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Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 07:32
by Shizuka
And now we had a double finish outside the points, even finishing ahead of a Benetton. Impressive.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 07:59
by TomWazzleshaw
Don Rennis wrote:NEIL!!! YOU'RE... FIRED!!!


Translation: As of next weekend, Adrian Newey's joining McLaren.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 08:20
by Londoner
Damon Cannon wrote:Bloody Soviet idiot! Who the hell lets these people get superlicences when they'd struggle to drive a Trabant properly? Some needs to clamp down on this. Easily cost me a shot at 3rd. Oh well, 4th is good enough considering these last few races.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 08:36
by RonDenisDeletraz
Wizzie wrote:
Don Rennis wrote:NEIL!!! YOU'RE... FIRED!!!


Translation: As of next weekend, Adrian Newey's joining McLaren.


No he isn't, not until 1998

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 09:01
by TomWazzleshaw
eurobrun wrote:
Wizzie wrote:
Don Rennis wrote:NEIL!!! YOU'RE... FIRED!!!


Translation: As of next weekend, Adrian Newey's joining McLaren.


No he isn't, not until 1998


Well, it was worth a shot trying to fix this car.

Then again, any self-respecting team owner would have either sacked him or put him on 'gardening leave' by now so he doesn't get the chance to transfer any important data for this year's car from one team to another.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 09:23
by Nuppiz
Niko Nurminen wrote:7th... it's a good finish, but you can't help to think that points were just out of reach this time.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 15:48
by FMecha
Andreas Stefano wrote:We have to look on our car problems again, especially Douglas' gearbox. But I chose to blame it on attrition. :evil:


Kazuhiko Takagi wrote:At lap 62 Stefano told me that I have lost seventh gear and the brakes were in terrible condition. Then at lap 68 Stefano told me I too lost sixth gear. The attrition was very high today. :|


Reiko Megumi wrote:Valsattis deserves it, and I ditto with Nurminen this time about my finishing position. If I were faster, I would be in the points. :)


Robert Anderson wrote:Image

That explains me. Whoever made the engines should be sent into hell. :evil: *goes away to make a deal with Ai the Witch*


Crash Rollock wrote:AI THE WITCH? What bathplug you are talking about Robert? You want to betray me? :roll:


Robert Anderson wrote:I won't betray you, Rollock, don't worry ;)


Massimilano Patrese wrote:Since I keep DNQing, Empoli FC dropped my backing deal. Ugh. :( :evil: But I got a new backing from Barilla pasta company today. :)

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 18:10
by Salamander
Some Publication wrote:DAVIES CONCEDES TITLE; BLAMES MCALLISTER FOR COLLISION
By Theo Editor

In a shock announcement today, McLaren F1RGP2C driver James Davies has conceded that his title hopes are gone, following a dismal French GP. Said the Welshman, "I'll be honest, I don't see any way we can win this now. The car isn't fast enough, it isn't reliable enough, and I've made too many mistakes." He went on to say, "At this stage we should really just be focusing on each race individually, and preparing for a title charge in 1998." When asked how he felt losing to Daniel Moreno, a driver Davies has criticised heavily, however, he said,

"Oh, I never said I was conceding to Dan. He's going to choke, count on it. The only reason he won last year was because Pippa Mann did a stellar impersonation of her brother in the last few races. What I actually meant was that I don't see any way we're going to beat Tom Douglas. Today we had a great opportunity to close back up on him and blew it, but before that, he was walking away with the win, and there's not a damn thing we can do about that."

When asked about the reportedly deteriorating relationship between himself and teammate Rory McAllister, Davies responded, "I dunno. He hasn't spoken to me since the race. Maybe he feels guilty or something? I mean, it was pretty clearly his fault - when you have a failure, you need to get the hell out of the damn way. Yeah, that Russian lunatic didn't help, but he really should've pulled off well before then. That's the second time now he's gone and ruined what should've been a points finish for me by not getting out of my way when he had a car failure. I don't know if he has a problem with me, but there'd better not be a third time is all I'm saying."


