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F1 in pictures Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2011 Monaco Grand Prix in pictures

2011 Monaco Grand Prix

We figured you have probably seen enough of Sebastian Vettel on the victory dais, so we’ve given the Red Bull Racing images a miss from Monaco. Actually, that’s not true, it looks like the Red Bull media site is having a few technical issues so, for now, we’re missing photos from them and Toro Rosso. It’s shame, because, as usual, there’s some great pics in there. Hopefully we’ll have them for you shortly.

In the meantime, there’s another 62 pics from the Monaco Grand Prix for you after the break. We’d love to hear which one is you think is best. So take your time, have a good look and leave your comment below.

UPDATE 1 June: New pics from RBR and STR have now been added.

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Volkswagen

VIDEO: Are you GTI enough?

Volkswagen has just released this quick promo clip to help build momentum for its new Golf GTI Edition 35. What do you think; is a Golf GTI with 173kW really a (hot) girl’s car?

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Motorsports Volkswagen

Wörthersee 2011: Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 35

Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 35

Earlier this month Volkswagen gave us a preview of the Golf GTI “Edition 35”—they told us it would have an 18kW power increase on the regular GTI, but they didn’t tell us how that power would be achieved.

Now, we can tell you, the Edition 35 runs a de-tuned 2.0 litre turbo from the Golf R. In short, that means the power gain has been achieved by using a bigger turbo; much like the Mk5 Golf GTI Pirelli.

The new Golf GTI Edition 35, then, has peak numbers of 173kW/300Nm and VW claim it can reach 100km/h in 6.6 seconds. It is now available for order in European markets.

We understand there’s been rumours suggesting a limited run of ED35 models will make their way to Australia, possibly by September. Volkswagen Australia usually keep their cards very close to their chest; if we hear anything sooner we’ll let you know.

UPDATE 1 June: We’ve been in touch with Volkswagen Australia about the ED35; this is what they said, “The GTI 35 edition will be in Australia later this year. We do not have a confirmed date as yet.” Good news for GTI fans!

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Audi Motor Shows

Wörthersee 2011: Audi A1 clubsport

Audi A1 clubsport

Imagine if Audi took a regular A1 body and stuffed it full of TT RS goodness. That’d be pretty cool, right. But what if they said, “No, that 250kW inline five cylinder is a bit weak; let’s pump it up to 370kW!”

Well, imagine no longer, because Audi has done just that with this one-off A1 clubsport creation. The 500hp A1 will be on show at Wörthersee from 1–4 June.

The A1 clubsport has been widened by 60mm and the flared guards look great, while honouring the great tradition of the Ur-Quattro. The DTM-inspired side-exit exhaust is a nice touch, as well.

At 1390kg, Audi reckon the A1 clubsport, with a 6-speed manual and quattro, will reach 100km/h in a mere 3.7 seconds, 200km/h takes a brief 10.9 seconds.

After the break you’ll see Audi’s official press release, along with a gallery of photos that will have you wishing this mini-beast was in your driveway.

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Audi Motorsports

Lowndes-Luff pairing failed to start at the Ring

Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff

Unfortunately the trip to Germany for Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff to race in a VLN endurance round at the Nürburgring turned out to be little more than a tourist visit to the Audi factory in Neckarsulm.

According to a short paragraph in the latest Audi Motorsport newsletter Lowndes binned his R8 LMS in practice. He was not injured, but the Australian driver pairing were forced to sit out the race.

Bugger.

UPDATE: Comments from Lowndes can be read over at Speedcafe.com.

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Motorsports Renault

Daniel Ricciardo wins in Monaco

Daniel Ricciardo

Australia’s next F1 driver in waiting Daniel Ricciardo has capped off a dominant weekend at Monaco by claiming victory in the Formula 3.5 Series event.

The 21-year-old Western Australian was never headed in any of the practice sessions and started the race from pole position. Ricciardo then led the race from start to finish and enjoyed his second win at Monaco in front of the F1 crowds.

