Round 16: Japanese Grand Prix

frostie500

There are now only four(or is it three, who knows?) races remaining to settle the battle to be crowned world champion. Suzuka plays host to the Japanese Grand Prix in the early hours of Sunday morning and by the time the chequered flag falls we could be a long way to deciding who will be champion!

My preview is now online on my site

bamboozling

Had never known the story of Ernst Degner, and what a story it was. Can't wait for this race, really looking forward to it.

amacachi

While the circuit should suit RB over Ferrari over McLaren if past form is anything to go by I expect rain would level them out somewhat. I don't know if it's the cars, the drivers, the teams or a combination but McLaren seem better able to handle changeable conditions. Oh if only Vettel hadn't ****ed Button at Spa. Still, a McLaren 1-2 this weekend would tighten up the title picture beautifully. :pac:

Also, I'll ask again for this race (:pac:), does anyone know if there'll be any support races shown live or did most of them finish up at Monza?

frostie500

amacachi wrote: »

Also, I'll ask again for this race (:pac:), does anyone know if there'll be any support races shown live or did most of them finish up at Monza?

All the main support series(GP2, Porsche super cup etc are finished so i think there are only Japanese series on the support card. GP2 Asia doesnt start for a while yet as far as i know)

frostie500

bamboozling wrote: »

Had never known the story of Ernst Degner, and what a story it was. Can't wait for this race, really looking forward to it.

There's some great books about Degner, Stealing Speed was fantastic. I had known must of the ins and outs of the story before I got the book as a Christmas present but really enjoyed reading some of the parts about Degner's personality as well as his meetings with Suzuki. It's tough to understate just how pivotal the defection was for the Japanese firms who at the time were consistently outclassed by the Europeans with MV Augusta and MZ consistently faster. With Degner's data the Japanese instantly became the dominant force in racing.

here.from.day.1

Looking forward to this! Might even get up to watch it, its been years since I've had any interest in doing that!

losthorizon

The Forecast for Saturday Quali is very heavy rain - it should really mix up the grid. :cool: Looking forward to it. Clock set.

holidaysong

I love the Japanese Grand Prix. I remember when it used to be the final race of the season, the excitement of getting up early to watch it. Should be a great race, especially if there's a bit of rain!

Grim.

nightmare weekend for racing bathurst 1000 motogp and f1 arghh

Grim.

vettels crash hat looks class

Grim.

woopsy lewis of at degner front end is wrecked

and redbull seem to have there flexi front wing back again

and at the end of fp1 button off at the same corner as his team mate car looks undamaged

TheChrisD

Grim. wrote: »

nightmare weekend for racing bathurst 1000

+1

/me orders in the crates of Red Bull

amacachi

Grim. wrote: »

nightmare weekend for racing bathurst 1000 motogp and f1 arghh

Boo hoo. :pac: Where's the 1000 on?

losthorizon

Just starting to rain in Suzuka now.They are expecting two inches of rain on Saturday.

Free Practice finished in the dry

Myrddin

Do any of you chaps know when FP1 & 2 are repeated on the red button? Commonwealth games seems to be taking up all the streams, & I can'd find a guide online.

thewheel2.0

EnterNow wrote: »

Do any of you chaps know when FP1 & 2 are repeated on the red button? Commonwealth games seems to be taking up all the streams, & I can'd find a guide online.

Ah what I was looking forward to getting home and sitting down with a cup of tea to the practice sessions, they better be repeated:(

amacachi

EnterNow wrote: »

Do any of you chaps know when FP1 & 2 are repeated on the red button? Commonwealth games seems to be taking up all the streams, & I can'd find a guide online.

Usually all day but I expect along with the lack of Classic GPs this week they may not be shown. Try next time you hit the Red Button going to "Sport on BBC" or something like that instead of selecting the live sport, they usually have everything on there.

Myrddin

amacachi wrote: »

Usually all day but I expect along with the lack of Classic GPs this week they may not be shown. Try next time you hit the Red Button going to "Sport on BBC" or something like that instead of selecting the live sport, they usually have everything on there.

It's not happening All six streams have been allocated to the games. Sport on BBC lists the times for FP1 & 2, but doesn't mention a repeat time. God damn :mad:

amacachi

EnterNow wrote: »

It's not happening All six streams have been allocated to the games. Sport on BBC lists the times for FP1 & 2, but doesn't mention a repeat time. God damn :mad:

Tis a pain alright. Damn college is going to interfere with my viewing for the rest of the season as well. Though if you want a good laugh just check out any of the events at the Commonwealth games, it makes the Chinese GP look like it was packed to the rafters. :pac:

Dcully

Vettel very quick in first two practice sessions.

Myrddin

I was bleary eyed watching FP1, missed all of FP2 though. Hamilton can't keep his bloody wheels on, another rookie error, especially given it was a practice session.

Hopefully the rain will prevent me having to look at that finger after the race. A Hamilton masterclass in wet driving is long overdue, be great to see him doing well on Sunday.

This is a tough season for me to choose a favourite. I'm a real Hamilton fan, but I like Webber & Button too...help!

Grim.

amacachi wrote: »

Boo hoo. :pac: Where's the 1000 on?

motors tv from 9pm tomorrow

amacachi

EnterNow wrote: »

I was bleary eyed watching FP1, missed all of FP2 though. Hamilton can't keep his bloody wheels on, another rookie error, especially given it was a practice session.

