There are few simracing event bigger or more prestigious than last weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual – if any. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Featuring 43 entries and 172 drivers featuring some elite names in simracing and real world motorsport – Romain Grosjean , Jeffrey Rietveld, Felix Rosenqvist, Jimmy Broadbent – the event received lavish broadcast presentation with veteran Martin Haven on commentary, Alex Brundle offering analysis and live links to Hayley Edmonds interviewing drivers between stints, just like the real thing. If there were any doubts as to how serious this event was and how seriously the team was taking it, the €2,000 entrance fee to participate and the $250,000 prize fund should speak for itself. And if the event needed any more legitimacy, it could do no better than the participation of Max Verstappen – the reigning two-time Formula 1 world champion. But beyond the race-breaking server problems and random disconnection … [Read more...] about Why motorsport’s love of esports has been bad news for simracers · RaceFans
Lower z score
The upcoming motorsport games we’re most eager to play in 2023 · RaceFans
With another year comes another collection of racing games for players to look forward to, and 2023 looks as though it could be a memorable year for the genre. From a long-awaited next entry in a major series to the annual franchises players are intimately familiar with, there are many exciting titles set to be released over the next 12 months. Here are the titles scheduled for release in 2023 that RaceFans is most excited to play. Forza Motorsport – Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, PC Turn 10 / Microsoft – Spring 2023 Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The last time a ‘true’ Forza Motorsport game was released Lewis Hamilton was only a three-times world champion. But this year, Xbox and PC gamers finally get a new entry in the franchise that is Microsoft’s answer to Gran Turismo. However, unlike GT7 that was released last year, Forza Motorsport will only be released on current-gen Series S|X consoles and PC – completely untethered from previous-gen … [Read more...] about The upcoming motorsport games we’re most eager to play in 2023 · RaceFans
Houston Rockets report card: Grading Stephen Silas’s squad at midseason
The 2022-23 season isn't exactly going as planned for the Houston Rockets . Stephen Silas's squad approached the year viewed by many as a scrappy unit worth watching, one who could at best challenge for a play-in spot while at the very least earning a spot as a League Pass darling. The latter scenario hasn't even come to fruition thus far. The Rockets enter Friday night with an NBA-worst 10–31 record . They rank last in offensive rating. No team sports a lower assist percentage, and curiously, the NBA's second-youngest teams sits No. 28 in transition scoring. The Rockets aren't just a rebuilding team. They're sadly one of the league's uglier watches on a given night. Let's not be too dour with a half season remaining on the 2022-23 schedule. The Rockets do show flashes of promise amid the extended stretches of poor play, and there are multiple individual pieces with All-Star potential. Growing that talent into a cohesive group is now the challenge. So how should we … [Read more...] about Houston Rockets report card: Grading Stephen Silas’s squad at midseason
F1 B-team comments about Haas felt like a “broken record”
Listen to this article Following a difficult 2021 that saw the team opt against car development and fail to score any points, Haas made a flying start to 2022 as Kevin Magnussen finished fifth in the season-opener. But the upswing in form from Haas led to scrutiny from other teams, including McLaren , which raised concerns about the relationships between so-called A- and B-teams in F1. Haas has enjoyed a technical partnership with Ferrari since joining the grid in 2016, taking a number of listed parts as permitted by the regulations. The American team always maintained that its door was open for the FIA to conduct any checks if there were genuine concerns about the relationship, although no formal complaint was made. Reflecting on the comments made by other teams, Haas F1 boss Steiner said "you get used to it" after years of questions about the relationship with Ferrari. "If you are good, you are a copycat; if you are doing bad, nobody cares," Steiner told … [Read more...] about F1 B-team comments about Haas felt like a “broken record”
Vote for your 2016 Chinese Grand Prix Driver of the Weekend · RaceFans
Which F1 driver was the best performer during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend? Review how each driver got on below and vote for who impressed you the most during the last race weekend. Chinese Grand Prix driver-by-driver Mercedes Lewis Hamilton – A handful of off-track moments indicated he was less than happy with the car on Friday. But he might as well have stayed in bed on Saturday as a power unit fault wrecked his qualifying attempt. After picking up front wing damage in the first corner melee Hamilton was still in 21st place when the race restarted. Racing a wounded car once again – Hamilton suspected damage to his suspension as well as aerodynamics, and said the W07 “seemed to be flexing all over the place” – he nonetheless got stuck into the midfield and ran as high as third at one point. However he was forced to use medium tyres for his final stint which confined him to seventh place. Nico Rosberg – With Hamilton compromised and Ferrari tripping up in qualifying, … [Read more...] about Vote for your 2016 Chinese Grand Prix Driver of the Weekend · RaceFans
