Welcome To 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES JHR's Rookie Argentinian Agustin Canapino

During his first test at Sebring in October, team principal Ricardo Juncos (l) instructs past Juncos Hollinger Racing IMSA driver Agustin Canapino (r) on the particulars of open-wheel INDYCAR racing platform. Agustin passed the test and was named as the second driver on a two driver team that includes 24 yr. old British born NICS driver in his second full year Callum Ilott. Image Credit: Chris Owens - NICS (2022) 

Welcome To 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES JHR's Rookie Argentinian Agustin Canapino

Meet Juncos Hollinger Racing's 2023 Rookie driver Agustin Canapino.

The 33-year-old (born: 19 January 1990) is one of Argentina’s most successful drivers, and is set to start competing the NTT IndyCar Series after securing 15 national championships in his homeland – winning multiple titles in the Super TC2000, Top Race V6, and Turismo Carretera categories. Canapino has already enjoyed a successful relationship with Chevrolet during his career and will continue this special relationship with Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR).

The newly-tapped IndyCar driver, the second 2023 pilot for JHR next to Brit Callum Ilott, has experience with JHR, having competed for the organization in 2019 in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, as well as the 12 Hours of Sebring, as part of the team’s Cadillac DPi entry.

Canapino got the opportunity to get his first taste of the current-generation INDYCAR car when he completed a private test with JHR in October 2022 at Sebring International Raceway. 

To begin the 2023 NICS championship season, Agustin was able to gain four days of track/seat time and relationship building at NTT INDYCAR SERIES Open Test held at the private facility - The Thermal Club - where he was able to post up at P21 in a field of 27 drivers.

The Thermal Club combined results of the two day/four session Winter Open Test as published by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The fastest time posted breaks any other published track time for the Long circuit configuration - 01:38.4221 tops the time posted by a Porsche 911 GT2 RS (991) at 2:08.0000 (est.) - Image Credit: NICS (2023)

It was noticed that Agustin Canapino was following Team Penske Chevrolet's Scott McLaughlin and tracking his speed as well as car placement through sections of the track - was this pre-arranged and did Agustin have conversations with the New Zealand born, three-time champion of the Australian V8 Supercars, 29 yr. old Scott McLaughlin? 

Two recognized stock car style champions tracking nose to tail on the Private Pavement of The Thermal Club - Rookie learns from 2022 P4 season Team Penske transition master. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2023)

When Motorsports Journal's Edmund Jenks asked for a follow-up response to what was observed and his overall impressions of his first official NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams event in 2023 - here are his responses.

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Yes, Scott approached very kindly and I am very grateful for that. He told me I will need time and practice but the most difficult thing to learn for us, the touring car drivers, is trust in the aerodynamic and of course accustom the body to G forces.

This still photos video catches a rare opportunity to witness the comraderie found when accomplished drivers are able to share in the process of their evolving passions. Here we see Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin, who came to INDYCAR after a very successful career in driving Stock/Sports cars in Australia, introduce much of the transitional lessons he learned over these last couple of years with Agustin Canapino, himself a very accomplished Stock/Sports cars in Argentina. All Images Credit: Edmund Jenks (2023)

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: My first experience was really good, honestly much better than I expected. The main thing is I could do the whole test without mistakes and I did a lot of laps [both] Thermal and Sebring. 

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: I have a lot of work to do, I still with a lot of doubts and with things to learn, but the starting point was really good [better] than everybody expected, inclusive me and the team. 

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Now the goal will be to finish a race, doesn't matter the position, the objective is finish the race and gain experience.

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: I didn't follow wheel to wheel [as the structure of the Open Test on The Thermal Club dictated - no passing] and [this skill] is the big challenge I will have in the race. So, it's just the beginning, we need to keep calm, obviously I will be in the last positions but our focus will be in learn and finish the race. During the year we will progress and see how far we can go.

The Thermal Club Long configuration which includes two configurations joined together run in a counter-clockwise rotation - the North Palm Circuit in BLUE and the South Palm Circuit in RED - delivered a test track day for the fastest laps ever turned here on Private Pavement Long - as measured by NICS 3.067 mile(s). The tracking images of Agustin following Scott were taken from a balcony where TruSpeed Autosport is located - at the top of the front straight away of the South Palm Circuit. Image Credit: Fastlaps

Before taking to the "Private Pavement" track at The Thermal Club, Agustin Canapino, spent about 19 minutes with writers who follow the NTT INDYCAR SERIES throughout the season and proved, to him and members of the press, that English as a second language is no big deal after only three months. 

