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We’ve come to the top of the 2023 motorsport season, and when it comes to outcomes it seems to be eerily much like 2022. Not solely has F1 produced the identical champion as final yr, so have the pinnacles of each endurance racing and world rallying, too.
However that doesn’t imply the way in which we arrived at these outcomes wasn’t with out drama, intrigue and motion – whereas a number of long-standing motorsport data have been shattered. Listed here are a number of the sporting highlights of the yr.
Components One
Whoever you assist in Components One, it’s unattainable to not admire the utter dominance of Max Verstappen. He broke numerous data by way of the season on his approach to changing into a triple world champion.
Successful 19 of the 22 races this yr gave him a win share of 86.36 per cent, breaking a file of 75 per cent relationship all the way in which again to 1952 and Alberto Ascari. Past that, his 10-win streak from Miami to Monza beat the earlier file held by Sebastian Vettel; he led nearly 76 per cent of all race laps this yr (beating the 71 per cent achieved by Jim Clark in 1963); and he received all 12 races from which he began on pole this yr, beating the previous file collectively held by Nigel Mansell (1992) and Vettel (2011).
And sure, you would rightly argue that the Pink Bull RB19 is without doubt one of the quickest racing vehicles ever; just one off weekend in Singapore plus an outstanding efficiency by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz prevented the Milton Keynes squad from taking an entire clear sweep this yr.
The sheer consistency that the triple champion has proven in 2023 has additionally been drawn into focus by the struggles of workforce mate Sergio Perez. Whereas the Mexican seemed to be mounting a title problem early on, Verstappen’s kind remained relentless as his workforce mate faltered. Max’s solely error was a barely clumsy brush with the pit wall as he left his storage throughout British Grand Prix qualifying, which sums up simply how unbelievable his execution has been.
Past the Dutchman’s dominance, there have been many desirable battles. The race for second within the Constructors’ championship went right down to the ultimate lap of the ultimate race, with Mercedes pipping Ferrari by simply three factors. The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Sainz had improbable tempo all season (with 4 poles for Leclerc, solely Verstappen had a greater qualifying file than the Monegasque driver) however poor reliability and questionable tactical choices price the workforce dearly.
From early on within the yr, it regarded just like the Mercedes wouldn’t totally bounce again from its 2022 struggles, but regardless of a tough automotive that hardly ever confirmed spectacular tempo, Lewis Hamilton floor out constantly robust finishes. A pole place on the Hungarian Grand Prix and powerful race tempo in Austin – the latter proving to be one of many closest battles Max had all season – have been his highlights; a considerably determined overtaking try when he collided along with his workforce mate George Russell on the Qatar Grand Prix was the one blot on his copy ebook. As for Russell, regardless of qualifying kind on a par with the seven-time champion’s, he struggled slightly extra in race trim. It led to what Russell himself described as “one of many worst seasons” of his profession.
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One other of the F1 outdated guard, Fernando Alonso, had an outstanding begin to the season, however his automotive’s growth didn’t progress in addition to some rivals, which brought about his problem for third total to drop again.
Alonso was in a four-way battle for fourth within the championship with the Ferrari duo and Lando Norris. They have been separated by simply six factors on the finish of the yr; Alonso pipped Leclerc to fourth on podium countback, with Norris one level additional adrift.
Had the McLaren been as aggressive within the first half of the season because it was within the run-in, Norris might have been even increased than his fifth-place end. He took seven podiums, whereas workforce mate Oscar Piastri had the perfect rookie season since Lewis Hamilton in 2007. He bagged two podiums and was one of many few drivers to carry off Verstappen as he received the dash race in Qatar.
With the rules and each driver line-up remaining constant by way of to subsequent yr, we simply hope that these battles will be fought alongside Verstappen in 2024, quite than in his mirrors.
