Category: Motorsports

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MINI Challenge

Team Australia set sights on Spain’s MINI Challenge

MINI Challenge - Team Australia

The MINI Challenge has many great aspects about it. One is the fact you can buy a MINI John Cooper Works from your local MINI dealer that is pretty damn close in performance to the track-only racecars. Another is that the series is run in a number of countries. This aspect provides opportunities for cross pollination of competitors.

In addition to the Australian championship there are MINI Challenge competitions currently held in Germany, Spain, UK, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. And it is MINI Challenge Spain we focus on here. Next month at the Jarama circuit near Madrid Paul Stokell and Chris Alajajian will combine forces to form MINI Challenge Team Australia.

Paul and Chris, normally direct competitors, earned the right to represent Australia due to finishing first and second in the 2009 Australian MINI Challenge championship.

The guys leave for Spain at the end of this month and will prepare for a three race program starting on 5 June. At the wheel of their specially designed Team Australia MINI each driver will compete in a 20 lap sprint race on the first day of racing. On day two they will share duties in a 50 lap enduro.

Chris Brown, Marketing Manager MINI Australia says there is more to come as well, “These money-can’t-buy opportunities to race overseas are key benefits of being involved in an international category like MINI Challenge. This is only the beginning of a broader international outlook for MINI Challenge.”

Alajajian is excited to be working with Stokell, “Normally Paul and I are the greatest of rivals so it will be different working as a team but I think this will give us an opportunity to learn from each other, driving the same car for the same team.”

“The main objective is to be consistent and show pace and I think if we both have that same objective we can offer a great package for MINI Challenge Team Australia. I really like the style of this ‘teams’ racing format, it makes me even hungrier to get out there and post some top results,” Alajajian said.

Both Alajajian and Stokell are in good form leading the 2010 championship table and here’s hoping the lads can put in a good effort for Team Australia in Spain. In exchange it is hoped a Spanish team will take place in the final round of the Australian MINI Challenge at Homebush in December.

The full press release from MINI can be viewed after the break. Also available is a YouTube video of a 2009 MINI Challenge racecar competing in the recent CER Jarama event.

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Lotus Motorsports Video

Green hell

Green hell

Ever wondered what you would do if your car caught fire and you didn’t know until it was almost too late. Imagine some Benny Hill music with this clip from last weekend’s Nürburgring 24 hour race and you could almost consider it amusing at first. That is, until you put yourself in the shoes of the driver, Evo journo Richard Green. This is one lucky escape and thankfully Green suffered no lasting effects from his dramas. The same can’t be said for the Lotus Exige, though, which ended up a molten mess.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Sir Frank says, “No bull, I was wrong about Webber”

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

Thanks to dominant wins in Spain and Monaco, Australia’s Mark Webber is riding a the crest of Formula One’s wave right now. It’s a fickle place to be, certainly, but when the plaudits come in this sport you take them. Sir Frank Williams has endured a few disappointing years, and there are no signs of real improvement. Sir Frank has recently reflected that he may have got his assessment of Mark Webber wrong. He also reckons Webber is now the real deal.

Mark drove for Williams in 2005 and 2006, at the time it was seen as a great career move. Unfortunately for Sir Frank and Mark, as well, the results didn’t come. Webber achieved a single podium in his first year (third at Monaco) and he could only muster a miserable seven points in the entire 2006 season. Williams was happy to let Mark go believing the Australian was part of the problem. Now, he’s not so sure.

“When we had him obviously our car was a disappointment and we felt he was part of the problem. He probably wasn’t actually, with hindsight. The major point was that the car had problems,” Williams said.

Sir Frank also senses that Mark has matured as a driver, “He always used to put himself under too much pressure, but now I don’t see any evidence of that at all. He looks pretty calm in himself and what you’re seeing is real.”

Does Williams think Webber has the pace to beat highly fancied teammate Sebastien Vettel over the entire year? Well, he’s sitting on the fence there, “The end of the year will show it, they’ve got equal cars. Mark’s obviously on top form, and assuming Vettel is on top form, it’s pretty even stevens.”

[Source: ITV]

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BMW Motorsports

BMW M3 GT2 wins 2010 Nürburgring 24 hour

BMW M3 GT2

This year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race was won by the #25 BMW M3 GT2 driven by Jörg Müller, Augusto Farfus, Uwe Alzen and Pedro Lamy. It was Lamy’s fifth victory at the Ring and he joins Marcel Tiemann as the most successful driver at the race. For BMW it was their nineteenth win at the Nürburgring 24 hour race.

