2018 Grand Finale at the Valley - All Star Vote open!

[DemocalypseNow]

8th & 9th December 2018

Welcome to the ultimate post-season party. With the hard graft of the regular season over, drivers get to put in one last shift, this time to prove they are the best of the best. The champion of champions. The Grand Finale at the Valley does what it says on the tin - one weekend to decide two of the best in 2018. For drivers, this will be the new jewel in the crown of the year - the only world invitational event of the season.

Organiser statement to potential race event hosts

This event is intended to be multi-functional. Not only will it serve as an end-of-season shootout amongst drivers, but also act as a test bed, allowing 'pilots' of potential new concepts and series. If you have an idea, and want to test it out, pitch it on the PMMF planning thread, and if it sounds viable, we'll add it to the GFV programme for you to give it a public test.

2018 Race of Champions
Event run by pasta_maldonado

This is the one chance all year to see the year's winning drivers from across multiple disciplines face off against each other to decide the greatest driver of them all for the year. 2018's series champions will all be pitted against each other on level terms, all entered in identical lightweight Radical sportscars*.

While the first 20 slots are reserved for invited drivers only, 5 are left open to an All Star Fan Vote. Stage 1 will see candidates submitted to the All Star List, and then in Stage 2, the fans will vote one-by-one which drivers they want to see join the elite twenty in the greatest show on earth.

Only one of the twenty-five participants will be crowned the 2018 Champion of Champions. Who shall it be?

*N.B. Spec equipment used is subject to change.

2018 FIA Formula 4 World Final
Event run by Biscione

Grand Finale at the Valley will bring together the best young talents from every corner of the globe to compete in a single unified final, to determine which young Formula 4 talent is awarded the 2018 FIA Rising Star Award. The accolade is given to whichever of the eighteen participants can win the extended length 100km race, with the Top 6 of each national series handed an invite as a reward for their success in the regular season.


Entry Procedure

No teams for this one, but we do need DEC holders to confirm their eligible drivers' participation in the event. If a driver decides to pass on their invitation, their invite is handed down to the next placed driver in their series.

As for the All Star Vote, we're only starting Stage 1 now. Just post your nomination (you can select up to two nominees, both fictional and RL), and briefly state why they deserve a place in the field. Nominations for the All Star vote will close on Sunday Nov 27.


RACE OF CHAMPIONS INVITATION LIST
Confirmed / Pending / Declined

1st in Formula 1 - Sebastian Vettel (GER)
1st in AutoReject World Series - Terry Hawkin (GBR)
2nd in Formula 1 - Jules Bianchi (FRA)
2nd in AutoReject World Series - Alberto Cara (TRO)
3rd in Formula 1 - Lewis Hamilton (GBR)
3rd in AutoReject World Series - Phillippe Nicolas (FRA)
4th in Formula 1 - Dave Cassidy (USA)
5th in Formula 1 - Salvatore Miccoli (ITA)
4th in AutoReject World Series - Bastiaan van Nieuwenhuijzen (NED)
5th in AutoReject World Series - Mark Dagnall (GBR)
1st in Formula 2 - Marvin Kirchhöfer (GER)
1st in AutoReject 3.5 - Nathanael Cameron (GBR)
1st in SANDWICH - Barii Mori (JPN)
2nd in SANDWICH - Aimée Gauthier (FRA)
1st in Formula 5000 - Matt Grove (AUS)
1st in FIA Prototype Challenge - Ron Mignolet (BEL)
2nd in FIA Prototype Challenge - Asim Adhikari (NEP)
3rd in FIA Prototype Challenge - Hagane Shizuka (JPN)
5th in FIA Prototype Challenge - Jordan McKenna (USA)
1st in International Procar Championship - Sylvain Fabron (FRA)
2nd in International Procar Championship - Sandra Cessler (USA)
3rd in International Procar Championship - Koyomi Setou (JPN)
4th in International Procar Championship - Adolfo Moretti (SMR)
1st in SEAT Leon Supercopa - Manuarii Vahirua (TAH)
1st in Group B Rallycross Championship - Markus-Petteri Pykälistö (FIN)

