Maximilian Guenther will race for DS Penske within the 2024-25 Formula E season alongside two-time champion Jean-Eric Vergne.
The German will replace 2021/22 champion Stoffel Vandoorne, whose move to Maserati MSG was confirmed in July.
The 27-year-old joined DS Penske after spending two seasons with Maserati MSG, during which he won two races in Jakarta and Tokyo, but lacked the consistency to win the title, ending seventh and eighth within the drivers' championship respectively.
Before his two-year stint at Maserati MSG, Guenther spent a 12 months at Nissan and two seasons at BMW, scoring three victories with the German manufacturer.
He made his Formula E debut within the 2018-19 season with the Dragon team, run by Jay Penske, who’s now team principal of DS Penske after the 2 reunited.
“I am very happy to join DS Penske, a championship powerhouse and a project with a strong vision,” said Guenther.
“We share the identical ambitions and are all determined to be at the highest of Formula E. Representing DS Performance, a manufacturer that has already won several championships, is an actual honour.
“The same goes for being teammates with a champion like Jean-Eric, that’s something I’m really looking forward to. A very special element for me is to be back riding for Jay’s team, he got me into the championship when I was 20. I’m proud to be part of the team and excited about what we’ll build together in the future.”
Max Gunther, DS Penske
Photo: DPPI
The signing of Guenther leaves only a handful of grid spots to be confirmed, including second place within the Nissan, each ERT positions and team-mate Lucas di Grassi’s spot within the Abt.
Eugenio Franzetti, DS Performance Director, added: “We are delighted to welcome Maximilian Guenther to our team!
“He is an ambitious and combative driver who will be able to secure us podiums and also many points. I am sure that his cooperation with Jean-Erik will be very effective and that we will be able to challenge the winners of Season 10 to achieve even better results in Season 11, which is just starting!”
Theo Pourchaire, the youngest ever Formula 2 race winner, triumphing in Monaco at just 17, was once probably the most promising prospects in Formula 1. After winning the F2 title on the age of 20 but only on his third attempt, the Sauber reserve driver failed to search out his option to the head of motorsport because the Swiss team kept its line-up of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu unchanged.
This yr’s forays into Super Formula and IndyCar were temporary for the standard Frenchman but have yielded eventful seasons, and a rather frustrated but desperately optimistic Pourchaire is looking forward to further opportunities while still managing his current F1 duties, as he told Motorsport.com in an exclusive interview.
How was your yr overall?
Theo Pourchaire: “I mean, it's been an odd yr, let's say. I got used to knowing what… I mean, what I'm going to do yearly. I got used to being in a single championship, to doing quite a lot of races and winning them. But this yr it's not like that.
“It's obviously a bit of a special year. I could have expected that after the F2 title and not being able to start in this championship again. I had to find solutions, find a championship to drive in, and that wasn't easy. So yes, it's a strange year, but you know, it was also a good experience.”
Let's start with the Super Formula. How did you prefer it there? And how big was the challenge? Do we understand how big the challenge is?
TP: “It's a giant challenge because, to begin with, it's very removed from Europe. It's hard to speak in Japan since it's a really unique country. You know, not many individuals speak English there. So for me it was tough to speak with engineers, mechanics, team members and construct my strong position there.
“But I actually rejoiced. The automobile was amazing to drive. Really fast automobile, really. I mean, I've only driven in Suzuka. But Suzuka is a tremendous track, so I believe it's one of the best track in Japan and probably the greatest on the earth. So I actually enjoyed it. Unfortunately, in fact, the primary race wasn't superb. The performance wasn't perfect, but, you recognize…
“It was hard to search out a budget on my side as well. So when the chance with Arrow McLaren got here up, I couldn't… I couldn't say no. Of course I used to be very comfortable to get that probability. We all know that this sport is basically expensive and this chance was perfect for me at the moment.
Theo Pourchaire, ITOCHU ENEX TEAM IMPUL
Photo: Masahide Kamio
But do you regret not having the ability to actually use the work you probably did in Japan?
TP: “I don't have any big regrets, but obviously it's an amazing championship, Super Formula, and IndyCar as well. I really loved driving in that championship. But I'm also in a place where I don't have any big sponsors that are following me. I don't have any… I don't have any money that I can put on the table. I have to be honest. So I'm just a Formula 2 champion, you know, trying to find something to do at the moment. Just trying to find a place and just find a drive. So, like I said, at the moment I'm trying to find something.”
