AUSTRALIAN FORMULA ONE
GRAND PRIX
Sponsors Information
Track
Design
T
he circuit uses everyday sections of road that circle Albert Park Lake, a small man-made lake just south of the Central Business District of Melbourne. The road sections that are used were rebuilt prior to the inaugural event in 1996 to ensure consistency and smoothness. As a result, compared to other circuits that are held on public roads, the Albert Park track has quite a smooth surface. Before 2007 there existed only a few other places on the Formula 1 calendar with a body of water close to the track. Most of the new tracks, such as Valencia, Singapore and Abu Dhabi have imitated that feature.
Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
Length 5.303 km (3.30 mi) Turns 16 Lap 58 Lap record 1:24.125 (Germany Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004)
Albert Park
Welcome to the 2012
F1 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX With the exciting line-up both on and off the track, this year’s event will be nothing short of a motor sport extravaganza.
When watching the on-track action, you will no doubt see an ingenious and inspirational battle between the world’s elite Formula One drivers. You will see a breed of young drivers in the Formula Ford line-up, itching to make their mark and stamp their intention to one day compete in the headline race. You will also see the spectacular international cars in the Formula 5000 series showing how it was done 40 years ago.
Whet you may not see is the work of the Chief Time Keeper busily collating the times from each race and qualifying session; or a Scrutineer carefully inspecting the race vehicles to ensure they comply with event regulation; or a Marshall Services Official co-ordinating the hand-out of uniforms and lunch to all officials.
These officials are part of a thousand-strong band of CAMS accredited volunteers, who year-after-year put in the hard yards to mark sure that every aspect of the event runs to plan. AtCAMS, we are immensely proud of our volunteer officials and I’d like to thank them for their outstanding commitment and professionalism.
Each year CAMS works in partnership with the Australia Grand Prix Corporation to bring Australia’s premier motor sport event to the world. Once again the Australia Grand Prix team has put together an enticing showcase of sport and entertainment, one which is sure to please the motor sport faithful and recruit new fans at the same time.
I wish you all an enjoyable long weekend of racing and I encourage you all to get behind the world’s talented drivers and immerse yourself in our wonderful sport!
Andrew Papadopoulos President Confederation of Australia Motor Sport (CAMS)
AUSTRALIA GRAND PRIX
T
he Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has been a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship. It is presently held at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park in Melbourne. Prior to its inclusion in the World Championship it was held at a multitude of venues in every state of Australia. It was a centrepiece of the Tasman Series between 1964 and 1972 and was a round of the Australian Drivers’ Championship on many occasions between 1957 and 1983. It became part of the Formula One World Championship in 1985 and was held at the Adelaide Street Circuit in Adelaide, South Australia from that year to 1995, before moving to Melbourne in 1996. The Australian Grand Prix is the second round of the Championship, having been the first race of each year, excluding 2006 and 2010, since the event moved to Melbourne. During its years in Adelaide, the Australian Grand Prix was the final round of the Championship, replacing the Portuguese Grand Prix in that respect. As the final round of the season, the Grand Prix hosted a handful of memorable Grand Prix, most notably the 1986 and 1994 events which saw those respective titles decided.
A
ustralian driver Lex Davison and German driver Michael Schumacher are the most successful drivers in the 83 year history of the event taking four wins each; while McLaren have been the most successful constructors with eleven victories, their success stretching well back into the pre-Formula One history of the race.Rubens Barrichello is the only driver to have started every single race since it returned to the inner Melbourne street circuit, which had been used previously for the Grand Prix twice in the 1950s. For the 2010 event Australian airline Qantas returned to the role of naming rights sponsor of the event, having last sponsored the race in 2001. The most recent Australian Grand Prix was won by German driver Sebastian Vett
AUSTRALIA GRAND PRIX
A
fter some racing success in Australia, Webber moved to the United Kingdom in 1995 to further his motorsport career. Webber began a partnership with fellow Australian Paul Stoddart, at that
time owner of the European Racing Formula 3000 team, which eventually took them both into Formula One when Stoddart bought the Minardi team. Webber made his Formula One debut in 2002, scoring Minardi’s first points in three years at his and Stoddart’s home race. After his first season Jaguar Racing took him on as lead driver.
During two years with the generally uncompetitive team Webber several times qualified on the front two rows of the grid and outperformed his team mates. His first F1 win was with Red Bull Racing in the 2009 German Grand Prix, which followed second places at the 2009 Chinese, Turkish, and British Grands Prix.
By the end of 2009, Webber had scored eight podiums, including another victory in Brazil. His eight podiums in 2009 compares to only two podiums in the first seven years of his career. He has since added ten more podiums in 2010, including victories in Spain, Monaco, Britain and Hungary.
Webber finished the 2010 season in third place having led for a long period, losing out to teammate Sebastian Vettel. Webber was also a long-term director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, the Formula One drivers’ union.
