The Junior Series Thread

Post by **Ataxia** » 15 Oct 2013, 14:58

The 2014 GP2 lineup is confirmed, with Campos Racing making a return in place of Barwa Addax. Presumably as Addax are pulling out, Alejandro Agag is concentrating on Formula E.

Post by **Ataxia** » 18 Oct 2013, 10:32

Good news! Dean Stoneman's returning to racing, and he's joined Koiranen in GP3 for the finale at Abu Dhabi. Presumably in place of Patrick Kujala, it hasn't been mentioned yet.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 18 Oct 2013, 12:47

Ataxia wrote:Good news! Dean Stoneman's returning to racing, and he's joined Koiranen in GP3 for the finale at Abu Dhabi. Presumably in place of Patrick Kujala, it hasn't been mentioned yet.

Dean Stoneman's actually been racing all through this year, he's been in the Porsche Carrera Cup, but it's great to see him back where he belongs, in a single-seater.

Bleu · Post by **Bleu** » 18 Oct 2013, 13:54

Ataxia wrote:Good news! Dean Stoneman's returning to racing, and he's joined Koiranen in GP3 for the finale at Abu Dhabi. Presumably in place of Patrick Kujala, it hasn't been mentioned yet.

He replaces Vainio.

The date is set, Dean Stoneman will be back on track in two weeks at the wheel of a Koiranen GP’s car along with his weekend’s teammates Kevin Korjus and Patrick Kujala.

Post by **Ataxia** » 18 Oct 2013, 14:57

Bleu wrote:
Ataxia wrote:Good news! Dean Stoneman's returning to racing, and he's joined Koiranen in GP3 for the finale at Abu Dhabi. Presumably in place of Patrick Kujala, it hasn't been mentioned yet.

He replaces Vainio.

The date is set, Dean Stoneman will be back on track in two weeks at the wheel of a Koiranen GP’s car along with his weekend’s teammates Kevin Korjus and Patrick Kujala.

Two factual inaccuracies in my post...GO ME! This is what happens when you assume things.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 21 Oct 2013, 08:23

On the note of FR3.5, Magnussen is the champion. He should be in F1 next year, at least in a practice session with McLaren and not completely forgotten like Robin Frijins is now.

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 21 Oct 2013, 09:03

good_Ralf wrote:On the note of FR3.5, Magnussen is the champion. He should be in F1 next year, at least in a practice session with McLaren and not completely forgotten like Robin Frijins is now.

Should this be in the GP2/GP3 thread? How about a separate WSR thread?

Post by **Ataxia** » 21 Oct 2013, 09:43

The title could be edited to accommodate FR3.5 as well...

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 21 Oct 2013, 10:22

Ataxia wrote:The title could be edited to accommodate FR3.5 as well...

How about we skip to the end and just make this the general junior racing thread?

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 21 Oct 2013, 10:25

There is already a separate thread for AutoGP, so I think just expanding to FR3.5 is the best solution

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 21 Oct 2013, 11:39

eurobrun wrote:There is already a separate thread for AutoGP, so I think just expanding to FR3.5 is the best solution

So? Let's just get a mod to merge that thread with this one.

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 25 Oct 2013, 17:01

We know some of the drivers who are going to be at the GP2 end of season test in Abu Dhabi:

Sandy Stuvik (Norwegian/Thai driver, 1st in European F3 Open (essentially Spanish F3, not the FIA European Formula Three Championship)) will test for Rapax
Rio Haryanto will test for Racing Engineering and Caterham
Raffaelle Marciello (Italian driver, 1st in FIA European Formula Three Champonship and member of the Ferrari Driver Academy) will test for someone (probably DAMS and Racing Enginering)
Arthur Pic (French driver, 8th in Formula Renault 3.5) will test for someone (not sure who)

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 25 Oct 2013, 22:01

Backmarker wrote:We know some of the drivers who are going to be at the GP2 end of season test in Abu Dhabi:

Arthur Pic (French driver, 8th in Formula Renault 3.5) will test for someone (not sure who)

Related to Monsieur Charles Pic, isn't he?

Post by **Ataxia** » 25 Oct 2013, 22:06

dr-baker wrote:
Backmarker wrote:We know some of the drivers who are going to be at the GP2 end of season test in Abu Dhabi:

Arthur Pic (French driver, 8th in Formula Renault 3.5) will test for someone (not sure who)

Related to Monsieur Charles Pic, isn't he?

I believe he can be known as Pic The Younger...

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 26 Oct 2013, 02:35

Ataxia wrote:
dr-baker wrote:
Backmarker wrote:We know some of the drivers who are going to be at the GP2 end of season test in Abu Dhabi:

Arthur Pic (French driver, 8th in Formula Renault 3.5) will test for someone (not sure who)

Related to Monsieur Charles Pic, isn't he?

I believe he can be known as Pic The Younger...

He's also beaten Tio Ellinas to pole for Round One of the MRF F2000 Challenge, which is being held at Noida as the support race for the Grand Prix.

