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AND THEN
F1 >> MotoGP >> WRC
THERE WERE
week.com
Issue No 107 MONDAY November 8, 2010
FOUR
(WELL, THREE ACTUALLY ...)
FULLY GREEN
Informing motorsport
fans world-wide
– and not a
single tree
destroyed
to do
it!
Editorial Assistants
Naoise Holohan, James
Frankland
Photography
Sutton Motorsport Images
www.sutton-images.com
Keith Sutton keith@gpweek.com
Emmerson Fittipaldi was reunited with his beloved Lotus 72 during the Brazilian GP weekend
Publisher
Chris Lambden
publisher@gpweek.com
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GPWEEK (Australia)
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>> F1 NEWS
Sutil to stick with Force India
FORCE India driver Adrian Sutil indicated during the
Brazilian Grand Prix weekend that he is about to sign
a new deal to remain with the team for a sixth season.
Despite apparent vacancies at Williams and Renault,
with which Sutil has been heavily linked, the 27-year old
German look set to continue at the Silverstone-based
squad:
“It looks good at the moment,” said Sutil. “I said already
many times that I am happy to stay here another year,
and I cannot say more at the moment. There is nothing
signed at the moment but the direction is Force India.”
Sutil’s consistent pace and points-scoring
performances have led some commentators to suggest
his career would be best served by moving teams, but
Adrian admitted he was happy to remain at the team
he first joined in 2006 – then known as Midland F1 –
as a test driver before taking a race seat the following
season.
“I feel good here. I was born here, let’s say,” he said.
“It’s my first team and I still feel good. For sure there is
a certain time where you think you may need another
challenge or to change teams, but I still feel good here
and I still feel we can improve our performance.”
Sutil expects an announcement to be made before
too long:
“Probably very early after the Abu Dhabi race, maybe
two or three weeks hopefully – but in F1 you never
know.”
On the face of it, Sutil remaining with the team could
spell the end of test driver Paul di Resta’s hopes of
graduating to F1 next season, as Vitantonio Liuzzi has
a contract for next season. However, di Resta’s long
standing relationship with Mercedes – who supply
engines to Force India – could see the Italian depart
in favour of di Resta. GPWEEK has been advised by di
Resta’s camp that a race seat is a 99 percent done deal …
>> F1 NEWS
Short
Straights
n Following Nico
Renault confirms 1Malaysia deal
Hulkenberg’s maiden pole
position, Sir Jackie Stewart Fernandes adamant his team will be called Lotus
says the 23-year-old’s F1
future is secure, and that the (whatever happens between Group Lotus and Renault)
biggest danger now is that
Williams ends up losing him. INTRIGUE surrounded Lotus Racing’s a result of purchasing Renault or Genii’s shares is
“I would be very surprised if announcement over the weekend which not clear, but the former seems more likely with
he is not taken. The biggest confirmed the team would be powered Renault rumoured to be keen to return to the
chance he has now is of being by Renault engines next season. status of engine supplier from 2011. That could
grabbed by a more affluent While possibly one of the worst-kept pave the way for Proton to use the Lotus brand
team, not the risk of not secrets in the paddock was at last confirmed, name as a title sponsor of the Renault cars, and
having a drive. He is never it now seems that the ongoing naming possibly even be renamed as Lotus-Renault.
going to be without a job”. Sir dispute between Lotus Racing, run by Renault Sport president Bernard Rey also
Jackie is an ambassador for Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes, and contributed to the debate in his announcement
Williams sponsor RBS. Group Lotus, has taken a further twist. of the Lotus Racing deal, by failing to
The team’s press release announcing the Renault mention the team at all, instead saying:
n Red Bull Racing’s chief deal made almost no mention of the name “Renault is delighted to announce an expanded
technical officer Adrian Newey ‘Lotus Racing’, save for the e-mail address of press agreement with Red Bull Racing and the arrival
described the consructors’ officer Tom Webb, and the team’s logo used for of a new customer, 1Malaysia Racing Team (UK)
championship crown as “not this season. Throughout, references to ‘the Anglo- Ltd.”While there is a High Court lawsuit pending
bad for a little team. It was Malaysian team,’‘this team’, or ‘our team’ were all in London meant to resolve the dispute over the
obviously the aspiration [to used to refer to the outfit which loudly proclaimed rights to use the Team Lotus name, according to
win the championship] but its intention to run under the Team Lotus banner reports from Malaysia that decision has already
I wasn’t so sure we could for next season, having purchased the name from been taken at the highest level and Lotus
actually achieve it [when I David Hunt, at this year’s Singapore Grand Prix. Racing will not become Team Lotus in 2011.
joined]. Certainly the team It now appears that Group Lotus, with whom Therefore, the team currently known as
didn’t have the infrastructure Fernandes has been in dispute over the Team Renault could therefore be known as Lotus-
of the big ones. When I joined Lotus name, are making their own steps to enter Renault or even Team Lotus for next season, and
Williams, and then McLaren, I F1, buying into the Genii-owned Renault team. Lotus Racing may have to find a new identity.
was very lucky the teams had Proton, owners of Group Lotus, are attempting Fernandes has already established Team Air
the infrastructure and you to re-establish the brand in the mould of Asia to compete in GP2 next season, so maybe
could just go about designing Ferrari and use F1 as a marketing platform Air Asia F1 is about to land on the grid?
the car. Here it’s been a bigger for their production car business. This is However Fernandes, who was not in Brazil,
task, building everything perhaps unsurprising given that the company challenged such speculation on Twitter:
up, getting the operation is now headed up by ex-Ferrari brand chief “Much said about our name. To [sic] many
together and everybody in and Red Bull number two Dany Bahar. people reading to [sic] much into it. We are Lotus
Milton Keynes has risen to Whether the potential buy-in would come as Racing this season. Next season we are still Lotus.”
that task fantastically.”
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12
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>> F1 NEWS
Ferrari diffuser
In Brazil Ferrari adopted their latest
evolution of the blown diffuser with the
airflow from the exhausts also blowing
inside the side channels.
This helps dramatically in terms of
improving the efficiency of this element in
each of its sections. The F10’s one differs
from the one of the Red Bulls as it features a
horizontal hole rather than the vertical one
of the RB6.
The central section used in Korea has
been modified with more rounded profiles
and the additional middle plate in the side
channels is no longer present.