RoC RESERVE LIST
6th in AutoReject World Series - Fredo Mestolio (ITA) - Injured
7th in AutoReject World Series - Thomas De Bock (BEL) - Slot taken
2nd in AutoReject 3.5 - Kenan Ardaoglu (GER) - Slot taken
2nd in Formula 5000 - Thomas Wren (GBR) - Slot taken
4th in FIA Prototype Challenge - Dennis Mignolet (BEL) - Slot taken
5th in International Procar Championship - Jasper Lerby (DEN) - Slot taken


RACE OF CHAMPIONS ALL STAR NOMINEES
Daniel Melrose (AUS) - Formula 1 - Holden
Kay Lon (GER) - International Procar - BITW
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) - Formula 1 - Calinetic
Ricardo Llosa (ESP) - FIA PC - USD
Fotis Iordanou (GRE) - ARL - Tigo Black Stars - Scheduling conflict
James James Davies (GBR) - Nothing
Thomas De Bock (BEL) - ARWS - Voeckler Renault
Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler (FRA) - Nothing
André Lotterer (GER) - Formula 1 - Sauber


FIA FORMULA 4 WORLD FINAL INVITATION LIST
Confirmed / Pending / Declined

1st in Anglo-Irish F4 - Sabrina Mann (GBR)
1st in Italian F4 - Paolo Leonetti (ITA)
1st in North American F4 - John Davis (USA)
2nd in Anglo-Irish F4 - John-Paul Casciaro (GIB)
2nd in Italian F4 - Massimo Torelli (ITA)
2nd in North American F4 - Ed Howitzer (USA)
3rd in Anglo-Irish F4 - Imani Burrell (BER)
3rd in Italian F4 - Luca Bandini (ITA)
3rd in North American F4 - Alejandro de la Vega (MEX)
4th in Anglo-Irish F4 - Alex Smith (GBR)
4th in Italian F4 - Ivan Shvetsov (RUS)
4th in North American F4 - Arienne Sorel (CAN)
5th in Anglo-Irish F4 - Collin Daley, Jr (JAM)
5th in Italian F4 - Lucas Legeret (SUI)
5th in North American F4 - Joey Bennett (USA)
6th in Anglo-Irish F4 - Will Tregurtha (GBR)
6th in Italian F4 - Magda Szervanszky (HUN)
6th in North American F4 - Mike Jones (USA)

F4 RESERVE LIST
7th in Anglo-Irish F4 - Jemma Triggs (GBR) - Slot taken
7th in Italian F4 - Gunter Masakan (INA) - Slot taken
7th in North American F4 - Armando Maldonado (PUR)
8th in Anglo-Irish F4 - Gerralt Davies (GBR) - Slot taken
8th in Italian F4 - Dennis Hauger (NOR) - Slot taken
8th in North American F4 - Bill Jones (CAN)

[TomWazzleshaw]

Phillippe Nicolas, Sabrina Mann and Gunter Masakan will all be in attendance

I'd also like to nominate Daniel Melrose for the all-star voting, because how can any race of champions be complete without one of the greatest world champions of the modern era?

[Klon]

Alberto Cara regrets to decline the Invitation, wishing to use the time to focus on preparing for the 2019 season.
Asim Adhikari would be pleased to join the Grand Finale
Koyomi Setou considers risking her health in a non-championship car race something that is left for the uneducated suicidal imbeciles that normally compete in Motorsport and thereby respectfully, but emphatically, declines the Invitation.

I would like to nominate Kay Lon for the all-star voting.

[RonDenisDeletraz]

Matt Grove accepts the invitation

[Dexter249]

Luca Bandini will gladly race in thee F4 world final,

[Ataxia]

Cameron and Szervanszky will be happy to take part.

[Nuppiz]

Sylvain Fabron gladly accepts the invitation.

[Pinkd56]

John-Paul Casciaro accepts the invite.

[SeedStriker]

Jordan McKenna accepts the invitation, and will be on stand by in the reserves list

[Miguel98]

GBRC are honoured to see Markus-Petteri Pykalisto in the entry list for the event.

For the All-Star List, I would like to nominate Daniel Ricciardo and Ricardo Llosa.

