Lance Stroll enjoys first F1 test running in 2014-spec Williams car

By Sep 23, 2016, 9:00 AM EDT
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Rising Canadian racing star Lance Stroll has begun private Formula 1 test running using a 2014-spec Williams car as part of his development program with the British team.

Stroll, 17, leads the FIA F3 standings by 68 points with two rounds remaining, and has been linked to a vacant seat with Williams in F1 for 2017 after securing enough points for a super licence.

As part of his development, Stroll will enjoy testing behind the wheel of the Williams FW36 car raced by Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas in 2014, as permitted under the F1 testing regulations.

“Lance is in the process of doing extensive simulator work at Williams and has undertaken a team immersion programme to help him develop further as a racing driver,” a spokesperson for Stroll told NBC Sports.

“This included him joining the team in Monaco and Canada to see how they operate over a grand prix weekend. He has done some work in the Williams simulator configured to an F3 car designed to help him with the F3 season.

“Lance is now moving into some work experiencing an older spec F1 car in between his F3 racing. Part of the work includes giving him some time in an old F1 car to prepare him for the differing performance a Formula 1 car gives.

“These track days have been designed to fit around this. He drives an FW36 (2014-spec car).”

Stroll would follow in the footsteps of Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon, F1’s most recent teenage drivers, should he get a drive with Williams for 2017.

However, the Canadian said over the summer that he is in no rush to make the step up to the top level, and is happy to consider other series for next season.

“I don’t want to rush. I’m not 25 years old, I’m still 17, so I do have time ahead of me,” Stroll said.

“But that’s a thing that’s important. We can’t just think we have time, take another year and another year because before you know it, it’s too late and there’s another 17 year old!

“One thing at a time. This year, we’re concentrating on this championship.

“And then next year, we’ll be in whatever it is: GP2, F1, IndyCar – whatever comes up, we’ll conquer next.”

Ford Mustang GT3 test has Austin Cindric dreaming of Daytona: ‘I want to drive that car’

By Mar 22, 2023, 2:30 PM EDT
Cindric Ford GT3 test
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
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Austin Cindric wasn’t the “mystery” test driver behind the wheel of the new Ford Mustang GT3 at Sebring International Raceway, but the Team Penske driver desperately wanted to be.

Ford CEO Jim Farley, an amateur sports car driver himself, made the big reveal via a Tuesday tweet that provided the first video evidence of the GT3 Mustang on track.

“I’ve watched the video in question about a million times,” Cindric said Wednesday during a Ford Performance Zoom news conference to promote NASCAR’s first road course weekend of the season at Circuit of the Americas. “Definitely exciting times for sure. I want to drive that car. It suits my experience level and also the relationships that I have.”

Ford will enter the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next season with its GT3 Mustang, entering a two-car factory effort (that will be managed by Multimatic) in GTD Pro and making customer cars available in the GT Daytona category.

That increases the likelihood of seeing more NASCAR drivers crossing over to IMSA. Cindric has been the only full-time Cup driver in the Rolex 24 at Daytona the past two years, but Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook has said the GT3 Mustang will provide more opportunities.

Ford has used its GT4 Mustang as a NASCAR driver development tool in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with Harrison Burton and Zane Smith combining to win the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in January.

“We’re excited about the Next Gen car and the new architecture there and the similarities between that car and GT3 and even GT4 cars,” Rushbrook said at the announcement of the Ford GT3 program in January 2022 at Daytona. “We think it’s a great opportunity and to do be able to do that in a 24-hour race and get NASCAR drivers even more time is something we need to consider taking advantage of that opportunity.”

Given his sports car background, Cindric probably still would be in the Rolex 24 regardless. He has eight IMSA starts since the 2017 season opener at Daytona, racing a Lexus RCF GT3 and Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the GT category. The 2022 Daytona 500 winner made his second LMP2 start this year with Rick Ware Racing.

But Cindric’s preference naturally would be in a Ford, particularly with sports car racing enjoying convergence and crossovers in both GT and prototype racing.

“It’s an exciting time in GT racing, just as it is now for prototype racing with a lot of new regulations and manufacturers building new GT3 cars,” he said. “And also the opportunity with WEC (the World Endurance Championship) and Le Mans and how that all lines up for that category of car. It’s definitely an exciting time. I want to be as much of a part of that as possible.”

Though those odds seemingly will increase with multiple Ford entries in the Rolex 24 field next year, Cindric said NASCAR drivers still have to put in the networking to land rides as he has in recent years.

“Now how (the GT3 Mustang) relates to specifically NASCAR drivers and how often they want to be in the Rolex, could it be an influence? Absolutely, as far as the tie-in with the manufacturer,” Cindric said. “But the challenge and the drive and the logistics of getting an opportunity for a race like the Rolex 24 will be just as challenging as it always is to find your one-off ride for the race. At least from my experience, that’s what I still anticipate.”

It turned out the “mystery” test driver wasn’t from NASCAR (Farley revealed the driver to be 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Joey Hand after a fan asked whether it was Joey Logano).

But Cindric believes there could be more Cup drivers — and perhaps himself — behind the wheel of Mustang GT3s in the future.

“There’s definitely more of a pathway than I think there would be before as far as Ford drivers are concerned,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll get the opportunity to drive that thing. It’s obviously a great looking car. That’s the first box you’ve got to check. And it’s cool (to have) a guy like Jim Farley, no doubt he’s a racer just as much as he is steering the ship for Ford. It’s cool to see he’s just as excited as the rest of us about it.”