Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Suspended jail sentence for Sutil | 2012 F1 season
Adrian Sutil has been handed an 18-month suspended jail sentence by a court in Germany.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/AlPDcDS77do/
Red Bull under the spotlight
 Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel celebrate with Red Bull boss Christian Horner on the podium |
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/red_bull_under_the_spotlight.php
Red Bull will be challenged in 2012
Hi all, thanks for your many and varied questions about the 2011 season. I've answered a number of them as well as giving my thoughts about how the season panned out and what I think will happen in 2012.
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If you are outside the UK, you can watch the video here.
Murray
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/murraywalker/2012/01/red_bull_will_be_challenged_in.html
CUP: JGR Employees Treated After Small Fire
For the second time in a year, work at Joe Gibbs Racing is interrupted by a fire at the facility…
Source: http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-10-injured-in-fire-at-joe-gibbs-racing/
Lowlife's 37 sedan streetrod !
Figured i can fit in one more project, so im starting a 1937 Ford.... ! Instead of going mad on this one im keeping it fairly box stock, just smoothing it out a bit ! So far its going well, im using plymouth prowler wheels and tires, and slammin it on the floor ( almost.... ) The chassis has the fuel tank removed and im moving the rear crossmember to lower the back end. The front window is one piece, enlarged front wheel openings,smoothed door handles,hinges,wiper mounts, and gas cap. The floorpan has been smoothed too with panels made up under the running boards, which are blended in . Also smoothed the firewall, and glued it to the floor, and blended it in underneath, and cut the rear panel from the body and im blending it to the rear wings. The gap above the firewall will be filled with a slight forward sloping section ( copying Acegarageguy's instructions, from his awesome 37 ..) but theres no chop or opening doors. Probably going two tone paint, maybe beige and a pastel colour, engine was going to be a Turbo V6 but it looks tiny so i may use the 350 that comes with the kit. Heres some pics, and more soon hopefully........ Lowlife ! !
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/997916.aspx
Doctors use Formula One pit crews as safety model
American Medical News reports hospitals in at least a dozen countries are learning how to translate the split-second timing and near-perfect synchronisation of Formula One pit crews to the high-risk handoffs of patients from surgery to recovery and intensive care.
"In Formula One, they have checklists, databases, and they have well-defined processes for doing things, and we don't really have any of those things in health care."
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/10/doctors_use_formula_one_pit_cr.php
Triumph Tiger 1050
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For a bike that packs a walloping powertrain, the Triumph Tiger 1050 looks remarkably svelte and sexy. Then again, we wouldn’t have expected anything less from the boys over at Triumph.
The British motorcycle brand’s popular Tiger 1050 has been given a sporty new look for 2012 with an improved specification, new colors, and graphics, giving it a powerful and versatile look as a rocket on two wheels. For the 2012 model, the Tiger 1050 comes with plenty of new features, including high-specification black anodized tapered aluminum handlebars that are over half an inch lower than the previous steel items for a more sporting riding position. The bike also has a tall - 32.8" - riding position that gives the rider a commanding view over the traffic, with the well-appointed saddle facilitating comfortable day-long riding.
Speaking of the bike’s remarkably meaty engine, the Tiger 1050 is powered by a 1,050cc triple engine that delivers a staggering 113 brake horsepower and 72 lb/ft of torque at just 6,250 rpm. These numbers are made all the more impressive considering that the Tiger doesn’t pass the look of a mighty cruiser.
Dressed in Triumph’s famous Metallic Phantom Black paint finish, the Tiger 1050 comes with new graphics on the fairing with a number of items “dechromed” for a more contemporary look. Wheels, sprocket carrier, and brake calipers are among the many components that have also been dressed in a black finish and further complemented by graphite footrest hangers and control plates. Exhaust canisters and heel guards now take on a brushed, rather than polished, steel finish.
Find out more about the Triumph Tiger 1050 after the jump.
Triumph Tiger 1050 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 30 January 2012 20:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/triumph/2012-triumph-tiger-1050-ar123484.html
Monday, 30 January 2012
Formula One gets ready for another enthralling season
Formula 1 2012 effectively starts now. The first race is not until 18 March, but by the end of this week the world will have seen two of the cars expected to be competing at the front - and one of them will have had its first run on the track.
