March 2018

There's a proverb that says: “In like a lion, out like a lamb.”

When March begins is still winter.

The weather it´s been so extreme that even Formula One cars met the snow while testing in Barcelona last week, but by the end of the month, spring will have begun.

A much warmer scenario steps in, by then it will be time for the Australian Grand Prix which every year, sets the beginning of a much expected Formula One season.

Engines will roar louder on Sunday afternoon of March 25th to be precise.

But there´s a lot of action going on in the motorsport world before that, so let´s take a look at some of the most exciting racing competitions kicking off in the upcoming days and weeks.

WRC - Rally Mexico (March 9 – 11)

The World Rally Championship (WRC) started its thirteen dates 2018 season with the 86th edition of the historic Rallye Monte-Carlo (January 25-28) followed by Rally Sweden (February 15-18).

Rally Mexico joined the WRC in 2004 and is considered one of the most challenging rounds of the championship. It comprises 22 different stages, beginning in the city of León to then reach the host cities of Silao and Irapuato.

Competitors will face high temperatures and the altitude while they run through the mountains.

Between 2006 and 2012 Sébastien Loeb won the Rally Mexico - only by 2009 the edition was absent from the calendar.

After the first rounds, the WRC arrived in Mexico with Thierry NEUVILLE leading the standings (41 points) followed by Sébastien Ogier (31 points) and Jari-Matti Latvala (23 points).

IndyCar – Season Opening (March 9- 11)

The 2018 season of the Verizon IndyCar series kicks off next March 11 with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Firestone remains as title sponsor – recently the brand has announced it retains naming rights for the event through 2020.

The streets of St. Petersburg, Florida will have 24 drivers battling for the win on Sunday with all cars using the new universal aero kits.

Also, two new full-time teams join the series this year. Carlin Racing with drivers Charlie Kimball and Max Chilton and Harding Racing with Colombian driver Gabby Chaves. Both teams will use Chevrolet engines.

The season will also introduce a new rookie class.

Matheus Leist is the youngest driver in the field (19). The Brazilian is making his debut at this week´s opener with team A.J. Foyt Enterprises. Leist will partner with another Brazilian driver, former champion and Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan (43).

“This is a special moment in my career and I’m so grateful for the things that are happening. Sometimes it is hard for me to believe that I’ll be driving for the legend A.J. Foyt. Having Tony Kanaan as my teammate is incredible because he’s been an idol for me since I was a child.” Matheus Leist.

Zack Veach (23) is an American driver from Ohio. After racing in USF2000 National Championship and the Star Mazda Championship, in 2013 he joined IndyLights. Veach finished third the 2014 championship racing for Andretti Autosport. In 2015 the American driver suffered a hand surgery which forced him to step out of the competition. In 2016, he managed to get back to IndyLights conquering three victories.

Last year he entered IndyCar to replace injured John Randal Hildebrand Jr. racing at the Grand Prix of Alabama with Ed Carpenter Racing team.

His performance made a big impression showing his natural talent.

The same year he raced the Indy 500 for A.J. Enterprises but retired due to a mechanical failure.

The 2018 season sets his official debut in the main series as a full-time driver racing for Andretti Autosport.

Robert Wickens is a 28-years-old Canadian driver who won the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Championship. That same year he was the reserve driver for the Marussia Virgin Racing Formula One team getting test sessions with the team and also for the Lotus team as well.

He has also competed in DTM, GP3 and Formula BMW USA Championship.

British drivers Jordan King and Jack Harvey, Austrian driver Rene Binder and Canadian driver Zachary Claman De Melo complete the series graduates for 2018. The case of the latter, De Melo will be sharing the seat at Dale Coyne Racing with Brazilian driver Pietro Fittipaldi, also a rookie in IndyCar.

IndyLights – Round 1 and 2 (March 8-11)

For those of you who aren't familiar with the series yet, let me introduce you to IndyLights Presented by Cooper Tires.

The series is a development platform for young drivers, sanctioned by IndyCar.

The IndyLights champion is awarded at the end of the season with a scholarship valued at $1M toward the Verizon IndyCar Series with three guaranteed races including the Indianapolis 500. 

Kyle Kaiser of Juncos Racing won the championship and scholarship in 2017.

The 2018 Indy Lights season will be featured on 10 weekends alongside the Verizon IndyCar Series headline event, making a total of 17 races.

Today, cars are starting the testing sessions for the first race of the year which begins this weekend at St. Petersburg, Florida. Five teams and ten drivers are ready to battle for the championship.

Formula E is back to Punta del Este for Season 4

By mid-December, the all-electrical series officially announced the return of the Punta E-Prix replacing the Sao Paulo E-Prix.

By March 17th, the city of Punta del Este will host the third E-Prix in Uruguay.

The street circuit spans on 2.785 kilometers, here Sebastien Buemi is King.

The Renault e.dams driver has won both races and hold the best Qualifying lap record (1.15.011) as well as the fastest lap record with 1.17.413.

In 2017, 220 million tv viewers watch Formula E worldwide.

The series has become the fastest growing Motorsport platform in the world.

Stay tuned for more upcoming news!