May One 2020 SOUTH AFRICAN and WORLD racing NEWS and VIEWS WSBK DTM KARTING Photo: WorldSBK.com Photo: DTM.com Photo: Heinrich Sauer See Page 6 See Page 21 See Page 13 Four F1 Teams Facing Closure See page 9 Pic by: Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool Ducati Need Closed doors Dovizioso Ruled Out Page 20 Page 18 2 • 8 May 2020 • Motorsport World Advertising Tel: 082 570 2995 No Jokers In This Pack while every season since 1984 has featured a minimum of 16 races. FORMULA 1 But however long the 2020 Sebastian Vettel and Esteban campaign ends up being, Renault Ocon believe a shorter Formula driver Ocon reckons it would not 1 season would still result in a devalue the achievements of the worthy 2020 world champion. year’s eventual title winners. But they have both stressed “The more we can do the better a more condensed campaign it would be for a championship,” would place an extra premium on Ocon told Sky Sports News. “But consistency - with Ocon admitting I agree that for a good 10 races or teams and drivers would be left more if we can do that it would be without any “jokers” to play in still valid. their results. This year had been scheduled Picture: Pirelli to be the longest F1 campaign in history at 22 races, but the sport is now targeting a campaign of between 15 and 18 events once racing is able to resume in safe circumstances. Tentative plans are being put in place to open the season with a behind-closed-doors Austrian GP on July 5, provided relevant LONG ENOUGH: This year government permissions are given, had been scheduled to be the but F1 have also stressed they know longest F1 campaign in history nothing can yet be set in stone amid at 22 races, but the sport is the fast-moving coronavirus crisis. now targeting a campaign The continued growth of the F1 of between 15 and 18 events calendar means at least 19 events once racing is able to resume per season were held in the 2010s, in safe circumstances. Lorenzo Return On Hold a miserable sole campaign on the During the opening pre-season his decision. helped him rediscover the MOTOGP works Honda, though signed with test of the year in Malaysia – where However, in an interview given Yamaha and certain reflexes. Yamaha in the winter to become its Lorenzo rode the 2019-spec M1 to Italian newspaper Gazzetta “He too is now confused: Yamaha MotoGP team boss official test rider. on the last day – he admitted a dello Sport, Jarvis said he wasn’t it becomes difficult to decide Lin Jarvis has downplayed The three-time premier class full-time return was slightly more sure how feasible a comeback for whether to race again without the chances of Jorge Lorenzo champion was due to make a likely, though he insisted he was Lorenzo would be. being able to ride on track. He returning to full-time wildcard appearance on the still 98 percent convinced of his “It could be another solution for was supposed to do the wildcard competition in 2021. M1 at the Catalan Grand Prix retirement, and more recently he Petronas [SRT] or others, he only in Barcelona, now we don’t even Lorenzo retired from MotoGP before it was postponed by the claimed that he “wouldn’t be short has a one-year contract with us,” know if they will be allowed at the end of last year following coronavirus pandemic. of offers” if he decided to reverse said Jarvis. “The test in Sepang this season.” Hockenheim Wants To Race Hockenheim was unable to reach a races behind closed doors over the quite normal to ask each other what a thing is possible, how it would FORMULA 1 fresh agreement with F1 to host the summer - prompting Hockenheim the respective status is. take place. We exchanged ideas race again this year. to throw its hat into the ring as a “We are in dialogue regarding casually,” Teske said. Hockenheim has confirmed it The German Grand Prix did potential venue. these topics. And we have also “But not about dates, is in early talks with Formula 1 not feature on the 22-race calendar “I can confirm that we are in talked about the uncertainties of the conditions, contract set-ups, over the possibility of hosting initially planned by F1 for 2020, talks,” Hockenheim CEO Jorn race calendar in Formula 1.” which are absolutely necessary a grand prix in 2020. only for the COVID-19 pandemic Teske said. Teske said that while early talks in order to be able to seriously After securing title to result in the opening 10 rounds “We were and are in contact had taken place, they were yet examine something like this. It sponsorship from Mercedes to to be called off. with our colleagues from Formula to discuss any potential dates or didn’t go that far.” help keep the German Grand F1 officials are now aiming 1 from time to time anyway. After