MOTORSPORT - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

The unsung participants at the 2024 World Rally Championship Safari Rally Kenya

WHEN Kalle Rovanpera and Jonne Halttunen emerged as top finishers at the 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally Kenya and stepped onto the podium at Hell’s Gate National Park to freely spray champagne over colleagues and rally officials, one might have been forgiven for presuming that this was an all-mens' event. One would have presumed wrong. Apart from four all-womens' teams participating in the race, four Kenyan women made crucial contributions to the event. Here, bird story agency sheds light on these four women. Charlene Tuja, Rally PhotographerIn the male-dominated field of rally photography, Charlene Tuja stands out as…

Apr

2024

By JOE CASH

F1 faces a fresh challenge on return to China

MOTORSPORT

FORMULA One returns to China for the first time since 2019 with even world champion Max Verstappen facing a new challenge at a circuit that provided his Red Bull team's first Grand Prix victory 15 years ago. The weekend will host the first sprint of the season, with only one hour of free practice on Friday to fine-tune the cars and do tyre assessments, and the teams have only simulator data to go on. The last time they raced at the Shanghai International Circuit, the cars had 13-inch tyres and a flat floor instead of the current 18-inch Pirelli rubber…

Apr

2024

By Mpho Rantao

Formula E double-header arrives at Misano Circuit.

MOTORSPORT

Formula E is set for a double dose of action in Italy this weekend. The series is set to take place at the Misano Circuit, in Rimini, for an exhilarating double-header racing weekend. Get ready for back-to-back races as the championship stages its sixth and seventh rounds following a competitive Tokyo Eprix. While Formula E has held races in Italy since its inception, this marks the series' inaugural visit to the Misano circuit, which is a stone's throw from Imola's iconic track used in Formula One (Emilia Romagna Grand Prix). Past Formula E races in Italy were held at the Circuito Cittadino…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Rovanpera takes his second Safari win in Toyota one-two

MOTORSPORT

TOYOTA'S Kalle Rovanpera and co-driver Jonne Halttunen won Safari Rally Kenya with Hyundai's Thierry Neuville stretching his championship lead to six points despite finishing only fifth. Double world champion Rovanpera, competing in selected events only this season before a full return in 2025, led from Friday and finished one minute and 37.8 seconds clear of team mate Takamoto Katsuta over the rough gravel roads. M-Sport Ford's Adrien Fourmaux finished third. "It’s always special to win here," Rovanpera, who also won in 2022, said of his 12th career victory and first of the season. "Also, a legendary event for Toyota. We’ve…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Maserati’s Max Gunther grabs Tokyo Eprix win

MOTORSPORT

“KONNICHIWA" from this author as Formula E (FE) returns this weekend, taking its fifth round to Japan. Japan is a popular racing spot with a rich motorsport history. Several current FE drivers have raced there in both Formula 1 and SuperFormula, often leading to exciting moments, like this year’s inaugural Tokyo EPrix. HIGH STAKES AND OVERTAKES Following a thrilling Sao Paulo EPrix, FE fans were treated to another race winner in Maserati MSG’s Maximilian Gunther. Gunther took the chequered flag after 35 laps (two added for the safety car), and grabbed his and Maserati’s first win since the 2023 Jakarta…

Mar

2024

By PESHA MAGID

Mercedes would do handstands to have Verstappen says Wolff

MOTORSPORT

MERCEDES would do handstands to have Red Bull's triple world champion Max Verstappen driving for them but first, they need a car worthy of his talents, team boss Toto Wolff said. Verstappen has won 19 of the last 20 races and took his second of the Formula One season in Saudi Arabia with an untroubled run from pole position. The Dutch driver's future has been the subject of some speculation, despite Red Bull being way ahead of the rest, as a consequence of allegations by a female team employee against principal Christian Horner. Horner has been cleared, after denying the accusations, but…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Important for F1 to show its values, says Hamilton

MOTORSPORT

LEWIS Hamilton said Formula One faced a pivotal moment and needed to show its values amid controversies away from the track involving leading personalities in the paddock and governing body. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has been in the spotlight after a drawn-out investigation into misconduct allegations by a female employee showed clear divisions behind the scenes. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the governing FIA, has been accused by a whistleblower of attempted interference in a race and allegedly seeking to deny certification of the Las Vegas street circuit that debuted last November. "As someone who loves the sport, it's definitely disappointing to…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Bahrain Grand Prix team-by-team

MOTORSPORT

TEAM-BY-TEAM review of Formula One's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday (listed in their current championship order): RED BULL (Max Verstappen 1, Sergio Perez 2) Verstappen started the season with a grand slam of pole position, fastest lap (lap 39) and leading all 57 laps. The victory was the 55th of his career, and fifth grand slam, lifting Red Bull level with Williams in fourth place on the all-time list with 114. The gap to Perez of 22.457 seconds compared to last year's 11.987 advantage. Verstappen has now led the championship for 40 races in a row. Perez started fifth…

Mar

2024

By ABHISHEK TAKLE

Verstappen dominates F1’s Bahrain season-opener

MOTORSPORT

REIGNING Formula One champion Max Verstappen opened his bid for a fourth successive title in dominant style with an unchallenged cruise to a Red Bull one-two victory in Saturday's Bahrain Grand Prix. The 26-year-old Dutchman enjoyed a perfect day as he led from pole position and took a bonus point for the fastest lap on his way to finishing 22.4 seconds ahead of Mexican teammate Sergio Perez. Carlos Sainz, who will be making way for seven-times champion Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari next year, took the final podium spot in third place ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc. The triumph under the…

Feb

2024

By MPHO RANTAO

Brand new African Karting Championships kicks off in South Africa ahead of Karting World Cup

MOTORSPORT, WHAT'S HAPPENING

THE inaugural African Karting Cup starts this weekend at the Zwartkops Kart Circuit, in the city of Centurion, Gauteng, from February 15 -17. Over 15 countries, including Angola, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, will be represented by 40 drivers on the karting circuit, signalling the popular rise of young drivers with high ambitions. The event will be managed by Motorsport South Africa (MSA) and is an FIA-recognised competition. MSA chairperson Adrian Stoltz said that the Cup competition was meant to take place at the main Zwartkop Racing Circuit, but announced a last-minute venue change due…