Justin wins Moore award
Justin Wilson has won the Greg Moore Legacy Award for the second time, being awarded the honour at this years Champ Car season ending banquet.
Justin becomesthe the first two-time winner of the award, (2006-07) named after the late Canadian driver who died in 1999. The award is awarded to the driver that most displays the determination, passion and skill that typified Moore's days as a racer.
Justin Wilson:
“It's a real honour to receive this award for the second time. Greg had an outstanding reputation as a driver and as a person and to be associated with him in this way means a lot."
Previous winners of the Greg Moore Legacy Award are Oriol Servia (2005), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2004), Sebastien Bourdais (2003), Patrick Carpentier (2002), Dario Franchitti (2001), and Helio Castroneves (2000)
Conquest new partner
In a refreshing bit of good news, Conquest Racing has just landed a new partnership arrangement with Opes Prime Group Ltd, an Australian based financial services provider. The new alliance will see Conquest campaign two cars for the 2008 Champ Car World Series season,
“Additionally, the new agreement sees Opes Prime principle shareholder Anthony Blumberg acquiring an equity stake in the organization, providing the necessary capital investment to fuel the team's growth over the next two seasons.”
Power wins award
Team Australia’s Will Power has won the coveted Sir Jack Brabham award at this year’s CAMS Australia Awards banquet…
Forsythe’s smooth move
Talk about your pathetic promotional ploys of “Stiring the Pot.” As Gerald Forsythe has attempted to throw Champ Car World Series “Super-star” Paul Tracy under the bus… By reportedly telling ‘Ol Sand Dune Tracy to re-negotiate his current contract or face loosing his ride.
This is not the best way to go about stabilizing a weak product, as rumours suggest that the Toronto race promoter is extremely (PEEVED-OFF) Freaked-out about not having Tracy in this year’s Champ Car line-up, which could potentially cost him the race. Way to go Gerry!
PKV signs Servia
While Forsythe has its caboose up its tailpipe, PKV has just announced the signing of Oriel “Suitcase” Servia as one of its two drivers for 2008.
I for one am very happy to hear the news that Servia will be able to ditch the suitcase moniker for the upcoming season, after PKV sensibly signed the extremely quick and popular Spaniard.
Its currently unknown whom will partner Servia, as Neal Jani who was sponsored by Red Bull is possibly out of the picture since its rumoured that the Red Bull sponsorship deal was only for a single season. If Jani doesn’t return, which would be a shame, then look for him to replace Dan “Speedy-Dry” Clarke at Team Minardi USA…
Monday, January 7, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
2008 Dakar CANCELLED!
It was with astonishment that the very first story I encountered this afternoon upon deciding to check “Ze Welt von Motorsports” and see if anything was occurring, that the headlines read; This year’s Dakar Rally has been cancelled.
(But I’m NOT surprised that I lost the whole FRILLIN’ story I just finished writing upon making fun of le internets. Thanks micro-SOFT!)
The event’s very first ever cancellation is due to the recent Terrorist attack upon five French tourists on December 24th. While visiting Mauritania four were killed and the fifth seriously injured while picnicking along the main road near the Senegal border.
The Amaury Sports Organisation, (ASO) promoters of the Dakar Rally said that they’d received direct threats from Terrorist organizations towards this year’s event and the rally was cancelled to ensure the safety of all competitors, support personnel, journalists and civilians along the event’s route.
Although stages of the event have been cancelled previously due to perceived threats, this is the first ever cancellation of the event which has run consecutively since 1979. The ASO assures us that the Dakar Rally will indeed resume in 2009, yet most likely the unsafe regions of Mauritania will be dropped from the new route…
(But I’m NOT surprised that I lost the whole FRILLIN’ story I just finished writing upon making fun of le internets. Thanks micro-SOFT!)
The event’s very first ever cancellation is due to the recent Terrorist attack upon five French tourists on December 24th. While visiting Mauritania four were killed and the fifth seriously injured while picnicking along the main road near the Senegal border.
