Category: Motorsports

Categories
Hyundai Volkswagen WRC

Sebastien Ogier wins 2015 Rally Sweden

2015 Rally Sweden

Sebastien Ogier won Rally Sweden on the weekend, but this was not just any rally win. It was one of the most exciting finales to a WRC event we have been lucky enough to see. And the final deciding stage was live on television.

Going into the last special stage, a power stage offering bonus championship points, Andreas Mikkelsen held a narrow lead from Sebastien Ogier and Thierry Neuville. All three drivers had led the rally at various stages over the weekend.

Neuville was the first of the three leaders to go and did his part by setting the fastest time, more than five seconds faster than Mads Ostebrg’s previous best. Next was Ogier and in that 16km final stage we saw what he is made of. The dual world champion was blistering and went 4.8 seconds faster than Neuville. Wow!

The pressure was on the young shoulders of Andreas Mikkelsen, could he defend his lead and claim his maiden WRC victory?

Alas for the 25-year-old Norwegian he made a small mistake about two-thirds the way through the stage. Like many before him during this event, he ran a fraction wide on a corner and was sucked into one of the soft snow banks. There was no damage to his car, but the 40 seconds he lost relegated him back to third place, behind Neuville and eventual winner Ogier. It was a cruel blow and ended hopes for what would have been a very popular win.

With his second win from two races Ogier is already building a sizeable gap in the championship; he has 53 points and leads Mikkelsen and Neuville, both on 30 points.

The next rally will take place in Mexico in around three weeks from now.

Continue reading “Sebastien Ogier wins 2015 Rally Sweden”
Categories
Formula 1

F1 TV numbers slide, revenue remains strong

2014 Brazilian Grand Prix

Reactions to the recent news that Australian-based Formula 1 fans can now only see a full season of live races on pay television have been mixed. Those critical of that decision won’t be at all surprised to learn that global television audiences for F1 are in decline. However, what may surprise is that TV revenue is up.

In 2008 the global television audience was measured at 600 million, since then it has dropped to around 70% of that figure or down to 425 million viewers. The decline has been steady around the globe with the United States registering a minor 10% increase last year.

The sport’s administrators can point to the increased licensing fees pay TV networks are willing to pay; there was US$797.5 million in the F1 kitty last year, of which 63% is divided among the teams in prize money distrubution.

Formula 1 has been notoriously slow to embrace new technology and alternate media streams. Its apparent reliance on television rights as its main source of revenue supports that claim. At some stage, though, F1 will have to increase its viewing numbers; those pay TV networks will want a return on their investment. If that’s not forthcoming then the whole house of cards could come falling down.

You sense an increase in viewing numbers is unlikely to happen while Bernie is in charge, who syas things are still “working all right. We are still getting very good TV coverage. It just means that we are getting more coverage from the pay people now.”

Germany, Italy and Spain have also followed the British lead of split television deals. Which leaves Bernie to say everything is going well thanks to increased revenue, but for how much longer?

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Categories
Motorsports Porsche Video

“We race because it’s our tradition”

Porsche 917

Porsche has won Le Mans a record 16 times. It’s return to the LMP1 category in 2014 brought with it a wave of nostalgia. Xcar ran with that and made this 25 minute video which they have declared is “the definitive history” of Porsche at Le Mans.

[Thanks to John for the tip]

Continue reading ““We race because it’s our tradition””
Categories
Motorsports Porsche Video

This is one cool Porsche buster!

Porsche 'Buster' race transporter

A rare Porsche made in 1968, what’s not to love! Hang on a sec, hasn’t that bus got a Mercedes-Benz badge on the grille? That’s right, this old skool race transporter was built by Mercedes and used by the Porsche factory team from its creation up until the 1980s.

‘Buster’ as it is now affectionately known is one of only two transporters of its kind and is currently owned by Brumos Porsche in the United States. It’s great to see the Brumos team understand and respect the little piece of history they have, as this video from egarage shows.

