West-East Timor in WGP2 Season 2 - An Overview
The second season of the WGP2, the feeder series to the World Grand Prix Championship (WGPC), has started, and as most people probably know, two drivers and one team from West-East Timor are participating. For those who don't know about it yet, we've put together a quick overview of Omnidirectional Timorian participation in the season.
Omni Katoa Racing
The Omni Katoa Racing cars (top: Timo Jänkirinää, bottom: Ade Imoju)
Based in Baranburg, Omni Katoa Racing is the only West-East Timorian team participating in WGP2. The team, which works closely together with car manufacturer Omni, and their WGPC team Omni Racing, was founded last year as Katara Racing by Mara Katara, now team principal for Katara Racing in the national endurance series WETEC.The team's participation in the inaugural season of WGP2 was a huge succes, with the team finishing the season on second place in the constructor's championship, and driver Jack Kelly fighting for the driver's championship until the last race and ending up on three, despite having had to quit a few races due to a bad accident during the season.
After Mara Katara left the team after only one season, it was bought by Omni Racing (and Nick Newman), and renamed to Omni Katoa Racing. Omni installed Parvin Langer as the team's principal, who also has experience as a race engineer for WETCheese Racing in Formula WET1. The team has signed West-East Timorian Timo Jäkirinää, who already participated for Katara Racing last season, finishing on eigth in the driver's championship, and the Vangazi racing driver Ade Imoju. The signing of Imoju, who is affiliated with Vannish Motors Racing, as well as Jannik Markner driving for VMR, has been causing rumours about a possible alliance between the two teams.
Parvin Langer about the team's expectations:
"Omni Katoa Racing has a team of very compentent mechanics, designers, etc. Together with two such highly talented drivers as Timo and Ade, we think we can do just as well, if not even better than Katara Racing last year. Yes, that means I think it is possible for us to become both constructor's and driver's champion. However, it is always impossible to predict how a season will go, so it's not a promise. But I do think it is possible."
#25 Timo Jänkirinää
Timo Jänkirinää's helmet design
Formula WET1 champion Timo Jänkirinää is driving his second season in WGP2. After driving in all national feeder series, he replaced Mick Schramm, who went to drive for Bitten Heroes in WGPC, at Formula WET1 top team WETCheese racing, and went on to win the championship. He then got a seat at Katara Racing in WGP2, finishing the season eigth. This year, he signed at Omni Katoa Racing.
Timo Jänkirinää:
"Last season wasn't ideal for me. I had a lot of bad luck and couldn't show my full potential. This year, I hope to be able to actually do so. The car seems pretty good, the team is great, and I hope to be racing for the championship."
#09 Jannik Markner
Jannik Markner's helmet design
Jannik Markner was Timo Jänkirinää's main rival in Formula WET1. Driving for Neumayer Racing, he finished the season second while Jänkirinää became champion. He, as well, will drive his second season in WGP2. He entered the series together with Jänkirinää and got a seat at Academy Racing. He was in for the title until the last race, but due to not finishing there, he only ended up fifth in the driver's championship. For the second season, he signed at championship-defending team Vannish Motors Racing from Vangaziland.
Jannik Markner:
"VMR are a fantastic team and it's an honour to be given the opportunity to race for them. I have been warmly welcomed at the team, and I hope to score some good results for them, and hopefully even become champion. I'm fairly certain that is possible to achieve for me, if I'm honest."