Formula One 2012

[tweety bird]

FIA confirms unchanged 2012 Formula 1 calendar

2012 Formula One calender:

Australia: 18 March

Malaysia: 25 March

China: 15 April

Bahrain: 22 April

Spain: 13 May

Monaco: 27 May

Canada: 10 June

Europe: 24 June

Great Britain: 08 July

Germany: 22 July

Hungary: 29 July

Belgium: 02 September

Italy: 09 September

Singapore: 23 September

Japan: 07 October

Korea: 14 October

India: 28 October

Abu Dhabi: 04 November

United States: 18 November

Brazil: 25 November

the final sky line up is Martin Brundle, David Croft in the commentary box ( with Brundle dividing his time between the commentary box, pitlane and paddock.)

Natalie Pinkham and Ted Kravitz and will lead the line on the pitlane.

Sauber allso has pulled out of FOTA.

Edited December 7, 2011 by tweety bird

[Owgasm]

Pakistan and the united states?

Cool.

[N1GTR]

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) - Wednesday was the deadline for the Circuit of the Americas to come up with a $25 million sanctioning fee to bring Formula One to Austin.

“Mr. Ecclestone received his check today," said Red McCombs, founding partner of Circuit of The Americas. "We want to thank the fans supporting us, the local officials and businesses that have encouraged us, the State of Texas, Circuit of The Americas’ staff and Bernie himself. I want to thank and commend Bobby Epstein for getting us across the finish line. Bobby’s perseverance and leadership kept the project on track despite unfair and unfounded criticism.”

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone made Wednesday the deadline due to the fact he was meeting in New Delhi, India with the FIA World Motor Sport Council to set the 2012 calendar.

Just before 6 a.m., that calendar was released and showed Austin remaining on the calendar for a Nov. 18 race date -- though details concerning the last-minute deal have not been released.

“Our investors have believed all along that this project has tremendous benefit for our region, and provides a strong economic engine for the future,” said Epstein, founding partner of Circuit of The Americas. "We remain committed to reaching our goal of being valuable community partners as we establish a platform for sports and entertainment. We’re glad that Tavo [Hellmund]’s vision of bringing F1 to the people of Texas will become a reality.”

Circuit of the Americas officials said that engineering and construction teams working on the track will resume immediately, ensuring completion for the 2012 race date. Construction on the race track in Southeast Travis County has been on hold since Nov. 15, when it appeared a deal between the Circuit of the Americas and F1 had fallen through.

That was a result of the state comptroller deciding not to give $25 million in state money to finance the track up front but instead once the race began.

Ecclestone said in November that in order for a deal to be worked out, the $25 million sanctioning fee would have to be paid and that there needed to be assurances the race would be financed for its 10-year contract.

“We have a substantial number of fans who have expressed interest in buying tickets and hospitality, so today is a win for all of them as much as it is for Circuit of The Americas,” said Steve Sexton, president of Circuit of The Americas. “We encourage everyone to visit our website and register for information. Registered fans will receive the first communication regarding ticket sales plans. In a matter of weeks we will have more exciting news as we unveil our full calendar of world class events.

Source:Autoblog

[alr33x]

should put poll for who ppl think will win championship for bit of fun..

[Roy]

If only Malaysia was the weekend after...its a good GP to go to...only i cant go that weekend

[Berk]

Pakistan and the united states?

Cool.

Pakistan?

[ctjet]

Germany: 22 July

Hungary: 29 July

Belgium: 02 September

Hows that for a three week european holiday!

Germany is a sensation country, and a great event

Hugary has some wikid eastern block cuties

Belgium is god in track form, bucket list worthy

... Damn living this far away

[Owgasm]

Pakistan?

Had no idea where it was. Google Came up in Pakistan as well.

But further search has verified where it is.

[Roy]

Hows that for a three week european holiday!

