Aerond wrote:Here's a questionaire I've set up. I need your opinions!! Non team managers and other users are also welcome to give me their feedback regarding this series. Thanks a lot for taking your time to make ARWS a bit better!!:
https://goo.gl/forms/K0VKxsl8r1hIJ2nG2
watka wrote:I find it amusing that whilst you're one of the more openly Christian guys here, you are still first and foremost associated with an eye for the ladies!
MCard LOLAdinizintheoven wrote:GOOD CHRISTIANS do not go to jail. EVERYONE ON FORMULA ONE REJECTS should be in jail.
dr-baker wrote:Aerond wrote:Here's a questionaire I've set up. I need your opinions!! Non team managers and other users are also welcome to give me their feedback regarding this series. Thanks a lot for taking your time to make ARWS a bit better!!:
https://goo.gl/forms/K0VKxsl8r1hIJ2nG2
As a former team owner and with a driver or two in the series, I have given feedback, intended in a constructive manner.
It really helps whether it comes from current, past or future team owners 
La Gazzetta Dello Sport wrote:Automercato: Lucarelli renews with NRE into 2020 despite sponsor loss
Alessandro Lucarelli will continue with Nurminen Grand Prix into the 2020 season, with a new contract announced during a joint press conference between Voeckler Talent Management and the Nurminen team in the immediate aftermath of the Argentine GP.
Little over an hour after scooping his fifth consecutive points finish with fourth place around the Autodromo Juan y Oscar Galvez, VTM boss Frederic-Maxime Voeckler sat shoulder-to-shoulder with NRE team principal Niko Nurminen and Lucarelli himself to confirm the Parmesan driver would continue with the Finnish outfit into next year.
The deal comes despite Lucarelli losing long-time sponsor Parmalat, who will no longer back either the driver himself or the NRE team. The Italian dairy conglomerate had sponsored Lucarelli since his karting days, but a change in upper management at the dairy company has seen a change in advertising strategy, including a reduction in spending on sponsorship deals.
"I'm super happy to be staying with NRE next year," said Lucarelli. "After spending my whole ARWS career up to now changing teams constantly, it is nice to have finally found a team to call home."
"It was a tough transition to begin with. The working culture here is very different, but after I got used to this and also the different feeling of the BMW engine, everything clicked."
"It was always my intention coming here that it would be a long term project. The second half of the year shows that both myself and the team are making constant progress, which is a great sign."
"For me, the ultimate show of faith was how they didn't care anymore that I lost my sponsor. They wanted to retain me anyway for my results. I believe in the team and they likewise believe in me. The feeling is good, so it makes perfect sense to continue in this way."
While Marko Jantscher was originally expected to lead the Nurminen charge, the Austrian has instead disappointed, scoring only six points to Lucarelli's 15. He is widely expected to lose his seat, with Marcel Agyemang-Badu and Nino Barlini the favourites to replace him at present.
Novitopoli wrote:Everytime someone orders at Pizza Hut, an Italian dies.
Novitopoli wrote:Juve's Triplete: Calciopoli, doping & Mafia connections.
FMecha wrote:Double engine retirement. What went wrong with the engines anyway?
Also, we're offering contract renewals for both Barlini and Bean.
Novitopoli wrote:Everytime someone orders at Pizza Hut, an Italian dies.
Novitopoli wrote:Juve's Triplete: Calciopoli, doping & Mafia connections.
Mitch Hedberg wrote:I want to be a race car passenger: just a guy who bugs the driver. Say man, can I turn on the radio? You should slow down. Why do we gotta keep going in circles? Man, you really like Tide...
RejectSport wrote:Rennis: 2020 Development On-Track
After a disappointing double-retirement at the Argentine Grand Prix, MRT team manager Don Rennis was unusually optimistic after the event. Despite both cars suffering BMW-related failure, the Italian found cause to find signs of progress within the squad.
“It’s a shame our weekend ended like it did after the promise shown in practice and qualifying,” said Rennis. “However, we were trialling some new parts for BMW during the weekend, and we found some areas for improvement we’ll bring in for both Fuji, and heading forward into 2020. We’re getting faster with every event, and it bodes well for returning to the top step next year.”
When asked questions about the delay in announcing the team’s second driver for next season, Rennis was quick to quash criticism of MRT’s rookie driver Salvatore Miccoli. The Italian currently sits sixth in the standings, with 19 fewer points than star driver Alberto Cara.
“There is no cause for concern with Salvatore at all,” proclaimed Rennis. “We knew from the start that it was going to be a steep learning curve for him, but he has done well this season. He is a very analytical and introspective young man, so it therefore is natural for the negotiations to take longer than it would for other drivers. We will give him all the time and space he needs to make his decision.”
With just two rounds of the ARWS season left to run, the team currently sit a lonely third in the constructors’ championship behind Kjellerup and Voeckler GPE. The penultimate round of the series will be the Japanese Grand Prix held at Fuji Speedway in two weekends’ time
AutoFiction wrote:ARWS WRAP: No more Nurmester
After yet another failure to make the starting 26, it’s being reported that this was the last weekend for Kamaha driver Nick Nurmester, and potentially the last race of his ARWS career. The AR3.5 race winner has struggled since stepping up to the main game, having found himself at the wrong end of drubbings from both Bastiaan van Nieuwenhuijzen and Akira Yamamura in consecutive seasons. Given the short notice of his reported dismissal, it’s expected that Australian Daniel Melville will step up to the seat for the final two races of the year.
Looking forward to 2020, it’s understood that the race for the second seat is down to two main frontrunners. In one corner, former Revolution driver Andrej Kremnicky has been looking to make his full-time return to the category, with Kamaha being seen as an ideal destination for the Slovakian. In the other, current Venturi driver and AR 3.5 series runner-up Kenan Ardaglou. The latter is also the protégé of Kamaha team principal Barii Mori, and this it stands to reason that the German is currently the favourite to step into the car next year.
ARWS WRAP: The Fino-Russian Alliance
If 50 years ago, someone had told you that one day, a Finn and a Russian would team up to take over the world, you would have thought of them as mad. Yet, this could be the very situation we face in 2020, with rumours that Austrian Marko Jantscher is to be shown the door at Nurminen at the end of the year. While this is somewhat unsurprising, what is surprising is some of the names being thrown around as his potential replacement.
The clear favourite at the moment is current Simpson pilot Alexey Buyvolov. The former race winner brings considerable backing from Lukoil, which would fill the funding gap left by the departing Parmalat. Despite his struggles since joining the family-run Simpson team, he is still highly-rated by members of the paddock, and thus is in high demand once his contract expires after Macau.
However, another name that has been tossed around is former F1 driver and current works BMW endurance driver Evgeny Restov. Having won for JLD Motorsport in the FIA EC series, and currently working miracles in the M8 GT program in Europe, the Russian is on the road to redemption after his spectacular fall from grace in Formula One. While his management have denied rumours he would return to single seaters, it’s believed his heart is set on a future ARWS driver. With Nurminen also being a customer BMW team that is gradually rising to the top, the timing couldn’t be more perfect for an unholy union.
ARWS WRAP: What’s the Frequency, Kenan?
