We hear that the French Grand Prix might be back on the F1 agenda in the years ahead. It is not yet clear where such a race could be held but it seems that Bernie Ecclestone has been discussing possibilities with Claude Michy, a sports promoter, who has enjoyed much success with the motorcycle Grand [...]
Archive for September, 2010
Some hope for France?
Posted in Circuits on September 30, 2010 | 22 Comments »
Korean decision not before October 11
Posted in Circuits on September 30, 2010 | 24 Comments »
We hear from very reliable sources that the decision as to whether the Korean Grand Prix will go ahead will not be taken before October 11, the Monday after the Japanese GP when the FIA will send inspectors to Korea to look at the surface of the new circuit. The final layer of tarmac is [...]
Oh what a circus!
Posted in Personal musings on September 30, 2010 | 30 Comments »
It has been a very long day at the Paris Auto Show, but I learned a few things of note; made some connections and managed to avoid getting a parking ticket although I parked in an outrageous fashion because I could not find a better option. And there’s the rub… The traffic getting into the [...]
Off to the Salon
Posted in F1 politics, Personal musings on September 30, 2010 | 10 Comments »
The celebrated Salon de l’Automobile opens (for the press) today at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris. There are press conference involving the different manufacturers throughout the day (in fact they started at 07.30 this morning). The ones I am interested in are Renault and, this afternoon, Lotus. I will also see what [...]
Mike Gascoyne with Lotus… and Lotus
Posted in F1 Teams on September 29, 2010 | 13 Comments »
A day before Group Lotus unveils its new models at the Salon de l’Automobile in Paris, rival Team Lotus (or rather Lotus Racing until it becomes Team Lotus next year) says that it has signed a five-year contract with Chief Technical Officer Mike Gascoyne. “Having started the team from scratch with Tony it was always [...]
Trevor Taylor 1936-2010
Posted in F1 Drivers on September 29, 2010 | 9 Comments »
It is with great sadness that we must report the death of Trevor Taylor, a celebrated Formula 1 driver in the 1960s, whose talents were largely overshadowed by Jim Clark. The son of a garage owner from the town of Wickersley, near Rotherham, Trevor Taylor was born just after Christmas in 1936. He started racing [...]
The future of Sauber
Posted in F1 Teams on September 28, 2010 | 12 Comments »
In recent months Peter Sauber has made no secret of the fact that he is looking for a new strategic partner, following the withdrawal at the end of last year of BMW. The German car manufacturer has been quietly paying for Sauber’s programme this year, if only because of the botched sale of the BMW [...]
The Lotus Affair
Posted in F1 Teams on September 28, 2010 | 62 Comments »
When is a Lotus not a Lotus? This is the question. Proton says that “there is and always has been only one Lotus, the Lotus started by Colin Chapman”. This statement is incorrect in that there are an awful lot of companies called Lotus. Lotus Ltd, for example, makes clothing and footwear; there is a [...]
Pedro de a Rosa joins Pirelli
Posted in F1 Drivers on September 27, 2010 | 1 Comment »
There is no big surprise in the news that Spanish driver Pedro de la Rosa will replace Nick Heidfeld as Pirelli’s official test driver. Heidfeld recently replaced de la Rosa at Heidfeld and Pirelli’s need for an experienced and race-fit tester meant that he was the obvious choice to carry out the remaining tests with [...]
The Korean Grand Prix
Posted in Circuits on September 27, 2010 | 16 Comments »
The Formula 1 is waiting today to hear whether or not the Korean Grand Prix is going to happen. The problem is with the track surface. The final layer of tarmac has yet to be laid. The race in now less than four weeks away, and the surface will need about three weeks to cure. [...]
