2009 German grand prix qualifying results [SPOILER]

At his 132nd attempt, Mark Webber secured his maiden pole position on Saturday, beating Rubens Barrichello to the best time in a chaotic weather-affected qualifying session in Germany.

"It was very, very chaotic so to deliver a time when it counted was very important to me," said the 32-year-old Red Bull driver.

His teammate Sebastian Vettel, 3.5 points ahead of him in the drivers' championship, qualified just fifth.
Read full story from worldcarfans

McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' privateer race car up for sale

The McLaren F1 was so far ahead of its time in terms of performance that it redefined the meaning of the term 'supercar'. But even during its production run, there was a faster variant, limited in production but now up for sale from a private collection in Japan.


The example on sale at Bingosports in Tokyo, Japan claims to be chassis #28R, the very last of the cars built. Chassis #28R was originally #27R, but was damaged and remade into a spare car that later raced at the tail end of the inaugural season of the FIA GT Championship.


Little else is known about the car or the sale, aside from its Gulf Oil livery and its 'Longtail' longer rear wing section, a change in the aero for 1997 designed to get more grip over the rear wheels.


Built for racing, the F1 GTR competed in the BPR Global GT Series, now known as the FIA GT Championship. The car ran for three years from 1995-1997, with 9 built the first two years and ten the final year. In 1997, the car weighed about 2,000lb (910kg) and generated a conservative 600hp (447kW) from its de-stroked 6.0L version of the F1's 60-degree V12.


A standard road-going McLaren F1 recently went for $4 million at auction, and it's possible that this racing example could fetch even more. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the romantic racing history some might wish for.

To see the car in more detail, head on over to the Japanese sale site.


via:motorauthority

FOTA looks to MotoGP for 2010 breakaway

Carmelo Ezpeleta could be the figure FOTA turns to if the major teams decide to quit Formula One at the end of the year, according to the Spanish sports newspaper Diario AS.

Ezpeleta is the CEO of Madrid-based Dorna Sports, the commercial rights holder of F1's two-wheeled equivalent MotoGP.

Dorna was bought by CVC, F1's current owner, in 1998 but is now controlled by its management.

It has been credited with transferring the rule-making power of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) to the GP Manufacturers Association (MSMA).

The newspaper said the Formula One Teams Association has already had contact with Ezpeleta, who would be reportedly willing to take command of a breakaway series should the eight FOTA members decide to create their own.

A few F1 drivers, including double champion Fernando Alonso and current titleholder Lewis Hamilton, have indicated their readiness to follow their teams into a new series.
Source:GMM via World Car Fans

2009 Turkish Grand Prix Final...

Sunday’s Turkish GP started off with an incident packed first lap that saw Renault’s Fernando Alonso strike Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari and Felipe Massa passed by a hard charging Nico Rosberg. Starting with a heavily fuelled car, last year’s world champion Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, was unable to start the race aggressively and slotted into a dismal 17th. Adopting a single-stop strategy from the off, he pushed hard throughout but the best he could achieve was 13th place at the chequered flag.

The Brawn driver's advantage over Sebastian Vettel, who by some is considered the Briton's most likely challenger for the crown, blew out to more than double the Red Bull racer's points tally of 29.

"Today we were a step ahead," Button said, "and it's a nice feeling."

Vettel, third, had to follow his teammate Mark Webber to the chequered flag, after a three-stop strategy. The 'hold station' team order was given in the form of: "Sebastian, save the car, Mark is faster". The German led away from pole position, but let Button past with an early mistake at the exit of turn 10.

"It was my mistake," an unhappy Vettel, 21, said, "but I think Jenson was just too quick today, I wouldn't have been able to hold him."


Button’s team mate Barrichello had a bad day, beginning with an atrocious start, a messy run through the pack requiring a new nose, and ultimately retirement with a suspected gearbox problem. Jarno Trulli ended Toyota's slump with fourth, while Felipe Massa ended his run of Turkish GP victories, dating back to 2006, with his sixth place.

