Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/vettel-still-talking-about-it/
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Vettel still talking about it
Sebastian Vettel took his 15th pole position of the year – a new record – and pronounced (as usual): “That’s what I am talking about!” Next year he needs a new catchphrase as this one is worn out. It was nonetheless another superlative performance by the Milton Keynes team with Mark Webber second a couple [...]
2012 BMW 3-Series pricing announced (US)
Set to arrive in February, the 328i will come nicely equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission, iPod/USB/Bluetooth connectivity and a 6.5-inch iDrive display.Massimiliano Papis Mike Parkes Reg Parnell Tim Parnell Johnnie Parsons
Lotus versus Lotus?
As the F1 teams were getting ready for qualifying in Brazil, the Lotus Renault and Team Lotus operations were focussed on the Carrow Road stadium in Norwich where Tony Fernandes’s Queens Park Rangers soccer team was due to take on Norwich City, which has a sponsorship partnership with Group Lotus. The five-year sponsorship deal was [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/lotus-versus-lotus/
Spider Webb Mark Webber Volker Weidler Wayne Weiler Karl Wendlinger
2012 Jaguar XF Sportbrake first spy photos
Wagon/estate variant of the Jaguar XF is sporting its name, 'Sportbrake', on the side of the prototype spied here.Rudi Fischer Mike Fisher Giancarlo Fisichella John Fitch Christian Fittipaldi
No U.S. edition for Volkswagen Passat Alltrack
North American edition of the Volkswagen Passat won't get an Alltrack variant - the new Alltrack is based on the euro-spec Passat model only.Bruce Johnstone Alan Jones Tom Jones Juan Jover Oswald Karch
Friday, November 25, 2011
Williams FW33 Interim Livery pictures ( 1st of February)
Williams F1 Team presented their 2011-spec FW33 car at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, on 1 February 2011 only hours before the Valencia test kick-off. The car featured an interim livery, as the Grove based team is yet to finalize their sponsorship deals for the upcoming Formula 1 campaign.
The interim livery featured the team's classic navy blue color, along with the name of the team's newest major sponsor, Venezuela's state-owned petroleum company PDVSA, posted on the rear side of car, below the engine box.
Technical specifications
| Chassis | carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque |
| Suspension (front) | Carbon fibre double wishbone arrangement, with composite toelink and pushrod activated springs and anti-roll bar |
| Suspension (rear) | as front, except pullrod activated rear dampers |
| Engine | Cosworth CA2011k 2.4 L (146 cu in) 90� V8, limited to 18,000 RPM naturally aspirated mid-mounted |
| Transmission | Seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox with reverse gear Electro-hydraulically actuated seamless shift |
| Weight | 640 kg (1,411 lb) (including driver) |
| Fuel | BP |
| Tyres | Pirelli P Zero |
| Rays Wheels (front and rear): 13" |
Link
Williams FW33 ? Lowline gearbox (Scarbsf1's Blog)
"One fear from the outsiders point of view would be the structural efficiency of such a waisted design, especially the vertical spar, that supports the wishbones leg above the differential. Williams would either have to compromise weight or stiffness to make the design efficient. So despite the loss of a large proportion of the gear case, the gain may be offset by the penalty of added weight to make the remaining structure stiff enough."Williams FW33 Interim Livery pictures
Photos � Williams/LAT
Mike Taylor Trevor Taylor Marshall Teague Shorty Templeman Max de Terra
Send me your questions about F1 2011
Hello all,
I am filming the final 2011 entries for this video blog after next weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix and that means I need your help.
I will be answering a selection of your questions as well as reviewing the season.
So if you have any questions about F1 2011 - whether it be about Red Bull's domination, Sebastian Vettel's superb season, McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, Ferrari and Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher, Mercedes and their ambition, or anything else to do with F1 - please do post them below.
We will pick a selection of the best and I will answer them here after the end of the season.
