Britain’s Abbi Pulling made history by finishing fastest in the first all-female Formula E testing session.
The 21-year-old, driving for Nissan, was quickest of 18 of the world’s top female drivers in Spain.
“It was extremely physically demanding – I wasn’t quite expecting that,” said Pulling, who currently leads the F1 Academy standings.
“I work hard in the gym, but the new tyres made it a real challenge. I couldn’t quite get the maximum I wanted out of the car.”
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All 11 teams in the electric racing series fielded at least one driver at Circuito de Jarama near Madrid as part of its long-term strategy “to remove barriers and expand opportunities for women” in motorsport.
Originally scheduled to take place in Valencia, the usual home of Formula E pre-season testing, the event was moved to the Spanish capital after devastating floods in the Valencia region led to the deaths of more than 200 people.
The women, who hail from different forms of motorsport, took to the track during a three-hour session on Friday in the latest Gen3 Evo car, set to be used in the upcoming 2025 season.
It is capable of doing 0-60mph in 1.82 seconds, 30% faster than a Formula 1 car.
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Pulling recorded one minute 30.88 seconds, 3.4 seconds off Formula E’s Mitch Evans who claimed the fastest lap in Thursday’s men’s test on the same track for Jaguar TCS racing.
“It’s not too bad considering the limited run we had,” Pulling said. “But I wanted to be closer.”
Seven-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick was second, with McLaren’s Bianca Bustamante third fastest.
Despite Taylor’s absence from competition, fans will still be treated to a star-studded 16-player field with the likes of Richie Howson, John Henderson and Lisa Ashton in action.
A new champion will be crowned in Sunderland, as Leonard Gates will not attempt to defend his World Seniors Masters title.
SunSport has all the information you need ahead of the iconic tournament.
Lightweight champion Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) is expected to make his next title defense against Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) on Jan. 18 at UFC 311, although nothing is confirmed.
“I’ve told everyone: I think I wasn’t there (against Makhachev). I didn’t fight Islam,” Oliveira told New York Post Sports through an interpreter.
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If Tsarukyan is indeed next for Makhachev, Oliveira sees similarities in their game. However, he’s leaning towards Makhachev to get the job done once again.
“They have very similar games, and I think each has to come and look out for the same things,” Oliveira said. “You have to watch out for the striking because they do offer some striking and they also have to be very mindful of the ground game.
“It’s very, very similar styles, and I think that they have to watch out for the same things from each other. I think Islam is a little step ahead of Arman. I think he’s just stronger by a little bit, but when push comes to shove, any of them could win.”
Oliveira runs things back with Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) Nov. 16 in the UFC 309 co-main event at Madison Square Garden in New York. Oliveira won their first bout by knockout to claim the vacant lightweight title at UFC 262.
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Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
Spending the first half of the season as a spectator while he worked his way back from Achilles tendinitis took its toll on San Francisco 49ers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey described being in a “dark” place during his eight weeks on the sideline, dealing with both physical pain and the frustration over not being able to play. That is now in the past with McCaffrey set to make his season debut for San Francisco on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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“Sometimes you just take it for granted that you play this game for a living and it’s what you do, it’s what you train for,” McCaffrey said Friday. “But when it’s taken from you, even just for a little bit of time, it makes you really appreciate every single day when you’re on the grass.”
McCaffrey returned to practice on Monday and has made it through four days of work on the field without any setbacks, clearing the way for him to play. He is listed as questionable because he is still on injured reserve but is set to be activated Saturday.
“We’ll take him off IR tomorrow and then he’ll be good to go,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “So unless something crazy happens on this plane ride, he should be good to go once he gets off IR.”
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The injury news isn’t all positive for San Francisco with star defensive end Nick Bosa listed as questionable after injuring his hip in practice Wednesday. Shanahan said he’s concerned Bosa might not be able to play Sunday.
“He wasn’t able to do a lot (at practice). He was extremely limited,” Shanahan said. “Hoping he’ll be all right, but we’ll see on Sunday.”
San Francisco will also be without starting cornerback Charvarius Ward, who has been away from the team all week following the death last week of his 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joy. A memorial service was held Friday in Dallas and general manager John Lynch led a contingent of team officials there to support Ward.
