The 'F1 Challenge' Championship- 1999 Season

[Wizzie]

The updates we put onto the car at Silverstone weren't working there and are still not working here. We'll have to go back to the factory after the race to see what the problem is. Onto qualifying now and all I can say is that we're simply not quick enough on one-lap pace. Our race pace however is better so we hope to make up ground in the race tomorrow.

[SuperAguri]

You may have qualified ahead of me today, Barii, but you'll see me and the Arrows take each other off as you breeze into the distance and win the race tomorrow.

Fixed (again)

Woo-hoo, pole position, finally a great clean run. I just hope for a win and Fastest lap

[Wookey]

I dont know why, but suddenly the Jordan car is all very hard to drive and setup. Daniel is suffering from a sickness, and I to be honest am maybe not suited to this F1 car type. I absolutely #&%@%@^ hate this grooves tires, and it's damned ridiculous! I want to stay in F1, but I dont think Jordan will want me again, so maybe next year I take a seat at somewhere else F1 team, or go to CART.

[Wizzie]

Phillippe, I heard that Eddie is thinking of signing you on for a multi-year contract. Jack on the other hand might be getting the sack at the end of the year if he doesn't pick up his game considerably.

[DanielPT]

After a seriously uncompetitive outing, I am glad to see us back in the upper midfield. I honestly believe that we can fight for points since our car generously showed itself to be moderately competitive in this place.

[MigelNansell]

Padraig O Connell Wrote:


"5th again maybe I should change the number on the car to 5 since I like this postion so much. The car feels good around here but I do feel that the tires we were given this weekend aren't great I lost alot of grip throughout the lap and on the backstraight I nearly lost the car slowing down. I see that Scott is doing well for someone not use to a F1 car and with him getting more comfortable I'm expecting him to be up there at the front of the grid before the end of the season. My Predictions for tomorrow provided that idiot Roda doesn't get in my way and the tires improve I think we could get a podium."

[dr-baker]

You may have qualified ahead of me today, Barii, but you'll see with me how the Arrows disappear off into the distance tomorrow.

Fixed

You may have qualified ahead of me today, Barii, but you'll see me and the Arrows take each other off as you breeze into the distance and win the race tomorrow.

Fixed (again)

Woo-hoo, pole position, finally a great clean run. I just hope for a win and Fastest lap

I feel as though there are a few drivers out there who are misquoting me to the media. I would like to reiterate that I intend to win the race tomorrow. I do NOT intend to take the Arrows out as that may prove counterproductive. However, I would be more than happy if Mr Mori were to add fastest lap to his pole position. Being fast over a single lap doesn't score you points; being fastest over an entire race distance does.

[Jack O Melley]

holy crap, I'm very slow

[Phoenix]

holy crap, I'm very slow

Yeah, but I can assure you the whole of the drivers taking part in the championship still respect you hugely

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

Spielberg, Austria - Race
Conditions: Raining, drying at the end

RACE FINISHERS

Code: Select all

1) Douglas Mann  Williams-Renault
2) Scott Menard  Ferrari  + 3.447
3) Padraig O Connell  Ferrari  + 55.704
4) Damon Cannon  Arrows-BMW  +1 LAP
5) Barii Mori  Williams-Renault  +1 LAP
6) Philippe Nicolas  Jordan-Renault  +2 LAPS
7) Phoenix McAllister  Arrows-BMW  +2 LAPS
8) Pippa Mann  Sauber-Petronas  +3 LAPS

DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Code: Select all

1. Douglas Mann- 41
2. Padraig O Connell- 29
3. Daniel Melrose- 28
4. Damon Cannon- 28
5. Jeroen Krautmeir- 26
6. Philippe Nicolas- 21
7. Phoenix McAllister- 17
8. Barii Mori- 17
9. John Zimmer- 13
10. James Davies- 10
11. Daniel Martins- 10
12. Ed Kevin- 7
13. Scott Menard- 6
14. Thomas de Bock- 3
15. Jack Christopherson- 2
16. Pippa Mann- 2
17. Ron Mignolet- 1

CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP

Code: Select all

2. Williams-Renault - 59
1. Jordan-Renault - 51
3. Arrows-BMW - 44
4. Prost-Renault - 37
5. Ferrari - 35
6. McLaren-Mercedes - 20
7. Benetton-Honda - 10
8. Sauber-Petronas - 5

[Malinth]

Boy, what can I say? I mean, the rain was really the break I needed. I just pushed like hell, and was just taking them out one by one. My start was quite bad, as always, I still haven't gotten used to these, erm, standing starts, and the water made it worse. But once we were up to speed, there was no turning back. But I don't think I was ever going to catch Doug, even with a few more laps. When the track started drying, the car lost a lot of it's balance, and I was on full blown wets, so I was preoccupied with saving my rubber. But it's a great result for Ferrari, with Pat in third. I just gotta savor it!

[Wizzie]

I apologise to everyone for causing that startline crash which eliminated about half the field. I mean, going backwards into the braking zone of turn 1 is not fun. At all.

[Shizuka]

I barrel rolled off of Daniel Melrose's car... it was fun, until I landed upside down!

[East Londoner]

When the conditions are such that you can only just see your own steering wheel, just beggers belief that this race wasn't red-flagged. I was just ahead of the almighty startline wreck, but at Remus, Daniel Martins messed up his braking spot (understandable in the conditions) and cannoned into the back of me, ending his race and puncturing both my rear wheels. I got back to the pits and spent the rest of the race playing catch-up, worried that I would end up in a massive accident involving Roda. I somehow managed to finish fourth, helped by my team mate having an incident with Phillipe Nicolas.

[tommykl]

I made a good start, but when I came up behind McAllister going into turn 1, I had to avoid him and turned ahead of Martins, ending both our races. Visibility was absolutely ridiculous. The race should have been cancelled in my opinion.

[East Londoner]

I made a good start, but when I came up behind McAllister going into turn 1, I had to avoid him and turned ahead of Martins, ending both our races. Visibility was absolutely ridiculous. The race should have been cancelled in my opinion.

Hold on, I thought Martins crashed into me? I was sure a blue car crashed into me at Remus. It must have been a Prost then.

[tommykl]

I made a good start, but when I came up behind McAllister going into turn 1, I had to avoid him and turned ahead of Martins, ending both our races. Visibility was absolutely ridiculous. The race should have been cancelled in my opinion.

Hold on, I thought Martins crashed into me? I was sure a blue car crashed into me at Remus. It must have been a Prost then.

Or it could have been Shizuka I ran into. From where I was at that point, it would have made sense for it to have been Martins, but I took a while to get out of the car, and I could only see Daniel from where I was. Apparently, neither of us knew who we hit, so we assumed it was each other.

[Shizuka]

I couldn't see anything from where I landed. I remember getting hit, pushing me out to the gravel trap while still being upside down.

[DanielPT]

I made a good start, but when I came up behind McAllister going into turn 1, I had to avoid him and turned ahead of Martins, ending both our races. Visibility was absolutely ridiculous. The race should have been cancelled in my opinion.

Hold on, I thought Martins crashed into me? I was sure a blue car crashed into me at Remus. It must have been a Prost then.

I was effectively taken out by De Bock's avoidance manoeuvres. Surely Cannon, with the impact, was confused and though it was me. It happens, no harm done. Just to try and clear things up, he was maybe hit by the fast starter Ron Mignolet who perhaps had to avoid Melrose. As for me, I did a slow start before all this and was recovering a few places braking a bit later as I discerned a few cars bottling up into turn 1. Then I saw a car coming into my path (I know afterwards that it was De Bock) and by then it was too late to avoid a collision. I apologise my team because they did a huge effort this weekend and I only delivered a huge repairing bill. Nevertheless if we want more points we have to be more aggressive. Sometimes it pays, sometimes it doesn't. The conditions were appalling for everyone and that was a racing incident as it was triggered by Melrose. Obviously I don't know how people effectively saw that happening since I could barely see anything more than a few meters in front of me...

