F1 - 2012

That was one very watchable race. Quite exciting, some bone head moves too.

So glad we are back to Speed again for the rest of the season. Fox butchers F races...

2 set of commercials within the last 10 laps. If they did that to NASCAR fans there would be riots outside of FOX Sports HQ.

 

Maybe some Jersey residents can make Bernie an offer he can't refuse...

Fresh doubt has been cast over whether next year's Grand Prix of America will go ahead as planned in New Jersey.
Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone told BBC Sport the race would "definitely" not happen, before saying that it would if the track were ready in time.
Race president Tom Cotter insisted the track was ahead of schedule.
But on Saturday, when asked by the BBC News Channel's Inside F1 programme if New Jersey would happen, Ecclestone said: "No. Definitely, no."
It is the second time in two months the F1 chief has expressed reservations about the race.
"We'll have to see, I need to go and have another look," Ecclestone said. "What I've seen up to now, and what's been going on, I'm not quite as sure as they are.
"If they can get it completed and confirm to us it will be done, for sure, they'll be on the calendar."

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx7neIAVbxo&hd=1]The London GP by Santander - 3D race with Hamilton & Button - YouTube[/ame]

From Autoweek

Spanish bank Santander unveiled its video concept for a London Formula One Grand Prix on Thursday, with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button both present to support a project they have helped come to fruition.
Bernie Ecclestone was also present and made it clear that he would love such an event to happen one day--although for the moment it remains just a very clever public relations stunt by the McLaren sponsor.
Ecclestone had earlier spoken to the Times, implying that Thursday's launch was a prelude to a real event that he would back the race to the tune of $55 million.
"With the way things are, maybe we would front it and put the money up for it. If we got the OK and everything was fine, I think we could do that. Think what it would do for tourism. It would be fantastic, good for London, good for England--a lot better than the Olympics."
His comments created a media frenzy in the United Kingdom, with newspapers and television taking him at face value rather than realizing that he was doing a favor for Santander. The company is a title sponsor of several Grands Prix and is thus, in effect, a partner of Ecclestone's.
In fact, everyone in F1 accept that the logistical problems of closing a large part of central London for several days would seem to be insurmountable, never mind any consideration of noise.
A lot of thought has gone into the video, however. The bank asked architects Populous--who have been involved in Silverstone and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics venue--to come up with a realistic outline for what is intended to be a night race.
Santander says it commissioned Populous “to undertake an extensive and wide-ranging approach to its feasibility plan for a London Grand Prix, embracing all logistical considerations from pits and paddock, grandstands, run-off areas, to curb profiling, access roads for safety and medical access, catch fencing design, noise attenuation strategies, a three megawatt night race lighting system with 1,200 projectors, bespoke garage pods to house the teams in lightweight, eco-friendly and modern temporary buildings such as the media center. The integrated travel plan includes spectator entry and exit points which are all accessible via public transport.”
It adds that the “14 corner, 5.1 km circuit which features a start grid on the Mall, a 192 mph Santander straight in the run up to Buckingham Palace and with perhaps one of the most audacious corners anywhere on the sport's 20 race global calendar, the London Grand Prix route circuit will steer 24 cars from Trafalgar Square into Admiralty Arch.
“The garages and hospitality suites are multipurpose items which can easily be packed up and used elsewhere.”
John Rhodes of Populous said: “Delivering an event within an existing city is a lot more sophisticated than just sitting down with a copy of the A-Z. We mapped out some of London's most recognized places and landmarks and then worked out how we would integrate them within the layout. The design process was driven by the twin requirements of creating an exciting circuit and giving the best view of the iconic places associated with it.
“We surveyed the site very carefully so that the plan would be achievable for real. To provide some notion of the level of forensic detail we have considered, we accounted for no less than 27,000 trees in our plan and I am glad to say the race would not impact a single one.”
Hamilton and Button are both keen for it to happen.
“Having been immersed in this project, having helped to shape this track, it feels as real to me as anywhere I've raced,” said Hamilton. “Jenson and I have worked in the simulator to provide some useful feedback to inform the circuit design, so this is far more than whimsical thinking out loud.
“The film that encapsulates all of this work is massively detailed as well as logistically achievable. And I have to say, this is an utterly epic track and would produce the most stunning and compelling Formula One race. If you add an event of this complexion to London's staggering roster of world-class sporting events, it surely would have to own the title of the ultimate sporting metropolis?”
“Both Lewis and I are hugely conscious of how integral the UK is to Formula 1,” said Button. “Right the way from our fan base that is highly knowledgeable and engaged to the technology culture and engineering enterprise that makes us the pre-eminent source of racing innovation anywhere on the planet.
“With all of this background, Silverstone is a natural celebration of the U.K.'s contribution to Formula One. It is nice to add to this rich tapestry the notion of a London street race, and I agree with Lewis, it is a great hypothetical track to drive, and is as appealing as the reality of the Silverstone circuit.”

 

That was darn good.

 

Holy Doughnuts Batman! The Lotus F1 Team’s sponsorship department must be delighted – the team will be notching up some serious PR points at the British Grand Prix this weekend – they have Batman on board! But will we be seeing Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean in black rubber suits?