Pos	No	Driver	Team	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid	Pts
1	22	Jenson Button	Brawn-Mercedes	58	1:26:24.848	2	10
2	14	Mark Webber	RBR-Renault	58	+6.7 secs	4	8
3	15	Sebastian Vettel	RBR-Renault	58	+7.4 secs	1	6
4	9	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	58	+27.8 secs	5	5
5	16	Nico Rosberg	Williams-Toyota	58	+31.5 secs	9	4
6	3	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	58	+39.9 secs	9	3
7	5	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	58	+46.2 secs	10	2
8	10	Timo Glock	Toyota	58	+46.9 secs	13	1
9	4	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	58	+50.2 secs	6
10	7	Fernando Alonso	Renault	58	+62.4 secs	8
11	6	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	58	+64.3 secs	11
12	17	Kazuki Nakajima	Williams-Toyota	58	+66.3 secs	12
13	1	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren-Mercedes	58	+80.4 secs	16
14	2	Heikki Kovalainen	McLaren-Mercedes	57	+1 Lap	14
15	12	Sebastien Buemi	STR-Ferrari	57	+1 Lap	18
16	8	Nelsinho Piquet	Renault	57	+1 Lap	17
17	20	Adrian Sutil	Force India-Mercedes	57	+1 Lap	15
18	11	Sebastien Bourdais	STR-Ferrari	57	+1 Lap	20
Ret	23	Rubens Barrichello	Brawn-Mercedes	47	Gearbox	3
Ret	21	Giancarlo Fisichella	Force India-Mercedes	4	Brakes	19

via:World Car Fans and motorauthority.com

Iconic names bid for 2010 F1 return

It has emerged that March, founded in 1969 by a group involving Max Mosley, and also Brabham, originally headed by triple world champion Sir Jack Brabham, have been named in official entries for budget-capped teams.

Two iconic names are bidding to return to formula one's front line in 2010.


The internet publication ESPN Racing-Live has sighted a fax sent by the FIA, confirming that March's new owner Andrew Fitton lodged its entry paperwork by the deadline last Friday.

Moreover, a source close to March Racing Organisation, which is not currently involved in any form of motor sport, confirmed the reports but said the outfit is "not getting too excited" due to the competition for the three vacant spots on the 2010 grid.


While the news of Brabham’s potential return seems sudden, it appears Formtech’s owner Franz Hilmer has long been preparing for a tilt at Formula One after purchasing the fixed assets of Super Aguri F1 in June last year, strengthening its case for entry in 2010.

Hilmer bought Super Aguri’s F1 facilities at the Leafield Technical Centre as well as race cars and team transporters, while he employed a number of former team staff to assist Formtech in composite design and manufacturing.

Founded by Australian sporting legend Sir Jack Brabham, the Brabham outfit vanished from the world of Formula One in 1992 after it was beset by financial difficulties with future World Champion Damon Hill recording the team’s final race finish, 11th at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Source:GMM via formula-1.updatesport themotorreport

Monaco GP ceases on winner taking a jog

Jenson Button had so much energy after winning the Monaco grand prix that he managed to run the entire distance of the pit straight to get to the podium ceremony in time.

After winning the prestigious race, his fifth from six starts so far in 2009, the Brawn driver mistakenly parked into the pits, not further down the road on the straight where the top three runners assemble for the festivities.

"I'm lost for words with him really," Ross Brawn, having earlier on Sunday compared Button with Michael Schumacher, told the BBC. "He's exceeding everything I thought possible."

Button wasn't lost for words on the radio after crossing the chequered flag: "Monaco baby, yeah!" the resident of the Principality screamed.

His lead over teammate Rubens Barrichello, squarely beaten and second on Sunday, is now 16 points, while the closest non-Brawn challenger Sebastian Vettel crashed into the barriers at Ste Devote after burning up his soft tyres.

The German is now an increasingly distant 28 points behind Button with 11 races to go, meaning Button can now afford to lose a couple of points to the Red Bull at every remaining grand prix on the calendar and still win the title.

Kimi Raikkonen ended Ferrari's podium drought with third place, followed closely by teammate Felipe Massa.

Force India, with Giancarlo Fisichella in ninth, missed scoring a point by less than two seconds, amid a spate of retirements and crashes and the awful form this weekend of the BMWs and Toyotas.

Sebastian Buemi punted Nelson Piquet off, while Heikki Kovalainen and Kazuki Nakajima shunted alone, the latter Williams while negotiating the last lap.

Piquet, just a season ahead of rookie Swiss Buemi, was scathing: "These young drivers need to calm down."

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton finished twelfth and a lap down.