Speaking after the race Ricciardo said, “I was maybe a little bit more relaxed this time, maybe because it was my second time starting from pole in Monaco. The race didn’t feel as long this year either, I was able to enjoy it a little bit more, even though it was fairly close right up until the end. The car felt good; I felt as though I had good pace and I wasn’t that bothered by the safety cars and I controlled the restarts well.

“It’s been a perfect weekend for me. To have the opportunity in the F1 car on Thursday was amazing. To finish the weekend off with a win is just incredible. It will be a weekend that’s stays with me for a long time!”

[Pic: World Series by Renault]

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Citroen WRC

Sebastien Loeb wins Rally Argentina

Sebastien Loeb, 2011 Rally Argentina

Somehow, Sebastien Loeb has managed to win Rally Argentina and extend his championship lead to 13 points. After day one Loeb was hit with a 60 second time penalty, but he proved persistence pays off by ultimately claiming the lead on the final stage to earn a slender 2.4 second win over Ford driver Mikko Hirvonen.

Earlier Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford) and Sebastien Ogier (Citroën) looked likely victors only to surrender the lead. It was suspension failure for Latvala and Ogier crashed on the opening stage of the final day. While both men were able to finish the event, they will rue the opportunity lost.

Reflecting on his sixth win in Argentina, Loeb acknowldged his good fortune, “After Friday’s penalty I wasn’t counting on this victory. We pushed really hard to get back in contact with the front-runners and to beat Hirvonen. Once again the outcome was decided by a hair’s breadth. It seems that Rally Argentina is my happy hunting ground!”

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Formula 1 McLaren

Lewis Hamilton spits the dummy

After mistiming his qualifying run at the Monaco Grand Prix, the last thing Lewis Hamilton wanted in his pursuit of championship leader Sebastian Vettel was an untidy race. Well, sadly for Lewis, who started back in seventh place, an untidy race is exactly what he got. It involved a drive through penalty for contact with Felipe Massa and a 20-second time penalty after contact with Pastor Maldonado, which ultimately ended the Venezuelan’s race.

Speaking to the BBC after the race Lewis Hamilton made these rather outlandish comments which will surely land him in further hot water.

[Thanks to Wes for the tip]

UPDATE 31 May: Some comments from Lewis Hamilton’s twitter page can be read after the break.

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Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2011 Monaco Grand Prix: Post-race press conference

2011 Monaco Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel has made it back-to-back wins for Red Bull Racing at the Monaco Grand Prix by claiming victory in a dramatic race overnight. His fifth win of the year, and his first on the famous street circuit, has given him a seemingly unassailable 58 point lead in the drivers’ standings. Fernando Alonso achieved Ferrari’s best result for the season to date by finishing second, ahead of McLaren’s Jenson Button.

As always, Monaco provided plenty of action and gave us the first Safety Car laps of the year. The race was heading for a thrilling climax with Vettel, Alonso and Button all nose-to-tail with six laps remaining. All drivers were on different tyre strategies with Vettel, having only stopped once on lap 16, hoping to hold his track position by running 62 laps on the Prime tyres.

Vettel was somewhat forced into a one-stop strategy after the usually lightening quick Red Bull crew made a hash of his first pit stop (9.6 seconds) and followed that immediately after with a worse stop for Webber (15.5 seconds); all but ruining the Australian’s race, who did well to fight back to fourth place.

Meanwhile, in the closing stages Alonso’s tyres were fresher than Vettel’s, but still 20-odd laps old, while Button’s three-stop race meant he had the cleanest and quickest rubber of the top three.

On lap 72, while fast approaching slower traffic, the leading trio were lucky to miss a bit of kerfuffle immediately ahead of them involving Vitaly Petrov (Lotus Renault GP) and Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso). The pair crashed into the barriers and caused the second Safety Car period of the race, which quickly turned into a red flag after initial concerns over the well being of Petrov. With just six laps left to race it was first thought the race would end and Vettel would be declared the winner. Petrov was safely removed from his car and it subsequently appears he will be okay.

