FUN FV have announced their line-up and engine supplier for the 2017 season. The announcement came shortly after the final race of 2016, and it came as a shock for the Formula Virtual world; The championship runner-up Olen Inman will make a surprising switch from DS to FUN, and he will be driving alongside Carson Davenport, who will start his 3rd season in the Finnish team. FUN FV will also end their 3-year co-operation with Yamaha, as they will be using brand new Volvo-engines from 2017 onwards. Team-principal Dick Diceman and his drivers were busy answering reporters questions:
Q: Mr Diceman, you bought Will Hoskins to your team mid-season and now you are replacing him by hiring another contracted driver from another team. How can you afford to do this? A: I'm not talking about our finances today, sorry. Q: Mr Diceman, what made you drop Hoskins? He was very important part in your fight for the 3rd place in WCC and he got you your first ever pole. A: Will is a fantastic driver and a great person, and he did absolutely nothing wrong. We were actually talking about contract-extension with him earlier this year, but we had some different views about his salary. Then at some point we found out that Inman might be available, and we had to ask ourselves a question: Do we wan't to waste such a chance to get a driver of Inmans quality? And the answer was no. So we started the negotiations with both DS and Inman, and I am glad to say we reached an agreement very quickly. I want to thank Will for his services and wish him all the best for the future. Q: Was dropping Davenport instead of Hoskins ever an option? A: Not at all. We almost agreed a new contract with Davenprot earlier this year, but couldn't quite get the details done. However, keeping him was always our number one priority, and I'm glad we finally found a solution that everyone was happy with. Carson has been a fantastic, loyal driver to our team, and I'm looking forward working with him again next season. Q: You have changed from reliable Yamaha-engines to completetly new Volvo-engines. Why? A: Yamaha have been a fantastic partner for us, but unfortunately they felt that giving us our engines wasn't financially possible anymore. However, we are very excited about our new partnership with Volvo. They are new to the sport, and they have fresh new ideas. We understand that the first season with them will most likely be challenging, but I'm sure we will reach great things together in the future. Q: Does Romano Agostino have any future in your team? A: No. We will announce our test-driver later, but it's highly unlikely it's going to be him. Q: Olen, I'm sure I'm not alone when I fail to see the logic behind this move for you. Could you explain why are you jumping from the champions to FUN, a team that has only won 2 races during the history of the series? A: I love DS, and it has been a privilige to be a part of the team. However, after some talk with Robert we decided it's best for both parties if we continue in our own, seperate ways. Luckily, FUN were very interested in signing me, and I'm very delighted to have joined this team. They have just reached their best ever season, and I'm sure together we can achieve even better things in the future. Q: How did it feel to lose the championship by just 2 points? A: Of course I'm disappointed, but that's life. I'm looking for the future already. Q: Carson, you will start your third season with FUN next year. Was it an easy dececion to stay? A: Absolutely. This team feels like home to me, and staying here just feels the right thing to do. We had a magnificent season together, and I'm looking for more great moments to come. I believe this team has the potential to challenge for the titles in the future. Q: You have managed to beat both Agostino and Hoskins. Do you feel Inman will be a bigger threat to you? A: I wan't to welcome Olen to the team. He is a fantastic driver, and I look forward working with him. I'm sure we will push each other to new heights and achieve great things together. Q: You didn't really answer the question... Diceman: Ok, no more questions for the drivers, Olen and Carson may leave. Any more questions for me? Q: You have just finished 3rd in the WCC. How would you describe your season? A: Well, the start was a nightmare, but then after our update package arrived, everything changed. We had great fight with Franklin and Ingram, and I'm very proud we managed to beat them both. We got our first podium, first pole, first victory and our best ever postition in the WCC, so I couldn't have asked for more. Q: Few have tipped for you to have a difficult season next year. How do you see the situation? A: Obiviously we are in a challenging situation with our new engines, and to be honest I don't have too many exceptations for next season. 2017 will be more like a learning process for us, and everything else will be just a bonus. Now, if you excuse me, we have a party at the factory and I'm already late. Shortly after the announcement DS Mathershaw released their own statement about Inman: ”It is with a heavy heart we see Olen leave this team, but both he and ourselves reached an agreement that it is for the best. He has performed brilliantly throughout the 2016 season, and to come so close to the title in his rookie year is testament to his quality. Everyone at DS Automobiles Team Mathershaw want to take the time to thank him for a wonderful year of service in FV, and also for his time before that as the first junior driver to be promoted through our ranks – he will forever be a part of the proud history of this team.” This shock decision leaves the world champion team with only a single driver signed in a race seat for the 2017 season. Who will get Inman's seat? Will there be another twist in the silly season? Will Hoskins find himself a seat somewhere? Stay tuned as the wait for the 2017 winter testing begins!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
|