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:hehe:In a bizarre twist on the usual pre-race release, full of platitudes for the circuit and region to be visited in the coming days and equally replete with the hopes and optimism of a good result to boost a flagging campaign, Red Bull Racing has decided that its French Grand Prix preview should do its bit for Anglo-French relations....
What follows is an unexpurgated version of the team's take on Magny-Cours, Nevers and France in general....
"According to American writer Mark Twain "France has usually been governed by prostitutes", which is a bit unfair, when everyone knows France has been governed by Asterix the Gaul, his son Charles de Gaulle, Sacha Distel, Brigitte Bardot, that actor with a big nose and singer Johnny Halliday.
"Ah! la belle France. The return to Europe for what will be the bulk of the season sees us in the country that can claim to have invented grand prix racing around a century ago.
"Unfortunately, the area around the Magny-Cours circuit does not seem to have changed much over those hundred years, and the social scene at this event is about the dullest of the year. It is a great place if you like to look at cows and, of course, being French cows, they are very chic, with lovely long eyelashes and a tan skin colour.
"Apart from the drivers, who get to hang out in a modern hotel outside the circuit gates, everyone else is scattered around the local countryside, staying in accommodation that the travel agents describe as 'picturesque'. Picturesque is evidently French for 'broken plumbing and dangerous electricity'.... However, the run-down old chateaux do showcase what France does best, namely food and drink, and sipping a cold drink in a landscaped garden is a pleasant way to end the day, after the usual round of bars and restaurants in North America.
"The nearest town to the circuit is Nevers and, if you pronounce it the English way, it perfectly describes how many times people want to come back here. For years, the F1 community was spoilt, as the French Grand Prix used to be held down on the Riviera at the Paul Ricard circuit, which provided plenty of beach time, once the working day was over. The French, therefore, have never been forgiven for moving the race to an industrial estate in the middle of the countryside, in an attempt to make it a technology hot spot. A referendum in the paddock about the circuit would produce the same result as the recent French vote on accepting the European constitution....
"There is nothing much wrong with the circuit itself, which boasts the smoothest track surface of the season, offers excellent safety for the drivers and has a spacious and immaculate paddock. The French round of the world championship often has trouble getting a good crowd as most of the population has escaped to the coast for les vacances, and the race date clashes with the Wimbledon tennis finals weekend and the first week of the Tour de France cycle race. This year, the grand prix will also lack a local hero as, for the first time in many years, there is not a single French driver on the F1 grid, although Olivier Panis is being given a run in the third Toyota during Friday practice. Finally, for those of you planning to travel to Magny-Cours for this race, here are some useful tourism tips:
Nearest airport - Paris
Nearest decent nightclub - Paris
Sightseeing - Arc de Triomphe - in Paris (do not bother with the Eiffel Tower until they have removed the scaffolding)"
Notably, neither drivers not team management saw fit to add their own personal views on the circuit and its surroundings, so they, at least, should be allowed into the country ahead of the grand prix....
Comments
This was standing in Breda at a GPSHOP where Christijan had a
meet&greet with/for his fans, it was very nice to met Christijan again, he always take alot of time for everybody!
Every fan could speak to him or ask to sign some Merchandising!
This is his youngest fan
The boy was crying before Christijan picked him up, when he saw Christijan smiling to him he starts to smile to, look at his proud father hehe!
But back to Magnycours, the question is?
Are we able to fight with the new Jordans??
I think if Minardi can get 3 seconds behind the topteams they are doing a great Job!
And ofcourse tommorow is important what the Fia will do to punish the Michellin teams and wich affect this is will have on the french GP!
I think the Ferrari's will be dominate for the first time of the season.
Hope Patrick will get a better grip!!!
Ciao
( if you want to see more pictures about Christijan Meet&greet look at www.gpworld.nl
[Edited on 28/6/2005 by MinardiSquad]
BTW: next friday I'm off for a short holiday in France....- cycling offcourse- in Bretagne. Hope the weather will hold a bit.
@ MinardiSquad: And who is that on the right then??;)
Are you proud of your kid or because you are standig next to CA? :P
Not nice of you to put him that helmet on though!!
Are you proud of your kid or because you are standig next to CA? :P
Not nice of you to put him that helmet on though!!
[/quote]
Sorry but i am not the guy next to Chris and its not my kid, I have no kids jet:hehe:!
No, i was standing at the side when this picture was taken.
I don't know who did the Albers helmet, maybe the shop owner himself.
Maybe its some wishfull thinking for 2007 when some believe that maybe Christijan wil be driving for Mclaren, Christijan is still linked to Mercedes and they are watching him, their has been some contact with Nobert Haug in october to discuss wich way would be the best step to get in Formule 1, they wanted to be part of that, and also to advice Christijan before taking steps, their was also a change that Christijan was able to be the test driver for Mclaren if Wurz was joing Redbull or Jordan.
I think Albers is a guy who can be handy for a team like Mclaren, he is fast and does not make many mistakes, he got the technical abilities and he is smart.
And ofcourse he is good in his PR , something that counts with Mclaren.
His engineer at Minardi said some good things about him, He said that Christijan is showing some quality's that you not see often with beginners, he asks smart (but easy) questions about the car that helps the Minardi guys to understand the car and get it quicker.
We will see what will happen to Albers, i hope he stays with Minardi for next year.
[Edited on 28/6/2005 by MinardiSquad]