Thanks,
Murray
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/murraywalker/2011/11/send_me_your_questions_about_f_3.html
Jochen Rindt John RiseleyPrichard Giovanni de Riu Richard Robarts Pedro Rodríguez
LE MANS: 2012 WEC Field Starting To Take Shape
SPEED.com?s John Dagys breaks down the confirmed, likely and rumored teams set to compete in next year?s FIA World Endurance Championship...
Source: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/le-mans-2012-wec-field-starting-to-take-shape/
Corrado Fabi Teo Fabi Pascal Fabre Carlo Facetti Luigi Fagioli
Gumpert drops teaser on possible new supercar headed to Geneva
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Now this is how you create an excellent - and mysterious - teaser photo. The scene is dark and there’s only that sight of the shadow of an unmistakable supercar growling in the darkness, waiting to bust out its fangs and unleash holy hell on the entire auto industry.
This, dear friends, is a teaser photo released by Gumpert announcing the arrival of an all-new supercar that’s scheduled to be unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show. Details behind this mysterious machine are still being kept under wraps and the only thing we really have going for us are these foreboding photos.
What the car will look like, what it’s going to be called, and what’s it going to be like are all questions that nobody has an answer to just yet.
But if there’s one thing that we can take away from this mysterious teaser photo, it’s the ever-growing realization from some of the world’s fastest cars that their worst nightmare is out there lurking in the shadows.
And it’s coming soon. Very, very soon.
Gumpert drops teaser on possible new supercar headed to Geneva originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 25 November 2011 18:00 EST.
Chuck Weyant Ken Wharton Ted Whiteaway Graham Whitehead Peter Whitehead
Sebastian Vettel: ?We need to make another step?
Sebastian Vettel was happy with Red Bull?s progress at Interlagos today, but said that there was more to come ? and cautioned that everything could change anyway if the expected rain arrives. Vettel was fourth in FP1 today and moved … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/11/25/sebastian-vettel-we-need-to-make-another-step/
Giorgio Pantano Massimiliano Papis Mike Parkes Reg Parnell Tim Parnell
Hamilton: This is the start of something very good
After winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the weekend, Lewis Hamilton has said that it marks the start of a new chapter. The McLaren man has had a difficult season overall, but was back to his best at the weekend to secure a memorable victory. Speaking afterwards he said: “It is early days yet, [...]
Ken Richardson Fritz Riess Jim Rigsby Jochen Rindt John RiseleyPrichard
Vettel set for titles aplenty
 |
?Here, after all, is a young man, already dubbed ?Baby Schumi? by Germany?s tabloid press, winning the first of what will presumably be multiple world championships, and all at the tender age of 23. Plenty of time yet to match Schumacher's incredible haul of seven world titles. And yet, their phenomenal ability to drive racing cars apart, there is little similarity between the two men. ?There are still lingering doubts over his racing ability but with such blistering qualifying pace he is nearly always leading from the front anyway. Vettel is set for multiple world championships. Just don?t call him Baby Schumi.?The Guardian?s Paul Weaver says it was difficult to begrudge Vettel his moment of glory after he won the first of what will be many world titles. He also looks back at some of the season?s highlights.
?An amazing Formula One season produced its final twist here on Sunday when Sebastian Vettel, who had never led the title race, won his first world championship. It is difficult to begrudge him his glory, for he had more poles (10) than any other driver and shared the most wins (five) with Fernando Alonso. There will be red faces as well as red cars and overalls at Ferrari, though, for deciding to bring their man in when they did, only to see him re-emerge into heavy traffic. ?Among the highlights, and every race felt like a highlight after the bore-start in Bahrain, there was that wonderful beginning to his McLaren career by Jenson Button, who won two of his first four races, even though he couldn't keep up the pace, especially in qualifying. ?Hamilton once again drove his heart out, and outperformed a car that looked a little too ordinary at times. He was superb in Montreal. Then there was Webber, the Anglophile Aussie who was the favourite among most neutrals to win the title. There was that spectacular crash when he ran into the back of Heikki Kovalainen and the most famous of his four wins, at Silverstone, when he said to his team at the end of the race: 'Not bad for a No2 driver.' ?But in the end there was only one German who mattered. It was the remarkable Vettel. This will be the first of a clutch of championships for him.?The Independent?s David Tremayne focuses on the plight of the other title contenders, writing it is easier to feel more sorry for one than the other.
