Not surprisingly the World Motor Sport Council has approved Spyker F1’s name change to Force India F1 for the 2008 season. Thus allowing Indian co-owner Vijay Mallya to capitalize upon future marketing opportunities.
Its worth noting that Mallya is the head of India’s two Grand Prix organizations which the FIA has forced to merge together by the end of this December in order to hopefully smooth the way towards seeing the scheduled 2009 Indian GP take place.
Mallya has installed a former United Breweries executive at Spyker to monitor the teams finances with T.V. Lakshmi Kanthan being appointed after spending 23 years with UB, while currently serving as UB’s British Finance Director.
And surprisingly Toyota’s Jarno Trulli is expected to be one of the four drivers testing in November for Force India’s second seat. This despite Trulli reportedly having inked a further one year contract with Toyota, while his more expensive teammate Ralfanso (R. Schumacher) seems to have the inside track to the seat while Sakon Yamamoto and Vitantonnio Luzzi will also take part in the shoot out…
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Spyker scores first point
As the various members of the International BAR Association (Nee, Lawyers; or as Marc of FT fondly refer’s to them as Shyster’s) stay increasingly busy shuffling between multiple cases being heard by the FIA Appeals courts, another has failed.
With Scuderia Toro Rosso’s appeal of Vitantonnio Luzzi’s 25 second penalty for passing Adrian Sutil under a yellow flag in the Japanese GP being dismissed. With the court in question rejecting STR’s argument, thus Sutil’s single point for 8th place stands. This means that Spyker F1 has broken its Duc and now all eleven Constructors’ have garnered World Championship points this season.
With Scuderia Toro Rosso’s appeal of Vitantonnio Luzzi’s 25 second penalty for passing Adrian Sutil under a yellow flag in the Japanese GP being dismissed. With the court in question rejecting STR’s argument, thus Sutil’s single point for 8th place stands. This means that Spyker F1 has broken its Duc and now all eleven Constructors’ have garnered World Championship points this season.
Monday, October 29, 2007
A1 GP TV Schedule correction
Once again I’ve fallen prey to the lure ‘O posting TV Times for potential viewing. Last year I usually found the A1 GP DELAYED Broadcasts being played in the middle of the night or wee hours ‘O Morning, i.e.; Midnight – 2AM Pacific time...
So naturally I just ASSUMED this was the standard practice for this years television broadcasts. And y’all know what happens when yuhz ASS-Ume some-thun, eh? Oh Yeah, Uh-huh… Just checked the TV times once again prior to programming the trusty ‘ol VCR and wallah!
The Czech A1 GP broadcast is slated for 9AM Pacific…
So I’ll skip the TV times in the future…
So naturally I just ASSUMED this was the standard practice for this years television broadcasts. And y’all know what happens when yuhz ASS-Ume some-thun, eh? Oh Yeah, Uh-huh… Just checked the TV times once again prior to programming the trusty ‘ol VCR and wallah!
The Czech A1 GP broadcast is slated for 9AM Pacific…
So I’ll skip the TV times in the future…
A1 GP TV Schedule
”Ro-Ro...”
OOPS! For those of you interested, this is a little bit late as I’ve missed posting prior to the A1 GP Season kick-off… Having apparently missed SPEED’s EXTREMELY (Tape) Delayed airing of the season opening round in Zanport on Sept. 30th.
Yet while those ‘lil Gouls ‘N Goblin’s are continually ringing the doorbell, I’ll be sequestered in front of the “Telescreen” watching’ the late night airing of the previously contested second round of the A1 GP series, while this weekend’s originally noted TBA event has been scrapped…
Yet while those ‘lil Gouls ‘N Goblin’s are continually ringing the doorbell, I’ll be sequestered in front of the “Telescreen” watching’ the late night airing of the previously contested second round of the A1 GP series, while this weekend’s originally noted TBA event has been scrapped…
Here’s SPEED’s TV info (EASTERN TIME)
Czech Republic
Wed, Oct 31 12:00PM (Noon)
Malaysia
Thu, Dec 6 12:00PM (Noon)
China
Thu, Dec 27 12:00PM (Noon)
Constructor roe
Constructor-Constructor what’s your function? Err, Casey Jones better slow down! Yeah, I’m still a bit loopy from my “Jet Ragg!” Not to be confused with… Oh, never mind!
And I’m still trying to play “Ketsup” over the last two weeks of Motorsports fodder as well as watch all of the Brazilian Grand Prix action along with the Surfers Paradise Champ Car race.
Meanwhile prior to leaving for Japan, the International Court of Appeals announced two upcoming court appointments. First Scuderia Toro Rosso was appealing Vitantonnio Luzzi’s 25 second time penalty that cost him eighth place at Fuji. This was set to be heard on Oct. 12.
