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Author: David Bodapati
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A truly brilliant pole lap by Jenson; Sauber excel
Spa-Francorchamps, Saturday 1 Sept 2012: After setting the best time in Q3 to start on pole for the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, the 12th race of the 2012 Formula One World Championship, Jenson Button said: “It’s been so long since my last pole position that it almost feels like a win for me!
“In fact, it’s my first pole since Monaco 2009 – which was a race that I won – and it demonstrates that I can qualify really well.
“So I want to offer my congratulations to the whole team: it’s my 50th grand prix for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes this weekend, so it’s a great time to get a pole position for everyone at Woking [home of McLaren], at Brixworth [home of MercedesAMGHighPerformancePowe
rtrains] and of course here at Spa. “I’m surprised that the new rear wing is working so well, but the engineers also did a great job with the balance. And it’s even more encouraging that we had good consistency through all three qualifying sessions. Nonetheless, nobody has done any long runs yet, so we still need to wait and see how tomorrow pans out.
“Can I still win the drivers’ championship? Yes. We’ll take it one day at a time, but hopefully we can get some good points tomorrow.”
Teammate LEWIS HAMILTON qualified 8th but will start on 7th due to Mark Webber’s five-place grid penalty.
“Congratulations to Jenson! He did an excellent job and I hope he gets maximum points tomorrow,” he said.
“For me, today was a bit of a disappointment; but, since I’m still in the top 10, tomorrow will be about trying to make the most of things.
“The set-up wasn’t perfect, but that was simply because we chose the wrong rear wing, preferring to stay with the version we used in Hungary. The wing we’d been using in FP3 this morning hadn’t been working very well, so we opted to go back to the older wing which we thought would be the safer option. It was a collective choice: we thought the older wing would be quicker in qualifying, but in fact Jenson has shown the new wing to be very good indeed.
“Our side of the garage was a bit unlucky, but we’ll do what we can with what we have tomorrow.”
MARTIN WHITMARSH
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“That was a truly brilliant pole lap by Jenson – his first for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes – and he’s now in extremely good shape for tomorrow’s race.
“This morning, though, in FP3, neither Jenson nor Lewis was entirely comfortable with the balance or feel of their cars, a situation that was perhaps compounded by a complete lack of dry running all day yesterday. For this afternoon, then, on a bone-dry track, following the issues we’d encountered in FP3 this morning, clearly we had to make some changes. We duly did so, in consultation with our drivers, and, as things panned out, the changes we made to Jenson’s car paid off the better of the two.
“So, as I say, having bagged pole position, he’ll be gunning for victory tomorrow – but Lewis, too, despite starting from P7, will be equally hungry to score a hatful of points. As I’ve said before, and as I’ll doubtless say again, in Jenson and Lewis we have the best driver line-up in Formula 1, and tomorrow both of them will be aiming to demonstrate that yet again.”
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Jenson Button does a stunning lap in Q3 to take pole on 1 Sept 2012 for the Belgian GP on Sunday. McLaren photo. -
V6 mules, or not… debate at Spa
Spa Francorchamps, 1 Sept 2012: As 2014’s hybrid engines get closer to completion, debate over how to test them has thrown up some interesting opinions.
Paddy Lowe, McLaren Technical Director on Friday at Spa. McLaren photo. Speaking in Friday’s FIA press conference, McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe, Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn and Ferrari’s head of engine and KERS operation Mattia Binotto debated how they might prepare the untried V6 hybrid engines before the 2014 season. At the moment there is no provision beyond the standard short winter testing season for the new units to run in modern cars – which is a situation not before faced whenever F1 has introduced radically new powerplants.
“There have been a lot of discussions about whether we might make what is called a mule car to run the new engine next year,” said Lowe. “It’s very expensive to make a mule car, especially when we have other programmes running as well. Not just expensive in money but in terms of the people you need to design it.
“Most of the teams are agreeing that we will not have mule cars. The regulations wouldn’t currently make a mule car of any benefit anyway but we’re not agreeing to introduce any new test sessions that would use mule cars. So then the question is: can we enter a new season with a new power unit, without that track testing?”