While Petrov was being attended to the cars formed up on the grid and under red flag conditions were able to make the most of a relatively lengthy delay by making minor adjustments to their cars if required. Crucially, this also gave teams the chance to fit fresh rubber if available to them. Ultimately, this handed Vettel the race who, after the restart, was able to hold off Alonso and Button for what looked like a comfortable win. Although, at various times all three men on the podium would have felt like they were best placed to win.

You can read what they had to say after the break. Video highlights are available at the One website.

[Pic: Ferrari]

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster photo gallery

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

The ragtop version of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG isn’t due for its public debut until the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, but that hasn’t stopped the three-pointed star from releasing a big image gallery of their new Roadster.

Driven by the same 420kW/650Nm 6.3 litre V8 and 7-speed DCT as the “Gullwing” tintop, the Roadster gives the filthy rich, or those who truly deserve it—depending on your bank balance—access to the open sky in just 11 seconds. The soft top can be opened at speeds up to 50km/h as well.

The SLS AMG Roadster introduces some new in-cabin tech, too. It’s called “AMG Performance Media” and it brings some Nissan GTR-like telemetry to the main display screen—G forces, engine data, lap times; that sort of stuff.

After the break you can see 60-plus images from Benz, as well as a short promo clip and lengthy presser.

UPDATE: A quick note from Mercedes-Benz Australia: “The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster will launch in Australia and New Zealand during quarter one, 2012. The selling price will be confirmed closer to its local launch.”

Categories
Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2011 Monaco Grand Prix: Post-qualifying press conference

2011 Monaco GP

Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel has secured yet another pole position; his first at the Monaco Grand Prix, his fourth P1 for 2011 and his nineteenth career pole. His final time was a blistering 1:13.556 and was four tenths quicker than McLaren’s Jenson Button (1:13.997) who qualified on P2.

Mark Webber has suffered the seemingly inevitable Red Bull Racing KERS gremlins at stages over this weekend and was unable to set a lap time at all in Thursday’s Free Practice 1. He’ll take some satisfaction that his best time of the event so far (1:14.013) was set during the final quali session, enough to see him start form P3 later tonight.

With 2:26 left to run in Qualifying 3 Sauber driver Sergio Perez ran wide on exit from the tunnel and hit the barriers. He then lost control and stopped after suffering heavy side impact with barriers near the chicane. The session was stopped for an extended period while medical crews carefully removed him from his car. There were reports not long after he was removed from the car that he was conscious and talking. It has since been confirmed he is okay and suffered concussion only, although he will miss the race.

The post-quali press release transcript from the FIA can be read after the break, along with statements concerning Perez.

[Pic: Red Bull Racing/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 Lotus

Lotus v Lotus ruling: Everyone wins a prize

Team Lotus logo

The British High Court has handed down its decision in the Lotus v Lotus stoush and the short version of events is, “Everyone’s a winner!”

At stake was the right for 1Malaysia Team F1 to continue using the Team Lotus name. In 2010 the team was known as Lotus Racing, under a licensing agreement with Group Lotus, owners of the Lotus road car division.

However, the courts have ruled that Lotus Racing was in breach of its agreement with Group Lotus and damages have been awarded to the parent company. Also on the winning side of the ledger for Group Lotus was clarification of its right to use the Lotus name as a single entity in Formula One and for road cars.

Seems pretty straightforward until you learn that Team Lotus has also retained its right to use the Team Lotus brand in F1. So, a decision has been made by the High Court that, really, leaves us with the status quo of two teams both with Lotus in their names. Has anything really changed?

Group Lotus say they will appeal the decision in a bid to stop 1Malaysia Team F1 using the Team Lotus title. Interestingly, it seems Team Lotus is keen to expand on its recent takeover of Caterham Cars with a new brand name of Caterham Team Lotus.

Statements from both parties can be read after the break. You can bet there is still a lot of mileage left in this dispute.