F1RWRS 2017 - DE BOCK WDC JONES WCC -- Vote ROTY NOW!!!

[Aerond]

F1RWRS 2017 -- Round 7 -- Southern US GP -- Phoenix

Weather Forecast:
Pre-Qualifying: Dry
Qualifying: Dry
Race: Wet 55% (Yeah, 2% chance of rain and the RNG shows 2 for the 3rd number generated)

PRE-QUALIFYING

1.Martin McFry (NRE) -- 1.21.334
2.Jesus Plaza (Mecha) -- 1.21.522 (+0.188)
3.Andrej Kremnicky (Revolution) -- 1.21.643 (+0.309)
4.Daniel Martins (Sunshine) -- 1.21.765 (+0.431)
5.David Neuberg (PORE) -- 1.22.084 (+0.750)
6.Philippe Nicolas (Arrowtech) -- 1.22.243 (+0.909)
7.Miko Fakkinen (Fusion) -- 1.22.333 (+0.999)
8.Marco Bizzarri (Revolution) -- 1.22.401 (+1.067)
9.Hiroto Tojo (Mecha) -- 1.22.608 (+1.274)
10.Barii Mori (Sunshine) -- 1.22.609 (+1.275)
11.Daniel Moreno (Gillet) -- 1.22.645 (+1.311)
12.Du Lei (PORE) -- 1.22.674 (+1.340)
13.Hansuke Shioya (Arrowtech) -- 1.22.684 (+1.349)
14.Daniel Melville (Kamaha) -- 1.22.693 (+1.359)
15.Gregor Pascal (NRE) -- 1.22.723 (+1.389)
16.Connor O Heagan (Boxtel) -- 1.22.759 (+1.425)
17.Hagane Shizuka (Kamaha) -- 1.22.837 (+1.503)
18.Eric Swerts (Gillet) -- 1.23.089 (+1.755)
19.Geoff Donnelly (Fusion) -- 1.23.167 (+1.833)
20.Benoit Voeckler (Boxtel) -- 1.24.447 (+3.113)

** Revolution will skip Pre-Qualifying from Round 8

QUALIFYING

1.Alexey Buyvolov (Aeroracing) -- 1.19.733
2.Martin McFry (NRE) -- 1.20.211 (+0.478)
3.Ron Mignolet (Gauthier) -- 1.20.406 (+0.673)
4.Ben Fleet (Foxdale) -- 1.20.448 (+0.715)
5.Thomas de Bock (Voeckler) -- 1.20.525 (+0.792)
6.Fredo Mestolio (MRT) -- 1.20.569 (+0.836)
7.Andrej Kremnicky (Revolution) -- 1.20.853 (+1.120)
8.Nicolas Steele (Autodynamics) -- 1.20.968 (+1.235)
9.Jesus Plaza (Mecha) -- 1.20.997 (+1.264)
10.Jean-Luc Schiller (MRT) -- 1.21.042 (+1.309)
11.Wouter Lamberigts (Simpson) -- 1.21.076 (+1.343)
12.Douglas Mann (HRT) -- 1.21.164 (+1.431)
13.Daniel Martins (Sunshine) -- 1.21.203 (+1.470)
14.Danny van Rijkens (Gauthier) -- 1.21.332 (+1.599)
15.Nathanael Spencer (Voeckler) -- 1.21.444 (+1.711)
16.Kay Lon (Aeroracing) -- 1.21.564 (+1.831)
17.Mark Dagnall (Jones) -- 1.21.642 (+1.909)
18.Diego Alvarez Torrente (Jones) -- 1.21.685 (+1.952)
19.Shane Skeelenberg (RLR) -- 1.21.835 (+2.102)
20.Dave Simpson (Simpson) -- 1.21.840 (+2.107)
21.Alberto Cara (HRT) -- 1.22.002 (+2.269)
22.Daniel Melrose (Autodynamics) -- 1.22.366 (+2.633)
23.Pippa Mann (Foxdale) -- 1.22.482 (+2.749)
24.Shinobu Katayama (RLR) -- 1.22.845 (+3.112)
25.Barii Mori (Sunshine) -- 1.23.044 (+3.311)
26.Hiroto Tojo (Mecha) -- 1.23.161 (+3.504)
DNQ.Marco Bizzarri (Revolution) -- 1.23.237 (+3.504)
DNQ.Gregor Pascal (NRE) -- 1.23.924 (+4.191)

