The next post of "The Flying Diaries" series features our Business & First Class experience to London Heathrow and back.

It was my first Business Class experience on an Emirates Airbus A380 and I must admit it was quite an enjoyable one. My mum accompanied me on this trip as well, a quick turnaround of 12 days after our return from the US really testing her globe-trotting skills :)

I was excited about attending the 2019 Cricket World Cup besides taking mum in and around London ( her first visit to the UK ). 

The Outbound journey was on 27th June 2019 and the Inbound on 10th July 2019.

Dubai - London Heathrow is one of the busiest sectors for Emirates Airlines. I have lost count of the number of services offered daily by Emirates and their codeshare with Qantas to Heathrow. 

Miles upgrade from Business to First has almost always worked for me ( most recent being the Mumbai-New York & return ). The Upgrade for the Dubai - London Leg was unavailable right until the time of check-in; at check-in a couple of seats became available but the staff at Mumbai couldn't upgrade us and the same would have to be done at Dubai. Unfortunately the seats were gone by the time we landed in Dubai and we eventually flew Business Class for the entire outbound journey. 

This is something that Emirates needs to look at..the flexibility of upgrading a portion of the journey from the Origin of the journey...

Mumbai - London Heathrow ( Emirates Business ) ( 27th June 2019 ) :

Packed & ready..London beckons!

Our ride to the Airport, a Mercedes E250!

All departure formalities complete and it was time to unwind in the lounge :

Business Class onboard Airbus A380, a great product, the best Business in the Emirates Fleet :

Taxiing to the Runway :

Video Link for the Takeoff from Mumbai to Dubai :

The menu for the first leg of our trip :

Sooji ka Halwa for Breakfast!

Sunrise over the Horizon :

Starting our descent into Dubai :

Dubai International Airport :

Landing at Dubai ( Video Link ) :

The Plane was parked a fair distance from the Terminal Building, so we were ferried in buses to the disembarking area :

Business Class Lounge in Dubai :

Our Seats for the 2nd leg of our Outbound Journey. EK 29 to London Heathrow :

Pushback commences!

Taxiing to the Runway ( Video Link ) :

Takeoff from Dubai ( Video Link ) :

The Onboard Lounge in Business Class. Such a great setting to unwind and socialize. The newer A380s even have tables :

Goodies Galore and light bites in the Lounge :

Whats for Breakfast and Lunch?

Virgin Cucumber Gimlet to drink, followed by a Mushroom Soup for the Appetizer, Chicken & Cheese Sandwich for the Main Course, followed by a Chocolate Truffle Cake for Dessert. The Sandwich was one of the best main courses I have ever had inflight! 

Flying over Europe :

Nearing Touchdown at London Heathrow :

London Heathrow! The busiest airport in the world :

Video Link for the Landing :

Our ride to the hotel in Central London, a Mercedes Viano :

Enroute to Central London :

London Heathrow - Mumbai ( Emirates First ) ( 10th July 2019 ) :

We were due to fly out on 9th July by the 10:30 pm flight ( EK 06 ) but I postponed our departure by a day so that I could attend the 1st semi-final between India and New Zealand. Unfortunately the day got rained out and the rest of the game was played out on the Reserve Day.

Our rescheduled flight was EK 32 at 7 pm from Heathrow. EK 04 and 06 were completely booked!

A Mercedes S-Class Estate to ferry us to the airport. This was a longer drive since we were staying in the New Wembley area, right next to the National Stadium! 

Enroute to the Airport :

Nice to see a life-size model of the Emirates A380 aircraft to welcome us at Heathrow :

Making our way to the lounge post check-in..refreshed after our holiday!

The Emirates Lounge in London Heathrow, one of the best lounges outside Dubai :

An amazing spread on offer!

Views from the Lounge..beautiful!

Emirates Airbus A380 First Class, classy as ever!

The crew was kind enough to capture some stills of ours!

Making our way to the Runway!

Up and away, bound for Dubai :

Video Link :

A quick visit to the Onboard Lounge :

Dinner and Breakfast service onboard :

Cream of Mushroom Soup followed by Malwani Chicken and Chocolate & Walnut Torte :

I opted for a short nap post dinner and was woken one hour before our arrival for a shower appointment. Time to enjoy the Shower Suite at 40,000 feet and get refreshed before touchdown in Dubai.

The Emirates Crew remembered my Mum's birthday, a pleasant surprise and she was touched by such a sweet gesture!

The final approach into Dubai :

Video Link for Landing into Dubai :

The First Class Lounge in Dubai..peaceful..

While we were relaxing in the lounge, we met a celebrity from the Hindi Film Industry, Mr. John Abraham. 

A Moment with the Star! Such a down to earth individual, friendly, respectful, chirpy and loves his racing ( specially on 2 wheels )

The last stint of our journey, onboard the Boeing 777-300ER First Class ( EK 506 ) :

Getting ready for departure :

Homebound :

Video Link for Takeoff :

Breakfast service to Mumbai :

Cappuccino, Fruits and Paneer Bhurji for Breakfast :

Enjoying some Moto GP coverage on Live TV :

The Final Descent into Mumbai :

Touchdown Mumbai :

Landing into Mumbai ( Video Link ) :

On our way home :

The Business Class is a great product and Emirates is only making it better with the launch of their revamped Airbus A380 Cabins. The Menu for the Mumbai - Dubai stint needs to be freshened up a bit as some dishes are starting to become repetitive. Nonetheless a memorable journey once again..the crew were fantastic as always! 

The Game Changer First Class on Boeing 777-300ER features next..so don't miss this space! 

Wishing everyone a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!

The ICC Champions Trophy was held in the UK in June 2017. I was blessed with the opportunity of attending 3 games. This would be my first experience of watching a cricket match overseas.
The Match Seats were reserved, flights booked and I was off to London Heathrow with Emirates in First Class.

I chose EK029 this time instead of EK 01. This allowed me more time in the Lounge and I was the only passenger in First Class!


The Outbound Flight was on 6th June and the return on 20th June.


Mumbai - London ( 6th June 2017 ) :

The GVK First and Business Class Lounge :

A-La-Carte dining on offer in the First Class Section :

The Buffet Spread :

Kathi Roll and the Molten Chocolate Cake, an absolute delight!

A Warm Welcome to the A380 Suite :

My Seat for the 3 hour flight to Dubai :

The Breakfast Menu :

Taxiing to the Runway :

Taking off from Mumbai ( Video Link ) :

Emirates' In-Flight Entertainment System - ICE i.e. Information, Communication & Entertainment offers a wide array of options for flyers

A Cappuccino will suffice please!

A Beautiful Sunrise beckons on the Horizon!

