Toyota leaves Formula 1 with departing email

Panasonic Toyota Racing’s last Formula 1 car, the TF109. The end of Panasonic Toyota Racing's Formula 1 program is not the end of activity on www.toyota-f1.com - far from it. Image Credit: Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota leaves Formula 1 with departing email

This morning, those who had been following the exploits of the Toyota Formula racing effort throughout the last couple of seasons, woke up to an email communique outlining the last efforts Toyota Motorsport GmbH will be doing to close the final chapter of their effort.

Jarno Trulli and former Champ Car World Series driver, Timo Glock have moved on, both have signed to drive with newly formed teams for the 2010 F1 season. Jarno was confirmed as one of the newly-formed Lotus F1 Racing's team drivers, joining former McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen. Timo chose an option where he will be guaranteed a drive, although the car might be less competitive, at the newly formed Virgin Racing. Virgin's car for 2010 will be the first F1 car designed entirely using CFD computer simulation technology and will be powered with Cosworth engines. Timo will be teamed with long-time Brazilian GP2 regular Lucas di Grassi.

Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli take the front row at the Bahrain Grand Prix 2009. Image Credit: Bahrain International Circuit

A visit to the farewell website is a wonderful mix of photography, technology, and past F1 memories.

This excerpted and edited from Toyota's departing email -

A virtual goodbye to Formula 1
Monday 25 January 2010

Toyota Motorsport GmbH bids farewell to Formula 1 with an offering to all those who supported it during eight emotional seasons at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Fans, media and sponsors alike can relive memories from the team in the form of exclusive photos and videos, including an eight-minute video retrospective featuring exclusive footage of moments which variously made us laugh, smile or shed a tear.

Simply visit http://ms.toyota.co.jp/en/ and click on the banner ‘A Virtual Goodbye to Formula 1' to look back on our time Formula 1.

Since our first season competing in Formula 1, in 2002, we have experienced a whole spectrum of emotions but through the highs and the lows, we have been fortunate to enjoy the valued support of partners, media and fans.

There have been so many sponsorship campaigns, media collaborations and distributor initiatives it is impossible mention individual cases but we would like to sincerely thank all those partners, media and fans who have been part of our Formula 1 adventure.

This special website represents the final act for the marketing and communications department, which has ceased normal operations.

Until further notice, all media enquiries regarding Toyota's motorsport programmes should be directed to Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan on bl-pr@mail.toyota.co.jp while only specific requests relating to Toyota Motorsport GmbH in Cologne should be directed to pr@toyota-motorsport.com.

Our media website www.toyota-f1-world.com will continue to function until the end of the year to provide an archive of photography and information from the team's time in Formula 1.
Reference Here>>

Funny, it would be nice to have the same type of departure website attention given to other automobile-culture departures that have happened over this last full year ... and not necessarily departures in motorsport.

Let's see websites devoted to the history and legacy of Pontiac, Saturn, Dodge Aspen, Hummer ... heck, lets just add General Motors and Chrysler, in general, since they were once proud companies involved in the pursuit of free-enterprise and have departed from the annuals of needs-satisfaction, profit-oriented American automobile manufacturers.

... notes from The EDJESource URL: http://allnewfordcar.blogspot.com/search/label/Formula%201
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The Wizard Of OZ - F1 Qualifying In Australia

Jenson Button took his first pole position in three years at the Australian Grand Prix, as Brawn GP utterly dominated qualifying on its debut. Image Credit: BBC

The Wizard Of OZ - F1 Qualifying In Australia

World famous British businessman, Richard Branson, stepped up and threw his sponsorship muscle behind one of the more promising F1 ventures to come along in this era of slick tires and modified areodynamics.

Virgin Group has become the first major sponsor of the Formula 1, Mercedes-powered, Brawn GP team. It is not a title sponsorship deal and the team's official name will remain unchanged for now.

Branson, who had been linked with a takeover of the former Honda team recently, said that moves to cut costs in the sport and a push by the American Gevo company, in which Virgin is investing, to come up with a clean fuel for the sport were contributing reasons for his decision to jump into F1 team sponsorship.

