Lewis Loses Licence to Drive

Lewis Loses Licence to Drive

"Formula One McLaren driver, Lewis Hamilton, has been banned from driving for a month."

formula1, f1, sport, motorsport

Alonso goes back to the future

Alonso leaves McLaren and goes back to Renault.
Not that I care, but to set the record straight, anyone know how much he's getting paid or how long his contract is for? The reports seem somewhat varied. ;)

...and where's Kovalainen going? Toyota or McLaren?

formula1, f1, sport, motorsport

Spanish test times - 2009 slicks

"BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica was the fastest man in action on Thursday at Jerez during the third day of testing at the Spanish circuit. Kubica clocked a best time of 1m 19.157s - almost two-tenths of a second quicker than the McLaren of Wednesday’s fastest runner Lewis Hamilton.

Kubica was testing for the first time on non-grooved tyres, as Bridgestone continued to evaluate slicks ahead of their possible return in 2009. The Polish driver was joined for a second day by team mate Nick Heidfeld who finished tenth quickest in the times. ...."

Full story and list of driver test times @ fomula1.com

formula1, f1, sport, motorsport

Bridgestone Report Internet Scam

Bridgestone warning about an internet scam:

Bridgestone have become aware of a prize draw scam using the identity of Bridgestone UK. We can state categorically that this is not the activity of Bridgestone UK, Bridgestone Corporation or any of it's subsidiaries. If you have been targeted by this scam and wish to contact us please e-mail: ukcontactcentre@bridgestone.eu.
Bridgestone

formula1,f1,sport,motorsport

Renault escape penalty

Renault have received an early Christmas present as they escape any penalty for possessing confidential McLaren technical details.
Full story @ ITV.com

formula1, f1, sport, motorsport

Regazzoni killed in road accident

BBC | Motorsport | Formula One: "Former Grand Prix driver Gianclaudio 'Clay' Regazzoni has been killed in a road accident.

The Italian Ansa news agency said the 67-year-old Swiss, a former Ferrari driver, was killed in a collision with a lorry on a motorway near Parma.

Regazzoni won five of his 132 Grands Prix in an 11-year career, which ended when he was paralysed from the waist down in a crash at Long Beach in 1980.

Regazzoni spent five years at Ferrari and was second in the '74 championship."

[please follow the above link for full story]

Q and A With FIA President Max Mosley and Professor Burkhard G�schel

Max Mosley: "If there is anything wrong with F1 from the point of view of TV figures, audience and that sort of thing, it hasn’t come from the discussions about regulations. It has come from other matters.
...I wouldn’t accept that the FIA and manufacturer discussions over the past five years have damaged F1. I don’t think the public takes too much notice. They are much more interested in whether Alonso did or did not impede Massa and things of that kind." Q and A With FIA President Max Mosley and Professor Burkhard G�schel

I often wonder, in these cynical days, just how high powered jobs are filled and have concluded that the primary qualification required is a total inability to empathise with "real" people.

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Alex Zanardi back on the track

Independent Online: "'I was a bit too big for the cockpit of this car, so we cut something off my legs and made me a little bit shorter. I told the guys it was a much faster job than adjusting the pedals.'"

Alex Zanardi drove a few laps in a racing car for the first time since the horrific accident which resulted in the loss of his legs.

The BMW Sauber had been specially adapted with hand controls.

Montoya moves to NASCAR - anyone else?

jpmontoya :: "Juan Pablo is an exciting driver and immensely likeable character who will undoubtedly make a successful transition to the NASCAR scene," said Ron Dennis, CEO and Chairman of the McLaren Group. "We have agreed that with so many things happening in Juan Pablo's life right now, he should take some time out of the car and prepare professionally and personally for the future."

Sounds like a great idea. After another boring qualifying session today [yes ... I fell asleep ... again!!] I think I might join him.

So they tinker with the qualifying to help it along a bit but its far too little and far too late. It's screwed guys. Completely screwed!

To make matters worse we have to watch [UK TV, ... the television coverage doesn't half suck these days] Max Mosley and yet another inane interview. The sport seems to be without effective management at the moment. If the teams won't agree on things [engines], make them agree. Stop this pussyfooting around! Like it or lump it! This is an audience participation sport. If you don't have the audience you won't get the sponsorship. Fix it! It doesn't work!

Technorati Tags: f1, formula1, motorsport, NASCAR, sport