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Dakar 2022: A showcase in the Desert

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Official Release
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  • 44th Edition of the Dakar Rally concludes in Saudi Arabia
  • Record number of competitors took part in this year’s event
  • Motul plays important role in reliability and performance of competitors

Singapore, Jan 18, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – For motorsports fans, the start and end of the calendar year are always relatively quiet with little to no racing to watch. However, one competition that makes up for the lack of races is the Dakar Rally. The 2-week long event kicked off the year in classic rallying fashion on the 1st of Jan, ringing in the new year. Motul has been a long term technical partner of the Dakar, having stepped up in 2018 to become a Major Partner of the event. The 12-stage rally competition saw several Motul teams competing across various classes, along with Motul products being used to provide reliability and performance to the vehicles under extreme conditions.

The Dakar Rally is considered the world’s most legendary off-road race and this year it was held in the heart of the middle east, in Saudi Arabia. For Motul, the Dakar presents the best living laboratory to test and develop its products under punishing conditions. In collaboration with some of the most successful factory teams like Monster Energy Honda Team, Sherco Racing Factory, Toyota Auto Body, Can-Am Factory South Racing and many more, Motul offers specially designed and highly adapted lubricants derived from its flagship 300V line to deliver optimal power and consistency. The products are carefully scrutineered before and after every stage of the event to derive invaluable insights on how performance is affected under varying conditions. This allows Motul to further enhance its winning formula and keep evolving to cater for the needs of modern engines.

The 44th edition of the Dakar Rally saw over 1,000 drivers from 65 different nationalities take part across 7 different classes (Bikes, Quads, Cars, Light Prototypes, SSVs, Trucks and Classics) with Motul teams in each category. The event witnessed 578 vehicles entered, out of which were 34 unassisted Original by Motul riders. Several competitors also relied on the advice and expertise of Motul’s Motorsport Technical Team which works on global events such as the MotoGP and 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team of experts, available with the Motul Racing Laboratory at every Service Center assisted the competitors by providing daily oil analysis to ensure maximum performance under gruelling and unforgiving running conditions for engines.

For Motul, the Dakar Rally is an integral part of the development and innovation process for the year. The French lubricant manufacturer strives to improve and enhance its products at every step of the way. The process kicks off in the desert with vehicles covering more than 8,500 km over the course of 14 days, pushing the machines to the limit. Motul is also a big part of the competition with the return of the “Original by Motul” category which is open to drivers and riders from all categories who take part with no assistance or backup. Thanks to Motul, these courageous gladiators are given recognition and some basic comfort in the bivouacs between various stages in the event. Along with comfort, they are also welcome to employ products from Motul’s vast range of offerings in engine oils, coolants, brake fluid, transmission fluid and other maintenance and care products that enhance chances to perform to the best of their abilities.

About Motul

Motul is a world-class French company specialised in the formulation, production and distribution of high-tech engine lubricants (two-wheelers, cars and other vehicles) as well as lubricants for industry via its Motul Tech activity. Motul offers a whole range of products for everyday car use, including the 8100, H-tech, RBF series, ATF, CVTF and DCTF among others. Motul products ensure all parts of the car are kept in pristine condition to extract maximum performance and reliability.

Unanimously recognised for more than 150 years for the quality of its products, innovation capacity and involvement in the field of competition, Motul is also recognised as a specialist in synthetic lubricants. As early as 1971, Motul was the first lubricant manufacturer to pioneer the formulation of a 100% synthetic lubricant, issued from the aeronautical industry, making use of esters technology: 300V lubricant. In 2021, Motul launched the newest iteration of the 300V with revolutionary technology, setting a new benchmark for high-performance lubricants.

Motul is a partner to many manufacturers and racing teams in order to further their technological development in motorsports. It has invested in many international competitions as an official supplier for several championship winning racing teams.

Motul is committed to its growing business presence in Asia Pacific. Over the years, the company has expanded operations significantly. Currently it has 3 major manufacturing facilities and 2 R&D centres across the region to cater to the ever-growing demand. These centres focus on refining the lubricant technology for Asian climate and driving conditions, which are vastly different from Europe.

MOTUL Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd
1A International Business Park, #06-03
Singapore 609933
www.motul.com

For more information, please contact Motul at pr@motul.com.sg

CHEVROLET NTT INDYCAR SERIES – 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES MEDIA CONTENT DAYS

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Official Release
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CHEVROLET RACING IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
2022 MEDIA CONTENT DAYS
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
JANUARY 17,2022

AJ FOYT RACING DRIVERS DALTON KELLETT, KYLE KIRKWOOD AND TATIANA CALDERON met with members of the media during 2022 NTT INDYCAR Series Media Content Days. Full transcripts:

DALTON KELLETT, NO. 4 K-LINE AJ FOYT RACING CHEVROLET:
THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Dalton Kellett. Welcome.
DALTON KELLETT: How’s it going?

THE MODERATOR: We spoke to you the other day, you had one teammate. Now you have two.
DALTON KELLETT: As of this morning, two. It’s exciting.

THE MODERATOR: Let’s talk about your role in this. Probably going to do a little bit of advising and coaching and leading as the senior member of this organization. Seems strange to believe 24 races in, a senior member. How does that role suit you?
DALTON KELLETT: I mean, I would put some air quotes on that. The team and I have talked. Realistically I’m not Seb with four championships and all the wins under his belt. The relationship between myself and Kyle and Tatiana won’t be the same. I think it will be a communal engineering. The experience I do have, haven’t had a chance to have yet in INDYCAR, I’m sure when those moments come up, there will be questions. I’m more than happy to lend whatever experience I can to help them along.

THE MODERATOR: Better to have experience than no experience.
DALTON KELLETT: 100%.

THE MODERATOR: You must have some empathy for what they’re about to go through. It’s a challenging road.
DALTON KELLETT: It’s a big undertaking even for the most prepared drivers. Kyle certainly is one of the most successful drivers to come out of the Road to Indy in a while. It will still be an adjustment for him I’m sure. When you get into INDYCAR, there’s a lot that you have to learn as far as the feedback you need, Firestone reds, the schedule, the cadence is different than it is in Lights. There’s a lot more going on as far as the engine, dampers, feedback, all that.
That will be certainly an adjustment. It’s exciting to see how the team gets on.

THE MODERATOR: You referenced Bourdais, maybe not specifically things he did for you, but what a difference having a real veteran in an organization does for a young driver.
DALTON KELLETT: I think for me it was great to have sort of — whether his way of doing things is the right way or not, it still gives you a direction that you and as the rookie can kind of riff off of. It took some of the decision making out of my hands, sort of put it in his. I was able to focus on driving technique, the bits of feedback I was giving to the engineer.
For me coming into it green as far as INDYCAR is concerned, that was a good thing. Then specifically just looking at, like, sort of Seb’s braking technique. Things I caught onto that we talked about that were helpful.

THE MODERATOR: How much undertaking is that going to be for the new drivers going to a new venue?
DALTON KELLETT: It’s always an adjustment when you haven’t been somewhere. Thinking back to Detroit, Nashville, I think those were the only two new ones for me last year. To be honest, I felt like those two events were actually strong for us, for our program.
I think a big part of that is doing the preparation on the simulator and the team looking at video. I think as long as they’re the type where they can get something out of the sims, I think that will be a good preparation tool for them. Obviously that’s kind of like specific to each person, whether you like simulators or not. For me I thought that was a good tool preparing for those races.

