Sunday, October 26, 2008

America’s Cup Latest 26 October 2008


Well, it appears that Team Alinghi’s announcement that they are “taking the necessary steps to get the 33rd America’s Cup back on track”, failed to acknowledge the conciliatory proposals put forward by Larry Ellisson of Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) in his 17 October letter to Ernesto Bertarelli of Société Nautique de Genève (SNG).

In essence, the letter comes down to nine points:


1 GGYC support plans to up-date AC regatta to extent possible under current Deed of Gift.

2 Agrees some SNG proposals to update have merit but should not be implemented without serious consideration and then only after consultation with ‘the important stakeholders’ [presumably Trustees, recent challengers and prospective challengers]

3 GGYC agrees to end legal action if SNG agree to run 33rd Challenge with similar rules to 2007 event.

4 Strongly supports a one boat per team to help cut costs, provided there is a return to similar rules to 2007 event.

5 GGYC not in favour of Defending team (Alinghi) being able to join in Challenger Selection Series as this risks diluting the ‘impact and suspense of an America’s Cup match’.

6 GGYC would be in favour of 5 if ‘points earned during the CSS against the eventual challenger are applied to the America’s Cup Match’ or

7 GGYC would be in favour of 5 if ‘the races involving the Defender do not score (or lose) points for any Challenger vis-à-vis the other Challengers in the selection series.

8 GGYC believes selection of the new type of yacht should be decided in consultation with all interested parties. Alternatively, retain the existing design for one more Match as this would be the cheapest route.

9 GGYC agrees 2010 would be a good target date for the next Cup series.

Note to Points 5, 6 & 7: GGYC are saying they accept that a one-boat campaign (to reduce costs) means that the Defender (Team Alinghi) would be at a disadvantage in not being able to race-tune effectively. It is only for this reason they would agree that, for the first time in the Cup’s 157 year history, the Defender be allowed to tune up against the potential Challengers.

What GGYC do not accept is that these ‘tune-up’ races should be allowed to build up points for the eventual Challenger as in previous Selection Series, since the Defender could potentially influence the results and therefore the eventual outcome of the Series.

This two-page letter suggests the two opposing teams are very close to having the same goals and yet, from Team Alinghi’s announcement just six days later, it seems that once again, doubt and indecision could find us waiting for a New York court’s ‘final’ decision in the New Year.
Mike O’Neill

Friday, October 24, 2008

America's Cup Latest

America’s Cup Latest

As autumn takes hold here in Valencia, there comes just a glimmer of hope for an end to the 16-month long dispute between cupholders Team Alinghi and would-be challengers BMW Oracle.

Team Alinghi and their yacht club, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) have announced that they are “taking the necessary steps to get the 33rd America’s Cup back on track” along with their chosen Challenger of Record, Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV) “and all challengers keen to join the competition.”

The announcement comes just weeks after Ernesto Bertarelli of Alinghi met with Larry Ellisson of BMW Oracle in San Francisco. Whether some form of agreement was reached has not yet been disclosed. However, it cannot have been a coincidence that Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), Ellisson’s club, offered to end its court action immediately if SNG agreed to hold: “a conventional, multiple challenger regatta under rules similar to those that governed the event in 2007.”

A decision from the New York Supreme Court of Appeal is still awaited. For BMW Oracle to be a party to SNG’s proposal would require them to drop their legal action which disputed the validity of CNEV as the Challenger of Record. Considering the vast sums of money expended by both parties in this monumental legal wrangle, it seems unlikely that Ellisson would forego the opportunity to reverse the June decision without some fairly substantial say in the procedure leading up to the proposed regatta.

Rules for the 33rd America’s Cup would be “discussed and accepted by all those joining the competition”. If agreement can be reached by the 15 December closing date for entries, it is planned that the Cup matches would take place in Valencia (subject to final negotiations with the Spanish authorities) in 2010. Racing would be in a new class of yacht which has yet to be decided. There are also plans to have pre-regattas in 2009, using the existing America’s Cup yachts.