Lowe went on to point out that technology has considerably advanced since F1 last faced a similar issue. “I think compared to previous points in time when new power trains were introduced the technology in the lab is far more sophisticated now. I think generally the manufacturers and the teams are feeling that it is realistic to bring in these new power units without needing to introduce special cars to get that earlier learning.”
That point of view stood in contrast to the one expressed by Binotto. “From an engine point of view we are very keen to run the new power unit earlier because what you can find on a car is never equal to what you can find on the dyno,” he said. “All the dynamics of the car, gearchanges, running on bumps, whatever, is quite different to the dyno itself so we are all afraid that by the start of the season you find out that you have a big issue with the engine and the power unit, and you have no time to sort it out.”
Ross Brawn pointed out that the testing ban only relates to the current generation of cars, and suggested therein may lie a route to proving the new engines. “My understanding is that there’s nothing to stop a team testing an engine with an old car if they want to. Whether that is the most effective thing to do is a different matter, because it’s a huge resource to do that and, as Paddy said, there’s a lot of improved technologies there since we last introduced a new engine. We have lots of ways of trying to understand the engine, the complete power train and [how] the systems will work together.”
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Sauber’s Kobayashi quickest in FP1
Spa Francorchamps, 31 Aug 2012: Kobayashi’s time of 2m11.389s, was half a second quicker than that of Williams’ Pastor Maldonado with Daniel Riccardo and Jean-Eric Vergne behind them for Toro Rosso. Mark Webber was fifth for Red Bull Racing, Sergio Pérez sixth in the second Sauber. Nico Rosberg was seventh for Mercedes, ahead of Williams reserve driver Valtteri Bottas and the top ten was completed by Sebastian Vettel ninth for Red Bull Racing and Michael Schumacher tenth in the second Mercedes.
Despite forecasts for a dry weekend, heavy rain swept across the circuit ten minutes before the session began. Rain continued to fall at regular intervals, preventing anyone considering a move to slick tyres.
In the first half of the session, after installation laps had been completely, Kobayashi was the only driver prepared to go out on a long run. His early benchmark time of 2m17.705s led the way for much of the session. Only in the latter 45 minutes did other cars come out to challenge that. Both Toro Rosso drivers briefly held the lead, as did the Williams of Maldonado, before Kobayashi reasserted himself.
Not only was the Japanese driver quickest, but as the session drew to a close he had, with 20 laps, also completed the highest mileage, albeit closely followed by most of the field. The only cars not to get into double figures were the McLarens, Ferraris and Lotuses. While no-one visited the barriers, Felipe Massa pulled off the circuit at the end of the session with smoke pouring from the rear of his Ferrari.
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Sauber's Kobayashi fastest in FP1 on Friday at Belgian GP. 31August2012. Sauber photo. -
EADS, official partner for Caterham
Spa Francorchamps 30 August 2012: Caterham F1 Team has confirmed that EADS, the aerospace and defence group, has joined the team as Official Partner, with its logos appearing on the CT01 2012 race cars and across the whole team from the Belgian Grand Prix, said a Caterham F1 team Press Release.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Group comprises commercial and military aircraft maker Airbus, the European leader in space programmes Astrium, defence and security systems provider Cassidian and helicopter maker Eurocopter. In 2011, EADS generated revenues of €49.1 billion and employed a workforce of over 133,000.
Team Principal of Caterham F1 Team, Tony Fernandes: “I am absolutely delighted that EADS has joined our team and I want to welcome them into our F1 family as Official Partner. EADS joins not only our F1 team but the whole Caterham Group as we evolve from an F1 team into the wider automotive and specialist consultancy service that the various arms of Caterham Group represent.
“The partnership with EADS and Caterham F1 Team is the first of a number of exciting announcements we will be making about projects that various arms of the Caterham Group are working with EADS on. Right now Caterham Composites and Caterham Technology and Innovation are involved in programs that utilise the specialist skills that both companies have in composite design and manufacturing, including a revolutionary lightweight aircraft seat and an in-flight entertainment system that will showcase the benefits composite materials provide on a global scale.