In second place was the one and only Ferrari in the race, the #43 F430 GTC with Dominik Farnbacher, Allan Simonsen, Lehman Keen and Marco Seefried at the wheel. Simonsen has a strong Australian connection, appearing in numerous racing categories and as a driving instructor. Crossing the line in third was the #97 Audi R8 LMS driven by Dennis Rostek, Luca Ludwig, Marc Bronzel and Markus Winkelhock.

The 2010 race proved the old motorsport adage—to finish first, first you have to finish. Porsche and Audi enjoyed long stints at the top of the leaderboard. However, mechanical issues and accidents forced early retirements from the more fancied teams. Despite gearbox issues in the last few hours, the BMW M3 GT2 was able to keep out of trouble and cross the line first for a well deserved win.

Both the first and second placed cars completed 154 laps, one lap off equalling the race record which was set by the winning Manthey Porsche in 2009.

Final placings for Australian and New Zealand teams are available at AUSringers.com. BMW’s press release can be read after the jump.

If you have never followed the Nürburgring 24 hour race before AUSmotive recommends that you do so in 2011. Around 200 cars take part and the crowd can push towards 250,000. Manufacturer support for the event is increasing. In particular, the likes of Audi, BMW, Porsche and Volkswagen, throw a lot of technical expertise and effort at winning the race, or seeking class wins. Aston Martin and Lexus have also increased their participation in recent years.

UPDATE: Photo gallery of the winning car has now been added below.

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

2010 Monaco Grand Prix in pictures

2010 Monaco Grand Prix

No doubt Mark Webber is still beaming after his Monaco Grand Prix victory. A win in Monte Carlo is something all Formula One drivers cherish and to see an Australian dominate the race made for one very welcome procession.

Webber clearly places this win very highly, “It’s a special day, the greatest day of my life I suppose. As a Formula One driver you really hope that you win races and if you have a choice then the blue riband event is very, very special for any driver. To join Ayrton Senna and the likes round here is a very special thing.”

More quotes from Webber, as well as podium drivers Sebastien Vettel and Robert Kubica, can be read at Formula1.com.

The Aussie currently sits atop the World Championship leaderboard, thanks to two successive wins, but he’s not getting ahead of himself just yet, “To get 50 points from the last two races is awesome, but there is a long, long way still to go. We’ve got so many different conditions and tracks coming up – there are many exciting times to come; I’m looking forward to it.”

The one-two result now puts Red Bull Racing in the lead of the constructors’ title race, as well.Red Bull now has 156 points, 20 ahead of Ferrari and 27 clear of McLaren.

A gallery of Red Bull Racing photos can be seen after the jump. More pics from the other teams to follow.

UPDATE 18 May: Images from Renault, Ferrari, Mercedes GP, Force India, Lotus, Williams, Virgin Racing and Sauber now available below.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber wins Monaco GP

Mark Webber wins 2010 Monaco GP

Mark Webber has driven a masterful race at Monaco to win his second Formula One Grand Prix in as many weekends. After clutching pole position at the death during qualifying he was able to keep his Red Bull machine out of trouble from the start and take the chequered flag unchallenged. This is the first Australian win at Monaco since Sir Jack Brabham’s 1959 breakthrough victory

Several Safety Car periods ensured Mark had to keep his wits about him, but after each green flag he was able to simply drive away with apparent ease. In fact the race almost finished behind the safety car after an incident between Jarno Trulli and Karun Chandok. The tangled mess happened right in front of Webber. The Australian kept his cool and was able to avoid the incident and maintain his lead.

As it was the Safety Car pulled in at the last corner to allow Webber to cross the line at full noise to claim his fourth career victory. Amazingly, Webber now leads the World Championship. Sebastien Vettel finished the race second and joins Webber on 78 points. However, Webber is classified as Championship leader on account of winning two races to Vettel’s one. Pleasingly for Red Bull they are turning their qualifying dominance into race wins.

Robert Kubica finished third in a great result for Renault. Of course, the Red Bull RB6 is powered by Renault engines, thus giving the French company a clean sweep of the podium.

Speaking after the race Webber with a beaming smile declared it was “the greatest day of my life today.” The significance of a Monaco Grand Prix victory on his CV was not lost on Mark who said, “it was a very, very rewarding win, and (I’m) just absolutely elated. To join Aytron Senna and those guys around here, it’s real blue riband event.”

