Assen MotoGP, London Formula E and more
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Formula E - Battersea: Vergne is quickest of the second batch of five drivers in qualifying here at Battersea. The Andretti driver ends up on a 1m25.182s, which puts him just under eight hundredths behind di Grassi's best from the first mini-session.
Green flag
DTM - Norisring: The session is now go.
DTM - Norisring: We're a couple of minutes away from Saturday qualifying here at the Norisring. It's still overcast, but the track looks to have dried a bit since practice this morning.
Robert Wickens topped that session and Gary Paffett was fastest yesterday. It's been a strong start for Mercedes, which is undefeated at the Norisring since 2003.
If they can add to that run this weekend, it'll be the first non-Audi victory of 2015.
Norisring DTM 2015
Robert Wickens topped that session and Gary Paffett was fastest yesterday. It's been a strong start for Mercedes, which is undefeated at the Norisring since 2003.
If they can add to that run this weekend, it'll be the first non-Audi victory of 2015.
BTCC - Croft: This weekend should offer some happier hunting for the WSR BMW team, and currently it has the front three positions locked out: though the Priaulx-Tordoff-Collard order may well change as the laptimes tumble.
Priaulx's 1m25.089s will soon be lowered.
Priaulx's 1m25.089s will soon be lowered.
Trophy
Moto2 - Assen: Now he's getting used to winning, Zarco is sorting his celebrations too. He stops trackside on his victory lap to change his racing boots for a pair of clogs and then do a backflip. Nice.
BTCC - Croft: Second practice has started. A flurry of early activity as the installation laps are completed.
Goodwood FoS: AUTOSPORT Live's teenager-in-the-mid-1990s contingent is enjoying the McLaren F1 GTR - driven by Steve Soper no less - right now.
Although we haven't gone along with the whole 'modern F1 sounds rubbish' vibe (it really doesn't from trackside, just different) there's no doubt that the first generation of McLaren GT cars sounded stunning.
Although we haven't gone along with the whole 'modern F1 sounds rubbish' vibe (it really doesn't from trackside, just different) there's no doubt that the first generation of McLaren GT cars sounded stunning.
ERC - Ypres: All going smoothly for Craig Breen in Belgium still. Second fastest time to Freddy Loix on SS10 stretches his outright lead over Bryan Bouffier to nearly 13s.
Checkered flag
Moto2 - Assen: Zarco makes sure Rabat can't come back at him and takes his third win of the year.
Lowes completes the podium.
Lowes completes the podium.
Goodwood FoS: On our Festival of Speed live video stream right now, a lot of this sort of thing:
This is the section of the bill for very tasty retro sportscars (with modern stuff to come).
Goodwood 2015
This is the section of the bill for very tasty retro sportscars (with modern stuff to come).
Formula E – Battersea: Di Grassi and Prost traded fastest times in the first of the four five-car mini-sessions.
Di Grassi just pips Prost by 0.1573s. Bird is nearly eight tenths down in third.
Di Grassi just pips Prost by 0.1573s. Bird is nearly eight tenths down in third.
Moto2 - Assen: Zarco is now right on Rabat for the lead, and Folger's slide back continues - star rookie Alex Rins has taken him for fourth.
Zarco shoves his bike past Rabat into the lead, very assertive move.
Lowes is gaining on Rabat too.
Zarco shoves his bike past Rabat into the lead, very assertive move.
Lowes is gaining on Rabat too.
Crash
Moto2 - Assen: Last year ex-MotoGP winner Anthony West took an extraordinary underdog win for the QMMF team here in the wet.
This year he's been mounted by Salom at the first start and now had a big tangle with Lorenzo Baldassarri at the first corner to end a pretty rubbish day.
This year he's been mounted by Salom at the first start and now had a big tangle with Lorenzo Baldassarri at the first corner to end a pretty rubbish day.
Twitter
European F3 - Norisring: If you've been reading our race report, you'll have seen Jake Dennis had an incident with Arjun Maini.
Here's Dennis on social media with his blunt assessment of the incident:
"F3 is a joke this year!! How stupid does the driver have to be!! Lap down and you do something like that... #moron #gohome"
That's going to be a fun interview for our man in the paddock around now.
Here's Dennis on social media with his blunt assessment of the incident:
"F3 is a joke this year!! How stupid does the driver have to be!! Lap down and you do something like that... #moron #gohome"
That's going to be a fun interview for our man in the paddock around now.
Moto2 - Assen: Folger scorched away from the field early on, but he's been reeled in by reigning champion Rabat.
Marc VDS man Rabat slips ahead in the chicane. Just one win so far this year for Rabat and he's 40 points behind leader Zarco. Time to crack on.
Now Zarco is through to second with a similar move on Folger, and Lowes is lining up the German too.
