Active Racing Competition will field a Mustang for Borja Garcia

There will be a new Spanish team on the grid of the 2015 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season: Active Racing Competition. The Valencia-based squad will field the #1 Ford Mustang for 2014 title contender Borja Garcia and Salvador Tineo Arroyo, supported also by Ford Autolix and Ford Motorcraft.

Borja García casco
Borja García

Despite being in their first year in the Series, Active Racing Competition will rely on more than 20 year of experience in karting to take the challenge and provide Borja Garcia the best car to contend once again for the European NASCAR Championship.

“We start with a new structure, but we have clear ideas for the future and we want to be among the best. We want to fight for the championship,” said the Valencia-native, who won his first NWES race at the Nurburgring in 2014 and posted a total 8 top-5s and 10 top-10s in just 14 appearances in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. “We will need to learn fast and the competition will be even stronger than last year, but I have more experience both with the cars and the Series and I’m confident we can try to win!”

In the ELITE 2 Division it will be 20-year-old Salvador Tineo Arroyo to take the wheel of the #1 Ford Mustang. The San Pedro de Alcántara native made his NASCAR debut at Brands Hatch in 2014 and immediately showed great potential. He then returned at the Nurburgring and contended for the win, finishing second in both races.

“I’m well prepared and our goal is to be constantly up front, in the top-5 or in the top-10, and possibly contend for the ELITE 2 title. My ultimate goal is to go racing in NASCAR in the US,” said Tineo Arroyo, who scored a total of four top-5s in his four NWES starts. “I know the car better and I think that working with Borja and the team we can fight for both Championships”.

Active Racing Competition will have the home advantage at Valencia on April 25-26, when the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will make its 2015 debut with the second edition of the Valencia American Fest, the vastly successful american-themed event that attracted over 14.000 fans in 2014.

Valencia American Fest Time Table

WEDNESDAY 22 APRIL 2015
TIME ACTIVITY CATEGORY
9:00 PADDOCK OPENING NASCAR + GP CAMION VALENCIA
THURSDAY 23 APRIL 2015
TIME ACTIVITY CATEGORY
9:00 13:00 PRIVATE PRACTICE TIMED 1 NASCAR WHELEN EUROSERIES
14:00 17:00 PRIVATE PRACTICE TIMED 2 NASCAR WHELEN EUROSERIES
FRIDAY 24 APRIL 2015
TIME ACTIVITY CATEGORY
9:00 13:00 TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHECK NASCAR WHELEN EUROSERIES
9:00 12:00 ADMINISTRATIVE CHECK GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
9:00 0:00 TECHNICAL CHECKS GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
12:00 13:00 PRESS DAY PRESENTATION NASCAR + GP CAMION VALENCIA
13:10 14:10
14:20 15:25 FREE PRACTICE 1 NASCAR WHELEN EUROSERIES
15:40 16:40 FREE PRACTICE GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
17:00 18:05 PRACTICE 2 NASCAR WHELEN EUROSERIES
18:30 19:30 MANDATORY DRIVER BRIEFING NASCAR WHELEN EUROSERIES
SATURDAY 25 APRIL 2015
TIME ACTIVITY CATEGORY
9:00 9:20 FREE PRACTICE 1 GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
9:40 10:15 QUALIFYING NASCAR WHELEN EUROSERIES
10:25 10:45 FREE PRACTICE 2 GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
11:15 BRIEFING GP TRUCK GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
10:55 11:55 1/4 MILLA AMERICAN CAR MASTER
11:00 11:30 AUTOGRAPH SESSION PADDOCK SIDE NASCAR WHELEN EUROSERIES
12:00 12:20 QUALIFYING 1 GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
12:25 12:35 SUPER POLE GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
13:05 13:45 RACE 1 ELITE NASCAR WHELEN EUROSERIES
14:15 14:45 RACE 1 (11v) GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
14:55 15:55 TRUCK PARADE TUNED TRUCK
15:00 15:30 AUTOGRAPH SESSION PDK SIDE GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
16:00 16:15 HARLEY TRIAL HARLEY
16:30 17:00 RACE 2 (11v) GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
17:20 18:00 RACE 1 ELITE 2 NASCAR WHELEN EUROSERIES
SUNDAY 26 APRIL 2015
TIME ACTIVITY CATEGORY
8:30 8:45 WARM UP GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
9:30 9:50 QUALIFYING 2 GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
9:55 10:05 SUPERPOLE GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
10:30 11:10 RACE 2 ELITE 2 NASCAR WHELEN EUROSERIES
11:20 11:50 1/4 MILLA AMERICAN CAR MASTER
11:30 12:00 AUTOGRAPH SESSION PDK SIDE NASCAR + GP CAMION VALENCIA
12:35 13:05 RACE 3 (11v) GP CAMION DE VALENCIA
13:10 13:25 TRUCK PARADE TUNED TRUCK
14:00 14:40 RACE 2 ELITE 1 NASCAR WHELEN EUROSERIES
15:15 15:45 RACE 4 (11v) GP CAMION DE VALENCIA

