Month: March 2012

Categories
Audi

2013 Audi A3 driving footage

When the new Audi A3 was officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show Audi Australia weren’t willing to divulge their launch plans. Our guess is the new A3 will be on display at the Australian International Motor Show in October before going on sale locally early next year.

Seeing as you can’t see the car out on the streets you’ll have to make do with this YouTube footage, brought to our attention by Audi UK.

As soon as we hear something concrete from Audi Australia and their A3 rollout we’ll let you know.

Categories
Formula 1 McLaren Mercedes-Benz

AusGP: Button quickest in Friday practice

Jenson Button, McLaren, 2012 Australian Grand Prix

Rain interrupted proceedings during both of F1’s free practice sessions at the 2012 Australian Grand Prix yesterday. It robbed the teams and fans of the first genuine chance to see who was going to be the team to beat in Melbourne.

In drying conditions during the morning session it was Jenson Button who set the day’s fastest time when lapped the 5.3km Albert Park Circuit in 1:27.560. For context that time is four seconds slower than Sebastian Vettel’s pole position time from last year.

In the afternoon Michael Schumacher relived the glory days by finishing the session on top of the timesheets. His time was 1:29.183 and as such doesn’t really offer us a true representation of what to expect in today’s sunny and dry conditions.

World Champion team Red Bull Racing was down the field, with Webber finishing fifth fastest in FP1 (1:28.467) and Sebastian Vettel eleventh (1:29.790). While in the second session it was Vettel who led the Red Bulls in tenth (1:32.194) just ahead of Webber (1:32.296).

Australia’s other hope Daniel Ricciardo took his Toro Rosso to seventh in the morning (1:28.908) before being well down the field in twenty-first during the afternoon (1:34.604).

Free Practice 3 starts at 2pm and runs for an hour. Qualifying starts at 5pm and it is then that we should get the first genuine insights as to how the early part of the season should progress.

[Pic: asphotos]

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Categories
Formula 1 News

Channel 10’s 2012 F1 TV coverage confirmed

2011 Australian Grand Prix

With their telecast of the 2012 Australian Grand Prix about to get underway the question over who Channel 10 will source their commentary feed from has been answered. In a recent tweet Channel 10 commentator Greg Rust confirmed: “2 all the F1 followers tks 4 ur patience. Yes @tensporttv will be taking the @SkySportsF1 commentary for the 2012 F1 season.”

Questions were raised following the shock move by the BBC to step back from their F1 coverage, forging a new deal allowing British pay TV network Sky Sports to step in and fill the void. It’s a move hoped to save BBC some cash in the face of increasing budget concerns. The Beeb will still offer free-to-air limited coverage for UK viewers with around half the season to be shown live, while the remaining races will be a highlights package.

Australian viewers can rest easy in the knowledge that Channel 10, via their HD channel One, will continue to show all qualifying sessions and races live throughout the 2012 F1 season.

A juicy cheque, rumoured to be in the seven-figure price bracket, has lured Martin Brundle from the BBC to Sky and he will head their commentary team. For more info on their F1 coverage check out the Sky Sports F1 website, which may prove to be a good source of info throughout the year.

[Thanks to Wes for the tip]

Categories
Formula 1 Toro Rosso

Ricciardo told to push it, push it real good

F1 Jerez pre-season testing, February 2012

As we prepare for the 2012 F1 season to start in earnest one of the most intriguing side stories is the Daniel Ricciardo–Jean Eric Vergne rivalry. Both in their first year with Toro Rosso they are in effect taking part in a year-long interview for Mark Webber’s race seat at Red Bull. That’s the commonly held belief anyway.

The pair have competed against each other in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series so have some idea what to expect. The good news for those of us watching with interest is the Toro Rosso top brass have basically said, all gloves are off chaps, get out there and have a crack.

“We’re going to be on the edge. They have said if you make a mistake, it happens. At least we know you’re pushing it,” explained Ricciardo.

“Obviously we’re not going out there trying to crash the car, but sometimes a team needs to see you go off, whether it’s a crash or you run across the grass’ to know that you’re trying to find that limit.