Any positive signals from IndyCar? How much time do you spend talking to groups, perhaps sponsors?
TP: “As I said before, I believe this championship is basically amazing. You know, the entire IndyCar community has been very nice to me, the drivers, the championship organizers, the team members from all of the teams. Seeing that you simply're a driver coming from Europe, an F2 champion, coming to IndyCar, I believe it was really positive for everybody there and likewise for me, because I actually liked the automobile, I actually liked the tracks and the fights, the whole lot was really, really good. I had a superb time there.
“I had an incredible opportunity with Arrow McLaren, but unfortunately we… I mean, I used to be expecting to drive a bit longer, but as I said, in fact I'm disillusioned that I won't have the opportunity to complete the season with them, but I thank them again for the chance. It was really crucial for me at this point to have this chance because otherwise I'm undecided if I might have been in a position to proceed.
You probably didn't know much about IndyCar before you went, but now that you simply've had the prospect to race there, do you think that it's the trail you would like to take?
TP: “It's definitely a robust option for me because I'm still the reserve driver [the Sauber] F1 team. So I might definitely wish to have a probability in F1 someday. I'm here. I've worked really hard. I've got the outcomes I needed. So now I just need the chance – that will be amazing.
“And if not, IndyCar is definitely almost as good as F1 for me. I really enjoyed it. It's a really great championship. And the fact that I can enjoy driving is really important to me. So in that respect, IndyCar is at the top. Let's see. I'm in talks with a few teams, but I'd love to get a chance there. There are a few other championships, but I really love IndyCar.”
Theo Pourchaire, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Photo: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
But you and F1. What must occur so that you can get a probability?
TP: “That's a good question. I ask myself the same, every day. I don't know. I gave it my all on the track. Of course, some people say that winning the championship in your third year in F2 doesn't look great, but I won it when I was 20. I'm the youngest race winner in F2, in F3 – so I don't have to prove anything on the track. I just need the opportunity. That's all. I don't know.”
Do you are feeling like people forget that? That you're 20.
TP: “I think so. I'm 21 now, but I'm still young, you know! Young enough to be there, to be in the game, so… but I think people in this sport, especially in this world, forget really quickly what you can do and what I've been doing in the last few years. And it wasn't that long ago, you know, it was a few months, a few years, maybe two to three years ago, when I started in F3. So it's a bit sad, but I'm still here and I deserve my chance.”
And you furthermore may see guys who come from F2 but didn't have the championship of their pocket…
TP: “From the surface, obviously, should you're in my shoes, it looks unfair, I believe it's unfair to [Felipe] Drugovich, for instance, won the title and… you recognize, it's like that. It's the world of F1. I'm comfortable to be back within the paddock. And as I said, I actually hope that someday I'll get my probability. I'm ready to offer it my all. I'm just obsessed with this sport. Ready to offer it my all. I'm not asking for anything. I just want… I just ask for a seat and a steering wheel and, yes, my probability within the automobile.
Théo Pourchaire and Arrow McLaren
Photo: Arrow McLaren SP
The entire Audi project – how committed are you to being a part of the longer term of this organization?
TP: “It definitely looks very promising for the team. I believe it's an important project and a very big project. So I hope it is going to help the team to grow. Of course, it's a little bit of a difficult period, but I'm sure the team will improve – everyone seems to be working hard and with Audi's help it is going to be higher. I'm almost certain of that.
“There will also be a change in regulations soon, so it will be better. And I'm sure it will be a dream come true for me, to be part of such a big project, you know, such a legendary brand like Audi, and I'm ready to drive for such a team. You know, I'm young, but I'm ready for it. I think they will definitely [know] I'm there. If they want me, I'm here. Ready.”
How did you manage to remain so positive during this difficult yr?
TP: “It's difficult, you know. I'm not always, for sure, so positive, I'm not always smiling. But I'm happy that I managed to win a lot of races in the last months, years, I won the F2 championship. And I had the opportunity to drive in Super Formula, to drive in IndyCar. I tested in F1. I drove in F2, of course, for three years. I think I'm one of the few drivers who had the opportunity to drive all the best cars in the world. So for that I'm grateful. And you know, trying to stay positive, I'm sure the best is yet to come.”
WEC, Formula E?
