Archive for December, 2009
Kimi to Citroen for 2010 WRC
Dec 5th
The rumours of Kimi moving to WRC have finally been confirmed. Kimi Räikkönen will officially drive in the 2010 World Rally Championship for Citroen. He will be driving a RedBull sponsored Citroen C4 WRC.
Kimi’s co-driver will be Kaj Lindstrom. Kimi and Kaj will race in 12 of the 13 WRC rounds next year, missing only the New Zealand round.
Kimi should bring a new level of interest to WRC and he’s not going to hold anything back, he rolled his Fiat during the rally of Finalnd this year, but the home crowd were out in force to support him.
Kimi has hinted that his sabbatical is just that and he could return to F1 in 2011 when a drive might become available. This has fueled further speculation that Kimi may take Mark Webber’s spot at RedBull in 2011. This rumour, however is contrary to rumours that Daniel Ricciardo who will become RedBulls reserve driver next year may be poised to take Webber’s spot as early as 2011. Either way it seems clear that Kimi’s stint in WRC will not be long-lived, or more importantly he is still focused on a return to Formula1.
Ricciardo tops the time sheet at Jerez.
Dec 4th
Aussie Daniel Ricciardo has ended the final day of testing at Jerez on the top of the time sheets recording the quickest time of all 3 days with a 1:17.418. The day was not without drama though, after a large plume of smoke appeared from the back of his Renault powered RedBull, it was clear the engine had cooked and Daniel had to retire after 77 laps.
For the Aussie who won this years British Formula 3 cahmpionship it was important to show his abilities in an F1 car at Jerez this December. He has succeeded and is now rumoured to get a permanent test role for 2010 and a seated driver for the 2011 season.
Di Resta did a great job in the Force india to hold off the McLaren being driven by their test driver Paffet.
Times from the Thursday:
01. Ricciardo Red Bull 1.17.418s 77 laps
02. Di Resta Force India 1.18.736s 53 laps
03. Paffett McLaren 1.18.746s 59 laps
04. Conway Brawn 1.19.096s 77 laps
05. Hulkenberg Williams 1.19.226s 106 laps
06. Baguette Sauber 1.19.356s 70 laps
07. Turvey McLaren 1.19.358s 32 laps
08. Ericsson Brawn 1.19.382s 49 laps
09. Di Grassi Renault 1.19.602s 123 laps
10. Hildebrand Force India 1.19.873s 41 laps
11. Sanchez Ferrari 1.21.147s 39 laps
12. Zampieri Ferrari 1.21.279s 42 laps
12. Zipoli Ferrari 1.21.725s 41 laps
13. Hartley Toro Rosso 1.22.493s 50 laps
15. Bortolotti Toro Rosso 1.23.271s 34 laps
16. Tung Renault 1.32.477s 4 laps
Also a recap of the times from day 1 and day 2:
Tuesday
1. Andy Soucek, Williams-Toyota, 1:19.158, 87 laps
2. Paul Di Resta, Force India-Mercedes, 1:19.369, 46 laps
3. Gary Paffett, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:19.426, 54 laps
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull-Renault, 1:19.534, 113 laps
5. Jules Bianchi, Ferrari, 1:19.626 91, laps
6. Mike Conway, Brawn-Mercedes, 1:19.920, 58 laps
7. Alexander Rossi, BMW, 1:20.227, 82 laps
8. Marcus Ericsson, Brawn-Mercedes, 1:20.333, 50 laps
9. Bertrand Baguette, Renault, 1:20.511, 105 laps
10. JR Hildebrand, Force India-Mercedes, 1:20.537, 49 laps
11. Oliver Turvey, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:20.856 27, laps
12. Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:21.325, 69 laps
Wednesday
1. Gary Paffett, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:18.718, 80 laps
2. Nico Hülkenberg, Williams-Toyota, 1:19.184, 94 laps
3. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull-Renault, 1:19.243, 92 laps
4. Paul Di Resta, Force India-Mercedes, 1:19.411, 58 laps
5. Esteban Gutierrez, BMW, 1:20.190, 68 laps
6. Mike Conway, Brawn-Mercedes, 1:20.222, 83 laps
7. Marcus Ericsson, Brawn-Mercedes, 1:20.440, 37 laps
8. JR Hildebrand, Force India-Mercedes, 1:20.517, 49 laps
9. Jules Bianchi, Ferrari, 1:20.586, 113 laps
10. Lucas Di Grassi, Renault, 1:20.898, 54 laps
11. Ho-Pin Tung, Renault, 1:21.492, 67 laps
12. Mirko Bortolotti, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:21.761, 79 lap
Final times at Jerez, Paffet fastest on Day 2
Dec 3rd
Thanks to all those who followed our blog and re-tweeted our live tweets during Day 2 of testing at Jerez.