[Pinkd56]

I'd like to nominate Fotis Iordanou for winning the Volant Elf.

[DemocalypseNow]

I'd like to nominate Fotis Iordanou for winning the Volant Elf.

While Fotis in honoured to be submitted to the All Star Fan Vote, unfortunately his prior commitments in the Africa Racing League means he cannot partake in the Grand Finale at the Valley this year.

Yeah, this is on me, I should probably have mentioned the allotted calendar date for this event is the 8th and 9th of December 2018, which clashes with the ARL. Ergo, none of its participants - with the exception of Sani Morgan, Malik Zidan, Elisa Jama Yattae and Fredson Santos - can compete in any event which forms part of GTV.

[Normal32]

Sandra Cessler gladly accepts her offer to participate.

For the All-Star List, I would like to nominate James James Davies.

[tommykl]

Thomas De Bock will accept to race if Mark Dagnall refuses. If not, then I would like to nominate him for the All Star List, as a past ARWS/F1RWRS champion and one of the most successful drivers in the series, and upcoming Penske driver in IndyCar.

[DemocalypseNow]

Thomas De Bock will accept to race if Mark Dagnall refuses. If not, then I would like to nominate him for the All Star List, as a past ARWS/F1RWRS champion and one of the most successful drivers in the series, and upcoming Penske driver in IndyCar.

Seeing as Dagnall has already accepted his invite, that means De Bock will have to go to the All Star List.

[tommykl]

Thomas De Bock will accept to race if Mark Dagnall refuses. If not, then I would like to nominate him for the All Star List, as a past ARWS/F1RWRS champion and one of the most successful drivers in the series, and upcoming Penske driver in IndyCar.

Seeing as Dagnall has already accepted his invite, that means De Bock will have to go to the All Star List.

Woops, I mean Terry Hawkin, who is still marked in orange on the first post...

[alg2159]

Alex Smith and Paolo Leonetti are happy to take part to the FIA F4 World Finale !

[AndreaModa]

Yeah Hawkin will do it.

[DemocalypseNow]

With that, accepting invitations is now closed, and we move on to the All Star Vote section. Before I get to the list, I announce my pair of nominees - Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler and André Lotterer.

This means you have eight drivers to pick from, and five of these will get a chance to compete in the 2018 Race of Champions.

Daniel Melrose (AUS)
Formula 1
"The Mad Uncle" is a mercurial figure, and one back in the limelight after a full-time return to Formula 1, and a pending comeback with former team Ferrari in 2019. The former world champion is an extroverted showman, so no wonder he wants a piece of the Grand Finale at the Valley action.

Kay Lon (GER)
International Pro Car
While he is not a showman of the Melrose variety, his ego is just as large. A key component in the Best In The World organisation, Grand Finale at the Valley might finally offer him the chance to actually win something and live up to that moniker.

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS)
Formula 1
Ricciardo is a much-loved driver, one keeping Calinetic's head above the water with his driving in 2018. Perhaps an occasion such as this, where the burden of keeping his employers afloat, and being able to drive for himself, might be a much needed stress-reliever and enjoyable weekend for the Aussie.

Ricardo Llosa (ESP)
FIA Prototype Challenge
The former GT champion is one-half of an oft-seen dynamic duo. The other half of it, Jordan McKenna, earned an automatic invite after the Mignolets did not accept theirs, and so no doubt Llosa won't want to feel left out as his long-time co-pilot gets a shot at glory.

James James Davies (GBR)
Retired
JJD is preparing for a full-time return to racing next year for Joest in the FIA Endurance Challenge. Davies is a very controversial figure, known for his short temper and flat-out approach. The event won't need a fireworks display if he earns a berth - JJD alone would suffice in that department.

Thomas De Bock (BEL)
AutoReject World Series
A year ago he'd have been top of the invite list as the 2017 AR World Series champion, but a less successful 2018 has left him without a pass to the event. You can be sure that despite his defection to Voeckler last year, he'll still have every Gillet ENB fan in Belgium behind him.

Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler (FRA)
Retired
The former Formula 1 world champion showed last year that he's not lost any of his talent behind the wheel, by showing the young bucks in Formula 5000 how it's done. Despite competing in less than half the season, he finished 5th in the championship with two wins and two seconds, demonstrating that age is no obstacle to success. Can he put the kids back in their place here as well?

André Lotterer (GER)
Formula 1 / Sportscars
One of the greatest sportscar drivers of our generation, albeit without so much luck in Formula 1, Lotterer is a cult figure revered in certain circles. A dedicated and loyal fanbase may well end up pushing him onto the grid.


You can start voting in the poll above, which will close on Thursday 1 Dec @ 1715 GMT. You can vote for two drivers at a time in this poll. The two drivers with the most votes in this round will earn a slot, then the remaining six will be voted on, and this process is repeated until all five places are taken. Get voting!

[CaptainGetz12]

Massimo Torelli will be more than happy to participate.

[DemocalypseNow]

With the first round complete for the All Star Vote, I can announce the following drivers have been voted into the event;

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS)
Thomas De Bock (BEL)

The second round of voting is now open, with the same rules as previous. The voting will end circa 72 hours from the timestamp on this post. Get voting!

[DemocalypseNow]

With the second round complete for the All Star Vote, I can announce the following drivers have been voted into the event;

Daniel Melrose (AUS)
Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler (FRA)

The final round of voting, where the fifth and final wildcard will be selected, is now open. Take note that James James Davies is no longer on the ballot, having requested to be taken off the list if he had not been selected by the end of the second round of voting. So it's a three horse race for the final slot. Get voting!

[DemocalypseNow]

The fifth and final Race of Champions slot is finally decided, and the lucky man in just before the lock is...

André Lotterer!

That brings to a close the All Star Vote, and confirms the 25 driver lineup for the event.


I did however forget to organise one thing. That thing is racing numbers. Driver owners have a free choice in this respect, sort of. You can pick a number for a driver, but it has to be one associated with them during their career. So when you pick a number, please give supporting evidence to qualify the choice.

RL drivers have already had numbers selected below based on said criteria. Numbers are assigned by level of importance first, then first-come first-served if series are considered on equal footing (i.e. ARWS and F1, F2 and AR 3.5). Numbers must be between 2-99. You can check the list below for conflicts. If I don't get a number from a DEC holder by Dec 13 they will have one assigned at random.

#3 Daniel Ricciardo (RL F1)
#4 Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler (3/4 are Voeckler numbers since 1960s)
#5 Sebastian Vettel (RL F1)
#6 Asim Adhikari (2018 Bentley number)
#7 Markus-Petteri Pykälistö (Number of rally hero Tommi Mäkinen)
#8 Jordan McKenna (FIA PC number)
#10 Aimée Gauthier (First racing number)
#12 Marvin Kirchhöfer (Won F2 title with #12)
#13 Salvatore Miccoli (Won F1RICS title with #13)
#17 Jules Bianchi (RL F1 number)
#18 Sandra Cessler (Canon debut number in RTSS)
#23 Hagane Shizua (Nissan factory driver number)
#25 Thomas De Bock (Gillet ENB number)
#26 Terry Hawkin (Won ARWS title this season with #26)
#27 Manuarii Vahirua (Number used in all canon seasons)
#33 Bastiaan van Nieuwenhuijzen (First racing number)
#36 André Lotterer (SuperFormula number)
#44 Lewis Hamilton (RL F1)
#50 Matt Grove (Deference to F5000 championship)
#60 Nathanael Cameron (Deference to JCT600 sponsorship)
#73 Daniel Melrose (Traditional MRT number)
#89 Sylvain Fabron (Ecurie Fabron number)
#90 Phillippe Nicolas (Year of birth)
#98 Mark Dagnall (DGN lead team number)
#99 Adolfo Moretti (Lupo GTI)

[Ataxia]

Nate Cameron will take the number 60, in deference to JCT600 who have supported his career.

