Motorsport - All Comments

re: No sentiment as Super Aguri folds

Beowolf — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:28:26 GMT

Didn't want to crowd anyone out - but I liked Sato and Davidson, in that order as Sato has been in F1 a bit longer. He was an unpredictable driver, but the love for the sport was always written all over his face. And Davidson seemed a rock solid character too. What a shame! What a ferocious environment.

re: Toivonen's legacy

srvracing — Wed, 14 May 2008 03:21:17 GMT

Talking of past masters of that ilk...

I had the opportunity to meet with Michelle Mouton during her time in NZ last week. Fantastic interview subject, made me wish I had more knowledge in the motorsport field...

Clearly media savvy and could keep an Q&A going at the drop of a hat, but also from a less PC era in motorsport. Some great comments about modern WRC.

"Rallying these days is [mentally and physically] easier, you drive short stages and go to the hotel, y'know. We would come into Parc ferme very late at night and then Audi would have a car ready for us, we would go out again and practice for the next day, then we would sleep for 3 or 4 hours. Also, I'm sure the cars now are much easier to drive."

Her and Fabrizia Pons were here to compete in a historic rally, driving a BDA Escort of all things. Her first excursion in RWD since 1980 when she drove a Fiat.

re: They're all safety cars now

Beowolf — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:25:36 GMT

Hello again JJ.

Surely you don't think I LIKE the fact that these Formula 1 cars are effectively hobbled?

Yes, a HUGE part of me would like to see unrestricted engine size, big fat slicks and higher top speeds. In fact, ALL of me would like to see that. Though I reckon Le Mans would then be the place to be.

But watching the Isle of Man TT this year scared the crap out of me. And that was on TV! And the last day's events really made me question the sanity of it.

I DO come from the generation where I STILL hate wearing a seat belt. But I absolutely make sure my kids are wearing them.

Hope the next Grand Prix is more interesting, and they get rid of/upgrade the safety car/pit lane regs.

re: They're all safety cars now

JJBoxster — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:06:07 GMT

Saving Kovalainen's head and general safety is very important.. but you have to be 'careful' where you apply it!

If you apply safety, such as mind-numbingly low speed limits, to certain areas without understanding effects it can lead to increasing dangers (irritable/pushy or bored/inattentive drivers).

Despite lower speed limits and a huge proliferation of speed cameras the governments 'achievement' with their safety campaigns has been increased death on our roads. Are they not responsible for their miserable failures?

Similarly Top Gear 15yrs ago banged on week after week about safety ad nausium which led to viewers leaving in droves. And safety concerns led to this gentlemans agreement in F1 that overtaking aggressively is not PC which I believe adds to the boredom and viewers switching off.

Jackie Stewart was quite right to bang on about safety and his campaign has undoubtedly saved dozens and dozens of lives for which he deserves massive credit. Just be careful!

re: Toivonen's legacy

John McIlroy — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:46:35 GMT

Actually the ol' 'rally car vs F1 car at Estoril' thing is a bit of a myth. There was a shakedown stage on gravel for the Rally of Portugal which was similar in length to the F1 circuit; Toivonen's time on the shakedown stage (on the loose, don't forget) was no disgrace against some of the weaker F1 average speeds. The stage at Estoril didn't follow the same layout as the F1 cars, I'm afraid.

That said, you're not wrong about Group B cars. I had a run with Armin Schwarz a few years ago in his fully-restored Delta S4. On tarmac. On slicks. It was truly mind-blowing.

The pre-action conversation went thus:

"Armin, why is my head touching the ceiling?"

"Because the seat is very high, John."

"Yeah, but why is that?"

"Because the fuel tank is under it."

"Ah. Right."

"Don't worry. I have one under mine too..."

re: Alonso out on a limb

Beowolf — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:20:29 GMT

p.s.

So I did read all 115 pages of the FIA's 'Extraordinary Meeting of the World Motor Sport Council'. found here:

www.f1fanatic.co.uk/.../wmsc-transcript-13-09-2007.pdf

The first 20 pages or so are dense, but it picks up at the pace of a typical court-room drama. I might even go so far as to say I enjoyed it.

And while more fully informed in some ways I'm not much wiser: typically it still depends on what you choose to believe. But I will say I'm bloody glad Moseley is now in the doo-dah he is now in. It's sweet revenge alright.

If anybody else reads it, let me know.

Thank you gentlemen, for the debate that prompted me to find that edifying little web-link.

re: They're all safety cars now

Beowolf — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:08:01 GMT

I've been a big fan of Formula 1 since I was a kid, thanks perhaps to the very first xmas present I remember, a cheap, 1970 figure-8 slot car racing set! It was magic.

I've watched it on TV ardently, particularly since the early '80s - the Prost and Senna years were electric, as was Mansell, Schumacher and the Damon Hill years.

But it wasn't until a few years ago, when my own son bought me a terrific, encyclopaedically detailed book on the subject - perhaps the driest night-time reading I've ever endured - that for the first time I TRULY appreciated the sheer insanity of the sport right up to.... well tragically, Senna's death.

I'm sure I've got the precise details wrong, but hopefully not the sentiment: Didn't Jackie Stewart calculate in the '70s that over the next 5 years, over half of that season's grid would be dead??

All hail the scientists and engineers behind the scenes that truly brought Formula 1 from the ancient gladatorial arena to the modern age. They saved Kovalainen's head.

re: Toivonen's legacy

freudianskip — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:56:11 GMT

A bloke I used to work with lived in Windsor in the early 80s and got friendly with the two Finnish blokes living a couple of doors down. They were Henri Toivonen and Mika Hakkinen, and he still glows when he remembers night-time blasts around the local roads in Henri's only-just-legal Delta Integrale. He was an absolutely lovely man, it seems, and a real loss.

