Category: Motorsports

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Formula 1

FIA confirms 2014 F1 driver numbers

Romain Grosjean

Overnight the FIA confirmed the entry list for the 2014 Formula 1 season, and in doing so gave us the list of numbers drivers will now use on a permanent basis.

Of note is the fact current world champion Sebastian Vettel will carry number 1 this year but has selected the number 5 to use should he ever find himself in the unfamiliar position of being a loser.

Pastor Maldonado deserves a special mention, too, for bringing the number 13 back to Formula 1. The number was first used by the Delage factory team in the mid-1920s but was dropped after two drivers were killed. From that time on the number has rarely been seen on F1 cars.

There have been just two exceptions, in 1963 by Moises Solana driving a BRM at his home grand prix in Mexico and by Divina Galica in 1976, who tried her best but failed to qualify for the British Grand Prix at the wheel of a Surtees.

We still don’t know who will be driving for Caterham this year and while Max Chilton is listed for Marussia we understand a contract has not been signed and, for now, his number has not been confirmed.

At this stage only Sebastian Vettel (1), Kimi Raikonnen (7) and Romain Grosjean (8) will use the same numbers they carried in 2013.

The current list of entries form the FIA cautiously shows an asterisk next to the Lotus and Marussia entries, labelled “subject to confirmation”. A few money-related hurdles to be overcome, by the looks. Worrying signs for Lotus, who has had something of a financial shadow hanging over it for some time now.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Daniel Ricciardo will race with number 3 in 2014

Daniel Ricciardo confirms his F1 number

Just in via twitter, confirmation from Daniel Ricciardo himself, that the new Red Bull Racing driver will be racing with number 3 in 2014 and beyond. Until he earns the right to carry the number 1, of course!

After the break you can see why Daniel chose the number 3.

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Ford WRC

Robert Kubica already impressing M-Sport

Ford Fiesta RRC

Robert Kubica’s move to full-time WRC driver is looking good according to his new team, M-Sport, who are impressed with his dedication.

The 29-year-old Polish driver made a good impact last weekend after a winning debut with M-Sport in the European Rally Championship at the wheel of a Fiesta RRC (pictured above). Robert was competing in the Jänner Rallye in Austria as a warm up for his WRC duties. A late charge on the final stage on the back of an inspired tyre choice saw him overcome an 11.8 second deficit to claim victory.

“If you look at his performance at the weekend, it was very, very strong the whole way through and he saved the best for last,” said M-Sport team boss Malcolm Wilson. “He used what experience he’s got to make a fantastic tyre choice combination.”

Adding to the strong impression already made by Kubica is willingness to work with his new engineers.

“What’s really shocked me is the amount of dedication and commitment that he puts into it,” added Wilson. “As an example, with the restrictions on his arm, he was at the workshop till 11pm the other night working with the engineers to reconfigure the handbrake and gearshift mechanism.”

For the 2014 season, Maciej Szczepaniak will replace Kubica’s former co-driver Maciek Barran, who retired from rallying late last year.

Szczepaniak was beside Kubica for last weekend’s ERC win and with greater time together and more time in the Fiesta RS WRC Malcolm Wilson expects Kubica will improve as the 2014 season progresses.

“Some of the times he was doing in WRC2, nobody has got that close to World Rally Car pace in a regional car before,” Wilson said. “In the second half of the season with the Tarmac events he’s already done, he’s going to be really strong.”

[Source: Autosport | Pic: M-Sport]

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Volkswagen WRC

Volkswagen ready for 2014 WRC title defence

2014 Volkswagen Polo R WRC

The 2014 WRC season kicks of with Rallye Monte Carlo next week and Volkswagen is ready to defend its world championship status.

Volkswagen forged an impressive reliability record with the Polo R WRC in 2013 and has made developments on last year’s car which it hopes will keep it at the front of the pack.

“When it comes to technical development, you simply cannot afford to let up for a single second,” said Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “Although we won some laurels in 2013, we have certainly not rested on them.