Let us hope this really is the end of this long-running saga and let battle re-commence on the high seas off Valencia! More news soon.........

Mike O’Neill

Thursday, October 23, 2008

UTIEL GASTRONÓMICA - October 17-19

Friday, 17th October, saw the opening of the 13th Gourmet Fair in Utiel. Held in the Paseo de la Alameda, visitors were invited to enjoy the rich gastronomy of the district, ranging from bread, oils, sausages, cheeses, sweetmeats and wines. Much of the food was produced by the local 'Housewives' Associations' and tickets ranged from 4-8€, entitling the bearer to try delicacies from the 30 or so stalls along the avenue. In the afternoon there was a wine-tasting organised by the Association Circle Enófilos Utiel Requena, which gave everyone a chance to decide which wines to go for with their tickets.



Tell me again what it is we're doing here ...

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18
First came an exhibition (and sale) of classic cars in the deliciously named El Patio de la Delicias, arranged by the Utiel Classic Motor Company, followed by a roast-beef tasting in the style of the Argentine Court, courtesy of the Argentine Association of Valencia. Then there were some interesting culinary treats to try from the II Cooking "Utiel Gourmet" School. Some not quite to my taste but, each to his own. 'I'll take the chicken breast, you can have the feet'. I know how to share.
Good eating .....

At six o'clock came the Ceremony of the Gourmet Gold Award (13th edition). The award was presented by Mayor Ajero, after which gifts were handed out to the exhibitors. At 7 o'clock the pergola at the centre of the fair came alive to music from the Argentine Association of Valencia entitled: "Living the Tango", giving us a chance to witness one of the most extraordinary dances ever choreographed. And then, as if we hadn't had enough, we were encouraged to indulge in sausages and grilled bacon. Unnnnhhhhh......



Should you be eating that sausage? Are those twins or am I seeing double?

Utiel is an interesting town and well worth the drive (about 80k from the city on the Madrid A3 road). With its history of wine-making, the landscape is rich with vineyards against a backdrop of hills and valleys. Utiel-Requena wines have much to offer but my advice is to try before you buy as they can be both strong and dense. Go in late August for the grape harvest festival or the sausage fair held in Requena (just before you get to Utiel) in early February. Both are great fun and offer a chance to chat with the locals while indulging yourself in foods you wouldn't normally eat. And, in some cases, will never eat again. Apart from the fairs there are guided tours of the old quarter of the city and don't miss the traditional Ruta del Tapeo (Tapa-Tasting Route), which brings together eleven establishments that offer the public a taste of their own culinary specialities.

Caption competition: Somebody's 'friend' seems a little out of sorts. ¿Un poco aire, quizás?

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

It's Party time with thisisvalencia


It's party time at thisisvalencia.com - the first of our new regular parties with a theme.
This First one is Black and White- Blanco y Negro.
Time and Place
Start Time:
Friday, October 24, 2008 at 11:30pm
End Time:
Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 3:30am
Location:
SILHOUETTE
Street:
Serrano Morales, 9 (zona Cánovas)
Valencia, Spain

John Says
every1 knows clubs r out and pubs r back in!!!!!!
gonna b a great nite all the rite people, not on til 2 late, and the best thing is u can get up early the next day and have a paella on the beach without too much of a hangover!!!!
get in!!!
todo el mundo lo sabe k las discotecas ya no estan de moda!!!
ahora lo mas chulo son los pubs!!!
vamos a pasar pipa!!!!
mucho color y lo mejor es k al dia siguiente puedes despertar sin mucha resaca y comer una buena paella en playa tranquilo como dios manda!!
AMUNT VALENCIA!!!
See us on Facebook and let us know you are coming

