Professional Documents
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RACE REPORT
ISSUE 07 JUN - JUL 2009 FREE
BUTTON TASTES TURKISH
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INSIDE DOMINATE F1
THE
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BAHRAIN
DRIVER PROFILE
60 JENSON BUTTON
The star of Formula 1 2009
2
VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 7 / JUN-JUL 2009
NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS
End of season awards
ceremony for the Champions
of the Middle East
38
QATAR MARINE FESTIVAL
MEM covers Qatar’s
Powerboat challenge
42
BATELCO 2000CC
The Season review of the
Challenge with controversy
surrounding the final round
64
RACE REPORT
David Hyatt’s analysis of
the Turkish GP
72
3
EDITORIAL TEAM
Editor-in-Chief
SAMEER UCHI
sameeru@maxmediaco.com
Group Editor
MOHD KAYANI
mohammedk@maxmediaco.com
Deputy Editor
PARITOSH PALAV
paritosh@maxmediaco.com
Feature Editor
ALI FALAH
Welcome
ali.maxmedia@gmail.com
Staff Writer
VARUN MENDON
varun.maxmedia@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTORS
YAS MARINA
DUBAI AUTODROME
BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT
Sh. Salman Ave., P.O. Box : 308, Manama, Bahrain, Tel: 17 404044, Fax: 17 401333
Email: biljeek@biljeek.com.bh, Website:www.biljeek.com
REGIONAL
MOTORSPORT
AL KHAN
DISQUALIFIED
FROM FINAL RACE KART ZONE SET FOR
ACTION-PACKED SUMMER
Newly-crowned Batelco 2000CC
champion Mustafa Al Khan has been
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following a technical infringement, but Motor racing fans can look forward to organisation at BIC and with the world-famous
has retained his title. an exciting summer of karting action main grandstand, Sakhir Tower and Grand Prix
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car was found to have contravened the award-winning Sakhir track announced that the Kart Zone is open to all, including
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non-standard part on his car. and Saturdays between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. opportunity to experience some raw energy
The exclusion means the new Karting is the cradle of the world’s greatest and a heightened sense of speed. For more
champion loses his race one win and driving talents, and is where the hard work information or for bookings, call the BIC
victory is handed to Shaikh Jaber with begins in order to fulfil dreams of one day Hotline on +973-17-450000.
Mohammed Saleh in second and Tim becoming a Formula One world champion.
Birkin in third. But above all, karting – as the purest form of
However, the change in results does motor sport – is fun, accessible and affordable,
not affect the final standings with Al and Kart Zone is the leading venue for both
Kahn having done enough to clinch the aspiring racers to hone their skills or for those
championship with 130 points, 12 points simply looking for a thrill.
clear of Jaber. There are two tracks at the facility – one for
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6
REGIONAL
FAIRYTALE START FOR YAMAHA NEWS MOTORSPORT
After the first eight minutes of the free which saw him bump Lorenzo from the top
practice in Catalunya, nobody other than Fiat with five minutes to go.
Yamaha team-mates Valentino Rossi and Rossi and his crew had made a slight
Jorge Lorenzo sat on top of the timesheets. change to their base setting before they got
The pair alternated the top spot started and the reigning six time MotoGP
frequently during the hour; home hero world champion, who starts round six behind
Lorenzo making three P1 appearances and both Casey Stoner and Lorenzo in the points,
leading most of the session, but Rossi set was pleased with the results.
the fastest lap on seven occasions, the last of
7
REGIONAL
MOTORSPORT
NATIONAL ROTAX
CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR
PENULTIMATE ROUND
Bahrain International Circuit will
host the seventh penultimate
AL-ATTIYAH FORCED TO
round of the National Rotax Karting
Championship at Kart Zone. The season is
headed for an exciting climax as the battle for
8
REGIONAL
MOTORSPORT
10
INTERNATIONATL
MOTORSPOR
GORDON PENALIZED
FOR RULES VIOLATION
12
INTERNATIONAL
INDYCAR TEAMS BACK UP GEORGE NEWS MOTORSPORT
The IndyCar Series team owners have expressed to “to devise a plan for management of
their support for Tony George following reports Hulman & Company, the Indy Racing League,
suggesting his future as CEO of the Indianapolis Clabber Girl and the Indianapolis Motor
Motor Speedway was in doubt. It was reported Speedway that would allow him to focus on the
earlier that George, founder of the Indy Racing business which requires the greatest attention.”
League, had been voted out of his position at a IMS runs both the Indianapolis track and the
board meeting. IMS issued a statement denying IndyCar and Indy Lights championships, among
Tony George this, but did suggest that future restructuring was other businesses, while George is also the head
possible, and that the board had asked George of his own Vision Racing team.
13
INTERNATIONAL
MOTORSPORT
14
INTERNATIONAL
MOTORSPORT
16
INTERNATIONAL
LEADING NOW MEANS NOTHING NEWS MOTORSPORT
Casey Stoner, who returned to the head of the premier-class, matching countryman and
the MotoGP World Championship with fellow world champion Wayne Gardner.
victory last time out at Mugello, insists Not just that but Stoner and Nicky Hayden
leading the standings at this stage in the will be honoured by the Circuit de Catalunya
season means ‘absolutely nothing’. The with the unveiling of their own plaques on
Australian took his first victory since the “Champions Avenue” - adding their names
Qatar season opener with a one-second win to those of Michael Schumacher, Lewis
over Jorge Lorenzo in the wet/dry Italian Hamilton and Dani Pedrosa, amongst others
Grand Prix. The win was Stoner’s 18th in - in celebration of their MotoGP titles.
ROSSI ‘SINCERELY DISAPPOINTED’ potential for the pole position but in the
end we lost the front row to Loris, who did
a great lap.”
Rossi will start round five level with
Stoner in the world championship and just
one point behind pole sitter Lorenzo, who
appears to be the only rider with a race pace
better than Rossi.
“Our setting is good, we have some
small details to check but our race pace
with the harder tyre is very good so I am not
too worried,” confirmed The Doctor. “Of
course starting from the second row makes
life a little more difficult but we don’t think
about this. The weather situation is very
important because if it’s like this then we
know we are fast but if it changes, which
seems possible from the forecast, then it will
be a bit more difficult.”
“As far as race preparation goes that was
a good session, because we were always
Valentino Rossi will start his home narrowly lost out to Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi, fast,” stated team manager Davide Brivio. “In
Italian Grand Prix from outside of the Ducati’s Casey Stoner and his own team- the hot laps with the soft tyres at the end we
front row for the first time since the mate Jorge Lorenzo. just missed out on the front row but this is
1999 250cc event, after being bumped back “Sincerely I am quite disappointed to not the end of the world. Our race set-up is
to fourth in the qualifying session. miss out on the first row!” said Valentino. very good and, although starting from fourth
The Fiat Yamaha star, chasing his eighth “Usually I don’t mind so much but here, in makes our job a little harder, we know that
consecutive Mugello victory, had been on Mugello, it’s special so I am sorry for this. Valentino will be in the fight tomorrow. We’re
pole with less than two minutes to go, but It was a great fight today and we had good looking forward to a great race.”
17
INTERNATIONAL
MOTORSPORT
PREZIOSI HAILS
STONER’S MUGELLO WIN “Mugello is Valentino’s track,” Preziosi
wrote on Ducati’s ‘Desmoblog’. “Mugello is
Valentino’s track... no other racer in the history
of motorcycle racing has ever won so many
times on the same track.
“The gift Casey gave all of us Ducatisti is
something that will stay with us forever, like the
first MotoGP victory in 2003 at Barcelona with
Loris Capirossi and the 2007 world title.”
