Monday has arrived, and with it brings Robert Kubica's birthday. The Polish driver turns 25 years old today, and I hope he's throwing a big party to celebrate his drive at Renault. Oh wait, that might not be secure as he hopes. Hmm. We might be finding more out about that today, watch for breakout threads.
We seem to be only producing F1 Debrief episodes fortnightly at the moment, but it's working very well. Yesterday's was a bit of a cracker, if we do say so ourselves. You can wait for the edited version which should be along later today, but I do recommend checking out the replay of the live show.
We have finally drawn a line under our Sidepodscience Shell V-Power Challenge, after many months. Back then, we tested out the premium fuel in our cars and tried to talk about the science behind it, but now we have the answers from an actual Shell expert. If you haven't already, head on over to our interview with David Wood from Shell for some real science.
My final piece of self promotion will be for Mr C's Jerez testing round-up. We tried a bit of an experiment this time round, opening up a thread for each day of the test, and Mr C concludes how this went, plus has a quick sum up of what the drivers got up to.
That should do it for now. Don't forget it is Must Comment Monday this week - although I can't talk as I have yet to find time to sit down and do it proper. I do try and comment as I go, though, and you should try it too. I'll see you in the comments.
Back in August, we undertook the Sidepodscience Shell V-Power Challenge, where we quite unscientifically tested the merits of premium fuels. Once complete we had a few questions we wanted to put to Shell and so did you. We compiled the best and put them to the man who walked us around the Silverstone paddock, Shell V-Power expert David Wood.
Shell V-Power expert David Wood
Questions from Sidepodcast
Is it true that you need to fill up with super-fuel a couple of times before you notice the difference and will it vary from car to car? Obviously, we can’t speak for every brand of premium fuel, but I can answer for the premium fuel offering from Shell, and I’ll separate my answer into diesel and petrol. Firstly, Shell V-Power Diesel is designed to help diesel engines deliver more power, and keep on delivering that power for longer, as the miles are clocked up. Developed to benefit any diesel car, Shell V-Power Diesel is formulated to continuously clean the precision fuel injectors to enable the engine to operate at its best. The process of cleaning away diesel injector deposits, which may have been left behind by other diesel fuels, is a gradual one. There is no standard period over which this is achieved since all engines, and the amount and nature of any existing deposits, will be different.
Shell V-Power Diesel, formulated with a synthetic GTL (Gas-to-Liquids) fuel component further adds to these performance benefits in the UK and many other countries. This clear and virtually odourless synthetic fuel component has outstanding cetane quality, so that it burns more cleanly and efficiently than conventional diesel.
The powerful cleaning technology of Shell V-Power is designed to remove, and to prevent the build-up of, power-sapping fuel system deposits.
Shell V-Power (petrol) in the UK has the benefits of being formulated with powerful cleaning technology and enhanced octane quality and also contains Shell’s unique Friction Modification Technology (FMT), as used by Ferrari in Formula One. FMT is designed to help engine parts turn more freely, unlocking useful energy that would otherwise have been lost. All engines can potentially benefit from reduced friction and with Shell V-Power these benefits are designed to be effective from the first fill.
The powerful cleaning technology of Shell V-Power is designed to remove, and to prevent the build-up of, power-sapping fuel system deposits. Removal of such deposits, and realisation of the associated benefits in engine performance and responsiveness, is a gradual process, and as with diesel above, there is no standard period over which this is achieved. In the UK Shell V-Power’s enhanced octane rating of 99 RON is designed to give improved performance in many modern cars compared to lower octane fuels. In responsive vehicles the benefits of higher octane are in principle available from the first fill, as soon as the fuel reaches the engine.
Do cars with bigger/more powerful engines make better use of super-fuels? Again, premium fuels differ from brand to brand, but Shell V-Power is designed to help petrol engines deliver their performance potential, whatever car you drive – the benefits are not limited to bigger/more powerful cars. Different vehicles will respond differently to the qualities of Shell V-Power and Shell V-Power Diesel, depending, for example, on design, maintenance, operating conditions and driving style.
Is the Shell V-Power difference more noticeable in petrol engines rather than diesel engines? Petrol and diesel engines work on different operating principles and present different challenges to the fuels scientist, so it’s tricky to make a fair comparison in this case. In order to develop a good fuel, an intimate understanding of the operation of the engine and the interaction between the engine and the fuel is a pre-requisite. This understanding has been one of many key factors in the development of Shell V-Power and Shell V-Power Diesel, and with both fuels the core aim is to develop a fuel that helps any engine to deliver its performance potential.
