Talladega Nights doesn’t have a rich pedigree of fine motor sport films to draw on and this mirthless film does nothing to change that.
Keith Collantine's articles on RaceFans
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring journalist, Keith began running the site full-time in 2010, achieving a long-held ambition to dedicate his full attention to his passion for motor racing.
Teams ready ‘Monza special’ engines
Posted onThe reliabiltiy of engines will be under greater pressues than ever at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix thanks to the demands of the two-race engines rule, the forthcoming engine development freeze, and the championship battle. Three engine suppliers are bringing major upgrades to coincide with the Monza race which sees a greater percentage of maximum … Continue reading Teams ready ‘Monza special’ engines
So much for safety
Posted onMax Mosley’s 1994 refuelling rules have gone up in smoke. Twelve years after the reintroduction of refuelling and the reaction to the disasters at the San Marino Grand Prix, three important rules governmening how refuelling would be made ‘safer’ after Imola have all been dropped. These were Mosley’s words after Imola 1994:
Italian Grand Prix 2006 Preview
Posted onThere are only four rounds left for Michael Schumacher to overhaul Fernando Alonso if he is to win a record eighth drivers title. But the next one, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, surely offers him the best chance of drastically cutting Alonso’s lead. Beating Alonso into second place is no longer enough for Schumacher … Continue reading Italian Grand Prix 2006 Preview
Hungarian Grand Prix, lap one, revisited
Posted onA while ago I asked whether Fernando Alonso or Michael Schumacher’s massive position gains on the opening lap of the Hungarian Grand Prix were anything special – indeed, whether they were worthy of comparison with Ayrton Senna’s at Donington Park in 1993. I was fascinated to see Darren Morgan asked that very question of Autosport’s … Continue reading Hungarian Grand Prix, lap one, revisited
Hungarian Grand Prix ‘best of 2006’ – so far
Posted onJenson Button’s maiden win in the Hungarian Grand Prix is currently ranked as the best of the season so far (not including last week’s Turkish Grand Prix). The incident-packed wet dry race displaced the Bahrain Grand Prix as the fan’s favourite so far this year in the post-race popularity polls F1Fanatic conducts on the Autosport … Continue reading Hungarian Grand Prix ‘best of 2006’ – so far
Escape from Istanbul
Posted onWe all have that list of Grands Prix we’d most like to visit – the dramatic Suzuka track in exotic Japan and the hallowed temple of motorsport that is Indianapolis are both on mine. And after last year’s rip-roaring debut race, so was Istanbul Park. So I was thrilled when a Greek mate invited me … Continue reading Escape from Istanbul
2006 Stats Update: Turkey
Posted onFernando Alonso may have added to his advantage over Michael Schumacher in Istanbul, but Ferrari are almost level with Renault in the constructors’ championship. Let’s take a look at how all the drivers and teams are performing statistically.
Share your Grand Prix experiences
Posted onWe want to know about the Grands Prix you’ve been to. Have you been to a race this year? Was it a good race and did you think you got good value for money? Do you regularly go to the same race every year? Perhaps you’ve been going to races for many years – how … Continue reading Share your Grand Prix experiences
F1 in the news
Posted onA round-up of Formula One news and comment from around the world this week. (All links external)
“Motor Racing at Oulton Park in the 1960s” (Peter McFadyen, 2006)
Posted onIn the pre-FOCA years Oulton Park regularly hosted non-championship Formula 1 races and some of these are featured in Peter McFadyen’s book of photography from the time.
Massa grabs first win as Alonso soaks up pressure from Schumacher
2006 Turkish Grand Prix review
Posted onWhat should have been a textbook cruise to maximum championship points for Michael Schumacher fell apart and handed his grateful team mate a maiden grand prix win.
“Michael Schumacher: Driving Force” (Sabine Kehm)
Posted onMichael Schumacher is the biggest character in Formula One today. With an unapproachable stack of wins and championship victories to his name, his identity is writ large across the sport. Media fascination with him is inevitable and it’s hardly surprising that, after more than a decade at the top of the tree, what little time … Continue reading “Michael Schumacher: Driving Force” (Sabine Kehm)
“Grand Prix Year” (Damon Hill with Maurice Hamilton, 1994)
Posted onThe controversial 1994 season provoked at least two noteworthy ‘insider’ books: Damon Hill’s Grand Prix Year and Steve Matchett’s Life in the Fast Lane. Together they tell the stories of the two championship-contending teams that year: Williams (Hill) and Benetton (Matchett). And they make for an intriguing comparison with each other.
“Life in the Fast Lane” (Steve Matchett, 1995)
Posted on“Life in the Fast Lane” is the first of the two memoirs of former Benetton mechanic Steve Matchett. It focuses on the particularly tragic, turbulent and controversial 1994 season which nonetheless eventually saw Benetton’s Michael Schumacher win the World Drivers Championship. Steve Matchett’s book tells the story of a season’s racing from a mechanic’s point … Continue reading “Life in the Fast Lane” (Steve Matchett, 1995)
Trackside: Britcar and Donington
Posted onIn this week’s Trackside we previewed the Britcar 24 Hours race on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. Also this week we did a feature on the fantastic Donington Grand Prix collection. Related links Autotrader.co.uk – Trackside: Racing ’round the clock (external) Autotrader.co.uk – Donington Grand Prix Collection (external) Tags f1 / formula one / grand … Continue reading Trackside: Britcar and Donington
“James Hunt: The Biography” (Gerald Donaldson, 2003)
Posted onJames Hunt – hedonist extraordinaire. His legendary off-track exploits would more than fill a book – but happily this biography isn’t an overdose of sensation. Gerald Donaldson looks at Hunt from all angles: the consummate professional whose attention would nonetheless wander; the man who accrued vast wealth then carelessly squandered it; the party animal and … Continue reading “James Hunt: The Biography” (Gerald Donaldson, 2003)
“Stirling Moss: The Authorised Biography” (Robert Edwards, 2005)
Posted onOften we are told not to judge books by their covers. With this paperback edition of Robert Edwards’ 2001 biography of Sir Stirling Moss, do the exact opposite. The iconic picture of a youthful Stirling, face blackened by race track filth but for two goggle-sized spots gleaming white around the eyes. It’s all there in … Continue reading “Stirling Moss: The Authorised Biography” (Robert Edwards, 2005)
Damper D-Day
Posted onThe predictable confirmation that the FIA’s ban on mass damper systems will be upheld has dealt a stinging blow to Renault’s hopes of retaining both the drivers and constructors championships. Fernando Alonso currently leads Michael Schumacher by ten points in the drivers’ championship and Renault head Ferrari byseven in the constructors’s title race. But the … Continue reading Damper D-Day
F1 in the news: Staff cuts expected and Zonta flies at Laguna Seca
Posted onRicardo Zonta lapped the Californian road circuit – home of the daunting corkscrew turn – in 1:06.596 in a TF106. More from this week’s F1 headlines.