Work out whether you're a bona fide petrol-head

Soon the most expensive sport in the world will roar into Shanghai. On October 14, F1 drivers will leap behind the wheel for four glorious days of deafening engines and sweet burning rubber. If you're going to be drinking bubbly in one of the VIP tents or waving your Ferrari flag from the grandstand, you'd better make sure you know your stuff.

1) Last year Shanghai saw the first ever Formula 1 race in China, who won it?
A) Rubens Barrichello
B) Jenson Button
C) Takuma Sata
D) Michael Schumacher

2) The underside of a F 1 car is only millimeters off the ground, what material do they use to protect their million dollar machines from hitting the ground?
A) Rubber
B) Wood
C) Carbon fibre
D) Magnesium alloy composite

3). Which of these drivers holds the now meagre title of just four world championships?
A) Ayrton Senna
B) Jack Brabham
C) Niki Lauda
D) Alain Prost

4) When circuit architects Hermann Tilke and Peter Wahl designed Shanghai's 5.4 kilometer racing track they shaped it like which Chinese character?
A) 下
B) 高
C) 上
D) 长

5) In an attempt to make F1 more competitive and to break Shumacher's seemingly endless winning steak, points for a podium finish have become closer. In 2005 how many points are awarded for a third place finish?
A) 3
B) 6
C) 7
D) 30

6) In which year did young Chinese driver Cheng Congfu make history by becoming the first driver born in mainland China to drive a F1 car in a demonstration run?
A) 1934
B) 1984
C) 1994
D) 2004

7) While we all should know that a chequered flag indicates to drivers that the race has been won and it's time to return to the pit for champers, and the ever embarrassing blue flag tells a driver to
let a faster car overtake, what does a white flag indicate?
A) Warns that one of the sBMW pit girls is showing cleavage at the chicane
B) Indicates snow is falling and drivers should be careful
C) Warns the driver of a slow moving vehicle on track
D) Indicates the race leader has surrendered

8) After a few years with Mclaren, big-chinned Scot David Coultard is now further down the grid racing a can of soda. Which of the following teams does he stand no chance of winning with?
A) Coca Cola Cars
B) Red Bull Racing
C) Pepsi Peugeot
D) Team Sprite

9) This year the race calendar includes 19 circuits around the world. Which lucky country hosts two of these prestigious and lucrative events?
A) Italy
B) Spain
C) Germany
D) Luxembourg

Score 0 -3
Oh dear, you've already wasted your time on a grand prix quiz, best not waste your money on a ticket. You will be bored after the first lap, and the news that there are another 53 to go will send you running onto the pit. Maybe you should go and take a look at one of those ancient water towns you've always wanted to go to.

Score 4 -6
You obviously have enough interest in the sport that you won't be able to avoid a little petrol fever on grand prix weekend. A car travelling at 220 mph excites you, but you have little interest as to whether it runs on Bridgestones or Michelins. With just enough knowledge to order a coffee at the Ferrari cafe at Xintandi, you will fit right in with the in crowd.

Score 7-9
You're a true F1 nut - you'll surely be first in line to have your 2005 Renault cap signed by Fernando and Giancarlo. You must drive a sports car so expensive you had to buy an insurance company, or you are German, or possibly both.

Contact the author on
shguide@cityweekend.com.cn

ANSWERS: 1=A, 2=B, 3=D, 4=C, 5=B, 6=D, 7=C, 8=B, 9=C.