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Hingham UK - 4th February 2012
Caterham F1 Team has today confirmed that Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde will be the team's official Reserve Driver in 2012.
Giedo will participate in the pre-season tests and will take part in a number of FP1 sessions throughout the season as a core part of the team's driver line-up.
Tony Fernandes, Caterham F1 Team Principal, said: "We are delighted to welcome Giedo into the family as Reserve Driver. He is a very exciting prospect that we have been monitoring since the early days of our team, and we are all looking forward to seeing how he can help us develop throughout the season as we take our next steps towards the established midfield teams ahead.

"His performances in GP2, particularly in 2011, mark Giedo out as one of motorsport's brightest prospects, and securing him as Reserve Driver is a real coup for our team. I am sure he will flourish on and off track, and we wish him all the best as he takes the next step into Formula 1 with us."

Giedo van der Garde commented: “I’m very happy to become a part of the Caterham F1 Team family today and I’m very excited about the next step in my career within Formula 1. The team is fresh, with some fantastic people here. Tony Fernandes is extremely ambitious and he has brought in a lot of very good people in to help grow this team for future success. I’m looking forward to learning and moving forward with the team, in and out of the car.

“It’s great for Holland that we again have a Dutch driver who is connected to Formula 1. Being the only Dutch driver now is very good for the sport in Holland, as the interest was perhaps on the decline since the Verstappen years, however I hope to generate the same excitement for my country and really bring Formula 1 to them.

“I feel that the team as a whole is very ambitious. They appear to be very positive people and I think they are building up, growing and developing very quickly. I think this year they will be strong contenders! We’ll see after the test but I really have a feeling that it’s a big family here and they are pushing very hard to move up the grid.

“I feel very strong now, I’m fit, and I’m mentally ready. Of course I’ve spent a lot of time driving with guys who are now in Formula 1 and I feel I’m ready for this. I’d like to thank McGregor and everybody who has supported me in my career and for helping me take this next exciting step.”


]]> General http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5552 Sat, 4 Feb 2012 10:33:02 +0100 http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5548
CEPSA has renewed its sponsorship agreement with the Formula One team Scuderia Toro Rosso, effective for the 2012 season.
The CEPSA logo will be visible on the Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo’s and the French driver Jean-Eric Vergne’s race suits and on the nose, rear wing and rear wing endplates of the cars and on the team kit.
CEPSA’s sponsorship dates back to September 2011 and it now reaffirms its commitment to Formula 1 for this new season.

CEPSA’s Co-Chairman, Santiago Bergareche, remarked: “CEPSA has witnessed the huge effort made in Faenza to face this year´s challenges and we want to show our strong support to the team. We are certain Toro Rosso will deliver outstanding performance and their results will meet everyone’s expectations: the team’s, the sponsors’ and the fans’.”

Scuderia Toro Rosso Team Principal, Franz Tost, commented: “Having CEPSA on board means a lot to Scuderia Toro Rosso. CEPSA is one of Spain’s leading companies and, just like Formula 1, it is expanding its operation all around the world. Although closer to home, we and CEPSA will both enjoy performing in front of their home crowd, not once but twice, given that Spain is the only country on the calendar to host two Grands Prix per year. Here at Scuderia Toro Rosso, we are keen to repay the confidence CEPSA has shown in us, by delivering on track, not just in Barcelona and Valencia but also on the other eighteen race venues this year.”

CEPSA is an energy group with a workforce of nearly 12,000 employees, engaged in activities that span the entire oil value chain: exploration and production of oil and gas; refining, transportation and marketing of petroleum products and natural gas; biofuels; and electric power cogeneration and sales. CEPSA additionally has a world-class chemicals division that is tightly integrated with its oil refining segment, manufacturing and selling feedstock for the production of high value-added components chiefly used in making new-generation plastics and biodegradable detergents. CEPSA is one of the major energy players in Spain, but it is also broadening its global portfolio of operations in countries such as Algeria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Panama, Peru and Portugal, selling its products around the world.