TP: “Why not? Like I said, I'm in a situation now where I'm trying to search out something to do, and the World Endurance Championship is looking really good. I watch almost every race. Le Mans is a race I'd wish to do someday. It's a dream to win it, obviously, like several other driver, just like the Indianapolis 500, just like the Monaco Grand Prix.
“So I’m looking, trying to find options there as well, and also in Formula E. I mean, it’s a competitive championship, really a different type of motorsport, because it’s electric, because it’s a completely different way of driving. I already had a test in Formula E, in 2022, when I was developing the next generation. And it’s a difficult, difficult category. So if I go there, there’s a lot of work to do and a different way of driving and a different way of working. So yeah, let’s see. But as you said, this championship is the goal, for sure.”
TGM Grand Prix has revealed it’s in talks with former Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat to take over the Super Formula seat vacated by Nobuharu Matsushita.
The Honda-powered TGM team fielded former Formula 2 driver Matsushita alongside Juju Noda in the primary three rounds of the season but withdrew as a result of lack of funding.
Hiroki Otsu was brought in to interchange Matsushita for the fourth round of the season at Fuji, with TGM subsequently confirming his contract until the top of the yr.
However, before a choice was made on Otsu's seat, TGM boss Kazuhiro Ikeda stated ahead of the in-season test leading as much as the Fuji race that the team was in negotiations with an unnamed international driver to take over Matsushita's seat.
In an interview with Motorsport.com, Ikeda confirmed that the motive force in query was Kwiat, but added that complications with obtaining the crucial visa prevented the deal from being concluded.
“As a Japanese team, we can’t hire him,” Ikeda said. “He can get a visa and enter Japan, but he can’t work [and receive a salary].
“The team can’t pay him directly, and he feels that if he can’t receives a commission, there’s no point in him coming here. That was the largest problem.
“I asked him to discuss it with his sponsors, but the obstacles were too great.”
Juju, TGM Grand Prix
Photo: Masahide Kamio
In response, Kvyat rejected the suggestion that he couldn’t obtain a piece visa due to his Russian citizenship.
“There is nothing to stop me working in Japan, provided I get a proper employment contract,” he told Motorsport.com.
“What prevented me from making my Super Formula debut with the team I used to be negotiating with [TGM] was related to unsuccessful negotiations between the sponsor and the team.
“As for me personally, I still want to race in Super Formula and I am open to further discussions and negotiations.”
Kvyat first revealed to Motorsport.com his desire to race in Super Formula last yr and through post-season testing at Suzuka he seemed set to drive for fellow Honda outfit Nakajima Racing, but a deal fell through relatively late within the season.
He added that he would love so as to add a second programme to his schedule alongside his current Lamborghini World Endurance Championship commitments, having had the chance to check the Dallara SF23 as a part of his test role within the Abu Dhabi-based autonomous A2RL series.
Ikeda added that the choice to maintain Otsu within the automotive until the top of the season was dictated by the will to return TGM to its 2023 baseline form.
Last yr Otsu raced for Japanese team Servus at Fuji, replacing the injured Toshiki Oyu, and impressed the team along with his high level of technical ability.
“We felt we had lost our sense of organization, so we formed Otsu to try to get back to where we were in the middle of last year,” Ikeda said.
“He knows how the car should behave, so we wanted to use his experience. And we didn't want to keep changing drivers, because that's not good for the fans or the championship.”
Otsu finished fifteenth within the Motegi race last month, while TGM have didn’t rating any points since Matsushita finished eighth within the opening round at Suzuka in March.
This article was updated on September 6 with comments provided to Motorsport.com by Daniil Kvyat and extra clarification.
Sebastien Ogier has confirmed his plans to participate within the remaining rounds of the World Rally Championship to assist Toyota fight for the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles.
The eight-time world champion had been because of participate within the mid-season as a provisional driver, but his impressive run of three wins and three second places proved crucial to Toyota's fight for the manufacturers' title.
Ogier's success also sees the Frenchman grow to be Toyota's highest-placed driver within the championship and he’s confident of a ninth title, just 27 points behind championship leader and Hyundai rival Thierry Neuville.
Earlier this week, organisers of the Rally Chile, which follows this yr’s Rally Greece, released the entry list, which incorporates Ogier and his Toyota team-mate and two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera.
