Valencia Grand Prix – Future in Doubt

The European Grand Prix, which is held in Valencia, is in doubt after they indicated that they wanted a reduction in race fees for hosting the event in future years.

The vice-president of the city’s government said that they were reviewing the citys budget for major sporting events.

Valencia currently has a contract to host the event on its street circuit on the waterfront until 2014. The authorities haven’t ruled out cancelling the event altogether.

Valencia pay somewhere in the region of £20 million each year for the privilege of hosting the event. They are the second host to ask for a reduction. Korea is also considering its future in F1 after making their debut in 2010.

2012 F1 schedule

Doubts over the new US Grand Prix are still in doubt due to the unfinished track in Austin, Texas and also the Bahrain Grand Prix due to continuing unrest in the Gulf.

Valencia is one of two races in Spain which has been running since 2008. The other being the Spanish Grand Prix which is held near Barcelona at the Circuit de Catalunya

Bernie Ecclestone is under pressure to get rid of some existing events as new circuits come onto the F1 calendar in the coming years. F1 teams are reluctant to increase the already hectic schedule by increasing the number of races from the current 20 races per year.

Another US race in New Jersey is lined up for 2013 with Russia set to host a new event at the resort of Sochi in 2014.

It has been reported that the French Grand Prix is due to return to the F1 calendar in 2013 after an absence of 5 years. It would alternate with the Belgian race and be held at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

It is expected that the number of European events will reduce from the current 8 to 5 events over the coming years. Valencia itself is one of the least favourite races due to what has been described as a drab circuit that provides very little in form of challenge for the drivers and as a result creates little race action.

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Formula 1 in Bahrain and United States Go Ahead

The bosses of Formula 1 have announced that the races in Bahrain and the US are still on making for an unchanged F1 calendar.

There have been concerns about F1 in Bahrain due to the civil unrest in the country. The US has been given a deadline to provide the sanctioning fee. The race is expected to take place on a new track in Austin.

The two venues make up an unchanged calendar consisting of 20 races which was approved by the World Council of the FIA which met in Delhi.

2012 Formula 1 Calendar:

• Australia – 18 March
• Malaysia – 25 March
• China – 15 April
• Bahrain – 22 April
• Spain – 13 May
• Monaco – 27 May
• Canada – 10 June
• Europe (Valencia) – 24 June
• Great Britain – 8 July
• Germany – 22 July
• Hungary – 29 July
• Belgium 2 September
• Italy 9 September
• Singapore – 23 September
• Japan – 7 October
• South Korea – 14 October
• India – 28 October
• Abu Dhabi – 4 November
• United States – 18 November
• Brazil – 25 November

The 2011 Grand Prix in Bahrain was cancelled after months of civil unrest in February. The country was heavily critised for the way that they handled the unrest with some predicting the 2012 race won’t take place.

If the troubles continue then it is likely that the authorities will call of the race saying that they would not want to put F1 at risk by the volatile environment. However Bernie Ecclestone has always insisted that the race will go on despite the concerns of the Bahrainis concerns.

It is anticipated that if Bahrain cancels again then the Turkish Grand Prix, which lost its place last year, will make a comeback.

The race in Texas was in doubt after Bernie Ecclestone ripped up the original contract of the original promoter. Ecclestone tried to do a deal with the new promoter at a price of £22 million which was way in excess of the £16 million originally stated.

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British F1 Driver Peter Gethin has died aged 71

Peter Gethin the former Embassy Hill Lola, BRM and McLaren F1 driver who won the epic Italian Grand Prix in 1971 that had the top five finishers all within 0.61 seconds. He was also winner of the Canadian-American Challenge Cup and a two time winner of the Formula 5000 British title.

Gethin was born in Surrey and was the son of former jockey Ken Gethin, who himself was the winner of the Coronation Stakes and the 1,000 Guineas.

He made his debut in 1970 for Formula 1 team McLaren shortly after the death of Bruce McLaren, team founder. New Zealand born McLaren died at Goodwood in a testing accident leaving Gethin to take the vacant seat.

