'cause you are GOLD

Sorry to everyone if I have just embedded that song in your head. Can't beat a bit of Spandau Ballet to kick the afternoon off.
Moving on from 80's tunes I'm here to talk about a company called Racing Gold.
They make 'high quality' products, including art and furniture out of old components that you would normally expect to see on a Formula 1 car. Racing Gold now has linked with Red Bull Racing to produce unique pieces of art for us all to enjoy and purchase.
Below are just a couple of pieces that they make.

Coat Stand

Exhaust Lamp

But that's not all they do.

Racing Gold have teamed up with the charity Wings for Life for the Silverstone half marathon next month, and are holding a competition for someone lucky to win a gold plated gear. Can I get a 'Oooooo'?

All they are asking for, is for you to donate a minimum of £1! Yes you read that right. A POUND! To Wings for Life via the donation page:

http://www.bmycharity.com/racinggold 

You don't just have to donate a pound. Every little helps and it's all for a fantastic cause. 

As you donate to Wings for Life you will automatically be entered into the 'Guess the weight of the gold plated gear' competition. As a bonus, you will also be entered into the draw to win a polished Cosworth F1 engine valve.

Racing Gold have yet another offer. For every donation of £5 or over you will automatically receive a polished titanium shim. Not bad at all. 

The closing date is 11th March 2012 so you have less than 2 weeks to enter the competition.   

If you'd like to find out more about Wings for Life and the amazing research they do visit:

http://www.wingsforlife.com/en-gb/

If you have any questions about the competition, full rules are here at:

http://www.racinggold.co.uk/news/wings-for-life-silverstone-half-marathon-competition/

If you have any other questions or queries you can get in touch with Racing Gold via their website:

http://www.racinggold.co.uk/

Or you can contact Racing Gold on twitter:

@Racing_Gold

An experience like no other

Well here we are folks, my review of the second testing session of 2012 and first in Barcelona.
In my review you'll be able to learn a little bit more about what I got up to and my review of the Circuit de Catalunya.

On your marks

Here is a video of Charles Pic coming into the Marussia pit after completing one of his many timed runs during last week's testing in Barcelona.
Being that close to the live action was just incredible. The entire ground vibrated as the car zoomed in. Charles Pic, I'm sure will thank me for saying this, but he didn't hit his mark every single time, but we'll let him off seeming as he's a rookie.

Mmm the smell of burning rubber.

In the thick of it

The Formula 1 paddock is in its own different world. Being in there and experiencing the atmosphere is just immense.
When you're in the grand stand and you're with the fans and you see the cars drive past, this buzz just takes over your body. Adrenaline is pumping and the sound of the engines can't help but make you smile.
The paddock feels untouchable.
It's a place where the drivers can relax from car to motorhome. The world's media and fans really doesn't seem to faze them.

This photo with Mark Webber was taken during testing in Barcelona, during the morning session. Mark was taking a short pitstop to the energy station. Loo break, I don't know but whatever he was doing he still took the time out to stop and have a photo with me.
If you're polite and respectful the drivers really appreciate that.

I met some extremely rude fans in the paddock in Barcelona. There's rude and there's rude. They obviously didn't know how to act around Formula 1 drivers, as they aren't your typical 'celebrity'. They were pushing around to get either an autograph, photograph or even a slight glimpse of a driver.

This photo is an example of just that. When Sebastian Vettel came out, the crowd of people seemed to multiply, which with being double World Champion, you'd expect that. So called 'fans' bombarded the Red Bull driver to get to him. Pushing people out of the way and even pushing Sebastian himself and he had to try and calm the crowd down by saying "Everyone, one at a time."
Strange man wanting to get in on my photo decided to push through everyone and even pushing Seb just to get next to him.
I felt really sorry for not only Sebastian Vettel but all of the drivers during testing last week in Barcelona. The fans were incredibly rude and disrespectful in the paddock, and they ruin it for everyone else. Drivers won't want to take the time to sign things or take photos with fans if they're going to be treated like this.

My top tip to fans when they meet drivers: Manners cost nothing. If you're polite the drivers will happily take their time with you. If you're rude and disrespectful then why should they make an effort with you?

Little video of me in the Formula 1 paddock. Outside of the Red Bull Racing energy station.

Globe Trotting

Here's this weeks #FanFormula entry

The sky's the limit

Formula 1 is about to enter its 63rd season and into a new dimension.

