With his decision to retire from F1 at the end of the 2022 season, Aston Martin’s Vettel indicated for the first time about his desire to undertake at least a one-off outing in future if given the chance when asked about racing in Suzuka, maybe in Super GT/Super Formula.

And he was affirmative about racing at Suzuka, more in a one-off chance whether it is Super GT, Super Formula and or even F1. But that is for that time to see as nothing is planned for the moment. He is open to the idea in all seriousness.

“I guess they’re racing in Suzuka as well, so I don’t know,” said Vettel. “Never say never. I mean, it is a great track for many, many reasons. And yeah, who knows what the future brings? I don’t know. Obviously I love driving and I think around this track I always felt very alive and the passion feels very alive.

“So yeah, we will see what type of car maybe in the future will come up. Maybe one of the guys, in the future, who races here will feel a bit sick, I don’t know. I don’t wish them to feel so, but I wouldn’t mind jumping back in for a race in Suzuka at any time. But yeah, obviously. We’ll see what the future brings. At the moment, I have no plans.

“But I think there are some exciting races happening in Japan and I don’t know, we’ll see. If anybody’s happy to sign up a driver for a single race. I’m sure those guys wouldn’t be happy to step aside but it would be something I would seriously consider,” summed up Vettel.

Here’s Sebastian Vettel on Singapore GP

L'entrada Vettel open to one-off grand prix return at Suzuka or in Japan ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Just days after the official running of Japan’s Super GT ended, private running continued at Suzuka circuit, albeit, most likely to test the tyres. In fact, Nakajima Racing’s Hiroki Otsu stated on his social media about testing at the track, earlier on Tuesday.

And moments later, photos emerged of smoke blowing on the S-curved lawn, at a right-hander at Suzuka. There were two photos, where the first one showed the smoke, while the latter showed the fire doused, but the grass run-off going fully black.

A GT300 class runner Ryo Michigami – who drives for Drago Corse in Super GT – asked on his social media about the possible reason for fire. It was then, the GT500 runner Otsu, who noted that it could have been the titanium spark from his test run.

Michigami questioned if Otsu did it, to which, the latter responded that there is a ‘one-third’ chance that he may have done it. There was no official word from Suzuka about the fire, but the person who uploaded the photo mentioned of no injuries to anyone.

From the conversation between Michigami and Otsu, especially the latter, it could be deduced that the dry grass may have caught fire from the sparks of the car exiting the corner. Few readers on social media also noted about the dry weather in the region.

Here’s the couple of photos:

本日午後の走行始まってすぐにS字の芝生で火災発生#supergt#タイヤメーカーテスト pic.twitter.com/qITSanecMJ

— Fumi (@fu_mi_8_55) March 17, 2021

The photos of the fire emerged on a day when the circuit announced the cancellation of Intercontinental GT Challenge’s Suzuka 10 Hours round, due to ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions. Unlike last year, they are planning to replace it with a Middle Eastern round.

SRO boss Stephane Ratel said: “It is with sadness and disappointment that I confirm the Suzuka 10 Hours will not take place this year. The race is a true highlight of the international endurance calendar and one we look forward to returning to in 2022. But out of this disappointment also comes an opportunity, and there are several in the Middle East that we are currently considering.”

L'entrada Run-off grass at Suzuka circuit catches fire during private test ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Toyota has become the first manufacturer to reveal the all-new GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar, which will kick-start the new journey of the LMP1 category in WEC from 2021 season. It features powertrain technology developed in the TS050 HYBRID.

The GR010 HYBRID Toyota Le Mans Hypercar is a prototype race car developed over the last 18 months in partnership by engineers at the team’s headquarters in Cologne and the electric hybrid powertrain experts at Higashi-Fuji in Japan.

The technical details of it as per the release goes: “The GR010 HYBRID incorporates a powerful four-wheel drive racing hybrid powertrain, with a 3.5litre V6 twin turbo engine, providing 680PS to the rear wheels and combining with a 272PS motor generator unit, developed by AISIN AW and DENSO, on the front axle.

“Total output is capped at 500kW (680PS), meaning the GR010 HYBRID’s sophisticated electronics reduce engine power according to the amount of hybrid boost deployed. As part of a cost-cutting initiative incorporated in the regulations, the new GR010 HYBRID is 162kg heavier and with 32% less power than its TS050 HYBRID predecessor, with Le Mans lap times expected to be around 10secs slower.

“It also has bigger dimensions; it is 250mm longer, 100mm wider and 100mm higher. For the first time since the beginning of its WEC project, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will participate without a rear motor generator unit (MGU), with the single permitted MGU located on the front axle. This means a starter motor must be fitted on the GR010 HYBRID while fully hydraulic rear brakes are also required.

“The GR010 HYBRID features state-of-the-art aerodynamics, optimised for efficiency, and developed using powerful Computational Fluid Dynamics software and wind tunnel testing. The new technical regulations permit only a single homologated bodywork package, with only one adjustable aerodynamic device. The GR010 HYBRID will therefore compete in the same specification at both low and high downforce circuits, with an adjustable rear wing modifying the aerodynamic characteristics.”

Toyota has completed two three-day test as it adapts to the new WEC LMP1 regulations but both Kazuki Nakajima and Kamui Kobayashi haven’t got the chance to drive it, while teammates Brendon Hartley, Jose Mario Lopez, Sebastien Buemi and Mike Conway have done so. They were to test at Aragon this week but snow has forced it to be cancelled.

