By Roger Cruz

The 2008 Formula One Singapore Grand Prix was a watershed event, not just because it was the first race in the Marina Bay street circuit, but also because it was the first night race in Formula One history.

Watched by millions of viewers all over the world, Spaniard Fernando Alonso, racing in Renault colors, became the first winner of the Singapore GP. Renault had virtually no hope of winning this race, with their drivers Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr starting in 15th and 16th place respectively. However, in a bold move, Alonso started with an unusually low fuel load and attempted to overtake as many cars ahead as possible before making an earlier than expected pit stop. His gamble that someone would eventually crash in this unfamiliar new circuit paid off as Piquet Jr crashed in Lap 14, bringing out the safety car. With Alonso already fueled up and other cars forced to refuel after the pit lane opened, he went on to take the lead and achieved one of the most memorable victories in Formula One history.

But the 2008 Marina Bay race will now be remembered for other reasons. Nelson Piquet Jr., who was released from Renault in August 2009 for poor form, has sensationally claimed that he was asked to crash in order for Alonso to gain an unfair advantage. Renault initially reacted angrily to the accusation, but has subsequently decided not to contest the charges, a sign many take as guilt and an attempt to mitigate any future punishment. Their flamboyant managing director, Flavio Briatore and engineer Pat Symonds, have resigned, ending their long Formula One career on a low note.

What will happen to team Renault now? Many speculate that they'll be thrown out of Formula One altogether, although that would mean the loss of jobs for thousands of innocent Renault employees. And what is the future of their other driver Fernando Alonso? Alonso has denied all knowledge of this plot and it remains to be seen if he'll eventually move to Ferrari as speculated. Will Formula One recover from this latest setback? We all wait with bated breath.

By Hugh McInnes

One of the country's top luxury carmakers -- Mercedes-Benz Malaysia - supports important sporting events around Malaysia including golf tournaments and sports car races.

The world class MercedesTrophy was held for the 19th straight year beginning in April, 2009 at the Nexus Gold Resort Karambunai in Sabah, and ending at the Saujana Golf Country Club in Selangor on June 18. In between, the event stopped at the Bukit Jambul Country Club in Penang and the Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club in Johor. The tournament is open only to owners of Mercedes -Benz cars from authorized Mercedes dealers across Malaysia.

Winners in the Men's and Women's categories go on to represent Malaysia in the Asian final in Melbourne, Australia courtesy of Mercedes-Benz. Winners in each handicap category then qualify for the World Final in Stuttgart, Germany. Players that hit a hole-in-one can win a free Mercedes-Benz car.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia also supports the Formula One World Championship. In 2009, this event began in March, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. The Kuala Lumpur leg was held in April, and the season finale takes place in November at the Yas Island Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. The race also travels to Istanbul, Budapest, Valencia and Sau Paulo. Singapore hosts the only night race of the competition.

The eleventh Formula One PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix, held in April 2009, was organised by Malaysian Formula One promoter, Sepang International Circuit. In 2008, a Mercedes Benz SL 63 AMG was chosen as the official safety car of the Formula One World Championships.

In March, 2009, Cycle & Carriage Bintang Mercedes-Benz held their members exclusive Saujana Golf Club Carnival as part of its 110th Anniversary celebration, where they offered members four special discount packages to purchase a new Mercedes-Benz E 200K vehicle. The event also featured two sets of prizes - two free Mercedes-Benz B170 cars, and a free year-long subscription to the Saujana Golf & Country Club.

CCB Mercedes-Benz dealers offer a range of Mercedes-Benz models across Malaysia, including the S-Class Saloon known for its special safety technology. The S-Class features the Electronic Stability Program ESP® and PRE-SAFE® positioning function. For off-road adventures, there is the GL-Class with powerful V6 or V8 engines and AirMATIC air suspension to help make rough terrain travel more comfortable. This cross-country vehicle can accommodate up to seven passengers. Sports car lovers might want to inspect the SLK-Class Roadster and its 224 kW (305 hp) SLK 350 engine. This sleek convertible revs up to 7200 rpm and is aerodynamically designed for speed and handling. The SLK is the world's most popular roadster in its class.

The luxury car manufacturer also participates in other events throughout the year. For example, to help celebrate its 110th Anniversary, a Mini Sales Carnival was held at Lot 19, PJ Autohaus. Past events include the Merdeka Carnival to help commemorate Malaysia's 50th Anniversary, in which participants were allowed to test-drive Mercedes-Benz models. In 2008, they featured a series of road shows with promotional deals and new vehicle displays.

By Lemmy Gibson

The Formula One season is now one third complete following the Monaco Grand Prix. As expected, the season has been one full of chaos and controversy.

After massive changes to the rules and regulations for Formula One, the 2009 season promised to be an interesting one. Well, it has fallen flat. After three straight seasons of intense tight championships, the 2009 season was over before it began and has made a farce out of the efforts of FIA chief Max Mosley to make the sport more competitive.

Jenson Button and Brawn GP have risen from the ashes of Honda and wiped out the field. Using a controversial double diffuser, the team has only really been challenged in the rain. The team is so dominant that the mercurial Ross Brawn has resulted to his old tactics of filling up the car with more fuel than others to make it look slower compared to the other cars in the field during qualifying.

If there has been one highlight to the season, it is that passing is a bit easier. That being said, most fans enthusiasm for this is misguided. The passing is taking place in the middle to rear of the field. How this is exciting is beyond me, but it is what it is as the announcers lamely try to make a pass for 11th position seem exciting.

Team of the Year

Brawn GP is clearly the team of the year. Honda almost folded the team and it was Ross Brawn that saved it with his investors. One of the major players at Ferrari during the Schumacher years, he has proven to be every bit as brilliant with his own team. It must be difficult for Ferrari fans to look down the pit lane at Brawn GP and wonder how Ferrari possibly let him get away. It was a mistake that will haunt Ferrari for years and years.

Driver of the Year

Jenson Button is the undisputed winner. Yes, he has the best car, but he is driving the wheels off of it as well. He senses his opportunity and is grasping it ever so tightly as Schumacher or Alonso did when their opportunities arose. This is no more apparent than when Button is compared to Rubens Barrichello, his teammate. Jenson has finished ahead of Barrichello in every race and now has a 15 point lead over him. Unless Jenson gets hurt, the Driver's Championship is his.

Poor Performance of the Year

Ferrari and McLaren Mercedes were running neck and neck for this award, but things have changed. McLaren is still a mess, but is at least keeping its current pace. To the surprise of many, Ferrari has rebounded and now may be the second best car in the field. Regardless, my award for poor performance of the year goes to another team.

BMW is the biggest disappointment in Formula One this year. The team had a plan to progress over the years and had followed it. The 2009 rules and regulations, however, have proved too much for the team. They are arguably now the worst team on the track with their starting grid positions behind Force India at Monaco. What a disaster. Given the economy, it would not surprise anyone to see BMW decide to save some money and leave Formula One after 2010.

2009 has proven to be a disappointment after three years of championships that went down to the last race. Both championships in the 2009 season are already won for all intensive purposes. Expect to see decreased attendance in the stands and lower television ratings given the economy and an uncompetitive season.

By Dirk Gibson

The 2009 season in Formula One has been nothing less than stunning. The reason? The days of domination by McLaren Mercedes and Ferrari appear to be over. Or are they? The FIA will decide that very issue on April 14 when it takes on and rules on the diffuser issue.

The 2009 Formula One season has been revolutionary because of massive rule changes made to contain costs. Faced with a major economic downturn, the FIA sought to pass rules and regulations that would keep costs to a minimum. This, of course, basically returned all of the teams to the same starting point when it came to car design. While Ferrari and McLaren concentrated their resources on winning the 2008 season constructor and drivers championships, less competitive teams had the opportunity to start working on the 2009 regulations early.

Honda is the classic example of this situation. The team began working on the 2009 car at the outset of 2008. It was a case of their 2008 car being so horribly bad that there was really no reason to spend even a dollar trying to make it any better. This effectively gave the team a one-year head start over teams like Ferrari and McLaren. It also gave the team extra time to consider the finer points of the rules, loopholes in those rules, and how they could be used to their advantage.