[Normal32]

Sandra Cessler will use the number that started it all; #18

[DemocalypseNow]

With North American Formula 4 now finished, the eligible drivers to receive invites has been announced;

1. John Davis (USA)
2. Ed Howitzer (USA)
3. Alejandro de la Vega (MEX)
4. Arienne Sorel (CAN)
5. Joey Bennett (USA)
6. Mike Jones (USA)
7. Armando Maldonado (PUR)
8. Bill Jones (CAN)

The following drivers also receive reserve invites, in case any of the six ahead either decline to attend;

• Dexter Black (CAN) - Slot taken

Please either accept or decline the invites - once these are done, we can get on with the carset, and, perhaps even get the races done before the year comes to a close!

[FMecha]

Ed Howitzer is very, very interested to compete in the Grand Finale race!

[Normal32]

John Davis refuses the offer, considering the competition to be a joke and not up to his standards.

[V8fan12]

Joey Bennett and Arienne Sorel will accept their invites

[alg2159]

Alejandro de la Vega and Mike Jones are happy to take part of it !

[Dexter249]

Bill Jones Decides to take the reserve offer, Considering his luck over the season.

[DemocalypseNow]

The DEC holder of Armando Maldonado has had plenty of time to respond to their invite, so the last NAF4 slot will be passed to Bill Jones instead. That's the lineup a lock now, just the races to come!

[DemocalypseNow]

Davis skipping F4 World Final a "sign of fragility," says Christopherson

Following the decision by recently crowned North American F4 champion John Davis to skip the FIA F4 World Final, former F1 driver and Indy 500 champion Jack Christopherson has laid into the young American star for his diva attitude.

Christopherson, who is attending the World Finals in his role as protege to Imani Burrell - one of the competitors in the newly christened event - was unhappy with the 18 year old's comments, suggesting he had more lip than ability.

"These comments that he's too good for a best-of-the-best race, where every other Top 6 F4 driver on earth, except him, will be participating, is a sign of mental fragility," he said. "I think he is afraid the European drivers will take him to school. If he can't deal with that head on now, he never will. He can't cut it at F2 level, never mind F1, with an attitude like that."

Turning to the competitors that will be embracing the track at Grand Valley Speedway, the Brit appeared to have a clear picture in his mind of what to expect in the World Final.

"Imani will be a threat, I don't doubt that," he effused. "I think though it will be a battle royale between Sabrina Mann and John-Paul Casciaro, with Paolo Leonetti doing what he does best, hovering close behind and waiting to pounce on any small mistakes from the leaders."

The F4 World Final takes place this weekend, with eighteen drivers - six from each of the previous year's three regional series - taking part. The winner will be crowned the 2018 FIA Rising Star, with a grand prize of £50,000 towards their racing budget for next season.

At last, everything is ready, so expect the race to go live on Saturday!

[DemocalypseNow]

In just under an hour's time, the race will be broadcast live via text on Mibbit, and available to listen live via Twitch audio stream.

[DemocalypseNow]

Banzai Bandini snatches F4 World Final victory on final lap

The inaugural F4 World Final lived up to expectations, with Luca Bandini taking the honours at the death at Grand Valley Speedway following a last-lap pass on Sabrina Mann for the victory.

Local driver Ed Howitzer plonked his Brian Andore Racing run Crawford-Honda F4 car on the pole, but was beaten off the line by Bandini, and also found himself behind Shvetsov after the Turn 2 hairpin, but the North American F4 runner-up found himself back in the lead shortly thereafter. Trouble was brewing though for Paolo Leonetti, the recently crowned Italian F4 champion. He shared the front row with Howitzer, but a terrible start saw him shuffled down to 6th after the opening two laps.

The one driver everyone had their eye on before this weekend was the mercurial talent of Sabrina Mann. The newly crowned Anglo-Irish F4 champion is known for both her lighting speed, and also her lightning temperament. She could only muster 6th on the grid, a relative disappointment for the pre-race favourite. However, she quickly got up to speed, working her way up to the lead on Lap 9 with a brave move that moved her straight from 3rd to first, using Bandini as a drafting aid to slingshot past both the Italian and the NA F4 runner-up.

No-one else was much of a factor for the first half of the race, as Will Tregurtha had surprised many by climing from his starting position of 8th, up to 4th after the opening laps. He lost ground to Leonetti shortly thereafter, but then spent the next 6 laps leading a massive train of cars, causing an accordion effect in the midfield pack.

