Singapore Grand Prix
Sunday 28 September
In a thrilling and eventful race, Fernando Alonso (Renault) claimed his first victory in what, for a two times world champion, has been a very frustrating season with an uncompetitive car.
Felipe Massa led from pole and, with a light fuel load, was expected to pit early. Whether it was the unfamiliar track, the floodlit circuit or a lapse of concentration; things started to go wrong on lap 14, when Nelsinho Piquet (Renault) crashed into the concrete wall. Team mate Alonso had pitted earlier and was spared the pain of watching the fuel draining behind the safety car. This lack of fuel forced Robert Kubica and Nico Rosberg to incur 10 second penalties for re-fuelling whilst the pit lane was ‘closed’. When Massa finally pitted on lap 17, a faulty light signal prompted him to accelerate away with the fuel hose still attached. The hose ripped out of the bowser, bowled over one of the pit crew and dragged behind the Ferrari until Massa stopped. Further seconds were lost as the crew raced after the car and wrestled the nozzle from the tank. Massa rejoined the race in last place.
Meanwhile Rosberg (Williams) had re-joined the race and, as one by one the cars ahead pitted for fuel, found himself in the lead, followed by Jarno Trulli (Toyota) who was on a one-stop strategy. Rosberg finally pitted for his penalty, leaving Trulli in the lead. Once Trulli pitted, Alonso was clear away and began to build a strong lead. Meanwhile, David Coulthard had moved up into third, with Lewis Hamilton fourth. Alonso pitted on lap 40, by which time he had built a sufficient lead to re-join just in front of Coulthard. Hamilton saw his opportunity and passed Coulthard seconds later before a final pit stop.
Raikkonen, who had patiently worked his way back into fifth position after the earlier chaos, crashed out with just four laps to go. Team mate Massa had spun off on lap 50; pulling away just before Adrian Sutil (Force India) crashed into the barrier. Not a good evening for a team which started 1st and 3rd on the grid.
In what could become defining moments in the 2008 championship, Ferrari lost their constructor’s lead to McLaren and Renault pulled ahead of Toyota to take fourth place behind BMW Sauber.
The next grand prix takes place in Japan on Sunday 12 October.
Mike O’Neill
The top eight finishers were:
1 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2 Nico Rosberg (Williams)
3 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
4 Timo Glock (Toyota)
5 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)
6 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
7 David Coulthard (Red Bull)
8 Kazuki Nakajima (Williams)
After 15 races, the leader board looks like this:
Drivers:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 84
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 77
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 64
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 56
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 51
7 Fernando Alonso (Renault) 38
8 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) 27
9Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 26
10 Timo Glock (Toyota) 20
10 Mark Webber (Red Bull) 20
Teams:
1 McLaren 135fer
2 Ferrari 134
3 BMW Sauber 120
4 Renault 51
5 Toyota 46
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Formula 1 Night Race - Singapore
Singapore Grand Prix
Sunday 28 September 2008
Track: 5.067 km
Laps: 61
Qualifying:
With just one point separating the world championship leaders, today’s practise on a new street track was always going to be tense. This tension was increased by having to qualify under floodlights. The Singapore circuit will see the first ever Formula 1 night race, which gets under way at 20.00 local time.
Felipe Massa gained a psychological advantage by qualifying over half a second faster than Lewis Hamilton but this may have been achieved with a significantly lighter fuel load. This will make Ferrari’s pit stop strategy even more critical than usual. Massa later said: “The track is very difficult and requires total concentration lap after lap because there is no room for error: it's much harder here than in Monaco”. Kimi Raikkonen in the other Ferrari qualified third, with Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) fourth. Heikki Kovaleinen (McLaren) finds himself sandwiched between the two Sauber BMWs, having Nick Heidfeld behind him in sixth place. Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso), who won his first Grand Prix at Monza earlier this month, starts seventh with Timo Glock (Toyota) eighth. The two Williams drivers are ninth and tenth, giving Kazuki Nakajima his first ever top ten start.
Fernando Alonso failed to get into the top 10 after several promising runs in practice. His Renault engine cut out during the second qualifying session, which means he will start in 15th place.
