The Official Formula 1 2009 Season Thread

[Tim2179]

You tease...

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[gtrwerks]

5 Best Drives of the Season:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/8337915.stm

[Tim2179]

Germany wins Race of Champions Nations Cup



Germany claimed its third straight Race of Champions Nations Cup at Beijing's Birds Nest stadium thanks to the superlative efforts of Michael Schumacher and Red Bull Formula 1 star Sebastian Vettel.

The German duo, who lost just two of its 12 races throughout the event, beat Team GB 2-1 in the final after earlier winning a hard-fought semi against American duo Travis Pastrana and Tanner Foust.

Seven-time F1 champion Schumacher cast the first stone in the final, beating current title holder Jenson Button in the RoC cars, but Andy Priaulx redressed the balance in heat two as his rival Vettel spun his Ford Focus WRC at mid-distance.

It all came down to a winner-takes-all finale, with Schumacher beating Priaulx back in the RoC cars by a little over a second. The success makes Germany the most successful nation in Nations Cup history.

“We had a nice fight – I just come back to this event to use whatever there is left of a talent,” said Schumacher, who also fought off a strong challenge from Team USA's Foust in the semi final. “With this track, it's just a case of watching where the other guy is to know how hard to push. Of course, the racing is the highlight but the other stuff that goes on around that is part of the relaxed atmosphere of the Race of Champions that we all enjoy.”

Vettel added: “To win three times in a row is something that no one has done before, so it's a real reason to be proud.”

It was Button's first trip to the ROC Nations Cup final, and the newly crowned World Champion quipped, “To be out there celebrating being the first loser is never best, I don't like finishing second. It was a lot of fun – I spent most of the evening trying to hang on to my teammate's coat-tails.”

Britain's route into the final had come at the expense of surprise team China. The home team, comprising A1GP racer Ho-Pin Tung and rally driver Han Han, surprisingly each won their group races against Australia's Mick Doohan and Chad Reed, before Tung brought the Beijing crowd to its feet with a remarkable win over WRC star Mikko Hirvonen in the RX150 buggies. But, despite Tung beating Priaulx after the Brit was given a five-second penalty for jumping the start, he and Han were no match for the duo of Priaulx and Button.

The earlier group stages failed to provide many other highlights, although the Group Three contest between Scandinavia and France was a cracker.

First, multiple Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen, who was racing against WTCC champion Yvan Muller, clipped the barrier on the entrance to the tunnel, launched his KTM X-bow into the air, and spun off. Then, in the next encounter, Mattias Ekstrom broke the suspension on his Solution F prototype after landing heavily after a jump. Just as he was trying to keep the car out of the wall, rival Guerlain Chicherit spun backwards into the barrier to retire for good.

The Race of Champions main event takes place on Wednesday.

[gtrwerks]

was this on TV? SOB

[rota92]

I know that last years one was on TV a few weeks ago at the golf course I play at lol Not sure if that was a first showing or not but I'd imagine speed will have something on it.

[Tim2179]

It usually airs on Discovery HD a few months down the road. Once it finally airs, they'll show it constantly.

[vinuneuro]

Max has got to be laughing as he leaves, his arch enemies have fallen one by one. I'm not sorry to see them leave, what a bunch of losers.

But what happens to Kobi now?!

Toyota decision made...

Decision about Toyota's F1 future has been made already, announcement imminent
November 3 2009

We hear from good sources that we may not even have to wait for Toyota's withdrawal announcement in the conference of the 8th November. It is a shock even for us that the announcement may even happen in hours, maybe late tomorrow... But it's logical, given the decision period is now over.

We have heard that in fact people from the team have started sending their CV's...

That is because the decision about Toyota's F1 future has been made already. The only question is when it will be announced, and we cannot fully confirm -yet- if it will be -leaked or announced- before or during the press conference of Sunday.

Updates and more detailed info to come very soon!

On a final note, it is very sad that the Hinwil workers (Sauber's factory in Switzerland) are saved by a situation very similar to what happened in from the 29th of July. Hopefully Toyota will re-focus those jobs into other areas such as...Le Mans?

http://www.f1network.net/main/s491/st151273.htm

[Spartan500]

here is a link to the race of champions. It might take a few seconds for the video to start.

http://freecaster.tv/autosports/1010...nations-cup-09

[Takashi1978]

Are there any torrents for the ROC last yr and this yr?
Discovery never airs this show in Malaysia.

