Sidepodcast

Light at the End of the Tunnel

The debut Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend seems to be progressing nicely. Personally, I have found the sessions to be slightly on the dull side, although the track is very good looking and the facilities appear to be top notch. One thing I have found curious is the lighting situation.

Back when Singapore was announced as the first ever F1 night race, the topic of just how the organisers would light the event was a talking point for weeks. We wanted to know whether they had a backup, what would happen in case of a power cut, if the bulbs went out, if there was some epic disaster that ruined the weekend.

The FIA took the safety of the event very seriously, and monitored the plans at every opportunity. Mika Hakkinen took time out of his busy schedule to head to a short stretch of track weeks before the event, to test out the visibility and viability of the lights. Although it seemed as though everything was in hand, there were still concerns.

One member of each team was sent over to the track to have a look, and see if they could find any potential problems. The drivers spent plenty of time deciding on which visors they would be running with, and whether tinted or clear tear-off strips were the best. In short, there was plenty of fuss, it was the most exciting thing of the year, and we talked about it at great length in advance.

This year, F1 turned up in Abu Dhabi, it got a bit dark, and they switched the lights on. Where was the fuss?

It does make sense that Singapore did such a great job with the lighting, that Abu Dhabi would just be able to copy their setup and be ready to go, but I can't believe there were no worries or thoughts about the lighting before the event got underway.

The twilight aspect of the race has me slightly concerned, only because driving into the sunlight is quite possibly the worst thing I know about being behind the wheel, and I only drive at 70mph. If there was a contingent sent over to Abu Dhabi from each of the teams to investigate the situation, we didn't hear about it. If the track has the same sort of backup system as Singapore, I haven't seen any news reports about it.

To me, the lights don't look as bright, and they don't look quite as consistent as the system in Singapore. However, none of the drivers have complained, and they seem to be quite comfortable driving once it gets dark.

The whole thing strikes me as a bit odd, but perhaps Singapore was so good that all the lessons have been learned already?

Will.i.am Wheelman

It would appear that F1 has gone mainstream.

We have all been discussing Bernie's F1 Rocks concert idea since it first came up - mostly wondering whether it would have the effect he was after. Making Formula 1 a more rounded event with plenty to entertain everyone is a good idea, and we have discussed this at length previously.

Now it is happening though, it's actually a little bit scary.

I have spent the entire day explaining to Mr C who Lindsay Lohan, Fergie, and N*E*R*D are, whilst he had great fun yesterday trying to explain the concept of ZZ Top to me. This F1 Rocks business has put a divide straight down the middle of Sidepodcast Headquarters.

Meanwhile, we have seen the 'Rocks stars infiltrating our beloved garages. Beyonce took a trip down the pit lane, posing for photographs in and around the McLaren garage. Black Eyed Peas spent part of their day with Force India, and actually got involved with a pit stop.

That is some good work by Will.i.am Wheelman there. If he wasn't so busy singing, he could possibly have a go in the race. Also, I would quite like it if the Backstreet Boys could have a go at the pit stop business. Pretty please?

Ms. Lohan, who is fronting the whole event, has been talking about her knowledge of F1, which seems to be lacking a little, but she's eager to learn.

"I'd love to learn more about Formula 1 and racing. I actually studied NASCAR for almost a year when I was doing Herbie."

This is a film that we actually both have heard of - albeit different versions. The first thing she needs to learn, of course, is that F1 is nothing like NASCAR.

She may not know as much about F1 as we do, but she's certainly on the same level as me when it comes to music.

"I hadn't heard of Simple Minds before, but I will be aware of them after this."

Which leaves Mr C is more disillusioned by the whole concept than ever.

All in all, this sudden invasion of music and popular culture into the normally quite stuffy Formula 1 has taken us quite by surprise. I think I like it.

