The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will return to Miami for the first time since Season 1, debuting a brand-new location – Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Round 6 of the all-electric world championship will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Andretti, DS PENSKE, and Kiro Race Co—among other teams—will be looking to put on a show for their home fans.
Spectators can enjoy a full day of family entertainment at the race, including live music performances, race simulators in the gaming arena, and much more.
Fans now have the chance to secure their spot for the Miami E-Prix, with tickets on sale starting Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
MIAMI, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Formula E today announced that tickets for the Miami E-Prix on Saturday, April 12, 2025, will go on sale on Tuesday, October 29. They are available from Ticketmaster, with early bird pricing starting at $10 for children, $25 for young adults 16-25, and $35 for adults.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to Miami after the iconic location held the first Formula E race on US soil in the inaugural season. Formula E’s last visit to Miami saw Andretti score a podium with Scott Speed, who remains the only American driver to stand on a Formula E podium.
The GEN3 Evo is set to stun the fans with wheel-to-wheel racing at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, a regular fixture on the NASCAR calendar. The venue has a rich racing heritage, making it the perfect destination for Formula E to introduce a new form of racing to Miami’s sports-mad fans.
Developed by specialists from Formula E and the FIA, the latest GEN3 Evo edition marks a significant leap in electric racing technology. Its acceleration from 0-60mph is 30% faster than that of a current F1 car and 36% faster than that of the GEN3 car.
Alongside all the action on track, spectators will also have the chance to enjoy a full day of off-track entertainment for the whole family. The Fan Village – Formula E’s immersive fan festival at the heart of every E-Prix – will be back in full swing, offering live music, a gaming arena, and autograph opportunities with drivers.
Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, said: “It’s incredible to be returning to Miami for the first time since Season 1. The city has evolved so much, and so has Formula E, making this the perfect moment to reintroduce electric racing to a location with such a rich motorsports heritage and passion for entertainment. We’re excited to bring Formula E to the Homestead-Miami Speedway and create a memorable experience for both long-time fans and new ones alike.”
Antonio Felix Da Costa, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team and 2024 Hankook Portland E-Prix winner, said: “Miami is a city with incredible energy, and I’m really looking forward to racing here again. After the success in Portland last season, I’m more motivated than ever to push for another big result for the US crowd. I’m excited to race at such an iconic track and give it everything for Porsche and the fans.”
Spectators can now secure their spot for the 2025 Miami E-Prix. More information and tickets are available from Ticketmaster and www.fiaformulae.com
Fans in the US will be able to catch live race action exclusively on the Roku Channel on April 12, 2025, with highlights shown on CBS Sports Network.
Connect and follow the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.
@FIAFormulaE #ABBFormulaE
About Formula E and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship As the world’s first all-electric FIA World Championship and the only sport-certified net zero carbon since inception, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship brings dramatic racing to the heart of some of the world’s most iconic cities, providing an elite motorsport platform for the world’s leading automotive manufacturers to accelerate electric vehicle innovation.
The Formula E network of teams, manufacturers, partners, broadcasters, and host cities are united by a passion for the sport and belief in its potential to accelerate sustainable human progress and create a better future for people and the planet. www.FIAFormulaE.com
For US Formula E media inquiries, contact – FIAFormulaEMedia@theidagency.com
ABOUT ABB ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered, and operated. Building on more than 130 years of excellence, ABB’s ~105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com
Coming off pole start, No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R looks to challenge for victory at Bahrain
DETROIT (Oct. 28, 2024) – Following its best finish and maiden pole in the past two events, Cadillac Racing aims to close out its second season of FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar competition with a statement result in the Bapco Energies Eight Hours of Bahrain.
Sebastien Bourdais joins full-season drivers Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn for the finale in the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R on the 5.412km, 15-turn Bahrain International Circuit on November 2. The Chip Ganassi Racing-run team has shown solid pace throughout the seven races and flat-out speed in qualifying.
Lynn garnered Cadillac Racing’s initial WEC pole at Fuji Speedway last month to extend the team’s streak of qualifying in the top four of Hyperpole to five races. The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R has advanced to Hyperpole in every race but Imola and has a class-leading average qualifying of 4.4.
Lynn and Bourdais put in stellar performances in Hyperpole for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, with Lynn qualifying second. Because of a grid penalty imposed by the ACO that dropped the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R in the starting order, the No. 3 Cadillac V-Series.R that Bourdais drove to third in the session moved to the front row.
Fourth place at Cadillac Racing’s home race at Circuit of The Americas in early September is the team’s best finish of the season. Now the group seeks to claim its first podium of the season.
“We’ve shown in the last couple races that we’ve made some good strides forward,” said Bamber, who last week was confirmed as a full-season co-driver with Jack Aitken of the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R in the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. “We’re in a place where we can definitely challenge for podiums.”
Bourdais, who co-drove the No 01 Cadillac V-Series.R to the overall victory in the October 12 IMSA season-closing Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, shared the seat of the No. 2 hybrid Cadillac in the March opener in Qatar in addition to driving in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He last drove at the Bahrain circuit in 2022 in LMP2 in addition to two outings in Formula One.