Sunday, October 19, 2008

CHINESE GRAND PRIX

Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai
Sunday 19 October 2008
Lewis Hamilton stormed away at the start of today’s race, followed by Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. Fernando Alonso was in touch with the top three but Heikki Kovaleinen in the second McLaren seemed to be dropping back. It was later disclosed that his tyres had been incorrectly fitted.
Jarno Trulli started 7th but was hit by Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso) at the first corner and had to retire. Massa pitted first after 14 laps, followed by Alonso, Hamilton and Raikkonen. This gave Kovaleinen a brief spell at the front but Hamilton was soon back in command. At this stage, the top four remained unchanged but soon Robert Kubica, who had started 12th and Nick Heidfeld (9th) began to work their way up the field. Kovaleinen, who had fallen back, pitted on lap 35 with a shredded tyre. He came back out but later had to retire.
Meanwhile Hamilton had opened a comfortable gap over Raikkonen, who was noticeably slower towards lap 50. A grateful Massa finally slipped past into second and finished 15 seconds behind the young Briton. Raikkonen made it a 2,3 for Ferrari and Alonso came in fourth, followed by Heidfeld and Kubica.
Nelsinho Piquet, who started 10th on the grid, managed to pass both Sebastian Vettel and Sebastian Bourdais in the Toro Rossos. He was in turn passed by Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) and Timo Glock (Toyota) but, with the loss of Trulli and Kovaleinen, gained another point for Renault.
Ferrari seem to have the Constructor’s title safely in hand but what does seem surprising is that Sauber BMW are now just ten points behind McLaren. Despite the McLaren being clearly faster, Kubica and Heidfeld have simply scored points in more races than Hamilton and Kovaleinen.
Felipe Massa is now the only driver standing between Hamilton and the Drivers’ Championship, so it is perhaps fitting that the final deciding race will be in front of the Brazilian’s home crowd in São Paulo. Both drivers have five race wins and only seven points separate them, so the Brazilian Grand Prix on 2 November should provide a thrilling finish to an excellent season.
The top eight finishers were:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
3 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
4 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
6 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW)
7 Timo Glock (Toyota)
8 Nelsinho Piquet (Renault)
After 17 races, the leader board looks like this:
Drivers:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 94
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 87
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 75
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 69
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 60
6 Fernando Alonso (Renault) 53
7 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 51
8 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) 30
9Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 30
10 Timo Glock (Toyota) 22
Teams:
1 Ferrari 156
2 McLaren 145
3 BMW Sauber 135
4 Renault 72
5 Toyota 52
Mike O’Neill

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Chinese Grand Prix

Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai
Sunday 19 October 2008

Track: 5.45 km
Laps: 56


Qualifying:
All week there has been a build up, perhaps sparked by the media but not so far denied, of animosity towards Lewis Hamilton from other top Formula 1 drivers. The situation has surfaced following Fernando Alonso’s comments that “without doubt, if I can help, I will help” to support Felipe Massa’s bid for the championship. Massa is being diplomatic, saying only: “I am not going to take problems on the track off it”. Team mate Kimi Raikkonen however, is a little more explicit. Referring to last weekend’s first corner clash with Hamilton and Kovaleinen, he said: "I have no idea what the drivers behind me were thinking. They braked so late that it was impossible to avoid the following chaos." Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW), who is currently lying third in the Championship says that Hamilton is too aggressive.

This could be just sour grapes from those who have been out-raced and out-manoeuvred by the British driver but it certainly didn’t stop Hamilton from pulling out another storming qualifier to take pole position for tomorrow’s race. As he said before the qualifying session: “I do my talking on the track. If other people want to expend their energy thinking about it, that’s for them.”

Hamilton will have the Ferraris of Raikkonen and Massa on his tail from the start tomorrow. Behind them will be Alonso who, after recent remarks, will no doubt be closely watched by the stewards! Heikki Kovaleinen (McLaren) is ahead of Sebastian Vettel(Toro Rosso), who has already shown that he is capable of upsetting the leaders at the slightest chance. In seventh is Jarno Trulli (Toyota), followed by Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso) and Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW), who qualified sixth but was penalised for slowing David Coulthard. Mark Webber

By this time last year, Hamilton had scored 107 points and was 12 points clear of team-mate Alonso. This year, with a far slimmer margin, we are seeing a far more polished driver who should be better able to deliver results.