The McLaren breaks cover first, with a launch at the team’s base in Woking, Surrey, before Ferrari reveal their new challenger in Maranello on Friday.
Ferrari plan, weather permitting, to run the car briefly at their Fiorano test track on Saturday ahead of the start of pre-season testing in Jerez, Spain, on 7 February.
On Sunday, the new Lotus (formerly Renault) will be unveiled on the internet – and F1 designers and engineers across Europe will be losing sleep about what they will see when the new Red Bull breaks cover in the same fashion on Monday.
Ferrari Formula One team and drivers including Fernando Alonso (right) of Spain and Felipe Massa of Brazil (left) take part in a winter training session in Lanzarote, Spain. Photo: Getty
These new cars will be pored over for hints of the key themes of the new season – and it will not just be to do with the cars.
At McLaren on Wednesday, the issue of Lewis Hamilton’s mindset will inevitably be raised after his wildly up-and-down season last year – indeed team principal Martin Whitmarsh has already delivered a robust, if familiar-sounding, defence of his driver in an interview last week.
Hamilton has kept a low profile over the winter, training in the US, and whether he can find the mental equilibrium to consistently access his very best form is already one of the talking points of 2012.
At Red Bull, Mark Webber says he has “had a good winter, recharging my batteries, and now I can’t wait to get going again”.
But can the Australian rediscover the form he showed in his title bid in 2010 and challenge team-mate and world champion Sebastian Vettel more strongly than he did last year?
Just as importantly, will Webber stay on at the team for 2013, or will he make way for either Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne, the Red Bull juniors going head-to-head at Toro Rosso, to prove they deserve a chance in the senior team?
Over at Mercedes, the pressure is on to start winning after two lacklustre seasons, while another question is whether Michael Schumacher will decide he wants to stay on beyond the end of his contract into 2013 - and will the team want him to?
Schumacher is so clearly a shadow of his former greatness and has only just begun to get on terms with team-mate Nico Rosberg, and even then only in races.
Already ex-F1 driver Gerhard Berger has said he cannot see his former rival continuing.
"I do not think he will extend his contract,” the Austrian told Auto Motor und Sport.
“He will be tired. I have to admit he drove better in 2011 than in 2010, especially in the second half of the season, and I can imagine he can improve even on that but still he has no chance against Rosberg.
“Schumacher will have to admit that, with an age over 40, it’s impossible to beat a young driver on the level of Rosberg.”
Ferrari, too, find themselves with serious questions hanging over the future of one driver – Felipe Massa – and a need to raise their game after a single win in 2011.
A lot hangs on the new car – and the early evidence is they have lived up to their promise to push the boat out in terms of aggressive design.
The veteran Italian technical journalist Giorgio Piola has produced one of his famous drawings based on leaked details of the new Ferrari.
Italian journalist Giorgio Piola has attempted to draw an image of Ferrari's 2012 Formula One car. Photo: Getty
“If the pictures are accurate,” BBC F1’s technical analyst Gary Anderson says, “Ferrari seem to have gone a different route by shortening the sidepods and having the crash structure (beside the driver) separate and in front of the sidepod.
“They’re trying to remove the blockage the sidepods create to the airflow coming off the front of the car.
“It’s a total concept thing – in that it is integral to the whole car design. So if it works, they’ve got one up on everyone else.”
It’s clear already, in fact, that the look of the new cars will attract even more attention than usual – and that’s because, as Anderson puts it, “the first thing that will stand out will be the ugly noses”.
These are the result of new rules that dictate lower noses to improve safety, but keep the height of the front bulkhead – the front of the chassis – the same.
A glimpse of these has already been seen on the new Caterham (formerly Lotus) – which features a kind of platypus look, with a long rectangular nose, ahead of an ugly lump on the chassis around the area of the front suspension.
The other major talking point will be how teams deal with the banning of last year’s must-have technology, exhaust-blown diffusers, where downforce was increased by blowing the exhausts along the rear floor of the car even when the driver was not pressing the accelerator.
Governing body the FIA has attempted to end this by stipulating that the exhausts must exit on top of the rear bodywork, well in front of the rear wheels, as well as heavily restricting ‘exotic’ engine maps.