The forecast? Thundery rain is expected but when and how much is still undecided. The race starts at 14.00 (or 20.00 if you happen to be in Singapore!)
The grid line-up:
1 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
2 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
3 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
4 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW)
5 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
6 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
7 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)
8 Timo Glock (Toyota)
9 Nico Rosberg (Williams)
10 Kazuki Nakajima (Williams)
Top six after 14 races:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 78
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 77
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 64
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 53
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 51
Sunday 28 September 2008
Track: 5.067 km
Laps: 61
Qualifying:
With just one point separating the world championship leaders, today’s practise on a new street track was always going to be tense. This tension was increased by having to qualify under floodlights. The Singapore circuit will see the first ever Formula 1 night race, which gets under way at 20.00 local time.
Felipe Massa gained a psychological advantage by qualifying over half a second faster than Lewis Hamilton but this may have been achieved with a significantly lighter fuel load. This will make Ferrari’s pit stop strategy even more critical than usual. Massa later said: “The track is very difficult and requires total concentration lap after lap because there is no room for error: it's much harder here than in Monaco”. Kimi Raikkonen in the other Ferrari qualified third, with Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) fourth. Heikki Kovaleinen (McLaren) finds himself sandwiched between the two Sauber BMWs, having Nick Heidfeld behind him in sixth place. Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso), who won his first Grand Prix at Monza earlier this month, starts seventh with Timo Glock (Toyota) eighth. The two Williams drivers are ninth and tenth, giving Kazuki Nakajima his first ever top ten start.
Fernando Alonso failed to get into the top 10 after several promising runs in practice. His Renault engine cut out during the second qualifying session, which means he will start in 15th place.
The forecast? Thundery rain is expected but when and how much is still undecided. The race starts at 14.00 (or 20.00 if you happen to be in Singapore!)
The grid line-up:
1 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
2 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
3 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
4 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW)
5 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
6 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
7 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)
8 Timo Glock (Toyota)
9 Nico Rosberg (Williams)
10 Kazuki Nakajima (Williams)
Top six after 14 races:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 78
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 77
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 64
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 53
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 51
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
TROPHÉE CLAIREFONTAINE
VALENCIA – Sunday, 14 SEPTEMBER 2008
Sunday was the last day of this fun, three day event down at the Port. A good crowd turned up to watch and the atmosphere hummed with press and spectator side-by-side, eager to see whether the hot favourite (Peyron) would actually pull it off. With varying breeze and no-one taking a flyer to come storming up from the rear, Luc Dubois (Alinghi Red) sailed a good race to come in first, followed by Nicolas Charbonnier, who looks like a fun sort of guy, with Loïck Peyron (seven times winner of this event) in third place.
Score Board, for those who like the details
Claire Leroy (women's match racing world champion 2007/08) and her all woman crew suffered a capsize early in the first race and had to be brought back to shore. Looking shaken and disappointed there was some confusion as to what happened to the third crew member. The race continued but later we saw a stretcher being taken away by ambulance on the far shore. A press release from the organisers' office would have been good but nothing was forthcoming. We trust she is now fully recovered.
Capsize of Leroy
From years of sailing in The Solent the bliss of guaranteed sunshine and at least a bit of breeze made me yearn to be out there on the water. But after an extremely scary capsize on a Hobie Cat some years ago, perhaps a glass of wine in the safety of the press enclosure among sensible people was the way to go ... maybe ....
All in all it was a great event and, at the prize-giving, with a history of looking the wrong way at the right moment, I managed to get sprayed with champagne; a sticky end to an almost perfect day.
Getting ready to go racing
A puff of breeze
The winner, Alinghi Red, Luc Dubois
Sunday was the last day of this fun, three day event down at the Port. A good crowd turned up to watch and the atmosphere hummed with press and spectator side-by-side, eager to see whether the hot favourite (Peyron) would actually pull it off. With varying breeze and no-one taking a flyer to come storming up from the rear, Luc Dubois (Alinghi Red) sailed a good race to come in first, followed by Nicolas Charbonnier, who looks like a fun sort of guy, with Loïck Peyron (seven times winner of this event) in third place.