Robert Anderson wrote:That explains me. Whoever made the engines should be sent into hell. :evil: *goes away to make a deal with Ai the Witch*

Guillaume Gauthier wrote:Don't kid yourself, Anderson, you were only going to finish last anyway. Also, what's zis about a deal with Ai the Witch? You should know zat nothing goes through zis team without my approval. Understand?

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 18:55
by FMecha
Robert Anderson wrote:That explains me. Whoever made the engines should be sent into hell. :evil: *goes away to make a deal with Ai the Witch*

Guillaume Gauthier wrote:Don't kid yourself, Anderson, you were only going to finish last anyway. Also, what's zis about a deal with Ai the Witch? You should know zat nothing goes through zis team without my approval. Understand?


Crash Rollock, Anderson's manager, wrote:He (Robert Anderson) recently told me that he was just joking about the Ai the Witch part - it is possible, that, he had placed some lampshade-hanging humor thingy, Mr. Guillaume! Some of the things here should not, I repeat, NOT to be taken too seriously, monsieur!! :roll:

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 20:20
by Barbazza
Andrew Spokes wrote:Another mechanical failure, what a surprise! Still, I'm pleased for John, that's been a long while coming.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 20:41
by Salamander
Robert Anderson wrote:That explains me. Whoever made the engines should be sent into hell. :evil: *goes away to make a deal with Ai the Witch*
Guillaume Gauthier wrote:Don't kid yourself, Anderson, you were only going to finish last anyway. Also, what's zis about a deal with Ai the Witch? You should know zat nothing goes through zis team without my approval. Understand?
Crash Rollock, Anderson's manager wrote:He (Robert Anderson) recently told me that he was just joking about the Ai the Witch part - it is possible, that, he had placed some lampshade-hanging humor thingy, Mr. Guillaume! Some of the things here should not, I repeat, NOT to be taken too seriously, monsieur!! :roll:

Guillaume Gauthier wrote:... and I should automatically know zis, why? And do not address me as 'monsieur', buddy. Or you will find out very quickly how expendable Anderson is... I tolerate ze pair of you only because ze money you bring in is slightly more appealing zan not 'aving to deal with you.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 21:01
by RonDenisDeletraz
Wizzie wrote:
eurobrun wrote:
Wizzie wrote:
Translation: As of next weekend, Adrian Newey's joining McLaren.


No he isn't, not until 1998


Well, it was worth a shot trying to fix this car.

Then again, any self-respecting team owner would have either sacked him or put him on 'gardening leave' by now so he doesn't get the chance to transfer any important data for this year's car from one team to another.


He is still employed, but how much information he has access to is a whole different story :lol:

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 22 Nov 2012, 01:11
by Nessafox
Ligier is mostly... random. I love it.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 23 Nov 2012, 20:12
by tristan1117
Round 10: Great Britain

Code: Select all

1. Daniel Moreno (Williams) - 1:29.378
2. Pieter Kickert (Williams) - 1:29.869
3. Tom Douglas (Ferrari) - 1:29.900
4. James Davies (McLaren) - 1:30.053
5. Rory McAllister (McLaren) - 1:30.144
6. Damon Cannon (Jordan) - 1:30.352
7. Kazuhiko Takagi (Ferrari) - 1:30.428
8. Leonhard von Gottorp (Jordan) - 1:30.466
9. Masta Valsattis (Ligier) - 1:30.543
10. Andrew Spokes (Benetton) - 1:30.551
11. Pablo da Silva (Sauber) - 1:30.587
12. John Zimmer (Benetton) - 1:30.999
13. James Allen (DAMS) - 1:31.071