Stoner’s second win of the season
means he is now back on top of the MotoGP
World Championship standings after five
of 17 rounds, and Preziosi admits Ducati’s PEDROSA’S
349KPH TOP
success against the Japanese factories since
joining MotoGP in 2003 has been ‘almost
Ducati Corse general manager Filippo inconceivable’. Ducati has won 19 grands prix
Preziosi, architect of the factory’s
Desmosedici MotoGP machine,
- all but one with Stoner - since the switch to
800cc engines in 2007. That number is two SPEED RECORD
CONFIRMED
has hailed Casey Stoner’s Italian Grand Prix more than nearest rival Yamaha, 15 more than
triumph as one of his top three moments. Honda and 18 more than Suzuki. Kawasaki is
Stoner finally handed Ducati its first yet to win a race.
home Mugello victory at its seventh attempt, After winning the 2007 world Dani Pedrosa’s astonishing
breaking Valentino Rossi’s seven-year reign in championship, Stoner finished second to 349.3kph top speed during the
the process. Rossi last season. Italian Grand Prix weekend has now
been officially confirmed, making it a
new MotoGP record.
CATALUNYA RETURN
by timing specialists at Dorna after
differences were found in the results
produced by the telemetric systems on
Sete Gibernau has confirmed that some bikes.
he will return to MotoGP action at However, the official MotoGP
his home Catalunya after breaking website states that Pedrosa’s top speed
his left collarbone. The Grupo Francesco has now been confirmed.
Hernando rider fractured his left collarbone The previous official top speed
in a practice accident at Le Mans and the record for a motorcycle grand prix
injury also forced him to miss the entire machine was 343.7km/h set by Makoto
Italian Grand Prix. Tamada, on a 990cc Honda, during
However the 36-year-old, returning to qualifying at Shanghai in 2006.
MotoGP after two years in retirement, will The Chinese circuit is no longer on
be back on track for round six. the world championship calendar, but
Gibernau’s last MotoGP appearance the previous highest official top speed at
at Barcelona saw him tangle with Ducati Mugello was 343kph set by Alex Barros
Marlboro team-mate Loris Capirossi into on a 990cc factory Honda during the
turn one, sending the Spaniard into a 2004 race.
somersault that brought down Capirossi, Pedrosa crashed out of Sunday’s
Marco Melandri, Dani Pedrosa, Randy de wet/dry grand prix, which was won by
Puniet and John Hopkins. Ducati’s Casey Stoner.
18
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Narain Karthikeyan
KARTHIKEYAN
TO JOIN LE
MANS SERIES
Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan has
signed with Team Kolles to drive in the
European Le Mans Series for the rest of TIE AT THE TOP IN SPA PRACTICE
the season. Karthikeyan, who became Oreca drivers Olivier Panis and that was disrupted by both rain and a pair
India’s first Formula One driver when Nicolas Lapierre recorded the same of red flag incidents.
he raced for the Jordan team in 2005, time as the Peugeot trio of Marc In the first, the Aston Martin 007 car
will also be competing in the popular Gene, Alexander Wurz and David Brabham stopped on the track with Darren Turner at
Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race, but in free practice for the Le Mans series race the wheel; then, Jose Ibanez went off the
his first LMS outing will be in Belgium. at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium. track in his Courage LC75 Ibanez Racing
Team head Colin Kolles stated that he is Both posted quickest times of exactly Service car.
happy to have Narain on board. two minutes 6.740 seconds in a session
SOLBERG TO TEST LE MANS SERIES CAR While one Le Mans Series Petter’s and the team’s impressions. First
Courage-Oreca Team car will be comes the test,” stated the Courage-Oreca
running a new V10 AIM engine Team boss. “We’re impatient to have a
during its upcoming test run, a second World Champion in the seat of the LC70E!”
car appearing on track is sure to attract With such power at his disposal,
attention as well since former Subaru World Solberg will surely be impressed when
Rally Team driver Petter Solberg will be at he takes to the track. Two team drivers
the wheel! will be there to assist and guide him,
The 2003 WRC champion will be including Nicolas Lapierre and F1 veteran
switching from the rally car environment Olivier Panis. The date of the test was
to the endurance racing scene during not disclosed.
this test at the controls of the Courage- In regards to Petter Solberg’s rally
Oreca LC70E. Team principal Hugues de programme this year, he indicated that
Chaunac offered the opportunity, to which “there are still some issues to sort out
the Norwegian responded very favorably. regarding which car I will be driving this
Peter Solberg
“As for what comes next, we will see season, but a decision will be made soon.”
20
INTERNATIONAL
YOU NEVER KNOW AT LE MANS NEWS MOTORSPORT
Aston Martin Racing ace Darren Turner outright honours with a trio of Lola-Aston
admits that it will be a challenge for the team Martin LMP1 machines, with the former
to try and secure a podium finish at Le Mans, SEAT touring car racer joined at the wheel by
although the Briton conceded that the French Anthony Davidson and Jos Verstappen.
classic is a race where ‘you never know what Preparations for the #008 crew have been
will happen next’. far from ideal after Verstappen suffered a high-
Having turned his focus back to sportscar speed testing accident at Monza, but with the
racing, Turner will form part of the #008 crew trio now heading to La Sarthe, Turner said he
for Aston Martin as it seeks to challenge for was confident they would be a strong line-up.
PEUGEOT 1-2 IN
QUALIFYING
Team Peugeot took a one-two ahead
of the Le Mans series race at Spa
Francorchamps in Belgium after
qualifying amid overcast weather
conditions. Both posted quickest times
of exactly two minutes 6.740 seconds in Jetalliance Racing will look to secure since 1972, the team will face the challenge
a session that was disrupted by both rain a podium finish on its debut in the of taking the fight to the factory Corvette team
and a pair of red flag incidents. Le Mans 24 Hours – in what will and the privateer Corvettes entered by Luc
In the first, the Aston Martin 007 car be the final race at La Sarthe for the current Alphand Aventures – a challenge Muller admits
stopped on the track with Darren Turner GT1-spec cars. The team will field the only will be far from easy. The team has already
at the wheel; then, Jose Ibanez went off Aston Martin DBR9 entered into the race, with competed in the Spa 1000km as a pre-cursor
the track in his Courage LC75 Ibanez team boss Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer joined at the to Le Mans, and Lichtner-Hoyer said that finally
Racing Service car. wheel by Alex Muller and Thomas Gruber. Set taking his place on the La Sarthe grid would be
to become the first Austrian outfit at La Sarthe the realization of a dream.
21
INTERNATIONAL
MOTORSPORT
BENSON’S TRUCK SERIES SHUT DOWN
NEWS Mooresville, N.C.-based Red Horse Racing
has announced it is ceasing operations with
sponsor from being able to participate.
Benson has competed in eight events
its No. 1 Toyota Tundra driven by Johnny behind the wheel of the team’s truck this
Benson in NASCAR’s Camping World year. He earned four top-10 finishes,
Truck Series, effective immediately. The including a fourth-place finish at Texas
team cited lack of sponsorship as the reason Motor Speedway.
for its closure. Sponsorship for Benson Red Horse Racing will continue to field
was thought to be secure before the season the No. 11 Toyota Tundra, driven by TJ
began, but the economic downturn kept that Bell, as that truck does have some support.
CARROLL DOUBLES UP
while fifth place for Filipe Albuquerque
was good enough to secure third in the
standings for Portugal – who had been the
third team in with a chance of the title going
AS IRELAND CROWNED
into the weekend.