When enigmatic German Kenan Ardaglou was signed by Venturi after what was a long off-season for the AR3.5 series runner-up, fireworks were expected between Kenan, manager Barii Mori and the team’s management from the get-go. However, with Mori’s prolonged absence due to health concerns, the team and driver found a way to work together, despite the constant reliability issues that struck the team.
All good things must come to an end however, and the return of Mori has already brought issues to the team, with a reported war of words between him and Ardaglou’s race engineer over race strategy. While Ardaglou ended up finishing in 5th position, Mori felt that the strategy the team chose handicapped the German in favour of Venturi team leader Fredo Mestolio. With several midfield seats set to open up in the coming weeks and two races to go, it remains to be seen how this plays out.
ARWS WRAP: Eric Vincent “Kennedy McMahon” Racing?
Things in the ARWS paddock are rarely straightforward, and the latest story coming out of Eric Vincent Racing is no exception. The newest team in the ARWS paddock has struggled to maintain pace in the development race since the start of the European Season, and currently find themselves stranded near the back of the field.
Help may soon be at hand however, with word a partial buyout of the team is about to occur, with BITW Racing and WWE Entertainment looking set to invest in the team. Under the proposed structure, Eric Vincent and BITW founder Kay Lon would retain 40% ownership each, and WWE to own the remaining 20%. Additionally, as part of the deal, it’s believed a BITW-backed driver, most likely Aeroracing refugee Tomo Kamaza, will be brought in to bolster the driver lineup at the expense of Hansuke Shioya. With the future looking brighter for one of the smallest teams in the paddock, it continues to show the value currently being placed in the long-term sustainability of the ARWS series.
Biscione wrote:"Some Turkemenistani gulag repurposed for residential use" is the best way yet I've heard to describe North / East Glasgow.
SRMP wrote:Mineiro to drive for NRE at Macau
BASF Nurminen Grand Prix have announced that AutoReject 3.5 runner-up Mineiro will drive at the ARWS season finale in Macau, replacing Marko Jantscher who was banned after colliding with Hansuke Shioya at the previous race in Japan.
"Mineiro seems like an exceptional talent, portraying good consistency in this year's AR 3.5 championship while also being quick in both qualifying and races. In a closely-knit season, he was able to score more fastest laps than anyone else, and in the end results the difference to championship winner Võsu was minimal."
When asked why Nurminen didn't place Võsu, one of the drivers in his management portfolio, in the NRE seat, Nurminen replied: "She preferred to concentrate on training herself for ARWS, both mentally and physically. I want to ensure that she has the best possible ARWS seat next year so it's important she can concentrate on preparing for that."
Rejectsport wrote
The French Connection
As the ARWS season is coming to an end, Union Saver Developents got themselves in a little problem at the latest round in Japan. Team lead driver, Naoki Shinjo, was banned for the next round at Macau after a clash with Phillippe Nicolas, which prompted USD's head honcho, Karl Lichter Shutlz, to make an early call.
"We were expecting to make Shinjo run this season alongside Aimee Gauthier, but the french driver decided that she needed to focus in the AR3.5 season before stepping up with the big guns. With Shinjo's penalty and Macau left to run, Gauthier will have her chance to run with us, and also, having her pre-contract for next season on stand by. We at Union Saver Developments are always looking at the future."
Naoki Shinjo wrote
Not the way I wanted to finish the year. I felt very confident, and the qualify proved that. Sadly, it was a wet race and we still couldn't make the tyres work in the slippery conditions. I don't know what happened with Nicolas. I was letting one of the leaders pass, and then, out of nowhere, he was alongside me, and couldn't avoid him. I'm not gonna make an excuse, we don't want a fellow driver and collegue having to get through that. I've already visited him at the hospital and apologise to him and his whole team. The only good thing about this is that I'll have more time to test the new car with Ashley Watkinson and be ready to return next year, stronger than ever.
Gertrand Bachot wrote:I'll take a place on the waiting list, maybe with the current situation I might get into ARWS by retirement.
FMecha wrote:Double engine retirement. What went wrong with the engines anyway?
Also, we're offering contract renewals for both Barlini and Bean.
Mitch Hedberg wrote:I want to be a race car passenger: just a guy who bugs the driver. Say man, can I turn on the radio? You should slow down. Why do we gotta keep going in circles? Man, you really like Tide...
Autosport wrote:Rumoured New Investment for Kamaha?
Kamaha is the last remaining team from the beginning of ARWS in 2010. But things haven't been going to well for the Japanese squad. They only scored 2 points in the 2019 season, curtsy of Nick Nurmester at Scandinavia, and have had 8 DNQs. So all in all, not a good way to go. But there are widespread rumours that Honda wish to enter ARWS to supply Kamaha with engines, and if they are allowed a minority stake in the team Kamaha would recieve free engines. The deal would also see sponsorship from British American Tobacco's cigarette labels Lucky Strike and 555 World Express, with Lucky Strike potentially being the title sponsor. These are only rumours however, and neither Kamaha, Honda or BAT has released anything resembling an official statement, or anything at all.
kevinbotz wrote:Cantonese is a completely nonsensical f*cking alien language masquerading as some grossly bastardised form of Chinese
Gonzo wrote:Wasn't there some sort of communisim in the East part of Germany?
RejectSport wrote:2019 AutoReject World Series Review – Part 1
This year’s AutoReject World Series season was all about one man – Matthius Kjellerup. The Danish businessman in two short years has managed to hoodwink the entire paddock, and put together one of the most dominant showings in modern sport. Behind them, many big names faltered, and new stars were born, as the storylines lower in the field took centre stage as the year progressed. RejectSport now presents their annual team-by-team season review:
Kjellerup by Ecurie Prenois – Renault (1st, 209 points)
5. Bastiaan van Nieuwenhuijzen (1st, 111 points)
6. Mark Dagnall (2nd, 98 points)
It goes without saying that Kjellerup were the clear standout in a sea of mediocrity in 2019. The numbers the team and drivers Bastiaan van Nieuwenhuijzen and Mark Dagnall stood testament to that – 15 victories, 15 poles, 12 fastest laps and 209 points on the board by season’s end. The domination was total, and no other team came close to having an answer to the Viking juggernaut. In fact, the scoring rate for the team increased in the second half of the year as other teams simply gave up.
Additionally, the team did a masterful job of managing their potentially explosive driver lineup. The competition between Nieuwenhuijzen and Dagnall was fierce on track, but rarely did either driver take the animosity off it. The closest the two came to conflict was after a difficult Indianapolis weekend, but Matthias Kjellerup was able to control the situation before it got out of hand. Under Kjellerup’s leadership and with a world-beating car at their disposal, their two drivers delivered the goods for the most part, and in the end, it was the sophomore Dutchman who, to the surprise of some, edged out his more experienced teammate to score his maiden crown.
It looks likely that Kjellerup will retain their advantage into 2020, but a few teams closing in mean they will have more of a fight next year. There’ll be no questions over whether the team can sustain the development race, as they’ve now proven themselves two years in a row. The same cannot be said for their two drivers however, as several glaring mistakes blighted the copybook of Dagnall, while Basti wasn’t immune to spinning a few records in the lead car. These hypotheticals however rely on the other teams stepping up to knock off team that is undoubtedly at the top of their game.
