What to watch this Petit Le Mans Weekend (Oct 10th - Oct 16th)

• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Practice 1. Thursday @ 8:55pm - 10:30pm (ESPNNEWS) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Practice 2. Friday @ 12:55am - 2:30am (ESPN2) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Practice 3. Friday @ 10:55pm - 12am (ESPNU) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Qualifying. Saturday @ 1:55am - 3am (ESPN2) live
• WeatherTech Sports Car Championship. Petit Le Mans, from Road Atlanta. Saturday @ 5:30pm - 11pm (NBCSN) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Race. Sunday @ 1:05am - 3:05am (ESPN) live
• Garage Squad. Tuesday @ 7pm - 7:30pm (MotorTrend) replay
• Motorweek. Tuesday @ 7:30pm - 8pm (MotorTrend) replay
• Wheeler Dealers. Tuesday @ 10pm - 11pm (MotorTrend) new
• Bitchin Rides. Wednesday @ 9pm - 10pm (MotorTrend) new
• Garage Squad. Season 6 Ep 8. Wednesday @ 10pm - 11pm (MotorTrend) new

We're loaded this weekend with the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship race season finale at Road Atlanta this weekend, the Petit Le Mans, and the first of six remaining races in the F1 season. The last race in Russia shows you why Merc has a strangle hold on the Manufacturers and Driver's Championships this year -- consistent, even-keeled, strong performances. A signature Mercedes 1-2 finish, again, after Ferrari took pole (Leclerc's 4th) and looked to have even or better race pace during simulations. Ferrari had some bad luck with what appeared to be a kinetic component failure, on Vettel's car, while he was in the net lead of the gp. Leclerc's strategy was a little off when Vettel's DNF brought the virtual safety car out, Ferrari choosing to play the new tire game rather than sticking with track position given the low deg of the circuit. This turned out to be a 3rd place strategy as Merc, while not as fast as Ferrari, are fast enough to stay ahead of a Ferrari. Leclerc also learned what Webber learned back at Red Bull in terms of Vettel's mean streak, as he has a rich history of not sticking to team orders when it doesn't serve his own interests -- something just about every winning racing driver has, but the real issue is this occurring between teammates, at Ferrari, while Ferrari is trying to continue building momentum late this season after resolving its aerodynamic correlation issues. Leclerc seems to adjust to every challenge Plenty of DNFs this race, it wasn't just Seb (wishing the N/A V12s was the F1 powerplant again), it was also both Williams (albeit Russell with a front axel failure), Grosjean/Haas and Ricciardo/Renault. Meanwhile in the top ten, McLaren continues to be at the front of the mid-field with another double points finish, Hulkenberg takes the final point in 10th, Perez performs well again taking 7th and Albon comes from the last spot to finish behind Vertstappen in 5th, earning his keep after putting his car in a wall during Q1. With the race over the current driver standings are as follows: Hamilton, Bottas (-73), Leclerc (-107), Verstappen (-110), Vettel (-128),  Gasly (-253). Notables here are Leclerc taking over third (well ahead of Vettel) and Gasly still hanging on to 6th -- Albon or Sainz will likely take 6th sooner than later. This weekend the very technical Suzuka circuit should be another great showcase for where things have progressed across the field.

Enjoy your motorsport weekends.

Video courtesy of Autosport.

What to watch this Weekend (Oct 4th - Oct 10th)

• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Practice 1. Thursday @ 8:55pm - 10:30pm (ESPN2(HD)) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Practice 2. Friday @ 12:55am - 2:30am (ESPN2(HD)) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Practice 3. Friday @ 10:55pm - 12am (ESPNNEWS(HD)) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Qualifying. Saturday @ 1:55am - 3am (ESPN2(HD)) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Race. Sunday @ 1:05am - 3am (ESPN2(HD)) live
• Chasing Classic Cars. Tuesday @ 7pm - 7:30pm (VelocityHD) replay
• Motorweek. Tuesday @ 7:30pm - 8pm (VelocityHD) replay
• Bitchin' Rides. Season 5 Premier. Tuesday @ 9pm - 10pm (VelocityHD) new
• Garage Squad. Season 5 Ep7. Wednesday @ 9pm - 10pm (VelocityHD) new
• Wheeler Dealers. Wednesday @ 10pm - 11pm (VelocityHD) new

Didn't get a chance to watch Russia GP yet so I'll recap next time around. All you need to know is the season is winding down and every race is critical for Ferrari and Mercedes. Suzuka is one of the more technical tracks out there and Honda is looking to bring upgrades to all of the teams leveraging their power units.

Enjoy your weekends.

Video courtesy of GoodwoodRoad&Racing.

What to watch this Weekend (Oct 6th - Oct 10th)

• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Practice. Friday @ 1am - 2:30am (NBCSN(HD)) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Qualifying. Saturday @ 2am - 3:30am (NBCSN(HD)) live
• WeatherTech Sports Car Championship. Petit Le Mans, from Road Atlanta. Saturday @ 10:30am - 11:30am (FS1(HD)), 11:30am - 2:30pm (FS2(HD)), 5pm - 9:30pm (FS2(HD)) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Race. Sunday @ 12:30am - 3am (NBCSN(HD)) live
• Motorweek. Tuesday @ 7:30pm - 8pm (VelocityHD) replay 
• Chasing Classic Cars. Tuesday @ 9pm - 9:30pm (VelocityHD) new
• RMD Garage. Wednesday @ 9pm - 10pm (VelocityHD) new
• Garage Squad. Wednesday @ 10pm - 11pm (VelocityHD) new 

Short week, so no recap from the last race. F1 and Petit Le Mans for the IMSA WeatherTech Championship finale.