Score Board, for those who like the details
Claire Leroy (women's match racing world champion 2007/08) and her all woman crew suffered a capsize early in the first race and had to be brought back to shore. Looking shaken and disappointed there was some confusion as to what happened to the third crew member. The race continued but later we saw a stretcher being taken away by ambulance on the far shore. A press release from the organisers' office would have been good but nothing was forthcoming. We trust she is now fully recovered.
Capsize of Leroy
From years of sailing in The Solent the bliss of guaranteed sunshine and at least a bit of breeze made me yearn to be out there on the water. But after an extremely scary capsize on a Hobie Cat some years ago, perhaps a glass of wine in the safety of the press enclosure among sensible people was the way to go ... maybe ....
All in all it was a great event and, at the prize-giving, with a history of looking the wrong way at the right moment, I managed to get sprayed with champagne; a sticky end to an almost perfect day.
Getting ready to go racing
A puff of breeze
The winner, Alinghi Red, Luc Dubois
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Italian Grand Prix
Italian Grand Prix
Sunday 14 September
Monza
In what proved a shrewd move, the safety car was deployed before the start to avoid the usual first-corner ‘scramble’ which, in the wet conditions, would have almost certainly caused a major crash. As it was, the race got away to a smooth start and the safety car pulled off after a lap. Showing a maturity far beyond his 21 years, Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) defended his pole position from second-placed Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) and quickly secured a few seconds over the Finn.
Starting from 15th on the grid was a new experience for Lewis Hamilton but at least he had company for there at 14 was Kimi Raikkonen. The pair soon showed a clean pair of exhaust pipes to David Coulthard (Red Bull) and Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India) and on lap 42, Hamilton managed to get past Raikkonen. Four laps later, Hamilton touched wheels with former team-mate Fernando Alonso (Renault) and slipped into 7th place, looking hot for a podium finish. Meanwhile, Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) was playing a one-stop strategy, having started 11th on the grid. With 22 laps to go, he had pulled up into second place before pitting and changing to intermediate tyres.
Alonso, who had earlier been passed by Hamilton, had also switched to intermediate tyres and it was this strategy that allowed him to turn the tables on the Englishman and secured him a fourth overall. Felipe Massa had a relatively uneventful race apart from an overtaking incident with Nico Rosberg (Williams), which the Ferrari team decided he had to five back. Realising he still had Hamilton behind him decided the Brazilian on a cautious approach which narroes the gap between them to just one point.
Unhappiest man of the day has to be Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso) who, after qualifying fourth, stalled on the grid and lost a lap whilst being re-started.
His team-mate Sebastian Vettel is now the youngest driver ever to have won a Formula 1 race. As he later said when asked how it felt: “It is better than I had ever expected. A big thank you to everyone in the team for their great work.”
The next grand prix takes place in Singapore on Sunday 28 September
The top eight finishers were:
1 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)
2 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
3 Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)
4 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
6 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
7 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
8 Mark Webber (Red Bull)
After 14 races, the leader board looks like this:
Drivers:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 78
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 77
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 64
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 53
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 51
7 Fernando Alonso (Renault) 28
8 Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 26
9 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) 23
10 Mark Webber (Red Bull) 20
Teams:
1 Ferrari 134
2 McLaren 129
3 BMW Sauber 117
4 Toyota 41
5 Renault 41
Mike O’Neill
Sunday 14 September
Monza
In what proved a shrewd move, the safety car was deployed before the start to avoid the usual first-corner ‘scramble’ which, in the wet conditions, would have almost certainly caused a major crash. As it was, the race got away to a smooth start and the safety car pulled off after a lap. Showing a maturity far beyond his 21 years, Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) defended his pole position from second-placed Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) and quickly secured a few seconds over the Finn.
Starting from 15th on the grid was a new experience for Lewis Hamilton but at least he had company for there at 14 was Kimi Raikkonen. The pair soon showed a clean pair of exhaust pipes to David Coulthard (Red Bull) and Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India) and on lap 42, Hamilton managed to get past Raikkonen. Four laps later, Hamilton touched wheels with former team-mate Fernando Alonso (Renault) and slipped into 7th place, looking hot for a podium finish. Meanwhile, Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) was playing a one-stop strategy, having started 11th on the grid. With 22 laps to go, he had pulled up into second place before pitting and changing to intermediate tyres.
