Create account | Log in as member
Formula Sprint 1
Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai International Circuit
Thursday 18th of April 2024 19:00:00
More
Create account | Log in as member
December 24, 2012
Tweet
At the 2012 Chinese GP, Swiss driver David Jundt suffered his first retirement since he started driving in Superleague. This retirement would be a representative for Jundt's whole season as he struggled with a mix of bad luck, pedal setting problems and getting used to the 2012 car.
In the end, he never looked like defending his third place in the standings from 2011, let alone outscoring his points tally of 171. Jundt will be looking to leave this season behind and do better in 2013, but the question is: Where will he do that?
Red Archer VRT
The team Jundt has been driving for since the start of 2011 and where he has spent most of his career so far. Team owner Nikos Evangelidakis is a fan of the Swiss' driver, combining consistency, reliability and commitment. During his 38 races for Red Archer, he only retired twice and scored points in 31 races. He was one of the few constants at Red Archer during the 2012 season as no less than four different drivers took on the wheel of the #4 car, including former Superleague champion Janne Tanskanen, who left after seven races. Jundt remained faithful to Red Archer despite enduring tough luck on a number of occasions throughout the season.
But there are also dark clouds on the horizon. Team leader Evangelidakis could still ditch the Swiss driver due to budget problems caused by last season after being forced to sign several replacements for the departing Tanskanen as well as investing into upgrades that didn't turn into top five results. If Jundt should prove to be too expensive for the team, he might be shown the door in favour of a cheap and young talent. Furthermore, Evangelidakis probably has expected more from his driver, and the silly mistake at Singapore might have been the straw that broke the camel's back; meaning Jundt is already desperately looking for a seat.
Prediction: 75% - The season has proven difficult for Jundt, but it still looks more likely that he is going to sign a new contract with Red Archer. Nikos Evangelidakis knows the qualities of the Swiss driver, so he'll surely keep him from being picked up by another team. Or does Evangelidakis have a surprise in store for the GPVWC community?
Nijo Racing
Chris Williamson is the reason Jundt joined GPVWC. Raising his interest late in the season, Jundt joined Williamson at PB Racing in Supercup to help him challenge for top honours. Although they missed that objective, Williamson would sign Jundt for the 2010 Masters and the 2011 Supercup season, giving Nijo their first GPVWC win at Snetterton in the Masters as well as helping the team to finish 3rd in both championships. Jundt has also competed outside of GPVWC for Nijo Racing.
Now, if Jundt would be a free agent, Williamson might be the first to knock on the door as he knows the Swiss well after several private GPROC and TCC championships. The salary is a factor here, but Nijo improved greatly from 2011 to finish 7th in the standings in 2012, just two points behind the defunct Draig Racing team, and thus probably have acquired enough funding to get the service of Jundt if he should come expensive.
Prediction: 50% - It could go either way. It would mark a return to the team he has already competed for in GPVWC, although not yet in Superleague. Both Jundt and Williamson know each other, so where could it go wrong? The salary? The prospective of driving a possibly slower car than the Red Archer for Jundt? Concerns about Jundt rubbing Heesterbeek up the wrong way if he is kept? Sooner or later,we'regoing to find out if returns "home".
Phoenix F1
At the GPVWC Day 2012, it was announced that Phoenix F1 would join the Superleague grid in 2013. The team based in the Australian Gold Coast is no stranger to GPVWC, as the team participated in the highest tier over the course of 2003 to 2007. Now back in Superleague, team boss Andy Graydon might look for a consistent driver that brings the car home first. Jundt could the perfect choice for that matter, being known to to keep going in difficult situations. But it has been quite silent so far about Phoenix F1 since their approval. Little is know as to what the team is planning to do. The Swiss driver might thus be more interested to get a deal with a seat a bit higher up the grid first, although he could help them climbing up the ladder in the standings.
Prediction: 25% - It's not impossible, but Graydon would have to show Jundt a good plan to convince him into joining his team and argue that he needs a reliable and consistent driver. It could prove to be successful if Phoenix can manage to put a good package together. But unless teams like Red Archer and Nijo opt to sign other drivers, Phoenix will have a hard time getting Jundt to sign a contract as the Swiss favours teams that have already been competing last season.
