Bahrain has played down claims it asked for a later race slot on next year’s calendar due to continuing civil uncertainty in the troubled island Kingdom.
The 2011 grand prix was cancelled altogether due to the protests and the government’s reaction, but Bernie Ecclestone duly scheduled Bahrain’s return next year at the head of the 2012 calendar.

The updated provisional calendar circulated in the Hungaroring paddock last weekend, however, showed Bahrain shuffled down the order to November.

A report in the Financial Times on Thursday said the government “asked for more time to calm the country’s troubled political situation”.

“They didn’t want it up the front so I’ve had to screw the whole calendar up,” said F1 chief executive Ecclestone.

A spokesman for the Bahrain International Circuit, however, played down the link between the later race date and the political situation.

“We are extremely happy to host the grand prix in November. Due to high temperatures in our summer, either early or late in the season is better. November is the best month for us,” he said.

But the revised calendar has upset the teams, who are concerned that seven races on four separate continents have been scheduled within an arduous ten-week period at the end of next season.

Ecclestone slammed the suggestion he is under pressure to tweak the order but admitted the US/Brazil back-to-back is “a bit of a ball-breaker because there are no flights that go direct from Austin to Sao Paolo”.

However, that pairing may be in doubt due to the fact government funding for the Texas event can only be distributed a year in advance — meaning that construction of the Austin circuit might have to be delayed for now.

A spokesman for the Texas comptroller dodged the question when asked by the local Austin American Statesman.

“While we have heard rumours on the date change, among others, we really aren’t going to speculate on the course of action for each possible situation,” he said.

A warm and sunny day has greeted the formula one world ahead of the 2010 Monaco grand prix.

There is just a smattering of white cloud in the sky, and still the odd local forecast predicting a slight possibility of afternoon rain.

Causing more nervousness than the Monte Carlo forecasts, however, are reports that say the Icelandic volcano ash cloud is “rapidly encroaching” British airspace.

Airports in Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man have already closed, and officials are warning that flights into England and other parts of Europe are also set to be disrupted in the coming days.
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With the unpronounceable Icelandic volcano still spewing ash into European flight paths, the smart move after the Spanish grand prix is a road trip.

But some members of the F1 world are determined to find a flight — particularly engineers who want to return to base before re-congregating in Monaco for this weekend’s event.

But on Monday morning, news of more cancelled flights from Spanish airports resurfaced, so Force India sent the bulk of its race team to Nice via train.

HRT’s Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok were scheduled to fly to the Mediterranean city, but instead hired an unglamorous Renault road car for the 650km journey.

In the small hours of Monday morning, they arrived at Senna’s Monaco apartment.

Heikki Kovalainen also drove to Monaco with his girlfriend.
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May 6 (GMM)  The famous and unpronounceable Icelandic volcano could be set to once again disturb the travel plans of the formula one world.

European airports ground to a halt due to the dangerous ash cloud nearly three weeks ago, stranding the sport’s travelling circus in China.

On Wednesday and early on Thursday, it emerged that the ash is threatening to once again drift over the north of Europe, and multiple British airports have already had flights cancelled.

When contacted, the European air traffic agency Eurocontrol admitted that hundreds of other flights across Europe could also be affected.

The Civil Aviation Authority said main airports serving London have not yet been disrupted, but the Icelandic Met Office warns that the volcanic eruptions “will continue at full force in the next days”.

However, the situation is now far less severe for F1, in the wake of the initial ‘flyaway’ segment of the 2010 calendar.

The bulk of the equipment is transported by the teams to European venues by road, even if many of the personnel travel by plane for convenience.

Apr.22 (GMM) Most of the Force India and HRT teams are still stranded in Shanghai, it emerged on Thursday.

Four days after the chequered flag waved at the end of the Chinese grand prix, it was reported that most teams – and the crucial F1 freight and cars – are now arriving back on European soil.

Red Bull’s Christian Horner said the air travel delays due to the famous volcanic ash cloud will have little effect on the team’s plans for Barcelona, while Lotus’ Mike Gascoyne said planned developments for Spain will be applied “to both cars”.

But a Force India spokeswoman said in Shanghai on Thursday that while the drivers are back in Europe, “the majority of the team” is still in China.

