The Nurburgring's last hurrah
While I was at university in the 1980s, the United Kingdom was governed by a wild-eyed, semi-sane woman who was given to the often seen high tempered tantrum when in an excitable state. Her face would turn a curious shade of purple, her hair would defy all the careful ministrations of her hairdressers, her bosom would heave ominously and she would emit the most ear-splitting shriek ever produced by a resident of Downing Street. Nothing was more certain to bring on this terrifying state of affairs than mention of the word "Europe". As far as Margaret Thatcher was concerned, the United Kingdom had nothing whatever to do with what she deemed to be a vile continent somewhere near Mars. Europe was not anything as civilised as the United Kingdom in her eyes and it was an act akin to treachery for any European to suggest that it was. It was Mrs Thatcher's firm conviction that the European Economic Community was a cunning plot by the loathsome Germans to achieve what they had failed to achieve between 1939 and 1945. Ironically, the one piece of British legislation which did the most for European integration, the Single European Act of 1986 (which introduced the concept of a "border-free" Europe), was signed by one Margaret Hilda Thatcher.
Keen to discover why the whole European project was so anathema to the government of the country I inhabited, as a student I set upon various little journeys of exploration across Europe - each time after months of exercising extreme restraint by putting aside my little beer money and living a life of painful ascetism. If one took Mrs Thatcher's attitude, one would think there was a uniformity about Europe, a sameness which would grate on one's consciousness and cause such weariness as to make further enquiry deeply undesirable. I found that the contrary was the case. Cross a border from one country and sit in a hostelry ten miles into the next country and you are at once stunned by the sheer diversity of the old continent (if, like that American military and foreign policy genius Donald Rumsfeld, you think "Old Europe" has had its day, well, more fool you). It is to my mind, therefore, fitting that there should be a race on the Formula One calendar called the "European Grand Prix". For an event that should set the pulse racing, I remain unconvinced that its home should be Europe's passion vacuum: Germany. This has not always been the case. The event has moved from country to country over the years but has remained stuck at the Nurburgring in Germany - a once legendary but now ghastly circuit - since the turn of the century. At long last my prayers were answered earlier this year: from next season the European Grand Prix will be held in Valencia, Spain. I will not miss that race even if it means I have to crawl there!
I remember sitting in a Bierzelt (a large beer tent) during the annual Oktoberfest in Munich many years ago while chatting about various things with an earnest German fellow called Wolfgang. Chatting is perhaps an inaccurate description of the conversation; Wolfgang and I were philosophising while sipping from enormous 1 litre mugs of beer served by well-fed Bavarian wenches with generous forearms. In one enlightened phase of the conversation, Wolfgang and I bemoaned the mysterious death of the European Grand Prix and how much the project of European integration would be enhanced by its return (the event was off the calendar between 1986 and 1992). Observing that I was an impecunious student, Wolfgang - who said he worked as a street sweeper - matched each Mass (I litre mug) I bought with two of his own. The beer-fuelled conversation continued for a second day and was slipping into a third when I realised I was in the wrong company. Wolfgang had either trained his body to extract all the nutrition he required from Bavarian beer or was intending to drown himself to death in froth. I realised that my presence in Munich was no longer conducive to my continued good health and had to get out of the Bierzelt, leap on a train to Austria and thence recover from my ill-advised association with Mr Wolfgang!
It is to the Nurburgring that we must return this weekend for one more time. In the Schumacher years this was not a race that you needed to bother about watching with keen interest. The seven times world champion could win at the Nurburgring blindfolded and with one arm tied behind his back. This year promises to be a great deal more intriguing. The championship battle between Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen is heating up just as the season goes past its halfway point. I have always thought it safer to lead than to chase. The numbers seem to bear this out. If, for example, Raikkonen were to win each of the next eight races and Hamilton were to come second, Hamilton would be crowned world champion at the end of the season. An uninterrupted Raikkonen run won't happen because Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa are still on hand to muddy the waters. Also, there could well be a rogue race or two where a BMW or some such outsider ruins the party. The bad news for Raikkonen is that his tardiness early on this season looks likely to cost him and Ferrari dearly even if he carries on doing what he has so expertly done in the last two races for the rest of the season. To achieve a lock-out of Hamilton, Ferrari have to do one-twos for the rest of the season. But is this really possible? If it is, will it always be Raikkonen on the top step? These and many others are intriguing questions which add to the spice of an already flavoursome championship.
