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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing takes historic Hypercar title double

TOKYO, Nov 14, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing earned a dominant one-two victory in the season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain to secure a clean sweep of FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) titles.Outgoing World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez took a hard-earned win, their second of the season in their #7 GR010 HYBRID, to crown TOYOTA GAZOO Racing as Hypercar manufacturers' World Champions. Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa, in the #8 GR010 HYBRID, had started the weekend level on points with their Alpine title rivals but finished second to become drivers' World Champions, adding to their 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours win. Sebastien and Brendon write their names in the record books as the first drivers to win three titles in the top category of WEC or its predecessor, the World Sportscar Championship. Ryo, a Le Mans winner in June, capped a remarkable rookie season by becoming Japan's third WEC champion. A perfect result in Bahrain was a fitting end to a successful season for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, which now has a fifth world title double from 10 years of WEC competition, adding to a roll of honour in 2022 which includes a fifth consecutive Le Mans win and eighth victory at Fuji Speedway. Success in WEC ensures TOYOTA GAZOO Racing achieves the unique feat of winning every available title, eight in total, in the three FIA series it participated in this season: the World Endurance, World Rally and World Rally Raid Championships. The race began under bright Bahraini sunshine, with air temperatures of 35degC, and the on-track action was equally hot. Sebastien led from pole while Jose fought with the #36 Alpine, losing third at the start before regaining the place three laps later, following a safety car period. Sebastien held off the challenge of the #93 Peugeot, with Jose firmly in contention in third. Just six seconds covered the top three when the opening pit stops arrived after an hour, during which Jose leapfrogged the #93 for second and closed to the rear of the #8, before Sebastien edged out an advantage. When a technical problem sidelined the #93 after two hours, a full course yellow allowed both GR010 HYBRIDs to swap drivers. Brendon took over the #8, with Mike in the #7, and they battled throughout their first stint, separated by less than a second until Mike took the lead early in the fourth hour as the sun set over Bahrain International Circuit. Mike pushed hard to build a gap and at half distance he led by a few seconds going into the next pit stops, when Kamui took the wheel. A lap later, Brendon's stint ended and Ryo brought the #8 back on track directly behind the #7. Kamui gradually extended his advantage to 15 seconds by the end of the fifth hour, doubling the #7 car's lead over the next hour before Jose and Sebastien returned to their respective cockpits with less than two hours remaining. Further driver changes with 45 minutes to go left Mike to take the chequered flag, finishing 45.471secs clear of Brendon in the #8. That triggered title celebrations to bring the curtain down on an exciting Hypercar season after 58 hours of competition covering 10,620km since the first race in Sebring eight months ago. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has one remaining appointment in the 2022 season, the official WEC rookie test at Bahrain International Circuit. LMP2 driver Lilou Wadoux has been nominated by WEC to drive the GR010 HYBRID and she will therefore become the first female Hypercar driver during Sunday's test.Kamui Kobayashi (Team Principal and driver, car #7):"We achieved a one-two, Seb, Brendon and Ryo won the drivers' title and we won the manufacturers' championship so we hit all our targets for this race. I am really pleased with that. The team did a great job today and all season, as did the drivers. Thanks for all their support, as well as the support from our colleagues in Japan and our partners who have helped us all through the season. This year we faced strong competition and we finished with the best possible result. It's a great feeling to end with a win; Mike and Jose drove a strong race and the crew performed well as they have done all year. On our car, we missed the drivers' title but car #8 really deserved it and I am happy for them. All season the team and drivers have worked really hard, with a great team spirit, so I hope everyone can enjoy this moment and celebrate the titles."Mike Conway (Driver, car #7):"It feels great to win the race and be part of a one-two for the team. Congratulations to Kamui, Jose and the whole #7 crew who did a stellar job here, and also to car #8 on the championship, they had a really consistent, strong year so fully deserve it. Our race went very well and it was a close fight for a lot of the eight hours. Car #8 kept us on our toes as always until Kamui pulled out a good gap which made it more comfortable. Everyone on our car executed really well today, with a nice clean race, good pit stops and the right strategy. It's fantastic to win the manufacturers' title again; thanks to everyone in Japan, Cologne and all the other people who have made this happen."Jose Maria Lopez (Driver, car #7):"Well done to the guys on car #8 who really deserve this championship after a very strong season; hats off to them. And congratulations to the whole team in Cologne and in Japan, and to all the people and partners working behind the scenes to help us succeed. It has been a year with intense competition but we have achieved our objectives so I am very happy. I really enjoyed starting the race today, it's good fun to battle closely with all the other Hypercars. Mike and Kamui performed really well which made it easier for me when I jumped back in towards the end. We have a great group and I couldn't be prouder to be part of it. It is