HRT Formula 1 Team incorporates Kyocera Document Solutions as its Official Supplier through a collaboration agreement for the 2012 season. The Spanish team will count on Kyocera’s services, which include needs for management and printing of documents, both at the team’s permanent offices in the Caja Mágica and at the mobile offices that travel throughout the world during the Formula 1 season.

Kyocera Document Solutions has a vast experience in the sporting world and, even more so, in the motorsport one, since it’s responsible for the management and printing of documents at the F1 and MotoGP Grands Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya, Valencia Street Circuit and Motorland Aragón. At all of these Kyocera offers high quality devices and services that adapt to the rigurous demands that any F1 Grand Prix has, meeting the demands of the media office and the organization at the circuit itself, including a permanent 24-hour service.

The ceramic components of Kyocera are not only integrated in our printing devices, giving them a greater durability and resistence, but they are also present in many other industries, such as some F1 cars where there are parts incorporating Kyocera’s ceramic components that have to cope with extreme temperatures.

HRT Formula 1 Team continues to progress firmly towards its objective of consolidating itself and growing and it now takes another step forward thanks to the partnership with the multinational Japanese company Kyocera. It’s another support for the young Spanish outfit who, thanks to the seriousness and hard work that it proves day by day, has more national and international companies willing to back HRT, contributing to its consolidation and progress in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Óscar Sánchez, KYOCERA Document Solutions General Manager: “A team such as HRT Formula 1 Team needs to be backed by the most advanced and reliable technology during the most demanding of championships. Kyocera has the latest printing machinery and a highly experimented staff, which makes us a leader in offering documentary services at any sporting events”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal HRT Formula 1 Team: “Count on a renowned multinational company as Kyocera is amongst our partners gives us a confidence and calmness of great value for our day to day work. That calmness enables us to focus on pure competition aspects knowing that our backs are covered. Our needs in terms of printing, copying and scanning are high because the engineering, operations, marketing and communications departments are continuously putting the machines to the test and it is of vital importance that this work is not interrupted. In Formula 1 you work to the limit and Kyocera gives us the support and confidence needed to be able to do it”.

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Red Bull’s two teams look set to test alone in Abu Dhabi later this season.

Until recently, the now-traditional young drivers’ test – giving inexperienced drivers the chance to drive current F1 cars amid the sport’s strict testing limits – was scheduled to take place as per usual at the Yas Marina circuit in November.

But those plans were reconsidered due to this year’s congested calendar.

India takes place just one week before Abu Dhabi, the young driver test is scheduled for the week after and then the races in the US and Brazil happening back-to-back next.

In the light of that arduous schedule, Reports in March said the teams were keener on having the young driver test at Silverstone.

“It’s a long season as it is and there are a lot of back-to-back races this year, so it’s tough for them (the teams),” Abu Dhabi circuit boss Richard Cregan conceded.

The German-language Speed Week reports in its May 2 edition that the majority of teams want to test instead at Silverstone, in July.

But the magazine said Red Bull’s two teams – Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso – are sticking with the original Abu Dhabi plan.

The report also said other teams might cancel Silverstone at the last minute and join Red Bull in Abu Dhabi, should weather reports indicate the British weather would likely affect the July test.

This year’s young drivers’ test could be called off.

Currently, the event – giving inexperienced drivers the chance to drive current F1 cars amid the sport’s strict testing limits – is scheduled to take place as per usual in Abu Dhabi late this season.

But with India taking place just one week before the Abu Dhabi grand prix, the test scheduled for the week after and then the races in the US and Brazil taking place next, there are fears some in F1 will have to work on five consecutive weekends.

There have been reports the teams are therefore contemplating dropping Yas Marina and rescheduling the test for a new date at Silverstone.

“Whether they have the tests here in Abu Dhabi is a decision the teams themselves would need to make,” Yas Marina circuit boss Richard Cregan told The National newspaper.

“We have made provisions and blocked out the week after our race, but they have the freedom to change that.

“We would obviously be disappointed if Abu Dhabi didn’t host the young drivers’ test because it has become a part of our season, but I can understand the teams’ concerns,” he added.