Has Shell specifically designed Shell V-Power to operate in a certain performance range? It feels like BP Ultimate is more aggressive in lower gears, but Shell V-Power is smoother in all gears. Can fuels be compared in that way, and how much do you look at competitors’ products? It is quite difficult to compare fuels in that way, and at Shell, our clear focus is on the quality and performance of our own products, making sure that they are capable of providing the performance benefits they have been designed to offer at all performance ranges. Our priority is helping our customers get the most out of the fuels they buy from us, whether that be diesel or petrol.
Is there a plan to roll out Shell V-Power to more pumps and more stations? Is it currently on trial or rather a staged rollout across the country? Shell V-Power is available across almost all the Shell sites in the UK. Shell V-Power Diesel is available at just under two-thirds of Shell sites in the UK and the aim is to increase availability by up to 30 sites per year. In time it is our aim that all Shell forecourts in the UK will offer Shell V-Power to our customers. If you visit the Shell service station locator you can search for sites with Shell V-Power and Shell V-Power Diesel.
Is the UK ahead or behind other countries in terms of super-fuel adoption and usage? The UK was one of the first countries to launch Shell V-Power fuels and in fact our first performance unleaded fuel was Shell Optimax which was launched in 2002. The name Optimax was then changed to Shell V-Power in 2006. Shell V-Power Diesel was launched in 2007. We are continuing to look to grow our Shell V-Power family of fuels and they can now be found in over 60 countries across the world.
Your Questions
I'm thinking of getting a scooter. Do the fancy fuels work in little tiny engines too? - Nikki, Canada ‘Fancy fuels’ or premium fuels as they are more widely known, are designed to work in a wide range of engines and vehicles, and not just high-end, high-performance cars. The technology we put into our Shell V-Power premium fuel (both diesel and gasoline) is designed to help engines deliver their performance potential, whatever vehicle you drive. Our experience of testing this technology in motorcycles has shown us that the fuel can perform very well in this environment, typified by smaller, higher speed engines. Different engines will, however, respond differently to the qualities of Shell V-Power and we encourage drivers to try it for themselves and see what difference it makes for them.
Does the same concept (of super fuels) apply to engine oil too? - Pat, UK Essentially, the principles are the same, but there are a different set of standards to adhere to. Engine oils are designed to meet different needs depending on what vehicle you drive, and our Shell Helix brand of engine oils work in exactly this way; they are tailored to meet a variety of performance levels. The difference is that in the engine oil world there is a wide range of performance specifications managed by the industry like the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) as well as vehicle manufacturers, all of which are used to ensure that lubricant requirements are met. Both Shell Helix and Shell Helix Ultra (our top-tier engine lubricant) are developed and tested to meet the industry standard performance levels (API, ACEA, etc) plus the additional requirements of the major vehicle manufacturers. Shell Helix Ultra has also been tested and demonstrated to show superior performance in Shell’s own testing in important areas such as engine cleanliness, compared to an API SL/CF Mineral Oil.
How have Audi's efforts in sports car racing and the Le Mans 24 Hours helped towards the development of Shell V-Power Diesel? - Scott, UK We have worked together with Audi Sport on a number of technical projects over many years including the Audi R8, the Audi R10 TDI and, in 2009, the Audi R15 TDI. Shell has used the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, one of the toughest endurance motor races in the world, to test new innovations in diesel fuel technology for potential application to the Shell V-Power Diesel road fuel that customers purchase at forecourts, to make better fuel for drivers. Our commitment to innovation through motorsport at the highest level, which extends to Formula One and beyond and the resulting innovations are integrated within our extensive Research and Development programme.
Fuel composition for a particular race must be declared well in advance of the event, and tests are carried out at the circuit to ensure the fuel used is exactly as declared.
How do they calculate the exact formula for the race fuel additives and is it done at the track during the race weekend or is it done back at the lab beforehand? - Gavin, Denmark
The precise formulations used in the Shell V-Power race fuel developed with Ferrari for Formula One races and the Shell V-Power Diesel Le Mans 24 race fuel which has successfully powered diesel cars to victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the last four years, are, naturally, confidential. However, we can tell you that the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) specifications controlling the composition and properties of Formula One race fuels are amongst the most demanding in the world. Fuel composition for a particular race must be declared well in advance of the event, and tests are carried out at the circuit to ensure the fuel used is exactly as declared. Consequently, fuels are formulated, blended and transported in advance of the race.
