Is Carmen Jorda Ready for F1?

PR Stunt or Female Sensation

Now, I'm usually quite objective when I do this sort of thing. However; I feel a bit of a rant coming on. Carmen Jorda is a 26 year old Spanish Racing Driver who has competed in Spanish Formula 3, F3 Open Series, GP3 Series and Indy Lights.

While this might seem like quite an impressive feet and a good lead for female motorsport, it's clear to see that the performance does not match the credentials. During her time in GP3 she competed in the 2012 / 2013 / 2014 season. However; as many of you who watch GP3 will know, she isn't the most competitive driver. She would often find herself at the back and it was rare for her to qualify off the back row. This was most summed up in a Sprint Race last year where she didn't only finish last, but also finished behind a driver who had to pit for damage in a race without pit stops. 

To add on to her list of "achievements" she managed to join a very select group of drivers who have failed to Qualify for a GP3 Series event. She is the 3rd most experienced (in terms of races) and holds the record for most GP3 Races without a point.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing her because she's a women driver. I was fully invested in Simona de Silvestro's plight for Formula One, because, in her, as well as a few other female drivers we see talent. However; we must ask, is this being used simply as a PR stunt.

Carmen has taken on the role of Development Driver. I bring this up because this was the role of another female Counterpart; Susie Wolff. My concern remains though; what is the plan for these drivers. Neither Jorda or Wolff have had incredibly successful youth careers (at least not outside of karting.) So is the aim to "develop" them to F1 ability, or is it simply to get young girls interested. I talk about using her as a PR stunt as a bad thing. But maybe the aim isn't to get them into F1 but to instead use them as a catalyst for the next generation. If so, then I applaud Lotus.

My only concern comes from the current young driver situation. There are many highly skilled young drivers coming through the order, it seems unfair to push aside drivers like Palmer (GP2 Champion) and Ocon (European F3 Champion) (both at Lotus) in order to promote a driver that will get the sponsorship.

Also, maybe I was too harsh on her career. She did achieve 4th in the Spanish F3 [Copa F300 class] and did achieve a point in Indy Lights. Formula One has been very male based for a number of years, and it would be great to make it more even, and not just have a female driver in the sport for PR purposes. However; I feel this will take time and there a very few from this generation that could do it.

 -|RacingRecaps|-

Young Driver Academy

Big Teams, Supporting Little Talents

While many young drivers come through the ranks, we find only the very best make it to F1 or the other major series. However; talent is hot property and many teams don't want to try to invest in a young driver only for them to sign with a rival. Neither do they want a potential talent to go to waste. So bring to the forefront; Driver Academy's!

While they don't always work the same way that football academy's do, young driver academy's allow F1 teams to financially invest in young talent. This ensures that drivers are given cars and series to compete in. In order to prepare them for Formula One. While the success of Hamilton through the McLaren academy and Vettel through the Red Bull Academy may be the most obvious.

McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari are the three main teams, who dedicate their time and resources, other teams do have large sponsorship with Caterham, Murussia and Lotus all giving their young drivers the same livery as the F1 cars. While private organisations, like the "Racing Steps Foundation" have also given their drivers the same support. So who are the new stars of the future? Which drivers have the major teams backed?

 

Name	2014	2015	Likelihood to win title	Outlook for 2015
Red Bull
Stoneman	GP3	FR3.5	High	After having to take time out because of illness, 24 y/o may be too old to challenge for F1, but will be the man to beat, after a strong 2014
Gasly	FR3.5	GP2	High	Losing to Sainz, means he was overlooked for T. Rosso, but a move to DAMS should help his chances.
Ilott	Eu KF Kart	EuroF3	Med/Low	Fresh out of karting, he's done the same route as Verstappen, maybe RB are hoping to strike oil twice.
McLaren
Vandoorne	GP2	GP2	Favourite	“The best (GP2) rookie of the Pirelli era” It would be a surprise if he didn't win, as he heaps the pressure on Magnussen
De Vries	FR2.0	FR3.5	Med/ High	Its taken him longer than he would like to reach this stage and will be hard to beat team mate Stoneman.
Barnicoat	FR2.0 NEC	FR2.0	Med/ High	While he might seem destined to win, he hasn't joined one of the top two teams, so might be hard to get results.
Ferrari
Marciello	GP2 (8th)	GP2	Med/High	The former EuroF3 Champ. Will look to chase Vandoorne, but Trident are not a front running team, results may vary.
Fuoco	EuroF3 (5)	GP3	Favourite	Having joined the champion team and performing in F3, he would need some talented opposition to challenge him.
Stroll	Italy F4	EuroF3	Medium	Having won the Toyota Racing Series in January, he has the momentum, but is it too much too soon for the Canadian.
Zhou	Eu Chall. Kart	Italy F4	High(ish)	Its hard to judge his performance having come out of Karts, but it means he will directly be compared to Stroll's result.
Lotus
Ocon	EuroF3	N/a	N/a	Future unclear. He missed out on a DAMS GP2 seat and Lotus 3rd Driver. But he's beaten Verstappen and impressed Ferrari in tests at only 18. Likely future star.
Sorensen	GP2/FR3.5	GP2 WEC	Med/ High Low/ Med	He may be in a top team, but can Sorensen use his experience, or will his long term future be in Endurance Racing
Fontana	GP3 (11th)	GP3	Med/High	Another disappointing year in GP3 has left him with an uncertain future. Now with a top GP3 team.
Tunjo	FR3.5 (22)	FR3.5	Low	Loyalty with Pons Racing may help his chances, but remains an outside hope for the title. Didn't outscore his 2014 partner
Stockinger	FR3.5 (9)	GP2	Low/ Mid	He's rumoured to be MP Motorsports new driver, but his Lotus future maybe be threatened if the results don't come.
Albon	FR2.0	EuroF3	Medium	A Former Red Bull Young Driver, will be hard to judge at a new team, but his 2.0 result shows he has potential.
Bocculacci	FrenchF4	EuroF3	Medium	Team mate to Albon, it will be easy to judge his form. But will be hard in a competitive series with a poor car.
Racing Steps Foundation
Dennis	EuroF3 (9)	EuroF3	V.High	Now with the defending champions and having got experience, he must surely have high hopes.
Rowland	FR3.5 (4)	FR3.5	V. High	Not finished lower than 4th in any championship since 2010. Will be expecting much success in 2015.
Harvey	IndyLights	IndyLights	Favourite	Also won the BritF3 title in 2012. Looks set to be one of Britain’s top drivers not in European racing.
Barnicoat	FR2.0 NEC	FR2.0	Med/ High	With Support from Racing Steps and Mclaren, he's sure to be well supported.

