 | Mark Webber - 2010 Hungarian Grand Prix Print | Greg McNeill | |||
 | Mark Webber - Germany 2009 Print | Greg McNeill | |||
 | Mark Webber - Monaco 2010 Print | Greg McNeill | |||
 | Mark Webber: Two Steps Forward - A Formula One Pictorial History | John Morris |
 | The Formula 1 Young Guns | Nick Garton |
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DescriptionEven today. when motorsport fans speak of car control they mention Jochen Rindt. Bernie Ecclestone believed he was the top talent of his era, Jackie Stewart said he was one of the cleanest drivers he had ever raced against, and he remains the sport's only posthumous World Champion. This investigation of Rindt's mercurial career paints the portrait of a man taken long before he reached his true potential and puts an underwritten character into his real perspective, as one of the greatest Grand Prix drivers of all time. Synopsis
Eeven today, when motorsport fans speak of car control they tend to mention one name above all others: Jochen Rindt Orphaned in wartime Germany but raised by indulgent grandparents in Austria, Rindt had two sides. To those he disliked or distrusted, he could be arrogant and dismissive. To those he chose to befriend, however, he was a warm, kind and humorous character who loved to laugh yet who needed nobody's help. But to thousands of race fans he was simply the man who could do the impossible, as he proved from the moment he so insouciantly defeated the best in European racing in the Formula Two race at Crystal Palace in 1964, or the flat-out victory he and Masten Gregory scored at Le Mans the following season. Such was his level of talent, the feats he achieved, that his name deserved italics and an exclamation mark: Jochen Rindt! Bernie Ecclestone, bonded to him by strong mutual trust and empathy, believed he was the best of his time and one of the top five of all time. Jackie Stewart, who provides the Foreword to this book and was a very close ally, believed him to be one of the cleanest men he ever raced against, and one of the fastest. Alan Rees, Rindt's team-mate at Winkelmann Racing when the Austrian was the King of Formula Two, believed he was every bit as good as Jimmy Clark. Back then, praise came no higher. It was Jochen Rindt who donned Clark's mantle at Team Lotus in the aftermath of the Scottish champion's death at Hockenheim in April 1968. From 1969 until his own untimely passing at Monza, on 5 September 1970, Rindt was widely regarded as the fastest man in Fl. He remains the sport's only posthumous World Champion. This book, a forensic investigation of a mercurial career, is written by David Tremayne, whose biography of speed king Donald Campbell was an award winner, and whose story of Seventies Fl racers Roger Williamson, Tony Brise and Tom Pryce — The Lost Generation — earned rave reviews. In painting the true portrait of Jochen Rindt, a man who was taken long before he fulfilled his true potential, the author puts an under-explored character into his real historic perspective, as one of the greatest Grand Prix drivers of all time. |
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World championship leader Mark Webber believes Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren are all capable of winning the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Red Bull pilot steered his car around the demanding street circuit to finish second behind teammate Sebastian Vettel in opening practice Friday ahead of rivals Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton.
But Webber, who came a disappointing sixth in Monza at the last Grand Prix and failed to finish in Singapore last year, knows the opening day is not always an indication of what might happen in qualifying.
"Ferrari still look quick and anyone can be on pole tomorrow, us, Ferrari or McLaren, we just keep trying to do our best," said the Australian, who has a five point championship lead on Hamilton.
"A pretty good first day, the first session was wet, but we got some good running this afternoon," he added.
"I haven't seen the times that closely yet, but I'm pretty happy with how today went.
"I need to work on my short run performance a bit, but overall it's good."
Going into Sunday's Grand Prix, Webber leads the drivers' title race on 187 points, five ahead of Hamilton with Alonso third on 166.
Button is still in the hunt with 164 points while Vettel is fifth, a point further adrift.
Agence France-Presse
Source: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27756680-5018892,00.html
World championship leader Mark Webber believes Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren are all capable of winning the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Red Bull pilot steered his car around the demanding street circuit to finish second behind teammate Sebastian Vettel in opening practice Friday ahead of rivals Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton.
But Webber, who came a disappointing sixth in Monza at the last Grand Prix and failed to finish in Singapore last year, knows the opening day is not always an indication of what might happen in qualifying.
"Ferrari still look quick and anyone can be on pole tomorrow, us, Ferrari or McLaren, we just keep trying to do our best," said the Australian, who has a five point championship lead on Hamilton.