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala asked Ogier to participate within the remaining rounds earlier this yr. Although he initially looked as if it would downplay the prospect after Rally Finland, Ogier will now add Chile and the Central Europe Rally to his programme, which already included the season finale in Japan in November.
“I think it's clear now. There are four rounds left and the position we have in the championship meant we had to try, being now also the top Toyota driver,” Ogier told Motorsport.com.
“Of course, the team really wanted me to be there and I had two of those 4 players on my side. [rallies] were already planned, we just needed so as to add Chile and Central Europe.
“Even though I'm not on the lookout for a visit to Chile that much, [because of the distance to Europe]I can't complain about finding myself in this example.
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo: Toyota Racing
“It's still tempting to have a likelihood to fight for the championship, even when it's still unlikely. It's still demanding to shut that gap with the present points system, but one of the best we are able to do is attempt to put pressure on as late within the season as possible.
“As long as there is a mathematical chance, anything can happen.”
Toyota boss Latvala says the result’s each “good for Sebastien personally and for the team”, while admitting the important goal is to win the manufacturers' title. Toyota is 20 points behind Hyundai heading into this weekend despite having won six of the nine rallies to this point.
“We talked about the fact that if he fights his way into Latvia and everything goes well, why not fight his way into the rest of the championships, because he was a very strong asset for us this year,” Latvala said.
“We want to keep fighting for the championship.”
Overall leader Neuville, who announced a one-year contract extension with Hyundai through to 2025 ahead of today’s Acropolis Rally in Greece, expects Ogier to be his strongest rival until the top of the season.
“Someone else will fight for the championship, and if you win, so much the better,” Neuville said.
“He will at all times have an excuse for not collaborating in all the opposite rounds, but he selected those he didn’t participate in thoroughly.
“He did very well using his position on the road, but now it will be a little different, but he is the one to fight with. It is no secret that he will be the strongest by the end of the year in the fight for the championship, and we have to resist that.”
Departing Peugeot World Endurance Championship driver Nico Muller has ambitions to proceed his sportscar driving profession after joining Porsche for Formula E with Andretti.
Muller has stressed that he’ll concentrate on driving with the Andretti Porsche team within the FE class in 2025, but has expressed a desire to race within the WEC or pursue other opportunities to race sports cars for the German manufacturer, which has signed him as a works driver for next yr.
“I would like to continue doing both,” Muller said finally week’s WEC race in Austin, while driving for Peugeot.
“We will focus on FE: it’s the first program I’ve been involved in. But if there’s a chance to stay here and do WEC in Hypercar, that would be a dream scenario. The door is open to do something else besides FE.”
Muller, who joined the Peugeot team within the WEC for the ultimate race of the 2022 season, stressed that talks a few wider programme with Porsche haven’t yet taken place.
“We haven’t talked yet about what our options are and how we intend to proceed,” he explained.
Nico Muller, ABT CUPRA Formula E Team
Photo: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Porsche hinted Muller could pursue a wider role outside of FE when it announced his signing and programme with Andretti in July.
“We will announce at a later date whether and in which other series Nico will also drive for Porsche,” said Porsche Motorsport Director Thomas Laudenbach.
A full WEC programme with the factory Penske Porsche Motorsport team seems unlikely.
For the 2023 season, Porsche has asked Antonio Felix da Costa to leave his multi-year sports automotive program with Jota and concentrate on attacking FE with a works team.
There stays yet one more scheduling conflict between the FE and WEC calendars: the Berlin round of the FE clashes with Interlagos within the WEC.
If Porsche decides to field a 3rd factory 963 LMDh model within the French enduro race for a 3rd consecutive time, Muller could contest a one-off 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
“If you are asked to come back to Le Mans, you will say yes,” he said. “It is at the top of the list.”
Another option may very well be racing with the private Proton team within the Hypercar class.
Muller also revealed his desire to expand his experience within the IMSA SportsCar Championship in North America, where he has previously only competed within the LMP2 class, on the 2022 24 Hours of Daytona with the High Class Racing team.
“IMSA has a lot of classic tracks and I’d like to get to know them a little better,” he said.
“There are similarities to FE in that there may be much less discussion about having the 4 wheels on the opposite side of the white lines [because there is generally less run-off than at the Formula 1 tracks visited by WEC].”
According to the driving force, who enjoyed success on the wheel of GT3 machines during his nine-year partnership with Audi, “the Porsche 911 GT3-R racing model is definitely also a solution under consideration.”
