Ducati buoyed by Sepang MotoGP test results

By Michele Lostia and Matt Beer

Sunday, February 5th 2012, 12:43 GMT

Ducati technical chief Filippo Preziosi says the results of the first winter test proved that the team is on the right track with the major changes it has made for 2012.

After failing to win a race in 2011 - despite recruiting seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi to lead its line-up - Ducati has had a total rethink of its bike concept with the GP12.

Rossi was between 0.7 and 1.2 seconds off the pace during the test at Sepang this week, in line with Ducati's hopes for the new bike's first proper run, and Preziosi said the results had vindicated the team's changes.

"You can do simulations as much as you like, but the rider's sensations, the feeling he creates with his bike, remain the only undisputable judgement," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I was afraid that the ideas on how to solve the problems, based on data processing and riders' judgement, were wrong. We are still far behind [Casey] Stoner, but if we look at Yamaha, then we are closer."

Preziosi said clear progress had been made with areas that Rossi had struggled with in 2011.

"The problem was to allow the riders, especially Rossi, to feel the front, with regards to both contact with the surface and turn entry. That objective has been met," he said.

"Why didn't we do it before? That's racing. Honda, too, didn't have in 2009 the bike they dominated with in 2011! You try to solve the problems when they arise, but no revolutions, it's been an evolution."

Fernando Alonso glad Ferrari went for a radical 2012 Formula 1 car

Sunday, February 5th 2012, 12:01 GMT

Fernando Alonso says he completely backs Ferrari's decision to produce a radical 2012 Formula 1 design, and argued that the F2012 can still be considered beautiful.

Ferrari's 2012 contender - launched in Maranello on Friday - features a dramatic step in its nose, pull-rod front suspension, and major aerodynamic and packaging changes over its predecessor.

Alonso said he had been excited by the unusual design from the outset - and was pleased that Ferrari was doing something different.

"With the new car the first feeling was very good from the beginning," he said in a video interview released by Ferrari.

"I like the shape, the creative shape that we see in this new car. I think when a car surprises you from the first look, it's always a positive thing and I quite like the car. Hopefully it's fast."

Alonso also defended the F2012's aesthetics.

"I like the innovative ideas that the car has," he said.

"I think all Ferraris are beautiful cars. I don't remember any Ferrari that is ugly or any Ferrari that you don't like. The red colour and the passion of each car that Ferrari does make the car beautiful anyway."

Alonso's team-mate Felipe Massa said he was also pleased that Ferrari was exploring different design directions to its rivals.

"It's a very aggressive car. Different," said Massa. "I'm very enthusiastic that we're going to have a different car and a car where we go to a different direction in terms of development.

"We still need to get used to this nose, which is very strange due to the new rules. But apart from the nose the car is very aggressive and very nice and I hope we're going to see a very competitive car from the beginning to the end."

Injured Matthew Wilson to miss Rally Sweden

Sunday, February 5th 2012, 11:10 GMT

Matthew Wilson has been ruled out of Rally Sweden after breaking his left ankle in a fall while training on Saturday.

The Briton fell awkwardly during a run in England's Lake District and was taken to hospital.

"It looks as though I've broken and dislocated my left ankle so, unfortunately, that means no Rally Sweden for me," said Wilson, who had started the season with a tough run to 11th in Monte Carlo.

"I was really looking forward to Sweden. We were a lot more prepared for this rally [than Monte Carlo] and we would have been looking for a good result. I'm absolutely gutted."

M-Sport will not run a substitute driver in Wilson's absence, so his team-mate Henning Solberg will be the only driver running under the Go Fast Energy Ford banner in Sweden.

AUTOSPORT's comprehensive Formula 1 test and launch coverage

Saturday, February 4th 2012, 13:59 GMT

Formula 1 bursts back into life next week with a spate of car launches and the first test at Jerez getting underway. And AUTOSPORT will be there to bring you unrivalled coverage of all the events as they happen.

We plan to provide bigger and better coverage of the pre-season build-up than ever before. And AUTOSPORT is delighted to announce that its hugely popular live coverage of testing will return once again - completely free of charge.

As well as that, AUTOSPORT will be the first place you can see the video unveiling of Kimi Raikkonen's new Lotus F1 car on Sunday afternoon at 4pm GMT (5pm CET), so be sure not to miss it.

