Having the chance to be one of few to experience what is it like to be in the garage of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 team was simply AWESOME !

All this were made possible by Lenovo Malaysia !

So a big big big thank you Lenovo Malaysia and also not forgetting Lenovo Singapore !

While i was still in a state of awe the days after that, i received an email again saying there’s a package for me and i decided to collect it on my own. I was given a bag filled with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Merchandise.

Ahhhh, damn nice can !

Since this experience was published in the papers, they took the liberty of putting the article in a transparent frame for me

I finally had the chance to try it out after being down having fever, sorethroat and cold for the past few days. Not the best representation but it’s better than nothing i guess

Thank You Lenovo Malaysia !

More than a week ago, i received an email from a representative from Lenovo asking me to block my Thursday as i was chosen to experience the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 Garage tour by Lenovo Malaysia. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to get close to this mean machines and also the team behind it. I was dumbstruck when i read the mail. I have attended F1 races a couple of times but never had i gone to the garage. Actually i did go to the garage once but that was during the Porshe Race a year back.

I was asked to be at the Lenovo office by 9.30am and upon arrival, i was greeted by Blake who brought me to the office pantry where everyone was having breakfast, Nasi Lemak. I was joined by 2 journalists, Brian aka Goldfries and the staffs of Lenovo including Mr Khoo who is the Country General Manager.

After breakfast, we moved to the conference room where we were all briefed by Mr Khoo on how Lenovo and McLaren Mercedes works together in F1. Last year, Lenovo pumped 2100 equipments into the team and redesigned their IT infrastructure. All these to help the team have more computing power as well as shorter time to process data that is being sent to and from every split second.

Before leaving the office, i was presented with a token of appreciation which totally took me for a surprise. LOL.

Only 5 of us left for Sepang track and that included 2 reporters, Mr Khoo, Brian and me.

Upon arrival, we had to switch to another van which is the official shuttle service that would bring is to the entrance of the Paddock. Before that, i was given this pass which would be used to get through the electronic gates. I was already excited when i got the pass, it’s damn nice and it’s heavier than the usual once.

We were dropped off about 200 meters from the entrance and was greeted by Chris Leat who is the Partner Manager with McLaren. I was asked to use the pass to touch the machine which then shows the exact same ID on my pass and then i was let through.

We had to pass through the Ferrari garage and i have to say the ladies in the Ferrari suit are just hawt ! I am not sure if they are part of the team or spouses but that red suit definitely looked awesome on them !

Chris then gave a short introduction on what to expect, the dos and don’ts before bringing us to the garage.

The team actually just arrived and it’s noticeable with McLaren staffs cleaning the floors as we entered. The main garage area was already operational with both cars still being assembled and the rest of the systems being hooked up accordingly.

We met with Ted Bowyer who is the systems engineer and he showed off how the system corresponds to the car and in this case he was showing Lewis’ performance in his previous race. This would help drivers to know which area they could improve.

The area you see above is something new to the team and it’s called the Central Engineers Counter aka the Island. Previously each drivers have different teams to help them with the data but for this year, McLaren and Lenovo came up with this idea so that information could be shared faster. On top of that, F1 would be reducing the amount of people allowed on a team and this would definitely work in their way as it reduces at least one extra person.

Then Tom Graham appeared, who is the IT analyst for the team. He showed us why the Island is crucial and how Lenovo has helped them eliminate the bulky notebooks as well as Desktops. Here he shows how the tablet could be removed from the Island and brought to the driver to show him certain data.

Being in F1, it’s always about shading time, weight and cost. Previously with desktops, the team takes longer to pack up and the tendency of having a corrupted data is high. With Lenovo revamping their IT infrastructure, notebooks and tablets with solid state harddisk are introduced. For those who have no idea what is solid state hard disk, just imagine it as a super large pendrive as the hard disk.

The product integration are as follows:

ThinkPads – T400, X200, X200 tablet, X301 and W500 – all integrated with Vodafone 3G

ThinkStations – S10, S20, D10, D20 – mainly for data task, car design and aerodynamics

ThinkVision – L2440x, L2440p, L1700p, L174, L1900p – mainly used at the pitwall as it requires high performance screens.

While Ted was explaining, i couldn’t help but to look at the car beside me. It was Jenson Button’s and it’s definitely far from ready but just being able to beside this beast was awesome. Of course it’s different ride from last year when he was with Brawn GP. It had to be inspected with the FIA to be sure it’s the same car with right specifications before they could reassemble it back after the Australia race.

