2005/2006 F1 News and Testing.

[Flibster]

Damn....someone beat me to the 1337 post..

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

Plus they'd have to fit the V8 to it as they're not allowed to run the V10's
V8 has proven to be hot *see Red Bull* and vibrates like hell...

But to be honest - they've wasted their time with the F2004...

They'd have been better rolliing the 248 out earlier and running it near on 24x7 - like they did with the F2004 when it was launched.

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

F1 fever hits the streets of Bahrain

With just over two weeks to go no one could accuse the Bahrain International Circuit of resting on its laurels in the run up to the third Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

The promoters of the opening round 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship have gone all out to take the passion and excitement of the forthcoming event to the people of Bahrain and the surrounding region. This Friday (24th February) will see the one of Bahrain’s most prominent roads, the seafront boulevard of the King Faisal Highway in Manama, play host to the Yalla Bahrain! F1 Festival.

The event will be based around three activities, the highlight of these being the BIC street parade along the highway. Spectators at the event will be treated to a thundering cavalcade made up of some of motorsport’s most exciting cars from Porsche SuperCup GT3s to flame-spitting Holden V8s, Formula BMW single-seaters and Thunder Arabia training cars. The racers will be joined by Harley Davidson motorcycles, Hummer 4x4s and Apache buggies in the 1.5km parade.

The action begins at 3.45pm along a course running from the King Faisal Highway/Crown Plaza junction past the newly-built World Trade Centre and ending at one of Bahrain’s most recent and most exciting developments, the Bahrain Financial Harbour.



The action on the ground will then be paralleled in the air as the world famous Red Bull Flying Bulls stunt planes take to the skies above the Manama coastline to perform their death-defying aerobatics for the crowds below. The air display will be closely followed by a musical firework extravaganza.

Martin Whitaker, General Manager of the BIC commented: “Bahrain is one of only 16 countries in the world to have the honour of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix this year. Not only are we hosting a race but we are opening the series, an event that regularly attracts up to 400million viewers around the world.

“Formula One presents a unique opportunity to harness the minds of the world’s opinion leaders and formers and as a result the continued developments throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain are set to shine as the world’s attention is turned to the start of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship at the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. The main objective behind all of our Yalla Bahrain! events in the run up to the Grand Prix is to really bring motorsport to life for the people of Bahrain, what better way to do this than with the F1 Festival?”

 

[Flibster]

Webber fastest at a rain hit Barcelona

Mark Webber topped the times on a rain-affected opening day of testing at Barcelona on Tuesday.

The Australian clocked a 1m17.676s best in the morning before the clouds deposited their contents on the Circuit de Catalunya and precluded any improvements.

Webber’s speed was another indication of the potential of the Williams-Cosworth package, although team-mate Nico Rosberg suffered an engine blow-up and, having spent the morning practising starts, did not set a representative time.

Kimi Raikkonen was a close second fastest in the McLaren MP4-21, but team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya was delayed by a gearbox problem and only managed 22 laps en route to the fifth quickest time.

Red Bull Racing test driver Robert Doornbos was third quickest in the RB2, but the team admitted it was not setting much store by times today.

“Putting distance on the car was more of a priority than development today,” said chief test engineer Ian Morgan.

“As we have done quite a bit of running in the wet already, we decided it was not really worth going out [in the afternoon].

“Although we did do a couple of laps at the end of the day, just to check some new software.”

Tiago Monteiro posted the fourth best time in the Midland M16, but all eyes this morning focused on the Super Aguri squad, which had its first public outing.

In the event, a hydraulics problem in the morning and the inclement weather in the afternoon conspired to prevent Takuma Sato completing more than 10 laps.

The elements were no less of a factor at Imola, where Scuderia Toro Rosso’s work was hampered by intermittent, on-off rain – although it was all good experience for rookie Neel Jani.

“It was quite a useful day in a way, as Neel had never really handled an F1 car in the wet,” said chief engineer Laurent Mekies.

“He never made a mistake and drove on both the ‘wet’ and ‘extreme wet’ tyres and that will be a valuable experience for him if he encounters these conditions during the season.”