NTT INDYCAR SERIES News Conference

Agustin Canapino - Press Conference

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

THE MODERATOR: Great to have the rookie for Juncos Hollinger Racing, Agustin Canapino, after so much experience in Argentina and now carrying the Argentine flag for the team.

Just announced a couple weeks ago, and you just arrived to the United States 10 days or so ago probably.

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Yes. Hello, everybody. It's only two weeks ago.

Q. How has the transition been?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Oh, difficult. I am very happy to be here. Of course it's my first time outside my country, outside my language. I never speak English all the time, so sorry for my English for everybody, but I'm trying to learn day by day, and I'm excited about this opportunity.

Q. Callum said that you only started learning English last year; is that correct?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Three months ago I only could say hello.

Q. How are you learning? Who's teaching you?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: A teacher from Argentina, a friend to my main sponsor and manager. I started to do two, three classes a week, and I don't know, I am here.

Q. How long are the classes?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Hours and a half, but I focus a lot to at least try to learn to speak, to communicate, and of course I need to improve a lot, but at least I can speak with the engineers and some people.

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2023)

Q. It's actually fascinating. Your English is fine; it's mind blowing. Like we're idiots.

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: No, I think it's really bad. This morning actually a lot in the car because I need to speak English every time, but I don't know.

Q. This is your first time out of Argentina?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Yes, my first --

Q. You've never left Argentina before?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Yes, I left, but only for a few days, but it my first time living outside my country. I did my career in South America and speak Spanish, only a little bit of Portuguese. When I did stock car in Brazil I did two races, but otherwise Spanish.

Q. You're the first Argentinian I've seen since the World Cup. How was that?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Oh, my God, we are very proud. We are very proud, especially for Messi. He's like a God in our country, and he is a God. But we are very proud, very proud of the soccer in our country is very, very important sport, very popular.

We are in a bad moment in our country, economic moment is very bad in that moment, so this situation is very good for all the people because we are in a bad moment.

Q. I know Ricardo has been talking to us for a while about wanting to add a second full-time driver alongside Callum to continue to build this INDYCAR team. When did the prospect of joining INDYCAR and conversations with Ricardo and Brad come to your attention? How long had this potential opportunity been in motion for you?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Oh, everything started in the test because we did exhibitions in Argentina. We had a lot of people watching the exhibitions, very successful event. It all started there in Sebring and I started the exhibitions.

Honestly, I didn't expect that, so I have all of my 2023 ready in my series in Argentina, and Ricardo called me in December, we have a chance to do that, so of course I need to change everything, to talk with my team owner in Argentina, make a new life very different.

But I take this opportunity because for me it's my first opportunity outside my country. Of course I know, it's very difficult to me. I never did any full season in a single seat car, but I'm very excited and I will do my best. I will do my best.

Q. What about this INDYCAR opportunity, as one who has had so little time in single seaters, open-wheel racing, and someone who's had such an incredibly successful career in stock cars in South America, why was this something you wanted to give a shot?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Because it's INDYCAR. INDYCAR is in my opinion the most demanding and competitive category in the world. For me it's a big opportunity to try something outside, something in international level. We are here with Grosjean, with Dixon, with Power, of course Callum, one of the best drivers in the world, so for me it's a big opportunity.

Of course we are in trouble because I don't know the cars, the tracks, the ovals, but I love the challenge. I love the situation. So I know it's very difficult to me, but I have confidence. Of course I need time. I need time. I need to learn day by day, test by test. That's it.

Q. Again, your English is amazing, but were you worried? Is there a backup plan if you wouldn't have gotten it so quickly in three months? Were you nervous about being able to get up to speed quick enough?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: No, I don't know, so I'm very -- always in my life -- it was very difficult, honestly. I lost my father two years ago. I have a very tough infancy -- I don't know the name, but when I was a child always was very difficult to me, so I am like this.

I am very focused on when I have an objective in my mind, I go for that. I don't know. Honestly, I think my English is very bad. Sorry.

Q. It's not.

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: This is the situation. I always try to do perfect everything, and if I can't do it perfect, for me it's not do it. I am like this.