Mexico took sixth in the race ahead
of Britain’s Dan Clarke, who had to
contend with a damaged exhaust and a
Adam Carroll became the first driver late trip off track to take seventh from John
this season to secure wins in both Martin. Eight for Martin wasn’t enough to
races to help Ireland to lift the A1GP put Australia ahead of New Zealand in
title at Brands Hatch. the championship standings with the pair
Following his success in the Sprint Race, level in points but Black Beauty having a
Carroll stormed to victory in the Feature superior finishing record. Tonio Liuzzi and
Race ahead of Jeroen Bleekemolen for the Nicolas Prost rounded out the top ten for
Netherlands and Switzerland’s Neel Jani to Italy and France.
give Ireland the championship crown and leave The final race of the season featured
Switzerland to settle for second. early drama when China, India and the
From pole position, Carroll dominated the USA clashed at Paddock Hill Bend on the
race and led from start to finish – pit stops opening lap.
aside – to come home more than While JR Hildebrand was able to
ten seconds clear of Bleekemolen, while Jani continue and ultimately finished 14th for
took third for Switzerland despite a damaged the USA, both India and China were out
exhaust on his car to ensure the runner-up slot on the spot with Narain Karthikeyan lucky
in the standings for the outgoing champions. not to roll when his car when sideways into
Clivio Piccione was fourth for Monaco, the gravel after being tagged by a spinning
having run second in the early stages, Frankie Cheng.
22
INTERNATIONAL
FIA CAN’T JUST ENTER FERRARI NEWS MOTORSPORT
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali budget cap it is keen to implement next year.
has made clear that the FIA can’t include With the clock ticking down to the
the Scuderia on the entry list for the 2010 announcement of those teams to have been
Formula One season unless demands made selected for the new season, rumors have
by the Formula One Teams Association are suggested that the eight FOTA teams would
met. As thing stands, the current teams – be classed as ‘automatic’ entries for 2010
Williams and Force India aside – have only but Domenicali again insisted that Ferrari
lodged conditional entries which are largely wouldn’t be on the list unless the FIA agreed
dependent on the FIA dropping the proposed to the demands made by the teams.
23
INTERNATIONAL
MOTORSPORT
LOTUS DISTANCES FROM LITESPEED
NEWS Group Lotus plc has hinted that it could take
action to protect the Lotus brand name after
rights to use the Lotus name from rights-
holder David Hunt.
the Litespeed team revealed it has lodged However, in much the same way that the
its entry for the 2010 Formula One season Brabham family has announced that it will
under the Team Lotus banner. challenge plans by the Formtech company
The British F3 runners are one of a to enter under the Brabham Grand Prix
number of new teams to be chasing a moniker, Group Lotus has moved to distance
slot on the F1 grid for next season, and itself from the Litespeed plans and said it will
revealed over the course that it had secured take steps to protect its name if needed.
24
INTERNATIONAL
JOHN CELEBRATES TT TRIUMPH MOTORSPORT
WICKENS DOMINATES FIRST F2 RACE Robert Wickens completed a Wickens was able to maintain a much
perfect round at the Formula 2 stronger pace once the tyres started to
championship by winning the wear. By half distance he was building his
second race at Valencia. lead at half a second per lap to earn himself
The 20-year-old Canadian, who had a comfortable run to the finish.
already taken victory in the first race, put in Bortolotti was always clear in second,
another faultless drive from to take away leaving Philipp Eng to keep Soucek at bay
two pole positions and two wins from the for third. Soucek had reclaimed third from
first event of the season. Nicola de Marco half way round the first
For the second race in succession, lap, but he couldn’t catch Eng to take back
Wickens’ fellow front row starter made a his starting spot.
terrible getaway. This time Andy Soucek It was fairly eventless further down the
bogged down off the line and dropped order with Mikhail Aleshin and Edoardo
to fourth, leaving Wickens with an Piscopo having quiet runs to sixth and
unchallenged run to the first corner. seventh, and Carlos Iaconelli and Tobias
His fellow Red Bull-backed driver Mirko Hegewald climbing to eighth and ninth
Bortolotti looked capable of threatening by overtaking Julien Jousse, who slipped
Wickens in the early laps and began to back to 10th.
close on the race leader at one point, but
25
INTERNATIONAL
MOTORSPORT
GHOSN CALLS FOR MORE REVENUE
NEWS Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn thinks that the
FIA is not the only organization in F1 that
handed to the sport’s competitors. Speaking
to France’s National Assembly, Ghosn was in
needs to compromise in the row over future feisty mood as he urged F1 supremo Bernie
costs cuts – as he called on the sport’s owners Ecclestone and owners CVC to reform the
to start delivering more revenue to the teams. payment structure. Renault’s wholehearted
With the FIA due to announce the list of commitment to reducing costs was made
entrants that have been accepted for the 2010 clear in letters leaked earlier confirming the
championship, Ghosn thinks it is time that a team was to shut its factory down and was
bigger share of commercial rights income is serious about its threat to quit.
ROMANCINI CLAIMS
FIRST INDY LIGHTS WIN
26
INTERNATIONAL
MOTORSPORT
UNITY WILL MAKE EPSILON CONFIRMS 2010 F1 ENTRY ATTEMPT budget was in place, but the former Tyrrell
F1 STRONGER and Benetton team manager has revealed
he has now secured the finances for the
next four years if the Spanish squad is
chosen by the FIA, when the entry list for
2010 will be announced.
Villadelprat, whose team has raced in the
Le Mans 24 Hours with its own LMP1 car, said
Epsilon has submitted its entry with the new
budget cap rules in mind. But the team boss
admitted he was not too worried about the
possibility that the cap could be increased, as
The Epsilon Euskadi team has he reckons he has the necessary budget to do
officially confirmed that it has a good job.
submitted its entry to compete in Villadelprat feels his team deserves the
Formula 1 next season. chance to compete in grand prix racing, and he
Epsilon boss Joan Villadelprat said the reckons Epsilon is in a strong position thanks
team wanted to be silent until the necessary to its infrastructure and its philosophy.
28
INTERNATIONAL
ACO DECLARES AUDI BODYWORK NEWS MOTORSPORT
Le Mans organizer the ACO has ruled the sole purpose of generating downforce.
the bodywork on Audi’s R15 legal after Peugeot will now appeal to the FIA, as
dismissing the protest lodged by Peugeot the team stated it would if the protest was
before the practice session. not upheld by the stewards. The ACO also
The French manufacturer called for a announced that it will, at the request of the
clarification of the regulations after claiming manufacturers, hold a meeting for technical
that flaps and appendages fixed to the R15’s directors and design engineers to discuss
front wings are in violation of the rule that the regulations for 2010 and 2011.
parts of the bodywork cannot be fitted with
29
INTERNATIONAL
MOTORSPORT
MOSLEY: F2 CAN
MALLYA WANTS FOTA BE AN F1 FEEDER
SUSPENSION REVERSED by the other eight teams. Mallya made
it clear that he had no choice but to
lodge an unconditional entry because of
banking covenants.
“I have only been told by John [Howett],
who is vice-chairman of FOTA executive
committee, today for the very first time that
the executive committee, when they had
FIA president Max Mosley is confident that
a teleconference call last week, that they
the revived Formula 2 championship will be a
decided to suspend us when we changed
successful feeder series to F1 following his visit
Vijay Mallya has asked the our entry to an unconditional entry. Mallya
to the opening round at Valencia.
Formula One Teams’ Association said it was too early to judge if his request
Mosley hosted the podium ceremony for
(FOTA) to reconsider his team’s to get back in FOTA would be accepted.
the first race of the season, which was won by
suspension from the organization, He also stated that if they appreciate it,
Robert Wickens, and praised the championship
following its decision to lodge an well and good, if they don’t appreciate it
unconditional entry to next year’s then why should I lose sleep over it? I am for delivering on the aims the FIA set out with.
championship. doing what is good for Force India, first Williams director of engineering Patrick
Force India was officially informed because I have a duty to comply with my Head, who led the design team that created the
by FOTA that it had been suspended legal obligations, I have a duty to the team new F2 car, hosted the podium for the second
alongside Williams for breaking away and the company, and at the end of the day race – also won by Wickens – and believes
from the block conditional entries lodged if it stops racing there is no business. that F1 teams will look seriously at testing the
leading F2 drivers at the end of the season.
