Tag: Albert Park

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Bathurst 12 Hour Formula 1 Motorsports WEC

Racetracks of the world to scale

Racetracks of the world to scale

In this graphic you’re looking at 95 famous racetracks from the world, all compared alongside each other in scale. It’s been prepared by a guy appropriately named Matt Dunlop. Thanks Matt, this is great work!

Some tracks are pretty obvious to make out, such as the Nürburgring, Circuit de la Sarthe, Silverstone, Suzuka, Mount Panorama, Phillip Island and so on. If you want to identify more tracks simply click on the image above for the full-sized 3450x2400px version and all will be revealed.

For example, what’s the massive track running around the outside of the graphic? It’s the 60.73km Snaefell Mountain Course, best known for hosting the Isle of Man TT.

[Source: imgur | Thanks to Micky for the tip]

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Formula 1 News

Lord Mayor expects no Grand Prix for Melbourne after 2015

Australian Grand Prix

The current contract with Melbourne to host the Formula One Grand Prix expires in 2015. A statement from Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle, published on the weekend speculates it is highly unlikely the Victorian Government will bid for the rights to host the race beyond the current deal.

Writing for the Sunday Herald Sun Doyle said, “Fast forward to 2015, the year the franchise ends. Though the documented benefits for the city may include hundreds of millions of dollars of advertising value, tens of millions of dollars of local revenue, an event that will draw between 250,000 and 300,000 people over three days will come at a cost that will approach 70 million taxpayer dollars.

“It is the old argument: pay up front but get many times the value of the upfront payment in downstream economic benefits.

“For most events that formula is persuasive. But $70 million?”

Doyle concludes with an even more frank assessment, “My judgment would be: Get ready. Time’s up.”

Ultimately the decision to seek an extension to the current deal rests with the new Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu and his government. Controversy and Albert Park have gone hand in hand for most of race’s history in the Victorian capital. Would it be a prudent political move for Baillieu to announce his political leadership with a strong statement by snubbing F1?

So, if Melbourne lost the Grand Prix and it went elsewhere in Australia, would that be okay? What if the race was shipped off overseas for good? Let us know what you think.

[Source: Sunday Herald Sun]

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Formula 1

CAMS fights back in Melbourne melee

Australian Grand Prix

Today’s battle between CAMS and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation has shifted up a gear with a stern press release issued by CAMS. Key to their reply is the claim that their fee charged to the AGPC is “substantially less than the AUD$800,000 or £500,000 stated in some reports”.

According to the CAMS statement they are “acutely conscious of the need to reign in spending on Formula One events”. Further, it is claimed that CAMS and AGPC Executives had negotiated a satisfactory deal several months ago only to have that deal rejected by the AGPC Board.

“In August 2010 after months of negotiation CAMS and AGPC’s Chief Executives reached agreement on a proposal which was put to AGPC’s Board. However that proposal was rejected by AGPC’s Board,” reads the press release.

The CAMS statement continues, “Since that time AGPC’s Board has refused to negotiate further with CAMS and has summarily rejected two revised proposals put to it, despite CAMS and the FIA making it clear that the consequences of failing to appoint an organiser by 19 November will be that the 2011 Australian Grand Prix does not take place. The Victorian Government has been kept informed of developments.”

CAMS say the dispute is a matter of safety over budget and adds further context to the matter saying, “the cost to AGPC of CAMS’ services is less than 0.625% of the AGPC’s annual budget.”

“This is an issue about safety and not fees and we do not believe the Australian Formula One Grand Prix can be run safely without the high degree of professional and safety expertise that CAMS can deliver.”

Looks like we’ll need to watch this space over the next week. CAMS has also issued a separate statement to its members which can be read in full after the break.

[Pic: Mercedes GP Petronas]

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Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2010 Australian GP in pictures

2010 Australian Grand Prix

It’s safe to say that the final result in the 2010 Australian Grand Prix is not on the majority of Australian F1 fans were hoping for. Local boy Mark Webber had his best chance yet to win his home race. He qualified on the front row, alongside pole sitter and teammate Sebastien Vettel.

However, through a combination of poor tyre strategy and some over exuberance on his own part, Webber’s race ended in tears after a coming together with Lewis Hamilton with two laps to go while fighting for minor placings. Finally, Webber regathered himself to stumble home in ninth place.

Just as in Bahrain, Vettel looked like he was just out for a lazy Sunday drive. He held a comfortable lead until his front left brake rotor exploded and sent him crashing out.

This left Button in the lead after he put his fortunes in the hands of an early switch to slick tyres on lap six. A move that eventually took the reigning champ from zero to hero. From then on it was a case of managing tyres and through a combination of cooler weather and a smooth driving style Button was able to complete the race on the softer compound tyres.

So, then, it has taken Button just two races to get the better of Hamilton. And do you think the 2008 World Champion was happy about that fact? Not on your life. It had Hamilton blowing smoke of a different kind with stern questions asked of his team and the tyre strategy his team employed. Apparently he deserved better.

Well, that’s enough commentary, let’s look at some pics. After the jump you can feast your eyes on over 50 of the best images from the Australian Grand Prix weekend. Teams featured include Red Bull Racing, Renault, Ferrari, MercedesGP, Williams, Lotus and Virgin Racing. See a pic you like, then simply click on it to load a 2000px super image.

Next weekend it all starts again, with the Malaysian Grand Prix from Sepang. Can Red Bull Racing finally find some luck and land a win that their current early season pace would indicate they deserve?

Continue reading “2010 Australian GP in pictures”
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Formula 1

Red Bull claims front row for Australian Grand Prix

Sebastien Vettel

Sebastien Vettel and Mark Webber will start tomorrow’s Australian Formula One Grand Prix on the front row after posting the fastest ever times recorded at the Albert Park track.

Webber desperately wanted to claim pole position but it was his younger German teammate that claimed the prize with a blistering lap time of 1:23.919. Vettel was the first, and to date, only driver to break the 1:24 barrier at Albert Park. However, local hopes remain high for Webber who was at the pointy end of the field all day. He was quickest in Free Practice 3, and qualified second with a time of 1:24.035.

Both Red Bull men were under Michael Schumacher’s previous lap record at the Melbourne street circuit of 1:24.125 set in 2004.

Tomorrow represents Mark Webber’s best chance yet to win his home Grand Prix and speaking after qualifying he was disappointed not to have claimed pole, “I would love to be on pole, it is good for the team both of us are up there, but there is always a bit where you can get a bit more out of it, overall it would be nice to be one place further up,” he said.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso will be the first of the non-Red Bull challengers, followed by McLaren’s Jenson Button and second Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.

[Pic: Getty Images]

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Formula 1

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Albert Park

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Albert Park

Mark Webber has followed his Bahrain preview with a virtual lap of the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit behind the wheel of the Red Bull Racing simulator. Mark has just set the fastest lap time so far this weekend in Free Practice 3. Qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix is about to start. Can Webber maintain his pace and claim his first Melbourne pole position?

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