Rosberg has “massive buzz” upon returning to Germany

By Jul 27, 2016, 12:00 PM EDT
Getty Images
3 Comments

Home race wins have become the norm for the Mercedes AMG Petronas teammates, with Lewis Hamilton having won the last three British Grands Prix dating to 2014 and Nico Rosberg winning the most recent German Grand Prix in 2014 at Hockenheim.

After its year off the calendar last year and with Rosberg needing a win to stop Hamilton’s recent surge of momentum, a home race return might be coming at the perfect time.

Rosberg lost the World Championship lead for the first time this year after coming second to Hamilton in Hungary last week, and would recapture it this weekend with a sixth win this year.

“It was disappointing to lose the race at the first corner in Hungary. But I was really happy with my pace all weekend, so that gives me good confidence moving forwards,” Rosberg said ahead of this week’s German Grand Prix.

“I’m happy to have the chance to get back in the car again so soon – and especially happy that it’s at my second home race,” he added.

Rosberg recently had the chance to sample one of Mika Hakkinen’s championship-winning Mercedes-powered McLarens a few weeks ago and he hopes that, along with Hakkinen saying earlier this year that Rosberg was “ready to win a World Championship,” will give him a home race boost.

“I had a fantastic day at Hockenheim a few weeks ago driving Mika Hakkinen’s championship-winning car. That really gave me a massive buzz to be back racing in Germany.

“Driving in through the circuit gates brought so many great memories – from my childhood days at the DTM with my Dad right through to winning the Grand Prix for myself in 2014.

“Hopefully I can repeat that this year for the fans and for everybody at Mercedes. After this race it’s a well-earned break for the team, too. I’ll be pushing flat out to give them the result they deserve before they get some time to recharge their batteries.”

Rosberg also recently signed a two-year extension with Mercedes through 2018.

IndyCar disappointed by delay of video game but aiming to launch at start of 2024

By Mar 27, 2023, 3:00 PM EDT
IndyCar video game 2024
IndyCar
0 Comments

An IndyCar executive said there is “absolutely” disappointment that its long-awaited video game recently was delayed beyond its target date, but the series remains optimistic about the new title.

“Well, I don’t know how quick it will be, but the whole situation is important to us,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said during a news conference Monday morning to announce IndyCar’s NTT title sponsorship. “Motorsport Games has spent a lot of money, a lot of effort to create an IndyCar title. What we’ve seen of that effort, which is not completely obvious, is very reassuring.

“I think it’s going to be outstanding. That’s our shared objective, that when it is released, it’s just widely accepted. A great credit both to IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that our fans love.”

In June 2021, IndyCar announced a new partnership with Motorsport Games to create and distribute an IndyCar video game for the PC and Xbox and PlayStation consoles in 2023.

But during an earnings call last week, Motorsport Games said the IndyCar game had been delayed to 2024 to ensure high quality.

Somewhat compounding the delay is that IndyCar’s license for iRacing expired after the end of the 2022 season because of its exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games.

That’s resulted in significant changes for IndyCar on iRacing, which had provided a high-profile way for the series to stay visible during its 2020 shutdown from the pandemic. (Players still can race an unbranded car but don’t race on current IndyCar tracks, nor can they stream).

That’s helped ratchet up the attention on having a video game outlet for IndyCar.

“I wish we had an IndyCar title 10 years ago,” said Miles, who has been working with the organization since 2013. “We’ve been close, but we’ve had these I think speed bumps.”

IndyCar is hopeful the Motorsports Game edition will be ready at the start of 2024. Miles hinted that beta versions could be unveiled to reporters ahead of the time “to begin to show the progress in a narrow way to make sure we’ve got it right, to test the progress so that we’re ready when they’re ready.”

It’s been nearly 18 years since the release of the most recent IndyCar video game for console or PC.

“(We) better get it right,” Miles said. “It’s something we’re very close to and continue to think about what it is to make sure we get it over the line in due course.”