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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

More info on the Pirelli-Mercedes tyre test

2013 Spanish Grand Prix

Adam Cooper has garnered more information on the Pirelli-Mercedes “secret” tyre test. We suggest you take a read. Here’s a snippet to start with:

“Some people have described the test as secret,” said Hembery on Friday. “Well, I don’t think we would have won any James Bond prizes, because we booked the circuit in our name, two days after an F1 race.”
…
So why the excessive security measures? Why stop members of the public from observing from outside the venue, never mind wandering around the spectator areas, enjoying the chance to see the car that was on pole a few days before?

[Source: Adam Cooper F1 | Pic: Mercedes AMG]

Categories
Citroen WRC

Robert Kubica wins first WRC2 event

Robert Kubica wins WRC2 Acropolis Rally

A quick shout out to Robert Kubica who won the WRC2 category at the Acropolis Rally on the weekend. It’s just his second WRC2 start, which is for near-production spec 4WD showroom cars.

Driving a Ctiroën DS3 RRC the 28-year-old Pole took the rally lead on the opening stage and never looked back, dominating throughout the event and easing himself to a win of almost 90 seconds.

“Yes, it’s a great day for me”, Kubica said after his win. “For sure, it has been a very, very difficult weekend. I think Acropolis is an extremely tough rally, especially for someone like me who has twenty years’ experience of racing on a circuit! It’s the total opposite of what I have been used to.

“There are many things for me to learn still, but it has been a great learning experience and a very productive weekend. I’m now looking forward to Rally Sardegna, where I can put what I have learned this weekend to good use.”

[Source: Citroën WRC]

Categories
Volkswagen WRC

Jari-Matti Latvala wins 2013 Acropolis Rally

2013 Acropolis Rally

Jari-Matti Latvala has broken through for his maiden WRC victory with Volkswagen by taking out the Acropolis Rally on the weekend. Dani Sordo was second for Citroën and Thierry Neuville was third in his Ford.

“I’m absolutely thrilled and I’d like to dedicate this win to the whole Volkswagen team,” Latvala said. “The new season got off to a very difficult start for me, but the team always believed in me and supported me really well. I’m delighted to see so many happy faces now. Winning the Rally Acropolis also means a lot to me because it’s extremely tough and it’s a real classic.

“The last stage felt like the longest and hardest for a some time—I felt every single stone and jolt in the car and couldn’t wait for the finishing line to come into sight. Today is a day for celebrating!”

Latvala’s cause was aided by a mechanical issue to teammate and runaway championship leader, Sebastien Ogier, on the opening stage of the rally. Ogier’s car suffered fuel pressure problems and his subsequent repairs earnt him a 10 minute time penalty.

In the end Ogier worked his way back to P10 for the last championship point on offer and he also picked up three points for winning the power stage. It’s the first time this year that Ogier has failed to finish on the podium.

Young Volkswagen driver Andreas Mikkelsen had his best result for Volkswagen, too, finishing in fourth place.

As a result of their strong showing Volkswagen has further cemented its lead in the manufacturers’ championship. Ogier currently enjoys a 52 point lead in the drivers’ title over Latvala, who has moved into second place ahead of Sebastien Loeb.

The high levels of dust in the Acropolis Rally provided photographers with wonderful opportunities to capture the cars in action, a gallery of images from Volkswagen can be seen below.

Note: Citroën lodged a formal protest against all three Volkswagen entries after the rally. The protest concerned Volkswagen’s practices with the cars under parc fermé conditions, specifically the treatment of the batteries in each of the cars. The FIA dismissed the protest and the original results will stand.

Continue reading “Jari-Matti Latvala wins 2013 Acropolis Rally”
Categories
BMW

Third-generation BMW X5 revealed

BMW X5

BMW recently announced details for their third-gen X5 SUV, codenamed F15. It’s a reasonably straightforward evolutionary step as far as the looks go, although there are a few areas of concern.

You can see elements of the F30 3 Series at the front, with the way the headlights link to the kidney grille. And that grille is pretty damn big too, much larger than the E70 model it replaces. It looks a bit odd now, but over time it will make sense.

However, the side profile raises our eyebrows. Specifically at rear window and its Hofmeister kink. To us this is poorly resolved and looks a bit too much like the awkward Honda CRV, which is a tad unfortunate.

