February 22, 2015
Published on tags: General Formula Challenge

 

James Kirk takes a look at the teams and offers insightful (read likely way off) predictions!
The 2015 Formula Challenge season looks to hold the strongest field seen in the series history. Containing two previous champions at GPVWC, plenty of unseen talent as well as the regular returning faces 2015 may show the best colours of Formula Challenge to the fullest (red seems to be getting a lot of coverage this year for example).

Racing Team Schroten
2014 Position - 6th
Drivers - Scott Berrisford and Tommi Ojala

On paper, things look good for the Dutch outfit who are now the longest running Formula Challenge outfit on the grid (the only team to take part in the series every year since its inception).

Ojala was a good points scorer in early 2014 before non-attendance and poor form began to creep in though surely the true coup must be the signing of Scott Berrisford. The Englishman, pivotal in the campaigns of Enterprise GP in Formula Challenge 2014 and TheSixthAxis Racing in Supercup 2014, can instantly be bookmarked as a Drivers' title contender. That said, the true impact of this 2014 star is hard to judge in light of his new rivals. For the outfit however, a top ten spot seems guaranteed.

Katana Motorsports
2014 Position - 7th
Drivers - Justinas Ribelis and Olli Pelkonen

A competent line-up of Mark Wicks and Terence Grech in 2014 saw Katana become one of the many new outfits to make a name for themselves, cruising into the top ten. However, losing both drivers to higher divisions is certainly a blow and question marks must be raised over how strong their replacements are.

Ribelis featured only once in Formula Challenge last year and was unable to score points whilst his more prolonged Open Series campaign did feature a podium but was marred by multiple retirements. His team mate Olli Pelkonen shows a bit more promise but was criticised for shaky racecraft and running before he could walk by jumping up the Career Ladder prematurely.

Nevertheless, a refocus for Pelkonen at a new team could yield better results. For Katana however, surely aspirations must be lowered this year.

Bastvik Grand Prix
2014 Position - 9th
Drivers - Rasmus Salo and Tobias Olsson

A team which found its feet midway through 2014 but fell away near the end of the season, Bastvik return with an all new line-up of Rasmus Salo and Tobias Olsson.

As of the publication of this article, Olsson tops the times in Open Practice at Melbourne though it's his race consistency which is criticised more than his evident raw pace. Salo should help bring some stability to the team though reattaining a top ten spot should be the number one priority in 2015.

Team Proline
2014 Position - 10th
Drivers - Sandeep Chodha and Bence Zsupanek

10th in 2014 really didn't do Proline justice as a team who signed very good drivers just not all at the same time. In Chodha and new-boy Zsupanek however, the German outfit may have found the winning formula.

Zsupanek looks pacey whilst Chodha has been tipped for greatness in the future - if the line-up is maintained all season then a top five position beckons.

Zedderick Racing
2014 Position - 12th
Drivers - Andrejs Pestovs and Ben Willis

Zedderick made a good start to 2014 with wild yet pacey Roy Verzijl scoring the majority of the team's points. However following his promotion to Supercup with Fox Racing, results began to take a turn.

It may be more of the same in 2015 unfortunately as neither Andrejs Pestovs or team mate Ben Willis look to be consistent points scorers. Looking for the positives may be the order of the year as both drivers look to develop this year more than push for podiums.

Viking Racing
2014 Position - 13th
Drivers - James Ross and Thomas Hinss

Entering their third year of Formula Challenge, Viking has enjoyed lower midfield success and looks set to enjoy more of the same in 2015 despite the new look.

New recruits James Ross and Thomas Hinss look capable of inconsistent points finishes and will likely aim to capitalise on reverse grid races. Matching the team's 13th place finish in 2014 will be a good benchmark for the developing duo.

YTF1
2014 Position - 16th
Drivers - Teemu Toikka and Teemu Valkeejarvi

Also entering their third season of Formula Challenge, YTF1 have clear aims to move up the Formula Challenge pecking order. Gone are Wopke Hoekstra and Adam Ozgur to other teams to be replaced by the 'Two Teemus' Toikka and Valkeejarvi.

Toikka proved a constant source for points last year with Velocity Racing whilst Valkeejarvi demonstrated plenty of potential with the most Open Series wins of last year and some promising signs of pace in the dying embers of Formula Challenge 2014. A push into the top ten appears realistic.

BackMarker Brigade
2014 Position - 21st
Drivers - Simon Smith and Andreas Wauters

BMB can consider themselves lucky not to be replaced by new blood in 2015 following yet another season living up to their name with the exception of strong end of year results by Lewis McGlade.

Unfortunately neither Smith or Wauters look destined to challenge for points on a regular basis though, as always, the team has the support of anyone with a soul to do so!

Cosmo Autosport
2014 Position - 18th
Drivers - Hansko Mebius and Richard Coxon

A late entrant last year, Cosmo can also feel confident in fighting for higher positions in 2015. Coxon is a shrewd signing who can score decent points on his day whilst the signing of ex-Enterprise driver Hansko Mebius will provide the team with proven quality.

Though a top ten may be a bit too far to stretch for, an improvement is almost guaranteed.

