F1 2013 Grid and Races

This is my preview of the 2013 Formula 1 season.

Teams and Drivers

This year there will be one less team on the grid reducing the number of teams from 12 to 11. HRT went into liquidation on 30 November and were ommited from the 2013 entry list. In my opinion it is no big loss to Formula 1 as their best finish was 14th, 3 years ago. So, this is the grid for the 2013 season:

Red Bull
1. Sebastian Vettel (DEU)
2. Mark Webber (AUS)

 Mclaren
3. Jenson Button (GBR)
4. Sergio Perez (MEX)




Ferrari
5. Fernando Alonso (ESP)
6. Felipe Massa (BRA)





Lotus
7. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN)
8. Roman Grosjean (FRA)
   

Mercedes
9. Nico Roseburg (DEU)
10. Lewis Hamilton (GBR-ENG)






Sauber
11. Nico Hulkenburg (DEU)
12. Esteban Gutiérrez  (MEX)

Force India
14. Paul di Resta (GBR-SCO)
15. Sutil, Kobayashi, Bianchi, Rossiter





Williams
16. Pastor Maldanado (VEN)
17. Vatteri Bottas (FIN)

Toro Rosso
18. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA)
19. Daniel Riciardo (AUS)





Caterham
20. Charles Pic (FRA)
21. Giedo Van der Garde (NED)





Marussia
22. Luis Razia (BRA)
23. Max Chilton (GBR-ENG)

2013 Six Nations - Week 2 Review

Here is my review of Week 2 in the 2013 RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Scotland 34-10 Italy:

Over confident Italy get pummelled as Scott's bounce back with record win 

After a woeful 11-match (almost 2 years) long wait, Scottish Rugby fans see their side win in the Six Nations 34-10 over Italy. With tries from Visser, Scott, Hogg and Lamont, Scotland claimed their biggest win since their 42-0 win over Romania in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. This result relieves the pressure off of interim coach Scott Johnson. The pick of the bunch was unquestionably when Stuart Hogg intercepted a pass which if completed would have certainly resulted in a try for the Azzuri, he then ran up the pitch and had the pace from 80 yards to score a try.

France 6-16 Wales:

France Slump to second defeat in a row as, Wales up North they go.

France go bottom of this years Six Nations as they are defeated by reining champions Wales in a freezing Parisian night at the Stade de France. A try-free match until George North's match winning converted try in the 71st minute and a  74th minute Halfpenny penalty really putting pressure on French coach Philippe Saint-Andere. This result leaves the French bottom of the Six Nations on as the French say nil points and the Welsh 2nd equal on as they say in Wales ddau bwynt.

Ireland 6-12 England:

England's Farrell makes Ireland pay for their mistakes and missed opportunities

England take the lead in this years Six Nations with a kicking master class from Owen Farrell. Four penalties from Owen Farrell despite a sin bin for James Haskell. During the sin bin, England extended their lead from 3-6 to 6-12. This was due to several mistakes by the Irish backs including dropped balls and Knock-ons. This result leaves Ireland 3rd before they travel to Murrayfield in two weeks time  after the English have a home tie to France.

Table

Team P W D L F A PTS 1 England 2 2 0 0 50 24 4 2 Scotland 2 1 0 1 52 48 2 3 Wales 2 1 0 1 38 36 2 4 Ireland 2 1 0 1 36 34 2 5 Italy 2 1 0 1 33 52 2 6 France 2 0 0 2 24 39 0

2013 Tour de France - Corsican Stages

Stage 1

Porto-Vecchio - Bastia

The 100th Tour de France starts in Corsica, the only region of metropolitan France which the tour has not visited till now. This is also only the third time since 1967 (when the first Prologue was ridden) when the tour has started in traditional riding fashion. However in 2008 and 2011 the finish was uphill this time the whole 212km long stage is flat with no categorised climbs as it stretchs the whole of Corsica's Eastern coast from Porto-Vecchio in the south to Bastia in the north. As it is flat this stage fancies the sprinters so my bet is for Omega-Pharma Quick-Step man Mark Cavendish to take the malliot jaune.






Stage 2

Bastia-Ajaccio

The second stage of this year's tour de France is a much harder challenge than the opening act of le tour. Stage 2 starts in Bastia and takes a 154km long journey to finish in Ajaccio. The route has two climbs with the tallest being the Col du Vizzavona at 1163m it is the last climb of the day 58km from the finish line. I can't see sprinters like Cav staying in the peloton so it could be a day for a breakaway but my guess is for 2012 Green jersey Peter Sagan to win stage 2 and probably to go in Yellow.

Stage 3

Ajaccio-Calvi

The last day on Corsica for the riders is a 145km ride from Ajaccio to Calvi, with two categorised climbs both at 430m tall. The latter of the climbs is at 8.1% only 12km from the finish so a difficult climb for the non-climbers. Stage 3 is a day when start to see some of the main contenders of this year's Tour. My pick is for another Cannondale win in the form of Peter Sagan.