The forecast? There is a chance of showers during the race which starts at 08.00
and can be seen (in Catalan) on TV3. A repeat is usually shown on CH33 at 22.00.

The grid line-up:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
3 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
4 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
5 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
6 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)
7 Jarno Trulli (Toyota)
8 Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso)
9 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
10 Nelsinho Piquet (Renault)


Top six after 16 races:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 84
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 79
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 72
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 63
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 56
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 51

Mike O’Neill

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

BOOK ALERT
Over the long summer my head has rarely been out of a book. However, the latest 'best sellers' have been, quite frankly, second-rate. Only one in five have been deserving of merit, which is not only disappointing but worrying. Why are standards slipping? Why are so many books getting through when they don't deserve it, especially when it is generally accepted that the Brits are the most prolific (and among the best) writers in the world? I am vexed by the suspicion that the Americans are stealing our thunder. This cannot be allowed to happen but when we see an ad in the Daily Telegraph, placed there by a frustrated, unpublished writer (and judging by the English construction a brick stands a better chance of success) pleading for notice, I get an unpleasant sensation in the pit of my stomach that the worst may not be over ....
BOOK REVIEWS FROM THE PEN OF BABU
See main website

I DID LIKE

RANDOM ACTS OF HEROIC LOVE by Danny Scheinmann
This is Danny Scheinmann's debut novel. He has a terrific story to tell. Born in 1896 in Ulanov, a small village close to the Russian border, Moritz Daniecki, at 16 years old, falls in love with Lotte Steinberg; he the son of a cobbler, she the daughter of a wealthy fur-trader. They share one kiss and promise themselves to each other, despite knowing that their circumstances will never permit marriage. When war is declared he is sent to The Front. Finally, after many hardships and great suffering, he is abandoned in Siberia and, with Lotte's memory to sustain him, he begins the long walk home, a journey that will take years and one that will test his courage, his love and his endurance. Wonderful. This story more than stands up for itself, why then muddy the waters with the story of Leo Deakin, a young man who loses the love of his life in a terrible accident while back-packing in South America ? Leo Deakin is not a sympathetic character and I found myself unable to warm towards his tireless self-pity. DS made a mistake in using a parallel story to illustrate the extraordinary events of his grandfather's life because this was the lifeblood of the book and made it worth every moment of the time spent reading it. Again, I think Scheinmann was not best-served by his editor. A good read that could have been better.

I DIDN'T LIKE

HALF OF A YELLOW SUN by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Lazy journalists are sometimes guilty of not actually going to the event, listening to the play, or even reading the book. I am heartily sick of the 'stunning review' ethos of back cover blurbism. These reviews often end in disappointment and this book is no exception. As a writer, I don't enjoy giving a bad review but 'Half of a Yellow Sun' has to rate as one of the most dull and charmless books I've read in a long time. And I don't give up easily. The book is set in 1960's Nigeria and weaves together the lives of its main protagonists: Ugwu, young houseboy to Odenigbo, a university lecturer and the beautiful Olanna who gives up a life of privilege to be with Odenigbo, and Richard who falls in love with Olanna's twin sister. So far so good. Except it isn't. At the beginning we are led to believe that the professor is white. Then we learn he is black and extremely weird-looking. Ugwu is obsessed with masturbation and throughout the first thirty-one pages references of a sexual nature involving all parties become extremely tedious. I don't know any Nigerians but I now believe them to be peculiar, sex-obsessed beings who speak in a strange, stilted and unconvincing way. The characters lack depth but, worse, we don't like or care about them. Ugwu has little to recommend him, the professor is bizarre in a bad way and Olanna is ... look, I didn't even get as far as Richard or the twin. We are told that Adichie is the author of the best-selling 'Purple Hibiscus' and maybe it was really great. I do hope so. But the old cliché 'everyone has a book in them' may be hackneyed yet it still holds good. To be fair Margaret Forster wrote: 'I wasted the last fifty pages, reading them far too greedily and fast, because I couldn't bear to let go .. magnificent.' I don't like Margaret Forster's books either ....

