Renault reveals 2010 car and confirms Vitaly Petrov

The Renault Formula 1 team launched its 2010 car at the Valencia circuit on Sunday afternoon and confirmed Vitaly Petrov as its second driver.

The new R30 was unveiled by Russian Petrov and team-mate Robert Kubica, who will form the all-new driver line-up of the French squad this year.

Twenty-five year-old Petrov, last year’s runner-up in the GP2 series, becomes the first Formula 1 driver in the history of the sport.

Petrov will be partnering Pole Kubica at Renault, who is hoping to turn around its fortunes following a dismal 2009 season in which the team scored just 26 points on its way to eighth place in the championship.

The R30 was presented with Renault’s new colours – yellow and black – following the exit of ING as main sponsor in the middle of last season.

It also incorporates a similar shark fin engine cover, as those seen in the new McLaren and Sauber cars.

The new colour scheme resembles that used by Renault when it first entered Formula 1 back in 1978.

text at: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81147

picture at: http://f1.gpupdate.net/es/noticias-formula-1/227101/petrov-se-une-a-kubica-en-renault/

BMW Sauber launches 2010 F1 car

BMW Sauber was the third Formula 1 team to show off its new challenger for the 2010 season on Sunday, with the unveiling of the C29 at the Valencia circuit.

The car, which will be powered by Ferrari engines this season, is the first machine from the Swiss squad following the exit of BMW from the sport at the end of 2009.

Peter Sauber, who sold his team to BMW in 2005, is now back in charge of the Hinwil-based squad following the German car maker’s exit.

The team’s place on the grid for 2010 was in doubt before Sauber re-took control of the team and Toyota confirmed it was leaving Formula 1, opening up a slot for the Swiss outfit.

The new C29, which sports a shark fin similar to the one used by McLaren in its new car, will be driven by Pedro de la Rosa and Kamui Kobayashi.

“The last few months have been very intense for us,” said Sauber. “First we had to battle to secure the survival of the team and then we focused on putting a strong set-up in place for the future.

“The technical preparation of the 2010 car has continued uninterrupted and according to plan since the spring of 2009, despite all the turmoil. We have a long tradition of bringing together an up-and-coming youngster and an experienced campaigner as a driver combination – and it’s an approach that has brought us a lot of success.

“Pedro has been working at the highest level technically for many years and for a top team, and we can benefit as a team from this experience. Young Kamui also has a lot to offer us, and last year he impressed me particularly in Abu Dhabi.”

Sauber’s car retains similar colours to those used during the BMW era, but with more white space due to the lack of sponsors.

De la Rosa returns to racing after seven years as McLaren’s test driver.

“At last I can feel like a proper racing driver again,” he said. “I’ve really missed the competition out on the track. At the same time, though, I’ve learned a lot technically and on the systems side, and now I want to bring that knowledge to the team.”

Kobayashi, who made his Formula 1 debut late last year with Toyota, added: “I’m very proud that Peter Sauber has shown so much faith in me and I’m determined not to disappoint him. My aim is that he will end up being proud of me as well.”

Sauber will begin running with the C29 tomorrow, when pre-season testing kicks off at the Ricardo Tormo circuit.

Technical director Willy Rampf said the car has been designed using the experience gathered last year, when the team struggled for performance.

“The development of the BMW Sauber C29 has seen the team build on the experience gained last year and the improvement in performance over the final third of the season,” Rampf said.

“However, the new regulations banning refuelling during the race and stipulating a reduced width for the front tyres have required significant changes to the car’s design.”

in: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81144

Teams agree new tyre rule for 2010

Formula 1 teams have agreed to introduce an extra strategic element to races this season by forcing leading drivers to start races on the same tyres that they qualified on, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

With the ban on refuelling for 2010 already forcing a big change in tactics compared to how grands prix have run in recent years, the new rule looks set to have an impact on how teams approach qualifying as well.

Although the tweak has not yet been committed to the regulations, sources have revealed that last week’s meeting of the Sporting Working Group agreed to the change as a way of improving the show.

