Sunday March 7th, 2004
Ladies' Day
The Albert Park paddock was so full of female stars that it resembled a scene from Ladies' Day at Ascot racecourse in England. The leading lights were Formula One regulars Ralf Schumacher's wife Cora, who wore rock star sequinned pants and an electric pink T-shirt which read, "Hollywood stinks", Kimi Raikkonen's fiancee Jenni Dahlmann, the former Miss Scandinavia, and Jenson Button's fiancee Louise Griffiths, who spent much of her time sitting under a tree behind Button's garage. But there were some very special guests in Melbourne ready to take on the drivers' beauties.
British television presenter Annalise Braakensiek dropped in to say hello to Giorgio Pantano at Jordan, model and author Tara Moss was wandering the paddock while Vodafone had a host of guests including former Neighbours favourite Kimberley Davies and Australian Idol duo Andrew G and James Mathison. Also spotted were Stephen Curry, Antonia Kidman, Ditch Davey and Jane Alsop from Blue Heelers, Fletcher Humphrys and Neighbours duo Jay Bunyan and Kym Valentine. In the channel 10 paddock club, there were more stars of the popular Aussie soap Neighbours, which is filmed in Melbourne, with blonde actresses Stephanie McIntosh and Natalie Bassingthwaite joining Brooke Harman, Mick Molloy and Peter Hellier, while Holly Vallance, also an ex-Neighbours star turned singer flew in from London especially for the race.
To Wed Or Not To Wed
David Coulthard's Brazilian girlfriend Simone Abdelnour revealed a chunky engagement ring in the Albert Park paddock during the weekend but was quick to insist that she and the Scottish McLaren driver are not racing to get wed. The former swimwear model, who met Coulthard at Heathrow Airport through a mutual friend, claims they are a "modern couple" and said: "We are not planning to get married but I have the ring. When you are engaged you are really thinking about the wedding, but we are not in that mood. We are more relaxed about it."
Race Resistance
Michael Schumacher was eager to watch the airshow put on by the organisers of the Australian Grand Prix but he resisted the temptation to whiz off and race the F/A-18 fighter jet that screamed through the skies above Albert Park. Schumacher is no stranger to racing aeroplanes having taken on a jet with his World Championship winning F2003-GA machine in the winter. The rocket-fast fighter, the like of which has seen regular service in Afghanistan and Iraq, had flown all the way from Newcastle, near Sydney, and approached the track from the sea before its blistering afterburner rattled the eardrums even more than the sound of wailing V10s.
Lady's Man
Renault boss Flavio Briatore has had his fair share of beautiful ladies on his arm and he continued the trend at this year's Australian Grand Prix. He is reported to have handed a dinner invitation to Rachel Swaney, the 'face of Fosters' girl, almost as soon as he had met her and he was also spotted chatting in French to Australian supermodel Kristy Hinze. Their conversation was overheard and, according to reports, when Briatore was asked about the situation with his former flame Heidi Klum and their baby, he said: "We've got a bit of a problem there."
Double Charity
It appears Jeff Kennett, the former premier for the state of Victoria, was not content with just driving in the immensely popular celebrity race on the support card of this year's Australian Grand Prix. Despite only having the talent to start from 21st position on the grid he enjoyed his celebrity race experience so much he paid $51,000 to charity at the Grand Prix ball on Friday night to buy his racing car.
Published at 10:18:24 GMT
(03-11-2005): 
