Bahrain GP cancelled

Bahrain grid.

I began this item two weeks ago. The political situation then in Bahrain was decidedly fluctuant. For the motor racing fraternity the possible cancellation of the first GP of the year was not a question of political importance, but it should have been.

With travel advisory warnings being given, this means that there is no travel insurance to cover foreign nationals visiting the Middle East. Would you jeopardize a complete race team in such dangerous situations?

No, the political situation is none of ‘our’ business, and not one that we can possibly understand totally. But ‘danger’ is one that the motor racing world understands, and we strive to lessen the dangers of our sport. There being nothing that ‘we’ can do to lessen the dangers in going to a country in turmoil, the simple answer is ‘we’ should stay away.

Red Bull’s Mark Webber stated, quite correctly, that “… as always you don’t really know the whole picture if you’re not there. So let’s see what happens. I’m sure the right decision will be made in terms of us. We know in terms of Formula 1 and priorities we’re not high on the list, they’ve got other things that clearly should come first.” Well said, Mark Webber.

So the opener for the 2011 season has been cancelled - or postponed - that is the question. Since there is big money hanging on the final decision, I predict that Bahrain will be sandwiched in between two other GPs towards the end of the year. No matter how boring it is as an event.

BMW going electric?

BMW have had hydrogen cars running for many years now, and fuel cells and now electric vehicles, but it looks as if BMW have decided that electric is the most practical.

BMW i8

They are so sure of the electric vehicle future that they have now announced their own line of battery powered cars to be known as BMW i, and made public a roll-out date of 2013 with two cars. The first is the four seat urban battery powered car to be called the BMW i3 and the second a hybrid sports car to be called the BMW i8.

The design team has been working on the BMW i range since 2007 and they will be plug-in electric vehicles. The cars will be lighter than the current crop of internal combustion BMW’s with use of carbon-fiber and aluminum and will be more aerodynamic making them energy efficient. This even extends to running taller and narrower wheels and tires with less rolling resistance.

Which car is the quickest around the Nordschleife?

Many manufacturers like to boast of the times recorded by their models around the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife (Northern Loop). Having driven round there myself I can tell you that it is the most exciting, the most dangerous and the most difficult race circuit in the world.

Radical SR8 LM

The following is the list of the top 10 cars around the Nordschleife, and it will hold some surprises.

Time

1. Radical SR8LM 6:48.00

2. Radical SR8 6:55.00

3. Gumpert Apollo Speed 7:11.57

4. Donkervoort D8 RS 7:14.89

5. Porsche 997 GT2 RS 7:18.00

6. Radical SR3 Turbo 7:19.00

7. Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR 7:22.10

8. Gumpert Apollo Sport 7:24.00

9. Nissan GT-R 7:24.22

10. Maserati MC12 7:24.29

So, what’s a “Radical”? I have to admit it was a new name for me. Those from the UK might know, the Radical SR8 LM, which in August 2009 became the king of street-legal sports cars, recorded the quickest time of 6 minutes 48 seconds, smashing all other previous attempts.

Despite what it looks like, the Radical is apparently street legal and to set the record, the driver drove the SR8 LM from the factory in Peterborough in UK, all the way to the ‘Ring’ just to prove that the car was in fact, road legal.

Even the Dunlop tires were road legal and only one set was used for the entire journey.

Powering the SR8 LM is a Powertec prepared 2.8 liter version of Suzuki’s Hayabusa motorcycle engine, which develops 460 bhp (340 kW) of power through a six-speed transaxle. Shifts are also F1 style fast, with a Powertec paddle shift system, which allows flat up shifts, auto-blipper and clutchless downshifts. All-up weight is 575 kg.

And never mind Nurburgring, the Radical SR8 can lap the Silverstone circuit in the same time as a Formula 3 single seater racecar, which is quite incredible.

I think I want one. In fact, I think I need one!

Pizza Company continues sponsorship of Sandy and Feem

The Pizza Company driver Sandy Nicholas Stuvik won the 2010 Asian Formula Renault Championship, becoming the first Thai driver to ever win that championship.

Paul Kenny and Sandy Stuvik

In 2011, Sandy is booked to compete in the European Formula Renault series, as part of the process of climbing the ladder to F1. Paul Kenny, CEO of Minor Food Group and himself an accomplished motor racer, stated that the young promising Thai driver, who The Pizza Company has been sponsoring since he was only six years old, will continue to have his career fostered by the Pizza Company.

In 2010, Sandy won the Asian Formula Renault Championship at China’s Zuhai International Circuit at the age of only 15 - being the youngest racer to ever win the championship, and the first Thai National to win the title. Sandy was last year coached by former F3 Champion Philippe Descombes, and this year Sandy is getting ready and gearing up to compete in 2011 Formula Renault Eurocup, in which he is also expected to have great results.

Another Thai sportsman to be assisted by the Pizza Company is Ratthapark (Feem) Wilairot who is another talent who will be supported in the World Motorcycle Grand Prix for the 600 cc Moto2 division.

Apart from his managerial responsibility, Paul Kenny is also competing as one of the drivers in the Race Team in the Honda Racing Festival 2011, alongside three other experienced racers; Thomas Raldorf, Tony Percy and new driver for the team, Akihiro Asai.

John Heinecke, Vice President Sizzler China and Thailand, and Burger King Thailand, will collaborate with Paul in the RAAT Thailand Endurance Championship 2011.

Eddie Jordan

I was given Eddie Jordan’s autobiography by another Irish Eddie, Eddie Irvine, the father of Eddie Irvine, the ex-Jordan and ex-Ferrari driver. It is a hefty book and I am still plowing through it, but it is really a hoot.

Eddie Jordan

Eddie Jordan is the ultimate entrepreneur, a chancer, a con, an opportunist and all with the Irish silver tongue. I think he even puts Bernie Ecclestone in the shade.

Jordan did everything to keep racing himself, including buying and selling cars and even flogging carpet off-cuts from the village green at the weekends.

He paints wonderful pictures of all the famous motor racing names including Colin Chapman, “..one of the cleverest men ever to sit at a drawing board. Some said he was perhaps a bit too clever at times, but I wouldn’t know about that.”

The ISBN number is 978-0-7528-8950-4, Orion Books, 2007, and it should be available through Amazon dot com. Get hold of a copy. It is a great book.

Natter Nosh and Noggin

The next car club meeting will be at Jameson’s Irish Pub on Soi AR next to the Nova Park development. The monthly meetings are on the second Monday of the month, so this week it is on March 14 at Jameson’s at 7 p.m. This is a totally informal meeting of like-minded souls to discuss their pet motoring (and motorcycling) loves and hates. Many interesting debates come from these evenings. Come along and meet guys who have a common interest in cars and bikes, and enjoy the Jameson’s specials, washed down with a few beers. We even had a couple of F1 scrutineers with tales from Bahrain.

Autotrivia Quiz

Last week I tried to thwart the ‘googlers’, and asked what was this car? I wanted make, model and year! It was not an MGA, it was in fact the MG EX 182 of 1955 when it ran at Le Mans. The MGA was developed from this experimental model.

So to this week. Please identify this car, make and model, and it is not a Nissan Teana.

For the Automania free beer this week, be the first correct answer to email [email protected].

Good luck!

Quiz car

MG EX 182