Flying into Dubai :

Nearing Touchdown into Dubai :

Landing at Dubai International Airport :

Beautiful morning at Dubai International Airport :

A spacious and relatively empty First Class Lounge in Dubai :

An elegant First Class Suite enroute to London. I was the only flyer in First Class!

Goodies Basket, Arabian Coffee and Dates to start the journey with!

Taxiing to the Runway :

Takeoff!

Taking off from Dubai bound for Heathrow ( Video Link ) :

The Menu for the journey!

Lunch Service!

A Well Stocked Bar in the First Class Section :

The Emirates Insignia proudly displayed onboard

An Empty First Class :

A Quick tour of the First Class Suite ( Part 1 ) :

A Tour of the First Class Suite ( Part 2 ) :

After a hearty lunch, I decided to head down to the Business Class Lounge.

Some shots of the Lounge Seating Area, offering some stunning views of the sky.

Shots of the Lounge bar :

Business Class seats, 76 in all :

I returned to my seat and my Bed was set! It was time for a siesta before going in for a shower before landing into Heathrow :

Some Shots of the Shower Suite offered onboard, yes a shower at 40,000 feet!

A refreshing shower and we were nearing our destination :

Hovering over London :

Heathrow Airport!

Landing at Heathrow International Airport ( Video Link ) :

Heathrow the busiest airport in the world catering to numerous airlines!

Well hello Emirates!

A Mercedes Benz S500 to ferry me to my friend's home!

Enroute to Stanmore :

London - Mumbai ( 20th June 2017 ) :

The Return pickup too was in an elegant Mercedes S500 :

Driving to Heathrow :

A Brisk Check-in, Fast Track Security Check and Immigration and it was time to unwind in the Lounge :

The Spread :


Some views from the Lounge :


Heathrow is one of the few airports ( other than Dubai ) that offers boarding from the Lounge :

Shots of the First Class Suite :

Making our way to the runway :

Bye Bye London...until next time :


Takeoff from Heathrow International Airport ( Video Link ) :




The Dinner Menu to Dubai :

Mocktail, Nuts and Crisps kick off the Dinner Service!

Hors D'oeuvres, Light Bites and some catching up in the Business Class Lounge onboard A380 :

The Bed set for the Night.

As always, the Flight Steward woke me up an hour before the flight landed to enjoy the Shower Service on-board :


A Tour of the Shower Suite ( Video Link ) :




Descending into Dubai :


Dubai International Airport :


Landing at Dubai International Airport ( Video Link ) :




The First Class Lounge, oozing class as always :


The Boarding was offered from the Lounge and I soon settled into my First Class Suite :


Taxiing to the Runway :


The Final leg of the trip begins :


Takeoff from Dubai bound for Mumbai ( Video Link ) :




The Lunch Menu :


Lunch Service. Quite a good meal :


Nearing Touchdown in Mumbai :


Mumbai!


Landing in Mumbai ( Video Link ) :




Once Again, Thank you Emirates for memorable Flights!

The buck doesn't stop here! Trips to Brussels and Cape Town to follow shortly!

2015 featured 2 Business Class trips to Austria and Belgium. I had plans of attending a match at Old Trafford to see Manchester United play. My last visit was in November 2012 and when the opportunity came knocking, I took it with both hands.

I flew to London Heathrow ( just like 2012 ), taking the early morning flight out of Mumbai. My family friend in the UK was more than glad to have me over and was also accompanying me to the game at Manchester.

The Outbound Flight was on 19th January 2016 and the return on 29th January 2016.

Mumbai - London ( 19th January 2016 ) :

My Ride to the Airport, the Mercedes C220 :

Quick check-in, not so quick Security Check and Immigration ( never seen so much rush in the Fast Track, excruciatingly slow ) and I was at the GVK First Class Lounge. The First Class Lounge offers a complimentary Massage and has a separate seating area with A la-carte menu.

Shots from the Lounge :

After a quick nap, it was time to board the early morning flight. The Airbus A380 boasts First Class Suites and it is such a pleasurable experience. The Traditional Welcome includes Dates and Arabian Coffee :

Breakfast Menu :

Video Link for the Emirates A380 Takeoff from Mumbai International Airport :

Breakfast service commences :

Shots of the Business Class Lounge :

Dubai International Airport :

Video Link for the A380 Landing at Dubai International Airport :

A Quick Security Check and I was at the First Class Lounge :

The Boarding Commenced from the Lounge and it was so nice to be in the FIrst Class Suite of the A380 again!

Taxiing to the Runway :

Video Link for the Takeoff from Dubai International Airport :

The Breakfast, Lunch and everything in between Menus :D

Amazing Lunch Spread onboard :

The Unused but Small Lounge in front of the First Class. The Business Class Lounge is the USP in the A380.

76 Business Class Seats :

The Business Class Lounge :

I roamed the Upper Deck for sometime and returned to find my bed ready for a quick nap!

One Hour before the Flight landed into London, I was awakened by the Stewardess for my On-Board Shower Appointment! A Shower 40000 feet in the Sky!

Video Link of a Quick Tour of the Emirates A380 First Class Onboard Shower :

Refreshed and ready for arrival, I was served some fruits and tea before landing. Now that is Service!

Nearing Touchdown at Heathrow :

Video Link for the A380 Landing at Heathrow International Airport, London :

Touchdown :

Heathrow is the Busiest Airport in the world and these photos prove it :

Fast Track Service at Heathrow is brilliant and all formalities were completed in less than 20 minutes. I then walked into the Emirates Arrivals Lounge for my Chauffeur service.

The Mercedes S Class. Pampered! Business Class passengers get chauffeured in an E Class.

Enroute to my Friend's Place.

London - Mumbai ( 29th January 2016 ) :

A memorable trip came to an end and it was time for the return journey. Once again I had the luxury of the S Class to shuttle me to the Airport :

Amazingly, Heathrow wasn't crowded the way it was in 2012. Fast Track ensured brisk movement and I was in the Departures' Hall in no time :

The Emirates Lounge is quite a walk and the Lounge does have the option of Boarding from the Lounge. However our flight would follow the standard single gate boarding procedure.

Shots of the Lounge :

One thing is certain, when flying in premium classes, you are never famished! Lip Smacking Spread :

I boarded the last flight out of Heathrow, I think its termed as the "Red Eye" Flight since it lands at Dubai in the morning. The First Class Suites number 14 onboard the A380.

Video Link for the Takeoff from Heathrow. Goodbye London, until next time!

Dinner Menu :

Food, food and more food. I wanted to binge on desserts!

Light Snacks at the Lounge in the Business Class :

Its quite a tight space to operate from :

The Lounge Host ( A Liverpool Fan, we indulged in some friendly banter ) decided to give up his job and clothed me in his trademark Emirates Suit. A teetotaler was asked to serve up some mocktails ( supposedly ) :P

What an experience!

