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Issue No 129

MONDAY August 15, 2011

CASEY RAMPANT

Honda trifecta in Brno

Is he oR isnt he?
Pressure mounting on the former champ

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ISSUE 129
EDITOR: ADAM HAY-NICHOLLS adam@hay-nicholls.com Assistant Editors Naoise Holohan, Kate Walker MotoGP Editor: Michael Scott michael@gpweek.com Rally Editor: Martin Holmes martin@gpweek.com Production Artist (Australia): Cedric Dufour, Asstistant: Callum Branagan Photography Sutton Motorsport Images www.sutton-images.com Keith Sutton keith@gpweek.com Publisher Chris Lambden publisher@gpweek.com
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Rumours swirl around Schumachers future

IN the past week, Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher has been on the verge of retirement, or committed to his F1 future and subject to misinterpretation, depending on your news source. The confusion over Schumachers F1 future started with an interview with Corriere dello Sport in which the German driver was quoted as taking responsibility for Mercedes lack of winning form, I arrived at Mercedes with a specific task: not winning at all costs but to grow the team, the German driver is alleged to have said. If anything, I am the problem it is a fact that I am a bit more relaxed than before and I do not know if my mindset is right for this team. At some point we will evaluate whether I continue or stop. But according to Sabine Kehm, Schumachers long-time press officer turned manager, the seventime world champion was not misquoted the quotes were completely fabricated. Since his return to F1, Michael has not spoken with anyone from the Corriere dello Sport, Kehm told German tabloid Bild. According to Kehm, Schumacher is finding added motivation in his current struggles (a statement at odds with this weeks opinion piece by GPWEEK editor Adam Hay-Nicholls). [Michael] is full of passion for the cause and continues to see the aim of building something big at Mercedes as an exciting challenge, Kehm said. The fact that can be tough only motivates him further.

>> F1 NEWS

Ferrari to swap focus to 2012 car after Spa

WHILE Fernando Alonso has vowed to fight for the championship until the end of the 2011 Formula One season, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali this week announced that the Scuderias focus would move to the 2012 car after the Belgian Grand Prix next week. Speaking at Wrooom Summer, Ferraris holiday camp and promotional event held at Madonna di Campiglio, Domenicali told the few journalists that were invited: At the start of September, we will concentrate solely on next year, because we have already defined all the updates for the 150 Italia, at least up until mid-October. Despite this public announcement of the teams intentions, Domenicali is not inflexible, adding that the team would adapt to the situation as the championship standings demanded. Sure, if something was to change, then we would react accordingly, he said. But the team principals major concern is giving his drivers

the best possible start in 2012. The team has had a slow start to the past two seasons, with star driver Fernando Alonso only becoming competitive in the summer months. Championships are not won when the competition has a three-month head start in the points table, and Domenicali aims to rectify this for 2012. In an interview with British newspaper the Daily Telegraph, Domenicali said that ongoing work on the current car would hamper next years campaign. If you have to do some fine-tuning you can do it, but otherwise you will lose a lot of time on development of the new car, he said. The more time we can spend on the wind tunnel the better. Because for sure what I really want to avoid is another difficult winter like the last two years. Last year, for instance, we had a fantastic second half of the season incredible and could have won the world championship. But this year we did not start so well. So this year our priority is to have a much better winter.

Short Straights
n With silly season firmly underway, Paul di Resta is the latest driver being lined up to play Fill the Imaginary Seat. The internet is aflutter with highly credible rumours that the Scottish driver will be Michael Schumachers replacement at Mercedes when the time comes for the seven-time world champion to move on to pastures new. While current reports state that di Restas Mercedes move is imminent, it doesnt take a genius to work out that the Mercedes Formula One team are likely to be interested in a talented young Mercedes-backed F1 driver. Before taking up his race seat with Force India this year, di Resta spent four seasons competing in Mercs in the DTM series, winning the 2010 championship behind the wheel of a 2009 AMG Mercedes C-Klasse. The only obstacle in di Restas way is Schumachers contract with Mercedes, which expires at the end of 2012. Of course, in Formula One, contracts are less binding than they are statements of intent. n Rubens Barrichello took to Twitter to deny media reports that his Williams future was uncertain. I saw some news saying that I wanted to stop racing, Barrichello tweeted. Makes me laugh really. All I want is to carry on racing. Working double hard to have a good car for next year. Problems do exist and we are here to solve them. Williams need me as much as I need them. And to be honest I told Williams that if they offered me a two-year contract that I would sign right now. Reports of Barrichellos likely departure from Williams stemmed from an interview in the German media that was highly critical of the F1 team. The Brazilian driver has now said he was mistranslated, telling Brazils Globo Esporte that an Italian translation of the German interview had incorrectly attributed the German journalists opinion to Barrichello before going viral. n According to reports in the Polish media, Robert Kubicas rehabilitation is going well. Polish journalist and friend of Kubica Mikolaj Sokol has said that the racing drivers recovery has been miraculous, given the severity of his injuries after the crash. Kubica is now able to walk independently, and has been undergoing regular physiotherapy to increase strength and motor control. The next stage in Kubicas recovery is an operation on his elbow, scheduled to take place in late August.

Concerns over proposed 2012 Indian GP date

Vicky Chandhok talks with Bernie Ecclestone

WHILE the provisional 2012 F1 calendar that did the rounds of the Hungarian paddock two weeks ago has yet to be concerned, there are concerns that the proposed date of the Indian Grand Prix could prove problematic. Vicky Chandhok, father of Team Lotus reserve driver Karun and president of the Indian Motor Sport Federation, is worried that a race in late April will be painfully hot for drivers and fans alike. Speaking to Reuters last week, Chandhok said that his main concern was the average 40-degree temperatures found in the Delhi metropolitan area at that time of year. I am not happy with April because its going to be hot, he said.

But if we have to go in April we will go. But I really think that the ideal dates for India are when its cooler. Maybe March or you go to October, November, December. Despite his concerns about the weather, Chandhok is confident that the Indian Grand Prix will be a success wherever it falls on the Formula One calendar. I have been to every single racetrack in the world, he said. Its going to be one of the fastest circuits in the world. [It has] a 1.2-kilometre straight and three corners that have now been redefined they are following the new FIA guidelines to encourage overtaking. I think its going to be phenomenal. There will be lot of scope of overtaking.

>> F1 NEWS

Pirelli to scrap hard tyre compound

ITALIAN tyre manufacturer Pirelli is unlikely to bring the hard tyre compound to any more races this season. Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery explained that, thanks to the durability of the revised medium tyre compound currently in use by the teams, the hard compound would not be needed in the second half of the 2011 Formula One season. I dont think well see the hard compound again, he said. I think its probably too hard and that the medium is proving sufficiently robust for the aggressive circuits weve still got to come. So dont think well be going the hard route. The announcement has led to accusations of Ferrari favouritism during the slow news period that makes up Formula Ones summer holiday. But while it is widely known that the 150 Italia struggles on the hard compound, the explanation for Hemberys reasoning is a simple one: the Pirelli medium is durable enough for the next eight races on the calendar, the bulk of which will take place in the warmer climates favoured by Ferrari. The 2011 season has been a learning process for Pirelli, who became Formula Ones official tyre supplier after a twodecade break from the sport. One of the lessons learned, Hembery said, is that the current medium compound would be better used as 2012s hard. Probably next season the medium will become the hard, Hembery said. Well probably slot something in between the current softs and mediums we want to keep about one second between each. The super soft and soft gap is about right to be honest, because youve got a 1s speed advantage but youve got a clear degradation and limitation on use. If we could replicate that now with a new medium and a new hard then I think well be well placed.

