'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.