THE MODERATOR: They say in sports the jump from year one to two is the biggest jump. Did you see that jump in your improvement? I assume you would expect that to carry over into year three.
DALTON KELLETT: As far as what I felt personally, I felt there was a tangible, sizable jump there. The results weren’t what we always wanted, but we had some highlights at Gateway, some races that were going well. We had some consistency issues that I feel like we’ve dealt with from the mechanical side that shouldn’t hamper us.
Coming back at it with the experience of sort of that year and a half is going to be really helpful.

THE MODERATOR: Your oval program, obviously that’s where your biggest strength had been previously. I was going to note Gateway, you finished 12th. You must feel Indianapolis, maybe Texas, good places for you?
DALTON KELLETT: I think so. I think the ovals were sort of less of a question mark for us last year. I think still kind of the theme of last year was that qualifying was a bit of a struggle. Track position is just so important in these races, if you don’t get that good starting position, it can be really difficult to make the positions up. It’s really to work on the qualifying side. That puts you in the position to have sort of a place that you can kind of strike from, not just — when you’re starting towards the back, you’re already in a bad spot as far as the first pit cycle with the leaders coming up close. Being up the field at the start is goal one, no matter what track you’re on.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You mentioned ovals, last season being a bit of your strong suit. Qualifying something you need to focus on. What in particular with qualifying do you need to focus on? On the back end of that, what have you been working on the most during the off-season?
DALTON KELLETT: I think with qualifying, really it’s getting the most out of that. You really have one or two laps to kind of get it done, ensuring that the first lap you’re up to speed enough where you have a lap in the bang. Once you already have that safe lap, really just going to 100% and maximizing everything you can to get every last hundredth out of the car and yourself on that last lap that counts. I think that’s really the focus.
It’s really to the point where it’s more of a mental game than a technique, all that. You know what you need to do, it’s kind of executing it without making mistakes, or if you make a small mistake just moving on and not being too affected by it. It’s really getting that mental approach down where you can attack qualifying like you need to.

Q. You mentioned your two other teammates, which makes A.J. Foyt now a three-car operation. Do you think this will help your development process? Will there be too many cooks in the kitchen?
DALTON KELLETT: That’s a good question. Obviously anytime you add another entry to an existing program, there’s going to be a learning period and a time where we’re all getting used to how the work flows together.
The good thing is that there’s two fresh faces, so it’s kind of like a fresh start. Not like you’re throwing something into an existing program. The team has done a great job as far as putting the necessary personnel together. I’m confident from that standpoint in my limited time with Kyle and Tatiana it seems they’ll be great to work with. We’ll have to see how things work out.

Q. Tatiana tested with A.J. Foyt last season. She obviously knows her stuff within the team. How beneficial is that going to be to you with her bringing in a fresh perspective, also with Kyle as well?
DALTON KELLETT: Certainly. I think they’ll both bring some fresh aspects to what we’re thinking from a setup standpoint. That is kind of the good thing about rookies, I felt it in the last couple years, there was a time with Seb where he had a preconceived notion of what the car should be and what it could be before the aeroscreen. You add in the aeroscreen, it totally affects, changes what the car can even do. Sometimes it’s beneficial to have that blank slate. I think that will be a good thing.
Obviously Tatiana is coming with a pretty wide background as far as her experience in different formulas, different cars. Same with Kyle. He’s racing Daytona in a couple weeks. He’s obviously been doing pretty well in the Road to Indy. They’re both coming in with a lot of great experience. It will be exciting to see what they bring to it as far as the setup and technical standpoint.

Q. What would be a strong, solid season for you? Top 10s or further up?
DALTON KELLETT: I think given where we were last year, we want to be incremental, right? You want to focus on breaking the top 15, do that consistently, then kind of go from there.
I think for the first quarter of the year, definitely the main goals are improving in qualifying and consistently finishing ahead of where we were last year. If we can be getting towards that 15 to 12 mark where we finished up at Gateway for our best finish last year, if we can best that at this point this year and be a little more consistent around that range, that would be a very strong step up for the team and myself.

Q. Last year you were the teammate of Sebastien Bourdais. What have you learned from him?
DALTON KELLETT: To give you a really specific example, I think something that we see in junior formula, sort of the way you attack the brakes is prescribed in a very specific way. Seb without going into specifics was maybe doing things a little bit differently, just the way he was ramping up the brakes, kind of leading into it, was a bit different to what I’d done previously. I thought that was a good — it wasn’t like I applied it everywhere because sometimes what works for one person doesn’t always work for the other. It sort of made me think about rechecking what I was doing, think about the technique that I hadn’t really considered.
When you see someone doing it a bit differently, you kind of think back and sort of reevaluate what you’re doing, see what works and what doesn’t. Moments during the year he was doing things differently, we talked through it. That was a good learning opportunity for me.

Q. If Paul Tracy and Greg Moore were racing now, you be just an INDYCAR fan from Canada, who would you be looking for more?
DALTON KELLETT: I would probably be Team Greg. I love P.T. He’s certainly a Canadian legend in the INDYCAR world. I think Greg was definitely a fan favorite as well. I would be Team Red Gloves. Sorry, Paul.

Q. Now that you’re taking a leadership role, which advice would you give Tatiana and Kyle? Which advice would you give to each of them?
DALTON KELLETT: I think the best thing you can do as a rookie really is to take things step by step, whether you’re experienced or not. Coming into an INDYCAR is going to be a big adjustment, there’s a lot going on. Focusing on what you’re doing, trying to excel at one thing, maybe not getting too lost in the big picture, really focus on what you can control at that moment.
Then just making sure you’re staying on top of preparation, being kind of ready when you get to the track. These weekends go a lot quicker and are a lot busier than you might have been in, say, Indy Lights or different series. Where you thought before you might have had the time to do some prep, video or data, you’re probably not going to have the time to do as much of that stuff as you did before. Making sure you’re kind of ready when you get to the track is a good way to start every event.

THE MODERATOR: It changes from teammate to teammate, but how quickly do you establish a bond?
DALTON KELLETT: Depends on personalities. Some you click with right away. Some it grows a little bit. Seb and I weren’t best buddies right off the bat. After the year we spent together, that relationship got better and better. Might be an age thing, too. When you’re younger, have more common interests, you might click right away.
As far as working together, I think we’re all professionals. As far as the engineering room goes, I think that’s going to come together certainly by the end of the first event or so I’d say. The initial sort of gelling, then from that you’re getting more and more in tune with each other.

THE MODERATOR: You’ll be with Tatiana and Kyle at Wednesday’s test. Will you spend more time thinking about the changes that are made, how that applies to your program, or more attentive to their needs?
DALTON KELLETT: My engineer asked me to bring a camera, take some video and stuff, so I have some assignments as far as stuff they want to get. The focus is obviously on the two cars that are there at the test. That’s the objective for that day.
From my perspective, I’m certainly going to be also spending time just hearing how they talk with the engineers, seeing what the changes are, what the effects are. It will be an interesting exercise to kind of see the other side of it, see how the team is working together. I’d say a little bit of both.

Q. Your third season, now you’re the seasoned veteran. How strange is that, the longest tenured driver out of this group of three?
DALTON KELLETT: It’s a unique position to be in. It’s certainly exciting. I think we talked about it a bit earlier, but it’s important to emphasize. I think the relationship is different when you have a rookie like myself the last year and Seb, a seasoned veteran, a known quantity, versus what we’re going into this year, which is a semi veteran and then two rookies. I think it will be maybe a bit more of a communal aspect.
On the flipside there’s definitely experience I have had doing a year and a half in INDYCAR that the other two won’t. Certainly in any situation that I can help and offer my experience, I’ll be certainly doing that.

