Tag: Formula 1

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Ferrari

Ferrari celebrates with sweet 16M

Ferrari Scuderia F430 16M

Lewis Hamilton may have snatched the Formula 1 World Drivers Championship, but Ferrari took home the constructors’ gong. To celebrate their F1 World Constructor’s Championship, Ferrari’s sixteenth overall, they have released the Scuderia Spider F430 16M. The 16M was revealed at the World Finals in Mugello and will be limited to 499 examples, all marked with special badging and build plates.

Showing that the 16M has as much horse as it does prancing, the limited edition Spider is the fastest open top ever around Ferrari’s Fiorano test track.

The 16M tips the scales 80kg lighter than the regular F430 Spider and the lazy 510hp (380kW) V8 propels the car to a top speed of 315km/h while taking a mere 3.7 seconds to go past 100km/h.

More words and images below…

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Formula 1

2009 Formula 1 calendar – Canada cruelly cut

2009 Formula 1 calendar

The FIA have confirmed their calendar for the 2009 season, with a few notable revisions from the provisional list revealed in June. The biggest shock is the loss of the Canadian Grand Prix. Not only was the news unexpected, the organisers themselves were not informed prior to the FIA’s announcement and only found out their fate through regular media channels. Montreal has hosted a Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve every year since 1987. In 2006 Canadian GP organisers announced they had secured the race’s future until 2011. Expect to hear a bit more about this one.

Other changes see the swapping of dates for the Belgian and Italian Grands Prix. The Turkish GP moves to 7 June, filling the gap left by Canada’s demise. There is now a four week summer break between rounds 10 and 11.

Source: Formula1.com and F1-Live

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Formula 1

Mark Webber’s Singapore Grand Prix preview

There’s quite a few preview clips for this weekend’s Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix out there in cyberspace. Here is Red Bull Racing‘s effort with Mark Webber talking us through a lap.

The first F1 race to be held under lights—it should be a belter!

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

McLaren to light up Singapore Grand Prix

In the lead up to the first ever Formula 1 night race, the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team have been busy preparing their car for the difficulties the Singapore Grand Prix will hold. They’ve released a teaser video so you can see how they’re getting on. Make sure you tune in to your favourite broadcaster next Sunday, 28 September, to see how these modifications go.

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Auctions & Sales Formula 1 Honda

Super Aguri F1 car sells at auction for under AU$200K

Super Aguri SA06

If I said you could buy a 2006 F1 car for under AU$200,000 you would say I’ve got a few crew members loose in pit lane. However, that is exactly what happened when a 2006 chassis Super Aguri went under the hammer recently. The SA06 racer sold at an internet auction for £85,600 (AU$194,000). The auction was run by SHM Smith Hodgkinson on behalf of Super Aguri’s liquidators. SHM’s Richard Mascall said, “We were absolutely delighted with the outcome. The car sold for £85,600, which is a more than respectable figure and easily more than the original reserve figure.”

The Japanese buyer will now have the keys to the ultimate track day weapon at a price that would raise the interest of captains of industry the world over. Fair enough, the logistics and running costs might up the price a bit in real terms, but it would be pretty ace to own your own F1 car.

The Japanese team made their Formula 1 debut in 2006, but financial difficulties forced their withdrawal from F1 earlier this year, after just four races.

Source: autosport.com (Thanks to Tiaan for sending this in. Pic courtesy of MickyD.)

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Honda Motorsports

Ricardo Patrese gets his wife talking dirty

Ricardo Patrese, former Formula 1 driver, thought it might be a nice idea to take his wife for a nice Sunday drive. They were in a small Japanese hatchback on a quiet road with no traffic. Isn’t that nice.

Fortunately, for your viewing pleasure, Mrs Patrese wasn’t so keen on Ricardo’s driving style. Okay, so the quiet road was the Jerez circuit in Spain, and the hatchback was a Civic Type R. Of course, old racers never die, they just do it faster. I don’t speak Italian, but I know the odd swear word or two, haha.

This clip is a great laugh and the look of horror on Mrs Patrese’s face is beautifully contrasted by Ricardo’s ice cool demeanour. Enjoy!

Source: The Ricardo Patrese blog via autoblog

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Formula 1 Random wallpapers

Random wallpaper: Spa-Francorchamps

Spa-Francorchamps Grand Prix circuit

To celebrate the Belgian Grand Prix here is a 1920×1200 pixel aerial photo of the awesome Spa-Francorchamps Grand Prix circuit. The current track is a fraction over 7km, but the original layout was over 14km in length. The Belgian Grand Prix was first held here in 1924 and the Eau Rouge–Radillon corners—part of the original layout—form one of the most famous sections of Grand Prix track in the world. Rivalled, perhaps, only by the Monaco street circuit. However, it is the Blanchimont corner on the back straight that drivers find the more fearsome corner, according to Wikipedia. More detail on the track can be found on the official Formula 1 website.

