Wheels Asia Motorsports - 2008

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO SG GRAND PRIX 2008

PLUS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT F1

SGD$5.90

ISBN 978-981-08-0942-3

In Association with

9 7 8 9 8 1 0 8 0 9 4 2 3

Formula 1 Arrives InSingapore

GET A GRIPLearn How To Be An F1 Driver

CLOCKWORK FORMULABuild Your Own F1 Team

ISB

N 978-981-08-0942-3 S

GD

$5.90G

uid

e to S

ing

apo

re’s 1st Nig

ht R

ace 2008

F1 cover_2008.indd 1 8/2/11 6:11 PM

80% more light, 25m further beamMade in Germany

Compliant to LTA

Singapore Distributor: Amici Enterprise Pte Ltd Tel:(65) 65601296

www.p phili s.com/automotive

Simplicity is a car headlamp that clearly shows where you are goingPhilips X-tremePower high-performance halogen headlamp generates up to 80% more light and projects a beam that's 25 meters longer than standard headlamps, so you can see and be seen in the best possible light. Fully compatible with most cars'headlighting units for direct replacement, X-tremePower is the light to excite.

Singapore Dealers: Autobacs 6749 5600 • Autodesigns 6566 5912 • Autofriend 6841 2812 • Auto Recovery Hub 6100 2183 • Driven Asia 6744 4484 • Car Beauty 6841 1951 • Chop Yong Moh 6344 1854 • Chuan Lee Hin 6862 6818 • GSC Auto Service 6452 0100 • Tee Guan Trading Co 6896 7238 • Darren Auto Accessories 6795 3636 • Eng Soon Auto 6291 7775 • Express Motion 6453 4522 • Hodaka Motoworld 6844 0792 • KBS Motorsport 6451 5333 • Lion King Auto 6481 8903 • Merlin Motor 6484 5225 • McWell Ventures 6844 4640 • Motor Accessories 6278 2095 • Pin Liang 6734 1717 • Hai Wee Enterprise 6566 5983 • Sin Kit 6253 3333 • Silent 6475 7900 • Speedworks 6344 4608 • Stamford Tyres 6263 2244 • Sung Beng Auto 6745 3266 • Trust Motion 6842 8216 • TS Auto 6755 2901 • Wee Heng Auto Supply 6281 6739 • Vision Auto 6292 5813 • Teck Wah Ng Kee 6445 8198 • United Automobile Services 6515 9282 • Tropical Sucess Auto Care 6481 7773

Philips Lighting.indd 1 6/24/08 10:00:13 AM

Sole Distributor : NyQuist E Technology Email:[email protected] Website:www.hurricane-racing.com

Autobacs Venture Singapore Pte Ltd30 Bukit Batok East Ave 6Singapore 659761 Tel: 6749 5600

Poh Seng Auto Accessories TradingBlk 8 Short Street #01-15/16 Selegie HouseSingapore 180008 Tel: 6338 0435

Chop Yong Moh386 East Coast RoadSingapore 428989 Tel: 6344 1854

Automotive Technology Pte Ltd3 International RoadSingapore 619619 Tel: 6262 1010

Frankel Service Centre Pte LtdNo.83 Tagore Lane Singapore 787525Tel: 6453-1967

Man Exhaust WorksBlk 11 Sin Ming Ind Est Sec B #01-77Singapore 575675 Tel: 6458 7053

Rear Cool Sunshield & AccessoriesNo 61, Upper Paya Lebar Road, Tat Wan Building #01-02Singapore 534816 Tel: 9003 2021

Fong Kim Exhaust SystemBlk 3015 Ubi Road 1 #01-200/202Singapore 408704 Tel: 6741 1121

Merlin Motor and Engineering WorksAMK Park2A Autopoint #03-13Singapore 568047 Tel: 6484 5225

Kuo Li Auto Workshop(commercial vehicle)Blk 5035, Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 #01-363Singapore 569536 Tel: 6482 6314

JL Sim Lim Pte Ltd

JL Ocean Pte Ltd

Juzz For CarsBlk 176 Sin Ming Drive#03-13/16 Sin Ming AutocareSingapore 575721 Tel: 6736 0303

Silent Pte Ltd15 Commonwealth Lane, Lot45/46/47/48Commonwealth Car Mall Singapore 149544Tel: 6779 6383

Premier Auto Parts & Services Pte Ltd9 Sin Ming, Industrial Estate Sector BSingapore 575654 Tel: 6451 1080

Pin Liang EnterprisesBlk 92 Zion Road #01-197Singapore 160092 Tel: 6734 1717

Tan Lim Motor Pte Ltd51 Defu Lane 10 Singapore 539216 Tel: 6858 5151

Stamford Tyres International Pte Ltd19 Lok Yang Way, JurongSingapore 628635 Tel: 6262 335510 Admiralty St #01-85 Northlink BuildingSingapore 757695 Tel: 6555 335550 Bukit Batok St 23 #02-19 Midview BuildingSingapore 659578 Tel: 6261 335531 Loyang WaySingapore 508729 Tel: 6542 3355455, Macpherson RoadSingapore 368173 Tel: 6841 3355Blk 9006, Tampines St 93, #01-196,Tampines Industrial ParkSingapore 528840 Tel: 6286 335510 Ang Mo Kio Industrial park 2A,#01-14 Ang Mo Kio Autopoint,Singapore 568047 Tel: 6483 33555 Caltex Station, 3781 Jalan Bukit MerahSingapore 159463 Tel: 6475 3355

2Steer Pte Ltd51 Ubi Ave 1 # 01-14 Paya Ubi Industrial ParkSingapore 408933 Tel: 6747 6457

GSC Auto ServicesNorthlink Building 10 Admiralty St #01-12Singapore 757695 Tel: 6452 0100Blk 176 Sin Ming Drive#02-04 Sin Ming AutocareSingapore 575721 Tel: 6553 0459

JL Sim Lim Pte Ltd3 Maju Avenue (Serangoon Ga rden)Singapore 556681 Tel: 6282 6180

JL Ocean Pte Ltd910-H Upper Thompson Road (Springleaf Garden)Singapore 787112 Tel: 6459 1601

Wai Leong Car Care CentreBlk 1001, Bukit Merah Lane #01-61Singapore 159718 Tel: 6278 2213

Exclusive Dealers

Models AvailableAlfa 147/156/GT/GTV/Spider • Audi A3 turbo/A4/A6/TT 2.0L • BMW 316i/318i/320Ci/320i/323Ci/323i/325Ci/325i/325Ti/325Xi/328Ci/328330Ci/330i/330Xi/520/525/530/730/735/745/750/760/E90(06)/M3/X3/Z3/Z4 • Chevrolet Spark/Aveo5/Optra • Cherry QQ • Citroen Berlingo/C2/C3/C4/C5/C8/Expert/Jumpy/Xantia/Xsara • Daewoo Lanos • Daihatsu Terios/Materia/Sirion • Fiat Grande/Punto • Ford Focus/Laser/Mondeo/Escape • Honda Accord/EuroR/iVTec/Airwave/City/Civic(EG/EK/ES/FD1.8L/FD2.0L/SIR/CRV/Crossroad/Fit/Jazz/IntegraGSR/Odyssey(RB,RA)/Stream(FD1.8L/2.0L)/Edix 2.0 • Hyundai Accent/Avante/Getz/Matrix/SanteFe/Sonata/Trajet/Tucson/Tuscani/Verna • Kia Cerato/Magentis/Picanto/Rio06/Carens/Carnival/Spectra/Sportage • Lexus ES300/IS250/LS430/RX300 • Mazda 2/3/5/6/CX7/MX5/Premacy/RX8 • Mercedes AClass/Kompressor(C180,C200,C230,CLK200,E200,SLK200)/C230,C240,C320/CLK/CLS/CLK200/E200/E240/SL500/CLS500/CLS500/S350/CLK320/ Mini CooperS/One • Mitsubishi Airtrek NA/Turbo/Colt/Colt+/Lancer/Evolution5-9/Pajero/LancerEX/LancerEvo10/Outlander • Nissan 200SX/350Z/Cefiro/Latio/Sylphy/March/Murano/Pairie/Presea/Primera/S15/Skyline/Sunny/Xtrail • Opel Astra1.8/ComboDTI/Meriva/Zafira • Perodua Kelisa/Kanari • Peugeot 206/405/406/206(180bhp)/Berlingo/Expert/Partner • Proton Gen2/Waja/Wira/Savvy • Seat Alhambra/Cordorba/Ibiza/Toledo • Skoda Octavia 2.0L turbo/Superb • Subaru R2/ForesterXT/ImprezaGL/WRX/Sti/LegacyGT/NA/Outback/Tribeca • Suzuki Grand Vitara/Liana/Swift • Toyota Altis/Alphard/Bb/Camry05/Camry06/CelicaGT/Estima/GTS/Corolla(G9)/Corona/Echo/Harrier2.4/Ipsum/ISIS/IST/Liteace/MarkX/MR2/Spyder/Picnic/Rav 4/Rush/Ractis/Sera/Sienta/Vios/Voltz/Wish/Yaris • Volkswagen Beetle/Bora/Caddy/Golf/Golf GTi/Jetta/Passat Turbo/Toureg • Volvo 940/Turbo/S40/V40/S60/S70/S80 • Open Pods 2.5/3/4/4.5/5/6”

Auto Recovery Hub Pte LtdBlk 8, Marsiling Industrial Estate Road 3#01-14 Marsiling Industrial Park ASingapore 739252 Tel: 6100 2183

Hock Cheong Car Care(SPC petrol station, opp. hawker centre)

158 Pasir Panjang RoadSingapore 118555 Tel: 6377 4007

Mach Speed Motor (Scooter Specialist)Eunos Avenue 4 Block 1044 #01-135Singapore 409794 Tel: 6745 4847

Motor Image Enterprises Pte Ltd19 Lorong 8 Toa PayohSingapore 319255 Tel: 6417 0333

BKS Motorworks10 Admiralty Street #03-80, Northlink BuildingSingapore 757695 Tel: 6484 6366

King's Way Sound GarageBlk 1060 Eunos Ave 3 #01-188Singapore 409850 Tel: 6748 9993

Gary's Engineering Services53 Paya Ubi Industrial Park Ave 1 #01-42Singapore 408934 Tel: 6841 1923

UK Cool Pte LtdSPC Bukit Merah Service Station3800 Jalan bukit Merah Singapore 159464 Tel: 6275 6411Blk 1002 Bukit Merah Lane 3#01-89 Singapore 159719 Tel: 6297 9001462 Balestier Road Tel: 6252 3822 Singapore 329837

Nam Huat Car Audio Pte LtdBlk 352, Jurong East Street 31, #01-131Singapore 600352 Tel: 6566 2080

Megahub Ubi, 320 Ubi Road 3Singapore 408649 Tel: 6844 4139

No.10 Ubi View Singapore 408543 Tel: 6749 560025 Leng Kee Road Singapore 159097 Tel: 6475 5333

Hurricane.indd 1 6/23/08 10:55:06 AM

LLumar1.indd 1 6/17/08 11:26:15 AM

S H Lee Technology Pte Ltd50 Kallang Ave, #01-01Noel Corporate Building Singapore 339505

Tel: 6293 6514 / 9686 8556 Eric Eng

For Enquiries:Superione International Pte LtdBlock 1014, Geylang East Ave 3, #01-240 Singapore 389729

Tel: 6842 0996 www.superione.com

Superione has been tested and proven by the following authorities:

1. Nanyang Technological University

2. Puspakom, Malaysia

3. Ministry of Environment, China

4. Ministry of Transport, China

5. P.T. Rahardjar Ekalancar Isuzu

Authorised Dealer, Indonesia

6. Emirates Transport, wholly owned by the

Federal Government, United Arab Emirates

Hot Favourite ST555(Air-Intake Series)

Hot Favourite SD1000(Fuel-Inline Series)

Unleash The Full

Potential Power

Of Your Engine

Contents

22 Introduction To F1 Teams

16 Create Your Own F1 Team

44 How To Build An F1 Car

52 Engineering An F1 Tyre

12 Editor’s Note

16 Create Your Own F1 Team

22 The F1 Teams of 2008

24 Ferrari

26 BMW Sauber

28 Renault F1

30 Williams F1

32 Red Bull Racing

34 Toyota

36 Scuderia Toro Rosso

38 Honda Racing

40 Force India

42 McLaren

44 How To Build An F1 Car

52 Engineering An F1 Tyre

58 What It Takes To Be An F1 Driver

62 Introduction To F1 Drivers

64 Kimi Raikkonen/Felipe Massa

66 Nick Hedfeld/Robert Kubica

68 Fernando Alonso/Nelson Piquet Jr.

70 Nico Rosberg/Kazuki Naka Jima

72 David Coultard / Mark Webber

76 Jarno Trulli/Timo Glock

78 Sebastian Bourdais/Sebastien Vettel

80 Jenson Button/Rubens Barri Chello

82 Adrian Sutil/Gian Carlo Fisichella

84 Lewis Hamilton/Heikki Kova Lainen

86 Understanding F1 On TV

p6,8 contents.indd 6 6/25/08 10:05:19 AM

Butler-1st series.pdf 5/30/08 6:02:44 PM

Contents

62 Introduction To F1 Drivers

58 How To Become An

F1 Driver

86 Understanding F1 On TV

102 Introduction To F1 Racing

Circuits

100 On The Edge Of Performance

102 Introduction To Racing Circuits

104 Singapore–Streel Circuit

106 Australia–Albert Park

107 Malaysia Sepang International

Circuit

108 Bahrain–Sakhir Circuit

109 Barcelona–Circuit de Catalunya

110 Turkey–Istanbul Park International

Circuit

111 Monaco–Street Circuit

112 Canada–Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve

113 France–Circuit de Nevers Magny-

Cours

114 Britain–Silverstone

115 Germany–Hockenheim

116 Hungary–Hungaroring

117 Spain–Street Circuit

118 Belgium–Circuit de Spa

Francorchamps

119 Italy–Autodromo Nazionale Monza

120 Japan–Fuji International Speedway

121 China–Shanghai International Circuit

122 Brazil–Autodromo Carlos Pace-

Interlagos

124 Secret of Success

p6,8 contents.indd 8 6/25/08 10:05:59 AM

Massage-2nd series.pdf 5/30/08 6:00:47 PM

General ManaGer CeCilia Woo

ManaGinG editor Ben Poon

editor RogeR ValBeRg

Creative direCtor Tommy Hong

GraphiC desiGner loH CHung long

viCe president, MarketinG VeReen Foo

MarketinG exeCutive STeFanie yuan

sales direCtor JaSmine lim

assistant sales ManaGer liSa KoH

FinanCe ManaGer Julie KHong

CustoMer serviCe exeCutive VeRoniCa Teo

iMaGes Courtesy of Bridgestone Motorsport © Bridgestone

Corporation

ContributorsPhilip Chan, Peter Ang, Leslie Kwok, Julian Chia and

Desmond Quek

Published byreGent Media pte ltd

3 Loyang Way Singapore 508719T: (65) 6543 3681 F: (65) 6543 3719

W: www.regentmedia.sg E: [email protected]

distributorSingapore Press Holdings Limited

printerKHL Printing Co Pte Ltd (197801823m)

The information contained herein is accurate at time of printing. Changes may have occurred since this book

went to print. Regent Media Pte Ltd will not be held liable for any damages, loss, injury or inconvenience, arising in

connection with the contents of the book.

Regent Media Pte Ltd will not accept responsibility for unsolicited contributions. No part of this book is to be

reproduced, stored, transmitted, digitally or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.

ISBN 978-981-08-0942-3

p10 glory box.indd 10 7/4/08 4:55:22 PM

STAR BLACK A division of ST Kinetics

5 Portsdown Road Singapore 139296 | Tel: (65) 6479 4555 | www.starblack.com.sg

Introducing Star Black – a Premium Repair and Service Centre exclusively for BMW and Mercedes-Benz car owners.

Designed with your comfort in mind, the STAR BLACK membership program ensures that your luxury car is taken care of with quality workmanship, precisely to your needs, economically and efficiently. Rely on STAR BLACK's one-stop, comprehensive car services, from grooming to spray painting to accident repairs. We provide an entire spectrum of comfort with 24/7 recovery assistance, courtesy car services, and complimentary car delivery. And to pamper you to your heart's content, the STAR BLACK lounge comes complete with butler services, soothing music, massage chairs, internet connection, and valet parking.

Quick Diagnosis | Prompt Service | Original Spare Parts | Experienced Workforce | Reasonable ChargesMembership fees from $800 - $3000.

To apply or for more information,call 6479 4555 now.

Servicing and repairing your BMW or Mercedes-Benz will never be the same again.

3388A 333388Vincent Ng 08/2012

2cars-3rd series.pdf 5/30/08 6:18:21 PM

Editor’s Note

The Formula One SingTel Singapore GPImagine yourself relaxing, looking out at the fading rays of light and the sight of the tropical sun disappearing over the horizon casting a magnificent sunset over the island state of Singapore…only to be awakened by high-pitched screams generated by 2.4-litre V8 engines going at 18,000 revolutions per-minute putting out an estimated 700 horses. Welcome on board the world’s fastest racing machines with engines allowing these thoroughbreds to rocket from zero to 100 km/h in just two seconds and achieve up to 300 km/h on the Singapore GP circuit, otherwise known as the World’s 1st F1 Night Race.

Staging the world’s 1st night race is no mean feat and Singapore GP’s official sponsor, SingTel and the organisers have taken pains to ensure safety for both drivers and spectators. As you go through the pages of this guide, you will understand although sufficient lighting is a major concern in staging a night race, the point of contact which keeps an F1 car planted on the ground, carries equal if not more importance than the other parts and systems which keep an F1 car running at its maximum potential. Which is why official tyre supplier to the Formula One, Bridgestone, invests heavily in manpower (by working with each individual team) and financially (to the tune of $1 billion yearly) to its cause in the F1, by introducing compounds that will maximise the performance of the cars whilst improving the safety of its tyres.