[SuperAguri]

Tensions at Williams

Tensions between the two Williams drivers esculated today as Douglas Mann tapped Mori off at the third corner. Mori and Mann made excellent starts, with Mori a car length ahead by the second corner, when Mann did a do or die move at the third corner, squeezing Mori off the outside of the track, where Mori spun and damaged his front wing and undertray, although Mori managed to get back to the pits and replaced the wing, the lack of downforce coupled with rain meant he did well to only finish a lap behind, although ironically enough Mori was in the pits as Mann lapped him. Mori after the race, went back to his motorhome and helicoptered out of the circuit a little later, not saying a word to the press where as Mann did look like a guilty man as he celibrated his win. Patrick Head said "I shall knock the sense into these two drivers, Mann should know better then to try a desperate overtake like that, he could have ended both their races.", Mann has yet to comment on the accident.

[dr-baker]

Wow, another win. I can't believe it! After the first few races, I thought I had no chance left of the championship, but having several wins in a row really has changed all that. Heck, I can now have a DNF and still lead the championship...

Tensions at Williams

Tensions between the two Williams drivers esculated today as Douglas Mann tapped Mori off at the third corner. Mori and Mann made excellent starts, with Mori a car length ahead by the second corner, when Mann did a do or die move at the third corner, squeezing Mori off the outside of the track, where Mori spun and damaged his front wing and undertray, although Mori managed to get back to the pits and replaced the wing, the lack of downforce coupled with rain meant he did well to only finish a lap behind, although ironically enough Mori was in the pits as Mann lapped him. Mori after the race, went back to his motorhome and helicoptered out of the circuit a little later, not saying a word to the press where as Mann did look like a guilty man as he celibrated his win. Patrick Head said "I shall knock the sense into these two drivers, Mann should know better then to try a desperate overtake like that, he could have ended both their races.", Mann has yet to comment on the accident.

I wish Barii had spoken to me first before running off to the press. Ok, so we had an incident? Barii was out in the lead in the rain. There was a lot of spray. I knew he was there, but I wasn't quite sure where exactly. I hope he watches my onboard footage, so he can see how tough it was at the start with all the spray and others swarming around, despite our excellant getaways. With my championship aspirations, do you think I would want to throw it all away on such a desperate lunge? And as for tensions? Only because Barii won't come to talk to me first. I'll be happy talking face-to-face. Tensions only come about when someone goes behind the other's back! Or is it jealousy that I'm getting the results and he isn't?

--------------------------------

Well, that was a bit of a disaster. Every time there was an incident, I seemed to pick up a puncture from it, no matter how hard I tried to avoid the debris and gravel. And naturally one or two of the punctures mucked up the Sauber's aerodynamics, so I was quite lucky really to reach the finish line.

And I've seen footage of the incident between my brother and his teammate. Visability at the start was indeed poor, hence all the subsequant incidents and retirements. I agree with Douglas that it probably was just sour grapes from Barii Mori and unable to acknowledge how bad visability was for everybody else at that point in the race, before our tyres were able to clear a dry line on the track...

[the Masked Lapwing]

That'd be right. I survive the rain, only to spin off at the end. Greeaaattt...

[This]

I did make a pretty good start, but then Melrose braked hard, spinned, collided with Shizuka, who had a good start too. I had nowhere else to go than to hit Cannon. I had to retire immediatly, but could park the car at a safe spot.Thankfully no-one else hit me, because things would have been far worse.
I had to go to the hospital for some check-ups, got some minor injuries on my left foot. But i'll be able to race.
A shame because i was having a good weekend so far.

So my drives with Prost came to an end and i think i showed well. I don't know if i will drive again this year, but the team has let me know that i will get a couple of test runs at least.