“The new regulations are designed to showcase road-relevant technology in WEC whilst also delivering a top-level, attractive spectacle,” said Technical Director, Pascal Vasselon. “We are looking forward to welcoming new competitors and being part of an exciting future for endurance racing with our GR010 HYBRID. The new Le Mans Hypercar regulations mean the GR010 HYBRID is a completely new car, designed to a different philosophy.

“A major difference is the architecture of the hybrid system; we will have one kinetic energy recovery system and brake-by-wire, on the front axle. This means we had to install a starter motor and fully hydraulic rear brakes for the first time in our WEC project. Following the regulations, our car will have one bodywork specification to handle all circuits, so we needed to provide a wider working window for this car.

“These are just examples; there have been many such differences and challenges to address during development, so it has been an interesting engineering challenge. Now we are all looking forward to continuing our testing programme and finally seeing our new car compete; I think it will be worth the wait.”

https://twitter.com/TGR_WEC/status/1350022093912629249?s=20

https://twitter.com/FIAWEC/status/1349855237373358080?s=20

Along with its hypercar, Toyota also unveiled its 2021 Yaris WRC in a slightly tweaked colours, similar to its WEC counterpart. There is not a huge change from 2020 as they await the technical change in 2022 but tyre wise, Pirelli takes over as the single supplier from Michelin. The crew of Sebastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanpera are all set to kick-start the new season with Rallye Monte Carlo.

https://twitter.com/TGR_WRC/status/1349854135743557633?s=20

Staying on WRC news, Toyota’s rivals Hyundai revealed their 2021 i20 Coupe too, as they stick with their traditional corporate colours. Like the Yaris, it doesn’t see much changes apart from the Pirelli tyres, with Ott Tanak, Thierry Neuville and Craig Breen to pilot the car. There is a change in co-driver for the Belgian driver, though, after he announced a shock parting with Nicolas Gilsoul in favour of Martin Wydaeghe.

https://twitter.com/HMSGOfficial/status/1350080904962650112?s=20

Gilsoul was taken by surprise indeed:

That’s his choice. We lived together wonderful adventures. We will live some more again, unfortunately everyone from our side. https://t.co/x0Y5Yxv4gl

— Nicolas Gilsoul (@nicolasgilsoul) January 15, 2021

Honda’s Super Formula, Super GT line-up for 2021:

Amid the WRC and WEC news, Honda revealed its line-up for 2021, especially on the side of Super Formula and Super GT. The former had some changes from 2020, with drivers shuffled from one team to another to throw a new challenge.

Starting with Naoki Yamamoto, he has switched from Dandelion Racing to Nakajima Racing in a direct replacement with Tadasuke Makino. The former will now partner Toshiki Oyu, while the latter will team-up with Nirei Fukuzumi.

Among others, only Team Mugen and Threebond Drago Corse have their drivers announced, with the former keeping Tomoki Nojiri and the latter retaining Tatiana Calderon. Teammate for Nojiri will is a TBA as of now along with the two cars of B-Max Racing.

Here’s the 2021 Super Formula line-up:

Here’s the 2021 Super GT line-up – GT500 class:

GT300 class:

Here’s last news from WEC and WRC

L'entrada WEC/WRC: Toyota shows hypercar, Yaris; Hyundai its i20 Coupe ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

In a surprise news from Financial Times on Wednesday, it reported that F1 is in talks with Amazon for live streaming of its races online, in a move to further tap the younger audiences. The sport is looking for a digital step amid uncertain television future.

Financial Times has quoted outgoing F1 chief Chase Carey, who told them that “substantive discussions [with] Amazon and all the global digital platforms [is ongoing as] they’re [an] incredibly important potential partner and an opportunity for us to expand and grow our business”.

While the idea behind a digital future is not new from Carey, considering their step with highly popular Netflix series ‘Drive to Survive’, but a tie-up with Amazon and or any other service provider comes as a surprise since they have their own F1 TV providing streaming services.

Granted that F1 TV is not available in all markets due to TV deals, including one of their biggest markets in the UK, but the streaming service provided by the sport has been a welcome step, especially with host of viewing options presented to a fan.

Not only does F1 TV has the option for fans to watch onboard of all the F1 drivers, it also plays almost all of the radio messages which the world feed doesn’t broadcast. Additionally, there is a replay option too and more camera angles to see any missing detail.

It remains unclear at this stage if they are looking to combine F1 TV with Amazon, where the former will be able to use the latter’s worldwide services, especially with seamless connectivity, which has been a thorn for them due to multiple complaints.

Here’s the original FT story: https://www.ft.com/content/af3bbb6d-5600-44f3-99cf-a84e5681fea9

Aston Martin ends WEC factory programme, customer racing way forward:

There was a logical announcement on Wednesday morning, where Aston Martin confirmed end of its factory WEC GTE programme from 2021 onward, with the British carmaker focusing on customer racing as it goes through multiple changes on the automotive side.

With new co-owners, led by Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin is focusing on its full F1 step in 2021 – albeit taking over Racing Point’s programme. Therefore, it is not a surprise that the Vantage GT programme is now moving towards a customer operation.

The release did not announce any of the customer racing plans but just noted that it is hopeful that Aston Martin will have its presence in WEC through a partner team in 2021 and beyond. It is not clear if it will be for both Pro and Am classes.

It also wishes that it can race in GT categories of championships like Intercontinental GT Challenge, the GT World Challenge, the US-based IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship, the Super GT Championship and more, beyond 2020.

