Raikkonen to compete in world rally Finland

Former Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen is to compete in the World Rally Championship in his native Finland at the end of the July.
Ferrari's Raikkonen has appeared in three non-championship rallies this season and will be behind the wheel of a Fiat Abarth Grande Punto.
His co-driver, Kaj Lindstrom, said: "The roads used for this rally are so fast but he's very talented."
The rally is staged three weeks before the European Grand Prix in Valencia.
Raikkonen, who won the F1 title in 2007, will be competing against the likes of championship favourites Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen.
Event spokesman Simon Long said: "It's superb news for the championship and hugely exciting that he'll be competing at Rally Finland."
In a disappointing season for Ferrari, Raikkonen has won just 10 points in the drivers' world championship, 54 behind leader Jenson Button.

Source: BBC
By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch

»»  read more

Donnington recieves 2010 boost

Donington's bid to stage next year's British Grand Prix has been boosted after final planning permission for its redevelopment programme was approved.
After giving the £100m redevelopment the green light in January, North West Leicestershire District Council then demanded certain signed assurances.
And circuit owner Simon Gillett and landowner Tom Wheatcroft have both now signed, meaning work can re-commence.
However, there is still some concern over how the scheme will be financed.
Gillet's planned debenture scheme to raise private investment was due to launch at the end of March but has failed to get off the ground.
A legal dispute between Wheatcroft and lease-holders DVLL, the council's concerns and the BRDC's insistence the race should return to Silverstone have also all added to Gillett's headaches.
However, Gillet said: "It's great to have cleared another hurdle and to see the hard work of the entire team at the circuit paying off.
"There's no denying that we still have a lot of hard work ahead but we'll continue to remain positive and do everything that we can to deliver against the promises that we have been made.
"The construction work is obviously extremely important, but we're also trying hard to ensure that it doesn't compromise the experience that our visitors to forthcoming events have."
This weekend will see the World Superbike Championship staged at Donington, but work on new pits and a paddock complex is set to begin immediately.
Silverstone, which hosted the British Grand Prix last weekend, remains many people's tip to host the race next year, despite F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone favouring Donington.


By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch

»»  read more

Mosley hints that peace deal may not be as solid as first thought

Motorsport boss Max Mosley has claimed Formula 1's peace deal could be jeopardised by continuing antagonism between him and the sport's teams.
He accused the F1 Teams' Association (Fota) of misleading the media after an agreement to end the sport's civil war.
"If you wish the agreement we made to have any chance of survival, you must rectify your actions," Mosley said.
Mosley, who had said he would not stand for re-election in October, added that he now considered his "options open".
In the letter, written on Wednesday to Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, the chairman of Fota, Mosley accused Fota of falsely stating he had behaved like a dictator and that he had been forced from office.
And he hinted that he might reconsider the deal that secured an end to the political row in the sport.
In that deal, Mosley abandoned his plans for a cost cap but secured the commitment of the teams to F1 until 2010 and agreed not to stand again for the FIA presidency in October.
"A fundamental part of [the deal] was that we would both present a positive and truthful account to the media," Mosley wrote.
"I was therefore astonished to learn that Fota has been briefing the press that Mr (Michel) Boeri (president of the FIA Senate) has taken charge of F1, something which you know is completely untrue; that I had been forced out of office, also false; and, apparently, that I would have no role in the FIA after October, something which is plain nonsense, if only because of the FIA statutes [which grant former presidents a place on the senate]."
In the letter, leaked to news agencies, he added: "There was no need for me to involve myself further in Formula 1 once we had a settlement.
"Equally, I had a long-standing plan not to seek re-election in October. It was therefore possible for me to confirm both points to you yesterday.
"Given your and Fota's deliberate attempt to mislead the media, I now consider my options open. At least until October, I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that office.
"After that it is the FIA member clubs, not you or Fota, who will decide on the future leadership of the FIA."
Mosley demanded an apology at at a news conference held by Fota on Thursday.
There was no apology there, and Fota's members expressed a wish to have a neutral figure governing their sport, but Di Montezemolo did praise Mosley's tenure as FIA president.
"I have to say that after a month of confrontations, we are pleased to thank the president of the FIA for his decision to leave the FIA in October, for the work that he has done - particularly for safety because this was, and still is, a big priority in F1 and the sport," Di Montezemolo said.
"F1 has made a huge, huge improvement in safety. We want to thank the FIA and the World Council for the unanimous agreement (on Wednesday) to approve and accept Fota's proposals."
However, the Italian's efforts clearly failed to placate Mosley, who sent a subsequent letter to all the presidents of the FIA member clubs urging them to appoint a "strong president" in the wake of what he sees as bullying by Fota.
It follows calls from Fota vice-president on John Howett for Mosley successor to be "independent".
The inference was a man such as Jean Todt, currently favourite, would not be an ideal candidate as Mosley's successor given his prior length of service with Ferrari.
But in Mosley's letter to FIA member clubs on Friday, he wrote: "The question of FIA president is a matter exclusively for you and most definitely not for the vehicle manufacturers who make up Fota.
"To have an FIA president under the influence of the vehicle manufacturers would put at jeopardy all the excellent work our organisation... if nothing else, this attempt to tell FIA members who they should or should not elect demonstrates precisely why the FIA needs a strong president who is experienced and knowledgeable."
And the 70-year-old hinted again that he was prepared for further ructions with Fota, "even if this leads to difficulties in the sport", he wrote.
"No doubt we face a difficult period and this may well result in short-term problems in Formula 1.
"It is possible Fota will set up an independent series. That is their right, provided they do so under the International Sporting Code.
"But the Formula 1 world championship will continue to be run by the FIA as it has been for 60 years.
"The championship has had difficult times in the past, and no doubt will again in the future. But that is no reason to hand control to an outside body, still less one with little or no understanding of sporting ethics and under the control of an industry we have constantly to monitor."

