Alonso feared for injured star Kubica; Heidfeld to replace Pole

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has spoken of his "shock and surprise" on hearing of his friend Robert Kubica's crash during a rally in Italy.

Ferrari ace Alonso has known the Pole for over 15 years as they competed against each other in go-karting before progressing through to the Formula One ranks.

"It was not so clear he was going to survive," the Spaniard told CNN as he recounted his initial conversation with Kubica's manager.

"I tried to drive to the hospital to find out exactly what his injuries were," before Alonso said he received more positive news.

"Now he is recovering well and we hope to see him back very soon in F1," he added.

Alonso also defended Kubica's decision to take part in a rally so close to the start of the season, which is due to begin in Bahrain next month.

"We need to have something to get some adrenalin out of our system and rallying is good training from an F1 driver's point of view."

He added: "I train on a bicycle ever day, and a couple of weeks ago a friend and myself were out riding and a truck cut in front us.

"A few meters nearer and we would have crashed into it. You cannot cut out risk."

Kubica is recovering after a series of operations at the Santa Corona hospital in Pietra Ligure, following the serious injuries he sustained in the rally 10 days ago.

On Wednesday, his Lotus-Renault team announced that German Nick Heidfeld would take Kubica's drive while he continues his recuperation.

Heidfeld partnered Kubica at BMW Sauber for three and half years from 2006-09 and impressed in testing for Renault in Jerez last week.

The 33-year-old told the team's official website: "I would have liked to come back to Formula One in different circumstances, but I'm proud to have been given this chance."

Renault's first reserve, Bruno Senna, and Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi, were also linked with the drive.

source: CNN

Fisichella involved in traffic crash in Italy

Giancarlo Fisichella has this week been involved in a minor traffic crash.

The 3-time grand prix winner and now a Ferrari test driver rear-ended a small car driven by a 52-year-old woman in Campagnano, north of Rome, according to Italian media reports.

Fisichella, 38, was driving a Ferrari.

The driver of the car he hit was taken to hospital and discharged shortly afterwards.

Fisichella reportedly told the traffic police - the Polstrada - that he came across a long queue of traffic caused by road works and was not able to stop in time.

In 2005, when Fisichella was caught doing 148kph in a 60kph zone in Rome, he explained to police that he was rushing to his child who had a high fever.

Source: Nextgen

Button Snr forgot where he left ’stolen’ Ferrari

An amusing story involving 2009 world champion Jenson Button’s father has emerged from Italy.

Media reports, including by the Ansa news agency, said John Button - a former rallycross driver - reported as stolen a Ferrari Testarossa in the coastal town of Alassio.

But the reports said Button Snr, 65 and a regular companion of his son’s at grands prix, had simply forgotten where he parked the sports car.

The reports said the car was located with no sign of tampering near the beach at the nearby town of Laigueglia, which is no more than a 5 minute drive from Alassio.

However, Button had reported the car as having been stolen in Alassio from outside the luxurious Grand Hotel Mediteranee.

Source: NextgenAuto

Rome to host F1 race as soon as 2012

Rome will host a Formula One grand prix after a five-year contract for a street race in the Italian capital was signed at Monza on Friday.

The race will feature on the calendar as early as 2012 after F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and organiser Maurizio Flammini rubber stamped the agreement.

"Congratulations for the results he (Flammini) has delivered," said Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno. "I hope Rome's grand prix can start in 2012."

The agreement means that there will be two grands prix in Italy, with the historic Monza venue certain to remain on the calendar.

"The Monza race will remain -- it won't be destroyed by Rome's."

Alemanno's sentimants were not shared by Monza director Enrico Ferrari, who thinks the venue's status will be adversely affected by a Rome grand prix.

"Where once it was difficult to find sponsors, now it will be impossible," Ferrari told La Stampa newspaper. "The big companies have a budget, so if today they were giving us 100, tomorrow they will give us 50 and Rome 50."

The only possible obstacle for the race going ahead is in getting consent from the region's local EUR district.

"There are problems because we have to reach full agreement with the inhabitants of EUR. We have an agreement at the international level. There are no certainties, but our promise is very solid," added Alemanno.

Source: ESPNF1

Stereophonics to headline F1 Rocks™ in Italy

Next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix will see the return of F1 Rocks™ to the Formula One scene with a headline performance from international rock sensations The Stereophonics. The Welsh band will be supported by emerging singing talent Ben Montague at the concert, which will be held on Saturday night.

