At the first "Filming Day" shakedown of Ferrari's F150 at Maranello, Fernando Alonso sported facial hair which is not necessarily what you will see in Bahrain.
"We have been working extensively in the wind tunnel" said Mansueto Figarone, Ferrari head of facial-dynamic development. "not only are we doing wind tunnel work here in Maranello but also at the more advanced tunnel owned by Toyota in Cologne."
It has been speculated Alonso might use this evolved "D'Artagnan" tripatch arrangement only for high downforce circuits, reverting to a push rod style "Dali" for fast tracks such as Monza and Spa.
Red Bull's Christian Horner has already gone on record commenting how they would never allow a mustache gap between their drivers to which Stefano Domenicali said it was just because Vettel can't grow one with sufficient 70's porn star appeal.
Pointier nose, narrower sidepods, push rod suspension, no blown wing, no double diffuser, no movable front wing. Kers below the fuel tank structure, movable rear wing, a new braking system, substantially revised engine and of course, Pirelli rubber.
The front and rear wings are of course not the real thing.
It's fifteen minutes of bliss even if the first part of this clip consists mainly of new BBC Formula 1 commenter Martin Brundle getting passed left and right at last fall's Goodwood revival. He's short shifting, he's missing gears, but who would not be nervous racing a car worth about $20 million on a track with mostly grass runoff?
Well, Mark Hales, that's who. In the second part of the clip, after the driver change, it's Hales who does the ass kicking, slicing through the traffic, seemingly without fear. Of course Hales is very familiar with this particular GTO and its owner, Nick Mason.
I always recommend Hales' great book Into the Red if you are lucky enough to find one for a reasonable price. Remember to get the version with the CD!
This IS the best angle...trust me. Looks aside the specs are impressive, but you can read about those on every car web site today. Ex sum? EUR ! Million, 1350kg/2976lbs, over 700 hp and globe spinning turque. Active aero components. end of post--> READ MORE
NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill, the endurance racing equivalent of Nigel Tufnel's amp, exists because, say you've raced for 24 hours and you need to go just that little bit extra, to push you over the cliff so to speak, what do you do?
Check out the story of Krider Racing as told in this documentary by "Racer Boy" Rob Krieder. You might recognize Rob from Speed:Sport:Life and Jalopnik. Set aside about a 1/2 hour.
"All points bulletin: be on the lookout for a fast moving pocket m car southbound on 95, do not engage, repeat do not engage. Subject is extremely fast in cold dense, turbo friendly areas!"
You might see an orange blur if you traveling the I-95 corridor today. The only BMW 1 series M in the country is making its way from Jersey to Daytona where it will be on Pace car duty for the 24 hr race this week end.
Now this is the kind of corporate video we like to see. Produced by Porsche as an instructional video for the Carrera World Cup Race this coming June, you ride along with running commentary and instruction by works driver Sascha Maassen.
I wonder if he will get banned by the new Nürburgring management now for illegal instruction? :)
Who doesn't love time lapse build videos? Five weeks of filming condensed in about 90 seconds showing the Turner Motorsport BMW M3 Grand Am car being readied for the 24 hours of Daytona next week end.
Ferrari FF: Four seat, Four Wheel Drive. Four million internet posts that will argue over its looks. More after the jump
The newest Pininfarina designed top of the line Ferrari will remind people of the 250 GTO Breadvan or maybe the original BMW Mcoupe but that's missing the point. Ferrari made the decision not to build a sedan but customers have been buying an awful lot of Bentley Continentals in the last few years not to mention Panameras lately and, apparently, Ferrari owners want to go skiing too, so...
The Formula Four: four seats, room for luggage. 6.3L direct injected V12 good for 660hp and 503 ft-lb. A 4wd sysyem that is "on demand" that is, it only comes into play when the front wheels slip but that ferrari claims is 50% lighter than any other systems. FErrari claims a 0-62 time of 8 seconds in the snow!. A seven speed DCT is in the usual transaxle layout, impressive given the car has room in the back for normal sized humans.
