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If you’re a racing fan, and have been disappointed by the number of events that have had to be cancelled recently, then the good news is that there is a lot to look forward to in the 2021 racing calendar. You’re sure to be excited about all of the upcoming events that you will be able to watch, so we’ve put together some of the things that are coming up that you are sure to enjoy.

F1 World Championship

This is without a doubt one of the most anticipated events of the whole year, and fans from all over the world will be watching to see who will take the crown this year. The championship run from March 28th all the way through to December 12th, meaning that no matter how busy you might be, you can certainly enjoy a piece of the action for yourself. Lewis Hamilton is at the top of his game right now and is a firm favourite for this competition, but there’s no doubt that there are other talented drivers who could give him a run for his money along the way. You’ll be able to check these out on websites like OlyBet and get in on the action.

British GT Championship

This is a race that has been a firm favourite for a number of years now, ever since it was first brought to the racing scene back in 1993. The season this year will include 9 rounds, starting in April and ending on September 12th at Donnington Park. This can be a particularly exciting tournament to watch thanks to the fact that there are so many supercars being raced, including special racing versions of popular supercars such as the Bentley Continental GT and the Lamborghini Huracan.

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British Touring Car Championship

If you’re looking for something a little more accessible, with cars that you may see every day on the road, then this event is absolutely the one for you. This is an event that has been held every year since 1958, so there is no doubt that the successful format of the event is likely to be a big part of racing for many years to come. The tournament this year will be split across 30 rounds, using 9 different circuits. The final circuit to be used will be at Brands Hatch, and this race will take place on October 10th – definitely one to write in the diary.

1,000 Miglia

If you’re a classic cars lover than this is the race for you. The 1,000 mile race isn’t a race as such, rather a display of the kinds of cars that have been on the roads for over half a decade. This can be a really nice spectacle to watch, so if you’re interested, you may want to find a place along the Brescia to Rome route, giving you the chance to see the classic cars for yourself. This is one that classic car owners from all over the world like to get involved in, and although it might not be the fastest race, it’s almost certainly the most interesting and enjoyable to watch.

It is no surprise that the technological revolution has broadened the horizons of today’s generation. While new, advanced devices have taken networking and communication to a whole new level, the automotive industry is in no way behind when it comes to incorporating smart technology in both vehicle manufacturing and the vehicle itself.

Since road traffic has become a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions, certain measures are being implemented to prevent global warming. One step towards the effective use of renewable resources is the progression of the EVs industry. It is, therefore, becoming more and more important to know how electric cars work and why they are a great alternative to fuel-based vehicles.

The mechanics behind electric cars

Simply put, EVs are driven by electric motors, which are powered by batteries that can be charged with power supply. These are called battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The amount of power required is moderated by a control unit that allows smooth acceleration and deceleration.

Other EVs that are based on 100% electric motors include fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), which convert chemical energy into electric energy, and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) that are equipped with an additional fuel-based power unit for improved range. The other two popular EV types are hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). These work thanks to their internal combustion engines, with the only difference that in HEVs, the battery connected to the electric motor doesn’t have the option of external recharging like in PHEVs.

The process of EV charging

Electric car owners can charge their vehicles using the electric supply at home or the commercial charging stations. There are, however, certain time durations which, unlike in the case of refilling fuel-based vehicles, vary depending on the charging point types and methods. Three major EV charger types include:

• Level 1 or slow charging requires a simple socket, provides 3kW-6kW power but takes 8-12 hours for a complete charge.
• Level 2 or fast charging can be done at public charging stations, provide 7kW- 22kW power, and takes 3-4 hours for charging.
• Level 3 or rapid charging uses direct current (DC) charging stations, providing 100kW- 350kW power, and taking less than an hour to fully charge an EV battery.

So far, the future of EVs looks promising. Reduced operating cost and no tailpipe emissions attract an increasing number of buyers. The biggest challenge the electric car market is currently facing, though, is range anxiety. Range anxiety is what happens to EV drivers when their fully charged battery doesn’t suffice and the car falls short until the next charging station. That is particularly troublesome when traveling long distances and on specific routes where charging stations are not dense enough.

The good news is that many European countries are now realising the need to facilitate things for EV owners. According to July 2019 reports, 170,149 public charging stations have been made available with fast charging points supplying 22kW power. As for the year 2020, it is observed that they are continuing to grow exponentially. The heat map below illustrates the current numbers of charging stations per country in Europe.

The incentives to be enjoyed by EV owners and buyers

The good news doesn’t stop here. To further encourage EVs, European governments have provided tax benefits and subsidies on the purchasing of electric cars. Romania, Germany, and France are leading the way in delivering approximately 9,000 EUR subsidy while Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom provide 3000-6000 EUR subsidy on EVs purchase.

