Feedback: your letters

It just goes to show how great a driver Schumacher was and what an amazing career he had when each entry in your top 10 could have a valid case for being number one

Each Formula 1 era is one to savour

I used some of my down time this holiday season to ponder your question as to the best era ever in F1 (January 3). In doing so I tuned to my collection of Autocourse annuals, now 55 issues deep. What I found in combing through the rich history of our sport is that no one era is better than any other since each contains the very ingredients that keep us transfixed year after year and anxiously waiting for 2:00 (now 2:10) on Sunday afternoons.

Yes, the competitive nature of each era is different and characterised by changes in the formula, advances in technology and the understanding of science, but the fascination with machines flirting with the limits of speed coupled to the unique characteristics of the drivers and their ultra-competitive nature make each era truly special in its own way.

Look deeply and you can easily see Hamilton fighting with Fangio, Schumacher fighting with Clark, Mansell fighting with Collins or Graham Hill fighting with Senna. The pages of the calendar endlessly turn and with it come racing memories too numerable to count. Perhaps what’s best about F1 is not eras past, but rather the anticipation of eras yet to come. David C Berkey New York We’ve had a great response – keep your replies coming. We’ll be publishing the results later in the year – ed

Fond farewell to Fifth Column

I was sad to read that Nigel Roebuck will no longer be writing his Fifth Column. His observations and opinions were always interesting and beautifully written. He is a great motor racing journalist and I will miss him. May I, through your pages, say thank you and wish him good health and good luck? Keith Ashley Burton-on-trent

Timely reminder of Schumacher’s epic status

Looking over your great feature listing Michael Schumacher’s greatest victories (January 3), it just goes to show how great a driver he was and what an amazing career he had when each entry in your top 10 could have a valid case for being number one. He raised the bar in so many ways in motorsport and set a standard that many still try to match today. Joe Padgett By email

Variety would spice up BTCC support races

Following the announcement of the end of the Renault Clio Cup (Club Autosport, January 3), I would like to make a plea for a multi-make replacement. This would also be an ideal opportunity to showcase the variety of classes that many of the BTCC crowd may not have seen before. Guest races for Formula Junior, 750MC or even VSCC cars would provide a breath of fresh air.

On another subject, I was at Brands Hatch when Supervan 3 (Top five rehomed race engines, January 3) was being tested by Michael Vergers. When he hit the brakes for Paddock the rear wheels would lift… scary! Ian Page Haslemere, Surrey