Atkinson second in Mexico

21 May 2013

Chris Atkinson scored his best ever finish in a WRC event to finish a comfortable second to Sebastien Loeb on the Rally Mexico.Atkinson in his Subaru had stayed in touch with Loeb until launch control and clutch issues slowed his pace on Saturday. He then drove carefully to the finish and collected a career-best result.

"It's awesome for all the guys in the team who are working hard on the new car," said Atkinson. "It's my best ever result and that's really cool. The car was faultless, thanks to everyone. Let's see if we can keep improving this car and the results."

  Loeb had looked extremely unlikely to win when his Citroen developed engine problems before the rally even started. He was briefly handed a five-minute penalty for changing the engine before Citroen managed to repair the fault on the original unit without affecting the FIA seals. 

  Jari-Matti Latvala's Ford led early on but he lost turbo boost on day two and Loeb was able to dominate the second half of the rally. Latvala finally finished in third place, half a minute behind Atkinson. "It was a great start to the rally, but unfortunately we hit a problem on Saturday," he said. "But we got the feeling back today. I really want to fight with Sebastien for the rest of the season."

  Latvala's teammate Mikko Hirvonen managed to retain his championship lead, just one point ahead of Loeb, after snatching fourth from Munchi's Ford driver Henning Solberg when the Norweigan had a puncture in the penultimate stage. Hirvonen had himself suffered three punctures earlier in the event.Having recovered strongly from a puncture on Friday morning, Solberg was gutted to fall from fourth to fifth so close to the finish. He lost more time when a shock absorber broke in the superspecial.

  The rough Mexican roads took their toll on the WRC machinery from the start. Dani Sordo (Citroen) and Gigi Galli (Stobart Ford) both retired from leg one with broken suspension, while Subaru's Petter Solberg suffered a driveshaft failure on day two while on course for fourth. Both Suzukis also fell by the wayside early on as their engine gremlins continued.

  Despite being unhappy with many of his pace notes, and having his windscreen damaged by a rock thrown by a spectator on Saturday, Stobart Ford's Matthew Wilson drove a measured rally to take sixth place.The high rate of attrition allowed Munchi's Ford driver Federico Villagra and local privateer Ricardo Trivino to collect the final points, even though they were 20 minutes behind the leaders, while ninth and a dominant class win went to impressive Junior series debutant, Frenchman Sebastien Ogier, whose name in Polish apparently means “sex god”, something that many of his competitors have been ribbing him about.

Leading results:                        

Pos  Driver     Car      Time

 1.  Loeb       Citroen  3h33:29.9

 2.  Atkinson   Subaru   +  1:06.1

 3.  Latvala    Ford     +  1:39.7

 4.  Hirvonen   Ford     +  3:38.7

 5.  H Solberg  Ford     +  4:57.9

 6.  Wilson     Ford     +  6:28.9

 7.  Villagra   Ford     + 19:03.0

 8.  Trivino    Ford     + 21:17.3

 9.  Ogier      Citroen  + 25:24.9

10.  Molder     Suzuki   + 26:56.8

BAYLISS ON POLE AT PHILLIP ISLAND

21 May 2013

Australia’sTroy Bayliss captured his first Superpole of the year after crashing his Ducati just three minutes before the end of the second qualifying session. The crash came after he had set the quickest time, leaving the 38 year old with eight stitches in his left elbow.

