Volkswagen and SCCA have announced the schedule for the brand new 2008 Volkswagen Jetta TDI cup. This will be the first time the spec series is brought to American soil. The series has been previously run in Europe, South Africa, and Japan. The aim of the program is to help amateur drivers make a career out of motorsport. There will be 8 races through 2008, winning a race gets you $1,500. Winner of the series receives $100k, and if you are picked up for a professional ride within 6 months of the last race, you receive $250k…but all that prize money & potential fame will cost you: $35,000 entry fee!

The series will be ‘green friendly’, meaning the race cars will not produce emissions. The cars will be brand new Volkswagen Jetta TDI’s, equipped with a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine rated @ 170hp/300ft-lb, DSG autoshift transmissions, FIA approved rollcage, racing bucket seat, 5 or 6pt safety harnesses, r-compound tires, and other race car accessories. The series will be sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. The series will be a support race during the weekends of popular events like Grand-Am, Speed World Challenge, Champ Car, NASCAR, and the American Le Mans Series. So, expect to see decent media exposure of the TDI cup.

After I signed up in late January for the original Feb 1st deadline, VW then changed the application deadline date to Feb 29th. Bastards. VW will choose 100 candidates for a driving test/personality evaluation in Phoenix, Arizona on April 3-6. Only the top 30 drivers chosen from the test will be eligible to compete in series. If any of the 30 selected drivers cannot fulfill their obligation, VW will have 10 reserve drivers on hand. Through some miracle if I were to be selected, out of the thousands who have applied, how would I be able to afford the entrance cost? Um yea…I’m still figuring that out myself. Anyone wanna sponsor me?

2008 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Schedule

Date	Track	With
April 25-27	Virginia International Raceway	Grand-Am / SPEED Touring Car
May 17-18	Mosport International Raceway	Canadian Touring Car / MX-5 Cup
July 4 – 6	Grand Prix of Toronto	Champ Car
July 25-27	Portland International Raceway	Star Mazda / MX-5 Cup
Aug 14-17	Lime Rock Park	NASCAR Camping World Series
Sept. 19-20	Iowa Speedway	USAR Hooters Pro Cup
Sept. 27-28	New Jersey Motorsports Park*	SPEED World Challenge/ARCA
Oct. 1-3	Road Atlanta	ALMS / SPEED World Challenge

* – double event

If you are interested, hurry and make your video and submit it by the February 29th deadline:

http://www.vw.com/vwhype/motorsport/en/us/#/jetta_tdi_cup/

more info from SCCA:

http://scca.org/contentpage.aspx?content=105

and VW Motorsport:

http://media.vw.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10293

….then try out for the hit SpeedTV show, “SETUP”. Are you an amateur racer who is aspiring to make it pro? If so, this show is for you.

Another Scott Gillen production (same guy who did ‘Build or Bust’), from what I’ve seen of the action in season 1 and 2 so far, it is filled with ridiculous drama for entertainment value and high ratings (of course). Contestants literally ram each other to get 1st place with their Pratt & Miller built, turbo, rwd, 260hp Pontiac Solstices. Here’s a positive spin on it – if you actually have driving skills and win the whole event, you get to test a Pontiac GXP.R for a possible drive in the Grand-Am racing series and race at the 2009 Rolex 24 @ Daytona…….and you get $100,000. Not bad, eh?

Last year, NASA Honda Challenge racer Jeremy Croiset won the show with impressive domination through every race. This year, the format has changed as they are now running teams, and it looks as though the competition has stepped up two-fold. Word is, for season 1, there were 250 entries by word of mouth throughout Southern California. This year, 4000+ entries were made from around the country.

the pros:
-no entry fee
-free car
-free parts
-free gas
-free tires
-free camera time
-possible $100k cash
-possible ride with GM factory race team

the cons:
sacrifice everything:
-leave school/job for 4 weeks for filming
-pay for your own living expenses (hotel, rental car to/from track, gas for rental car, etc.)
-possible embarrassment on national TV

 

So, does that all sound like fun? If so, click here to apply for Season 3:

http://www.scottgillen.com/setup/show/

Here’s the TV schedule for ‘Setup’ Season 2:

http://www.speedtv.com/programs/setup/

Alright folks, here’s a pretty comprehensive list for this year’s track days/high performance driving events (HPDE’s) for the Mid-Atlantic Region. (damn it took awhile to list!) If you know of an event we missed that you’d like us to include please add a comment and we’ll be sure to add it up to our list!