Alonso, who had earlier been passed by Hamilton, had also switched to intermediate tyres and it was this strategy that allowed him to turn the tables on the Englishman and secured him a fourth overall. Felipe Massa had a relatively uneventful race apart from an overtaking incident with Nico Rosberg (Williams), which the Ferrari team decided he had to five back. Realising he still had Hamilton behind him decided the Brazilian on a cautious approach which narroes the gap between them to just one point.
Unhappiest man of the day has to be Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso) who, after qualifying fourth, stalled on the grid and lost a lap whilst being re-started.
His team-mate Sebastian Vettel is now the youngest driver ever to have won a Formula 1 race. As he later said when asked how it felt: “It is better than I had ever expected. A big thank you to everyone in the team for their great work.”
The next grand prix takes place in Singapore on Sunday 28 September
The top eight finishers were:
1 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)
2 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
3 Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)
4 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
6 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
7 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
8 Mark Webber (Red Bull)
After 14 races, the leader board looks like this:
Drivers:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 78
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 77
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 64
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 53
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 51
7 Fernando Alonso (Renault) 28
8 Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 26
9 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) 23
10 Mark Webber (Red Bull) 20
Teams:
1 Ferrari 134
2 McLaren 129
3 BMW Sauber 117
4 Toyota 41
5 Renault 41
Mike O’Neill
Italian Grand Prix - Qualifying
Italian Grand Prix
Sunday 14 September
Monza
Track: 5.79 km
Laps: 53
Qualifying:
Monza is the ‘spiritual home’ of Ferrari, just 180km north of their factory at Modena, so just an hour away for the average Italian driver. The ‘Tifosi’, as the great band of Ferrari fans are known, will be out in force to cheer on Felipe Massa who, following the controversial decision at Spa last week, is just two points behind Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers Championship table.
It is probably the fastest track in the current Grand Prix calendar. The long straights encourage the use of full throttle and low downforce, so less grip in the corners. If you add torrential rain into the equation, it becomes very interesting indeed. This was very evident in Saturday’s qualifying sessions as first one, then another top driver failed to keep his car pointing in the right direction. Whether it was poor tyre choice or simply bad timing, both Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen failed to post good enough times to get into the top ten. Even Felipe Massa struggled to claim sixth on the grid. It was left to Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso), to show the way and secure pole position. Vettel turned 21 in July and so becomes the youngest driver ever to head a Formula 1 start. He is joined on the front row by Heikki Kovalainen, with Mark Webber (Red Bull) in third. Sebastian Bourdais is fourth in the other Toro Rosso with Nico Rosberg (Williams) in fifth.
The forecast is for more rain on Sunday. The big questions are when and how much? The race starts at 14.00.
The grid line-up:
1 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)
2 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
3 Mark Webber (Red Bull)
4 Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso)
5 Nico Rosberg (Williams)
6 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
7 Jarno Trulli (Toyota)
8 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
9 Timo Glock (Toyota)
10 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
Top six after 13 races:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 76
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 74
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 58
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 49
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 43
Mike O’Neill
Sunday 14 September
Monza
Track: 5.79 km
Laps: 53
Qualifying:
Monza is the ‘spiritual home’ of Ferrari, just 180km north of their factory at Modena, so just an hour away for the average Italian driver. The ‘Tifosi’, as the great band of Ferrari fans are known, will be out in force to cheer on Felipe Massa who, following the controversial decision at Spa last week, is just two points behind Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers Championship table.
It is probably the fastest track in the current Grand Prix calendar. The long straights encourage the use of full throttle and low downforce, so less grip in the corners. If you add torrential rain into the equation, it becomes very interesting indeed. This was very evident in Saturday’s qualifying sessions as first one, then another top driver failed to keep his car pointing in the right direction. Whether it was poor tyre choice or simply bad timing, both Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen failed to post good enough times to get into the top ten. Even Felipe Massa struggled to claim sixth on the grid. It was left to Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso), to show the way and secure pole position. Vettel turned 21 in July and so becomes the youngest driver ever to head a Formula 1 start. He is joined on the front row by Heikki Kovalainen, with Mark Webber (Red Bull) in third. Sebastian Bourdais is fourth in the other Toro Rosso with Nico Rosberg (Williams) in fifth.
