LOEB'S MAGIC FORMULA
Rally ace puts F1 drivers to shame in Barcelona test
RALLY king Sebastien Loeb proved his Formula One credentials with lap times quicker than several F1 drivers at a test session this week.
The Frenchman completed 82 trouble-free laps at Barcelona and was eighth quickest of 17 runners, finishing ahead of F1 drivers Nelson Piquet, Adrian Sutil and Christian Klein.
The test was a gift from the RedBull team to the 34-year-old Citroen WRC star for winning the World Rally drivers’ title for an impressive fifth time in a row.
Loeb said: “I don’t think I’d like to take this much horsepower into the forests! It was a great experience though and I had fun, although I have to say that driving one of these car is tougher physically than driving my rally car.
"Sometimes I was braking too early and sometimes too late. I think it's the most difficult thing for anyone coming into F1 for the first time. I studied some videos before, which helped with things like the racing line."
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RED BULL FEELS PINCH
MY spies at the RedBull Racing factory in Milton Keynes tell me the credit crunch is starting to bite even billionaire owner Dietrich Mateschitz.
I understand the team is considering scrapping its Formula Unas model programme and closing its witty Red Bulletin magazine, which has been distributed in the F1 paddock since 2005.
As the squad tightens its belt further, the team is alos looking to close its paddock 'energy station', throw fewer parties and rein in its marketing budget.
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BRUNDLE OFF TO BEEB
FORMULA ONE television commentator and ex-racer Martin Brundle has finally admitted the paddock's worst-kept secret - he is joining the BBC next year.
We told you he would be going back in June, after the Beeb landed the F1 contract for the next five years.
Brundle said: “I’m delighted to be able to tell you all that I’ll be joining the BBC next year.
“I’ve been commentating on Formula One for the past dozen years, and I briefly considered calling it a day. But in the end I decided to take up the BBC’s offer and I’m now very excited about working for them next year.”
Brundle is expected to saddle up alongside his long-time pal David Coulthard, while the rest of the ITV F1 crew including James Allen, Steve Rider and Louise Goodman are out in the cold.
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ROC ON AT WEMBLEY
INSIDERS at The Race of Champions tell me a sportsman, a model and a boyband will be joining newly-crowned champ Lewis Hamilton and Olympic cycling gold medallist Chris Hoy at the Wembley event next month.
ROC event bosses are said to be in talks with a number of high-profile names to sit alongside Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard and Jenson Button as they whizz around the specially-prepared track.
Hamilton said: "This is going to be something very special.
"I've done F1 demonstration runs away from race tracks before, but Wembley Stadium's completely different, the atmosphere is going to be crazy.
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"It's going to be a great way to end a fantastic year, and I'm really looking forward to putting on a show to thank the fans from all over the world and my fantastic British fans for all their support. I get so much.”
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DISNEY FLOPS
THE magic of Disney has failed to save the French Grand Prix.
Paris-based Euro Disney was in talks to save the doomed race but has now pulled out - leaving France without a Grand Prix for the first time since 1955.
Euro Disney and the Lagardere Sports group, who were behind the salvage bid, said they had been unable to find the necessary funding to go ahead.
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