** RLR goes to Pre-Q from Round 8

RACE

1.Fredo Mestolio (MRT) -- 2h 12m 41.468
2.Jean-Luc Schiller (MRT) -- +53.463
3.Nathanael Spencer (Voeckler) -- +1.33.466
4.Thomas de Bock (Voeckler) -- +1 Lap (*)
5.Mark Dagnall (Jones) -- +1 Lap (*)
6.Kay Lon (Aeroracing) -- +1 Lap
7.Diego Alvarez Torrente (Jones) -- +1 Lap
8.Daniel Melrose (Autodynamics) -- +2 Laps
9.Alberto Cara (HRT) -- +2 Laps
10.Wouter Lamberigts (Dacia) -- +2 Laps
DNF.Ron Mignolet (Gauthier) -- Engine
DNF.Ben Fleet (Foxdale) -- Suspension
DNF.Dave Simpson (Dacia) -- Transmission
DNF.Nicolas Steele (Autodynamics) -- Transmission
DNF.Jesus Plaza (Mecha) -- Suspension
DNF.Danny van Rijkens (Gauthier) -- Engine
DNF.Martin McFry (NRE) -- Puncture
DNF.Pippa Mann (Foxdale) -- Oil Leak
DNF.Hiroto Tojo (Mecha) -- Electrical
DNF.Alexey Buyvolov (Aeroracing) -- Accident
DNF.Douglas Mann (HRT) -- Engine
DNF.Shane Skeelenberg (RLR) -- Transmission
DNF.Daniel Martins (Sunshine) -- Water Leak
DNF.Shinobu Katayama (RLR) -- Engine
DNF.Andrej Kremnicky (Revolution) -- Suspension
DNF.Barii Mori (Sunshine) -- Engine

DOTR: Kept the Gauthier into positions it didn't belong to for most of the race
ROTR: Buyvolov: Ruined his own race.
Fastest Lap: Fredo Mestolio (MRT) -- 1.29.901

[FMecha]

RLR would like to test at Silverstone for 3 days of testing with the following focuses...

Test Day 1 15.6.17
Driver: Shinobu Katayama
Focus: Reliability

Test Day 2 16.6.17
Driver: Shinobu Katayama
Focus: Reliability

Test Day 3 17.6.17
Driver: Shinobu Katayama
Focus: Driver Development

If it is still possible, Mecha will join RLR's test on the 15th and 16th with Hiroto Tojo. First day for driver development, second for downforce.

[DemocalypseNow]

Voeckler launches formal protest against race result

Voeckler GPE has submitted a formal protest regarding the race results, claiming the official results contravene common rules for classification of retired cars that have completed 90% race distance.

"The application of the results by the commission is incorrect," stated team principal Jeremy-Etienne Voeckler. "The method of classifying lapped cars has been clear and set in stone for many years. The order of cars that have retired is decided by the order in which they last crossed the finish line, and not what corner they happened to retire at."

It would appear the French team has an open-and-shut case, given the following rule in the sporting regulations.

All cars will be classified taking into account the number of complete laps they have covered, and for those which have completed the same number of laps, the order in which they crossed the Line.

Dagnall was classified 4th, ahead of De Bock in 5th, and while Dagnall retired 100 metres further down the road than the Belgian driver, he started his final lap over 40 seconds behind De Bock.

[Ataxia]

Fusion Motorsports are delighted to announce the signing of Fredo Mestolio for 2018, and will lead the team for their second season in F1RWRS.

