Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum al Maktoum added another string to the bow of his inaugural A1GP series by announcing an expansion of the 2005-06 calendar to include a round at Curitiba, Brazil. The series is set to be the second most international single seater racing series after Formula One in terms of countries visited. Round … Continue reading A1GP adds Brazil round
Month: August 2005 articles archive
Finishing School
Posted onBack in 2004 European Grand Prix weekends were bleak affairs. The main event itself was frequently a Ferrari benefit with little else of note happening further down the field. And on Saturday afternoons the F3000 Championship was in the process of dying a slow death. The last year of F3000 was characterised by grids numbering … Continue reading Finishing School
Editorial: Gimme five
Posted onAh, the championship showdown. Forget your Ashes tests and your penalty shoot-outs – this is the supreme sporting spectacle. Two of the world’s finest drivers in two of the fastest cars, one hunting down the other for a place in the pantheon of motor racing greats. And what magnificent venues this battle will be fought … Continue reading Editorial: Gimme five
Italian Grand Prix 2005 Preview
Posted onAt Monza the sense of history oozes from the very tarmac. The Italian Grand Prix has been a late-season fixture since the very first Formula One World Championship and is synonymous with the thousands of Ferrari-adoring tifosi who mob the circuit every year. Last year these late races were of little importance to the championship … Continue reading Italian Grand Prix 2005 Preview
Turkish Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
Posted onWith sports editors whipping themselves into an orgasmic frenzy over the new football season, F1 coverage has become harder to find among the soccer detritus. Even a stonking race at a classy new venue cannot help it. This is not a phenomenon limited to the tabloids: Alan Henry’s piece in The Guardian languishes on page … Continue reading Turkish Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
de la Rosa charges Renault
Posted onMcLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa charged championship rivals Renault with using illegal team orders on lap two of the Turkish Grand Prix. Pat Symonds’ order to Fernando Alonso to pass Giancarlo Fisichella was heard on the FOCA TV coverage. But the order to Fisichella was missed.Team orders were supposedly banned after Ferrari’s fixing … Continue reading de la Rosa charges Renault
Alonso takes edge off Raikkonen’s Turkey win
2005 Turkish Grand Prix review
Posted onKimi Raikkonen’s fifth Grand Prix win of 2005 was as emphatic as he could have hoped for. But he only drew two points closer to Fernando Alonso in the championship battle, after a late altercation between Juan Pablo Montoya and Tiago Monteiro.
Summer holiday
Posted onHave you, like me, spent the past two weekends in the pits of despair and misery with no F1 or Moto GP action? If so you will doubtless be ruing the development of the F1 summer break for ruining that excuse to get out of a walk or picnic or some other wholesome activity. But … Continue reading Summer holiday
Schuey’s new second
Posted onTo many, Ferrari is Formula One – especially, it seems, to Max Mosley. To be a Ferrari driver is an honour bestowed to the greatest of talents and one not given lightly. So why on earth is Felipe Massa going to be piloting one of the beloved red cars next season? I’d make a case … Continue reading Schuey’s new second
Editorial: Vote Formula One!
Posted onThe inaugural Turkish Grand Prix has rightly been hailed a success. After the inevitable last-minute organisational panic the facility was, more or less, ready, and certainly in a better shape than Bahrain was for its first race last year. Turkey is typical of a recent trend for emerging, progressive countries to advertise their success and … Continue reading Editorial: Vote Formula One!
BAR for Barrichello
Posted onRubens Barrichello’s move to BAR was confirmed today, meaning that either under-fire Takuma Sato or potentially Williams-bound Jenson Button will be out of the Brackley team next year. Barrichello will start his 14th F1 season with his fourth team, and the multi-year deal will take him up until at least the end of 2007. Barrichello’s … Continue reading BAR for Barrichello
Turkish Grand Prix 2005 Preview
Posted onA first-time visit to a brand new circuit in a country never before visited by Formula One is always exciting. The timing of the inaugural Turkish Grand prix is perfect as the championship battle is finely poised and the outcome of the race for the three protagonists could be critical. The teams may benefit from … Continue reading Turkish Grand Prix 2005 Preview
Racing for Britain
Posted onThe committed followers of British racing have suffered a blow recently with the news that that Darren Manning has lost his IRL drive and that Adam Carroll is facing a sponsorship crisis if he is to continue his GP2 season. Both are key representatives of Britain in International Motorsport and to see them relegated to … Continue reading Racing for Britain
Editorial: Renault’s Regret
Posted onFernando Alonso is taking nothing for granted as he closes in on the World Championship title. After all, another Renault driver failed to win the title in similar circumstances in 1983: Alain Prost. Alonso may be sitting pretty at the top of the championship table but, with six races left in 2006, his closest rival … Continue reading Editorial: Renault’s Regret
The good ol’ days
Posted onFormula One came of age as the seventies turned into the eighties: team sponsorship was widespread, the governing body was beginning to get a handle on safety issues, and television coverage was booming. The sport has come a long way since then – but has it lost its way? My knowledge of 1979 and 1980 … Continue reading The good ol’ days
Showdown!
Posted onShowdown! After a demanding period of racing unprecedented in the history of Formula One, the ten teams now face a three-week break in which to ready themselves for the final six races of this gruelling 19-event calendar. But for three teams in particular this short reprieve is just the calm before the storm, as the … Continue reading Showdown!
Editorial: A question of sportsmanship
Posted onNot for the first time in 2005, Ferrari’s controversial stance on testing has drawn serious criticism. Not only have they continually refused to subscribe to the testing limits agreed by all the othe teams, but they have now reneged on the previous agreement not to test during the summer break. Ferrari’s reasoning is simple enough: … Continue reading Editorial: A question of sportsmanship
Massa’s the man for Ferrari
Posted onThe first major driver change for 2006 has been confirmed: Felipe Massa will replace Rubens Barrichello at Ferrari. Barrichello is rumoured to be heading for BAR. Massa has secured one of the best drivers in Formula One despite an inauspicious career to date. In 2002 he was beaten 11-5 in qualifying by team mate Heidfeld … Continue reading Massa’s the man for Ferrari
Hungarian Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
Posted onThere’s one sure-fire way to get Formula One splashed across the back pages of the nation’s newspapers: a good old-fashioned first corner shunt. Christian Klien obliged this time out, and the latest twist in the championship gave more cause for thought. Anyone looking to raise the international profile of Formula One could be forgiven for … Continue reading Hungarian Grand Prix 2005 Media Review