Formula One News — May 2005

The arrival of May 1 may signal a holiday for most of Europe but the date also marks the change of two important faces in key jobs in the automobile world. Carlos Ghosn, the boss of Nissan, moves to Paris to take over control of Renault, replacing veteran Louis Schweitzer.

Back in 2003 it was announced that there would be a Formula 1 race in Korea in 2009 at a new track which would be built near the city of Jinhae (Chinhae). This is to be part of a vast development which will include a new seaport with 30 berths which aims to become the maritime capital of Asia.

The Toyota-owned Fuji Speedway will this week host the second round of Japan's Super GT series, the first event at the track after 18 months of refurbishment which is aimed at bringing the Japanese Grand Prix back to the track for the first time since the 1970s.

Bernie Ecclestone rarely says something to the media without a reason behind it and so it is interesting to note that he has been telling the British press that he believes tennis needs to be reorganised and that he and Flavio Briatore considered a bid to buy Chelsea Football Club in London.

The new Renault World Series kicked off at Zolder on Sunday with wins going to Enrico Toccacelo (Victory Engineering) and Robert Kubica (Epsilon Euskadi). In the first race Toccacelo left from pole to finish and was chased home by Andreas Zuber (Carlin Motorsport) and Kubica.

Developers are planning to build an indoor racing circuit in Plainfield, Connecticut - and have just won zoning approval for the project from the town. The town has voted to change the 900-acre site to be part of a "resort/recreational development zone."

Bahrain's General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Residence is warning people who entered Bahrain on special F1 visas that it is now time to go home - or face legal action.