Construction has begun on the new ~$360m circuit, located in the Greater Noida area, approximately 40km from India’s capital city, New Delhi. Currently named the Jaypee Group Circuit, the track will reside in a larger complex of other leisure amenities, notably a golf course, cricket stadium and sports academy (much like the Yas Island project in Abu Dhabi).

When Ecclestone was asked about a possible return to Indianapolis for the United States Grand Prix, Bernie seemed positive about wanting to make it happen, and said the famous speedway was the best venue to hold the event.

It’s only the fact that it’s all the wrong crowd and the wrong people and they didn’t really… nothing worked there really, we’d have to have a big change round. But we’d like to get back there. Bernie Ecclestone.

Formula One will return to North America this year when the teams arrive in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix. However, with such a large automobile market, the USA is an important area that the sport has neglected in recent times.

More information on the Jaypee Group Circuit can be found at BlogF1’s sister site, AerialF1.

Original article by BlogF1.

Bernie Ecclestone Suggests 20-Race Calendar For 2011

Stewart-Ford vs. Ford Focus WRC vs. Ford Cougar

Ferrari F310 vs. Ferrari 575M Maranello vs. Fiat Punto

McLaren Peugeot MP4-9 vs. Porsche 911 vs. Peugeot 306

Spyker F8-VII vs. F16 Jet Fighter

Read more about this race on BlogF1 at the post I wrote last year: Spyker F8-VII vs. F16 Jet Fighter

Ferrari F2004 vs. Eurofighter Typhoon

Schumacher got trounced, but at least the Eurofighter has beaten other cars as well, the Bugatti Veyron for example…

Bugatti Veyron vs. Eurofighter Typhoon

…Top Gear tried racing against the Typhoon with Richard Hammond at the wheel of a Veyron, but the plane was just too quick.

Ferrari 126c vs. F-104 Jet Fighter

There’s very little information on this video other than the race taking place in 1981. I don’t know if Gilles Villeneuve won or if the F-104 did, but I’m certain the Ferrari driver had a lot of fun that day.

BAR Honda vs. Superbike vs. Speedboat

Jenson Button beat the lot of the them after he turned off the anti-stall and started to get away from the line properly.

McLaren Mercedes F1 vs. Mercedes DTM vs. Mercedes SL AMG vs. Mercedes CLC

I’m not very good with Mercedes’s model designation system, so if I’ve got the car models wrong, I apologise in advance.
Another predictable race between a variety of road-going and racing cars.

Arrows vs. Lamborghini

Like Spyker, Arrows rarely set the track alight, but when they race other machines, they are in with a fighting chance. Especially when the result is as obvious as this one.

And the prompt of this post? Lewis Hamilton raced a learjet this morning down a runway. Apparently the McLaren driver is a Learjet Brand Ambassador (which I presume means Ron Dennis gets a discounted jet) and Hamilton raced one in his MP4-23. The race was put together for a publicity event for the Farnborough Air Show, and the BBC have a video of it here.

If you like these videos there’s more to see on BlogF1’s video page…

Original article by BlogF1.

Formula One Versus…

March 12th – Bahrain, Sakhir
March 19th – Malaysia, Sepang
April 2nd – Australia, Melbourne
April 23rd – San Marino, Imola
May 7th – Europe, Nurburgring
May 14th – Spain, Catalunya
May 28th – Monaco, Monte Carlo
June 11th – Great Britain, Silverstone
June 25th – Canada, Montreal
July 2nd – United States, Indiapolis
July 16th – France, Magny Cours
July 30th – Germany, Hockenheimring
August 6th – Hungary, Hungaroring
August 27th – Turkey, Istanbul
September 10th – Italy, Monza
CANCELLED: September 17th – Belgium, Spa Francorchamps
October 1st – China, Shanghai
October 8th – Japan, Suzuka
October 22nd – Brazil, Interlagos

And the team listing is:

Renault – Fernando Alonso, Giancarlo Fisichella
McLaren – Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya
Ferrari – Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa
Toyota – Jarno Trulli, Ralf Schumacher
Williams – Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg
Honda Racing – Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello
Red Bull Racing – David Coulthard, Christian Klien
BMW Sauber – Nick Heifeld, Jacques Villeneuve
Midland F1 – Christijan Albers, Tiago Monteiro
Scuderia Torre Rosso – Vitantonio Liuzzi, Scott Speed
Super Aguri – Takuma Sato, Yuji Ide

With a pumped up Ferrari trying to reclaim their top spot, and McLaren hoping to continue their progress, it should be fun watching Renault defending their crown. And with Midland, Red Bull Jnr and BMW all new to the game, 2006 looks to be a belter of a season.

Prediction – Raikkonen to win the Drivers Title, Ferrari to win the Constructors Title. Renault will do well, but it won’t be enough to stop McLaren. Red Bull Snr will continue their progress, and Toyota should win a race. Midland will flop, and BMW will have a very difficult first season. They will almost certainly drop Villeneuve by the end of the year, and Montoya will lose in the race to remain at McLaren. Unless – that is – Kimi is being sized up for a red racing suit to replace Schumacher Snr?

Original article by BlogF1.

Formula One 2006 – Calendar