Formula One News — October 2001

Jacques Nasser has as expected been replaced as chief executive of the Ford Motor Company by William Clay Ford Jr.

Pepsico Beverages International is to return to Formula 1 with its 7Up brand.

Bondholders of EM.TV are concerned about the plan for the company to swap its remaining stake in Formula One holding company SLEC for Kirch's share in Junior TV.

Renault and Nissan have announced a strengthening of their relationship with the French car company increasing its share in the Japanese company to 44.4% and Nissan acquiring 15% of Renault's shares.

Vitanonio Liuzzi claimed the 2001 World Karting Championship at Kerpen on Sunday for the CRG team.

Alex Zanardi has left hospital in Berlin six weeks after the accident at the Lausitzring CART event in which he lost both his legs.

As we reported exclusively, the European Commission has officially dropped its anti-trust investigation into Formula 1 racing.

The Formula 1 team may not be doing much but British American Tobacco continues to make big profits, registering a nine percent increase in the sale of its big brands and profits in the first nine months of the year of over $3bn.

As we suggested in August, the McLaren International F1 team has signed a long-term deal to switch from Bridgestone to Michelin tires from the start of the 2002 season.

Silverstone is to host rounds of the World Superbike and motorcycle Endurance World Championships next year.

The European Union Competition Commission investigation into Formula One and the rule-making structure of the FIA is finally over, after seven years of uncertainty.

The departure from the top of the Ford Motor Company of Jacques Nasser is a massive shake-up for the Detroit giant and the implications of the move will take several months to filter down through the company.

Volkswagen is to have a new image-maker at the end of the year, following the announcement that the current head of communications at the Hannover company Klaus Kochs is to leave.

It is expected to be announced later today that Jacques Nasser has been dropped as president and chief executive of the Ford Motor Company.

Williams BMW and PepsiCo Beverages International (PBI) announced a multi-year partnership agreement Tuesday which will include advertising and promotional activity.

Newly crowned F3000 Champion Justin Wilson is looking to the US and the possibility of driving a champcar in 2002 after losing his bid for the second Jordan seat.

The Renault car company is trying to help France rebuild its shattered image as a supplier of F1 drivers.

The FIA International Court of Appeal which met in Paris last week took only a few minutes to decide to accept the appeal of Jordan Grand Prix against the decision of the FIA Stewards to exclude Jarno Trulli from the results of the United States GP in Indianapolis.

The Williams F1 squad scored a victory and incurred a setback today with the news that aerodynamicist Geoff Willis has taken a position as Technical Director of the British American Racing operation.

Jon Vannini is not a well-known figure in international motor racing, but he is one of the biggest shareholders of the CART organization, having invested around $15m in the business.

The chief executive of CART set tongues wagging in Australia when he remarked that he would like to see CART and Formula 1 cars racing on the same circuit on the same weekend.

The FIA's International Court of Appeal has upheld the Jordan-Honda team's appeal against Jarno Trulli's exclusion from fourth place in the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

Jordan Grand Prix has won its appeal against the decision by the FIA Stewards at Indianapolis.

The International Court of Appeal will announce Saturday afternoon the verdict on the disqualification of Jarno Trulli from the United States Grand Prix in September.

One of the great benefits of having major car companies involved in the front-line F1 business is the amount of encouragement they offer to promising stars of the future.