Racing Never Sleeps!

But your Humble, Hapless No Fenders Scribe Tomaso sure is tired!

 

When does too much information apply to trying to continuously keep up with Der Wurld de Motorsporten, Ja-Ja?

 

Although I found these two recent Sports Car items of interest popping up on thoust radar screen. As the Sports Car ecosystem tends to overflow Open Wheel Racing…

 

Perhaps you’ve read about Hyundai’s launching of its Genesis Magma Racing team? With the announcement taking place in Dubai a fortnight ago. As renderings and a scale model of the GMR-001 Le Mans Daytona Hybrid (LMDH) prototype were revealed along with the team’s first two drivers. With Andre Lotterer and Pipo derani on hand.

 

As the team will spend next year testing its brand new racecar before running a two car factory effort in the FIA World Endurance championship (WEC) in 2026. With a yet to be named “service provider” running its IMSA GTP campaign in 2027.

 

Naturally current Hyundai Michelin Pilot challenge entrant Brian Herta Autosport (BHA) has to be thought of. Whilst perhaps Chip Ganassi Racing might also be in the fray for the IMSA GTP effort?

 

Hyundai Motorsports Boss Cyril Abiteboul, who just led Hyundai to this year’s World Rally championship drivers title with Thierry Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wyadaeghe . Will serve as Genesis Magma Racing’s (GMR) team principal.

 

Cyril’s name is quite familiar to Mwah. Having first become aware of the Frenchman when serving as the executive director of Renault Sport F1 between 2010-12. Then becoming Caterham F1 team principal between 2013-14. Before returning to Renault as its managing director between 2014-20.

 

Although Abiteboul’s best remembered to Mwah for losing His bet with then Renault F1 driver DannyRic’, aka Daniel Ricciardo. That He’d get a tattoo if Ricciardo claimed a podium finish, which occurred at the 2020 Eiffel Grand Prix! As reportedly, Abiteboul sports a vintage Renault logo with a stylized Honey Badger tattoo on His right calf…

 

Also of note, GMR will team with IDEC Sports for 2025 in the Europena Le Mans Series, (ELMS) racing an Oreca LMP2 prototype to acclimatize themselves to Sports Car racing.

 

Interestingly the driver trio will consist of ex-Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant. Paired with Jamie Chadwick, Indy NXT winner and, British GT4 and triple W Series champion, and 19yr old Mathys Jaubert. As the French teenager has been making waves in the Porsche Carrera GT Cup France series, elevating Him to the Porsche Carrera GT Cup Asia series this year…

Having run across this Marshall Pruett podcast interview with Jamie Chadwick following scribbling’ this story…

 

https://marshallpruett.podbean.com/e/mp-1562-catching-up-with-jamie-chadwick/

The GMR-001 will be based upon a Oreca LMP2 chassis, with liberal Genesis styling cues, with its engine being a twin turbocharged V-8.

 

The team will be based out of the Paul Ricard circuit at Le Castellet, nearby Oreca and IDEC. All of which sounds like Heady days for the Hyundai backed programme.

 

The other tantalizing news, albeit not surprising, since Lamborghini’s withdrawal from the “Weckity-Wec”, nee World Endurance Championship has left Iron Lynx in a lurch. With the team opting to switch manufacturer’s for its Iron Dames LM GT3 programme. Dropping its Lamborghini Huracan in favour of a Porsche 911

 

Iron Dames will contest a multitude of series, i.e.; IMSA’s Michelin Endurance Cup, FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series and the Asian Le Mans Series. All with the latest spec Porsche 911 GT3 racecar, contesting the GT3 category Internationally, and the GTD category Stateside.

 

The driver quartet will be made up of regular’s Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting and Sarah Bovy. With newcomer Celia Martin.

Part of the multi-year Porsche effort sees Gatting being promoted to Porsche factory driver status. While “I Know Nothing” Herr Schultz! About Celia Martin…

 

Having just learned that the 33yr old French le Femme (Martin) is currently a Bronze rated driver who’ll make up part of the Iron Dames core FIA “Weckity Wec” squad. Having joined Iron Dames in European competition last year.

 

Gatting, Frey and Bovy will be the core drivers of the Proton Competition IMSA GTD entry, with perhaps Doriane Pin joining them again at Daytona?

 

As Iron Dames became the first All Female squad to win in WEC, claiming the final GTE Am race at Bahrain in 2023. 