Q. You always figure it out; it always works out?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Yeah.

Q. What's important about knowing English with communicating to the engineers? Are there certain things you had to know how to talk to them about the car? Are you going to be learning that in the next few days?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: It's very important. It's very important, but I need to practice. Need to practice the conversation, need to practice to hear the engineer. Ricardo helped me, of course. Tomorrow and on Friday and of course in St. Pete. But I need practice. I need to do laps. I need to hear my engineer in English. I need to speak with you in English. I need to practice and keep my focus on everything.

Q. How big of a culture shock was it moving from Argentina to Indianapolis?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: The cold. But I love United States. It's very different. All is very different. I'm very happy to be here. I like this experience with my girlfriend. All is very, very different, the food, the weather. I don't know, all -- I'm enjoying a lot the experience. Only two weeks I am here. I need to live a lot more.

Q. The exhibition run that Ricardo had with the car in Argentina, how big was that, and how do you describe to us really how that helped seal the deal for you to be an INDYCAR driver?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Yes, yes. Maybe about that, it's better if Ricardo talks about that. But it was very successful. We had a lot of people, more than 70,000, because in our country, the motorsport is very popular. It's the second sport after the soccer. We have a lot of fans, so you can see in social media the people are very crazy with this opportunity for me.

We have a lot of fans of motorsport in South America, especially in Argentina.

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2023)

Q. Do you think there will be any translation from the Tourismo Carretera to the INDYCAR?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: No, it's very different. They're different because the demanding -- especially the physical demanding. INDYCAR is the most demanding about the physical conditioning in the world, so I think this is my big challenge, the physical, especially because the races are very long here.

I did 40 minutes, 45 minutes races in my country and here are two and a half hours, and especially the ovals. I think all is very different. But at the end of the day, it's racing cars. I think this is the most common thing is racing cars.

Q. You've had a long relationship with Chevrolet; how cool is that to keep continuing that --

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Oh, it's awesome. It's awesome, because in my country the Chevy fans are a lot. You can see a lot of people with tattoos, with the Chevy logo, with my car, with my sign. The Chevy brand in my country is very popular, so for me it's a good thing.

Q. I wanted to ask, you say a racing car is a racing car, but obviously those Chevys are front wheel drive, the TC car is front wheel drive. What are the bad habits that you have to get out of doing in order to be where you have to stop thinking like a touring car driver and start thinking like an INDYCAR driver? What are the big challenges there?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: I said racing cars, of course you need to go fast in every car. I say that. But it's very, very different. It's much more difficult, much more difficult an INDYCAR car than I drove in the past. Of course I know that, and this is the challenge.

I love that, because now I have to do more professional, more preparing, and I have the best drivers in the world in the track. All is very different, of course, and most demanding.

Q. How much simulator time have you had so far?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Simulator? Not too much. Not too much because I am a work in progress with simulator in my home, but I am a Williams Esports driver in the sim racing world. I love the simulations. Of course I did a lot of races or tests with an INDYCAR sim, but it's not the same. It's very different and more difficult.

Q. I know there are some things that are common to you, the Chevrolet logo, visit Argentina. Are you a Porteño, or are you from other places inside Argentina?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Where I am from?

Q. Yeah, are you a Porteño?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: No, I am from a small town like two hours from Buenos Aires. The name is Arrecifes. I am from there.

Q. Being from Arrecifes, what led you to start racing cars throughout Brazil or Argentina?

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Yeah, I did my entire career in Argentina, because in our country we have a very strong categories and very popular. We have very good sponsors. We have a lot of fans in the tracks. Always we have 40, 30, 50,000 per race watching the races; 50 cars in only one category.

Head down and busy learning how to control a Dallara DW12 Chevrolet at The Thermal Club. Image Credit: James Black - NICS (2023)

It's very popular. It's very important, but of course it's touring cars, it's not INDYCAR, and low car drivers. The big difference now is the other drivers, the car and the ovals. This is my big three difference I will have this year.

Q. You started 18 years ago like a virtual driver. Could you talk a little bit about that. Plus, your INDYCAR rookie season starts with a race near to St. Petersburg. Talk about that.

AGUSTIN CANAPINO: Yes, I couldn't do go-karts because I couldn't for economic situations and a lot of other things about my family, and I started when I was 15 years old. I was older in comparison of the other drivers.

