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On tap this week:

  • Getting the most out of rubber
  • F1 fans sound off on the sport
  • Hargrove needs sponsors to step up
  • Stewart's record falls, still impressive
  • Quote of the Week: Miles to draw line on critical drivers
  • Sports cars at CTMP

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton's late pitstop for intermediate rain tires in Sunday's British Grand Prix showed that stopping at exactly the right time for the right tire can win a race.

Although it wasn't ready to help them out on Sunday, the Williams team hopes that a behind-the-scenes application being developed by its technical partner Avanade will ensure it has all the information it needs to make the best possible tire decisions during grands prix.

Williams needs help because the 2,000 sensors on its F1 car collect so much data that the team its overwhelmed by information during races.

"We get a lot of data — far too much that you can actually look at or interpret — and a lot of data from different sources at the same time, such a telemetry, timing, video, and driver comments," Jakob Andreason, Williams' head of engineering operations.

"If you just look at the live telemetry channels, instantaneously, yes it's probably useful, but over a time period you can't be looking at trends or anything like that."

Hamilton proved the importance of timely decisions when he pitted from the lead for intermediate tires just before rain fell in the British Grand Prix, a move that ensured his victory when the track became more wet and he pulled away from Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in the final eight laps for the win.

While Hamilton proved Sunday that a combination of quick calculations using raw data, some intuition, and input from the driver can determine the best time to pit for new boots, it is far from a foolproof system.

That's why some teams already have analytical systems in place to help with tire strategy. Although Williams believes it will leapfrog the rest with its new offering and get a clear advantage over its competition once its fully operational.

On the other hand, even if the software tells the team that it's the optimal time to pit for new rubber, the human factor will continue to play a key role, Andreason insisted.

"It's all relative," he said. "Our driver's tires may be going off, but the others may be going off even more and he's still pulling away."

By the numbers

The Grand Prix Drivers Association released the results of its Formula One fan survey and the results show a disenchantment among the sports most ardent followers. When asked for the top three words they'd use to describe F1, most respondents answered "technological, expensive and boring." Most also want F1 to be more competitive and its drivers to be more open and honest with fans. Many also felt that Formula One's business interests have taken on too much importance. The survey also showed that fans don't like one tire supplier, the drag reduction system, and the sport's move to pay TV from free-to-air channels.

Random thoughts

A sweep of both Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin rounds at Calabogie Motorsports Park on the weekend gave reigning champion Scott Hargrove three wins in four starts this year. While the 2013 USF2000 champion and 2014 Star Mazda runner up continues to show why he is one of this country's best young racers, his lack of financial backing forced him to put his IndyCar dreams on hold.

"We are working hard every day to try and make it happen," said 20-year-old from Surrey, B.C., who hopes his continued winning will help attract interest. "I just need to capitalise on being in the right place at the right time and making the right connections."

Technically speaking

The British Grand Prix marked a record 18th consecutive Formula One race where Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton led a lap, breaking the mark held by three-times world champion Jackie Stewart. While a huge accomplishment, today's F1 cars are technological marvels with almost bullet proof reliability compared to the remedial Matra and March cars that Stewart drove when he set the previous record beginning with the 1968 U.S. Grand Prix and ending at the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix. Stewart also established his record over three F1 seasons driving two different cars and teams, something that would mitigate any technical advantage he may have had with one particular outfit.

Quote of the week

"In tennis we had one: If you went up to an official and said "F you" not "F this" but "F you" you were suspended and defaulted and there was no room for negotiation. I don't know exactly what there will be, I think in this sport it's probably more subjective but I think we have to move in that direction for the benefit of the Series."

— IndyCar chief executive Mark Miles on how his series might draw the line on critical comments by drivers after some strongly voiced concerns about the close quarters at its June 27 race at California Speedway. Miles is a former head of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

The last word

The Tudor United SportsCar Championship makes its only Canadian appearance this weekend with the The Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix Presented By Hawk at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. With Corvette Daytona Prototype driver Michael Valiante leading the series' elite category, Canadian fans will have a homegrown driver to cheer to overall victory at the legendary 3.957-kilometre track. The Continental SportsCar Challenge, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites and the SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup are on the weekend undercard.

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