1Malaysia F1 Team to be formed

PUTRAJAYA: The 1Malaysia F1 Team, a joint venture between the Government and private sector, will participate in the F1 race beginning next year, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister said the project involved the combined expertise of Proton and Lotus with the support of the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), Motorsports Association of Malaysia, Naza Motor and AirAsia.

Najib, who is also the Finance Minister I, told reporters when making the announcement at the Finance Ministry that leading corporate figures such as Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and S.M. Nasarudin S.M. Nasimuddin were also involved in the initiative.

“This is the Malaysian team. The car was designed at the SIC, manufactured at the SIC, tested at the SIC and the car is Malaysian-made. Even the pit-stop team consists of Malaysians,” he said.

He said the 1Malaysia Team would identify a suitable Malaysian driver, adding that the project could lift the country’s image in the international arena.

Najib said the FIA had received Malaysia’s application to participate in the World F1 Championship next year.

Asked on the budget and the total investment by the Government, Najib said: “The Malaysian government’s investment is through Proton.”

Najib said the project was not a waste because it would provide a strong marketing element to the country when it competed in the F1 championship.

“If we want to export the Proton, we must ensure that the brand is strong. There is a strong element of marketing.

“It is not merely a sporting activity because there is an element of marketing for Proton and Malaysia while at the same time, the AirAsia and Naza brand names can be popularised,” he said.

According to a press release issued by a local public relations company for the 1Malaysia F1 Team, the national team will be based at SIC.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Petronas as well as Composite Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM), a leading local composite manufacturing expert, have already been engaged to participate in the project.

The statement said the national F1 team would integrate the Malaysian technical and pit crew totalling 200 people to be managed by one of Formula One’s most respected technical director, Mike Gascoyne.

He had already recruited a core team of international experts with a proven record in the various engineering, design and manufacturing disciplines needed to ensure that the 1Malaysia F1 team was of international standard, readiness and capable of competing with the world’s greatest drivers.

Currently, six local and international drivers have been shortlisted for evaluation and the team is expected to announce its two drivers by end of next month.

The statement quoted Najib as saying that the country’s participation in Formula One with the national team had far reaching objectives, mainly the advancement of the country’s automotive industry development from the technological aspect including initiatives in green technology.

“By establishing our racing centre within the country, we hope to also attract more foreign investments and the best technical minds which, in turn, will spur the growth of our automotive industry where we hope to see more R&D into lighter, safer and more cost-effective cars,” he said.

“We further anticipate higher commitment by organisations and attendance by individuals during the F1 Petronas Malaysian GP which will be coupled with increased tourism related returns,” Najib said.

He claimed that by creating a national F1 team, the country was taking “its motor sports to its pinnacle, thus ensuring its place in this internationally embraced sports that had scaled the heights of entertainment.”

The 1Malaysia F1 Team takes its name from the “1Malaysia People First, Performance Now” policy mooted by Najib in June this year as the unifying foundation for all Malaysians to come together in celebrating cooperation among its multiethnic, multicultural and multireligious society for the betterment of the nation.

Petronas, the national oil giant, has also made advancement in this arena via its sponsorship of the BMW-Sauber Team for the last four years. -- Bernama

15 September 2009
theStar.com.my

Lotus confirmed for 2010 as FIA pushes for 14 teams

Following an intensive selection and due diligence process, the FIA has awarded the 13th entry in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship to the new Lotus team.

The FIA also received an impressive application from the BMW Sauber team. As such, it has awarded BMW Sauber the '14th place' in the championship meaning that it will be entitled to fill any vacancy that arises on the 2010 grid.

In addition, the FIA believes that a good case can be made for expanding the grid to 14 teams. The FIA will be consulting urgently with the existing teams regarding the introduction of an appropriate rule change to expand the grid to 28 cars in time for the first Grand Prix in 2010.

Detailed below is information about the new team that has been confirmed to compete in the championship from next year, joining fellow newcomers Manor Grand Prix, Team US and Campos Meta.

