The Junior Series Thread

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 09 Jan 2015, 20:59

East Londoner wrote:Dino Zamparelli isn't returning to GP3 in 2015 - he's instead racing in the worst BTCC support series. The Carerra Cup is such an insipid series.

Zamparelli was always a little on the insipid side himself, so I would say it's the perfect match.

Good opportunity at ART in GP3 for someone.

mrfakeboullier · Post by **mrfakeboullier** » 09 Jan 2015, 21:56

Backmarker wrote:
East Londoner wrote:Dino Zamparelli isn't returning to GP3 in 2015 - he's instead racing in the worst BTCC support series. The Carerra Cup is such an insipid series.

Zamparelli was always a little on the insipid side himself, so I would say it's the perfect match.

Good opportunity at ART in GP3 for someone.

To be honest though, he wasn't good enough for a third season in GP3

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 09 Jan 2015, 23:18

Alfonso Celis, Jnr. will race for ART on GP3 this year.

Post by **Ataxia** » 09 Jan 2015, 23:51

Captain Hammer wrote:Alfonso Celis, Jnr. will race for ART on GP3 this year.

I don't think anybody's reaction can be anything more than "oh".

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 10 Jan 2015, 03:34

The new Verstappen?

The guy also topped four out of the six post-season test sessions he participated in, I think.

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 10 Jan 2015, 10:41

...so how long will it be until we get our first F1 driver born in a year starting with a 2?

2018 isn't all that far away now...

Post by **Frogfoot9013** » 10 Jan 2015, 10:44

dinizintheoven wrote:...so how long will it be until we get our first F1 driver born in a year starting with a 2?

2018 isn't all that far away now...

Considering that I was born in 2000, I'm gonna feel very old once a driver born in 2000 or later gets a shot at F1.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 10 Jan 2015, 11:37

Frogfoot9013 wrote:
dinizintheoven wrote:...so how long will it be until we get our first F1 driver born in a year starting with a 2?

2018 isn't all that far away now...

Considering that I was born in 2000, I'm gonna feel very old once a driver born in 2000 or later gets a shot at F1.

Just wait until there's a four-time world champion younger than you... There's even been a Doctor Who younger than me! (Although the current doctor is old enough to be my dad. Phew.)

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 11 Jan 2015, 01:38

Ataxia wrote:
Captain Hammer wrote:Alfonso Celis, Jnr. will race for ART on GP3 this year.

I don't think anybody's reaction can be anything more than "oh".

Mine was more of an "eh?".

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 11 Jan 2015, 10:05

Captain Hammer wrote:
Ataxia wrote:
Captain Hammer wrote:Alfonso Celis, Jnr. will race for ART on GP3 this year.

I don't think anybody's reaction can be anything more than "oh".

Mine was more of an "eh?".

And I went, "Who?"

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 11 Jan 2015, 10:57

dr-baker wrote:
Captain Hammer wrote:
Ataxia wrote:I don't think anybody's reaction can be anything more than "oh".

Mine was more of an "eh?".

And I went, "Who?"

And then when you realised who he was, you went "hoo!".

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 12 Jan 2015, 18:05

The Indian Max Verstappen will be in Formula Renault NEC for 2016! He's had a decent time in karts, so it will be interesting to see him step up to open wheel formulae.

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 13 Jan 2015, 12:00

Backmarker wrote:The Indian Max Verstappen will be in Formula Renault NEC for 2016! He's had a decent time in karts, so it will be interesting to see him step up to open wheel formulae.

Well, I don't think there's ever been a karter from India with as good a record as he's got. The fact that he's backed by Force India makes it better. He was beaten to the 'One From A Billion' Talent Hunt three years ago by Arjun Maini, who finished runner-up to George Russell in BRDC F4 this year, but his karting results are actually stronger.

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 13 Jan 2015, 13:26

wsrgo wrote:
Backmarker wrote:The Indian Max Verstappen will be in Formula Renault NEC for 2016! He's had a decent time in karts, so it will be interesting to see him step up to open wheel formulae.

Well, I don't think there's ever been a karter from India with as good a record as he's got. The fact that he's backed by Force India makes it better. He was beaten to the 'One From A Billion' Talent Hunt three years ago by Arjun Maini, who finished runner-up to George Russell in BRDC F4 this year, but his karting results are actually stronger.

