A look at the WEC

The next Formula 1 race is still a week away. In the meantime the fantastic LMP1 cars of the WEC are racing in the six hours of Belgium at the challenging Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The pole time was not far away from the times of Formula 1 race pace, these are seriously quick cars. Combined with LMP2 and the two GT classes this is a series which provides a taste of the Le Mans 24 hours, which starts in just over a months time.

I've already been able to experience watching these machines at Silverstone a few weeks ago. With many an ex-Formula 1 drivers including Mark Webber, Alexander Wurz and Anthony Davidson in the ranks as well as current Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg racing in Belgium and Le Mans, it was quite the mesmeric watch, especially as the LMP1 cars sliced through the GT cars. And although it's not easy to follow without a radio plugged into your ear, there was some good action. For a six hour race the LMP1 cars kept close to each other throughout with only 15 seconds separating the top three by the end. 

Here's a few pictures of a fine if windy race day at Silverstone.

The number 2 Toyota on the formation grid

Number 7 Audi getting a few last minute checks

Wurz gracefully getting out of his Toyota

World Champion Anthony Davidson calming everyone down

Mark Webber heads over to his pole sitting Porsche

Webber getting ready to lead the grid away

Sebastien Buemi taking the first stint in the No. 1 Toyota

Racing under way, the GT cars provided a lot of close action

No. 2 Toyota still with Wurz at the wheel.

Buemi staying near the front

It was close for a long time in the LMP1 class.

No. 8 Audi would fall back later on after challenging at the front.

Webber led the early going but a problem took the car out of the race

The Toyota didn't look as fast as the Audi or Porsche.

No. 7 Audi would swap the lead for a long way into the race.

The LMP1 cars just cut through the back-markers.

No. 18 Porsche kept the race alive.

Gulf sponsored Aston Martin looks great.

Davidson pushed hard to stay in contention.

Another look at the Aston.

No. 7 Audi despite late pit stop and penalty kept the lead.

No. 1 Toyota managed to get on the podium.

But the No. 7 Audi won, ahead of the 18 Porsche and 1 Toyota.

Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer & Benoit Treluyer take their rewards.

Michelin man watches as it's time for Champagne.

The noise of Formula 1: Comparison

If you haven’t attended a Grand Prix before and you were to ask someone who had what it was like, chances are the first thing they’d mention was the noise. In previous years the first thing you’d know about a Formula 1 car is hearing them far off in the distance and there would be that anticipation that they were on their way towards you before they’d hurtle into view and as they’d pass you it would literally vibrate through your body before they’d shoot off. It was exhilarating, a wall of violent sound kept under control by the dancing feet on the pedals and the strength and skill of the hands on the wheel.

It’s mesmerising to see a Formula 1 car in action. I’ve been lucky enough to see 15 Grand Prix over the years and it’s quite a fantastic experience seeing them live, right in front of you. And seeing them this year was no different in my opinion.

I’ve not really written too much about the noise debate, in fact as the season has gone we’re beginning to hear less and less from people about the subject. For good reason too as the racing has been just as good, and in the end that’s what the people are paying their money for. There have been sound bites of people criticising the show but I feel its unjust for the most part.

I’ve waited until now to add a few comments because I wanted to actually hear these new Turbo engines up close myself. Below are two clips taken with the same camera. The first one is from the young driver test last year, and the second is from this year’s British Grand Prix. They are taken from nearly the same section of track. The test clip was taken in the Grandstand on the old start/finish straight so you see the cars coming out of Woodcote down the straight to Copse. This year’s race clip was taken from the Grandstand on the outside of Copse.

Now if I was to ask which one sounded better then I think the majority of people would go with the 2013 vintage. It’s scream just projects the exhilaration of Formula 1 into you, pretty much nowhere else could you hear cars like this. The 2014 version is obviously a lot quieter, you can hear the circuit commentary a lot clearer and you come away from the race not feeling like you’ve been pummelled in the face for ninety minutes. Which actually I quite liked, although there was something nice about having your ears ringing for hours afterwards, it felt like you’d experienced something amazing.

However, as much as I’m eulogising about the extinct normally aspirated V8’s of yesteryear, I have no problem with moving on to this more subtle noise. In fact I actually quite like it now. Formula 1 is meant to be the leading motorsport and no matter what anyone tells you that means you have to move with the times and that means moving towards greener technology. To be basic, sound is energy, the cars are quieter because these power units are that much more efficient at using all the waste energy that it produces. It’s a message which the F1 commercial team have failed to get through to the fans somewhat, but it’s important that Formula 1 is at the forefront of this. Nowhere else does technology progress at such a pace than in the competitive environment of this sport.