Company Name: 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn Bhd

Team Name: Lotus F1

TeamCountry: Malaysia

Team Principal: Tony Fernandes

A partnership between the Malaysian Government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs, 1Malaysia F1 Team returns the Lotus name as a constructor to Formula One for the first time since 1994. The team will initially be based at the RTN facility in Norfolk, UK, some 10 miles from the Lotus Cars factory. A 50,000 square foot fully equipped facility, RTN was built by Toyota for its initial Formula One programme and then used by Bentley for its successful Le Mans programme.

The team’s future design, R&D, manufacturing and technical centre will be purpose built at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit.

Team Principal Tony Fernandes is the founder and CEO of the Malaysian-based Tune Group, owner of the Air Asia airline. The team’s Technical Director Mike Gascoyne has over 20 years of experience in Formula One having previously performed the same role for the Force India, Toyota, Renault and Jordan Formula One teams.

As part of its application to compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, the team has agreed an engine supply deal with Cosworth and a wide variety of technical partnerships including Xtrac and FondTech.

The team is understood to already have a shortlist of six drivers, including both Malaysian and international names, and an announcement confirming their line-up is expected in late October.

15 September 2009

www.formula1.com

The 2010 F1 Drivers Market

 

In what is one of the most multiple-possibility Formula One drivers’ market seen in years, the decisions of a few key players have many other racers standing by to pick up their own options for the 2010 season and beyond. Two announcements in particular are expected to provoke a cascade effect all along the grid.

Fernando Alonso has long been rumoured for a switch to Ferrari, Nico Rosberg is linked with a move to McLaren, and several other drivers are contemplating their future destinations based on the conclusion of the Alonso and Rosberg suspense stories.


With five races to go and less than two months remaining to the season, confirmations regarding 2010 driver combinations should be announced in the near future. Meanwhile, here are the possibilities - and speculation - making the rounds within and without the paddock.

Brawn:
The Brawn team has good chances of pulling off its fairy-tale dream of taking the constructors’ championship this year, but it must still be wary of the Red Bull Racing effort. Jenson Button holds a good lead in the drivers’ standings and teammate Rubens Barrichello has chances of being this year’s Vice-Champion, although the Red Bull drivers also have a word to say on the matter.

In view of such results, the Brawn team has no solid reason to change its line-up for the 2010 season, especially since Barrichello has been bettering Button lately. However, it is nonetheless rumoured that Ross Brawn has made an offer to Nico Rosberg. If accepted, the German would most likely replace the veteran Barrichello, but that remains to be seen as the Brazilian’s form remains strong.

Red Bull:
The Red Bull team is where the clearest situation can be found as it has already been confirmed that Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will remain teammates in 2010. The only unanswered question concerns the team’s engine supply, as Renault power might be dropped in favour of Mercedes.

Ferrari:
The red-clad team has two drivers under contract for the 2010 season: Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. But with the persistent rumours surrounding Fernando Alonso’s arrival – without mentioning the apparent hints dropped by the man himself – all indicates that Ferrari management have a decision to make.

It seems the team may not be interested in keeping Raikkonen for another year; the aloof Finn does the job but does not appear to have the same passion as Massa. Raikkonen has never hidden his interest in an eventual rallying career, and with Ferrari’s parent company Fiat, might very well have a car at his disposal if he decided to make the jump next year – not that he has indicated he wishes to do so.

The recuperating Felipe Massa will not return to the cockpit before next season, so performance comparisons with Raikkonen are now impossible. It would be surprising to see Ferrari let go of Massa, but with the strong possibility of Alonso coming in, the temperament of an Alonso-Raikkonen line-up might be easier to handle.

McLaren:
Lewis Hamilton will remain a McLaren driver next year, but he may not have the same teammate. Heikki Kovalainen has been asked to up his game if he wants to remain on board, meanwhile tenacious rumours speak of Nico Rosberg’s arrival in 2010. A McLaren offer to Rosberg would not be very surprising in fact, since the team tried to woo him away from Williams at the end of the 2007 season; the team apparently signed with Kovalainen after the German opted to stay put.

Toyota:
The team is hoping to keep Timo Glock within its ranks next season; negotiations with Jarno Trulli are ongoing. However, upper management in Tokyo intend to cut the team’s budget by as much as 40% next year, but that decision will not me made until November - once the season is over. Both Glock and Trulli are right in looking at their options elsewhere while uncertainty hovers over Toyota despite the Japanese manufacturer’s vow to continue with its F1 programme.