 

MotoGP: Rossi takes sensational win in Qatar

Nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi claimed the first win of the 2015 MotoGP season in Qatar, after an awesome battle with Dovizioso.

Dovizioso and Iannone showed Ducati power
Dovizioso and Iannone showed Ducati power

Movistar Yamaha’s Rossi came out on top against the resurgent Ducati GP15’s of Dovizioso (2nd +0.174s) and Iannone (3rd +2.250s). Jorge Lorenzo was in 4th (+2.707s), with Marc Marquez (+7.036s) recovering to an incredible fifth position after running wide at turn 1 on the first lap, and having to work his way back through the field from last place.

Marquez’s Repsol Honda teammate Pedrosa finished in 6th (+10.755s), with Cal Crutchlow (+12.384s) the leading satellite bike on his CWM LCR Honda in 7th. Hector Barbera (Avintia Racing +33.625s) finished as the top Open class rider in 15th.

Moto2: Folger victorious as Lowes & Rabat crash out

The 21 year-old German Folger (AGR Team) took advantage of Johan Zarco’s mechanical issues, after the Frenchman had established a comfortable lead, to take the checkered flag and claim his first Moto2™ victory. Xavier Simeon (+5.051s) finished 2nd on the Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 Kalex, ahead of Thomas Luthi (+12.123s) in 3rd.

Alex Rins (+12.202s) launched an incredible attack at the end to almost steal the final podium spot, but had to settle for 4th on the Paginas Amarillas HP40 bike, ahead of Franco Morbidelli (+14.382s) and last year’s Moto2™ Championship runner-up Mika Kallio (+14.413s) in 6th on the Italtrans Racing Team Kalex.

Moto3: Frenchman Masbou wins thrilling Moto3 battle in Qatar

Alexis Masbou on the SAXOPRINT RTG Honda took the first race win of the 2015 Moto3™ season in Qatar, ahead of Bastianini and Kent.

Alexis MAsbou wins in Qatar
Alexis Masbou won in Qatar

The Moto3™ World Championship lived up to its reputation for providing incredible racing, with riders constantly swapping the lead throughout the 18 lap race. At times there were up to 17 bikes swapping paint and bashing elbows in the leading group, with less than a second separating the first 9 across the finish line.

It was the Frenchman Masbou who held his nerve in the drag to the checkered flag from the final corner, beating Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Team Moto3) by just 0.027s, after the Italian had started form 21st place on the grid.

British rider Danny Kent (+0.142s) took the final spot on the podium for his new Leopard Racing Team, with his teammate Efren Vazquez in 4th. Rookies Fabio Quartararo and Jorge Navarro showed his potential before finishing in 7th.and 12th

One of the pre-race favourites Miguel Oliveira on the Red Bull KTM Ajo machine, fell at turn 1 but managed to rejoin the race and finish in 16th.

Sueño cumplido para Roberto Merhi en la Formula 1

Merhi, Malasia, domingo
Roberto Merhi atiende a la prensa

El español Roberto Merhi, ha logrado hoy en Sepang completar las cincuenta y seis vueltas del Gran Premio de Malasia en el día de su debut en Fórmula 1. El corredor de Manor, nunca había rodado tanto tiempo al volante de una máquina de la categoría reina.

Roberto, que durante los entrenamientos libres y oficiales no disfrutó de mucho tiempo de pista, completó con una carrera libre de errores y muy sólida, un fin de semana que, a pesar de ser un desafío en si mismo, dadas las circunstancias, cerró con una nota más que alta, al igual que todo el personal de Manor F1 Team.

En la salida, Roberto logró mantener el contacto del resto de coches, aunque la inferioridad mecánica hizo que no pudiera mantener ninguna lucha en pista durante el transcurso de la prueba. De todas maneras, lo fundamental era aprender, acumular experiencia y kilómetros, conocer mejor el coche y probar diferentes configuraciones. Todo ello cumplido.