Code: Select all

14. Reiko Megumi (Ligier) - 1:31.521
15. Niko Nurminen (DAMS) - 1:31.522
16. Ben Fleet (Stewart) - 1:31.566
17. Jorg Scrattenheim (Arrows) - 1:31.642
18. Jan van der Maeyede (Stewart) - 1:31.925
19. Stephano Baroncelli (Arrows) - 1:32.009
20. Bernhard Pech (Sauber) - 1:32.050
21. Gio van Dycke (Minardi) - 1:32.193
22. Martin McFry (Gauthier) - 1:32.447
23. Miko Fakkinen (Minardi) - 1:32.658
24. Poppy Whitechapel (Lola) - 1:33.096
25. Massimiliano Patrese (Lola) - 1:33.257
26. Siergiej Rozvadoskij (Volga) - 1:33.623
DNQ Robert Anderson (Gauthier) - 1:33.658
DNQ Anton Kaliniczenko (Volga) - 1:33.707


Moreno takes pole after two rain-affected sessions. Williams locked out the front row and Douglas will start third.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 23 Nov 2012, 20:21
by Salamander
Guillaume Gauthier wrote:ANNDDEERRRRRRRSSOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNN!!!!! Image

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 23 Nov 2012, 21:31
by Aerospeed
Daniel Moreno, after France, since I forgot wrote:The race felt quite good, good to know we can still fight for the championship. We still need to get more wins, though, and we need to be more consistent.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 23 Nov 2012, 22:26
by dr-baker
Ben Fleet wrote:Dammit. Outqualified by the DAMS again... :evil:

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 23 Nov 2012, 22:33
by Londoner
Damon Cannon wrote:Another reasonable qualifying performance. Hopefully more points are on the way.


Poppy Whitechapel wrote:Oh yeah, only four-tenths off a Minardi in qualifying. Unfortuantly, that muppet McFry is ahead. :|

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 24 Nov 2012, 23:49
by Aerospeed
MAEYEDE TO STAY UNTIL END OF SEASON: REPORT
Rumours were swirling about that Jan van de Maeyede was going to be sacked before the season ended. However, Eddie Stewart, owner of Stewart GP has dismissed the claims. "Although I was disappointed in him so far this season, it looks like that there are no suitable replacements, and it seems that it is best to keep him for the rest of the season." When asked about his future plans, Stewart just said that the team "should not have hired an American to design the car."

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 25 Nov 2012, 07:02
by Shizuka
James finished 0.072 behind a Benetton? Either they are dropping down hard, or we're around 13th place always...

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 25 Nov 2012, 09:53
by pasta_maldonado
Jan van der Maeyede wrote:I'm confident I could have finished in the points if it wasn't for these engine failuresh

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 25 Nov 2012, 19:49
by The Lukas
Jan van der Maeyede wrote:"pissed off" because of the car

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 25 Nov 2012, 19:53
by Aerospeed
James Allen wrote:Yesh, another great qualifieing seshion! Time for another drink

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 26 Nov 2012, 02:37
by tristan1117
Image
Image

Review:
Pieter Kickert takes his first career F1RGP2C victory after a fortuitous Renault engine failure knocked out his teammate Daniel Moreno. Tom Douglas finished second, grabbing the lead in the Drivers' Championship. Conditions varied between damp and dry during the race, causing a few key spins.

Positives:
Pieter Kickert: Well, after he was denied victory by a Renault engine failure in France, I declared his championships hopes to be dead in the water. Kickert proved me completely wrong at Silverstone when the situation was flipped in Kickert's favor. Moreno's engine blew up while the Canadian was leading on Lap 36. This time, Kickert was there to reap the benefits. He almost lost the win on Lap 40 when he had a major off-track moment in the wet but, luckily, Douglas went off ten seconds later at the exact same corner, preserving Kickert's lead.

Tom Douglas: Douglas could have won the race but multiple spins during the race halted and momentum that he built up. Douglas spun on Lap 25, handing second place to Kickert. When Moreno's engine exploded, Douglas should have been there to capitalize. When Kickert spun on Lap 40, Douglas missed his chance and spun off, sealing his fate.

Damon Cannon: What a brilliant drive from Damon Cannon. Cannon started in sixth but lost a few places at the start, falling behind his teammate. Cannon was able to regain ground and he breezed pass his teammate, Zimmer and Takagi to get to third. He also benefitted from McLaren's self-destruction and Zimmer's lack of pace late in the race.

