Lord of the Ring eager and Hungary

On the back of a suberb victory last time out in Germany, Lewis Hamilton arrived in Hungary brimming with confidence, claiming that this weekends Hungaroring Grand Prix 'can't come soon enough'.However, by looking at a few facts and figures from previous years, Hamilton's new found enthusiasm may be short lived.

After such an action packed dramatic German Grand Prix last Sunday, some may be forgiven for forgetting that the Hungaroring may well be titled the 'Red Bull Ring' on the back of the teams success at the circuit last year. It was mearly a year ago when the Red Bull team were more than a second quicker than its relentless rivals from Woking and Maranello, with Mark Webber eventually taking victory for the first time in his career in Hungary. Such was the Red Bulls pace, that after a safety car stint caused by on track debris, he was able to pull out a gap over second place man Fernando Alonso, that would see the Australlian rejoin after his eventual pit stop still ahead of the Spaniards Ferrari.

It seems fitting that Webber's teammate and current Championship leader Sebastian Vettel, should return to a track he 'cracked' at last year, at a period of time where the Germans mental state is again being questioned a year on. Step back a matter of months, and any notions of Vettel being mentally weak would be instantly dismissed, with Red Bulls World Champion being touted as the 'perfect driver' by many experts and paddock stalwarts. However, Vettel's recent run of questionable performances have prompted many people to eat the words of praise that have swooned the German all season long; the Germans home race last Sunday proved that the untouchable nature of his previous performances, had gone. With just this weekends race inbetween him and the sports summer break, the timing couldn't be more perfect for the man with the entire F1's circus' weight pressing down on his shoulder.
In complete contrast, the summer break following this weekends Grand Prix couldnt come at a worse time for the Vettel's rivals, most namely Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and last sundays victor Lewis Hamilton. With Vettels mistakes and a wave of seemingly effective updates being introduced to both the McLaren and the Ferrari over the past few races, the momentum really does lie with the two bitter rivals, both of which metaphorically are working in twine to bring down the collosal lead that has been built up in the Championship ladder by Vettel. Hungary may bring back bad memories for the two however, with the circuit being the scene of Alonso and Hamilton's very public on track fallout on 2008, in which the Spainard deliberately held up Hamilton in order to deprive the Brit of a second run in the Q3 session. It would be safe to say that with Alonso's clear 'number 1' driver status within his current team ,and Hamilton's well documented harmoneous partnership with current teammate Jenson Button, neither of the two aces need have any doubts in the clarity of their corrosponding teammates this time out.
The big question on the worlds lips aswell as those in the F1 Paddock in Hungary, is undoubtebly which of the top three teams package is quickest over the course of the weekend. By looking at the teams individually, the chances of Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mclaren become much more apparent:

Red Bull:On paper, Red Bull should walk it this weekend, with a car that one year ago was over a second ahead of the opposition, and a car that argueably still is the fastest package this season, the Milton-Keynes based team would have to look hard and dig deep for a valid excuse that suggest otherwise. Add to this a driver line up consisting of the current Championship leader and a currently 'on form' experienced Australlian in Mark Webber, and it would take a brave man to bet against Red Bull in Hungary.
Ferrari: Stefano Domenicali left last weekends German Grand Prix claiming that the cold conditions experienced at the Nurburgring were "the worst it could be" for Ferrari. Even so, his driver Fernando Alonso came a home in a valent second behind Lewis Hamilton and ahead of Red Bull's Mark Webber, to make it 3 out of 3 in terms of finishing on the podium. Felipe Massa, Ferrari's forgotten man, returns to the scene of his horrifc accident three years ago, in an accident that bid farewell to his 2009 season, and also the Brazilians previously explosive pace in the Ferrari. Coult this weekend become full-circle for Massa? With the pressure being submitted on his place in the team, for his sake it had better be.
McLaren: Prior to last weeks Qualifying session 3, McLaren had been dismissed as potential winners of the event. However, as team boss Martin Whitmarsh will happily tell you, the lack of pace wasnt seen; infact it was empathatically replaced by a Qualifying lap time within 2 tenths of Mark Webbers Red Bull pole lap, and even more impressively, a hard fought victory for his driver, Lewis Hamilton. Any cynical minded critics (are there any other kind?) will point out that due to the rainy,cold conditions surrounding the German race, the race pace was considerably slow compared to what many team insiders may have been expected. However,with arguably the best driver line up on the grid, and a car that has already claimed three victories out of ten this season, McLaren are most certainly going to be in the hunt for back to back victories this weekend.

