Year: 2011

Categories
Citroen WRC

Sebastien Loeb considering his WRC future

Sebastien Loeb - 2010 WRC winner

From one seven-time world champion to another, the official WRC website reports Sebastien Loeb is contemplating what car he might be driving in 2012 and beyond.

According to the 37-year-old Frenchman his current employer Citroën are willing, “They are waiting for me so I have to decide in the next week,” Loeb said in an interview Autosport magazine.

“I will decide whether I stay at Citroën or stay in the rally, but with somebody else or retire and do something else. One thing is sure, I will not stop driving.”

The Citroën–Loeb partnership has proven to be unbeatable, but how long can it go on? Would Loeb consider moving to a new team, such as Volkswagen, due to enter the WRC in 2013. If so he could retrace the early part of his career and help develop the Polo R WRC just as he did with Citroën.

“Yeah, for sure, it’s also an opportunity for me, maybe,” said Loeb.

Clearly, Citroën want Loeb to stay. And it seems as though team boss Oliver Quesnel will have an answer very soon.

[Source: WRC]

Categories
Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Michael Schumacher considering his F1 future

Michael Schumacher

When seven time world champion Michael Schumacher was considering a return to Formula One it set the motoring world alight. He would be returning to the team that had just won the constructors’ championship, after all. History tells us Schumacher finally signed a three-year deal with the newly formed Mercedes GP after they had taken over Brawn GP. Hope was spring eternally all over the place.

With the benefit of hindsight we can see that Schumi’s return hasn’t been what many hoped it would be. Sure, predictions of an eighth world title were probably always a little optimistic, but in 30 starts since his comeback Michael’s best results amount to a quartet of fourth place finishes. Three of which were in 2010.

Even though the German is signed up until the end of the 2012 season, it’s little surprise to learn that the 42-year-old is considering his future in the sport. In a recent interview with Italian publication Corriere dello Sport Schumacher gave a refreshingly honest account.

“I arrived at Mercedes with a specific task: not winning at all costs but to grow the team,” he said.

“If anything, I am the problem: it is a fact that I am a bit more relaxed than before and I do not know if my mindset is right for this team. At some point we will evaluate whether I continue or stop.”

If Michael does leave at the end of this season Force India’s Paul di Resta, former Mercedes DTM driver, is likely to top Ross Brawn’s wish list.

[Source: FoxSports]

Categories
BMW

Quick reference guide to BMW model codes

BMW 1 Series hatch (F20)

With the introduction of the new 5 Series and 1 Series model lines from BMW we’re seeing more examples of their new codename structure. Gone are the familiar model codes with an E prefix and in are codes starting with F.

The new 5er carries an F10 codename, while the new 1er is known as the F20. Although, it was the F01 7 Series that was the first to wear Fxx coding back in 2008.

BMW codenames aren’t the easiest things to remember at the best of times, so after the break there’s a full list of what we have seen and what we know is coming. It will be a very handy reference for the future, so make sure you file this entry away somewhere handy.

[Source: Car]

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Categories
Porsche

911 watch: Brown is the new black

A few days ago we brought you some more spy shots of the new Porsche 911, with a warning we might end up going slightly overboard on 911 material prior to its official launch.

There’s good news for you on two counts today, then, with this video showing the 911 in action. As is the norm, it seems, the car is pretty much undisguised, save for some stuck on graphics over the front and rear lights.

The other good bit of news is there is now less than 40 days to go until the 991 is revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

[Thanks to Jono for the tip]

Categories
Formula 1 News

Thursday 11 August: Australian release of ‘Senna’

A quick reminder for motor racing fans that the general release of the full length Ayrton Senna documentary is due to start around Australia this Thursday. Above is a new 30 second TVC posted to the official Senna movie YouTube account.

Already there have been a number of preview screenings across the country, including one on the Gold Coast hosted by speedcafe.com. After the break you can see more from that screening including interviews with Sir Jack Brabham and Mick Doohan. Also interviewed were Adrian Burgess and Martin Whitaker, both well known locally for their current involvement with V8 Supercars, but both had worked in F1 while Senna was at his peak.

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Categories
McLaren News Oh the humanity

‘Crashadder’ goes forth

Rowan Atkinson's crashed McLaren F1

More pics of Rowan Atkinson’s crashed McLaren F1 have emerged and, as you can see, they don’t make for pleasant viewing.