At the Hungarian Grand Prix last season, an official announcement was made that Formula 1 would be leaving the BBC and moving to Sky Sports. Sky would be getting the sport for next 7 seasons.
The first time in the sports history that it won't be viewed on free to air television. As expected, this caused an outcry amongst Formula 1 fans because a sport that's incredibly expensive to follow live and the right to see it every race weekend from the comfort of your own living room, without question was being taken away.
The BBC then came out and said that they will be showing half the races live and the other 10 would be during prime time viewing. In other words if it's an early race start, the race will be shown in the afternoon and if it's an afternoon start then the race would be shown in the evening.
With all the budget cuts the BBC have been making recently we knew something was going to change, we just didn't know it would be this drastic.

Sky had kept quiet after the announcement was made due to many fans expressing their opinions on the decision.
Straight after the release of Formula 1 moving to Sky, Martin Brundle came out on twitter and openly said that the BBC hadn't offered him a new contract and he wanted to still work in Formula 1 because it's his life and he loves doing what he's been doing over the past number of years.
It was inevitable that Brundle would move to Sky for the 2012 season and beyond but who would join him?
This was a question on everyones lips but no one could answer it.

Before the announcement of the long awaited team. Sky Sports released a statement saying that a new channel would be launched on March 9th dedicated to Formula 1. Sky Sports F1 HD would show all practice and qualifying sessions and all races uninterrupted. This was a sign that Sky Sports would go beyond to make sure fans get the experience of being at the race live.

Martin Brundle, along side David Croft, Anthony Davidson, Natalie Pinkham, Ted Kravitz, Georgie Thompson and Simon Lazenby make up the new Sky Sports F1 line up. An extremely strong line up with a lot of knowledge and experience of Formula 1.

At testing I was lucky enough to speak to a couple of the Sky Sports F1 team during testing this week in Barcelona.
Georgie Thompson said she is really looking forward to the change and can't wait to share her passion for the sport with a different twist on style.
I managed to get a quick word in with the Executive Producer of Sky Sports F1 and when asked if the coverage would be up to scratch he said "If it wouldn't be any good. I wouldn't be in a job."

The launch of Sky Sports F1 HD is on the 9th March. 12 days time.
I have a feeling it will be great coverage. They have a great team who are well knowledgeable and are passionate about the sport. As fans, we want people who know their stuff and can share their passion with us every race weekend.
We have been spoilt for choice by the BBC over the past 3 seasons and from what I've heard, Sky Sports F1 really want to make it their own.

Countdown to the first race in Melbourne: 20 days

Another one bites the dust

No, I'm not watching Gladiators. I doubt the 'Wolf man' will be showing his face anytime soon. I'm talking about testing.

That's it, the second testing session of 2012 has ended and it's been quite a mixed one at that. From Lotus packing up and leaving after one day. To Maldonado and Kobayashi having a go at sitting on top of the time sheets. It always get mentioned, but I'll mention it again, you can't really determine the outcome of the season with the times set in testing. The real challenge will be in Melbourne for the first race of the season.
From the times set over the past four days here at the Circuit de Catalunya, we can ascertain that the mid tables teams from last season could be a lot closer to the front runners. Especially Force India and Toro Rosso. What I've seen being in the grandstand during testing they have both looked to be stronger in the long run so this could be the start of something, but we'll have to wait and see what happens in Melbourne.
As I know little about exact times during testing and little on the real reasons for why cars have stopped on track, but as soon as I return home from Barcelona I will give you all a full review of testing. You're all probably reading this thinking "Was she even at testing? She doesn't know much about what went on." Well I was and I was paying attention, it's just the commentary in the grandstand was all in Catalan and I... Erm... I don't speak a word of Catalan.

Epic fail by me there.

I just got Pic'd

I shall start with an apology to Charles Pic. For some reason I felt like spelling Pic as Piq.
No idea why? I was with him all day yesterday.
I think because when he was driving past, the C looked like a Q. Yes that's it. I blame the high speed Formula 1 car, not my incompetence.

Anyway moving on from that and on to the real business..... TESTING!

I'm trying incredibly hard to do my best at reporting from the Formula 1 paddock and grandstand. Only problem is my Spanish. It's not brilliant and the so called 'commentary' is all in Spanish, well Catalan. I don't know, all this different Spanish is confusing me.
Such a rookie mistake by myself.

