WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR 2019?
Mn’ s resident medium predicts what maybe on the cards for 2019.
JANUARY
In the build up to the season, Sebastien Loeb finds he has time on his hands and enters the darts world championship at Frimley Green. He topples the men who have been on the scene for years and beats Michael van Gerwen in the final. Given the struggles the World Rallycross Championship has had attracting entries, it decides the only solution is to introduce a new top class for specially-modified old FIA European Formula 3-spec cars. The Dallaras feature a number of changes to make them suitable for the discipline including strengthened suspension and new tyres.
FEBRUARY
With a spare weekend in his calendar, Loeb enters the opening round of the World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island in Australia. He wins in front of reigning champion Jonathan Rea. The opening round of the British Rally Championship, the Cambrian Rally, is cancelled at the last minute when it is discovered that paperwork was not filled in properly ahead of the event. A replacement is not scheduled. The British Racing and Sports Car Club feels it has spotted another gap in the market and announces a new series for the old FIA European F3 spec cars. Organisers believe there are not enough options for teams wishing to continue racing the Dallara machines.
MARCH
Citroen picks up backing from the Saint Kitts and nevis government and decides to enter a third car in the World Rally Championship. Short on fresh talent, it hires Petter Solberg to spearhead the attack. The Norwegian takes a sensational victory. Lewis Hamilton dominates the Australian Grand Prix for Mercedes. Team-mate Valtteri Bottas struggles to get a handle on the set-up of the car, and finishes more than one minute behind. Mclaren struggles with its new car and Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz finish laps behind. The West Cork Rally, a round of the BRC, is axed when a mystery virus strikes down the organising team. A replacement cannot be found. Another gap in his schedule allows Loeb to take part in the British round of the Motocross GP season. He leads home Dutch ace Jeffrey Herlings to claim the trophy.
APRIL
Three different drivers take wins in the opening rounds of the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch. Hamilton takes his third win of the F1 season in China. However, team-mate Bottas once again has issues getting to grips with the Mercedes. He finishes outside the points. Mclaren struggles with its new car – it blames a dodgy batch of cup cakes in the staff canteen for the trouble. The Pirelli International Rally is cancelled at the last minute as a rare species of butterfly is found in the forests where the event is planned to run. A replacement cannot be organised. There are three new round winners in the BTCC at the second meeting of the season at Donington Park. There is a sensational win on Rally Argentina for Carlos Sainz, who has been drafted in to pilot the Saint Kitts and nevis-backed Citroen.
MAY
Hamilton dominates the Monaco Grand Prix, while Bottas is once again at a loss to unlock pace from the car. He fails to qualify. Mclaren joins the Finn in failing to qualify. It blames problems with the wind, which is apparently “blowing in the wrong direction”. Sensation on the Giro d’italia bike race as Loeb dominates the event to take a famous win – ahead of teammate Chris Froome. It means he misses the final games of the Premier League, where he has made several appearances for Liverpool, but remains the division’s top scorer.
JUNE
The Saint Kitts and nevis government are delighted after Rally Portugal when Didier Auriol takes the win on a one-off appearance for Citroen in a C3. Hamilton strides to victory in the Austrian Grand Prix at a canter. Bottas has just finished the previous French Grand Prix. He is still in front of the Mclarens, though. At Croft, after 12 rounds of the British Touring Car Championship, three fresh drivers scale the rostrum meaning there has been a dozen winners. The Ypres Rally is axed from the BRC schedule when Brexit negotiations mean that none of the UK crews have their entries accepted. A replacement is not found.
JULY
After securing a last-minute drive, Loeb dominates the National Hot Rod World Final from the very last spot on the grid. Fresh from Foxhall Heath, Loeb beats Novak Djokovic to win the Mens’ singles final at Wimbledon. Yet another win for Hamilton at Silverstone. He finishes a lap clear of anyone else, and finished the 52 laps well clear of the rest – especially Bottas, who is still taking part in Free Practice 1.
AUGUST
On Rally Germany, one-off driver Miki Biasion stands on the top of the rostrum after hauling the Saint Kitts and nevis Citroen to glory. TOCA chiefs feel there is a growing market for old FIA European Formula 3 cars and announce at the last-minute that a new series for the machines will support the British Touring Car Championship in 2020. A statement says there had been a clamour from teams moaning about a lack of realistic options for continuing to field the cars. The Ulster Rally, a round of the BRC, is cancelled because the weather is too warm and the Tarmac roads have melted. A replacement can’t be found.
SEPTEMBER
Hamilton wraps up the championship with a win in the Italian Grand Prix. Bottas is still on the beach enjoying the mid-season break. Mclaren blames Honda for its terrible performance, until it is pointed out that the Japanese powerplants no longer motivate the British cars. All competitors in the British Rally Championship finish on zero points when the Galloway Hills Rally is axed as Scotland is in the middle of an independence vote. It is not replaced. Bosses of the BRC announce a calendar for the 2020 season involving no rounds at all. The BTCC breaks all records at Knockhill, with three more new winners at the head of the pack. That means 24 different racers have tasted the champagne.
OCTOBER
Juha Kankkunen makes a sensational one-off appearance for Citroen on Wales Rally GB and takes glory in the Saint Kitts and nevis-supported C3. After the final rounds of the BTCC at Brands, the series records an extraordinary 30 different race winners from the 30 races. All drivers have equal points and every single entrant is crowned champion.
NOVEMBER
In another dominant performance, Hamilton claims the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. Meanwhile, in Finland, Bottas is in the departure lounge at Helsinki airport ready to board a plane to Sao Paulo. Mclaren blames “evil spirits” in its pitlane garage for its appalling performance. The British Hillclimb Championship reveals that it will be adding a new class to its ranks for limited FIA European Formula 3 spec cars. Series bosses claim teams have been struggling to find places to race the cars and were only too happy to incorporate a class dedicated to F3.
DECEMBER
After a 10-week process, Loeb claims £250,000 from Alan Sugar after winning The Apprentice. Bottas wins a celebrity version of BBC’S Mastermind. He takes glory due to the fact he has made absolutely no passes. Loeb claims the number one slot at Christmas in the UK after winning the X-factor.