The Bapco Energies Eight Hours of Bahrain is scheduled for 2 p.m. (Arabian Standard Time)/7 a.m. (ET) Saturday. MotorTrend TV will air live from 6:30-8 a.m. and 2-3:30 p.m. ET in the U.S.. Full live streaming coverage of Free Practice 3, qualifying and the race will be available on the FIA WEC app and the MAX app in the U.S. Radio Le Mans also will stream audio coverage of Friday’s final practice and qualifying, plus Saturday’s race.
Driver preview quotes
Sebastien Bourdais: “It’s good to get back in the car with Alex and Earl. We started off the season really well. Eventually didn’t get the result because of the circumstances, but we certainly deserved a good finish. The car was very competitive in the race and we played the short game really well. Unfortunately, it’s been a bit of a tough season results-wise. There was always something coming in the way of a good result. If we could send it off on a high that would be pretty cool. Performance-wise, it seems like the car is in a really good window. It’s pretty light, good on power and competitive, so there is definitely something to play for. Bahrain is a really big challenge. It’s an extremely abrasive racetrack. Tire deg is very high and using the tire the right way and not hurting it but making it function without making it slide is a critical thing to do. You have to do it with setup, dampers, traction control and you name it. We’ll try to find some recipes that work and hopefully we’ll wind up in a good spot.”
Earl Bamber: “We’ve shown in the last couple races that we’ve made some good strides forward. We’re in a place where we can definitely challenge for podiums. It’s difficult in those races because you have to sort of have everything go perfectly and the last one was difficult for all manufacturers. I think the potential is there and hopefully we can execute in the last one for Cadillac and Chip Ganassi Racing.”
Alex Lynn: “I believe in terms of sheer performance this year we have not been disappointed and we’re on course to be the best qualifying car in the whole of the World Endurance Championship, which is a great accolade if we can finish that off in Bahrain. Going into Bahrain off the back of what was a strong showing in Fuji until we weren’t able to finish off with a result bodes well. The track, I believe, is one of our better ones with our car and I personally love it as a track. I think our motivation is to finish this season and the first two years of the Cadillac V-Series.R with a strong result. I’m excited to get there.”
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Mexico City, Sunday October 27, 2024 – Carlos Sainz took a brilliant victory for Scuderia Ferrari at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix 2024 Presented by Heineken that carried on the controversy between the two drivers fighting for the World Championship. The race had an attendance of 154,142 fans this Sunday and 404,958 during the three-day event.
The 30-year-old Spaniard claimed his fourth F1 race win, recovering from a slow getaway from pole position to take the lead on lap nine of the 71. He finished in a time of 1 hour 40 minutes 55.880 seconds, 4.705 seconds ahead of title-chasing Lando Norris’s McLaren, with Charles Leclerc over half a minute behind in the second Ferrari. Leclerc set the fastest lap of 1:18.336 (197.794 km/h) on the final lap.
This is the first time Sainz has won more than one race in a single F1 season and a special moment as he prepares to leave Ferrari and join Williams Racing in 2025. “Gracias Mexico!” he said. “It’s incredible to see this crowd, I’ve been feeling their support all week. I’ve been saying for a while I wanted one more win before leaving Scuderia Ferrari and to do it here in front of this mega-crowd is incredible.”
Five-time Mexico winner Max Verstappen’s Oracle Red Bull Racing car led by the first corner after starting second. “I was a bit annoyed at the start, having lost position to him,” Sainz added. “I said, I need to surprise him one way or another because Max is super-difficult to pass. I was a bit far back, but I said, I have nothing to lose, I’m just gonna send one down the inside.”
Scuderia Ferrari’s first victory in Mexico since 1990 was overshadowed when Norris and Verstappen became involved in a major incident for the second race in a row. On lap 10 Verstappen twice forced Norris wide, first into Turn 4 and again at Turn 7, where Leclerc passed them both. Verstappen received two separate 10-second penalties, meaning he could finish no higher than sixth, allowing Norris to close the gap between them to 47 points with four races remaining.
“It was a very tough race,” Norris said. “I respect Max as a driver, but I was ready to expect something like this – not very clean driving in my opinion”. But I avoided it, and it was a good race.” As for his title chances, Norris was non-committal: “I just keep my head down. That’s all we can do for now, just focus on ourselves.” Eighth place for Oscar Piastri helped McLaren extend their lead in the Constructors’ Championship as Ferrari moved into second place ahead of Oracle Red Bull Racing.
To add fuel to the Red Bull flames, Sergio Pérez was handed a five-second penalty for a false start: the Mexican had placed his car too forward in its grid box at the start. Checo too was then involved in drama when he tried to force his way past Liam Lawson’s VCARB and was taken wide by the New Zealander.
“I don’t get it,” said Pérez after finishing 17th and last. “He just went for the incident, damaging both of our races. I picked up damage to my sidepod and floor. It was an incident that was totally avoidable. I had the corner, he went off completely and then just went straight – it was such a surprise to see him there!”
Despite a disastrous home weekend, Pérez remains upbeat about his return. “I will be back next year,” he said, “and I will try for the victory – that is my dream.”