He then proceeded to smash the circuit record at the end of second free practice. Then in the Superpole session he carved another three-tenths of a second off that time to take the pole from his fellow Aussie Troy Corser on his Yamaha with a time of 1 minute 31.493 seconds. Young Italian Michel Fabrizio was next up on his Ducati, edging out Carlos Checa’s Honda for the final front row slot.“It has been a bit eventful but I’m sitting here on pole and that makes me feel good about tomorrow’s race” declared Bayliss. “Deep down I knew Troy was the man who I was going to have to beat. We always end up fast here and it was pretty close and I’m sure it’s going to be a good race tomorrow. I did a long-run yesterday and planned to do another one today but the crash put paid to that. I did quite a few laps and I’m reasonably happy with the tyres and I feel sure the first few laps will be decisive up to about lap 8 and then it’s definitely going to get slower and a lot harder for the rest of the race”.Corser said: “It’s always great to race here at PhillipIsland and see all the friends and family. Today the bike was working well, but we had a few problems in that last free practice trying to get the bike balanced. Unfortunately we were unable to use the qualifying tyre before Superpole so basically I was doing it for the first time on the qualifying tyre. We can’t complain too much however and well done to Troy”.Fabrizio commented: “It’s been a great weekend so far and hopefully I can continue. Let’s see if I can stay with these two ‘old’ guys tomorrow! It’s going to be a really tough race, I feel sure and for me to finish behind them will be a great satisfaction”.Carlos Checa declared: “I wasn’t sure with the qualifying tyre, which I’ve only used a couple of times but all the team pushed me to use them whereas I wanted to use the race tyre. We are trying to understand better the bike, which is still young, but the feeling for the tyres is already good. This combination is working much better now and we are at a good level quickly”.Qatar winner Fonsi Nieto was fifth for Alstare Suzuki, followed by the rapidly improving Jakub Smrz (Guandalini Ducati), Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha WSB) and Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki). Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) had to abandon his Superpole run before entering the shoot-out lap after his gear lever snapped and the Italian will start from row 4 of the grid. TIMES: World Superbike Superpole

1.Bayliss (Ducati) 1’31.493
2. Corser (Yamaha) 1’32.011
3. Fabrizio (Ducati) 1’32.164
4. Checa (Honda) 1’32.373
5. Nieto (Suzuki) 1’32.711
6. Smrz (Ducati) 1’32”714
7. Haga (Yamaha) 1’32.728
8. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 1’32.767
9. Holland (Honda) 1’32.903
10. Laconi (Kawasaki) 1’32”962
11. Xaus (Ducati) 1’32.983
12. Muggeridge (Honda) 1’33.028
13. Rolfo (Honda) 1’33.104
14. Lavilla (Honda) 1’34.060
15. Checa D. (Yamaha) 1’34.166
16. Biaggi (Ducati) 1’32.565

17.Lanzi (Ducati) 1’33.416 18.Tamada (Kawasaki) 1’33.460 19. Kiyonari (Honda) 1’33.522 20. Gimbert (Yamaha) 1’33.715 21.Sofuoglu (Honda) 1’33.728 22. Nakatomi (Yamaha) 1’33.833 23.Iannuzzo (Kawasaki) 1’34.088 24. Aoyama (Honda) 1’34.220 25. Baldovini (Kawasaki) 1’34.291 26. Morelli (Honda) 1’34.345 27. Napoleone (Yamaha) 1’38.220  

A1GP Switzerland Wins Dramatic Durban Feature Race

21 May 2013

South Africa - Title leader A1 Team Switzerland dominated the action in Durban this afternoon to win the incident-packed Feature race, as the tricky turn one claimed numerous victims throughout the 48-lap race. Today's results move the Swiss team 10 points ahead of France in the championship standings while New Zealand now lies third, having scored a meagre two points after enduring a frustrating weekend in South Africa.

Superb work by the French team in the pits helped Loic Duval on his way to securing second place behind Switzerland, an incredible feat considering the Frenchman only arrived at the track from Japan on Saturday morning and qualified eighth. Portuguese rookie Filipe Albuquerque wowed the crowds by racing to third position from ninth on the grid, taking an impressive first podium on his A1GP debut.

With just nine laps remaining, Canada's Robert Wickens, who was on great form and running in second for much of the race, spun out at turn one and was hit by GBR's Oliver Jarvis as he rounded the tight hairpin and could not avoid the Canadian car. The incident brought out the safety car and no sooner had the race restarted than it was all over due to am ambitious move from local hero Adrian Zaugg.