After two races in the 2009 championship, we can see how this early development period is playing out. The normally competitive Ferrari and McLaren teams are riding around at the back of the pack. The Honda team, now called Brawn GP, is not only finally competitive but actually is completely dominant. In addition to Brawn GP, we see teams like Toyota and Williams also being much more competitive than they normally would be.

One area that is being highlighted as a cause for the difference between the teams is the diffuser found at the bottom rear end of the car. Brawn, Toyota and Williams all have very unique designs when it comes to the diffuser at the back of the car. Many of the larger teams feel that these unique designs violate the spirit of the rules on diffuser design. What is entirely clear is that the diffusers definitely make the three cars much faster. The FIA will make a ruling on April 14th in regard to the legality of the new diffuser designs.

The FIA ruling on the diffuser issue is going to be a major turning point in the 2009 season. If the FIA decides the diffusers are legal, then it seems as though Ferrari and McLaren will have no chance of making a comeback in 2009. They will simply be too far behind. Even if they attempt to design their own unique diffusers, they will be so far behind in points that equaling the competitiveness of Brawn will make no difference. On the other hand, if the FIA rules the diffusers are illegal, then we have complete and total chaos. If Brawn, Toyota and Williams must go to a more traditional diffuser design, it would appear that the leading team in the pack is not Ferrari or McLaren, but Red Bull.

The 2009 Formula One season has been given credit for revitalizing the sport. If the FIA rules the diffusers in question are legal on April 14, the revitalization will continue. If not, it could be a big setback for the sport. All and all, I believe it is better to let the smaller teams be allowed to be creative with the dollars they have rather than just have another season with Ferrari and McLaren dominating the proceedings. Hopefully the FIA will agree.

By Lemmy Gibson

The news that an American Formula One team will be launched in late February has led to some interesting rumors. Why? The team will not be racing until the 2010 Formula One season, but it is going to have two American drivers. Guess whose name has surfaced?

The allure of bringing Danica Patrick to Formula One has to be huge for the new American team known as USF1. Whether the team is serious about approach Patrick is questionable considering they haven't even officially launched yet. Throw in the fact that one of the owners is Peter Windsor, a person intimately familiar with how marketing works, and one can hardly doubt that the team isn't doing everything it can to build up publicity for its launch.

Amidst all the rumor mongering regarding Patrick going to Formula One is one forgotten issue. Nobody seems to be really discussing whether she is ready to take on the Formula One machine. It is a huge marketing opportunity for her that would bring her untold riches in sponsorships, but most Americans have been ground up and spit out when they take on Formula One. One needs only look at Michael Andretti to see how poorly things can go.

To be a success in Formula One, a driver needs three things - talent, tough skin and the ability to deal with pressure. So, does Danica Patrick have these three things? Let's take a look.

Talent

Although she has won only one race, it seems fairly clear that Patrick has the talent to drive. There are no ovals in Formula One, so there would be a learning curve for the circuits. Given her strong marketing potential, one would think the USF1 team would be prepared to give her a few years at least to get the hang of it.

Tough Skin

Formula One is a men's game for better or worse. Snide comments and criticisms would not come up occasionally, they would come up all the time. One can picture a few butt grabs and the like from Flavio Briatorie of Renault! Danica has shown a tough skin breaking into Indy Car, but Formula One is an entirely different game. It is hard to know if she could handle it until she was in the game.

Dealing with Pressure

A female Formula One driver would have sponsorships that would make Michael Jordon envious. Patrick would be the only game in town for sponsors looking to appeal to a huge female audience around the world. She would bring in hundreds of millions of dollars, but that money would come with pressure to succeed. This will be difficult because the USF1 team will need three to five years to develop before it has any hope of competing, even if it ever does. Privateer teams cannot keep up with the manufacturers in Formula One. They simply don't have the money. Whether sponsors and fans would understand this and give Patrick a break is hard to know.

Can Danica Patrick make it in Formula One? Contrary to what most gurus are saying, I think she can. The primary reason is she has a lot of fight in her. When having confrontations with other drivers in the IRL/Indy Car, she stands her ground. She would need to do that in Formula One as well. She probably could, but one has to wonder if she would want to deal with the aggravation.

Perhaps we'll know the answer in 2010.

By Brenda Williams

Insurance companies have spent millions of dollars in research to determine which types of drivers and cars pose the most financial risks. Based on these results, they have come up with a formula that determines how much a particular driver is charged in premiums. While this formula is only fully known to insurance companies, it's quite obvious that some cars and people are less expensive to insure than others. In this article, we will discuss the particular attributes of car which make it more expensive then another, to insure. Premium amounts are typically based on how expensive the car is, the size of the car, whether or not it is targeted by thieves and whether or not it can do extensive damage to another car.

Cars that have less value (cost), will be cheaper to insure than cars that are more expensive. This is because it will cost the insurance companies less money to replace parts or to replace the entire car if it is totaled or stolen.

The size of the car is also an important part of the insurance cost equation. If a car is too small or too big, then the insurance will be higher. This is because bigger cars can do more damage to other cars in crashes. If the crash it is the driver's fault with the bigger car, then the insurance will likely have to shell out quite a bit of cash. Cars that are too small have the opposite problem. They are often damaged more and the occupants more likely to suffer from crash related injuries. The least expensive cars to insure are those that are mid-sized. Therefore, if long term costs are an issue for you, be sure to purchase a mid-sized automobile.

Whether or not a car is typically targeted by thieves is another component to calculating your insurance rates. If your car is likely to be stolen, then insurance companies assume more risk in insuring you and subsequently, force you to pay more in premiums. Keep this is mind, when you are looking for your next car.

Insurance companies have a pretty elaborate formula when it comes to deciding who will pay what, for their policies. Owners of cars that have to pay the least amount of money for insurance are typically those that have mid sized cars and have vehicles that are not targeted by thieves. If an individual is interested in cutting back on how much they pay for insurance, they will need to consider these things when it is time to make a purchase.

Insurance companies are all about assessing risk. If they view you as a financial risk, they will make sure that you pay more. This may seem unfair, however, insurance companies have done numerous studies and have come up with a profile on what types of drivers and cars get into the most accidents and will likely cost them more money. These individuals will end up paying more then someone that does not exhibit these characteristics. Therefore, try to stay away form high powered cars, cars that are extremely large and that can do major damage to other cars on the road, cars that are too small and that are likely to be damaged greatly if in a crash. Also, remember, the less expensive the car is, the less you will probably have to pay for insurance, unless of course, the car is small.

If you have any questions, be sure to contact your insurance sales person and they will be able to help you get the best priced policy available.

By Ted Tweedale

When I first visited the Perfect Wealth Formula website in August of 2007, it had a type of banner on the top of the page that caught my attention! It said "Warning" this is not MLM, or,...and then named quite a few of the 2-up programs that I was familiar with. It also said "no passing up your sales to some sponsor and that you would be able to keep 100% of your money!

Well, I must admit, this was definitely an attention getter because I wasn't interested in any more MLM's or any of those 2-up programs. The question I had was... could this really be the truth?

So my quest for the real truth began. I started to research this Perfect Wealth Formula and the man behind it, Jason Pearson.

Well the truth is, after doing a lot of research on this business opportunity and speaking to numerous members, and not finding anything negative about the program or Jason Pearson, I decided to make a purchase and find out for myself what this Perfect Wealth Formula, really had to offer. Now don't get me wrong I did find negative articles and blogs but they were negative for only one reason...they were trying to sell me on another program, and it was usally a 1 or 2up program to boot!

Let me give you a better understanding about what they really had to offer.

As you may already know, any and every business opportunity has to have up to date products that are professionally put together in order to compete in the online market place. There are too many programs out there that say they have excellant products only to find out later (after they have your money) all they really have are a lot of outdated ebooks you can find anywhere online, virtually for free. This is the most important factor and has a major impact on the people that decide to join.

