Formula 1 and Other Motorsport 2006

[jamesb]

all look good except 7.... which is dangerous.

[leorcc]

I hate all the new rule suggestions. Specially number 1 and 2.

[tom_b]

But wait, theres more.

9: Drivers whose cars stop on the circuit during qualifying will not be allowed to take any further part in the session
10: Requirement for new teams to lodge a $48 million deposit with the FIA dropped
11: Major car manufacturers will be not be able to supply engines to more than two teams

Your thoughts, folks?

[leorcc]

9: what consists on the circuit? does that also mean engine stall in the pits? or spinning, make a u-turn and continue?
10: Fine by me, makes it easier for teams like Super Aguri to compete.
11: bs rule.

[ewan]

I think most this cutting back is very bad. F1 is a money-pumped rediculously technology fuelled sport and it shouldnt pretend to be anything else.

Some of the regulations making it easier for new teams to come in are fair enough but some go much too far in my opinion.

[jamesb]

My suggestions for cost cutting

1:- rev limited V10s with air restrictor.
2:- single tyre supplier / slicks
3:- standard front and rear wings and diffuser.
4:- salary cap on drivers (ill do it for £50 per week plus pies and beer)
5:- finally all races to be held at oulton park in cheshire.

[tom_b]

While there have been some great races over the weekend, the World Rally Championship & Indycar Championship meetings at Catalunya in Spain and Homestead in USA were overshadowed by two fatalities. For more on this, go to http://www.crash.netwww.crash.net . Here are the results from Catalunya.

Catalunya Top 8
1: Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Kronos Citroen) 3h22m1.7s (Benefitted from Fords turbo problems)
2: Dani Sordo/Marc Marti (Kronos Citroen) +48.2s (1st WRC podium for the reigning JWRC champion who has canned his JWRC title defence. Just as well, he is good in a WRC car)
3: Marcus Gronholm/Timo Rautainen (Ford) +1m45.8s (Lost 2 minutes with turbo problems at the end of Day 1. Could have won this rally.)
4: Alex Bengue/Caroline Escudero (Peugeot) +2m1.9s (Showed competititve pace and career best result)
5: Jan Kopecky/F. Schovanek (Skoda) +2m57.2s (Beats his career best finish from last years event and gives the Fabia its best finish)
6: Francois Duval/Patrick Pivato (Skoda) +3m37.8s (Brilliant result after being confirmed to get support from Skoda)
7: Petter Solberg/Phil Mills (Subaru) +3m48.2s (Suffered grip problems till later in the rally)
8: Stephane Sarrazin/Stephane Prevot (Subaru) +4m36.4s (Subarus asphalt ace struggles)

Best Brits
15: Matthew Wilson/Michael Orr (VK Stobart Ford) +17m57.4s (Lost a wheel on stage 14 and missed final 2 stages but classified under SupeRally rules)
19: Kris Meeke/G. Patterson (Citroen) +25m7.7s (Crash into Latvala on stage 4 ruins chance of victory but Meeke fights back to 3rd)
23: Steve Perez/S. Harris (Ford) +28m7.8s
29: Stuart Jones/C. Parry (Mitsubishi) +31m40.9s
41: Simon Hughes/C. Mole (Ford) +50m29.2s

Retirements (I think Ill run through drivers on retirements)
1: T.Curtis (Unknown)
2: Gareth Machale (Off on stage 1)
3: Aaron Burkart (Off on stage 2 and accident)
4: Barry Clark (Off on stage 2 and accident)
5: Xavier Pons (Off on stage 12)
6: Luca Betti (Retired on stage 12)
7: J. Pressac (Retired on stage 12)

WRC Drivers Championship (Round 4/16)
1: Loeb (36)
2: Gronholm (27)
3: Sordo (14)
4: Stohl (11)
5: Solberg (10)
6=: Carlsson & Gardemeister (6)
8=: Atkinson, Bengue, Galli, Sarrazin & H. Solberg (5)
13=: Kopecky & Radstrom (4)
15=: Duval, Katajamaki & Machale (3)
18=: Hirvonen & Pons (2)

WRC Manufacturers Championship (Round 4/16)
1: Kronos Citroen (44)
2: Ford (42)
3: Subaru (31)
4: OMV Peugeot (21)
5: VK Stobart Ford (10)
6: Red Bull Skoda (

JWRC (Round 2/9)
1=: Andersson & Prokop (10)
3=: Beres, Casier & Sandell (
6=: Aava & Meeke (6)
8=: Kosciuszko & Valousek (5)
10: Pinomaki (4)
11: Rautenbach (3)
12=: Kara & Zachrisson (2)
14: Tirabassi (1)

Next weekend sees round 3 of the Formula 1 Championship at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia. Live broadcasts of qualifying and race day are on in the early hours of the morning but they will be broadcasted again around lunchtime/early afternoon on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

[tom_b]

More news, the GPMA teams have signed up for 2008 meaning no split, no break-away series and no more petty squabbling. The future of F1 is looking brighter.

Meanwhile Honda have topped todays practice sessions in Australia, Anthony Davidson did that for Honda in both sessions while Jenson Button made himself fastest race driver despite grip problems.

There is now a line-up change in the WRC at Red Bull Skoda. Gilles Panizzi has left the team, rumours are his in-car relationship with brother Herve broke down or he felt the Fabia is uncompetitive. I think that it might be the latter.

Also A1GP comes to a end this week, France, as we know from the last round at Laguna Seca are the champions. Team GBR will be running a different driver this weekend in Shanghai, ex-Indycar driver Darren Manning.

(Message edited by Tom B on March 31, 2006)

[armadrillo]

Twenty-two teams have submitted entry applications for the 2008 Formula 1 world championship, the FIA revealed on Friday.

With only 12 slots available, 10 applications will be rejected.

The FIA has received applications from 22 teams wishing to compete in the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship, the governing body said in a statement.

All applicants have been invited to a meeting in London on April 10, 2006.

Among the applicants are all 11 existing teams, former Minardi owner Paul Stoddart and former BAR and Benetton boss David Richards.

Should be interesting to see who gets the last slot!!

[armadrillo]

GO JENSEN GO!!