Updated: 15 January 1998, 19:10 GMT
Updated: 15 January 1998, 19:10 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}
Schumacher to visit South Africa
(c)M-WEB 1998
19:10 GMT
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa.
Double world champion Michael Schumacher is on his way to South Africa according to Press associates. He boarded a plain early Thursday evening. Schumacher will arrive at Cape Town International early Friday morning. A flight form Europe to South Africa takes round about ten hours.
The German is involved in a sponsor's commitment until next Tuesday. According to sources, it is the Shell Company here in South Africa who wants Schumacher to take part in a television commercial.
More details coming soon.
Motor racing-EU investigates Belgian F1 complaint
(c)REUTERS 1998
19:00 GMT
By Bert Lauwers
Location: BRUSSELS
The European Commission is to investigate a complaint from a group including cafe owners over the International Automobile Federation's (FIA) threat to cancel the Belgian Grand Prix.
"(Competition Commissioner Karel) Van Miert will take account of this (complaint)," a source close to Van Miert said on Thursday.
"We're going to analyse the complaint as seriously as other complaints."
The complaint was filed by an association for the "Defence of consumers of the GP Spa-Francorchamps", a group of about 60 F1 enthusiasts.
Some of them are cafe and restaurant owners near the Spa-Francorchamps track who would be hurt financially if the race could not be staged.
Their lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont, who successfully represented Belgian player Jean-Marc Bosman against soccer authorities in the European Court of Justice, said FIA had violated two articles of the Rome Treaty.
In his complaint to the Commission, Dupont said FIA had abused its dominant position and that agreements with international and national sports organisations to commercialise F1 races also violated EU law.
FIA said on Wednesday it had given organisers of the Belgian F1 until February 15 to give guarantees that the country's ban on tobacco sponsoring and advertising would not affect the race.
Although still listed for August 30 at Spa-Francorchamps on this year's calendar, the race will be replaced by another country on the calendar if it fails to resolve the problem, FIA has said.
The new Belgian law, which bans tobacco advertising and sponsoring of events from January 1, 1999, is also being challenged by the regional government of the southern Belgian district of Wallonia.
But a regional court has already said it was powerless to suspend the ban to bring it in line with more lenient EU legislation.
The EU deal phases out most tobacco advertising within three years but would give tobacco sponsorship of events such as F1 until 2006.
Ferrari cancels practice
(c)M-WEB 1998
18:30 GMT
Location: FIORANO, Italy.
The Ferrari Formula One team announced Thursday that they have canceled the practice session here at FIORANO, in a fresh attempt to fix the problems.
Claudio Berro, a spokesperson for the team said, "No practice today. Our technicians have decided to have a long think about what's going on with the car."
"Based on the information received over the past few days, they are considering a few changes which require a break from practice. So there'll be nothing today and only 50 percent chance on Friday.
"But we'll definitely be practicing on Saturday."
Double world champion Michael Schumacher will not take part in the practice, because he will fly to South Africa on Thursday evening for a sponsors' commitment which keep him away until next Tuesday.
Nicola Larini, Ferrari's test driver, will test the F300 until Schumacher returns.
Ferrari's technical chief, Ross Brawn said, further modifications are needed to the software which controls the interaction between the all-new gearbox and the engine.
He also said they did not pick up the problem when Larini was testing the car, but Schumacher's aggressive driving has caused problems of getting the new unit to engage gears.
Jordan will make film footage of the new car available on the Internet
(c)M-WEB 1998
18:30 GMT
Location: LONDON
The Jordan Formula One team announced Thursday that they will make film footage of the new car available on Monday on the Internet. They said, "Log on after 12pm and get the chance to view film footage of the Jordan Mugen-Honda 198 in action!"
Stay with Auto Race as we cover the event.
McLaren signs sponsorship deal with Schweppes.
(c)M-WEB 1998
18:30 GMT
The McLaren Formula One team announced Thursday that they have signed a new sponsorship deal with the soft drink company Cadbury Schweppes.
Sir Dominic Cadbury, chairman of the company said, "We're delighted to announce our new business partnership with the Schweppes brand. McLaren is about the best people striving for the ultimate result."
McLaren's signed the deal in an effort to get rid of the tobacco sponsorship before 2007. According to reports, the partnership could last long between the two companies.
Motor racing-Benetton launch new car with tyre switch
(c)REUTERS 1998
14:30 GMT
Location: LONDON
The Benetton Formula One motor racing team unveiled their 1998 car on Thursday and announced they were switching to Bridgestone tyres for the forthcoming season.
The team's defection from Goodyear follows the example set by McLaren late last year, and Benetton's chief executive David Richards welcomed the move.
"I sincerely hope that we can reward Bridgestone's commitment to our team with their first Grand Prix win," he said after revealing the contract was only signed on Tuesday night.
"Tyres are the critical element to success and it is a very important decision for us. Bridgestone have been competitive in everything they have been involved in and they have gone on to win."
The American Goodyear company announced last November it would pull out of Formula One at the end of the 1998 Grand Prix season, citing the escalating costs of the sport.
Benetton's B198 car, which will be driven by Austrian Alexander Wurz and Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, has already tested at Jerez in Spain and will continue its preparation at the circuit from Friday.
Benetton's technical director Pat Symonds said: "I am confident that we have everyting in place to return to the top.
"We have a pair of excellent young drivers, a car designed by Nick Wirth, a new and exciting philosophy behind it and the rekindled enthusiasm and commitment of a terrific team."
Schumacher to make up for the past year.