But already there is talk of teams directing exhausts at the rear wing – either upper or lower – to try to increase downforce there.
“The exhaust acts like a compressor,” says Anderson. “It moves the air quite effectively, increasing the air speed, and that gives more downforce. The return will be small, but that’s always the case because the regs are so tight.”
This being F1, there is plenty to talk about – and that’s without touching on the politics, which will be intense as teams, the FIA and commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone negotiate a new Concorde Agreement, the contract that ties them all to F1 and which expires this year.
As ever there is a lot going on – and, as always, you can bet something else will emerge to surprise everyone, too.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/01/formula_one_gets_ready_for_ano.html
Bruno Senna Q&A: “It’s difficult to set objectives…”
Hot on the heelss of his announcement Williams has issued the following Q&A with Bruno Senna. Q: Now you’ve been confirmed as a Williams driver, what are your thoughts heading into 2012? BS: I’m really happy to be a part … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/01/17/bruno-senna-qa-its-difficult-to-set-objectives/
Nissan introduces "self-healing" iPhone case
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Japanese automaker Nissan is introducing a new, state-of-the-art technology that promises "self-healing" capabilities. We’d love to tell you that this is some kind of joke, but the truth is, it’s not.
In all seriousness, Nissan is unveiling a cell phone accessory that features their new Scratch Shield paint technology. According to Nissan, the Scratch Shield paint technology promises to heal small scratches within an hour for less-serious instances, and up to a week’s time in more serious occurrences.
The technology was developed by Nissan in collaboration with University of Tokyo and Advanced Softmaterials Inc. This material is expected to be used in a number of future Nissan and Infiniti models, but will make its debut as an protective accessory for the iPhone 4 and 4S models.
The case is made out of ABS plastic, a material that’s stronger and tougher than any other kind of plastic and, when combined with their new Scratch Shield technology, promises to be a revolutionary new safety accessory to protect our beloved iPhones.
We’ve seen some pretty crazy things being invented the past couple of years, but a cell phone case that heals itself?
That’s something we’d love to take a look at.
Nissan introduces "self-healing" iPhone case originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 29 January 2012 18:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/nissan-introduces-self-healing-iphone-case-ar123209.html
Fernandes: scoring a point “has to be the aim” in 2012 | 2012 F1 cars
Tony Fernandes says Caterham must score its first points in Formula 1 in 2012.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/sB-Q4D1oZLo/
“It’s unbelievable he’s still going”
Former World Champion Damon Hill has heaped the praise on former rival Michael Schumacher. Hill is full of admiration for the German, saying that he deserves incredible credit for still competing at the highest level of Formula 1. He said: “It’s unbelievable he’s still going, whilst I’ve been retired for 12 years.” “He’s an extraordinary [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/xoIez30EvWA/its-unbelievable-hes-still-going
New Lotus to be called the E20 | F1 Fanatic round-up
In the round-up: Lotus reveal their 2012 F1 car will be called the E20.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/ovVsnrKSit0/
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Red Bull v Cowboys! You heard right! (Video)
Everyone must be missing their Formula 1 fix by now, so with this in mind…here is a video to enjoy! [There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.] What are your favourite Formula 1 videos? Get in touch on Twitter! Also, if you fancy a [...]
Super Bowl Ad: Vampires are no match for the Audi S7's LED headlights
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We all know that vampires have many perceived weaknesses. There’s garlic, crucifixes, and apparently, you can add the Audi S7’s LED headlights to that list.
Audi’s highly-anticipated S7 commercial has finally been revealed and we’ll be the first to tell you that the wait and anticipation was definitely worth it. In what could be this year’s version of "Little Darth Vader", Audi went to a popular pop culture subject these days, featuring vampires in the Twilight mold for the commercial.
One of the vampires is bringing a bag full of blood to a camp party - that’s their version of beer! - while driving an Audi S7. As soon as he gets to the site, all the vamps looking in the direction of the S7 were instantly incinerated by the luxury car’s ridiculously bright LED headlights. Heck, even the clueless driver who was wondering where his buddies went, fell to looking at the S7 and getting fried to bits himself.