F1 to return to Mexico?
THE last time Formula One went to Mexico, Boutros-Boutros Ghali was United Nations Secretary-General, Milli Vanilli had just been named and shamed as lip-syncing pop frauds, and Nintendos SNES was launched. Weve come a long, long way since then. But talk of a Mexican Grand Prix is now gathering pace, following the success of Mexican driver Sergio Perez in F1, his countryman Esteban Gutierrez in 2010s GP3 championship, and the Saubers TelMex sponsorship, which sees the Swiss team funded by Mexicos Carlos Slim, the richest man in the world. Sauber is the F1 team leading the Mexican revival, with both Perez and Gutierrez on its books, and further sponsorship from tequila giants Jose Cuervo. In an interview with Reuters, Carlos Slim Domit son of Carlos Slim said that the concept of a rebooted Mexican Grand Prix was being studied. According to Slim Domit, the site ear-marked for the Mexican Formula One revival is Mexico Citys Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, which is currently used for concerts and a range of sporting events including baseball games and NASCAR races. The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez played host to the 15 Formula One World Championship events that took place in Mexico between 1963 and 1992, and was also the site of a nonchampionship F1 race in 1962. The track is not currently at F1 standard, and would need major redevelopment before it could be homologated by the FIA. Sergio Perez (MEX) Sauber C29. Sauber Demonstration, Guadalajara, Mexico, 26 February 2011.

Turkish Grand Prix not gone for good?

DESPITE its conspicuous absence from Bernie Ecclestones draft 2012 Formula One calendar, organisers of the Turkish Grand Prix are confident there is a place for them next year. The majority of F1 teams feel that 20 races is the ideal maximum. The logistical complications of travel, freight, and legal minimums for staff holiday plus the ongoing arms race for new parts and the need to design next years car while still racing the current model mean that a longer calendar would likely add to staffing costs, in addition to a range of organisational headaches. Ecclestone has long said that the 20-race maximum was negotiable, and organisers of the Turkish Grand Prix are hoping that the F1 supremo will put his money where his mouth is and return Istanbul Park to the 2012 calendar once on-going contract negotiations have been concluded. Speaking to Autosport, Ferruh Gundogan, a director at the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce said that his colleagues hoped to see their grand prix reinstated. Certainly we are hopeful about the 2012 Turkish GP, but it depends on the result of ongoing negotiations, Gundogan said. Actually, [the] ultimate 2012 Formula One calendar has not been declared yet. Negotiations between the Turkish Ministry of Sports and FOA are ongoing. It is hardly possible to say that the Turkish GP has dismissed the opportunity. Despite a lack of grassroots motorsport in the country, and ever-dwindling spectator numbers at the purpose-built Turkish racetrack, Gundogan was keen to emphasise the importance of Formula One to Turkey. As president of the investor institution, I paid effort to inform the Turkish government and audience about the importance of Formula 1, he told Autosport. Sharing the same objectives, the sporting authorities are in close contact with the Ministry of Sport and have high praise of Formula One racing. We are discussing alternatives to expand the commercial volume of Formula One as an incentive to settle negotiations, Gundogan concluded.

Buemi confident in Toro Rosso future

WHEN it was announced that Toro Rosso reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo had been signed to HRT for the duration of the 2011 Formula One season, rumours that both Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi were shortly to lose their seats died down. But it appears to have been a temporary respite, as Buemi is once again brushing off suggestions that his F1 future is not long-term. Both Buemi and teammate Alguersuari have long been subject to rumours of imminent replacement, but the Swiss driver believes that his impressive performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix which saw him finish in P8 after a P23 start was enough to secure his seat. Speaking to Swiss magazine 20 Minuten, Buemi admitted that his Hungary result enabled him to breathe a little easier during F1s summer break. The holiday weeks will now be bearable, Buemi told the magazine, According to the Swiss driver, team mate Jaime Alguersuari is the only driver with whom I fight on equal terms, and I always fight to finish ahead of him, both in qualifying and the races. In eleven races, I have now beaten him eight times, so its very positive. But its not quite as positive as Buemi remembers he has beaten his teammate in seven of eleven races, and Hungarys impressive display was the first time the Swiss driver has bested Alguersuari since Monaco. The young Spaniard has had an impressive run in the past four races, and one of the contributing factors to Buemis improved performance at the Hungaroring was the extra rubber he saved following a dismal qualifying performance and a fiveplace grid penalty that made wasting tyres strategically inadvisable. While Buemis strong Hungarian result has helped him relax during the F1 shutdown, it has not given him any more control over his racing future. I am under contract to Red Bull until 2013, so its not my decision, Buemi told 20 Minuten when explaining his confident mood. They are free to put me wherever they want in one of their teams. It is also possible to drive for another team, but the parent [company Red Bull] will have the final say. The guys have expressed their satisfaction with my performance so my morale is good.

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>> F1 NEWS

Rosberg highly critical of MGP W02

IN 1991, Alain Prost was famously fired by Ferrari for making too many critical comments outside the team, according to the teams then-manager Claudio Lombardi. Luckily for Nico Rosberg, the management at Mercedes dont seem to have the same hard-line attitude. While it has long been acknowledged by pundits and public alike that the 2011 Mercedes F1 car is not a race-winner, Rosberg told Spanish newspaper El Pais that no one could win with my car, a statement on a par with Prosts twodecades-old comments that his Ferrari was worse than a truck. Rosbergs interview with El Pais saw the German driver highly critical of his car, which he said was incapable of winning races. Asked whether he was frustrated that he was unable to deliver Mercedes one of the grids top five teams with wins and podiums, Rosberg replied: It is the situation I have to live with right now. No one could win with my car. There are three teams, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren are ahead of others. I have to wait to get a better car. At the end of this year, or maybe next season, I might be able to think about winning. According to Rosberg, his goal during the Hungarian Grand Prix had been a seventh place finish. With this car, to me seventh place is like winning, he said. But a seventh place finish is an ambitious aim for the Mercedes driver, and is only possible in a perfect race, Rosberg explained. I can only get seventh when I drive a perfect race, he told El Pais. Mercedes first effort, the 2010 challenger, was competitive enough that Rosberg was able to deliver three podium finishes last year. But his best result this year has been two P5s, scored early in the season. The problem, Rosberg says, is a combination of aerodynamic issues and the exhaust-blown diffuser, and the car needs a lot of work if it is to become competitive in the second half of the season. The cars general aerodynamics must be improved, Rosberg said. The engine is fine, but concerning the exhaust-blown diffuser, which is a key part of the cars overall aerodynamics, there is much room for improvement.

For your daily dose of Formula 1 news ...

11

Ducati ready to build UJM

DUCATI is ready to abandon its exclusive and innovative tradition, and to build a UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle) for Rossi, if engineers decide it is the only route to bring their star rider back to the winners circle. No metal has yet been cut, cast or bent, but a full-length aluminium beam chassis is one serious option, according to project leader Alessandro Cicognani.

Ducati is here to compete, and we will do whatever is necessary, he said. The company had already demonstrated that tradition comes second to the desire for victory, he said. We are a two-cylinder company, but to compete here we had to make a four-cylinder. Also we make the trellis frame, but to compete in MotoGP we changed, he said. We are evaluating every solution. In the end we must win, he said.

Rossi was reluctant to make specific predictions, but said that he and chief designer and director Filippo Preziosi had extensive discussions during the summer break: I explained the problems we have but I have no answer now. Team-mate Hayden however said: I know that an aluminium chassis is one of the options. The Ducati Desmosedicis chassis-less construction the

engine is the main member, with a small carbon-fibre airbox connecting it to the steering head has taken the blame for riders complaints about the bad steering feel and corner entry. But Preziosi is confident that the pioneering work will eventually bear fruit. I believe that we can make the carbonfibre replicate the flex of an aluminium chassis, he said. The only difficulty is how long it will take.

