Sunday July 25th, 2004
Signing Success
The queues seemed to snake for miles around the autograph area at Hockenheim as more than 1,000 fans clamoured to secure the signatures of their favourite drivers. Some had photos taken, some stopped for a chat and others simply passed through satisfied they had got their heroes to put pen to paper. Each team attended in turn and the organisers said: "The fans loved the autograph sessions as well as the Fan TV, the guided bus tours, the pit walkabout. There are more events planned for next year because the teams and drivers were so supportive."
Italian Renault driver Jarno Trulli, who is a member of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, was impressed with the whole event and said: "I had a great time meeting the fans in Hockenheim and I was really impressed by how many people turned out. It is all part of helping Formula One connect with the people in the grandstand, the real fans who save up to come and see us race. Sometimes you forget how much passion people have for our sport."
Take Five
BBC's Radio Five Live commentator Jonathan Legard was given a heart-felt send off by the Formula One paddock on Saturday as he prepared for his final commentary before deserting the sport and heading to join the BBC's football team full time. Legard, who has long been a part of the Grand Prix scene, was lauded in the BAR-Honda motorhome with a special champagne presentation that included quotes and tributes. He was then treated to a meal in the town of Speyer with a select group of journalists, including Radio Five Live pit reporter Peter Slater, who chose the moment to announce he will also be leaving the paddock for good after this year's Chinese Grand Prix. Sauber also had their own leaving party in the paddock for two of their long-serving staff members which included pumping disco music that even got Italian racer Giancarlo Fisichella tapping his feet to the tunes.
Mercedes Message
McLaren-Mercedes enjoyed supreme support from their employees at the German Grand Prix with hundreds of them flocking to cheer on the team's two drivers Kimi Raikkonen, of Finland, and Scot David Coulthard, as they continued their mid-season resurgence. At the start of the year the Anglo-German team, who endured a disastrous four retirements in the first four races, tried to stay out of the limelight as much as possible. Not so now. Their employees were given special white, black and coloured cards to hold above their heads in a special order...to spell 'Kimi and David' in massive letters along with their two national flags above as the cars drove around on their installation lap.
Published at 16:38:17 GMT
(03-11-2005): 