McCaffrey has been dealing with Achilles tendinitis since early August. He missed almost all of training camp before returning to practice just before the season opener. He was scratched at the last minute before that game against the New York Jets on Sept. 9 and then had a setback at practice Sept. 12.
He was placed on injured reserve two days later and spent the past seven weeks resting and rehabilitating, including a trip to Germany for treatment that McCaffrey didn’t want to talk about Friday.
“I keep all that stuff private,” he said “When you’re on IR and hurt, you’ll do anything to come back. I feel good right now. That’s all that matters.”
The 49ers (4-4) are counting on McCaffrey’s return for a second-half boost. San Francisco has sputtered in the first half of the season with the offense scoring 3.9 fewer points per game than last season.
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Jordan Mason has done a good job filling in for McCaffrey with 685 yards rushing in eight games, but the Niners have sorely missed the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year in the red zone and in the passing game. San Francisco’s 26 catches by running backs are fourth lowest in the league after ranking in the top five when McCaffrey was available the past two seasons.
McCaffrey led the NFL last season with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and was tied for the league lead with 21 touchdowns as he helped lead San Francisco to the Super Bowl.
After missing 23 games because of injuries in his final two full seasons with Carolina, McCaffrey had been healthy the past two seasons.
He missed only one game combined in 2022-23 — a meaningless Week 18 game last season for San Francisco when he had a sore calf. His 798 combined touches from scrimmage in the regular season and playoffs were the third most for any player in a two-year span in the past 10 years.
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But he has no concern about the injury going forward.
“I feel good now,” he said. “I wouldn’t be out here if it was still bothering me. I feel great.”
NOTES: DT Kevin Givens (groin) and WR Chris Conley (hamstring) will miss the game. … WR Deebo Samuel (rib, oblique), S Malik Mustapha (calf) and OL Jon Feliciano (knee) are all listed as questionable. … DL Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) won’t be activated off IR to play this week.
NASCAR President Steve Phelps and Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell sat down with media Friday at Phoenix Raceway to discuss several topics of interest. But in his opening statement, Phelps made sure to address the pressing issue of charters.
“Probably a lot of frustration in the room that NASCAR over the last two and a half years has not talked about charters publicly or with the media,” began Phelps. “We’ve done that purposefully. We don’t believe the media is a place to have discussions about our negotiation with our race teams and our charter extensions. That was by design. I know people are frustrated about that.”
This, of course, comes amidst the legal war between NASCAR and the teams of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. Denny Hamlin has been an outspoken critic of the charter negotiations, long before his team’s refusal to sign the 2025 agreement, using the media (and a podcast) to convey his frustrations. NASCAR took a different approach.
“We are not going to negotiate in the media about charters ever, and we are very happy that 32 of our 36 charters were extended,” added Phelps. He was also sure to point out that that teams are “the single largest beneficiary of our media deal” in terms of money, noting how the sanctioning body intends to cut costs and help keep teams financially healthy.
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Phelps also made it clear that they would not take any charter-related questions from the media, citing the fact that “we are in active litigation, and that matter (of charters) is closed at least at this point.”
“No comment,” replied Phelps initially, before adding: “I do think it’s important for everyone to understand charters notwithstanding and what’s going on there, our relationship with the race teams is really important, and our race teams working with NASCAR is really important to the success of this sport, as is our relationship with Speedway Motorsports and the independent tracks, as is our relationships with our broadcast partners and our sponsors.
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“It’s what makes this entire thing go, and I would suggest over the last five, six, eight, ten years that we have not optimized the opportunity in front of us. If we do that where we have alignment and everyone understands the division, the strategy about how we’re going to move this sport forward, then I am positive we are going to have success.”
There are also ongoing questions regarding the future of Stewart-Haas Racing’s charters as the four-car operation plans to shut down. Trackhouse Racing Team is acquiring one, Gene Haas is keeping one for the Haas Factory Team, but the other two were meant to go to 23XI and FRM. However, Phelps had no answers there as the future of those two charters remains unclear.
23XI and FRM intend to appeal Friday’s decision as they continue their fight to keep hold of their charters while suing NASCAR for alleged antitrust violations.
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