Thai Formula One driver in the making?

[PepeLePew]

Anyone that knows me knows I'm a major motorsport geek. I still follow as many formula's as possible but I used to be totally anal about it. Still that had it's benefits. I correctly predicted many F1 drivers when they were still in their junior karts.

 

 

 

So I've found another one to watch. He is half Thai half English I believe and is about to make the jump into cars. If all goes well you might see him in F1 in around 2015. Now I'm not saying this little chap is going to set the world on fire but he is fairly handy at this stage having won or done well in all the major European Kart Chpshps. Of course that alone is not enough to guarantee he'll be great in F1. Both Yarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fissichella set the world of karts on fire but neither really shone in an F1 car on a regular basis. So why am I flagging up this particular little karter as a likely F1 prospect? He has Red Bull backing already!

 

Interestingly Dietrich Mateschitz, the billionaire behind the Red Bull franchise does not have the licence for Red Bull Asia. That is owned by his Thai partners. See how it all might fit together?

 

Anyway the lads name is Alexander Albon. Remember you heard it here 1st

[Trend_Setter]

@Pepe_Le_Pew

 

Hehe , i think your been a little bit to optomistic with that 2015 date , he still has a long way to go before he can reach that stage if he make`s it.....

 

But it all look good he has come a long way , let see if he can enter the Red Bull Junior Team , once i see his name on the official list and pictures then it will not be long before he move up to be a test driver then it`s all up to his performance that he can enter the official Formula-1 game zone.....

 

First picture , Alex at work on the track.

Second picture , some of his Trophy

Third picture , Alex with Jenson Button.

 

Junior Redbull Team website: http://www.redbull-j...m.com/index.php

 

 

 

Greetz , Trend_Setter

[PepeLePew]

@Pepe_Le_Pew

 

Hehe , i think your been a little bit to optomistic with that 2015 date , he still has a long way to go before he can reach that stage if he make`s it.....

 

But it all look good he has come a long way , let see if he can enter the Red Bull Junior Team , once i see his name on the official list and pictures then it will not be long before he move up to be a test driver then it`s all up to his performance that he can enter the official Formula-1 game zone.....

 

First picture , Alex at work on the track.

Second picture , some of his Trophy

Third picture , Alex with Jenson Button.

 

Junior Redbull Team website: http://www.redbull-j...m.com/index.php

 

 

 

Greetz , Stealth

 

Tell me I'm wrong on December 31st 2015 mate. He'll be 18 then. The same age as many of the young guns who got a test at Abu Dhabi at the end of last season. I'm not predicting a full race seat in 2015 (though not impossible). An F1 test with Torro Rosso is almost definate in my opinion. He has 3 years of single seaters between now and then. Probabbly Formula Renault, F3 then GP2.

 

Want to lay any money on it? Also happy to bet in beers and barfines!

[Trend_Setter]

@Pepe_Le_Pew

 

 

Deal , make your prediction where Alex will be at the end of the 2015 Race Season , and i will tell you what i will bet on , you call the shots.....

 

 

Greetz , Trend_Setter

[PepeLePew]

He'll have had an official test in an F1 car.

[Trend_Setter]

@Pepe_Le_Pew

 

Hhhhmmm , i think he can do better than that , but oke , DEAL !!!

 

At the end of the 2015 Race Season he must have at least made one or more test drive inn a Official Formula-1 Car , and it does not matter from which team , Oke....

Replay if it`s oke with you , then we will make it official...

 

 

Greetz , Trend_Setter

[PepeLePew]

@Pepe_Le_Pew

 

Hhhhmmm , i think he can do better than that , but oke , DEAL !!!

 

At the end of the 2015 Race Season he must have at least made one or more test drive inn a Official Formula-1 Car , and it does not matter from which team , Oke....

Replay if it`s oke with you , then we will make it official...

 

 

Greetz , Trend_Setter

 

 

He could do a lot better than that, or a lot worse. He might be the next Senna or the next Karthikeyan! This early in his single seater career the only prediction I'm prepared to put money on is that he will get a test. And only because of his nationality and links to Red Bull.

 

Even if he blitzes single seaters that is no guarantee he'll be an F1 god. Remember Sato? He made F3 look easy but failed to make a decent impact in F1 (still Japan's most successful F1 driver to date)

 

So my 'official' prediction is.....

 

He will have his bum in the seat of an F1 car either a test or a drive before the 31/12/2015

[Trend_Setter]

@Pepe_Le_Pew

 

 

He will have his bum in the seat of an F1 car either a test or a drive before the 31/12/2015

 

 

Oke , Deal , Then your in a race to get a Threesome if you WIN , you can choose the girls from any Agogo there in Pattaya the tab will be on my account ( Word Of Honor )

 

 

Sign , The Asian Specialist

 

 

Greetz , Trend_Setter

[PepeLePew]

Thailand GP?

