F1 classic races - Singapore

IN A new series, I will be looking back at six classic races every weekend from the country about to stage an event in the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship.  As Singapore has only held three races before and not all of them have been classics, here is a varied selection of events from events no longer on the F1 calendar, plus one from the Singapore Grand Prix.  The races come from between 1991 and 2010.  Enjoy the archive!

1993 – Portugal

LAST: Title for Prost came in Portugal 1993, before retirement

WINNER: Michael Schumacher (Benetton Ford), 2^nd: Alain Prost (Williams Renault), 3^rd: Damon Hill (Williams Renault)

THIS was the weekend which saw Alain Prost announce his retirement from Formula One at the end of the season, paving the way for Ayrton Senna to join Williams for 1994.  Senna would have a new team-mate for this race, with flying Finn Mika Hakkinen promoted into the McLaren race team.  Hakkinen sensationally outqualified Senna and was racing well, when he crashed heavily out of the final corner, fortunately without any injury.  By that stage, Senna had already disappeared with engine trouble.  Ferrari had their most competitive weekend of the season, with Jean Alesi leading the first stint and Gerhard Berger making a dramatic exit into the barriers from leaving the pitlane!  In the end, the race turned into a tactical battle between Prost and Michael Schumacher for victory.  Schumacher abandoned his plans for a second tyre stop and showed his gritty determination to win his first Grand Prix of a frustrating season.  However, second place was good enough for Prost to seal his fourth world championship.  

1995 – Pacific

WINNER: Michael Schumacher (Benetton Renault), 2^nd: David Coulthard (Williams Renault), 3^rd: Damon Hill (Williams Renault)

THE TI Aida circuit in Japan was never a favourite with the drivers, but the 1995 event, moved to a late season date following the Kobe earthquake earlier in the year became the setting for the championship decider.  David Coulthard started on pole and dominated for the majority for the race, but defending champion Michael Schumacher fought back from a poor start to snatch second place from the Ferrari’s of Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger.  He closed in on Coulthard and once again, the Benetton’s superior strategy came into force in overwhelming the Williams.  Schumacher won the race and wrapped up his second successive drivers title.  Damon Hill was a distant third and had to concede defeat to the class act of 1995.  Michael Schumacher did it his way!

1997 – Luxembourg

WINNER: Jacques Villeneuve (Williams Renault), 2^nd: Jean Alesi (Benetton Renault), 3^rd: Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Williams Renault)

LITTLE did we know it at the time, but this would turn out to be Jacques Villeneuve’s final ever win in Formula One.  It put him nine points clear of Michael Schumacher with two races remaining and it owed to a huge slice of luck.  Held at the Nurburgring, Mika Hakkinen had taken pole position for the first time in his career and drove into the distance, backed up by David Coulthard.  Then, in two nightmare laps for McLaren, Coulthard stopped with an engine failure on the pit straight.  Moments later, Hakkinen was pulling onto the grass with the same problem, which meant his elusive first victory would have to wait.  Villeneuve led home Jean Alesi, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Gerhard Berger to a Renault 1-2-3-4 Grand Slam.  Jacques cause was aided by Ralf Schumacher’s acrobatics at the first corner which took out his Jordan team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella and his own brother.  Michael was less than amused!

2001 – USA

WINNER: Mika Hakkinen (McLaren Mercedes), 2^nd: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 3^rd: David Coulthard (McLaren Mercedes)

JUST two weeks after the terrorist attacks on America, Formula One put a smile on the faces of the US people again in the first major sporting event to be held in the country since that fateful September 11 day.  McLaren’s Mika Hakkinen recovered from a grid penalty to take an excellent win in the penultimate race of his career.  On a two-stop strategy, Rubens Barrichello pushed Hakkinen all the way, until a rare Ferrari engine failure with four laps to go robbed him of a brilliant podium.  Despite being outfoxed by Hakkinen and brilliantly passed by Juan Pablo Montoya, Michael Schumacher was second whilst Jordan’s Jarno Trulli won an FIA appeal against a technical disqualification a month later to get his fourth position back.  Both Williams BMW cars retired, with a dying engine ending Montoya’s hopes of back-to-back wins.  The 2001 US Grand Prix was also the final race commentated in F1 by the legendary Murray Walker, who hung up his mic for ITV in emotional fashion.  At least he left on a high from a wonderful event in the light of such tragedy.

