1 - Las Vegas FP1 9:25 PM ET ESPNEWS
Friday, November 22nd: Formula 1 -Las Vegas FP2 12:55 AM ET ESPN2
Formula 1 -Las Vegas FP3 8:25 AM ET ESPNEWS
Saturday, November 23rd: Formula 1 - Las Vegas Qualifying 12:55 AM ET ESPN
Formula 1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix Sunday 11:30 PM ET ESPN
Sunday, November 24th: Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 12:55 AM ET ESPN
ENJOY YOUR RACE WEEKEND!
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MOTOGP - Despite winning the Saturday Sprint and Sunday's Solidarity GP of Barcelona, Francesco Bagnaia fell 10 points short of retaining the MotoGP World Championship. Pecco made up 14 points on Jorge Martin, but even his 11th GP win of 2024 wasn't enough to overcome the 24 point deficit he faced entering the final round.
Prima Pramac's Jorge Martin finished third, which was enough to capture the Riders' Championship; the first for an Independent Team rider since Valentino Rossi took the 2001 500cc title for Nastro Azzurro Honda. Martin switches to the Aprilia Factory team in 2025.
Jorge Martin: "The dream has come true, I am World Champion! It is very difficult now to realize that it is all true, but I am fully aware of what we have achieved because ever since I was a child I have been chasing this goal. This is the final result of all the work done over the years, but also of the sacrifices of my family, my parents, my brother and all my team who have supported me unconditionally. Last year I promised myself that I would try again and here I am, reaping the rewards of an entire life dedicated to this wonderful sport.
"The rivalry is always the same with any rider, in the end we all have the same thing at stake and what you want is to beat the rider next to you, in front or behind, it doesn't matter, but to win. I have a good relationship with Pecco, we have known each other for years and he is a great professional as well as a great rider. But it doesn't make any difference to me whether it's him or someone else who is racing for the title against me, I would do the same with anybody.
"I want to thank Team Pramac and Ducati for giving me the opportunity to arrive in MotoGP and grow up together. And in particular, a big thank you to Paolo Campinoti and Gigi Dall’Igna for their trust since day one and for providing me with all the resources I needed to become World Champion. The work we have done together with Ducati Corse in these last years has been incredible: we have won the Constructors' Championship 4 times in a row and together we have achieved 8 victories, 32 podiums and 20 pole positions. The World Title won together is really the best way to say goodbye."
Marc Marquez finished second in his last race with Gresini Racing. The result gave Marquez P3 in the Riders' Championship, six points better than Enea Bastianini, who finished P7 in the race and finished fourth in the championship.
Aleix Espargaro, riding his last MotoGP race for Aprilia, ran cover for his friend Jorge for most of the race, making sure nobody approached the 26-year-old Spaniard's podium finish. Although at the end of the race Alex Marquez did pass Espargaro to take P4.
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Jorge Martin 2024 MotoGP World Champion | |
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Brad Binder was the fastest of the KTM riders in sixth. Franco Morbidelli followed Enea Bastianini in what was his last race for Prima Pramac Racing. He stays on a Ducati, but will get a GP25 riding for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team in 2025. Marco Bezzecchi finished in ninth in Barcelona and he moves from Rossi's Independent Ducati team to the Factory Aprilia team next season. In his last ride for the GASGAS Tech 3 team, rookie Pedro Acosta rounded out the top ten in Barcelona. He is on to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team in 2025.
These are heady times in Bologna, with Ducati machines winning 19 of 2024's 20 GPs and sweeping the first four places in the Riders' Championship. The Bologna-based manufacturer took their fourth straight Constructors' Championship, with the Ducati Lenovo Team clinching the Teams' Title. Ducati is now preparing to celebrate the World Titles won in 2024. The ‘Campioni in Festa’ event will be held on December 3rd in Bologna.