Drivers took turns trying and failing to find a way past the bright red Arden, each falling by the wayside for a new competitor after every failed attempt. However, when Alejandro de la Vega finally broke the deadlock just after the half-way point, the floodgates opened, with Tregurtha capitulating 5 places in a single lap, and another 5 still over the course of the remaining 9 laps.

John-Paul Casciaro had spent most of 2018 playing second fiddle to his far more prolific rival Mann, and again looked to be on the back foot, spending most of the race stuck in the midfield mire being caused by Tregurtha. His eventual escape on Lap 13 however was like uncorking a champagne bottle - the pressure was released and he came firing out of the blocks. He caught and passed successive upper midfield rivals, arriving at the rear of the duel for the lead between Mann and Bandini only 5 laps later, and set-up a three way battle for the victory.

At the beginning of the last lap, it looked like it would be a three-way tussle for the lead. Mann looked to be in a prime position to bring the win home, but a sloppy exit from the Turn 2 hairpin made her vulnerable, and a lunge by Bandini at Turn 6 turned out to be the decisive move, handing him a lead which would eventually deliver him victory.

This move by Bandini compromised Mann's exit from the second hairpin, allowing the closely following Casciaro to out-drag his Anglo-Irish F4 title rival up the hill towards Turn 7, promoting the Gibraltarain driver to 2nd. It looked like half-way through the lap this is how it would say, but with the top three squabbling with each other, they failed to account for the rapidly closing Howitzer. A 3 second gap at the start of the lap had been erased to zero when, the lead trio tripping up over each other exiting said turn, Howitzer made a fantastic exit from the second tunnel and latched on to Mann's draft to launch himself like a rocket alongside the quarrelling trio.

Caught unawares by Howitzer, both Mann and Casciaro failed to react, but a last minute jink by Bandini forced the flying American into evasive action, and the lost momentum saw Casciaro swing back around the outside of the long radius Turn 13 tunnel to retake 2nd. Mann's miserable finish was complete however, forced to settle for 4th having led the race only 8 corners previously, and having been at the head of the field for 9 of the race's 20 laps.

The drive of the day however went to a driver who finished outside of the Top 5 - Alex Smith. The Panthera UK driver found himself shuffled down to dead last after the opening lap, but methodically picked his way past opponents over the course of the remaining laps to move up from 18th to 6th by race's end. It was a measured performance from a driver who, while not having quite the outright pace to challenge for top honours, was a fine example of good racecraft.

For full race qualifying & results, click here.

[DemocalypseNow]

If you've seen the position trace telemetry, you'll notice that Joey Bennett gained six positions in the space of a lap.

The video below is how he pulled it off (click to watch).

[DemocalypseNow]

Moretti: An honour to be in this field

Adolfo Moretti has limited expectations for his Race of Champions appearance ahead of the Grand Finale at the Valley, where he will race against Formula 1 and ARWS champions, amongst others.

Moretti was a title contender in the now-defunct International Pro Car series, which earned him an invitation to the end-of-season bash alongside the likes of F1 champions Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Melrose and Daniel Riccardo, along with AutoReject World Series title winners including the once-dominant Mark Dagnall, reigning champion Terry Hawkin and 2017 winner Thomas De Bock.

The Sammarinese driver is keeping his expectations in check as a result, and is hoping to be the best of the touring car drivers racing at the event.

"It is an honour to be in this race, with so many great names of motorsport today," he said. "There are multiple world champions of the biggest series in motorsport, you cannot ask for more from a race designed to put the best against one another."

"To be included in that small group is something I'm not going to forget. For me, the target is just to beat my fellow touring car drivers. If I don't even finish in the top ten, but I can beat [Sylvain] Fabron and [Sandra] Cessler, I will be happy!"

"But of course, it would be nice to be top ten. We will see. The Radical is halfway between a touring car and a single seater, maybe this will help balance things out a bit."

Yes, this long forgotten race is finally going to be done! I don't know why I suddenly remembered about it, but I did, and all the talent files and car files are done, loaded and working, so hopefully the race will be a cinch to do.

Take a look here for the list of entrants and race information.