Idos Motorsport all set for GPVWC debut

Today, Idos Motorsport team boss Elise Skinner unveiled the latest car inside the Idos Motorsport garage that will take to the track in 2018.

Speaking to Elise, we uncovered some of the plans and also some of the team's goals and aims for 2018 in GPVWC. Whilst also having a general chat about how the Formula Challenge series works in the grand scheme of things in GPVWC.

So Elise. The final piece of the puzzle has been added with the skin being released at Bahrain today. Firstly. What made you enter Formula Challenge in the first place? Well. After our successful ITC debut back in August 2017, I felt it would only be right to continue inside of GPVWC and eye up a Formula Challenge entry. Obviously our goal is to enter Superleague in the future but we know that is a VERY long way away at this current time as it can take a team from two years to more than five to amass enough to convince the management to allow them to be promoted to the next tier. So we know we're in this for the long haul and hopefully that persistence will allow us to prove ourselves worthy of an eventual Superleague seat in the future.

Secondly. You finished ITC in 11th place after an amazing set of races by Stein and Tobias. However this year your line up for Formula Challenge doesn't consist of either of those two. However it does consist of equally great driver Edward Williams, of whom also drove for the team during ITC, alongside Michal Galka who in late 2017 drove for MadCape in Superleague. What made you pick this particular line up?

Ed was confirmed before we'd actually been accepted into Formula Challenge actually. Towards the end of ITC i had a conversation with Ed about the potential Formula Challenge effort to which he said "I'd love to give it a go" so i said he'd have the seat there and then. Michal on the other hand was absolute pure luck. I was given a tip off by Menno Klont that Michal was looking for a drive in Formula Challenge. With Michal's Superleague experience and pace i knew he'd be a VERY safe bet indeed so i offered him the seat and he instantly accepted it. How i managed that is still a mystery to me but either way I am VERY happy to have two seriously quick drivers on my team for the upcoming season. It will certainly be a challenge but i know it will be one that we can work on and succeed in. The grid for 2018 looks supremely competitive and as usual we're keeping an eye on a few teams we know.

Which teams are you particularly keeping your eyes on?

Well. Most obviously we're keeping an eye on the Downforce UK line up as they have two karters on the squad. Whether they can transition to simracing as well as they race karts is a different question but i'm certainly keeping an eye on them. Other teams I'm keeping a beady eye on are Drillers Motorsport. Their line up is definitely quick although i know Woznica isn't the most consistent of drivers. Although i expect that to change throughout the season. STAX Racing will be very competitive with Chris Shepherd and Adrian Campfield whilst Apex Motorsport and Cenobite should pull away out front with their line ups. Cenobite with Eneric Andre (Ex Drillers Motorsprot FSR WC) and Ivan Leonov (Ex Drillers FSR ACE) and Apex with Matt Richards and Stefan McCready.

Honestly i wouldn't be surprised to be behind these guys but hopefully Ed and Michal can prove myself wrong.

Alongside this. Can you explain how Formula Challenge works in the grand scheme of GPVWC? Of Course! Formula Challenge is effectively GP3. Supercup is F2 whilst Superleague is F1. If you're entering GPVWC you want to start low to get yourself used to the system so you start in FC (GP3). This means you get used to the management system the series has. You then move up to Supercup of which you are given a set amount of funds to use through the season. However this is only really used to sign drivers. Superleague is where you need about five hundred spreadsheets for working out the costs of buying one engine. It is all rather complicated at top level but that's exactly what we are trying to replicate... The feeling of real life F1! But it is easier when you are working alongside experienced teams who are usually more than happy to assist you with any issues you have. But Formula Challenge specifically is the lowest tier for new teams, new drivers and new managers. It shows them the ropes whilst also showcasing what they can do and who they can convince to join them. Hopefully with who we have this season has already impressed the establishment whilst our performance hopefully proves we're not just here to fill the numbers.