Beyond the launches and full live commentary from the test, AUTOSPORT will bring you all the news, photographs, technical analysis and exclusive interviews from events at Jerez and Barcelona the second they happen with our team of staff on the ground at the track.

Furthermore, for our PLUS readers, there will be exclusive in-depth analysis from some of F1's best writers to deliver you the behind-the-scenes insight that you cannot get anywhere else.

AUTOSPORT's Editor-in-Chief Andrew van de Burgt said: "The start of a new F1 season is always an exciting period, and with the wraps coming off six new cars this will be a must-see test for all true F1 fans. We are especially pleased that Lotus has allowed us to showcase its new car on our website, while having four of our star writers in situ in Jerez will mean we are able to report on the breaking stories as they happen."

Jules Bianchi eyes non-Formula 1 racing programme alongside Force India role

By Glenn Freeman

Saturday, February 4th 2012, 12:25 GMT

Jules Bianchi is likely to keep racing alongside his Formula 1 reserve driver commitments with Force India this year.

The Frenchman has competed in the F1 supporting GP2 series for the past two seasons, finishing third in 2010 and '11.

He has landed a deal to drive on Friday mornings on at least nine grand prix weekends, but the Ferrari protege is also closing on a chance to keep racing somewhere in 2012 to stay sharp.

"We are working on it," said Bianchi. "We are not sure yet, but I will try to have another programme as well [as F1]."

Bianchi's manager Nicolas Todt told AUTOSPORT that a race deal elsewhere would complement his F1 responsibilities well.

"I think it's important for Jules to keep driving, keep racing," Todt said. "At least nine [grand prix] Fridays is good, but it's not huge mileage. With Ferrari and Force India we are looking at different possibilities.

"The main thing is I am very pleased that Jules has signed as third driver at Force India, because we have seen in the past it is the best team for giving a chance to young drivers.

"They know how to work with young drivers, and it is the best opportunity he could have apart from a race drive in Formula 1."

Bianchi and Todt would not be drawn on where the 22-year-old could end up racing, but a return to GP2 is unlikely given the proximity of its sessions to F1 running on GP weekends.

Caterham signs Giedo van der Garde as reserve driver

Saturday, February 4th 2012, 08:10 GMT

Giedo van der Garde will be the Caterham Formula 1 team's reserve driver for the 2012 season.

The 26-year-old Dutchman has raced in GP2 since winning the 2008 Formula Renault 3.5 title, and was fifth in the '11 GP2 standings. Van der Garde has previous F1 testing experience with Spyker/Force India, Super Aguri and Renault.

Caterham will give van der Garde mileage in pre-season testing and in a number of Friday practice sessions alongside his reserve duties.

"The team is fresh, with some fantastic people here," said van der Garde. "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 [Jos] Verstappen years, however I hope to generate the same excitement for my country and really bring Formula 1 to them."

Team boss Fernandes added that the squad had been following van der Garde's career for some time.

"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," said Fernandes.

"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."

WRC event organisers told to finalise their own TV deals after Eurosport talks break down

By David Evans

Friday, February 3rd 2012, 19:29 GMT

World Rally Championship Commission president Jarmo Mahonen has told individual event organisers they will have to finalise their own television deals, AUTOSPORT has learned, a situation labelled totally impractical by one senior team chief.

The letter states that after being unable to conclude the agreement with Eurosport, there is no alternative to locally-sourced footage.

"Despite very lengthy negotiations with Eurosport," the letter, a copy of which was seen by AUTOSPORT, states, "we sincerely regret to have to inform you that, unfortunately, it has not been possible to conclude an agreement even when trying to give them the possibility to act as a provider of services, providing television coverage of the WRC.

"Therefore, the FIA will not be able to put in place a global promoter, or even global television coverage at this time. As a result, each WRC organiser will unfortunately have to negotiate the television broadcasting of his event."

While the television will be sorted on a local level, the letter confirms the commitment to sourcing a new global promoter.

The letter continued: "The FIA will also maintain the link between the organisers and the partners of the WRC, while setting place a plan of action to determine the best way of ensuring the promotion of the championship as soon as this can be secured."

Ford's director of motorsport Gerard Quinn said: "[Events sourcing their own television agreements] would be totally impractical. As a long-term solution that would not give the manufacturers, the participants, the organisers or the fans or anybody in the sport what we want."