Seeing an F1 car going full throttle is truly a sight to behold, the amount of fitness these drivers have to possess to withstand the G-forces (sometimes up to 5Gs) exerted on them lap after lap, we can only imagine. It is an eye opener the conditioning these F1 drivers have to go through. The amount of engineering, which goes into creating their racing machines capable of a maximum speed of 360 km/h, is mind boggling in terms of cost and technology involved, we provide an in-sight into the design and building of an F1 racing machine as well.

With an average of 55 million people all over the world watching a Formula One race live, it is as much a showcase of a driver’s talents, the efficiency of their pit-crews, racing strategies of their team principals as it is the host country’s ability to run an F1 race. If you are a newbie or aren’t sure what the world of Formula One racing entails fret not, we have gone in detail to explain the sport over the following pages for you to better appreciate a Formula 1 race.

As we wait in anticipation for race day, we congratulate Singapore and wish her the best in hosting the greatest racing spectacle on Earth!

Ben Poon

p12 editor note.indd 12 6/25/08 10:12:17 AM

Bukit BatokAutobacs Venture Singapore Pte Ltd30 Bukit Batok East Ave 6Singapore 659761 Tel: 6749-5600Stamford Tyres International Pte Ltd50 Bukit Batok St. 23 #02-19 Midview BuildingSingapore 659578 Tel: 6261-3355

Ang Mo KioMerlin Motor and Engineering WorksAMK Park2A Autopoint #03-13Singapore 568047 Tel: 6484-5225Stamford Tyres International Pte Ltd10 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2A, #01-14Ang Mo Kio Autopoint, Singapore 568047Tel: 6283-3355

Toa Payoh/BalestierUK Cool Pte Ltd462 Balestier Road, Singapore 329837 Tel: 6252-3822Katong Chop Yong Moh386 East Coast Road Singapore 428989 Tel: 6344-1854

Upper ThomsonJL Ocean Pte Ltd910-H Upper Thomson Road (Springleaf Garden)Singapore 787112 Tel: 6459-1601

Sin MingFrankel Service Centre Pte Ltd No.83 Tagore Lane Singapore 787525 Tel: 6453-1967

Juzz For CarsBlk 176 Sin Ming Drive #03-13/16 Sin MingAutocare Singapore 575721 Tel: 6736-0303GSC Auto ServicesBlk 176 Sin Ming Drive #02-04 Sin Ming AutocareSingapore 575721 Tel: 6553-0459Man Exhaust WorksBlk 11 Sin Ming Ind Est Sec B#01-77 Singapore 575675 Tel: 6458-7053

Bukit Merah

UK Cool Pte LtdSPC Bukit Merah Service Station 3800 Jalan Bukit Merah Singapore 159464Tel: 6275-6411

UK Cool Pte LtdBlk 1002 Bukit Merah Lane 3 #01-89Singapore 159719 Tel: 6297-9001

WoodlandStamford Tyres International Pte Ltd10 Admiralty St #01-85 Northlink BuildingSingapore 757695 Tel: 6555-3355

BKS Motorworks10 Admiralty Street #03-80, Northlink BuildingSingapore 757695 Tel: 6484-6366

GSC Auto ServicesNorthLink Building 10 Admiralty St #01-12Singapore 757695 Tel: 6452-0100Auto Recovery Hub Pte LtdBlk 8, Marsiling Industrial Estate Road 3#01-14 Marsiling Industrial Park ASingapore 739252 Tel: 6100-2183

Ubi/Macpherson Gary Engineering Services53 Paya Ubi Ind Park Ave 1 #01-42Singapore 408934 Tel: 6841-1923

Mach Speed Motor (Scooter Specialist)Eunos Avenue 4 Block 1044. #01-135Singapore 409794 Tel: 6745-4847Stamford Tyres International Pte Ltd455, Macpherson RoadSingapore 368173 Tel: 6841-3355

Town CentralPoh Seng Auto Accessories TradingBlk 8 Short Street #01-15/16 Selegie HouseSingapore 180008 Tel: 6338-0435

Loyang/TampinesStamford Tyres International Pte Ltd31 Loyang Way Singapore 508729 Tel: 6542-3355Stamford Tyres International Pte Ltd9006 Tampines St 93 #01-196, TampinesIndustrial Park Singapore 528840 Tel: 6286-3355

KallangAuto Buddy60-D Kallang Pudding Road#01-02 Singapore 349321 Tel: 6743-2318 HP: 96790868

West CoastHock Cheong Car Care(SPC petrol station, opp. hawker centre)158 Pasir Panjang Road,Singapore 118555 Tel: 6377-4007JurongStamford Tyres International Pte Ltd19 Lok Yang Way, Jurong Singapore 628635 Tel: 6262-3355

REVOLUTIONARY SPARK PLUG FOR YOUR CAR • Latest Innovation in Spark Plug Technology • Revolutionary Silver Electrode Design

• Distinctive Improvement On Power & Torque • Proven Better Mileage

Supplies for OEM, OES: SKODA, VW, VOLVO, AUDI, DAEWOO, LAMBORGHINI, MITSUBISHI, RENAULTDistributed By: NyQuist E Technology Tel: 9382-0113 Fax: 6376-0785 Email: [email protected] Website: www.brisk.com.sg

Stamford Tyres International Pte Ltd5 Caltex Station, 3781 Jalan Bukit MerahSingapore 159463 Tel: 6475-3355

Automotive Technology Pte Ltd3 International Road, Singapore 619619 Tel: 6262-1010

Real Cool Sunshield & Accessories61 Upper Paya Lebar Road #01-02 Tat Wan BuildingSingapore 534816 Tel: 9003-2021

Nam Huat Car Audio Pte LtdBlk 352 Jurong East Street 31, #01-131 Singapore 600352 Tel: 6566-2080

Silent Pte Ltd15 Commonwealth Lane, Lot45/46/47/48Commonwealth Car Mall Singapore 149544 Tel: 6779-6383

Autobacs Venture Singapore Pte LtdNo.10 Ubi ViewSingapore 408543 Tel: 6749-5600

Tan Lim Motor Pte Ltd51 Defu Lane 10 Singapore 539216Tel: 6858-5151

Silent Pte LtdMegahub Ubi,320 Ubi Road 3Singapore 408649 Tel: 6844-4139

King’s Way Sound GarageBlk 1060 Eunos Ave 3 #01-188Singapore 409850 Tel: 6748-9993

Kuo Li Auto Workshop(Commercial Vehicle)Blk 5053 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2#01-363 Singapore 569536 Tel: 6482-6314

2Steer Pte Ltd51 Ubi Ave 1, #01-14 Paya Ubi Industrial ParkSingapore 408933 Tel: 6747-6457

BRISK1.indd 1 6/23/08 10:29:34 AM

F1 Teams

14

Formula 1 World Champions 2007 Kimi Raikkonen and Scuderia Ferrari

p14-20 f1 team.indd 14 6/26/08 11:30:12 AM

15

p16-20 f1 team.indd 15 6/25/08 10:15:17 AM

F1 Teams

16

If you can’t be a champion driver why not become a champion team owner?

It is a myth that you need to be rich to be in Formula 1, the truth is, you have to be “Super Rich”. Just what is the definition of super rich then? An example would be, even seriously considering buying a private Lear jet or any private jet for that matter. If you were super rich, in-stead of browsing through car catalogues, you’d be asking for the price of the com-pany that builds them. This would grant you immediate entry into the exclusive Formula 1 owners club.

On the other hand, if your bank ac-count has a modest amount of cash then you’d have to do it the good old fashioned way. Even today, the path that

Create Your Own F1 Team

Ron Dennis, Sir Frank Williams, Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have trod is still open to those who are not opposed to wheeling and dealing. Yes, you need lots of money but nobody ever said that the money had to be yours!

First and foremost, do not rob a bank. It will not suffice, you will require tens of millions not just thousands or mil-lions. Instead try getting connected, not in the cellular or broadband way, but in getting to know the right people. Employer or employee, it does not matter, you need to make friends with everybody. This is perhaps the single hardest thing to do for most people. There are social strata and groupings, cliques and worst of

p16-20 f1 team.indd 16 6/25/08 10:15:30 AM

17

all, egos but put that aside if you really want to be an F1 boss.

Becoming everyone’s friend is an ongoing project that goes on until you want out of F1 (which is also your exit strategy). In the meantime, evaluate your new connections. Understand that people make opportunities happen all the time and the more people you know, the more likely you are to see the opportunities

early and make things happen. Consider Ecclestone who loved motorbikes, of the dirt bike variety, he was well known among the people who were followers of this pastime.

They needed spare parts and Ecclestone started selling parts for their bikes – during his lunch break at his full time job at a gas works company. He found a partner, opened a business, grew the business into one of

Britain’s biggest and then sold it. So again, you have to be connected and be friends with everybody. Once you have made the connec-tions and sealed a few deals, you can con-sider yourself as having what it takes to be an F1 boss. If not, then perhaps the role of an F1 fan is best for you.

Your next step to getting a stool seat at the pit-wall of your F1 team is to break into motorsports. Almost everyone worth

p16-20 f1 team.indd 17 6/25/08 10:15:36 AM

F1 Teams

18

mentioning in F1 has owned a racing team of one sort or another before arriving on the big stage. You should be able to do the same for a few thou-sand dollars, there are other races such as Formula Ford, Formula BMW, GT racing and even the modest go kart scene which are not to be sniffed at. The money you make in deals earlier should help get you started and the people you have made friends with to this point will help fund you.

While all this is going on, the wheeling and dealing must continue as no team at this point in its lifecycle can sus-

tain itself. Getting a generous sponsor is a good idea but getting one, which provides a steady supply of cash, is an unlikely odd. One point to remember is that the more money you pour in now,

the faster the car will be. Now that you are on the inside of racing, it will be simple to get the real numbers for other kinds of racing.

The next step is to move up the rac-ing leagues, if you’re in Formula Ford, then the next step up is to Formula BMW. If you have a go-kart team, then it is time to move on to bigger sized machines. Beware of sentimental-ity! Many potential team bosses have found themselves stuck in the lower divisions due to them being unable to let go. Sell the car and whatever that cannot be used for the step up. Tough-er competition lies ahead and every cent you can pour into your team will help. Again, remember to keep making friends as the race paddock is a small

“One point to remember is that the more money you pour in now,

the faster the car will be.“

p16-20 f1 team.indd 18 6/25/08 10:15:52 AM

3M™ Nomad™ Car Mat, cannot do the same

look-alike products

Insist on the Original

Choose 3M CUSTOMIZED Car Mat for easy interior maintenance, with that perfect fit.

Why insist on 3M?

• Patentedcoiledwebtechnology,whichscrapesoffdirtandmoisturesothatsurfaceremainsclean

• Tailor-madetofiteachcarmodel

• Onecompletepiecefortherearminimizestripsandgivesaneatappearance

• Fire-retardantmaterialasanaddedsafetyfeature

3Mimprintondriver’sheelplate

Qualitygripperstripsthatkeepmatinplace

Warrantylabelonthebackofmat

Personalization available:

Colors available:

Beige Black Blue Red Grey Brown

Maxtrend Marketing Pte Ltd

2020BukitBatokSt.23#01-242BukitBatokIndustrialParkSingapore659525Tel:65696833Fax:65651079Email:[email protected]

Business Operating hours:Mon-Fri,9amto5pm;Sat,9amto1pm.ClosedonSunandpublicholidays

3M Authorized Distributor

Look out for

these signature

features:

Present the original coupon to enjoy the special promotion

Get $40 off 2nd set purchase!• Onlyforcompletesetpurchase• Notvalidwithanyotherpromotion• Promotionends31August2008

F1 Special!

F1 Teams

20

place and yesterday’s major rival team mechanic could be yours tomorrow and vice versa.

Right now, you should be flying as far as achieving your dream is concerned but remind yourself daily that the job is not done yet. The whole point of racing is to win and for that to happen, you need the best of everything. The only limit is your budget but bear in mind this is a problem for everyone else in the paddock as well. So guard your sponsors well by keeping them happy and satisfied whilst keeping the other sharks at bay. Think of how Ron Dennis

went from owning a simple team called Project 4 to buying over McLaren and making it the coolest team on the grid. His trump card was keeping his spon-sors happy.

You don’t need to win championships and trophies galore (although it would help!) to get good sponsors. Getting them to come over for a race, a test drive by the

team driver, a tour of the team facilities all help in getting the people who are paying to make your dream come true as excited as you are about the sport. And the better you do this, the more likely cash rich sponsors will come your way. Fi-nally, it will come down to getting to GP2, the pre-cursor of Formula 1. If you can swing the budget for GP2 then you will be amongst the giants. Your final mission now will be to form strong ties with a car manufacturer or an outgoing team boss. That is the final step that will take you into the World Championship and keep you there for a while.

“If you can swing the budget for GP2 then you will be

amongst the giants.”

p16-20 f1 team.indd 20 6/25/08 10:15:57 AM

ARH.indd 1 6/24/08 10:10:11 AM

F1 Teams

22

F1 TEAMsIntro to

p22-43 f1 team.indd 22 6/25/08 10:20:20 AM

23

A brief introduction to the F1 Teams of 2008...

p22-43 f1 team.indd 23 6/25/08 10:20:22 AM

F1 Teams

24

ScuderIa FerrarI Marlboro

baSe: Maranello, Italy

Most world champion teams openly state their ambition to defend their title at all costs, for Ferrari; there is the added pressure of trying to win the world championship minus

any courtroom intrigue. Regardless of what the FIA eventually decided last year, fans both for and against Ferrari believe that the racetrack is where titles are decided not within a courtroom. From the outside, the daily operations of Ferrari do seem to be running with clockwork precision. But one does have the feeling old problems from Enzo Ferrari’s era are bubbling under the surface. Thankfully these problems are still very far from affecting the mo-rale or performance of the team. The worldwide base of Tifosi will be expecting another double championship and there is very little to indicate the scarlet cars and their drivers cannot deliver.

Unlike the Michael Schumacher era cars, the competition have really caught up with Ferraris in the last four years, with the team’s main threat coming from BMW and McLaren. In a world headed into recession, Ferrari’s owner FIAT may be hard pressed to extend funds to develop the motorsport team, thus it will be down to the team itself to find funding and justify its expenditure. The boss of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, has said that his team is but a simple

car manufacturer with no funds to fight the mega-corporations like Mercedes, BMW, Renault, Toyota and Honda. But while all this continues to be debated, there are very few detractors who would doubt the value of the Ferrari brand and its ability to attract sponsors. And as long as the money continues to flow to Maranello, Enzo’s team will continue to dominate Formula 1.

p22-43 f1 team.indd 24 6/25/08 10:20:40 AM

25

Fast Facts: Founded: 1929First season: 1950

team Personnelchairman & ceo: Luca di Montezemoloracing management General Director: Stefano Domenicalitechnical Director: Aldo Costa sporting Director: Luca Baldisserri Motor Sport Press Officer: Luca Colajanni technical Director: Aldo Costa engine and electronics: Gilles Simonchief Designer: Nikolas Tombazis race engineer raikkonen: Chris Dyer race engineer massa: Rob Smedleytest team and test operations manager: Luigi MazzolaDrivers: Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massatest Drivers: Luca Badoer & Marc Gene

World championships: 15 (as of 2007)Highest race finish: 1 (x205) Pole Positions: 199

technical Data (chassis/ engine): • Ferrari F2008/ Ferrari Type 056 V8

cHassis • Construction Carbon-fibre and honeycomb, composite structure • Differential Limited-slip differential • Gearbox Ferrari longitudinal, Semiautomatic sequential - 7 speeds + reverse, electronically controlled gearbox, quick-shift • Brakes Ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes • Drive Rear wheel drive • Suspension Independent suspension, push rod activated torsion springs front and rear • Ignition Magneti Marelli static electronic igni-tion • Wheels BBS, 13” (front and rear) • Weight 605 kg (with water, lubricant and driver) • Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

enGine • Type Ferrari Type 056 • Number of cylinders 8 in V 90° • Number of valves 32 • Total displacement 2,398 cc • Fuel feed Magneti Marelli digital electronic injection • Fuel Shell V-Power ULG 62 • Lubricant Shell SL-0977 • Weight 95 kg

Website: www.ferrari.it

p22-43 f1 team.indd 25 6/25/08 10:20:45 AM

F1 Teams

26

bMW Sauber F1 teaM

baSe: MunIch, GerMany/ hInWIl, SWItzerland

BMW has proven that it is a firm which observes, learns and implements projects based on its findings. In the short time it has been in F1 with its own factory team, its cars have proven their worth. The amount invested was also relatively minimal with its acquisition of Sauber

together with its machinery and know how to supplement BMW’s existing engine research unit in Munich. The Bavarians have deftly avoided being the next Toyota simply by observing and under-standing the mistakes done by other teams coming into F1 like Toyota and Ford. The game plan for BMW has always been to become competitive within a certain time frame. Many pundits put that duration at five years. But in less than three, the BMWs have been dicing it with the front-run-ners, now all that remains is to take the next step and become true contenders. With Mercedes powering McLaren and still ahead on the grid, there is almost no chance of BMW resting on its lau-rels any time soon. The technical approach taken by Dr. Mario Theissen and his crew will serve to put out the best possible car, which means they have very little need of superstar drivers with their super inflated wages. Instead, many in the paddock believe that like its former partner Williams, the best drivers will be attracted by the competitive package. Look to see some surprises from BMW this season as they find their feet among the top teams.

p22-43 f1 team.indd 26 6/25/08 10:21:05 AM

27

Fast Facts:Founded: 1916First season: 2006 (1952 and 1969 as BMW, 1993 as Sauber)

team Personnel BmW motorsport Director: Dr. Mario Theissentechnical Director: Willy RampfHead of Powertrain: Markus DuesmannProject manager: Walter Riedlchief Designer: Christoph ZimmermannHead of aerodynamics: Willem ToetHead of sponsoring and Business relations: Guido StalmannHead of BmW motorsport communication: Jörg Kottmeierteam manager: Beat Zehnderchief race engineer: Mike Krackrace engineer Heidfeld: Giampaolo Dall’Ararace engineer Kubica: Antonio Cuquerellachief mechanic race team: Urs Kuratlechief engineer test team: Ossi OikarinenDrivers: Nick Heidfeld, Robert KubicaTest Drivers: Christian Klien, Marko Asmer

Highest race finish: 2 (x4) Pole Positions: 1World championships: 0

technical Data (chassis/ engine): • BMW Sauber F1.08/BMW P86/8 V8

cHassis • Construction Carbon-fibre monocoque • Suspension Upper and lower wishbones (front and rear), inboard springs and dampers, actu-ated by pushrods (Sachs Race Engineering) • Brakes Six-piston brake callipers (Brembo), carbon pads and discs (Brembo, Carbone Industrie) transmission: 7-speed quick shift gearbox, lon-gitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch (AP) Chassis Electronics MES Steering wheel BMW Sauber F1 Team Wheels: OZ, 13” Weight: 605 kg (with driver, ready to drive, tank empty) tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

ENGINE Type BMW P86/8 V8 Bank engine 90 degrees Number of cylinders V8 Displacement 2400 cc Valves 4 per cylinder Valve Mechanism Pneumatic Cylinder block Aluminium Crankshaft Steel Oil system Dry sump lubrication Connecting rods Titanium Engine management Standard ECU (MES) Spark plugs NGK Maximum speed 19.000 rpm Weight 95 kg

Website: www.bmw-sauber-f1.com

p22-43 f1 team.indd 27 6/25/08 10:21:22 AM

F1 Teams

28

InG renaultF1 teaM baSe: enStone, uK

Trials and tribulations continue at Renault F1. The former world champions have fallen behind the rest of the pack since losing Fernando Alonso two seasons ago to McLaren.