[via Motor Sport Retro]

Continue reading “This is one cool Porsche buster!”
Categories
Formula 1 News

OFFICIAL: Formula 1 on Foxtel from 2015

2014 Australian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton’s title defence will start in Australia in mid-March and Australian viewers will be able to see it all live in high definition on Fox Sports.

In news announced today Fox Sports has signed a five-year agreement which will see it broadcast live every practice session, every qualifying session and every race, starting with the Australian Grand Prix on 12 March.

Understandably the top brass at Fox Sports are very pleased with themselves with and have confirmed Australia will take on the Sky Sports feed.

“We have reached an extraordinary affiliate agreement with Sky to deliver through Fox Sports the same incredible Formula 1 coverage which is provided by Sky Sports in the UK,” confirmed Patrick Delany, Fox Sports CEO.

Meanwhile, Delany’s boss, Foxtel CEO, Richard Freudenstein, has gone into overdrive promoting his new product.

“Not only will fans see all the races live but we will add unrivalled behind the scenes experiences and the most expert commentary available,” Freudenstein said. “Fans of motor racing will be thrilled with what they can see if they subscribe to Foxtel’s sports package.”

That means Formula 1 will be included in the regular sports package which is a $25 per month add on over the compulsory $25 basic package. A high definition Foxtel receiver is a further $10 per month, bringing the total outlay to $60 per month.

Viewers unable or unwilling to sign up to pay television can still watch F1 on free-to-air on the Ten Network. Similar to the BBC/Sky deal in the UK, Ten will broadcast 10 of the races live (simulcast with Fox Sports) with delayed highlights packages for the remaining races.

You can see a calendar below listing the races the Ten Network will show live.

[Source: Fox Sports | Thanks to Tom for the tip]

Continue reading “OFFICIAL: Formula 1 on Foxtel from 2015”
Categories
Aston Martin Audi Bathurst 12 Hour Bentley

2015 Bathurst 12hr: Final corner scrap

2015 Bathurst 12 hour last corner fight

We all know the #35 Nissan GT-R won the 2015 Bathurst 12 hour and we know that the #15 Audi came second and the #97 Aston Martin was third.

However, the manner in which the minor placings were decided has remained a mystery. Going into Conrod Straight for the last time the #10 Bentley was in P2 from the Audi, with the Aston close behind.

The Aston Martin got ahead of the Audi before the Chase to claim the final podium step. Thanks to the arsery from Channel 7 we never got to see the final corner stoush that sorted out this three-way battle and saw the Audi go from fourth to second. Thanks to “Rusty Blackmore” and his trackside YouTube clip we can now see what happened next.

Entering Murray’s Corner the Bentley had the inside line, with the Audi trying to find its way past on the outside. The Aston was tucked in behind the Bentley looking for an early apex to make a move on the final left hand corner of the race and then…

Continue reading “2015 Bathurst 12hr: Final corner scrap”
Categories
Video WRC

2015 Rally Sweden preview

Colin Clark, 2015 Rally Sweden preview

Rally Sweden will be held this weekend. It’s the only genuine snow and ice event on the WRC calendar and with that comes unique technical requirements and driving methods for the teams and drivers.

After the break we’ve assembled a few preview clips to bring you up to speed on what to expect this weekend.

Continue reading “2015 Rally Sweden preview”
Categories
Bathurst 12 Hour Ford Nissan

A few laps around Mount Panorama

2015 Bathurst 12 hour

We bring you three videos from the recent 2015 Bathurst 12 hour race giving you a driver’s eye view around the 6.2km Mount Panorama circuit.

The first features the eventual race winner Katsumasa Chiyo in the #35 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 during Firday practice.

The second was filmed during the race and shows Ben Gersekowski behind the wheel of the #93 MARC Cars Australia Focus V8. This clip includes telemetry from the car which brings further interest.

In the final clip you start the race onboard the #42 BMW M3 GTR with Anthony Gilbertson … until he hits that kangaroo.

