Race Weekend With Jarno Trulli

After 12 years as a Formula One driver, and with 192 Grand Prix starts and eight podium finishes under his belt, Toyota’s Jarno Trulli is an old pro when it comes to his race routine.

We caught up with Trulli in Hungary, following this weekend’s event, to find out about his time in Budapest and discover a little more about how he likes to spend his time ‘in the office’ over a race weekend.

Timo Glock Of Toyota Bounces Back To Podium

Last two weeks ago Toyota’s Timo Glock left the German Grand Prix in an ambulance following a high-speed crash, but a fortnight later Glock will depart the Hungaroring feeling as if he’s walking on air, after clinching his first Formula One podium.

A brilliant performance during qualifying saw the German start the Hungarian Grand Prix from fifth. And even better pace during the race allowed the 26 year-old to finish second ahead of a closing Kimi Raikkonen (third) in the Ferrari, Renault’s Fernando Alonso (fourth) and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton (fifth).

With Glock’s eight points and team mate Jarno Trulli taking another two for his seventh-place finish, Toyota consolidated their fourth place in the constructors' standings. On 35 points, they are four ahead of nearest rivals Renault.

Michael Schumacher Winner Of Go Kart Challenge

A busy few weeks for seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher. First he was back on the Formula One track testing for Ferrari in Barcelona and clocking up fastest times in the process, then on Sunday 25 November he won the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champs in Brazil. The two-race kart challenge hosted by Scuderia Ferrari’s Felipe Massa and supported by Shell, was held at the Ingleses kart track in Florianopolis. Every year it attracts some of the globe’s finest racing drivers.

Michael Schumacher, who was competing against familiar faces from the world of motorsport such as Nelson Piquet Jr. and Rubens Barrichello, won the first race from fourth on the grid. In race two, the German crossed the line in sixth position after suffering some technical problems with his go-kart. However he took the winners’ trophy on an aggregate score of 35, followed by former Ferrari test driver Luciano Burti. Winner of race two, GP2 driver Lucas di Grassi, claimed third place.

Although not victorious at his home go-kart race, Felipe Massa was delighted with the event and the high spirited support of a passionate crowd. In fact he invited his former team mate to come back in 2008 to defend his title and Schumacher immediately agreed to take part.

Fernando Alonso Poised For 15million Dollar Switch

Fernando Alonso is set to sign a $15m deal to race with Honda in 2009, according to the British newspaper The Guardian. The former double world champion is keen to return to winning ways as soon as possible following his disastrous McLaren tenure in 2007 and a return to the relatively uncompetitive Renault team this year. But he may not see Honda, the Japanese owned squad, as a long-term employer, as speculation still reigns that the 27-year-old faces an open door to switch to Ferrari perhaps in 2010.

The Guardian said veteran racer Rubens Barrichello would be the one to make way for Alonso in 2009. "Fernando is a wonderful driver who would be a fantastic asset to any of the top teams, including this one," said team Chief Executive Nick Fry. "The job Ross and I have is to build a world championship-winning team," he added.