Key:

1st

2nd

3rd

(9) Position in Series

Italics: Rumoured Series

So, there we go. However; this isn't something new, this has been going on for years, while Torro Rosso make the amount of wasted talent more obvious, what happens to all those who never make it. Or who's parent team is too big to take them on. What about the Ferrari young boys, if they do get to Formula One, what are the chances that the Scuderia will clear a space for them

 -|RacingRecaps|-

Young Driver's Roulette

The final hurdle

GP2 has a large roster of Successful Formula 1 drivers. 2014 marks the first year 2 GP2 champions went head-to-head. The title fight between Hamilton and Rosberg proved to be one that almost tore their friendship apart. Going into the final round in Abu Dhabi, the media in both country's fully backed their hero's. From the time the engine was turned on, on Thursday, to the time the lights went out, neither driver wasn't being scrutinised by the media.

However; despite the many cameras and personnel in the paddock, their was another British Driver who had been fighting for the title with a young German. Alex Lynn had missed the opportunity to clinch the GP3 championship in style in Russia, but had scored enough to ensure German, Marvin Kirchhofer could not beat him and only fellow Brit Dean Stoneman could deny his title. He just needed to hope Stoneman didn't have a perfect weekend. That achievement was met when it was the German Kirchhofer who took pole position. Unfortunately for the German he failed in his bid to overtake Stoneman in the championship as Lynn cruised to a 5th and 2nd in his title winning weekend. A German having a not so good race with good results for the British driver(s). Somehow this is starting to ring bells.


So, what of them now. Lynn has been promoted to GP2, even if he has lost his Red Bull sponsorship. This honour has been taken up by Stoneman, who has decided to aim for the Formula Renault 3.5 championship, while Kirchhofer is still undecided.

Formula 1 champions are not plucked out of thin air, while Hamiltons youth career may be well documented and Max Verstappen has shone a light on Euro F3, it's easy to forget that these drivers haven't come from no where. They've raced for championships, they've had hard times, but if there's one thing they all crave, its winning.

With the 2015 GP2/3 season starting soon, we have more drivers fighting for an opportunity to get into F1. However; successful drivers remain in short supply. With the field down to 18 cars there are only 3 rookies in F1 this year with Verstappen and Sainz Jr. going to Torro Rosso (a team notable for having closed driver line-up choices. To add, this is the 3 year in a row, the GP2 champion has failed to get a seat in F1, instead Palmer has settled for a third driver role at Lotus.

This season appears to be one where the Formula 1 youth programme will take a front Seat. With Red Bull/ McLaren/ Ferrari and Lotus all proving they have up and coming talent. So, bring on the 2015 GP2 and GP3 Season, as we continue to look for F1's next superstar. With F1 becoming more about the car and strategy, these provide an opportunity for the worlds best to prove their ability. As they try to jump over the last hurdle before their ultimate goal.

 - |RacingRecaps| -

Welcome All

Another Motorsport Blog

Yes, Yes I know, its not exactly the most original thing to have a motorsport blog, but while others focus on Formula One I shall focus on the lower GP2 and GP3 Series, as well as looking at the wider feeder series and their changing nature over time. While many see the drivers in Formula One, many do not see the challenges they have faced to get there.

I've been a fan of Motorsport for many years now and watched the opening season of GP2 with Rosberg, Piquet, Speed and Carroll. While my interest has swayed over time, in recent years I have become enthralled with the championship as its the last place on the single-seater motorsport ladder where each driver has the same vehicle, thus showing a drivers raw speed. I started making Review videos last year, covering the GP2/ 3 championships. However; for this season I've decided to do reviews in blog form.
Why?
Well, its easier to get my thoughts across, I can plan what I mean to say and not get tongue tied. It allows me to research further and requires a lot less time. Also, anyone who saw them know they weren't exaclty the best quality. 

So, over the season, I'll review the GP2 and GP3 weekends looking at the title battle and which talents are shining above the rest. I'll also do occasional blogs on topics in the news or that affect young drivers in the future. Feel free to message me about anything related to racing.

 -|RacingRecaps|-