Hopefully the rain will prevent me having to look at that finger after the race. A Hamilton masterclass in wet driving is long overdue, be great to see him doing well on Sunday.

This is a tough season for me to choose a favourite. I'm a real Hamilton fan, but I like Webber & Button too...help!

Button all the way.

Grim. wrote: »

motors tv from 9pm tomorrow

Sky+ it is so.

Dcully

Grim. wrote: »

motors tv from 9pm tomorrow

Motors TV = best channel ever, i have it on 24/7 sitting above my pc on the wall

Dcully

EnterNow wrote: »

I was bleary eyed watching FP1, missed all of FP2 though. Hamilton can't keep his bloody wheels on, another rookie error, especially given it was a practice session.

Hopefully the rain will prevent me having to look at that finger after the race. A Hamilton masterclass in wet driving is long overdue, be great to see him doing well on Sunday.

This is a tough season for me to choose a favourite. I'm a real Hamilton fan, but I like Webber & Button too...help!

Urrghhhh!!! i simply detest Hamilton, hes the most horrible person ever to grace an F1 paddock.
Great driver however which is more important to his fans id imagine as F1 is not a personality competition.

Button is a decent guy as is Webber,wouldnt mind seeing Webber do it.
Alonso is a real racer and when hes on it hes super aggressive, i love watching his onboard via red button when hes really on it, anyone remember Magny Cours a few years back? cant temember what year but he was doing some crazy overtaking moves and pulling them off.
If i had a choice of who to win the championship id choose Vettel,very very quick guy and still early days in his career.


Great to see a season with so many drivers still able to win.

Ghost Train

EnterNow wrote: »

It's not happening All six streams have been allocated to the games. Sport on BBC lists the times for FP1 & 2, but doesn't mention a repeat time. God damn :mad:

missed fp1, recorded fp2 so watching some of it now

wonder would fp1 be on the bbc player thing

EvilMonkey

Ha Ha, Whitmarsh calls Vettel the crash kid and to prove him right Hamilton crashes in the next 3 GP's

G-Money

So who else is getting up at 4.45am?? BBC's coverage starts at 5am for quali.

lord lucan

grandmaster wrote: »

So who else is getting up at 4.45am?? BBC's coverage starts at 5am for quali.

Sky + ftw.:pac:

losthorizon

grandmaster wrote: »

So who else is getting up at 4.45am?? BBC's coverage starts at 5am for quali.

Setting the alarm for 5.30 am. Quali starts at 6.00am I think.

amacachi

Is Jake presenting it this week? Just saw him on the BBC's Commonwealth games coverage.

Ghost Train

amacachi wrote: »

Is Jake presenting it this week? Just saw him on the BBC's Commonwealth games coverage.

Nope, what's her name is doing the F1

Lee McKenzie

amacachi

Nice, just wish I could find an animated gif of Vic Reeves rubbing his legs to make my position on the matter clearer. :pac:

amacachi

Has there been any wet running at all yet this weekend? Hopefully they'll not sit in the pits for this whole session.

amacachi

I don't overall subscribe to the idea that F1 has gotten "too safe" in recent years, but I'll be very, very annoyed if they postpone qualifying. 5 minutes of 24 cars running around and it'd be fine.

EDIT: Sounds like the teams are all pissing and moaning, doubt we'll get qualifying today.

lord lucan

Not sounding too good. Feckin typical after getting up at silly o'clock to watch it live!:rolleyes:

G-Money

Up myself.

lord lucan

Think i'll let Sky+ do it's thing and go back to bed,could be here all morning!

Ghost Train

so half an hour delay?

Ghost Train

pity if there's no qualifying today but does look wet-ish

G-Money

Anyone getting up for live Quali tomorrow then?

Ghost Train

a sure they're paid loads of money to drive, should just start the qualifying for the craic

delayed another half hour till 3pm/7am

amacachi

Ghost Train wrote: »

a sure they're paid loads of money to drive, should just start the qualifying for the craic

delayed another half hour till 3pm/7am

**** them, talking about danger, the cars are ****in tanks these days.

Early qualifying tomorrow somewhat scuppers my planned sleeping pattern with being busy tomorrow night. Ugh.

amacachi

grandmaster wrote: »

Anyone getting up for live Quali tomorrow then?

I shall. Most likely be ****faced and be ready for bed then have to face qualifying and the race before I sleep. :pac:

Ghost Train

Part of me would love to see them scramble to put in a time

but guess it would be a little dangerous

Brundle really stretching out that Brawn interview with repeating obvious questions

Eddie trying to make things interested with paper boats

Woden

Slept through the alarm and woke up 30mins in.

Looks like I didn't miss much though!

Ghost Train

BBC calling it a day,

Say qualifying will be 2am tomorrow

Ghost Train

FIA calling a day, qualifying tomorrow no confirmed time but probably 10am/2am

losthorizon

Would have liked to have seen a mixed up Grid! Hope its damp or at least a bit wet tomorrow

G-Money

Think I'm going to have to skip quali tomorrow and just watch the race live. Staying up all night or going to bed for 3 hours isn't really an option.

Woden

just considering that myself. ugh lets see how it goes!