Updated: 13 January 1998, 20:00 GMT
Updated: 13 January 1998, 20:00 GMT |
All the information is (c) 1998 M-WEB and/or Reuters |
The launch of the 1998 Formula One cars, only on Auto Race Net
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![Jerz test - 12-17 Jan.[logo]](../testing/jerez12_17jan98.jpg){kind=small}
FIA is running out of time to announce final F1 schedule.
Location: Paris, France.
(c)MWEB 1998
20:00 GMT
The announcement by Portuguese Economy Minister Joaquim Pina Moura that they can not guarantee the completion of repairs to the circuit in time could see the Grand Prix there canceled by the FIA.
The FIA is running out of time and according to sources, they will have to make a decision this week. The Belgian Grand Prix could also be excluded from the 1998 schedule, if they fail to lift the ban on tobacco advertising.
At least one of the countries on standby could get a Grand Prix in 1998. According to sources, South Africa is the first choice because the track already pasted a FIA inspection.
A source in Paris said the final schedule should be available on Wednesday. He also said we could expect a few changes.
F1 testing continued.
(c)MWEB 1998
20:00 GMT
Formula One testing continued Tuesday at different tracks. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher was in action at Fiorano in Italy. The German is working on the development of the new 1998 spec car, code name F300.
Most of the other teams continued at Jerez in Spain. Ferrari's Eddie Irvine was also in action on Tuesday.
We do not have anymore information available at this time.
Benetton launch on schedule
(c)MWEB 1998
20:00 GMT
Location: London, England
A Benetton spokesperson said Tuesday that the preparations for the launch of the B198 on Thursday are on schedule. The team will launch their 1998 car in London, England.
Benetton's team boss Dave Richards said he is confident that they will do well in 1998, but said they do not expect to challenge for the title.
Stewart team's prospects for 1998 season
(c)MWEB 1998
18:30 GMT
Location: DUNTON, England
Jackie Stewart unveiled the Stewart Formula One teams second Formula One car with a swirl of bagpipes and the beating of drums and admitted that they still had a lot to learn.
During the 1997 season, Stewart Racing's debut season, the team only managed to score in one race when Rubens Barrichello scored six points for finishing second in Monaco.
Three times World Champion and executive chairman of Stewart Grand Prix, Jackie Stewart was optimistic when he introduced the new car at Ford's Engineering and Research Centre at Dunton. Stewart said that 1998 will be more difficult in many ways than the team's first year. He said that people might say that if they can only be reliable, they will be competitive. "That would be asking too much too soon. I expect a conservative year, a year of consolidation.", Stewart added.
Stewart's son Paul, who is managing director of the Stewart team, said that he would like to see the team qualifying regularly in the top ten and finishing far more races than in 1997. This in turn, he said, should bring the team regular points. Paul said that their aim is to be one of the top six teams at the end of 1998. He said that most teams in their first year never makes it to their second year and that they haven't robbed the second year's budget to pay for the first year. He said that they have spent even more money on the development of their second year car.
Brazilian, Rubens Barrichello will again be Stewart-Ford's number one driver with Jan Magnussen of Denmark as the number two driver for the team.
Barrichello said that his own feelings were that the new regulations in Formula One this year might give smaller and younger teams a better chance. He added that in spite of that, they will now for the first time have a Ford engine created specifically for the new car.
FIA keep television rights
(c)MWEB 1998
18:30 GMT
Due to a formal failure of the opponent, German television producer Walter Eisele, who missed to enter the claim right in time, the FIA won the trial on the exclusive marketing of all international motor sporting events by them at the high court in Frankfurt on Tuesday.
The court didn't turn down the decision against the monopoly of the FIA, which means that Bernie Ecclestone is still allowed to market all the rights in Formula One exclusively.
Confident Stewart unveils new car
(c)REUTERS 1998
14:30 GMT
By Timothy Collings
Location: DUNTON, England
Jackie Stewart predicted his Stewart Formula One Grand Prix team would make a fully-committed championship challenge in 1998 as their new SF2 car was unveiled on Tuesday.
The three-times world champion and chairman of the Stewart-Ford team said that they had raised a full budget and looked forward with relish to the challenge ahead.
