F3 – ANOTHER WIN FOR RICCIARDO
After the disappointment of Donington where he scored only a third place before being taken out of the lead in race two Daniel Ricciardo made amends and consolidated his championship lead with a win and a second place at the fearsome Spa Francorchamps circuit.
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In the first race Daniel was untouchable. Having claimed pole in the wet he had no problems taking the lead from the start but all hell broke out behind him when team-mate Max Chilton stalled and got clipped by Hywel Lloyd. Things went from bad to worse when Daisuke Nakajima, Riki Christodoulou and Walter Grubmuller all tried to get through Eaue Rouge and the same time and place. Needless to say they didn’t succeed and the race was red flagged.
Ricciardo made just as good a start at the restart and proceeded to just drive away from the field in what was probably his most comfortable win so far this year. Pole, First and Fastest Lap at Spa, not a bad days work.
The final order on the road was Ricciardo from Bianchi (the winner of the Invitation Class), Bottas and van der Zande.
In the second race Brazilian Adriano Buzaid became the eighth different race winner this year by sweeping to his maiden F3 win at a rain-soaked Spa. Red Bull racer Daniel Ricciardo added a second-place finish to his race one victory to extend his championship lead to 37 points - the largest advantage that the Australian has enjoyed all season.
Buzaid and Ricciardo tip-toed their way around the opening laps, Adriano swiftly repulsing an early attack from the Australian and building a one-second advantage within a couple of laps. Buzaid pulled even further ahead as the rain fell and the track became even more treacherous, Ricciardo mindful of his championship lead. "I had a sniff of victory today," said Carlin driver Ricciardo. "I took the lead for a while but Adriano outbraked me, which was a good move. Then the rain came and I had a few moments and I thought that if I can end the race second then that's good result for the championship."
Renger van der Zande and Riki Christodoulou diced for third for much of the race, so closely in fact that both slithered off the track at the Bus Stop chicane on lap seven and then clashed again at the next corner, La Source, Christodoulou's car suffering enough damage to end its race. That left van der Zande sitting pretty for third - until the penultimate lap, that is, when he lost time and was passed for the final podium slot by his Hitech team-mate and championship title aspirant Walter Grubmuller.
Van der Zande scrabbled around the final corner fourth, just ahead of Carlin boys Henry Arundel and Max Chilton.
Pos Driver Points
1. Daniel Ricciardo 177
2. Walter Grubmüller 140
3. Renger van der Zande 125
4. Adriano Buzaid 99
5. Max Chilton 90
6. Riki Christodoulou 86
7. Nick Tandy 68
8. Marcus Ericsson 65
9. Daisuke Nakajima 64
10. Henry Arundel 59
11. Carlos Huertas 43
12. Wayne Boyd 37
13. Victor Garcia 25
14. Jay Bridger 18
15. Hywel Lloyd 16
16. Robert Wickens 12
17. Oliver Oakes 7
18. Philip Major 6
19. Stephane Richelmi 2
20. Kevin Chen 1
21. Dominic Storey 0
IS BRIATORE BUGGERED? PART 2
Got to say it’s starting to look as if he may be. In the last week we have seen the leaked sworn statement by Nelson Piquet Jr that squarely blames both Briatore and Pat Symonds for planning the accident early in last years Singapore Grand Prix. Piquet claims that he felt that he was pressured into agreeing as he believed that his continuation in the Renault team depended on his accepting to intentionally crash on lap 14. He also claimed that Briatore and Symonds not only told him when to crash but also where, for the corner of the accident was the only one with no cranes available nor gaps in the wall were a stricken car could be quickly removed from the circuit and therefore a safety car period would be a certainty. The FIA believe that Piquet’s claims are “reasonable, on balance". In a comment to the Guardian Max Mosley stated : "Certainly the data from the car indicated that something very unusual had happened on the corner where he crashed."
