Automotive Sport Cars

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Construction halted on Texas F1 track

Construction of the 2012 United States Grand Prix track has been halted after the circuit's owners said they have not yet been granted a contract to stage the race.

Circuit of The Americas officials in Austin, Texas, said workers had been told to down tools while they await confirmation from Formula 1 officials.

"The failure to deliver race contracts gives us great concern," they said.

On Saturday, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone cast doubt on the Texas race.

"Local businesses, fans and the State of Texas are counting on us," added Red McCombs, a founding group partner.

In a separate announcement, it was confirmed that public funds would not be used to pay for the development of the track.

"Let me state clearly: We have not paid out any money for the Formula 1 event," said Susan Combs from Texas Public Accounts.

US GRAND PRIX VENUES

2000-7: Indianapolis
1989-91: Phoenix, Arizona
1984: Dallas, Texas
1982-88: Detroit, Michigan
1981-82: Las Vegas, Nevada
1976-83: Long Beach, California
1961-80: Watkins Glen, New York
1960: Riverside, California
1959: Sebring, Florida

"The only dollars that can be spent on the United States Grand Prix are tax revenues attributable to the successful running of a race. The state of Texas will not be paying any funds in advance of the event."

The United States last hosted a grand prix at Indianapolis in 2007, but Ecclestone has long been seeking a new venue to bring the sport back to one of its biggest markets.

In 2010, Ecclestone announced that a purpose-built circuit would be constructed near Austin and would host the US Grand Prix until 2021.

But last week US Grand Prix circuit chiefs were left bemused when he cast doubt on next year's race, describing negotiations as "an uphill struggle".

"Austin? I wouldn't want to put my money down that that will happen," he said. "I hope it will and we are doing our best to make it happen, but I wouldn't want to say 'yes'."

In addition, it was announced in October that a second American Grand Prix would be held in Manhattan for 10 years from 2013.

Steve Sexton, president of the Austin circuit, said in response to Ecclestone's comments: "Our funding is secured and construction is on schedule, so we don't understand these comments.

"He [Ecclestone] has expressed great interest in the Austin race and in expanding the F1 brand into the US."

The dispute comes after Bahrain's Crown Prince confirmed the Gulf state will be able to hold its grand prix next season after civil unrest caused this year's race to be cancelled.

From BBC Sport

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Embarrassing moment.

So, if you want to go quicker than a 7...get an Astra van!

....or drive faster! ;-)

~7~

Lewis Hamilton wins Abu Dhabi GP battle with Fernando Alonso

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton returned to form to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Sebastian Vettel retired.

Hamilton was gifted the lead when Red Bull's world champion retired on the opening lap because of a puncture going through the second corner.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso pushed hard and tried to take the lead at the final pit stop but Hamilton was too strong.

McLaren's Jenson Button took third from Red Bull's Mark Webber while Paul di Resta was ninth for Force India.

Hamilton said on arrival in Abu Dhabi that winning the final two races here and in Brazil would help turn around a difficult season in which he has struggled on and off the track.

"He just turned it on here and looked like the old Lewis again," said BBC F1 commentator Martin Brundle.

"There is nothing missing in his armoury but sometimes he seems emotionally like he's not in the race. But there were no tantrums. He just got in it and got on."

Hamilton has been in confident mood and full of enthusiasm for the Yas Marina circuit, where he lost out on victory at its inaugural 2009 race when he was forced to retire.

There was some irony, then, that Vettel, who won the two previous races here in the desert, retired to gift Hamilton the lead.

The double world champion spun at the second corner when his right rear wheel suddenly punctured and his Red Bull slid onto the grass.

He damaged the car further on his way back to the pits and looked furious when it dawned on him he was out of the race.

"He had damage to the floor and the exhaust and part of the wishbone," explained BBC pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz. "He couldn't carry on."

It was Vettel's first retirement since last year's Korean Grand Prix - more than a year ago - and ended his run as the only driver to finish every race so far in 2011.

"I don't know what happened," Vettel said. "We lost pressure all of a sudden out of the exit of Turn One. I don't why. There is nothing that I did differently to any of the other laps.

"We need to find out why, maybe I cut the kerb at a funny angle. It is tough, but I used the opportunity to learn a bit on the pit wall."