WEC
The World Endurance Championship entered a really thrilling interval in 2023, with new hypercar rules. A number of latest producers, together with Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot and Porsche, grew to become full-time opponents, however none of them might match the Toyota Gazoo Racing squad over the course of the season.
Excellent consistency from the trio of Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa was the important thing to the success of the quantity eight automotive; of the seven races this yr, they completed within the high two each time however one.
Staff mates Mike Konway, Kamui Kobayashi – additionally the squad’s workforce boss – and Jose Maria Lopez shall be rueing a desperately unfortunate Le Mans 24 Hours race. Kobaysahi was an harmless social gathering in a collision that eradicated their Toyota GR010 Hybrid from the race, and the massive zero chalked up there proved extra expensive than wherever else, as a result of the groups rating double factors at Le Mans. In any other case, the quantity seven automotive’s leads to the remainder of the season have been worthy of a world title; the trio took 4 wins – twice as many as their workforce mates.
Very similar to Pink Bull in F1, Toyota received all however one race in 2023, and once more like F1, it was solely Ferrari that prevented a clear sweep. On this case, the AF Corse squad managed to spoil the Japanese model’s social gathering on the greatest race of the yr, by successful the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The win at La Sarthe, when the trio of James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovanazzi emerged victorious, was the primary by a Ferrari since 1965.
And if this yr wasn’t sufficient of a battle between the producers, subsequent season is ready to develop into much more aggressive. Whereas the championship will sadly lose the Glickenhaus squad, it’ll additionally see the likes of Alpine, BMW, Isotta Fraschini and Lamborghini getting into the fray.
WRC
In an altogether totally different sort of endurance, Toyota proved its mettle within the World Rally Championship by changing into World Champion for the third yr in a row; and for the second yr working, the perfect driver was Kalle Rovanperä. The youngest ever WRC champion additionally grew to become the youngest double champ as he bagged three wins and 6 podiums. One of many highlights was Rally Estonia, the place he took 13 consecutive stage wins.
It was an emotional 2023, with rallying mourning the lack of Gymkhana icon Ken Block and former Citroen, Ford and Hyundai driver Craig Breen. The Irishman had beforehand labored with co-driver Scott Martin, now with Elfyn Evans, making the Toyota pair’s win in Rally Croatia, simply 10 days after Breen’s passing, all of the extra poignant.
Evans and Martin have been the pair who put up probably the most cussed opposition to Rovanperä throughout the course of the 2023 season, with the duo bagging two extra victories and one other 4 podiums all through their marketing campaign. Nonetheless, once they crashed within the penultimate Central European Rally, it secured the title for Rovanperä.
Moreover Evans, one of many few drivers who might constantly match the younger Finn’s pace was Sébastien Ogier. Getting into solely eight of the 13 rallies in ’23, he received three of them, with victory on the season-opening Monte Carlo making him probably the most profitable driver ever on the occasion, with 9 wins. His total performances have been
nonetheless sufficient for fifth place within the standings total.
Third place went to Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville, with Ott Tänak taking fourth for Ford M Sport – every with two wins. Nonetheless, there shall be a golden alternative for an additional driver subsequent yr, as a result of Rovanperä has introduced that he’ll solely compete on a part-time foundation. Does that imply 2024 could possibly be ‘third time fortunate’ for Evans to develop into the primary British WRC champ since Richard Burns in 2001?
Components E
Whereas Components One may need lacked a British race-winning driver or producer for the primary time ever within the sport’s historical past, 2023 did serve up a home-grown world champion elsewhere. The ninth season of Components E noticed Jake Dennis finally safe the title after a titanic tussle all year long, as he overcame the fast Kiwis Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans.
Each driver had lots to regulate to within the 2022/2023 season, due to the introduction of the all-new GEN 3 automotive. This produced as much as 470bhp in qualifying trim – 135bhp up on its predecessor – but additionally weighed 60kg much less, at 840kg.
