Future of British Grand Prix under new threat - Donington Park

MyTeamCar - The chances of a British Grand Prix remaining on the Formula One calendar took a big knock after news came on Thursday that the organisers of the race for 2010 are now subject to legal action taken by the owners of next year's race venue, Donington Park.

The 2010 British grand prix will be staged at Donington Park from 2010, rather than Silverstone, formula one supremo Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Max Mosley have confirmed. The future of the event was in doubt despite the race being held at the Northamptonshire circuit since 1987.

"Finally the uncertainty is over," said Ecclestone. "A contract has been signed with Donington Park and the future of the British grand prix is now secure. We wanted a world class venue for formula one in Britain, something the teams and British F1 fans could be proud of.

"The major development plans for Donington will give us exactly that - a venue that will put British motor sport back on the map. I am sorry we could not have helped Silverstone to raise the money to carry out the circuit improvements and run formula one."

Ecclestone blamed the British government for not coming to Silverstone's aid. "I believe the government should have supported them, which would have cost probably less than 0.002% of the government's commitment for the Olympic Games," he said.

The news will come as a bitter blow for the British Racing Drivers' Club, which owns Silverstone, as it has long been in detailed talks with Ecclestone over a new deal. But Ecclestone has made his dissatisfaction with the track plain, claiming the circuit was in need of drastic improvement. As a result, the BRDC acquired planning permission to build a £30m pit and paddock complex as part of the first phase of a multi-million pound development. This, however, seems not to have been enough.

Donington, home of the British round of the MotoGP, will require a multi-million pound facelift to come up to scratch. It has previously only staged one grand prix, the 1993 European race, and investment of over £100m is planned over the next five years.

"After many years of patient but fruitless negotiation with the BRDC, we are delighted Bernie has been able to ensure the British grand prix will keep its place on the formula one world championship calendar," said Mosley. "We understand the development programme planned for Donington will achieve the very high standards we expect from a modern F1 circuit. Finally, British formula one fans will get the grand prix venue they deserve."

"We are naturally delighted and extremely proud to have acquired the rights to bring formula one back to Donington Park from 2010," said Simon Gillett and Lee Gill, who lease the track from owner Tom Wheatcroft. "At the beginning of last year, when we acquired the circuit and its substantial lands, we made clear our commitment towards realising the full potential of the park by making the necessary investments in current and future events that will see Donington revitalised, ensuring its leading position as one of the most iconic racing circuits in the world.

"To that end, we have now entered a new and exciting chapter in the development of the park, one that will bring significant investment and regional development, while securing the future of one of the most important and significant sporting events in Britain."

Source: f1.gpupdate.net

Lola considering return to Formula One in 2010

MyTeamCar - British race car makers Lola have commenced a major evaluation project aimed at developing a car to compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship and could formally lodge an entry within the next few weeks. It follows March’s confirmation of FIA plans to introduce of a ‘cost capping’ option to teams next year.

Lola’s previous Formula One involvement dates from the 1960s through to the late ‘90s and now the Huntingdon-based company is in discussions with a number of parties with a view to designing, manufacturing and developing a new F1 car, subject to final confirmation of the 2010 regulations.

“The announcement that Formula One teams may opt for a prudent, financially responsible ‘cost capped’ regime from 2010 has resulted in us deciding to fully evaluate the opportunity to develop a car to compete in the FIA Formula One World Championship,” said Martin Birrane, Executive Chairman of Lola Group.

“The current necessity for Formula One to adopt a responsible approach in times of economic uncertainty has created the ideal conditions for us to consider developing a car for the World Championship.”

Lola, whose last F1 entry came at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix, have appointed new key staff to the project and allocated some of their top engineers to the evaluation. The company already has at its disposal a Formula One standard wind tunnel, latest Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Element Analysis equipment and a seven-post dynamic chassis rig.

“Lola possesses the technical resources, capability and know-how to develop cars capable of competing at the very highest levels of international motor sport, including Formula One,” added Birrane. “We are therefore embracing the WMSC’s timely announcements and assessing a relevant programme for F1 with a view to making formal entry in the coming weeks.”

In addition to Formula One involvement spanning the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, Lola’s racing heritage includes production of championship-winning and one-make formulae cars for Champ Car in America, Formula Nippon in Japan, Formula 3000, Formula 3 and A1GP in Europe. The company currently produces the race-winning LMP1 and LMP2 sports cars competing in both the Le Mans Endurance Series and American Le Mans Series.

Source: Formula1.com

South-west next stop for BTCC

MyTeamCar - The countdown is well and truly under way! There are now just over two weeks to go before the UK’s premier motor racing series – the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship – arrives in the south-west of England to wow the crowds at the high-speed circuit of Thruxton in Hampshire (Sunday 26 April).

Thruxton is the fastest circuit on the calendar for the BTCC drivers who, under the glare of live ITV4 cameras, will be racing wheel-to-wheel at speeds of up to 150mph. And with a trackside crowd of tens of thousands attending what is traditionally one of the region’s biggest sporting events of the year, the action is sure to be at its fast and furious best.

Indeed, Thruxton’s accessibility – right by the A303 dual carriageway near Andover – plus free admission for children aged 15 and under makes it a huge hit with families as well as aficionados and casual motor sport audiences alike.

Furthermore, Thruxton marks the home event of the season for two of the BTCC’s star names – Robert Collard and Tom Chilton. Collard, from Hook, Hants will arrive at Thruxton fighting for the lead of the championship after winning one of the season’s opening three races at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent last weekend for his Airwaves BMW team. Chilton, from Poole, Dorset is also chasing strong results in his Team Aon Ford Focus.