The Return Flight wasn't full but many wanted to try the Onboard Shower. Unlike the previous flight, I had to shower midway through my journey :( It was a blessing in disguise as I felt so fresh and slept like a baby, even though the nap lasted less than 3 hours.

Shots from the Onboard Shower :

Video Link :

Time to zzzz :

What a beautiful sight, above the clouds, Thank you Lord! One day we won't need airplanes for such heights :)

Approaching Dubai :

It wasn't a clear day in Dubai and the sky was pretty overcast.

Video Link of the touchdown at Dubai International Airport :

Dubai International Airport :

Time to relax in the First Class Lounge of Dubai for the last time on this trip :

The Menu, I opted for an early Brunch :

Yummy :

Boarding at Dubai is always from the Lounge and the final leg of the trip was in the Boeing 777-300ER. There are 16 First Class Suites and the Layout is slightly different. These Suites are next to each other unlike the step formation in the A380 :

A Never ending list of options on Emirates' Multi Award Winning ICE ( Information, Communications, Entertainment ) System, Live TV does offer variety.

The Menu onboard but I had my fill and didn't intend to eat anymore.

Pushback :

Taxiing to the runway :

Video Link of an A380 touching down at Dubai International Airport :

Takeoff from Dubai. Bye Bye Dubai. Thanks for the Hospitality :

Video Link ( No Rear Wing Camera on this ) :

Finish watching The Martian, shut the doors of the Suite and get some sleep :

Hovering over Mumbai, as usual delays due to air congestion :

Nearing touchdown at Mumbai :

Video Link of the Landing at Mumbai International Airport Terminal 2, quite a pleasant evening :




The disembarking was quick and I reached the Duty Free section only to realise I had forgotten my Duty-Free bag onboard!! This trip taught me not to get complacent and not just think that its fine to go through the motions. Anyways, so began the run back to the aircraft and the retrieval of the bag. The Contents of the bag were intact and I made it back to the arrivals hall safely. I exited the terminal after an exhaustive 45 minutes but everything in hand. Thank God for that! It would be a crime to leave chocolates behind haha!


Barring the result Manchester United gave me at Old Trafford, it was a memorable trip. It was nice to have a First Class journey early in the year. Set the tone for the coming months and I already have a journey lined up in less than a fortnight. Where to, well patience! Time will reveal it all.

Once again, a Big THANK YOU to Emirates for all the love and hospitality shown to me. Its a blessing to be a Gold Member of Skywards!

2016 will feature more posts in the "Flying Series". God Bless and thanks for the Support for this Blog :)

Go-Karting is a sport and an activity that Racing Fans love. It makes an average fan feel like a race car driver. Professionals would remember their Karting days. Their fathers would gift them karts enabling them to race in domestic and then continental championships en route to their dream of making it to the pedestal. 

I have always relished the prospect of getting behind the wheel and testing my skills. Karting opportunities are sparse in Mumbai and I couldn't resist the opportunity of getting behind the wheel during my holiday in London.

Team-Sport UK offer some stunning tracks to race on and I visited two, one the Tower Bridge and the other at Edmonton. All are indoor tracks, so the threat of weather doesn't jeopardize your karting experience.

Tower Bridge :

Track Layout : ( Image Courtesy Team-Sport UK )

This track offers electric karts which are faster than the petrol karts. 2 tracks of 400m spread over 2 levels can be joined ( weekends ) making it a humongous 800m with amazing gradient changes.

The First turn is a left-hander going down and entry into the next turn is crucial which is a slow left going into a small uphill into a very slow right-hander. Carrying too much speed into the corner will cause oversteer and the backend will go away from you spoiling your entry and momentum uphill into the right-hander. A Short flat-out run leads into a hairpin and onto the section where you basically floor the throttle. The Final turn is a fast left-hander and the momentum can be carried into the first turn for the next lap. ( Based on the way I started in 4th in a dummy race ).

This track is a real challenge and you need to have knowledge about racing lines in order to keep competitive lap times. Overtaking is extremely difficult and one must wait for mistakes to fancy a chance. Closing in on someone who is struggling is easy but passing them with ambitious maneuvers might backfire. The maximum slip-ups were seen in the 2nd left-hander as the track goes away from you and the gradient changes just compound your error.

The Grip levels do increase and Lap times do come down as more rubber is laid on track. The Ambient temperature isn't affected by the weather outside which definitely is a boost for the drivers.

I had Chris Ellis, a dear friend accompanying me. It was his first time out and in his words "I don't want to stop karting. Lets do it again."

We visited the track on 12th December 2012 but the memories are very fresh.

Well time for some photos!!

At the Reception for signatures :

Nice Collection of Helmets :

The Walkway to the Dressing Room and the Track :

Time to Suit Up :

Post Briefing, we were shown our Karts :

My Lotus E21 (Kart 41 ) :

Chris rearing to go ( Kart 36 ) :

Push Push Push :

First Session done, 4th - 28.062 sec. Chris - 7th - 28.570 sec.

Fastest - 26.385 sec. 

A Brief Break and we were back into our karts for the next session. Kart 37 for me and Kart 33 for Chris.

This is exactly what I meant earlier. Its easy to close in on a slower car but overtaking on such a track is another story. I had to fend off another karter after a couple of laps.

Finally I got past him :

Chris Holding onto track position :

Another session done, 4th again - 26.490 sec, Chris - 5th - 26.596 sec

Fastest - 25.571 sec

The Third Session was a grid start and thanks to Chris who tailgated me, I was relegated to 8th and last and had to work real hard to recover. Kart 36 for me and 40 for Chris.

Mistakes by others helped me recover.

Chris didn't have a clean session and made contact with the barriers on a couple of occasions

End of Session :

Still in 4th!! - 25.565 sec, Chris in 3rd!! - 25.550 sec

Fastest - 25.191 sec

Final Session, Kart 40 for me, Kart 36 for Chris ( basically we switched karts ) and I must say that I struggled with this kart. It could be that Chris drove the wheels of this kart in the previous session while I followed a more cautious approach in mine in the last session. I simply didn't have the grip going into corners and lost the backend a couple of times. It wasn't the best end to the Karting session.

The slides :

Did catch and overtake some though :

End of Session : Chris tops the Timesheets!!!!
Chris Fastest : 24.749 sec ( 3rd fastest time overall in the week ). 5th was all I could afford : 25.757 sec

Chatting with a Steward :

Great Experience and doing a Vettel :

Chris, What a Performance!!!

A Big Thank You to Sam Foster for obliging us with some great photos!! Extremely Gracious and Hospitable!!


Day 2 : Edmonton, North London, 13th December 2012.

The Metro Stations reminded me of the Premier League Clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur and the North London Derby!

