High-profile sponsors are nervous, as formula one ploughs ahead with next week’s Bahrain grand prix.

Despite widespread trepidation felt within the paddock this weekend in Shanghai, the FIA has declared that there is no reason the Sakhir event cannot go ahead.

And after meeting with the teams on Friday, Bernie Ecclestone told reporters the race is “200 per cent” on.

But The Times reports that, amid the threat of violence, some sponsors have pulled the plug on providing hospitality for guests next weekend.

“When you have an environment like Bahrain then all the sponsors will be watching developments very, very closely and talking to each other,” a source said.

“It’s a case of ‘watch this space’ basically.”

However, the British newspaper said it is unlikely any major sponsors will pull their logos from the cars.

“(They) will effectively just have to follow the sport,” said Tim Bampton, of the motor sports marketing company Just Marketing.

“They will have to watch and wait to see what happens even though they could be caught in the vortex.”

But, at the same time, it is believed that sponsors’ contracts with the teams – such as Vodafone’s estimated $75m deal with McLaren – contain “brand damage” clauses.

An added complication for McLaren is that it is part owned by Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, with Mumtalakat Holdings “on course to own half the business” according to writer Kevin Eason.

Also under heavy scrutiny is the conspicuously silent FIA president Jean Todt, whose son Nicolas shares ownership of his GP2 team with Bahrain’s controversial crown prince.

“We all know why it (the Bahrain saga) might have dragged a bit,” Mark Webber is quoted by the Telegraph.

“F1 is like that. There’s a lot of funding and finances that have come from Abu Dhabi and Bahrain and the Middle East.

“They’re very excited about F1 and they clearly want to give it another go. Let’s see if it works,” added the Red Bull driver.

 Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche on Thursday indicated he would like Michael Schumacher to extend his Mercedes GP contract beyond 2012.
Seven time world champion Schumacher’s existing three year contract, dating back to his decision to return to F1 in 2010 after a three-year sabbatical, runs out this year.

Zetsche is quoted by Seddeutsche Zeitung newspaper as saying Mercedes is fully committed to formula one, with an “engagement for the long term”.

As for involving 43-year-old Schumacher in those plans for 2013, Zetsche admitted it was “an attractive possibility”.

“He is still a motor sports icon,” he added.

Schumacher said at the Jerez test this week that while he might not have a title-winning car this year, Mercedes will build one in the future.

“We have to build our way there. I’m confident we can do that, in future, but let’s take it step by step,” said the German.

As for the possibility of a new contract, Schumacher answered: “I never gave any prognosis about my career. The right time will come to discuss my future.”

Karun Chandhok’s father has admitted his son is hoping to contest India’s inaugural formula one race in October.
Indian Chandhok, at Jerez this week to test for Team Lotus, openly admits he is close to agreeing a deal with the Malaysian-backed team to be a reserve driver in 2011.
“He is still in the process of talking,” Vicky Chandhok, 27-year-old Karun’s father and the president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, told Indian Express.

“I’m not sure how fast he will settle it,” Chandhok Snr added.

Last year, Chandhok became the second Indian after Narain Karthikeyan to race in F1. Karthikeyan returns to F1 in 2011 with HRT, and it seems Chandhok is keen to be the second Indian on the Delhi grid in October.

“Obviously, he wants to sign for Lotus,” confirmed Vicky Chandhok. “But I don’t want to get into the details.

“But as far as I know he wants to get a slot with the idea that he gets to race at the Indian GP,” he added.

It will be “impossible” for Russia to host formula one and the Winter Olympics in 2014.

That is the claim of International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman Andrew Mitchell, who is concerned that the resort city Sochi is also planning its inaugural grand prix in the same region as the next winter games.

“We want to ensure that both events – the Olympic Winter Games and the formula one race – will be staged on the best conditions for all the parties involved,” he told Sovetsky Sport newspaper.

“However, we believe that it is impossible to organise two events of such size in one year,” added Mitchell.

The media report said the IOC has requested thorough documentation of the F1 project and its construction schedule.

Russia’s Federation of Motor Sports and Tourism vice-president Igor Ermilin said this move is to “understand where and when will be critical moments” of the F1 preparations.

“The IOC wants to make sure that the Olympics won’t fail. That’s why they are worried,” he added.

Jean Todt has poured cold water on reports Africa might join the formula one calendar in the next few years.

While South Africa hosted the football World Cup earlier this year, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said he hoped the continent would be on the calendar “in about three years time”.

