10 Tenths Grand Prix Preview: Australia

[Super Tourer]

Welcome to the 10 Tenths GP Preview thread. Our aim is to put together as much information as we can for the race to come, take a brief look back at last years race, along with a collection of links to provide more data and detail to keep you up to date.

This will be the home for all the pre-race discussion and speculation, we will preview each race weekend and no doubt add more to it as the season goes by.

We start with round One The Australian Grand Prix- Melbourne.


2003 Race Review Australia

2003 Race

1. David Coulthard - McLaren
2. Juan Pablo Montoya - Williams
3. Kimi Raikkonen - McLaren
4. Michael Schumacher -Ferrari
5. Jarno Trulli - Renault
6. Heinz Harald Frentzen - Sauber
7. Fernando Alonso - Renault
8. Ralf Schumacher - Williams

Grid top 6
1. M Schumacher 1:27.173
2. Barrichello
3. Montoya
4. Frentzen
5. Panis
6. Villeneuve

Fastest Lap - Raikkonen -1:27.724
Circuit length: 5.303 Km or 3.3295 Miles
Circuit Map: http://www.grandprix.com.au/cars03/v...rcuitmap.html#
Race distance: 58 laps - 191.123 miles

Finishing rate: 11 finishers, 9 retirements - retirement rate 45%



Moments from the 2003 race

Michael Schumacher's Ferrari shedding bodywork during the race, finishing without either barge board!

It was also one of the weather affected races of 2003, with a damp track at the start making tyre choice crucial.

Montoya throws away certain victory, with a spin on lap 48

Bad race for Rubens who jumped the start and ended the race with a heavy crash.

Neither Toyota makes the finish.


Read a full review of last years race: http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr698.html


Previous winners at Albert Park
2003 David Coulthard -McLaren
2002 Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2001 Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2000 Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
1999 Eddie Irvine - Ferrari
1998 Mike Hakkinen - McLaren
1997 David Coulthard - McLaren
1996 Damon Hill - Williams




2004 Race

Melbourne is when the talking stops and the racing starts, it provides the first real opportunity to see how the cars actually compare after the fairly inconclusive pre-season testing. It will be particularly interesting this year, as it's the first weekend of the 'one engine rule'. A driver must use the same engine from Friday practice through to the end of the race, or face a penalty (see rules snapshot below). Melbourne will be a good test of this rule, as likely high ambient temperature's will find any cooling weaknesses in the new cars, plus 60% of the lap is spent at full throttle.

The fact that all teams are bringing new cars, even Ferrari are not hedging their bets with a revised 2003 car, coupled with the engine rules, could make it a race of attrition. In fact, looking back through the records about 10 finishers seems to be the figure, though the new rules could produce less.

Looking at the past winners, Melbourne has been a bit of a Ferrari/McLaren benefit, winning all but one of the races held at Albert Park. Without any serious combined running to go on, and judging on testing performance alone, it could be William's that add to their 1996 victory this time around.


2004 Rule Changes Snapshot

Engines - One engine per driver to be used from the start of Friday Practice to the end of the race. Penalty for changing an engine before qualifying, the driver drops 10 places on the starting grid. For changing an engine after qualifying, the driver starts from the back of the grid

Driver Penalties - The controversial drive through penalties are scrapped in favour of a post race stewards inquiry. Any penalty decided upon will be implemented at the next race. Should a driver incur three penalties, he may face a one race ban.

Aero - Rear wings change from three upper elements (2003) down to two, aimed at reducing down force. To increase surface area for sponsor's logo's, both the engine cover and rear wing endplate are increased in size.

Electronics - Launch control and automatic gear shifting banned, the driver must 'paddle' change.

Pit lane - speed limit is increased to 100 Km/h which may have some implications for pit stop strategy at circuits where a 2/3 stopper was previously a marginal call.

Qualifying - Saturday: One two-part session (14:00 to 15:30) with 2 minute gap in between.

1st Part - Driver's run in order of previous race result.
2nd Part - Driver's run in reverse order of times set in Part One.

Re-fuelling is only allowed after the first run.

Read a 2004 rules round up here: http://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=8630

Full sporting regulations: http://www.fia.com/homepage/selection-a.html



2004 Race Information

Race Weekend Timetable (local time)info:www.fia.com

Friday 5th March 11:00 to 12:00 - 1st Practice session
Friday 5th march 14:00 to 15:00 - 2nd Practice session
Saturday 6th March 10:00 to 10:45 - 3rd Practice session
Saturday 6th March 11:00 to 11:45 - 4th Practice session
Saturday 6th March 14:00 to 15:30 - Qualifying (in 2 parts with 2 minute gap)
Sunday 7th March 14:00 - Race.




Useful Links to keep you informed!

Race LIVE timings: http://www.formula1.com/


Official race website: www.grandprix.co.au


UK TV viewing times: ITV
Qualifying LIVE - 06/03/04 02:30 (am!)
Repeated - 06/03/04 - 13:30

Race LIVE - 07/03/06 - 01:55
Repeated - 07/03/04 - 13:30

(correct as of 17/02/02)


Time zones - check the race times in your location.