?It was impossible not to feel for both Webber and Alonso. Yet while a frustrated Alonso gestured at Petrov after the race, the Australian, predictably, refused to complain about his pitstop timing. ?A world championship seemed an inevitable part of Sebastian Vettel's future, but it came a little sooner than most expected, after his recent tribulations. You wouldn't bet against several more, and if that record-breaking streak continues, perhaps even Schumacher's achievements will be overshadowed.?And the Mirror?s Byron Young elaborates further on the petulant behaviour of Fernando Alonso on his slowing down lap after his title dreams ended behind the Renault of Vitaly Petrov.
?Fernando Alonso was hurled into more controversy last night for a wild gesture at the former Lada racer who cost him the title. But the Spaniard brushed off accusations he gave Russian Vitaly Petrov the finger for ruining his title hopes by blocking him for 40 laps as they duelled over sixth place. "The Ferrari ace was caught on television cruising alongside the Renault driver on the slowing down lap and gesticulating from the cockpit. Petrov was unrepentant: "What was I supposed to do? Just get out of his way, pull to the side? I don't think that is how we race. It was important for the team for me to get points."
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/vettel_set_for_titles_aplenty_1.php
Arthur Legat JJ Lehto Lamberto Leoni Les Leston Pierre Levegh
Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206
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Subaru is already offering lots of details on their next generation WRX STI sports car, but until 2013 when will actually see it, we can enjoy a few more goodies left in the company’s pocket. One of these goodies has been unveiled today: the ultimate S206 version of the Impreza WRX STI. The car will be revealed next week in Tokyo and is already in sale in Japan.
Subaru will also be offering a special NBR Challenge Package edition of the S206 that commemorates Subaru?s class win at the N�rburgring 24 Hours. There will be only 300 S206 units built, 100 of which are the NBR editions. The latest ones have been already sold out.
The new S206 has been described as Subaru’s crown of the STI tune cars. It offers advanced driving performance and exclusively-made items in both interior and exterior designs.
Hit the jump to read more about the new Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 24 November 2011 09:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/subaru/2012-subaru-impreza-wrx-sti-s206-ar120543.html
David Coulthard Piers Courage Chris Craft Jim Crawford Ray Crawford
NASCAR: Kyle Busch closes on Phoenix sweep
Kyle Busch closes on Phoenix sweep By Diego Mejia Sunday, February 27th 2011, 07:28 GMT Kyle Busch could make further NASCAR history this weekend by completing a full sweep of victories in its top-level championships at Phoenix in a single weekend, having already dominated in the Trucks and Natiowide Series races at the one-mile oval. Related posts:- Kyle Busch goes wire-to-wire in N’wide Phoenix win AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Kyle Busch became the first driver in...
- Kyle Busch rolls to 8th Nationwide win of season CLERMONT, Ind. -- Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski kept it...
- Kyle Busch talking with Tony Kanaan about NASCAR possibility AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Kyle Busch has had discussions with IndyCar...
Source: http://doxcar.com/nascar-kyle-busch-closes-on-phoenix-sweep/
Lloyd Ruby JeanClaude Rudaz Eddie Russo Paul Russo Troy Ruttman
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Red Bull under the spotlight
 Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel celebrate with Red Bull boss Christian Horner on the podium |
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/red_bull_under_the_spotlight.php
Alan Rees Clay Regazzoni Carlos Reutemann Lance Reventlow Peter Revson
BMW 6-Series Coupe by AC Schnitzer [video]
AC Schnitzer has announced plans to introduce their new tuning package for the BMW 6-Series Coupe at the Essen Motor Show.Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison
Official: Liuzzi announced as HRT's second driver
The 2011 Formula 1 field is finally complete, after Hispania Racing F1 Team confirmed yesterday (March 9), the signing of former Force India driver Vitantonio Liuzzi for a full campaign in 2011.