really a pleasure to be part of this team and enjoy moments like this."Sebastien Buemi (Driver, car #8):"It's amazing to win the World Championship this year. We maximised all the opportunities and doing the double of Le Mans and the title is an amazing feeling. Special credit to Ryo because he came into the team as a newcomer and he won in his first year. It is not easy to jump into a Hypercar and fight at the front against such strong competition but he has been an amazing team-mate. Car #7 is always strong and it is never easy to beat them, as they showed today. We wanted to win the race and take the title in style but, despite a competitive start, we just didn't have enough today. We will enjoy this feeling and then look to next year which will be a really exciting one."Brendon Hartley (Driver, car #8):"I am really pleased to complete the job here and win both World Championships. I don't think it has really sunk in yet that we are champions again, but I'm sure it will soon. Thanks to everyone on the team for their fantastic support all year to give us a car to win the title and Le Mans. Today our objective was simply to beat Alpine and secure the title; we couldn't afford to take any risks just to get the race win. Car #7 had the pace and deserved the victory, so well done to them. They have been tough competitors all year and it has been fiercely fought, also with Alpine who kept us honest. We worked hard for this title and it is a credit to the whole team."Ryo Hirakawa (Driver, car #8):"Today we achieved everything we wanted to, so I am very happy and I will enjoy this moment with the team, who really deserve it. It doesn't feel real yet, I need some time to get used to it. It has been challenging to race a Hypercar in WEC for the first time; everything was new to me. I didn't expect to win Le Mans and the World Championship in my first year so thanks a lot to the team and my team-mates for helping me settle in and become stronger over the season. I was really patient in the race today because I knew the championship situation and it was just important that I didn't take any risks. My target was to hand the car over in a strong position and I achieved that, so I was happy."8 Hours of Bahrain - Result1st #7 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 245 laps2nd #8 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +45.471secs3rd #36 Alpine Elf Team (Negrao/Lapierre/Vaxiviere) +2 laps4th #94 Peugeot TotalEnergies (Duval/Menezes/Muller) +6 laps5th #31 WRT (Galael/Frijns/Vanthoor) +8 laps6th #23 United Autosports USA (Lynn/Jarvis/Pierson) +8 lapsFor more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wec/release/2022/rd06-race/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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John Lineker vs. Fabricio Andrade Main Event Ends in No Contest After Unintentional Foul Stops Fight

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - ONE Championship(TM)(ONE) made a triumphant return to the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a thrilling night of martial arts action. ONE on Prime Video 3: Lineker vs. Andrade featured a series of exciting matchups, headlined by three World Title bouts.John Lineker vs. Fabricio Andrade Main Event Ends in No Contest After Unintentional Foul Stops FightAgilan Thani (L) defeats Germany's Ilja Stojanov (R) via submission (rear-naked choke)Agilan Thani (L) defeats Germany's Ilja Stojanov (R) at ONE on Prime Video 3's In-Stadium After Main EventONE Championship, in partnership with leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand TUMI, presented the prestigious ONE World Title belt to the World Champions.ONE on Prime Video 3 Photo Gallery: https://tinyurl.com/yn93zu83ONE on Prime Video 3 Official Scorecards: https://tinyurl.com/3ejexxt6The main event showdown between former ONE Bantamweight World Champion John Lineker and #2-ranked contender Fabricio Andrade ended in controversy midway through the third round, after Andrade connected with an unintentional knee to Lineker's groin.The two bitter rivals traded bombs from the sound of the opening bell, with "Wonder Boy" looking to push forward behind a stinging right jab. Lineker found openings to land his thunderous hooks, rocking Andrade in the second round. However, the younger fighter did considerable damage to Lineker with his striking, causing the veteran's right eye to nearly close by the end of the frame.In the third stanza, Andrade connected with a knee to the midsection and had Lineker reeling in pain. "Wonder Boy" tried to follow up with another knee, but it unintentionally landed south of the waistline. After a five-minute recovery period, Lineker could no longer continue. The fight was ruled a no contest and the ONE Bantamweight World Title now remains vacant.In the co-main event, Regian Eersel became a two-sport ONE World Champion, capturing the inaugural ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title behind an efficient striking display against Thai star Sinsamut Klinmee. Action was fierce throughout the five-round contest, with both men trading combinations while taking each other's best shots. Sinsamut was game from start to end, wearing Eersel's damage on his face well. But the Dutch-Surinamese fighter was just too good, as "The Immortal" increased his aggression in the championship rounds to take the split-decision victory.Teenage Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sensation Kade Ruotolo captured the inaugural ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title, defeating multi-time Sambo World Champion Uali Kurzhev via heel hook. Ruotolo was constantly on the attack, but once he trapped Kurzhev in a leg lock situation, the American grabbed ahold of the heel and put pressure on the knee to force the tap. Ruotolo also received a US$50,000 bonus for his performance.In a featherweight kickboxing contest, Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Mohammed Boutasaa figured in an all-out war of attrition for three rounds. The two met each other at the center of the Circle and looked to