Suzuki confirms
Ducati pit crew including chief
Cristian Gabarrini will be moving
to Honda with him next year. “It’s
important to have people you
one-rider plan
understand and trust,” he said,
adding: “I think the reason riders
can move their crews with them
nowadays is because they have
more negotiating power.”
n Valentino Rossi will have
AS the team packed up at Valencia – almost half of them for the last
surgery on his injured right time – Suzuki was due to officially confirm the factory decision to
shoulder “on Monday or Tuesday run only one rider in 2011.
next week,” he said. He would take This was yet another worst-kept secret in a year with a number of
a short break after testing the them. But while there was little hope of any other outcome, official
Ducati, then go to Milan for the confirmation will trigger the next stage in a scenario that might end in
operation, to repair tendon and the law courts.
joint damage. “I expect to spend Currently the least competitive of the factory teams, Suzuki will
one night in hospital.” concentrate its efforts next year of the improving Spanish rider Alvaro
n New rules from the GP Bautista, who took a fighting ninth at Valencia, his eighth time in the
Commission have tightened up top ten, far outranking his experienced team-mate Loris Capirossi.
specification on racing numbers, The argument concerns the wording of the contract, which Suzuki
to the relief of TV and trackside interprets as only requiring continuing to furnish a team, without
fans. In recent years numbers had specifying two riders.
in several cases (especially in the Dorna chief Carmelo Ezpeleta has said he interprets it differently,
Aspar teams) become harder and and that with only one rider Suzuki will be in breach. He has earlier
harder to pick out, as they were suggested he will take legal action to enforce the contract or seek
incorporated into designs dictated compensation ... but that he was awaiting official word on Suzuki’s
by sponsor livery. decision.
The rules now demand a This confirmation was due to be received on Monday (November 8),
number on the centre of the and he will have to decide.
front of the fairing, in a clearly Pressing on with punitive legal action might be counter-productive,
legible font, and surrounded by a moving Suzuki towards a complete withdrawal in 2012, when a new
contrasting colour of sufficient size contract falls due.
to make it easily legible.# Ezpeleta was not available for comment at Valencia.
16
>> Moto GP news
17
>> Moto GP news
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18
Rossi's 'best and most
competitive' Yamaha
– 2005
Bike-by-bike … by Rossi
YAMAHA might have had more to worry about than to celebrate
with the departure of Rossi to rival Ducati – but they made the
most of it anyway.
The company’s annual technical briefing was devoted instead to
a year-by-year review by the departing rider, talking on film about
the seven different M1s he has ridden.
It made an interesting set, with the rider typically both
informative and concise: • 2007 – “This year we went from 1000cc to 800, and also less
• 2004 – “There were three engines, and I decided on this one, fuel. I think it was a bad decision. We had a very difficult
with less power but a lot softer feeling: it was smoother and season. The bike had less power and was more difficult to ride.
easier to ride and the delivery was more sweet.” He won the The Ducati was very fast, and Bridgestone had become better
title. than Michelin. The biggest problem was a lack of power, and
• 2005 – “This was the best, the most competitive. The chassis the Ducati had very good electronics. My best race was going
still had good turning, but the engine improved a lot, with a from 11th to first at Assen.” Casey Stoner and Ducati won the
lot more power. It was very precise in all areas. And we started championship.
to work with more electronic controls. The secret was the • 2008 – “A big step – with nine wins and the championship.
balance.” He won again. The power and fuel consumption were better, and electronics
• 2006 – “We tried to improve the bike, but made a big problem were very much improved. For the first time the control could
that caused a lot of chattering. There was a high-frequency be modified corner by corner. We switched from Michelin to
vibration and it made you lose the front. Eventually we Bridgestone, which was very difficult. We had to change the
understood that the front part of the chassis was not strong weight distribution.” Title victory again.
enough, then in the second part of the season the Michelin • 2009 – “It did not change a lot but the bike became more
tyre problems began.” A crash at the last race gave the title to clever (electronically).” Another title win – his fourth and last
Nicky Hayden’s Honda. with Yamaha.
Images used in GPWEEK are shot by Interested in Aussie V8 Issue No. 146 March 16
-22 2010
EXCLUSIVE!
the photo-artists at Sutton Images. WHINCUP
Supercars? IN A
19
5 Minutes with ...
CASEY STONER
Casey Stoner won for a fourth successive time in Australia, but it’s been a year
more down than up for the 2007 World Champion. This week, after four years
with Ducati, he switches to a factory Honda. Michael Scott spoke to him at
Valencia, on the eve of his last race in red.
GPWEEK: Five race crashes this year. Have I would have been very happy to In the long term, I think I’ll go back to
you become a win-it or bin-it rider? finish my career with Ducati. If I am Australia. But I love Switzerland, and I
CASEY STONER: This year I’ve chosen happy at Honda, there’s no reason also like the US, some parts of it. I’m not
to be, to be, honest. Malaysia was a for me to change. I’m not out there really bothered about where I end up.
rookie mistake with a cold tyre. This looking for results for the statistics. I’m
last one in Portugal ... I wasn’t pushing just out there to enjoy my racing. Would you describe yourself
too hard, but at the same time I’m not as a nature boy?
going out there to finish third. A long You used to speak about I’m not a city person and I don’t like
time ago this season was gone for me. being uncomfortable with crowds. I struggle more with that side
So I want to get as many wins as I can. fame. Is it better now? of my GP racing. I prefer to be out in
Whether the bike’s capable of it or not. I still don’t enjoy it. It’s not my the middle of nature with a few friends
Until you are out of the championship, thing. But I’ve learned to kind and family and no one else around.
you have to go for position. You saw of ignore it, to be honest. That’s the best life could be for me.
me settle for seconds and thirds It seemed to be that everything
quite a lot earlier in the year, until was just building up away from Any future ideas after bike racing?
we got this set-up working. But to the track. So I made a conscious Would you like to race cars?
say I got third in the championship ... decision just to ignore it all. I’m thinking I’d like to try the V8s in
it’s not such a great thing for me. I used to get criticised for a lot of Australia. That’s definitely a plan. I’ve
things I said, and now I’m quoted had a couple of tests in karts, and as
You’re obviously not scared of crashing. on them. So people realise that I far as I can tell I’m not doing too bad.
The minute you get scared in this don’t lie. I’m just straight out and tell I think karts is the best thing you can
game you’ve lost those few tenths the truth. And people are starting learn on. When you get in a car you
and there’s no way you can get to the realise I’m not just full of crap. only have to learn the gears. We know
top line. The first thing you’ve got about horsepower from these bikes.
to do is not be afraid. I think that’s Do you spend much time In some ways I think car drivers have
what sets me apart some days, why I in Australia now? an easier job than us, but in other ways
can go quicker earlier than others. Definitely more time abroad. I spend theirs is a lot more technical. We can
Most riders when they crash they a lot of time in Switzerland – all year, to move our body position to make the bike
struggle to come back, especially in the be honest. We spend maybe a month turn a little easier. In a car you have to do
same session. I don’t have that problem. or two in Australia, visiting family, everything through that steering wheel,
Christmas and New Year, and things like through the gears, clutch and brakes. It’s
You decided to move to Honda that. Other than that we’re in Europe. easier for more drivers to be fast, but
early in the season. How long had I wish I could speak the lingo a bit that last little bit is a huge challenge.