30
RACE REPORT
BUTTON’ S
TURKISH
DELIGHT
Jenson Button continued his domination of the
current Formula One season with his sixth victory
in seven races to move a step closer to clinching his
maiden world championship.
J
enson Button was unstoppable
again, this time at the Turkish
Grand Prix. Making it six wins out
of seven 7 races in 2009.
Sebastian Vettel who started from
pole lost the lead on the opening lap
after a mistake and due to a very strange
pit stop strategy. He also lost second
place to team mate Mark Webber by the
end of the race.
Vettel, Button and Webber all had
good starts. It was third on the grid
Rubens Barrichello who was in trouble.
After nearly stalling at the start he
fell back to 13th place, as he tried to
make up ground he crashed into Heikki
Kovalainen then Adrian Sutil. Before
he had time to damage more cars his
gearbox gave way sending him
into retirement.
Vettel lead the race from the start with
button close behind, then at turn 9/10
Vettel ran wide allowing Button to take
the lead. With this, Button set fastest
lap… after fastest… lap pulling
away with ease.
Button started the race on a 2 stop
pitstop strategy with Vettel on a 3 stop.
Vettel needed to stay ahead of button for
this to work. This did not happen.
At this point Redbull should have
changed Vettel to a 2 stop strategy (for
some reason they did not). With this
Vettel had no chance of racing Button
because he had to make one more pit
stop. This also gave Vettels team mate
32
RACE REPORT
33
RACE REPORT
34
RACE REPORT
Ferrari never looked like they had
the speed to fight at the front. Felipe
Massa had to settle for a distant 6th
with Kimi Raikkonen struggling after he
damaged his front wing due to running
into Fernando Alonso. Raikkonen ended
the race 9th.
BMW’s Robert Kubica finally opened
his 2009 points account coming 7th.
Timo Glock raced from the back end
of the grid to 8th. After a bad qualifying
his team filled his car with fuel and hoped
for the best. This time it worked.
Kazuki Nakajima was in the hunt
for points but fell back to 12th after a
problem with his left front wheel in his TURKISH GP RESULTS
last stop. Anyone who thinks pit stops are
easy, are very, very wrong. 1. Button Brawn GP
Alonso, who finished 10th admitted
his Renault is simply too slow and 2. Webber Red Bull
amongst the slowest cars in the field.
(What does that make his team mates car, 3. Vettel Red Bull
he must be in a GP2 car or more likely the 4. Trulli Toyota
driver is no good).
McLaren’s season seems to get 5. Rosberg Williams
worse with Lewis Hamilton coming
6. Massa Ferrari
13th and Kovalainen 14th. Hamilton is
already starting to say this season is over 7. Kubica BMW
for them. (I agree with him, the 2009
McLaren is really bad). 8. Glock Toyota
9. Raikkonen Ferrari
10. Alonso Renault
Drivers Championship
1. Button 61 points
2. Barrichello 35
3. Vettel 29
4. Webber 27.5
5. Trulli 19.5
6. Glock 13
7. Rosberg 11.5
8. Massa 11
9. Alonso 11
10. Raikkonen 9
Constructors Championship
1. Brawn 96
2. Red-bull 56.5
3. Toyota 32.5
4. Ferrari 20
5. McLaren 13
6. Williams 11.5
7. Renault 11
8. Bmw 8
9. Torro-Rosso 5
35
SCREENING
King of the Road
s and other
J
ournalists, photographer
of the me dia we re guests
members
al Cir cuit
of Bahrain Internation
tor ox Ca fé, wh ere they all
at Mo
tton take yet another
witnessed Jenson Bu
h an unb elie vable drive at the
victory wit
kis h Gra nd Prix in Istanbul.
Formula One Tur
y signalled
As the Brawn GP victor
h win out of sev en races, PR
Button’s sixt al Circuit,
Inte rna tion
Executive at Bahrain
Say ed, tha nke d the members of the
Jamal Al
tching the gripping
media for joining in wa
2009 F1 World
seventh round of the
Championsh ip.
erb attendance to
He added that the sup
ing wa s a cle ar indicator of the
the screen
rt cul ture in the region. Al
growing motorspo sp
prizes to the winners
Sayed later presented
,
se in attendance.
L
all tho
U
of a raffle hel d for
N B
IASWITN FAOR BUTTON
AND MEDIA M E M B E R S
36
SCREENING
arathne took
Sanjaya Sadakalum Jay
e of a ret urn ticket to
home the grand priz lf Air.
rier s Gu
Dubai with national car cam e
er win ner s wh o
Among oth Jas sim
gift s we re
away with valuable BIC i, Mohammed
d, Ha me d Al Ma har
Mohamme
ah.
Faker Aldeen and Ali Fal
e nex t offi cia l F1 scr eening will be held
Th
Jun e, as the eighth round
on the 21st of
ce at the Santander
of the season takes pla
British Gra nd Pri x.
37
FEATURE
NIGHT OF
CHAMPIONSHIP WITH HOUSE
OF PORTIER
Mohammed Al Owais Overall Winner
CHAMPIONS
Raed Hassan Class 2 Winner
SEASON
Hussain Al Kooheji Overall Winner
HONOURED
Pascal Grosjean Superstock Class Winner
T
Aref Ramli RLC Overall Winner
he Green Community Courtyard Motiwala was another popular recipient of
Marriott hosted the cream of the UAE Sportbike Championship trophy
Raoul Dice Montano 1M Class Winner
the UAE’s racing drivers, team for the premier 1000 Class.
principals, officials and media The biggest cheer of the night was Jenniever Verana 1S Class Winner
gathered for an awards ceremony to honour reserved for the UAE’s Mohammed
the 2008/2009 season UAE National Al Falasi who was bestowed with the Imad Mrad 2M Class Winner
Champions - the evening was billed as the prestigious, and most impressive trophy
“Dubai Autodrome Motorsport Club Night
presented by Glenn Portier, for the House Weaam Abdou 2S Class Winner
of Champions”.
of Portier UAE Touring Car Driver of the
Dubai Autodrome Chairman Saeed
Khalfan opened proceedings with a Bashar Mousa 4M Class Winner
speech that praised all involved in making
2008/2009 the finest motorsport season ” Our sport is growing from Fadi Bikawi 5M Class Winner
to date. He said, “In the short space of strength to strength and Samer Abdel Malak 5S Class Winner
four years track racing has grown in leaps
and bounds. In the early days we were today we are here to honor
lucky to attract 20 entries on a National the Champions, but in truth Aref Ramli VM Class Winner
Race Day. This year we often had over 60 everyone who competed this
entries on each of the eight National Race TRACK TALK DAMC KARTING
Days. Our sport is growing from strength past season on our circuit CHAMPIONSHIP
to strength and today we are here to honor is a Champion.”
the Champions, but in truth everyone who Thomas Bale Cadet Class Winner
competed this past season on our circuit
is a Champion.” Edward Jones Junior Max Class Winner
Year Award. A visibly emotional Al Falasi
On the night it was Emirati Mohammed accepted his honour graciously amidst
Al Owais who, to a massive ovation, Scott Latham Rotax Max Class Winner
thunderous applause, “I am speechless.
collected two titles for winning the Class
This is a great and totally unexpected Damian Knott Max Masters Class Winner
4 and Overall Yellow Hat UAE Touring
Car Championship with House of Portier. honour. I congratulate all the Champions
Bahraini rider Hussein Al Kooheji received here tonight and thank my family, my team, Maurits Knopjes DD2 Class Winner
a standing ovation when called upon to UAE Corvette Club and Dubai Autodrome
collect his trophies for winning the UAE for making this possible. I believe this award Warren Christie TAG Class Winner
Sportbike Championship 600 Class and will serve to inspire other Emirati’s to take up
the Overall title. Dubai based Indian Juzar our great sport.”