“The manufacturers in the World Rally Championship agreed not to homologate any new World Rally Cars for the 2014 season. Despite this, we tried to take full advantage of the options still available to us. Many detailed aspects of the 2014 Polo R WRC have been further developed since we made our debut twelve months ago.”

Of course, in 2014 we see a new factory team to contend with on the form of Hyundai Motorsport. A welcome addition to the WRC, no doubt. Citroën, especially, and Ford will be hoping for better outcomes this year, as well.

In many respects this year will be harder for Volkswagen than last, they now have so much more to lose, and it will be fascinating to see how the season develops.

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Formula 1 News

Excessive speed not a factor in Schumacher accident

2012 European Grand Prix

French investigators have studied a helmet-mounted camera worn by Michael Schumacher and discovered reckless speed was not the cause of his accident.

“We know precisely what path Schumacher was skiing along,” said Public prosecutor Patrick Quincy. “We will be able to say with as much precision as is ever possible, how the accident came about.”

Based on the footage the investigators have said Michael was approximately 8m from the groomed trail and he hit a rock, which caused him to fall.

“We cannot recognise [from the footage] that he was traveling at a particularly high speed,” police commander Stephane Bozon said. He later commented that Schumacher was moving “at the standard speed of an experience skier.”

Meanwhile, Michael remains in an induced coma and in a critical condition. We all hope Michael will resume full fitness, but if he does it will take a long time.

Michael’s wife, Corinna, has asked the media pack outside the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Grenoble for privacy.

“It is important for me that you take the pressure off the doctors and the hospital, so that they can work in peace,” she said. “Please trust their statements and leave the clinic. Please leave our family in peace, too.”

[Source: Deutsche Welle | Pic: Mercedes AMG]

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Formula 1

Formula 1’s lucky numbers

2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

As the new F1 season draws near we can start getting all excited about the numbers the drivers will choose in this new era of permanent numbers.

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen wants number 7 apparently. But so does Jules Bianchi. A bitch fight to settle it perhaps?

Other numbers nominated to date include:

  • Fernando Alonso (14)
  • Valtteri Bottas (77)
  • Jenson Button (22)
  • Romain Grosjean (8)
  • Kevin Magnussen (20)
  • Felipe Massa (19)
  • Sergio Perez (11)
  • Nico Rosberg (6)
  • Jean-Eric Vergne (25)

It’s not known yet if Daniel Ricciardo has selected a preference. Do you think he will stick with the number 19 he raced with in 2013 or choose something new?

We wonder, if our Mark was still in F1 if he would choose number 2, just for a laugh?

[Source: Planet F1 | Pic: Toro Rosso/Getty Images]

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Motorsports

Formula E car takes to Las Vegas streets

Formula E Spark-Renault SRT 01E

The Formula E Spark-Renault SRT 01E made its “dynamic public appearance” on the streets of Las Vegas earlier this week. It was all part of the events held around the Consumer Electronics Show. All we can say is, based on these photos and supplied video, that it was a totally underwhelming experience.

Things will have to get a little bit more exciting if this new and visionary category, which we hope will succeed, is going to capture the attention of motor racing fans.

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Formula 1

A look at how the 2014 F1 season is shaping up

2014 Renault Sport F1 V6 engine

As you are probably aware the 2014 Formula 1 season is shaping up as one of the most open we’ve seen in recent years. The reason for this is the new regulations which will take the sport forward in the quest for more energy efficient engines.

With all teams starting from scratch it is likely to be the team who best adapts to the new regs and has the most reliable “power unit” who is able to break away from the others. And with only five engines (it’s just easier to call them that) per driver per year reliability is going to be a huge concern.

The engines will be 1.6 litre turbocharged V6 in configuration with a 15000rpm limit. Power will be down from around 750hp to 600hp. To compensate for that loss, the Energy Recovery System will be enhanced to provide double the power it has in the past, now up to 160hp. Also, instead of having the ability to use ERS for around six seconds per lap, drivers will have access to ERS for around 33 seconds each lap.

