Bob Barnard Track Engineering

Just when we have a World Endurance Championship back one of the key players decides to quit! Peugeot say they are stopping to concentrate on their brand launches, but I do not buy that for a minute. What better place to showcase your brands? Are they afraid that the ACO might finally get the equivalence formula correct? After such a successful season it is hard to believe they won't think they can be competitive next year. It is also hard to think that Toyota is scaring them off, they have a hybrid of their own. Can't wait to see what emerges out of this. Presumably Audi is still in, they ran a long time as the only car to beat, and they have the new car being tested already. I for one will miss those gorgeous 908s.

Elsewhere the big news is New Jersey appoints a President and COO, so something is finally being seen to happen. Damon Hill has come out and endorsed the Bahrain F1 GP being staged, and he has been there to see for himself, so what he says must be taken seriously. The track recently reinstated those staff "fired" early last year, and there are steps being taken to democratize the place. Now we have to see if the opposition agrees.

At the same time the Nurburgring announces 100 jobs cut from the staff, how many do they have for goodness sake? No wonder they are losing money. They hope to stage a GP in 2013. Bernie has been off for a little private meeting with the Valencia President about their race fees, and presumably the sharing of the race with Barcelona. No wonder Bernie is pushing to have Bahrain back.

On the day when those heroes on the World Motorsport Council vote to reinstate Bahrain, unanimously, our National Radio Broadcaster, NPR had the following item.

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/03/136912868/bahrain-accuses-doctors-of-exaggerating-protesters-injuries

Nice one guys, you just proved what a bunch of gutless individuals you are. How can a vote on something so contentious be "unanimous?" Is this just a case of we must all be seen to be in this together? Is Bernie right when he says it's not about the money? There has to be something else going on here.

The only person with the courage of his convictions is Damon Hill, and why are we not surprised. Damon's quote is spot on.

"It is important that Formula One is not seen to be only interested in putting on the show, whatever the circumstances, " Hill concluded. "You can't just base your decision to hold a race in a country on that country's ability to pay."

Hill's comments come in the light of another flippant remark from Bernie Ecclestone. He told CNN: "What's our problem in the world at the moment? Too many over-educated people. If we can find a way to do something about that then a lot of our problems will disappear." Oh Bernie, how can you? How can CVC allow this to go on?

Again I find myself in agreement with Max Mosely. He said reinstating Bahrain "would represent 'a public relations disaster' for the sport – asserting that if he was still FIA President, the grand prix would be rescheduled 'over my dead body." Well said.

Well I for one am not going to watch it and urge others to do the same. It is India I feel sorry for. They now face the prospect of trying to sell tickets while the teams are saying a race on Dec 11 is impossible for their staff. If they stick to their guns they will not go, but they have not shown any willingness to stand up to Bernie to date.