Maserati vs Aston Martin vs Ford, sounds like a classic matchup from the glory years of sports car racing. This was, I'm sure you recognized, at Interlagos. The drivers: Yann Clairay (Aston Martin) , Michael Bartels (Maserati), Thomas Mutsch (FordGT) and Alex Muller (Maserati 33). For a play by play check out Chequeredflag.co.uk
Turn it WAY up!
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This clip from a History of Motor racing documentary made me chuckle: they show all these fairly horrific accidents but the constant refrain is "surprisingly no one was seriously injured" ...define seriously!
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1970's Lincoln Town cars are turned into DC comics officially licensed rolling merchandize by Indiana's Fiberglass Freaks. I'm not kidding!
Perfect Christmas stocking stuffer, maybe F1 drivers should chip in for the $150K plus asking price and get Bernie one to make him feel better and take turns playing Robin!
Get all the gory bat details HERE
(Fiberglass Freaks).
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Here, in real life, at the Ferrari World Finals festivities in Valencia last week. .
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a suspension failure on the Auri R8 LMS tosses Heikki Kovalainen into the barrier injuring his passenger and almost into Seb Loeb at today's Race of Champions in Dusseldorf. (Perkele? check here)
Speaking of Audi fails, ROC founder Michelle Mouton got behind the wheel of a priceless original Uhr Quattro and rolled it. Tough car, window did not even crack. Finally some excitement at the ROC!
More ROC videos after the jump.
The Champ vs the Gramps
The surprise winner was Felipe Albuquerque...who? I guess just like a few years ago, Heikki who?
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Axis readers should know this rally car well, we featured it a number of times before. Autocar visited Prodrive recently to test a number of their iconic rally cars, from the first Porsche 911 SC RS to the later, all conquering, Imprezas. Somewhere in the middle, this e30 M3, and once again we say why can't WRC be just RWD? I recomend turning the volume up!
Bonus video classic
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AKA world class drivers do autocross . It's this week end, Stay tuned for news and videos as they become available.
This year's lineup includes Sebastians Vettel and Loeb, grandpas Schumacher, Prost and Doohan and bunch of Le Mans and touring car drivers. The US is represented by Carl Edwards, probably will get injured somehow Travis Pastrana and yes...Tanner Faust.
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Bernie Ecclestone ended up in a London hospital with head injuries after being kicked and punched by muggers right outside F1 management's office building.
Dario Franchitti had the chance to drive the fantastic asymmetrical 1965 Lotus 38/1 belonging to the Henry Ford Museum Racing in America collection.
Racing in America will be an first of its kind interactive educational exhibit within the Henry Ford Museum dedicated to preserving the history of American auto racing. Axis is proud to have been chosen as one of the features contributors to the Racing in America web site!
Racing in America
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1970 Royale RP4 of Brian Johnson dives under the 1965 Mustang of CH De Haan at the Sebring Fall Classic by Nigel Smukkatelli
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I'm a sucker for a beautifully photographed clip like this one, by Remi Schouten from okidokyo.com.
NIght drifting, some serious bbq, but mi favorite shot has to be the guy "picking up" his own front bumper cover at around :45 seconds. Have a look.
"November 13 and 14, another crazy drift matsuri took place at Ebisu Circuit in Japan. This drifting event is one-of-kind, pretty much anything is allowed, just use your head a little.
People buy special "drift missiles" (very cheap drift cars) not having to worry about damaging it. This makes this drift event so special and allows people to really go to the limit and a lot of times over the limit. This is the ultimate way to learn drifting.
The atmosphere at this event is just amazing, making it a very worth while event to visit even when not drifting.
This is my first time making a video with a DSLR (Canon 550D), still have to get the hang of manual focus, shutter-speed etc etc. But that's what makes it more fun!"
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(Lotus Exige Cup 260 Rally by Lord Markus)
Since 1978, when the weather in MIlano turns cold, foggy and preferably wet, the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza gets transformend into a self contained rally track.
Cars participating in the Monza Rally Show run the track forwards and backwards and sideways, they run on the banking, they run at night. They do special side by side super specials and they do what looks like free for alls. Kind of like a Ken Block video minus the editing and special effects.
Cars run the gamut from full blown WRC cars to Corvettes and Ferraris usually a few celebrities. Brilliant idea for rally fans.