To enhance its GT programme, Aston Martin revised its agreement with Prodrive, who were running its WEC outfits. The new multi-year deal allows the Banbury-based organisation to continue with its exclusive rights on manufacturing and distributing the current generation of front-engine GT race cars.

Aston Martin President, David King, said: “This year has been one of unprecedented success for Vantage in international motorsport. At all levels, from GTE, through GT3 to the entry level GT4, we have experienced significant championship success, winning 26 titles across the spectrum of world, international and domestic series.

“But there is more to achieve, and there is more to come from Vantage, which is why we have concluded that now is the time for us to shift the weight of factory support to our partners as we go in pursuit of success in the most important events in GT racing.”

At the same time, Chief Executive Officer, Tobias Moers, added: “Vantage proved it has world champion pedigree in 2020, and in its GTE variant is a 24-hour race winner. Now with the Vantage GT3 we wish to give our partners and customers the best opportunity possible to fight for victory against our closest rivals in the toughest endurance challenges GT racing has to offer.”

 Here’s news on Infiniti exiting F1

Here’s the drivers’ Top 10 of 2020

Here’s stats difference from 2019 to 2020

Here’s news on Porsche in WEC, IMSA

L'entrada F1 in talks with Amazon for streaming – report; Aston Martin ends WEC run ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Apart from some changes in teams and shuffles that have been announced, Fenestraz is the new name featuring in the 2020 Super Formula line-up for Toyota as he joins Kenta Yamashita (#3) at Kondo Racing in the #4 car, replacing Yuji Kunimoto.

He has been shifted to expanded Team KCMG Super Formula line-up in the #18 car alongside Kamui Kobayashi (#7), who has been the sole driver in the team for long. The surprise factor is the missing name of 2019 champion Cassidy from Team Tom’s’ line-up.

The #1 entry is stated as TBA with Kazuki Nakajima continuing to drive the #36 car. There has been a change in teams too with Team LeMans no longer in the series and has been replaced by Rookie Racing with Kazuya Oshima in the #14 car.

The two teams with no changes for 2020 Super Formula season are Team Impul and Inging, with the former featuring Yuhi Sekiguchi (#19) and Ryo Hirakawa (#20) and the latter having Hiroaki Ishiura (#38) and Sho Tsuboi (#39), respectively.

While Cassidy doesn’t feature yet in the Super Formula line-up, the Kiwi is there in the Super GT list, where he will continue with Team KeePer Tom’s’ alongside Hirakawa in the #37 GR Supra GT500. There is a change at Team AU Tom’s’ though.

Fenestraz has been drafted in alongside Sekiguchi in the #36. Team Wako’s Rookie will see a change as well, as Oshima has Tsuboi as his new partner in the #14. The latter is moving on from Team WedsSport Bandoh, which has Kunimoto and Ritomo Miyata (#19).

The two remaining Super GT teams will see no changes, with Team Zent Cerumo featuring Yuji Tachikawa and Ishiura in the #38, while Team SARD having Heikki Kovalainen and Yuichi Nakayama in the #39 Supra.

The GT300 class is as follows:

Here’s Honda’s Super Formula line-up

Here’s changes to Super Formula in 2020

L'entrada Fenestraz in revised Toyota Super Formula line-up, Cassidy not ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Calderon is a surprise name to join Super Formula as she became the first female in the re-branded championship and the first in nearly two decades. She has been named as the driver for the new Threebond Drago Corse outfit by Honda in the #12 car.

Among other names, Red Bull Junior Team’s Vips will race for Team Mugen in the #15 car alongside Tomoki Nojiri in #16, as 2020 runner-up Noaki Yamamoto will continue with Dandelion Racing in the #5 alongside Nirei Fukuzumi in #6.

As known, Pietro Fittipaldi will race with B-Max Racing with Motopark in the #50 car as he will be joined by Charles Milesi in the #51. TCS Nakajima Racing has a change as Toshiki Oyu joins Tadasuke Makino for his debut Super Formula season.

Makino will be in the #64 car with Oyu in #65. Only Real Racing is left to announce its sole driver as Honda also revealed its Super GT line-up which sees some changes after the departure of Jenson Button and Narain Karthikeyan from the GT500 class.

The seat left by Button has been taken up by Makino, who was Karthikeyan’s partner at Nakajima Racing. The youngster joins Team Kunimitsu alongside Yamamoto in the #100 Honda NSX-GT machine. The latter stays in Japan as a F1 role seems unlikely.

Real Racing is the only team to retain the same drivers. It will field Koudai Tsukakoshi and Bertrand Baguette in the #17 car as the #8 ARTA has Fukuzumi stepping up from GT300 to partner Nojiri as his 2019 teammate Takuya Izawa has joined Nakajima Racing.

He has Hiroki Otsu as his teammate in the #64 car. And finally, Team Mugen will field the 2019 F3 Asia champion Ukyo Sasahara in the #16 as he will join Hideki Mutoh. The GT300 category has some changes to after couple of promotions made by Honda.

The three-car Honda team line-up for the 2020 season goes as: #18 Team UpGararage – Takashi Kobayashi & Kosuke Matsuura, #34 Drago Corse – Ryo Michigami & Jake Parsons, #55 ARTA – Shinichi Takagi & Toshiki Oyu.

