Renault’s end is here!

Nelson Piquet’s Crash

The much awaited hearing ended on Monday, and what followed was Renault’s 2 year ban! So what does this mean? As of today, Renault is banned for the next 2 years from the FIA, Briatore and Symonds are banned from the F1 fraternity and Piquet Jr. got away scot free in exchange for the evidence he provided to the World Motor Sport Council.

Nelson Piquet Jr.

Although there are those who say Briatore and Symonds deserve what they got, there are those who believe it is very unfair to the rest of the team. And I have to agree.

Flavio Briatore & Pat Symonds

The WMSC also declared that Alonso had nothing to do with the conspiracy and therefore no action will be taken against him. But then again, he is left without a team isn’t he?

Fernando Alonso

Well, I guess that is a wrap on last year’s Singapore Grand Prix only 5 days ahead of the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix!

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The worst scandal in F1 racing!!

A day after Renault’s Briatore and Symonds resigned from the team, the world of sports is abuzz with what is probably the worst scandal in F1 racing.

Formula 1 as a sport has its history of foul play over the years. With racers intentionally crashing to dampen another’s race, there is nothing very different about the latest Renault scandal. But what is reported as a first, is the fact that a racer was asked to crash for the benefit of a fellow team racer.

Among the accusations against team Renault, the strongest is that of the team risking not only Piquet’s life, but also endangering the spectators, marshals and other racers.

Nelson Piquet Jr. with Flavio Briatore

The case does have a couple of different takes and these are some of them:

– Piquet Jr. should bear the consequences because he chose to go ahead with the dirty plan.

– Alonso should renounce his title from last year even if he had no idea about the plan.

– The team should be banned from F1 racing.

The Singapore Grand Prix seems to be getting all the publicity it needs before the race in September. Whatever said, Singapore is the most talked of race this season!

www.singaporegrandprix.in   

 

What does this mean?

Here we were waiting for Renault’s hearing on Monday. Little did we think there would be so much drama way before the hearing even! The team is not going to be disputing the allegations made by Piquet Jr. But the juiciest bit of it all is the bit on the resignations.

Renault’s managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds have reportedly left the team.

Renault's masterminds - Pat Symonds and Flavio Briatore

After a prolonged denial of the accusations made against the team, by Piquet Jr. and his father, the team released the following press release,

“The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team. Before attending the hearing before the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on 21 September 2009, the team will not make any further comment.”

So was Alonso’s win at Singapore last year really a fluke?

WOW! It is almost time for round 2 of the Singapore Grand Prix and last year’s race is back in the spotlight! I guess it is definitely safe to say that this is another first at the Singapore Grand Prix!

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Moments of a rich past!

F1 history has its share of unforgettable moments. Moments that make you cringe, moments that you make you smile and moments that leave you speechless.

This video has a compilation of  some of the best fights on the circuit!

Let me know what you think or better still, share a video that you’ve come across.

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Who will it be?

Force India’s, Vijay Mallya says that the team is now ready to use McLaren’s simulator to test Indian racer Karan Chandok for the role of the team’s test driver. But that is not all. Dr. Mallya went on to say that Karan would have to prove his capability.

Dr. Mallya, Force India

The 25 year old from Chennai is currently racing in the GP2 Series and is said to be a strong contender for the role as test driver after Liuzzi’s switch to the race car.

Ex-test driver, Neel Jani is also in the running for Force India’s test driver. With experience of testing for Sauber, Red Bull and Toro Rosso, he might just be too tough a competition.

Since, the test drivers are being chosen for the team’s 2010 line up, I guess there is time and we will have to wait and watch.

For more action in this season, you can be as close to all the action as Force India is to the podium. With package deals to Singapore starting at Rs.46,660, Travel Tours is making sure you can be in Singapore for all the action.

www.singaporegrandprix.in

Force India – unexpected and brilliant!

It is as if he was unsure of what the car was really capable of until Fisichella broke Force India’s record of staying behind the pack. Right from the practice sessions at Monza, Adrian Sutil surprised us all with his performance. And to top it all off he went on to finish 4th. Woah!

 

Adrian Sutil, Force India

When it was time for Vitantonio Liuzzi to get in the car to replace Fisichella, I had my doubts, but I guess he just proved me and a lot of others wrong! Liuzzi went out on to the tracks and drove like he owned it and all I can say is, wow! What a way to make everything of an opportunity!

Whatever the reason be, it sure is good to see Force India making a mark in F1 racing! All in all, Sutil and Liuzzi are definitely going all out and I guess we are just going to have to wait watch what the 2 racers have in store for India and the world!