So here's the nuts and bolts of how this Perfect Wealth Formula works. The Perfect Wealth Formula is a 2-tier affiliate program with lucrative commission payouts.

Once you are a member of the PWF you are now an affiliate which allows you to resell the program at two different levels, a "Bronze" for $697, or a "Silver" for $1697. At the Bronze level $400 goes directly to you, $100 goes to the person you signed up under and the remaining $197 goes to Perfect Wealth Formula. For signing up someone as a "Silver" member, $1000 goes directly to you, $200 goes to the person you signed up under and $497 goes to the Perfect Wealth Formula. I personally like this type of payout structure because it ads up quickly into a substantial residual income. Another feature of the opportunity is the flexibility to use any major payment processor you want on your sign up page. It's very important to offer your visitors different ways to pay to increase your sales.

This is my opinion about the Perfect Wealth Formula.

After paying my $1697 to come in at the "Silver" level I had some really high expectations. I set up my login and password to quickly get inside the members area and check out the products. The signing up process was simple. The way Perfect Wealth Formula lays it out makes is really easy for anyone to get started, just fill in the blanks and in no time you are ready to do business on your own.

I have to admit that I was impressed with the quality of the products. The member's area was loaded with marketing information I had never seen before. It also had video tutorials that answered all of those "what next" questions so many of us are faced with when starting an online business. This is the only marketing program I've ever looked at that actually teaches someone step by step how to market online. But it doesn't end there. The back office had so much information that I had never seen offered anywhere, at any price! After reading everything and viewing the video tutorials I knew I this marketing program was undervalued because they could have charged a lot more and it still would have been a bargain! This " Power House Marketing System", truly delivers!

Let me explain a little about those 2up programs, and why most of their members fail miserably. Once you join, it's your job to sell the program to two other victims and then pass your money...almost $2000 up to your sponsor. I don't know about you but when I started I didn't have that kind of money to give away. If you manage to make a third sale you get to keep the proceeds and the person you duped now has to send you their first two sales. And on and on it goes until saturation sets in and the people on the bottom can't give away a membership, much less sell it!

NOW PAY CLOSE ATTENTION to what I have to say next, because this is why these 1-up and 2-up programs never last! In 99.999% of these programs there is one factor that's missing, and this is why these programs die out, and the majority of the members never make it! That factor is Residual Income and without it you will never be able to really make serious money online! This is the main reason I was so attracted to the Perfect Wealth Formula, those residual bonuses of $100 and $200.

You see, with those 2-up programs once you send your sponsor those first sales, they won't make another penny off you (no residual money at all), so they could care less about your success. In fact, now you're just more competition... so they hope you fail!!! Sure...they promise you "training" and "support" but it's all a lot of hype just to suck you in! Just think about it, do you think one car dealer helps another car dealer sell vehicles? Of course they don't, they are competing against one another for sales!

Here is my opinion about this business opportunity.

I think that Perfect Wealth Formula is the most professional program I have ever researched, and in my opinion, it will spread across the internet and create wealth for may people. If someone is a complete "newbie" (someone with no internet experience) they make it so to get set up. You don't need any experience to get into this program and . The step by step training and the video tutorials were professional and show exactly how to utilize this opportunity and start making profits quickly. PWF is my the business opportunity for 2008, and the quicker someone get's into this business, the more income you will generate. The key to success in any new business venture, is timing.

After reviewing numerous programs, I found only one that beats all those MLM's, Gifting programs , all the 1up and 2up programs like Roadmap To Riches, Passport To Wealth, EDC Gold, Liberty, Emerald Passport, Predator, and Coastal hands down! The Perfect Wealth Formula and the Powerhouse Marketing System allows you to generate immediate cash starting from your first sale! No more passing up your hard earned money! This is the only program I found that had real training with a powerful marketing system that teaches you step by step how and where to advertise and really answers all of those "What Next" questions we're all faced with when starting a new business. If you are truly concerned about changing your financial future, you owe it to yourself to find out how to really go about doing it!

Finding the right person to join the Perfect Wealth Formula with is somewhat tedious. I even tried to join under one of the so called heavy hitters but he wouldn't even return a phone call. Even his autoresponder letters said to "contact one of his guys" or "one of my guys will get back to you." I have always found that prople want that "personal touch" that only a real leader can will give. I offer a "take you by hand" approach to help you make money with this program right away. I have years of sales and marketing experience and believe that in order for me to be sucessful, you have to become successful.

By Dirk Gibson

Ferrari has been forced with the prospects of finding a driver smack dab in the middle of the 2009 Formula One season. After looking around at the available drivers, the team has looked inward and settled on the iconic Michael Schumacher.

Michael Schumacher is the iconic F1 driver that won an astounding seven driver's championships during his reign in Formula One. He was first victorious twice at Benetton where he teamed with the likes of characters like Ross Brawn to take an independent team to victory. He then made a big money move to the iconic team of Formula One - Ferrari. Ferrari was in shambles, but Schumacher brought in his own people such as Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne and a host of engineers. Before you knew it, Ferrari was not only competitive, they were dominant and Schumacher was collecting championships like they grew on trees.

Schumacher retired at the end of the 2006 season. The circumstances of his retirement have always been hotly debated. For all the world, it looks like he and his people were pushed out the door at Ferrari in a power struggle. Although Schumacher remained a consultant, the likes of Byrne, Brawn and Jean Todt moved on. It is rather ironic that now it is Schumacher coming in to attempt to save the day for the team given the fractured skull suffered by Felipe Massa in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The return of Schumacher is being hailed as something akin to the return of the chosen one. The media is debating whether he will be able to win right away in the Ferrari. Such discussions are laughable. The issue is not so much Schumacher as it is the Ferrari car. The 2009 car hasn't challenged for wins all year. It simply is not fast enough and does not handle well enough. Putting a different driver, even of the quality of Schumacher, does not change these problems. People need to simply enjoy the fact he is back and recognize that a bad car is a bad car is a bad car.

Formula One has become a bit because of the lack of personalities. The return of Schumacher will certainly spice things up. I can hardly wait for the first time he comes up on Rubens Barichello and runs him off the road!

By Nickolove Lovemore

The Grand Prix Formula One race at Fuji Speedway, Japan, the first in 30 years, was a lesson in mastery and a thrilling race that will probably be talked about and analysed by fans for years to come. It was particularly sweet for Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) who, with his win, opened up a 12 point lead over his nearest rival and team mate Fernando Alonso.

Heavy rain that hardly abated throughout the duration of the race made the racing track so treacherous that the race started behind the safety car. The incessant downpour made the track a living thing whose surface was continually changing.

Mist obscured sections of the track so that even the commentators had difficulty in seeing the action clearly. The driver's helmets were foggy. Their side mirrors were rendered useless and they could hardly see what was in front of them.

A Formula One driver has to use his senses of sight, hearing and touch when driving. Yet even bringing these senses to a heightened state of awareness was often to no avail. These exceptionally skilled and conditioned drivers were often just along for the ride as their cars even though equipped with Bridgestone's extreme wet tyres still couldn't shift enough water to enable their deep treads to get a grip on the slippery surface.

All of the drivers experienced moments when their car aquaplaned and they were rendered passengers trapped inside their technical masterpieces. Aquaplaning caused Alonso to crash out at Turn 6 leaving a trial of debris across the track. The collision brought out the safety car for a second time. And, for Alonso, any thoughts of breaking that elusive 100-point barrier were put on hold.

It was something that Hamilton said after the race which he admitted felt like the longest race of his life that made me reflect on the subject of mastery. He had never driven in wet conditions before and it was a tribute to his natural talent a racing driver how well he drove during that dramatic race. It was like watching a master-class although even he was not to escape unscathed. Robert Kubica (BMW) side-whacked him and his car spun off the track. It was a tense moment and a relief to see him steer the car back onto the track again.

Fortunately, although Hamilton said he could hear an ominous vibration in his car which persisted throughout the remainder of the race, any damage that was caused was not serious enough to force him to make a premature departure from the race. So what was it he said?