you been thinking about it? better. But I’ve never struggled to get
Immediately after the last race I was around the world and make contacts. Finally then, what was the last
approached by both (Honda and Ducati), I’m pretty much Europeanised. I feel good movie you saw, and the
so it was a long time in the discussion very, very comfortable in Switzerland last good tune you bought?
period before it happened. To be honest, – I’ve lived there since 2008. The last good movie would be
for a long time it was definitely tilting Inception. A really good movie. I saw it
towards Ducati, but there were certain Have you taken up winter sports? just once, and I understood it completely,
things I wasn’t happy with, and it didn’t I started skiing only in 2008 and but everyone else I spoke to said: “I didn’t
seem like it was going to change. snowboarding last year, so altogether understand it. We’ve got to go and watch
Round about Jerez time I’ve done probably two-and-a-half it again.” I like all of Leonardo’s films since
it did get settled. weeks of both combined, but we’re Blood Diamond. Every one of them.
actually going pretty good. I just Tune? ... I think I bought ... Alanis
What about after Honda. Do you want to need to get my technique better. Morissette would be the last album I
do a Rossi, and ride all the major bikes? It’s a new world for me, it’s bought – can’t remember the name. And
Not at all. If things had gone differently opened up a new jar. A lot of fun. Status Quo as well. I like the old stuff!
20
>> MOTO CHAT
21
Email us
Something to say?
Motorsport rea
Email us at
mail@gpweek.com
Crunch time
So this is it. The team which professes to not use
team orders (well, not when it disadvantages
the boss's love-child) faces a massive moment of
truth next weekend. ADAM
opinion
need to pimp your daughter out just
The way I see the points, if anyone is going to pay for a caipirinha. And, let’s face
to have to 'assist' his team-mate it's Vettel, HAY- it, many do.
under some scenarios. Now that is going to be
interesting. I'd pay anything to be in the Red Bull NICHOLLS That was not a reason to go, by the
way.
garage on Sunday! GPWeek Editor
A further reason to avoid SP, and
Matthew Holderness I decided not to go to Brazil. Why? a bit of a sissy one, is the crime.
Springfield. Ill, USA everyone cried. And there were Jenson Button (right) experienced
many good reasons to go. The this first hand on Saturday. He was in
Moto2 – delivers in spades chance the title could be decided, a bullet-proof car. Hertz don’t hand
I have just watched the final MotoGP event of for one. those out to journalists. The set of
the year and want to say thanks to you guys for The fact that the Autodromo traffic lights at which he suffered an
your great coverage. Carlos Pace always seems to provide attempted ambush, just a couple of
Sunday's Moto2 race was among the most HBO levels of drama, would be hundred metres from the circuit, is
amazing races I've seen for a long time. Those another. Then there was the steak at the same place everyone gets hit.
guys are amazing – and it's great to see the Fogo de Chao, the Eminem concert, I’ve been to the Brazilian Grand Prix
category delivering so much more than the and the Senna premiere – though I’d six times, and twice I’ve witnessed
doubters thought it would. already seen that in Japan. similar deeds just a couple of car
And now, Casey on a Honda, Vale on a Ducati. But whereas it’s easier to justify lengths behind. Someday my luck
Roll on 2011. other long haul races because you will run out.
David Hargreaves can tackle several on one ticket – It was therefore rather ironic that
hargreavesclan@bigpond.net Bahrain-Australia-Malaysia-China I spent Sunday tooling around a
and Singapore-Japan-Korea for sodden Nurburgring in a Lotus Exige.
Love u, but ... instance – Sao Paulo is way out on The Nordschleife is much more
Another great edition of GPWeek. In the 'off' its own, at least until Austin 2012. dangerous than Sao Paulo. And
weeks between F1 races, it's great to get some An expensive ticket, therefore, and an Exige in the wet is like a Dutch
in-depth reading as well as lashings of quality an even more pricey trip when you clinic – happy to kill you. Show me a
photography. consider the exchange rate. You teenager toting a TEC-9 and I’ll show
As someone who's never really 'got' MotoGP,
I'm pleased that you manage to pitch the
That ‘end-of-te
magazine at a level where I can get something
out of the bike pages too.
The only thing that puzzled me this week was
the article on new racetracks. Halfway through, I
turned the page and had a strange sense of déjà
vu. It took me a few seconds to work out that
you'd liked the first half of the article so much though it was a big relief to see clear
opinion
you pasted it in twice. Reassuring to know you're skies at least for practice, after the
human after all!
Nick Kaijaks
Michael sodden misery of Estoril the weekend
Leamington Spa, UK
CL: Hey Nick, If I said graphic artist, long
Scott before.
It’s because of the date. It’s the
MotoGP Editor last grand prix of the year. End of
weekend, party time, would you get what I'm term. Time to go home for a bit, and
trying to say? ... Everyone in the paddock loves the even perhaps forget now and then
Valencia GP. Not because of the track about tyres and lap times and back
Wot's with Felipe? – it’s tight and rather nasty, aimed at protectors, and the basically (indeed,
Anyone know why Felipe Massa doesn't seem to using as little landscape as possible, gloriously) idiotic business of trying
be the driver he once was? Lot of mistakes and and giving the spectators several to get back to where you started from
off-the-pace races this year. Even Brazil. views of the lap. faster than anyone else.
Mary Hamilton Not because of the venue: though The end-of-term feeling was
Gloucester, UK it’s a fine and fun-loving city in an particularly acute this year, following
CL: 2009 accident hangover? Genuinely fast attractive area of a beautiful country. a punishing late-season run that was
team-mate? Depression? (hasn't been on top Not even because of the weather, the direct opposite of the desultory
form since, er, obliged to 'hand over' points to
Fernando mid-year ...)
22
>> GPWEEK OPINION
lly is dangerous
you an Armco more threatening than any car
jacking.
If you hit the barrier, you pay for it. And then
you pay for the car. My insurance excess was
35,000 Euros. Were I to have crashed, I think it
would be in my best interests to have made it
fatal.
Yesterday one of the many crashed cars
caught alight. The circuit handed the driver a
20,000 Euro bill for tarmac damage. Forget the
sub-prime. If you want to go bankrupt fast (in
the most literal sense), you’ll love this place.
This weekend, of the 100-odd cars that
wealthy/fool-hardy owners took to the ‘Ring, 10
percent ended up smashed.
While Webber, Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton
were chewing their lips on the Interlagos grid,
I was gripping the Lotus steering wheel with
well-chewed fingers.
The adrenalin rush is not unlike driving while
being shot at. But unless you have 35 grand
in your wallet, you’ve probably less to lose in
Brazil.
Although sometimes there after other things
in South America. Word of advice: If you wake
up in a bath full of ice, don’t get out!