Also kinda bumped out bout Toyota maybe leaving F1 next year, they showed real promise this year and so hoping for Kobayashi to join the grid next year.

[Wendys or Bust]

Originally Posted by Spartan500

here is a link to the race of champions. It might take a few seconds for the video to start.

http://freecaster.tv/autosports/1010...nations-cup-09

fuuuk, I attempted to save the video with my "download them all" firefox add on but the video is secured.

Its excellent quality and I wanted to stream it to the big screen.

[Starscream]

[rota92]

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...03150922.shtml

This is a good article to keep things simple, well for me anyways. Shows next years prospects and such.

[Wendys or Bust]

Good bye Toyota

Toyota: F1 to zero stress unless Japan withdrew year

2009年11月4日 2時30分　更新：11月4日 11時19分

November 4, 2009 Updated 2:30 minutes: November 4th 11:19

今年の日本ＧＰでは２位に入っていたトヨタのヤルノ・トゥルーリ＝三重県鈴鹿市の鈴鹿サーキットで２００９ 年１０月４日、大竹禎之撮影

This year's Japanese GP, Jarno Trulli in his Toyota into place = at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, October 4, 2009, shooting Noriyuki Ootake Tei

トヨタ自動車は、自動車レースの世界最高峰、フォーミュラワン（Ｆ１）から今年限りで撤退する方針を固めた 。

Toyota Motor Corp., the world's greatest motor racing, Formula One (F1) as far as this year decided to withdraw from.

４日午後、豊田章男社長が東京都内で会見して発表する。

On Monday afternoon, at a Tokyo news conference to announce that President Akio Toyoda.

トヨタは０２年にＦ１に参戦。

Toyota F1 race in 02 years.

当初は１２年まで継続する方針を示していたが、世界不況により２期連続の赤字となる見通しで、これ以上の費 用負担は難しいと判断した。

12 shows the initial plan was to continue until, by the slump in world expected a deficit of two consecutive terms, decided that the expense of more difficult.

Ｆ１を巡っては、ホンダも昨年限りで撤退しており、日本の自動車メーカーが完全撤退することに なる。

F1 is over, and as far as the withdrawal last year, Honda will complete the withdrawal of Japanese automobile manufacturers.

Ｆ１参戦は、運営費や車両製造費などで年間数百億円かかるとされる。

F1 racing is that it will take several hundred billion yen a year in operating costs and vehicle and manufacturing costs.

トヨタは国内外の新車販売支援策などで業績は最悪期を脱したとはいえ、依然として膨大な過剰生産能力を抱え ており、５日に発表する０９年９月中間連結決算も営業赤字となる見通し。

Toyota's new vehicle sales performance and domestic and international support measures and escaped the worst, however, and still had a huge excess capacity, 5 to 09 September will be announced on the consolidated operating loss in half prospects.

トヨタは７月、傘下の富士スピードウェイ（静岡県小山町）でのＦ１開催から昨年限りで撤退することを表明し たが、９月中間決算で黒字になったホンダなどに比べ大きく出遅れており、Ｆ１撤退によるコスト削減を決断し た。

Toyota in July-owned Fuji Speedway (Oyama-cho, Shizuoka Prefecture) is expressed in F1 as far as to withdraw from the conference last year, late September and was larger than the Honda and a surplus in the interim month withdraw the decision to cut F1 costs.

今後はＦ１チームのメンバーらの雇用を守るため、チームの譲渡などを検討する。

F1 future to protect the employment of the members of the team, and to consider the transfer of the team.

共同参戦などの形で、運営費を大幅に圧縮し、Ｆ１にかかわり続ける可能性もある。

Entered in the form of co-operating costs and significantly compressed, F1 is also likely to continue interacting.

トヨタは今年、日本グランプリなどで２度の２位を獲得し、製造者ランキングでは５位で終わった 。

Toyota this year, including two-time Grand Prix of Japan won first place in two, five ended with a manufacturer in place ranking.

【米川直己、宮島寛、鈴木泰広】

[Yonekawa Naomi, Hiroshi Miyajima, Suzuki Yasuhiro]

http://translate.google.com/translat...20105000c.html



Sorry, for the JDM characters, they didn't show up like that on the page. Just click on the link above and on the button on the top right to view in full english.