Q. Last week fellow Canadian announced he’ll be running an entire IMSA season, Robby Wickens. How proud are you of being able to see him be able to get to the point in his rehab to return to racing?
DALTON KELLETT: Yeah, I’m confident to say there were a lot of tears shed that day by a lot of people in the racing industry. An inspiring story. I train at Pit.Fit, where Robby does a lot of his rehab. To see him work that hard in the last few years is inspiring. I know Robby back from the karting days. To see Brian seem give him a chance to get back in it, it’s an amazing thing.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

KYLE KIRKWOOD, NO. 14 ROKIT AJ FOYT RACING CHEVROLET:
THE MODERATOR: Welcome Kyle Kirkwood. You’ve had some time in the car. Will you have more before St. Petersburg? Excitement so far?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: I’m ecstatic. Finally starting now. Got through the holidays. Seems surreal for me. I thought there would be a moment where I’d be able to take a break, look back at my career over the junior formulas. Now I’m ready to get into it, start racing. Yeah, there hasn’t been time to relax. We’re all gas right now trying to get ready for the start of the season here in February.

THE MODERATOR: We learned the other day that Kyle is big on spear fishing and spending a lot of time around the ocean. We’re sorry for your luck this morning being in Indianapolis.
KYLE KIRKWOOD: Yeah, it’s definitely colder here. You don’t want to get into the water here. Most of the lakes are frozen, that’s what I’ve found out. I’ve only seen snow like 10 times. Flew up here Saturday, there was snow. Making snowballs out in front of Chris Wheeler’s house.
The water stays warm in Florida, spend a lot of time in the water surfing, spear fishing, diving. That’s kind of how I grew up.

THE MODERATOR: 10 times of seeing snow?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: I rarely ever see snow.

THE MODERATOR: Where would your experience have been?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: In the snow? I’ve seen it once in Canada, once when I went to France for the FIA award banquet, started snowing, which I thought was incredible, right before I went to the awards ceremony. Saw snow a couple days ago. I’m kind of forgetting where else I’ve seen it. Not many times.

THE MODERATOR: Second time here this season. Pretty lucky.
KYLE KIRKWOOD: Oh, really?

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You came up through Road to Indy. Had quite a bit of success in each level. Are you tempering your expectations at all or are you expecting to be right up at the front?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: Of course it’s going to be a tougher crowd racing in INDYCAR. I fully expect that. That’s what I’ve known coming up through all the ranks. Most of the drivers in Road to Indy are rookies. I’m coming into INDYCAR as a rookie where there are veteran drivers that have been here for 15 years I think some of them have been.
It’s all new to me. Of course, I have to take a step back, know I need to learn some things. Most of the time, most of the categories, I came into it knowing I probably had the most knowledge. Now I’ve got probably the least.

Q. Another advantage of the Road to Indy is you race on a lot of the same tracks as INDYCAR. There are a few you haven’t been on. Any you’re looking forward to?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: I would make it easy and say the Indy 500. I’ve never driven on a superspeedway. Never driven a car with speedway trim on it. Did a test with Andretti. I have a feeling for how fast the car is going to be, but I’m really looking forward to getting on some ovals.

THE MODERATOR: Tony Kanaan mentioned this is his 24th INDYCAR season, 24 in INDYCAR.
KYLE KIRKWOOD: That’s incredible. That’s incredible. It shows I’m a rookie coming into it. He’s been racing it longer than I’ve been alive.
Q. You have a veteran driver starting his third season in INDYCAR, two rookies. When you think about A.J. Foyt, the dynamics of that team, it’s pretty interesting, especially when you put A.J. in the middle of it all. Almost like you’re learning from the man who created it.

KYLE KIRKWOOD: That is very true. I have not had the honor of meeting A.J. yet or being able to speak with him. I’m hoping to very soon. That guy is a world of knowledge, right? He’s been around this sport for so many years, seen everything. Hopefully I can hone in on him and get as much as I can from him.
Being around A.J. Foyt Racing has been phenomenal. They’ve been super open, brought me in as their family, been awesome with sharing data with me, making sure I’m super up to speed with their tests.

Q. Can you talk a bit about your off-season. I know there were heavy rumors about possibly getting into Andretti, then it became Foyt. Talk about that process.
KYLE KIRKWOOD: I have to jog my memory how much I can talk about it.
I know Michael did come out at a press conference speaking about the F1 deal, whatnot. Just bounced off of him. They did have the option for a period of time. Once they found out they couldn’t fill me into a seat, they opened up that option. We made some calls. A.J. Foyt Racing was the best fit for us.

Q. You get one track in the world to race on, what would it be? What are you driving?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: That’s a good question.
There’s two races that I’ve always loved. I’m going to name two off. It’s going to be the 500 in INDYCAR, something I’ve watched ever since I was super young. Then Monaco in F1. Two pretty easy go-tos there.

Q. Slightly awkward question. Obviously we’ve seen Foyt struggling over the last couple of years. Does that take any pressure off you in your learning season, that less is expected of you than if you had been thrown into a Ganassi or Penske car?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: It does. It does take pressure off of me. At the same time I think it’s beneficial for me because, like I’ve said, the team has been super open with me. They want to learn, too. I’ve been able to bring some kind of experience over from my history, try and hone in and try and get something out of our car here.
I think we’re going to grow together as a team. I think the chemistry has been working out perfectly.

Q. Obviously Dalton has some experience. He’s made the same transition as you. Obviously Tatiana has no experience. Is that also difficult to have one relatively inexperienced and one totally inexperienced?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: That’s kind of been my entire history in junior formulas. I’ve never really had somebody to base stuff off of. It’s nothing new to me. I wish I did have a mentor coming up through Road to Indy, F4, F3. I really didn’t. It’s nothing special. I’ve kind of been in this position my entire life.

Q. A.J. should be useful there.
KYLE KIRKWOOD: Very much so.

Q. You can’t hit the motor with a hammer. Didn’t work for him.
KYLE KIRKWOOD: Right (laughter).

Q. Other than the Indy 500, what track are you most looking forward to?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: I’m going to say Mid-Ohio. Mid-Ohio has been a track I’ve had the most success at. Actually I would say Mid-Ohio and St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg is like a home race for me, somewhere we always start off the season. I really enjoy that place, a lot of good memories there. But Mid-Ohio is a place that I’ve driven so much at over every single one of the categories I’ve been in. I’ve won it in every single category I’ve driven in. That’s somewhere that I always look forward to going back to and racing at. Like I said, it’s a place I have the most experience at.

Q. I know you said you haven’t talked to A.J. yet. You probably do most of your dealings with Larry. Eventually you will cross paths with A.J. What do you hope to learn from him or experience?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: Yeah, the biggest thing I want to ask him is stuff about ovals because that guy is a legend around ovals, right? Even though it’s something so far back in history or in the past, it definitely translates over to today.
As much information as I can get out of him for ovals. In the Road to Indy, we only did a few ovals, we ran at St. Louis, then Lucas Oil Raceway. My oval experience isn’t that vast. I think having him on my side is definitely going to help that.

Q. You’re one of many INDYCAR drivers that are going to be in the Rolex, not a new event for you, but a new class. I know Lexus wants to win it very badly. How much could a big weekend in Daytona sort of launch your year?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: That’s a good question because every single one of my seasons have all been based off of kind of momentum it seems like. Usually my worst race is the first race of the year, then I build on top of that, I start getting strings of wins by the end of the year. Obviously it’s going to be a lot harder in INDYCAR. That’s my tendency.
Starting it off early with the 24 hour, trying to get into that race mode, is super important. I did it last year. It was a huge help. Being with the Lexus guys, Vasser Sullivan, has been a blessing in my career because I’ve learned so much with them in sports cars that actually translates over to INDYCAR.