Here is a link with a good list, but our list includes extra clubs as well as being focused on the events that are closer to the MAR:

http://www.trackschedule.com/sched.html

Also, Bill Scott Racing has ‘Friday at the Track’ & ‘Seat Time’ events or FATT at Summit Point:

http://www.bsr-inc.com/ click on ‘recreation & safety’

 

locations/more info on the tracks:

Summit Point Raceway: Summit Point, WV

New Jersey Motorsports Park: Millville, NJ

Pocono Raceway: Long Pond, PA

Virginia Int’l Raceway: Alton, VA

BeaveRun Motorsports Complex: Wampum, PA

Watkins Glen Int’l: Watkins Glen, NY

Lime Rock Park: Lakeville, CT

Nelson Ledges Road Course: Garrettsville, OH

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course: Lexington, OH

New Hampshire Int’l Speedway: Loudon, NH

Mosport Int’l Raceway: Bowmanville, ON, Canada

Lowe’s Motor Speedway: South Concord, NC

Carolina Motorsports Park: Kershaw, SC

Road Atlanta: Braselton, GA

Nashville Superspeedway: Lebanon, TN

AutoBahn Country Club: Joliet, IL

 

 

MARCH

[3-4 ] TrackDaze HPDE: Virginia Int’l Raceway:
https://www.trackdaze.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51&Itemid=86

[7-9] Car Guys HPDE: Main Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://carguys.com/calendar.html

[7-9] Peachtree BMWCCA Driver’s School: Road Atlanta:
http://www.peachtreebmwcca.org/ptDE_default.asp

[8-9] SVT Cobra Mustang Club HPDE: Carolina Motorsports Park:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/details.cfm?id=125D61A0-9C81-B18D-346738684C3779DE

[10] Asphalt Ventures HPDE: Carolina Motorsports Park:
https://www.asphaltventures.com/

[15-16] National Capital BMWCCA Driver’s School: Main Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.nccbmwcca.org/index.php?id=138,89,0,0,1,0

[22] Washington DC SCCA PDX (Instructor Clinic): Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.wdcr-scca.org/TimeTrialsPDX/PerformanceDrivingExperience2008PDX/tabid/98/Default.aspx

[28] NASA North East HPDE: North Course @ Pocono Raceway:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[28-30] NASA Mid-Atlantic HPDE/Race: Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://nasaracing.net/sched_regis.htm

 

APRIL

[4] New Jersey BMWCCA Driver’s School: Lime Rock Park:
http://www.njbmwcca.org/services/schedule/view.php?action=edit&event_id=166

[5-6] Northern Ohio BMWCCA Driver’s School: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:
http://nohiobmwcca.org/calendar_pages/2008/2008apr.html

[5-6] Tarheel Sportscar/Triangle Z Club HPDE: North Course @ Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://www.thscc.com/timetrial/index.html

[7] Asphalt Ventures HPDE: South Course @ Virginia Int’l Raceway:
https://www.asphaltventures.com/

[7] Greater Washington Section MBCA HPDE: Main Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.gws-mbca.org/SummitPoint040708.html

[11] Connecticut Valley BMWCCA Driver’s School: Lime Rock Park:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/event.cfm?uidEvent=BDCCA226-DEBF-62F9-17FA0E2ACE9BA882

[12] NASA North East HPDE: Lime Rock Park:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[12] Washington DC SCCA PDX: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.wdcr-scca.org/TimeTrialsPDX/PerformanceDrivingExperience2008PDX/tabid/98/Default.aspx

