Räikkönen Robertson Racing
Encyclopedia
Double R Racing is a motor racing team, which races in Formula Three
. The team was formed in November 2004 as Räikkönen Robertson Racing by then McLaren
Formula One
driver and world champion with Ferrari
, Kimi Räikkönen
, and his race manager Steve Robertson
, a former Formula Three driver. It is based in Woking
(the town where McLaren
build their cars), and it is managed by Anthony "Boyo" Hieatt. Hieatt took sole control of the team in November 2010, leading to the team's renaming.
When the team was announced, it was confirmed that Räikkönen Robertson would compete in the British F3 International Series
, in the Championship Class (the first of two different classes) from the 2005
season. In this first season, the two Dallara
F305 Mugen
-Honda
s were driven by British driver Dan Clarke
, and Brazilian Bruno Senna
, nephew of the legendary three-time Formula One World Champion Ayrton
, who died in 1994. This saw the team fare well, with Clarke taking the team's maiden win at Castle Combe
, as well as five other podium finishes, and going on to finish 5th in the Championship, while Senna scored three podium finishes, and finished in 10th position in the standings.
At the BP Ultimate Masters
at Zandvoort
, Räikkönen Robertson only entered Senna, who qualified 18th but failed to finish, while at the Macau Grand Prix
, Räikkönen Robertson again only entered one car, with Clarke appearing for Formula Three Euroseries
team Prema
, instead. Senna qualified 22nd around the tight, twisty Circuito da Guia, although he failed to finish in either the qualifying race or the Grand Prix itself.
For the 2006
season, Räikkönen Robertson changed their engine supplier to Mercedes HWA
, upgraded to Dallara's F306 chasis, and replaced Champ Car
-bound Clarke with Mike Conway
, who finished 3rd in British F3 in 2005 and Stephen Jelley
, to team up with Senna, as they looked to make a serious assault on the overall Series title.
The season started well, with Senna winning both races at Oulton Park
. After winning the next race at Donington Park as well, the Brazilian had a useful lead at the championship. Sadly a serious crash at Snetterton, which was not his fault (Bruno was fine, though could not race in the second race of that weekend, due to the damage to the car) seemingly halted his progress, and his results began to worsen through no particular fault on his part. This coincided with a dramatic improvement in Conway's results and he overtook Senna in the race for the title. Conway continued on his way and his impressive results saw him take a seemingly unassailable lead, while Senna's inconsistent form saw slip behind Carlin
's Oliver Jarvis
, in the race for the runner-up's spot, despite an impressive win in the wet at Mugello. At Silverstone, Conway claimed the title with another weekend to spare. In that final weekend at Thruxton, Räikkönen Robertson also ran their fourth car (the one damaged in Senna's crash at Snetterton, now rebuilt) in the Invitation Class, a category for drivers making a guest appearance. British Porsche Carrera Cup
driver Danny Watts
, who had been in British F3 two years before, made a return, and won the penultimate race at Thruxton. In just their second season, Räikkönen Robertson were champions, winning a massive fourteen races from the twenty-two that took place, and Championship Class wins for fifteen (Conway came behind the Invitation Class Signature-Plus cars at Pau, while Watts was, of course, in the same category).
In F3's international meetings, Räikkönen Robertson had far more luck than they had in 2005. At the BP Ultimate Masters
, the team entered all three drivers, qualifying 7th (Senna), 12th (Conway), and 22nd (Jelley), with Senna finishing 7th, Jelley 18th, and Conway retiring. At the Macau Grand Prix
, Räikkönen Robertson only entered two cars, with Senna not being able to appear. After Conway's accident in the second qualifying session, the pair ended up in 11th (Conway) and 16th (Jelley) respectively, while in the qualifying race they finished 7th (Conway) and 13th (Jelley). In the Grand Prix itself, Conway jumped from 7th to 4th at the start and as the three cars in front him collided on the first lap, he took a lead he was never to relinquish, to become the first British winner of the Grand Prix since Darren Manning
in 1999, and the first winner from the British F3 International Series
since Takuma Sato
in 2001. Jelley, meanwhile, finished in 11th place.
For the 2007
season, Räikkönen Robertson upgraded to Dallara
's latest F307 chassis, and were again powered by the Mercedes-HWA
engine. Conway
and Senna
made the leap to the GP2 Series
, whilst Jelley
continued with Räikkönen Robertson, partnered by Jonathan Kennard and Finn
Atte Mustonen
. Meanwhile, Räikkönen Robertson also entered a team in the National Class, their two cars being driven by British driver Alistair Jackson and Spain's Albert Costa. The team claimed 4 pole positions and won 4 races, scoring 5 fastest laps.
. The team continued with its supply of Mercedes' engines.