“This is a very exciting announcement and one that shows that world leading companies like EADS see the value that can be created from a partnership with Caterham Group and its various arms.”
“We are proud to be associated with the Caterham F1 Team and hope this will enhance a very fruitful partnership between EADS and the wider Caterham Group,” said Tom Enders, Chief Executive Officer of EADS. “With the range of skills and experience we now have at our disposal in both EADS and the various arms of Tony’s automotive, technology and consultancy businesses, I am confident that there will be many more opportunities to be looked at over the coming months and years that will showcase the potential our two companies have.”
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Schumy starts his 300th GP at Spa
Spa Francorchamps, 30 Aug 2012: The seven-time champion made his debut at Spa-Francochamps in 1991 with the Jordan team and despite edging ever closer to Rubens Barrichello’s record of 326 grands prix, Schumacher said his love for Formula One is undiminished.
“I have the same passion for what I am doing, absolutely,” he said. “Formula One is the ultimate racing (series) and if you’re involved, you’re only involved because you want to do the best that you can do. Obviously we all depend on our machines, but nevertheless, within your machine you have a certain frame with which you can prove yourself and that’s the challenge. The great thing in sport is that you have immediate feedback: whether you do achieve or you don’t achieve. There’s been plenty of satisfaction that I’ve had over more than 20 years now and I still enjoy it.”
The Mercedes driver even added that he considers himself better placed to get results now than in his youth.
“I would probably think that my capacity to achieve is better, because I have a much better view and understanding, a lot more experience,” he said. “If we have problems, it takes me less to come to the point with the team in explaining those problems and that’s helpful.”
With nine races left this season, Schumacher will need to add another full season of racing in 2013 to eclipse Barrichello but the German would not be drawn on whether he will extend his career for that extra year.
“I think we made a very clear statement some time ago that by October we will be able to give an indication and nothing has changed since then, so no news I’m afraid.
“I look forward to the rest of the season,” he added. “We still have a lot to go through and a lot to improve on, a lot to understand. The team is pushing hard to go forward in order to make our process a much more reasonable step forward compared to what we have been doing. Already we have achieved quite a bit more but I think it needs a bit more of that.”
Schumacher at Thursday press Conference ahead of Belgian GP. Mercedes photo. ends
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JK Tyre’s Armaan to enter FIA GT1 Worlds
New Delhi, 31 Aug 2012: JK Tyre brand ambassador and India’s youngest racing sensation Armaan Ebrahim is all set to make his entry into the FIA GT1 World Championship, widely regarded to represent the pinnacle of sports car racing in the world. Armaan Ebrahim is the lone Indian driver on the grid and this is going to be his first outing in the World GT1 Championship at a brand new world-class facility-Moscow Raceway which is located on the outskirts of the Russian Capital. The Chennai based racing driver will represent ‘Team India’ and will drive for SunRed Engineering, a leading motor racing team from Spain.
GT1 features fiercely competitive racing between the world’s most desirable luxury sports car brands. The entry list reads like a who’s who of automotive exotica. Cars from the Aston Martin DBRS9, Audi R8, BMW Z4, Ferrari 458, and Ford GT, to the Lamborghini Gallardo, McLaren MP4-12C, Mercedes SLS and Porsche 997 GT3 R will vie for the honour of being crowned FIA World Champion at the end of the season.
With two races per event, the GT1 championship gives the world’s best drivers an opportunity to battle it out in 10 events that are organised on the finest circuits in 10 countries around the world. Each GT1 race runs for 60 minutes and each car must perform a mid-race pit-stop to change tyres and drivers. The last round of the championship is scheduled to take place at India’s Buddh International Circuit on December 2, 2012.
Armaan’s team – SunRed Engineering – is a professional race engineering company based in Spain with a very successful record of accomplishment in sports and touring car racing at the very highest international levels. The company has been granted the rights to compete within the FIA GT1 World Championship under the designation of ‘Team India’.