Q. This team has been up and down the last couple years. As a rookie joining a team where you don’t have a ton of experienced teammates on a team that has been still working hard to get a podium or a win these last several years, what will you use to gauge what you would deem a successful season?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: I think that kind of comes with us in the team, how we perceive us doing well. I think that is just capitalizing on what we can do, right?
If we come into a weekend, we know we can do well, we don’t do well, that’s not a good weekend for us, we haven’t maximized what we can do.
Our goal is to progress the car as much as possible. I need to learn myself as a new INDYCAR driver, as a rookie. Like I’ve said, I think we can build off of each other and maybe grow something great. There’s some big things happening with the team, a lot of new people onboard, some new development going on.
I think we have the good chance of turning some heads this year.

Q. You would say maybe more of a subjective thing or feeling, internal way to grade your season rather than off of podiums and wins?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: That’s correct, yeah. You can only do as well as you can, as well as the equipment is, how well I’m driving, whatever it might be, what the conditions are. It all comes from within. I don’t think you can look from the outside, you can’t be in third person trying to figure out how you’re doing. That just comes from within. How you feel as a team is more important.

Q. Three Road to Indy championships. What has that program meant to your career? Would you be here without it?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: 100% no. Not 100%. It’s made it so much easier for me because as everyone knows finding sponsorships, funding, junior categories, is nearly impossible. The return on investment for sponsors is pretty much non-existent because there’s none of this broadcasting, being able to put things out. A lot of sponsorships aren’t visible.
Having those scholarships from the Road to Indy has been absolutely crucial for my career. That all started from 2012, my first scholarship was with AJ Allmendinger, a couple years later Team USA scholarship. After I would be the P4 scholarship, Honda had a scholarship to go to F3. All the Road to Indys, leading up now to what is INDYCAR, a 1.25 million dollars scholarship into INDYCAR. I don’t think I would have made it here this quick.
I think there’s a possibility I would have still made it to INDYCAR without the scholarships, but this has obviously made it a much easier transition.

Q. At the beginning of your career, maybe you were aiming for Formula 1. Do you think getting into INDYCAR is a step towards Formula 1 or do you think INDYCAR will be it in your progress?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: That all depends on kind of what happens, doesn’t it?
I think every young karting driver when you’re five, six, seven years old, you look at Formula 1 as the pinnacle. But there is kind of a transition in my mind when I was probably 10 or 11 years old where I started watching the Indy 500s. This is what I want to do.
I think INDYCAR is very enjoyable. I think there’s been some past F1 drivers that have come over here and said if you have the chance, come do this 100%.
I kind of look at it as where I want to be in my life. I like to stay over in the States, to be honest. That keeps me over here. I love INDYCAR racing. This is the ultimate goal for me at the moment. I don’t foresee anything happening where I change my plans and move to Formula 1.

THE MODERATOR: Today is often a day of rookie trouble from the veterans. Any pranking going on?
KYLE KIRKWOOD: Nothing yet. Nothing that I’ve noticed.

THE MODERATOR: Keep your head on a swivel.
KYLE KIRKWOOD: I was actually thinking that this morning in the hotel. This is Content Day. There’s definitely going to be some rookie pranks going on.

THE MODERATOR: You arrive on a day without Rossi, without Herta, without Conor.
KYLE KIRKWOOD: Without Conor especially, yes (laughter).

THE MODERATOR: You figured out the pecking order. Kanaan you might want to watch on.
KYLE KIRKWOOD: My head is on a swivel around him always.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

TATIANA CALDERON, NO. 11 ROKIT AJ FOYT RACING CHEVROLET:
THE MODERATOR: Welcome Tatiana Calderon. Tatiana, this was announced this morning, your ride with AJ Foyt Racing and Rocket as the sponsorship. I know this has been in discussion. Give us some background on how long the process has been.
TATIANA CALDERON: Yeah, it’s been an amazing time that I have spent with Rocket for the last two years in Super Formula in Japan, but obviously when the chance came to test an INDYCAR last July and I felt really great with the team in the car, of course. We’ve been in discussions really since then, but good things take time, and we finally managed to put everything together last week.
I’m very excited, very thankful to both Rocket and AJ Foyt for this amazing opportunity and to really start this thing quite soon and get acclimatized with the car and the team around me.

Q. You’ve had the one test; what has been your other INDYCAR experience in terms of attending races? How many have you been to?
TATIANA CALDERON: Well, I started my career here in U.S. in Star Mazda 10 years ago. It’s been a while. So I know some of the tracks that I tried to remember everything. Of course a lot of things have changed. But I’ve always been kind of following INDYCAR because also I come from Colombia, Juan Pablo Montoya has been racing here in America for many years. He’s been kind of my idol, as well.
But in the garage it was only Mid-Ohio that I had the chance to really see an INDYCAR team from the inside. Yeah, a lot of things to learn for me this year.

Q. The Japan transition has been very good for — we saw last year with Alex Palou. Do you expect to be prepared for this endeavor?
TATIANA CALDERON: Yeah, I think Super Formula is a great preparation for any single seater series. I think it’s a super quick car, very tricky. Also I had to learn how to communicate differently. The culture was very different, as well. But I think that has prepared me more for this opportunity.
Of course I don’t expect anything to be very easy, particularly at the beginning, because I’ve only done one test day in INDYCAR. I think we’ll have probably three days before the first race.
A lot of things to take in, but I think it was a great preparation with Super Formula and sports cars that I have been racing the last couple of years, as well, to help with fuel save, with tire save and pit stops and all that. I think it’s been quite good for my career.

Q. Have you been to the team shop down in Texas yet?
TATIANA CALDERON: Not in Texas, but their one here. We spent last week doing some seat fit and getting back into rhythm with everybody. Yeah, I’m excited to actually drive for the first time here in 2022.

Q. You have such an extensive resume behind you; what is it about INDYCAR that caught your attention, and also, do you believe that INDYCAR does a good job with female representation in motorsports?
TATIANA CALDERON: I think INDYCAR has always been in my radar. I think I’ve always been very competitive, and I want to be where the best drivers are at, and I think INDYCAR is pretty high up there on the single seater ladder. I’ve always enjoyed single seaters quite a lot, as well.
It’s an honor to be racing in INDYCAR after I started my career 10 years ago, and I was just watching those races. Yeah, huge privilege in that sense, and I think here in America, in INDYCAR, there has been many female drivers coming through, so I think there is more opportunity at the moment for us here.
I will obviously make the most out of this opportunity, and I’m really hoping that I can do well and inspire even more girls to join in in karting, in single seaters, and that they know this is also a great opportunity to showcase that.
Yeah, can’t wait to get started and see where we end up in the first race, but obviously build up to it step by step, and I think as long as we improve every time we’re on track, then I’ll be happy.

Q. Have you had a chance to meet AJ yet?
TATIANA CALDERON: Sadly, no. We were supposed to meet very soon, but with all this COVID situation, with the weather, it’s been — it has not been easy. He had a birthday yesterday, as well.
Yeah, hopefully very soon.

Q. Do you have any idea what to expect?
TATIANA CALDERON: No, I think obviously I’ve read a lot of what he’s done, about the Indy 500, as well, everything that has won. I think it will be a privilege to be able to share some experiences with him, to look at him in the eyes. I think that’s one of the biggest things I would say sometimes when you have that connection, that feeling with somebody. Hopefully it will be very soon.