Everything in my whole career, it's like now very weird, very strange, very challenge. I did all my career like this, with a lot of difficulty, but I love that because I grew up with all of these situations, and I can take this opportunity with a lot of motivation unless, of course, it's very -- I don't know what happened, but I am here with a lot of confidence, and I am very happy to be here.
[ht: FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports]

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES has always been a transition option to accomplished drivers from around the world to give topline professional luster to their careers. What is great about this era in INDYCAR culture is the broad shoulder acceptance shown by the professionals in this exclusive club of athletic pursuit. Again, witnessed by the time spent during this first time open test at a Private Pavement facility at The Thermal Club. 

How knows, this two day The Thermal Club session went so well, INDYCAR may just place some roots or commitments on the ground here and start growing some date palms along the way.

Agustín Canapino will make his competitive NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut in the season-opening event on the Streets of St. Petersburg, on March 5th, 2023. Welcome Agustin Canapino. 

... notes from The EDJE

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TAGS: NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Chevrolet, Agustin Canapino, Argentina, #ThermalClub, Open Test, Content Days, Juncos Hollinger Racing, JHR, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, Australia, Long, North Palm, South Palm, The EDJE

HAAS F1 2020 Livery Unveiled To Mixed Reaction

Better visibility than modified single color presentations. Image Credit: Jalopnik, Modified - Edmund Jenks (2020)

HAAS F1 2020 Livery Unveiled To Mixed Reaction

Last Thursday, HAAS F1 Team unveiled its competition livery on the car with which it will contend the 2020 Formula One season.

Everyone has an opinion, especially when it comes to F1, but one opinion posted by Bradley Brownell of Jalopnik was particularly pointed.

This excerpted and edited from Jalopnik -

Here's The First Boring Ass Formula One Livery Of 2020 
By Bradley Brownell - Thursday 10:00PM

Freed from the ridiculousness of its Rich Energy partnership, the team was able to ditch its boring black and gold livery - which Elizabeth gave a D+ rating last year. 

Able to forge their own path, starting from scratch, the sky was the limit when it came to designing the team’s new livery. They had an opportunity to seize the carp and make their car look totally fresh and new. And what did they do? 

Left-rear quarter panel look. Image Credit: Jalopnik, Modified - Edmund Jenks (2020)

They went as boring as they absolutely could, painting the damn thing black, red, and white. I have no other reaction than to throw up my hands in disgust. When you have every color available to you on the face of the planet, why why why go with the most boring choices possible? Ya basic.
----
As boring as the livery is, the rest of the car looks alright. 
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The team says it has learned from its mistakes and put them into making this 2020 car better. The car was allegedly derailed by an upgrade at the Spanish Grand Prix which did not produce the results the team was hoping for. Shortly after that the team put all of its efforts into the 2020 chassis development. It’ll be interesting to see if that paid off.

Differentiation in color helps, going away. Image Credit: Jalopnik, Modified - Edmund Jenks (2020)

“It’s always exciting to see the development of a new Formula One car and undoubtedly the VF-20 has to deliver where our previous car didn’t,” said team boss Guenther Steiner. “With the regulations remaining stable into this season, it’s allowed us to improve our understanding of the car and to scrutinize ourselves more in order to find solutions and applications to channel into the design of the VF-20.

“Last year was definitely a set-back, one I would never have asked for, but you learn from such situations – we all have. Everybody at the team was forced to look at themselves and understand what they can do better. I’m looking forward to seeing the VF-20 make its track debut. As always in testing, you want many things, but lots of mileage, reliability and speed would be welcomed as we ready ourselves for the first race in Australia.”

The team will again use the same driver pairing employed in 2019 of Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grossjean.
[Reference Here]

Straight on, this car will be seen in a crowd. Image Credit: Jalopnik, Modified - Edmund Jenks (2020)

The only redeeming value of this somewhat simplistic livery, it may translate more easily to the broadcast viewer from the side to previous HAAS liveries.

From the side, the broad top to grounding bottom White then Black with the bold Red letters of the team name, will capture one's eye much more easily than most of the liveries of last year's display.

Then upon considering front view shots, the stark definition from White to Black may help to pick HAAS cars out from others in the pack (where HAAS traditionally hangs) - this may be interesting to observe.

As always, one person's boring may end up another's observation point. In movement, in a pack, this may serve HAAS better than previous body wrapped presentations during in-race visual activity than on stationary display.