Pos	No	Driver	Team	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid	Pts
1	22	Jenson Button	Brawn-Mercedes	78	1:40:44.282	1	10
2	23	Rubens Barrichello	Brawn-Mercedes	78	+7.6 secs	3	8
3	4	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	78	+13.4 secs	2	6
4	3	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	78	+15.1 secs	5	5
5	14	Mark Webber	RBR-Renault	78	+15.7 secs	8	4
6	16	Nico Rosberg	Williams-Toyota	78	+33.5 secs	6	3
7	7	Fernando Alonso	Renault	78	+37.8 secs	9	2
8	11	Sebastien Bourdais	STR-Ferrari	78	+63.1 secs	14	1
9	21	Giancarlo Fisichella	Force India-Mercedes	78	+65.0 secs	13
10	10	Timo Glock	Toyota	77	+1 Lap	19
11	6	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	77	+1 Lap	16
12	1	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren-Mercedes	77	+1 Lap	20
13	9	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	77	+1 Lap	18
14	20	Adrian Sutil	Force India-Mercedes	77	+1 Lap	15
15	17	Kazuki Nakajima	Williams-Toyota	76	+2 Laps	10
Ret	2	Heikki Kovalainen	McLaren-Mercedes	51	Accident	7
Ret	5	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	28	Brakes	17
Ret	15	Sebastian Vettel	RBR-Renault	15	Accident	4
Ret	8	Nelsinho Piquet	Renault	10	Accident damage	12
Ret	12	Sebastien Buemi	STR-Ferrari	10	Accident	11

Source: GMM via World Car Fans

Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying - Hamilton crashes, conjecture who on pole

Runaway championship leader Jenson Button, reportedly with a healthy 20 laps of fuel on board, secured yet another pole position on Saturday, on the streets of the famous Monaco street circuit.

But the real surprise of the session was the strong form of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, who shares the Principality's crucial front row of the grid with the dominant Brawn runner.

"He's proved me wrong and got himself together," said BBC commentator Eddie Jordan, who was previously highly critical of Finn Raikkonen this season.

Raikkonen, 29, will benefit from his KERS system at the start on Sunday.

Brawn boss Ross Brawn was impressed with Button's lap, after the Briton did not always look a match for his teammate Rubens Barrichello, third on the grid, throughout the practice sessions.

Barrichello turns 37 today.

"I think Jenson is getting into the habit of saving the best for last," said Brawn. "He knew that was the lap where he had to produce and he's just driving exceptionally well at the moment."

Driving less well on Saturday afternoon was reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton, whose weekend was progressing well until the Q1 section, when he crashed and beached himself 16th on the grid.

"I just don't know what I was thinking, I made a mistake. I want to apologise to the team for wasting their time but at least Heikki (Kovalainen) is still up there," said the Briton, referring to his teammate who qualified 7th.

The stewards are investigating a possible blocking incident, after Jarno Trulli - all but dead last in the uncompetitive Toyota - complained about Fernando Alonso's driving.

Also woefully slow this weekend have been the BMWs, meaning that the Force Indias unusually enjoyed the proceedings of the 'Q2' session, including Monaco specialist Giancarlo Fisichella who is 13th.

Felipe Massa qualified fifth, but only after a scare on his initial out lap which required an early visit to the pits for a new nose.

Pos	No	Driver	Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Laps
1	22	Jenson Button	Brawn-Mercedes	1:15.210	1:15.016	1:14.902	25
2	4	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	1:15.746	1:14.514	1:14.927	31
3	23	Rubens Barrichello	Brawn-Mercedes	1:15.425	1:14.829	1:15.077	26
4	15	Sebastian Vettel	RBR-Renault	1:15.915	1:14.879	1:15.271	27
5	3	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	1:15.340	1:15.001	1:15.437	28
6	16	Nico Rosberg	Williams-Toyota	1:15.094	1:14.846	1:15.455	23
7	2	Heikki Kovalainen	McLaren-Mercedes	1:15.495	1:14.809	1:15.516	24
8	14	Mark Webber	RBR-Renault	1:15.260	1:14.825	1:15.653	20
9	7	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:15.898	1:15.200	1:16.009	24
10	17	Kazuki Nakajima	Williams-Toyota	1:15.930	1:15.579	1:17.344	28
11	12	Sebastien Buemi	STR-Ferrari	1:15.834	1:15.833		17
12	8	Nelsinho Piquet	Renault	1:16.013	1:15.837		22
13	21	Giancarlo Fisichella	Force India-Mercedes	1:16.063	1:16.146		18
14	11	Sebastien Bourdais	STR-Ferrari	1:16.120	1:16.281		19
15	20	Adrian Sutil	Force India-Mercedes	1:16.248	1:16.545		19
16	1	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren-Mercedes	1:16.264			4
17	6	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	1:16.264			11
18	5	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	1:16.405			12
19	9	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	1:16.548			11
20	10	Timo Glock	Toyota	1:16.788			12

Source: GMM via World Car Fans

Renault confirms F1 quit threat

As was expected on Wednesday, Renault confirmed that it too is threatening to quit formula one over the budget cap issue.

