Bob Barnard Track Engineering

Exhaust blown diffusers employing fuel ignited in the exhaust pipes are to be banned in F1 from Silverstone onward. It has only recently been explained to most of us mere mortals that there are two types of blown diffusers. The original one cut the fuel and ignition on braking but kept the engine turning over so gas flow remained over the diffuser. Otherwise the extra downforce went away during braking which is not a desirable outcome. This is "cold blown" and as I understand the FIA stance is acceptable. What someone, probably Adrian Newey, worked out was that hot gas worked way better, so cut the ignition but keep the fuel flowing which now ignites in the hot exhaust and gives a large increase in downforce. This uses a lot more fuel, not very green, and can only really be used freely in practice and qualifying as the cars do not have enough to waste like this in the race, which might explain why Red Bull has a big advantage in qualifying which disappears in the race.

I think the FIA were struggling to find a way under the current regulations to ban this and so have come up with the "movable aerodynamic device" deal, the movable piece being the drivers right foot when he takes it off the throttle. Stretching a bit here I think, as does Red Bull who are not happy. They say they need the fuel flow to cool the valves. Funny they did not need it till now? Like all smart ideas it is very expensive and once discovered will be banned.

Lewis is off today playing car swaps with Tony Stewart who was a great open-wheel driver before switching to NASCAR and should enjoy the McLaren around Watkins Glen. Not sure Lewis will enjoy that tractor called a NASCAR. Let's hope they are not on track at the same time, they are likely to run into each other. Lewis' management denies looking for a new ride for Lewis, but this reminds me of Senna leaving McLaren because Williams had a car he could win in. Some odd characters in the McLaren garage and hospitality by all accounts, as one journo said "you can see where Lewis' head is at right now." What does Ron make of all this?

In all the excitement of the Le Mans 24 Hour a couple of things went unsaid. Aston Martin put on a worse display than the Jaguar last year and heads should roll for it. I don't know if the Audi engine guy is right in saying the engine configuration is all wrong, but something is badly wrong at Aston when you cannot do more than three laps in a 24 Hour race! They came out before the race and said that they would probably not last beyond 12 hours, what a great ambition. I know everyone will say its a new car, but both the Audi and Peugeot were new cars this year, the Audi only running one 6 hour race prior to this, and they managed very nicely thank you. It is not as if the Aston was ever on the pace when it was running, which for an engineering company is a sad indictment.

The other story is the ongoing problem of equality between petrol and diesel. The petrol cars were never in the race, way off the 2% and the faster refueling did not help much as the gravity fed flow could not match the increased size of the hose, nice one ACO. Now the diesel guys will keep saying it is because there is no one running a petrol car as seriously as they are, and if there was you would see it up there with them. There is some truth to this, we have not seen a similar effort with a petrol car, but just maybe it is because they know the current rules make it a waste of money?

The news is all about regimes today. Bernie says we should extend the deadline for Bahrain to subdue the demonstrators. Is money really that important? Then there is the story that McLaren talked to Libya back in January. Shock and horror, how could they? As I recall in January Gaddafi was still everyone's flavor of the month, so why are Mclaren being so defensive. "Yes we considered it but no actual meetings took place." So what? Is Gadafi still on the UN Human Rights Commission or whatever it's called? Now when Kenny and I were nearly suckered into taking Libyan oil money in '93 for the US Motorcycle GP this was the reaction I expected.

Then there is the story that Sonangol, the Angolan oil company, is to sponsor something in F1 other than Ricardo Teixeira in F2. Why would be my question? I cannot see that it will generate business, it already sells its' oil to China and it is hard to imagine too many companies rushing in there. Attracting tourists? Don't think so. My daughter used to work in the oil business and went there. Lived in a guarded compound and was escorted to work every day, and not to mention the vaccinations for some nice tropical diseases. Personally I think charity, and sponsorship, begins at home. Clean up the environment from the mess of the oil business, build some schools and hospitals. Something worthwhile other than putting it in rich mens' pockets.

Peter Geran, a regular contributor, commented on my question about Ducati testing, saying he thought it was allowed as long as it was not the GP riders doing it. Are all the teams testing in that case? I know they have test riders, we see these mobile chicanes when the regulars are injured, but so do F1 teams and they do not test. Answers anyone?

