Winter Testing gets ugly
The pre-season testing schedule kicked off on Monday as the teams returned to the track at Barcelona to begin the quest for glory (or a slightly higher middle-order placing) for 2009. And any hopes that the gawky look of the 2009-spec rear ended Williams from earlier in the year would be fixed once the teams converted the rest of the car to the new, low-aero specification were cruelly ruined as BMW Sauber revealed their full 09-spec development car. Don't click on that link if you're a) of a nervous disposition, b) eating your lunch or c) working for a company with a particularly strict policy against accessing disturbing images on your work IP. It really is a sight for the sorest of eyes. Halfway between an A1GP car and a hideously distorted image of the elephant man. Still, it isn't all bad news. The teams will be busily testing KERS, with Ferrari also set to debut their 09 mockup as well, while slicks will be back, saving the looks of all the cars. And Red Bull will hand a test run to multi-WRC champ Sebastien Loeb, in a decisive attempt to show how committed they are for 2009 and are in no way set to lose their way over a gimmicky stunt or two. Good news.
Patty's own reports on the first test of the winter may well be horribly delayed due to the fact that we're all off on our holidays for the next week or so. Sorry. We'll bring you back a present though.
Murray smacktalks the Beeb
One man not supporting F1's UK TV switch from ITV to the Beeb is, perhaps surprisingly, Murray Walker. "The last time the BBC had it they didn't appreciate how important it was. They didn't devote the right people and facilities," Muzza lamented, adding that "ITV spent a great deal on those rights and they made the most of them. They made sure they had the right people, they brought in experts - people like Tony Jardine. They devoted a lot more time than the BBC ever did". Though that would ignore the fact that ITV sacked Jardine many moons ago for the enigmatic Blunders. News Junkie will confidently disagree with the great one on this point. It personally expects proper live quali and race shows, and the whole shebang (practice included) live on the Beeb website and on BBCi. Apart from when the Moto GP is on. Or the snooker. Or the rugby. Or some horse racing. Or the darts. Or Wimbledon. But other than that, we're sorted.
Canada offically dropped
It looks like the end of the road for the Montreal leg of the F1 circus, as last ditch efforts to salvage some sort of deal for the Canadian GP failed, meaning that "no Canadian Grand Prix will be held for the foreseeable future". "We are so far from what he (Ecclestone) is asking - that is why we find ourselves where we are today," moaned the Québec province's Minister of Economic Development, Raymond Bachand, on the subject of the ludicrous amount of cash Bernie Ecclestone demanded of them. Not as Bernard will be worried, with the wealth of Far East events clamouring to throw cash at him for a place on a calender. Well, all except China, that is, as "Ecclestone is seeking to find a solution for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, which has been losing money and is uncertain of renewing its contract beyond 2010 – some reports indicate that even the 2009 Chinese race is in doubt". So 16 events for 2009 then. This is getting easier by the second.
"Mickey Mouse circuit" puns on hold
The other long-standing F1 event currently crippled six ways past sunset, the French GP, has also taken a hit to it's hopes of returning recently, as the mooted new track at Disneyland Paris attracted the wrath of local NIMBYs. Saturday saw "about 250 protesters with banners, declaring 'no' to the proposed Formula One circuit" turning out to demonstrate against the proposed new track on the grounds of "noise, disruption to the area, and environmental damage". Yep, an F1 track would almost definitely ruin the carefully tendered ecosystem that exists around Europe's largest theme park.
KERS to disadvantage fatties
Robert Kubica, fresh from having a decent 2008 season, is preparing his excuses for having a poor 2009 season already, and first on the list is his weight. Or more specifically, the disadvantage the "larger" drivers on the grid will find when using the KERS boost button next year. Apparently, "the new technology is expected to weigh a significant amount, nudging the overall weight of a car...closer to the 600kg minimum limit", meaning there'll be less ballast to play with once the driver is added to the mix. AN odd issue, given that surely if all the KERS units weigh the same, then everyone is disadvantaged to a similar extent in terms of loss of ballast, but never mind. Despite this, Bobby K is keeping as cheery a face as he can on his hopes for 2009, saying that “In 2009 we will need to replicate that period, but over the entire season". Controversial stuff.
Nico lays down the law
And finally, some news of sorts for The Head to disseminate. Nico Rosberg has apparently been quoted in something called "Formule 1 Race Report" saying that his time at Williams may be nearing an end, if the 09 car proves as tirelessly useless as it's predecessor. "If Williams are not running well by then [the middle of 2009], then I must look at going elsewhere....There are other doors that are open for me, but if I wait too long they may automaticallly close". Which either means he's off to the DTM, or the rumours and missives linking Nico with either McLaren, BMW or just maybe Force India have a grain of truth to them. The Head remains ever hopeful. Probably not about the Force India stuff, though.
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