Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Well said Andrew and well defended. It's all too easy for people to criticise from the sidelines without having a clue of the hard work it takes to put something like this together.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the detailed and honest explanaition of why certain races are not chosen as options. I think we all prefer to be treated as adults ad be told why we might not get to see some of the races that we would like.

'82 was a quality race and I will be annoying the wife no end tonight by hogging the lap top and watching all the highlights packages!

To Andrew.
Please note that 1982 DID NOT WIN the popular vote for Classic F1 Highlights the final votes were:
1982- 43 VOTES
1989- 37 VOTES
1993- 45 VOTES 1993 had more votes than 1982 and should have highlights
1994- 11 VOTES
2008- 46 VOTES
Technically as the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ can not get full highlights of 2008. 1993 should have the highlights.
So 2008 won with 1993 second and 1982 third. Does anybody agree with me?

Thank you for the explanation Mr B, refreshing to see feedback addressed in such a manner.

Kudos to the Beeb as well for the Freeview scheduling, I shall be settling down this evening for a feast of vintage F1 as a prelude the main event this weekend.

thanks andrew. looking forward to your final classic races for the season. WILL THE CLASSIC F1 SERIES CARRY ON IN 2010?

Thanks Andrew, looks like I've got some great races to watch later!

I must say that I am more than happy to watch these older races. It's such a different sport from the one we have now that it's always interesting for me. Seeing how people used to cope with no re-fuelling and trying to make their tyres last instead of the 20 lap sprints we are all so used to is great. I know that a lot of people will disagree with me but it's good to have the old Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ races, if only for the fact that they aren't plastered all over youtube like the recent ones. Still, surely the main thing is the fact that we're getting the chance to watch any of these at all, and this feature has quickly become an integral part of my Grand Prix weekends.

(If you guys are short of someone to watch all the old races to help pick these choices...Well, it's always worth asking!)

@ f1fantic

While you may be mathematically correct about the number of 'votes' cast on the blog, Andrew did make it pretty clear that the votes cast here would only contribute to the final choices.

Finally!

Thanks for the explanation, although i can't help feel you've told us all before and yet some people still keep "moaning"! lol

Looking forward to watching these tonight, though slightly disappointed my 1993 pick didn't get it - i do concur however 1982 is a very deserving choice also.

Look forward to see what you come up with Abu Dhabi! Hope it won't be the last we'll see of this excellent series and long may it continue on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ!

Andrew, I forgot to say, on the matter of "voting"

I understand your argument that this is not a 'vote' in the strictest sense but you have the final decision. But next year, would it be at all possible to introduce an actual online poll where you click on your preferred choice, so it would be easy to see the results? This would be in addition to continue allowing people to add comments so we could bicker about what is the best race (!) whilst at the same time avoiding any confusion surrounding equal votes and the like

Just a suggestion

An explanation that some people on the forum do need to be given, it seems, well done Andrew, although many bloggers do seem to be largely pessimists in many aspects.

And nice highlights videos, every single race that you have shown this year is fully worthy of having its slot as a great and memorable race.

The great thing about Sao Paulo, is that it has produced so very many fantastic races, so there'll be many more different ones next year. What's interesting, is that many of these great races came this century, like 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2007, as you so rightly said. Yet, people complain if they're not ancient.

Ah well, I enjoyed your videos and selection Andrew; may the classic grands prix continue for many years to come :)

Andrew,

"It has been decided that we will only use Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ commentary (or commentary by people the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ have employed) on these edits."

So, basically, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has a "No James Allen" clause regarding edits? That's a brilliant idea. Although I kinda like James Allen. Nevertheless, whilst I can sympathise with the moaning you may receive, Formula 1 has a very passionate fanbase and your response is quite cold and almost rude personally. I have no qualms with the choices made for the classic GP's but I feel you could have handled that slightly better...

Nevertheless, keep up the good work. And keep up the no James Allen clause. :P

Hi Andrew. Very pleased again with the coverage. Thankyou for opening this blog and forum for the discussion of classic races. As you said - Criticism all season long for including ITV era races, and now criticism for not enough ITV era races! Either way, you prompted a good discussion and have shown five good grand prix.

What a magnificent ciruit that is at Rio and at Interlagos. I hope that next season you may be able to find some footage of a Grand Prix from the old Interlagos layout.

