F1 Rejects Microprose Grand Prix Series: the 2013 season

[RonDenisDeletraz]

New Australian team
It has been announced that a new Australian team plans to enter F1RMGP(pending approval). The team, set up is response to the merger of Prost and DAMS to create a french national team, is believed to be called Team Australia and have already singed Fosters and Quantas to long term sponsorship deals. They appear to be in negotiations with a number of Australian drivers, including Gary Brabham who is seeking to bounce back after a disappointing season at LIfe.

[dinizintheoven]

He's back! The Brundell maniac!

Time to take out my trusty comb and see what's been making the news. First of all, reports on some new squads from Some Publication and an unnamed source in Australia...

HRT shoe-in for 2014 F1RMGP season - you heard it here first
written by Not Joe Saward
The F1RMGP entry proposal by Hispania has gained some serious momentum today as Colin Kolles today confirmed that work on their 2014 challenger was 'well underway'. When questioned as to whether this was a little hasty on his part, Kolles answered, "Well, Fondmetal Team Malaysia opted to use their old T127 for last year, which everyone then copied. I see no reason why we can't use an old Hispania. All the other entries have to worry about getting a hold of cars, which is a problem we won't have."
Kolles went on to confirm that the team will be using a SEAT engine, though he refused to comment on the engine other than saying it would be 'quite quick'. The leading theory at the moment is that the engine will feature two heavily tuned SEAT Ibiza engines nailed to turbos found outside the Mecachrome factory, then stuck together to create a twin-turbo V8. Or something like that.
As for drivers, Sakon Yamamoto is strongly linked with the lead drive, Kolles having made rather strong hints that he had signed the former Dome hopeful. Adrian Campos is also strongly linked with the drive, having set up the team's original incarnation as Campos Meta. Unconfirmed reports also state that HRT have 'definitely signed Vitantonio Liuzzi to a multi-year contract', although given the puzzled face Colin Kolles made when confronted with this information, it's probably my rather unhinged partial-namesake making rubbish up. Again.

New Australian team
It has been announced that a new Australian team plans to enter F1RMGP(pending approval). The team, set up is response to the merger of Prost and DAMS to create a french national team, is believed to be called Team Australia and have already singed Fosters and Quantas to long term sponsorship deals. They appear to be in negotiations with a number of Australian drivers, including Gary Brabham who is seeking to bounce back after a disappointing season at LIfe.

Interesting. With two slots still to be filled on the 2014 grid, and yet more nominations as to who it's going to be, obviously some will have to miss out. And let us not forget, the 38 cars which will make the grid will be whittled down to 26 every race... some of these smaller bids from teams which wouldn't have a hope of getting on a GP2 grid are in the realms of pure fantasy, especially if they end up like Life did last year, or Stefan the year before.

Hispania Racing are quite a credible potential entry, though knowing what I do and what I'm about to reveal, the choice of a SEAT engine might not be quite as good an idea as it seems. Adrián Campos would most likely be running the team rather than driving for it, though if they get desperate (Sakon Yamamoto is being linked to just about every available drive out there at the moment, for instance) I suppose he could do what Pedro Diniz did at Forti. As for Liuzzi, I'm surprised Not Joe Saward's unhinged namesake hasn't tried to announce that he's signed for Viking or F1RM. Let us not forget either that multi-year contracts are prohibited in F1RMGP rules, so Joe, if that's your intention... checkmate!

Shock expose on Autosport!
written by Sensationalist B. Journalist Jr.
As long-time followers of the F1RMGP series will no doubt have noticed by now, the reporting from Autosport has gotten rather... shall we say. unlike a publication of their calibre. Frequently getting things wrong and their rock-solid defense of Aguri Suzuki when all evidence points to the man being nearly as loony as Gunther Schmidt (although, admittedly, that would be Aggers on a pretty bad day and Schmidt on his very best behaviour)

And that's why he was brought back! Sir Bernard made a masterstroke.

Using my immense charisma and investigative experience, I went to the Autosport head offices posing as a prospective journalist, where I was taken on a tour of the building, although frustratingly I was refused access to what was quite clearly the writing floor. With my intrigue sparked by this curious refusal, I noted the room's location and later returned once I had slipped away under the pretense of a bathroom break. What I found could only be expressed in pictorial form.

