Manor makes breakthrough with first 2015 on-track running in Malaysia - MotorSportsTalk

After surviving administration and the sale of most of its assets over the winter, Manor Marussia F1 Team claimed a significant victory in practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix today by completing its first on-track running of 2015.

The ex-Marussia operation was revived in the off-season thanks to fresh investment and the efforts of the management at Dinnington to get the team back on the grid in 2015.

Despite traveling to Australia for the opening race of the 2015 season two weeks ago, Manor did not participate in any of the race weekend sessions as it continued to work on rebuilding its cars and readying them for running.

However, the team made an early statement in Malaysia by heading straight out at the beginning of the first free practice session, and went on to complete 34 laps in total on Friday.

“We are thrilled to be back on track again, finally seeing all the hard work and determination paying off,” team principal John Booth said.

“I’m very satisfied with what we have achieved today. On what has essentially been a shakedown and practice day – which the other teams completed a couple of months ago – we’ve achieved 34 laps of reliable running and that is a really good effort when one considers the problems teams typically encounter on the opening day of running a car.”

Booth also believes that drivers Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi will have no problem in qualifying for the race on Sunday. Both drivers must record a lap time that is within 107% of the quickest time in Q1 to secure a place on the grid on Sunday.

“We were also encouraged by our early pace in relation to the 107% rule and solid performances by both drivers on their first day in the car,” Booth said.

“Of course, there is a huge amount of work still to be done, both here in Malaysia and ahead into the season, but we’ll take some reward from the day nonetheless. Most importantly, we are back doing what we do best – racing.”

Stevens was pleased to get behind the wheel of an F1 car for the first time since last November’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he made his debut in the sport for the now-defunct Caterham F1 Team.

“It’s really nice to be back in a Formula 1 car and to get down to the business of racing,” Stevens said. “The day ran very smoothly versus our planned programme and I’m particularly pleased that my times in both sessions were inside the 107%.

“Considering how little running we have done, today is a really good step and my thanks to the team for a tremendous effort. We’re not under any illusions about the challenges that lie ahead though and we have a busy night in front of us to work through the data to try to improve and set ourselves up for the best showing possible tomorrow.”

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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.”