In 2009 the team kept the Mercedes Supply of engine. But changed the driver line-up completely by using Daisuke Nakajima
and Carlos Huertas
these two spent the full season with the team and Marcus Ericsson
spent 6 races with the team scoring two wins and a second place. Nakajima and Ericsson both claimed one pole position each.
For 2010 the team fielded Brazilian Driver Felipe Nasr
, Daisuke Nakajima
and Carlos Huertas
. For the first race of the season with Nakajima scoring points in the first race of the season.
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
. The team was formed in November 2004 as Räikkönen Robertson Racing by then McLaren
McLaren
McLaren Racing Limited, trading as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, is a British Formula One team based in Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom. McLaren is best known as a Formula One constructor but has also competed and won in the Indianapolis 500 and Canadian-American Challenge Cup...
Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
driver and world champion with Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
, Kimi Räikkönen
Kimi Räikkönen
Kimi Matias Räikkönen , nicknamed Iceman, is a Finnish racing driver, who will drive in Formula One for Lotus in . After nine seasons racing in Formula One, in which he took the Formula One World Drivers' Championship, he competed in the World Rally Championship from 2009-2011.Räikkönen entered...
, and his race manager Steve Robertson
Steve Robertson
Steve Robertson is a race car driver from Hackney, England.After spending three years in British Formula Three and competing in a full season of International Formula 3000 in 1992 in which he failed to score points, he won the 1993 Indy Lights Rookie of the Year award...
, a former Formula Three driver. It is based in Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
(the town where McLaren
McLaren
McLaren Racing Limited, trading as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, is a British Formula One team based in Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom. McLaren is best known as a Formula One constructor but has also competed and won in the Indianapolis 500 and Canadian-American Challenge Cup...
build their cars), and it is managed by Anthony "Boyo" Hieatt. Hieatt took sole control of the team in November 2010, leading to the team's renaming.
Early years
British Formula Three Championship
The British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is...
, in the Championship Class (the first of two different classes) from the 2005
2005 British Formula Three season
The 2005 British Formula Three season was the 55th British Formula Three Championship season. It commenced on April 2, 2005 and ended on October 9 after twenty two races.-Drivers and teams:...
season. In this first season, the two Dallara
Dallara
Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993...
F305 Mugen
Mugen Motorsports
Mugen Motorsports is a Japanese company formed in 1973 by Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda Motor Company founder Soichiro Honda, and Masao Kimura. Mugen, meaning "Without Limit", or "Unlimited", is an engine tuner and parts manufacturer closely associated with the Honda Motor Company...
-Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
s were driven by British driver Dan Clarke
Dan Clarke
Dan Clarke is a British auto racing driver born 4 October 1983 in Mexborough, most recently competing in the Firestone Indy Lights series with Walker Racing, having previously competed in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport and the Champ Car World Series...
, and Brazilian Bruno Senna
Bruno Senna
Bruno Senna Lalli is a Brazilian Formula One racing driver and the nephew of the late three-time Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna. His mother is Ayrton's older sister, Viviane. His father, Flávio Lalli, died in a motorcycle crash in 1996. He wears a slightly modified version of his uncle's...
, nephew of the legendary three-time Formula One World Champion Ayrton
Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva was a Brazilian racing driver. A three-time Formula One world champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time...
, who died in 1994. This saw the team fare well, with Clarke taking the team's maiden win at Castle Combe
Castle Combe Circuit
Castle Combe Circuit is a motor racing circuit in Wiltshire, England, approximately from Bristol. The circuit used to be the perimeter track of a World War II airfield, and opened to racing in 1950.- History :...
, as well as five other podium finishes, and going on to finish 5th in the Championship, while Senna scored three podium finishes, and finished in 10th position in the standings.
At the BP Ultimate Masters
Masters of Formula 3
The Masters of Formula 3 is a Formula Three race held annually, usually at the Circuit Park Zandvoort in the Netherlands. Due to noise restrictions in the Zandvoort area, the 2007 and 2008 races were held in the Belgian circuit of Zolder...
at Zandvoort
Circuit Park Zandvoort
Circuit Park Zandvoort is a motorsport race track located in Burgemeester van Alphenstraat 108, 2041 KP in the dunes north of the town of Zandvoort, in the Netherlands, near the North Sea coast line.- History :...
, Räikkönen Robertson only entered Senna, who qualified 18th but failed to finish, while at the Macau Grand Prix
Macau Grand Prix
The Macau Grand Prix is a motor-racing event held annually in Macau, one of China's Special Administrative Regions. It is known for being the only street circuit racing event in which both car and motorcycle races are held...
