Räikkönen had a fuming shakedown

Rally driver Kimi Räikkönen turned 32 years old on Monday. No party was held then - and it looks like there are no party to expect in this WRC-rally either.

ICE1 Racing -team's Citroen didn't go as Räikkönen wished in shakedown and that showed right away on Kimi's face. His good mood went away just like that.

It didn't help at all although the loyal fans had brought a big bluewhite banderoll on the spot wishing him happy birthday both in Finnish and in English.

Räikkönen got only the 16th fastest time in Thursday morning's shakedown - everyone who should have been behind him were in front of him.

However Thursdays was more filled with hope for Räikkönen than a year ago in Spain. Back then Räikkönen's Citroen slipped off the road right when shakedown began and Kimi and his background forces left for home immediately.

Notes on Friday's gravel part revealed the same as Thursday's drive - the road is slippery and unexpected. The last stage will be during darkness and that's when the risk is dust, that weakens the visibility even more.

The last gravel rally for Räikkönen was in Jyväskylä at the end of July, hence getting used to this surface will once again take more time especially since the test for Spain was cancelled.

Turun Sanomat, Salou
Courtesy: Nicole

Alonso's Blog: A special race in Hungary

We’re reaching the final stages of a frenetic month of July. I am in Maranello, where I came on Sunday night, directly from the Nurburgring and, early tomorrow morning, it will be time for me and the engineers to head for Budapest. In this very short break between the two races, I worked, as is usually the case when I am at the factory, on the simulator to prepare both for this weekend’s race and for the ones after that. On top of that, I took part in several meetings with the engineers, while today I also got the chance to meet up with President Montezemolo and the members of the Ferrari Board, who were meeting in Maranello. Montezemolo was his usual cheerful self with me and wanted to know how preparations were going for the Hungaroring race. It’s now a few months that our car has become more competitive and that means we have been consistently able to fight for a podium finish.

We have made up a lot of ground compared to the very early part of the season in terms of performance, but we must take a further step forward, as I have said so often before. We still lack something, especially in qualifying: it’s true that in the race we can make up for this, but it’s not always possible to move up two places compared to our grid position, as happened in Monaco, Valencia, Silverstone and Nurburgring. At the Hungaroring, the weather should be more in keeping with summer, which is no bad thing as I’ve had enough of the cold and damp we experienced in England and Germany! That goes not just for me, but also for our car: it would definitely work better in temperatures higher than the 13° we had last Sunday.

I know the Hungarian Grand Prix has a special significance for the Scuderia, as it has experienced some great moments, but also some dramatic ones, like when Felipe was injured in that fluke accident when he was hit by a part of Rubens’ Brawn. Budapest is special for me too, as it was at this very race in 2003 that I took my first ever Formula 1 win. It was a very emotional day, the memory of which will always stay with me.

As was the case in 2010, I will again celebrate my birthday at the track with the Scuderia. On Friday I turn thirty: who knows if I will get a nice birthday surprise…

Source: Ferrari.com

Three Ferraris for Massa

Maranello, 29 April – He celebrated his thirtieth birthday four days ago and today, Felipe Massa was able to enjoy an experience that would be amazing for most people and was even unusual for him, even though he has been a frequent visitor to Maranello for the past ten years: he drove three different Ferraris at the Fiorano track all on the same day. This came about as part of a promotional film being shot for www.ferrari.com, featuring the 458 Italia, the 458 Challenge and, of course, the 150º Italia.

“It was so much fun: I’ve never driven three Ferraris one after the other like that,” said the Brazilian driver. “After so many hours in the simulator it was nice to have a break and enjoy myself on track.”

Special guests at this promotional day were India’s Ambassador to Italy, Debabrata Saha, accompanied by his wife Homai and the Consul General, S.K. Verma who, along with some friends, were guests of Tata Consulting Service, one of Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro’s partners.

Before being taken for a lap of the track in a 458 Italia, driven by test driver Dario Benuzzi, the Indian delegation visited the Ferrari factory where they were able to admire the new FF car.

Source: Ferrari.com

Hungarian GP – Best wishes Fernando Alonso

Scuderia Ferrari chose to celebrate Fernando Alonso’s birthday out of the glare of the spotlight, presenting the Spaniard, who turned twenty nine today, with a giant birthday cake here in Budapest for the twelfth round of the Formula 1 World Championship. The entire team turned out to wish Fernando the best and team principal Stefano Domenicali expressed the good wishes of all the Ferrari family.

Fernando was clearly moved by the occasion: “I will never forget this first birthday spent with you and I am speechless at the warmth of this gesture. To be here at the very track where I took my first ever Formula 1 win all goes to make this a truly magical moment. Thanks to all of you.”

Source: Ferrari.com

[Photos] Thursday and Friday at Silverstone

Click here to view Friday's photos

Click here to view Thursday's photos

Click here to view Seb's birthday photos

[Video] Seb celebrates his birthday in Silverstone!

Source: YouTube @ mko90nji

July 3rd: Happy Birthday, Sebastian!!!

As a proud team member at S-V.org and a proud fan of Sebastian Vettel, I couldn't let this day (3rd of July) go without at least posting, as a tribute, a few of my favourite photos of Seb. I was away this weekend, but here they go. :)

Happy belated Birthday Seb!!!

(click on link to view some more!)