2019 Nieuwenhuijzen Rating: 10/10
2019 Dagnall Rating: 9/10
2019 Team Rating: 10/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 1st
Voeckler Renault (2nd, 88 points)
9. Dan Greenlaw (5th, 37 points)
10. Phillippe Nicolas (3rd, 51 points), Pippa Mann (23rd, 0 points)
The Voeckler team was stuck at a crossroads for much of the 2019 season. On one hand, the team got a clear jump on rivals MRT and Fusion, and at one point looked like a threat to Kjellerup. On the other hand, they fell away alarmingly in the second half the season as the team’s development plans turned towards 2020 very early on. The most telling statistic for the team was of their 88-point haul, only 19 were scored in the second half of the season; lower than three of the four teams that finished 3rd through 6th.
On the driver front, there was not much to fault either youngster Dan Greenlaw or veteran ex-MRT pilot Phillippe Nicolas in 2019. Nicolas acquitted himself well to his new surroundings, and his metronomic consistency got him to third in the championship before injury ended his season. Greenlaw meanwhile was desperately unlucky with reliability and being caught up in other people’s incidents to not score more results than he did, most notably Fuji where a collision with the hopelessly slow Gary Pacer robbed him of certain victory.
Looking forward, 2020 poses yet more challenges for the Voeckler squad. The team are reaching the performance ceiling of their current design philosophy, and there are questions marks over the health of lead driver Nicolas after two big accidents in the second half of the year. Should the worst happen and Nicolas is forced to step down, there is enough depth in the Voeckler driver program to cover his loss. Either way, it is an unwelcome distraction for a team looking to rebuild momentum for 2020.
2019 Nicolas Rating: 8.5/10
2019 Greenlaw Rating: 8/10
2019 Team Rating: 6.5/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 4th
Jooky Melrose Racing Team – BMW (3rd, 71 points)
3. Alberto Cara (4th, 47 points)
4. Salvatore Miccoli (6th, 24 points)
Don Rennis had already thrown the proverbial white towel for the reigning constructors champions by Saturday afternoon in Adelaide, and it was not difficult to see why. The team was struggling to unlock the potential of the radical M10, culminating in the team recording only their second winless season in the combined history of MRT & JLD. To the credit of the team however, they stuck with developing the M10, and by the end of the season, the car was a clear second-best behind the all-conquering Kjellerup.
On the driver front, Alberto Cara was arguably driving at a higher level than ever before, using his unquestioned speed and new-found consistency to score 7 podiums over the course of the year in his newfound team leader role. Salvatore Miccoli in the second car however remained a mystery for most of the year. Apart from a pair of sterling drives in South Africa and Brazil, the Italian protege was rarely seen for much of the season, even if he did suffer the brunt of MRT’s infamous unreliability.
Of all the teams, MRT are the most likely to challenge Kjellerup in 2020 as the M11 is widely tipped to be an evolution of the M10. Should the M11 be as good as people say it could be, Cara will be more than ready to lead the charge, having recently re-signed with the team for another two seasons. All eyes are on the second seat however, as the team have been uncharacteristically quiet about who will be given the drive next year. While they have shown public support for Miccoli, the reluctance of either side to announce their intentions hints to dissention amongst the ranks.
2019 Cara Rating: 9/10
2019 Miccoli Rating: 7/10
2019 Team Rating: 7/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 2nd
Fusion Lotto Racing – Renault
1. Terry Hawkin (7th, 22 points), Pippa Mann (23rd, 0 points), Matthias Valsattis (45th, 0 points)
2. Marcel Agyemang-Badu (8th, 20 points)
Fusion were always facing an uphill battle without talismanic team principle Jacques Couteau to lead the team into the new season. However, nobody quite expected the implosion that happened under the ineffectual leadership of Lotto Racing management. From the Badu signing saga through to Hawkin receiving two race bans in the first ten races of the season, the team sunk to seemingly new lows with every passing weekend. The team managed to recover somewhat in the second half of the year, but it was still a far cry from being the world-beaters they were 12 months prior.
Make no mistake, Terry Hawkin is still one of the fastest drivers in the paddock, and on his day, is nigh-on unstoppable. Those days were few and far between however, as continued overdriving, sometimes to ridiculous proportions, led to his disastrous return of 3 podiums and 22 points, 54 fewer than last year. Badu in the sister car however couldn’t even manage that. His tally of four podiums betrayed just how far off the pace he was over the course of the season, with only one of those results being attributed to anything that wasn’t attrition-related.
If 2019 was a disaster for the team however, 2020 has the potential to be far worse. With Badu likely to be replaced and rumours in the paddock that Terry Hawkin could be Jones or even MRT-bound, the struggles for the team look set to continue. The one shining light for the team however is their continued partnership with Renault. The French manufacturer continues to hold a horsepower advantage over all the manufacturers apart from BMW, and there are reports that Nissan are about to purchase a stake in either the Fusion or Voeckler teams for 2020, which would be a real boon for the team.
2019 Hawkin Rating: 3.5/10
2019 Badu Rating: 2/10
2019 Team Rating: 3/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 5th
Biscione wrote:"Some Turkemenistani gulag repurposed for residential use" is the best way yet I've heard to describe North / East Glasgow.
AutoFiction wrote:Rumour: Simpson to make way for a new manufacturer team in 2021
The cash strapped Simpson team may be given a needed injection of funding with rumours in the ARWS paddock suggesting that a British manufacturer will purchase the team and develop their own engines for the new regulations that will be brought in for 2021.
The two main possibilities seem to be a return to ARWS for Lotus, recently acquired by Chinese manufacturer Geely, or Aston Martin, who team principle Dave Simpson has ties to through his part ownership of the factory backed Gulf AMR team that runs in the Rolex GT Super Series.
The team have already started re-locating some of their operations to the UK, with the aerodynamic package for the newly built B-Spec chassis developed in the former Prospec headquarters in Kent.
RejectSport wrote:2019 AutoReject World Series Review – Part 2
Winfield Venturi Formula – Yamaha (5th, 25 points)
15. Fredo Mestolio (10th, 17 points), Rhys Davies (36th, 0 points)
16. Kenan Ardaoglu (12th, 8 points), Nathanael Spencer (37th, 0 points), Andrej Kremnicky (38th, 0 points)
The Venturi team went a complete transformation in the off-season, as ambitious team management made several high-stakes gambles to go to the next level. The decision to enter an exclusive relationship with Bridgestone and adopt a design philosophy suspiciously similar to the 2018 MRT proved to be both a blessing and a curse. The famed Bridgestone intermediate and wet tyres meant the team were instant frontrunners in wet conditions, especially in the hands of Fredo Mestolio. However, the tightened packaging requirements of the new car coupled with the high cooling requirements of the Yamaha engine meant retirements aplenty for the squad.
The signing of Fredo proved to be a boon for the team, as he used his considerable experience from Jones, Fusion and MRT to lead the team forward. He was able to maximise the potential of the car on several occasions, and had a considerable influence on the car’s development program through the year to score his 4th top 10 result in the driver’s championship in four seasons. Kenan Ardaoglu in the sister car took some time to acclimatise, but by the end of the season, Venturi had two potent entries to drive the team forward.
