GRAND PRIX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

[jakesanson]

GRAND PRIX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR

Jan 18th SOUTH AFRICA, Kyalami
Feb 1st COLOMBIA, Bogota
Feb 8th ARGENTINA, Buenos Aires
Feb 22nd BRAZIL, Jacarepagua
Mar 8th NEW ZEALAND, Pukekohe
Mar 15th AUSTRALIA, Bathurst
Mar 29th PORTUGAL, Estoril
Apr 5th SPAIN, Jerez
Apr 19th FRANCE, Paris
May 3rd AUSTRIA, Salzburgring
May 17th ITALY, Enna-Pergusa
May 31st BELGIUM, Chimay
Jun 14th SWEDEN, Mantorp Park
Jun 21st FINLAND, Helsinki
Jul 5th MEXICO, Puebla
Jul 19th USA, Laguna Seca
Jul 26th CANADA, Toronto
Aug 9th GERMANY, Lausitzring
Aug 23rd HOLLAND, Zandvoort
Sep 6th GREAT BRITAIN, Brands Hatch
Sep 20th CZECH REPUBLIC, Brno
Oct 4th JAPAN, Motegi
Oct 18th INDONESIA, Sentul
Nov 1st MACAU, Guia

[jakesanson]

Here is a reminder of this championships rules:

This championship is open to ANY combination of team and engine, tyre companies, fuel providers, anything you wish. As a team boss, you have the right to become the lead driver of your own team, selecting any second driver you wish. But they must not be official drivers under FIA regulations. (so fictional drivers only!!)

There are only a few strict guidelines:

1. NO cigarette advertising of any kind.
2. NO indecent images must be displayed on your cars.
3. NO FIA licensed drivers
4. Maximum of two teams per owner (but you cannot drive for both teams obviously!! If you do own two teams you must pick THREE fictional drivers, one for your team-mate and two drivers for your second team)

Anyone wishing to enter (and this championship welcomes female drivers as well as male) should disclose the following information ASAP:

Team Name
2 Drivers & 1 test driver
Engine Supplier
Tyre Supplier
An e-mail containing a team and helmets bitmap zip file

Each team will be given £10 million to spend on engines and tyres, and developments to your car. Prize money will be given each race depending on finishing positions and these can be used to spend on either improving reliability or giving your engine more power.

Your cars start with the engine power allocated by your particular engine manufacturer, and will 12000 reliability points which of course you'll want to reduce!!!

Engines:

Mercedes, BMW (£6m) 710 bhp
Ferrari, Honda, Renault (£5.5m) 705 bhp
Toyota, Ford (£5m) 700 bhp
Peugeot, Mugen Honda, Alfa Romeo, Porsche (£4.5m) 695 bhp
Cosworth, Ilmor, Yamaha, Lamborghini, Asiatech (£4m) 690 bhp
Volkswagen, Judd, Hart, Opel, Subaru, Megatron (£3.5m) 685 bhp

Any other engine manufacturer is permitted, and will cost £3m and have 680 bhp.

Tyres:

Bridgestone, Goodyear (£3.5m) will increase reliability by 30 pts
Michelin, Pirelli (£3m) will increase reliability by 25 pts
Dunlop, Firestone (£2.5m) will increase reliability by 20 pts
Yokohama, Avon (£2m) will increase reliability by 15 pts

Any other tyre company is permitted, and will cost £1.5m and increase reliability by 10 pts.

Race by race:

Reducing your reliability points by 1 will cost £4000, so reducing it by 250 pts will cost £1m and by 1000 pts will cost you £4m.

Increasing your engine power by 1 bhp will cost £100,000 so increasing by 10 bhp will cost £1m.

Prize money each race:

1st = £1m
2nd = £750,000
3rd = £500,000
4th = £450,000
5th = £400,000
6th = £350,000
7th = £250,000
8th = £100,000
Any other finishers = £50,000

Pole position = £100,000
Fastest lap = £100,000
Starting money = £50,000

This applies per CAR, not per team.

Your sponsors are your own choice, but they pay for your drivers NOT your car development, a brief fictional history about your drivers will help me determined how quick they are, how much grip they have and which of the two drivers will be pushing for the championship.

If I don't get any driver bios, I'll assume they're rookies and give them 16000.