In terms of the race weekend itself, Shell works with Ferrari closely at every Formula One Grand Prix at a designated mobile technical facility – the Shell Track Lab. This state of the art facility is where Shell fuel scientists monitor the Shell V-Power race fuel and Shell Helix Ultra racing lubricants to ensure that maximum performance and reliability are maintained within the stringent FIA specifications during the extreme conditions of Formula One racing over the race weekend. The knowledge and insight gained from the technical partnership with Ferrari is fed into our road fuel development programme and helps us to develop better fuels for better performance for our customers around the world.
What does the V stand for? - Nick, Dubai We get asked that a lot! Surprisingly, the “V” in Shell V-Power has no particular meaning. However we researched a number of names with customers and the name V-Power was received positively by customers and they associated the name with power and performance attributes.
The first Sidepodcompetition was a bit chaotic from start to finish for us, but thankfully the tickets ended up in the right place. Here, Chris Harland tells us his experience at Top Gear Live, and ponders whether he would go again.
It started off badly; I began to wonder if the ticket debacle wasn’t a sign! I had to be in Earls Court for half past ten, which was looking pretty likely until... a Signal Failure on the Paddington line! This caused the train to have to wait stationary for a good fifteen to twenty minutes! But this was ok, I’d factored in a little time for this. My wife and I then arrived at Paddington a little later than planned, but this would be ok if we could make a nice quick journey on the Tube to Earls Court. For those in the know, that’s either the Circle or District lines from Paddington. So, down to the underground we go only to find, yep, you guessed it, BOTH the circle and district lines CLOSED for weekend engineering works. Great I thought. This meant the only way to Earls Court was a journey via Piccadilly Circus, which turned out ok in the end.
So, we arrived at Earls Court at about twenty past ten, just in time I thought. As I now had to collect my tickets, I asked the security guys where the “VIP” ticket collection point was. “Join the queue to the right of the building” he said. So we walked around the side of the building, and saw one massive queue! Oh dear, long queue and only ten minutes to get inside! Still we joined the back, and the queue moved reasonably ok. When we got inside, at about ten forty, I looked over to the far side, to see the “VIP” ticket collection point and NO QUEUE AT ALL!! I’d only been given duff information by the security man. Oh well, I went over and collected my tickets and went in.
I called the contact from Shell, who asked me to make my way to the VIP enclosure, so I did. I went up the escalator, VIP passes in hand and got off at the top. “Wow I thought, this is posh! I looked around for a minute, no sign of Shell. I then realised I was only in the “Platinum” enclosure and I had to walk around the side to the even more posh “VIP” section. I could get used to this I thought.
As it was now about ten fifty and the show started at eleven, the Shell guests had already gone down to take their seats, no-one was actually in the VIP area. Not to worry, our personal hostess took us down to the theatre and led us to our FRONT ROW BOX SEATS where we had a fantastic view of the stage. After several rather long adverts, the show could then begin.
It was much better than I would have imagined, Jezza, Hamster and Captain Slow were on fine form and there was more car action than you could shake a stick at. We had a Ford RS tribute and stunt show where the r cars randomly turned from black to white due to some special heat responsive paint. Two Subaru’s duelled with the rear halves on fire following an explosion. There were the results of a TOP GEAR challenge which was to build a mode of transport out of things you’d find in your garden shed. May had built a sun lounger with SIX chainsaw’s lined up like tank tracks and he won by a country mile, it was incredibly impressive. We had an interactive cool wall where various cars were driven out onto the stage and the audience voted how cool it was. All this, and there was much more.
After the show, we were shown around the paddock where we got to see all the cars used in the performance, although they wouldn’t let me near the Ferrari F40 for some reason. We then went back upstairs to the VIP enclosure where we were fed and watered (well, beered!) and I waited eagerly to be summoned for my stunt car ride. Having watched the show already, I was quite excited to have a go. However, when it eventually came around to it, I was somewhat disappointed. It turned out that I wasn’t to go in a stunt car, but instead in one of the cool wall cars that had been driven out at idle revs not very quickly at all. Never mind I thought, still better than nothing. We were again taken downstairs into the paddock where the cool wall cars were waiting to go out on stage. I ended up in the Ford Mustang, which was rather nice, but I would’ve preferred the Rolls Royce Phantom. It was quite daunting been driven out onto the stage with everybody looking at you. The Mustang was voted as cool until Jeremy activated the “Presenter Overide” feature, and slapped the car firmly beyond uncool.