Vettel had snatched pole from Hamilton by just 0.141 seconds but the Englishman has been strong here all weekend and ran a controlled race to capture his third win of the season to match Button.

Hamilton dedicated the win to his mother Carmen, who was there to greet him with a hug when he got out of the car.

Alonso, who appeared to have made up with his former foe by complimenting him in the build-up to the race, pushed Hamilton hard in the final phase of the race.

When Hamilton pitted for the harder tyres with 16 laps to go, Alonso stayed out to try and build up his lead but came in four laps later.

The Spaniard had not done enough and Hamilton resumed his lead to win by nearly nine seconds.

"I feel fantastic," Hamilton said. "It was one of my best races. To hold off one of the best drivers in the world is very tough to do.

"I'm just happy. This is great. It's early days but this is definitely the start of something. We've got another great race ahead of us in Brazil. I've just got to keep my mind on the game."

Alonso added: "It was a fantastic race for me as well. We fight most of the race three-five seconds distance to Lewis.

"We were close but we had some traffic in the pit entry behind a HRT and in the last stint they had a little bit more pace so it would have been difficult to win the race even if we had got into the lead. I'm happy with second."

Button finished third but had to battle Webber and Ferrari's Felipe Massa for position after losing his Kers power boost system for half the race.

Team boss Martin Whitmarsh said: "Jenson spent 20 laps without Kers. Then we re-set it and then it would fail and during that time he was trying to keep rhythm and pace and his brake balance was swinging wildly with the failure of Kers."

Webber had been running in third for much of the race but the Australian was switched to a three-stop strategy and ran until the final lap before making his obligatory stop for the harder 'medium' tyres, which put him back behind Button for the final podium place.

"Well obviously on the second stop, we fitted the option tyre again to cut the race into something different. It was worth a bit of a punt," Webber said.

"The two DRS (overtaking zones) were tricky. The first one was easy but the second wasn't so easy. The DRS was a bit of a gimme today.

"We had pretty good pace and I was close to Jenson Button at the end of the first stint. Then we had a bad first pit stop. We lost a lot of time. It put us on the back foot. We lost track position. That's where we lost the podium."

Massa gained one place to finish fifth ahead of Nico Rosberg, who bravely re-passed Mercedes team-mate Michael Schumacher after losing out to him at the start.

Adrian Sutil, who is under pressure for his seat at Force India, beat his team-mate Paul di Resta, who crossed the line in ninth after an unconventional one-stop strategy.

Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi took the final points with 10th and veteran Rubens Barrichello fought hard in his Williams to take 12th after starting at the back of the grid.
From BBC Sport

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Lewis Hamilton rejects Button pressure claim as 'rubbish'

Lewis Hamilton says claims by his McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh that his form has been affected by team-mate Jenson Button's success are "rubbish".

Whitmarsh said after the last race in India that the 2008 champion was "feeling under pressure" from Button, but Hamilton said that was not true.

"He made some comments which I disagree with," said Hamilton. "It's rubbish.

"My issues have been much, much bigger than that - more personal. Jenson doing great is great for the team."

Button has won three races this season, in comparison to Hamilton's two victories in China and Germany, and is 38 points ahead of Hamilton in the hunt for second in the championship.

Whitmarsh, who Hamilton suggested could have been "misquoted", made his comments at the last race in India, where Button finished second and Hamilton was seventh after another on-track clash with Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

Jenson's in a much stronger position than me so I wouldn't expect anything less than the results he's been getting. But that's not affecting the way I'm performing

Lewis Hamilton

The English team-mates have been reticent about talking about their internal team rivalry but, at the penultimate race of the season in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton spoke openly about why he believes Button has out-performed him so far.

"Jenson has done a great job to get things in the right place," said Hamilton, who recently split from his long-term girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger and is no longer managed by his father Anthony.

"He's got his Dad, who's there at every single race, he's got his manager, he's got his friends and his girlfriend there all the time.

"He's got a great bubble around him and with that he's able to go out there and perform without any worries on his mind.

"He's in a much stronger position than me so I wouldn't expect anything less than the results he's been getting. But that's not affecting the way I'm performing. I've just been a bit unfortunate and I've got my own problems.

"I lost that bubble. It is a priority for me to create that atmosphere around myself because it's a happy bubble."