2005 – San Marino

WINNER: Fernando Alonso (Renault), 2^nd: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 3^rd: Alexander Wurz (McLaren Mercedes)

WHEN Kimi Raikkonen claimed pole position and starting cruising away in the opening laps, it looked like Imola 2005 was going to be a typical procession.  However, McLaren’s reliability jinx struck again, as driveshaft failure on the ninth circuit ruled Raikkonen out of proceedings.  Fernando Alonso took the lead and built a significant cushion over the rest of the chasing pack, led by BAR’s Jenson Button.  In the midfield was Michael Schumacher, following a mistake in qualifying which left him 13^th on the grid.  When others infront pitted, the Ferrari was unleashed and started lapping two seconds faster than anyone else on the track.  He passed Button easily and hunted down Alonso.  Overtaking was incredibly difficult on the Autodromo Enzo E Dino Ferrari track and try as he might; Schumacher couldn’t find a way past Alonso, down to the Spaniard’s amazing defensive driving.  Alonso held on to take a significant victory, his third in a row.  Jenson Button finished third, but BAR were caught cheating with fuel being used as ballast discovered after the race.  The team lost their Imola points a fortnight later and got banned for two races for the indiscretion.  UK viewers complained in their droves after ITV took an ill-judged commercial break with three laps to go of the race, right at the heat of the Alonso/Schumacher battle.  Many believe this was the death knell in their F1 coverage, which ended three years later.

2010 – Singapore

CLASH: The shunt with Webber last year wrecked Hamilton's hopes

WINNER: Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), 2^nd: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing Renault), 3^rd: Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing Renault)

LAST season, Fernando Alonso held off a charging Sebastian Vettel to take a brilliant victory on the night streets of Singapore.  Despite two Safety Car periods, the Spaniard held off Vettel all the way.  A minor brush with the barriers in qualifying cost Vettel the pole position and ultimately, the race.  Third place was enough for Mark Webber to retain his championship lead, whilst fourth spot kept Jenson Button in the race.  However, Lewis Hamilton’s title bid took a fatal blow, as he controversially clashed with Webber after a Safety Car period.  Despite minor contact, terminal damage was done to the McLaren and ended his race.  The most spectacular image of the season came when Heikki Kovalainen’s Lotus blew up and caught fire on the pit straight, with the brave Finn having to double up as a temporary fire marshal to extinguish the rapidly increasing flames.

Portugal MotoGP 2011: Proud Pedrosa scores amazing tactical triumph

SUCCESS: Pedrosa records victory at Estoril

SPAIN’s Dani Pedrosa sent a warning to his closest challengers for the MotoGP title, after recording an impressive tactical victory in the Portuguese Grand Prix.  Pedrosa, 25, rode past Estoril master Jorge Lorenzo with four laps to go and surged clear on his Repsol Honda to record his first win of the season.  Despite ultimately finishing a distant second, Lorenzo holds on to a slender championship lead.

     After all the controversy and drama of the last race in Jerez four weeks ago, Estoril produced a calm and quiet race, possibly something the paddock needed after all the drama and squabbling behind the scenes.  This continued in the Saturday evening qualifying press conference, which saw Lorenzo and fellow front-row starter Marco Simoncelli, almost come to blows over Simoncelli’s aggressive riding style.  Although it was a funny disagreement, it did feel a bit silly, especially as Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi are still sniping at one another after their confronton in Spain last time out. 

     On a bone dry track, Lorenzo made the best start from pole position and led Pedrosa into the first corner.  As the tyres weren’t at their optimum temperatures, both Simoncelli and Stoner had massive moments exiting the first corner.  At turn four, Simoncelli had another twitch, but this time – his mistake was costly.  He ended pitching off the bike stage right into the gravel pit.  That was bound to put a smile underneath Lorenzo’s crash helmet.  His closest challenger for most of the weekend was out already.  Marco wasn’t the only one, as Hector Barbera joined him in the sandpit and rookie Karol Abraham was soon out of the proceedings too.  Lorenzo led Pedrosa, Stoner, a fast-starting Valentino Rossi and the second Yamaha of Ben Spies.

     American Spies was soon out of the equation though, as he ran wide at turn nine and lost four places.  In his desperation to move up the order, he clashed with the Ducati of Nicky Hayden.  Hayden survived the incident to finish a tame ninth, but Spies ended out of the event again.  Britain’s Cal Crutchlow produced another strong performance and finished a very creditable eighth, on a circuit he had never seen before Friday practice. 