trade bombs in the opening stanza. Boutasaa went on the offensive in round two, as Sitthichai opted to lay back and counter. In the third frame, the Thai star came alive, moving forward with a sense of purpose. In the end, all three judges saw the bout in favor of Sitthichai to win by unanimous decision.ONE Championship newcomer Shamil Gasanov made quick work of #2-ranked featherweight MMA contender Kim Jae Woong in his promotional debut, submitting the South Korean dynamo with a rear-naked choke in the first round. Gasanov closed the distance early and swiftly took Kim's back with an explosive takedown. After a quick scramble, the Russian's left arm wound up underneath Kim's chin as he cranked out the rear-naked choke. His performance earned him a US$50,000 bonus.READ: Gasanov, Miado, Grandjean Score Highlight-Reel Finishes In The MMA Fights At ONE On Prime Video 3: https://tinyurl.com/m7y9jdk3READ: Sitthichai, Naito, Zatout Victorious At ONE On Prime Video 3: Lineker Vs. Andrade: https://tinyurl.com/2p9yvfe7Performance bonus winners: Kade Ruotolo (US$50,000), Shamil Gasanov (US$50,000), Mehdi Zatout (US$50,000), Noelle Grandjean (US$50,000)MAIN CARDMMA - Catchweight (145.50 lbs): John Lineker vs. Fabricio Andrade is declared a no contest in round threeMuay Thai - Lightweight: Regian Eersel def. Sinsamut Klinmee via Split DecisionSubmission Grappling - Catchweight (174.00 lbs): Kade Ruotolo def. Uali Kurzhev via Submission (Heel Hook) at 4:26Kickboxing - Featherweight: Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong def. Mohammed Boutasaa via Unanimous DecisionMMA - Featherweight: Shamil Gasanov def. Kim Jae Woong via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:09 of R1LEAD CARDMMA - Catchweight (127.00 lbs): Jeremy Miado def. Danial Williams via TKO at 0:31 of R3Muay Thai - Flyweight: Taiki Naito def. Amir Naseri via Unanimous DecisionMuay Thai - Bantamweight: Mehdi Zatout def. Asa Ten Pow via TKO at 3:00 of R1MMA - Catchweight (116.75 lbs): Noelle Grandjean def. Lea Bivins via TKO at 4:01 of R1IN-STADIUM (AFTER EVENT)MMA - Featherweight: Yoon Chang Min def. Keanu Subba via Unanimous DecisionMMA - Welterweight: Agilan Thani def. Ilja Stojanov via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:48 of R2About ONE Championship(TM)ONE is the world's largest martial arts organization, ranking among the world's top five sports properties for viewership and engagement with a cumulative reach of over 400 million fans, according to Nielsen. ONE produces and distributes world-class events across more than 150 countries, featuring martial artists and World Champions from over 80 nations and all styles of martial arts including MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and more. ONE can be viewed on many of the largest global free-to-air and digital broadcasters, including Prime Video Sports, ELEVEN Sports, Star Sports, Beijing TV, iQIYI, One Sports, Abema, IB, NET TV, Vidio, Startimes, Mediapro, Thairath TV, VieOn, Skynet, Mediacorp, Spark Sport, Match TV, Dubai Sports, RedeTV and more. Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Jonathan Di Bella Wins Vacant ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title With Unanimous Decision Over Zhang Peimian

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - ONE Championship(TM) (ONE) returned to the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with ONE 162: Zhang vs. Di Bella. The card featured a series of all-striking and MMA matchups along with a battle for the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title.Zhang Peimian and Jonathan Di Bella [L-R]ONE Championship, in partnership with leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand TUMI, presented the prestigious ONE World Title belt to the World Champion.ONE 162: Zhang vs. Di Bella Photo Gallery https://tinyurl.com/4nspeasmJonathan Di Bella ONE 162 Post-Fight Interview https://tinyurl.com/mr3sps5vIn the main event, ONE Championship newcomer Jonathan Di Bella scored an impressive unanimous decision victory over Chinese teen phenom Zhang Peimian to capture the vacant ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title.Di Bella came out of the gates firing, putting the pressure on Zhang who retreated toward the Circle Wall. As the undefeated Italian-Canadian star pressed on, "Fighting Rooster" opted to lay back and counter, attacking with a myriad of leg kicks. However, Di Bella blitzed Zhang with quick and powerful punching combinations to keep the Chinese fighter honest.The bout was close leading up to the fifth and final round, but Di Bella pulled away when he connected with a dramatic left head kick that sent Zhang crashing to the canvas. With the 19-year-old on unsteady footing, Di Bella tried to close the show, but both men reached the final bell.In the co-main event, fifth-ranked flyweight contender and BJJ black belt Reece McLaren put on a striking clinic against Windson Ramos, showcasing a facet of his game that's been continually improving since be began training under Muay Thai legend John Wayne Parr. The 31-year-old from Australia found a home for his straight right hand on Ramos' chin, hurting the Brazilian repeatedly with the same shot. McLaren dominated the striking exchanges throughout, and with Ramos unable to answer the bell for the third round, "Lightning" secured the technical knockout victory.Constantin Rusu scored his second straight win in the Circle, besting former ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title challenger Islam Murtazaev. Rusu was persistent with his offense, pushing the pace against a more timid Murtazaev, who just couldn't find his rhythm. The Moldovian-Russian's unending pressure and activity was enough to earn him the nod from all three judges, as he outworked Murtazaev across three rounds.Fourth-ranked strawweight contender Gustavo Balart took out former ONE Strawweight World Champion Alex Silva in a closely contested three-round catchweight contest. Silva, a multiple-time BJJ World Champion, took matters to the canvas early, where he had the advantage in the grappling