Well today I managed to be in the paddock again, really wasn't expecting that.
Always a bonus to be in the paddock. Will never turn down an offer to be in the thick of all the Formula 1 action.
Along with being in the paddock, the lovely Red Bull racing team gave me a tour of the garage. For obvious reasons I wasn't allowed to take any photos. All hush hush business. I did manage to talk to some of the team and I asked them if they are happy with the car and if they're where they predicted they'd be. Without giving too much away they said they're pleased with the car. This was clearly before the little 'mishap' we'll call it, this afternoon. As Red Bull had to abruptly end their testing session due to a problem with the car.
It must be a pretty major problem they will not be continuing with testing tomorrow and instead are opting for a 'private' test next week with Ferrari. This is still to be confirmed though.
As Mark Webber's car was being towed back a cheeky Ferrari engineer thought he could get a peek of that infamous Red Bull Racing floor as it was being lifted off the truck.
The comedians that Red Bull are, they made 'for sure' the Ferrari engineer couldn't see and covered his eyes.
A bit of light entertainment for us all.

If the Ferrari engineer wants to be more stealthy he should take some tips from the Red Bull F1 Spy, because he or she is doing a killer job.

Who is the spy? It's a mystery that needs to be uncovered

Can't get much closer than this

As some of you may recall, last year at the Brazlian Grand Prix, Marussia Virgin (as they were at the time) held a #winterwonderland competition.
Can't quite remember what it entailed, something to do with twitter obviously, I mean where else would you find me these days?
Well on Christmas morning last year I found out I had won this once in a lifetime competition to attend a pre season event. As you can imagine all my Christmas's came at once. Honestly couldn't believe it. When I found out I would be attending the second testing in Barcelona, I mentioned this to the team, as I know they are incredibly busy back at the factory preparing for the launch of the new car due to them being delayed and testing last years car instead, that maybe my #winterwonderland prize could pop up at testing.

And that I exactly did... I'll leave you all on suspense because I'm mean like that and once I return you can hear all about it.

Testing, 1-2 testing, testing, 1-2

We are now half way through testing here in Barcelona and it hasn't been smooth running for everyone. Lotus (formally known as Renault) decided they'd had enough, packed up and went home early.
I know it's not the most exhilarating thing, testing nine hours a day, but at least stick it out for a couple of days.
A few teams have been having trouble in paradise over the past two days. "Danielle Ricciardo" as he is known as by the Spanish/ Catalan crowd hasn't had an easy time. He's stopped on track numerous of times due to problems with the Toro Rosso. On the main straight the car has looked incredibly quick. They had good straight line speed last season so I wonder if they can continue forward with this. Or will reliability be an issue?
Caterham have had a few problems as well. Their testing session was cut short yesterday due to a drive shaft rod failure on Heikki Kovalinnen's car. This morning Vitaly Petrov had a few little obstacles to overcome with his new Caterham. They team are trying to find the perfect set up for him, but he did manage to get some laps in, in the afternoon session.
Surprisingly Mercedes had to abruptly end their testing session with Michael Schumacher yesterday but had a quick turn around today as Nico Rosberg took to the wheel and managed to fit several strong laps under his belt.
Charles Pic in the Marussia clocked up the most laps yesterday and today. Trying to get his head around the car and understand everything as he is going into his rookie season.
Obviously wants to make the best of it. Don't forgot Marussia are testing last seasons car this week in Barcelona. They're just running behind on the launch of their new car.
Sauber, Williams and Force India amongst the mid runners got down to business and managed to get some valid track time and lay down some rubber.
The big boys Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari used their time wisely.
Red Bull with Sebastian Vettel at the wheel laid their towel down (excuse the pun) at the top of the testing sheet during yesterday's session. Showing the rest of us how it's done and that they are not giving up their constructors championship without a fight.
In true Red Bull fashion they weren't standing any messing when it came to making sure everything is kept 'hush, hush' for testing. The curtains were fully up between garages.
I can only imagine it killed them to open the drapes to the world media when they were letting the double world champion out for his runs.
It's fair to say the photog's were all over them like a moth to a flame.
Both McLaren and Ferrari seemed to have some minor hiccups yesterday and today. It didn't seem to faze them though. Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso raked the laps in.

At the end of the day testing is testing. It does exactly what it says on the tin. It's still early days. No championship had been won just yet. Sorry to ruin that for you. Can't take too much from it so we'll just have to wait and see what Thursday and Friday have install for us as the other drivers take to the stand.