Around the same time, it emerged a consortium was working on a F1 project that had requested state support from president Jacob Zuma.

But according to the president of F1′s governing body FIA, “I don’t see any opportunity in the next three to five years,” Frenchman Todt said on a visit to Kenya.

The Associated Press quoted Todt, who had been invited by the Kenya Motor Sports Federation, as saying a world rally or cross country event is more likely.

“Africa is a fantastic field to organise road racing,” he confirmed.

Adrian Sutil reveals in an interview with motor racing magazine, by which means he is prepared to uncharted territory like Korea.
With the new circuit in Korea enters the formula 1 of 22 to 24 October new territory. Late completion or not – the driver must prepare perfectly for the new route. Adrian Sutil reveals in the latest issue of Motor Sport magazine, as the drivers prepare for the challenges of a new venue.

“We have very professional simulators in the factory,” he calls the first tool. Whereas in the past few teams equipped with simulators, the modern flight simulators are similar, even today, teams like Virgin have their own simulator – in times of testing ban is inevitable. You learn new route but it is certainly important, a good simulator to have to get to know the route.
“You can try the setup, you can tune a vehicle and adapt to a range of 100 percent,” Sutil said. “Of course the route in real is a little different, but you already know where to go, where the braking points are and take care of what you have to.” By the way, if not in the team Sutil simulator sits, he will sometimes even on their home PC.

Also, the onboard video by Karun Chandhok demo ride a few weeks ago Sutil studied to prepare. “You saw the route – the course seems to be quite interesting,” Sutil said in motor sports magazine. “. There are many lines, some faster corners and then again slow corners, it goes up and down – at first glance saw the itinerary for good.”
The final step takes place outdoors on Thursday before the first practice, if the driver run the route with their engineers to take the asphalt and the curbs under the microscope. “With new routes such as Korea that is very important,” said Sutil. “In the car can risk you do not take a curb once more, because you can easily damage the car. There must be a driver in advance to be clear where you can try it and where it is absolutely taboo.”

More Korea GP read the first exclusive Special Grand Prix of Korea in the current issue of Motor Sport magazine. Karun Chandhok it declared the route in detail, Adrian Sutil reveals in an exclusive interview how to prepare the drivers for new routes and take a look at long-forgotten tracks like Avus and Watkins Glen. The Motor Sport magazine is available in stores or at best equal to the sample order online:

Kumho has signalled its intention to enter formula one in the future.

The South Korean tyre marque, despite having no previous F1 experience, is believed to have written a letter of intent to the FIA when it emerged that Bridgestone had decided to leave the sport at the end of 2010.

Ultimately, Pirelli won the tender to be F1′s sole tyre supplier in 2011-2013.

But Kumho Tires’ chief executive Jong-Ho Kim said it is at the pinnacle of motor sport that the young brand will demonstrate its technical abilities.

“As we are a relative newcomer with the shortest history among the global top ten tyre makers, we need to compete in the global market with our technical power, and motor sports is the area where we can show off our capabilities,” he told Tyres and Accessories magazine.

Kumho is already a big player in the F3 world, and Kim said the next target is formula one.

“We already completed the development of F1 tyres in 2007 and now watch for an opportunity to enter into the F1 market as well,” he said.

Hankook is another Korean tyre maker linked recently with F1, but Kim insisted Kumho is “the only Korean company to own technology to produce tyres for F1 vehicles”.

Jun.8 (GMM)  Hankook is no longer in the running to supply tyres to F1 teams in 2011, but the Korean company is not ruling out another bid within the next “two or three years”.

Michelin, Kumho and Avon were also interested in replacing the sport’s departing official supplier Bridgestone, but it is believed Pirelli is now in pole position for the deal.

But executive vice president Hyan Bum Cho told the Sydney Morning Herald that Seoul-based Hankook might be interested in succeeding the Italian marque.

“Currently we do have a little Le Mans team, and some rally teams here and there, and we try to sell some motor sports tyres,” he is quoted by the Australian newspaper.

“In the future we want to have some hefty market share in that segment.  It’s quite profitable, but in order to really leverage from motor sports in terms of brands, you need to participate in either world rally championship or a very high segment in Le Mans, or formula one,” added Cho.

“So in the future that’s the target that we have, to participate in those segments.  And that’s going to cost a lot of money, a lot of development cost, a lot of investment, and also how to run these operations with experience.”

Hankook’s Cho confirmed that becoming the new formula one supplier next year was discussed.

