In this week’s Trackside we previewed the Britcar 24 Hours race on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. Also this week we did a feature on the fantastic Donington Grand Prix collection. Related links Autotrader.co.uk – Trackside: Racing ’round the clock (external) Autotrader.co.uk – Donington Grand Prix Collection (external) Tags f1 / formula one / grand … Continue reading Trackside: Britcar and Donington
Keith Collantine's articles on RaceFans
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring journalist, Keith began running the site full-time in 2010, achieving a long-held ambition to dedicate his full attention to his passion for motor racing.
“James Hunt: The Biography” (Gerald Donaldson, 2003)
Posted onJames Hunt – hedonist extraordinaire. His legendary off-track exploits would more than fill a book – but happily this biography isn’t an overdose of sensation. Gerald Donaldson looks at Hunt from all angles: the consummate professional whose attention would nonetheless wander; the man who accrued vast wealth then carelessly squandered it; the party animal and … Continue reading “James Hunt: The Biography” (Gerald Donaldson, 2003)
“Stirling Moss: The Authorised Biography” (Robert Edwards, 2005)
Posted onOften we are told not to judge books by their covers. With this paperback edition of Robert Edwards’ 2001 biography of Sir Stirling Moss, do the exact opposite. The iconic picture of a youthful Stirling, face blackened by race track filth but for two goggle-sized spots gleaming white around the eyes. It’s all there in … Continue reading “Stirling Moss: The Authorised Biography” (Robert Edwards, 2005)
Damper D-Day
Posted onThe predictable confirmation that the FIA’s ban on mass damper systems will be upheld has dealt a stinging blow to Renault’s hopes of retaining both the drivers and constructors championships. Fernando Alonso currently leads Michael Schumacher by ten points in the drivers’ championship and Renault head Ferrari byseven in the constructors’s title race. But the … Continue reading Damper D-Day
F1 in the news: Staff cuts expected and Zonta flies at Laguna Seca
Posted onRicardo Zonta lapped the Californian road circuit – home of the daunting corkscrew turn – in 1:06.596 in a TF106. More from this week’s F1 headlines.
“Brooklands Giants: Brave Men and their Great Cars” (Bill Boddy, 2006)
Posted onGrand Prix motor racing reaches its centenary in 2006 so this retrospective look at some of the behemoth racers from the dawn of the century is well-timed. It may be a little on the dusty side but you don’t need thick-rimmed glasses and an enormous beard to enjoy this book.
Indy ’05, cricket-style
Posted onWe all remember what happened when Michelin turned up at last year’s United States Grand Prix and discovered that their tyres couldn’t withstand the pummelling of the turn 13 banking. Well, just to prove that Formula One doesn’t own a monopoly on sporting cock-ups, a major cricket game has been forfeited and cancelled amid similar … Continue reading Indy ’05, cricket-style
Turkish Grand Prix 2006 Preview
Posted onThe three-week summer break came at a pivotal moment in the 2006 championship. Fernando Alonso was within 19 laps of dealing a major blow to Michael Schumacher’s recovery in the title battle at the Hungaroring. But an errant wheel nut – the first mechanical failure in a race for either of the championship protagonists this … Continue reading Turkish Grand Prix 2006 Preview
Trackside: Mansell at GP Masters
Posted onThis week’s Trackside was on Nigel Mansell’s much-vaunted return to Silverstone with Grand Prix Masters. It may have been a disappointment for Mansell and fellow British driver Derek Warwick, but the ex-F1 pilots still gave us a fantastic race. Related links Autotrader.co.uk: Trackside – Hero’s homecoming is damp squib (external) Tags: f1 / formula one … Continue reading Trackside: Mansell at GP Masters
Toyota prepare for hybrid F1
Posted onToyota appear to be resigned to the future direction of Formula One engines being homologated power plants mated to more environmentally-aware technologies.
“Inside Formula One” – Nigel Roebuck
Posted onFor many followers of F1, Nigel Roebuck is foremost among journalists of the sport. More than just a writer, he is a fan of the sport whose firm allegiance to it is unwavering, even when its tragedies and controversies have put it to the test. He is most well-known for his close friendship with Gilles … Continue reading “Inside Formula One” – Nigel Roebuck
It’s the Dave & Eddie show!
Posted onDavid Coulthard and Eddie Irvine are to appear in a new Sky TV programme in which they coach celebrities on race car driving. The Race will air in Sky’s autumn season and be presented by Denise van Outen, who appeared at the launch of Tyrrell’s last ever F1 car in 1998. The celebrities participating in … Continue reading It’s the Dave & Eddie show!
F1 06 (PlayStation 2)
Posted onSCEE have released the annual update to the only official Formula One game. As ever, it’s exclusive to the PlayStation, and decidedly ‘arcade’ style rather than a detailed simulation. It has all the latest teams and drivers – but is it actually any good?
F1 winners don’t use drugs
Posted onThe height of the summer sporting season is passing and once again two sports are left to rue another year spoiled by drugs scandals. In cycling, Floyd Landis faces being stripped of his Tour de France victory after testing positive for excessive and unnatural levels of testosterone. In athletics, world and Olympic 100 metres champion … Continue reading F1 winners don’t use drugs
Alonso, Schumacher and Senna: Three great first laps
Posted onWhen you think of great first laps in Formula 1 you inevitably bring Ayrton Senna’s at the 1993 European Grand Prix to mind. But last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix saw a pair of scintillating starts – and I reckon one of them was better than Senna’s. Let’s take a look at all three in detail. … Continue reading Alonso, Schumacher and Senna: Three great first laps
Could BBC open ‘Grand Prix’ archive?
Posted onThe BBC’s web chief Ashley Highfield spoke in an interview with The Independent today about how he wants to open the BBC’s archives via the Internet. Of greatest interest to Formula One fans would be the archives of Grand Prix, the BBC’s Formula One coverage programme which ran from 1978 to 1996. The two most … Continue reading Could BBC open ‘Grand Prix’ archive?
Trackside: Jenson Button, of course
Posted onNo prizes for guessing what this week’s Trackside was about… Related links Autotrader.co.uk – Trackside: Button first among equals Tags: f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport / jenson button
Wet tyres: Have Michelin turned the tables?
Posted onFour years ago when rain fell on a race that meant a Bridgestone benefit. But at last weekend’s wet Hungarian Grand Prix the Ferraris, Toyotas and Williams all struggled for pace relative to the Michelin runners – even ‘regenmeister’ Michael Schumacher. That was the third rain-disrupted race in a row than Michelin have won. So … Continue reading Wet tyres: Have Michelin turned the tables?
Shanghai offer special Schumacher and Alonso seats
Posted onPromoters of the third Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai have come up wih the unusual step of offering separate seating for fans of title duellists Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. Schumacher fans get stand H and Alonso fans stand K which are opposite each other on the entrance and exit (respectively) of the hairpin corner … Continue reading Shanghai offer special Schumacher and Alonso seats
The best F1 toy car ever?
Posted onI was very lucky to get my hands on this the other day. This is a full sized F1 model car styled on a Ferrari F2005. Built by Yuval Attias, it features removal wheels for timed pit stop trials and a PlayStation 2 mounted in the right hand side pod. It comes with a monitor, … Continue reading The best F1 toy car ever?