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

Krautmeir Fit For 1999, 1998 Ruled Out

Jeroen Krautmeir has been declared good to go for the 1999 racing season, as long as he maintains his current progress, a spokesman at the French hospital said. "After his latest checkup, we've decided that should Mr. Krautmeir continue his current progress, he should be clear to race for 1999." The same person, however, maintained that 1998 is totally out of the question. "No, he will not be allowed in a racing car of F1 calibre for quite some time." Krautmeir is expected to be released from hospital in a week, and he could be a spectator as early as Belgium or Italy. Commenting on the race, Krautmeir said, "I'm quite upset that I wasn't there. It was raining cats and dogs, and I excel in those conditions. I don't understand all the big words coming from most of my colleagues, I mean, we've seen conditions far worse than this before, and I didn't hear much complaining then." When asked about Ron Mignolet, he said, "Ron is doing a superb job, especially considering he's had so little time. I look forward to see how Aurelien (Moll} will do at my home race, which I will sorely miss!"

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

Hockenheim, Germany - Quali
Conditions: Dry

Code: Select all

1) Douglas Mann  Williams-Renault  1:42.747
2) Damon Cannon  Arrows-BMW  1:42.917
3) Daniel Martins  Benetton-Honda  1:43.127
4) Barii Mori  Williams-Renault  1:43.274
5) Daniel Melrose  Jordan-Renault  1:43.560
6) Pippa Mann  Sauber-Petronas  1:43.603
7) Thomas de Bock  Sauber-Petronas  1:43.733
8) Padraig O Connell  Ferrari  1:43.831
9) Hagane Shizuka  Benetton-Honda  1:44.044
10) Scott Menard  Ferrari  1:44.074
11) John Zimmer  McLaren-Mercedes  1:44.908
12) Phoenix McAllister  Arrows-BMW  1:44.939
13) Philippe Nicolas  Jordan-Renault  1:45.189
14) Aurelien Moll  Prost-Renault  1:45.836
15) Ed Kevin  McLaren-Mercedes  1:46.184
16) Tristan Jung  Prost-Renault  1:46.611
17) James Davies  Prost-Renault  1:47.159
18) Jack Christopherson  Jordan-Renault  1:47.161
19) David Koczo  Stewart-Ford  1:47.326
20) Warren Hughes  Stewart-Ford  1:47.699
21) Nathanael Spencer  Minardi-Hart  1:48.256
22) Dave McFaste  Tyrrell-Yamaha  1:48.299
23) Giovanni Roda  Stewart-Ford  2:00.203

[East Londoner]

It's surprising that despite being in the fight for the title, I have not won a race at all this season. Hopefully here, things will change, and I'll be the one to stop Douglas from taking a fourth consecuative win and running away with the title. Last year, my Arrows struggled on the faster circuits with an underpowered Yamaha, but the BMW is more than a match for the Renault inside the WIlliams, so it should be a close battle between me and Douglas.

[dr-baker]

Hopefully here, things will change, and I'll be the one to stop Douglas from taking a fourth consecuative win and running away with the title. ... so it should be a close battle between me and Douglas.

Good luck - you'll need it (I hope!)

[MigelNansell]

Padraig O Connell Wrote:



I must have been over trying because everytime I went out I kept making a mistake or having some tiny issue with the car or just generally I couldn't find the perfect setup. I had high hopes for this track as it seems to suit us with the high speed and after the double podium finish hopefully we can go one better this weekend and get some championship points which will lead us to the title.

[DanielPT]

I am delighted with 3rd place in the grid. It wasn't that unexpected this competitiveness since our Honda engine has already showed itself as a good and powerful unit. With this circuit benefiting good engines it was clear that we would be well placed. I did a perfect lap and that helped to my 3rd place. Hope that tomorrow both of us can finish in points position and that we can take the fight to the front of the grid!

[Shizuka]

Seems like I put more downforce on the car, reducing my top speed. This might help me though on the Stadium part of the track... or not.

