Some more news:
New Renault fails FIA crash tests
By Jonathan Noble Friday, January 9th 2009, 12:25 GMT
The launch of Renault's new R29 will go ahead as planned later this month despite the team failing mandatory crash tests with their new car, autosport.com has learned.
The French car manufacturer are due to unveil their 2009 challenger at the Portimao track in Portugal on January 19, ahead of extensive testing with the new car.
However, sources have revealed to autosport.com that preparations with the machine have not gone perfectly with the team failing two of the three crash tests that are mandatory by the FIA.
It is understood the car failed the nose test and the side impact test - and there are suggestions that one of the team's new chassis was actually written off in one of the failed tests.
A team spokeswoman confirmed that the tests had been failed, but insisted that engineers know what went wrong and the issues have been solved - meaning the car should get the green light when it is re-tested.
"It is something not at all unusual," said the spokeswoman. "However, we have identified the problem and solved it. The car will be testing in Algarve on January 19."
The failing of crash tests for teams is not too rare as they push the limits of how much weight to save in their chassis construction.
It is believed that Renault have been forced to press the margins of their car to the edge this year as a result of the extra weight that comes from their new Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS).
Renault have shown in the past, however, that crash test problems do not necessarily impact on their ultimate performance during the season. In 2005 they failed a side impact test at their first attempt but still went on to win the world championship.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72688___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Toro Rosso confirm Buemi for 2009
By Pablo Elizalde Friday, January 9th 2009, 14:53 GMT
Scuderia Toro Rosso have confirmed that Sebastien Buemi will be one of their racing drivers in the 2009 season.
The Swiss was already the favourite to secure one of the seats after having tested for Toro Rosso for several days during the winter.
The 20-year-old from Aigle is part of Red Bull's junior driver programme and last year competed in GP2.
"We are delighted to welcome Sebastien, who was already part of the Red Bull family, to our team," said team boss Franz Tost. "Our engineers have been impressed with his speed in the car and his ability to learn and progress during the testing he has carried out for us last year.
"That, along with some impressive performances in GP2 was enough to convince us to give him the drive. His appointment also fulfils the aims of the Red Bull Junior Driver programme and meets Dietrich Mateschitz's intention to use Scuderia Toro Rosso as a showcase for young drivers the company has supported in the lower formulae."
Buemi will make his debut as an official Toro Rosso driver in the test to be held at the Portimao circuit in Portugal later this month.
"I am naturally very happy to be driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso this year," said Buemi. "Being a Formula One driver has always been my target, since I first started racing.
"This year, I will do all I can to bring home the best possible results and to show Red Bull that the confidence it has shown in me is justified. I want to thank Red Bull for this opportunity and for all the help they have given me in my career, dating back to 2005."
Toro Rosso said Buemi's teammate would be announced in due time.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72695_________________________________________________________________________________
Di Resta rates F1 chances as 'very slim'
By Jonathan Noble Friday, January 9th 2009, 13:38 GMT
Paul di Resta reckons there is still a 'very slim' chance he will be involved in Formula One this year, as he awaits news about his future plans.
The Scotsman, who was a DTM title contender last season, has been linked with a test deal at McLaren and a race seat at Force India over the past few months. He had several tests for McLaren at the end of last year.
Although Force India have now confirmed their line-up, and new F1 testing restrictions will severely limit the chances for young drivers to get cockpit time, di Resta is still holding out hope of getting more grand prix opportunities.
"There is a very slim chance that things can happen," di Resta told autosport.com at the Autosport International Show.
"The main thing is I am involved with the McLaren-Mercedes family and there are different options in there. We are just pushing on to see what we can get to drive, who knows what it will bring in 2009."
It is understood that McLaren and Mercedes are weighing up what to do with di Resta for 2009. He could be handed a test deal, or could be placed in either DTM or GP2 as part of a thorough preparation for an F1 role in 2010.
When asked about what he would prefer, di Resta said: "For sure I know what I want to do, and I am sure people have their favourite options. But you have to be realistic and take the best opportunity when it comes."
Di Resta said he was simply happy to have become involved with both McLaren and Mercedes, after a stellar season in DTM.
"It is definitely great," he explained. "I have come on a tremendous amount. I cannot believe how much I have developed and how much things have changed in the last year. But, at the end of the day I am only doing my job and it is a job I love doing.
"For sure doing the stuff for McLaren is great. They are a fantastic group to be involved in and, at the end of the day, I am just trying to prove to them that given the chance I can do a good job."
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72691___________________________________________________________________
Klien not giving up on F1 racing future
By Pablo Elizalde Friday, January 9th 2009, 12:07 GMT
Christian Klien says his goal remains to secure a racing seat in Formula One, despite having being a test driver for three years now.
The Austrian made his grand prix debut with Jaguar in 2004 but was left without a racing seat in 2006 before joining Honda as a tester the following year.
Klien then moved to BMW Sauber, where he has been working as a test driver for the past two years.
Although the 25-year-old has not raced a grand prix car in three years, Klien admits his sights are still set on a return to racing.
"How could it not be?" said Klien when asked if his target was a race seat.
"F1 is my place and I have settled in really well in a fantastic environment," he told the official Formula One website.
"I am well aware that a second chance is often much harder to get than a first one, but I have something to offer that makes me confident that I can reach this goal.
"At 25, I have three years of F1 racing experience and I am now my third year of testing with a manufacturer F1 team. And the BMW Sauber F1 Team is really professional on all levels. They clearly see the benefit in a reserve driver actually going racing once in a while.
"That's why Mario Theissen was kind enough to let me race at Le Mans and Petit Le Mans/USA, to stay in shape and not lose focus."
With in-season testing banned from this season, Klien will have a lot less track time than before.
The Austrian, however, says his role during the winter will be more important than ever.
"Well, the 'downgrade' came along with a massive 'upgrade' in responsibility in winter testing. I got to drive a lot over the winter and the duties were pretty evenly split between Robert, Nick and me," he added.
"If you compare this to other teams' regimes, I cannot complain at all. I take that as a sign of faith. And once the season is underway, my job does not end. I will still be fully involved, and mentally and physically fit to jump into the race seat whenever needed."
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72686
- By darwin dali