It is understood that the majority of teams present voted in favour of a rule that will require the top 10 cars that make it through to the final session of qualifying to start the race on the same tyres that they set their fastest Q3 time on.

This will open up the possibility of teams gambling on sacrificing the best possible time in Q3 by running a more consistent but less quick tyre so as to have a better chance in the race. Alternatively, teams may choose a tyre that is better over a single lap to secure a good grid position, even if it runs the risk of compromising race performance.

The teams hope that the rule tweak will serve to mix up the tactics throughout the grid and therefore lead to more exciting races.

The change still needs to be voted on by the Formula 1 Commission and the World Motor Sport Council next week before passing into the regulations, but this is likely to be a formality.

The refuelling ban this season has brought about mixed opinions about whether it will improve the racing – with some suggesting that the difficulties in overtaking will result in races turning into pure processions.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said on Monday that he hoped the ban would prove a positive for F1.

“Inevitably, when you make a change, there are pros and cons,” he said. “Regarding the pros, it arguably makes qualifying purer because the fastest car/driver combination will be setting the fastest times, and the public can understand that.

“Secondly, in the race itself, overtaking was often being planned and implemented to occur as a consequence of strategy, and therefore happening in the pit lane and not the circuit.

“In the absence of that effect, drivers will have a greater incentive to overtake. There have been occasions in the past where a driver hasn’t had that incentive because he knows he will be running longer and can get past the car ahead strategically through the pit stops.

“Additionally, the fact that drivers will qualify on low-fuel, and then the next time they drive the car in anger into the first corner will be after a standing start with cold tyres and cold brakes and 160kg of fuel.

“That will be very challenging for them, not just in terms of getting round that first corner, but in terms of how they look after their tyres and how the balance of the car will alter as a consequence of that. And there will be drivers who are able to deal with those changes better than others.

“Those are all the positives. On the negative side, it’s possible that if all of the above is managed equally well by every driver, then we’ll have lost one of the strategic campaign interests that the more avid fans enjoyed in the sport. Hopefully the former points will outweigh the latter.”

in: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81069

Mercedes GP unveils car colours

The Mercedes GP Petronas team unveiled its official colour scheme for the 2010 season, in an event held at the German car maker’s museum in Stuttgart.

Mercedes, who took over world champion team Brawn GP to race under its own name this year, showed off its new colours using a 2009 car, before its new challenger is unveiled at the start of next month.

The new car, which sports Mercedes’ classic silver colours, will make its first public outing at the Valencia circuit on 1st February, when the first testing session of the pre-season will kick off.

The 2010 car will be called MGP W01.

“With today’s presentation of our new Mercedes GP Petronas Formula 1 team, a new and certainly the most important chapter of over 100 years of Mercedes-Benz motorsport history begins,” said Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug. “The new Formula 1 season will offer challenges which will be bigger than ever before in over sixty years of the sport’s history.

“We look forward to the cooperation with our drivers Nico Rosberg who has enormous capabilities and perspectives, and with seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher who is no less motivated than at the time when he began his professional motor racing career with Mercedes-Benz and then made his first step into such a successful Formula One career with our support.

“Today I also cordially welcome our new title partner Petronas as well as our co-investor Aabar/IPIC together with all of our team partners. I warmly welcome all our colleagues from last year’s World Championship team Brawn GP headed by Ross Brawn and Nick Fry to the Mercedes family. There are challenging tasks ahead of us and we will tackle them with power, consistency and full motivation.”

The team will be led again by Ross Brawn, who will be forming a partnership with seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, making a sensational return to the sport after retiring in 2006.

Schumacher will be partnered by Nico Rosberg.

Brawn could not hide his enthusiasm during the birth of the new team.

“I think for me it is several things, one is a wonderful future for our team which a year ago never had a future, such an exciting partnership and such an exciting involvement for us,” said Brawn, who achieved great success with Schumacher during their stint at Ferrari.

“It is a great thing, working with Michael again is a very special treat and something I didn’t think would happen again.

“It’s so exciting and so motivational for me and the team to be involved. Nico is a very exciting prospect who will make a wonderful partner for Michael. Nico has been in a racing for a number of years but he will enjoy working with Michael and seeing how a seven-time champion operates.

