GPLive to feature Adrian Newey
14/12/2006 The designer of cars which have won a total of 100 Grand Prix, six Drivers' and seven Constructors' Championships for the Williams and McLaren teams, will be the Featured Designer of the GPlive event at Donington in May. Newey will speak in a series of special "Masterclass" Q&A forums, allowing race fans an unprecedented opportunity to quiz one of the most successful designers in Grand Prix racing. The event will also host a display of the cars he has designed from 1980 to date, in the Grand Prix Design and Engineering zone. "We're absolutely delighted that Adrian has agreed to take time out of his schedule to join us at GPlive" says event organiser Richard Morgan. "The event is specifically designed to allow race fans unprecedented access to the fastest cars and the greatest stars – and now, one of the top brains in Formula One racing too." Newey (47) initially trained in aeronautics, but moved into motor sport in 1980, as Chief Aerodynamicist for the Copersucar team, established by Emerson and Wilson Fittipaldi. He then joined March and designed their double IMSA-championship winning GTP sports car, before scoring a unique hat–trick of consecutive Indianapolis 500 victories with March Indy Cars from 1985 to 1987. When March entered the F1 World Championship in 1987, Adrian became Technical Director. The team surprised many in the sport by gaining fifth place in the 1988 Constructor's World Championship, in only its second season. Newey was then recruited as Chief Designer by the Williams F1 team in 1990. His cars won the Driver's Championship in 1992, '93, '96 and '97, along with the Constructors title in 1992, '93, '94, ‘96 and 1997. After joining Team McLaren Mercedes in 1997, he helped the team win two Drivers' Championships in 1998 and 1999, and the Constructors' Championship in 1998. In January 2006, with a total of 100 Grand Prix victories to his credit, Adrian left McLaren to join Red Bull Racing as Chief Technical Officer. "Adrian certainly has a lot to talk about" said Richard Morgan. "In addition to his "Masterclass Q&A Forums, the special display of Adrian's cars will themselves tell a story of a quarter of a century of Grand Prix development." Over its three days, the GPlive event will combine races and on track demonstrations by iconic cars with appearances from drivers and engineers who are motor sport legends. It will feature what will probably be the largest gathering of former Grand Prix cars and drivers in the world. Grand Prix cars of the 1970s and 1980s, such as JPS Lotus, Willams and Tyrrrell, will compete in two rounds of the FIA Thoroughbred Grand Prix World Championship, the premier racing series for cars of the era, while bringing things right up to date will be races for the two-seater Minardi F1X2 cars. |
