Hulkenberg thrilled after debut win at Le Mans

It was Hulkenberg’s first attempt at the epic endurance event, and Porsche’s first outright victory since 1998.

The trio’s #19 car came home a lap ahead of the second-placed sister #17 Porsche machine driven by Formula One veteran Mark Webber, former Red Bull F1 reserve Brendon Hartley and German racer Timo Bernhard.

“I enjoyed every moment," said Hulkenberg afterwards. "These cars are great fun to drive and then to be on a huge track like this one.

"The pace was really high, and not what you would expect from endurance racing. Of course, I didn’t think I would come here and rock ’n’ roll this race, this would be silly because there are so many challenges in that race.”

The German also thanked Force India for allowing him to take part, and in particular team principal Vijay Mallya who was present at Le Mans to witness his driver's success.

Hulkenberg is one of only a handful of recent drivers to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours race midway through a Formula One world championship campaign.

Though it was common in the past, the last driver to do so was Sebastien Bourdais, who raced for Toro Rosso and Peugeot in the respective disciplines in 2009.

Only four drivers in history have won both the Formula One world championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours overall - Mike Hawthorn, Phil Hill, Jochen Rindt and Graham Hill.

(source: f1.com)

1982 Austrian GP Österreichring - Full Race

The Austrian GP is next weekend so I thought you guys would like to see a classic race from Austria. The finish was one of the closest ever. Take a look!

Hulkenberg to start third at Le Mans

Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg will join an elite club this weekend when he becomes one of only a handful of recent drivers to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours race midway through a Formula One world championship campaign.

Hulkenberg lines up third for the epic endurance event, sharing a works Porsche 919 Hybrid with British driver Nick Tandy and New Zealand’s Earl Bamber. Porsche also fill the front row of the grid, with F1 veteran Mark Webber among the men at the wheel.

"I am very pleased the 2015 Formula One calendar allows for it and I'm grateful to my Sahara Force India Formula One Team's generosity to let me go for it,” said Hulkenberg when announcing his Le Mans plans.

Though it was common in the past, the last driver to compete in both Formula One racing and the Le Mans 24 Hours at the same time was Sebastien Bourdais, who raced for Toro Rosso and Peugeot in the respective disciplines in 2009.

Only four drivers in history have won both the Formula One world championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours overall - Mike Hawthorn, Phil Hill, Jochen Rindt and Graham Hill.

(source: f1.com)

More Friday outings for Palmer at Lotus

The reigning GP2 champion, who has already participated in opening practice in China, Bahrain and Spain, will also take part in the two-day post-race test in Spielberg for the Enstone team.

“I’m really looking forward to driving the E23 again in FP1 and then at the in-season test in Austria especially after not having been in the cockpit these past couple of races,” Palmer told Lotus’s official site.

“The pace of the car looked very strong in Montreal so the car has come on quite well since the last in-season testing I did in Barcelona. It’ll be good for me to do some more mileage and be in a more competitive car since the last time I drove it.”

Despite his lack of recent cockpit time, Palmer said he was pleased by the progress made with the E23 Hybrid in recent weeks, which culminated in Lotus’s first double points finish of the year in Canada.

“The E23 looked strong on the Friday straight out of the box. Maybe on the outside some might have thought that we were running quite low on fuel and then in qualifying we surprised everyone. The pace in the race itself could have been a little bit better but definitely the overall pace of the car is strong and shows a big step. Hopefully we can keep up the good work and make more progress these upcoming races.”

Lotus have scored a total of 23 points this season, putting them fifth in the standings just two points ahead of Sauber.

