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Williams F1 Hungarian GP preview 2008-07-29 05:29:00 This weekend sees round eleven of the Formula 1 championship in Hungary. The race in Budapest is the final one before the three week summer break and the first time AT&T Williams
driver Kazuki Nakajima has competed there in an F1 car."I’ve never driven a Formula One car at the Hungaroring, but I raced there in GP2 last year and had a pretty good result," he said."The circuit itself should su
Experience will count for WRC Stobart Team 2008-07-29 05:01:00 WRC team Stobart VK M-Sport are count
ing on their driver's previous experience of Rally Finland to help them secure points at the event later this week.The team believe the combined experience of Henning Solberg, Gigi Galli and Matthew Wilson will give them an advantage at this year's Rally Finland event which starts on Thursday.Stobart, who are fourth in the WRC manufacturers' championship, are a
Piquet's turned a corner, say Renault F1 2008-07-28 12:48:00 Nelson Piquet's podium finish at the German Grand Prix may be the turning point for the young Brazilian driver according to Renault
Formula 1 chief engineer Pat Symonds.Up until his second place at the Hockenheim race, Piquet had been going through a tough rookie year in Formula 1 with many people doubting he'd be able to retain his seat in 2009.Although Symonds admits the result was down to the s Read more:corner
, turned
WRC - New Pirelli tyre for Rally Finland 2008-07-28 12:38:00 WRC tyre supplier Pirelli
will introduce a brand new soft compound gravel tyre for RallyFinland
this weekend.The tyre has been designed with the high speed event in mind and is able to cope with the heavy impacts that characterise the Finnish rally.The Pirelli Scorpion WRC 205/65R15 Soft will be the only tyre available to the WRC teams and is also set to be used in the Japan and Wales rally event
F1 - Glock's crash caused by damaged part 2008-07-28 12:29:00 The Toyota Formula 1 team have identified a damaged
component as the cause of Timo Glock's crash
in the German Grand Prix.The damage was carried over from the F1 British Grand Prix and triggered the loss of control that led to Glock smashing into the pit straight wall. Glock escaped serious injury but was kept in overnight at a local hospital.Toyota F1 released this statement today to explain the
WRC Rally Finland Itinerary 2008-07-27 04:09:00 Looking forward to next week's WRC RallyFinland
? Yeah, we are too. After the summer break the WRC season finally returns.Here's the three day itinerary for the stages across Friday, Saturday and Sunday plus Thursday's shakedown session before the proper action kicks off.Join us here at F1 & WRC Blog next week for the build up to fastest rally event of the year.Thursday 31st July19.45 SS 1 Kil
F1 night racing a challenge says Lewis 2008-07-25 12:09:00 Formula One championship leader Lewis
Hamilton took time out from a promotional tour to speak about the forthcoming night race in Singapore.Hamilton, who was in India with sponsors Vodafone, expects the street circuit that runs through the Central Business District of Singapore will prove a tricky and technical challenge."It's difficult to imagine what a night race will be like," he told Reuters."
