Page 6 - Motorsport News (January 2020)

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RACING NEWS

Photos: LAT, Jakob Ebrey
MIA warns about Brexit

policy’s motorsport impact
The British government has been urged
to help keep the country’s motorsport
industry as the ‘best in the world’ by
ensuring there is a business-friendly
post-Brexit immigration policy.
The influential Motorsport Industry
Association (MIA) has joined more
than 30 business groups plus its largest
business lobbies in sending a letter
to home secretary Priti Patel offering
help in coming up with policies that
work for the country’s industries.
With many ‘Motorsport Valley’
companies heavily reliant on freedom
of movement to employ highly-skilled
staff from Europe who are attracted
to Britain, the fears are that strict
immigration restrictions could become Aston failed to take
a deterrent for the best talent.
In a tweet linking to the letter from a top-five finish
the Confederation of British Industry
(CBI), the MIA said: “To maintain
Motorsport Valley’s position as ‘best in
the world’, we need government policies
which allow us to attract and retain the
best, talented and productive people
from anywhere in the world.”
The letter from the CBI states:
“Business understands that the DTM AFTER ONE YEAR
immigration system must change in
order to rebuild public confidence.
“Insight from enterprise can help
build a points-based model that R-Motorsport’s departure means there will be just two manufacturers on the grid
provides greater control, whilst
providing access to the labour and
skills needed to support the economy. ByRachitThukral theDTM-specVantage, intotheDTM. principalFlorianKamelger. anextraordinarilyhelpful
“And this can go hand in hand with a struggledtomatchthefactory Itreportedlyenteredtalks “Whatwehavedecided partnerforus.”
continued determination to invest in TheR-MotorsportAston entriesof Germangiants tosecureacustomerengine regardingour2020motorsport R-Motorsport’swithdrawal
training homegrown talent.” Martinteamhaspulledout andseriesstalwartsAudiand supplyfromBMW,but programmewewillannounce leavesjust14carsonthe2020
oftheDTMafterasingle BMW,andfailedtoscorea R-Motorsporthasnow atalaterstage. DTMgrid,unlessBMWand
seasoninthecategory. singletop-fivefinishallseason. announcedthatitwillnot “However,I’dliketotakethis Audiagreetofieldadditional

R-Motorsport is understood
R-Motorsport joined the DTM
OUICK LAPS THE FASTEST NEWS ROUND-UP at the start of 2019 with a quartet to have sold all of its cars to an contest the 2020 season. opportunity to say thank you customer entries. Two privateer

“The reassessment of our
Audi RS5s are currently
particularly to Gerhard Berger

of Vantages, effectively taking anonymous buyer at the end motorsport programme and the ITR, to [Audi and BMW fielded by WRT.
The outbreak of the coronavirus in the place vacated by Mercedes of last year, and it later showed that we want to set bosses] Dieter Gass and to Jens It means that the DTM will
China has prompted the country’s on the grid. announced a split with engine new priorities for the future Marquardt for the common feature just two manufacturers
motor racing federation to cancel But the Swiss squad, which builder HWA, with which it and that the DTM engagement engagement in DTM during for the first time since 2011,
a rally, but its Formula E race is was given an exclusive licence had also entered into a joint would not be appropriate for our debut season. the year before BMW joined
currently unaffected. China is at by Aston Martin to develop venture ahead of its foray us anymore,” said team “Especially BMW has been the series.
the centre of a worldwide health
scare following the outbreak of
a new strain of coronavirus that
has left 81 people dead. The centre
of the outbreak, the city of Wuhan, Former European Le Mans Series
is currently in lockdown with champion Alex MacDowall
officials having shut down its tested for Barwell Motorsport
transport network to try to prevent at Donington Park last week
the virus spreading. Part of the with a view to contesting the
effort to stop the outbreak growing GT World Challenge Europe
appears to be preventing large Endurance Silver Cup. The
gatherings, with sporting events 29-year-old Cumbrian, a British
now under the spotlight… The city Touring Car podium finisher
of Marseille and the Paul Ricard circuit in RML-run Chevrolets in 2010
will be the venues for the second edition and 2011, won the ELMS GTE
of the Olympic-style FIA Motorsport class title with Beechdean AMR
Games event. The inaugural event – in 2016 and was second in 2018
organised by the FIA in conjunction in a JMW Motorsport Ferrari.
with the SRO Motorsports Group – Barwell boss Mark Lemmer,
was hosted by Rome, with Vallelunga whose outfit took Silver class
used as the racing venue, in November victory at the Spa 24 Hours last
last year... Junior single-seater year, said the team was “very
outfit Hitech Grand Prix will join the impressed” by MacDowall’s
Formula 2 grid as an 11th team this performances and would confirm
season. Hitech had success in the its line-up later this week.
Formula 3 European Championship
and last year joined the new FIA
Formula 3 Championship – which,
like F2, supports Formula 1. It is yet
to announce any drivers, although W Series chief: Superlicence eligibility validates the championship
ex-ART Grand Prix driver Nikita
Mazepin is set to join the team… Leading figures in the Indy Lights and the World that we are worthy of
Prema Racing has completed its FIA W Series believe the FIA’s Touring Car Cup. superlicence points.
Formula 3 line-up by signing Formula decision to award the series As part of the criteria for “But ultimately on a
Renault Eurocup champion Oscar eligibility for superlicence becoming eligible for practical level for some of
Piastri, who has also become a full points validates the superlicence points, the 2020 our drivers, they do aspire to
member of Renault’s Formula 1 championship’s first W Series champion will not become Formula 1 drivers, and
Academy. Piastri took seven wins, four year of existence. be able to return in ’21. therefore, for those drivers,
other podiums and five pole positions In June last year, the FIA Speaking at Autosport it’s crucially important.”
for R-ace GP to take the Eurocup confirmed that the W Series International ahead of the Bond Muir added that
crown last year. The 2017 British F4 would be added to the list of 2020 season beginning, W she believes no current
runner-up joins Formula Regional series eligible for superlicence Series CEO Catherine Bond female racing driver holds
European champion Frederik Vesti points, with the champion Muir said: “It’s certainly a superlicence points,
and fellow ex- British F4 racer Logan earning 15 points – putting validation from the FIA and meaning “we do help
Sargeant in Prema’s line-up. Winner of theW Series will now receive superlicence points it in line with series such as the motorsport community women enormously”.