The Flavio Briatore-led outfit said it is the two-tier element of Max Mosley's 2010 rules that has caused its French parent to "reconsider its entry in next year's" world championship.

In a statement, Renault also complained that FOTA's cost-saving proposals have been "completely ignored", while it also wants "a better balance between the costs and the revenues".

"We remain committed to the sport, however we cannot be involved in a championship operating with different sets of rules, and if such rules are put into effect, we will be forced to pull out at the end of this season," said Renault team president Bernard Rey.

Briatore added: "We refuse to accept unilateral governance handed out by the FIA."


Source: GMM via:World Car Fans

Button extends title lead with Bahrain GP win

Brawn GP's British driver Jenson Button drives during the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Sakhir racetrack in Manama. Button consolidated his lead in this year's title race with a masterful triumph for Brawn GP in closely contested and supremely tactical Bahrain Grand Prix.
Read More



Other article:
Button Leads BrawnGP 1-2 in F1 Season Opener in Melbourne
Chinese Grand Prix – Vettel scores Red Bull's first pole
Brawn locks out Melbourne front row
High Drama as Last Corner Crowns Hamilton F1 Champion
Oh Canada, Oh Brother: the GP Limo for six
FIA introduces voluntary budget cap for 2010
Formula One racers at Barcelona testing session
Geneva 2009: FOTA reveals F1 blueprint
Raikkonen friends with Guns N' Roses rocker
Raikkonen Wins Spanish GP

Mercedes CEO admits F1 exit possible

Norbert Haug has been playing down the speculation in Bahrain, but back in Germany it is clear that Mercedes-Benz's involvement in Formula One is very much in doubt.

The CEO of the Stuttgart marque's parent, Daimler AG, has told a German news magazine that the 'lie-gate' affair could have terminal consequences in terms of Mercedes' F1 project.
Read More



Other article:
Richard Branson's Virgin Group interested in Honda F1 team
Mercedes SL 63 AMG Pace Car & C 63 AMG Medical revealed for 2008 Formula 1 season
Dennis Firing Reports Rejected, but McLaren Faces New Charges
Mercedes Set to Take Over McLaren F1 Team?
McLaren Unveils MP4-23 for 2008 F1 Season

Toyota locks out Bahrain front row

This Bahraini qualifying is taking place under sunny skies, and at 38°C, a fairly regular temperature for Bahrain.

Fisichella is the first out on track, followed by his teammate. The Force India cars are equipped with several aerodynamic updates and the team hope to get off the last places of the grid.

8 minutes later, Trulli is on top, ahead of Vettel and Rosberg. The Red Bulls and Brawns are slightly lower ranked as they are currently running on the prime tyres, as well as Kovalainen. The latter's teammate and most of the other drivers immediately choose the softer option tyre.
Read More



Other article:
Timo Glock goes up on two wheels in a Toyota Hilux
Toyota nearly axed F1 team - boss
Toyota TF108 F1 Racecar Unveiled

Ex-F1 Mechanic Alastair Gibson brings racing materials to fish sculptures. Wait, wha?

Alistair Gibson's sculptures from F1 car parts - Click above for a gallery of images

Alistair Gibson spent 22 years in Formula 1 paddocks as a mechanic with teams like Benetton and BAR Honda. With decades of carbon fiber and shiny bits swimming in his head, it probably shouldn't come as a complete surprise that after leaving pit lane he has begun fabricating motorsports-influenced sculptures of fish.

Read More





Other article:
Brawn stuns F1 by smashing pole record
Sydney Wants F1 Night Race
Bernie: We won't be going to Australia for too much longer
Melbourne Grand Prix axed
Lola considers 2010 F1 team entry

Lola considers 2010 F1 team entry

British racing car company Lola has announced it is contemplating a formula one foray for 2010.


"Lola has appointed key new staff to the project and allocated some of its top engineers to this stage of the evaluation," read a statement issued by Lola, which last attempted a F1 team in 1997.


Spurred by the FIA's plans for budget caps, the Huntingdon-based marque said it has commenced a "full technical, operational and financial evaluation" in view of developing a F1 car.


