Podium for Smiley as McLaughlin retakes title lead
Hitech Racing driver McLaughlin now leads Molnar by 5.5 points ahead of the sixth round of the season in Zandvoort.In his first year of car racing, McLaughlin also leads the rookie championship by 82.5 points over Bearman, who is the younger brother of Haas Formula 1 driver Ollie. In the British Touring Car Championship, Northern Ireland's Chris Smiley collected his best result of the season by finishing third in race one. The Restart Racing driver qualified second and dropped to fourth on the opening lap, but passed championship leader Ash Sutton on the final lap to take a podium spot. Smiley dropped back to 14th on the slower hard tyre in race two, and an electrical problem forced him to retire from the third and final race of the day. The Carrickfergus driver is ninth in the overall championship and leads the Independent championship after a strong start to the season after five rounds.
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Telegraph
36 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Racing's Alan Partridge bows out after 60 years
It is fair to say that in Derek Thompson, who hung up his binoculars after his final call at Wolverhampton this week bringing an end to 60 years as a commentator, racing didn't appreciate what it had until it was gone. Like a long list of people, he has wrestled for years with picking the right moment to 'retire' – although he will still commentate in Jersey, continue race-day presentations and, I dare say, open a betting shop for a fat fee if one ever opens again. 'Tommo' has also surprised himself by feeling nothing but quiet relief since calling home Space Bear in the It's A Photo – Big Fella Maiden Fillies Stakes (a race title concocted from Tommo-isms). At the end of the month, Tommo, who like his greatest friend Bob Champion survived cancer (2012) and, three years ago, had a stroke, will be 75, old enough to hang up his bins but just too young to have been a true pioneer of radio and television sports coverage, although he presided over plenty of firsts. Nevertheless, he has worked with some of the greats and there were three decades when, in racing at least, he was ubiquitous, a staple on mainstream terrestrial racing coverage. If a difficult question needed asking, perhaps of a trainer whose horse had just been pipped in the Derby, all the other presenters looked to him. If you added up all the hours he has spent on live television it would come to years, so it is no wonder there have been a few gaffes along the way. These include the one which makes every compilation of television bloopers ever made when, from the At The Races studio where he was presenting, the camera cut to Ludlow where Robert Cooper was waiting to interview someone with very blonde hair, an assistant groundsperson, about the state of the ground. 'Oh, you've been joined by a beautiful lady,' said Tommo, interrupting himself. 'It's actually a man, Derek,' replied the extremely dry Cooper. 'Oh,' whispers a defeated Tommo. #AccidentalPartridge — Accidental Partridge (@AccidentalP) December 20, 2018 If, as is probably the case, half the population remember Brian Johnston and Jonathan Agnew more for their 'leg-over' commentary on TMS during the 1993 Edgbaston Test than all the serious stuff they did together, then maybe it is no bad accolade to be best remembered for unintentionally amusing the masses. For Thompson it all began up in North Yorkshire. After the War his dad, Stanley, a flight-sergeant who flew 40 sorties in Wellington bombers, set up a steel business which evidently went well enough to pay for Tommo and his brother Howard to have riding lessons. They had a pony each, joined the Cleveland Hunt where they met a young Bob Champion, whose father hunted the hounds and, as a sideline, drove the knacker wagon at Redcar, which enabled the three boys to get into the races for free. Devoid of anyone to interview one day, John Rickman of ITV racing fame, put a microphone under their noses and asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. 'I said I wanted to be a TV interviewer,' recalls Tommo of the prescient moment. 