[i]WHAT!? WHAT IS THIS? WHY IS THERE A MONKEY WRITING FOR AUTOSPORT? WHY!? WHAT COULD THIS POSSIBLY ACCOMPLISH!?

...but there isn't a monkey. There is, however, a chimpanzee. With all this talk of Autosport losing the plot, you'd think SBJ and the editors of Some Publication might have done their research... are these two motorsport journals two sides of the same coin?

Anyway, time for more news from the Series Management.

Sir Bernard's Newsround

Deutschland, Deutschland, über Alles!
Or, at least, that's the intention... from Audi. They were not going to stand by and watch Peugeot drop their LMP diesel engine into an F1RMGP car and see it beat Ze Glorious Vaterland... so they have had to intervene and get their own entry on the grid. Unfortunately, the only German team available to them was the hopeless ATS Rial squad. But then... were they really all that hopeless? Put all those DNQs aside and remember they (quite flukily) scored points in 2013 when other, slightly less slow cars couldn't. And besides, putting the engine from a Volkswagen Golf into the car wasn't a stellar move in the first place. Audi believe the team have potential, have agreed to supply them with a 3.7-litre single-turbo diesel engine from the R18 LMP car... but only if their driver line-up is entirely German. No Swiss or Austrians, that's cheating. So, Günther Schmidt's present to Pierre-Henri Raphanel for scoring those four points that put them ahead of DAMS and Minardi last season was the sack for not being German, and in his place... they managed to prise Joachim Winkelhock away from AGS, in a way that Spyker were also trying to do. They considered Ralf Schumacher for a while, before deciding that he was pretty much useless. As for PHR, he signed for AGS in a straight swap... and who knows, he may be the one smiling the most out of this deal.

With Audi now representing the Volkswagen Group on the F1RMGP grid, that leaves SEAT in a problematic position as regards helping Hispania Racing with their application for the 2014 grid.

Malaysia, Malaysia... sinking deeper into the mud
Oh dear. At the back of the grid, it's all gone wrong for Tony Fernandes. As a means of punishment to both him and Dany Bahar for dragging the good name of Lotus through the mud with their endless squabbling during the 2011 F1 season, the two of them have been locked in a cage together and will be forced to enter the 2014 F1RMGP season as a joint operation. Genii Team Malaysia, as the team will now be called, has already been deserted by Alex Yoong, who's run off back to his old stamping ground at Minardi – and only Ricardo Teixeira, out of a drive with the exit of Lola, was interested in bringing a bucketload of cash from Sonangol to the team, and they'll need every penny they can lay their hands on. Meanwhile, at Minardi, Pierluigi Martini has retired from the series, opening the door for Yoong to return. Whether it's a step up from GTM, it remains to be seen.

Simtek sort themselves out
Nick Wirth's Simtek squad, down in the dumps for the last two seasons, have promised to straighten themselves out in 2014. Only thing is, they still won't say who their new sponsor is, just that the vast majority of those from the previous season are still on board, as are Isuzu. In place of the sacked Taki Inoue comes GP2 reject, Marko Asmer, a F1RMGP debutant who had been linked with a drive at Super Aguri... then again, so had everyone else, including the current series champion. Paul Belmondo is retained as the team's lead driver, as expected.

So what will become of Hideki Noda...

President Obama wanted CHANGE! F1RMGP teams fail to comply with his request...
Driver line-ups have been confirmed at F1RM, Forti, Scuderia Andrea Coloni, EuroBrun and Stefan - and they're all unchanged from last year. Likewise, Minardi confirm Esteban Tuero is staying, to partner the returning Alex Yoong. All Super Aguri will say is that Yuji Ide will definitely be there for a fourth season... but no word on who his new team-mate will be. Wild speculation may come flooding in from unscrupulous motorsport publications as news filters through from Viking Racing that only Þorvaldur Einarsson has been absolutely confirmed for next year. And what of Toleman? No word from them about either Allan McNish or Ralph Firman, though at least we know the Firman family will be represented in 2014 by Ralph's sister in the WEC...

[FMecha]

'SOME PUBLICATION' TURNED OUT TO BE THE GENERIC TIMES, POLICE SAYS

Yesterday, a unnamed journalist from the yesterday's unnamed newspaper (known as 'some publication') was arrested following a espioange in the Autosport office with led to a article in the newspaper containing libelous stock photos. A investigation by English Police finally found out that the 'some publication' actually is The Generic Times, which is notable for misleading articles, especially regarding motorsport. No further information is currently available.

