"Performance Reinvented" competition winners announced: Driving day awaits

Thanks to everyone who took part in our first major competition of 2013: the Shell "Performance Reinvented" competition.

The prize was a big day out at a spectacular venue in London on April 18th, which three lucky JA on F1 readers will attend; with a variety of activities including performance driving with none other than Ferrari reserve driver Giancarlo Fisichella and attending a major event hosted by former BBC F1 frontman Jake Humphrey.

Entrants were asked to define what "Performance Reinvented" means to them in 150 words.

The winners are listed below, together with their entries. They will be contacted directly by email. They will also be invited to contribute guest blogs on this site about their experience on the day.

9. Posted By: hero_was_senna


This is my personal take on Performance Reinvented. Something that happens for every generation.

“From front engined behemoths, sliding through corners in a drift,
To state of the art missiles chasing time with negative lift.

Tyres that had performance of wheels on a horse drawn cart,
Whereas modern fat slick tyres, forever fall apart.
Drivers, though heroes, who’s waist line were best described plump,
Now these modern day athletes sport the tiniest rump.

Engineers who used hammers and screwdrivers for their trade,
Replaced by lab technicians with everything tailor made.

Cars were designed and lovingly built by an artisans heart,
Carbon fibre embraced as the 21st century art.
Fuel thirsty engines giving way to turbo’s running lean
Modern day thinking, all technology has to be green.

Here comes the roar of a turbo, drivers foot to the floor,
Although it’s not the music of a V12 at full bore.

One thing hasn’t changed throughout the years,
This sport can still bring people to tears.”

13. Posted By: Rich Gibbons


Performance Reinvented: perhaps the biggest race day performance gain of all since the running of the first Grand Prix, and sometimes one that is overlooked, is the implementation of the pitstop. From the 1950s when the car was stationary for well over a minute – not quite time for a cuppa and a cigarette, but watching old footage it certainly looks that way – we’re now talking about the possibility of sub-two second stops. Unbelievable!

Not content with just making the cars faster, the teams have been looking at increasing the performance of the mechanics during the stops, with clever innovations on what you would think are simple, fairly passive items: the jack, and the humble wheelnut! There’s barely time for a driver to even spell c-u-p-p-a during a pitstop these days…

45. Posted By: Robin Middleton


My Performance reinvented goes back to my first
time driving on a race track – Brands Hatch:

“First time out at Brands, storming out of Clearways, I hit the straight, focused on paddock hill bend. Wide or tight, which way to go, the instructor is not saying, so I hug the pit wall, like they do on the telly, slam on the breaks, and turn in. The car goes light, I’m fighting understeer, pushing me towards the kitter litter, I hold on but lose bucket fulls of time.

A break, time to refocus, to think and listen to the man next to me, next time round what to do?

Full throttle out of clearways again, go left the wise man says, take a wider line, break earlier, get on the power sooner, the understeer is gone the, apex is touched, the car straightens and before you know it, Druids is in sight.