Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Monday, 23 June 2014
Thursday, 19 June 2014
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
Tuesday, 17 June 2014
Safety in Formula 1: Track Safety (Part Seven)
By Junaid Samodien
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| The Safety car leading the field around on a very wet circuit. |
Safety in Formula 1 is very important and therefore the next article will focus on ‘Track Safety’. Circuit design has a major influence on the number and severity of accidents, hence venues wishing to stage a Grand Prix must meet very high track safety requirements, designed to avoid or minimise impacts in the event of a car leaving the circuit. Mark Webber spoke at a 2006 team sponsor Allianz event where he said that he thinks run-off zones made of tarmac are safer, but makes an important point: “Many drivers exploit that, and sometimes even overtake. In that way, they take a much bigger risk because the consequences of a spin are not so dramatic.”
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Driver using the run-off area on circuit. |
Run-off zones are carefully placed around the circuit. These are empty spaces directly beside the actual track, designed to passively or actively decelerate an out-of-control car, and prevent a collision with track walls or barriers. During the past year an increasing number of asphalted spaces have been introduced at various circuits as drivers have a better chance of regaining control of their vehicle.
Did you know …that the safety of the spectators at Formula One races is provided by approximately 150 security officials, in addition to approximately 130 medics, first aiders and doctors?
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| Nico Rosberg's Williams being decelerated by the gravel. |
Although gravel has a decelerating effect the chances of controlling the car are fairly low and the danger of getting stuck is rather high. However, gravel traps still have their place on certain corners. The traps are normally about 25 centimetres deep and filled with spherical gravel stones of between 5 and 16 millimetres diameter. The stones are designed to generate as much frictional resistance as possible - like sand scattered on an icy pavement - and so reduce the speed of a skidding car quickly and effectively. However, there is often a practical problem with this concept: with a ground clearance of just 50mm and a smooth underbody, the cars often slide over the surface of the gravel trap without braking sufficiently.
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| The Marshals displaying the Safety car sign and yellow flags. |
It is not just on the circuit that safety regulations apply. In the pit lane drivers must adhere to a strictly enforced speed limit - normally 60 km/h during free practice and 80 km/h during qualifying and the race. Drivers are fined during practice and qualifying if they break the speed limit, while in the race they would receive drive-through penalties. I hope that you’ve enjoyed this article!
Austrian Grand Prix QUIZ
1 - Who finished THIRD in the 2003 Austrian F1 Grand Prix?
2 - Nico Hulkenberg & Sergio Perez drive for which Formula One team?
3 - Formula One has which from a Naturally Aspirated V8 engine to a .......... Name the new engine/Power Unit
4- What is the name of the Austrian Grand Prix circuit?
5 - Where are Lotus F1 Team based?
6 - Name the Formula One driver? [Clue current driver]
7 - Complete the teams name ......... Toro .........
8 - How many gears does the new 2014 Power Unit have?
9 - Pat Fry is the Technical Chief of which Formula One Team?
10 - Who holds the current lap record at the Red Bull Ring?
11 - How many kilometers will make up the full race distance at the Red Bull Ring?
12 - What is the name of the Williams Martini Racing car?
13 - Name the drivers at Marussia F1 Team?
14 - What is Nico Hulkenberg's Formula One race number?
15 - Are drivers permitted to carry out celebratory victory donuts? Yes or No
'Speed Demons' - Jake Davis
This fantastic weekly F1 Toon was designed and created by Jake Davis Creative. Prints are available in sizes A4, A3 and A2. Commissions are also available. If you would like to order a PRINT of this fantastic F1 Toon feel free to contact him via:
E-mail - davisjake@hotmail.co.uk
Twitter - @JakeDDCreative
Monday, 16 June 2014
Saturday, 14 June 2014
Friday, 13 June 2014
Thursday, 12 June 2014
On This Day in Formula One - 12 June
1889
The birth of Otto Merz, a mechanic turned chauffeur, who was a driver in the motorcade when the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, later moving into racing where he won the 1924 German Grand Prix.
1966
John Surtees drove his Ferrari to victory in the Belgian Grand Prix after taking the lead from Jochen Rindt on the 24th of 28 eight-and-a-half mile laps. In dreadful weather Jackie Stewart crashed on the first lap and was rushed to hospital with multiple broken bones, and only seven of the 15 starters made it to the end of the lap. Graham Hill spotted Stewart lying upside down in his car in a ditch and stopped to pull him out as petrol poured over him. Although Hill was mechanically fit to continue, he had lost so much time rescuing Stewart he decided he had too much time to make up and so retired.
1983
Rene Arnoux led the Canadian Grand Prix from start to finish to beat Eddie Cheever by 40 seconds. Keke Rosberg finished fourth, his Williams-Cosworth the first non-turbo car to score points in the season, and he might have done better had he not been blocked by Andrea de Cesaris for several laps.
1988
McLaren's dominance continued with its fifth win in five races at the Canadian Grand Prix, Ayrton Senna beating Alain Prost by 5.6 seconds. "I'm very satisfied to have beaten the driver I regard as the best in the business," Senna grinned afterwards. The real contest was for third and lower which was won by Thierry Boutsen in a Benetton-Ford. The real courage came from Derek Warwick who a day earlier had crashed his Arrows at 100mph - he finished seventh and at the end was so bruised and exhausted he had to be lifted out of his cockpit.
1993
A stand-off between teams and FISA on the eve of the Canadian Grand Prix left both parties angry. FISA issued an inflammatory document claiming many teams' technological developments were illegal and attempted to curb them for the following season. "It only inspires a hardening of attitudes at a time we are all looking for a compromise," warned Ron Dennis.
1994
Michael Schumacher's fifth win in six races at the Canada Grand Prix opened a 28 point lead over Damon Hill which was never overcome. Hill's hopes were dashed when he got stuck behind David Coulthard - "I was getting a bit cheesed off but I don't think I could have caught Schumacher," Hill admitted. Coulthard was less impressed. "I eventually waved Damon through in response to team orders," he said, "but I think I was entitled to race my way. I'm disappointed Damon spoke to the press before me."
2005
Kimi Raikkonen took advantage of a double retirement from Renault to win a dramatic Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso retiring from the lead within six laps of each other. Juan Pablo Montoya jumped a red light at the end of the pit lane and was disqualified from second, giving Ferrari a double on the podium as Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello finished second and third. Jenson Button's hopes of third were shattered when he bounced over the kerbs at the final chicane and slammed into the wall. "The problem I had in the hairpin was I ran wide and I didn't realise how much rubbish got on the tyres because coming into the chicane I just had huge understeer," he shrugged. "That was it really. I should have gone across the green stuff but I thought if I did that I would have to let Michael pass and I didn't want to do that. I'd rather crash in third than finish fourth really."
Information obtained on ESPNF1.com
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
'Open Goal' - By Jake Davis
This fantastic weekly F1 Toon was designed and created by Jake Davis Creative. Prints are available in sizes A4, A3 and A2. Commissions are also available. If you would like to order a PRINT of this fantastic F1 Toon feel free to contact him via:
E-mail - davisjake@hotmail.co.uk
Twitter - @JakeDDCreative
Monday, 9 June 2014
On This Day in Formula One - 09 June.
Information obtained on ESPNF1.com Compiled and edited by Myself.
Sunday, 8 June 2014
On This Day in Formula One [08 June]
Information obtained on ESPNF1.com Compiled and edited by Myself.
Wednesday, 4 June 2014
Canadian Grand Prix Broadcast Times (South Africa Only)
These Broadcast Times have been obtained through the Supersport Online (TV Guide)
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