After leaving the stage in the car, my wife and I were then left to enjoy the MPH show until the end of the day. There were plenty of performance and Supercars about the place, but after spending a little while looking at them, we soon became bored and headed off home. I was asked by one of the Top Gear Live hosts if I’d come back next year. My answer now is yes, but only for the Top Gear Show, the MPH feature was a little rubbish to be honest.
Still, we both had a fantastic day out as VIP’s, and are very grateful to Sidepodcast, Shell and Edelman for giving us the opportunity to enjoy such a day.
Welcome our very first official Sidepodcast Competition, coming to you courtesy of Shell V-Power. We've played games, set challenges and held contests in the past, but this is the first time there has been a real prize on offer - and it's a good one.
MPH featuring Top Gear Live, is coming to Earl's Court in London and you can win a pair of tickets.
Before we get to the competition, first, a bit of background to the event. The annual MPH exhibition is dubbed The Prestige and Performance Motor Show, and features a collection of rather expensive sports cars including the Veyron and some others that aren't quite as gorgeous.
The more exciting part of the show is the inclusion of Top Gear Live arena, which attempts to turn the BBC television show into what Jeremy Clarkson describes as the "most spectacular motoring theatre show in the universe". Which is quite some claim. Jeremy will of course be present, along with Richard Hammond, James May and the anonymous guy in the white overalls.
I'll Get a Hammer
There are two of these events happening this year in the UK, so don't get confused and remember this competition is to win tickets to the Earls Court event, specifically for the 8th November, 2009. Doors open at 9.30am and close at 7.30pm, it is recommended that you arrive before 10:30am. There are several live performances throughout the day at 11am, 2pm, and 5pm.
In addition to watching the live show, the lucky winner and his/her guest will enjoy a 'behind the scenes' paddock tour, where they will get to go backstage, and meet with the show’s stunt drivers. The winner will then have the opportunity to experience the power and performance of Shell V-Power whilst riding in the stunt car during the Top Gear Live show.
How awesome does that sound?
All you have to do, to be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, is to answer the following very simple question:
Question: Shell have a unique FMT formulation that is one of the added benefits when using V-Power fuel in your vehicle. What does FMT stand for in this instance?
Once you have your answer, submit your name, email address and answer using the form below.
NOTE: Entry to the Top Gear Live 2009 Competition has now closed. Thank you to all who participated.
Please note: Closing date for entries is midnight on Monday, 2nd November 2009 (GMT). Entries are restricted to one per person and we require a valid email address be submitted. Travel and accommodation is not included, entrants are expected to be in the UK and able to get to London of their own accord. Entrants must be aged 16 years or older.
To enter the competition, simply answer the question and complete the entry form published on the web site. By entering into the competition you agree to the terms and conditions stated herein and acknowledge that failure to comply with the rules may result in disqualification.
VIP tickets to Top Gear Live comprise of two tickets to the event. Not included in the prize are travel costs, accommodation, travel insurance and any other out of pocket costs.
Only one entry per person is permitted. Multiple or incomplete entries will be deemed to be invalid.
Unless otherwise stated, entries must arrive no later than the published closing date for the competition. Entries received after this time will be allowed only at the discretion of Editors who may extend the closing date without prior notice.
Proof of emailing will not be accepted as proof of delivery and no responsibility can be accepted for entries lost, delayed, mislaid or for any technical failure or for any event which may cause the competition to be disrupted or corrupted.
Employees of Sidepodcast, Shell or any associated companies, their agents or members of their families are not allowed to enter any competition. Subject to that rule the Editors' decision as to eligibility will be final.
All entries, photographs, and other material submitted as part of a competition entry shall become the property and the copyright of Sidepodcast. Editors reserve the right to publish them in whole or in part or use them in any way they think fit without the permission of the entrant or payment for such use but subject always to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1988.
Only one individual winner from the double package of tickets will have the opportunity to participate in the stunt vehicle. As such, all entrants must be 16 years or older in age.
Unless otherwise stated, Sidepodcast accepts no responsibility for the return of entries, photographs or other personal effects or for loss or damage to such items. Under no circumstances does Sidepodcast accept responsibility for the safe return of any material or its return in an undamaged condition or any liability for loss of or damage to such material.
