Cars and other kinds of motoring gibberish

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

Road & Track article: http://tinyurl.com/kss5qc

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As a plug-in full hybrid with a turbodiesel engine, upward-pivoting doors and radical styling, BMW's 4- seat Vision EfficientDynamics concept car\now on display at the Frankfurt auto show\is packed with technology enabling it to be both frugal and fast.

Complementing the Visionfs futuristic exterior styling, the interior of the car has a flowing instrument panel and a seating arrangement designed to give the passengers a floating-in-air feel. The upholstery is mostly made with natural materials although Kevlar is used for the seats. New technology such as a 3- dimensional head-up display and BMW night vision is included.

The chassis of the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept is constructed mostly from aluminum, with the roof and the exterior body made almost entirely from a special polycarbonate material. The car is 181.1 in. long, 74.8 in. wide and 48.8 in. tall. It has a 2+2 seating configuration that includes 5.3 cu. ft. of luggage space.

The Vision concept is powered by three sources: two electric motors (one at each axle, giving the car all-wheel drive in electric mode) and a turbodiesel engine (in front of the rear axle). The synchronous electric motor in front can provide a continuous output of 80 horsepower and peak torque of 162 lb.-ft. via a two-stage, single-speed reduction gearbox. For that extra kick needed when passing, the same motor can deliver 112 hp for up to 30 sec., and up to 139 hp for 10 sec.

In back, the second electric motor resides between the mid-mounted turbodiesel and BMWfs 6-speed DCT twin-clutch gearbox driving the rear axle. It is rated to serve up 33 hp continuously (51 hp peak) and maximum torque of 214 lb.-ft. Combined, the two electric motors can carry double duty in propelling the car, or serve as regenerative powerplants to recharge the onboard lithium-polymer batteries.

There are a total of 98 lithium-polymer cells that sit in the middle of the car running from front to back. Each individual 30 amp-hr cell can deliver 600 amps at 3.7 volts. And when that extra passing power is needed, each cell can ramp up to provide 1200 amps. The entire battery pack weighs about 190 lb. The onboard computer keeps the lithium-polymers at optimal operating conditions by using up to 80 percent of its discharge capacity (10.6 kWh total) when the car is in motion.

<style type=text/css> #yatashowhm .articlegallery .top_row .aghd h1 {font-size:130%} </style>2009 Frankfurt auto show BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept

The rear/mid-mounted direct-injection, 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbodiesel puts out 163 bhp and 214 lb.-ft. of torque. Combined with the electric motors, the total system output is 356 bhp and 590 lb.-ft. of torque, giving a level of performance that BMW says is "superior to anything provided so far by a hybrid vehicle."

Not totally relying on the turbodiesel engine, the Vision EfficientDynamics also features a plug-in solution where the batteries can be recharged in 2.5 hours when connected to a 220-volt 16-amp outlet. With a 380-volt 32-amp electric source, the charging time can be as little as 44 minutes. Running in full electric mode, the car can travel up to 31 miles. With only the turbodiesel providing power, an approximate 400-mile range can be obtained using a 6.6-gallon tank.

In the European Union test cycle, aided by the car's aerodynamic shape (its drag coefficient is just 0.22) and narrow tires for a sports car \ 195/55s on 21-in. wheels\the Vision is able to achieve a fuel economy rating of 3.76 liters/100 kilometers (62.5 mpg equivalent), with CO2 emission recorded at a low 99 g/km.

Due to the car's considerable power and relatively low curb weight of 3076 lb., BMW claims the Vision EfficientDynamics concept can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds, and easily exceed its electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Leave it to BMW to figure out a way to make hybrids exciting.

Motor racing-Malaysian money brings Lotus back to F1

Reuters - Wednesday, September 16

* Malaysian-financed team gains place on grid
* BMW first reserve for next year
* FIA suggests expanding grid to 28 cars

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON, Sept 15 - Lotus, one of the most successful and glorious names from Formula One's past, will return next year with a Malaysian-owned team replacing BMW-Sauber as the 13th entry on the starting grid.

The governing International Automobile Federation said in a statement on Tuesday that, after due diligence and an intensive selection process, it had chosen Lotus.

