RD1 on Toyota, Kimi, and Canada, EH!
December 4, 2009 by Grace
Filed under Parc Fermé, Redoubtable by Grace, Top Story
Welcome back to another edition of RD1’s view on the world of Formula 1. First up is my favorite story this week: Toyota.
About a month ago, Toyota publicly announced that it was stepping out of F1 for good, despite having signed the Concorde agreement which binds the company to Bernie until 2012. The backlash of that decision is yet to be worked out. Then this week we get a story that Toyota is trying to sell off or lease pretty much everything it has from the intellectual property of the 2010 car to the driver Kamui Kobayashi. You’re including a driver in your package? That’s like selling a house and including the kids! It’s one thing to push off inanimate objects but a human being? And I get it, drivers are viewed more like commodities than people but it was just crazy sounding. Can you imagine that negotiation session… And if that’s not enough, Toyota has also said that it wouldn’t get involved in the business of selling off its grid spot to another team. That’s the FIA’s job and not there’s which is good since the FIA made a smart decision and sold it to Sauber. I know I speak for everyone here when I say welcome back Peter!
Next: Kimi Raikkonen
Kimi is officially going to the World Rally Championship with Red Bulls sponsored Citroen junior team and I personally couldn’t be more excited. This is win-win for both Kimi and WRC because it keeps Kimi racing and leave a door open to come back to F1 with Red Bull and it gives WRC the much needed boost in the racing world. Even if Kimi manages mid-pack all season, think of what that will do to the general interest and viewership of rally racing! Seriously, how many of us tuned in to NASCAR just to see how Jepem would do? Sure, after a couple races we got bored and moved on but maybe this will help get people hooked on what is a great series. Now if only they could get that Rossi guy in a Ford, the series would be set!
And finally: I’d be remised if I didn’t mention that the 2010 calendar will officially include the Canadian Grand Prix! So everyone start saving your money and your annual leave and prepare for a weekend of awesomeness. Hopefully, in the off season we hear at F1B can get our acts together and organize an official something or other for the race, in addition to doing some write ups on the race itself. Have gone to both Canada and Indy – Canada is the better race hands down. From the fans, to the nightlife, to the all day at the track watching racing – its a must do. So keep a watchful eye to the sky and check back regularly.
That’s it for now – RD1 out.
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Toyota must have been channeling their inner Billy Mays “Order now and we’ll give you all our our technical IP, BUT THAT’s NOT ALL!…”
Koba seems the rookie of the year, and he can also cook sushi.. as he said if he don’t get a drive this is his plan b! so, if usf1 muppets hasn’t got yet a car could thinking about, with you tube money, buy a toyota and a japanese driver for the american team!! ;))
Japanese Car & Japanese Driver – That will be the ulitimate thing to do galvanize support of common Americans behind the USF1 team.
Anyways American Masses Should be on #1 Discovery/Nat Geo’s “Biggest Mysteries of the World”. They will support their local “Football” team that gets whooped week in week out and won’t give hoot to Olympic Medalist in Athletics or Soccer team that came sooo close to whooping World Champs Brazil. I guess even if USF1 does a Brawn and Kamui does a Button for them ( I mean in winning WDC) President won’t invite them to White-house :D
Grace,
We’d be happy to have you back in Canada! You can make up easily make up any ill generated by your forgetting of our Thanksgiving! ;-) We can all be thankful there’s a race in North America!
Amen Ward!
Anyone have recommendations on where to get tickets from?
I haven’t been so perhaps Grace has an idea or can tell you where she got hers last time. I also assume Andy will have a Canadian GP thread in the forum with all the details and choice viewing spots.
The circuit itself has set up a “let me know when you have tickets available” page: https://www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca/grandprix-en/ (English version)
I bought them straight from the track. I’m sure other people have other ways that are cheaper but I’m not that adventurous. I’m hoping they’ll let me have first dibs on my old seats despite the year off!