“F1 Rocks is undoubtedly the most exciting event platform and could only be possible with the global spectacular that is Formula One,” said Rob Montague, chairman of Enterprise Entertainment, the organiser of F1 Rocks. “The Stereophonics headlining our show is very exciting. Milan’s Formula One heritage and status as a fashion and style capital makes it a perfect place for F1 Rocks.”

Also making its debut during the Monza weekend will be a new and exciting addition to off-track entertainment - F1 Rocks™ - The After Party. On both Saturday and Sunday night the glamorous event will be held at Milan’s exclusive Just Cavalli bar, attracting Formula One racing’s stars and a host of celebrities.

Partnered by Mumm, the Official Champagne of Formula 1™, the After Party will feature sets from world-renowned DJ Seb Fontaine, and support acts DJ Shailen and DJ Lora, who have played the best clubs across the globe, from London, St Tropez and Ibiza to Los Angeles and Singapore.

The Italian Grand Prix takes place from September 10-12.

Source: Formula1.com

One more point in the WRC for Kimi

Kimi does the little ant

In Portugal another point has arrived for Kimi Raikkonen, who finished in the top ten for the third time in a row (considering that in New Zeland he didn't race).

This time there is an all in all dignified tenth place after a honest race: "Kimi improves a lot in the second run of the stages - explains his co-driver Kaj Lindstrom - and above all is growing race after race. The store of experience so far accumulated in driving on gravel gave him the opportunity to improve in his driving. He's enjoying, he likes rallies and he has a good approach."

Now Kimi is going to race the Rally della Lanterna in Italy (11-12th June), to make experience for the next WRC race, Bulgaria on 9-11th July, first race on tarmac of the Championship. "On tarmac Kimi should definitely go better - says Lindstrom - because it's his natural ground, that on which he has always raced."

Source: Autosprint
Courtesy: TaniaS

Italian police seize Briatore's yacht

Italian police have seized Flavio Briatore's yacht.

A week after the banned former Renault boss hosted Bernie Ecclestone on the 60-metre Force Blue on the Monaco harbour, police boarded it on Thursday.

They had followed the yacht with high speed boats to the port of La Spezia, near the northern city of Genoa, with the 60-year-old Italian, his wife Elisabetta and new son Falco all on board.

Local prosecutor Walter Cotugno ordered the boat be impounded on the suspicion it is improperly registered as a charter.

Investigators suspect Briatore has registered it in the Cayman Islands, with a hire price of 275,000 euros a week, in order to obtain a tax break and to avoid paying sales tax when anchoring in European harbours.

They suspect the yacht is not chartered at all and in fact is used only by Briatore's family.

Source: Motorsport.com

KIMI WILL DRIVE LANTERNA'S RALLY IN ITALY

Turun Sanomat 18.5 2010

Kimi Räikkönen will participate with his WRC C4-car in a rally in Italy held in June 12-13.6.

Citroen sends Räikkönen to this one day tarmac rally which will serve as a great test race where he can practice before Bulgaria Rally on tarmac, 9-11.7.2010.

They also have a memorial race in Genova's hall; Memorial Luigi Tabatoni who was an Italian rally pioneer. Räikkönen is taking part in it along with Markku Alen, Juha Kankkunen, Miki Biasion and Didier Auriol.

Source: Turun Sanomat
Courtesy: Nicole

Kubica returns to rallying in Italy

Renault’s Formula One star Robert Kubica will make his debut in a Super 1600 rally car on Sunday (April 11), driving a Renault Clio on the Rally Ronde Citta di Forli: an all-asphalt event held close to Bologna, Italy.

While Kubica has contested a handful of events before in a Renault Clio R3 – most recently January’s Monte Carlo Rally, where he retired with engine failure on the prologue stage – this will be his first taste of Super 1600 power.

Kubica’s car will be run by Italian team Twister Corse, which will also run former Italian champion Piero Longhi on the national event in a Peugeot 207 S2000. Longhi is using the Forli-based rally as a warm-up for the opening round of the Italian championship, the Rally 1000 Miglia, the following weekend.

The Rally Ronde Citta di Forli takes in four asphalt stages totalling around 12 kilometres each, before the finish at 1700hrs the same day. Despite previously maintaining that the Formula One season would leave him too busy to contest any more rallies this year, the Polish driver seems set to add some more events to his programme if he has the time.

Such is Kubica’s passion for rallying that he owns a Skoda Fabia WRC, which he drives in Poland for his own enjoyment.

Source: MaxRally

[Video] Sebastian Vettel climbs Mount Vesuvius

Thanks: Kati@ Sebastian-Vettel.org