2021 marked a new dawn for our young racing team - a management change and complete overhaul of our brand. There has been low points and high points across the board, as we've extended our operations across FV, eV and endurance racing. So join us as we reflect back on this year, look to the future and make some announcements.
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The first of the 2021 Team Review articles, in which each team’s season is briefly assessed, along with comments from certain teams. The first article features the bottom four in the championship.
It has been announced today, in a statement from Christian Sear and Phoenix, that Sear will officially step down from his role as Deputy Team Principal.
News from the paddock today as Yakumi Takahashi's race seat for next season has been confirmed by the ARROW team. The news was highly expected amongst the paddock who shall now await more news from the team as to who will partner the Japanese driver in the upcoming season.
With the 2021 Formula Virtual World Championship done and dusted, all of the team managers were invited along with a representative of the FVA to cast votes to determine the top ten drivers of the year. All sixteen members included in this exclusive voting process were required to list their top ten drivers of the season, with ten points awarded to their best, and one point less as they went down the order until their tenth best driver would receive just one point.
It was Nathaniel Powers who claimed his fifth championship in 2021, but would the members of this voting process vote him as the best driver of the year? What drivers made the top ten? Well, let's find out! Ocelot have confirmed Yoshida will remain in a reserve driver role for the 2022 season, with the team stating they still believe in the young prospect and what he can bring to the team. While their driver line-up will be spear-headed by the return of Puccio Giodano who remains with the team on loan and Hunter Ryan who has impressed through out 2021.
''We're very happy with keeping a stable line-up once more for 2022, we genuinely believe in our drivers and what we can do. We are still a team who believe's in the impossible dream.'' Miyamoto was quoted as saying. Following the Brazilian V-Prix – the final race of the 2021 Formula Virtual World Championship – Royal Phoenix Motorsport have announced their full driver line up for the 2022 Formula Virtual season, the team’s fifth in Formula Virtual, their second season with the title sponsorship of Royal Blondes.
Terry Gengerge: Jamie, it's been quite hard to tie you down since your announcement before the Brazilian V-Prix, but here we are finally. It's very unlike you to have shied away from the media, so my first question is - what's going on?
Jamie Franklin: Like I said in my statement...I'm just not in a good place at the moment. I feel this year in particular has lead me to a very toxic place. I am an incredibly competitive person at heart, and it's been so tough for me to take a back seat and let things unfold as they have. Don't get me wrong, I'm very proud of the team and the achievements and progress we've made this year, but I always want to be pushing. The time and energy I've spent poring over the data after each race, looking for any signs of ways I can push us forward has become so draining. It's just become difficult to enjoy the progress we've made when I want to be doing so much more, when I know I should be capable of so much more. TG: In the press conference in Brazil, Felicia Quinn alluded to the fact that some of the aggression you've shown in the latter stages of this year have come from that desire to be able to do more. Would you be able to comment on that? JF: She hit the nail on the head. I'm not sure what more I can say on that matter. The frustration spills over and I just...I don't know. Maybe it's my way of trying to tap into something, to try and restore what we once had. I don't feel the fans or the other teams look at us with the same awe anymore, and it eats away at me. We've still achieved so much, more than most teams will ever achieve in their FV careers, and yet I don't feel that respect. Maybe it's the comments I've made over the years, maybe the frustrations boiling over have caused that, who knows. TG: You mentioned that you may be done with Formula Virtual. Has the little break away from the circus alleviated some of those feelings, or do you still feel as though you may step down permanently? JF: Honestly...yes, I still feel like that might be the right path for me. Maybe the team doesn't need me anymore, maybe I'm the one holding them back now. The resolve and resilience they've shown across the last two years and the progress they've made is something that should be seriously applauded, and I don't feel like the team are getting the plaudits they deserve, and maybe that's on me. I just have to wonder if I even have "it" anymore. In the past I've seen this team take on multiple series and win multiple Championships across each of those series, but perhaps the way I operate just doesn't go hand in hand with this generation of Motorsport...maybe I've become the relic that needs to be moved aside to allow the team to move on to bigger and better things. TG: So to be clear, unlike in 2019, you're not talking about the team leaving, but about yourself stepping down, and presumably Felicia Quinn taking the reigns? JF: That's right. I think Felicia has demonstrated time and again her leadership abilities. She's eloquent, she's talented and maybe she's the right person to move into the next era for Franklin. TG: Do you have other plans of what you'd do if you did decide that this was the right move for you? JF: Erm...I don't know. I don't think the paddock is the right place for me anymore. I still train the drivers, so I'll likely stick with that, I know that's something that I am more than capable of doing, and doing well, so I'll probably just put a lot of focus into that. TG: Speaking of drivers - Will Hoskins returns to the team for the first time since 2014, and of course it's well known that your team was very keen on having Nathaniel Powers return to the team as well, with some extraordinary numbers being thrown around. Do you believe Hoskins can take you a step further next year, and are you still disappointed about Powers, especially given the recent news that he'll be joining Lucas for next year? JF: Firstly, it'll be great to have Will back. I don't know if I'll have the same hands on role next year, but I'll definitely be helping him get into the best shape possible for his return. He's got a wealth of experience so I have no doubt he'll be an asset. As for Nathaniel...yeah, it's a great shame he's headed over there. I don't think it's the right move for him, but that's all I'll say. TG: Do you think Powers will continue to be on the team's radar for the coming years? JF: It's not something I'm think about right now. TG: Before we wrap this up, as I know you're short on time, I have to ask, how likely is this to happen? We've seen you change your mind over the winter before. Do you think the break will enable you to get back on track? JF: It's different. When I considered leaving before, I can't explain it, it felt like it was the right time...but it quickly became apparent that it wasn't. This time...I don't feel welcome in the paddock anymore. I don't feel like I'm a benefit to the team. That's a feeling that isn't easy to shake. The way I feel now, I can't see me being in the paddock or the factory next year. TG: Jamie, thank you for your time. In an official statement, without any prior build-up, Lucas V-Prix announced their driver line-up for 2022. Maximilian Thunstrom, who gave Lucas their first win in nearly 8 years, retains his seat at the purple outfit. Gone however is Marcus Thunder. In his place will be the current World Champion Nathaniel Powers.
For the third time in four races, and the fifth time this season, Enrique Ruiz took pole position as Porsche Mathershaw locked out the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s Brazilian V-Prix.
The final Friday Practice of the season saw Klaas van Snelheid top the times, beginning the weekend in perfect fashion if the Dutchman wants any chance of stealing the World Championship from the clutches of teammate Nathaniel Powers.
Good morning and welcome to Interlagos, Brazil for the Team Principal’s Thursday press conference ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian V-Prix – the final race of the 2021 Formula Virtual World Championship. Joining us today, from left to right, are; Ahmed Cheema of Highwind FV Racing, Dylan Lopez from Lopez FV Team, Bradley Downton from Downton FV Team, Felicia Quinn of JFPT Franklin Honda and William Ingram from Ingram V-Prix. Welcome to you all.
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