BBS named official F1 wheel supplier for 2022 RaceFans

In short

BBS becomes official supplier of F1 rims

Japanese wheel manufacturer BBS has been named the “Official Rim Supplier” for Formula 1 and will supply wheels to all ten teams from this season.

The deal was announced at the Tokyo Auto Salon auto show. Previously, teams were free to source wheels from suppliers, with brands such as Oz and Enkei making wheels for various teams.

Formula 1 will switch from 13-inch wheels used for many decades to new low-profile 18-inch wheels in 2022. Tire supplier Pirelli will continue to supply tires to the world championship.

BBS will also supply standardized rims to the NASCAR Cup series as the American series is also introducing a new car following an overhaul of technical regulations.

Honda unites car and motorcycle racing programs under the HRC banner

Honda has announced that it will restructure its racing programs across all motorsports in 2022, consolidating its motor racing activities under its existing “Honda Racing Corporation” (HRC) division.

HRC has been the motorcycle racing wing of the Japanese giant for many decades now, running factory teams in MotoGP, World Superbike and MXGP motocross. Honda Director, President and CEO Toshihiro Mibe said combining their car and motorcycle racing programs in this way will help them “achieve mutual collaboration of technologies and know-how” and to make their motorsport operations more efficient.

“In order to meet the expectations of motorsport fans and Honda fans and customers around the world, we will continue to devote our energy to motorsport, through the ‘new’ HRC which integrates our motorcycle and motor racing activities,” said Mibe.

Honda will no longer act as official powertrain supplier to Red Bull and AlphaTauri after announcing their departure from Formula 1 at the start of last season. However, Honda will provide direct support to Red Bull’s new Red Bull Powertrains division, which will use Honda-designed technologies over the next few seasons.

Verstappen misses the pole of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual by two thousandths

Max Verstappen missed pole position for the virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans race by just 0.002 seconds during qualifying for today’s endurance simulation race.

The current Formula 1 world champion’s final qualifying lap in Team Redline’s LMP-class car was just two thousandths of a second slower than fellow Dutchman Jeffrey Reitveld in sister car Realteam Hydrogen Redline .

Red Bull Esports’ Corvette number 111 took pole position in the GT class for the 24-hour race which begins at 1pm UK time.

Correa and Red Bull juniors Crawford and Edgar return to F3 for 2022

Juan Manuel Correa has announced he will play a second consecutive season in Formula 3 after returning to the series last year.

The American driver made his return to racing in the series in 2021 after suffering serious injuries in a Formula 2 accident at Spa in 2019 which claimed the life of Anthoine Hubert. Correa finished 21st in the standings and then tested a Formula 2 car in Abu Dhabi at the end of the season.

Correa will race again for ART, joining rookie Gregoire Saucy. Red Bull juniors Jak Crawford and Jonny Edgar have also been confirmed for a second season each in this year’s Formula 3 championship.

Crawford will join Prema after racing for Hitech in his first season in the class last year, while Edgar will move from Carlin to Trident. Fellow Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar will also join the grid, racing with Hitech.

Confirmed drivers for the 2022 Formula 3 championship

Connections

Interesting motorsport links:

Official statement (FIA)

“The FIA ​​joins the organizers and participants of the Dakar Rally in sending its thoughts to the family and friends of Quentin Lavalée and the PH Sport team.”

Matt Bishop on sexuality, social media and his collaboration with Sebastian Vettel (Ellie Does F1)

“Not only are they (Lewis and Seb) brilliant multiple world champions and very successful on the track, but also off the track, because they don’t just talk, they walk. They have taken on the mission of using their platform – the platform that Formula 1 gives them – to advance and promote good causes that they believe are very important to them.”

Michelle Gatting talks iron ladies, karting and women in motorsport (Formula Amelia)

“The Iron Dames project is growing, and in the future we’re going to see women in Hypercars; maybe we’ll see a woman in Formula 1 in the next five or ten years, and hopefully we can say that ‘Iron Dames was a factor in that.’

Motorsport UK is seeking applications for the 2022 FIA Karting Academy (British Kart Championship)

“Motorsport UK is seeking entries to represent the nation in the 2022 FIA Karting Academy Trophy, a prestigious international championship for 12-14 year olds.”

F1 fans are all making the same Simpsons joke after Aston Martin hires team principal ‘Mike Krack’ (Daily Star)

“Unfortunately for new Aston Martin boss Krack, F1 fans have drawn a cheeky comparison between his name and those Moe usually shouts out on the hit sitcom The Simpsons.”

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