“I’m not going to hold back.”

And that’s excellent news for us.

[Source: tensport]

Categories
Ford WRC

Chris Atkinson hopeful for more WRC action

Chris Atkinson, Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Rally Mexico

Last weekend Chris Atkinson enjoyed his first WRC start since 2009 when he took part in Rally Mexico as part of Ken Block’s Monster World Rally Team.

“Atko”, as he’s become known, showed good pace too, running well inside the top 10 and winning the Super Special 2 stage. That was the first ever WRC stage win for the Monster WRT.

Unfortunately for Chris a brake failure contributed to him crashing out of the event on day two of the rally. But he’s still hoping to sign off on at least two more appearances this year by participating in Rally NZ and Rally Finland.

“Having been part of the Monster World Rally Team in Mexico, I’m really, really pushing to make it happen in Finland and New Zealand. I felt like I really fitted in with the team, it was great—and really cool to see how those boys push the marketing and social media side of the sport,” explained Atkinson.

“I’ve always got on really well with Ken [Block, Monster team-mate] and I reckon we make a good team. Everybody’s pushing hard to make the deal work for us to do more and those two rallies are two of my favourites.”

Indeed Atkinson has previously finished fourth at NZ and secured a WRC podium by finishing third in the 2008 Rally Finland.

[Source: wrc.com | Pic: Monster WRT]

Categories
Formula 1

Grand Prix: The Killer Years (TV alert)

Grand Prix - The Killing Years

In May last year we brought your attention to a powerful BBC documentary called Grand Prix: The Killer Years. It concentrates on Formula One from the years 1961–73 and highlights the horrors the sport could bring and the inherent lack of safety at the time.

The full one hour documentary was on YouTube but has now been removed. However, if you missed it or would like to watch it the doco will be broadcast on One tomorrow at 10:50am right before coverage of the Australian Grand Prix commences.

We recommend you take the time to watch it and set your recorders if you can’t watch it live. There’s a short preview after the break.

UPDATE 16 March: It now looks like this program will go to air 30 minutes earlier at 10:20am. Thanks for that One!

Continue reading “Grand Prix: The Killer Years (TV alert)”
Categories
Caterham Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Toro Rosso

Quick reference guide to the 2012 F1 season

F1 Jerez pre-season testing, February 2012

We might have seen 12 days of F1 pre-season testing already this year, but today is the eve of the 2012 Formula One season proper. When tomorrow’s free practice sessions go green that will be the first chance we get to see who is fast and who was mucking around during those pre-season tests.

To help prepare you for another mammoth year in F1 we bring you this quick reference guide. We have the full entry list and numbers for all drivers, plus links to our launch articles for all 11 teams. Very useful will be the coloured boxes which indicate which drivers will have a red camera atop their car and who will have yellow.

We’ve also included an introductory video from Pirelli explaining some of the changes they have made to the tyres for the season ahead. And, finally, there’s a handy calendar with the start times for all 20 races converted to Australian Eastern time.

If you still want more information you can learn more about the rule changes introduced this year in the Charlie Whiting Q&A article and The Guardian also has a good team-by-team preview, that is well worth a read.

All that’s left now are questions on what the season will bring: will this be Mark’s year; can Ricciardo edge himself ahead of Jean-Eric Vergne; and, more importantly, can anyone stop Sebastian Vettel?

For easy reference save this link: ausm.tv/f1guide2012

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Categories
Formula 1

Charlie Whiting on the 2012 F1 rule changes

F1 Jerez pre-season testing, February 2012

Charlie Whiting is Formula One’s Race Director and is therefore best placed to talk us through the various changes to the Sporting and Technical Regulations for the 2012 F1 season.

Some of the changes introduced this year include a four hour time limit on Grands Prix, a relaxation for tyre usage in Friday free practice sessions, as well as the re-introduction of the “one-move” defending track position rule and the ability for lapped cars to overtake the Safety Car to resume at the tail of the field.