NEW WELSH TEAM TO COMPETE IN F1RMGP?

The Welsh Motor Racing Authority has announced that it has submitted entry to F1RMGP for next year under the name of Team Wales. The team is notable for domination in BATracer series. No further information is currently available.

[the Masked Lapwing]

NEW WELSH TEAM TO COMPETE IN F1RMGP?

The Welsh Motor Racing Authority has announced that it has submitted entry to F1RMGP for next year under the name of Team Wales. The team is notable for domination in BATracer series. No further information is currently available.

What domination? I've seen them get destroyed by Virgin before

It's not like I was on Team Wales at the time...

[Salamander]

A word from the Editor
written by Theo Editor
Well, given the backlash after Sen's latest 'expose', I had a little chat with everyone's favourite sensationalist. Unfortunately, for fans of his rather unique writing style, I have had to let Sen go. He was a very polarising character but given the rise in sales since I took him on, you can't say he didn't sell. However, it seems that he has outstayed his welcome. As I write this, he's probably on the next flight to America, having been bailed from police custody and hired by News International.

Now, however, this leaves us down one investigative reporter. Recommended by Sen himself is his younger brother Moderate D. Journalist. Mod comes straight from Cambridge with a Master's in Journalism, with top honours, so I hope he can fill Sen's shoes well.

As for these rather baseless accusations of us being the Generic Times, I for one am absolutely insulted that people would even think of comparing our humble motorsports publication with that waste of paper. The Generic Times' articles were all complete fabrications, in whole if not part. I would ask that these accusations cease without evidence.

As for Sen's article itself, all I will say is I trusted Sen. He had proven himself over the years with many exposes on various things for all kinds of publication. I have no reason to doubt him.

Team Wales: Who are they, really?
written by Moderate D. Journalist
So, whilst researching the latest goings-on in the F1RMGP world, I noticed an announcement that Team Wales had submitted an entry to join the exalted ranks of the F1RMGP paddock. 'Great', I thought to myself, before realising I had never before heard of this team, or indeed, their previous discipline, cited as the BATracer series. After a bit more digging, I found the BATracer site, and what I found was rather shocking.

The organisation is a complete mess. There is a hierarchy in the teams, but it doesn't seem to actually count for anything. Multiple times have teams supposedly on the same level as Life last season taken multiple wins and both championships. Teams which supposedly have dynasties to rival F1RM's fall apart without rhyme or reason. And the driver turnover rate is enough to shame Wolf-Williams. As for Team Wales - yes, they have performed well in some seasons, even winning a few championships. But there was nothing there I would describe as 'domination'. Nonetheless, they seem to have been there from the start, so Team Wales must be doing something to simply survive amidst all the chaos.

Their announcement contained little else, so we'll just have to wait and see how ready they are. However, for fans of the team and our Welsh readers; I would not get my hopes up for next season.

[FMecha]

Regarding about Some Publication and The Generic Times, we never seized Some Publication - and keep in mind that the arrested journalist came upon complaint from Autosport to us. There was somebody wearing our uniform, coming to Some Publication office before being expelled by their security. So, we also denied the Daily Mail article; there must be a PR stunt attempt by Daily Fail; pardon me, Daily Mail.

[FMecha]

Sorry for the double post, but...

WELSH TEAM ANNOUNCE DETAILS

The Welsh Motor Racing Authority today announced the details pertaining to the Team Wales F1RMGP project. The TP-14 - named in honour of Welsh F1 driver Tom Pryce will be the chassis the team will be using next year. The car will mated with a Judd engine (one spec below Scuderia Andrea-Coloni), although the team also considering the Dodge engine used by Lola and Monteverdi in 2013. They also have signed Welsh FRenault champion Hywel Lloyd and also considering Ralph Firman as their driver.

The team is scheduled to conduct test of the TP-14 in Anglesey and Donington circuits. More information will be available later.

[RonDenisDeletraz]

Team Australia is disappointed at being dismissed as a no hoper for F1RMGP entry

[dinizintheoven]

Team Australia is disappointed at being dismissed as a no hoper for F1RMGP entry

If every suggestion was taken on board and turned into an actual team, there'd be more DNQs every race than drivers making the grid... plus, it'd be nothing short of a nightmare to run the races. It's already been fiendishly complicated to run 16 races on MGP1 where there are 34 cars but 40 entrants...

