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Its got to be 1979, any chance to watch Gilles doing what he did best.

Mmm... I'd go with Portugal 1988 and 1993, it'll be interesting to see the 1988 battle between Prost and Senna.

Andrew you deserve a medal! In such a hectic season you've shown amazing commitment to this Classic F1 series. Those of us who know and love this feature owe you a huge debt of gratitude. On behalf of us all, thank you!

It's a difficult choice but I'm going with 1993 Portugal - a defining race in F1 history as a new generation emerged over the old.

Estoril 1993 please

A lot of good old races before the modern era, all are great races.

Hi all, '88 sounds good to me, having said that 91 or 93 wouldnt be too bad either. Really hope the 'Red Button' schedulers manage to find some space on at least one digi platform for this as wont be able to watch if on the iPlayer only, 'The classic races will be available on this website on Wednesday.' doesnt sound too promising... Lets hope Sunday will be a cracker and that the best man wins. As a fan of Ferrari and Alonso I have to say... go Webber! Seriously, the guy deserves it - more consistent than it Vettel and is supposed to be a 'thoroughly bl**dy nice bloke' - a rare quality in an F1 driver. On a final note, thanks Andrew for a great service (only partially undone thanks to some poor 'decisions' courtesy of those pesky schedulers - you would honestly think there are some people at the Beeb who hate this service - lets hope it continues in some shape or form next year) and all the best to regular contributors. May I be the first to say very early, have a happy Christmas and great new year.

Cheers

1979 please. Any chance to see Gilles, AJ and the Glen.

Great choices as always Andrew, thanks for this feature and hope it continues next year.

I would love to see 93. It has been a great feature this season and you've picked some classics Andrew. However I do hope the Schumacher bashing will not be so evident next season its getting a bit tiring..

@#3 - amen buddy! Thank you very much for consistently providing us with this feature Andrew - hugely interesting and great fun to keep the stoke levels up between grand prix's throughout the year. On behalf of myself and other f1 fanatic mates in Grove, Oxfordshire

Thank you!

PS. I'm hoping to see the 1988 grand prix in portugal, for a few reasons: foremost, I never was around to see genre defining clashes of Senna and Prost and I'd love to witness again these two titan like champions on the track. Secondly, we don't often get to witness the portugese track layout and so I'd be interested to see how fairs.

what an excellent selection - shame we can't just see all of those extended highlights. Of the choices, I am most intrigued by the 1993 race, as I too think something so significant should not be overlooked. I tend not to think very much about '93.
It's the late 80s and early 90s that interest me most of all :)

a big THANK YOU for the classic grands prix throughout the year. I am always left wanting more! Long may it continue

What about last year's day into night race at the inaugural Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

1988 Portugal.

Are these going to be shown on Satellite or Freeview?

For me, Estoril is one of the great losses to F1. Not sure why Bernie stopped the circus from going there. All of the races that you have listed are good choices so I would be happy to see any of them, but my vote goes for Portugal 1988.

Thanks for this feature Andrew.

I'm going to go for Portugal 1988 please. On Freeview please. Shame Estoril is not on the calendar anymore. Andrew. What are you going to do about next season? Thanks for bringing a second year of Classic F1 and long may it continue. Hopefully the Ahu Dhabi race should be much better than last year's. Well done for your blogging this season, Andrew. It is one of the best F1 blogs around.

1993 please i would like to see the changing of the guard in f1

1979 Would be nice to see thanks.

I'd like to see the Ethiopian Grand Prix of 92 again, where Sir Steve Treacle and the egregios Lord Windsor III tied a phenomenal race, lapping each of the other drivers 53 times. Oh for the memories of the days before the two great exponents of the double south paw (R) overtaking manoevre were banned for "being too good"!!!

Portugal 1993 I think; nicely sold :)

Portugal 1993 please

It of course has to be 1979. Classic F1 is some of the best F1, and one which is not so in the public domain. It just has to be 1979.

The Mexican Grand Prix of 1991 please. Patrese was a legend that day.

I seem to remember Mansell pitted for fresh tyres in the hope of catching him. Mansell broke the lap record lap after lap with Patrese's old tyres getting worse and worse...then Patrese broke the lap record to secure the win on old tyres!

It's between 1993 and 1979

#14 - Bernie claimed Estoril needed to be 'modernised'. It never happened and Estoril fell off the radar.

Thanks as ever, Andrew for taking the time to put this together.

I love the track at Mexico, so I think I will put in my request for the 1991 race thanks!

1979 please, love all the old stuff and always nice to see Villeneuve doing his thing.

'79 please!

Would love to see 1993 please!