Ducati Corse General Manager Luigi Dall’Igna: “Winning the third World Riders’ Title in a row is fantastic. It confirms once again the strength of the Ducati project, with the commitment and team spirit of all those, riders and Team, who have contributed to making it a winner with incredible continuity, as demonstrated by the numbers of these years. In particular, another page of history is deservedly written today by Jorge Martín at the end of an amazing season, which is the essence of all the work done together. A big round of applause goes to Pecco Bagnaia, because his was also an extraordinary year and the challenge on the track improved both riders: exactly what we believe in. Today’s victory is also, or rather above all, the best way to say goodbye to Pramac Racing, a formidable group of professionals with whom we have worked in harmony for 20 years: to each of them a very strong hug, starting with our friend Paolo Campinoti. 2024 was a stratospheric year for Ducati, in which we broke the record for victories and the record for podiums, with the cherry on top of having placed 8 Desmosedici GPs in front of everyone in the Sprint Race in Thailand. I want to thank all the men and women of Ducati Corse who work hard and with passion every day to achieve great results like the one we are celebrating today. Forza Ducati!”
On Tuesday riders were back at it at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for a one-day test of 2025 equipment. There's a huge amount of movement on the grid and one has to look no further than the top, where Jorge Martin jumps from Ducati to Aprilia.
Marc Marquez leaps from the Gresini Racing Ducati to the Lenovo Ducati Factory team, but it was his brother Alex Marquez who topped the timesheets at the test. Monster Energy Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo was P2.
Marc Marquez was decked out head to toe in red and set the fourth quickest time in the test after trading the GP25 for this year's Ducati. Teammate Pecco Bagnaia was on a white Ducati, reminiscent of Casey Stoner's 2009 Phillip Island livery. He had his old No. 63 number plate and clocked the third quickest time at the test.
Raul Fernandez rounded out the top five on the Trackhouse Racing Aprilia RS-GP. His new teammate from Japan, Ai Ogura completed his first step into the premier class completing 86 laps finishing up 21st, just behind fellow rookie Fermin Aldeguer from Gresini Racing.
Pedro Acosta was another, who was not changing machinery, but moving up to the full Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team and switching back to number 37. He ended the day P9, just over half a tenth off new teammate Brad Binder. Binder was lead orange machine in P6.
KTM had a new set of exhausts and each rider had one bike with them fitted. Acosta also tested a thin front fairing, and an updated seat unit was spotted.
What was also spotted was Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini getting to grips with the RC16, and in the newly-named Red Bull KTM Tech3 outfit. Viñales did 74 laps for P12, right on the tail of the new reigning Champion, and Bastianini was a couple of tenths further back in P16 after 55 laps. He also had a big crash, for the bike at least, but rider ok.
Thai rookie Somkiat Chantra got acquainted with the LCR Honda, with the Moto2 star turning his first laps on a MotoGP bike, slotting into 23rd.
Prima Pramac is now a Yamaha satellite squad with Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller getting their feet wet on the Yamaha M1s for the first time. Oliveira finished 17th, with Miller in 22nd.
As soon as MotoGP's 75th year celebration was complete, on Sunday they rolled out their new for 2025 identity and motto - Faster. Forward. Fearless. The rebrand emphasizes - The fastest bikes. The most forward-thinking manufacturers. The world's most fearless riders. It includes a new logo, which can be seen behind Jorge Martin in the image from Sunday's awards ceremony.
For a look at who is where and on what, check out the 2025 ENTRIES.
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WORLDSBK - On Wednesday, November 20th, the Superbike Commission announced the results of recent meetings at the circuit of Jerez on October 19th and at the circuit of Barcelona-Catalunya on November 15th.
The following decisions were taken for the 2025 season:
Sporting Regulations:
- With the recently introduced rules on the minimum age of riders to compete in the FIM Supersport World Championship, it has been decided to grant exemptions for:
- the top 3 of the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship;
- the top 3 of the FIME Moto2 European Championship;
- the top 3 of the FIME Stock European Championship;
of any season to compete in the 2025 Supersport World Championship, even if the rider has not reached the minimum age.
However, for these exceptions to apply, the minimum age of 17 years is required.
- The insurance policy covering any possible liability of the FIM and the organizer to third parties will be increased to 10 millions euros (with the exception of the USA and Canada, where the cover shall be different).
- For the WorldSBK class, there is a restriction on testing that has been set to reduce development costs. A clarification of the authorized test days has been made.
- Although the current rules regarding yellow flags/lights provide for sanctions if they are not respected, the SBK Commission has decided to tighten the rules in order to protect track marshals even more. From now on, riders must slow down sufficiently to ensure the safety of other riders and trackside personnel. A rider who does not slow down in a yellow flag situation could be sanctioned more severely than currently.
