New Formula 1 tracks usually have two things in common: they’re designed by Hermann Tilke, and they get criticised by F1 fans and commentators for being dull, sterile and unchallenging. Inevitably Tilke gets the blame, but I read something in Autosport recently that made me wonder whether that’s fair: Current F1 track design rules limit … Continue reading Don’t blame Hermann Tilke, blame the rules
A1 Grand Prix articles archive
A1 Grand Prix
F1 in the blogs 45: Made in Japan
Posted onIn the F1 blogs this week there’s paranoid, delusional, conspiracy theory claptrap. But that’s just one article – the rest are rather good including a great piece on Japan’s F1 drivers and a brand new feed from the Sidepodcast team.
This week’s F1 alternative: BTCC Thruxton
Posted onThere’s plenty of good racing on this weekend while F1 has its last weekend off before the championship decider. Top of the bill has to be the thrillingly close title duel between Jason Plato and Fabrizio Giovanardi in British Touring Cars that’s been raging all year. But if you like your racing with a fat … Continue reading This week’s F1 alternative: BTCC Thruxton
F1 in the blogs 43: Visiting Fuji
Posted onWant to find out what the Fuji Speedway is like to visit? Check out this week’s top post. Plus, David Coulthard is wearing Colin McRae’s helmet as a tribute – check out the design, Stepneygate the film and history repeating itself in Macau.
Debate: A1 Grand Prix
Posted onThe third season of the A1 Grand Prix ‘World Cup of Motorsport’ starts this weekend at the former Grand Prix circuit Zandvoort. Will you be watching? Started in late 2005 amid much fanfare, A1GP pits drivers from different countries against each other in identical, but fairly low-powered cars. Former F1 racers Ralph Firman, Narain Karthikeyan, … Continue reading Debate: A1 Grand Prix
GP2 Asia & Speedcar join F1 roster
Posted onTwo more new support races will feature at certain F1 events next year: a NASCAR-alike tin top racing series dubbed Speedcar and the new Asian GP2 series. They will support the Malaysian and Bahrain Grands Prix in March and April respectively next year. The new Formula BMW Europe series has already been confirmed as supporting … Continue reading GP2 Asia & Speedcar join F1 roster
F1 in the blogs 41: The Ralf row
Posted onCatch up on the latest from the world of F1 blogging. This week people are talking about F1 Racing slating Ralf Schumacher again, the merits of NASCAR versus Formula 1, visiting the Turkish Grand Prix and… erm… hamburgers.
The Ben Evans Column – The best of the worst
Posted onIn my Formula Vee adventures this year I have raced against some very good and very bad drivers. Thanks to the heats and finals format I often get to see the slower drivers in action, and believe me some of them are awful. There is one gentleman in particular who went a lap down when … Continue reading The Ben Evans Column – The best of the worst
Superleague Formula takes aim at F1
Posted onOpen-wheel single-seater racing is, for me, the most exciting sport on the planet. Formula 1, GP2, Champ Car World Series, Indy Racing League, World Series by Renault, A1 Grand Prix, GP Masters – I’ve watched them all. It’s not often that a new racing formula comes along. And it’s even rarer that, when one does, … Continue reading Superleague Formula takes aim at F1
A1 Grand Prix 2007-08 calendar revealed
Posted onA1 Grand Prix has revealed the schedule for its 2007-08 season, the third ‘World Cup of Motorsport.’ The venues are largely similar to last year. There are 11 rounds (22 races), the same as last season, when 12 were planned but the Brazilian round was cancelled for the second year in succession. Once again there … Continue reading A1 Grand Prix 2007-08 calendar revealed
The F1 cars that never raced
Posted onA new book, “Unraced”, takes a look at some of the most recent F1 cars that were built yet never saw the start of a Grand Prix. It’s full of interesting tales from teams that collapsed to cars that were just too radical to be made reliable. Here’s four of the most interested F1 cars … Continue reading The F1 cars that never raced
F1’s famous names return
Posted onThe classic names of F1 are all returning to the sport: Senna, Mansell, Prost, Piquet, Lauda and more could all be a feature on the grid one day. A quick search threw up 20 such drivers in the lower echelons of motor sport that could break into F1. Can you think of any others? Two … Continue reading F1’s famous names return
The Ben Evans column: F1 gets streetwise
Posted onOnce again F1 looks like it’s about to dip its toes into the murky waters of the street race. Not since 1991 has there been more than one street track on the calendar – the glamorous Monte-Carlo track, which is benchmark for every other street race in the world. So can F1 make the formula … Continue reading The Ben Evans column: F1 gets streetwise
Debate: What other motor racing do you watch?
Posted onIt’s been a long four week gap ahead of the next F1 race this weekend. Have you been watching any motor racing in the meantime? Have you been to any races? I watch various touring car races this weekend and went to the BTCC round at Rockingham two weeks ago. Last weekend I was at … Continue reading Debate: What other motor racing do you watch?
‘GP3’ to take on A1 Grand Prix?
Posted onWas Bernie Ecclestone at last weekend’s A1 Grand Prix finale at Brands Hatch? If so, what was he up to? Rumours persist that Ecclestone wants to run a series using GP2 specification chassis at Asian venues during the Formula 1 off-season. This is, of course, the time of year when A1GP runs its ‘World Cup … Continue reading ‘GP3’ to take on A1 Grand Prix?
F1Fanatic launches Maximum Motorsport
Posted onI am delighted to announce the launch of Maximum Motorsport – the brand new site from the F1Fanatic stable. Maximum Motorsport covers a range of motor sports including GP2, A1 Grand Prix, Champ Car, Indy Racing, Formula Three and Touring Cars – and that roster will hopefully expand as the year goes on. Check out … Continue reading F1Fanatic launches Maximum Motorsport
F1 in the news 28
Posted onNick Heidfeld is to lap the N?»???¢rburgring Nordschleife in his BMW F1 car. And Kimi Raikkonen entered and won a snowmobile race in the guise of James Hunt. Also in this week’s F1 news – why the Renault R27 has that grotesque, four-colour paint job, why Honda are sponsoring ITV, and why some Australians don’t … Continue reading F1 in the news 28
“Champion: Surtees” (Duke DVD Video 2004)
Posted onJohn Surtees: Tip-top bloke whose stunning and unmatched achievement doesn’t get talked about often enough. That being the unique feat of winning both motorcycle and motor-car world championships. This Duke video in the ‘Champions’ series provides opportunity to see this great, under-rated British champion at work.
GPWC goes the way of Premier 1 GP
Posted onIn 2006 the grinding tedium of the merciless political row between the FIA and the Grand Prix Manufacturers’ Association (GPMA) finally ended in a ceasefire. And not a moment too soon – the last thing we needed was another Indy ’05 or, much worse, the GPMA’s stated threat of a ‘Grand Prix World Championship’ breakaway … Continue reading GPWC goes the way of Premier 1 GP
F1 in the news 17
Posted onIn our final look back on the F1 news of 2006 some surprising comments from Nick Heidfeld, Chinese F1 racers on the way, and a lingering look back on Michael Schumacher’s last Grand Prix. Read on for more.