-
F1:
New Japanese F1 team acdepted (DEC 22, 2005)
-
F1:
Alonso to join Mclaren in 2007 (DEC 20, 2005)
-
FBMW:
Marco Holzer Wins First Formula BMW World Final (DEC 16, 2005)
-
INDYCAR: HONDA TO POWER ALL CARS IN 2006 (DEC 16, 2005)
-
WRC:
MITSUBISHI AND SKODA WITHDRAW FROM WORLD RALLY (DEC 14, 2005)
-
LE
MANS: AUDI UNVEILS ITS DIESEL POWERED R10 (DEC 13, 2005)
-
AMERICAN
SCOTT SPEED TO MAKE F1 DEBUT IN 2006 (DEC 7, 2005)
-
WRC:
RICHARD BURNS DEAD (NOV 26, 2005)
-
F1:
MIDLAND TO RACE UNDER RUSSIAN FLAG (NOV 17, 2005)
-
F1: TOYOTA TO SWITCH TO BRIDGESTONE TYRES (NOV 11, 2005)
-
F1:
ROSBERG TO MAKE F1 DEBUT IN 2006 (NOV 3, 2005)
-
AUS
V8 SUPERCAR: JAMES COURTNEY COMING HOME (OCT 31, 2005)
-
F1:
QUALIFYING FORMAT CHANGE FOR 2006 (OCT 24, 2005)
-
WRC:
GRONHOLM TO DRIVE FOR FORD IN 2006 (OCT 10, 2005)
-
F1:
HONDA BUYS OUT BAR HONDA TEAM (OCT 4, 2005)
-
CHAMPCAR:
KOREAN RACE CANCELLED (SEP 29, 2005)
-
F1:
RENAULT INTERVIEW WITH NEW F1 CHAMPION - F ALONSO (SEPT 26, 2005)
-
F1:
BUTTON TO STAY WITH BAR-HONDA (SEPT 22, 2005)
-
WRC:
Michael Park killed - Rally of Great Britain (SEPT 18, 2005)
-
F1:
HEIDFELD JOINS THE NEW BMW TEAM (SEPT 16, 2005)
-
F1:
RED BULL RACING BUYS MINARDI F1 (SEPT 11, 2005)
-
F1:
WILLIAMS TO USE BRIDGESTONE TYRES IN 2006 (SEPT 10, 2005)
-
F1:
WILLIAMS TO USE COSWORTH POWER IN 2006 (AUG 15, 2005)
-
WRC:
Colin McRae to drive in Rally of GB (AUG 12, 2005)
-
AIGP:
US JOINS A1 GRAND PRIX (AUG 4, 2005)
-
F1:
BARRICHELLO MOVES TO BAR ; MASSA JOINS FERRARI (AUG 3, 2005)
-
F1:
TOYOTA ANNOUNCES JORDAN ENGINE EXTENSION (JULY 30, 2005)
-
F1:
BUTTON CAUGHT BETWEEN BAR & WILLIAMS AGAIN (JULY 29, 2005)
-
F1:
HERBERT JOINS JORDAN MANAGEMENT (JULY 29, 2005)
-
INDYCAR:
MANNING LOSES GANASSI DRIVE (JULY 27, 2005)
-
F1:
COULTHARD RESIGNS WITH RED BULL FOR 2006 (JULY 6, 2005)
-
F1:
JOINT PRESS RELEASE RE FIA CHARGE FROM US GP: (JUNE 29, 2005)
-
F1:
BMW BUYS SAUBER F1 (JUNE 23, 2005)
-
F1:
FIA TO CHARGE MICHELIN TEAMS (JUNE 21, 2005)
-
F1:
FIA
STATEMENT ON US GP (JUNE 20, 2005)
-
INDY
500: Medical update on Bruno Junqueira's injury (MAY 30, 2005)
-
F1:
QUALIFYING FORMAT CHANGED AGAIN (MAY 24, 2005)
-
INDY
500: Kenny Brack Replaces Injured Buddy Rice at Indy (MAY 18, 2005)
"Buddy Rice,
who recorded Honda's first Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004, will
be unable to defend his title this year as the result of back injuries
sustained in a practice session crash on May 11 at the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway. Substituting for Rice at Indianapolis will be Kenny
Brack..."
-
F1:
BANNED FOR NEXT 2 GPs (MAY 6, 2005)
"FIA
International Court of Appeal on May 5th 2005 has decided to disqualify
both BAR Honbda cars from San Marino GP"
-
F1:
TOYOTA DROPS APPEAL (APR 28, 2005)
"Panasonic Toyota Racing has decided not to pursue its
appeal against the 25s penalty added to Ralf Schumacher's race time
in the San Marino Grand Prix..."
