It’s the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East that opens up an entirely new adventurous world of racing to people other than racing aces in the UAE region. The nature of the contest being, `arrive and drive’. Full time working professionals in the region can simply drive on to the Circuit, change into racing gear and helmet, and step into a perfectly prepared Porsche GT3 Cup car to race on. Not surprisingly, professionals with die-hard racing enthusiasm have taken to the concept with great enthusiasm.

Among those who have begun their pursuit of the racing passion are Saudi Arabian princes, cousins, and the super rich of UAE. The 12-round series was introduced in December by Porsche Middle East in conjunction with Austrian-based motor sport specialists, Lechner Racing, to identify top Arab and local based talent in the region for Formula One racing.

Via: automobilsport

After suffering a season of surprises, the F-1 will get back its greatest champion in 2010. Michael Schumacher, 40, 41 next January 3rd, who owns seven world titles and almost all records of the class, announced yesterday his return after three years of retirement.

The German, who had not competed since the GP Brazil 2006, will pilot the Mercedes GP, old Brawn, who closed the season earning the title of both drivers, with Jenson Button, as the constructors.
With a three-year contract, Schumacher will become in 2010 the oldest man to fly an F-1 since 1995, when Nigel Mansell, who was then 41, played in two races for McLaren. The German, however, is back with clear intentions. “I do not think of anything less than the title.”

The news of the return of seven-times champion could not have come at a better time for the F-1. In 2009, the category had its credibility shattered after Piquet’s admission that hit in the Singapore Grand Prix the year before to facilitate the victory of his team-mate, Spaniard Fernando Alonso.

After the scandal of the Renault, the F-1 went through hard times in the middle of the season when other teams threatened the category if the parallel regulation of 2010 was not revised. The FIA president Max Mosley, then, was forced to withdrew himself from the command to lead and a new FIA president was elected, Jean Todt.

Via: Folha.

Michael Schumacher is already training with all the intensity for his return to the Formula 1. The German pilot began to run on this Friday with a Ferrari F2007 in the track of Mugello. Through an official report in his page in the internet, the 7 times world champion of the category says to be anxious to run, even if is in a model already outdated.

The German announced that will compete three years after leaving F-1. With 40 years, he will be in GP of Europe, in Valency, marked for August 23, and he will substitute the Brazilian Felipe Massa, that suffered serious accident in Hungary.

In spite of the tests of this Friday with an outdated car, Schumacher can have contact soon with the model 2009 of Ferrari. In agreement with the Speed Channel site of the, Fota will open an exception and it will allow German to test F60 of Ferrari for one day. With that, the pilot will have one day to adapted to the Kers, to the tires slicks and the movable wings.

In theory, Schumacher meets in perfect form, in spite of some problems in the nape as a consequence of a motorcycle fall. The accident happened in Spain, in February. Therefore, he will need a medical guarantee to confirm return.

Via: UOL Esporte.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the Association of Teams in Formula 1 (Fota) met in Paris on Wednesday and reached an agreement that will ensure the permanence of class in the way it is today.

Pivot of the crisis, the president of the FIA, Max Mosley, has announced that it has reached an agreement on cutting costs with Fota to prevent the split between the teams and Formula 1. The teams had even released a timetable for an alternative category in 2010.

President of the FIA since 1993, Mosley gave the plans perpetuate itself in control and changed the discourse. “Now we have peace,” said Mosley, in announcing the withdrawal of his plans for re-election. Until the unveiling of plans for a parallel Formula 1, the manager were willing to defend the new budget for the teams, cause of the deadlock.

The announcement of a timetable parallel happened one day before the agreement, which until then seemed remote. While Mosley reiterated the importance of planning and budget ceiling (this was part of his plan to re-elect himself). However, the teams, led by the chairman of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, did not agree with the new proposed rules.

The final agreement between the parties began to be outlined before the meeting this Wednesday in Paris. The holder of the commercial rights of Formula 1, Bernie Ecclestone, had already met at Tuesday night with Mosley Montezemolo and to begin to resolve the crisis.

Via: Autosport.

Formula 1 is officially split. After a long meeting on the evening of Thursday, in Enstone, near city to the circuit of Silverstone, where will happen the GP of Great Britain this weekend, the association of teams (Fota) announced that it has not entered into agreement with International Automobile Federation (FIA) and is already planning a new category in 2010.

Showing union, the eight teams in Fota signed the disclosed document that circulated on the evening of Thursday, announcing the break with the FIA: Ferrari, BMW, Brawn GP, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso and Toyota. Thus, the present participants in the championship, only Williams and Force India are in the 2010 season of Formula 1, which now seeks new team to continue to exist.

In the document released this Thursday, the Fota says that since its creation in September, it always worked with the FIA to develop the category. Nevertheless, the differences only increased this year, especially with the Mosley desire to implement a budget ceiling and the imposition of new rules, which caused the revolt of teams, resulting in a official split now.

“The teams have no other option but to begin preparations for a new championship that reflects the values of the participants and their partners,” warned the Fota in the communiqué issued this Thursday. “This category will have a transparent command. And will attend the wishes of fans, offering even lower prices for the spectators.”

Via: Timesonline.