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: HAAS, F1, Formula One, 2020, Kevin Magnussen, Romain Grossjean, Guenther Steiner, Australia, VF-20, Jalopnik, Bradley Brownell, PEAK, Jack & Jones, BlueDEF, The EDJE

Down Under & Down Home With Will Power At The End Of 2018 IndyCar Season

Australian IndyCar driver, Will Power, on his 12 years in the Verizon IndyCar Series - "When you look at the field, every single driver on that board can win a race in the right situation. The competition is tougher because everyone gets more accustomed to the cars and tracks and the whole system, and it's great to be involved with it. It really is. It's great to be a part of that competition and create a situation where these drivers become household names, as they should." Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2018)

Down Under & Down Home With Will Power At The End Of 2018 IndyCar Season

Could anything in racing top Will Power’s emotional 2018 Indianapolis 500 victory last May?

Probably not, says Team Penske’s ace, the Australian-born driver who battled his inner demons to overcome self-doubts that he could ever win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” at the unforgiving Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

But despite the triumph, don’t for a moment think Power is finished with business at IMS – he badly wants to add another 500 win to his resume before giving any thought to retirement.

“Oh, man, the 500 is the coolest thing I have won, something I’ve been working so hard on for so long,” said the 37-year-old Power, who will begin his 11th year at Penske in the 2019 IndyCar Series season. “To finally get it, it was so, so good. But I want to win it again – the 500 and the series championship – before I retire.”

Power visited Penske Corp. headquarters on Tuesday with the Borg-Warner Trophy to meet with Penske staff and sign autographs. Power spent several hours on his feet in the Penske boardroom before taking a seat to chat with IndyCar.com.

On his victory at Indy, Power, the 2014 IndyCar Series champion, admitted it still stirs his soul.

“At the end of the day, I had built it up so big in my mind,” said Power of his struggles to win the 500. “You start to wonder, ‘Will I ever do it?’ It had been so elusive, so hard to crack. But, it just turned out to be a perfect day of execution. I had a fast car. I knew I was going to get there. We simply were the quickest out there that day and no one was going to get me once we had clear air.”

While Power, who has recorded 35 series victories, said Tuesday “I don’t think you’ll ever top your first 500 win,” he won’t rest on his laurels.

“You pinch yourself after winning your first 500,” said Power. “It is such an epic event. There is nothing like it. It is the greatest trophy to win in sports. But, man, I want another one.”

An accomplished triathlete, Power is one of the sport’s fittest drivers. Last weekend, he took first in his age group in a triathlon held on Lake Norman, near Charlotte, N.C.

“Not a big deal, really,” said Power, who raced against 250 competitors. “Not doing anything too crazy (about his offseason plans). Just relaxing for a couple months before the preseason begins; then straight back into it.”

Power knows driving for a second series championship and a second Indianapolis 500 victory in 2019 will be extraordinarily tough. As well as having to beat out Penske teammates Josef Newgarden and Simon Pagenaud, Power, who finished third in points this year, must contend with 2018 series champion Scott Dixon, series runner-up Alexander Rossi and a growing list of fast youngsters.

“The talent of the young guys coming in is exceptional,” said Power, who pilots the No. 12 Verizon Dallara/Chevrolet. “It’s just a tough field, top to bottom. But I love it; it’s the way it should be.”

It won’t get any tougher than on Belle Isle May 31-June 2 next year, when the Motor City hosts the 2019 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear, the sole doubleheader IndyCar Series race weekend on the calendar.

The 2.3-mile Belle Isle street course is wickedly tough on drivers and equipment and two races in two days can be bone-jarring and energy-sapping.

“It is very grueling,” said Power, a two-time Belle Isle winner. “But I really enjoy it – being in Roger Penske’s and Chevrolet’s backyard.”

This past season, Power won three races and claimed four poles.

“We were super-fast everywhere we went,” said Power. “Yes, we were frustrated at times – two mechanical failures, radio issues and me making several mistakes – but the 500-win trumped everything, so it doesn’t matter. It was just the way it was.”

Power said he continues to be happy with the new-for-2018 IndyCar and its universal aero package.

“The car looks great, races better, way better on road courses, and is nimble and fun to drive,” said Power. “Obviously, there will be some little tweaks here and there, but the series has kind of ticked the boxes they needed to. They put the car in the drivers’ hands.”