department. The 40-year-old veteran was constantly on the attack with a variety of submissions, but Balart showcased excellent defense on the mat. On the feet, the Cuban connected with a series of clean strikes, highlighted by an overhand left that often hit the mark throughout the contest. In the end, judges saw the bout in favor of Balart to win by split decision. It is his second straight victory over a former ONE Strawweight World Champion after beating Yosuke Saruta last time out.Former ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title challenger Jimmy Vienot took care of business against Niclas Larsen in a heated all-striking battle. Third-ranked contender Vienot was sharp to start the fight, forcing #5-ranked Larsen on the back foot with pinpoint combinations. A cut opened up above Vienot's left eye in the second round, and Larsen turned up the pressure. But as the Danish fighter went on the attack, Vienot regained control in the third and came away with a unanimous decision for his efforts.Eko Roni Saputra continued his stunning run in the flyweight MMA division, dominating Yodkaikaew Fairtex and then submitting the Thai with a heel hook in the first round. Saputra closed the distance immediately at the sound of the opening bell and successfully took Yodkaikaew to the mat. On the ground, Saputra went to work, locking in the submission just past the two-minute mark to force the tap. It was the Indonesian phenom's seventh straight victory, all coming via first-round finish. Saputra earned a US$50,000 bonus for his performance.READ: Saputra And McLaren Dominate, Balart Topples Silva In MMA Action At ONE 162 https://tinyurl.com/yc8mu7v7READ: Rusu, Vienot, Puric Emerge Victorious In All-Striking Action At ONE 162 https://tinyurl.com/35kvapb9Performance bonus winner: Eko Roni Saputra (US$50,000)MAIN CARDKickboxing - Strawweight: Jonathan Di Bella def. Zhang Peimian via Unanimous DecisionMMA - Flyweight: Reece McLaren def. Windson Ramos via TKO at 5:00 of R2Kickboxing - Catchweight (173.25 lbs): Constantin Rusu def. Islam Murtazaev via Unanimous DecisionMMA - Catchweight (130.75 lbs): Gustavo Balart def. Alex Silva via Split DecisionMuay Thai - Featherweight: Jimmy Vienot def. Niclas Larsen via Unanimous DecisionMMA - Flyweight: Eko Roni Saputra def. Yodkaikaew Fairtex via Submission (Heel Hook) at 2:16 of R1LEAD CARDMMA - Bantamweight: Artem Belakh def. Leandro Issa via Unanimous DecisionMuay Thai - Catchweight (137.5 lbs): Denis Puric def. Tagir Khalilov via Unanimous DecisionMMA - Welterweight: Ruslan Emilbek Uulu def. Ben Wilhelm via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:58 of R1For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com or follow us on:Facebook: www.facebook.com/ONEChampionshipInstagram: www.instagram.com/ONEChampionshipTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ONEChampionshipTwitter: www.twitter.com/ONEChampionshipYouTube: www.youtube.com/ONEChampionshipSnapchat: https://story.snapchat.com/@onechampionshipAbout ONE Championship(TM)ONE is the world's largest martial arts organization, ranking among the world's top five sports properties for viewership and engagement with a cumulative reach of over 400 million fans, according to Nielsen. ONE produces and distributes world-class events across more than 150 countries, featuring martial artists and World Champions from over 80 nations and all styles of martial arts including MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and more. ONE can be viewed on many of the largest global free-to-air and digital broadcasters, including Prime Video Sports, ELEVEN Sports, Star Sports, Beijing TV, iQIYI, One Sports, Abema, IB, NET TV, Vidio, Startimes, Mediapro, Thairath TV, VieOn, Skynet, Mediacorp, Spark Sport, Match TV, Dubai Sports, RedeTV and more. Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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F.C.C. TSR Honda France Fights Back to Win Second FIM Endurance World Championship Title

Le Castellet, France, Sep 19, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - F.C.C. TSR Honda France, running second in the 2022 FIM* Endurance World Championship (EWC), made a comeback to win this year's championship in the final round, the Bol d'Or 2022, held at Circuit Paul Ricard on September 17 - 18. The team has won the title for the second time, its first in the 2017-2018 season.F.C.C. TSR Honda France kicked off its 2022 campaign with riders Josh Hook (29 years old, Australia), Geno Rea (33 years old, UK) and Mike Di Meglio (24 years old, France) on a Honda CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP.In the season-opener, the 24 Heures Motos held at Le Mans, the team qualified third, and finished third. In Round 2, the 24H SPA EWC Motos, the team started fourth on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps grid, and although down to tenth place mid-race, made a dramatic comeback to fourth, and a last lap charge by Rea gave them third in the final results.In Round 3, the Suzuka 8 Hours, held for the first time in three years, Rea crashed during free practice and was transported by helicopter to a hospital. Hook and Di Meglio was left to ride the eight-hour classic at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie. They qualified fourth, and although they faced numerous problems throughout the race, reclaimed places and finished tenth.F.C.C. TSR Honda France headed into the final round, the Bol d'Or 2022, second overall, 23 points behind the series leader. Alan Techer (28 years old, France), one of the riders in the team's previous victory in 2017-2018, stood in for Rea, in the hope that his experience will help them reclaim the title. The team started from fourth on the grid at 3:00 pm on the 17th. Two incidents sent their placing down to 28th, but consistent and determined riding brought the team back up to 4th place by the time the race ended at 3:00 pm on the 18th. As other championship contenders fail to complete the race, F.C.C. TSR Honda France won the overall championship.Josh Hook | F.C.C. TSR Honda France"I have learned from