Not long now till the start if the season.

Dirty cash I want you, dirty cash I need you

No I'm not auditioning for X-factor with a bit of Stevie - V.

'Money talks' is a big issue in Formula 1 these days. Especially when it comes to drivers.
"Why should money determine whether or not you get a seat in Formula 1? Surely it should be down to the talent you have?" I hear you cry. Well you'd think that's the most obvious reason why you should be driving, but it's not. Even if you were the most talented driver you still can't be guaranteed a seat unless you're bringing some kind of dollar into the team.

Those days where it was all about pure racing, and pure driving are long gone. Where the drivers didn't care about how much money they were bringing in, they just wanted to race. Now all the teams talk about is "the bigger the cheque you write out to us, the longer you can drive for us"
This is more common in teams towards the back of the grid. The most common teams who like to change their drivers about like the wind are HRT and Marussia.
Yes, I understand money is really important to them to enable them to get the resources they need to start becoming more competitive, but it's not fair and yes life isn't fair. I'm sure there are drivers out there in the lower leagues like GP2/GP3 who would drive for free in Formula 1, just to get a chance to fulfil the childhood dream but can't because of money.

MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! Must be funny. In a rich man's world.
ABBA clearly sang this song about Bernie.

Very hot plate. Very hot!

Here's my sitting in the #FanFormula hotseat video. So you can learn a little bit more about me

Ditch the V card

Losing your virginity is suppose to be a special moment in your life. A magical moment. Enough with the cliché rubbish. Silverstone took mine, and my god it was a magical time.
The 9th, 10th, 11th July 2010 was to date the best weekend of my, at the time, 17 year long lived years.

I should probably start off with how I got the general admission tickets to the 2010 British Grand Prix before I go on to anything else. If I said I got them from the 2009 World Drivers Champion Jenson Button, you'd probably say "Yeah right. As if she got them off Jenson Button. Good one". Well I am going to say I got them off Jenson Button, because I did.
I attended the 2010 Autosport International Show at the NEC in the January where Jenson Button was a special guest, as he had just won the championship after his 'fairytale season'.
On the F1 racing magazine main stage he was doing a couple of question and answer sessions during the day. After I came out from seeing the live action show, I was lucky enough to catch the end of his first Q&A with @henryhopefrost who is the presenter on the main stage.
Some people had already asked Jenson question's and it was time for his final question. To get Jenson's attention I began jumping up and down 'wooping'. With my loud mouth I have, it worked and I was lucky enough to get to ask Mr Button a question. (It helped I was in the rocket red McLaren shirt too, but we won't mention that)
My question to Jenson was "To what extent do you think Formula 1 is a sport in the 21st century." Smart question. I know. Not normally like that. At the time I was doing a project for part of my A-levels and this was my question and what better way to get it answered then by the World Champion at the time.
His first response to the question was "Do you think I'm fit?" Not sure if we was coming on to me or wanted me to answer the question. I obviously pulled but didn't want to make it look too obvious to everyone so just brushed past that question.
After he answered my question, @henryhopefrost said to Jenson for him to pick 2 people to give tickets to the British Grand Prix. He first pointed to the opposite side to where I was to someone, who had decided to leave. (No idea why?) GUTTED!
 He then turned back to me and asked me if I wanted to go to the British Grand Prix. My answer was of course yes. I broke down in tears. As you do. And that's how I got tickets to the 2010 British Grand Prix

I remember waking up at 4am on the Friday morning of the British Grand Prix weekend to get ready to rock and roll. I've never been so alert and awake to get out of bed at the early time. It's as if my body knew what day it was.
Shorts, t-shirt and sun cream was at the ready. Surprisingly, it was going to be a beautiful summer's day. Shocking! I know! Was out the house by 5am so I would arrive before the gates opened at 6am. Lucky for me I only live about 45-50 minutes drive away from Silverstone.
I wasn't hardcore enough to camp. Tents and going to the toilet in a hole you've dug yourself isn't my idea of fun. Driving back and fourth each day was more appealing to me. I did however arrive in style in a BMW M6 that my dad had from one of his friends. Racing down the M1 doing over 150MPH. Got me into the Formula 1 spirt.
Wait I mean we only hit 70 because that's the legal limit and breaking that is naughty...