[14-15] New Jersey BMWCCA Driver’s School: Main Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.njbmwcca.org/services/schedule/view.php?action=edit&event_id=167

[15] NASA North East HPDE: Long Course @ Pocono Raceway:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[18] New York BMWCCA Driver’s School: North Course @ Pocono Raceway:
http://www.nybmwcca.org/school.php

[21-22] Audi Club Potomac-Chesapeake Driver’s School: Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://www.audiclubna.org/chapters/potomac/

[26-28] Del Val BMWCCA Driver’s School: Jefferson & Main Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.delvalbmwcca.org/schools.html

[28] N.E.R.D. Racing/Capital Driving Club HPDE: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.nerd-racing.com/events

 

MAY

[2-4] SVTOA Mountaineer Madness HPDE: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/event.cfm?uidEvent=9DA71883-EC5B-0EF7-81FE0C809E657FD4

[3] NASA North East HPDE: East Course @ Pocono Raceway:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[3-4] NASA Mid-Atlantic HPDE/Race: Carolina Motorsports Park:
http://nasaracing.net/sched_regis.htm

[5-6] NASA North East: Watkins Glen Int’l:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[7-8] Car Guys HPDE: Watkins Glen Int’l:
http://carguys.com/calendar.html

[10] Audi Club Potomac-Chesapeake Driver’s Clinic: Jefferson Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.audiclubna.org/chapters/potomac/

[10-11] Genesee Valley BMWCCA Driver’s School: Watkins Glen Int’l
http://www.gvc-bmwcca.org/events/eventview.aspx?EventID=2

[17-18] Mid-Atlantic Alfa Romeo Club HPDE: North Course @ Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/event.cfm?uidEvent=AE4A0FDE-A393-00D9-4F0EB2F53E0BE5AC

[17-18] TrackDaze HPDE: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
https://www.trackdaze.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=55&Itemid=88

[19-20] Audi Club North Atlantic Driver’s School: New Hampshire Int’l Speedway:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/event.cfm?uidEvent=944415AA-917D-1E58-801500D388041E34

[24-25] Northern Ohio BMWCCA Driver’s School: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:
http://www.nohiobmwcca.org/calendar_pages/2008/2008may.html

[28-29] Tarheel Sportscar/Triangle Z Club HPDE: Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://www.thscc.com/timetrial/index.html

[30-June 1] SVT Cobra Mustang Club HPDE: Full & South Course @ Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/details.cfm?id=125D61A0-9C81-B18D-346738684C3779DE

[30-June 1] TrackDaze HPDE: South Course @ AutoBahn Country Club:
https://www.trackdaze.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=98

[31-June 1] NASA North East HPDE/Race: North Course @ Pocono Raceway:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[31-June 1] National Capital BMWCCA Driver’s School: Jefferson Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.nccbmwcca.org/index.php?id=138,92,0,0,1,0

 

JUNE

[14-15] MazdaDrivers HPDE: Grand East @ Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://www.mazdadrivers.com/

[15] Washington DC SCCA PDX: Main Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.wdcr-scca.org/TimeTrialsPDX/PerformanceDrivingExperience2008PDX/tabid/98/Default.aspx

[16-17] New York BMWCCA: Watkins Glen Int’l:
http://www.nybmwcca.org/school.php

[20-22] Tarheel Sportscar/Triangle Z HPDE: Carolina Motorsports Park:
http://www.thscc.com/timetrial/index.html

[21-22] NASA Mid-Atlantic Hyperfest 2008: Summit Point Raceway:
http://nasaracing.net/sched_regis.htm

 

JULY

[4-6] Audi Club Ohio Valley Driver’s School: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/details.cfm?id=3C01E38A-F1B9-5AB0-8DE29FBA943909D1

[4-6] Peachtree BMWCCA Driver’s School: Road Atlanta:
http://www.peachtreebmwcca.org/ptDE_default.asp

