Formula One News — December 2000

THE ever-increasing importance of motor racing as a media business rather than as a sport has been highlighted in recent hours not only by Leo Kirch decision to buy into the Formula One group of companies but also by the announcement from the United States of America that CART has taken on a new chief executive in Joseph Heitzler, a former TV executive with CBS Sports.

British American Racing have announced that they are to launch a driver development programme to work alongside the current test team in 2001.

AS the Formula 1 team chiefs prepare to go to Monte Carlo later this week for a meeting of the Formula 1 Commission we hear that FIA President Max Mosley, who is against the proposal to allow more electronic systems in the sport, has circulated a letter to the teams suggesting that even more technology should be allowed - including traction-control, torque-steer systems, automatic starts and active-suspension.

HOCKENHEIM have submitted plans for an $26 million redevelopment plan which will see the circuit reduced by 30 per cent.

BRITISH AMERICAN RACING announced on Monday the signing of young Briton Anthony Davidson as their official test driver for 2001.

AS EM.TV's share price dived on Monday, the company announced plans to sell the rights to merchandise the characters from The Sesame Street educational TV program to a New York company called Sesame Workshop, which produces Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.

THE Renault car company is launching itself into the luxury car markets with the intention of going head-to-head with Mercedes, BMW and Jaguar.

EM.TV boss Thomas haffa thought that he had saved his company by making a deal with Leo Kirch. It was announced on Monday that Kirch has bought 16.74% of EM.TV and taken over almost all of Haffa's shares in Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One group of companies.

FORMULA 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is often involved in talks when teams are being sold and this week we hear Ecclestone was in New York talking to a large investment bank about buying the small Italian outfit which is currently floundering somewhat after the collapse of a deal between current owner Gabriele Rumi and the South American TV company PSN.

THE Benetton team sometimes has a weird way of doing business.

FIA President Max Mosley is well known for his acute political skills, but his latest proposals for the Formula 1 Commission have left even the F1 team bosses a little breathless.

ALTHOUGH the prime mover behind the Orange sponsorship of the Arrows F1 team Hans Snook is to stand down as chief executive of the company, the mobile phone firm is currently saying that the Formula 1 deal will continue.

THERE will be a lot of FIA activity in Monaco this week with the Formula 1 Commission meeting to discuss the rules of Grand Prix racing for the future and to decide other important issues such as whether or not Kimi Raikkonen is going to be granted a Superlicence.

THE most significant part of the announcement on Saturday that Silverstone has secured the British GP for the next 15 years was the fact that Silverstone is to be completely rebuilt.

IT will be some time before the financial details of the deal between Brands Hatch and Silverstone come to light but there is little doubt that Octagon, a subsidiary of the Interpublic Group and the owner of Brands Hatch, has taken agreed to a settlement which will see the British Grand Prix transferred to the Northamptonshire circuit for the next 15 years.

THE start of December traditionally marks a time of change in Formula 1 circles and this year in no exception.

THE future of the British Grand Prix has been secured after a peace agreement between the Brands Hatch and Silverstone circuits.

RICARDO ZONTA completed his first test for the Jordan team on Friday and reported no problems as he shook-down two chassis in wet conditions at the Silverstone circuit.

THE beleaguered German car company DaimlerChrysler AG has announced that it is cutting back production at its Chrysler facilities in the United States because of falling sales.

THE main Coca-Cola company has taken on a new advertising agency for 2001 and it is interesting to note that the job has gone to the Interpublic Group, which is involved in motor racing via its ownership of the Brands Hatch racing circuit.

THE rumors have been around since last Spring that Ferrari team coordinator Nigel Stepney will be moving to Jaguar Racing in 2001 but the Milton Keynes team says that this is not the case - although denials of rumors by Formula 1 teams these teams can never be believed as more often than not they prove to be incorrect.

BERNIE ECCLESTONE has been keeping busy in recent days with a trip to New York to try to sell the Minardi team to a large merchant bank and then a rush back to London for a meeting with the deputy chairman of the Kirch Group Dieter Hahn to discuss the details of a deal if Kirch as expected takes over the flailing EM.TV media company.

NEW Jaguar driver Luciano Burti will taste the Jaguar R-1B at Silverstone on Friday and the Brazilian is relishing the return of Formula One action.

ARROWS first testing session ahead of the 2001 season turned into a wash-out at a rain-hit Silverstone circuit on Friday.

THE FIA has issued its official entry list for the 2001 Formula 1 World Championship and while most of the names are as expected it is interesting to note that Arrows has nominated Jos Verstappen and Pedro de la Rosa and Sauber has nominated Kimi Raikkonen.