There’s plenty to be said for and against the value of Formula One as a marketing tool. One major car manufacturer who continue to steer clear of the world’s greatest motor sport series is Volkswagen, who instead recently ran a strange marketing campaign ‘to discover what fast looks like’. This is what they came up … Continue reading Volkswagen don’t know the meaning of ‘fast’
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.
Renault F1 Story at the Champs-Elysees
Posted onRenault are showcasing eight Formula One cars at their Champs-Elysees showroom in Paris to celebrate their first championship win as a constructor. The cars include the 1983 Renault with which Alain Prost finished second in the World Driver’s championship, four championship-winning Renault-powered Williamses, a Michael Schumacher Benetton, and Fernando Alonso’s championship-winning car. They also showcase … Continue reading Renault F1 Story at the Champs-Elysees
Team India doubt for Indonesian A1 Grand Prix
Posted onDoubt is growing over Team India’s entry in this weekend’s A1 Grand Prix at Sentul, Indonesia. India Times reports that owner Atul Gupta is planning to sell the franchise, while Indian news site Zee News claim the team will race at Indonesia, with Karun Chandhok back at the wheel. New Williams test driver Narain Karthikeyan … Continue reading Team India doubt for Indonesian A1 Grand Prix
Bernie’s axe falls on Spa
2006 F1 season
Posted onThe best circuit in Formula One will not be visited by the series in 2006.
Another ex-F1 driver turns to A1 Grand Prix
Posted onChristian Fittipaldi, nephew of twice-champion Emerson Fittipaldi and a former Formula One driver, will drive for the Brazil team in this weekend’s A1 Grand Prix race in Indonesia in place of Nelson Piquet Jnr. Fittipaldi joins fellow ex-F1 drivers Tomas Enge, Ralph Firman, Hideki Noda, Jos Verstappen and Alex Yoong. Team USA’s Scott Speed will … Continue reading Another ex-F1 driver turns to A1 Grand Prix
Motorsport News reckon qualifying will change again
Posted onBritish motor sport weekly Motorsport News are suggesting the Formula One’s controversial new qualifying system won’t be used at the first round of the season in Bahrain. The procedure would see the entire field on-track for qualifying with the slower drivers gradually whittled away and twelve slowest cars allowed to refuel before the race. The … Continue reading Motorsport News reckon qualifying will change again
Longbridge owners appointed to develop Silverstone
Posted onThe British Racing Drivers’ Club have appointed St. Modwen Properties PLC to develop and operate the Silverstone circuit, site of the British Grand Prix. St Modwen’s own a substantial sherholding in Northern Racing PLC, who have been co-appointed to the task. St Modwen’s other investments include the site of the Longbridge car manufacturing plant which … Continue reading Longbridge owners appointed to develop Silverstone
For sale: Sauber-Mercedes C11, ex-Michael Schumacher
Posted onGot $830,000 to spare? A genuine 1990 Sports Car Group C specification Sauber-Mercedes has come up for sale – used by a certain Michael Schumacher in the days before he became a Formula One giga-star. The sale has been forced by the liquidation of CLR Associates. And no, they don’t accept PayPal. Related links: Bid4Assets: … Continue reading For sale: Sauber-Mercedes C11, ex-Michael Schumacher
Formula One’s Russian revolution arrives
Posted on“Midland is a privately owned trading and investment-holding organization. The group has interests in a broad range of industries including steel, shipping, construction and real estate, energy distribution and agriculture.” Oh, and a Formula One team. Midland are the first Russian team owners in the sport’s 56-year history, and today launched their first all-new car, … Continue reading Formula One’s Russian revolution arrives
Renault first F1 team to get blogging
Posted onThe launch of the R26 was also the occasion for Renault to unveil their team blog. Whether they will be adding other F1 bloggers to their blogroll and starting long arguments via the comments boxes remains to be seen. Let’s hope they start sneaking a few unsolicited entries past the PR people. Which team will … Continue reading Renault first F1 team to get blogging
R26 ready for Renault’s title defence
Posted onFor the first time since 2000, a Formula One car other than a Ferrari bears the coveted number one on its nose cone. Fernando Alonso has already been behind the wheel of the R26 this year, but today saw the formal presentation of the car complete with its 2006 colour scheme. Speculation is rife that, … Continue reading R26 ready for Renault’s title defence
Google video of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost’s final encounter – in karts!
