Having lost his place at Ferrari to Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa could take his former team mate’s place at Lotus.
The outgoing Ferrari driver told Brazilian newspaper Globo Esporte he had approached the Enstone team about driving for them next year.
“We are negotiating,” he said. “In my opinion, Lotus has a competitive car, which is what I want.”
Massa has also approached McLaren about a drive in 2014. However Massa indicated the Lotus discussions had been more encouraging so far: “With Lotus, the contact was very good.”
Raikkonen’s departure has improved Romain Grosjean’s chances of remaining at Lotus, as team principal Eric Boullier tries to retain some continuity in his driver line-up ahead of the coming overhaul of the engine regulations.
But while Grosjean has proved quick he has also struggled to shake off the reputation for being accident-prone he picked up last year.
Massa, the 2008 championship runner-up, is in his eighth season with Ferrari and has won 11 races for the Scuderia. After announcing his departure from the team last week he said: “I want to find a team that can give me a competitive car to win many more races and challenge for the championship which remains my greatest objective.”
Beta Motorcycles joins SuperMotocross in 2024, Benny Bloss named first factory rider
Benny Bloss will race for the factory Beta Motorcycles team in 2024 as that manufacturer joins SuperMotocross as the ninth brand to compete in the series. Beta Motorcycles will make their debut in the Monster Energy Supercross opener at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California in January.Benny Bloss finished among the top 10 twice in Pro Motocross, in 2016 and 2018. – Beta Motorcycles
“The wait is over and we can finally share everything we have been working towards,” said Carlen Gardner, Race Team Manager in a press release. “It has been a great experience being a part of this development and seeing the progression. The only missing part was finding a rider that would mesh well with our Beta Family.
“After a one phone call with Benny, we knew it would be a good fit for him, and for us. We are happy to have him on board for the next two years and can’t wait to see everyone at Anaheim in January.”
Bloss has a pair of top-10 rankings in the division with a sixth-place finish in the Pro Motocross Championship in 2016 and a seventh in 2018. His best Supercross season ended 15th in the standings in 2018.
“I’m extremely excited to join the Beta Factory Racing team,” Bloss said. “It’s cool to see a brand with such a rich history in off-road racing to come into the US Supercross and Motocross space. I know this team will be capable of great things as we build and go racing in 2024.”
Bloss is currently 22nd in the SuperMotocross rankings and has not raced in the first two rounds of the Motocross season.
Testing for Beta Motorcycles is scheduled to begin in August and the team expects to announce a second rider at that time.
The family-owned brand adds to the international flare of the sport. The company was founded in Florence, Italy in 1905 as Società Giuseppe Bianchi as they built handmade bicycles, The transition to motorcycle production in the late 1940s.
Beta Motorcycles competed and won in motocross competition in the late 1970s and early 1980s with Jim Pomeroy and other riders.