Flavio Briatore who has ruled the team since the 1980s has his work cut out for him to raise moral amongst his team and his par-ent company Renault. Since Carlos Ghosn took over as president of Renault, the French automaker has embarked on a cost cutting exercise all over the world. While Alonso was winning races and championships, the high cost of running an F1 team was accept-able, now that the team is no longer able to contend effectively for the silverware, justifying the outlay has become increasingly diffi-cult. While it is too early to say if Renault are going to stay or leave F1, the paddock is abuzz with talk of reducing liability. Currently the team has two centres, Enstone builds the cars in England and Viry-Chatillon builds the engines in France. If any changes are to

be made, the team’s structure and operational capability will be affected. With all these going on, it is no wonder that the return of Alonso or even the presence of a Piquet in the driver’s seat again is in serious doubt.

p22-43 f1 team.indd 28 6/25/08 10:21:50 AM

29

Fast Facts:Founded: 1977First season: 1989

team Personnel Renault F1 team President: Bernard ReyManaging Director Renault F1 team: Flavio Briatorechassis technical Director: Bob BellExecutive Director of Engineering: Pat SymondsDeputy Managing Director (Engine): Rob WhiteDeputy Managing Director (support Operations): André LainéHead of Engine track Operations: Denis ChevrierDeputy technical Director: James AllisonVehicle technology Director: Tad Czapskichief Designer: Tim DenshamOperations Director: John MardleDirector of aerodynamic technology: Dino Tososporting Manager: Steve Nielsenchief Race Engineer: Alan Permanechief test Engineer: Christian SilkRace engineers alonso: David Greenwood, Simon Rennie and Rémi TaffinRace engineers Piquet Jr.: Phil Charles, Ayao Komatsu and Ricardo PenteadoDrivers: Fernando Alonso, Nelson Piquet Jr.test Drivers: Lucas Degrassi, Romain Grosjean, and Sakon Yamamoto

Highest race finish: 1 (x33) Pole Positions: 50World championships: 2 technical Data (chassis/ engine): Renault R28/Renault RS27 V8

cHassis construction: Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, manufactured by the Renault F1 Team and designed for maximum strength and stiffness with minimum weight. RS27 V8 engine installed as a fully stressed member Front suspension: Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbonesRear suspension: Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones oper-ating vertically-mounted torsion bars and horizontally-mounted damper units mounted on the top of the gearbox casing transmission: Seven-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with one reverse gear. “Quickshift” system in operation to maxi-mise speed of gearshifts Fuel system: Kevlar-reinforced rubber fuel cell by ATL cooling system: Separate oil and water radiators located in the car’s sidepods and cooled using airflow from the car’s forward motion Electrical: MES-Microsoft standard Electronic Control Unit Braking system: Carbon discs and pads (Hitco); calipers by AP Racing cockpit: Removable driver’s seat made of anatomically formed carbon composite, with six-point harness seat belt. Steering wheel integrates gear change and clutch paddles Weight 605 kg including driver, camera and ballast tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

EnginE Type Renault RS27 configuration: 90 degree Vee, naturally aspirated V8 engine Displacement: 2.400 cc Weight: 95 kg Max RPM: 19 000 Fuel: ELF Oil: ELF spark plugs: Champion Battery: Renault F1 Team

Website: www.renaultf1.com

p22-43 f1 team.indd 29 6/26/08 11:33:43 AM

F1 Teams

30

at&tWIllIaMS

baSe: Grove, uK

Another year and another brilliant F1 race car rolls off the Williams assembly line. Although not a consistent race winning car, the FW30 is brilliant because the team does

not have the resources of mega-corporations to throw into develop-ment. Despite this huge disadvantage, the company has built itself all the various components needed for a quick and reliable car. The technical approach of the team has not wavered and the advent of Toyota engines has given the team an edge in the battle for ‘best of the rest.’ Last season, they proved this by outdoing the factory team of Toyota. But with Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head at the helm, racing for scraps is not going to be the order of the day, this is a team more than capable of pulling off a surprise at any given race. It is one of the few teams in the paddock that can create cus-tom track packages to suit any one track. So for 2008, the team will be building, testing and racing a car which can, go quick anywhere

they race and there are definitely some tracks on the calendar they will likely be gunning for a win rather than a points finish.

p22-43 f1 team.indd 30 6/25/08 10:22:29 AM

31


team Personnel:team Principal: Frank WilliamsDirector of engineering: Patrick HeadHead of marketing: Scott Garrettchief executive officer: Chris Chapplechief operating officer: Alex Burnstechnical Director: Sam Michaelchief Designer: Ed WoodHead of aerodynamics: Jon Tomlinsonteam manager: Mike Condlifferace team manager: Tim NewtonDrivers: Nico Rosberg, Kazuki Nakajimatest Driver: Nico HulkenbergHighest race finish: 1 (x113) Pole Positions: 125World championships: 9

technical Data: Williams FW30/Toyota RVX-08 V8

cHassis construction: Monocoque construction fabricated from carbon aramid epoxy and honeycomb composite struc-ture, surpassing FIA impact and strength requirements Front suspension: Carbon fibre double wishbone arrangement, with composite toelink and pushrod acti-vated torsion springs Rear suspension: Double wishbone and pushrod acti-vated torsion springs and rockers transmission: WilliamsF1 seven speed seamless sequential semi-automatic shift plus reverse gear in an aluminium maincase, gear selection electro-hydraulically actuated clutch: AP Carbon plate Dampers: WilliamsF1 Brake system: 6 piston AP calipers all round, Carbon Industrie carbon discs and pads steering: WilliamsF1 power assisted rack and pinion Fuel system: ATL Kevlar-reinforced rubber bladder electronic: system MES cooling system: Marston oil, water, and gearbox radia-tors cockpit: Driver six-point safety harness with 75mm shoulder straps & HANS system, removable anatomical-ly formed carbon fibre seat covered in Alcantara. Safety Devices extinguisher systems Weight: Weight 605kg with driver, camera and ballast Wheels: RAYS forged magnesium tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

enGine type: Toyota RVX-08 configuration: V8, naturally aspirated capacity: 2398 cc number of cylinders: 8 revolutions maximum: 19.000rpm (as required by FIA rules) Valve actuations: Pneumatic throttle actuation: Hydraulic Fuel: Esso lubricants: Esso spark Plugs: DENSO Power approximately: 740 bhp

Website: www.williamsf1.com

p22-43 f1 team.indd 31 6/25/08 10:22:44 AM

F1 Teams

32

red bull racInG

baSe: MIlton KeyneS, uK

Mega-marketers Red Bull step into the 2008 F1 racing calendar with an all-star team in the technical department. Adrian Newey designs the cars; Geoff Willis is technical

director and Christian Horner the team’s principal. The only stum-bling block for these men unfortunately is their super reliable Re-nault engine but its power is clearly unable to match the Mercedes, BMW or Ferrari power plants or so the paddock grapevine says. What is clear thus far is that given the right car, Mark Webber and F1 racing veteran, David Coulthard would not be trying to score top tens but instead, podium positions. The Red Bull marketing jugger-naut continues to roll and the brand is continuing to grow espe-cially in new markets outside Europe, all this keeps the top brass in Red Bull happy which in turn keeps the racing team well funded. However, for one reason or another, Red Bull continues to race in the midfield and not tout mega ambitions. After all, the biggest

piece of news everywhere they race is not about the pole positions secured or the race finishes but their Formula Unas (women of F1) and hyper-modern motor home.

p22-43 f1 team.indd 32 6/25/08 10:23:09 AM

33


team Personnel:team owner: Dietrich Mateshictzteam Principal: Christian Horner chief technical officer: Adrian Newey technical Director: Geoff Willis Head of R&D, Rig Testing and Vehicle Dy-namics: Andrew Green chief aerodynamicist: Peter Prodromou chief Designer: Rob Marshall race team manager: Jonathan Wheatley Head of race and test engineering: Paul MonaghanDrivers: David Coulthard, Mark Webbertest Drivers: Sebastian Buemi


technical Data (chassis/ engine): Red Bull RB4/Renault RS27 V8

cHassis construction: Composite monocoque struc-ture, designed and built in-house, carrying the Renault V8 engine as fully stressed member transmission: Seven-speed gearbox, longi-tudinally mounted with hydraulic system for power shift and clutch operation. AP Racing clutch Front suspension: Aluminium alloy uprights, upper and lower carbon wishbones and pushrods, torsion bar springs and anti roll bars, Multimatic dampers rear suspension: Aluminium alloy uprights, upper and lower carbon wishbones and pushrods, torsion bar springs and anti roll bars, Multimatic dampers Brakes: Brembo calipers / Hitco carbon disks and pads electronics: FIA (MESL) standard control unit Wheels: OZ Racingtyres: Bridgestone Potenza

enGine type: Renault RS27 configuration: 90 degree naturally aspirated V8 engine Displacement: 2.400 cc Weight: 95 kg Fuel: ELF oil: ELF engine management: FIA (MESL) standard control unit TAG310B

p22-43 f1 team.indd 33 6/25/08 10:23:18 AM

F1 Teams

34

panaSonIc toyota racInG

baSe: Koln, GerMany

It has been argued for many years ever since Toyota came into F1, it is one of the richest team in the paddock. Real figures are hard to come by but ballpark figures from veteran F1 pundits have placed

Toyota in a league of their own. But despite all the cash in the team, results have been dismal. The Japanese team has some long running criticisms of its operations in F1, the biggest being the role of ‘man-agement’ in the team. Of all the teams in the paddock, Toyota has the most amount of red tape. Its HQ in Japan has a strong influence on what goes on in Cologne, Germany and there have been times when they seemed to be at odds with the team on what is required to be successful in F1. The case of Mike Gascoigne was highlighted by many in the media as proof that, the team prefers to appease its executives rather than ruffle feathers. Although the cars have steadily become faster and Jarno Trulli has at times raced himself into pole positions and podiums, impressive results have been few and far between.

p22-43 f1 team.indd 34 6/25/08 10:23:48 AM

35


team Personnel: MANAGEMENT chairman and team Principal - Tadashi YamashinaPresident - John Howettexecutive Vice-President - Yoshiaki Kinoshita

TECHNICAL senior General manager chassis - Pascal Vasselonsenior General manager engine - Luca MarmoriniDirector technical co-ordination - Noritoshi Arai

OPERATIONSteam manager - Richard Creganchief race and test engineer - Dieter GassDrivers: Jarno Trulli, Timo Glocktest Driver: Kamui Kobayashi


technical Data: Toyota TF108/Toyota RVX-08 V8

cHassis construction: Moulded carbon fibre and honeycomb construction Fuel tank: ATL safety cell suspension: Carbon fibre double wishbone arrangement, with carbon fibre trackrod and pushrod. Dampers: Penske Brakes: Brembo callipers and master cylin-ders Brakes material: Hitco (carbon/carbon) steering: Toyota power-assisted steering steering wheel: Toyota carbon fibre wheel with Toyota / Magneti Marelli instrument Driver seat: Carbon fibre construction electronic systems: Toyota, Magneti Marelli plus McLaren Electronics Systems ECU (as required by FIA rules) transmission: 7-speed unit plus reverse Driver restraints: Takata Weight: 605 kg including driver and camera Wheels: BBS forged magnesium tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

enGine type: Toyota RVX-08 configuration: V8, naturally aspirated capacity: 2398 cc number of cylinders: 8 Valve actuations: Pneumatic throttle actuation: Hydraulic Fuel: Esso lubricants: Esso spark Plugs: DENSO

Website: www.toyota-f1.com

p22-43 f1 team.indd 35 6/25/08 10:24:16 AM

F1 Teams

36

ScuderIatoro roSSo

baSe: Faenza, Italy

The rich poor cousins of the paddock, Scuderia Torro Roso is a team born from an idea that came from a rule interpreta-tion. Red Bull Racing, which saw itself as a major player in

F1 in the coming years, needed a junior team. Ferrari had Sauber, McLaren was negotiating with several newcomers, Toyota and Renault were also discussing possibilities. This all came about from the understanding that F1 could sell ‘customer cars’ (where big budget constructors could sell their chassis & designs to other smaller budget teams to help defray developmental costs and attract more entrants into the sport). Red Bull bought up Minardi and Scuderia Torro Roso was born but then came the rule change, which states no ‘customer cars’ are allowed, and all teams must design and build their own cars, in-line with the original concept of F1 where each team is a constructor. For Torro Roso it meant having to actually do its own racing and not just exist for the fringe

benefits of its parent team. How much longer co-owner Gerhard Berger will stay the course is also uncertain which means that both Bourdais and Vettel will need to secure some solid results in 2008.

p22-43 f1 team.indd 36 6/25/08 10:24:40 AM

37


team Personnel:co-owner - Dietrich Mateschitz and Gerhard Bergerteam Principal - Franz TostGeneral manager - Gianfranco Fantuzzitechnical Director - Giorgio Ascanelliteam manager - Massimo Rivolarace engineer Bourdais - Claudio Balestrirace engineer Vettel - Riccardo AdamiDrivers: Sebastian Bourdais, Sebastien Vettel


technical Data: Toro Rosso STR2B/Ferrari 056 V8 cHassis construction: Composite monocoque struc-ture carrying the Ferrari V8 56 engine as fully stressed member Suspension: Upper and lower carbon wish-bones and pushrods, torsion bar springs and anti roll bars transmission: Seven speed gearbox. Longi-tudinally mounted high-pressure hydraulic system for power shift and clutch operation. AP racing triple-plate-type clutch Brakes: Brembo calipers, Hitco carbon disks and pads electronics: Integrated engine/chassis Pi electronic control system Fuel management: Magneti Marelli digital electronic injection ignition system: Magneti Marelli static elec-tronic ignition Wheels: AVUS Racing tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

enGine type: Ferrari Type 056 number of cylinders: 8 in V 90° number of valves: 32 total displacement: 2,398 cc Fuel feed: Magneti Marelli digital electronic injection Fuel: Shell V-Power ULG 62 lubricant: Shell SL-0977 Weight: 95 kg

Website: www.scuderiatorroroso.com

p22-43 f1 team.indd 37 6/25/08 10:24:57 AM

F1 Teams

38

honda racInGF1 teaM

baSe: bracKley, uK

On again, off again, that best describes the roller coaster ride of the Honda Racing F1 team (previously known as British American Racing or BAR). Whenever it seems that they’ve

got the car, the engine is not up to scratch or vice versa. Since they took over the running of the team from British American Tobacco, Honda has invested some serious money to improve the team. But on occasion, the team’s executives seemed to make questionable decisions, team principal David Richards was removed right after he led the team to their best ever season a few years ago and with a constantly changing technical department, any cohe-siveness within the team was difficult to achieve. The fact that they began their Earth Dreams program, a pro-environment initiative, at a time when their cars were not doing too well has had the cynics out in droves.