Germany is a sensation country, and a great event

Hugary has some wikid eastern block cuties

Belgium is god in track form, bucket list worthy

You are on to something there. But the problem is you are talking 2k worth of GP tickets. I drove past Nurburgring the weekend of the GP this year on my way south to France...was tempted to go to the GP but the tickets for the Hungarian GP had already cost enough. In a way I was happy MW didnt win as I would have been gutted if he had got up and I had been too tight to pay for a ticket

Didnt realise Belgium was so close to the previous GP next year. Traditionally Spa is the first race back from the mid year summer break.

[sh@un]

- Drivers may no longer move back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a position.

that should result in bulk overtaking

Hows that for a three week holiday!

ummm, you do know there's the little matter of August?

[Owgasm]

ummm, you do know there's the little matter of August?

Not in the world of f1

[ctjet]

Suppose silverstone will have to do instead hey

[tweety bird]

i'm still looking at abu dhabi.

[Whiplash]

Belgium: 02 September

Italy: 09 September

Looking at being in Europe at this time, might need to run over to Spa from Munich

[N1GTR]

[Roy]

Grosjean appears to be ready to fly the white flag and go hang out in DTM with BMW. The RBR programme seems rather cut throat and ruined some your careers but you have to wonder if a talent like Grosjean was in it would be be sitting in the wings or progressed through STR and into RBR by now

[tweety bird]

i hope Grosjean doesn't give up yet, he's to young for that imo.

so i've been on the interwebz.

http://www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com/en-gb.aspx

and

http://www.yasmarinacircuit.com/en/Activities_and_Experiences.aspx

Aston Martin GT4 and Formula Yas 3000 i so want a go in those cars, but they dont tell you what's going on around the time of the gp.

[tweety bird]

Romain Grosjean joins Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus Renault for 2012

Romain Grosjean will make a Formula 1 comeback next season after Renault opted

to hand the Frenchman a seat alongside Kimi Raikkonen in 2012.

Following intense speculation over the past couple of weeks about the second seat at Renault, the Enstone-based outfit announced early on Friday that Grosjean will replace Vitaly Petrov.

The news, which comes on the back of the soon-to-be-renamed Lotus team causing a stir by signing Raikkonen, also ensures that the outfit keeps hold of major oil and petrol sponsor Total.

"I am thrilled to be one of the team's race drivers in 2012," Grosjean said. "There's a big grin on my face at the prospect of getting behind the wheel of next year's car, and I feel very privileged to be given this opportunity.

"To be racing alongside a former world champion and someone who is hungry and returning to Formula 1 will be a great experience, and I'm sure will help raise my level of performance too. I feel that my successful season in GP2 Series has helped me mature a lot, and I am a much more complete driver than I was last time I was competing in this sport.

"Returning to Enstone as a race driver feels like coming home. I will not disappoint and I wish to thank all the people without whom this return to F1 would not have been possible. Total, which supports me since 2006, and Gravity Sport Management, are first on this list."

Renault owner Gerard Lopez added: "Only last week I reiterated that the team is at the start of a brand new cycle.

"Announcing Romain as our race driver alongside Kimi is great news and will help us achieve our aims of getting back to the very top. The announcements we made today and last week are exciting ones for our team and there is a real buzz surrounding us now."

Grosjean's return to F1 comes at the expense of Petrov, whose future at the team had been in doubt ever since he launched an amazing outburst against the outfit after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Russian had been given several days to decide what he wanted to do with his future, but in the end Renault announced that it was handing Grosjean the place.

The news also means that Bruno Senna, who has raced for Renault since the Belgian Grand Prix, must find an alternative drive in 2012 if he wants to continue in F1.

Team principal Eric Boullier, who has pushed hard for Grosjean to be given another F1 chance, is confident the GP2 Series champion will do a good job next year - as he also wished Petrov and Senna good luck.

"We were impressed when he drove for us in the first practice sessions in Abu Dhabi and Brazil," he said. "We are confident that drafting him in to one of our driver's seats will help us in our rebuilding process. I would like to thank Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna for their contribution to the team's performance this year and I wish them all the best for the future."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96698

Edited December 9, 2011 by tweety bird

[N1GTR]

That should make Roy's day!

[Owgasm]

Nice. Senna where now?