1

>> Moto GP news

Stoner prepares to back-track on Japan

But Motegi radiation controversy rumbles on
THE summer break brought a change of heart to Casey Stoner, one of the chief opponents of going to the Japanese GP at Motegi. At the German GP, he stated that he would definitely not go to the race. Now, after a chance to get more information, he was not so sure. Im not saying Im going, but Im not saying Im not, he said at the pre-event Press conference, as his Honda team management looked on. At the same time the other refusenik, Jorge Lorenzo, was also reversing away from his earlier insistence that he had no intention of going. I will wait some more, and decide, he said: a significant change of position. But while the pressure on these and all other riders to honour their contracts is growing stronger in the wake of the favourable independent report received three weeks ago, there was still no consensus at the riders Safety Commission meeting on Friday evening. Stoner at least had a cogent explanation for his position. My situation has been quite difficult, to be honest. Through the period after Silverstone I felt very strongly not to go, and it was set in my mind. It came from a very strong emotion, after we learned that Adriana was pregnant. I felt it was the best thing to do at the time, considering the risk to my wife and family. In the last weeks Ive taken a lot of advice from people I rely on in Australia, and now I am a bit more open, he said. Cynics suggested that some of the information he had studied might have been the small print in his contract; while Stoner added that if he did go, he would for once not be accompanied by his wife, who is normally at his side almost all the time he is not on his Repsol Honda. At the same conference, Lorenzo would not give a clear answer, pleading that he was just back from holiday completely out of my career. I will decide after the race. But he too was prepared to change his mind. Rossi, who admitted he had not read the independent report commissioned by Dorna, also said he would reserve his decision until next week; a comment echoed faithfully by other riders. But many, like Alvaro Bautista, admitted that they were under a lot of pressure from their teams not to abandon Japan in its time of need. The report said that the risk from radiation at Motegi was negligible, but fears concentrate on the chance of further problems at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, which is still not fully under control and might melt down. After the safety commission meeting, Race Director Paul Butler said: Riders are worried about what might happen rather than what is happening. They might as well refuse to race at Laguna Seca on the grounds that the San Andreas fault might rupture.

1000s are go
YAMAHA riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies were relishing the prospect of a first taste of their 2012 1000cc MotoGP machines the day after the Czech Republic GP, when their new machines will take to the track in public for the first time. It will also be the first appearance of the 2012 Honda, and Dani Pedrosas first crack on the bike, although Casey Stoner has already tested it in private at Jerez earlier this year. Ducati, however, will not be taking their

Yamaha joins Honda in revealing full-size 2012 machines

new bike out on the post-race gallops, having their hands full with difficulties in making their current machine competitive. I am very excited to finally ride the bike, said Lorenzo. I have never ridden a bike with so much horsepower. Teammate Spies concurred. Its a new chapter. I believe it has a lot of power. I know they are anxious to see my face when I come in. The Yamaha had been scheduled to appear at post-Mugello tests at the beginning of July, but was withdrawn days before, among rumours of reliability problems during bench testing. Stoner had his own reason for relishing the prospect, having already spoken of the pleasure of the return of wheelspinning torque and enough power to lift the front wheel even in the upper gears. I rode the bike at Jerez, which is not a track I like very much. Brno is one of my top three circuits, so I am really looking forward to it. The Czech circuit is faster than Jerez, with the chance to give a powerful bike its head.

1

HIGH SIDES
n New tyre rules came into force at Brno, with one more front tyre (nine rather than eight), a choice of three front compounds, and more freedom of choice in use of the two compounds of rear tyres (ten per weekend). In warm conditions, this proved enough to keep rider complaints in abeyance. n Lorenzo spoiled his race chances by choosing the softer front tyre, where almost all the others used the harder. It meant that after the first laps, his challenge was spent. It was my choice, the wrong choice, he said. The other heretic was Alvaro Bautista, who was battling Rossi when he crashed out. n Yamaha riders have been looking forward to engine upgrades after this race for the whole season. But they were told not to expect much more than a minor upgrade. We really dont have much to test in the way of new parts, said team spokesman William Favero. n Teams were on tenterhooks when bad weather was forecast for the day after the Brno GP when one of only three mid-season tests were scheduled. Our guys have requested that Tuesday should be reserved instead, in case Monday is wet, said Nicky Hayden. We asked for the same when there was bad weather at Estoril, but all the teams have to agree. On that occasion they didnt. n Loris Capirossi has deferred the important announcement he had promised for Brno. He was expected to announce his retirement, but said he will wait until the San Marino GP at Misano in three weeks before he announces his plans, giving rise to speculation that he might be planning to prolong his career still further. n German 125 star Jonas Folger was forced to pull out of the Czech GP after doctors ruled him out. The teenager has been suffering from an undiagnosed infection, thought to be Chlamydia, that has been increasingly debilitating, and his health had deteriorated so much during the break that he was ruled unfit to race.

Hopkins: the dream goes bad

HOPEFUL MotoGP returnee John Hopkins saw his dreams go bad on the second morning at Brno his third race meeting in three weekends when a straightforward crash gave him a disproportionate injury, forcing his withdrawal. In a second race on the Rizla Suzuki, Hopkins had placed an impressive tenth after the first two dry sessions. Then in the rain on Saturday morning, he lost the front under braking for the second corner, and slipped off. Stoner had already crashed at the same place in the same manner, emerging unhurt and normally Hopkins would also have escaped. But unluckily he caught his right hand as he slid into the gravel trap, and broke three fingers ... one so badly that any thoughts of carrying on were soon over. The first and second fingers were simple fractures, that the rider opined would not have stopped him from racing. But the third finger was badly broken. It has separated at the knuckle, he explained in gruesome detail. Hopkins achieved his best GP result at Brno, finishing second in 2007; and arrived with high hopes. I must apologise to the team for making such a stupid mistake. It was the smallest crash under braking in the wet, and as I slid along I kept my hand on the ground to try and slow me down ... but as I hit the gravel it dug in and mangled my hand right up, he said. There may be more wild card rides for Hopkins later in the year, but the team was unable to confirm it.

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1

>> Moto GP news

Rossi to Honda? Nonsense!

RUMOURS sweeping Italy that Valentino Rossi has approached Honda for a machine for next year had the rider laughing his head off at Brno especially since many of them had quoted his former friend and GP rival Marco Melandri. I have read the reports in Italy, he said, in response to a direct question, from my new manager, the Superbike rider Marco Melandri. He knows very well all things about my decision for next year. He continued in slightly more serious vein: It is not true. I have a contract with Ducati for next year, and I will race for Ducati next year. If Melandri agrees. Perhaps, this reporter asked, there was no smoke without fire. Was he perhaps planning a future exit strategy, for the year after next? Rossi shook his head: It is much too soon to think about 2013, he said. Asked whether the serial disappointment of his first year with Ducati had affected his motivation, he said there were times when he felt a bit frustrated, but when I get home, I always think

that we can fix our problems. If hope stops, then it would become just like going to work rather than enjoying racing. But hope never dies. As the weekend wore on and his prospects took a big step forward, his words were justified. But there remains the strong possibility that he started the rumours himself, as an extra spur to Ducati.

