F1 Race stoppage

If an accident blocks the track, the race is stopped by red flags shown at every marshalling post. If this occurs more than two laps into the race but before 75 per cent of the allocated distance has been completed, the race is restarted 20 minutes later, with the grid formed by the race order on the lap prior to the red flag. The cars must line up on the grid and cannot make for the pits. No fuel can be added to the cars on the grid. Because the results in this instance are an aggregate of the elapsed times of each competitor from the two parts of the race, it�s quite conceivable that strategies will be unaffected. Any advantage carried by one driver over a rival is still maintained in the aggregate result, even if not on track. But consider, say, the McLaren driver who was leading the Williams rival until pitting just before the stoppage. The slower Jordan and Sauber cars directly ahead of him � which might previously have been out of his way � are now holding him up because the restart has bunched them all together. The Williams rival who has not yet pitted is on a clear track and is brought in earlier than planned in order to take advantage of the McLaren�s delay and get out still ahead. Lots of celebration at Williams, glum faces at McLaren. Stoppages that occur after 75 per cent distance can throw the race wide open for different reasons. In this situation, the race is considered over, and the race order on the lap preceding the stoppage becomes the result. This would be very bad news for any driver who had pitted just prior to the stoppage. Who said life was fair?

Understanding F1 Safety Car

The Safety Car � nowadays a supercharged Mercedes SL piloted by an experienced race driver � neutralises the race in situations where an incident or set of circumstances has exposed competitors or marshals to immediate danger. The Safety Car slows the competing cars to a speed that ensures the safety of those concerned. This could be to protect marshals clearing an accident, or it could be for a sudden extreme downpour that has made the track dangerous. Any time advantage a driver has built up over a rival before the Safety Car came out is nullified as the cars bunch up together. It might give the chasing driver a second bite at a race that had previously been as good as lost. If the Safety Car comes on the track anywhere near your intended pit stop window, it could be very good news. In this situation a driver normally pits immediately. The amount of time he loses to his rivals is obviously far less at Safety Car speeds than it would be if they were still racing flat-out. This can be such a big advantage that you might see a team bring both its cars in together in this situation, even though they�re allowed to work on only one car at a time. The time that the second guy loses while waiting for his teammate to be replenished is far less than he�d lose if he had to do another lap at Safety Car speed.
Another thing to consider is the probable length of the Safety Car period. If the incident looks serious, you can probably bet that the Safety Car will be circulating for a long time. These slow laps still count as race distance, and so your average fuel consumption is going to be significantly lighter than you�d planned for. Depending upon what stage of the race it occurs, a smart strategist works this to his team�s advantage, maybe converting from a two to a one-stop strategy.
Sometimes the implications are quite bizarre. At Malaysia in 2001, Ferrari drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello � who were in first and second places � went off on the second lap as they hit a treacherous mix of oil and heavy rain water. Both rejoined but were now back in 10th and 11th places. New leader David Coulthard spun later on the same lap and pitted immediately. He changed to wet weather tyres and quickly resumed. The Ferrari drivers pitted together, but because they were so far back, they did so in the knowledge that the Safety Car had just been scrambled, which was not the case when Coulthard had pitted. With the field circulating at Safety Car speeds, the Ferrari pit team had longer to decide what tyres to put on their pitted cars � all they had to do was make sure they rejoined before the field lapped them. They reasoned that, with the Safety Car controlling speeds in the wettest conditions, they could afford to fit intermediate tyres. It was a decision that won them the race.

Don�t Get Caught Out

What would have been the perfect race strategy under normal circumstances can be ruined by an unforeseen incident or set of circumstances. An intruder taking to the track to demonstrate against alleged unfair dismissal by former employees Mercedes lost McLaren victory in the 2000 German Grand Prix. That couldn�t have been anticipated. The timing of the intruder�s track walk brought the race under a safety car period at exactly the wrong time for McLaren � which coincidentally used Mercedes engines! Ferrari�s Rubens Barrichello was the beneficiary and took his maiden Formula One victory. Conversely, what had been a flawed strategy can be rescued from oblivion by a race incident or sudden adverse weather. Sometimes such situations create a magical split-second opportunity of advantage for the sharper pit lane strategists.

Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari price Announced

The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari price starts at 29,600 GBP or the equivalent of 35,500 Euro and only 152 units will be sold in Britain.

The Fiat 500 Abarth Ferrari Tribute 695 is designed to develop powered by a 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v, more than 180 hp. This is an MTA (Manual Transmission Automatic) gearbox in combination with race shifter electro-inspired paddle fully exploit the engine performance by reducing the time difference.

The top speed of the RHD Abarth Fiat 500 Tributo Ferrari is rated at 140mph and the company says the limited edition model can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 7.0 seconds. The fuel economy of the new limited edition is rated at 43.3mpg on the combined cycle.

In addition to the equipment specifications of the Abarth 500, the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari adds an Abarth leather steering wheel, �Record Monza� dual-mode exhaust, Abarth Corsa by Sabelt seats and 17-inch alloy wheels.