Is long highlights for all of them an option? :)

I'll go for 1979. Gilles Villeneuve at Watkins Glen just can't be turned down. Wish there was some footage of his exploits in the practice session, and the expressions on the faces of the other drivers as they realise he is outclassing them to the tune of 9 seconds!

Thanks for another great choice of races to pick from. I hope this feature continues into next season, and there are plenty more options from the classic 70's and early 80's, and especially from the circuits we don't get to see any more.

93 please, a forewarning of some of the nasty moves we will see again in 2011 if the mercedes is fast enough

Lots of Newey cars in your list, what a coincidence.....

Portugal '92 - would be great to see Senna taking it out on Hakkinen!

Can I suggest you use a button voting system next year, so we don't have to read comments voting for races which aren't on the shortlist. That said, it is funny seeing how long it takes people to realsie there is a shortlist!

Portugal '93 please

All good choices but i'll go for 79 just to see the great Gilles Villeneuve.

And for a chuckle check out Sunday nights NASCAR punch up!

It's got to be the Glen in 1979 for me, Gilles at his best.

Love this feature, hope it's back for next season.

Watkins Glen, 1979 please.

My choice 1988 - nothing wrong with having bitter rivals who hate each other in F1. All adds to the entertainment.

I'll echo others in thanking you for this feature Andrew. Its a great idea and something i really look forward to.

Not your fault Andrew, but I'll also add to the growing number of comments this season about the Freeview Controllers actions being appalling with regards to Classic F1. In your last blog (race 18) Post 42, Ninja Hedgehog, basically summarised the entire issue and made it look as ridiculous as it actully is. Bottom line, Classic F1 takes up 10% of one days output on the Red Button. See the link below for his excellent post:

/blogs/andrewbenson/2010/11/your_classic_grand_prix_-_race_5.html


Love this feature Andrew, a great idea - just wish someone would tell the Freeview Controller.

Hope you follow through your idea for updating and adapting this feature next season. Great Work.

Hi Andrew I would like to see the 1993 Porturguese Grand Prix at Estoril.

That race had a great recovery drive from Damon Hill who came from 26th and last on the grid to finish a superb 3rd.

Thak you very much Andrew for another great year of Classic Grand Prix I just wish that is was alwas avalible on Freeview but thankfuly my dad has Sky HD in the living room.

Please could we have Classic Grand Prix on Freeview this week as it is the last one of the year.

Next year if you don't want to continue with Classic Grand Prix as it currently is then how about showing classic ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Formula 1 documentarys from the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ vaults such as A Season with McLAREN that was shown in 1993.

There was also a documenary which followed the Williams Team in 1991 which was shown in 1991 and then in 1994 there was 2 Ayrton Senna documenarys shown on was called Ayrton Senna and was presented by Steve Rider from the San Marino track. I did have this on VHS Video but have now put it on to DVD. The other Ayrton Senna Documentary was presented by Sue Barker for a studio at the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳.

Then in 1996 there was a tribute programme made to mark at the time the end of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳s covrage of Formula 1 Grand Prix and there was also in 1996 a documentary shown called Clash Of The Titans The Prince and the Pretender about the 1976 world championship and James Hunt and NikiLauda Which I had on VHS Video but have now put in on to DVD.


Good luck to Jenson Button and I hope that he can end the season on a high with a win.

I hope that you all enjoy the last race of the season and I hope that you all have a great christmas and a very happy new year.

I also forgot about a documentary that the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ showed in 1996 about Damon Hill winning the world championship in 1996 which I know have on DVD.

There was also a documenary shown in 1992 about Nigel Mansell winning the World Chamipionship.

Wouldn't mind seeing the 1993 race from Estoril. Thanks to Andrew for a great selection of classic races throughout the year and hope it continues into 2011

I'd be intrigued to see the 1988 Portuguese Grand Prix, as an F1 DVD collector, I found an old vhs tape in the house that contained the start and most of the 1988 Portuguese Grand Prix and the commentary from Murray and James was slightly muffled as the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ were experiencing audio problems to Portugal at the time, curious to see if this was edited or corrected for the highlights?

May I also say it is a tragedy that such a great circuit such as the Autodromo do Estoril has been missing from the F1 Calender since 1996, as I can't remember it ever producing a really dull race, similar to Adelaide in that sense. I heard talk of them using a circuit in the Algarve, Portugal one day but as yet nothing has come of that rumour.

If you're reading this Bernie, get rid of some of these boring characterless concrete bowls in the middle of nowhere like Bahrain and Shanghai, and give us back some of the great circuits of the past that were made for real motor racing like the aforementioned Estoril, Zandvoort, Brands Hatch, Imola, Long Beach and maybe even Paul Ricard since you now own it!