Pretty hilarious commercial and an early contender for the best auto ad for this year’s Superbowl.
Check it out!
Super Bowl Ad: Vampires are no match for the Audi S7's LED headlights originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 29 January 2012 12:00 EST.
Campaign launched to save Team Lotus
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Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/campaign_launched_to_save_team_1.php
'The point of no confidence is quite near'
 The wreckage of Jochen Rindt's car at Barcelona |
“Colin. I have been racing F1 for 5 years and I have made one mistake (I rammed Chris Amon in Clermont Ferrand) and I had one accident in Zandvoort due to gear selection failure otherwise I managed to stay out of trouble. This situation changed rapidly since I joined your team. “Honestly your cars are so quick that we would still be competitive with a few extra pounds used to make the weakest parts stronger, on top of that I think you ought to spend some time checking what your different employes are doing, I sure the wishbones on the F2 car would have looked different. Please give my suggestions some thought, I can only drive a car in which I have some confidence, and I feel the point of no confidence is quite near.”A little more than a year later Rindt's Lotus suffered mechanical breakdown just before braking into one of the corners. He swerved violently to the left and crashed into a poorly-installed barrier, killing him instantly.
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/the_point_of_no_confidence_is.php
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Red Bull reflect on another year of glory
Red Bull won both the drivers' and constructors' championships for the second successive year in 2011. Here, design chief Adrian Newey and team principal Christian Horner talk to me about their plans for 2012 and praise the dedication, hunger and desire of Sebastian Vettel, who became the youngest ever double world champion.
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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/murraywalker/2011/12/red_bull_reflect_on_another_ye.html
GRAND-AM: Rolex 24 Race Blog
Follow the 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona with SPEED.com's race blog...
Source: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-rolex-24-race-blog/
Meyers Manx
Has anyone heard any more about the new release date yet?????!!!! I'm chomping at the bits to get my hands on one of these!
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/992048.aspx
65 El Camino glue bomb resto WIP
I recently obtained this AMT 1965 El Camino gluebomb at my local hobby shop along with several other gluebombs. All the parts for this one were scattered in various boxes. I dug through them and gathered up enough to "rebuild" it. All it seems to be missing is the engine. It looks to be an older issuie as it has the small camper shell. Originally molded in dark yellow. I'm throwing around three different colors to finish it in but i'm not decided yet. But anyway heres what I'm starting with. Suggestions are welcome.
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/913116.aspx
TV/Movie Car VII CBP 'Model And Modelers' In Production!
The TV/Movie Car CBP is back with our new sequel to the TV/MC franchise...The Model And The Modelers. This will be a six month production starting on October 1, 2011 and ending on April 1, 2012. You are cordially invited to audition and to complete as many roles as you wish. While I am the Executive Producer and Director, I will also participate with my own role as well to be announced later. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask me here.
The Rules
- The model must represent a vehicle from a TV show, movie or video that is accessible through normal channels to all. Please announce your role during your audition. No what-if's!
- To be fair to all, the model must be unstarted or to be rebuilt from a disassembled model.
- Any scale except 1:1.
- Can be built from plastic, resin, or modified die-cast.
- Use aftermarket parts and accessories if desired.
- This is a six month production.
FYI
If you have never participated in one of my TV/Movie Car CBPs before, I run this like a like a TV or movie production. Please be ready to start when the Director calls for ACTION and have your role completed when the Director calls THAT'S A WRAP! The future of this franchise depends upon the success of this production. I am depending upon all actors to work together as a team!
Let the auditions begin!
The Actors
- mrmike
- Spencer1984
- F1 Starr
- avidinha
- Charger 01
- aussiemuscle308
- ohlly
- crazyhorse
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/977981.aspx
Painting smaller parts?
So, I'm making the jump from resin figures to the smaller scale styrene kits. Been doing some research, and see lots of different methods for how to paint smaller details....from mounting on strips of tape, to glueing/puttying to a rod, alligator clips, still on the sprue...how do you do it? I'm trying to come up with a standard to help build kits more efficiently, and haven't been happy with how I'm doing them.