To the accompanying music from a band which combined Latin American salsa drums and Scottish bagpipes, the new car was revealed at Ford's Research and Engineering Centre at Dunton, southern England.
Stewart said: "We have reached the target we have set ourselves for this year -- despite what some people may have thought. We are grateful to all of our partners and sponsors and particularly Ford whose oval logo is more prominent now than it was at our first launch a year ago."
The car was unveiled by the 13-strong team of design engineers, clad in traditional Scottish kilts and Stewart said there were seven different nationalities involved.
His son, managing director Paul Stewart, warned that the second year is much harder than the first for any new team in Formula One.
But he added that the Scottish-owned team had been thrifty and not robbed one budget to bolster another to survive its fledging season last year.
He also revealed ambitious plans for the future, with the team planning to expand in numbers from 113 last year to 170 by the end of 1998. And he said they would be launching a separate test team and moving to new headquarters in Milton Keynes during the year.
The car is to be powered by a new Ford V10 engine and again driven by last year's line-up of Brazilian Rubens Barrichello and Dane Jan Magnussen.
Ford's European Director of Motorsport Martin Whitaker said he saw 1997 as a year of growing pains for the team but expected 1998 to be regarded as the first in Ford's resurgence to glory. "This is the beginning of our fightback. We have invested, we have the people and we have the will to do the job."
The new season begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8.
Good chance for South Africa and China to host a GP in 1998
(c)MWEB 1998
07:30 GMT
Location : Lisbon, Portugal
The Portuguese Grnd Prix has been canceled for the second year in a row due to unfinished improvements of the Estoril track.
In 1997, the FIA said that adjustments and work on the Estoril circuit was needed in order for a grand prix to be held there. The Portuguese government and track owners failed to meet the deadline that was set by the FIA, which led to the cancelation of the Portuguese Grand Prix. The race was then moved to Jerez, Spain.
The government's decision to cancel the race at Estoril for 1998, is part of a dispute between the finance ministry and track owners over tax payments, as well as the goverments approval for development on and around the Estoril circuit.
With the fate of the Belgian Grand Prix still to be decided by the FIA, South Africa and China may both be hosting a grand prix in the 1998 season.
Time is running out for the Belgian authorities to decide if they will exempt Formula One from the tobacco advertising ban which will be braught into effect from 1999. If no compromise between the FIA and the Belgian authorities can be reached, it is almost certain that the Belgian Grand Prix will not be staged in 1998.
We expect the FIA's decision on the fate of the Belgian Grand Prix to be announced on Wednesday.
Stay with Auto Race Net for the coverage of the FIA's decision as well as the 1998 Formula One racing schedule.
Schumacher continue development of F300.
(c)MWEB 1998
07:30 GMT
Location: Maranello, Italy.
The Ferrari Formula One team continued the testing of the F300 at Fiorano on Monday. Double world champion Michael Schumacher continued the scheduled development work he started on Friday.
The German completed 21 laps on intermediate tyres and managed a fastest lap of 1:10.109 seconds on a damp track. Testing will continue on Tuesday.
Eddie Irvine's test session at Jerez in Spain was hampered by rain. He could not complete the scheduled tyre test, according to reports Monday.
Portuguese Grand Prix in doubt
(c)Reuters 1998
Location: LISBON
Portugal's Formula One Grand Prix is in doubt after a government minister said on Monday he could not guarantee repairs to the Estoril circuit would be completed in time.
Portuguese Economy Minister Joaquim Pina Moura said: "I decided today to tell the International Automobile Federation (FIA) there are no conditions to guarantee the completion of repairs to the circuit in time for the Grand Prix to take place in October."
He said talks with Autodril, the former owners of the circuit, had failed to make progress. Following a restructuring, the state now owns 51 percent of the track and Autodril has 49 percent.
"I was obliged to take this decision because of the attitude taken by Autodril to systematically create obstacles to block the completion of the necessary repairs," Pina Moura said.
The FIA dropped Estoril from the 1997 calendar because repair work to the twisting track outside Lisbon was not completed on time.
Under a subsequent deal between the FIA and the Economy Ministry, Estoril was to be reinstated in 1998 providing work was completed by the spring.
The repairs included alterations to the paddock and various spectator facilities, as well as enhanced run-off areas.
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