These measures have resulted in stellar growth of Europe’s EV market share. The first quarter of 2020 showed a 6.8% increase in EVs purchase in contrast to 3% last year despite the Covid-19 pandemic. It is expected that by 2021 EVs production in Europe will boost to over 2 million and will surpass China’s market.

The promising future ahead of EVs

Electric cars are emerging as a beacon of hope for convenient and efficient yet environmentally-friendly transportation. Already promising in their current form, the exciting sustainable technologies that are available now will be, without a doubt, consequently improved over the next years. As a result, the advancement and accessibility of EVs have no other option but to grow.

Images from: Electromobility in Europe: EVs and Charging Stations

The invention of the wheel was one of the most groundbreaking moments in the history of mankind. Around the year 3500 BC, the way people travelled was revolutionized and led to the widespread use of carts, chariots, coaches and eventually, cars.

However, when it comes to drivers, and passengers’ safety and comfort, as well as to the durability of wheels itself, the greatest change came with the introduction of rubber tyres in the 1800s. For that, credit goes to two Scotts, Robert William Thomson and John Boyd Dunlop. The latter opened a first tyre factory under the name Dunlop Tyres in Ireland, in 1890. That brand has been associated with quality products ever since and is still a very popular choice, with car owners.

Arguably, the expansion of the whole automotive industry would be impossible without the invention of rubber tyres. Without them, travelling by cars would simply be too uncomfortable for most people. Tyres also allowed for greater speeds, providing vehicles with much needed traction and made the first racing and rally event possible as early as 1895!

After all, when we use the brake pedal while driving, how soon our car comes to a complete stop is not only up to the brakes. We also rely on the tyres that we use, to keep us safe on the road regardless of weather conditions. Further improvements came with the introduction of synthetic rubber, that reduced the demand for harvesting latex from the rubber trees as well as the radial tyre, that increased flexibility and ride comfort, an invention by another big name in the industry, French company Michelin.

Today, we can hardly imagine transportation or traveling without tyres. An astonishing 2.5 billion tyres are produced annually and brands like Dunlop and Michelin are still important market players. And it isn’t just the automotive industry that relies on a constant supply. After all, bicycles, motorcycles, industrial machines and planes, they all need tyres too.

There are various kinds of car tyres in production, that cater to a wide range of drivers. We use different types for winter and summer season, both made of special rubber mixtures that provide better performance in either low or high temperatures, on wet and snowy roads. Another type of tyres is used for off-road cars which might need that extra grip when crossing mud, going up or downhill. Finally, there are performance tyres, carefully designed for great velocities, and top tier, marked with speed symbol W, can safely reach even up to 270 kilometres per hour. Without those, millions of fans around the world simply wouldn’t be able to hold their breath while watching WRC or Formula 1 championships.

There is a lot of good news when it comes to future developments in tyre technologies, both for those who drive to commute as well as for motorsports enthusiasts. We can definitely expect substantial improvements in safety and comfort for drivers and their passengers.

From self-sealing and airless tyres that are going to require less maintenance, to those reducing road noise, to new versions of threads for better control in tight-radius turns and shortest braking distance on both dry and wet surfaces. And let’s not forget energy saving tyres, for better fuel efficiency, to keep more money in our pockets. The biggest and most advanced companies like Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone and Continental are working tirelessly in cooperation with car manufacturers and the effects are driven by us.

Images from Evolution of Tyres

2019 has come and gone, and with it another rally season. Those who mark the time by the round will know that the season saw its fair share of upsets but that it generated even more familiarity. With that in mind, let’s dive into an assessment of the season to see who won, who lost, and what fans will need to look for in the season to come.

Rallies in 2019: A Summary

Rallies are only as successful as their manufacturers. Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT produced some of the most popular – not to mention most successful – racing vehicles in the 2019 season. Of the fourteen official rallies the season hosted, four saw a Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT vehicle in the winner’s circle. Some of the most popular vehicles to grace the routes included:

• Citroen C3 WRC
• Ford Fiesta WRC
• Hyundai I20 Coupe WRC
• Toyota Yaris WRC

The Ford Fiesta is definitely a favourite, being both the UK’s top one and in the top best rally cars globally.

2019 World Rally Championship Results

The overarching victory in the rally world this past year went to Ott Tanak, who took the title of World Drivers’ Champion. Tanak, who originally drove for Toyota, was recently recruited by Hyundai as a driver for the 2020 rally season.

Martin Jarveoja took the title of World Co-drivers’ Champion, while Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT took the title of World Manufacturers’ Champion.