Though I doubt John Button’s liver would
fetch much on the black market.
erm’ feeling
start to a year that had the worst- feeling, and looking, more than a little no, not another MotoGP race.” Especially
planned spread of the 18 races in living jaded. By the time they’d all made when two out of three championships
memory. the quick trip to the other side of the were decided with some races still to go.
It went like this. The first 10 races Iberian peninsula for the Valencia race, To be fair, one reason for the end-of-year
were spread out over 18 weeks. That hollow eyes were staring out from run was the Icelandic volcano that caused
is on average (though it obviously pretty much everywhere. postponement of the Japanese race.
doesn’t work like that) a race every 12.6 Nobody working in GP racing has Even so, it is a relief that the
days. The next eight races were then the right to feel sorry for himself: it’s a provisional calendar for 2011 is a great
crammed into 10 weeks ... one every dream job to millions of fans. But there deal more user-friendly. It starts three
8.75 days. are other aspects. weeks earlier, for one thing. And there is
But the last five races spanned the One is safety. Jet lag and fatigue are a break of a week between Malaysia and
world – Japan, Malaysia, Australia then not comfortable companions when you Australia; while the back-to-back races
two in Europe – all crammed into six are on a racing motorcycle. are mainly in the middle of the season,
consecutive weekends. Another is the danger of causing when the championship battles are still
And for most people, it was just too the same sort of ennui among the all- in the formative stages.
much. By the time the paddock got important TV audiences. The last thing Let’s hope they don’t mess with it too
to Portugal last week, everyone was you want is for them to be thinking: “Oh much between now and then.
23
A
captivating Brazilian Grand for Mark Webber’s chances – and thus the
Prix reached its apogee around team’s chances – going in to Abu Dhabi.
lap 50, with 11 to go. Seb Vettel Fernando Alonso – 246 pts; Mark Webber
led Mark Webber … but only - 245 pts. Red Bull Racing are not Ferrari,
by the oh-so-tense margin however – so there was as much likelihood
of 1.5 sec. Behind, in third place, ran a last Sunday of Webber being gifted a win
solid-looking Fernando Alonso. Mark was by his team as there would be Australians
pushing hard; no doubt about that. In voluntarily giving up beer for the month
Sector Two, particularly – on the twisty of November. Which is a good thing from
stuff - he was neat, fast and economical. the point of view of sporting ethics, of
No real worries mate. Let’s see what we can course, because Seb Vettel out-qualified
do about Seb … Mark in difficult conditions on Saturday
Of course, if Fernando Alonso goes on to (just as Felipe Massa out-raced Fernando
win the 2010 Drivers’ World Championship Alonso into the first corner at Hockenheim!)
(the Constructors’ having been neatly sewn and therefore earned his fourth win of the
up by Red Bull-Renault in Brazil) it will be season fair and square.
this moment in Brazil, seen up there in sharp Let’s look at it another way: if Felipe Massa
relief against Ferrari’s ‘team orders’ episode had won Hockenheim (as he should have
at Hockenheim, that may prove to be the done), the points pre-AD would be: Alonso
ultimate decider. 239 pts, Webber 238 pts and Vettel 231
In Germany, in clear breach of the FIA pts. You’re telling me that that wouldn’t be
Sporting Regulations, Ferrari ordered better (a) for F1; (b) for the championship;
Felipe Massa to give the win to Fernando and (c) for sport in general (given the
Alonso. Massa was then still in the running crass way the Ferrari orders were enforced
for the Championship and could have anyway at Hockenheim)?
said “no”. He did not. Fernando gained a And I suspect that this very thought
five point advantage and Ferrari a small, occurred to Fernando, too, around lap
inconsequential fine (given the enormity of 30 of the Brazilian Grand Prix when he
the breach). asked Stefano Domenicali on the radio for
In Brazil, you didn’t have to have a confirmation that Seb was still leading Mark
calculator on hand to see what a Webber- (and not the other way round).
Vettel finishing order would have done Could it be that Ferrari were in disbelief
24
>> F1 INTERLAGOS
>> F1 KOREA
WE ARE THE
CHAMPIONS
Red Bull Racing secured their first constructors’ crown on
ANALYSIS
Points – Drivers: Alonso 246, Webber 238, Vettel 231, Hamilton 222, Button
199, Massa 143, Rosberg 130, Kubica 126, Schumacher 72, Barrichello 47,
Sutil 47, Kobayashi 32, Hulkenberg 22, Liuzzi 21, Petrov 19, Buemi 8 etc
Manufacturers: Red Bull 469, McLaren 421, Ferrari 389, Mercedes 202,
Renault 145, Williams 69, Force India 68, Sauber 44, Toro Rosso 11.
27
I suspect that Seb-V would want Fernando to win
the title if he, Seb, can’t do it on points ...
front of his home crowd) but it eased as Barrichello, Schumacher, Petrov – there was Rubens Barrichello, who excels in these
qualifying unfolded. little to lose and everything to gain. conditions, managed only a 1min 18.349sec
Jenson Button continued his Brazil The bizarre thing is that only Nico on inters.
tradition (he hasn’t qualified top ten at Hulkenberg actually gained, faced up to Now out on pre-heated options, Nico’s
Interlagos since 2005!) and Michael nudged the big point and played it to perfection. first flying lap, with the tyres perhaps not
Nico out of a slot in Q3. Otherwise, it was For this, he not only deserved the pole quite up to temperature, was a 1min 16.737
the usual suspects – “usual” including a but also some sort of ‘Lap of the Year’ – a massive 0.8 sec quicker than anyone
Williams team that (in the case of Rubens award; it was a stunning piece of driving else on the circuit. This was impressive not
Barrichello) has made Q3 now on six born of total confidence and perfect use only because of its intrinsic pace but also
successive occasions. both of grip levels and of the heat cycle of because it gave him the space he needed
It was wet off-line, as I say, but there’s the tyres. to record two more flying laps – something
no doubt that there was a dry groove Big plaudits, too, to the AT&T Williams that only Hamilton and Alonso achieved.
there, ready to be exploited. If this had team, for enabling Nico to maximize those Nico’s next lap was a 1min 15.462 – good
been Free Practice Three rather than Q3, closing minutes. enough for the pole. By comparison, Vettel
you can imagine that Nico’s pole-winning If we take Q3 as a whole, the pattern at this point lapped in 1min 15.519, Kubica
lap of 1min 14.470sec would have quickly was clear: start on intermediates and then in 1min 16.552sec , Alonso in 1min 15.589,
dissolved into a 13.5 and then a 13.0 – and switch to option (slicks) for the final run. Webber in 1min 15.637, Barrichello in 1min
so on. Everyone was on options as the And if we take, say, Fernando Alonso as a 16.203sec ,Hamilton in 1min 16.274sec,
chequered flag waved – and the track was benchmark, his runs went as follows: two and Michael in 1min 16.925sec. No-one, in
getting faster by the second, even if a few flying laps on intermediates and then in. other words (apart from Petrov, who was
light drops were again beginning to fall. Fastest lap so far: 1min 17.471sec. out there in the 1min 19s, not wanting to
This was Q3, however: and whilst for Nico Hulkenberg mirrored that: two laps hit another wall) actually had a bad lap,
some drivers in Championship contention on inters, the faster of which was a 1min as in making a huge mistake or ‘finding
(Alonso, Webber, Vettel, Hamilton) there 17.604sec – 0.2 sec slower than Fernando’s traffic’. Everyone was out there, sensing the
was reason to leave perhaps a 10 percent – and then in for a switch to slicks. Nothing grip – and no-one was doing it better than
margin over that car’s width of dry- particularly unusual there, although Nico Nicolas Hulkenberg, aged 23 years and 79
road ribbon, for others – Kubica, Massa, was clearly gaining confidence at this point: days.