In addition, here’s the 2020 Super GT line-up of Nissan:

Here’s changes to Super Formula in 2020

Here’s Pietro Fittipaldi on seeking larger role with Haas

L'entrada Calderon, Vips join Super Formula as Honda reveals 2020 line-up ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Having won the Sunday race of the ‘Super GT x DTM Dream Race’ in November, Karthikeyan returned to the top step and ended his maiden year in sportscar racing in style with Nakajima Racing, driving a Honda NSX-GT alongside Tadasuke Makino.

After years in single-seater racing, Karthikeyan switched to Super GT in 2019, where he finished 12th in the drivers’ standings with Makino, scoring 23.5 points with a podium finish. He also worked as a test driver for Dunlop tyres, in a busy year all-round.

However, for 2020, Karthikeyan has decided to move away from Super GT, to not only focus on his automotive venture in India, but carry on racing as well. It remains to be seen as to which championship he races in – a return to Super Formula should not be ruled out.

“2019 was a wonderful year for me, but it was also a very busy year,” said Karthikeyan. “I have been to Japan many times, I have lost count actually. Winning the ‘Super GT X DTM Dream Race’ was superb. It’s been a great year, but it has ended now.

“I’m grateful to Satoru-san and Nakajima Racing for making this a really wonderful year, especially after racing with them in Japan for several years. I feel like I have a second family in Japan, and it was a great honor to work with them all.

“Working with Nakajima-san has been a true privilege, as he is a true legend of motorsport. The people at Modulo, Honda Racing and Dunlop Tyres have been so amazing to work with, and I am very lucky to have had their complete trust and support.”

His team boss Nakajima-san was full praise for Karthikeyan: “Narain has adapted very well to the new requirements of the Honda NSX-GT in 2019. It was a difficult start this year, but later in the season his hard work and strong work ethics were well demonstrated.

“The performance was very good and his victory in the ‘Super GT X DTM Dream Race was very difficult, but he was able to execute it brilliantly and beat the best racing drivers in the world. We wanted him to continue racing in Nakajima Racing after 2020.

“But Narain decided to look for other opportunities, including some in the business world, but he was always the Nakajima Racing family. We all hope that he will succeed in future attempts and look forward to bringing him back to his family.”

It will be now interesting to see where Karthikeyan ends up in 2020, whether he returns to single-seaters or stays in sportscar to race in GT and or endurance championships. Having raced in Japan for so long, a move elsewhere remains to be seen.

Here’s how Narain Karthikeyan won Race 2 of Super GT X DTM

L'entrada Karthikeyan ends Super GT association but will continue in other series ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

The non-competition Super GT x DTM Dream Race weekend got off to a sound start on Saturday with a win for the Japanese series’ Team KeePer Tom’s’ Cassidy in the Lexus GT500 car, while Sunday had Nakajima Racing’s Karthikeyan doing it in the Honda.

Cassidy held on the advantage after pole-sitter Loic Duval from DTM’s Audi outfit crashed out in the sighting lap in mixed conditions. The Kiwi survived multiple safety car re-starts and a late charge from Real Racing Honda’s Koudai Tsukakoshi to win by 0.433s margin.

The podium was rounded out by Team Kunimitsu Honda’s Naoki Yamamoto as the lead DTM car slotted in sixth, that of Audi’s Benoit Treluyer. All the cars – from both the series – ran the Hankook tyres as opposed to Bridgestone, Dunlop or Michelin used in Super GT.

After the wet weather conditions on Saturday, it was the same on Sunday which provided a crazy end to a dream weekend with Karthikeyan claiming his first Super GT victory – albeit in a non-scoring event – and his first since the 2013 Auto GP series.

The Indian led the way mostly and survived safety car re-starts like Cassidy en-route the win. It looked like the win was to slip away when DTM’s Audi’s Treluyer got his strategy absolutely correct by stopping under the first safety car period.

But a second period helped everyone on the other strategy to pit as Karthikeyan retook his lead and saw through as the DTM pair fought for second with BMW’s Marco Wittmann managing to beat Audi’s Duval by just 0.890s in the Top 3.

It was a much better showing from the DTM cars in Race 2 with as many as six finishing inside the Top 10 as opposed to just the two in Race 1. The second race, though, had more retirements on the Super GT side with six not making it to the finish line.

Here’s the result sheet from Race 1

Here’s the result sheet from Race 2

L'entrada Karthikeyan wins crazy second Super GT x DTM Dream Race at Fuji ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

In a surprising move, former F1 racer Button has decided to move on from Super GT after the 2019 season with this weekend’s race in Twin Ring Motegi being his last with Team Kunimitsu in the #1 Honda NSX-GT, in the lead GT500 category.

Button joined Super GT in 2018 when he paired up with Naoki Yamamoto, who recently drove the Toro Rosso F1 car during Japanese GP’s FP1 session. In only his first year in the championship, he took the drivers’ title with Yamamoto.

However, the 2019 season hasn’t gone to their expectations as they sit eighth with just the 32 points and only two podiums to his name. He also represented Honda and Team Kunitmitsu in the joint race with DTM at Hockenheim.

“Ahead of this weekend’s season finale in Motegi I wanted to take this chance to announce that it will in fact be my last race in Super GT,” wrote Button. “When I decided to move away from F1, I wanted to find a challenge which would scratch that competitive itch at the highest level and my two seasons in Super GT have certainly done that.

“Not only did I get to go on another journey with Honda, who have been a huge part of my racing career to date, but I also got to team up with Naoki Yamamoto, who is not only one of the strongest teammates I’ve ever had but also a great guy and as a team we managed to win the Super GT championship in my rookie year, which is easily one of my proudest achievements.

