Cheema-Alfa RomeoDrivers: Nikolai Milkovich, Carson Davenport, Diego Campos Standings: 12th Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Podiums: 0 Points: 6 Best Finish: 8th The season started miserably and ended with a bang for Cheema - quite literally in the case of their lead driver. Their failure to qualify for the first three races set them back but they improved throughout the season, ending with two points finishes and top of the three fully new teams. The Irish team were led throughout the year by Milkovich, who ended up picking up the team's first points in Turkey after a lucky late shower. Towards the second half of the season he began dragging to car into the lower midfield, with the team collecting quite a few top twelve finishes. In the other seat, Davenport was swapped out and replaced by Campos at USA, with the Spaniard going on to finish eighth after qualifying last in Brazil. Despite dropping two places to Lucas and Ocelot at the end of the season, Cheema finished a relatively respectable twelfth, given it took them four races to qualify. The hard work will start next season though as the team will need to get used to the ways of FV. Driver wise, the introduction of Tumo Kinnumen may help, but he comes at a hefty price. Milkovich meanwhile will be hoping to carry his form into 2020. Team Principal Ahmed Cheema on Cheema's 2019: "If you told me at the start of the season that this team would have scored six points by the end of the year I would have thought you were insane. It's been a crazy year, and it's been absolutely fantastic. We had the struggle at the start, not making it into the races for a while, but Malaysia was probably the turning point for u- actually no, it was Britain. When Nikolai was doing well there we realised we had properly arrived to Formula Virtual. We went from strength to strength, had our low moments like Spain, but we kept on pushing and when it came together at times like Germany, like Turkey, like Brazil, it's the best feeling ever. We're no longer newbies now, we know what we're doing, and 2020 can go very well if we perform at our best." Nikolai Milkovich: "For sure, this season went over and beyond our expectations. I struggled with getting used to the car at the start, in Australia and Japan, but we worked together and the car really suited my style. The team did their best and really after Canada we were into the midfield. Turkey was obviously the highlight for me, flat out the whole race then right at the end the team did a superb strategy call, and after everything that happened those points were amazing to get. I feel like as a driver I'm still improving, I know twilight is falling on my career and soon the night will come but until then I will do the best job I can for the team, the fans and me." Diego Campos: "It felt like ages since I last did a race weekend in FV so when I got the call from Ahmed telling me I was in for USA I was really excited. It took me a while to get back into a rhythm, I struggled with Q1 a lot, but Germany really boosted my confidence, I just came alive in the race and at the time got the team's best result. Working with Nikolai helped since I know him well, he helped me get used to the car and I got into the races more often. Brazil was crazy, I didn't even know where I was or who I was fighting, then the Andromeda went off and over the radio I was told I was in the points, that made me try my hardest for the rest of the race. I still can't believe we finished eighth there, but I'm really proud with it and it'll definitely stay in my mind as one of my favourite races." Ocelot-Alfa RomeoDrivers: Puccio Giodano, Hunter Ryan, Nicolas Steffensen (Reserve) Standings: 11th Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Podiums: 0 Points: 7 Best Finish: 7th For 2019; Puccio Giodano was retained as Ocelot’s first driver, with FV2 champion Hunter Ryan joining the Italian for his debut in FV. The Japanese team started the season with a points finish and ended it with another. Unfortunately, those two races were the only two races where they scored points. It was an extremely tough season for the team after the highs of 2018, but possibly to be expected after they made it clear the resources they’d put into their grand new base. Giodano's tenth place at Australia came through a great strategy call from the team and a chaotic race, while he grabbed a top ten start in Brazil after the wet qualifying before driving brilliantly to hold onto points. But apart from that Ocelot were mostly anonymous, the only other notable event being them dropping into Q1 after the first five races. To their credit, they handled it well - only once did neither driver make it through to the race. Next season Ocelot have made