MAKING A BIG NOISE ON F1...
Formula 1 was certainly embraced by the residents of Miami last weekend, and a big noise was made about the maiden grand prix on the grounds surrounding the Hard Rock Stadium. But this was America, so of course the noise would be super-sized. Amid all the razzmatazz and self-congratulatory back slapping that the event was actually happening, it was hard to get a gauge on whether this venture was a success or not. But the motor racing fans, who were drowned out by the sound of cameras clicking on the high-profile celebrities cramming the grid, would realistically say it wasn’t.
The track was a triumph, we were told. No, it wasn’t. We were told it was a circuit that had been through hundreds of different designs before the final layout was contrived, but that work must have been done in a room with the lights off.
The run to the first corner was not long enough to give drivers a decent shot at overtaking and the back straight led to a hairpin when the track broke up and a hairpin with only one line, which made passing virtually impossible. Not even a fake harbour can make up for that.
The race was not the one full of action which the drum-bashers would have you believe it was. But guess what? Money talks and under the brave new leadership of Formula 1, it is here to stay.
In this issue, we report on the British GT championship’s showpiece three-hour race from Silverstone, and this was an event which will have inadvertently benefited from the maiden F1 race in Florida. Casual Sky Sports F1 viewers might well have tuned in for their regular Sunday afternoon fix of grand prix racing but instead have been confronted by the Barwell Lamborghini of Adam Balon and Sandy Mitchell’s tense battle to hold off the McLaren of Alexander West and Marvin Kirchhoefer. While long-distance racing isn’t to everyone’s taste, the British GT contest is a shining example of it and the competitive racing, excellent coverage and timing of the broadcast itself might well have done the series a whole host of good on Sunday afternoon.
And that will be music to the ears of the incumbent of our readers’ Q&A hot seat this week, Mr GT racing himself, Stephane Ratel. The Frenchman has been the driving force behind the long-term health, sustainability and popularity of the long-distance division for more than two decades. The answers he gives to the MN readers’ questions are tackled thoughtfully and offer a real insight.
Elsewhere, we talk to a hugely successful motorsporting dynasty, the title-winning hillclimbers Roger and Scott Moran, plus we have all the reports from the weekend.
Finally, don’t forget to check out page 34 to find out how to get involved in the latest Motorsport News poll. We are on the hunt for our favourite racing Jaguar of all time, and you can turn to that feature find out how to make your voice heard.