“Throughout my career I’ve always highlighted Japan as a special place to compete because of the incredible fans and their passion for the sport, so to have the chance to compete there throughout the year has been an absolute honour and has produced some wonderful memories.

“I’d like to therefore take this chance to thank those fans, my brilliant teammate Naoki, the whole of Team Kunumitsu, who have this incredibly exciting combination of a relatively young group being lead by one of the legends of motorsport in Kunumitsu-San himself.

“They demonstrated unwavering passion and professionalism throughout and are a joy to work with. I’d like to also thank the entire Honda family for helping make this another brilliant chapter in my career. Let’s make this weekend count.”

Since leaving F1, Button has raced in Super GT as well as the FIA World Endurance Championship which includes Le Mans 24 Hours race. He left SMP Racing after 2018/19 season, with the birth of his child as family took precedence.

He also launched Team Rocket Motorsport, which is racing in certain off-road races in the United States of America with Button himself driving too. The team also competes in Blancpain GT Series in association with Honda.

Button is interested in more off-road events in the future but has ruled out racing in Dakar. It remains to be seen as to which series he chooses next to compete, while he is expected to stay with Sky F1 team for selected grand prix races in 2020 in his pundit role.

Hear Jenson Button on F1 Beyond The Grid podcast

Button realises off-road racing difficulties after DNF in Vegas to Reno event

L'entrada Button will leave Super GT at the end of 2019 season ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

With limited on-track testing at hand, Honda has been trying to have one of their drivers in a F1 car for some time now in the FP1 session. Since last year, the name of Yamamoto has been doing rounds, especially with him winning multiple titles.

Not only did he nail the single-seater challenge in Super Formula, but also in the GT racing in Super GT with Jenson Button as his teammate. He is fighting for the Super Formula title again this year, but he and Button won’t be able to defend their Super GT crown.

Amid the busy schedule, Yamamoto has been attending simulator sessions as well in the Red Bull facility to prepare for his maiden FP1 run with Toro Rosso in this weekend’s Japanese GP at Suzuka, which the team confirmed on Monday.

The 31-year-old will replace Gasly, to be alongside Daniil Kvyat. It is a big win for Honda, who are also trying to nurture a talent in F1. As such, Yamamoto looks the best bet but age is not on his side and none of the other young drivers looks supreme.

“First of all, I would like to thank Scuderia Toro Rosso, Red Bull and of course Honda for giving me this great opportunity,” said Yamamoto. “I am delighted that I will get to drive a F1 car this weekend, something which has been a dream of mine since I was a kid.

“To get this chance at Suzuka, a very important circuit for all Japanese racing drivers, in front of such a big crowd of Japanese fans, will make the experience even more special. I have prepared as well as possible for this, spending time as part of the Toro Rosso team at several Grand Prix weekends and I have also worked in the Red Bull simulator.

“My main aim in FP1 will be to do a good job for the team, gathering data and information which will be useful for them over the weekend. On a personal note, I want to enjoy the experience of driving an F1 car as much as possible and I will be trying my very best to get the most out of it.

“It will be a special moment and I’m glad I will get to share it with the fans at this amazing race track, where I first watched F1 cars in action 27 years ago.” Team principal Franz Tost welcomed Yamamoto in the team:

“We are very pleased to have a Japanese driver here in Suzuka driving our STR Honda, and we are sure that Naoki san will enjoy the laps in FP1 on one of the greatest race tracks in the world. He is a talented driver, being the reigning champion in Japan’s two most important race series, and he also knows the Suzuka circuit very well.

“Naoki san has spent several European races as part of our team this year, getting to know the engineers he will work with this weekend and he has also spent time in our simulator. I am sure that all the fans in the grandstands will enjoy seeing a Japanese driver taking part in the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.”

And finally, Honda’s Katsuhide Moriyama added: “We are pleased that Japanese fans will now get the opportunity to see Yamamoto, a Honda supported Japanese driver at the wheel of a current F1 car at our own Suzuka circuit, as part of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. I would like to thank Toro Rosso and Red Bull for giving Yamamoto this great opportunity.

“We hope Naoki makes the most of this opportunity, that he learns from it and that it helps him as a racing driver. We also hope that seeing Yamamoto on track, will serve as an inspiration to young Japanese drivers, so that in the near future, we can once again have Japanese drivers competing in F1.”

Yamamoto is not unfamiliar to the F1 paddock as the Japanese racer has been to few grand prix already. He will be the first Japanese driver since Kamui Kobayashi’s last stint in 2014 with Caterham to drive during an official F1 session.

Check out the latest from Super Formula

Mercedes again goes different to F1 rivals in Japanese GP tyre choice

Gasly says Toro Rosso feels more natural to drive than Red Bull did

L'entrada Yamamoto thrilled with FP1 chance in Japanese GP, will replace Gasly ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

With Super GT outfits Honda, Lexus and Nissan to feature in the DTM races at Hockenheim and also confirming the drivers who will race in Europe, the other side has started with its announcement spree for the special Fuji race.

BMW is the first in the lot as the German manufacturer has named ex-F1 driver and brand ambassador Zanardi for the special event to take place on the weekend of November 22-24.

“To compete in the Dream Race with the DTM and Super GT is something wonderful for me,” said Zanardi. “The word ‘wonderful’ is probably used too often, but it is really appropriate in this case.

