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Roar Guru
Joined November 2013
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Motorsports writer, photographer and sometimes podcaster on Hit The Apex Podcast. Catch me on Twitter @Doctor46th and @HitTheApexMedia.
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Symmons Plains was another circuit that was sorely missed in the Covid-19 affected schedule for the 2020 Supercars championship and after a year on the sidelines, the Tasmania SuperSprint put on a spectacle.
Following a lengthy three-week break between races, Formula One gets back into gear and returns to continental Europe for Round 2 of the 2021 world championship at the famed Imola circuit in Italy. Join me on The Roar from 10:50 pm AEST for live blog coverage of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Having made its […]
Formula One returns for its bumper 2021 season when another year of grand prix action begins this weekend under lights in Bahrain. Join The Roar for a live blog from 2:00am (AEDT).
Following a short off-season, Formula One is back for 2021, and while on the surface it appears the cars will be the same as last year, there have in fact been significant enough changes.
It’s been well over a year since Victoria had any Supercars action, since the ill-fated Australian Grand Prix was cancelled in March 2020, thus cancelling the support round for the top touring car category.
Formula One pre-season testing for 2021 has been completed and as always, there’s great intrigue at the shape of the pecking order ahead of the new season.
The Supercars championship was welcomed back to Bathurst this weekend for the beginning of a new season, making for back-to-back visits to the Mountain after the series ended 2020 at the epic Mount Panorama circuit.
It’s been a long off-season for the Supercars championship, having concluded the truncated 2020 campaign at the Bathurst 1000 back on October 18 – as Shane van Gisbergen with Garth Tander claimed the Great Race for Holden and Scott McLaughlin clinched a third championship.
The dictionary has been exhausted of all adjectives that could be used to describe the bizarre events that have taken place in 2020.
Formula One reaches the end of the 2020 world championship season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Join The Roar for live race updates and a blog of the last race of the year from 12:10am (AEDT).
One of the great travesties of the 2020 Formula One season has been the ousting of veteran driver Sergio Perez from the Racing Point team in favour of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel for 2021.
Formula One will head around the rapid outer circuit in Bahrain this morning for the Sakhir Grand Prix. Join The Roar for live race updates from 4:10am (AEDT).
With another race following Lewis Hamilton’s coronation as a seven-time world champion to mull over, there’s no better time to conduct a post-mortem of the 2020 Formula One world championship.
Lewis Hamilton will start from his 98th career pole position alongside teammate Valtteri Bottas at the Bahrain Grand Prix in pursuit of his 11th win of the season. Join The Roar from 1:10am (AEDT) for live blog coverage of the race in Sakhir.
Shock pole-getter Lance Stroll will head the grid for the first in his F1 career at the Turkish Grand Prix, but all eyes will be on Lewis Hamilton’s bid to claim a record-equalling seventh championship from sixth. Join The Roar from 9:10pm (AEDT) for live blog coverage of the race at Istanbul Park.
A record 23-races comprise the 2021 Formula One world championship calendar and while the concept of more racing sounds brilliant – in this instance, the schedule seems more bloated.
Despite crashing out of his maiden IndyCar race at the Grand Prix of St Petersburg before reaching half-race distance, Scott McLaughlin described his open-wheel race debut as “the best day of my life apart from my wedding.”
Imola is a circuit that is etched into Formula One history and while this is the first time that the championship has returned to the Emilia Romagna region since 2006, there are memories both fond and haunting. Tune in to The Roar from 11 pm AEDT for live blog coverage of the Emilia Romagna Grand […]
This rollercoaster of a 2020 Formula One season has brought us to the track dubbed the ‘rollercoaster’ itself, returning to Portugal for the first time since 1996 as part of the revised calendar. Join The Roar from 12:00am (AEDT) for live blog coverage of the Portuguese Grand Prix.
It was another race for the ages, with Shane van Gisbergen and Garth Tander delivering one last victory for Holden in the legendary marque’s final Bathurst 1000 as a manufacturer in the Supercars championship.
Paddle shifts Damo?
I’m kind of working on a separate write up on that and Gen3, so be sure to stay tuned for that one.
Feel free to share your thoughts on the matter though mate!
Supercars Tasmania SuperSprint talking points
Turkey would be great, but only if an existing race were to drop off the calendar.
Six things to look forward to in Formula One in 2021
Qualifying on Friday would replace FP2 and I think they’ll still have a Saturday morning practice ahead of the sprint race.
Six things to look forward to in Formula One in 2021
You’d hope so given the McLaren organisation is in a much better place than it was three years ago. They’ve certainly got the makings of a top team at the moment, unlike Ferrari who we’ve got to wait till 2022 and see if their focus on the new regulations pays off. If not, then Ferrari are going to need an administration and management rethink.
Six things to look forward to in Formula One in 2021
Sandown is traditionally a circuit that hasn’t suited DJR in the last five years and Will did get a podium at the MP500. They’ll get stronger over the coming rounds and I think it’s unfair to write them off completely.
Supercars Sandown SuperSprint talking points
He was second there in one of the races at the second round at The Bend.
Supercars Sandown SuperSprint talking points
I’ve got my fingers crossed that McLaren will be able to jag a victory or two this season. But as for the top two teams, Red Bull based off testing should be equal (or better) than Mercedes, so there should hopefully be no domination. We can rule out Ferrari though for a top three challenge, they won’t be up there until next year.