Who gives a......! Not gonna be on freeview! Looks like a platform the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ really do not care about!

USA79 or Por88, please.

Just a few hangovers from the last blog /blogs/andrewbenson/2010/11/your_classic_grand_prix_-_race_5.html to close off:

46. At 10:36pm on 05 Nov 2010, Red_Five_1992 provided a contact to complain about the unfathomable scheduling decisions on the Freeview RB service: /complaints/forms/process/complaint

Thanks for that Red_Five_1992.

48. At 10:43pm on 05 Nov 2010, Red_Five_1992 (again) wrote: "Kif, was the [Tiff Needell] TOCA Touring Car Easter egg on the PS version as well?"

Sorry, I don't think that it was. I did have a quick look for some PS1 cheats, but couldn't see any that related to this particular Easter Egg. That's the problem with console games - no explorable CD. In fact it doesn't seem that the Needell rag-losing file on the PC version is widely known about, either. It's not accessible via the game itself (at least as far as I've discovered), but was just put on the CD as a sound file for people to find.

ToCa 2 was definitely better than ToCA 1, on the PC at least (don't have the PS1 version). I got ToCa Race Driver too, but was less impressed by that (partly due to the amount of stuff you had to unlock), and stopped there. I got Colin McRae instead. The problem with the ToCA games was that they were like the BTCC itself, but not in a good way - lots of crash-bang-wallop and no finesse. I enjoyed them for a quick hack, and won the title a couple of times, but found more satisfaction from Geoff Crammond's GP2 and the positively ancient IndyCar II, made by the same people who came up with the devilish GP Legends.

35. At 1:03pm on 09 Nov 2010, Swerve1 wrote (on this page): "I'll echo others in thanking you for this feature Andrew... Not your fault Andrew, but I'll also add to the growing number of comments this season about the Freeview Controllers actions being appalling with regards to Classic F1. In your last blog (race 18) Post 42, Ninja Hedgehog, basically summarised the entire issue and made it look as ridiculous as it actully [sic] is.... See the link below for his excellent post:

/blogs/andrewbenson/2010/11/your_classic_grand_prix_-_race_5.html

Agreed on all counts, Swerve1. I'm sure we're all indebted to AB for the effort he's put in - it's just a shame not everyone got to see the fruit of his labours because of some twisted and incomprehensible decisions from the schedulers. I'll probably use Ninja's posting as the basis of a complaint.

I hope the Classic F1 will be back in 2011, though in a slightly revised form (and on Freeview!) so that we don't end up with the dregs quite so soon, and without repeating the 2010 season at the expense of more extended highlights in the future. Folks in 2012 might want to see the 2010 BraGP, only to find that, oh dear, we screening it in 2011 and we can't show it again.

15. At 08:18am on 09 Nov 2010, f1fantic wrote: "Shame Estoril is not on the calendar anymore."

Agreed - I liked Estoril. The layout was a bit like Barcelona with loops at both ends of the pit straight, but with passing. That little uphill twisty towards the end of the lap could make a difference on getting a good run on the main straight.

and finally....


23. At 11:24am on 09 Nov 2010, physical_graffiti wrote: "Bernie claimed Estoril needed to be 'modernised'. It never happened and Estoril fell off the radar."

Bernie also reckons that crime in Sao Paulo is no different to Oxford Street, but I don't recall ever seeing half a dozen blokes brandishing machine guns exiting Oxford Circus tube station.

Bernard Charles Ecclestone is 80.

1979 please!

Well if I can't see Sir Steve Treacle's fabulous drive in the Ethiopian Grand Prix of '92 (post#18) I'll go for Portugal 1993 to see Damon's great drive from last to 3rd!

1993 please.

Also, any news on the format of Classic GP for next season?

Hi Andrew,

Again, a great selection for the final race. Would love to see any of them.

However, if they are not going to be shown on the red button in any format, like Japan, it is a wasted exercise. Why put races, that will not be selected for the Classic GP feature again, up for selection? Better not to have the feature at all and save them for a time when they will be shown properly.

If they are not given air time before the Grand Prix, how about putting the winner of this feature and Japan 1993 (which was not shown at the time) on the red button after the season has finished. At least that way we'll get an F1 fix to wind down with after the season finale.