Posted onGoogle’s excellent new video search feature includes a 13-minute clip from the Eurosport satellite television channel of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost (and other contemporary Formula One drivers) racing karts in December 1993. The video shows what would be one of – if not the – final battles between the two great rivals before Senna’s … Continue reading Google video of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost’s final encounter – in karts!
Williams promise wins with FW28
Posted onThe Williams-Cosworth FW28 revealed at grove today is good enough to win races claims Patrick Head, echoing the teams confident stance throughout winter testing despite the loss of engine partner BMW. Curiously the FW28’s dark blue-and-white paint scheme appears like an inverse of BMW’s white-and-blue car, but it’s the aerodynamic detailed shrouded in the colours … Continue reading Williams promise wins with FW28
Super Aguri get green light from FIA
Posted onReports of Super Aguri’s demise proved unfounded as the FIA announced that the team can participate in the 2006 season. The Formula One entry list therefore grows to more than ten teams for the first time since 2002. Takuma Sato has been tipped to drive plus one of four other drivers, of which the favourite … Continue reading Super Aguri get green light from FIA
Ferrari reveal 248 F1
2006 F1 season
Posted onSpies had already snapped the 248 F1 lapping Fiorano ahead of today’s launch, leading Autosport to comment on how much the new Ferrari appears to have borrowed from rivals Renault, Toyota and McLaren. The 248 F1 marks another change in nomenclature from Ferrari, who used the F200X series from 2000. ‘248’ denotes the 2.4-litre engine … Continue reading Ferrari reveal 248 F1
Ferrari shun blue-chip sponsors for fags & booze
Posted onHaving lost Vodafone to McLaren for 2006, Ferrari have signed a deal with new sponsors Martini. The team are pushing the angle that Martini have a long historic association with motor sport (particularly rallying). But the true significance of the deal is that it underlines how Ferrari, wedded to Marlboro cash, cannot attract or retain … Continue reading Ferrari shun blue-chip sponsors for fags & booze
British government will not mirror Italian Grand Prix spending
Posted onBritish Sports Minister Richard Caborn MP gave a strong indication that the government are not interested in supporting their home Grand Prix in an answer to a quetion raised by opposition MP Michael Jack. Caborn denied the his Department for Culture, Media and Sport had any information about how much money, if any, other European … Continue reading British government will not mirror Italian Grand Prix spending
Five-round Grand Prix Masters calendar unveiled
Posted onThe inaugural Grand Prix Masters series will visit five venues in 2006: Losail International, Qatar, April 29th Monza, Italy, June 18th Silverstone, Great Britain, August 13th TBA, October 1st Kyalami, South Africa, 12th November The dates chosen do not conflict with any dates on the Formula One calendar, except for the fourth rund at a … Continue reading Five-round Grand Prix Masters calendar unveiled
F1Fanatic supports campaign to issue ‘Grand Prix’ on DVD
Posted onThe 1966 film, ‘Grand Prix’, felt by many to be the greatest motor racing film of all time is not available on DVD. The rights holder, Warner Home Video, say they have no plans to release ‘Grand Prix’ on DVD, claiming they have received ‘no requests’ to do so. A group of enthusiasts started a … Continue reading F1Fanatic supports campaign to issue ‘Grand Prix’ on DVD
BMW low-ball F1.06 hopes
Posted onBMW Sauber are first to give their 2006 challenger a ‘proper’ launch in something close to the spec in which it will run in Bahrain. Team boss Mario Theissen was quick to dispel talk of immediate Grand Prix wins: “In our first season we will mainly be gathering experience… it requires patience and endurance.” They … Continue reading BMW low-ball F1.06 hopes