Sponsorship the key to Bradls MotoGP future

MOTO2 championship leader Stefan Bradls MotoGP plans are on hold, while his Kiefer team awaits a decision from sponsors Viessmann, a German boiler manufacturer. The team has an entry for a CRT machine for next year, but will not take up the option, after the disappointing testing debut of the Suter-BMW machine at Mugello tests, where rider Mika Kallio was six seconds off the pace. The alternative plan is to lease a Honda, with the team in line for a machine. In addition to the two Repsol factory bikes, Honda is expected to supply at least one more factory-level bike, for either Marco Simoncelli or Andrea Dovizioso, and possibly one for each of them. But HRC vice president Shuhei Nakamoto has said there will be no more than five machines, and the fifth is what the Kiefer team hopes to secure. They will know by the end of this month if enough sponsorship will be forthcoming. If not, then Bradl has already been in talks with the satellite Tech 3 Yamaha team, with both factories anxious to secure his services for the future.
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15

5 MINUTES WITH ...

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO
The former 125 champion is in his third year as a factory Honda rider, but finds himself as the third wheel in the Repsol team. He spoke with MICHAEL SCOTT
GPWEEK: So far, its been a pretty good year for you. ANDREA DOVISIOSO: If we think about the speed, and the level that I am riding and the level of the other riders, I think it is the best. But always in my career it is not enough. So I am always not happy enough, because the goal is higher and higher. The level is exceptionally high at the moment. For me its unbelievable. Because you have to make a good practice, you have to make a good start ... you have to do everything perfect, and then you still have to fight. And if you miss one little thing, it is very difficult. But I am happy to be in this moment. What do you need to beat the aliens. The speed of Casey is unbelievable, the speed and consistency of Lorenzo is unbelievable. Dani also, Simoncelli sometimes so fast. Every rider has a lot of talent in some special place, but during the championship, it is not just the speed you have to get the points in the races. If you see the speed of Casey it looks like he is much faster than the other riders, but it is not like this in the championship, if you see his career. You need many things, and you keep pushing. For example my speed compared with them, there is a difference, but I am third in the championship. If we improve a little bit in some place, we are there. We dont need something big. Just something small. Its unusual this year to have three riders in a factory team. How does it feel to be the third wheel on Hondas bicycle? To have team-mates like Casey and Dani is not the best because they are really strong, really fast. Anyway ... I am second in the championship of the three, and it is not impossible to arrive at where Casey is. A difficult situation ... but this is the race. Looks like next year you will be in a satellite team. How does the situation look to you? I think there is no possibility to have three riders in the factory team ... so there is the possibility to go to a satellite team. But with a factory bike and factory support? I dont know at the moment. I am still waiting some answers from Honda. Like Simoncelli. So we have to wait. Some say you are too sensible not crazy enough, like Simoncelli. How do you respond? If we look at the practice, yes. But Simoncelli did not beat me in a race, so ... Looks like for him in this moment its more important to make pole position or to be fast-fast-fast. Not so much the race result. Every rider has a different character and style. My style and character is ... smooth, so it looks like everything is not so fast, not spectacular. Are you very analytical? A scientific rider? Do you have a lot of technical knowledge? Analytical is my character. I think I have a good sensibility to understand, but the technical details inside the engine, no. I dont think that is important to be fast. The important thing is to give the real feedback to the mechanics. Many riders say blah blah blah, but not many times is it true. This makes the difference. My relationship with my team is really good. It is our third year together. My bike is really good this year. How different from the other Hondas is yours? I am harder on the brakes than either Casey or Dani, so I need more stability under brakes. If I dont have the feeling on the front it is difficult for me to push. For sure Dani has a different set-up from everybody. He is very light, so he needs everything much softer. I cant follow the other riders. I cant. I have a different style. I think it is the same for all riders. How often do you get scared in a race? Only when something happens. If you remember in Turkey in 2006, when Barbera and de Angelis crashed on the very fast corner. I was behind them. When something like this happens, I was really scared. When you are riding you cant be scared. If something happens to you, you can be scared after, but only after. How often in a race do you lose the front. Not too many times. For my style when you lose the front you cant be fast so I try always to have some margin before you pass the limit. The rear a lot that is normal for that to be sliding. You have been a father for almost two years now. Is it harder to race? It changes your thinking, but in my situation in a better way. Maybe because I am a little bit too young so I am not thinking about what will happen if something bad happens to me. So it just gives me more motivation, because when you have a daughter she gives you a really good sensation, and that can help you. Were back from the mid-season break. Any holiday tips for our readers? Whats your favourite holiday? I still need to find that. I made one week to Sardinia I think it is one of the best places in the world. The water is nice. I made a really good relax, which is important for our life during the season. But I dont like to do nothing. Normally my holidays are to do with sport, or to do something exciting. Finally, what was the last present you bought for yourself? Hmmmm. These new shoes. I love new shoes. These are Nike, and I decide the colour. (Blue.) I like shoes ... have no space for any more.

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>> MOTO CHAT

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Something to say? Email us at mail@gpweek.com

Email us

The Sky's the limit #3 ... Luckily the Germans are allowed to blast their free to air TV right across Europe (unlike the UK). It is easy to pick up German F1 on RTL (okay so you have ads) and listen to the commentary on Radio 5 and the timing on the internet.. Get back at Sky by using an old Sky receiver and dish and save 40/month. Bernard bernard@owenmail.com Renault on the edge? I guess the downfall of Renault continues. Now even the engineers are trying to downplay their very serious problems. There is an amateur video of the fire as the Renault came out of the pits in Hungary http://www.gpupdate.net/en/videos/1277/ heidfeld-suffers-fire-and-explosionhungaroring-2011/ and it certainly seems to be more than just a single body panel. The explosion was great. The pit exit lane was blocked with debris and they were telling the poor marshal to stand in the exit lane to put out the fire. Where was race control? Quite honestly the pit should have been closed and the Safety Car deployed. Glad no one was seriously hurt. Tony Bowker TonyBowker@aol.com Time to go ... Valentino? Wow, I have been watching Rossi's poor racing attempts (on Casey's race winning machine) all year with interest. I will always remember Rossi's 'Claytons World Title' when he ungraciously demanded the Oppositions tyre Stoners!!! As such I was always laughing to myself as to how long before he demanded a Honda. Well he did have half an attempt early in the season when he took Casey out and had half a sit on his Honda! But is Rossi so weak kneed now to grovel over to Honda? After all, he is getting (over)paid a mint to make the Ducati work again. Actually it should be Ducati complaining about Rossi's lack of effort and value. Maybe it is time for Rossi to go Rallying, and take M. Schumacher with him. As for the Pay F1, you Brits should just go down the local Pub and watch it. After all, 50 pounds buys a lot of beers per month. John Gray, Halekulani, Australia jjgray@live.com.au

TIME TO CALL IT
opinion

ADAM HAYNICHOLLS
GPWeek Editor

Im often asked why Michael Schumacher came back. Rust and the anvil of expectation stood against him. Pride and health were at risk, and for what reward? Money? Meh. Hardly needed. It was boredom, and the rare opportunity to make a comeback. When Michael announced his retirement, in the Monza press room in 2006, it wasnt a surprise but nonetheless I kept the press release for posterity. It was handed out by Luca Colajanni while Michael was still on his slow-down lap you could argue that was so there was no going back. Michael was in need of a rest, but retirement wasnt altogether voluntary. Luca di Montezemelo needed Michael to stand down to make way for Kimi Raikkonen. The plan was that Raikkonen would lead the team for a

lot longer than turned out to be the case, and if they wanted him they needed to grab him from McLaren now and no delays. So Schumi was paid off, in the form of a fairly meaningless ambassadorship that soon petered out. Michael enjoyed his first year off, recharging his batteries and spending time with the family. There were lots of toys to keep him occupied: A stable of horses, a Citation ready anytime, any place, anywhere, and a garage full of fancy cars and bikes. I even heard he has, or had, his very own Shell petrol station in the grounds of his Swiss chateau. I always wondered if it stocked Ginsters pasties. As one would expect, the flame of competition wasnt completely extinguished and Michael liked to take his Ducati to the track, even though he was no Barry Sheene. Of course, it was this activity or, more specifically, the cracks it left at the base of his skull which stopped him from replacing Felipa Massa following Hungary 09. Schumi was asked, and accepted, Ferraris offer. It was the perfect scenario for a comeback: A handful