-
F1:
FERRARI TO POWER RED BULL NEXT YEAR (APR 23, 2005)
-
F1:
ROSBERG BECOMES TEST DRIVER (APR 22, 2005)
"The
BMW WilliamsF1 Team today confirmed that Nico Rosberg has been appointed
as the team's second official test driver for the 2005 season. .."
-
Toyota
young drivers ready to race (APR 8, 2005)
"The three
drivers signed to the 2005 Toyota Young Drivers' Programme (TDP) are
ready to put their pre-season test kilometres to good use as the Formula
Renault and Formula 3 Euroseries championships get underway
..."
-
GPWS:
Rival series renamed as Grand Prix Racing (APR 7, 2005)
-
De
Ferran becomes the Sporting Director of BAR-Honda (APR 7, 2005)
"Two times Champcar champion Gil
de Ferran has returned to racing scene by becoming the Sporting
Director of F1 BAR-Honda team ..."
-
DMT:
McNish ready for new challenge (APR 7, 2005)
-
TOYOTA
F1: Barcelona Test Round-Up (APR 7, 2005)
-
A1
GRAND PRIX MARKS FIRST BIRTHDAY WITH AUSTRALIAN RACE ANNOUNCEMENT
(MAR 30, 2005)
"A1 Grand Prix marked its first birthday today with the launch
of A1 Team Australia exactly one year on from the championship's official
launch in Dubai .."
-
CHAMPCAR:
CHINESE RACE IN 2006 (MAR 23, 2005)
" CHAMP CAR WORLD SERIES REACHES HISTORIC AGREEMENT TO CONDUCT
RACES IN BEIJING, CHINA IN 2006. .... "
-
CHAMPCAR:
18 YEAR OLD RANGER JOINS MI-JACK CONQUEST (MAR 22, 2005)
2004 Atlantic series rookie-of-the-year Andrew Ranger will
make his Champcar debut with Mi-Jack Conquest Racing team.
RANGER: "I've worked hard to get where I am and I'm really pleased
to see that my efforts and those of my sponsors that have supported
me from the very beginning of my racing career have been rewarded
... I'm extremely grateful to Mr. Bachelart for the confidence he
has expressed in me and I intend to prove that he made the right choice
in giving me a ride with Mi-Jack Conquest Racing."
MI-JACK (Bachelart): "I had heard a lot about Andrew and I had
been watching him for some time, but I was really struck by his composure
and dexterity in handling the car ... This is a very exciting time
for MJCR. We have worked extremely hard during the off-season to improve
the technical and engineering program, and we feel that we have two
very capable drivers in Nelson and Andrew to take full advantage of
our technical package. "
-
F3:
Rodolfo Avila joins to TOM's Asia (MAR 21, 2005)
"Macanese star Rodolfo Avila will take his place on the Asian
Formula Three Series grid in 2005 ..."
-
F3:
Toyota Young Drivers Programme Ready for 2005 (FEB 25, 2005)
"Toyota has today announced that its European young drivers programme
will be consolidated with three youngsters continuing with the scheme
in 2005 ..."
-
DTM:
MG to enter two ZT's for the 2005 DTM season (FEB 25, 2005)
"The British automobile manufacturer MG returns to DTM
to battle it out with Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Opel ..."
-
F1:
2005 FERRARI F1 CAR (FEB 25, 2005)
"The F2005 is the fifty first single-seater built by Ferrari
specifically to compete in the Formula 1 World Championship ..."
-
DTM: 2005
CALENDAR REVISED (FEB 23, 2005)
Russian race has been postponed till 2006. Instead Brno Czech
Republic will host a DTM round. (see
calendar)
-
FORMULA
1: JORDAN SIGNS PASTORELLI AS TEST DRIVER (FEB 23, 2005)
21 year old Nicky
Pastorelli has joined Jordan Midland F1 team as a test driver. He
won the Euro F3000 championship last year.
PASTORELLI: "I am very excited about this opportunity and I would
like to thank Jordan for placing their trust and confidence in me.
Getting some laps in the car at the Barcelona test last week was an
unexpected but fantastic experience and I want to do a good job for
the team now as an official test driver. I'm looking forward to my
next F1 outing."
-
WS
RENAULT: Carlin Motorsport signs Andreas Zuber (FEB 16, 2005)
"World Series by Renault Team, Carlin Motorsport, has signed
an agreement with the former F3 Euroseries driver Andreas Zuber. ..."
