The Junior Series Thread

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 29 Sep 2015, 11:51

novitopoli wrote:
Backmarker wrote:Oliver Rowland won Formula Renault 3.5 at the weekend. Hard to see him ever stepping up to Formula One, as he only manages a career at the moment thanks to the Racing Steps Foundation, who won't fund a Formula One seat.

It's a shame, 'cause he has a fair share of talent. Hope he can find some good sponsors...

It's a shame, 'cause I would have liked to have seen a return of the 1995 Footwork Arrows livery to F1...

Faustus · Post by **Faustus** » 29 Sep 2015, 14:48

golic_2004 wrote:
novitopoli wrote:
Backmarker wrote:Oliver Rowland won Formula Renault 3.5 at the weekend. Hard to see him ever stepping up to Formula One, as he only manages a career at the moment thanks to the Racing Steps Foundation, who won't fund a Formula One seat.

It's a shame, 'cause he has a fair share of talent. Hope he can find some good sponsors...

Maybe Indycar or Formula E could be in the near future if not F1, if he's looking to continue in open wheel.

Yeah he'll probably go the way of James Calado and Sam Bird and end up in sportscars, maybe with a sideline in Formula E.

yannicksamlad · Post by **yannicksamlad** » 05 Oct 2015, 11:53

It's a shame, 'cause he has a fair share of talent. Hope he can find some good sponsors...[/quote]

Maybe Indycar or Formula E could be in the near future if not F1, if he's looking to continue in open wheel.[/quote]

Yeah he'll probably go the way of James Calado and Sam Bird and end up in sportscars, maybe with a sideline in Formula E.[/quote]

Yep- Rowland, Calado, Bird...and that's just the Brits who couldnt find F1 seats. I am a big fan of the 'Junior' series, and the current GP2 field, and some of the WSR 3.5 are real quality drivers. So many of them could do at least a reasonable job in a F1 car. But with 20/22 F1 seats ( fewer if Red Bull/Toro Rosso don't get engines), and the longevity of careers for those who squeeze into F1..there's no chance for most of these GP2 etc drivers to even have a few laps F1 racing in an Osella ..or whatever....like in the old days.

That really must be so hard for these drivers to take - and if you're not Red Bull , Honda, Ferrari linked its even worse. How do you think you'll get in to F1 realistically? And to me F1 isn't healthy with less-than-full grids, rejecting potential applicants for grid places despite relying on Red Bull, and knowing that a couple of teams struggle to survive every year.

I suppose it just makes me a bit sad, and makes me admire the optimism of those who keep trying in GP2 etc despite seeing Leimar, Valsecchi, Calado, Bird, Pantano, Frijns etc get nothing but a bit of F1 testing or Friday practice... And what is Stoffel going to do next year? and Magnussen? And yet they're the 'chosen ones', with support..
For drivers locked out of the best DAMS/ART places by F1-affiliated drivers on funded programmes (and 'comfortable' spending multiple years in the programme) , it must be even worse.

I admire them all for their optimism. Still at least its fun for them to race in brilliant cars, on terrific tracks while waiting for an opportunity.

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 06 Oct 2015, 11:59

How profound, yannicksamlad.

In GP2 news, Formula 3.5 front-runner and cancer survivor Dean Stoneman will make his debut with Carlin at Sochi. http://www.paddockscout.com/dean-stonem ... ochi/31215

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 07 Oct 2015, 02:36

golic_2004 wrote:In GP2 news, Formula 3.5 front-runner and cancer survivor Dean Stoneman will make his debut with Carlin at Sochi. http://www.paddockscout.com/dean-stonem ... ochi/31215

Good luck to Stoneman, to be able to fight back from such serious health issues and still be just as quick is no easy feat

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 07 Oct 2015, 11:22

RonDenisDeletraz wrote:
golic_2004 wrote:In GP2 news, Formula 3.5 front-runner and cancer survivor Dean Stoneman will make his debut with Carlin at Sochi. http://www.paddockscout.com/dean-stonem ... ochi/31215

Good luck to Stoneman, to be able to fight back from such serious health issues and still be just as quick is no easy feat

Same here. I believe had he not had that serious health issue Dean Stoneman would already be in F1 by now, probably with Williams.

yannicksamlad · Post by **yannicksamlad** » 09 Oct 2015, 10:14

RonDenisDeletraz wrote:
golic_2004 wrote:In GP2 news, Formula 3.5 front-runner and cancer survivor Dean Stoneman will make his debut with Carlin at Sochi. http://www.paddockscout.com/dean-stonem ... ochi/31215

Good luck to Stoneman, to be able to fight back from such serious health issues and still be just as quick is no easy feat

Yes, good for Dean -replacing Leal. I think the car doesn't have Red bull livery - I wonder if this is outside 'the programme'. Or maybe they just don't have the stickers yet