Looking forward to the classic title deciders for Abu Dhabi.

People should stop 'moaning' full stop. I'm grateful we get five highlights and one extended one at all because these races are near impossible to find anywhere else unless you recorded them onto VHS at the time.

So when people whinge they should be happy to get any highlights, because the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ aren't obliged to show any and nobody wants that!

As always great stuff... Can't wait to watch it all... Good work :)

Many thanks,
Stuart.
-

" Formula 1 has a very passionate fanbase and your response is quite cold and almost rude personally. I have no qualms with the choices made for the classic GP's but I feel you could have handled that slightly better..."

Eh? I'm not sure what you have found rude in Andrew's comments but I could understand why he might be getting slightly bored of having to clarify information that's already quite clear. The number of people who voted for 2003 when it wasn't even an option wound me up, and it's nothing to do with me. I think that Andrew's in an awkward position anyway. He's trying to keep everyone happy while there are two distinct camps here - those who want races like Brazil 2008, and others who keep pointing out that the entire race is probably on youtube anyway while 1982 is completely absent. That's a part of his job that I don't think any of us envy.

At least we have the chance to watch these races and take a part in the choosing of the featured race. Last year we probably wouldn't have believed that this would happen. It's also worth pointing out that some races are being left out this year so that we can have the option to watch them during future seasons. How many times did people explain that during the voting just to be ignored by the "It's not fair, why can't we have 2003" brigade?

Highlights of the 2003 Brazilian GP, unfortunately with annoying music but also with James Allen and Martin Brundle.

Thanks Andrew for your tireless work to bring us these classic races, I understand your comments regarding the ITV era and they do make sense. However given that some of the greatest races of all time happened during that era.......... we will moan, but suck it up and enjoy what Auntie gives us.

If we can't moan/complain whatever how are the Beeb to know what we want and what we the viewers think needs improving?

Andrew,

Thank you for providing the opportunity to view the Classic Grand Prix coverage this year.

For me it has been great to be able to see highlights of the older races (which were fascinating), and I hope that in future that you continue to show this feature as it's just brilliant. This is something that other broadcasters should have picked up on and I am glad Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ made the effort!

Seeing as Abu Dhabi is the next race and the "title decider" (possibly), doesn't the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ think it would be also appropriate to have had some of the more recent races (2008, for example), as part of a "Title Decider" special?


Would this not have been a more logical approach given that Abu Dhabi is a new circuit?

This would have allowed you to show the 2003 race during this week while letting people pick their favourite "title deciders" in time for the Abu Dhabi race.

I have just watch the hi-lights of all the races that were selected. I enjoyed all of them but seeing the drama of the 2008 race again was just amazing.

What was Kubica doing!!! That was so rude to intervene in the decider in that way!

Seeing as we on this blog are paying for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ it's a shame that we cannot get what the majority appear to be asking for, i.e. ITV short highlights with the beginning and end cut off if deemed necessary. By relaxing the commentary policy this would be possible with the minimum of effort.

The only reason so many people are "moaning" is because we love this feature so much but feel it could be even better. Anyway thanks for taking the flak and keep up the good work.

Well said Andrew.

I read your Classic GP blog everytime and you have made it clear on more than one occasion why the race with the most votes doesn't always win, why the ITV highlights are short, why you ignore some races (to be choices next year)..etc..etc. I sometimes feel embarrassed by the same questions being raised week after week regarding what is a very niche feature when compared to the viewing figures the actual Live F1 Races achieve and so obviously can't justify much Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ resource. (and i say that as a massive fan of this feature)

Having said that, i didn't vote on the Brazilian Race as they were all good and i'd be happy with any one of them winning. As for 2003, i'm sure it'll be a choice next year, so no worries.

My only concern throughout the season has been getting these races onto Freeview. You've managed it the vast majority of times so that is to your credit, but its of concern as i'd expect the viewing figures to be pretty small which gives you less leverage when trying to find a slot for these races. I know you can't bang on the head of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's door and complain that Muse, The Cricket or anything else is being looped on the red button when you have a few thousand hardcore F1 fans wanting to see some dodgy footage of an F1 Race from the early 80's on a Wednesday night, but it'd be nice if the Beeb offered a committment next year to find a slot anywhere on the red button up until the actual live race broadcast. Without Freeview coverage (and the ability to watch / record it in its original quality) the feature isn't half as good.

