The Grand Prix winter is almost something of the past. The first Grand Prix will take place on
18 March in Australia. All the teams showed off their new cars before or during the first test sessions at the Circuito de Jerez in Spain. Here are a few of the main contenders for the 2012 championship.

Where did it all start for this humble Pretoria-born genius who achieved more than most in the competitive world of Formula One?

After completing his studies in chemistry at the Witwatersrand University, Rory set up a small business importing performance components in the late 1960s. His first effort at designing a racing car – a Formula Ford -came in 1972 and it did reasonably well in the local championship.

He joined Royale in the UK in 1974 and after a four-year stint as the team’s designer, he moved to Toleman, who competed in Formula Two.  Even with limited funds at their disposal, Toleman moved into Formula One, signing up a young Ayrton Senna at the end of 1983. With a Byrne-designed Toleman, Senna almost achieved the impossible by coming close to winning the rain-drenched 1984 Monaco Grand Prix.

Benetton bought the Toleman outfit in 1985 and with more boodle, resources and the most powerful engine in the form of the in-line, four cylinder, turbocharged, BMW engine at his disposal, Rory was on his way to success. The very next year, Gerhard Berger clinched the first win for himself, for the team and for a Rory Byrne-designed car at the Mexican Grand Prix.

The team won only five more races during the following five seasons. Michael Schumacher joined the team towards the end of 1991, winning his first drivers' title in 1994. In 1995 Michael/Benetton secured both titles before the season ended.

With Michael leaving the Benetton outfit to join Ferrari, Rory announced that he would retire at the end of 1996. 

Rory’s planned retirement didn’t last long though. He was lured back into the fray by Ferrari and with Michael driving and Ross Brawn managing the team, there was no stopping the English-speaking boertjie from Pretoria. Ferrari dominated Formula One from 1999 to 2004. They won races and championships as they pleased, setting a record never achieved by any other team before or since.

Rory retired from car design a second time at the end of the 2004 season, and since then has been a part-time consultant to Ferrari and has recently become a special engineering advisor to Discovery Insure.

It’s time for the interview. Over a finger lunch in the pits at Kyalami, Rory answers the questions fired at him with the utmost ease and to the point.  It is obvious that he has done this before.

Are you enjoying your retirement?
Although I retired at the end of 2004, I am as busy as ever. I’m contracted to Ferrari as a consultant for a hundred days per year. I concentrate on future projects regarding Formula One and their road cars. I also act as special engineering advisor for Discovery Insure on all the new and exciting products they are bringing to the market.

Where are you based nowadays?
My wife and two kids live in Phuket in Thailand. It’s the closest you’ll ever get to heaven on earth. I try to be there as often as possible.

Do you get excited about the post-Byrne era in Formula One?
Times have moved on. The tyre situation made it better but we lost an exciting dimension when refuelling was stopped. Although Vettel completely dominated this season, the racing was good because of the introduction of the DRS (drag reduction system) and the different tyre characteristics.

If you could introduce any changes to the rules for Formula One, what would it be?
We should try and limit the negative effect of so-called dirty air created by a car. This dirty air prevents a driver from getting too close to the car in front of him. This can be achieved by allowing more under-body changes that will allow more downforce for the car following another one. Unfortunately that will require a lot of research and research costs money. Only four teams have the budgets to do it properly, which will leave the others trailing even further behind.

Who is more important for a team to win races, the designer or the driver?
The designer brings about 80 per cent to the table. The driver about 20 per cent.

If you were running your own team, who would be on your driver wish list?
Vettel is very good. Alonso has all the traits that are necessary. He is really excellent. Hamilton is a racer, but he is hard on his tyres.

Is Vettel a better driver than what Michael Schumacher was?
I can’t say whether Vettel is better or not. In another five or ten years time it may be possible to make a judgement.

Was it a wise move for Michael to return to Formula One?
Michael enjoys racing. That’s why he came back. For no other reason. Also bear in mind that the car he drove during the last two years wasn’t a race winner.

Are you still in contact with Michael?
We see each other from time to time. The last time was at Monza last year.

Being a consultant for Ferrari, what can you tell us about their 2012 Formula One car?
I’m positive that the car will be a good step forward compared to last year’s.

Can you give us more detail?
No.

What will happen to Formula One if and when Bernie Ecclestone departs from the scene? Nothing will change. Formula One might be run by a committee, which will inevitably lead to longer decision periods, but little will change.

Sebastien Ogier wasn’t a happy camper at Citroën during the 2011 World Rally Championship (WRC) season. At times he was asked – no, instructed – to slow down to let team-mate Sebastien Loeb overtake him. This annoyed Ogier no end.

It became obvious that he would be seeking fame and fortune elsewhere and rumours were doing the rounds that he would go to Ford as team-mate for Jari-Matti Latvala (see story below).

Then came the big news. Sebastien Ogier, the 27-year-old from France, will be a Volkswagen driver when the German manufacturer makes its WRC debut in 2013. He will spend next season developing the firm’s Polo R WRC alongside co-driver Julien Ingrassia, after a signing a long-term contract.

