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Steve’s BitWelcome to the latest issue of Passionate Scribblings as we approach the climax of what has to be one of the most interesting and competitive F1 seasons for many years. There is no doubt that the new regulations have produced entertaining racing and whilst the ‘whispering powertrains’ might not rattle the rib cage or leave your ears ringing for days, the general opinion is that F1 is back in vogue...
www.motor-passion.co.uk I T +44 (0)1635 31658 I E [email protected]
Passionate
With Bernie now free from the ‘minor inconvenience’ of his German court case we are expecting even more changes in 2015 with rumours rife that he is looking at ways of further improving the show.
His latest ‘attention seeking threat’ however is to drop classic events such as the Italian Grand Prix in favour of Azerbaijan and the like. He claims that these somewhat obscure destinations are enthusiastically welcoming F1, it is difficult to be convinced by half empty grandstands (despite being sold to the locals at half price the day before). Even Bernie can’t deny that it is the traditional circuits such as Spa, Monaco, Monza and Silverstone that not only attract the biggest and most knowledgeable crowds but also provide that unique buzz and atmosphere that can never be replicated by a cash rich country devoid of any racing heritage.
That said, there are exceptions. Both Abu Dhabi and Singapore are relative newcomers to F1 however they have become firmly established and recognised as the most visually spectacular races of the year with the added bonus of being fabulous, popular destinations in their own right. Both are ideal if you’re looking to make
more of the trip by enhancing your F1 weekend with an extended stay. Montreal is another of those further afield GP’s that is praised by drivers and fans alike. We plan to make this a feature event next year and create a super programme with which we hope to tempt you.
Outside F1, our ever popular Mille Miglia ‘experience’ still attracts a healthy following from those looking for a true lifestyle weekend that’s so much more than a collection of fabulous classic cars. Definitely one of those events where once visited you’ll want to return, as Steve Slater endorses elsewhere in this issue. Be quick though – 2015 is almost fully booked!
Finally, having hopefully enjoyed browsing this issue please let me know if you have any suggestions, requests or requirements...
In the meantime we will, as always, look forward to being of service and hopefully seeing you again in the not too distant future.
www.motor-passion.co.uk I T +44 (0)1635 31658 I E [email protected]
Passionate
As autumn settles in, it’s time to retire to the armchair for the rest of the Formula One season – unless you’re lucky enough to be heading for one of the long haul events and maybe even the great double points finale in Abu Dhabi?
I write this just after Singapore as Lewis bounces back into a three point championship lead - and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff hopes unreliability won’t decide the title. Hence my suggestion on twitter that perhaps from now on if one car should break down they should retire the other one themselves!
Despite the concerns about the noise, it’s been a fascinating season not only watching the Mercedes theatrics at the front, but also some great battles going on behind with the Pirelli tyre wear still producing some frantic closing laps – and I’m personally delighted by the move to make the drivers do a bit more of the driving.
Sadly my hectic schedule prevented me from joining the Motor Passion team at both the Mille Miglia and Monaco GP - but I did get to race at Monaco myself blasting a Formula 3 Chevron round the streets at the ‘Historique’ meeting which we really must get together for when it returns in 2016.
Monaco F1 weekend clashed with my job presenting Powerboat GP for Sky Sports and instead of the Mille Miglia I was tarting around with the Top Gear boys in Barbados, co presenting and playing ‘Car Football’ in Reliant Robins with none other than Lewis Hamilton and The Stig as my
Tiff’s Tales
Mille Miglia... One for the bucket list?
I can honestly say that in the best part of three decades of working as a motor sports journalist and commentator, nothing I have seen in Formula One, NASCAR, Indy Car, sports car or touring car racing can quite compare with the Motor Passion, Mille Miglia experience.
No petrol head with a pulse could fail to have it raised at the sight and sound of vintage Alfa Romeos, priceless Ferraris, bellowing Jaguar C-Types and Mercedes Gullwings (15 of them no less!) unleashed
team-mates!. May remains one of the busiest months of the year - with the Indy 500 another date I’d love to do with Motor Passion. Hopefully there won’t be the same clashes next year.
My first trip to Spa with the ‘passionate’ team went some way to make up for the disappointments as our ‘Park Fermé’ breakfast and post race dinner format worked really well particularly as we were based at the La Source Hotel just a hundred metres from the track itself. We’re hoping we can do something similar for Monza next season – especially as I want to experience the Lake Como lunch cruise!
I signed off my year with a glass or two of champagne with some of our Passion friends at the Goodwood Revival and look forward to doing more of the same next year.
Best wishes to all!
Actually no. Not just a ‘one-off’ for the bucket list. I want to go again and again!
through city squares, lakeside promenades and twisting mountain roads.
Only in Italy could it happen – and only in Italy too, could you at the same time enjoy such a diversity of succulent food and fine wines, researched and I hope sampled in some depth previously (they deserve it!) by our hosts Steve and Chantal. A winner. Or, as they say over there, ’un vincitore!’
Steve Slater Motor racing journalist and race commentator
www.motor-passion.co.uk I T +44 (0)1635 31658 I E [email protected] I T +44 (0)1635 31658 I E [email protected]
Louise Goodman harbourside in MonacoIt’s always nice to get recommended to a new client… especially if it means a trip to the Monaco Grand Prix. Formula One’s most prestigious race was the venue for my first ‘engagement’ with Steve & Chantal at Motor Passion.
