Archive for May, 2009

Exclusive! - Webber to race at Donington

There are some rather fit drivers in Formula 1. Tri-athlete and Monaco jogger, Jenson Button is one, but not many can hold a candle to Red Bull star, Mark Webber – who even for an Aussie, is something else.

Despite having one… of his legs severely rearranged by a 4×4 car while out on his bike before the season started, Webber has decided to relax before the Turkish Grand Prix by taking part in the ‘Cycling Plus Sportives’ event, which will start and finish at (hopeful) British Grand Prix venue Donington Park. On leaving the East Midlands track, the cyclists face a super-tough,100 mile slog through the Peak District before returning to the circuit.

Locals are being implored to turn out and cheer Mark on, as in all probability this is the only F1 star they are likely to see in the Donington vicinity for the forseeable future…

Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Tags: Mark Webber, Red Bull
Posted in Red Bull-Renault, TEAMS AND DRIVERS | Exclusive! - Webber to race at Donington

It’s Strictly Come Golfing!

Eager for a bit of fun after a dire Monaco Grand Prix, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton is back in dear old Blighty to take part in a pro-am celebrity golf tournament at the London Golf Club, which confusingly is located in… deepest Kent. Lewis has already had a bit of a warm up after playing a quick round with Mika Hakkinen before jetting out of Monaco on Monday.

According to ‘The Kent News’; “The prestigious course is near Brands Hatch, so it should suit the fast pace of Hamilton!” The rather excitable article continues; “We still don’t know who Lewis will be partnering – that will be sorted out on the day, we just hope they will be able to keep up with him!”

Sadly, on current form that shouldn’t be a problem.

Other celebrity golfers on show include the BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ judge, Len Goodman and javelin star, Steve Backley, while rom-com actor Hugh Grant will be there but “Only to do some spectating as he won’t actually be playing”.

That all sounds like it will cheer Lewis up a treat…

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
Tags: Brands Hatch, Lewis Hamilton, Mika Hakkinen
Posted in TEAMS AND DRIVERS | It’s Strictly Come Golfing!

Grand Prix Shorts - Monaco

Much of the entertainment – such as it was, during the Monaco Grand Prix, was provided by the BBC’s commentary team. First, Eddie Jordan proclaimed Ralf Schumacher as being the greatest race driver of all time, before Martin Brundle revealed… that ex-Spice Girl, Gerri Halliwell, was in fact Bernie Ecclestones daughter. Then, after what was a particularly excitable performance from him, Jonathan Legard announced to the world that after the race the drinks would be on John Button at his local boozer ‘The Ship and Castle’ in Fontvieille Harbour. The rush of the impoverished and sunburned fans camped out on the hill overlooking the circuit must have resembled a big pink avalanche…

Still – at least the Beebs decision to host their Monaco show from a boat bobbing around in the harbour did not have the same disastrous consequences as ITV’s ill fated effort in 1996, when pundit Simon Taylor went greener and greener before the viewers eyes, before spending the rest of the race reacquainting himself with his lunch. During the race itself, Nelson Piquet startled everybody by having an accident that was not his fault, after being rear ended by Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi. Nelson, 23, huffily complained in a TV interview about these ‘young kids in F1’. Pot, kettle and er..black.

Come back for more Monaco news on Monday…

Monday, May 25th, 2009
Tags: BBC, Bernie Ecclestone, Eddie Jordan, Monaco, Nelson, Ralf Schumacher
Posted in Monaco F1, TEAMS AND DRIVERS | Grand Prix Shorts - Monaco

World of Sport - Footballers Nun too happy

Greece is a pretty laid back place but it sometimes suffers from a sense of humour failure, as the squad of footballers from Bristol’s Hanham Athletic discovered at the weekend.

The team, aged from 18 to 65 -we can probably assume that the… old guy was the manager, decided to celebrate the end of the English football season by going out on the town in Malia, Crete, dressed as nuns, complete with wimple and beads but with habits that were somewhat on the revealing side. Not a pretty site, but boys will be boys.

The team had only knocked back one round of ouzo before they were arrested and locked up for 40 hours for “causing a scandal by provocative acts and misrepresenting a uniform“.

All charges were eventually dropped and the team are now back home, unpeturbed by the experience though a proposed Christmas tour to Egypt, dressed as belly dancers has been put on hold.