]]> General http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5548 Fri, 3 Feb 2012 23:57:33 +0100 http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5547
Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has extended its collaboration agreement with the Santander Bank to the end of the 2017 season.
“We are pleased to have extended our relationship with the Santander Bank,” commented Scuderia Team Principal, Stefano Domenicali. “In these first two years together, we have been able to see on a daily basis how much our two companies share the same values: a desire for excellence, love of competition, team work, the will to excel and to serve one’s customers needs. Having extended the contract from now, is a sign of the great confidence Santander has in us and that is something of which we can be particularly proud.”

]]> General http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5547 Fri, 3 Feb 2012 23:01:33 +0100 http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5546
The F2012 is the fifty eighth car built by Ferrari with the express purpose of taking part in the Formula 1 World Championship. It adopts a well established tradition of being named after its year of manufacture.

The project, which goes by the internal code number of 663, constitutes the Scuderia’s interpretation of the technical and sporting regulations that apply this year: the main changes when compared to 2011 concern the height of the front section of the chassis, the position of the exhaust pipes and the mapping for the electronic engine management. Practically every area of the car has been fundamentally revised, starting with the suspension layout: both the front and rear feature pull-rods, aimed at favouring aerodynamic performance and lowering the centre of gravity. The front wing is derived from the one introduced on the 150º Italia in the final part of its racing life and has been evolved from there. Further evolutions are planned in this area for the opening races of the season. The nose has a step in it that is not aesthetically pleasing: with the requirement from the regulations to lower the front part, this was a way of raising the bottom part of the chassis as much as possible for aerodynamic reasons. The sides have been redesigned, through modifications to the side impact structures, the repositioning of the radiators and revisions to all aerodynamic elements. The lower part of the rear of the car is much narrower and more tapered, a feature achieved partly through a new gearbox casing and a relocation of some mechanical components. In recent years, the area of exhausts has been crucial in terms of car performance and much effort was expended on this front, based on changes to the regulations introduced this year. The rear wing is conceptually similar to the one used in 2011, but every detail of it has been revised and it is now more efficient. Naturally, it is still fitted with DRS (a drag reduction system,) which is operated hydraulically. The front and rear air intakes for the brakes have been redesigned and work was carried out in collaboration with Brembo to optimise the braking system.

The engine in the F2012 is an evolution of the one that powered last year’s car, which is inevitable given that the technical regulations forbid any modification to internal components aimed at increasing performance. Furthermore, much effort has gone into improving its installation in the new chassis, so as not to penalise the aerodynamics of the car. Another area on which the Maranello engine specialists have been working is performance drop off, with the aim of maintaining the highest possible performance level throughout each engine’s cycle of use, which has now reached an average life of three races. The electronic management of the engine has been revised based on the modifications to the rules regarding the use of exhaust gases, a task that has required a great deal of attention and many hours on the test bed. The kinetic energy recovery system maintains its low central location in the car – a choice also aimed at maximising safety – and has undergone an update directed mainly at reducing its weight and at improving the efficiency of some of its components. Several decades of technical collaboration with Shell has seen further progress on the fuel and lubricants front, revolving around improving performance in absolute terms and on durability over the life cycle of the engines, as well as reducing consumption. As usual, great attention has been paid to the electronics on the car, especially in terms of reducing weight and, obviously, reliability.

As always at Ferrari, a great deal of time has been devoted to the performance and optimisation of the materials used, right from the design stage of each of around six thousand components that make up the car. In part, this is done to ensure that all operations carried out at the race track are as efficient and effective as possible. Obviously, quality control remains a crucial aspect, as does the goal of reaching maximum levels of performance and reliability, while maintaining the highest possible safety standards.