[9-10] Del Val BMWCCA Driver’s School: Watkins Glen Int’l:
http://www.delvalbmwcca.org/schools.html

[11] Northern Virginia Corvette Club HPDE: Main Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.nvcorvetteclub.com/nvcc/events/eventView.do?mode=view&id=369

[11-12] SVTOA Redline Rendezvous HPDE: Mosport Int’l Raceway:
http://www.svtownersassociation.com/indexCMPS.php/

[14-15] NASA North East HPDE: Watkins Glen Int’l:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[14-15] TrackDaze HPDE: Main Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
https://www.trackdaze.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=99

[18] NASA North East HPDE: 3 Courses @ Pocono Raceway:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[19-20] Car Guys HPDE: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://carguys.com/calendar.html

[19-20] NASA North East HPDE/Race: Long Double & Long Single Infield @ Pocono Raceway:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[25-27] NASA Mid-Atlantic HPDE/Race: Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://nasaracing.net/sched_regis.htm

[26-27] Greater Washington Section MBCA HPDE: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.gws-mbca.org/events.html

[26-27] Redline Time Attack & Import Alliance: Nashville Superspeedway:
http://redlinetimeattack.com/index-5.html

 

AUGUST

[1-3] Car Guys HPDE: Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://carguys.com/calendar.html

[2-3] National Capital BMWCCA Highway Safety & Driver’s School: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.nccbmwcca.org/index.php?id=138,164,0,0,1,0
http://www.nccbmwcca.org/index.php?id=138,165,0,0,1,0

[5-6] NASA North East HPDE: Thunderbolt @ New Jersey Motorsports Park:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[16-17] Redline Time Attack: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://redlinetimeattack.com/index-5.html

[23-24] Buckeye BMWCCA Driver’s School: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:
http://web.mac.com/theultrafi/buckeyebmwcca.org/Drivers_Schools.html

[23-24] NASA Mid-Atlantic HPDE/Race: Main Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://nasaracing.net/sched_regis.htm

[26-27] Car Guys HPDE: Lowe’s Motor Speedway:
http://carguys.com/calendar.html

[28-29] TrackDaze HPDE: Virginia Int’l Raceway:
https://www.trackdaze.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=100

[30-31] MazdaDrivers HPDE: Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://www.mazdadrivers.com/

 

SEPTEMBER

[6] Washington DC SCCA PDX: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.wdcr-scca.org/TimeTrialsPDX/PerformanceDrivingExperience2008PDX/tabid/98/Default.aspx

[6-7] NASA North East HPDE/Race: North Course @ Pocono Raceway:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[9-16] NASA Nationals: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:
http://nasaracing.net/sched_regis.htm

[15-16] NASA North East HPDE: Watkins Glen Int’l:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[19-21] Peachtree BMWCCA Driver’s School/Race: Road Atlanta:
http://www.peachtreebmwcca.org/ptDE_default.asp

[20-21] Audi Club Potomac-Chesapeake Driver’s School: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.audiclubna.org/chapters/potomac/

[23-27] BMWCCA Oktoberfest 2008: Watkins Glen Int’l:
http://www.bmwccaofest.org/index.php

 

OCTOBER

[3-5] NASA North East HPDE/Race: Watkins Glen Int’l:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[3-5] Redline Time Attack & GT Live: Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://redlinetimeattack.com/index-5.html

[4-5] Tarheel Sportscar/Triangle Z Club HPDE: North Carolina Speedway (Rockingham):
http://www.thscc.com/timetrial/index.html

[4-5] TrackDaze HPDE: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
https://www.trackdaze.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=52

[10] Connecticut Valley BMWCCA Driver’s School: Lime Rock Park:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/event.cfm?uidEvent=BDCF549B-DF4A-7D8B-C8E7B31B15A1D72A

[11] Patroon BMWCCA Driver’s School: Lime Rock Park:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/event.cfm?uidEvent=BDCF549B-DF4A-7D8B-C8E7B31B15A1D72A