World Clock: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/



Keep an eye on the weather! Updated 5 day forecast

http://weather.cnn.com/weather/forec...p?locCode=AMML

What the bookies think - compare the latest odds on the drivers championship

http://www.oddschecker.com/oddscheck...676x/sid/65842



It's over to you, feel free to discuss, speculate and ruminate!

ST

[R]

That looks great, ST. Well there you go, there's no reason to not make 10 Tenths your first stop when you're searching for info on all things F1 this season. From here you can access all the most relevant sites!

[Super Tourer]

Thanks R, good to have you on board with the competition again this season.

[R]

[Kicking-back]

Originally posted by Super Tourer
2nd Part - Driver's run in order of times set in Part One.

Reverse order

[Knowlesy]

Hey, I like this feature.

And ITV viewing times! WOOHOO!

Good stuff ST!

[Super Tourer]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
Reverse order

Quite right! Corrected - I had that on my word doc version and managed to lose it in the cut and paste

[Knowlesy]

A word of warning ST.....you will get mistakes pointed out all season!

Enjoy it!

[Super Tourer]

I know - a stick to beat me with....

ST

[x_dt]

Not long left now...

[bulldogspirit]

Does that mean that ITV are showing both parts of the new hybrid qualifying???!!! Good lord. Then again, it is in the middle of the night, i spose they don't mind doing it....

[DriverT]

Originally posted by bulldogspirit
Does that mean that ITV are showing both parts of the new hybrid qualifying???!!! Good lord. Then again, it is in the middle of the night, i spose they don't mind doing it....

Oh no, don't count on it. They'll put cartoons on instead.

[marcus]

good stuff super tourer , certainly a good read , will you be doing this all year ?

[Super Tourer]

Yep - we will preview each race!

[Bononi]

Nice preview ST, that's a lot of stuff to discuss.

Talk about the one engine rule and the team performances.

Minardi and Jordan: Expecting to be at the back of the grid, it wouldn't suffer a lot in an engine change, except for financial issues.

BAR and Jaguar : Can we expect a true development ? In terms of engine, just to carry on an entire weekend will be a great achievement.

Toyota : A key season. After a crucial 2nd season, with good performances, this season would be the first to separate the team from the kids to the big boys.

Renault : Already within the big ones, and with a change in its engine project, can they get the edge, winning races and challenging the championship, or they will step backward and try to make the way again ?

Ferrari, McLaren and Williams : The top ones. Nothing more than beat the rest and challenging each other is expected from them. Some components in the package can be crucial to make the difference. It should be a great season !

Sauber : The greatest enigma of this season into my view. Same engine and an embarassing similar design of the whole package. Two fast and talented drivers that have to prove theirselves to higher positions. Both will be testing for Ferrari. In a short, an ambiguous combination with an unproven suspicious relationship, never seen in ages in F1.

Up to you.

[ralf fan]

Jag- i think its time they show something ... i mean last year it was more of Mark'd driving that got them the points.

Bar- lets hope they live up to the hype and we finally see jenson on the podium.

Toyota- eventhough everyone regaurds them as heading for better things their times in testing havent been that spectacular. Da Matta hopefully will lead the charge... a crucial year for him and Toyo..

[Gt_R]

A great feature...Glad it will be permanent!!

[climb]

Super tourer, super job!

[AussieV8]

Great preview ST...

[grumpy1]

Great job ST.
Looks like the winner may come from out of nowhere.Its not going to be how fast you are but whether your car can stay together.Long rang forcasts on the wheather are for,to use term from Robbin Williams,Hot Damn Hot.

The Grumpy1

[neilap]

Thanks! great idea Love the topic.

[deeks6]

Great work ST. Thanks a bunch

[nkh]

Nice! only missing the Danish tv schedule ;-) (all times DK, though the 0x:xx times are actualy the day after...):

http://sporten.tv2.dk/motorsport/formel1/sendeplan.php

Thursday 4. March:
TV2-ZULU 03.55 F1: Practice, Melbourne

Friday 5. March:
TV2-ZULU 23.10 F1: Practice, Melbourne (repeat)
TV2-ZULU 03.55 F1: Qualifying, Melbourne

Saturday 6. March:
TV2-ZULU 20.00 F1: Qualifying, Melbourne (repeat)
TV2-ZULU 03.25 F1: Pole Position, Melbourne
TV2-ZULU 03.55 F1: Grand Prix, Melbourne
TV2-ZULU 05.35 F1: Pit Stop, Melbourne

Sunday 7. March:
TV 2 13.40 F1: Pole Position, Melbourne (repeat)
TV 2 14.10 F1: Grand Prix, Melbourne (repeat)
TV 2 15.50 F1: Pit Stop, Melbourne (repeat)

[Super Tourer]

No longer! Good addition!

If any other members have TV schedules for their region/country - feel free to post them here!

Thanks

ST

[Knowlesy]

Anyone got more info on ITV qualifying coverage?