New track, new challenges, classic South Korean GP!!!

South Korea are now the 7th new International Racing Circuit to stage a Formula One Grand Prix. But the first one to be struck with major problems during its construction. In April & July, construction was completely shut down because it became literally flooded, making it impossible for workers to resume the $200 million build. It was only 2 weeks ago that the final layer of tarmac was laid, making it incredibly dirty & dusty to look & to drive on.

Finally, on 24th October 2010 at 15:00 local time, racing began albeit behind a safety car due to an indescribable amount of water dumped onto a brand new race track. Unfortunately after 3 laps, the red flag came out & 24 hesitant F1 drivers were left waiting in the dull wet pits, trying hard to keep dry, & amused. Finally, at 15:57 the paddock was given the go ahead to resume racing under, yes you guessed it safety car until further notice and conditions are deemed to be safe to race in.

More & more rain, but with varied intensity has kept a busy Bert Meilander behind the wheel of the FIA's brand new Mercedes Coupe. Drivers are giving feedback back to their teams, and to the FIA Race Control about track conditions. Lewis Hamilton has quoted in saying the track is "not too bad", and seems eager to go racing. Mark Webber radioed back to the Red Bull team reporting that he doesn't see a lot of difference in the weather's intensity & if the track is safe to race on.

Patience ensues both in South Korea and all around the world as all wait for the weather. Lusas Di Grassi in the Virgin has made 2 consecutive pit stops to see what the track is like at racing speed. Would you know it, he has now set the fastest laps of the race, going at similar speed to the predicted lap time for a wet track. Mr Enthusiasm aka Lewis Hamilton is now saying the track is almost ready for the intermediate tyre. Finally, the Safety Car is now going to come in the pit lane on lap 17 and we can now go RACING!



First racing lap of the Korean Grand Prix and we see Michael Schumacher overtaking the Renault of Robert Kubica. Rosberg makes a move on Hamilton. Lap 20 and Mark Webber goes wide on the freshly laid astroturf and collects Rosberg with him in an incident you see coming. The McLaren mechanics on replay are ecstatic, albeit calm. Safety Car comes out once again with a handful of cars coming into the pit lane.

We now wait for the 2nd restart. Meanwhile a dejected Mark Webber comes back into the pits on the back of a marshal's scooter. Rosberg instead, decides to walk back.

A collision between Buemi & Glock brings out the safety car once again. Another collision almost happened in the pit lane between Kubica & Liuzzi. Alonso has lost a place in the pits to Hamilton due a wheel nut flying off. The intermediate tyre seems to be the better choice of the remaining drivers on track, with all of them pitted at least once.

Green flag, and racing resumes on lap 35. Vettel retires with a blown engine in the last stages of the race. It's now Fernando Alonso's race in the bag!

Even though light is fading in big quantities, the camera can still pick up the remaining cars. All of which look as dirty as rally cars. Alonso wins the inaugural South Korean Grand Prix 3 hours after the initial start time with all 55 laps completed.

This makes Fernando Championship leader with 2 races to go.

The podium is lit beautifully pretty much under flood lights for night races. With a 1st & 3rd for Felipe Massa, Ferrari seem to have the best package in F1. Lewis Hamilton completes the podium line up in 2nd Place.

After the Italian national anthem & trophy presentations, its time for the CHAMPAGNE!!!!!!