Formula One News — December 2000

SILVERSTONE has yet to approach the British authorities about funding for the planned rebuilding of Silverstone but the organization which decides on whether or not money should be given for the project says that there is a provision for "world class events" which have "national significance".

PROST GRAND PRIX have announced that they will give Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi and Oriol Servia of Spain a chance to test with the team in Barcelona this week.

THE Silverstone racing circuit has long been criticized for the poor access roads in the area which cause enormous congestion at the British Grand Prix but even before the disastrous race in April, the British Department of the Environment has finally announced plans to upgrade the main A43 to provide a much better strategic link between the M40 and M1 motorways.

OUR spies in Faenza report that while negotiations continue for the sale of the team, the engineers in Italy are buy working on the design of the 2000 chassis which will feature Supertec V10 engines and, rumor has it, elements of the rear end of the current Benetton.

SOUTH AFRICA is to spend over $50m on a massive advertising campaign to attract more tourists to the country.

DOUBLE World Champion Mika Hakkinen became a father today when his wife Erja gave birth to a boy.

THE plans for a Grand Prix in India have now been completed and were submitted to the West Bengal state government a couple of weeks ago.

JENSON BUTTON insisted on Monday that Formula One's latest rookie Kimi Raikkonen will struggle to find his feet in Grand Prix racing next season.

PROST GRAND PRIX have announced the signing of a three-year agreement with French tire manufacturers Michelin.

BRITON Jenson Button will become a world champion when he returns to Williams, according to BMW Motorsport director Gerhard Berger.

FIFTEEN year old British driver Lewis Hamilton walked away with victory last weekend in the Young Hopefuls section of the Elf Master Karting competition at Paris Bercy Exhibition Centre.

THE Formula 1 Commission has rejected plans for the return of electronic driver aids in Formula 1 because of opposition to the idea from Ferrari and teams associated with the Italian organization.

THE legendary, frenetic tones of Murray Walker, competing in the decibel race with his beloved formula one cars in the manner once described of one with his trousers on fire, will be lost to the world of grand prix racing at the end of the 2001 world championship season.

THE voice of Grand Prix racing Murray Walker announced on Monday that he will hang up his microphone at the end of the 2001 Formula One season.

THOMAS HAFFA, the boss of EM.TV has told a German newspaper that he will resign as chief executive if he cannot regain the trust of investors and market analysts.

THERE was some embarrassment this week for Flavio Briatore's girlfriend Naomi Campbell when it emerged that the man who ran the Fashion Cafe, using her name and the names of other famous models to promote the business, has been arrested and is allegedly facing a string of charges including Money laundering, conspiracy and the transportation of stolen property.

THE United States Grand Prix landed the prestigious Promoters Trophy at the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) end-of-season prizegiving awards on Friday.

BRITON Jenson Button on Saturday expressed fears over the introduction of traction control but admitted it will help teams end the dominance of Ferrari and McLaren in Formula One.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER was presented with his prize for lifting the Formula One World Championship at the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile's annual end-of-season ceremony in Monaco on Friday.

The British Racing Drivers' Club, which owns Silverstone, is trying to improve its image and to attract government money for the rebuilding of the circuit and has launched plans for a Racing Academy to help promote young British racing talent.

THERE have been mutterings in recent days that one or two teams are planning to make a fuss about Alain Prost's plans to use not only Ferrari engines in 2001 but also elements of the rear end of the current Ferrari package, including the gearbox and possibly the rear suspension as well.

PROST GRAND PRIX is going to be busy this week in Barcelona, running a number of young drivers to see who would be the best recruit to partner veteran Jean Alesi.

RUBENS BARRICHELLO has dismissed the title chances of Briton David Coulthard and said he will be the man to challenge Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen for the championship.

DOUBLE world champions Ferrari sparked a new Formula One civil war on Friday after blocking the immediate return of electronic driver aids, it was claimed.