“It’s a long season as it is and there are a lot of back-to-back races this year, so it’s tough for them.”

Cregan said he anticipates a decision to be made mid-season.

 Sebastian Vettel has named his new 2012 Red Bull chassis ‘Abbey’.
With the Adrian Newey-penned RB8, the 24-year-old German will push to become F1′s third-ever triple consecutive world champion, after Juan Manuel Fangio and mentor Michael Schumacher.

Recently, the highly-superstitious German has given his F1 cars a female name — the 2010 winner was Luscious Liz, and last year’s dominant RB7 ‘Kinky Kylie’.

So superstitious is Vettel that – as in 2011 – he has waited until the Wednesday before the season-opening Australian grand prix to decide the new name.

Germany’s Bild newspaper said Vettel’s 2012 mount is ‘Abbey’ — perhaps after his favourite band The Beatles’ album Abbey Road, or the Silverstone corner?

“Neither is true,” he insisted, “it’s just a cool name.”

 Less than two weeks before the inaugural Indian grand prix is scheduled to take place, disgruntled farmers are still threatening to disrupt it.
They are angry that their land was acquired compulsorily without adequate compensation to make way for the new Buddh circuit.

According to the Hindustan Times, they have written to a regional official this week reminding him that if their demands are not met, they will push ahead with protests aimed at disrupting formula one.

“There’s nothing alarming. There’s no threat to the race,” a senior official of race organisers Jaypee insisted.

“A lot rides on the event and the farmers are only trying to browbeat the organisers and the administration,” he added.

A regional official warned: “If any group tries to disrupt the proceedings of the race, we will deal with them in an appropriate manner.”

According to the Indian Express, some farmers are threatening to play cricket on the asphalt on the day of qualifying, and then step up the protest to “stop the race altogether” on Sunday.

“We want to hold a sports tournament, to show the world our grievance. We don’t want to cause trouble, but our voices must be heard,” a spokesman for the farmers’ group said.

Another farmer added: “We will try and stop the race at all costs as it represents the injustice that we have suffered.

“We have heard that the foreign (F1) cars will be arriving between October 18 and 20. We intend to stop them from entering the circuit.”

Andre Lotterer on Friday boasted that his Formula Nippon single seater is faster than the F1 cars produced by F1 backmakers Virgin and HRT.

The 29-year-old German, who is leading the Japanese championship ahead of former Williams driver Kazuki Nakajima, won the series’ Suzuka round in May.

“Theoretically, if I would have entered today’s first free practice with my Formula Nippon, I would be nineteenth,” Lotterer, a Jaguar test driver in 2002, said at Suzuka.

In May, Suzuka pole sitter Naoki Yamamoto’s Honda-powered Nippon qualified with a time of 1.40.470, which was faster than any Virgin or HRT driver could manage on Friday morning at the same Japanese circuit.

And that Formula Nippon time is just half a second behind Friday morning’s slowest Team Lotus runner Karun Chandhok.

The 2011 Formula Nippon single seaters are built by American manufacturer Swift and powered by 3.4 litre V8 engines supplied by Toyota or Honda.

According to Giedo van der Garde, success in feeder category GP2 is no guide as to whether a driver will succeed in formula one.
The management of the 26-year-old Dutchman, who reportedly has sponsorship in tow, recently revealed talks about 2012 with three F1 teams.

Van der Garde has, however, finished just fifth in this year’s GP2 championship after a poor final two rounds in Belgium and Italy.

He wrote in his formule1.nl column that he will not be returning to the series in 2012.

“What now? That’s the big question. It will not be another season in GP2, I am now 26 and need to be realistic. It is formula one or nothing,” said van der Garde.

“My results in GP2 do not say anything about my skills as a driver. Look at Kobayashi and d’Ambrosio, two drivers who are doing well in formula one, but in GP2 they were nowhere.

“I am ready for formula one and would love the chance to show what I can do in those cars. They are much better for me than GP2,” said van der Garde, who has been a F1 test driver with Spyker.

“These (GP2 cars) are sometimes like a rally car, with F1 cars requiring a much more refined style. That’s my style and I hope I can prove it,” he added.