As an aside, I wonder why the Mikahil Aleshin WSR thread isn't considered a Junior Series Thread. Merger, anyone?

takagi_for_the_win · Post by **takagi_for_the_win** » 26 Oct 2013, 09:41

Backmarker wrote:Arthur Pic (French driver, 8th in Formula Renault 3.5) will test for someone (not sure who)

I wonder which team he'll Pic

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 26 Oct 2013, 15:28

takagi_for_the_win wrote:
Backmarker wrote:Arthur Pic (French driver, 8th in Formula Renault 3.5) will test for someone (not sure who)

I wonder which team he'll Pic

Oh HWNSNBM, we're Picing that up again?

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 27 Oct 2013, 00:39

UgncreativeUsergname wrote:
takagi_for_the_win wrote:
Backmarker wrote:Arthur Pic (French driver, 8th in Formula Renault 3.5) will test for someone (not sure who)

I wonder which team he'll Pic

Oh HWNSNBM, we're Picing that up again?

Looks like i've pic'ed the wrong day to quit making puns.

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 28 Oct 2013, 16:49

Swiss driver Nico Müller is going to test with Racing Engineering and Arden. In 2013 he has driven in Formula Renault 3.5, winning two races and finishing the season in fifth.

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 28 Oct 2013, 16:52

Backmarker wrote:Swiss driver Nico Müller is going to test with Racing Engineering and Arden. In 2013 he has driven in Formula Renault 3.5, winning two races and finishing the season in fifth.

I think he's a pretty good driver, who's been rather under the radar. It'd be great if he can get a GP2 drive, but if not, DTM with Audi beckons. What do you think, Peter?

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 28 Oct 2013, 17:18

Arthur Pic will be testing with ART and Arden in the two days of post-season testing at Abu Dhabi.

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 28 Oct 2013, 17:36

wsrgo wrote:I think he's a pretty good driver, who's been rather under the radar. It'd be great if he can get a GP2 drive, but if not, DTM with Audi beckons. What do you think?

I think he's a decent enough driver. Two wins this season is pretty good going, and his GP3 record was solid, though not spectacular. That said, I don't think he's really destined for anything big - I would be surprised if he ever made it to Formula One. So if Audi are making him an offer, to my mind he'd be better of getting paid to drive touring cars, than urinating money away doing GP2.

Apparently Andre Negrao is going to test with Racing Engineering and Carlin. Andre Negrao's father owns International Draco Racing, so he has money to spend, but a free seat in Formula Renault 3.5.

Of the drivers announced so far I think Raffaele Marcielllo is the most exciting prospect. Though personally I would expect to see him in Formula Renault 3.5, with most of the other junior team drivers.

EDIT: René Binder's going to test for Arden. Perhaps that's where he'll be in 2014.

takagi_for_the_win · Post by **takagi_for_the_win** » 29 Oct 2013, 14:02

Don't know quite where to put this, but...

Beitske Visser is no longer part of Mr Mateschitz's evil empire

pi314159 · Post by **pi314159** » 29 Oct 2013, 14:41

takagi_for_the_win wrote:Don't know quite where to put this, but...

Beitske Visser is no longer part of Mr Mateschitz's evil empire

That's what I expected. She only repeated last years' 8th place. And Red Bull is very fast in dropping drivers who don't do as well as Red Bull expect. I hope she still makes it into Formula 3 without Red Bull. They also dropped their other driver in ADAC Formel Masters, Callan O'Keefe, who had finished 13th.

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 29 Oct 2013, 16:29

pi314159 wrote:
takagi_for_the_win wrote:Don't know quite where to put this, but...

Beitske Visser is no longer part of Mr Mateschitz's evil empire

That's what I expected. She only repeated last years' 8th place. And Red Bull is very fast in dropping drivers who don't do as well as Red Bull expect. I hope she still makes it into Formula 3 without Red Bull. They also dropped their other driver in ADAC Formel Masters, Callan O'Keefe, who had finished 13th.

While I agree that Helmut Marko is pretty ruthless with his drivers when it comes to results, I had thought that the marketing potential of Beitske Visser would keep her in the Red Bull Junior Team a little longer. I wonder if they're planning to replace her with another female driver?

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 29 Oct 2013, 17:13

pi314159 wrote:
takagi_for_the_win wrote:Don't know quite where to put this, but...

Beitske Visser is no longer part of Mr Mateschitz's evil empire

That's what I expected. She only repeated last years' 8th place. And Red Bull is very fast in dropping drivers who don't do as well as Red Bull expect. I hope she still makes it into Formula 3 without Red Bull. They also dropped their other driver in ADAC Formel Masters, Callan O'Keefe, who had finished 13th.

O'Keefe has been dropped? Where did you hear that?

pi314159 · Post by **pi314159** » 29 Oct 2013, 17:30

wsrgo wrote:
pi314159 wrote:
takagi_for_the_win wrote:Don't know quite where to put this, but...