In the end, he never looked like defending his third place in the standings from 2011, let alone outscoring his points tally of 171. Jundt will be looking to leave this season behind and do better in 2013, but the question is: Where will he do that?
Red Archer VRT
The team Jundt has been driving for since the start of 2011 and where he has spent most of his career so far. Team owner Nikos Evangelidakis is a fan of the Swiss' driver, combining consistency, reliability and commitment. During his 38 races for Red Archer, he only retired twice and scored points in 31 races. He was one of the few constants at Red Archer during the 2012 season as no less than four different drivers took on the wheel of the #4 car, including former Superleague champion Janne Tanskanen, who left after seven races. Jundt remained faithful to Red Archer despite enduring tough luck on a number of occasions throughout the season.
But there are also dark clouds on the horizon. Team leader Evangelidakis could still ditch the Swiss driver due to budget problems caused by last season after being forced to sign several replacements for the departing Tanskanen as well as investing into upgrades that didn't turn into top five results. If Jundt should prove to be too expensive for the team, he might be shown the door in favour of a cheap and young talent. Furthermore, Evangelidakis probably has expected more from his driver, and the silly mistake at Singapore might have been the straw that broke the camel's back; meaning Jundt is already desperately looking for a seat.
Prediction: 75% - The season has proven difficult for Jundt, but it still looks more likely that he is going to sign a new contract with Red Archer. Nikos Evangelidakis knows the qualities of the Swiss driver, so he'll surely keep him from being picked up by another team. Or does Evangelidakis have a surprise in store for the GPVWC community?
Nijo Racing
Chris Williamson is the reason Jundt joined GPVWC. Raising his interest late in the season, Jundt joined Williamson at PB Racing in Supercup to help him challenge for top honours. Although they missed that objective, Williamson would sign Jundt for the 2010 Masters and the 2011 Supercup season, giving Nijo their first GPVWC win at Snetterton in the Masters as well as helping the team to finish 3rd in both championships. Jundt has also competed outside of GPVWC for Nijo Racing.
Now, if Jundt would be a free agent, Williamson might be the first to knock on the door as he knows the Swiss well after several private GPROC and TCC championships. The salary is a factor here, but Nijo improved greatly from 2011 to finish 7th in the standings in 2012, just two points behind the defunct Draig Racing team, and thus probably have acquired enough funding to get the service of Jundt if he should come expensive.
Prediction: 50% - It could go either way. It would mark a return to the team he has already competed for in GPVWC, although not yet in Superleague. Both Jundt and Williamson know each other, so where could it go wrong? The salary? The prospective of driving a possibly slower car than the Red Archer for Jundt? Concerns about Jundt rubbing Heesterbeek up the wrong way if he is kept? Sooner or later,we'regoing to find out if returns "home".
Phoenix F1
At the GPVWC Day 2012, it was announced that Phoenix F1 would join the Superleague grid in 2013. The team based in the Australian Gold Coast is no stranger to GPVWC, as the team participated in the highest tier over the course of 2003 to 2007. Now back in Superleague, team boss Andy Graydon might look for a consistent driver that brings the car home first. Jundt could the perfect choice for that matter, being known to to keep going in difficult situations. But it has been quite silent so far about Phoenix F1 since their approval. Little is know as to what the team is planning to do. The Swiss driver might thus be more interested to get a deal with a seat a bit higher up the grid first, although he could help them climbing up the ladder in the standings.
Prediction: 25% - It's not impossible, but Graydon would have to show Jundt a good plan to convince him into joining his team and argue that he needs a reliable and consistent driver. It could prove to be successful if Phoenix can manage to put a good package together. But unless teams like Red Archer and Nijo opt to sign other drivers, Phoenix will have a hard time getting Jundt to sign a contract as the Swiss favours teams that have already been competing last season.
Related texts:
© 2018 GPVWC Simracing Ltd | Privacy Policy