Seven laps to go, is Zarco going to hunt down Rabat again?
Marc VDS man Rabat slips ahead in the chicane. Just one win so far this year for Rabat and he's 40 points behind leader Zarco. Time to crack on.
Now Zarco is through to second with a similar move on Folger, and Lowes is lining up the German too.
Seven laps to go, is Zarco going to hunt down Rabat again?
Breaking news
European F3 - Norisring: We had the first race of the European F3 weekend at the Norisring a little earlier.
Charles Leclerc was dominating in the wet but ended up winning behind the safety car as conditions got worse.
Here's the full story of an incident-packed race from MARCUS SIMMONS:
Norisring European F3 race one report
Charles Leclerc was dominating in the wet but ended up winning behind the safety car as conditions got worse.
Here's the full story of an incident-packed race from MARCUS SIMMONS:
Norisring European F3 race one report
Lights out
Moto2 - Assen: The race got going smoothly at the second attempt - for most anyway, Alex Marquez has crashed - and Folger did even better this time and shot right through to the lead ahead of Rabat and Zarco.
Breaking news
A round-up of the morning's news and incidents so far...
* Jean-Eric Vergne sets the London Formula E pace on a track hurriedly modified after problems in first practice.
* Miguel Oliveira pips Fabio Quartararo and Danny Kent in a Moto3 thriller.
* It's raining at the Norisring, where Robert Wickens was the DTM practice pacesetter
* Dani Pedrosa escapes a nasty MotoGP warm-up crash with cuts and bruises. A rabbit does not escape being run over by Alvaro Bautista
* Citroen on top in Paul Ricard WTCC practice, but pacesetters aside it's a very mixed-up field
* Jean-Eric Vergne sets the London Formula E pace on a track hurriedly modified after problems in first practice.
* Miguel Oliveira pips Fabio Quartararo and Danny Kent in a Moto3 thriller.
* It's raining at the Norisring, where Robert Wickens was the DTM practice pacesetter
* Dani Pedrosa escapes a nasty MotoGP warm-up crash with cuts and bruises. A rabbit does not escape being run over by Alvaro Bautista
* Citroen on top in Paul Ricard WTCC practice, but pacesetters aside it's a very mixed-up field
BTCC - Croft: We've just caught up with another driver making his BTCC debut this weekend: Support our Paras Racing's latest recruit Max Coates.
He described getting the final approval as "emotional", adding: "At the start of the week I wasn't a touring car driver, now I am. We're here and here for the rest of the year."
Coates, for those who don't know, was a podium finisher in the 2011 Ginetta Junior campaign but has only raced bit-part seasons since - last year, for example, he contested one Ginetta GT4 Supercup round and one Porsche Carrera Cup GB meeting.
He was 27th in FP1, two places behind team-mate Derek Palmer Jr in the other Infiniti Q50.
He described getting the final approval as "emotional", adding: "At the start of the week I wasn't a touring car driver, now I am. We're here and here for the rest of the year."
Coates, for those who don't know, was a podium finisher in the 2011 Ginetta Junior campaign but has only raced bit-part seasons since - last year, for example, he contested one Ginetta GT4 Supercup round and one Porsche Carrera Cup GB meeting.
He was 27th in FP1, two places behind team-mate Derek Palmer Jr in the other Infiniti Q50.
Max Coates Croft Infiniti Paras BTCC
Breaking news
Moto2 - Assen: The race is going to be cut to 16 laps from 24 but won't happen till 12.47 local time, just over half an hour late.
The MotoGP field really will be rushing onto the grid.
The MotoGP field really will be rushing onto the grid.
Crash
Moto2 - Assen: A replay suggests Salom ran into the back of Anthony West, which sent his bike tumbling end over end onto the run-off. It presumably spilt enough fluid on the way to alarm race direction.
Salom had a bit of a limp as he got up but seemed more concerned that his bike was turning into a bonfire.
Salom had a bit of a limp as he got up but seemed more concerned that his bike was turning into a bonfire.
Red flag
Moto2 - Assen: We've got a red flag. Salom's problem has covered Turn 1 in oil.
It'll be a complete restart, perhaps a shortened race and a compacted gap before MotoGP.
It'll be a complete restart, perhaps a shortened race and a compacted gap before MotoGP.
Lights out
Moto2 - Assen: Reigning champion Rabat grabs the lead off the line, ahead of a sliding Jonas Folger and Zarco.
Lowes fell back to sixth, while Luis Salom (who really hasn't had the best time in this series) is on the ground with his Pons bike firmly on fire. Salom is OK.
Lowes fell back to sixth, while Luis Salom (who really hasn't had the best time in this series) is on the ground with his Pons bike firmly on fire. Salom is OK.
Moto2 - Assen: Next up at Assen will be Moto2.
