Ocean Racing Technology Sign Carmen Jorda & Robert Cregan For GP3

With only two months until the start of the GP3 Series at the Spanish Grand Prix in May, Portuguese team Ocean Racing Technology have signed two new drivers’ for their inaugural season in the series. This leaves only one seat available within the team, who have taken over from Tech 1 Racing for 2012.

Spaniard Carmen Jorda last year raced in the Indy Lights Series in America, contesting 5 races throughout the season and scoring 84 points. She has also contested numerous European F3 Open Championships’ since 2006, including the Le Mans 24 Hours in the LMP2 class.

“I am delighted with this agreement, especially because Ocean is an experienced team in GP2. I think we can develop a good relationship together.” Explained Carmen Jorda, “I’m sure they will help me to improve my performance. I am eager to test the car that I am sure is very different from the Indy Light that I was was used to. I’ll be a rookie in the Championship but I’m sure I’ll improve race by race.  I must thank all those who helped me build this project.”

Robert Cregan will also be a rookie when the opening race of the season begins, having previously raced in Australia’s V8 Supercars Championship. The 22-year-old is the son of former Toyota team manager Richard Cregan, and will be eager to prove his worthiness in front of the F1 fraternity in 2012.

“I have already tested a GP3 car, but I also know that the first race will be hard and I have a lot to learn.” Said Robert Cregan, “The test next week will be very important. I trust my own ability to adapt to this new reality and hope to gradually improve. I think I will be able to run in the top five in the short term.”

Both drivers’ will get their first taste of 2012 when they partake in the pre-season test Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya next week, ahead of the season-opening race on the same track in May.

Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service 

James Allen Becomes BBC Radio 5 Live Commentator

Ex-ITV commentator James Allen has been announced as the new BBC Radio 5 Live lead commentator, replacing David Croft who last year was announced as the commentator for the new dedicated F1 channel Sky Sports F1 HD alongside former BBC colleagues Martin Brundle and Anthony Davidson.

James Allen took over from Murray Walker as ITV commentator in 2002, alongside Martin Brundle and was immediately under the spotlight by critics, some believing he was trying to sound too much like Murray Walker and that his enthusiasm sometimes got the better of him, especially when Jenson Button won his first ever Grand Prix at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.

However, regardless of what the critics have said about him, no-one can deny that James Allen’s enthusiasm for Formula 1 is unmatched by any of todays journalists and commentators. In 2009 he became the Formula One Management World Feed Interviewer when he was asked to do so for the 2009 British Grand Prix in place of Peter Windsor, and he asked questions for the post-qualifying and post-race TV interviews. 

James Allen will continue writing for his website and will also continue his contributions to Australia’s Ten Sport F1 coverage. With the BBC loosing the majority of its major talent to Sky Sports for 2012, the BBC couldn’t have picked a more enthusiastic commentator to head their BBC Radio 5 Live coverage.