Book Review: ‘How to Land an A330 Airbus’

RichardsF1    Book Reviews     James May

How to Land an A330 Airbus, by James May
Paperback, © 2010 Hodder Paperbacks, ISBN 9780340994580

At some stage in our lives, we’ve all been given rather pointless life skills manuals that outline fifty ways to tie a Windsor tie knot in less than thirty seconds. And Top Gear’s James May has come up with another kind of ‘man manual’: one that identifies such unique and vital skills the modern man should have.

With the catch cry of ‘Clear, Concise, Untested, Optimistic’, this title contains the really important skills you should have that you can’t readily download from the internet or find in another ‘man manual’.

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WTCC: Michelisz to switch to BMW for 2011?

RichardsF1    News, WTCC    

Norbert Michelisz looks set to contest a second full season of the World Touring Car Championship in 2011, but for the first time without SEAT power.

The 26-year-old Hungarian is believed to have secured backing from the Dension electronics group to stay on, and that he will continue to run with the Zengö Motorsport team once again.

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Johansson to visit Allen Berg Racing School!

RichardsF1    Former F1 Figures, Formula 1     Allen Berg, Stefan Johansson

Former F1 drivers – and interviewees of Richard’s F1 – Allen Berg and Stefan Johansson will reunite for a special event in February at Berg’s Racing School.

Johansson – who contested almost 80 Grand Prix starts with teams such as Tyrrell, Ferrari, McLaren and Ligier, as well as winning the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans – will join ABRS as a racing coach for the School’s Thunderhill One Day Formula Car program on February 17.

V8s: Richards continues cancer fight

RichardsF1    News, V8    

V8 Supercars driver Jason Richards made a surprise return to the series’ paddock today as the championship’s single day of pre-season testing occurred at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway, taking time out from rounds of chemotherapy treatment for a rare stomach cancer.

And no one was happier to see him back than the very man himself, who was also given the opportunity to sample some laps in the Team BOC Holden he hopes to co-pilot during the endurance races later this year as part of a projected full-time return to the sport.

WTCC: Barth aiming to stay with SUNRED

RichardsF1    News, WTCC    

Fredy Barth has not yet re-signed with the SUNRED Engineering SEAT outfit to remain for a second season in the World Touring Car Championship, and has told reporters that the matter will be determined on (not surprisingly, in this era) raising enough finances to stay in the series.

The 31-year-old Swiss driver was an early leader in the WTCC Rookie Challenge championship, but was later edged out by fellow SEAT runner Norbert Michelisz.

Yassmin’s got F1 in her sights

RichardsF1    Exclusive Interviews    

Brisbane university student Yassmin Abdel-Magied has a passion for fast cars, Formula 1 and equal opportunity rights.

And as dreams go, hers is certainly particular: to become the first female Muslim to work in – or indeed race – in Formula 1.

A mere pipedream, or is there more lying beneath the surface? Yassmin spoke exclusive to Richard’s F1 to tell all…

V8s: Lowndes quickest in pre-season test

RichardsF1    News, Results, V8    

Craig Lowndes has kicked off his 2011 V8 Supercars Championship season in positive style, by topping the timesheets and breaking the circuit’s lap record on the opening day of pre-season testing at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway, which was attended by a strong crowd of over 10,000 fans.

The three-time series champion posted his best effort late in the day, using the cooler track temperatures and a set of super-soft Dunlop tyres to good effect en route to posting the fastest-ever lap of the circuit in a touring car, a record that has stood for over ten years.

Heidfeld not returning to Mercedes GP?

RichardsF1    Driver Market, Formula 1     Mercedes GP, Nick Heidfeld

Mercedes GP has seemingly branded its driving line-up as ‘German enough’, effectively ruling out the possibility of F1 veteran Nick Heidfeld rejoining the team in a test driver role for the 2011 season.

Having started in that role in 2010, Heidfeld left the team to become Pirelli’s tyre development driver in the mid-year, before joining the Sauber team for the final five races of the season in place of Pedro de la Rosa.

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Liuzzi’s team working to ensure he stays in F1

RichardsF1    Driver Market, Formula 1     Force India, Hispania Racing, Vitantonio Liuzzi

Despite having a valid contract to drive for Force India in 2011, Vitantonio Liuzzi has found himself dumped by the team in favour of its reserve driver, Paul di Resta, for the upcoming season.

With no word yet if a settlement has been arranged to compensate the Italian for breaking his contract, the move has effectively his career in tatters, unless he can quickly find a drive. But the only seat left is that one alongside Narain Karthikeyan at Hispania Racing.

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Before They Were Famous #1

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Before They Were Famous

Guess who this little one is all decked out in their racing suit many years ago?

More drivers’ birthdays today!

RichardsF1    Birthdays, Former F1 Figures, Formula 1     Jody Scheckter

Former F1 drivers Kunimitsu Takahashi and Jody Scheckter are celebrating their respective birthdays today!

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Ferrari unveils F150 challenger

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Ferrari

Ferrari has become the first team to take the wraps off its car ahead of the 2011 season, doing the honours at its Maranello headquarters.

Eager to ensure it has every opportunity of winning the 2011 championship crown, the team’s designers have opted for an aggressive approach to the new car, dubbed the F150.

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Three teams starting 2011 KERS-less?

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Cosworth, Hispania Racing, KERS, Team Lotus, Technical, Virgin Racing

Three of the teams on the 2011 grid look unlikely to start the 2011 championship season with the Kinestic Energy Recovery System (KERS), the power boost option available to teams through the re-use of stored braking energy which is making a return to the sport this season.

The reintroduction of KERS has also seen the minimum car weight increased, as well as new rules governing where extra ballast can be distributed.

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Plenty of parties at Sauber this year…

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Sauber, Sponsors

Just days after celebrating Sergio Pérez’s 21st birthday, the Sauber team now has further reason to celebrate, with tequila brand José Cuervo joining the outfit as a new sponsor.

Commercial interest in Mexico’s first F1 driver since Héctor Rebaque remains high, and the announcement sees José Cuervo become the third Mexican sponsor to partner with the Swiss F1 team. Its logos will be emblazoned on the sidepods and nose of the new Sauber C30.

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Bernie threatens to pull GP from Melbourne

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Bernie Ecclestone, Circuit News

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has declared he is prepared to negotiate a release for Melbourne to host the Australian Grand Prix, with the Albert Park circuit currently holding a contract up to the 2015 season.

His threats came after Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle suggested that the city should relinquish its hosting duties, citing continued financial losses and depleting public interest in the March event.