The forecast is for more rain on Sunday. The big questions are when and how much? The race starts at 14.00.
The grid line-up:
1 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)
2 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
3 Mark Webber (Red Bull)
4 Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso)
5 Nico Rosberg (Williams)
6 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
7 Jarno Trulli (Toyota)
8 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
9 Timo Glock (Toyota)
10 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
Top six after 13 races:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 76
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 74
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 58
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 49
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 43
Mike O’Neill
Trofeo Clairefontaine - Saturday 13 September
Racing was always tight and exciting to watch
TV 'chopper over Alinghi HQ
Peyron's classy move in Race 5!
Spectators on the Velas i Vents balcony
Claire Leroy chases Fernando León
Ed Baird talks to TV News after racingRacing got under way a little later than expected today, thanks to your reporter failing to check the up-dated programme!
Conditions were perfect with blue skies and a nice 8-10 km/h breeze. The first race was an out-of-harbour race won by Loïck Peyron, with Ed Baird in second and Nicolas Charbonnier third.
The remaining races (nine in total) are being held in the America's Cup Harbour, or Marina Juan Carlos 1 as it's now known, right in front of the Velas i Vents jetty. Race 2 went to Spanish sailor Fernando León, with Peyron second and Charbonnier third.
Race three was spoilt by the noise from a TV helicopter that hovered no more than 50m above our heads, drowning out the commentary provided by Sailing One, the event organizers. Luc Dubois led around the course, followed closely by Loïck Peyron. At the final turn, Peyron showed why he has won this event no less than seven times. Seeing Dubois about to lose his wind to an approaching
boat, Peyron squeezed up for clear air and took the lead. Dubois fought back and managed to cross the line just one second ahead.
Claire Leroy who is World Women's Match-racing champion sailed an excellent race 4, leading at the final mark. In a surprise reversal of fortune, she lost out metres from the finish to Dubois, who was beginning to look a serious threat to Peyronís overall lead.
In a breathtaking display of sailing skill at the start of race 5, Loïck Peyron sailed below his slower competition until, almost touching the commentatorís box, tacked and crossed the entire fleet.
Fernando León tried a similar move in race 6 but found his way blocked. He raised both hands in disbelief when the umpires refused to issue penalties and finished a dejected 8th.
After six races, Loïck Peyron is just three points ahead of Luc Dubois, with the very consistent Nicolas Charbonnier in third. America's Cup Winner Ed Baird is tied in fourth place with León, who will be hoping to put today's disappointment out of his mind before tomorrow's final three races get under way.
It is difficult to convey just how quickly it all happens once the count-down begins. Five races had been started and finished within two hours this afternoon.
Racing starts tomorrow at 13.30 sharp. The final three races will be followed by the prizegiving at 15.00. Get there by 12.30 and you will be assured of a good viewing position.
ps Car-parking under the Velas i Vents building is free. So not only do you save yourself a walk, the car will be nice and cool when you come to drive home!
Mike O'Neill
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Fun in the Port of Valencia, The Trophee Clairefontaine
The Trophee Clairefontaine got off to a great start yesterday with their sailing equivalent of the qualifying circuits at Formula One, the Warm-up Rhodia. It makes for a highly entertaining afternoon. The races in small catamarans are short and so close to you in the Basin of the Juan Carlos 1 marina, that you can almost touch them!
Racing continues today from 12 O'clock with 'Raids'off the beach at Las Arenas, followed by 2 hours of races back in the basin. The final day and trophy giving is tomorrow, Sunday.
The best news is that it's all free to the public and the best views are from the Veles i Vents building.
More from our sailing correspondent Mike O'Neill later.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Spare time this weekend?