Anyway. Time for Sir Bernie's Newsround, because here comes some big news.

Craig Cod enters F1RMGP... at the top!
"I am quite confident that our engine will win the first race it enters," chirped Craig Cod with exactly the same optimism that he, Reynard and BAR did going into the 1999 Formula 1 season, before the house of cards came quite spectacularly crashing down. Jacques Villeneuve may have been in the F1RMGP field to tempt his old mate to put some much-needed power into the Stefan team, but the fishily-named one signed a deal with F1RM instead, so maybe this time his words won't be quite so misplaced. Cod's PURE engines, designed for the 2014 F1 regulations (which were supposed to be in place in 2013), will finally be given the proving ground they need. His reputation rests on it, as does that of the F1RM team, proudly displaying the number 1 on Chris Dagnall's car. And forget ye all not that Mecachrome's reputation is also on the line, after the debacle with the dreadful W9 triple-turbo engine that spluttered around at the back of the timesheets with FTM last year. We await the development of this partnership eagerly.

Going for a drive amongst the tulips and windmills
Spyker are sorted for the new season. They've signed Gregor Foitek, unwanted by Monteverdi, and the first ever Monégasque driver in the series, Olivier Beretta, making his F1RMGP debut with the new Dutch squad. Unfortunately, they couldn't agree terms with Suzuki to run the potentially powerful V6 turbo hillclimb engine that is looking so good (read: they couldn't afford it), and the Renault engines jettisoned by DAMS have mysteriously gone missing. But, help was at hand from Neotech, who have agreed to supply Spyker with their 2013-spec V12 as a customer team, with EuroBrun continuing as their "works" effort. It's all go for the Dutch!

Suzuki's nervous wait for validation
The Japanese engines currently in place have all decided to stay put; Mugen-Honda at Super Aguri and Dome (which we knew about), Isuzu at Simtek, Toyota at Stefan, HKS at Monteverdi. Suzuki's options are drying up; the most likely teams to supply engines to, were they still to be an engine builder only, would be Toleman - not that Renault are likely to let them go - or Minardi, who have been running the reticent Motori Moderni V6 turbo since their inception in this series, and the Suzuki engine would most likely be a good fit. But Minardi are in a dire state of financial affairs, and if Spyker couldn't afford it, chances are Minardi can't either. I suppose there's always Genii Team Malaysia if they get desperate, but the contract there says the engine would be rebadged as a Proton. It is looking increasingly important for Suzuki to push hard for inclusion in one of the last two available grid slots.

Hang on, did I say two? I meant...

The Price isn't right
The third of the new squads for this season has been announced. Almost unbelievably, it is David Price Racing, the team cast off from GP2 at the end of the 2010 season due to their near-inability to return any good results. Using their GP2 expulsion as their main selling point, team principal André Herck said that the team needed somewhere to race – given that Durango (another team with connections to Jacques Villeneuve – he really does get everywhere, doesn't he?) had found a new niche in Auto GP, and fellow GP2 rejects Trident and Ocean Racing Technology were still involved in the series. The team's Romanian connections landed them with the good fortune they needed to get onto the F1RMGP grid – the Renault engines no longer needed by the DAMS squad after their absorption into SPAM were hastily rebadged as Dacias, and will power the team in 2014. Driving for them will be Bulgarian Plamen Kralev, who raced for Mastercard Lola to no effect whatsoever in 2013, but who carries the advantage of sponsorship from Bulgargaz and is a next door neighbour of Romania; the second seat will be filled by the aging Swiss GP3 driver, Christophe Hurni. So, let's add it all up: duff GP2 squad with no experience of building their own chassis buys cast-off engines and employs two old drivers with a reputation for being slow. Pay as you DNQ, boys.

[RonDenisDeletraz]

Team Australia has announced it's intention to postpone it's planned entry to 2015.

More details coming soon

[FMecha]

Bump for news...

HRT, TEAM WALES CONFIDENT IN THE NEW TEAMS LOTTERY

As the lottery of the new teams will be decided soon, there are two teams confident to pass it: Hispania Racing (HRT) and Team Wales.

We are confident that we will pass the [new teams] lottery.

Kolles also claimed that he have prepared the resources for the F1RMGP team.