"I am very, very excited to be here today," said Branson, who had flown direct from London after agreeing the deal. "A few weeks ago I said that there were two preconditions for us to get involved with F1.

One was that the costs of F1 should come down. It was just too expensive to get enough new entrants into the sport, and the second one was that F1 should be spear-heading a clean-fuel revolution.", said Bransom at the announcement ceremony at Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.

Branson's pledge of sponsorship support was soon rewarded, in that, the two drivers that pilot the Mercedes-powered Brawn GP machines placed the cars in P1 and P2 during qualifying for the OZ Grand Prix event to be run tomorrow.

Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello confirmed the pace showed previously in testing, with the Briton, Button securing pole position ahead of the Brazilian, Barrichello ... and with rival teams admitting Brawn GP's cars were simply out of reach.

The Brawn team raced as Honda last season but secured their survival with Mercedes engines only at the beginning of this month following Honda's decision to quit F1 because of the global financial crisis. From Saturday, the Virgin logo was added to the previously unbranded white cars - and a new colour scheme will be unveiled at next weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix. Image Credit: BBC

This excerpted and edited from autosport.com -

Button leads all-Brawn front row in Oz
By Matt Beer, autosport.com - Saturday, March 28th 2009, 07:03 GMT

Jenson Button took his first pole position in three years at the Australian Grand Prix, as Brawn GP utterly dominated qualifying on its debut.

Rubens Barrichello led Button in a Brawn one-two in both Q1 and Q2, with a clear margin over their rivals in each session.

But in the pole position shoot-out it was Button who emerged on top, beating Barrichello to first place by 0.305 seconds.

Button had taken provisional pole by half a second on his first run, before being briefly deposed by his teammate, but he was able to redress the balance moments later.

Although Brawn GP is effectively a renamed Honda operation, it is officially classed as a new team - which makes today's result the first time a new entrant has taken pole for its debut since the factory Mercedes-Benz team in the 1954 French GP.

The grid line-up was strikingly different to the previous season's form, with Red Bull and Williams among Brawn's main rivals, Ferrari near the foot of the top ten, and the McLarens 14th and 15th.
Reference Here>>

How the field sets up after penalties (the two Toyota cars that originally placed P6-Glock and P8-Trulli, will have to start from the back of the grid for having rear wing elements that were too flexible)

Melbourne results (BBC) -

Final Qualifying
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Position Country Driver Car number Team Qualifying time
1 great britain Jenson Button 22 Brawn-Mercedes 1:26.202
2 brazil Rubens Barrichello 23 Brawn-Mercedes 1:26.505
3 germany Sebastian Vettel 15 Red Bull-Renault 1:26.830
4 poland Robert Kubica 5 BMW Sauber 1:26.914
5 germany Nico Rosberg 16 Williams-Toyota 1:26.973
6 brazil Felipe Massa 3 Ferrari 1:27.033
7 finland Kimi Raikkonen 4 Ferrari 1:27.163
8 australia Mark Webber 14 Red Bull-Renault 1:27.246
9 germany Nick Heidfeld 6 BMW Sauber 1:25.504
10 spain Fernando Alonso 7 Renault 1:25.605
11 japan Kazuki Nakajima 17 Williams-Toyota 1:25.607
12 finland Heikki Kovalainen 2 McLaren-Mercedes 1:25.726
13 switzerland Sebastien Buemi 12 Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:26.503
14 brazil Nelson Piquet Jr 8 Renault 1:26.598
15 italy Giancarlo Fisichella 21 Force India-Mercedes 1:26.677
16 germany Adrian Sutil 20 Force India-Mercedes 1:26.742
17 france Sebastien Bourdais 11 Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:26.964
18 great britain Lewis Hamilton 1 McLaren-Mercedes
19 germany Timo Glock 10 Toyota
20 italy Jarno Trulli 9 Toyota

After this qualifying performance from Brawn GP, backed by the Virgin Group's timely sponsorship ... Richard Branson can now be called, for the moment, the Wizard of OZ.