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 10 Oct 2015, 15:05

yannicksamlad wrote:
RonDenisDeletraz wrote:
golic_2004 wrote:In GP2 news, Formula 3.5 front-runner and cancer survivor Dean Stoneman will make his debut with Carlin at Sochi. http://www.paddockscout.com/dean-stonem ... ochi/31215

Good luck to Stoneman, to be able to fight back from such serious health issues and still be just as quick is no easy feat

Yes, good for Dean -replacing Leal. I think the car doesn't have Red bull livery - I wonder if this is outside 'the programme'. Or maybe they just don't have the stickers yet

Stickers or not, Dean qualified 19th and finished 9th! What a drive.

yannicksamlad · Post by **yannicksamlad** » 12 Oct 2015, 11:36

Another entertaining weekend of GP2 action - I do love GP2 . And the GP3 was pretty good too.
But the notification of safety cars seems guaranteed to cause chaos - they notify so early that everyone is still side-by-side in the first half of lap 1 , and they then have to slow, and sort out an order before trundling around the rest of the lap. Seeing as they will know the rest of lap 1 is clear, they could notify a bit later and let the pack string out a bit. I feel sorry for the guys 'overtaking under safety car' who stood little chance of knowing for sure their position, and who really were not trying it on .

There will always be issues - as we saw for the lead in race 2 . Stanaway had made a mistake and was struggling, Haryanto was going to try at T13 as Richie was struggling, but exactly when did each realise the SC boards were out? We'll never know.
And where GP2 leads...F1 follows . ( I refer you to the lap 1 tangle , the Grosjean/Cecotto accidents, the SC notification issues).
And nice to see Stoffel working for a living !

AxelP800 · Post by **AxelP800** » 12 Oct 2015, 14:07

yannicksamlad wrote:There will always be issues - as we saw for the lead in race 2 . Stanaway had made a mistake and was struggling, Haryanto was going to try at T13 as Richie was struggling, but exactly when did each realise the SC boards were out? We'll never know.

The stewards really can't make it more ambigous. If SC before overtake, do it. If SC after overtake, wait the move. They like to screw up, don't they? Yessss

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 19 Oct 2015, 12:32

FR3.5 next year will be known as F3.5 V8.

Post by **Ataxia** » 20 Oct 2015, 14:15

dr-baker wrote:FR3.5 next year will be known as F3.5 V8.

That's such a piss-poor name. RPM Racing have announced a tie-up with Euroformula Open; we could have had Euroformula 3.5 or something.

With regards to...eurgh, F3.5 V8...Draco have announced that they're selling their cars to the new Spirit of Race team, whilst DAMS' entry is going to Teo Martin Motorsports.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 20 Oct 2015, 14:19

Ataxia wrote:
dr-baker wrote:FR3.5 next year will be known as F3.5 V8.

That's such a piss-poor name. RPM Racing have announced a tie-up with Euroformula Open; we could have had Euroformula 3.5 or something.

With regards to...eurgh, F3.5 V8...Draco have announced that they're selling their cars to the new Spirit of Race team, whilst DAMS' entry is going to Teo Martin Motorsports.

Yeah, very disappointing. Looks like some of the more well-run teams are already jumping ship as well. I believe there's 10 teams confirmed so far for 2016? Which leaves 2 slots open. I wouldn't bet on them being filled. I'm predicting the series will go the way of Euro F3000/Auto GP and slide into oblivion.

Suddenly the FIA's superlicence points decision doesn't seem so daft does it?

Post by **Ataxia** » 20 Oct 2015, 14:57

AndreaModa wrote:
Ataxia wrote:
dr-baker wrote:FR3.5 next year will be known as F3.5 V8.

That's such a piss-poor name. RPM Racing have announced a tie-up with Euroformula Open; we could have had Euroformula 3.5 or something.

With regards to...eurgh, F3.5 V8...Draco have announced that they're selling their cars to the new Spirit of Race team, whilst DAMS' entry is going to Teo Martin Motorsports.

Yeah, very disappointing. Looks like some of the more well-run teams are already jumping ship as well. I believe there's 10 teams confirmed so far for 2016? Which leaves 2 slots open. I wouldn't bet on them being filled. I'm predicting the series will go the way of Euro F3000/Auto GP and slide into oblivion.

Suddenly the FIA's superlicence points decision doesn't seem so daft does it?

The thing is, they want to position the series as a lower-cost alternative to GP2, and in doing so have made this tie-up with Euroformula Open which itself is a low-cost alternative for F3. Thing is, EF Open doesn't exactly boast star quality, and doesn't have a high profile either. Some work needs to be done in order to make sure the series has the right level of attention to stop it dying out. Finding another backer in lieu of the departing Renault would be a start.

