In a shock turn of events, following the retaining of Yoshida at Ocelot. The Japanese team have announced Brazilian Felipe Cesar, will finally get his big break at the team. He joins the team after a number of years as a reserve and driver ROLES in other series like Indycar and EVirtual.
Cesar has had long term links with Ocelot, following his drives for Cerberus in other racing series where he Partnered the Japanese driver. We are set to see if Felipe can gain the fans of his fellow countryman, Enrique Ruiz. Time will tell if this risk at Ocelot will pay off alongside super-star Puccio Giodano.
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In news of Highwind's withdrawal from the sport. Ocelot have decided to pay tribute to the team and their principal Ahmed Cheema in unrevealing a silver statue of the team principle. The statue will stand in team factory's garden. The garden is currently under-development but Puccio Giodano's bust could also be seen.
''I can't say how much we will miss him being around here and in the paddock. So this way we get to have him around in spirit. But Ahmed knowns how popular he is around here and the paddock. So he's always welcome in the garage.'' Miyamoto's statement read. Following the revealing Ocelot also showed off the team's museum section with Plaque's of Highwind and Mathershaw's logos. Ocelot want the museum to not only belong to them but also for it to be the home of the sports memorabilia. Following the conclusion of the 2022 Formula Virtual World Championship in Mexico last weekend, Royal Phoenix Motorsport have released a series of announcements regarding the team and its drivers.
It was Downton's Klaas van Snelheid who took pole position for tomorrow's Mexican V-Prix as the Dutchman looks to snatch the title from Enrique Ruiz at the death.
Good morning and welcome to Mexico City, Mexico for the Team Representatives’ Thursday press conference ahead of this weekend’s Mexican V-Prix – the final round of the 2022 Formula Virtual World Championship. Joining us today, from left to right, are; Adrian Arnello of Arnello Milner & Ronson Autosport, Bradley Downton from Downton FV Team, Arthur Lapierre and Robert Mathershaw of Coca-Cola Porsche Team Mathershaw, Rai Miyamoto from Ocelot Japan Racing, then finally Ahmed Cheema and Kimi Young from Highwind FV Racing. Welcome gentlemen.
Enrique Ruiz has gone fastest in practice as he bids to claim his third world drivers title.
Formula Virtual driver Will Taylor is set to miss the season ending Mexican V-Prix as Phoenix grant him permission to be with his wife during labour.
Coca-Cola Porsche Team Mathershaw reveal special livery for their final race in Formula Virtual17/11/2022 16|11|2022 Mexico City, Mexico For the swansong race for Mathershaw Technology in Formula Virtual, the Anglo-French team will celebrate their history and partnership with Porsche with a special livery featuring flashes of colour from all ten of their cars from the last decade. The team are also paying tribute to legendary driver Adrien Simon who will also depart. Robert Mathershaw, Technical Director of Coca-Cola Porsche Team Mathershaw: "This is an emotional moment for me and the rest of the team, as we finally bid farewell to Formula Virtual and everything that goes with it. After ten glorious years, we will depart with our heads held high, hopefully with driver's championship success to complement the achievement of another constructor's title. However, for me the spirit of competition in Formula Virtual has always far outweighed everything else - it has been the honour of a lifetime to compete with everyone in this paddock who have made this journey all the more enjoyable.
There are too many people to name and thank, however I do have to try, so if I don't mention you here, I must apologise. Arthur, you brought a new dimension to my team, enabling a narrative that I simply couldn't sustain myself, and that freedom made the rest of it all the more fun. Adrien, you have been and will always be the epitome of Mathershaw Technology, and I hope you can enjoy your retirement from FV as much as I plan to, but I'm very, very sure that we will continue the partnership elsewhere and keep embarking on new adventures. Enrique, you elevated this team to another level just when it felt like we were hitting our peak, as is evidenced by our performance this year, delivering our third constructors title, and tenth season in the top three, maintaining that 100% for, now at least, ever more - I hope we can provide you with the world title. As for those in the real world, I want to thank every single one of my competitors over the years, who I consider to be among my closest friends. To Nic, you've given us this wonderful decade of FV, and I am very excited to see where the next decade goes - I'll still very much be here to see it even if time doesn't enable me running this team. To Harry, Alex, Dylan, Will, Nick, Ryan, Shane, Lucas, Jamie, and the plethora of people over the years I've missed out who've made this series worth winning, thank you. To Ahmed, who shares this weekend as his final race in FV - all the very best for the future, you've got a very bright path ahead of you. And to Bradley, certainly one of my principal competitors on-track, but also certainly one of my closest friends and allies off-track - thank you. We're still going to try and beat the hell out of you on Sunday though! This wouldn't be a Mathershaw Technology press release without a few more quotes, so I'll hand it over to Arthur and Dr Wallinger one last time." Arthur Lapierre, Team Principal of Coca-Cola Porsche Team Mathershaw: "It's been the privilege of my life to be with the Mathershaw Technology team, and it is a bittersweet moment that our departure from Formula Virtual will coincide with my departure from day-to-day motorsport activity. I am not a young man any more, and with the inevitable passage of time, I must prioritise my health and my family. We've achieved incredible things in FV, and Lapierre Formule has also been the passion of a life well lived in racing. You'll still see me around pretty much every paddock in the world, but I've been offered some very generous offers of hospitality, so I think I'll replace my headset with a panaché! Merci pour tout et à bientôt!" Dr Heinrich Wallinger, Head of Porsche Virtual Motorsport: "This weekend sees the end in Formula Virtual of a momentous partnership with Mathershaw Technology for Porsche. We thank Robert and Arthur deeply for their efforts, and I know they leave Porsche's affairs in FV in the highest of order ahead of our entry for 2023 as a full internal factory team. However, we've got one more race together, and it's a big one - let's go and win the World Driver's Championship!" As the Mexican V-Prix will be Highwind's last in FV, I will run a special livery to commemorate our time in FV.
Ingram FV have become the latest team to announce a special livery for the season finale in Mexico.
Ocelot have released a press release with the confirmation of their drivers for the 2023 season. The team will retain Italian Hotshot, Puccio Giodano and his former teammate Ryota Yoshida. This brings Giodano 7th year with the outfit as he becomes their longest retaining driver.
''I love this team and what we have achieved together. The ups and downs, its been fantastic so it was a no brainer to remain here. The team has given me full support and we know what we can create together. There is a long term plan and I wish to share that vision with them. If I had things my way this where I would want to end my career as well. After the all the job isn't done until we catch the rabbit.'' The Italian was quoted as saying. As for Yoshida he returns for another year at the team as reserve driver. However Miyamoto did mention there could be opportunities for the driver to show what he can do. Finally there was no mention as to the second seat creating further speculation to Hunter Ryan's career. However Miyamoto has said in previous interviews that the Australian is a star. BMPS Scuderia Meteor have unveiled a special livery for the final race of the season, which will be the team’s final race under the Meteor name.
Downton will run in a special one-off livery for the season closing Mexican V-Prix, celebrating their friendship and partnership with Mathershaw - who will depart the series following the race.
The FVA have officially recognized Robert Mathershaw and his team as a Formula Virtual Hall of Fame Legend, during a special announcement after the Brazilian V-Prix. It was also revealed that a new award will be named in his honour.
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