MRTI ladder being challenged

[GTRacer]

I really thought DePhillipi would be running away with the title at this point. But Hawksworth appears to have a tight grip on the Star Mazda title and the MRTI scholarship. Chaves has come in and has been instantly competitive as well.
This leads me to ask if the European or non MRTI program is that much stronger?

[Hitokiri]

I really thought DePhillipi would be running away with the title at this point. But Hawksworth appears to have a tight grip on the Star Mazda title and the MRTI scholarship. Chaves has come in and has been instantly competitive as well.
This leads me to ask if the European or non MRTI program is that much stronger?

What was that sound? Oh...someone opened up a can of worms. :P

I have to agree with out that I thought DePhillpi would be stomping everyone as well but Hawksworth is the one doing the stomping it seems. As for the European ladder vs MRTI ladder question it really goes back and forth. Alex Rossi, Robert Wickens, and JR Hildebrand started in what we would call the Mazda Road to Indy today. All three have either done well in Europe or have won the Indy Light championship. Other drivers like Conor Daly and Josef Newgarden also started karting in the USA and have raced in the Star Mazda Series and have also found success in the European ladder mainly in England. Conor is now getting a real chance to challenge for the GP3 title after signing with Team ART a few weeks ago. Do Europeans usually do well in the United States yes but it also goes the other way around as well if you look at if more carefully. The fact that the last 3 years 2 Americans have won the Indy Lights title I would suggest that Americans aren't as crappy as some may think. The fact that North Americans (even though their number are fairly small) are do well in the European ladder and are getting on top tier European ladder teams also shows there is talent in North America that can challenge and win in Europe.

So overall it's a see saw action - it goes back and forth. The Mazda Star Series is still a long ways from being over. Though Hawksworth is dominating now we can never predict what might happen later in the season.

[Sweaty Teddy]

The difference isn't the drivers per say, but the racing itself. Here in the U.S., car contact is frowned upon and blocking in penalized. In Europe, both are accepted as part of the game. To be quick while defending and to be able to move your competitors out of your way without damaging either car are acquired skills. To come to the U.S., where all you really have to do is be clean and neat, and you're probably going to be that much quicker.

[TUBORG-fan]

What was that sound? Oh...someone opened up a can of worms. :P

I have to agree with out that I thought DePhillpi would be stomping everyone as well but Hawksworth is the one doing the stomping it seems. As for the European ladder vs MRTI ladder question it really goes back and forth. Alex Rossi, Robert Wickens, and JR Hildebrand started in what we would call the Mazda Road to Indy today. All three have either done well in Europe or have won the Indy Light championship. Other drivers like Conor Daly and Josef Newgarden also started karting in the USA and have raced in the Star Mazda Series and have also found success in the European ladder mainly in England. Conor is now getting a real chance to challenge for the GP3 title after signing with Team ART a few weeks ago. Do Europeans usually do well in the United States yes but it also goes the other way around as well if you look at if more carefully. The fact that the last 3 years 2 Americans have won the Indy Lights title I would suggest that Americans aren't as crappy as some may think. The fact that North Americans (even though their number are fairly small) are do well in the European ladder and are getting on top tier European ladder teams also shows there is talent in North America that can challenge and win in Europe.

So overall it's a see saw action - it goes back and forth. The Mazda Star Series is still a long ways from being over. Though Hawksworth is dominating now we can never predict what might happen later in the season.

Apart from Wickens I can't another north American driver who has done well in Europe in recent years. The European ladder system is much stronger than the us system. All drivers in F1 come from the european system, and All except 1-2 in indycar come or have driven in the European ladder system.

Look at indy lights. 10-12 cars with some very untalented drivers at the moment. Look at the Series in Europe that are on the same level A's lights or above: World Series by Renault (vettel, kubica, vergne, ricciardo, Wickens (1 NA driver) maybe Rossi A's Well, but hé is fading quickly) gp2. (koboyashi, pantano (no drive) Hamilton, kovalainen, rosberg, Perez, senna etc) the old F3000 Series (Wilson, junquira, montoya, brack, liuzzi, alonso) British f3 (button, franchitti, gavin, Magnussen, alguersauri, etc).

The strongest feeder system at the moment is formula Renault 2.0 and World Series by Renault /gp2.

[Hitokiri]

Apart from Wickens I can't another north American driver who has done well in Europe in recent years. The European ladder system is much stronger than the us system. All drivers in F1 come from the european system, and All except 1-2 in indycar come or have driven in the European ladder system.

