Don't forget Sebring 12 Hours and Australian GP this weekend

[gordon]

Guys,

This is going to be a big motor racing weekend coming up, with both the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race and this year's first Formula 1 race in Australia. If you're also a NASCAR fan, they're having their first 2014 short-track race at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend.

Sebring

Here are two articles that preview what will be happening in Florida for the Sebring race:

Sebring 2014 may take some getting used to with new changes

12 HOURS OF SEBRING — GT LE MANS AND GT DAYTONA PREVIEW

You can see the full 68-car entry list here (PDF format). This should be helpful in following the race.

Coverage on SPEED starts at 10:00 AM on Saturday morning. If you can't make that time, remember that the race is 12 hours long and, although SPEED may switch to something else in between, the schedule I saw also lists coverage at 1:00 PM and 8:00 PM.

Formula 1

You're all probably by now aware that this year F1 is running by a whole new set of rules where the cars are concerned. Its the biggest all-at-once change in the history of F1 and the teams are having very differing success at getting their cars to be competitive. In fact some are having difficulty at just getting their cars to even run! Chief amongst the later are champions Red Bull whose cars are amongst the ones with the worst track record in testing. There are all types of predictions for Australia ranging from how many cars will actually complete the race to Mercedes lapping the whole field twice!

Here's a link to a list of this year's cars and drivers:

F1 2014 Cars and Drivers

NBCSN (Channel 161) Australian GP Schedule:

• Thursday March 13th 9:30 PM - Practice 1
• Friday March 14th 1:30 AM - Practice 2
• Saturday 15th March 2:00 AM - Qualifying
• Saturday 15th March 6:00 AM - Qualifying (re-play)
• Sunday 16th March 1:30 AM - Australian GP
• Sunday 16th March 6:30 AM - Australian GP (re-play)

So don't make any plans for these times this week (aside from racing at FRC on Thursday!). Bets are now on for who will win at Sebring and in Australia.

Gordon

[steveaca]

You know I am a Scuderia Ferrari man but I think that Mercedes and Williams are looking threatening so far.

[gordon]

Here's a really well done Red Bull video that explains the 2014 F1 rule changes quite neatly:

2014 Rules Explained

Highly recommended!

[gordon]

Well I got up to watch the F1 qualifying re-play at 6:00 am Saturday and was not disappointed. On top of all the new rule changes, new cars and several new drivers mixed in with the regulars, we had a wet track! Well it was amazing to see how those four things combined to even the playing field and show-up the new hot talents. It was a great session.

At 10:00 am sharp I was back in front the TV for the start of the Sebring 12 Hours race (that's right... I did not open the store on Saturday just so that I could focus on the Grand Prix and Sebring activities without disturbance). I thought that SPEED would show just a couple of hours at a time, interspersed with other programming, but as I sat and enjoyed following events in the race I realised that there were no interruptions. Would you believe that I watched the whole race, all 12 hours of it? Now some would call that a bit fanatical, but I found it a most enjoyable way to spend a Saturday.

I was up again early Sunday morning to watch the Grand Prix and was again not disappointed other than when the race ended after a seemingly short time. Perhaps my Sebring experience made the 2-hour GP coverage appear short. Mind you, I remember feeling the same way when the US GP in Austin ended and I was there in person. I spent the rest of Sunday working on slot cars for this weeks FRC event.

All in all I have to say I had a very enjoyable motor racing weekend, all without ever once stepping into a car

[steveaca]

Glad you enjoyed the racing. Can't believe you watched the whole 12 hours of Sebring ! I saw bits and pieces of it and saw the F1 race as well. Good stuff (except for the sound of the cars).

[Luke]

Gordon,

Must thank you for all these informative racing schedules, cause it helped me save lots of time without checking on any other

It was very easy to plan for a weekend with so much car racing going on plus other important duties at home - which I dont have time for in the week.

So it is true GG

Remember when (sometime on forum) I reminded Arden that - when yuh are a boss - yuh is the boss..! Well, when I read how you didnt open store for business on Saturday because of your favourite sport - CAR RACING... I found that to be a test of a true man in control of is life & of course with the Lord's strenght too

I kept the TV on with Sebring - although (sorry to say) I just didnt get time to sit & look but was getting some great sights (now and again) with nice racing car sounds & commentary

I wasnt sure which of the (2 or 6 AM) times with the F1 race I was going to watch but it worked out it was the 2AM time. Hard luck with your boy Lewis DNF but like how my boy Alonso - start 5th. & finished 5th. I heard with commentary and agreed it was a very steady and consistent race from him ~ went to bed by 5am and got up @ 12 noon

Luke