As for how fast Group B became - the 1986 (I think) Portuguese Rally had a special stage around the old Estoril circuit; Toivonen's time would have qualified him respectably for that season's F1 race at the circuit.

re: Alonso out on a limb

Beowolf — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:36:12 GMT

Sorry re previous post: can I delete it? Mistyped (or mispoke...) But was: gentlemen, good to meet you, then blah blah blah, which I deleted accidentally before hitting that button: apologies.

'...1. McLaren had A LOT more information about Ferrari than just the contents of their tyres , hence their $100m fine which they didn't even bother to appeal...'

I'd like to know more about the details... and googled up a download of a 115 page alleged transcript of the FIA Emergency meeting where it was discussed. WIll let you know if I get through reading it.

re: the timesonline link: '...We weren’t racing Kimi, we were basically racing Fernando.”

Isn't that the problem? Apart from it completely screwing up McClaren's year, isn't the basic problem that whether Dennis had a favourite re: Hamilton, they were BOTH racing each other? Alonso and Hamilton? Against each other? Right to the wire?

OR maybe Alonso wanted Hamilton to be hobbled so he wasn't a threat, despite quicker qualifiactions and race times throughout the year, whether thanks to Alonso's set-up skills or not? Ooops, no, Alonso should have joined Ferrari, and said his name was Schumacher, so Hamilton should have been treated like Irvine, Barrichello and Massa.

In retrospect, maybe it would have been better FOR McClaren to take on the No1 & No2 Driver mentality. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Better Alonso had won than neither. Right?

But tell me gentlemen, please, would you have preferred it if Alnso HAD been no1, and Hamilton no2? Do you think the racing would have been so... so honest? The year so dramatic, & controversial?

re: Alonso out on a limb

Beowolf — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:24:27 GMT

Gentlemen, these are my first few posts here, so thank however is a different story.

re: Toivonen's legacy

montgomery — Sat, 03 May 2008 00:45:08 GMT

Toivonen was a hero like G.Villeneuve... fearless and with talent to burn...

Maybe had they driven today their fearlessness wouldn't have been such an advantage as it was back then. I'm sure that drivers like Montoya and Alesi would have made a a much bigger impact back then when courage and car-control were all important. Nowadays it seems to be all about technical know-how. Show me an overtaking manouvre by M.Schumacher though to match Montoya's on him in Spa, Nurburgring, Interlagos.....

re: Alonso out on a limb

montgomery — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:52:51 GMT

I think Ferrari fully deserved the title last year. They stayed united as a team(unlike McLaren) and Raikonnen stayed commited until the last lap in Brasil.

But lets face it.... had McLaren backed Alonso for the whole season they would have won with 4 or 5 races to go. The idea of equal status is just and right but not when 1 driver is a double world champion and the other is a rookie... it's obvious that Alonso was bringinging more to the car's development than Hamilton. Obviously Hamilton is a massive talent and was a huge surprise to everybody, but Dennis should have waited a year to let him have a go at the championship. In the end he made mistakes which Alonso or Kimi wouldn't have made(and which he won't make again I imagine...).Dennis must be kicking himself though.

re: Alonso out on a limb

montgomery — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:40:56 GMT

Fair points guys. A couple of points though..:

1. McLaren had A LOT more information about Ferrari than just the contents of their tyres , hence their $100m fine which they didn't even bother to appeal...

2. Dennis basically admitted McLaren were backing Hamilton to beat Alonso:

www.timesonline.co.uk/.../article2617378.ece

re: Alonso out on a limb

Beowolf — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:51:27 GMT

Ta for the info. What I remember basically is along the lines of: Alonso and Dennis had huge row, where Alonso threatened to go to FIA. Dennis 'turned himself in' after being threatened with Alonso. But ready to admit at all times I have only the media to go on, and outside say column's such as Alan Henry's, I don't pay any attention to the Sports Press in 'regular' papers.

However I still think Alonso comes across, to me, as a sourpuss AND a primadona. I also think he has the right to be however and whichever way he wants. After all, Divas have attained a position of almost unassailable proportions, and have a certain 'right' to make demands. Like many world champions, Alonso has absolutely nothing to prove to people like me, so best of luck to him in the future too. Again, may the best driver always win. p.s. I also think Raikonen is sooooooooooooo dull and boring in interviews, which seems to contrast with his - as reported - 'playboy' lifestyle. But so long as he's driving great...

As I said earlier, I also agree with a great deal Montgomery has said ;-0)

re: Alonso out on a limb

The Colonel — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:46:47 GMT

"do you think he would have willingly gone forwards to the FIA IF he was leading and likely to win the championship?"

As I understand it, he didn't willingly go to the FIA. He told Dennis that he had potentialy damaging info, in the context of the FIA warning drivers about the consequeces of not revealing/being found out, and it was Whitmarsh that told Dennis that he (Dennis) must go to the FIA with the information Alonso provided. Alonso did not go knocking on Mosley's door.

OK, there may have been coercion in Alonso's intent but by then the damage in personal/professional relationships had been done anyway. FWIW, in my opinion, post that event was when Alonso put in some of his best performances.

I think Montgomery's summation above is spot on. Remember, it was Mclaren that chased Alonso when he was world champion for the first time, with a year to go at Renault, and he arrived with them as two-times world champ. Mclaren blew it, in more ways than one.