THE RETURN by Victoria Hislop
Victoria Hislop, we are told, is the bestselling author of 'The Island'. Yes, I did say exactly the same in my review above. Her second book is, according to her publisher, about 'pain and passion at the heart of war-torn Spain'. Sonia, trapped in a loveless marriage decides to go to Granada with her friend Maggie to take Salsa lessons. Neither know anything about the history of the region or about The Spanish Civil War. Where have they been? By chance, she meets a bar owner who just happens to have known her mother. As we move back and forth between the 1930's and the present time, we are given a story that defies belief. Even though we know truth can be stranger than fiction, the storyline simply isn't plausible, unless we're discussing Mills & Boon.
Indirect exposition seems to have passed VH by and her copious use of adjectives and adverbs was annoying. Maggie said confidently, responded Sonia, snapped Maggie, he said bluntly, he interjected, breathlessly, philosophically, rhetorically, teasingly..... open the book at any page and they jump out at you. The dialogue is so bad in parts it's risible. 'The teachers are wonderful' said Maggie. 'They're life-enhancing, aren't they?' agreed Sonia. If you know anyone who speaks like this, drop them. One of my favourites: 'Sonia noticed a picture (of a Semana Santa parade) at the end of the wall. 'They look like the Ku Klux Klan. They're really sinister.' This statement is made by a supposedly educated, intelligent woman who is half Spanish. Again, real people do not speak like this. Why not use the moment to explain about the Nazarenos and their role during Semana Santa? When one of the characters refers to her husband as: ...'him upstairs'., it bears a lamentable association with 'er indoors', and ruins the moment. Hislop repeats herself far too often, sometimes in he same sentence and after Dolores Ibarruri's famous speech 'They shall not pass' we are left with: 'She's inspiring, isn't she?' said Antonio.
Yet Hislop has done her research and sometimes she really gets into her stride and we are caught up in the events of her story but she lacks staying power. Her descriptions of one of the most devastating and disturbing conflicts of all time left me almost indifferent. To be fair I think Miss Hislop has been badly let down by her editor. This book simply isn't good enough to be on a best seller list. Sorry, but there it is.


BEST OF THE OLD
Karen Joy Fowler’s The Jane Austin Book Club. This book has had extraordinary reviews, including 'dangerously addictive'. The Daily Mail defies us not to 'fall head over heels for this lovely novel'. So, what’s it all about?

In California’s Sacramento Valley, a group of misfits meet once a month to discuss Jane Austen’s novels. The publicity blurb would have us believe they’re ordinary people, neither happy nor unhappy, but all wounded in different ways, all mixed up about their lives and relationships. This is an understatement. If these people are 'ordinary' I'm leaving the planet. 'Ordinary people' these are not. Monthly clubs devoted to book discussion are filled with the lost and the lonely. Trust me. I've been there. It was a close call.

Despite my feelings on the subject, I liked this book. A little slow to start it gained in interest rapidly and I found myself drawn in. Certainly a good read for a rainy afternoon or a holiday. It made me want to re-read Austen – and indeed, although her books are all in print, this small novel has created something of a renaissance – always a good thing.

That's it for this month. In October I shall be reviewing, among others, Alison Weir's 'Innocent Traitor'. I am half way through and am having to limit myself to twenty minutes at a time. One, because it's so beautifully written, with descriptions that evoke all the senses (take note VH) and two, because I can't imagine what will take its place after I've read the last page.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Japanese Grand Prix

Japanese Grand Prix
Sunday 12 September 2008

In one of the most exciting race without rain this year, Fernando Alonso reminded us just how he came to be a double world champion by coaxing his Renault to an overall victory at the Fuji Speedway in Japan.