“Probably you know that Mr Ecclestone has some trouble with tyres this year.  I talked to him personally (but) we decided not to go on with the programme.

“He needed a tyre very, very quick, and we could not prepare it,” Cho admitted.

“But we had a very good talk and maybe we’ll have a shot for next term, or another term.”

Apr.24 (GMM)  Tony George is interested in taking formula one back to the United States.

We reported last weekend that the 50-year-old former boss of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was spotted in Shanghai for the Chinese grand prix.

George met with F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone and also Zak Brown, founder and CEO of motor sport marketing firm Just Marketing who represents several high level sponsors according to the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ).

“Would Tony George love to broker a deal to bring back a US grand prix?  Sure,” said Brown.

IBJ said sources confirmed that George was in China to discuss F1′s return to America and meet with potential sponsors for a race that would not necessary take place at Indianapolis.

Indeed, new Indianapolis Motor Speedway boss Jeff Bulskus said George was not in China to represent the fabled Indy 500 venue, while Ecclestone has been pushing for a street race with the New York skyline.

Brown said: “Tony has a lot of contacts in motor sports, and he knows how to put on a US grand prix.

“I think if there’s a role for Tony in trying to bring formula one back to the US, he’d be willing to help.  Tony and Bernie have a very good relationship, and Tony has a lot of interest in seeing F1 return to the US,” he added.

Tony George, who still has an ownership stake in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, could not be reached for comment.

Sport fans tend to follow the sponsors of their favourite team or player. The same can be said with auto racing; the only difference is that these players are referred to as drivers. In fact, with auto racing, this is most commonly seen with NASCAR. It has been said that NASCAR has the largest group of loyal fans. Fans not only support the sponsors of their favourite drivers, but they also tend to purchase merchandise or services from them. The same can be said with Formula Drifting.
Formula Drifting is a sport that is relatively new to the United States. Despite the fact that the first professional event was held in 2004, the sport still has quite the fan following. Like many NASCAR fans, these fans are loyal. That is why a large number of sponsors, also commonly referred to as product manufacturers have made the decision to become involved with the sport. When it comes to Formula D, the sponsors that most often first come to mind are tire manufacturers.
Tire manufacturers do not just get their name on a driver’s uniform, but they also provide that driver with tires. With Formula D, the tires used are extremely important. In fact, to create a drift the tires need to loose tractions with the ground. This essentially helps to create the perfect drift. Since tires are so important to the sport of drifting, there are a large number of tire manufacturers who have inserted themselves into the sport. In fact, it has been noted that Formula D has the most tire manufacturer sponsors of any other motor sport; which includes NASCAR.
Nitto Tire is one of the many tire manufacturers that is involved with Formula Drifting. This manufacturer, like many other tire manufacturers, makes tires for all different vehicles and all different driving conditions. While they are well known for their tires for traditional vehicles, such as cars, SUV, and trucks, Nitto Tire is most well known for its racing tires. One of these tires includes the NT 555 RII. This type of tire is used primarily with road racing and other competitive sports, such as Formula D.
BF Goodrich Tire is another tire manufacturer that participates in Formula Drifting. This tire manufacturer is one of the most well known manufacturers in the United States. As with Nitto Tires, BG Goodrich Tires has a wide variety of different tires, available for all different uses. When it comes to sports cars and Formula Drifting, quite a few BF Goodrich Tires are ideal for the sport.
Maxxis Tires, another sponsor and tire manufacturer involved in Formula D, is also a well known tire manufacturer. Although they are not as well known to most everyday individuals, they are well known to those involved in auto sports, such as auto racing or Formula Drifting. In fact, most of Maxxis Tire’s focus is placed on auto sports, including Formula Drifting.
Perhaps, out of all of the tire manufacturers and sponsors, for Formula Drifting, Bridgestone is the most well known. Bridgestone’s tires are not only used in Formula D, but other motor sports as well. These additional sports include, but are not limited to, Formula 1, supercross racing, and monster truck racing. Bridgestone is not just popular among racing, but it is a company that is known by just about everyone. In fact, there is even a chance that you have Bridgestone tires on your personal vehicle.
In addition to the above mentioned tire manufacturers, Toyo Tires, Falken Tires, Cooper Tires, and Dunlop Tires are also Formula D sponsors. To add interest or extra excitement to your next Formula D event, keep an eye on the tires being used. While all of these tire manufacturers come highly recommended, you will often find that the tires used makes all the difference in the world.