604: Gravel Notes: Inside The World Of A WRC Mechanic

Alex Kalinauckas, Stuart Codling and Ben Hunt join forces at Silverstone over two days as McLaren and Williams launch their cars to start the 2025 F1 season. Alex and Ben kick off proceeds for McLaren's launch, the pair discuss why team principal Andrea Stella is confident McLaren can retain their place at the top of sport via their “innovative” MCL39, and why there’s still plenty left for development in the final year of the current regulations. There’s also a reaction to Oscar Piastri’s confident claim that he can win the 2025 Drivers Championship.  Stuart picks up the slack for Day 2 at Williams, as they launch their 2025 car, the FW47. He and Alex discuss Williams' new title sponsor in Atlassian, Alex Albon and how he sees the arrival of new teammate Carlos Sainz as an “opportunity” rather than a “challenge”. There’s also a chat about the similarities in what both drivers want from their new car, Sainz on the FIA’s push to fine drivers for swearing in press conferences, and how the Spaniard will handle fighting for points in 2025, rather than challenging for victories.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

14 Feb 26min

In the first of a new regular series on Autosport, Kevin Turner hosts the Autosport National Podcast, a weekly show that reviews all the action across the club and national racing scene in the UK. Joining Kevin on the show this week is veteran reporter Paul Lawrence as they review the current domestic Rallying scene, including the British Rally Championship and the aftermath of Storm Herminia damaging the recent rally of North Wales. If you would like to keep up with UK motorsport every week, take a look at our new National newsletter and sign up: https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/subscribe?a=Vbb5eh&g=RL2Lcd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

13 Feb 19min

Kevin Turner hosts the latest episode of the Autosport Podcast alongside Gary Watkins as together, they review the big news coming out of the World Endurance Championship as Ford announced a return to Le Mans for 2027. Together, Kev and Gaz ask why the car is built for the WEC regulations and not their North American counterparts with IMSA, as well as why Ford has decided to pull the trigger on a Prototype return now. There's also a look back at Ford's history of Le Mans participation, including the now-famous GT dynasty of the 1960s to the little-known C100 project of the 1980s. And finally, could McLaren be joining the WEC grid soon? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

6 Feb 31min

Autosport’s Kevin Turner hosts F1 pundit Karun Chandhok and Jonathan Williams, son of team founder Sir Frank, for this month's podcast series on the legendary Williams squad. Jonathan Williams provides plenty of behind-the-scenes insights on his father, key drivers and major events. In the fourth and final episode of the series, the trio discuss Williams as it enters the modern day. From parting ways with Renault to the rollercoaster that was the BMW deal, the famous shootout in 2000 between Bruno Junqueira and Jenson Button, through to the end of the V8 era and their final win together as a family, the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix with Pastor Maldonado. And now with Carlos Sainz joining the team in 2025, is Williams finally back on the right track with its most formidable driver pairing in years? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

27 Jan 1h 15min

It's the first glance at the driver transfer of the modern age as Lewis Hamilton headed to Maranello for his first Ferrari test this week. The first image of Lewis by Enzo Ferrari's office was liked over 5,000,000 times, one of the most liked posts in the sport's social media history. In a special bonus edition of the Autosport Podcast, Ben Hunt is joined by Filip Cleeren and Jake Boxall-Legge to break down the early news from such a huge event. Together, they talk about what Lewis has been doing across his first three days in Maranello, the team he's putting together behind the scenes, the challenges he faces as he adapts to life in red, and whether between Lewis and Ferrari, they can challenge for a title immediately in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

22 Jan 23min

Autosport’s Kevin Turner hosts F1 pundit Karun Chandhok and Jonathan Williams, son of team founder Sir Frank, for this month's podcast series on the legendary Williams squad. Jonathan Williams provides plenty of behind-the-scenes insights on his father, key drivers and major events. Episode 3 focuses on the 90's for the Williams family, and the period of dominance that came with it. The partnership of Renault, as well as Patrick Head and Adrian Newey, and two of their most celebrated cars, their Championship-winning FW14B and FW15C from 1992 and 1993. And of course, a deep dive on the drivers of the era, including Damon Hill, Alain Prost and Jacques Villeneuve. And as we've teased, a brilliant behind-the-scenes look at that 1997 decider in Jerez... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20 Jan 1h 24min

During the 20 years of International Formula 3000 as the main training ground for Formula 1, before it was replaced by GP2 in 2005, many motorsport legends passed through without becoming champion. From drivers that went on to become F1 race winners to Indianapolis 500 conquerors and sportscar heroes, we've attempted to rank the best nearly-men of F3000 during the latest episode of the Autosport podcast, which features special guest David Sears. Boss of the Super Nova Racing team that delivered titles with Vincenzo Sospiri, Ricardo Zonta, Juan Pablo Montoya and Sebastien Bourdais between 1995 and 2002, Sears joins chief editor Kevin Turner and Plus editor James Newbold to dissect our resident F3000 enthusiast's list. He also shares his anecdotes of the Super Nova drivers that made our list and reflects on those he raced against during a glittering driving career that morphed into becoming a team owner and driver manager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

16 Jan 1h 13min

Autosport’s Kevin Turner hosts F1 pundit Karun Chandhok and Jonathan Williams, son of team founder Sir Frank, for this month's podcast series on the legendary Williams squad. Jonathan Williams provides plenty of behind-the-scenes insights on his father, key drivers and major events, including what really happened at the controversial 1997 season finale. In Episode 2, the trio discuss the "boom" period of the team in the mid-to-late 1980s, with the arrivals of Honda and eventually Renault, their first "star" driver in Nelson Piquet and the emotions of the family for the famous 1986 British Grand Prix and Sir Frank's return. And just how did a Williams end up being driven around Ferrari's Fiorano test track? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

13 Jan 56min