38
FEATURE
Mohammed Al Falasi (middle) receives his House of Portier trophy for the UAE Touring Car Driver
of the Year from Dubai Autodrome Chairman Saeed Khalfan (right) and Glenn Portier (left)
All the Champions with their trophies after the Dubai Autodrome Night of Champions Awards ceremony.
39
FEATURE
LT E X P E R I E N C E S
RENA U
D U B A I
40
FEATURE
l
co m p le te d a successfu
ault F1 Team on Piquet
The ING Ren e d riv e r N els
Dubai as rac h third drive
r
Roadshow in s a lo n g w it
nstration Adam Khan.
led the demo em o d riv e r
sjean and d
Romain Gro studded e
ted Bridgeston
IN G specially-adap m pl et ed a series of
nth year, th e n co
ow tyres, Nelso
E
ntering its seve d of f sn e bo tto m of the
na ul t F1 Ro adshow kicke do nu ts in th e snow at th
gineers 16
Re
ign with a uniq
ue Bridgestone en
its 2009 campa ar 's slo pe. It took the 2, 01 6 studs, but
format which
saw last ye
at ho ur s to m an ually insert all fort!
r, the R28, de
monstrated ell worth the ef
Renault F1 ca in clu di ng th e th e en d result was w e ev en t, Nelson
ve nu es ac ross Dubai, , th e Sp ea kin g at the end of th
vario us
bai Autodrom
e. How ev er Dubai has en be
desert and Du s sa id: “Coming to
r the spectato
r ev en ts wa Pi qu et success for
main venue fo nce and a real
ba i in fro nt of the world's a great experie t in to this event and
Downtown Ba
rj Du
m on st ra tio ns Re na ul t. W e packed a lo pe the fans
tallest building
with the de l things that I ho
t flo at in g pl atform built on di d some unusua ow in an F1 car is
staged on a gi
an
en jo ye d. Dr iving on the sn ha ve the
lagoon. ought I would
the Dubai Mall e Ro ad show on Sund
ay
so m et hing I never th n. ”
of th t of fu
The climax rate the R28 at and it was a lo
quet demonst chance to do
saw Nelson Pi i slo pe . Fi tte d with
indoor sk
'Ski Dubai', an
41
REGIONAL EVENT
42
FAZZA
3
QATAR
REGIONAL EVENT
V
ictory for Fazza 3 in the opening round
of the UIM/WPPA Class 1 World
Powerboat Championship was sealed
by Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi.
Second place went to home favourites Sheikh
Hassan Bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis,
with Class 1 debutant Mohammad Al Mehairi
and Jean-Marc Sanchez claiming third place in
a sun-kissed Qatar Marine Festival Grand Prix.
The reunited pairing of Al Zafeen and Bin
Hendi powered through to a comfortable
victory in the end, but they did not have it all
their own way. A fantastic start by Qatar 95 saw
the Edox Pole Position winner's storm away
with the early lead, but engine troubles forced
them to retire on lap nine while leading the
race. This cleared the way for Fazza 3 to take
the first win of the season. With the experience
of two world champions in the raceboat, they
never looked in doubt of getting the season of
to the perfect start. "I'm very happy with the
43
REGIONAL EVENT
win, but this season is much tougher, 95 and
96 are really strong and so are our team-mates
in Victory 1," said the returning Al Zafeen. A
delighted Bin Hendi added: "We went neck-
and- neck at the start, but they had the greater
speed. Once they got in front, we had to push
to the max. I am very happy to have won here
for the second year in a row."
The final podium place went to newcomer to finish on the podium." While Sanchez,
Al Mehairi and Sanchez. The new pairing were guiding a rookie driver to the podium for the
overjoyed with their first race together and the third successive season in Doha, added: "I'm
instant success they have achieved. Al Mehairi, delighted with my new driver, this was our first
who had set his sights on a podium finish prior time together and there is more to come."
to the race, said: "I'm very happy with my first The early leaders Abdullah Al-Sulaiti and
race, the aim for the Victory team is always Matteo Nicolini had got off to a perfect start
44
REGIONAL EVENT
45
E A S O N
SEASON REVIEW
S
King of the Road
A G
DCOMRES TO EXCITING END AS
CHAMPIONS
CROWNED
56
46
SEASON REVIEW
57
47
SEASON REVIEW
T
his year hosted record-breakers of the highest
standards with unforgettable performances, near
death crashes and heated rivalries of the standard of
international drag events! With competition still heated
to the last round, there was plenty to endure during the final
round of proceedings.
COMPETITION
Close to 100 cars and bikes competed in the sixth and final
meeting, which witnessed the coronation of some of the region’s
top drag racers in their respective competition categories.
Among those celebrating were Bahrain1 Racing owned by
Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa and SPG Team. Both were
among the top performers
in the Pro Mod category.
While SPG ace Ali Al Kaabi won the season’s final race,
Bahrain1 drivers Ali Aryan and Khalid Mohammed did enough to
claim first and second overall on the season’s
final standings.
Al Kaabi was a comfortable winner over Mohammed in the
Pro Mod final. He won after clocking a mark of 6.359 seconds
with a speed of 359.12 kph, while Mohammed
suffered some problems in his car and finished in
Outlaw 10.5 :
Salah Salahuddin (BRN ) 7.215@331.46 ( Team QRT )
Nasser Saadudin ( KSA ) 8.624@248.23
Pro Mod :
Ali Al Kaabi (UAE ) 6.359@359.12 ( Team SPG )
Khalid Moh’d ( BRN ) 15.863@84.14 ( Team Bahrain 1 Racing )
Ali Aryan ( BRN ) 8.086@182.85 ( Team Bahrain 1 Racing )
Street Bike :
Khalid Al Dooseri ( KSA ) 8.787@261.08
Bader Bin Edan ( KWT ) 8.854@258.71 ( Team STS )
Khalid Al Foozan ( KWT ) 8.898@258.67
Pro Bike :
Moh’d bu Rashid ( KWT ) 7.333@299.30
Nawaf Al Dooseri ( KSA ) 9.506@224.63
Khalid Al Foozan ( KWT ) 9.548@235.09
Street Rwd :
1. Sayed Nader 2200pts
2. Jameel Ebrahim 2000pts
3. Ali Radhi 1300pts
49
SEASON REVIEW
15.863 seconds while running with a speed of 84.14 kph.
Aryan finished third, but it was well enough to clinch him
the Pro Mod crown with 1900 points. Mohammed had 1600
points, while Robert Von Smith of Al Anabi Team from Qatar
came third overall with 1300 points.
Plenty of other action was seen elsewhere, with plenty
of Bahrain’s top drivers emerging victorious. Al Sham team
members Fadhel Saleh (11.620 seconds) and Mohammed
Saleh (11.633 seconds) claimed a one-two in the Street Fwd
class, with the former taking the victory by a
narrow margin.
Saad Al Mooran of Top Speed Team (8.409 seconds) was
also a close winner. He claimed the Super Street Rwd win
over Ebrahim Kanoo (8.455 seconds).
Salah Salahuddin claimed the Outlaw 10.5 category in
7.215 seconds. He beat Saudi Arabia’s Nasser Saadudin,
who had a 8.624 seconds time. In the Pro Bike class, it was
Kuwait’s Mohammed bu Rashid who finished
first in 7.333 seconds, convincingly ahead of Nawaf Al
Dooseri from Saudi, who had a mark of 9.506 seconds.