Lots more videos after the jump.
WTCC's Stefano D'Aste in a Lotus Exige...
Graziano Rossi, Valentino's dad...
Dindo Capello in a Citroen C4 WRC
Dani Sordo, also in a C4 WRC
WRC final
Quick banking clip
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Channeling Jalopnik today....
Russian stunt show in Rostov, who needs safety when you have Ladas?
(Via Corriere.it)
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(Rubens Barrichello, Williams FW 32, Pirelli test Abu Dhabi by Frederic le Floch/DPPI)
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The Macau track makes Monaco look like a four lane highway. With all manner of machines racing there this week from bikes to Lambos without enough lock to make the turns, it's not a matter of if a crash will happen but when and how long will it take to clean up.
As more videos become available I will add them after the jump, meanwhile, how insane is it to run bikes there?
more videos after the jump
(thanks _Cyclops_)
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1927 Bugatti Type 37 Sport by AC
I never was able to find a good answer as to why cars of the period, from the 20s all the way to the early 50s, were set up with the top of the wheels pushing out, as if the inside wheel needs to pull out in turn rather than the outside, push in. The technical reason must have to do with the rigid front suspension but can anyone explain it in more technical terms?
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CG found the top video on Rennlist, the bottom comes from an Italian forum, both shot around the same time in November. Top one has rain in the first part of the track and not as wet on the other side, typical conditions there it seems. Driver is Andre de Vries.
The bottom one was shot after some light snow had fallen, it's slower but then again, it's a Caterham r500 on R-comp tires. I would think keeping it off the aarmco is an accomplishment enough!
So, how well do you drive?
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I love it when readers help out. The galactically named Zarniwoop put together some interesting statistics which you are free to interpret as you wish.... HAM BUT VET WEB ALO
Wins 3 2 5 4 5
Poles 1 0 10 5 2
Fault incidents 2 0 4 3 1
Non-fault incidents 3 2 4 0 0
DNF 3 2 3 2 1
Maintained pos quali->race 4 4 4 3 3
Improved pos quali->race 11 12 4 5 10
Worse pos quali->race 4 3 11 11 6
Fast laps 5 1 3 3 5
Points 240 214 256 242 252
Check these out full screen, I did a good job in Monaco if I don't say so myself :)
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Axis reader Mark Farouk sent some great pictures he shot to share with you, Thanks!
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Congratulation to Sebastian Vettel, the fastest driver in the fastest car and now the youngest ever F1 Champion. Nobody gave him much of a chance but the stars aligned and the 2010 F1 championship script could not have been better if it had been written in Hollywood, all that was missing was Vettel and Webber picking up quarters with their tires on the streets of Abu Dhabi.
Really, it should never have been so close: while Alonso made a remarkable comeback towards the end of the season he would be the first to admit luck helped, Red Bull's various problems with crashes and mechanicals handing points over to Ferrari. Today though it was Ferrari who returned the favor.
Interesting that this championship was in some ways decided because of a safety car. That SLS was a good investment for Mercedes, we saw a lot of it this past season and in the final race it set up the crucial decision point for Ferrari and Red Bull.
Ferrari fell right into Red Bull's trap when they chose to shadow Webber who stopped after only 12 laps. Maybe I'm giving Horner and Co. too much credit but whatever the case, the Ferrari pit wall made a colossal, incredible mistake giving up track position to cars that had already made their tire stop under the safety car and putting Alonso behind Petrov, who put in his best drive of the season, for 40 laps.
The Yas Marina track may be pretty to look at and very wide but nobody can pass. Kubica, one of the few who actually passed another car, stayed in front of Hamilton for laps on end with the Mclaren able to move up only when the Renault stopped for tires. Alonso was pretty frustrated with Petrov on the cool down lap but, as he had to admit after he himself cooled down, that's racing.
Great season from Red Bull, well deserved championship win for Vettel who never gave up, never gave an inch and showed why the team is built around him. Vettel has been driving since he was three years old and was put under contract by RedBull at age nine, a fourteen year investment by a company that fourteen years ago was not even in F1. Red Bull steered Sebastian through junior formulas including that great formula 1 petri dish that was Formula BMW. A massive investment that has paid out big in 2010, well done.