The FIA have stepped up the pressure on Briatore by giving not just Piquet, but now also Pat Symonds, immunity if they gave evidence against Briatore at the World Motor Sport Council investigation on Monday. Symonds was interviewed by an FIA official at the Belgian GP and gave some very guarded answers. (See below for an edited transcript of said interview) It is widely assumed that when Symonds said “I have no intention of lying to you. I have not lied to you but I have reserved my position just a little.” he may have been bargaining for the immunity he has now been given. Pat’s earlier statements to the press stated that a conversation had taken place on the morning of the Singapore race in which the question of the accident had been raised, but that it had been raised by Piquet Jr himself.
None of this of course actually proves that Briatore is guilty of anything at all and he has announced that he has begun criminal proceedings against the Piquets for attempted blackmail. Flav’s claim being that the Piquet pair raised these claims as a part of an attempt to force him to keep the underperforming driver in the team. Renault top brass however, seem to be distancing themselves from Briatore with reports that they have offered the FIA to replace Briatore as team manager with either Frederic Vasseur, the boss of the GP2 team ART, or Alain Prost. Prost said at Monza: "I only know that there is a rumour, we'll see what happens."
Sam Snape
15-09-09
Official transcript of the relevant parts of an interview between FIA representatives and
Pat Symonds, at the Belgian Grand Prix.
FIA adviser: In your own words Mr. Symonds what do you recall being said to Nelson
Piquet Jnr at that meeting? This is shortly before the race.
Symonds: I don't really remember it. FIA adviser: You don't remember? Symonds: No.
FIA adviser: Nelson Piquet Jnr says that he was asked by you to cause a deliberate crash.
Is that true?
Symonds: Nelson had spoken to me the day before and suggested that. That's all I'd really
like to say
FIA adviser: Mr Symonds were you aware that there was going to be crash at Lap 14?
Symonds: I don't want to answer that question.
FIA adviser: There is just one thing that I ought to ask you and put it to you so you can
think about it at least. Mr. Piquet Jnr says that having had the initial meeting with you and
Flavio Briatore you then met him individually with the map of the circuit. Do you
remember that?
Symonds: I won't answer, rather not answer that. I don't recall it but it sounds like
Nelson's talked a lot more about it.
FIA adviser: Mr. Piquet Jnr also says at that meeting you pointed out a specific place
on the circuit where he was to have the accident and said it was because it was the
furthest away from any of the safety or lifting equipment and gave the most likely
chance of a safety car being deployed.
Symonds: I don't, I don't want to answer that question.
FIA adviser: Was it you that did the talking at that meeting Mr. Symonds?
Symonds: I'm sure it would have been both of us but I don't know for sure. Sorry that's
a contradiction. I would imagine it would be both of us that would be normal. Actually
probably more often it's Flavio that does the talking himself. I wouldn't necessarily
always agree with what he's saying but the majority.
FIA adviser: Because just to be absolutely clear here what Nelson Piquet Jnr has said
is that at that meeting it was you that asked him to have a crash deliberately?
Symonds: I can't answer you.
FIA adviser: Can I say that if Mr. Symonds you'd been put in the position where you were
made to ask Mr. Piquet Jnr to crash it's much better, it would be much better for you in the
long term to tell these stewards to hear that today?
Symonds: I fully understand that.
FIA adviser: Yes.
Symonds: I have no intention of lying to you. I have not lied to you but I have reserved my position just a little.
FIA adviser: And you're aware that the stewards may draw conclusions from your
unwillingness to assist them in relation to what went on in that meeting?
Symonds: I would expect them to. I would absolutely expect that.
FIA adviser: I think I haven't got any further questions.
F1 – WEBBER’S WONDERFUL WIN
“You fucking beauty” and a scream of triumph was Mark Webbers initial reaction to winning the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring on Sunday. After 130 attempts Mark has now become the 92nd driver to join that band of elite who have won a World Championship Grand Prix. And one would have to think that after such a dominant display this will be the first of quite a few wins.
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After the disappointment of Silverstone Webber arrived in Germany utterly determined to best his team-mate Sebastian Vettel and from the very first practice session it was obvious that he would be very difficult to beat. After dominating both practice and qualifying Mark made a not quite perfect start which saw Rubens Barrichello getting a run down the inside into turn 1. It all could have come unstuck as a KERS assisted Lewis Hamilton came flying down the outside and Webber, who claims to have “lost” Rubens swerved into the side of the Brawn before clipping the rear right tyre on Hamilton’s McLaren. Both the Brawn and the Red Bull survived but the McLaren’s tyre didn’t and that was the end of Hamilton’s day.