The racing was obviously unaffected, it was a great race at Silverstone and after a few laps you simply don’t care about the noise, it’s the racing you’re concentrating on. You can still see the cars, the drivers at work controlling these still very powerful machines and actually there is something quite pleasing about the rumble of thunder as they come towards you, it’s not body shattering but it still combines well as the drivers tame the cars in front of you. I actually find the turbo sounds and the electrical whining that you can hear particularly on the Ferrari to be futuristic, which is what Formula 1 should be about.

I’m sure as the years go on and we create new sources of cleaner fuel for the combustion engine, which will happen, then they’ll become 50/50 hybrid machines with a nice subtle roar and the whine of electricity, maybe it’ll even get louder again, but this kind of technology is here to stay and for good reason. I don’t want to see F1 go fully electric, there’s the new Formula E for that (which to be fair actually sounds pretty good to my ears). F1 has been built on noise and that needs to be maintained, but I was quite pleased, and after 90minutes of racing it might be quieter but it’s still very spectacular and an experience you won’t forget. 

Silverstone 50: The Best British Grand Prix

It’s that time of year, Wimbledon is into its second week, a major Football tournament is going on, Tour de France is about to start, so it must mean the British Grand Prix is on its way. It has such a great atmosphere come rain or shine, or actually usually bits of sun and very windy! The crowd is enthusiastic and friendly, the racing is usually pretty decent, the Grandstands and general admission mostly give a good view of the track and the weather always gives it that air of unpredictability.

I’ve been lucky enough to attend several Grand Prix at Silverstone since 1995, many of them have been exceptional races, so as this year it is a celebration of Silverstone’s 50^th Grand Prix I’m going to give my five best races that I’ve attended. Just so you know I’m not deliberately leaving races out which should be regarded as classics so here’s the years I’ve attended; 1995, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2003, 04, 07, 10, 11, 12.

There’s a few good races I’ve left out, but here’s my five that were the best to me at least.

2004

It wasn’t the best race in the world, but it was a decent one. As a Schumacher fan back then I enjoyed it immensely, mainly because it was an uncontroversial win and he just drove the car hard all the way to the flag despite some intense Kimi Raikkonen pressure.

Schumacher started fourth on a full tank of fuel. Back then you qualified with your race fuel load, his had been more than anyone’s. At the start he circulated in fourth just behind the pole sitting Kimi, Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button. As one by one they came into the pits, Schuey was released and put the hammer down. You could see just how hard he was pushing. He exited the pits in the lead. But it wasn’t the end, a late safety car put Kimi back onto him, and he harried Schuey to the flag.

It was a year Schumacher won pretty much everything, he was in the middle of a seven race winning streak, I’d have felt a bit cheated if he hadn’t managed Silverstone too!

2010

‘Not bad for a number 2 driver’. Yes, I thought about whether to put this or 2012 in, but I preferred this one. Mark Webber had suffered in qualifying after having his newer front wing taken off his car and given to his team mate Sebastian Vettel.

At the start Webber charged ahead of Vettel forcing him wide. Lewis Hamilton made minor contact with Vettel giving the German a puncture. He fell to the back of the field and was only three seconds ahead of Webber on the road before a safety car allowed him to catch the back of the pack.

What followed was a fantastic charge through the pack to end up seventh, with some particularly forceful moves going on. At the front Webber held off Hamilton by just over a second as they fought to the flag. But it was the way Webber battled against the suggested favouritism that Red Bull showed Vettel. It was a stirring drive full of Aussie Grit and a satisfying riposte to the events of the previous day.

1995

We were at the height of the Schumacher and Damon Hill rivalry here. Hill lead away from pole position while Schumacher fell to third behind Jean Alesi. Hill tore away from Alesi but was on a two stop strategy. While everyone came into the pits, Schumacher marched on until half distance and took the lead when Hill made his second stop. Hill quickly caught Schumacher and attacked him for several laps, the tension was immense. It ended when Hill dived for a gap that was always going to close taking them both off.

Behind, the Benetton and Williams battle continued as David Coulthard fought with Johnny Herbert, a penalty dropped Coulthard out of contention, and it was a popular first win for Herbert at his home Grand Prix.

Right in front of me though was a spectacular accident between Mark Blundell and Rubens Barrichello on the last lap as they battled for fifth, which ended the race in a lively fashion.

