Category: Motorsports

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Hyundai WRC

Chris Atkinson ready for Rally Australia challenge

2014 WRC Rally Mexico

In rallying terms it’s been a long time since Chris Atkinson was behind the wheel of the Hyundai i20 WRC, but he is very much looking forward to grabbing his opportunity at Rally Australia (11–14 September) with both hands.

“There’s been a bit of a gap between events but that hasn’t stopped me before and I’ll definitely give it a good crack,” Atkinson promised in an interview with wrc.com. “My aim is to drive well all weekend and be as fast as possible. I’ll be happy with that.”

Surprisingly, Atkinson doesn’t have any racing experience on the roads around Coffs Harbour where Rally Australia takes place. However, he doesn’t expect that will hinder his performance.

“It’s all new because I’ve never done the rally there.” Atkinson said. “But I should have a good idea about the terrain and fast gravel suits me. Knowing the nature of the Australian roads should play into my hands. I just need to write some good pace notes and drive to them.”

Atkinson will race alongside Hyundai’s lead driver Thierry Neuville and young Kiwi ace Hayden Paddon, who has earned himself some quality seat time in the WRC this year, driving the i20 WRC for three events in a row in Italy, Poland and Finland. In contrast Atkinson has only Rally Mexico to add to his WRC career and knows it will be key to do well against Paddon.

“Hayden’s obviously driving well and has been given a good opportunity with the team. But I’ve got more experience of the WRC. It’s going to be interesting and I’m sure he’ll be quick. I just need to pull my finger out and go as fast as I can.”

[Source: wrc.com]

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Ferrari Formula 1

Haas F1 signs Ferrari engine deal

Gene Haas

The Amercian-based Haas F1 team has announced it will race with Ferrari power units when it takes to the Formula 1 grid in 2016.

“There is no team in Formula One more accomplished than Scuderia Ferrari, and no team with more history. They’ve been a part of Formula 1 from the beginning, and now they’ll be a part of Haas F1 Team’s beginning,” said Gene Haas.

“Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsports. It showcases the latest technology and is the most competitive form of racing in the world. Aligning Haas F1 Team with such a tenured and successful company in Scuderia Ferrari provides our team with the greatest opportunity for success in 2016 and beyond.”

As is the norm in F1 this has been described as a “multi-year deal” although the exact terms remain confidential. Gene Haas’ CNC business, Haas Automation, signed a sponsorship deal with Scuderia Ferrari a few months back and the alignment of his F1 team with Ferrari was therefore expected.

[Pic: Getty Images]

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Porsche Video WRC

VIDEO: Tuthill Porsche 911 RGT at Rally Germany

Tuthill Porsche 997 RGT

In the lead up to Rally Germany the Tuthill Porsche 911 RGT caught our eye. So this video recap, featuring words from the car’s builder and driver, Richard Tuthill, was something we were very keen to see. We think you might like it too.

An RGT Cup? With a fleet of 911 RGTs competing? Yeah, that would be pretty cool.

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Motorsports Porsche

Porsche 917K 1:35 scale model poster

Porsche 917K 1:35 scale model poster

Just because.

[Source: @PorscheHeritage]

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing Video

Reflecting on Daniel’s first F1 win

Daniel Ricciardo wins the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix

Red Bull Racing has released a video celebrating Daniel Ricciardo’s maiden F1 victory, achieved at the Canadian Grand Prix. In effect it’s a stop animation clip, but the frames were captured so close together it’s almost one fluid motion. It’s very cool.

Join us as we take the jump, settle back to watch the video and enjoy reliving Daniel’s win, frame by frame.

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Motorsports Renault Video

Renault Sport RS01 revealed

Renault Sport RS01

Less than 1100kg and 500hp+ with 600Nm+ thanks to a mid-mounted 3.8 litre twin turbo V6. They’re the headline stats from this fearsome looking Renault Sport RS01. It was revealed at the Moscow Motor Show a few days ago.

Based on the spectacular Alpine A110-50 the RS01 will be used for the track only and from 2015 will compete in the Renault Sport Trophy, as part of the World Series by Renault program.

Formula 1 legend and four-time world champion Alain Prost thinks the RS01 is tops, and that’s good enough for us. We think it’s tops too!

“Renault Sport RS01 is a spectacular racing car, in the purest tradition of GT,” said Prost. “With its high-level sporting capacities, Renault Sport RS01 illustrates the rich expertise of Renault Sport, and its ability to develop the racing cars that will reveal future GT or Endurance champions.”

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Daniel Ricciardo awarded the Trofeo Bandini

Daniel Ricciardo awarded the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy

Daniel Ricciardo has become the 21st recipient of the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy, awarded to the professional racing driver who most impressed the judging panel in the year prior, usually from the world of Formula 1. Daniel joins the likes of Michael Schumacher (2003), Fernando Alonso (2005), Mark Webber (2006), and Sebastian Vettel (2009) as previous winners.

The trophy is named after the Italian former F1 driver Lorenzo Bandini and was presented in the small village of Brisighella by members of the Bandini family and David Missiroli, the Brisighella town mayor. Brisighella is close to the Imola circuit and the Faenza factory of the Scuderia Toro Rosso team.