"The last few laps the team were telling me to slow down as I was a second faster than anyone else but I was going as slow, really, as I felt comfortable doing."

For a non-racing driver hurtling along at speeds in excess of 100 mph in such wet conditions where you often cannot even see the other drivers would seem suicidal. But for Hamilton it was a thrill. You could see it in his face afterwards, not simply because he won the event but because, in so doing, he had passed another test and demonstrated his prowess as a racing driver. Team Manager, Ron Dennis, said over the radio:

"So we can tick off racing in the wet, then?"

David Coulthard (Red Bull) sums up this particular Grand Prix experience beautifully and honestly:

"That was very, very difficult. It's a crazy thing to be a racing driver. On the one hand you're scared, but on the other you're having the time of your life because every moment you're right on the edge even on the straights."

When you become a master at something it becomes easy. Hamilton has not only mastered Formula One racing but he has also conquered his mindset. It is this that enables him to give outstanding performances under the most demanding of conditions. There were some drivers who felt that the race should not have been held at all. That's up for debate but a true champion likes to be tested.

When you achieve mastery, creating outstanding performances time and time again and achieving outstanding results will become the norm. It will seem effortless. You will find that to perform at anything less than this level will actually be more demanding. You too will not want to slow down.

By Marius Benade

With all testing now complete, the Formula 1 racing teams head to Australia for the season opener on 18 March at Albert Park. Who will be ready to fight for the top honor? Who will wear the crown at the end of the 2007 Formula 1 season?

Let us start by looking at the Formula 1 racing teams that performed well during winter testing. The last week of testing certainly belonged to the scarlet Ferrari at the hands of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. Ferrari topped the time sheets in most sessions in the last week of testing in Bahrain where most teams were in action and some comparisons can be made. Mclaren was a close second with both Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton doing well. Other teams showing promise was Renault and BMW. Is this an accurate reflection of the strength of the teams?

Winter testing in the past has very seldom been a very good barometer to establish the leaders of the field. This year however we have something more to help us. Since the engines used for the last two races of last year, are the engines that must be used for the next four years. In the final round at Brazil the Ferrari power plant certainly had the pace to keep ahead. Renault on the other hand had no pressure, therefore not using all the grunt available. Kimi Raikkonen was a contender as well and finished among the front runners. And who knows what can happen if Honda actually finishes a race.

The word in the paddock is that Ferrari should have the advantage over most other teams as a result of their long-term relationship with the sole tire supplier, Bridgestone. Is there more than meets the eye with this relationship? Why would Ferrari opt for a longer wheelbase in the 2007 car when most, if not all other teams, are opting for a shorter wheelbase?

Traditionally the Australian Grand Prix, or the first Grand Prix of the season for that matter, was not the best outing for Ferrari. Renault has performed much better at the season opener in the last few seasons and Mclaren frankly disappointed at the start of the last few seasons. Will Renault continue with another good start to the season? The question however remains, do they have a driver capable of winning a championship.

So let us turn to the drivers for the 2007 Formula 1 racing season. Let us start with the current world champion, Fernando Alonso. Will he be able to outgun his renowned, but much less experienced team mate Lewis Hamilton? During winter testing Alonso seemed to have an edge, when he was at a session that is.

At the Ferrari camp it was Felipe Masse who dominated the testing sessions. Massa has been a part of the Ferrari team a few years now and is ready to step up and make the most of his opportunities. Never underestimate the Flying Fin though. He is always faster at qualifying sessions and during the race, saving the best when it is needed.

Renault probably has one of the best cars for the season, but their driver line up will have to prove themselves. Giancarlo Fisichella has not been able to keep up with Alonso in the last few seasons, and starting his twelfth season in Formula 1, has not lived up to his reputation. His team mate Heikki Kovalainen will have to at least beat Fisichella to assure a future in Formula1 racing.

Now that we have covered the big three for the 2007 Formula 1 racing Season, are there any other drivers that have a chance. Robert Kubica must be one of the drivers that stand an outside chance of getting a few points from the big guns. BMW has shown promise during the winter program, and Kubica impressed a few team managers last season.

Jenson Button was lucky to get his first win last year, but can the taste of victory improve his run. Both the Japanese car maker teams must see this season as the make or break season. Both Toyota and Honda need to score well this season to justify the backing from the East.

From the rest of the teams I don’t expect too much competition. Both Red Bull teams need another year or two to settle in.

So who will win the 2007 Formula 1 racing championship? I think Massa will be the chosen one, but only time will tell… only time will tell.

By Marvyn H

The FIA (the governing body of motorsport) has made quite a few changes to the technical regulations of F1 cars. Some of these will be in effect as early as the start of the 2006 season and the rest will only come into play in 2008.

Here are some of the more interesting specs that have changed:
It was decided last night (Monday 24th Ocober) at a meeting of the Formula One Commission in London that the qualifying format for Formula One is changing for next season and the changing of tyres during races will be allowed again. They are also considering a radical change in the rear-wing design which might be brought in as early as 2007.

The new qualifying is going to work as follows:

A 3 phase qualifying knockout with the 5 slowest cars after 15 minutes dropping out. 5 more cars will drop out in the next 15 minutes and the remaining cars will compete in a 20 minute session for the top positions on the grid.

Qualifying has been changed a lot in recent years to try and get better exposure for smaller teams and at the same time mix the grid up to allow for more overtaking during a race.

The new split rear wing (called the Centre Downwash Generating Wing) has been designed to allow closer following and therefore more passing opportunities as well. A step in the right direction as recent changes to the cars and especially aerodynamics have been mostly to slow the cars down instead of increase entertainment.

The weight of the entire vehicle, including the driver, must now not be less than 550kg. This has been decreased from 605kg.

The engines have been down-sized to 2.4 litre V8 motors with 4 valves per cylinder. The minimum number of gears for these cars is 4 and the maximum is 7. The wheel width at the front of all cars must be between 390mm and 450mm with the width at the rear being between 490mm and 505mm. The overall weight of the engine must be at least 95kg.

The FIA have given a concession to manufacturers and teams not ready with their new engines saying they will allow them to use other engines (such as the V10 engines currently being used) with the performance decreased; obviously this will be controlled by the FIA and no-one else.

All cars must now be fitted with a starter which the driver must be capable of using to start the engine from his seated position. This should cut out some of those embarrasing failed starts to GP's for some drivers.

From 2008 the FIA will choose 1 tyre manufacturer to supply all the teams. This is a dramatic change and should increase the excitement value by levelling the playing field a bit; it's a real pity they could only get this in from 2008.

Pit to car telemetry will be prohibited so the team will not be able to fix any gremlins from the pit-wall and all voice radio communication must be open and accessible to both the FIA and the broadcasters.

No competitor can carry out more than 30,000km of testing during a year.

Some interesting changes here, I sincerely hope it increases the competitiveness and excitement of this sport because it needs it.

By Marvyn H

Date - Sunday October 16 - Shanghai, China - Fernando Alonso won the Chinese F1 Grand Prix and in doing so has won the constructor's title for Renault after de-throning Michael Schumacher of the driver's championship in September.

Renault finished the season on 191 points with Mclaren-Mercedes coming in second on 182. The past season, 2005, was the longest ever in Formula One history with 19 races and added to this is the fact that Fernando Alonso is the youngest ever FOrmula One World Champion; and guess who his team boss, Flavio Briatore, used to manage? The recently disappointing Michael Schumacher when he used to race for Benetton at the very start of his F1 career, of course. Indeed I have to add that the only sensible explanation for his bad form is the car his driving at the moment which cannot be doing any good for his motivation or confidence. Makes one think about how good a team boss and talent-spotter Flavio Briatore is.

The victory in Shanghai was the 7th for Alonso but this only equalled the number of wins for second place finisher in the race as well as the driver's championship, Kimi Raikkonen. Alonso won this championship because the Renault was that much more reliable and consistent than the Mclaren-Mercedes but Alonso added, "I am a little bit frustrated that I only won seven races...I think the car had the potential to win 10 or 11." Who would have thought a French car would be more reliable than a Merc? And I have no doubt in my mind that this form in Formula One has translated into a worldwide sales increase for Renault.