Leonhard von Gottorp

Kazuhiko Takagi: In one of the most random series in F1RGP2C history, Takagi has scored points in seven of ten races, the best ratio in the series. Ferrari is certainly glad they signed him for 1996.

John Zimmer: John Zimmer was up to second at one point and even led a lap but a disastrous second stint dropped him from podium contention. Benetton was looking at another zero-point weekend but McAllister's fuel debacle allowed Zimmer into sixth. Spokes was ineffectual and he retired with a water leak in the middle of the race.

Negatives:
Daniel Moreno: Moreno kept the car on the track during the changing conditions and drove flawlessly until his engine exploded. All of the momentum he had hoped to build after Dijon has been dashed.

Ligier: Ligier thought they had fixed their engine problems from last year but those darn Mugen-Honda engines decided to cause a stir at Silverstone. In a hilarious turn of events, Valsattis could not get past Megumi's smoking car while trying to lap his teammate, earning Megumi a penalty point.

Siergiej Rozvadoskij: A fairly embarrassing crash in the rain ended his day early.

James Davies: Once again, Davies spun in the early stages of the race (Lap 5, to be precise) and was forced to fight his way back through the field. Once again, Davies was let down by a McLaren transmission failure.

Rory McAllister: Rory McAllister ran out of fuel while running in fifth. On the last lap of the race. What the hell McLaren? Are you trying to sabotage your own drivers? Another Reject of the Race award for McLaren-Mercedes, their third of the year.

Leaders:
Daniel Moreno: 1-17
John Zimmer: 18
Daniel Moreno: 19-36
Pieter Kickert: 37-39
Damon Cannon: 40
Kickert: 41-

Image

Penalties:
+1 to Reiko Megumi for blocking Masta Valsattis while her engine was combusting
+1 to Gio van Dycke for blocking Pieter Kickert

Drivers' Championship
=1 Daniel Moreno - 46
=1 Tom Douglas - 46
3. Pieter Kickert - 34
4. James Davies - 22
5. Kazuhiko Takagi - 20
=6 Andrew Spokes - 14
=6 Masta Valsattis - 14
=6 Damon Cannon - 14
9. John Zimmer - 13
10. Rory McAllister - 11
11. Pablo da Silva - 9
12. Leonhard von Gottorp - 6
13. Bernhard Pech - 4
14. Niko Nurminen - 2
=15 Stephano Baroncelli - 1
=15 James Allen - 1
=15 Jorg Scrattenheim - 1

Constructors' Championship
1. Williams-Renault - 80
2. Ferrari - 66
3. McLaren-Mercedes - 33
4. Benetton-Renault - 26
5. Jordan-Peugeot - 20
6. Ligier Mugen-Honda - 14
7. Sauber-Petronas - 13
8. DAMS-Peugeot - 3
9. Arrows-Yamaha - 2

Penalty Standings
1. Samael Meerwick - 4
=2 Poppy Whitechapel - 3
=2 Leonhard von Gottorp - 3
=2 Jorg Scrattenheim - 3
=2 Andrew Spokes - 3
=2 Siergiej Rozvadoskij - 3
=2 Martin McFry - 3
=2 Gio van Dycke - 3
=9 Lawrence Tucker - 2
=9 John Zimmer - 2
=9 Pieter Kickert - 2
=9 Bernhard Pech - 2
=9 Rory McAllister - 2
=14 Anton Kaliniczenko - 1
=14 Niko Nurminen - 1
=14 Miko Fakkinen - 1
=14 James Allen - 1
=14 Reiko Megumi - 1

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 26 Nov 2012, 02:41
by Salamander
James Davies wrote:Guys, seriously, why the hell is this car so terrible!? It didn't handle this bad back in Argentina!

