World Series Testing/Off-Season Thread

[WSR Fan]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

Has there been an official release of their 08 calendar yet?

No, and that's the strange thing. The list of dates I posted on the previous page are speculated dates, but nothing official has come out from Renault-Sport yet.

Herck has got to be one of the revelations of the winter so far. In the four days of testing so far, he's never finished lower than 9th in any session and has looked good with both Pons Racing and Prema. Excellent performance from Roberto Merhi too, considering that he is only 16 years old! And if Aleix Alcaraz continues with performances like this, he must be in with a chance of a seat at Pons.

Apparently Andy Soucek tested the new car today and will do so tomorrow morning as well before handing over to 2007 champion Alvaro Parente.

Day One, Afternoon Times:

1 - Michael Herck - Prema - 1'22"079 - 45 Laps
2 - Alvaro Barba - KTR - 1'22"086 - 55
3 - Charles Pic - Tech 1 - 1'22"362 - 36
4 - Aleix Alcaraz - Pons - 1'22"415 - 52
5 - Giedo Van der Garde - Cram - 1'22"520 - 28
6 - Marco Barba - Draco - 1'22"527 - 30
7 - Roberto Merhi - Epsilon - 1'22"695 - 48
8 - Alexandre Marsoin - KTR - 1'22"715 - 41
9 - Bertrand Baguette - Draco - 1'22"766 - 48
10 - Johnny Cecotto - RC - 1'22"825 - 43
11 - Pablo Sanchez - Interwetten - 1'22"980 - 62
12 - Oliver Oakes - Tech 1 - 1'23"127 - 43
13 - Duncan Tappy - Comtec - 1'23"130 - 39
14 - Carlo Van Dam - Fortec - 1'23"158 - 61
15 - Robert Wickens - Carlin - 1'23"210 - 39
16 - Sergio Perez - Interwetten - 1'23"395 - 43
17 - Pippa Mann - Cram - 1'23"739 - 26
18 - Xavier Maassen - Comtec - 1'23"778 - 57
19 - Parthiwa Sureshwaren - Victory - 1'24"812 - 34
20 - Daniil Move - Carlin - 1'24"995 - 43
21 - Carlos Iaconelli - Prema - 1'25"226 - 7
22 - Pasquale Di Sabatino - RC - 1'26"496 - 10

[Last2LiftOff]

Thanks for keeping us posted.

Argh, Carlin at the back, and the drivers must've switched cars over lunch. Aleshin gets a turn tomorrow I take it?

[WSR Fan]

Day Two, Morning Times:

1. Marco Bonanomi         Comtec       1:21.857            53 Laps
2. Charles Pic            Tech 1       1:22.032   +0.175   47
3. Dani Clos              Pons         1:22.042   +0.185   52
4. Giedo van der Garde    Cram         1:22.186   +0.329   42
5. Miguel Molina          Prema        1:22.190   +0.333   61
6. Aleix Alcaraz          Pons         1:22.339   +0.482   48
7. Bertrand Baguette      Draco        1:22.390   +0.533   54
8. Pippa Mann             Cram         1:22.429   +0.572   37
9. Salvador Duran         Interwetten  1:22.553   +0.696   52
10. Robert Wickens        Carlin       1:22.558   +0.701   46
11. Guillaume Moreau      KTR          1:22.707   +0.850   36
12. Michael Herck         Prema        1:22.758   +0.901   67
13. Carlos Iaconelli      KTR          1:22.789   +0.932   48
14. Marco Barba           Draco        1:22.803   +0.946   41
15. Xavier Maassen        Comtec       1:23.061   +1.204   60
16. Mario Romancini       Epsilon      1:23.085   +1.228   71
17. Charlie Kimball       Victory      1:23.126   +1.268   48
18. Fairuz Fauzy          Fortec       1:23.136   +1.278   52
19. Duncan Tappy          Fortec       1:23.137   +1.279   49
20. Danill Move           Carlin       1:23.310   +1.453   50
21. Sergio Perez          Interwetten  1:23.313   +1.456   44
22. Oliver Oakes          Tech 1       1:23.983   +2.126   20
23. Pasquale di Sabatino  RC           1:23.990   +2.133   49
24. Parthiwa Sureshwaren  Victory      1:24.835   +2.978   29
25. Victor Garcia         Epsilon      1:24.944   +3.087   69

