US December car sales add to automobile industry pain
US automobile sales dived by 36% in December, compared to a year ago, maintaining the disastrous trend of recent months, which has hit the car industry across the world. The latest figures reveal that the industry had its worst year since 1992 and the December figures were shocking for several firms, notably Chrysler, which saw its sales drop 53%.
Formula 2 developing
Eleven drivers have thus far signed up to compete in the new FIA Formula 2 Championship and they come from an eclectic background as it is not yet clear where the new series will fit into the existing structures of international single-seater racing.
Ferrari is not Honda's only choice
There has been much reporting in the last day or so which suggests that the team formerly known as Honda Racing F1 is close to a deal to use Ferrari engines in 2009. This is not as clear-cut as some of the stories have suggested.
ART looks to DNA as well as raw talent
Formula 3 Euroseries champions ART Grand Prix (which has won the title for the last five seasons in its different guises) has announced that it will be running four cars as usual in 2009.
Hallam settles into NASCAR
Former McLaren head of race engineering Steve Hallam is now settling into his new role as Director of Competition at Michael Waltrip Racing in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hallam spent 27 years in Formula 1 before deciding to try something new.
Some bizarre claims
The British tabloid press is known for its desire to titillate its readership - as the F1 world has discovered in graphic terms in the course of the last year. The "red tops" have therefore been enjoying the goings-on of an employment tribunal in Southampton.
Sebastien Buemi heading for Toro Rosso
Sebastien Buemi is the next driver in the Red Bull Junior "production line" and thus it has long been expected that he would be one of the drivers with Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2009. The 20-year-old Swiss racer has already done two seasons in GP2 and has been testing for Red Bull Racing for more than a year.
Upcoming car launches
Formula 1 teams have been busily building their new cars and the first of the new 2009 cars is expected to be unveiled next week when Ferrari takes the covers off its new challenger at Fiorano on Monday morning (January 12).
Ferrari laughs off Peugeot KERS stories
Ferrari sources say that rumours linking the company's development of KERS with the Peugeot sportscar team are not to be taken seriously. The stories, which seem to have begun in the United States, suggest that Peugeot will run the Ferrari F1 KERS system on a 908 development car.
A deal worth noting
Carlin Motorsport has announced that it is switching to Volkswagen engines in Formula 3 for 2009, following the announcement that it has signed two Red Bull Junior drivers. All the Red Bull Formula 3 drivers in 2009 will run with VW power.
Michael Schumacher and Honda
One intriguing rumour to surface over the Christmas period is the suggestion that Honda Racing F1's Ross Brawn may have been talking seriously to Michael Schumacher about working together to save the Brackley team.
The argument for salary caps in F1
These are difficult times for the motorsport world. Consumer confidence around the world has been shaken by the financial chaos that has occurred since the credit crunch. The International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn says that 2009 will be a "very dark" year unless governments do more to get economies moving again.
Stewart on the offensive
Sir Jackie Stewart has started the New Year with an unveiled attack on Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley, arguing that the two need to leave Formula 1 in order for the sport to move on.
Petty Enterprises closes its doors
It is a sign of the times in NASCAR that Petty Enterprises is to close its doors, laying off its remaining staff. The team is the oldest and most successful Cup team in NASCAR, with a history going back 60 years.
Bourdais to Penske?
Penske Performance president Tim Cindric has told the St Petersburg Times that the Indycar team has yet to make a decision about the future of Helio Castroneves. The Brazilian could get a prison time if convicted of charges of tax evasion, and his scheduled March trial would leave the Indy Racing League team little time to find a suitable team mate for Ryan Briscoe.
A change at Red Bull Racing
Red Bull has announced that Eric Silbermann will relinquish his role as Head of Communications at Red Bull Racing.
Lewis Hamilton MBE
Lewis Hamilton has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours List.
The Mole - If the cap fits
The Mole trudged through the freezing darkness towards the glow of the village pub. He could hear the distant laughter and a quiet tinkle of glasses and he knew that in a moment he would be out of the bitter cold and into the warmth of an English tavern. A fire would be burning in the hearth and the bar would be filled with the eccentric sort of folk one finds in such places.
The Mole - As the world winds down for Christmas
"Oh my God!" said Penelope (Roedean). "Do you realise Mole that you have not written for www.grandprix.com for several months." The Mole looked rather sheepish and pretended that he was busy with a dull file marked: "Defunct Russian Grand Prix plans".
Insight - Donington Park's plans for the British GP
By Joe Saward
Simon Gillett, the chief executive of Donington Park, has not said a great deal about his plans for the British Grand Prix in 2010, arguing that it is best to let his actions speak for him. He understands that there is much cynicism in F1 circles and scepticism that the idea will ever come to fruition.
The Man in the Pub - Fantasy Formula 1
By Rob Sinfield
In these straightened times a Pound will not buy very much. In the pub it’s a third of a pint of beer or two bags of crisps, which is not much of a night out by any stretch of the imagination.
Globetrotter - Ouch, this economic crisis thing is hurting...
By Joe Saward
The world economic crisis is not good news for Formula 1, but it may be a catalyst for change that will improve the way things are done in the sport.
Analysis: Sayonara Honda, who else is at risk?
The Honda Motor Company has confirmed that it is pulling out of Formula 1 racing. The company's chief executive Takeo Fukui told the media in Japan that the move was necessary because of difficult business conditions and added that there are no plans to be supply engines in F1 either.
Global partnerships and F1
The announcement of a global partnership between LG and the Formula One group seems set to mark the start of a campaign to raise money for the sport from marketing partnerships. This is logical given what has been seen with the Olympic Games and the soccer World Cup.
Quitting time?
The threat by Ferrari to pull out of Formula 1 if the FIA President Max Mosley goes on with his plans to introduce standard engines is not unexpected. This, of course, provides the media with a good story for the next 24 hours, but what does it really mean?
Thoughts after the yelling and screaming
There continue to be different opinions about Lewis Hamilton's penalty in Spa, including some rather bizarre comments from Surinder Thatti, the Tanzanian steward (who represents Kenya), who was part of the decision-making process.
What games are these?
Bernie Ecclestone has told the BBC that he would welcome Max Mosley back into the Grand Prix paddock after the sado-masochistic sex scandal in March, which has kept Mosley out of F1 for most of the year. The FIA President made a brief appearance at Monaco, but this was simply a photo opportunity designed to give the impression that it was business as usual.
And so to Valencia
Formula 1 teams have been visiting the city of Valencia for some time, to test at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo. This was not enough for the local government, which was looking for a sporting event to draw people to the city, following the successful America's Cup event in 2007.
An interesting settlement
Ferrari and McLaren have announced that they are bringing to an end the various legal disputes between them. McLaren has agreed to pay Ferrari's legal costs arising from the actions, which relate to the spying scandals of 2007.
Planning permission in England
Donington Park says it will be the home of the British Grand Prix by 2010, but there are many obstacles to be got over before that announcement becomes a reality.
