The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League recently issued a warning about the challenges of establishing a successful team in the IndyCar in America. Carlin, a team that previously competed in American single-seaters, serves as a prime example of this difficulty. Carlin no longer exists in IndyCar or Indy Lights and even underwent a name change to Rodin Motorsports. Team founder Trevor Carlin was removed from his position, and his wife Stephanie, who played a crucial role in the team’s operations, moved on to a new job at McLaren.
While Carlin’s foray into IndyCar may be a distant memory for some, the team was still competing in the series just a few years ago. Initially, they entered the Indy Lights field in 2015 and found success by winning the championship in their second season with Ed Jones. However, Carlin decided to make the leap to IndyCar in 2018 with a two-car team. The team finished 17th with Charlie Kimball and 19th with Max Chilton that season. Kimball’s 17th place equaled Conor Daly’s 2020 best championship result for the team.
Throughout their four-year stint in IndyCar, Carlin struggled to achieve significant success. The team only managed to secure one top five and 14 more top 10 finishes. Several factors contributed to Carlin’s lack of success. The intense competition in IndyCar makes it difficult for two-car teams to succeed, as larger teams tend to attract the best staff. Carlin initially started as a two-car team but then reduced to one car, putting them at a disadvantage in terms of data and resources compared to multi-car teams.
Another obstacle for Carlin was the constant turnover of personnel, with many individuals from England joining the team. This made it difficult to establish a cohesive learning environment and culture while striving to compete at a high level. Additionally, Carlin faced challenges in keeping up with the development of dampers and aerodynamic testing strategies employed by the top IndyCar teams.
Carlin’s decision to establish itself in Florida also presented challenges. While it provided access to different individuals within the motorsport community, it meant losing the experienced team that typically focuses on Indianapolis. Ultimately, Carlin did not have the financial support and resources needed to run a competitive two-car team. Even when they scaled down to one car, they struggled to make up for the loss of data and keep up with race weekends.
Despite its shortcomings, Carlin managed to achieve some successes. Most of their technical data and parts were sold to Juncos, a team that established itself in IndyCar. Juncos started with one car and then expanded to two cars, which was the opposite approach to Carlin’s. The performance of Juncos’ cars received praise, indicating that Carlin provided a solid foundation in terms of data and equipment.
Compared to Carlin, Prema is currently ahead of Rodin in the F2 standings. Both teams were founded by individuals with a deep passion for junior single-seater motorsport and have become successful teams over the years. They faced challenges competing against larger and more established teams, but managed to achieve success in the championships.
Prema is well aware of Carlin’s transition to IndyCar and the challenges they faced. Rosin, the team spokesperson, emphasized that they are not looking to compare themselves to Carlin and that the change happened some time ago. The goal of Prema’s move to America is to combine the best aspects of both worlds. They want to operate in the US and be as close to the action as possible. Prema intends to bring their strengths to the US while learning and adapting to how things work in IndyCar.
In the past, Carlin explored, but did not fully realize, establishing a technical partnership with another team. These partnerships can be beneficial for smaller teams, providing assistance, information, and even sharing engineers and car parts. However, they can be difficult to secure, costly, and limited to teams using the same engine. Prema, which will use Chevrolet engines, has expressed interest in exploring a technical partnership if it proves advantageous. This could be an interesting development to follow as Prema prepares for its debut in 2025.
Prema seems to have more resources and enough time to gather their drivers, staff, and sponsors before entering the series. This should significantly reduce the risk of a decline similar to Carlin’s. The team’s base in Indiana and their emphasis on being US-based, with a mix of European and Indianapolis-based talent, further strengthen their position. Prema is known for their meticulous planning and preparation, ensuring they are well-equipped for immediate success rather than just focusing on long-term goals.
Although the competition and challenge of recruiting high-level employees are undoubtedly difficult, Prema’s track record in other racing disciplines suggests they are well prepared for this new endeavor. They have successfully expanded into sports car prototype racing and karting without major setbacks. Prema is confident in their ability to make the right decisions and avoid mistakes when entering the world of IndyCar.
© 2024
Portugal wins Euro 2024 with thrilling victory
Portugal made history by winning the 2024 Eurocup in a thrilling final against Germany. The Portuguese team showed their strength and determination by winning 2-1, securing the unprecedented title for the country.
The game was played at Wembley Stadium in London and was attended by thousands of passionate fans. From the start, Portugal showed their superiority, putting pressure on the German team and creating several goal-scoring opportunities.
At 35 minutes into the first half, Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for Portugal with a beautiful header goal. Germany did not give up and managed to equalize at 50 minutes with a goal from Müller.
The match continued thrilling in the second half, with both teams seeking victory at all costs. It was at 75 minutes that Portugal scored the winning goal, with a precise shot from Bernardo Silva.
The Portuguese fans went crazy with the goal, and the team held onto the result until the final whistle. It was a historic victory for Portugal, who had never won the Eurocup before.
After the game, the coach of the Portuguese team, Fernando Santos, praised the dedication and teamwork of the players. He emphasized the importance of the title for the country and thanked the fans for their support.
With the victory, Portugal consolidates itself as one of the great powers of European football. The team had already won the Eurocup in 2016 and the Nations League in 2019, showing its quality and talent on the field.
Now, the Portuguese players are considered national heroes and are welcomed with celebrations throughout the country. The conquest of the Eurocup in 2024 will be marked in the history of Portuguese football and will be remembered for generations.