28
>> F1 INTERLAGOS
Even so, there was no reason to suspect Nico was only 15th quickest in Sector 3 – tenths quicker than the RBs.
even at this stage that we were in for the the one with the long straight – but easily The only thing wrong with all this was
biggest shock since Toro Rosso won at fastest over the rest of the lap. That put Seb- that he didn’t subsequently close the gap
Monza. This wasn’t the first time young V on the dirty side of the road and Mark and therefore didn’t beat the ‘slower’ cars in
Nico had headed the times in changing on the clean side – a nice prelude to a left- question. Down at Red Bull, Adrian Newey
conditions; with the track getting quicker right first corner that is effectively Malaysia seemed not be amused – and who’s to say
and the tyres hotter, obviously the pole in reverse. how much faster Seb or Mark could have
was going to be in the 1min 14s – and it The other significant result, of course, driven had they been really troubled?
looked as though it was going to be a spat was that Fernando now found himself back
between Fernando and the Red Bull drivers, in fifth place, in amongst the McLarens, Fernando didn’t clinch it in Brazil, then.
with Nico-H and Robert-K in addition Robert K’s Renault and Rubens in the other Indeed, if Mark Webber leads a Red
perhaps having some fun. Williams. As much as he wanted to take the Bull one-two in Abu Dhabi, he will be
Not at all. Everyone at this point – with race to the Red Bulls, Fernando was now Champion, regardless of where Fernando
the exception of Nico H, seemed to back going to have to focus on that great motor finishes.
away, daunted by the risk factor imposed racing no-man’s land: staying out of trouble. Having said that, I suspect that Seb-V
by today’s Q3, Parc Ferme regulations. He did it very well, as Fernando always would want Fernando to win the title if he,
Lewis improved to 1min 15.747 but Alonso does. Seb, can’t do it on points ...
went slower – 1min 16.359. Vettel and Seb got Hulk on the outside of the first That’s fantasy stuff, however. The solid
Webber backed away, as did Robert and corner and Mark W flicked inside at Turn 3 fact from Brazil is that Red Bull-Renault has
Rubens. Only Nico – the other Nico – kept on the next lap. Fernando, though, had to won the Constructors’ World Championship.
slicing away, finding two or three tenths on curb his impatience and wait for a slot. By This is Renault’s ninth as an engine supplier
the first two sector and completing a lap the time he was up to third, pulling to the – and so we may quickly confine that big
– a second pole lap – in 1min 14.470 sec. inside on acceleration out of Turn 3, the RBs blow up in Korea to the history book in
It was if everyone else had decided to go were already in the middle-distance. which it will lie.
home early… Fernando then went into a rather strange Rob White and the boys at Viry Chatillon,
Williams declared later that they had theatrical mode, the script for which let alone Adrian Newey and Co over in
chosen full-dry settings for both their cars involved telling his pit that his car felt England, can take a long and well-deserved
but the evidence suggested otherwise: “beautiful” and that he was probably three- bow.
29
Surprise polesitter Hulkenberg helps Red Bull to 1-2
23-year-old German finishes eighth
Red Bull may have the impressive pace to take a shock pole by over a second. Crucially however, Hulkenberg was not
of their RB6 conqueror to thank for their Although the pace of his FW32 was dispatched as quickly by Red Bull’s main rivals,
Brazilian Grand Prix 1-2 at Interlagos, but not nearly as impressive on race day as allowing Vettel to open a 10-second lead
the team has Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg consistent dry conditions returned, he had over Alonso by the time he finally overtook
to thank for making the early part of their a pivotal role to play in the early part of the Hulkenberg at turn 5 on lap 7.
race all the more easy. race. After losing out to eventual winner Hamilton was not so lucky however, as grip
It had been precisely 100 races since Sebastian Vettel on the run to turn 1, he problems meant he was unable to overtake
Williams took their last pole position at the lost second place to Mark Webber next lap the 2009 GP2 champion despite countless
2005 European Grand Prix, but Hulkenberg at Turn 4, giving Red Bull the provisional 1- attempts into turns 2 and 4. He was finally
put an end to that drought on Saturday when 2 they needed to secure the constructors’ relieved of the Williams when Nico pitted
he made great use of the slippery conditions championship. on lap 14, but by then he had lost over 10
seconds to Alonso.
Hulkenberg said he was pleased with
eighth after the race, having extracted the
maximum possible from his car:
“I am happy with that result because I gave
it everything today; there wasn’t anything left
in me to give!” he said
“I was struggling quite a lot with the car, it
really wasn’t easy to drive, but I kept Kubica
behind me all the way. The team did a great
pitstop and chose the right strategy; we just
needed some more car pace.
“Even though we started on pole, my
expectations for the race were to finish
between fifth and tenth, so P8 is fine and it
means we are now sixth in the constructors’
championship.”
30
>> F1 INTERLAGOS
Massa languishes in 15th at home GP
Pitstop problem costs him points
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa endured a torrid tyres again,” said Massa of the incident. “From “Everything happened to me today and it is
home race at Interlagos on Sunday, crossing then on, my race was pretty much over.” a real shame that I was unable to obtain the
the line in a demoralising 15th place and The problem effectively dropped him to result that was within my grasp, even after
outside the points after a character-building last, although he was able to recover some yesterday’s qualifying and by that I mean a
weekend. dignity to finish 15th at the flag. He pitted good finish,” continued the Brazilian.
The problems began for the Brazilian on behind the safety car for a fresh set of rubber, “I would have liked to have been fighting it
Saturday when he qualified only ninth in the and yo-yo’d his way to the end of the race. A out at the front here, but it wasn’t possible:
slippery conditions, but his fortunes took a tangle with Sebastien Buemi on lap on lap I will try and make up for it in Abu Dhabi at
nosedive on Sunday when a loose right-front 58 dropped him two places, before dropping the final race. We still have a very important
wheel cost him a potential top six finish. more positions when Barrichello made his target to reach and we will do our utmost to
At the start of the race he gained one way through on lap 68. succeed in that.”
position to eighth, a position he kept until
pitting on lap 12. Although he lost a place
to Button, who had pitted one lap earlier, his
switch to the harder tyre should have seen
him rally through the pack, but instead had to
take the hit of a second pitstop one lap later
to fix a malfunctioning right-front wheel.