Continue reading “A few laps around Mount Panorama”
Categories
Bathurst 12 Hour BMW Video

VIDEO: Bathurst 12hr kangaroo strike

BMW M3 hits kangaroo, 2015 Bathurst 12 hour

The 2015 Bathurst 12 hour race saw a record 20 Safety Car periods. The first of those came after this incident during the early stages of the race when Anthony Gilbertson driving the #42 BMW M3 GTR hit a kangaroo on Conrod Straight.

Video of the strike has been uploaded to YouTube by Gilbertson and can be seen below. If you’re not up to seeing a skippy get hit at high speed or some colourful language it’s best if you don’t watch the clip.

Kangaroos have long been a a problem at Mount Panorama and a cull was proposed by Bathurst Councillor Warren Aubin last year in the wake of Roger Lago’s kangaroo strike which ended his Bathurst 12 hour race.

[Thanks to Aaron for the tip]

Continue reading “VIDEO: Bathurst 12hr kangaroo strike”
Categories
Formula 1 News

Formula 1 to Foxtel in 2016?

Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF15-T

Australian Formula 1 fans could soon be switching to pay television if they want to follow a full season of live coverage. According to media reports Foxtel and Channel 10 will be mirroring the UK television deal which sees pay TV network Sky Sports covering the full season, while the BBC picks up the scraps on free-to-air.

There is a small chance that such a deal could be in place for the forthcoming 2015 season, which starts with the Australian Grand Prix in mid-March. However, a more likely scenario would see the new regime commence in 2016.

It’s expected half of the F1 races each year would be shown live on Channel 10 with the remaining events shown in a delayed highlights package. A similar deal has just started this year with V8 Supercars moving to a split rights agreement with Foxtel and Channel 10.

Foxtel would cover the entire season in full and would presumably take on the Sky Sports feed, including high-definition broadcasts for all practice sessions, qualifying and races. Sky Sports also has more in-depth analysis than Channel 10 does.

In terms of pure sporting coverage it’s reasonable to expect Foxtel would do a far superior job than Channel 10 or previous rights holders Channel 9 ever have. At the time of writing it costs $50 per month to get Foxtel with the relevant sports channels, plus an extra $10 per month for high-definition.

Clearly a situation where fans feel forced into getting pay TV will cause a lot of angst. Will it cause any more angst than Channel 10’s current inferior coverage? That’s a question for each individual to answer.

It’s being reported that the Fox/10 deal is currently with Formula One Management awaiting sign-off.

[Source: Speedcafe]

Categories
Bathurst 12 Hour Motorsports Safety Issues

Why the Safety Car sucks

2015 Bathurst 12 Hour race

I will preface what you’re about to read by saying that the Safety Car is a necessary part of motor racing. This is especially the case on a track like Mount Panorama with its narrow concrete chasms. I would never advocate for the removal of the Safety Car as a concept and as a means of limiting the risk of injury to drivers, officials and spectators.

However, in yesterday’s Bathurst 12 Hour race there were 20 Safety Car periods. Yes, 20! On average, that’s one every 36 minutes.

There’s no evidence to suggest that any of those Safety Car periods were not warranted. Thankfully, there was only one concerning incident, involving David Brabham and it appears he has suffered nothing more than a few bruised ribs.

When it was appropriate, Race Control allowed time for spinning drivers to right themselves and if they couldn’t only then was a full course yellow called.

In terms of the safety aspect, then, I have no complaints at all. What I dislike about the Safety Car is that it robs us of competition.

In an event like the Bathurst 12 Hour, time spent following the SC lessens the endurance aspect. There’s less demand on the cars; drivers get time to relax. Rightly or wrongly the Safety Car makes endurance racing easier. And this was especially the case yesterday.

Inevitably, it now seems, we can no longer have an endurance race at Mount Panorama without having a Safety Car in the closing stages. This artificially closes any hard fought leads drivers and teams have worked so hard to establish.

All throughout the commentary yesterday we were told, “You just need to stay on the lead lap, because you just know there’ll be a Safety Car to bunch up the field leaving a sprint to the flag.”

I want to see a 12 hour endurance race, not a two-lap sprint!

