Just why Ferrari got it SO wrong in Abu Dhabi becomes clear, as it seems their chief strategist was somewhat distracted during the race.
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Ferrari tourist attraction found in Ireland (updated)
Almost everything you read at Grand Prix Diary is either completely made up or based only on the loosest of facts, but via Twitter, former McLaren and Tyrell driver, Mark Blundell, has made us aware of a story so odd… it has to be true. Or is it?
Stood in the middle of the village green in the sleepy Irish town of Horseleap is a twelve foot high, bronze sculpture of a prancing horse, commissioned and paid for by the Ferrari Formula One team.
Apparently, in the nineties, Ferrari would give one of these bronzes to each of its drivers at the end of the season. Jean Alesi has five of them. This one was secretly delivered to Ireland in 1999 to be presented to Eddie Irvine who had just finished as runner up to Mika Hakkinen in the championship. It was stored in a barn in County Tyrone and was to be a surprise for Eddie.
However, before Ferrari could give the horse to Irvine, he announced he was to leave the team and go to Jaguar for the 2000 season. The Scuderia, in a bit of a huff, never told their now ex-employee about the sculpture and it stayed in the barn for a year, until a farmer from Horseleap heard about it and decided it would be perfect for his village. The bronze was bought from Ferrari for a nominal fee and was erected on the green in 2000.
According to Irish radio (see below) even Eddie Irvine was, until this week, unaware of it’s existence. Let’s hope he takes an interest in it as somebody really should go and clean the bird crap off it.
(If anybody can prove the existence of the statue please let us know via Twitter @GrandPrixDiary )
UPDATE: After much investigation by us and our readers it appears that the horse definitely exists, of that there is no doubt but the Irvine link is still not confirmed. Local paper, The Westmeath Examiner say our story is true but when Joe Saward asked Ferrari, they would neither confirm or deny it, though they did say that they used to dish these statues out. However, the Ferrari link has increased the value of the sculpture from around £750 to around £15,000, prompting the question, How long will it be before somebody nicks it or Eddie Irvine asks for it?
Fernando for the high jump next?
Plainly enjoying his current winning form, Fernando Alonso can’t resist dropping in on the Commonwealth Games en route to Suzuka.
Ferrari unveil revised Monza livery
Soon after being cleared of breaking the rules regarding team orders, despite being…er…guilty, Ferrari unveil their new paint job for the Italian Grand Prix.
Ferrari reward Massa
“You are just an employee, Can you confirm you understand the message?”
EXCLUSIVE – Transcript of Ferrari radio broadcast before THAT move..
We have been passed what could possibly be a genuine transcript of the pit to car radio transmission at the German Grand Prix between Ferrari race engineer, Rob Smedley, and their number two driver, Felipe Massa.
We join the action on lap… 47 as Smedley calls on Massa..
Rob Smedley: “Aye oop lad, how’s tha doing out there?”
Felipe Massa: “OK, car is good, I’m really motoring here”
RS: “Great lad, cracking, but why not take it easy a bit, you know, chill baby”
FM: “No, I push, Fernando is close”
RS: “Aye, but driving quickly isn’t all it’s cracked up to be is it? Why not ease up a bit and take in the scenery, maybe stop for a sandwich?”
FM: “You crazy? Alonso is all over me, do I need to push more?”
RS: “Look lad, ordinarily yes, but don’t you think it would be a nice idea to look after the car a bit, it’s a dead expensive bit of kit and you really don’t want to thrash it all afternoon do you?”
FM: “What are you saying?”
RS: “Oh fer chrissakes man, will yer just bloody well pull over and let Alonso past, Jeez, have you finally understood the message.”
FM: “Oh *#%+ it!”
FOTA finds way to INSTANTLY cut emissions
In order to keep placard waving beardies happy, the Formula One Teams Association has vowed to cut unwanted emissions by 15% over the next three years.
For a group of people who frequently cross the planet to thrash 24 cars around… at about two miles per gallon each, this seemed a tricky task until somebody suggested disconnecting Fernando Alonso’s radio.
Researchers found that during the European Grand Prix, Alonso’s incessant bleating and whinging on the pit to car radio accounted for an astonishing 9% of all unwanted emissions over the weekend, which equalled the output of a small power station.
By stopping the Spaniard from using the radio during races, FOTA now expect to be able to meet their target, in fact if they cut Lewis Hamilton off too it should be a doddle.
Ferrari launch green initiative
After Luca di Montezemolo launches Ferrari’s campaign to be a greener company, Fernando Alonso is less than impressed with the new executive parking spaces at Maranello.
Photo by Karun Chandhok - yes, really!
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