The race in Shanghai was definitely incident filled with no shortage of entertainment. The Safety Car had to be called out twice; on lap 30 for Narain Karthikeyan's accident in turn 13 in his Jordan, which had a few flames flicking about and also earlier, believe it or not, for 6 laps while marshalls fixed a drain cover that had come loose and ultimately ended Juan Pablo Montoya's race.

Michael Schumacher's race also ended early after he first collided with Felipe Massa in his Sauber on the way to the starting grid and then spinning off while following the Safety Car.

Jordan is no more, at least not in F1. The team has been bought by the Russian-born Canadian billionaire Alex Shnaider and will be called Midland from next year onwards. This was their 250th grand prix race in Formula One.

BAR is also out and the outfit will now be wholly owned by Honda and Sauber has been bought by BMW who were previously the engine partners of Williams.

By Ali Brown

Many of us have been asked to write an article at one time or another. Maybe it's a contribution to the company newsletter. Or a promotional article to gain publicity for ourselves or our companies. Some of us write articles regularly for clients.

No matter why you're writing an article, it's your responsibility to make it be interesting - otherwise no one will read it. (Except you.)

So how can you make your article interesting and engage your reader? It's all about the ANGLE. First pick your topic. For example, let's say your topic is something boring ... "car wax." Now, here's where many people start writing.

Stop! You need an angle! What aspect of car wax do you want to write about? Is there anything new or sexy in the world of car wax that people are interested in? Some ideas: how the new generation of car waxes helps protect your paint job for twice as long, OR, an overview of the best five brands of car wax on the market, OR what the best type of wax is for your particular car. Get it? These are all angles. (By the way, I've never even waxed my car, so please take these ideas with a grain of salt!)

Ready to brainstorm your angles? Here are seven article "formulas" to get you started and get your juices flowing! Some elements of each may overlap with each other, but each formula is truly a distinct animal.

1. The How-To

People love how-to articles! They lead the reader step-by-step through how to reach an objective. They also sometimes offer resources the reader can contact for more information.

What expertise do *you* have to share? Turn that subject into an interesting how-to for readers. Examples: "How to Make Your Employees Stick Around Forever," "How to Find the Best Dress for Your Figure," and "How to Promote Your Business for Free."

2. The List

This is one of the most basic formulas and the easiest to write. Give a short one or two paragraph intro, then launch right into your list. Keep each item to a few sentences max. People love numbers, so number your list and give your total number in the title! Examples: "31 Ways to Organize Your Office," "15 Tips for Pain-Free Feet," "Five Reasons Management Won't Be the Same in 2001"

3. The "Straw Man"

Here you set up a premise and knock it down, showing the benefits of your alternative view or approach. This is ideal to use when you're discussing the drawbacks of a new practice or method that's controversial right now. Here's a great example we often see on the covers of health magazines: "Are High Protein Diets the Key to Fast Weight Loss?" You get all excited, thinking you've discovered an amazing dieting revelation. But the article reveals, point by point, that high protein diets are unsafe for the long term, and that of course the only reliable way to lose weight is through diet and exercise. Oh well! Back to the treadmill....

4. The Mini Case Study

Raise a provocative question and then answer it with three or four real-life examples. Example: For an article titled, "Should You Quit Your Job and Go Freelance?" you could begin with a few stats on how today's workforce is leaving the corporate world in search of solo bliss. Then you could feature a few real cases, each with different outcomes to show all sides of the issue.

5. The Interview

Choose a credible expert to interview for your article. For example, if your topic is the latest trends in banking, you could interview a top banking industry analyst. Present it in either a traditional article format or do a Q&A format.

6. The Trend

Trends aren't just for fashion! Whenever a trend sweeps a certain profession, you'll suddenly see dozens of articles covering the topic. From the latest hairstyle to the latest tax shelter, people want to know all about these trends - their origins, benefits, and drawbacks.

7. The Study Finding

These articles report the results of a study or survey. If you do a bit of research, you can probably dig up a recent study on which you can base your article. Examples: "Blue Chip Companies Cutting Marketing Budgets Across the Board," "Armadillos Now Deemed America's Favorite Pet," and "More 20-Somethings Finding Love Online."

By Dirk Gibson

The end of any season in motorsports is all about the celebrations. The pure glory of victory cannot be understated, particularly in Formula One where so much money is spent and the championship is truly run world wide.

While glory is the name of the game as we look back on the 2008 season, we also have to look at the teams that failed to produce. The usual suspects are included, but a surprise or two might be on hand. Any discussion, however, has to start with the fall of Japan.

There was a time when Honda was considered a major player in Formula One. Teaming with Williams, the combination delivered driver and manufacturer championships. Those days, unfortunately, are long gone. The current Honda team is defined by one word - pathetic. It is a complete and utter disaster. The cars are uncompetitive to the point that getting out of the first round of qualifying is considered a major success for the team. How the mighty have fallen!

There is some hope for 2009. The reason is two fold. First, all the teams are more or less starting from scratch with the 2009 car given the massive rule changes. Second, the team admitted it spent much of 2008 trying to get the new car together for 2009. Given the fact Ross Brawn is now running the show, a lengthy development period should make a huge difference. The master of Ferrari does not like to lose, so Honda should start coming around. If Brawn can't change things, Honda's future in F1 is grim at best.

The misery of Honda makes the mediocrity of Toyota seem less problematic in Japan, but there is no mistaking the fact Toyota continues to disappoint year after year. With the largest budget in Formula One, it begs the question of just what is the team spending money on? The last few years have seen some advances and the cars are typically running in the group of cars from fifth to tenth in each race. After all these years of development, that simply is not enough. The Toyota should be competing for wins, but it flails and flails year after year. Does anyone thing 2009 will be any different?

The Williams team is not so much disappointing as just sad. The cost of Formula One has finally become to much for this ultimate privateer. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that Sir Frank Williams and his bunch were bringing in driver and manufacturer championships. Sadly, those days are gone and the team is now an also ran. It appears far more likely that the team will fail completely versus make a comeback in the sport, particularly given the economic downturn around the world.

Now for our big surprise - Ferrari. How could this team be considered disappointing when it won the manufacturer's championship? A quick glance suggests the team is indeed strong, but a closer look shows a lot of potential problems. Remember, this team has transitioned away from the Schumacher days and that team of managers. The question is what has it transitioned to and is it a good thing.

The initial answers are troubling. Ferrari was known throughout the Schumacher era for reliability. That obviously is no longer entirely the case as best exemplified by Massa's engine failure that stole victory from defeat in Hungary. The team was also known for excellent strategy, particularly in changing circumstances like a safety car. In 2008, the strategy of the team was horrible more often than not. This cost both Massa and the team points in both championships. If these two trends continue, Ferrari will be moving back to the middle of the pack of teams just like where it was before Schumacher appeared.

There is one other reason to be concerned about Ferrari - Kimi Raikkonen. Coming off a World Championship, the Iceman had a horrible season. The biggest problem was he seemed indifferent at best. Given the troubles, the team did an odd thing by extending his contract through 2010. The question is why? If the team feels it can motivate Raikkonen, then why didn't it do it in 2008. If it feels it cannot, then why resign him for another two years?

All of this is made odder by the fact that Fernando Alonso clearly wants to race for Ferrari. Why would Ferrari not want him? Yes, McLaren was a messy situation, but Alonso is hardly the first driver to have problems there. Could it be that Ferrari things Massa is a number one driver? He is not. There is no comparison between he and Alonso, and the management should realize as much. The fact that it seems not to is troubling and calls into question whether Ferrari has lost its aim. After all, who could better challenge McLaren than Alonso in a Ferrari? It would make the rivalry even hotter and more exciting.

Every year has positive and negative developments. The 2008 season was no different. Can any of these teams turn it around in 2009? I am a believer in Ross Brawn, so I'll put a hand over my eyes and mumble "Honda", but don't hold me to it. The real question will be whether Ferrari heads back to the mountain top or continues to decline.

