Future Of Renault In Formula One
It's hard to believe that Renault, the current constructors champion in F1, is or was considering leaving the sport at the end of 2007. The current drivers champion Alonso, has already confirmed a move to Maclaren for 2007, and you can't help feel it is partly to do with the uncertain future of the team.
It must be frustrating to the teams who are formula one through and through and who would never leave the sport unless forced to, then to see a team throw it all away. However there are now rumbles that team may last into and past 2008. Of course it's a money thing, what value does racing a formula one car, racing around a racetrack give to the manufacturers of cars?
The excuses are that the costs of Formula one are so high now that even a championship winning team does not bring a sufficient return back to the corporate business, especially at a time when car prices are at there lowest in real terms and car manufacturers are feeling the pinch.
What might save the day is the FIA's genuine attempt to reduce costs for all the teams. We have already seen actions in place with the one engine per two-race rule and limited amount of tyres to be used over a race weekend. The question seems to be, what can be done to further reduce costs without spoiling it for the spectators. It seems quite absurd that measures would take place to slow the cars down, but many of the recent regulations have been done, to do just that. Smaller wings, narrower tyres, V10 engines now down to V8s that have 200 horse power less. Ironically 200 horse power less, has resulted in only fractions of a second time differences from the larger engines raced last season.
But again this has all helped to reduce costs, give the smaller teams a chance to compete and with tobacco advertising no longer in abundance, a life line to survive.
There is another morale issue here and that is the French public themselves. They maybe could understand a poor performing team, slipping out of F1 but a winning one? Renault is a national company part of the French culture and reputation, every time Renault win it brings pride to their country just as Alonso to Spain.
Any decisions will be made in June, when they will measure their success this season and have a clear idea if further cost cutting regulations will make the team cost effective. Alain Dassas has commented that if they can make the savings then they will commit. It's a shame that the Formula One experience has to be based around money, although what sport isn't nowadays. I personally look forward to Renault staying in F1 and showing us how good they are.


BTCC – Green Flag For Go!
We have all heard of Formula One, NASCAR, Indy Car and possibly even the FIA World Rally Championship, but the most popular motor series in the UK is the British Touring Car Championship or BTCC for short. It may not be as glamorous as Formula One, but what it lacks in glamour it makes up for in excitement and entertainment. In recent years Green Flag had originally sponsored the championship; but is now sponsored by Dunlop, the tyre manufacturers.
First of all the cars are basically a modified saloon car or "touring car" that we all could buy from the showrooms. Of course the engines are modified and the bodywork is made of lighter materials and you will see down force wings on the back. But as far as aerodynamics goes, the shape of the car remains the same as the normal road car.
The racing is bumper to bumper, around twisty racing tracks throughout the UK, at incredible speeds, and unlike other types of racing where so much rides on sponsorship and results, if a car does well, it gains a penalty of carrying extra weight. That means from spectator point of view cars will always be racing each other pretty much equal terms and bumper to bumper all the way. Time after time in F1 we have seen the driver with the best car, start on pole and win races easily, not because of driving skills, but just because of the size of their race budget.
The championship travels around the UK to the smaller race circuits, making it so much more assessable to the public, and the entrance prices suit the family audience, something you don't see too much in motor racing these days. But the one thing that I love about the BTCC, is being able to visit the pits and the drivers on the race day. There is always an open pit time, where you can walk down the pit straight, see the cars close up and talk to and get autographs off the drivers. The kids think this is absolutely fabulous. After meeting the drivers; they then get to watch their heroes racing around the track, to cheer them on, where else can you get that close with professional sportsmen. It is because of this accessibility, regular races throughout the UK and family prices, that has made this the most popular race series in the UK
They have now even started to show the championship on TV directly after the Grand Prix and this has really raised the profile of this motor racing championship even further.
Like some of the USA motor racing series, there is more than one round of racing on a race weekend or day. Again this means more value for money as you see the drivers in a racing situation more than once. How many times have you watched F1 just to see your favourite driver taken out on the first bend, in the BTCC he returns again in the second race.
If you want to get back to driver versus driver racing, this is the place to see it. You can met the drivers, get close to the cars and feel the excitement of fast racing without taking out a mortgage to see them. I hope the green flag is always waving for the BTCC.


Motor Racing Car Recovery Teams
As we all know, motor racing is becoming more and more money-controlled within the big branded motor racing championships. It is now almost impossible to run a team without a multinational organisation holding the purse strings. With this comes the politics of being part of a big corporation and some of the decision-making is filtered out to the powers that be.
When milliseconds can win or lose a race and can make the difference to big sponsorships or even survival of the teams every eventuality needs to be planned for within a racing weekend. Of course some eventualities cannot be foreseen directly, this is where the motor racing teams that can think on their feet at a seconds notice can really make a difference.
Take for example a racing accident; a pit stop when the safety car is deployed could make up minutes lost through racing. But there is another independent team of people who can make a difference to the race and that consist of race marshals, stewards and the racing car recovery teams.
Every decision these guys make throughout a race can decide where a racing team can finish. They decide when the safety car is deployed, when and where to deploy the relevant flags and even if a race should be stopped or not.
But there is also another consideration to make. The time it takes for the car recovery teams to remove damaged racing cars off the track, can and has decided race positions. It is critical that any car that is in the path of the traffics even at speeds slowed down by the safety car be removed as quickly and safely as possible. And as many cars now are made with carbon fibre that shatters and can cut though racing tyres, the relevant debris too.
Remember every extra lap that the cars have to go around again allows the back markers to catch up. Granted they are not allowed to pass whilst the safety car is out, but much time is often lost.
These marshals and Car Recovery teams also have to put themselves in danger, standing on the track, putting out fires and even dealing with angry drivers. Ironically most do this as a volunteer, just for the love of the sport in rain wind cold and scorching heat.
My point really is, that as motor racing teams spend multi million dollars or pounds to gain a second on their competition, how much should the car recovery teams receive by removing a car 30 seconds quicker?
Of course safety should always come first, but one mans safety is another mans thrill. Relevant race procedures that are controlled by the stewards, allow for the strictest car recovery procedures.
As the sponsors and race teams grit their teeth as they see their race positions diminish, the recovery teams still need to get it right first time first time and in the quickest time.
Would I do it? You bet I would, give me the training the uniform and I will be there!