Except where it is expressly stated that the winner will be the first correct entry drawn from the total entries submitted, or that some other mechanism will be applied, all competition entries will be examined and the prize or prizes will be awarded to the entry the judges consider to be the best. Other prizes will be awarded in accordance with the order of priority stated in the rules of the competition.
The Editors reserve the right to change the rules applicable to any competition or to void any competition at any time and for any reason. In the event that any competition is so voided, all entry fees will be returned. In particular, in the event of unforeseen circumstances the Editors reserve the right to offer alternative prizes of equal or greater value.
In the event of an error, howsoever caused, whether a printing error or otherwise and whether obvious or otherwise, which affects the competition in any way, the Editors reserve the right to administer the game as though the error had not occurred. Where the Editors deem it appropriate and/or feasible Sidepodcast will notify entrants of the error and correct it through the relevant medium.
If the winner of a competition is unable to take up a prize for any reason Sidepodcast reserves the right to award it to an alternative winner, in which case the first winner chosen will not be eligible for any share of the prize whatsoever.
Failure to comply with any of these rules may result in the disqualification of the entry. Editors reserve the right to disqualify any entry at their absolute discretion.
Editors' decisions are final in all matters concerning a competition. It is a condition of entry to any competition that the entrant agrees to be bound by these rules whether they be published in the relevant online editions of the newspaper or not, and that the decisions of Editors and judges on any matter whatsoever arising out of or connected with the competition are final.
By entering the promotion participants will be deemed to have accepted and be bound by the terms and conditions which will be interpreted in accordance with English law and subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
Good luck to everyone. Remember, you are only up against other readers and listeners of Sidepodcast and if you have any further questions, please let us know in the comments. You only have a week in which to enter, so don't delay.
It's been a good month now since we launched the Sidepodscience Shell V-Power Challenge, and we've started to get some results in and have begun drawing conclusions. Although the experiment is by no means over, here are some of the things we've discovered.
User Experience
Mr C was the first to get the experiment underway. He was already using BP Regular and the aim was to switch to BP Ultimate, then move on to V-Power to try and evaluate the difference. This plan immediately went out the window when his nearest BP garage was shut. Instead, he made it to a Shell garage.
The problem with the Shell stations is that there are only a very select few that run the V-Power diesel. Petrol is abundant, diesel not so much. Once you've found the right forecourt, there is only one pump with the desired fuel, which means queuing is much more likely.
I found this out when I started my experiment... a couple of weeks late. I had regular supermarket fuel and was making the jump to V-Power to investigate the difference. I went out of my way to the right Shell garage but missed out on the special pump, and it was so busy, I couldn't swap lanes. I ended up with Shell regular diesel.
Once you know how it works, it's not so bad, but it does seem like a bit more work to try and get the V-Power rather than the BP Ultimate. However, the BP garage is sometimes closed, so perhaps that makes things equal.
Mr C did note that you acquire "V-Power Club" points when you top up with the special diesel. A club for fuel? I wonder what you get at the end of it.
Performance
Once we managed to get our hands on the desired fuels, we came to these conclusions. Mr C tried out V-Power and found it made the engine performance a little bit smoother. He particularly enjoyed the part where you can go up hill in a higher gear than normal, because you are too lazy to change down. I can heartily agree with this.
My fuel findings were similar, but I was much more impressed with the difference, having not used superior fuels before. On the way back from the Shell station, there was little to notice, and I was disappointed. It turns out I was being impatient though, as just a couple of journeys later, I was suddenly impressed with what was going on. Travelling through a town, you may as well not bother having low gears. You can pull away from a stop in second, if you so desire. V-Power elimates the need for first gear. Fact.
Now, Mr C finally managed to switch to BP Ultimate, so he could compare the two fuels, and found that when he put BP in the car, it was a completely different story. I'm pretty sure the words he used were "like a bucking bronco" as he tried to navigate out of the garage. BP seems to give you a speed advantage, a competitive edge, but V-Power gives you a much smoother ride.
What's Next?
As someone who drives pretty fast anyway, I'm not sure that having a boost of speed is something I'm craving. However, I will try the BP Ultimate next to see what the man is going on about. To make it a fairer test, I went back to supermarket fuel, and I can honestly say it was a depressing moment. I didn't want to dirty my engine with the nasty fuel, I liked the clean feel of the V-Power. I am definitely a convert.
Mr C has tried both fuels now, and prefers the BP Ultimate. It suits his car, and his driving style. The conclusion is that superior fuels really do make a difference, but the two seem to provide different improvements, and it's a personal choice.