After being ousted by Force India, he will be Narain Karthikeyan?s teammate, and will drive the new Hispania car later this week in Barcelona.
HRT also said on Wednesday that it will launch and debut the Cosworth-powered F111 on Friday.
I am really happy to have signed this agreement with Hispania Racing,? said Liuzzi in a statement for the press.
I never lost hope to be in Formula 1 as I knew I have the experience and the right attributes for a young and ambitious team. I face a new challenge now and this excites me. I also face a lot of hard work in guiding Hispania Racing through the development of our new car.
I am extremely grateful to Jose Ramon Carabante and to Colin Kolles for giving me such an opportunity.
- Vitantonio Liuzzi
I have known Tonio for many years as he raced with me in lower categories. He is a very professional driver who will bring a lot of benefits to the team. I am convinced about his skills to develop a car and his speed. He has shown this in the past having contributed to a large extent developing and moving a back of the grid car to the front.
- Team boss Colin Kolles
John Barber Skip Barber Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels
Team order rule needs a re-think
 Jean Todt arives for Wednesday's hearing |
?Whether you are for or against team orders, if the FIA could not back up its own rules and nail a competitor in a blatant case such as this the rule really does need reviewing. Perhaps Ferrari?s thinly-veiled threat to take the matter to the civil courts if they were punished too harshly scared the governing body, who as much as admitted the flimsiness of its rule."Paul Weaver, reporting for the Guardian in Monza, was in favour of the ruling which keeps alive Ferrari?s slim chances in an enthralling championship.
?The World Motor Sport Council was right not to ruin a compelling Formula One season by taking away the 25 points Alonso collected in Germany. That would have put him out of the five-man title race. But the council was widely expected to increase the fine and possibly deduct points from the team, as opposed to the individual. In the end, it could be argued that common sense prevailed. But the decision will dismay those who were upset by the way Ferrari handled the situation as much as anything else.?The Daily Mail's Jonathan McEvoy expressed outrage at the FIA tearing up its own rule book by allowing Ferrari to escape unpunished.
"Although the race stewards fined them �65,000 for giving team orders in July, the FIA World Motor Sport Council, to whom the matter was referred, decided not to impose any further punishment. It leaves the sport's rulers open to derision. It was, after all, their rule they undermined. In a statement, the WMSC said the regulation banning team orders 'should be reviewed'."
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/team_order_rule_needs_a_rethin_1.php
Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris Francois Cevert
India ready to spice up Formula 1
The glamorous globetrotters of Formula 1 will stop in South Asia for the first time this week as India makes its debut on the grand prix calendar.
There is a real sense of anticipation within the sport that the race outside the capital city of Delhi will add some spice to the season now both championships have been settled - as well as introducing a new global powerbroker into F1.
"It's a historic and symbolic moment," enthused Narain Karthikeyan, India's first F1 driver, who returns to a seat at the HRT team this weekend.
"Never did I think there would be Indian race in Formula 1 and never did I think I'd be in it. It's going to be the biggest day of my career."
Despite spreading east and west, it has taken F1 more than 60 years to make its way to the world's second most populous nation.
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The sport's first appearance in India was back in 1982, when the Force India team's co-owner Vijay Mallya, then a young businessman with a fascination for fast cars, drove Nelson Piquet's 1978 Ensign in a series of events around India.
But despite Mallya's early foray, the sport's commercial rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, waited until the mid-nineties before pursuing plans to add India to the calendar. An agreement to stage the race in Greater Noida, a new city outside Delhi, was finally reached four years ago.
Unusually for a new entrant on the F1 calendar, government is not committing any funds to the grand prix. Instead it is a private venture funded by construction specialists the Jaypee Group, which has spent £205m on the new track alone.
Organising the grand prix is the firm's first foray into sport but, despite F1's notoriously high price tag, Jaypee views the project as a strong investment.
The Buddh International Circuit - designed by Ecclestone's favoured architect, Hermann Tilke - has been devised as the centre piece of an ambitious 'Sports City', which will include hockey and tennis stadiums - pitches have already been dug in for a state-of-the-art cricket stadium.
