Just two weeks away from the General Election, the British public is far more likely to be able to name seven Formula One racing drivers than seven members of the Cabinet or Shadow Cabinets!
This startling fact was discovered through research by GrandPrixGame.com, the largest skill-based pools betting game for F1 enthusiasts. It suggests that the starting grid at Imola this weekend will -- to the likely disappointment of Messrs. Blair, Howard, and Kennedy -- garner considerably more attention than the grid on Whitehall is likely to get a scant ten days later.
GrandPrixGame.com's survey of nearly 2,000 adults remarkably found that while 24% were able to name five or more members of the Cabinet. The most widely recognisable member of the government, apart from Prime Minister Tony Blair, was Gordon Brown (98%), followed by John Prescott (92%), Jack Straw (72%) and John Reid (35%). Staggeringly only 4% of people were able to name minister of sport Tessa Jowell.
There was also disconcerting news for the Conservative and Liberal Democratparties.
Unsurprisingly 91% could name Michael Howard as leader of the Conservative Party, but, rather worryingly, only 16% were able to name any three members of his Shadow Cabinet while only 7% could name four or more. The second most named was Oliver Letwin (65%) followed by Theresa May (13%), although 3% thought she was a member of the Labour government.
The survey revealed another key difference between the worlds of politics and F1. While next generation engines are usually the key to winning the F1 drivers championship, it's last-generation politicians that have the potential to dominate the election limelight long after they've left the actual race. For instance, 4% of survey respondents thought that Conservative MP for Kensington and Chelsea Michael Portillo was still a member of the Shadow Cabinet, news that will undoubtedly result in his party leader blowing a head gasket!
Sadly for the beleaguered Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, while 93% of Britain's voters knew who he was, only 4% were able to name Menzies Campbell as a member of his Shadow Cabinet, a points tally that makes Minardi's look impressive by comparison.
Reflecting the growth in popularity of F1, 95% of those polled were able to name seven F1 drivers - the most naming Michael Schumacher (96%), followed by David Coulthard (94%), Ralf Schumacher (73%), Jenson Button (67%) and Rubens Barrichello (56%). While 62% of men polled could name championship leader Fernando Alonso, only 7% of women knew who he was.
GrandPrixGame.com Managing Director Jon El-Kadhi said: "The last General Election had the lowest turnout since 1918. While F1 has recognised the need to reconnect with the people, as you'll see at this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix through the introduction of rule changes to boost excitement, our research suggests that politicians are falling short of capturing the public's imagination. Mind you, given a choice between Blair's babes and the girls in pit lane, it doesn't take a lot of imagination to see who'd be more likely to get the average punter firing on all cylinders!"
GrandPrixGame.com is the largest instant pools betting game created for the 2005 Formula One Grand Prix season, the jackpot for this weekends San Marino Grand Prix has already reached the £10,000 mark. To win the jackpot, the player must use their skill to predict which drivers, in order, will be the first six to cross the finish line. Each selection costs just £1, all of which is added to the GrandPrixGame.com jackpot, plus a call/web charge.
Selections can be made on the website grandprixgame.com or through a fixed line or mobile phone (09051 680 780), right up to the parade lap. If more than one player successfully predicts a race's outcome then the jackpot will be equally split. If no one wins, then the prize fund is rolled over.