With the team owned by the Kingfisher airline magnate Vijay Mallya, she told Reuters that they are hoping for their charter to leave “at some point tomorrow”.

Indian rookie Karun Chandhok also revealed that most of the HRT team is still in China, amid reports that hundreds of other F1-related personnel are in a similar situation and face waits for flights that could extend well into the weekend.

Apr.22 (GMM)  Despite earlier fears that the race was endangered, the Spanish grand prix next month will not be affected by the European ash cloud.

As all the sport’s freight – including the cars – were stranded in Shanghai with FOM’s six 747s unable to leave Europe, it was feared earlier this week that the fifth round of the world championship might have to be called off.

But although many F1 figures have in recent days been zig-zagging back to Europe via a host of bizarre routes, European airports and routines were returning to normal throughout Wednesday as the ash cloud subsided — even though the volcano in Iceland is still erupting.

Air China said flights to Europe are now departing.

“Eurocontrol expects approximately 21,000 flights to take place today (Wednesday) in European airspace.  On a normal Wednesday, we would expect 28,000,” the air control organisation said in a statement.

Circuit de Catalunya chief Ramon Prederas said on Thursday that “everything is in place” for the May 5 Spanish grand prix.

“We are ready and working with absolute normality.  The cloud of the volcano did not affect us,” he is quoted as saying by Diario Sport, revealing that ticket sales are currently 10 per cent higher than at the same time last year.

It is also believed that F1′s freight landed successfully in Bilbao, Spain, where the team’s empty trucks were headed on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, contrary to earlier reports, Bernie Ecclestone did in fact give Sebastian Vettel – as well as Michael Schumacher – a seat on his private plane for a return trip to the UK.

Lotus’ AirAsia charter has now arrived in Europe from Kuala Lumpur, and Nico Hulkenberg touched down in Zurich ahead of his return home to the UK.

Apr.21 (GMM)  It took them nearly 50 hours, but F1 drivers including Jaime Alguersuari and Mark Webber are now back home.

Toro Rosso’s Alguersuari, who travelled with Virgin test driver and countryman Andy Soucek, lost count of how many times they landed at airports to change plane and destination.

“We feel like we’ve been around the whole world,” the Spaniard told the EFE news agency.  Mark Webber’s return to his UK home took him 44 hours.

The F1 cars could soon begin their journey back to Europe, with McLaren confirming they are “likely to be freighted to Bilbao within the next 24 hours”.

Many of the sport’s personnel are not so lucky.  Williams’ PR Claire Williams, the daughter of Sir Frank Williams, has been told by British Airways in Hong Kong that there may be no flights until May 5.

“They have to be kidding,” she wrote on her Twitter.

Apr.20 (GMM) Two days after the chequered flag in Shanghai, the world of formula one is still clamouring to leave the venue of the Chinese grand prix.

Although there are signs the volcanic ash cloud above Europe might soon clear for a few days to allow its hordes of absent residents to return home, multitudes of F1′s travelling personnel are currently embarking on elaborate journeys to reunite with team bases and families.

Mark Webber flew from China to Dubai, then to Rome, and woke up in Nice on Tuesday morning after five hours of sleep with a mission to return to the UK.

Others have tackled even more bizarre routes back to Europe, including Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari who headed to Madrid via Shanghai, Beijing and New York.

Some, like Indian rookie Karun Chandhok who flew to Madras, were essentially unaffected; Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg went on vacation to Thailand, while Lewis Hamilton had a sponsor date in South Africa.

Peter Sauber went on business to Dubai and Japan.

But Nico Hulkenberg, like hundreds of others involved in the sport, are simply holed up in Shanghai with an hopeful eye on the air timetables. Sebastian Vettel is hoping for a direct flight to Switzerland on Tuesday.

Michael Schumacher proved that in F1 it’s all about who you know, as he has hitched a ride on Bernie Ecclestone’s private plane, but at last word they were still awaiting a green light to fly to Europe.

There are reports that Norbert Haug and Timo Glock found seats on Lufthansa flights to Europe on Monday night, while Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali and Aldo Costa also somehow managed to head straight for Europe.

Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso were aboard Ferrari’s first of several flights home, with subsequent flights also scheduled even though their destination is not entirely known.

A shared charter with fellow Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso and Sauber is plan-B.