     Out infront and Lorenzo seemed to be making lightweight work of the Portuguese track.  Although Pedrosa stayed in his two throughout, he never looked likely to pull off a move.  However, Dani turned up the heat with four laps to go and surprised the world champion with a brilliant out braking pass into the first corner.  Lorenzo had nothing left and feel back rather rapidly, allowing Pedrosa to rattle in some blistering laps in the closing stages and win as he pleased.  Stoner was mysteriously off the pace all weekend and finished a lonely third.  There was an exciting tussle for fourth between Italians Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso.  Dovizioso mugged the Ducati on the very last corner by two hundredths of a second to seal a 1-3-4 for the Honda team.  Texan Tornado Colin Edwards was a solid sixth on his customer Yamaha bike.

     A rather mundane race then, but a dramatic conclusion as the MotoGP circus heads to the historic Le Mans circuit in France, in a fortnight’s time.

World Cup Report: Day 10-12

We have now reached the halfway point in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the groups are taking shape.  Here is a round-up of the last three days, which have seen more shock results, a demolition derby, shocking playacting and a dignified exit for the proud hosts.

Sunday 20^th June: Slovakia 0-2 Paraguay

Paraguay moved into pole position in Group F, with a comfortable 2-0 win over a laboured Slovakia side that seemed to be more than happy to play for a point.  The Europeans only had one shot on target, which shows their major issue going forward.  Paraguay’s goals came from Enrique Vera and a brilliant late strike from striker Carlos Riveros.

Sunday 20^th June: Italy 1-1 New Zealand

The world champions stuttering start to their defence continued in Nelspruit, as they were embarrassingly held by Rickie Herbert’s spirited New Zealand side.  The All Whites took a lead, when Shane Smeltz took advantage of a dodgy offside decision to put them into a surprising lead on seven minutes.  The Azzuri equalised, through a Vincenzo Iaquinta penalty, after Daniele de Rossi was held back in the box by Tommy Smith.  However, Marcelo Lippi’s men never looked like breaking through again, and now require a win against Slovakia on Thursday to ensure qualification for the last sixteen.

Sunday 20^th June: Brazil 3-1 Ivory Coast

Sven Goran-Eriksson’s negative tactics backfired, as his Ivory Coast side were outclassed by the brilliant Brazilians in Soccer City.  A tame first half came to life, when Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano lashed home an opener.  Fabiano’s second, came through two questionable handballs, blindingly missed by the French referee.  The third goal was a rollback to great Brazilian sides of the past, with Kaka’s dazzling skill and classy through ball playing in Elano for his second of the campaign.  Elano was stretched off moments later, before an unfit Didier Drogba got his country’s first goal of the tournament, heading in with eight minutes remaining.  The match soured in the closing stages, with Kaider Keita using the disgusting ‘playacting’ tactic to get Kaka sent off.  The result ensured the Brazilians passage into the knockout stages. 

Monday 21^st June: Portugal 7-0 North Korea

Portugal ripped apart North Korea in Cape Town, recording the 4^th biggest win in World Cup history and putting them on the brink of qualification for the knockout phase.  Raul Meireles scored the only goal in the first half, but the Portuguese hit blistering form in the second half, scoring six goals without reply.  Atletico Madrid’s Tiago scored twice, and there were also goals from Simao, a flying header from Hugo Almedia, substitute Lledson and Cristiano Ronaldo, who ended his two-year wait for an international strike.   

Monday 21^st June: Chile 1-0 Switzerland

A lively performance from Chile saw the South Americans overcome a stubborn Switzerland in Port Elizabeth and put them on the brink of qualifying for the knockout stages.  Despite breaking a defensive record for the most amounts of minutes without conceding consecutively, the Swiss were on the backfoot from the 28^th minute, when West Ham winger Valon Behrami was shown a straight red card for a deliberate elbow.  Despite a host of chances, and a referee who would struggle to handle a game between secondary school children, Chile was restricted to the one goal, scored through a header by ex-Liverpool flop Mark Gonzalez.

Monday 21^st June: Spain 2-0 Honduras

A dynamite double from new Barcelona signing David Villa helped put Spain back on track at Ellis Park, after their shock opening loss to Switzerland.  In a performance that was dominant, but not one which will frighten the South American challengers, Spain never looked in trouble against a Honduras side, which don’t have many attacking weapons at the tournament.  Villa’s two goals were both quality individual efforts, though he blotted his copybook with a missed penalty in the second half.