The times in the afternoon didn’t change much, with Paffet still remaining in first place with his tim of 1:18.718, however Seated driver for williams next year, Nico Hulkenberg finished just ahead of Daniel Ricciardo with a time of 1:19.184.
Ricciardo was the fastest man of the young rookies, with Paffet being a Test driver since 2006 and DTM champion and Hulkenberg driving for Williams next year Daniel did well to be in the top 3 of the day.
- 01 G. Paffett (GB / McLaren) 1:18.718-80L
- 02 N. Hulkenberg (GER / Williams) 1:19.184 (+0,466)-94L
- 03 D. Ricciardo (AUS / Red Bull) 1:19.243 (+0,525)-94L
- 04 P. Di Resta (GB / Force India) 1:19.411 (+0,693)-58L
- 05 E. Gutiérrez (MEX / BMW-Sauber) 1:20.190 (+1,472)-68L
- 06 M. Conway (GB / BrawnGP) 1:20.222 (+1,504)-83L
- 07 M. Ericsson (SWE BrawnGP) 1:22.440 (+1,722)-37L
- 08 JR Hildebrand (USA / Force India) 1:20.517 (+1,799)-50L
- 09 J. Bianchi (FRA / Ferrari) 1:20.586 (+1,868)-113L
- 10 L. Di Grassi (BRA / Renault) 1:20.898 (+2,180)-55L
- 11 H. Tung (CHN / Renault) 1:21.492 (+2,774)-67L
- 12 M. Bortolotti (ITA / Toro Rosso) 1:21.761 (+3,043)-79L
Day Two at Jerez (updated)
Dec 2nd
The second day of testing at Jerez is underway right now Ricciardo, Conway, Ericsson, Bianchi and both the Force India drivers are back for their second day.
UPDATE:
We have new times as at 13:07 Local time in Jerez.
Paffet has out paced Ricciardo in the McLaren.
- 1 G. Paffett (GB / McLaren) 1:18.718-44v
- 2 D. Ricciardo (AUS / Red Bull) 1:19.243-45v
- 3 P. Di Resta (GB / Force India) 1:19.411-58v
- 4 M. Conway (GB / BrawnGP) 1:20.267-55v
- 5 E. Gutiérrez (MEX / BMW-Sauber) 1:20.450-38v
- 6 H. Tung (CHN / Renault) 1:21.492-67v
- 7 M. Bortolotti (ITA / Toro Rosso) 1:21.761-23v
- 8 N. Hulkenberg (GER / Williams) 1:21.814-53v
- 9 J. Bianchi (FRA / Ferrari) 1:23.340-63v
UPDATED:
New times posted at 12:06pm local time:
1 D. Ricciardo (AUS / Red Bull) 1:19.243-38v
2 P. Di Resta (GB / Force India) 1:19.411-44v
3 G. Paffett (GB / McLaren) 1:19.535-34v
4 E. Gutierrez (MEX / BMW-Sauber) 1:20.450-26v
5 M. Bortolotti (ITA / Toro Rosso) 1:21.761-23v
6 N. Hulkenberg (GER / Williams) 1:21.814-42v
7 H. Tung (CHN / Renault) 1:22.003-51v
8 M. Conway (GB / BrawnGP) 1:23.049-37v
9 J. Bianchi (FRA / Ferrari) 1:23.517-37v
A provisional time table at 11:17 local time is as follows:
- 1 D. Ricciardo (AUS / Red Bull) 1:19.243-30v
- 2 E. Gutiérrez (MEX / BMW-Sauber) 1:20.450-20v
- 3 G. Paffett (GB / McLaren) 1:20.503-21v
- 4 P. Di Resta (GB / Force India) 1:20.724-28v
- 5 M. Bortolotti (ITA) Toro Rosso 1:21.835-18v
- 6 H. Tung (CHN / Renault) 1:22.003-46v
- 7 N. Hulkenberg (GER / Williams) 1:22.149-22v
- 8 M. Conway (GB / BrawnGP) 1:23.049-27v
- 9 J. Bianchi (FRA / Ferrari) 1:23.517-30v
We will be bringing you more updates as they develop, please follow our tweets for instant updates
Todays drivers will be:
BMW – Esteban Gutierrez (MEX)
Brawn GP (Mercedes) – Mike Conway (GBR) and Marcus Ericsson (SWE)
Ferrari – Jules Bianchi (FER)
Force India – Paul di Resta (GBR) and JR Hildebrand (USA)
McLaren – Gary Paffett (GBR)
Red Bull – Daniel Ricciardo (AUS)
