Web spin
What we’re all talking about @ www.motorsportmagazine.com
Today, if someone ‘tweets’ most people will now immediately think of social website Twitter rather than the noise a songbird makes. It’s a sign of the times we live in.
Here at Motor Sport, we like to hear everyone’s opinion – good or… not so good. That’s why we’ve just launched the Motor Sport forum. There are millions of forums around the web on almost every topic you can imagine, including many on motor racing. But if you’ve spent time on our website recently you’ll know that Motor Sport readers are some of the most knowledgeable and opinionated (in a good way) motor racing fans out there. It’s why we believe there’s a demand for our forum as a perfect platform for comment. Strong, intelligent debate about motor racing past and present has been at the magazine’s core since it first started 88 years ago. And it’s this mantra that will form the base of our new forum. It’s in its infancy, but as time moves on the breadth of content and potential as a source of information will hopefully become invaluable.
Do log on to the website and click on the ‘Forum’ tab at the top of the homepage to get involved in the debate. It’s you, the readers, that will make this forum the fantastic platform for discussion we’re sure it will be – so thank you in advance.
Spa’s first corner mayhem
Pat O’Brien “I hope Grosjean takes the hint, he seems like a decent guy and more open to criticism than Maldonado. It is not in the nature of a driver to care what anyone else thinks. Just ask Lewis.”
Carlos Sanchez “While I undoubtedly agree with the improvement of safety over the years, at some point this sport has become ‘too safe’. The chances of getting hurt are slim and with that in mind, respect and gentlemanly behaviour have waned.”
Max Scott “Difference between Maldonado and Grosjean is the Frenchman clearly has the potential to be a great F1 driver, has produced some wonderful moments this year and, unlike Maldonado, not all the incidents he’s been involved in have been of his instigation.”
@bonedwarf “Too bad they’ve waited 25 years too late to start handing out penalties for dangerous driving.”
Top tweets
@dariofranchitti Gold medal for Alex Zanardi! Well done my friend.
@Damien__Smith Enjoyed GP Mechanics Trust 25th anniversary reunion today. Now marvelling at Alex Zanardi, plus ALMS and Grand-Am. All just great.
@olivergavin First 2 races in 2014 will be Daytona 24hrs, then 12hrs Sebring!! Amazing races to start season! #ALMS #GrandAm #TheFuture
@Andrew_Frankel Countryman and JCW are my least favourite Mini things so should loathe Countryman JCW. Don’t. Quite OK to drive. Shame about looks and price.
@matoxley With Chaz [Davies] to BMW, Spies will probably be in Ducati MotoGP satellite team with Iannone. But don’t quote me on it.
@paulpunter (Paul Fearnley) That Vettel is happy for him to stay is the surest sign yet that Webber, if he has the chance, should go elsewhere
@Andrew_Frankel Part of me wishes I could have raced at old Spa. Another says I’m calling my own bluff. Would love to drive it fast in something quickish…
@Ed__Foster Force India is delighted with its drivers. Not surprising really – probably the best ‘cheap’ pairing on the grid.
@matoxley RIP Neil Armstrong. Saturn rocket that took Armstrong’s Apollo mission to moon was designed by Walter Kaaden’s WW2 boss Von Braun
@matoxley Ducati’s problems are deeper than getting the tyres to work with the bike. Only solutions seem to be Stoner or a redesign
@olivergavin Someone said Maldonado’s only done 3 GPs this yr without penalty… That’s extraordinary. He’s obviously quick but his decisions are… Poor
@Andrew_Frankel Think Golf is now back to around Golf IV weights, which was 15 years ago, despite being larger, better equipped and immeasurably safer.
Online with our writers
Gordon Kirby
Delta Wing to race at Petit Le Mans
‘Designer Ben Bowlby emphasised that the revolutionary car is still in the very early stages of its development. “We’ve got so much unfinished business and we’re keen to show the Delta Wing to our American fans,” he said.’
Mat Oxley
Jorge Lorenzo or Dani Pedrosa for the title?
‘As he’s the underdog, I have a slight leaning towards wanting Pedrosa to come out on top. But all I really want is for the duel to go down to the wire at Valencia.’
Paul Fearnley
Alex Zanardi: “a very lucky person”
‘After a few weeks’ training, he finished fourth in the New York Marathon’s hand-bike class: “Yes, but I was about 17 minutes behind the winner. You could say I was the first of the ‘normals’ to finish.”’
Nigel Roebuck
2012 Italian Grand Prix report
‘So was Vettel’s move on Alonso payback? Many saw it that way, but it was more than that, for Vettel took up all the road, and Alonso, travelling way faster, had no option but to take – with all four wheels – to the grass.’
Rob Widdows
F1’s young guns wasting potential
‘Now, at just past mid-season, we can see that neither Grosjean nor Maldonado have learnt from their misjudgements. As Alonso gently pointed out, the Frenchman has made rash mistakes in too many races.’
Andrew Frankel
Replacing the brilliant Peugeot 205GTI
‘Yesterday one of the worst kept secrets finally became official. For the third time, Peugeot is to attempt to replace the 205GTI’
Damien Smith
Silver and gold at Goodwood
‘For all the merits of the mammoth Silverstone Classic meeting or the glories of Monaco, the Revival is still the top trump. Why? Because glorious, super-fast Goodwood is so little changed from how it was during its heyday.’