A female driver conducted a secret formula one test with Renault two weeks ago, according to international publications.
Spain’s Marca and Italy’s Italiaracing report that 31-year-old Spaniard Maria de Villota, the daughter of former F1 driver Emilio de Villota, was at the wheel of a two-year old Renault R29.

The test took place at the Bernie Ecclestone-linked Paul Ricard circuit, and was reportedly attended by formula one’s 80-year-old chief executive.

De Villota currently races in the open wheel category Superleague, but she has also contested the Euroseries 3000, Spanish GT and F3, and World Touring Cars.

The test took place before Renault’s mandatory two-week August factory shutdown commenced, and in line with F1 test ban guidelines that allow some limited running with dated F1 cars.

Italiaracing said Ecclestone was “probably the instigator of the operation”, in line with his desire to “bring a woman into F1″.

De Villota was early last year linked with a seat at HRT, when the Spanish team was known as Hispania and headed by Adrian Campos.

The Mercedes is the loudest formula one car in 2011.

That is the finding of the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, after testing the volume of this year’s field trackside in Monaco just over a week ago.

The silver W02 registered 127.8 decibels, which is louder than the average human pain threshold, and nearly as loud as a military jet aircraft take-off with afterburner at 50 feet.

The Renault comes next at 127.5 decibels, followed by McLaren-Mercedes (127.3) and Renault-powered Red Bull (127.1).

The quietest F1 car this year is the Cosworth-powered Virgin, at 125.9 decibels.

Bernie Ecclestone has cited the awesome sound of the current crop of F1 cars as his main objection to the proposed four-cylinder turbo rules for 2013.

The FIA last Friday acknowledged that the 2013 debut could be delayed.

“In consultation with the main stakeholders, and following the outcome of this consultation, a fax vote by the World Motor Sport Council could be considered by 30 June latest to redefine the implementation date”, the governing body said after its Barcelona meeting.

Nigel Mansell is the latest to wade into the Lotus debate, insisting he is “delighted” to see the name “return to formula one” by partnering with the Renault team.

Briton Mansell drove iconic Lotus F1 cars in the 80s before moving on to Ferrari and finally winning the title in a Williams in 1992.

“It is particularly pleasing for me to see the union of Lotus and Renault again and the return of the iconic Black and Gold colours as driven by the late greats Ayrton Senna and Elio de Angelis, Johnny Dumfries and of course, myself in the 80s,” he said.

Mansell’s comments coincide with the publication of the abandoned black and gold livery that would have adorned the ‘Team Lotus’ cars next year amid the naming dispute with the separate Tony Fernandes camp.

The comments also coincide with the issuing of a statement by the family of Lotus’ late founder Colin Chapman, whose famous black cap was proudly displayed on the pitwall by Fernandes’ team in 2010.

But Chapman’s son Clive said the family thinks the “Team Lotus name should not be used in formula one”.

“Indeed, assurances to this effect were received (last year),” he added.

Chapman said the family supported the Fernandes team when the Lotus Racing name was used with the consent of Group Lotus.

“However, then its license to use the Lotus name was terminated and things changed,” he confirmed, adding that his family now backs Group Lotus as “the ongoing Lotus entity created by Colin and Hazel Chapman”.

Mansell also recalled Colin Chapman in his statement posted on Group Lotus’ official website.

“I am extremely grateful to Lotus and especially to Colin Chapman, who was so inspirational and almost like a second father to me and have been watching with great interest the developments that have been taking place recently at Hethel with their ambitious race and road car projects.

“I am really delighted to see that Lotus is back where it belongs competing with the best in the top echelons of motor sport,” he added.

F1 cars will feature 1980-style ‘tea tray’ front wings in 2013, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

With KERS and adjustable rear wings to feature on the grid next season, and radical 4-cylinder turbo engines to debut in 2013, the report said the new front wings are the next significant change for formula one in two years.

To replace the big and wide front wings of today, the 2013 cars will reportedly generate the bulk of their downforce underneath the car, with the formula drawn up by veteran engineers Patrick Head and Rory Byrne.