By Ian Pennington

Biodiesel is one of the latest alternative fuels that are used in different parts of the world. This alternative fuel is such a craze in alternative fuel technology not only because it burns cleaner and renewable, but also because of the very simple biodiesel formula that makes it cheaper and easier to make. With the use of proper equipments, making biodiesel fuel does not need any services of the scientists and experts.

Making biodiesel fuel just involves the separation of the vegetable oil. The separation is done chemically through the process called transesterification. This process separates the pure oil and the by product known as glycerin. The process uses lye and alcohol that are mixed with the oil using the biodiesel formula. The formula needs a ratio of 3% lye and 22% alcohol to mix with 75% oil. This very simple process can be done at home. There is no life-threatening chemical reaction in the process. The only thing that you must be careful of is the handling of the hot oil or lye that can burn your skin. Aside from the fine-lye, you can also use other caustic agents such as methanol and sodium hydroxide.

The home-made biodiesel can be used directly on any diesel powered cars. There is no need for some modifications on the car's engine and other components. The biodiesel works like a real diesel only that it uses natural oils from vegetables and other sources such as used cooking oils. Making biodiesel at home is a long time-consuming process that will take much of your time in filtering the used cooking. The biodiesel formula that you use at home is the same formula that is used by the large fuel companies that make biodiesel. The only difference is that they are producing it in large quantities and they are using machineries and top of the line equipments for mass production.

Biodiesel formula is only given to those who want to try making biodiesel at home. You can use the formula if you want to have some experiments. Of course you are not planning to consume all the vegetables in your home or turn your home into a biodiesel plant. This formula can be modified to give a better performing fuel. If you have discovered a new formula that works better than the others, then you can sell it to some bigger companies for mass production and packaging. The company will test your own formula for biodiesel and if found effective you can sell it. Maybe they can give you a credit on their product by having your name on it or not depending on your settlements with the company.

By Lyle Tarman

Formula One racing began in Europe in the late 1890's. It has long since become a favorite sport across the world. Many countries including Japan, Australia, and Canada all participate in this favorite pastime. The United States is not considered to have a large fan base for this sport though the popularity is rising among the states.

Formula one is considered the highest class of open wheeled racing. The term "Formula" is in reference to the set of regulations that is placed on the participants and the cars conformity. The series of races that help determine the championships are called Grand Prix. They are usually held on circuits intentionally built for the kind of specific racing though in some cases the races are performed on street circuits. One of the most famous street races is the Monaco Grand Prix held in Monte Carlo. The results of all the races are combined to determine two annual World Championships. One is held for the drivers and the other is for the constructors.

Formula One racing has seen many changes over the years. This is to create better racing results along with better safety standards for the drivers. The cars performance is very dependent on aerodynamics, tires, suspension, and electronics. These cars can travel at speeds of 360km/h equivalent to 225mph.

Europe has long been the center for this sport. Over half of the races take place there and most teams are located there as well. Many of the Driver's Champions have been from the United Kingdom as well as many of the Constructors Champions. Though this sport is more popular in Europe races takes place all over the world. Since the fan base is spreading to all parts of the world, about half of all future races have been scheduled outside of Europe. Many races scheduled for the Americas have been dropped and moved to places such as China, Turkey, and, Singapore. One of the first night races is scheduled to take place in Singapore this year. India will be added to the racing list in the year 2010.

The sport has millions of fans watching worldwide for every race. This is the world's most expensive sport and it has a significant effect on the economy. This being the case high investments by sponsors allow for the constructors to work with a very large budget. Formula One is a large merchandising environment, additionally high profile companies and individuals are often offered corporate hospitality packages by the organizers that can cost upwards of ten's of thousands of dollars.

By Jim Dudra

There has been a lot of buzz circulating around lately for waterless car wash products. If you’re not familiar with how they work, let me first explain. Essentially you spray a small panel of your car with a waterless car wash formula, let it sit for a few seconds, and wipe off with a microfiber towel. When I first heard about these products a cheesy infomercial popped into my head. But, in reality I was pleasantly surprised at their effectiveness.

Each waterless formula is unique in regards to its ingredients. The main “active” ingredient is the one which will help to actually clean your car. There are two schools of thought on this as to what type of active ingredient works best.

Some of these waterless products rely on petroleum, silicone, or other type of hydrocarbon to clean the car. When I look at these products, I don’t see much difference between them and a “quick detailer” you could buy at your local auto store. Why? It has been proven these chemicals are a hazard to our health and the environment. If you’re unsure about which products to buy, simply ask the manufacturer for a Material Safety Data Sheet and check it out for yourself.

The second school of thought is to use organic plant-based agents to clean the car. The ones on the market today are non-toxic, biodegradable, and petroleum-free. In actuality I have found little difference between the two types of cleaning agents when looking at lightly – to moderately dirty cars.

The last difference amongst waterless formulas is that some contain carnauba wax. While people may find a one-step product appealing (wash and wax at the same time) I feel that the two should be separate from one another. A high-grade wax applied after a waterless wash will last much longer than a one-step.

Here is the science behind how the whole process works. When sprayed onto a car panel, the soaps, surfactants, and lubrication agents break down dirt particles, the polymers wrap around the particles and bond to the dirt. A microfiber towel is used because of high absorbency and softness, which helps to scoop up these dirt particles. A second microfiber towel is used to help polish any remaining formula.

Compared to traditional bucket and soap washing, the waterless car wash takes significantly less effort and time. I’ve found that average cleaning times (including setup) are about half that of traditional methods. Plus, you no longer have to worry about your waste-water flowing into our waterways untreated.

In all, I would definitely recommend at least trying these waterless products first, and seeing which ones you like best. One of my favorites is:

By Mark Flanighan

It's hard to believe that Renault, the current constructors champion in F1, is or was considering leaving the sport at the end of 2007. The current drivers champion Alonso, has already confirmed a move to Maclaren for 2007, and you can't help feel it is partly to do with the uncertain future of the team.

It must be frustrating to the teams who are formula one through and through and who would never leave the sport unless forced to, then to see a team throw it all away.
However there are now rumbles that team may last into and past 2008. Of course it's a money thing, what value does racing a formula one car, racing around a racetrack give to the manufacturers of cars?

The excuses are that the costs of Formula one are so high now that even a championship winning team does not bring a sufficient return back to the corporate business, especially at a time when car prices are at there lowest in real terms and car manufacturers are feeling the pinch.

What might save the day is the FIA's genuine attempt to reduce costs for all the teams. We have already seen actions in place with the one engine per two-race rule and limited amount of tyres to be used over a race weekend. The question seems to be, what can be done to further reduce costs without spoiling it for the spectators.
It seems quite absurd that measures would take place to slow the cars down, but many of the recent regulations have been done, to do just that. Smaller wings, narrower tyres, V10 engines now down to V8s that have 200 horse power less. Ironically 200 horse power less, has resulted in only fractions of a second time differences from the larger engines raced last season.

But again this has all helped to reduce costs, give the smaller teams a chance to compete and with tobacco advertising no longer in abundance, a life line to survive.

There is another morale issue here and that is the French public themselves. They maybe could understand a poor performing team, slipping out of F1 but a winning one? Renault is a national company part of the French culture and reputation, every time Renault win it brings pride to their country just as Alonso to Spain.

Any decisions will be made in June, when they will measure their success this season and have a clear idea if further cost cutting regulations will make the team cost effective. Alain Dassas has commented that if they can make the savings then they will commit. It's a shame that the Formula One experience has to be based around money, although what sport isn't nowadays. I personally look forward to Renault staying in F1 and showing us how good they are.

By Mesut Felat Ozsoy

The Overtaking Working Group (OWG) made a very detailed study about how to increase the overtaking in Formula one and has came up with some set of modifications to the regulations and FIA used these modifications as a base of their 2009 rule changes. As you can imagine most of the changes are in the aerodynamic area which enables cars can easily follow the car in the front and have a chance to make a move if it's faster than the one in the front. As a result many rule changes are applied for 2009 season and both the appearance and the performance of the cars have changed radically according to the F1 cars before.

