Honda

BMW have to be one of the fastest growing teams on the grid at the moment in terms of overall performance. In 2006 they finished in 5th, improved to 2nd (3rd inc. McLaren) in 2007 and now enter 2008 with a lot of expectations on their shoulders. While BMW finished third in reality last year, can we really expect the squad to improve on this in 2008? With McLaren and Ferrari keeping a firm grip on the top of the grid, it is going to be difficult for the Swiss-German team to break through. They will need a good combination of drivers, car and team to split the front row. It’s not impossible, but I fear BMW will struggle to improve on their current form in the short term.

(Read the full post about ‘F12008: BMW’…)

Formula One teams will once again test slick tyres on their cars in April, a repeat of the tests carried out by all teams in December to allow Bridgestone to assess them on a modern F1 machine. Slicks haven’t been used in the sport since 1998 when the FIA decided to make the cars run on grooved tyres in a bid to reduce cornering speeds. Since then however, aerodynamic limitations have been imposed which in theory should do this and the result being a possible return to smooth rubber.

The slicks will be handed out to teams at the big test in Barcelona, scheduled to begin on April 14th after the third round in Bahrain.

(Read the full post about ‘Further Slick Tyre Testing Scheduled’…)

The Stepneygate saga refuses to go away and recently members of the McLaren team have been speaking to officials and authorities. They have given their version of events as Italian prosecutors proceed with legal action towards the team that accepted confidential data from then-Ferrari employee Nigel Stepney. The issues were originally thought to be isolated but following an investigation by the FIA last year, were found to be more serious and much more widespread throughout the McLaren organisation. And now, following raids on McLaren employee homes by Italian investigators, including that of Ron Dennis, rumours have been spreading around the media that Dennis has been fired.

(Read the full post about ‘Media Hypes Speculation Of ‘Dennis Firing’’…)

From heroes to zeroes, the story of Renault’s 2007 campaign is one of disappointment and anguish. Following two sensational seasons in Formula One, the frugally budgeted Anglo-French squad fell on their backsides with the R27, not helped by the defection of their wonder-driver Fernando Alonso to rivals McLaren. Despite losing out to BMW and slipping out of the top three (McLaren inclusive), Renault do have a lot of talent working away in their Enstone factory, and with a little more effort and maybe some luck the flamboyant Flavio could raise the manufacturer squad back up to the top within a year. Whether or not Renault choose to wait that long though is another question entirely.

(Read the full post about ‘F12008: Renault’…)

On the final day of testing before the 2008 season begins, Toyota’s Jarno Trulli has put in a surprising quick lap and ended the winter season at the top of the timing sheets. The pace of the TF108 has been questionable and the squad have been a little inconsistent in pre-season testing, but this result will certainly buoy the team as they pack everything and head to Australia. Trulli’s team mate Timo Glock finished his day in eleventh, some 1.3s shy of the Italian’s pace.

Red Bull Racing also had a good day with David Coulthard returning to the track following his trapped nerve problem yesterday. The Scot managed to go second and 0.35s down on Trulli’s pace-setting lap.

(Read the full post about ‘Barcelona Test Day Three: Trulli Goes To The Top Of The Class’…)

Williams haven’t won a drivers or constructors championship since 1997. Their last win came in Brazil at the end of the 2004 campaign. As the team start their eleventh season of championship drought, the fourth year of victory drought, a lot of hope is being echoed around the grandstands and online forums that this year will see some better performances. Team owners Frank Williams and Patrick Head must surely wondering when the rain of champagne will fall their way again? However, celebrating 30 years in Formula One as well as a few other landmark statistics being met this season, maybe a bit of luck will land on the plucky privateer’s laps.

(Read the full post about ‘F12008: Williams’…)

Corporate

Honda of America to Focus on Key Role in N.A. Auto Operations; Local Motorcycle Production Will End in Ohio

Text Only MMP_News_Release.doc 02/27/2008 - MARYSVILLE, Ohio -

Ohio-based Honda of America Mfg., Inc. today announced that it will discontinue production1 of motorcycles in spring 2009 as part of a global strategy that will focus the company on its leader role in Honda’s North American automobile operations.

The 450 Marysville Motorcycle Plant associates will remain key members of the Honda of America team that produces cars, light trucks, engines, and major components in Ohio.

(Read the full post about ‘Honda of America to Focus on Key Role in N.A. Auto Operations; Local Motorcycle Production Will End in Ohio’…)

On a brighter day in the Catalan region of Spain, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton took the fastest lap in testing for the second day in succession. His speed was compounded by team mate Heikki Kovalainen going second quickest as the pair outpaced Ferrari in their preparations for the season opener in Australia next month. McLaren were concentrating on qualifying and race simulations while evaluating new developments on the MP4-23. Kimi Raikkonen kept the pressure up though and went third just 0.3s shy of Kovalainen and over 0.6s ahead of fourth placed Nico Rosberg.

The Williams duo continued to look reasonably strong with Rosberg in a fine fourth and Kazuki Nakajima in eleventh.

(Read the full post about ‘Barcelona Test Day Two: Hamilton Continues To Dominate’…)

While testing yesterday around the notoriously bumpy Circuit de Catalunya, it appears that David Coulthard has picked up a minor injury in his neck. The Scot has apparently tweaked his neck and has since decided to rest in case the problem is further exacerbated. So while Coulthard sits on the sidelines Red Bull have drafted in Sebastian Vettel to help out with the team’s testing programme. Vettel, who drives for partner team Scuderia Toro Rosso, will see the benefits from testing with the Red Bull squad as it has been said that the new STR3 will be a direct derivative of the RB4. The new STR is due to be delivered to the team in time for the European season.

(Read the full post about ‘Coulthard Suffers Minor Injury, Vettel Drafted In To Red Bull’…)

If ever one team looked as they were carefully orchestrating the puzzle pieces into place with high-precision, then Red Bull Racing would surely match the bill. From the team’s first season in 2005 onwards Red Bull have steadily improved, enjoying a few flash-in-the-pan results and gaining some key staff while a masterplan is followed. In 2006 Adrian Newey arrived from McLaren and a deal was struck to run Ferrari engines. In 2007 the team ran Renault engine units and apparently courted Fernando Alonso when he became available. But despite all this, last year was perhaps a year of treading water for the squad as reliability troubles hit the team and stopped them in their tracks.

(Read the full post about ‘F12008: Red Bull Racing’…)