World Series - Round 1 - Monza

Right, with collective testing at Monza already underway I thought I'd get this thread up and running.

Here is the timetable for the weekend:

Thursday 24th April
10:00 - 13:00 - Collective Testing
15:00 - 18:00 - Collective Testing

Friday 25th April
10:10 - 10:55 - Free Practice
17:40 - 18:00 - Qualifying (Group A)
18:10 - 18:30 - Qualifying (Group B)

Saturday 26th April
15:26 - 16:15 - Race 1 (24 laps)

Sunday 27th April
10:46 - 11:35 - Race 2 (24 laps)

It will be interesting to see just how fast the new car is in race trim. Several people, including Kurt Mollekens, have complained that the car has too much downforce, which is obviously not what you need at a track like Monza. Although saying that, several teams ran a special low-downforce rear wing during last years' event so that could well be a possibility again this weekend.

Any predictions for this first round then? After his consistent points scoring last year and good pre-season form, I think Giedo van der Garde could be the man to beat this weekend. He seems to have settled in extremley well at P1 Motorsport and with Roly Vincini by his side I think they are in for big things this year.

For an outside bet, I'm going for Fabio Carbone. Ultimate Signature may be a new team to the series but with Fabio's vast experience I think he might pick up a good result or two.

And here's the entry list:

1. Julien Jousse (FRA) - Tech 1 Racing
2. Charles Pic (FRA) - Tech 1 Racing (R)
3. Bertrand Baguette (BEL) - International DracoRacing
4. Marco Barba (ESP) - International DracoRacing
5. Mikhail Aleshin (RUS) - Carlin Motorsport
6. Robert Wickens (CAN) - Carlin Motorsport
7. Mario Romancini (BRA) - Epsilon Euskadi (R)
8. Alexandre Marsoin (FRA) - Epsilon Euskadi (R)
9. Miguel Molina (ESP) - Prema Powerteam
10. Alvaro Barba (ESP) - Prema Powerteam
11. Aleix Alcaraz (ESP) - RC Motorsport (R)
12. Borja Garcia (ESP) - RC Motorsport
14. Maximo Cortes (ESP) - Pons Racing (R)
15. Marcos Martinez (ESP) - Pons Racing
16. Guillaume Moreau (FRA) - KTR
17. Daniil Move (RUS) - KTR
19. Salvador Duran (MEX) - Interwetten.com
20. Pablo Sanchez Lopez (MEX) - Interwetten.com (R)
21. Giedo van der Garde (NED) - P1 Motorsport
22. Pippa Mann (GBR) - P1 Motorsport
23. James Walker (GBR) - Fortec Motorsport
24. Julian Theobald (GER) - Fortec Motorsport
25. Marco Bonanomi (ITA) - Red Devil Team Comtec
26. Pasquale di Sabatino (ITA) - Red Devil Team Comtec
27. Fabio Carbone (BRA) - Ultimate Signature
28. Claudio Cantelli (BRA) - Ultimate Signature (R)

(R) = Series rookie

It's difficult to do a prediction, but I think that Prema has a lot of possibilities. They have two good drivers with experience. Molina has finished last year as the best with wins and podiums. And if Barba hasn't problems, he will be very fast.
Don't forget Aleshin, who won last year this race. For me, Carlin is hiding the cards.
Other drivers, as Jousse, García, Baguette, Duran, Bonanomi, Moreau have experience, so anybody could win.
In the rookies, I see Pic as the best. He is very young (seems Molina last year) and already he is very fast. He could be the surprise. I think Maximo Cortés, who won f3 spanish, can go well also, but he hasn't a lot experience yet.
I would see the races, but I am going to be at Montmeló for f1:) .

Hi :)

This will be my first season following WS, is there a site that provides live timing on the series ?