A pesar del calor asfixiante y la alta humedad, y del hecho de que nunca antes hubiera disputado una carrera tan larga, el valenciano no padeció físicamente. Ahora todo el equipo Manor mira ya hacia China, donde dentro de dos semanas se celebrará la tercera carrera de la temporada.

Roberto Merhi: “Me he divertido, ha sido un día para disfrutar cada momento. Hice una buena salida, pero no era lo fundamental hoy. Lo importante era no cometer ningún fallo en los doblajes, ni tampoco en mi pilotaje o los cambios de rueda, y en este sentido todo ha salido muy bien. He acumulado muchos kilómetros y conozco el monoplaza muchísimo mejor que hace 24 horas. Pasada ya la emoción del debut, ahora toca mirar hacia adelante, y lo primero de todo centrarme en los test de World Series by Renault que comienzan mañana en Aragón, y después, ojalá que en el Gran Premio de China. Quiero dar las gracias a todo el equipo Manor por haberme permitido cumplir este sueño. Ya soy piloto de F1 para el resto de mi vida, el objetivo por el que he luchado desde que era niño.”

Roberto Merhi at the F1 Malaysia starting grid

It’s a very special day for Roberto Merhi as the Spanish driver of the Manor F1 Team will be on tomorrow’s starting grid of the Malaysian Grand Prix, his first ever time in a F1 race. Roberto is starting from the 10th row.

This morning the third and final free practice session was held and here, the Castellón born driver, still in the first phase of discovering the behavior of his car, managed finally to beat his team mate by almost four tenths of a second. A good augury for the qualifying session where Merhi was again 19th and, even if his time was two tenths out of the 107% cut-off, the stewards decided that, given the lap times he set in free practice, he has shown enough speed to be allowed to race on Sunday.

Merhi, Malasia, sabado
Roberto Merhi at the Manor pit garage

An achievement of great merit, given the circumstances of this beginning of the season, with the reborn Manor team doing a titanic task rewarded with this great result. Tomorrow Roberto Merhi will be on the starting grid besides some of the big names that he has admired since the start of his racing career.

Roberto Merhi: “Now I can really feel like a F1 driver. Tomorrow I will have the chance to be on a F1 starting grid for the first time and it will be a very special moment, maybe the most intense I’ve lived so far. I only miss my parents not being here with me, in Malaysia, to share it all together as they are as involved as me in what’s happening. It has been a long and hard road for several years, but with effort and sacrifice you can get there. All the Manor Team has done an amazing job during the whole weekend and this is a reward they have deserved, from the Directors to the last of the mechanics. We’ve got a common target, we are like a big family. In the race we know that it will be impossible to fight the other cars but we are giving our all to get the best possible results. At a technical level, today I did feel a bit more confident on the track, both with the car and the circuit itself. I know that it’s a matter of kilometers to reach the level I know I can offer.”

Roberto Merhi partirá desde la décima fila del GP de Malasia de F1

Merhi, Malasia, sabado
Roberto Merhi

Hoy es un día muy especial para Roberto Merhi. El piloto español de Manor F1 Team, estará mañana en la parrilla de salida del Gran Premio de Malasia por primera vez en su vida. Roberto partirá desde la décima fila.

Esta mañana, tenía lugar la tercera y última sesión de libres de la carrera malaya de Formula 1. En ella, el castellonense, que aun está en las primeras fases de descubrir el comportamiento de su monoplaza, lograba finalmente batir a su compañero de equipo por casi cuatro décimas. Un buen augurio para la posterior sesión de calificación. En esta, Merhi ha vuelto a ser decimonoveno, y aunque su tiempo se quedó por unas décimas fuera del 107%, los comisarios decidieron en función de los tiempos marcados en los libres, que había demostrado la velocidad necesaria para ser admitido en la carrera del domingo.

Un logro de grandísimo mérito, habida cuenta de las circunstancias en las que se ha desarrollado este arranque de temporada, en el que Manor ha renacido de las cenizas, llevando a cabo todo su personal una tarea titánica, que se ha visto recompensada con este resultado. Mañana, por tanto, Roberto Merhi estará en una parrilla de salida junto a algunos grandes nombres que, desde que inicio su andadura en competición, ha admirado.