Fredo joins the team from the Melrose Racing Team and comes to us as a proven race-winner, why, he won today's race at Phoenix of course! He also won at Road America last season for the Jones team, so brings a wealth of impressive of results.

"We needed a driver capable of big results to drive us forward" said team principal Jacques Couteau. "Fredo is that man; he's quick and he's a born winner. We got in contact with a number of drivers, but we felt Fredo was one of the best choices for us."

The second Fusion driver has yet to be announced, although Couteau has stated a deal has been in the works with one driver for sometime.

"Yes, we just need the final confirmation from that driver's management team for us to announce a deal. Once that's signed up, I'm confident we'll have one of the strongest lineups on the grid next season."

"We thank Miko and Geoff for their continuing efforts, but they knew as well as we did that the deal was for only one year. They've been great in getting the team off the ground, and we hope they will continue to help us grow over the rest of the season."

[Aerond]

Fredo Mestolio: "We can fight for more wins"
Italian also comments on Fusion move

Italian driver Fredo Mestolio looked exultant at the end of the Southern US F1RWRS Grand Prix in Phoenix after taking a non-expected win in a drenched track. "Yeah, it was totally unexpected, I saw a Voeckler stopped before Turn 12 but I thought it was Spencer, I only realised I had won after somebody told me on the Radio, myself ran out of fuel a few meters before crossing the finish line, so it was a pretty tense final few laps for me as well", "The car has been improving, we've been trying some solutions to improve reliability and they've worked out, it will be hard to get a race with so much unreliability, but the truth is only Buyvolov and De Bock were faster than us today, so I'm sure we can fight for more wins". It has also been an exciting weekend for Fredo Mestolio as the Italian has confirmed he'll be moving to Fusion for next season in a move many people see as risky to say the least, but the twice race winner doesn't have any doubts about his future "I wouldn't have confirmed my position for next season so early if I wasn't sure about it. I've been showed some stuff Fusion is working on for next season, I have seen their plans and there's loads of potential to be unlocked, it's certainly too early to say where Fusion is going to be, but I'm confident it won't be anywhere near the back"

[tommykl]

Well, obviously, I'm really disappointed in myself. I know I had the pace to win, I drove really well for most of the race and should have won, but I forgot to look at my fuel reading, and by the time the team started telling me to slow down, it was too late. I slowed down for a bit, but I thought Fredo was closer than he actually was, and I didn't slow down enough. It was my mistake, and I apologised to the team as soon as I was back in the garage. I hope I won't make the same mistake again.

[AndreaModa]

We simply weren't good enough today, that's about all I can say. The result for MRT is a surprising one, but they've taken advantage of an unusual race and reaped the rewards. A couple of seasons ago it would have been a race like this that I would have expected us to do the capitalising, but even though I'm able to say that we're regular front-runners, we should have done far better today. I can't blame it on the drivers, neither has really done worse than the other, though obviously it's frustrating for Mark to retire on the last lap, we just didn't give them the equipment to win. Still, with Aeroracing only scoring the 1 point, and Buyvolov retiring, it keeps things nicely open in both championships. We've been fortunate that it's a team like MRT who, in the long run, are well out of contention, that have taken the spoils today. If it had been Aeroracing, we'd have been in big trouble.

[Salamander]

It was a fantastic drive from Ron today, absolutely phenomenal. He spent the entire race outpacing Spencer in one of the fastest cars on the grid, on the same strategy. My feelings are... complicated, obviously we are all very disappointed to lose a podium here, but it is very encouraging the pace that we were able to achieve today with Ron - I really cannot say enough 'ow impressive it was.

Danny unfortunately was not able to get a good lap in qualifying and this really compromised his race, but he was still very commendable in his determination to set consistent, respectable laptimes, and I am certain he will wish to push 'arder next race to try and make up for this one.

I am very much looking forward to the next couple of races, we have been working closely with our engine suppliers at PURE-Hart, and have a new upgrade on the way which should hopefully improve some of the key weaknesses of our engine.

