Mexico City Fran-Am

[Mike.ca]

&nbsp I've just been looking at the Fran-Am website for information about today's race in Mexico City. Only two of the top ten in points are at Mexico City. They are Charles Hall, who qualified third, and Mexican Aurelio Lopez, who qualified sixth. Although there are five Canadians in the top ten, none is in Mexico - including points leader Andrew Ranger. Also missing are Robert Bell (third in points) and Argentine Juan Martin Ponte (fourth).
&nbsp A press release, dated October 4th, says that Ranger and Bell were on their way to Estoril to test V-6 cars. Also going to Estoril were Alex Lloyd (British FR), David Martinez and Chris Green (Barber Series). Why would Renault send the first and third ranked drivers to Europe while the championship is still undecided? Are they trying to engineer a dramatic finish? As it stands, Hall still has a mathematical chance of beating Ranger for the title, though it would be a hollow win if he did. Hall and Bell are neck-and-neck in the points. Hall seems to have been given a big advantage with only two races to go. And where is Ponte?
&nbsp And what about the Estoril tests? Were any other drivers involved? Does anyone know the times set? You would think that it would be an important test session (to pull two drivers out of a championship race), but the only mention of Estoril on the Renaultsport website is an item about Vanina Ickx testing there.

[Russfeld]

The Mexico City round isnt scoring points for whatever reason, a replacement race is added to the season finale.

[Mike.ca]

&nbsp Thanks, Russfield. I didn't see any mention of Mexico City being a non-championship event on the Fran-Am website, but that would certainly explain the poor turnout.

[Mr Jinxx]

Robert Bell tested the V6 as did Alex Lloyd (who only got 6 flying laps) and Ryan Sharp, who tested the V6 with the new single exhaust, which sounds great. It was a bit of a shambles unfortunately, as the morning was taken up by a press day, and no-one knew about the Fran-Am prizes of a test.

Ryan and Rob Bell knew a couple of teams, so were already sorted, but Alex and David Martinez just had to jump into a car (the team was called SRTS.. nice folk who weren't expecting anything like this), wrap some foam around and were only allocated 10 laps in total - 3 then 7. Not really telling anything, as the car and the track were unfamiliar, and Alex has never left foot braked before - I don't know the times of the others, but Alex did a 1:36.4. That was quicker than Martinez and seems to compare quite well to the series regulars in their first 15 laps on the first test day at Estoril - in fact it would have put him 3rd in that first session. Rob Bell got a couple of hours and Ryan Sharp ran all afternoon, but I don't know what times they got down to. Long way to go for 6 flying laps, but at least it helps to teach a driver how to get used to a different driving style, different car and new track in a very short time, which can only be a benefit in times to come.

Incidentally, the 3.5 litre Renault V6 sounds so much better with the single exhaust, and it is a lovely piece of kit, quite a big car, with paddle gears, clutch on the steering wheel, left foot braking, etc.

[Mike.ca]

Thanks Mr. Jinxx. Any sign of Ranger or Green?

[Mr Jinxx]

No - neither was there, I don't think.

[mrinvader]

Ranger and Green were both there, but i dont know how they did.