The new outfit will be called Lotus F1 Team and is a partnership between the Malaysian government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs.

"The cars will be made in Malaysia, by Malaysians," the Malaysian government said in a separate statement.

The vacancy arose after BMW announced that they were withdrawing at the end of the season, following a path already trodden by Japan's Honda.

The FIA said BMW-Sauber, who are still seeking a buyer, had been given a reserve slot to fill any vacancy that might occur between now and the start of the 2010 championship.

"In addition, the FIA believes that a good case can be made for expanding the grid to 14 teams," added the FIA.

"The FIA will be consulting urgently with the existing teams regarding the introduction of an appropriate rule change to expand the grid to 28 cars in time for the first Grand Prix in 2010."

SEPANG CIRCUIT

Leading Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes will be Lotus team principal.

The 45-year-old set up Asian budget airline Air Asia, currently sponsoring the Williams team, and is Malaysia's 15th richest man with a net worth of $220 million according to Forbes Malaysia 2009 rich list.

Technical director Mike Gascoyne was previously with Force India, their predecessors Jordan, Toyota and Renault.

As part of its application to compete in the 2010 championship, the Lotus team agreed an engine supply deal with Cosworth.

Lotus will initially be based in Norfolk, some 10 miles from the original Lotus Cars factory in Eastern England, but the future design, manufacturing and technical centre will be purpose built at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit.

"The team will announce its two drivers by October 31, 2009. Currently six local and international drivers have been selected," the Malaysian government said.

Three teams had been on the FIA shortlist for the 13th slot: Lotus, a BMW-Sauber entry to be renamed under eventual new ownership and Spain's Epsilon Euskadi.

The original Lotus won seven Formula One constructors' titles and six drivers' crowns between 1963 and 1978 under the inspirational leadership of the late Colin Chapman, one of the most innovative engineers in the sport.

Chapman died of a heart attack in 1982 and the company slid into administration in 1994 after giving the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna his first victory in 1985.

British great Jim Clark spent his entire F1 career with Lotus, winning two titles. The team's other champions include compatriot Graham Hill, Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi and American Mario Andretti.

In 1970 the team's Austrian driver Jochen Rindt became the sport's only posthumous champion.

The right to the Lotus F1 name was acquired by David Hunt, brother of the 1976 champion James, while the British-based car company was bought by Malaysiam state-owned Proton.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20090915/tsp-motor-racing-lotus-81ea673.html[/b]

Report: Renault official offered immunity in probe

AP - Wednesday, September 16

LONDON - Formula One's governing body has offered immunity to the Renault team's No. 2 official in exchange for full disclosure into allegations that Nelson Piquet Jr. was told to deliberately crash his car in a race last year, a British newspaper reported Tuesday.

FIA has told Pat Symonds, Renault's director of engineering, that he will escape sanctions if he comes clean over how and why Piquet drove his car into the barriers at last year's Singapore Grand Prix, The Times said.

Piquet and his father Nelson, a three-time world champion, have alleged the team ordered the Brazilian driver to crash on lap 14. The accident was allegedly planned so that the introduction of a safety car would help Renault teammate Fernando Alonso win the race, which the Spaniard did.

Renault has been summoned to a hearing of FIA's World Motorsport Council in Paris next Monday. If found guilty, the team could be kicked out of F1, and any officials involved could be given a life ban from the sport.

Team principal Flavio Briatore has denied any wrongdoing. He has started legal proceedings in France against the Piquets for attemped blackmail and false allegations.

Symonds, who has been a key figure alongside Briatore for 17 years, was offered immunity after refusing to answer most questions in initial interviews with FIA investigators, The Times said.

"I have no intention of lying to you. I have not lied to you, but I have reserved my position just a little," Symonds was quoted as saying at one point during the questioning.

FIA could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Times published transcripts Tuesday of the pitwall radio transmissions between Symonds and Briatore, various engineers and Piquet and Alonso leading up to and after the crash in Singapore. The paper said the transcript does not provide "a killer blow against Symonds or Briatore and could be read either way."

Meanwhile, FIA president Max Mosley said in an interview that there seems to be evidence to support Piquet's claims.