The Welsh team, meanwhile, have completed their construction of TP-14 and is confident that they will be competing next year. After all, the Welsh team is scheduled to take tests of TP-14 in Anglesey and Donington.

[RonDenisDeletraz]

Team Australia press release
Team Australia has announced an open introduction to any Australian driver willing to test for the team for 2015. We are testing at several Australian tracks throughout the year in preparation for entry in 2015.

[dinizintheoven]

Silly Season Newsround... we're nearly there!

A stroke of absolute "Genii"us
After GTM and Proton's acrimonious divorce with Mecachrome, the misguided Malaysians are taking on PURE at their own game. With Mecachrome working in close partnership with PURE to develop their 1.6-litre inline-4 turbo, Proton have decided they are going to go down the same route. Expect the results to be... interesting.

Toleman are still being silent...
While it is still widely believed that Allan McNish and Ralph Firman have drives at Toleman for 2014, nobody at the team has confirmed anything. What's going on down there?

...while Magnussen sees sense
Actually, he was never going to leave, was he? Whether Aguri Suzuki fishing for his services was an attempt to destabilise toe Viking Racing team or not, they're retaining their powerful all-Scandinavian driver line-up for 2014. Magnussen said he'd considered his options, but knew where his best shot at the title would come from.

But talking of Aguri Suzuki...
HERE'S THE BIG NEWS!
Aggers is in a horrible quandary. He genuinely has no idea who is going to fill the gaping void left by Dome swiping Marco Apicella from under his nose. He has figured there is only one thing to do...

...hold a shootout to see who's the right dude for the gig.

[FMecha]

Welsh team completes Anglesey test

The Welsh Motor Racing Authority - the authority responsible for Team Wales entry bid for F1RMGP - has completed their private test in Anglesey in the International course. Driven by Welsh FRenault champion Hywel Lloyd, the TP-14 completed 38 laps before retiring after the car ran out of fuel. The fastest time was 1:27:36, at lap 23. Lloyd said that the car is "promising" but "a bit sluggish in some corners". The Donington test will be done later.

[dinizintheoven]

Serious real-life interlude

So, it seems there's been a bit of concern about the lack of F1RMGP updates, if that email I had from FMecha is anything to go by. I've been "distracted" - if that's the right word - by interludes such as people travelling from far and wide parts of the country who I'd quite like to see in the pub in the evening, a funeral and its aftermath, plus this is what I'll be up to this evening. Though, actually, the F1 Rejects forum has been the real "distraction" from the pressing business of a whole ton of video editing which I should have had done... before I even joined this forum. I am doing it in the run-up to That Dreaded Event at the end of the year, by which time it needs to be complete to the very high standards I demand of myself.

What I'd intended to do was post Silly Season News here and run races in the Women's European Cup while the final output was rendering, converting and generally making itself useful. At the beginning of the edits this would take two hours - enough of a window to get the race and the report done, and post it. Now, the rendering process is taking five hours or so, so what I will do is finish it at the end of the day, start the render and export process and go to bed, and find it done in the morning. Which hasn't left a lot of time for F1RMGP races. However, the series will definitely continue, and I reckon a good idea would be to make the next race now and put the results up before I go to Derby. (Sheep noises are heard in the background.) That should keep you all going for a while in that championship.

Meanwhile, there isn't a lot of Silly Season News left to post here; but that which there is, comes now...

--- end Serious Real-Life Interlude ---


Silly Season News: The Final Insults

Intruder alert!
This piece of interesting news during the season seems to have gone completely unnoticed. Strange, that, because it could have an impact on the 2014 season. Analysis of the security camera footage from the Simtek motorhome shows that it wasn't Rrrrrmmmnn Grrrrjjjjnnn sticking his nose in there that day, it was F1 Rejects forum user, Row-Man Gross-Gene, wearing a big ginger wig. Apparently he's a dab hand with both CFD and bypassing security systems, and he was in there, hacking into Nick Wirth's laptop, downloading the design for the Virgin VR-01. So... don't be too surprised if this is... "leaked" to the 2014 teams and the 2014 challenger ends up with a strange similarity to Nick Wirth's favourite "looked good, went slow" design...

