Category: Formula 1

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Auctions & Sales Formula 1 Honda

Super Aguri F1 car sells at auction for under AU$200K

Super Aguri SA06

If I said you could buy a 2006 F1 car for under AU$200,000 you would say I’ve got a few crew members loose in pit lane. However, that is exactly what happened when a 2006 chassis Super Aguri went under the hammer recently. The SA06 racer sold at an internet auction for £85,600 (AU$194,000). The auction was run by SHM Smith Hodgkinson on behalf of Super Aguri’s liquidators. SHM’s Richard Mascall said, “We were absolutely delighted with the outcome. The car sold for £85,600, which is a more than respectable figure and easily more than the original reserve figure.”

The Japanese buyer will now have the keys to the ultimate track day weapon at a price that would raise the interest of captains of industry the world over. Fair enough, the logistics and running costs might up the price a bit in real terms, but it would be pretty ace to own your own F1 car.

The Japanese team made their Formula 1 debut in 2006, but financial difficulties forced their withdrawal from F1 earlier this year, after just four races.

Source: autosport.com (Thanks to Tiaan for sending this in. Pic courtesy of MickyD.)

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Formula 1 Random wallpapers

Random wallpaper: Spa-Francorchamps

Spa-Francorchamps Grand Prix circuit

To celebrate the Belgian Grand Prix here is a 1920×1200 pixel aerial photo of the awesome Spa-Francorchamps Grand Prix circuit. The current track is a fraction over 7km, but the original layout was over 14km in length. The Belgian Grand Prix was first held here in 1924 and the Eau Rouge–Radillon corners—part of the original layout—form one of the most famous sections of Grand Prix track in the world. Rivalled, perhaps, only by the Monaco street circuit. However, it is the Blanchimont corner on the back straight that drivers find the more fearsome corner, according to Wikipedia. More detail on the track can be found on the official Formula 1 website.

To download the 1920×1200 pixel version of this image, simply click on the image above.

Credit for the image goes to Chubbennaitor, sourced from Wikipedia.

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BMW Formula 1

A lap of Spa-Francorchamps with Robert Kubica

I’ve been waiting for BMW-web.tv to load this clip all week—now they have and it’s only a computer generated lap of Spa! They usually use real in-car footage. Never mind, it’s a great track any way you look at it. Mind, as a commentator BMW-Sauber’s Robert Kubica makes a great racing driver.

See you on the couch late into the night this weekend. Rain is predicted, as usual, the championship race is very tight, so we have the makings of a cracking race. Hold on tight!

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Formula 1

Get ready for the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend!

If this clip doesn’t make the hairs on the back of your next stand up nothing will. The only downside is the usual visual effect of television cameras flattening out terrain. I’ve been to Spa and I can tell you the climb into Eau Rouge is much steeper than this clip shows. Either way, the driving from Alonso and Hamilton in last year’s opening lap is as close to carnage as you can get without there actually being a shower of carbon fibre. Forget the merits of who had right of way and just enjoy this amazing footage while you can!

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Formula 1

Donington Park to host British Grand Prix from 2010

Donington Park

The British Grand Prix will be held at Donington Park from 2010. Donington last held a Formula One race in 1993—the European Grand Prix—won by the late Ayrton Senna. Formula One Management President Bernie Ecclestone said, “Finally the uncertainty is over. A contract has been signed with Donington Park and the future of the British Grand Prix is now secure. We wanted a world class venue for Formula One in Britain, something that the teams and British F1 fans could be proud of. The major development plans for Donington will give us exactly that. A venue that will put British motor sport back on the map.”

Simon Gillett, Donington Park CEO, was interviewed on ITV1 before today’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone and said plans for the redevelopment of the track and facilities would be announced soon. He assured viewers the section from Redgate to McLean’s (see circuit map below) would remain untouched, although a new loop section was likely to be added to the infield of the track.

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Formula 1

Mark Webber on front row for British Grand Prix

Mark WebberAustralian Mark Webber has celebrated his contract extension with Red Bull Racing by setting the second fastest time in final qualifying at the 2008 British Grand Prix. Webber lapped the Silverstone circuit in 1:21.554, but was no match for McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen who blitzed the field winning his maiden pole position with a time of 1:21.049. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen qualified in third (1:21.706), ahead of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton (1:21.835) and BMW-Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld (1:21.873).

In the post qualifying interview Webber acknowledged Red Bull Racing, “It’s a credit to the team, they’ve worked hard. We’re based just down the road so it’s like a home Grand Prix for us.” This will be the first time since 2006 that Webber has started a Grand Prix on the front row—the first time for Red Bull Racing—and he knows the serious work lays ahead, “Only five per cent of the job is done, it could be wet, so there’s a long way to go.” The Australian’s Red Bull has been at the pointy end of the field all weekend and this was also the case in the third qualifying session, despite the blustery conditions making it difficult for all drivers, “I felt comfortable in the car and in my second run I got a lot better lap, Heikki got the pole and I’m happy for him.” News of Webber’s second qualifying position will no doubt create a lot of enthusiasm down under and he is raring to go, “I can’t wait for tomorrow, I wish the race started now!”

Webber has had a lot of success at Silverstone with good results in Formula Ford and Formula 3000. Let’s hope this trend continues with a trouble free run in tomorrow’s race.

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Formula 1

Melbourne to host Formula One Grand Prix until 2015

Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix

Victorian Premier, John Brumby and his Events team have struck a deal that will see Melbourne continue hosting a Formula One Grand Prix until 2015. Controversy over a full night time race appears to have been shelved, for now, with plans for the Melbourne race to start at 5pm for the next seven years. “It’s a five o’clock start. We’ve said that we would not support a night race, and we’ve held firm in that position,” Brumby said.

President of Formula One Management, Mr Bernie Ecclestone, said he was delighted the Grand Prix was continuing in Melbourne. “The Australian Grand Prix has always been a great show, with some of the biggest crowds in Formula One,” he said.

The crucial factor for Melbourne, or any Australian Grand Prix, has always been the early morning start for European television audiences, and it is understood negotiations for this new deal were intensive. Ecclestone commented, “I have wanted changes to the local race time so that we can increase the television audience in Europe and Asia. I’m satisfied that the decision to move to later start time for 2009 races is a win for television audiences in Europe and Asia, a win for Melbourne and a win for Formula One as a whole.”

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BMW Formula 1 Motorsports

A lap of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with Nick Heidfeld

To get you in the mood for this weekend’s Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix, I hope you enjoy this lap of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with commentary from BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld. This clip was spotted at our friends from BimmerFile, via BMW-web.tv.

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Formula 1 Motorsports

Max Mosley to remain FIA President

In stunning news just to hand Max Mosley has won a vote of confidence and will remain in his role as FIA President. The vote, called by Mosley himself, returned over 60% of the count in favour of the embattled motorsport supremo, winning 103 of the 169 votes.

Mosley’s controversial grip on the FIA has been under question since news broke of his involvement in a ‘Nazi-style sex orgy’ in late March. The automotive federations of Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain and the USA all voted against Mosley. This follows public condemnation of the 68-year-old’s behaviour from prominent Formula 1 manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Honda. Even Formula 1’s main man, Bernie Ecclestone, has pleaded that Mosley step down. “He should go out of responsibility for the institution he represents,” Ecclestone told the Daily Telegraph.

Eddie Jordan, former Formula 1 team boss, has expressed concerns over Mosley’s ongoing tenure, “there are a lot of countries where F1 goes and lots of the rulers of those countries don’t want to deal with him. That is clearly not acceptable. My hope is that he will listen to the comments and then go.”

There are also suggestions from BBC journalist Adam Parsons that the FIA could face a damaging split, “he won by a clear majority, but among those who opposed him there is overt anger and resentment. The US, German and Dutch raised the spectre of breaking away from the FIA in protest is an unprecedented threat.

“Today the FIA is an organisation in crisis, facing the prospect of being ripped apart.”

Source: BBC

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Formula 1

Classic footage – 1982 Monaco Grand Prix

This is a rare gem of a clip from the 1982 Monaco Grand Prix. Watch the closing laps as iconic commentary duo Murray Walker and James Hunt attempt to keep you up to date with who is winning the race! This should get you in the mood for tonight’s 2008 Monaco Grand Prix.

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Formula 1

Stepney-gate: The scandal that rocked Formula One

Wired: The scandal that rocked Formula OneWIRED magazine’s website has an excellent article written by Mark Seal about ‘Stepney-gate’, the spy scandal that embroiled Formula One in 2007. It involved the leaking of vital information between Ferrari and McLaren, principally from Ferrari’s Nigel Stepney to McLaren’s Michael Coughlan. The article explores Ron Dennis’ dislike of Team Red as well as the apparently innocent, if ultimately foolish, errand that brought Ron Dennis’ McLaren team to its knees. One of the introductory paragraphs reads:

“It was June 2007 in sleepy Surrey County, and Coughlan, a statuesque blonde, sauntered through the door of the shop holding a sheaf of 780 pages. Scan them onto two CDs, she told the clerk, a forgettable middle-aged guy in a forgettable office park in the middle of nowhere. Nothing strange about the order, unless you happened to be a Formula One fan and happened to take a close look at the material: schematic drawings, technical reports, pictures, and financial information — enough insider dope to design a Formula One race car. Each page was emblazoned with one of the most famous logos in the world: the prancing black horse of Ferrari.”

Click HERE to read the rest of the article.

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Formula 1

Is the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix up the Creek?

Eastern Creek International Raceway

Could the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix be heading to Sydney’s Eastern Creek International Raceway? Or will it be up the creek after Melbourne’s contract ends in 2010? As they say, all will be revealed in the fullness of time. In the lead up to the 2008 Melbourne Grand Prix there had been plenty of speculation about Australia’s future as an F1 host. One of the major issues with a race down under is the television schedule it creates back in Europe, with a broadcast time in the wee hours of the morning. This year’s race was delayed some 90 minutes to allow a bit more sleep in for European F1 fans, and next year’s race will be further delayed. Mr Formula 1, Bernie Ecclestone, has all but demanded Melbourne run the Albert Park race under lights so as to further enhance the viewing pleasure of European television audiences or face losing the event. Mr Melbourne Grand Prix, Ron Walker, would probably like to do what Bernie says, but the costs involved with lighting up Albert Park are cost prohibitive and as a result it is hard to put forward a case for the Melbourne Grand Prix existing beyond 2010. So where does that leave the future of Formula 1 in Australia?

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