"The current necessity for formula one to adopt a responsible approach in times of economic uncertainty has created the ideal conditions for us to consider developing a car for the world championship," said executive chairman Martin Birrane.


That project was abandoned after one race, but Lola's history of involvement with the sport dates back to the early 1960s.

Currently, it produces prototype Le Mans sports cars.
via:World Car Fans


Other article:
Brawn stuns F1 by smashing pole record
Sydney Wants F1 Night Race
Bernie: We won't be going to Australia for too much longer
Melbourne Grand Prix axed

Chinese Grand Prix – Vettel scores Red Bull's first pole

Red Bull and Sebastien Vettel will start the Chinese Grand Prix from Pole position as Baby Schumi scythed his way up the order despite running just 11 laps because of a driveshaft problem. Joining him alongside will be the Renault of Fernando Alonso who pushed down early P1-holder Mark Webber into 3rd place. The two Brawns of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button will start 4th and 5th with Jarno Trulli, Nico Rosberg, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastien Buemi completing the top 10.

Jarno Trulli, much fancied before qualifying, was sixth for Toyota on 1m 36.835s, ahead of fuel-heavy Nico Rosberg on 1m 37.397s in the Williams, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen on 1m 38.089s, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, who only got one run for his 1m 38.595, and Sebastien Buemi who put his Toro Rosso 10th with 1m 39.321s.

Q2 had surprisingly accounted for four fancied stars. Nick Heidfeld could not better 11th with 1m 35.975s for BMW Sauber, together with the McLarens the only car that will go into the race with KERS. Heikki Kovalainen was next up for the Woking team on 1m 36.032s ahead of Felipe Massa’s Ferrari on 1m 36.033s and Timo Glock’s Toyota on 1m 36.066s. Glock is set to drop five grid places thanks to a gearbox change. Once again, the times were incredibly closed. Kazuki Nakajima was 15th with 1m 36.193s for Williams.

Sebastien Bourdais was the fastest faller in Q1, lapping his Toro Rosso in 1m 36.906s for 16th. Nelson Piquet had another unhappy ride for Renault for 17th on 1m 36.908s, which left him ahead of a disappointed Robert Kubica whose BMW Sauber was left on 1m 36.966s. At the back were the Force Indias of Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella, evenly matched on 1m 37.669s and 1m 37.672s.
Read More




Other article:
Brawn locks out Melbourne front row
High Drama as Last Corner Crowns Hamilton F1 Champion
Raikkonen Wins Spanish GP

FIA official crashes F1 Renault car

An official of F1's governing body FIA on Thursday had a high speed crash at the wheel of a contemporary grand prix car.

The FIA official driving the R28 was none other than Mohammed bin Sulayem, the U.A.E. automobile club president and FIA Vice President. According to early reports, the car swung heavily to the right under heavy acceleration on the main straight of the Dubai Autodrome, causing it to crash into a concrete barrier. Sulayem was subsequently sent to the on-track medical center and according to a Renault spokesman, he was uninjured and the car will be repaired to continue this weeks 'Roadshow.'
via jalopnik



Other article:
Button Leads BrawnGP 1-2 in F1 Season Opener in Melbourne
Brawn locks out Melbourne front row
FIA introduces voluntary budget cap for 2010
Formula One racers at Barcelona testing session

Button Leads BrawnGP 1-2 in F1 Season Opener in Melbourne

The 2009 championship opener on Sunday lived up to its pre-season hype, with Jenson Button leading an eventful Brawn one-two at Albert Park.
Read More



Other article:
Brawn locks out Melbourne front row
Oh Canada, Oh Brother: the GP Limo for six
FIA introduces voluntary budget cap for 2010
Formula One racers at Barcelona testing session
Geneva 2009: FOTA reveals F1 blueprint
Raikkonen friends with Guns N' Roses rocker

Brawn locks out Melbourne front row

Mar.28 (GMM) The newly Virgin-branded Brawn's winter testing victory translated on Saturday into locking out the front row of the grid for the 2009 season opener.

After Williams' Nico Rosberg captured the fastest times in all three pre-qualifying practice sessions, Jenson Button shifted into a higher gear to capture pole in Australia.

