Gathering for Friday practice sessions

It’s not only 4 wheel fun

GT40s aplenty

World Cup ‘66 fever hits Goodwood

Goodwood Revival 2016 LIVE video

Goodwood Revival–Only 4 days away

With only four days to go until the start of the Goodwood Revival 2016, preparations continue apace…

Last week we made the most of some on-track testing to admire some fine machinery in the paddock…

Jenson Button will not be driving in F1 in 2017

It's often been said of McLaren boss Ron Dennis that he likes to have his cake and eat it and today's announcement of Jenson Button's "not a retirement" seems a just about perfect solution for all parties.

As I alluded to in paying my respects to Felipe Massa only on Thursday, others should choose their time to leave F1.

It had become clear Jenson would make changes this season but where to go? What to do?

I could not see JB heading to either Indycars or sports cars although a TV career seemed very possible.

Ron also wanted new whizz kid Stoffel Vandoorne in a McLaren seat and the sponsorship that he brings with him as McLs poor few seasons have seen even long term sponsors deserting in droves.

But Mr Vandoorne, good as he will prove to be, simply doesn't have the highly regarded car development skills that JB has honed over nearly 300 GPs, 50 podiums, 15 wins and a World Championship, skills Ron is wise to retain. Yet I have little doubt that Jenson's fee for 2017 and 18 will reflect his non driving status, Ron is a tough negotiator as Ayrton Senna frequently rued.

7 years with former world beaters McLaren have seen Jenson contribute greatly to their slow but gradual climb out of the pit of F1 despair. He was instrumental in the Honda engine deal then pushed the Japanese car makers very hard both privately and publicly to up their game - and fast - to the point where the team is rapidly climbing back up the grid.

And through those very lean years Jenson kept the faith inspiring others in the team to stay, to persevere, to fight on.

Over the years I have met and interviewed Jenson many times, even before F1. He is immensely likeable, charming, confident and an easy interviewee. He is also very shrewd, sets achievable goals and sees the longer game. (In an interview I recorded with him back in 2008 he displays many, if not all, of these qualities…)

So give a thought to the number of drivers who have become successful team bosses. Quite a few, Jordan, Horner, Sauber, Brabham, Hill, Bruce McLaren, even Ron Dennis himself.

Is JB's new 2 year contract more than just a development driver role, perhaps a precursor to a team management role, an heir to the mighty Ron empire or at least the F1 bit? If so, I have just written his CV!

But a word of warning Jenson, Ron can be ruthless… Beware the Ides of Whitmarsh.

Or will it be et tu Ron.

Graham Benge

Goodwood Revival – Only a week away!

Felipe Massa retiring from F1

F1 is increasingly a young man's sport with teenagers occupying seats in front running teams, winning races and showing little on track respect for the elder statesmen of the pinnacle of motor sport.

Perhaps it's timely then that the longest serving F1 driver Felipe Massa should today announce his intention to retire at the end of the season, a season finale that will mark his 250th Grand Prix.

After 3 seasons  with Williams, during which he has played a major part in the rebuilding of a once great team that was in a state of decline, he is now to leave the sport entirely. It seems, an honourable departure for one of F1's most respected characters. No slide into a well paid but hopelessly uncompetitive back-of-grid team, no Indy cars, no sports cars but, perhaps, a new TV career? 

Many tough seasons as second fiddle at Ferrari taught Felipe a lot of diplomacy and how to handle searching questions. Time to turn the media tables perhaps?

I sincerely hope so.

I have met and interviewed Felipe several times and have always found him accessible and friendly, a real gentleman of the sport, a sport in which, sometimes, ego wins over ability.

Perhaps others will take the honourable retirement route later this season? Surely better to retire from the sport than have it retire from you. As in comedy, timing is everything!

Graham Benge

Sebastian Vettel and the ambulance driving challenge

Taking to the track after the British Grand Prix, Vettel joined a UK paramedic, Alex Knapton, at the Bruntingthorpe race track near Silverstone. Swapping their vehicles for the challenge, the iconic red of Ferrari for the flashing blue lights of a UK ambulance, Vettel was tasked with sharing high performance driving tips in his Ferrari 488 GTB with a 3.9-litre turbocharged V-8 engine and top speed of over 200 mph, before joining Alex on a lap of the track in his three tonne ambulance grabbing maximum performance from the vehicle and a modest 88 mph.