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 26 Nov 2012, 02:49
by tristan1117
RejectSport wrote:Stephano Baroncelli Breaks Finger in Cycling Accident, Rodriguez in for Germany

Stephano Baroncelli, the second driver at Arrows, broke his finger in a cycling accident four days after the British Grand Prix. The Italian fell off his bike while on a day trip in Italy after the race. He will miss the next race in Germany but the team has reported that he will return for the Hungarian GP. His replacement, Alejandrina Rodriguez, has not had any experience in the F1RGP2C but has held the reserve role at Arrows since the beginning of the year.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 26 Nov 2012, 19:22
by Barbazza
Andrew Spokes wrote:Oh, another mechanical failure? I'm kind of getting used to it. We were desperately slow here anyway.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 26 Nov 2012, 19:34
by Londoner
Damon Cannon wrote:Hehehe, what did I say? Fantastic job from all of the lads to get a double points finish, and a second podium at my home track. What a bloody brilliant day. At this rate, we might even have an outside chance at finishing 3rd in the constructors championship, provided those numpties at McLaren and Benetton keep buggering up. :mrgreen:


Poppy Whitechapel wrote:Argh, I felt something give way at the back of the car just as I got onto the Hanger Straight. Obviously, that was my race run for the day. :|

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 26 Nov 2012, 21:08
by Aerospeed
Daniel Moreno wrote:Permission to say cock.


James Allen wrote:Yeeaaahhh 6th place, points for DAMS!!! Get in their! Now how abat sam behr, yeh? Well, what do yah mean I'm reading ya results upside down? Well, bathplug you

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 27 Nov 2012, 00:37
by Nessafox
Dennis Mignolet wrote:We could as well put the easter bunny in the car, it will not make any difference, the car will brake down anyway.

In fact, if it's allowed, i will do that :lol:

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 27 Nov 2012, 18:02
by FMecha
Reiko Megumi wrote:By the time engine was smoking, the steering wheel was jammed. I can't do anything. :(


There will be a great delay on PP results for this GP, BTW. :geek:

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season

Posted: 27 Nov 2012, 21:49
by Aerospeed
James Allen wrote:Aaaaaanotha sixth placeee!!!!

Oh bathplug off you skeptics

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season - Germany Qualifying Up

Posted: 29 Nov 2012, 03:59
by tristan1117
Round 11: Germany

Code: Select all

1. Tom Douglas (Ferrari) - 1:17.979
2. Daniel Moreno (Williams) - 1:18.379
3. Pieter Kickert (Williams) - 1:18.705
4. John Zimmer (Benetton) - 1:18.824
5. Masta Valsattis (Ligier) - 1:18.979
6. James Davies (McLaren) - 1:18.986
7. Leonhard von Gottorp (Jordan) - 1:19.062
8. Andrew Spokes (Benetton) - 1:19.144
9. Damon Cannon (Jordan) - 1:19.145
10. Rory McAllister (McLaren) - 1:19.309
11. Kazuhiko Takagi (Ferrari) - 1:19.347
12. Pablo da Silva (Sauber) - 1:19.509
13. Reiko Megumi (Ligier) - 1:19.543
14. James Allen (DAMS) - 1:19.830

Code: Select all

15. Jorg Scrattenheim (Arrows) - 1:19.986
16. Miko Fakkinen (Minardi) - 1:19.992
17. Jan van der Maeyede (Stewart) - 1:20.033
18. Gio van Dycke (Minardi) - 1:20.083
19. Niko Nurminen (DAMS) - 1:20.162
20. Bernhard Pech (Sauber) - 1:20.230
21. Ben Fleet (Stewart) - 1:20.240
22. Martin McFry (Gauthier) - 1:20.674
23. Alejandrina Rodriguez (Arrows) - 1:20.877
24. Siergiej Rozvadoskij (Volga) - 1:20.996
25. Anton Kaliniczenko (Volga) - 1:21.068
26. Poppy Whitechapel (Lola) - 1:21.073
DNQ Massimiliano Patrese (Lola) - 1:21.321
DNQ Robert Anderson (Gauthier) - 1:21.394


Tom Douglas takes pole position with Moreno and Kickert trailing close behind. John Zimmer and Masta Valsattis surprised everyone by qualifying 4th and 5th, respectively. Alejandrina Rodriguez was disappointing for Arrows. Patrese and Anderson failed to qualify.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season - German GP Qualifying Up

Posted: 29 Nov 2012, 06:52
by Salamander
James Davies wrote:Uuugh, this year's just getting better and better...

