iWitness in Shanghai: Thursday

Posted on Friday 17 Apr 2009 and tagged with iwtiness, china, shanghai.

Frank Williams turned 67 today. He received congratulatory telephone calls from both of his race drivers, as well as a birthday present from his daughter Claire. She gave him a model aeroplane; what a pity she couldn’t make it a real one so that her father could join her in Shanghai!

Both AT&T Williams drivers stayed in Asia after the Malaysian Grand Prix. Kazuki Nakajima went to Japan to enjoy some home cooking and to attend the re-opening of Suzuka Circuit, which will host the Japanese Grand Prix on 04 October; Nico Rosberg went to Bali, where he trained and indulged his passion for photography.

Mike Gascoyne is making his first appearance in a Formula One paddock this weekend since he parted company with Force India at the end of last season. The tech boffin is replacing Eddie Jordan as a pundit on the BBC’s TV coverage, both here and at the Japanese Grand Prix later in the year.

Jarno Trulli is lending his support to the victims of the recent earthquake in Abruzzo, Italy. He’s wearing a badge on his overalls, which has the words ‘Abruzzo in the heart’ (his new charity) written on it. “I want to support the people and to do that I gave up one of my sponsors to give visibility to the charity and to raise money.”