Building cricket stadiums for the sport's devoted Indian audience can be viewed as a pretty safe bet but India's appetite for F1 is more of an unknown quantity.
"You cannot compare F1 with cricket in India because cricket is like a religion," explained president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India Vicky Chandhok, who described himself as Ecclestone's "eyes" in India.
"But F1 is a vibrant sport, it oozes glamour, it oozes sex and we have the perfect audience - the youngest population in the world are in India."
Karthikeyan, who first saw F1 when a friend bought him a 1989 season review video, agrees the sport should not try to compete for the cricket audience.
"F1 is definitely not watched by the same demographic as cricket," he said. "The urban areas are where F1 is most popular, among people who like technology.
"They have other things on their mind in the predominantly rural areas; where there are farmers, I don't the connection with F1 is that big, whereas cricket is accessible to everyone."
Who F1 will appeal to is one thing but the other big question is how many?
The Indian potential audience is huge, with a population of 1.18 billion. However, a large population and a growing economy does not necessarily make for a receptive audience - as has been proved by the lacklustre response to the Chinese Grand Prix, which has been running for eight years but still struggles to attract a crowd.
Before the Indian GP, it is estimated that 27m Indians tune in to watch F1.
ESPN Star Sports is the sport's sole broadcaster in India - although eight national news channels have also been accredited for the race - and F1 is included in part of a satellite subscription package which Karthikeyan says costs less than a pound a month.
Television audiences for the first Indian GP are expected to rise above 30m, with an estimated 200,000 expected to watch from the grandstands over three days.
The novelty of the first race is bound to lure in a new audience but sustaining both interest and growth in F1 when the circus leaves town is a different challenge.
Thousands of fans turned out in Bangalore to meet McLaren star Lewis Hamilton
On the plus side, motorsport has some established some roots, with national karting and rallying championships already in place as well as a three-tiered single-seater series powered by engine manufacturer Suzuki, whose subsidiary Maruti Suzuki is India's biggest car manufacturer.
Chandhok, whose son Karun is the Team Lotus reserve and only the second F1 driver from India, is confident the GP will spark new interest.
"I honestly think there is going to be a huge boom in motorsport," he said. "People like Karun really struggled to make it because of the [lack of] financial backing but the next generation will find it easier."
Karthikeyan is more cautious: "It could go two ways; one like the Korean Grand Prix where it happens, there is some attention and then nothing happens in any form of motorsport for the rest of the year.
"Or it could be like Malaysia where, after F1 arrived, there is a huge interest in the lower formulae and a lot of motorsport is going on there in a big way.
"There are lot of kids who will see the race in India and want to emulate the drivers."
Force India, who regard the grand prix as an "emotional" home race, have launched their own academy to help ensure the Indian GP is not the only outlet for Indian talent.
"There are three sectors," explained deputy team principal Robert Fearnley. "The first is the one-in-a-billion search for an Indian driver, the second is the idea to help bright young Indian aerodynamicists and mechanical engineers through university and the third is a vocational plan to bring in technicians and mechanics."
There is also confidence that F1 and India will go on to forge mutually beneficial commercial partnerships.
Sauber's Indian-born chief executive Monisha Kaltenborn says: "It was always a bit of a mystery why we couldn't attract Indian companies.
"Because the Indian market is so big, most products and brands didn't necessarily see beyond their boundaries, but now they can use F1 as a platform and we offer our partners something additional if India is a big market for them. It's a win-win situation."
There are, then, a lot of expectations weighing on the first Indian GP, whether it is winning the hearts and minds of a nation, acting as a catalyst for grassroots motorsport or building new global business partnerships.
But there is also a warm confidence that F1 and India are only at the beginning of a fulfilling, new relationship - and there should be some fun to be had too.
"I think you'll enjoy it," smiled Karthikeyan. "You'll be in good hands."
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sarahholt/2011/10/the_glamorous_globetrotters_of.html
John CampbellJones Adrián Campos John Cannon Eitel Cantoni Bill Cantrell
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