A Live Tour of Albert Park

Here at Sidepodcast, we've just discovered the joys of Qik, and have been outside a couple of times to test it out. The Sidepodcommunity are way ahead of us though, and already doing exciting (and Formula 1 related) things. Amy took some time out this morning to take a walk round Albert Park, and it's really fascinating to see the track when it is not a track.

I should say that the audio is a little less than desirable as Amy braved a really windy day in the Park to capture these videos for us. It's worth listening and watching all of them, though, as Amy makes a great tour guide.

Start Line

A close up of the actual start line, with cars parked either side and a temporary chicane.

Turn 1 and 2

A run down to the first corner, with a different type of driver looking for the apex.

Kerbing

Cunningly camouflaged kerbing remains for the whole year round. You'd never know they raced here, honest!

Turn 4

The left-hander of turn 4 is actually a car park most of the year round. Which explains the white markings you see in many ariel shots of this section.

Turn 5

Back on to the main road for the following right hand section. A place where Kubica and Vettel managed to get all tangled up earlier in the year.

Turn 6

The heavy braking zone for turn 6 shows how regular traffic is managed when F1 isn't around.

Turn 7

No U-turns in this section of the road, and a look at the buildings the drivers could never see from the cockpit.

Turn 9

Another car park, shows off yet more F1 tyre markings, undisturbed since March.

Turns 11 and 12

Road markings show where the track runs across a wide section of road. A familiar skyline can seen in the background.

Lakeside Drive

The classic photo opportunity, where road cars run along race cars separated by the smallest of barriers.

Turn 13

The sharp right-hander of Ascari is clearly visible as it crosses the main section of road. Remember your green cross code when on foot here!

The First Ever Sidepodcast Pit Stop

The closed pit entrance, inaccessible to everyday traffic. Check out the garage frontage and pit boxes, complete with 2008 spec grooved tyre markings!

Finish Line!

Just before it gets too dark, a return to the start/finish line in all its chequered glory.

Thank you ever so much to Amy for live streaming her walk in the F1 park for us. It's rare to see Formula 1 tracks away from the race weekend, even more the street tracks that rarely see any other type of racing action.

Take a look yourself and let us know what landmarks you can spot, and any memories you have of the corners Amy visited in those videos. We loved watching every minute and if you need a reminder of how all the corners match up to the race track, check out last year's Inside Track guide.

Keep an eye on Amy and other commenters Qik stream's too. You never know what you may find.

Now This Makes Formula 1 Worth Watching

Singapore was quite the spectacle in 2008. The first F1 night race was intriguing, and the organisers had plenty of other music and festivities going on to keep the crowds amused.

This year, they have lost the novelty of having the "first ever" although they still keep the crown of "only". By the time we get to Singapore, the championship will likely be all but over, and so it is to the music I turn my attention.

For 2009, the Singapore Grand Prix will include eight free concerts scattered around the circuit, with musical acts from all over the globe. One particular band caught my eye - the Backstreet Boys will be headlining one of the gigs. My inner teenager is very excited about this news.

Executive Director of Singapore Grand Prix, Michael Roche, says:

“Last year’s eclectic mix was unique to any circuit park and was a huge success. This year, we are topping that with a bigger line-up of artistes for non-stop entertainment throughout the weekend, all included in the ticket price.”

We have been coming to the realisation this year that a lot of Formula 1 related events, particularly Grands Prix are not worth the entry price. They are enormous fun but the extortionate ticket fee could be spent on something a million times more useful.

Singapore are clearly trying to make the Grand Prix a much more justifiable expense. Not only are you set to enjoy some racing action, but you'll also get to rock out to music with other like-minded fans. With the number of groups they're rounding up, there's bound to be something up your street.

It makes perfect sense to me. Formula 1 is gradually imploding, so lets concentrate more on mindless pop to keep everyone entertained.