The gates opened at 6am and I rushed in. Power walking to the grand stand on the main pit straight at the time before the Silverstone Wing showed itself to the F1 world. I wanted to make sure I got a good seat for practice. I got a great seat but it came at a price. Little tip for you all. Don't power walk somewhere with new trainers on. Blisters do occur. I've still got blood stains on the back of my trainers that I wore that weekend, because you all wanted to know that.

In a few hours time my weekend was about to get a whole lot better.

As I had never experience anything like being at a Formula 1 circuit for a Grand Prix before, I was in total ore of my surroundings. Just the fact I could see a slight glimpse of the Formula 1 cars in their garages.
Ferrari had got to work early that morning and seeing them working on the car was just incredible. I had to pinch myself so I knew that this was all real and not a dream.
Silverstone Radio came out of the speakers surrounding the grandstands at 8am when all systems were a go. They were hosting a competition to win 2 passes to the drivers' autograph session after Qualifying on the Saturday. The question was "If Adrian Sutil wasn't a Formula 1 driver what would he be?" And before you ask. No the answer wasn't a convict, or a boxer.
My father and I got our trusty iPhones out and got googling. What kept popping up was piano player. So we rang in. Engaged. Engaged. Engaged. Redial. Redial. Redial. Eventually, after 72 times. No joke. I got through. Piano player wasn't the right answer.
Google is clearly a liar then and wasn't my friend that day.
Luckily my mother was at home that day and she got onto the internet and was researching and she came across that he wanted to be a stunt driver. Father then decided he'd give it a go and ring in. He got through and BOOM! Right answer. Hello 2 passes to the drivers' autograph session after qualifying. That was clearly my lucky year. About time as well. Actually couldn't believe it.

Here we are. Sebastian Vettel and I at the autograph session. Ignore my sunburnt face. It was extremely hot that day and yes I did keep applying sun cream. I just have very sensitive skin. Can't help it.

Casual conversation with Sebastian Vettel as you do. I did also tell him I couldn't wait to see him on the top step of the podium on race day. I clearly jinxed him because he got a puncture on the first lap and finished 7th. 

Sorry Seb!

Amazing how at the time he was a just a Grand Prix winner and then he went off to win the World Championship that year. I was his good luck charm for that. Don't hate ;)

Only driver I didn't meet was Mark Webber. He had a bit of a mard on him that day as they changed his front wing and gave it to Seb. I didn't know this at the time so did bad mouth him a bit for not staying long to sign autographs. He didn't hear so all is good. 

ALONSO SMILING. I REPEAT. ALONSO SMILING. 

This is the money shot of the session. Can't believe I have this. This is a keeper.

Lewis before the earrings and funny shaped facial hair.

Cheers for the cheeky smile.

Vogue

This week's #FanFormula entry on the importance of testing

Smile you're on camera

This week's #FanFormula entry

Over and out

With the first day of testing over and done with Kimi Raikonnen tops the time sheet with the quickest time followed by Paul Di Resta and Mark Webber closely behind.
It's still early days and obviously it's not about who clocks in the fastest laps, it's for the teams to get valid data from the new cars.

Today's testing session summed up into a couple of lines:

Williams seemed to have some technical difficulties (not really much of a surprise) and so did Toro Rosso. Red Bull clearly have something up their sleeves for this car. Mr Newey bending around the rules again. (He likes to do that)

Let's see what tomorrow brings

Fasten your seat belts it's Fan Formula time

There's this fantastic project called #FanFormula on twitter, where all Formula 1 fans, whether you're young, old, male, female, doesn't matter, can come together to share their views and opinions on the weeks topics.

I found out about #FanFormula from Grace (@GraceF1Fanatic) who created the project. She has an incredible vision for the project and every week she always sends us a fantastic bunch of questions for us to report back to her on. She edits all the videos herself and even though she has a busy schedule, still never forgets us F1 folk.

So hats off to you Grace :)

Here's my #FanFormula 'Meet @AilishCatherine' Video.

Enjoy


Meet the Formula... @AilishCatherine

Well here we are.

My first 'professional' blog. I say 'professional', as I have had blogs in the past that has tended to be more for the fan girl inside me than the professional woman screaming to come out.
My initial intention for this blog is to share my passion, enthusiasm and love for all things Formula 1 and hope you (the lucky reader) to enjoy what I have to say.
I will also try to update you with my happenings in Formula 1. I've got some pretty awesome things happening this year.

2012 is going to be a big year.