Valencia Mayor, Rita Barbéra Presents the Clairefontaine Regattas at the Ayuntamiento
Trofeo Clairefontaine 13 – 14 September 2008
If you have some spare time this weekend or just want to see what has been happening down at the America’s Cup Port since the America’s Cup went into limbo [and Formula One came and went], now’s your chance.
The Trofeo Clairefontaine is an annual regatta with a difference. It is sailed at close quarters (in the harbour!) so that spectators can view the action from the shore. The best part is: each race lasts no more than 8 – 12 minutes! Valencia has been chosen for this, the nineteenth year of the trophy race series sponsored by French stationery company Clairefontaine, who are celebrating 150 years in business.
Eight of the best sailors in the world are invited to participate in a knock-out series over a weekend of short, exciting races in 7.65m (25ft) catamarans. Each boat has a crew of three including the skipper and teams are easily identified by their different-coloured spinnaker sails. Among the eight sailors are last year’s champion, Michel Desjoyeax, Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird and Solo Transatlantic Race winner Loïck Peyron. Spain’s Fernando León, an Olympic gold-medallist will be competing for the second time while for Claire Leroy, women’s World Match-Race champion, this will be her first invitation to this thrilling event.
The best place to watch the racing is on the terrace of the ‘Velas y Vents’ building near the entrance to the America’s Cup Port. There is plenty of parking there and free programmes showing competitors and timetables will be available on site.
A series of ‘warm-up’ races will take place Friday afternoon between 15.00 to 17.00 and the action proper gets underway between 12.00 and 18.00 Saturday and 13.30 to 14.30 on Sunday. Prize giving starts promptly at 15.00, so you could still be in time for a late lunch on Malvarossa beach.
Mike O’Neill
Monday, September 08, 2008
Belgian Grand Prix
Unlucky 13 for Hamilton
In what should have been his finest moment so far, Lewis Hamilton had his victory at Spa snatched away soon after receiving the winner’s trophy.
Starting from pole position, Hamilton got away smoothly in the 13th race of the season but, following a spin near the end of the first lap, soon found fourth placed Raikkonen all over him. The Fin was clearly hungry to show why he is the current world champion and got past the British driver with a daring move. Heikki Kovaleinen, who started second, should have been covering for Hamilton but a crunch at the first corner pushed him down the field and he never really recovered.
Raikkonen led for most of the race, followed by Hamilton and Felipe Massa. The skies, which had looked threatening all day, started dropping a light drizzle six laps from the finish. Hamilton saw his chance and closed on Raikkonen. With two laps to go, the shower became a downpour and Hamilton made his move at the final chicane. Both drivers were still on hard tyres and Raikkonen went wide, leaving Hamilton with nowhere to go except to cut the chicane. Coming out ahead of the Ferrari and realizing he could get a penalty, Hamilton allowed Raikkonen through and continued the chase, taking the lead once more at the hairpin. When back-marker Nico Rosberg spun and blocked the track with a lap and a half to go, Raikkonen seized the lead once more, only to spin off into the tyre wall, leaving Hamilton to cruise carefully to take the chequered flag.
Hamilton shared the podium with Felipe Massa and Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber), whose courageous decision to go in for wet weather tyres just two laps from the finish pulled him from seventh to third. Two hours later came the news that Hamilton had been penalized 25 seconds (equivalent to a drive-through penalty) by the stewards, relegating him to third in the race and handing Massa his fifth win this year and boosting Heidfeld into second.
In all the drama, it should be remembered that there was some great driving further down the field. Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso) looked good for his first podium finish until the rain arrived. But the decision to stay out on hard tyres proved wrong as first Heidfeld, then team-mate Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica went by. Bourdais later confessed: “it was a very frustrating way to finish what was a great weekend up to that point.” Still, he managed to double his points for the year and maybe this taste of success will bring him better results in the races still to come.
Fernando Alonso showed what it takes to be a two-times world champion by surrendering his fourth place to go and get wet tyres with less than two laps remaining. He re-entered in eighth place and drove furiously to regain fourth after Raikkonen’s crash. Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) is another driver whose decision to stay out on dry tyres could have cost him dearly. But still he managed to finish in the points for the fifth time in the seven races he has completed this year. The now more reliable Toro Rosso should take Vettel further up the points table in the remaining five.
