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Tag Archive | "FIA"
WTCC HEADING TO THE USA
The FIA World Touring Car Championship is set to expand into the USA after the series promoters and Infineon Raceway tentatively reached an agreement to bring the world championship to the Sonoma Valley in September 2012. "Bringing the championship to USA was the next item in our agenda and the last one to fulfil our aim for a really global calendar," said WTCC promoter Marcello Lotti. "So far we had worked to establish our European and South American events, reinforce our presence in Asia and return to Morocco. Now we feel that the time has come to expand to the US market that is a priority for our manufacturers and stakeholders. Infineon Raceway is a modern racetrack with impressive facilities, and I believe it is the ideal location to host a WTCC event. I am very satisfied of the meeting we had with Steve Page that enabled us to find an agreement for submitting to the FIA the proposal to enter the WTCC Race of US in the 2012 calendar."
Continue reading...MELBOURNE’S GP ON BORROWED TIME ?
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Melbourne's Formula One Grand Prix looks to be on borrowed time with calls by the City's Lord Mayor to axe the race once it's contract is up in 2014. Writing in the top selling Australian newspaper The Herald-Sun, Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the Grand Prix had run it's race. "...it has been 20 fantastic years, the benefits to the city and the state have been enormous, but the cycle has run its course." he said. "In the end, it will be a government decision and one of the tough ones that Ted Baillieu faces in his first term. Does he undo the legacy of Jeff Kennett, his mentor, in his very first term and, ironically, through the same minister to first get the event, Louise Asher? My judgement would be: Get ready. Time's up."
Continue reading...F1 SALE UNDER INVESTIGATION
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The financial dealings of Formula One and it's "colourful" head man Bernie Ecclestone are again coming into question after the arrest of a former executive at Bavaria’s state-backed bank BayernLB. Former BayernLB manager Gerhard Gribkowsky was arrested on Wednesday under suspicion of fraud, tax evasion and taking bribes. The investigation will look at whether Gribkowsky sold the bank’s Formula 1 holdings under questionable circumstances after BayernLB took control of bankrupt media mogul Leo Kirch’s stake in the sport. This was later sold to CVC Capital Partners who became the majority owner of Formula One. Prosecutors claim that the sale was made without "it's true value being being properly evaluated,” They claim that Gribkowsky in turn received $50 million in payments disguised via two consultancy agreements. They have not at this stage made any direct allegations of who may have paid those payments.
Continue reading...IS THE CAMS, AGP DEAL UNDER THREAT ?
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Is the recently signed agreement between CAMS and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation regarding the running of the 2011 Australian Grand Prix already under threat? Sources close to the Australian Grand Prix Corporation have told In Pit Lane that the AGP Corp. are furious with CAMS over their recent media releases and statements about the deal, which they say was a clear breach of a confidentiality clause in the agreement. According to the source, a letter has been sent to CAMS informing them of the alleged breach and the Corporation's anger. The Corporation has also allegedly sought advice from Australia's Competition watchdog the ACCC regarding their concern that CAMS role as the sole FIA approved Motorsport body in Australia may be in breach of Australia's anti monopoly laws. Clive Banfield, Media & Communications Co-Ordinator for CAMS told In Pit Lane that he had been in recent meetings with the AGPC and was not aware of any such problems.
Continue reading...CALDER SET FOR “RICHEST” PRO-STOCK SHOWDOWN
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Australia's richest Pro-Stock Drag Race and the return of the Top Doorslammers will be just two of the major announcements to come this Wednesday at Melbourne's Calder Park. Track owner Bob Jane and manager Ian Macarthur will also announce details of a rich new "Triple Crown" series to be held at the track across all major classes. The new series will kick off with the "True Blue" Nationals which will once again feature the countries Top Doorslammer stars in their 1/8th mile challenge series. As well fans of hi-tech turbos and rotaries will get to see a special match race series featuring the turbocharged Toyota Aurion of Tony Wedlock, against Rocky Rehayem in his wild rotary turbocharged Mazda 6, in a Pro FX challenge.