Incidently, do you know what the actual viewing figures of this feature are, particularly on Freeview?

Keep up the good work - love this feature, and in particular, Murray's 'Trousers on Fire' Commentary is great to hear once again.

Some decent 2003 highlights - without dodgy music thankfully

Well without wanting to upset too many people, the 1982 race which supposedly won the voting (I think 2003 would have if available) was hardly the most eventful.

I haven't watched any of the others yet, although I do remember the 2003 (youtube links). I think that has to be the only race which has kept me glued to the screen for its entirety.... except fot the really annoying ITV ad-breaks of course.

The season reviews hosted by Clive James are still available on t'interweb, if you know where to look. They have short highlights of every race as well as Clives sardonic commentary.

"The reason the edits from the ITV era take longer to produce is that it has been decided that we will only use Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ commentary (or commentary by people the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ have employed) on these edits. So any race following Murray Walker's retirement in 2001 until ITV lost the rights at the end of last season has to be matched with commentary from Radio 5 Live."

Who has decided that only Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ commentary shall be used? You?

Remove this stupid rule - put the FULL ITV highlights shows online, and I don't see at ALL what the problem would be.

This 'rule' is creating an unneccesary problem.

I watched Bathurst 1000 at the weekend, and I love the way the V8 series has different races formats at each weekend. Does anyone else think that the F1 race format is a bit stale? Would anyone like to see some weekends split into 2 150KM races, with prize money awarded for each race, but the aggregate results deciding the WDC points? or even 3 100Km races. Then maybe run the odd race to 2 hours instead of a set distance. I wouldn't do it for every race, but I think a bit of variety would improve racing

With all the arguing in the posts above about what should or shouldn't have been 'voted' the best highlights I'm not surprised that nobody picked up on the classic Murrayism at the end of the full 1982 highlights:

"And Nelson Piquet has undoubtedly won - nobody can take that away from him..."

At least in Murray's favour he didn't know that Piquet would later be disqualified!

Well done for bringing us these Classics Andrew!

F1 is as much about the history as it is about the present for me, and I love seeing how the cars and racetracks have changed and progressed over the years.
I would always prefer to see races from earlier years, mostly because I didn't get to see them at the time - you can read all about previous seasons, but nothing beats seeing them replayed again! Watching great heroes of the past wrestling with brutish cars around long-forgotten circuits will always trump reruns of recent races for me.

Shame they didn't televise F1 in the 60s like they do today - can you imagine seeing some on-board footage of Clark in his prime?

Thank you for posting both this and all of the Classic F1 highlights packages this season - they really add depth to your exceptional coverage of Formula 1. Regardless of all the complaints the format works brilliantly and sensible compromises have been made to cover the races shown under previous rights. I'm really looking forward to watching these highlights and hoping this feature continues in the same vein for next season.

Thanks for your efforts Andrew. I am one that is proundly in the "older the race, better for me" camp and my preference is most certainly any race before the ITV era. So congratulations Andrew on showing the 82 race when racing cars were racing cars rather than anything in the during the 00's!

As I have said before, i really hope the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ can continue broadcasting old Grand Prix durin the winter season. And I would love to see more action from the 1960's through to the late 1970's where possible. That was the true magical era for Grand Prix racing for me, even though it was before my time. The characters, the cars, the tracks. I hope the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ can show more of this. Thus far we have seen an awful lot of the 1980's 1990's and 2000's - understandably so as coverage has improved. But surely the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has more to its archive?

Keep up the good work Andrew, and dont feel obliged to give in to those who want to see races from the last decade, just because they have already seen them!

"The reason the edits from the ITV era take longer to produce is that it has been decided that we will only use Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ commentary (or commentary by people the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ have employed) on these edits. So any race following Murray Walker's retirement in 2001 until ITV lost the rights at the end of last season has to be matched with commentary from Radio 5 Live."

Erm, what?

So it's YOUR decision NOT to show anything longer than 10 minutes, post-2001?

It's YOUR decision too, then, that you decide NOT to show ANYTHING with James Allen involved?