Another team insider added: "This sends us back to the dark ages. How can the FIA ever think this is going to work?"

Talks between the FIA and Eurosport for the promotion of the World Rally Championship break down

By David Evans

Friday, February 3rd 2012, 18:45 GMT

Negotiations between the FIA and Eurosport for the promotion of the World Rally Championship have broken down and international television coverage of next week's Rally Sweden appears unlikely.

The FIA issued a statement this evening confirming it has withdrawn from negotiations and will begin discussions with other interested parties.

The statement said: "The FIA regrets to announce it has not proven possible to find an international promoter as well as a global broadcaster for the 2012 World Rally Championship season at this stage in time.

"The Federation has been involved in lengthy and detailed discussions with interested parties but a series of issues proved impossible to reconcile, and it finally had to take the decision to withdraw from these negotiations."

The statement confirms that the timing and tracking systems - provided by British firm Stage 1 Technology - will be in place and funded by the FIA in Sweden.

"In addition to the usual sporting and technical services it provides for these events," the statement continued, "the FIA will finance the timing/tracking of each event so that the championship can take place in the best conditions.

"Teams, manufacturers and the other stakeholders have all been informed of this situation.

"The FIA will now open discussions with all the other parties which have expressed interest in the promotion of the WRC in order to guarantee the future development and growth of the FIA World Rally Championship."

Ford director of European motorsport Gerard Quinn said: "I'm disappointed to read the press release from the FIA, but we will continue to work with the FIA for the benefit of the championship.

"The news that discussions will be opened with interested parties is positive and we look forward, as stakeholders, to taking part in those discussions soon."

There has been speculation that the FIA could leave the promotion and television filming and distribution to individual event organisers if it is unable to secure a global promoter. Quinn admitted such an outcome would be in nobody's favour.

"That would be totally impractical," he said. "As a long-term solution that would not give the manufacturers, the participants, the organisers or the fans or anybody in the sport what we want. This is a global sport which needs a global promoter."

Announcement due next week on future of Prodrive's WRC Mini future

By David Evans

Friday, February 3rd 2012, 17:17 GMT

As reported by AUTOSPORT on Thursday, the BMW Group's decision is believed to have been taken to split from Prodrive. That decision is expected to be communicated to the company responsible for the development and build of the Mini either on Friday or early next week.

AUTOSPORT's sources have reported that a meeting of Prodrive staff has been convened for Monday morning.

When contacted by AUTOSPORT on Friday afternoon, a spokesperson from the BMW Group said: "We have no comment to make".

Despite collecting three podiums from seven World Rally Championship starts, the dispute between Prodrive and the BMW Group over financing the programme appears beyond reconciliation.

Martin Tomczyk placed with new squad Team RMG as BMW reveals DTM pairings

By Jamie O'Leary

Friday, February 3rd 2012, 15:40 GMT

The German manufacturer announced on Friday which teams its six drivers will race for in the coming season, with RMG, which was only formed last summer, joining established touring car squads Schnitzer and RBM in running a pair of M3s.

Tomczyk, who joined BMW from Audi during the winter, will be partnered at RMG by American Joey Hand, while BMW's other big-name signing, Bruno Spengler, will drive for Schnitzer with Dirk Werner.

Andy Priaulx's M3 will be run by RBM, the team for which he won his three world and one European titles. Augsto Farfus, also an RBM driver in the WTCC, will be his team-mate.

"In allocating our six DTM drivers to the three teams we have completed another stage of our planning for the 2012 season," said BMW motorsport director Jens Marquardt.

"The test programme so far has primarily focused on evaluating control parts, performing basic set-up work on our BMW M3 DTM, and familiarising ourselves with the DTM processes, which are new to us all. However, we now enter the crucial phase ahead of the start of the season in which the focus switches to performance.

"In order for us to be able to push ourselves to the limit and exploit the full potential of the car, it is essential that the co-operation between the driver, his race engineer, and the entire team is perfect. To find the ideal driver/team combinations, every one of our six drivers has driven for each of the teams.

"After many discussions with all those involved, we are confident we have found the optimal line-ups, which will allow us to get the best out of the individual strengths of the drivers and teams. The drivers and teams can now continue to grow together and prepare for the season, which begins in just three months."