Mercedes-AMG Petronas duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were fourth and fifth, while MoneyGram Team Haas enjoyed another superb weekend. Kevin Magnussen was seventh and Nico Hülkenberg ninth to consolidate the small American team’s sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
At the first corner of the race Alex Albon’s Williams, squeezed left by Pierre Gasly’s BWT Alpine, clipped Yuki Tsunoda’s VCARB and sent the Japanese driver into the wall, bringing out the Safety Car for six laps. Only one other driver retired: Fernando Alonso, in his 400th Grand Prix weekend, had to pull out after 16 laps with a brake issue.
Earlier in the weekend the 43-year-old Spaniard had called AHR’s GNP Seguros Stadium “one of the most iconic places where you can drive an F1 car”. The Mexico GP underlined the message on the new roof of the GNP Seguros Stadium itself: “Vivir es incréible!”
About FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO Presented by Heineken
Historically awarded “Best Event of the Year” for five races (2015 to 2019), FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO Presented by Heineken has proven to be much more than a sporting event, it is an unparalleled promotional platform that shares with the world the cultural and touristic riches of Mexico City.
For more information about FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO Presented by Heineken visit: http://www.mexicogp.mx
About Formula 1®
The history of Formula 1® began in 1950 and is the world’s most prestigious motorsport competition and the world’s most popular annual sporting series. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of Formula 1 and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™.
Formula 1 is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, BATRA, BATRK, FWONA, FWONK) attributed to the Formula One Group shares.
The F1 FORMULA 1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX, PADDOCK CLUB and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula One company. All rights reserved.
With its origins in 1990, Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento (“CIE”) (BMV: CIE) is a leading player in the Latin American out-of-home entertainment industry and has contributed in making Mexico a world-class destination in the field.
The company promotes and markets the FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO, produces events for the public sector, and operates the El Salitre Mágico amusement park in Colombia.
Through its strategic partnership with Live Nation at OCESA, it produces and promotes concerts, music festivals, Broadway-type theatrical and urban content productions, sporting, family and corporate events. It represents artistic talent, markets advertising rights and sponsorships, operates entertainment properties, the Citibanamex exhibition, congress and convention center, sells tickets through its Ticketmaster and Eticket platforms, and offers digital marketing and advertising services.
Bonsignore also takes home first Martinsville Grandfather Clock as he moves into second on all-time wins list
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 26, 2024) – Justin Bonsignore wasn’t going to be denied his fourth NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship, as he dominated the season finale Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville Speedway to take home the Grandfather Clock and the year-end title.
The championship marks Bonsignore’s fourth title (2018, 2020, 2021, 2024), and the win – his first at Martinsville Speedway – gave him sole possession of second on the all-time Whelen Modified Tour wins list with 45.
A late-season surge in which he won the final three races of the season gave Bonsignore the edge over two-time Tour champion Ron Silk, as they carried their season-long contentious championship battle into the final race of season for the second year in a row.
“A year of hard work, a lot of ups and downs, the middle of September wasn’t looking good, all of a sudden we got hot,” Bonsignore said in Victory Lane. “Three in a row is something I’ve never done in my career, and to cap it off with a Grandfather Clock is just really awesome.”
A year ago, Silk led Bonsignore by 13 points heading into the Martinsville season finale and held on to win the championship, but the tables were turned this year.
The pair of wins in the last two races leading into Martinsville gained Bonsignore a 10-point advantage over his rival as the title race loomed. The No. 51 Ken Massa Motorsports team brought the same car – the one with which Bonsignore won those races at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park and North Wilkesboro Speedway — to Martinsville. They unloaded fast again, as he led practice and then won the pole for the championship race.
Silk, however, struggled in qualifying and started 13th in the race. And while Silk showed moments of speed, his championship hopes ultimately dissolved when mechanical issues took him out of the race with 60 laps remaining. He was relegated to a 17th-place finish.
The championship moment was especially meaningful for Bonsignore after he went home empty-handed following the season finale at Martinsville the last two seasons.
“We watched other people celebrate two years in a row here and we lost, and that’s tough to watch back,” said Bonsignore. “Just a lot of hard work by Ryan Stone and Ken Massa to keep things going in the direction we want to go.
“It’s really had to put into words just how special this stuff is.”
Matt Hirschman finished second, while Jacob Lutz was third. Austin Beers and Ryan Newman rounded out the top five.
Bonsignore finished the season with 673 points, while Silk finished second in the standings with 641. Patrick Emerling also put together a solid second half of the season with three wins and was third in the standings with 635 points.
Trevor Catalano was crowned the Sunoco Rookie of the Year after finishing eighth in points this season. He captured a win at Monadnock Speedway in July and recorded three top-five and four top-10 finishes this season.
The day which ended with the crowning of the 2024 champion opened with exciting news about 2025 and beyond for the Tour. NASCAR officials announced an extension of the entitlement partnership of the Tour, as Whelen Engineering, Inc. returns to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour through 2029 in a partnership that guarantees increased team payouts starting with the 2025 season. The extension of the entitlement of the Whelen Modified Tour brings the partnership to 25 years in 2029, making them one of the longest-running sponsors in NASCAR.
While the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour concluded their season at Martinsville Speedway, the half-mile track in Virginia still has one more race weekend remaining on the calendar for 2024.