To download the 1920×1200 pixel version of this image, simply click on the image above.

Credit for the image goes to Chubbennaitor, sourced from Wikipedia.

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Motor Shows

2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed – image gallery

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2008

I just stumbled across this excellent image gallery (54photography.com) from the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Put the kettle on, set aside a 10 minutes or so and enjoy the slideshow. There’s some fantastic images in there, covering a big variety of cars. This gallery certainly brings home just how big the FoS has become, with manufacturers clearly treating the event very seriously. The old skool F1 cars towards the end are well worth the wait, and bring back some great memories.

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News

2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed

2008 Goodwood Fesitval of Speed - Mazda FuraiLast weekend the Duke of Richmond opened up his estate once again for the 18th consecutive Goodwood Festival of Speed. The lads from CarAdvice.com.au were there, check out their report, with heaps of great up close pictures, HERE.

For more info on the Goodwood FoS check out the Wikipedia page. This preview article from the Telegraph also paints a picture of just how big this event is. Enjoy!

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Formula 1

Donington Park to host British Grand Prix from 2010

Donington Park

The British Grand Prix will be held at Donington Park from 2010. Donington last held a Formula One race in 1993—the European Grand Prix—won by the late Ayrton Senna. Formula One Management President Bernie Ecclestone said, “Finally the uncertainty is over. A contract has been signed with Donington Park and the future of the British Grand Prix is now secure. We wanted a world class venue for Formula One in Britain, something that the teams and British F1 fans could be proud of. The major development plans for Donington will give us exactly that. A venue that will put British motor sport back on the map.”

Simon Gillett, Donington Park CEO, was interviewed on ITV1 before today’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone and said plans for the redevelopment of the track and facilities would be announced soon. He assured viewers the section from Redgate to McLean’s (see circuit map below) would remain untouched, although a new loop section was likely to be added to the infield of the track.

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Formula 1

Mark Webber on front row for British Grand Prix

Mark WebberAustralian Mark Webber has celebrated his contract extension with Red Bull Racing by setting the second fastest time in final qualifying at the 2008 British Grand Prix. Webber lapped the Silverstone circuit in 1:21.554, but was no match for McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen who blitzed the field winning his maiden pole position with a time of 1:21.049. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen qualified in third (1:21.706), ahead of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton (1:21.835) and BMW-Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld (1:21.873).

In the post qualifying interview Webber acknowledged Red Bull Racing, “It’s a credit to the team, they’ve worked hard. We’re based just down the road so it’s like a home Grand Prix for us.” This will be the first time since 2006 that Webber has started a Grand Prix on the front row—the first time for Red Bull Racing—and he knows the serious work lays ahead, “Only five per cent of the job is done, it could be wet, so there’s a long way to go.” The Australian’s Red Bull has been at the pointy end of the field all weekend and this was also the case in the third qualifying session, despite the blustery conditions making it difficult for all drivers, “I felt comfortable in the car and in my second run I got a lot better lap, Heikki got the pole and I’m happy for him.” News of Webber’s second qualifying position will no doubt create a lot of enthusiasm down under and he is raring to go, “I can’t wait for tomorrow, I wish the race started now!”

Webber has had a lot of success at Silverstone with good results in Formula Ford and Formula 3000. Let’s hope this trend continues with a trouble free run in tomorrow’s race.

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Formula 1

Melbourne to host Formula One Grand Prix until 2015

Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix

Victorian Premier, John Brumby and his Events team have struck a deal that will see Melbourne continue hosting a Formula One Grand Prix until 2015. Controversy over a full night time race appears to have been shelved, for now, with plans for the Melbourne race to start at 5pm for the next seven years. “It’s a five o’clock start. We’ve said that we would not support a night race, and we’ve held firm in that position,” Brumby said.

President of Formula One Management, Mr Bernie Ecclestone, said he was delighted the Grand Prix was continuing in Melbourne. “The Australian Grand Prix has always been a great show, with some of the biggest crowds in Formula One,” he said.

The crucial factor for Melbourne, or any Australian Grand Prix, has always been the early morning start for European television audiences, and it is understood negotiations for this new deal were intensive. Ecclestone commented, “I have wanted changes to the local race time so that we can increase the television audience in Europe and Asia. I’m satisfied that the decision to move to later start time for 2009 races is a win for television audiences in Europe and Asia, a win for Melbourne and a win for Formula One as a whole.”

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