FINAL STANDINGS
Such results played their role on the final championship
standings. Among the winners on the season were
Mohammed Saleh in the Street Fwd, Sayed Nader in the
Street Rwd, Ahmed Al Zaabi in Street V8, Bader
Janahi in the Super Street Fwd, Saad Almooran in the
Super Street Rwd, Mohammed Qassim in the Super
Street V8, Hisham Al Mulla in the Competition
7.5, Bader Janahi once again in the Outlaw
Fwd, Mohammed Saeed in the Outlaw Rwd,
50
SEASON REVIEW
Street V8 :
1. Ahmed Al Zaabi 1850pts
2. Ali Haji 1500pts
3. Moh’d Suliyman 1250pts
Super Street V8 :
1. Moh’d Qassim 1750pts
2. Mizher Altanak 1150pts
3. Ebrahim Ahmed 700pts
Competition 7.5 :
1. Hisham Al Mulla 2200pts
2. Tariq Hadi 1400pts
3. Ali Hamza 1000pts
Outlaw Fwd :
1. Bader Janahi 2000pts
2. Ebrahim Mubark 1900pts
3. Moh’d Redha 1700pts
51
SEASON REVIEW
Salahuddin in the Outlaw 10.5, Khalid Al Dooseri in the
Street Bike, Mishal Al Turki in the Super Street Bike, and
Mishal Al Saaber in the Pro Bike.
Hundreds of fans braved the heat and humidity and
gathered at the award-winning circuit to witness all the
action along the drag strip. They were also treated to plenty
of entertainment outside of the ALBA
championship, with performances from stunt bikers and
non-stop music played by a top-class DJ and Bahrain’s
cheering band. At the end of the evening, drivers from
across all 14 categories thanked officials and the organizers
for their efforts in making the ALBA Bahrain National Drag
Racing Championship a phenomenal success, and added
that they are already looking forward to next season. The
championship was organised by the Bahrain Drag Racing
Club, sanctioned by the Bahrain Motor Federation and
sponsored by ALBA.
52
SEASON REVIEW
Outlaw Rwd :
1. Moh’d Saeed 2200pts
2. Ahmed Altayeb 1700pts
3. Ali Abdulla 900pts
Outlaw 10.5 :
1. Salah Salahuddin 2100pts
2. Sultan Al Zaabi 1400pts
3. Hussain Alshumeri 1050pts
Pro Mod :
1. Ali Aryan 1900pts
2. Khalid Moh’d 1600pts
3. Robert Von Smith 1300pts
Street Bike :
1. Khalid Al Dooseri 2300pts
2. Khalid Al Foozan 1700pts
3. Bader Bin Edan 1600pts
Pro Bike :
1. Mishal Al Saaber 2150pts
2. Khalid Al Foozan 1900pts
3. Moh’d Bu Rashid 1500pts
53
BA H R A I N 1
54
COVER STORY
R A C I N G
THE WINNING FORMULA
55
WHY DID THE TEAM DECIDE TO
CHANGE THE NAME FROM POPEYE
RACING TO BAHRAIN 1 RACING?
We are representing Bahrain so we have to use
S
Bahrain’s name to promote our country while
o with Bahrain racing internationally.
1 Racing taking BAHRAIN 1’S MAIN COMPETITION
the Bahrain Drag IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS AL ANABI
RACING. IS THIS A PERSONAL RIVALRY
Racing Championship, OR ARE YOU ALL FRIENDS?
we caight up with Ali They are a big team. They have done a good
job. They deserve to be one of the top teams
Aryan who secured the around the world. We understand that we have
most points to find out done our job as well. We work hard. The two
teams’ members are good friends. It’s a kind
how the green machines of normal competition between the two teams,
really work. nothing personal.
56
COVER STORY
57
58
COVER STORY
“Final words
go to my
teammates for
supporting me
from day one”
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT
ABOUT VENTURING INTO OTHER
MOTORSPORT RACES SUCH AS THE
NEW LUMINA CHAMPIONSHIP THAT
WILL BEGIN SHORTLY?
I used to take part in the Mini Challenges in
2003 and 2004. I used to race the Lumina
Circuit Race as well. I like circuit racing as
well. If I have the opportunity to do a tarmac
race, I would.
59
DRIVER PROFILE
JENSON BUTTON
J
enson Alexander Lyons Button (born 19 January 1980 in
Frome, Somerset) is a British Formula One racing driver
from England currently driving for the Brawn GP team. He
first drove in Formula One in the 2000 Season with the
Williams team, and won his first Grand Prix in Hungary, on 6 August
2006 after 113 races. Following the withdrawal of Honda from the
sport in December 2008, he was left without a drive for the 2009
season until Ross Brawn led a management buyout of the team in
late February 2009 and Button suddenly found himself in a highly
competitive, Mercedes-engined car. He has gone on to win six of
the first seven races so far this season (2009), equalling a record
achieved by only two other drivers, Michael Schumacher
and Jim Clark.
PERSONAL LIFE
Button attended Selwood Middle School and then Frome
Community College. He is the son of Simone Lyons and former
Rallycross driver John Button from London (during the 1970s
well-known in the UK for his so-called Colorado beetle Volkswagen,
whose best overall results were to become the runner-up in both
the Embassy/RAC-MSA British Rallycross and TEAC/Lydden
Rallycross championships of the year 1976) and named after the
car marque Jensen. Jenson Button's parents are divorced, and
he has three older sisters, Tania Katrina (born 1967), Samantha
Chantal (born 1970) and Natasha Michelle (born 1973).
KARTING
Button began karting at age eight after his father bought him his
first kart, and he made an extraordinarily successful start. He won all
34 races of the 1991 British Cadet Kart Championship along
with the title.
Further successes followed, including three triumphs in the
British Open Kart Championship. In 1997 he became the youngest
driver ever to win the European Super A Championship and won
the Ayrton Senna Memorial Cup as well, precipitating a move
into car racing.
FORMULA FORD
By the age of 18, he contested the British Formula Ford
Championship with Haywood Racing and won the title with nine
race wins. He also triumphed in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands
60
DRIVER PROFILE
Hatch, ahead of future Indianapolis 500 winner BUTTON DROVE FOR contracts, too many things in the background."
Dan Wheldon. At the end of 1998 he won the After his replacement at Renault, in early
annual McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver BENETTON IN THE 2003 Button joined the BAR team, alongside
Award. His prize included a test in a McLaren 2001 SEASON former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve.
Formula One car, which he received at the end In 2001, although still under contract with As the season progressed, Button gained
of the following year. Williams, Button drove for Benetton, which the upper hand in qualifying and also enjoyed
had just been purchased by Renault. He had a better races. Button's best result of the season
was fourth place in Austria. However, he
FORMULA THREE dismal season; the car, which was constantly
crashed heavily during Saturday practice in
Button entered Formula Three in 1999 with under development that year, was never
fast, nor was Button. He did, however, place Monaco, causing him to miss both the race
the Promatecme team. He won three times
fifth at the German Grand Prix, but finished and the following testing session at Monza.
- at Thruxton, Pembrey and Silverstone - and
a disappointing seventeenth in the drivers' By the end of the season, though, things were
finished the season as top rookie driver.
championship. looking up, and at the 2003 United States
He was third overall in the championship,
Grand Prix Button led a lap for the first time.
behind Marc Hynes and Luciano Burti, and
He finished ninth in the Drivers' Championship
finished fifth and second respectively in the RENAULT that year with 17 points.
Marlboro Masters and Macau Grand Prix In 2002 Renault renamed Benetton as In 2004, Button and BAR-Honda made
(0.035s behind winner Darren Manning Renault F1. Though his teammate Jarno Trulli significant progress and BAR finished
in the latter). routinely outpaced him in qualifying, Button the season second in the Constructors'
occasionally had the superior race pace. He Championship. Button scored his first
WILLIAMS F1 TEAM narrowly missed third place (and his first ever podium finish with a third place in the
At the end of 1999 Button had his McLaren podium) at the Malaysian Grand Prix, being Malaysian Grand Prix, and added 9 more
test prize at Silverstone, and also tested for passed by Michael Schumacher in the last throughout that season.
the Prost team. A vacant race seat became lap due to a suspension failure in his Renault, Button and BAR's first pole position came
available at the Williams team following the and ultimately finished the race in fourth. The in April at the 2004 San Marino Grand Prix,
departure of Alex Zanardi, and team boss Brazilian Grand Prix gave him another fourth in which he finished second. He ended the
place, and he finished seventh in that year's season third overall, behind the two dominant
Frank Williams arranged a 'shoot-out' between
drivers championship. Ferrari drivers, with 85 points.