“The mere fact that I am still able to go racing is like a gift for me anyway. However, the BMW M4 DTM is definitely one of the best race cars I have driven in my career. Plus, I will have an extra 100 hp under the bonnet this year.

“It is going to be fantastic, and I am extremely grateful to BMW Motorsport for this opportunity. I know that racing in the DTM is a huge challenge, as all the drivers are highly-professional and excellently prepared.

“And this time we will also have the drivers from Super GT too. As such, my expectations are not too great, from a sporting perspective. I just want to perform to the best of my ability and put on a display worthy of the event.

“On the whole, however, I am sure that this is going to be another great chapter in my motor racing career.” At the same time, BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, added:

“Alex inspires people all over the world and it is fantastic to have him on board in Japan. We are confident that he will cause just as much of a buzz as he did at Misano and most recently at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

“We will reveal the drivers to complete our trio at Fuji at a later date.” It won’t be Zanardi’s first time in DTM as he made his debut in August last year at Misano in a modified machine.

It will be the same this time as well. As mentioned, BMW will reveal the other drivers at a later stage with Audi to name its line-up as well. As known, Aston Martin will not take part in the event.

L'entrada BMW confirms Zanardi as first driver for Super GT/DTM Fuji race ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

The Super GT/DTM Super Race is scheduled to take place in November at Fuji circuit but the three Super GT manufacturers’ – Honda, Lexus and Nissan – will also compete as wildcards at Hockenheim (October 5-6).

It will mark the 2009 F1 champion Button’s first time in a DTM race albeit driving a Honda NSX Super GT car, being operated by Team Kunimitsu. Lexus will field Nick Cassidy and Nissan will have Tsugio Matsuda.

The British is to drive in the Fuji weekend as well as he announced. “During my career as a driver I’ve always been an avid admirer of so many different forms of top level motorsport and the plan post F1 has always been to seek out new opportunities and challenges across those various categories.

“I’m delighted to say I’ve been given another such opportunity by Honda, GTA & DTM as I will be taking part in the last two rounds of the DTM championship at Hockenheim in my Team Kunimitsu Honda NSX.

“Nissan and Lexus from Super GT will also be entering a car each which will make an already fiercely competitive championship even more so and I can’t wait to experience it first hand,” wrote Button.

Since leaving F1, Button has made Super GT his full-time racing commitment with Naoki Yamamoto as his teammate. Together they won the 2018 drivers’ championship – although they won’t be able to retain it.

Aside Super GT, he has raced in FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with SMP Racing in the LMP1 class, but pulled out due to personal reasons. The Russian outfit as well left the championship.

He has also had off-road racing done through Team Rocket Motorsport team in America, with two events already under his belt and one to go in November. He finished the first but retired from the second.

L'entrada Button to make DTM debut in a Honda Super GT car at Hockenheim ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

The mega announcement was made on Friday when Gerhard Berger met Masaaki Bando to stage a joint press conference to reveal initial details of the planned crossover which will see both the championship cars at each other’s race event.

As part of the deal, three Super GT GT500 cars – each from Lexus, Honda and Nissan – will feature during DTM’s season finale at Hockenheim on October 5-6, which will be followed by a non-championship race of the two series at Fuji on November 23-24.

Titled as ‘Super GT / DTM Special Battle’, the race will see all six manufacturers – Aston Martin, BMW, Audi, Lexus, Honda and Nissan – in action and against each other on the Japanese circuit. The remaining details will be provided at a later stage.

“We are happy to have taken a big step towards holding a joint event with SUPER GT and DTM,” said Berger. “This is a milestone for the GTA-ITR partnership. I would like to thank Masaaki Bando and the people of Fuji Speedway for their hard work.

“Fuji Speedway is the latest circuit known in the world, and it is a suitable setting for the SUPERGT and DTM joint event.” At the same time, Bando added: “The joint event of DTM and SUPER GT, which has been planned for the event, has finally come to fruition here.

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Berger and others for their efforts. In addition, I would like to thank the people of Fuji Speedway who have always been actively involved in this plan.

“I am pleased to be able to hold this commemorative event together. Unfortunately, Mercedes, who was a member at the beginning of the plan, withdrew from the DTM series, but Aston Martin has announced its participation in the war, and the general framework of six Japanese-German manufacturers will be maintained. I think that is good news.”

L'entrada ‘Super GT / DTM Special Battle’ set to take place in November at Fuji ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Starting with the lead GT500 category, the #3 NDDP Racing with B-Max outfit will feature an all-new line-up with Porsche GT ace Frederic Makowiecki joining in alongside Kohei Hirate with Satoshi Motoyama bidding goodbye to his racing career.

The #12 Team Impul will see Daiki Sasaki continue to drive the Nissan GT-R with a new partner in the form of former Lexus/Toyota driver James Rossiter as the 2018 driver Mardenborough has moved to race for the #24 Kondo Racing outfit.

The British racer joins his Formula E partner Mitsunori Takaboshi in the team with the #23 NISMO continuing on with Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli. While Motoyama has retired, Joao Paulo de Oliveira is dropped with Katsumasa Chiyo moved to different series.

In the GT300 category, former Renault academy driver Fenestraz has found a place in the new #56 Kondo Racing team as it moves its R&D work to Super GT from Super Taikyu series. The Frenchman will have Kazuki Hiramine alongside him.