Regarding the Technical Regulations find out why the almost all of the cars have a “platypus” style nose and why F1 is cracking down on aerodynamic gains from exhaust flows and braking systems. Measures have even been taken to reduce the assistance given to wheel gun operators during pit stops.

With thanks to the FIA you can read the full Q&A interview after the break.

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Categories
MINI

R56 MINI JCW GP on the way

MINI JCW GP prototype

This blurry screen grab was taken from a brief video showing what appears to be a new MINI JCW GP prototype. The footage was filmed in Germany and provides a few clues with its camouflage covering the large rear wing and revised lower valance/wannabe diffuser. Minor engine improvements are likely, along with model-specific suspension and alloy wheels.

You may also be interested to note it seems the R56 Hatch will be used as the basis for the GP, rather than the Coupé that was used in last year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race.

The upcoming MINI United event in May shapes as the most likely launch date for the ‘GP2’. The original MINI JCW GP was first revealed at the 2005 MINI United gathering. If that’s the case then we only have a couple of months to wait.

[Source: MotoringFile]

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Categories
Porsche Video

Chris Harris on the Porsche Boxster S

Chris Harris on the Porsche Boxster S

After his disappointing piece for the BMW M550dX Chris Harris is back in form with this Porsche Boxster S review. For the first time it has him questioning his preference for the mighty 911. That’s some wrap for what he has previously termed a girl’s car. We don’t necessarily agree with that because the Boxster has, generally, always been a cracking drive that rewards drivers, male or female.

However, it’s not all rose coloured glasses for the new 981 Boxster. In his review on Pistonheads Harris had this to say about the car’s electronic steering: “It takes about 10 seconds to spot the steering. The wheel is slightly dead in the hands compared to the old car—it doesn’t feel unnatural, just mute.”

It soon won him over, though: “Point the Boxster into a turn and it does two things completely at odds with the expectations laid-down by that initial numbness. It turns with unusual speed and efficiency, then clips the very point on the road you’d been aiming for. Repeat this process for 15 minutes and, like me, you’ll be left guppy-like with admiration.”

The video is all yours after the break.

Continue reading “Chris Harris on the Porsche Boxster S”
Categories
MINI

MINI Paceman becomes Countryman Coupé

MINI Paceman Concept

Take your mind back to the MINI Paceman concept, essentially a two-door Countryman. Sign-off on production was confirmed over a year ago and now we have the model’s official name, which is the Countryman Coupé. Not terribly adventurous, but sounds fair.

Production is expected to commence in November this year and the R61 Countryman Coupé will host a full suite of model variations, including Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper S and Cooper SD, as well as All4 versions of each. And, more than likely, all to be topped off by a 160kW JCW model.

Rumours suggest there will be a few styling tweaks made from concept to production. MINI may even go to the effort of giving the Countryman Coupé individually styled headlights. The biggest change, though, comes in the probable form of a pair of club-doors, one on each side, making the Countryman Coupé a quasi five door model.

[Source: MotoringFile]

Categories
Accessories & Tech Formula 1

Fancy a crack in a professional F1 simulator

I-Way F1 simulator

Today the Top Gear website brings us closer to I-Way World. The what? Well, you know how some people build rigs for their gaming console with race seats and the like. Imagine you had no budget and could build what you wanted. Anything at all.

That’s pretty much what they’ve done at I-Way in Lyon, France. There’s WRC simulators for rally action, LMP set-ups if you want to win Le Mans and, of course, a small grid of F1 simulators as well.

It’ll cost you €90 for a 10 minute spin in the F1 rig, that’s three minutes of quali and a seven minute race. Reckon you can handle it? How’s this for an intro:

“The steering wheel is weighted up to 70kg through corners and the brake pedal up to 200kg at racing speed. You will also experience around 2G through corners so you need to be physically fit to control the car.

“And if you have eaten you may want to wait – about four per cent of people vomit. And don’t look at the side screens. They project 300 frames per second for an impression of speed and make some people unwell. This can also make you want to… use the bathroom.”

Follow the link below for more. And if you’re still up for it then check out the I-Way website.

[Source: Top Gear]