RACES 9 & 10 PREVIEWS

FORMULA 1 COMES HOME BUT DOES THE REST OF THE GRID?



Above: Silverstone's Wing Building

As the future still remains unclear as to whether F1 will have any drivers for next season, the focus remains firmly on the now as we reach the halfway stage moving onto Silverstone and Germany. DantheMan remains on top with a 44 point lead with Bannbino in 2nd and Sheepie UK 3rd. It's somewhat closer in the team title with only 8 points seperating the DBA's to Katie Price GP. Last time out saw some close racing and with the unpredicatbility of the British weather could certainly mix things up.

So lets look at what the teams can expect................

RACE 9 - GB

Previous Winners:

Season 1 = Bannbino
Season 2 = Cheesman69Boi
Season 3 = DantheMan

The home of British motorsport and Formula 1 itself, Silverstone hosted the first ever round of the World Championship in 1950 and, having come back from the brink in 2009 and secured its future on the calendar well into the next decade, is rightfully seen as one of the sport's crown jewels.
A trade-off for securing that long-term future has been some major redevelopment work around the circuit in recent years, with substantial changes to the track made and a new pit and paddock building constructed.

The Silverstone Wing - as the new pits are known - was a key factor in pacifying Bernie Ecclestone's longstanding criticism of circuit facilities - particularly the small garages, dated media centre and tired hospitality units.

That said, the new 'Arena' section of the track has received mixed reviews. The old Abbey chicane was one of the best overtaking spots on the track, whilst the sight of cars darting under the bridge and taking a flat-out right-hander as they entered the complex was arguably the highlight of any visit.

Richard Phillips, Silverstone's managing director, admitted: "Some will miss not seeing modern cars accelerating through Bridge," whilst former BRDC president turned Sky Sports F1 HD pundit Damon Hill said: "'If you are asking me to say it's fantastic, I'm afraid I am not going to do that. It is fast, exciting corners that drivers love. It is what fans love."

Even with DRS on the now-used National Straight, Brooklands is not a natural overtaking spot - as any touring car fan will vouch. But while decommissioning one of the best sections of the track was undoubtedly a shame, an equally-pertinent retort, however, is that it's small price to pay for Silverstone's long-term participation in F1 being guaranteed.

The race had already long secured its place as of the most prized assets on the F1 calendar. The kind of passion generated by the loyal and knowledgeable British fan base, and the rich history attached to the event, are assets that some of the sport's newer venues would dearly love to recreate.

More info on Silverstone here

RACE 10 - HOCKENHEIM

Previous Winners:

Season 1 = Hypno85
Season 2 = R0ckeye
Season 3 = DantheMan(Nurburgring)

Whilst the name remains legendary, Hockenheim is no longer the circuit it once was. It is scarcely a shadow of its former great self.

The long blasts through the forest, punctuated by the occasional interruption of a chicane, disappeared althogether in 2001 when the sport's authorities declared that either the layout was changed or the grand prix would be moved elsewhere. Though a hugely controversial and widely unpopular ultimatum, expediency won the day and Hermann Tilke was called into to give the old girl a facelift for 2002.

In broad terms, Hockenheim was reduced from being 4.2 miles in length to 2.8 miles and, with its previous excursions into the forest blocked off, effectively became a stadium circuit instead. Other than the atmospheric Motodrom section at the end of the lap, the new design is unrecognisable from the old circuit and, despite producing some good races in the decade that followed, the revamp has received strong criticism from F1 personnel.

"They have cut the heart out of something which was very special, very emotional, something which had its own spirit," lamented Ron Dennis, the McLaren team principal until 2009.

Yet with the forest section now overgrown and 'reclaimed', there can be no going back, and in any case, under a race share agreement with Germany's other F1 circuit, the Nurburgring, Hockenheim is only used every other year so that the two venues can share the burden of the race-hosting fee.

The most feasible overtaking opportunity is the turn six hairpin, the entrance to which is the fastest point of the track. Drivers that lose out here have, however, been known to fight back all the way to the tighter left-handed turn eight, with some spectacular results.

With the Nurburgring hosting last year's event, the positioning of the DRS zone at Hockenheim is likely to be on the approach to the hairpin - however given the fast left hand kink of Parabolika on the run to the corner, reducing rear downforce may not prove to be a wise idea.

More info on Hockenheim here

So who will claim the home glory? Can Iregretnothing finish a race? Will Villa John avoid getting F1 rage?

As always.......CU Next Time..........