'Bob said he wanted to win the Grand National, and Howard said he wanted to go into the family steel business which he still does. We were probably only 11.' His father was one of the first point-to-point commentators but halfway through a race at Great Ayton he turned off his mic briefly, turned to his 15-year-old son, told him he could no longer see the runners clearly enough in the back straight and said 'you take over' before handing him the microphone. He has had one in his hand ever since. He did his first racecourse commentary at Market Rasen in 1967, covered Redcar for BBC Radio Teesside and, aged 21, a full-time job at the BBC in London came up to take over from John Motson who was going to Match of the Day. He spent the next nine years learning the art and discipline of broadcasting alongside Des Lynam, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Bryon Butler, Alan Parry, Jim Rosenthal and Peter Jones. He was on the David Hamilton show and started a daily racing slot on the Today programme. 'I remember one morning describing something as 'quite unique' on the 6.25am slot,' he recalls. 'Ten minutes later, Cliff Morgan, the late, great head of sport, rang up and said: 'Something is either unique or not unique – it can't be quite unique.' I've never forgotten that!' In 1973 he commentated on his first Grand National alongside Michael Seth-Smith, Michael O'Hehir and Peter Bromley. Stationed at Valentines, when he handed over to Bromley as they crossed the Melling Road with two to jump, Crisp was still 30 lengths clear of Red Rum. 'I think Peter's description from the last to the line was the best I ever heard,' he remembers. Ironically by 1981, when his great friend Champion won on Aldaniti, he was already at World of Sport on ITV. 'I'd been to see him during his cancer treatment. He was lying in bed, unable to get out, throwing up every 30 seconds,' he recalls. 'I came out, sat in the car and cried my eyes out. Shortly after the race he rang me from the weighing room and said 'I've been watching you on television, you need to keep improving to keep your job. Got to go now – I've got the presentation.' It was so Bob.' In 1987 Tommo joined the newly formed Channel 4 Racing as a presenter until, in 2012, he and John McCririck were both sacked. Tommo got the 40-second call telling him his contract was not being renewed while in a car in his pyjamas on his way to hospital for his cancer treatment. 'It's a cruel world sometimes,' he reflects. But if McCririck went somewhat bitterly, Tommo just got his head down and kept working. Of course there were other downs. No one's reputation came off worse in the infamous Top Cees libel case in 1998 than Tommo when trainer Lynda Ramsden and jockey Kieren Fallon sued The Sporting Life after accusations that they had 'cheated' with the horse three years earlier. Having passed on what Fallon had allegedly told him in a pub at a pre-Channel 4 production meeting the following morning, rightly assuming it was all off the record, he was shocked that it later appeared in the 'Life.' When the judge disbelieved Thompson, it nearly destroyed him and his career. 'It was not a very good moment,' he recalls. 'Horrible. I remember going home, getting in the bath and crying. A number of jockeys wouldn't talk to me but I just told the truth and, actually, though everyone presumes we hate each other, I get on well with Kieren.' He had sort of made the decision to quit commentating at the end of this year but after a cock-up at Ayr in early January, he brought that forward to July. After two general anaesthetics in December, he had refused to stay in a hotel (by his own admission he is too tight with money) so got up at stupid o'clock to drive from Yorkshire to the west-coast course where, tired, he had got his horses in a muddle in the concluding bumper two furlongs out. He had rectified it a furlong later but the damage was done. 'I couldn't believe the abuse I got on social media,' he says. 'Much of it said I should have retired ages ago and I was very down about it. I got muddled but I was getting a bit erratic. Caroline [his wife] said I should go on social media the next day and put the story from my point of view – that got nearly a million views. (Few 74-year-olds have embraced social media quite like Tommo.) 'Having a stroke three years ago has made it a bit more difficult. It hasn't been as easy as it used to be so we brought it forward six months. I like working and I like making money – my nickname at school was 'Dosh' – but I didn't want people saying I should have packed up years ago. I think I've packed up somewhere near the top, although I've only put my bins down – I've still got the microphone.' A true professional, the voice of Dubai racing from 1994 to 2000, unstintingly genial, infectiously enthusiastic, the man who famously did not get the memo and beat Prince Charles in a charity race at Plumpton in 1980; someone who outwardly appears to have the skin of a rhino but is, according to his wife, a 'big softie inside' and 'Marmite' to some. It is doubtful Tommo will ever fully retire.