On the similar time, most brake regeneration greater than doubled to 600kW. Not solely was this sufficient for over 40 per cent of the power required to finish a race to be harvested from the motors, nevertheless it additionally supplied such robust deceleration that the vehicles had no rear brake discs in any respect.
In the end, lap occasions for the most recent season have been pegged again by rules imposed on new tyre provider Hankook; the contemporary rubber proved to be extremely exhausting, making the vehicles tough to drive on the restrict. From the 2025/26 season, the tyre provider shall be switched to Bridgestone.
Dennis tailored to those new challenges fantastically, and carried out constantly strongly all through the season, making barely a mistake and all the time on the tempo. He took a modest two victories all yr – rivals Evans and Cassidy bagged 4 every – however the Avalanche Andretti driver’s 11 podium finishes have been sufficient to see off Cassidy by 30 factors. This included protecting an extremely cool head throughout a chaotic London ePrix double-header on the finish of the yr; the half-in, half- outdoors monitor structure across the ExCeL centre grew to become all of the extra dramatic following a torrential downpour.
As reward for his very good season, Dennis was given an opportunity to drive for the Pink Bull Components One workforce within the season-ending check at Abu Dhabi as a part of his position because the squad’s simulator driver.
Don’t anticipate him to look in F1 simply but, although – the person from Nuneaton has lately signed a multi-year cope with Avalanche Andretti that may hold him with the workforce past 2025.
Indycar
Together with the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the ‘Triple Crown” is accomplished by the Indianapolis 500. And this yr’s occasion was as dramatic as ever.
It got here right down to the ultimate lap; a late crimson flag meant that the race would go inexperienced with 249 of the 250 laps accomplished. At this level, 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson discovered himself within the lead, however sadly that left him nearly powerless to carry off the chasing pack on the restart. Regardless of stern defence, a daring transfer by Josef Newgarden secured the double Indycar champ his first Indy 500 victory after 11 years of making an attempt.
Though Newgarden had the prospect to drive victory lane on the best race of the season, Alex Palou topped the standings on the finish of the yr. The Spaniard repeated his title victory of 2021 to develop into the sixth a number of champion for the reason that inauguration of the collection’ present format in 1996.
Palou inflicted the harm towards the competitors within the first half of the season and totally on highway programs, with wins on the Indianapolis Street Course, Detroit, Street America and Mid Ohio. In distinction to Palou, Newgarden proved to be the Oval specialist, with wins on the Texas Motor Speedway and a double header in Iowa.
Palou’s closest challenger, nonetheless, was Scott Dixon. The six-time champ fell barely quick, however his staggeringly constant Indycar kind continues; he has solely failed to complete within the high 4 thrice since 2003. As in Components E, the opposite podium locations went to New Zealanders; behind Dixon was Scott McLaughlin, the person who switched from the Australian Supercars collection full time in 2021 exhibiting superb tempo on avenue and highway programs.
Subsequent season will mark a change within the sport’s technical rules, with a brand new hybrid set-up launched. It’ll take the place of the ‘push-to-pass’ system utilized by the present vehicles – basically an influence bump that the drivers can use at their discretion for a restricted time by way of the race. However whereas the present system provides 60bhp, the capacitor-based hybrid increase will provide up 150bhp.
Our unsung heroes of 2023
Auto Specific’s motorsport gurus select their favorite racers from 2023…
Louis Sharp – F4
By Steve Fowler
It was by no means unsure for me, however Louis lower it high quality, leaving it till the final race to take the British F4 championship. To be sincere, he most likely would have received the title final yr, had it not been for him being too younger to compete within the first few races. And at 16, he’s nonetheless a way off having the ability to take his driving check. That didn’t cease him whizzing me round Thruxton final yr in an Abarth 595, the place his sheer pace and talent immediately stood out.