Aston Martin is going testing with its Le Mans contender rather than racing at Spa. Given the problems they have had so far that seems like a very good idea.

Well the two events on this weekend produced some crazy action. If you have not seen it look at the youtube of the start of the LMS race.

So now we get reports of practice and qualifying from Paul Ricard LMS, and guess what, the Autosport story is about the Aston! Apparently it was there yesterday, just had engine trouble and did not run. Not that it is setting the world alight when it ran, six seconds off the pace and down with the LMP2 cars. Now it is brand new, but compare their debut with the Honda HPD at Sebring. The AF Corse Ferrari carried on where it left off at Sebring by topping the GTE standings, GT2 to most of us. The Rebellion Lola Toyota was fastest for your information, but it is close among the four, yes four, LMP1 cars.

If you thought I was being pessimistic about ALMS yesterday you need to read two excellent articles on Last Turn Club,

http://lastturnclub.com

Qualifying in Jerez for MotoGP was predictable with Stoner in front of Pedrosa, but only just. Perdosa is not likely to last the distance at a pace to worry Stoner, but Lorenzo is lurking right there, and Spies has found something to be fourth, but crashed. Valentino's good run came to an end with a crash and he ended up twelth. How many more times can he afford to crash before he says enough? Young Bradl took the pole again for Moto2, but there are 40 machines on the grid and the top 28 are covered by 2 seconds, should be some race.

Let us all wish Nicolas Hamilton well in his race debut in the Clio Cup at Brands Hatch this weekend, with big brother flying in to watch. As most will know Nicolas has Cerebral Palsey so is an example to us all to never let adversity stop us from achieving our ambitions.

So Bob Varsha, "how do ya like them apples?" Kimi is confirmed for NASCAR trucks in Kyle Busch's team no less! No mention of the Gillette connection now. Nothing like starting in a top team with a good teacher. I think Kyle and Kimi will get on well. Even I might watch that.

To follow on my personal news I am in the process of forming of a unique motorsport service for would-be and existing track owners, team owners and car collectors. I have invited some of the world's best and most experienced individuals and companies to join with me to offer a one-stop ability to provide a complete range of services from feasibility through design and construction, operations and maintenance, vehicle preparation, storage and detailing, team management, school operations, food and beverage, ticketing and credentials, race series and race direction and event management. You name it I have the people, currently a total of thirty, all known to me personally and among the best, if not the best, in their field. Any or all will be available to collaborate on a project, conduct due diligence, inspect facilities and conduct operational and financial reviews.

Joe Saward followed up where I left off on Bernie's idea of purposely engineering wet races. Encouraged no doubt by Pirelli coming out in support of the idea Joe has really said it all in today's blog on how desperate F1 is becoming.

Check it out at http://joesaward.wordpress.com/

I said Bernie should retire gracefully but Joe suggests he goes off to Las Vegas instead, but he tried that once didn't he? I really like the Ferrari tank though.

Mid-Ohio has finally been sold to Kim Green and his partner Kevin Savoree. Kim is an Australian who has lived and raced here in the US for a long time, most recently partnering with Michael Andretti in the IRL team and race promotions like St Petersburg until Michael kept the team and Kim took the promotions arm. I wish him luck with it, it is a tough sell making money from spectator races as we just have seen at Jerez.

Times are tough for other promoters too, with Korea severely reducing ticket prices to try and fill seats, and Singapore giving large early purchase discounts. Now the prices we are talking about would make the average NASCAR fan have a heart attack, $200 plus, with the most expensive $400. Korea is offering a 50% discount if you buy your ticket this month. Now they are saying they had 80,000 there last year, so doing the math at say an average of $300 a ticket that is $24m. Now Bernie's fee is north of $30m, probably more like $40m, so how do you make money on that? Halving the price even if it doubles the attendance only gets you back to square one. And Austin is going to make money?

Sad to hear that Aston Martin is not going to debut it's LMP1 car at Sebring this year. With Audi saving their new car for later that means Peugeot should have it all their own way, in theory.

Sorry to hear about Sir Jackie Stewart's health problems and hope he makes a full recovery.

And sorry the blog is late. I had an appointment this morning to go and look at some land for a track. Interesting and has potential, so we will see what sort of deal there is to be done.