Button and Formula 3000 racer Bruno
For the 2003 season Renault team principal
Junqueira. Button won the seat. He finished
Flavio Briatore replaced Button with Fernando
eighth in the 2000 Drivers' Championship.
Alonso, previously test driver for the team.
At the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, he Despite a "huge outcry" Briatore stated "Time Button was one
qualified 3rd and finished 4th. However, he
made a number of rookie mistakes during the
will tell if I am wrong." In 2005 Alonso won
the Drivers' Championship with Renault, while of the first to offer
season, including crashing while under safety
car conditions at Monza. He was outscored by
Button had yet to win a race and was involved
in his second contract dispute in two years.
support of the cost
his more experienced teammate,
Ralf Schumacher.
The Times quoted Briatore as saying "Jenson
is a fine driver but there were too many
cutting for 2010
61
DRIVER PROFILE
62
DRIVER PROFILE
63
SEASON REVIEW
TWO S E A S O N ’ S
TWO W I N S F O R
64
SEASON REVIEW
YOUNG, T
again as controversy
plagues the final round
he final weekend of racing witnesse
d 15
AL KHAN
drivers step up their game to com
pete
one last time in the Batelco 200
0CC
Challenge which is sponsored by
leading
telecommunications company, Bate
lco, organized
by the Circuit Racing Club, sanc
tioned by the
Bahrain Motor Federation and prom
oted by
Bahrain International Circuit.
During the first practice session,
Shaikh
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa scored
the fastest lap
time of 1:20.170 minutes as Step
hen Kellogg
followed closely behind with a 1.22
0 second gap,
whilst Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khal
ifa took third
just 2.621 seconds from the lead
.
65
SEASON REVIEW
Mustafa Al Khan face technical problems and Shaikh Jaber made a clean start from
with his car as Shaikh Jaber bin Ali Al Khalifa the back of the grid whilst Shaikh Hamad
faced some misfortune and came in and Shaikh Salman faced mechanical
14th place. problems forcing them to retire early from the
The qualifiers witnessed a similar result race. Shaikh Jaber and Al Khan continued
as Shaikh Hamad once again took first their battle for the last time which led to Al
place as Mustafa Al Khan stepped up the Khan taking first position, Shaikh Jaber in
competition to take second place, whilst second and Mohammed Saleh in third,
Mohammed Saleh followed behind in third so it seemed.
and Shaikh Salman stood in fourth place.
Shaikh Jaber continued to struggle with
some mechanical problems that drove him
Al Khan was using
to qualifying in last place. Al Khan showed a non-standard
his superb sportsmanship by lending Shaikh
Jaber some parts to enable him to compete
cosmetic part on his
and joined the back of the grid for the first car which violated
race having failed to score any timed laps
during the practice sessions. the technical rules
Meanwhile, race one saw competition and regulations
intensify one last time this season as Al Khan
66
SEASON REVIEW
FINAL DAY
CONTROVERSY
A turn of events following the final round of
the Batelco 2000CC Challenge, as a protest
was lodged against Mustafa Al Khan, led to
his exclusion from the final results
of Round 8.
Following a complaint, race stewards
investigated a protest submitted against
Mustafa Al Khan, driver of car number 2,
which revealed that Al Khan was using a
non-standard cosmetic part on his car which
violated the technical rules and regulations
of the Batelco 2000CC Challenge.
As a result, the 2008/2009 champion was
excluded from the final round putting Shaikh
Jaber in first place, Mohammed Saleh in
second and Tim Birkin in third place at the
end of the first race. However, Al Khan still
stands as the overall winner with a clear win
of 130 points, 12 points ahead of Shaikh
Jaber who holds 118 points at the end
of the season.
During the final round this weekend,
top officials including the newly-appointed
CEO of Batelco Bahrain, Gert Riedar, BIC
Chief Executive Officer, Martin Whitaker,
Chief Operating Officer, Shaikh Salman bin
Isa Al Khalifa and Bahrain Motor Federation
President Shaikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa
were present to watch the final round and
present the winners with their trophies.
67
FEATURES
68
FEATURES
A VISION OF
F1
T
2010 his season the F1 world looked
forward to the famous Turkish Grand
Prix, but with apprehension about
what the future would hold exactly
exactly.
well. Additional incentives would be that any
sponsor or company could effectively adopt or
steal from one of the abandoned teams, using
its experience, infrastructure.
experience personnel and infrastructure
With precisely a few days till the expiry of So there are ten teams or so that are likely
the 2010 entry deadline, a stand-off is still to be racing in 2010, supposedly replacing
going on. But what would happen if neither the ones that had gone. On the track, an F1
manufacturers nor the FIA climbed down? preened of some of its excess but with an
What would F1 2010 look like? emphasis on engineering excellence and
The first would be to survey the damage. innovation would hold substantial appeal for a
Only hypotheses can be made about who vast number of fans. Equally, the leveling of the
would remain, as it is near-impossible to gauge playing field might produce interesting results;
the climate if one or more major manufacturer fans would go to a race truly not knowing if a
leaves. But most probably Ferrari would be McLaren or a Williams or a Prodrive would win.
gone, along with Toyota and Renault. The
last two have always been temporary players,
and so Ferrari’s loss would be the most
EVOLUTION OF FORMULA 1
Paul Jackson of iSport made an interesting
seismic. Red Bull has said they would go, but
point in an interview. He said he believed that
as the best-funded team not beholden to a
by their nature, big car manufacturers were
manufacturer, there is a feeling in the paddock
unsuited to the specific environment of F1.
that they could stay.
‘Running a Formula 1 team, or a racing team
of any sort, doesn’t fit with a big corporate
THE NEWCOMERS structure. That moves too slowly; this has to
We can reasonably assume at least one of move very quickly. You need quick decision-
McLaren Mercedes or BMW would remain, making and adaptability, and big corporations
subject to boardroom approval. Williams would don’t fit with that philosophy. In the past it
be there, as would Brawn, and Force India. The hasn’t worked, and it’s got to the point now
future of Toro Rosso would depend on Red where it’s not working.” The logical conclusion
Bull, but let us assume that they remain too. of this argument is that the exodus of car
Then the new teams: Lola, USGPE, iSport or manufacturers is part of the natural evolution
Campos for the most likely, but also Prodrive. of the sport.
According to Max Mosley, the £40million cap The other likely scenario if this all comes to
will tempt more investors into the sport as pass is the resurrection of the Grand Prix World
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RACE REPORT
A
fter watching Vettel and Webber make history in Shanghai, Button was back to his as I was getting alongside, and he did, but I got
winning ways in Bahrain to take his third victory out of four races this season. The 29- him going into Turn One and that was the key
year-old Englishman’s pace ended Toyota’s hopes of a first victory in Formula 1 after a to my race.”
very fast qualifying time, and Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull-Renault added to Toyota’s With Hamilton and Vettel taken care of,
woes as he fought his way to second, leaving Jarno Trulli to settle for third place, despite having Button began closing the gap on the two
set pole position. As the Formula 1 circus heads back to Europe, the Brawn team and Button Toyotas. He knew that all he had to do was
have big leads in the two World Championships. The big question now is whether they can stay to wait because the Toyotas were lighter and
ahead as everyone rushes out new parts in an effort to close the gap... would pit earlier.
“Chasing down the two Toyotas was very
BACK IN BAHRAIN exciting,” Button said. “I was surprised by their
any hope of victory.
After qualifying Button was slightly alarmed. pace and not sure how it was going
“I knew when I got to Turn One that I really
The car was not as competitive as it had been had to make my move to get past Sebastian,” to work out.” Behind him Vettel was stuck
at the earlier races and the team was worried he explained. “Otherwise I would just get behind Hamilton. Button was in the
that the opposition was already getting close. stuck behind him. Lewis (Hamilton) had come perfect place.