On the subject of his personal life, Hamilton added: "They affect everything you do, the things you say, the way you act, the groove you get into.

"It's not an excuse it's just the way things have gone. I feel quite confident that I know the right direction for next year and how I can get things better - it's just about doing it.

DID YOU KNOW?

If Button finishes ahead of Hamilton in the championship this year, it will be the first time in his career Hamilton has ever been beaten by a team-mate - although he tied on points with Fernando Alonso in 2007

"I don't plan on being single for very long. It's nothing to do with being single or not being single. When I was in my relationship she was probably the most positive thing that was in my life - and maybe that needs to be back there."

As well as difficulties to contend with in his personal life, Hamilton's season has also been marred by on-track controversies.

In particular, the 2008 champion has clashed with Massa in six separate incidents, and while the Brazilian was punished in the most recent one in India, Hamilton was blamed by officials for their collisions in Monaco and Singapore.

Both Hamilton and Massa were keen to move on from their latest controversy in India and the Englishman said he was hopeful of a long-term end to their rift.

"I would like to clear the air but it can't just come from one side," he said.

"We have to meet each other in the middle and he has got to be willing as well.

Lewis was a little bit too aggressive this season

Felipe MassaFerrari driver

"I have no problems with him, and that's been the same all year."

Massa, who faced a barrage of questions about his rivalry with Hamilton, said he had not had contact with Hamilton since India.

But the Brazilian said in Abu Dhabi: "I don't have anything against him to be honest.

"I will try to fight very hard with all the drivers. It's nothing to do with Lewis."

When pressed if Hamilton was the problem, Massa said: "He was a little bit too aggressive this season. He's had a problem with many other drivers as well."

Button said in Abu Dhabi that he would "fight" the two Red Bulls, Fernando Alonso's Ferrari and Hamilton to finish runner-up to Red Bull's champion Sebastian Vettel.

But the 2009 world champion was reluctant to talk further about the battle between the two McLarens.

"Lewis is obviously in the same car as me and you're always fighting when you are both so competitive but we just don't talk about it," said Button.

"It's not just to finish in front of Lewis it's to finish in front of world champions, a guy that's been at the top like Lewis and Fernando and Mark Webber, he's the one to beat as he's in the same car that has just won the world championship."

From BBC Sport

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Casey Stoner wins final MotoGP of the season in Valencia By 0.015 Secs

Casey Stoner produced a remarkable late charge to win in Valencia as MotoGP remembered Marco Simoncelli.

The riders in all three classes gathered for a tribute before the race to Simoncelli - who was killed in the Malaysian MotoGP.

Stoner escaped a first-corner collision which saw four riders crash and somehow overtook Ben Spies on the final corner to win his 10th race of the year.

Simoncelli's Gresini team earlier saw Michele Pirro win the Moto2 race.

British rider Cal Crutchlow managed to finish fourth - the best finish of his MotoGP career.

2011 WORLD CHAMPIONS

MotoGP: Casey Stoner
Moto2: Stefan Bradl
125cc: Nicolas Terol

The MotoGP riders started the race on slick tyres in difficult conditions as a light drizzle fell over some of the circuit, and there was instant drama as four riders crashed out at the first corner.

Alvaro Bautista clipped the back tyre of Andrea Dovizioso and slid off, skittling the bikes of Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden and Randy De Puniet in the process.

All four riders were unhurt in the accident.

Stoner got away safely to lead from Dani Pedrosa and Spies, before Dovizioso battled through to take second.

FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Name	Team	Points
Casey Stoner	Honda	350
Jorge Lorenzo	Yamaha	260
Andrea Dovizioso	Honda	228
Dani Pedrosa	Honda	219
Ben Spies	Yamaha	176

Full MotoGP standings

Stoner backed off as the rain started to fall heavily and Spies moved up into second place, with the lead falling to 1.294 seconds with four laps remaining.

Spies then passed Stoner as the world champion ran wide, and the American looked certain to win his second race of the season.

But Stoner somehow made up the gap coming out of the final corner to win the final race of the 800cc era by just 0.015 seconds.

Earlier, team Gresini rider Michele Pirro won an emotional Moto2 race.

Simoncelli's Gresini team were originally not going to compete in Valencia but decided to take part and Pirro duly won the race to leave team boss Fausto Gresini in tears on the pit wall. Stefan Bradl crashed out of the race but had already won the Moto2 championship.

Maverick Vinales won the final ever 125cc race as Nicolas Terol took the championship. The class will be replaced by the new Moto3 championship from next season.

Valencia MotoGP race result:

1) Casey Stoner (Aus) Repsol Honda 48'18.645

2) Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 48'18.660

3) Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Repsol Honda 48'24.581

4) Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha 48'27.363

5) Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Repsol Honda 48'27.966

6) Katsuyuki Nakasuga (Jpn) Yamaha 48'42.463

7) Josh Hayes (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha 48'51.763

8) Karel Abraham (Cze) Cardion Ducati 48'56.597

9) Loris Capirossi (Ita) Pramac Ducati 49'07.598

10) Toni Elias (Spa) LCR Honda 49'11.146

Moto2 race results:

1) Michele Pirro (Ita) Gresini Moriwaka 46'22.205

2) Mika Kallio (Fin) Suter 46'28.355

3) Dominique Aegerter (Swi) Suter 46'28.568

125cc race results:

1) Maverick Vinales (Spa) Aprilia 41'44.138

2) Nicolas Terol (Spa) Aprilia 41'47.354

3) Hector Faubel (Spa) Aprilia 41'51.598

From BBC Sport

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Team Lotus & Renault change names

There will only be one team called Lotus in F1 next year
- the one currently known as Renault

The long-running row over the use of the Lotus name in Formula 1 has ended with an agreement for both teams involved to change their cars' names.

A meeting of F1 bosses has approved a request for Renault - sponsored by the Lotus car company - to change the name of their F1 cars to Lotus in 2012.

And Team Lotus will from next year run cars called Caterhams, and change their team name accordingly.

The Virgin team will also change the name of their chassis to Marussia.

The name changes, which relate to how the car's chassis is labelled, need to be ratified at the next meeting of the FIA World Council, F1's legislative body, on 7 December, but this will simply be a case of rubber-stamping Thursday's agreement.

Renault may also alter their official name, currently Lotus Renault GP, although they have yet to decide whether to do so.

The changes were approved at a meeting of the F1 Commission group of stakeholders, which also ratified the 2012 calendar as it has already been published.

There had been doubts about the Bahrain and Korean GPs - Bahrain because of continuing civil unrest and Korea because of financial difficulties.

The name changes surrounding the Lotus teams are the endgame in a bitter and complex naming dispute that has been running for more than a year.

LOTUS V LOTUS TIMELINE

March 2010 - Lotus name returns to F1 grid as Tony Fernandes christens his new team Lotus Racing
September 2010 - Lotus Racing announce they will race as Team Lotus in 2011 after Fernandes buys rights to the name
December 2010 - Lotus Group announce title sponsorship deal with Renault team
January 2011 - A court date is set as the two teams row over who has the right to use the Lotus name in F1
May 2011 - High Court rules Team Lotus can race under the Lotus name but that Group Lotus also have rights to use moniker if they enter team in F1
November 2011- F1 commission ratifies request from Renault and Team Lotus to change team names again for 2012

The row began in 2009 when Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes entered a team in F1 using the name Lotus Racing, under licence from Group Lotus.

At that time Group Lotus had made it clear to Fernandes that it did not own the rights to the name Team Lotus.

But the two parties soon fell out, with Group Lotus deciding that it wanted to promote its brand in F1 with a more established team.

It agreed a sponsorship deal with the Renault team for 2011 and terminated its licensing agreement with Fernandes.

Fernandes then reverted to the historic Team Lotus name, which bought the rights to the Team Lotus name from businessman David Hunt - brother of 1976 world champion James Hunt.

Both decisions were the subject of a lawsuit which was finally resolved in London's High Court in May.

A judge ruled Team Lotus could continue to race under that name but that Group Lotus retained the right to use the Lotus marque on its road cars, and in F1 if it chose to enter its own team.

Fernandes, however, had already begun formulating a back-up plan by buying Dartford-based sportscar manufacturer Caterham in April.

That led to new talks with Group Lotus, which ended with them submitting the joint request to change their names that was resolved on Thursday.

From BBC Sport