That's the way I'm reading it. Unless you can confirm it's a "legal issue" that bars you from showing footage with James Allen, it absolutely stinks that you appear to be frightened of using Allen's commentary and with that, extended highlights, because, why? Because you are afraid that there will be a backlash?

Please.. Just come out in the open with it if it's a "legal issue". You don't need to go into detail, but surely people will keep asking questions until you categorically tell us whose choice and whose decision it was not to show any post 2001 extended highlights with James Allen commentating.

If the votes really don't mean anything Andrew, and you get to make the final decision regardless of voting, why not just show 5 classic races, and those that are when Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ had the rights, are ALL shown in full (as well as short highlights) and ITV era races given short highlights (if you really insist on the James Allen thing, otherwise full highlights minus the adverts for ITV races please). Either decide which wins based on the votes, or don't do votes, and show them all, and let us just discuss the races.

Just loved watching the 1982 full highlights. Poor Piquet having to go through all that only to get disqualified later (and Rosberg too). I have absolutely no idea why they did as I was only 4 at the time!

I know there seem to be a lot of complaints here about various races that should or shouldn't have been included, or when they get shown on 301, but this classic race feature has been one of the two main highlights of F1 coming back to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ this year, the other of course being not having to suffer breaks during the race! :-)

(Really looking forward to the title-decider selection too, fingers crossed for two entended highlights like for the classic before Singapore!)

1982 is quite frankly the dullest "classic" F1 pick yet!

Shoulda gone with the more popular 1993!

This is a surprisingly heated discussion.

I am eternally grateful to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ for this feature. We've seen a great mix this season. This level of archive footage is unprecedented in the UK.

That said, I'm slightly disappointed this week that both 1993 and 1982 weren't taken this week given how tight the vote was.

Mr Benson,
Many of the great races were shown on ITV!!
James Allen and Martin Brundle's commentary was a good as Muzza with Martin and Muzza with Hunt.
Why cant ITV's highlights be used? Just cut the adverts out and mix them together yet you labouriously replace Allen and Brundle for Maurice Hamilton, the annoying Jonathan Legard or David 'Got it wrong in Brazil 2008' Croft and slash it own to 10 minutes!
Why do you have to use Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ R5L commentary for post 2001 races?
Also if your rule for people employed by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is being used, its been broken many times with Brundle mot being used.
Im sure James Allen wont mind his commentary being used for this.
But not to choose the brilliant 2003 Brazilian GP was a crime so now we have to wait until next year or scrimple onto youtube for our fix of the best Brazilian GP in the ITV-era.
The classic Grand Prix segment has been great but wrecked by some silly rules such as this Mr Benson, maybe changing it for next season would be better, with ITV era highlights fully being used with the commentary of Allen and Brundle alongside Murray/Hunt or Palmer Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Highlights pre 1997 and Muzza with Brundle pre 2001 on ITV.

Great highlights Andrew, I really enjoyed watching the extended version of 1982 it was a decent race with some impressive overtaking and defending.

Brazil certainly has had some amazing races over the years and I can imagine there will be a great selection of highlights for next years race.

I'm looking forward to seeing the highlights before the Abu Dhabi weekend, the season finale races are bound to be good :)

Well done, a great selection. And we should be thankful that we are getting classic gps on tv. My only gripe is the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ3 picture quality is poor. I would not mind even if it was bbc2, so come on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ!!!

The main thing I'm wondering is this: who on earth is the guy wearing just his underwear stood next to Gilles Villeneuve's car on the grid in '82? I don't think that's something you'd get in this day and age (thankfully - wouldn't want EJ getting any ideas!).

Thank you for the very detailed explanation, but to be honest, what is the point in you bothering to ask us to vote if you are going to ignore what was the more popular vote and then simply say that in the end, the decision is yours to choose?

As for the 1982 'classic', how was that the best race on offer? It looked like we were getting more shots of Bernie and Piquet's girlfriend than any of the racing.

One of you went so far as to say we "bottled it", so we didn't have to listen to the "moans" of those who complain about 'ITV-era' races being selected because if we choose one as the highlighted race - a decision which is influenced by your views - then you don't get a full half-hour (or more) long version.

