New Partnership for Virgin Racing

The Virgin Racing Formula One team is pleased to announce a new partnership with UST Global®, a leading provider of end-to-end IT services and solutions for Global 1000 companies. The agreement between the team and the California-based company is for an initial period of three years.

Virgin Racing and UST Global intend to develop a strong operational partnership and over the course of the relationship, UST Global will collaborate with the team on a number of high-level technical projects. For 2010 UST Global is developing a bespoke race management tool that will provide the race engineers a 360 degree trackside perspective as each Grand Prix unfolds. This software collation programme will integrate a number of different information data streams from the FIA and FOM, the GPS positioning of the Virgin Racing cars out on track relative to the competition, plus FOM visual feeds to enable the engineers to optimise race strategy.

UST Global will also integrate the Wirth Research simulator with set-up data for the VR-01 to ensure a constant two-way correlation between both sets of inputs.

Additionally, UST Global will have a strong visual presence within the team. Their distinctive identity will appear on the Virgin Racing VR-01 race car, the racesuit and paddock wear of race drivers Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi, team equipment, as well as the clothing of the race team and pit crew.

Graeme Lowdon, Virgin Racing’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to welcome UST Global to Virgin Racing and to be entering into a partnership that will directly benefit our trackside operational performance. Virgin Racing is a very young team but we have a clearly defined path for development which has inspired the confidence of a growing list of discerning companies and brands. We look forward to working with UST Global over the next few weeks to prepare for our debut race in Bahrain and the exciting 2010 season beyond.”

Joe Nalkara, President of UST Global said “We are excited to be partnering with Virgin Racing. Formula One represents the pinnacle of racing, and like UST Global, Virgin Racing is a brand that epitomises customer experience and relationships. We are both next generation companies throwing aside convention to take on the establishment. These shared principles made it a natural choice for UST Global to partner with Virgin Racing over any other teams.”

FIA – Abu Dhabi Takes Promotional Awards

Alongside the FIA champions, two trophies were presented for best promoter and best race broadcaster at the FIA Gala in Monaco.

The Race Promoters’ Trophy went to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for providing Formula One with a state-of-the-art circuit in a stunning setting and for organising the first-ever twilight race. The award was collected by His Excellency Abdulla Khouri, Board Member of the Yas Marina Circuit.

His Excellency Abdulla Khouri said:

“I’m honoured to receive this trophy on behalf of the Yas Marina Circuit and the many organisations and people back in Abu Dhabi who were involved in organising the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. I thank all of those who supported us and helped to make our event such a success, which led to receiving this prize here in Monaco.”

The twilight concept and the spectacular setting of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix also proved popular with television viewers across the world. Formula One Management took the Television Trophy for its outstanding coverage of the event, with the award presented to FOM TV Director Dean Locke.

F1 Commission

The FIA today hosted the first meeting of the F1 Commission in its new structure since the signing of the 2009 Concorde Agreement. Chaired by Commission President Bernie Ecclestone and with FIA President Jean Todt in attendance, the F1 Commission is made up of key championship stakeholders from F1 teams, promoters, suppliers and sponsors.

The F1 Commission agreed that the Brawn team will be allowed to change its chassis name from Brawn to Mercedes. The team will continue to receive payments based on its historical performance. This has been granted on a one-off exceptional basis due to Mercedes-Benz’s long-term involvement and commitment to Formula One.

The F1 Commission also proposed a number of amendments to the sporting and technical regulations, which will be put to the FIA World Motor Sport Council for final approval tomorrow morning. They include:

- Due to the expanded grid of 13 teams, a new points system for the 2010 season:

Position	Points
1st	25
2nd	20
3rd	15
4th	10
5th	8
6th	6
7th	5
8th	3
9th	2
10th	1

- A strong mandate has been given to the Sporting Working Group, a sub-committee of the F1 Commission made up of the FIA and F1 teams, to develop detailed proposals to improve the show. These will take effect from the 2010 championship.

- The FIA and FOM will further collaborate to enhance the communication and promotion of the championship to the media and its worldwide fanbase.

The next meeting of the Formula One Commission will be held on 10 March in Bahrain.

FOTA – Press Release – Monza

The FOTA Executive Committee, chaired by Luca di Montezemolo, today enjoyed a productive meeting in Monza.

FOTA re-affirmed that all teams competing in Formula One are able to join the association. FOTA therefore welcomes back into full membership both Williams and Force India. The Executive Committee also looks forward to welcoming the new entrants to join the association whilst they continue to prepare for next year’s championship.

The FOTA Executive Committee looks forward to working with the FIA and Commercial Rights Holder to promote a healthy, dynamic and sustainable sport. To this end, FOTA intends to now enter into open discussion with the Commercial Rights Holder with the wish to confirm arrangements beyond 2012.

Furthermore, FOTA will now arrange a seminar, open to representatives of the major stakeholders (including Media, Sponsors and Promoters), to discuss how working together we can develop the show creating a more attractive spectacle for the fans.

FOTA welcomes Concorde Agreement and looks to the future

The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) today welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations leading to the signing of the 2009 Concorde Agreement.

Signed by all Formula One teams, with the only exception of BMW-Sauber AG, the FIA, and Formula One Administration (FOA), Concorde 2009 lays down the commercial and regulatory guidelines for Formula 1 whilst guaranteeing the teams’ participation until the end of the 2012 season.