Was F1's testing a false dawn?
Well they can’t really develop much anyway due to it being restricted to this token system, which prevents last year’s car being updated significantly. Mercedes haven’t won seven straight titles without being top of the class in every area, so I reckon even if Red Bull will hold them to account this season – that the Silver Arrows will still get it done.
Was F1's testing a false dawn?
Touching tribute Gurgler.
So many highlights to choose from, but a particular favourite of mine is him commentating his own ride with Brad Jones at Bathurst in 1997. That’s gold right there! Not to mention, slightly off racing – but the Pizza Hut commercial he did with Damon Hill. Cracks me up every time.
Vale, Murray Walker.
In memory of Murray Walker, F1 commentary genius
Glad you enjoyed it Mark and thank you for the read!
I’ve been to the 12 Hour three times now since 2017 and it’s become my annual February trip to Bathurst, but sadly not this year and not even for the Supercars.
It is such an amazing place and every time I go, it takes a while for that feeling of awe to sink in.
Not bad for some photos too, especially if you’re at the Esses and they come over Skyline!
A first timer's trip to the Bathurst Supercars
Yes I do watch via Kayo, though I could only watch Race 1 as a replay later that evening. Though I did hear about the number of problems viewers saw with the graphics during the first race.
Are you saying that Kayo’s coverage didn’t start until the fourth lap of the race?
Supercars Mount Panorama 500 talking points
I doubt anything will happen in regards to Waters for that. Perhaps just a bit of early season teasing between the championship contenders?
Supercars Mount Panorama 500 talking points
Would have thought continual world domination would be his style. 😛
Supercars 2021 off-season talking points
Definitely didn’t expect that backlash did they!
Supercars 2021 off-season talking points
Great for all different fans Micko, I think he touches every spectrum. Never whilst trawling through social media feeds or forums, have I ever seen a bad word spoken about Larko – so indeed that basis upon which Supercars first gave him the sack is baffling.
Supercars 2021 off-season talking points
Precisely Damo, they did come across as amateur in dealing with the incidents. Considering too, if it wasn’t for Penske’s lobbying in Detroit, we would have seen Ford return to Supercars in a factory capacity and bring with them the Mustang. It does stink a little bit not having a name as big as Penske in the sport this year – for the reasons mentioned, but I hope that DJR can continue on their trajectory of success after doing things the Penske way.
Indeed it is a great category, with world class drivers going wheel-to-wheel every weekend and some great circuits too. So all we can hope for is that the future is one that the fans can enjoy.
Supercars 2021 off-season talking points
Thanks Simoc.
I would love for an intra-team rivalry between Leclerc and Sainz to emerge. I’m hoping that the two-years at McLaren have given Carlos the tools he needs to be confident and consistent, especially in such a pressure cooker environment as Ferrari. But hey, Charles has proven he can do ok there, hasn’t he?
If anything, the McLaren-Mercedes partnership will hit its stride in 2022 with the all new car. Difficult it will be with the current token system to adapt the current chassis to the Mercedes power-train.
Feeling a bit let down with Top Gun Viñales and next year he’ll have to deal with Quartararo next to him, who we know can be the top Yamaha rider. Just depends on what kind of M1 we see on track next year and if they can sort out those engine troubles.
The year that was for motorsport
Thanks for reading Micko. Happy New Year to you too mate!
The year that was for motorsport
When you hear Checo say that the grid doesn’t have the greatest drivers in the world on it, then it really hits you hard. Especially the romantic in you, which proudly says that F1 has the 20 best racing drivers in the world – but in reality it is about half that number.
Sergio Perez's F1 travesty
No worries Micko. Yup from 2010-2013 it was Alonso and Massa. Before they brought Kimi back into the team in 2014, alongside the Fonz (Fernando).
Sergio Perez's F1 travesty
Kimi did get paid by Ferrari to not fulfill his contract in 2010, which did effectively force him out of F1 after ‘09. Then of course returning in 2012 with Lotus, after a spell rallying and in some NASCAR division.
Sergio Perez's F1 travesty
Gee I remember that race in 2012 like it was yesterday and the collective Darth Vader-like ‘nooooooo’ after Checo getting too much kerb at Turn 14. Who’d have thought back then that it would 190 races to earn his first win? Given how stellar he was all season.
And great of course to see young Mick wrap up the F2 title before he debuts next year in F1. I thought Haas already confirmed that Fittipaldi would be driving in Abu Dhabi? But anyway, I’m glad to have seen him develop the way he has and hope he can chip away from the back of the grid without letting that outside noise get in too much.
Five talking points from the Sakhir Grand Prix
Vandoorne and Esteban Gutierrez are both listed as Mercedes’ official test and reserve drivers for the 2020 season.
F1 champ Lewis Hamilton tests positive for virus
Not in the last 30 years Micko, but I do believe Jacky Ickx won some GPs back in the 70s.
F1 champ Lewis Hamilton tests positive for virus
Ah yes, I recall that. Whilst I agree with you that parity uproar over the past three years has been absolute hogwash, unfortunately this is the image that they’re using at their discourse. What’s the point of then having multiple manufacturers if only one can go unchecked.
Supercars Tasmania SuperSprint talking points