After almost two weeks of interruption the Formula championship 1 returned to action with the 15th round of the season hosted in Japan. Jenson Button and Mark Webber were the fastest of the first two free practices, showing that McLaren and Red Bull will set the pace in Suzuka as well.

Good morning Button! 

In the first period of free practice at the Suzuka circuit, Jenson Button lapped faster than his rivals. Last year's Japanese grand prix winner set the fastest time at his... second home, leaving his stablemate behind, Lewis Hamilton.

Mark Weber completed the top three, with the Mercedes duo following in fourth and fifth with Rosberg and Schumacher, respectively.

The leader of the standings did the eleventh year, Fernando Alonso, with Kimi Raikkonen completing the proceedings in 13th.

The weather conditions were very good in the first period with the drivers having the opportunity to test both Pirelli tires, hard and soft. In the first tests Lotus tried the double DRS.

The times of the first period in detail: 

1.Baton, McLaren, 1m34.507s
2.Hamilton, McLaren, + 0.233
3.Weber, Red Bull, + 0.349
4.Rosberg, Mercedes,+ 0.552
5.Schumacher, Mercedes, + 0.615
6.Kobayashi, Sauber, + 0.692
7.Scoff, Ferrari,+ 0.776
8.Di Resta, Force India, + 0.792
9.Hulkenberg, Force India, + 0.967
10.Maldonado, Williams, + 0.971
11.Alonso, Ferrari, + 0.977
12.Days, Sauber, + 1.077
13.Raikkonen, Lotus, + 1.184
14.Grosjean, Lotus, + 1.217
15.Ricardo, Red Bull, + 1.616
16.Vernier, Red Bull, + 1.715
17. Vettel, Red Bull, + 1.859
18.Boots, Williams, + 1.882
19.Glock, Marussia, + 3.209
20.Petrov, Caterham, + 3.788
21.Pic, Marussia, + 4.109
22.Karthikeyan, HRT, + 4.536
23.Van der Garde, Caterham, + 4.867
24.De la Rosa, HRT, + 5.181

Weber series! 

With the people creating a very nice atmosphere, filling the stands of Suzuka, the second period of free trials took place. Mark Webber set the fastest time, leaving Lewis Hamilton behind.

The one-three was made by Red Bull with Sebastian Vettel placing third.

Unlike the first period, which developed smoothly, in the second, Paul di Resta, Michael Schumacher and Vitaly Petrov, had an exit as a result of which their cars were "hurt"..

Fernando Alonso's pace was obviously better in the second period, making the fifth year, behind Nico Hulkenberg's Force India.

Kimi Raikkonen had a problem with the KERS system , who spent a lot of time in the pits with his mechanics trying to fix it.

The times of the second period in detail: 

1.Weber, Red Bull,1:32.493
2.Hamilton, McLaren, + 0.214
3.Vettel, Red Bull, + 0.343
4.Hulkenberg, Force India,+ 0.494
5.Alonso, Ferrari, + 0.600
6.Grosjean, Lotus, +0.614
7.Baton, McLaren, +0.856
8.You, Williams, +1.006
9.Scoff, Ferrari,+ 1.121
10.Schumacher, Mercedes, + 1.215
11.Rosberg, Mercedes,+ 1.373
12.Days, Sauber, + 1.410
13.Kobayashi, Sauber, + 1.490
14.Raikkonen, Lotus, + 1.798
15.Maldonado, Williams, + 1.807
16.Ricardo, Red Bull, + 2.370
17. Vernier, Red Bull, + 2.587
18.Kovalainen, Caterham, +3.218
19.Petrov, Caterham, + 3.377
20. Glock, Marussia, + 3.701
21.Pic, Marussia, + 4.143
22.De la Rosa, HRT, + 4.849
23.Karthikeyan, HRT, + 5.208
24. Di Resta, Force India

Source : sport-fm.gr

Flavio Briatore's weakness towards Fernando Alonso is known and once again the Italian businessman "knitted" the pilot's praise.

In fact, the former Renault boss emphasized that the two-time world champion is the best driver of the last decade.

"Fernando Alonso is the best driver of the last decade. At times he can make strategy mistakes, however, he is then able to recover, even if the car is not competitive enough", were Briatore's words.

The former Formula 1 strongman 1, he couldn't help but mention the teams and what's going on in the Formula One championship 1.

"I don't think Red Bull is sluggish. However, there's Lotus and Sauber and that proves that money doesn't make a difference. McLaren is competitive and can steal quite a few points from Alonso. Ferrari needs improvements and Alonso needs to win at least one more race, without McLaren getting points ».

Alonso has won two world titles in the last decade (2005, 2006), has finished third the 2007, while the 2010 placed second.

Source : sport-fm.gr

The desire to close the gap with the leader, Jorge Lorenzo, in the 13th round of the season, which will take place at the Misano circuit (147-16/9) expressed the Danny Pedrosa.

The Spanish rider said he hopes his bike will perform better than in previous years at the Italian circuit.

"In the past our bike was not stable on the Italian circuit, but I believe that this season we will improve. I hope the work we have done in the tests in Brno and Aragon will help us to be competitive in Misano.

It's a tough track, with many brakes and accelerations. We must continue to work in the same way, to concentrate on our bike and close the gap in the championship", were the words of the Spanish rider. The difference between the two riders in the Moto GP championship is 13 degrees.

Holidays are over!

Now the heads in... After a month break from the Formula One championship 1, teams and drivers prepare to return to the grids for the second and decisive part of the season that will also decide the champion.