Why nobody wants

MICHAEL SCOtt
MotoGP Editor
The reluctance to go to Japan is becoming harder and harder to understand. Everything possible has been done to reassure the rebel riders that the Motegi area is safe from any radiation threat. The word used to describe the danger was negligible. But the opposition is becoming, if anything, stronger rather than weaker. We know about the riders feelings. And we have seen them modified under the influence of their teams, especially the Japanese factory teams. Even the hitherto adamant Casey Stoner has now started to admit that he is not so sure any more that he wont be hopping on the plane to Narita Airport for the rescheduled race on October 2. We can only imagine the strength of the words he has heard from Honda, suggesting that he change his mind. Well, riders are riders. The sport wouldnt be much fun without them, but they are mainly young, and mainly so bound up with the

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opinion

>> GPWEEK OPINION

T QUITS
of races, a limited commitment, and the chance to help friends in the time of need. Everyone was excited, and no one more than Michael who, with the chance to jump back in a Ferrari, started to entertain thoughts of adding to his 91 wins. Of course, the doctors had bad news and the plug was pulled. Michael was gutted, as we all were. With reflection, one wonders if hed have done much better than Luca Badoer (subsequently dubbed Look How Bad You Are! and sacked) and Giancarlo Fisichella. Michaels ego said otherwise, and Id have agreed with him before he tried racing a Mercedes-Benz alongside Nico Rosberg. The offer came when Michael was still upset with his missed opportunity with Ferrari. How many 40-year-olds would get a second chance with the profile than one with the prancing horse. reigning champions? Only Michael. He Hell be starring in adverts for years to was also getting under his wifes feet. come. Talk to Mika Hakkinen, David He needed to get out of the house, and Coulthard and Boris Becker about the Merc here was a three-year contract offering gravy train its easy money. They were adrenalin and the spotlight, which he has wheeling Fangio out till the day he died. admitted he missed. The trouble with Michaels motivation Also, a lifetime ambassadorship with to battle boredom, to get out at the Mercedes, which Michael will surely be weekends and get his heart racing is that granted, is more valuable and higher its not enough. Hes not hungry. Sure hed like to win, but is he going to work every hour of the day on his training and mind management, with his engineers, and take risks pushing through every corner? Apparently not. Its alleged (though denied by his press officer) Michael admitted last week that his relaxed mindset is costing Mercedes GP: I arrived at Mercedes with a specific task: not winning at all costs, but to grow the team, reported a leading Italian newspaper. Meanwhile, Hamilton, Vettel and, yes, Rosberg do perform at all costs. Michael is about as committed to the corners as a Safety Car driver. No wonder hes being outclassed. Formula One isnt fun, its war. You dont do it for a laugh, you do it because you cant imagine doing anything else. And theres lots Michael can imagine doing, like posing on back covers beside an E-Class. Paul di Resta is primed to replace Michael at the end of the Germans contract in 2012. Clearly its in everyones interests to bring that forward a year. Give Michael a headset and a gold watch. Hell thank you for it.

to go to Japan
demands of racing that they dont have much mental energy left to think clearly about issues that dont involve tyre grip, engine response or suspension performance. Their refusal to take informed opinion on board can be indulged. What surprised me at Brno was how much other racing folk, the guys who work in the pits, are terrified of the prospect of a four-day visit to an area that has been declared safe. They have no excuse for not taking a grown-up view. I was being harangued by Rossis Ducati guys over the weekend. The strength of the invective was impressive. My mild observation of surprise at their timidity sparked off fresh waves of insistence: that the independent report that gave the track a clean bill of health was no more to be trusted than any other favourable reports, such as those from the World Health Organisation. Anyway, they said, the Japanese government was notorious for failing to keep its citizens fully informed. In any case, who could say that Fukushima might not go right out of control while MotoGP was in residence? (Or, to quote Chicken Little, that the sky might not fall in.) Elsewhere in the paddock came reports that teams would take not only all their food for the race meeting with them, but also all their drinking water. More alarmingly still, some had been advised not to shower while they were there. Im not so sure that their words are to be trusted any more than those of the WHO. The real truth is that the trip to Japan is exhausting and far from pleasant. Everyone is half-mad with jet lag, just for a start. Then theres the sterile atmosphere of a dull race-track. And the fact that there is hardly any accommodation nearby: its an hours drive to work in the morning, and home again in the evening. I wonder if these are not more tangible reasons for the continuing pressure to have the race called off.

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TONER S
ROLLING
Casey Stoners championship momentum is growing with every race Brno was an impressive win. The race was for second, as MICHAEL SCOTT explains

KEEPS IT

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>> MOTOGP BRNO

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OINTS leader Casey Stoner added direction, he said. I was quite worried at the yet more impetus to his drive to a start of the race. second World Championship with a Lorenzo led away, with the three factory sixth win of the year at Brno, and a Hondas chasing, Stoner behind Pedrosa and second in succession. Andrea Dovizioso. He had passed Lorenzo and The Australian stood atop an all-Honda Dovi when Pedrosa went down, handing him rostrum, with his closest rival Jorge Lorenzo the lead. He pushed, he said, harder than he (Yamaha) dropping to fourth. wanted to so as to get a gap ... to such effect It might have been fifth, had Stoners Repsol that he was five seconds clear by half distance, Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa not left the and still stretching. His lead was more than party early. Dani had qualified on pole and eight seconds by lap 17, and more than six at seemed set for a runaway when he took the the end, as he slowed to celebrate over the lead on the third of 22 laps of the 5.403 km line. circuit outside the Czech Republics second Behind him, Dovizioso took over second city. from Lorenzo on lap five and closed on Stoner A couple of corners later it was all over for only to have a major moment that dropped the Spaniard. Stoner had just moved into him back again. At the same time, Marco second, and watched along with a huge Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda) had joined them, crowd of 155,400 fans as the erstwhile having pushed his way past Nicky Hayden leader slid safely off into the gravel. (Marlboro Ducati) and Ben Spies (Yamaha) in It was a boost for Stoner, after a frustrating an aggressive first lap, making up for a slow search for the right settings. In warm-up we getaway from the second row. tried another change, but it was in the wrong The trio stayed together for a long spell,

Lorenzo nosing ahead for three laps at half distance. But the defending champion had chosen a soft front tyre, and after Simoncelli moved past on lap 12 he started to lose touch slightly. Simoncelli looked ready to attack Dovizioso, and expectations of drama were high. Then with five laps left Dovi pushed a little harder to get clear of the danger, while Simoncelli decided that a safe third would be better than (as he put it) doing another shit. It was his first rostrum, after a torrid first half of the year. Spies had been almost two seconds behind, while Rossi was chipping away in his wake after getting ahead of team-mate Hayden on lap two. Remarkably he had Alvaro Bautis as Rizla Suzuki on his back wheel, the Spaniard also on the softer front and riding a blinder. He was still hounding Rossi on lap 16 when the choice played him foul and the front slipped away and he fell. By the end, Lorenzo had closed again on Simoncelli, and Spies was just a second or so



>> MOTOGP BRNO

In warm-up we tried another change, but it was in the wrong direction. I was quite worried at the start of the race ... STONER

behind him; Rossi 2.5 seconds down. Some way back Hayden held Colin Edwards (Monster Tech 3 Yamaha) at bay for the whole race, a second ahead at the end, with Hiro Aoyama (San Carlo Honda) closing to within a second at the flag. The battle for tenth went to Hector Barbera (Mapfre Aspar Ducati), who had dropped back into the clutches of Toni Elias (LCR Honda) and Randy de Puniet (Pramac Ducati), Elias got ahead for a couple of laps, but Barbera nicked it back on the last one. Loris Capirossi trailed in a distant 13th. Cal Crutchlow (Monster Tech 3 Yamaha) also crashed; while Karel Abraham (AB Cardion Ducati) had yet another home-race nightmare, running off the track, rejoining a lap down, only for his engine to expire in a cloud of smoke. Stoner added 12 points to his margin. His lead over Lorenzo is now 42 points: 218 to 186. Dovizioso is third on 163, while Rossi moved up to fourth on 118 to Pedrosas 110.