With a reduction in the number of days available for track testing before the start of the Championship, which has dropped from fifteen to twelve, preparatory work on the test beds prior to the car’s track debut, has taken on even more importance. The three test sessions – at Jerez de la Frontera and Barcelona – will serve to get a picture of the handling of the F2012 and to adapt it to the Pirelli tyres. Indeed, getting the most out of the tyres has been an area that has seen a lot of work both at the design stage and in how the activities at the track are to be managed. The car is due to undergo a very intensive development programme over the first part of the season, especially on the aerodynamic front.]]> General http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5546 Fri, 3 Feb 2012 18:26:38 +0100 http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5545
Sahara Force India unveiled its 2012 challenger today as Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg pulled the covers off the VJM05 at Silverstone. They were joined by reserve driver, Jules Bianchi, as the team’s new car was presented for the first time.
©Sahara Force India
The VJM05 is the second car to be created under the watch of Technical Director, Andrew Green, as the team seeks to build on its on its sixth place finish in the constructors’ championship and take the fight to the teams that lie ahead.
“We have set our sights on challenging for fifth place,” explained Team Principal and Managing Director, Dr. Vijay Mallya. “To do so we will need to begin the new campaign by delivering the kind of form we showed in the second half of 2011. I believe this is a realistic goal and that we have the talent and determination to realise these ambitions.”

Chief Operating Officer, Otmar Szafnauer, echoed those sentiments as he praised the team’s efforts to develop the VJM05: “The new car has come together nicely over the winter. We don’t know what our competitors have done, but we’ve made some gains over the winter and believe we’re in reasonable shape. It’s going to be difficult in the midfield, but our focus is on starting strongly and improving our position from last season.”

Summing up the approach to 2012, Andrew Green added: “The car looks more refined; a lot racier and a lot more purposeful. You can start to see the aerodynamic concepts coming through now. It looks quite a bit different to the previous years, and so far the performance in the tunnel has been encouraging.”

The drivers were delighted to get their first glimpse of the new car and set out their hopes for the season ahead:

Paul Di Resta: “Seeing the new car built and complete for the first time is always an exciting moment. It’s when you realise that all the waiting is finally over and the season is beginning for real. I’ve had a good winter and I’ve recharged my batteries, but now I’m fully focussed on 2012 and looking forward to the start of testing. There’s a really positive feeling in the team, good stability and hopefully we can pick up where we left off at the end of last year.”

Nico Hulkenberg: “I saw the new car in the wind tunnel a few times and followed its progress during the winter. It looks aggressive and fast, but we won’t know where we stand until we get out there and compete against the others. Preparations for the new season have been full-on with simulator sessions and lots of fitness training. I feel ready to get back to racing and I’m excited to find out what the new car feels like next week.”

Once again the Sahara Force India cars will be powered by the Mercedes engines with gearbox supplied by McLaren Applied Technologies. This will be the second season with the Mercedes KERS.
]]> General http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5545 Fri, 3 Feb 2012 17:42:00 +0100 http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5551
Hinwil, 3rd February 2012 – The Sauber F1 Team reorganises its technical department: The design and development of the Formula One car will be led by the department heads for Aerodynamics, Design, Performance and Operations. The present Technical Director, James Key, has decided to leave the company.
Team Principal, Peter Sauber said: “A qualified team shares the overall technical responsibility. This structure has proved to work well at other racing outfits. Over a period of almost two years, James has accomplished a lot for our team. Especially in the difficult transition period from a manufacturer team into a private enterprise, he contributed significantly to ensure the team regained stability. We would like to thank him for his efforts and wish him all the best for his future.”

James Key: “I’ve enjoyed the past two years working at the Sauber F1 Team. It has been a very intense and interesting time, in which we had to manage the transition from a much larger team to a smaller one, and everybody handled that very well. I think the team is now well set for the future and I wish it the very best. I have been offered a new role back in the UK, which I decided to accept.”

]]> General http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5551 Fri, 3 Feb 2012 15:32:00 +0100 http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5550
Madrid, 3rd of February 2012
After being confirmed recently as an official driver for HRT F1 Team for 2012, the Indian driver shares his views on the upcoming season.
Q: It has finally been revealed that you will occupy the last seat available as an official driver, how are you facing this new challenge in Formula 1?
NK: It all really started after the Indian GP, where we had a good performance which led to the belief that I am still competitive to drive in Formula 1. It is no secret how difficult it is to stay in F1 at this time, but I ensured that I was physically and mentally ready for any opportunity that arose. So I can’t wait to get back in the car and return to action once again.