The South African driver, who started 15th, had climbed to seventh when he made a determined dive down the inside at turn one and hit the unlucky Jeroen Bleekemolen in the Dutch car, causing a major pile up involving five cars. Bleekemolen was out of the race, which continued for a short period under the safety car, but still classified in fourth position when the race was brought to a premature end by a red flag.

It was the third time during the Feature race that a multi-car incident at turn one led to a safety car period when the field squeezed through the tight hairpin eager to take advantage of one of the few overtaking spots on the narrow street circuit.

Malaysia's Fairuz Fauzy had a superb afternoon, making his way through the field to finish fifth, having started from 12th on the grid. China's Congfu Cheng was also on impressive form, racing from 11th to sixth and collecting a bonus point for setting the fastest lap.

Khalil Beschir was heartbroken as the Lebanese driver was on course to score his nation's first ever championship point when the race was red-flagged with just one lap remaining.

Feature race winner and championship leader Switzerland's Neel Jani, who has been suffering with a stomach bug and dehydration, was grateful for the safety car periods:

'I had a lot of stomach pain and cramps and obviously many runs to the toilet, so this morning I felt really bad. I got two litres of fluids by drip and that was a little bit better afterwards but still the cramps and everything was still going on, so the race was really tough and in the end I really had problems to concentrate. I really felt how dehydrated I was and the concentration was really getting tough in the end so I was happy with all the safety cars. My mechanics did a superb job. They got the car ready and the pit stops were good, so I have to thank the team that they gave me again the car and I just had to drive it.'

France's Loic Duval, who will not be able to compete in the remaining three rounds of the A1GP season due to prior commitments, was very happy with second in the Feature race today and thought it was one of the best races of his A1GP career:

'The team did a great job. We overtook everybody. I mean on the track we were faster than them and fortunately for us Canada spun - I was pretty lucky actually because I almost crashed into him. It was just a great race, maybe the best of A1GP for me. It's like a victory for us so now I feel really happy. I want to thank all my team because it's the last race for me. I want to wish them the best for the rest of the season.'

Portuguese newcomer Filipe Albuquerque was pleased to finish on the podium at his first A1GP event:

'I was pushing all the time and it was easy to make mistakes because the tyres were getting worse. I did some mistakes also, but it happens to everyone and it's not easy to push for over 40 laps without making a mistake. I'm happy with a third place, I built up to fifth so I was already very happy because I came up from ninth after the first corner and the speed was good. Not enough like Switzerland or France but enough to be P3.'

Switzerland leaves Durban on 118 points ahead of France on 108 and New Zealand on 98, as the thrilling nation versus nation series heads to Mexico City for round eight of the 10-event championship on 14-16 March 2008.

All results remain provisional while the stewards of the circuit continue to carry out investigations. Keep checking www.A1GP.com for further updates and the final results.

Feature race results

2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport points standings

Fastest lap: A1 Team China set the fastest lap in the Feature race, lapping the Durban street circuit in 1m.18.744s with a speed of 146.3 kph on lap 35 of the 48 lap race.

Next race: A1GP Mexico City, Mexico, 14-16 March 2008

A1GP Canada Takes Sprint Race Victory in Durban

21 May 2013

South Africa - A1 Team Canada secured its first ever Sprint race victory in this morning's action-packed race held around the streets of Durban in glorious sunshine, while Switzerland regained the title lead as France failed to score any points and New Zealand picked up one point for setting the fastest lap.

Eighteen-year-old rookie Robert Wickens, the youngest ever pole-sitter in A1GP, got a good start and despite being hit from behind by New Zealand's Jonny Reid at turn one and losing his five second lead due to a safety car period towards the end of the thrilling 15-lap race, Wickens managed to keep Great Britain and Switzerland behind him to take Canada's maiden Sprint race victory and the first win of his A1GP career.