How much further forward the team could have gone however will forever remain a mystery. A falling out with ARWS management and a decision for engine development partner Valerian Race Engines to withdraw and focus on their burgeoning aftermarket tuning and drag racing engines business meant the team made the decision to withdraw at the end of the season. An Italian consortium is reportedly hunting around to pick up the assets of the team, which means the end of the road of the little squad that could.
2019 Mestolio Rating: 8.5/10
2019 Ardaoglu Rating: 7.5/10
2019 Team Rating: 7.5/10
BASF Nurminen Grand Prix – BMW (6th, 25 points)
17. Marko Jantscher (14th, 7 points), Mineiro (40th, 0 points)
18. Alessandro Lucarelli (9th, 18 points)
2019 was a make or break season for Niko Nurminen and his team. After two years of treading water in the midfield, he made the brave call to acquire customer BMW engines and establish closer ties with fellow German-based squad MRT. Teething troubles integrating the engine into the NRE chassis soon gave way to rich rewards, with Alessandro Lucarelli carrying the team to 6th in the championship on countback with metronomic consistency and remarkable pace, including a streak of five points finishes in a row.
Outside of the two Kjellerup drivers, Lucarelli was the undoubted star of 2019. After 12 months of instability at Kjellerup and Venturi, the promising Italian delivered on his potential in spades. Despite having lost his backers Parmalat in the latter half of the year, his results guaranteed his renewal with the squad. The same unfortunately couldn’t be said for Marko Jantscher in the sister car. He was generally a solid pair of hands, but never showed the same star-making quality or motivation that Lucarelli possessed, and found himself on the outer as a result.
2020 is set to be a banner year for the NRE squad, with the BMW technical partnership starting to bear fruit for the team. It would be hard to discount Lucarelli as a contender for podiums and victories next year, but any talks of title challenges would be dependent on who would be in the second car. While Russian driver Alexey Buyvolov is currently the favourite to take the seat, there has been a concerted push within elements of the BMW program for factory LMP driver and former Formula One race winner Evgeny Restov to be given the nod. Regardless, there would be no shortage of potential suitors for what is one of the most competitive seats available.
2019 Jantscher Rating: 5.5/10
2019 Lucarelli Rating: 9.5/10
2019 Team Rating: 8/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 3rd
Simpson Motorsports – Yamaha (7th, 13 points)
9. Jean-Luc Schiller (16th, 6 points), Michael Robertson (24th, 0 points)
10. Alexey Buyvolov (13th, 7 points)
Simpson Motorsport came into 2019 off the back of their strongest season and a brand new car at their disposal. One can therefore forgive them for being more than a little disappointed with scoring half as many points as 2018 and dropping a position in the constructors’ championship by the end of the season. Many of the issues stem from the DSM-050, which had major rear downforce deficiencies that the team couldn’t rectify at all during the season. It was later traced back to an issue with the CFD calibration during the design phase, but by the time it was resolved, the damage had already been done and the team had hit rock-bottom of returning to pre-qualifying.
Alexey Buyvolov clearly had the wood on his teammates all season, as his more aggressive driving style was able to get a few results out of the lethargic DSM-050. Despite getting involved in several incidents during the year, he was still able to drag the car kicking and screaming into the points on five separate occasions. The same could not be said for Jean-Luc Schiller however. After making several years of progress at MRT and Simpson, he regressed into his shell and never looked like coming out of it.
The team are desperate to keep Buyvolov for another year, but with other squad knocking on the door of the highly-rated Russian, it is only a matter of time before he takes the plunge with a new challenge. With Schiller also likely to be on the way out after his disappointing season, Dave Simpson could be forced to find two new drivers before the new season starts. If it is any consolation, the team have announced a comprehensive development program over the off-season designed to rectify many of the deficiencies of the car.
2019 Schiller Rating: 4.5/10
2019 Buyvolov Rating: 6.5/10
2019 Team Rating: 6/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 6th
Union Saver Developments – Daihatsu (8th, 12 points)
21. Naoki Shinjo (18th, 3 points), Aimee Gauthier (39th, 0 points)
22. Shinobu Katayama (11th, 9 points)
No team epitomised the saying “It’s better to be lucky than good” more than the Union Saver Developments squad in 2019. Through dint of sheer good fortune alone, the team managed to score 10 of their 12 points in the farcical weekend that was the Scandinavian Grand Prix, which vaulted the team from a probable 12th or 13th place finish, all the way to a completely undeserving 8th place. Outside of that one weekend, the team found themselves mostly slaving away in the lower-midfield and getting into more and more dramatic spats with engine supplier Daihatsu, culminating in the near-all in brawl in the Sao Paulo paddock.
Shinobu Katayama was a puzzling choice as team leader, as she’d proven time and time again having neither the temperament or consistency to be a true leader. Yet, USD took the plunge with the Japanese driver, and they were half rewarded. Fighting drives like a pare of 7th places in Canada and Belgium were interspersed by performances such as Monaco and Austria, where she was AWOL for the whole weekend. In comparison, fellow Japanese cult figure Naoki Shinjo continued building on his never-say-die performances from 2018, and was somewhat unlucky not to get the rub of the green with reliability, especially in the first half of the year.
The team finds itself at a crossroad heading into 2020, not dissimilar to the come-to-Jesus moment Niko Nurminen faced last year. Their works relationship with Daihatsu is disintegrating at an alarming rate, and the team seems to be treading water to an extent. While they do have a pre-contract with Aimee Gauthier, with far more competitive seats currently open, it’s unlikely that Gauthier’s management will take up the offer. Therefore, it will be up to Karl Lichter Shutlz to make the tough decisions needed to bring his squad out of the rut.
2019 Shinjo Rating: 5.5/10
2019 Katayama Rating: 3.5/10
2019 Team Rating: 4.5/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 9th
Biscione wrote:"Some Turkemenistani gulag repurposed for residential use" is the best way yet I've heard to describe North / East Glasgow.
L'Equipe wrote:Mineiro on standby for Renault seat
Mineiro may be set for a promotion directly to the Renault Voeckler seat, having looked set to miss out on direct promotion to his employer's senior team.
The recent AutoReject 3.5 championship runner-up was not expected to be in contention for a role at Renault Voeckler GPE even if he went on to win the feeder series title, with both Phillippe Nicolas and Dan Greenlaw under contract for 2020 since the start of the year.
However, doubts have emerged over Nicolas being able to honour his contract, as two massive accidents have potentially caused irreversible damage to the Frenchman's health and wellbeing.
"After two recent extremely heavy impacts, the latter of which impacted a vertebrae, Phillippe has been sent to a specialist in Switzerland for further evaluation," explained Frederic-Maxime Voeckler, Renault's team principal.
"We are crossing our fingers there is no serious permanent damage, and that he will come back fit and healthy for next season."
"Of course, we have contingency plans in place, but I sincerely hope we do not need to use any of these."