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Ryan Vickers Joins WorldSBK With Motocorsa Racing | |
- For the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, the minimum time to achieve for being Qualified was fixed at 110% of the fastest rider of the class.
- A WorldWCR race that has started in dry conditions may be interrupted if the weather conditions change and the track becomes wet.
- For all the FIM classes competing in during the FIM Superbike World Championship rounds, the use of rider safety equipment (and in particular airbags) has been redefined.
- It was decided that the solution found in 2024 to provide an FIM Insurance to the riders for the Official WorldSBK Test at Phillip Island will be repeated.
- In the WorldSBK category, a logistical measure to reduce the number of tires used during the event was introduced.
- The FIM is using, since 2024, an electronic platform to distribute information such as Championship Regulations, Race Direction information, notification of decisions and FIM WorldSBK Stewards daily reports. The use and personal logins of electronic platform will become compulsory for the teams in 2025 in order for FIM WorldSBK Stewards and Race Direction to communicate to the Teams and Riders when necessary during the event. The idea is to do away with the official notice board, and to replace it with this new “official electronic notice board”.
Technical Regulations:
- For the WorldSBK class, a limitation of the fuel flow will be put in place to limit the performance of the engines. From 2025, the starting fuel flow limit for all manufacturers is defined at 47 Kg/H. A tolerance of 2 grams per lap beyond the 47 Kg/H limit was defined. For 2026, the limit will be decided at the end of July 2025 after analysis of the first part of season, according to the roadmap shared with the manufacturers.
- For the WorldSBK class, the worldwide availability of the Superbike Kit Systems has been redefined (minimum stock and lead time).
- The rules applied in MotoGP regarding the attachment of winglets/aerodynamic appendices will be applied: under normal operating conditions, the attachment must have a maximum deflection of 10 mm at any point, when a vertical load of 50 N is applied downwards with a 20 mm radius spherical steel indenter.
- In WorldSBK class, the marking of a new "virgin" frame part is free, but it must contain the model code registered at the FIM Homologation of the motorcycle. It was decided that the reading procedure of the new marking must be declared by each manufacturer to the FIM Technical Director prior to the season starts.
- The SBK Commission is continuously working on the introduction of a new entry class to the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in 2026, marking a significant evolution in the racing landscape. This new class will replace the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship (WorldSSP300), which has successfully served as a feeder class since its inception in 2017. The progress of the work, the choice of the eligible machines and their homologations were discussed.
- Wearing an airbag has been mandatory for several years. From 2025, the airbags used will have to be type 1 or 2 (in accordance with the FIM Criteria).
Various other clarifications were also carried out and will be reported on the 2025 Regulations. The resolutions of this Superbike Commission have been approved by the Permanent Bureau.
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Superbike: An Illustrated Early History
No matter what the musical genre, an ensemble is only as good as the sum of its parts. There are many great guitarists. If they are paired with an equally outstanding vocalist, that is what sets them above and apart from others.
John Owens and Kevin Cameron are rock stars. The two have been bumping into each other in the paddock for fifty years. Cameron is simply a know it all. In a good way. It is hard to ask the Harvard grad a question that he doesn't know the answer to. And it's the right answer. He has a degree in physics and is a legendary motorcycle tuner who was the go to authority on two stroke motorcycles in the 1970s in Boston and beyond.
Also from the area, Belmont-born John Owens has been a photographer since the 1970s. Growing up in the film era, Owens learned his trade when you had to think about what you wanted from a composition much more than in today's deletable digital age. His attention to the details in the evolving technology of the early Superbikes gives Cameron the perfect stage to harmonize about the interesting aspect of the image we are looking at.
Even readers with a modicum of technical knowledge can look at one of the book's many beautiful black & white photos, then read Cameron's description of exactly why the shot is significant and think, oh yeah, I see it now. The photos and the text compliment each other expertly.
Most of the images were taken at Bryar Motorsports Park in Loudon, NH, which became Hew Hampshire International Speedway and now is known as New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It was the closest place for the two Massachusetts residents to be a part of the burgeoning motorcycle road racing scene of the 70s and 80s.
