Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi is in critical condition after a crash at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, and I’m wondering, again, why I’m a fan of auto racing. According to media reports (here and here) Bianchi’s Marussia left the track at Turn 7, the same location that Sauber’s Adrian Sutil crashed a few … Continue reading
As Will Power was busy winning the IndyCar Championship last weekend, Canadian race fans were revved up to hear that Indy racers will make their return to Mosport in 2015. According to a few sources (ESPN’s Robin Miller, the Toronto Sun’s Dean McNulty and The Toronto Star’s Norris McDonald among them) the race’s move from … Continue reading
Watching the men’s and women’s Olympic hockey games over the past few days made me think about car racing. Hold on, stay with me. The women’s gold medal game was a fantastic nail-biter. Part amazing comeback by the Canadian women (after being down 3-0 in the third period) and part epic collapse by the U.S. … Continue reading
Here’s my story on James Hinchcliffe, which was published in the summer 2013 issue of CAA Magazine. I interviewed Hinchcliffe at his parents’ house in Oakville, Ont. His mom and dad were there for part of the interview and offered their own take on his racing career. He’s a good interview — smart, candid and, … Continue reading
Published in Globe Drive, Sept. 8, 2012 While two class champions had already been crowned, it took until the final Labour Day race weekend of the 2012 Canadian Touring Car Championship season to decide the Touring class champion. When the checkered flag flew on Sunday, Sept. 2, it was Damon Sharpe in a Honda Civic … Continue reading
7 days, 100 cars, 3,000 km, one crazy race Most people travel to Mexico to soak up the sun and enjoy some fruity umbrella drinks at an all-inclusive resort. A few others, though, come for the treacherous roads, day after day of high-speed driving followed by intense fatigue and, sometimes, the odd broken bone. And, … Continue reading
From Indianapolis to Daytona to Monaco, famous racetracks can take on a life and mystique of their own. How they’re designed and built can be as complicated and circuitous as the twists and turns that they make race cars endure. Some tracks, like the Indy course at Toronto’s Exhibition Place, aren’t so much designed as … Continue reading
My interview with Jacques Villeneuve: former F1 world champion, CART champ and Indianapolis 500 winner. Villeneuve interview (pdf)