2015 FR3.5 silly season

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Considering a GP2 budget is larger than a FR3.5 one...

...but for Ocon to not get a drive this season would be simply shocking and would sum up the motorsport world now. He deserves a step up, and considering Verstappen is in F1, Blomqvist is in DTM, Ocon hammered them and others in a straight fight over a season so I'm really hoping for the best.

you also have to consider it was the first season in formula racing for Max Verstappen and Max was in a team that had not won a race in Euro F3 before.

and Ocon did'nt hammer Max, Max won more races.

[Mr Pink]

Originally Posted by WSR Fan

And if Stoneman does join DAMS it'll be brilliant news, not just for the series but for Dean himself after he had to give up his ISR seat in 2011. He's done tremendously well to get himself back in this position after everything he's been through and he fully deserves the chance IMO.

Massively impressive! I didn't watch any gp3 this year, is his driving style the same as when he was in F2? I remember him as being very exciting to watch, if I'm not getting confused it looked a lot like he was karting.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by steve nielsen

you also have to consider it was the first season in formula racing for Max Verstappen and Max was in a team that had not won a race in Euro F3 before.

and Ocon did'nt hammer Max, Max won more races.

Not being judgemental but your flag icon suggests you may be biased...

...I was talking about over the season. Ocon hammered the entire field over the season. Over some weekends he was beatable and was beaten but not over the season.

[cds_uk]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Not being judgemental but your flag icon suggests you may be biased...

...I was talking about over the season. Ocon hammered the entire field over the season. Over some weekends he was beatable and was beaten but not over the season.

I am inclined to agree with Steve here Biscuits, either way they where the class of a pretty strong field.

[Rf1 Fan]

I agree with Steve , even as a frenchman. Max has been too much of astonishing star to not see the longer term aspect.

Having said that, Max is now in F1. So this is acted.

Now if we look to Ocon's season we have to compare with achievements of similar's experience people.

I count 5 drivers, Hulkenberg/Rosberg/Marciello/Sainz JR/Bianchi/.

Hulkenberg in 2007 in F3 = 3rd in F3 Euroseries, good speed overall but ragged and a less consistant than ocon taking in account his experience in A1 gp

Rosberg in 2004 = failed to be best opel engine against a more experienced lapierre, could not fight against dominant ASM

Marciello = Fought for the title against more experienced driver , won loads of races but way too inconsistant in 2012. Less mature than Ocon and had previous f3 season.

Sainz Jr = Failed to get in contention for Title in 2012, fast but too inconsistant

Bianchi = Won F3 title in 2009 with one more season of F3 in a more dominant ASM , looked more spectacular than Ocon but ocon was more consistant

[WSR Fan]

As expected, Nicholas Latifi joins Arden Motorsport:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117637

I get the impression that he's a solid, reliable driver that has the potential to nick a podium or two and maybe just finish inside the top 10 of the standings come the end of the season if all goes well.

Updated 2015 grid:

DAMS: Nyck de Vries / TBA
Fortec: Oliver Rowland / TBA
Arden: Nicholas Latifi / Egor Orudzhev
Zeta Corse: TBA / TBA
Lotus: Meindert van Buuren / Matthieu Vaxiviere
Strakka: Gustav Malja / TBA
AVF: Beitske Visser / TBA
Tech 1: Aurelien Panis / TBA
Draco: Pietro Fantin / TBA
Comtec: TBA / TBA
Pons: Oscar Tunjo / TBA
Carlin: Tom Dillmann / Sean Gelael

According to Twitter, Bruno Bonifacio is announcing his 2015 plans this week, so that should be the second Draco seat sorted too.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Latifi is a talented driver with a smooth driving style, and has the odd weekend where he's right at the front, but I can't see him challenging for the title or anything.