What is required this season and the next is for the factory in Brack-ley is get organised and produce a competitive car. For now the only consolation for Honda is that they have done relatively better than Toyota thus far. But another season behind their rivals in the pad-dock will likely spark another culling within the engineering ranks.

p22-43 f1 team.indd 38 6/25/08 10:25:37 AM

39


team Personnel:Board Member, Honda Racing F1 Team General Manager, Honda motor motorsports Division: Yasuhiro Wadateam Principal, Honda racing F1 team: Ross Brawnchief executive officer, Honda racing F1 team: Nick FryPresident, Honda racing Development ltd: Hiroshi AbeDeputy mD (technical), Honda racing F1 team: Shuhei NakamotoDeputy technical Director, Honda racing F1 team: Jörg ZanderDirector of strategic and Business Planning, Honda rac-ing F1 team: Otmar SzafnauerDirector of advanced research Honda racing F1 team: Jacky Eeckelaertsporting Director Honda racing F1 team: Ron MeadowsHead of aerodynamics, Honda racing F1 team: Loic BigoisHead of race & test engineering, Honda racing F1 team: Steve Clarkchief engineer, Vehicle engineering, Honda racing F1 team: Craig Wilsonsenior race engineer to rubens Barrichello: Jock Clearsenior race engineer to Jenson Button: Andrew ShovlinDrivers: Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichellotest Drivers: Alexander Wurz

Highest race finish: 1 (x3) Pole Positions: 2World championships: 0 Technical Data: Honda RA108/Honda RA808E V8

cHassis construction: Moulded carbon fibre and honeycomb composite structure suspension: Wishbone & pushrod-activated torsion springs and rockers Dampers: Showa Brakes: Alcon calipers Brake discs/pads: Carbon/Carbon steering: Honda F1 power assisted Rack and Pinion steering wheel: Honda carbon fibre construction electronics: FIA standard ECU & FIA homologated elec-tronic and electrical system Gearbox: Carbon composite maincase: 7-speed unit, Honda internals. Selection Sequential, semi-automatic, hydraulic activation clutch: Carbon plate Wheels: BBS forged magnesium tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

enGine type: Honda RA808E total displacement: 2,400 cc configuration: 90 degrees, V8, naturally aspirated maximum power: More than 700 ps maximum revs: 19000 rpm Valve train: 4 valves per cylinder, pneumatic valve sys-tem injection system: Honda PGM-FI throttle system: Electronic hydraulically-operated system spark plugs: NGK

Website: www.hondaracingf1.com

p22-43 f1 team.indd 39 6/25/08 10:25:54 AM

F1 Teams

40

Force IndIaF1 teaM

baSe: SIlverStone, uK

As far as name changes are concerned, no team license has seen more modi-fications than Force India’s. For many

years it was Jordan, then it changed to Cana-dian Ukrainian Midland F1 for a while, then on to Dutch Spyker F1 and currently Indian Force India. But essentially, the team consists of Jordan staffers based across the street from Silverstone circuit. The major difference is that now, they are owned by Vijay Mallya, one of the world’s richest men and owner of India’s King-fisher beer. An astute businessman, he took over Spyker F1 for less than USD 100 million and with a modest reinvestment, has made the team functioning again. Not much is expected from Force India this season as the team tries to settle under new management, although Mallya’s ambition to further the recognition of his Kingfisher brand and place India as an ad-vanced nation has been truly successful so far.


team Personnel:chairman & mD - Vijay Mallyaco-owner - Michiel Molteam Principal - Colin Kolleschief technical officer - Mike Gas-coyneDesign Director - Mark Smithtechnical Director - James KeyHead of aerodynamics - Simon Phillipsrace engineer sutil - Jody Eggingtonrace engineer Fisichella - Bradley JoyceDrivers: Giancarlo Fisichella, Adrian Sutiltest Driver: Vitantonio Liuzzi


technical Data: Force India VJM01/Ferrari 056 V8 cHassis construction: Full carbon fibre com-posite monocoque Front suspension: Composite push-rods activating chassis mounted in-line dampers and torsion bars, unequal

length composite aerodynamic wish-bones, front anti-roll bar and cast uprights rear suspension: Composite push-rods activating gearbox mounted rotary dampers & torsion bars, unequal length composite aerodynamic wish-bones, and cast uprights transmission: In-house Spyker design. 7-speed + reverse longitudinal gearbox with electrohydraulic sequential gear change Fuel tank capacity: Over 90 kg clutch: Triple plate AP racing clutch Weight: 605 kg including driver, cam-era and ballast Wheels: Forged BBS wheels to Spyker specification tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

enGine type: Ferrari Type 056 number of cylinders: 8 in V 90° number of valves: 32 total displacement: 2,398 cc Fuel feed: Magneti Marelli digital elec-tronic injection Fuel: Shell V-Power ULG 62 lubricant: Shell SL-0977 Weight: 95 kg

Website: www.forceindiaf1.com

p22-43 f1 team.indd 40 6/25/08 10:26:04 AM

OUT NOW!

I want to purchase The Wheels Asia Car Buyers’ Guide 2008Readers pay $10. Subscribers pay $7.

Mr. / Mrs. / Ms

Age: NRIC:

Date of Birth: Gender: M / F

Email:

Tel: (M) (H)

Address:

Occupation:

Car Make & Model:

Payment Details:

Terms and Conditions

Please fill in your particulars and send this coupon together with your credit card details or cheque, made payable to :

Regent Media Pte Ltd to Wheels Asia Car Buyers’ Guide – 3 Loyang Way Singapore 508719.

The rates above are only applicable to readers and subscribers residing in Singapore. Please allow 2 weeks for processing. All rates are inclusive of GST.For enquiries, please call us at 6543 3681 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm)

Fax to: 6543 3719Mail to: Wheels Asia Car Buyers’ Guide, 3 Loyang Way, Singapore 508719

Cardholder’s signature / date

CAR BUYERS’GUIDE 2008

If you’re looking for the perfect set of wheels, look no further than the Wheels Asia Car Buyers’ Guide 2008 as the reference book provides independent views and assessments of every available model in Singapore today.

From the full gamut of an A-Z listing of car models to the ever-popular ‘Car of the Year’ Awards, prospective car owners are well equipped with the knowledge in singling out the perfect car and how it measures up against the competition.

Last but not least, the Car Buyers’ Guide will encompass a product listing that’s filled to the brim with the latest and hottest tyres, rims, car accessories and automotive detailing products to complete the experience.

Get yours today!

A-Z LISTING OF CAR MODELS ‘CAR OF THE YEAR’ AWARDS

PLUS How to keep your fuel bills to a minimumThe case for Diesel power

(Please fill in your subscriber number ________________)Number of copies Delivery method By post: Add $2 per copy By courier: Add $5 (Up to 10 copies) I will collect the book/s (See address below)

Credit card (VISA, MASTERCARD ONLY)

Debited amount under GE Connections will be reflected in your credit card statement.

Cardholder’s Name:

Card No.:

Expiry Date: ________ / _________ (MM/YY)

Cheque

Made payable to Regent Media Pte Ltd

Cheque No.:

Amount:

Discover true insights on all things automotive.

A to Z listing of Car Models | Car of The Year 2007 Awards | Feature StoriesListing: Tyres, In-Car Entertainment Systems and Accessories

‘Car of the Year’ Awards

S$10.00 RM20.00

Car Buyers’ Guide 2008M

ICA

(P) NO

. 156/02/2008 PPS 1472/3/2007

Car Buyers’Guide2008

S$10.00 RM20.00MICA (P) NO. 156/02/2008 PPS 1472/3/2007

Subscribers

pay $7

(U.P$10)

Available at all major retail outlets, bookstores, newsstands and petrol stations

CBG Ad.indd 1 6/23/08 11:40:26 AM

F1 Teams

42

vodaFone Mclaren MercedeS

baSe: WoKInG, uK

Hell hath no fury like a Formula 1 team scorned? If there is any team in the paddock that should feel hard done after the 2007 season, it should be McLaren Mercedes.

After producing several tame cars when Kimi Raikkonen was around, they finally put together a championship worthy ma-chine in 2007 which rookie driver Lewis Hamilton drove with great success. Then came the spy scandal and all was lost for the team and all constructor points were wiped out, plus a USD100 million fine imposed by the FIA. But for Ron Dennis, the long time team principal of McLaren, the mere suggestion of being a cheat should rankle. But his team has done brilliantly to limit damage to their reputation, as evident by all sponsors still on board with the team, and star driver Hamilton has not flown the coop. The MP4/23 is quicker than its predecessor and there is no other baggage from 2007 to deal with.

p22-43 f1 team.indd 42 6/25/08 10:26:25 AM

43


team Personnel: team Principal, team mclaren mercedes chairman and ceo, taG mclaren Group: Ron DennisVice President mercedes-Benz motorsort: Norbert Haugmanaging Director: Martin Whitmarshmanaging Director: Jonathan Nealeengineering Director: Paddy Lowe Design and Development Director: Neil OatleyHead of aerodynamics: Simon Lacey chief engineer mP4-23: Tim Gosschief engineer mP4-24: Pat FryHead of Vehicle engineering: Mark Williams race team manager: Dave Ryan operations Director: Simon RobertsDrivers: Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalinentest Driver: Gary Paffett, Pedro de la Rosa


technical Data: McLaren MP4/23-Mercedes Benz FO 108T V8 cHassis construction: McLaren moulded carbon fibre/aluminium hon-eycomb composite incorporating front and side impact struc-tures. Contains integral safety fuel cell Front suspension: Inboard torsion bar/damper system operat-ed by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrange-ment Rear Suspension: Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrange-ment Dampers: KONI electronics: McLaren Electronic Systems control units incor-porating electronics for chassis, engine and data acquisition. McLaren Electronic Systems also supplies the electronic dash-board, alternator voltage control, sensors, data analysis and telemetry systems Bodywork: One-piece engine cover; seperate side pod covers. Separate floor section, structural nose with integral front wing radios: Kenwood Batteries: GS Yuasa Corporation steering: McLaren power-assisted Instruments: McLaren Electronic Systems Gearbox: Semi-automatic, seven speeds forward and one speed reverse lubricants: Mobil 1, newly developed 2008 formula for lower friction and better wear resistance race Wheels: Enkei tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

enGine type: Mercedes-Benz FO 108T V8 cylinders: V8, 90° Fuel: Mobil 1 Unleaded Weight: 95 kg

Website: www.mclaren.com

p22-43 f1 team.indd 43 6/25/08 10:26:38 AM

44

F1 CarF1 CarHow To Build

p44-50 build f1 team.indd 44 6/25/08 10:29:52 AM

45


46

F1 Car

It has been said that building a modern race car is no big deal, anybody can do it. But to make the machine last the distance of a grand prix (300km) whilst capable of go-

ing flat out for at least 50% of the race is a marvellous achievement. And that is the essence why F1 cars are particularly expensive. Even small budget teams have cars on the grid capable of achieving

How To Build An F1 CarSlightly less complicated than a space shuttle, a Formula 1 car is a work of art if you consider how much engineering has gone into it

320km/h on the straights, besides that, all cars racing in the Formula 1 need to pass the stringent FIA crash impact tests, the tracks where the cars race on are as varied in layout as they are subjected to variations in weather conditions. Above all, there is big money to be made for teams that do well, so engineers and me-chanics have to build what is essentially a really quick yet light battle tank.

DesignAerodynamics is the key to all F1 cars since the early 80s. How the car cuts through the air to create downforce is the make or break factor, as too little would mean less grip, with it a tendency to slide around the track and too much would impede a car’s ability to reach its top speed. Designers look for maximum downforce during cor-ners and minimum downforce in a straight line. Designs may start out as scribbling on a bar room napkin or an abstract idea from a sculpture but all F1 car designs eventually end up on a computer using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to ascertain if the de-sign is worth further development. Each F1 team can quite literally generate thousands of variable designs for just one season. Only the optimum design which balances the aerodynamic requirements of the whole car can go onto the next stage of develop-ment, which is model testing.


47


48

F1 CarMoDels anD WinD TunnelsMiniatures of chosen designs are made at this stage. Some teams opt for precision cut wood, others use plastic, while there is also clay and for those with the budget, carbon fibre models. Placing these models in wind tunnels allow designers to check and see if real world performance is similar to the computer simulations. This stage may see hundreds of hours spent in the wind tun-nel. Most teams now own their own wind tunnels, some even possess two or three. Most if not all, are running nearly 24 hours a day. Small changes are made to each

model until an optimal state is reached and the model grows from 1/8th scale to a quarter of the size of a real car and then a half size. Eventually a full sized F1 car is put within the wind tunnel, running for hours on end till engineers are satis-fied that it will stand a chance against the competition.

FabricaTion anD laMinaTionAlong with the design of the car, the rest of its parts are custom made from scratch. Everything from the nuts and bolts to the carbon fibre bodywork will be made in


49

house or at the very least, custom made for the team by specialist shops. The fabrica-tion department of a team deals with all things metal but with everything else on a car usually made of carbon fibre, engi-neers responsible for the moulding of this material are workhorses. Sheets of carbon fibre resembling wet paper are placed on a mould, sheet upon sheet go on until the particular section meets its specified thick-ness and shape. Then it is moved into an autoclave, which is a huge oven and once baked dry, the carbon fibre component will be tougher than steel but lighter than an aluminium equivalent.

special branchesWhile work goes on in the chassis depart-ment, a separate team works on the engine and the transmission. With the rules of F1 continuing to evolve, engine builders have to follow new sets of parameters in the design and engineering of an F1 engine. Current rules dictate each engine has to last two races and cannot be tinkered with during a race, so the developmental stage is particularly important to ensure reliabil-ity of the engine. At the same time as the

engine is pieced together, transmission is another area of concern. To create a seven speed gearbox which switches gears in milliseconds, is one thing but introduce the huge forces and stresses exerted by the engine during a race and you’ll see why engineers spend plenty of time on this small but important piece of component and this year gearboxes have to last four races before they can be changed adding to the conundrum.

The brakes on an F1 car are also of special interest as the brake disks and pads are made from ceramics and carbon, and can bring an F1 car travelling at 300km/h to a standstill within three seconds. Other mechanical pieces which go into the car are the steering system and the suspension system. But aside from some small leaps in technology these components have re-mained unchanged over the last few years.

elecTrics anD elecTronicsBy far the most complicated element of an F1 car is its electronics, it can determine the end result of a race; help make cars faster, more responsive and more reli-able. The FIA has taken steps to make the

The intricacies of

putting the whole car

together, is done with

meticulous attention to

detail.


50

F1 Car

electronics in all F1 cars standard but it is an ongoing affair. Currently, the teams use a standard Engine Control Unit (ECU) made by McLaren Electronic Systems but branded as Microsoft, these ECUs limit engines to 19000RPM.

But 2008 will see many driving aids such as traction control being banned. Most of the car is also wired to sensors, recording everything from engine revs to speed to cylinder firing rates. But above all this, the steer-ing wheel of an F1 car still has the ability to change the characteristics of the car on the fly. As long as this is allowed, electronics will continue to play a huge part in any F1 race.

asseMblyThe intricacies of putting the whole

car together, is done with meticulous atten-tion to detail. The electronics, electrics, hy-draulics and engine each have a place in the chassis. Technicians and mechanics have to be precise about each piece of the car. Even

when fastening nuts and bolts, the amount of force used is measured. As each piece is fitted, the car slowly begins to resemble what we see on the track. What most fans rarely understand is that the team puts together

several cars around the same time depending on available budget. Each car no matter how well put together is not an identical twin of the other, only drivers can tell the subtle differences.

At this point, the cars are rarely put together in their entirety, the monocoque structure (the main shell where the driver sits) has all the crucial components installed and then the car is ready to be shipped. At races, mechanics fit the bodywork and other pieces such as the nose cone, rear wing and tyres together to form a full fledge F1 racing car.


w w w . w h e e l s a s i a . s g

Get UP to

Speed with

Avai lable at a l l major retai l out lets, bookstores, newsstands and petrol stat ions.

Wheels Asia Ad.indd 1 6/24/08 10:23:52 AM

52

F1 Tyres

Like every automobile in the world, the racing machines of the F1 have tyres to help keep them planted onto

the ground. To onlookers, tyres may be seen as a mundane element of the sport, but insiders consider it amongst the most important. The annual budget of sole tyre supplier Bridgestone is US$1 billion, a good indication these mounds are a bit more than just rubber rings. Tyres are the con-duits which provide grip and traction for the car and are 100% of what engineers call mechanical grip, as opposed to aerodynam-ic grip provided by the wings of the car.

The composition of these specialist tyres is very similar to everyday automobiles, in that both consist of carbon, sulphur and

Engineering An F1 Tyre

Aerodynamic downforce and raw horse power need to be translated into speed. This is where the tyre comes in

oil, but what sets the F1 tyre apart is its internal framework. The forces which act on the tyres are immense, with around 4Gs of longitudinal force (front to back) and 5Gs of lateral force (side to side) exerted on the tyres when the cars go at full throttle or corner at high-speeds. If a tyre was too weak to sustain its form under stress, it would deform and break up leading to a disastrous accident for the car, hence F1 tyres have nylon and polyester ‘bones’ maintaining the rigidity and form of the tyre when under stress.

But a major problem for most rubber-based compounds such as tyres is heat. Not enough and they will behave more like skates but too much and the tyres will begin to break down (granulate). The accel-eration of an F1 car can send temperatures soaring on the tyre, but because all cars are distinctly different heat signatures on the tyre are also quite different. This means that tyre engineers have to build tyres that cater to the entire grid and not just a few specific teams.

Which is why Bridgestone’s hard work


53


54

F1 Tyres

and expertise over the years in motorsport and Formula 1 in particular have made its tyres the pick of the lot. Such has been their role, that they are currently the sole tyre supplier to the F1 World Champion-ship for the second time in their history. At any given race this season and the next, Bridgestone’s engineers will work closely with all teams to figure out how its tyres can help maximise each car’s performance.

When the tyres arrive at the race venue, they have to be prepared for the teams. This responsibility falls on the crew work-ing in the Bridgestone mobile workshop, this workshop also repairs and replaces damaged tyres for all the teams. Once the teams take over the tyres, they keep them in storage until they are needed. That is when the heating blanket goes on, a nifty invention which keeps the tyres heated so they will be at their optimum operating temperature (around 100ºC) once out on the track.

Heat also affects the tyre’s pressure by expanding or contracting the air inside, so two temperature readings are taken at tracks, an ambient temperature and a track temperature. At the hottest race of the year in Sepang, Malaysia, the track tempera-tures can hit 60ºC! While cooler climates in Europe and occasionally Australia, track temperatures can be as cool as 30ºC.


