Olympic committee to decide whether to include motorsport in 2028 games

In brief

Motorsport is being considered for the 2028 Olympics

Motorsport is among the categories being considered for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games, to be held in Los Angeles, USA. The IOC is expected to make a decision on which new events to include “in the coming weeks,” according to Reuters. The final selection is expected to be ratified in October.

Electric karting was included as a competition for the first time at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games. The event, which was opened by then FIA president Jean Todt, took place on the karting circuit at the Autodromo Juan y Oscar Galvez in Buenos Aires, running 20 laps of the world championship between 1953 and 1998. Another electric kart event took place at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games.

Other sports under consideration include flag football – a non-contact variation of American football – cricket, lacrosse, breakdancing, karate, kickboxing, squash, baseball and softball.

F1 margin of error on the ‘super safe side’ at Spa

Formula 1 drivers and team principals have largely backed race director Niels Wittich’s call to delay the start of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend’s sprint race due to heavy rain. The shortened race finally got under way after five laps behind the Safety Car.

“I think you can absolutely understand that everyone has to play it safe at Spa,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, referring to the crash that claimed the life of Formula One European Championship racer Dilano van ‘t Hoff , last month.

“We’ve had two terrible accidents, the last one in similar conditions in the rain where drivers couldn’t see because of the spray. So it was clear that the approach here had to be on the ultra-safe side, and I think it was right. The spray on the new tarmac is very bad and doing those laps was the right thing to do.”

Max Verstappen, who led the tail of cars behind the Safety Car, said the call was “probably a pretty safe view of things, but I prefer that to risking it and going too early. But then again other pieces, maybe they are a little different.”

Iron Lynx tests WEC Lamborghini

Iron Lynx, who will run Lamborghini’s entry in next year’s World Endurance Championship, held a two-day test for its SC63 at Imola last week. He previously rocked the chassis at Vallelunga.

Daniil Kvyat, Mirko Bortolotti and Andrea Caldarelli took turns driving. Team manager Andrea Piccini said early signs were encouraging.

“Since we took the car out of the pits at Vallelunga last week, the drivers have reported an overall positive feeling. We haven’t had any major problems so far, step by step we are driving longer stints, learning the car and getting faster. Still a long way to go, a lot of debugging and development needed, but the first impression is definitely positive.”

O’Ward ‘kicks my ass’ for first win of 2023

McLaren IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward has admitted he is keen to take his first win of the season after taking his sixth podium of the year at Indianapolis last weekend. “A huge win would be great,” he said on Saturday.

“I’ve kicked my ass out of every fight. There is nothing more I want than to get wins. Obviously there were little things here and there that took us out of contention and we can’t take advantage of that.”

O’Ward finished third behind Scott Dixon and Graham Rahal last weekend. “I’m very happy with today, very happy with how me and the team attacked because I was playing with Graham in the warm-up and he was just stronger than me. I know it was. I knew it was going to be a big ask, just from outright pace, to try and beat them.

“But I was very happy with the balance of my car. I was very happy with every other phone call. We just have to keep pushing.”

Connections

Racing links of motoring interest:

(La Gazzetta dello Sport – Italian, subscription required)

“Would he like Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz? “Definitely yes, because they are both young and very professional, they dedicate a lot to their work. This was a quality that my father liked very much. He did not appreciate those riders who refused to do tests and only appeared in races. Today they do not happen anymore testing, but Carlos and Carlos are testing in the simulator almost every week, helping the team.”

Marko: Red Bull’s 2026 engine ‘miles ahead’ of Ferrari and Audi (Motorsport-Total)

“Weight is a safety hazard. The accident at Silverstone that Max (Verstappen) had in 2021 can end very differently with such a heavy battery.”

Massa: Verstappen will win everything until 2026 (Marca)

“Until 2026, when we have the regulation change, Verstappen wins everything. I think we will have equal regulations and Verstappen is superior, Red Bull is superior. So by 2026 we can expect Verstappen to win all the titles.”

Larsson to climb Everest with Indy-Charlotte double (IndyCar)

Busch was the last driver to successfully attempt the double, in 2014. Stewart achieved the most successful double in 2001, when he finished sixth at Indianapolis and third at Charlotte. Larson, who started sixth in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard on Sunday at IMS, is aiming even higher.’

Korea: A Race With My Words (F2)

“Now it’s very special because I got to share the podium with him. It was a big deal to him. A Frenchman at the French Grand Prix. It was a great podium and now, looking back, it was very special.’

Senior trio exit McLaren (Racer)

“According to a spokesman, Vincent’s departure will be preceded by Geoff Darkes, McLaren’s (vice president of) marketing, who has been with the team since 2009 and is among the team’s most respected members. Darks has listed September 1 as his last day and will be joined by Arrow McLaren partnership director Mark Myers.’

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Social media

Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:

Enzo Ferrari left us on August 14, 1988, but his legacy certainly did not.
People, technologies, buildings. The expansion of our factory in Maranello is a testament to his vision, allowing us to push the boundaries and shape the future of automotive innovation. #Ferrari #RememberingEnzo pic.twitter.com/rJiLvZFFZM

— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) August 14, 2023

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