Subaru confident of Finland form 2008-07-25 11:04:00 Subaru WRC principal David Richards is confident the new Impreza WRC2008 has helped the team get back into the best shape it's been in for years.As they head into the Rally Finland
event, Richards is in buoyant mood about the Impreza's chances but is also aware of the strength of their Finnish rivals."From the days of Markku Alen, Hannu Mikkola and Ari Vatanen the local drivers have excelled here Read more:Subaru
New wings make Kovalainen fly 2008-07-25 09:18:00 Heikki Kovalainen
set the benchmark time during testing at Jerez this morning as the McLaren MP4-23 sported a new set of wings.The flying Finn's time of 1:18.385 swept aside the previous best laps of the week set by Mark Webber and Sebastien Vettel.Heikki continued McLaren's preparations for the Hungarian Grand Prix by experimenting with a set of 'antler' wings on the nose cone. The aerodynamic ad
Companc to retire after Rally Finland 2008-07-25 04:36:00 Next week's RallyFinland
will be Argentine WRC driver Luis Perez Companc's last event.The man who co-founded the Munchi's Ford World Rally Team is set to retire
from the World Rally Championship having competed in 30 WRC events.Companc drove for the BP Ford team in 2005 followed by a stint with the Stobart Ford team in 2006. In 2007 he helped to establish the Munchi's team - financed by the chain
Glock unphased by test return 2008-07-24 14:40:00 Timo Glock climbed back into a Toyota Formula 1 car at Jerez this morning just days after his big crash at Hockenheim.The Formula One German driver walked away from the crash during last Sunday's German Grand Prix when his rear suspension gave way coming into the pit straight. Glock, who was only winded by the impact, spent the night in hospital for precautionary checks.Reporting for duty at the J
Jerez F1 testing - Day Three 2008-07-24 13:28:00 The Red Bull outfit continued an impressive week of testing at Jerez
with the senior team's Aussie driver Mark Webber topping the timesheets this afternoon.Sebastien Vettel's Toro Rosso came out best during the sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday but Red Bull Racing's Webber clocked the fastest lap at the Spanish circuit today.Running the 2009 regulation Bridgestone slick tyre and aero levels, Webbe Read more:Three
Wind Tunnel - It's Seb or nothing! 2008-07-23 09:22:00 Seems Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner is only interested in employing drivers with the first name 'Sebastian'.His current Toro Rosso line-up is Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Bourdais and with the Vettel 'Sebastian' moving across to the Red Bull Racing team for 2009 the search is on for a driver to fill the vacant seat at Toro Rosso. All eyes are turning toward 'Sebastien' Buemi.The young Sw
BMW look ahead to Valencia 2008-07-23 08:55:00 At the end of August, Valencia
will play host to the European Grand Prix and the BMW Sauber team are already looking forward to it.Valencia is a familiar stomping ground for the Munich and Hinwil-based F1 team as they not only complete tests at the Circuit de la Comunitat but also every BMW car has had its premier at the track since 2006.Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica know the city well but this Read more:ahead
McLaren set day two pace at Jerez 2008-07-23 08:10:00 McLaren have set the early pace during the second day of testing at the Jerez
circuit in Spain. Pedro De La Rosa took over from yesterday's test driver Gary Paffett to set the fastest time during the morning session.The Spaniard's time of 1:19.061 is nearly eight tenths quicker than Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Vettel's fastest lap from Tuesday's test. Using the two McLaren test drivers shows the t
Too early to judge slicks says Trulli 2008-07-23 04:51:00 Toyota Formula 1 driver Jarno Trulli has said it's too early to judge the performance of Bridgestone's new slick tyres following his test at Jerez yesterday.Trulli was one of the F1 drivers to try out the smooth rubber that will be introduced across all the teams for the 2009 season. Two compounds were tested and the Italian ace was pleased with their performance but felt track temperatures were n
McLaren promote Ryan to sporting director 2008-07-23 02:05:00 McLaren team manager Dave Ryan has been promoted by the Woking-based squad to the new role of Sporting Director.The former mechanic joined the team in 1974 working his way up to Chief Mechanic in the 1980s, Factory Manager and then on to Team Manager.McLaren Formula 1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh commented that the title reflects Ryan's contribution to the F1 team and the broader scope he will now have."G
New paint job for Duval's Stobart 2008-07-22 10:47:00 Francois Duval has released pictures on his website of his new Stobart VK M-Sport livery. Duval will be driving for the team in the forthcoming Rally Deutschland - his second appearance since finishing fourth in Rally Monte Carlo.Duval has been nominated as a points scorer on the asphalt rallies that remain in Germany, Spain and France. The car will be carrying the colours of construction firm 'St