As a like-minded enthusiast, we were present at many of the races where the images were taken. We witnessed the evolution from two strokes to production-based four stroke racers. To see it brought to life once more through the lens of Owens and the mind of Cameron in a retrospective overview is both memorable and enlightening.
This book is easily absorbed in one sitting. Each image leads to the other and the anticipation of what is next is exciting and enjoyable. Since we didn't want it to end, a forced "close the book" edict was imposed. We broke that rule a number of times. Finally, with about twenty pages left, we were able to put the book down to savor more memories later.
Our favorite photo? Mike Baldwin on the grid on Reno Leoni's Moto Guzzi. Mostly because we remember how that day ended. In what would portend his future success on the world stage, Baldwin utterly obliterated the competition, accelerating over the hill into the bowl when everyone else was braking.
We're grateful to have witnessed how grassroots racing changed and grew with factory participation. It not only presented the opportunity for upstart underdogs to rise up, lessons learned on the track led to better motorcycles available to all. The fact that we now have Superbike: An Illustrated Early History, which documents that progression, available to us is beyond a blessing.
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MOTOAMERICA - South African rider Cameron Peterson announced on his Facebook page on Tuesday, November 19th that he won't be returning to the Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing team in 2025. Cam's post:
End of a chapter…
Thank you to @yamahamotorusa for giving me the opportunity to be a part of their family. I had an amazing time on the team the past 3 years, I’m very proud of what I was able to accomplish with my time on the bike but unfortunately with injuries and some other stuff I was never able to make a real run at the title even though I showed I was capable of doing just that!!!
Grateful to have Tom Halverson in my corner and for all the people I met and got to work with.
But for now I’m excited to see what the future has in store for me. But no matter what I will be ready to roll in 2025!!! #freeagent
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Cameron Peterson Down and Out | |
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Cam Peterson finished 2024 sixth in the MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Championship. He took three wins on the season, but never seemed to recover from a badly injured wrist suffered in the 2023 season. He sat out the final four rounds that year to undergo surgery. Josh Hayes teamed with Jake Gagne on the team for the last four rounds in 2023.
The 2025 MotoAmerica Calendar begins at the Daytona 200, which features the Supersport Class on March 6th - 8th. The Steel Commander Superbike Class gets underway at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama on the weekend of April 4th - 6th.
See the complete schedule at MOTOAMERICA 2025.
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FORMULA 1 - Formula 1 returns to Sin City this weekend for the second running of the Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix. Last year's debut race in the desert had an inauspicious start to the weekend when Carlos Sainz ran over a manhole cover and his Ferrari sucked it right up underneath the car, heavily damaging the chassis.
Practice was delayed to ensure that all remaining manhole covers on the Las Vegas strip circuit were secure. By the time that was set, it was the middle of the night and security were allowed to leave, which meant the paying public had to do the same.
Patrons were offered merchandise vouchers, with no apologies. With the astronomic ticket prices that did not sit well with fans and Liberty Media was slapped with a class action lawsuit by ticket holders seeking to recover money and time they invested in seeing the debut race weekend, but were sent home and locked out of practice. Each spectator affected by the cancelled sessions is seeking $30,000 in compensation. There has been no judgement announced as the F1 owner/promoter seeks to have the case dismissed.
Moving on from the disastrous start, the race itself proved entertaining. And isn't that what Vegas is all about after all? There were 82 overtakes, which is the most for any debut race and the most of any dry race last season. Only the wet Dutch GP had more passes than Vegas.
So what can we expect this weekend? Max Verstappen won the GP last year and has three straight weekends to preserve his 62 point lead over McLaren's Lando Norris to clinch his fourth consecutive F1 World Drivers' Championship.
Lando Norris: “It was good to be back at MTC with the team ahead of the last three races of the year. I spent time preparing in the sim with my engineers. Everyone’s motivated and ready to give it our all in the fight for both Championships.
“We’ll be under the lights in Las Vegas. Driving along the Strip is really cool, and I’m looking forward to racing there in the MCL38. We’ve had a good car this year and the field is incredibly strong, so I can’t wait to see what we can do this weekend.”