His GT racing achievements with Audi include victory within the 2015 Nürburgring 24 Hours, in addition to two podium finishes and two top six finishes within the Spa 24 Hours.
The Nurburgring race clashes with next yr's Jakarta FE, but Muller shall be eligible to race at Spa – a very powerful round of the GT World Challenge Europe.
Muller also revealed that his dream list includes racing within the Supercars touring automotive series in Australia.
“I would love to go to Australia and test drive one of these supercars,” he said.
“I hope I can do something cool outside of FE next year.”
Gran Turismo 7 Online Time Trial: Rhythm is a Lancer 14
Another novelty Gran Turismo 7 The online time trial is now available, offering one other probability to earn as much as 2 million points for a run lasting around 90 seconds.
The latest challenge sees a return to racing cars, albeit in probably the most technical sense, with a time trial using one in all the Gr.4 vehicles. These are mostly adapted road cars, stripped of as much extra weight as possible and given some track-specification upgrades, including low-level aero and slick tyres.
You can only select one in all these cars this week, because it’s an event specifically for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Final Edition Gr.4 — a reputation that takes almost longer to type than it does to drive around a lap. This is definitely one in all the more odd Gr.4 cars, because it retains the Evo X’s AWD system it’s based on, and only has a five-speed gearbox as a substitute of the standard six.
The challenge itself is to get the fastest time on the Deep Forest Raceway on Racing Hard tires. It's a track that must be familiar to all Gran Turismo players, young and old, although GT7 This version encompasses a drastically modified ending sector in comparison with previous titles.
Given the relatively low speed, good grip and familiar track, we predict there can be loads of motion at this event. Certainly, an early flurry of times saw the world record drop to 1:32.9, requiring 1:35.7 for gold, and we don't think it’s going to stay that way for long. Results within the mid-32s are likely, so expect 1:35.2 or higher.
Gran Turismo 7 Online Time Trial: Rhythm is a Lancer 15
There’s still every week to go until the Lamborghini Murcielago time trial at Monza, and the times are kind of exactly what we expected. The current world record is 1:49.874 – the one time under 1:50 – giving a golden threshold of 1:53.170. There’s a superb probability it’ll stand until the top, but you need to probably attempt to get inside 1:52.9.
To access Online Time Trials, you'll have to unlock Sport Mode by completing Menu Book 9 (“Championship: Tokyo Highway Parade”) within the single-player hub GT Cafe. Since it's just you against the clock, reasonably than a head-to-head multiplayer event, PlayStation Plus isn't required.
Typically, you might want to be inside 3% of the fastest time on the earth at the top of an event to secure Gold status and a 2 million credit bonus. There are smaller rewards of 1 million for being inside 5%, and 250,000cr for Bronze with a ten% discount.
Events are updated every Thursday, with each individual challenge typically remaining available for 2 weeks, and the oldest of the 2 events being replaced each week. You can expect one other recent Time Trial to look at 0700 UTC on Thursday, September 12.
Gran Turismo 7 Online Time Trial: Rhythm is a Lancer 16
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge September fifth – Deep Forest
Path: Deep Forest
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Gr.4 – Garage/Car for rent
Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOPs (M)
Tires: Full throttle racing
Settings: He fixed it
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge August 29 – Monza
Path: Monza National Autodrome
Car: Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 '09 – Garage/Car for rent
Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix president Tyler Epp has admitted he made a mistake when he questioned the addition of a sprint race to the event earlier this 12 months.
Miami International Autodrome, which can host its first Grand Prix in 2022, is one in every of six circuits hosting Formula 1 sprint races this season.
Max Verstappen won Saturday's 19-lap race, while title rival Lando Norris secured his first Formula 1 Grand Prix victory a day later.
Miami has already been confirmed to maintain the sprint race for 2025. The only planned change to the line-up is Austria being replaced by Belgium among the many six tracks assigned the shorter race format.
Epp admits he was initially mistaken to fear introducing a sprint race to Miami – later seeing the industrial advantages and positive fan response.
“I was wrong about the sprint race, I was very concerned about its value, but I couldn’t have been more wrong,” he told Motorsport.com.
“I’ll be clear, I wasn’t within the camp once we first signed the deal, however the feedback and data we got showed that year-on-year attendance was up on Saturday they usually were there early for the sprint race.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photo: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
“When we checked out the gate scans and data, it turned out they didn’t come for qualifying, they got here for the sprint race.
