Formula One News — March 2008

Nigel Stepney has responded to an FIA recommendation that licence holders "do not professionally collaborate with Mr. Stepney without conducting appropriate due diligence regarding his suitability for involvement in international motor sport" until July 1, 2009.

The FIA announced very late on Friday night that it has concluded its investigations into Nigel Stepney, regarding "the unauthorised use of intellectual property within Formula 1".

For the last eight years, Yasuhiro Wada has been a key player in Honda's motorsports activities, initially in the United States, where he was head of Honda Performance Development and oversaw the company's Indy Racing League programme from 2003.

Damon Hill, the head of the British Racing Drivers' Club, says that Formula 1 needs to retain its traditional venues, such as Silverstone, "to provide a history and prestige" for the sport.

There are indications that the London-based Magma Group, headed by former Ford and Maserati executive Martin Leach, may be the bidder to save the Super Aguri F1 team.

The British House of Lords is to debate the British motorsport industry later today. The government has been asked what plans it has "to improve support for the British motorsport industry to ensure it does not lose its global leadership". The question has been raised by Lord Astor of Hever, the opposition spokesman for Defence, who is also president of the Motorsport Industry Association.

Honda Racing F1 is not having an easy time at the moment but the word is that change is once again afoot with Kevin Taylor, the team's chief designer, departing.

John Barnard dropped out of a high-profile Formula 1 position 10 years ago when he fell out with Tom Walkinshaw's Arrows operation. He later did work for a number of teams but remained a consultant and was happy to be out of the limelight.

The British Racing Drivers‘‚   Club (BRDC) has released the first pictures of what it hopes the new pit and paddock complex at Silvestone will look like if the club gets planning permission to push ahead with itys redevelopment of the facility. This is necessary in order to retain the British Grand Prix in 2010 and beyond.

German commercial broadcaster RTL had agreed a new four-year deal with Formula One Management for the TV rights for Formula 1 in Germany. The deal will run from 2008-2011.

Ferdinand Porsche was one of the great automobile designers of the 20th century. He designed the highly-successful Mercedes S, SS and SSK sports cars in the 1920s and helped create the powerhouse that is Mercedes-Benz.

Hamleys, the celebrated London toy emporium, has extended its sponsorship of the Williams F1 team. The Hamleys logos will now been seen on the sidepods of the cars. The company, which is owned by Icelandic investment group Baugur, has supported Williams since 2004 and says that the sponsorship has been a great success.