Soucred from BBC
By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch

»»  read more

Formula one in hunt for Mosley's successor

Formula 1 teams want to find a neutral figure to govern the sport when Max Mosley's reign as the president of governing body the FIA ends in October.
Mosley agreed not to stand for re-election as part of a peace deal to end the threat of a breakaway championship.
"We would like someone independent from any of us," said John Howett, the vice-president of teams' association Fota, which had planned a rival series.
"Either currently or historically. It would mean a much better balance."
Representatives of Fota's eight members - all the current F1 teams on the grid with the exception of Force India and Williams - were assembled in Bologna on Thursday to discuss the future of the sport.
However, the tone of the meeting was much more positive after Mosley struck a resolution with Fota at a World Motorsport Council meeting on Wednesday to put an end to their ongoing dispute.
As part of the deal, the 69-year-old agreed not to seek to extend his 16-year tenure as FIA president by standing for a fifth term in October.
The teams, who oppose what they see as Mosley's arbitrary style of governance, will play no part in deciding his successor.
That responsibility falls to the World Motorsport Council, who will elect a candidate of their choosing.
Michel Boeri, president of the Automobile Club de Monaco, former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt, former rally driver Ari Vatanen and chief steward Alan Donnelley, who is also Mosley's representative, have all been mentioned in connection with the role.
The agreement between the FIA and Fota also saw Mosley's controversial plan to introduce a £40m budget cap for 2010 shelved.
Instead, the teams will work to their own agreed cost-cutting measures with a view to reducing spending to early 1990s' levels.
"Already the savings have resulted in 15-25% saved and we will see further savings in the next few seasons," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner.
A new deal to settle teams' share of commercial rights has yet to be signed with holder CVC, represented by Bernie Ecclestone, but Flavio Briatore has already been given the task of overseeing the commercial development of the sport.
The Renault team principal wants to improve the spectacle of F1 and push for a return to its traditional circuits.
"Even if the likes of Turkey are paying more money, we would rather have stadia that are full," Briatore said.
"It is better for the spirit of the sport. We want stands full of fans. There is no point spending all that money on an empty cathedral.
"We want to work for a better show, better entertainment."

Source: BBC

-- Post From My iPod

»»  read more