 

Thailand Grand Prix being considered for 2014 or 2015

 

By: Quentin Spurring on March 30, 2012

 

Negotiations are under way for a Formula One Thailand Grand Prix, Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has confirmed. Speaking in the nation's capital, Bangkok, the energy-drink company's billionaire founder told local media, "The idea is good. We are in talks. I can't give details because it is not my responsibility. [F1 boss] Bernie Ecclestone agrees with the idea, and we might sign an agreement soon. Thailand could host a Formula One race in the next two or three years.”

Mateschitz's tone suggests that Red Bull might be behind the idea and involved in the talks between Formula One and the Thai government.

Thailand is a target market for Mateschitz, and, 18 months ago, Mark Webber demonstrated a Red Bull F1 car on an improvised street circuit centered on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok.

Thailand does have an FIA-licensed racing venue, named the Bira Circuit after the nation's one and only F1 driver, Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh, who died in London in 1985. It is located on the outskirts of Pattaya, about 75 miles from the capital, and would need substantial upgrades to get an F1 license. A street circuit appears a more likely option. Mateschitz concluded, "I remember that a lot of people watched the show, so a race here will be successful. People could see champions racing here."

As to how the F1 calendar--now at its apparent maximum of 20 races--could accommodate another new Grand Prix remains unknown. Ecclestone's enthusiasm for alternating races among countries might be the solution, however.

[Trend_Setter]

Latest Update

 

 

ALEXANDER ALBON SHOWS GREAT PROGRESS AND RAPID ADAPTATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a result of the significant effort at the beginning of the season, the young Thai driver, is starting see the fruits of his hard work and the results now being achieved bear testimony to his talent. Alexander is showing a very good progression and the obtained results at Imola will encourage him to maintain this effort. Alexander finished in the top ten in both races at Imola and he and the team are looking forward to the future improvement.

In the practice sessions, Alexander, was amongst the top ten fastest. Saturday’s race, May 26, saw Alexander starting from 11th on the grid. Almost from the beginning he was involved in a battle for 7^th place. with Esteban Ocon (7 °), Aurélien Panis (8 º), Leo Roussel (9 th) and Felipe Fraga (11 °). Alexander drove intelligently looking for his opportunity to gain positions but in the end had to settle for 10th place and thus achieved another point.

 

Sunday’s race saw Alexander starting 12^th on the grid. Again from early on he was looking for opportunities to improve his position. In only his eight race in Fr 2.0 he demonstrated a degree of maturity in his driving and thinking which started to pay dividends as he steadily progressed up the field. Having progressed to 6^th place and given the unlikely possibility of catching the driver in front but with a sufficient gap between himself and the 7^th placed car, Alexander finished the race in a controlled and relaxed manner.

As was commented on after the first two races at Monza, Alexander has a lot of talent and can achieve top 10 finishes in this Championship. Given that most of the top drivers and teams from the Eurocup are competing in this championship this is no mean feat for this young driver who celebrated his 16^th birthday at Monza, where he suffered an horrific crash and finished unclassified in both races. Alexander’s progression, as the season moves on to Spa (both Eurocup and Alps), should be maintained resulting in higher finishing positions. Although podium finishes will be difficult, given the quality of the drivers in these championships, Alexander’s dedication and positive attitude may spring a few surprises during some of the latter events.

 

 

Race 1 classification:

1st NATO Norman (FRA) RC Formula RC2 nd VERMONT William (FRA) Arta Engineering3 rd Chatin Paul-Loup (FRA) Tech 1 Racing4 th Kvyat Daniil (RUS) Koiranen Bros Motorsport5 th TUNJO Oscar (COL) Tech 1 Racing6 th IAQUINTA Simone (ITA) Team Torino Motorsport7 th OCON Stephen (ITA) Koiranen Bros Motorsport8 th PANIS Aurelien (FRA) RC Formula9 th Leo Roussel (FRA) Arta Engineering10 th ALBON Alexander (GBR) Epic Racing

 

Race 2 Classification:

1 st NATO Norman (FRA) RC Formula RC2 nd VERMONT William (FRA) Arta Engineering3 rd Wackerbauer Stefan (GER) Koiranen Bros Motorsport4 th OCON Stephen (ITA) Koiranen Bros Motorsport5 th IAQUINTA Simone (ITA) Team Torino Motorsport6 ​​th ALBON Alexander (GBR) Epic Racing7 th SILVA Guilherme ( BRA) Interwetten.com Racing Team8 th LOAN Alex (AND) Arta Engineering9 th DORRBECKER Michael Luis (MEX) Team Torino Motorsport10 th DEL VAL Stefano (ITA) GSK Grand Prix