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/997907.aspx
Gascoyne says EBD ban and KERS introduction will help Caterham | 2012 F1 season
Caterham chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne says the team stand to benefit from the ban on exhaust-blown diffusers in 2012.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/s2zDAx--n7U/
Friday, 27 January 2012
McLaren drivers out of title race
 Is it now a three-way battle for the title? |
“Focus and concentration will be of paramount importance and there is none stronger in this regard than Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.”The Guardian’s Oliver Owen thinks that it is Mark Webber’s title to lose now, and that this may be the Australian’s last realistic chance of winning the title.
“He has driven beautifully. Monaco and Silverstone spring to mind. He has been an uncompromising racer, not giving Vettel or Lewis Hamilton an inch in Turkey and Singapore respectively. Most importantly, he has largely avoided the bouts of brain fade that can wreck a season – his on-track hooning in Melbourne when racing Hamilton being the only exception. But there is a feeling that for Webber it is now or never, that a chance of a tilt at the title may never come again. He is certainly driving as if that is the case and that has been his strength.”According to The Mirror’s Byron Young, both McLaren drivers are now out of the title hunt after their fourth and fifth place finishes in Suzuka.
“McLaren's title hopes died yesterday in a weekend from Hell at Suzuka. Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth in a Japanese Grand Prix they had to win to have the remotest chance of keeping their title bid alive."The Sun’s Michael Spearman was of the same opinion, saying “Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button's title hopes were in tatters after a shocker in Japan.”
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/10/mclaren_drivers_out_of_title_r_1.php
McLaren drivers out of title race
| Is it now a three-way battle for the title? |
“Focus and concentration will be of paramount importance and there is none stronger in this regard than Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.”The Guardian’s Oliver Owen thinks that it is Mark Webber’s title to lose now, and that this may be the Australian’s last realistic chance of winning the title.
“He has driven beautifully. Monaco and Silverstone spring to mind. He has been an uncompromising racer, not giving Vettel or Lewis Hamilton an inch in Turkey and Singapore respectively. Most importantly, he has largely avoided the bouts of brain fade that can wreck a season – his on-track hooning in Melbourne when racing Hamilton being the only exception. But there is a feeling that for Webber it is now or never, that a chance of a tilt at the title may never come again. He is certainly driving as if that is the case and that has been his strength.”According to The Mirror’s Byron Young, both McLaren drivers are now out of the title hunt after their fourth and fifth place finishes in Suzuka.
“McLaren's title hopes died yesterday in a weekend from Hell at Suzuka. Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth in a Japanese Grand Prix they had to win to have the remotest chance of keeping their title bid alive."The Sun’s Michael Spearman was of the same opinion, saying “Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button's title hopes were in tatters after a shocker in Japan.”
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/10/mclaren_drivers_out_of_title_r_1.php
How good is Bruno Senna?
Bruno Senna describes sealing a drive at Williams in 2012 as "the start of my Formula 1 career for real". It is a date that could have come three years previously, had events turned out slightly differently.
In the winter of 2008-9, the nephew of the Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna was on the verge of being signed by the Honda team after impressing in a test alongside Jenson Button.
But then Honda pulled out of F1, team principal Ross Brawn was forced to spend the winter desperately trying to save the team, and when he did so at the 11th hour, he thought it better, given the circumstances, to stick with the experience of Rubens Barrichello rather than the promise he had seen in the younger Brazilian.
Now the wheel has turned full circle, and it is Senna who has deprived Barrichello of a seat in F1. But it has been a long time coming.
Bruno Senna drove for HRT in 2010 and spent most of 2011 as a reserve for Renault. Photo: Getty
While Button went on to win the world title for the reconstituted Brawn team in 2009, Senna was left to scrape around for a drive in sportscars, biding his time before another chance in F1 came up, before landing a drive with the nascent HRT outfit in 2010.
The dream turned into a nightmare as the team limped through their maiden season, and for Senna it was a relief to leave, even if it again meant he did not have a full-time grand prix drive.
He spent most of 2011 as a reserve driver for Renault, doing very little driving, before being drafted in to replace the sacked veteran Nick Heidfeld for the final eight races of the year.
The fractured nature of his brief F1 career so far reflects that of his rise up the junior formulae and means it is very difficult to assess the quality of a driver on whom, realistically, a post-restructure Williams will depend to revive their failing fortunes, given the erratic form shown by his team-mate Pastor Maldonado in his debut season last year.
