// Blighted by motorsport politics, yet adored by British politicians, the UK’s premier slot in the annual F1 calendar is also every bit as important, not merely in income or status terms, as one of the tiny nation’s other greatest sporting achievements. As major as Wimbledon is for tennis, or St Andrews is for golf, Silverstone is the home to the British Grand Prix. However, its top billing has been shared by other venues too and could have been somewhat different in 2012, had one operation not fiddled the books and attempted to spread egg on Bernie’s visage.
Yesterday the concept for a grand prix in London was announced with support from the city of London, British drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, along with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. The project, while still in its infancy, is surprisingly well on its way to being a reality and soon London could host a GP on its city streets.
Santander UK, the British wing of the Spanish banking group, has lead the recent efforts and contracted Populous Archtitects to produce a conceptual design of the circuit and supporting facilities. Two videos were also produced with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers Button and Hamilton, showing a virtual lap around the track and an in studio introduction piece. So far these videos have made it around the world, producing a positive sentiment by both fans of the sport and the local media in England.
London Grand Prix Concept by Santander from The Austin Grand Prix on Vimeo.
London's Mayor has expressed support for the event citing only small obstacles such as noise managment, as potential hurdles to overcome for the race to be held. Bernie Ecclestone, according to Adam Cooper at Speed, would front the cost to stage the event in order to make it a reality; a major contrast to the recent sanctioning fees imposed on Austin and other recent circuits.
With additional circuits such as New Jersey and Russia joining in the next few years, there's little room in the race calendar to allow for the exitsting circuits, so the question remains if the British GP at Silvertsone will be replaced by the London GP.
Until we learn more about the project and it makes it on the calendar officially for next season or 2014, take a virtual lap around the track in the video below.
Sunday race action - Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG Petronas at the 2012 European GP. Image courtesy of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team.The following is a feature by Austinite Mike Boone. Mike is an avid F1 fan and he prepared this information to educate guests at tonight's networking event with EuroCircle at Javelina. We think it will be a great primer for new F1 fans, so we'll have copies to distribute at the event.
// What do you need to know about the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 team? Here are some helpful facts:
The first Mercedes involvement in Formula One came four years after the first race in 1954. Mercedes has also served as an engine provider to other teams with their engines winning two constructors and four driver’s championships. The current team has been competing since 2010 after the purchase of Brawn GP. As a constructor Mercedes have won two drivers championships and ten races in Formula One.
Mercedes' drivers for 2012 are Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, although it is now known that Schumacher is retiring at the end of 2012 while Lewis Hamilton, currently at McLaren Mercedes is joining Rosberg at Mercedes AMG Petronas. Also, Mercedes AMG currently supply McLaren and Force India with engines.
The name for the Mercedes constructor in was changed for 2012, the team removed the GP from their name and added AMG, the high performance division of Mercedes.
At the China race this year Nico Rosberg won first pole position for Mercedes since Fangio last did it in 1955. Rosberg went on to win the Chinese Grand Prix this race which was the first win in China, in 57 years.
// About the Team
Full name: Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team (2012 – )
Base: Brackley, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
Team Principal: Ross Brawn
CEO: Nick Fry
Technical Director: Bob Bell
Website: www.Mercedes-AMG-F1.com
Previous name: Brawn GP Formula One Team
// 2012 Formula 1 Season
Drivers: #7 Michael Schumacher and #8 Nico Rosberg
Test Driver: Sam Bird
Chassis: Mercedes F1 W03
Engine: Mercedes-Benz
Tires: Pirelli
// F1 World Championship Career
Debut: 1954 French Grand Prix
Latest Race: 2012 European Grand Prix (photo above was taken there)
Races completed: 57
Constructor's Championships: 0
Drivers' Championships: 1954 and 1955
Race Victories: 10
Pole Positions: 9
Fastest Laps: 9
The information above was compiled from the Mercedes AMG Petronas website and Wikipedia.
There is only one word that is fitting to describe the European Grand Prix this past weekend in Valencia: Thrilling.
There were expected-winner starting on pole, the guessing games on strategy, racing incidents galore, safety car (!!), botched pit stop by McLaren (again!), 2 front-runners' cars failed in late stages, crash-out in last lap, unexpected podium and incredible joys of unlikely victory. Utterly unpredictable, and completely action-packed, I loved every minute of the intensity at the Valencia race.
Here's how it all went down - Vettel was on pole, if you recall my pre-race prediction, Vettel has won twice consecutively last two years, he was a sure-in to grab the win. And for the most part, I was right until lap 34 of the 57-lap race. Vettel was leaving everyone in the dust with comfortable margins, no one was close enough to catch him, he was so ahead that he went in for his pit stop, came back out and there was no traffic to slot back in, that's the kind of lead he was having.
Unfortunately for Vettel, his car failed him in lap 34 after the safety car had to come out to clean up Vergne-Kovalainen crushed bits on race track. Oddly enough, another Renault-engine car also failed unexpectedly. Grosjean was chasing Alonso down and doing a brilliant job catching up at the last few laps of the race, then suddenly, car failure and end of race for Grosjean.
There were a couple incidents throughout the race, three big ones to be exact. First, there was Vergne and Kovalainen. Then there was Kobayashi and Massa. Lastly, the most gutting of all incidents of the day, Maldonado and Hamilton at lap 55. I definitely feel for Hamilton, to be SO close to the finish line and suddenly losing it all.