[Hawke]

Press-release Dutch Racing Team Woldenberg (DRTW)

Geleen – We proudly can annouce that we will start a new team in the new GPWC-series.
The Dutch Racing Team Woldenberg will be backed by mobile network giant T-Mobile and
the Belgian beer company Jupiler and also we have LG, Agfa and Radio 538 as a sponsor.
We will start the new season with Viper engines, witch will be made by Mercedes and rebadged as Viper. We will race with Bridgestone tyres and Texaco as a Oil-supplier.
We will build a new Factory in Geleen at The Netherlands. The team will be runned by father and son, they will also drive the first season for the team. With Jurg returning as a General Manager after one or two seasons.

What about our drivers:

# 18: Rick vd Woldenberg (NED) 03.04.1984 (Geleen) – Race Biography:
2000: Dutch Formula BMW-cup: 1 win and finishing fifth in the Championship.
2001: Dutch Formula BMW-cup: 3 wins and finishing third in the Championship.
2002: F3 Euro-Series: Manor Motorsport: best result: Second and 12th in Championship
2003: F3 Euro-Series: Manor Motorsport: 2 wins and finishing fourth in Championship
2004: World Series by Nissan: Epsilon Euskadi: 2 wins and finishing fifth in Championship
2005: World Series by Renault: Epsilon Euskadi: 3 wins and Runner up behind R.Kubica
2006: GP2 Series: ART Grand Prix: 1 win and finishing fourth behind Champion Hamilton
2007: GP2 Series: ART Grand Prix: 1 win and finishing fifth behind Champion Glock
Le Mans: GT Oreca Viper: finishing second in GT division, overall 13th
2008: GP2 Series: Campos Team: 2 wins and third behind Pantano and Senna.
Le Mans: GT – Oreca Viper: finishing second in GT division, overall 15th

# 19: Jurg vd Woldenberg (NED) 29.09.1961 (Geleen)
Dutch veteran started in 1982 racing in the Dutch Rally Championship, he raced there until 1996, his best championship result was fourth in 1993. From 1997 till 2002 he race in het Dutch Touring Car Championship, with 1 win and his best championship result was 5th in ’99.
2003: ETTC: BMW 320i: Best result: 5th in Imola and finishing 8th in Championship.
2004: ETTC: BMW 320i: Best result: third in Brno and finishing 6th in Championship.
2005: Le Mans Series: Team Oreca-Viper: best result: 4th and 8th in Championship
2006: Le Mans Series: Team Oreca-Viper: best result second and 5th in Championship
2007: Le Mans Series: Team Oreca-Viper: Champion in GT1-class with Soheil Ayari
Le Mans: GT Oreca Viper: finishing second in GT division, overall 13th
2008: Le Mans Series: Team Oreca-Viper: Winning 1000km Spa, Second in Championship.
Le Mans: GT – Oreca Viper: finishing second in GT division, overall 15th

# T: Natalia Medina Gonzalez (SPA) 31.12.1988
Maybe one of the best female drivers of the world, raced from 2003 until 2005 in Spanish national racing cups. In 2005 she came in contact with Rick Woldenberg, who offert here a big futere. He became here manager and she could start in 2006 in openwheel series in Europe.
2006: Formula Renault Eurocup: JD Motorsport: Best result: 5th and 9th in Championship
2007: Formula Renault Eurocup: JD Motorsport: 1 win and third behind Champion Hartley
2008: World Series by Renault: Epsilon Euskadi: 2 wins and fourth behind Champion vd Garde

In 2009 she will be our test driver and will race in the World Series with Epsilon Euskadi.

[V12-Power]

FK Racing Systems

The FK Racing Systems team is based next to the Nürburgring, where they build a new team base. The team is supplied with engines by Honda and tyres by Bridgestone. Further it is backed by FK himself, so there are no sponsors at the moment. FK doesn't only lead the team and puts his money into it, he also leads the engineering staff. The team is also planing to build a roadgoing sportscar.

Ryan Miller, USA (22) - After three years and the championship 2007 at the Indy-lights the young american moved up to IndyCars last season where he scored a win at Surfer's Paradise. However he was always dreaming of racing in the GPWC and so immediately agreed when FK Racing Systems asked.