The track layout has changed a bit on the Team-Sport UK website. Some more corners have been added in the final sector.

The Track doesn't have any gradient changes, is wider and allows karters with more overtaking opportunities. One can go flat-out for longer so the lap time is slightly less. The Track Temperature is lower than the one at Tower Bridge and the Ambient Temperature is quite cold. Holding onto the Steering can be a challenge.

First Turn needs you to break at the right spot, it isn't a hairpin and can be termed as a double apex right-hander. The Karter can use a drifting technique and floor the throttle on the second apex. The Next turn is a left-hander where a wider approach gives you a better exit. The Next 2 right-handers can be negotiated without having to lift but braking into the third requires preciseness as it is almost like a hairpin. This right-hander leads into a left-hander where getting a good exit again is absolutely important as the next two right-handers again are flat-out. A Bad Exit would leave you sliding and searching for grip as there is only one line coming out of that turn. Its very easy to close in on the karter in front in this section and then attack him going into the final 2 turns and onto the start-finish straight. The Strategy worked exceptionally well for me. The First Turn too is a great place to overtake by early breaking and taking the inside line.

Time for some photos!

 

The Track :


All Ready for Battle :

1st Session Time :

I was the Fastest! - 25.830 sec, Chris - 26.067 sec

2nd Session :

Chris topped the timesheet and I finished a close 2nd.

Chris - 25.614 sec, My Time - 25.807 sec

Final Session :

Chris was the fastest again - 25.244 sec, I finished 2nd - 25.582 sec


I just loved the 2 days of Go-Karting!! I can't wait to return to London and do it all over again.

My personal favourite?? - the Tower Bridge Circuit ! 


I hope I get to do some Karting in Germany in July!!

Date : 24th November 2012.

Location : Manchester, United Kingdom

The Big Day had arrived. The Day when I would see the "Red Devils" take the field in their quest for yet another English Premier League Title.

Their Adversaries : Queens Park Rangers better known as QPR.

QPR was a very strong team on paper. It boasted of having players who have played for top teams in their early days but yet the team looked in disarray.

QPR had been going downhill and had just sacked Mark Hughes ( Manager ) a day before their game against Manchester United.

It was quite a nice game to be at as United had to dig deep to attain all 3 points.

 

My Day started with a big surprise. I exited the Elevator of my hotel to discover the entire QPR team sitting in the lobby getting ready for their "pre-match warm-up walk".

I got hold of a few players and they obliged me with autographs while some honoured me with a picture with them

 

Shaun Wright-Philips :

Park Ji-Sung :

 

There were still a couple of hours until kickoff but the Trams were already full

 

I alighted at Old Trafford Station and was amazed at the scores of Supporters moving towards Old Trafford!

 

The Stalls brimming with Scarves and other Manchester United "Merchandise"

 

The Walk to the Theatre of Dreams!

 

I had opted for the Hospitality at Old Trafford. I was at the EUROPA SUITE :

 

My Ticket and all the goodies that came with it!

 

I settled into my seat and soon enough we were all surprised by the arrival of our "Captain Fantastic" - the man from Serbia, NEMANJA VIDIC!! I was one of the privileged few to get an autograph from our Captain

 

It was time...

 

The Boys warming up :

 

Fred The Red :

 

Getting ready for Kick - Off :

 

Stretford End!!

 

The Teams coming out onto the pitch, here is the link of the video uploaded by me :

 

Accolades for Robin Van Persie :

 

Boys waiting for the whistle :

 

Kick-off!! Video Link :

 

Some shots from the First Half :

 

QPR Goal Disallowed! Sigh of Relief...

 

Half Time!

 

Second Half saw Manchester United conceed.

 

Substitution Time :

 

Manchester United equalised through Johnny Evans!

Video Link :

 

Manchester United wasted little time in taking the lead from another setpiece. Corner Kick by Rooney and into the Goal by Darren Fletcher!! 2-1 

Video Link :

 

As Smalling and Jones warmed up, United decided to put the game to bed. Javier Hernandez, our Little Pea defeated the offside trap to score from a one-on-one situation.

3-1 to United!!  

 

Old Trafford in all its Glory!    

 

Nick Powell comes on for Danny Welbeck    

 

WAYNE ROONEY what a game our lad had!   

 

The Final Whistle went off and United secured all 3 points against QPR. United went to the Top of the Table and have stayed there since!!  

 

Video Link :

 

 

The Home of Manchester United - OLD TRAFFORD! 

 

A Picture to Treasure, A Moment to Cherish!!

 

 

Anderson paid a quick visit to the suite. I did get time to have a nice chat with a Legend at Manchester United.

SAMMY McILROY!!

It was time to leave the stadium and return home. The words said by the 2 greatest managers on the planet shall always stay with me!

Sir Matt Busby who revived the United Legacy after the Flowers of Manchester went home early...

 

Sir Alex Ferguson who took Manchester United to the top. The man who knocked Liverpool off their perch, the man the world reveres and respects. The man who made us dream and took the club to glories unthinkable. The Undisputed king of the Managerial World!! 

I KNEW I WAS HOME!!!

What a day what an experience. Unforgettable, Unparalled. A dream fulfilled.

Thank you God and Thank you Dad for letting me experience the experience of seeing the Red Devils play in front of their faithful. 

 

There is more to come!! Watch this Space!!

2012 has been full of surprises. I have had the opportunity to travel to many F1 races, meet many people and at the same time explore many places.

However this was totally unexpected, totally unreal but Totally Worth it!!

 

So how did I end up in Scotland ??

Pernod Ricard India were hosting a contest in Duty - Free stores at Mumbai and New Delhi International Airports. I became an entrant while picking some liqour for my friend while returning form Singapore in April.

I receive a call days before leaving for the Singapore Grand Prix saying that I am a Winner and receive an " All Expenses Paid " trip with a companion to Scotland. I would be taken on a whirlwind tour of Scotland, Visit the Strathisla and Glenburgie Distilleries and be hosted by the Chivas Brothers !!!!

What a Pleasant Surprise !!

My Childhood Friend accompanied me ( after a lot of waiting for his visa ). We packed our bags and the journey began on 9th October 2012!!

  

We Flew British Airways ( not a pleasant experience ) into Heathrow and then onwards to Aberdeen. We were joined by Winners from New Delhi as well. 

  

  

10th October 2012 :

We were received warmly and our chariot was an Audi Q7, Sweet !!

Our Drive to Meldrum House Hotel, a Hotel in Old-Meldrum ( 30 minute drive from Aberdeen ) :

 

The Driveway and the Hotel itself :

 

After a Filling Brunch, we were checked into our rooms.

Our Room, Spacious and Comfy :

  

Welcome !!