[11-12] National Capital BMWCCA Driver’s School: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.nccbmwcca.org/index.php?id=138,48,0,0,1,0

[11-12] Car Guys HPDE: North Course @ Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://carguys.com/calendar.html

[11-12]Del Val BMWCCA Driver’s School: North Course @ Pocono Raceway:
http://www.delvalbmwcca.org/schools.html

[11-12] NASA Mid-Atlantic HPDE/Race: Main Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://nasaracing.net/sched_regis.htm

[15-16] NASA North East HPDE: Thunderbolt & Lightning @ New Jersey Motorsports Park:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[25-26] Buckeye BMWCCA Driver’s School: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/event.cfm?uidEvent=478F427F-EE87-9F9E-B831189FF8B213F0

[25-26] TrackDaze HPDE: South Course @ AutoBahn Country Club:
https://www.trackdaze.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=52

 

NOVEMBER

[1] NASA North East HPDE: Lime Rock Park:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[1-2] MazdaDrivers HPDE: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.mazdadrivers.com/

[7-9] NASA North East HPDE/Race: Thunderbolt @ New Jersey Motorsports Park:
http://www.nasanortheast.org/schedule.htm

[8-9] Car Guys HPDE: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://carguys.com/calendar.html

[15-16] Audi Club Potomac-Chesapeake Driver’s School: Virginia Int’l Raceway:
http://www.audiclubna.org/chapters/potomac/

[16] Washington DC SCCA PDX: Shenandoah Circuit @ Summit Point Raceway:
http://www.wdcr-scca.org/TimeTrialsPDX/PerformanceDrivingExperience2008PDX/tabid/98/Default.aspx

[17] TrackDaze HPDE: Virginia Int’l Raceway:
https://www.trackdaze.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=52

 

DECEMBER

[1] Asphalt Ventures HPDE: Virginia Int’l Raceway:
https://www.asphaltventures.com/

 

 

That’s about it for now. I’ll try to keep it updated. Have a fun 2008 track season.
-John

The 2008 FIA World Championship is going to be boring one. No, I don’t mean it’s going to be boring because there is no McLaren-Ferrari Stepney-gate spy scandals and there isn’t a feuding teammate rivalry. Sure Traction Control is gone, finally something to applaud the FIA on for once, but let me tell you why it’s going to be a snoozer. Then we’ll see where the other teams will end up.

The front of the parade…

You might as well just hand to the trophy to Ferrari now. The “Winter World Championship” means nothing, but let’s be realistic, they’ve pretty much crushed everyone in open running. With a shortened wheelbase to work better on slower corners and an on-fire Kimster, the F2008 will again make use of it’s Bridgestones better than any car on the grid. Forget Massa, he’s the new Rubens Barichello punching bag at Ferrari, this is the Kimi show. It’s just a matter of where he clinches the WDC…

Hammy, start sulking, the 2007 WDC is as close as you’re going to come to the coveted title for awhile. Watch your back too, ’cause Heikki is going to be lock-step with you, given equal equipment, just as he was in GP2. That’s a big if and let’s hope Dennis can manage this pairing better than last year’s implosion. The upside, the MP4/23 is going to be quick, just as the MP4/22 was. They’ve shown well this winter and Heikki has taken well to the team already. With two young guns that can mix it up, they’re the solid P2 to Ferrari.

The big mover, the Renault boys will make some noise again and it comes with no surprise that it coincides with the return of double WDC Freddie Alonso. A determined Pat Symonds technical direction vowing to rectify the misdirection of the R27, dumping off the dead-weight of Fisi, they will be podium contenders. Add Fred bringing the extra few tenths (yep, he’s that good and I don’t care what anyone says, McLaren did him wrong) and another year on the Bridgestones, the R28 will be in front of 2007’s big gainer, BMW-Sauber.