Senna's path to the Williams seat was eased by a substantial sponsorship package from Brazil, a situation that will inevitably see him labelled in some quarters as a 'pay-driver'.
This is quite a stigma in F1 - it traditionally means the driver needed to bring money to make him attractive to team, the implication being that his talent on its own was not enough.
Both he and Williams were at pains to emphasise on Tuesday that they had put their new driver through a rigorous assessment programme before signing him up - and that any talk of money had followed only once they had established to their satisfaction that he was good enough.
"We had an extensive driver-evaluation programme with a handful of drivers," said chief engineer Mark Gillan, "and we made the final decision based on raw pace, consistency, tyre management, technical feedback and mental capacity - and most importantly the potential impact they would have on the team.
"In all those areas it was very clear that Bruno has not had a lot of experience in single-seater racing, but has consistently shown improvement and real talent."
Of course, Gillan would say that - Williams chief executive Adam Parr spent a long time last year trying to convince the world that Maldonado was not a 'pay-driver', despite the sponsorship deal with Venezeula's national oil company that accompanied him to the team.
Maldonado has talent - he out-qualified team-mate Barrichello at Monaco last year, for example - but it is fair to say that he would not be in an F1 car without that help.
Senna is a different case.
Ayrton Senna once said of Bruno: "If you think I'm good, wait until you see my nephew." That, though, was when Bruno was cutting his teeth in karts in Brazil as a child. The great man's death brought Bruno's fledgling career to a shuddering halt at the age of 10.
His family forbade him from racing, and it was not until 10 years later - very late for a man to start a career in single-seater racing cars - that Bruno was able to take it up again.
It has meant a career on fast-forward, and the necessity to soak up vast amounts of information and experience much quicker than his rivals.
Ayrton Senna once said of Bruno: "If you think I'm good, wait until you see my nephew." Photo: AP
Inevitably, that has led to mistakes, but there have also been flashes of real talent, even if it has remained difficult to form a conclusive judgement.
At HRT, the car was awful, the team struggling just to survive and his team-mate Karun Chandhok was then an unknown quantity.
At Renault last year, the qualifying scores between Senna and team-mate Vitaly Petrov - who had not only been in the car all year, but was also in his second season in F1 - were four apiece.
But of the four races where Senna was on top, two of them were the Belgian and Japanese Grands Prix, held at Spa-Francorchamps and Suzuka, two of the three toughest tests for a driver in the world, the other being Monaco. At Spa, on his debut for the team, Senna qualified a brilliant seventh, directly in front of double world champion Fernando Alonso's Ferrari, no less.
With a young driver, especially an inexperienced one, the key is always to look for the highs. The bad points, the crashes, the occasional clumsiness, can be ironed out. But without inherent pace, a driver is going nowhere.
They know a decent driver when they see one at Renault, who have been renamed Lotus for 2012. Trackside operations director Alan Permane has worked with Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Robert Kubica and he says his impressions of Senna were largely positive.
"I don't think there's any doubt about his pace," Permane says. "What lets him down - and he knows it - is his consistency. But he didn't get a chance to show it. He had eight races with us but a lot of them were compromised by car problems."
Permane admits that it is difficult to be sure exactly how quick Senna is because Petrov is not exactly a proven top-level benchmark.
"Bruno was at least as quick as - if not quicker than - Vitaly," Permane says. "It's difficult to say whether he's going to be an Alonso/Kubica/Schumacher character, but some drivers take a long time to come along.
"Look at Jenson Button - when he drove for us, Giancarlo Fisichella destroyed him, and Fisi would be the first guy to admit he's not a mega. He was a very good number two. But now Jenson's fantastic. Can Senna do that? Only time will tell.
"He's very confident, very relaxed, almost performs better under pressure. The cars these days are trickier to drive (than they used to be) for someone who jumps in cold. And I think he did a brilliant job to do that.
"There's definitely something there. He definitely can be there on merit."