In further good news for Australian motorsport young gun, and Red Bull test driver, Daniel Ricciardo won the Formula Renault 3.5 race at Monaco earlier today.

[Pics: via OneHD]

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing Renault

Mark Webber claims pole for Monaco Grand Prix

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drove a scintillating closing lap in his Red Bull RB6 to claim pole position at the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix. Webber’s time of 1:13.826 was 0.294 seconds ahead of Renault’s Robert Kubica. Sebastien Vettel qualified in third, 0.401 seconds behind his Australian teammate.

Webber thanked his Red Bull Racing team and said, “the car was again was a pleasure … pole at Monaco is a nice feeling.” This result follows Mark’s pole position from last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix and he said he is ready to “give it a good crack” in tomorrow’s race.

Can history repeat itself? First, can Mark repeat his Spanish GP success and convert pole into another race win? Second, back in 1959 Australian motor racing legend Sir Jack Brabham qualified on pole at Monaco before going on to win the race. Here’s hoping they are two very good signs for Mark Webber tomorrow.

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Motorsports

2010 Nürburgring 24 hour race

Nurburgring 24 hour race

One of the world’s greatest endurance races is on this weekend—the Nürburgring 24 hour. You can follow the race with live radio, live streaming pictures and twitter updates from drivers and manufacturers—see AUSringers.com for details. There’s even a couple of iPhone Apps available. Also make sure you keep an eye on AUSringers for updates of how the Australian and New Zealand competitors fare during the race.

The race starts at 11pm tomorrow (Australian Eastern time) and, of course, finishes at 11pm Sunday. Just in time to catch the end of the Monaco Grand Prix.

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Formula 1

Hurtling into this black hole, that’s all you see

Graham Hill, 1968 Monaco GP

In the days before jazzy simulators one had to sit a chap down and talk through a lap of a Grand Prix circuit, man to man. In 1968 Graham Hill was jolly kind enough to do just that and you can watch his interview right here after the jump.

As an extra special treat there’s another video with highlights of the 1982 Monaco GP. Clive James provides the commentary and I’ll be well surprised if you don’t enjoy his summary. Funny thing is, the climax to the race was just as laughable.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Monaco

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

The latest in the Red Bull Racing simulator series sees Mark Webber enjoying the sights of the French Riviera ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix. When in Monte Carlo Mark is impressed by all the big boats, apparently. Here’s to Webber finishing at the head of the field once again—an Aussie win on the famous Monte Carlo streets would be epic!

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Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2010 Spanish Grand Prix in pictures

2010 Spanish Grand Prix

Still got a big grin on your face after Mark Webber’s win last night? I know I do. These pics will help relive the moment. It’s great to see an Aussie dominate the F1 field like Webber did in Barcelona. Hopefully it won’t be too long until we see fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo join Webber on the grid, too.

A gallery of 55 images from Red Bull Racing is available below.

UPDATE 11 May: Over 40 new images from Ferrari, Force India, McLaren, Mercedes GP, Renault and Williams have now been added.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber wins Spanish GP

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber has capped off a totally dominant weekend in the most perfect way by winning the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix in Barcelona. The Australian posted the quickest times in all three qualifying sessions yesterday to claim pole position and he had no equal during today’s race, leading from start to finish.

Webber set numerous fastest laps during the Grand Prix and won by 24 seconds over Fernando Alonso. Webber’s Red Bull Racing teammate Sebastien Vettel suffered braking issues late in the race and was forced to drive conservatively to nurse his car across the finish line. Vettel managed to hold on for third place more than 50 seconds behind Webber.

There was drama late in the race when second placed Lewis Hamilton suffered a left front puncture with less than two laps to go. On the previous lap Hamilton had set the fastest time for the race (1:24.357), but the incident forced him off the track and into a tyre barrier. The parochial Spanish crowd cheered mightily as Alonso inherited his  former teammate’s second place position.

Speaking after the race Webber acknowledged the efforts of his team, “The team have just been incredible the week. Collectively, Renault and Red Bull, everyone just put a huge effort in—the driver did a little bit of his work as well—in the end it was a fantastic result and I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Webber’s third career GP victory and his first for 2010 moves him into fourth place in the title race. He now has 53 points, 17 behind current leader and defending champion Jenson Button.

The F1 circus back up immediately for next weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix and if Webber and Red Bull can continue their qualifying supremacy they should be well placed to register consecutive Grand Prix victories.

Stay tuned for a picture gallery of the Spanish Grand Prix to be added in the next 24 hours.

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