We will cover our final conclusions in an upcoming debrief, and hopefully we can put some questions to Dave, the nice Shell road fuel man that we met at Silverstone. If you've got any questions, let us know, and we'll pass them along.
You may have heard we visited the Shell lab and Ferrari garages during Friday Free Practice at Silverstone. We might have mentioned it once or twice.
After talking to the very nice and incredibly smart people at Shell, they convinced us that V-Power is worth a second look. Mr C has tried superior fuels before and was already aware of the potential benefits - a cleaner engine, and better performance. I was not, and disappointed everyone by suggesting my local supermarket fuel was just as good.
With this in mind, we thought it a great opportunity to officially debut Sidepodscience with the Shell V-Power Challenge.
The Aim
To establish whether V-Power makes such a difference it can be felt by someone not scientific like me.
To compare V-Power with BP Ultimate - a rival fuel of similar description.
The Challenge
I have run my car down of supermarket fuel and will fill up with V-Power. After two weeks I will report back on whether any difference could be felt.
Mr C will be moving from BP Regular to BP Ultimate to see if there is any difference. He will then switch to V-Power to determine any difference between the two (supposedly) equal fuel types.
Finally
It is worth noting that V-Power (and Ultimate) costs a couple of pence more per litre than regular fuel does, which would work out as a few pounds extra for a full tank.
We have it on good authority from multiple sources that the more expensive fuel is better for your engine. Even if the difference couldn't be felt, that doesn't mean it isn't keeping the insides clean and saving you a couple of hundred quid at the garage.
I think that sums up what we're going to be doing and why. We'll report back here in two weeks with our findings. Meanwhile, let us know if you have any experience of fuels and the difference between them, or if you have any more scientific notes to add.
This week we talk about what we learned in the Shell V-Power lab at Silverstone, we run through some half-term reports for our Fantasy Racers teams, and catch up with loads of feedback.
Intro
We've gone a bit Ferrari mad, but you'll only know if you're watching the live feed.
Good Week / Bad Week
A good week for Mark Webber at Wimbledon and Backstreet Boys fans in Singapore, but a bad week for Hockenheim and Brawn GP (thanks to Kathi for helping with pronunciation.)
Sidepodtour
Shell have given us some fascinating facts and figures which we share with you, we run through a weekend in the trackside lab and play some of our tortured audio clips. Plus, the Sidepodscience challenge begins.
Fantasy Racers
With Mr C down in 305th, and myself up in 88th, we run through those above, below and in between, with comments from team owners, and some of the closest battles to watch out for.
Feedback
A couple of voicemails from Silverstone, plus some new voices to hear from. We also read through a plethora of emails covering topics from the BBC coverage to a money-making scheme for the FIA.
Housekeeping
Next week, many people are headed to Goodwood and the Renault World Series, so if you are, we want to hear from you. Meanwhile, we'll be at home creating a mini series.
As promised, this week is all about fuel. Actually, it's not all about fuel but a good proportion of it talks about what we learnt from Shell during Friday Free Practice at Silverstone.
We also have a lot of feedback to catch up with, plus we take a look at how some of the Fantasy Racers teams are doing now that we are basically halfway through the season.
We're hoping to be ready for 6pm BST so we can let you lovely people be off in time to watch Top Gear. However, this is Sidepodcast, and you must be prepared to expect the unexpected.
It's the weekend! It's been a long old week (aren't they all?) and I don't know about you but I am looking forward to some downtime. Whilst there is no racing for a couple of weeks, I'm pretty sure there'll be enough F1 nonsense to keep us going. Meanwhile, the blogs have been particularly active.
Not content with setting up one new blog, Nick has only gone and added another to his lineup. With the politics side of things a particularly serious topic, Nick's turned his attention to all things satirical with: Not the F1 News.
When Shell invited us to join them for Friday Free Practice at Silverstone, we were glad to find we weren't the only bloggers/podcasters in attendance. We had a good chat with F1 Punter, who in turn made the most of his day and has now done a sterling job of writing up his fuel findings.
In last week's show we mentioned that we bumped into Fraggle in the SRC building, but according to her Flickr photos, we were the least interesting people she met. There's Jackie Stewart and Heikki Kovalainen (sorry Amy!) plus many more. Take a look.
As ever, let us know what you're up to this weekend, if it's anything exciting, and equally if it is not. I will see you in the comments.