Auto Blog
7 hours ago
- Auto Blog
LISTEN: Genesis fires up its Le Mans Hypercar for the first time
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. View post: The Best Way To Sell Your Exotic Car For The Most Money Crucial Milestone Achieved Genesis Magma Racing on Friday said it had achieved an important milestone in getting its GMR-001 Hypercar onto the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) grid for the 2026 season. On July 9, an engine was installed in the first GMR-001 chassis and successfully fired up, on schedule, and you can listen to it in the video below. Genesis has been running bench tests of the engine, a twin-turbocharged V8 that will be paired with a hybrid system, per WEC Hypercar-class rules, since February. That included running it through its rev range and all seven gears of the transmission, and testing it in combination with the hybrid system. But this is the first time it's run in a car. Strong Partnerships The fire-up took place at chassis builder Oreca's shop in Le Castellet, France, not far from Genesis Magma Racing's home base and the Paul Ricard racetrack. Hypercar rules require teams to base their cars on chassis from one of several constructors, of which Oreca is one. The team also had a soft opening of sorts at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, entering an Oreca 07 in the LMP2 class. That car (which was run by the IDEC Sport team) was driven by three-time Le Mans winner André Lotterer, who has already been confirmed for a Genesis Magma Racing seat, and Jamie Chadwick and Mathys Jaubert, who are part of the team's 'Trajectory' program. Genesis claims the V8 engine was designed with lessons learned from parent brand Hyundai's successful World Rally Championship (WRC) program. Cars in the top Rally1 class in which Hyundai competes have 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-fours, so Hyundai's powertrain engineers essentially combined two of those engines to make one V8. Plenty Of Work Ahead Source: Genesis With the engine successfully fired up in a GMR-001 chassis, Genes Magma Racing is now closer to being able to start track testing, which is expected to get underway before the end of the year. 'It's now when we can start physically connecting all the different strands of development work that we've been following for the last year with our powertrain and design teams,' François-Xavier Demaison, the team's technical director, said in a statement. 'The successful GMR-001 fire-up is confirmation of our work so far, but also the start of the next stage of the development that comes with testing.' After debuting it in the 2026 WEC season—including the 24 Hours of Le Mans—Genesis hopes to bring the GMR-001 to North America for the 2027 IMSA sports-car racing series, as IMSA's LMDh ruleset aligns with the WEC's Hypercar rules. All of this racing activity will help promote Genesis' new line of Magma road cars, the first of which will be the GV60 Magma EV. About the Author Stephen Edelstein View Profile
The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘He will finish like a train' – Templegate's BIG 22-1 NAP and 1-2-3 King George prediction at Ascot
TEMPLEGATE tackles a monster Saturday of racing confident of bashing the bookies. The big race of the day is the King George from Ascot at 4.10pm - back a horse by clicking their odds below and check out this 92-1 each-way double we think has a chance of landing. SWORD (3.00 Ascot, nap) Looks sharp in the big £150,000 International Handicap. He struck at Leicester earlier this summer before going close in hot company at Haydock. David O'Meara's hope was unlucky at York last time and will be finishing strongly. The bottom weight was unlucky at York last time and looks ideal for this trip on quick ground. Needs a bit of luck coming late but has enough quality. CALANDAGAN (4.10 Ascot, nb) He has finally lost his nearly horse tag thanks to a blistering Group 1 win at St Cloud last time out. With that win under his belt he can turn the tables on Jan Brueghel who narrowly outmuscled him in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last time. That track clearly didn't suit the French raider who went down by just half a length in the end. He was a sparkling winner of the King Edward VII here last year so course and distance are ideal. Read on for my King George 1-2-3 prediction. He looks hard to beat after his impressive effort at Sandown last time out in May. He got the better of Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard and he went on to frank the form in style at Royal Ascot. This trip is ideal and some cut in the ground suits too. ASCOT 1.40 FITZELLA ran a cracker in the Albany here when she was much the best of the high-drawn horses and those up with the pace early. That was just her third run, and the daughter of Too Darn Hot already boasts a dominant Haydock maiden win, where she powered clear. The Dubawi filly is sister to Breeders' Cup hero Space Blues so is bred to be top class. She could improve significantly. Bella Lyra also brings Listed form to the table, having gone down narrowly in a strong Newmarket contest. Her smooth Windsor win before that was eye-catching and Ryan Moore keeps the ride. Amberia and Argentine Tango are closely tied in with Bella Lyra and have place claims. 2.20 JANCIS ran a stormer last time out in the Group 1 Pretty Polly at The Curragh, finishing fifth behind top-class Whirl and staying on nicely. She already has a Group 3 success on her CV from last season and dropping back to a mile holds no fears. Royal Dress is a big player after a dominant Listed win at Pontefract and she's shown her best over this distance. All ground suits and she won't be far away. Chantilly Lace brings strong Royal Ascot form from the Coronation where she still looked green after just three runs. The fact she was in that race shows what Ralph Beckett thinks of her and this should be easier. Cajole was just a length away in a Sandown Listed race last time and likes quick ground. The booking of William Buick for the Gosdens takes the eye. Lou Lou's Gift needed the run at Chelmsford after a year off and could nick a place. SWORD looks sharp in the £150,000 International Handicap (3.00 Ascot). He struck at Leicester earlier this summer before going close in hot company at Haydock. David O'Meara's hope was unlucky at York last time and will be finishing strongly. Akkadian Thunder, Aalto and Kodi Lion look the biggest dangers. Here's my big-race guide and rating out of five, with one the worst and five the best: ZOUM ZOUM 2 ZOUM raider. Listed second earlier this season but faded in the Wokingham and stamina a worry over this trip in a strongly-run race. CITY HOUSE 1 SIN City. Tidy Bahrain record but poor UK form and needs cheekpieces to work wonders. ARRAY 3 RAY of hope. Group 2 win last season on soft but form has dipped a little. Stays and may do better in hcap. NORTHERN EXPRESS 3 EXPRESS delivery. Won this last year and shaped well at Haydock last time. Solid chance from 2lb lower. GOLDEN MIND 2 MIND games. Consistent in early season but poor in the Wokingham last time. Good claimer on but needs more. GALERON 3 ON the hunt. Well handicapped on past Group form and shaped better than result last time. Place say. AKKADIAN THUNDER 4 THUNDER clap. Excellent second in the Buckingham Palace and no luck last time. Can produce another late surge and hit the frame. OLIVER SHOW 2 NO Show. Three AW wins last year and close second in the Lincoln before a poor run ehre latest. Needs best. YORKSHIRE 3 YORK talk. Fair run in Buckingham Palace and 1lb lower now. Likes it quick and can't be ignored. FRESH 3 GET Fresh. Won this in 2022 off 3lb higher and fitter for his comeback at Newcastle. Veteran but in place hunt. CERULEAN BAY 2 NAY Bay. In and out this year and below form in big handicaps. Needs more from this pretty lofty mark. NOBLE TRUTH 2 TRUTH or dare. Group winner in his prime but out of sorts this season and difficult to fancy despite falling handicap mark. BILLYJOH 3 GO Joh. Running well in major handicaps and Bunbury Cup third reads well so place claims again if pace collapses. KODI LION 4 LION roars. Impressive in a big field at Haydock and has good C&D form. Had excuses last time and should go close. QAZAQ 3 ZAQ attack. Cracking AW record and some promise over this trip at HQ last time. Can do better. AALTO 4 AALTO play for. Stormed home when second in Bunbury Cup and runs off same mark. Trip suits and William Buick takes over. LORD BERTIE 2 LORD help him. Has run well here before but recent form is poor and this looks tough. TWO TRIBES 2 TWO much. Long losing run but promise over this trip at HQ latest. This is tougher. CLASSIC 3 HAS Class. Ran well to land nice prize at Sandown last time over a mile. Drop in trip not ideal but a repeat could see him place. PALS BATTALION 1 NO Punter's Pal. Won on AW in spring but turf efforts have been poor this season. Hard to fancy. AL AMEEN 1 AL pass. Useful AW form and best over this trip but has sights raised here. SWORD 5 MIGHTY Sword. Bottom weight was unlucky at York last time and looks ideal for this trip on quick ground. Needs a bit of luck coming late but has enough quality. 