The side show regarding the industrial espionage charges levelled against McLaren by Ferrari has moved up a notch in the interest stakes. The FIA have summoned McLaren to answer the charges on Wednesday next week. The fear among the nervous media people is that McLaren - that is everyone in the team, including the drivers - will be disqualified. I reserve judgment on the subject but offer this: can you really see this happening? Can you see the FIA causing the world to be turned off Formula One so soon after it came back with loud cheers? I can't.
We haven't had a sodden race thus far this season. I would love to see one. It might just be the final test that shows us what Hamilton is really about. I pray for rain this weekend in Germany while I watch the race clutching an ice cold Lowenbrau. Whatever you do,
Enjoy the Nurburgring!
Gitau
18 July 2007
Keen to discover why the whole European project was so anathema to the government of the country I inhabited, as a student I set upon various little journeys of exploration across Europe - each time after months of exercising extreme restraint by putting aside my little beer money and living a life of painful ascetism. If one took Mrs Thatcher's attitude, one would think there was a uniformity about Europe, a sameness which would grate on one's consciousness and cause such weariness as to make further enquiry deeply undesirable. I found that the contrary was the case. Cross a border from one country and sit in a hostelry ten miles into the next country and you are at once stunned by the sheer diversity of the old continent (if, like that American military and foreign policy genius Donald Rumsfeld, you think "Old Europe" has had its day, well, more fool you). It is to my mind, therefore, fitting that there should be a race on the Formula One calendar called the "European Grand Prix". For an event that should set the pulse racing, I remain unconvinced that its home should be Europe's passion vacuum: Germany. This has not always been the case. The event has moved from country to country over the years but has remained stuck at the Nurburgring in Germany - a once legendary but now ghastly circuit - since the turn of the century. At long last my prayers were answered earlier this year: from next season the European Grand Prix will be held in Valencia, Spain. I will not miss that race even if it means I have to crawl there!
I remember sitting in a Bierzelt (a large beer tent) during the annual Oktoberfest in Munich many years ago while chatting about various things with an earnest German fellow called Wolfgang. Chatting is perhaps an inaccurate description of the conversation; Wolfgang and I were philosophising while sipping from enormous 1 litre mugs of beer served by well-fed Bavarian wenches with generous forearms. In one enlightened phase of the conversation, Wolfgang and I bemoaned the mysterious death of the European Grand Prix and how much the project of European integration would be enhanced by its return (the event was off the calendar between 1986 and 1992). Observing that I was an impecunious student, Wolfgang - who said he worked as a street sweeper - matched each Mass (I litre mug) I bought with two of his own. The beer-fuelled conversation continued for a second day and was slipping into a third when I realised I was in the wrong company. Wolfgang had either trained his body to extract all the nutrition he required from Bavarian beer or was intending to drown himself to death in froth. I realised that my presence in Munich was no longer conducive to my continued good health and had to get out of the Bierzelt, leap on a train to Austria and thence recover from my ill-advised association with Mr Wolfgang!
It is to the Nurburgring that we must return this weekend for one more time. In the Schumacher years this was not a race that you needed to bother about watching with keen interest. The seven times world champion could win at the Nurburgring blindfolded and with one arm tied behind his back. This year promises to be a great deal more intriguing. The championship battle between Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen is heating up just as the season goes past its halfway point. I have always thought it safer to lead than to chase. The numbers seem to bear this out. If, for example, Raikkonen were to win each of the next eight races and Hamilton were to come second, Hamilton would be crowned world champion at the end of the season. An uninterrupted Raikkonen run won't happen because Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa are still on hand to muddy the waters. Also, there could well be a rogue race or two where a BMW or some such outsider ruins the party. The bad news for Raikkonen is that his tardiness early on this season looks likely to cost him and Ferrari dearly even if he carries on doing what he has so expertly done in the last two races for the rest of the season. To achieve a lock-out of Hamilton, Ferrari have to do one-twos for the rest of the season. But is this really possible? If it is, will it always be Raikkonen on the top step? These and many others are intriguing questions which add to the spice of an already flavoursome championship.
The side show regarding the industrial espionage charges levelled against McLaren by Ferrari has moved up a notch in the interest stakes. The FIA have summoned McLaren to answer the charges on Wednesday next week. The fear among the nervous media people is that McLaren - that is everyone in the team, including the drivers - will be disqualified. I reserve judgment on the subject but offer this: can you really see this happening? Can you see the FIA causing the world to be turned off Formula One so soon after it came back with loud cheers? I can't.
We haven't had a sodden race thus far this season. I would love to see one. It might just be the final test that shows us what Hamilton is really about. I pray for rain this weekend in Germany while I watch the race clutching an ice cold Lowenbrau. Whatever you do,
Enjoy the Nurburgring!
Gitau
18 July 2007
posted by Gitau at 4:56 pm
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