The published "dry weight in just under 4000 lbs, making it somewhat heavier than the outgoing 612 Scaglietti, however, as with the 458, advances in suspension design make this car agile beyond its mass (or indeed probably beyond the ability of its target customer): 0-62 in 3.7 sec, 208 mph top speed.
Ferrari was pretty cagey over the pictures, just three images and the clip, we'll see if we can find you better material in the coming week. Price is lower than the Scaglietti but with a longer list of options.
Super secret in the sense that it was so foggy, as it tends to get around this time of year in the plains of northern Italy, that you can't see a thing!
Couple of more clips from the Franciacorta circuit shakedown after the jump...
A heady time in FIA GT racing, that moment when a production car derived series peaked, completely out of control. How fabulous, Mercedes CLK-GTR vs Porsche GT1 vs Mclaren F1 GTR. Excess at its best.
Of those crazy machines, two famously flipped (one with Mark Webber), one never did. Which was your favorite? Edit: Colin correctly points out it was not the MB CLK-gtr that flipped at LeMans but its successor, the CLR...
That what the Dakar seems like. The race ended today without surprises, VW dominated the car class for the 12th time in 13 tries.
Quatari prince Nasser Al-Attiyah finally defeated El Matador, Carlos Sainz who was faster but ran into trouble and ended up third, behind the other VW of South African De Villiers. The BMW X3 challenger finished 4th with Stephane Peterhansel ruing some navigation errors and technical issues but vowing to be back in 2012.
Aprilia's challenge to Red Bull KTM's domination went nowhere and the Russians won the truck class again.
No big surprises but check out some spectacular pictures after the jump
01. Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (QAT/GER Volkswagen) 45hr 04min 07sec 02. Giniel de Villiers/Dirk Von Zitzewitz (RSA/GER/Volkswagen) at 49:41 03. Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (ESP/Volkswagen) 1hr 20min 38sec 04. Stephane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA/BMW) 1h 43:48 05. Krzysztof Holowczyc/Jean-Marc Fortin (POL/BEL/BMW) 4h 11:21 06. Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/RSA/Volkswagen) 4 h 54:40
The ProTo built Glickenhaus P4/5 Competizione rolled around a go kart track in Torino yesterday. Not the most exciting video, but the re engineered 430 is certainly stunning even with the hideous new yellow NY plates ( P 45 C ).
The P4/5c site proclaims: "Who: Jim Glickenhaus. What: P4/5 Competizione. Where: 24 hours of the Nürburgring. Why: because he wants to.", but like everything built with form ahead of function there are some compromises, check out how they have the roll cage, I can't imagine that's optimal for driver changes with a HANS device (unless it's hinged somehow).
ProTo is a Turin based joint venture between specialty racing component fabricator L.M. Gianetti , race car builders N. Technology and, I imagine, Glickenhaus.
This is why I love Axis, no sooner had I posted the picture of the black F40 that one of you guys digs up this great clip.
Turns out the F40 is not black but that blackest of blues, Ferrari Blu Pozzi. Incidentally that was il Commendatore's (or as Italians like to call him, The Drake) favorite color.
The owner, German classic car broker Bernd Hahne in a clip by his nephew and Stereoscreen partner Nick Hahne.
Thanks to Bart for the fantastic find! There's just no question about it, the F40 is still the coolest Ferrari ever made, I don't care is the newer ones are "better".
Care to read the F40's Owner's manual? Check it out in .pdf HERE
"Just a short video clip of the pace lap and first lap of the Group Thunder & Lightning Feature race from the Legends of Motorsports 2010 Sebring Finale. Go to the following link for my story and more photos on the Sports Car Digest site:end of post--> READ MORE
Pssst, wanna buy a track? A really big track, with an oval, a road course, motocross track and lots of other goodies. Honda has put their Bakersfield, California test facility for sale. Price? Well you know what they say, if you have to ask... Check out more pictures after the jump. (CBRE. Via B.A.T.)
