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RAC BRITISH GRAND PRIX |
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Run every year since 1950, the British Grand Prix has had several "homes":
Silverstone 1950-54, 15 times between 1956-86, and from 1987 to date;
Aintree, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961-62; and Brands Hatch in the even-numbered
years between 1964-86. |
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RACE NUMBERS |
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Each Formula One car is required to carry the number published by the F.I.A. at
the start of each season. This number appears on the side and nose of the
car and is at least 25 mm in height, so as to be clearly visible. Unlucky
number 13 is excluded from the list. |
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RACE STEWARDS |
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F.I.A.-appointed race officials who are responsible for the reviewing of
on-track events during Grand Prix weekends involving teams and drivers and,
where necessary, assessing penalties. |
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RACING WEIGHT |
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The weight of an F1 car in race trim, including the driver and full fuel
tank. |
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RECONNAISSANCE LAP |
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Thirty minutes before the scheduled start of a Grand Prix, the cars leave
the pits to cover a single reconnaissance lap. At the end of the lap, they
are then aligned on the starting grid in qualifying order. Those drivers who
wish to cover a second reconnaissance lap must travel down the pit lane at a
greatly reduced speed, and may not in any circumstances drive through the
Starting grid. |
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RED FLAG |
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The red flag is shown at the start-finish line and at the marshals' posts
simultaneously when the decision to stop the race is unanimous. |
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REFUELING RIG |
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A special piping device that was designed to refuel cars safely during pit
stops. It is possible to deliver 60 liters of fuel in 5 seconds. |
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REIMS |
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City to the north east of Paris and home to the first two French Grand Prix
races (1950-51) and subsequently 10 others (1953-56, 1958-61, 1963, 1966). |
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RENAULT SPORT |
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The motor sport side to Renault; Their V10 engines had powered 75 Grand Prix
winners between 1989 and the beginning of the 1998 Formula One season and
accounted for six World Constructors' Championships (Williams in 1992, 1993,
1994, 1996 and 1997, and Benetton in 1995). Entered F1 as a team again in
2002. |
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REUTEMANN,
CARLOS |
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This Argentinean driver, now
a political heavyweight in his home country, competed in Grand Prix racing
for Brabham, Martini Racing, Ferrari, Lotus, and Williams, scoring 12 wins,
6 pole positions, 6 fastest laps, and 310 points. He started 146 races. |
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RINDT,
JOCHEN |
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A brilliant talent, this
Austrian talent was tragically killed at Monza when something broke on his
Lotus during practice. He was crowned posthumous World Champion that year,
after results in following races ensured he would finish atop the title
rankings. In his seven-year career, Rindt drove for Rob Walker Racing,
Cooper, Brabham, and Lotus, taking 6 GP wins, 3 fastest laps, 109 points, 10
pole positions, and 60 Grand Prix starts. |
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ROLLOVER STRUCTURES |
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Every F1 car is obliged to have two rollover structures (roll
bars) that
stand above a reference plane (higher than the driver's head). The first
must be in front of the steering wheel, but no more than 25cm forward of the
top of the steering wheel. The second must be behind the driver, and at
least 94cm above the reference plane. Both rollover structures must be
designed and fabricated in such a way that the driver and his steering wheel
are at least 70mm below their highest points at all times. |
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ROSBERG,
KEKE |
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This flamboyant Finnish
Driver won the 1982 World Championship with Williams Ford and hold the
distinctive accolade of the fastest ever qualifying lap in Formula One.
After a spell with McLaren-TAG he retired at the end of the 1986 season. |
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ROUEN |
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North-west France. Home of five editions of the French GP (1952, 1957, 1962,
1964 and 1968) |
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SAFETY
CAR |
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This car (Mercedes-Benz
CLK55) is used at the start of the race to lead the pack of F1 cars around
the circuit for the parade lap. It is also used if an accident has occurred
on the circuit to bring the cars into formation and to avoid any further
incidents (especially in rainy conditions). |
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SAFETY
HARNESS |
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The ultimate in seatbelts,
Formula One drivers are strapped very tightly into the cockpit using a
six-point harness |
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SAUBER |
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Owned by Swiss man Peter
Sauber, this team first entered F1 in 1993. When it debuted, it had the
support of Mercedes Benz, and has had partnerships with Ford on a works
basis and Ferrari on a customer deal. |
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SCHECKTER,
JODY |
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This South African driver is
the last Ferrari World Champion. He took the title in 1979 for Ferrari, and
also drove for Tyrrell with considerable success, McLaren, and Walter Wolf.