Ford boys hit the hard stuff 2008-07-22 10:26:00 The Ford WRC team are well aware of Sebastien Loeb's prowess on asphalt surfaces so they're preparing their drivers now for the smooth tarmac rallies in the second half of the season.Championship leader Mikko Hirvonen and team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala are having tuition from asphalt driving coach Rob Wilson to help hone their skills.Both Ford WRC drivers are more at home on gravel surfaces but are Read more:stuff
Vettel fastest at Jerez 2008-07-22 09:58:00 Sebastian Vettel continues his impressive form by clocking the fastest time in this morning's test session at Jerez
.The Toro Rosso driver topped the timesheets around the 2.7 mile Spanish circuit with a lap of 1:19.844, over three tenths quicker than McLaren test driver Gary Paffett.Jarno Trulli took to the track with slick tyres in his Toyota. The smooth rubber is due to be re-introduced to Formu
Subaru prepare for the Finnish 2008-07-22 06:49:00 The long six-week summer break of the WRC calender is almost over with the teams returning to action next week for Rally Finland.In advance of round nine of the World Rally Championship the Subaru
WRC team have been busy building two new Impreza WRC2008s for the 31-3 August event. Subaru will be hoping the car will continue to build on two solid performances since its introduction at Rally Greece. Read more:Finnish
Hirvonen can't wait for home event 2008-07-22 05:26:00 Ford WRC driver and World Rally Championship leader Mikko Hirvonen is looking forward to the season getting back underway next week after the summer break.The next event
is Rally Finland which is Hirvonen's home rally and he's eager to go one better than last year when he finished runner-up to fellow Finn Marcus Gronholm."I can't wait to go there. I go to Finland for the first time as the champion
Renault evaluate their German GP 2008-07-22 04:43:00 The ING Renault
F1 Team came away from the German
GP at Hockenheim with mixed feelings. Team tactics and a level-headed drive from their Brazilian rookie saw Nelson Piquet take second place but team-mate Fernando Alonso endured an eventful race finishing only a lowly 11th.Both drivers had difficult starts and Alonso dropped to the tale end of the top ten after the first stint. Renault had fuelled Read more:evaluate
Subaru boost Atkinson's confidence 2008-07-22 03:33:00 Less than two weeks before the start of Rally Finland, Subaru
have given their Aussie driver Chris Atkinson the big thumbs up. Subaru WRC boss David Richards has spoken about how impressed he has been with Atkinson's performance so far."He has shown great maturity and consistency," said Richards."Even with some bad luck on the last two events, he is still fourth in the championship and in a strong
Testing begins at Jerez 2008-07-22 03:19:00 The relentless Formula 1 operation moves on from Hockenheim less that 48 hours after Lewis Hamilton secures back-to-back victories. Testing
begins today at the Jerez
circuit in Spain in preparation for the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3rd.McLaren will be looking to keep performance momentum over their great rivals Ferrari. The MP4-23 looks the stronger car at this point in the championship and i
F1: McLaren staff rotation for '09 2008-08-13 07:44:00 The McLaren-Mercedes F1 team will rotate race team staff for next season's hectic calendar to help keep the Woking-based squad motivated and happy.Team boss Ron Dennis revealed the plans due to the expanded 2009 F1 season that will see teams compete in 19 races without the current three week summer break that they currently enjoy.Dennis believes the new schedule will prove too much for the travell
WRC: Suzuki WRC Rally Deutschland Preview 2008-08-13 05:54:00 WRC team Suzuki
return for their second asphalt rally at Rally
Germany this week. Having competed on the tarmac at Monte Carlo, this will be the SX4 WRC first outing with all the new improvements.The SX4 now has a ligher bodyshell, improved engine power, refined suspension, better handling, ride, traction and grip. Add to this increased cooling and underbody protection and you have a whole host of Read more:Deutschland
, Preview
WRC: Pirelli choice for Rallye Deutschland 2008-08-13 04:15:00 Pirelli's PZero asphalt tyre will be used by the WRC teams during this week's Rally Germany, the first time in conditions it was designed for.The compound was first used at Monte Carlo after the opening rally was devoid of its usual snow mud meaning that the Sottozero winter tyre was rendered useless.Rallye Deutschland
is run over slippery and dirty asphalt on Friday, broken cement roads at the Ba Read more:Pirelli
F1 versus WRC - Race of Champions 2008-08-12 06:33:00 The two greatest drivers in Formula 1 and WRC history will go head-to-head at this year's Race of Champions
.Seven-time World F1 champion Michael Schumacher and four-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb will pit their skills against each other on a purpose built track in Wembley Stadium, London.Loeb missed last year's event but has confirmed his attendance on December 14th at the season-endin Read more:versus
Super-soft Bridgestones for F1 Singapore GP 2008-08-12 06:16:00 Next month's Singapore
Grand Prix night race will see Bridgestone supplying the F1 teams with their softest tyre compound in the range.The race around the Marina Bay will be run on the soft and super-soft compounds. The F1 tyre supplier has also announced changes to its compounds for the final GP of the season in Brazil. The F1 teams will now have to use the medium and soft rubber instead of the s Read more:Super