“But also the final thing is being the part of a rebirth of a racing brand so iconic as Mercedes. It’s been 55 years since Mercedes had its own racing team. I have been very privileged in my career to be involved in special things but this is very exciting to be involved in.”

Rosberg said driving for Mercedes was a dream come true for him.

“For sure for me it is very, very special, a dream come true to be able to drive the first silver arrow for more than 50 years,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to it, working with people like Norbert [Haug], Ross and Nick [Fry] and having Michael as team-mate is great. It is going to be a great season.”

Schumacher admitted he has been overwhelmed by the reaction of his fans since he announced his comeback.

“We obviously saw some of it in the summer time and I was surprised to see the reaction, now with the announcement being part of the silver arrows team,” Schumacher said.

“It is a great emotion and it is a great feeling that I am getting from the outside, so a big compliment to all fans that see it like this. It gives me a greater feel and a greater push.”

text at: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81045

picture at: http://ellincedelpaddock.com/?p=2819

Double diffusers banned from 2011

Formula 1 technical chiefs have officially agreed to ban double diffusers from the start of next year, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

A move to cut aerodynamic downforce was discussed with the FIA in Thursday’s meeting of F1 think-tank the Technical Working Group, where agreement was necessary if the changes were to be implemented in future regulations.

Sources have confirmed to AUTOSPORT that a vote approved the tweaks to aerodynamics – with a tidying up of the controversial diffuser rules effectively outlawing double diffusers from the start of next season.

It is understood that the teams approved a requirement that the diffuser surface must be continuous on its inboard section from the start of 2011. This prevents the use of the controversial ’slots’ that were key to making the double diffuser work.

The matter still needs to get approval from the Formula 1 Commission and the FIA’s World Sport Council before being put in the 2011 technical regulations, but this is believed to be a formality if the TWG has already voted in favour.

Double diffusers caused huge controversy at the start of 2009 when the design concept used by Brawn GP, Williams and Toyota was protested by rival outfits. The complaints to stewards fell on deaf ears, however – meaning the matter eventually went to the FIA International Court of Appeal.

The ICA ruled that the diffusers were wholly legal – which forced a number of teams on the grid to revamp their cars to make the most of the advantage provided by double diffusers.

A move to outlaw them now has come about because teams have made such progress in increasing downforce that this season cars are expected to be producing more than at the end of 2008 – when teams were asked to reduce downforce with a dramatic change to the regulations.

Sources have told AUTOSPORT that the aerodynamic changes for 2011 will increase lap times by around two seconds.

Although the diffuser ban goes some way to arresting some of the progress made by teams since the end of 2008, there remain calls for a more thorough rethink.

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner, whose team had to integrate a double diffuser onto its car in the middle of last season, believes that changes should go beyond simple rule tweaks.

“I think the most important thing is to set clear objectives – as to what do the governing body and the promoters want F1 to be,” he told AUTOSPORT last weekend. “What do they want the F1 cars to be able to do?

“Then rather than cherry picking at bits and pieces, we can look at the package as a whole to encourage more overtaking, and to enable the cars to follow more closely.

“I think looking at components in isolation is often quite dangerous, so I think it is important that the overall objective is clearly defined and then worked on by the various technical groups.”

The TWG also approved a regulation tweak to impose a maximum height for the chassis, for safety reasons.

in: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81024

Rally Monte Carlo: Mikko Hirvonen wins

Mikko Hirvonen has given Ford’s new S2000 Fiesta a superb victory on its competition debut in the Monte Carlo Rally.

The World Rally Championship runner-up led the event from the outset, resisting pressure from last year’s winner Sebastien Ogier until the Peugeot’s late retirement.

“This is definitely for the team,” said Hirvonen as he celebrated a remarkable result for Ford. “The boys have been working so hard for the last few weeks.”

Ogier’s last-gasp drama elevated Juho Hanninen to second, the Skoda driver the best of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge regulars and scoring important points on an event that reigning champion Kris Meeke crashed out of.