[WSR Fan]

Day Two, Afternoon Times:

1. Giedo van der Garde    Cram         1:21.968            30 Laps
2. Guillaume Moreau       KTR          1:21.998   +0.030   45
3. Michael Herck          Prema        1:22.211   +0.243   48
4. Miguel Molina          Prema        1:22.276   +0.308   43
5. Marco Bonanomi         Comtec       1:22.456   +0.488   40
6. Carlos Iaconelli       KTR          1:22.534   +0.566   46
7. Salvador Duran         Interwetten  1:22.564   +0.596   41
8. Aleix Alcaraz          Pons         1:22.640   +0.672   43
9. Marco Barba            Draco        1:22.644   +0.676   41
10. Pippa Mann            Cram         1:22.654   +0.686   20
11. Dani Clos             Pons         1:22.665   +0.697   37
12. Danill Move           Carlin       1:22.819   +0.851   56
13. Oliver Oakes          Tech 1       1:22.852   +0.884   70
14. Robert Wickens        Carlin       1:22.865   +0.897   54
15. Mario Romancini       Epsilon      1:22.875   +0.907   45
16. Duncan Tappy          Fortec       1:22.961   +0.993   27
17. Mikhail Aleshin       Victory      1:23.026   +1.058   42
18. Charles Pic           Tech 1       1:23.051   +1.083    7
19. Bertrand Baguette     Draco        1:23.173   +1.205   19
20. Sergio Perez          Interwetten  1:23.185   +1.217   33
21. Victor Garcia         Epsilon      1:23.300   +1.332   48
22. Xavier Maassen        Comtec       1:23.409   +1.441   44
23. Pasquale di Sabatino  RC           1:24.081   +2.113   45
24. Fairuz Fauzy          Fortec       1:24.353   +2.385   14
25. Parthiwa Sureshwaren  Victory      1:25.367   +3.399   35

[SALEEN S7R]

Nice to see Pippa Mann up near the front of the times, she had a tough year this year but she isnt a rookie anymore and hopefully she can put this year down to experince and maybe be in with a outside shot at the Championship next year.

[Last2LiftOff]

Does she have that ride for next year or just testing? Nice to see one of the Carlin's at the front after 3 days, at least. Seems like a lot of testing for Wickens not to be confirmed or announced. Weird.

Edit: Just realised Day 3 results are not on here, WSR must've taken the weekend off.

Collective results.

[SALEEN S7R]

Yes but Pippa had done well up until day 3, not sure the reason why she didnt improve her time much on the final day but she did relatively little running when you compare how many laps she did compared to the others. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64210

[strider]

Originally Posted by Last2LiftOff

Nice to see one of the Carlin's at the front after 3 days, at least. Seems like a lot of testing for Wickens not to be confirmed or announced. Weird.

I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of an announcement. These things take time. If Carlin end up with Aleshin and Wickens, I reckon that's a very strong pairing and they should be in the running for the Teams' title as well.

[WSR Fan]

Originally Posted by Last2LiftOff

Edit: Just realised Day 3 results are not on here, WSR must've taken the weekend off.

I wish, I've been stuck at work without any computer access

A few drivers have caught my eye in post-season testing. Michael Herck seems to have put his lacklustre year at Comtec behind him with some good performances, especially for Prema Powerteam. Pippa Mann and Miguel Molina have also been both fast and consistent, but the driver who I've been most impressed with is Spaniard Aleix Alcaraz, who raced in Eurocup Formula Renault this year. He was never out of the Top 10 in any of the sessions in Valencia and he also showed some good pace on his debut at Paul Ricard earlier in the month, despite being only 17 years old. One to watch for the future perhaps.

According to italiaracing.net, the first test of 2008 is scheduled for 3rd/4th March at Valencia, where each team will receive one new chassis each.

I'm just hoping that the official 2008 calendar will be released sometime soon!

[runshaw]

Originally Posted by SALEEN S7R

Nice to see Pippa Mann up near the front of the times, she had a tough year this year but she isnt a rookie anymore and hopefully she can put this year down to experince and maybe be in with a outside shot at the Championship next year.