Roberto Merhi: “Ahora sí, ya puedo sentirme plenamente como piloto de Fórmula 1. Mañana tendré la oportunidad de estar en la primera parrilla de salida de mi vida, y será un momento muy especial, probablemente el más intenso que haya vivido. Lo único que lamento, es que no estén mis padres aquí conmigo en Malasia para vivirlo juntos, porque son tan culpables como yo de que esto esté sucediendo. Ha sido un camino muy largo y muy duro de varios años, pero con esfuerzo y sacrificio se puede llegar. El equipo Manor ha hecho un trabajo fantástico durante todo el fin de semana y este es un premio que se merecían, desde los directores hasta el último mecánico. Tenemos un objetivo común, somos como un gran familia. En carrera sabemos que será imposible pelear con el resto de coches, pero lo daremos todo para lograr el mejor resultado posible. A nivel técnico, hoy me he sentido algo más confiado en pista, tanto con el coche, como con el propio trazado. Sé que es una cuestión de kilómetros alcanzar el nivel que sé que puedo ofrecer.”

Roberto Merhi speeds to his debut in Formula 1

Now, Spaniard Roberto Merhi has taken his first steps towards the longed for debut in a Formula 1 race that, foreseeably, will take place this Sunday at Sepang as Merhi was able to run in both sessions of free practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix with Manor.

In the first session the Spaniard completed his first laps at the steering wheel of his new single-seater, having in addition to learn the layout of the Malayan track, on which he has never run, nor even trained in a simulator. In spite of going very carefully, and not having a high number of laps, Roberto set a time within the 107% rule. In the second session, unfortunately he could not complete the anticipated program, since he had a spin when he was improving on his personal best time and also aiming to beat his teammate. This also prevented him from using the soft tyres at the end of the session, so he ended up with a slower time, set before the final minutes, when most drivers improved theirs.

Tomorrow, in the third session of free training, the objective of the driver from Castellon de la Plana is to finish preparing for the important qualifying session that will take place at noon. Here he will have to have his first run with the soft tire, a new chapter of discovery for him, on a weekend in which practically everything he does is for the first time.

Roberto Merhi: “It’s a pain that I have not been able to make all the laps that we had predicted for the second session of free practice, because each lap has been more comfortable as I got more used to the feel of the car. It is hard to arrive at a Grand Prix and to have to learn not only the track but also the car, but all the Manor team is doing a great job and they are helping me and supporting me a lot. We have taken a very significant step forward with respect to Australia, but I hope to improve further tomorrow in the third session of free practice and and in qualifying.
Besides the sporting aspect, I want to remember all the families that are suffering because the sad aeroplane accident of last Tuesday. It was a shock for time when I learnt about it just after landing at Singapore. We took off from Barcelona’s airport almost at the same time it happened. I want to send them all my love and support at such a very sad moment for them all.”

Rossi: “It is like the first day of school”

Reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Marc Marquez was joined on stage for the press conference by Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso, Aleix Espargaro and Cal Crutchlow. The riders each talked about the upcoming season, before taking questions from the assembled journalists.

Marquez said, “He feels better than last year,” and that he thinks that this will be an “exciting season,” as it looks like it will be a lot closer than last year. The Repsol Honda rider went on to say how he prefers battling out with a group of riders, instead of just one main competitor because “It is much more fun,” and thinks that by the time the championship reaches Europe, we will have a much better idea of who the title contenders will be.

Nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi compared the opening round of the season to “The first day at school,” and agreed that the 2015 championship will be much more hotly contested than last year. The Italian reminisced about his battles over the last two years in Qatar with Marquez, and is looking forward to taking him on once more during the race.

Movistar Yamaha’s double MotoGP™ World Champion, Jorge Lorenzo, told the gathered crowd that he is “Fitter than ever this year and 5kg lighter,” something that he hopes he will “notice on the straights.” He also hopes to “learn from last year’s crash in Qatar,” and is happy with his bike, and the work his team have done since the end of last season.

Andrea Dovizioso said, “It was great to finish the Qatar test fastest overall,” and while he concedes that his team need to work on consistency, he believes this year they will be more competitive and that there is still “more to come from the bike.” The factory Ducati rider stating that he believes the new GP15 should be, “Fast in the race,” and not just qualifying.

rossi crutchlow, dovizioso
Qatar Press Conference

Suzuki Ecstar’s Aleix Espargaro mentioned that, “He was excited to start this new project as a Factory rider,” although he admitted, “fighting for a podium would be hard in the first few races,” as their focus would be on developing the bike to allow them to be more competitive as the season progresses. He also admitted when asked that his Open class Yamaha from last year was actually “Faster than the Suzuki,” but already he prefers his new bike as the chassis is much better and it has more potential.