Renewing rivalry with five-time IndyCar champion Dixon will spur Power on in 2019, he said.

“It’s pretty cool to compete against a driver like Scott who is getting up there in records with A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti,” he said. “It makes this sort of a golden era of racing to race one of the greats like Scott. It’s good for the future of INDYCAR.”
(ht: Mike Brudenell via IndyCar.com)

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: Will Power, Team Penske, Indy 500, Toowoomba, Australia, Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach, The EDJE

McLaren F1 Says "HALO" & G'Day To Gandys In Australia

A brilliant first move by a shoe manufacturer in an effort of cross-promotional branding. McLaren, as with all other F1 racing teams, have to field a car with the new cockpit protection superstructure known as a HALO. Image Credit: Gandys

McLaren F1 Says "HALO" & G'Day To Gandys In Australia

McLaren teams up with the adventurous British lifestyle brand for next week's Grand Prix in a brilliant sponsorship deal.

Today’s announcement marks the first brand, Gandys, to take advantage of the unique shape of the new-for-2018 Halo cockpit protection structure, which has frequently been compared to the distinctive upper of a flip-flop. For the Australian Grand Prix, Gandys branding will be a feature on the front part of the HALO on both McLaren cars.

Gandys logo clearly sported on the joining section of the protective HALO superstructure. Image Credit: McLaren

Additionally, Gandys and McLaren will collaborate to create a limited-run ‘Halo-edition’ flip-flop, with 100 per cent of all profits going directly to the Orphans For Orphans foundation. They will be available from gandyslondon.com and all Gandys' London stores, as well as through mclarenstore.com.

Gandys was founded by brothers Rob and Paul Forkan, who were inspired to start the brand after tragically losing both their parents in the Tsunami that affected much of southeast Asia in December 2004.

The Gandys brand began with a single flip-flop design, with its initial success enabling Rob and Paul to achieve their goal and open the first Orphans For Orphans foundation kid’s campus, in Sri Lanka in 2014.

F1 champion driver Felipe Massa had this reaction he posted on his Facebook page which was latter shared with the social media platform Reddit. Great minds think alike but it was McLaren and Gandys that made this promotiona dream come true. Image Credit Felipe Massa via Reddit

Alongside their charitable foundation, the Gandys brothers have continued to grow the brand since its inception in 2012. Gandys introduced full menswear and womenswear collections to the brand in 2016, and continue to support Orphans For Orphans by donating 10 per cent of their profits to the foundation. The second campus was opened last year in Malawi, with plans to open more across the world.

John Allert, McLaren Chief Marketing Officer, said:
“We’re delighted to have Rob, Paul and the team at Gandys join us for the Australian Grand Prix. The placement of the logo, on the MCL33’s Halo, was not only perfect from a branding perspective, but also a great opportunity to underline Gandys’ charitable commitment to providing a safer, more protective environment for those at risk.

“Collaborating with Gandys on a limited-edition co-branded product was also a meaningful step for us. By giving 100 per cent of all profits to the Orphans For Orphans charity, McLaren is also able to help a very deserving good cause.

“Showcasing this partnership in Australia, where we race just a stone’s throw from Melbourne’s beautiful St Kilda beach, just felt like the best possible opportunity for Gandys to showcase its brand and noble cause on the international stage.”

Gandys co-founder Rob Forkan said:
“We were absolutely thrilled when McLaren came to us with this idea. When the brand was created, Paul was living in Melbourne, and I went out to surprise him on his birthday to tell him about the idea for Gandys. After managing to persuade him to return to the UK and start the brand, it’s really exciting to be going back. In fact, it will be the first time we’ve returned to Melbourne, so it’s great to feel we have come full circle!

“By putting Gandys’ branding on the car’s Halo, we can help to strengthen the message behind our Orphans For Orphans initiative; creating a protective and inspiring environment for children at risk. It is a step in the right direction for the safety of the drivers and a great step for Gandys.

“When we started Gandys we started working on a small scale, helping a few children. Now we are helping more and more vulnerable children all around the world. We hope the halo will have a similar impact in Formula 1, as we know that even if it only saves one life to begin with, it will go on to have a wider impact.”

