Month: May 2008

Categories
Motorsports

Bruno Senna has dog of a day in Turkey

Bruno Senna, 24-year-old nephew of Brazilian triple world champion Ayrton Senna, was forced to retire from his GP2 race in Turkey on the weekend due to bizarre circumstances. Two dogs managed to find their way on to the track, and, sadly, only one made it back. Senna hit one of the strays at some pace, despite the Safety Car being sent out to enable course marshalls to capture the animals (see 2:18 on the youtube clip above original clip removed). The other dog managed to escape the track without further incident. The accident took place approximately three hours before the Formula 1 Grand Prix which was won by Ferrari’s Felipe Massa.

Source: Reuters UK

Categories
MINI Challenge

MINI Challenge – Round 3 Wrap up

MINI Challenge - Barbagallo Raceway

Well, what a bonanza Barbagallo has dished up for this round of the MINI Challenge. More thrills and spills than anyone anticipated, or, in some cases, wanted, but alls well that ends well. The big talking point from the round was Ben Tune’s accident in Race one. The former rugby international came across the rise heading toward the final turn on the Barbagallo Raceway, before losing control on the damp circuit on lap seven. His MINI dug into the soft ground and rolled onto its roof. He was then rushed to Joondalup Hospital for precautionary scans where he stayed overnight. Earlier today he was released from hospital with no sign of serious injury. A big sigh of relief for Ben, his family and all followers of the MINI Challenge.

In the end Damien White became the third round winner in as many rounds when he swept to victory in the most hotly contested MINI Challenge race this season, while Gary Young (SALTA Constructions) scored his maiden MINI Challenge victory. Read on for more detail.

Continue reading “MINI Challenge – Round 3 Wrap up”
Categories
MINI Challenge News

MINI Challenge statement on Ben Tune

MINI Challenge logo

Media statement: 11 May, 2008

Best wishes to Ben Tune

Former Wallaby Ben Tune was discharged from hospital in Perth today in good spirits and is looking forward to returning home to Brisbane.

Tune was injured in a single car accident when his car rolled over in the MINI CHALLENGE round at Barbagallo Raceway yesterday (Saturday) afternoon. He was taken by ambulance to hospital for precautionary examination overnight and underwent other medical tests today before being discharged.

Continue reading “MINI Challenge statement on Ben Tune”
Categories
MINI Challenge

2008 MINI Challenge – Round 3 Preview

MINI Challenge - Todd Wanless

Round 3 of the 2008 MINI Challenge began at Barbagallo Raceway in Western Australia earlier today. As reported previously there’s been a few driver changes to the line up with drivers swapping seats or making their debuts, such as Todd Wanless, pictured above. But, perhaps, the driver with the most potential to rattle a few cages this weekend is Leanne Tander.

Leanne, wife of V8 Supercar driver Garth Tander, will be driving one of the MINI Uber-Star Cars this weekend. The MINI Uber-Star Cars are designed to bring a broader focus to the MINI Challenge at each round, through engaging high profile personalities from the areas of sports, entertainment and media. Leanne Tander is arguably Australia’s most credentialed female race driver, becoming the first lady racer in the world to win a Formula 3 race and in 2007, she went perilously close to wrapping up the Australian F3 Championship. She currently lies fourth in the 2008 F3 Championship. She wasted no time in staking her claim for outright honours either, posting the second fastest time in this morning’s first practice session, behind fellow West Australian David Turner.

Continue reading “2008 MINI Challenge – Round 3 Preview”
Categories
BMW News

BMW’s twin-turbo 6 cylinder claims world’s best engine award

BMW 335i engine

For the second year running the 3-litre twin-turbo straight-six cylinder engine from BMW has claimed overall honours at the International Engine of the Year awards, announced last night in Stuttgart, Germany.

The 225kW engine as seen in the BMW 3 Series, BMW 1 Series Coupe and Convertible (released this month), as well as the upcoming X6, repeated last year’s victory in the 2.5 to 3-litre engine category.

BMW claimed several awards on the night and the overall win to the 3-litre six is all the more impressive when you take a look at some of the new engines in the mix, including the 3.8-litre from Nissan’s mighty GT-R, BMW’s own V8 from the M3, Volkswagen’s twin-charged 1.4 TSI and Audi’s monster V10 from the RS6.

For a full list of winners and categories read below.

Continue reading “BMW’s twin-turbo 6 cylinder claims world’s best engine award”
Categories
Motorsports

Jim Richards talks about driveBathurst

If you’ve not heard of the driveBathurst event before it is a weekend of closed circuit track day action. Open to, well, pretty much anyone really. There are, of course, regulations that do need to be met, but essentially, if you’ve got a suitable car and licensing qualifications along with a few lazy grand burning a hole in your pocket, then Mount Panorama is all yours, in all its glory!

The Event, to be held on 10-14 December 2008, comprises two categories: driveBathurst and sprintBathurst. driveBathurst is an untimed non-competitive event while sprintBathurst is a timed competition. Eligible competitors can enter both categories if they choose.

