Here’s the pics from Suzuka where Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel were the stars at the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix. It’s one of AUSmotive’s biggest F1 race compilations ever, with 109 images for you after the break. There’s some fantastic shots in there too; the late afternoon light was captured perfectly by the world’s best photographers.
Ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix we bring you two videos to refresh your memory of the legendary Suzuka layout. The first is onboard with Michael Schumacher in his Mercedes GP from 2010. Then, after the break Team Lotus puts Jarno Trulli into their simulator. It’s a bit low rent, to be honest, but the commentary from Trulli and the Renault F1 engineer offer a small insight into the 5.8km track.
Sebastian Vettel’s dominance in 2011 has been perfectly captured by the image above. Love him or hate him, nobody can deny the young German has been in a class of his own this year. And so it was at the Singapore Grand Prix; Vettel’s most complete race this season.
To see how the also rans went we have compiled another 80 pictures from the unique night race held at Marina Bay. They’re all there for you after the break and don’t forget to click your favourite images to view in 2000px super sizing.
Those with a keen eye will recognise this barnyard wreck is an iconic Mercedes-Benz 300SL coupé; the original ‘Gullwing’. It’s a 1955 model and only the very knowledgeable will pick it as a special alloy-bodied competition special. Just 29 were ever made.
Along with its alloy body panels Mercedes made further modifications including the use of lightweight Plexiglas, while lowering and revising the suspension, adding a high-lift camshaft, knockoff Rudge wheels and bigger brakes.
Making this find more remarkable is the fact the car is still with its original owner. How could he let such a classic and truly great car end up in this condition? Well, perhaps receiving the car as a graduation gift didn’t exactly bestow the original owner with the greatest appreciation for what he had been given.
Tom Welmers, the owner in question, drove his 300SL regularly until the 1970s when the transmission failed. What we see now is the result of a half-baked DIY repair job. It’s not that Welmers didn’t have the expertise to fix it—maybe he did, maybe he didn’t—the point is the car has sat in this state of disrepair for around 40 years. Why?
Rudi Koniczek is a restoration specialist and he not only established the bona fide nature of this diamond in the rough, but, thankfully, has also been charged with returning the car to its former glory. Koniczek helped negotiate a sale to an appreciative benefactor and having already restored chassis #1 and #6 we expect the results for this rare 300SL will be stunning.
If the restored car goes up for auction, with its rarity and unique provenance, it’s expected to sell for well over a million dollars.
Pistonspy has come up trumps again with some great footage and pics of the seriously cool Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black. Perhaps the most desirable Black Series yet—in our eyes at least—it’s interesting to see this development car lapping the Nürburgring with a large rear wing.
Turns out that wing is part of an AMG Aero Package, which includes a revised front splitter, among other enhancements. Also being tested is the AMG Track Package, which consists of special 19″ tyres and improved cooling at the rear axle to benefit the transmission.
[Source: Pistonspy]
You may recall the Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class from earlier in the year; it’s a funky and curvaceous Golf wearing three-pointed star emblems. The show car had a 155kW 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder.
The car you see above is reported to be the hi-po AMG version of the new A-Class. It’s been circulating at recent Nürburgring industry pool days.
Can you imagine a modern day AMG making do with just 155kW? No, neither can we. More importantly, neither can they. Indeed, this little pocket rocket is understood to have the wick turned up to somewhere around 240–260kW.
You can forget any traction concerns, too, as an all-wheel drive system should ensure the power reaches the road with good effect.
[Source: World Car Fans]
We welcome news that Mercedes-Benz is set to produce a Black Series version of the SLS AMG. Speaking to Motor Trend about the SLS AMG, Tobias Moers, Director of Vehicle Development at AMG, said “We absolutely have to do a Black Series.”
The standard Gullwing model offers 570hp from its 6.3 litre V8. Expect the Black Series to be somewhere north of 600hp.
[Source: Motor Trend via World Car Fans]
US publication Motor Trend has assembled a group of 11 incredibly desirable cars, sent them to an empty airstrip and planted the go pedal. Check the list below, form your opinion on which car you think will be quickest. Also consider which cars you reckon will make the top three. Which one will be the slowest? Then take the jump and watch ex-pat Aussie and former Wheels editor Angus MacKenzie guide you through the results.
[Thanks to Tim for the tip]
Mercedes is the second manufacturer to show off their 2012 DTM car in Frankfurt after Audi revealed the A5 DTM. The official name of the three-pointed star racecar is the DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupé.
It’s powered by a 4.0 litre V8 and is good for around 500hp/500Nm. At just 1050kg and with a trick 6-speed gearbox it’d sure be a hoot to drive.
Mercedes proudly boast they are the most successful DTM manufacturer in the category’s 27 year history. They’ve notched up 84 race wins from 156 starts and have earned a total of five drivers’ championships.
Sadly they’ve only given us three pics of the DTM C-Coupé to date. If we find any more we’ll be sure to add them here.
Here’s your pictorial reminder of what went down at the 2011 Italian Grand Prix. Unusually, this includes a few pics of Mark driving around in his busted car as well. Seems most teams don’t like showing broken cars when the driver is mostly at fault. There’s been a few exceptions, though, and we’re always keen to share them when they arise.
Lotus, Mercedes GP and Renault didn’t come to play with many pics from Sunday’s action. We’ve used a few Saturday fillers for you, which we prefer not to do. However, we can’t have you miss out on your fair share of pics.
There’s 80 pics in all this time around, all waiting for you after the break. Knock yourselves out!
The fat lady is preparing her vocal chords and we expect she will be singing Sebastian Vettel’s tune at the next Grand Prix. That’s right, following yet another peerless drive from Vettel to win the 2011 Italian Grand Prix, he can formally wrap up the 2011 drivers’ title at Singapore in a couple of weeks if results go his way.
In Monza overnight Vettel’s only concerns came following a bullet-like start from Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) to steal the lead. The Safety Car quickly came out after Tonio Liuzzi’s (HRT) slip’n’slide move on the grass cleaned up a few midfield runners.
When the lights went green Vettel had the Ferrari in his sights and pulled a sterling move on the outside of Curva Grande to reclaim the lead. The 24-year-old is silencing the doubters who claim he cannot race wheel-to-wheel when the going gets tough. He may still have a bit to learn in that regard, but his last two races have shown he is head of the class.
In all of the chaos around him Jenson Button (McLaren), who had a poor start, quietly worked his way into second place with a mature drive. Again Alonso struggled on the harder tyres and held on for third, denying Lewis Hamilton’s (McLaren) late race charge for a podium place.
It was a bad day for the Australians, with Daniel Ricciardo (HRT) stalling on the start line. He was able to eventually get going again and complete a total of 39 laps but he was “not classified” so it was a data gathering exercise for the team and no more. Mark Webber (Red Bull) meanwhile put himself between a rock and Felipe Massa’s Ferrari and lost his front wing in the process. A few corners later, with parts of the wing lodged in his undertray, he lost steering and went off into a tyre barrier ending his race.
Webber’s DNF has relegated him from second to fourth in the drivers’ standings. He’s on 167 points, behind Button (167pts, ahead on wins), Alonso (172pts) and the 2011 champion-in-waiting Vettel (284pts).
More from the top three after the break.
[Pic: Ferrari]
Here’s the official teaser clip for the new Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG. It’s a car that boasts a 310kW normally aspirated V8 engine. It should sound totally nuts, right? Well, we wouldn’t know because Mercedes is too concerned about telling us how frugal the engine is: 8.4l/100km… blah, blah, blah. Just rev the thing so we can hear how good it sounds!