"Certainly the data from the car indicated that something very unusual had happened on the corner where he crashed, according to the experts who look at these things," Mosley told The Guardian. "So there was enough there to make it unthinkable not to investigate."

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20090915/tsp-car-f1-renault-probe-6e81073.html

Motor Racing: 88% of F1 tickets for Singapore Grand Prix already sold

Channel NewsAsia - Wednesday, September 16

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Formula One race is slightly more than a week away and while it was a sold\out inaugural race last year attracting some 100,000 spectators, that will not be repeated this year.

Organisers are only offering 83,000 seats this year, and as of today, 88 per cent of tickets have been sold.

With the poor economy, race organisers were already expecting slower ticket sales this year. Despite that, they managed to ramp up sales, which are picking up as the race approaches. Five categories, including the walkabout tickets, have been sold out.

Last year, the very last ticket was sold on race day on Saturday and organisers are hoping the same this year.

Tourism is another area affected by the economic downturn, but the authorities are cautiously optimistic.

Lynette Pang, director, Entertainment, Sports & Arts, Singapore Tourism Board, said: "We are keeping our target the same as last year, in terms of tourism receipts, which is really the important key performance indicator for us \ as Singapore Tourism Board.

"We are looking at S$100 million in tourism receipts which is the same as last year. Likewise in terms of visitor attendance, we are keeping it the same as last year at 40 per cent of the total attendance of the three\day race."

Actually, tourism receipts hit S$168 million in 2008 and an estimated 40,000 spectators were foreigners.

In absolute terms, the latest targets will still be a challenge due to the slower response. However, the tourism board hopes to draw more foreign fans using targeted marketing and hitting different demographics.

The situation is not common to Singapore, as many races around the world see a decline in interest after the second year onwards.

Similarly, it will be a challenge for Singapore to drive fans to support the Singapore GP, at least for the next three years, when the current five\year deal ends in 2012. \ CNA/vm

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20090916/tap-130-88-85-000-f1-tickets-singapore-231650b.html

Briatore, Symonds quit Renault

AFP - Thursday, September 17

PARIS (AFP) - - Team chief Flavio Briatore on Wednesday sensationally quit the Renault Formula One team, which has been hit by serious allegations of cheating at last year's Grand Prix in Singapore, the team announced in a statement.

Renault said in a short statement that Briatore and Pat Symonds, the director of engineering, had both left the team ahead of a meeting Monday with the sport's world ruling body the FIA to explain recent allegations of race-fixing.

The statement said: "The team announces that its team chief, Flavio Briatore, and its director of engineering Pat Symonds have quit the team."

Renault have been summoned to appear before the FIA's International Motor Sport Council in Paris on September 21 to answer claims by Nelson Piquet junior that he was asked by Renault to crash deliberately during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, so giving a race-winning advantage to his team-mate Spaniard Fernando Alonso.

If Renault are found guilty of race-fixing, they could be expelled from the sport for the role they played in an affair which has been dubbed 'crashgate'.

The team had denied all of the claims made against them by Piquet junior, who was dismissed by the team in July after being told he had failed to perform to expectations.

But on Wednesday Renault appeared to partly admit some role in the controversy by adding in the statement they "would not contest the FIA's recent allegations concerning the Singapore Grand Prix".

The statement added: "Before participating at the FIA's International Motor Sport Council hearing in Paris on September 21, the team will make no further commment."

A report by The Times on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources, claimed the FIA had offered Renault second-in-command immunity from punishment in exchange for full disclosure about crashgate.

The report said that Symonds was told that if he came clean over how and why Nelson Piquet junior drove his car into the barriers in Singapore in 2008, he would escape sanctions.

Former driver Piquet and his father, three-time world champion Nelson Piquet senior, claimed that Renault conspired to fix the outcome of last year's race.

At the Grand Prix on September 28, 2008 Alonso began the race in 15th position. But after making a very early pit stop to refuel, Nelsinho Piquet Jr. crashed into a wall, prompting the safety car out.

As Alonso's rivals then gradually disappeared into the pits to refuel, the Spaniard catapulted himself up into the virtual lead to go on and win his first race in a year.

In response to the allegations Renault accused Piquet of blackmail and announced they were launching criminal proceedings against him and his father.