Fundamental differences are; wider and lower front wings, higher and narrower rear wings, lower and simple diffusers, slick tires, and KERS. Also the drivers are now allowed to change the front wing setting from their steering wheels and all the winglets on the cars are now banned. So Let's look over the changes in detail if you want;

Front wings: The aim of changing the characteristic of front wing is to enable a car to follow the car in the front more easily. The car is now less effected by the air flow which is generated from the car in the front. Also the driver is now allowed to change the front wing settings twice during a lap. This will help the driver to be able to change the setting without waiting for a pit stop, if he feels the setting is wrong for the track conditions at that time. Also it will help to reduce the drag effect when following a car if he reduces the setting in the straights. But as a result of this change, the front wing is now too wide and it's almost impossible for the driver to see all the front wing from the cockpit. This may cause many front wings related crash's especially in the opening stages of the season as some of the drivers have already mentioned it.

Rear wing and Diffuser: The rear wing is now smaller and higher. This will cause a dramatic decrease in the downforce that rear wing produces. Also the diffusers are now lower and simpler than its predecessors. Because of the changes in the rear of the car, the downforce level at the back of the car is very limited now and this leads the teams to find different solutions. Since most of the teams were able to produce more downforce than they expected in the front of the car, the stability at the rear has became a big problem. It's believed that Ferrari and McLaren have moved their cockpits to the front in order to move the weight distribution closer to the front.

Unlike the other teams Toyota, Williams and Brawn GP produced very different diffusers with evaluating the gray areas in the regulations. Since diffuser is the most important part in producing the downforce, a little difference in the diffuser may cause a bigger difference in the vehicle's performance. Therefore, teams like Ferrari and Renault are likely to protest these teams in the first race of the season. Although these teams are stated that their diffuser designs are completely legal, it's believed that the other teams are most probably waiting FIA's decision to start copying. In addition, it's known that some teams cannot easily adapt these changes because of their car's rear design concept. It's also believed that some teams have already made modifications to their diffuser designs and waiting for FIA's final decision.

The grooved tires were introduced by FIA in 1998 to slow down the cars, but finally FIA changed it's mind and introduced the slick tires, which is the favorite of almost every F1 driver. The only contact of the cars with the surface is their tires and just because of this, the most important part in car's overall grip is its tires. It's believed 50% of the downforce is already lost because of the new aerodynamic restrictions. But some of this performance loss can be recovered through the slick tires. Slick tires offer 18% more surface contact than the grooved tires and this will improve the overall grip. Slick tires, especially in a slow turn provides better grip and hold the car to the surface better. But in the long and fast turns the car becomes slower because of the reduced aerodynamics. As a result, it's expected the teams will reach last year's lap times. In fact they have already improved their fastest lap times at test circuits during the winter season. Another major problem is, the slick tires provide better grip on the front and this causes a huge rear tire wear.

KERS(Kinetic energy recovery system): This system is the most recent and most discussed technology in Formula1 so far. KERS basically recovers the energy generated during braking and uses this energy as an additional horsepower to the engine. The energy recovered from braking is stored on the charge batteries which are mostly located under the fuel tank and transmits this energy to the engine when the driver press the KERS button on the steering wheel. This will provide an additional 80 horsepower for 6.5 seconds. Although the working principle is simple, the system is quite complex by itself and many manufacturers had a very hard time during their development phase of this system. Almost every manufacturer have exceeded their budget set for the production of KERS.

Some teams are already reported that they are not going use the system at the beginning of the season. Some of them are believed to use the system in the middle of the season. Although Ferrari has some difficulties during the development phase, they are now one of the few teams that currently uses the system successfully. The biggest concern over the KERS is definitely safety. Teams made big improvements in this area but it's still not clear whether the teams will face any safety problems during the races. Toyota, Williams, Brawn GP, Force India and Torro Rosso will not use the system at the beginning of the season and BMW is still undecided about their debuts in the first race. So Australia may probably unfold some of the early surprises.

KERS is believed to provide a 0,2-0,5 seconds gain per lap depending on the characteristic of the track. Some of the drivers who already tested the system are very impressed from the extra power provided by the system and they are very curious about how it will work in the races. The system has also some disadvantages. KERS is affecting the weight distribution very badly. Since this system will bring extra weight about 50 kg or more the amount of the ballast that teams are using to balance the car will be very limited especially for the heavier drivers. As a result the heavy drivers will be in a very disadvantaged circumstance because there will be even less ballast to balance the car. Therefore, many drivers tried to lost weight during the season break. Massa and Heidfeld are the lightest drivers, whereas Kubica and Webber are the heaviest ones. BMW already stated that they will decide using KERS on a driver by driver and circuit by circuit basis. The cars that will not use KERS will be in an advantageous state in regard to the ones, that uses KERS, because they will have more freedom to use the ballast in order to balance the car. But they will be in a disadvantageous state especially in the long straights with the other cars using their extra power which is brought by KERS.

Another purpose of these new regulations is to give all the teams a chance for a fresh start to their designs since everyone has to start from a white paper. And obviously it seems like it worked, as we see from the last tests that BRAWN GP was dominating the sessions. Until the last tests Ferrari, BMW and Toyota cars seem to be very competitive, but at the last test Brawn GP showed a wonderful performance which other teams are all set to review their performance closely. Renault and Redbull teams are also seem like they did a good job. But the biggest disappointment is definitely the performance drop of the McLAren team. It's not expected that a Ferrari-McLaren competition will happen this year, at least until the European season gets started.

By Peri Witny

The first race of the season doesn't begin until March but with the implementation of the new rules, which was designed to decrease a team's operational costs as evidenced by Honda's recent decision to put its team up for sale due to the prevailing ills in the economy worldwide, it is estimated that the teams shall be saving a lot of money.

These rules were agreed upon by Federation International Automobile chairperson Max Mosely and the rest of the team representatives during a meeting in December of 2008. I didn't pay attention to what these changes are the first time it was talked about. But after seeing all the cars for this season, it made me browse through the net in search of these new rules. I also noticed that some races were scrapped and others were included.

So below are the changes viewers will notice once Formula One race season starts on March 27.

- Though there are still 17 races in the calendar, the Canadian and French Grand Prix have been dropped. Abu Dhabi is the new race venue.

- Force India shall be using Mercedes engines in their cars this season. The team used Ferrari engines before. But they signed a technical partnership agreement with McLaren Mercedes hence the transfer.

- Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren's chief operating officer replaces Ron Dennis as McLaren Formula 1 racing team's top guy. The two men have been working as a tandem even before Dennis decided to quit McLaren to preside over other projects of the McLaren Group. Dennis will still be watching the races but not as often as before.

- Sebastian Vettel, the Scuderia Toro Rosso Ferrari driver who won the race at Monza has switched teams and joined Red Bull Racing as a replacement for the now retired David Coulthard.

- The biggest change that the organizers is enforcing is the rule of eliminating all areodynamic features of the car's bodywork and wings. The cars also have a wider front wing and a narrower and higher rear wing. The purpose is to give the driver more chances to overtake during a race by increasing mechanical grip while decreasing downforce created by the leading car's aerodynamics.

- Slick tires make its comeback with groove tires replaced.

- KERS or Kinetic Energy Recovery System may be used optionally in the cars for this season. What a KERS unit does is it stores kinetic energy produced by the heat given off during braking and stores it. The driver can then use the stored energy with a flick of a switch to give the car extra power. The rules though limit the unit to releasing a maximum of 80 horsepower for seven seconds each lap. It should not add up the rpm, which is at 18,000 but may provide the driver the added power when trying to pass a driver or when defending one's position.

- Other rule changes include the ban on testing during the season. All in-season testing shall be performed during the open Friday practice sessions on race day weekends.

- Drivers must use the same engines for three consecutive race weekends, with each driver in a team having eight. To improve an engine's durability, rev limit were reduced to 18,000 from the previous 19,000.