-
FORMULA
1: FRIESACHER JOINS MINARDI F1 (FEB 16, 2005)
24 year old Austrian will make his F1 debut in 2005. Friesacher
has raced in French and German F3 as well as F3000 series. He joins
Minardi Cosworth team alongside another F1 rookie Christijan Albers.
FRIESACHER: "... For me, it is the realisation of a long-held
dream to be in Formula One. I am also extremely happy that I will
be making my debut in the World Championship with Minardi. I know
many of the people in the team, and it really is just like a big family.
There is a great atmosphere, and when you consider how many top F1
drivers have started their careers at Minardi, I can't think of a
better place to start mine."
MINARDI (STODDART): "... He's a quick and, equally importantly,
consistent driver, who is also capable of providing good technical
feedback to the engineers."
-
GP2: Premat joins ART
GP (FEB 9, 2005)
"I am delighted to pursue my career with this team,
which I know very well as I have been part of it for numerous years..."
-
FORMULA
1: Valencia Test Round-Up, TOYOTA (FEB 5, 2005)
"Jarno Trulli - Chassis TF105/03; Best lap time: 1m10.208s;
Total laps: 198; Total distance: 792km ..."
-
WORLD
RALLY: LEADER FORD AIMS TO SEND SWEDISH CHILL THROUGH RIVALS (FEB
5, 2005)
"Central Sweden's numbing cold and barren, ice-bound countryside
traditionally provide the harshest environment of the FIA World Rally
Championship season and a cruel contrast to the glitz of last month's
opening round in Monte Carlo ..."
-
FORMULA
1: FIRST EVER INDIAN F1 DRIVER (FEB 3)
Jordan under new ownership has appointed two rookie drivers: Narain
Karthikeyan and Tiago Monteiro. Karthikeyan becomes the first
ever Formula 1 driver from India.
JORDAN (T Carlin): "... We have been very lucky to put together
a driver line-up which gives us a really strong package in terms of
youth, technical ability, speed and talent. I know Narain very well
because he drove for me in 1998 in Formula 3 and I have run him in
various formulas every year since then. We've won a lot of races together.
He's very competitive, a super-quick driver, sometimes a little bit
raw and wild in his style but he is a proven race winner and I am
confident that in our environment he will thrive.He's ready for F1
now I think he'll do a good job for us."
KARTHIKEYAN: "... My aim has always been to compete in F1, it
is where no Indian driver has been before. I've got the hopes of a
nation behind me so I've no choice but to succeed now. I have tested
with three different Formula 1 teams at various circuits and I'm going
to give it everything I've got so I am confident that this is going
to be a good year for me."
MONTEIRO: "... I'm more than excited to be part of Jordan Grand
Prix this season. I have worked hard each season to be able to race
one day in F1 and I really want to make the most out of this to thank
everyone who helped put me here today. Portugal was waiting for a
F1 driver for nearly ten years and the fact that I'm going to represent
my country and the Portuguese culture all over the world makes me
proud and gives me so much motivation"
-
FORMULA
1: DA MATTA RETURNS FROM F1 (FEB 2)
2002 Champcar champion Cristiano da Matta will rejoin the
Champcar series after 2 years in F1 (Toyota). He will drive for PKV
Racing alongside another former champion, Jimmy Vasser.
PKV (Dan Pettit): "... The addition of Cristiano to PKV Racing's
driver lineup gives us the strongest team we have had in our three
year existence and one of the most exciting in Champ Car history.
Cristiano is, obviously a tremendous driving talent, a past champion
and a driver who knows how to win races."
DA MATTA: "... it (Champ Car) is the most competitive series
in the world and one that puts a premium on a driver's ability. The
decision to join PKV Racing was not a difficult one. I really only
talked to three teams and, in the end the best opportunity for me
was here."
-
FORMULA
1: HEIDFELD JOINS WILLIAMS BMW (JAN 31)
After a long evaluation period comparing Heidfeld
and Pizzonia, Williams BMW has picked Nick Heidfeld. He will partner
Mark Webber for 2005 season. Heidfeld is a Mercedes-Benz protege who
won German F3 and F3000 as well as International F3000 championships.
He made his F1 debut in 2000 with Prost/Peugeot team. He then joined
Sauber for 3 years before moving to Jordan last season. He is the
3rd German driver in F1 alongside the two Schumacher brothers.
HEIDFELD: "Driving for Williams is the greatest opportunity of
my career. My goal is to win the title in the future ..."
WILLIAMS BMW (Frank Williams): "... It wasn't an easy decision
for us to make. There was little to choose between the two of them,
and we were in the fortunate position to be able to choose between
two drivers who would be a credit to any Formula One team. Ultimately,
however, it is Nick who has got our vote ..."