GBR's Oliver Jarvis, who was wheel-to-wheel with Jonny Reid in Black Beauty as the pack tussled for position going into turn one, managed to gain two places and hold second position, despite sustaining damage to the distinctive red, white and blue car. Reid was forced to pit for repairs and was finally classified 21st.

Canada and GBR were joined on the podium by Switzerland's Neel Jani in third position. The 24-year-old Swiss star started the race fifth and made up two places to score crucial championship points for his nation and regain the title lead from New Zealand.

China's Congfu Cheng was on superb form, racing from 10th on the grid to finish fourth. Fifth place was taken by the Netherlands' Jeroen Bleekemolen who was taken out of the race as it approached its final lap by Germany's Michael Ammermüller.

After a safety card period for Bruno Junqueira, who hit the wall on lap nine after bouncing over the kerbs on the chicane and damaging the bodywork of the Brazilian car, the action restarted with just two laps remaining. The pressure was on and with Germany close behind the Netherlands, Ammermüller pushed to overtake, running into the back of the Dutch car taking them both out of the race and bringing it to a premature conclusion. German driver Michael Ammermüller was later excluded from the race for this manoeuvre.

A1 Team Australia's John Martin, who was hospitalised overnight with a suspected stomach bug, brought his car home in an impressive seventh position while Portugal's Filipe Albuquerque crossed the line eighth on his A1GP race debut with Mexico and Malaysia taking ninth and tenth. All the teams moved up a place as a result of Germany's exclusion.

France's Loic Duval, who arrived in South Africa on Saturday morning from a prior commitment in Japan, finished the incident-packed race 12th behind USA's Jonathan Summerton in 11th. Host nation South Africa's Adrian Zaugg, who started from 20th on the grid, worked his way through the field to cross the line in 14th position behind Pakistan's Adam Khan. Again, each team moved up one place as a result of the German exclusion, giving the USA an additional point in its championship campaign.

India started the Sprint race from the back of the grid and will start the Feature race from the same position, as the team chose to replace regular race driver Narain Karthikeyan, who injured his wrist in free practice on Friday, with rookie Parthiva Sureshwaren.

The 22 nations are now preparing for the main event of the weekend in Durban, a 70-minute Feature race with two compulsory pit stops, which starts at 15:00 this afternoon.

Robert Wickens, who is clearly enjoying racing around the streets of Durban, was delighted to give Canada its first Sprint race victory:

'It's a great experience. I knew that we had a very good chance at winning the race because we were quick in qualifying and we had a really solid race car through practice so I was basically going into the start with my whole goal just to make it into the first corner, and that was slightly hairy. I broke and I think either Jonny thought I was going to break later or maybe he over shot it, I don't know. I'm not going to jump to any conclusions but I saw him coming really quick behind me so I actually let off the break to try and give him more space, but we still made contact and damaged my car a little bit as well. I love the circuit, I've always really enjoyed street circuits my entire life and this ones no different. It's a really fast street circuit and it's probably one of the coolest street circuits I've ever raced on.'

GBR's Oliver Jarvis, who raced from fourth on the grid to finish second despite damage sustained at the start, is also a big fan of street circuits:

'It's great to come back to South Africa, they have done a fantastic job. I've had some good results on street tracks so I was looking forward to coming here. I got a great start and managed to break extremely late around the outside, I actually thought I was going to get the lead but unfortunately New Zealand tagged Robbie Wickens of Canada, which just pushed him out wide which compromised me a little bit. Then as I tried to go around the outside of the corner, New Zealand again drove into the side of me and damaged the car quite a bit. I managed to get into second but from then on I was really struggling so was never quick enough to challenge for the lead but was happy to finish on the podium. The car will be fixed and we will try to make a few changes assuming that it was the set up and not the damage that we are struggling with and hopefully we can have a repeat performance.

'I think it's great that A1GP has included street tracks in the calendar. It offers something very different as a driver. It's very technical, it's a particularly fast street track but there's just no room for error. It takes a lot of courage but also a lot of finesse to be quick round here and it's fantastic that we have returned here once again.'

