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What F1 Could Learn From A1 - But Never Will
Monday February 26 2007

If even double World Champion Fernando Alonso can admit he could learn
something from his rookie team-mate Lewis Hamilton, surely Formula One
must realise it too has a lot to learn from its lower formulae - even A1
GP.

I attended my first A1 Grand Prix in Durban this past weekend, with the
sole intention of getting an interview with Nico Hulkenburg (to be
published later in the week) and to enjoy the sights and sounds of a
world motorsport event (South Africa's only one at that).

But what I really got was a lesson in what Formula One is missing -
roughly about as much as I'm already missing Michael Schumacher - and
that's 'accessibility.'

Following Saturday morning's practice, A1 GP fans can, for a smallish
fee, take a walk down the pitlane and take pictures of the cars. So armed
with my point-and-shoot digicam, which is nothing like the cameras used
by the big boys, which I must admit make me silently laugh as I wonder
just what inadequacy they are making up with those huge lenses, I joined
the crowd and strolled on down.

First off what amazed me was that this walk was even taking place.

When was the last time you walked down a Formula One pitlane? It was
probably the same day the Queen last changed her hairstyle.

I got so close to the cars that I could see my beaming smile reflected in
the paintwork. Calmly, hoping no one would notice, I wiped out my camera,
the one that proves I'm just a poor journalist, and started snapping away
at the cars.

Chancing my luck, and actually just to see how accommodating A1 is
towards its fans, I asked a nice chap in the German garage if I could
slip inside and take a photo of the car from the back. And he said yes!

Now can you image Ron Dennis's face if I'd asked that of a McLaren
employee? I would have been cuffed, arrested and charged with espionage
before I'd ever finished uttering the request.

But this German chap said yes. Shock number two.

Heading off down to the Malaysian garage I saw a familiar face cleaning
his helmet: former F1 driver Alex Yoong. And more to the point, he was
top-less.

Now I know motorsport is all about the pit babes with very little eye-
candy for the ladies, so this was really, really appreciated. If you know
how hard these boys work out in training and at the gym, you will have a
clear picture of why this was a delight.

He then politely agreed to me taking a photo. Taking into account F1's
World Champ Alonso recently said if too many people were let into the
Valencia pits he would not test there again, you can imagine my total
shock that was a driver allowing me to take a photo of him without his
top on. Oh and ladies, it's definitely one for the collections.

After the pitlane walk-about it was off to the autograph line where ALL
the drivers were seated in a row and signing whatever you wanted them to
sign. Smiles on their faces, talking to the fans (not to one another) and
downright pleasant bunch of guys.

Armed with photos and autographs, I made my way back to an air-
conditioned to think about what had just happened and how this sort of
accessibility could boost Formula One to new heights.

But also why it would never happen.

F1 has gotten too big to personally accommodate all the fans that attend
race weekends. There is too much money involved, too many secrets, and
sadly too many egos.

And we all know that too much of a good thing can be bad for you - even
if you are

Michelle Foster



taken from http://www.planet-
f1.com/News/Story_Page/0,15909,3210_3261_1945424,00.html