the past to never take a result for granted before the chequered flag. We have come back from complicated situations in the past and nothing is ever certain. Like everyone else, we did our race and never gave up. We did very well, all three of us were fast, especially at night. We were quickly no longer in a position to fight for victory, so we focused on the championship, which was clearly the priority goal. We chose to take care of the engine as much as possible to avoid the problems that most of our competitors have. And it's done!"Mike Di Meglio | F.C.C. TSR Honda France"I'm very happy to finally be World Endurance Champion! I came so close with GMT94 and I'm really proud of this title after so many years of fighting for it. It was a really tough race. We had some problems and our opponents were forced to stop one after the other. When Tati Team #4 was fighting at the front, we decided to build up enough of a gap to our chaser to get out of trouble. But when they dropped down the rankings, we changed our strategy to preserve the engine as much as possible by shifting earlier on the straight. It was the best thing to do because the world championship was more important than a podium finish."Alan Techer | F.C.C. TSR Honda France"It was a complicated race for everyone, we also had some mechanical problems. The team worked hard to reduce the time spent in the pits and, with my teammates, we did our best to respect the race plan. The objective was clearly the title, and after the Suzuki's retirement, we battled with the Tati Team, my former team. This is a special emotion for me, because I win this title with the team that had already given me the chance to be champion in 2018. We also have a big thought for Gino to whom we dedicate this title."* FIM: Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Honda’s First Formula 1 World Championship Title for 30 Years

TOKYO, Dec 13, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Red Bull Racing Honda driver Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the 22nd round of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship and the 26 points he scored was enough for him to take the World Championship title. This is Verstappen's first ever title and for Honda, it is the first for 30 years, since Ayrton Senna won it in 1991.The Dutchman, now 24, made his debut in 2015, when he was just 17 years old, making him the youngest ever driver to start a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Even back then, he was already tipped for greatness. In 2019, he won the Austrian Grand Prix, to give Honda its first win in the current hybrid era. So far this season, Verstappen has won 10 races, starting with the second round, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, also taking victory in the historic race around the streets of Monaco, as well as his home Grand Prix on F1's return to Zandvoort.Max Verstappen"It feels incredible to be World Champion and I couldn't have asked for a more insane last race of the year. It was a bit of a rollercoaster, from not really having a chance of winning until the last lap, everything came together, and we had to go for it. I kept saying to myself, I am just going to give it my all and I have until the end and that is what we did. Of course, with that safety car restart in the last lap we had the fresher tires but you still need to do the move - luckily it worked out. I want to say a big thank to Checo, because of his performance today, I won the Championship, he was driving his heart out for this Team. Today showed exactly what great teamwork is, he's an amazing teammate. Mercedes won the Constructors' and we won the Driver's Championship so it really shows that throughout the whole year we pushed each other to the very end. Lewis is an amazing driver, there is no discussion about it. Of course, we had our moments throughout the season but I think you know that after everything we had an amazing fight this season and I think both teams gave it their all."Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing Honda"I said it was going to need something from the racing Gods in the last ten laps and thank goodness for that safety car. It has been a great competition this season and for Max to win the World Championship, it is not just about the race here, it is about the whole year and how incredible and consistent he has been as a driver. All credit to Lewis too, he has been a phenomenal opponent all year and a great World Champion, he has been formidable and that is what makes it even more of a monumental achievement to win this. This Championship came down to the last lap and it was a great strategy call by the Team to make that pit stop onto the set of softs and then it was down to Max to make it happen, which he did in typical Max style. I was screaming from turn five all the way down that back straight. He got the job done. I am just so proud of Max and the team for what we've been through this year and what we have achieved against some fierce and great opponents. Checo was the perfect teammate today, what he did keeping Lewis behind, on totally worn tires, was just super driving. Without him today Max probably wouldn't be World Champion, the whole Team executed their strategy, flawlessly. On balance after 22 races we have won this World Championship on the facts. I would also like to thank Honda for their teamwork and support over the last few years. We will continue our partnership in a different way, but we look forward to continuing the success."Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President and Representative Executive Officer Honda Motor co., Ltd."Congratulations to Max on his first world championship title and to Red Bull Racing, our partner since 2019. I watched the race at HRD-Sakura and was very impressed by Max and the team who never stopped challenging for the world championship title until the end. We also thank Scuderia AlphaTauri with whom our association with Red Bull began, as well as our suppliers and all our fans who have always supported us. For Honda, this title is the goal we set ourselves ever since we returned to F1 in 2015 and today we have written a new chapter in Honda's history. I'd like to thank all the Honda employees who have made it possible. Well done, you did it!" Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Honda’s First Formula 1 World Championship Title for 30 years Max Verstappen Wins the 2021 Drivers’ World Championship