Meanwhile, the Gainer team will continue to field two cars with the #10 featuring Kazuki Hoshino & Keishi Ishikawa and the #11 car having the pair of Katsuyuki Hiranaka & Hironobu Yasuda, in a truncated three-car effort from four Nissan did in 2018.

“Nissan and NISMO hope to share the joy of motorsports with fans through the pillars of Formula E and Super GT,” said Takao Katagiri. “In Formula E, we will take full advantage of NISMO’s accumulated motorsports know-how and pour our resources into supporting Nissan and e.dams.

“In Super GT, in order to move on from last year’s disappointments and retake the crown, I hope our four teams will come together to meet the expectations of our fans under our new executive director.”

[Check: Toyota’s 2019 line-up and Honda’s 2019 line-up]

L'entrada Fenestraz, Rossiter, Mardenborough feature in Nissan’s Super GT line-up ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Having raced for years in the European scene, Markelov will move to Super Formula in 2019 with Toyota’s Team LeMans alongside Kazuya Oshima as the Russian gets the nod over few other non-Japanese candidates eyeing the seat.

Last year’s series runners-up Nick Cassidy has changed teams as he moves from Kondo Racing to Team Tom’s as a replacement for James Rossiter – who has been dropped from the set-up – alongside ex-F1 racer Kazuki Nakajima.

Cassidy’s Kondo seat has gone to Yuji Kunimoto, who moves from Inging to partner Kenta Yamashita, as Hiroaki Ishiura stays for another Super Formula season with Inging and has been paired up with the 2018 Japanese F3 champion Sho Tsuboi.

Team KCMG will continue to field just the one car for ex-F1 racer Kamui Kobayashi as Team Impul will keep an unchanged line-up of Yuhi Sekiguchi and Ryo Hirakawa. A big name missing from the list is of Pietro Fittipaldi, who was eyeing a Super Formula programme.

Meanwhile, looking at Toyota’s Super GT line-up with Lexus in the GT500 class, nine of the 2019 Super Formula drivers will dovetail their programme. Among those, last year’s runners-up Team KeePer Tom’s’ Cassidy and Hirakawa will continue on in the #37 car.

Likewise the #36 Team au Tom’s’ line-up is same as Nakajima and Sekiguchi, as is the #38 Team Zent Cermuo with Ishiura and Yuji Tachikawa. The other three Toyota entrants has changes in their line-up with Felix Rosenqvist moving on to IndyCar.

Rosenqvist’s seat at #6 Team LeMans Wako has been given to Yamashita – who moves on from #19 Team WedsSport Bandoh – to partner with Oshima. The #19 car will field Kunimoto as Tsuboi gets a full-time drive in Super GT as well.

And finally, the #39 Team Sard will continue to have ex-F1 racer Heikki Kovalainen but he will have a new teammate with Yuichi Nakayama joining the Finn. The drivers of four of the five GT300 Toyota entrants has also been revealed.

The #30 Pirus car will be driven by Hiroaki Nagai and Manabu Orido with the #31 to be driven by Koki Saga and Yuki Nakayama. The #60 Lexus will have Hiroki Yoshimoto and Ritomo Miyata with #96 having Morio Nitta and Sena Sakaguchi.

[Check: Honda’s Super Formula line-up and Super GT driver list for 2019]

L'entrada Markelov in Super Formula line-up as Toyota also reveal Super GT drivers ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Having made a successful debut in 2018 with Team Kunimitsu in the Honda NSX-GT car alongside Naoki Yamamoto where they won the drivers’ title, the 2009 F1 champion Button will stay on in the Super GT’s GT500 class in 2019 to defend his crown.

The duo will use the #1 car this time around as opposed to the #100 they used last year. Button will be joined by another ex-F1 racer Karthikeyan, who has moved on from Super Formula to make his debut in the Super GT series.

The Indian will be partnered by Tadasuke Makino at Nakajima Racing (#64 car) as the Japanese driver will run a dual programme while also racing in Super Formula. The team is fielding an all-new line-up for the 2019 season.

One of its drivers who raced for them in 2018, Belgium’s Bertrand Baguette, has moved to Real Racing (#17 car) alongside Kodai Tsukakoshi for the 2019 season as the Japanese driver will solely focus on a Super GT programme.

The remaining two outfits, Team Mugen (#16 car) and Autobacs Racing Team Aguri (#8 car) will feature the same drivers as in 2018. The former will have Hideki Muto and Daisuke Nakajima with the latter having Tomoki Nojiri and Takuya Izawa.

Like Tsukakoshi, the pair of Karthikeyan and Izawa will just drive in Super GT in 2019 with Nojiri and Yamamoto continuing with a dual programme. The GT300 class will see an expanded Honda line-up in the 2019 season with the Honda NSX-GT3 car.

It will continue with Drago Corse (#34 car) fielding Ryo Michigami and Hiroki Otsu but they will be joined by two new outfits who have shifted to Honda, they are Team UpGarage (#18 car) and Autobacs Racing Team Aguri (#55 car).

The former will field the pair of Takashi Kobayashi and Kosuke Matsuura while the latter will have Shinichi Takagi and Nirei Fukuzumi – with Fukuzumi running a dual programme alongside his Super Formula drive.

L'entrada Karthikeyan joins Honda’s 2019 Super GT line-up, Button stays ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

The decision was taken and approved at the last World Motor Sport Council meet in Russia with the altered list available at the FIA site. The points for top series like Formula 2, IndyCar, new Formula 3, WEC (LMP1), etc remains the the same.

