Rememberance Day Vox Pop

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Manor GP To Be Rebranded As Virgin Racing

Before Manor GP can even line up on the grid for the first race in Bahrain in March, they are set to be taken over by the global giant Virgin.

It was announced on Monday by the FIA when they released the entry list for 2010, before being officially announced by Manor boss John Booth and Virgin chief Richard Branson on Tuesday.

Rebranded as Virgin Racing, they join fellow newcomers Lotus F1 Racing, US F1 and Campos Meta. Filling all 12 available gird spaces for next season.

Virgin, who recently sponsored the championship team Brawn GP, have said that they aim to sponsor the underdog. Will this season be a mirrored reflection of the success Brawn had this season?

F1 Provisional Race Calendar

1. Bahrain Grand Prix (Sakhir) 12-14 Mar

2. Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne) 26-28 Mar

3. Malaysian Grand Prix (Kuala Lumpur) 02-04 Apr

4. Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai) 16-18 Apr

5. Spanish Grand Prix (Catalunya) 07-09 May

6. Monaco Grand Prix (Monte Carlo) 14-16 May

7. Turkish Grand Prix (Istanbul) 28-30 May

8. Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal) 11-13 Jun

9. Europe Grand Prix (Valencia) 25-27 Jun

10. British Grand Prix (Silverstone) 09-11 Jul

11. German Grand Prix (Hockemheim) 23-25 Jul

12. Hungarian Grand Prix (Budapest) 30 Jul- 01 Aug

13. Belgium Grand Prix (Spa_Francorchamps) 27-29 Aug

14. Italian Grand Prix (Monza) 10-12 Sep

15. Singapore Grand Prix (Singapore) 24-26 Sep

16. Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka) 1-3 Oct

17. Korean Grand Prix (Korea) 15-17 Oct

18. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina Circuit) 29-31 Oct

19. Brazilian Grand Prix (Sao Paulo) 12-14 Nov

F1 Gossip Update

• Renault are currently looking for an escape plan to leave to F1 as a constructor before the 2010 season starts. They are actively searching high and low for potential buyers, with David Richard’s Prodrive among contenders. Renault would continue as an engine supplier.
• Nick Heidfeld is confident he will find a competitive seat for next season as the identity of the driver who will occupy the second seat at Mercedes continues.
• Volkswagen have played down rumors that they are entering the sport in 2012.
• Gary Paffett put McLaren at the top of the time sheets on the second day of F1’s young driver tests at Jerez.

Canada Is Back On The Calendar

The Canadian Grand Prix is to make a return to Formula 1 next year after a year out. A major financial deal was struck to keep the event in Montreal.

The race was absent from this season’s calendar due to a lack of funding and a dispute between local authorities and F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. But an investment of £8.5 million from both the Canadian Government and Montreal’s tourism board will see the race being held at Montreal for the next five years.

Montreal’s Minister of Tourism, Nicole Menard, said “The Grand Prix of Canada has more impact on the tourist industry than any other sports event in Canada. Of the 300,000 spectators at the competition, 25% come from outside Quebec.”

The race has been held at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve since 1978. Both Lewis Hamilton and Robert Kubica have both won maiden victories there.

Formula 1 Update

Current gossip surrounding the Formula 1 pit lane:

• The saga of the seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher’s return took another set back. It emerged yesterday that Ferrari, whom he still remains under contract, have yet to receive any indication that he may consider racing for another team.
• Qadbak have withdrawn from buying Sauber from BMW, opening the door for American investors.
• Fernando Alonso has begun his first steps within Ferrari. He spent the last two days at the Ferrari headquarters getting to know the team and engineers working on next year’s car. Before leaving, he was given the chance to drive the new Ferrari 458 and a 599 around the Fiorano test track.
• Lewis Hamilton spoke to Germany’s Sport Bild magazine saying he is not worried about the abrupt relationship split between McLaren and Mercedes, as McLaren will still be using the Mercedes engine.