His name is Glynn Hall, Toyota SA’s motorsport manager. Glynn and his capable team designed, built and developed the two Toyotas for the forthcoming Dakar. One of the most approachable people in local motorsport, Glynn is as unassuming as they come. His record is vast and impressive and he and all those involved deserve all the support from each and every South African that will be glued to their TV screens during the 2012 Dakar Rally.
 

French car manufacturer Renault has pulled the plug on its F1 team for 2012, according to AUTOSPORT, the leading publication in the world of F1. However, it isn’t the end of Renault in the top category of the sport. The company will continue to supply engines for other teams such as Lotus, Williams and Red Bull Racing.

Although the French car manufacturer will officially cease to have its own team in 2012, with the Renault outfit set to be renamed as Lotus, company CEO Carlos Ghosn believes that the push for the company to become just an engine supplier is a much better approach.

"We are not here to compete in F1,” said Ghosn. “We are here to sustain our name, our brand, our technology and our image of a reliable car manufacturer.”

Renault enjoyed great success with its own F1 team, winning back-to-back world championships in 2005 and 2006. 

When asked if the days of Renault as an F1 constructor are over, Ghosn said: "Yes.”    

Reminds one of the English cabinet minister. When reminded that he had said no to a question two weeks earlier to which he replied yes later on, the gentleman said: “You must remember there are various connotations to the word no.”  

When it suits Renault, they will be back as the official Renault F1 Team. Maybe long after Ghosn is gone.

If you read between the lines, Hamilton is conveying a strong message to the people at McLaren, who groomed him for greatness from a very young age. In fact, from when he was still racing carts. “Pay me more if you want to keep me,” is what Lewis is telling them. Rest assured, McLaren will respond with a bigger pot of gold for Hamilton.

It makes you wonder, isn’t it? If you are a former world champion and winning races for your team, you can, by being clever, create your own wealth.

All you do is ask a team boss from another team - one you are buddies with - to start spreading rumours that you will be joining his team the following season. If you are in favour with the people at the team you are driving for at present - which Hamilton undoubtedly is at McLaren - they will do everything to keep you. Even pay you what you demand.

Let’s face it, the rich will always strive - and survive.

No wonder a former outspoken team owner, Eddie Jordan, once said: “Formula One drivers are the biggest braggers, cheapskates and scoundrels of all time.”
  

 
The team removed the barcode design from the side of its car in 2010 following controversy about it being subliminal advertising for Marlboro.

The official name of the team therefore remains Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro.
 

 
"Leaving a team and a sport that I love and then seeing the consequences of my actions on the McLaren and Ferrari teams and their fans was devastating.”

A noble man, but it might be wise for the people at Williams to keep the password for their computer out of Mr Coughlan’s reach.
 

Nokia will team up with the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) as part of a new multi-year partnership announced recently by WRC promoter North One Sport.

Nokia’s technology will bring an exciting new experience to the sport’s fans flocking to the stages and following the action on WRC.com by providing an exclusive mobile application, providing access to video footage, live standings and car telemetry data.

The WRC Live application by Nokia will help fans keep up to date with the performance of their favourite teams, track their position on Nokia maps, as well as bringing the latest news, stories, and up-to-date information on the WRC calendar. The app can be downloaded for free from the Nokia Ovi Store http://store.ovi.com/content/128268 .
 

In doing so, they exceeded the previous world record, held by United States Superbike rider Clint Ewing, by ten per cent.

“It proved to be too little,” De Kock said recently.

“When we submitted proof of our run to the Guinness Record Book administrators, we found out that somebody in India had recently ridden through a 67-metre long tunnel. Losing out on the world record by less than three metres is ludicrous. We shall now ride through a 100-metre long fire tunnel, putting the whole matter beyond dispute,” he added.

De Kock said that Schoeman and himself had always planned to ride through a 100-metre tunnel, but a lack of funds put an end to that goal.

“We ran out of money for steel to build the tunnel’s framework beyond 66 metres, and had to settle on that distance. This time, we shall raise funds beforehand, so that we do not have to beg people for the materials we need,” he said.

The fundraising programme has started, with the Biltong Cafe establishment in Ontdekkers Road, Krugersdorp as focal point.

The Biltong Cafe, a favourite watering hole for Gauteng motorcyclists, will host various concerts and get-togethers to raise the needed funds.

To find out more, contact Liza on 083 949 7335 or the Biltong Cafe on 082 080 5668.
 

Motorsport South Africa (MSA), the controlling body of motorsport in the country has set up a trust fund for Deon van der Merwe, the photographer who was injured at the HMC Hencom Autobody Rally in Bronkhorstspruit in May.

Deon, aged 41, was run over in stage six of the event and airlifted to the Pretoria East Hospital, where he is still being treated.

Francois Pretorius, CEO of MSA said that Deon is the breadwinner with a family of eight, including foster children as well as the children of his deceased sister-in-law. “His wife Annalene, told us that Deon runs an IT business and that they are obviously feeling the financial burden with the loss of his income, coupled with the medical expenses,” Pretorius said.

Francois and Richard Leeke, president of the rally commission, called on motorsport stakeholders to assist and make contributions to the trust fund, which has been opened at MSA.

The Fund will be administered at MSA and disbursements made to the Van der Merwe family.

The account number is:
Name: Motorsport South Africa
Bank: NEDBANK
Account nr: 168 607 6703
Branch code: 168 642
Reference: DEON