At launch the new X5 can be had with a 330kW/650Nm 4.4 litre V8 (xDrive50i), a 190kW/560Nm 3.0 litre diesel (xDrive30d) or the M Performance model with 280kW/740Nm 3.0 litre diesel (M50d).

As is BMW’s wont these days all engines carry the TwinPower Turbo tag on account of their forced induction. Although, it’s only the xDrive50i that has a twin turbo setup, the xDrive30D uses a single turbo and the M50d has three.

More engine options will be added to the range in December. Full details of the new X5 can be read below.

Continue reading “Third-generation BMW X5 revealed”
Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

FIA asks both Mercedes and Ferrari to please explain

FIA

Overnight the FIA issued the following statement in regards to the secret Formula 1 Pirelli tyre tests:

The FIA has asked Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 and Scuderia Ferrari Team which have taken part in tyre tests in the 2013 season to reply to a disciplinary inquiry in pursuance of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.

This follows the Stewards’ Report from the Monaco Grand Prix and represents supplementary information required by the FIA in the light of the replies received from Pirelli, who were asked for clarifications on Tuesday May 28th.

Mercedes we all knew about, they have allegedly used a 2013-spec car in their test with Pirelli and, in theory, that’s a clear cut breach of the sporting regulations.

Ferrari, however, will be very surprised, we suspect, to be asked to explain their participation with Pirelli. It’s been reported they used a 2011-spec car provided by their Corse Clienti program, which is independent from the F1 team.

Using a two-year-old car has been understood by the teams to be acceptable. Although, the regulations define acceptable cars as being “substantially different” from the 2013 specifications. It would seem then that the concern for Ferrari will be: is the 2011 F150 Italia different enough from the 2013 F138?

Lawyers at 10 paces everyone!

Categories
Safety Issues Volkswagen

Volkswagen Australia responds to Fairfax Media

Volkswagen

In a not unexpected development Volkswagen has issued an official response to yesterday’s Fairfax Media article:

Volkswagen Group Australia Response to Fairfax

The coronial inquest regarding the death of Ms. Ryan is still ongoing, we will not comment on the investigation, except to say that we are cooperating fully and the assertion by Fairfax that Ms Ryan’s death appears to have been caused by sudden deceleration is incorrect. There has been no finding of this nature by the Coroner.

There is also no correlation between the inquest, and the customer reports presented in the media regarding issues with diesel engines and DSG transmissions.

The vehicle at the centre of the inquest is equipped with a petrol engine and a manual transmission. Neither of the customer’s interviewed for the story has a vehicle fitted with a DSG transmission either.

Categories
Ferrari Formula 1

Ferrari opens up about own secret Pirelli test

2011 Ferrari F150 Italia

In the wake of the Mercedes secret tyre test controversy it has emerged that Ferrari has also taken part in private test at the request of Pirelli.

The test took place this year between the Bahrain and Spanish Grands Prix. Crucially, though, a 2011-spec car was used which had been provided by Ferrari’s Corse Clienti program and not their Formula 1 team. Therefore, Ferrari has not breached any FIA sporting regulations.

“For a bit more of a year there has been a possibility of performing these so-called 1,000 kms tests that Pirelli does for its own tyre development,” a Ferrari spokesman told Speed. “For Ferrari it has always been very clear that these tests could not make use of a 2013 car. In terms of running an old car, the matter is quite irrelevant, because it is totally within the rules.

“This is something that we have never denied; this was very transparent. All the teams have this possibility. The tyres, the specification of the test, is something that Pirelli knows; not us.”

Previously Pirelli had conducted its testing using a 2010-spec Renault under the watch of the Lotus show car program. It had always kept the teams abreast of its activities, including the distribution of official reports after each test that, in part, confirmed Lotus would not gain any advantage.

Why they have now started going down this secretive test regime with Ferrari and Mercedes, without notifying the other teams is yet to be identified.

[Source: Speed TV | Pic: Ferrari]

Categories
Safety Issues Volkswagen

Has your Volkswagen suddenly lost power?

Volkswagen Golf V

We alert you to a troubling article regarding the Volkswagen Golf published by Fairfax Media. Most of the issues reported on relate to Mk5 Golfs and centre around the 2011 death of 32-year-old Melissa Ryan on Melbourne’s Monash Freeway:

A coroner this week investigated the death of Ms Ryan, who was killed when a prime mover with two trailers hit her Golf from behind. The truck driver and Ms Ryan’s family believe her car dramatically and inexplicably slowed before the crash. After Fairfax’s reporting of the coronial inquest, 15 owners of Volkswagens have spoken of frightening experiences when their cars, including Golf, Passat, Polo and Eos models, suddenly lost power on highways and, in one case, a train line.