“I was wrong, it was a really, really good thing for us. I understand that it wasn't like that for every promoter, but we really enjoyed it and saw real commercial value in having a sprint race, that was fantastic for us.”
Epp revealed that, along with keeping the sprint race, he also expects the support race schedule to look very similar next 12 months.
The F1 Academy will debut in Miami in 2024, after its inaugural season in Austin last 12 months, while the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America is prone to return for a 3rd consecutive 12 months.
For Epp, these events usually are not only a sideshow for spectators, but are also crucial to preparing for higher Formula 1 racing conditions.
“What matters is what happens on the track before Formula 1. In the first year they made it clear that no one would be on the track before them because they wanted to be the first on the new track,” he said.
“In 12 months three the support races were successful for us, putting Porsche on the right track and the F1 Academy on the right track was really positive. Now the racing lines aren’t all the time the exact same, but just the lay of the rubber had an impact on what the race teams were coping with on the right track.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Photo: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
“From our perspective, we’re very committed to the 2 support series to some extent and expect to have the same lineup next 12 months.
“We have learned so much in the primary and second 12 months, we face challenges and mistakes, we’re honest about them, we attempt to face them with full force.
“In years two to three we focused solely on fixes, and in years four and five I think it’s just as important to listen to our customers – we’ve put a lot of emphasis on that over the last 12 months.”
“This rumor is certainly annoying,” Bowman said Wednesday during NASCAR Playoff Media Day.
“Of course, my contract runs until the end of 2026. I can only tell you what my bosses told me, which is that there are no plans to change anything. Yes, the rumors are just rumors. I hope they follow through with their announcements, so my rumors will obviously end. Yes, as far as I know, I will be driving the No. 48 car next year.”
Bowman, who earned a spot within the 2024 playoffs with a win at Chicago Street Course, trails his teammates in a lot of the season stats. It was an honest season for him, but Hendrick Motorsports is predicted to perform at a level above most of its rivals. It’s been greater than two years since Bowman last won a race before Chicago. He also missed 2022 with a concussion and 2023 with a back injury, which proved to be significant setbacks.
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Ally Chevrolet Camaro
Photo: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsport Images
When asked if there was any likelihood he can be at HMS, Bowman added, “I don't think so. I trust my bosses and that's what they told me. So yeah, other than that I'm focused on being strong for the next 10 weeks.”
These rumors, although unfounded, prompted Bowman to hunt confirmation of his position inside the team.
“Yeah, I mean, for me — it’s a rumor I’ve been hearing for a month,” he explained. “It got to the point where I picked up the phone and called everybody and everybody said, ‘Absolutely not.’ So that’s all I have, and I have no reason to believe anything else. There’s no — ‘Oh, you have to do this to keep your job.’ Like it’s absolutely not — everything’s fine.”
“A miserable month”
Bowman first drove for Hendrick Motorsports as a fill-in for the ousted Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the top of the 2016 season. He became a full-time driver for the powerhouse organization in 2018 and has won eight races since then. Half of those wins have are available a single season (2021) and he has only finished higher than twelfth within the standings once.
“We have to play better. It’s been a terrible month,” said Bowman, who enters the playoffs with five consecutive finishes of sixteenth or worse. “We haven’t played at a high level at all, so we have to play better the next 10 weeks. But we have to do it for ourselves and for our playoff run — for Ally and the No. 48 team. There’s no ‘You have to do this to keep your job.’ As far as I know, I’m not worried about that at all.”
Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward has shared his disappointment at one other missed opportunity to race in front of a house crowd that has not seen an IndyCar race in Mexico since 2007, when the Champ Car event was held.
Other drivers expressed similar sentiments to O'Ward, including six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, who simply said, “I think it's a huge mistake. I don't know how it happened.”
Penske Entertainment Chairman and CEO Mark Miles shared his observations with a small group of reporters last Friday afternoon at The Milwaukee Mile, which included the Associated Press, Indianapolis Star and NBC Sports. Among the points Miles made was that Corporacion Interamericana de Entretenimiento (CIE) – the promoter of the Formula One race in Mexico – told Penske Entertainment representatives, “You’re not well-known enough to be in Mexico City” in 2021, while offering to rent the track with out a partner.