Testing 1
1 - Giedo Van der Garde - P1 - 1'36"484 - 47
2 - Mikhail Aleshin - Carlin - 1'36"687 - 35
3 - Fabio Carbone - Ultimate/Signature - 1'36"704 - 47
4 - Alvaro Barba - Prema - 1'36"765 - 22
5 - Miguel Molina - Prema - 1'36"875 - 39
6 - James Walker - Fortec - 1'36"921 - 50
7 - Marcos Martinez - Pons - 1'37"000 - 47
8 - Bertrand Baguette - Draco - 1'37"141 - 29
9 - Robert Wickens - Carlin - 1'37"157 - 20
10 - Guillaume Moreau - KTR - 1'37"172 - 55
11 - Marco Barba - Draco - 1'37"250 - 41
12 - Pasquale Di Sabatino - Comtec - 1'37"328 - 37
13 - Aleix Alcaraz - RC - 1'37"532 - 47
14 - Marco Bonanomi - Comtec - 1'37"625 - 22
15 - Julien Jousse - Tech 1 - 1'37"656 - 39
16 - Alexandre Marsoin - Epsilon - 1'37"703
17 - Borja Garcia - RC - 1'37"734 - 26
18 - Salvador Duran - Interwetten - 1'37"797 - 30
19 - Mario Romancini - Epsilon - 1'38"063 - 43
20 - Maximo Cortes - Pons - 1'38"141 - 41
21 - Pablo Sanchez - Interwetten - 1'38"453 - 15
22 - Charles Pic - Tech 1 - 1'38"610 - 29
23 - Julian Theobald - Fortec - 1'38"843 - 47
24 - Daniil Move - KTR - 1'38"843 - 13
25 - Pippa Mann - P1 - 1'38"984 - 31
26 - Claudio Cantelli - Ultimate/Signature - 1'38"984 - 27

Six hours of testing + free practise. Compared with GP2, which only has 30min, it's very good. With this form, the drivers get experience.

Afternoon Testing Times:

1 - Giedo Van der Garde - P1 - 1'36"016 - 32
2 - Alvaro Barba - Prema - 1'36"125 - 39
3 - Bertrand Baguette - Draco - 1'36"203 - 36
4 - Julien Jousse - Tech 1 - 1'36"469 - 39
5 - Fabio Carbone - Ultimate/Signature - 1'36"547 - 33
6 - Marco Barba - Draco - 1'36"547 - 27
7 - Marco Bonanomi - Comtec - 1'36"578 - 40
8 - Pasquale Di Sabatino - Comtec - 1'36"656 - 33
9 - Marcos Martinez - Pons - 1'36"828 - 37
10 - Mikhail Aleshin - Carlin - 1'36"859 - 29
11 - James Walker - Fortec - 1'37"031 - 41
12 - Salvador Duran - Interwetten - 1'37"047 - 21
13 - Aleix Alcaraz - RC - 1'37"109 - 35
14 - Pablo Sanchez - Interwetten - 1'37"156 - 38
15 - Miguel Molina - Prema - 1'37"203 - 33
16 - Daniil Move - KTR - 1'37"219 - 40
17 - Borja Garcia - RC - 1'37"344 - 30
18 - Mario Romancini - Epsilon - 1'37"375 - 26
19 - Robert Wickens - Carlin - 1'37"453 - 29
20 - Alexandre Marsoin - Epsilon - 1'37"515 - 33
21 - Claudio Cantelli - Ultimate/Signature - 1'37"531 - 35
22 - Charles Pic - Tech 1 - 1'37"781 - 28
23 - Guillaume Moreau - KTR - 1'37"813 - 30
24 - Pippa Mann - P1 - 1'37"906 - 30
25 - Julian Theobald - Fortec - 1'38"000 - 34
26 - Maximo Cortes - Pons - 1'38"640 - 47
I know that this is 'only' testing, but my two predictions are doing rather well so far ;)

Both Barba brothers seem to be on the pace also. Like pericu said, if Alvaro can avoid some of the bad luck he had last year then I don't see why he can't challenge for the title with Prema.

Spot the second year drivers! Only Carbone is really getting amongst them, discounting Wickens and Barba who have done races in the past. Have to say, P1 should really come good this year, so am not surprised to see VdG up there.

Have to say, that top ten is what I'd have predicted pre-season, but its far to difficult to predict the exact placings. I'm still thinking Molina for this year's title, but either from Prema, Carlin, Draco, VdG, Garcia, Moreau, Jousse, Duran and Bonanomi could win overall this year. Far too close to call. Should be a great year though!

My outsider? James Walker

No live timing anywhere? Stunning. Maybe there'll be a live stream somewhere, there were several of them last year. Are the groups sorted for qualifying?