EDIT: As we say this, Euroformula Open's RP Motorsport have joined the 3.5 V8 grid for 2016. The crossover begins.

Izzyeviel · Post by **Izzyeviel** » 20 Oct 2015, 19:14

What do you guys think about Tatiana Calderon? Good/Promising/rubbish?

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 20 Oct 2015, 21:02

Izzyeviel wrote:What do you guys think about Tatiana Calderon? Good/Promising/rubbish?

Hoping for better results...

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 21 Oct 2015, 09:13

Izzyeviel wrote:What do you guys think about Tatiana Calderon? Good/Promising/rubbish?

That you would not be mentioning her if she was a male driver.

Bleu · Post by **Bleu** » 23 Oct 2015, 20:37

Izzyeviel wrote:What do you guys think about Tatiana Calderon? Good/Promising/rubbish?

I would say she is better driver than Carmen Jorda.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 24 Oct 2015, 21:30

Bleu wrote:
Izzyeviel wrote:What do you guys think about Tatiana Calderon? Good/Promising/rubbish?

I would say she is better driver than Carmen Jorda.

But isn't that like saying that Pippa Mann is a better driver than Milka Duno?!

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 24 Oct 2015, 22:33

My mum is a better driver than Milka Duno and she's been dead 20 years.

(If anyone wonders why I should make such a comment, I have been listening to Geoffrey Boycott on TMS earlier where he's once again been talking about his mum hitting Zulfiqar Babar's buffet bowling for six with a stick o' rrrrrhubarb. I actually looked on The All-Knowing Oracle earlier and found Mrs Boycott has been dead 37 years and is apparently still capable of playing cricket. Also now Auntie Annie has been thrown into the mix, who I suspect to be equally bereft of life.)

yannicksamlad · Post by **yannicksamlad** » 26 Oct 2015, 14:12

Izzyeviel wrote:What do you guys think about Tatiana Calderon? Good/Promising/rubbish?

She's been around F3 machinery for a while now, so this year was disappointing ( but so were Carlin, perhaps) in terms of results. In the midfield everyone is lapping at almost exactly the same pace, and only a tiny bit off the front guys ...so if you qualify out the top 15.its tough. .You can look less than impressive, but you're not actually slow. And quallie let her down this year.
I can't judge her potential- compared to some she'll have had less karting experience so she's not so far along the learning curve, but in F3 terms she's had quite a bit of experience.
Maybe time for a change from F3.

yannicksamlad · Post by **yannicksamlad** » 30 Oct 2015, 14:01

Izzyeviel wrote:What do you guys think about Tatiana Calderon? Good/Promising/rubbish?

Update - she's doing MRF and was only a quarter of a second off Jake Dennis in FP2 at Abu Dhabi..Seeing as MRF's are apparently similar to F3 cars, and Jake was a front-runner in F3 , this looks good for her...

yannicksamlad · Post by **yannicksamlad** » 02 Nov 2015, 10:54

yannicksamlad wrote:
Izzyeviel wrote:What do you guys think about Tatiana Calderon? Good/Promising/rubbish?

Update - she's doing MRF and was only a quarter of a second off Jake Dennis in FP2 at Abu Dhabi..Seeing as MRF's are apparently similar to F3 cars, and Jake was a front-runner in F3 , this looks good for her...

Update - and now she has 2 podiums from the 2 races . She's going well

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 02 Nov 2015, 12:48

yannicksamlad wrote:
yannicksamlad wrote:
Izzyeviel wrote:What do you guys think about Tatiana Calderon? Good/Promising/rubbish?

Update - she's doing MRF and was only a quarter of a second off Jake Dennis in FP2 at Abu Dhabi..Seeing as MRF's are apparently similar to F3 cars, and Jake was a front-runner in F3 , this looks good for her...

Update - and now she has 2 podiums from the 2 races . She's going well

Perhaps her blogs on Motorsport.com are justifiable in that she didn't necessarily have the luck on her side at Carlin. But that's my humble opinion.

Post by **Miguel98** » 10 Nov 2015, 08:09

Rowland is going to drive for Status GP in GP2 in Abby Dhaby.

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 12 Nov 2015, 12:58

Miguel98 wrote:Rowland is going to drive for Status GP in GP2 in Abby Dhaby.

With a likely seat full-time next year.

Post by **Ataxia** » 14 Nov 2015, 21:01

GP3's down to 7 teams for next season; Virtuosi seem to have withdrawn their entry. Teams will now be allowed to purchase a 4th car, but it's a bit sad to see the series lose another team.

Post by **Miguel98** » 16 Nov 2015, 17:34

Louis Deletraz, son of the one and only Jean-Denis Deletraz, is going to drive for Fortec in the 2016 3.5 V8

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 16 Nov 2015, 18:25

All hail the first Swiss winner in F1 since 13 days before I was born!