Singapore just seems to be getting more exciting with every race. The world’s only night race coupled with the best deals that start at Rs.46,660, Singapore gets so much more enticing!

www.singaporegrandprix.in

The race to the track!

F1 Singapore 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2009 Grand Prix track has been fraught with twists and turns. There is a lot of action both off and on the track.

KERS. Massa’s accident. Schumacher’s Return. Schumacher disappointing the world! Nelson Piquet. Force India. Fisichella. Fisichella moving to Ferrari! OK.. then slow DOWN! But no as Monza approaches, the fastest track of the year. The engines just get louder!

Renault charged with fixing the race at Singapore 2008.

F1 Singapore 2009

Do you think I want to sit at home and catch up with the craze in front of the telly! No way! And then I stumbled upon this really amazing deal 46,660/- 3 Days, 4 Nights; Visa, airfare, 4 Star Hotel AND F1 ticket. Plus an easy EMI scheme. PLUS a chance to win a holiday in GOA!

F1 Singapore 2009 seats

 

All you have to do is log onto www.singaporegrandprix.in and see it for yourself! Whew! Awesome!

F1 Singapore Packages for Indians!

Have you ever heard of an F1 package being tailor made for Indians? Well, neither had I. But it is almost time for the Singapore Grand Prix and Travel Tours is making sure it has packages tailor made for Indians.

These guys have gone all out to make sure that you stay well within your budget. And trust me that does not mean any kind of compromise. I’m talking about 4 star hotels, the best air travel, your visa charges and your F1 ticket in complete packages starting at Rs. 46,660.

With other booking avenues that cater to the world as a whole, Travel Tours has taken that extra step to make it different for those from India. Travel Tours has gone all out to make sure every Indian who goes to Singapore will have an experience of a lifetime.

We also did this little exercise of putting together a package by using our own resources and savvy internet skills no matter what we did, 4 star hotel+airfare+visa+F1 ticket was 20k more! Plus Travel Tour packages give you a completely stress-free package.

It is as if Singapore just got better! If you have heard of something better… go ahead and tell me about it!

www.singaporegrandprix.in

Are you serious?

Rs. 46,660* that is all it costs. Yes, you can be at the Singapore Grand Prix, with the best view of the race, top notch travel and high-end accommodation.

If you are someone who says,’ I just want to go for the race and I’m really not bothered about where I stay’, you should be warned. Singapore will be completely SOLD OUT by the time the race begins. Be wise and make your reservations now. And come on if it costs you only Rs.46,000* for a plush 4star accommodation, your visa, your travel and your F1 tickets, why not?

The package deal that comes closest to this one that Travel tours is offering is the one that Kuoni has. So their package starts at Rs.47,000 that includes only your stay and a walk about pass. This package does not even include your airfare!

Now if you really are confused about your options to go to the Singapore Grand Prix you could go through the comparative prices in my previous blogs Interesting!! Best deals to F1 Singapore 2009  and The BEST deal by far!

www.singaporegrandprix.in

Action packed F1 racing!

There are about 18 days to go for the Singapore Grand Prix. The only Night Race in the world is back and is bringing with a whole lot of action.

Was the Singapore Grand Prix a real challenge last year? What better way than to hear what the drivers had to say.

Lewis Hamilton, ‘A positive end to a difficult weekend at this fantastic new venue. Also, this is not a track where overtaking is easy. The first night race in Formula 1 history was great fun.’

Timo Glock, ‘It was quite tough out there in these conditions and with such a bumpy track the car was not very comfortable to drive; I am sure I will feel the effects tomorrow.’

Sebastian Vettel, ‘ The hardest elements in the race were dealing with the heat and concentrating not to make any mistakes, as it could be very easy to clip a kerb. It was one of the toughest races of the season.’

Robert Kubica, ‘ The race was physically very hard. There are so many bumps, I hope the organisers will work on the surface for next year. On top of that, the visibility was getting worse and worse as I was getting tired.’

Hmmm . . . with the best in the biz finding Singapore rather challenging, can you imagine the treat that is in store for the spectators?

Singapore sure has the makings for a perfect F1 experience. It gives you a Night Race, a Street Race, loads of entertainment and so much more action on the track!

Just before I sign off, I thought it would be best that I quote Force India’s new driver’s take on the Singapore Grand Prix.

Vitantonio Liuzzi, ‘Singapore would have been tougher, because I don’t know the circuit, and everyone complained last year that it was very physical.’

www.singaporegrandprix.in