Barrichello led until his first pit stop by which time Webber had been advised that he had been given a drive-through penalty for the first corner wheel banging and for most, this would have been the end of their chances. Mark’s pace was so hot though that he emerged from his penalty in the lead as Barrichello had pitted on the same lap. Webber then punched out a series of quick laps which gave him enough space that when he pitted for fresh tyres he rejoined without dropping behind any of his major rivals.
Barrichello was now caught behind the late stopping Ferrari of Felipe Massa and this period saw Webber closing on the leaders by up to 2 seconds per lap. When Rubens made his second of three stops on lap 32 Webber took a lead that he was not going to relinquish again. He reeled off the remaining 28 laps with ease and allowed Vettel to close to within ten seconds at the flag but it was not that he had a problem, he was just cruising home and being easy on the car.
"It's an incredible day. I wanted to win so badly after Silverstone, as I thought I had a good chance there, then after yesterday's pole I knew I was in a good position to try and win the race today. The only thing that I thought was going to test me was the rain, but even that held off. It was testing to get the victory today, I lost Rubens completely at the start; I thought he was gone a little bit to the left so I went to the right and banged into him. That's not normally my style and I got a drive-through penalty for that, so had to recover. My engineer kept me calm and I pushed as hard as I could when I needed to, so it's a great day. It was a difficult winter, Sebastian showed in winter testing what the car could do, so that kept my motivation very high when I was hurting a lot with all the rehab. I had great people around me to recover from all the injuries I had and the team have been incredibly patient with me as well. I want to thank Dietrich Mateschitz, Red Bull and everyone at Red Bull Racing for what they did for me over the winter, everyone in Australia who has supported me on the way through my career - and there are a few people that doubted me too, so hello to them as well. It's just an incredible day for all the people who have helped me get to where I am today."
For team manager Christian Horner, the victory was made even more impressive because of the fact that he believes Webber is still not back at total 100 per cent fitness - meaning he will continue to get better. "I think lying in a hospital bed in Tasmania in November, he could never have dreamed about today," said Horner about Webber's victory. "Certainly we had some concerns, because he forgot to tell us that he broke his shoulder as well. So, the comeback that he has had has been remarkable – and it is testimony to his determination and commitment that he has got himself back, he has got himself fit and he is driving better than ever. I don't think he is still at full fitness. He cannot run. He is carrying an extra bit of ballast in his leg which Adrian [Newey] is not too happy about, but I think that he has dealt with the injury. He has very good support and it is not compromising his driving but I don't think he is certainly at the fitness level he was 12 months ago."
F1 – WEBBER ON POLE AT THE RING
It has taken a while for it to all come absolutely right for Mark Webber this year but on a day when the tricky conditions meant that only the very best drivers would shine, the Australian finally shone the brightest and will start the German Grand Prix from Pole Position.
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Despite all the public pronouncements that he was perfectly fit, it is never easy coming back from a broken leg to drive a Formula 1 car. Many very quick drivers have tried and failed to come close to their former pace and when you consider that Mark not only broke his leg when he hit the front of that 4 wheel drive on his bicycle but his shoulder as well, his recovery has been highly impressive.
Almost impressive as his form so far this week-end. Right from the outset of a dry-wet first practice session Mark has been determined to put his young German team-mate back in his rightful place. Fastest in first practice, fastest in first qualifying, fastest of the runners using intermediate wet tyres in Q2 and fastest of all again in Q3, a comfortable quarter of a second over Vettel who could manage no better than 4th place in the 2nd Red Bull.
Barrichello may have only been one tenth off Webbers pace but the Brawn was some 14 kilos lighter than the Red Bull. An even lighter Jenson Button could only manage third place behind his team-mate.
The McLarens fill out the third row as they show vastly improved form along with their latest aero upgrade which includes a new front wing, new nose and a new undertray. Hometown hero Adrian Sutil was the other driver of the day getting Force India into Q3 for the first time ever thanks to typically excellent wet weather form, and then beating the two Ferraris and Renault's Nelson Piquet to earn a shock seventh on the grid for his home race.
