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Thursday, 26 July 2012 06:23 |
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Page 1 of 14  Formula One driver quotes ahead of the race at the Budapest circuit.
ust one week after Fernando Alonso’s superb victory at the German Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver will resume his quest to land a third Formula One Drivers’ World Championship title at the Hungaroring, the scene of his first Grand Prix victory.
The Hungarian Grand Prix has been on the Formula 1 calendar since 1986 and the tight and twisting confines of the track present teams with a challenge similar to that encountered in Monaco, how to maximise high downforce performance.
With 14 corners and just one real straight, teams will be aiming for high levels of aerodynamic grip but will also be looking for optimum levels of mechanical grip. Hence, Pirelli will bring its Supersoft and Soft tyres to Hungary. However, finding good grip here isn’t easy. The circuit is used infrequently and as such grip levels are always low at the start of the weekend. The evolving nature of the track makes finding the perfect set-up difficult.
The weather also plays its part. Hungary can be extremely hot in midsummer and the high temperatures mean tyre degradation and wear rates can be a factor. The Supersoft tyre will extract maximum grip but it could the durability of the Soft that decides the outcome.
As mentioned, the Hungaroring holds good memories for Fernando Alonso, but a number of title contenders will be hoping to colour the Ferrari driver’s perception of the circuit. In the title race, Alonso may be 34 points ahead of Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber and a further 10 clear of defending champion Sebastian Vettel but a single mistake through any of the circuit’s snaking turns could see that lead eroded in an instant.
For the championship leader it will simply be a case of recapturing past glories and if he can do that he will go into Formula 1’s traditional post-Hungary break with a commanding championship lead. It should be a fascinating race.
2012 Hungary - FIA schedule of weekend press conferences
| Date |
Time |
Guest |
| Thursday |
15h00 |
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham F1)
Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus F1)
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber F1)
Pastor Maldonado (Williams F1)
Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F1) |
| Friday |
16h00 |
Andrew Green (Force India)
Luis Perez Sala (HRT F1)
Rémi Taffin (Renault Sport F1)
Martin Whitmarsh (McLaren)
Toto Wolff (Williams F1) |
| Saturday |
Post qualifying * |
Three fastest drivers from qualifying |
| Sunday |
Post race * |
First three finishing drivers |
2012 Hungary - FIA Formula 1 race stewards
DANNY SULLIVAN FORMER Formula 1 DRIVER
US racer Danny Sullivan made his Formula One debut with Tyrrell at the 1983 Brazilian Grand Prix. He raced just one season in Formula 1, scoring a best result of fifth at the Monaco Grand Prix. In 1984, Sullivan returned to the US where he resumed a successful Indy Car career. He is perhaps best known for his ‘spin and win’ victory at the 1985 Indianapolis 500, where he passed leader Mario Andretti, survived a 360 degree spin, and then caught and re-passed Andretti to claim the Borg-Warner Trophy. He won the Indy Car World Series title in 1988. After 17 victories from 170 Indy Car starts he drew a line under his open wheel career in 1995. He finished third in the Le Mans 24 Hours in a Dauer Porsche 962 in 1994. He made four starts at Le Mans, the most recent being 2004, a year he also competed in the European Le Mans Series and ALMS.
DR. GERD ENNSER MEMBER OF THE DMSB’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Dr. Gerd Ennser has successfully combined his formal education in law with his passion for motor racing, to become a motor sport official. He began helping manage a local motor sport club while still active as a racing driver and since 2006 he has been a permanent steward at every round of Germany’s DTM series. Since last year he has also worked as a Formula One steward at Grands Prix. Dr. Ennser, who has worked as a judge, a prosecutor and in the legal department of an automotive industry company, has also been a member of the steering committee of German motor sport body, the DMSB, since spring 2010, where he is responsible for automobile sport. In addition, Dr. Ennser is a board member of the South Bavaria Section of Germany’s biggest auto club, the ADAC.
RADOVAN NOVAK SEC. GENERAL OF THE ACCR
Radovan Novak has been actively involved in motorsport since 1963 and rose to become Secretary General of the ACCR in 1990. Since 1991 he has held the role of President of the FIA Central Europe Zone and over the past two decades he has acted as a steward and observer in WRC and ERC rallies, EC autocross and rallycross events and WTCC and GT races. He has been a Formula One steward since 1994. From 1994 to 2006, he was a member of the FIA Off road Commission and was made a member of the World Motor Sport Council in 1998. In 2000 he became a member of the Sport Commission at the Ministry of Sport of the Czech Republic. An avid racer and co-driver, Radovan Novak has won a number of Czech rallying events.
 Picture credit FIA
F1SA.com
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