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Apologies for the non-English version. The launch videos for this are a little hard to find currently.

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The JV02D is nearing completion.

Now I am in a position to pump more money into this project I feel I can have a genuine crack at the championship. The rules for 2010 allow a variety of F1 chassis such as the Tamiya F102, 103, 104 and 201, with the latter being a 4 wheel drive F1 car. Chassis from HPI and 3 Racing will also be permitted. I am firmly of the belief that the F103 is among the best F1 chassis available, and the car should provide an excellent platform to fight for the championship. I am slightly weary of the F201 4WD chassis however if conditions on any given weekend are wet. In the dry however I would expect the F103 to be among the best or if not the best of the bunch.

With only eight weeks remaining until the first round at Ardent Raceway near Donington Park final work is being carried out on the car. Testing will begin at my local track in Kent as soon as the new rubber tyres are available from the series organisers. It will be very important to learn how these new tyres perform, as I have only previously raced a Tamiya F103 chassis with foam tyres.

I will be adding race reports during the year and you can be sure of more updates leading to the first race in March as the car has its 1995 Tyrrell 023 bodyshell finished. There will be a few extra technical refinements coming as well including a new aluminium motor mount and 3.5mm offset uprights, so keep checking Grand Prix Blogger for more information as the testing and preparations begin for the 2010 SPC-UK national championship.

With F1 R/C racing beginning to rise again in popularity we want to get as many F1 cars as possible running in this fantastic championship. If you would like to take a look at the rules and regulations then please visit the SPC-UK website where there is a host of infomation on the series. Alternatively contact me at grandprixblogger@yahoo.co.uk and I will answer any questions you may have.

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McLaren Mercedes

1. Jenson Button (GB)
2. Lewis Hamilton (GB)

Mercedes Grand Prix

3. Nico Rosberg (Ger)
4. Michael Schumacher (Ger)

Red Bull Racing Renault

5. Sebastian Vettel (Ger)
6. Mark Webber (Aus)

Scuderia Ferrari

7. Felipe Massa (Bra)
8. Fernando Alonso (Spa)

Williams Cosworth

9. Rubens Barrichello (Bra)
10. Niko Hülkenberg (Ger)

Renault F1 Team

11. Robery Kubica (Pol)
12. TBC

Force India Team Mercedes

14. Adrian Sutil (Ger)
15. Vitantonio Luizzi (Ita)

Scuderia Torro Rosso Ferrari

16. Sebastien Buemi (Ch)
17. TBC

Lotus-Cosworth

18. Jarno Trulli (Ita)
19. Heikki Kovalinen (Fin)

Campos Cosworth

20. TBC
21. Bruno Senna (Bra)

US-F1 Cosworth

22. TBC
23. TBC

Virgin Racing-Cosworth

24. Timo Glock (Ger)
23. Lucas De Grassi (Bra)

Sauber (race numbers to be confirmed)

Kamui Kobayashi (Jap)
TBC

Schumacher, who will turn 41 on the 3rd of January, announced his intention to return to the sport at the Mercedes factory in Brackley, Northamptonshire. He will partner fellow German driver Nico Rosberg in an all-German ‘dream team’.

The Mercedes outfit has been formed from the ashes of the Brawn GP team, who succeeded in lifting both the drivers and constructors trophies in 2009. One of the main reasons for Schumacher joining the Mercedes team is the possibility to re-form his old partnership with Ross Brawn who guided the German to all of his seven world titles at both Benetton and Ferrari.

Speaking to the BBC Schumacher was clearly delighted with his return, and could barely disguise his excitement saying:

“I’m very motivated, thrilled and excited. I want to have fun out there and I feel as fresh as ever. I’ve recharged myself after a three-year break. The challenge is what I look for – I want to know it.”

Schumacher celebrates victory at Florianopolis

Schumacher has not raced in Formula One since the end of the 2006 season, and ended his career on a high with a superb drive at the Brazilian Grand Prix. There is no reason to suspect he has lost any of his drive, determination or talent in the three years he has been away, and we will soon see if the German maintains his skill behind the wheel of a racing car. It would be a brave person that bet against him having a strong impact on the running order in 2010. The German public are certainly behind his return with the BBC claming that 70% of Germans believe Schumacher will be world champion in 2010.

His recent outing in a charity karting event at the fantastic Florianopolis circuit in Brazil saw him win the first race and ‘gift’ Felipe Massa the second, resulting in overall victory in the two-day event,  illustrating he is still able to mix competitively with current F1 drivers. This is sure to have been one of the motivating factors to fuel Schumacher’s desire for a return to F1.

Money does not seem to be a motivating factor for the German as he is believed to be earning just £6.2m for his return – a fraction of the huge wages he enjoyed as a Ferrari driver from 1996-2006. It is believed that the neck problems that prevented Schumacher from making his comeback in 2009 after the terrible accident that beset Felipe Massa in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix are now no longer an issue and he confirmed this saying;

“Confidence comes from some serious training with my neck to make sure it can withstand what it couldn’t in the summer. There is no further issue with the neck – 100%.”

Love him or hate him few would deny that this announcement will add spice to the 2010 season, and Grand Prix Blogger certainly eagerly awaits the 2010 campaign with baited breath.

For more information on the career of Michael Schumacher you may like to read the two-part feature from Grand Prix Blogger which can be found by clicking the following links:

Michael Schumacher, the early years
Michael Schumacher, the Ferrari years

The financial problems that the Donington Grand Prix circuit experienced  left the future of the British Grand Prix in serious doubt, making the new agreement fantastic news for the UK motorsport industry and Formula One as a whole. Silverstone is one of the classic circuits on the F1 calendar and many fans and insiders were left worried that the Grand Prix circus would no longer be visiting not only a classic F1 circuit, but the UK as a whole.

The news was welcomed by 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton as well as this years champion Jenson Button, with both British drivers happy that they are still able to drive on home soil. With back to back British champions it seemed like a lost opportunity for F1 to no longer stage a race in the UK. This long-term agreement means British fans can rest assured that the sport will continue to visit the UK for many years to come.

The changes that have been agreed in order for Silverstone to host the race for the next 17 years are widespread, and do not end with the construction of a new pit complex.

The circuit is to also see a dramatic change for the first time since the safety-related changes that were made in 1994 as a result of the tragic deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger earlier in the year. These changes will see a dramatic re-profiling of the circuit from the Abbey chicane to the pit straight. This re-profiling will create a viewing area that will be more spectator-friendly for not only F1, but the Moto GP that has moved home from the Donington circuit to Silverstone.

BBC F1 commentator Martin Brundle was quick to react to the news and said, “It’s brilliant news. I always assumed it would happen in the end because everyone wanted the same thing. The new circuits are exciting and interesting but they always had to balance up with the historic circuits, like Silverstone.”

The new circuit is due to be used for the 2010 Grand Prix, however this is based upon approval by the FIA. If the new layout does not get approval in time then the 2009 layout will be operated.