A shame for Webber, a bit like Massa two years ago, this year was likely his best shot.
In the short window between the hype for "the best season ever" and the beginning of the next, I would hope F1 thinks long and hard as to why we still have races won and lost in qualifying, you have mandatory tire stops but soft tires that can last almost a whole race and brand new tracks where two of the best passers in the game, Hamilton and Alonso, can't make a move on a car slowing them down. Food for thought.
A final jeer to the commentators at SpeedTV who trotted out that offensive accusation of FIA steward Emanuele Pirro being there ready to cheat for Ferrari. I think it's time for new blood there, as evidenced by the great job newcomer Will Buxton did all season long.
(BBC, RTL, SKY)
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Some readers accused us of ignoring Hamilton this week end! My bad. :)
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Nightmare scenario for Webber who will be starting not just behind Alonso but Button as well. While Alonso just needs to shadow Webber to win the title, Vettel and Hamilton both need to win and hope others have problems so expect fireworks from those two if they get close.
Webber was the only only one of the contenders who did not better his time on the last try. Alonso, who was fifth as he began his final lap with 3 seconds to spare, managed to find a crucial 3/10ths that put him ahead of Button and on the "clean" side of the grid, right behind Vettel.
Pos Driver Car Q1 Q2 Q3
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m40.318s 1m39.874s 1m39.394s
2. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m40.335s 1m40.119s 1m39.425s
3. Alonso Ferrari 1m40.170s 1m40.311s 1m39.792s
4. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m40.877s 1m40.014s 1m39.823s
5. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m40.690s 1m40.074s 1m39.925s
6. Massa Ferrari 1m40.942s 1m40.323s 1m40.202s
7. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m40.904s 1m40.476s 1m40.203s
8. Schumacher Mercedes 1m41.222s 1m40.452s 1m40.516s
9. Rosberg Mercedes 1m40.231s 1m40.060s 1m40.589s
10. Petrov Renault 1m41.018s 1m40.658s 1m40.901s
11. Kubica Renault 1m41.336s 1m40.780s
12. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m41.045s 1m40.783s
13. Sutil Force India-Ferrari 1m41.473s 1m40.914s
14. Heidfeld Sauber-Ferrari 1m41.409s 1m41.113s
15. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1m41.015s 1m41.418s
16. Liuzzi Force India-Ferrari 1m41.681s 1m41.642s
17. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m41.707s 1m41.738s
18. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m41.824s
19. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1m43.516s
20. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1m43.712s
21. Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m44.095s
22. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1m44.510s
23. Senna Hispania-Cosworth 1m45.085s
24. Klien Hispania-Cosworth 1m45.296s
All timing unofficial
Word is Lamborghini will produce about a dozen of the sub 1000Kg, 570hp Stealth fighter looking cars at a cool Eu 2,500,000 each. $3,440,000 at today's rate. Blondes not included but likely.
(autoblog.it)
Meanwhile images of the Gallardo replacement should surface very soon as "special clients" have been invited to Sant'Agata for a preview today.
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OK, maybe not rip your face off but you WILL do a good Jeremy Clarkson driving an Atom impression.
"POV (Point of View) footage of Formula Rossa - the world's fastest roller coaster. It is a hydraulically launched Intamin AG ride that reaches a top speed of 240km/hr in just under 4 seconds.
Strap yourself into the F1™ cockpit and hold onto your soul as you blast away on the fastest roller coaster on the planet. You'll accelerate up to 240km/h and see what 4.8 Gs really feels like. You'll scream over the track and 52 meters into the sky before flying through the chicanes, inspired from some of the most famous race tracks in the world, and across the finish line, with an adrenaline kick worthy of the Grand Prix. Needless to say, you'll have to wear safety goggles for the duration of the ride, just like every other racer that takes on Grand Prix speeds. It's the world's fastest roller coaster in all its F1™ glory."
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This was the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi Friday morning. That Benie can arrange anything!
Didn't last long but you can't say it could never happen...
