2005/2006 F1 News and Testing.

BAR Plan To Steal Secrets From Ferrari

BAR Honda have clearly stated that they will try to steal as much information about Ferrari through Rubens Barrichello as possible. BAR realise that Ferrari is quite likely the best team of all time and with their new signing, they plan to copy the Scuderia. This is what BAR Honda's Chief Designer Kevin Taylor had to say about Ferrari and Barrichello:

"The fact that Rubens has been working with the most victorious team in modern history means we'd be fools not to quiz him on what's made Ferrari so successful.

It's not just the design of the car, it's going to be on the way we operate. We'll listen to him to see if there are things we don't do that we should be doing. It will probably be the small detail stuff and that could make all the difference."

It would certainly seem that Ferrari was quite smart to keep Rubens out of the Ferrari or the BAR until 2006 as now he will not be able to inform BAR on Ferrari's most recent 2006 plans.
Click to expand...
 
New ideas for 2006 FW28

According to WilliamsF1 Technical Director the teams 2006 car the FW28 will be launched late January or very early February. After a difficult 2005 season the new FW28 will see the team move to Cosworth power and Bridgestone tyres. The new car will also incorporate several new components including a new gear box.

The move to Cosworth will see the WilliamsF1 team lose its status of a manufacturer supplied team but the WilliamsF1 team is confident that the Cosworth company is looking to succeed in 2006.

The move to the V8 format in 2006 will see Cosworth well placed as they have a long history of developing V8 engines.

Michael did admit that the success of the new Cosworth engine will be dependant on whether or not Cosworth can develop the engine over the course of the season.

Michael said: "Cosworth should be in a good position for the start of next year. Then it will depend on what they can bring to its development programme compared to the big manufacturers.

Michael added that Cosworth was looking at achieving success in their collaboration with the WilliamsF1 team. Cosworth are looking to win with their new engine.

Michael added: "Don't underestimate Cosworth's motivation. It's a strong and determined company that has taken a lot of flak, and 2006 is its opportunity to get back at the top. If (they) didn't have that attitude, we wouldn't have gone with them.'

The team will have their first opportunity to test the new V8 engine and Bridgestone tyres when the return to a "busy winter test schedule" on the 29th November at Barcelona. The team will be using a modified 2005 car.

As for the new FW28 the team is working on the design in their new wind tunnel. Michael aid that the new car could have several new features to its design.
Click to expand...
 
hmm.. looks like one or two naughty people on here tonight! i'm not surprised karthikeyan's given up on a drive, he really was terrible, only one decent effort and that was japanese qualifying. Didnt realise monteiro only retired once last season, that really is damn impressive!
 
BRDC confirms Silverstone bids

In a letter to its members, the British Racing Drivers' Club has confirmed that it is considering nine bids regarding the massive redevelopment plans for Silverstone.

The letter, from Stuart Rolt, Chairman, and Sir Jackie Stewart, President, is shown below:

"Dear Member,

Project Hill is proceeding well and we wanted to update you on the progress.

Over the last two weeks we have had a good response from developers wanting to put in bids. The revised deadline was 28th October and KPMG have now received nine firm bids.

The Board's Project Hill Committee will meet on Friday 4th November to review the position and decide on a short list of three or four developers who will be invited to make presentations to the Committee in the near future. The Committee will then report back to the Board, hopefully at its meeting in late November. This will enable the Board to decide which, if any, of the bids meets our financial criteria and the overall objectives of the Club.

If the Board decides that one or more of the bids satisfy our objectives, it will authorise the Project Hill team to move ahead and refine a proposal, which can subsequently be assessed by the Board for submission to members for consideration. In the meantime our focus is on getting a detailed understanding of who is offering the Club the best proposal. Every bid is different and we will have our work cut out in the next three weeks to sort out the most attractive proposals."
Click to expand...
 
He'll certainly be too late to make major changes to the RBR2, maybe a 2B mid season but I would put more money on him spending this year sorting the design department into something that will produce a good 2007 car.

I don't see him going on gardening leave, McLaren have been planning for his departure since he first mentioned a desire to move on and he's not been particularly hands on of late so gardening leave may not be necessary.
 
Newey's working at McLaren until the end of January...