Outside of the garage were parts of the car like the body and the nose. If i am not mistaken they are left to dry in the sun after some polishing or oiling. Every detail of the car is carefully checked and of course none of us were allowed near the car. You wouldn’t want to end up paying the damages to a multimillion dollar car wouldn’t you?

Behind all of us was Blake who was busy snapping around

Chris then brought us to the pit wall where important decisions are made and where drivers communicate back to their team. Here high res screens are used to make sure, data can be seen even with the blazing sun.

We then took a stroll down the pitlane and saw other teams preparing their cars as well. Rivalry aside, teams actually do talk to one another and that’s because it’s a small world in F1 sports and you are ought to see the same person through out the season. On top of that, people do change teams now and then, so there’s still the relationship with the previous teams

We then headed back to the garage.

I never knew each team had their refreshment area and this was McLaren’s ! There were a few staffs manning this place and was quickly asked what would i like to drink. The heat was killing me and sitting in this airconditioned area was like heaven, LOL. I asked for Apple Juice while the rest took Coke.

After a 15minutes rest, we wrapped up the tour.

As i was walking towards the exit, i realized many photographers and tv crew were running towards me. Little did i know that i was walking side by side with the Ferrari drivers ! There’s definitely Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa but i can’t seem to see who the 3rd individual is, probably Fishichella or Badoer?

Chris followed us all the way to the shuttle service and then he bid us goodbye and rushed off for a team meeting.

Oh ya, forgot to mention earlier that we were driven in this, a Toyota Alphard. So VIP-ish, lol. This reminded me of my trip to Jakarta which i will soon write once i am done with Yogyakarta

I can honestly say, this was one of the best F1 experiences i had to date ! For that i would want to thank Lenovo Malaysia for giving me this opportunity and also being hospitable from the moment i stepped into their office.

I always had the impression that sponsor in any sports, in this case F1 teams will only go as far as having their brands at strategic areas just for the sake of advertising. But Lenovo did show me the other side of it, on how they work hand in hand with one of the powerhouses in F1, McLaren Mercedes to achieve a desired result.

TQ Lenovo !

]]> http://satkuru.com/blog/2010/04/vodafone-mclaren-mercedes-f1-garage-tour-by-lenovo-malaysia/feed/ 13 http://satkuru.com/blog/2010/03/flash-mob-and-the-stig-at-lotus-f1-event-pavillion/ http://satkuru.com/blog/2010/03/flash-mob-and-the-stig-at-lotus-f1-event-pavillion/#comments Wed, 31 Mar 2010 05:19:01 +0000 satkuru http://satkuru.com/blog/?p=2462

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I had the privilege to be at the Lotus F1 Homecoming event yesterday which was held at the Pavillion Kuala Lumpur. It was the first time the F1 cars were unveiled to the country and everyone was there. Datuk Tony Fernandez who is the man behind the resurrection of Lotus F1 was unable to be there as he was in South Africa seeking for more sponsors, i think

Those attended were Former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir, CEO of Sepang Circuit, the Naza brothers, the Lotus F1 drivers, team principal.

This event also marks the entry of Maxis as one of their sponsors, hence the Maxis logo at the side of the car nose tips.

I met up with Biresh who is the PR, Marketing & Communications Manager of Tunehotels.com. He briefed on what was the agenda like and since i had more than half an hour to spare, i lingered around. Later on i met 2 more other invited guest, Mohd Zaid and Taylor Ling.

As it drew closer for the event to start, more and more people packed the center atrium to have a glimpse on what’s going on.

There’s a section for F1 lovers to try out the simulators.

Even Stig was there to view the Lotus F1 team.

Without any warning, a flash mob happened. Well that’s that flash mobs are supposed to do, lol. People in yellow and green T-shirts started dancing to Don’t Stop Believing by Journey. The thing about Malaysian crowd is that they rarely appreciate this type of surprise, rofl. Seriously ! When they were done, people were still left in a state of shock or they were just too lazy to clap

Btw i think Jason Lo was in the video as well

It was finally 3.30pm and the media area was packed O.O!

Everyone waited for the appearance of the VVIPs.

After the opening speeches, the car was unveiled by the drivers. At this point i realized my camera is performing badly under these lighting conditions T.T

I have no intentions to upgrade the body yet.

Tun Dr. Mahathir.

I spotted Alex Yoong on the other side

Waiting to meet the drivers, the Tune people or the Tuners *LOL* kept making sure we never strayed off cause everything was gonna be fast paced.

We were then ushered to Michelangelo for tea time. There we got to mingle meet the Lotus F1 team minus the crowd.