“On a personal note, as huge fans of Formula 1 and McLaren, this was an opportunity that was simply too good to pass up. We can’t wait to see Fernando, Stoffel and the whole team in action in Melbourne next weekend.”
(ht: McLaren)

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: McLaren, Gandys, HALO, Flip Flop, Felipe Massa, Formula 1, #F1, Facebook, Reddit, Melbourne, Australia, The EDJE

ALMS' David Calvert-Jones Gives Mid-Life Crisis A New Meaning

CJ's lid used for the pursuit of his newest machine environment to conquer. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

ALMS' David Calvert-Jones Gives Mid-Life Crisis A New Meaning

CJ, as David Calvert-Jones prefers to be addressed, took his first laps around the famed street course at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in preparation for the debut at his adopted "home" track for the second race of the 2013 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón season.

"It’s a home race," exclaimed CJ after a couple of test runs during open track sessions at the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Media Day, April 9th. "At least Long Beach is the closest we get to Australia! But I’m really thrilled to race at Long Beach for the first time. It’s a challenging circuit – absolutely no margin for error. Not even a millimeter."

The Competition Motorsports 911 GT3 used by CJ to take his first laps around the 1.97 mile, 11 turn temporary street course during the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race media day. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

Most race car drivers begin with a vision of being one of this rare breed of dreamers and technicians when they get behind the steering wheel of a tractor, then a car on a dirt farm road, and eventually by the ripe old age of 8 or 9, find themselves competing with others with go-kart platforms used to develop the skills necessary to eventually race cars at the highest of professionally sanctioned levels.

Not so with CJ - his life took a decidedly different path. Growing up around Melbourne, Australia beginning August 12, 1969, CJ became a pilot because around the land down under, the territory is so large (as with the United States' Alaska), if one wishes to get around and be useful to others, one needs to fly. Along the way CJ developed the talent and business acumen to manage large scale flying service operations and international investments.

**SLIDESHOW>>

In 2004, CJ decided to relocate to Los Angeles where he flew helicopters outfitted as camera platforms and was able to deliver memorable action images used in films with recognizable titles of “Transformers,” “Secretariat,” “Domino,” “Horrible Bosses,” and “We Are Marshall” among many others. He became CEO of of Helinet Aviation Services, a best-in-class provider of helicopter flight services to a broad range of markets, including film, executive transportation, hospital patient transport, etc.. CJ was responsible for the successful management of Helinet's aerial coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  As the only commercial operator cleared by the FAA to fly in the restricted airspace above the hurricane's affected areas and as a result, Helinet's aerial video footage was shown on all the networks in the United States and across the world.

CJ is currently the owner and president of Helifilms, an aerial production company with offices in the United States, Australia, England and South Africa.

This would be good enough for most folks but CJ's core passion is to be able to push the limits of man and his machines. He found his way to placing his physical command sensibilities to automobiles on a bit of a lark when a friend of his asked him to attend a Vintage Auto Racing Association event at Auto Club Speedway. While there, he was invited to drive a racing prepared BMW and was bitten to become focused driving automobile platforms at the greatest of speeds and limits.

CJ (right) closes out another successful race weekend with a runner-up result. He finished at least one race on the podium in all but one of his five IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge doubleheader weekends in 2012, and all of those trophies came on racetracks he hadn't driven on prior to the week of each race event (ctrl-click here for video). Image Credit: Competition Motorsports (2012)

Last year, he decided to devote his driving attention to the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama and came away with one class race victory and achieved the runner-up position (P2) in the season points championship. He was invited to try his hand at the final American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race of 2012 at the Petite Le Mans in Atlanta in a GTC Class Porsche and liked the experience.

CJ now finds himself at the age of 43 in the troughs of a mid-life crisis of opportunity ... the opportunity to challenge man and his machines at the highest levels in American sports car racing. CJ expects that the crisis he will be delivering (not having) at mid-life is at least a podium finish against a field filled with drivers 75% his age, or less, who began driving four wheeled automotive platforms before the age that CJ took to the skies in Australia.

Look for David Calvert-Jones ... CJ ... as he joins another Australian race car driver, IZOD IndyCar Series Will Power - who began being a race car driver by racing karts, racing the concrete lined streets at the 39th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach April 19-21, 2013. You'll find CJ driving the second race of his rookie season in the ALMS GTC Class driving the No. 99 Competition Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 for two hours on Saturday, April 20.

... notes from The EDJE