55


56

F1 TyresF1 has four types of tyres for drivers and

engineers to choose from. Two dry tyres, one from a soft compound (with a white line on the tyre) and one hard. It also has one intermediate weather tyre to be used when the track is damp and a wet weather tyre, used when it rains. The dry tyres have to have four grooves to limit their speed (the FIA were concerned that cornering speeds were spiralling out of control).

One aspect of the tyre that is rarely seen or known is its contact patch, or surface area of where the tyres come in contact with the ground. What we see on the pit-lane concrete are streaks of skid marks which gives the impression that contact with the ground must be massive. But in fact, the size of the patch is no bigger than a grown man’s palm. An everyday automo-bile’s contact with the road is roughly half that, so do remember that the next time you think about going full throttle!


57


F1 Driver

58

What It Takes To Be An F1 DriverA

n all or nothing existence is something race-car drivers must get used to. A win-ning driver is feted and paid enormous amounts of money

while an also-ran struggles to make ends meet. To be a Formula 1 driver then is to possess the mental resolute, physical reflexes and skills as well as the willing-ness to gamble on one’s life for success in a glamorous profession.

DevelopmentAlmost all F1 drivers in the business to-day began racing in go karts as children. As young as six years old or at the most early teens, these formative years into the world of racing are where the exceptional are separated from the average and the bad. Go karts also teach the child racers about racing lines and braking points. The kid that masters these two aspects will be the quickest and most efficient racer. It was Kimi Raikkonen’s skill at karting that got him noticed even though he was a bit older than the other children. Karting world champion Vittantonio Liuzzi was an adult before he tried racing cars and then got very quickly into F1.

But the traditional route would be to build a steady career as follows, from karting; most kids go into junior formulae like Formula Ford. The typical open wheel junior racecar will have identical cars and parts with only several adjustable options. These include ride height, suspension set-tings and brake bias. Organisers keep the options limited as more adjustments mean more costs involved in getting new parts. Team owners running cars in junior series are almost always part timers with a pas-sion for racing, so keeping them interested in operating a team is part of the business

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 58 6/25/08 10:48:03 AM

59

of organising a race series. At the junior formulae level, the young driver will begin to

appreciate the technical aspects of racing because on occasions a superior driver can be beaten by an inferior driver because of the chosen settings. And while the engines of most junior for-mulae around the world are built to last for several races before servicing, the gung-ho drivers will burn the engine out inside of a few laps. Wrong gear selections and improper clutch use will be lessons the junior novice will have learn. At this level, those with potential can be identified and only those, which are either well funded or great, will progress.

By their late teens, racers will already have a pretty good idea on how far they can go in the sport. The next level of racing will be the regional formulae, for example Formula BMW, Renault World Series, Formula 3000, Formula 3, A1GP and GP2. At this level, the playing field is no longer even. There will be teams with more sponsors and thus a bigger budget than others. These teams will be able to have the pick of the crop when it comes to selecting drivers while the smaller, less funded teams will be on the lookout for a big sponsor backed driver. Beyond this, it is a dynamic and complex set of re-lationships a driver has to negotiate to get a drive, for at this point everyone is at least a junior champion, talented and quick.

With the next step being top-level racing, only the most talented and passionate drivers will be noticed. On the other hand, there will be those who lack the skill but possess the funds to go racing. It is an unequal world we live in and the paddock is certainly a reflec-

tion of that. And for all those who wish to emulate Lewis Hamilton and rise through the ranks on merit alone will do well to remember that for every success story like his, there are more than a few bus loads of failures that never made a dent in the racing world. The odds are against the driver, which is probably why each winner on the podium is celebrated beyond the norm.

FitnessMuch has been written about the fitness levels of Formula 1 driv-ers so it is no myth. The simple fact is, the faster a car goes; the more force exerted on the driver. To be able to race a car to the maximum, which means the ability to think about how to overtake a rival, how to regulate your car as you go along in the race and basically keep from going over the limit requires a huge amount of acumen. And no brain that is oxygen impaired will be able to process all the data coming in and make rational choices.

Thus, an F1 car that can accelerate beyond 100km/h and come to a full stop in a matter of seconds is literally a torture cham-ber for those who are not physically and mentally fit enough to withstand the G-forces.

As a rule of thumb, all racers are physically fit. But F1 drivers are on a different planet to all other racers. The guys in F1 train close to seven days a week in a program that is both well rounded and specific. In the off-season (November – January), each driver goes home but continues to train through the winter. Cardio work-outs are supplemented by intense weight training on the driving

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 59 6/25/08 10:48:33 AM

F1 Driver

60

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 60 6/25/08 10:49:00 AM

61

muscles (neck, shoulders and torso). But as the drivers have to keep their lean shape to fit into the cars, the workouts are designed to keep the bulk off.

But once the season begins, and team, sponsor or personal commitments clash, training is done whenever possible. This is a relatively recent development as pre-Michael Schumacher very few teams actually had the regimented approach to driver fitness. Today, almost all drivers have personal trainers; the privileged even have a nutritionist and a psychologist. Aside from the physical demands placed on the driver, their mental capability is enhanced with mind exercises similar to those used by fighter pilots.

A simple test you can do any time is to pick a real world ev-eryday route you drive, cycle or even walk. Close your eyes and mentally picture the route in real time. For example, if you walk to a bus stop to go to work, close your eyes and walk the route in your mind. Time yourself and then time the real walk the next morning. The times should match closely if you are driver mate-rial. F1 drivers can mentally drive through an entire F1 track to within a second of their real world time!

So the next time you see or read about the wild parties or the glamorous life of an F1 driver, remember that very rarely seen is the hard work that went into the career before that.

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 61 6/25/08 10:49:31 AM

F1 Driver Profiles

62

F1 DriversIntro to

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 62 6/25/08 10:49:38 AM

63

A brief introduction to the F1 drivers of 2008...

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 63 6/25/08 10:49:46 AM

F1 Driver Profiles

64

There is little that Kimi Raikkonen has to prove in the world of racing. The boy that was discov-ered by Peter Sauber in 2001 and told by FIA president Max Mosley that he may be a danger

to others before his debut has blossomed into a world champion. There was never a doubt about the talents of the Finn who has followed in the footsteps of Mika Hak-kinen. Be it racing BMX bicycles or snowmobiles, Kimi’s boundless ability to adapt to a vehicle is quite remark-able. In fact, it was one of his biggest problems when he left Sauber Petronas to join McLaren Mercedes in 2002. His race engineers said at the time that he adapts so quickly to a car that his feedback on the problems on the car were always somewhat muted. To compound these problems, his time at McLaren was blighted with a string of non-reliable cars. He eventually left the Woking team to join Ferrari in 2007 to replace his main rival, Michael Schumacher. And since then Kimi has delivered the goods for the Maranello team. Kimi is married to Jenni Dahlman, the former Miss Scandinavia and has a taste for a good party. There have been times he has been compared to the legendary James Hunt, a name that Kimi uses as a pseudonym occasionally. On track though, he is known as “Iceman” for his cool and calculating methods and driving style.

Kimi RaiKKonenTeam: Scuderia Ferrari Marlboronationality: FinlandDate of Birth: 17 October 1979World Championships: 1Race Wins: 17Pole Positions: 15Highest Race Finish: 1stHighest Grid Position: 1stPodiums: 52Points: 490Races entered: 128

KIMI RAIKKONEN

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 64 6/25/08 10:49:49 AM

65

In 2002, Peter Sauber was looking for a re-placement for the departed Kimi Raikkonen. He was told of a prodigious talent, similar to Raikkonen but slightly wilder in the lower

formulae. Felipe Massa was signed that year after being an imperious driver in F3000. But he would also spend most of that year explaining the loss of focus at crucial moments that led to crashes. Dropped from Sauber for 2003, he turned to Ferrari as a test driver. There were concerns that he would join former racer Luca Badoer as a career test driver but he returned to racing with Sauber in 2004, a much calmer driver now. His stay was extended in 2005 with several very good showings that season. His performances were such that Ferrari brought him back into the stable as a racer to replace Rubens Barrichello. He is married to Anna Bassi as of late 2007, something F1 pundits hope will have a long lasting effect of keeping him mentally focused on the job at hand. He is still a gifted driver that came into F1 being compared to Ayrton Senna.

Felipe MassaTeam: Scuderia Ferrari MarlboroNationality: BrazilDate of Birth: 25 April 1981World Championships: 0Race Wins: 7pole positions: 12Highest Race Finish: 1stHighest Grid position: 1stpodiums: 21points: 235Races entered: 94

FELIPEMASSA

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 65 6/26/08 11:40:07 AM

F1 Driver Profiles

66

Being a Mercedes supported driver from his teens, Nick Heidfeld always imagined he would end up driving for McLaren Mercedes if he made it

into F1. But such has been his luck that he now races for archrivals BMW. His breakthrough in F1 came in 2000 when he got a seat in Prost Grand Prix. As he struggled to match his earlier F3 and F3000 successes, he was dropped from the team. With Mercedes links with Peter Sau-ber still strong, Nick found himself at Sauber Petronas in 2001 alongside Kimi Raikkonen. The duo drove consistent races and catapulted the Hinwil team to fourth place in the Con-structors’ Championship. When Mika Hakkinen retired, the assumption was that Nick would replace the Finn but the seat at McLaren went instead to Kimi Raikkonen. Disappointed, Nick continued on with Sauber until 2003 then joined Jordan in 2004 where he did enough to attract the attention of Williams BMW. He drove for the team in 2005 and followed BMW when they bought out Peter Sauber. Known as “Quick Nick” among his fans, he lives in Switzerland with girlfriend Patricia with their two children.

niCK HeiDFelD Team: BMW Sauber F1 Teamnationality: GermanyDate of Birth: 10 May 1977World Championships: 0Race Wins: 0Pole Positions: 1Highest Race Finish: 2ndHighest Grid Position: 1stPodiums: 8Points: 160Races entered: 140

NIcK HEIDFELD

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 66 6/25/08 10:49:56 AM

67

Like many other nations around the world who push one driver into the F1 limelight for a brief moment, Robert Kubica was supposedly the

chosen one from Poland. But not too many in the racing world had heard about the young man from Krakow or how he came to be on the F1 grid. Robert’s rise to the top started when he was a child, convincing his father into get-ting him into go-karts. Having had many ups and downs in the junior formulae, he was also unfortunate to have a car crash that resulted in him having 18 titanium bolts in his arm in 2003. His turning point came in 2005 when he won the World Series by Renault, earning him a test with the Renault F1 team. BMW Sauber snapped him up for 2006 as a test driver and later promoted him to full racer replacing Jacques Villeneuve. He has since cemented his place with the team; turning in consistent qualifying runs and finishes. In his personal time, Robert is an avid fan of snooker and is considered a fine poker player.

RoBeRT KuBiCaTeam: BMW Sauber F1 Teamnationality: PolandDate of Birth: 7 December 1984World Championships: 0Race Wins: 0Pole Positions: 1Highest Race Finish: 2ndHighest Grid Position: 1stPodiums: 4Points: 77Races entered: 28

ROBERTKuBIcA

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 67 6/25/08 10:50:00 AM

F1 Driver Profiles

68

Many F1 fans consider Fernando Alonso to be a man on the move, not really knowing where he will stop next. From his days at Mi-

nardi, to his championship days at Renault and then his contentious move to McLaren and now back at Renault, Fernando seems to be looking for a happy home to race from and win. Like many other modern racers, he got into racing from an early age but unlike most other racers, he broke into F1 and got an education. Using his raw tal-ent, he drove the wheels of his Minardi for a whole season in 2001. With his manager Flavio Briatore also the boss of Renault F1, he was brought back to be a test driver for 2002, learning about the car and himself. He was on the grid for 2003 and won his first race that year at Hungary. With the 2004 car being anonymous, he had a low season. But then drove his super reliable Renault to World Championships in 2005 and 2006 but opted for a move to McLaren in 2007. Being overshadowed by Lewis Hamilton plus a number of other controver-sies sent him back to Renault for 2008.

FeRnanDo alonsoTeam: ING Renault F1 Teamnationality: SpainDate of Birth: 29 July 1981World Championships: 2Race Wins: 19Pole Positions: 17Highest Race Finish: 1stHighest Grid Position: 1stPodiums: 49Points: 499Races entered: 111

FERNANDO ALONSO

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 68 6/25/08 10:50:20 AM

69

A familiar name rejoins the grid nearly two decades after it disappeared. Nelson Piquet Snr. is a triple world champion,

winning his titles in 1981, 1983 and 1987. Now his son has entered the fray with his debut in Formula 1. He is a product of the highly competitive Brazilian karting scene after which he graduated to the hustle and bustle of European open wheel racing. Racing in GP2, the feeder series to Formula 1, Nelsinho as he is known was picked up by the Renault F1 team to test for them in 2007. Before that he had tested for Honda and Williams as well. This season he has graduated to a racing seat and will need to prove to many of his critics that he is there on merit rather than his family name. He is considered to be the heartthrob of the 2008 paddock with his legions of female fans.

nelson PiqueT JR.Team: ING Renault F1 Teamnationality: BrazilDate of Birth: 25 July 1985World Championships: 0Race Wins: 0Pole Positions: 0Highest Race Finish: 11thHighest Grid Position: 10thPodiums: 0Points: 0Races entered: 6

NELSON PIQuET Jr.

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 69 6/25/08 10:50:38 AM

F1 Driver Profiles

70

The arrival of Nico Rosberg in F1 has been long foretold by his father, the Finnish maestro Keke Rosberg who drove for Williams

and McLaren in the 80s. Despite the sup-port Nico received from his father who also managed Mika Hakkinen, he has had to learn things the hard way. Going from karts to cars in just a few years, his main entry platform to F1 has been Formula BMW. Af-ter winning the 2002 championship there, he moved into GP2. By this time, he was already testing for Williams and secured a seat with them in 2006. His driving style is aggressive which would explain his early career shunts. But carrying the Rosberg name, world champion in 1982 means that he is out to at least match his father’s abil-ity. Nico has been racing in F1 under the German flag despite being mainly Finnish and living in Monaco for most of his life.

niCo RosBeRG Team: AT&T Williams

nationality: German

Date of Birth: 27 June 1985

World Championships: 0

Race Wins: 0

Pole Positions: 0

Highest Race Finish: 3rd

Highest Grid Position: 3rd

Podiums: 1

Points: 32

Races entered: 41

NIcOROSBERG

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 70 6/25/08 10:50:43 AM

71

One very unlikely fact about Ka-zuki Nakajima is that he is also a second-generation racer being the son of Satoru Nakajima.

But while his father was a Honda backed driver, Kazuki is Toyota backed. Rising through the ranks of junior formulae in Japan, he has developed a knack for bully-ing his way through traffic. But his overly aggressive method has more often than not resulted in a crash. But still, the kid has plenty of talent and out qualifies his teammate on a regular basis. His main goal for 2008 would be to finish more races with the car in one piece.

KazuKi NaKajimaTeam: AT&T Williams

Nationality: Japan

Date of Birth: 11 January 1985


Race Wins: 0

Pole Positions: 0

Highest Race Finish: 6th

Highest Grid Position: 12th

Podiums: 0

Points: 7

Races Entered: 7

KAZUKINAKAJIMA

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 71 6/26/08 11:42:37 AM

F1 Driver Profiles

72

Long and distinguished is how most people would describe David Coulthard’s racing career. But he also has the reputation

of being a shrewd investor, owning ho-tels in both Monaco and Britain. On track though, the oldest driver on the 2008 grid is a steady head with bags of experience, which he used to great effect while driving for Jaguar Racing and then new owners Red Bull Racing. As he continues to race in F1, he inches up the record books as most successful British racer via points scored although he has never won the world cham-pionship. One particular feature of DC away from the track is the long string of models he has dated over the years. He is currently engaged to Karen Minier, former-ly an F1 TV show host from Belgium.

DaviD CoulTHaRDTeam: Red Bull Racing

nationality: Britain

Date of Birth: 27 March 1971


Race Wins: 13

Pole Positions: 12

Highest Race Finish: 1st

Highest Grid Position: 1st

Podiums: 61

Points: 527

Races entered: 235

DAVIDcOuLTHARD

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 72 6/25/08 10:50:55 AM

73

One of the last true racers on the grid today, Mark Webber usually prefers to spend his time with his car and his mechanics rather than

at dinner parties looking for sponsors. Thus it is no surprise that the early career of the Aussie is blighted with a lack of racing cash. But whenever asked to drive, he has raced his heart out which is why team owners keep calling him back. The complete anti-thesis of a pay-driver, Mark is particularly single minded about his place in a racing team: drive to win. His entry to F1 came via fellow Aussie, Paul Stoddart who was then owner of Minardi in 2002. This was after surviving two flips in a Mercedes while driv-ing in the Le Mans 24-hours. He has driven for Williams and surprised many when he signed for Red Bull, due to Red Bull having a driver program full of talent.

Mark WebberTeam: Red Bull Racing

Nationality: Australia

Date of birth: 27 August 1976


race Wins: 0

Pole Positions: 0

Highest race Finish: 3rd

Highest Grid Position: 2nd

Podiums: 2

Points: 94

races entered: 111

MARKWEBBER

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 73 6/26/08 11:44:06 AM

F1 Driver Profiles

74

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 74 6/25/08 10:51:18 AM

75

One of the most famous scenes in F1, after a gripping duel,

Ayrton Senna’s McLaren gave up the ghost and ran out of fuel

on the final lap while racing against Nigel Mansell. The Brit won the race (British GP, Silver-stone, 1991) and gave the Bra-

zilian a lift back to the pits.

He ain’t heavy

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 75 6/26/08 11:46:28 AM

F1 Driver Profiles

76

The Italians in F1 are traditionally an exciting breed of racers. But for Jarno Trulli the excitement is tempered by a smooth style.