Race engineer Rob Smedley’s frustration
was clear to see as he slammed his fist on the
pitwall workstation as he saw his driver slip
from points contention.
“When I went back out on track after the first
stop I immediately felt that something was
strange with the right front wheel and I had to
come back to the pits immediately to change
Sixth and seventh was the best possible He dropped behind team-mate
result for Mercedes in Brazil on Sunday, Schumacher after pitting for fresh rubber
as they secured fourth place in the behind the safety car, but was given the
constructors’ championship. place back by Schumacher when racing
A long 26-lap first stint allowed Rosberg to resumed to help his persuit of Button.
climb from 13th on the grid to seventh after Schumacher had made his first pitstop
his first pitstop, before overtaking Kobayashi earlier than Rosberg, having lost two places
for sixth later in the race. on the opening lap.
A comfortable 1-2 victory was just what the troubled. Vettel led home Webber for an
doctor ordered for Red Bull after seeing a easy win to boost his title hopes, although
potential 1-2 in Korea slip through their Webber had been compromised late in the
fingers through driver error and reliability race with an overheating engine and tyres.
problems. He was therefore unable to challenge for
Both drivers were flawless this time out, the lead and remains just 8 points behind in
and once they had dispatched polesitter the championship.
Nico Hulkenberg at the start, never looked
Alonso was pleased to lose just three points He stayed there to the finish. Massa
of his championship lead on a day when Red endured a torrid home race, after a front-
Bull were significantly stronger, and heads right wheel problem forced an unscheduled
to Abu Dhabi in a positive frame of mind. pitstop just after his first scheduled stop.
He had an uneventful race from fifth on He had been battling Button at the
the grid, and had jumped to third by the time, and the Briton went on to finish fifth
seventh lap after overtaking Hamilton and suggesting a top six finish would have been
Hulkenberg. possible for Felipe.
Williams enjoyed a bitter-sweet Brazilian his super-soft tyres, before coming home
Grand Prix at the weekend, after coming a disappointing eighth. He was happy
home with just an eighth place finish with the result, having given all he had,
despite taking a shock pole position on and it puts Williams into sixth place in the
Saturday. constructors’ championship.
Hulkenberg took the team’s first pole in Barrichello ran seventh early in the race
100 races in slippery conditions, but lost before a botched pitstop dropped him down
out by running too long into the race on the field to finish 14th.
Despite showing strong pace in practice, He was unable to use his top speed
Renault did well to come away with ninth in advantage on the straight due to him hitting
Sunday’s race, after struggling to take the the rev limiter, meaning he had to stay
fight to the top four teams. behind Hulkenberg to the end.
Starting seventh, Kubica spent all of his Petrov’s race was ruined at the start
race in traffic and lost a place to Schumacher when he fell to the back of the field, before
by running behind team-mate Petrov after recovering to 16th.
his pitstop.
32
>> F1 INTERLAGOS
Spain’s Jaime Alguersuari was pleased to 13th, after being outshone by Alguersuari.
climb as high as 11th place at the finish in He took a five-place grid penalty after his
Brazil, although he just missing out on a collision with Glock in Korea meaning he
points finish. started only 19th, but performed strongly to
He had started 14th and was amazed to finish inside the top 15 despite a late-race
have done so well having lacked straightline tangle with Massa.
speed to his rivals.
Team-mate Buemi was displeased with
18th and 19th in the Brazilian Grand both Glock and Trulli to lead the new team
Prix cemented Lotus’s status as the best battle.
new team of 2010, after comfortably He stayed in the lead throughout the race,
outperforming Virgin Racing on Sunday. except for the pitstops, and Trulli was able
Although Timo Glock managed to to jump Glock during the stops to ensure a
outqualify Kovalainen and Trulli in the wet Lotus 1-2.
on Saturday, Kovalainen shot from 20th on
the grid to 17th on the first lap, overtaking
HRT notched up their third consecutive Although he was a few laps down, he was
double car finish, after Bruno Senna and able to set similar laptimes to Virgin and
Christian Klien finished 21st and 22nd in Lotus, ending the race only six laps down.
Brazil. Senna finished just 1 second behind
Klien’s race got off to a bad start when his Virgin’s Timo Glock, underlining yet another
car stopped on the way to the grid, but the impressive performance by the Spanish
team got the car back in time for him to team.
rejoin after four laps.
BMW Sauber came away from Brazil with He started on the harder tyre and
an unlikely point, after looking well out of wanted to go long into his first stint before
contention for a top ten finish for much of switching to the super-soft, but was
the weekend. compromised by understeer as the rubber
Kobayashi yet again provided the magic to aged.
bring his car home in the points, benefitting After pitting he overtook both Toro Rossos
from the demise of local heroes Rubens to finish 10th. Heidfeld languished in 17th at
Barrichello and Felipe Massa. the finish.
It was yet another disappointing weekend He then lost out to Trulli at the pitstops
for Virgin, as they failed to convert their and didn’t have the pace to keep with the
promising grid position into a competitive Lotuses.
race result. He finished six seconds behind Trulli
Glock beat all of the other new teams to and just one second clear of HRT’s Senna.
17th on the grid, but immediately fell behind Di Grassi was unclassified in his home
Kovalainen at turn 1 when he was trying to after finishing nine laps down due to rear
avoid Petrov. suspension problems.
33
Greetings from Interlagos
34
>> F1 INTERLAGOS
35
36
>> Moto GP VALENCIA
WINNER
TAKES
ALL
As a season-ending race, with the MotoGP crown
already won, Valencia provided a cliff-hanger.
Michael Scott was there
37
W
hat a finale … what a climax Now Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) took up “I braked as hard and as late as I could to
… what a race! At a track where the challenge, after a blazing start from the keep them behind me.”
close battles are not usually a third row; while Lorenzo had a hill to climb. He managed it until lap 26, when he ran
great feature, the last race of He’d been pushed back through the first wide out of the first corner into a fearsome
2010 laid on a feast, for a crowd of 80,774 corners to finish lap one only sixth, but at wobble, giving Lorenzo his chance. Soon the
fans – some 14,000 less than last year. the end of the second he’d cut inside Marco new champion was drawing steadily clear to
The winner in the end was World Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda), starting from win by 4.5 seconds.