2012 F1 Driver Rankings part two: 14-6 · RaceFans
The 2012 driver rankings continue with part two, which take us up to the top five. 14. Felipe Massa Beat team mate in qualifying 2/20 Beat team mate in race 0/17 Races finished 19/20 Laps spent ahead of team mate 70/1081 Halfway through the season Massa appeared at number 22 in these rankings, so 14th represents a significant gain following his disastrous first half of the season. Massa never mastered the F2012 when it was at its worst the way Alonso did. In Malaysia he dropped back from his team mate at a rate of over two seconds per lap and was almost lapped by him at the end. In Spain, as in Malaysia, the next car behind him at the finish was a Caterham. As the Ferrari improved Massa made faltering progress. There were still wasted races in Canada (spin), Germany (went off during qualifying) and Singapore (collided with the other Caterham). While Alonso only failed to reach Q3 twice, Massa missed out in half of the races. But there were also … [Read more...] about 2012 F1 Driver Rankings part two: 14-6 · RaceFans
Sting Ray Robb confirmed in #51 Coyne-RWR IndyCar for 2023
Listen to this article Following Takuma Sato’s departure to Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda for an oval-only program, and Formula 2 driver Marcus Armstrong – who tested for Coyne last October – being snapped up by CGR to drive the same #11 entry on road and street courses, team owners Coyne and #51 car co-owner Rick Ware were left with good quality albeit lower-profile names available. Following a test on Jan. 4 th at Sebring, signing Robb became a priority for Coyne who was left highly impressed by the 21-year-old Idahoan , and eager to pair him with incumbent young star David Malukas, who will again race the #18 DCR with HMD Motorsports-Honda. “We’re very excited to have Sting Ray join our team,” said Coyne. “He is coming off a very strong Indy NXT (Indy Lights’ new nomenclature) season and he impressed us and performed very well earlier this month at our test. “I think he and David will make a great pairing. With David continuing where he left off last year, and Sting … [Read more...] about Sting Ray Robb confirmed in #51 Coyne-RWR IndyCar for 2023
Kentucky GOP seeks school closure records from Dem governor
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Still fuming over pandemic-era shutdowns, Kentucky Republicans are pushing to obtain behind-the-scenes correspondence that Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and his inner circle had about school closures at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. Their sweeping request comes as Beshear ramps up his bid for a second term this year in a state Republicans have come to dominate. A dozen Republicans are competing for a shot at trying to unseat Beshear, whose approval ratings have remained high on the strength of his response to tornadoes and flooding as well as a string of economic development and infrastructure successes. Such a broad-based records request isn't uncommon among political operatives. The Kentucky GOP wants to dig into pandemic-era correspondence received or sent by Beshear and key administration members, looking for any opportunities to inflict damage on education and pandemic management issues that Beshear has championed as governor. They've asked for … [Read more...] about Kentucky GOP seeks school closure records from Dem governor
61 cars make Daytona “a bit like a gymkhana”, says Bourdais
Listen to this article Next week’s Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona will feature 61 starters, including nine cars in IMSA’s new premier GTP class. With the first day of 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship action now in the books in the Roar Before the 24, Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac’s Sebastien Bourdais suggested the GTP participants are treading especially carefully when lapping the four lower classes, since no manufacturers have had a chance to stockpiled spares. “It was a very busy this morning that is for sure,” said the French ace, who scored 37 Indy car wins but has also accumulated two wins in the Rolex 24 Hours and one in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “With 61 cars, everyone was trying to find their references and it did feel a bit like a gymkhana in heavy traffic which is a little scary because everybody is really scarce on spare parts and we all got the message loud and clear. “You are already finding yourself in situations you do not want to be in because you can’t … [Read more...] about 61 cars make Daytona “a bit like a gymkhana”, says Bourdais