// Blighted by motorsport politics, yet adored by British politicians, the UK’s premier slot in the annual F1 calendar is also every bit as important, not merely in income or status terms, as one of the tiny nation’s other greatest sporting achievements. As major as Wimbledon is for tennis, or St Andrews is for golf, Silverstone is the home to the British Grand Prix. However, its top billing has been shared by other venues too and could have been somewhat different in 2012, had one operation not fiddled the books and attempted to spread egg on Bernie’s visage.
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Education
Sunday race action - Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG Petronas at the 2012 European GP. Image courtesy of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team.The following is a feature by Austinite Mike Boone. Mike is an avid F1 fan and he prepared this information to educate guests at tonight's networking event with EuroCircle at Javelina. We think it will be a great primer for new F1 fans, so we'll have copies to distribute at the event.
// What do you need to know about the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 team? Here are some helpful facts:
The first Mercedes involvement in Formula One came four years after the first race in 1954. Mercedes has also served as an engine provider to other teams with their engines winning two constructors and four driver’s championships. The current team has been competing since 2010 after the purchase of Brawn GP. As a constructor Mercedes have won two drivers championships and ten races in Formula One.
Mercedes' drivers for 2012 are Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, although it is now known that Schumacher is retiring at the end of 2012 while Lewis Hamilton, currently at McLaren Mercedes is joining Rosberg at Mercedes AMG Petronas. Also, Mercedes AMG currently supply McLaren and Force India with engines.
The name for the Mercedes constructor in was changed for 2012, the team removed the GP from their name and added AMG, the high performance division of Mercedes.
At the China race this year Nico Rosberg won first pole position for Mercedes since Fangio last did it in 1955. Rosberg went on to win the Chinese Grand Prix this race which was the first win in China, in 57 years.
// About the Team
Full name: Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team (2012 – )
Base: Brackley, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
Team Principal: Ross Brawn
CEO: Nick Fry
Technical Director: Bob Bell
Website: www.Mercedes-AMG-F1.com
Previous name: Brawn GP Formula One Team
// 2012 Formula 1 Season
Drivers: #7 Michael Schumacher and #8 Nico Rosberg
Test Driver: Sam Bird
Chassis: Mercedes F1 W03
Engine: Mercedes-Benz
Tires: Pirelli
// F1 World Championship Career
Debut: 1954 French Grand Prix
Latest Race: 2012 European Grand Prix (photo above was taken there)
Races completed: 57
Constructor's Championships: 0
Drivers' Championships: 1954 and 1955
Race Victories: 10
Pole Positions: 9
Fastest Laps: 9
The information above was compiled from the Mercedes AMG Petronas website and Wikipedia.
Javelina Bar - 69 Rainey Street, Austin, Texas
The Austin Grand Prix and EuroCircle will be hosting another networking and happy hour event with Mercedes Benz of Austin.
This event will be themed around motorsports such as F1, MotoGP, V8 Supercars and World Superbike. We highly encourage you to wear you favorite team shirt, colors and/or accessories to support motorsports coming to Austin beginning in November. Of course, if you would rather wear your cocktail dress or nice shirt, please do - we will not judge!
The purpose of this event will be to reunite, educate and promote Formula 1 and motorsports in Austin over drinks, hors d'oeuvres and common interests (or soon to be!). There will also be an informal discussion about the sport of Formula 1, as well as opportunities to chat with others and learn more.
Mercedes Benz of Austin will have goodies for the first 20 guests and more Mercedes/F1 accessories thereafter.
Light hors d'oeuvres will be served as well as $5 F1 Burgers (or Veggie Burger) and drink specials.
This is a free event and everyone is welcome! But please note that guests must be 21+ to gain admission into this bar.
// Please RSVP by clicking on this link //
One of the most impressive displays at Formula Expo was by Godstone Ranch Motorsports, a Texas-based non-profit organization that races the GRAND-AM circuit to raise awareness and funds for charity. They created a 60' by 8' light wall that illuminated a larger-than-life rendering of Circuit of The Americas. In front of the wall sat a Formula 1 Ferrari provided by Risi Competizione/Ferrari of Houston and Godstone also debuted their "HEART Car" in conjunction with its charitable focus, the American Heart Association of Austin.