Q. Did you give any consideration to the ovals?
TATIANA CALDERON: Yeah, definitely. Obviously I’ve only tested the car one day back in July, so we thought to take things easy to start off with, the road courses, build up to hopefully test in an oval, see how I feel, see how my confidence with the car comes.
But of course who wouldn’t love to do Indy 500 one day. Yeah, we’re just taking it step by step.

Q. Are you still going to be a reserve driver, or has that come to an end?
TATIANA CALDERON: I’m not sure at the moment, but my full focus is obviously here in INDYCAR. I want to do the best job I can, and I think in order to do that, I need to be focused on one thing. We’ll figure out the next bit in the future, but I’m just super excited with this opportunity and to be present and focused on one thing.

Q. We’ve had a lot of successful drivers from Formula 2 and Super Formula recently coming to INDYCAR. You’ve done both. What do you think your experiences, how can they help you getting into grips with INDYCAR this year?
TATIANA CALDERON: Well, I think they will be very useful, all those experiences, particularly because there’s not much time that we have in the car in preseason, so only a couple of days of testing, so I’m kind of used to that. But yeah, all the tracks sort of will be quite new, especially with an INDYCAR. It’s quite a heavy, big car, just with the tires to get a feel for the degradation, as well, here.
Because I’ve been changing continents and cars and tire manufacturers, I think that’s definitely going to help me to speed up the process, but I still want to take step by step this steep learning curve.
Yeah, I don’t expect it to be any easier, but I definitely feel more ready than I was a couple of years back if I had the opportunity. Yeah, looking forward to making the most out of it and to learn as quick as possible.

Q. As I recall, now that I think more about it, weren’t you involved with Derek Daly and his driving academy years ago, so therefore you must have quite a relationship with the daily family and Conor even?
TATIANA CALDERON: Yeah, we were teammates with Conor when we were driving with Juncos Racing in Star Mazda, and I worked with Derek, as well, the first couple of years that I was here in single seaters.
Yeah, I’ve always felt really, really confident here. Everybody has been very open to help, as well, and yeah, I have a lot of relationship with many of the drivers that are here in INDYCAR. Yeah, it will be fun to see them back on track again after so many years.

Q. Who else in this paddock have you raced with?
TATIANA CALDERON: Well, I raced against Alex, a little bit against Pato in Formula 2 where he did only one race. I’ve raced with Montoya, as well, in the World Endurance Championship. Yeah, I need to think, but there are many others for sure. Lundgaard, Callum Ilott, as well.

Q. Quite a few.
TATIANA CALDERON: Yeah, I’m pretty sure I have more, but — Felix Rosenqvist, as well, in Formula 3. Yeah, a lot of familiar faces.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
116273-1-1004 2022-01-17 21:22:00 GMT
About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

9-How Efficient Logistics Systems Improve Your Supply Chain?

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SM
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Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

An efficient logistic system does not depend on the size of your company or business. It is the same for small and large companies as well as for those who own a small business and those who run a massive corporation. We as a 3pl company, aim to provide you with the best services.

To put it simply: An efficient logistic system is one that meets your company’s requirements, not others’. If you do not manage to create such a system soon, it will be difficult to grow your business because goods will constantly get lost or damaged and there will be no time to produce new items due to a huge backlog of orders. On the other hand, using external logistic providers may result in customer dissatisfaction if their personal data gets leaked or they must wait more than 2 days for receiving purchased goods. That’s why I decided to write this article on what an efficient logistic system is and how it can be created.

Efficient logistic system: why?

When we speak about efficient logistics, we should mention supply chain management as well. To put it simply, the supply chain is a sequence of steps (supply chain stages) that lead to the desired result such as satisfying your customer’s needs and expectations with your exceptional logistics service. The whole idea behind this concept is to control the flow of goods from their origin to the destination point. It does not matter if those goods are physical or digital – they may represent any type of information transmitted online: services, databases, and so on and so forth. Anyways, regardless of the nature of the goods, you need to create a perfect infrastructure while shipping seafood or other goods that will allow you to communicate with both suppliers and buyers without any problems whatsoever.

The Logistics systems are a complex set of procedures, infrastructure, and human capital that enable businesses to synchronize how they communicate, move their products around the world, and finally bring them to the end consumer. Supply chains are profitable only when they are efficient, minimizing costs while maximizing customer value. The better these logistics systems are in terms of technology, planning, and execution – the more competitive will be your firm in its niche market.

  • The transportation costs should account for roughly half of your product’s total cost. They comprise many different categories including labor, fuel, paperwork (insurance, etc.), and vehicle maintenance among others. By improving just one link at a time in your supply chain you can save money on each part of this process thus maximizing overall transportation efficiency.
  • The more your products are moved across the country or around the world, the bigger the impact of letting things go wrong in your supply chain. There are many ways to improve this aspect of production either by using computerized systems, better planning methods, etc.
  • While there is software for almost anything these days, an efficient logistics system relies not solely on technology but also on human capital. Shippers should learn how to properly plan their routes, know where they are going and take into account possible malfunctions when organizing the transportation process. If you have a complex supply chain with multiple partners – working closely with them can yield great results in terms of pooling resources together thus cutting costs related to the transportation extra mile makes all the difference.
  • Letting non-core activities (like transportation) be handled by other companies might seem like an efficient idea but it is not. Relying on external partners for cooperation gives them greater power in negotiating prices or deciding how your products are moved across the country which, as you may expect, affects your bottom line greatly.
  • While reducing transportation costs will always bring a significant impact to end result; there are many other aspects that should not be ignored when building an efficient logistics system. From customs officials to warehousing and all the way to final sale – every part of your supply chain can benefit from proper planning and execution making it easier for you to build a competitive market niche.

Bottom line: A good logistics system does not rely solely on technology but also on human capital.

Humans are the ones who should be making all the key decisions in your supply chain, computers can only do so much after all.

Hiring Expert Lawyer: What to Do if You Are Involved in A Car Accident?

By
SM
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Photo by Oscar Portan from Pexels

Those who are never involved in any accident scenario, they might be caught off guard in such situations. If a personal injury lawyer is needed, this can naturally make you feel even more confused. However, these individuals have been trained to handle accidents and other lawsuits in your favor, preventing you from losing out on any money you may have earned. The steps to take after an injury-related accident are:

  1. Assess The Scene

When an injury has just occurred, it’s essential to ensure that injuries are treated and that the scene where the incident happened is safe for you and others involved. First aid kits are available in most cars and can be used to stop minor bleeding until paramedics arrive on the scene or until medical attention is sought out.

  • Get Medical Attention

If you can walk and have no serious injuries, you should first do to get medical attention. You mustn’t attempt to drive, as it may cause a severe injury. If you have suffered a head injury, you should get a ride home; doctors often recommend against taking public transportation after a head injury.

  • Inform Police

Allow the police to know about your accident within an hour of reporting the incident. There are laws in place that require personal injury lawyers to write down information on police reports within 24 hours of an accident. You can contact a personal injury law firm right at the moment, as they can also offer you great assistant in such a situation.

  • Seek Help from Personal Injury Attorneys

If you can do so, it is a good idea to seek legal assistance right away after an accident from a lawyer for car accidents in Edinburg. The lawyer can help you assess the situation and present any defenses that may affect your case. If you need a personal injury attorney, you should first ask around your family members, friends, and colleagues.

What To Look for While Hiring Lawyers for Accident Cases?

Although it can be challenging to find a reliable lawyer for your case, some ways can help you make a decision. Some of these tips include

  • You should look for lawyers who have had success in their previous cases, as this is a good indication that they will be able to win your case as well.
  • Aside from looking at the records of previous cases, you should also consider talking with other consumers and clients who have used the services of these lawyers before.
  • Consider personal injury firms that will protect your interests after an accident has occurred and carefully listen to what they have to say regarding your situation.
  • Check for type of cases resolved by your attorney and make the choice for the best one possible.