Hirvonen was challenged by Peugeot duo Ogier and Stephane Sarrazin for the first few stages, until the former slid off on snow placed by spectators, and the latter suffered a puncture.

That left Hirvonen with an advantage of at least 40s for most of the rest of the event, but he could not relax as Ogier mounted an incredible comeback. Having lost two minutes and dropped to eighth with his Wednesday incident, Ogier reeled off a string of dominant stage wins in the ever-changing conditions and was within 40s of Hirvonen with three stages to go.

A tense showdown looked in prospect until Hirvonen increased his pace on SS13 this evening and built his lead back up to 46s again, halting Ogier’s charge and taking the pressure off going into tonight’s final loop. Ogier’s victory hopes then disappeared completely when he suffered an alternator failure on the road section before SS14.

“It could have been amazing – it’s a shame he had a technical problem,” Hirvonen said. “But then again it was a big relief for me that I didn’t have to push all the way through.”

Second placed Hanninen gradually lost touch with Hirvonen, as did his temporary Skoda team-mate Nicolas Vouilloz, who had a consistent run to what became third.

Sarrazin recovered to fourth despite sliding into a snow bank on Thursday morning. Fifth placed Jan Kopecky (Skoda) also had to fight back through the field, a puncture on the opening stage having put him down to 26th place.

Guy Wilks took time to get comfortable with his Skoda’s handling and was a distant 10th for the first half of the rally. He advanced to fifth by the final day, but an over-conservative tyre choice this evening meant he ended up sixth. Bruno Magalhaes ran as high as fifth on his Monte debut, and eventually came home seventh for Peugeot Portugal.

Like last year, Meeke did not reach the finish of the season opener, sliding out of second place when he hit ice on Thursday’s opening stage. Toni Gardemeister had a variety of dramas before having to stop with engine damage this morning, while Franz Wittmann was on course to score in his first rally with his new Peugeot 207 until he crashed out three stages from the finish.

But all of those retirees lasted longer than Formula 1 star Robert Kubica, whose Renault had an engine failure on Tuesday night’s pre-rally prologue stage.

Here are the standings of this Monte Carlo Rally:

Pos  Driver                 Car        Time/Gap
 1.  Mikko Hirvonen         Ford     4h32m58.5s
 2.  Juho Hanninen          Skoda     + 1m51.4s
 3.  Nicolas Vouilloz       Skoda     + 3m19.1s
 4.  Stephane Sarrazin      Peugeot   + 7m25.5s
 5.  Jan Kopecky            Skoda     + 8m48.7s
 6.  Guy Wilks              Skoda     + 9m24.5s
 7.  Bruno Magalhaes        Peugeot   + 9m45.4s
 8.  Jean-Sebastien Vigion  Peugeot  + 13m33.5s
 9.  Jaroslav Orsak         Skoda    + 21m16.6s
10.  Andrej Jereb           Peugeot  + 25m26.1s

text and standings at: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81031

picture at: http://autosport.aeiou.pt/gen.pl?p=stories&op=view&fokey=as.stories/80952

Monte Carlo Rally: SS9

Peugeot´s Sebastien Ogier strengthened his grip on third with his fourth stage win of the Monte Carlo Rally. Mikko Hirvonen still leads but his advantage over Skoda´s Juho Hanninen is down to 49.1s. The Fiesta driver said he struggled for confidence on the slippery stage surface, a mixture of snow and damp patches. Toni Gardemeister (pictured) spun twice and dropped to tenth behind Jan Kopecky.

in: http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=1472

Jaime Alguersuari confirmed as Toro Rosso driver

One of the leaders of Toro Rosso, Helmut Marko, has ruled out the move of Bruno Senna to the satellite team of Red Bull F1.

Helmut Marko says that is something that  ”is not true” and ensures that  never heared “anything like it”. The chief also said that Sébastien Buemi’s team-mate in the team will continue to be the Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari. Helmut Marko explains that though still missing “to solve some contractual details” the choose of the team “is him (Jaime Alguersuari)”, but still no date for the official announcement.