Mineiro had been heavily linked to midfield teams NRE - for whom he drove in the season finale - and Simpson,
but with Nicolas potentially at risk of forced early retirement for health reasons, he represents Plan B for Renault Voeckler to partner Dan Greenlaw.
Novitopoli wrote:Everytime someone orders at Pizza Hut, an Italian dies.
Novitopoli wrote:Juve's Triplete: Calciopoli, doping & Mafia connections.
RejectSport wrote:2019 AutoReject World Series Review – Part 3
Jones Unipart TAG – Ford (9th, 11 points)
7. Nathanael Cameron (15th, 6 points)
8. Gary Pacer (17th, 5 points)
“Unmitigated Disaster” would not even come close to describing the horror show that was Jones’ 2019 season. Having lost both Mark Dangall and Diego Alvarez Torrente in the off-season, the team took the gamble on hiring two rookies and designing a brand new car. The gamble backfired spectacularly, as the team crashed to their worst season in living memory. Neither driver were able to get anything out of the lethargic car or engine, and by the end of the season, the team was stranded in the Pre-Qualifying mire with no end in sight.
While the car was an obvious weak point, the drivers weren’t immune from blame. Nathanael Cameron was the more consistent of the two, but one had the impression he was thrown into the deep end of being a team leader too early, and crumbled under the pressure as a result. The same couldn’t be said for Gary Pacer however. He did have a stunning debut drive to 4th in Adelaide, but outside of that, he was part of the problem more often than not, as he spent the majority of the season being lost at sea.
The most worrying part of the whole exercise however is the all-round apathy shown by all sides. There’s murmurings of car upgrades in the pipeline, but with teams around them also making big steps forward, it looks like a reactionary move. Dearborn’s complete lack of response to continued criticism of their engine also speaks volumes of their long-term future in the sport, fuelling rumours that Sammy Jones might be looking to exercise an early break in the Ford contract. Either way, expect more of the same for 2020.
2019 Cameron Rating: 4.5/10
2019 Pacer Rating: 2.5/10
2019 Team Rating: 1/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 8th
Team Mecha Racing – Pure Hart (10th, 3 points)
23. John Bean (28th, 0 points)
24. Nino Barlini (19th, 3 points)
Many expected more of the same from Mecha this year, with the shock signing of AutoReject 3.5 midfielder Nino Barlini to be the icing on the cake. However, a no-nonsense approach in both car design and their on-track operation turned Mecha into one of the surprise packets for the season. Their first points finish in 2018 might have been a fluke, but their three points finishes in 2019 were anything but, and were just reward for the Indonesian squad.
Barlini turned into one of the real feel-good stories of the season, putting much more fancied rookies such as Cameron and Pacer to shame, and continually dragging the car to greater and greater heights. This culminated to a heroic drive at Monaco, which by all rights should have been rewarded with a podium result. John Bean in the sister car didn’t show quite the same pace as he did last year, but was also hampered by unreliability throughout the year.
Both drivers have been duly rewarded with contract renewals for 2020, and with the technical package to remain largely the same, there is still scope for further improvement for the squad. Frugal financial management has helped the team survive the first few years of its existence, but 2019 showed what they were capable of with more funding. Therefore, it stands to reason that 2020 will be just as good, if not better, for the minnow Indonesian squad.
2019 Bean Rating: 7/10
2019 Barlini Rating: 9.5/10
2019 Team Rating: 9/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 7th
Kamaha Revolution Motorsports – Yamaha (11th, 2 points)
13. Akira Yamamura (26th, 0 points)
14. Nick Nurmester (21st, 2 points), Daniel Melville (29th, 0 points)
After a brief revival in the second half of 2018, 2019 proved to be more of the same story for the team in the last few years. Early disappointments gave way to alarm as the team found themselves bouncing in and out of the pre-qualifying lottery. Recurring health issues with Team Principal Barii Mori did little to help matters, and by the end of the year the team was once again largely directionless and helpless to stop their slide.
Akira Yamamura was the one shining light for the team, as time and time again, he tried to ascend the lamentable state of the squad. However, by the end of the year, even he had given up on 2019 and was looking forward to the new year. Nick Nurmester in the other car however proved that he was simply not ARWS material. He fluked his way to Kamaha’s only points of the year at As Fartway, but 5 failures to make the grid from sixteen attempts was a fairer reflection on his actual performance.
The team’s woes don’t end there, as there’s yet more murmurings that the end of Yamaha’s involvement with the team, and indeed ARWS as a whole, is nigh. There have been rumours that the team could have a tie-up with Honda, but given their existing relationship with Toyota in Japan, it’d be safe to dismiss it as pure speculation. However, any Yahama withdrawal would leave the team out of time, and out of options. Mori and his merry men therefore need to get their act together to keep the legacy of the longest-serving team in the ARWS series going.
2019 Yamamura Rating: 5/10
2019 Nurmester Rating: 1.5/10
2019 Team Rating: 2/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 11th
Rob Lomas Racing – Great Wall (12th, 2 points)
29. Jesus Plaza (20th, 2 points), Benoit Voeckler (46th, 0 points)
30. Gianluigi Pazzini (32nd, 0 points)
If people had little expectations for Team Mecha, then they had none for Rob Lomas’ merry band of jobbers. Having been forced to run the Great Wall motor for the season, many expected them to be mired in pre-qualifying for the season. However, a combination of closer relations with MRT, an impressive development program from Great Wall, and a mid-season switch to Pirelli hauled the team into the midfield for the balance of the season. Despite the increase in pace, reliability was a major concern for the team, especially in the second half of the year as they started pushing the limits of their car.
On the driver front, Jesus Plaza was joined by Italian rookie Gianluigi Pazzini. Plaza had the edge in the early going, and scored two points in a battle for survival at Suzuka while ‘Gigi’ struggled to qualify. However, once Pazzini got comfortable in the car in the second half of the year, the drivers continually pushed each other to greater and greater heights, culminating in a remarkable Pre-Qualifying Cup victory over the much more fancied Jones and Kamaha squads.
The team’s form indicates that there is more room for improvement heading in 2020. The Great Wall motor has become as competitive as any other proposition available, and the driver lineup is a solid mix of experience and youth. However, concerns about the age of the hand-me-down MRT equipment and knowledge could be a major issue to overcome. The ingredients are there for Rob Lomas to become firmly entrenched in the midfield fight, but it’ll be up to him and the rest of his team to execute next year.
2019 Plaza Rating: 6.5/10
2019 Pazzini Rating: 6/10
2019 Team Rating: 7/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 9th
Biscione wrote:"Some Turkemenistani gulag repurposed for residential use" is the best way yet I've heard to describe North / East Glasgow.
AutoReject wrote:2019 AutoReject World Series Review – Part 4
Eric Vincent Racing - Daihatsu (13th, 1 point)
31. Danny van Rijkens (22nd, 1 point)
32. Hansuke Shioya (30th, 0 points)
The goal for new team Eric Vincent Racing this year was to consistently qualify for races, and based on that alone, it was mission accomplished for the squad. In fact, within four weekends, they were on the scoresheet courtesy of a 6th for Danny van Rijkens in Italy. However, one got the perception that they missed opportunities as the year went along, and by the end of the year, there was mild disappointment over 13th place in the championship, testament to the progress the team had made.