it clear that they will step up, and their points in Brazil gave them some more money to play with. Their main problem will be the loss of Giodano, who moved to Westwood, and it's expected that they will field a Ryan/Zvironas line-up. Ryan's first season wasn't a disaster but, for the most part, Giodano was clearly the better driver. Both Hunter and Zvironas will need to hit the ground running in 2020. Lucas-DowntonDrivers: Arden Hutchinson, Marcus Thunder, Carson Davenport, Jules Barclay (Reserve) Standings: 10th Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Podiums: 0 Points: 8 Best Finish: 6th Back in Belgium 2018 – at Formula Virtual’s 100th V-Prix – it was announced that the popular Lucas V-Prix team would be returning to the sport for the 2019 season, much to the delight of rivals and fans alike. However, 2019 would not be a fairy-tale return for the team as, not helped by the introduction of Q1, both cars only made the grid together on three occasions with the team racking up seventeen DNQs – the joint most with AMR. IndyVirtual Champion Marcus Thunder joined Arden Hutchinson until USA where he was replaced by former Lucas driver Carson Davenport for the remainder of the season. The Portuguese proved an immediate improvement, qualifying for the race after Thunder had not qualified for the previous six. But it was the final race of the season, in Brazil, where the change finally paid off. In a rain soaked, incident packed race at the Interlagos circuit; Davenport brilliantly brought the car home in sixth place scoring eight huge points for the team, lifting them into tenth in the championship above Ocelot, Cheema, Andromeda and AMR. Davenport's fine return to the team ensured he will remain at the Kent-based team for 2020, with Marcus Thunder being given the nod ahead of Hutchinson - rather surprisingly. Thunder will need to find form immediately as this may be his final chance in Formula Virtual. Team Principal Lucas Wilson on Lucas' 2019 and their winter break plans: "I would say it is what we expected performance wise. We probably had a fair share of misfortune that maybe tainted our season a little bit but I think we've got through our toughest season. So I think we can come back even stronger next year. Plus our partnership with Phoenix will really bolster our team. For me personally, I'm getting on my jet tomorrow and heading to Cape Verde. I bought a villa there a few months ago so I'm going there before heading back to the factory afterwards. I may even hold a house-warming party. So check your inbox!" Carson Davenport: "I think I did the best job that I could with the Lucas team. Obviously they not participate in Formula Virtual for a few years. So it's gonna be a little bit difficult for them. But I think we grow as a team and we look forward to a stronger season in 2020. My goal is to try and get the regular points for the team next season. I think we've built a good base for the car so it is up to us to make it a success." Marcus Thunder: "It's not been a great season for me, obviously struggled with the car. I think most people were struggling as even Davenport, in some races, was struggling to set the car up properly. I don't blame Lucas for putting me in reserve. You know, he wants to succeed. Every part has to go right. We drivers have to pull our weight as well. So I really want to be getting my pace sorted next season." Lopez-DowntonDrivers: Elroy Wagner, Viktor Ostberg, Rafael Palou (Reserve) Standings: 9th Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Podiums: 0 Points: 14 Best Finish: 6th Elroy Wagner and Viktor Ostberg was Lopez’s line up for the second season in succession – the German’s third driving for the Swiss team and Ostberg's second full season.
2019 turned out to be disappointing for the boys in yellow with just six finishes in the points coming throughout the year; the season highlight actually being Wagner’s sixth place at the opening round in Melbourne - fitting in with the usual Lopez trend of a strong start to the season before dropping towards the back of the midfield. A tenth place finish late on in the season proved to be Ostberg's final point in FV - at least for now - as he steps down to reserve in 2020 to allow him to fulfil his navy duties. 2019 ultimately proved to be last season of Lopez running Downton engines – a partnership that began in 2016 when the team re-branded. A ninth placed finish in the Constructors’ standings for the third season in a row was a respectable effort, but Dylan and the team will surely hope for more in 2020. Their new engine supplier and second driver is yet to be announced but 2015 World Champion Elroy Wagner has been retained for another year.
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