Strange - as McLaren had a contract with him for 2006 - so I wonder whats happened to that?

As for other racing...Anyone want me to do a GP Masters thread?

Simon/~Flibster
 
Dutch Guy said:
What you want, maybe first see if it is interesting and then decide?

And maybe you want to watch a race for a change instead of typing all the time ;)
Click to expand...

Touch typing. ;)

Usually sat on my arse with the keyboard on my lap watching the tv. :D

Simon/~Flibster
 
Toyota sign Bridgestone contract

The Toyota F1 team will join Williams in switching to Bridgestone tyres from Michelin next season.

Toyota, who were fourth in this year's championship, have agreed a long-term deal with the Japanese tyre company.

Bridgestone now has three strong teams after relying on Ferrari to do the bulk of its testing in recent years.

Toyota boss Tsutomu Tomita said: "We are serious about winning in F1 and we feel the switch to Bridgestone is the best option in the medium-long term."

Bridgestone struggled in 2005, winning only the six-car US GP which turned into a fiasco after Michelin-equipped teams withdrew for tyre safety reasons.

The FIA has changed the rules for 2006, however, with tyre changes allowed again after a year in which teams were forced to make tyres last for both qualifying and the race.

Bridgestone were dominant with Ferrari in 2004, when frequent tyre changes turned races into a series of sprints.

F1 is also due to have a single tyre supplier from 2008, and possibly 2007 if an 80% majority of the sport's technical working group can agree on a package of measures by the end of this year.

Bridgestone have said it is committed to F1 while French rivals Michelin have criticised the rule changes and hinted it could quit in 2007.
Click to expand...

No surprise there tbh.
 
Rossi tests with Ferrari again

The will he/won't he saga that is Valentino Rossi's switch to four wheel racing with Ferrari, takes a new twist with the news that the Moto GP legend is currently testing for Ferrari.

Following claims that Rossi is considering a switch to F1 in 2005 - with some sections of the media claiming that he is to partner Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari - there was a spat of further reports and denials.

No sooner had Ross Brawn 'confirmed' that Rossi would take part in regular test for the Maranello outfit, Rossi was denying both the tests and claims that he was even switching to four wheels.

Now however, Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Rossi is taking part in three days of testing for the Italian team at Fiorano and Mugello.
Click to expand...

I think the report meant to say 2007 instead of 2005...

The more he's testing I'm getting the feeling that he's getting used to the cars before making his mind up - he has got enough testing miles under his belt to get a superlicence though.
 
Flibster said:
I think the report meant to say 2007 instead of 2005...

The more he's testing I'm getting the feeling that he's getting used to the cars before making his mind up - he has got enough testing miles under his belt to get a superlicence though.
Click to expand...

From Crash.net

While most of his MotoGP rivals were suffering cold and wet weather during testing at Valencia in Spain, world champion Valentino Rossi has been back behind the wheel of a Ferrari Formula One car in Italy.

Rossi is reported to have spent Wednesday driving an F2004 at Fiorano, scene of his previous Ferrari outings, before moving to Mugello - home of the Italian Motorcycle Grand Prix - and a 'proper' racetrack, today (Thursday).

The seven-times motorcycling world champion is reported to have trimmed his Fiorano best lap time down to around 58secs, during his 40 Wednesday laps, which is approximately two-seconds from seven-times F1 world champion Michael Schumacher's lap record.

No times have yet been released for Rossi's Thursday Mugello outing, but many are eager to see just what 'The Doctor' can do around such a challenging race track - which, unlike Fiorano, he knows well from his two-wheeled exploits.

Rossi is set to continue testing for Ferrari on Friday, again at the Ferrari owned Mugello circuit, where Schumacher recently made his MotoGP debut on a Ducati Desmosedici.
Click to expand...

Guess Michellin are being good sports in allowing Rossi to use Bridgestone tyres, the first test Rossi did with Ferrari, they spat there dummy slightly due to the tyre issue.

Dont know i'd like Rossi to go F1, he's too much of a showman for the F1 paddock.

Robb
 
Tell you what.....

Browsing on my XDA Exec is superb. :)

Will be doing the GP Masters thread soon.

Got a load of cool stuff together for it. :D

Simon/~Flibster
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom