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Sunday, January 6, 2008

Entry list for 2008 season

The FIA has released the official entry list for the 2008 season with Kimi Raikkonen driving the number one car after winning the World Championship.


After being committed from the 2007 Constructors', McLaren's cars will wear numbers 22 and 23.


Although the list confirms that Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson will race for Super Aguri, the Japanese team have denied that these drivers have signed contracts for the coming season.



Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Felipe Massa


BMW Sauber F1 Team
3. Nick Heidfeld
4. Robert Kubica


ING Renault F1 Team
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Nelson Piquet


AT&T Williams
7. Nico Rosberg
8. Kazuki Nakajima


Red Bull Racing
9. David Coulthard
10. Mark Webber


Panasonic Toyota Racing
11. Jarno Trulli
12. Timo Glock


Scuderia Toro Rosso
14. Sebastien Bourdais
15. Sebastian Vettel


Honda Racing F1 Team
16. Jenson Button
17. Rubens Barrichello


Super Aguri F1 Team
18. Takuma Sato
19. Anthony Davidson


Force India Formula One Team
20. Adrian Sutil
21. TBA


Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
22. Lewis Hamilton
23. Heikki Kovalainen


www.planet-f1.com

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Raikkonen eyes title repeat - Massa happy with his new 'baby'

Kimi Raikkonen believes that his thrilling, last-gap Formula One triumph in 2007 can provide the platform for a title repeat this season.

The Finn, speaking as Ferrari unveiled their car for the 2008 campaign, says being world champion has given him a new sense of belief following his one-point victory over feuding McLaren pair Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

"The fact that I won the drivers' world title last year gives me the confidence that I can do it again," said Raikkonen. "But I don't feel any stronger than last year."

The Finn admitted he will need a bit of time to adjust to the new car.

"The cockpit is a bit straighter, there's lots of innovations, above all we've lost traction control and it will be a bit difficult to control in the wet," he said. "There's still changes to be made but that's the same with every new car."

"We're ready and with (team-mate Felipe) Massa we have a good atmosphere and we'll try to keep that and fight to the end to retain our titles.
"

The F2008 car reflects changes made to the racing regulations for the new season with traction control and the electronically-assisted starting system removed. Other areas affected by the new rules are the gearbox, which must last four races, and safety elements regarding helmets.

Massa meanwhile said he felt very emotional about the new car and likened it to having a child. "I've never had a son but for the team it's like a baby has been born," said the Brazilian. "It's a special day and now we need to work hard to ensure that the child grows and becomes as fast as possible. The 2008 season is all about this child. I hope that this child will give us the ability to win."

Source AFP
© CAPSIS International

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Ferrari Launch F2008

Ferrari this afternoon officially launched its 2008 challenger which is to be called the F2008.

The first preview images show a relatively traditional swooping front wing as well as a fairly standard rear element. Undoubtedly new model on display will undergo further aerodynamic enhancements ahead of the season opener in Melbourne.

The sidepods do however appear visibly changed over its predecessor with a raised front aspect with various aero additions to the front aimed to create maximum cooling efficiency as well as the all-important flow of air around the car.

Kimi Raikkonen is slated to shake-down the chassis tomorrow at Fiorano.


We’ll bring you more details of the new car shortly. To view more images of the F2008, go to the photo menu and select ‘teams’…

Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International



Ferrari have unveiled their 2008 challenger which has been designed to defend the Italian marque's World titles.


The F2008 is the 54th single-seater Ferrari have built and will be piloted by Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, with the Finn scheduled to give the car its track debut on Monday January 6 at Fiorano.


The Aldo Costa design complies with the FIA's new regulations which require gearbox units to last for four grands prix, as well as the installation of the standard ECU.


In December Costa told Gazzetta dello Sport that the car would be completely re-designed.


"It will be completely new, even though you can't make radical changes because of the regulations," he said.


"The front of the car will be different, as far as the monocoque is concerned, with differently shaped sidepods, and the wing will be new too."


Codenamed 659, the car also has an adapted wheelbase so as to improve weight distribution.


The F2008 weighs 605kg in race trim and the Type 056 powerplant weighs a mere 95kg.


The overall mass of the car is up on last season due to limits on the type of composites allowed and higher cockpit sides - which improve driver safety.


The Scuderia have confirmed that the aerodynamics package will undergo major changes before the season begins.

www.planet-f1.com

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Thursday, January 3, 2008

F2007 weakness solved, designer says

Ferrari's new car for 2008 will be an "evolution" of its championship winning predecessor, according to chief designer Nicolas Tombazis.

The Greek 39-year-old, who returned to Maranello early last year following a stint at McLaren, told the Spanish newspaper Diario AS that the F2008 will feature a shorter wheelbase than the 2007 car when it is revealed on 6 January.

"Much has changed, although the car will be an evolution of the previous one," Tombazis said.

"In 2007 we were faster on the fast circuits than on those with predominantly slower curves. We have worked on the weakness and solved it," he added.

Tombazis also rejected suggestions that Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari's new world champion who joined the Italian team in 2007, faced internal criticism for his failure to communicate effectively with the team.

"Kimi speaks little, but he says important things," Tombazis remarked, also explaining the Finn's apparent difficulty to adapt to Ferrari life early in 2007.

"The change from Michelin to Bridgestone cost him, which is what happened to Alonso as well. He needed some time to understand his new team and environment," he added.

"Since Indianapolis, however, he had a very strong end to his season," Tombazis said.

www.f1complete.com

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