... notes from The EDJESource URL: http://allnewfordcar.blogspot.com/search/label/Formula%201
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F1 - Clarification Of A Diffusing Situation

Combination image featuring the AT&T Williams FW31 and the Panasonic Toyota TF109 at the tests held at Algarve Motor Park, Portimao, Portugal. Image Credits: AT&T Williams/Panasonic Toyota - Combined by Edmund Jenks (2009)

F1 - Clarification Of A Diffusing Situation

Rival Formula One teams are set to request a rules clarification from the FIA about the design of the diffusers on the Williams and Toyota cars, this week's Autosport magazine reveals.

The two outfits are alone in having opted for a different design concept at the rear of the car compared to their rivals.

The diffusers at the rear of the Williams FW31 and the Toyota TF109 appear to exceed the maximum height of 175 mm at their peak through clever aerodynamic shaping of the rear crash structure.

Panasonic Toyota TF109 rear diffuser - Image Credit: f1network.net

Although both teams are confident that their designs are within the regulations, rivals outfits have expressed curiosity in the way their diffusers have been shaped - especially because it could give them an advantage in slow speed corners.

It is understood that several teams are looking at seeking clarification from the FIA about the matter, with Renault the first to confirm it will do so.

Renault executive director of engineering Pat Symonds told Autosport: "They (the diffusers) are certainly interesting, although I don't think I can comment on their legality.

"That's something for the FIA to comment on. We will be asking the FIA about it, but we haven't yet."

AT&T Williams FW31 rear diffuser outline - Image Credit: Sport Life Press (2009)

The Williams diffuser has a low centre section, well below the 175mm height limit, before a higher steeper element further back creates a second section around the rear crash structure.

The extra area of the Toyota diffuser is based in a 15 centimetre wide zone at the centre of the car where teams are allowed to fit extra bodywork. This has created a longer centre tunnel for air.

This week's Autosport magazine carries a full graphical analysis of the Williams and Toyota diffusers.

Because the regulations have changed so much this year, there is a high chance that further areas of car design will come under scrutiny over the course of the season as teams push to find loopholes in the new rules.

Teams who are concerned that an area they are developing may be questionable, can ask the FIA for a clarification about their design.

Furthermore, rival outfits can also seek answers from the governing body about the legitimacy of design features they have spotted on rival cars and may want to incorporate themselves.

An outright question about the legality of a rival car can only be lodged on a grand prix weekend, when a protest would need to be handed in to the race stewards.
(ht: f1network.net)

Panasonic Toyota Racing is preparing for its eighth season in Formula 1 using its all-new car, the TF109, which features revised aerodynamics and slick tires to comply with the sport's new rules.

The car was launched via the internet on 15 January and pre-season testing began on 19 January. Drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock drove the car on special filming days at the Ascari Race Resort in Spain.

Available video includes rights-free footage of Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock driving the TF109 car at the Ascari Race Resort and features short shots of the difusser in action - HERE - [Released 30-Jan-2009].

... notes from The EDJESource URL: http://allnewfordcar.blogspot.com/search/label/Formula%201
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F1 Season Begins For The Toyota TF109

The TF109 - Image Credit: Panasonic Toyota Racing

F1 Season Begins For The Toyota TF109

Yesterday marked the first day Panasonic Toyota Racing debut its new sled that will campaign for the title of the 2009 Formula 1 open wheel motorsports racing season.

The team's eighth season in Formula 1 sees major rule changes so the new TF109, revealed exclusively on www.tf109-premiere.com, looked considerably different to its predecessor, featuring wider front wings and narrower rear wings among other modifications.

The test, yesterday, completed an exhaustive development process which began in October 2007, when the 2009 regulations were confirmed. The TF109 began pre-season testing at Algarve Motor Park in Portugal.

Despite the TF109's fundamentally different appearance, Panasonic Toyota Racing's ambitious goals remain, as Chairman and Team Principal Tadashi Yamashina states: "Our target this year is to fight to win the first race for Toyota in Formula 1."

Kamui Kobayashi in the garage at Algarve Motor Park Image Credit: Panasonic Toyota Racing

The significant progress shown in 2008, when the team hit its targets of returning to the podium and significantly increasing its points total, has bred confidence.