[Takashi1978]

Its official, Toyota leaves F1.
Anyone think Kobayashi will join one of the new teams next yr?

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/...s-formula-one/

[BauleyCivic]

RIP Toyota

[Wendys or Bust]

Yup, yup. Here is there full statement;

The Toyota Motor Corporation has released the following statement following its decision to leave Formula One.

'Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces it plans to withdraw from the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1) at the end of the 2009 season.

'TMC, which had viewed its participation in F1 as contributing to the prosperity of automotive culture, remained dedicated to competing at the pinnacle of motor sports, even in the face of the abrupt economic changes that started last year. However, when considering TMC's motor-sports activities next year and beyond from a comprehensive midterm viewpoint reflecting the current severe economic realities,TMC decided to withdraw from F1.

'TMC leaves F1 having compiled 13 podium and 87 point finishes over eight challenging seasons since 2002 with Panasonic Toyota Racing, a full-constructor team. It views its time in F1 - in which teams put forth their best efforts to fiercely compete at racings' highest level - as an irreplaceable experience that provided an opportunity to develop both human resources and its R&D operations. TMC expresses its deepest appreciation to its F1 fans and others for their warm support.

'TMC also wants to express its heartfelt gratitude to all Panasonic Toyota Racing drivers to date and to all Toyota Motorsport GmbH employees who have helped make the team's achievements possible. TMC intends to do its best to find a solution for those parties who will be affected by any inconvenience this decision may cause.

'Drawing on its experience in F1 and other motor sports, TMC intends to move forward in developing exciting production vehicles, such as the Lexus 'LFA' supercar and compact rear-wheel-drive sports cars. In motor sports, it will not only race in various categories, but will also actively contribute to further development of motor sports by supporting grassroots races and planning events in which it is easy for people to participate.'

[Spade]

I wonder how that's going to work as they signed the Concorde agreement.....

[Tim2179]

Originally Posted by Spade

I wonder how that's going to work as they signed the Concorde agreement.....

I was wondering the same thing.

So Toyota is out, and it looks like Sauber will get the 13th spot on the grid.

[Purple-skunk]

Originally Posted by Spade

I wonder how that's going to work as they signed the Concorde agreement.....

I think unless someone buys the team out and takes over all rights (which includes the Concord Agreement), then they will have to fork out large sums of money..............What makes it even harder, the plant and full works operation is located on TOYOTA ownded grounds................

This could get interesting!!

It makes you wonder what the hell they were thinking when they signed the agreement in the first place.............And this has been long time coming considering the long time rumors and them NOT taking up on any of their current driver options.

Sucks

[BauleyCivic]

Originally Posted by Spade

I wonder how that's going to work as they signed the Concorde agreement.....

I think that their decision was made easier by the fact that there was a team waiting in the wings to take over their slot. I doubt the FIA will go after them since they have their 13 teams set for 2010.

[Lewie]

**** Toyota, they couldn't even win a race in 8 years of racing.

[Tim2179]

Pirelli rules out F1 return

“Pirelli's previous position on F1 hasn't changed,” a spokeswoman for the Italian organisation told Reuters. “Pirelli prefers to develop tyres for racing that will also be used on the road. Pirelli sponsors Superbikes, the World Rally Championship and GT2.”

[BauleyCivic]

Originally Posted by Lewie

**** Toyota, they couldn't even win a race in 8 years of racing.

Probably would have if they kept Gascoyne on board...

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns21974.html

Originally Posted by grandprix.com

The key point at which many in F1 lost faith in the project was when Gascoyne was ousted in March 2006 following a fundamental difference of opinion with the top management of the team about the way the team should develop. The split was indicative of the clash of cultures between the corporate world and the motor racing fraternity. Gascoyne was the epitome of an aggressive get-up-and-go engineer who was not frightened to speak his mind in corporate circles. His arrival at the team made a significant difference and his departure was seen in F1 circles as a victory of corporate thinking.

That move sent out all the wrong signals in F1 and meant that the team had real troubles recruiting top engineers as it was clear that Gascoyne was rejected for arguing too much for what he felt was necessary. The impression being that the team was being run from Japan by people who did not fully understand what they were doing with the European management simply doing what they were told.

[Lewie]

Like I said, **** Toyota.

BMW should stay, Dr. Theissen is the man!

[BauleyCivic]

What about Dr. Z?