My answer to this is simple. We don't see it as "moaning" (the respondent's word, not mine). We welcome and listen to your views, as you have seen over this year. But you must also see we have a dilemma here. If we put in races from the 'ITV era' we get complaints that you'd rather see older races so you get the extended highlights. Yet if we leave them out, as in this case, we get people asking why we have ignored great races. You could forgive us if we occasionally felt that we just can't win!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Hehe, sorry about that, I know where you're coming from but I thought on this one occasion, the newer races are perhaps more exciting than the older ones and some viewers may want to see a short clip of one race as opposed to full highlights of another, much different to some races where the modern day era ones have perhaps not been so good. I apologize xox, can't be that easy :p

Even so I don't think Brazil 2008 was one of the top ten races staged in Brazil never mind the top five and if you chose this just because of the thrilling finale, well I was told for Abu Dhabi you were using the greatest last race title fights so perhaps you could've saved Brazil 08 for then?

Anyway yes out of the five Brazil 8 was probably the best of the five (I still think 01 and 03 beat it) so I'm glad that's got the full highlights edit :)

Well you can't please everyone!
Looking forward to watching 1982 thanks :)

Andrew - just wondering if you can expand on the decision not to show any James Allen commentary? Is it a legal agreement with ITV (if so, obviously you don't have to go into details) or something else?

Some say that Mr Allen is better than other commentators in the sport, after all.

I going to ask James Allen about it!

I hope we have many years of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ F1 coverage that we not only have the chance to watch these classics many times over but are also looking back on some more current (and possibly future) GPs with the same enthusiasm. Will we be looking back at our "experts" predictions for the season in the preview to Bahrain? That should provide some good entertainment!!!

Note how quick Schumachers pit-stops were in the 1994 Brazilian GP - were they using the illegal fuel rig then I wonder?

Comment #45 and #46, see James' reply:

"James Allen Reply:
October 15th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
No insight I’m afraid. There may well be some copyright issues
[Reply]"

Andrew, I feel sorry for you having to put up with so much 'substance' from those pleading for races that are still fresh in the mind! Oh Well, you have my full sympathy. IMO, Brazil 1982 was the correct race to show in full - it was exciting, fantastic drivers and cars as well as the historical political backdrop between FISA and FOCA. Why people insist on being shown races that are widely available on the internet as well as being very recent is beyond me, but each to their own! I guess many people want to see wht they have already seen rather than trying to absorb something new in next contexts. And the less we have of James Allen and ITV era races the better as far as i'm concerned. However, im sure you are aware, ITV did braodcast F1 in the 1970's too, do you have access to that material? That would be great.

Andrew,
As much as I enjoy the choices on offer and it is a real treat after all, I found your reasoning flawed.
On the one hand you have Radio 5 Live commentary on the 2008 Brazilian highlights (i.e. last year), and on the other this has proved "too difficult" for 2003 (and others).

"We have also listened to the complaints of many of you on this blog that you don't like us to pick too many races from the years when ITV owned the F1 rights, 1997-2008."

Who and how many? I haven't complained, and so haven't MANY people on this blog,so - a great excuse not to use 2003, yet 2008 was perfectly acceptable - both in the ITV era?
It would have been far easier to put restrictions on choice right at the beginning of the season, then there wouldn't have been the confusions and criticisms...and how far back can the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ go in finding races as far back as the 50's?

Also, If the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ can afford to have the likes of Eddie Jordan, David Coulhard, Martin Brundle, Murray Walker AND Jake Humphrey on their pay roll then I'm sure an afternoon editing F1 visuals with the appropriate copy-righted dialogue on Final Cut Pro HD isn't going to burn a hole in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ director's trouser pockets now is it? I will send my CV on this matter...

On a totally different tangent...will you, like Jake Humphrey and JL beforehand, write an article on a beloved football team of yours?
Can all the presenters and drivers write a little something on this matter?
Can you get Bernie to say a few words on QPR - how he's going to knock down the ground, the surrounding area, including the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Television Centre, and turn the whole of White City into the largest luxury apartment complex in Europe?
I for one can tell you the harrowing experiences of being the lone Chelstown City Rovers Utd. supporter...but I won't...and I won't be in the least surprised if this goes straight to the moderators...