Champion Jorge Lorenzo, adding a ninth his first front row in the top class. Simoncelli Rossi had already dropped back by a
victory to a record-breaking year. But the closed the door so firmly that Lorenzo second or so when the lead changed:
issue took plenty of settling; while there actually did fall off, miraculously regaining “When I caught Pedrosa I thought it was
were battling groups through to the back. control, but now eighth. possible to win,” he said. “But then arrived
Lorenzo, wearing a special gold-and- Up front Pedrosa was attacking Stoner for Jorge, and his pace was faster. In the last laps
diamante helmet, had to fight his way the first nine laps. I was not at 100 percent: I am not fit, and I
through to the front, and when he got there By now, however, Rossi had found his had pain in my right arm, then my left, then
he not only had Fiat Yamaha team-mate way past Simoncelli after finishing lap one my leg. If you are not perfect it is impossible
Valentino Rossi to deal with, but also fast- eighth, and on lap ten both Yamahas passed at this level,” he said.
starting Casey Stoner (Marlboro Ducati). The Pedrosa on consecutive corners. He would Fourth was another nine seconds down,
battle was absorbing. gradually fade, still weakened by his injury. but bitterly disputed to the finish. Pedrosa
Pole qualifier Stoner had led away, with Lorenzo was soon ahead of Rossi, and by dropped back through the group, where
team-mate Nicky Hayden seizing second half distance both of them were right on the Simoncelli and second Repsol Honda rider
by the end of the first lap. At the start of Ducati’s back wheel. Andrea Dovizioso were going to and fro. All
the third, however, the American folded “At the start I’d thought I might get a gap, the while Ben Spies had been closing, and
the front wheel under braking for the first but every time my pit board showed ‘Plus with four laps to go the Monster Tech 3
corner, and he was down and out. Zero’.” He was struggling for pace. Yamaha rider managed to put both Hondas
38
>> Moto GP VALENCIA
40
>> Moto GP VALENCIA
Yamaha, Rossi
and the end of an era
Valencia marked the end of seven are f***ing crazy to go to Yamaha. We Then it was Yamaha’s executive officer
remarkable years for Rossi and for want to stay with Honda.’ But I persuaded Masao Furusawa’s turn:
Yamaha. They celebrated it with a them, and one of the reasons for our “In 2003, it was our worst ever year. I
general love-in after his last race. success was the atmosphere in the pit.” was in hell,” he said.
He joined when the company had He’d had to persuade himself. “We knew that whatever we did to
just had its worst ever year in GP racing, “But if somebody had told me that I improve the bike, we needed something
in 2003. He won his first race on the would win four championships and 46 more than that. I did not believe we
reworked bike. And that was the start of GPs with Yamaha, I would have signed in could persuade Valentino to come,
an amazing story. blood.” because Yamaha was very bad at that
Rossi spoke of the difficulty of He picked that debut win at Welkom time, and Honda was very good.
persuading his crew to move with him – as his best – that bike now lives in his “He came, and when he won the first
a crucial element. bedroom. “Sometimes I wake up and my race in Welkom, I had gone from hell to
“I had to battle with them. They said ‘You socks are hanging from it,” he grinned. heaven.”
41
Moto2: Rich kid takes the pro
Czech son of a multi-millionaire Karel flying lunge past Simon, pushing him Scott Redding (Marc VDS Suter)
Abrahams took his first GP victory at wide in the process. But Elias, riding had been with the group, dropping
Valencia, after a thrilling final race a special silver-painted bike, was way away in fifth, with Alex de Angelis (JiR
of Moto2’s debut season, which still too fast into the corner, and ran into Motobi) a second adrift in fifth.
had five potential winners as the the back of Iannone, who also got Kenan Sofuoglu, in a second race on
lead pack started the last lap. shoved out. the Technomag CIP Suter, made a big
The AB Cardion FTR rider, who Elias narrowly stayed on board but impression once again, taking over
moves to MotoGP on a Ducati next ran out to the barrier before falling at the lead of the group chasing fast-
year, had been part of the action slow speed. starting Iannone from Stefan Bradl
throughout, with Andrea Iannone But Abraham was in the right place (Viessman Kiefer Suter) on lap four.
(Speed Up FTR) doing most of the to swoop through into the lead, and But four laps later, defending the first
leading, and his rival for second stay there to the finish, consolidating corner against a counter-attack from
overall, Julian Simon (Mapfre Aspar his improving reputation after the German, he ran on straight at the
Suter) pushing past over and over claiming his career-first rostrum in first corner, and crashed in the gravel.
again. Japan. Bradl was also to crash out, four laps
Thomas Luthi (Interwetten “This proves I can make a good result later.
Moriwaki) was also in the close and am a good rider,” he said. “But in Elias’s final points tally was 271,
mix, along with champion Toni Elias the end I was lucky.” unchanged after crashing in the
(Gresini Moriwaki) – and it was the Iannone was second and Simon last two races. Simon just held on to
latter who determined the outcome. third, resolving their battle for second second, 201 to Iannone’s 199. Luthi
Iannone was leading on the last overall in favour of Simon; Luthi was was fourth on 156, with Corsi (seventh
lap from Simon, when Elias took a inches behind. today) on 138.
ofit
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43
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ales Rally GB heralds the imes are changing – not the least championships, on both of which will the
end of one of rallying’s in that that Britain’s championship FIA title be decided. Quality is assured,
most memorable eras, rally has attracted almost the smallest however, with 42 of the 63 entries
the 14 years of the entry in its 66-year history. being registered as FIA priority crews.
current World Rally Car rules. 63 cars have entered this year, compared
This will be the 201st such rally to be run
since the formula was inaugurated into the
world series at Monte Carlo in 1997 and the
with 62 who started last year’s event.
A surprise however is that there will
only be 15 World Rally Car entrie for
T he PCWRC series ends in a head-to-
head between the Mitsubishi Evo X
of reigning champion Armindo Araujo
last before the world championship formula the final occasion these cars can be and the Subaru driver Patrick Flodin.
will be based on Super 2000 cars fitted with rallied in an FIA championship event. Flodin’s retirement in Finland has
1.6 litre turbocharged direct-injection engine. Four of the five registered WRC become a major championship handicap
This year’s event will again be based teams are present, however, with as he comes to Britain 18 points behind
in South Wales, moving northwards only the Munchi’s team missing. Araujo. Top PCWRC drivers now out
each day into central Wales before The event counts also for both the of contention include Toshi Arai and
returning to Cardiff each evening. Production Car and the Super 2000 fellow Subaru driver Anders Grondal,
44
>> WRC PREVIEW
m e …
both of whom will still take part. while the entry for Nasser Al Attiyah in action, but the central Chinese interest
The SWRC series has a three-way battle will be used by Irishman Craig Breen. on this rally will also focus on the first
for the title between Spanish driver Xavier The WRC Cup for Teams, which is a rally for a Chinese driver in a WRC car.