Secondly, and far more important is the Oct. 25th date set to hear Williams assertion that Prodrive is NOT a legal entity for the upcoming 2008 Formula 1 season under the guise of customer chassis.
This court date ties in nicely with current speculation over what would happen in the never ending schumozzle of chassis cloning, of which the Spyker team brought to light at the start of the 2007 Formula 1 campaign Down Under.
Perhaps you recall Spyker claiming that Scuderia Toro Rosso and Super Aguri’s race cars weren’t legal under the current Concorde agreement, the sports governing document for all team entrants.
This was due in large part to the nefarious loop holing techniques both squads employed, with Gerhard Berger telling Spyker to go bleep itself! As Berger claimed that the chassis were designed by a “third” party, while Super Aguri utilized a satellite design company to tweak the prior season’s Honda chassis.
And although I assumed this cat fight was over due to the financial enticements Spyker has enjoyed via the FIA’s prize money restructuring along with Super Aguri sending Guido Van der Garde and Sakon Yamamoto to Holland… Nevertheless the issue has not been settled, as the matter was previously scheduled to go to the Court of Arbitration.
This issue has been languishing on the entire season, with reports that Sir Frank Williams is also less then impressed with the Max Mosley proposed customer chassis being eligible beginning in 2008 as the current Concorde agreement expires on December 31st.
Yet it appears extremely unlikely that all of the current Constructors will be in agreement on this issue, which would see the Concorde agreement simply rolling over for another season, This of course would cause big headaches for Emperor Bernardo, Max “Whipping Boy” Mosley and the FIA, as Prodrive is scheduled to become the Formula 1’s twelfth entrant next year. And Bernie claims that David Richards already has the $48 million entry bond secured, along with a brand new title sponsor. Prodrive is reputed to pay McLaren $100 million for a supply of 2008 turn key chassis which of course would be in direct conflict of the Concorde agreement!
And I firmly agree with Spyker, Williams and Professor Matchett that part of the lure of Formula 1 is that ALL teams MUST create their own chassis… Instead of becoming a watered down version of Spec car racing!
Yet with that said one must recall that McLaren ran separate F1 teams in 1974 with a satellite operation known as Yardley Team McLaren, which was spun off after being the teams title sponsor from 1972-73.
In 1974 Emerson Fittipaldi claimed his second F1 Driver’s title with Marlboro Team Texaco, McLaren’s new moniker. Emmo’s teammate was 1968 World Champion Denny Hulme.
while Yardley Team McLaren ran a solo chassis for Mike “The Bike” Hailwood, with guest appearances by David Hobbs and Jochen Mass. While a one-off entry was made for Dave Charlton entered as the Lucky Strike Scuderia Scribante in the South African Grand Prix. (1974-75)
And I’m still trying to play “Ketsup” over the last two weeks of Motorsports fodder as well as watch all of the Brazilian Grand Prix action along with the Surfers Paradise Champ Car race.
Meanwhile prior to leaving for Japan, the International Court of Appeals announced two upcoming court appointments. First Scuderia Toro Rosso was appealing Vitantonnio Luzzi’s 25 second time penalty that cost him eighth place at Fuji. This was set to be heard on Oct. 12.
Secondly, and far more important is the Oct. 25th date set to hear Williams assertion that Prodrive is NOT a legal entity for the upcoming 2008 Formula 1 season under the guise of customer chassis.
This court date ties in nicely with current speculation over what would happen in the never ending schumozzle of chassis cloning, of which the Spyker team brought to light at the start of the 2007 Formula 1 campaign Down Under.
Perhaps you recall Spyker claiming that Scuderia Toro Rosso and Super Aguri’s race cars weren’t legal under the current Concorde agreement, the sports governing document for all team entrants.
This was due in large part to the nefarious loop holing techniques both squads employed, with Gerhard Berger telling Spyker to go bleep itself! As Berger claimed that the chassis were designed by a “third” party, while Super Aguri utilized a satellite design company to tweak the prior season’s Honda chassis.
And although I assumed this cat fight was over due to the financial enticements Spyker has enjoyed via the FIA’s prize money restructuring along with Super Aguri sending Guido Van der Garde and Sakon Yamamoto to Holland… Nevertheless the issue has not been settled, as the matter was previously scheduled to go to the Court of Arbitration.
This issue has been languishing on the entire season, with reports that Sir Frank Williams is also less then impressed with the Max Mosley proposed customer chassis being eligible beginning in 2008 as the current Concorde agreement expires on December 31st.