Well....let's be fair here. How many North Americans have had their shot in the upper levels of the European ladder whether that be F2, GP3, Formula Renault, or GP2? Not much and even if they did find their way there it wasn't usually with top level teams. Both Josef and Conor Daly ended up with Carlin (which is a powerhouse everywhere but GP3) and both of them did fairly well for where they were winning the championship wasn't realistic on that team. In fact Conor outdid his teammates an I'm glad he's on ART for this year.

Both Alex Rossi and Robert Wickens have had their chances with top notch teams and in my opinion both have done well mostly when compared to their teammates. Rossi I would argue has been a victim of bad drivers knocking him over the years but has shown he does have the speed to take on some of Europe's best junior drivers. I'm glad that top teams are actually giving North Americans a chance at top notch rides something that has been missing for years.

As to Indycar drives without European experience - most of the Americans don't have it yet do respectfully well. Ryan Hunter Reay, Graham Rahal, and JR Hildebrand have all came from strictly the American ladder and are doing well (I don't count A1GP as part of the European ladder). James Hinchcliffe also never drove in Europe and is proving that he has the skill to take on the best in Indycar. So again, Americans have skill but it's all about getting to the right teams at the right times. Americans have been denied this for years but just like in Europe many of the top Indycar seats are once again seating North American drivers.

Look at indy lights. 10-12 cars with some very untalented drivers at the moment.

I believe much of the European grids are much the same. In reality between 2-5 drivers have real chance to win the junior championships each year. That's about equal to what it is in Europe. Now I'm not saying one is better then another but if you think there's talent to be found up and down the grid in every junior level in Europe you have to be kidding yourself.

The strongest feeder system at the moment is formula Renault 2.0 and World Series by Renault /gp2.

Agreed. I think Formula Renault 3.5 and GP2 are neck and neck with each other.

[GMCguy]

I am unsure how many American teenagers will relate to Scuncio, Hawksworth etc. and fulfill the market that Mazda is attempting to penetrate with the MRTI program? I hope Mazda meets their needs and maintains the program.

[Miguel]

Well, it's not like Mazda signed that sponsorship deal during a time when the Road to Indy was completely filled with American drivers...

[Bezzen]

In fact Conor outdid his teammates an I'm glad he's on ART for this year.

Except for Tom Dillmann who scored a pole position and a podium in his first ever GP3 race.

There are very good drivers in the American ladder series, but there are just not that many of them. While it's true that there aren't full grids of super talent in every series in Europe you must take into account that there are lots more single seater racing series too. If you have a few good talents in British, Italian, German, Euro Open F3, Euro Series F3, NEC FR2.0, Eurocup FR2.0, Italian FR2.0, UK BARC FR2.0, Alps FR2.0, Formula Abarth Italy, Formula Abarth Europe, Intersteps, AutoGP, GP3, GP2, Formula Renault 3.5, British Formula Ford, Benelux Formula Ford, Danish Formula Ford, Formula ADAC Masters etc it will add to quite a lot in the end and as some get lost along the way to the top you will end up with quite a deep pool of talent.

[Sweaty Teddy]

I am unsure how many American teenagers will relate to Scuncio, Hawksworth etc. and fulfill the market that Mazda is attempting to penetrate with the MRTI program? I hope Mazda meets their needs and maintains the program.

Mazda sells cars all over the world. While Americans are nice, I don't think the international drivers hurt.

[AFColt]

I still think CDP can catch Hawksworth. He should have an advantage in Indy on the oval for Night Before The 500. He just needs to be a little more aggressive. But yes, it's going to be a heck of a fight for him this year.

[Hitokiri]

Except for Tom Dillmann who scored a pole position and a podium in his first ever GP3 race.

I like how you always bring this up but I think this was more of an exception rather then a fact. Dillman later went to never podium again and the rest of year pretty much mirrored that of Conor because both the Addax and Carlin teams are pretty much the midfield teams of GP3. So please, don't compare Conor and Dillmann only on one race but instead look at the whole season.

There are very good drivers in the American ladder series, but there are just not that many of them

As I stated before the fact that in the last few years there have been a few North Americans that have done well proves that there is talent. What North Americans have struggled with is the fact that they don't have the money that many Europeans, Asians, and South Americans had in the past. For some reason or another though top junior teams are now giving North Americans a chance to show what they have. Mexicans, US citizens, and Canadians are all doing well in the European ladder and that's thanks to teams giving them a chance. Conor is now with Team ART which is also another great sign.

[Team Canada]

With 6 races being held in Canada, Mazda Canada better get involved as well. They aren't doing anything this year (we did call on them), but it would serve them good to get involved with the races in Edmonton, Toronto and Trois Rivieres.