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

Hockenheim, Germany - Race
Conditions: Dry, drizzle at the end

RACE FINISHERS

Code: Select all

1) Douglas Mann  Williams-Renault
2) Damon Cannon  Arrows-BMW  +2.007
3) Barii Mori  Williams-Renault  +26.800
4) Daniel Martins  Benetton-Honda  +27.193
5) Padraig O Connell  Ferrari  +46.568
6) Daniel Melrose  Jordan-Renault  +1:06.731
7) Hagane Shizuka  Benetton-Honda  +1:09.326
8) Thomas de Bock  Sauber-Petronas  +1:14.837
9) Pippa Mann  Sauber-Petronas  +1 LAP
10) Aurelien Moll  Prost-Renault  +1 LAP
11) Philippe Nicolas  Jordan-Renault  +1 LAP
12) Tristan Jung  Prost-Renault  +2 LAPS
13) David Koczo  Stewart-Ford  +2 LAPS
14) Nathanael Spencer  Minardi-Hart  +3 LAPS
15) Dave McFaste  Tyrrell-Yamaha  +3 LAPS
16) Giovanni Roda  Stewart-Ford  +12 LAPS

DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Code: Select all

1. Douglas Mann- 51
2. Damon Cannon- 34
3. Padraig O Connell- 31
4. Daniel Melrose- 29
5. Jeroen Krautmeir- 26
6. Philippe Nicolas- 21
7. Barii Mori- 21
8. Phoenix McAllister- 17
9. John Zimmer- 13
10. Daniel Martins- 13
11. James Davies- 10
12. Ed Kevin- 7
13. Scott Menard- 6
14. Thomas de Bock- 3
15. Jack Christopherson- 2
16. Pippa Mann- 2
17. Ron Mignolet- 1

CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP

Code: Select all

2. Williams-Renault - 73
1. Jordan-Renault - 52
3. Arrows-BMW - 50
4. Prost-Renault - 37
5. Ferrari - 37
6. McLaren-Mercedes - 20
7. Benetton-Honda - 13
8. Sauber-Petronas - 5

[DanielPT]

I really enjoyed myself this weekend. The car was pretty much competitive until the end and I only missed the podium due to a longer pitstop. I still caught and then tried to overtake Barii but he defended very well while being fair and I didn't want to ruin a points finish. It was a good fight I had with him all race long so congratulations to him! Despite this and given some grid positions we've had this season, I can only be happy with the result. Next time around I will try harder though!

[Shizuka]

The race was good, although the downforce didn't help me much. I almost scored a point what it seems I can't do this season.

[SuperAguri]

I was doing quite well but the drizzle meant I lost bucket loads of grip and was going backwards, although raced hard and fair with Daniel Martins, just enough to keep 3rd. I will have to do better next race. NIce to see that there is some Jordan bias, as they seem to be ranked 1 depsite being 2nd :p

[MigelNansell]

Padraig O Connell Wrote:


5th place is not where we really wanted to be at the end of the race but Scott had a issue with his engine which ultimately cost him and the team were concerned I could have a similar issue which cost us alot of time. I am happy to be 3rd in the Championship and I'll be looking to hopefully pick up a few wins as the season progresses.

[dr-baker]

So this is how Nigel Mansell must have felt like when he was winning five consectutive races in 1992... This pretty much sums up how I feel right now!

[MigelNansell]

So this is how Nigel Mansell must have felt like when he was winning five consectutive races in 1992... This pretty much sums up how I feel right now!

I now have the mental image of Frank Williams, Nigel Mansell and Douglas Mann beating up Zombies in a pub thanks for that.

[dr-baker]

So this is how Nigel Mansell must have felt like when he was winning five consectutive races in 1992... This pretty much sums up how I feel right now!

I know have the mental image of Frank Williams, Nigel Mansell and Douglas Mann beating up Zombies in a pub thanks for that.

With Frank Williams's wheelchair having adaptations like Stephen Hawking's does in the Simpsons?

[Phoenix]

After my difficulties with having to deal with Roda yet again in qualifying, I was picking up pace and going up the field very well, but today the engine decided to blow up on me. Tough luck I guess but we're only a couple points behind Jordan and I want to help the team as much as possible to be at least 2nd in the CC, as well as trying to help Damon overcome Douglas Mann.

[Malinth]

Scott, looks like your engine blew.

Yeah, the thing just gave up on me. It's a shame its happened only 3 laps into the race, because the car felt great and I was pretty confident that I could have scored a point or two.

Alright Scott. Good luck for Hungary.