Continue reading...RALLY AUSTRALIA BOSS IN SEX SCANDAL
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Former CAMS CEO and Rally Australia Chairman Graham Fountain has been forced to step down as CEO of Melbourne’s Metropolitan Fire Brigade after claims of sexual harassment by a female employee. Mr Fountain tendered his resignation this morning (Thursday Dec. 16th) , which was accepted by the president of the board, Neil Comrie. According to a report [...]
Continue reading...YOUTH, EXPERIENCE AND THE UNMENTIONABLES
Saturday, July 17, 2010
It’s a great thing to see a F1 team manager finally recognising that youth is not the simple answer or solution to hiring an F1 driver. The announcement of former Super Aguri & Spyker driver Sakon Yamamoto being given a second chance to race this year in the German Grand Prix for HRT comes after his drive the British GP a fortnight ago. Unfortunately, that comes at the cost of the popular Karun Chandhok being cast aside. This age long debate of balancing youth or experience in professional employment continues to be a raging argument in motor racing. As the current F1 season has turned out, Michael Schumacher’s return to full time racing has not produced results and the seven time World Champion is lagging well behind his much younger team mate Nico Rosberg. (A situation not helped by yet another Brackley dud). On the other hand, an experienced drivers such as Sakon has been recognised and rewarded for his persistence, qualities and experience directly related to the job at hand.
Continue reading...TURBOS BACK IN FORMULA ONE ?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
On a night when a 30 year old TV show made it's return to Australian television screens, now comes a report that Formula One may soon return to the days of the 1.5 litre turbocharged engine. According to the popular motorsport website Pitpass, serious consideration is being given to introducing a four cylinder 1.5 turbo engine for F1 from 2013. The 1.5 litre turbo era saw some of the most powerful and fastest F1 cars ever built with some engines claimed to be putting out well in excess of 1000 BHP. The cars were however often unreliable and very expensive to build and maintain. What do you think? Would you like to see a return to the turbo era of F1? That, and many other issues will be just one of the subjects we'll be talking about in our In Pit Lane Live Forum Thursday April 15 at 8.30 pm Australian EST here on the In Pit Lane website. To join just check out the chat box on the right hand side of the page and enter your email to register. It's free, and we hope it'll be fun.
Continue reading...GT1 WORLD TITLE’S GOLD COAST DISAPPOINTMENT
Monday, March 8, 2010
FIA GT1 World Championship promoter Stephane Ratel has expressed his disappointment at not gaining a berth on the Gold Coast Street Race card. Speaking on Tuesday night's edition of the C31 Melbourne television show "In Pit Lane" Mr Ratel said that Australia had always been an important part in his plans for the World Championship and he was disappointed that his proposal to be a part of the Gold Coast event had been refused. " We had a big ambition to launch the Championship on all five continents." he said. "I visited Australia twice in the last couple of years... I had a lot of hopes that something would come together and the last one was to join Surfers Paradise, but as you know... they finally decided to do V8's (V8 Supercars) only." Mr Ratel believes that the new World Championship would have been a considerable asset to the event bringing International glamour, media attention and corporate support to the race. "I personally think that we are an excellent fit for any big event in Australia." he said.
Continue reading...AUSSIE A1, SUPER GP, SUPER FARCE
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Gold Coast "Super GP" General Manager Greg Hooton has addressed the Australian Media regarding doubts over the A1 GP event scheduled in only seven days time. In a prepared statement Mr Hooton emphasised the fact that the meeting would go ahead with the V8 Supercars as the main attraction. “I need to make it clear that this event is happening next week. Do not lose sight of the fact that I’m standing in V8 Pit Lane where next week the V8 Supercars will for the first time ever have two, 200km races. The V8 Supercars are absolutely a major aspect of this event and will be here in force next week,” said Hooton. Mr Hooton did acknowledge that their were doubts over the appearance of the A1 GP and his statement did little to inspire confidence that the situation had changed. “There are certainly rumours surrounding the appearance of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport at the Nikon SuperGP at this time, there is no question about that. “At this point in time, I need to make clear that A1GP has not breached any terms of contract with GCMEC (Gold Coast Motor Events Company*). “The current situation is as follows:
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Saturday, April 23, 2011
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