“I did not feel safe driving a car like that. It was frightening,” said Jean Lim, who was driving a 2007 Golf automatic that suddenly decelerated. VW replaced the gearbox but the issue returned. Another driver, who owned a 2008 Golf automatic, said she drove “in constant terror”. “The light comes up, the car just dies and you just pray that you’re not smashed into,” said the driver, who declined to be named.

We suggest you read the article in full. If you drive a recent model Volkswagen and have experienced similar problems we’d like to hear from you in the comments section below.

For the interests of transparency we spent over six years at the wheel of a 2006 Golf GTI (6-speed manual) and never encountered anything at all like this. The car went back to Volkswagen for three voluntary recalls, although the car was not exhibiting any of the problems covered by the recalls at the time.

Categories
Formula 1

Pirelli on the 2013 Monaco Grand Prix

Pirelli

Prior to and after each Formula 1 race Pirelli shares a bunch of information regarding tyre selection and pit stops. You may be aware of this already, but if you’re not here’s what they produced from the Monaco Grand Prix.

Continue reading “Pirelli on the 2013 Monaco Grand Prix”
Categories
Caterham

New entry-level Caterham on way

Caterham Seven entry level teaser

It’s almost as if the Chris Harris video and this news were destined to arrive together. Caterham has announced they will be making a new entry-level Seven with a target price of £17,000 (AU$26,750).

The new model doesn’t have a name yet, but will feature a Euro 6 compliant engine and is being made to celebrate 40 years of Caterham making the Seven. It will be launched around September with deliveries expected before the year is out.

Firm details will be announced in time and for now Caterham Cars CEO, Graham Macdonald, has this to say: “As we celebrate our 40th anniversary at Caterham, it feels good to be taking the brand right back to where it started. Colin Chapman designed the original Seven to be entirely ‘fit-for-purpose’—a racing car for the road with the driving experience at its heart.

“With that in mind, the new entry-level Seven will be uncomplicated, easy to run and, most important of all, an intuitive and exciting drive.”

Sounds fantastic Graham, carry on.

Categories
Caterham Morgan Video

VIDEO: Why don’t people buy more Caterhams?

Chris Harris loves Caterhams

In his latest video Chris Harris keeps it real, driving two British sportscars. One we yearn for ourselves, the other, well not so much.

First, Harris drives the Morgan 3 Wheeler. Good for him. We just can’t warm to it. It’s just a bit daft and we’ve heard better sounding sewing machines than that V-twin engine. It’s just one step too far down the oddball scale for us. You may disagree, and we wouldn’t begrudge you at all.

But a Caterham on the other hand. Now, that we like. True, there’s never been a Caterham or Lotus 7 with a decent looking backside. But who cares! The front is raw and purposeful, which matches the driving experience.

Harris describes the Caterham best when he says: “This is absolutely pure!”

Why don’t we see more Caterhams on the roads?

Continue reading “VIDEO: Why don’t people buy more Caterhams?”
Categories
Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Williams F1 switching to Mercedes power in 2014

Mercedes V6 F1 engine

The Williams F1 Team has announced today that their “long-term” deal with Renault will not extend into 2014. Instead they have signed a new “long-term” deal with Mercedes-Benz.

“I’m delighted to announce our new association with Mercedes-Benz for the 2014 Formula One season and beyond,” Team Principal Sir Frank Williams said. “Mercedes-Benz has been one of the sport’s most successful engine suppliers and we believe that they will have an extremely competitive engine package.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Renault for their continued hard work since we renewed our engine partnership at the beginning of the 2012 season. We have enjoyed a strong relationship that has resulted in much success over the years, including powering us to winning ways once again last year at the Spanish Grand Prix.”

Looks like we won’t see the rebirth of the Renault Clio Williams after all. And Williams-Renaults racing McLaren-Hondas would have rekindled fond memories for those of us over 35 too. Life marches on.

Indeed the new engines, which we must call power units, on account of their greater reliance on Energy Recovery Systems, will take Formula 1 in a new direction next year. It will be fascinating to see how they sound, how they perform and how reliable they are.

Continue reading “Williams F1 switching to Mercedes power in 2014”