Renault – Ho-Pin Tung (CHN)
Toro Rosso – Mirko Bortolotti (ITA)
Williams – Nico Hülkenberg (GER)
Andy Soucek fastest on Day One at Jerez
Dec 2nd
The 24-year-old Spaniard got to test with the Williams F1 team as a reward for winning the 2009 Formula2 Championship. After an hour of testing with only one spin, he set the pace with a time of 1m19.158s
Kiwi Brendon Hartley who was testing for Toro Rosso hit the Barrier after spinning off and smashed his front nose cone as well as completely knocking the front right wheel off the car.
Daniel Ricciardo beached his car as he avoided hitting Brendon, he recovered and set the 4th fastest time of the day behind the Williams, Di Resta in the Force India and the McLaren being driven by Gary Paffett who has been McLarens test driver since 2006.
A breakdown of the times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Soucek Williams 1m19.158s 87 2. Di Resta Force India 1m19.369s + 0.221s 46 3. Paffett McLaren 1m19.426s + 0.268s 54 4. Ricciardo Red Bull 1m19.534s + 0.376s 112 5. Bianchi Ferrari 1m19.626s + 0.486s 90 6. Conway Brawn 1m19.920s + 0.762s 58 7. Rossi Sauber 1m20.227s + 1.069s 82 8. Ericsson Brawn 1m20.333s + 1.175s 49 9. Baguette Renault 1m20.511s + 1.363s 105 10. Hildebrand Force India 1m20.537s + 1.379s 49 11. Turvey McLaren 1m20.856s + 1.698s 27 11. Hartley Toro Rosso 1m21.325s + 2.167s 69
December 1- 3 Jerez tests
Dec 1st
December 1 is Day 1 of testing at Jerez, finally some live Formula1 action!
We will be Editing this post (at the bottom) with updates in bold…
According to the Circuit de Jerez website, the following drivers will be present on day 1 in Jerez to test:
BMW – Alexander Rossi
Brawn GP (Mercedes) – Mike Conway & Marcus Ericsson
Ferrari – Jules Bianchi
Force India – Paul di Resta & JR Hildebrand
McLaren – Oliver Turvey
Red Bull – Daniel Ricciardo
Renault – Bertrand Baguette
Toro Rosso – Brendon Hartley
Williams – Andy Soucek
RedBull will be represented by an Aussie driver while Toro Rosso will be testing young Kiwi Brendon Hartley (pictured). Unconfirmed rumours are that Mark Webber may be present to watch the fellow Aussie Daniel Ricciardo.
Follow our twitter feed for live updates, we will be following numerous live feeds, however they are very unreliable and in Spanish. We plan on doing our best to bring you up to date times via this website and our twitter feed.
UPDATE: Bertrand Baguette was first out on the track in the Renault just after 9am local time
UPDATE: Times from Day 1:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Soucek Williams 1m19.158s 87 2. Di Resta Force India 1m19.369s + 0.221s 46 3. Paffett McLaren 1m19.426s + 0.268s 54 4. Ricciardo Red Bull 1m19.534s + 0.376s 112 5. Bianchi Ferrari 1m19.626s + 0.486s 90 6. Conway Brawn 1m19.920s + 0.762s 58 7. Rossi Sauber 1m20.227s + 1.069s 82 8. Ericsson Brawn 1m20.333s + 1.175s 49 9. Baguette Renault 1m20.511s + 1.363s 105 10. Hildebrand Force India 1m20.537s + 1.379s 49 11. Turvey McLaren 1m20.856s + 1.698s 27 11. Hartley Toro Rosso 1m21.325s + 2.167s 69
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