Faced with an empty Sunday morning and the motivation to do even less I found myself browsing Amazon to see if there were any new motor sport books or DVD’s. Aside from the usual Christopher Hilton rent-a-bio’s my attention was grabbed by a series of novels endorsed by NASCAR. This is a terrifying proposition to … Continue reading The Ben Evans Column: NASCAR Nookie
Ben Evans's articles on RaceFans
Motorsport commentator Ben is RaceFans' resident bookworm. Look out for his verdict on the latest motor racing publications on Sundays.
The Ben Evans Column: Forgotten stars of F3
Posted onPerhaps it’s because my 2006 season finished really early (my last race was in October) or perhaps it’s because I’m incurably sad. But I have spent the winter yearning for any racing-related activity. Thus far I’ve staved off the brutal pangs of withdrawal by reading motor sport books, going to Autosport International and visiting abandoned … Continue reading The Ben Evans Column: Forgotten stars of F3
The Ben Evans Columns – Drinking and driving
Posted onRon Dennis has once again shown his warm and cuddly side by banning his drivers from drinking alcohol. I’ve heard rumours he is also considering stopping his drivers from watching TV and going to the cinema, lest it detract their minds from racing for even a single second. I can see the logic of Dennis’s … Continue reading The Ben Evans Columns – Drinking and driving
The Ben Evans Colums: Ghosts of Gamston
Posted onThe first ever World Championship Grand Prix was held at Silverstone in 1950. But a rival circuit at Gamston nearly stole the race from it – how different F1 history might be had that happened. In my bid to fill my off-season weekends with motorsport related activity I found myself at the very Gamston airfield … Continue reading The Ben Evans Colums: Ghosts of Gamston
The Ben Evans Column: Launches
Posted onThese months are perhaps the longest of the year for racing fans. Spring, Summer and early Autumn are fine, every weekend you can gorge on a feast of racing action. Or, alternatively, stay in and watch the Hungarian Grand Prix. But January and February can be a little dull and frustrating. For this is the … Continue reading The Ben Evans Column: Launches
The Ben Evans Column: Go East
Posted onOliver Jarvis had an excellent debut season in British Formula Three last year, sneaking past the hotly-tipped Bruno Senna to claim second in the title behind Mike Conway. But although many expected to see him continue in the British season for another year he’s defected to the Japanese series. Why? Actually the quetion should by … Continue reading The Ben Evans Column: Go East
The Ben Evans Column: Boring Barcelona
Posted onThis New Year’s Eve I stayed inside in the warmth and got drunk with a few friends. So I started 2007 hung over and lacking New Year’s Spirit. This unfortunately means that I’ve been thinking about the 2007 season in a rather pessimistic way. Yes, it promises to be the most interesting F1 season for … Continue reading The Ben Evans Column: Boring Barcelona
The Ben Evans Column: Boxing Day Racing
Posted onA day later than usual due to technical complications, a festive Ben Evans is mulling the possibility of race action on Boxing Day…
The Ben Evans Column: Christmas Cheer
Posted onMany of you will have read our recent guide to festive presents for the Formula One fan. Sadly your typical catalogue of F1 presents consists of either rushed biographies of drivers who have retired, or season reviews the remind how many hours in front of the TV over the past year could have been condensed … Continue reading The Ben Evans Column: Christmas Cheer
The Ben Evans Column: Age Concern
Posted onOnly time will tell the damage Formula BMW has done to single seater motor sport. With excessive running costs (well in excess of ?âÔÇÜ£200,000 for a tilt at the title), questionable driving standards and underpowered cars with way too much grip which teach drivers little in the way of feel. But then again what’s do … Continue reading The Ben Evans Column: Age Concern
The Ben Evans Column: Spectator sport
Posted onOnce upon a time motor racing was a spectator sport. By this I don’t mean TV spectators, but actual physical live human being fans at the track. But now every meeting from the humble clubbie to F1 race struggles to pull in the fans and keep them interested.
The Ben Evans Column: F1 review videos
Posted onWe’re only one month into the off-season and already Ben has re-watched all his F1 review videos. So what makes a good review? Ben has a few ideas – not least of which putting out two reviews for each season. Read on to find out why…
The Ben Evans Column: Stars in Wrecked Cars
Posted onThese are dangerous times to be a minor television celebrity, whether you’re crashing jet cars, sacrificing your credibility on the dancefloor, or having to spend one second in the company of David Gest, our hardworking D-list celebs have had a hard time of it lately – with nary an invite to Tom and Katie’s wedding … Continue reading The Ben Evans Column: Stars in Wrecked Cars
The Ben Evans Column: Lapping the Nurburgring Nordschliefe
Posted onEver driven a lap of the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife? Our returning columnist Ben Evans has and in the first of his new columns for F1Fanatic he gives us an insight into a lap of the track. It turned me green with envy, and it will probably do the same to you…
2005: Season Awards
Posted onConcluding our season review, F1Fanatic’s resident columnist Be Evans dishes out the awards to the very best of 2005 – indeed, even those who excelled in mediocrity. Driver of the Year Most years this is shoe-in for Mr M. Schumacher but 2005 has seen perhaps the greatest generational shift in driving talent for many years, … Continue reading 2005: Season Awards
A1 Grand Prix vs Formula One
Posted onLast weekend for the second time in a fortnight A1GP was pitched directly against F1, giving fans a chance to draw further conclusions of the merits of the respective series. As it happened, F1 delivered a rarely spectacular race, but even so the Lausitz races were entertaining. A1GP began with a bang at Brands – … Continue reading A1 Grand Prix vs Formula One
Tail-end nightmares
Posted onFor the past few years the F1 grid has stabilised at 10 team franchises providing 20 cars on the grid. Of these 10, it is arguable that 8 are, on their day, capable of scoring a podium finish. But does this represent quality over quantity or the death of the entreprenuerial spirit in F1? Short … Continue reading Tail-end nightmares
Racing for Britain
Posted onThe committed followers of British racing have suffered a blow recently with the news that that Darren Manning has lost his IRL drive and that Adam Carroll is facing a sponsorship crisis if he is to continue his GP2 season. Both are key representatives of Britain in International Motorsport and to see them relegated to … Continue reading Racing for Britain
The good ol’ days
Posted onFormula One came of age as the seventies turned into the eighties: team sponsorship was widespread, the governing body was beginning to get a handle on safety issues, and television coverage was booming. The sport has come a long way since then – but has it lost its way? My knowledge of 1979 and 1980 … Continue reading The good ol’ days
Silly season 2006
Posted onUnlike the rest of Britain, apparently, I am not enthralled by the latest Jenson Button saga. For what it’s worth I hope he does drive for Williams next year, because he shouldn’t be allowed to worm out of the contract simply because the winds of fortune have changed. But the really perplexing aspect of the … Continue reading Silly season 2006