The Amaury Sports Organisation, (ASO) promoters of the Dakar Rally said that they’d received direct threats from Terrorist organizations towards this year’s event and the rally was cancelled to ensure the safety of all competitors, support personnel, journalists and civilians along the event’s route.
Although stages of the event have been cancelled previously due to perceived threats, this is the first ever cancellation of the event which has run consecutively since 1979. The ASO assures us that the Dakar Rally will indeed resume in 2009, yet most likely the unsafe regions of Mauritania will be dropped from the new route…
2008 Dakar
Once again the engines are about to roar to life, albeit Far, Far, Far Away in a distant galaxy, known as Africa. As it’s time once again for the most grueling race in the World, the Dakar Rally. This year’s Rally begins on January 5th in Lisbon, Portugal and finishes on January 20th in Dakar, Senegal. The 15 stage race has been extended a further 1,000+ kilometers (621 miles) this year to add further torment to the competitors, with an overall distanced of 9,273 km. (5,762 miles).
Once again, Robby “Dirt Mann Gordoun” will spearhead Team Dakar USA’s challenge with his “Monster” Hummer H3, his third consecutive effort to tame the sands of Mauritania. This year Ron Bailey has joined forces with Gordon to form a two vehicle Monster Hummer effort.
Yet Gordon, Bailey and Team Dakar USA will face an uphill battle to become America’s first ever winner’s of Dakar, racing against mostly European based teams.
These “Across the Pond” contender’s will have the luxury of extra time to prepare, while Gordon’s entourage needed to depart a month prior to the start. Team Dakar USA left Gordon’s shops in California to transport the support vehicles, loaded with all the spare parts and equipment, as the massive amount of “Heavy Metal” was trucked across the country to Savannah, GA where it met an awaiting freighter, which then departed for Lisbon.
As usual, it appears that the top two contenders for overall honours will be the Factory backed squads from Mitsubishi and Volkswagen., Defending Dakar winner “Mister-Bitchy” returns with four Pajero Montero Evolution MPR13s, while VW will have a quartet of Touareg 2 TDI’s attempting to win the event overall.
Mitsubishi will have defending winner Stephane Peterhansel as their lead driver, as France’s Peterhansel is always a threat for the overall victory. He first won the event in 1991 on a Yamaha motorcycle, eventually claiming six overall victories in the two wheel category. Peterhansel has since then won a further three Dakar’s aboard Mitsubishi Pajero’s (2004-05, 07) for a total of nine Dakar titles.
Volkswagen will see ex-WRC Champion Carlos Sainz leading their charge, with Mark Miller and Ralph Pitchford (USA/South Africa) as part of the VW line-up.
There will be 31 “Roses of the Sands” contesting this year’s event, thus seeing the Dakar’s largest number ever of Female contestants in the rally’s 30 year history. Even more impressive will be the four competing in the two wheel category.
And what do retired Formula 1 driver’s do for fun? Well, just ask Jordan Grand Prix refugee Tiago Monteiro, who’ll be making his Dakar Rally debut this year, in a single seater buggy-no less!
Tiago Monteiro:
"It's an ultra marathon. It's Yvan Muller's fault, he never stopped talking to me about it the whole year, and he convinced me to take part."
Of course you’ll be unable to see any “Live” television coverage of this event, or even worse, any TV coverage at all! As SPEED is still busy blastin’ us with hours of USELESS Programming. Can you say PINKS??? Of course, if we’re lucky and Nicole Manske isn’t busy changing hair colours, perhaps she’ll give us a two minute recap on The Speed Report. Otherwise, you’ll have to scour the internets for any worthwhile information of daily race progress.
Isn’t it funny how the “CAR” class is mostly contested by SUV’s and Pick-em Up truchs!
2008 Dakar Entry List
Once again, Robby “Dirt Mann Gordoun” will spearhead Team Dakar USA’s challenge with his “Monster” Hummer H3, his third consecutive effort to tame the sands of Mauritania. This year Ron Bailey has joined forces with Gordon to form a two vehicle Monster Hummer effort.