Both Trulli and Fauzy looked tired and quiet compared to Heiki who was constantly tweeting and greeting fans, hahaha. Vast difference.

There’s not much description for this entry though i know most of you know i can be very wordy at times in my entries but this time, i would leave it to the pictures. The pictures are not the best but i think it will do

Want to thank Mohd. Zaid for sharing the pictures with me in it

It would be crazy to put all pictures in this very entry, so instead i have the rest of the pictures in my gallery Feel free to view them, all 200 plus of pics

I want to thank Tunehotels.com again for the given opportunity to meet Jarno Trulli, Heikki Kovalainen and Fairuz Fauzy.

]]> http://satkuru.com/blog/2010/03/flash-mob-and-the-stig-at-lotus-f1-event-pavillion/feed/ 4 http://satkuru.com/blog/2010/03/sepang-f1-circuit-malaysia/ http://satkuru.com/blog/2010/03/sepang-f1-circuit-malaysia/#comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:16:21 +0000 satkuru http://satkuru.com/blog/?p=2404

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The past few years i have been fortunate enough to find myself among the fans in the grandstand and last year, i was invited by Bernard. In 2009, Jenson Button and Brawn GP were making all the headlines in F1. Already being ditched by Honda before the 2009 season even started, no one, no one expected them to be in the position that they were at by the end of the season.

The Sepang Circuit notoriously known for it’s crazy weather change lived up to it’s nickname as the Hottest and Wettest F1 race amongst the circuit. You could have a blazing hot sun at the beginning of the race and a heavy downpour to end the race in style.

Having the race in the month of April which is the month where the wind changes around South East Asia, heavy downpour are very unpredictable, thus playing an important part in the race in terms of tires being used. I could remember how Ferrari were stuck with 2 cars in the pits years ago to change to wet tires but Schuey eventually won the race.

When we arrived, the cars were already on their warm up lap and we rushed to our seats. People have always asked if it’s worth watching F1 on the tv and being there itself. I have been to the hillstands once and it definitely doesn’t beat being at the grandstands. I mean of course with the higher price you are ought to get a better experience.

Right across my seat was Jenson’s pit and i can tell you that everyone’s eyes were locked on that team. Probably waiting to see if any mistakes were to be made by this underdog team. At this time of the season, Jenson was already leading the drivers by a considerable amount of points and he was definitely the person to beat.

Only a handful were rooted to their seats, probably because their teams aren’t performing well. As for the rest, they stood throughout the race. I managed to get the first row of seats so i needn’t have to stand. In the far distance in the picture above, you could see the hillstand but trust me, when you are seated there you are most definitely gonna rely on their big screens to show what was happening in the other turns. If only they can project the commentators’ voice, then it would be better imho.

Some fans even purchased this particular handheld device which would show live updates on the positions of each driver. This is definitely for the super hardcore fans. I being cash strap, relied on seeing who passes the line each lap, lol. There’s even headphones which beams the commentators voice to you and it looks similar to the headphones the Pit Lane managers wear all the time.

Besides asking whether to watch on tv or attend the race is better, the other question people ask is why waste money to watch a car that zooms by within a few seconds?

The first time i had the chance to be at the grandstand thanks to Toyota, i didn’t know what to expect and how would it be different from watching it on TV. All i can say the SOUND, the SOUND was bloody deafening ! When each car leaves the pits, it’s like a jet fighter taking off. The sound from the engine itself was a reason for any car/F1/motor enthusiast to be there. This is where the earbuds come in handy. Speaking of earbuds, it’s best if you bring on your own or be prepared to fork out RM10 for a pair of coloured sponge.

Ten to fifteen minutes into the race, dark clouds seem to be hovering over the circuit and pit crews were seen scrambling for wet tires. The safety car was on standby. The fans all stood up, waiting for the moment the flood gates from the sky opened. It grew darker and darker and without any proper lighting around the circuit, it was obvious that drivers didn’t go out all max.

The foreigners beside me said that all four of them traveled all the way to Malaysia to watch this race simply because they love the chaotic weather.

Before you know it, it started pouring and the fella beside me yelled,” This is what i am talking man !” Hahaha, i have never seen anyone who was this happy when it rained during the race. In fact all four of them cheered louder than ever.

Jenson Button was leading the race before it got too dark. The drains had a hard time coping with the amount of water thus filling the roads with water here and there.

The stewards decided to restart the race from the grid and everyone took their spots again. This was probably the most chaotic race ever. Pit crews scrambled to the grids to cover their cars and drivers. No one knew what was gonna happen next as we all waited for the rain to stop.