The first addition is the Formula Regional European Certified by FIA in the new list with the winner getting 25 points on his license, followed by 20 for second and then 15, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1 for drivers finishing in the Top 9.

The DTM-backed Formula European Masters series also features on the list despite not having the FIA backing. The points awarded is same as the regional F3 series. The growing Japan’s Super Formula series has seen a growth.

The winner will now get 25 points from the previous 20 with the rest same as the F3 series in the Top 9. Like Super Formula, the DTM series will also get more points along with the Japan’s Super GT championship.

Both of the series winner will be awarded 20 points followed by 16 to second and then 12, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1 in the Top 9. The F3 Regional Asian series winner will still get 18 with the same now awarded to the FIA Regional Americas series winner.

The latter moves from 16 to 18 for the winner while the IMSA Prototype series winner will also get 18 – up by one from the previous list. However, only the top tow drivers of the three series will be awarded 18 and 14 points respectively.

The Asian and Americas series’ will get 12, 10, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 in the descending order between third and ninth while the IMSA Prototype series will see drivers between third and eighth get 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1 respectively.

Australia’s Supercars series has been bumped forward as well with the winner now getting 15 points like the winner of America’s NASCAR Cup and Indy Lights series along with FIA’s WTCR. The order will be 12, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1 for drivers between second and eighth.

The rest of the championships will remain the same with Spain’s Euroformula Open series now tagged along with the National F3 Championships – the winner awarded with 10 points, followed by 7, 5, 3 and 1 for the Top 5 drivers.

L'entrada FIA changes F1 super license points for multiple championships ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

The #100 Team Kunimitsu pair of Button and Yamamoto in the Honda NSX-GT car headed into the final round of the 2018 Super GT championship with 67 points, tied for the top spot with #1 Lexus Team KeePer Tom’s’ Nick Cassidy and Ryo Hirakawa.

The two teams had a similar path all season long with both claiming a win and also three podiums outside the win. The only difference in the end was Cassidy and Hirakawa scoring two third place finishes to Button and Yamamoto’s two second place.

The last race at Motegi was quite tensed in the end stages. The start saw Yamamoto keeping second with Cassidy having to do the hard work from sixth on the grid. The Kiwi gained a position at the start to be fifth but couldn’t penetrate further.

The pit stop though hardened the chances of Cassidy and Hirakawa when they lost places and the gap to Button and Yamamoto was nearly 10 seconds. Hirakawa didn’t lose hope as he cleared his way up to fourth behind Yamamoto.

However, it wasn’t enough as the pair of Button and Yamamoto finished third in the race from Cassidy and Hirakawa in fourth, as the title went in the favour of the former who scored 78 points in the season from the latter’s 75.

This is Button’s first title since the 2009 Formula 1 season – that too in his rookie season in the Japanese GT championship, while it is Yamamoto’s first Super GT title and his second championship win this year after taking the 2018 Super Formula as well.

L'entrada Button, Yamamoto clinch 2018 Super GT title in Motegi season finale ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.

Yamamoto put the #100 Team Kunimitsu Honda NSX-GT car on pole on Saturday and started the race handsomely on Sunday at Sportsland Sugo in Round 6 of the 2018 Super GT championship.

The Japanese driver held onto the lead from #12 Team Impul Nissan GT-R of Jann Mardenborough but the British racer clawed into the gap to eventually make the move and pass Yamamoto in Turn 1 to lead the race.

The Honda driver stayed on the tail of Mardenborough to keep them in check as the pit window opened up. Yamamoto dived into the pits on Lap 35 to hand over to Button as Mardenborough stayed out for few more laps.

This played into the hands of Button who was right on the tail of Daiki Sasaki who took over from Mardenborough when the Nissan pitted. The former F1 champion wasted no time then to pass Sasaki and retake the lead for the #100 Raybrig Honda.

It wasn’t easy for Button though as he had a late scare where he almost lost the car but managed to hang on. He then had to survive the safety car re-start as well, defending from the #8 Autobacs Racing Team Aguri Honda NSX-GT of Tomoki Nojiri.

Nojiri already passed the struggling Sasaki in the Nissan and ran Button hard in the six-lap shootout after the safety car. Button held on to win by 0.562s margin – his first Super GT victory and first win in any series since the 2012 F1’s Brazilian GP.

The win has helped Button and Yamamoto to the lead of the GT500 category with 61 points to fellow Honda drivers Nojiri and Takuya Izawa’s 49 after six rounds in the season with two more to go in October and November.

“I have learnt a lot of lessons here today in Sugo,” said Button after the win. “Sugo is very-very tough. I think a win here is like two wins. The #12 car made a mistake in the last corner when he was behind, he dropped back.

“Then I did the same mistake later on marbles, you just slide off the circuit. It was a horrible feeling but I was able to get back on the circuit and then with the safety car we were running the medium tyres, so to get temperature was very difficult.

“Then I saw a track car in the chicane – it was unbelievable. I didn’t know why he was there in the middle of the chicane when I arrived. It was very tough but a really-really special win. Its been six years since I won a race.

“It is very special and Yamamoto has done an amazing job as always. Team Kunimitsu this weekend has been fantastic.”

https://t.co/ipRyhjhIWz

— SUPERGT_OFFICIAL (@SUPERGT_JP) September 16, 2018

L'entrada Button/Yamamoto scores maiden Super GT win at Sugo ha aparegut primer a FormulaRapida.net.