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Brno: start of the Rossi revival?

ITS been puzzling and depressing to see Rossis struggles on the bike that Stoner could take to race wins last year. It looks as though the tide may have turned. At least it looks that way to the rider. The improvement came from a few detail changes to the front end from Ducati new triple-clamps revising front geometry, and some other unspecified bits. And a change from his team. We changed my position a little moved the handlebars up and forward. The combination bore fruit, in the wet Saturday morning session and in dry qualifying. Rossi ended up sixth, his first second-row start of the year. It went on in the race. Sixth is not his best finish, but the closeness to the leader was something new. The gap was 12.6 seconds, in spite of slacking off at the end. He was positively glowing with his improved prospects. We made a step forward from Saturday morning, in the wet, in the dry and also in race pace, he said. I think Ducati is very clever. Making some small modify with the stuff that we have, we improved a lot my feeling with the front. He could now brake harder and later, and feel the front tyre better. His race would have been better, he said, but I didnt make a good start, and made a mistake in the warming up procedure for the tyres, so I was in trouble in the first two laps. I lost more than two seconds. After that I made a race where it was possible to arrive on the podium or very close to the podium. We still have to improve, but we are closer. I was sixth also at Laguna, but this is more than double that result because the distance to the front is less. I gave up in the last two laps: if not I would have been 10 seconds away instead of the 30 of the last races. Unfortunately we still have the understeer, which gives some problem with acceleration. Did he still want an aluminium chassis? He didnt say no. For me one clever way is to work in two different areas. Try and

make some small difference to try and improve the performance of this bike, but also to concentrate on something different, to make another step further in the future. Watch this space.



>> MOTOGP BRNO

Big tracks make big races

The MotoGP race was won by miles, and there were not that many over-takes after the first couple of laps. But it was tense to the end, and nobody could say it wasnt worth watching. It made a nice change, after a number of sterile events in the last year of the unloved 800s.

Hondas domination gets stronger

HONDAS filled the rostrum at Brno. If Pedrosa had not crashed out of the lead, it is highly likely that Hondas would have filled the top four places. The last time the top three were all on Hondas was five years ago, at Laguna Seca in 2006. The significance of the date is simple enough. Back then, the machines were 990cc, and Hondas V5 was the class of the field, Rossis Yamaha prowess notwithstanding. The 800cc era began in 2007, and with it Hondas years of depression. First Ducati and then Yamaha ran away with the big prizes, while the worlds biggest motorcycle company struggled to pick up the pace. This was doubly ironic because most blamed Honda for pushing forward the change in regulations that killed off the 990s and replaced them with the neverpopular 800s. They were expected to be, as usual, the most ready of anybody for the new formula. The need to succeed in the class became more acute year by year, especially when its replacement by 1000cc bikes next year (real motorbikes, as some call them) drew closer. The engineering push started in earnest last year, and has continued apace. Its not just engineering, of course. The real key to success in 2011 has been the acquisition of Casey Stoner. Incumbent factory rider Dani Pedrosa was often fast enough, but fragile physically and also less than consistent. Its Stoner who has made the Big H big again. Today (Monday), the 1000cc Honda will be seen in public for the first time, but it is common cause that the bike will be impressive. Ducatis 2012 bike has also been out and been quick ... but not to the same scale as the Honda was at Jerez tests. The rivals are waiting in trepidation to see what they will see at the tests. And even if the bike isnt as amazing as the paddock talk suggests ... well, they will still have Stoner to make it so.

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125: Terol stumbles, Cortese wins at last

THE final two-stroke title chase took a new twist at Brno, when early runaway leader Nico Terol pulled out of the lead, leaving German Sandro Cortese to fight to the bitter end to take his first victory in seven years of trying. Terols Bankia Aspar Aprilia suddenly slowed on the ninth lap, while he was disputing the lead with Cortese (Intact Racing Aprilia) and Johann Zarco (Avant AirAsia Derbi). As he toured to the pits, the remaining pair remained locked in combat. It went all the way to the last corner. Cortese led up the hill, Zarco pushed inside into the last left-right fast chicane but Cortese held the position and was narrowly ahead into the second corner. Zarco tried again, but almost crashed as he ran over the inside curve. It meant victory was again denied to the luckless Frenchman, second for the last three races. But with Terol scoring zero points, he still closed to within 12 points of the Spaniard. There was a big battle for third, with six bikes whittled down to four as Efren Vazquez (Avant AirAsia Derbi) crashed out with six laps to go, and then Miguel Oliveira (Andalucia Banka Aprilia) on the last corner. The rostrum spot went to his team-mate Alberto Moncayo, from Hector Faubel (Banka Aspar Aprilia), Sergio Gadea and Maverick Vinales (both Blusens Aprilia). The quartet crossed the line within seven tenths of a second. Jakub Kornfeil (Ongetta Aprilia) was seventh, with his earlier companion Simone Grotzky (Phonica Aprilia) losing touch by the end, and in danger of getting caught by the next gang, led over the line by Zulfahmi Khairuddin (AirAsia Derbi) from Jasper Iwema (Ongetta Aprilia). Both the Indian Mahindras finished in the same pack and in the points, with Danny Webb 12th and Marcel Schrotter 14th. Terols title lead, vast after the early races, has shrunk to 12 points, 166 to Zarcos 154. Vinales has 132, Cortese 131, and the absent Jonas Folger 110.



>> MOTOGP BRNO

Moto2: Iannone barges the best

FAST wide circuits and equally underpowered motorcycles make for good racing. Brno proved the point, with a Moto2 contest that kept the tension crackling from the first corner to the last. There were five of them in it most of the way, though Thomas Luthi (Interwetten Suter) lost touch in the final laps. The other four were pushing, shoving and exchanging paint for the full 41 minutes and 13 seconds that it took for Andrea Iannone (Speed Master Aprilia) to get to the flag. He was barely a tenth of a second ahead of class rookie Marc Marquez (Repsol Suter), with points leader Stefan Bradl (Viessman Kiefer Kalex) three tenths behind, and JIR Motobi rider Alex de Angelis a similar distance behind him. The action started on lap one, when Bradl got away first, only for Marquez to crash into him on the third corner, which let Luthi ahead to lead the first lap. The leaders carried on in the same vein all the way, Bradl in front most of the time over the line, until Iannone pushed past for the first time on lap 13. The issue was in doubt to the end, with Marquez leading onto the final lap, Bradl third, and winner Iannone proving the toughest of the tough for his second win of the year. Aleix Espargaro (Pons Kalex) managed to nose alongside and minutely ahead of longtime group leader Esteve Rabat (Blusens FTR) over the line at the head of the next gang, with Dominique Aegerter (Technomag CIP Suter) and Simone Corsi (Ioda FTR) right behind. Kenan Sofuoglu (Technomag CIP Suter) dropped off the back of the gang for tenth. Randy Krummenacher was the first of several riders to crash, followed by Jules Cluzel, Max Neukirchner, Bradley Smith and several others. Bradls big lead shrunk slightly, 183 points to Marquezs 140. De Angelis has 95, then Iannone (91) and Corsi (91).

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Jaques Laffite recives many bottles of Moet Champagne from the then head of Goodyear, Paul Lauritzen, at the 1978 British Grand Prix.