Mr. Sanjay Sharma, Head-Motorsport, JK Tyre & Industries Limited said, “We hope that this move helps Armaan consolidate his next career move in the world of motor-racing. It will be a dream come true for a youngster to be finally racing in India in front of his family and supporters. We wish that this move will help him get closer to achieving his ultimate goals.”
The FIA GT1 World Championship was launched in 2010 and is one of five FIA recognized world championships, alongside events such as Formula 1, World Rally and World Endurance Championship.
Armaan Ebrahim said, “I would firstly like to thank my Principal Sponsors JK Tyre who have done a lot of work in putting this together, thus giving me the opportunity to drive for Team India in a World Championship and most importantly in my own country at the Buddh International Circuit subsequently. I will have to get used to the GT Cars as I have raced in Formula Cars all my life and to that extent, the test in Barcelona last month was a satisfying experience. I’m very happy that I’m going to be in the elite company of the best drivers in the world on a debut international race meet in Moscow.”
The young driver views the FIA GT World Championship as a big moment in his life. “To compete in a World Championship was what I have been working towards since I was 12”, he added.
“We are delighted to have finalised a contract with young Indian sensation Armaan Ebrahim to drive for our Team in the last 3 Rounds, which will hopefully lead to a full year’s contract in 2013. We have been following Armaan’s career and he is definitely one of the brightest prospects from India and it is our desire to work hard with Armaan in 2013 to deliver to the world, the 1st Indian World Champion”, commented Joan Orus, Team Principal of SunRed Racing.
SunRed Racing has done very well in other championships and is the World Touring Car Championship title winning team. The team is working hard on getting the Ford GT 40 upto its paces, which Armaan will be driving.
Qualifying round of the championship is scheduled to be held on Saturday, September 1, 2012 at 3.15pm (local time) with Race 1 on Sunday, September 2, at 11.15am and Race 2 at 3.15pm at the Moscow Raceway. The next race is scheduled to take place at Nurburgring in Germany on the 22nd and 23rd of September and the final round at the Buddh International Circuit in India on the 1st and 2nd of December 2012.
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Jenson Button not to give up
Spa Francorchamps, 30 August 2012: McLaren are trailing leader Red Bull Racing by 53 points in the constructors’ championship with 193 points while the drivers Lewis
Jenson Button. File picture McLaren Hamilton and Jenson Button are on 4th and 7th place respectively in teh Drivers’ championship in the Formula One World Championship at the midway stage as we go for the Belgian GP on Sunday.
Speaking in Thursday’s FIA press conference, the 2009 World Champion said his situation did not yet warrant him abandoning a 2012 championship bid.
With nine races remaining, and a potential 225 points on offer, Button’s 76 points places him seventh in the standings, 88 points behind championship leader Fernando Alonso. Button’s McLaren team-mate is better placed, Hamilton having 41 points more than Button for a total of 117.
“You’d say I’m going to give up fighting for the Championship just because I’m 40 points behind my team-mate?” asked Button rhetorically. “Lewis is 40 points behind Fernando and I think he thinks he’s got a very good chance of winning this Championship, so no, we go racing as always and try to do the best job we can.”
McLaren were the form team going into the August break with Button finishing second in Germany, followed by a win for Hamilton in Hungary. “We definitely come here positive we can get a good result, so no, that [team orders] is definitely not the situation. We want to get as many points for ourselves but also for the team.”
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Vettel stars in a Music Video with Fiona
Hong Kong, 30 August 2012: Double Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel has taken on a driving job with a difference – starring in a music video with Double Grammy-winning US R&B star and protégé of Jay-Z, Melanie Fiona.According to an Infiniti Press Release, The Red Bull Racing driver and Infiniti Global Ambassador plays a central part in the official global music video for Fiona’s track ‘Watch Me Work’, from her album‘The MF Life’ on Universal Records. The high-energy piece, set in downtown New York, sees Vettel play a modern day James Dean character searching to find an underground location for Fiona and her band to perform. Vettel emerges driving a red Infiniti G37 convertible to an enormous warehouse space, powering up the lights and the sound system, and taking control of the volume. Happy with his work, Vettel’s character departs the scene and is seen driving into the Manhattan sunrise.The video is the latest in the ‘Infiniti Inspired Performers’ series, which sees Red Bull Racing drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber collaborating with other top performers in different disciplines. It was shot on location in New Jersey in June when Vettel drove the proposed New Jersey F1 Circuit. The 25 year-old German driver also took the opportunity to take the R&B star on a high-speed lap of the circuit, where she got a taste of his high performance world.It’s the first time that Canadian-born Melanie Fiona has featured a sports star in one of her videos. She is no stranger to collaborations though, having worked with Jay-Z, co-written songs with Rihanna and toured with Kanye West amongst others. She is also no stranger to Inspired Performance – her family have owned Infiniti cars for years meaning Melanie has grown up with the brand.Commenting on the video, Sebastian Vettel said: “It was a great experience to shoot a music video, and certainly very different to what I’m used to. But music is without question an inspiration to many and I’m very proud to have been part of this. I think the lyrics are quite fitting to what we can all do if we put our mind to it”Melanie Fiona added: “It’s not often you get the chance to be driven by an F1 World Champion and when the opportunity came up to have Seb driving me in the video I was like, yes please! This is one of my favourite songs and one that I’ve been wanting to put out for a while so to have him involved was great.”The music video is available to view here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vh0yUHGfEA A behind the scenes video featurette can be found here:Vettel stars in a music video. Photo by Infiniti ends -
F1 bandwagon returns to Spa after summer break
Francorchamps, 29 Aug 2012:
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps will host the 12th round of the 2012 Formula One World Championship as the Grand Prix of Belgium signals a return to racing following the series’ summer break. The track, which winds up and down through the Ardennes, has its reputation built on speed. At around 20 seconds, the section from La Source to Les Combes is the longest duration an F1 car will spend on full-throttle in 2012 – should the driver take the Eau Rouge/Raidillon combination flat-out.Despite this, and another long flat-out run down to the new Bus Stop chicane, Spa is a more technical challenge than perhaps its high-speed reputation suggests, with the ten corners of the twisting middle sector often being where fast laps are crafted. Because of the challenges of Rivage, Blanchimont, Stavelot and especially Pouhon in this middle sector, Spa doesn’t demand the ultra-low downforce aero packages seen at Monza. Instead it falls into the medium-low category similar to those used in Montreal. It isn’t a race that heavily taxes suspension or braking, but it does see high tyre-wear and, with a longer lap – 7km in total – than any other grand prix, pitting at the right moment carries a greater premium.
Another factor is the weather: rare is the year when it doesn’t rain at some point over the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. This, in combination with the distance travelled around the lap and its elevation changes, make Spa notorious for inconsistent conditions, with showers falling on some parts of the circuit while others remain dry.
Fernando Alonso goes into the race leading the Drivers’ World Championship by 40 points. History looks kindly on drivers in his position with 8 out of the last ten World Championships being won by the driver top of the standings at this stage of the year. Spa, however, is not Alonso’s best circuit: he hasn’t won here since driving in F3000.
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Fahad Kutty clinches golden double
Chennai, 26 August 2012: Dark Don Racing driver Ashwin Sundar in the LGB Formula 4 category, made light work of slippery conditions with superb driving to give his team its first ever race victory in the second race of Round 3 of the 15th JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship.
Arjun Balu (20:04.406 seconds) won the Indian Touring Cars race almost seven seconds ahead of second placed V.Rajvirdhan of Prime Racing (20:11.191 seconds). Veteran racer N.Leelakrishanan (20:15.347 seconds) of Big Foots Coimbatore came third. Balu dedicated his win to the memory of racing champion the Late. Karivaradhan, at the suburban MMST track near Sriperumbudur today.