Tuesday 22^nd June: France 1-2 South Africa

The hosts left their World Cup in the group stages on a high note, following a battling performance to overcome France, who as a team, have quite simply had a World Cup full of nightmares and catastrophes.  This continued in Bloemfontein, as Yoann Gorcuff was given his marching orders for a flailing elbow midway through the first half.  By then, Bafana Bafana roared two goals clear, courtesy of a header by Bongani Khumalo and a tap-in from Katlego Mphela.  Sadly, they ran out of steam in the second half, and were eliminated on goal difference, with Florent Malouda’s consolation little more than a sobering statistic with Les Bleus.

Tuesday 22^nd June: Mexico 0-1 Uruguay

Uruguay sealed top spot in Group A, courtesy of a Luis Suarez header in Rustenberg.  A patchy game, which saw both teams clearly feeling nervous about progression, was only brightened up by the Ajax targetman’s crisp header on 23 minutes.  Despite defeat, Mexico’s goal difference was enough to see the North Americans also progress to the knockout stages for the fifth consecutive finals.

Tuesday 22^nd June: Greece 0-2 Argentina

Argentina continued their 100% record, seeing off a Greek side that seemed content to play for the draw, in a game they needed to win.  Only requiring a draw to seal qualification and top spot, Argentina looked cagey, compared to previous outings, but were firmly on top and two goals in the last twelve minutes saw Maradona’s men get the deserved victory.  They came in unlikely sources however, from Bayern Munich centre-back Martin Demichellis and 36-year old veteran striker Martin Palermo.

Tuesday 22^nd June: Nigeria 2-2 South Korea

South Korea advanced into the knockout stages for the first time on foreign soil, after gritting out a share of the spoils with Nigeria.  The Super Eagles made the perfect start, in a game they had to win to continue their interest alive, with Kalu Uche tapping in on twelve minutes.  The Asians took firm control in Durban, with goals either side of half time, through Lee Jung-Soo and Park Chung-Yung, the latter being the first player to score a direct free kick at the finals.  Yakubu’s glaring miss summed up the Africans faltering tournament, though the Everton marksman did make up for it, with a penalty after Chinedu Obasi was fouled in the penalty box.  However, Korea held on to book a meeting with Uruguay on Saturday.

2010 World Cup Preview - Part 1

In this first segment, my best friend and fellow football fanatic (Chelsea fan unfortunately) Robert Jones, has taken time out of his busy schedule to preview four of the eight groups in the 2010 World Cup.  Here, Robert will give his predictions for these teams, and their strengths and weaknesses.  With the big kick-off tomorrow, the anticipation is nearly over.

GROUP A

SOUTH AFRICA

FIFA ranking: 85

Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira 

Best: Group Stages (1998, 2002)

Key player: Steven Pienaar (Everton)

A poor side, but their home advantage will lift them, and the loud Vuvuzela trumpets could unnerve  their opponents. Benni McCarthy though has been left out of the squad, which is surprising.  Consequently, I can't see them sticking around along.


PREDICTION: Group Stages


MEXICO

FIFA ranking: 18

Coach: Javier Aguirre 

Best: Quarter-Finals (1970, 1986)

Key player: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona)

Javier Aguirre rescued a team heading for disaster under Sven Goran Eriksson by showing them how to win away from the Azteca. The Mexicans are talented on the ball and could surprise a few people, maybe even themselves.


PREDICTION: Quarter-Finalists


URUGUAY

FIFA ranking: 25

Coach: Oscar Tabarez 

Best: Winners (1930, 1950)

Key player: Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid).

They are previous two-time winners, but the last was 80 years ago. They have some quality like Diego Forlan, but not enough to escape the group.


PREDICTION: Group Stages

FRANCE

FIFA ranking: 9

Coach: Raymond Domenech

Best: Winners (1998)

Key player: Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich)

People have their opinions on whether they should be at the finals or not, but they are in South Africa, so we have to just get on with it.  Under Domenech, the squad has its major divisions, but France reached the 2006 final in similar circumstances. They don't lack talent and look to have solved the goalkeeping issue, with Hugo Lloris very reliable beyond the sticks.  Apart from Ribery though, there are no other world class players, and the unrest in the camp, could well be Les Bleus downfall.