Next weekend, the NASCAR Playoff races at Martinsville will set the Championship 4 for all three NASCAR national series. The weekend opens featuring the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 on Friday, Nov. 1.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, fans can witness the action of the NASCAR Xfinity Series National Debt Relief 250 as drivers take to the track for an intense battle. Then, on Sunday, Nov. 3, drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series will compete for those final spots in the Championship 4 in the Xfinity 500, the penultimate race of the season.
Limited tickets remain for Sunday’s showdown, and fans can purchase tickets to the 2024 NASCAR Playoffs Race Weekend via phone at 877-RACE-TIX or online at martinsvillespeedway.com.
About NASCAR
Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 26, 2024) – With lap after lap of side-by-side racing for the lead, a late race green-white-checkered shootout for victory, and a close margin of victory, the first-ever Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin race on an oval lived up to the hype at Martinsville Speedway. Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) took home $25,000 and a Martinsville clock at the end of the 105-lap exhibition race.
Thomas was nearly perfect in the single-day event at ‘The Short Track.’ He turned the fastest practice lap, set the pole time and led 82 laps, but coming to the final restart, he was behind Westin Workman (No. 13 BSI Racing).
Workman, who qualified second, was Thomas’ biggest opponent the entire race. The two were able to gap the rest of the field in the first half of the race, but Workman was on the attack with 20 laps to go and took over the lead after the duo dazzled the receptive Martinsville crowd as they ran side-by-side fighting for the lead without making contact before Thomas reclaimed the point.
“We were, I would say pacing is a good word,” Thomas said. “We were trying not to use our stuff up, because we knew it was going to be the last 25 when it was going to get hot and heavy. I could tell some of the guys around me were pushing really hard, so I was trying to play the game where I pushed a little bit and then would ride a little bit and kind of balance it out and make them use their stuff up to catch me. The second half was a different story.”
The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup used a lot of traditional oval racing rules, including the ‘Choose Rule.’ When preparing for a restart from yellow, cars get to choose which lane they restart in, left or right. Drivers can gain positions by choosing a lane with less cars, but will be in the ‘slower’ lane for the restart. For the final restart, Workman chose the left lane and Thomas opted to stay behind Workman on the left side.
The pair sped into Turn One nose-to-tail, Workman appeared to get loose, and Thomas took rapid advantage.
“The outside here from practicing it and going back and watching a lot of video from all the other NASCAR series that run here, you know you’re never gonna get around the guy on the top unless something extreme happens,” Thomas said of his choice. “So, I figured my best bet was on the bottom, run with him and then see if we can make a move on him.
“I was trying not to get bumped and run myself,” Thomas said. “Because the 31 [Landen Lewis] was coming down. He was right on my bumper, and we all went in there and Weston got in a little hot.”
Workman nearly fell off the podium all together, but was able to collect himself and reclaim second. There was not enough time to catch Thomas though, who won by 0.374-second.
Along with a $25,000 check, Thomas also picked up a famed Martinsville clock for his history-making win.
“[The clock] is gonna go in the shop for a while, and it’s going to stay there for a couple weeks, so all these guys that made this happen-all my crew guys-so they can enjoy it too.”
Unlike Thomas, who came into the event with a solid background in oval racing, Workman was racing on an oval for the first time ever. The 2024 Rookie of the Year didn’t even test at Martinsville. Workman was a quick learner, which probably helped him secure the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout Scholarship. He didn’t get the clock or the big check, but Workman did earn an impressive $10,000 for finishing second.
“I thought we ran pretty well,” Workman said. “I thought we did pretty much everything right tonight. I felt like I wasn’t given a chance there in Turn One on the restart to really hold the position. There was literally nothing I could do, but happy with second place 10 grand in my pocket.”
The highest finishing driver without Mazda MX-5 Cup experience was Landen Lewis (No. 31 McCumbee McAleer Racing). Lewis qualified fourth but struggled to stay in the top five for the first half of the race. He excelled at restarts however, and nearly bested Workman for second on the final restart but went on to finish third in his first MX-5 Cup race and collected $7,000.
“I was kind of riding around, trying to bide my time, watching the laps go down, and then all of a sudden, I was getting shipped and moved and beat and banged,” Lewis said. “I come on the radio and I’m like ‘I need to man up. This is no joke. These guys are racing hard every single lap.’ I just manned up and tried to get in there as much as I could. It was really fun.
“I felt like we had a top-three car right there at the end for sure. Before that caution come out, the leader and second, they were in a different zip code, so we just had what we had, but I learned a lot and would love to do this again.”
Veteran Mazda pilot Tom Long (No. 8 McCumbee McAleer Racing), who is usually working in race control during MX-5 Cup races, couldn’t resist the chance to race at Martinsville and ended the day one spot shy of the podium, but $5,000 richer.
Another MX-5 Cup newcomer, but Spec Miata ace, Capers Zentmeyer (No. 99 Spark Performance) completed the top five. It was a fairytale ending for Zentmeyer, who is a Martinsville native and qualified 14th, but played his hand wisely and ended up with a fifth-place finish and $4,000.