Yeah, but Maini was only just beaten by Russell this year because IIRC, it went to the final round of the year.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » 13 Jan 2015, 16:55

Captain Hammer wrote:Alfonso Celis, Jnr. will race for ART on GP3 this year.

Glad to see ART wasting that seat, and luca Ghiotto pole sitter at spa will race for Trident

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 14 Jan 2015, 12:11

roblomas52 wrote:
wsrgo wrote:
Backmarker wrote:The Indian Max Verstappen will be in Formula Renault NEC for 2016! He's had a decent time in karts, so it will be interesting to see him step up to open wheel formulae.

Well, I don't think there's ever been a karter from India with as good a record as he's got. The fact that he's backed by Force India makes it better. He was beaten to the 'One From A Billion' Talent Hunt three years ago by Arjun Maini, who finished runner-up to George Russell in BRDC F4 this year, but his karting results are actually stronger.

Yeah, but Maini was only just beaten by Russell this year because IIRC, it went to the final round of the year.

Yes true, and it was a bit of a surprise, as Russell has a brilliant karting record. I definitely did not expect two BRDC rookies to beat all the sophomores and more experienced drivers.

Furthermore, Charles Leclerc, who was runner-up to De Vries in Alps in his rookie car season in 2014, has signed for van Amersfoort in FIA F3, with the aforementioned Italian Max Verstappen (Alessio Lorandi) expected to join him. http://www.paddockscout.com/monegasque-prodigy-leclerc-secures-fia-f3-seat-with-van-amersfoort/

Also, Marco Sorensen will be doing GP2 next year, but it's not yet been confirmed which team he'll drive for.

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 16 Jan 2015, 08:37

Toyota Racing Series preview. The Toyota Racing Series used to be a largely domestic New Zealand series, but nowadays its being in the middle of the winter means that it's being used by drivers from the major European series as preparation.

One of the drivers worth watching for is Ferdinand Zvonimir Maria Balthus Keith Michael Otto Antal Bahnam Leonhard Habsburg-Lothringen, whose father would be the Austro-Hungarian Emperor if it wasn't for that pesky First World War.

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 16 Jan 2015, 08:48

Backmarker wrote:Toyota Racing Series preview. The Toyota Racing Series used to be a largely domestic New Zealand series, but nowadays its being in the middle of the winter means that it's being used by drivers from the major European series as preparation.

One of the drivers worth watching for is Ferdinand Zvonimir Maria Balthus Keith Michael Otto Antal Bahnam Leonhard Habsburg-Lothringen, whose father would be the Austro-Hungarian Emperor if it wasn't for that pesky First World War.

He hasn't got as many names as the ambitious Alfonso Antonio Vicente Eduardo Angel Blas Francisco de Borja Cabeza de Vaca y Leighton, Marquis of Portago. He does however, have more names than almost-champion Wolfgang Alexander Albert Eduard Maximilian Reichsgraf Berghe von Trips and the great Jonkheer Karel Pieter Antoni Jan Hubertus Godin de Beaufort, so he's got that going for him.

If he were to make it to F1, that would make him the first aristocratic driver since Dumfries, right?

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 16 Jan 2015, 11:43

Simtek wrote:If he were to make it to F1, that would make him the first aristocratic driver since Dumfries, right?

Giovanni Lavaggi's family were (when Italy had such things) counts in Sicily, and I think Giovanni Lavaggi would be a count himself.

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 16 Jan 2015, 14:43

Simtek wrote:
Backmarker wrote:Toyota Racing Series preview. The Toyota Racing Series used to be a largely domestic New Zealand series, but nowadays its being in the middle of the winter means that it's being used by drivers from the major European series as preparation.

One of the drivers worth watching for is Ferdinand Zvonimir Maria Balthus Keith Michael Otto Antal Bahnam Leonhard Habsburg-Lothringen, whose father would be the Austro-Hungarian Emperor if it wasn't for that pesky First World War.

