Join us for live comments during both of today’s practice sessions for the Korean Grand Prix.
Here’s today’s round-up:
Links
The Yeongam Track Walk (Williams)
“Nico Hulkenberg’s race engineer, Tom McCullough, walked the track on Thursday morning and gave us his thoughts. ‘The track surface was very dirty,’ says Tom. ‘When you combine the dirt with the fact that the asphalt is new and still quite oily, it’s going to be pretty treacherous during Friday practice. The drivers will want to take it pretty easy while they’re learning the track in FP1.'”
Inaugural Korean Grand Prix fails to draw crowds (Channel News Asia)
“The number of foreigners attending is likely to be lower than originally expected. ‘We had expected about 3000 people in the beginning but so far we have about 950 people. We think the final tally will be about 1500,’ said [Korea Tourism Organisation director] Kay Sung.”
Korean F1 race ready to thunder (The Korea Herald)
“Chung Yung-cho, the chief of the event’s domestic promoters KAVO (Korea Auto Valley Operation): ‘There is room for improvement as host of the country’s first F1 race but we will do our best to develop the sport in the future. We’ve sold out all tickets to the circuit’s main grand stand and met about 90 percent of our initial ticket sales goal.'”
Q & A with Yung Cho Chung (Autosport)
“The track itself is fine, but the rest I am not very happy with because we are two months behind schedule. So there has not been time to do everything. We are sorry for the audience because when the racing goes on, there will be just black asphalt and cars.”
Comment of the day
After seeing the picture of the five championship contenders together I asked on Twitter for boy band name suggestions. I liked Steve Lyons’ best:
A boy band name? How about ‘For Sure’?
Steve Lyons
From the forum
If every F1 driver and team had a wrestling-style entry theme, what would it be?
Happy birthday!
A very happy birthday to Sasquatch!
On this day in F1
The 2000 championship was concluded at Sepang on this day ten years ago. Michael Schumacher, who had already won the world championship, scored his ninth win of the season.
With Rubens Barrichello joining him on the podium in third it gave Ferrari the constructors’ championship for the second year in a row.
McLaren drivers David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen finished second and fourth – Hakkinen being given a penalty for jumping the start:
Chiv'
22nd October 2010, 0:08
Hamilton and the slipstreamers?
Maia
22nd October 2010, 3:01
Alonso and the Fasters than you.
Dan
22nd October 2010, 6:58
I love that one :-D
Sush Meerkat
22nd October 2010, 13:42
The could cover Milli Vanilli’s “girl you know its true”
“massa you know its true, oh alonso is faster than you!”
Eastman
22nd October 2010, 0:11
Another massive facility with “conservatively” 100,000 attendance for an F1 weekend.
Friday’s grandstands might be quite barren.
Kapow32
22nd October 2010, 0:12
“We are sorry for the audience because when the racing goes on, there will be just black asphalt and cars.”
black asphalt and cars is all we need!
US_Peter (@us_peter)
22nd October 2010, 0:50
I was gonna say the same thing, but you beat me to it!
Mike
22nd October 2010, 3:24
….. I think this highlights the gulf between the fans and the producers of the races…
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
22nd October 2010, 0:16
Happy birthday to Sasquatch. :) I initially misread the bit about the foreign visitors as the overall attendance figures estimate! But they must be a little bit optimistic to be hoping for 100 000 spectators, surely?
US_Peter (@us_peter)
22nd October 2010, 0:50
Yes, Happy B-day Sasquatch!
Enigma (@enigma)
22nd October 2010, 3:11
Same here! Who cares about the other things.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
22nd October 2010, 8:32
Happy birthday Sasquatch!
TommyB (@tommyb89)
22nd October 2010, 0:31
‘For sure’? Shouldn’t it be ‘Five sure’… I’ll get my coat.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
22nd October 2010, 0:39
Here’s a suggetsion: don’t have free practice. In fact, don’t have qualifying – the grid can be the same as Suzuka. Just race on it as it is right now.
José Baudaier
22nd October 2010, 1:24
It is actually impressive that they expected 3000 people to plan a trip overseas to a F1 race that wasn’t even confirmed two weeks before it was supposed to happen.
Anyhow, now that the GP is confirmed it is probably a great opportunity to score a good position seat for a reasonable price. I mean, prices can’t be very high with what looks like a small attendance.
wasiF1
22nd October 2010, 1:45
I have concern over the interest of F1 among the people of Korea & the number of people coming on track during the race day.
Toro
22nd October 2010, 9:57
Hi guys have a look at this. I am really impressed. Robert Kubica onboard at the Antibes Rally
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19zFJZ62ZS4
goofy
22nd October 2010, 13:54
better than Kimi’s shakedown at catalunya yesterday :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdzVusoNXLw
US_Peter (@us_peter)
22nd October 2010, 20:22
That’s kind of funny how non-plussed they both look their after the crash. Would be interesting to know what they’re saying.
Steve Lyons
22nd October 2010, 13:58
Thanks for Comment of the Day! Made my day after an abysmal 7 days.
sumedh
22nd October 2010, 20:27
Can you believe it, 10 years ago, the Formula 1 Calendar had finished on 22rd October.
But on 22/10/2010, we still have 3 more races to go and absolutely anything can happen. Dunno why people want less races. I love a longer calendar, expand to 26 I say.
Becken
22nd October 2010, 23:44
Something that I love about Chris Horner is his ability to inpire and motivate his drivers, mainly the one that is leading the chamio9nship:
Isn´t amazing?
LINK: http://www.toilef1.com/Horner-a-t-il-mis-le-feu-aux.html