And finally…

• It is expected that Citroen are to announce the signing of Kimi Raikkonen for next season in the WRC.

Ford Fiesta S2000

While Ford do not have plans to build an ST or RS Fiesta, the S2000 is the next best thing. Built by the same division that built the WRC Focus, M-Sport, it will be the Ford’s first global rally car.

Ford are aiming to have the car ready to compete in time for the 2011 WRC season. The Fiesta will be eligible to enter national rally championships, as well as the S2000 World Cup and the IRC. The 2.0-litre S2000 will debut at the final round of this year’s IRC at the Rally of Scotland next week.

Under the bonnet a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is being housed. It will produce 280bhp while at the tops of its lungs at 8000rpm, along with 192lb ft at 6500rpm. It has also been fitted with a six-speed sequential gearbox and AP clutch to all four wheels, which will control the power sent from the engine.

As rally drivers are addicted to using the handbrake on tight hairpins to show off, the S2000 has a hydraulic handbrake to help in those hard hairpins. The car has multiple set-ups depending on the terrain; for example, on the rough gravel it will be fitted with Brembo 300m discs and four-piston monobloc callipers on all wheels, plus 15-inch aluminium alloys. But when on tarmac, the front brakes are upped to 355m and the wheels are raised to 18-inch magnesium.

To keep the Fiesta in touch with Earth, it has been fitted with adjustable dampers to keep them intact. All these gadgets and adjustments have tipped the car at the mandated 1200kg.

The WRC will be closing the doors on the big, chunky rally cars spelling the end of the Ford Focus and Citroen C2, but opening the door to small and simple cars in a bid to cut costs. Citroen are planning to build a rally version of their DS3 city car, but who else would you like to see revising their cars for the WRC? Renault Sport Clio? Honda Jazz? Fiat Abrath

Prices are yet to be announced, but plans from M-Sport state they are aiming to build 50 cars over the coming 12 months.

For a video of the S2000 in action, click on the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFsEwVMItpk&feature=related

Button Joins, Raikkonen Leaves

It was announced yesterday that Jenson Button has signed to partner Lewis Hamilton at McLaren next season.

It follows news that former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will not be driving in F1 next season, but to compete in the WRC (World Rally Championship).

Button, 29, left former team Brawn, for whom he won the title, described it as a “difficult decision.” But with new team McLaren, he will have tough competition from his teammate. Hamilton is regarded as the fastest driver in F1, having achieved a great amount in a short space of time.

Brawn GP, who have recently been taken over by Mercedes, made Button an offer that he did not deem acceptable. He took a pay cut to £3m to have a seat with Brawn at the start of last season, due to Brawn living on a shoestring budget. But McLaren, with all their power and money, persuaded Button to switch sides.

Button has said that the move was not about money, but about having a competitive car next season. But I feel it may be used as a scapegoat as his demands have risen. Winning the title has gone to his head and has now become drunk with power.

In other Formula 1 news, Kimi Raikkonen has taken a year out of F1 to focus on rallying. He made a guest appearance during his home rally in Finland this year, having set competitive times before crashing out. He failed to secure a driving seat with McLaren next season after making way for Fernando Alonso at Ferrari at the end of this season. McLaren was the only team that he had set his sights on as they were the only competitive team he thought he could win the title with. The 30-year-old attempted to sign a deal with McLaren, but his high salary demands meant McLaren could not afford to keep him.

A number of teams were interested in signing Raikkonen, but he was not interested as he saw no other team being competitive enough. He hopes to return to F1 in 2011, but again he may face the same fate to not finding a competitive enough team. Hopefully he does as he still has a lot of talent still left in him

Next year the driver’s line up is constantly changing with many rumours surrounding the pit-lane, it looks set to be an exciting season. Will it be an English 1-2 at McLaren, or will Ferrari make a comeback? We will find out in 12 months.