[b]Pos	Driver		Car			Time		Gap		Laps[/b]
1.	M. Webber	Williams Cosworth FW28	1'17"699	(+0"000)	45 laps
2.	K. Raikkonen	McLaren Mercedes MP4/21	1'17"790	(+0"091)	59 laps
3.	R. Doornbos	Red Bull Cosworth RB2	1'18"439	(+0"740)	46 laps
4.	T. Monteiro	MF1 Toyota M16		1'18"717	(+1"018)	59 laps
5.	J.P. Montoya	McLaren Mercedes MP4/21	1'18"875	(+1"176)	22 laps
6.	T. Sato		Super Aguri Honda SA05	1'30"244	(+12"545)	8 laps
7.	N. Rosberg	Williams Cosworth FW28	1'37"188	(+19"489)	16 laps

[i]Note:  Rosberg's best time was set in the wet[/i]

 

[Flibster]

That Cosworth engine appears to be a little gem at the moment to be honest.

Wether it can keep up with the factory guys when it comes to development is another matter though.

But it just goes to show how good the DFV really was..It's the basis for this engine...massively overengineered.

Couple of wins this year would be a fitting tribute to Keith Duckworth I think. However I'm not sure that the car is that capable though with the performances that Honda and Renault are putting in at the moment...but as is always said - this is testing...

We'll find out the true form in 17 days...

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

Montagny considered for third Aguri seat

Former Renault test driver Franck Montagny is being considered by the new Super Aguri team for the role of third driver, autosport.com has learned.

The Frenchman left Renault at the end of 2005 and has been pursuing a racing seat in the Champ Car series.

However, despite setting impressive times in testing for the PKV team at Sebring last month, autosport.com understands that PKV are now looking for a more experienced Champ Car driver to partner their recent signing, rookie Katherine Legge.

Super Aguri, who will make their Formula One debut at Bahrain, have already confirmed last week that Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide will be the team's race drivers for 2006.

This leaves the team with a free seat for the test and reserve driver, as the team are eligible to run a third driver in Friday's practice sessions.

Super Aguri's managing directory Daniel Audetto has confirmed the team contacted Montagny but said the Frenchman is one of a few candidates - with no decision yet made on who to sign.

"I know Franck from my days at Renault," Audetto, who worked at Renault F1 as business development director, told autosport.com. "He is a good driver and a friend, so when we reviewed our options for a good development driver, we naturally contacted him.

"But we have not yet made a decision, and Franck is one of several options we are currently considering. Our first priority is to have a Japanese driver, but it's not very easy...so we are considering other options. And Franck could be suitable. We'll see."

Audetto said the team were under no hurry to decide on a third driver, despite there being only two weeks before the first race.

"We may decide to start the season without a third driver," Audetto explained. "We don't have to run a third driver, and it's not on the top of our priorities right now."

 

[Flibster]

Schu plays down '248' car's flaws

Michael Schumacher has played down recent technical problems with the 2006 Ferrari, insisting that the '248' has shown an impressive turn of speed in very recent days.

On the last day of Bahrain testing on Tuesday, the German - now showing off the car's definitive bodywork - clocked a very notable time, even though he only managed 55 laps.

"It hasn't run completely smoothly," Schumacher, 37, admitted, "and we would have like some more laps. "But many teams deal with these things at this time of year. On the bright side, our speed is really encouraging, and we hope to continue like this at Mugello. "I think we have a better package than we did last year."

 

[Flibster]

Kimi rejects $72m McLaren deal

According to reports in the Finnish press, Kimi Raikkonen has turned down a whopping $72 million deal to stay at Ron Dennis' McLaren team.

The reportedly rejected contract, which would have seen the 26-year-old Finn earn $24m per year until the end of 2009, will only intensify speculation that Raikkonen is already (secretly) committed to switch to the Ferrari team in 2007.

But his reluctance to pen a new Woking pact might also be linked with McLaren's less than shining winter season, not to mention his apparent irritation at Dennis' decision to already sign up world champion Fernando Alonso.