A conspicuously less "Britney" Nico Rosberg out on a frozen lake having some fun with dad Keke, who for some reason ends up seeming slightly "Bad Santa".
But aside from a Nico's new look, the surprise is that, when a Mercedes driver needs a fun car to drift around a lake with, he climbs into....a BMW? (via Mike Frison).--> READ MORE
From a car you'll probably never see much less drive to one you much more affordable than I imagined. I'm surprised there wasn't a bigger fuss out of Detroit, perhaps because everyone knew the specs for the BMW 1 Series M but the price announced is quite as aggressive as the car. $47000 base is not cheap but it's quite a good chunk of car for the money in my opinion.
What do you think? To me it seems like the best bargain since BMW stuffed the S54 in the Z3 coupe ten years ago!
Don't miss an interview with the new BMW US M Brand Freep over at Bimmerfile.com. You'll find out a lot of information about the philosophy behind the 1M.
Porsche just released this teaser prominently featuring a 1971 917... 1971-2011, 40 years... A new super car coupe, something Porsche has nit done since the GT1... The spider was the 918... Porsche arranged for a Gulf liveried 917 to greet journalists and tweeters in a Detroit hotel lobby... Who knows, maybe they really did go with their most iconic racing number ever.
What it looks like from the tease is that the show car will sport the same number 22 as the all conquering 71 Martini Porsche 917. Swing doors, sidepipes and what looks like huge wing. Bosch stickers hint at its hybrid nature... We'll find out soon enough!
Porsche 918 RSR – racing laboratory with even higher-performance hybrid drive
Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is continuing to extend its performance and high efficiency competence via intensive development work in the field of hybrid technology. With the Porsche 918 RSR, the manufacturer of sporty premium vehicles is presenting a high-end synthesis of 2010's successful hybrid concepts. The two-seater mid-engine coupé 918 RSR clearly reveals what happens when the technology fitted in the 911 GT3 R hybrid and the design of the 918 Spyder are transferred to a modern, innovative super sports car.
With its highly-efficient flywheel accumulator, the 911 GT3 R hybrid racing car proved to be an attention magnet during competition racing on the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, during the American Le Mans Series races (ALMS) in Road Atlanta/USA and the ILMC run in China's Zhuhai. It demonstrated its massive performance potential under realistic motor racing conditions against top competitors. The 911 GT3 R Hybrid, referred to internally as the "Race Lab" actually surpassed the high expectations of Porsche Motorsport. Competitiveness, high reliability and exemplary fuel efficiency combined with top performance underscored the Porsche technicians' basic idea of generating additional power in an intelligent manner. The 911 GT3 R Hybrid obtains its additional power from its own vehicle dynamics when braking. Porsche is now transplanting this technology into the mid-engine coupé 918 RSR, the motor sports version of the 918 Spyder concept car.
From the tradition established by classic Porsche long-distance race cars such as the 908 long-tale coupé (1969) and the 917 short-tail coupé (1971), the Porsche designers created a link to the postmodernism of the "form follows function" philosophy. In the 918 RSR, the lines' elegant flow is dominated by muscular wheel arches, dynamic air intakes and a pulpit-like cockpit. A visible fan wheel between the ram air intake tubes and a rear spoiler with RS Spyder dimensions additionally emphasise the racing laboratory function. The new "liquid metal chrome blue" colour which has been created underscores the sculptured curves of the forms, whilst the typical Porsche hybrid orange colour on brake calipers and the body's longitudinal stripes lends remarkable touches.
Motor racing technology also dominates within the particularly light, torsionally stiff carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque. The V8 engine is a further development of the direct injection engine from the successful RS Spyder race car and now offers an output of precisely 563 hp at 10,300/rpm in the 918 RSR. The electric motors on the two front wheels each contribute 75 kW, i.e. a total of 150 kW, to the peak drive power of exactly 767 hp. This additional power, which is generated during braking, is stored in an optimised flywheel accumulator.