Hi Andrew
Please could you tell me what the Abu Dhabi Classic GP races are thanks. Ideally i would like title deciders but also could there be classic first races from different race tracks

Are you kidding? Editing a race with multiple video and commentary feeds is easy. I can do (and have done) this in a few hours. Indeed I produced a vid for Youtube of Suzuka 1988 using 3 different video feeds and two different audio feeds in an evening, including Senna's own voice-over of the last lap, though sadly it was only up a month before FOM said 'no'. Editing advert breaks out is no problem either. Sounds like you need enthusiastic staff to me...

Btw, I already have a 10 min highlight of the 1982 race (the most worthy one) already.

Hello Andrew.
I cannot understand any true F1 fan complaining about which "classic" gp is put up for viewing, have we had this luxury previously?

Also a real fan would be interested in proper classic races, where the cars slid around corners and the drivers could demonstrate there skill of taming up to 1000bhp and having to change gear manually!

We are able to see the diversity of this great sport of ours that we are so passionate for, V12, flat 12, V8, V10, in line 4 cyl turbo, V6 turbo, fan cars, ground effect or just V8 Cosworth and no aero (heaven). Come on guys look back at the beautiful legacy our sport has to offer, and rejoice in it, we did have excitement before Michael and Lewis.

When ITV took over the coverage of our sport, I did write a letter to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, stating that they must have miles of footage of previous GPs that they could edit into a half hour slot of classics for that circuit, and show before each race came on the "other side". This was probably binned at the time but it pleases me no end that older races are now shown for all to enjoy.

Good though David Croft is, your Stalinesque decision to painstakingly erase James Allen's commentary from all footage from 2001-2008 is simply bizarre.

"56. At 2:26pm on 17 Oct 2009, jonathan_189 wrote:

Good though David Croft is, your Stalinesque decision to painstakingly erase James Allen's commentary from all footage from 2001-2008 is simply bizarre."

Hardly bizzare. The James Allen commentary is licenced to and the rights held by ITV, would you care to negotiate with ITV for those rights and stump up the money for the licence to use his commentary?

I'm more concerned by the way the coverage on the iPlayer seems to have failed this weekend. I just watched the Quali coverage, well all there is of it.

What happened to the quali after it switched to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ2 to make way for that Strictly Come Dancing rubbish and why is the full coverage of all the sessions that took place, i.e. Q2 as well, not yet on the iPlayer?!

@ravenmorpheus2k - James Allen's commentaries are NOT owned by ITV. Formula One Management own anything filmed on site - so they won all of his commentaries.

Why do you think videos featuring his commentary get removed from YouTube 'at the request of Formula One Management'?

Hope you are going to film Ross doing karaoke!

"58. At 12:40pm on 18 Oct 2009, D_M_N_ wrote:
@ravenmorpheus2k - James Allen's commentaries are NOT owned by ITV. Formula One Management own anything filmed on site - so they won all of his commentaries.

Why do you think videos featuring his commentary get removed from YouTube 'at the request of Formula One Management'?"


--------

I fear you are wrong there. FOM do not own the rights to individual TV stations commentaries, otherwise they would have used the commentary from the races as they were broadcast live for the video review DVDs, instead they use Ben Edwards and previously Simon Taylor for commentary.

The footage is owned by FOM not the commentary, the reason the videos were pulled from YouTube is because it's FOM footage, no matter who the commentary was by and I wouldn't be surprised if ITV also had a hand in removing the footage with James Allen commentary.

The commentary is owned by FOM. I know that for a fact (based on many insider comments on a particular forum, which I won't name). Why do you think Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ are allowed to use ITV commentaries from 1997 to 2001?

'82: Interesting rumble particularly as the only thing I knew about Piquet's 1982 season was that he was the defending champion and he had an absolute mare! Didn't know he'd won a race - and then one of the earlier posters said he was later disqualified! What for?

Anyway - was not at all surprised to see the '82 title sequence had been done by Ceefax!

@61 D_M_N

It says in the blog:

"...People which the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ have employed..."
i.e Murray Walker

Andrew,
I watched Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ1's coverage of The Brazililian Grand Prix, and when they showed clips of the 2008 rac, Martin Brundle & James Allen were doing a "voice-over".

My Blog @63 should have said race, not rac

@63: Point still stands that FOM own the commentaries, not the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.