Management error
Miles really got into it when he tried to check O’Ward, arguably IndyCar’s hottest driver, to Adrian Fernandez, one other of Mexico’s favorite sons. Fernandez raced IndyCar, mostly under the CART banner, from 1993 to 2005.
“I will say that it’s clear that Pato isn’t as famous as the previous famous Mexican driver, Adrian Fernandez — but he’s really gaining popularity and is now on a few billboards,” Miles said. “He’ll probably complain that I didn’t get him involved and that he must have are available and made the deal.
“I think Pato is a natural star and I think it will happen, but in 2021 I'm sure they didn't think it was time. But this time there was a lot of talk. It wasn't a matter of passing by.”
The comments enraged the paddock and fans alike, with everyone from rivals to current and former teammates coming to O'Ward's aid, sharing similar stories of assorted events where seas of fans would turn up simply to get an autograph and/or a photograph with the 25-year-old Mexican.
Less than 24 hours passed before Miles walked back those comments, issuing a press release that read as follows:
“As I said yesterday, Pato is a natural star and his popularity is large and growing. Unfortunately, my few additional comments didn’t convey anything beyond that time. He is the star of our series and an awesome partner in our marketing and promotional efforts. We proceed to speculate in our drivers and Pato continues to be the first person we direct resources and support.
“In conclusion, Mexico remains a market of great interest and we believe that sooner or later there will be an incredible IndyCar race weekend there. Pato is a superstar and his popularity and talent will be key to making it happen.”
Patricio O'Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, winner of the victory circle
Photo: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Images
By then, nevertheless, the damage had already been done. The reality that should be acknowledged is that Miles’ initial comments about O’Ward’s popularity – or lack thereof – are more of an indictment of IndyCar’s inability to advertise drivers than the rest.
It’s surprising that Miles would discuss with a driver who last raced within the series twenty years ago, with a greater influence than the present one. By that measure, the game has regressed.
I'm stuck prior to now
Is the game still a prisoner of the past? It's been 16 years and 6 months since Champ Car and the Indy Racing League united to form the IndyCar Series, and yet the game still can't get off its neutral track.
Everyone says this era of racing in North America’s premier open-wheel championship is essentially the most competitive, so why are the drivers from the CART era of the late Nineteen Nineties remembered essentially the most fondly? Sure, it was a group of talent, different chassis and engine mixtures, and money from alcohol and tobacco that now not exists in the game.
But I can’t help but think that even within the midst of its own storms, NASCAR has found a strategy to get to the opposite side. So even when Cup Series driver Daniel Saurez has fewer followers than longtime friend and fellow Monterrey, Mexico, native O’Ward, NASCAR can enterprise south of the Rio Grande to present the driving force a great weekend on home soil. It’s pretty amazing that while NASCAR’s account on X, the social media platform formerly generally known as Twitter, has 3.6 million followers in comparison with IndyCar’s 497,000, Suarez has 110,000 followers in comparison with O’Ward’s 232,000.
Daniel Suarez, NASCAR Mexico announcement
Photo: NASCAR Media
The hard truth, which even I hate to confess, is that NASCAR has a monopoly on racing in North America, which provides a platform to show almost any prospective Late Model driver with a modicum of talent right into a star. It's not only in regards to the numbers on TV, the interactions with sponsors or the brawls on the track, however the incontrovertible fact that they're within the highlight 38 weekends a 12 months, which makes every race look like it matters.
One can only imagine what an enormous star O'Ward or Scott McLaughlin, each gifted with enormous charisma, could have grow to be in such an attractive environment.
Building Prestige Beyond Indianapolis
In the IndyCar Series, it really does feel just like the sooner or later of the 12 months where drivers are treated like bona fide rock stars is the Indianapolis 500. Sure, it's the largest race on this planet and may stand out, but something's missing when the opposite 16 (or 17, should you count the non-points exhibition at The Thermal Club) races combined don't even come near matching the impact of “The Greatest Show in Racing.”
Honest query: How does any IndyCar driver grow to be a household name on the size of Andretti, Foyt, Mears and Unser if he races at a random club track in the midst of BFE with little to no fans in attendance?
These drivers literally defy death each time they hit the race track, and we must always rejoice them just like the rock stars they’re.
While it probably means nothing to him, the incontrovertible fact that Dixon, despite all of the accomplishments which have cemented his repute as one among the best competitors within the history of the game, can walk right into a food market unnoticed is a travesty — and that is someone who used to race Fernandez wheel-to-wheel.