At the last round in São Paulo the Alpine F1 Team had their best result of the season; a double podium for Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. Ocon finished P4 in Vegas in 2023 and looks to carry the momentum from Brazil to the bright lights of Las Vegas.
Esteban Ocon: “We are heading back to Las Vegas for the second year, and I am really looking forward to it. We had a great result there last season, going from 16th on the grid to fourth at the checkered flag. The circuit is incredible to drive with all the drivers going flat out for a high percentage of each lap. Driving through the heart of the city is like no other. There are night races under the lights and then there is a night race under the lights of Las Vegas. The aim will be to keep the momentum going from São Paulo and maximize the weekend to hold our P6 position in the championship.”
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Can Max Follow Up Last Year's Vegas Win? Bet On It | |
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The first two Grand Prix races in Las Vegas were won by the Williams of Alan Jones in 1981 and the Tyrrell of Michele Alboreto, who was victorious in 1982.
The 3.853 mile street circuit runs counterclockwise and has 17 corners, 11 to the left and six to the right. The track is the second-longest on the 2024 calendar, only shorter than Spa-Francorchamps. Speeds around the Strip in Vegas are some of the fastest of the year, reaching nearly 218 mph
Liberty Media insists on running the Las Vegas street race at night, to maximize the spectacle of the neon valley. That decision makes this weekend's event the coldest on the calendar. Weekend temperatures will barely reach 70°F during the day on Saturday. Night time lows are expected to be in the mid to upper 40s.
The set-up trade-off is ensuring that top speeds are not compromised while the car retains good mechanical grip and downforce for the low-speed corners, such as Turns 1-4, Turns 7-9, Turn 12, and Turns 14-16.
Las Vegas is one four circuits on the F1 calendar in 2024 to have three heavy braking zones on the lap, along with Miami, Canada, and Austria. This will be the third race of the season to be held on a Saturday, after Bahrain and Saudi Arabia earlier in the year.
The race has the potential to put up an unpredictable outcome, due to the nature of street circuits and Safety Car periods. Teams would do well to make sure they get a lap under their belts early in qualifying sessions.
The Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix is on Saturday, November 22nd at 10:00 PM local time on ESPN, which is 1:00 AM Eastern. For practice and qualifying broadcast times and channels, including tonight's FP1, check out the Jay Geils Memorial TV Links above.
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Alboreto: Gasoline in the Veins - The story about the man who grew up to realize his childhood dream of driving a Formula 1 car for Enzo Ferrari is now available once more in the United States. Alboreto: Gasoline in the Veins is written by Michele Alboreto's brother Ermanno and details his early years and rise through the racing ranks. It also tells about his character outside the car and that is the contribution that we are most proud to be associated with. It began with an interview during Michele's Indy car career and a request to use it in his life story. We also contributed interviews with his teammates and racing legends like Giacomo Agostini. Listen to that interview HERE. For ordering info, reply to this update for details. There are a limited number of copies here in America, you will save international shipping prices by getting your copy right here. Visit the Facebook page HERE. | | | |
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INDYCAR - It was announced on Wednesday, November 20th that Sting Ray Robb will drive for Juncos Hollinger Racing in the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Robb won the USF Pro 2000 championship with JHR in 2020.
Robb, 23, from Payette, Idaho, will enter his third NTT INDYCAR SERIES season in 2025. He finished 23rd in the standings as a rookie in 2023 with Dale Coyne Racing and improved to 20th in 2024 while driving for AJ Foyt Racing.
JHR co-owner and founder Ricardo Juncos: “Sting Ray is an exciting talent, and we’ve had the privilege of seeing his growth as a driver first-hand during our championship run in Indy Pro. This is more than a reunion; it’s a chance to pick up right where we left off and truly aim for the top of this series. We’re committed to making this season a breakout year for Sting Ray, as well as an extraordinary year for JHR as we continue to elevate our presence in INDYCAR.”
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Sting Ray Robb Back With Juncos Hollinger Racing
JHR co-owner Brad Hollinger: "We are delighted to welcome Sting Ray to the team. Sting Ray has great talent, and we have full confidence that his skills and determination will help our success this season. This partnership represents an exciting evolution for JHR, and we are eager to see what we can achieve together in the year ahead.”