contractual terms. Prix on the calendar for 2019, to complete a run of European so many years of partnership, it is “We talked about whether such Advertising Tel: 082 570 2995 Motorsport World • 8 May 2020 • 3 Verstappen Move Outlawed Winterbottom into the pits during the fourth race but was able to get FORMULA 1 out ahead of him. Supercars is set to outlaw a That stop included a pitlane pitlane hack first introduced to speeding infringement for the its Eseries by Max Verstappen Penske Ford driver after an over- and since adopted by Scott eager exit, which was cleared by McLaughlin. race control. The trick involves manually In an earlier stop, McLaughlin’s managing speed when transiting engineer Richard Harris can be pitlane during stops, which allows heard telling the Bathurst 1000 the car to move slightly quicker winner to ‘use his trick’ on his way than if the pit speed limiter into pitlane. is engaged. The All Stars Eseries Supercars is now set to outlaw continues next Wednesday the practice, with use of the limiter with races at famous Formula 1 to be made mandatory. venues Spa-Francorchamps and It’s believed Verstappen was the the Nurburgring. first to use the cheeky workaround during his cameo in the series Picture: Red Bull Content Pool a fortnight ago, which included jumping Shane van Gisbergen and pulling two seconds on Scott McLaughlin during one of SPEED: It’s believed his stops. Verstappen was the first to The issue really came to a head use the cheeky workaround during last night’s round, however, during his cameo in the series after McLaughlin followed Mark a fortnight ago. Racetrack Converted To Hospital novel coronavirus spread. pandemic, and in conjunction with in Birmingham, it is hoped the Hospital at the Excel centre FORMULA E At present, the 70,000-capacity the Ministry of Defence, the venue temporary facilities will relieve in London.” exhibition centre in the London will open as a two-ward makeshift some of the strain on the NHS. “With the help of the military The London ExCeL Centre, Docklands is still set to stage a hospital that can accommodate In a daily government press and with NHS clinicians, we which is scheduled to host double-headed FE event on the 4,000 beds. conference, health secretary Matt will make sure that we have the the Formula E season finale, is July 25-26 weekend as the series Along with other identified Hancock said: “We will, next week, capacity that we need so that being re-purposed to open as returns to the UK. sites, which look set to include open a new hospital, a temporary everyone can get the support that a temporary hospital amid the In response to the COVID-19 the National Exhibition Centre hospital, the NHS Nightingale they need. chunk of the race would take place take part at Le Mans, expects lap under limited visibility at night. times to come down significantly Moreover, 2020 marks the because of the rescheduled date. final year of the LMP1 class in “I think what we could its current guise, before slower see [is] one of the faster or Fast And Furious LM Hypercars make up the quicker Le Mans in recent during September, according to and ACO President Pierre Fillon new top category of the FIA history because typically with LE MANS Goodyear’s Motorsport Director is willing to push back the event World Endurance Championship cooler temperatures comes an Ben Crawley. further until October or November from 2021. Goodyear, which expectation of drivers and teams This year’s Le Mans 24 Hours The 88th running of the French if the situation so demands. supplies tyres to JOTA and Jackie being able to opt for a greater could be one of the fastest in classic has been moved from its In either case, ambient and track Chan DC Racing outfit in the balance, or focus on some of the recent history due to cooler original June slot to September 19- temperatures would be significantly LMP2 class of WEC as well as softer specification tyres that we conditions prevailing in France 20 due to the coronavirus pandemic, lower than in June, while a larger some of the ELMS teams that will would have. EDITOR IN CHIEF PUBLISHER Robbyn Ramsay - [email protected] Topic Publishing (Pty) Ltd - Phone: 082 570 2995 MANAGING EDITOR DESIGN Craig Ramsay - [email protected] Blankpage Design & Advertising LETTERS PRINT [email protected] Paarlcoldset WEBSITE DISTRIBUTION www.motorsportworld.co.za Allied Distributers MARKETING MANAGER SALE OUTLETS Stewart Ramsay - 082 570 2995 Spar, Garage Shops, Airports, Pick ‘n Pay [email protected] 4 • 8 May 2020 • Motorsport World Advertising Tel: 082 570 2995 Dream Race Nightmare campaign is likely to be further DTM/ delayed, with the current schedule already stretching into November.