Fisico

Last Italian GP™, Michael Schumacher announced his retirement at the end of this season at the press conference held right after he won the race. Now, with just 2 points behind race leader Fernando Alonso, Schumacher will do anything to get that top spot. With his new engine for this race weekend, Ferrari™ is all set to win yet another race in Shanghai.

But Renault™ will do everything to stop their rival. With their R26 engine and a new aero, Fernando and Giancarlo will do their very best to win this same race. Fernando is trying to defend his title while Giancarlo is aiming for third spot. With last years title here in Shanghai, Fernando have more experience here than Schumacher who have not yet finished on this track. While Giancarlo who finished here 4^th last year have more advantage over his former teammate Felipe Massa who have been awarded 10 grid penalty for an engine change.

Shanghai International Circuit™ debut last 2004 as a modern Circuit, with its Grandstand viewing almost 80% of the circuit. The shape of the circuit was based on a Chinese kanji character Shang, meaning “above” or “high”.

Rubens Barrichello a former Ferrari driver now on Honda won its inaugural race debut last 2004, but his then teammate Michael Schumacher still holds the fastest lap here at 1’32.238”. With 56 laps and 5.451km ahead this race weekend is definitely worth watching.

How to get a Formula One team to China
27 September 2006

by: www.f1.com

http://www.formula1.com/race/news/5012/767.html

In line with the upcoming race to Shanghai, here’s an interesting article from the formula 1™ website.

The Italian Grand Prix marked the last race of the European leg of the season, and now McLaren, along with the other 10 teams, face the logistical challenge of getting to Shanghai for the first of the final three flyaway races. To enable McLaren to compete in China, 33 tonnes of equipment has been transported by the team to Asia, as outlined below: 

What:
• Five tonnes of equipment is sent by sea freight. This includes items that can be produced or purchased easily such as screens, wiring, trolleys, generators, and tables. This is in addition to all fuels and hazardous consumables which are sent by sea freight, packaged in a different container to the other items.
• The McLaren equipment fills a 40-foot sea container.
• 27 tonnes of freight and three complete cars are sent by air. This includes items such as spare components, pit equipment, tool cabinets, fuel trolleys, timing stands and radio systems.
• Mercedes will send seven engines to China. Three are sent as part of the complete cars and four spare engines are sent out on a different airfreight, which leaves on the morning of Tuesday, September 26, arriving in China on Wednesday, September 27.
• Mercedes use a 3500-kilogram shipping container to transport all spares, tools and equipment for flyaway races. The weight of the spare engines is additional to this.

When:
• The sea freight for the Chinese Grand Prix left the UK the week beginning August 7, from Tilbury in Essex, arriving in China the week beginning September 11.
• The air freight is managed by FOM (Formula One Management), and it departs London Stansted on Thursday, September 21, arriving in Shanghai on Friday, September 22.
• All freight is delivered to the Shanghai International Circuit by midday on Sunday, September 24.
• The air freight does not return to the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK until Tuesday, October 24, as it travels directly on to Japan and Brazil.
• Certain parts, such as gearboxes, uprights, steering racks, dampers and front and rear wings do return to the team’s Woking base following the Japanese Grand Prix on October 8 in order for them to be serviced.

How:
• For the sea freight there are three different sets that are sent separately to each race.
• There is one collection of air freight that is flown to all three flyaway races.
• The air freight is packed into six igloos, metal packing containers that measure 3 metres x 3 metres x 2 metres, in addition to two pallets of stacked boxes that are the same size as the igloos and a spare chassis box.
• Three complete MP4-21s and a spare chassis are transported by air to the race.
• To transport the MP4-21s the front and rear wings, steering wheels, wing mirrors and the side deflector panels are removed. A protective wooden floor and sides are put in place around the cars with a bumper on the back to protect the gearbox.
• There is a travel nosebox to protect the steering rack and front of the chassis.
• Bespoke covers are then put on the cars before being strapped onto double-decker pallets and loaded onto the FOM charter plane.
• McLaren will send around 95 people to the Chinese Grand Prix. This includes drivers, team management, engineers, race team, marketing and catering.

As written on my previous blog, here are the pics from my trip to Singapore. All thanks to Xaves Nikon D50.

2011 Executive Suite at Phoenix Hotel along Orchard road has been our official residence for our stay in Singapore.

  It is situated right in front of Singtel building.

  On an early Saturday morning this is what Orchard road looks like. But on a Sunday, you’ll be amaze that this whole street can be packed by a lot of Pinoys working here at Singapore. They are all trying to enjoy each others company so as they wont get "home sick"

This is how Singaporean get to their destination.
But they also have an MRT that is very efficient, as well as taxis that are reasonably priced. Notice the double decker bus, along side the "stretched" bus. Nice shot here Xaves!

On our walk along Orchard road, we came across this 7-11 store, bet you can’t find this kind of 7-11 here in the Philippines.

From our Hotel, we are met at the lobby by the Animax representative,
all three of us winners together with our friends went to Suntec by
riding an MRT.

The main reason I go to Singapore is to be part of the WORLD CYBER GAMES ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP, the venue was held at Suntec convention hall 2, at
the Suntec Plaza. Games like DATO, Counter Strike, DAO, and FIFA 2006
were played, as well as side games in the Xbox 360 console were played.

  This is the score board for the Tournament,  the Philippine team didn’t fare well (sad, but true!)

To be continued…