The day finished with a head to head challenge… Vettel in the ambulance against Knapton in the 488 GTB….

Of the experience, Alex Knapton, a Paramedic from South Central Ambulance Service, said:

“Getting the opportunity to swap the ambulance for the Ferrari 488 GTB was a dream come true! It was an unbelievable experience to get that close to one of the stars of Formula 1. Sebastian was on great form coaching on high performance driving tips and joking about the lack of a radio in the ambulance.”

Road trip this summer?

Alarmingly, only 50% of drivers planning a trip abroad say that they will check driving rules and regulations before they leave. 1 in 10 believe the driving laws are the same in every country*.

Kate Rock, PR & Corporate Communications Manager at Goodyear Tyres, comments: “Several changes have been made to driving laws across Europe over the past few years, so it’s essential for motorists who are planning on driving abroad to ensure they have all the compulsory or recommended equipment.

“In France, for example, drivers are required to carry a self-test breathalyser and it’s illegal to drive with a satnav that shows the whereabouts of speed cameras.

“Before drivers head off, we advise they familiarise themselves with the rules of the road and ensure they have all the correct documents, including insurance and European breakdown cover.

“To help avoid a breakdown abroad, we would advise drivers to check their car before they leave – tyre pressure and tread depth, oil levels, windscreen wash, breaks etc.”

For additional advice on driving in Europe this year, motorists can visit Goodyear’s blog at Hug the Roads: www.hugtheroads.com/road-ready-europe

*Data gleaned from a 2015 GoCompare survey of 1,820 randomly selected British adults.

VISION NEXT 100 - An Evening with Rolls-Royce video

VISION NEXT 100 - An Evening with Rolls-Royce

It’s not every day that you get invited to travel into the future with Rolls-Royce, and yesterday evening proved to be quite an occasion.

The last chance to catch a glimpse of the 103EX, Rolls-Royce’s vision of our driving (not too distant) future, before it sets off on a round-the-world tour, it also gave R-R a chance to reaffirm their commitment to manufacturing vehicles at the Goodwood plant.

Hot weather warning: Dogs die in hot cars

Just read this very important article warning of the dangers of leaving pets in your car on hot sunny days. Quite an eye opener.

Visit the Ignitionline site for more details.

Friday F1 Fun!

Someone at Formula1sBlog has kindly put together a selection of the funny and daft things that F1 drivers are required to do for their sponsors…

And where would we be on a Friday afternoon without them!!

Pierre Gasly–Reserve Driver Red Bull Racing

What happens when Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing get together..?

The AM-RB 001 hypercar, that’s what!

Driven by a new V12, naturally aspirated engine, the AM-RB 001 is a mid-engined, two seated, carbon fibre constructed road-legal vehicle… and with Adrian Newey behind it, it achieves unprecedented levels of downforce through radical underfloor aerodynamics.

Of the project, Adrian Newey says, “I’ve long harboured the desire to design a road car. The formation of Red Bull Advanced Technologies brought me a step closer to realising that ambition, but I believed we should work with an automotive manufacturer. Aston Martin was at the top of my list. The synergy between Red Bull Racing and Aston Martin is clear. I knew Red Bull Racing had the ability to handle the pure performance aspects, but Aston Martin’s experience of making beautiful, fast and comfortable GT cars is of great benefit to the project. I’ve always been adamant that the AM-RB 001 should be a true road car that’s also capable of extreme performance on track, and this means it really has to be a car of two characters. That’s the secret we’re trying to put into this car - the technology that allows it to be docile and comfortable, but with immense outright capabilities.”

Through Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing’s on-going “Innovation Partnership”, the engineering behind the car will be shared, with production at Aston Martin’s Gaydon base. With delivery of the first cars expected in 2018, the total production is expected to be between 99 and 150 road cars, and 25 track only versions.

Get your name down now!

Congrats to Sebastien Buemi–Formula E World Champion

Congratulations to Sebastien Buemi and the Renault e.dams team for winning this year’s Formula E titles following a weekend of dramatic races in London’s Battersea Park.

Here’s hoping next weekend at Silverstone is as good….