Qualifying times
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:31.257 1:38.038 1:32.230
2. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:31.482 1:34.455 1:32.357
3. Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:31.568 1:39.032 1:32.473
4. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:31.430 1:39.504 1:32.480
5. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.473 1:39.149 1:32.616
6. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.881 1:40.826 1:33.859
7. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:32.015 1:36.740 1:34.316
8. Massa Ferrari 1:31.600 1:41.708 1:34.574
9. Raikkonen Ferrari 1:31.869 1:41.730 1:34.710
10. Piquet Renault 1:32.128 1:35.737 1:34.803
11. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber 1:31.771 1:42.310
12. Alonso Renault 1:31.302 1:42.318
13. Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:31.884 1:42.500
14. Trulli Toyota 1:31.760 1:42.771
15. Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:31.598 1:42.859
16. Kubica BMW-Sauber 1:32.190
17. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:32.251
18. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 1:32.402
19. Glock Toyota 1:32.423
20. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:33.559
Qualifying weights
Pos Driver Weight (kg)
1. Webber Red Bull-Renault 661.0 2. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 647.0 3. Button Brawn-Mercedes 644.0 4. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 661.0 5. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 654.5 6. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 664.0 7. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 678.5 8. Massa Ferrari 673.5 9. Raikkonen Ferrari 674.010. Piquet Renault 676.011. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber 681.0*12. Alonso Renault 668.2*13. Nakajima Williams-Toyota 683.6*14. Trulli Toyota 683.7*15. Rosberg Williams-Toyota 689.6*16. Kubica BMW-Sauber 673.5*17. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 674.5*18. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 662.5*19. Glock Toyota 662.3*20. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari 689.5* In other news Will Power has marked his return to the IRL by planting his Penske-Dallara on the front row for todays race at Toronto beside pole-sitter Dario Franchitti. The two title leaders struggled in qualifying with Scott Dixon to start 8th and Ryan Briscoe 11th.
ORAN PARK HISTORICS
On the last weekend of June the HSRCA said goodbye to OranPark for the final time. Perhaps. The way that the closure of this wonderful little circuit has been going over the last year or so we may be back for a 2nd Annual Final Fair-well meeting next year. Lets hope so.
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Yet again the HSRCA laid on a sumptuous display of cars from thundering F5000’s, through all manner of touring cars and some of the best sports cars this country ever saw. As usual there was some pretty intense racing as well. Apart from the Regularity events where just about anything that can, goes there were so many categories in action that most races were short 4-7 lap sprints. Even so, there were some casualties, such as the beautifully turned out ex-Roland Ratzenberger Schnitzer BMW M3 that lost most of its front body-work in a first lap dust up.
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There was plenty for tin-top fans with three races for the different eras. The usual Jaguar, Mustang & Mini stoush was on display in the race for 60’s tourers while at the back the battle between the Ford Cortinas and the Hillman Imps was equally entertaining. The early 70’s group included XY Falcons, Monaros, Cameros and a Valiant Charger. Some of the Falcons have the most alarming front suspension set-up you’ve seen in years with tyres pointing in all manner of angles. A somewhat smaller field took part for the late 70s – 80s but with some snarling A9X Toranas and a pair of the JPS BMWs the quality made up for that.
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For those with a passion for sports cars the appearance of Keith Berryman in the spectacular Matich SR3 was a highlight although almost as nice was the dark blue Bolwell Mk4 in the hands of Stewart Mahoney. Open wheel enthusiasts were also well catered for with a huge range of categories from Formula Vees through Formula Juniors, Tasman series cars, and Formula Pacifics with a couple of extras thrown in. One such was the ex-Johnny Rutherford Eagle Offenhauser Indy-car while the F5000 Matich A50 of Aaron Lewis looked fun to drive.
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While the racing was pretty intense, the results didn’t really matter much to those who came to watch.. The sights, the sounds, the smells and the memories they invoked were what was important. The winners? WellOranPark and the few thousand fans who came to say one last goodbye really. Can only hope it’s not the last goodbye after all.
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Sam Snape