In the 918 RSR, the two electric motors offer a torque vectoring function with variable torque distribution to the front axle. This additionally increases agility and improves steering response. Mounted upstream of the rear axle, the mid-engine is integrated with a racing transmission also based on the RS Spyder race car. This further developed six-speed constant-mesh transmission with longitudinally mounted shafts and straight-toothed spur gears is operated using two shift paddles behind the racing steering wheel.
The vehicle's functional equipment underscores its puristic motor racing character. Whether it be the characteristic doors which open obliquely upwards, the air intake in the roof between the wing doors, the quick-action locks on the front and rear CFRP lids, the two roof-mounted aerials for pit radio and telemetry, the RS Spyder-like small, lateral front flics or the air splitters beneath the front lip or no-profile racing slicks on 19" wheels with central locking, the vehicle can be clearly recognised as an experimental racing laboratory.
In contrast to the 918 Spyder concept car, unadorned racing atmosphere predominates in the interior of the 918 RSR. The figure-hugging bucket seat's brown leather covering cites the history of the gentleman driver; the gear flashes on the racing steering wheel and a recuperation display on the steering column in front of the display screen supply the pilot with information. Instead of the futuristic, ergonomically avant-garde centre console with touch-sensitive user interface from the 918 Spyder concept car, the 918 RSR's cockpit is split by a minimalistic console with rocker switches. Instead of a second seat, the flywheel accumulator is positioned to the right of the console.
This flywheel accumulator is an electric motor whose rotor rotates at up to 36,000 rpm to store rotation energy. Charging occurs when the two electric motors on the front axle reverse their function during braking processes and operate as generators. At the push of a button, the pilot is able to call up the energy stored in the charged flywheel accumulator and use it during acceleration or overtaking manoeuvres. The flywheel is braked electromagnetically in this case in order to additionally supply up to 2 x 75 kW, i.e. a total of 150 kW, from its kinetic energy to the two electric motors on the front axle.
This additional power is available for around eight seconds when the system is fully charged. In the successful 911 GT3 R Hybrid, this additional power can also be used as a consumption aid depending on the racing situation, e.g. to delay pit stops or reduce the fuel tank volume and therefore the weight of the vehicle.
With the new 918 RSR racing laboratory, Porsche is now elevating this motor racing hybrid concept to an experimental level. In the 918 RSR, "Porsche Intelligent Performance" equates to research into methods for further sustainable efficiency improvement under the intensified conditions of the race track, lap times, pit stops and reliability – a metier in which Porsche has been demonstrating its success for over 60 years.
Finally, the starting number, 22, pays homage to the anniversary of a further triumph. Back in the days when overall victories in Le Mans were not yet an entirely routine matter within the Porsche racing department, the pilots Dr. Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep were the first to cross the finishing line in 1971's 24-hour classic. The distance record set by their Porsche 917 short-tail coupé – 5335.313 kilometres (3315.21 miles) at an average speed of 222.304 km/h (138.13 mph) – did not remain unbeaten for an eternity, but for exactly 39 years until 2010. At the time, the 917 in the Martini colours was also an experiment and far ahead of its time: a magnesium space frame set new standards in Porsche's lightweight construction domain.
It's all a bit murky (wow in F1...really?) but the story goes more or less like this: some FOTA members are not happy that, while playing the moralists with regards to their supposed lack of team orders, Red Bull were breaking a gentlemen's agreement on spending, the so called "“Resource restriction agreement”.
Teams had agreed on a self-imposed spending ceiling of 100 Million Euro on external contracts, salaries and infrastructure for the 2010 season. Italy's Gazzetta Dello Sport is claiming Red Bull spent some 160 Million Euro in their quest for the 2010 double championship.
Now the rub, according to the above mentioned "rule" within the manufacturers association, any overspending from one season needs to be subtracted from the following season's agreed upon budget, Red Bull would need to limit itself to 40 Million in 2011.... you know that's not happening.
