Category: Motorsports

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Ferrari Formula 1

Ferrari unveils 2010 F1 car

Ferrari F10 - 2010 F1 car

Ferrari have just released these images of their 2010 Formula One car, codenamed F10. They are the first team to show their 2010 racecar to the public, with a raft of reveals to follow ahead of next week’s testing at Valencia.

There’s no surprise in the livery and prominence of Santander sponsorship, that was pretty much confirmed last week. Rumours of Ferrari taking design cues from the 2009 Red Bull RB5 have proved correct, too, with this new Ferrari. Especially on the nose cone. Generally speaking, the 2010 car is a lot more rounded than last year’s F60.

Team principal Stefano Domenicali spoke at the launch, and here’s a bit of what he had to say, “This championship will be very important for us. We have two new drivers; Fernando Alonso, is a twice world champion.

“Felipe, we are talking of a new version of Felipe, but after such a dramatic championship like last year with the accident in Hungary and such a fantastic season, Felipe has all the assets to prove that he is a very successful one, he can prove that he wants to restart his pathway that destiny interrupted it in Hungary. Good luck to both of them.”

Ferrari were planning for Felipe Massa to give the F10 a brief shakedown at the company’s Fiorano circuit today, but that has been called off due to poor weather.

UPDATE: Video from today’s launch is now available below (thanks to Axis of Oversteer).

UPDATE 29 January: New images added, along with statements from Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Luca di Montezemolo.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo one step closer to F1

Daniel Ricciardo

Twenty-year-old Australian and current British Formula 3 champ, Daniel Ricciardo, has been signed for Formula One reserve driver duties with both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso. Joining Daniel, in what will be a shared role, is 20-year-old New Zealand driver Brendon Hartley.

Both men took part in the F1 end of season testing at Jerez in December 2009. Ricciardo made a name for himself by topping the time sheets driving the Red Bull RB5, while Hartley also impressed at the wheel of the Torro Rosso TR4.

Even though in-season testing for Formula One has been drastically reduced in recent years Ricciardo and Hartley will get a great opportunity at learning the ropes through marketing roles and participation in team meetings.

It’s a great step for both guys who are also members of the Red Bull Junior Team. The shared role will see the drivers alternate their appearances on a race-by-race basis.

[Source: MarkWebber.com]

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes GP launch: Michael and Nico interview

Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher

Following yesterday’s launch of the Mercedes GP Petronas team lead drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg talk up their chances for the 2010 Formula One Season. The clip is available after the jump and Schumacher says he believes his signing for Mercedes GP will be full of “great moments”.

You can find out more for yourself on the team’s new website and YouTube channel.

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MINI MINI Challenge

MINI John Cooper Works Challenge Edition

MINI JCW Challenge Edition

MINI Australia brings us news that followers of the brand will have already known for a few months now. That is, the exclusive availablilty in Australia of a MINI John Cooper Works Challenge Edition. Essentially the Challenge Edition is a bunch of goodies cobbled together for a bargain basement price. Kind of like a chilli pack on steroids. How does an extra seven grand of kit for $2500 sound? Not too bad, hey.

Only thing is those closely following MINI Australia’s movements would have thought availability of the Challenge Edition had expired which is what their website said prior to Christmas and is still saying today—”only until 31 December 2009″ (see screen grab below).

But with a press statement being launched in time for Australia Day I guess buyers can once again consider taking advantage of this offer. So what does the Challenge Edition consist of?

You start with one ripping MINI John Cooper Works model (hardtop, cabrio or Clubman), which is fitted with the same 155kW engine found in the MINI Challenge racecars. Then, for your extra $2500, you get the full JCW body kit, including the John Cooper Works Carbon spoiler. Also thrown in is a JCW Aluminium cross brace, JCW Alcantara and Carbon steering wheel, JCW Carbon gearshift knob with Alcantara shroud, JCW Carbon handbrake lever with Alcantara surround and unique Challenge Edition badging.

MINI say this offer is only available for a limited time, so if you’re keen, you best get on down to your local MINI Garage to see just how serious they are about limiting this special deal.

Full release and extra images available after the jump.

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes GP launches new era for Silver Arrows

Mercedes GP Petronas 2010 launch

Mercedes GP has just launched their 2010 season. The event took place at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart in front of 600 guests. The livery of the new Silver Arrows features silver paint, raw carbon fibre and the green colour of Petronas, the Malaysian petroleum giant and title sponsor.