Van Rijkens was the undoubted team leader for the first half of the year. However, as development on the 2019 car slowed to a crawl, Danny started phoning in his performances, failing to answer long-standing questions about his motivation as a driver when the going gets though. Hansuke Shioya was a strange choice for a second driver, with more talented options with significant budgets being available to the team. Despite being consistent, he never showed the pace required to prove he deserved an ARWS seat on results alone.
Compared to other teams around them, Eric Vincent are in a solid position heading into 2020. With the Union Saver – Daihatsu relationship disintegrating at record pace, EVR stand to be the biggest beneficiary should the manufacturer decide to focus their attention on the sophomore squad instead. They also intend on building the team around van Rijkens over the next few seasons, which will hopefully be the support he needs to develop as a driver. The question that remains unanswered is the fate of the second seat, which will need to be answered quickly as other options start being ruled out.
2019 van Rijkens Rating: 6.5/10
2019 Shioya Rating: 5/10
2019 Team Rating: 7/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 12th
Peak Aeroracing Engineering - Audi (14th, 0 points)
19. Daniel Martins (35th, 0 points)
20. Gregor Pascal (25th, 0 points), Tomo Kazama (43rd, 0 points)
Edward Summers and Philip Neumann from the Peak Motorsport Group have done the impossible. In just two seasons, they have managed to turn a championship-contending ARWS squad into the laughing stock of the entire motorsport world. At no point during the season did the team look close to solving their inherent structural issues, as their technical department kept going around in circles throwing new parts at the car to little effect. As it turned out, if it wasn’t for a complete fluke result at As Fartway, the team would have been fighting the abysmal Euromotor squad for the wooden spoon.
Daniel Martins has been always been a solid, if unspectacular driver famed for his technical feedback and testing ability. However, even he couldn’t get anything out of the woeful PAE Mk. 2, and soon gave up on even trying. Gregor Pascal was hired largely for his backers rather than his talents, but to his credit, he managed to keep his chin up, and kept his head to be the one to score that fateful 7th place finish for the team. He was soon replaced by the enigmatic Tomo Kazama, who proved to be no better than either Martins or Pascal, putting yet another nail in the coffin of her open-wheel career.
The saga continues long into the off-season, with Volkswagen AG allegedly about to make an announcement confirming Audi’s withdrawal from ARWS to focus on their LMP programs. While the engines have proven to be underdeveloped and underpowered, their backing is critical to the survival of Peak, as many of their sponsors have ended their association with the team. The team’s ineptitude and shoestring budget will also mean car improvements will be few and far between, all of which means more early showers for the team and their drivers in 2020. Assuming they make it to 2020.
2019 Martins Rating: 1.5/10
2019 Pascal Rating: 2.5/10
2019 Kazama Rating: 1/10
2019 Team Rating: 0/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 16th
Gillet Ecurie Nationale Belge (15th, 0 points)
27. Shane Walsh (27th, 0 points)
28. Alexandre Dorval (34th, 0 points)
The Gillet squad has been on life support for the last several seasons now, but there were signs in 2019 that maybe, just maybe, the team is finally coming out of its coma. Despite final results being very similar to last year, the team started more races this year, and were closer to the midfield than they have been for several seasons. In fact, only a fluke 7th position for the aforementioned PAE squad stopped Gillet from being the best of the backmarkers in 2019.
Shane Walsh has been a real find for the squad, as for the second year in a row, the American dragged the car kicking and screaming to positions it had no right to be in. He managed to match his best result from 2018, and made the start for nine of the eighteen races held this year. For the second year in a row however, he was held back by a Belgian teammate that proved borderline useless, and this year the distinction fell on Alexandre Dorval. The young Belgian is widely seen as one of the nicest and approachable people in the paddock, but kindness counts for naught in ARWS. Time and time again, Walsh would set a scarcely believable time in Pre-Qualifying, only to fail to make the main show thanks to Dorval not pulling his weight in the other car.
With Alex already on the way out, the team have quickly identified the weak point in the team and are already working to fix it. However, with one of the smallest budgets in the field, the size of the driver’s wallet might be the determining factor to who gets the seat, rather than raw driving talent. The team has also rubbished claims of merger talks with Fusion Motorsport, preferring to go it alone in 2020, but have announced the end of Tony Gillet’s tenure in charge. Whether the new management will come to rue this decision remains to be seen.
2019 Walsh Rating: 6/10
2019 Dorval Rating: 3/10
2019 Team Rating: 5/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 14th
RUF Blokkmonsta Grand Prix Team - Holden (16th, 0 points)
25. Wouter Lamberigts (33rd, 0 points), Nicolas Steele (44th, 0 points)
26. Martin McFry (31st, 0 points)
Truth be told, many expected more from the Blokkmonsta squad in 2019. And truth also be told, for their continued insistence on throwing engine supplier Holden under the bus, the engine package wasn’t as bad as they wanted us to believe. In reality, the fate of Blokkmonsta’s entire season was sealed the minute they made the decision to switch from Pirelli to Dunlop rubber for 2019. This one misjudged call turned two of the best qualifiers in the field to mere jobbers, as at no point during the season could either driver get the tyres ‘switched-on’ in one lap trim.
Mind you, neither of them managed to cover each other in glory either. Martin McFry reverted to his old habits of trying too hard on race day, having hauled the barge he’d been given to ply his trade in to the field. The resulting repair bill from broken parts and crunched race cars was an unnecessary headache the team didn’t need. Wouter Lamberigts in the other car meanwhile committed the cardinal sin of not trying hard enough, failing to make the grid altogether for more than 50% of the races he started.
If some teams are at a crossroads in 2019, Blokkmonsta find themselves continually going around in circles. Their contract with Holden expires at the end of this year, but their continual blame-shifting has meant that most of the engine suppliers are now wary about working with the squad. A chassis that is now showing its age also hampers matters, as the team have stood still compared to their rivals in 2019. A season of instability awaits the German squad.
2019 McFry Rating: 3.5/10
2019 Lamberigts Rating: 3/10
2019 Team Rating: 3/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 15th
Euromotor International - Audi (17th, 0 points)
33. Du Lon (41st, 0 points)
34. Takuma Taki (42nd, 0 points)
When Euromotor were announced as the 17th and final entry for the 2019 season, a few people started giggling out of amusement. Then the launched their car with outdated aerodynamics and a lethargic customer Audi engine, and people started laughing harder. Then they signed journeywomen Du Lon and rookie Takuma Taki as drvers, and more people started laughing. Then they publicly announced their intention for 2019 was to finish last in the championship, and suddenly everyone was in on the biggest joke in motorsport. The circus didn't fail to deliver, as between rampant mechanical failures, two below-average drivers and a truly terrible car, the team failed to start a race all year, the first team to do so since 2015.
In defence of the two drivers, there was not a whole lot that more they could have done given the equipment at their disposal. Du Lon had the measure of the two all year, but being king of the sandpit is not something to write home about for someone of her experience, and by the end of the year, she was openly revolting against the team. Taki meanwhile struggled to adapt to the nervous EU1, and at no point looked close to making the field. While there was nothing to suggest that he doesn’t deserve a shot in proper ARWS machinery, a return to his home country next year will likely be his fate.