Enjoy your motorsport weekends.
 

Video hosting courtesy of EngineWorks.

What to watch this Weekend (Oct 7th - Oct 12th)

• /Drive on NBC. Japan. Friday @ 2:30am - 3am (NBCSN(HD)) replay
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Practice. Friday @ 1am - 2:30am (NBCSN(HD)) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Qualifying. Saturday @ 2am - 3:30am (NBCSN(HD)) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Race. Sunday @ 12:30am - 3am (NBCSN(HD)) live
• Chasing Classic Cars. Tuesday @ 7pm - 7:30pm (VelocityHD) replay
• Motorweek. Tuesday @ 7:30pm - 8pm (VelocityHD) replay
• Garage Squad. Wednesday @ 10pm - 10:30pm (VelocityHD) new

We have an exciting week ahead with the 2016 F1 season's 5th to last race. The last race in Malaysia was entertaining, but disappointing at the same time. Entertaining due to the great racing action on this repaved circuit, the storyline changes and a major victory for Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, but disappointing due to the DNF's across the field -- notably Vettel on lap 1, after spinning Rosberg and breaking his front left suspension, and Hams around lap 43 resulting from a surprise engine failure  which overshadowed his dominant pole position on Saturday. This lead to multiple outcomes; Red Bull has pulled away from Ferrari in the Manufacturers Championship, Raikkonen (finished 4th) jumped Vettel in the Driver's Championship again, Nico now has a 23pt lead over Hamilton and Petronas Mercedes AMG missed out on the opportunity to clinch the Manufacturers Championship in Malaysia, home of Petronas. Nico did a great job making up positions after getting clipped by Vettel on turn 1, to finish in third position despite a 10 second penalty for a optimistic move on Raikkonen late in the race. Ricciardo held off the advances of young Max to lead a Red Bull 1-2 capped off by a champagne boot celebration by the entire podium. McLaren had another good outing scoring points with both drivers, Button scoring points in his 300th GP. With the checkered flag dropped, the Driver's Championship standings are as follows: Rosberg, Hamilton (-23), Ricciardo (-84), Raikkonen (-128), Vettel (-135), Verstappen (-142). Suzuka is a technical track which will favor Red Bull's aero package so it should be another great fight up front. Mercedes has reliability issues to address, after a relatively solid year in that regard; we'll see how it shakes out, including McLaren's updates for Honda's home GP. 

Enjoy your weekends.

Video courtesy of JDMHub.

What to watch this Weekend (Sept 25th - Sept 30th)

• /Drive on NBC. Japan. Friday @ 12:30am - 1am (NBCSN(HD)) 
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Practice. Friday @ 1am - 2:30am (NBCSN(HD)) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Qualifying. Saturday @ 2am - 3:30am (NBCSN(HD)) live
• Formula 1 - Japanese Grand Prix; from the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Race. Sunday @ 12:30am - 3am (NBCSN(HD)) live
• V8 Supercars. Sandown. Sunday @ 3pm - 4pm (CBSSN(HD)) delayed airing from 9/13
• Top Gear (UK). Marathon of past episodes. Monday @ 2pm - 11pm (BBCAmerica(HD)) great replays
• Wheeler Dealers. Triumph Spitfire. Tuesday @ 5pm - 6pm (VelocityHD) replay
• Motorweek. Aston Martin Vantage GT Roadster. Tuesday @ 7:30pm - 8pm (VelocityHD)
• Wheeler Dealers. AMC Pacer. Wednesday @ 9pm - 10pm (VelocityHD) new

This past F1 weekend in Singapore was quite the adventure for multiple drivers. Vettel came away with a race win, surpassing Senna with 43 wins and his 3rd win this season. Ferrari was very strong all weekend. Ricciardo took second with Raikkonen right behind him. Rosberg took fourth. Hamilton (power unit issues), Alonso, Button, Hulkenberg and Massa didn't finish. Massa and Hulkenberg had an incident at pit exit that the stewards decided in Massa's favor, but Hulkenberg took the immediate brunt and immediately retired; Massa's retirement came from the result of gearbox issues that may or may not have happened without the contact. Bottas finished 5th, Kvyat 6th, followed by Perez and the Toro Rosso dual of Sainz and the young Verstappen. Toro Rosso pit leadership gave Verstappen team orders (with a few laps) left to let Sainz by, presumably for driver's championship standing help, but he didn't oblige. I don't blame him. Hamilton was in as good a spirits as I've seen him after a DNF, but on his side is a large quantity of championship points. Rosberg on the other hand has Maranello's finest breathing down his neck. There were also yellow flags a plenty in this race; once for some random dude that wandered on to the circuit. Hopefully he's in jail tonight. After the smoke cleared the standings are as follows: Hamilton, Rosberg (-41), Vettel (-49), Raikkonen (-145), Bottas (-151).

This weekend we're at another technical track, Suzuka. Mercedes has shown they aren't as reliable as they could be, and not the fastest around in every scenario. This should be another opportunity for Ferrari to run wild, but if Hamilton wants to win this championship they better figure their issues out.

Enjoy your weekends.

Video courtesy of Motorweek.