Misfortune for some means gain for others. For this race, the lucky benefactor is Schumacher, who leaped to 3rd place on the podium. Well done for him, however unlikely this was a win for him, Schumacher fought hard through race after race and nothing like regaining glory to re-boost his confidence and drive.
Despite all the drama, in the end the best, the triumph, and the crown goes to the Alonso. I am not always the biggest fan of Alonso, but he raced the Ferrari from 11th to P1, never losing sight of the finish line and kept hustling lap after lap. He commanded and deserved all the respect and congratulations from not just the home crowd in Valencia but F1 fans everywhere. Well done!
So who wins the Best Post-race hair at the European Grand Prix, you ask? It goes to none other than Alonso, who also showed some real emotions on the podium with real tears. And what of the Grid Girls? It's another classy but boring showing - Ferrari-red dress with white bow as belt, reminds me of Christmas present. Are the Valencia Grid Girls the Spanish gifts to the world? Where are all the fashion designers - Grid Girl outfits need some excitement! I'm holding out some hope that the Grid Girl outfits will get better in the next race. It's been an unbelievably exciting Grand Prix weekend in Valencia, can't wait for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 6-8!
Javelina Bar - 69 Rainey Street, Austin, Texas
The Austin Grand Prix and EuroCircle will be hosting another networking and happy hour event with Mercedes Benz of Austin.
This event will be themed around motorsports such as F1, MotoGP, V8 Supercars and World Superbike. We highly encourage you to wear you favorite team shirt, colors and/or accessories to support motorsports coming to Austin beginning in November. Of course, if you would rather wear your cocktail dress or nice shirt, please do - we will not judge!
The purpose of this event will be to reunite, educate and promote Formula 1 and motorsports in Austin over drinks, hors d'oeuvres and common interests (or soon to be!). There will also be an informal discussion about the sport of Formula 1, as well as opportunities to chat with others and learn more.
Mercedes Benz of Austin will have goodies for the first 20 guests and more Mercedes/F1 accessories thereafter.
Light hors d'oeuvres will be served as well as $5 F1 Burgers (or Veggie Burger) and drink specials.
This is a free event and everyone is welcome! But please note that guests must be 21+ to gain admission into this bar.
// Please RSVP by clicking on this link //
Circuit of The Americas is proving their open arms mentality; in August 2011 we saw David Coulthard pilot the Red Bull Racing Showcar on a gravel track, in April of this year Alexis DeJoria took a Toyota Tundra on the pre-asphalt terrain. Earlier this month the newly-announced COTA Ambassador Mario Andretti showed us what a Cadillac Escalade was capable of on the newly-laid asphalt. Today, we got to see what a good 'ol American muscle car could stir up as COTA welcomed the fourth driver to test out the track, Australian V8 Supercars Driver Mark Winterbottom.
V8 Supercars is an Australian-based race series; one of the world's largest and best known touring car categories because it is recognized internationally as a leader in motorsport and entertainment. Mark is in the US as part of a media tour promoting his involvement with the Disney-PIXAR movie Cars 2, whereby he "plays" the character "Frosty" in the Australian version of the film. Before the end of the month, Mark will fly back to California for the opening of "Cars Land" at Disneyland.
While in Austin, he did a great job at hitting up many popular and uniquely Austin attractions - getting a pair of cowboy boots, enjoying great B-B-Q at Stubb's, visiting Jesse James at his Austin Speed Shop and enjoying an antelope burger at Elroy's Wild Bubba's Wild Game Grill (right next to the circuit). Mark had this to say about Austin:
Austin has a really cool vibe. There’s lots to see and do, and I think international visitors will find the city very sophisticated, yet laid back and welcoming. It’s a great destination for motorsports enthusiasts and their families because there’s something for everyone in terms of good food, great shopping, exceptional music and entertainment, loads of parks and recreational activities, and, of course, a purpose-built Grand Prix circuit that will host some of the best auto racing in the world!
But what about the circuit? He drove a Ford Mustang GT through the back portion of the racecourse, from Turns 5-12 and also had the opportunity to preview the rest of it. Like many, he was amazed at the 130' elevation spike going up Turn 1, but he was equally impressed with the changes in height throughout the circuit, adding the numerous turns would make for great driving. He added:
The circuit’s topography, including the dramatic changes in elevation, will make for some really fun racing and a great show for fans. While I didn’t get to drive the full circuit, the sequence of turns I did sample were fantastic, and I can’t wait to come back and take a lap around the finished racecourse. Circuit of The Americas will be a welcome addition to our future V8 Supercar line-up!
Check it out for yourself in this video clip:
Mark Winterbottom Drives COTA from The Austin Grand Prix on Vimeo.
Now the question remains, when will we see the V8SC here in Austin? Stay tuned for the 2013 race calendar details to be announced.
// V8 Supercars Facts
- The V8 Supercar Championship ("V8 Supercars" or "V8SC") is an Australian-based touring car championship
- 15 annual events across Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East, and they raced at the 2012 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix as a support series during the F1 race weekend
- The world's leading Touring Car Championship recognized by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile ("FIA")
- All V8 Supercars run on 85% CSR Ethanol, a renewable fuel made from the bi-product of the sugar refining process
- 2011 race attendance: 1,750,000
- 2011 TV race viewership: 17,500,000
- 130 countries telecast V8 Supercars live (as live or on delay, depending on time zone and programming)
- Estimated annual sponsorship portfolio in excess of $150,000,000