[DemocalypseNow]

Mignolet going full circle? Voeckler return is on the cards

Despite finishing on the podium for the second time this season at the US West GP, Nathanael Spencer is under immense pressure from his Voeckler GPE team to pick up the standard of his performances, and is said to be next in line to be dropped. Curiously, the driver mooted to be taking his place was the previous departure from the team, Ron Mignolet.

Sources suggest that Voeckler GPE had always maintained the switch was a temporary one, and the move was designed only for Mignolet to clear his head before making a return later in the season. And, after a storming drive at US GP West, it seems Voeckler are eager to recall the Belgian, this time to partner fellow countryman Thomas de Bock.

[Phoenix]

No, I'd like to think we're not going to choke this away. I wonder what happens with Kay Lon, he should be doing far better. This isn't a good year for the seniors of the F1RWRS grid. Anyway, onto the next race...

[Nessafox]

Mignolet going full circle? Voeckler return is on the cards

Despite finishing on the podium for the second time this season at the US West GP, Nathanael Spencer is under immense pressure from his Voeckler GPE team to pick up the standard of his performances, and is said to be next in line to be dropped. Curiously, the driver mooted to be taking his place was the previous departure from the team, Ron Mignolet.

Sources suggest that Voeckler GPE had always maintained the switch was a temporary one, and the move was designed only for Mignolet to clear his head before making a return later in the season. And, after a storming drive at US GP West, it seems Voeckler are eager to recall the Belgian, this time to partner fellow countryman Thomas de Bock.

Considering my unconditional love for Biscione that leans towards obsession, i will everything to please him, even if that means i will never get truly appreciated. My entire life will be in vain if he is unhappy.

But seriously: no

[SuperAguri]

Mori hands in his notice
Mori handed his notice to the Sunshine team after a serious of poor performances for the team, Mori said in a statement, "Sunshine have had a very hands off management who have not spent any money on the car, after being stuck in the pit garage and not even doing a prequalify and having a generally slow car, I have decided to leave the team after the next race. I am going to NRE who need an experience driver who is good at qualifying so they snapped me up. I hope I can take NRE to great things. I have arrange for the leaving Gregor Pascal to talk to Sunshine to see if they can arrange something but I wouldn't be surprised if he is signed and helps them as he will give them money and by god do they need it.". Sunshine may sign Gregor Pascal but Yuka Katayama, Saeed Al Faisal, Jari Kekkonen and Dean O'Lauchlan have been linked to the drive too.

Katayama signs for Rob Lomas Racing for another 4 races
After her thrilling race in Montreal where she was denied 4th because of an electronics glitch and an extra pit stop but still scraped a point. Katayama has agreed to extend her contract with RLR for another 4 races. Privately Katayama is still hoping that she will be signed by a better team but will keep showing her talent until such time.

[Phoenix]

Voeckler's driver management makes me sick. They have 2 great drivers, one of them a former World Champion no less, and they're playing with them like they were dolls. And I thought I'd seen it all with Kamaha, then those French lunatics come around and do this. Not that Thomas de Bock was a bad signing, indeed, but Ron Mignolet deserves a far better chance than plodding around with that geriatric Gillet. If we applied their standards Kay Lon would have been fired already, but he's proven to be one of the best in the field and we have absolute faith in him that he'll begin truly delivering soon again and will be able to complement Alexey Buyvolov's outstanding performances and hopefully be a vital part in Aeroracing securing their first ever Constructors Championship.

[DemocalypseNow]

Voeckler's driver management makes me sick. They have 2 great drivers, one of them a former World Champion no less, and they're playing with them like they were dolls. And I thought I'd seen it all with Kamaha, then those French lunatics come around and do this. Not that Thomas de Bock was a bad signing, indeed, but Ron Mignolet deserves a far better chance than plodding around with that geriatric Gillet. If we applied their standards Kay Lon would have been fired already, but he's proven to be one of the best in the field and we have absolute faith in him that he'll begin truly delivering soon again and will be able to complement Alexey Buyvolov's outstanding performances and hopefully be a vital part in Aeroracing securing their first ever Constructors Championship.

