Latest news with #StoffelVandoorne
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
All about Stoffel Vandoorne - the Tokyo E-Prix Round 8 winner
Image credit: Stoffel Vandoorne/Instagram Down but not out! That's exactly how Maserati MSG Racing driver Stoffel Vandoorne approached the Tokyo E-Prix Round 8, starting from 14th on the grid and going on to clinch a remarkable victory. It was nothing short of a come-from-behind win for the 33-year-old, who in fact left Nissan's Oliver Rowland—who had started from pole—behind to claim the top spot. Soon after the win, Vandoorne's name was all over social media, with fans eager to know more about the man from Belgium. Stoffel Vandoorne's much-awaited triumph came three years after his last victory, which was at Monaco in 2022. He'll now aim to carry this winning momentum into the Shanghai double-header at the end of this month. Who is Stoffel Vandoorne? Born and raised in Kortrijk, West Flanders, Vandoorne competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Peugeot and in Formula E for Maserati. His passion for racing began early—he started karting at the age of 6. His father took him to the World Karts track in Kortrijk, Belgium, where he took his first steps toward the thrilling world of motorsport. Vandoorne had to battle financial hurdles in the early stages of his career. Funding was a constant struggle, but his talent saw him rise through national and international competitions, earning success along the way. He progressed to junior formulae in 2010. His first major success came that same year when he won the F4 Eurocup championship with the FFSA Academy. That win helped him advance to Formula Renault, where he won the Eurocup in 2012. A year later, he finished runner-up in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2013. Also Read: Stoffel Vandoorne on clinching long-awaited Tokyo E-Prix Round 8 victory: 'I'm just super happy our plan paid off' Vandoorne's journey also included a stint in Formula One. He joined the McLaren Young Driver Programme in 2013 and remained part of the setup for several years. His big day came in 2016 when he made his Formula One debut for McLaren at the Bahrain Grand Prix, replacing the injured Fernando Alonso. Impressed by his performance, McLaren signed him as a full-time driver alongside Alonso for the 2017 season. He raced, scored points, earned applause—but was released at the end of 2018. Since then, he has served as a reserve driver for several teams, including McLaren, Mercedes, Racing Point, and Aston Martin. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Stoffel Vandoorne on Tokyo E-Prix triumph: 'The plan perfectly played in our hands'
It cannot be just a coincidence that Maserati MSG Racing driver Stoffel Vandoorne started from the 14th position on the grid and went on to win the Tokyo E-Prix Round 8. He even managed to beat Nissan's Oliver Rowland, who had started from pole. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Vandoorne shined while others struggled with poor visibility, a slippery track, and grip issues as it rained cats and dogs during the Tokyo race. Not only that, he also recovered from a spin on the wet track to cross the finish line first. The Tokyo winner says it's all because of how their plan fell in place to perfection. Stoffel Vandoorne shares their strategy for Tokyo race Stoffel Vandoorne revealed that their winning strategy involved a calculated risk of taking the Pit Boost early in the race, which could have worked in their favor if there had been a race stoppage, allowing them to save time during the gap. "It was not an easy race, but a lot of opportunities with the rain and the management. We kind of gamble a little bit with our strategy but it was also calculated at the same time. The plan perfectly played in our hands, and the chances of this happening in Formula E are very, very slim,' Vandoorne told Formula E in an interview. "It was difficult because I had to manage so many things. I was on the radio with my engineer in between laps and he was giving me advice on the gap that I had to Oliver (Rowland) to make sure I was safe enough with my energy. I was struggling, and I was down to 10% at some point and I had to bring the car home so there was a lot of management to do," he added. Vandoorne moved to Maserati MSG Racing last season and is in love with his new team. Talking about the same, he said, "I'm just happy for the team, for myself, it's been a little while. They are such a good group of people, some familiar faces from the past as well, their vibe is super cool, their base is Monaco and that is my home as well. They are making my life easy." Also Read: Stoffel Vandoorne's much-awaited win came three years after his last victory in Monaco in 2022. He would now be looking to continue the winning streak at the Shanghai double-header at the end of this month.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Stoffel Vandoorne on clinching long-awaited Tokyo E-Prix Round 8 victory: 'I'm just super happy our plan paid off'