He hasn't got as many names as the ambitious Alfonso Antonio Vicente Eduardo Angel Blas Francisco de Borja Cabeza de Vaca y Leighton, Marquis of Portago. He does however, have more names than almost-champion Wolfgang Alexander Albert Eduard Maximilian Reichsgraf Berghe von Trips and the great Jonkheer Karel Pieter Antoni Jan Hubertus Godin de Beaufort, so he's got that going for him.

If he were to make it to F1, that would make him the first aristocratic driver since Dumfries, right?

Speaking of aristocratic racing drivers, the 2010 ADAC GT Masters Champion Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel Prinz von Thurn und Taxis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert,_12 ... _and_Taxis

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 16 Jan 2015, 16:53

roblomas52 wrote:Speaking of aristocratic racing drivers, the 2010 ADAC GT Masters Champion Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel Prinz von Thurn und Taxis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert,_12 ... _and_Taxis

Who should really be competing in cab racing, with a name like that.

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 17 Jan 2015, 03:21

The first race of the season has gone to the Ferrari Driver Academy

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 17 Jan 2015, 08:07

wsrgo wrote:The first race of the season has gone to the Ferrari Driver Academy

I don't quite understand your sentence. The first race of the 2015 season was a week earlier in Buenos Aires, hosting Formula E, which was won by Super Aguri!

Post by **Londoner** » 21 Jan 2015, 09:55

Carlin are returning to FR3.5. And in news that will make a certain member of this forum very happy indeed, they've signed Tom Dillmann.

They also appear to have signed an Indonesian stooge in the other seat. I guess the reasoning for this choice is L-O-D-S-O-F-E-M-O-N-E, as Harry Enfield would say.

Post by **Ataxia** » 21 Jan 2015, 11:51

East Londoner wrote:Carlin are returning to FR3.5. And in news that will make a certain member of this forum very happy indeed, they've signed Tom Dillmann.

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 23 Jan 2015, 11:25

Raffaele Marciello will race for Trident in 2015:

http://m.autosport.com/news/report.php/ ... t-for-2015

On the face of it, it's an odd move, but look at who was racing for the team in 2014 - Johnny Cecotto, Jr.

I know that's an odd comparison to make, seeing as how Marciello is point man for Ferrari's young driver programme and Cecotto has a reputation as an idiot, but look at Cecotto's 2014 season. Whereas previously he tended to treat the idea of sportsmanship as an Achilles heel to be exploited, he didn't have a single (to quote Will Buxton) "Oh, Johnny!" moment in 2014. Ever since joining Trident, Cecotto morphed into a more refined, more disciplined driver. Perhaps not Formula 1 material, but team principal Maurizio Salvadori is credited with having turned him around. Given that Ferrari were extremely critical of Marciello for rookie mistakes at times (most notably in Hungary), moving to Trident might be a blessing in disguise.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 23 Jan 2015, 11:43

Captain Hammer wrote:Raffaele Marciello will race for Trident in 2015:

http://m.autosport.com/news/report.php/ ... t-for-2015

On the face of it, it's an odd move, but look at who was racing for the team in 2014 - Johnny Cecotto, Jr.

I know that's an odd comparison to make, seeing as how Marciello is point man for Ferrari's young driver programme and Cecotto has a reputation as an idiot, but look at Cecotto's 2014 season. Whereas previously he tended to treat the idea of sportsmanship as an Achilles heel to be exploited, he didn't have a single (to quote Will Buxton) "Oh, Johnny!" moment in 2014. Ever since joining Trident, Cecotto morphed into a more refined, more disciplined driver. Perhaps not Formula 1 material, but team principal Maurizio Salvadori is credited with having turned him around. Given that Ferrari were extremely critical of Marciello for rookie mistakes at times (most notably in Hungary), moving to Trident might be a blessing in disguise.

This is true, Cecotto's turn around last year was very welcome and quite a relief, but we still should remember that despite this, his teammate Sergio Canamasas went and famously "Playstationed" the Ascari Chicane at Monza, caused some rather silly crashes as a result, and earned himself a disqualification for his troubles.