The speculations about a possible change of Bruno Senna to Toro Rosso had appeared last week, in European press, after confirmation of financial difficulties with which Campos is facing. Bruno Senna also denied the information through him press office.

source: http://www.abril.com.br/noticias/esportes/toro-rosso-descarta-bruno-senna-confirma-alguersuari-526839.shtml

Korean tyre makers eye F1 supply contract

Two Korean tyre manufacturers are reportedly interested in becoming the sport’s new official tyre supplier for the three-year tenure beginning in 2011.

That information was reported by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, although it added that Formula One chiefs were keen to tweak the rules in a bid to convince Bridgestone to stay.

The Japanese company announced last November that it would honour the last season of its contract this year and then pull out of F1 at the end of 2010.

Auto Motor und Sport said one possible rule change is to simply make fewer tyres available to the teams per Grand Prix, therefore reducing Bridgestone’s reported annual F1 expenditure of about EUR100 million.

The magazine did not name the two manufacturers interested in F1’s exclusive contract, but the major South Korean brands are Kumho, Hankook and Nexen.

The report also said a decision about F1’s tyre future will be taken at a meeting on 22 January.

in: http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=355001&FS=F1

Interview to Alberto Valerio

Hello! Today the interview is to Alberto Valerio, the Brazilian driver who competed in GP2 Series with Piquet GP in last seasons.

Alberto Valerio already competed in various series. He started in open-wheels in Sout American Formula 3, where competed in 2003, 2004, 2005, with 4 vitórias ande 4 pole postions (all of them in 2005, year in which he won this championship.). In 2003, Alberto Valerio competed in 3 races of Brazilian Formula Renault. After South American Formula 3, Alberto Valerio came to Europe, to compete in British Formula 3. In 2006, Alberto Valerio was the 11th in this championship. Following year, Alberto Valerio competed again in British Formula 3, being 8th. Alberto Valerio competed in 4 races of World Series by Renault, two of them in 2006 and two in 2007. Also in 2007, Alberto Valerio competed in a race of Formula 3 3 Ultimate Masters.

In 2008, Alberto Valerio competed in two races of GP2 Asia Series. Also in this year was him debut in GP2 Main Series, and he was 26th. In 2009, Alberto Valerio competed again in GP2 Asia Series, being 19th, and competed in GP2 Series, being 15^th with one victory. He also competed in two World Series by Renault races.

Here is the interview:

1 – How started your passion by racing cars?
My passion by races started with F1 via TV! I watched from children to Senna and I asked a kart to Christmas, to my fatherl!

2 – What was the best moment in your carrer until now, in your opinion?
My ask was answered in the final 1993! In this year, I had lived a great moment after Silverstone victory! But the South American title in 2005 was most remarkable!

3 – What was the worst moment in your carrer until now, in your opinion?
The worst moment was when I came to Europe. I had to learn all new and the good results disappeared! To a person who is accustomed with the family near was very hard!

4 – What is the driver (or drivers) that you like most to face in the tracks?
In the tracks I like to face drivers with whom I can to learn, and who are quick, to have a good reference! If possible, to be in the front of them!!!

5 – Had you difficulties in your career to raise supports?
There is always financial difficulties in auto racing world! I found an investor that supports me since Brazilian Formula Renault, until today!

6 – What is the main goal in your career?
I hope to get my dream and to be in F1!!! I know that is really hard, but I think that I am in the right way!

7 – Had you already raced at Autódromo do Algarve? If yes, what is your opinion about the circuit? [n: the interview was before GP2 Series in Autódromo do Algarve, competition in which Alberto Valerio competed].
I had the chance to test with World Series in last month at the circuit! Is very cool, full of rises and downs! I hope to close high the year there!

8 – At least, do you want leave a message for your fans?
I would like ask my Brazilian supporters that follow and give value to Brazilian drivers in F1 and also to drivers who want to get it! Because is really not easy and here we need all support of them!

And this was the interview to Alberto Valerio!

If you wish, you can read the original version of this interview, in Portuguese, here:

http://motorsandworldnews.wordpress.com/2010/01/15/entrevista-a-alberto-valerio/

Next interview to be published is with Jonathan Summerton, the American driver.