Find out more at the driveBathurst website: www.drivebathurst.com

Categories
News

FIA appoints barrister to examine Max Mosley case

The FIA have recently appointed Anthony Scrivener QC to undertake an independent review of the News of the World’s allegations that Max Mosley was involved in a Nazi-style sex romp. Since the allegations came to light Mosley has been under increasing pressure to stand down as FIA President, with many claiming his reign is now untenable. Several F1 teams have issued public statements declaring they have lost support in Mosley continuing at the head of the FIA. As with most things in Formula 1 these days, the appointment of Anthony Scrivener has attracted fierce debate, with many F1 insiders believing he would not be the independent investigator the FIA claim. One F1 source left their opinion perfectly clear by stating, “Everything is an inside job under Max’s rule.”

At the completion of Scrivener’s report it will be issued to all voting members of the FIA who will determine Mosley’s fate by secret ballot. It has been reported that this ballot will take place in early June.

Source: TimesOnline 

Categories
Formula 1

Is the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix up the Creek?

Eastern Creek International Raceway

Could the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix be heading to Sydney’s Eastern Creek International Raceway? Or will it be up the creek after Melbourne’s contract ends in 2010? As they say, all will be revealed in the fullness of time. In the lead up to the 2008 Melbourne Grand Prix there had been plenty of speculation about Australia’s future as an F1 host. One of the major issues with a race down under is the television schedule it creates back in Europe, with a broadcast time in the wee hours of the morning. This year’s race was delayed some 90 minutes to allow a bit more sleep in for European F1 fans, and next year’s race will be further delayed. Mr Formula 1, Bernie Ecclestone, has all but demanded Melbourne run the Albert Park race under lights so as to further enhance the viewing pleasure of European television audiences or face losing the event. Mr Melbourne Grand Prix, Ron Walker, would probably like to do what Bernie says, but the costs involved with lighting up Albert Park are cost prohibitive and as a result it is hard to put forward a case for the Melbourne Grand Prix existing beyond 2010. So where does that leave the future of Formula 1 in Australia?

Continue reading “Is the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix up the Creek?”
Categories
Auctions & Sales Holden

Walkinshaw HSV VL Commodore: You paid how much?!

Walkinshaw HSV VL Commodore SS Group A

How much would you expect to pay for Tom Walkinshaw’s homage to Darth Vader? Well, according to news just in from Shannons, you’d better cancel your order for a new BMW 135i to free up the cash. The HSV VL Commodore SS Group A pictured above sold at auction recently for $87,000. I’ll type that again, the car pictured above sold at auction recently for $87,000. Wowsers!

Continue reading “Walkinshaw HSV VL Commodore: You paid how much?!”
Categories
Honda

Honda’s Civic Type R wins design excellence award

Honda Civic Type R

The Civic Type R has just been announced as the winner of the Best Interior category in the 2008 Wheels Automotive Design Awards. The distinctive exterior of the current model Honda Civic Type R attracts plenty of attention, but if you’ve never seen inside the futuristic looking Honda then you’ve only really seen half the story. The car’s interior takes the drama and electronic trickery to a whole new level.

Sally Dominguez, from ABC TV’s New Inventors, was one of the judges and she said the Civic was a “brilliant and thorough realisation of original concept car. No compromise in execution. Fine, jewel-like detailing.”

Continue reading “Honda’s Civic Type R wins design excellence award”
Categories
Targa Tasmania

Targa Tasmania – At your service

2008 Targa Tasmania

An all expenses paid trip to participate in Targa Tasmania. Sounds good doesn’t it. What would I be driving? And could it compete with Gentleman Jim’s brand new Porsche GT2? Service crew … what do you mean service crew? Yes, the offer to take part in my first Targa Tasmania was not behind the wheel of a tarmac tearaway, but behind the wheel of a service vehicle. Still, when Andrew Robinson asked me to join him and his 2002 MINI Cooper S for his fourth Targa Tasmania assault, I couldn’t say yes quick enough.

This opportunity came up by chance, as most pieces of good fortune do. As an owner of a MINI Cooper S since 2004 I’ve very much enjoyed the social aspect that MINI ownership brings. There’s been plenty of great drives and new friends made in that time. It is through such connections that I had previously met ‘Robbo’. He’s shown me the way around Wakefield Park once or twice and seems a likeable enough chap. So, let’s talk Targa…

Continue reading “Targa Tasmania – At your service”
Categories
Drive Thru Reviews Volkswagen

Drive Thru: Volkswagen Golf GT TDI v GTI

Volkswagen Golf GT TDIVolkswagen Golf GTI
Welcome to AUSmotive’s first Drive Thru test. In time these will become more commonplace, they will offer independent thoughts gained on a brief test drive that is about what you’d expect from visiting your local dealer. Drive Thru reports are designed to be brief, to the point, and to help you choose what to test drive when considering your next purchase.

Whenever I can force the keys from my wife I really enjoy driving our 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI three door. Believe the hype, the reviews that have universally hailed this car as the leader of its pack are, for my part, bang on the money. So, when the 2 litre 125kW Golf GT TDI was released last year I was keen to learn more about this diesel lark to see why it is that Australian buyers are embracing these new user friendly powerplants. Okay, so it’s taken me a while, but here goes.

Continue reading “Drive Thru: Volkswagen Golf GT TDI v GTI”