 With the last two races having thrown up two action packed ,drama filled events, the Hungaroring this weekend has much to live up to. With the intense scrutiny and eager build up being placed on this weekends event by fans, teams and drivers alike, anything other than an Hungarain Grand Prix classic will be considered nothing short of a let down.

WTCC: A pleasant suprise

   Rounds 13 and 14 of the World Touring Car Championship were held at Donington Park over the weekend, for the first time in the circuits illusive history.

  In an event that was heavily promoted by the Venues owner Kevin Wheatcroft and his PR team, the WTCC round really was a chance for Donington Park to once again cement its place at the the very top of British Motorsport. Having already hosted internationally popular events such as rounds of the British Tourning Car Championship and World Superbikes this season, the WTCC event last weekend had a lot to live up to.

   As a 'local' to Donington Park, and having never been to a World Touring Car event, I really didn't know what to expect on Sunday; infact to a certain degree the idea of another Touring Car Championship other than the fantasitcally exciting and popular British series' was unnerving. This, teamed with the seemingly lack of general interest in T.V viewing being an issue for the World Series in the U.K. However, even with the typical British summer weather rearing its ugly head, Race Day had attracted a sizeable crowd that very respectfully attempted to fill up the majority of the tracks limited viewing points (large part of infield viewing area still being restored).

  Away from the visualy apprent construction work in and around the track, the set-up of the events' paddock and the on-track action were both well worthy of an entry ticket. The machinery was extremely diverse, ranging from the immensely powerful V8 equipped Auto GP cars, down to the modest presence of Leyland Mini Coopers competing in the national single make series. The variety of cars and the impressive displays on show from the Polestart Run Volvo Team and the Masarati stand made for an 'easy on the eye' view around the paddock, with autogragh signing sessions held for fans to meet the WTCC drivers only adding to the 'behind the scenes' feel of the experience.
 
 
As for the on-track antics, the days main events, the two World Touring car races and an Auto GP race, were more than exciting in terms of action and appeal. Admittably, it hadnt dawned on me up until that first of the WTCC races what a star packed field the championship has; Yvan Muller, Alain Menu, Robert Dahlgren, Gabriele Tarquini, Colin Turkington... All previous Touring Car Champions in their own right, and even previous Formula One stars such as the Portugese driver, Tiego Monterio. Its names such as these, mixed with the more, lesser expeireicned and prestigous drivers throughout the grid that makes the WTCC a much more exciting Championship then it is sometimes perceived. After watching Yvan Muller clinch two victories for Team Chevrolet in front of home hero Rob Huff ahead of an excting mix of drivers and battles throughout the field, it can be considered a crime that the WTCC programme isnt proving as much of a hit as in hindsight, it probably should.
   
So why is it that the Series isn't proving such a hit with the U.K fans? Its definetely got appeal; Sunday's sizable crowd at Donington acts as solid evidence of that, and with Guernseyman Andy Priaulx having won three of the five WTCC championships held since its reincarnation in 2005, it really does continue to begger belief just why us Brits havn't taken it to heart. Even when crunching viewing figures, it's hard to put a finger on the issue; a report released late last year from the Series' organisers, Eurosport Events, stated that the viewinng figures for the 2010 season compared to the previous 2009 season were up by a staggering 40 million viewers worldwide, with 65% of the audience watching from Europe. With numbers such as this, and the heavy involvement from Italy and Germnany in the series, it would seem that the U.K is seemingly being froze out, or quite simpily not taking an interest in the touring car catagories leading championship. Based on what I saw on Sunday at Donington Park, that would seem nothing short of a great shame.