-
FORMULA
1: CAR MAKERS UNITED EXCEPT FERRARI (JAN 26)
Members of rival F1 series GPWS (BMW, Merecedes-Benz/DaimlerChrysler,
Renault, Ferrari/Fiat) have gained support from the other car makers
in F1 - Toyota and Honda. Ferrari is the only defector to Ecclestone
camp by extending the existing commercial arrangement (Concorde Agrrement).
GPWS: "... All participants have unanimously agreed upon a comprehensive
set of governing principles which they believe represent an appropriate
framework for the sport (F1)" Their main objectives are: To keep
Grand Prix motor racing at the pinnacle of motorsport; To provide
the basis of a long-term plan for the prosperity of Grand Prix motor
racing and its stakeholders; To support and encourage the participation
of independent teams through technical assistance and engine supply;
To attract and excite and provide good value to fans; To be open,
transparent and fair in commercial, technical and sporting governance.
-
FORMULA
1: JORDAN F1 SOLD (JAN 25)
After recent purchase of Jaguar F1 by Red Bull owner, another billionaire
has taken control of a F1 team. Eddie Jordan has sold his team to
Russian born Alex Shnaider's Midland Group. The 36 year old businessman
has been trying to start a new Midland F1 team. He will now use Jordan
as the entry vehicle and save £26 million on F1 new team entry
bond. Jordan F1 team began in 1991 and its drivers include world champions
Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill. Frentzen won 2 races for the team
in 1999 and Fisichella won in 2003.
JORDAN: "... I have devoted 35 years of my life to motor racing
and have had some really fantastic times ... The last fourteen years
when I have been lucky enough to be involved in Formula One have been
a highlight, naturally, and winning our first Grand Prix in 1998,
which broke the grip that the top teams of the time had on the sport,
is for me a personal triumph ... I have to thank Bernie Ecclestone
for making the introduction to Alex Shnaider of Midland F1 as I wholeheartedly
believe that Midland joining with Jordan will make the team stronger.
I spoke to a number of interested parties in recent months and these
are absolutely the right people. They are totally committed and as
we look to the future, we will see this team return to the competitiveness
we have proved we are capable of. The sport and the required resources
have changed and this deal provides the team with the security and
strength it needs."
MIDLAND (Schnaider): "... I am very pleased with this development
as it will give us a season of learning, and after the takeover has
been completed, the chance to be competitive faster at the pinnacle
of motorsport ... Our plan to build up a team from scratch has only
been altered insignificantly as the establishment of the Midland F1
team will continue according to schedule"
-
FORMULA
1: FUTURE OF RIVAL SERIES STILL UNCERTAIN (JAN 23)
Despite Ferrari signing the Concorde Agreement with Bernie Ecclestone
on January 19th, the rival Grand Prix World Championship (GPWS) is
still considering its options. GPWS represents the car manufactures
in F1 (Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari/Fiat, Toyota, Renault). They are unhappy
with their share of F1 revenue distributed by Ecclestone. Ferrari
became the first of the manufacturers to side with Ecclestone by signing
to extend the Concorde Agreement from 2008 til 2012.
FIA (Max Mosley): "We are very pleased to have reached this agreement
with F1's commercial rights holder (Ecclestone) and the oldest team
in the championship (Ferrari). The agreement is significant because
it will ensure the future development of the FIA's most important
championship". However GPWS still plans to present their alternate
plans to teams by the first GP in March (Australian GP). The GPWS
could start the new world championship from 2008.
GPWS (Jürgen Hubbert): "... I'm confident that the presentation
(to teams) will clearly demonstrate that together we can create an
environment of fairness for our sport different to that which appears
to result from Ferrari's unilateral decision to enter to a private
agreement with the commercial rights holder and FIA ..."
FERRARI: "Following the announcement made on 19th January, concerning
the renewal of the Concorde Agreement between Ferrari, FOM and FIA,
Ferrari wishes to make the following statement: Back in the end of
July 2004, Ferrari had informed in writing the other members of the
GPWC that, as from 1st August of that same year, it would not be bound
exclusively to the GPWC, while nevertheless remaining part of it.
It intended examining the possibility of an agreement with the FIA
and FOM regarding the long term future of the FIA Formula 1 World
Championship.As a result of what was established in the agreement
announced on the 19th of this month, the new version of the Concorde
Agreement will come into effect from 2005 on the revenues owed to
the signatories thereof."
-
INDYCAR:
BRISCOE JOINS GANASSI RACING (JAN 18)
23 year old Australian Ryan Briscoe will make his Indycar debut in
2005. He has been a test driver for Formula 1 Toyota team as well
as winning the inaugural F3 Euro championship in 2003.