 

A couple of hours later, we were driven down to the town itself to try on some Traditional Scottish Kilts!!

Oldmeldrum :

Wearing a Kilt is more than just a challenge but its astonishing to see how well it keeps a person warm. Some shots of the boys in the Traditional attire.

 

We spent our Evening exploring the property and savouring the beauty the countryside had to offer.  

The Hotel has a Fantastic Golf Course :

You mess with the Bull and you get the Horns :

After a Sumptuous Dinner it was time to head to bed and buckle up for the Sojourn the next day, The Day we visit the Distilleries...

 

 

11th October 2012 

We checked out of our Hotel post breakfast. The Weather was beautiful as we drove towards our first Stop of the Day : The Strathisla Distillery.

Beautiful :

 

 

The Oldest Distillery for Pernod Ricard, Strathisla is the home for the Chivas Regal brand. Whisky making is a fine art. It needs to have the right proportions to maintain the quality. Master Blenders ensure that each and every sample is perfectly blended to make the Whisky the way it should be.

The Distillery :

 

The Warehouse for the Casks :

 

Special Casks for the Royal Family for their Special Occasions :

 

The Warehouse needs to be Locked !

 

Some more Shots of the Distillery :

 

We were now driven down to an Old Cafe called Kimberley's Inn. The Inn was built decades ago but continues to serve fantastic food and is frequented by both locals and travellers.

Enroute to Kimberley's Inn :

 

Beautiful

 

We left the Inn for the Glenburgie Distillery. The Distillery is home to Ballantine's.

The Distillery was rebuilt in 2003 after the earlier one had gone through numerous repairs and wasn't feasible anymore for operation.

 

The Accolades :

 

The Range and the Coat of Arms :

Some more stills :

The Casks are ready :

The art of making Casks :

The Evolution of Whisky over the years :

 

A Replica of George Ballantine's Home :

Its always blended and the Blend is shared between companies :

We now drove down to the little town of Inverness. It was Cold and Raining. Inverness is a quaint little town on the banks of the River Ness.

We checked into Glenmoriston Town House Hotel and its a nice hotel to be in. Seems to be a favourite for the locals.

My Room, a little cramped but nevertheless comfortable :

Post Dinner, my friend and I decided to take a walk around the river. It was fabulous.

 

 

12th October 2012 :

We checked out of the Hotel post breakfast and had 2 Mercedes S-Class Sedans lined up to drive us down to Loch-Ness, the lake.

Legend has it that a Monster lurks in the deep waters of the lake. Many sightings of a mysterious animal have been reported, some vague photographs also suggest something. Sailors too have seen mysterious readings on the sonar. The Depth of the Lake makes it difficult to search extensively ( even for the Navy ), so the Legend lives on....

Our Ride into the Unknown :

The Wind Blew Strong and it was Icy Cold!!!

We disembarked at Urquhart Castle, famous during the Jacobites War.

After taking in the sights and sounds of Loch - Ness, we now left for the Golf Town of St. Andrews. It was a long and tiring 6 hour drive but the comfort of the S-Class made us feel otherwise!

Enroute to St. Andrews :

We checked into St. Andrews Golf Hotel and decided to explore the town after a quick refreshment.

Awestruck!!

The Streets of St. Andrews :

 

13th October 2012 :

It was now time to head back to Aberdeen to take our flight back home to India via London Heathrow.

Some of the picturesque scenes :

My Friend chose to stay for a few days in London while I returned home.

Everyone loves travelling and our travels take us to places we love to cherish. However there are a few that leave more than just a lasting memory on one's mind.

 

 

SCOTLAND is one such place for me. The Natural Beauty leaves you in awe. The country is definitely one of God's Finest Creations!!

 

The Way of Life, the people are very endearing. Life is Simple for the Scottish and that is how it should always be! 

 

I want to sincerely Thank Pernod Ricard India for giving me the opportunity to enjoy the best of Scotland in such a short time. It was truly a whirlwind tour of the Land of Beauty and also the Land of Whisky. It is definitely a fine art, an art that the Chivas Brothers have mastered and perfected!!

 

 

Scotland is one place I shall definitely return to and have a long holiday. Scotland makes it to the top 3 for me.

 

VISIT SCOTLAND PEOPLE!! YOU WILL TREASURE IT!!

SUNDAY :

Sunday was D-Day. The Day I was really looking forward to.

I reached Silverstone early braving all the Traffic Snarls and the torrential rain that came with it.

I passed the F1 Village on my way to the Paddock Club. Sky Sports was very enthusiastic about Batman - The Dark Knight Rises and Showcased the Batmobile :

 

I Reached the Suite and Preparations were in full swing ( on track ) for the start of one of the Support Races ( GP 2  ). A couple of F1 Reserve Drivers seemed to be quite interested.

 

Lotus F1 Team had ensured that they would give the best of the Goodies to the Guests today.

 

It was almost 10 am. As usual I had a nice chat with the Team Members at the Suite. It was now time for the Arrival of the Man I admire in Formula 1. The Flying Finn, The Iceman, The King of Spa are some of his nick-names. The Clock ran down and I couldn't wait to see my hero upfront. And then he arrived. I quickly got into the queue ( Thanks to the Table's Proximity to the Stage ). Then I cherised the Moment. The moment that I could treaure for a lifetime. Today I met KIMI RAIKKONEN!!! He obliged many with autographs and left to start preparations for the Race.

 

Kimi's Departure was followed by the Final Pit-Lane Walk of the Weekend. One of the Porsche cars ( From the Support race ) being rolled out of our way.

 

This is also the Time when the Big Boys of the Media go to work. Sky Sports had their team ready to start the Pre - Race Show. ALAN McNISH and MARTIN BRUNDLE were the       Co-hosts.

 

I also the met the Man I had met in Malaysia. Some might remember him. JOHNNY HERBERT!!

 

A Great Gesture by the LOTUS F1 TEAM.... RESPECT!!

 

McLaren Mercedes have had bad pit-stops all through the season. Well some Extra Practice would do them no harm

 

The Stands were full as the Fans waited to catch a glimpse of their F1 Stars.

 

The Drivers Spending time Together before Leaving for the Driver Parade.

 

AHEM AHEM

 

I have Learnt to respect this Man more and more. He has a great heart, is approachable and I would love to know this man better. My efforts to meet him over the weekend finally bore fruit on Sunday as I got to spend a few Minutes with him. Friends..... MICHAEL "HERBIE" BLASH ( FIA Deputy Race Director ).

 

As I made my way back up the Pitlane, I got the chance to share a moment with TONY FERNANDES ( CEO - AIR ASIA, TEAM PRINCIPAL - CATERHAM F1, CHAIRMAN - QPR FC ). Also got a quick picture of Nobert Haug ( Mercedes AMG Petronas ) and another near the Pit-Box of the Lotus F1 Team.