Rallies and the Broader Automotive Industry: A Comparison

In the world of racing alone, Europe dominates the automotive market. Rally racing in the EU generated 46% share in 2015, with that share only growing over the past few years. The market is expected to hit $2.96 billion in value by 2023.

In terms of the global passenger market share, small brands dominated over half of the broader automotive industry. The largest, well-known brand to generate a remarkable market share was Volkswagen with an impressive 9%.

Comparatively, Ford dominated the 2019 rally market, with the majority of drivers using Ford vehicles during their runs.

Looking Forward

Where, then, should fans and automotive investors alike expect the rally scene to go in the later months of 2020? Citroen has already shaken the World Rally Championship by cutting its rally program entirely. Even so, drivers at the wheel of some of the manufacturer’s previously released vehicles will appear on the track come 2020.

The World Championship’s first round is set to take place between the 23rd and 26th of January at Monte-Carlo. Ford thus far dominates the track, with 23 of the 88 entrants driving some variation of the manufacturer’s WRC vehicles.

Surprisingly, none of the brands previously mentioned previously garner the second-most popular spot, as Peugeot has outplaced them all with 19 drivers. 13 drivers represent Hyundai, while 12 drive for Citroen, and 8 for Toyota. Volkswagen and Skoda are also set to appear at this raise, with 4 and 8 drivers, respectively. Other manufacturers with vehicles appearing in the first round include:

• Renault
• Fiat
• Dacia

With so many changes from 2019 still resonating through the industry all fans can do now is wait and see how a new season shakes up the rally standing.

F1 is going up a gear as it adds another racetrack to its calendar. The latest addition, the Vietnamese Grand Prix, is set to happen in the city of Hanoi in 2020.

The racetrack is set to be a 5.565-kilometre long street circuit that will run alongside the My Dinh National Stadium in Western Hanoi. The racetrack will feature a newly constructed section as well as a 1.5-kilometre long straight. Preliminary simulations indicate that F1 cars could reach a possible top speed of 335 km/h on some parts of the track.

It is the first new addition to F1 since Liberty Media replaced Bernie Ecclestone as F1’s commercial rights holder. F1 chief executive Chase Carey said that this landmark is just the beginning in terms of their long-term plans to expand. Carey went on to state that the organization is thrilled to be in a city as rich in history as Hanoi.

The launch party was held in central Hanoi’s Thang Long Imperial Citadel and was attended by former F1 driver David Coulthard. This isn’t the first time Coulthard has been in Vietnam in recent years. Last year, he attended an event in Ho Chi Minh City in April, when F1 and Heineken organized a publicity event. The event was to celebrate the Dutch brewing company’s expansion into the Southeast Asian market.

All out local support

The Grand Prix is set to be hosted by Viet conglomerate Vingroup JSC. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said in a statement that “this is an important event not only in the field of sport but also in culture and society, contributing to the development of Vietnam.”

Moreover, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said that the event is a testament to the city’s ability to host global events. He further added that it is a great opportunity to provide inward investment to the country.

These are all part of F1’s continuing attempt to expand into new markets. After Singapore, Azerbaijan and Abu Dhabi expressed interest in making F1 an integral part of their respective tourism campaigns. F1 is also pursuing expansions into Copenhagen and Buenos Aires. Another territory, which F1 is looking to get into is the United States, as Liberty Media aims to penetrate big city markets such as New York, Las Vegas, and Miami.

Conquering the largest continent one country at a time

At the moment though, fan interest in F1 is picking up in Asia. This translates to more interest in other related industries such as domestic car manufacturing and the regional betting scene. In light of F1’s entry, Vingroup’s Vinfast unit is now gearing up to become the country’s first domestic car manufacturer.

This is expected to breathe new life into Vietnam’s local automotive industry, and may also affect local betting laws on car racing. F1 bosses had actually planned to build a track in Ho Chi Minh City, but pulled out due to strict rules against betting on sports events. Laws like the Decree No.03/2017/ND-CP, AKA Casino Decree, cover all facets of gaming in the country, which even include online versions. The live dealer scene in Vietnam was covered by an article on ExpatBets, and they mention that although local operators are banned in the country, people usually play through online platforms. Only a few types of pari-mutuel betting are allowed, including some forms of horse racing. As of this moment, motorsport is yet to be added, but with an F1 race set to be staged in the country in 2020, the likelihood it that motorsport-related enterprises will flourish in the coming years, and that could include relaxing the laws on sports betting.

Feel free to check out some fun facts about F1 in another previous post. Follow us on social media to remain updated on all things motorsport.