In a nine year career, he notched up an impressive 255 points, scored 10
wins, took 5 fastest laps, 3 pole positions, and started 112 Grands Prix. |
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SCHUMACHER,
MICHAEL |
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6-times World Champion from
Germany. Schumacher entered Formula 1 in 1991 with the Jordan team, and won
his first GP exactly one year after his first race in Spa-Francorchamps
after moving to the Benetton team. He won the World Championship with
Benetton in 94/95 before moving to Ferrari, where he took the title once
again 2000/01/02/03. Schumacher is now the most successful Grand Prix driver of
all time. |
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SCANDINAVIAN RACEWAY |
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Largest motor racing circuit in Scandinavia, this 4.025-km track near
ANDERSTORP, in southern Sweden, was home to the SWEDISH GRAND PRIX from
1973-78. |
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SENNA, AYRTON |
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This Brazilian three times
world champion was one of the greatest Formula One drivers ever. He was the
undisputed "rain-master", and used his psychological power to often outgun
his opponents on the track. At just 34 years of age however, he was
tragically killed whilst leading the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994. His
record of 65 pole positions will be beaten one day, but not for many years
yet. |
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SEPANG, MALAYSIA |
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Site of a new auto racing track in Malaysia. The new addition to the 1999
season, this 5.542 km-circuit consists of a pair of long straights and a
mixture of corners. The new track surface should mean tire wear will be
comparatively minimal, so expect few pit stops. |
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SILVERSTONE |
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Current home of the British Grand Prix (since 1987) and site of the first
five British Formula One races in the modern era (1950-54). Silverstone
alternated with Aintree from the mid-1950s to the early 1960s, and then
played host to the race in odd-numbered years between 1963-86, with Brands
Hatch hosting the races in even-numbered years. |
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SLICKS |
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Tread less racing tires, used in dry conditions, replaced at the start of the
1998 season by grooved tires which were intended to reduce F1 cars cornering
speeds. |
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SLIPSTREAM |
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Racing cars produce a partial vacuum in their wakes. Trailing cars will
often "tuck in" to this area and be pulled along behind the leading vehicle.
This promotes fuel efficiency among other things. |
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SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS |
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Current home of the Belgian Grand Prix. Famous circuit just outside Spa near
the German border in northeastern Belgium. It hosted the races between
1950-70, in 1983, and since 1985. The circuit layout changed over the years;
in the first 20 years the length was 14.1 km, while the current track has
fluctuated between 6.94 km and 7 km since 1983. |
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SPEED LIMITS |
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The speed limit is prescribed for the pit lanes only. Since 2000 season, a
speed limit of 60 km/h in practice (previously 80 km/h) and 80 km/h
(previously 120 km/h) during the warm up and the race will is enforced in
the pit lane except in Monaco, where the limit is to be 60 km/h throughout
the event. There are electronic devices checking the speed of the cars along
the whole of the pit lane. If a driver exceeds the limit during a race, he
is usually penalized with a time penalty, whereas if he exceeds it during a
practice session, he is usually given a fine ($ x km). To avoid this, most
of the constructors have equipped their cars with a speed limiter which the
driver has to activate (usually by pressing a button on the steering wheel)
as he enters the pit lane. |
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SPOILER |
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Aerodynamic device designed to create turbulence causing
down force. The
spoiler is affixed to the trailing edge of an exposed surface. |
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STARTING GRID |
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That area of the track where the cars are aligned in staggered pairs,
according to their qualifying times, and from which they start the race. |
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STEERING WHEEL |
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Formula One steering wheels now incorporate virtually all instrumentation
and controls that used to be located on the dashboard. The steering wheel of
an F1 car must be fitted with a quick-release mechanism. This requires a
driver to pull on a circular flange installed behind the wheel to release it
from splints on the steering shaft. |
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STEWART,
JACKIE |
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Jackie Stewart is one of the
most successful Formula 1 drivers ever with 27 victories, 3 Championships,
15 fastest laps and 17 pole positions. In 1996 he founded a Formula 1 team
with his son Paul. The Stewart team entered Formula 1 in 1997 with an
exclusive Ford engine deal. |
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STEWART, PAUL |
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Elder son of Jackie Stewart and Managing Director of Stewart Grand Prix. He
raced in Formula Ford 1600 and 2000, F3 and European F3000 between 1985-93. |
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STINT |
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Run between start-pit stop, pit stop-pit stop, pit stop-finish. E.g. if a driver
has two stops and finishes the race, he had three stints. |
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STOP-AND-GO PENALTY |
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Penalty which can be assessed by the race stewards for infringements like