Panasonic Toyota Racing achieved two podiums, one front row start and, with 56, scored more points than in 2006 (35pts) and 2007 (13pts) combined. A Toyota was in the top 10 on the starting grid for 14 of the 18 Grands Prix, finishing in the points 12 times, with nine top-six finishes.

President John Howett says: "We have gained a huge amount of knowledge and improved considerably. There are many elements of our team which are at the very highest level so the challenge now is to fill any gaps and ensure the entire organisation is performing at the very top. Then we must put all the elements together and deliver the success we are all fighting so hard for."

Kamui Kobayashi leaves the garage in the new TF109 at Algarve Motor Park - Image Credit: Panasonic Toyota Racing

This excerpted and edited from the Panasonic Toyota Racing team website -

THE SEASON STARTS HERE
Portimao Test - Day 1 - Monday 19 January 2009
Location: Algarve Motor Park, Portimao, Portugal
Drivers: Kamui Kobayashi

Panasonic Toyota Racing got its 2009 testing programme underway today at a new venue for the team; the Algarve Motor Park in Portugal. Kamui Kobayashi was at the wheel for the first pre-season tests of the TF109, which was unveiled for the first time on www.tf109-premiere.com last week. After conducting a successful and trouble-free roll-out of the TF109 yesterday, Kamui continued to work on the team's kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), which is being used on track for the first time this week, as well as performing systems checks and gathering information about the new car. Unfortunately, wind and rain, particularly in the afternoon, disrupted the programme. Jarno Trulli takes over from Kamui tomorrow.

Image Credit: Panasonic Toyota Racing

Kamui Kobayashi - Chassis TF109-02
Best Lap Time: 1min 50.989s
Position: 5th
Total laps: 46
"Today has gone well and I am happy with the new car. It has been an interesting experience to drive with KERS for the first time and we are understanding more about the system all the time. This is my first time driving at this track and I have to say I am very impressed; the lay-out is really exciting and quite challenging for a driver. The weather was far from ideal, especially in the afternoon, so that meant we could not spend as much time on track as we planned."

Kamui Kobayashi in the new TF109 taking a corner at Algarve Motor Park - Image Credit: Panasonic Toyota Racing

Pascal Vasselon, Senior General Manager Chassis
"It is always a very exciting moment to see your new car begin pre-season testing and that is especially true this year after such a significant regulation change. Overall I am very pleased with the initial results from the TF109 and I believe we have good reason for optimism. Of course, it is very difficult to make comparisons to the other teams in the winter, and that is particularly true when the weather is not very good. In addition to the usual challenges of testing a new car, we worked with the KERS system again today. This is a new technology to Formula 1 so there is a huge amount to learn but our hard work in the factory meant we were quite well prepared for this first test and we have collected a lot of important information."
Reference Here>>

Cost-saving is high on the Formula 1 agenda and Panasonic Toyota Racing in the design of the TF109 was committed to reducing expenditure while maintaining the sport as the pinnacle of motor racing.

The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) have agreed significant reductions for 2009, including a ban on in-season testing, wind tunnel restrictions and factory closures for six weeks a year.

So, heading into a fascinating Formula 1 season, Panasonic Toyota Racing is completely committed to success on and off the track. The 2009 season starts with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 29 March, while the 17th and final race is the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 1 November.

... notes from The EDJESource URL: http://allnewfordcar.blogspot.com/search/label/Formula%201
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NIGHT MOVES: F1 Racing After Dark in Singapore

Image Credit: From Video - Toyota Motorsports [Ctrl/Click to launch video]

NIGHT MOVES: F1 Racing After Dark in Singapore
Friday 19 September 2008
(from digitial and video assets supplied by Toyota Motorsports)

Panasonic Toyota Racing takes a step into the unknown this weekend with the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix. Not only is this the first time the city state has hosted the Formula 1 World Championship, it is also the first time a Grand Prix has been held at night.

Singapore off of the tip of Malaysia - Image Credit: thecommonwealth.org

The island of Singapore lies on the southern tip of the Malayan peninsula and, with an area of just over 700 square kilometres, it is the third smallest state to host a Grand Prix, after Monaco and Bahrain, but with over 4million inhabitants, it is a bustling metropolis.