Pons, Finn Jari Ketomaa (both Fords) and subsidiary challenge to the SWRC, is This will be Liu Chao Dong who has
Swede Patrik Sandell in a Skoda. This even closer fought, with four teams in been entered by Stobart M-Sport.
series is much more closely fought, only contention – the Red Bull team (with Matthew Wilson is once again the
9 points separate the three remaining Sandell), the Nupel Global team (Pons), the only British WRC team driver. In the
contenders, with Pons seven points Shanghai FCACA team (Ketomaa) and the support championships are the two
ahead of nearest challenger Ketomaa. Czech Team (Mikkelsen) all able to win. Guest drivers in the PCWRC, 20 year-old
Other drivers who no longer have the Ten Super 2000s will take the Scottish driver Dave Weston and 22 year-
chance of the title have changed their start, the same number as on the old Jason Pritchard, from Builth Wells.
entries. The entry reserved for Martin recent IRC Rally of Scotland. The top IRC drivers Kris Meeke and Guy
Prokop (Czech Ford National Team) is
being taken up on this occasion by
Norwegian driver Andreas Mikkelsen,
I n both the PCWRC and the SWRC the
Chinese FCACA team will be present, with
Wang Rui and Jari Ketomaa respectively
Wilks are missing, while none of the top
eight in the British national championship
drivers and no former or
45
llying)
artin Holmes Ra
ourtesy M
n. (Image c
e a weapo
e o t- Co sworth ... quit
eug
The famous P
46
>>>>WRC
WRCBULGARIA
PREVIEW
reigning British Open champions have entered. This event is based at Builth Wells and does not visit
Of the 12 or so British drivers on the list, half Cardiff. For those in Cardiff there will be two special activities.
are driving small two-wheel drive cars. One of these is Throughout the event there will be a display of various historic
Harry Hunt, who clinched the FIA Rookie’s title at the rally cars and before the superspecial on Saturday evening
recent Catalunya Rally. He drives his Fiesta R2. there will be a parade of around 20 historic cars under the
This will indeed be a rally for the foreign visitors to win. presentation of Historic Rally Legends. There are also plans to
parade around six cars from the Richard Burns Foundation.
47
So long, farewell
Malcolm Wilson’s Ford team has been part of every WRC event of the Technical Director in 2002 to develop the '03
car, which was very different in its design to
outgoing formula. He reminisces with Martin Holmes earlier versions. Like the original Focus, this
car was again very quick right out of the box.
“The next major step was the launch of
W
the current car at the end of 2005, the
ales Rally GB will be the end active at World Championship level in the model we call the '06. This had a lot more
of the regime in which the ‘90s. major changes in the design. As soon as this
current formula of World Rally It was the result achieved by their private radically new car was finished, we had just
Cars have been allowed to team of Escorts of Harri Rovanpera and one day testing in a forest in Cumbria and
compete in the World Rally championship. Jarmo Kytolehto in the 1000 Lakes Rally in then the two rally cars were put on a plane
One manufacturer – Ford – has been 1996 (both drivers headed the official works and sent down to Rally Australia.
represented on every round of the Fords for a long time) which clinched the “Both cars (Toni Gardemeister and Roman
championship since the World Rally Car deal that M-Sport would run the official Kresta) set fastest stage times on that event
formula went live at Monte Carlo in 1997. Ford world championship team in 1997. and of course on its next appearance, the
For two years Ford campaigned Escort cars, Catalunya Rally 2010 was the 200th rally run first event for Marcus Gronholm, he gave
which were converted from their existing under World Rally Car rules, and therefore for us a win in Monte Carlo. Looking back on
Group A specification to take advantage of someone who had not missed any of them, those occasions, and especially how well the
the changes permitted under the new rules. his 200th rally running cars at this level. cars went on their debut, those were really
Then for the third year of the series, 1999, Malcolm Wilson reflects: great moments. When you've designed
they arrived on the scene with the Focus. and developed a car and take it to its first
2010 therefore has been the 12th year in "I never imagined how well this new event and you do fastest times … well,
which the Focus was the rally flagship of the formula would turn out. In 1997 we were that probably means more to me than the
company, a model which during its lifetime really using a kind of production car, outside world can understand.”
was reworked in two major upgrades, for the obviously with quite a few modifications but
T
2003 and the 2006 seasons. it was still based on the existing Group A car. he basic World Rally Car formula was a
The World Rally Car rules were conceived “At the start of the formula it was only revolution in the way that rules about car
from the outset to allow manufacturers who Subaru that immediately introduced a preparation were conceived. Do you think it
produce cars with a less than ideal basic purpose-built car, but Carlos Sainz took was a good formula?
specification for sport to compete on equal second place overall on our first official “I really do. It got a lot of manufacturers
terms with those whose production cars entry, the 1997 Monte Carlo Rally. For us, the coming into the sport. In due course things
were initially more suitable. The formula was Focus was the first real change brought in started to get a little bit out of hand design-
a great success. In the end no fewer than 10 by the new rules. The Focus was completely wise but, to be honest, I think that's where
manufacturers produced World Rally Cars different mechanically to the old Escort. Jacques Berger (FIA Head of Technical
that the FIA homologated and, between It involved changing from a north/south Department) and the technical guys from
them, there were a total of 14 different (longitudinal) engine configuration of the the teams together made necessary changes.
World Rally Car models seen in competition. Escort into an east/west with a transverse The things which have been done in the last
This initiative was coupled with a planned transmission, something then completely few years to bring down the cost have really
expansion of the world championship new from a Ford point of view and a helped and been a big asset. Okay, some
itself. The FIA demanded that only those major step for us at M-Sport. We started manufacturers have now gone but many
manufacturers who had entered the development work on the future Focus rally were there for several years and I know that
world series, or undertook to do so, could car in '98 and that has been our basic World in relative terms it is no more expensive now
homologate a World Rally Car. This rule itself Rally Car model ever since. to do a world championship event than it
was responsible for making it possible that “For us at M-Sport there have been some was even before we got the Ford contract 15
up to seven different manufacturers were very exciting periods in World Rally Car years ago.”
registered for the championship at any one work. Obviously the first was the launch of
T
time during the 12-year period. the original Focus rally car in '99 which was he World Rally Car work was the impetus
The man who came in at the start and immediately competitive and won outright behind the commercial basis of the M-
stayed the distance was Malcolm Wilson, on only its third entry, the Safari Rally. Sport facility at Dovenby in Cumbria:
whose team M-Sport had already been “Then Christian Loriaux joined M-Sport as “Our whole business model at M-Sport has
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>> WRC FEATURE
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in the
e d s e cond
h .
z finis lying)
a r l o s Sain olmes Ral
997. C artin
H
n te Carlo, 1 (image M
Mo WRC
scort M-Sport’s 200th W
Ford E RC event came in
Catalunya this ye
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>> WRC FEATURE
W
Cars?
hat is going to be the future
of the existing World Rally
before going off to Australia this
time!”
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>> GPWEEK PArting Shot
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