Yet Gordon, Bailey and Team Dakar USA will face an uphill battle to become America’s first ever winner’s of Dakar, racing against mostly European based teams.
These “Across the Pond” contender’s will have the luxury of extra time to prepare, while Gordon’s entourage needed to depart a month prior to the start. Team Dakar USA left Gordon’s shops in California to transport the support vehicles, loaded with all the spare parts and equipment, as the massive amount of “Heavy Metal” was trucked across the country to Savannah, GA where it met an awaiting freighter, which then departed for Lisbon.
As usual, it appears that the top two contenders for overall honours will be the Factory backed squads from Mitsubishi and Volkswagen., Defending Dakar winner “Mister-Bitchy” returns with four Pajero Montero Evolution MPR13s, while VW will have a quartet of Touareg 2 TDI’s attempting to win the event overall.
Mitsubishi will have defending winner Stephane Peterhansel as their lead driver, as France’s Peterhansel is always a threat for the overall victory. He first won the event in 1991 on a Yamaha motorcycle, eventually claiming six overall victories in the two wheel category. Peterhansel has since then won a further three Dakar’s aboard Mitsubishi Pajero’s (2004-05, 07) for a total of nine Dakar titles.
Volkswagen will see ex-WRC Champion Carlos Sainz leading their charge, with Mark Miller and Ralph Pitchford (USA/South Africa) as part of the VW line-up.
There will be 31 “Roses of the Sands” contesting this year’s event, thus seeing the Dakar’s largest number ever of Female contestants in the rally’s 30 year history. Even more impressive will be the four competing in the two wheel category.
And what do retired Formula 1 driver’s do for fun? Well, just ask Jordan Grand Prix refugee Tiago Monteiro, who’ll be making his Dakar Rally debut this year, in a single seater buggy-no less!
Tiago Monteiro:
"It's an ultra marathon. It's Yvan Muller's fault, he never stopped talking to me about it the whole year, and he convinced me to take part."
Of course you’ll be unable to see any “Live” television coverage of this event, or even worse, any TV coverage at all! As SPEED is still busy blastin’ us with hours of USELESS Programming. Can you say PINKS??? Of course, if we’re lucky and Nicole Manske isn’t busy changing hair colours, perhaps she’ll give us a two minute recap on The Speed Report. Otherwise, you’ll have to scour the internets for any worthwhile information of daily race progress.
Isn’t it funny how the “CAR” class is mostly contested by SUV’s and Pick-em Up truchs!
2008 Dakar Entry List
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Launch time
The Formula 1 teams have been busy over the winter holidays, as the various team Elves’ have been putting the finishing touches on their 2008 machinery. At first McLaren was planning to not have any “Pomp ‘N Circumstance” this year with the traditional glitz ‘N glamour of a launch party, but they’ve changed their minds. Meanwhile Williams appears to have taken a powder and will not have a lauch party after all, while I’m not sure what Toro Rosso’s plans are exactly?
Here’s a quick run down on upcoming F1 Team launches:
(Team/Date/Venue)
Ferrari: January 6; Fiorano, Italy
McLaren: January 7; Stuttgart, Germany
Toyota: January 10; Colone, Germany
BMW-Sauber: January 14; Munich, Germany
Red Bull: January 16: Jerez, Spain
Honda: January 29; Brackley, UK
Renault: January 31; Paris, France
Force India: TBA
Super Aguri: TBA
Toro Rosso: TBA
(Will run last year’s STR-02 for the first 3 races?)
Williams: TBA
Here’s a quick run down on upcoming F1 Team launches:
(Team/Date/Venue)
Ferrari: January 6; Fiorano, Italy
McLaren: January 7; Stuttgart, Germany
Toyota: January 10; Colone, Germany
BMW-Sauber: January 14; Munich, Germany
Red Bull: January 16: Jerez, Spain
Honda: January 29; Brackley, UK
Renault: January 31; Paris, France
Force India: TBA
Super Aguri: TBA
Toro Rosso: TBA
(Will run last year’s STR-02 for the first 3 races?)