Sting Ray Robb: “To be sought out by leaders like (team owners) Ricardo Juncos and Brad Hollinger and a team as driven as JHR means the world to me. We share a vision for what we can achieve together, and I’m honored to contribute to JHR’s continued growth as I also grow as their driver. Excited to see what we accomplish together with our ambition and the power of possibility.”
The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season starts Sunday, March 2nd with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. The race will be televised live on FOX.
FORMULA E - In just over two weeks, as other FIA and FIM sanctioned racing series conclude, Formula E fires up with Season 11. In solidarity with the Community of Valencia, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has pledged a comprehensive support initiative of at least €50,000 to provide both immediate relief on the ground and long-term assistance to the impacted communities in Valencia following the devastating flooding to the region.
Formula E’s support will focus on two key areas: delivering urgent assistance to meet immediate needs and supporting sustainable recovery efforts that promote resilience and future preparedness in the region.
In addition to the initial €50,000 of support, a GoFundMe page has also been opened by the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship for fans, partners, teams, and staff to contribute to collectively amplifying and strengthening its impact so Valencia can recover faster and emerge stronger.
Beyond financial assistance, Formula E is committed to mobilizing hands-on support through volunteer initiatives - working closely with local leaders, the Formula E community will contribute through volunteer support, respecting the community’s needs and perspectives, while increasing awareness of the ongoing avenues for help.
Formula E is dedicated to supporting Valencia beyond the immediate crisis, with a sustained presence aimed at strengthening the area’s resilience. This initiative underscores Formula E’s unwavering commitment to the communities of Valencia, which it considers home.
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Formula E Cars Show Solidarity With Valencia at Madrid Test | |
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As the home of Formula E’s Technical and Logistics Headquarters, Valencia holds a special place in the championship's heart, having been ever-present on the calendar since 2017. Formula E has been closely monitoring the devastating situation in Valencia and the championship extends its thoughts and condolences to all those affected by these tragic events and has been exploring practical ways to support the region during this difficult time.
Formula E Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer Alberto Longo: “As my birthplace, Valencia has always been a very special place for me and my heartfelt condolences go out to all those affected in the region. From the pictures alone parts of Valencia look completely devastated, so I can only begin to imagine what the reality must be like for those living and working there. We feel it’s only right to support as many people as possible who are impacted both in the short and long term, given their support for us since 2017. Together as a Formula E community, we want to show our support and solidarity in any way we can.”
At the Madrid Test, Jaguar's Mitch Evans set the pace during the final morning’s running on Friday, while the field was split by a little over a second on the overall timesheet.
Reigning champion Pascal Wehrlein was third in the running in the latest factory Porsche 99X Electric. He split the impressive Porsche-powered Kiro Race Co pair of Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann who sat second and fourth, respectively, using the Season 10-spec powertrain.
Six different drivers set the pace in the six test sessions:
- Session 1: Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche)
- Session 2: Jake Hughes (Maserati MSG Racing)
- Session 3: Maximilian Guenther (DS PENSKE)
- Session 4: David Beckmann (Kiro Race Co)
- Session 5: Nyck de Vries (Mahindra Racing)
- Session 6: Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing)
Mitch Evans: “Overall, it's been an important week of testing. It is still early days with the I-TYPE 7 and there is a lot to learn in terms of performance, but we’ve gathered lots of information as the week progressed and I believe we’ve got the car into the right window. We’ve made good progress which is the main thing, and hopefully we can continue that development as we head towards the Season 11 opener in Brazil.”
Season 11 kicks off in São Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday, December 7th, 2024, marking the first time the city will host the season opener. Following Brazil, the series will head to Mexico City for one of the calendar's most popular events at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
The first doubleheader will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on February 14th and 15th, 2025, introducing a new track location in the Kingdom after being part of the calendar since Season 5. Miami will also return, bringing electric racing to the Homestead Miami Speedway for the first time, a significant home race event for teams like Andretti, DS PENSKE, and Kiro Race Co.
The iconic streets of Monaco will host a doubleheader weekend on May 3rd and 4th, 2025, following the successful use of the full circuit since Season 7. Tokyo will expand to a doubleheader format in May, complementing the return of Shanghai and the Jakarta race on June 21st, 2025.