Briatore denied all the accusations against him -- notably conspiring with team management and Piquet to cause a deliberate accident -- saying they were "outrageous lies".

Stewards investigating the claims interviewed Symonds at the Belgian Grand Prix late last month.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20090916/tsp-auto-prix-ita-renault-5820418.html

nadrika wrote:Briatore, Symonds quit Renault

AFP - Thursday, September 17

The report said that Symonds was told that if he came clean over how and why Nelson Piquet junior drove his car into the barriers in Singapore in 2008, he would escape sanctions.

Former driver Piquet and his father, three-time world champion Nelson Piquet senior, claimed that Renault conspired to fix the outcome of last year's race.

:shakehead: This is really bad. I feel cheated. And am i being naive? I don't know. Its just selfish and i really hate this kind of dishonesty. :bleh:

What were Renault thinking??? They are risking lives of PEOPLE here, for crying out loud!!! :shocked:

So I've had a low leak in my passenger side front tire for a few weeks now. Finally took it in and found out that it was the valve. Faulty. Luckily the warranty covered it. :woot:

bmwracer wrote:BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

<snip>

BMW's doing some serious engineering in all sorts of areas. Did you see their racing catamaran, that this was nuts.

krim wrote:BMW's doing some serious engineering in all sorts of areas.

Wish they'd engineer some lower prices on their cars. :sweat:

Did you see their racing catamaran, that this was nuts.

The Oracle racing one?

Looks like a Klingon Bird of Prey with a sail. :mrgreen:

S'pore F1 set to rumble

Okay, so whether it actually is a sport is debatable in the light of Crashgate. But of one thing there is little doubt: F1 is a spectacle.
By Leonard Lim and Rohit Brijnath

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An overview of the Singapore F1 Grand Prix 2009 race circuit as seen on Friday. -- ST PHOTO: TERENCE TAN

IT IS always harder the second time around. Lady Gaga might have been warbling about break-ups in her chart topper, but the old chestnut could well apply to Formula One too.

Although the world's inaugural night race last year was hailed as a triumph by pundits, with the sport's patriarch Bernie Ecclestone describing it as 'the jewel in the F1 crown', Singapore has been under pressure to not just match but better last year's success.

After all, research has shown that F1 host cities typically see a 20 to 30 per cent fall in spectator numbers after the inaugural year. It does not help that other problems have been conspiring with Year Two malaise to make it an even bumpier ride for organisers.

Sponsorship has taken a hit because of the global recession. And last year's race, through no fault of Singapore's, has been unveiled as an abominable farce conducted by Renault.

It is just as well, then, that Singapore GP started planning for this year's race more than a year ago - in fact, almost six weeks before last year's race began. Executive director Michael Roche recognised the challenge back in May 2007.

A day after a deal was inked with Mr Ecclestone to bring F1 here for five years, Mr Roche said: 'It's the second, third, fourth year, how do we liven up the atmosphere and up the off-track entertainment to make sure the fans come back.'

This time around, organisers are not leaving anything to chance - they have worked on everything from the choice of wallpaper in the hospitality suites to addressing criticisms about last year's race.

Indeed, while there were garlands aplenty, the event had its fair share of brickbats too. Not one to mince his words, former Red Bull driver David Coulthard likened the circuit to 'the cobbled streets of Paris'.

Spectators had gripes too. Some complained about bottlenecks at entry points to the circuit, others were disgruntled that spa facilities were extended only to guests at the Paddock Club, but not those at the hospitality suites in the Pit Grandstand opposite.

Singapore GP paid attention to them all. It more than tripled its entertainment budget from last year's $1.2 million to $4 million this time around.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Sport/Story/STIStory_431951.html

F1 credibility, Renault future at stake

AFP - Monday, September 21

PARIS (AFP) - &#8211; The Singapore race-fixing scandal, which has plunged the world's most glamourous sport into a bitter spiral of recriminations and resignations, will push Formula One's credibility to the brink on Monday.

It will also go a long way in helping disgraced paddock superpower Renault decide whether or not it really wants to continue in a sport which bleeds 300 million euros from its stretched budget every year.

