Ecclestone Cancels Imola 2005 Contract Imola Mayor puts 2004 Contract on Ecclestone Imola, Italy. Minutes after Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone announced that the 2005 contract with the Imola circuit was cancelled, Massimo Marchignoli, the mayor of Imola, announced that he had put a contract on Ecclestone. Ecclestone revealed earlier today that the 2004 race would be Imola's last unless a new profitable agreement could be reached with the Italian circuit. "Ecclestone can have my answer now if he likes," said Mayor Marchignoli to reporters. "My offer is this. Nothing. Not even the fee for the circuit license, which I would appreciate if he would put up personally." Ecclestone was unreachable for comment after fleeing the country and taking the first flight to Asia.
The Winter Championship through the Lens
Champions Return Even during the competitive winter testing period the Formula One paddock is still a friendly place. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and wife are seen here leading talented young drivers Nico Rosberg and Nelson Piquet Jr. through the Ferrari paddock area on a friendly tour. Engineers The depressing sight of the captive McLaren engineers responsible for the failed MP4/18 project is a view that has greeted visitors to every Barcelona testing session this winter.		SIDEBAR J. Button Asked to strip off overalls and heavy object for new record attempt R. Schumacher Asks wife to write another sick note to Williams Sir Terry Rowduck "I remember when Moss downed 6 pints during a Silverstone test. I would like to see Jenson beat that record" Fiorano Circuit secretly shortened for 25th consecutive year
Trust CEO Signs Self to Drive for Jordan in 2004 "For $10,000,000 I'm driving myself" Amsterdam, Holland. Michel Perridon, CEO of Dutch computer maker Trust, announced at a press conference today that he had cancelled all sponsorship deals with Jos Verstappen and decided to drive himself in the forthcoming Formula One season with Jordan. "Why on earth should I pay millions just so someone else can have some fun in a sandtrap?" said Perridon to reporters. "Jos is more than welcome to run my company while I'm away racing." Dutch F1 superstar Jos Verstappen was unavailable for any comment other than punching the reporter's lights out.   Fans Step In to Save Baumgartner Baumgartner dragged out of Minardi cockpit to save his career Valencia, Spain. Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner's racing career was put in jeopardy yesterday when he stepped into the cockpit of a Minardi Formula One car. Within barely 24 hours, fearing their dream of finally getting one of their countrymen into the sport might become a nightmare, Hungarian people from all around the world flew to Valencia, Spain, and forcefully pulled Baumgartner out of the Minardi's cockpit. "I can only say I am immensely moved," said Baumgartner to his fans as he was lifted out of the cockpit.

About the author:
Reginald Kincaid was born on 30th November 1912. Following graduation from the Royal Military College in Sandhurst he was commissioned in the Forth Hussars in February 1931. While stationed in Egypt with his brigade in 1934, he led the famous "Elgar" high speed camel expeditions that explored and documented the vast sand seas of Libya. In his own words he soon after became addicted to the "fine art of travelling fast" but exchanged camels for cars. Kincaid's exploits in European motor racing became legendary after being documented in his best selling biography "Racing with a stiff upper lip". Reginald Kincaid retired in 1991 and has been covering motor racing ever since. He now lives in Surrey, England, and tends to his hobby of beekeeping.