 

[Flibster]

This is kind of worrying...

Terror alert for Bahrain

Australians, like Williams' Mark Webber or Sam Michael, have officially been told to stay away from the scene of the 2006 season opener, in Bahrain.

The renewed warning of the country's federal 'Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade', mirroring a similar American alert, said there is a 'high threat of terrorist attack' in the small Arab island nation.

'We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against Western interests in the region,' read the DFAT alert.

It continued, singling out 'outdoor recreation events' as possible targets: 'These attacks could occur at any time and could be directed against any locations known to be frequented by foreigners.'

'Deutsche Presse-Agentur', however, quoted a Bahraini official as downplaying the warnings, noting that the alerts are not new and are based on assessments of the entire Middle East region.

 

[Flibster]

One F1 lap costs $1300

Each lap, a Formula One car chews up nearly $1300 (US), according to the analysis of a British racing magazine.

March's 'F1 Racing' put forward the staggering figure as the cost of fuel, tyres and brake wear over an average lap of a grand prix circuit, putting into perspective the argument in favour of reducing F1 track testing.

Team hospitality, however, is also a hidden expense, with Toyota and Red Bull both spending about $12m each year on entertaining eminent guests.

But while Cologne based Toyota's 2005 budget topped the timesheet at about half a billion, not every team made an imposing appearance in the magazine's investigation.

Now-defunct Minardi, F1 Racing said, recorded a total budget of just $50m last year, which is only a few million more than Ferrari spent on keeping Michael Schumacher on the books.

Renault boss Flavio Briatore denies, however, that money is the only recipe for success.

'We won the (2005) title with the sixth largest budget,' the Italian told Germany's 'Motorsport Aktuell' magazine.

'It is not just about budget, but efficiency.'

 

[Flibster]

Aguri Suzuki to call it quits in 5 years

Aguri Suzuki, the former Formula One driver whose new team Super Aguri will join the premier motorsport circuit from this season, said Wednesday he will retire in five years.

The Japanese star reiterated his resolve, however, to see his drivers stand on the Formula One podium in a few years.

"I am tired," the 45-year-old Suzuki said with a smile in an interview with a small group of journalists ahead of the F1 season.

"I will quit everything when I am 50. I will retire when I am 50," he said. "I want to spend my time doing other things."

His team is preparing to join the 2006 F1 championship with the first race set for March 12 in Bahrain.

Suzuki started in the 1988 Grand Prix and was the first Asian to stand on the Formula One podium in Suzuka in 1990 when he finished third.

Having finished his F1 driving career in 1995, he has shifted focus to developing his team Super Aguri, with selected drivers now competing in Japanese and US races.

Suzuki launched the Formula One team late last year under his Super Aguri project and signed BAR-Honda reject Takuma Sato and newcomer Yuji Ide, forming the first all-Japanese driver line-up in the history of the sport.

His drivers "will be on the podium in two to three years," Suzuki said, when asked whether he expected Super Aguri drivers to take such honors before his planned retirement.

Suzuki said he was long set on retiring at age 50, even when he was driving in Formula One.

"I always thought about what I would do next," he said.

 

[Flibster]

Sato praises Super Aguri's effort

Takuma Sato heaped praise on his Super Aguri team after completing their first public testing session in Barcelona on Tuesday.

The Japanese team, a last-minute entry for the 2006 championship, faced a race against time to start testing with their SA05 car, which is based on the 2002 Arrows A23.

After an initial shakedown in Great Britain, the Leafield-based squad made their first public outing yesterday.

The test was not without problems, however, as Sato first stopped on track after just three laps following a hydraulics failure. The Japanese driver then spun in the wet track, managing only eight laps on a day where the team were only aiming to check the car's systems.

Despite the difficult start, Sato believes the team's effort to get the car ready for the first test was praiseworthy.

"After all the effort put by the team, and the shakedown in the UK, it is so pleasing to be here," Sato told autosport.com at the end of his test.

"What I ran today is not the final package, so I really cannot say much about the feeling. Unfortunately the hydraulic pressure went down so I could not run as much as I would like have liked.