F1: Brawn ‘N Brown Duet with some Suaviness’ Thrown in as Background Noise

Cause’ Sometimes You Feel like a Nut, and sometimes, Uhm…

 

Just a few Bits ‘N bobs as Grizzled F1 Journo’ Joe Saward would say following the Bahrain Grand Prix…

 

Brawn says Tsunoda Super!

FIA’s Sporting Director Ross Brawn, writing for F1.com has given Japanese F1 Rookie Yuki Tsunoda glowing praise upon his Debutante outing in Bahrain. With Brawn proclaiming the 20 year old Tsunoda is the Best F1 Rookie in years! And was totally Smitten with Yuki’s Ontrack performance, also claiming that Red Bull has Hit a Home Run with Tsunoda!

 

Whilst Grizzled F1 Journo’ Joe Saward noted that Yuki was his Driver of The Race after Tsunoda had fallen down to 16^th place after starting P13. Then methodically worked his way forward, including passing Sebastian Vettel twice and his Boyhood Idol Fernando Alonso before overtaking Lance Stroll for ninth on the race’s final lap!

 

As Tsunoda became the 65^th Formula 1 Driver to score points on his Debutante F1 race. Along with becoming the first Japanese driver to score points in F1 since Kamui Kobayashi in 2012 when driving for Sauber F1, arguably Kobayashi’s best season in Formula 1.

 

As Kamui became only the third Japanese F1 Driver to ever stand atop the podium upon finishing third in that year’s Japanese Grand Prix.

 

Yuki’s ninth place finish is the best since Kobayashi’s sixth place finish for Toyota F1 at the 2009 Inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as a rookie F1 Pilote, while Kamui also finished P9 upon his Formula 1 debut at that year’s Bahrain Grand Prix, while Deputizing for the injured Timo glock. But didn’t score any points since they were only awarded down to eighth place then.

 

Tsunoda becomes the first driver to score points on his debut since Stoffel Vandoorne finished 10th upon his F1 debut in the 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix for McLaren when Deputizing for Fernando Alonso, who’d been ruled Medically unfit to drive.  

 

Zak Brown Doubles Down on ricciardo

Marketing Guru and McLaren F1 Boss Zackery Brown has done it again by teasing McLaren New-boy DannyRic’ with not only a miniature replica of the aussie’s Boyhood Hero, but also now promised him in a drive aboard the “Real Deal” upon scoring his first F1 Podium for McLaren.

 

    As  Brown as promised Daniel ricciardo a chance to drive his 1984 Dale Earnhardt Wrangler sponsored Chevrolet Cup car when Ricciardo records his latest team’s first podium finish. As Ricciardo chose  the No. 3 in deference to being a Huge Fan of the late Intimidator’s when growing up.

 

As Brown has a tastefully modest, Mega’ car collection, including various Street and Racing Cars. From the likes of a Ferrari F40 and Lamborghini Countach, a Bugatti  EB110, a pristine, original Acura NSX, Porsche 959, 2017 Ford TT and so on.

 

But it’s his small armada of vintage racing cars that one must truly appreciate. Running the gambit from an ex-Mario Andretti Lola T332 F5000 Single Seater to Sir Jackie Stewart’s March 701 and the 24 Heurs du Mans Pole winning Lancia LC2 Sports Car driven by the late Bob Wollek to name just a few.

 

Whilst Brown is apparently a Huge Senna Fan, owning two of Ayrton Senna’s Formula 1 racecars, i.e.; 1984 Toleman TG184 ana 1986 Lotus Renault turbo along with his ’81 Go Kart. With further Formula 1 chassis from the likes of “Mika the Finn’s” (Hakkinen) 2001 McLaren MP4/16A, “Red 5” Bloody Nige Mansell or Il Lione’s 1987 Williams FW11B and Jacques Villeneuve’s 1996 Williams FW18 also part of his impressive Heritage Collection.   

 

And the Bet or Dare isn’t Ricciardo’s first. Since last season Daniel got to choose what Tatoo former Renault F1 Team principal Cyril Abiteboul would get after claiming his first podium at the Eiffel grand prix.

  

Eskimo Pies in the Desert?

Following the Bahrain Grand Prix, Alpine noted that Fredrico Suave’, aka Fernando Alonso’s car had been retired out of safety concerns following a Sandwich wrapper becoming impaled in it’s rear brakes, presumably the brake ducting.

 

But thar were  No word on what type of sandwich wrapper it was, i.e.; plastic wrap or paper? Hmm, could it have come from the Iceman’ (Kimi Raikkonen) having an Ice Cream sandwich during the race?