1302 replies to this topic

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

It's like the baby got hit in the head with a spring or something.

Hi, my name is Satan and I'll be your maître d' this evening. Reservation for one?

[DrDickAction]

Hi, my name is Satan and I'll be your maître d' this evening. Reservation for one?

I only make that joke because both felipe and felipinho are fine.

[kngrsll]

but not fine in the sense, of lookin good

[yonson]

Hi, my name is Satan and I'll be your maître d' this evening. Reservation for one?

The photog definitely needed to use some flash in that pic though...

[mads]

It's like the baby got hit in the head with a spring or something.

[Redliner]

It's like the baby got hit in the head with a spring or something.

LMFAO!!!!!!!

[chiuey]

It's like the baby got hit in the head with a spring or something.

[yonson]

Raikkonen joins WRC with Citroen

By Matt Beer Friday, December 4th 2009, 06:19 GMT

Kimi RaikkonenCitroen has announced that Kimi Raikkonen will join its World Rally Championship line-up in a Red Bull-backed Citroen Junior Team car, as predicted by AUTOSPORT.

The 2007 Formula 1 world champion will be joined in the Red Bull Citroen squad by former Junior WRC champion Sebastien Ogier, who completed an impressive WRC rookie season with the squad last year.

Raikkonen made his top flight rallying debut in an S2000 Abarth at his home round of the WRC in Finland earlier this year, earning the respect of the series regulars for the speed with which he adapted to driving on the stages. He has hinted for many years that he was keen to pursue a career in rallying after F1, and when he announced last month that he would take a sabbatical following the breakdown of his talks with McLaren, the WRC was seen as his most likely destination.

"I always wanted to compete in rally, especially in the World Rally Championship at some point in my career," said Raikkonen.

"Thanks to Red Bull, I have the opportunity to drive the best car of the series with the Citroen C4. This is a new but very exciting challenge."

Speculation has suggested that Raikkonen could return to F1 with Red Bull after his first WRC season. He confirmed that his Citroen deal only covered 2010 at present.

"For the moment we have a one-year contract and we will see how it goes for the future," Raikkonen said. "I am really looking forward to testing the car and taking the start of the first rally."

Citroen team boss Olivier Quesnel said he was delighted by Red Bull's increased involvement, and that the squad had such a strong Junior line-up in Raikkonen and Ogier alongside factory drivers Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo.

"Red Bull's commitment and energy are a perfect fit for Citroen's ongoing thirst for victory," Quesnel said. "We will continue to count on Sébastien and Dani to defend our world titles in 2010, and we will also be prolonging our association with Sebastien Ogier who showed outstanding potential this year.

"Last but not least, it is with immense joy that we welcome Kimi Raikkonen to our ranks. We are very proud that he has chosen Citroen.

"In addition to the confirmation of these four crews, we will hopefully be able to announce other programmes over the coming weeks."

Raikkonen and Ogier will contest 12 of next year's 13 WRC rounds, but will skip the New Zealand event.

[vietlol]

why would you skip NZ its awesome

[_R_]

now he's backed by Red Bull...

[Redliner]

Looks like Jens really did move for the challenge. Huge props, but judging how he did against Woobens, I don't think he's going to put up much of a fight. Such a huge contrast to his days of old when he was bouncing around for money.

Ross Brawn has admitted disappointment with Jenson Button's decision to switch to Mercedes, but insists the move has nothing to do with money. The 2009 world champion will be Lewis Hamilton's McLaren teammate next year.

The 29-year-old's Brawn/Mercedes talks were rumoured to have failed due to disagreements about his salary.

"His decision is disappointing because we worked so well together," Brawn told Auto Motor und Sport. "But whatever is said, it was not about the money. In the end our offer was even more attractive than McLaren's.

"But it doesn't make sense to employ a driver who would not be happy and sees a bigger challenge somewhere else.

Further negotiations would have been pointless.

"Jenson obviously wanted to be in the same car against Lewis Hamilton," he said. "That's brave and I have to respect it."

[vietlol]

Probably still drunk from the victory champagne when he signed that deal.

[DrDickAction]

That's brave

Yes Ross, yes it is.

[vietlol]

no news media just recycling domenicali's comments from suzuka gp weekend when they announced alonso

[Deadpool]

I miss testing. At least you'd have something to follow every couple weeks + see how the cars were shaping up.