>> FEATURE >> F1 FEATURE

CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA

Motor racings champagne-soaked celebrations werent forged overnight. Adam Hay-Nicholls charts four key dates that shaped the modern Formula One curtain call.
29

George Washington Vanderbilt III American yachtsman and scientific explorer - resurrects his uncles famous race, the Vanderbilt Cup. Run at the new Roosevelt Raceway on Long Island, Tazio Nuvolari climbs from his winning Alfa Romeo and steps up onto the podium to receive his laurel wreath and a trophy taller than himself. But he receives another gift too a chilled bottle of Moet & Chandon. It was the first time that champagne had appeared on the podium. Mr Vanderbilt was great friends with Monsieur Ladoucette, Moets US agent. Come to the race, said Vanderbilt, and bring some cases of your fizzy drink. Im sure the drivers will need some refreshment. Before this date, drivers had been more partial to a nip of brandy with a cigar.

October 12, 1936: Long Island, New York

It was the sixth round of the very first Formula One World Championship season, and F1 had come to Champagne. The wine growing families from the region all gathered at the Reims-Gueux circuit, eager to meet the drivers. The throng of VIPs, with names like Lanson, Mumm and Pommery, were hugely hospitable on their home turf, awarding grateful drivers cases of their produce. Monsieur Chandon held a large banquet at his chateau that evening, as did several of the other families, and drivers like Fangio were honoured to accept the invitations. It was there that lasting friendships were born, and a commitment to drink a certain label. And thereafter, Champagne always featured in the postrace celebrations, except for in Germany the Nurburgring was owned by the Prince of Metternich, who insisted the drivers quaff only his eponymous Seck sparkling wine.

July 2, 1950: Reims, Champagne

n Back in the 1960s and 70s, the champagne houses would offer up bonus prizes to the drivers: win pole position, and you and your significant other could win a weekend in Epernay and your weight in champagne. Bank the fastest lap of the race, and you would find 100 chilled bottles of the good stuff waiting for you in your hotel suite.

BONUS BOTTLES OF BUBBLY

n Back in the early 1970s, Moet & Chandon signed its first official supply deal with the Automobile Club de Monaco. But the agreement extended beyond podium refreshment because there was no hospital in Monaco back then, Moet stationed its Falcon 10 company jet in Nice ready to provide a medical shuttle up to Paris if needed.

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>> F1 FEATURE
It was a particularly hot day, and when winners Dan Gurney and AJ Foyt mounted the podium, the magnums of champagne at the rear of the stage had already sat in the sun for over half an hour. The wire cages had been removed from the corks already. As the silverware was being presented, one of the corks shot in the air with a bang, and the champagne spilled forth, showering the podium party. Gurney, in an attempt to shield his boss, Henry Ford II, tried in vain to stop the flow by putting his hand over the top of the bottle as a result, everyone got drenched with bubbly and a legend was born. Gurney, incidentally, autographed and gave the bottle to LIFE magazine photographer Flip Schulke, who used it as a lamp for many years. Schulke, who was acclaimed for his reportage photographs of the civil rights movement, died in 2008. Now the bottle has been returned to Dan Gurney.

June 11, 1967: Le Mans, La Sarthe

July 6, 1969: Clermont-Ferrand

Jackie Stewart was, and remains, a favourite of the Champagne lords since he was the first to do a Gurney on the F1 podium, setting a traditional celebration that would prove a mainstay 40-odd years on. For 42 years Ive been with Moet & Chandon. I was the first person to spray champagne in Formula One, he tells GPWEEK. The 1969 French Grand Prix was 28 degrees. The podium bubbly had been sat there in the sun for the whole race. I didnt even touch the cork, I just undid the wire and whoosh! I put my thumb over the bottle a good Scotsman doesnt want to spill a drop but the more pressure I applied the further it went. It was all quite by accident but, when you think about it, the perfect way to celebrate.

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elcome to Rallye Deutschland in the centre of Europe, to the rally closest to the greatest number of nearby countries in the world championship. This is the first of the three all-asphalt rallies in the 2011 world championship, the first time the new generation World Rally Cars have been seen on an all-tarmac event, the first time Michelin tyres have been used on a WRC asphalt event for the first time since 2005 and the first time this season that teams have choices of compounds of tyres. 20 World Rally cars are on the entry list. Missing regular drivers will be Federico Villagra the reigning Junior rally champion, and Evgeniy Novikov. As the Citroen team waits for Sebastien Loeb to return from holiday, hopefully with decisions about his personal plans in the sport, the team have been busy analysing the asphalt test work in Germany carried out before Finland. This was the first chance to understand the comparative characteristics of the Michelin range of asphalt tyres. Ford are hoping for a dry rally as there has been a lack of testing in wet conditions. There are new cars for both Hirvonen and Latvala but only nine Fiesta WRCs instead of the usual 10 on this event. The last WRC win by Ford on asphalt was Monte Carlo 2006. Mini have six cars again, each prepared to the same WRC specification, but Dani Sordo has a new car for this event. Main feedback for Mini from Finland was the problem of running the car ride heights too low, which caused the ingestion problems suffered by the two works cars. Privateer cars were not running so close to the ground. In addition to the usual four cars are the Grifone car for Patrik Flodin and the FFSA entry for the 26 year-old Corsican driver Pierre Campana. he format of the event is very similar to previous years, though almost every stage, except Stage 3/6 and the final stage of the rally (the traditional downtown section around the historic Porta Nigra structure in Trier) have specific changes in the route. Television time schedule constraints mean that the final stage, which serves as the Power Stage, is being run around one hour later this year.

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Meteorological challenge ...

It may be mid-Summer, but if tradition is maintained, weather could be the deciding factor as the WRC heads to all-tarmac Germany, as Martin Holmes explains

>> WRC PREVIEW



Once again there are short stretches of gravel roads within the otherwise allasphalt stages, a total of 6.1km in total, virtually all on Day 2.

he internationality of this event is extraordinary the WRC driver with the closest geographical family connection to the Trier-based rally is Frenchman Sebastien Loeb! Traditionally, Dutch drivers have regarded this as their home event, although father van Merksteijn will not compete until their family teams regular co-driver Eddy Chevalier, from Belgium, is completely recovered from his Acropolis accident. Kuipers father and son will, however, both take part in their Fiesta WRCs. Among the drivers from the 25 countries on the entry list are two privateer Mitsubishi drivers from Bosnia Herzegovina (Almir Vrpcic and Zakir Okovic), the first time this country has been represented on the WRC. Who are the favourite German drivers? Only Aaron Burkart is at the wheel of a World Rally Car, for the second time in his career and only Hermann Gassner and Christian Riedemann will drive a Super 2000, the latter for the first time. Local hopes otherwise rest with privateer drivers. The Friday and Saturday stages also count for the national, DRM championship. Some drivers, whose cars are compatibility with FIA Appendix J rules, compete in both categories

WRC returns to all-tarmac Germany images of 2010

his event counts also for two Support series, the SWRC series and the WRC Academy. All 10 registered SWRC drivers have nominated Deutschland as one of their six preferred events, and there is one Guest driver, German Felix Herbold in a Fiesta. There is uncertainty, however, as to whether Eyvind Brynildsen will start in Germany, as his Skoda was too badly damaged during the NORF to be repaired in time. Once again there are high performance non-championship S2000s on the list but this time no R4 cars. Notable among the S2000 drivers are the two VW candidate junior drivers in the Fabia S2000s, Dutchman Hans Weijs, who finished second overall on the recent Ypres IRC and ERC event and was finishing runner-up in the FIAs 2010 Junior championship, and the German Christian Reidemann. Reidemann is usually competing this year in the Academy series but for this event his Academy Fiesta R2 car is being driven by Sepp Wiegand. 3