"Also the radio was not working properly. I could hear but they could not hear me, so it was a systems check. I saw how it was with the brakes and also with the steering. The team has some experienced people but it is still fairly new.

"I would like to give a big applause to the team for having run today."

The team will start the season with their current car, revised to meet 2006 regulations, but plan to introduce their own SA06 once the championship reaches Europe. It is believed the car could be ready for the Spanish Grand Prix, the fifth round of the championship, at the earliest.

With that in mind, Sato is under no illusions for the start of the year.

"It will be very hard," Sato added. "The 2006 package is not ready yet, this car was built in such a short space of time so the performance is not expected to be so good, so I really look forward to the new car."

Sato, who was left without a drive after parting ways with the BAR team last year, will race alongside compatriot Yuji Ide, who is making his debut at the wheel of a Formula One car today.

Sato backed Super Aguri's decision to sign two Japanese drivers.

"As far as Ide is concerned, we have never raced together," said Sato. "It is quite a nice idea to have a pairing of Japanese drivers, although he will have to learn some tracks this year, which may not be so easy."

 

[Flibster]

Renault duo hit trouble at Barcelona

The Renault team's first day of testing at the Barcelona circuit got off to a poor start when both their cars hit trouble on their opening laps.

World Champion Fernando Alonso stopped on track right at the start of the session, which had to be red-flagged while the Spaniard's car was towed back to the pits.

The second red flag of the day came moments later when teammate Giancarlo Fisichella's R26 also hit trouble on its installation lap, with apparent engines problems.

By noon, the cars had not returned to the track.

The Super Aguri team, who yesterday made their public debut, seemed to be enjoying a better day after Takuma Sato only managed eight laps.

Sato's teammate Yuji Ide made his Formula One debut in the SA05 car, the Japanese completing 12 laps before noon. He was over 11 seconds slower than pace-setter Jenson Button in the Honda.

 

[Flibster]

Standard ECUs take a step closer

The removal of driver aids from Formula 1 has moved a step closer to reality, with the FIA inviting companies to tender for the role of supplying standard electronic control units to fit to all F1 cars from 2008.

The switch to standard ECUs is a key element in the governing body’s new rules package.

Max Mosley believes that the move will reduce costs because manufacturers will no longer need to develop complex electronic systems.

It will also be popular with the many fans who feel that devices such as traction control and launch control reduce the level of driver skill required to succeed in F1.

Conversely, those who want F1 to maintain its reputation for technological excellence see standard ECUs and similarly restrictive regulations as a backwards step for the sport.

The so-called ‘gizmos’ were first banned at the end of 1993, but traction and launch control were re-legalised in 2001 because the FIA believed that the regulations banning the systems could not be reliably enforced.

But standard electronic control systems on all cars would prevent illegal devices being hidden within the engine software, and ensure that aspects such as throttle control and the race start were entirely in the drivers’ hands again.

Standard ECU proposals have often been floated in recent years, but today’s tender document indicates that the FIA is determined to make this measure a reality from 2008.

 

[Flibster]

Super Aguri to use revised aero package

The Super Aguri team plan to introduce a revised aerodynamic package for their SA05 car following this week's public testing debut at Barcelona, autosport.com has learned.

The Honda-powered squad are testing the SA05, based on an old Arrows chassis, in order to check the systems in what is their first public outing.

The car is running with an old aerodynamic package that autosport.com understands does not comply with the 2006 regulations.

But technical director Mark Preston revealed the team will test a revised bodywork next week at the Silverstone circuit, adding that only the current car's mechanical and electronic systems will be used in the first race in Bahrain.

"The systems car that we are running in Barcelona this week during our test does not have the definitive 2006 bodywork, this will be released at Silverstone next week," Preston said. "The systems car is exactly that, a systems car.

"It is running the full mechanical and electronic specification that will be taken to Bahrain. This gives us the maximum time in the wind tunnel to work on downforce."

 

[Flibster]

Imola revamp project making progress

The proposed changes to the Imola circuit were presented yesterday by German track architect Hermann Tilke at the Imola town hall, as the circuit moves closer to being revamped.