The Mazda MX-5 Cup offseason has officially begun. Teams will regroup and prepare for the start of the 2025 season, January 24 – 26, at Daytona International Speedway. All races from the 2024 season are available to rewatch on IMSA’s YouTube channel.
About: The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup awards more than $1 million in prizes and scholarships.
Mexico City. Saturday October 26, 2024 – During the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix 2024 Presented by Heineken, which had an attendance of 142,951, Carlos Sainz produced a stunning 204.018 km/h lap to give Scuderia Ferrari their fourth pole position in the modern era at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez ahead of Sunday’s race.
In a thrilling hour of Qualifying action the 30-year-old Spaniard, in his last season with the Italian team, set the 4.303-km circuit alight as he claimed his first pole position since Singapore in 2023 and the sixth of his F1 career with a time of 1 minute 15.946 seconds.
“Great couple of laps!”, said Sainz. “Often around Mexico you really feel that you cannot put a lap together and it’s extremely difficult with how much sliding there is, but today my two laps in Q3 were pretty much identical and almost perfect. Our number one priority now is to bring both cars home but if you win the race, those seven or eight points that you get is important for the team in the Constructors’ Championship. I’ll be looking forward to keeping that P1 into Turn 1 and from there hopefully our race pace should be good enough to win it.”
Championship leader and five-time Mexico winner Max Verstappen’s Red Bull will start from the front row, the World Champion recovering from a tricky Friday to push title rival Lando Norris’s McLaren back on to the second row. Scuderia Ferrari is the only team in the hunt for the Constructors’ title to have both cars in the top 10, with Charles Leclerc alongside the British driver.
“Yesterday I barely did any laps, so we’re playing a lot of catch-up,” said 27-year-old Dutchman Verstappen, who had an engine change overnight. “FP3 was not very good, so I was already under a lot of pressure to have a good Qualifying. Then my lap time got taken away, so that added a little bit more pressure! But I’m very happy to be on the front row, I didn’t expect that to be possible.”
Verstappen shared Sainz’s feelings about the circuit. “It’s probably one of the hardest tracks to get right,” he added. “Street circuits are difficult, and this one as well: low downforce, it’s very easy to have a lock-up or a slide, the tires overheat immediately, it’s one of the trickier ones on the calendar.”
While Norris was “pretty happy” with third, it was another disastrous day at home for Mexican star Sergio Pérez, eliminated in the first segment of Qualifying for the fifth time in his challenging 2024 season. “I just couldn’t get on top of it, I couldn’t stop the car soon enough,” the 34-year-old explained. Checo, who crashed out on the first corner here last year, knows he has another tough Sunday ahead. “It’s very important to try and maximize the day,” he said. “If we are able to score some good points it will be a tremendous effort, but it’s going to be very difficult from the position we are in.”
The other big name eliminated in the first 18-minute segment was Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri, who had one lap time deleted, then made what he called “a very poor mistake” that cost him a full second. “Painful,” said the 23-year-old Australian after compromising McLaren’s bid to keep their lead in the Constructors’ Championship.
The third row of the grid belongs to Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, with George Russell marginally quicker than two-time Mexico winner Lewis Hamilton, but with big names missing from the final segment, some unaccustomed faces took advantage to complete the top 10.
Danish veteran Kevin Magnussen, in his final year with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, starts seventh alongside BWT Alpine F1 Team driver Pierre Gasly, with Alex Albon recovering from his own difficult Friday to put his Williams ninth alongside the second Haas of Nico Hülkenberg.
About FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO Presented by Heineken
Historically awarded “Best Event of the Year” for five races (2015 to 2019), FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO Presented by Heineken has proven to be much more than a sporting event, it is an unparalleled promotional platform that shares with the world the cultural and touristic riches of Mexico City.
For more information about FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO Presented by Heineken visit: http://www.mexicogp.mx
About Formula 1®
The history of Formula 1® began in 1950 and is the world’s most prestigious motorsport competition and the world’s most popular annual sporting series. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of Formula 1 and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™.
Formula 1 is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, BATRA, BATRK, FWONA, FWONK) attributed to the Formula One Group shares.
The F1 FORMULA 1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX, PADDOCK CLUB and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula One company. All rights reserved.
With its origins in 1990, Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento (“CIE”) (BMV: CIE) is a leading player in the Latin American out-of-home entertainment industry and has contributed in making Mexico a world-class destination in the field.
The company promotes and markets the FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO, produces events for the public sector, and operates the El Salitre Mágico amusement park in Colombia.
Through its strategic partnership with Live Nation at OCESA, it produces and promotes concerts, music festivals, Broadway-type theatrical and urban content productions, sporting, family and corporate events. It represents artistic talent, markets advertising rights and sponsorships, operates entertainment properties, the Citibanamex exhibition, congress and convention center, sells tickets through its Ticketmaster and Eticket platforms, and offers digital marketing and advertising services.
Partnership includes increased financial commitment to driver payout throughout finishing order NASCAR also announces 2025 Whelen Modified Tour schedule
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 26, 2024) – NASCAR today announced an extension of the entitlement partnership of its original series as Whelen Engineering, Inc. returns to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour through 2029 in a partnership that guarantees increased team payouts starting with the 2025 season. In conjunction with the announcement, NASCAR released the 16-race 2025 Whelen Modified Tour schedule.
