27 replies to this topic

[EvilPhil II]

I felt this deserved a thread of its own. 

 

A big congratulations to Anthony Davidson who quietly became World Champion in Bahrain this weekend, together with his team mate Sebastien Buemi.

 

Ant who is a regular commentator & presenter of SKY's F1 coverage in the UK, has been competing full time in LMP1 since 2010, moving to the Toyota team from Peugeot following the French manufacturers withdrawal from the series in the opening season of the World Endurance championship in 2012. I understand he also currently participates in the simulation test driving for the current MERCEDES AMG F1 team.

 

Prior to that he has enjoyed success competing and testing in F1 with the Mercedes team during their championship year, Brawn during their championship year, BAR, Honda, Super Aguri, and Minardi.

 

Its great to see him finally achieve this level of success and I hope he receives the recognition he deserves from the British media after being so patient throughout his career.

 

Big thumbs up to you 

[Risil]

And not to mention Sebastian Buemi, who's giving the lie (and then some) to the notion that being dropped by Toro Rosso means the career scrapheap.

 

Could hardly go to a more deserving pair. They have been the two standout prototype drivers of 2014.

 

Best not forget Nicolas Lapierre, who should be joining those two as world champions. I hope the success of his squadmates takes some of the edge off the situation in his family.

Edited by Risil, 16 November 2014 - 01:06.

[EvilPhil II]

Yes, good shout out to Nicolas Lapierre.

 

How does that work? is he not credited with the WEC too? or does he need to compete in all races? 

[bourbon]

Absolutely phenomenal @ Sebastian Buemi and his teammate Anthony!   Red Bull can pick um!

[Richard T]

Yes, good shout out to Nicolas Lapierre.

How does that work? is he not credited with the WEC too? or does he need to compete in all races?

Unfortunately not

[JHSingo]

Absolutely phenomenal @ Sebastian Buemi and his teammate Anthony!   Red Bull can pick um!

 

And chuck them away also?

[bourbon]

And chuck them away also?

 

Well to be fair, he is still the RBR 3rd driver and sponsored in both WEC and FormulaE by them.

[LuckyStrike1]

Yes, good shout out to Nicolas Lapierre.

 

How does that work? is he not credited with the WEC too? or does he need to compete in all races? 

 

 

You need to collect the points to be the champion. If you don't drive in a race you don't get any points. 

[Victor_RO]

Well done Ant and Seb.

Toyota need just 3 points to clinch the manufacturers' championship in Brazil no matter what Audi do. Seems like apart from Le Mans, the changing of the guard is nearly complete. Now let's have these guys beating the LM masters on their home turf next year.

[huisne]

You need to collect the points to be the champion. If you don't drive in a race you don't get any points. 

 

I always felt this a little bit unfair though. Not exactly in case of Lapierre, because he will miss several races anyway. But it's easy to imagine a situation where three drivers share a car throughout the season, but one of them (maybe the best driver of the trio, who helped them the most) gets injured or ill before the final race. So, his teammates are world champions, but he is not... In several other sports it's the opposite, a football player can sit on the bench for a whole tournament and still be world champion. 

It's not complaining of the rules or anything, because they could hardly make it any different, just an observation. In fact, theoretically, Davidson or Buemi could miss the last race because of injury or anything - will there be only one champion driver then? 

[DanardiF1]

Richly deserved title for the pair of them. Both have driven what is a fantastic car superbly, much more so than their sister car which just shows it's about getting the best combination of drivers.

 

Buemi has matured into a truly fantastic racing driver, and Davidson has finally delivered on the talent we all knew he had.

 

And of course it's a World Championship for Toyota! Who'd have thought at the end of 2009 that Toyota's Cologne factory would build a World Championship winning car?

[pacificquay]

It's not complaining of the rules or anything, because they could hardly make it any different, just an observation. In fact, theoretically, Davidson or Buemi could miss the last race because of injury or anything - will there be only one champion driver then? 

 

If that situation arose, I'm sure the other one wouldn't drive at the final race in order that their results remain the same.

[TF110]

Next year theyll get that elusive LeMans victory, at least I pray they do.

[TheRacingElf]

Who is going to partner them next year btw? because they can't drive Le Mans with just the two of them I suppose.

I also hope Toyota brings a third car to LM next year, they just need to if they want to win

[huisne]

Who is going to partner them next year btw? because they can't drive Le Mans with just the two of them I suppose.

I also hope Toyota brings a third car to LM next year, they just need to if they want to win

 

Well, if we count Conway, they have 6 drivers. Or maybe Button...? 

[Fonzey]

Congrats to them both. I get the feeling WEC is quietly gaining in popularity*, hope we see some more mainstream coverage next year

 

 

* Outside of Le Mans!

Edited by Fonzey, 16 November 2014 - 10:07.

[Dolph]

Thanks for the spoilers!

[Mat13]

Thanks for the spoilers!

You don't want to see the result of a race, but log on to a Motorsport forum?

Congratulations to Toyota! I only started watched WEC this year, love it already!

[huisne]

Congrats to them both. I get the feeling WEC is quietly gaining in popularity*, hope we see some more mainstream coverage next year

 

 

* Outside of Le Mans!

 

I definetely became a fan this year. I've watched Le Mans for a long time, but this year I've followed the championship too and I love the series. 

[Dolph]

You don't want to see the result of a race, but log on to a Motorsport forum?

Congratulations to Toyota! I only started watched WEC this year, love it already!

 

Yeah, I don't want to see the results. If I wanted to see the results I'd go to Autosport main page. Have you ever seen any topics created with the championship results for F1, Indycar or Nascar as the main headline? Of course you haven't.

Edited by Dolph, 16 November 2014 - 13:33.

[EvilPhil II]

Yeah, I don't want to see the results. If I wanted to see the results I'd go to Autosport main page. Have you ever seen any topics created with the championship results for F1, Indycar or Nascar as the main headline? Of course you haven't.

 

Apologies, I did wait a day until I posted it. 

[TennisUK]

Have you ever seen any topics created with the championship results for F1, Indycar or Nascar as the main headline?

Yeah, I've seen them all before - about once a year actually.

[DrivenF1]

Yeah, I don't want to see the results. If I wanted to see the results I'd go to Autosport main page. Have you ever seen any topics created with the championship results for F1, Indycar or Nascar as the main headline? Of course you haven't.

 

I feel your pain (I hate having results ruined ) but forums are definitely not a safe place. I've seen congratulations or celebration threads on multiple occasions.

[EvilPhil II]

I havent mentioned the results of the race at any point though throughout the thread. 

[Mat13]

Yeah, I don't want to see the results. If I wanted to see the results I'd go to Autosport main page. Have you ever seen any topics created with the championship results for F1, Indycar or Nascar as the main headline? Of course you haven't.

Edited: Not arguing.

Edited by Mat13, 16 November 2014 - 20:35.

[BRG]

Its great to see him finally achieve this level of success and I hope he receives the recognition he deserves from the British media after being so patient throughout his career.

 

I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you, if he gets the same level of recognition that his British predecessors - Derek Bell, Martin Brundle, Derek Warwick, Allan McNish - got in the media.  

[TheUltimateWorrier]

 

Yeah, I don't want to see the results. If I wanted to see the results I'd go to Autosport main page. Have you ever seen any topics created with the championship results for F1, Indycar or Nascar as the main headline? Of course you haven't.

 

Ahem. . .

 

[Rocket73]

Well done Ant!