PREDICTION: Second Round

GROUP C

ENGLAND

FIFA ranking: 7

Coach: Fabio Capello

Best: Winners (1966)

Key player: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

Shrewdly managed with a coterie of quality players led by Rooney, but lacking in-depth and not a settled No,1 goalkeeper between the sticks.  The climatic conditions will suit, and should have plenty of support.  Just short of a final tilt however.

PREDICTION: Semi-Finalists (3rd-placed playoff winners)

USA

FIFA ranking: 11

Coach: Bob Bradley

Best: 3rd (1930)

Key player: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)

The US are now expected to make the quarter-finals in World Cups and will be lifted by last year's Confederations Cup showing, when they beat Spain and worried Brazil. Always athletic, with good 'keepers, although there are doubts about creativity.

PREDICTION: 2nd Round


ALGERIA

FIFA ranking: 29

Coach: Rabah Saadane

Best: Group Stages (1982, 1986)

Key player: Mourad Meghni (Lazio)

Algeria showed enough quality in dispatching their fierce rivals, the African Nations Cup holders Egypt, in the play-off to suggest they could be one of the outsiders to avoid, but they are unlikely to reach heights of defeating West Germany in 1982.

PREDICTION: Group Stages

SLOVENIA

FIFA ranking: 49

Coach: Matjaž Kek

Best: Group Stage (2002)

Key player: Milivoje Novakovic (Cologne)

Slovenia are rank outsiders, but they were good enough to surprise Guus Hiddink's Russia over a two-legged play-off and knocked out Poland and the Czech Republic in qualifying.  If the US lack confidence, Slovenia could be a wise outside bet for the last sixteen.

PREDICTION: Group Stages

GROUP F

ITALY

FIFA ranking: 4

Coach: Marcello Lippi

Best: Winners (1934, 1938, 1982)

Key player: Andrea Pirlo (Milan)

The last successful defence was by Brazil, in 1962, and the Azzurri look weaker than in they were four years ago in Berlin. But Lippi knows how to win, and he has not been afraid to introduce fresh blood in search of a repeat.

PREDICTION: Quarter-Finalists

NEW ZEALAND

FIFA ranking: 83

Coach: Ricki Herbert

Best: Group Stages (1982)

Key player: Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn)

Australia's move to the Asian region opened qualifying door for New Zealand, but the All Whites could be embarrassed.  It is just an achievement for them to be in South Africa, but they are here to make up the numbers.

PREDICTION: Group Stage

PARAGUAY

FIFA ranking: 21

Coach: Gerardo Martino (Argentinian)

Best: Round 2 (1986, 1998, 2002)

Key player: Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul)

Paraguay eased through the arduous South American qualifying programme with a team built on defence and counter-attacking instinct to reach their fourth successive finals.  They could well be a surprise package to look out for.

PREDICTION: Second Round

SLOVAKIA

FIFA ranking: 33

Coach: Vladimír Weiss

Best: Debutants

Key player: Marek Hamsik (Napoli)

Whatever they do in Africa, it will not eclipse beating the Czechs in Prague to qualify for their inaugural tournament.

PREDICTION: Group Stages

GROUP G

BRAZIL

FIFA ranking: 1

Coach: Dunga

Best: Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002).

Key player: Kaka (Real Madrid)

Always favoured, but justifiably so this time.  Dunga's philosophy may not please the purists but he has built an effective counter-attacking team with plenty of experience - and a sprinkling of magic.

PREDICTION: Runners-Up

NORTH KOREA

FIFA ranking: 91

Coach: Kim Jong-Hun

Best: Quarter-Finals (1966)

Key player: Ahn Young-Hak (Suwon Bluewings)

Political pariah for whom qualifying is a coup. They will not repeat the heroics or popularity of beating Italy in 1966.

PREDICTION: Group Stages

IVORY COAST

FIFA ranking: 19

Coach: Vahid Halihodzic 

Best: Group Stages (2006)

Key player: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

Africa's best team, which will count for something at the continent's first finals.  Plenty of European experience and though the focus will be on Drogba, who can worry any defence, they are by no means a one-man team.

PREDICTION: Group Stages


PORTUGAL

FIFA ranking: 10                                                    

Coach: Carlos Quieroz

Best: 3rd (1966)

Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Another poorly coached team but scraped though when it mattered.  Experienced, quality in most areas, and the adopted Brazilian, Liedson, may solve the perennial goalscoring problem.  However their lack of depth will hurt them, come the knockout stages.                                           

PREDICTION: Second Round