Alonso’s friend Robert Kubica was also aboard Ferrari’s initial VIP flight, so as to be in Italy to drive a Renault Clio in this week’s Rally 1000 Miglia.

When asked by Spain’s AS correspondent if the Ferrari favour was the first sign that Alonso will have a new teammate in 2011, Kubica rolled his eyes and answered: “Sure, sure, sure.”

The Lotus team, owned by Malaysian aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes, was jetted to Kuala Lumpur to await an AirAsia charter back to Europe.

McLaren’s chartered jet, with buses waiting in Spain to then take team members on a long road trip back to the UK, is scheduled to leave Shanghai on Wednesday.

“We have said if it is a big enough plane, then anyone else can come on board,” said team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

Williams’ aviation partner Cloud9 is also looking into a private team charter, while bosses Sam Michael and Adam Parr flew from Shanghai to Dubai but then found themselves unexpectedly diverted to Beirut.

It is rumoured that some teams are looking into moving their cars back to Europe while the FOM planes are stuck in Europe, but the idea of putting the containers on boats has been ruled out.

“You need a plane,” said Mercedes’ Haug. “By boat, we will run out of time before Barcelona.”

Private jets no luxury for NASCAR teams

Business travel can be a grind, But for NASCAR drivers and race teams who are on the road for 36 races per year travel is unavoidable.

If these teams had to rely on commercial airline schedules travel would be a nightmare, if not a logistical impossibility. That’s why most of the top tier drivers own private jets, and race teams operate fleets of small aircraft to transport pit crew members and team executives to the racetrack each week.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. owns a LearJet 60, which is the top of the LearJet line, and their largest jet. It’s a business jet that can seat up to 10 passengers.

Thanks to the jet Earnhardt can leave his home in North Carolina and be at the racetrack in Daytona or Texas a couple of hours later — about the time it would take to drive to a major airport and clear security.

NASCAR rookie and former Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya also owns a LearJet 60. 2006 champion Jimmie Johnson owns a Learjet 31A, and Jeff Gordon owns a British Aerospace Hawker 800.

Most of the drivers leave the flying to professional pilots, but Mark Martin is a licensed pilot who often pilots his own Cessna Citation. Martin lives in a unique community near Daytona Beach called Spruce Creek. It’s a fly in community with it’s own airport. Residents have aircraft hangars in the yard where most of us have garages. Martin can literally park his jet in the garage.

The race teams operate larger planes to ferry the pit crews and team executives to the track. Roush Racing operates a fleet of planes, including a Boeing 737 and several smaller business jets. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. flies it’s pit crew on an Embraer 120, a mid-size turbo-prop that seats 30 passengers.

While cars have vanity license plates, NASCAR teams have vanity aircraft registration numbers. Dale Jr’s Learjet is N8JR, and Jeff Gordon’s Hawker is N24JG. The corporate Embraer at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. is N500DE.

NASCAR has come to rely on private jet travel so much that many tracks are located right next to airports. Daytona International Speedway is located right next to Daytona Beach International Airport where private jets and commercial flights arrive daily.

While most tracks are not located so close to a major international airport, some tracks have built their own airports. Right next to Atlanta Motor Speedway sits Tara Field, a small general aviation airstrip that sees little traffic until race week, when more than 600 planes descend on this tiny airfield.

However, some tracks are not as convenient, but when that happens expect the NASCAR drivers to come up with a solution. When NASCAR descends on a track like Dover Delaware some drivers like Dale Earnhardt bypass race traffic by flying from the airport to the racetrack in a chartered helicopter, landing directly in he infield.

Some people consider private air travel a luxury, but with the hectic schedule of today’s drivers it is a necessity. Following a Sunday afternoon race a driver can hop on his jet and be home by Sunday night. This means they can meet with the crew chiefs and team owners Monday morning to review the previous race, and develop a strategy for the following race. During the week drivers are often on the jet again, meeting with sponsors, shooting TV commercials, making public appearances, and testing. Without a jet this schedule would be impossible. Most drivers agree that having a private jet gives them one to two days per week of productive time, or just allows an occasional day off.

You can see pictures of these jets at JetJit.com and get more detailed information on each airplane.

See photos of these jets and more at JetJit.com