The season will conclude with a pair of doubleheaders in Berlin and London, with Berlin remaining a staple on the calendar since Formula E’s inaugural season. The grand finale in London will take place on July 26th and 27th, 2025.
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FIA WEC - The Iron Dames will race under the guidance of Manthey in the 2025 World Endurance Championship. Manthey is one of the most successful and respected teams in endurance racing. The team has over 25 years in Motorsport and an impressive record contributing to Porsche’s GT achievements, including seven overall victories at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, multiple class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and seven FIA WEC titles. Known for their commitment to precision and excellence, Manthey brings invaluable expertise to the team.
The Iron Dames’ 2025 lineup includes both experience and new talent. Returning to the driver lineup are seasoned racers Michelle Gatting from Denmark and Switzerland’s Rahel Frey. They will be joined by French racer Celia Martin, a fresh face to the team and a rising star in endurance racing off the back of a successful debut season in the Michelin Le Mans Cup. The trio aim to make waves in the championship in the Porsche 911 GT3 R, prepared by Manthey.
The FIA WEC has produced a series of documentaries titled: Meet The Legends. The videos are available on the World Endurance Championship's YouTube Channel. The presentations take an inside look at why manufacturers contest the WEC. Follow the links below in red to view the first three episodes of Meet The Legends.
Founded in Maranello in 1947, Ferrari is a name synonymous with passion, heritage and romance. Entitled. The short film goes behind-the-scenes and shines a spotlight on what drives the legendary Italian brand and its vast international fanbase, for whom Ferrari is far more than just a carmaker – it is a family.
It is a story of human endeavor, of men and women who are all racers at heart. It was that unshakeable ambition and constant desire to innovate and improve that inspired the Prancing Horse to return to the top category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 – the event’s 100th anniversary edition – half-a-century on from its last official appearance.
When the scarlet No. 51 499P Hypercar won in the hands of Ferrari AF Corse factory trio Antonio Giovinazzi, Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado, the performance and result made headlines all around the world. Twelve months later, in very different conditions, the sister No. 50 car crewed by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen repeated the feat.
The piece features Giovinazzi and Fuoco, who offer an insight into the extraordinary experience of conquering one of Motorsport’s toughest challenges. There are similarly enlightening interviews with Ferrari Chairman John Elkann – the official starter of the 2021 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans – as well as Global Head of Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti, Antonello Coletta and FIA WEC specialist, Sam Smith.
Episode 1: Ferrari: THE UNWAVERING DEVOTION OF THE TIFOSI 11-13-24
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Established by Jean Rédélé in 1955, Motorsport has always run through Alpine’s veins, with the company’s founder a competitor himself. Priding itself on its core values of ingenuity and innovation, Alpine’s lightweight sportscars achieved near-instant success on race tracks and rally stages – and now, with a presence at the highest level in both Formula 1 and WEC, it is very much a big-hitter on the international scene.
Alpine returned to the grid in 2013 following a long absence from competition, since then they have gone on to clinch two WEC LMP2 crowns – in 2016 and 2018/19 – a brace of victories and multiple podium finishes in the championship’s headlining Hypercar category and three class triumphs in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race in which the manufacturer prevailed outright back in 1978.
In the Alpine documentary, Pierre Gasly reveals what Alpine means to him, along with insights from Alpine Endurance Team racer Ferdinand Habsburg, Alpine Academy driver Sophia Flörsch, Alpine CEO Philippe Krief, Alpine Motorsports Vice-President Bruno Famin and FIA WEC specialist, Sam Smith.
Episode 2 Alpine: NO CHALLENGE TOO GREAT 11-16-24
Peugeot’s history in Motorsport dates back almost 130 years, and right from the outset, the brand was a winner. That success has been maintained over the intervening decades – in rallying, rallycross, cross-country contests and endurance racing, with Le Mans triumphs in 1992, 1993 and 2009 for the 905 and 908 prototypes. There was even a trio of victories in the early years of America’s iconic Indianapolis 500.
Including insightful interviews with Peugeot Sport Technical Director Olivier Jansonnie, Peugeot Head of Design Matthias Hossann, Team Peugeot TotalEnergies racer Loïc Duval – a former Le Mans winner and FIA World Endurance Champion – and FIA WEC specialist Sam Smith, the documentary explores the importance of competition for the world’s oldest car company.
