Foul!

As published in Sunday Mail today By Nicolas Anil nicolas@mmail.com.my PUTRAJAYA - Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird soared to a dominant win in an action-packed second race of the Formula E at Putrajaya yesterday. Bird, who finished third at the maiden race in Beijing two months ago, was emotional after his victory. “I want to dedicate this victory to a good friend of mine who is ill. It’s really unfortunate that he has to struggle so much right now, so this one is for him," said Bird without naming his friend. “It’s been an amazing week for me. I did well in practice and started second on the grid and my good start helped pave the way to a consistent race. This is our first win as a team in our first season. I’m delighted and hope we can keep this up.” Bird's masterclass driving saw him lead the 20-driver field from the first lap held a seven-second lead before he turned into the pitlane. The ex Formula 3 driver regained the lead, temporarily held by Audi Sport’s ...

As published in Malay Mail today Aud-ly Enough By Audrey Edwards SO, that had to be the best traffic jam one could ever get caught in. On the very same road that 20 electric cars will be on when the lights go out for the Putrajaya Formule E race. Getting onto the track in Precinct 2 after driving on the bridge located in the area, there was a slight thrill as the metal safety barriers on either side of the street circuit loomed ahead and way down the straight. Tonnes of vehicles have passed along this way and as the days speed up to race day on Saturday, the vision that started some two years ago is becoming a reality as seen by the grandstands and pit area that have been put up. Along the way, there are giant screens to show the race and I grinned to myself as the traffic halted to a stop as we approached the start/finish line. The unmoving traffic has never delighted me quite as much as those moments as it gave me the chance to take in the view outside. I mean, how...

What is Formula E ? It is a single-seater championship, under FIA, featuring cars powered by electricity. Races will be held in 1o major cities around the world. E means electric. But the hardcore petrol heads would cringe and say it's Formula Ewwwwww! World champion Sebastian Vettel had told Fox Sports he was not a fan of the city racing concept, despite the fact the almost-silent cars are being built by famous F1 names Williams and McLaren. “I don’t like it at all,” the Red Bull driver said. “I think the people come here to feel Formula One and there’s not much to feel when a car goes by and you don’t even hear anything else but the wind. With maximum speeds of 200km/h, it is deemed 'slow'. Even an 800cc easy rider or a modified Perodua Viva can hit speeds exceeding 200km/h easily. Existing F1 cars, meanwhile, can be configured to do about 386 km/h . Others, however, are more optimistic. They say Formula E, being an FIA project, has a promising futur...