The fast road out of the slums: F1 and Motorsport 2019

[Kevin S]

FFS McLaren. Not really endearing themselves to the American public with that, or to their still-contracted star driver. I reckon if there were to be a couple of Toyota Gazoo Racing cars on the F1 grid next year Alonso would be in one like a shot.

In more positive news, Jamie Chadwick finished second in the W-Series at Zolder, and keeps her lead in the championship. She's also been given a development driver contract by Williams.
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Vt0sFucdd.html

Claire WIlliams had previously expressed concerns that the W-Series was a backwards step but she's been won round and seems to see it as useful springboard for talented female drivers who might otherwise be overlooked.

[ursus arctos]

[URL]https://twitter.com/colbycosh/status/1131660701666164736?s=21[/URL]

[longeared]

Watching the Monaco qualifying highlights. Whoever decided to replace the view of the sea between Portier and the tunnel entrance with what looks like a mural has gone on my list.

[Kevin S]

Well. It wasn't a Mercedes 1-2 this time, though largely down to Max clipping Bottas in the pit lane.

I've seen a Verstappen on-board video from Zandvoort on YouTube too. The track is approximately 1.5 cars wide. So, yeah, not one to be looking forward to next year I think.

Anyway - WRC is back this weekend with the Rally de Portugal starting today. Notable that Hyundai have gone with Loeb again and left out Mikkelsen. You almost get the feeling they're using him this often to unsettle Ogier.

[Kevin S]

Toyota sitting pretty three stages in. Tanak has won the second and third stages and leads the race, followed by Latvala and Meeke at the moment.

Disaster already for Hyundai, meanwhile. Loeb reached the end of the stage but dropped more than 15 minutes with his problems. Teammate Sordo got out of his car and worked on something behind the seat. He's 18 minutes down now. A three car entry for them so only Neuville in contention for Hyundai.

M-Sport also have three - Suninen, Evans and this time Greensmith has the third car for his first ever WRC start. Here is his take on what the step up from R5 cars is like:
https://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/may-...4--12-12-.html

Citroen with just the usual two - Ogier and Lappi.

[Kevin S]

Elfyn goes fastest on SS4 (car 5 of 11).

[Kevin S]

Beaten by a fraction by both Latvala and Suninen. And they're straight into stage 5, which is the longest stage of the day.

Edit - correction, last to run, Sordo smashes the time on stage 4.

[Kevin S]

The WRC radio commentator is talking about something that has been striking this year so far - which is that Tanak has been going very aggressive very early in rallies this year. In the past couple of years Ogier has been winning by being unerringly consistent and error-free.

Tanak seems to be taking the race by the throat on the Friday and putting the pressure on Ogier and Neuville to chase him. Five stages in and he has 24.5 over Ogier and 26.6 over Neuville.

Ah shite, what's happened to Elfyn? Apparently he's stopped on the stage.

[Kevin S]

"Are you there Chris? I've got nothing. I found a loose connection in the footwell..."

<vroom>

"Scott, get back in!"

[Kevin S]

Evans lost almost exactly four minutes.... which meant he was right in front of Lappi, who is now having to drive through Evans' dust.

[Kevin S]

Great drive from Suninen - the M-Sport driver moves onto the current podium at Meeke's expense.

[Kevin S]

Greensmith about 15-20 off the pace on this stage. He's just done his first in-car Q&A and sounded happy - he had an issue with the car at the start that cost him 10s. Evans' problems mean Gus is up to 7th overall too.

Sordo is further back but here's the top ten. One more stage to go, which will decide road position for tomorrow and the battle between Ogier and Neuville is key here.

[Kevin S]

Neuville wins the stage and gets ahead of Ogier. Suninen falls off the podium after losing a minute on stage 6 with brake problems.

[Kevin S]

Today's highlights just starting on Red Bull TV:
https://www.redbull.com/int-en/tv/vi...ights-portugal

[Kevin S]

Just watched the highlights from today - this rally is so finely poised. Toyota had been looking so good for over a day and a half but suddenly issues with the front damper have put paid to Latvala's podium place and also cost Tanak some time. Meeke is keeping his end up extremely well and if Tanak's issues persist he will have to go for the win. But since Ogier and Neuville are pushing each other so hard the two Toyotas do not have much of a margin still.

It had been looking a better day for M-Sport but Suninen lost his 6th place to Lappi (then they both moved up one after Latvala's issue) and then Greensmith came off. Shame, but he's shown some really good signs already - hope this isn't the only time he gets to drive the WR car this season.

https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/events/AP-1XV2TH88N1W11

[Kevin S]

Sunday highlights on now.
https://www.redbull.com/int-en/tv/vi...:live_programs

[Kevin S]

Oh no, Gus. That's a bummer.

They've had to neutralise the power stage, and that means no jumps for now.

[Kevin S]

This power stage is taking no prisoners. I thought it was bad when Loeb smashed his car a bit but at least he finished. Meeke on the other hand has left the road completely.

[Kevin S]

What a rally. And how close these three guys are, fighting for the world championship in their three different cars.

If the Hamilton/Vettel/Verstappen tussles were half as competitive as Ogier/Neuville/Tanak then F1 would be vastly improved

[Kevin S]

Updated championship standings

spoiler: Show

Great result for M-Sport in the end, despite Greensmith crashing out on the final stage. Teemu and Elfyn rounded off the top five while the next two cars were Skoda R5s.

[Kevin S]

W Series qualifying live on Facebook now - Jamie Chadwick facing a challenge from Wohlwend for pole.

[Kevin S]

Was also live on YouTube but it's just finished. Wohlwend on pole.

Race start this afternoon:
16:10 CEST
15:10 BST

[caja-dglh]

[URL]https://twitter.com/colbycosh/status/1131660701666164736?s=21[/URL]

"A mistake made in converting inches to the metric system used by British teams meant Alonso's car scraped along the floor on his first lap back on track."

This is magnificent.

[Kevin S]

Hahaha.

Jamie Chadwick led the W Series race from the first corner to the end.

Didn't watch Canada but my boy has been listening to it on the radio. Sounds like a procession decided by a penalty.

[Third rate Leszno]

Terrible decision by the stewards - yes, Vettel nearly squished Hamilton into the wall when he returned to the track, but it was obvious to anyone watching the replays that he was still gathering it up and didn't really have any other option.