Nico Weidlinger, Germany (21) - Recently Weidlinger raced in the GP2-championship, where he finished 4th overall with two wins and four pole-positions. Before his move to GP2 he raced in F3 two seasons and took the title in 2007. He Further participated in Formula BMW in the years before.

Roland Huber, Germany (39) - The bavarian has a long racing vita. After some years in Formula Ford and F3 he drove a Formula 3000 season. In 1995 he was contracted by Mercedes and ran in DTM and later ITC. After the end of ITC he decided to move to America, where he raced for a Mercedes powered team in the CART series until 2005. He also raced in Le Mans for Mercedes in 98/99. In 2006 he came back to Europe to participate in the LMS. This season he is FK Racing System's test- & developement-driver and shall put all his experience in this project.

[jakesanson]

Here is the drivers market for GPWC 2009:

TIM HOLLAND (GBR)
08/09/79
Races: 43
Points: 14
Le Mans winner in 2005, and a podium finisher in Australia '07. Great team player, always looks on the bright side. (Similar to: Anthony Davidson)

HENDRIK SIMBA (NED)
02/04/80
Races: 64
Points: 19
A fairly consistent qualifier, still yet to show his true potential (Similar to: Adrian Sutil)

LAURANCE PAPIN (FRA)
22/12/84
Races: 61
Points: 11
Macau F3 winner in '03, a fiery, red-blooded Frenchman who never gives in and looks stunning to watch (Similar to: Gilles Villeneuve)

WAYNE DONINGTON (AUS)
16/08/80
Races: 78
Points: 21
Zandvoort F3 winner in '03, this young Australian has the makings of a very smooth, calculated mature racer who doesn't make ridiculous mistakes (Similar to: Nick Heidfeld)

CALEB LIU (MAL)
28/06/90
Rookie Driver
This young Malaysian is hot off the back of taking the A1GP crown for his country, and becoming the youngest Formula Nippon champion for thirteen years. A stunning driver with the potential to surprise everyone (Similar to: Jean Alesi)

RICCARDO ALESSI (ITA)
31/03/83
Races: 88
Points: 20
His CV is littered with sucess: F3000 champ in '02, Monaco F3 race winner in '01, and Indy 500 winner in '03. Hasn't quite been able to translate that brilliance in Grand Prix, but he's no slowcoach either (Similar to: Alex Zanardi)

MARK SCHLLINGER (GER)
20/01/79
Races: 128
Wins: 3
Fastest Laps: 6
Points: 349
A regular podium visitor, consistent in races, hard working, given the right team and car, this German will easily have enough to become a world champion (Similar to: Robert Kubica)

JAIME MORENO (BRZ)
15/02/79
Races: 137
Wins: 6
Poles: 13
Fastest Laps: 9
Points: 348
Never ever discount Jaime Moreno. A fesity, Latin temperament, and the determined will to win are never far away. Could do with a bit more luck but definitely an excellent driver, as he proved as Indycar champion back in 1999 (Similar to: Felipe Massa)

SILVIO WINTERTHUR (ARG)
01/12/80
Races: 25
Points: 3
Has shown the potential for greatness, but does have the tendency to make careless mistakes when the pressure is on. The jury is still out over his skill. (Similar to: Kazuki Nakajima)

GIAMBATTISTA REGAZZI (ITA)
05/05/78
Races: 104
Points: 48
A man dogged by bad luck, but always shows his might in racecraft. A strong overtaker, a cheerful personality, and the man everyone hopes gets his first win soon (Similar to: Mark Webber)

PHILLIP LUNABBA (AUS)
13/07/77
Races: 167
Points: 39
A true veteran of the sport with a never-say-die attitude, although time does appear to be running out for this man to show he can really cut it at this level. Flashes of brilliance on the odd occasion, appear to have kept his career alive for now (Similar to: Giancarlo Fisichella)

ELIO LAHIKKANEN (FIN)
17/10/84
Races: 64
Wins: 1
Fastest Laps: 1
Points: 91
A Macau F3 winner in '04 who has always promised to deliver. Last year he finally did with a brilliant win in Japan. Trying his hardest to keep up the form, otherwise he may well find himself loosing face, and a top line drive (Similar to: Heikki Kovalainen)