Neither, though, is under any illusion about the task ahead for they are on a 20-strong grid that features some of the best touring car drivers in the world – names such as Jason Plato, Fabrizio Giovanardi, Matt Neal, Colin Turkington and Gordon Shedden.

Collard said: “This will be the only chance this year for people to see the BTCC in the region. Sparks are definitely going to fly – we’ll be reaching 150mph in places and in the BTCC there’s often a bit of paint traded!

“Apart from the fact that close racing is guaranteed, another of the BTCC’s great appeals is that the public can identify with the cars on the track. Up against my BMW there are another five makes of car that people will be driving to and from the track, including Chevrolets, Fords, Hondas, SEATs and Vauxhalls.

“On top of that there are specially arranged autograph sessions where the public including children can meet the drivers. After Thruxton, the BTCC’s calendar moves on around the rest of the UK so, as my home event, this one is always very important to me. The support I receive at Thruxton each year is unbelievable and I look forward to seeing the crowds there on raceday.”

Three BTCC races will headline the bill of action at Thruxton on 26 April that also features a further seven races from the supporting Ginetta, Porsche and Renault championships.

sources: BTCC.net

New team eye back-to-back win but will be at mercy of the weather

Myteamcar - IT HAS been Ferrari versus McLaren when it comes to winning honours in the Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix in recent years.

But there are signs that a new team will rule the roost in what is considered the toughest GP on the world championship calendar, which gets underway today in Sepang with the free practices.

While Brawn GP will be looking to pull off a back-to-back win, the introduction of new rules allowing the use of Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) and the return of slick tyres meant that it will be a different ball game this time.

There is also a later start for the race on Sunday at 5pm instead of 3pm previously and this has not gone down well with some drivers, who feared that driving conditions would be affected if the skies turn too dark as a result of heavy rain.

Jenson Button, who gave Brawn a dream debut in F1 with a pole to finish victory in Melbourne last week, said their cars were running strongly at the moment but admitted they would be at the mercy of the weather.

Team-mate Rubens Barrichello finished second in Albert Park after starting the race from a similar position.

“We have been testing strongly and the results in Melbourne were where we expected to be. Our cars are mechanically strong and we expect to be competitive on this track. I particularly enjoy this track as it is fast flowing and it brings back good memories for me,” said Button, who chalked up his first podium finish in Sepang in 2004.

However, Button said that it would be difficult to know what to expect if the weather turned bad at the start of the race.

“We got a quick car now and we surely want a dry race in perfect conditions. But if there is a storm, it will be more challenging. We have not tested in the wet before and weather-wise, it could be tricky,” he said.

Button felt that the cars with KERS will have an advantage in Sepang, especially on the long straights.

“It’s also a tough place for the drivers as the heat in the cockpit can be unbearable, testing the limit of your fitness and concentration,” he said.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton will be determined to prove he is a worthy world champion after a decision yesterday to take away his third-place finish in the Australian GP.

With Hamilton’s disqualification, McLaren are in a similar position with Ferrari in having no points on board going into Sepang.

But he also admitted that it would be hard to battle upfront, considering the limited time they had after Melbourne.

“I know people are hoping for a night and day change in our car’s pace but that’s not going to happen this weekend. It’s difficult for any team to make big changes to the car when we are so far away from the factory,” said Hamilton, who became the youngest world champion in F1 history last year.

Red Bull Racing’s Sebastian Vettel is also looking to play spoiler after a disappointing outing in Melbourne.

The German was handed a 10-grid slot penalty for his part in a crash involving BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica in the closing stages of the race in Melbourne, which put them both into retirement.

Despite finishing empty-handed, Vettel’s car showed good race pace battling for a podium spot and he is optimistic Sepang will favour them.

“I am not happy with the result as I only had a couple of laps to finish. It’s a shame really as I have a good car and was pushing hard for a podium,” said Vettel, who became the youngest driver to win an F1 race at the Italian GP last year.

“After Melbourne, it seems a more open battle and I hope we get everything right this week.”

Source: thestar.com.my

Malaysian F1 Grand Prix results

First session: 1. Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 1:35.392, 2. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:36.459, 3. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren 1:36.556, 4. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams 1:36.578, 5. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) McLaren 1:36.626,

6. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1:37.022, 7. Nelson Piquet Jr (Bra) Renault 1:37.034, 8. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:37.218, 9. Jenson Button (Gbr) Honda 1:37.282, 10. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:37.540, 11. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:37.649;

12. Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams 1:37.649, 13. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Honda 1:37.776, 14. Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota 1:37.782, 15. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso 1:38.219, 16. David Coulthard (Gbr) Red Bull 1:38.232, 17. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull 1:38.707, 18. Sebastian Bourdais (Fra) Toro Rosso 1:38.798, 19. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Force India 1:39.046, 20. Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri 1:40.178, 21. Anthony Davidson (Gbr) Super Aguri 1:40.351, 22. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India 1:41.269.

Second session: 1. Hamilton 1:35.055, 2. Massa 1:35.206, 3. Raikkonen 1:35.428, 4. Button 1:36.037, 5. Vettel 1:36.474,

6. Trulli 1:36.493, 7. Kovalainen 1:36.512, 8. Kubica 1:36.671, 9. Fisichella 1:36.756, 10. Nakajima 1:36.838, 11. Barrichello 1:36.879, 12. Rosberg 1:36.908, 13. Heidfeld 1:37.106, 14. Alonso 1:37.328, 15. Piquet Jr 1:37.331, 16. Webber 1:37.346, 17. Glock 1:37.512, 18. Sutil 1:37.614, 19. Sato 1:39.021, 20. Davidson 1:39.361.

Source: thestar.com.my