Pos Driver Car Time Gap Laps
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m42.760s 18
2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m43.369s + 0.609s 16
3. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m43.785s + 1.025s 19
4. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m43.840s + 1.080s 19
5. Robert Kubica Renault 1m44.080s + 1.320s 19
6. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m44.121s + 1.361s 17
7. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m44.199s + 1.439s 19
8. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m44.604s + 1.844s 18
9. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m44.718s + 1.958s 19
10. Nick Heidfeld Sauber-Ferrari 1m44.737s + 1.977s 19
11. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m45.160s + 2.400s 18
12. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m45.445s + 2.685s 21
13. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m45.474s + 2.714s 15
14. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m45.552s + 2.792s 20
15. Tonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1m45.585s + 2.825s 14
16. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m46.003s + 3.243s 20
17. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1m46.644s + 3.884s 19
18. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m47.105s + 4.345s 22
19. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m48.450s + 5.690s 19
20. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1m48.472s + 5.712s 17
21. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1m49.375s + 6.615s 13
22. Bruno Senna Hispania-Cosworth 1m49.590s + 6.830s 18
23. Christian Klien Hispania-Cosworth 1m50.274s + 7.514s 17
24. Fairuz Fauzy Lotus-Cosworth 1m51.705s + 8.945s 18
All timing unofficial
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NASA Pro Racing announced a new race series for 2011 centered around the Porsche Cayman platform.
The International Trophy Cup is the most ambitious effort yet from NASA, the "anti" SCCA, which has had such success with regional spec series racing like Spec e30.
Certainly the idea of a Cayman based series will have come from the existing Cayman Interseries brilliantly conceived by Florida's Napleton Porsche. If NASA is smart, they will make sure their spec for ITC is at least very close to that of interseries so they can have a fleet of ready made cars and competitiors.
ITC plans to offer a complete sponsorship, marketing and media exposure service package aiming to take that grind away from those willing to commit to the series.
The two per week end, fifty minute, standing start races will be broadcast on the internet, live and on demand via a partnership with RacefansTV.com end of post .
Of course, with AxisCG having a (ok, slightly bent at the moment, but hey...) CaymanS race car, there is a good chance you hear a lot more about ITC on Axis!
Check out the press release after the jump or visit trophycupracing.com
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Axis Pete is (unofficially still) Nasa NE Spec e30 champion for 2010. Congratulations!
Halloween weekend marked the last race weekend for NASA NE. After some car problems at the Watkins Glen race, I decided to head down to the track one day early on Friday to work on car setup and testing.
Friday morning started with a brisk chill, about 34 degrees and about 15mph wind. Despite the cold weather I was excited to hit the track, with my track notes and brain in check. The car felt good right out of the box but after some setup work, the car put power (such as it is :) ed.) down better and felt well balanced in the high speed corners. It never felt this good all season. The rest of the Axis crew showed up just after I was done with Friday practice and well chilled. After a few beers and food, I went to bed dreaming of warm weather.
Saturday started out about the same as Friday: windy and cold. In practice i took the time to bed in some new brake pads for the race. Then set out for Qualifying hoping I would get a clean lap.
NASA NE was running one race group (that's like 437 cars all at once ed.) which tends to make the sessions crazy with some of the faster cars lapping 20 seconds faster than the slowest ones so Sean Curran and I made sure to take our Spec E30s to grid very early hoping for clear track.
We were 3rd and 4th in line but, as I feared, qualifying started out crazy and ended crazy. Every lap was filled with traffic, I managed to get one ok lap in right before I has a "moment" with a GTS3 car. THis resulted in a broken wheel and a punctured tire.
Lucky for me Phil's Tire Service was there offering trackside support and I was able to get a new Wheel and tire in no time. After checking the alignment and for other damage, we threw some fuel into the tank and were ready for the race.
The race was not too exciting, just some handling issues after the first lap when the car developed a push in every corner. Later found out that toe measurement was correct but in the wrong direction, Oops. Still, I managed to hold off Sean to take the win and reset the new track record to 1:37.249.
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Speaking of posturing, Luca Di Montezemolo has proclaimed it "a scandal" for any Italian to cheer for Mclaren. While this was an offhand comment for internal consumption ( a politician from the independist "Northern League" had made cheering against all things Italian a comment against the government) di Montezemolo might consider how scandalously little Ferrari has done to help develop the careers of Italian driving talent throughout the years. 