The new circuit, which is 5.067km long and features 23 corners, is located in the Marina Bay area of Singapore City and includes iconic landmarks such as the Singapore Flyer big wheel, the Esplanade and Raffles Boulevard.

Anderson Bridge as seen in the daytime - Formula One cars will be crossing a portion of the inner bay in Singapore. Image Credit: lousynickseven.spaces.live.com

The lay-out is not just spectacular, it also features several unusual characteristics - the drivers will travel over Anderson Bridge, under a grandstand and through the 300km/h turn six; claimed to be the fastest corner on a Formula 1 street circuit.

That cocktail of glamour, novelty and challenge brings an obvious comparison to another street circuit. "It can definitely be the Monaco of the east because of the character of this street circuit," says Pascal Vasselon, Senior General Manager Chassis at Panasonic Toyota Racing. "But it could be also the Nürburgring of the east because we are talking about 23 corners, which starts to sound like the old Nürburgring!"

The Formula One (F1) Singapore Grand Prix street circuit - The 5.067km long street circuit, consisting of 14 left hand turns and 10 right hand turns offers a number of overtaking opportunities, challenging corners and gruelling sections that will test the true capabilities of the F1 drivers. The F1 Singapore Grand Prix is the first Formula One street race in Asia and is one of three races in the 2008 F1 calendar to run anticlockwise. Top Image Credit: funandfreewheeling.wordpress.com - Caption and Bottom Image Credit: Singapore Tourism Board

Jarno Trulli concurs, although as a driver his priority is to understand the finer points of the lay-out in order to get maximum performance out of his TF108. "I've seen the plans and the Grand Prix looks amazing so far, although you always need to drive the track first before having a proper idea of it," he says.

"You need to understand the corners and the speeds so you know more about the set-up and the kind of downforce we are going to run. It is a new challenge because we don't know the track or the conditions so it will be interesting."

The race consists of an estimated 61 laps with 24 turns consisting of 14 left turns and 10 right turns. Top speeds in excess of 300kph are easily reached at the pit straights and the slowest corners allow the drivers to only reach speeds of 80-100kph. Overtaking opportunities are available at turn 1 at the Pit Straight, turn 7 at the Raffles Boulevard and turn 15 at Esplanade Drive. Total race distance is 308.95 km which is subjected to FIA confirmation. It should also be noted that the start and finish lines are not in the same place so the race distance is shorten than a 61 x 5.067km calculation. The start line is at the beginning of the straight, while the finish line is somewhere close to the middle of the straight. Caption Credit: lousynickseven.spaces.live.com Image Credit: Singtel Singapore GP Simulator Onboard Lap [Ctrl/Click to launch video simulator]

Despite the incredible location, it is the novelty of racing at night which has created a wave of anticipation in Formula 1 circles.

Many team members at Panasonic Toyota Racing have experience of competing at night from the team's adventures in the Le Mans 24 Hours, while others, such as Timo Glock, have experienced it elsewhere in their careers.

Unlike at Le Mans, the TF108s will not be equipped with headlights; instead around 1,500 lights have been installed around the entire track to ensure near-daylight conditions for the drivers. Timo raced under lights during his Champ Car season in 2005, when he finished eighth in a 400km race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, so he is more prepared than most of his rivals for the challenge ahead.

"The main issue is that you are driving at a different time of day," explains Timo. "Normally you would be resting in an evening but in Singapore the race will start at 8pm. They will give us as much light as possible but as it is a night race I don't expect it will be like daylight in every corner. That is fine though.

"Driving at night is a fun experience and it is definitely a really good show for the fans; that is the most important thing."

For the drivers, adapting to the different timetable is the key issue but for other team members that is just part of the conundrum of racing at night. An observation team of engineers and logistics experts visited Singapore in July to witness a lighting test and study the impact artificial lights will have on team operations.