Guillaume Gauthier wrote:Goddammit, Anderson!

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season - German GP Qualifying Up

Posted: 29 Nov 2012, 07:05
by Shizuka
I see, Niko has set his car up for top speed.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season - German GP Qualifying Up

Posted: 29 Nov 2012, 21:08
by dr-baker
Ben Fleet wrote:Damn. I'm starting to wish that I had stayed at DAMS now. And to think that I helped to develop that car pre-season! Gah!

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season - German GP Qualifying Up

Posted: 29 Nov 2012, 22:10
by Aerospeed
Ben Fleet wrote:Damn. I'm starting to wish that I had stayed at DAMS now. And to think that I helped to develop that car pre-season! Gah!


Eddie Stewart wrote:That company is in deep financial debts for reasons I do not know. Meanwhile, we are in the black thanks to British Business! The sponsors have flocked to us since we are the only true British team! The Williams team get their parts from France, Benetton isn't really British, Tyrrell, Arrows and Lola are going down the drain and McLaren relies too much on Germans. But we are the only good team which has British engineering! Yes! And soon the Stewart team will rise to the challenge and become the greatest team of all time! Muhahahahahaha


Daniel Moreno wrote:Shut up you egomaniac.

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season - German GP Qualifying Up

Posted: 30 Nov 2012, 22:25
by dr-baker
Ben Fleet wrote:Damn. I'm starting to wish that I had stayed at DAMS now. And to think that I helped to develop that car pre-season! Gah!


Eddie Stewart wrote:That company is in deep financial debts for reasons I do not know. Meanwhile, we are in the black thanks to British Business! The sponsors have flocked to us since we are the only true British team! The Williams team get their parts from France, Benetton isn't really British, Tyrrell, Arrows and Lola are going down the drain and McLaren relies too much on Germans. But we are the only good team which has British engineering! Yes! And soon the Stewart team will rise to the challenge and become the greatest team of all time! Muhahahahahaha


Ben Fleet wrote:Does that mean the team has money? That they are in profit? Does that mean that more could be, nay SHOULD be, being spent on the car? Please? We are losing ground in the development war here!

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season - German GP Qualifying Up

Posted: 30 Nov 2012, 23:06
by pasta_maldonado
Ben Fleet wrote:Damn. I'm starting to wish that I had stayed at DAMS now. And to think that I helped to develop that car pre-season! Gah!


Eddie Stewart wrote:That company is in deep financial debts for reasons I do not know. Meanwhile, we are in the black thanks to British Business! The sponsors have flocked to us since we are the only true British team! The Williams team get their parts from France, Benetton isn't really British, Tyrrell, Arrows and Lola are going down the drain and McLaren relies too much on Germans. But we are the only good team which has British engineering! Yes! And soon the Stewart team will rise to the challenge and become the greatest team of all time! Muhahahahahaha


Jan van der Maeyede wrote:Hey! Eddie! I outqualified Ben!

Re: 1997 F1RGP2C Season - German GP Qualifying Up

Posted: 02 Dec 2012, 03:47
by tristan1117
Image
Image
(I'm too lazy to change the name of the race.)

Review:
Lots to talk about for this one. Daniel Moreno takes a competent victory in Germany after all of his main rivals except for James Davies made major mistakes that will cost them in the future.

Positives:
Daniel Moreno: Moreno fully redeemed himself from last year's debacle by utterly dominating the race after Douglas lost his head. The championship has swung decisively in his favor.

McLaren: McLaren finally made a return to form in front of their Mercedes benefactors at the Nurburgring. McLaren's first double-podium finish of the season may have been gifted to them after Douglas caused Benetton to self-destruct and the Jordans choked but it's a fine results nonetheless. This was the first race of the year that McLaren actually took points off other people's mistakes!