Valencia, November 8. Love the question mark helmet. (photo: REUTERS/Heino Kalis )
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Some discussion points out after the Brazilian GP:
1. Red Bull wins the constructors title, it was a great, no effort spared, attack from f1 clowns to clear #1 team. But something happened on the way to the dream, the wrong guy ended up with more points. Red Bull does not want Webber to be their first World Champion.
2. Webber, who now has not won for seven races, needs to win the final race and hope Alonso does not come in second. It's not that big of a gamble to think there will be a Red Bull 1-2 in the final race, yet... If Vettel is ahead and Alonso is fourth or better, Red Bull will have to get off their high horse and issue team orders let the drivers decide on their own. If Alonso DNF's, Vettel has a chance to win the championship in a tie-braker over Webber. Can you say Turkey?
3. What happened to Mclaren? Hamilton tried hard as usual but he kept complaining about lack of grip. Button advanced once more through clever strategy but the british team has been going backwards in the final part of the season with the drivers seem unable to nail setups for the race. Very un-Mclaren.
4. Alonso, what a second part of the season. Love him or hate him, you cannot fault his driving and determination.
It has been suggested that careful reading of Team Lotus and Renault F1 press releases reveals the result of the confusing Team Lotus vs Lotus Cars (Proton) naming dispute will be a new name for the current Team Lotus, possibly 1Malaysian Racing, and a new owner for Renault F1.
Renault would still provide engines to Tony Fernandes' team but would see its remaining 25% stake in the current F1 team to Lotus Cars. The new team would be called Lotus-Renault and appropriate the traditional green and yellow livery revived by the Air Asia boss.
More super ambitious plans for the Dany Bahar led company after their deluge of planned new road car products announced at the Paris auto show. A good exit strategy for Renault which would get to keep the profitable part of the gig, engine supplier to Red Bull, Lotus and "1Malaysia Racing" while getting fully out of the headache part.
(Via Massimo Costa/autosprint)
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Interlagos track facts:
Lap time: around 1'12"
Time on brakes: :9.2 Seconds
Number of brake zones: 7
Gearshifts per lap : 37
Time spent at full throttle" 68%
Fuel consumption: 2.9 Liters per lap
That great old 1970s footage reminded me that F1 back then was more fun to watchmostly because you could actually see things happening. Current cars are so quick that as a spectator you have no chance to physically see anything but what looks like a blur on rails. So it's useful to see the bad to appreciate the good.
Have a look at how quickly Vitaly Petrov's car snaps from under him. Braking events average about 1 second, is it any wonder there is no passing? What is surprising is that there are not more errors with such a small window to hit lap after lap.
After the jump, compare Bruno Senna fighting the HRT all around the track compared to Alonso's totally smooth experience. Even given the different tires and unknown fuel loads, you have to feel for Bruno, check out how much time he has to spend on partial throttle compared to the Ferrari.
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...if he allows Alonso to pass him again as he did in Germany!
That's the treat expressed by prosecutor Paulo Castilho who invoked Brazil's "Sporting Statute" which includes a two to six year jail sentence for those found guilty of "Sporting Fraud". Good luck with that.
Meanwhile Massa was more humorous in a TV interview. When asked what it is that Alonso has to make him a the number one at Ferrari, Felipe said: "Fleas". We figure he was partly mesmerized by his interviewer, the beautiful and brilliant Gianne Albertoni!
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I found this fantastic footage on YouTube shot in 1971 South African Grand Prix in Kyalami by Brian Watson on a classic Nizo Super 8. Footage looked fantastic,( I have an Nizo 481... I should really try it out once), the music didn't quite work for me, so I gave it a bit of the Axis treatment, I hope Mr. Watson does not mind!
Bonus marks if you can identify all the cars and drivers in this clip. Video after the jump
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I think he gets it mostly right. Me, I would rather have the extra camber in the front, not so much the back but hey...so I don't like understeer, sue me!
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I don't think it actually set any records when it ran there in August, in fact, word was it spent most of the time getting worked on. But the video shows that when it actually ran, the Caparo T1 is...rather quick! What it certainly is not is a road car but that's another story. Check it out
(photo: Frozenspeed.com video :EVO)
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Mclaren MP4-12C: Supercar in a Gray Flannel Suit
Gumpert Apollo Track Test
Part I: Pilgrimage
Part II: Vomit Comet and other stories
Part III: TerroristenFahrten