>> WRC PREVIEW

ith his three unbeaten outings this year in the Academy category, Egon Kaur is well ahead of his rivals, and on his way to his half-million euro value sponsorship prize for 2012. He can clinch this in Germany. The usual cars for the two Swedish drivers Fredrik Ahlin and Victor Henriksson, which were badly damaged in accidents in Finland, are being substituted by M-Sports Academy reserve cars. An unusual feature of the entry list is the inclusion of two Diesel powered cars, an Opel and a SEAT. Standard championship rules allow Diesel cars (which do not of course consume FIA control petrol) on world championship events if they refuel from commercial fuel stations alongside the rally route, which on some events is not possible.

ichelin have soft and hard compound versions of their Pilot Sport tarmac tyres, both featuring the same tread pattern, the difference lying only in the compounds. Choosing which compounds to use demands clairvoyance in predicting future and faraway weather conditions. On Day 2 tyre choices have to be made with reference to stages to be run up to three hours and more than 60km away after leaving service. A special additional mid-loop tyre changing point before the 34km Panzerplatte stage eases the risk of suffering from a disastrous prediction error. At this location the top priority drivers must only fit new tyres, to suit conditions, but other drivers can re-fit used tyres. The other difference created by the asphalt stages is that the manufacturer points-scoring drivers can have the benefit of advice from their personal safety crews running ahead of the event. They cannot help with weather predictions but are essential for avoiding changes to road conditions which happen after the end of recce. Safety crews will also be operating in France and Spain.

s winners of this event for the past nine times it has been held, Citroen stand easy favourites not only for a 10th successive win but also for pulling ahead of Ford in the total score of WRC rally wins. Both stand before the event with a total of 77 world rally wins. Citroen and Sebastien Loeb are pulling inexorably away from their rivals

n the two premier world championships this year. In the SWRC Juho Hanninen is now eighteen points clear of Martin Prokop, with all the top five drivers now having missed their mandatory one event.

5

WRC SNIPPETS
n Organisers of Rally GB, final round of the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship, have announced that spectators will be banned from watching the Power Stage, the televised final stage of the event, unless they have purchased a spectating ticket, value 99. n It is reported this will only be available on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to available space in the dedicated car park. This ticket, described as the best value for money, offers the chance to appear on television, allows access to other stages, comes with an exclusive 10 percent discount on official merchandise and purchasers will have a promotional air freshener supplied! The communique also announces that live coverage of the Power Stage will be available for stay-at-home fans on ESPN, but not on a free-to-view station. The Power Stage will be run deep in the Epynt Ranges north of Brecon. n Entries for Rally Australia, have closed with 31crews, 27 of which were FIA Priority drivers and only seven Australian crews. In addition there is one entry from a New Zealand driver, Hayden Paddon. There are to be 13 World Rally Cars and 14 entries in the PCWRC, including two Australian Guest drivers. Top Australian entry is for Academy drivers Brendan Reeves who for this event will take over the PCWRC entry of the Anders Grondal team, but absent is the new FIA Pacific Cup champion Chris Atkinson. None of the top current Australian national championship drivers is taking part on the WRC event but some will compete in a national level event which will run on Days 1 and 2. Also absent from the event will be Mads Ostberg.. His place in the Stobart championship team for this event is taken over by Evgeniy Novikov. n Ukraine President Yevgeny Czerwonienko is reported to claim that the Carpathian mountain region has everything necessary to organise a round of the FIAs world championship. He was speaking at the Alexandrov Rally based at Kosiv, Western Ukraine, close to the Romanian border. The event is dedicated to the memory of the late Andrey Alexandrov, who died four years ago on the Sliven Rally in Bulgaria. Earlier this year Ukraine hosted a round of the IRC series at Yalta in the south of the country.

Mitsubishi and Subaru fight for Group N survival

rgent talks are being held next week at the FIA to analyse the performance capability of Group R4 cars, to bring this more in line with the performance of 2-litre normally aspirated S2000 cars, with which R4 cars are matched in their class. While recent rallies indicate that R4 cars are often more than a half second a kilometre faster than the old Class N4 version of the same car, this is still some way short compared with S2000 cars. The background to these talks is the fight to keep Mitsubishi Lancer and Subaru Impreza cars in a competitive position in international rally sport, and not suffer from an officially anticipated decline of these traditional turbo fourwheel drive cars. The proposed new Class R4T cars (the so-called poor mans S2000) which are essentially to be fourwheel drive versions of the front-wheel drive R3T cars and enthusiastically

supported by Citroen and Peugeot, are seen as another threat to Group N. Only Citroen and Peugeot have homologated R3T cars with full 1.6 litre engines. Mitsubishi Ralliart chief Mario Stagni says: Mitsubishi is against the introduction of the new category. We prepared a kit for the new R4 with the aim to let the cars survive. The hope was to maintain stability in the rules for some years. A spokesman representing Subaru said R4T cars will be a threat if they are faster. It all depends on the details of the rules being discussed. The FIA is meanwhile also pondering the viability of New Generation 1.6 turbo S2000 cars. Although these cars were expected to be the foundation of second-level regional competition, the cost of running these cars is very similar to running World Rally Cars. So far these cars are still banned from FIAs regional rallies and the IRC.

>> WRC NEWS

Welcome to the Weather Casino

ow that the Tour de Corse does not feature in the world championship calendar, the event which traditionally is the most prone to sudden weather changes is Germany. This event is held in a region which does not have the constant changes in elevation as Corsica and has none of the weather instability of an island but this does not prevent fast-changing conditions. And because this event allows a choice of tyres, it matters! There are two major challenges. Firstly getting correct weather forecasting for what will happen some hours after a servicing or tyre change opportunity, often a long way away; and, if that fails, how to get the best out of tyres when they are unsuitable for the conditions. Weather forecasting Rallye Deutschland-style is quite a different proposition from, say, Formula 1, which concentrates on shortterm local situations.

Deutschland post-script

Last years Deutschland Rally was unusually weather-friendly. Despite a long time threat of rain, it stayed dry until shortly after the finish of the event. But that was unusual! The last major weather-crazy WRC rally was Bulgaria 2010. On that occasion the rally was won and lost by tyre choices through good use of available human resources rather than sophisticated meteorological equipment. The Citroen team was able to place informers at varying intervals in elevation on the nearby hills, while Ford relied on information only from the top of the cols. And what to do when the forecast is wrong, or the weather is so variable that no type of tyre will be right? Pirelli rally tyres manager Matteo Braga has available the benefit of three years of control tyre experience in the WRC generally and is now working with the Academy drivers: If the weather is as usual, drivers must

realise that they will not be running on the correct tyres all the time, and that of all the rallies in the championship the Deutschland is the most difficult for this problem. We will advise the Academy drivers to carry two spare wheels of the different tyre type to those on the rest of the car, so they will always have the more suitable tyres on the front of the car. The Academy cars have a different range of tyres. On the four-wheel-drive WRC cars all the tyres have the same roadhomologated tread patterns, so the risk of aquaplaning is not increased by using hard compound tyres. In the two-wheeldrive Academy cars, the hard and soft tyres have different patterns, like the old Junior championship cars used to have. On the two-wheel-drive cars tyre wear is much more severe on the front tyres and driving with the wrong tyres on the rear is not such a big issue. On the fourwheel-drive cars the wear is more equally balanced.

Autdromo Hermanos Rodrguez hosted the last Mexican F1 GP in 1992 (a Mansell/Patrese Williams 1-2) the year after Ayrton Sennsa spectacular practice roll at the Peraltada. Any modern Mexican GP will be at an all-new venue.

>> GPWEEK PArting Shot