As the teams lined up on the grid, there were barreling past on the right, so I went round the
rumors that the Brawns would have to detune outside of Sebastian and made it through to
the engines because of worries about over- fourth place. Lewis is always very difficult to TOYOTA’S FAILED
heating the engine, but it did not turn out that
way. Timo Glock took the lead from the start
pass and he was blocking very well and using
his KERS, but I knew those first laps were
STRATEGY
Glock pitted first having built up only a small
when Trulli’s engine bogged down a little. At going to be so important that I had to make it lead. It was lap 11. Trulli pitted a lap later.
the same time Button was slightly slow away work. He was making a few little mistakes and Jenson then took the lead and with no-one
but he knew that he needed to get ahead of I knew when we got to the start/finish line that ahead he was able to lower his lap times.
Sebastian Vettel, if he was going to have he’d press his KERS button and get away just
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When he stopped on lap 15, Vettel moved into
the lead, Hamilton had already gone into the
pits by then. This was Vettel’s chance but he
had lost too much time. When he went into
the pits Kimi Raikkonen had a moment of glory
and led the race for two laps. But then Jenson
was back ahead once more and there he
stayed. He stopped again on lap 37 and at that
point switched to the harder tires. For the next
three laps Vettel was in the lead once more but
the German had to pit. When he emerged from
the pits he found himself behind Raikkonen,
who was due to pit again. Unable to deal with
the Ferrari, Vettel had to wait. His tires lost the
edge and by the time he was able to get past
Raikkonen, Button was gone, leaving Vettel to
spend the last laps of the race with Trulli right
behind him, the Toyota driver now on the
good soft tires.
“He was very close in my mirrors,” said
Vettel. “But I didn’t make any mistakes.”
Trulli was disappointed with third and he
reckoned that the strategy of using the harder
tires in the mid-race was the wrong thing to do.
“I’m a little disappointed,” Jarno said. “I
thought we had a chance to take Toyota’s first
HAMILTON STILL
POSITIVE
WITH MCLAREN
While this was going on, Lewis Hamilton
was left to chase after the top three. “I’m
delighted with fourth,” he said after the race.
“The Toyotas, Red Bulls and Brawns were
so fast in the high-speed corners that it was
just impossible to keep up. But this is another
encouraging step for the team, we just need
to keep working on the car because we’re not
really fighting back quite yet, we are collecting
points. And the gap will be bigger when we go
to Barcelona because it’s a high-
downforce circuit.”
Rubens Barrichello tried a three-stop
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RACE REPORT
SUMMARY
The final point of the day went to Fernando
Alonso in his Renault. He proved once and for
all that Flavio Briatore’s protestations about the
team having the third best car were
utterly misplaced.
“We did our maximum today,” he said. “The
start of the race was not perfect and we lost a
position which put me down to eighth. After
that nothing unusual happened and there were
no retirements so we were eighth fastest and
we finished eighth.”
He lost his drinks bottle in the course of the
race and was exhausted by the end of the race.
strategy to get clean air and managed to get race today. I hope that my turn comes soon!” Team-mate Nelson Piquet was 10th and
up to fifth by the finish. It was a lot of work for had a better than usual run but it was worth
just one position.
“We brought home some valuable points
FERRARI’S MISERY
CONTINUES
today,” he said. “But it was a tough race for
me. I lost a lot of time behind Piquet after Behind the second Brawn, Kimi Raikkonen Alonso proved once
my first stop, which was a real shame as it
compromised my race plan. We went for a
brought Ferrari its first points of the season -
three to be precise. But they came at a price.
and for all that Flavio
three-stop strategy and then took the decision
to come in slightly early for my second stop as
As Kimi and his team-mate Felipe Massa
clashed in the first corner. It was good to score
Briatore’s protestations
I was being held up behind Hamilton. It was so
hot out there this afternoon and the car was
points but Ferrari was still well off the pace.
“I am happy to have picked up a few
about the team having
burning my waist on the right-hand side which points,” said Kimi, “but I can’t be that pleased the third best car were
made it very difficult for me. It seems that luck with our level of performance. I’ve been around
is on Jenson’s side at the moment and well long enough not to get very excited about utterly misplaced
done to him and to the team for winning the a sixth place.”
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Post Race
P ce Interview
Q: Jenson, the dream start to the year in the mirrors he was not there but then I so in the end we came second.
continues. And this was a dry race, this guess he pressed his special button and that
was a race all the way. gave him a bit of an advantage. At the first Q: Jarno, a relatively early pit stop and
Jenson BUTTON: It was indeed. This corner there were three, me in the middle unlike most runners a switch to the hard
was a tough race for us. You might say I was and Jenson on the outside, so I had to give tyre for the middle stint.
leading for most of it but this race we had way and lost two positions in the first lap and Jarno TRULLI: Yeah, I am a little bit
not the pace we had in the first three races. I then unfortunately I got stuck behind Lewis. I disappointed because I was waiting for the
don’t know where it has gone. I guess these mean you might have a chance immediately first win for Toyota. Unfortunately at the start I
guys have just caught up and maybe passed to pass someone but then when you follow a think I had oil spillage which cost me the first
us. But the first lap of the race I knew was car your tyres just go down. There is a lot of position. From then on it was a hard race as
very important because Sebastian was going degradation. You start to slide and then you I was following my team-mate. I was going
longer, so I made it work and I came out of never really come back. It is quite difficult longer and then during the second stint we
the first corner in third. From then on it was a here as it is always hard braking, so you need used a very long stint on the hard tyres, so
tough race but very enjoyable. the tyres, you need the stability, so therefore
I was trying to fight and it was really hard
it is difficult to pass. I knew I had a longer
fighting with a lot of cars. I was not extremely
Q: Sebastian, a great result for you too. first stint which put me just behind Jarno,
quick but competitive being on the hard
A hard race and in a lot of traffic. A tyre so that was a bit of a shame as I was on soft
tyres and then eventually Sebastian took the
defined race in many ways but in the tyres and I could have gone a bit quicker.
end you are on the podium again. Then I got stuck behind him again but then position after my last stop. He was on the
Sebastian VETTEL: Yeah, a very good I was able to overshoot, staying out a little hard tyres and I was on the soft and I was
result for us. Good points, but as you said bit longer, which put me in front of him. But pushing him. I was quicker but there was no
we will keep pushing. It was a difficult race. then it was the other way around and I had way to overtake him, so that was how the
The start was quite okay but then I was to defend from him. The whole last sting he race was. I want to thank the team as they
surprised as all of a sudden there was Lewis was very close in my mirrors. I think he was have done a very good job, so let’s wait to
(Hamilton) next to me. When I first looked pushing hard but I made no mistakes, fight again for the next race.
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RESULTS
GP2 ASIA SERIES CHEVEROLET SPEEDCAR SERIS
BAHRAIN SUPERCARS BAHRAIN
POS DRIVER TIME POS DRIVER TIME POS DRIVER TIME
16 D.Valsecchi 78.479
17 R.Teixeira 88.508
CHAMPIONSHIP 2008
18 F.Crestani 1Lap
POSITION DRIVERS TOTAL
19 V.Petrov 2Lap
1 Kamui Kobayashi 9 13 12 5 8 9 56
2 Jerome D'Ambrosio 2 2 13 4 2 13 36
MOBIL 1 SUPERCUP 3 Roldan Rodriguez 13 6 3 - 5 8 35
BAHRAIN 4 Davide Valsecchi 7 8 9 5 5 - 34
POS DRIVER TIME 5 Vitaly Petrov 4 4 - 11 9 - 28
1 J.Bleekemolen 25.38.878 6 Nico Hulkenberg - - 10 17 - - 27