Making drivers household names
During the race weekend at Mid-Ohio, I went into Walmart to purchase a number of things and bumped into Colton Herta, who was literally buying all of the essentials for the weekend. There was nobody else with him, and nobody else looked as if it would notice him—and yet he ran lower than seven miles on the sidewalk for the following three days.
Miles has been in his current role since January 2013, either under the Hulman & Company regime or since Roger Penske bought him — and IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway with him — in January 2020. There’s been loads of time to listen to commentary, take notes and see ways to maneuver the game forward. In fairness, he’s done that in some ways. But the one area that continues to be essentially the most difficult is getting the drivers to grow to be household names.
I actually have long since found that if something is honest and true, then you definitely can discover with it.
There are a variety of relatable personalities on the IndyCar team, however it could also be hard for management to see that when the one place they wish to thrive is within the I-465 bubble.
This situation that erupted on the Milwaukee Mile gave IndyCar a probability to take a tough have a look at itself. Does it wish to proceed to be a giant fish in a small pond, or does it really need to exit into the world and stretch its legs and have a probability to do some magical and historic things?
There are people on an IndyCar team with the personalities to make magical, historic things occur — but only when management actually sees what they’ve.
Departing Peugeot World Endurance Championship driver Nico Muller has ambitions to proceed his sportscar driving profession after joining Porsche for Formula E with Andretti.
Muller has stressed that he’ll give attention to driving with the Andretti Porsche team within the FE class in 2025, but has expressed a desire to race within the WEC or pursue other opportunities to race sports cars for the German manufacturer, which has signed him as a works driver for next 12 months.
“I would like to continue doing both,” Muller said finally week’s WEC race in Austin, while driving for Peugeot.
“We will focus on FE: it’s the first program I’ve been involved in. But if there’s a chance to stay here and do WEC in Hypercar, that would be a dream scenario. The door is open to do something else besides FE.”
Muller, who joined the Peugeot team within the WEC for the ultimate race of the 2022 season, stressed that talks a couple of wider programme with Porsche haven’t yet taken place.
“We haven’t talked yet about what our options are and how we intend to proceed,” he explained.
Nico Muller, ABT CUPRA Formula E Team
Photo: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Porsche hinted Muller could pursue a wider role outside of FE when it announced his signing and programme with Andretti in July.
“We will announce at a later date whether and in which other series Nico will also drive for Porsche,” said Porsche Motorsport Director Thomas Laudenbach.
A full WEC programme with the factory Penske Porsche Motorsport team seems unlikely.
For the 2023 season, Porsche has asked Antonio Felix da Costa to leave his multi-year sports automobile program with Jota and give attention to attacking FE with a works team.
There stays yet another scheduling conflict between the FE and WEC calendars: the Berlin round of the FE clashes with Interlagos within the WEC.
If Porsche decides to field a 3rd factory 963 LMDh model within the French enduro race for a 3rd consecutive time, Muller could contest a one-off 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
“If you are asked to come back to Le Mans, you will say yes,” he said. “It is at the top of the list.”
Another option could possibly be racing with the private Proton team within the Hypercar class.
Muller also revealed his desire to expand his experience within the IMSA SportsCar Championship in North America, where he has previously only competed within the LMP2 class, on the 2022 24 Hours of Daytona with the High Class Racing team.
“IMSA has a lot of classic tracks and I’d like to get to know them a little better,” he said.
“There are similarities to FE in that there’s much less discussion about having the 4 wheels on the opposite side of the white lines [because there is generally less run-off than at the Formula 1 tracks visited by WEC].”
According to the motive force, who enjoyed success on the wheel of GT3 machines during his nine-year partnership with Audi, “the Porsche 911 GT3-R racing model is definitely also a solution under consideration.”
His GT racing achievements with Audi include victory within the 2015 Nürburgring 24 Hours, in addition to two podium finishes and two top six finishes within the Spa 24 Hours.
The Nurburgring race clashes with next 12 months's Jakarta FE, but Muller might be eligible to race at Spa – an important round of the GT World Challenge Europe.
Muller also revealed that his dream list includes racing within the Supercars touring automobile series in Australia.
“I would love to go to Australia and test drive one of these supercars,” he said.
“I hope I can do something cool outside of FE next year.”