He is super quick when it counts espe-cially in qualifying. But the introduction of traffic and the need to get the car to the chequered flag creates a certain withdrawn attitude noticeable in the last two seasons. This is in stark contrast to earlier in his career where the main concern was to get noticed by the big boys. Moving from Mi-nardi to Prost and then on to Jordan before a drive with Benetton, he is another one of the old heads on the grid. His 2005 move to Toyota has seen him build up alongside a team, which is relatively new. On occa-sions when he is given the right car, Jarno is a delight to watch. A true fitness nut, he runs marathons occasionally and also owns his own vineyard. He is married with two children.

JaRno TRulliTeam: Panasonic Toyota Racing

nationality: Italy

Date of Birth: 13 July 1974


Race Wins: 1

Pole Positions: 3



Podiums: 7

Points: 192

Races entered: 190

JARNOTRuLLI

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 76 6/25/08 10:51:47 AM

77

Tabloids love it when Timo Glock does something worth writing about. The last name that is also the brand of a handgun sparks

many a writer’s imagination. Timo though would prefer to be sparking stories about his results in his first full season in F1. In 2004, the young German driver was moved up from test driver to full time racer at Jordan when contract disputes took Giorgio Pantano out of the seat. Glock did not do enough to secure the seat permanently for 2005 which led to a move to America. That would be the first and only time that Timo has raced full time outside of Germany hav-ing been raised on German junior formulae. His big moment came in 2006 when he returned to race in GP2, which he won the championship in 2007. He was brought in to replace Ralf Schumacher and with the team being based in Germany much is expected of him.

Timo GloCKTeam: Panasonic Toyota Racing

nationality: Germany

Date of Birth: 18 March 1982


Race Wins: 0

Pole Positions: 0



Podiums: 0

Points: 2

Races entered: 10

TIMOGLOcK

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 77 6/25/08 10:51:54 AM

F1 Driver Profiles

78

For many in F1, the arrival of Sebastien Bourdais is like the return of the prodigal son. Early in his career, Sebastien showed

much promise with championship wins in F3000 and Formula 3. He was also involved in many Le Mans 24-hours races but all this did little to sway someone in F1 to pick him up for a drive. He decided to move to America to race in CART and earned him-self three consecutive championships. Even then, the attitude in F1’s predominantly European circles was lukewarm. But as the scrum to get reliable drivers began for 2008, Scuderia Toro Rosso took the plunge to bring Sebastien back to Europe and into F1. It will be an interesting season to see if the man who has been king in America for three years running will make a dent in the F1 championship.

seBasTien BouRDaisTeam: Scuderia Toro Rosso

nationality: France

Date of Birth: 28 October 1979


Race Wins: 0

Pole Positions: 0



Podiums: 0

Points: 2

Races entered: 6

SEBASTIENBOuRDAIS

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 78 6/25/08 10:52:01 AM

79

One of the unheralded drivers of 2007, Sebastian Vettel is Mr. Con-sistency in a very young frame. There is very little flair or drama

that comes along when Sebastian is in the car although his crash at the Japanese GP in 2007 caused some to question his ability. The fact that Toro Rosso have been talking to him about 2009 is proof enough that they believe in his potential. Before breaking into F1, he had tested with many teams in the hopes of securing a drive. One of the key points to his success is his interest in the technical aspect of Formula 1 and understanding how his car works. It is such a feature, which puts him in the same group as seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.

seBasTian veTTelTeam: Scuderia Toro Rosso


Date of Birth: 3 July 1987


Race Wins: 0

Pole Positions: 0



Podiums: 0

Points: 10

Races entered: 14

SEBASTIENVETTEL

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 79 6/25/08 10:52:07 AM

F1 Driver Profiles

80

The great big hope of Great Britain has only showed glimpses of his potential in his career thus far. A major drawback for Jenson

Button is the fact he just happens to be British. Often compared to the great cham-pions of the past from the isles, the intense pressure on Jenson to succeed early in his career took its toll. His stunning debut performance with Williams in 2000 made him a household name. But a troubled move to Renault saw him very isolated and lacking in motivation. The lifestyle, which came along with a move to Monaco, also became fodder for the tabloids. His move to the BAR which has since become Honda Racing, has put a sense of perspective into his career. With the backing of a British team and from Honda, there is some hope yet for the Englishman from Frome.

Jenson BuTTonTeam: Honda Racing F1 Team

Nationality: Britain



Race Wins: 1

Pole Positions: 3



Podiums: 15

Points: 232

Races Entered: 142

JENSONBuTTON

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 80 6/25/08 10:52:20 AM

81

From the heady heights of Fer-rari to the austere surroundings of Honda Racing. Many fans consider that to be the fate of

Rubens Barrichello, the man who had a shot at being an even greater racer than Ayrton Senna. But once the media version of Rubinho is consigned to the bin, what you have left is a professional F1 driver who just wants to get on with his career. One can say many things about the days when he drove for Ferrari but the truth is that despite not being in a high-end car, Rubens is a happier man. At Honda Racing, his input carries weight and he is allowed and encouraged to race harder than his teammate Jenson Button. One may not see it on TV during race day but having the Brazilian around the Honda Racing team is having a stabilising effect. And that is what Rubens gives to any team he drives for, the peace of mind come what may, a capable man behind the wheel.

RuBens BaRRiCHelloTeam: Honda Racing F1 Team

Nationality: Brazil

Date of Birth: 23 May 1972


Race Wins: 9

Pole Positions: 13



Podiums: 61

Points: 522

Races Entered: 258

RuBENSBARRIcHELLO

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 81 6/25/08 10:52:23 AM

F1 Driver Profiles

82

One of the few new drivers of 2007 to survive into 2008, Adrian Sutil’s life could have been very different. A gifted pianist from

an early age, he switched to karting at 14. Being raised in Germany, he followed the system up with Formula BMW and then into Formula 3 where he put up a good fight against teammate Lewis Hamilton. In 2006, he left for Japan where he became the champion of the Formula 3 champion-ship there. Having known and driven for Colin Kolles earlier in his career, the Ger-man was given the chance to test drive for MF1, which later became Spyker. In 2007, Sutil outraced his teammate Christijan Albers at every grand prix and when Force India took over the team for 2008, they kept Adrian on. He is regarded as a true talent and something of a late bloomer. If Force India improves their car, some good results are expected from the German.

aDRian suTilTeam: Force India Formula One Team




Race Wins: 0

Pole Positions: 0



Podiums: 0

Points: 1

Races entered: 23

ADRIANSuTIL

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 82 6/25/08 10:52:28 AM

83

Like most other newer teams on the grid, the decision to go for an experienced hand to go along-side a younger is logical. And so

in just a few short but spectacular years, Giancarlo Fisichella has gone from the new maverick to the wise man of the team. The quiet Roman can look back on a career, which has been fraught with intrigue and many colourful episodes. He has often stated that it is his ambition to drive for Ferrari, but so far his performances have very rarely warranted a call from Maranello. His ability to outrace even the best drivers on any given day is tempered by the fact that he could be the slowest man on track at any given time. His days in F1 may be coming to an end but if Force India does happen to develop a quick car in record time, there could be a surprise or two from a man that is often overlooked as a threat.

GianCaRlo FisiCHellaTeam: Force India Formula One Team

nationality: Italy



Race Wins: 3

Pole Positions: 3



Podiums: 18

Points: 267

Races entered: 200

GIANcARIOFISIcHELLA

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 83 6/25/08 10:52:33 AM

F1 Driver Profiles

84

One roar after another preceded Lewis Hamilton in 2007. The former GP2 champion was the main reason why the sport came storming back up the TV ratings

last year. With every race, he captured more and more attention that had been sorely lacking in F1 over the last decade. Being the first black driver in the sport made him a novelty but his sheer brilliance behind the wheel has made him a phenomenon. McLaren have been quite protective of the young driver since discovering him during his early teens. Many believe that he is the next Ayrton Senna, a driver who will lead F1 back to real driving, leaving behind all the gadgets that have made driving an F1 car simpler. He is a mentally strong athlete and he will need that strength when he runs into a slump in form and the press turn on him. But until then, the kid has breathed new life into a sport that many consider are on a downward trend due to its rising costs.

leWis HamilTonTeam: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

Nationality: Britain



Race Wins: 6

Pole Positions: 7



Podiums: 16

Points: 147

Races Entered: 23

LEWISHAMILTON

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 84 6/25/08 10:52:38 AM

85

Stepping into the shoes of a departing world champion is no mean feat. That was the tall order set before Heikki Kovalainen who continues a McLaren tradition of

having a Finn in the driver’s seat following Kimi Raikkonen, Mika Hakkinen and Keke Rosberg. But Kovalainen’s arrival at Woking is somewhat of a surprise having been part of the Renault F1 and the junior develop-ment program for sometime. Very similar to his teammate Lewis Hamilton, he is also a young driver who has won champion-ships at the junior level, namely the Nissan World Series. In his rookie season of 2007, Heikki proved to be more than a match for his experienced teammate Giancarlo Fisichella. With McLaren famous for not following a lead driver policy, Heikki will finally be in a car that can win races and championships again.

HeiKKi Kovalainen Team: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

nationality: Finland

Date of Birth: 19 October 1981


Race Wins: 0

Pole Positions: 0

Highest Race Finish: 2nd

Highest Grid Position: 2nd

Podiums: 2

Points: 45

Races entered: 23

HEIKKIKOVALAINEN

p60-85 f1 driver.indd 85 6/25/08 10:52:43 AM

86

Feature

Understanding F1 On TVPerhaps the biggest criticism of F1

today is that it is boring. It would seem, especially on television, the

spectacle of Formula 1 racing has lost its magic. That is unless the viewer knows exactly what is happening on air. This is a brief guide to help you understand what actually goes on and decipher and truly appreciate a Grand Prix.

There are two sessions beamed to view-ers either live or via delayed telecast, they are the qualifying and the race day itself, both sessions make up the Race Week-end as seen on TV. There are of course, other unseen things that go on in the background, which the cameras are either not allowed or do not cover, yet play a significant role in a race.

Not seeN oN tV• testingAt several pre-determined circuits (mostly in Europe), the F1 teams do their test-ing. This is where you will get the regular tabloid headline that a back end team has scorched the lanes and set a dumb found-ing record lap time.

The truth about testing is that it should be considered just that, testing. Elsewhere in this book, you will read about how F1 cars are made and how F1 drivers train themselves. The test sessions are for both car and driver to learn about each other and race as one unit.

As F1’s governing body the FIA (Fédéra-tion Internationale de l’Automobile), does not regulate these test sessions, a car does

p86-99 fi on tv.indd 86 6/25/08 10:54:08 AM

87

“ If this series of twists and turns were designed to impress a visitor on just how much grip Bridgestone tyres can generate in awful conditions, it certainly worked.”

p86-99 fi on tv.indd 87 6/25/08 10:54:13 AM

88

Feature

not have to run true to race conditions. For example in a race, an F1 car has to weigh a minimum of 600kgs. The chassis and engine combine weight for only 300kgs or less, which means ballast, is required. In a test session, this ballast does not have to be on board.

Teams normally have two kinds of test sessions which can have an almost infinite number of setting variations, these are the short runs and long runs.

Short runs are used when teams wish to tweak a myriad of settings on the car for optimal performance under one condition or another. These conditions could be, for better slow cornering speeds (in Monaco) or low down force (in Monza), a balanced set up (in Sepang) or higher acceleration rates (for tracks like Singapore and Valencia).

Long runs are used to prove that the car or one part of the car (usually something new from the factory) is race worthy. In this scenario, drivers will run many laps to determine if the car or that part in question is up to the task and performs as designed.

Sole tyre supplier Bridgestone sends engi-

neers and their tyres to each and every test session. Each team’s machine has different characteristics and this in turn affects how they utilise the tyres and it is up to the en-gineers to advise the team on how to maxi-mise their rubber. These test sessions allow Bridgestone to develop new compounds throughout the season, enabling them to design and built better tyres for enhanced safety and performance.

• the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile)Custodians of the F1 rules and regulations, and judges at all races, the FIA are the regu-lators of the sport.

The FIA are not be confused with the FOA (Formula One Association) which is the grouping of all the teams taking part in F1

The fierce jostling for positions at Turn 1 could result in the end of the race for some cars.

p86-99 fi on tv.indd 88 6/25/08 10:54:26 AM

Available at all major retail outlets, bookstores, newsstands and petrol stations.

Golf Asia Ad.indd 1 6/23/08 11:48:42 AM

90

Feature

and they are represented by Bernie Eccle-stone while the FIA is usually represented by its president Max Mosley.

The FOA and the FIA have an agreement in place called the Concorde Agreement (it was signed at Concorde Place, London and has nothing to do with the Concorde plane) This agreement is a secret document that only team bosses are allowed access to and it determines how the sport’s rules are made and technical changes implemented.

The Concorde Agreement is also the contract requiring all teams to show up whenever there is a race set by the FIA in the F1 calendar. Before Ecclestone came along, not all teams would race at all races and race organisers could not be sure if any teams would show up for its race.

The current agreement is set to expire

and negotiations are set for a new pact which may have some interesting changes as not all teams, sponsors and organisers were happy with some aspects of the agree-ment made over the last decade or so.

The FIA Stewards at each race are both judges and disciplinarians. They watch for infractions during the race and if their scru-

tineers find anything out of the ordinary on any car, they will meet, discuss and provide a finding. Occasionally, some cases need a longer period to deliberate, so fans may see some changes in results and penalties imposed even after a race.

• PracticeAnother aspect of an F1 race that is rarely shown live on TV outside of Europe, are the practice sessions. These timed sessions are held on the Fridays of an F1 race weekend and they give teams a chance to see what the circuit is like. During these sessions, very much like the test sessions, fans will hear of teams doing spectacular lap times. What fans should be mindful about are the fuel loads (ballast tampering is illegal during an official session) as the heavier

The best pit crews exhibit clock work like efficiency

p86-99 fi on tv.indd 90 6/25/08 10:54:54 AM

Product tested by A* Star – National Metrology Centre,in compliance to LTA requirement.

ST. LOUIS (May 1st, 2008) – (NYSE: SOA) CPFilms®, the world leader in glass treat-ment film, today announced the launch

of AIR Blue under its global LLumar brand®. AIR Blue is an automobile windscreen film that dramatically reduces irreversible damage to human skin and vehicle interiors due to harmful block-out 99.9% ultraviolet (UV) rays and filter-off infrared (IR) rays that penetrate ordinary window glass. The unique technolo-gy used to produce this film makes it the most state-of-the-art automotive film today.

“AIR Blue provides the ultimate in comfort and protection as well as an elegant look,” says Lisa Winckler, CPFilms Director, Product Development and Technology. “Most other films in the industry have to make their films darker to achieve similar levels of IR energy rejection,” explains Winckler. “AIR Blue’s light color allows our product to meet visible light transmission laws worldwide for windshields,” she adds.

AIR Blue’s high solar heat rejection not only provides enhanced cabin comfort, it reduces a vehicle’s air conditioning load and help improves fuel efficiency. And its optical

CPFilms Inc. - LLumar® Launches New Super Clear Auto Window Film

State-of-the-Art Technology Unmatched in the Industry

clarity and low-reflectivity will not impede night driving vision; it is Super Clear with superb performance and truly a class of its own, commented Ang Chok Boon, CPFilms regional manager (ASEAN)

With the advanced elec-tronic systems in today’s vehicles, it is imperative that a window film allow optimum performance at all frequencies with no sig-nal interference; whether its radio, electronic toll Pre-Paid system (similar to Electronic Road Pricing - ERP), GPRS, keyless entry, cell phone or navigation.

“The advanced technol-ogy utilized in manufactur-ing AIR Blue film provides a proprietary non-metalized, non-conductive ceramic tech-nology film with maximum heat rejection, maximum ultraviolet rejection, blockage of infrared rays, excellent op-tical clarity, excellent scratch-resistance coating protection and most importantly no

film corrosion issue,” added Danny Wong, regional technical manager.

In addition CPFilms’ Auto / safety film has received over-

whelming response when last launched in ASEAN, and its benefits

to protect occupants from “smash & grab” and injuries from glass frag-

ments in the event of accident from the side impact is well known in the industry.

Side-Impact Crash Testing was carry by DEKRA independent in Germany.

CPFilms Profile Solutia’s CPFilms Inc., is the world’s largest

producer of high-quality, aftermarket window films and a leading supplier of high-value precision-coated film and film components sold to a variety of businesses. The business manufactures films that provide comfort, aesthetics, energy savings, safety and security when applied to glass. Our LLumar films are designed to meet worldwide standards, carry a factory-backed warranty, and are profes-sionally installed. For more information about LLumar products, log on to www.llumar.com. CPFilms Inc. is a subsidiary of Solutia Inc.

For local inquiry: contact e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

LLumar® has a variety of product offering

92

Featurethe car, the slower the times. Some teams may be out to see if they can run heavy loads and still be competitive while others may need to give their sponsors something to cheer about. Again, the time sheets from a practice session are to be taken with a pinch of salt.

seeN oN tV• QualifyingThe first big test of any given race is qualifying as seen on the TV screens. Fans should remember that there are 10 teams and while everyone wants to win, only a handful posses the technology has the right machinery to achieve a spot on the podium.

But the general idea is to score points and to do this, the car must qualify high up the grid, which would mean a light fuel load. But the lesser the fuel, the more times a car has to do a pit stop during a race, meaning a loss of time and positioning. So engineers and drivers have to come to a compromise over the fuel load and the best possible time the car can achieve during qualifying.

The qualifying procedures have been altered slightly: the first (Q1) session will be lengthened from 15 to 20 minutes. The slow-est seven cars will be eliminated and allocated grid positions 16 to 22. These may be changed later if other cars receive penalties for engine/gearbox changes.