Suzuki copies Suzuki...
Suzuki Formula One, as the team is temporarily known, will be doing exactly the same as what Aguri Suzuki has been doing. They can't decide which drivers to employ, so they'll be having a shootout (which will, again, be posted on the Competition Thread) after Super Aguri's is finished. The temporary name of the team will only last until the results of the shootout, at which the title sponsor of the team - similar to that which resulted in the name of Manor Grand Prix disappearing before they'd even entered their first race - will be revealed. And, in the words of the team bosses, it'll be a title sponsor rejectful enough to fit the ethos of the championship.

[Salamander]

The VR-01? But that was even worse than the T127 which everyone used last year.

[dinizintheoven]

Although the T127 formed the basis for the F1RMGP 2013 cars, none of them (not even Fondmetal Team Malaysia) actually used it in its standard state; it was quite heavily cannibalised by each team, hence the different chassis designations. Now, you don't think any of them left either the Cosworth V8 or that horrid Xtrac gearbox in there, do you? Ditto the VR-01. That car still has potential, it just needs the know-how of a top team like F1RM or Viking Racing to tweak it and unlock its full power. A twin-supercharged Koenigsegg engine and a bomb-proof gearbox certainly helps...

Calling Row-Man Gross-Gene! Hack the computers of HRT and get the blueprints for the F111, then we can have a 2015 season as well!

[FMecha]

BlindCaveSalamander, what happen with your 'some publication'? I expect some news from them.

[Salamander]

BlindCaveSalamander, what happen with your 'some publication'? I expect some news from them.

It's the off season, there's not really that much to report on right now.

[FMecha]

The 2014 season wiki page is ready!

[dinizintheoven]

Silly Season News: The Final Final Insult

First of all, may I direct all your attention to the Super Aguri shootout, where Shinji Nakano claimed the second seat for Super Aguri for the upcoming season.

However, a certain aging Italian was also watching...

"Buruno-san, we want you to watch the shootout and see who is impressive and will bring us much honour..."

And so Buruno-san reported back to his master, and without a second's hesitation, Hideki Noda was signed to drive for The Team That Is Still, For Now, Known As Suzuki. And for his efforts in spying on the competition, Buruno-san was rewarded with the other seat at the team. Suzuki always intended to give a major sponsor naming rights, but irritatingly for the rest of the field, they're not going to say who it is, and all will be revealed at the start of the 2014 season when the cars are officially unveiled.

The only minor clue lies in a strange change in the numbering scheme for 2014, believed to be part of a deal cut with Sir Bernard Shekelslike. The new numbers are:

15/16 - The Team Still Known (For Now) As Suzuki - apparently they already think they'll be competitive, and have demanded not to be stuck at the back bearing 39/40 next to David Price Racing
29/30 - Stefan Grand Prix - I suppose Lola's old numbers are still better than running with 13 again...
31/32 - Simtek Research Formula One - back in their old 1994 slot
39/40 - Genii Team Malaysia - who Sir Bernard has already rubbished as being the ones to prop up the timesheets for the whole season, and was last seen laughing openly in Tony Fernandes' face

EDIT: Simtek and Stefan have since traded numbers... apparently Jacques Villeneuve thinks he'll be more successful with the number 32 because Michael Schumacher had it for his first race and it's somehow a symbol of good luck, whereas David Coulthard once had 14 so that's not so great. Allegedly.

And in case anybody cares, Toleman came clean and said they never intended to dump either of their drivers, they were just being awkward.

-----------------------------------------------------

The last piece of "news" to report on this thread is likely to be a "real life" job once I've worked out if I can fit in an entire F1RMGP season before the real thing starts again in March. I suspect it will work out well.

[dinizintheoven]

The last piece of "news" to report on this thread is likely to be a "real life" job once I've worked out if I can fit in an entire F1RMGP season before the real thing starts again in March.

And I can, so the chances are, I will.

Question, people: do you want me to keep this thread alive with "real life" updates on how close we are to the new season, how I'm doing with designing the cars, working out driver stats (the WEC has certainly helped on that front), etc?

[Salamander]

The last piece of "news" to report on this thread is likely to be a "real life" job once I've worked out if I can fit in an entire F1RMGP season before the real thing starts again in March.

And I can, so the chances are, I will.

Question, people: do you want me to keep this thread alive with "real life" updates on how close we are to the new season, how I'm doing with designing the cars, working out driver stats (the WEC has certainly helped on that front), etc?

Sure, if it's not too much trouble.