Singapore skyline at night - trackside Image Credit: lousynickseven.spaces.live.com

"We have looked at different things," says Chief Engineer Race and Test Dieter Gass. "We have looked at a pit board for example which is visible at night and we have to make sure everything is visible in the garage and on the pit wall. Also the display on the steering wheel might need to be different because normally it has to be quite bright in order to be visible on a sunny day."

Panasonic Toyota Racing has devoted a lot of energy to minimising the effect on team members of the unique timetable, which is the single biggest logistical challenge of the new circuit. "That has been the biggest concern," reveals Team Manager Richard Cregan. "All the other logistical matters are pretty much the same as with any other flyaway race.

"We have worked closely with the FIA and FOM in deciding the timetable and we have worked internally to come up with an appropriate daily schedule because you can't have guys starting work at 8am and leaving at 3am; that would not be fair. So we have come up with solutions to shift the whole working day later."

It is not simply the absence of daylight and the unusual timetable which could create a challenge in Singapore. On September evenings in Singapore the humidity of the day often breaks with heavy rain while teams will experience the unusual situation of air and track temperatures falling during the course of the race and practice sessions.

"I think for us the biggest challenge will be the temperature," says President John Howett. "The surface temperature of the track will be very low and normally Formula 1 tyres work best in higher temperatures. Then of course at that time of year there's a high probability of rain. So we will face difficulty with temperature, made worse possibly by heavy rain. Night racing is a challenge but we're a team that has come from Le Mans so we should be able to handle that quite easily."

So, the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix presents more challenges than any other race on the calendar, but Panasonic Toyota Racing has left no stone unturned in its preparations, giving Jarno and Timo the platform to fight once again for the podium. And that would be the perfect preparation for the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway next month.

... notes from The EDJE


Source URL: http://allnewfordcar.blogspot.com/search/label/Formula%201
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Former CCWS Rookie-Of-The-Year Captures P2 Podium In Hamburg

Timo Glock with the "Sharkfin" cowling at The Hungaroring - Caption found at Atlas F1 Bulletin Board - toyota could of won this race /// used tyres glock qualified with otherwise front row start /// pit stop screw up 14 seconds losing 7 seconds extra /// 2nd place and only 7.1 secs behind the winner /// and timo lost 4 seconds behind massa, when he pitted and came right in front of glock. Image Credit: Toyota Motorsport

Former CCWS Rookie-Of-The-Year Captures P2 Podium In Hamburg

Timo Glock, Panasonic Toyota’s new #2 driver to Jarno Trulli for the 2008 Formula One open wheel racing season, had a race to remember at the Hamburg Grand Prix.

Weekend before last, Timo suffered a terrible accident at Hockenheim that sent him to the hospital for observation. He was released and cleared to race just this last Thursday and on Saturday, qualified in position five on the grid for the The Hungarian Grand Prix at The Hungaroring racing circuit, Hungary.

Timo Glock faces the press after his P5 qualifying position on the grid for The Hungarian Grand Prix. This represents the best qualifying effort in F1 by this former 2005 ChampCar World Series (CCWS) Rookie-Of-The-Year racing for Paul Gentilozzi's Rocketsports team. Image Credit: Toyota Motorsport

This excerpted from autosport.com –

Lewis Hamilton put himself in the perfect position to score a third consecutive win by claiming a commanding pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver held a comfortable 0.4-second advantage over the rest of the field after his first Q3 flying lap, and although his rivals closed in, he managed to improve to 1:20.899 to secure the 10th pole of his Formula One career.

Hamilton will lead an all-McLaren front row after his teammate Heikki Kovalainen vaulted on to the outside of the front row with his last lap, having previously languished back in ninth.

Felipe Massa salvaged Ferrari honour in third place, as Kimi Raikkonen could only manage sixth place following another low-key performance.

BMW's Robert Kubica completed the second row, but his teammate Nick Heidfeld had another disastrous qualifying session. His first Q1 flying lap was only good enough for 15th place, and he was rapidly pushed into the elimination zone and then hit traffic on his second run, leaving him 16th and gesturing in frustration at Sebastien Bourdais.