Normally the pattern is: Moto3 brilliant, Moto2 dull, MotoGP pretty good and made brilliant by the calibre of characters even if the race isn't.
But the last Moto2 race at Barcelona was superb, with poleman Johann Zarco fighting back from a first-lap brush to take a last-gasp win.
Zarco's on pole again now, with Tito Rabat and Sam Lowes alongside.
Normally the pattern is: Moto3 brilliant, Moto2 dull, MotoGP pretty good and made brilliant by the calibre of characters even if the race isn't.
But the last Moto2 race at Barcelona was superb, with poleman Johann Zarco fighting back from a first-lap brush to take a last-gasp win.
Zarco's on pole again now, with Tito Rabat and Sam Lowes alongside.
European Rally Championship - Ypres A surprise element to this year's Rally Ypres is a trio of Porsches driven by very special drivers.
Four-time WRC rally winner Francois Delecour, 2010 Le Mans winner Romain Dumas and 'forceful driving' legend and multiple Belgian rally champion Patrick Snijers all make take part in the R-GT category.
Delecour and Dumas were tied for ninth overnight, while Snijers had a spin earlier in the day and lies 27th. Expect Snijers to come through the field pretty quickly today.
Four-time WRC rally winner Francois Delecour, 2010 Le Mans winner Romain Dumas and 'forceful driving' legend and multiple Belgian rally champion Patrick Snijers all make take part in the R-GT category.
Delecour and Dumas were tied for ninth overnight, while Snijers had a spin earlier in the day and lies 27th. Expect Snijers to come through the field pretty quickly today.
Goodwood Festival of Speed: As well as following all the worldwide racing action on AUTOSPORT this weekend, you can watch the Goodwood Festival of Speed live:
Goodwood live video stream
Right now our own HENRY HOPE-FROST is chatting to the nation's own MURRAY WALKER ahead of the classic racing motorcycles then the contemporary Formula 1 cars hitting the hill.
Goodwood live video stream
Right now our own HENRY HOPE-FROST is chatting to the nation's own MURRAY WALKER ahead of the classic racing motorcycles then the contemporary Formula 1 cars hitting the hill.
Goodwood 2015
Formula E - Battersea: Vergne is the first driver under the 1m25s barrier. The Andretti Autosport driver has just posted a 1m25.351s to go three tenths clear from Piquet at the top of the timesheets.
European Rally Championship - Ypres: Rallying is far from left out of this massive bumper motorsport weekend, as Rally Ypres is well under way.
The prestigious Belgian event forms part of the European Rally Championship, with series leader and Peugeot 208 T16 factory driver Craig Breen leading overnight.
Interestingly Breen’s ex-Peugeot team-mate Kevin Abbring led early on Friday, but rolled his Citroen out of the event.
Rally journeyman Bryan Bouffier lies second – also in a Citroen – after setting four fastest stage times yesterday making up for a slow puncture and close encounter with a ditch.
Last year’s Junior champion Stephane Lefebvre made full use of his local knowledge, as he only lives down the road. The Frenchman is an impressive third considering it’s his first time on the rally in an R5.
The prestigious Belgian event forms part of the European Rally Championship, with series leader and Peugeot 208 T16 factory driver Craig Breen leading overnight.
Interestingly Breen’s ex-Peugeot team-mate Kevin Abbring led early on Friday, but rolled his Citroen out of the event.
Rally journeyman Bryan Bouffier lies second – also in a Citroen – after setting four fastest stage times yesterday making up for a slow puncture and close encounter with a ditch.
Last year’s Junior champion Stephane Lefebvre made full use of his local knowledge, as he only lives down the road. The Frenchman is an impressive third considering it’s his first time on the rally in an R5.
Breen/Ypres
Formula E - Battersea: It's now single-file through Turn 1 under no-overatking yellows, with the TECPRO barriers effectively shrouding the rollercoaster bump that was causing all the problems.
It hasn't stopped an improvement in the times. Buemi has just gone quickest with a 1m26.433s - a couple of hundredths quicker than Sarrazin's first-session best.
It hasn't stopped an improvement in the times. Buemi has just gone quickest with a 1m26.433s - a couple of hundredths quicker than Sarrazin's first-session best.
WTCC - Paul Ricard: It's Ma Qing Ha who finishes top of the session after a chaotic end.
The final minute was filled with drivers running wide off the circuit and Lopez was one of them. A lap almost certain to improve his position of 11th went out the window and Hua stayed top.
The final minute was filled with drivers running wide off the circuit and Lopez was one of them. A lap almost certain to improve his position of 11th went out the window and Hua stayed top.
WTCC - Paul Ricard: Into the final few minutes here and it's Ma Qing Hua on top, Lopez is down in 10th while Muller is back out on track. Loeb still in the pits with Tiago Monteiro.
