Looks like Fernando Alonso and Robert Kubica didn't get enough head-to-head racing action last week in Japan. The first and second place finishers in Fuji decided to go at it once again when the pair reached this week's F1 stop in Shanghai. Rather than risk their multi-million dollar F1 race cars, and quite possibly their careers, the two opted to hit the local kart track instead. Alonso probably has a weight advantage in this scenario, but that shouldn't take away from his mad driving skillz. Watch the non-English video after the jump to see how it turned out and stick around for the victory lap. You'll get a chance to see the some of the best donuts you'll ever witness.
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Takuma Sato's fans had pretty much given up on seeing their idol on track this past weekend at the British Grand Prix. Many of them had bought plane and/or GP tickets well in advance, only to be disappointed when Super Aguri followed Minardi, and Arrows in to the annals of Formula 1 history just two months ago.
So what did Taku do? Rent a kart track and invite his fans, plus a few select journalists, to race him in a 30-minute endurance race. Some fans, who had flown in from across Europe and of course Japan, were new to karting, so Taku graciously took them out for a few practice laps and providing one-on-one instruction. How many people get to have their first racing lesson from an F1 racer?
Takuma and his team mate won outright (of course), but then were disqualified for "speeding". Autoblog's team was in second right up to the final pitstop when we were penalized for over taking on a yellow flag, but we still made the podium.
As Formula 1's silly season kicks in to high gear, rumors around the paddock have Takuma moving back to Honda's F1 team next year (at the expense of Rubens Barrichello or Jensen Button), driving for Team Force India should the F1 newbies switch from Ferrari to Honda power next year, heading up team Japan in A1 GP or even leading an all new Team Honda USA (which should be called Team Acura surely) with Danica Patrick as his team mate. Unfortunately, Takuma wouldn't confirm or deny any such gossip.
Michael Schumacher may have turned down the opportunity to take over the Scuderia, but that doesn't mean he's given up on ever running his own racing team. Schumacher is co-owner of the KSM karting team, based near his hometown of Kerpen, Germany. To drive the team's kart in the German championship this year, Schumacher, who is in charge of driver development (no kidding), signed Carlos Sainz, Jr., the son of the two-time world rally champion.
Since Schumacher's retirement, many aspiring racers have been proclaimed as the champ's natural successor: his brother Ralf, his protege Felipe, the drivers that Michael's longtime manager Wili Webber has been handling, even Schumi's nephew. But now the man himself has put his weight behind Carlos Sainz, Jr. Schumi was quick to point out that he, like countless other star drivers, got his start in karts, and that the deal could put Sainz on the path to Formula One. Not too shabby an endorsement, then.
With the Super Bowl now behind us, die-hard football fans have the Pro Bowl to look forward to. And for the third year running, racing fans will also enjoy their own all-star game: the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champs. The charity event, organized by star Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, is scheduled to take place on November 30, a few weeks after the season-closer Brazilian Grand Prix, at the Ingleses kart track in Florianopolis.
The previous two events have drawn some big names from within Brazil and around the world. Last year Michael Schumacher took victory from a 25-kart grid that included his former teammates Massa and Barrichello, as well as drivers from all manner of racing, both closed wheel and open (and even just two). Although Massa says interest in the event has skyrocketed, he's determined to "prioritize quality over quantity" and keep it to 25 or 26 karts.