_{Photograph by Anirudh Koul.}

Design and Share Your Fantasy Race Tracks

The Sidepodwiki doesn't get nearly enough promotion on this site. It's an ever expanding hive of activity, with 37 people already signed up and contributing content on a regular basis. We could and should be doing a better job of highlighting this to anyone who may have otherwise overlooked such a wonderful Sidepodcast resource.

Mind Mapping

One thing we're quite excited about, is the ability to embed all manner of plugins into wiki pages. These can include video such as the Sidepodcast Diaries or as recently showcased by R.G. - F1 Quikmaps.

The quikmaps.com site has been around for a long time, but coupling the service with user editable content offers everyone an opportunity to get creative and show Tilke a thing or two, when it comes to creating fantastic race tracks.

Here's a Miami Street Circuit that R.G. uploaded recently.

Clearly the man is a fan of bridges, and you can't question the concept of Formula One cars hopping from island to island.

No Man Is an Island

To prove how easy it is to create these things, this morning I designed a track set in the Scilly Isles. Admittedly it's compact and bijou by F1's standards and I can already foresee public transport issues being somewhat Donington-esque, but that Herman chap better watch his back.

If you fancy a little drawing project, simply sign up for a free account at quikmaps.com, pick a location and start scribbling. Once you've made something you're happy with, add it the Sidepodwiki (again, free signup is necessary, if you've not done so already).

Christine monitors the site for changes regularly, but by all means shout us in the comments if you've uploaded a masterpiece. Also if you need any more information don't be afraid to ask - after my solitary illustration I already consider myself an expert in cartography.

We can't wait to see your submissions, and by all means have a browse around the wiki while you're there.

One Small Step for Donington

Donington Park was finally given the go ahead for the anticipated revamp at a council meeting today. Local officials were given a tour of the circuit before coming to a unanimous agreement that the £100 million upgrade was acceptable.

Work is expected to start almost immediately, as time is tight for the complex overhaul Donington Park has planned. Full details of the changes can be found on the official site and include track layout, the pit and paddock buildings, medical facilities and more, but the lingering question remains: will they be able to afford it?

We already know that a lot of the money is coming from a debenture scheme, with Donington Ventures Leisure Limited planning to offset costs against future ticket sales. It looks as though they've got a further £40 million to raise of the total fund required, and as the The Telegraph reported yesterday, this is a rather daunting prospect.

ISG, the company tasked with sorting out the sale of seats, mostly to corporate companies, acknowledges that the economic downturn isn't helping.

"Would we rather have been testing the market and putting together this product a year ago? Of course we would. Now is neither the best time to be persuading people to part with money for a new sporting proposition, nor is it the best time to be asking banks to back an offer of this sort.

Chief executive Simon Gillett has always remained completely confident that everything will work out and wants to put doubters minds at rest by putting the buildings up, rather than telling them things will be okay. This seems like a noble plan, but means we'll still be doubting for a while yet. Nevertheless, step one is out the way, and the next challenge is to get the construction started. How far do we think they'll get?

Missing a Trick

There's been much consternation on this site and elsewhere around the web, relating to the various merits of the latest addition to the Formula 1 calendar. A couple of criticisms levelled at the Valencian street circuit is that it featured way to much concrete, didn't produce particularly close racing and was nothing but a let down after all the pre-race hype built around the event.

However, it wasn't until I read today's race round-up from Axis of Oversteer that I realised where Bernie and the organisers had gone wrong.

Back when McLaren were after a sensational launch platform for their 2007 challenger, they chose the city of Valencia as the place to do it, and specifically the area known as Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències. With it's stunning architecture and liquid landscapes the region provided a unique backdrop for the launch. Toyota also found a use for the area when they ran their cars around the white concrete streets earlier this year.

Sadly, when Bernie decided he wanted a race in the very same city, he chose the dockyard.

It just doesn't have the same appeal does it?

I understand the reasoning behind such a decision, not least that it may not even be possible to run a race around the City of Arts and Sciences, but I can't help feeling an opportunity was missed somewhere between the conception of this project and its realisation.