“I was quite overwhelmed with the reception I received at the event. The Italians really love their motorsport,” Daniel said. “To be awarded with the Lorenzo Bandini trophy was an honour and to join the many great drivers on that list makes me proud.”

The event was a pretty big deal, too, with a 270-strong dinner held in celebration attended by F1 identities such as Giancarlo Minardi and Aldo Costa, currently a designer with Mercedes AMG F1.

Let’s hope this isn’t the last F1-related trophy Daniel receives in his career.

[Source: Red Bull Racing]

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Formula 1 Video

It’s another awesome F1 fan video

F1 - The modern era

Patrick Krutyj has produced another excellent Formula 1 video compilation. This time we get a fair bit of 2014 action, along with some great moments from recent years. It’s 5 minutes and 53 seconds we think you will enjoy quite a lot.

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Formula 1 Toro Rosso Video

Vercrashen Jr upholds the family name

Max Verstappen crashes in Rotterdam demo

The man boy many deem too young to drive in Formula 1, Max Verstappen, has ensured that the Vercrashen family name will live on, thanks to an embarrassing bungle in a demonstration run in Rotterdam yesterday. It was a pretty minor mishap and thankfully it was only Max’s pride that suffered.

Perhaps one day Max will have the last laugh on people like me who are enjoying a cheap shot at the 16-year-old’s expense. We certainly wish him well in his future motorsport endeavours.

You can see a couple of videos from Max’s run after the break, starting, of course, with the cock up, before a crash-free onboard run.

[Source: WTF1]

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Chevrolet Motorsports

Will Power wins 2014 IndyCar title

Will Power, 2014 IndyCar champion

We don’t usually care too much about what happens in the world of IndyCar, but we must congratulate the man with the best name in motorsport, Will Power, who collected his maiden IndyCar title on the weekend.

The 33-year-old Aussie has been runner-up three times (2010–2012) and finally came up trumps this year thanks to a ninth place finish at the MAVTV 500, which gave him enough points to see off his Team Penske teammate Hélio Castroneves for the 2014 championship.

Starting from second last on the grid Power had a tough race before Castroneves made a crucial error resulting in a driver-through penalty. It was enough to give power some breathing space in the chase for the crown.

“That was one of the hardest races ever,” said Power. “Oh my God, I was crying over the line. It went on and on, and I slowly made up positions.

“I can’t believe it. I am so mentally exhausted now. That was mega.”

Congratulations Will on keeping the Australian flag flying high in international motorsport. Let’s hope he gets a chance to enjoy the win as much as his brother did.

[Source: IndyCar]

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes AMG F1 tweets for advice re Nico and Lewis

2014 Belgian Grand Prix

Yes, you read that right!

While some degree of fallout from the Nico Rosberg contact on Lewis Hamilton from the Belgian Grand Prix was inevitable the heights it has reached is rather astounding. From team bosses making outlandish statements in public, to Lewis claiming Nico did it on purpose, to the general media hyperbole.

It’s not helped by the largely British-focused media wanting to see their home boy get the post-season chocolates. And, yes, Nico did make a mistake in clipping Lewis’ left rear tyre. But does anyone seriously believe that Nico hit Lewis as part of  a planned and deliberate move?

Rosberg may not be the wheel-to-wheel racer that Hamilton is, as the general commentariat believes, but there’s no way he did that on purpose.

Anyway, without wanting to get further sucked into the soap opera the Mercedes garage has become, we were somewhat amused to see the team has taken to twitter overnight to seek advice from the general public.

No, we don’t think any of the feedback will be read by the team’s decision makers, let alone influence their thinking, but it’s still an intriguing approach to take given the profile the topic is commanding.

You can see the tweets from Mercedes after the break (follow the links for full responses). As you’d expect there were plenty of smart arses in the peanut gallery. Here’s a selection of our favourite responses:

On how to implement team orders
@dwaynepin I would start by re hiring Ross Brawn.
@ewanorandy Maybe tell Rosberg to let Hamilton win… that’s what most people want

On the question of suspending a driver for breaking team rules
@gokrazyinc yes suspend, to make sure this does not happen again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@McLaren_Soul Look, you can’t suspend Nico after a racing incident but defend Lewis when he disobeys team orders or takes Nico out of track

Smart social media strategy, or just plain dumb?

[via twitter]

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Ferrari Formula 1 Video

Who wants to hear V10s scream around Monza?

Ferrari F2002 V10 at Monza

We thought that would be a resounding yes!

There’s just a week to go until Monza comes alive for its annual Formula 1 carnival. It’s expected that Mercedes will race off into the distance with the superior speed of the F1 W05 Hybrid. But as we’ve seen in the last two races if the Nico v Lewis battle continues to stuff things up others will be ready to pounce.

One thing is clear, these 2014-spec F1 machines won’t sound anywhere near as dramatic as these V10 masters from days gone by. Get some headphones, connect your PC to your stereo, just do whatever you can to get the volume up as loud as you dare and rejoice!

THIS SOUND IS MAGNIFICENT!!!

It’s funny, too, how an otherwise empty racetrack, even one as important as Monza, can feel so eerie when there’s no crowd and no advertising. Thankfully a pair of Ferrari F2002s and an F2001 and F2005 are on hand to do their bit to liven up the atmosphere.

[Source: WTF1]

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