It was a creditable display by Ashwin Sundar, who had a difficult time with his car in the last two races, as he exhibited his skills to make sure he finished on the podium yesterday and today.
Bangalore’s Sudarshan Rao, a Jet Airways Pilot, made sure a one-two finish for his team Rayo Racing. Sudarshan, lying in second spot, had to surrender his position to his team mate Varun Nathani of Mumbai, who kept the pressure on taking Rao to third spot.
Ashwin Sundar needed 22:00.197 seconds to take the top honours, while Varun clocked 22:06.269 seconds and Sudarshan 22:07.393 seconds for third place. Sudarshan, who had a second place and first spot finishes, tallied 58 points to lead the overall table followed by Varun Nathani at 46 and Ashwin Sundar respectively for second and third places.
In all counts, the Kozhikode born Fahad Kutty was the lone driver amongst his category of racers in the Indian Junior Touring Cars, who witnessed grabbing a deserving double. Fahad, aged 30 and owning an automobile based business in Mumbai city, has been in the circuit for three years. Today, the driver demonstrated that he is made of a different metal.
Yesterday, he had to bring in all his resources on the track to pass the leader to take the top honours but today he had a rather easy time clinching the title, and a double at that! Diljith Shaji, also from Kerala, driving for Eram Group Sports Club and Kashit Kapadia, Team Game Over, came second and third respectively.
In the JK Tyre-Volkswagen Polo R Cup, Mumbai’s Ameya Walavalkar won the first race, while Ajay Kini claimed the honours in the second race today.
Results:
LGB Formula 4: 1.Ashwin Sundar (Dark Don Racing) 22:00.192 secs, 2.Varun Nathwani (Rayo Racing) 22:06.269 secs, 3. Sudarshan Rao (Rayo Racing) 22:07.393 secs,
Indian Touring Cars: 1. Arjun Balu (Tiger Sports) 20:04.406 secs, 2.V.Rajvirdhan (Prime Racing) 20:11.191 secs, 3. N.Leela Krishnan (Big Foots Racing) 20:15.347 secs,
Indian Junior Touring Cars: 1. Fahad Kutty (Team Game Over) 22:39.788 secs, 2.Diljith Shaji (Eram Group Sports Club) 22:40.761 secs, 3. Kashit Kapadia (Team Game Over) 23:05.332 secs,
JK Tyre-VW Polo R Cup: 1. Ameya Walavalkar (Mumbai) 20:30.378 secs, 2.Sailesh Bolisetti (Visag) 20:32.018 secs, 3.A.Sandeep Kumar (Chennai) 20:39.259 secs, 4. Avdumber Hede (Goa) 20:39.371.
Note: Sailesh Bolisetti is a guest driver and thus Sandeep Kumar and Hede get promoted to second and third positions.
Second Race: 1. Ajay Kini (Bangalore) 20:40.108 secs, 2. Mihir Dharkar (Mumbai) 20:40.432 secs, 3.Ameya Walavalkar (Mumbai) 20:40.434 secs.
Overall points for top three-placing for three legs:
LGB Formula 4 (For four races): 1. Sudarshan Rao (Rayo Racing)—58 pts, 2. Varun Nathwani (Rayo Racing) 46, 3.Ashwin Sundar (Dark Don Racing) 43,
Indian Touring Cars: (For four races as 2nd and 4th races under investigation): 1. Arjun Balu (Tiger Sports)—68, Rajvirdhan (Prime Racing) 58, 3. Leela Krishnan (Big Foods) 30,
Indian Junior Touring Cars (for six races) : 1. Fahad Kutty (Team GameOver)–125, 2.Diljith Shaji (Eram Group Sports Club)—82, 3. S.Feroz Khan—76,
JK Tyre-VW Polo R Cup (for six races): 1.Ameya Walavalkar (Mumbai)—176, 2.Sandeep Kumar (Chennai)—155 and Mihir Dharkar (Mumbai) 155 (shared the spot).
JK Tyre National Racing Championship ends