The French team hope that the resignations of flamboyant team principal Flavio Briatore and engineering chief Pat Symonds, following allegations they ordered ex-driver Nelson Piquet to deliberately crash in Singapore in 2008, will guarantee clemency when the World Motor Sports Council meets.

Having admitted they will not contest the charges against them, the likelihood is that a heavy fine and a points deduction will be the preferred sentence rather than outright banishment from the championship.

However, even that hasn't stopped the clamour for blood from respected voices within a sport which, in the aftermath of other recent acts of skullduggery, are exhausted by the damage caused to F1's image.

"When I first heard the accusation that Renault had asked Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately, the question was whether it was true or not," Lauda told the Daily Mail.

"If it was true, then it amounted to the worst thing that has happened in Formula One."

Lauda believes Piquet's crash, deliberately engineered so as to help teammate Fernando Alonso take a surprise victory, is a worse scandal than even the 'Spygate' affair of 2007 where McLaren were found to be in possession of technical data belonging to rivals Ferrari.

McLaren were fined a record 100 million dollars and stripped of their constructors points for the season.

"Yes, the McLaren spying scandal two years ago was extremely serious but mechanics have always discussed technical data among themselves.

"This, though, is new. The biggest damage ever. Now the FIA must punish Renault heavily to restore credibility in the sport."

As well as the public thirst for retribution in a sport watched by an estimated 600 million people worldwide, the FIA also faces a delicate balancing act on Monday.

Renault's future in Formula One has been the subject of speculation for a long time. The loss of another manufacturer would be hard to stomach following last year's withdrawal of Honda and the impending departure of BMW.

Renault's title sponsor ING will pull out at the end of the season while their parent company reported losses of 2.7 billion euros in the first half of this year.

Former world champion Alonso, meanwhile, doesn't come cheap with a salary of around 25 million dollars although the Spaniard is widely expected to move to Ferrari in 2010.

Renault's form on the track this season hasn't created any great optimism.

After 13 races Alonso is trailing in tenth place in the drivers' standings while the team are eighth of ten in the constructors' title race - 126 points from leaders Brawn GP.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20090920/tsp-auto-prix-renault-5820418.html

More on the BMW Vision electro-diesel car from the L.A. Times:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-neil18-2009sep18,0,820738.column

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Renault gets a suspended bust (wtf?? :crazy: )

Flav gets life :woot: (so long fat boy!! :dancing: )

and Symonds gets 5 years

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78770

gaijinmark wrote:Renault gets a suspended bust (wtf?? :crazy: )

Typical F1 justice.

Gotta keep the manufacturer's cash flowing into the F1 coffers.

bmwracer wrote:

Gotta keep the manufacturer's cash flowing into the F1 coffers.

They lost Honda last year and BMW is gone at the end of this year. That probably had a lot to do with their decision. :shakehead: [/list:u]

gaijinmark wrote: They lost Honda last year and BMW is gone at the end of this year. That probably had a lot to do with their decision. :shakehead: [/list:u]

For sure. :sweat:

Motor Racing: Hive of activity as teams gear up for Singapore F1 Grand Prix


By Tan Yo-Hinn, TODAY | Posted: 22 September 2009 0704 hrs

SINGAPORE: Most of the teams had only arrived 24 hours earlier, but the Pit Building was a hive of activity on Monday.

One garage that was shut was that of embattled French outfit Renault, who, in light of "Crashgate", were obviously waiting anxiously for news from Paris.

With the practice races of the 2009 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix starting at 6pm on Friday, requests for interviews with the likes of BMW-Sauber and Toyota were politely declined.

But Toro Rosso logistics coordinator Daniele Tartoni told Today his team were very happy with the organisation.

"It's a lot better than last year," said the 32-year-old Italian.

"Because it was the first time then, there was little idea about a lot of things, like where to set up the office. This year, everything we requested for has been provided, which made setting up our garage a lot easier.

"We have about 9,000kg of equipment, including the cars, and about 45 team personnel, so this is very important because we don't have a lot of space to work with here as the garages are smaller.

"The only problem, perhaps, is the heat."

The Italian outfit have had little to cheer about this season and are currently at the bottom of the 10-team constructors' standings with just five points.

But some of their backroom staff still managed to break into a jig when piped music was switched on to test the Paddock's sound system.