BRISCOE: "... I came because of the professionalism of this team.
It's a better option for my career and I am one hundred percent convinced
I'm going in the right direction ... I am very happy to be in the
IndyCar Series and looking forward to racing in the Indianapolis 500."
CHIP GANASSI: "... We talked with Ryan about four or five years
ago and knew he was a talent ... Ryan was at the top of our list ...
Ryan has experience in varied open wheel cars, he has testing experience
and he's a nice guy. He's also a student of the sport, interested
in cars and how they work. He doesn't just get in and work the pedals
...Our team is going to try and get him to the front in IRL ... It's
a small world in terms of the talent pool and I don't care where a
driver comes from. He can come from Mars for that matter but if he
wants to be part of a good team, we want him ... At this level, all
drivers are fast, so we try to dig deeper and peel back more of the
onion. What's he made of? We look for race car drivers and there's
a huge difference. We want to find drivers who like to pass cars and
who have a working technical knowledge. There are minute changes that
personalize a car"
-
FORMULA
1: RED BULL MANAGEMENT CHANGE (JAN 8)
Tony Purnell and David Pitchforth who led the
previous Jaguar Racing team and then continued under new Red Bull
ownership have now been replaced. 31 year old Christian Horner who
headed Arden F3000 team is the new Sporting Director of Red Bull.
He will be assisted by a new Technical Director yet to be announced.
-
NASCAR
/ CHAMPCAR: JOURDAIN SWITCHES FROM CHAMPCAR TO NASCAR (JAN 7)
28 year old Mexican Michel
Jourdain Jr. will switch from Champcar to Nascar Busch in 2005.
He becomes the first hispanic driver to drive full time in Nascar.
He will drive a Ford Taurus for ppc Racing. Jourdain made his Champcar
(CART) debut in 1996 aged just 19. His best result was in 2003 when
he won 2 races and finished 3rd overall for Team Rahal.
JOURDAIN: "... I'm very excited about this chance ... I've been
wanting to come to NASCAR for a couple years now, and Dan Davis worked
very hard with me to find the right opportunity where I could have
a chance to work and learn with a top team like ppc ... I wanted to
thank everyone who helped me in Champ Car the last nine seasons ...
There were so many great crew guys, owners and drivers there. It's
hard to leave the series, and I wish them the best, but this was an
opportunity that I could not turn down. It's time for another chapter
in my career."
ppc Racing (Greg Pollex, owner): "... Michel's been great ...
Our crew guys have already adopted him; he has a good sense of humor
and gets along great with his new teammates. We know there's going
to be a learning curve for him coming over from open-wheel, but he's
got the talent and the right attitude to compete at this level ..."
CHAMPCAR (Dick Eidswick, President): "... We are disappointed
to lose a driver of the caliber of Michel from our series and we wish
him success in his new endeavor. Michel's decision to stay in Champ
Car after the departure of his former team prior to the start of the
season was a key in building momentum for a successful 2004 and is
something that Champ Car will always be grateful for."
-
FORMULA
1: LIUZZI & KLIEN TO SHARE DRIVE FOR RED BULL (JAN 6)
Vitantonio Liuzzi and Christian Klien will share
driving duties in Red Bull racing. 23 year old Liuzzi dominated Formula
3000 championship last season winning 7 from 10 races. He will make
his F1 debut while 21 year old Christian Klien drove for Jaguar (now
Red Bull) last season.
RED BULL "... The two rising stars from the Red Bull Junior Team
have signed one-year contracts, with an option in both cases for renewal
... After the tests in January and February, the team management will
decide which of the two will join David Coulthard in Melbourne for
the first grand-prix race of the new season on March 6."
KLIEN: "... I am happy to announce that I have signed a contract
as pilot and test driver for Red Bull Racing this week ... The contract
is for 2005 with an option for further seasons. It makes me proud
to be part of Red Bull Racing's first Formula One team."
-
GP2 (F3000):
SPEED SIGNS WITH ISPORT TEAM (JAN 6)
21 year old Scott Speed will drive for iSport
team in the inaugural GP2 (ex F3000) championship this year.
SPEED: "... I am excited about the opportunity to race in GP2
this year ... It's a big step up from the Formula Renault in terms
of power and speed, and that's exactly what I am looking for as a
driver trying to make it to Formula 1."
ISPORT (Paul Jackson): "... iSport are delighted to have signed
such a promising young talent. We have seen a little of Scott during
his successful 2004 season and have been impressed by his qualifying
performances as well as the race results. With his support from Red
Bull, I am sure he is destined to be one of the most successful drivers
to come out of the USA for some years"