Masta Valsattis: I think Valsattis deserves a shot at Driver of the Year for 1997. Once again, Valsattis lit up the track in his under-developed Ligier, passing a fading Kazuhiko Takagi on the last lap of the race to finish a spectacular fourth! Do you realize he is now tied for sixth in the championship? With Rory McAllister disillusioned at McLaren (well, maybe not anymore), Andrew Spokes disillusioned at Benetton and Leonhard von Gottorp retiring at Jordan, a few spots may be open.

Kazuhiko Takagi: Davies and Valsattis were able to pass Takagi because of poor tyre wear at the end of the race but Takagi recovered well from a spin that dropped him to the back of the field to score another points finish!

Miko Fakkinen: It never fails. Every year, Minardi manages to score a lucky sixth place during a high-attrition race. Last year it was van Dycke in Brazil. In 1995, it was Fakkinen in Monaco. The year before that, Andrew Spokes got a podium on merit at the British GP and Valsattis scored a lucky sixth place the rain-affected Japanese Grand Prix. This time it was Fakkinen who provided Minardi's first point of the season. Judging from the last two years, it is likely to be their only point of the season. Also, that 1994 Minardi team had some pretty good drivers, in retrospect. Fakkinen was stellar; he was the only driver bar James Davies to convert a two-stop strategy into points.

Alejandrina Rodriguez: Beat a Benetton on-track in your first race start? Not bad.

Negatives:
Everyone not mentioned in the positives. Really, all twenty-two drivers had some negative to take away from the Nurburgring. Let's start with the most embarrassing moment from the race.

Tom Douglas: Oh dear. Just when it seemed like everything was breaking Douglas' way, the F1 gods knocked him off his pedestal quicker than James Allen downs a bottle of Jagermeister. For the first five laps of the race, everything was going well for Douglas. Then, on Lap 6, Douglas repeated Daniel Moreno's hilarious last-lap antics from last year and spun off at Turn 1. Unlike Moreno, Douglas decided to reenter into moving traffic, hitting John Zimmer's Benetton. Zimmer collected his teammate a few seconds later, blowing up all three drivers' races in one fell swoop. Douglas proceeded to fight his back up the field, making it up to third place (with a spin in between) before he crashed out at the same spot with five laps to go. For his horrendous performance, Tom Douglas is your Reject of the Race for the German GP. And he earned a general incompetence penalty!

Pieter Kickert: Kickert was also hoping to keep up with Moreno in the Drivers' Championship when his Williams pulled off with a water leak fourteen laps before the finish. Kickert also had a spin during the race. I think it's officially safe to eliminate him from the championship.

Jordan: By Lap 10, von Gottorp had made his way up to third and was well on his way to a brilliant podium finish. Twelve laps later, he was cursing after the age-old bugaboo of the F1RGP2C, the NOTORIOUS TRANSMISSION!, let down the elderly German driver.

Damon Cannon: Damon Cannon spun off twice. The first was a rather embarrassing spin early on Lap 5 and the second was a carbon copy of James Davies' infamous wreck last year. Luckily, the only thing Cannon hurt was his ego, as his fastest lap of the race was a full second slower than his teammate's.

Benetton: Benetton should sue Tom Douglas for malpractice. What the hell was he doing trying to reenter the track while Zimmer was right there? Douglas' idiocy caught Zimmer off-guard but he took off enough speed to prevent a serious accident. Zimmer then tried to regain position but slammed straight into his teammate while trying to reenter from the inside curbing, removing both Benettons from contention (they were running fourth and sixth). Zimmer later retired due to the NOTORIOUS TRANSMISSION! and Spokes finished in an anonymous ninth after several other spins.

Bernhard Pech: Two spins, no pace, no results. Also, he nearly took out Damon Cannon while trying to reenter the circuit.

Sauber: An early mechanical problem wasted a clear shot at fourth for da Silva.