Don’t get too carried away, though. The car pictured above is simply a repainted 2009 model Brawn GP machine with the new 2010 car still under wraps for now.

Of course, the hype is all about Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula One and here’s a bit of what he had to say at today’s launch, “Finally the 2010 Formula One season is firing up! I have to say that I am totally committed to this new challenge. This season feels like a re-start for me and I am so motivated.

“We have a World Champion team in every sense of the word and I cannot wait to get into the car for the first time in Valencia. I am convinced that MERCEDES GP PETRONAS will be in a very good position to fight for the championships this season and I will definitely give it a go.”


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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Schumacher has already overtaken Rosberg

Michael Schumacher and Ross Brawn

Superstition, apparently, has seen Michael Schumacher edge ahead of new teammate Nico Rosberg before a wheel has even been turned. You see, 2009 world champion Jenson Button has taken the number 1 with him to McLaren. This means the new Mercedes-Benz team will be carrying the numbers 3 and 4 during 2010. The team’s first signing, Rosberg, was originally given the number 3 for his car. Since then, of course, Michael Schumacher has walked through the door. It would be normal, then, to assume Schumacher will race in 2010 with the number 4 on his car.

However, Michael has a preference for odd numbers, so we are being told. Seeing as he has won all seven of his world titles racing with an odd number on his car perhaps this makes sense. Therefore, Michael asked if he could swap numbers with Rosberg. Supposedly the younger team member agreed with no fuss. In doing so, has Rosberg merely cemented his junior status both in age and in team ranking?

Maybe it’s nothing, but I reckon this is the first of Schumacher’s inevitable mind games. Shrewd bugger, isn’t he. I mean, Michael won five of his world titles as defending champion, that is, he was carrying #1 on his car, as is the right of the current title holder. So the whole odd number thing is a bit of a misnomer, isn’t it, Yeah, #1 is an odd number, but it’s hardly something to build a superstition on.

Maybe Schumi should ask Jenson if he wouldn’t mind giving up number 1 as well. It’s only fair, chances are Button won’t have #1 in 2011 anyway. And, let’s face it, if you tally up the number of titles won by the other drivers in the field Michael is still three championships ahead. Just give the guy #1 now and be done with it. He deserves it more than the other kids.

[Source: The Guardian]

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Formula 1

The Formula One car v2010

Formula One 2010 preview of car redesign

In a little under a week F1 teams will begin revealing their cars to the public. Ferrari will be leading the charge, with the fairy bread and punch hitting the tables next Thursday. Within two weeks we’ll know what the majority of the grid will look like for the first race on the 2010 calendar (Bahrain, 14 March).

While the technical regulations for 2010 don’t differ too greatly from 2009 one big change is the lack of in-race refuelling for the 2010 season. The preview above, courtesy of The Guardian, gives a brief rundown of the changes to expect and how the larger fuel tank, basically double the size of the 2009 cars, will affect other aspects of F1 car design.

The right hand column of the graphic also holds some very interesting information in the form of fuel consumption data from the 2009 season. While its true all engine manufacturers will be preparing engines with 2010 regs in mind it is notable that Renault used around 2.4kg of fuel per lap, on average, compared to more than 2.55kg/lap for the Toro Rosso. Just behind Renault in the fuel consumption race were McLaren and Red Bull Racing.

For a larger version of the image above you can click on the link below which links directly to a 104kb PDF. More information on the launch of 2010 cars by F1 teams can be read at Formula1.com.

Meanwhile, Jaime Alguersuari has had his 2010 race seat with Toro Rosso confirmed. A full list of confirmed drivers is available on The Guardian website.

[Source: The Guardian | Thanks to Wes for the tip]

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Planet-F1 reveals Schumacher’s secret thoughts

Michael Schumacher

Planet-F1 have managed to secure exclusive access to Michael Schumacher’s diary entries from the lead up to his Formula One comeback with Mercedes-Benz.

Here’s a teaser:

“It would be a strange scenery joining Jenson. I believe he had a poster picture of me on his bedroom wall as a teenager – in between Cindy Crawford and Samantha Fox. I hope he dreamt about me in the right way, you know what I mean… ! Oh yes, this is something else I plan for my comeback year. I am aiming at being 42% funnier than 2006 when I retired. It’s the way I am them telling.”