The crowning achievement for Euromotor is that they somehow survived the season, and will somehow make it into 2020. However, the impending Audi announcement contains even more dire news for the squad, as the manufacturer has little interest in offering further development to the engine. Coupled with the complete lack of interest in drivers willing to fill the seats, it would not be surprising to see the team show up at Adelaide with a completely white chassis with no engine or drivers. If nothing else, it would be a fitting punchline.
2019 Lon Rating: 4/10
2019 Taki Rating: 3/10
2019 Team Rating: 0.5/10
2020 WCC Prediction: 17th
Biscione wrote:"Some Turkemenistani gulag repurposed for residential use" is the best way yet I've heard to describe North / East Glasgow.
L'Equipe wrote:Benoit Voeckler in talks for ARWS seat with Euromotor
Benoit Voeckler has emerged as the lead candidate to spearhead Euromotor International's driver line-up in ARWS next year, as current pairing Du Lon and Takuma Taki look unlikely to accept contract renewals.
Euromotor were mired at the back of the ARWS field for the whole of 2019, failing to qualify for a single race all year. While no official statements have been made by either Lon or Taki on the matter, L'Equipe understands both are heading for the exit in disgust, leaving the also-rans of ARWS requiring a completely new line-up.
Though not the most exciting prospect, Benoit Voeckler would provide valuable funds to the Euromotor team.
Voeckler is most well known in ARWS circles for pumping cash into the rapidly dying Boxtel team in 2016, a team that had already suffered a fall from grace and was propping up the back of the grid, much like Euromotor at present.
Despite the struggle to attract drivers to peddle their ancient chassis, former Formula 1 and Mecha ARWS driver Kazuki Fushida has also been linked to the team.
Novitopoli wrote:Everytime someone orders at Pizza Hut, an Italian dies.
Novitopoli wrote:Juve's Triplete: Calciopoli, doping & Mafia connections.
RejectSport wrote:Yamamura in shock MRT defection
MRT announced one of the biggest bombshells of the off-season, stating that Japanese driver Akira Yamamura has signed with the team on a one year deal for 2020. After negotiations with Salvatore Miccoli's management stalled in recent weeks, the seat became open to the market. While Yamamura wasn't a front-runner to the seat, the team were quick to sign him after he informed them of his availability.
"Akira is a class act, and his track record in the junior categories and his debut year in 2018 speaks for himself" said MRT Team Manager Don Rennis. "He had a difficult year last season at Kamaha, but it hasn't diminished his undeniable talent, and we look forward to working with him and Alberto next year."
Biscione wrote:"Some Turkemenistani gulag repurposed for residential use" is the best way yet I've heard to describe North / East Glasgow.
RejectSport Japan wrote:Tsukimura: ARWS Return Unlikely for Honda
Widespread rumors that Honda would be rejoining the AutoReject World Series were met with an unamused reaction from Haruna Tsukimura, team principal for Tsuchigami no Kyojin. The Tsuchigami team have been the Number 2 team for Honda within the Pacific Endurance Series and their factory effort within Super Taikyu competition. “We have worked one-to-one with the big bosses of Honda’s motorsport programs, and they have never discussed the possibility of a return to the AutoReject World Series. To me, it seems unlikely that they will change their mind.” While Honda has major involvement in Super Formula and Indycar, they have not supplied an ARWS team since 2015, when they supplied Hagane Shizuka’s Revolution Motorsports.
AutoFiction wrote:Yamamura acquisiton sign of Desperation, not Determination
MRT made the announcement this morning that, yet again, they were making another change to their driver lineup. And, yet again MRT decided to take a punt on a relatively unproven talent in Akira Yamamura. It's paid off for them handsomely time and time again, so it stands to reason that they can get the best for Yamamura.
However, the whole saga reeks of desperation rather than a renewed determination to reclaim the ARWS titles from Kjellerup. The fact of the matter is they're simply not good enough, and they know it. Having failed to re-sign Salvatore Miccoli, who in some ways has been rather unfairly treated, they threw darts at a dartboard in a panic until something stuck. Rumours that they tried to sign the one guaranteed ace up the sleeve in Terry Hawkin fell flat, leaving them to go through plans C, D, E, F and G before they went straight to Plan Y. Rather fittingly, one might add, as that is what many people will be asking in the weeks and months ahead.
Biscione wrote:"Some Turkemenistani gulag repurposed for residential use" is the best way yet I've heard to describe North / East Glasgow.
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2010 German Grand Prix - Ashley Watkinson (1x1st), David Koczo (1x2nd), Sammy Jones (1x3rd), Gary Cameron (1x4th)
2010 Luxembourg Grand Prix - Dave Simpson (1x1st), Luca Pacchiarini (1x2nd), Frank Zimmer (1x4th)
2010 Saxon Grand Prix - Dan BH (1x1st), Nathanael Spencer (1x6th+1x4th)
2010 Chinese Grand Prix - James Davies (1x4th)
2010 Bahrain Grand Prix - Douglas Mann (1x4th)
2010 Australian Grand Prix - Phoenix McAllister (1x4th)
2011 Bavarian Grand Prix - Daniel Melrose (1x6th+1x5th), Thomas De Bock (1x2nd), Simon Redman (1x1st)
2011 Saxon Grand Prix - Pippa Mann (1x2nd), Hagane Shizuka (1x5th+1x4th)
2011 Luxembourg Grand Prix - Chris Dagnall (1x1st), Luca Pacchiarini (1x3rd)
2011 Belgian Grand Prix - Giovanni Roda (1x4th), T. Hemo Goblin (1x2nd)
2011 Kent Grand Prix - Aurelien Moll (1x1st)
2011 Netherlands Grand Prix - Kay Lon (1x2nd)
2011 Tasman Grand Prix - Jeroen Krautmeir (1x3rd)
2011 New South Wales Grand Prix - Barii Mori (2x6th+1x2nd), Jari Kekkonen (1x6th+1x5th)
2011 United States Grand Prix - Darren Older Jr (1x5th+1x6th)
2012 Bavarian Grand Prix - Richie White (1x4th)
2012 Saxon Grand Prix - Rhys Davies (1x4th)
2012 Australian Grand Prix - Daniel Martins (1x2nd), Shinobu Katayama (1x4th)
2012 Indianapolis 500 - Dean O'Lauchlan (1x5th+1x6th)
2013 Tasman Grand Prix - Mark Dagnall (1x1st)
2013 British Grand Prix - Resi Respati (1x6th+1x3rd), Jesus Plaza (1x2nd)
2013 Belgian Grand Prix - Nathan Scott (1x4th)
2013 Macau Grand Prix - Collin Pratchett (1x6th+1x2nd), Saeed Al Faisal (1x4th)
2013 Brazilian Grand Prix - Nicolas Steele (1x5th+1x6th), Sebastian Groves (1x4th)