Press Release

It has already attracted critical acclaim in both hard top and convertible form, and as a potentesseesse version. Now the Abarth 500 is arriving in even more exclusive style � as the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari.

Every Abarth reflects the high performance brand�s direct connection with competition, and the new 695 Tributo Ferrari takes these links to a new level, with stunning performance matched to perfect day-to-day usability.

This exclusive car � just 152 examples of the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari will be available in right hand drive form in Britain � is priced at Euros 35,500 (�29,600). On the outside the new car�s livery is inspired by Ferrari�s models, with carbon wing mirrors and Corsa Grey wheels and front air intakes.

Powered by a 1368cc turbocharged engine, producing over 180bhp at 5750rpm and 230Nm torque at 3300rpm, the 695 Tributo Ferrari can accelerate from 0-62mph in less than seven seconds and has a top speed of 140mph. However, the frugal engine can return 43.3mpg on the combined cycle.

The car features a comprehensive list of equipment which includes:

• five airbags
• electronic stability programme (ESP)
• torque transfer control (TTC)
• Sport button
• power steering
• automatic climate control
• Xenon headlights
• Blue&Me hands-free infotainment
• Abarth leather steering wheel
• �Record Monza� dual-mode exhaust
• Abarth Corsa by Sabelt seats
• 17-inch alloy wheels

Mounted behind the steering wheel are the paddles for the electro-hydraulic Abarth Competizione gearbox. Pressing the Sport button on the dashboard activates a more racy setting for the gearbox, engine control unit and steering for an even more responsive drive.

The original Abarth 695 was introduced in the mid-1960s. The pinnacle of this series was a 38hp engine � though fine-tuning could raise this to over 50hp.

�Abarth and Ferrari are both iconic names in Italian automotive history,� says Ivan Gibson, head of Abarth in the UK. �Their passion and dedication helped to create a reputation for sporting excellence in Italian cars around the world, and this new Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari upholds that tradition with some style.�

The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is available to special order only, through Abarth�s 19-strong UK dealer network.

Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari price Announced

The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari price starts at 29,600 GBP or the equivalent of 35,500 Euro and only 152 units will be sold in Britain.

The Fiat 500 Abarth Ferrari Tribute 695 is designed to develop powered by a 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v, more than 180 hp. This is an MTA (Manual Transmission Automatic) gearbox in combination with race shifter electro-inspired paddle fully exploit the engine performance by reducing the time difference.

The top speed of the RHD Abarth Fiat 500 Tributo Ferrari is rated at 140mph and the company says the limited edition model can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 7.0 seconds. The fuel economy of the new limited edition is rated at 43.3mpg on the combined cycle.

In addition to the equipment specifications of the Abarth 500, the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari adds an Abarth leather steering wheel, �Record Monza� dual-mode exhaust, Abarth Corsa by Sabelt seats and 17-inch alloy wheels.




Press Release

It has already attracted critical acclaim in both hard top and convertible form, and as a potentesseesse version. Now the Abarth 500 is arriving in even more exclusive style � as the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari.

Every Abarth reflects the high performance brand�s direct connection with competition, and the new 695 Tributo Ferrari takes these links to a new level, with stunning performance matched to perfect day-to-day usability.

This exclusive car � just 152 examples of the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari will be available in right hand drive form in Britain � is priced at Euros 35,500 (�29,600). On the outside the new car�s livery is inspired by Ferrari�s models, with carbon wing mirrors and Corsa Grey wheels and front air intakes.

Powered by a 1368cc turbocharged engine, producing over 180bhp at 5750rpm and 230Nm torque at 3300rpm, the 695 Tributo Ferrari can accelerate from 0-62mph in less than seven seconds and has a top speed of 140mph. However, the frugal engine can return 43.3mpg on the combined cycle.

The car features a comprehensive list of equipment which includes:

• five airbags
• electronic stability programme (ESP)
• torque transfer control (TTC)
• Sport button
• power steering
• automatic climate control
• Xenon headlights
• Blue&Me hands-free infotainment
• Abarth leather steering wheel
• �Record Monza� dual-mode exhaust
• Abarth Corsa by Sabelt seats
• 17-inch alloy wheels

Mounted behind the steering wheel are the paddles for the electro-hydraulic Abarth Competizione gearbox. Pressing the Sport button on the dashboard activates a more racy setting for the gearbox, engine control unit and steering for an even more responsive drive.

The original Abarth 695 was introduced in the mid-1960s. The pinnacle of this series was a 38hp engine � though fine-tuning could raise this to over 50hp.

�Abarth and Ferrari are both iconic names in Italian automotive history,� says Ivan Gibson, head of Abarth in the UK. �Their passion and dedication helped to create a reputation for sporting excellence in Italian cars around the world, and this new Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari upholds that tradition with some style.�

The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is available to special order only, through Abarth�s 19-strong UK dealer network.