Cal Crutchlow brought the biggest laughs of the day when he was asked to describe his CWM LCR Honda in just one word, to which he responded, “White!” He mentioned he already “Feels comfortable on his new Honda,” and says this is down to the work he and the team have put in during the preseason. The British rider went on to say that he will be pushing for the podium straight away, but that obviously they should improve as the season goes on, as he familiarises himself more with the bike.

The MotoGP™ track action begins tomorrow at 7:55pm local time, when riders head out for the first Free Practice session, before the opening race of the 2015 season on Sunday, under the floodlights in Qatar.

Moto3 World Championship gets under way in Qatar

The 2015 Moto3™ World Championship begins with the Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar this weekend.

Jorge Navarro Moto3 Circuito de Jerez Estrella Galicia Honda
Jorge Navarro

The Moto3™ class has always been a platform for the best young riders in the world to showcase their talent, and for 2015 this is no different with only four riders competing in the Championship over the age of 21.
Frenchman Fabio Quartararo will be the youngest rider to ever to compete in a full season in Moto3™, at just 15 years and 343 days, with the organisers having changed the rules this year to allow someone under the age of 16 to take part in a race. Quartararo was the CEV Repsol Moto3™ Champion from 2014, and has already impressed a number of people with his pace during preseason, having joined the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Team for 2015.
There are a number of new faces that will line up on the grid in 2015, including last years Red Bull Rookies Cup Champion Jorge Martin, who will be joined by Juanfran Guevara and Francesco Bagnaia on the  on the Mapfre Mahindra Team.
Quartararo is joined in the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Team by the man who finished runner-up to him last year, Jorge Navarro, while Gabriel Rodrigo will be the first ever Argentinian to compete in Moto3™, for the RBA Racing Team.
Maria Herrera will be the second female to compete full-time in the Moto3™ class alongside Ana Carrasco, as she becomes teammates with Isaac Viñales in the Husqvarna Factory Laglisse Racing Team. Efren Vazquez, who took two race wins last year on his way to 4th in the championship, lines up alongside British rider Danny Kent for the Leopard Racing Team, with Scottish rider John McPhee also returning to the the grid with the Saxoprint-RTG Team.
Karel Hanika, Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira make up an extremely competitive Factory Red Bull KTM Ajo team, while the rider who finished the championship in 5th last year, Romano Fenati, is joined by compatriot Andrea Migno in the Sky Racing Team VR46.
A total of 14 nationalities will be represented on the grid when the lights go out in Qatar, and with less than 0.6s separating the first six across the line last year, it once again promises to be an exciting start to the 2015 Moto3™ World Championship.
Teams have an extra day of practice at the Losail International Circuit to prepare for the season opener, with things kicking off on Thursday in Qatar ahead of qualifying on Saturday and the Moto3™ race scheduled to take place at 6pm local time in Qatar on Sunday.

2015 Moto2 World Championship begins in Qatar

The 2015 Moto2 World Championship starts this weekend with the Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar.

After the recent weather-affected final preseason test in Jerez, it is hard to predict any favourites for the 2015 Moto2™ title as riders prepare to do battle under the lights at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

Rabat
Tito Rabat

Tito Rabat becomes the first ever Moto2™ World Champion since the class began to attempt to defend his title on the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Racing Kalex, with previous Champions having decided to move up to the MotoGP™ class. Rabat is joined in 2015 by two of the top three Moto3™ riders from last season as well as 14 of the top 15 riders in the Moto2™ standings from 2014, with only Maverick Viñales having left the class to join the factory Suzuki Ecstar team in MotoGP™.
Speed Up Racing´s Sam Lowes will hope to continue his preseason form during 2015 as he begins his second season in the class, while last years Moto2™ runner-up Mika Kallio has made the switch this year to the Italtrans Racing Team.
With serial contenders like Johann Zarco, Luis Salom, Axel Pons, Simone Corsi, Thomas Luthi and Rabat´s new teammate, the 2014 Moto3™ World Champion Alex Marquez, also lining up on the grid, it is shaping up to be an incredibly competitive season.
The Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar starts on Thursday with two practice days for the riders, before qualifying on Saturday, with the Moto2™ race due to take place at 19:20 local time on Sunday night.