false start or exceeding the pit lane speed limit. The driver must come into
pits and remain there for 10 seconds before rejoining he can rejoin the
race. |
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SUPER LICENSE |
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License needed to compete in F1 as a driver. To get this license you have to
accomplish some requirements. |
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SUPERCHARGING |
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Fuel-air mixture is forced to the combustion chambers of an engine at a
level above atmospheric pressure. |
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SURTEES,
JOHN |
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The only man to win World
Championships on two wheels and four, Briton Surtees’ Grand Prix career
began in 1960 for Lotus, and ending in 1972. He drove for Yeoman Credit
Racing, Bowmaker team, Ferrari, Cooper, Honda, Owen Racing, and his own
outfit – Team Surtees. He won the 1964 World Title for Ferrari, and finished
his distinguished career with 111 GP starts, 6 wins, 8 pole positions, 11
fastest laps, and 180 points. |
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SUZUKA |
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A 5.864-km race circuit near Nagoya, on Honshu island, permanent home of the
Japanese Grand Prix since 1987. The track is fast and requires enormous
powers of concentration around corners such as the Spoon and 130R. Local
knowledge helps so watch out for any driver who has raced for a season in
Japan - they often know the shortcuts. |
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TAG HEUER |
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A Swiss-based manufacturer of sports watches and timing systems. Formula
One's official timekeepers since 1992. |
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TANAKA INTERNATIONAL (TI) |
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Japanese circuit near Aida. Site of the Pacific Grand Prix, a one-off event
which was held on April 17 1994 and won by Michael Schumacher (Benetton at
that time). |
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TECHNICAL REGULATIONS |
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Currently the Formula One technical regulations which address two main
concerns: 1. controlling performance: For example, in 1999 season, the
cylinder capacity of the engine was restricted to 3 liters, supercharging
prohibited and a minimum weight of 600 kg, including the weight of the
driver and his race equipment was stipulated. 2. passive safety:
stipulations relating to strength of the chassis and the protective roll
bars,
flexible fuel tanks, fire extinguishers, etc. |
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TELEMETRY |
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A way of transmitting data electronically from a moving object to a
stationary central location. In Formula One, the transmission of engine and
other data from the racing car by secure, coded radio links to computers
situated in the pits. |
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TESTING |
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From 1 January 2001, testing was prohibited on all circuits between the last
Grand Prix and 31 December. Private testing is forbidden: On any circuit
which appears on the Formula One World Championship calendar, except for
Monza, Barcelona, Silverstone and Magny-Cours. On all circuits during the
week preceding the event (except for a shakedown test of no more than 50
km). On any circuit which has not been approved for Formula One. |
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TIMING TRANSPONDERS |
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Electronic device supplied by the official appointed timekeepers. Transmits
and receives signals from trackside timing recorders. This is obligatory in
all F1 racing cars. |
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TODT,
JEAN |
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Mercurial Ferrari team boss
who arrived at the team in 1993 to bring the team back to it's glory days.
Originally a Rally co-driver. |
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TRACTION CONTROL |
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A computer-controlled electronic system that can sense the onset of
wheel spin and rapidly controls the power output characteristics of the
engine to eliminate it. |
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TRANSPORTER |
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The truck that moves all cars and their equipment from circuit to circuit. |
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TUB |
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Named due to its shape, the cockpit area of the chassis, or monocoque, in
which the driver sits. |
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TIFOSI |
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Official word for Ferrari Fans |
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TIRE BLANKETS |
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Electrified slip covers designed to keep new
tires warm at the trackside,
prior to being mounted on a car during a Pit stop. The normal operating
temperature of the tires ranges from 80 to 90 degrees centigrade. The warmth
or higher temperature in the rubber compound creates better track adhesion
during a race. |
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TYRRELL RACING ORGANIZATION |
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Founded by Ken Tyrell, this British Formula One racing team, which grew out
of Ken Tyrrell Racing, was founded in the early 1960s to run Cooper chassis
in Formula Junior and Formula Three. The team has been based at the same
site, in Ockham, Surrey, since it was established. Tyrrell withdrew at the
end of the 1998 Formula One season following its purchase by British
American Racing at the end of 1997. |
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TYRRELL, KEN |
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Once a racing driver and founder of the Tyrell Racing
Organization. Founded
in 1968, the team was pulled out from Formula One in 1998 after being sold
to British American Racing. |
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