[kngrsll]

I miss testing. At least you'd have something to follow every couple weeks + see how the cars were shaping up.

meee too. one of my favorite parts of the year are all the new car launches

[DrDickAction]

I miss testing. At least you'd have something to follow every couple weeks + see how the cars were shaping up.

Along with the testing liveries. Honda black

[_R_]

some news, but nothing exciting...

Int. Racing Driver: Jenson Button
British Comp. Driver: Jenson Button
Gregor Grant Award: Ron Dennis
Gregor Grant Award: Ferrari
Int. Rally Driver: Mikko Hirvonen
Rally Car of the Year: Citroen C4
John Bolster Award: Adrian Newey
Racing car of the Year: Brawn BGP001

[MrHahn]

Oh a whole lot of Brits, didn't see that shit coming

[vietlol]

down with Britain!

the UK is no more, we are almost there!

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

British GP saved:

Silverstone has agreed a 17-year deal to host the British Grand Prix from 2010, ensuring the race is not axed.

The Northamptonshire circuit stepped in to stage the race, which next year takes place on 11 July, after Donington Park was stripped of the rights.

"This is tremendous news," said 1996 Formula 1 champion Damon Hill, who is president of the British Racing Drivers' Club that owns Silverstone.

Under the deal, Silverstone will redevelop the pit lane and paddock.

Work is due to start as soon as possible after Christmas but is not expected to be completed until 2011.

Hill added: "It's not easy to enter into an agreement of this magnitude. It's a big commitment.

"But the BRDC felt we wanted this relationship to continue and we were prepared to back the negotiating team, with the level of risk satisfactory for the deal to go ahead."

F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone welcomed the deal, adding: "This will ensure the British Grand Prix is included on the Formula 1 calendar for many years to come, which is something I've always wanted.

"The team at Silverstone already know how to organise a good event and now everyone can look forward to next summer at Silverstone."

The 2010 race calendar will be officially released later this week, when the Silverstone showpiece will be confirmed for Sunday, 11 July - the same day as the 2010 World Cup final.

Talks had been ongoing between Formula One Management (FOM) and Silverstone since Donington Park failed to show it had the necessary £135m funding.

The main delay in establishing a deal appears to have been the length of the contract and the inclusion of a 7% annual escalation fee.

Silverstone, which first staged the British Grand Prix in 1948, admitted it needed to improve its ageing facilities but insisted it required the security of a longer-term contract to justify and help raise the finances needed to upgrade.

Silverstone deal had to make sense - Hill

The contract on the table was believed to demand a £12m fee for 2010, with an increase of 7% per year after that.

However, it is now understood the increase has been pegged at 5%.

There is also a clause in the contract that allows either side to end the contract after 10 years.

BBC F1 commentator, and former F1 driver, Martin Brundle said: "It's brilliant news. I always assumed it would happen in the end because everyone wanted the same thing. The new circuits are exciting and interesting but they always had to balance up with the historic circuits, like Silverstone."

Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips added: "We've always had five-year deals and never been able to get the investment we needed to redevelop.

"But 17 years gives us the ability to invest and move forward.

"We've always had the belief the British Grand Prix was an important cornerstone of Formula 1 but, with Bernie, you're never quite sure. At the end of the day, though, you have to have a British Grand Prix."

Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe was quick to welcome the announcement and said: "The news the British Grand Prix is to stay at the iconic Northamptonshire track will be welcomed by millions of fans - not just in this country but across the world."

Silverstone is also set to stage the British MotoGP in 2010 on a modified track.

The revamped layout will also be used for the F1 race, as long as Silverstone officials can get approval from the FIA, the sport's world governing body. If not, they will stick with the old circuit.

http://news.bbc.co.u...one/8397777.stm

17 year deal. Why the fuck would they sign a 17 year deal? Bernie will be dead before this deal is up, hopefully there is a re-negotiation clause in the contract.

[Nacho]

British GP saved:


http://news.bbc.co.u...one/8397777.stm

17 year deal. Why the fuck would they sign a 17 year deal? Bernie will be dead before this deal is up, hopefully there is a re-negotiation clause in the contract.

Bernie is immortal.

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Bernie is immortal.

Last remaining highlander?

[Nacho]

Last remaining highlander?

There can be only one.

[DrDickAction]

Silverstone...admitted it needed to improve its ageing facilities but insisted it required the security of a longer-term contract to justify and help raise the finances needed to upgrade.

Hard to justify that you need millions of dollars, especially with credit as tight as it is, to remodel for an event that you may or may not have.