Zanardi to pursue Paralympics bid?

RichardsF1    Former F1 Figures, News, WTCC     Alessandro Zanardi

Former F1 driver Alex Zanardi has retired from the World Touring Car Championship.

The 43-year-old Italian has raced a ROAL-run BMW since 2005 and taken four race wins. While he will not race in the WTCC again, he has not ruled out competing in a different series.

"I will not be back in the WTCC," Zanardi told AUTOSPORT. "It’s a shame, but when one door closes a bigger one may open. It can be cool to move when there are new challenges, but there aren’t any yet."

The two heaviest-hitting manufacturers in the WTCC – SEAT and BMW – have both stated they will scale back their operations for the 2010 season in light of the after-effects of the economic downturn. One would suspect that Alex was informed his services would no longer be required…

Zanardi won two CART titles in the late nineties and started 41 grands prix for Jordan, Minardi, Lotus and Williams between 1991 and 1999, but has raced touring cars since a huge Champ Car accident at Lausitz in 2001 left him requiring the use of prosthetic legs.

Zanardi said earlier this year that he would like to compete in wheelchair sports at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, and having recently taken victory at the Venice Marathon, it would appear that one of F1′s ultimate Mr Nice Guys is on track to fulfil this aim.

Massa wins charity kart event

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Felipe Massa, Ferrari, Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello

His road to recovery continues!

Felipe Massa took a popular victory in the second leg of his charity karting event, the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champions, at Florianopolis in Brazil today.

The Brazilian beat his former Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher to victory by just 0.087 seconds – the pair having climbed through the field as their third and first places in yesterday’s opening heat had left them starting down the order on the partially reversed grid.

Schumacher’s combination of a win and a second place made him the outright champion of the annual event, ahead of Massa, who was having his first competitive race since his Hungaroring accident in July.

Rubens Barrichello had led the early laps of today’s heat and eventually finished fourth behind IndyCar driver Vitor Meira.

Things could get even better for Massa this weekend as his wife, Rafaela, is expecting the couple’s first child. He had a plane waiting for him at the local airport in case she went into labour in Sao Paulo.

Villeneuve visits Lotus HQ

RichardsF1    Driver Market, Formula 1     Jacques Villeneuve, Team Lotus

As speculation continues regarding a race return for Jacques Villeneuve, the famous Canadian racer paid a visit to Lotus’ headquarters and was given a tour of Colin Chapman’s first workshops.

The 1997 world champion, who is openly hoping to re-enter the sport in 2010 after a three-year absence and has been training intensively in Austria, said earlier this month that he was in preliminary talks with the outfit.

The local Norwich Evening News said Villeneuve met with Lotus executives.

“Jacques’ visit is an honour for Lotus," stated CEO Dany Bahar. "Our people are a blend of talent and expertise combined with passion for our brand. Our highlights are theirs, so this is a special day for us all."

Jarno Trulli has also been strongly linked with a Lotus seat for next year.

Sauber expecting green light from FIA

RichardsF1    Formula 1     FIA, Peter Sauber, Sauber

With the shady Qadbak buy-in now dead and buried and with Peter Sauber back at the helm of his eponymous team, the Swiss founder says he is expecting to have the green light from the FIA on Monday.

The 66-year-old’s newly announced re-purchase of the team he sold to BMW in 2005 will only be completed when the FIA confirms Sauber as an official entrant in next year’s world championship.

"We expect the entry in the coming week," Sauber told the Swiss daily, Blick, adding that the following milestone is a signature on the new Concorde Agreement.

He also added that the progress of the 2010 car is "very good", crediting a "better than ever" technical collaboration with Ferrari, to supply the engine and transmission in 2010. The last Ferrari-powered Sauber was 2005′s C24, raced by Felipe Massa and Jacques Villeneuve. The 2010 car will be called the C29, Peter Sauber confirmed.
Blick reports the official team name likely to be announced by the FIA will be Team Sauber F1, with the competitor to be known initially as Sauber-Ferrari and to receive the final race numbers 26 and 27.

A resumption of the naming collaboration with Malaysian oil sponsor Petronas could result in the team again being known as Sauber-Petronas, the newspaper added.

As yet, there has been no confirmation as to Dr Mario Theissen’s future role with the team, if indeed on exists at all.

Look what I’ve bought!

RichardsF1    Books, Reviews     Ayrton Senna, Minardi

I had the great pleasure of visiting Wheels Automotive Bookstore in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta today, and picked up a couple of great F1 titles to add to my continually expanding F1 collection!

Christopher Hilton’s latest Ayrton Senna biography (rather obviously) entitled Memories & Mementoes From A Life Lived At Full Speed has only recently been published and released, and it is completely different to any other Senna biography past or present. This is almost a folio of the great driver’s life, containing individual copies of many letter, awards and artefacts from the three-time world champion’s career.

I’ve searched high and low for my next purchase without having to resort to paying a ridiculous price on eBay, and I was in raptures to find this gem of a book on the shelves. Simon Vigar’s Forza Minardi! chronicles the 21-year history of the Italian Minardi team in particularly good detail, and is a great example of a specialist publication concentrating on a very specialist aspect of a subject.

It contains countless photos from the team’s history, and quite detailed summaries of each season in which the team participated. My one criticism would be that the period of 1994-2000 seems to be written with much more brevity than the other chapters, but the author has succeeded in interviewing a lot of key personnel and former drivers in the process of writing the book. It is truly a refreshing and insightful read into the team’s history, and if you are a true fan of the sport, then I’d strongly encourage you hunt down a copy of this book.