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 23 Jan 2015, 11:53

Not everyone can be polished into a diamond. Sometimes a lump of coal is a lump of coal.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » 23 Jan 2015, 22:28

Salamander wrote:
Captain Hammer wrote:Raffaele Marciello will race for Trident in 2015:

http://m.autosport.com/news/report.php/ ... t-for-2015

On the face of it, it's an odd move, but look at who was racing for the team in 2014 - Johnny Cecotto, Jr.

I know that's an odd comparison to make, seeing as how Marciello is point man for Ferrari's young driver programme and Cecotto has a reputation as an idiot, but look at Cecotto's 2014 season. Whereas previously he tended to treat the idea of sportsmanship as an Achilles heel to be exploited, he didn't have a single (to quote Will Buxton) "Oh, Johnny!" moment in 2014. Ever since joining Trident, Cecotto morphed into a more refined, more disciplined driver. Perhaps not Formula 1 material, but team principal Maurizio Salvadori is credited with having turned him around. Given that Ferrari were extremely critical of Marciello for rookie mistakes at times (most notably in Hungary), moving to Trident might be a blessing in disguise.

This is true, Cecotto's turn around last year was very welcome and quite a relief, but we still should remember that despite this, his teammate Sergio Canamasas went and famously "Playstationed" the Ascari Chicane at Monza, caused some rather silly crashes as a result, and earned himself a disqualification for his troubles.

Didn't he ignore the disqualification, or am I thinking of a different race?

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 24 Jan 2015, 00:31

Different race. He was disqualified in Singapore - for a procedural infringement, I think, not a driving infraction - but ignored it.

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 24 Jan 2015, 23:09

Following the demise of British F3, their German counterpart has also folded: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117445

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 24 Jan 2015, 23:16

That's in keeping with the streamlining of junior series. It will be replaced by ADAC Formula 4 and European Formula 3.

Post by **Ataxia** » 30 Jan 2015, 10:51

Two former FR3.5 drivers have been signed in GP2; Marco Sorensen will complete a whole season with Carlin, whilst Norman Nato makes the switch to join Arden.

Post by **Londoner** » 06 Feb 2015, 20:03

Rio Haryanto joins Campos for the 2015 GP2 season. I wonder if this will finally be the year that proves he's in the series for more than just £££. I doubt it though, to be honest...

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 06 Feb 2015, 20:16

Haryanto does have some talent - he was pretty promising early on. His problem was that he joined Addax at the wrong time. You can't fault him for it, since they were a good team at the time, but Alejandro Agag was focusing on Formula E and Addax got neglected, which showed in their results (and the decision to take Jake Rosenzweig in the second car).

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 06 Feb 2015, 20:42

Captain Hammer wrote:Haryanto does have some talent - he was pretty promising early on. His problem was that he joined Addax at the wrong time. You can't fault him for it, since they were a good team at the time, but Alejandro Agag was focusing on Formula E and Addax got neglected, which showed in their results (and the decision to take Jake Rosenzweig in the second car).

He's definitely no Sergio Canamasas, but he's no Stoffel Vandoorne either. But a consistent season and some luck could see him pick up a couple of wins, and his Pertamina money might make an F1 team take notice.

Post by **Miguel98** » 05 Mar 2015, 18:39

The World Series by Renault testing started today. Ellinas was the quickest of the day, but the day was marked by this:

There are various reports that a gust wind caused the crash. Coincidence?

Post by **Ataxia** » 08 Mar 2015, 14:40

A few updates from GP2; Visoiu's bagged the second Rapax, Marlon Stockinger's taken the first of the Status seats and we've got the first pre-season test tomorrow. Hilmer's lineup is...erm, interesting.

From the world of GP3, Koiranen have learned nothing from their travails with Carmen Jorda, and have signed up former Sauber cashcow Bladderly Thong.

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 08 Mar 2015, 14:44

Ataxia wrote:A few updates from GP2; Visoiu's bagged the second Rapax, Marlon Stockinger's taken the first of the Status seats and we've got the first pre-season test tomorrow. Hilmer's lineup is...erm, interesting.

Jefferies is back!

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 08 Mar 2015, 15:09

Tired of people still giving this liability Canamasas drives just because he has money. He's proven time and time again to be a complete disgrace to his chosen profession. I get that Hilmer are depserate for money, but come on, couldn't you just hire someone slow but sane?