Category: Motorsports

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber: “It’s crunch time”

Mark Webber

It’s no surprise that the pressure on Mark Webber will be huge this weekend. But, as a new post on his website testifies, he’s ready and willing for the challenge, “It’s crunch time: we have two races in the space of eight days, at the end of which we’ll know the identity of the 2010 world champion.

“It doesn’t get bigger than this and I feel 110 percent ready for the fight.”

Crucially, and partly on the back of last year’s victory in Brazil, Mark goes into the race full of confidence, “I’ve never been outqualified by a team-mate at Interlagos,” he said.

“I can think of no better time to take another victory than now; you can be sure that I’ll do everything in my power to achieve that.”

[Source: MarkWebber.com | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Ford Motorsports WRC

Brendan Reeves and Molly Taylor earn WRC Academy drives

First filed 26 October 2010

Brendan Reeves & Molly Taylor

26 October 2010: Young Australian drivers Brendan Reeves and Molly Taylor have just been awarded €500,000 WRC Academy scholarships for the 2011 season. Both drivers were selected for the Academy following a successful showing in the recent Pirelli Star Driver Shootout.

The WRC Academy replaces the JWRC category and is a one-make series using Ford Fiesta R2s. There will be 20 competitors taking place in the Academy next year, but only six scholarships were up for grabs.

In addition to the six rounds of racing competition Academy participants will be given expert training for a future WRC career, including diet and mental preparation.

After being told of her success Taylor said, “My focus has always been working towards the WRC, so to be sitting here today knowing that this is actually a reality is surreal. This is just the beginning and the hard work starts now, I’m buzzing!”

Meanwhile, Reeves is also happy and grateful for the opportunities ahead, “This is a dream come true for me. I would really like to thank Pirelli and the FIA for giving junior drivers the opportunity to compete for such a fantastic prize. There is nothing else like it in rallying and for them to give young drivers like myself the chance to become a WRC driver, is awesome.”

Well done to Reeves and Taylor and here’s hoping both have a great 2011. Follow the source link below to see a brief video explaining the WRC Academy.

[Source: WRC]

UPDATE 4 November: The WRC Academy video from the source link has been added to YouTube and you can now watch the clip right here after the jump. Thanks to Chris for the tip.

Continue reading “Brendan Reeves and Molly Taylor earn WRC Academy drives”
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Formula 1 Volkswagen

Volkswagen rejects move into Formula One

Daniel Ricciardo in Volkswagen powered F3 winning car

According to a report in the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech has decided against entering VW into Formula One. Such a move was previously intimated by a number of sources, including brand ambassador Hans Stuck.

Volkswagen enjoyed open wheeler success last year by powering young Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo in his Red Bull sponsored Carlin Motorsport machine to the 2009 F3 title. It was understood new engine rules for F1, to be introduced in 2012, would provide an ideal opportunity for VW to move into motorsport’s premier category as an engine supplier. Reportedly there was interest from Red Bull Racing and even McLaren to partner with VW.

However, it now appears the Volkswagen Group may focus its motorsport endeavours on the WRC and Le Mans 24 hour race through its Audi and Porsche brands.

[Source: FAZ.net]

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Interlagos

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

It’s no secret that Mark Webber faces a crucial race at the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend. He needs to win, or, ideally, finish ahead of Fernando Alonso to boost his title chances. Even so, he casually says he’s expecting lots of traffic, strange weather and some nice looking women. Here’s hoping there’s a race win in there, as well!

Continue reading “Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Interlagos”
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Formula 1

Formula One: 30 years on, will history repeat?

Alan Jones

The official Formula 1 website has an article reminding us 2010 is the 30th anniversary of Alan Jones‘ world championship triumph. When you read the opening paragraph it could easily be re-used for Mark Webber.

“His belligerence was partly a by-product of a long and hard struggle to make it to Formula One racing in the first place. Once there, he was considered little more than a journeyman driver, until he teamed up with the then equally undistinguished Williams Red Bull team.”

See what I mean.

This weekend sees Webber return to Interlagos to defend his Brazilian Grand Prix trophy. A repeat of his 2009 victory would cut Fernando Alonso’s title lead by at least seven points and ensure the final race at Abu Dhabi will decide the winner.

If you were writing the script, the return of an Australian to the summit of Formula One would be a nice fit 30 years after the last Aussie achieved the ultimate prize. It’s worth noting, then, Jones won the last two Grands Prix of his title winning season. A repeat of that stat for Mark Webber would be a wonderful way to cap off his best F1 season to date.

Incidentally, today is Alan Jones’ birthday. So, happy birthday to you AJ, may all your wishes come true. And those of all Australian F1 fans, as well!

[Source: Formula1.com | Pic: AlanJones.com.au]

Categories
Holden Motorsports

Fabian Coulthard’s Bathurst crash from the inside

Fabian Coulthard's Bathurst crash

We’ve already shown you the spectacular footage of Fabian Coulthard’s first lap crash from the 2010 Bathurst race. We’ve even shown you amateur footage captured from the side of the track. Now, Walkinshaw Racing brings us the view from inside the car. It’s an amazing piece of action. Check it out after the break.

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Categories
Formula 1 News

SENNA: The movie

Senna: The movie

A dedicated page for the upcoming movie SENNA has now been added to the Working Title Films website. Currently, it’s a basic setup but there is an intro from the writer of the film Manish Pandey. In part, he says, “At the age of 24, he exploded on to the Formula One scene, in the deluge of a street race in Monte Carlo, then spent the next decade as the sport’s brightest star, shattering records, living life on the very edge and fighting the off-track politics which kept him from what he most loved: ‘Pure racing.’”

