CONTENTS

December 1 2011 – vol 206 no 9

“I can’t deny the fact that my hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming” A HIGHLY MOTIVATED KIMI RAIKKONEN AFTER SECURING A LOTUS-RENAULT SEAT FOR 2012. WONDER HOW LONG IT’LL LAST?

NEWS

392 The highest-ever single-season points tally by a driver in Formula 1 World Championship history, accumulated by 2011 world champ

Sebastian Vettel

SUBSCRIBE... to AUTOSPORT and get a free pair of Cebe Spider sunglasses P84

REPORTS

Up-to-the-minute news and reports from F1, WRC and more. Subscribe for must-read opinion, stats and images

COVER IMAGE: LOTUS RENAULT GRAND PRIX INSET: COATES/LAT

COVER STORY

Raikkonen settles into his new F1 outfit, p8

8 Renault’s Raikkonen plan How squad plans to get new signing Kimi Raikkonen up to speed before the 2012 season 10 Mansell v Vettel Comparing F1’s pole record breakers from 1992 and 2011 13 F1 ’12 TV scheduled ratified All you need to know about F1 on the box next season 15 Charting F1’s performance Measuring 20 years’ development pace at unmolested Interlagos 18 Priaulx: nowhere to hide The pressure’s on at BMW now Tomczyk’s on board, says Brit 20 Jim Rathmann 1928-2011 Remembering the US racing ace and former Indy 500 winner 22 Sportscars back to Brands FIA World GT series commits to Kent venue for 2012 event 25 Tweets, polls, top-fives 26 VW boss: give us time We won’t win the title in our first season, says VW Motorsport supremo Kris Nissen

REGULARS

5 From the editor 6 Snapshot 17 Mark Hughes column 84 Subscribe for a free gift 88 Final drive Letters and Latest Gear

90 On track/on screen The best action in the next week 93 From the archive Tony Brise, British F3 1972 94 Race of my life Ricardo Zunino, Canadian GP ’79

Red Bull duo dominate F1 finale, p28

28 Brazilian Grand Prix Red Bull takes another one-two, but this time Webber beats hobbled team-mate Vettel

H AW K I N S

,G R I F F I T H S/L AT,G A R Y

,T E E

P R I X

G R A N D

R E N AU LT

:LOT U S

P IC S

FEATURES

42 Search for a star McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award shootout at Silverstone

Six young men go into battle, p42

46 Christmas gift guide 52 Dan Wheldon tribute Amusing anecdotes and classic capers involving the fallen hero 58 Wheldon back to his roots In September, Dan tested three American junior racers for us 64 House of Stewart NASCAR king reflects on 2011 66 The Bottas empire GP3 champ on his “vital” win

SPORTS EXTRA

81 Brands to re-profile corner Graham Hill Bend set for a future overhaul to increase overtaking 82 Juno makes F4 switch British squad adapts Duratec Formula Ford for F4 assault

85 Short wins Baxter Trophy Anglesey FFord memorial win for Van Diemen RF00 racer 86 National focus Full season review of Ginetta GT Supercup and Ginetta Junior series

Graham Hill Bend will change

December 1 2011 autosport.com 3