LEWIS COOL (TRI)
10/01/89
Rookie Driver
Nobody would have expected this man to do as well as he has, but the young driver from Trinidad has shown true pace and could even be a world champion one day. The big question is: who'll snap him up first (Similar to: Nico Hulkenberg)

TERO LAITI (FIN)
14/11/83
Races: 92
Wins: 3
Fastest Laps: 3
Points: 252
Never far from the top six in either qualifying or the race, a true racer with flair and style. Does however seem to think more about himself than the team, but Grand Prix needs this kind of pure throughbred drivers with commitment and skill (Similar to: Kimi Raikkonen)

OLIVER OELSCHLAGER (GER)
09/08/80
Races: 16
Points: 3
A1GP series champion for Germany in '07, this late starting German had a fair rookie season last year with some signs of true promise. Now all he needs to do is step up a gear and prove what he's really made of (Similar to: Timo Glock)

PATRIK PAFVELSSON (DEN)
09/06/80
Races: 94
Points: 81
The stats tell you that he's not far from the points on a regular basis, and currently has five podiums to his name. Would be really appreciated to a team who needs a committed, fearless racer who doesn't make a nuisance of himself and is constantly improving (Similar to: Nico Rosberg)

LESZEK LEUENBERGER (HUN)
04/11/87
Races: 16
Wins: 2
Points: 58
An incredible rookie season with two wins, proves that this racer is tough, brutal and very daring. A can-do approach shows that he has the ability to take on the best and win, although his temper can get quite short under pressure (Similar to: Juan Pablo Montoya)

LINVOY NONDA (FRA)
17/03/91
Rookie Driver
So far doing everything right on his way to Grand Prix superstardom, winning the UK F3 championship last year. Now he ahs to prove he can be a hero in the toughest level of motorsport (Similar to: Jaime Algersuari)

TOMAS SAINZ (ESP)
19/11/87
Races: 15
Points: 2
Just how good is Tomas Sainz? Nobody's really sure, some days he's spectacular, others not. Perhaps reaching Grand Prix a little early, but his debut season proves that he has the potential to be a winner (Similar to: Sebastien Buemi)

ANDREA ONISCHENKO (UKR)
26/08/82
Races: 79
Points: 37
An epic podium finish in his debut season has given him something decent to work with, but it's not too clear why he's still at this level. He may yet surprise us, but he has to make his position count (Similar to: Nelson Piquet Jr)

More drivers to follow.....

[jakesanson]

SHIGEAKI OKADO (JPN)
11/05/83
Races: 31
Points: 2
One of Japan's rising talents, a Formula Nippon champion in '06 but really struggling to keep his drive and prove his worth. It may work out for him given the right team, but just because he's a genius elsewhere means the transition to Grand Prix has not been as easy (Similar to: Sebastien Bourdais)

OWEN SMITH (GBR)
03/12/78
Races: 69
Points: 84
Scratching at his first win, he always gives us value for money in terms of entertainment. He has the skill, talent and ability to be a world champion. If only things went his way, it might happen for him (Similar to: Takuma Sato)

ALAN DALY (IRL)
15/02/81
Races: 18
Points: 16
His ability is unquestionable, plenty of speed and raw pace marks him out as a genuine race winner. Follows his heart when it comes to racing, and always has a smile on his face (Similar to: Johnny Herbert)

ROMAN SENNIKOV (RUS)
09/08/84
Races: 50
Points: 21
Has been given several opportunities, and now has a great testing reputation. Needs to assert himself in a racing capacity to stand any chance of winning races (Similar to: Pedro De La Rosa)

NAVDEEP SAINI (IND)
18/01/82
Races: 49
Points: 12
His nationality aside, this fiery sportscar-turned-GP racer has immense passion. Hard times in both race and testing contracts have meant he ahs struggled to make an impression, but there's a lot of racing left in him yet (Similar to: Allan McNish)

FILLIPPO RICARDO (ITA)
06/04/83
Races: 39
Points: 20
A true star with a lot to show, proves himself invaluable in the wet. A great race drive is all he needs to show people that he is a high-class racer, but will it ever come? (Similar to: Olivier Panis)