Peter Gethin F1 career

• 1970 – McLaren – races 7, final position 23
• 1971 – McLaren. BRM – races 11, final position 9
• 1972 – BRM – races 11, final position 21
• 1974 – BRM – races 1
• 1974 – Lola – races 1

Gethin most iconic victory was at the Monza Grand Prix in 1971 where he beat Ronnie Peterson in the BRM by just 0.01seconds. That race had the highest average speed of any F1 race in history until it was finally broken 32 years later by Michael Schumacher on the same track in 2003.

That was his last podium finish. He ended his four year F1 career with a single win from 30 starts and 11 points.

Gethin also won the Race of Champions, the World Championship Victory Race, the Tasman Series F5000 and a Can-Am race at Road America all between 1971 and 1977.

After he finished racing he managed Toleman F1 team, he also set up Peter Gethin Racing whom took part in F3000 in the 1980s. Later on in life he ran a driving school in Goodwood.

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Formula 1 McLaren Award Oliver Rowland Test Drive

19 year old British teenager Oliver Rowland has been awarded Formula 1 a test drive with McLaren. He won the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) award. He also pocketed prize money of £100,000 and membership of the BRDC. Rowland was also runner-up in the 2011 Formula Renault race series.

Previous winners of the award include David Coulthard in 1989, Jenson Button in 1998 and Paul di Resta in 2004.

List of Winners from 1989 to present:

• David Coulthard
• Gareth Rees
• Oliver Gavin
• Dario Franchitti
• Ralph Firman
• Jamie Davies
• Jonny Kane
• Darren Turner
• Andrew Kirkaldy
• Jenson Button
• Gary Paffett
• Anthony Davidson
• Steven Kane
• Jamie Green
• Alex Lloyd
• Paul di Resta
• Oliver Jarvis
• Oliver Turvey
• Stefan Wilson
• Alexander Sims
• Dean Smith
• Lewis Williamson

Oliver said that he has learned so much in his year with Formula Renault and can’t believe that he has made it to this point in his career.

The award is backed by BRDC, Autosport the motorsport magazine and McLaren to acknowledge emerging talent among UK racing drivers.

The other finalists were Tom Blomqvist, Dino Zamparelli, Alex Lynn, Emil Bernstorff and Scott Malvern. They were all tested in November at Silverstone on a very wet and windy day. The drivers drove a McLaren GT3, a Formula 2 single-seater and a Mercedes DTM. They were finally interviewed before a panel.

The International Racing Driver of the Year award went to Germany’s Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull after becoming F1 Champion for the second year running. Paul di Resta was named as rookie of the year driving for Force India.

British driver Dan Whelton who was twice a winner of the Indy 500 who crashed and died in Las Vegas was awarded a lifetime achievement award that was received by his father.

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Lewis Hamilton Confident with McLaren

Lewis Hamilton, who has been with McLaren since the age of thirteen, is confident that he will sign a new contract that will keep him with the F1 team beyond 2012 when his current deal expires.

Hamilton said that he is confident that a deal can be reached and that there was no question of his commitment to the team and Formula 1.

Hamilton met with Red Bull’s team boss Christian Horner at the Canadian Grand Prix sparking rumours that he may indeed be moving to Red Bull.

Felipe Massa and Mark Webber are also out of contact with their teams Ferrari and Red Bull respectively at the end of 2012.

However, Lewis has already spoken to McLaren’s team Principal Martin Whitmarsh about a new deal and the two are expected to sit down soon and agree terms. Hamilton said that there was no rush to sort things out straight away and that the most important thing is to concentrate on the season ahead.

Whitmarsh is confident that Hamilton will want to continue his lengthy relationship with the team. Lewis had a difficult year in F1 but there is a deep affection between Lewis and the McLaren and Whitmarsh hopes that will continue for years to come.

Hamilton has been with the team since he was eleven years old and despite ending the season with gearbox failure feels that his mind is in a positive place. He has had to deal with splitting with his girlfriend, Nicole Scherzinger, and the death of two of his close friends during the season.

Lewis wants next season to be more successful getting back to winning ways, good performances and enjoying the year.

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