The second (Q2) session will run for 15 minutes with the 15 cars remaining cars starting from scratch. The slowest five cars from this group are then eliminated and take grid positions 11 to 15.

The final (Q3) session has been reduced to 10 minutes to get rid of the environmentally unfriendly "fuel burn" segment of qualify-ing. The fastest car in this session takes pole position and the oth-ers line up behind in positions 2 to 10. An interesting point to note is cars in Q3 will no longer be allowed to add fuel to make up for what has been used, hence the decision on a car’s fuel load is vital.

• Race DayThe big day arrives with the grid positions all worked out the day

before during qualifying. Each team will now have a strategy based on their place on the grid and what they had envisioned before qualifying. A team’s strategy will also include the choice of tyres,

Preparation carried out before the race begins.

p86-99 fi on tv.indd 92 6/25/08 10:55:08 AM

93

p86-99 fi on tv.indd 93 6/25/08 10:55:29 AM

94

Featurewhich are dependant on track conditions and weather, as some compounds will work better than others.

Before the start of a race, all cars will come out of their garages and assemble on the grid. Team crews, the media pack, of-ficials and invited guests will be seen in the hustle and bustle of the pre-race prepara-tion. Engineers will be doing diagnostic checks on their cars, drivers will be trying to cool off while the tyre warming blankets will be keeping the tyres warm.

When the one-minute marker board is shown, it signifies a countdown to the start of the race and the grid will be vacated by almost everyone. All F1 tracks have a pit exit door next to the grid and pit crews will be waiting to act in case their car stalls on the grid at the start.

The start lights come on and the cars will do a formation lap adhering to their grid position. At this point viewers will see cars weaving on the road behind the safety car. The drivers do this to heat up and prep the tyres for better grip. As the safety car pulls off, the cars form up in the grid again and drivers go into first gear and stay on the clutch to keep the engine idling. The start lights are five lights on a board and will be switched on one by one. When all five lights are lit there will be a slight pause before they go out and when this happens, the race begins.

The first corner in all F1 races is likely to

be where most of the action takes place. In some unfortunate cases, it is the only time when something interesting happens. There are 20 cars moving at different speeds, each trying to gain an advantage by jostling up a few positions. As the race settles into a steady rhythm, the fuel strategy takes centre stage. Occasionally, a driver will at-tempt to pass a rival on track but the best and safest way to overtake is to out race your rivals during their pit stops.

Depending on the host country of the race (each TV broadcast is handled by the host nation’s producer) viewers will see more rac-ing in the midfield rather than the top end. But as most fans follow the big teams, the emphasis is usually for the cameras to follow the big names around the laps.

Cars will enter and leave the pit lane for their stops while observing the speed limit of the pit lane. All cars have a button on the steering wheel that engages the speed lane limiter that automatically puts the car on the right speed (80km/h at most tracks and 60km/h at some tracks). In some cases, the fuel strategy takes into account the length of the pit lane, as some tracks like Interla-gos, Brazil are particularly long.

There are two kinds of disruptions to an F1 race, one is an accident which blocks the track or makes it dangerous for the other cars to race and the other is a dramatic weather change which leads to cars driving into the pit lane for a tyre change. But in

any disruption where there is a reasonable amount of danger to cars or marshals, the race stewards will deploy the Safety Car.

The Safety Car is a modified Mercedes SL 63 AMG, a 6.3L V8 monster capable of 481bhp and can hit 100km/h from a standing start in a mere 4.5 seconds. With the safety car in on the track, the remaining racers will have to assemble behind it to follow it around. The rules for the deploy-ment of the safety car is complex but it will generally stay on the track leading the F1 cars around for as long as it is deemed necessary by the stewards. Any advantage a race leader builds up prior to this period will effectively be erased, as all cars will eventually bunch up behind the safety car.

An F1 race is supposed to last two hours or 300km, which ever comes first, when either one of these conditions are met, the race will end when the first car crosses the finish line. All cars finishing the race will be parked in parc ferme (a secure area where no unauthorised personnel is allowed) for the scrutineers to inspect and conduct a weigh-in. The drivers will be weighed as well and everything must conform to the strict rules of F1 racing. If scrutineers find something amiss at this point, it would be bad news indeed.

Then comes the famous podium celebra-tions and spraying of champagne at most race locations, which is seen worldwide and familiar to many.

Start lights on a racing circuit.

F1 cars all lined up on the starting grid.

p86-99 fi on tv.indd 94 6/26/08 11:53:56 AM

95

The ‘Lollipop’ man, a vital link

in the pit-lane.

p86-99 fi on tv.indd 95 6/26/08 11:54:03 AM

96

FeaturethINgs seeN oN tV tAkeN FoR gRANteD!

• FlAgs IN F1You see the marshals waving them around but what do they mean?

CheQUeReD FlAgThe race has ended. Shown first to the winner, and then to every other car which crosses the finish line there after.

ReD FlAgThe race has been stopped, usually because a car is lying in a dangerous position after an accident or because conditions are too poor for racing to be safe.

YelloW FlAgIndicates danger ahead and overtaking is prohibited. A single waved yellow flag means slow down; a double waved yellow warns that the driver must be prepared to stop if necessary.

BlUe FlAgShown to a driver to indicate that a faster car is behind him and trying to overtake. Shown both to lapped cars and those racing for contention. A lapped car must allow the faster car past after seeing a maximum of three blue flags or risk being penalised. A car in contention is under no obligation to move over.

BlACk FlAgShown with a car number to indicate that the driver must call into the pits imme-diately, usually because he has infringed certain regulations and may be penalised or disqualified.

ReD AND YelloW stRIPeD FlAgA warning that the track is slippery, usually due to oil or water spillage on the track.

gReeN FlAgA hazard has been cleared up and the cars can proceed at racing speed.

BlACk FlAg WIth AN oRANge DIsCShown with a car number to indicate that the car has a mechanical problem and the driver must return to his pit immediately.

WhIte AND BlACk DIAgoNAl hAlVesShown with car number to indicate a warn-ing for unsportsmanlike behaviour, a black flag may follow if the driver takes no heed of the warning.

WhIte FlAgWarns of a slow-moving vehicle on the track, such as a tow truck or the safety car.

• the PIt stoPThere is nothing quite like an F1 pit stop in all of motor racing simply because it is the only racing series where there are no limits

and every team has the necessary budget to put out a full pit crew. Hence understand-ing an F1 pit stop is very much part of being an F1 fan.

IN the Box1. The driver has to come into the pit lane on his speed limiter and will be directed to his garage by the lollipop man as he approaches. The car must come to a full stop in the designated box marked out on the ground.

2. The jack men will insert their jacks at the front and rear of the car, lifting it up and readying the car for a change of tyres.

3. The fuel men will wrestle the large and heavy refuelling rig to the car. They have to lock the nozzle in place for the fuel to begin flowing, once in place the rigs will flow at 12 litres a second

4. The tyre carriers will bring the new tyres to the car and carry off the used ones.

5. Tyre changers with their airgun will unlock the wheel nut and replace the tyres and relock the wheel nuts.

6. Firemen will be close by and stand alert to any trouble which may ignite a fire, with the engine and brakes glowing hot, any fuel droplets will ignite instantly.

p86-99 fi on tv.indd 96 6/25/08 10:56:12 AM

97

Speed is of the essence for an F1 pit crew.

p86-99 fi on tv.indd 97 6/25/08 10:56:16 AM

98

Feature7. Starter man is found at the rear of the car. In case the engine stalls, he will restart the engine. There are no keyed ignitions in F1 cars; the engines need a tool to be inserted into a slot at the rear to start them up.

8. The lollipop man (thus named because he holds up a sign look-ing similar to a lollipop) is the stop and starter of the entire pit stop. He sets his board to stop the car and lifts it to let it go again. One side of the lollipop has “Brakes On” written, the other side is “Brakes On & In Gear”, telling the driver to engage first gear when he is just about to leave the pit. He is important because he has to ensure each member of the pit crew involved in the pit stop gives him the thumbs-up and stand clear before he can clear the driver to move off.

As part of safety protocol, the whole pit crew has to be dressed in fire proof apparels which in recent years have begun looking more and more futuristic. These include multi-layered gloves, pro-tective under layers, balaclavas, socks and shoes, all of which have to meet the guidelines set by the FIA.

• CAsh FoR FlAshGetting your company’s name and logo on an F1 car is an ex-pensive endeavour. F1 races are watched by almost 150 million viewers in Europe alone. And with TV cameras usually focusing at cars battling it out for the top three positions rather than backmarkers, charges for a top end team are far more expensive than on a lower end team.

1. Front wing – between USD5 to 15 Million: Usually taken up by partner companies who have put in some technology towards building the car or service companies that are assisting the team in some way.

2. Main chassis – between USD5 to 50 Million: This is the domain of the title sponsor and who is usually the largest sponsor of the team. As title sponsor, the company usually invests heavily in linking their brand with the success of the team or in some cases, merely being in F1 and all that it entails.

3. Rear wing – between USD5 to 15 Million: Real estate usually belong-ing to the title sponsor, but some smaller teams have different compa-nies taking up such positions on the rear wing and side panels.

4. Winglets/ rear view mirrors/ cut outs – between USD1 – 3 Mil-lion: A nice entry point for firms having short term tie ups with the teams or for smaller budget companies to take up these positions. They are usually more active with ground level branding exercises.

As part of any sponsorship package, each team must have the ability to accommodate corporate sponsors in the form of hospi-tality tents, paddock club entries, pit-lane passes for walkabouts, which in turn help keep their clients, associates and family happy. And the happier they are, there is a high possibility of an extension of the sponsorship contract for the next season.

p86-99 fi on tv.indd 98 6/25/08 10:56:39 AM

99

A driver’s win is very much a testament to

his pit crew’s abilities.

p86-99 fi on tv.indd 99 6/25/08 10:56:45 AM

100

Feature

On The Edge Of PerformanceAs sole tyre supplier to the Formula

1 for the next two seasons, plus involvement in a variety of motors-

ports, Bridgestone is certainly proving they are the real deal in performance tyres. In an exclusive interview, Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone Motorsport’s Director of Mo-torsport Tyre Development explains why Bridgestone is driven by performance.

Q: Unlike many other tyre companies, Bridgestone’s involvement in top-level motor-sport is fairly recent, encompassing 30 years or so. Today, the Bridgestone brand is as-sociated with race victories and high perfor-mance, how did you manage it so quickly?

A: Thirty years ago, the management of the company sat down and asked the ques-tion why are we not penetrating the markets outside of Japan and how can we make Bridgestone tyres the best in the world. The decision was made to go into motorsports because we wanted to make tyres that would stand up to the most demanding conditions. So Bridgestone Motorsports was set up in 1976 to engineer performance tyres. At the same time every race, which was won with

By RogeR VAlBeRg In Tokyo, JApAn

Bridgestone tyres, helped push the awareness of the brand outside Japan. This passion to succeed was our driving force for 30 years and I don’t see it changing as we continually strive forward.

Q: In the early days, Bridgestone Motors-ports was involved in a slew of different rac-ing activities, from open wheel to race-cars, both grand prix and endurance. There has been a streamlining to those activities, why is that?

A: no one company can be everywhere at any one time and focus on doing a great job required for success. If a company poured all its resources into making racing tyres in every category, everywhere in the world, it

could be possible to win many races but the costs involved would soon bankrupt that company. Hence, Bridgestone wanted to be involved in a racing series that reaches out to a worldwide audience, which is why we chose to be involved in Formula 1 racing.

Having said that, it is also very reward-ing for Bridgestone to support many other categories of motorsports, such as karting, through to Formula 3 and Motogp to the gp2 Series and the IndyCar Series. In these catego-ries, Bridgestone has been very successful. It is very important to Bridgestone that the racing audience associates our brand to high performance and victories.

Q: In Formula 1 particularly, Bridgestone has been a steady presence since 1997. What

p100-101 onteh edge.indd 100 6/25/08 10:58:33 AM

101

are the benefits of being in the F1 World Championship?

A: Motorsport drives development, and there is nothing more competitive or tech-nological demanding than Formula 1. The technology and techniques we learn in mo-torsports, especially Formula 1, transfers well to our passenger vehicle departments. The use of new compounds and different tyre tread designs are areas where we have learnt much from our involvement in mo-torsports. our knowledge in compounds, for example, allows us to improve the durability of consumer tyres, meaning they do not need to be replaced so often, which also translates to less use of raw materials as they otherwise would be.

Q: on the topic of compounds, Formula 1 will be visiting two new street circuits this year, Singapore and Valencia, both will present new challenges for your engineers. How will you develop a tyre for these cir-cuits considering you have very little data?

A: First, we need to let the designers build the circuit or in this case, lay it out. Currently both venues are laying new surfaces for their respective races. From our experience in Monaco, we have a rough idea of what street circuits require. The

new courses will be very interesting for Bridgestone. Unlike a permanent course, we will not be able to look at previous races before we visit these two destinations, but we have access to the simulations teams have ran as well as our own computations. We understand the Singapore track will be the fastest of the three street races and likely to be harder on the tyres followed by Valencia. So after evaluating the individual circuit’s surface and layout, we are confi-dent heading to these tracks but it will still be a major challenge going to both venues for the first time.

Q: How is the 2008 season for Bridge-

stone so far? As the sole tyre supplier in Formula 1, how difficult has it been for Bridgestone to keep all the teams and their drivers happy?

A: our relationship with each team is good which really helps in the high stress world of Formula 1. obviously, there are many drivers with varying driving styles and each team’s car is different when it comes to tyre usage due to their design and engineering. To fans all cars on the grid may look similar, but the way in which they wear out tyres is really quite different. To get around this we have engineers who work closely with each indi-vidual teams to maximise tyre performance on their machines.

We have made some technological inno-vations by modifying our super soft com-pound and making a slight change to our

tyre construction for added safety, but with teams already familiar with our tyres they were able to design their machines with the confidence that they will have reliable tyres to match their machines. So it will be another season of exciting and closely fought battles on the track in 2008.

Q: What is the ultimate ambition of

Bridgestone in motorsports?

A: We want to be the best. It is a simple statement but one which requires a lot of hard work. It also requires a hefty budget to achieve, our expenditure every year is about US$1 billion on Formula 1 alone. So becoming the best in motorsports is about balancing the business side and the racing side. Due to our presence and success in racing, our brand has grown significantly stronger in Europe and other parts of the world. This in turn helps us when we set our budgets but simply put, we wish to be the best and we are very close to that right now.

p100-101 onteh edge.indd 101 6/25/08 10:58:49 AM

Racing Circuits

102

IntroRacing Circuits

Under the bright lights for a night race,

Singapore is going to be one heck of a party

It’s Show Time!

p102-123 f1 circuits.indd 102 6/25/08 11:10:13 AM

103


Racing Circuits

104

Singapore

SwissôtelThe Stamford

LEGEND2008 FORMULA 1TM SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX

Walkabout Zones

Prime Trackside Viewing Locations for Walkabout Ticket Holders

1. Pit2. Turns 1, 2 & 33. Stamford4. Padang

5. City Hall6. Esplanade Steps Premier7. Raffles8. Marina

9. Esplanade Waterfront10. Bay11. Singapore Flyer Premier

Start / Finish

Race Direction

Circuit

T1 - T24 Turns

Superscreens

Gates

Grandstands:

WALKABOUT ZONES

Subject to changes

1

2

2

2

3

4

4

5

6

7

8

910

11

The Esplanade

When Singapore announced that they would be hosting a Formula 1 World Championship race, the first reaction from the racing community

was, ‘where is it going to be held?’ Being an island nation where space is at a premium, building a track seemed slightly fanciful. Then came news of a street circuit, a night race, with lights!

It is no mean feat bringing a bustling city like Singa-pore to a standstill for four days, but the island city will make for a fantastic race. Aside from the novelty of being the world’s first Formula One night race, this leg of the World Championship will also incorporate water cross-ings, a feature present only at Valencia’s new track. With special asphalt being used to make the roads tougher and stickier for the F1 cars, the race promises to be a very high-speed affair, with every likelihood of overtak-ing made possible.

The main appeal for many F1 veterans and racing fans alike is the fact that F1 cars will be doing their business in the downtown area of Singapore city, which is simply surreal. The race will be visible from many of the city’s skyscrapers and it will certainly present a more open layout than previously known for a street circuit (think Monaco). So when the F1 circus rolls into Singapore come September, it will be lights, camera and loads of action!

The main appeal for many F1 veterans and racing fans alike is the fact that F1 cars will be doing their business in the downtown area of Singapore city, which is simply surreal.

Street Circuit


105

TiTle SponSor: SingTel - Asia’s leading telco

Venue: Marina Bay, in the heart of Singapore, just minutes from 5-star hotels, the MRT underground system, the bustling CBD district and historic landmarks such as City Hall and The Padang which form part of Singapore’s heritage hub.

Key DaTeS: 26 September 2008:- 1st Practice Session (1600-1730 hrs)- 2nd Practice Session (2000-2130 hrs)27 September 2008:- Final Practice Session (1700-1800 hrs)- Qualifying (2000 hrs)28 September 2008: 2008 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix (2000 hrs)

SupporT raCeS: • Aston Martin Asia Cup• Formula BMW Pacific• Porsche Carrera Cup Asia

expected attendance: 90,000 spectators

Ticketing: 3-day Corporate Hospitality packages went on sale in November 2007, and 80,000 grandstand and walkabout passes were released for sale in February and March 2008.