Whelen’s commitment to the Whelen Modified Tour in the coming years will see the largest Tour purse increase in the last decade, with championship prize money increasing by 250%. Additionally, the entire starting field will see the benefits of the new partnership, as each entry will see a minimum $2,000 payout to start the race – in several cases more than double the current payout for lower-finishing positions. Race winners will get a minimum of $11,000 in Whelen payout.
“The heart of NASCAR is in our regional racing and long-time partners like Whelen help support the high quality racing our fans and competitors deserve in the grassroots programs,” said Joseph Dennewitz, Managing Director of NASCAR Regional. “By building up the purse for all in the garage, Whelen is putting their money where their mouth is in ensuring the success and health of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for years to come.”
Competitors in the Whelen Modified Tour will begin seeing the benefits of the extended partnership next season at the season opener at New Smyrna Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 8. This will mark the fourth consecutive year that the Tour will open at the track that is just down the road from the birthplace of NASCAR.
The Whelen Modified Tour is NASCAR’s oldest and original series, which began racing in 1948 in Daytona Beach. The partnership between Whelen and the Tour originated with the 2005 season, and over the past two decades, Whelen has demonstrated a continued commitment to the dedicated fans and competitors of the Tour. The extension of the entitlement of the Whelen Modified Tour brings the partnership to 25 years in 2029, making them one of the longest-running sponsors in NASCAR.
“We are incredibly proud to extend our longstanding partnership with NASCAR and celebrate 20 years as the title sponsor of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour,” said Peter Tiezzi, General Manager of Motorsports for Whelen Engineering Company Inc. “For the past two decades, being part of this iconic series has been both an honor and a reflection of our commitment to grassroots racing. As the Official Warning Lights of NASCAR, we are excited to continue supporting the sport while further strengthening our ties within the racing community. This partnership highlights our dedication to safety and performance, both on and off the track.”
The Tour will continue to partner with NASCAR national series event weekends to highlight the extremely competitive nature of the racing. On Sunday, May 18, the Whelen Modified Tour will be part of a unique double-header as the opening act for the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Richmond Raceway will host the Tour on Thursday, Aug. 14, as part of its late summer NASCAR weekend, and the Tour joins the lineup for the NASCAR Playoff weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a Saturday, Sept. 20, race.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, Martinsville Speedway will again host the championship race as an opener for a week of camping and fan activity that leads into the national series Playoff weekend.
Fan favorite Whelen Modified Tour tracks such as Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (Connecticut), Monadnock Speedway (New Hampshire), and Riverhead Raceway (New York) will each host multiple events.
“We are proud to once again have a strong mix of types of tracks on the 2025 Whelen Modified Tour schedule that allow our drivers to put on an impressive show for fans in multiple markets,” said Jimmy Wilson, Senior Director, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. “As you can see by the quality of racing and the intense championship battle to the end this year, these events showcase the various strengths of each of our drivers and allow for competitive racing from the first race to the finale.”
Thompson will host a trio of high-profile events, starting with the Sunday, March 30, event as part of the Icebreaker Weekend – now the second race on the Tour’s schedule. They will also host a Wednesday night mid-summer showdown on Aug. 6, and the penultimate race of the season as part of the World Series of Speedway Racing on Sunday, Oct. 12.
Monadnock will host two events on Saturday, May 3, and Saturday, July 19. Riverhead will have a pair of races on Saturday, June 14, and Saturday, Sept. 6.
Seekonk Speedway (Saturday, May 31), Lancaster Motorplex (Saturday, July 12), Oswego Speedway (Saturday, Aug. 30) will once again host Tour races next season. Additionally, White Mountain Motorsports Park returns to the Whelen Modified Tour schedule for 2025. The New Hampshire track previously held a pair of Tour races in 2020.
“The short tracks of the Northeast are at the heart of the Whelen Modified Tour and offer so many options for our teams to compete close to home in front of their friends and family,” added Wilson. “We have strong historic ties to many of these facilities and all host great events for everyone who comes through their gates.”
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will crown its champion later today (Saturday, Oct. 26) at 8 p.m. ET at Martinsville Speedway.
Over the two-decade partnership Whelen has held with the Modified Tour, 10 different drivers have won the Whelen Modified Tour championship, led by Doug Coby’s six titles (2012, 2014-17, 2018) and three from Justin Bonsignore (2018, 2020, 2021). Ron Silk, the reigning champion, also won the title in 2011.
This season, in one of the more thrilling – and contentious – championship battles in Tour history, Silk and Bonsignore are continuing the rivalry stemming from their down-to-the-wire title bout from a year ago.
Silk entered the penultimate race of the season last week at North Wilkesboro Speedway up by 11 points. But a dominate win on Sunday afternoon by Bonsignore flipped the script and put the driver of the No. 51 atop the points standings for the first time since August with a 10-point advantage entering the finale. Each driver heads into the championship race with four wins and 14 top 10s.
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and Snapchat.