(c)MWEB 1998
12:30 GMT
Double world champion Michael Schumacher said Thursday that he believes his reputation and title aspirations are undimmed by the incident with his rival Villeneuve at the season ending European grand prix.
The German lost his second position in the driver standings as punishment. Many observers belief that the FIA did not give Schumacher a proper punishment.
Schumacher admitted that he made a mistake, but is determined to focus on what he can do to make up for the past this year.
Latest on Williams' test in SA
(c)MWEB 1998
08:30 GMT
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
According to a local newspaper on Thursday, the Winfield Williams Formula One team will be coming to South Afria's Kayalami circuit for testing on the 31st of January.
The team will be staying in the Hotel Balalaika in Sandton, Johannesburg for three weeks.
Auto Race Net spoke to the Hotel Personnel, and for those Formula One fans who would like to stay in the same hotel as the Williams team, the cost for a double room including breakfast is R800.00 per night, and for a single room including breakfast is R715.00 per night. The Hotel Balalaika can be reached at +2711 3225000.
AA Racing, South Africa's motorsport governing body, had no comment on the newspaper article in one of South Africa's local newspapers about testing at Kayalami by the Winfield Williams team. AA Racing told us that they will only release information about this test session next week.
Auto Race Net are still trying to get more information and will keep you up to date on the latest developments.
Williams to test in South Africa.
(c)MWEB 1998
06:20 GMT
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
The Williams Formula One team will test in South Africa from 31 January according to a local newspaper. The paper also said a lot of work is going to be done on South Africa's Kayalami circuit. The FIA made a special arrangement to allow South Africa to have a test and a race in 1998 if the FIA decides to add the country to the schedule.
Hotels in the area are receiving a lot of bookings from foreigners.
Stay with Auto Race as we cover the story.
Benetton to launch new car on Thursday.
(c)MWEB 1998
06:20 GMT
Location: London
The Benetton Formula One team will launch their new 1998 spec car, code name B198 on Thursday in London. Dave Richards, the team's new chief executive said late Wednesday that they do not expect to win the title this season, but hope to do well.
A lot is expected from Italian Fisichella, who impressed everyone last season. Fisichella moved from Jordan to Benetton after Benetton won a legal battle between the two teams.
Benetton's second driver, Wurz showed his potential last season when he replaced Berger for a few races.
Both drivers are expected at the launch.
Wet third day of testing for Ferrari.
(c)MWEB 1998
06:00 GMT
Location: Maranello, Italy
It was a wet third day of testing for Ferrari's Michael Schumacher. Ferrari continued the test session started on Monday at Fiorano. The German could only complete 19 laps in the F300 and set a fastest time of 1:11.485 seconds.
The German tested various electronic components.
Schumacher's teammate, Eddie Irvine had a sunny day at Jerez in Spain. He completed 75 laps with a F 310 B and managed a fastest time of 1:25.71 seconds. Irvine continued with the scheduled tyre test, trying different Goodyear compounds.
Ferrari will continue the test sessions at both tracks on Thursday.
Arrows to feature Oxford advertisement
(c)Reuters 1998
06:00 GMT
By Braden Reddall
Location: LONDON
An eminent university rather than the traditional tobacco and tyre slogans will distinguish the Arrows Formula One cars when Mika Salo and Pedro Diniz roar into action this season.
In a unique deal, the University of Oxford Said Business School will provide Arrows with strategic marketing advice on attracting sponsors. In return it will be able to use its name on the cars and driver suits, free of charge.
"It's a novel and very practical idea, and I'm pleased to welcome the Business School as members of our team," said Tom Walkinshaw, managing director of Arrows parent-company TWR Group Ltd.
Fiona Murray, management studies lecturer at the business school, forged the relationship with the Oxfordshire-based Arrows' team last year when she included the firm as part of a study on technology's role in business.
"A big part of management with regards to business is understanding the fast-moving world of science and technology," Murray said in an interview.
"(Arrows) personifies a company that's very good at taking ideas in science and technology and applying them extremely rapidly to their cars."
Arrows tallied a meagre nine points in the 1997 constructors' championship despite the presence of 1996 world drivers champion Damon Hill behind the wheel.
Murray said Arrows had unique qualities that suited her academic programme.
"They do a whole range of motor sports and they work on road cars...they take their technology from a very specialised area like Formula One and transfer that to a whole other range of vehicles," she said.
Murray said Formula One could do much more to attract advertising, an increasingly important issue for the sport as threats of a tobacco sponsorship ban are fulfilled.
"Many of the Formula One companies are not necessarily as adept at really understanding the business needs of the sponsors," said Murray, who believes the school can help Arrows take a more sophisticated approach to attracting clients.
"It's not about working harder, but about working better," Arrows Grand Prix spokesman Richard Hayes said in a phone interview.
Hayes said improving endorsement strategies was a priority for Arrows and that Oxford's proximity made the business school an ideal partner.
The school, although in provisional operation for the past three years, came into existence as a distinct institution on January 7 thanks to a 20 million pound ($32 million) donation from Saudi entrepreneur and racehorse owner Wafiq Said.
Although the Said Business School already advertises for its MBA (Masters in Business Administration) programme in newspapers in magazines, instructor Steve New sees the Arrows endorsement as suitable for building an innovative and dynamic image for the school.
"The idea of having the logo on the side of the car is an interesting and exciting idea," New said of the deal with Arrows, whose other sponsors include British chemical firm Quest and Brazilian ice cream maker Kibon.
"Motor sport is becoming increasingly important as a marketing vehicle," he said.
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