This yr, although, the Rodin Carlin racer has been at or across the head of the pack in F4 all through the season, taking a win and second place within the closing breathtaking three-race spherical at Manufacturers Hatch. The British-born New Zealander will, little question, transfer up the ranks subsequent yr as he heads in the direction of his final aim – F1. Which simply occurs to be the place one other former F4 champion known as Lando Norris now races.
Shane van Gisbergen – Supercars/Nascar
By Dean Gibson
Among the hardest-fought racing you’ll see wherever on this planet is on the Nascar circuit, so it takes a particular form of expertise to show up and win in your race debut. However that’s precisely what New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen did this yr on the rain-soaked streets of Chicago.
In case you’ve saved in contact with Australian touring automotive racing, then you definitely’ll know who van Gisbergen is – mainly a massively proficient racing driver. He’s a triple V8 Supercars champion, and has received the legendary Bathurst 1,000 touring automotive race thrice, too. Not solely that, however he’s additionally received the Bathurst 12 Hours endurance race for GT3 sportscars, and has proved himself to be fairly helpful in a wide range of GT equipment racing over right here in Europe, too.
However it was his exploits in Chicago that basically put van Gisbergen on the map. He gave the regulars a masterclass in hustling an enormous, heavy inventory automotive round a concrete-lined monitor. It got here as a shock to the Nascar fraternity, however with Australian Supercar races going down on the road circuits of Surfers Paradise and Adelaide (each locations the place SvG has received up to now), it was second nature for the Kiwi.
It stood him in good stead, too, as a result of in 2024 he’ll be heading Stateside for extra Nascar exploits, and hopefully extra of his unbelievable expertise will shine by way of.
Antonio Felix da Costa – Components E
By Alastair Crooks
My colleagues have singled out improbable drivers based mostly on their performances throughout a complete season, however I’m choosing a person based mostly on one single manoeuvre – and probably the perfect overtake we noticed all yr.
Components E isn’t precisely wanting shut racing; longer braking distances and minimal downforce ranges give drivers many extra passing alternatives than
in Components 1. Take this yr’s Monaco Grand Prix for instance. With 22 on-track overtakes in 71 laps, it had probably the most motion in an F1 race on the Principality since 2011, but the Monaco ePrix served up 114 passes in simply 29 laps.
However the perfect got here from Antonio Felix da Costa on the ultimate lap of the Cape City ePrix. Chasing former workforce mate Jean-Eric Vergne for the lead, the season six champion bought a powerful drive off the tight flip seven, and heading in the direction of the 140mph flip eight, he squeezed alongside Vergne and hung his Porsche out across the outdoors of the precise hander earlier than darting left for flip 9, with millimetres between himself, Vergne’s DS Penske and the wall.
It secured victory for what would show to be his solely win of the season, and handled us all to one of the thrilling motorsport moments of 2023.
Ash Sutton – BTCC
By Alex Ingram
Ash Sutton has now received an unbelievable 4 championships in his eight years of BTCC racing, making him the joint most-successful driver within the collection’ historical past, alongside Colin Turkington and Andy Rouse.
This yr noticed the 29-year-old Briton take the title in convincing style, finally seeing off final yr’s winner, Tom Ingram, by some margin. Of the 30 races on this yr’s calendar, Sutton received 12 of them and stood on the rostrum for 2 out of each three rounds.
Again in 2022, he made the change to Napa Racing and a brand new automotive – the Ford Focus ST – however ended up dropping the title to Tom Ingram by a mere 12 factors. This season, he was completely decided to go one higher.
The BTCC is altering its guidelines and rules for subsequent yr, nonetheless, which might make Sutton’s title defence far more tough. The hybrid system that was launched to the sector in 2022 will obtain a bump up in energy by 30bhp.
Provided that these decrease down on the grid can use {the electrical} increase for longer throughout qualifying classes, we must always see the sector bunch up and make entrance runners combat more durable to get into the latter phases of qualifying.
Simply comply with the hyperlink for the remainder of our 2023 Evaluation of the 12 months pages…
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