I predict it'll happen some time in 2018. And no, I'm not making an avatar bet on that.

MorbidelliObese · Post by **MorbidelliObese** » 18 Nov 2015, 17:32

I must admit I'm a little unnerved by the presence in the junior categories of drivers called Deletraz and Matsushita who actually happen to be fairly quick.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 19 Nov 2015, 14:23

dinizintheoven wrote:All hail the first Swiss winner in F1 since 13 days before I was born!

I predict it'll happen some time in 2018. And no, I'm not making an avatar bet on that.

I'm guessing the last was Clay Regazzoni? Even though we did have Sebastien Buemi lead a lap since then.

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 20 Nov 2015, 12:15

It was. The thought occurred to me as Buemi stood on top of the podium for the Beijing ePrix, and I thought "when was the last time we heard the Swiss national anthem in F1?"

14th July 1979, that's when - if they even had anthems on the podium back in those days.

There must be some other anthems we haven't heard in a while that are far more likely to happen in Formula E. Belgium, for one - all it needs is Custard to win a race without being promoted into it via a disqualification, and we'll hear that for the first time since... 1990, wasn't it?

Meatwad · Post by **Meatwad** » 20 Nov 2015, 12:38

ROTR to TV signals. MTV3 Max in Finland is currently unable to broadcast the GP2 race and at least Sky Sports has the same problem. :facepalm:

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 20 Nov 2015, 12:44

GP3: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/121886 The streak of 2nd place finishes for Ocon has ended on the last lap.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 20 Nov 2015, 18:03

I'm wondering what Pal Varhaug is doing in GP3. Wasn't he in GP2 years ago?

Bleu · Post by **Bleu** » 20 Nov 2015, 21:16

Dj_bereta wrote:I'm wondering what Pal Varhaug is doing in GP3. Wasn't he in GP2 years ago?

He won the very first GP3 race back in 2010, then didn't score another point for remainder of the season. Moved to 2011 and failed to score. His team-mate was GRSJN who won the title.

After a year in AutoGP and few races in GP2 he returned to GP3 - with a best result of 5th.

yannicksamlad · Post by **yannicksamlad** » 22 Nov 2015, 13:33

Bahrain;
GP2 Race 1 was good. Some good racing there I thought. I love GP2- great racing, real fighting , some great skills in there .
GP2 sprint race was just a tyre lottery; Latifi went from 6th to 16th and back up to 11th as faster guys went past, then dropped back as tyres went off. The results are completely unrepresentative of anything other than tyre performance apart from maybe the top 3. I hate when Pirelli do that - GP2 sprint races are particularly vulnerable. The first laps reflect driver and team performance, and then it all goes random

But didn't Ollie Rowland struggle - big difference when you are in a team that struggles sometimes. Same for Dean Stoneman . It does show how close it is in the middle of GP2 - 5th to 18th on grid separated by 8 tenths of a second. And in the race - all doing the same lap times, until the tyres fall apart and then you lose 2, then 3/4/5 seconds a lap.

....and MRF - Tatiana Calderon on podium again

Meanwhile in Macau...is Macau really so good - red flags and safety cars always?....But it is quite entertaining. Once Sam Macleod got in the way of Charles Leclerc, and with Giovinazzi penalised and Juncadelia eliminated effectively, it was always Felix's race ...I assume he'll do GP2 next. Maybe his development curve is just a bit 'delayed'..and he'll be a top driver. If so , he's lucky people stuck with him. People do tend to fall for 'Mozart syndrome' ; thinking that if they're not so good early on then they will never amount to much, when in fact people can develop at different rates, and reach their potential later.

Oh well - one more weekend this year - excellent !

What did you all think?

Izzyeviel · Post by **Izzyeviel** » 26 Nov 2015, 00:05

This is the incident that got Daniel Ticktum banned for 2 years.

What an idiot. Not even Pastor was this blatant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP_OD2M1exw

http://www.crash.net/motorsports/news/225396/1/british-youngster-ticktum-gets-twoyear-ban.html

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 26 Nov 2015, 19:40

Izzyeviel wrote:This is the incident that got Daniel Ticktum banned for 2 years.

What an idiot. Not even Pastor was this blatant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP_OD2M1exw

http://www.crash.net/motorsports/news/225396/1/british-youngster-ticktum-gets-twoyear-ban.html

TIcktum should try a Nascar career. Kenseth did a similar dirt move recently and only got a two race ban.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 26 Nov 2015, 21:47

To be fair, there were quite a few extenuating circumstances, concerning the drivers involved and the sport in general, in the Kenseth case. This is just a driver flat out being insane with no real context.