Centurion Grand Prix
Supercup Demoted
Drivers - Andrew Waring and Victor Silva

Up until two weeks ago, Centurion looked to be dead on arrival in their new home of Formula Challenge. What a turn around though. Andrew Waring may be new to GPVWC but his pre-season pace and proven quality outside of the league should see him challenge for the title.

His team mate Victor Silva was well known for reverse grid success in 2014 and the Portuguese driver is likely to be expecting the same. It could be a nice, stable year for Centurion though as long as Waring stays on-board.

Scuderia Basilea
Supercup Demoted
Drivers - Bruno Sousa Ferreira and Jari Bruppacher

How the mighty have fallen. Basilea will feel gut-punched when looking at the past two seasons of their Career Ladder journey and though Ferreira and Bruppacher are decent signings, there should be no threat to the top ten teams here.

A stop to the rut will be surely a good thing for the team to look forward to however.

Karjala Racing
Formula Challenge Returnee
Drivers - Ari Nieminen and Lewis McGlade

Returning after one year out, Karjala look to be running a very competitive line-up. Nieminen drops down from an unspectacular 2014 Supercup campaign and is joined by Most Improved FC driver of 2014 Lewis McGlade.

The Englishman certainly looks to have the edge here and could be challenging for high honours whilst Nieminen will be looking to regain some successful form. A strong year to be expected.

Epic Racing Team
Formula Challenge Returnee
Drivers - Mike Schroten and Wopke Hoekstra

Another returnee is Epic Racing and the English outfit has decided to go all Dutch with proven riders Mike Schroten and Wopke Hoekstra. Though a relatively unspectacular line-up, the team can expect a decent haul of points and satisfaction of being back amongst the established teams.

Dogecoin Racing
Formula Challenge Debut
Drivers - Thomas Jacobs and Ben Warren.

Such racing. Many Shiba. Wow. Popular name it may be but Dogecoin looks solid with Thomas Jacobs dropping down, like Nieminen, after a disappointing 2014 Supercup season with Formula Challenge regular Ben Warren lining up alongside his fellow Englishman.

Like Epic, an unspectacular campaign looks in order but in such a strong field, points will do!

Triple Twenty
Formula Challenge Debut
Drivers - Jayden Wright and Arjan Zijlstra

At first glance, Triple Twenty looks set for a poor season with their first foray into single seaters. However, testing times tell a different story as the first of the Wright brothers and Zijlstra look to in fact have very promising pace.

Watch out for Triple Twenty as my predicted surprise team of the season. A top ten isn't unreasonable.

Arrow International Racing
Formula Challenge Debut
Drivers - Sam Jones and Mike Bell

A brand new team is always blessed to sign drivers with previous experience such as Sam Jones and Mike Bell though despite this success, Arrow should be in for a quiet first season. Top fifteen should be the goal.

Fanatec Draig Racing
Career Ladder Returnee
Drivers - Balint Hammer and James Kirk

Returning to the Career Ladder after two years out, Draig look set to form a strong challenge straight from the off. Though inconsistent in two seasons gone by, Kirk has shown pace from time to time and like many others with a good run could see himself further up the Drivers' table.

The real threat however will be coming from rookie Balint Hammer. The Hungarian's pace looks ominous and will put him in good stead for a title charge. The team is rated as top five material by many.

Ice Cold Racing
Formula Challenge Returnee
Drivers - Eric Stranne and Jesper Nielsen

THE team to beat. With Enterprise GP, Eric Stranne strung together an incredible points scoring streak in the back end of the season with the exception of one retirement in America whilst his team mate Jesper Nielsen (previously Taulborg) was a strong contender for podiums with Smile Power before abandoning his campaign to focus on World Sport Series.

Nielsen went on to win that championship and with Stranne the reigning International Touring Cup champion, it's not hard to see why these two shouldn't be in the title hunt for both Formula Challenge 2015 titles.

MadCape Racing Team
Formula Challenge Debut
Drivers - Lars Brugman and Adam Wright

New team MadCape seem to have secured yet another solid line-up by bringing in Formula Challenge race winner Lars Brugman and new prospect and brother to Jayden, Adam Wright. A quiet season in the midfield seems to be the order of the day for this outfit.

Deltec Racing Team
Formula Challenge Debut
Drivers - Denis Mitchell and Adam Ozgur

Deltec failed to impress in the 2014 World Sport Series season though perhaps they might find their first team points at GPVWC here. Mitchell is an unknown but Ozgur can score points on his day. Like a few others, aiming for a top fifteen spot should be the optimistic target.

Downforce iZone Racing
Formula Challenge Debut

The wildcard team. Downforce, if supplied with the right Open Series drivers, could find themselves far from last. Luck needs to be on their side though.



James Kirk's 2015 Formula Challenge Team's Prediction

1: Ice Cold Racing
2: Team Proline
3: Karjala Racing
4: Fanatec Draig Racing
5: Centurion Grand Prix
6: Racing Team Schroten
7: Bastvik Grand Prix
8: Triple Twenty
9: Dogecoin Racing
10: Epic Racing Team
11: YTF1
12: Cosmo Autosport
13: MadCape Racing Team
14: Viking Racing
15: Arrow International Racing
16: Katana Motorsports
17: Scuderia Basilea
18: Downforce iZone Racing
19: Zedderick Racing
20: Deltec Racing Team
21: BackMarker Brigade