What a weekend of motorsport action it has been, from Singapore to Chicago.
Firstly, we begin at Formula 1’s night race, the Singapore GP. There’s a possible change of the guard and new developments in Red Bull’s quest for an engine supplier.
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It was also the first race in The Chase for the Sprint Cup too for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, and already we’re seeing upsets.
With the TCR Series joining the Formula 1 paddock this weekend, we take a look at how motorsport’s youngest series is holding up, and an equally young Championship in the RallyCross World Championship’s latest round in Barcelona.
Finally, the World Superbike Championship rounds up our look at the motorsport weekend.
1. Formula 1: Vettel takes Ferrari win as Mercedes falter
No, qualifying wasn’t a once off. With Vettel on pole, Ricciardo in second and the Mercedes back in fifth and sixth, everyone thought that the Silver Arrows would slice through the field like a hot knife through butter, but this wasn’t the case. Vettel romped away with a well earned victory, with Ricciardo second and Raikkonen third while Hamilton failed to finish for the first time in 19 races. Rosberg came in fourth, and reduced the Championship deficit to 41 points.
2. Formula 1: Red Bull and Audi might join forces in 2018, Ferrari to supply engines for the interim
While the Renault power units didn’t suffer as badly around Singapore as other circuits, the team is still looking for a new supplier for 2016 after it parted ways with Renault. Ferrari looks like the most obvious option but with rumours that Renault is looking to repurchase Lotus, Red Bull might be a title sponsor for an Audi team in 2018.
It’s all rumours so far, but comes from Auto Bild, one of the most trustworthy sources in the motoring world.
So, does this mean Audi’s ditching its Le Mans programme in favour of F1? Only time will tell.
3. World Superbikes Series: Jonathan Rea claims maiden Championship
Jonathan Rea has had one almighty season. The Northern Irishman has won 12 races so far, with this weekend at Jerez being the only two races he’s finished outside the podium spots.
While he won the Championship in commanding fashion, Tom Sykes won the first race to retake second in the Championship. In race two, the Brit suffered from decaying tyres which allowed in-form Chaz Davies to take another win.
4. TCR: American Kevin Gleason wins in Singapore
Rather incredibly, the only American in the field won the race, in the form of Kevin Gleason. The rookie took the ten-lap race by storm from third on the grid, and brought his Honda Civic home just 0.8 seconds ahead of SEAT’s Stefano Comini.
5. NASCAR Sprint Cup: Kevin Harvick crashes, Denny Hamlin wins with torn ACL
The Chase format is loved by some and hated by others, but we’re growing to like the strange playoff-style system. Someone who isn’t though is Kevin Harvick who crashed out of the Chicagoland race, finishing a lowly 42nd overall. He’s now dead last in the race of the Cup.
But another driver guaranteed for the next stage of the Chase was Denny Hamlin, who drove the race with a torn ACL in his knee. Stellar effort really.
6. RallyX: Petter Solberg’s back to his best in Barcelona
What a legend. Citroen’s Petter Solberg has taken another race victory, after his rather eventful weekend turned around on the final day at the Catalunya circuit. The Norwegian didn’t put a single foot wrong in the final heat of the event, finishing 2.6 seconds clear of Volkswagen’s Johan Kristoffersson. Timmy Hansen finished a distant third.
Feature image: Sean Gardner/Getty Images via NASCAR