All in all a very satisfying race, in spite of the controversial decision over Hamilton.
The top eight finishers were:
1 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
2 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
3 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
4 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
5 Sebastian Vettel (STR-Ferrari)
6 Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)
7 Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso)
8 Mark Webber (Red Bull)
After 13 races, the leader board looks like this:
Drivers:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 76
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 74
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 58
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 49
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 43
7 Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 26
8 Fernando Alonso (Renault) 23
9 Mark Webber (Red Bull) 19
10 Timo Glock (Toyota) 15
Teams:
1 Ferrari 131
2 McLaren 119
3 BMW Sauber 107
4 Toyota 41
5 Renault 36
The next race (the 14th) is at Monza next Sunday. Could this be where Massa makes the move to re-establish himself at the top of the table? With just 2 points between them, it should be very exciting, especially in front of Ferrari's home crowd.
Footnote: The internet is buzzing with the cries of outraged fans who believe Hamilton and Team McLaren were ‘robbed’ of a just victory. They make the point that Ferrari extended their contract with Formula 1 Management until 2012 in return for a greater say in the way the rules are drawn up. It is fair to say that the stewards do seem to have penalised Hamilton rather harshly in the circumstances but no doubt all will come out in the impending appeal hearing called for by McLaren.
Mike O’Neill
In what should have been his finest moment so far, Lewis Hamilton had his victory at Spa snatched away soon after receiving the winner’s trophy.
Starting from pole position, Hamilton got away smoothly in the 13th race of the season but, following a spin near the end of the first lap, soon found fourth placed Raikkonen all over him. The Fin was clearly hungry to show why he is the current world champion and got past the British driver with a daring move. Heikki Kovaleinen, who started second, should have been covering for Hamilton but a crunch at the first corner pushed him down the field and he never really recovered.
Raikkonen led for most of the race, followed by Hamilton and Felipe Massa. The skies, which had looked threatening all day, started dropping a light drizzle six laps from the finish. Hamilton saw his chance and closed on Raikkonen. With two laps to go, the shower became a downpour and Hamilton made his move at the final chicane. Both drivers were still on hard tyres and Raikkonen went wide, leaving Hamilton with nowhere to go except to cut the chicane. Coming out ahead of the Ferrari and realizing he could get a penalty, Hamilton allowed Raikkonen through and continued the chase, taking the lead once more at the hairpin. When back-marker Nico Rosberg spun and blocked the track with a lap and a half to go, Raikkonen seized the lead once more, only to spin off into the tyre wall, leaving Hamilton to cruise carefully to take the chequered flag.
Hamilton shared the podium with Felipe Massa and Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber), whose courageous decision to go in for wet weather tyres just two laps from the finish pulled him from seventh to third. Two hours later came the news that Hamilton had been penalized 25 seconds (equivalent to a drive-through penalty) by the stewards, relegating him to third in the race and handing Massa his fifth win this year and boosting Heidfeld into second.
In all the drama, it should be remembered that there was some great driving further down the field. Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso) looked good for his first podium finish until the rain arrived. But the decision to stay out on hard tyres proved wrong as first Heidfeld, then team-mate Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica went by. Bourdais later confessed: “it was a very frustrating way to finish what was a great weekend up to that point.” Still, he managed to double his points for the year and maybe this taste of success will bring him better results in the races still to come.
Fernando Alonso showed what it takes to be a two-times world champion by surrendering his fourth place to go and get wet tyres with less than two laps remaining. He re-entered in eighth place and drove furiously to regain fourth after Raikkonen’s crash. Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) is another driver whose decision to stay out on dry tyres could have cost him dearly. But still he managed to finish in the points for the fifth time in the seven races he has completed this year. The now more reliable Toro Rosso should take Vettel further up the points table in the remaining five.
All in all a very satisfying race, in spite of the controversial decision over Hamilton.