FOTA will support any initiative which would allow BMW-Sauber AG to reapply for full participation within the new Concorde Agreement.

All Formula One teams have together reached a voluntary agreement on their own, which will put into practice FOTA’s long-standing objective gradually to reduce overall spending, eventually to around the levels of the early 1990s.

The terms of Concorde 2009 will reinvigorate the role of the Formula 1 Commission, and various other Working Groups. The Formula 1 Commission will henceforth be a key decision-making body for change in Formula 1.

FOTA’s attention will now turn to other issues we believe to be in the long-term interest of F1: racing at the best tracks, in front of the biggest audiences and expanding F1’s reach.

FIA – Concorde Agreement

Following approval by the World Motor Sport Council, late last night FIA President Max Mosley signed the 2009 Concorde Agreement, heralding a renewed period of stability for the FIA Formula One World Championship.

The Concorde Agreement – a contract between the FIA, F1’s Commercial Rights-Holder and the participating Teams – sets out the basis on which the Teams participate in the Championship and share in its commercial success.

The WMSC has also approved a slightly revised set of stable Sporting and Technical Regulations (to apply from the 2010 Championship onwards), which have been agreed by the FIA and the Teams and which will be published shortly on the FIA’s website.

The new Concorde Agreement, which runs until 31 December 2012, provides for a continuation of the procedures in the 1998 Concorde Agreement, with decisions taken by working groups and commissions, upon which all teams have voting rights, before going to the WMSC for ratification.

In addition, as agreed in Paris on 24 June 2009, the Teams have entered into a resource restriction agreement, which aims to return expenditure to the levels that prevailed in the early 1990s.

With the 2009 Concorde Agreement and the resource restriction agreement in place, the FIA looks forward to a period of stability and prosperity in the FIA Formula One World Championship.

02-Jul-09: Bulgaria Hope to Host Grand Prix in 2011

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This is F1 Minute for the 2nd July 2009.

Bulgaria look set to be another new addition to a future F1 calendar, as the head of the Bulgarian Motorcycling Federation has been invited to the German Grand Prix as a guest of Bernie Ecclestone. They are already on the MotoGP calendar for 2012 and would like to host an F1 race in 2011, although there are no confirmed circuit details yet. Apparently their plans are under consideration by FOM.

Elsewhere today, Nelson Piquet has admitted that he thinks it unlikely Renault will be able to pull out some wins like they did towards the end of the season last year. He said as it is a development race at the moment, the budgets are really dictating who is doing well, but realistically, Piquet thinks they are fighting for the top five positions, rather than for wins.

And finally, the Goodwood Festival of Speed kicks off in the UK tomorrow with six F1 teams going to be represented there.

That’s all for now, see you again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

Formula 1 teams meet at FOTA HQ in Geneva

At 2.15pm GMT (3.15pm CET), senior management from the FOTA-affliliated Formula One teams met at the FOTA headquarters (2 Boulevard de Theatre, Geneva, Switzerland) and immediately set to work on finalising their proposals which will be unveiled at the FOTA press conference, which is due to be held at 10.30am GMT (11.30am CET) at the Batiment des Forces Motrices (2 Place des Volontaires, Geneva, Switzerland).

These FOTA proposals are aimed at increasing the stability, sustainability, substance and spectacle of the sport, and have been informed by the findings of a FOTA-commissioned survey of Formula One audiences across 17 countries. These findings will also be unveiled tomorrow.

Following its formation last September, FOTA created three working groups, whose remit has been to focus on the technical, sporting and commercial aspects of Formula One and recommend developments in each of those areas, in conjunction with the FIA and FOM.

14-Nov-08: Rumours Surface of Ecclestone’s Split with Wife

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Today is the 14th November 2008, and this is F1 Minute.

A number of UK newspapers are reporting that Bernie Ecclestone’s wife Slavica has moved out of the family home, and the possibility seems to be pretty high that a divorce will follow. Apparently Ms Ecclestone moved out whilst Bernie was at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Whilst what happens in Bernie’s personal life isn’t really any of our business, this could be the UK’s most expensive divorce and it may even affect the ownership of Formula 1.

The Telegraph is reporting that Bernie says his wife moved out due to the noise of building works next door, and he doesn’t know if divorce is on her mind or not. Slavica won’t comment on rumours that she has already spoken to lawyers.

Elsewhere today, there is talk that organisers of the Chinese Grand Prix are considering not extending their contract post 2010, as ticket sales have been poor, sponsors may be pulling out, and of course, costs are only ever going to go up.

That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

07-Oct-08: Canadian Grand Prix Dropped from ‘09 Calendar

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It’s the 7th October 2008, and you’re listening to F1 Minute.

The shock news of the day is that the FIA have confirmed the calendar for 2009, and have dropped the Canadian Grand Prix. Teams have got back the summer break that they were looking for, but we will no longer be heading to North American shores.  Both the Belgian and Italian races have been shuffled by a week as well. Back to the Canadian GP, though, and organisers say that they weren’t informed of this decision ahead of time. They released a short statement that said they had only learnt of it through the media, and would therefore not be commenting until they’d spoken to the FIA and FOM. Needless to say they’re not happy.

Elsewhere today, Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that they will be going back to the old lollipop pit system at this week’s Japanese Grand Prix. After many, many pit lane incidents in the last few races, Domenicali says: “We need to stay calm so we’ve decided to go back to the old system.”

That’s it for today, please join me tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

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