2014 Tasman Grand Prix - Phillippe Nicolas (2x6th+1x1st)
2014 Mexican Grand Prix - Ron Mignolet (1x5th+1x6th)
2014 Monaco Grand Prix - Mirko Bosevic (1x5th+1x4th)
2014 British Grand Prix - The Stig (1x4th)
2014 German Grand Prix - Ben Fleet (1x6th+1x2nd)
2014 Japanese Grand Prix - Martin McFry (1x4th)
2015 Tasman Grand Prix - Rosco Vantini (1x2nd)
2015 Mexican Grand Prix - David Neuberg (1x2nd)
2015 British Grand Prix - Andrea Battani (1x5th+1x4th)
2016 Austrian Grand Prix - Jean-Vincent Albertini (1x6th+1x5th), Diego Álvarez Torrente (1x2nd)
2016 Southern United States Grand Prix - Fredo Mestolio (1x3rd)
2017 Australian Grand Prix - Alexey Buyvolov (1x1st), Alberto Cara (1x4th), Jean-Luc Schiller (1x6th+1x5th)
2017 Austrian Grand Prix - Wouter Lamberigts (1x4th)
2017 Japanese Grand Prix - Du Lei (1x6th+1x5th)
2018 Australian Grand Prix - Bastiaan van Nieuwenhuijzen (1x3rd), Nick Nurmester (1x4th)
2018 New South Wales Grand Prix - Dan Greenlaw (1x3rd)
2018 Italian Grand Prix - Terry Hawkin (1x6th+1x1st)
2018 Moroccan Grand Prix - Andrej Kremnicky (1x5th+1x6th)
2018 Canadian Grand Prix - Alessandro Lucarelli (1x3rd)
2018 BelgianGrand Prix - Akira Yamamura (1x3rd)
2018 Japanese Grand Prix - Dave Cassidy (1x3rd)
2018 Chinese Grand Prix - Marko Jantscher (2x5th), Kenan Ardaoglu (1x4th), Danny van Rijkens (1x5th+1x6th)
2019 Australian Grand Prix - Gary Pacer (1x4th)
2019 New South Wales Grand Prix - Salvatore Miccoli (2x5th)
2019 Kinki Grand Prix - Nathanael Cameron (1x4th)
2019 Italian Grand Prix - Marcel Agyemang-Badu (1x3rd)
2019 Scandinavian Grand Prix - Naoki Shinjo (1x5th+1x4th)
2019 Belgian Grand Prix - Nino Barlini (3x6th)
Gertrand Bachot wrote:I have done all of the F1RWRS/ARWS unrejectifications:
Klon wrote:What did poor André do to you for him to be insulted like that?
Gertrand Bachot wrote:I have done all of the F1RWRS/ARWS unrejectifications:Code: Select all
2010 Bahrain Grand Prix - Douglas Mann (1x4th)
2011 Saxon Grand Prix - Pippa Mann (1x2nd), Hagane Shizuka (1x5th+1x4th)
2014 German Grand Prix - Ben Fleet (1x6th+1x2nd)
2014 Japanese Grand Prix - Martin McFry 1x4th)
watka wrote:I find it amusing that whilst you're one of the more openly Christian guys here, you are still first and foremost associated with an eye for the ladies!
MCard LOLAdinizintheoven wrote:GOOD CHRISTIANS do not go to jail. EVERYONE ON FORMULA ONE REJECTS should be in jail.
DemocalypseNow wrote:L'Equipe wrote:Benoit Voeckler in talks for ARWS seat with Euromotor
Benoit Voeckler has emerged as the lead candidate to spearhead Euromotor International's driver line-up in ARWS next year, as current pairing Du Lon and Takuma Taki look unlikely to accept contract renewals.
Euromotor were mired at the back of the ARWS field for the whole of 2019, failing to qualify for a single race all year. While no official statements have been made by either Lon or Taki on the matter, L'Equipe understands both are heading for the exit in disgust, leaving the also-rans of ARWS requiring a completely new line-up.
Though not the most exciting prospect, Benoit Voeckler would provide valuable funds to the Euromotor team.
Voeckler is most well known in ARWS circles for pumping cash into the rapidly dying Boxtel team in 2016, a team that had already suffered a fall from grace and was propping up the back of the grid, much like Euromotor at present.
Despite the struggle to attract drivers to peddle their ancient chassis, former Formula 1 and Mecha ARWS driver Kazuki Fushida has also been linked to the team.
FantometteBR wrote:DemocalypseNow wrote:L'Equipe wrote:Benoit Voeckler in talks for ARWS seat with Euromotor
Benoit Voeckler has emerged as the lead candidate to spearhead Euromotor International's driver line-up in ARWS next year, as current pairing Du Lon and Takuma Taki look unlikely to accept contract renewals.
Euromotor were mired at the back of the ARWS field for the whole of 2019, failing to qualify for a single race all year. While no official statements have been made by either Lon or Taki on the matter, L'Equipe understands both are heading for the exit in disgust, leaving the also-rans of ARWS requiring a completely new line-up.
Though not the most exciting prospect, Benoit Voeckler would provide valuable funds to the Euromotor team.
Voeckler is most well known in ARWS circles for pumping cash into the rapidly dying Boxtel team in 2016, a team that had already suffered a fall from grace and was propping up the back of the grid, much like Euromotor at present.
Despite the struggle to attract drivers to peddle their ancient chassis, former Formula 1 and Mecha ARWS driver Kazuki Fushida has also been linked to the team.
Excellent (BURNS, Monty)
@BVoeckler42 on Twitter wrote:Guys, so happy to announce I am back in @AutorejectWS! I will join @EuromotorIntl for the 2020 season. Thanks to my new sponsor @FDJ for making it possible! #AllezEuromotor
Novitopoli wrote:Everytime someone orders at Pizza Hut, an Italian dies.
Novitopoli wrote:Juve's Triplete: Calciopoli, doping & Mafia connections.
@TheBestFrenchTester (in the real world known as one Jean-Maxime Bachot) in the Twitter comments wrote:@BVoeckler42 on Twitter wrote:Guys, so happy to announce I am back in @AutorejectWS! I will join @EuromotorIntl for the 2020 season. Thanks to my new sponsor @FDJ for making it possible! #AllezEuromotor
Are you aiming for that coveted @WoodenSpoonAward monsieur... because it's going to be the pride of your racing career.
Also Sammy Jones sucks.
@TheBestFrenchTester (in the real world known as one Jean-Maxime Bachot) in the Twitter comments wrote:@BVoeckler42 on Twitter wrote:Guys, so happy to announce I am back in @AutorejectWS! I will join @EuromotorIntl for the 2020 season. Thanks to my new sponsor @FDJ for making it possible! #AllezEuromotor
Are you aiming for that coveted @WoodenSpoonAward monsieur... because it's going to be the pride of your racing career.
Also Sammy Jones sucks.
@BestDriverEver James James Davies wrote:That's funny, considering that even a rank complete loser like Benoit Voeckler has achieved more than you ever will.
Sebastian Vettel wrote:If I was good at losing, I wouldn't be in Formula 1
@BestDriverEver James James Davies wrote: wrote:That's funny, considering that even a rank complete loser like Benoit Voeckler has achieved more than you ever will.
Jean-Maxime Bachot said in an ARWS post-season press conference: wrote:Benoit Voeckler willingly signs for Euromotor. Apparently he's better than me. Please.