I didn't manage to find any live streams last year - where did you find them?

And, as you say, there doesn't appear to be live timing anywhere. http://intranetwsr.alkamelsystems.com provided live timing for the Barca tests at the start of the month, but not for the March Valencia tests or this weekend. Odd.

Bit confusing at the minute, but looks like this might work?
http://ris-timing.be/

I think, using that source, van der Garde is on pole with Wickens 2nd, Bonanomi 3rd, A Barba 4th, Carbone 5th, di Sabatino 6th, Baguette 7th, Pic 8th, Duran 9th and Garcia 10th.

Or is it reversed? I can't remember - either way, that's the top 10 on times anyway.

I think, using that source, van der Garde is on pole with Wickens 2nd, Bonanomi 3rd, A Barba 4th, Carbone 5th, di Sabatino 6th, Baguette 7th, Pic 8th, Duran 9th and Garcia 10th.

Or is it reversed? I can't remember - either way, that's the top 10 on times anyway.

race 1 grid is in qualifying order... race 2 grid sees top 6 (or was it 8, I forget?) reversed, then the rest, in the order they finished (or retired)

The top 8 times (First 4 in each group) start Race 1 in reverse order. For Race 2 they line up in their original qualifying order - rest of the grid is decided by Race 1 finishing order.

So, if I've worked it out correctly, the Top 8 on the grid for Race 1 is:

1. Pic
2. di Sabatino
3. A Barba
4. Wickens
5. Baguette
6. Carbone
7. Bonanomi
8. van der Garde

I don't know for sure, but I'm assuming the other drivers start in time order for Race 1?

According to Italiaracing, Race 1 is top 8 reversed and the rest as normal. Sooo, Pic is on pole, with Baguette alongside. I think anyway!! Man, the first few races are going to be confusing!

This is all very confusing !

This is all very confusing !
Too right it is!

I was always under the impression that they took the Top 4 from each group, put them in time order (fastest to slowest) and then reversed them, but that's obviously not the case.

And apart from the Top 8, I don't know why ItaliaRacing has printed a whole grid for Race 2 because the majority of it will be based on Race 1 finishing positions :?

Cheers for the timing link btw.

Guess we won't know till the racing starts! Think it is a little too confusing all this, but I'm sure it'll work out in the long run.

To clear this up (or add to the confusion in my case!)

Report now avaliable in english
http://www.renault-sport.com/en/world_series/formulaV6/news.php?news=73794.html#

KMJ, this from last year although not even sure it worked and I haven't seen P3 around much lately otherwise I'd ask. Try it in a few hrs. I guess, or maybe somebody else knows or has others. Live feed on RTS Serbia:
http://www.rts.co.yu/rts2uzivo.ram
Bit confusing at the minute, but looks like this might work?
http://ris-timing.be/Thank you Wannab. But when I call up that site, I don't see anything that looks like a live timing feed. Help! LOL.

Worst case I hope, are the delayed videos at italiaracing. Apparently, Renault's not in this for the publicity.

But when I call up that site, I don't see anything that looks like a live timing feed. Help! LOL.

Click on 1000kms of Monza at the top which brings up a big timetable of the action from that weekend. If you then click on World Series by Renault (in this case Race 1 when it happens), a live timing feed should come up. Its not the best live timing ever, but its not too bad and updates quite quickly. Hope that helps.

Ah, but of course.Seems to me I'd tried that but there they are. Thanks OJ. :laugh:

KMJ, this from last year although not even sure it worked and I haven't seen P3 around much lately otherwise I'd ask. Try it in a few hrs. I guess, or maybe somebody else knows or has others.

Doesn't work at the moment... but I'll check in about half an hour and hopefully it will.

Is there a TV channel that's actually broadcasting the series this year?

Dunno, Emillian. I got nothin'.

Is there a TV channel that's actually broadcasting the series this year?

Not even sure if there's a World Feed - I have done the comms for that the past 2 years but last week they told me, that because of ever-tighter rebault budgets, I would not be needed...

Not sure whether that means they couldn't afford ANY commentary - or just couldn't afford ME !!

van der Garde takes victory, from di Sabatino! Great result for him and Comtec - Jousse 3rd, Sanchez 4th, Aleshin 5th, Garcia 6th, Walker 7th, Moreau 8th, Pic 9th and Mann 10th.

