In the round-up: Formula E pre-season testing gets shortened by a paddock fire at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit.
In brief
Fire breaks out at Formula E test
Formula E’s sole pre-season test for its 2024 campaign began at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit on Tuesday, but was brought to a swift halt due to a fire in the paddock.
“The on-tack incident response team acted immediately so contain the incident,” said FE in a statement, while the garages were evacuated, and one person was “assessed by medics and has been transported to hospital for precautionary checks”.
FE, the FIA and local fire authorities began investigating the cause of the fire. They later confirmed the garage where the fire had taken place was damaged and the second day of the test would not go ahead. The investigation had “already identified an issue which is being addressed”, it added, and FE plans to resume running on Thursday.
Jaguar’s Mitch Evans was fastest in the day’s morning session, with Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa and Envision Racing’s Sebastien Buemi in second and third. Newcomer Taylor Barnard, who was driving for McLaren, posted an impressive seventh-fastest time.
The afternoon session did not take place due to a fire in the garage area.
Trident names their line-up for Macau Grand Prix
Italian team Trident have revealed their line-up for next month’s Macau Grand Prix, which awards the FIA F3 World Cup, including a past winner of the race.
Two Formula 2 drivers have stepped down to race for them: Roman Stanek and Richard Verschoor. Stanek is a Euroformula and FIA F3 race-winner, while Verschoor won the 2019 Macau Grand Prix and has since claimed three wins in F2.
McLaren junior Ugo Ugochukwu, who has never raced an F3 car before, completes their line-up. This year he won the Formula 4-spec Euro 4 championship.
Red flags and rain disrupt F3 testing
FIA F3’s post-season test at Imola concluded on Tuesday with two heavily disrupted sessions.
There were red flag period after red flag period in the morning, with Prema’s Gabriele Mini setting the pace. Technical issues leading to drivers stopping on track was the cause of most stoppages, while Rodin Carlin’s Callum Voisin and Ugo Ugochukwu beached their cars in the gravel.
Wet weather meant drivers could not make up for the lost time in the afternoon, as well a further red flag periods prompted by drivers encountering technical trouble. Hitech GP’s Alex Dunne topped the timesheet by over a second with a late lap when the track was at its driest.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
‘Michael Andretti and top Andretti Global executives spent last weekend at the US Grand Prix in Texas trying to drum up interest for their bid to join the F1 grid in 2025. Andretti hoped to come face-to-face with Stefano Domenicali, because an ambush seemed to be his only chance of engaging the F1 president in conversation.’
Deal on wheels: Tribunal green lights grand prix boss’ $600,000 pay (The Age)
‘The tribunal issued its advice a couple of weeks before Travis Auld’s appointment as Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive was announced in July that he could be paid up to $600,000. That’s about $90,000 above the ceiling for the job’s officially designated salary band – public entity senior executive three, for all the sticklers out there.’
Las Vegas Grand Prix pit building nears completion (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
‘F1’s Las Vegas Grand Prix pit building is nearly move-in ready after receiving its temporary certificate of occupancy. The building will be the hub of all the racing action and will be the spot where the VIPs will attend the race in the various luxury hospitality areas.’
‘When the Hollywood star was asked if her time at the F1 Academy finale had inspired her to try her hand at the series, the 26-year-old didn’t hesitate to throw her hat into the ring. ‘For sure. I’m ready. Put me in,’ she said.’
Why is F1 second to none when it comes to inclusivity? Allow ‘Mr Diversity’ to explain (USA Today)
‘This year marks the 30th anniversary of the 1993 Indy 500, where Ribbs became the first black man to finish the esteemed race and placed 21st. Two years earlier, he was the first black man to race in the Indy 500 after a down-to-the-wire qualifying session, but was forced to retire early due to mechanical failure.’
Rahal nearing return to family team (Racer)
‘In what must be the most protracted negotiations for the son of a team owner to sign a contract extension at a family-owned team where he’s driven for the last 11 seasons, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing co-owner Bobby Rahal says his son Graham Rahal is close to being confirmed for his 12th season and possibly more. He’ll have Christian Lundgaard and newcomer Pietro Fittipaldi as his team mates.’
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