I was ITV’s pitlane reporter and still attend quite a few GPs so I was heading into familiar territory. The brief was pretty straightforward; come along to our hospitality venue on raceday, chat with clients over breakfast and then present an informal post-race review alongside renowned F1 circuit commentator Bob Constanduros.
Motor Passion have been looking after clients at their harbourside “Parc Fermé Racing Club” for over 7 years and the multimillion pound yachts, bathed in warm sunshine, provided a very fitting backdrop for this most glamorous of Grand Prix.
I arrived at the venue just before the first of the guests alighted from a fleet of chauffeur driven Mercedes. As Steve and the team welcomed them
with the obligatory glass of bubbly we all discussed the race ahead. Keen to get amongst the atmosphere it wasn’t long before the guests dispersed – some to their reserved trackside seating overlooking the harbour, others to one of Motor Passion’s balconies or apartments.
Not long after Nico Rosberg had finished spraying the winners champagne we re-convened for our own pre-dinner bubbly. All around us the streets were gridlocked with post-race traffic whilst we enjoyed course after course of extremely tasty Italian food… along with quite a few bottles of fine wine. Very civilized! Whilst the guests tucked into desert Bob and I shared our views on the day’s events before rounding off with a lively Q&A session. It was a real treat to enjoy the style and luxury that Motor Passion provide for their guests. Needless to say, I’m hoping to get another call from Steve & Chantal very soon…
Louise Goodman TV motor racing presenter
Congratulations Sandra and Alessio!Those of you who have enjoyed our Mille Miglia trip and more specifically our private tour of the Maranello Rosso collection in San Marino perhaps, like myself, did not realise the significance or importance of the 1962 Ferrari GTO sat in one corner of the museum. This very car broke all previous records in August when it was sold at auction in California for an eye-watering $38,115,000 (£22,843,633)
Not a bad investment when you consider that the late Fabrizio Violati, collector, racer and the
man behind “Collezione Maranello Rosso” paid just 2,500,000 lire in 1965, which at the time equated to £1,400 sterling, or £22,000 in today’s money. That means the car’s value has appreciated over a thousand-fold in real terms during the past half-century, cementing the almost mythical status of the 250 GTO. Bonhams did not release the identity of the buyer of the record-breaking car.
The Bob n’ Tiff ShowAs Tiff touched upon elsewhere – our “Parc Fermé Racing Club Hospitality” was in full flow at the Spa GP where just minutes walk from the track, guests enjoyed our regular format of breakfast, deli lunch and post race dinner, all packaged up with the very best reserved grandstand seats. The entertaining race review and Q&A from Tiff and F1 circuit commentator Bob Constanduros was as always, well received. Meanwhile our chauffeured Vianos having avoided all the after race traffic chaos were calmly parked up outside for the return hotel transfers. Our Parc Fermé Hospitality Racing Club is also featured at Monaco, Abu Dhabi and next year...Monza.
Passionate
www.motor-passion.co.uk I T +44 (0)1635 31658 I E [email protected]
Le Mans 24 Heures – The Motor Passion Way
Some would say that to be considered a true Le Mans aficionado you must fully immerse yourself in the spirit of endurance by
F1 Factory Tour We are very excited to announce that we are in the process of organising a behind the scenes tour of one of the most successful teams in Formula One. Such visits are normally exclusively reserved for their key sponsors and technical partners and therefore it’s all a bit hush hush at the moment, including the identity of which team? However I can tell you it’s likely to take place in February, it will be a morning visit and include lunch accompanied by as much strange coloured canned fizzy pop that you can drink... details to follow!
Going the distance... and bit moreWith the much talked about Grand Prix in New Jersey now having been firmly consigned to the back burner we are looking for another reason to cross the pond to enjoy the unrivalled excitement and enthusiasm that surrounds F1 in this part of the world. So where better than Montreal in June, where they embrace the Grand Prix circus like nowhere else. With a unique island setting and spectacular backdrop it’s easy to understand why this is one of the most popular Grand Prix of the year
with fans and race teams. If spending time amidst the biggest F1 party of the season wasn’t enough, then why not extend your trip with a couple of nights in New York? Flights are plentiful and the exchange rate is in our favour, so what better way to enhance a thrilling F1 weekend than by combining it with a visit to one of the world most exciting cities...
We’ll have an irresistible programme for you very soon!
spending the weekend trackside, under canvas, drinking warm beer and cold coffee, feasting on frites and baguettes and dismissing any attempts to sleep throughout the duration of your stay.
Admittedly being close to the action is essential, as is seeing the cars after dark which is a Le Mans spectacle not to be missed. But as far as our regular clients are
concerned it’s all about enjoying our 24 hour hospitality facility with its raised terrace, open bar, fabulous food and paddock access (oh and proper toilets!) Then later in the evening after dinner and a glass or two of wine, totally relaxed and possibly beginning to tire of all the noise and frenetic activity, we transfer back to the tranquillity of our secluded manor house set in parkland dodging
geese, rabbits and local deer. After a good nights sleep we are woken by that unique smell of fresh bread, croissants and coffee before heading back to our hospitality marquee for the race finale, feeling just a touch guilty as we pass all those ‘aficionados’ en route...
Le Mans 2015 takes place from Friday 12-14 June.