Monday, May 25th, 2009
Posted in WORLD OF SPORT - Non F1 news from around the world | World of Sport - Footballers Nun too happy

BMW introduce new mount for Turkish GP

After his two drivers qualified 17th and 18th in Monaco, BMW boss, Dr Mario Theissen, has decided to fully concentrate on the 2010 car and introduce something more apt for the Turkish Grand Prix. Just as slow, but much more reliable..

Sunday, May 24th, 2009
Tags: BMW Sauber, Monaco
Posted in BMW Sauber, Monaco F1, TEAMS AND DRIVERS, Turkey F1 | BMW introduce new mount for Turkish GP

Branson in a pickle?

Monaco, Friday. Virgins are, by tradition, meant to keep the groom waiting, but Sir Richard Branson’s apparent dithering over agreeing a proper sponsorship deal with Brawn GP could see the opportunity of a lifetime pass him by.

Branson arrived in Monte… Carlo in high spirits, having had the news that his arch-rival and nemesis, British Airways, have suffered their first loss since 1987, but the gib of his beard dipped a bit as it appears that Brawn are now looking for a lot more than the $250,000 per race deal agreed on the eve of the Australian Grand Prix.

In Monaco, the Virgin chief has already been a dinner guest of rival airline boss and Force India owner, Vijay Mallya, while Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari are also sniffing around.

Meanwhile, the all white Brawn could do with a bit of colour and we reckon orange would look good. With Jenson Button being a fan of economy air travel maybe it’s time for Easyjet, as usual, to jump in and grab the spoils.

You’d have to provide your own nuts, but in F1 these days, that’s par for the course.

Easyjet probably fly to Budapest, or at least somewhere near it – buy your Hungarian Grand Prix tickets here.

Friday, May 22nd, 2009
Tags: Richard Branson
Posted in Monaco F1, TEAMS AND DRIVERS | Branson in a pickle?

Oh yacht a bore….

Monaco, Friday. The future of Formula 1 will be decided at 2pm this afternoon, on a great big boat, parked up in the Monaco harbour, as the teams meet to discuss their alternative to Max Mosleys budget cap plans.

Normally, the traditional… day off in Monaco is for team bosses and personnel to drift from party to party (sorry, from sponsor event to sponsor event) not to sit in a hot cabin arguing about money.

Still, as the meeting is to be held on Flavio Briatore’s mega-yacht, Force Blue, it does give us a valid reason to use this picture again.

Just one month until the British Grand Prix - possibly the last one too, get your tickets here.

Friday, May 22nd, 2009
Tags: Budget cap, Max Mosley, Monaco
Posted in Monaco F1, TEAMS AND DRIVERS | Oh yacht a bore….

EXCLUSIVE – ‘two tier’ F1 solution reached?

With the news that Ferrari have failed to secure an injunction against the proposed new rules for 2010, we can exclusively reveal that sources close to the team are near to thrashing out a solution that will see them on… the grid next season. After the Scuderia went through the list of potential entrants for 2010, with the air of a man who has just trodden, barefoot, in something the dog left behind, they suggested that the new teams should be part of a ‘Formula GP3 Championship’. However, there is still hope for peace, as a leaked document reveals a proposal that may keep the rich teams happy and the riff-raff in their place:

Qualifying: The rich teams do not need to qualify, simply being allocated grid positions according to the size of their bank balance.
The race: The rich teams will start first with the poor ones only being allowed to start as the rich boys exit the final turn, giving them a head of speed into turn one. At this point blue flags are to be waved furiously at the poorer drivers.
Pit-stops: Poorer drivers must get out and change their own tyres.
Paddock etiquette: Any poor driver caught looking at a rich driver’s girlfriend and/or wife, will be slapped around the face with a Sparco glove and challenged to a duel at dawn. The rich guy gets two shots.
The Podium: Rich drivers will be given chilled Mumm Champagne, the poor ones, who would not notice the difference anyway, get warm Asti Spumante.
Points: If a team was not in F1 prior to 1960, it will not be allowed to score points.
Breaking the Rules: If up before the stewards, rich drivers can settle the matter over a gin and tonic in the clubhouse. Poor drivers will be put in the stocks and will have canapés thrown at them.

The proposals are set to be voted on at a FOTA meeting during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend to which the poorer teams are not invited..

Friday, May 22nd, 2009
Tags: Ferrari, FOTA
Posted in Ferrari, Monaco F1, TEAMS AND DRIVERS | EXCLUSIVE – ‘two tier’ F1 solution reached?

Archive for May, 2009

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