Even as ugly as F1 cars are now a days, Sauber always seems to have an aesthetically pleasing car and the trend continues under the BMW banner. Unfortunately, working appendages, wheel-shields, barge boards, and horns win points where it counts, performance. They have formidable drivers, Nick and Kubica are blazing fast. Early impressions for the F1.08 however, indicate that they’re having a hard time finding the balance. They will be though, a consistent podium worthy squad. The 2008 season will bring a handful of podiums and maybe a sneaky win if they get lucky. Granted, that luck might need to be Ferrari, McLaren, or Renault not showing up.

Best of the rest…

Red Bull Racing will do the best job of mixing it up with the top 4 with Williams, with these two teams being interchangeable. Unfortunately 8 potential cars stealing the spots on the steps, a podium will be a scarce commodity. They are improving though, this is the real Adrian Newey RBR and the additional of Geoff Willis can only help. They have stability with the driver combo, the old man David Coulthard and the eccentric Mark Webber. The mission statement should be full reliability, they were awful in the mechanical DNF department in 2007

Nico will be making inroads to the front runners at Williams. There is no doubt Rosberg is quick. Nakajima doesn’t appear to be a slouch and he should be worth Toyota’s insistence [or checkbook] that he have a seat in the FW30. Look at the data from last year, when they don’t make mistakes in qualifying, the FW is fast despite being mired back in traffic. If they can qualify better to where they’re not committed to heavy fuel loads, expect some decent things. At the very least, they’ll make Toyota think twice about annexing them and making Sir Frank a rich man by making them the Japanese squad’s factory team.

Honda plus Ross Brawn means…a lot of mediocrity in 2008. At least mediocrity is an upgrade from last year. Honda fans, just DVR the race and go about your business. If something miraculous happens like a points finish, you can at least watch it at your own convenience. The painful truth for Honda fanatics is that the big but late arrivals of Brawn and the new new technical additions of Bigois and Zander, mean the new RA108 wasn’t conceived under their watch. The RA107 was enigmatic and they never understood how to solve the poor aerodynamic characteristics, exacerbating the situation was the departure of the concept’s father, Geoff Willis. The spin from Honda is they at least understand the RA108. The reality is, they’re 2.5+ seconds off the one lap pace this winter. No aero package update can fix that big of a gap.

The story for Toyota is short and sweet, outspend everyone and sit back and reap the rewards of getting the worst ROI on the planet, which in this case is 7^th or 8th best team on the grid.

Red Bull Jr. will probably disrupt the Japanese Spending War, in what appears will be an updated 2007 RBR. The neat thing for the ex-Minardi crew is that they have an exciting driver lineup at STR-Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel proved himself for BMW, filling in for Kubica after his horrific crash in Canada, and as their third driver. He also had an amazing drive going for him in the rain-soaked Japanese Grand Prix last year, before being caught out by an interesting safety car period of all things. We also get to see  the deserving Sebastien Bourdais behind the wheel of an F1 car finally.

Jordan F1, I mean Spyker F1, wait it’s now Force India. With a name that awful, can you really expect anything better than the back of the bus? Their best move this winter, by far, was denying Ralf Schumacher a race seat to pair perennial loser Giancarlo Fisichella. Maybe Gascoyne can work a miracle with the VJM01, but don’t hold your breath. Next year we’ll probably be talking about another new owner.

Someone please give a donation to Super-Aguri. The beloved Super-Best-Friends was the feel good story of the crazy 2007 season, especially Taku’s pass on the outside of Alonso’s McLaren in Montreal. While they’re backed by Honda, they barely have a pulse, skipping testing and soliciting anyone that will give them money. If they do have a cash infusion, their reward is campaigning last year’s Honda RA107, lucky them. It’s an uphill struggle for the Honda B-team.

So the meat, here’s what I’m going out on a limb with on record.

1. Kimi (clinching by Japan)
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Felipe Massa
4. Fernando Alonso
5. Heikki Kovalainen

We’ll see how far off base I am soon enough.

-Brian R.