"Cato Batista" 24/06/2011 0:07:08 ID #71
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The seventh round is coming up in Valencia for the European GP, and after 3 years of processional races at this track we may be going for a downer compared to the thrills of lately.
It is a very particular circuit, a street course with very fast sections, many corners (25, the most in F1) a very short pitlane and no room to pass.
After its relative success in Montreal the FIA will implement again a double straightline for DRS activation with one detection zone. The use of a single detection zone means that a driver who is behind a rival in the detection zone can use his DRS both to overtake in the first activation zone and then to pull out a gap at the second.
Pirelli will introduce for the first time their medium compound (prime), looking to provide a tire with longer lifespan but only about a second slower than the shorter-life softs (option). The idea is to offer teams with different strategies to compensate for the notorious little overtaking at this layout. Had you noticed lately that KERS doesn’t get much attention?
In other news, the Hamilton controversy is still very much alive among the membership. There were divided opinions about his innocence when crashing into teammate Button in Canada, but hitting Webber in the first corner definitely didn`t help his case in front of the inquisitive eyes of the CFA Commission. One associate sent his picks under protest, another influential member has brought forward this razor-sharp criticism: ``Gotta say, if he were white and not British (a Belgian, say) and not driving for McLaren or (heaven forbid) Ferrari, he’d be banned for a race: six trips to the stewards in seven races?!? They wouldn’t tolerate that in any other series…. ``
We at the CFA may not tolerate another of his `miscalculations`, so don`t be surprised if he gets kick out of the standings one of these days.
The latest forecast calls for showers Friday and Sunday. Let’s keep an eye on that.
Until tomorrow
Cheers
Cato

Edited by Cato Batista 2011-06-24 00:49:46