Renault planning ‘fast, strong measures’ after Mexico engine issues

By Nov 3, 2017, 3:05 PM EDT
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Renault is planning “fast, strong measures” to respond to the string of Formula 1 power unit failures it suffered over the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, according to the manufacturer’s sporting chief, Cyril Abiteboul.

High-altitude conditions in Mexico City placed a greater strain on Renault’s engine components, resulting in issues for the teams powered by the French marque through practice, qualifying and the race.

Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull, Brendon Hartley of Toro Rosso and Renault works driver Nico Hulkenberg were all forced to retire in Mexico due to power unit problems, leaving the Red Bull pit wall uneasy as Max Verstappen pushed hard in the lead.

While Verstappen was able to pick up his second win of the season, Renault took little heart from the result in light of the failures, forcing it into a quick response ahead of next weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

“For its part, the Mexican Grand Prix was particularly difficult with a number of unacceptable mechanical problems, and we have the clear intention to take fast and strong measures,” Abiteboul said.

“The particularities of Mexico accentuated our weaknesses, but clearly we have not been successful in balancing performance and reliability.

“The performance of our engine has progressed a lot this year as the results in qualifying and in the race attest; we now have to find reliability, for both us and our customers, even if Max won magnificently in Mexico.”

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

By Mar 27, 2023, 3:00 PM EDT
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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.”