Backed by a budget or not, then, Senna more than deserves a chance to show what he can do.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/01/how_good_is_bruno_senna.html
Team order rule needs a re-think
 Jean Todt arives for Wednesday's hearing |
“Whether you are for or against team orders, if the FIA could not back up its own rules and nail a competitor in a blatant case such as this the rule really does need reviewing. Perhaps Ferrari’s thinly-veiled threat to take the matter to the civil courts if they were punished too harshly scared the governing body, who as much as admitted the flimsiness of its rule."Paul Weaver, reporting for the Guardian in Monza, was in favour of the ruling which keeps alive Ferrari’s slim chances in an enthralling championship.
“The World Motor Sport Council was right not to ruin a compelling Formula One season by taking away the 25 points Alonso collected in Germany. That would have put him out of the five-man title race. But the council was widely expected to increase the fine and possibly deduct points from the team, as opposed to the individual. In the end, it could be argued that common sense prevailed. But the decision will dismay those who were upset by the way Ferrari handled the situation as much as anything else.”The Daily Mail's Jonathan McEvoy expressed outrage at the FIA tearing up its own rule book by allowing Ferrari to escape unpunished.
"Although the race stewards fined them £65,000 for giving team orders in July, the FIA World Motor Sport Council, to whom the matter was referred, decided not to impose any further punishment. It leaves the sport's rulers open to derision. It was, after all, their rule they undermined. In a statement, the WMSC said the regulation banning team orders 'should be reviewed'."
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/team_order_rule_needs_a_rethin_1.php
Trumpeter Nova SS Coupe
I looked all over the internet, does anyone know where I can get one of these?
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/998277.aspx
Really tough chrome to remove...
I have an AMT Pro Modeler kit here, and the chrome simply refuses to cooperate! A Lindberg kit's chrome was a piece of cake in Lemon Ammonia, but after having failed with that, I tried Windex, and Simple Green - nothing is budging this chrome? Why is this chrome so much stronger than the Lindberg kit? And is there anything else I can try?
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/998111.aspx
Red Bull v Cowboys! You heard right! (Video)
Everyone must be missing their Formula 1 fix by now, so with this in mind…here is a video to enjoy! [There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.] What are your favourite Formula 1 videos? Get in touch on Twitter! Also, if you fancy a [...]
Why Vettel is ‘stronger than ever’
Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has revealed that Sebastian Vettel will be ‘stronger than ever’ in 2012. The two-time World Champion is expected to be challenged a great deal in the 2012 Formula 1 season, but Mateschitz believes the German will prove himself as the best once again. He said: “Sebastian has improved and is [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/nXomzXGDwy0/why-vettel-is-stronger-than-ever
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Bruno Senna lands Williams Renault seat
Williams has confirmed that Bruno Senna will partner his former GP2 rival Pastor Maldonado in 2012. He will thus be seen at the wheel of a Williams-Renault 18 years after his uncle, Ayrton Senna, drove for the team. He is … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/01/17/bruno-senna-lands-williams-renault-seat/
Mike Gascoyne: “It’s time we move forward again”
Having released an official image yesterday Caterham has today issued a Q&A with Mike Gascoyne, and given that it’s our first chance to hear a technical boss talk in detail about a 2012 car, I thought it was worth running … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/01/26/mike-gascoyne-its-time-we-move-forward-again/
Scale human drivers or passenger figures?
I've often wondered if modelers were interested in filling the empty seats in model cars with scale human figures. I've never seen driver or passenger figures in 1:16, 1:24, 1:25 or 1:32 - is that because there is not a lot of interest in such a thing?
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/998358.aspx
Protests raise fresh concerns over Bahrain GP
Fresh doubts have emerged about the viability of this year's Bahrain Grand Prix after a human rights group in the Gulf kingdom called on the Formula 1 teams to boycott the race in the wake of continuing civil unrest.
It is the first public intervention by an interested party on the subject of the wisdom of holding the race since F1's governing body the FIA confirmed Bahrain's place on the 2012 calendar last month.
Bahrain's inclusion on the official schedule raised eyebrows. That's because unrest continues there, despite pledges by the ruling royal family to increase human rights and democratic representation in an attempt to move on from the disturbances that led to the cancellation of last year's race.
The call for a boycott - by the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) - became public two days after police were accused of beating a leading opposition activist on the back, neck and head at a rally on Friday.