I also found this excellent encyclopaedia by Alan Henry called Formula One: Driver By Driver, published in 1991, which chronicles each F1 driver to have ever competed in F1 in the modern era. Henry is one of the most esteemed F1 writers, and this book carries his usual attention to detail alongside his wry (but fair) observations as to driver’s skills or lack thereof!

Although Wheels Automotive Books’ website is still in development, it already contains an enormous catalogue of books, videos, DVDs, pictures and other treasures that will occupy you for hours. The staff are as excellent as the prices, and it is always a pleasure to deal with them.

Raikkonen linked with Cirtoen WRC

RichardsF1    Driver Market, Formula 1     Kimi Raikkonen, WRC

Kimi Raikkonen is close to finalising his switch from Formula One to a full time ride in the 2010 World Rally Championship, according to the series’ official website.

The Finn "is understood to be ready to sign a deal" with Citroen to contest all 13 rounds of next year’s calendar with Red Bull backing, with the drinks firm already a sponsor of the Citroen World Rally team.

The report cited "a close source" to the former Ferrari driver as confirming that an official announcement is expected in the coming days once "small details" are tied up.

One assumes the "small detail" might be his outrageous salary demands!
"With the proper practice, planning, and testing I think he will adapt quickly," 2003 WRC champion Petter Solberg told the sport’s official website, having tasted Citroen C4 machinery himself this year. "He’s a very, very good driver, and once he’s learned the basics, like how to work with pace notes, I think he will surprise many people.

"If he’s in a decent World Rally Car next season I think he could finish between third and fifth on some rallies," Solberg predicted for the Finn’s maiden season. "The fact is, if you can drive, you can drive.

"You have to be on the case and you need some balls," he added.

I doubt Kimi will have any problem on that front!

Tarquini wins WTCC title

RichardsF1    Former F1 Figures, News, WTCC     Gabriele Tarquini, SEAT

Former F1 driver Gabriele Tarquini has won the 2009 World Touring Car Championship title driving for SEAT.

The Italian raced in F1 between 1987 and 1995 with Tyrrell and cellar-dwellers AGS, Coloni, Osella and Fondmetal (below), racking up a record 25 failures to pre-qualify for a Grand Prix, the most of any driver.

These woeful F1 results belie a driver of extraordinary talent, and the 47-year-old backed it up again by securing his maiden WTCC title after an incident-filled weekend at Macau which was blighted by several accidents, including colliding with his team-mate (and championship rival), Yvan Muller.

Nonetheless, this is a thoroughly deserved result, Congratulations Gabriele!

Sutil and Liuzzi confirmed at Force India

RichardsF1    Driver Market, Formula 1     Adrian Sutil, Force India, Vitantonio Liuzzi

Force India has announced that Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi will remain with the Silverstone outfit for the 2010 season.

The news marks what will be the accident-prone German’s fourth straight season in Formula 1 and the full-time return of the Italian, after racing with Toro Rosso in 2007.

Although the Silverstone-based team started it season with Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella this year, Liuzzi moved up from the reserve position as his compatriot transferred to Ferrari. After scoring its first pole position, World Championship points and a podium in 2009, Vijay Mallya hopes for more in 2010.

"We are very pleased to retain the services of both Adrian and Tonio for another season," the team co-owner said. "We have always maintained that consistency is key at this stage in the team’s development and for the first time in many years we will have the continuity of, not only the same drivers, but also the same engine and senior management."

Here’s hoping for further progress for the team!

Wurz rejects USF1 rumours

RichardsF1    Driver Market, Former F1 Figures, Formula 1     Alexander Wurz, USF1

Alexander Wurz has said that he will not be racing with the new USF1 team next year, in spite of past rumours linking him with the Charlotte-based team. The Austrian has talked with the outfit with a view to being the first occupant of a race seat but instead said he would prefer to concentrate on his Le Mans Series efforts with Peugeot.

After returning to Formula 1 with Williams in 2007 following a break since the 2000 season, Wurz has been regarded as a perfect candidate for USF1 due to his experience and technical knowledge, having spent six seasons as test driver for either McLaren or Williams.

"There have been discussions with USF1 but I have decided to draw a line through the matter," Alex explained to motorline.cc. "My priority is the Peugeot factory (Le Mans) team, one hundred percent – I’m going to contest the Le Mans 24 Hours and other races."

When asked if his ‘decision’ was due to USF1 not being able to make the 2010 starting grid, Wurz immediately dismissed the gossip. "No, that was a decision from my heart," he replied. "I could earn more money in Formula 1. I am convinced that USF1 will be present with American technology and American ways of thinking. Even people like Chip Ganassi (established American IndyCar and NASCAR team owner) are convinced that USF1 will be there right from the start."

Probably a wise decision, Alex! You have nothing more to prove in F1!

Sauber buys back stake from BMW

RichardsF1    Formula 1     BMW Sauber, Peter Sauber, Sauber

BMW has sold its Formula 1 team back to former owner Peter Sauber on Thursday. As a deal with shady Swiss investments firm Qadbak was apparently not fully completed, the Sauber name is now likely to return to the sport next season.

Great news!

With his eponymous team having been bought by BMW at the end of 2005, the Swiss businessman and former team owner remained a shareholder of the Hinwil outfit, which had seemingly been purchased this year by Qadbak.

"I am very relieved that we have found this solution," Peter Sauber commented. "It means we can keep the Hinwil location and the majority of workplaces. I am convinced that the new team has a very good future in Formula 1 whose current transformation with new framework conditions will benefit the private teams.

"Our staff here are highly competent and motivated and I look forward to taking on this new challenge together with them. I would like to thank BMW for four shared years that have, in the main, been very successful."

With Toyota’s departure having left the final 13th entry free, a return for the established Sauber would confirm a 26-car grid for 2010.

Here’s hoping this happens!