Couldn't tell you what happened in the race, but if you know Italian, then its on Italiaracing.net as ever!

So neither GP2 nor WSR see the need for an international TV deal. Pretty pathetic.

So neither GP2 nor WSR see the need for an international TV deal. Pretty pathetic.

YOU think it's pathetic... I'm out of 2 jobs as a result:banghead: :bmood: :ouch: !!

Great win for van der Garde, especially from down in eighth on the grid. He's been by far the fastest driver out there all weekend and, barring any mechanical drama's, he should be able to win tomorrow's race too.

Brilliant result for Comtec and di Sabatino and it's nice to see two rookies (Sanchez Lopez and Pic) scoring points on their debut also.

After such a strong showing this weekend, it was a shame that Carbone didn't get anything from Race 1. Still, he's starting 5th tomorrow so hopefully he can grab a decent points haul.

I already has seen the race (In Spain, we see WS in 'Teledeporte').
Van der Garde has won easily, and good race for Di Sabatino, who only had got last year a 9º in Spa as best result.
I have seen a Fabio Carbone a little crazy. He has been the principal cause of retirements of Wickens, Jousse and Marcos Martínez. But he is very fast, I'm surprised.
I would like to have seen more time Bonanomi, Baguette and Wickens, because they were in firsts positions.
Quite accidents in the race (as every year). The first corner was jumped for everybody.
And tomorrow, Van der Garde in pole, so possibly two wins at weekend.
Good form to celebrate his birthday

VdG also wins race two. Clean sweep:D

Yup, outstanding start for van der Garde - full points isn't it? Is he the first to do that?

Not too many surprises in the top ten - vdG wins, A Barba 2nd, Pic 3rd (pretty impressive debut), Jousse 4th, Aleshin 5th, Moreau 6th, Walker 7th, M Barba 8th, Duran 9th, Alcaraz 10th. Bonanomi was excluded, which is unusual, but I don't know what for.

He nudged Wickens, causing Wickens to smash into a barrier and retire (according to Autosport).

Duran was later penalised too, lifting di Sabatino up into the top 10.

What a disaster for Wickens, didn't see any of it mind you but the write-ups don't sound good. Heckuva weekend.

Top marks to Giedo van der Garde, he nailed it.

I have downloaded and watched the 2nd WSR race and, I must say, Bonanomi's move on Wickens was low down, dirty driving. It was reminiscent of Grosjean on Kobayashi (for anyone who watched the GP2 race) except for the fact that Bonanomi pushed Wickens out so far wide that he hit a kerb and lost control of the car. The car lurched off to the right and hit the armco hard, damaging the suspension. He managed to keep the car going but had to park it because one of his wheels was wonky.

I have downloaded and watched the 2nd WSR race and, I must say, Bonanomi's move on Wickens was low down, dirty driving.
Where did you D/L the race from KMJ, if you don't mind me asking?

From all the reports I've read, it sounds like it was an action-packed weekend with more than its fair share of accidents (mostly between Baguette and Carbone it seems!).

I thought that VDG would do well this weekend, but I didn't expect him to trounce everyone the way he did. A very impressive performance and yes OJB, I think he is the first driver to score full points during a weekend. I was also impressed with both di Sabatino and Pic, who matched if not beat their more experienced team-mates. A very good weekend also for James Walker, who could have a new team-mate next weekend at Spa if ItaliaRacing are to be believed.

Silverstone tickets available if it hasn't already been mentioned

Anyone recall how long after a race weekend italiaracing would usually post a video? Is that even happening this year...or not? Dagnabbit! Spa this weekend after all.

it's at spa this weekend?? oh noes! a1gp at brands hatch or world series at spa...

Um, err, I think so Bella. No decision here though if A1GP's the only thing available, like it's a secret or something this year with WSR. Who the heck nose? :D

The race format will return to the series' usual set-up at Spa, with a pit-stop race joining the usual sprint, and, for the first time, the proposed Superpole session will be added to qualifying, giving the top six runners from each group a chance to improve on their times before the top eight secure places in the reversed portion of the grid.

so essentially then the organisers can pick their own grid because everyone else is going to be too confused ;)

too much motorsport. what a terrible problem :(