About Whelen Engineering
Since 1952, Whelen Engineering has been a proud ally and supporter of our nation’s first responders. Driven by a mission to protect those who protect others, Whelen provides the high-quality, reliable products and technology needed to aid them in their critical missions. From warning lights to white illumination, sirens, controllers, and software, every product that bears the Whelen name has been thoughtfully designed, manufactured, and tested right here in America to perform at the highest level in any condition. Whelen is honored to have earned the trust of first responders around the world as leaders of the emergency warning industry and carries that responsibility earnestly, always striving to ensure that the everyday heroes serving under the illumination and protection of Whelen products are equipped to do their jobs with enhanced efficiency, reliability, and safety.
The Ferrari driver topped FP2, setting the best time of the day.
Pato O’Ward completed 21 laps for McLaren during Practice 1, and Checo Pérez finished 9th in FP2.
107,865 fans filled the stands during the first day of the F1ESTA.
Mexico City, 25 October 2024 – Spaniard Carlos Sainz was the fastest driver on day one of the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix 2024 Presented by Heineken at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, setting a time of 1:17.699 during Practice 2.
Before a crowd of 107,865 fans, the Ferrari team driver was very consistent in his 34 laps around the 4.304-km track and became the man to beat in a session marked by a red flag and tyre tests as part of Pirelli’s development for the 2025 season.
With just 13 minutes left in the session, George Russell caught the kerb in the “esses” section, lost control of his Mercedes, and crashed into the barrier to bring out a red flag. The British driver was able to get out of the car on his own and was taken to the track’s medical centre for a routine check-up.
After a 23-minute pause while the barriers were being repaired, the drivers got back the track to continue looking for the optimum setup.
The next best time after Sainz was clocked by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, 0.178 seconds behind, followed by VCARB’s Yuki Tsunoda, 0.179 seconds back (one thousandth of a second behind Piastri). Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Lando Norris (McLaren) set the fourth and fifth fastest times, respectively.
Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Magnussen (Haas), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Valtteri Bottas (Stake), Mexico’s Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing), and Liam Lawson (VCARB).
The second free practice session lasted 90 minutes, 30 minutes longer than usual, with the last half hour devoted to Pirelli tyre testing as the manufacturer continues developing the compounds that will be used next season.
Max Verstappen was forced to stop his RB20 halfway through the session due to problems with the power unit, so he was not able to set a competitive time. The Argentinean Franco Colapinto, driving for Williams, set the 15th fastest time.
The first practice session was led by George Russell and saw four Latin drivers taking to the track: Sergio Perez, Franco Colapinto, Pato O’Ward (McLaren), and Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin). The session featured a significant number of reserve/test drivers, including Oliver Bearman (Ferrari), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), and Robert Shwartzman (Stake).
The session gave Pato an opportunity to support McLaren in his role as reserve and development driver. The British team currently leads the constructors’ championship. Pato did a total of 21 laps and made a favourable impression on the Woking team.
“I was only able to push hard for four or five laps. It was not enough, I was king of left wanting more,” said the Monterrey-born driver.
In FP1, Russell led from Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), Yuki Tsunoda (RB) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull); Nico Hülkenberg (Haas) rounded out the top five. Checo finished 10th. Meanwhile, the fastest time among the reserve drivers was set by Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who finished 12th.
Support Races
In the morning, the on-track action was supplemented by practice and qualifying sessions for the GTM Super Cup, Masters Historic Racing, and Formula 4 NACAM Championship support categories.
Mexican Grand Prix ambassador Ivanna Richards put in an outstanding performance. The 16-year-old driver qualified 8th and 11th for the two races of the GTM Super Copa touring car category.
On Saturday, Practice 3 is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. local time, and qualifying will be held at 3:00 p.m.
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About FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO Presented by Heineken
Historically awarded “Best Event of the Year” for five races (2015 to 2019), FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO Presented by Heineken has proven to be much more than a sporting event, it is an unparalleled promotional platform that shares with the world the cultural and touristic riches of Mexico City.
For more information about FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO Presented by Heineken visit: http://www.mexicogp.mx
About Formula 1®
The history of Formula 1® began in 1950 and is the world’s most prestigious motorsport competition and the world’s most popular annual sporting series. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of Formula 1 and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™.
Formula 1 is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, BATRA, BATRK, FWONA, FWONK) attributed to the Formula One Group shares.
The F1 FORMULA 1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX, PADDOCK CLUB and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula One company. All rights reserved.
With its origins in 1990, Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento (“CIE”) (BMV: CIE) is a leading player in the Latin American out-of-home entertainment industry and has contributed in making Mexico a world-class destination in the field.
The company promotes and markets the FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO, produces events for the public sector, and operates the El Salitre Mágico amusement park in Colombia.
Through its strategic partnership with Live Nation at OCESA, it produces and promotes concerts, music festivals, Broadway-type theatrical and urban content productions, sporting, family and corporate events. It represents artistic talent, markets advertising rights and sponsorships, operates entertainment properties, the Citibanamex exhibition, congress and convention center, sells tickets through its Ticketmaster and Eticket platforms, and offers digital marketing and advertising services.
North Wilkesboro, N.C.: While Canadian standout Treyten Lapcevich and his Chad Bryant Racing team did not end their 2024 zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car Tour season the way that they had hoped this past Saturday night, the duo is still reflecting on many positives from the season.
