JET FUEL ONLY

Formula 1 Looking Ahead
Old School Rules
The magic of F1 seems to be on its way back. In a bid to revive the sport from its recent failings in terms of a world wide decline in viewership, some of the old school rules are back. No launch control, No traction control & no electronic brake assist. I was hoping for fully manual gearbox’s but the gear boxes are semi automatic sequential units with a hand controlled clutch. To make the sport more exciting the emphasis is now more on driver skill. Which is brilliant if you think about it cos there is no nannying electronics to get your ass out of jail. As far as the engines go the restriction is now down to 2.4 liter V8’s since 2006. Engines must last at least 2 consecutive races, if not a driver will loose 10 grid spots if an engine is changed before the race- OUCH! However drivers are allowed one “free engine” for the season, like a wild card to be played at any time except the last race of the season. Interesting indeed.
As far as gearbox rule go these units must last 4 consecutive races, if not any change before the start of a race will cost the driver 5 grid places. If the gearbox fails during a race the driver can start the next race with a new one without incurring any penalties. Not only do these rules call for improved driver skill but also better team tactics, being able to save your car for that all important killer attack. The constructors will play an even bigger part since so much comes down to reliability or else drivers will be losing grid places irrespective of qualifying well.

Technical Side of an F1 Car
Gone are the days of the 3.0litre V10’s which churned out 900Bhp. The V8’s however still belt out a respectable 750 horses which equates to 560Kw in a car that weighs just under 500Kg. Juggling the numbers this works out well over 800Kw per tone. The aerodynamic excellence of an F1 car means these cars can defy the laws of physics, turning in at 200km/h can produce 2G of downforce. Indianapolis has one of the fastest straights & these miniature rockets can reach 365Km/h here. Although an F1 car is capable of well over 400Km/h. This is what makes F1 the pinnacle of motorsport, in terms of power to weight ratio nothing evens comes close. More importantly an F1 car can decelerate from 300Km/h to stand still in 4 seconds. It’s called carbon ceramic compound boys. Just look at some of these performance stats of a Mclaren F1 car or should I say Ferrari - EINA!!

0 to 100 km/h: 1.9 seconds – you read that right Sir.
0 to 200 km/h: 3.9 seconds
0 to 300 km/h: 8.4 seconds – Damn I remember when an F1 car diced a beemer M5 (V10), made the blik look like it was going in reverse.

Engine: 2.4 Liter V8 32 valve
RPM: 19000rpm governed. (what the f#$K)
Gearbox: Seven Speed, 7 forward 1 reverse.
Suspension: Koni
Wheels: Enkei (light weight magnesium rims)
Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza slicks.

New cars for 2008 - Top Left moving Clockwise Honda RA108, Mclaren MP4-23, Renault R28, Ferrari F2008.


The Season forthcoming – 2008 Testing, Teams & Drivers
The 2008 F1 season kicks off in Australia on the 16th of March. Look out for FORCE INDIA, no jokes I’ll say it again Force India, the pit crew will be dressed in loongi’s for the first race initiation. When the team manager radios in the driver the intro will be “Aareh Bawa Kemchor - Come in over airhk, Doh, turn into the pits sahlor!!”
In terms of drivers that Spanish sod is back with Renault, that British coconut will be pushing for the championship this season fresh from his Laureus award, but the favorite remains the lity voiced FINN in his Imola red scuderia machine. The Felipe Massa was fastest in testing in Bahrain followed by Toyota’s Timo Glock, Raikonen was third fastest. Whilst in Spain the Mclaren of Hamilton was fastest in Barcelona followed by Mclarens De la Rosa. There you have it, lets look at this season Driver lineup & Calendar

The 2008 F1 Calendar



Teams

Let’s hope we will have an enthralling F1 season free of petty politics, spying & theft all of which has just dragged F1 into the doll drums. Remember the days of Senna & Mansell later came Hill, Villeneuve & a young Schumacher with team Benetton. The legend of the underdog Eddie Irvine & the Ferrari crushing talent of Mika Hakinnen- those were the days of F1, no doubt.

Mr B – nismaniac@gmail.com