The track, host of the San Marino Grand Prix, is set to be updated in a 10 million euro project supported by the Italian government. Only five of the ten million will come from the government, however, with the rest of the funds coming from Sagis, the group which operates the circuit.

Tilke is expected to draw up the preliminary project by April, while the definitive one will be ready in June.

The plan could see the circuit becoming much faster thanks to a proposed straightening of its Variante Bassa chicane. A new, larger paddock space and improved facilities are also included in the project.

The Agip grandstand next to the Variante Bassa will be demolished to allow the construction of 30 new pits with hospitality on top. The old garages will be rebuilt to constitute the new media centre.

The plan has received the approval of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It's an interesting project, which has already had the all clear by the FIA, and is part of the objectives stated by a Government's decree which allocates ten million euros for it," said Imola mayor Massimo Marchignoli.

"The works will have to end within six months, in time for the F1 Grand Prix next year."

Imola will host this year's San Marino Grand Prix on 24th April.

NOOOOOOOOO

Not Tilke...

Anyone but Tilke... *or preferably dropping the track altogether.. *

 

[Flibster]

Imola lost it's soul after the changes to it for 1995...it's now a shadow of it's former self.

To quote Highlander *which I watched last night*

It's better to burn out than to fade away!

Imola is defianately fading away...

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

Expressions of interest in 2008 F1 electronics

In readiness for the 2008 Formula 1 season the FIA is seeking expressions of interest from potential suppliers of electronic systems and component suppliers with a view to supplying all Formula 1 teams with a standard electronic control system and technical support for racing and testing as referenced in articles 8.2, 8.4 and 8.6 of the 2008 Technical Regulations.

The supplied system will be required to control the following:

An 8 cylinder engine, including single injector and spark plug per cylinder, one throttle actuator, pneumatic valve air pressure, two lambda sensors and two fuel pumps.

A 6 or 7 speed semi-automatic sequential gearbox and hydraulic multi-plate carbon clutch.

A hydraulic differential

An energy recovery system

A number of digital output drivers

The supplied system will be required to include:

Steering wheel electronics for switch inputs and driver displays.

Data acquisition and logging capability sufficient for all control, diagnostic and chassis performance analysis functions with fast data upload capability

An accident data recorder

A nominal 12V regulated car system voltage supply

A list of approved sensor and actuator types

A single infrastructure telemetry system

Those potential suppliers expressing an interest will be invited to submit a formal bid with a view to supplying the Formula 1 teams in accordance with a procedure which will be administered and regulated by the FIA. A dossier with a more detailed description of the technical requirements of the system itself and of the procedure for submitting bids will be sent to those who register an interest on or before 31 March 2006.

 

[Flibster]

What does it mean by "An energy recovery system"? Hybrid technology like in a Toyota Prius?

Mmmm...15mph Prius F1 car..

It's a technology that would allow heat energy that is produced in braking to be able to be stored and be able to release that as a power boost of around 60hp for 10 seconds *or something like that*.

It's not an easy thing to explain and I can't sem to find a good link at the moment.

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

Valencia targeting F1 Grand Prix

The Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia is aiming to host a Formula One Grand Prix in the near future, with members of the Valencian government having already met with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Francisco Camps, president of the Valencian government, met with Ecclestone this morning in London to discuss the possibility of hosting the first Formula One race in Valencia.

The Valencia circuit, which regularly hosts F1 teams for testing, will hold the opening round of the 2006 GP2 season - the only GP2 event not held as part of Formula One Grand Prix weekend.

At the end of the meeting with Ecclestone, Camps said that "Valencia would soon be able to host every kind of motorsport event available, from bikes to cars."

Camps added that the government "was on the verge of giving very important news" regarding its future.

"We are aware that Formula One is the maximum and that right behind it there's GP2," said Camps. "This year Valencia will host a GP2 race, and in a different way to the rest of the world - where GP2 is linked with the Formula One championship."

The Spanish Grand Prix is currently held at the Barcelona circuit, which has a contract with Ecclestone until the end of 2011.