Formula 1 2013 - Round 10: Hungary

Hungary has never been spoken of in hallowed tones within Formula 1 circles. The Hungaroring, sticking with classic design, hasn’t provided many classic races, but it has provided some classic and significant moments.

Hill nearly winning in an Arrows comes to mind, along with Massa’s horrifying accident, Button’s first win after a series of chaos and most of the wet races here, there’s been plenty of interesting moments but never enough to string into a race because the track is so difficult to pass on.

That’s not to say it’s bad, it’s a good show of driver skill and how good a car is and with the latest rendition of the 2013 Pirelli tyres, things could certainly be interesting.

Formula 1 2013 - Round 9: Germany

The Nurburgring is a legend in itself. Miles upon miles of twisty, torturous roads of the Nordschleife have written tales and myths aplenty and defined the old era of Formula 1. The current grand prix track which alternates with Hockenhiem also defined an era of Formula 1 with its long flowing corners and huge undulations.

The last few times Formula 1 came here, we saw Hamilton, Alonso and Webber duelling for the win, Webber recovering from a drive through penalty to take his first win and Markus Winkelhock leading during a massive deluge of rain that caught out the rest of the grid at the start. Clearly this place breeds legends. Sadly, this year seems to be the runt of the current litter.

Formula 1 2013 - Round 8: Great Britian

This is where it started. Over 60 years ago, people got together with their cars and raced around an old WWII airfield across the border between Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire. This is where the first Formula 1 race took place.

There was a different set of issues back then, when tracks were lined with straw bales and drivers weren’t strapped into their cars for what equated to a safety reason (better thrown away from a burning wreck then be stuck in it), but Silverstone remains another highlight of the sport.

I said that about the last race. After that, things can only really get better in terms of interesting racing, so what will be dealt this time?

RIP Allan Simonsen

I love Motorsport. I competed in kart racing when I was younger and watch as much of it as I can. These men and women are top class athletes and brave/nuts beyond imagining. Marshals too are amazing people, enduring the elements to keep the sport going out of pure enthusiasm.

So when Death reaches his icy fingers into our domain, I always take a moment to stand and salute. Marshal Mark Robinson lost his life in an accident at the end of the Canadian Grand Prix.

Sadly, his death was followed by that of Danish driver Allan Simonsen, who tragically died on the third lap of the Le Mans 24 Hours when his Aston Martin struck a barrier going onto the long back straight at high speed. The exact cause of death is unknown as of writing, though that's not really that relevant, seeing a fellow racer die still pains me to my very soul.

So, mad as it sounds and looks, I'd like you to stand and salute the drivers on the track and the watchful and ready marshals behind the barriers. They may have lost their lives to the sport they love, but they will not be forgotten.


RIP Allan Simonsen

RIP Mark Robinson

Formula 1 2013 - Round 7: Canada

Thought I'd forgotten, eh? I have to admit, I've been in an odd state since this grand prix, not quite able to get my head together to write. I think it's just what happens when a certain individual disappears into the distance to win. Anyway, blog writing ahoy!

Every year, I look forwards to a few things. Nintendo games, Christmas and the Canadian Grand Prix. Year in, year out, the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve gives us an amazingly close race that can’t be predicted.

Its unique nature within the F1 calendar makes it exciting, though the FIA didn’t bother thinking about that when they demanded tyres that degrade quickly after the 2011 race. With tyres continuing to be a talking point, this looks set to be another banker track. Sadly, it was anything but.

Game Review: GRiD 2

Developer: Codemasters Racing

Publisher: Codemasters Racing

Genre: Racing

Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3

Website: www.gridgame.com

Age Rating: 3+ (PEGI)

Codemasters are amazing. They’ve been around as long as I can remember, the earliest memory of them being the Dizzy games (none of which I actually managed to finish) before loving the Toca Touring Car and Colin McRae Rally games.

Since the start of the current generation of systems with Colin McRae: DiRT, Codies has been a shining light in the racing genre. Race Driver: GRiD stands as one of the best racing games this gen along with PGR4 (in my mind), joined by the ever improving DiRT series (with the exception of Showdown) and when GRiD 2 was announced, I nearly blew up with excitement.

The question is, can the renamed Codemasters Racing top the sublime original?

Formula 1 2013 - Round 6: Monaco

The Jewel in the crown, the greatest race in the world, the ultimate precession, the Monaco Grand Prix has been known as many things. However, it can’t be argued that it is one of the most classic, iconic races in the world and the ultimate test of a driver’s ability and courage as they rocket around what are tiny streets with barriers less than an inch away at times.

I've had the good fortune to go to Monaco both as a regular old tourist with no grasp of French (I am English after all) and to attend the Historic Grand Prix that alternates between Monaco and Pau on the opposite end of France’s south coast. Believe me when I say the place is tiny, especially with all the grand stands and barriers set up.

Anyway, there’s a race to discuss, not to mention other happenings around the Principality, a courageous pigeon as well as a few things that came to light from Barcelona. Let’s get cracking, shall we?