1998

Rain, lots of rain. It’s always fantastic to see Formula 1 cars in the wet even if the weather conditions don’t exactly make it the most comfortable viewing conditions. Sitting on the top of the hill by Club corner, we had a spectacular view as the drivers strove to keep the cars on the track, their hands dancing on the steering wheel.

Mika Hakkinen lead at the start, but spun off allowing Schumacher to take the lead. He edged away but was handed a stop go penalty for overtaking under yellows. He attacked to pull out a gap, but Ferrari were smart and pulled Schumacher in to the pits to serve his penalty on the last lap. He crossed the line to win before taking his penalty. It was in the rules and this crazy win was allowed.

But what really makes this special is the ability of these drivers controlling 800bhp cars in pouring rain. It was incredible.

2003

Rubens Barrichello won a dramatic race which had so many drivers out of position due to an early safety car as a mad catholic priest ran out on to the track. The two Toyota’s of Olivier Panis and Christiano da Matta lead for a long time as the big guns tried to fight back through the field.

It was Rubens day though, his passing was incisive and fast and he rose to the front of the field brilliantly to lead from Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya. Schumacher had got back up to fourth but it was his Ferrari team mate who stole the day with a fantastic performance.

There was action all the way down the field, not a single driver was left to race on his own as the entire grid put on a show to remember.

all photo's taken from autosport.com apart from 1995 GP taken from grandprix247.com

Awe-inspiring speed at Silverstone

It may have only been a young driver test, but some of what you saw was incredible. Here are a few video's from the test. They're only small clips, especially the first two but these opening couple of video's show the sheer speed and direction change as they sweep into Copse corner.

The first is of Davide Rigon in the Ferrari, the next is Antonio Felix da Costa, who might just have the coolest name ever. He's driving the Red Bull and watching that car through Copse was amazing. 

Paul di Resta and Kevin Magnussen also looked utterly committed there, but alas I have not the adequate camera footage. Anyway, here are five video's from Wednesday 17th July, enjoy.

Copse clips:

Here we have a few clips of them coming out of Woodcote and down the old start finish straight.

And finally here's Magnussen and da Costa coming out of Luffield and into the pits.

For photo's from the young driver test, please click here.

Silverstone young driver test photo's

It was the start of the young driver test at a boiling Silverstone today (Wednesday 17th). Well it's mostly for young drivers, a few race drivers will be taking part to test out the new Pirelli's for Hungary in a weeks time.

All teams apart from the banned Mercedes squad participated in eight hours of ear shredding noise and spectacular watching. Being able to roam, even a small part of the track was great. Copse in particular was magical, the amount of speed they carry through there is utterly amazing.

Anyway rather than telling you what happened here is an extensive collection of pictures from the days events. The photo's of the garages might have been better if some of the bigger teams had taken their screens down, but still they did put their 2012 cars on display. Video's can be found here.

26 year old Davide Rigon is part of the Ferrari young driver program. He is no stranger to these tests and will be driving for two and a half days of the three. Felipe Massa gets the Friday morning to test Pirelli's.

Alex Rossi is from the USA, America's first decent hope at a successful F1 driver in years. He concentrated on long runs for most of the day and struck a problem when going for a fast time. He still completed 69 laps. 

Robin Frijns tested for Sauber. He is the reigning Formula Renault 3.5 Champion and this year has already won in GP2 

Tio Ellinas currently leads the GP3 standings. Max Chilton took over Marussia duties in the afternoon.

GP2 race winner James Calado was overjoyed to get his first taste of Formula 1.

Kevin Magnussen dives right into the heat haze

Johnny Cecotto is a GP2 race winner and part time crasher. Money bought him 75 laps in a Toro Rosso.

Antonio Felix da Costa has possibly the coolest name in the Red Bull young driver program. Daniel Ricciardo was meant to have the afternoon but that was delayed until Thursday when it'll be his chance to show Red Bull just why he should be Webber's replacement.

Art.

Paul di Resta looked on it as soon as he took to the track.

da Costa contorting the Red Bull

Daniel Juncadella is 2012 F3 Euro Series champion. He is currently in the DTM.

Kevin Magnussen has been part of the McLaren program for a while now, they have high hopes for him. He is currently 2nd in Formula Renault 3.5. Magnussen set the fastest time of the day after completing 100 laps.

Nicolas Prost, son of Alain, isn't an F1 hopeful at 31 years old, but he is a reliable tester. He now drives in Sports cars.