Q: The uncertainty you’ve faced in the period spanning from the end of last season until the moment you’ve been confirmed can’t have been easy to handle. What have you done to keep yourself occupied?
NK: Well, there were more ups and downs than I can remember, positive and negative days – sometimes I just gave up but it was quickly followed by yet another glimmer of hope. It was exhausting mentally, but like the adage goes, all’s well that ends well.
There was plenty to keep me occupied during the winter though, like I said earlier I trained as hard as I would have if my drive was confirmed last season; fitness is critical in F1 and racing in general. Then there were lots of discussions, which meant a lot of travelling – flights, hotel stays and those sorts of things. So I didn’t have a whole lot of time to sit and mull over things, to be honest.

Q: This will be your third season in Formula 1, what targets have you set yourself?
NK: As far as results go, it largely depends on the development of the car, although I must say that things are looking promising. Otherwise, I have no doubts in my ability, I am extremely confident as last year and after the first few races, I drove better than ever. So I’ll be pushing hard no doubt about that.
A lot of things change this year even though it is the same team, and I am sure it’ll be for the better. The new management is wholly focused on all-round improvement and from what I have seen – they will do so.

Q: Practically the whole structure is new with respect to 2011, what sensations have the new directors given you?
NK: The team has some very capable and experienced people on-board now, like the new Team Principal Luis Pérez-Sala and my teammate Pedro de la Rosa. So things are definitely changing for the better ever since the new owners have taken over. Saul (Ruiz de Marco, HRT F1 CEO) has a very good approach to what F1 should be, by applying his entrepreneurship experience to the team and I’m sure that it will lead to better things. Everyone knows it is impossible to change things in F1 overnight but we have certainly taken strides in the right direction.

Q: How would you define yourself as a driver?
NK: One thing’s for sure – I never give up. I’m here, against all odds and expectations, which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I have worked incredibly hard, I believe in my ability and know that I am as quick as anyone else out there.

Q: What do you know about and what would you highlight about your teammate Pedro de la Rosa?
NK: My first ever test was with Jaguar in 2001 and I remember Pedro was the team driver at the time. Even though I don’t know him very well, I know that he’s very experienced and from what I’ve seen, has a pleasant personality. We should be getting on well – it is not about trying to beat each other but working harmoniously to help the team progress as a whole. Healthy competition will collectively allow us to get the maximum out of the car and fast-forward the development process.
He has a vast amount of developmental experience with a front-running team – so it’ll count a lot for the team in terms of approaching things and making the most out of our resources.

Q: What do you think you can contribute to the team this year?
NK: I am going to push as hard as possible, both inside and outside the cockpit and do whatever it takes to help the team progress in its rejuvenated form. Continuity is important in Formula 1 so I’m sure we’ll hit the ground running this year starting with some actual pre-season testing unlike last season where I first drove the new car on the opening race weekend in Australia. So there is all the incentive for me to ensure that I carry the team forward by delivering results and ensuring that nothing is left on the table as far as performance is concerned.

Q: Coming from a country with not much motorsport tradition, what led you to pursue the dream of making it to Formula 1?
NK: Ever since I started my racing career, I had just one goal in mind – Formula 1. It was definitely an unconventional dream to have, considering we had very little by the way of motorsport in India. Understandably, at the time I failed to realise what an uphill task it was. A more concrete picture emerged when I started racing in Europe, and it was during that time I came to terms with the harsh realities in earnest. We didn’t know the right steps to get to F1, but several setbacks made my resolve only stronger and my perseverance ultimately paid off when I made my debut in 2005.

Q: Last year you made history by becoming the first Indian driver ever to race at the Indian GP. What dreams do you have left to fulfill?
NK: For me, Formula 1 is a continued dream, it is always ultra-competitive and competing at the pinnacle of the sport is what I love. So I am very happy to have the opportunity to continue living my dream and I have every intention to make the best out of it.