Episode 3 Peugeot: ALLURE BORN TO RACE 11-20-24
The 2025 WEC season begins February 28th with the Qatar1812Km at the Lusail International Circuit, preceded February 21st - 22nd by the annual Prologue.
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IMSA WTSC - Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 31 cars participated in three days of IMSA-sanctioned testing at Daytona International Speedway in the first official preparations for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The test sessions were not open to the public and all teams were not required to participate. But plenty did, led by 12 GTP cars, including each of the six manufacturers expected to compete in the top WeatherTech Championship class in 2025. Defending GTP and Rolex 24 At Daytona champions Porsche Penske Motorsport had a pair of Porsche 963 entries, with the privateer 963 entry from JDC-Miller MotorSports also on hand.
Three Cadillac V-Series.R entries were present, including the Cadillac Whelen entry and the debut of both Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R machines as WTR switches back to Cadillac machinery in 2025 after a two-year run with Acura.
Speaking of returns, Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian was back in the IMSA paddock after a one-year absence with a pair of Acura ARX-06 entries. BMW M Team RLL had its pair of BMW M Hybrid V8 GTPs on track as well.
Lamborghini Iron Lynx, which participated in IMSA-sanctioned testing last fall at Daytona prior to its GTP class debut in March’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring was also at last weekend’s test with its SC63 prototype, with an eye toward its Rolex 24 At Daytona debut in January.
The three day test featured the much anticipated debut of the Aston Martin V12, non-hybrid Valkyrie entered by the Aston Martin THOR Team. Aston Martin has completed about 6,800 miles of running with the V12-powered Valkyrie AMR-LMH at multiple circuits. In addition to the test at Daytona with a single car, AMR with team partner Heart of Racing, also participated in a Michelin tire test in Bahrain.
With the car close to being homologated ahead of the 2025 IMSA and FIA WEC seasons, the process of finalizing the car’s spec is the main focus right now. As of yet, no decision has been made on whether the the Valkyrie AMR-LMH will make its competition debut at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January, or the FIA WEC season opener in Qatar.
Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian headed the time sheets in three of the five practice sessions run over the two days, with Tom Blomqvist taking the No. 60 Acura ARX-06 to the front in the second and fourth sessions, while Nick Yelloly piloted his No. 93 Acura to the top of the charts in the third session.
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Acura MSR with Curb Agajanian | |
Honda Racing Corporation USA is partnering with championship-winning Meyer Shank Racing to field a pair of Acura ARX-06 entries in the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, starting with the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.
HRC US is taking on a larger operational role as the company further develops its personnel and technology for the hybrid racing era. MSR will prepare and maintain the pair of Acura ARX-06 GTP entries, but during IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race weekends, the No. 93 Acura will be run and engineered by HRC US, with the No. 60 ARX-06 operated by the Acura MSR team members as in previous seasons.
Colin Braun: “I think it’s been a really good test. There’s a lot to cover from where we left off at the end of 2023, so the focus has been getting everyone from MSR and HRC integrated and up to speed. It’s amazing to see all the work and effort everyone from both groups have done in such short order. Pretty impressive! Having a second car has been great, it’s 2x the learning every time we go out. So really positive. It’s all going so well and it’s only going to get better from here.”
Nick Yelloly: “Working with the guys and girls here and at the shop and with MSR has been fantastic and obviously with HRC. We’ve been ticking off everything we can do on our program. Working through, sticking to our own program and making sure we constructively test everything we need to before we come back here in January. So, everything's gone smoothly. Lap time-wise, it's always nice to see yourself further at the front, but it doesn't matter until we go racing, to be honest. But, yeah it’s been fantastic. I think Mike (Shank) runs a great operation here, as do HRC and its friendly faces all the time. Nothing's too big of a job. Everyone gets their heads down and works their tails off to chase our end goal—which is obviously to be at the front.”
Kakunoshin Ohta: “After I heard I would be part of this test, we did a lot of preparation, in the simulator and getting ready so I would be confident with how to drive the car. I already knew a lot about this track, so I didn’t have any worry about coming here. But, when we got here the car was really fun to drive."
The 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona is January 23rd - January 26th. For information and tickets, visit DIS.
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