 

 

Drivers Standing So Far This Year - 2012

 

 

Formula Renault 2.0 - Euro Series

 

1 - no-7 S. Van Doorne - 244 points

2- no-3 Dkvyat - 234 points

3- no-44 O Rowald - 109 points

4- no-26 N De Vries - 78 points

5- no-14 O Andrestunjo - 73 points

6- no-36 N Nato - 69 points

[PepeLePew]

Ecclestone targets Bangkok night race by 2015

 

 

Bernie Ecclestone says Thailand will have a Formula One night race on the streets of Bangkok by 2015.

 

Earlier this year the Sports Authority of Thailand said a race would be in the capital by 2014, but Ecclestone has now told the Wall Street Journal that 2015 is more likely. "They say 2014 and I say 2015," he said. "It is serious and it is good."

 

The report in the Wall Street Journal said a location had now been chosen and that the government would foot around 60% of the cost of hosting the race. The rest is expected to come from Red Bull, which is 51% owned by Thai businessman Chalerm Yoovidhya and was first sold in Thailand.

 

In 2010 Red Bull held a demonstration on the streets of Bangkok and the event drew crowds of 150,000. Last weekend Bangkok also played host to the Race of Champions in the Rajamangala National Stadium.

 

If the race in Thailand goes ahead it will be the third new addition to the calendar in the next three years with races in New Jersey and Russia set to join in 2014.

[Edge]

This is looking rather promising for Pepe's 3some na?

 

How much is a bottle of Red Bull in UK BTW - more than 10 Baht or 25 pence?

 

.

[M.C.H.]

Will be very interesting to see how well this project unfolds in Bkk. Fancy a Tuk-Tuk to take pole though.

[PepeLePew]

To be fair Bernie often says things which he knows are completely untrue. I've no idea what the actual status of a Bangkok race is but it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he would announce a new race in order to put pressure on an old one or another promoter who is dragging their feet or moaning about the cost. The recent 'announcements' around a possible GP in London (will never happen!) were, some say, a smokescreen to shield some press reports from Germany about a possible bribery charge.

 

That said yes I'd agree, if it does happen my 2 little winners are 1 step closer

 

I don't drink the stuff but a tiny 250ml can is £1:19 in the supermarket!

[PepeLePew]

Alex's F1 career and my 3 some move 1 step closer

 

http://www.lotusf1team.com/The-Young-Ones.html

 

15/02/2013

THE YOUNG ONES

The latest recruits are announced following our newly launch Lotus F1 Junior Team, competing across several categories of racing series

 

We are proud to confirm our roster of drivers for the newly launched Lotus F1 Junior Team. The seven drivers will be supported by the team in all areas of driving skills, physical fitness, health and nutrition, social and mental development, business ethics and principals, as well as PR training.

 

The seven drivers will contest within a variety of motorsport championships from the World Series by Renault Formula Renault 3.5 Series through the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 to KF category karting.

 

Eric Boullier:

“Lotus F1 Junior Team takes our previous i-Race Professional young driver academy and builds on it to be more closely aligned with the Formula 1 team and all the benefits brought by this association. We have announced seven highly talented drivers, many of whom will be competing against their fellow team-mates from the programme. We’re offering an in-depth and highly beneficial training regime which should encourage these drivers to develop and perform at their very best. Motorsport can be very daunting for young drivers, particularly everything that occurs away from the track, so we hope to give our drivers the very best preparation possible for their future careers.”

 

THE 2013 LOTUS F1 JUNIOR TEAM LINE-UP

Marco Sørensen, 22, Denmark, FR 3.5 with Lotus World Series Team

Marlon Stockinger, 21, Philippines, FR 3.5 with Lotus World Series Team

Alex Fontana, 20, Switzerland, GP3 with Jenzer Motorsport

Oscar Tunjo, 17, Colombia, Eurocup FR 2.0 with Kaufmann Racing

Esteban Ocon, 16, France, Eurocup FR 2.0 with ART Junior Team

Alexander Albon, 16, Thailand, Eurocup FR 2.0 team TBA

Dorian Boccolacci, 14, France, Go Kart International KF category with Energy Corse

[PepeLePew]

Bangkok officials seem to think the race might happen. I guess it might too but there is many a slip tween cup and lip especially where mr Ecclestone is concerned!

 

 

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/342686/avenue-likely-to-be-f1-venue