The top eight finishers were:
1 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
2 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
3 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
4 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
5 Sebastian Vettel (STR-Ferrari)
6 Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)
7 Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso)
8 Mark Webber (Red Bull)
After 13 races, the leader board looks like this:
Drivers:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 76
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 74
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 58
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 49
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 43
7 Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 26
8 Fernando Alonso (Renault) 23
9 Mark Webber (Red Bull) 19
10 Timo Glock (Toyota) 15
Teams:
1 Ferrari 131
2 McLaren 119
3 BMW Sauber 107
4 Toyota 41
5 Renault 36
The next race (the 14th) is at Monza next Sunday. Could this be where Massa makes the move to re-establish himself at the top of the table? With just 2 points between them, it should be very exciting, especially in front of Ferrari's home crowd.
Footnote: The internet is buzzing with the cries of outraged fans who believe Hamilton and Team McLaren were ‘robbed’ of a just victory. They make the point that Ferrari extended their contract with Formula 1 Management until 2012 in return for a greater say in the way the rules are drawn up. It is fair to say that the stewards do seem to have penalised Hamilton rather harshly in the circumstances but no doubt all will come out in the impending appeal hearing called for by McLaren.
Mike O’Neill
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Belgian Grand Prix
Belgian Grand Prix
Spa
Sunday 7 September
7.00km 44 laps
Race: 14.00 Sun
The track at Spa Francorcamps is, at 7 kilometres the longest on the Formula 1 championship circuit. Most of today’s qualifying took place under grey skies and it seemed for a while that the McLarens had the speed to keep Ferrari off the front row in Sunday’s race. Lewis Hamilton secured pole with a superb lap and Heikki Kovaleinen was also very quick. But Felipe Massa put in a technically perfect lap and split the two McLarens. Kimi Raikkonen was again outclassed by his Brazilian team mate although he may draw comfort from having won at Spa for the last three years. He said later: “I am reasonably happy with my car, which seems to be behaving the way I like.”
Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) was fifth, ahead of Fernando Alonso, who manages to coax quite a bit more out of his Renault than his points (18 so far) would suggest. “We now have a real chance to get a strong result tomorrow, which is important for the championship. I’m quite confident,” said ‘Nando after qualifying.
There is a chance that the awful weather system above England may spill over into Belgium tomorrow. If that happens, there could be a few surprise results to report.
If Sky is not available, the race can be seen live on TV3 (with Catalan commentary!). It is repeated on Sunday evening on TV33 at 22.00.
The grid line-up:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
3 Heikki Kovalainen(McLaren)
4 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
6 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
7 Mark Webber (Red Bull)
8 Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)
9 Sebastian Bourdais(Toro Rosso)
10 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)
Top six after 12 races:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 70
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 64
3 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
4 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 55
5 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 43
6 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 41
Mike O’Neill
Spa
Sunday 7 September
7.00km 44 laps
Race: 14.00 Sun
The track at Spa Francorcamps is, at 7 kilometres the longest on the Formula 1 championship circuit. Most of today’s qualifying took place under grey skies and it seemed for a while that the McLarens had the speed to keep Ferrari off the front row in Sunday’s race. Lewis Hamilton secured pole with a superb lap and Heikki Kovaleinen was also very quick. But Felipe Massa put in a technically perfect lap and split the two McLarens. Kimi Raikkonen was again outclassed by his Brazilian team mate although he may draw comfort from having won at Spa for the last three years. He said later: “I am reasonably happy with my car, which seems to be behaving the way I like.”
Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) was fifth, ahead of Fernando Alonso, who manages to coax quite a bit more out of his Renault than his points (18 so far) would suggest. “We now have a real chance to get a strong result tomorrow, which is important for the championship. I’m quite confident,” said ‘Nando after qualifying.
There is a chance that the awful weather system above England may spill over into Belgium tomorrow. If that happens, there could be a few surprise results to report.
If Sky is not available, the race can be seen live on TV3 (with Catalan commentary!). It is repeated on Sunday evening on TV33 at 22.00.
The grid line-up:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
3 Heikki Kovalainen(McLaren)
4 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
6 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
7 Mark Webber (Red Bull)
8 Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)
9 Sebastian Bourdais(Toro Rosso)
10 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)
Top six after 12 races:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 70
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 64
3 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
4 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 55
5 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 43
6 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 41
Mike O’Neill
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