Info

McIlroy can win major - Immelman

Trevor Immelman has said that Rory McIlroy has a chance to succeed him as Masters champion at Augusta next month.

When asked about the chances of the 19-year-old from Holywood, County Down winning his first major, Immelman said: "It's definitely not impossible".

"Obviously there's going to be a lot of pressure on him and he's going to have feelings that he has not had before mentally and emotionally.

"But he has all the physical talents at his disposal," said the South African.

"But there are a whole host of guys who do and there's a little bit of an x-factor in doing something great in sport.

"Players find that out when the moment arises and time will tell whether he has that little X-factor."

Northern Ireland sensation McIlroy, winner of the first European Tour title in Dubai last month, played his first professional event in America only last week and reached the quarter-finals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play before losing to eventual winner Geoff Ogilvy.

Now in Florida for the Honda Classic, he is already into the world's top 20 and stablemate Ernie Els has gone on record as saying he could be the next number one.

Meanwhile McIlroy has added the Shot of the Month title to the European Tour Golfer of the Month award he won for January.

The shot in question was his recovery from a greenside bunker on the final hole of the Dubai Desert Classic.

One ahead after three consecutive bogeys, the 19-year-old splashed out of the sand to three feet and achieved the par he needed for his maiden victory.

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk

Hamilton faces tight test regime

World champion Lewis Hamilton is facing a truncated testing schedule in getting to grips with the technical changes Formula One will embrace this season.

McLaren is one of the teams that is using kinetic energy recovery systems - one of the many changes that are being introduced for 2009 - in its two cars.

"I've seven days to master the car, where normally I would have had 20 days," Hamilton, 24, told BBC Sport.

"It's a completely new package for us all - it's going to be interesting."

Kers harnesses energy that would have been lost during braking and allows the driver to reapply it during acceleration.
"We've a huge challenge ahead of us with Kers - with the reliability of that, the reliability of the car and finding the new set-up," said Hamilton, who got his first taste of McLaren's 2009 car when he completed 81 laps in testing in Portugal on Wednesday.

Hamilton said McLaren would definitely be using the system - other teams have yet to decide whether to employ it or not from the start of the season.

The 24-year-old decided to take more time off at the end of last season after he became the youngest world champion in Formula One history after a thrilling Brazilian Grand Prix.

His team-mate Heikki Kovalainen is still waiting to try out his new McLaren after bad weather wiped out the final day of testing in southern Portugal on Thursday.

The Finn had been due to drive the MP4-24 at the Algarve circuit, but rain and fog grounded the medical helicopter and forced organisers to close the circuit for safety reasons.

McLaren's next test is at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain on 10 February, with the F1 season starting in Australia on 29 March.

Driving for the first time since winning the F1 title in dramatic fashion at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Hamilton was third fastest overall after a minor engine problem.

"It was good to be back working with the team. It felt like I'd hardly been away because it was easy to slip back into the routine," said Hamilton.

"This first test was all about just getting used to the new car and the new regulations and about giving my feedback to the engineers - it wasn't about setting a fast time.

"I'm pleased to report that the car feels good, we've made lots of progress over the winter and I'm looking forward to developing the car ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
"It's going to be an extremely busy winter. I've only been in the car for one day and our usual job list for the weeks ahead is already enormous.

"With the limitations on testing during the season, and the few sessions we have over the next two months, this is going to be an intense time and absolutely critical for every team."
Wednesday's fastest time was set by Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi, who finished almost two seconds clear of second-placed Nico Rosberg in the Williams who was half a second clear of Hamilton.

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk

De la Rosa unhappy with test ban

McLaren's Formula One test driver Pedro De la Rosa says the ban on in-season testing could prove to be dangerous.

New measures were brought in by the FIA, the sport's governing body, as part of cost-cutting measures for F1.

With Barcelona hosting the last testing session ahead of the season-opener in Australia on 29 March, De la Rosa is worried if reserve drivers are needed.

"We could be a problem, with regard to safety, if we haven't driven enough," he said after testing in Jerez, Spain.

Teams are currently preparing for the new season, which opens with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne at the end of March.

The FIA opted for the new ban in December last year and it could lead to F1 team's test drivers becoming redundant for the rest of the year.

The 38-year-old Spaniard added: "I'm hoping I can test again in the next few weeks because to me it's very important to arrive in Melbourne with as many miles as possible.

"Otherwise, the situation for a reserve driver is ridiculous.
"Arriving in Melbourne with very little mileage done, or not having a single day of testing during the season, makes the test driver rusty in case we have to climb into the car."

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk

Sato rules out third-driver role at Red Bull

The chances of Takuma Sato making a return to the Formula One paddock for the 2009 season grew even slimmer on Wednesday, after the former Super Aguri racer announced he is no longer in talks with Red Bull about the possibility of becoming their reserve driver.

Sato tested for Red Bull's Toro Rosso team three times over the winter and was in the running for a 2009 race seat. But the news in February that the team had chosen Sebastien Bourdais to partner new signing Sebastien Buemi forced the Japanese driver to look for other avenues to continue his Formula One career.