1988 Portugal please.

Simply becuase all the other years selected have had extended highlights already shown this year! (Though 1993 was excellent too I must add!) :)

Great work as always this year Andrew, you've sure made it tough for me to make up my mind for the finale, but I go for Portugal 1993, given this clinched Prost's last title and that also we wouldn't know that at the time the winner would inherit his throne (if that makes sense) if that fails, maybe 1979 given it would be nice to see more of Gilles Villenuve as I've only seen some of his great races on old VHS' and still learning more about him when watching some of the 79 choices you chose for past classic f1s.

I hope this feature contiunes next year, but I bet your running out of races to dig out from the archive, but I hope it carries on in some form or another. Excellent work this year, such great comitment, bet you need bit of a rest now

93 please

Ah dear slightly too late to vote, had been going to vote for 1988. I'm sure I will not be disapointed by any of the other choices though! Have to say thanks Andrew for another year of this feature, it's just been wonderful seeing the racing from when i started watching in the early 90s, and the races from the decade before as well it's just fantastic! Hope it continues next year, thanks!,

Ben

1998 please Andy
would be great to see McLaren dominating once more, havn't seen that for quite a while now

Andrew why don't you show something more interesting than boring races when F1 was rubbish, being four drivers in contention why not show their very first wins in F1 how good would that be

Thanks again for the classic GP feature; your efforts are greatly appreciated!

If I could still vote (d'oh!) I would have gone for either '79 or '93.

Got to be 1979. not only watkins glen but gilles and alan in an era that shone with talent and beautiful, crazy cars.

'93

To answer Paul Lucas’s question (comment 13), my freesat Sport Multiscreen has just said that Classic GP will be on Satellite from 4:30pm on Thursday (so good news there).

As for the freeview coverage, can I thank Red_Five_1992 from the race 18 blog. The email has been sent, I asked for a response, but nothing so far.

Also want to thank Andrew and the editing team for their dedication to this feature over the last year and the top quality of the work. I for one will really miss Classic GP during the winter months, so really hoping that Classic GP will return next season.

Can’t see any reason for the highlights not to be on freeview (301). My EPG shows from midnight Wednesday until the start of the race program on Sunday 301 is giving 60hours 5mins (over 6 timeslots) to Robert Plant at the Electric Proms. This is in addition to the 34hours 5mins given today & yesterday. Not to mention that this feature is not even exclusive to the Red Button as it was on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳2 last Saturday night.
(Non stop Neil Diamond next week, can’t wait for that…)

Just wondering how much airtime it would take to show the full highlights for all the Classic GPs featured this season (not including the 2009 races). Don’t worry I’m not going to work that one out, but I think it would be less than the almost 100 hours given to Robert Plant over this last week.

Also thanks, to Kif (comment 42), the more emails the better.

Oh, before I forget, 1979 US GP East please (the old ones are still the best).

Oooo not seen any of these but i think i'll go for Portugal 1993, it seems to be a change of the old guard to the new and as already said pivotal in F1 history.
Many thanks for this years races, i have enjoyed this extension to the F1 show the beeb provides and in fact all the extras it provides :)
To the whole beeb team, give yourselvs a pat on the back for another great years sevice to us F1 fans.

Crikey!!!! What a choice.....

Please can you show 1991, Mexico.... Mind you, any of them would be good thanks.

Thanks to all the team there for this great feature. Long may it continue.

Regards
Lordwoz

Fingers crossed Estoril 93, gets shown, I'm outside the UK so can't see it yet but I hope it will be there when I get back! It's an old favourite for me and would be good to see it again. Well done Andrew for not revealing too much of the drama in your description!

Estoril was a great circuit then. It has since been modernised, but the best part of the circuit- the very fast sweeping, slightly banked turns 1 and 2- have been turned into hairpins, which is a shame. It still produces awesome MotoGP racing though, as they showed last week. However, if F1 returns to Portugal it will be at the new circuit in the Algarve, which is an awesome circuit, better than Estoril ever was. There was talk of it being an F1 testing venue this winter, I'd like to see it replace Valencia on the calendar.

1979 US GP please! Please!!!

I didn't even look at the other options we need to see that one.

Mexican Grand Prix of 1991 please - superb circuit!

got to be USA 79 - Gilles was the best after all and fastest by 9 seconds................. I was at Zandvoort standing by the pit lane entrance when he came past on 3 wheels - changing a film in my camera so never got a picture but what a memory and what an attitude. Personally though what about Silverstone 95? Johnny's first win now there's a classic!

Portugal 1993 please!

PS Will these races be shown on the red button also? I've recently upgraded to cable and was really looking forward to enjoying some historic Grand Prix on the TV rather than cramped at a computer desk! Pretty please?

Got to be 1979, Watkins Glen really was something else and to see a classic Jones/Villeneuve battle just seals it.

1979 please!