Time for late position changes?
Time for late position changes?
Ma Qing Hua, Citroen, Paul Ricard WTCC 2015
Checkered flag
Moto3 - Assen: Fabio Quartararo didn't enjoy being beaten by Miguel Oliveira in that one and was punching his thigh in frustration (the thigh - a body part Niki Ajo has yet to cross the finish line on).
But he's cheered up by the time he joins an ecstatic Oliveira and the ever-present Kent on the podium.
Here's how they finished that one:
1 Miguel Oliveira
2 Fabio Quartararo +0.066s
3 Danny Kent +0.117s
4 Jorge Navarro +0.179s
5 Romano Fenati +0.252s
6 Enea Bastianini +0.526s
7 Brad Binder +0.540s
That was the lead group, then this lot...
8 Karel Hanika
9 Niccolo Antonelli
10 John McPhee
11 Francesco Bagnaia
12 Andrea Migno
13 Livio Loi
14 Hiroki Ono
15 Philipp Oettl
16 Jules Danilo
...finished covered by just 1.260s too as they fought over the final points.
Speaking of points, Kent marches on:
1 Kent 165
2 Bastianini 108
3 Oliveira 102
4 Fenati 86
5 Efren Vazquez 76
6 Quartararo 74
But he's cheered up by the time he joins an ecstatic Oliveira and the ever-present Kent on the podium.
Here's how they finished that one:
1 Miguel Oliveira
2 Fabio Quartararo +0.066s
3 Danny Kent +0.117s
4 Jorge Navarro +0.179s
5 Romano Fenati +0.252s
6 Enea Bastianini +0.526s
7 Brad Binder +0.540s
That was the lead group, then this lot...
8 Karel Hanika
9 Niccolo Antonelli
10 John McPhee
11 Francesco Bagnaia
12 Andrea Migno
13 Livio Loi
14 Hiroki Ono
15 Philipp Oettl
16 Jules Danilo
...finished covered by just 1.260s too as they fought over the final points.
Speaking of points, Kent marches on:
1 Kent 165
2 Bastianini 108
3 Oliveira 102
4 Fenati 86
5 Efren Vazquez 76
6 Quartararo 74
Formula E - Battersea: Here's what they are doing at Turn 1. The corner is being reprofiled with TECPRO barriers.
Battersea Formula E track changes
Formula E – Battersea: FP2 will begin at 10:50 am local time and will run for just 25 minutes.
Twitter
Moto3 - Assen: Wisdom (and a plug for an Aussie TV channel but it would be churlish for us to edit that out from his tweet) from a V8 Supercars (and Formula Ford) legend.
Russell Ingall's verdict on Moto3: "That was one of the best races I've ever seen on @Fox_Motorsport The Moto3 riders bang fairings way harder than V8 drivers bang panels."
Russell Ingall's verdict on Moto3: "That was one of the best races I've ever seen on @Fox_Motorsport The Moto3 riders bang fairings way harder than V8 drivers bang panels."
WTCC - Paul Ricard: We've had some surprising names at the top of the times but normality is resuming as Sebastien Loeb goes top.
Yvan Muller quickly follows into second just 0.047s off Loeb's 1m30.845s effort.
Yvan Muller quickly follows into second just 0.047s off Loeb's 1m30.845s effort.
Crash
Moto3 - Assen: Meanwhile... wow. Niklas Ajo was spat off the track at the chicane on the run to the finish, fell off the bike, somehow kept it upright as he clung to the handlebars and scooted down the grass on his knees.
He remained like that all the way back onto the circuit and then crossed the finish line in the same pose.
Only 17th but physics defying brilliance there. Which we probably haven't described adequately.
Somewhere between circus and contemporary dance on a not-quite-crashing motorcycle, at very high speed, across grass and asphalt. That better?
He remained like that all the way back onto the circuit and then crossed the finish line in the same pose.
Only 17th but physics defying brilliance there. Which we probably haven't described adequately.
Somewhere between circus and contemporary dance on a not-quite-crashing motorcycle, at very high speed, across grass and asphalt. That better?
Trophy
Moto3 - Assen: Oliveira holds off Quartararo and Kent on the sprint to the line to take the second win of his Moto3 career.
WTCC - Paul Ricard: The decision was made to put tyre stacks on Turn 2 and Turn 5 of the circuit to discourage the amount of drivers breaching track limits. Plenty of the field are still running wide across the circuit.
Moto3 - Assen: Oliveira slices back into the lead as Kent briefly moves into second, then gets repassed by Quartararo.
By: Matt Beer, AUTOSPORT staff, Scott Mitchell, Mitchell Adam, Gary Watkins, Jack Benyon, Marcus Simmons
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