So what has that got to do with the Chinese GP? Everything. The ‘festivities’ are such that traffic can come to a halt on the main day, but remember Songkran Sunday is not the main day - that is Thursday 19, called “Wan lai”.
On Sunday 15, some businesses close their doors; however, Jameson’s Irish Pub is not one of those on this Sunday with Landlord Kim Fletcher advising me that they will be open. He also advises that the best way to approach the pub is from Sukhumvit or North Roads, wriggle past the Diana Gardens Estate, cross Third Road and come into Soi AR that way. If it doesn’t work, then Kim Fletcher will be singing boy soprano.
The race will start at 2 p.m. Thai time on Sunday, and we watch the dedicated F1 channel (no adverts during the race) in front of the huge screen at Jameson’s! I will allow myself a little longer traveling time, just in case, but the Grand Prix and the Sunday specials together are too good to miss. Jameson’s is right next to Nova Park, if you are unsure.
At this stage, the Championship table shows that the old order from 2010 and 2011 is no longer there. Red Bull, after two years of being on top of the heap, now finds itself fighting for fourths! McLaren looks fast after qualifying, locking out the front row of the grid in Australia and Malaysia, but has been unable to consistently turn the pole positions into wins. Ferrari, with what is undoubtedly a dog of a car has lead driver Alonso actually leading the championship! “Lotus” (nee Renault) with Raikkonen, is just off the podium as well, but the second driver Grosjean cannot turn his blistering qualifying into finishes, let alone podiums.
