Motorsport Roundup: F1 Returns To Imola And More

Formula One

Formula One’s return to Imola in Italy since 2006 saw further records being rewritten. With Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas finishing 1 and 2 for Mercedes, it was enough to seal the 2020 constructors championship and set a new record of seven consecutive constructors championships. While Hamilton dropped to third at the start, an overcut strategy, also helped by a virtual safety car, was enough to take his 93rd win ahead of his pole sitting teammate. A surprise feature on the podium was Daniel Ricciardo who benefited from Red Bull Honda’s Max Verstappen retiring from 3rd to score Renault’s second podium of the season. 

 

With the constructors championship sealed, the battle intensifies between Renault, McLaren and Racing Point for 3rd as only one point covers the three teams. Racing action will resume at Istanbul which is another returning venue for Formula One from November 13 to 15 with only four rounds to go.

MotoGP

While there’s still a week to go before MotoGP kicks off the final three races of the season, Aprilia has undergone a rider change, with Bradley Smith being replaced for current test rider Lorenzo Savadori. Keep in mind that Smith was a replacement rider himself for Andrea Iannone, who is in the middle of an appeal regarding his doping ban. 

WRC

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Just because motorsport events around the world have begun operating with safety measures, doesn’t mean that these events are safe from getting affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. And the FIA World Rally Championship is facing just that, as  the Ypres Rally Belgium that was scheduled to be held from November 19-22 has been called off. The reason being the rise of the second wave of COVID-19 cases in Belgium and further restrictions being put in place. As things stand, Monza is set to host the season finale on December 4-6.

Formula E 

As we head closer to the opening round of the 2020/21 FIA ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on January 16 2021, more teams continue to confirm their driver lineups for the season. BMW Andretti have signed up Jake Dennis to partner Maximilian Gunther for the 2020/21 season. Rene Rast, who had stood in for Daniel Abt who was fired in the middle of the 2019/20 season, has now been confirmed by Audi to run full time alongside Lucas Di Grassi for the upcoming season. Also ex-Mahindra racer Jerome D'Ambrosio has joined Venturi Racing as its deputy team principal.

Indian motorsport

Indian motorsport is slowly getting back into action with some positive announcements for this month. MRF has announced an arrive and drive, single-make saloon car championship consisting of two rounds at the MMRT circuit in Chennai. The opening round is scheduled to run from November 6-8, while the season finale will take place from November 27-29. The cars being used will be the 75PS/150Nm Toyota Etios with MRF racing slicks.

The other event is geared more towards off-road thrills, with the BigRock Trail Attack amateur off-road competition. Sanctioned by the FMSCI, the competition will be held at the BigRock Dirt Park in Bannerghatta, Bengaluru on November 29.