WSR and DTM paddocks send their support to Jules Bianchi

By Oct 19, 2014, 2:00 PM EDT
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As the European racing season came to a close this weekend, two of the biggest paddocks took a moment to send their support to Jules Bianchi as the Frenchman continues to fight for his life in hospital in Japan.

Bianchi was left with severe head injuries following an accident towards the end of the Japanese Grand Prix two weeks ago, and the motorsport world has since sent all of its thoughts and support to the Frenchman and his family.

As per the most recent update, Bianchi remains in a critical but stable condition, with his Marussia team recently calling out false reports about the accident.

Earlier this week, the drivers racing in the World Series by Renault programme – Formula Renault 3.5, Eurocup 2.0 and Eurocup Clio – united for a picture with a giant poster reading “Forza Jules”. Bianchi finished second in the Formula Renault 3.5 championship in 2012, narrowly losing out to eventual champion Robin Frijns. He would go on to graduate to F1 just a few months later.

Following the example set in the F1 paddock at last weekend’s Russian Grand Prix, the drivers in the German touring car championship (DTM) formed a circle on the starting grid ahead of the final race of the season at Hockenheim today.

As the motorsport world continues to wait for good news from Japan, we can only continue to send our love and support to Bianchi and his family at this difficult time.

Ryan Hunter-Reay hired as replacement for Conor Daly at Ed Carpenter Racing

By Jun 8, 2023, 9:05 AM EDT
Ryan Hunter-Reay Carpenter
Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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Ryan Hunter-Reay was named to replace Conor Daly in Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 20 Dallara-Chevrolet, starting in the NTT IndyCar Series event next week at Road America.

Hunter-Reay is the 2012 series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner. He finished 11th for Dreyer & Reinbold last month in the 107th Indy 500, his first start since the 2021 season finale. He drove full time for Andretti Autosport from 2010-21.

“We need to improve our competitiveness and I wanted to add a fresh perspective from a driver like Ryan who has a massive amount of experience and success as well as a reputation as a team leader. I am excited to welcome Ryan to the team,” team owner Ed Carpenter said in a team release. “We have worked together in the past as teammates and he tested for ECR at Barber Motorsports Park in October 2021, where he made an immediate impact as we were able to qualify one of our cars on the pole following that test. I am confident that his experience and technical abilities will be an asset to ECR as we move forward toward our goals as a team.”

Hunter-Reay has 18 IndyCar victories, most recently in 2018. He also is a winner in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, having been a part of winning entries in the 2020 Twelve Hours of Sebring and 2018 Petit Le Mans. Last year, he was an endurance driver for Cadillac Racing while being on standby for Chip Ganassi Racing.

He replaces Daly, whose departure was announced a day earlier in what the driver and team said was a mutual decision.

“I was surprised when I got the call from Ed,” Hunter-Reay said in a team release. “He described how frustrated he was that his team has not been able to realize its potential despite their efforts, investments, as well as technical and personnel changes over the past few years and asked for my help. Ed and I are very close friends and have been for a long time. I’ve worked with the team in the past and they are a very talented group with high expectations and a committed partner in BITNILE.COM.

“This will certainly be a challenge for me as well. It’s a tough situation jumping in a car in the middle of the season without any testing in what I believe to be the most competitive series in the world. Certainly, part of my motivation in saying ‘yes’ to Ed is the great challenge ahead. The last time I turned right driving an NTT IndyCar Series car was in October of 2021 with this team at Barber. However, I remain very confident in both my driving and technical abilities and believe by working with the talented people at ECR and Team Chevy, while representing BITNILE.COM, we will make progress. I am going to do everything I can do to help the team achieve its long-term objectives.”

Said Milton “Todd” Ault, the chairman of sponsor BitNile.com: “It is great for BitNile.com to be aligned with an Indy 500 Winner and an NTT IndyCar Series champion. I have followed Ryan’s career for years and I am confident he will challenge the entire ECR team to perform at higher levels. I wish everyone luck at Road America.”