I agree she has improved vastly over this year, but a shot at the title? I will bet you £100 that she doesn't finish in the top 10 in the championship standings next year. Her biggest achievement to date is finishing a mighty 19th in UK Formula Renault. She's good, but not that good!

[dazbaz_99]

http://www.selectmotorracing.com/PLS...tlanesuite.htm

The 2008 events calendar on this site indicates the World Series is visiting the UK in June at Silverstone...

I imagine this information is fairly accurate as they are a Motor Racing Tour company.

[dazbaz_99]

A quick google search and I also found another story confirming the Silverstone Round.

http://www.formula3.cc/content/view/21809/259/

[Last2LiftOff]

And it's on page 1 of this thread too Daz. But you probably knew that.

[Marcel ten Caat]

Here we go...

27 April - Monza
4 May - Spa-Francorchamps
25 May - Monaco
8 June - Silverstone
6 July - Hungaroring
31 August - Nürburgring
7 September - Le Mans Bugatti
28 September - Estoril
19 October - Barcelona

[SALEEN S7R]

Hmm thats a pretty strong calender, no real weak points. I think I might just make the trip up to Silverstone next year for the WSR, it will be interesting to see who adapts to the new cars and extra power best.

[Marcel ten Caat]

Oh, Spa is supposed to be a full WSR weekend, no combination with Le Mans Series.

For now only two weekends that seem to be FR 3.5 only, Monza and Monaco.

[Daisy]

Moreau is confirmend at KTR.

[bella]

Originally Posted by SALEEN S7R

Hmm thats a pretty strong calender, no real weak points.

i dunno about that, i'd say the hungaroring is a fairly huge weak point :/

[Last2LiftOff]

Originally Posted by Daisy

Moreau is confirmend at KTR.

Yeah, I saw that Daisy. And this from one of the write-ups:

Moreau added that he was looking forward to getting his hands on the new WSBR machine, which the team will shakedown in Valencia in early March. "The new car's really great as it looks like an F1, and it's going to be very quick because its power's been increased to around 500bhp," he said. "But the philosophy is very close to the 2007 model. I know that KTR's working methods will suit this car down to the ground.

I'm still holding a bit of a grudge though KTR, ala homeboy Sean McIntosh. They can flounder at the back all year FWIW.

Okay, got that off my chest.

[WSR Fan]

Originally Posted by Stranger

Here we go...

27 April - Monza
4 May - Spa-Francorchamps
25 May - Monaco
8 June - Silverstone
6 July - Hungaroring
31 August - Nürburgring
7 September - Le Mans Bugatti
28 September - Estoril
19 October - Barcelona

At last, a calendar of some sort! Thanks Stranger (BTW, where did you get hold of this info from?)

All in all not a bad calendar really, the only bad point is the huge 8 week gap in the summer. It would have been nice to round the championship up to 10 rounds IMO. Can't wait for Silverstone in June

[Marcel ten Caat]

Originally Posted by WSR Fan

At last, a calendar of some sort! Thanks Stranger (BTW, where did you get hold of this info from?)

I could tell you but then I would have to kill you...

[WSR Fan]

Originally Posted by Stranger

I could tell you but then I would have to kill you...

Fair enough

Incidentally, it's been announced today that Alvaro Parente will have his Renault F1 test drive on Thursday 17th January at Jerez in Spain. I, like many people I'm sure, wish him all the best of luck!

[WSR Fan]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64456

As expected, Mikhail Aleshin and Robert Wickens are confirmed at Carlin for 2008.

It really is a make-or-break year for Aleshin next season. There's no doubting his speed, but his consistency let him down badly last year and if he has another average season you have to wonder how long Lukoil and Red Bull will go on supporting him for.

Wickens did brilliantly in the last four races of 2007 and he could be a real darkhorse next year.

[Bezzen]

Originally Posted by WSR Fan

Incidentally, it's been announced today that Alvaro Parente will have his Renault F1 test drive on Thursday 17th January at Jerez in Spain. I, like many people I'm sure, wish him all the best of luck!

So, it's not an old show car on a gokart track for the winner this year then?

[Last2LiftOff]

Well done Robert, show 'em what you got

Originally Posted by Trevor Carlin

A new qualifying system next season should reward the quickest drivers rather than penalising those that have a poor first race.

I'm sure it's come-up but what's that about now?