TiCKeT priCeS3-day passes/personWalkabout passes: S$168Grandstand passes: S$248 – S$1,388Corporate Hospitality passes: S$3,500 – S$6,500

Single Day passesDay Standard Concessionary (Youths aged 7-15 yrs old and Seniors aged 60 yrs old and above)

Fri S$38 S$34Sat S$58 S$52Sun S$108 S$98

Book via the official website: www.singaporegp.sg or ticketing hotline: +65 6738 6738

TraCK DeSCripTionTrack length: 5,067m/3.148 miles*race direction: Anti-clockwisenumber of laps: An estimated 61 lapsTrack width: 10m to 15mTrack surface: Surface laid with Polymer

Modified Binder and will offer vehicles 20% more grip. The lifespan of the road is expected to be longer than the 5 years for normal road surfacesnumber of turns: 24, consisting of 14 left turns and 10 right turnsMaximum speed: In excess of 300kphSlowest corners: 80 – 100kph (T3, T10, T11, T15, T19 and T20)overtaking opportunities: Turn 1: Pit Straight, Turn 7: Raffles Boulevard, Turn 15: Esplanade DriveTrack design consultant: Kellogg Brown & Root Ptd Ltdnumber of laps: 61*race Distance: 308.95 km* (subject to FIA confirmation)

(Please note the start and finish lines aren’t in the same place so the race distance is shorter than a 61 laps x 5.067km calculation.)

piT BuilDinGGross Floor area: 22,000sqmpit Building Features: - 350m in length- Glass façade for panoramic view of pit lane and starting straight- 36 garages for 12 teams on ground floor- Race Control Centre, Winners’ Podium and Media Centre, Hospitality Lounges- Paddock Club (2nd & 3rd floors) can ac commodate 4,000 guests

liGHTinG SySTeMpower: 3,180,000 wattTrack projectors: Approx. 1, 500 @ 2,000 watts eachpower Generators: 12 (twin-power)power Cables: 110,000moverall luminosity: 3000lux levels (four times brighter than a sports stadium)Set up: 2 to 3 months, from the end of May 2008Completion: 31 August 2008

Street Circuit


Racing Circuits

106

As the name would indicate, Melbourne’s race venue is located in a park where the racing circuit is a semi-per-manent fixture. With some of the asphalt surface being a parking lot when the grand prix is not in town, the level of tyre grip is always some-what questionable during the early runs. The race is particularly accessible for those in Melbourne and its surrounding areas. The circuit itself is a set of testy corners and short straights, which favours well balanced cars. It is also a race which brings the cars very close to trackside and viewing fans. It is a favourite among the F1 fraternity for its carnival like atmosphere.

n address: Australian Grand Prix

Corporation, 220 Albert Road,

Melbourne, Victoria 3125,

Australia

n Telephone: +61 3 9258 7100

n Website: www.cars.grandprix.

com.au

n First race: 1996

n Circuit length (km): 5.303

auSTralia

albert park


107

One of the creations of track designer Hermann Tilke, the Sepang layout is a true test of an F1 car and driver. The inherent heat and humidity takes a dramatic toll on the F1 crews working the race. Like many of the newer cir-cuits, Sepang is located close to an international airport and located away from the city centre of Kuala Lumpur. The palm tree architecture supplements the flowing nature of the track. The width of the track allows for multiple lines which mean race engineers have multiple choices to set up the car. Cooling the car at Sepang is also a science unto itself for the teams.

n address: Circuit Management

Centre, Jalan Pekeliling, Kuala

Lumpur, 64100 KLIA, Selangor,

Malaysia

n Telephone: +60 3 8526 2000

n Website: www.malaysiangp.

com.my

n First race: 1999


MalaySia

Sepang international Circuit


Racing Circuits

108

Racing in the desert has been a romantic notion in F1 even since the first F1 world championship in 1950. Sakhir is where F1 precision meets Mother Nature’s micro dust particles. While the desert sun can make things uncom-fortable, it is the dust which is the true danger at Sakhir. One unobservable fact from TV images of the track is that it is a very undulating circuit with uphill and downhill sections. With these factors in play, the car that wins at Sakhir is usually the one that has the most efficient system of putting the power down on the road. The city centre of Manana is also quite a distance away.

n address: Sakhir Circuit, P. O.

Box 26381, Manama, Kingdom of

Bahrain

n Telephone: +973 406444

n Website: www.bahraingp.

com.bh

n First race: 2004


BaHrain

Sakhir Circuit


109

This track is among the best known to F1 teams as it is also the site of their test-ing sessions. The almost year long warm weather and multiple corner variations make this track very condu-cive to testing. But this tends to translate into very little overtaking action out on the circuit. The easiest way to win at Barcelona is from poll, simply because there is no traffic in the way. Regardless of this, the demand for tick-ets is still excellent with more grandstands being built. And although the Circuit de Cata-lunya is located away from the city of Barcelona, getting to and from the city is quite easy via the train system.

n address: Mas ‘La Moreneta’,

Apartado de Correos 27, E-08160

Montmelo, Spain

n Telephone: +34 93 571 9704

n Website: www.circuitcat.com

n First race: 1991


BarCelona

Circuit de Catalunya


111

All that is glamorous and beautiful about Formula 1 comes to Monaco annually. Between the business deals being negotiated, the wild parties and the casinos, the race is almost a second-ary consideration. Visiting Monaco at any time of the year is an expensive affair but during Grand Prix week, things are taken to a whole new fiscal level. The race is particularly hard on the driv-ers with tight bends, corners, and a section under a tunnel presents a tricky situation but the straights do offer some reprieve. Doing a race pace over 78 laps with the barri-ers less than two feet away at any given time demands the utmost concentration. The parties after the race though prove to be among the social highlights of the year.

n address: Automobile Club de

Monaco, 23 Boulevard Albert 1er,

Monaco Cedex, MC 98012, Monte

Carlo

n Telephone: +377 931 52600

n Website: www3.monaco.mc

n First race: 1950


MonaCo

Street Circuit


109

This track is among the best known to F1 teams as it is also the site of their test-ing sessions. The almost year long warm weather and multiple corner variations make this track very condu-cive to testing. But this tends to translate into very little overtaking action out on the circuit. The easiest way to win at Barcelona is from poll, simply because there is no traffic in the way. Regardless of this, the demand for tick-ets is still excellent with more grandstands being built. And although the Circuit de Cata-lunya is located away from the city of Barcelona, getting to and from the city is quite easy via the train system.

n address: Mas ‘La Moreneta’,

Apartado de Correos 27, E-08160

Montmelo, Spain

n Telephone: +34 93 571 9704

n Website: www.circuitcat.com

n First race: 1991


BarCelona

Circuit de Catalunya


Racing Circuits

112

When it comes to conquering Montreal, the name of the game is brakes. F1 cars have the toughest, most efficient brakes in the automobile world but at this race, specta-tors will be given a visible view of brake failure. Long straights ending in tight cor-ners mean that the stopping power of an F1 car is fully tested several times over in one lap. It is perhaps the only race where mechanical failure is a real threat towards the end of the race. The circuit is built on an island across from the city of Montreal and transportation is easy and efficient. But on grand prix weekend, one constant complaint is the over the top charges for accommodations and food.

n address: Bassin Olympique, Ile

de Notre-Dame, Montreal, Quebec

H2Y 3G7, Canada

n Telephone: +1 514 873 2015

n Website: www.grandprix.ca

n First race: 1978


CanaDa

Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve


113

After much criticism, largely due to its isolated location and lack of accommodation, Magny-Cours will host its last grand prix this year. F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has stated his preference to move the race in France to the capital, Paris. The Magny-Cours track is located between the tiny villages of Nevers and Magny-Cours, it is perhaps the most quiet and out of the way track on the F1 calendar in Europe. The racing is exciting with the demands of the smooth cir-cuit being handled quite well even by the average F1 cars. Although speeds at this track can be quite high, the lack of overtaking opportunities is glaring. Visitors to this circuit should be prepared for the long hikes to and from Paris.

FranCen address: Circuit de Nevers

Magny Cours, Technopole, F-

58470 Magny Cours, France

n Telephone: +33 3 86 21 80 00

n Website: www.magnyf1.com

n First race: 1991


Circuit de nevers Magny-Cours


Racing Circuits

114

One of the golden oldies in world of motorsports, Sil-verstone is constantly under pressure to modernise itself. The track itself is a test of racing skill as it offers several overtaking spots that can be claimed by the very brave or the foolhardy. Although the stands are fairly rudimentary and situated away from the paddock, the large crowds that come for the grand prix bring along a part atmo-sphere. Unfortunately there is very little in the way of entertainment in the immedi-ate vicinity, which means the good times begin in London, days earlier.

n Address: Silverstone Internation-

al Circuit, Northamptonshire, NN12

8TN, United Kingdom

n Telephone: +44 1327 857271

n Website: www.silverstone-cir-

cuit.co.uk

n First race: 1950


BriTain

Silverstone


115

The old complaint about Hockenheim used to be that it was too fast and too dangerous. Going flat out into the forest also proved quite unhealthy for TV cameras, so in a move to bring in move sponsors and fans, the track was cut into half and the circuit rebuilt with a section now called the Stadium. The racing is tightly compressed which means overtaking is all but a dream except to a few bold drivers. Getting to the circuit or anywhere else in Germany is simple enough and campsites near the circuit attract F1 fans from all over the continent.

GerMany

Hockenheim

n address: Hockenheimring

GmbH, Motodrom, D-68766 Hock-

enheim, Germany

n Telephone: +49 6205 950 05

Website: www.hockenheimring.

com

n First race: 1970



Racing Circuits

116

The only race in Eastern Europe currently, Hungary is F1’s gateway to the eastern realm. But while the sur-roundings might prove slight-ly exotic for the F1 circus, the racing has been anything but. The circuit is in a sandy valley, which means that the accumulation of dust on the track is severe. With less grip to go around the tight, twisty sections, the F1 cars struggle for speed. One highlight is the extra long straight which leads into perhaps the only real overtaking opportunity. Budapest is within reach from the circuit, which keeps most of the foreign fans from both sides of Europe happy.

HunGary n address: Hungaroring Circuit,

Pf10, H-2146 Mogyorod, Budapest,

Hungary

n Telephone: +36 2 844 1861

n Website: www.hungaroinfo.com

n First race: 1986

n Circuit length (km): 4.384Hungaroring


117

This circuit is primed to be the most dramatic and high-speed street circuit on the Formula One calendar. Nearly 5.5km long, the Valencia track will be twisting its way around the port area of the city. There are some particu-larly tight corners but overall, the track is lending itself to a high-speed extravaganza. As many parts of the track are being purpose built, the safety aspect should check out just fine. With the race within the city, there is unlikely to be any problems getting accommodations or moving around.

Street Circuit

n address: N/A

n Telephone: +34 963 164 007

n Website: www.valencias-

treetcircuit.com

n First race: 2008

n Circuit length (km): 5.473km

Spain


Racing Circuits

118

This is the favourite event for drivers in motor racing. Spa as it is affectionately known, is a drivers’ circuit. Laid out over the Ardennes forest, cur-rently it is the longest track in F1. It has the signature corner of Eau Rouge that theo-retically can be taken flat out, but is to be attempted only by the bravest on the F1 grid. Overtaking at Spa is a fairly simple affair with several dif-ferent spots to pick from all over the circuit. The quickest drivers with the quickest cars usually win at Spa. While the surrounding areas may be rustic, it is rich in history and full of hotels and inns to suit differing budgets.

BelGiuM

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

n address: Circuit de Spa Fran-

corchamps, Route du Circuit 55,

4970 Francorchamps, Belgium

n Telephone: +32 8727 5258

n Website: www.spa-francor-

champs.be

n First race: 1983



119

The home of Ferrari is a pilgrimage all die hard fans of the prancing horse need to visit once in their lifetime. The track is the fastest track on the F1 calendar with cars topping out at 340km/h. It is the closest F1 teams will come to oval racing unless there are plan to stage a race at Indianapolis. In the ongo-ing tussle between manufac-turers, the engine bragging rights are often settled at Monza. The track is just outside of Milan and is easily accessible from the city. Most travellers to Monza often visit Florence and Turin before returning to Rome.

iTaly

autodromo nazionale Monza

n address: Monza Racing

Circuit, Parco di Monza, I-20052

Monza, Italy

n Telephone: +39 39 24 821

n Website: www.monzanet.it

n First race: 1950


Grand Prix of Italy 2008Round 14, 14 September, 2008. Monza, Italy.


Racing Circuits

120

On the foothills of Mount Fuji, the Fuji Speedway is a Monza like track on the other side of the world. Owned by Toyota (as opposed to Honda owned Suzuka) the track was designed by Hermann Tilke. Like many of his previous de-signs, there are long straights with sharp corners to en-courage overtaking under braking. One phenomenon is, the circuit will run counter clockwise. But fans staying in the cities will have to travel for nearly two hours to reach the circuit.

japan

Fuji international Speedway

n address: Fuji International

Speedway, Oyama Cho, Sunto Gun,

Shizuoka, 410-1308, Japan

n Telephone: +81 550 78 1234

n Website: www.fujispeedway.

co.jp/english/index.html

n First race: 1976



121

The first thing that strikes you about the Shanghai cir-cuit is its sheer size. From the overhead bridge that lines the start-finish line to the mas-sive grandstands, everything about this circuit is mega huge. This track provides an exciting race, as overtaking possibilities are endless with a very large runoff zone to recover if overtaking moves don’t work. One feature, which is still the buzz among F1 veterans is the paddock area, where hospitality suites are built over water. The par-ties in Shanghai are also said to be amongst the best of the F1 host cities.

n address: Shanghai Interna-

tional Racing Circuit, 1558 Dingxi

Road, Shanghai, China

n Telephone: +86 21 62520000

n Website: www.icsh.sh.cn

n First race: 2004


CHina

Shanghai international Circuit


Racing Circuits

122

The F1 season will end in Brazil, within the bowl shape confines of Sao Paulo. Inter-lagos is a counter clockwise circuit with a very long pit lane. This affects racing strat-egy more then most other tracks as cars coming into the pit lane have to adhere to the speed limit rule and further adds on to the intricacies of a speedy pit stop. As most Brazilians are passionate about motor racing, this race will have spectators from seats to roofs. But one of the main complaints surrounding Interlagos is the maintenance of the circuit or rather the lack of, with some areas in disrepair.

n address: Avenida Senador

Teotonio Vilela 261, 010000-000

Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil

n Telephone: +55 11 566 68822

n Website: www.gpbrasil.com.br

n First race: 1973


Brazil

autodromo Carlos pace-interlagos


123


124

Feature

Secret Of Success

By RogeR ValBeRg in Tokyo, Japan

p124-125 secret story.indd 124 6/25/08 11:08:42 AM

125

Somewhere north of Tokyo sits an amazing facility, its purpose is focus-ing on performance and keeping your

car on the road. This is the Bridgestone proving ground, where tyres are judged whether they truly are worthy to carry the Bridgestone branding. The concept accord-ing to the friendly folks at Bridgestone is fairly simple; engineers at the Technical Centre design the tyres using computer simulations where each tyre design is as-signed various characteristics. Be it a quiet, comfortable, wet running or high perfor-mance tyre, the design is put into real rub-ber and sent to the proving ground.

This is where the prototype will be fitted onto some of the nearly 300 vehicles on hand at the facility. From motorcycles to cars to buses and trucks, these tyres have to earn their stripes there or face destruc-tion. So imagine being strapped into a Porsche 997 Carrera S fitted with prototype tyres on a cold and rainy at the proving ground sitting next to a professional test driver, it can be quite disconcerting. His words to me upon me buckling up were: “Rain today… very dangerous.” and inside of four seconds, we were cruising past the 100km/h mark.

The proving ground was designed to

replicate normal street conditions around the world and is one of several Bridgestone runs. The course we were on was 3.9km long with two banked turns that maxed out at 50 degrees and a 1.3km straight. There are about 50 types of road conditions the Bridgestone proving ground can simu-late, from Belgian paving roads to good old fashioned cracked concrete, it was all there except for the fact that we were now cruising at 200km/h with the test driver constantly reiterating wet roads were quite dangerous.

Up the banked turn we went and i im-mediately felt the g-forces pushing me into your seat. The low silhouette of the porsche with the help of the tyres no doubt, kept us grounded but you can imagine my trepida-tion when we went round that very same bank on the welcome tour minibus! look-ing out the window to see grey skies where the ground used to be is quite a sight until you see the droplets of rain coming down directly on you. Back in the porsche, we were now going into a complexity of turns known as the Wet Circuit, in the rain.

if this series of twists and turns were designed to impress a visitor on just how much grip Bridgestone tyres can generate in awful conditions, it certainly worked. on

“ If this series of twists and turns were designed to impress a visitor on just how much grip Bridgestone tyres can generate in awful conditions, it certainly worked.”


126

Featuremore than one occasion i felt we were going into a corner carrying too much speed even for a 997 to handle, at one point we were doing a hairpin turn just above 100km/h, but the car just hung on like a big cat with its claws drawn. The engineers at Bridgestone seem to have perfected the prevention of aquaplaning and the trans-mission of traction forces down to an art form, so it is once again point proven at the Bridgestone proving ground.


For Sales Enquiries: (65) 6543 3747www.regentmedia.sg

Experience the Excitementsimply take your pick

Wheels AsiaA must-have monthly guide for every driver. Packed with invaluable, relevant and practical information, Wheels Asia test drives and reviews the latest automobiles and provides useful tips on car maintenance.

Golf AsiaYour monthly premier golfing lifestyle magazine. It is the choice of golfers, offering a comprehensive guide to the latest equipment, golf courses, news on tournaments, personality stories and high-life features.

Football Weekly The definitive weekly guide to the world of football, Football Weekly brings you the big match reviews, updates of leagues around the world and results all in one magazine. Plus giant sized posters featuring your favourite players to be collected.

A Publications of

Available at all major retail outlets, bookstores, newsstands and petrol stations.

Call 6543 3681 to SUBSCRIBE now!

Corp Regent.indd 1 6/23/08 11:56:05 AM

Wheels Asia Motorsports - 2008

Documents

Transcript of Wheels Asia Motorsports - 2008