Also not happening right now is FOTA. Of course Red Bull will do every it can to undermine a group that might force them to abide to an inconvenient agreement, and there is no agreement on the 2011 spending ceiling. Also there is nobody, as of yet, who has volunteered to take over from Mclaren's Martin Whitmarsh as the head of that shaky club. Who would want that job?
Crowing on the sidelines is certainly Max Mosley, who had always maintained that FOTA was fundamentally improbable. Between this budget squabble and manufacturers already rumbling over the supposedly decided upon 2013 engine specs, he can't wait for his "I told you so" moment.
Sometimes you run across something executed so well, you can't help but go..WOW. Look at the clarity of this clip, by Veloz Media, giving you a ride on the front left corner of Bill Auberlen's Turner Motorsports Rolex GT BMW M3.
Don't miss other clips from Daytona testing and Team Turner after the jump
Scooby Canada sent up this clip, interesting for a couple of reasons I thought. It's a user selectable multi angle clip, something I had not seen before on YouTube. You can choose a front bumper cam, an over the dash view, a rear side and driver action angle. Pretty cool and all shot in HD.
The other nice bit is that it's a clip of someone doing rally in North America who is not either Travis Pastrana or Ken Block, WIN!
"We strapped four High-Definition cameras onto a Subaru WRX rally car, so now you can control the action.
Choose between four explosive angles to watch Subaru Rally Driver Pat Richard and navigator Alan Ockwell take on the tough Stage 4 of Tall Pines. It's rally racing like you've never seen before, and it's the type of performance at the heart of our newest creation - the 2011 Subaru WRX STI. "
This one comes from The Freep via J.F. Mursial's tumblr, a good pedigree. A video shot by Jason Bell at Laguna Seca, practice laps in a 125 shifter kart.
From Jason's video description
"A lap around Laguna Seca Raceway during the first car/kart open track day with ncracing.org on 11/1/2010. Top speed here with a bit over 100mph. More can be had in the draft.
The kart is a 2003 Birel CR32SR, with a ~32hp, 125cc Honda Stock Moto engine (CR125), 6 speed sequential transmission. If ran with SKUSA, it would fall into the S4 Masters (Age 30+) category. 405lbs minimum weight, including kart, driver and fuel. Tires used are MG-FZ. I use 110 octane fuel and Maxima Castor oil along with Motul transmission fluid.
I borrowed this camera from a friend, so I was not sure what the optimum settings should be for this application. I know it was set to 720p, 30fps and the mic gain was about 15. The camera was mounted on top of the radiator."
"I think that in a racing engine, the closer it is to disintegrating, in general the better its performance will be " Keith Duckworth
Big hair, big turbos and Tron state of the art electronics, in this classic mid 1980s documentary chronicling Cosworth's development of its first turbo formula1 engine.
At the time it was thought to be a great idea to run $1200/ gallon toluene based fuel in 1.5 liter turbo engines that would last 500 km or less. BMW was the first to come up with the exotic fuel to power their 1500 hp four pots. All controlled, of course with state of the art onboard computers the size of a ...VCR!
The Cosworth-Ford GBA 1.5 liter v6 had no success, despite being relatively reliable it was given to the hopeless Beatrice-Hass team first and late for one season to the new Benetton team.
It's a long two part, detailed documentary so make some time for it. Oh and keep an eye out for a young Ross Brawn working the wind tunnel at Lola. So much has changed since then but so much about Formula 1 has not changed at all!
Part II is after the jump. Many thanks to those who take the time to preserve and share these old gems.
5000 km through the mountains and deserts of Argentina and Chile. Follow on the official Dakar site or dowload the iPhone app.
To watch, x-Raid's Mini and BMW X3 but especially the Aprilia vs KTM battle. Aprilia is fielding more than a dozen official bikes in their effort to beat the Austrians.
More videos after the jump and I'll try to find some unusual (or just plain awesome) clips for you over the next two weeks..
if you are lucky enough to find one for a reasonable price. Remember to get the version with the CD!