With these changes, each driver is in a level playing field, with their championship hopes resting on the fact that all of the teams have to adjust and adjust fast to these new rules.

By Dirk Gibson

The world of racing goes through ebbs and flows in all types of areas. The two major championships in the world, NASCAR and Formula One, have recently made changes to their standard car specifications that are simply horrific from an appearance point of view.

Growing up, I always thought of race cars as the most dynamic cars. They were either sleek and fast or mean and fast. Who can forget the Dodge Chargers of the 70s in NASCAR or the sleek Lotus six wheeler of F1? The designs were almost always pushing the barriers of the rules in the sport and, it sometimes seemed, space as well.

Over the last few years, we've seen arguably the end of the beautiful car in both NASCAR and F1. Why? Well, the governing bodies for both sports argue for safety and cost effectiveness. This is probably true, but there is no disputing the cars are simply ugly.

In NASCAR, we have the standardize Car of Tomorrow that looks like it was designed by someone who really likes slot cars. Stunted air damn in the front, fat in width and capped off by a cheesy wing in the back, few find the car attractive and it really takes away from the sport. While the car may be safer, it certainly hasn't done anything for the racing. Just look at the championship. Hendrick and Roush cars through and through. So much for the idea of giving the smaller teams a better opportunity to win.

In some ways, NASCAR can be forgiven for the Car of Tomorrow given the cost of racing and the imminent failure or bailout of GM, Ford and Chrysler. But what about Formula One? These teams throw money around like it is toilet paper. Toyota is estimated to have a budget between $400 and $600 million dollars a year for 18 races. Given such budgets, it is little surprise the F1 is the area where massive amounts of technological development happens. At least it was.

Formula One is also trying to cut costs. Part and parcel to this plan is to ban most of the aerodynamics that make the cars such demons going around corners. The stated purpose it to slow down the cars, cut costs and make it easier to pass. The new cars are not out yet, but photos from testing reveal a car that is pug ugly and that it is an insult to pugs. The front wing is nearly wider than the car while the rear wing is so narrow it looks like it should be on a smaller car. Not only is the car ugly, the first reports indicate passing is no easier because of aerodynamic issues.

The end result of all this is that we have two championships that now have cars that are neither sleek nor fierce. These cars were not hit by the ugly stick. The entire tree fell on them. Is a nice car design really too much to ask for? Sheesh.

By Dirk Gibson

With the conclusion of the nail biting Brazilian Grand Prix, the 2008 Formula One Season has come to an end. For the second season in a row, it was an absolute cliff hanger.

The Championships were a mixed bag between the two heated rivals in the sport. McLaren has taken the Driver's Championship through Lewis Hamilton by one point over Felipe Massa of Ferrari. In a flip of sorts, Ferrari prevailed in the Constructor's Championship over McLaren by 21 points. From the expressions of team members, it was clear the Driver's Championship was the big prize.

Both championships were up for grabs going into the final race, which made for exciting racing. The Driver's Championship was considered the more competitive contest and it proved as much as Lewis Hamilton staggered home in 5th to win the title by one point. He will find particular joy in such a narrow win given the fact he lost the 2007 title by one point.

The Constructor's Championship went to Ferrari by a wide margin, primarily due to the serious shortcomings of Heikki Kovalainen, the second driver for McLaren, who failed to not only out point either Ferrari driver, but either BMW driver as well. It has been announced that Kovalainen will return to McLaren next year, but one has to wonder if that decision will be given a second look because he is a definite weak link.

The Return of the King Award clearly goes to Fernando Alonso. Having done serious damage to his reputation given the McLaren fiasco, the little Spaniard re-established his driving reputation by developing a weak Renault car into a competitive car that he not only took to the podium, but won twice with even though the car was clearly weaker than McLaren and Ferrari.

The Future Is Here Driver award goes to Sebastian Vettel. Here is all you need to know. He drives for Toro Rosso. Before being renamed, it was better known as Minardi. Minardi was one of the worst cars in the history of Formula One, always finishing dead last in nearly every race. Notwithstanding all this, Sebastian Vettel gave the big boys a run for their money and even won the Italian Grand Prix at historic Monza. It is only a matter of time before a top team snaps him up and he begins winning championships.

The Woeful Driver of the Year Award is awarded to a clear winner again - Kimi Raikkonen. After winning the Driver's Championship in dramatic fashion in 2007, Kimi was pathetic. His lack of apparent interest was so obvious that many thought he would retire at the end of this season. A contract extension has been announced by Ferrari, but you really have to wonder if something will happen in the offseason. Kimi should be ashamed for disgracing the title of Champion. Yes, he was that bad.

The Worst Team of the Year Awards was uncompetitive, just like the "winner." Honda is our champion and the home office in Japan must wonder why it is spending millions a year on a car that can barely beat fans driving to the races, much less other F1 cars. The cars were consistently slow and twitchy. The team is so bad that despite trying to lure Fernando Alonso with truck loads of money, he has apparently begged off. There is some hope with Ross Brawn, formerly of Ferrari, now running the operation, but one cannot imagine the team being seriously competitive for at least two to three more years.

The Big Four? Formula One has long been dominated by McLaren and Ferrari. Starting in 2009, the big two may become the big four. BMW made major advances this year and won its first race at Canada. The Fernando Alonso and Renault combination was also looking very feisty by the end of the year. With an offseason of development, both could become serious contenders and make the 2009 season even more chaotic.

By Lemmy Gibson

In case you haven't notice, the world is going through a tough period. For Formula One, this means many of the manufacturer backed teams are in trouble as retail car sales plummet.

Honda is already out. Renault just received a total of 4 billion from the French government to stay in business. BMW and Mercedes rely on sales in the United States to fund their operations. Toyota is declaring its first loss as a company in practically forever. Ferrari...well, it is doing okay. Still, the prospect of a severe change in landscape for Formula One is not just a possibility, it is turning into a probability.

It costs a lot of money to be in Formula One. That goes without saying. Ron Dennis of McLaren was recently quoted saying the top teams in the sport will spend between $200 and $300 million dollars on just the development of their engines and gearboxes. This doesn't include suspension, chassis or aerodynamic work. As a matter of perspective, the entire budget of a NASCAR team couldn't fund the development of a gearbox on a top Formula One team. That is simply staggering.

So, how do the teams pay for it? Well, the privateer teams simply don't. They lose the race before the first day of the weekend. Instead, they try to finish in the points. The more points that can get, the more money the sanctioning body pays them. This allows them to continue racing. Lose out on the points and money and you are soon out of the sport. At best, you end up with a team like Williams that was once a leader in Formula One and now considers it a good year if it can stagger into the middle of the rankings.

For manufacturers, the sales of cars fund the racing teams. That being said, it takes a ton of sales to make up a $300 million or higher budget. The manufactures supplement their investment by gaining sponsorship from third parties. ING, for instance, was sponsoring Renault and will continue to do so through 2009 before stopping. As a primary sponsor, the banking company pays anywhere between $65 and $120 million to the team. That leaves a lot of cost for Renault to handle on its own.

Sales for car makers are not just down. They have plummeted. The figures are staggering and no manufacturer could have planned for this mess. With the stark economic realities in mind, the idea of spending a few hundred million dollars on a Formula One team seems like a lark. Although the races garner huge television audiences, cutting costs is currently far more important than exposure. This could lead to the exodus of manufacturers from Formula One.

Who could go? The obvious two are Toyota and Renault. Renault was just bailed out by the French government. Toyota has spent billions in Formula One for almost no positive results. Unless things turn around economically, it is hard to see these two teams hanging around. After them, BMW and Mercedes will be leaving if sales in the United States stay depressed. 2009 looks like a brutal year in America, so this could be it for both manufacturers.

And what are we left with? Ferrari is solid. McLaren is a solid team, but will be in trouble if they lose Mercedes. The rest of the field? It will be privateers for as far as the eyes can see down the grid. Even if you love Ferrari, it will be painful to watch them finish 1-2 in every race of the season.