F
RED BULL
2010: The championship
or the 2010 season, the team retained both Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, with Renault remaining the engine supplier. The RB6 chassis proved to be the best handling car on the grid, as it did and continued to do in 2009 and 2011 respectively, having a noticeable advantage over that of McLaren and Ferrari. At the Bahrain Grand Prix, Vettel took pole position while Webber took sixth in qualifying. Vettel led the race until he slowed due to his spark-plug failure, while the two Ferraris and Lewis Hamilton overtook Vettel. Vettel finished fourth, and Webber finished eighth
In Australia, Vettel again took pole, with Webber in second position. Vettel led the race and again looked set to take the race, but he reported a vibration of one of the front wheels on his car. The problem seemed to subside, and the decision was made to keep him on the track rather than pit him. A few corners later, the problem struck again, and Vettel ran off the track and subsequently retired, due to brake failure. Webber got wheelspin off the line, and gave up one position on the run to the first right-handed corner. Subsequent errors led to him dropping a few more places,
and near the end of the race he crashed with Hamilton, destroying his front wing. He pitted to get a new one, and finished ninth, scoring two points.
AUSTRALIA GRAND PRIX
Formula One racing gears up for new ‘green’ future
he team says it’s moving toward a more eco-friendly set of values suitable for a new age of low carbon emissions. Formula One is preparing itself for a period of progressive change towards greater fuel efficiency, clearer ‘green’ credentials and much bigger popularity with car makers and racing fans. This vision of a future when ‘green equals cool’ and accelerates the sport’s brand vision towards a more eco-friendly set of values suitable for a new age of low carbon emissions was laid out by team chiefs this week. Mercedes’ boss Ross Brawn and McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh were members of a panel that met F1 supporters at ‘meet the fans’ forum organised by the Formula One Teams’ Organisation at the McLaren headquarters on Thursday.
For decades, Formula One has been associated with huge levels of power, high levels of noise and fears of equally high levels of pollution, mostly associated with a perceived need to give the sport’s fans a deafening experience of glorious, loud and penetrative engine performance. The future of F1’s broadcasting arrangements has been under scrutiny in recent weeks following interest from Rupert Murdoch’s SKY organisation and reports suggesting that, in Britain, the BBC was not prepared to continue beyond its contract.
Referring to the introduction of new 1.6-liter V6 turbo-charged engines in 2014, Brawn said: “It’s not only about the fact that the new engine is going to be more efficient in itself. “It’s the message it gives—that it’s cool to have a really efficient engine and race on a lot less fuel.”
AUSTRALIA GRAND PRIX
SPONSORS
Benefits of Sponsorship BRAND-NEW FACILITIES–ENTERTAIN LIKE NEVER BEFORE In Australia there’s no other event that comes close to the intensity, diversity and breathtaking entertainment on offer at the Grand Prix. With a range of stunning new, state-of-the-art facilities, 2011 promises to create an outstanding platform for corporate networking that truly encapsulates luxury and style. Your clients will enjoy exclusive access to first-class bars and dining areas, plus the introduction of Formula Fine Dining with food from a range of celebrity chefs. There’s also the Grand Prix’s famous rock concert after all the racing action. Following on from KISS, The Who, Powderfinger and Simple Minds in previous years, 2012 promises to entertain and excite once again. With so much action both on and off the track, the 2012 Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix is gearing up to set a new benchmark in high-energy corporate entertaining.
AUSTRALIA GRAND PRIX
IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN
The action of Formula 1™ begins in the team garages. This is where champions are made and the energy and excitement is contagious. Situated directly above Albert Park’s team garages is the internationally renowned Paddock Club, the pinnacle of corporate hospitality. In luxurious surrounds, your guests will experience top class service and soak up all the track action from this outstanding venue.
CORPORATE PLATFORM
A Corporate Platform provides an opportunity to create your own unique Grand Prix experience. This highly flexible hospitality option puts you firmly in the driver’s seat when it comes to satisfying your individual entertaining needs.
BRABHAM AND JONES CORPORATE BOXES
Watch all the exhilarating action unfold between turns 1 and 2 in one of the Brabham or Jones Corporate Boxes. Whether you’re an avid motorsport fan or new to the sport, this location is a stunning spot to discover all the high speed drama of Formula 1™. There is simply nothing better than watching the cars jostle for position as they approach turn 1. With affordable suite packages in 2011, you can entertain more than 30 guests from one of these truly spectacular positions.
THE POWERHOUSE
First-class hospitality meets adrenaline-charged Formula 1™ action. Located in one of the circuit’s most intense areas, between turns 12 and 13, The Powerhouse is the ultimate close racing experience for your hospitality event.
Australian Grand Prix Corporation 220 Albert Road SOUTH MELBOURNE VIC 3205 AUSTRALIA Tel: + 61 (03) 9258 7100 Fax: + 61 (03) 9682 0410 Email: enquiries@grandprix.com.au www.grandprix.com.au
PIT EXIT – SKYDECK LOUNGE & TRACKSIDE INTERNATIONAL
This brand new facility allows you to hear, smell and witness racing action like never before. Located at Pit Exit and in close proximity to the track, both Skydeck Lounge and Trackside International offer breathtaking views as the cars roar past your suite out of the pits.
At Qantas, we know you don’t get anywhere without a great team behind you. It’s the reason we’re so proud to be the Premier of the 2012 Formula 1TM Qantas Australian Grand Prix.