Team-BHP - F1 2011 - European Grand Prix VALENCIA

So we start the European races now.

VALENCIA

Race Date: 26 Jun 2011
Circuit Name: Valencia Street Circuit
Number of Laps: 57
Circuit Length: 5.419 km
Race Distance: 308.883 km
Lap Record: 1:38.683 - T Glock (2009)

Fri 24 June 2011

Practice 1 13:30 - 15:00

Practice 2 17:30 - 19:00

Sat 25 June 2011

Practice 3 14:30 - 15:30

Qualifying 17:30

Sun 26 June 2011

Race 17:30

The Valencia Street Circuit is a semi-permanent street circuit in Valencia, Spain which will host the Formula One European Grand Prix, The track is 5.419 kilometres long and incorporates a total of 25 turns – 11 right-handers and 14 left-handers. It is estimated that the track has a top speed of around 323 kilometres per hour.

With the Blown Diffuser toping blowing Hot and cold, we need to see how it will affect various top running teams.:)

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAVAN KADAM (Post 2399044)

So we start the European races now.

We've already been to Turkey, Monaco and Spain :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by sushrutha (Post 2399758)

Somehow want Ferrari and MS to be in the podium ;-)

So only one remaining podium spot to be fought for by Webber, Vettel, Hamilton and Button? Unlikely mate!

I'm tipping Button for the win cos he was strong in Monaco and drove brilliantly in Canada. Vettel and Lewis to round off the podium

Quote:

Originally Posted by good.car-ma (Post 2399820)

We've already been to Turkey, Monaco and Spain :D

So only one remaining podium spot to be fought for by Webber, Vettel, Hamilton and Button? Unlikely mate!

I'm tipping Button for the win cos he was strong in Monaco and drove brilliantly in Canada. Vettel and Lewis to round off the podium

agree on the drivers, but very unsure of the standings.
with all the flak lewis has been receiving for off/on-track off-color activities, he HAS to suit-up or shut-up.
Really really want him to return to form, and see nicole celebrate...:)

Quote:

he HAS to suit-up or shut-up.
Really really want him to return to form, and see nicole celebrate

I want to see Hamilton and Vettel fighting for the first spot. Both are aggresive, impatient and will do anything to gain a place.

My guess is both of them will ruin each others race.

The leading contender for the 'most boring circuit ever' award. Doesn't deserve to be called 'the European Grand Prix'. They should call it something else, or better drop it from the calendar altogether. :Frustrati

Let's see if the Pirellis and the DRS can work their magic here this season. This circuit needs them the most. Pirelli bringing in the medium and soft tyres for this weekend.

Now that we have another Spanish GP this weekend, time to remember a win by one of the greatest drivers F1 ever had. Gilles Villeneuve!

30 years ago: Villeneuve’s last and best F1 win | Grand Prix Flashback

To quote an important line from this article

Quote:

Villeneuve’s defending was thorough but scrupulously fair: no sudden moves, no chops. He positioned his Ferrari carefully and played his one strong card – its straight-line speed – to perfection on every lap.

He is the best driver F1 has ever had, this legend was also one of those drivers who lost their lives racing!

Valencia and Barcelona are 2 of the most boring tracks ever. If not for Fernando Alonso and Bernie's greed, we wouldn't be having this track on the calendar. Nurburgring was so much better( and much closer to where i am currently :D ) as the host of the European GP.
On a brighter note, the Pirelli tyres did improve the Barcelona GP this year, so hopefully, Valencia should be a little better than the previous years.

FIA took the first step towards clamp down on the Exhaust Blown Diffuser (EBD).

Yesterday, Charlie Whiting wrote to all teams to inform them, they will no longer be allowed to change engine maps between qualifying and the race from this weekend's grand prix at Valencia.

It is widely believed that RBR has the most perfected EBD and they run a very aggressive engine map for extra downforce and use the DRS to blast out of corners during Qualifying. So if RBR doesn't have the usual advantage on this Saturday, we can pin point on how it was done. Maybe from now on, others will also have a shot on getting the Pole as well. Or maybe, RBR will run out of fuel on Sunday. :) Its a very tricky situation. Aggressive maps will not only make the car faster, but quite thirsty as well and teams cannot affort to have thirsty cars on Sunday.

And I cannot wait to find, how the cars sound while taking corners. Till now, it was like, they were on diet of nuts and bolts because of the EBD. The weekend has not yet started and all of a sudden, Valencia looks to be the turning point of the season. And I cannot believe I am saying this. :D

And from Silverstone, it is a complete clamp down on the EBD. If a driver is off the throttle pedal, the fuel supply to the engine will be cut, on all days.

autosport.com - F1 News: Renault: Changes to affect all teams

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cesc (Post 2400606)

I am hoping for the same as well. A 2008 repeat would be welcome.

2008 repeat would be quite unlikely. But I wish he get at least 75% close to that kind of a run. Or it could be too late for him, and we may see someone else pairing with Alonso next year.
It will be a shame if he got to leave Ferrari due to lack of form.

A point of note is that even though there are 2 DRS activation zones (the run from the swing bridge to Turn 12 and then the second long left-handed section from Turn 14 to 17.), there is only 1 detection zone.

Therefore, if a driver were to overtake in DRS Zone 1, he would also be able to activate DRS in Zone 2 pulling out a further gap. This needs clarification.
The driver who has been overtaken in Zone 1 will not be able to activate DRS in Zone 2 given that he was the one ahead at the DRS activation point.