If you have suspicions that a firm or lawyer is not the right match for your scenario, consider other options. It would be worth all your efforts to find a lawyer specializing in car accidents to represent your side of case in best way possible.

How to Choose a Genuine Accident Attorney for Appropriate Compensation?

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SM
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Photo by Michael Jin on Unsplash

When somebody is injured on the job or injured in a car accident, they often need assistance getting the necessary compensation they deserve. Injuries caused by a company or another party can be devastating. Hence, hiring a lawyer who will help you get just compensation for your case becomes the only suitable option. The experienced car accident lawyers at Vaziri Law Group will help you evaluate and assess the accurate value of your car accident case. If you do not have the time or money to find a qualified attorney, here is what to look for when hiring an accident attorney. More importantly, it provides some helpful tips about how much expertise in particular types of cases is needed for your legal circumstances.

Firstly, what you should do is to educate yourself about what lawyers do and how they work. In general, an accident attorney represents their clients in claiming compensation for injuries resulting from an accident or injury at work. Accident cases are complicated. Matters of compensation for injuries are no exception. Here are a few key points that must be kept in mind while looking for the right attorney for your accident compensation

  • By the Practice Area

If you are still in the settlement phase, it is too early to choose the lawyer for your case. However, you can choose a lawyer from the same professional association that your accident was occurred in. If your lawyer comes from the same association where you work, then the chances are excellent that they will fight for you and protect your rights on the merit of your case. 

  • Economically Affordable Lawyers

It’s always better to consider the total fees (including retainer fee) than just the hourly rate of their services. Then, compare that with other lawyers or law firms in your area because this helps you to evaluate whether they are serving your best interests or not. It might take some time to find an affordable lawyer, but saving this time can cost you a lot more.

  • By Attorney’s Case Strength

Always look for a lawyer with the best-case record for similar cases like injured in car accident in Austin and less-or-no litigations. Also, choosing a lawyer with experience, a keen sense of judgment, good negotiation skills, and a fair trial attitude can turn the case in your favor. Conversely, choosing a lawyer with no experience in such cases can turn the case the wrong way and end up losing your time and money.

  • Lawyers from Your Area of Work

This is also a good approach, and it helps you know the lawyer’s reputation in different professional associations. For this, you can check their reputation with other similar professional associations where you work like local labor unions, industry trade associations, etc. As a team member’s union, this is a great help for you because it ensures that the lawyer will take care of your compensation and not take away from your wages or job benefits.

A proper lawyer can make all the difference in getting appropriate compensation. If you feel like you need help, it is best to hire a professional lawyer who can fight back on your behalf and get the fair compensation you deserve.

Finding a Car Accident Attorney to Win Your Case with These Few Steps

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SM
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Discovering a reputable car accident attorney for your case is more significant than people might think. If you have recently endured a car accident, you require a lawyer to represent your case. Hence, a decent car accident attorney will ensure the correct paperwork, provide you with general legal advice, determine the accurate settlement of the claim, and collect relevant evidence to strengthen your litigation. They have excellent negotiation skills, which are necessary when working with insurance adjusters. If you want to represent your case appropriately before the court, you require a reputable lawyer by your side. 

Clear communication matters

A decent lawyer provides you with an easy understanding of their role in helping you with the case. The auto accident lawyers will help you with vital information regarding the process, values, fees, and more. If you have doubts, they must address them directly and keep the answers to the point. Hence, there must be no room for question after you employ them. However, if the person cannot provide you with clear insight regarding the practice, you have every reason to look for another option. 

Engaged conversation

Getting a lawyer who is interested in your litigation is a challenging task. It’s because every lawyer does not have the same approach. A lawyer who does not seem engaged in the case will not provide you maximum effort. Hence, you may end up getting a settlement that is not according to your interest. 

Help you with references

If the lawyer provides you with a list of references, you may connect with them and speak about your case. These references work a lot and talk about the reputation of the attorney. If you do not get a chance to contact the connections, it is fine. At least you will have a level of confidence in your lawyer. However, if an attorney does not provide references or have concerns, you have to avoid them. 

Organized space

When you visit the lawyer for the first time, you must look around at their office space. If the office gets organized, it says a lot about the person’s approach. Please look at how the staff works and how organized they are with their desk activity. If you see piles of files not appropriately organized, you will understand that they do not have a straightforward approach. Getting hold of a lawyer who knows the law and becomes organized requires time. Hence, you have to research the available options and look for a lawyer to handle complex cases. If you find one, grab them. 

Ask the attorney about their past cases. If they have experience, you may rely upon their professionalism. Remember that experience in a similar field works as an asset. It shows that they have exposure to arguing cases before the court and have a decent track record. When you see all these aspects falling within your reach, you may settle for a car accident lawyer. A car accident lawyer knows hacks to win a legal suit quickly. 

Greg Van Alst Motorsports Tops Overall ARCA Preseason Testing at Daytona

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Official Release
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: For Greg Van Alst’s family-owned team topping ARCA Menards Series preseason testing at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway this past weekend felt as good as if he won next month’s Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire.

Almost.

But with one objective complete, Van Alst and his Jim Long-led team turn their full concentration towards the prestigious ARCA Menards Series season opener knowing their No. 35 CB Fabricating Chevrolet SS has the speed to win and earn Van Alst his first career ARCA victory.

“Our expectations were to be fast, but we expected to be solid,” team owner and driver Greg Van Alst said. “But the truth is that we had more speed than our honest expectations and that has our team feeling really, really good – even a couple of days since the test.”

Van Alst’s journey to the top of the speed charts on Friday afternoons circles back to more than two years ago when Van Alst earned a trip to Daytona as part of ARCA’s Road To Daytona program where his ARCA | CRA championship in 2019 earned him an opportunity to steer one of Fast Track Racing’s race cars during preseason testing in 2020.

It was then that the candle wick was reignited after nearly two decades since his last start in the series.

The Anderson, Ind. native was determined to be back in Daytona for preseason testing with his own team in January 2021. Van Alst delivered on his promise and with the help of equipment from championship-winning crew chief Chad Bryant, Van Alst and his team turned heads throughout Speedweeks with not only speed but finesse in his No. 35 CB Fabricating Chevrolet SS.

While his Daytona ARCA debut didn’t turn out as planned after being collected in an early-race accident, Van Alst certainly gained the attention of his competitors with his patience and superspeedway capabilities.

Vowing to be better at Talladega, the No. 35 Greg Van Alst Motorsports team lived up to the hype at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, but while challenging for the lead late in the race, Van Alst was turned by another competitor diminishing another opportunity to capitalize on the unthinkable.

The team spent days and nights repairing their superspeedway piece to get it in tip-top shape for this past weekend’s two-day session and immediately from his first lap around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway, Van Alst knew his car was the best it’s ever been.

“I am so blessed to be able to drive this No. 35 CB Fabricating Chevrolet SS, but it’s not about me,” Van Alst added. “Acquiring race cars from Chad Bryant, the knowledge of (crew chief) Jim Long and the support from CB Fabricating has put me in this position. I have two crew guys that dedicate all their free time to this team.

“Brandon Grant and Jason Garrett are huge factors in the success as well. We have built an amazing team with these guys and Branden Lines spotting really aligns the dominoes of this race team.”

Van Alst and his all-volunteer-based team packed up Friday evening electing to forgo testing on Saturday knowing there was more to lose than to gain.