In this interview, I chatted with team drivers Davy Jones, Le Mans Champion and Rolex 24 at Daytona Champion, and John McCutchen II, 2009 SCCA Southwest Super Touring Champion, in order to learn more about the series and how it ties into the future of motorsports in Austin. You can read more about Godstone's work by visiting their website, here.
Bud Moeller with Historic Grand Prix at Formula Expo from The Austin Grand Prix on Vimeo.
Learn more about the Historic Grand Prix, "The World's Fastest Museum," with F1 Pilot Bud Moeller.
The goal of the Historic Grand Prix is to preserve motorsports history while showcasing the 3.0 litre era of F1 during 1966-1983. HGP had an amazing collection of Formula 1 cars at Formula Expo in Austin, Texas. What was most interesting to me is that the owners of these rolling artifacts get to personally race them, sometimes competing against former racers!
Some of the handsome cars on display included a Lotus 79 once driven by Mario Andretti, Ferrari 312-T5 driven by Gilles Villenevue, McLaren M-30 driven by Alain Prost and March 821 driven by Jochen Mass. You can see more in our Formula Expo Picture Gallery.
Check Historic Grand Prix's schedule to see if they are coming to a track near you. They will be at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut over Labor Day weekend and at Watkins Glen the following weekend. Hopefully we will see them bring history alive at Circuit of The Americas in the near future.
Ian Weightman of Formula Expo from The Austin Grand Prix on Vimeo.
// Overview
Formula Expo is a new event, envisioned by longtime racing fan and Austin resident, Ian Weightman. Ian's dream was to bring multiple elements of Formula 1™ to Austin and allow residents to learn more about the sport, hands on. In conjunction with Circuit of The Americas™, Formula Expo is taking place in downtown Austin this weekend at the Austin Convention Center. The expo hall has been transformed and will consist of various interactive areas, or zones.
// Zones
Formula Expo Race Zone - Formula 1 cars on display from Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, Williams F1 and Lotus F1.
Fun Zone - 8 interactive simulators to hold hourly competitions with the winners being awarded trophies on the podium; Pit-Stop Challenge whereby participants experience what it's like to be part of an F1™ team pit-crew; photo opportunities in an F1 racing suit and while seated in an F1 show car; test your reflexes and peripheral vision against stats set by F1 World Champions using the reflex trainer.
History Zone - showcasing the evolution of cars, technology and safety; seven F1 cars on display from the Historic Grand Prix; Texas All British Car Days and International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, New York. Travel through time by enjoying decades of F1 images from Sutton Images.
Technology Zone - learn what makes the formula of Formula 1 racing, including the key technologies KERS (kinetic energy recovery systems), DRS (drag reduction system), the green technology of the sport and more.
COTA Zone - Get an update on progress and see the latest renderings; opportunities to discuss ticket options with representatives; learn more about the Pirelli GP Challenge
Expo Stage - Interviews and talks from faces of F1 (names TBA); live music with performances by the inaugural Band of The Year contestants.
Exotic Car & Motorsports Zone - Showcasing manufacturers including Lotus, Ferrari, McLaren Automotive and Lamborghini.
F1 Sports Bar & Restaurant Zones - F1-themed sports bar with fare from Austin area restaurants.
Austin Zone - exhibits from local Austin businesses and organizations including Austin Music Commission, Austin Technology Council, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, Austin Economic Development Office and a number of local artists.
// Details
What: Formula Expo
When: Saturday, June 16 from 9AM-7PM and Sunday, June 17 (Father's Day) from 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Where: Southwest corner of the Austin Convention Center in Halls 1, 2 and 3. 500 East Cesar Chavez St., Austin, Texas 78701. 512-476-5461.
Admission: $15 for online tickets; $50 for a family 4-pack; $20 at the door. Click here to purchase tickets directly or here to purchase discounted tickets.
Parking: Ample parking in the surrounding Austin Convention Center parking garages. The closest is the 2nd Street Garage. Click here for complete directions, maps and parking.
Beneficiaries: A portion of the ticket sales will go to The Seton Fund to benefit patients at Seton Community Health Centers.
// On-Going Coverage
We spoke to many of the participants today and will continue to share content. So if you can't make it to Austin, keep visiting this site throughout the weekend!