The teams will receive the draft 2013 regulations – which will also see the cars wearing much smaller rear wings – this week before they are discussed in detail by the Technical Working Group in January.

“(In 2013) We are only going to have roughly 65 per cent of the amount of fuel and a (limited) fuel (flow) rate — that was a given,” Head, engineering boss and co-owner at Williams, confirmed.

“We were just told ‘That’s what it will be, you’ve got to come up with a car spec that is not going to be more than five seconds a lap slower than a current F1 car’.

“So some circuit simulation was done by Rory at Ferrari and when we’d come up with some numbers in terms of drag and downforce it was then to try to come up with a geometry of a car that could try to achieve that,” he added.

Luca Badoer is leaving Ferrari after a long tenure as test driver.

The almost 40-year-old Italian has been in the role since the late 90s, and according to Autosprint magazine he accumulated more than 130,000 kilometres at Fiorano in Ferrari’s F1 cars during that period.

But Badoer was heavily criticised for his lack of competitiveness when he replaced the injured Felipe Massa in the Brazilian’s race cockpit mid last year.

Autosprint said Badoer, who raced 58 other times for minor Italian teams throughout the 90s, is now leaving the team.

The magazine said his last laps in a F1 car were during the recent Valencia celebrations, when he reaquainted with the F60 he raced three times in 2009.

Ferrari announced last month that 21-year-old Frenchman Jules Bianchi has been signed as a test driver for 2011.

Also contracted in test roles are Giancarlo Fisichella and Marc Gene.

Sunday’s 2010 world championship finale in Abu Dhabi is sold out, organisers of the Yas Marina event have announced.

Richard Cregan, chief executive of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, said the capacity crowd on race day is about 50,000.

The event also sold out for its inaugural running a year ago.

“We are very proud to be staging the race and to know that we will see the crowning of the 2010 world champion,” said Cregan.

Barely a day after seeing the chequered flag 12,000 kilometres away in Brazil, the F1 cars and equipment arrived at the impressive Abu Dhabi track on Tuesday.

Incredibly, despite the desert location and extremely low annual rainfall, some rain fell in Abu Dhabi late on Tuesday.

And some more light sprinkles are possible over the grand prix weekend, according to some forecasts.

McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh told Auto Motor und Sport he is relieved that this weekend’s focus is an unprecedented four-way battle for the title.

In past years, the title battles have been marred by off-track team disputes, political wrangling with the FIA, and scandals.

“It’s refreshing,” the Briton admitted.

“Four drivers with three different teams have a chance of the title, which has never happened before. This is an epic championship battle,” added Whitmarsh.

After rain affected the last three grand prix weekends, it is almost certain that the F1 world can expect a dry finale in Abu Dhabi.

Indeed, it almost never rains in the United Arab Emirate capital, where outside the cosmopolitan city lies endless miles of sandy desert.

Media reports say it hasn’t rained in Abu Dhabi for more than 120 days running, but – interestingly – a light shower is forecast for when the F1 fraternity congregates at Yas Marina on Thursday.

Beyond that, a dry and sunny weekend in the 20s is expected.

The F1 cars arrive in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, after a mad rush on Sunday to pack up the equipment in Brazil amid perhaps the tightest turnaround between races in the sport’s history.

At Interlagos on Sunday, Red Bull team members celebrated their constructors’ title win with loud music while they packed up just minutes after the chequered flag.

“We divided the team into three shifts to get everything done on time,” confirmed McLaren’s chief operating officer Simon Roberts.

Adrian Newey has revealed he has no immediate plans to step down as the designer of Red Bull’s F1 cars.

Already with titles in the bag from his Williams and McLaren days, the highly respected British engineer last Sunday celebrated another win as his RB6 secured the 2010 constructors’ crown.

And he told reporters at Interlagos that he’s going nowhere for now.

“I’ll be at Red Bull for a while to come,” said Red Bull Racing’s highest paid employee.

“Red Bull are a great company and they’re interested in many different areas.

“Maybe in the future we can do something different, but in the near future it’s formula one still,” added the 51-year-old aerodynamicist.