Williams:
The Williams line-up could change completely in 2010 – including its engine partner. It is no secret that Nico Rosberg is in demand and that Williams have little chance of retaining him despite their improved form lately. Kazuki Nakajima however is performing below expectations and has yet to score a championship point this year after a dozen races.

Nakajima’s seat is further threatened by the fact that Williams is looking to end its engine contract with Toyota in favour of Renault – and Nakajima is a Toyota-supported driver linked to the engine supply deal. Potential candidates include Heikki Kovalainen and current Williams test driver and GP2 series leader Nico Hulkenberg.

BMW Sauber:
BMW has decided to quit Formula One at the end of the season; the German constructor – with the help of Peter Sauber – must now find a buyer if the team is to continue racing next season. Potential buyers might have been found in Malyasia (possibly Petronas, or car manufacturer Proton via the Lotus brand). Failing a sale or management buyout, BMW might hold on to the Hinwil facility and use it as a technology development centre.

Team drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld are watching the situation closely. Kubica has been rumoured for a seat at Renault, while Heidfeld might integrate one of the three new teams coming in next year.

Renault:
Renault certainly appear to be at a crossroads. Fernando Alonso is surely heading for Ferrari while rookie Romain Grosjean (who replaced the sacked Nelson Piquet two races ago) is still in his learning phase. Odds are Grosjean will continue as a Renault driver next year but the main seat remains open.

However, it is the FIA investigation into possible cheating (suspicions regarding a voluntary crash by Piquet at the Singapore race in 2008, directly favouring a win for Alonso) which might decide the future. If the team is declared guilty, the French manufacturer might simply decide to leave the sport despite recently committing to F1 until 2012.

If the team is cleared, it can then look for an experienced driver to partner Grosjean, but interested candidates are surely waiting for the FIA’s full conclusions first. A Renault-Raikkonen association has been suggested if the Finn leaves Ferrari.

Force India:
Giancarlo Fisichella has effectively already left the team: the Italian will now take over the injured Felipe Massa’s seat at Ferrari until the end of the season, a mission to be followed by test and reserve driver duties next year.

It is expected that Force India’s reserve driver Tonio Liuzzi will sit in Fisichella’s vacated seat for the remainder of the season, and possibly continue as a race driver next year. Adrian Sutil will probably remain with Force India in 2010.

Toro Rosso:
No changes are expected at Red Bull’s ‘junior’ team. Sebastien Buemi should be on the roster next season, with fellow rookie Jaime Alguersuari (recently brought in as a replacement for the ousted Sebastien Bourdais) aboard the other Toro Rosso car.

USF1, Campos and Manor:
Three new teams have been confirmed for the 2010 championship, but the only certain aspect is that they will all be powered by Cosworth engines. In regards to drivers, it is all speculation: names such as Bruno Senna, Marc Gene, Pedro de la Rosa and even Jacques Villeneuve have been mentioned as possibilities among many others, but all is in the air and nothing can be sure until contracts are signed.

What can be said however is that the 2010 drivers’ market is a very active market indeed…

Courtesy fo: F1-Live

Coming this Wednesday, the McLaren MP4-12C!

This coming Wednesday, McLaren will finally reveal the followup to its legendary F1 road car, but this weekend, in an interview with the Times of London newspaper, Ron Dennis finally announced the car's name. The supercar which until now had been referred to as the P11 will be dubbed the MP4-12C. That designation draws directly on McLaren's formula heritage where the company's racecars have borne the MP4 designation since 1981. Why the road car is named after the relatively unsuccessful 1997 model is not clear at this point, but perhaps we will learn more this week.

Of course, a name in-and-of-itself doesn't have anything to do with how good the car itself might be. Besides the name, Dennis did drop a few other hints about the car. As with the venerable F1, the chassis of the new supercar is to be made of carbon fiber. This time around, the car has gullwing doors and only two seats, rather than the three staggered thrones of the F1. Features like an automatic variable rate suspension likely means the MP4-12C won't be under the 2,400-pound weight of the F1.

In spite of its immense performance, the only 106 F1s were built over six years including the race cars – for the MP4-12C, McLaren is looking to achieve a much more ambitious target: 1,000 units per year.


Courtesy of: Autoblog