[gaaaazFR]

Roy Nissany seems to be the 2nd Tech1 driver for this season :

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tech-...911?fref=photo

[WSR Fan]

And it's now confirmed:

http://www.paddockscout.com/nissany-...gs-3-5-lineup/

I'll be happy to be proved wrong, but I feel somewhat underwhelmed by this signing

[Go_For_Pole]

There are strong indications that Tio has an agreement with Strakka

[Formulahistory]

Originally Posted by gaaaazFR

Roy Nissany seems to be the 2nd Tech1 driver for this season :

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tech-...911?fref=photo

Roy Nissany for Tech 1 - a very suprising move!

[JD Media]

Celis will drive for AVF

[WSR Fan]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117655

So, MotoGP is back at Silverstone this year and has taken the World Series by Renault's original end of August date, with the WSR meeting now a week later on 5/6 September - gonna have to reschedule my holiday now!!

[bella]

it also now clashes with the british touring cars just down the road at rockingham. obviously they couldn't really do anything about that but it's a bit of a shame.

[olev]

And clashes with Monza F1/Gp2/Gp3... Having announced today his agreement with AVF, it must be a pain for Celis Jr. to be forced to choose between WSR or Gp3 that weekend

[bella]

frustrating when you consider the selling point of the series a couple of years ago was that they didn't clash so it was ideal for third drivers to compete and keep their eye in.

[chunterer]

Oh thanks Renault!
You've moved it to clash with one of my son's birthday! Sunday is out but I might be able to go in the Saturday.

[gaaaazFR]

Stoneman officially at Dams in FR3.5 as part of the RedBull junior team!
Here we have a title contender!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117660

Looks like RedBull is creating strong links with Dams. And by the way replacing Lynn who's supposed to quit the program as he now has a Williams contract.

And one more empty seat less... I start doubting for Ocon...

[gaaaazFR]

DAMS
Nyck de Vries, Dean Stoneman

Fortec Motorsports
Oliver Rowland, tba

Arden Motorsport
Egor Orudzhev, Nicholas Latifi

Lotus
Meindert van Buuren, Matthieu Vaxiviere

Strakka Racing
Gustav Malja, tba

AVF
Beitske Visser, Alfonso Celis

Tech 1 Racing
Aurelien Panis, Roy Nissany

International Draco Racing
Pietro Fantin, tba

Pons Racing
Oscar Tunjo, tba

Carlin
Tom Dillmann, Sean Gelael

Zeta Corse
tba, tba

Comtec Racing
tba, tba


Note : Ocon drove for Comtec last year, but he could has well fit perfectly at Zeta Corse (Merhi did well with that car last year)

[JD Media]

8 seats left... But i think 6 real seats left... Probably Mavlanov will stay @ Zeta and Draco had already signed Bonifacio?

Hope to see Pizzitola joining in somewhere.. He was quick with testing..

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Bonifacio has been confirmed at Draco in the least surprising signing of the lot. Not too bad though.

[chunterer]

What a mega opportunity for Stoneman.
Normally I'm critical of Marko's decisions but this could be inspirational for both sides.

[Formulahistory]

Update;

DAMS: Dean Stoneman – Nyck de Vries
Fortec: Oliver Rowland – Seb Morris (?)
Arden: Nicholas Latifi – Egor Orudzhev
Zeta: Roman Mavlanov (?) – Jazeman Jaafar (?)
Lotus: Matthieu Vaxivière – Meindart van Buuren
Strakka: Gustav Malja – Tio Ellinas (?)
AVF: Beitske Visser – Alfonso Celis jr.
Tech-1: Aurelién Panis – Roy Nissany
Draco: Pietro Fantin – Bruno Bonifacio
Comtec: Steijn Schothorst (?) – Indy Dontje (?)
Pons: Oscar Tunjo – Sandy Stuvik (?)
Carlin: Tom Dillmann – Sean Gelael

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Ellinas at Strakka. Very good for both parties

[Go_For_Pole]

And a long term management deal as well. Thank god Tio got free from the Marussia disaster