, Räikkönen Robertson again only entered one car, with Clarke appearing for Formula Three Euroseries
Formula Three Euroseries
The Formula 3 Euro Series is a European-based junior single seater formula for Formula Three chassis that was launched in 2003 as a merger of the French Formula Three Championship and German Formula Three Championship...
team Prema
Prema
Prema may refer to:*Prema – actress in the Kannada Film Industry*Prema – 1952 Telugu film*Prema – Telugu film starring Venkatesh and Revathi*Prema – British recording artiste...
, instead. Senna qualified 22nd around the tight, twisty Circuito da Guia, although he failed to finish in either the qualifying race or the Grand Prix itself.
For the 2006
2006 British Formula Three season
The 2006 British Formula Three season was the 56th British Formula Three Championship season. It commenced on April 17, 2006 and ended on October 1 after twenty two races.-Drivers and teams:...
season, Räikkönen Robertson changed their engine supplier to Mercedes HWA
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
, upgraded to Dallara's F306 chasis, and replaced Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
-bound Clarke with Mike Conway
Mike Conway
Mike Conway, born 19 August 1983, is a British racing driver. He lives in Sevenoaks, Kent and is currently competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series.- Biography :Conway who was born in Bromley, Kent, England attended Sevenoaks Prep School from 1986 to 1996....
, who finished 3rd in British F3 in 2005 and Stephen Jelley
Stephen Jelley
Stephen Jelley is a British auto racing driver.-Single Seaters:Jelley moved up from Formula Ford to the National Class of the British Formula Three Championship for 2004, taking three class wins. In 2006 and 2007 he drove for Räikkönen Robertson Racing in British F3...
, to team up with Senna, as they looked to make a serious assault on the overall Series title.
The season started well, with Senna winning both races at Oulton Park
Oulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
. After winning the next race at Donington Park as well, the Brazilian had a useful lead at the championship. Sadly a serious crash at Snetterton, which was not his fault (Bruno was fine, though could not race in the second race of that weekend, due to the damage to the car) seemingly halted his progress, and his results began to worsen through no particular fault on his part. This coincided with a dramatic improvement in Conway's results and he overtook Senna in the race for the title. Conway continued on his way and his impressive results saw him take a seemingly unassailable lead, while Senna's inconsistent form saw slip behind Carlin
Carlin Motorsport
Carlin, formerly Carlin Motorsport, is a motor racing team based in the United Kingdom. It competes in four championships — British Formula Three Championship, GP3 Series, World Series by Renault and GP2 Series.-History:...
's Oliver Jarvis
Oliver Jarvis
Oliver Jarvis is a racing driver.- Racing career :Oliver was first introduced to motorsport from an early age when his father Carl was competing in Formula Ford 1600...
, in the race for the runner-up's spot, despite an impressive win in the wet at Mugello. At Silverstone, Conway claimed the title with another weekend to spare. In that final weekend at Thruxton, Räikkönen Robertson also ran their fourth car (the one damaged in Senna's crash at Snetterton, now rebuilt) in the Invitation Class, a category for drivers making a guest appearance. British Porsche Carrera Cup
Porsche Carrera
Carrera is a trademarked name exclusively used by Porsche for its models to honor the company's success in the Carrera Panamericana race.The following vehicles have been called Carrera:* Porsche 356* Porsche 904* Porsche 911...
driver Danny Watts
Danny Watts
Danny Watts is a British racing driver.Danny Watts started racing in 1993, when he began karting. After five seasons of karting, he stepped up to single seater racing in 1998 in the UK Formula First championship, in which he dominated with 12 wins...
, who had been in British F3 two years before, made a return, and won the penultimate race at Thruxton. In just their second season, Räikkönen Robertson were champions, winning a massive fourteen races from the twenty-two that took place, and Championship Class wins for fifteen (Conway came behind the Invitation Class Signature-Plus cars at Pau, while Watts was, of course, in the same category).
In F3's international meetings, Räikkönen Robertson had far more luck than they had in 2005. At the BP Ultimate Masters
Masters of Formula 3
The Masters of Formula 3 is a Formula Three race held annually, usually at the Circuit Park Zandvoort in the Netherlands. Due to noise restrictions in the Zandvoort area, the 2007 and 2008 races were held in the Belgian circuit of Zolder...
, the team entered all three drivers, qualifying 7th (Senna), 12th (Conway), and 22nd (Jelley), with Senna finishing 7th, Jelley 18th, and Conway retiring. At the Macau Grand Prix
Macau Grand Prix
The Macau Grand Prix is a motor-racing event held annually in Macau, one of China's Special Administrative Regions. It is known for being the only street circuit racing event in which both car and motorcycle races are held...