Motorsport's crown jewels will return to action with the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit Spa (31 August – 2 September) and in the nine remaining matches (Belgium, Italy, Singapore, Japan, Korea, India, Abu Dhabi, USA, Brazil) they will challenge for the World title.

In the drivers' championship, Fernando Alonso is in first place, having 40 points clear of runner-up Mark Webber. The Spanish pilot despite the fact that - as he himself states- he doesn't have a competitive enough car at his disposal, he is the only pilot to have seen the checkered flag three times (Malaysia, Valencia and Germany).

A tie battle is expected later in the championship, since Webber and Vettel are just two points apart (Weber 124- Vettel 122) with the two-time world champion having climbed to the top step of the podium just once and three overall (21st in Australia and 3rd in Britain).

However, the battles continue in the lower positions with Hamilton in fourth place, being only one point clear of fifth very good, Kimi Raikkonen.

Jenson Button wants to put the misfortunes of the first part of the season behind him, finishing four times outside the top ten.

Pilot rating: 

1. Alonso, 164
2. Weber, 124
3. Vettel, 122
4. Hamilton, 117
5. Raikkonen, 116
6. Rosberg, 77
7. Grosjean, 76
8. Baton, 76
9. Days,47
10. Kobayashi, 33
11. Maldonado, 29
12. Schumacher, 29
13. Di Resta, 27
14. Scoff, 25
15. You, 24
16. Hulkenberg, 19
17. Vernier, 4
18. Ricardo, 2

Manufacturer rating: 

1. Red Bull, 246
2. McLaren, 196
3. Lotus- Renault, 192
4. Ferrari, 189
5. Mercedes, 106
6. Sauber, 80
7. Williams, 53
8. Force India, 46
9. Red Bull, 6

Source : sport-fm.gr

Without any delay and according to what was planned by the previous government, from Monday 3 September the "Green Ring" is implemented (KYA 16229, GAZETTE 1467 of 3.5.2012) in the center of Athens.

The new ring modifies the current meter system, with the main intervention being the traffic ban on old trucks and buses in Athens, with the aim of improving the quality of the atmosphere. For the implementation of the KYA, the HYPEKA was preceded by a consultation with the co-competent Ministries, Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure, Transportation & Networks and Public Order & Citizen Protection, which expressed their agreement.

In detail, the main measures implemented are the following:

– The rotating entry of vehicles into the small ring applies as usual without any change (with the odd-even system).

– In addition, the traffic on the small ring is allowed without restriction of cars and trucks below 2,2 tons, as long as it is of Euro technology 5 or later – whether simple or hybrid- and since they emit less carbon dioxide than 140 gr / km. Especially for hybrids and gas vehicles from construction, the circulation of those with Euro technology is also allowed 4, as long as they emit less carbon dioxide than 140 gr / km.

– Traffic on the big ring is prohibited for buses and trucks over 2,2 tons, first marketing authorization in Greece before 1 January 1990. For a transitional period of one year (from 1.1.2012.-1.1.2013) the above-mentioned prohibition applies to the above vehicles first registered in Greece before 1/1/1984.
This ban does not include the New Athens-Lamia National Highway, Kifisou Avenue and Athens Avenue, from Kifisou Avenue and further west.

– The date of January 1st 1990 is automatically increased by one year, each new calendar year, so that vehicles that are older than are prohibited each time 22 years.

Vehicles that are allowed to circulate freely in the "Green Ring" will be controlled by the traffic authorities exclusively on the basis of the registration license that states the emission limits, the violation of which will incur the penalties of violation.

The specific decision of the HYPEKA is taken in a spirit of respect and trust in the responsibility of the citizens, whom he calls to implement and guard the "Green Ring". The HYPEKA is in close cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transportation & Networks in order to issue the "green badge" electronically. The issuance of this auxiliary mark will be done in such a way that time-consuming procedures are avoided and the citizens of the whole country can obtain it immediately and easily. The procedures of the free issue of the special badge will be completed in a month and there will be a relevant announcement.

In any case, the certification of the "green ring" violation will be based on the "green vehicle" registration license, which remains the legal control criterion of the Traffic authorities.
Anyway, it is noted that from 3 September when the "green ring" will be applied, the penalties for violating it will be the same as the penalties for violating the existing ring.

Lament in motorsport

Philip Bugalski has passed away, who had a remarkable career as a rally driver. Tragically ironic, his death did not come from behind the wheel of some car, but in the garden of his house, as he fell from a tree…

The incident happened at his residence, near the city of Vichy and plunged the whole of motorsport into mourning and especially the Citroen family, with which he won both the Rally Catalunya, as well as the Corsica Rally.

His career lasted from 1984 up to 2003 and then continued to serve the WRC as a car tester and participated in historic rallies.

Died at an old age 49 years.

Source : sport-fm.gr

He described it as a bad day at work Lewis Hamilton the grand prix at the Valencia circuit. The British pilot retired one lap before the checkered flag, because of the accident with Pastor Maldonado.

However, the Brit admitted that this is how racing is, adding that the positive thing is that other contenders for the title also lost valuable points.

"I had a bad day at work, but that's how racing is. A lot has changed in the state of the league, we lost a lot of points, but fortunately the pilots who are still within the title battle, like Sebastian they lost points, but that makes the situation more difficult", were the words of the British pilot to fill in afterwards.

"You put your heart and soul into achieving something and in the end you don't achieve what you want, but such is life. You compromise and move on, there are still many matches", he added.

Hamilton is third in the standings, abstaining 23 points from the pioneer, Fernando Alonso.

Source : sport-fm.gr