“Really, we had done everything we wanted to do with our No. 35 CB Fabricating Chevrolet SS,” Van Alst mentioned.

“We could have stayed on Saturday, but it was risk versus reward at that point and it didn’t make sense. We didn’t want something unfortunate to happen out of control that potentially would ruin everything we’ve spent months and months trying to accomplish what we did on Friday.

“Our car was fast in single-car runs and even better in the draft. It wasn’t darty, it was very maneuverable and I was able to work with any manufacturer I wanted to. Whether it was a Chevrolet, Ford or Toyota – our car was really stable and that has me amped up for the race next month.

“It is still hard to believe this is real. I’ve watched so many races and Speedweeks from the couch with the dream of being there. Competing there is hard for me to explain what it means. I must block emotions and focus, but it still gives me chills going through the tunnel. The place is magical.”

So, what’s next for the Van Alst Motorsports team with the first of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule a little more than a month away?

“We have some minor things to do,” sounded Van Alst. “Basic maintenance and double-check and triple-check everything.

“Being a single-car team is going to make it tough on us next month, But with our speed there are a few guys that will collaborate with us and hopefully, we can work our way to the front and stay up there. Last year at Daytona we planned to just ride around. At Talladega, we got a little more aggressive and were making our way to the lead when we got turned. If no mistakes are made I think we can find the front.”

The team is finalizing its plans for the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season and will announce its intentions for its second year on the tour soon.

For more on Greg Van Alst and Greg Van Alst Motorsports, please visit GregVanAlst.com, like them on Facebook (Van Alst Motorsports) and follow him on Twitter (@GregVanAlst35).

For more on CB Fabricating, please visit CBFabricating.com and like them on Facebook (CB Fabricating).

Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 Ready for the WRC Hybrid Revolution

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Official Release
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TOKYO, Jan 17, 2022 – (JCN Newswire) – The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team will begin a bold new era in the FIA World Rally Championship when the 2022 season begins and the GR YARIS Rally1 makes its debut on the legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo from January 20-23.

The GR YARIS Rally1 is the successor to the all-conquering Yaris WRC, which claimed a clean sweep of the manufacturers’, drivers’ and co-drivers’ in the 2021 season that concluded just eight weeks ago at Monza in Italy. Now, the roads of the French Alps will play host to the first event for the revolutionary Rally1 cars, which take over from the World Rally Cars that have formed the highest category of the WRC for the past quarter of a century.

Rally1 cars feature several significant changes compared to their predecessors, headlined by the arrival of hybrid technology to the highest level of rallying for the first time. The hybrid unit in each car comprises of a 3.9kWh battery and a motor-generator unit (MGU) delivering an additional 100 kW (134 PS) under acceleration.

In the GR YARIS Rally1, this is combined with the proven 1.6-litre turbocharged engine from the Yaris WRC to provide the drivers with over 500 PS. The engine will run on a 100 percent sustainable fuel: The first of its kind to be used in an FIA world championship.

The GR YARIS Rally1 is built around a dedicated spaceframe chassis offering increased safety protection for drivers and co-drivers. Other transformations required by the regulations include less complex aerodynamics, a return to a mechanical gearshift and the removal of the active centre differential. These changes will increase the focus on the skills of the drivers, who will also need to adapt to the demands around regenerating and deploying the hybrid energy on the stages, while working with their engineers to optimize the performance and drivability within these new parameters.

Since it ran for the first time last spring, the GR YARIS Rally1 has undergone a thorough testing programme which for the last few weeks has been focused on the particular demands of Rallye Monte-Carlo. The event is famed for its changeable conditions, which can vary from dry asphalt to snow and ice, and could provide an especially challenging start for the drivers in their new cars.

When the rally begins on Thursday night, the GR YARIS Rally1 of reigning champion Sebastien Ogier will be the first of the new generation of cars to start a competitive stage. The eight-time world champion, who has also won Rallye Monte-Carlo a record eight times, is embarking on a partial schedule of events this season along with a new co-driver, Benjamin Veillas. Leading TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s effort over the full season will be Elfyn Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin, who finished second in the 2021 standings, and Kalle Rovanpera and his co-driver Jonne Halttunen, who came fourth overall last season.

A total of four GR YARIS Rally1 cars will be present on every round with Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston contesting the full season for a newly-created team, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team Next Generation.

The crews today begin three days of reconnaissance of the stages, 85 percent of which are new compared to 2021. For the 90th edition of the rally, the service park moves to Monaco itself from Gap. After a shakedown on Thursday morning, the rally will begin in the evening from the iconic Casino Square ahead of an opening pair of night stages – the second includes a return to the classic Col de Turini, to be passed in darkness for the first time since 2013.

Friday is the longest day of the rally and consists of three stages to be run twice with no mid-day service, only a tyre-fitting zone in Puget-Theniers. The task is similar on Saturday, which takes place further to the west: Three stages will be run in the morning, two of which will be repeated in the afternoon after a tyre-fitting zone in Digne-les-Bains. The rally’s final day on Sunday is made up of two stages run twice – the latter stage finishing in Entrevaux is the only one that is identical to last year.

For more information visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2022/rd01-preview/.

Dakar Victory for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing as Al-attiyah/Baumel Take the Win

By
Official Release
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-Overall victory for Nasser/Mathieu
-Top 5 finish for Giniel/Dennis
-Final stage win for Henk/Brett
-Top 15 finish for Shameer/Danie

TOKYO, Jan 17, 2022 – (JCN Newswire) – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel brought their GR DKR Hilux T1+ home safely on the final stage of the 2022 Dakar Rally to win the event overall by 27min 46sec. This is the Qatari driver’s second victory for the team, having previously won the event in 2019. At the same time, Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings won the closing stage of the rally, beating the opposition by 49sec.

For Nasser and Mathieu, the final stage presented few real problems, despite challenging navigation. The pair had taken the lead in the rally during the opening stage of the event, and were never in danger of relinquishing that position. They won the prologue for the 2022 edition of the rally on January 1st, and powered to two more stage wins on their way to overall victory.

This victory is significant for Nasser, as he has expressed the hope to win in the Arab world since the Dakar first moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020. He came agonisingly close in both 2020 and 2021, before securing his first win in Saudi Arabia in 2022. At the same time, the victory means a lot to the team who developed the new GR DKR Hilux T1+, which features larger wheels and tyres, more wheel travel, and the 3.5 litre twin-turbo V6 engine that also powers the new Toyota Land Cruiser GR Sport. Winning the race with a new car is testament of the team’s ability to continuously push the limits of engineering, and build ever-better cars.

The final stage was also a redemption for Henk and Brett, who sacrificed their own chances of a stage win when they selflessly waited for their leading teammates to pass them in Stage 11, in order to lend support if needed. But the pair decided to attack on Stage 12, despite starting the timed section well down the order. They brought their Hilux home in 1hr 35min 19sec, besting the competition despite having to stop mid-stage in order to change a punctured tyre.

For Giniel de Villiers and co-driver Dennis Murphy, the 2022 edition of the world’s toughest cross-country race brought many highs and lows. However, it was a broken oil pipe that put paid to their podium aspirations mid-race. Despite this, the South Africans soldiered on, winning one stage outright, and deservedly attaining a place in the Top 5. Their time in the closing stage was 5min 30sec behind that posted by Henk and Brett, but it was enough to secure 5th place in the overall standings.

Dakar 2022 saw Shameer Variawa and co-driver Danie Stassen cement their in-car relationship, as they powered through some early-race jitters and bad luck, to record multiple solid stage results. By the time they completed the final stage, mid-way between the cities of Bisha and Jeddah, the pair had moved into 15th place overall. This was Shameer’s second Dakar finish, and a maiden finish for his co-driver.

