Saturday July 3rd, 2004
On Yer Bike II
A host of Formula One drivers attended an Alpine Stars motorbike event close to the Magny-Cours circuit on Friday, but it was ex-racer Jacques Laffite who upstaged them by leading the TF1 team to victory. David Coulthard, Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya, Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli were among the members of the grid to attend the one-off event, which was organised by Alpine Stars - who provide a number of teams with race-wear. Teams made up from members of the media were pitted against each other around the go-kart track within the Magny-Cours complex, but the experience of six-time Grand Prix winner Laffite helped the TF1 crew to victory by proving he is handy on two wheels as well as four.
Thieving Bosses
Entrepreneur Eddie Jordan was as his genius best on Friday when he came up with a novel way of ensuring he would pick up a free pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses on offer from BAR-Honda as part of their new deal with the eyewear provider. While attending an French Federation presentation for Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley to honour 30 years of FOCA, Jordan cleverly stuffed the free cigars on offer into the pocket of David Richards, the team principal of BAR as part of his ploy to sweeten him up. Quite whether he eventually got the sunglasses remains to be seen.
Trulli Solidary
Jarno Trulli is doing his bit to help raise awareness and funding to help prevent young children die from hunger by appearing in a United Nations World Food Programme public service announcement. In the 30-second message the Italian driver details that his Renault car can reach 200kph in five seconds - the same average time a child dies around the world from starvation. Marathon world record holder Paul Tergat and former Rugby World Cup winners Nick Farr-Jones and David Kirk have also starred in the message.
Speedy Spaniard
Spaniard Fernando Alonso was the first driver to cop a fine at the French Grand Prix when he was caught speeding in the pitlane during Friday's second practice session. The Renault driver, who has endured miserable fortune in recent races, was recorded at 67.7kph in the pit-lane and picked up a $2000 Dollars fine for his indiscretion.
Published at 16:25:45 GMT
(03-11-2005): 