In a statement on his official website, the 32 year-old said: “I am no longer in negotiation with the Toro Rosso or Red Bull teams about their third driver positions. I am very disappointed that we were not able to come to an agreement with them but you never know what is around the corner. As everyone knows, I never give up so we are still looking for the best options for the future.”

Before Super Aguri withdrew last season, Sato had been a firm fixture on the Formula One grid since 2003.

Source:
http://www.formula1.com

Felipe Massa Q&A - Ferrari will be ‘very competitive’

After coming so close last year, Felipe Massa has returned stronger and more confident that both he and Ferrari have what it takes to challenge for the title this season. Thus far, testing suggests his confidence is well placed. And clearly reenergized, the Brazilian is adopting a simple mantra for 2009 - win races and win the title…

Q: Felipe, this week’s Jerez session is the first test with eight teams running their new cars. Where do you see Ferrari in this context, and which teams are your closest rivals?
Felipe Massa: We are definitely going in the right direction and we are where we wanted to be at the moment. My guess is that we will see four or five teams that will be very competitive and that will make the championship very interesting. That will be McLaren, of course, then Toyota, Red Bull Racing, maybe Renault and maybe BMW, who could be quick as well. But for sure there is still a lot of work to do - the whole team is extremely focused to improve the car. By now I can say that I am quite convinced that we will be very competitive.

Q: Speaking to the other drivers, they seem unanimous that Ferrari is the strongest team right now. Do you feel like you’re the favourite?
FM: No. You don’t feel you’re the favourite. What you feel is that you are in good shape, that you are in the right condition to fight and the right condition to be competitive. I am not the kind of guy who likes to say that we are the best - we are not the best - we are just working to try to win races and win the championship.

Q: There are six more test days left before Melbourne. In what areas do you feel the car can still be improved?
FM: Well, everywhere. There are always margins where you want to improve. We are working in all areas of the car - on the speed, on the reliability, on the consistency. But also I’m working on myself - on the driving style and on finding the right set-up. There are always margins to improve.

Q: There are barely three weeks to go before the grid forms for the Australian Grand Prix. Are you ready?
FM: For sure I would like to do some more testing, as tests are without doubt the best preparation for a race - especially the first. In terms of feeling comfortable in the car - yes, I am ready.

Q: After that heart-stopping finale in Brazil last year, what’s your philosophy for the season ahead?
FM: That is very simple. My philosophy is to win - races and the championship!

Q: You have reportedly said that you would be in favour of testing during the season. Is that correct?
FM: No, I was probably misinterpreted. I have some ideas that maybe the race can be slightly shorter, because in the last 15 laps nobody really cares about the race any more. And as we have seen that Friday is not so important for the show, we could extend the Saturday morning a bit and take away the Friday altogether. In addition to that, we could do two, three or four (test) sessions during the season - not together but separately - and make a ‘testing championship’ and the winner could take a bonus for the championship. Like that, you could have a lot more sponsors following the testing, and of course more media. Maybe we could have a nice practice in the morning and a big qualifying (type session) in the afternoon. I think if everybody gives his opinion and brings together some good ideas, we could make a good championship all together.

Q: Your former team mate Michael Schumacher visited the test on Tuesday. Did you have a conversation?
FM: Yes, there always is. It is always nice to have Michael here. I tried to explain to him all the things we are doing, about the development of the car, the behaviour of the car and the feelings that I have. And I was telling him not to risk too much with the motorbikes!

Source:
http://www.formula1.com

Former Honda F1 team to race regularly in Australia

According to reports, former Honda Racing F1 team will be on the starting grid of this season’s opener Grand Prix in Australia. The Times newspaper reported earlier today that former Ferrari Technical Director Ross Brawn, is leading the management buyout and the new team will be funded by a combination of money from Honda itself for this year and funds from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The newspaper reported also that the team will conduct a shakedown test of their new car next Thursday at Silverstone and a full test will follow in Barcelona on March 9.

Alongside Jenson Button, who is reportedly confirmed in one race seat, no decision has been taken yet on his teammate. It’s being rumoured this will be either Rubens Barrichello, who has been with Honda for the past three seasons, or Ayrton Senna’s 25-year-old nephew, Bruno Senna.

Source:
http://www.formula1news.net

Fulham Hope To Extend Hangeland's Stay

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed that the Premier League outfit are eager to offer centre-back Brede Hangeland an extension to his contract at Craven Cottage.

The 6ft 5in Norwegian international has 14 months remaining on his current deal with the west London-based outfit but the Cottagers are looking to better his terms in hope of staving off interest from other clubs.

"We have had plans for a while to talk to him, a) about an extension and b) about improving his contract. That's in hand," Hodgson is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

However, the former Blackburn Rovers and Inter boss is well aware that the 27-year-old has impressed since arriving in England and that the club may receive bids for his services regardless of the player’s contract.

"If it happens, it happens and we will deal with it the best we can,” the manager explained. “In the meantime, Brede and other players who might interest other clubs are still here and we will do our best to keep them."

Ricky Brooks, Goal.com