 

ROB SMEDLEY ( Felipe Massa's Race Engineer ) arrived a bit early and mingled with the fans. Great Guy. Martin Brundle smiled for the Shutterbugs. Got Introduced to a couple of people too. Some Marshalls know how to dress up for the Race!

 

The Lights that Signify the Start and End of Sessions :

 

Red Arrows - The Highly Acclaimed Aerobatic Team. The Pride of the RAF.

 

Final Checks before the Big Event.

 

We Returned to the Suite and were soon joined by MR. ERIC BOULLIER ( TEAM PRINCIPAL -LOTUS F1 TEAM ). He answered a few questions and did a quick review of the Team Performance so far ( which has been more than just Commendable ). A moment with The BOSS!!

 

Very Rarely does Food take a back-seat in my life. But Today was different. Here is a quick peek at what was the served. The Food - LIP SMACKING and the Hospitality Impeccable!

 

All the Guests then Hurried to the Balconies to witness the Start of the Race. Silverstone has changed in its Track Layout since 2011. Alonso, Webber, Schumacher started in the Top 3. However it didn't stay the same at the end of the race. Mark Webber was victorious. Alonso and Vettel completed the Podium.

KIMI RAIKKONEN finished 5th ( set the Fastest Lap of the Race )

ROMAIN GROSJEAN finished 6th ( a Fine drive after being pushed back to 22nd due to the incident with Paul Di Resta )

 

Lotus F1 Team has been running a competition on all three days rewarding the guest who predicted the name of the Driver who would set the Fastest Lap Time of the Session. I supported Kimi to do it & the Flying Finn didn't disappoint. I won a pair of Romain Grosjean Autographed Racing gloves!! Thank you Lotus F1 Team and Thank you Kimi!!

 

The TEAM that made this weekend more than just Memorable ( L to R : Gaby Mills, Matt Johnson & Gary Rosewell ). A Special Thanks to Gary for the experience of being right there during the Saturday Practice Session.

 

THE ENTIRE TEAM THAT TOOK CARE OF US ON THE WEEKEND!! MET ALL OF THEM. GREAT PEOPLE. HOPE TO MEET THEM AGAIN... SOON

 

As I bid Farewell to the Suite and to New Friends I had made, A Couple was gracious enough to take me down to the LOTUS F1 TEAM Motorhome!!

 

The Pirelli - PZeros. All Compounds were used this weekend.  Another Photo just before entering the Motorhome.

 

 

Hospitality in the Motorhome is World - Class. Some more shots of the Mobile Motorhome.

 

 I also had the Opportunity to have a quick chat with one of KIMI RAIKKONEN's ENGINEERS

( FORGOT HIS NAME... LOTUS F1 TEAM need some help here )

 

The Motorhomes of all the teams. Its Just Amazing to see how good teams are in Assembling and Dismantling all these.

 

I made new friends. A Special thanks to the Couple for their graciousness!! Thank you Eddie Sir!!

 

Its Amazing how quickly Friends are made. Great to meet them!!

 

 

 

Well what follows now might make people envious of me... SORRY

 

KIMI RAIKKONEN Autographed the Visor of his Mini-Helmet :

 

The Racing Gloves autographed by  ROMAIN GROSJEAN :

 

The Mini - Helmet and the Gloves :

 

I didn't have time to Take Photos of all the Goodies.. :

 

 

Finally I want to THANK GOD & My Parents for Fulfilling my Dream.

A BIG THANK YOU to the LOTUS F1 TEAM for Bringing back KIMI RAIKKONEN into the WORLD of FORMULA 1. F1 isn't the same without KIMI. I had a great weekend. Thank you for all the Hospitality!

THANK YOU www.exclusivegp.com for giving me an experience that I would never forget. FRIENDS If you want to have experiences such as mine, www.exclusivegp.com are the guys that can make it happen.

 

 

NOW FOR SINGAPORE AND INDIA!!!

SATURDAY :

Day 2 started early in the morning. I reached Silverstone at arond 7:30am and just in time for the Pit-lane walk. The first 45 minutes of the day were PIT - STOP Practice Sessions for the team.

 

The FIA Garage where the Cars are Weighed post each session :

 

Marussia, HRT & Caterham go about their Pit - Stop Practice!

 

 

Red Bull, Mercedes AMG Petronas showcase their perfection :

 

LOTUS F1 Team showing their guests how Harmonic and Synchronized their Pit - Stop Practices are!!

 

Got a Chance to hold the Steering Wheel while Kimi Raikkonen's Car is rolled back into the Garage!

 

Some of the Spares of Teams on display.. well the more confidential ones are in the back of the Garage!

 

The Gates opened at 8:30 am and we were ushered back into the Paddock Club. Entered the Lotus Suite and I knew that I had an action packed day ahead !

Just like Friday the Team had goodies packed into bags for their guests. I had a nice chat with a couple of the team members. The Glum Weather was disappointing for all. Getting into the Circuit had become a big hassle.

 

Soon it was time for the Final Practice Session before the Qualifying! All the Teams were thankful as the weather opened up and sunshine trickled in. The Session was going to be a dry one and this was a welcome change for all teams!!

Everyone opted for the High-Fuel Runs in order to determine their pace during the race. The Session lasted for hour and the half.

The Lotus F1 Team had a surprise in store for me!!

There were only 10 mins left for the session to end and I was escorted down to the GARAGE to see the way the Mechanics and Engineers went about their task. The Team performed like a well - oiled machine. We were given the Pit - Radio Headsets and were able to hear conversations happening in the Pit Lane!! WHAT AN EXPERIENCE

Here are some captures... Guess who decided to join us??? - SIR JACKIE STEWART!!

 

The Session ended and we were escorted back to the Suite and we had Sir Jackie Stewart enthralling the fans with his stories. He Talked about his Racing Career, His Family, His Mother's fears about him racing because of the incidents with his brother. He also stressed on the Importance of EXPERIENCE in FORMULA 1 using the examples of KIMI RAIKKONEN and FERNANDO ALONSO who have been more successful than their team-mates as they have played it smart. In Short - HE WAS AT HIS CHARMING BEST!!

 

His Depature was soon followed by the arrival of another Formula 1 Legend.. the 1996 Formula 1 World Champion : DAMON HILL.

I managed to get his autograph on Friday and He obliged me with a photograph on Saturday. He made some more visits to the Suite but all were hasty ones.

He is a busy man thanks to his associations with SKY SPORTS :

 

 

Lunch was served and like Friday it was quite a spread. Well its important to be well fed to keep yourself going! Post - Lunch we all joined in for the 2nd Pit - Lane walk of the day.