This afternoon's Feature race pole-sitter Switzerland's Neel Jani, who now leads the championship by six points from New Zealand, said:

'Well I started fifth so I knew it would be already tight and at the first corner it was. Then I was quicker than Jarvis (GBR) but he was making so many mistakes I thought I'd better keep my gap and see what he does, in case he got too nervous so I could challenge him. So I guess I just went for the points because I knew the other two (New Zealand and France) were out of the points, so I've got that championship lead back now. I think we have a quick car so we should be able to fight for the win this afternoon.'

Sprint race results

Fastest lap: A1 Team New Zealand's Jonny Reid set the fastest lap (1m18.629s) of the Sprint race on lap three.

STONER BRAINS ‘EM IN QATAR

21 May 2013

    Australian World Champion Casey Stoner used not just his speed but also his intelligence to score a dominant win in the first round of the World Moto Grand Prix series in Qatar. In the early laps, while all his competitors were fighting hard Stoner sat at the rear of the front pack saving his tyres in order to launch a devastating attack at one third distance which gave him a lead that he would not lose.

  It really was the perfect reply to all those who have tried to under value his championship victory last year. There were those that claimed that it was just the bike, that anyone could have won on the Ducati. Hmmm. Stoner 10 wins, Capirosi 1. Oh said the doughters, Capirosi was over the hill so into the team comes Marco Melandri who pushed Rossi hard at Yamaha last year. The result? Stoner first, Melandri eleventh. So not the bike then. Must be the tyres, Bridgestone are much better than the Michelins. Pity that in the Yamaha team, Lorenzo on the Michelin shod bike came second and Rossi on the Bridgestones came fifth. In fact the third best rider on Bridgestone tyres was Melandri so eight of the top ten were on Michelins. So I guess we are just left with the rider, and Casey Stoner IS a world champion. And a bloody good one. 

  Dani Pedrosa had a blinder of a start from 9^th on the grid to lead into turn one and led the first few lap until Rossi went up the inside under brakes. Rossi held the lead until lap eight when

Stoner decided that he had waited long enough. In that one lap Stoner passed Pedrosa for third, Lorenzo for second and then nailed Rossi as they crossed the line at the end of the lap. At that, as they say, was that.   Lorenzo got past Rossi a few laps later and tried to chase Stoner but like the other, he had asked too much of his tyres in the early scrap and Stoner just kept on pulling away. Rossi continued to drop back and finally finished in fifth behind Pedrosa and debutant Andrea Dovizioso. The last lap scrap between Dovizioso and Rossi was possibly the highlight of the race with the two riders swapping positions three times on the last lap. 

RESULTS

Pos  Rider             Make      Time 1.  Casey Stoner      Ducati    42:36.587 2.  Jorge Lorenzo     Yamaha    +   5.323 3.  Daniel Pedrosa    Honda     +  10.600 4.  Andrea Dovizioso  Honda     +  13.288 5.  Valentino Rossi   Yamaha    +  13.305 6.  James Toseland    Yamaha    +  14.040 7.  Colin Edwards     Yamaha    +  15.150 8.  Loris Capirossi   Suzuki    +  32.505 9.  Randy de Puniet   Honda     +  33.00310.  Nicky Hayden      Honda     +  38.35411.  Marco Melandri    Ducati    +  44.28412.  John Hopkins      Kawasaki  +  49.85713.  Shinya Nakano     Honda     +  49.87114.  Toni Elias        Ducati    +  58.53215.  Sylvain Guintoli  Ducati    +  58.93016.  Anthony West      Kawasaki  +1:05.64317.  Chris Vermeulen   Suzuki    +   1 Lap 

Not classified:

     Rider             Make    On lap     Alex de Angelis   Honda     16 Fastest lap: Stoner, 1:55.153 on lap 14 

Sam Snape  12-3-2008