His teammate Rubens Barrichello was three tenths slower but still a comfortable second, as Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel joined the white-overalled drivers from Brackley in the post-session press conference.
Read More




Other article:
Oh Canada, Oh Brother: the GP Limo for six
FIA introduces voluntary budget cap for 2010
Formula One racers at Barcelona testing session
Geneva 2009: FOTA reveals F1 blueprint
Raikkonen friends with Guns N' Roses rocker

New Ferrari.com website to go live during first 2009 F1 Grand Prix season opener

Ferrari is launching its redesigned website this Sunday on March 29. A host of new features will ensure visitors to the site never forget the experience. One of the latest features will be the Maranello Experience section. When going into this visitors are able to take a virtual tour of the company complex in Maranello. The images and video clips will give visitors a 360° view and much better understanding of how Ferrari cars are assembled.

Visitors can click on the GT & Sport cars section if they are keen on choosing and personalising a Ferrari of their choice, from exterior colours and interiors to taking their pick from the list of optional extras. They can even take a virtual test drive at the Mugello Circuit and have Michael Schumacher advise them on the best racing lines to take.


During F1 GP race weekends users can keep up with the two cars live on the track, including getting information on telemetry. Test driver Marc Genè will give the users advice on each situation as well. An exclusive area is being reserved for existing Ferrari customers in order to facilitate better communication between themselves and the company.


Ferrari promises a never-ending adventure on their new website thanks to these and other features, plus the 500 articles, 2173 images and 600 video clips that are posted.
via:teamspeed



Other article:
Massa says new Ferrari is totally different
Ferrari to use pit 'traffic lights'
Schumacher Completes Ferrari California ...
Ferrari Already Testing 2009 Car
Chocolate Ferrari F1 Car Must be Eaten
Raikkonen Wins Spanish GP

Timo Glock goes up on two wheels in a Toyota Hilux

Just another example of how versatile F1 drivers really are, Glock managed to master the extremely difficult task of controlling a Toyota Hilux pickup on two wheels on only his third attempt.

The 27-year-old German then repeated the feat a number of times - piloting the near-standard Hilux more than 60m on two wheels on his final run.

"This was a lot of fun," Glock said of his stunt driving cameo. "Although, I think it would be a little hard to drive a Formula 1 car on two wheels."


In the lead up to F1’s season opener in Melbourne, Australia, this weekend, Toyota driver Timo Glock has been treated with a ride by the company’s renowned ‘Toyota V6 Hilux Heroes’ stunt driving team. Glock spent the day at Calder Park Raceway north of Melbourne where he learnt the secrets of stunt driving from the team’s professional teachers.


Glock was tutored by Guinness World Record holder, Lawrence 'The Legend' Ryan, and the team's lead driver Jack Monkhouse, who showed off the finer points of two-wheel driving before unleashing the F1 pilot behind the wheel.
via:motorauthority




Other article:
Toyota nearly axed F1 team - boss
Toyota TF108 F1 Racecar Unveiled

FIA introduces voluntary budget cap for 2010

The FIA on Tuesday announced that a voluntary budget cap will apply in formula one next year.

Following a meeting in Paris of the World Motor Sport Council, the body said the annual limit, set for now at 33m euros, will be "an alternative to running under the existing rules" which will remain unchanged until 2012 according to a deal reached with the FOTA alliance.

The budget cap is clearly designed to make the sport accessible to existing and new independent outfits, while allowing the bigger teams to keep spending bigger amounts of money.

The catch for the non-capped teams will be less technical freedom than the capped teams, who will be able to run a more efficient (standard) underbody, moveable wings, and engines without rev limits or frozen development.

Capped teams will also have no limits on testing, and FIA president Max Mosley said a bigger-capacity KERS is a possibility.

"The FIA has the right to adjust elements of these freedoms to ensure that the cost-capped cars have neither an advantage nor a disadvantage when compared to cars running to the existing rules," a statement read.

The 33m figure will cover "all expenditure of any kind", including driver and team boss salaries, and only excluding the motor home and FIA fines.

"These rules will encourage clever engineering -- success will come to the teams with the best ideas, not only the teams with the most money," said Mosley.

He said "very intrusive audits" and the fear of "severe penalties" will deter capped teams from overspending, and that the number of teams allowed in F1 will be increased from the current 12.

"We understand that FOM will pay the cost-capped teams on the same basis as other teams and will also provide $10 million plus the standard transport package for the 11th and 12th teams starting in 2010," added Mosley.



Other article:
Brawn stuns F1 by smashing pole record
Formula One racers at Barcelona testing session
Geneva 2009: FOTA reveals F1 blueprint
Button agrees to slash 2009 retainer
Honda set to pull out of F1