As we waited for the Gates to be opened, the RAF entertained us with their Acrobatics in the sky :

 

Silverstone went through a re-haul in 2011 and the Start - Finish straight was changed. Well this is a shot of the New Paddock Club Building :

 

I walked down the Pit - Lane towards the FIA Race Control to say a quick Hello to Sir Charlie Whiting and Sir Herbie Blash. I met the Former but had to wait till Sunday to meet the other.

However I had the Privilege to see Martin Whitmarsh ( McLaren Team Principal ), Niki Lauda ( 3 time Formula 1 World Champion ), Eddie Jordan ( Team Principal of now extinct Jordan, now a BBC Presenter ), David Coulthard ( Formula 1 Driver and a Co-host at BBC )

 

 

A Car - Lover would drool if he / she saw the Gull - Winged Car from close. However the Mercedes SLS AMG was made to look ordinary by the Formula 1 cars. Here is a picture of the Safety Car driven by Bernd Maylander. He has been with Formula 1 since 2000. RESPECT!!

 

I left the FIA Race Control just in time before the Qualifying Started. The Rain came down again and worsened conditons caused suspension of the the Q2 session.

 

Q2 Restarted 92 minutes later ( only 6 minutes remained ). All Drivers sensed the urgency to set a competitve time :

 

Eric Boullier looks on Intently as the Session Restarts :

 

Dr. Vijay Mallya seems to be relaxed and content as one car makes it to Q3.

Alonso reigned supreme in Qualifying. Webber and Schumacher completed the Top 3. Kimi Raikkonen Qualified in P6.

 

Romain Grosjean made it to Q3 but spun out at the end of Q2 and couldn't set a time in Q3. Obviously the Frenchman was disappointed. However he didn't let this show and managed to be his charming-self when he came down to the Suite to meet his guests.

 

A Moment with Romain. Definitely a World Champion in the Making!!

 

As usual there were other Support Races happening too, most notably GP2 Race 1. As I made my way back to the Main Entrance I stopped by to take a quick pic of the GP3 Cars Hurtling down the track :

 

All in all a Fantastic Day but D-DAY was yet to come.. the Dream was still Not Complete......

PATIENCE.....

 

Would like to Appreciate the Effort of www.exclusivegp.com for helping me fulfill this dream.

I WOULD NOT DO JUSTICE TO THIS DREAM IN ONE POST! SO THIS IS PART 1 !!

We all have dreams. Many of us strive to fulfill our dreams. I got to live my dream! A Big Thank You to God, my Wonderful Dad and www.exclusivegp.com for helping this dream come true.

So whats the dream?? READ ON.....

 

 

I have been a follower of Formula 1 since the Mika Hakkinen Days.

However it was the arrival of another Finn into Formula 1 that changed the way I followed the sport.

The Man was KIMI RAIKKONEN.

I had seen him perform for Sauber in 2001. Then the switch to McLaren Mercedes & finally the World Championship year in 2007 with Ferrari.

I always wanted to meet the man I had grown to respect and admire over the years that I had been watching Formula 1. So when Kimi Raikkonen made a return to the world of Formula 1, I knew this was my chance to meet my favourite athlete!!

I could see my dream finally being fulfilled!!

The plans were drawn, then executed and I patiently waited for the day.

The 2012 British Grand Prix at Silverstone was the Venue.

I got the Opportunity of being a guest of the Lotus F1 Team at the 3 - Day Extravaganza!

So the fun was doubled!! - LOTUS F1 Team Paddock Club Hospitality and a chance to meet Kimi Raikkonen!! - Too good to be true.

 

 

FRIDAY :

I reached at the Hospitality Suite early on Friday Morning and was ushered in by Mr. Matt Johnson ( Lotus F1 Team )

The Team Suite :

 

The Ambience was perfect. Lotus F1 had many car components on display and the components were like art-work. Carbon - Fibre made components ( World's Strongest and Lightest material ) were awe-inspiring.

No sooner had I settled into the Suite and it was time for the First PIT - LANE Walk of the Weekend ( The FIRST OF MY LIFE!!! ).

It was a very familiar site however. The Engineers of every team were busy with their Car - Setups for the weekend. Some were busy gathering track & weather information and some others explained their guests the complexity of Formula 1 as a Sport.

Engineers preparing for the weekend :

 

The Helmet & The Steering Wheel : EXQUISITE PIECES OF ENGINEERING!

 

The Man at the Helm :

 

I thought I must try my hand at the simulator and I must say its very tough

I returned to the Suite and then had the opportunity to meet Jerome D'Ambrosio ( Lotus Reserve Driver )

 

Some Captures of the Boxes of teams during Friday Free Practice 2 :

 

 

The Icing on the Cake was the time spent with Sir JACKIE STEWART!

He Explained his role at GENII EXCHANGE, The Company's association with the Lotus F1 Team, a quick recap of the season so far and his experiences at Silverstone!

A MOMENT WITH THE LEGEND!!

 

BATAK : An Exercise for a Formula 1 Driver to improve his Peripheral Vision. A    Formula 1 Driver scores 70 hits in 30 seconds ( randomly glowing lights )

Motorhome : Temporary Headquarters / Briefing - Debriefing Centre / Technical Hub for Formula 1 teams over a Race - Weekend

 

Once Again a Special Thank you to www.exclusivegp.com for offering me this unique experience!!

So this was DAY 1. More to follow.... WATCH THIS SPACE!!

Silverstone is a very prestigious race on the F1 Race Calender. There have been many a great battles fought on this Former WW2 Airstrip and this year promised another great battle.

Silverstone is also a HOME RACE for many teams -

1) Red Bull Racing ( Based in Milton Keynes although they are Austrian ),

2) McLaren Mercedes ( Woking ),

3) Lotus F1 Team ( Enstone, Oxfordshire ),

4) Sahara Force India ( A kilometre from Silverstone ) &

5) Williams F1 Team ( Grove, Oxfordshire )

 

This is a Home Race for 3 Drivers - Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Paul Di Resta.

This was also a race where I was a guest with the LOTUS F1 TEAM!!

 

A List of all winners of the Silverstone Grand Prix :  

 

Silverstone is famous for its inclement weather and this year was no different.

Friday Practice Sessions,Saturday Free Practice and Qualifying were marred by torrential rain. However the Race turned out to be a dry one.

  

Friday Free Practices :

The teams were due to test an "experimental" hard tyre compound developed by Pirelli during the first free practice, with a view to introducing it as a racing tyre later in the season;however, wet conditions made this impossible. Romain Grosjean was the fastest driver in the First Session, ahead of Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton. Fernando Alonso and the Force Indias of Paul di Resta and Jules Bianchi elected not to set lap times.