Cosworth will no longer supply engines to Marussia in 2014, which leaves Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault as the three manufacturers to support Formula 1 this year.

Last year a car could carry a total of 160kg of fuel at the start of a race, in 2014 that limit will be just 100kg. Further, in anticipation of heavier ERS components, the overall minimum weight of the car (including driver, but not fuel) increases from 624kg to 690kg.

Bodywork changes will alter the look of the cars. To start with the height of the front nose has changed dramatically, with a limit of 185mm, down from the 550mm we saw in 2013. There will be no more exhaust blowing at all, only a single exit exhaust at the rear of the car will be permitted. The front wing will be narrower and the rear wing will be shallower, as well.

In addition to the FIA’s new technical regulations, some rather radical changes have been introduced for the sporting regulations as well. Most notably these include: double points for the final race in Abu Dhabi, a pole position trophy and permanent numbers for the drivers.

The season begins in earnest in mid-March at the Australian Grand Prix, but pre-season testing kicks off in late January. Lotus has already announced it will be missing the first test as the rush to prepare these new cars hits home.

Almost all teams have locked away their drivers for 2014; Marussia and Caterham still have vacancies. After the break you can see the most recent list of teams and drivers, the full 2014 calendar, as well as a brief video from Sky Sports F1.

UPDATE 24 January: New video added explaining how the 2014 power units will work.

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Ferrari Formula 1

Ferrari presents its 2014 F1 power unit

Ferrari 059/3 power unit

Ferrari presented its 2014 F1 power unit just before Christmas. They’ve called it the 059/3 and, inline with the FIA’s new regulations, it will be a 1.6 litre turbocharged V6 engine with a beefed up Energy Recovery System. This video tells you pretty much all you need to know.

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Ferrari Formula 1 News

Schumacher fans pay tribute at Grenoble hospital

Fans pay tribute to Michael Schumacher

A large group of Ferrari fans have held vigil outside the Grenoble hospital where seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher remains in a medically induced coma.

Here’s a selection of images showing the fans’ tribute which took place yesterday, Schumacher’s 45th birthday.

It’s also emerged that Schumacher was wearing a helmet camera at the time of his accident and the family has handed the device to investigators. Michael’s teenage son, who witnessed the fall, has also been interviewed.

[Pics: AP, Getty Images, Reuters]

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Formula 1 News

Best wishes to Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher

Today is Michael Schumacher’s birthday. He turns 45 and is still fighting for his life after a skiing accident near Meribel in France last Sunday. We pass on our best wishes and thoughts to Michael and his family and hope that he is able to achieve a full and speedy recovery.

Michael’s family has put a covering message on his official website which reads:

Thank you for your support

Following Michael’s sking accident, we would like to thank the people from all around the world who have expressed their sympathy and sent their best wishes for his recovery. They are giving us great support.

We all know he is a fighter and will not give up. Thank You

Latest reports confirm Michael remains in an induced coma. Since being admitted to hospital in Grenoble he has undergone two operations to alleviate bleeding and pressure on his brain.

We recommend further reading from David Coulthard and former F1 doctor Gary Hartstein (including this follow up piece).

[Source: SMH | Pic: Reuters]

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Porsche WEC

Porsche talks us through the 2014 LMP1 regs

Porsche 919 hybrid event

Mark Webber’s racing career doesn’t resume in earnest until late April when the 6 Hours of Silverstone takes place. That gives him plenty of time to get a handle on the LMP1 regulations for the 2014 WEC season.

That job a little easier for Mark, and the rest of us, with this brief video featuring Porsche’s Alexander Hitzinger, Director of Engineering LMP1.

Porsche has already let slip the 919 hybrid will feature a four-cylinder petrol engine, but they’re yet to confirm the approach to be taken with the Energy Recovery Systems. Hitzinger explains the options available.

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