After waiting for a while, it was announced that the race was to be stopped and drivers at the current position would be result of the race. And that gave Jenson Button another win in his bag. The whole race took about half an hour, that’s right 30minutes ! LOL. I think Bernard and i took longer to find a carpark than the whole race itself. Nevertheless it was one unforgettable experience.

For this season, 2010, F1 is definitely gonna be more exciting. Drivers have swapped teams, new teams like Lotus F1 and Virgin F1 are in the fray as well and lastly the return of Michael Schumacher! Not with Ferrari but with Mercedes GP. I wonder how would he fair throughout the season

Of course most Malaysians would have their attention on Lotus F1 as it’s spearheaded by Tony Fernandez himself. Always admired how he has built AirAsia to what it is today. Besides that, having Petronas being one of the main sponsors for Mercedes GP, one wouldn’t have imagined a few years back to see Michael Schumacher in a suit that bears the name Petronas !

Ferrari is currently leading the pack after one race with Alonso displaying what made him the champion a few years back. Partnering him would be Felipe Massa who returns after a horrific accident last season. McLaren finally unites a pair of British drivers, last seasons champion Jenson Button and another past champion Lewis Hamilton. The idea of having 4 champions in a race is definitely mouth watering ! Can’t wait for them to be in Sepang F1 Circuit this April 2nd, 3rd and 4th !

Many have asked on transportation in Kuala Lumpur and i have summarized to this:

Arriving in KLIA, heading towards KL City

Arriving in LCCT, heading towards KL City

Fastest way from KL City to Sepang F1 Circuit

For those who have yet to purchase their tickets, i suggest you head over to

AirAsiaRedTix and get it fast ! Currently they are having 5% off racing tickets and you would need to enter their promotional code.

Promotional Code: AirAsiaRedTix

As far as cheap accommodation is concerned i think Tunehotels.com is fully booked. I did a check yesterday and i can’t even book for April 2nd. There are a few in Bukit Bintang area as well as Jalan Sultan Ismail but to be on the safe side, it’s best to look at other areas. There are shuttle services from certain hotels which would ferry you to KL Sentral. Check out the links above for more information.

If you have any questions at all, feel free to email me or even tweet me @satkuru.

More photos from Sepang F1 2009:

Formula one couldn’t have had a better final race than this. Though i am a fan of Kimi, i never had much hope of him winning the title before the race. In fact, i told Lingster that if Kimi wins the title than he would be luckier than Schuey who beat Hakkinen in one of the races where Hakkinen was leading for the whole race but only for his car to break down a few hundreds of meter before the finishing line … and i thought i would never see anyone that lucky again.

Kimi
To be honest, Kimi probably could stir things up but i doubt he would win. Unless he gets first place, Hamilton gets either a 7th or 8th finishing while Alonso finishes worst than third placing which is a bit too much to ask.

That was what i wrote 2 weeks back -_-” Kimi needed that exact sequence and that’s what he got. He finished in first place, Alonso in third and Hamilton in seventh.

1	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	Ferrari	110
2	Lewis Hamilton	British	McLaren-Mercedes	109
3	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	McLaren-Mercedes	109

Hamilton will definitely be the one to be watched out in the years to come. Whatever it is, Kimi is finally crowned the champion

Now i can sleep soundly

If you didn’t know, the results for the China Grand Prix are as follows:

Result after 56-lap race:

1 K Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2 F Alonso (McLaren)
3 F Massa (Ferrari)
4 S Vettel (Toro Rosso)
5 J Button (Honda)
6 V Luizzi (Toro Rosso)
7 N Heidfeld (BMW Sauber)
8 D Coulthard (Red Bull)

These three drivers will be going all out in Brazil, trying to win the title of 2007 F1 Champion.

Kimi
To be honest, Kimi probably could stir things up but i doubt he would win. Unless he gets first place, Hamilton gets either a 7th or 8th finishing while Alonso finishes worst than third placing which is a bit too much to ask.

Alonso
As for Alonso, He too has to finish first and Hamilton finishing anything below third placing. Even if Hamilton were to finish third which means their championship points are tied, Alonso will still snatch the title due to more first place finishing compared to Hamilton. As of now, both Alonso and Hamilton have won four races each.

Hamilton
Finally, for Hamilton, a first place finish would just end hopes for the other two. As much as i would love to see Kimi win but i have to say, the rookie of the year has been excellent in all departments and hopefully he wins

Can’t wait for the Brazilian race …

sources of data: BBC.co.uk and F1.com