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Scrutineering Bay

Not that it's any of my business

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The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get
Luton used to have such a nice airport. You used to be able to park opposite the terminal and walk across the road, check in, walk through a hole in the wall and there, in front of you, was the apron on which stood a plane. Passport control was a little fella sitting by a desk being extremely friendly and helpful if you accidentally forgot to lock your car.......more.....

The View From Catalunya - Andrew & Michael Cotton reflect on the opening round of the 2008 Le Mans Series...............
At Barcelona, the Le Mans Series raised its profile on the international motor racing stage. Not only was the grid dripping with quality, but also in the paddock everyone has taken a huge step forward, from the smallest teams in GT2 to the arrival of Audi in LM P1.......more

The Ruling Classes
Waiting for the ACO is a bit like waiting for the drones in SCP Towers to put up lovingly crafted prose. You wait in eager anticipation to see how it will be illustrated, wait a bit more, then pause for a week or two, and then hey presto! In 2008, things will be a little different. ... more >>>

Paul Frere Adieu
Belgium has a history of producing outstanding cyclists and racing drivers, but lost a legendary figure on February 23 when Paul Frère died at the age of 91. A Le Mans winner, in 1960, with fellow Belgian Olivier Gendebien in a Ferrari 250 TR 60, Paul had an enviable record not only in endurance racing but in single seaters too, having contested 11 Grands Prix.....more

Mistral Winds
After two days in sunshine and more than 25 degrees, Gatwick airport at -1 degree Centigrade was a shock to the system. That can be the only reason I can proffer as to how I managed to squirt myself with windscreen washer fluid from the comfort of my own driver�s seat. I stuck my head out of the window to tell Brooks.........more

Risorgimento

For a brief few laps at Monza, the story of Le Mans 2008 was clearly spelled out. Like the précis of a book the outline of the plot was revealed, and Audi will take plenty of heart from the performance of their R10 TDI in the hands of Mike Rockenfeller, against the Peugeot of Pedro Lamy.....more

French Élan
The dry ice threatened to choke some of those present at the presentation of the Peugeot 908 HDI FAP and the first words from sporting director Michel Barge disappeared as his microphone failed to work. But it was an otherwise flawless launch of Peugeot�s racing activities this year and the message emanating from the arena at a horse racing course in Paris was clear; we are out to beat Audi.......more

For Whom the Bell Tolls
�He�s like Mick Jagger, always reckons he can do one more gig� reckons Misti Bell, speaking of Derek who might, just might have packed his helmet for the last time during the Rolex 24. The car didn�t last long enough for him to drive a stint, a brake disc shattering on his Riley Pontiac with son Justin at the wheel,....more

Guess Who�s Coming To Dinner?
Just 12 months ago, at 3am I witnessed first hand the gales that battered the UK from a train station platform. A dinner with BMW in honour of Andy Priaulx�s second World title was followed by some drink, and then a full Burger King dinner at Kings Cross when I had meant to order coffee. I fell asleep on the last train home and woke up far past my stop and with no hope of getting back until first train at 5am.......more.....

The Bleak Mid-Winter
Christmas is officially over. The decorations have come down, the tree is chopped up and in the recycling bin, though there is some discussion chez family Cotton over whether or not it counts as a recyclable item. Given the fact that last year�s tree sat in the garden turning a shade of gold and was finally chopped up alongside this year�s offering, it is a moot point
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They say the times are changing but I just don't know��
Mister Grumpy...................Being told by Johnny Mowlem that I had been grumpy all weekend irked a bit, the blow made only slightly softer by him putting his hand into his pocket and paying for dinner. I must have been bad. The worrying thing was that I had just had two fantastic days at Sebring, watching the Peugeot 908 on US soil for the first time, taking on Audi, which had confirmed a two-car Le Mans Series programme.........more