The day our Damon almost pulled off a miracle victory
For British F1 fans, Damon Hill’s drive at Hungary in ‘97 remains one of the most memorable in the modern era, even if it didn’t quite result in a fairy-tale ending.
Having driven one of the races of his life, Hill was leading - in an Arrows! - with just two laps to go when his car suffered a throttle failure. The malfunction, caused by the failure of a 50p washer, denied Arrows its first ever win; the team went under in 2002, without a victory to its name.
And who would overtake Hill with the chequered flag almost in sight, to snatch an undeserved win? None other than French-Canadian cad Jacques Villeneuve, that’s who. Aaargh!
British circuit hasn’t even applied for planning permission
The 2010 British GP at Donington is less than two years away, but the North West Leicestershire district council is yet to receive planning applications from the operators of the track. Hmm, is that the smell of petty bureaucracy in the air?
Wee Bernie Ecclestone has warned that he would not hesitate to drop the British GP from the calendar if the owners of the circuit don’t get their act together.
“We have not yet actually received the planning application although we have been talking through the project with the race promoters during the phase prior to last week’s official announcement,” council spokesman Ian Hill told The Guardian.
Donington signs 10-year-deal to host British GP from 2010
That’s right folks, you read it here first (unless you already read it somewhere else): The F1 British Grand Prix is moving back to Donington Park!
The news is generally good for British F1 fans, who feared that Wee Bernie Ecclestone would take away their GP altogether, but it couldn’t come at a worse time for the owners of Silverstone, with this year’s British GP just two days away. At least Silverstone has the chance to host the 2009 event, before Donington takes over on a 10-year contract.
As usual, Ecclestone played down the news. In an interview with Five Live reporter Holly Samos, he remained his usual deadpan self:
The key reaction to Herr von Mosley’s amazing win in Paris:
1.“I am just picking myself up off the floor. The decision is incredible, although I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised. Max’s audacity has always been absolutely breathtaking. Just when you think he is right on the ropes, he pings back and knocks the other guy out.“ Damon Hill, not happy with the result. He also called it a “tragedy”
2. “I had a £50 bet on this and I have won.” Sir Jackie Stewart, branded a “certified halfwit” by Mosley earlier this week, lives up to Scottish stereotypes
Hill must be one of the geekiest men ever to win a drivers’ championship, as this photo effortlessly proves. Naff deck shoes matched with white sports socks… and chino shorts! Good god, can this really be the son of the great Graham Hill (who in the 1960s was the second most stylish man on the planet, behind David Niven only)?
Former F1 champions kicks Herr Mosley when he’s down
Damon Hill is the latest high-profile figure from the world of motorsport to reproach Max Mosley. Hill, currently the president of the BRDC (British Racing Drivers’ Club), reportedly told The Times:
“None of us wants to be moralising about individuals [a sure sign that Hill may be about to do just that…], but there has to be an element here to do with the image of the sport, and the ability of the premier representative of the sport in the world to continue to engage with a politic concerned about value.”
Identity of BBC show’s masked driver remains unknown
Like some undefeated Mexican wrestler, Top Gear’s masked test driver, aka The Stig, has managed to preserve his identity. But as the BBC motoring show’s popularity goes through the roof, more and more people are taking an interest in the man beneath the white Simpson Diamondback helmet. We do know that the first Stig, who wore black overalls and a black helmet, was “played” by Perry McCarthy, a journeyman F1 driver (slight oxymoron that, but you get the idea) who tested for Williams and Benetton in the 1990s. However, McCarthy’s “black Stig” was killed off at the beginning of the third series of the show.