Grid leader Hamilton got away to a slow start, allowing Kimi Raikkonen to get ahead. As they approached turn 1, Hamilton braked late and, according to the stewards, forced Raikkonen off the track. Robert Kubica and Fernando Alonso (who started sixth and fourth) saw their chance and stole away into the lead.
Hamilton fought back but, approaching the chicane on lap 2, Felipe Massa’s wheel hit the McLaren, spinning it around. Hamilton re-joined the race but, with a drive –through penalty from the first lap still to do, his chances were not good. The only consolation came when Massa was awarded a similar penalty for their collission. Meanwhile, team mate Heikki Kovaleinen was hanging on to third place, ahead of Jarno Trulli and Kimi Raikkonen until lap16 when smoke appeared from the McLaren engine and he was out of the race. Alonso pitted behind Kubica and took on less fuel to get out ahead. He then put in some dazzling laps to ensure that when he pitted again with 23 laps to go, Kubica was firmly in second place. Raikkonen tried everything to get past the Polish driver but had to watch out for Nelsinho Piquet in the second Renault who was closing fast in the final laps.

Felipe Massa’s penalty had relegated him to 14th, but he had worked his way back up to tenth when he collided with Sebastian Bourdais, who had just rejoined the race after pitting. Massa spun, but still managed to finish eighth. Stewards later gave Bourdais, who had finished sixth, a 25 second penalty which dropped him to 10th and gave Massa an extra point.

Since McLaren failed to gain any points, Ferrari move back to lead the constructors’ table.

With just two races to go, Hamilton will be working hard to control those racing instincts that got him into so much trouble today. Next week, the F1 Show moves to Shanghai, China for Race 17.

The top eight finishers were:
1 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW)
3 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
4 Nelsinho Piquet (Renault)
5 Jarno Trulli (Toyota)
6 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)
7 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
8 Mark Webber (Red Bull)

After 16 races, the leader board looks like this:
Drivers:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 84
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 79
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 72
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 63
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 56
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 51
7 Fernando Alonso (Renault) 48
8Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 30
8 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) 30
10 Mark Webber (Red Bull) 21

Teams:
1 Ferrari 142
2 McLaren 135
3 BMW Sauber 128
4 Renault 66R
5 Toyota 50Mc

Mike O’Neill

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Japanese Grand Prix

Japanese Grand Prix
Sunday 12 September 2008

Track: 4.56 km

Laps: 67


Qualifying:
The Japanese Grand prix will take place tomorrow at the Fuji Speedway, where Lewis Hamilton holds the lap record from 2007. He drove a superb lap in qualifying to take pole position ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, who is believed to be running a light fuel load. Whether this will give him the edge into the first corner remains to be seen but, with team mate Massa back in fifth place, Ferrari will be hoping that the Finn will be able to slow Hamilton enough to give Massa a chance to claw back some of the 7-point lead that Hamilton has in the Driver’s Championship.

Heikki Kovaleinen (McLaren) was third in qualifying and will no doubt be hoping to improve on his ‘rear-gunner’ skills to hold off fourth-placed Fernando Alonso (Renault) and Massa in the second Ferrari. Robert Kubika (Sauber BMW) in sixth is always a threat and the Toyotas of Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock have improved greatly since mid-season. Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) is only one point behind Raikkonen but, starting 16th after failing to get into Q2 will make things a lot tougher for him.

The Fuji Speedway provides plenty of passing opportunities and, with just three races to go, some drivers may feel they have nothing to lose!

The forecast? Rain could be an issue but the outlook is for cloudy, windy conditions. The race starts half an hour earlier than usual at 13.30 and can be seen (in Catalan) on TV3. A repeat is usually shown on CH33 at 22.00.

The grid line-up:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
3 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
4 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
5 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
6 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW)
7 Jarno Trulli (Toyota)
8 Timo Glock (Toyota)
9 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)
10 Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso)



Top six after 15 races:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 84
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 77
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 64
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 56
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 51

Mike O’Neill