, Räikkönen Robertson only entered two cars, with Senna not being able to appear. After Conway's accident in the second qualifying session, the pair ended up in 11th (Conway) and 16th (Jelley) respectively, while in the qualifying race they finished 7th (Conway) and 13th (Jelley). In the Grand Prix itself, Conway jumped from 7th to 4th at the start and as the three cars in front him collided on the first lap, he took a lead he was never to relinquish, to become the first British winner of the Grand Prix since Darren Manning
Darren Manning
Darren Manning is a motor racing driver, most recently racing in the IRL IndyCar Series for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.-Early career:...
in 1999, and the first winner from the British F3 International Series
British Formula Three Championship
The British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is...
since Takuma Sato
Takuma Sato
is a Japanese automobile racing driver and the most successful Japanese Formula One driver in history. He is currently racing for KV Racing Technology in IndyCar Series under the Lotus banner.-Junior Years:...
in 2001. Jelley, meanwhile, finished in 11th place.
For the 2007
2007 British Formula Three season
The 2007 British Formula Three season was the 57th British Formula Three Championship season. It commenced on April 9, 2007 and ended on September 30 after twenty two races, with Estonian driver Marko Asmer crowned champion.-Teams and drivers:-Calendar:...
season, Räikkönen Robertson upgraded to Dallara
Dallara
Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993...
's latest F307 chassis, and were again powered by the Mercedes-HWA
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
engine. Conway
Mike Conway
Mike Conway, born 19 August 1983, is a British racing driver. He lives in Sevenoaks, Kent and is currently competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series.- Biography :Conway who was born in Bromley, Kent, England attended Sevenoaks Prep School from 1986 to 1996....
and Senna
Bruno Senna
Bruno Senna Lalli is a Brazilian Formula One racing driver and the nephew of the late three-time Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna. His mother is Ayrton's older sister, Viviane. His father, Flávio Lalli, died in a motorcycle crash in 1996. He wears a slightly modified version of his uncle's...
made the leap to the GP2 Series
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
, whilst Jelley
Stephen Jelley
Stephen Jelley is a British auto racing driver.-Single Seaters:Jelley moved up from Formula Ford to the National Class of the British Formula Three Championship for 2004, taking three class wins. In 2006 and 2007 he drove for Räikkönen Robertson Racing in British F3...
continued with Räikkönen Robertson, partnered by Jonathan Kennard and Finn
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Atte Mustonen
Atte Mustonen
Atte Mustonen , is a single-seater motor racing driver.-Motorsport career:Like most aspiring motor racing drivers, Mustonen began his career with karting at the age of 11. By 2002, his talents were becoming evident as he won the ICA Junior Karting Championship in Finland, and successfully defended...
. Meanwhile, Räikkönen Robertson also entered a team in the National Class, their two cars being driven by British driver Alistair Jackson and Spain's Albert Costa. The team claimed 4 pole positions and won 4 races, scoring 5 fastest laps.
Success in Formula Three
In 2008 the team won one race with Finn Atte MustonenAtte Mustonen
Atte Mustonen , is a single-seater motor racing driver.-Motorsport career:Like most aspiring motor racing drivers, Mustonen began his career with karting at the age of 11. By 2002, his talents were becoming evident as he won the ICA Junior Karting Championship in Finland, and successfully defended...
. The team continued with its supply of Mercedes' engines.
In 2009 the team kept the Mercedes Supply of engine. But changed the driver line-up completely by using Daisuke Nakajima
Daisuke Nakajima
is a Japanese racing driver; the son of Satoru Nakajima and the younger brother of Kazuki Nakajima, both of whom have driven in Formula One.-Career:...
and Carlos Huertas
Carlos Huertas
Carlos Huertas is a Colombian racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula BMW and the British Formula Three Championship.-External links:* *...
these two spent the full season with the team and Marcus Ericsson
Marcus Ericsson
Marcus Ericsson is a Swedish race car driver. After a successful début in car racing in 2007 which saw him take the British Formula BMW title with Fortec Motorsport, he moved up into the British team's British Formula Three squad...
spent 6 races with the team scoring two wins and a second place. Nakajima and Ericsson both claimed one pole position each.
For 2010 the team fielded Brazilian Driver Felipe Nasr
Felipe Nasr
Luíz Felipe de Oliveira Nasr is a Brazilian auto racing driver.-Karting:Nasr began karting in Brazil when he was seven years old...
, Daisuke Nakajima
Daisuke Nakajima
is a Japanese racing driver; the son of Satoru Nakajima and the younger brother of Kazuki Nakajima, both of whom have driven in Formula One.-Career:...
and Carlos Huertas
Carlos Huertas
Carlos Huertas is a Colombian racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula BMW and the British Formula Three Championship.-External links:* *...
. For the first race of the season with Nakajima scoring points in the first race of the season.