Dakar 2022 was the 44th edition of the iconic event, which first took place in January 1978. The event took place in northern Africa until 2007, with the 2008 event cancelled due to a terrorist threat. The rally moved to South America in 2009, where it enjoyed a decade of spectacular scenery and tough terrain. In 2020, the first Saudi Arabian edition of the event took place, with the 2022 edition covering 4,261km of competitive stages.

QUOTES:

Glyn Hall, Team Principal: “What an epic victory for Nasser and Mathieu, and the entire team. To come to Dakar and win with our new GR DKR Hilux T1+ first time out is amazing. I’d like to dedicate this win to the memory of Dr. Johan van Zyl, who was a visionary leader and consistent supporter of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Dakar project over many years. We are extremely proud of what we achieved here this year, and I know the Doc would have been too.”

Nasser Al-Attiyah: “Such an amazing feeling to win Dakar! We lead right from the beginning, and managed to control the pace throughout the race, making it an amazing win. I’d like to thank TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and all our sponsors for the support. I’d also like to thank our Team Principal and Technical Manager, Glyn Hall, for building this fantastic new Hilux T1+. It was an amazing Dakar and I am extremely happy.”

Giniel de Villiers: “Yes, the last stage was actually very stressful, with many difficult navigation spots. Stephane (Peterhansel) caught up with us at one point, just as we found the way. Lucky for him, but we had to turn around a few times to find the route. So, complicated navigation even on the last stage. In the end, we finished in 5th overall, and while I’m a little disappointed not to be on the podium, I am really glad for Nasser and Mathieu. The car was really good, and the team did a great job preparing the car, and I’m really happy to be here at the end.”

Henk Lategan: “We’ve really had the full Dakar experience. The highest highs, winning a stage early on, to the lowest of lows, sitting until after dark in the desert. We were a little down last night, after the troubles we had in Stage 11, but this morning we woke up and just decided to give it a go in the last stage. We had to overtake quite a lot of cars, and unfortunately, we got a puncture at one point. We thought that was the end of our chances for a second stage win, but we carried on pushing really hard to the end, and we pulled off one last stage win.”

Shameer Variawa: “It’s great to be here, as we had a bit of nerves at the start of the stage. But we made it to the end, and I’m happy to complete my second Dakar; Danie’s first. I’m totally ecstatic, and we’ll be back next year.”

Stage 12 Results:

  1. Lategan (ZAF) / Cummings (ZAF) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 1hr 35min 19sec
  2. Peterhansel (FRA) / Noulanger (FRA) Team Audi Sport +49sec
  3. Baragwanath (ZAF) / Cremer (ZAF) Century Racing +1min 51sec
  4. Loeb (FRA) / Lurquin (BEL) Bahrain Raid Xtreme +2min 20sec
  5. Zala (LTU) / Fiuza (PRT) Teltonika Racing +3min 25sec
  6. De Villiers (ZAF) / Murphy (ZAF) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +5min 30sec
  7. Al-Attiyah (QAT) / Baumel (AND) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +7min 53sec
  8. Variawa (ZAF) / Stassen (ZAF) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +11min 50sec

Rankings after Stage 12:

  1. Al-Attiyah (QAT) / Baumel (AND) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 38hr 33min 3sec
  2. Loeb (FRA) / Lurquin (BEL) Bahrain Raid Xtreme +27min 46sec
  3. Al Rajhi (SAU) / Orr (GBR) Overdrive Toyota +1hr 1min 13sec
  4. Terranova (ARG) / Carreras (ESP) Bahrain Raid Xtreme +1hr 27min 23sec
  5. De Villiers (ZAF) / Murphy (ZAF) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +1hr 41min 48sec
  6. Variawa (ZAF) / Stassen (ZAF) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +3hr 55min 33sec
  7. Lategan (ZAF) / Cummings (ZAF) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +11hr 51min 21sec

News URL: https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/72455/

Learn How To Trade With These 3 Simple Steps

By
SM
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Trading on the stock market is a tough gig, with many who don’t make the right calls and fail to become profitable as a result. Every great investor started somewhere, learning from the advice of others and those who came before them. Thanks to the Internet, you have unprecedented access to news and information, all of which can make you a better trader.

That’s how you found yourself here, where we have three simple steps you can use to take your investing to the next level. While you’ll still have a way to go if you want to make a living trading stock, you’ll be in a great position to gain much-needed experience and work towards your long-term investment goals.

Dividends are also something to consider as you invest and build your portfolio. Doing research on dividend stocks at Stocktrades.ca can help you increase the value of your stock portfolio while also protecting it from adverse market movements resulting in a source of income in any market environment.

1: Have The Right Attitude

First, you need to cultivate the right attitude when investing. Success in investing isn’t determined by things like IQ or how well you can do the math. Instead, persistence, patience, and lack of emotional decision-making are more important.

Make decisions with your head, not your guts or your heart. Your gut may be right in some cases but it’s not a substitute for an investment strategy, especially when you’ll lose any profits on the next flight of fancy that turns into a loss. Consider using impartial tools like LevelFields AI that can analyze stock data and predict patterns without the emotional attachment that you’ll have. This can help you make more informed decisions.

Similarly, you should remember that there is a company behind every stock ticker and that buying stock isn’t about choosing a random combination of letters. By buying shares, you become part of the company’s ownership, which comes with an industry, competitors, notable executives, and quarterly earnings reports.

You should analyze your investment considerations carefully using the resources available to you. It helps to invest in companies that you care about, if they are solid, as you would like to research them.

There are many methods of analysis. Some focus on internal company/industry mechanics, others trade on news, some rely on graphs and technical analysis of the stock’s price movement, and some do all the above.

2: Build Positions Slowly

Most investment strategies make use of time, not timing. Many new traders think so much about finding the right opportunities, seeking short-term investments that they quickly fall out of love with.

For most investors, who aren’t day-traders but are regular people that keep investment portfolios, they build up positions gradually. Once you have identified companies that you have faith in, you keep hold of shares until they pay off or something happens that shakes your confidence.

This takes patience, naturally. Fortunately, you can use these strategies to build up your position:

  1. Dollar-Cost Averaging

Dollar-cost averaging is where an investor sets aside money and, at regular intervals, pays into a position every week or month. This builds the position slowly and so, while the price will fluctuate, it should average out.

  1. Buying In Thirds

Dollar-cost averaging is similar to buying in thirds but instead, you divide your cash by three and pick three points that you’ll buy shares. The intervals can be as close together or far apart as you want, depending on your cash and the company you’re investing in.

  1. Buy The Basket

Buying the basket, as it’s called, is just where you buy into many stocks. Instead of sinking your investing money into one stock and hoping for the best, you invest a little in all of the companies that meet your standard and wait. Over time, some of them should run and any wins should offset any losses unless you accidentally invest in a doomed venture (but that’s why analysis is so important!)

3: Have An Exit Strategy

When your investments pay off, you’ll need to exit your position to realize your gains and turn them into cold, hard cash. But of course, there is always the worry – what if the stock pops off next week? You should sell whenever you want to – it’s that simple.

If your investment is time-sensitive, where you want to see a change in the company before a certain date, then you should reassess the company and leave if nothing changes in your favor.

Many exit strategies make use of technical analysis and use tools like stop-loss orders to avoid losing too much money in investments. These are better for shorter-term investments or for basket portfolios that are full of stocks.

Conclusion 

With these three steps, you can become a better investor and make better trades. They are not guarantees for success, however, as that still depends on your investment attitude, the companies you choose, and the decisions you make.

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