TOKYO, Dec 13, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Red Bull Racing Honda driver Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the 22nd round of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship and the 26 points he scored was enough for him to take the World Championship title. This is Verstappen's first ever title and for Honda, it is the first for 30 years, since Ayrton Senna won it in 1991.The Dutchman, now 24, made his debut in 2015, when he was just 17 years old, making him the youngest ever driver to start a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Even back then, he was already tipped for greatness. In 2019, he won the Austrian Grand Prix, to give Honda its first win in the current hybrid era. So far this season, Verstappen has won 10 races, starting with the second round, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, also taking victory in the historic race around the streets of Monaco, as well as his home Grand Prix on F1's return to Zandvoort.Max Verstappen"It feels incredible to be World Champion and I couldn't have asked for a more insane last race of the year. It was a bit of a rollercoaster, from not really having a chance of winning until the last lap, everything came together, and we had to go for it. I kept saying to myself, I am just going to give it my all and I have until the end and that is what we did. Of course, with that safety car restart in the last lap we had the fresher tires but you still need to do the move - luckily it worked out. I want to say a big thank to Checo, because of his performance today, I won the Championship, he was driving his heart out for this Team. Today showed exactly what great teamwork is, he's an amazing teammate. Mercedes won the Constructors' and we won the Driver's Championship so it really shows that throughout the whole year we pushed each other to the very end. Lewis is an amazing driver, there is no discussion about it. Of course, we had our moments throughout the season but I think you know that after everything we had an amazing fight this season and I think both teams gave it their all."Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing Honda"I said it was going to need something from the racing Gods in the last ten laps and thank goodness for that safety car. It has been a great competition this season and for Max to win the World Championship, it is not just about the race here, it is about the whole year and how incredible and consistent he has been as a driver. All credit to Lewis too, he has been a phenomenal opponent all year and a great World Champion, he has been formidable and that is what makes it even more of a monumental achievement to win this. This Championship came down to the last lap and it was a great strategy call by the Team to make that pit stop onto the set of softs and then it was down to Max to make it happen, which he did in typical Max style. I was screaming from turn five all the way down that back straight. He got the job done. I am just so proud of Max and the team for what we've been through this year and what we have achieved against some fierce and great opponents. Checo was the perfect teammate today, what he did keeping Lewis behind, on totally worn tires, was just super driving. Without him today Max probably wouldn't be World Champion, the whole Team executed their strategy, flawlessly. On balance after 22 races we have won this World Championship on the facts. I would also like to thank Honda for their teamwork and support over the last few years. We will continue our partnership in a different way, but we look forward to continuing the success."Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President and Representative Executive Officer Honda Motor co., Ltd."Congratulations to Max on his first world championship title and to Red Bull Racing, our partner since 2019. I watched the race at HRD-Sakura and was very impressed by Max and the team who never stopped challenging for the world championship title until the end. We also thank Scuderia AlphaTauri with whom our association with Red Bull began, as well as our suppliers and all our fans who have always supported us. For Honda, this title is the goal we set ourselves ever since we returned to F1 in 2015 and today we have written a new chapter in Honda's history. I'd like to thank all the Honda employees who have made it possible. Well done, you did it!" Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Formula One: Hamilton gracious in title defeat as stewards dismiss Mercedes protests

ABU DHABI (REUTERS) - Lewis Hamilton was gracious in defeat after Red Bull rival Max Verstappen ended the Briton’s quest for an unprecedented eighth Formula One title with a safety-car aided, last-lap pass for championship glory at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday (Dec 12).   The 36-year-old, who started second alongside pole-sitter Verstappen, appeared to have the race well under control after seizing the lead into the first corner and escaping sanction for staying ahead by taking to the run-off in an opening-lap battle with his Red Bull rival. But a safety car five laps from the end, that handed Verstappen the opportunity to pit for fresh tyres, turned the race on its head and put an end to Hamilton’s hopes of becoming the first driver to win eight world championships.   “Firstly, a big congratulations to Max and to his team,”said Hamilton, his eyes moist, after the race. “I think we did an amazing job this year. My team, everyone back at the factory... all the men and women... have worked so hard this whole year. It’s been the most difficult of seasons.   “I’m so proud of them, so grateful to be a part of the journey with them,” added the Briton, who has won the title for the last four years in a row and ended the season with eight wins to his Red Bull rival’s 10.   But, even as Verstappen celebrated and Hamilton came to terms with defeat, the Briton’s Mercedes team lodged two safety-car related protests.   One had to do with Verstappen pulling up alongside and edging ahead of Hamilton; the other with the resumption of racing.  Race control initially said the lapped cars, acting as a buffer between Hamilton and Verstappen would not be allowed to overtake, much to Red Bull’s frustration.   But they later decided to let only those cars through, putting Verstappen right on Hamilton’s tail for one final flat-out lap, with the Dutchman seizing his chance on his fresh soft tyres to pass Hamilton for the lead.   Stewards dismissed both protests. Mercedes lodged their intention to appeal against the dismissal of their protest related to the safety car restart. “We gave it everything, this last part of the season we gave it absolutely everything and we never gave up,” said Hamilton.“That’s the most important thing.” More on this topic   Related Story Motor racing: F1 title rivals will be feeling the pressure, says Mercedes' former champ Rosberg   Related Story Motor racing: F1 c'ship leader Verstappen on pole in Abu Dhabi finale with Hamilton alongside

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Ogier, Ingrassia and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Crowned 2021 Champions

TOKYO, Nov 22, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team has acheived a magnificent championship treble* at the iconic Monza circuit, clinching the manufacturers' title with a one-two finish at the final round as Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia claimed their eighth drivers' and co-drivers' crowns in style with victory.Ogier and Ingrassia went up against their team-mates Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin in the final-round showdown at Monza and the two crews engaged in an epic battle for victory throughout the weekend, swapping the lead between them six times. They came into the final day of three tricky stages around Monza separated by just half a second - and then set identical times on the morning's opening test. A stall for Evans in the penultimate stage ultimately decided the rally victory in the favour of Ogier, who knew a podium finish would be enough to secure the title.The win was the fifth of the season for Ogier and Ingrassia after victories in Monte Carlo, Croatia, Sardinia and Kenya. It was their 54th WRC win together in what was the final event of their full-time careers: Ogier will contest a part-time schedule with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in 2022 while Ingrassia steps out of the co-driver's seat after a highly-successful career.Evans and Martin secured the fifth Toyota one-two of the season, and finish runner-up in the championship for the second year in a row after victories in Portugal and Finland.Alongside their team-mates, Kalle Rovanpera and his co-driver Jonne Halttunen were key to the manufacturers' championship success after claiming their first career victories in Estonia and Greece this year. At the final round they were exemplary team players, focusing on a clean finish in ninth overall to ensure the manufacturers' title was secured.This is the fifth time Toyota has won the manufacturers' championship - putting it joint third on the all-time list of titles - and the second since it returned to the sport in 2017 with the Yaris WRC. This was the 26th and final victory achieved by the car in the final event of the World Rally Car era before hybrid-powered Rally1 cars are introduced in 2022.TGR WRC Challenge Program driver Takamoto Katsuta finished seventh overall with co-driver Aaron Johnston, overcoming contact in the penultimate test to set the second-fastest time in the rally-ending Power Stage after a superb job by the team's mechanics to repair his car in just a 15-minute service.Quotes:Akio Toyoda (Team Founder)"Throughout the season, there was always at least one of our crews on the podium - including Takamoto. Thanks to them, I was able to watch all the events being thrilled expecting that somebody from our team would win. Then in this final event, Seb and Julien, who were targeting their eighth title, and Elfyn and Scott, who still had a chance to win their first, had the ultimate battle until the very end. As a big rally fan, I felt so excited watching them. "Our Yaris WRCs are running in such an exciting situation at the highest level of competition..." It was like a dream for us at Toyota. I would like to thank both crews from the heart for making us feel like that.Seb and Julien, congratulations! I truly respect you for driving to the maximum until the end. To be eight-time champions is a great record, and we are all proud that two out of those eight were with Toyota. Thank you so much. To secure the manufacturers' title and have Seb and Elfyn freely fight at the same time: all team members tackled this final event together to achieve both. Kalle's driving throughout the event showed it well. Kalle, Jonne, thank you very much for what you have done for the team.It's thanks to Jari-Matti that the team was able to smile. Jari-Matti, who was also a driver, is a leader who always puts drivers first. I think all the drivers were able to finish the season with smiles because all the judgements were made from a driver's point of view. He hates to lose. He does as much as I do, or maybe more than I do. I believe his judgements based on this "hate-to-lose" mindset made the team strong.There was one more way in which Jari-Matti surprised me. That was his thorough communication with the team members. Through a video taken by the team, I saw him giving morning greetings one-by-one at the early morning service park. All 200 members across Finland, Estonia, Germany and Japan were closely united because we had him. I really appreciate him for realising the 'driver-driven team' and 'family-like yet professional team' which we had been aiming for.This team kept making the Yaris WRC stronger since 2017. What I asked for at the first rally in 2017 was to make the Yaris WRC the strongest at the end of the season. The Yaris WRC has run 59 events in these five years, and we learned a lot from the events we won and we lost. The team did make the last Yaris WRC the strongest ever. I'm really happy for that.Our car will be totally new under new regulations next year and the development is reaching its climax. The team is extremely busy and I'm grateful to everybody and their families who support them. We will prepare an ever-stronger Yaris and make our fans even more excited from next season onward. I hope the fans will look forward to our new car and new challenges and I appreciate your continuous support for TGR WRT."Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)"We have been working so hard to claim the manufacturers' championship and the drivers' and co-drivers' championships all at the same time. I am so grateful for the team: We have such a fantastic team with great people and the best drivers in the championship. I'm really proud of all the team members and the crews. What Seb and Julien have achieved in their careers is incredible. Elfyn and Scott did fantastically well to make it an exciting battle, and a huge thank you to Kalle and Jonne for the role they played as well. In 2018 I won the manufacturers' title as a driver, and to do it again now as a team principal is a unique moment. This is also a brilliant way to finish this era with these cars, and to have won nine rallies this year is amazing."Sebastien Ogier (Driver car 1)"It's so hard to describe these kind of emotions. Somehow you feel empty because it's been such an exhausting season like always, where you need to put so much into it to win the championship. But we do it for moments like this. A big thanks to all the team members: Without them we are nothing and today we are all world champions, so let's celebrate this. It's pretty remarkable what Toyota has achieved, and the team deserves it because they've put a lot of effort into it. The emotion is even stronger knowing it's the end of my journey with Julien. We could never have dreamed of a better way for it to end it. We knew we still had a lot to do this weekend and that it was not over yet. We didn't have to beat Elfyn, but we couldn't afford to relax and then drop positions, and to win in the end is just perfect."Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)"Of course it's mixed feelings for us today. Naturally you always want more. We knew the drivers' title would be difficult but we wanted to try and win the rally. In the end we didn't quite get it but congratulations to Seb and Julien on another fantastic title and also on a fantastic career together. I want to thank everybody in the team, they've been working so hard, giving us fantastic equipment but also a fantastic atmosphere to work in. It's also a very fond farewell to the Toyota Yaris WRC, it's been a joy to drive."Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)"It feels really good to help the team secure the manufacturers' championship. It was a really nice season for us, and getting the teams' title also feels really good for us because we were able to bring good points in many rallies. It's a big thing for the team and it feels really nice to be a part of it. It was not so easy to do the job we did this weekend, but it was important that we did it and this feeling makes it worth it. The team has been working really hard, so big congratulations and thank you to them. It's been a great year with an amazing car and I think we really showed how strong our team is."For the latest results please visit www.wrc.com.* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Tennis: Riske ends two-year wait for third title in Linz

LINZ, AUSTRIA (AFP) - US eighth seed Alison Riske claimed her third career title but first in over two years on Friday (Nov 12) with victory over Romanian lucky loser Jaqueline Cristian in the Linz WTA final. Riske triumphed 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 to add the Austrian title to trophies at Tianjin in 2014 and 's-Hertogenbosch in 2019. She had lost her seven other finals, including in Portoroz two months ago to Jasmine Paolini. More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: Halep withdraws, Collins retires at Linz semi-finals   Related Story Tennis: Kontaveit crushes Pliskova to reach semis at WTA Finals

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Golf: Reigning champ Ortiz, Argentina’s Grillo out of PGA event

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Reigning champion Carlos Ortiz of Mexico and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo withdrew from the US PGA Tour's Houston Open on Tuesday (Nov 9). Ortiz pulled out due to a left shoulder injury, saying he has been struggling with a sore shoulder since a trip to Japan last month. "I went to the doctor this morning and he recommended that I not play and I take time to recover," Ortiz said. "So I think I'm going to take his advice... so I can start healthy in January." Ortiz withdrew from the Zozo Championship in Japan three weeks ago with the shoulder injury. But Ortiz finished second last week at the Mayakoba Championship in Mexico, his best showing since taking his only PGA title last year at Houston. "This is incredibly disappointing to me as I was looking forward to defending my first PGA Tour title," Prtiz said. "I'm honoured to be a champion of this event and I look forward to returning next year." Ortiz and Grillo were replaced in the field by Americans John Huh and Max McGreevy. Players from outside the United States have won five consecutive US PGA titles, one shy of the matching the longest such runs on record from 2004 and 2008. More on this topic   Related Story Golf: Viktor Hovland cruises to repeat title at Mayakoba despite back-nine bogeys   Related Story Golf: Aussie Herbert wins first PGA Tour title at windy Bermuda

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