Bahrain's Sakir International Circuit has not had a Grand Prix since 2010. Photo: Getty
That man was the vice-president of the BCHR, Nabeel Rajab, who also happens to be the man who gave the interview calling for the boycott of the race.
Rajab told a leading Arab business magazine: "We will campaign for... drivers and teams to boycott. The government wants Formula 1 to tell the outside world that everything is back to normal.
"Formula 1, if they come, they are helping the government to say [it is normal]. We would prefer it if they didn't take part. I am sure the drivers and teams respect human rights."
F1, then, appears headed for another long-running saga over whether the Bahrain race can go ahead this year - just as in 2011, when it was four months between the outbreak of civil unrest and the race finally being cancelled.
During that time, it became clear that F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone was keen for the event to take place, despite the concerns of many both inside and outside the sport that holding a race would send the wrong message.
Those concerns remain alive today.
Ecclestone was unavailable for comment, but I understand he and the FIA are still determined to hold this year's race.
At the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix six weeks ago, he told BBC Sport: "It's on the calendar. We'll be there. Unless something terrible happens to stop us."
Asked if he had any concerns about the race becoming a magnet for problems in the kingdom, he said: "No, I don't see that."
On Monday, the race organisers insisted the race should go ahead, pointing out that the government had already started down the path to reform and insisting that the race was "supported by an overwhelming majority of people from all sections of society in Bahrain and represents a symbol of national unity".
But within F1 teams, there are murmurings of unease. No-one will publicly comment on the situation, let alone call for the race to be boycotted, but some insiders do believe there is a strong chance the race will be called off.
For the teams and other stakeholders in F1, such as sponsors and suppliers, it is not so much a question of the lack of human rights in Bahrain per se. After all, it is far from the only grand prix venue where there are concerns on that subject; indeed, very few countries have blemish-free records.
Nor, assuming the situation in Bahrain does not escalate, does it seem there is a serious concern that the safety of personnel who would attend the race would be threatened.
Of greater relevance is the effect going there could have on the organisations involved.
The big problem with Bahrain is that the race is so closely tied to the royal family - particularly the crown prince, the King's son. So it will inevitably become a target for protests - as has now happened with Bahrain Human Rights Watch linking the two things directly.
Last year, the opposition declared a "day of rage" for the date of the race, and some in F1 say they expect a similar thing to happen imminently for race day this year - 22 April.
Once human rights groups have linked the race to the problems in the country, it becomes very uncomfortable for the major global companies in F1 to be associated with it. For them, it would directly contradict with their global social responsibility programmes, which have become so important to many international companies.
This is one of the main reasons the situation came to a head last year. While the teams were careful to say nothing along these lines publicly, several of them let it be known privately to Ecclestone and the FIA that either they or their sponsors were not happy about attending the race.
Among those with the biggest concerns were Mercedes - which runs its own team as well as supplying engines to McLaren and Force India - and F1's only tyre supplier, Pirelli. Neither was available for comment on Monday.
I'm told, though, that these two, among others, remain concerned about holding a race in 2012. If Mercedes were to decide not to go, that would mean a grid shorn of six of its 24 cars. If Pirelli followed suit, no-one could race.
It is unlikely to come to that, of course.
One insider said that, of those with the power to do so, no-one wants to call the race off, as whoever does will be out of pocket.
If Ecclestone or the FIA jump first, the Bahrainis don't have to pay their race fee, whereas if the Bahrainis themselves decide to call the race off, F1 gets to keep the cash. And when it is a reputed £25m you're talking about, that's a serious consideration, whoever you are.
Last year, it was Bahrain who ultimately made the call - after it became clear that there was a serious threat of a boycott if they did not.
Will it get that far this time? No-one knows, but Ecclestone is unlikely to be in any hurry to move the situation along.
What would you do if trouble did flare up in February or March, I asked him in Brazil.
"I'd wait and see what happened and then decide," he replied. "Up to now they [the Bahrain royal family] have done everything they said they were going to do."
The next two months are likely to be a game of brinksmanship over who blinks first, with quiet diplomacy taking place behind the scenes. Whatever solution is found is unlikely to be a quick one.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/01/protests_raise_fresh_concerns.html
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