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Madrid, 3rd of February 2012
Spanish outfit HRT F1 announces that Indian driver, Narain Karthikeyan, will complete the team’s line up for the 2012 season alongside Spanish driver Pedro de la Rosa. These two drivers will contest the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship for the team, which gets underway on March 16th at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, Australia.
The Chennai-born driver will thus compete in his second season with the Spanish squad, with whom he made history at last year’s inaugural Indian Grand Prix, being the only Indian driver on the grid. A strong weekend with a great result ensued with his performance garnering international acknowledgement.

The extension of the relationship between Narain Karthikeyan and HRT F1 Team is based on the principle of continuity contributing to the stability and reliability of the team and, at the same time, offering Narain Karthikeyan the necessary confidence to progress. This progression and teamwork will be vital for the growth and establishment of the renewed HRT F1 Team.

The team will return to action next week at the first official preseason tests, which take place in Jerez, where Pedro de la Rosa will take to the wheel. Narain Karthikeyan will join the team for the second tests in Barcelona, which will be held from the 21st to the 24th of February at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Narain Karthikeyan: “It has taken a lot of hard work to make this happen but I am absolutely elated to feature on the 2012 grid with HRT F1 Team. I was pleased with our strong performance at the Indian Grand Prix, in front of my passionate home fans and I look forward to building on this result in 2012. I have been training hard since the end of 2011, ensuring I was ready for the rigours of F1 if an opportunity arose. I am delighted to have signed with HRT F1 Team. With the new management, Pedro, and the team, there is definite potential for progress. We need to understand that F1 is new to India, we hosted our first race only last year which was a resounding success. To build on that momentum, an Indian driver will certainly keep the interest engaged throughout the season. I am proud to secure an opportunity to forge a stronger connection between India and Formula 1 once again”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: “I am pleased to count with Narain for this season, as he will contribute continuity and stability. He is a quick, intuitive and secure driver who met his expectations despite a lack of continuity last year. Of the eight Grands Prix he contested in 2011, he only failed to finish on one occasion and had a great performance in the last race he took part in. I’m sure that the fact that he will continue to work and drive on a regular basis will help him take a step forward this season. And if he advances, so does the team. This is a year in which you could say that the team starts from scratch and everyone’s input will be fundamental”.

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Scuderia Toro Rosso is pleased to announce that Falcon Private Bank has renewed its sponsorship agreement with the team, thus becoming an official team partner for the 2012 season.
The Swiss wealth management specialist, Falcon Private Bank has been a sponsor of Scuderia Toro Rosso since May 2011. This year, the company’s logo will appear on the front of the car and on the front wing endplates, as well as on the race suits of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne and on Scuderia Toro Rosso team kit.

Franz Tost: “Since Falcon Private Bank joined us last year, we have built up a close relationship on both a business and a personal level. It is therefore very gratifying that we will be working together again this year and I firmly believe that both parties will enjoy a successful season, moving the relationship forward to a new and even more productive level.”


]]> General http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5544 Wed, 1 Feb 2012 15:00:30 +0100 http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5543
Hinwil, 1st February 2012 – Sauber F1 Team welcomes NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP), the leading provider of innovative storage and data management solutions, as a new Technical Partner. With NetApp solutions being the data storage standard at Sauber, the team aims to continuously raise its efficiency and productivity.
NetApp’s logo will be displayed at various locations such as the team’s trucks and pit equipment.

NetApp enables the Sauber F1 Team to run a reliable, flexible and unified storage infrastructure. It builds the foundation for all IT services delivered to its technical, business, and administrative facilities. This includes both Sauber’s headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland as well as the world’s race circuits, as a mobile FlexPod™ data centre solution is travelling with the team.

NetApp’s storage and data management within a MetroCluster configuration provides always-on data service, integrated data protection and comprehensive scalability of performance, features and capacity. Centralised data services reduce the complexity of the IT management and drive efficiency.

Since 2007, the Formula 1 team has been working with NetApp solutions and has had very good experiences that resulted in the steady enhancement of the customised storage infrastructure. With the 2012 season being kicked-off, NetApp appears for the first time as a Technical Partner of the Sauber F1 Team.

]]> General http://www.f1-pics.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5543 Wed, 1 Feb 2012 14:58:24 +0100