Yes, it is a test of endurance to stay on the lead lap in a race of such time. But that’s not really the point. With the pace Markus Winkelhock showed at the start of yesterday’s race nobody was going to stay on the lead lap! The distance record would have been smashed and, potentially, a new Bathurst legend would have been born.

Alas, we were robbed yesterday. We’ll never know if Winkelhock’s pace in the opening stint of the race was sustainable. We’ll never know if it was a considered strategy to try and blow his opponents off the track, or if the other teams were deliberately holding back. Could the R8 really have gone a full 12 hours setting lap times around the 2:03 mark? Did Winkelhock and his teammates have the mental strength to maintain that pace, let alone their car?

I’m a little sad that we’re only ever going to be able to theorise over what may have happened, because the price we rightly pay to limit the risk of injury through the use of the Safety Car is to increase the risk of limiting competition.

Categories
Aston Martin Audi Bathurst 12 Hour Nissan

Nissan GTR GT3 wins 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour

Nissan GTR GTR wins 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour

A factory-backed Nissan team stood atop the Bathurst podium for the first time since that pack of arseholes win back in 1992. Katsumasa Chiyo drove the #35 GTR Nismo GT3 to victory with a perfectly timed charge for the lead in a two-lap sprint for the chequered flag.

That final sprint came courtesy of the 20th Safety Car period of the race which, thankfully, was over in time to see the race decided under green flag conditions. At the start of the second last lap the Nissan was in third place, by Hell Corner Chiyo had moved into P2 and by Griffins Bend he had the lead. Never challenged he crossed the line with a relatively comfortable gap back to the chaos going on behind him.

You can read more detailed coverage of the race elsewhere, all we’ll add to our thoughts on the race is that we would have loved to have seen the #15 Phoenix Audi R8 win. In the opening hour or so Markus Winkelhock was a class above the rest of the field. It was beautiful to watch as the gap back to second visibly widened with each lap.

At the end, in that dramatic run from Forrest Elbow to the flag, the #15 car went from almost taking second place, to being relegated to fourth to crossing the line in P2 in a move that we’re still yet to see on video (Channel 7 we’ll get to you later).

Overall, though, the Bathurst 12 Hour is a truly great race. Why would you watch six hours of supertaxis when you can watch 12 hours of bona fide supercars! Watching the GT cars fly across the top of the mountain is perhaps one of the finest motor racing spectator experiences on offer in Australia. And seven different brands in the top seven says all you need to know about GT racing and is part of what makes it so enjoyable to watch.

Each brand has its own unique sound. Those Marc Racing V8s are a pretty cool concept, but they sound like every other V8 Supercar in that god forsaken series. In the GT category there’s V12s, V10, V8s, V6s and flat-sixes. The Bentleys and Mercedes have a gutteral growl, the Audis shriek, the 458s shriek a bit more. Each has its own character as the drivers work through the gears. The Nissan less clinical than you might think. The Porsche is just different to everything else out there.

It’s believeable. Seeing racecars genuinely based on their roadgoing counterparts respects the paying punter much more than the direction V8SC has taken. I don’t like being treated like a fool, thankfully with GT racing that is not the case.

Slowly, but surely, the crowds are catching on too. It was a record crowd for the 12 Hour this year and while still a long way off the crowds for the 1000km race the gap is closing. Of course, the VB and Winnie blue factor is a bit lower as well.

If you love motorsport and haven’t yet made it to the Bathurst 12 Hour, give yourself a kick up the arse and start planning for 2016!

2015 Bathurst 12 Hour top 7

  1. #35 Nissan GTR Nismo GT3 – 269 laps
  2. #15 Audi R8 LMS Ultra – 269 laps
  3. #97 Aston Martin V12 Vantage – 269 laps
  4. #10 Bentley Continental GT3 – 269 laps
  5. #36 Mercedes-Benz SLS GT3 – 269 laps
  6. #49 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 – 268 laps
  7. #32 Lamboghini Gallardo GT3 – 268 laps

[Pic: Instagram]

UPDATE: Nissan’s video wrap and press release have been added below.

Continue reading “Nissan GTR GT3 wins 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour”