Never mind that big lovable smiling face from the seven time F1 world champ, the BBC reports that Schumi’s comeback could be scuppered by a neck injury suffered after he crashed while testing a motorbike earlier in the year.
A loosely translated report from Schumacher’s press agent, Sabine Kehm, states, “It is not sure yet the neck will hold and the comeback can be started.”
Aww, but we need Michael back in F1. Surely the spat with Sir Frank has a few rounds left in it.
Miaaooooww! Ferrari has clawed back at Williams over the British team’s refusal to allow special dispensation for Michael Schumacher to break the in season testing rules. Ferrari want to give Schumacher some track time in the 2009 F60 before the European Grand Prix which takes place later this month. The BBC reports of a Ferrari statement taking a swipe at Williams’ recent lack of success, saying they are “a team that hasn’t won anything for years and yet didn’t pass over the opportunity to demonstrate once more a lack of spirit of fair play.” Ooh, angry kitteh!
And just when things in F1 looked to settle down after the new concorde agreement had been signed, guaranteeing the status quo will remain until 2012.
Now, the Schumacher comeback has given us a new controversy to enjoy. Of course, there has been bad blood in the past between the Williams team and Schumacher (1994 and 1997). So now it is claws at ten paces in pitlane! Will Williams strike back?
[Thanks to Dave for the YouTube tips: “fair play”, “1994” and “1997”]
While researching for pics to accompany the sad news that BMW will be pulling out of F1 at season’s end I stumbled across these images of the BMW Sauber F1.09 steering wheels. For an up close and personal look click on the pics for 2000px super images. The wheel above is Nick Heidfeld’s, take the jump to see Robert Kubica’s wheel. Explanations of just what all those buttons, dials and switches do are also included below.
Osborne Motorsports is a team synonymous with Toyota. Nineteen years of racing the product does that, I guess. Now, though, that is all about to change with news that Colin Osborne has bought two Mazda3 MPS cars which have seen racing action most recently in Targa Tasmania. The cars will be used in the 2010 Australian Production Car Championship.
As well as racing in the APCC Osborne Motorsports have competed in recent years at the Nürburgring 24 hour race at the wheel of a Toyota Corolla. No doubt a race spec 190kW Mazda3 MPS would up the ante somewhat around the Green Hell. No word yet as to whether Colin and his team will be taking an MPS to the Ring in 2010, but you can bet the thought has crossed their mind!
Full statement after the jump.
It seems not everyone is jumping for joy at Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula One.
The current ban on in season testing means that Schumacher is yet to take the wheel of the 2009 F60 machine. Ferrari were seeking approval to have that ban relaxed for a single day of testing to allow Michael to get familiar with the car.
Sir Frank Williams, meanwhile, was having none of that. Indeed, as recently as the last Grand Prix new Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari was not given an opportunity for a pre-race test drive prior making his debut at the Friday test session on race weekend. On that basis Williams voted against any moves to allow Schumacher freedoms that have already been denied to other drivers this season. Then there is also the fact that Ferrari could have chosen one of their test drivers who have pre-season testing miles behind them already.
“In a similar situation, Williams would unhesitatingly use its current test driver,” Sir Frank said. “For the sake of consistency and fairness, therefore, we oppose Ferrari’s proposal to test ahead of the European Grand Prix.”
Felipe Massa’s recovery is going well and he hopes to be back on track as soon as possible. You can catch a brief interview with Massa on the BBC website.
[Source: TimesOnline]
Back in 1990 Jean Louis Mourey gave the motoring and cinema world Climb Dance. A five minute epic, if there can be such a thing, capturing Ari Vatanen‘s mad scramble up the famous Pikes Peak Hill Climb.
Fast forward 19 years and here is the latest short film centred around the Pikes Peak event. This time Marcus Grönholm is featured. The two-time world rally champion is at the wheel of an 800hp Ford Fiesta.
Boil the kettle, make yourself a cuppa, click the jump and enjoy.
[Thanks to Mark & John for the tip.]
Kimi Raikonnen’s Rally Finland experience came to an abrupt halt when he crashed out on SS19 yesterday. Three YouTube clips of Kimi in action can be seen after the jump, including a brief interview with Kimi, who seemed in good spirits after the spectacular accident.
Climbing out of his car after the rollover Kimi can be seen to matter of factly dust his hands and walk away. While it appears he didn’t show much concern for his co-driver I’m sure he would have made sure he was okay before exiting the car. Don’t you think?
[Thanks to Paul for the tip]
Round 4 of the 2009 Australian MINI Challenge is taking place at Sandown this weekend. Chris Alajajian currently sits in second place on the series table, however his chances of clawing back some points on championship leader Paul Stokell were done no favours after this spectacular crash in yesterday’s first race.
The accident happened on the opening lap and forced organisers to cancel the race. Fortunately, Alajajian was not injured and spoke philosophically after the incident, “I’m OK, but the car isn’t that flash. I got tapped in the right rear wheel as we went into the corner, I think it’s turn six, and then I got on to the grass and everything sped up dramatically. From there I was just hanging on.”
Alajajian, starting well down the field in 13th, had made a the most of a bumper start taking advantage of some front runners spinning ahead and had reached 4th place before his crash.
[Source: Racecar.com]
Australian Olympic legend and all round nice guy James Tomkins (pictured left) is taking a seat in the MINI Challenge Uber Star Car this weekend at Sandown International Raceway.
Tomkins is a self confessed motorsport tragic and he couldn’t wait to get out there, “I’m pretty excited,” he admitted, “Motor Racing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I have memories of getting up early Sunday mornings to watch the black and white TV coverage of Bathurst. All those awesome HO Falcons, those were the days!”
There is no live television coverage of the MINI Challenge round this weekend, but stay tuned for a highlights package on your TV screens soon.
Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen is making the most of his summer break by taking part in this weekend’s Rally of Finland. Raikkonen finds himself at the wheel of a Fiat Abarth Punto S2000s prepared by four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Mäkinen.
The footage above shows Raikkonen taking part in the opening Killeri special stage. He and co-driver Kaj Lindstrom were racing head to head against Sveinung Bieltvedt and were over 2 seconds down at the half way point on the spectator-friendly arena course. Watch the clip to see if Kimi was able to reel in the deficit and post a win.
It’s a nice synergy for the Finn that his schedule allows him to take part in his home rally. Speaking to WRC.com Raikkonen was asked if he saw a future in rallying. His reply left the door wide open for a post-F1 future in WRC, “Yes definitely. I am still in F1 and still have one more year contract but everything is open and it is nice to be a part of it here. I am a bit too young to do nothing so I will see. It all depends on which way F1 is going. Nobody is exactly sure how it will be. I am in no hurry.”
In some good news for the WRC Citroën Racing have announced they will be extending their commitment to the series until at least 2011.
With four manufacturers’ championships and, of course, five drivers’ titles for Sébastien Loeb, I guess the old adage of “when you’re on a good thing, stick to it” applies here.
Citroën say competing in the WRC allows them to showcase “Créative Technologie” philosophy. Director of Citroën Racing, Olivier Quesnel, said, “In the current difficult financial climate, it is important to keep on expressing ourselves through motorsport and through the victories of our teams and cars.
“The FIA World Rally Championship, where the costs remain contained, is an excellent promotional vehicle for the Company. Citroën Racing is delighted by the trust that has been placed in us by Citroën’s board of directors and the PSA Group.”
Quesnel is confident there will be no changes to the team’s driver pairings, “We are currently working with our existing driver line-up to renew their contracts. I am confident that Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo will be continuing their adventure with Citroën Racing into the future.”
Following yesterday’s news that BMW will be pulling out of Formula One at the end of this season the crew at BMW-web.tv have compiled this short clip. It contains a few sound bites from the press conference where BMW’s withdrawal from the sport was announced.
Will the words “Grand Prix” ever sounds right when spoken with an American accent?