The Korea Herald

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F1‘s reigning champ savors second title

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Published : Oct. 10, 2011 - 17:34

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YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Newly crowned 2011 Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel, the youngest racer ever to win two straight driving titles, can’t afford to sit too long on his laurels — his next race is less than a week away.

But, he says, that doesn’t mean he can’t spare some time to savor his achievement.

As his Red Bull racing team packed up and headed off for South Korea, Vettel took a day off Monday to do what any 24-year-old on the top of his game — and the top of the world — might be expected to do.

Bask in his new title.

“We had a little bit of a celebration last night,” the affable German said before greeting a mob of Japanese fans. “But not too much because this week we go to Korea.”

Vettel, who said he spent Sunday night at an Irish bar singing karaoke with his teammates, has good reason to be pleased with himself.

With four races still to be run, his third-place in the Japanese GP on Sunday sealed the drivers title in what has been an overwhelmingly dominant season for him. And with nine races won so far, he is still in contention to equal the season record 13 wins marked by countryman Michael Schumacher.





Top-ranked teams endorse fairer World Cup schedule

AUCKLAND (AP) — Rugby’s major nations have endorsed a 20-team format for the sport’s 2015 World Cup and have offered to play midweek matches to ensure the lower-ranked teams have more time between matches.

Representatives of Tier One nations met Monday to discuss the format and commercial model for the next World Cup, which will be held in England, broaching issues which recently saw a New Zealand-led threat to boycott the tournament.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew has said the All Blacks could consider skipping the 2015 event unless the International Rugby Board addresses concerns around the tournament’s effects on test match revenues and sponsorships for member unions. Australia has supported New Zealand’s stand.

Lower-ranked nations competing at the World Cup have also attacked a schedule which has given some of them as little as four days between games, while the top tier countries enjoyed longer rest breaks.

The International Rugby Board said in a statement Monday that during “a constructive forum” Tier One unions had “unanimously recommended retaining the current format of 20 teams split across four pools.”











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