Yet it appears extremely unlikely that all of the current Constructors will be in agreement on this issue, which would see the Concorde agreement simply rolling over for another season, This of course would cause big headaches for Emperor Bernardo, Max “Whipping Boy” Mosley and the FIA, as Prodrive is scheduled to become the Formula 1’s twelfth entrant next year. And Bernie claims that David Richards already has the $48 million entry bond secured, along with a brand new title sponsor. Prodrive is reputed to pay McLaren $100 million for a supply of 2008 turn key chassis which of course would be in direct conflict of the Concorde agreement!
And I firmly agree with Spyker, Williams and Professor Matchett that part of the lure of Formula 1 is that ALL teams MUST create their own chassis… Instead of becoming a watered down version of Spec car racing!
Yet with that said one must recall that McLaren ran separate F1 teams in 1974 with a satellite operation known as Yardley Team McLaren, which was spun off after being the teams title sponsor from 1972-73.
In 1974 Emerson Fittipaldi claimed his second F1 Driver’s title with Marlboro Team Texaco, McLaren’s new moniker. Emmo’s teammate was 1968 World Champion Denny Hulme.
while Yardley Team McLaren ran a solo chassis for Mike “The Bike” Hailwood, with guest appearances by David Hobbs and Jochen Mass. While a one-off entry was made for Dave Charlton entered as the Lucky Strike Scuderia Scribante in the South African Grand Prix. (1974-75)
Friday, October 26, 2007
Another day in Court
In what seems to be the “Year of Appeals;” A court date has been set for McLaren’s latest Appeal over fuel temperature irregularities discovered after the Brazilian Grand Prix. BMW Sauber and Williams fuel rigs were found to be below the mandated minimum temperature variance, yet the Brazilian Stewards dismissed this rules infraction.
Thus the revolving door of appearances before the “Now serving #43” International Court of Appeals will squeeze in Ron Dennis on November 15th for a token visit.
FIA “Whipping Boy” Max Mosley has made the following comments regarding this matter:
“For us the World Championship is over – the result is what it is,” he said. “A team presented an appeal; at the moment, this doesn’t change anything – it’s up to them to prove they are right.”Mosley also addressed the question of whether or not McLaren has the right to appeal the decision, given that the team did not protest the results of the Brazilian Grand Prix.“You could argue whether McLaren had a right to appeal,” he said. “They could have protested the result, but they didn’t. Apparently they didn’t measure the temperature of the fuel.“But, even if the cars classified ahead of Hamilton would be excluded, would this change his position? The Court of Appeal will have to rule on that.”
Thus I sincerely hope that these nefarious proceedings will NOT reverse Raikkonen
Thus the revolving door of appearances before the “Now serving #43” International Court of Appeals will squeeze in Ron Dennis on November 15th for a token visit.
FIA “Whipping Boy” Max Mosley has made the following comments regarding this matter:
“For us the World Championship is over – the result is what it is,” he said. “A team presented an appeal; at the moment, this doesn’t change anything – it’s up to them to prove they are right.”Mosley also addressed the question of whether or not McLaren has the right to appeal the decision, given that the team did not protest the results of the Brazilian Grand Prix.“You could argue whether McLaren had a right to appeal,” he said. “They could have protested the result, but they didn’t. Apparently they didn’t measure the temperature of the fuel.“But, even if the cars classified ahead of Hamilton would be excluded, would this change his position? The Court of Appeal will have to rule on that.”
Thus I sincerely hope that these nefarious proceedings will NOT reverse Raikkonen
FAIRLY WINNING the 2007 Driver’s title…
Ferrari re-signs Massa
As I’ve been blathering on about the ridiculousness of Alonso going to Scuderia Ferrari in 2008, Maranello has finally announced the re-signing of Felipe Massa.
Massa will remain a Prancing Horse pilot until the end of 2010 alongside 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen.
Thus as I’ve also previously noted, the most logical choice for “Ferdi the Putz” in 2008 is Renault, with scuttle butt suggesting a swap with McLaren for Heikki Kovalanen? I’m still guessing that Nico Rosberg will land the vaunted McLaren seat alongside Lewis Hamilton. Kovalenen will partner Ferdi and Nelson Piquet Jr. will take over Rosberg’s seat at Williams…
Massa will remain a Prancing Horse pilot until the end of 2010 alongside 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen.
Thus as I’ve also previously noted, the most logical choice for “Ferdi the Putz” in 2008 is Renault, with scuttle butt suggesting a swap with McLaren for Heikki Kovalanen? I’m still guessing that Nico Rosberg will land the vaunted McLaren seat alongside Lewis Hamilton. Kovalenen will partner Ferdi and Nelson Piquet Jr. will take over Rosberg’s seat at Williams…
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