"A pretty good first day, the first session was wet, but we got some good running this afternoon," he added.
"I haven't seen the times that closely yet, but I'm pretty happy with how today went.
"I need to work on my short run performance a bit, but overall it's good."
Going into Sunday's Grand Prix, Webber leads the drivers' title race on 187 points, five ahead of Hamilton with Alonso third on 166.
Button is still in the hunt with 164 points while Vettel is fifth, a point further adrift.
Agence France-Presse
Marcos Ambrose survived a grueling day on the Dover International Speedway ‘Monster Mile’, bringing home a 20th place finish from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400.
In a race that featured only four caution flag periods, extended uninterrupted stints of clean racing were the order of the day.
“We were caught out today a bit with the long green flag stint at the start,” Marcos Ambrose said.
“The car had reasonable pace, but because the lap time here is so short, we lost a lap.
“From there it was hard to get back on the lead lap, and the timing of the cautions never really worked out for us.
“I don’t think anyone out there had a perfect car, Dover is one of those tough races.
“The guys in the Chase have all wheeled out their A-games, and they are hard to beat at this time of the year.
“We head back to Kansas next weekend, and we’re looking to round out the season on a high note.”
After starting from 23rd position, Ambrose made a solid start, before early cautions curtailed the opening exchanges.
On lap 38 the field slowed for track repairs, while on lap 50 Ambrose’s Michael Waltrip Racing stable mate David Reutimann smacked the wall.
Racing then proceeded to stay green for an extended period, with the third caution of the race appearing on lap 186, when Chase contender Matt Kenseth shredded a tyre while making an attempt to get to the pits.
Running a lap down in 25th position, Ambrose then found himself in line for the Luck Dog free-pass back onto the lead lap, making it as high as nine in the running order.
After setting times as quick as the race leader, the handling of Ambrose’s Toyota Camry degraded, with its condition reported to be “10 out of 10 loose”, with the much needed yellow flag not forthcoming.
A debris caution came out just after the penultimate round of pit stops on lap 291, with Ambrose running in 20th position, however no longer in line for the free-pass.
Ambrose made his final visit to pit road on lap 360 of 400 from 17th position, making it past Chase contender Greg Biffle in the process.
Biffle made it back by in the run to the chequered flag, with the JTG Daugherty Racing crew having to settle for 20th at the finish.
The result sees Ambrose rise up to 24th in the season standings.
Jimmie Johnson put a difficult opening race of the Chase last weekend at Loudon behind him, with a dominating victory as he staked his claim on an incredible fifth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup title.
Race highlights will be shown on Fox Sports today, and One HD hosted by Marcos Ambrose from Tuesday night.
Next weekend the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup continues at Kansas Speedway with the Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Review
Dover International Speedway- AAA 400
1. Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)
2. Jeff Burton (Chevrolet)
3. Joey Logano (Toyota)
4. Kurt Busch (Dodge)
5. Carl Edwards (Ford)
6. Kyle Busch (Toyota)
7. Paul Menard (Ford)
8. Ryan Newman (Chevrolet)
9. Denny Hamlin (Toyota)
10. A.J. Allmendinger (Ford)
20. Marcos Ambrose (Toyota)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings (after race 28 of 36)
1. Denny Hamlin (Toyota)- 5368points
2. Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)- 5333
3. Kyle Busch (Toyota)- 5323
4. Kurt Busch (Dodge)- 5309
5. Kevin Harvick (Chevrolet)- 5303
6. Carl Edwards (Ford)- 5295
7. Jeff Burton (Chevrolet)- 5288
8. Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet)- 5285
9. Greg Biffle (Ford)- 5228
10. Tony Stewart (Chevrolet)- 5206
11. Matt Kenseth (Ford)- 5203
12. Clint Bowyer (Chevrolet)- 5133
24. Marcos Ambrose (Toyota)- 2741
Next Event
Kansas Speedway- Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods
Source: http://www.nmd.com.au/nmd/news/details/8021
If he can navigate his way through the final Leg of the Australasian Safari tomorrow, Bathurst moto rider Ben Grabham will be set for a first place finish.
At the end of the 325 competitive kilometres of today’s two stages, Grabham was more than 18 minutes ahead of his closest rival Todd Smith. Both riders and third fastest rider Matt Fish are all riding for the CPW Safari /SP Tools/KTM Racing Team, which is aiming for a trifecta.
General consensus amongst the top of the field of riders was that the course today was quite different to what they have experienced on previous legs of the event. Riding across salt lakes, along fencelines and through sandier terrain made the stages faster.
Grabham said map reading was now the key to unlocking his third Australasian Safari win.
“I preferred the trails we used in today’s Leg and had a solid day,” Grabham said.
“I don’t worry about the ground I’m riding on, it’s really just the map reading I’m worrying about now.”
Todd Smith said he had a bad night’s sleep last night and was feeling a bit flat today. He was five minutes behind Grabham in the first stage of the day, but moved back to second place by the end of the second.
“I purposely took it a bit easy today to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes,” Smith said.
Rod Faggotter started the first stage, despite having a broken finger from yesterday’s racing, but did not make it through the day. This moves Victorian Matthew Fish in to a likely third placing.
“When I heard that Rod was out after the first stage I took it easier. The best I can hope for is a third placing tomorrow so now I’m just going to get to the finish so the boys will be getting our bikes ready overnight to prepare for the sandy conditions,” Fish said.
Dakar rider David Schwarz, on a Husaberg FES70, is no stranger to sand dunes and currently in the fourth fastest position, said his strategy tomorrow was to ride as he has been all week and wait for the others to make mistakes.
“The bike’s holding up well and it’s all about watching the track. I’ll keep riding the same way and will hopefully stay in the top field of riders.”
Brazilian rider Ze Helio had another strong day finishing fourth in the stages today, and is placed 11 overall.
Paul Smith continues to lead the charge in the quads, increasing his lead to approximately three hours 45 minutes.
It’s the eve of Safari 2010’s final Leg, which promises to provide a thrilling finish through the coastal sand dunes of Esperance to the southern ocean, the location of what are arguably some of Australia’s most stunning beaches.
An official podium finish will be held on the foreshore of the town of Esperance, with every competitor still in the race celebrating the fact they have managed to finish this gruelling event.
Considered one of the world’s great endurance events, the Australasian Safari has travelled from Southern Cross in the wheatbelt through to the historic Western Australian goldfields, desert, rugged bush and coastal sand dunes.
Results referred to in this release are provisional. Full results from Leg 6 are available from www.rallyresults.com.au/safari2010
Follow the event action at www.australasiansafari.com.au
Source: http://www.nmd.com.au/nmd/news/details/8022
The pole position benchmark for the 2011 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour, 4-6 February, could be a stunning time of over six minutes.
That time may sound slow for a circuit with a lap record in the low 2m06-second range; however that’s the prediction following confirmation today of an exciting new qualifying format for the 2011 Event.
The new format places the emphasis on teamwork and speed rather than just the one-lap dash for pole position.
In 2011 each driver entered in a competing vehicle will be required to set a lap time during qualifying.
These times will then be amalgamated to create the starting time for that vehicle, placing an emphasis on finding three evenly-matched drivers who can team up to create the lowest aggregate time for their car.
Therefore, if three drivers entered in a car set times of 2m15, 2m18 and 2m20, respectively, their starting position would be decided by their combined time of 6m53 seconds. Each entry must have three drivers.
The format has been successfully utilised in the Sepang 12 hour race, an event visited this year by the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour Organsiers.
Meanwhile, Event Organisers will announce the first entrants for the 2011 race next week.
Entries opened on September 1st with teams and drivers in the final stages of completing paperwork and finalising driver pairings for the February race.
“September is a busy month for motor sport in Australia and around the world, so people are flat out racing as well as finalising plans to enter the race next year,” Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour Administrator Jodi Zylstra said.
“We have been in constant communication with several teams who are close to ‘putting pen to paper.’
“The first team will be entered next week and we look forward to our fax machine working overtime receiving entry forms over the next few months.”
The 2011 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour is set to be the best yet following a broader vehicle eligibility list.
Vehicles from the Australian GT Championship will join with vehicles from the Australian Production Car Championship totalling 31 manufacturers eligible to compete in the around-the-clock Enduro at Mount Panorama on 4 to 6 February 2011.
More information about the 2011 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour can be found on the event’s new website; www.bathurst12hour.com.au
Source: http://www.nmd.com.au/nmd/news/details/8023