Toyota's Timo Glock was the sensation of the qualifying session - earning an F1 career-best fifth on the grid, four places clear of teammate Jarno Trulli.
Reference Here>>

This excerpted from a Panasonic Toyota press release –

Timo Glock (Car 12, Chassis TF108-06)

Summary: Quick throughout, his best ever qualifying in F1 PROVISIONAL GRID: 5th

FP3 3rd Best Lap Time: 1m 20.623s (+0.395s) Laps: 21

Q1 5th Best Lap Time: 1m 19.980s (+0.604s) Laps: 10

Q2 2nd Best Lap Time: 1m 19.246s (+0.178s) Laps: 6

Q3 5th Best Lap Time: 1m 21.326s (+0.427s) Laps: 8

"That was a very good qualifying session for me and I'm obviously delighted. We made a good start in first practice yesterday. The team did a good job overnight and we made the right choice over set-up. It wasn't easy today because we had a very tight choice over tyres so we had to make a close decision for every lap. But in the end my engineers stayed cool and got it right. In Q2 the car felt perfect. Then on the very last lap it was a bit trickier again because the tyres didn't behave quite as well, but I'm happy with P5. We are in a great situation for tomorrow. It's good for all of us and after Hockenheim this is the perfect answer for the faith I have in the whole team."
(ht: Toyota Motorsports)

The race starts, and in the first corner, Hamilton is resigned to P2 due to a fantastic start by Ferrari’s Felipe Massa from P3 to P1 in the first corner. Timo Glock following directly behind Massa passes BMW's Robert Kubica to take P4 where he maintains position until 43 laps of the 70 scheduled laps had been run. So, with 27 laps to go the race commentary notation picks up as follows:

LAP 27 / 70
Hamilton suffers a tire failure. Timo Glock is rewarded with a chance at a podium position

LAP26 / 70
Glock responds by setting fastest lap of the race (as per race announcer Bob Varsha)

LAP25 / 70
Ferrari’s Massa makes an insurance pitstop

LAP23 / 70
Toyota’s Glock makes final pitstop and is good to go to the end

LAP19 / 70
Kimi Reikonen leaps over Alonso at the final pitstop

LAP18 / 70
Radio communication to Timo Glock - “You are 50 seconds ahead of the next closest car that can go to the end on fuel” - Translation? It is all up to you to finish on the podium

LAP15 / 70
Massa, who has never finished above sixth in his previous F1 runs at Hamburg, is poised to win it all – will move into a 3 point lead over Hamilton in the driver points lead if the current running order holds

LAP12 / 70
Heikki Kovalainen of McLaren-Mercedes too far behind to challenge Massa for the lead

LAP11 / 70
Kimi M. Raikkonen is on a terror, sets fastest lap after getting by Renault’s Alonso for P4

LAP4 / 70
Hungarboring will see a great finish – Raikkonen running in fourth is setting his sights on Glock for third

LAP3 / 70
Race leader Massa has his Ferrari engine blow-up. Keiki Kovalainen in his McLaren-Mercedes inherits the lead

Final Lap / Checkered Flag
Kovalainen Wins his first F1 race, Timo Glock finishes in second after starting fifth, Kimi Raikkonen hangs on to capture third, Alonzo fourth, Hamilton fifth.

Digital camera image of Timo Glock during the post race Podium interview session from SPEED Channel cable television broadcast. Said Timo after the P2 finish, "What an incredible feeling. I couldn't believe it when I saw Felipe's engine go and I was P2. To get such a good result in my first year is fantastic so a huge thank you to all the team, including the engineers, mechanics and everyone at the factory. I knew from qualifying that we had good speed and we've looked strong all weekend. Today I made a good start and gained a place into the first corner. I had a really good car and everything went perfectly until the last stint on the soft tyres. I was struggling a lot and soon I had Kimi behind me. But I knew from last year here in GP2, when I was stuck in the midfield in a really good car, how hard it is to pass here. So when I saw him in the mirrors I knew I couldn't afford any mistakes. This result more than makes up for Hockenheim and now we must keep picking up regular points until the end of the season." Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (EDJE) 2008

This report from autosport.com -

PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS

The Hungarian Grand Prix
The Hungaroring, Hungary;
70 laps; 306.663km;
Weather: Sunny.

