IN THE HEADLINES

THIRD DRS FOR BRIT GP

A third DRS zone has been added to Silverstone for this weekend’s British Grand Prix. It will be placed on the start-finish straight, and means the drivers can take the first two corners – Abbey and Farm – with the DRS open. Each of those corners is flat-out on low fuel. It is the first time such an option has been available since DRS was implemented in 2011.

OZ GP MOVES FORWARD

The Formula 1 season will kick off a week earlier in 2019, with the Australian Grand Prix announcing a March 17 date. The move means the race avoids clashing with other major Melbourne attractions that happen at the same time of the year.

F1 TEAMS WANT TEST CUT

F1 teams are pushing for less testing in the wake of the expansion of the race calendar, which now stands at 21 grands prix. There are currently two four-day pre-season tests, and two two-day in-season tests. The teams want a single five-day session pre-season, and a two-day rookie-driver test in-season. There has not yet been any formal discussion with the FIA on the matter.

BAUMANN IN ASTON

Former Blancpain GT and European GT3 champion Dominik Baumann will replace Alex Brundle in the R-motorsport Aston Martin squad for the Spa 24 Hours and the remainder of the Blancpain Endurance Cup. Austrian Baumann will race the #62 Vantage, which has been campaigned this year by Maxime Martin and Marvin Kirchhofer. Brundle is now focusing on R-motorsport’s 2019 programme.

HONDA’S SPA 24 DRIVERS

Honda-contracted drivers Esteban Guerrieri and Bertrand Baguette will spearhead the Spa 24 Hours debut of the NSX GT3 later this month. Argentinian Guerrieri is a WTCR race winner for Honda, while Baguette represents the marque in Japan’s Super GT series. The car, run by JAS Motorsport, will be in the Proam class, so two ‘bronze’-rated drivers will join Guerrieri and Baguette in the line-up.

FITTIPALDI ON TRACK

Pietro Fittipaldi reckons he is on target to return to the Indycar Series for the Mid-ohio round at the end of this month as he recovers from breaking both his legs in the Spa World Endurance Championship round in May. Fittipaldi got back behind the wheel last week when he karted with his brother Enzo and uncle Max Papis. He is also planning tests in a US F4 car and his

Dale Coyne Racing Indycar to prepare.