The anticipation to return to the historic North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway for Lapcevich and his team were high considering the team was the most recent winner at the famed North Carolina short track earlier this year.
Their fall trip to sweep the season, though, hit a major roadblock when Lapcevich retired from the ECMD 125 due to engine failure.
Before the expiration, Lapcevich and his Chad Bryant-led team were in contention for a strong finish in this year’s zMAX CARS Tour Late Model season finale.
“North Wilkesboro was certainly disappointing for our team with an engine failure ending our race early,” said Lapcevich.
“We had good speed all weekend long, started a little deeper in the pack than we would’ve liked to after being the first one out in qualifying, but when it came race time – we had a lot of speed and were making positions up very quickly.
“I felt as if we had speed capable of riding up the elevator for a second time this year, but unfortunately didn’t get the chance to find out.”
With back-to-back hardship finishes, Lapcevich still reflected on 2024, when the team showcased their ability to overcome bad luck early in the season with positivity and consistency.
“I am still very proud of our team for the amazing year that we had,” expressed Lapcevich. “We’ve encountered a lot of bad luck these last two weeks, but I still don’t think that hinders what we were able to accomplish this year as a team.
“We came a long way since the beginning but turned into a consistent threat at the front of the field.”
Unofficially, finishing sixth in the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car Tour championship point standings, Lapcevich expressed extreme gratitude for his partners who assisted in making the 2024 racing season possible.
“I really want to send a huge thanks to my sponsors for providing me with this opportunity,” added Lapcevich.
“Evirum, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and Allrem Racing have put a lot of belief in me, which I’m extremely grateful for. Thank you to the Chad Bryant Racing team for all of their hard work all season long.”
“Overall, being surrounded by great people, I learned so much and grew as a driver that I think will make us an even bigger threat heading into next year.”
After 17 races, Chad Bryant Racing unofficially finished seventh in the championship owner standings with one win, six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes with an average finish of 8.2 with Lapcevich at the helm.
Lapcevich’s plans for the 2025 season will be announced in due course.
For more on Treyten Lapcevich, like him on Facebook (treyten.lapcevich) and follow him on Instagram (@treytenlapcevich) and X | Twitter (@TreytenL).
About Allrem Sports and Entertainment:
Allrem Sports & Entertainment, a company of Allrem group of companies, is the powerhouse behind all sports and entertainment endeavors within the Allrem group of companies, with a strategic focus on ensuring optimal business development, brand awareness, and marketing opportunities for the entire Allrem group of companies and its partners.
Through the collective power of its diverse subsidiaries (Allrem Racing, BKFC, Les Pétroliers de Laval), Allrem Sports & Entertainment delivers unparalleled value to its sponsors and the Allrem group of companies. We provide our partners with business development opportunities, corporate hospitality programs, targeted brand awareness initiatives and innovative sponsorship activations. We ensure that all our partners receive maximum exposure and tangible returns on their investment to meet their objectives.
Evirum, part of the Allrem group of companies, is a Canadian residual materials management brokerage offering eco-responsible solutions across North America to minimize environmental impact and promote recycling and other innovative practices. Evirum is committed to providing companies, events and industries with the best sustainable practices and services.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), the World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion, in which Allrem is a shareholder, is the first entity sanctioned to hold regulated bare-knuckle events in the United States since 1889. BKFC is based in Philadelphia (PA) and headed by President and Founder David Feldman.
LAS VEGAS — The BITNILE.com Open Wheel Showdown Las Vegas is fast-approaching with the most lucrative pavement open wheel event in motorsports, November 14-16 at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Winged Sprint Cars will compete for $50,000 to win for the second annual event, along with $5,000 to win Super Modifieds and $5,000 to win Modifieds. Over 125 teams are registered for the $200,000+ event that will be broadcast live on Speed Sport TV.
Aaron Willison won the inaugural Winged Sprint Car 100-lap feature in 2023 ahead of Bobby Santos III in second and event promoter Davey Hamilton, Jr. in third for a talent-laden podium. They will square off against a 70-car entry list – the largest ever assembled on pavement. JoJo Helberg makes his anticipated return to pavement open wheel racing while 2023 Little 500 winner Jake Trainor makes one of his first career winged starts.
Modifieds were added to the Open Wheel Showdown in 2024 and they have responded in force with nearly 40 entries spanning the western states. West Coast champions such as Scott Winters, Eddie Secord, and Ian Elliott will battle with the champion drivers from both The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the Rocky Mountains in a 75-lap feature for $5,000 to win.
Super Modifieds are headlined by the returns of Kenny and Davey Hamilton in search of the $5,000 prize after 40-laps of feature racing. 2024 SpeedTour champion Randy Anderson of Tacoma, Washington, multi-time race winners Jim Birges and Nathan Byrd, and many others make up the entry list of two dozen teams.
Action kicks off Thursday with optional practice. On Friday, the Winged Sprint Cars and Modifieds will qualify and compete in heat races. Following heat race action will be the Winged Sprint Car C-Main and pole shuffle. All three divisions will compete in main events on Saturday evening as well.
For more information, visit www.openwheelshowdown.com Tickets and RV reservations are available via the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Pit Passes will be sold at the gate and include grandstand access.