LUDWIG VAN RICHTER (AUT)
17/07/81
Races: 32
Points: 16
A year out testing has imporved his stock, but we need to see a little more from this Austrian. Spends his spare time racing sportscars, but he needs to choose where his ability really lies (Similar to: Marc Gene)

VINCENT HATTENBERGER (BEL)
08/03/78
Races: 84
Points: 19
Does have genuine speed, but is always overshadowed by his mistakes. Dabbles in sportscars, in fact he's a Le Mans winner three years running. Given a good drive, could mean the difference between consistent points and no finishes (Similar to: Mika Salo)

SKIP GARRETT (USA)
07/02/81
Races: 51
Points: 1
One of the unluckiest men in Grand Prix, truly a hero in this difficult sport. A champion in the Indycar series, and a winner in the Indy 500 proves he's got skill, but just hasn't quite shown that at this level. May still have a chance to do so (Similoar to: Cristiano Da Matta)

SOPHIA LAVAGGI (ITA)
02/02/86
Races: 20
Points: 1
Not just because she's a woman, Lavaggi has given the Grand Prix world a bit of a wake-up call. Could be a potential race winner, if only taken seriously by the big teams. A true starlet of the motorsports world (Similar to: Danica Patrick)

UKYO OKAZAKI (JPN)
02/07/88
Races: 31
Points: 13
Japan's best racer so far definitely with passion to contribute, and always makes things exciting. A consistent racer who silences his critics with flashes of brilliant performances. One of the best qualifiers you'll ever see over one lap (Similar to: Jarno Trulli)

Next are the BEST five rated drivers in the Grand Prix World Championship.....

[jakesanson]

JORG MANNSPERGER (AUT)
23/01/73
Races: 188
Wins: 22
Poles: 21
Fastest Laps: 21
Points: 506
WORLD CHAMPION 2001
A stunning driver, always fearless, determined to win and always delivers his best. Recently decided to take a couple of years sabbatical, but now realises he wants to return. Will anyone bring back the "Red Arrow"? (Similar to: Mika Hakkinen)

HERBIE HUCKETT (USA)
09/06/73
Races: 160
Wins: 5
Fastest Laps: 5
Points: 343
Indycar champion three years running from 96 to 98, and now a stalwart racer from the USA who always adds flavour to the paddock. Outspoken and determined to impress, but only if the sport feels right. Under these new rules could actually be a surprise winner and even a world champion (Similar to: Jacques Villeneuve)

MARK RUGEN (GER)
16/10/76
Races: 74
Wins: 16
Poles: 4
Fastest Laps: 13
Points: 373
WORLD CHAMPION 06, 08
One of the two best drivers at this level, and an exceptionally talented driver. Always impressed since his rookie win in a car that wasn't likely to. Now he's one of the best, and makes watching Grand Prix all the more intense (Similar to: Michael Schumacher)

RICKARD ALINGAS (SWE)
03/11/75
Races: 128
Wins: 33
Poles: 71
Fastest Laps: 38
Points: 561
WORLD CHAMPION 04, 05, 07
Holds the records for most wins in a row (7), most poles EVER, Most poles in a row (an amazing 32!!) and actually held pole position at every race for the entirety of 04, 05 and 08!!! The true speed king, easily the best driver in Grand Prix, who now has a challenger in the shape of Rugen. It is time to see how this true ace performs in the new-rules championship (Similar to Ayrton Senna)

GABRIELE TOCCACELLO (ITA)
26/08/87
Races: 16
Wins: 2
Fastest Laps: 1
Points: 72
The only man in Grand Prix history to win on their debut (in Australia last year), proved it wasn't a fluke with a second win in Singapore. Clearly the new man in Grand Prix set to challenge the big two, and show that he is the equal if not the better man. A champion in waiting with awesome ability (Similar to: Lewis Hamilton)

Who gets to race? You guys decide......

[jakesanson]

Blacksmith BMW have now lost their entry to the GPWC 2009.

The current confirmed entries are:

LeRon Sports Mercedes
Total Xtreme Motorsports Volkswagen
Dutch Racing Team Woldenberg Viper (Mercedes)
FK Systems Honda

The Dutch Racing Team Woldenberg cars' engines will have 5 bhp less than the factory Mercedes engines, as will any re-badged engines from ANY manufacturer, according to GPWC rules.