Ben Fleet: On the stat sheet, it looks like Fleet was rudely taken out of the race by the NOTORIOUS TRANSMISSION! In reality, he probably just parked the car in fear after three separate spins left him way off the lead lap. Everyone knows you can't take on the F1RGP2C's equivalent of Michael Myers alone. And he was out-qualified by his teammate for the first time this year!

Niko Nurminen: Nurminen threw away an easy point for DAMS by spinning twice, even though he was on a superior fuel strategy to Fakkinen and he had a much faster car.

Stewart: They have serious reliability problems.

Poppy Whitechapel: Whitechapel had no chance when faced with the NOTORIOUS TRANSMISSION! Lola have made no progress so far this season. Rumors are swirling around the second seats at Arrows and Stewart…

Jorg Scrattenheim: Jorg has done almost nothing to prove that he deserves a seat at a better team so far this season. Apart from one points finish, he has been unable to consistently outperform his rookie teammate, who is still even on points with the German. Pick up the pace Jorg! Oh, and the NOTORIOUS TRANSMISSION! struck again here. He's mad, I tell you.

Gio van Dycke and Reiko Megumi: Nobody expects the NOTORIOUS TRANSMISSION!

Siergiej Rozvadoskij and Martin McFry: McFry crashed out on Lap 1, Turn 1 after some contact with Rozvadoskij. No big surprise there. Rozzie had a late-race mechanical problems, although it was his engine, not the dreaded NOTORIOUS TRANSMISSION!

James Allen: He had a massive smash-up at the NGK/Veedol Chicane. Allen went straight on into the gravel, got airborne on the curbing, ripped two wheels of his car and plunged into the wall. No sober person could have missed the braking point for the chicane more than James did, but he seemed fairly alert while talking to the media after the race.

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Penalties:
Tom Douglas +3 for unsafe reentry, causing a collision and general incompetence
John Zimmer +2 for unsafe reentry and causing a collision
Bernhard Pech +1 for unsafe reentry

Leaders:
Tom Douglas: 1-5
Daniel Moreno: 6-32
Pieter Kickert: 33
James Davies: 34
Daniel Moreno: 35-67

Drivers' Championship
1. Daniel Moreno - 56
2. Tom Douglas - 46
3. Pieter Kickert - 34
4. James Davies - 26
5. Kazuhiko Takagi - 22
=6 Masta Valsattis - 17
=6 Rory McAllister - 17
=8 Andrew Spokes - 14
=8 Damon Cannon - 14
10. John Zimmer - 13
11. Pablo da Silva - 9
12. Leonhard von Gottorp - 6
13. Bernhard Pech - 4
14. Niko Nurminen - 2
=15 Stephano Baroncelli - 1
=15 James Allen - 1
=15 Jorg Scrattenheim - 1
=15 Miko Fakkinen - 1

Constructors' Championship
1. Williams-Renault - 90
2. Ferrari - 68
3. McLaren-Mercedes - 43
4. Benetton-Renault - 26
5. Jordan-Peugeot - 20
6. Ligier Mugen-Honda - 17
7. Sauber-Petronas - 13
8. DAMS-Peugeot - 3
9. Arrows-Yamaha - 2
10. Minardi-Hart - 1

Penalty Standings
=1 Samael Meerwick - 4
=1 John Zimmer - 4
=3 Poppy Whitechapel - 3
=3 Leonhard von Gottorp - 3
=3 Jorg Scrattenheim - 3
=3 Andrew Spokes - 3
=3 Siergiej Rozvadoskij - 3
=3 Martin McFry - 3
=3 Gio van Dycke - 3
=3 Tom Douglas - 3
=3 Bernhard Pech - 3
=12 Lawrence Tucker - 2
=12 Pieter Kickert - 2
=12 Rory McAllister - 2
=15 Anton Kaliniczenko - 1
=15 Niko Nurminen - 1
=15 Miko Fakkinen - 1
=15 James Allen - 1
=15 Reiko Megumi - 1