Beitske Visser is no longer part of Mr Mateschitz's evil empire

That's what I expected. She only repeated last years' 8th place. And Red Bull is very fast in dropping drivers who don't do as well as Red Bull expect. I hope she still makes it into Formula 3 without Red Bull. They also dropped their other driver in ADAC Formel Masters, Callan O'Keefe, who had finished 13th.

O'Keefe has been dropped? Where did you hear that?

His twitter account sais "former Red Bull Junior"

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 29 Oct 2013, 17:48

pi314159 wrote:
wsrgo wrote:
pi314159 wrote:That's what I expected. She only repeated last years' 8th place. And Red Bull is very fast in dropping drivers who don't do as well as Red Bull expect. I hope she still makes it into Formula 3 without Red Bull. They also dropped their other driver in ADAC Formel Masters, Callan O'Keefe, who had finished 13th.

O'Keefe has been dropped? Where did you hear that?

His twitter account sais "former Red Bull Junior"

Wow, good spot!!

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 30 Oct 2013, 10:58

Robert Cregan will replace David Fumanelli at Trident for Abu Dhabi.

wait for it..

The 24-year-old Irishman is the son of the organiser of the Abu Dhabi race, Richard Cregan.

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 30 Oct 2013, 11:48

Stoffel Vandoorne will test with ART and another team at the GP2 post-season test.

EDIT: Andre Negrao is going to test with Hilmer, as well as Racing Engineering and Carlin. Daniel Abt is going to test for Hilmer. Jazeman Jafaar will test for Carlin.

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 30 Oct 2013, 14:51

Backmarker wrote:Stoffel Vandoorne will test with ART and another team at the GP2 post-season test.

EDIT: Andre Negrao is going to test with Hilmer, as well as Racing Engineering and Carlin. Daniel Abt is going to test for Hilmer. Jazeman Jafaar will test for Carlin.

I don't think Vandoorne should do GP2 next year. It's difficult to get results in rookie years nowadays (unless you're driving for a crack outfit---see Calado, 2012; but that outfit might on a completely different footing the following year----see Calado, 2013). Wouldn't it be better to combine possible test sessions with McLaren or Force India, and doing WSR at the same time? That way, he would gain knowledge about F1 cars, at the same time, he wouldn't be race rusty really.
But GP2 is going to be a big risk. Let's hope McLaren make the right decision for the talented Belgian.

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 30 Oct 2013, 15:03

Simon Trummer has already signed to continue with Rapax in 2014.

watka · Post by **watka** » 30 Oct 2013, 18:26

So who will win the GP2 title? Interesting to note that Leimer won a GP2 race there back in 2011.

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 30 Oct 2013, 18:40

watka wrote:So who will win the GP2 title? Interesting to note that Leimer won a GP2 race there back in 2011.

Leimer. He has a seven point advantage over Bird, he's not finished lower than 6th since the British sprint race, he has a (marginally) better record than Bird at Yas Marina, and he's won a championship (albeit International Formula Master in 2009) before, unlike Bird.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 30 Oct 2013, 20:53

watka wrote:So who will win the GP2 title? Interesting to note that Leimer won a GP2 race there back in 2011.

Nobody. There are no winners from GP2 this year. Only losers.

Gerudo Dragon · Post by **Gerudo Dragon** » 30 Oct 2013, 20:57

Salamander wrote:Nobody. There are no winners from GP2 this year. Only losers.

Why do you hate the fact that this GP2 year has been so close?

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 30 Oct 2013, 21:47

Dark77 wrote:
Salamander wrote:Nobody. There are no winners from GP2 this year. Only losers.
Why do you hate the fact that this GP2 year has been so close?

I don't. I just hate the fact that the title contenders have all been flailing around like losers at various stages in the year, and show little to no signs that they're ready for F1.

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 31 Oct 2013, 02:47

Salamander wrote:
Dark77 wrote:
Salamander wrote:Nobody. There are no winners from GP2 this year. Only losers.
Why do you hate the fact that this GP2 year has been so close?

I don't. I just hate the fact that the title contenders have all been flailing around like losers at various stages in the year, and show little to no signs that they're ready for F1.

I'm with you. It seems everyone has tried to lose the championship, not win it. Bird has probably been the best, but hey, he gets to do a lot of sim work with Merc, and also he's 26. It's also been a poor year for rookie drivers, none of Rossi, Evans or Quaife-Hobbs have been consistent enough.

Post by **Ataxia** » 31 Oct 2013, 10:52

Good news for the dr-bakers among us; Alice Powell's racing for Bamboo in GP3 this weekend.

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 31 Oct 2013, 11:54

Ataxia wrote:Good news for the dr-bakers among us; Alice Powell's racing for Bamboo in GP3 this weekend.

Absolutely terrible news otherwise. I expected them to be decent enough to give a run to Marvin Kirchhofer. Screw them. pun not intended