3.35 BOPEDRO is a consistent performer at this level and he ran another massive race when less than a length away at York last time. His last Ascot run saw him go close in the Royal Hunt Cup so this straight mile is right up his street. He has plenty of weight but should be right there. Bullet Point sets the standard after his second in the Hunt Cup on top of three wins. A 3lb rise is fair and he'll go close for William Haggas albeit at a fairly skinny price. Teroomm met with real traffic problems in the Buckingham Palace here last time but had been in fine form earlier and could easily bounce back. All-weather winner Cosi Bello went close on his turf debut at Chester and is another in the mix along with Supido who ran well in the Britannia. 4.10 CALANDAGAN has finally lost his nearly horse tag thanks to a blistering Group 1 win at St Cloud last time out. With that win under his belt he can turn the tables on Jan Brueghel who narrowly outmuscled him in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last time. That track clearly didn't suit the French raider who went down by just half a length in the end. He was a sparkling winner of the King Edward VII here last year so course and distance are ideal. Jan Breughel is the one to fear again given he comes here fresher having not run since Epsom. He is a strong stayer but it's interesting to see Aidan O'Brien put cheekpieces on him today which should sharpen him up. It should be another good battle between the pair. Rebel's Romance is proven at this level and will be no pushover, but may just the legs of his younger rivals. Kalpana is a smashing filly. She's an Ascot Group 1 on her CV and gets weight, but she'll still need to find more to shine in this company. My 1-2-3 is: 1st Calandagan 2nd Jan Brueghel 3rd Rebel's Romance 2.00 ALZAHIR can keep his fantastic winning run going. He brought up the hat-trick well in a big field at Ascot last time and can cope with a 3lb rise in the weights. He will like this test and goes on any ground. There's every chance of the four-timer. Plenty of others lurk with chances. Elmonjed went close at Windsor and is still on a fair mark, while Strike Red, often the bridesmaid, gets conditions to suit and is weighted to go close. Jubilee Walk ran a cracker behind Alzahir at Chester on return and should come on for that, especially with a more prominent ride. Brooklyn Nine Nine is progressive and stayed on strongly to win last time – he's unexposed at this level and won't mind the ground. And don't give up on Korker, who returns to his favourite track. 2.40 ALMAQAM looks hard to beat after his impressive effort at Sandown last time out in May. He got the better of Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard and he went on to frank the form in style at Royal Ascot. This trip is ideal and some cut in the ground suits too. Stanhope Gardens was a respectable fifth in the Derby when he didn't seem to stay 1m4f after travelling well. Dropping in trip looks a wise move and he's another who handles slowish ground. Green Impact was sixth in the Irish Derby latest after winning a Listed contest around this trip. He has enough pace to be competitive for Jessica Harrington. Bay City Roller is proven in this grade and just about stayed this far in France last time so can't be ignored. 3.20 COPPER KNIGHT has a solid York record and the 11-year-old has looked up to the task this season in winning twice before going close here last time out. He's scored off marks 20lb higher than this in his prime and has enough boot left to strike here for Tim Easterby. He goes on any ground and his middle draw gives him options. Bona Fortuna has been knocking on the door over this trip and is only 2lb higher than his last win. He doesn't mind a bit of juice underfoot. 2022 winner Birkenhead went close at Ripon last time and is capable of holding on for a place if blasting off as usual with trainer Paul Midgley in decent nick. Fortunate Star is in flying form having won at Haydock before going close at Donny latest. He should still be ahead of the handicapper and likes this trip. Looking For Lynda is out of sorts but enjoys York and could hit the frame at tasty odds. Templegate's tips Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. 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