(source: f1.com)

2015 Canadian GP (Full Race)

Winners and Losers - Canada

Mercedes may have dominated the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada, but there were plenty of fluctuations in fortune behind them. Williams finally got the better of Ferrari. Lotus suddenly looked a force to be reckoned with. McLaren endured a dismal race - even by their own trying 2015 standards. And last year’s winner Daniel Ricciardo failed to score a single point. We take a team-by-team look at Sunday’s formbook in Montreal…


Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton, P1
Nico Rosberg, P2

As the leader, Hamilton had the clear air but greater drag, which meant he had to focus at times on ‘lift and coast’ fuel saving. Rosberg, meanwhile in running second, was able to save fuel in Hamilton’s slipstream, but found his brakes getting hotter because of the reduced airflow behind his team mate. So it was swings and roundabouts as they slogged it out at the front in a nip and tuck battle.

In the end, things went Hamilton’s way, while Rosberg said that losing pole by a fraction proved to be the decisive aspect of his race. Nevertheless, Mercedes still scored yet another one-two as Hamilton surpassed Nigel Mansell as the Briton to lead the most laps in Grands Prix.


Williams

Valtteri Bottas, P3
Felipe Massa, P6

Williams got their strategy just right, switching Bottas from an intended two-stopper to a single stopper. That enabled the Finn to take their first podium of the season when Raikkonen spun, which was a much-needed boost. Massa, meanwhile battled up superbly from 15th to sixth, giving the team a good haul of points to cement its third place overall.

Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen, P4
Sebastian Vettel, P5

Ferrari once again were unable to show their true pace. Raikkonen couldn’t quite grab second at the start and then fairly quickly lost touch with the Mercedes despite his upgraded engine. Then, after his first pit stop he unaccountably spun exiting the hairpin - as he did last year. The team think it may have been something odd in the SF15-T. That lost him the chance of a podium. Vettel, meanwhile, struggled a little in the early traffic as he fought up from 18th on the grid, so he too was unable to show what he might have been able to do as he climbed to 5th.

Lotus

Pastor Maldonado, P7
Romain Grosjean, P10

At last Lotus got both cars home in the points, and Maldonado broke his 2015 duck with a decent, uncomplicated drive to seventh. Grosjean could have been sixth, possibly even fifth, but moved over too soon on Stevens after lapping him on the approach to Turn 14, and caused both to veer into the pit lane. The Frenchman later conceded that the collision had been his fault, and it earned him five seconds on his race time.

Force India

Nico Hulkenberg, P8
Sergio Perez, P11

But for a spin in Turn 14 while battling for position with Vettel - which he later suggested he might have been better off not pushing so far - Force India might have taken sixth courtesy of Hulkenberg. The German was in fine form in a car whose working life isn’t quite yet over, but Perez, the star of Monaco, was unhappy throughout with his VJM08’s behaviour.

Red Bull

Daniil Kvyat, P9
Daniel Ricciardo, P13

Red Bull looked a shadow of the team for whom Ricciardo won the 2014 race. Kvyat couldn’t better ninth, while the Australian said he was completely confused by the lack of performance in his car throughout a very tough race.


Toro Rosso

Carlos Sainz, P12
Max Verstappen, P15

Toro Rosso, like Red Bull, lacked pace, mainly because of Renault’s woeful straight-line performance. If Monaco had been good for them, Montreal assuredly was not, simple as that.

Sauber

Marcus Ericsson, P14
Felipe Nasr, P16

Sauber lacked sheer pace, and Nasr was also bothered by brake problems and power loss, but Ericsson was in feisty form and after losing a dramatic battle early on with the much faster Massa, held off the charging Verstappen to the flag.

Marussia

Will Stevens, P17
Roberto Merhi, Retired lap 58, driveshaft

Stevens brought his car home despite the unprovoked attack from Grosjean which required a new nose as the front wing was damaged, but for once Marussia lost a car when Merhi’s broke a driveshaft.

McLaren

Jenson Button, Retired lap 55, exhaust
Fernando Alonso, Retired lap 45, exhaust

On a circuit they knew wouldn’t suit them, McLaren struggled with fuel saving issues and Button’s need to serve a drive-through penalty in the opening three laps. Neither driver finished, each having a different issue with their exhausts.

(source: f1.com)

2015 Canadian GP Team Principal Press Conference (video)

Take a look at this if you missed it.