Image credit: Stoffel Vandoorne/Instagram Maserati MSG Racing 's Stoffel Vandoorne returned to the spotlight after three years by securing victory in the rain-affected Tokyo E-Prix Round 8 this weekend. He completed the Pit Boost at just the right time during an incident-packed race to clinch his first win since the Monaco E-Prix in Season 8 , 2022. He comfortably surpassed reigning Formula E champion Oliver Rowland to cross the finish line first. Stoffel Vandoorne wins Tokyo E-Prix Round 8 The Belgian driver crossed the finish line to win Maserati MSG Racing's first race of the season after building a lead of over 30 seconds on Oliver Rowland of Nissan after exiting the Pit Boost pit stops on Nissan's homeground. The team's plan was to jump for their mandatory Pit Boost stop early by burning through their usable energy quick-fast, hoping for a subsequent stoppage to the race - made more likely in tricky, soaking conditions at Big Sight. Sharing the details of his strategy, Vandoorne said after the win, 'Super happy that our plan actually worked! It was a very bold and aggressive strategy decision to burn a lot of energy at the beginning so we could open our pit window early. Then obviously we were the first ones to pit and we got a bit lucky with the red flag, and the field got bunched up again. After the restart, it was very difficult to bring the car home - a lot of management to do, giving comms to the team and making sure I had enough energy to make it to the flag. ' 'I knew exactly what was going on, I knew that I would inherit the lead at some point and I just had to bring it home. I was probably a little bit too safe at some points, and made a couple of mistakes that shouldn't have happened. In the end we brought it home and I'm just super happy our plan paid off,' he added. Also Read: Tokyo E-Prix Round 8 results: Stoffel Vandoorne clinches long-awaited win in wet conditions; Oliver Rowland finishes second Sharing pictures of the winning moment, Vandoorne wrote on Instagram, 'VICTORY in Tokyo!! We ran an aggressive strategy to offset ourselves to the others and today it paid off! Great teamwork to bring this one home.' Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hankook Tire Masters Tokyo's Complex Street Circuit at 2025 E-Prix Double-Header
GEN3 Evo iON Race Tire Showcases Unmatched Versatility Across Tokyo's Demanding Layout Stoffel Vandoorne and Oliver Rowland showcase their mastery of the Tokyo street circuit in Rounds 8 and 9, demonstrating skill and precision GEN3 Evo iON Race tire demonstrates precision handling and adaptability on Tokyo's complex street circuit Hankook's title race to be held in Shanghai from May 31 to June 1 TOKYO, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Set against the dazzling skyline of Tokyo's Ariake district, the 2025 Tokyo E-Prix double-header delivered two days of electrifying racing action. Hankook Tire & Technology (hereafter Hankook), a global leader in tire innovation, once again exemplified its pioneering spirit and engineering excellence through the outstanding performance of its GEN3 Evo iON Race tire during Rounds 8 and 9, Season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (hereafter Formula E). As the exclusive tire supplier for the all-electric racing series, Hankook continues to drive the evolution of sustainable, high-performance motorsport worldwide. Held over two consecutive days on Tokyo's uniquely complex street layout — a circuit combining regular road surfaces, high-speed straights, and tight technical corners — the races demanded nothing less than perfection. Repeated acceleration and heavy braking across unpredictable asphalt conditions placed relentless stress on every component, pushing tires to their absolute limits. Hankook's GEN3 Evo iON Race tire met these challenges head-on. Engineered for precision, endurance, and adaptability, the tire delivered unwavering grip, structural stability, and agile responsiveness even under Tokyo's intense race-day pressures. Throughout the double-header, drivers relied on Hankook's cutting-edge technology to execute daring overtakes, maintain critical pace, and manage energy without compromising performance. Stoffel Vandoorne and Oliver Rowland secured hard-fought victories on Tokyo's demanding circuit in Rounds 8 and 9, respectively, underlining the critical role that Hankook's GEN3 Evo iON Race tires played in enabling precision, consistency, and peak performance. Therefore, Oliver Rowland strengthened his position at the top of the drivers' standings with 161 points, while Nissan Formula E Team demonstrated their growing dominance in the teams' championship, propelled by the strength of the Nissan powertrain. Maximilian Günther (DS PENSKE) commented, "The demanding circuits really make you work. They throw a lot at you — quick straights, tight corners, and unpredictable grip. But the GEN3 Evo iON Race tires really hold up, even in the final laps when performance matters the most." Through this commanding performance, Hankook further solidifies leadership as a true innovator in EV racing, delivering tires that empower drivers to push boundaries and redefine what is possible on the world's most demanding circuits. The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship now heads to Shanghai, China, on May 31 and June 1, where Hankook will enhance its presence as a title race sponsor. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd. Sign in to access your portfolio
Japan Times
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Japan Times
For Formula E, ‘sustainability is at the heart'