Follow the link below for the full story and some more laughs.

[Source: Planet-F1 | Thanks to ‘Jackie Chan’ for the tip]

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Ferrari Formula 1

Alonso shows off new Ferrari F1 livery

Ferrari F1 livery 2010

The image above shows Fernando Alonso at the wheel of Ferrari’s 2009 F1 machine. Hmm, seems a bit odd, doesn’t it? Well, probably, but it is nothing more than a promo piece by major Spanish bank Santander. As you can see their name features prominently on the Ferrari’s front and rear wings.

The image was released by the bank, with Ferrari’s approval, and follows a new five-year sponsorship deal between the two companies signed last year. Ferrari’s real 2010 F1 car, known as “281”, is due for its public reveal on Thursday next week. Ooh, excitement—the new F1 season is getting closer!

Oh, if you want to check out Fernando’s duds for 2010, take a peak at F1fanatic.co.uk.

[Source: WorldCarFans]

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Motorsports Nissan

Godzilla on track for GT1 championship

Nissan GT-R - FIA GT1

Nissan will be hoping this is the view the new FIA GT1 field sees in 2010 after announcing four new GT-Rs will be taking part in the upcoming season. Nismo have signed agreements with UK-based Sumo Power GT and Swiss Racing Team, based in, well Switzerland. Each team will run a two car operation with Nismo offering tech support.

Other details are pretty scant at the moment, so you’ll just have to make do with these pics that make the GT-R’s backside even bigger—but so much naughtier!

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Motorsports Volkswagen

Carlos Sainz and Volkswagen win 2010 Dakar Rally

VW Race Touareg - 2010 Dakar Rally

Carlos Sainz has avenged his disappointment from last year’s Dakar Rally on the way to headlining a clean sweep of the podium for the diesel powered Volkswagen Race Touraegs. It is the first time Volkswagen have claimed a one-two-three finish at the Dakar and follows their one-two result from the 2009 race.

Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz (#303) finished 2 minutes 12 seconds ahead of  Nasser Al-Attiyah and Timo Gottschalk (#306). Third place was taken by Mark Miller and Ralph Pitchford (#305). Last year’s winners Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz (#300) finished seventh.

Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen was understandably elated with the unprecedented success for his team, “Three weeks ago a highly motivated Volkswagen team came with the goal of successfully defending the ‘Dakar’ title won last year. Volkswagen has achieved something historical with this one-two-three.”

Sainz, who can now add the Dakar crown to his two World Rally Championship titles, said “I have fulfilled a dream by winning the ‘Dakar’. An enormous weight has fallen from my shoulders particularly as the fight for victory was extremely hard both physically and enormously exhausting mentally.

“Everything ran perfectly for me: My co-driver Lucas Cruz did an excellent job, from the technical side the Race Touareg ran like clockwork and the entire Volkswagen squad worked tirelessly for the win. Thank you for this.”

It’s the first time an all-Spanish crew has won the event and Cruz was over the moon with the win, “After so much pressure over the last few days it goes without saying that I’m incredibly happy on the day of my first ‘Dakar’ victory. I think we have beaten tough competitors and also one of the hardest ‘Dakar’s’ ever.

“Carlos approached his job throughout the entire event patiently, concentrated but also with great tenacity. He is a great champion, it’s fantastic to win with him.”

A huge image gallery from the Volkswagen Motorsport team can bee seen after the jump, along with extensive press releases including quotes from all Race Touareg driving crews.

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Ford Formula 1 Renault Volkswagen

Mark Webber’s hot hatch test

Mark Webber speaks with the Telegraph

Mark Webber has spent some time on the off-season trying his hand as a motoring hack. At least, that’s how it’s been presented in UK daily newspaper the Telegraph. Given the icy conditions it was little more than a bit of hit and giggle really. But, if you’re a hot hatch fan then of course you’ll want to know what he thought of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Renaultsport Megane 250 and Ford Focus RS.

When asked if the hot hatch genre was respected back home Mark’s reply would have gone down well at the recent Summernats festival, “Nah mate. Anything less than five litres ain’t big back home.”

For the full text follow the link below. Images of the test trio, without the snow, can be seen after the jump. Click on the pics to load 2000px wallpaper-friendly versions.

[Source & main pic: Telegraph.co.uk | Thanks to Rick for the tip]

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