Back in September we showed you the Japanese preview of the film. That preview was released because a version of the film was shown just before this year’s Japanese Grand Prix. If you have a subscription to autosport you can read Jon Noble’s excellent and inspiring review. Here’s a snippet:

“I confess, I’m in love once more. Formula 1 has pulled my heart strings like it hasn’t done for years. It’s like being a teenager all over again. For just under two hours in Japan earlier this week I was absolutely mesmerised by what I witnessed.

Sitting there transfixed, I experienced almost every emotion under the sun and was left mentally shattered by the end. From laughter and smiling at one moment, I went on a journey that pushed me through intense pride, excitement, fear and also sadness.”

SENNA will have its official world premiere in Brazil on 3 November. The film is expected to be screened elsewhere in the world by the middle of next year. AUSmotive has spoken with Universal Pictures to try and confirm a definite release date for the Australian market. The advice given was to check back in March/April of 2011. As soon as we have a firm date for local release we will let you know.

UPDATE 31 October: Another review for SENNA can be read over at F1 Fanatic. Make sure you read the comments from Manish Pandey.

Categories
Formula 1

Remembering the deeds of Sir Jack Brabham

Sir Jack Brabham

Aligning US motoring interests to Formula One is something that doesn’t happen all that often. So it was with welcome surprise that our morning rounds saw an article from Winding Road reminding us of the great deeds accomplished by our own Jack Brabham.

Three F1 drivers titles (1959, 1960 and 1966) would usually be enough to set Sir Jack apart from the crowd, but when you consider the 1966 crown was achieved in a car of his own making, well, it is unlikely we will ever see the likes of that again.

Here’s a snippet from the article, follow the source link below for the rest:

One of the first drivers to be knighted for his service to motorsports, Brabham won the Formula 1 drivers’ championship three times. Born in April 1926, Sir Jack was a flight mechanic for the Royal Australian Air force and then ran a small engineering workshop. In 1948, he started midget car racing and moved, in 1955, to Europe to join the Cooper Car Company’s racing team. He helped to develop the design for the mid-engine Cooper, which he raced in F1 and at the Indianapolis 500. Brabham then went on to win the F1 World Championship in 1959…

[Source: Winding Road | Pic: Lothar Spurzem]

Categories
Formula 1

The best corners in Formula One

Best corners in F1

Over at the Formula1.com website there is an article discussing the eight best corners in F1. Some of the corners are no brainers; Japan’s 130R, Belgium’s Eau Rouge and Silverstone’s Becketts complex are clear stand-outs. But how many of you would have put Brazil’s Mergulho, Turkey’s Turn 8 or Canada’s Wall of Champions on the list?

Watching Formula One cars fly through Eau Rouge and Becketts at full tilt is one of the sport’s greatest visual delights. The cars are dancing on the edge of adhesion at speeds that seem unfathomable to the mere mortals watching on.

Check out the article in full and leave us your comments below on and let us know if there are any corners you like that didn’t make the cut.

[Source: Formula1.com]

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

2010 Korean Grand Prix in pictures

2010 Korean Grand Prix

“Our Mark” binned it! Can you believe it. It was a race that promised so much; an opportunity for Webber to really intensify the pressure on his rivals. Instead, on a dramatic and soaking wet afternoon in Yeongam, Mark put it into the wall and he walked away empty handed. Pressure does strange things and amplifies the tiniest of indiscretions. It was a mistake that needn’t have happened. Webber cracked on Sunday.

Worse, it looked like his fiercest rival, Sebastien Vettel, was going to rub his nose in it with a comfortable victory. A win that would have put the young German 11 points ahead of Webber and the shift in power across the garage would likely have been irreversible. For Mark, at least, fate dealt a helping hand when a dominant Vettel was robbed of certain victory after his Renault engine disintegrated with no apparent warning.

Only too happy to watch the imploding Red Bulls ahead of him Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was there to pick up the pieces. He drove solidly and mostly kept himself out of trouble, despite the woeful light conditions towards the end of the race. Amazingly, he now finds himself 11 points ahead of Webber in the drivers’ title race. A few weeks back he was the fifth man in the chasing pack.

With just two more races to go, can Fernando hold off the inevitable challenge from those closest behind? Brazil is next and Webber is the defending race winner. How he would love an encore performance in two weeks time.

For now, though, catch up on all the drama from last weekend with 80 pics from the inaugural Korean Grand Prix.

Continue reading “2010 Korean Grand Prix in pictures”
Categories
MINI WRC

VIDEO: Making of the MINI WRC

MINI Countryman WRC

After the jump you can see a brief “making of” video about the MINI Countryman WRC. Progress seems to have come along nicely following the official signing of documents with Prodrive in July. The MINI’s first race will take place in Italy next May.

Shame about super imposed type over the clip.

[Source: MotoringFile]

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Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren

2010 Korean GP – Post-race press conference

2010 Korean Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso has capped off an amazing run of form by taking home all the spoils after a dramatic Korean Grand Prix. The Ferrari man has now won three out of the last four races to charge to an 11 point lead in the World Drivers’ Championship standings. Thanks, in part, to a costly blunder from Mark Webber today, who crashed out of the race early in proceedings.

Going in to the Italian Grand Prix, seven weeks ago, Lewis Hamilton was leading the world championship and Alonso was a distant 41 points behind. How quickly things can change. There’s just two races left in season 2010 and, as the great Murray Walker says, anything can happen Formula One, and it usually does!

Read what the three guys on the podium had to say after the race and stay tuned for more pics and commentary soon.

Continue reading “2010 Korean GP – Post-race press conference”