In the world of professional sports, winning is everything. But Formula E, which hosted the second Tokyo E-Prix this weekend at Tokyo Big Sight, is a notable exception. Founded with a mission of promoting electric vehicles, Formula E has always placed sustainability at the forefront of its raison d'etre. Now in its 11th season, those efforts are paying off. Since its fifth season, Formula E's carbon emissions per race have dropped by 41% thanks to improved efficiency, and the series is on track to meet its science-based targets in line with keeping global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In 2020, it became one of the first major sports organizations to reach net zero and is one of the best-performing sporting organizations in the area of sustainability. 'We've accepted since the get-go that Formula E is not single-minded, but actually like a bicycle organization,' said Julia Palle, Formula E's vice president of sustainability. 'We're using, in essence, the platform of motorsport, but sustainability is at the heart. It runs through the vein of the organization.' Culture shift Drivers don't reach elite levels of motorsport without being ultracompetitive and Formula E's 22 drivers are no exception. Among that number are former Formula One drivers like Saturday's race winner Stoffel Vandoorne, Jean-Eric Vergne and Sebastian Buemi, who is also a four-time World Endurance Championship champion with Toyota Gazoo Racing. So to create a championship with a twin focus of competition and sustainability was no easy feat, and it didn't happen overnight. 'It takes time to build a culture,' Palle said. 'It definitely took us a good couple of seasons before we could sense that the culture was really implemented and running through not only Formula E as a business but also the ecosystem.' 'For the teams and the partners joining the series, obviously the electric element is very important and they understand that sustainability is at the core of the series.' That jives with the sentiments of team bosses, who say that sustainability is never far from the forefront, even when championships and titles are on the line. That's in large part because sustainable operations are not optional and are part of the rules and regulations that govern Formula E's 11 teams. 'In some sports, winning is the most important thing and teams can self-destruct for the purpose of winning. They'll do whatever it takes. But in Formula E, we do that but within the environment that we created,' said Sylvain Filippi, Envision Racing's managing director. 'Everybody is aligned,' said Nissan team principal Tomasso Volpe about the team's sustainability initiatives. 'We give ourselves targets to improve in different (key performance indicators) year after year. And so far we have improved in all of them.' For the Yokohama-based electric car pioneer, the benefits of participating in Formula E go beyond promoting the brand to a large audience, with the tech developed for its race team often making its way into road cars. For example, the development of more efficient batteries for the race car has helped the company make major improvements in the battery life for its commercial vehicles. Those kinds of improvements will become even more important in the coming years — by 2030, Nissan is aiming to have most of its car lineup be electric. For a team not backed by a major automaker such as Envision Racing, which is owned by Chinese renewable energy firm Envision Energy, the purpose is a bit different and comes down to raising awareness about key technologies that can help improve the health of the planet. 'We're not here to sell cars,' said Filippi. 'We're here to promote sustainability, fight against climate change and get people excited about solutions that will help the climate. That's really what it's all about.' EV headwinds Global growth in electric vehicle sales has slowed, but experts are still optimistic about a continued rise in uptake in the coming years. In 2024, more than 20% of the new cars sold worldwide were electric, according to the International Energy Agency. Growth has been particularly slow in Japan, where hybrid vehicles remain the far preferred option. Last year, sales of electric cars experienced their first decline in the country in four years, falling 33% to just under 60,000 cars. For Palle, those headwinds only reinforce the sport's mission to spread electrification to new markets, Japan included. This year marked the second Tokyo E-Prix, and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike noted the importance of building momentum toward net zero when the race was first announced in 2023. 'I think we're racing in Tokyo because we have this shared vision with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government of achieving the net-zero transition,' Palle said. 'And so they are using us basically as a platform to support the EV campaign and the strategic approach that they are promoting to their citizens.' The opportunity of a home race was not lost on Nissan's Volpe. Showcasing Nissan's prowess in electrification for a home crowd was an exciting opportunity, particularly because this year's event featured two races following strong ticket demand for the debut event in 2024. 'I hope that this big attendance helps to change the perception of electric vehicles,' he said. 'Because when you see electric vehicles fast and racing ... we hope that this makes people consider electrification as a key technology to be excited about when they drive a normal car.' Model for others Formula E scored 81 out of 100 in the 2023 Global Sustainability Benchmark in Sports (GSBS) report, tied with German soccer club Borussia Dortmund for the top spot. The average score within the sports industry was 47. 'Sustainability is literally lived in Formula E, and the entire team's dedication was felt throughout the audit process,' said GSBS CEO Christian Hartmann. So beyond Formula E's goal of influencing consumer habits, the sport also sees itself as a model for other organizations to follow. 'It's very important to keep in mind that in sustainability, there's no such thing as competition,' Palle said, adding that Formula E regularly shares its challenges and successes with other organizations. 'The reality is that every sport thinks it's very unique, so some things might not be able to be scaled up, but it's very, very clearly defined as part of our mission to share and evangelize whatever has been successful,' she said.