The Second Session was similarly washed out and saw limited running as teams tried to preserve their wet- and intermediate-compound tyres. Hamilton was fastest, leading Kamui Kobayashi and Michael Schumacher as Grosjean elected not to set a time. Bruno Senna brought out a red flag that resulted in a ten-minute stop to the session when he hit a patch of standing water at Becketts, spinning and crashing heavily into the barriers. Fernando Alonso also encountered trouble, spinning and hitting the wall late in the session, but the Ferrari driver was able to return to the pits.

 

Friday Practice 1 Images : 

 

Friday Practice 2 Images :  

  

Saturday Free Practice :

This Session was dry, but the threat of rain was always there. It saw plenty of activity as the teams pushed hard to make up for lost time running in the wet on Friday. Charles Pic stopped on the circuit after twenty minutes, forcing the temporary suspension of the session while his car was removed. Pic later returned to the circuit, but the car stopped again and this time car was removed by marshalls without forcing the session to be stopped. Alonso ended the session fastest overall. 

Saturday Free Practice Images : 

 

 Qualifying :

Qualifying started in wet conditions, and with the threat of more rain on the way. The Circuit conditions were rapidly changing and everyone went about doing their qualifying laps. The Biggest Shock of Q3 was the Elimination of Jenson Button! He was on a lap that would have propelled him out of the drop zone but Timo Glock spun on the last sector. Yellow flags were deployed and Button suffered disappointment.  Both the Caterhams, HRTs, Virgins bowed out. Charles Pic couldn't qualify within the 107 % time of the fastest man of Q1 - Sebastien Vettel.

The intensity of rain increased in Q2. The session was red-flagged with just over 6 minutes remaining. Sergio Perez was at the top of the time sheets then. The session was stopped for an hour and a half as the FIA hoped for conditons safe to drive.

The Teams, the Mechanics, The Drivers & The Crowds did a fantastic job of keeping themselves entertained during the break. NICO ROSBERG was clearly the star of this show!!

The session re-opened and all drivers had time to put in flying laps however Tyre Choice was of utmost importance. Perec chose the intermediate compound rather than wets. It was the wrong decision and ended the session last. However he started 15th after the Penalties were applied.  Those Eliminated were : Paul Di Resta, Kamui Kobayashi ( 12th but demoted to 17th after penalty ), Nico Rosberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Bruno Senna, Jean-Éric Vergne ( 16th but demoted to the back after penalty ).

Romain Grosjean made it through to Q3, but spun at the end of the period at the Vale chicane, and took no further part in the session.

Q3 featured the Ferraris, Red Bulls, Lotuses ( Although Grosjean couldn't set a time ), Michael Schumacher's Merecedes, Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren, Pastor Maldonado in the Williams F1 & Nico Hulkenberg for Force India. It seemed to be a Ferrari 1-2 but Mark Webber and Sebastien Vettel seemed too have wrestled back control.  Massa was unable to improve his lap time and finished 5th, while Schumacher pushed Webber off pole. Webber reclaimed it with his next lap, but lost it to Alonso's last lap of the Session. Kimi Raikkonen was 6th, Pastor Maldonado 7th, Lewis Hamilton 8th. Hulkenberg qualified 9th but a gear-box change pushed the German down to 14th.

 

Qualifying Images : 

 

RACE :

An engine failure on Vitaly Petrov's Caterham on his way round to the grid meant he had to return to the pits and retire the car before the race had even begun. When the race started, polesitter Fernando Alonso maintained his lead into the first corner. Webber and Schumacher followed him round in their same positions, but Vettel lost places to Massa and Raikkonen, only to regain his position against the latter. Paul di Resta, who started 10th, suffered a puncture as a result of his right rear tyre coming in contact with Romain Grosjean's front wing at the start of the Wellington straight. Di Resta pitted but the damage incurred caused him to spin and retire. Romain Grosjean had to pit too for a front wing change and ended up in 22nd ( back of the pack ).

Pastor Maldonado didn't do his reputation any good as he rammed into Perez retiring the latter. He was penalised 10000 euros!

However the Frenchman set about setting a series of fastest laps and quickly started clawing his way back through the field. Hamilton suffered from a poor start, lost positions to Bruno Senna and was stuck in the middle of the the pack until the first round of pit-stops.

Button suffered a similar fate as he was stuck behind slower cars and had to pit at odd-times during the race. 

Alonso was slowly opening a gap at the front and was able to come out in P2 after his pit-stop on lap 15. Lap 19 saw Alonso retake the Lead from Hamilton who was losing pace on his worn-out tyres. The latter finally pitted on lap 21 and Webber moved back into P2. The gap at the front was constant at around 5 seconds but everything changed after the second round of pit-stops.

Kamui Kobayashi had a horible pit-stop as he ran over 4 mechanics and was penalised post-race for the incident. ( 25000 euros )

Webber switched to the softs and managed to come out in P4 ( ahead of team-mate Vettel ). Alonso pitted too and switched to softs. Parity was restored after the top 5 finished their round of pit stops. The order was : Alonso, Webber, Vettel, Massa, Raikkonen.

This however wasn't gonna remain the same.

Alonso couldn't find the pace which he enjoyed while driving on the hard compound tyres. Webber was reeling Alonso in taking chunks out of his lead every lap. Romain Grosjean ( Out of sync with others on pit stops ) performed exceptionally well as he muscled himself upto 6th. Kimi Raikkonen had found performance in his Lotus and set a series of fastest laps. He was within a touching distance of 4th positon now.

7 laps were left of the race and Alonso was now under severe pressure from Webber. The Australian finally made the move and took the Lead! Raikkonen put Massa under a lot of pressure but the Brazilian held on to 4th position.

The final order was : Webber, Alonso, Vettel, Massa, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Schumacher, Hamilton, Senna, Button ( Top 10 )

As a consequence of the race, Webber narrowed Alonso's lead in the drivers' standings to 13 points. Webber himself was 16 points ahead of Vettel. Vettel moved ahead of Lewis Hamilton into 3rd in the standings on 100 points. Red Bull extended their lead in the constructors' standings to 64 points. Ferrrari moved up from 4th place to 2nd whilst McLaren did the reverse and Lotus stayed in 3rd position. All three teams stayed within 3 points of each other.

Massa held on to 4th from a charging Raikkonen. Definitely a confidence boost for him.

KIMI RAIKKONEN set the fastest lap of the Race.

This was also the first time that an F1 Great got to interview the Podium Finishers in front of the public - The honour went to the most popular SIR JACKIE STEWART!!

It was a day to forget for the McLaren duo. Lotus had a good day but not the best day as a lack of good quaifying postion hampered their race result.

Hockenheim - THE NEXT DESTINATION!

 

Finally a SPECIAL THANK YOU to www.exclusivegp.com for this experience!! Friends you now know who to contact for those Exclusive F1 Experiences!!