Williams: TBA
Mario wants Marco in F1
I find this a bit amusing, as Grand Papa Mario Andretti has just publicly stated that he’d like to see grandson Marco plying his trade “Across the Pond” in Formula 1 instead of runnin’ circles in the Indy Racing League.
Hmm, me thinks Marco needs to vastly improve his Oval track performance, overtaking skills and keep a steady eye on his mirror to see where new teammate Hideki Mutoh is!
And perhaps its just me, but isn’t it funny that this time “Juan” year ago, the “Grand Poop-pah” (Mario) was indeed trying to Pump Up Marco, when the youngster was making his first trek to Europe to test for the Honda F1 team.
Hmm, me thinks Marco needs to vastly improve his Oval track performance, overtaking skills and keep a steady eye on his mirror to see where new teammate Hideki Mutoh is!
And perhaps its just me, but isn’t it funny that this time “Juan” year ago, the “Grand Poop-pah” (Mario) was indeed trying to Pump Up Marco, when the youngster was making his first trek to Europe to test for the Honda F1 team.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
New "Schues"
For the past few weeks I’ve been driving my Most Excellent Blog Meister nutty, requesting a few additions to the No Fenders site, to which he’s complied with. You’ll notice that he’s added a slew of categories under the headings F1 Team Links and Other Open Wheel Categories, which should enable Y’all to hunt ‘N peck for your favourite stories a little quicker.
Also, he’s fixed the RSS feed which apparently wasn’t working earlier. Yet I’ll have to admit I’m a bit fuzzy on how exactly RSS feeds work, along with who in the HELL is Atom? (Is that Atom Ant?) But if you’re more “Tech Savvy” than your poor ‘Ol story writer is… Then please, by all means go ahead and sign-up for this!
Also, he’s fixed the RSS feed which apparently wasn’t working earlier. Yet I’ll have to admit I’m a bit fuzzy on how exactly RSS feeds work, along with who in the HELL is Atom? (Is that Atom Ant?) But if you’re more “Tech Savvy” than your poor ‘Ol story writer is… Then please, by all means go ahead and sign-up for this!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Going Dutch
Ah, what a way to start the New Year, eh? Yep, that’s right. He’s BACK!!! While the rest of us are shaking off the cold, taking down the tree and dreading the onslaught of overpriced iron going across the block in Scottsdale, AZ.
As many of you were probably watching Santa’s progress on the internets via NORAD tracking… It does indeed appear that Santa made a pit stop in the “Neitherlands” this year, giving somebody a ride aboard a shiny new Porsche RS Spyder.
Yes, that’s right, I’m talking about Jos “THE BOSS” Verstappen, who’s ringing in the New Year just having been “inked” to drive for “Team het Nederlands.”
Verstappen will be part of an all Dutch sports car team contesting the 1,000km Le Mans Series events along with the 24 Heurs du Mans for Van Merksteijn Motorsports.
Verstappen, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Peter van Merksteijn will co-drive the teams prototype, as the Porsche RS Spyder will be competing in Europe for its first season, while Verstappen was last seen racing for Team Netherland in the A1 GP series during the 2006-07 season before being replaced by Bleekemolen.
Happy New Years!!!
As many of you were probably watching Santa’s progress on the internets via NORAD tracking… It does indeed appear that Santa made a pit stop in the “Neitherlands” this year, giving somebody a ride aboard a shiny new Porsche RS Spyder.
Yes, that’s right, I’m talking about Jos “THE BOSS” Verstappen, who’s ringing in the New Year just having been “inked” to drive for “Team het Nederlands.”
Verstappen will be part of an all Dutch sports car team contesting the 1,000km Le Mans Series events along with the 24 Heurs du Mans for Van Merksteijn Motorsports.
Verstappen, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Peter van Merksteijn will co-drive the teams prototype, as the Porsche RS Spyder will be competing in Europe for its first season, while Verstappen was last seen racing for Team Netherland in the A1 GP series during the 2006-07 season before being replaced by Bleekemolen.
Happy New Years!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)