Winter Updates 5

Greetings Internet,

Well here I am again, typing away in the darkened corner of blog HQ with an empty mug where tea should be, but such things are bereft from this part of the universe. But here in the little microcosm things have been a little busy hence why these posts have been delayed, a small matter of additional rehearsals has taken over a lot of the time. As I have managed to gain entry into a production featured in DDF 2012, it may only be a few lines with a vastly superior cast but still lines are always a good thing - and a new stage and audience is an exciting concept, even with my cynical disposition.

 However all is not lost I bring more updates from that expensive world of motor-racing, there may be no news on who will be dealt the final seat on the grid in the HRT but progress has been made. Upon the last update, I revealed that the 2012 Caterham car had been completed and presented, and it had sprouted a forehead for some reason. Well now many of the teams have officially released their competitors for the upcoming season and there is only one way of summing up the general synopsis of what has been developed and that is... oh dear oh dear.

The grid so far pt 1

Caterham CT01

The first of the cars we saw was this rather odd machine, the addition of a forehead on the top of the nose came as somewhat of a surprise. A stark contrast to the conventional designs we've seen with the current set of aerodynamic regulations. The rest of it however looks more reasonable, with the thinner tapering sidepods than the 2011 Lotus configuration




Then there was more, after the initial release of the CT01 the world was bombarded with new releases as most of the grid's entries poured out from the dark secretive testing and design facilities after being locked away over the winter. Next up the McLaren, after the shock of the Caterham approach a fine dose of normality was what the world needed

Gone is the crazed forehead pinned onto the nose cone, exhibiting a traditional smooth sloping version instead. McLaren have also added some additional normality to the grid, moving away from the rather unusual sidepods. This time going for something which almost looks sensible, something that looks roughly like what you expect a current generation racing car to look like.


So at this point things were looking fairly decent, the eccentric design the the team formerly known as lotus seemed like an unusual effort to claim back some position on the grid. With the dose of sanity from a division one team, some hope was restored. Hope that was soon rolled up and launched out the nearest window. Presenting the Force India 2012 contender...

It seems like sanity has gone off into the distance once more, and here is another car with this odd forehead feature sprouting above the front suspension. The problem seems to be accentuated here on the Force India by the flatness of the nose-cone, looking a little like a platypus At least Caterham will no longer feel lonely being the only car with this tumorous growth. The side of the Force India is longer then the McLaren but on a par with the Caterham.


Now one starts to wonder a little, McLaren being the odd one out so far, normality it seems turns not to be the ideal design, does this mean that the team that took the bonus points title with Jenson have done something rather wrong. But the next release would be from another of the division one teams, where we would seen if at the front of the grid sanity would prevail... As is turns out, apparently not. Introducing Ferrari.

The Jeremy Clarkson generic comment of 'oh my god' would fit rather nicely here. At least these other 'lumps' that have been infecting the grid have tried to be aerodynamically designed. Ferrari have just stapled a ramp onto the nose and then headed off to the pub. However the curvature of the sidepods and exhaust outlets are interesting and a distinct feature that looks quite good.

So the decision back in Brackley is starting to seem strangely against the convention of the field, who'd have thought making a normal, sensible racing entry would be the odd one out, even among the top runners. But with the Adrian Newey designed contender from Red Bull unreleased at this point, the world was waiting to see what the 2011 champions would produce. But in the mean-time the team formerly known as Renault-Squadron now running as Lotus presented their car.

And the nose lump is back, yet another car with what can only be described as the beak and forehead combination. However on the Lotus it doesn't seem too bad, almost acceptable. The curvature of the slope seems much smoother than the others, especially the ramp of the Ferrari. But a long way from the smooth slope of the McLaren. The results from the opening test seem to show the Lotus solution to be working with Kimi Raikkonen fastest. Not that too much relevance can be placed on those times at the moment, Sauber were looking this quick last year and look how that played out.

There are four more cars that have been unveiled but this has gone on for quite a while now, and think it is time for a break. The second half of the presentations will be conducted on another day. When I have gaps in between rehearsals and other complex things that happen in and around blog HQ. So until then farewell for now