Of the 83,000 tickets available this year, more than 90 per cent have been sold despite the financial crisis and recent furore over last year's crash by Renault's Nelson Piquet Jr, which has tarnished the win of Fernando Alonso.

Said Tartoni: "It is not our business to comment on other teams, but we all know each other well and never like to see such things because it is not good for the sport."

On a brighter note, the Italian tipped McLaren's reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton to win Sunday's race.

"After crashing in Monza, I believe Hamilton will want to win here even more," he said.

"But Brawn GP's Jenson Button is favourite for the drivers' championship. They tend to do better on hot surfaces like Singapore." - TODAY

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1006393/1/.html

Briatore may sue FIA

Sep 22, 2009

MILAN - FLAVIO Briatore is devastated by his life ban from Formula One for his role in a race-fixing scandal and may take legal action against motor sport's governing body, Italian media reported on Tuesday.

The flamboyant former Renault team boss was handed the sentence by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on Monday for fixing last year's Singapore Grand Prix by ordering Nelson Piquet to crash.

'I am distraught,' the 59-year-old Italian was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport. Reports said he was planning to bring legal action against the FIA in the Paris courts to try to prove his innocence and win compensation for the damage to his image. The reports provided no further details.

Briatore left Renault last week along with engineering head Pat Symonds, who was banned for five years on Monday.

Former world champions Renault did not contest the accusations and were handed a suspended permanent ban that will last until the end of the 2011 season.

Renault's Spanish double world champion Fernando Alonso, who won the Singapore race after Piquet's crash forced the deployment of the safety car, was cleared of any involvement. Brazil's Piquet was given immunity from prosecution in return for testifying.

Carlos Gracia, head of the Spanish motor sport federation and a member of the FIA's world motor sport council, was also shocked by the life ban. 'Briatore's (penalty) seems to me excessive, there was no clear proof against him and he was not able to defend himself either,' he told Spanish sports newspaper website www.as.com.

'Morever, I wouldn't rule out him going to ordinary justice because he has been left without his means of earning a living.' Briatore, a business partner of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and leading figure in the Formula One Teams Association (Fota), did not attend Monday's Paris hearing.

He is banned from all F1 activities meaning he can no longer manage Piquet, Alonso and other drivers such as Red Bull's Australian Mark Webber.

Media in Italy said he might now consider setting up a rival series to Formula One. Better as a businessman than on the pit wall, Briatore was among those planning a breakaway series when teams clashed with the FIA earlier this year and he has long said F1 has become too boring. -- REUTERS

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Sport/Story/STIStory_432929.html

nadrika wrote:Briatore may sue FIA

:shocked: I am speechless!!! Considering his role in the whole affair??? :shakehead:

Sorry if i'm being too idealistic over here. :sweat:

Lewis Hamilton wants to redeem himself at S'pore GP

By Patwant Singh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 22 September 2009 2241 hrs

SINGAPORE: Defending Formula One Champion Lewis Hamilton wants to redeem himself in Singapore after he crashed out in the final lap at the last race in Monza.

Lewis Hamilton loves the Singapore fans and they did not hold back their support for him.

He got a warm, loud reception at a public appearance at Paragon.

But the heat is on him to do well in Singapore after he missed out on a podium finish in Italy.

He said: "This is definitely the next chance I have to win here. I believe this weekend we will have a very good car. KERS should be very good for us, so fingers crossed we should at least be able to challenge for a podium."

Hamilton, who finished third in Singapore last year, said he's looking forward to racing here again, since the track will be less bumpy this time around.

However, he refused to be dragged into the Renault race-fixing scandal.

He added: "I don't have a view and it has got nothing to do with me really. I'm just here to focus on my job and that's the most important thing to me. Pushing my team forward trying to get some points."

Not holding back is Nico Rosberg, who was second behind Alonso in Singapore last year.

He said: "Well, it is very shocking for the whole sport, but in the end it is just down to two individuals. If we had the time, we would have put in a protest or something and I would have won the race."

This year though, Rosberg is predicting a third placing for himself.

Over the next few days, drivers from the various teams will be making public appearances in the run-up to the Singapore race. -CNA/vm

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1006550/1/.html