But Phoenix, certainly in the context of Nathanael Spencer, could you possibly accept such performances? Lon as at least been on Buyvolov's race pace at most events, while Spencer has been well behind De Bock in all four races the two have been team-mates for this season. He hasn't be putting in performances befitting a former world champion, and has been badly outclassed by a man without a title to his name. Spencer's time at the sharp end of the grid is finished, he will drop down to a midfield team at best next season.

Lucarelli about to earn F1RWRS promotion?

Current F2RWRS driver Alessandro Lucarelli is rumoured to be the next young driver to make the step up to the top tier series, having finished 5th in the championship last season despite competing in less than half the championship's races in 2016.

He had initially stayed on for a full programme in 2017, but with Simpson struggling to produce the goods, it seems Lucarelli's money along with his excellent results from last season have proven too hard to ignore for some teams looking for lineup improvements.

Lucarelli has been connected to a number of teams in recent months, although what was considered his most likely destination previously, Fusion Motorsports, is now said to be off the table, with the team opting to hire fellow countryman Fredo Mestolio in the long term. Mooted destinations include ArrowTech-Acuri in place of the underperforming Hansuke Shioya, Dacia to allow an early retirement for Dave Simpson, Plus One to displace the underperforming Du Lei - but odds on favourite is HRT, where Douglas Mann is under intense scrutiny following a string of disappointing performances, proving to be far slower than rookie team-mate Alberto Cara.

"Alessandro is on the brink of his F1RWRS debut," claimed the driver's manager, Frederic-Maxime Voeckler. "We are just putting the final touches to his contract, and he will be ready to go. We expect to be on the grid in time for Road America."

[the Masked Lapwing]

Frank Zimmer demands changes to F1RWRS classification rules
Holden Racing Team principal Frank Zimmer has today demanded changes to how drivers are classified in F1RWRS, especially regarding drivers who retire in the final laps.

"It is ridiculously unfair on the smaller teams that front runners can stuff up and still be classified ahead of everyone else. Look at Phoenix, at the cars that ran out of fuel. How do they deserve to finish ahead of everyone who filled up properly?" he said today.

Zimmer suggested a rule be put into place that puts drivers who fail to finish behind those that do, regardless of laps completed, similar to the rule in V8 Supercars. In the recent Southern US Grand Prix, for example, this would have seen Thomas De Bock and Mark Dagnall, who both ran out of fuel on the final lap, not classified, moving Kay Lon to 4th and Diego Alvarez Torrente and Daniel Melrose into the points.

Zimmer also repeated his demands that the F1RWRS move to a top 8 points system, similar to that used in Formula One between 2003 and 2009. Such a system has already been struck down by the F1RTA in the past, and the F1RWRS Commission has repeatedly refused requests from some teams. However, Zimmer is adamant that such a system should be introduced to aid the backmarkers' chances in scoring points. However, some have been quick to point out that HRT would score 7 more points, which would drastically improve their finances.

[Aerond]

YDT approaching

Here comes the free YDT which will have in place at Monza in-between Road America and Norisring. The commission is pleased to announce the following rules towards this test and enourage the teams to start publishing their lineups for the test from now on:

- Test is not mandatory
- Test will be free to attend
- Every participant team must fill 2 drivers
- Test lenght will be 2 days
- Participant drivers must have 4 F1RWRS entries at most, and must be eligible to race in F2RWRS or AR3.5 at today's date (15th June 2017)
- Test line-up is to be confirmed before the end of the Northern US Grand Prix

[DemocalypseNow]

Voeckler GPE will attend the YDT, with the following lineup;

Dan Greenlaw
TBA

We are waiting to see if certain other teams participate in the YDT or not before announcing our full lineup.