In some good news for the star of Blackadder and Mr Bean, he been released from hospital with no more than a broken shoulder blade. Looking at these images he can thank the strength of the McLaren’s carbon-fibre body shell for that; it could have been much worse.

Apparently Atkinson was driving home after filming for his new role in Johnny English Reborn. His agent Peter Bennett-Jones said, “He is shaken but not stirred. He will want the car repaired straight away.”

Best of luck with that.

[Source: The Sun | Thanks to Chris for the tip]

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Categories
BMW

BMW 1M Coupe ‘Raze’

BMW 1M Raze

UK tuning house RevoZport has produced a lightweight diet regime for those lucky enough to already have a BMW 1 Series M Coupé. Through a number of replacement and add-on carbon-fibre bits RevoZport reckon their 1M ‘Raze’ is 60kg lighter than when it left the BMW factory.

From the RevoZport website:

Power to weight ratio directly determines a sports car performance. When weight is reduced, speed, brake, lateral and longitude G force are all improved dramatically. The 1M RAZE manage to trim more than 60kg on a 1570kg* 340hp car, a very significant increase.

While some parts are listed as Price On Application (POA), others are quite reasonable. Carbon fibre mirror covers, for example, are US$290. Even a larger piece, such as the replacement roof panel, is not too bad at US$1500. Many of the parts are also suitable for regular 1 Series Coupé models.

A complete list of items available and more images can be seen after the break.

[Source: 1addicts]

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Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT5 competition

Imagine if the getting the keys to the awesome Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG ‘Gullwing’ was as simple as being good at Gran Turismo 5. You don’t have to imagine any longer because Mercedes and Sony have teamed together to turn virtual into reality.

Only trouble is the competition has been run and won. Fifteen contestants from all over the world pre-qualified for the final and were sent to the Red Bull Ring in Austria. There they got time behind the wheel of the SLS AMG and through a series of driving tests a winner was found.

Watch the video and tell us if you think the final event is befitting of the ‘Gullwing’ and a competition based around a driving simulator where the gamer gets to experience some of the best roads and racetracks in the world.

For more on this event check out this official Mercedes blog.

Categories
McLaren News Oh the humanity Top Gear

Rowan Atkinson crashes his McLaren F1

Rowan Atkinson, McLaren F1

Reports from the UK bring word that Rowan Atkinson has been hospitalised after crashing his McLaren F1. Although it has been described that Atkinson “cheated death” he suffered only a minor shoulder injury.

It’s understood the 56-year-old comedian lost control of the car and it spun three times before crashing into a tree then a street light sign. He was able to free himself from the wreckage and was assisted by a witness until emergency crews arrived.

The Sun is quoting a source as saying, “It’s a miracle that he managed to walk away from the crash. He’s a very lucky man.

“The car was a wreck, really badly damaged. Rowan must be absolutely gutted.”

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Categories
Audi

2012 Audi S5 photo gallery

2012 Audi S5

As you know Audi recently gave their A5 range a bit of a mid-cycle refresh. Of course, the S5 received a similar treatment and for your viewing pleasure here’s 60 plus images for you to check out. Included are all three body styles: coupé, cabriolet and sportback.

All models in the S5 range are now powered by a supercharged 3.0 litre V6, curiously badged as a V6T. The engine is good for 245kW and with a frugal approach can sip fuel as low as 8.1l/100km, so Audi reckon.

We sampled the new V6 in the Audi S4 early last year. It’s a fine engine, lacking only in the induction sound lost from the 4.2 litre V8 that we loved in the S5 coupé.

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Categories
Formula 1 News

Q&A with Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo, 2011 British GP

Young Australian racing driver Daniel Ricciardo is just three races in to what we hope will be a long and successful Formula One career. Starting with Hispania Racing the 22-year-old has been making steady progress with the equipment available to him. Helping us understand what’s been on Daniel’s mind of late HRT has sent out a Q&A interview which you can read in full after the break.

In regards to Ricciardo’s longer term future, if all goes well, he will be the one most likely to replace Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing. Perhaps as soon as the 2013 F1 season. Plenty of water to pass under the bridge before then, though.

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Categories
Porsche

More 991 Porsche 911 spy shots

991 Porsche 911 prototype

New spy shots of the soon to be released 991 Porsche 911 have been published by Autocar (follow the source link for more). You can tell it’s the new 991 by the wing mirrors and, of course, the subtle disguise over the lights front and rear.

The new 911 is due for its first public showing at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. It’s not too far away now and forgive us if we happen to go into 911 overload between now and then.

[Source: Autocar]

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