A 25 turn race track, situated on the coast of the Mediterranean should have been enough to make for a fantastic weekend of racing. Instead we got a view reminiscent of shipyards on the Tyne and a 100 minute procession that felt like the Hungarian GP we were expecting three weeks ago.

Remind Me, Is There a Race this Weekend?

As reported yesterday, the Valencia street circuit was given the go ahead for the F1 race, as the FIA handed out their official licence. Button also gave his stamp of approval to the new circuit.

It is a great venue and it will bring a lot of new fans to F1. It is quite a fast circuit, for a street circuit. It has got a lot of run-off in the places that you need it.

BMW are already looking to the simulator to get accurate data for the race weekend, including downforce levels, gearbox ratios and brake specifications. Willy Rampf said they were starting early so as not to lose time during the race weekend.

Mike Gascoyne has revealed that although they will test out Force India's new seamless shift gearbox on Friday in Hungary, they're saving actual implementation for Valencia.

Lewis Hamilton is looking as far ahead as the Singapore night race, saying he will walk the track to get a good feel for it. No doubt he is planning to do the same for the unfamiliar curves at Valencia.

From what I can see, all the talk at the moment is about Valencia, despite the fact the race doesn't take place for almost another month. I'm looking forward to it, another proper street circuit, and the track looks stunning. With the races we've been having this year, adding a brand new, unknown layout to the mix is only going to cause chaos!

With that in mind, then, with the Valencian GP so close and everyone talking about it, do we even care about Hungary? I say, why not just hand this weekend's points to Hamilton, and let's move on to a track we're actually interested in.

A Circuit Preview with a Twist

Is it a bit too soon to be discussing the Canadian GP already? I do hope not because I've just dug up a fab little video associated with the next stop on the calendar, and if I don't link to it now, I'll lose it again.

The clip below takes you on a short trip around the circuit Gilles Villeneuve, but the difference here is you get to experience it from the air, through the eyes of a remote controlled aircraft. Filming apparently took place a fortnight before the 2006 race, so you can see that most of the trackside furniture is in place, while sections of public road have been roped off.

Admittedly the video is showing it's age now, but two years ago this short film was at the bleeding edge of what is now known as First Person View pilot control, where live images are beamed from a remote camera to a set of goggles attached to your head. Turning left or right repositions the camera mounting so you can literally have a look around!

I've done some searching, but as these things have only recently become commercially available, no-one has yet taken the time to fly around any other racing tracks. It's only a matter of time though and the following film shows just how far the idea has developed in the past two years.

Nobody has ever asked me what I'd be doing if I wasn't working for Sidepodcast, but if they did, I'd tell them that is exactly what I'd be doing.

If I had the money I think I'd grab a set and have me a guided tour of every racing track I could find. Imagine following a Formula 1 test from up there... you wouldn't miss a thing.

The Weather in Monaco

As pointed out by both Lou and Steven in the comments, long range weather forecasts are predicting rain for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Now these things are normally somewhat inaccurate, but it is raining there right now and weather.com has showers listed for both the Saturday and Sunday of next weekend.

Accuweather is even predicting thunderstorms on Sunday! In short it looks like it could be wet.

Of note, by all accounts Thursday is looking dry, and this is important because in Monaco free practice happens one day earlier than at any other race on the calendar.

I'm sure no-one needs reminding but that means:

Christine will no doubt be fleeting between home and her office throughout the day, but I'll be sitting in front of the screen poised and waiting.

Whatever happens with the weather, I'm sure the whole event will be brilliant, and I'm already feeling a touch excited by the prospect of a return to the principality. Incidentally there's a whole discussion going on in the Facebook group on this very subject, so if you haven't already voiced your opinion feel free to jump right in.

Additionally, if you spot anything interesting relating to weekend, weatherwise or otherwise, do let us know in the comments below and shout if you're planning to be around Thursday morning for the first practice session.