Classified:

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1h37:27.067
2. Glock Toyota (B) + 11.061
3. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) + 16.856
4. Alonso Renault (B) + 21.614
5. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 23.048
6. Piquet Renault (B) + 32.298
7. Trulli Toyota (B) + 36.449
8. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) + 48.321
9. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) + 58.834
10. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) + 1:07.709
11. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) + 1:10.407
12. Button Honda (B) + 1 lap
13. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) + 1 lap
14. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) + 1 lap
15. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) + 1 lap
16. Barrichello Honda (B) + 2 laps
17. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) + 3 laps
18. Massa Ferrari (B) + 3 laps

World Championship standings, round 11:

Drivers:
1. Hamilton 62
2. Raikkonen 57
3. Massa 54
4. Kubica 49
5. Heidfeld 41
6. Kovalainen 38
7. Trulli 22
8. Alonso 18
9. Webber 18
10. Glock 13
11. Piquet 13
12. Barrichello 11
13. Rosberg 8
14. Nakajima 8
15. Vettel 6
16. Coulthard 6
17. Button 3
18. Bourdais 2

Constructors:
1. Ferrari 111
2. McLaren-Mercedes 100
3. BMW Sauber 90
4. Toyota 35
5. Renault 31
6. Red Bull-Renault 24
7. Williams-Toyota 16
8. Honda 14
9. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 8
Reference Here>>

On another note, several teams experienced fuel filling and leaking problems during pitstops in the race. Some teams had fires that had to be put out and it was theorized that because the ambient temperature at the track combined with the very tight tolerances of the fueling equipment coupling itself may have led to an improper fit of the fueling mechanism to the car.

The FIA will investigate.

... notes from The EDJE


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Panasonic F1 T108 Mid-Season Assessment Review

Panasonic Toyota Racing Team at the French Grand Prix – celebrating a podium finish of their T108 driven by Jarno Trulli. Image Credit: Toyota Motorsport


Panasonic F1 T108 Mid-Season Assessment Review

Toyota Motorsport releases a video review of the effort and success of the Panasonic T108 in competition in this 2008 season.

With ten of eighteen races contested, some of the projected pre-season goals have been met, but more has to be done in order to remain the leader team of the "mid-pack" teams.




This explaination of the video package from Toyota Motorsport -

Panasonic Toyota Racing - 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix Feature: MID-SEASON
[Source: Toyota Motorsport - 28-Jul-2008]

With ten Grands Prix of the 2008 FIA Formula 1 World Championship already completed, Panasonic Toyota Racing takes a look at a successful season so far.

Jarno Trulli has been in impressive form, with a best result of third in the French Grand Prix, while new team-mate Timo Glock has adjusted quickly to the TF108 and took fourth place in Canada.

With eight Grands Prix remaining, the team is fourth in the Constructors' Championship.

Available video includes soundbites of the Panasonic Toyota Racing team on the progress of the 2008 season and general views of the first half of the 2008 Formula 1 season.

... notes from The EDJE


Source URL: http://allnewfordcar.blogspot.com/search/label/Formula%201
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AT&T Williams F1 Grand Prix Collection

Image Credit: AT&T Williams


AT&T Williams F1 Grand Prix Collection
On average, Williams F1 builds seven chassis per season. Over a thirty year history, that's a lot of cars, so, what do we do with them?

In a video released by AT&T Williams, the race team takes you behind the scenes at Grove and into their Williams F1 Grand Prix Collection and museum workshop.

Image Credit: AT&T Williams

The collection features the most successful racecars from the 30 years of the team’s history.

Cars shown were driven by Allen Jones, Jacques Villenueve, Nigel Mansell, Juan Pablo Montoya and one experimental chassis that sported a six-wheel design. The "Star" notation next to the chassis nameplate is explained.



"We at AT&T Williams are excited to open our doors and show our fans that building a Formula One car is an exciting, organic process that requires dedication and application from all of our 500-strong team. This programme does just that." commented Scott Garrett, Head of Marketing, Williams F1.
(source: AT&T Williams)

... notes from The EDJE
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