[the Masked Lapwing]

Carter Simpson and Renato Bulku will drive for HRT.

[dr-baker]

Foxdale would like to attend. Peter Port is likely to be in one car, and would like to invite either Laura Wener or Justin Case to drive the other car.

[tommykl]

Seeing as it's free, Gillet will attend as well, sending F2RWRS drivers Jason Hamilton and Alexandre Dorval.

[roblo97]

Phil McCracken and Shane Skeelenberg will drive for RLR

[DemocalypseNow]

Phil McCracken and Shane Skeelenberg will drive for RLR

Phil McCracken has 16 F1RWRS career race entries, far surpassing the YDT limit of four...

[Ataxia]

Fusion Motorsports will attend the test, with Victoria Desai and Quentin Reatherson.

Nathanael Cameron is available for the test should anyone want to test him.

[DanielPT]

Sunshine will participate with Yuka Katayama and Johannes Rueckert.

[MinardiFan95]

Dacia F1RWRS team will be in attendance at the Young Driver Test with the following lineup:

Michael Robertson
TBA (Alessandro Lucarelli will get the drive if it's OK with Biscione)

[roblo97]

Phil McCracken and Shane Skeelenberg will drive for RLR

Phil McCracken has 16 F1RWRS career race entries, far surpassing the YDT limit of four...

Oh, RLR would like to ask Ataxia if they can please use Cameron for the ydt?

[Peteroli34]

James Morgan currently competing in AR3.5 would be interested in running in the YDT, with any team

[Nuppiz]

BASF Nurminen Grand Prix will enter the test with Thomas Yorke and Anu Võsu Marko Jantscher.

[Salamander]

Sasol Equipe Gauthier will enter Jordan Davies for the Young Driver's Test. We would also like to request the services of Bastiaan van Nieuwenhuijzen for our other seat.

[pasta_maldonado]

PORE shall enter Gary Pacer in one of out seats for the YDT, and Alessandro Lucarelli,pending Biscione approval

[DemocalypseNow]

Bastiaan van Nieuwenhuijzen gladly accepts the testing opportunity with Gauthier.

Alessandro Lucarelli thanks Simpson for the offer of an appearance with them at the test session, but will politely decline. He will run with Plus One during the YDT.

Partnering Dan Greenlaw at Voeckler GPE for the test will be Italian driver Salvatore Miccoli.

Marcel Agyemang-Badu, 2015 Rejects of LFS Champion and current F2RWRS driver, is available to teams looking for someone to participate in the YDT.

[AndreaModa]

Jones will do the test with Terry Hawkin and Nick Nurmester.

[SuperAguri]

Kamaha is open to any driver that would like a test in an F1RWRS car.

[DanielPT]

Kamaha is open to any driver that would like a test in an F1RWRS car.

João António Soares, currently on F2RWRS and a pay-driver would like to have a go.

[Ataxia]

Phil McCracken and Shane Skeelenberg will drive for RLR

Phil McCracken has 16 F1RWRS career race entries, far surpassing the YDT limit of four...

Oh, RLR would like to ask Ataxia if they can please use Cameron for the ydt?

Oh, go on then!

[AndreaModa]

And as I posted in the Classifieds thread, Roberto Dinella pictures himself as an F1RWRS driver, so make it a reality and give him a run! Go on! Do it!

[FMecha]

Mecha will cancel their Silverstone test plans and put Egide Ngendandumwe and Jerry de Boer on YDT.

[TomWazzleshaw]

MRT will join the YDT with Gianluigi Pazzini and Franc Piscine as drivers, pending Pasta's approval

[pasta_maldonado]

MRT will join the YDT with Gianluigi Pazzini and Franc Piscine as drivers, pending Pasta's approval

Franc Piscine is delighted to take part in the YDT.

[Peteroli34]

Kamaha is open to any driver that would like a test in an F1RWRS car.

Current AR3.5 driver James Morgan is interested