Entries close for the first race of this season on Friday. Entries can be submitted for pre-qualifying races after Kyalami. Once the series gets over 14 entries, a pre-qualifying session will take place. The fastest 14 TEAMS go through to final qualifying.

I will shortly be releasing the season starting stats for the current confirmed teams.

[jakesanson]

SME VOLKSWAGEN

The British based SME Volkswagen team intends to return to this championship, however we are not confirming our drivers as yet due to ongoing discussions with top drivers in the GPWC drivers market.

We are talking to several drivers including Leuenberger, Regazzi, Alingas and newcomer Toccacello.

We are however confirming the signing of Caleb Liu of Malaysia as our team's test driver.

[jakesanson]

Pre-season testing at Jerez indicastes that:

Bjorn Makki-Ohlson appears to be the fastest driver by a few hundredths of a second to the two FK Systems cars. All five teams are seperated by 0.78 seconds!

The five registered teams have a budget remaining to spend on development:

DRTW: £500,000
FK Systems: £1 million
LeRon Sports: £1 million
TXM: £4 million
SME: £4 million

[MaxX]

Do we have to make the decissions per season or per race. If it`s not too much time consuming I`d join with Minarae and the 2008er livery found here on GrandPrix2.de -> http://www.grandprix2.de/Autos/zip/RM_Minarae2009.zip.

Are all the drivers you mentioned free of charge?

[jakesanson]

All the drivers are payed for by your sponsors, but you have to make a claim for them early so that they have the best chance of driving for you!!!

You can enter race by race if you so wish, but that will mean entering pre-qualifying rather than getting a guaranteed entry for that season.

[jakesanson]

If you'd like to make decisions per season rather than per race, I strongly reccommend getting the best drivers possible from the GPWC market, so that you don't have to spend too much time developing the car. Also fastest engines, and best tyres help!!!

[jakesanson]

The GPWC is delighted to confirm the entry of two new teams, just before heading to the sport's first official testing session at Silverstone, Great Britain.

Team Minarae has submitted it's offical entry with a daring line-up quite definitely designed at going for the world championship.

With a private engine supplier in Misfire, the team will need to do some development work to be up to scratch with Mercedes, and a new tyre company has done the deal with both these new teams, Semperit.

A team of world champions means the rest of the grid have a lot to fear. Mark Rugen of Germany and Jorg Mannsperger of Austria join up, in a similar relationship to that of Prost and Senna, or Montoya and Raikkonen. Rivals as much as team-mates, this partnership will be the most watched in the GPWC.

The other new team to be given confirmation is the all new Orchis Honda team. An ambitious project which is set to give the front-running contenders a run for their money.

Drivers of this team, which is also using Semperit tyres are Japanese hotshot Ukyo Okazaki who is highly tipped to become a world champion, and Sophia Lavaggi of Italy also tipped for GP winning form.

These two teams have already set the pace in private testing. Later today at the group test in the UK, we will get a true indication as to where these drivers are currently standing.

[MaxX]

Minarae (similar to Jordan 1991 or Brawn 2009):
We are a newly formed team and the entry has been planned 3 years ago. Thanks to our sponsors, our engine partner (the german tuning company Misfire) and other investors, we are confident to have a competitive package this season.
We are proud that our project has attracted the interest of top drivers like current champion Rugen and former champion Mannsperger and allthough this will be our first season the goals are clear, we want to be able to score points on a regular basis and maybe a podium or victory. The long-term goals are surely titles, but things need their time, we all know that and keep realistic.

The team is owned (51%) and managed by Marco Venlinga, the german tuning company (tunes Porsche engines) Misfire holds 29% and is responsible for the deal with german superstar Rugen. The last 20% are held by various investors and the state Monaco.

The test driver will be 18 years old austrian talent Franz Elssler (similar to Gerhard Berger).

Mark Rugen:
After splitting company with my former team, I`m confident that I can win races again , if it happens this season it`s great, if not it will happen later, that`s for sure.
It is exciting to meet Jorg again, we had some great battles in the past.

Jorg Mannsperger:
It`s great to be back, I just got bored sitting at home and watch the show while being backmarker in the DTM. I`m in a good shape again and really look forward to meet Mark again.