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• Length: 46:30 
• Size: 40.8 MB 
• File: episode79.mp3 
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• Transcript: Coming soon 
• Torrent: episode79.torrent 

The anticipation for Formula 1’s first ever night race has been building since Singapore was announced. Now we rake over all that happened, take a couple of calls, and get feedback from the circuit.

Intro

Doing a show on a full stomach may just calm the hyperactivity.

Good Week / Bad Week

A good week for David Croft and Richard Cregan who have both secured jobs, but a bad week for, well, everyone.

Qualifying

So many incidents, which highlighted issues with the marshals and intrigue about the safety barriers. Also, we discuss Trulli driving the wrong way round the track, and why Ferrari’s can’t turn circles.

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So far, we’ve had three sessions of Free Practice, four hours of on-track action, and many, many incidents. Singapore has already far surpassed what I was expecting, so I don’t see how it can’t live up to the hype. Who knows what Qualifying will bring, but this is the place to find out.

The only thing letting the side down at the moment is the abysmal performance of the marshals. On the one hand, it’s incredible to see so many drivers struggling, hitting the walls, and generally having issues. But every time someone goes off, we have to endure the painful sight of incompetent marshals. They look like they’re not quite sure what they’re supposed to do, or as Neil said in the comments, whether they’re even allowed to touch the cars.

Hopefully this isn’t going to be too big a problem, because it’s the only blight on what is already turning out to be a stellar weekend. The scenery continues to be stunning, and I can’t wait to see what qualifying brings.

Alonso looks completely on it so far this weekend, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens with fuel loads. Hamilton is also showing well, as is to be expected, whilst Kovalainen struggles down in the mid-field. Kovi has also used his joker engine change for this race, so hopefully he can pull his socks up a little bit. Raikkonen and Fisichella both saw early ends to their Free Practice session today, and it’s worth keeping an eye on them to see if it affects their qualifying performance.

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• Length: 10:47 
• Size: 9.9 MB 
• File: digest58.mp3 
• Transcript: digest58.pdf 
• Torrent: digest58.torrent 

Our first look at the Singapore circuit was a wonder to behold, as the drivers struggled to make it round in once piece, whether due to their own issues, or the bumpy circuit.

Free Practice 1

The lovely lights of Singapore are merely a backdrop for all the on track action as first Webber and then Barrichello mess up their first go at attacking the newest street circuit.

Free Practice 2

Whilst Barrichello and Webber take to the track, Glock and Fisichella mess it up, and Hamilton and Alonso continue to fight it out for the top spot.

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We learnt three things from the first session:

1. Singapore at night is undeniably beautiful. Add in a lit up track and some shiny cars, and you’ve got something pretty spectacular.
2. Just a glimpse of FP1 was better than the entire Valencian GP put together.
3. The walls might be magnetic and the marshals don’t seem equipped to handle it.

Already, we’ve seen Webber crash into the barrier underneath the grandstand in great style. Barrichello also met the wall, and both times it took the marshals over five minutes to muster up a crane and sort the situation out. Early days, of course, but considering how many slips and slides we saw, it looks like it’s going to be a busy day for the tractors, and will they be able to cope?

We’ve barely had time to digest what happened in the first session, so let’s look forward instead. Hamilton beat Massa by the smallest of margins, and Massa jumped Raikkonen at the last minute. So far, all three are looking on form and they’ll want to get the most data from the track this afternoon.

There was very little running on soft tyres, and I’m hoping to see more action with the white stripes. The projected lap times were 1 minute 45s, and we only just saw that. With a bit of soft rubber bolted on to the cars, and some hard rubber down on track, we might see some faster times this afternoon.

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• Length: 06:29 
• Size: 74.7 MB 
• File: track15.m4v 
• Transcript: track15.pdf 
• Torrent: track15.torrent 
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Although it hasn’t been widely reported, and while certain factions of the racing community are keen to keep it hush hush, Formula One may be about to happen upon its very first night race.

It’s difficult to escape the fact that the upcoming Grand Prix is an evening affair, and Inside Track is no exception. In this edition we hear from current drivers, ex-drivers, and the men behind the men, about what might lie in store this coming weekend.

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Well, I don’t know about anyone else, but I found that first session a bit of a let down. I suppose I built it up too much to start with, but when the highlight of the hour and a half is spotting a lime green building, you know something’s up.

I suppose it takes time to get used to the track, the feeling of the circuit, and the atmosphere in Valencia, and that’s just for us! Never mind the drivers.

For Free Practice 2, then, I am curious to see whether Vettel was showing off a little, or if he can keep it up as the track gets even better. The dust should be clearing, bit by bit, and we should be seeing the times drop somewhat.

I noted in the FP1 comments that the official simulation was giving a lap time of 1m 37s, but we have yet to see anything like that.

Elsewhere, we’ll need to see what’s going on with Red Bull, as the bottom of the timesheets is bad even for them, and also whether Sutil is up in 13th on merit, or because the other drivers were struggling.

There were no major incidents in FP1, just a few slides and spins, so we’ll be eagerly awaiting the first driver to stuff it up properly. Place your bets now. There are concerns that Valencia hasn’t been planned out particularly well in terms of recovering any stricken cars. Hopefully, if the worst does happen, the sessions won’t be disrupted too much.

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Here it is at last. After an interminable three week break, the action returns at the new Valencia street circuit. Perhaps because there has been so little other news, I feel like I’ve read and re-read the preview quotes too many times, and know what everyone is thinking.

So, what are they thinking? Everyone seems to have been working hard to get to grips with the 20+ corners of the track, using simulators, watching the F3 race, and walking the track (that must have taken ages). Most of the drivers seem to be as excited as we all are about the race, so here’s hoping it’s a good one.

Two particular guys to watch out for this weekend are Raikkonen, who apparently is putting more concentration on his qualifying performance, at the possibility of sacrificing a good strategy. He’s obviously not impressed coming in at the wrong end of the top ten. Also keep an eye on Kovalainen, who seems to be throwing the gauntlet down, as much as the quiet-spoken chap can. He says he won’t be helping Hamilton because Hamilton doesn’t need his help. Maybe that win has changed some things then?

On to this morning then, and the weather reports seem to suggest that today will be hot, whilst tomorrow may see some showers. Maximum temperatures seem to be pushing 30°C for the entire weekend.

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As reported yesterday, the Valencia street circuit was given the go ahead for the F1 race, as the FIA handed out their official licence. Button also gave his stamp of approval to the new circuit.

It is a great venue and it will bring a lot of new fans to F1. It is quite a fast circuit, for a street circuit. It has got a lot of run-off in the places that you need it.

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