MISIR...I hope this inspires more women to pursue their dreams in racing or any sport, for that matter.
Sara Misir etched her name in the history books on Sunday, December 1, at the JRDC Final Showdown at Dover Raceway.
Misir entered the showdown with a commanding 16-point lead in the MP4 Class standings, and a second-place finish in Race One secured her seven additional points to clinch the MP4 Class Championship, making her the first woman in history to claim the title.
Lining up alongside veteran racer Doug "Hollywood" Gore on the front row, Misir took an early lead before mechanical challenges dropped her to second place. Despite Gore’s strong start, his campaign ended with a DNF in Race One, forcing him to retire for the remainder of the day.
Misir concluded the season with 55 points, while Gore finished with 39 points.
This historic achievement also makes Misir the first driver to win all four Modified Production classes using the same car in its various forms, cementing her legacy in Jamaican motorsport.
She expressed delight at the historic feat.
"Winning the MP4 Championship is not just a personal victory but also a testament to the hard work and dedication of my entire team. I hope this inspires more women to pursue their dreams in racing or any sport, for that matter," Misir said.
Her father and coach, Rugie Misir, praised her dedication.
"Sara’s commitment and drive, pun intended, have been evident throughout this season. To see her make history in MP4 is an immensely proud moment for our family and the sport in Jamaica," he noted.
Adding to the excitement of the MP4 Class, Kevin Chok delivered an impressive performance with two victories on the final day, securing 3rd overall in the MP4 Championship standings with 30 points.
Misir’s historic accomplishment highlights the impact of women in motorsport and sets the stage for an exciting 2025 racing season. Fans and competitors alike eagerly await the return of the Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC) events in the new year.
Verstappen's home Dutch Grand Prix to exit F1 calendar after 2026
Max Verstappen's home Dutch Grand Prix will drop off the calendar after the 2026 season, Formula One confirmed on Wednesday.
A one-year contract extension to host the race at the Zandvoort track, which returned to the schedule in 2021 after a 36-year absence, has been signed to ensure there will be two more events.
The penultimate edition of the Dutch Grand Prix will take place from August 29-31 in 2025, with the decision a blow to home favourite Verstappen.
The Red Bull driver won the first three races after Zandvoort returned to the calendar, before McLaren's Lando Norris triumphed this year.
Only Jim Clark (four) has won more times around the track than Verstappen, with his three triumphs level with Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda.
Stefano Domenicali, F1's president and CEO, said: "I am incredibly grateful for the work that the team at the Dutch Grand Prix have done in recent years.
"All parties positively collaborated to find a solution to extend the race, with many options, including alternation or annual events on the table, and we respect the decision from the promoter to finish its amazing run in 2026."
Robert van Overdijk, Director of the Dutch Grand Prix, said: "We are a privately owned and operated business, and we must balance the opportunities presented by continuing to host the event, against other risks and responsibilities.
"We have decided to go out on a high with two more incredible Dutch Grands Prix in 2025 and 2026."
The calendar is already at a record 24 races and Domenicali has spoken of some European races alternating to allow others to come in.
The Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa and Imola in Italy are all seen as candidates for rotation from 2026.
F1 is seeking to expand into Africa, and is holding talks with Rwanda about an event near Kigali.
Horner hints Perez 'knows the situation' amid Red Bull exit talks
Christian Horner hinted that Sergio Perez's Red Bull future is up to the driver himself amid rumours he will lose his seat after this weekend's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Perez has been under pressure for most of this season after scoring just 152 of Red Bull's 581 points and rarely getting near team-mate Max Verstappen, despite starting strong.
He finished on the podium in four of the first five races of the campaign, netting him a two-year contract extension in June.
However, the Mexican endured another tough weekend in Qatar, failing to finish the race, which meant that Red Bull are now officially out of the hunt for the constructor's title.
Perez has now retired from 37 races, four of which have been this year. Only in 2012 (six) has he had more in one year in the competition (also four in 2014).
Despite having a drive on paper for the 2025 season, Horner conceded to Sky Sports F1 that his lack of results of late have cost the team.
"Checo has been a wonderful driver for us. Certainly, in 2021, 2022, 2023, he contributed to Max's championship in 2021 and the constructors' in 2022 and 2023," Horner said.
"Most of all, he's a great guy. He's not enjoying the situation he's in at the moment. He knows the pressure of this business.
"We are going to give him all the support we can all the way to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi. What he decides to do, that will be his decision at the end of the day.
"He's old enough and wise enough to come to his own conclusions. There's still a race to go."
RB drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are the two leading candidates to replace Perez at Red Bull for 2025.
Tsunoda will drive the main Red Bull car for the first time in his career at the post-season Abu Dhabi Test next Tuesday.
The Japanese driver has also got the better of Lawson in their five events as team-mates at RB, following Daniel Ricciardo's departure in September.
FIA stands by Lando Norris penalty at Qatar GP
The FIA is standing by its decision to penalise McLaren driver Lando Norris at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Norris was given a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for failing to lift the throttle while double yellow flags were being waved.
The 25-year-old dropped from second to last among the remaining drivers, with the decision having a big impact in the Constructors' Championship battle.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described the penalty as "brutal" in an interview with Sky Sports and accused officials of lacking consistency.
Lando Norris collected what could prove to be a crucial bonus point in his and McLaren's quest for constructors' glory
Join @LandoNorris as he scoops the DHL Fastest Lap in Qatar! Full 2024 leaderboard https://t.co/sOAsD9IxzG#F1 #MomentsThatDeliver @DHL_Motorsports pic.twitter.com/k5ryP7jgCk
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 2, 2024
However, in a statement released on Monday, F1's governing body explained why the decision was the correct one.
"The penalty was in accordance with the penalty guidelines circulated to the teams on 19 February 2024," part of the statement read.
"A double yellow flag infringement is considered a serious compromise of safety, which is why such offences carry such a severe penalty."
The FIA went on to state that the specific scenario would be reviewed and a new process may be established down the line.
McLaren's lead over Ferrari has been cut to 21 points heading into the final round of the season in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
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