F1weekly podcast # 348

 

Podcast number 348 is here

Fernando Alonso on top in the final Monaco practice.

Stefano Domenicali refuses to deny speculation Alonso’s future is with Ferrari.

Motorsports Mondial with Nasir Hameed.

Special F1weekly interview with Leigh Diffey.

 

Leigh Diffey: born on March 3, 1971 in Brisbane is an Australian auto racing commentator with the SPEED Channel in the United States. He has also worked in Britain and in his homeland of Australia, where he commentated on Champ Car and V8 Supercars for Network Ten in Australia. Jokingly referred to as "Stiffey" by fans and fellow commentators.

Prior to his Commentary and TV career, Leigh was a PE Teacher at Ipswich Grammar School, leaving in 1995/6 to pursue his love of Motor Sports and Television.

Prior to his 2002 move to the United States, Diffey commentated on the Superbike World Championship and presented coverage of the World Rally Championship for the BBC in the United Kingdom. He worked alongside Steve Parrish who along with Diffey, shared a mutual friend – the late Barry Sheene. Sheene was instrumental in joining Diffey and the BBC together.

In 2001 Diffey filled in for Jeremy Shaw covering the Champ Car series for ESPN International at the Rockingham 500 and the American Memorial 500 at Lausitzring alongside Ben Edwards.
In 2003, Diffey was hired by SPEED. At SPEED, Diffey was the play-by-play announcer for the network’s coverage of the SPEED World Challenge, the American Le Mans Series, the Rolex Sports Car Series, the Rolex Grand-Am Cup, the SCCA Trans-Am Series, and an occasional SPEEDNews anchor and Formula One host. He also did occasional lap-by-lap coverage of the NASCAR Busch North Series.
In 2008, Diffey filled in for SPEED commentator Bob Varsha during the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix. Varsha was unable to assume his usual role due to his covering the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Las Vegas, NV.
Diffey, Bob Varsha and Krista Voda are now the mainstays of "The SPEED Report" – the network’s popular Sunday evening wrap of the week’s news and results. Leigh has also commentated selected rounds of the AMA Superbike and AMA Motocross Championships.

Thursday’s second practice times:

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Alonso Renault (B) 1:15.164 24
2. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:15.233 + 0.069 29
3. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:15.278 + 0.114 24
4. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:15.286 + 0.122 26
5. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:15.293 + 0.129 23
6. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:15.382 + 0.218 25
7. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:15.389 + 0.225 23
8. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:15.722 + 0.558 23
9. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:15.758 + 0.594 23
10. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:15.985 + 0.821 24
11. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:16.103 + 0.939 22
12. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:16.228 + 1.064 20
13. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:16.301 + 1.137 23
14. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:16.317 + 1.153 29
15. Piquet Renault (B) 1:16.382 + 1.218 27
16. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:16.432 + 1.268 22
17. Glock Toyota (B) 1:16.527 + 1.363 29
18. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:16.599 + 1.435 26
19. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:16.661 + 1.497 22
20. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:16.810 + 1.646 26