Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Hulkenberg and Di Resta confirmed at Force India
9ff shows off GT9 Club Sport version made for the track [video]
At this past Essen motor show, specialty Porsche tuner 9ff revealed the GT9-CS (club sports). As the name implies, the GT9-CS is intended for the track.
Luis Sala is HRT team principal
Charles de Tornaco Tony Trimmer Maurice Trintignant Wolfgang von Trips
Pro Camaro
Before I start any new models, I want to try and finish up a couple starts I have going.
This is one of them. BW Camaro on a Revell Firebird Match Racer. Not sure of colors yet, but have started making a few changes.
Such as the scratch cage work and rear wheel swap from two sprint cars.
Toro Rosso is a rookie training school, says Tost
9ff shows off GT9 Club Sport version made for the track [video]
At this past Essen motor show, specialty Porsche tuner 9ff revealed the GT9-CS (club sports). As the name implies, the GT9-CS is intended for the track.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Steve McQueen?s Le Mans overalls sell for $984,000!
Reflections on Japan and Korea
Greetings from Seoul. It's 0800 on Monday and I'm sitting in bed with a coffee, contemplating when to prize myself out of a comfy bed and into the shower.
We are now playing the waiting game and twiddling our thumbs until we can clamber aboard the plane home. A further 12 hours and an epic fortnight in Japan and South Korea is over.
There are many wonderful pleasures attached to this job, and arriving home in the UK is certainly one of them.
After two weeks of emotional, fraught, pressurised and dramatic television - the kind I think only live sport can deliver - walking in through the front door always feels strange, and it takes a couple of days to adjust emotionally as the adrenalin melts away.
I normally help the process along by heading out to my local pub for dinner with my wife, just to really feel like I'm home. By the time you're reading this I may well already be there - pint of bitter in hand.
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In the fortnight we have been out of the UK, history has been written.
Sebastian Vettel has been crowned the Formula 1 world champion, Red Bull have defended their constructors' title, and I have turned 33.
Many thanks, incidentally, to the person on Twitter who tweeted simply, "4 months and you'll be a third of the way to 100-Happy Birthday"...
Well, perhaps using my advancing years - but, I'm glad to say, not receding hairline - as an example, let's consider how impressive the achievements of the past two weeks actually are.
Let's start with the team of the moment - Red Bull.
I think what team principal Christian Horner, chief technical officer Adrian Newey, adviser Helmut Marko and all at their Milton Keynes base have achieved is incredible.
Consider the dedication at McLaren, the blueprint for success at Ferrari, the wealth of Mercedes and the casualty rate of new teams. For Red Bull to achieve what they have in just six years is stunning.
I know they weren't a start-up like Virgin Racing or Team Lotus, they were a reincarnation of an existing team, but as an example it has been a similar amount of time since the Jordan name left F1. In that time Midland, Spyker and now Force India have operated from the same base and their achievements are incomparable to Red Bull's.
Yes, the company's commercial success in selling fizzy drinks means they are able to fund big salaries and huge budgets, but only a fool would think money alone could buy the titles.
I have been impressed by the passion in the squad. They are racers and there is a huge desire to win, true disappointment when they don't, and an ability to have a good party when things go their way. Which I also like ;-).
There is a strange ethos in F1 that you don't stop to smell the roses.
I often wonder whether Robert Kubica revelled sufficiently in his 2008 Canadian Grand Prix win, or whether Lewis Hamilton really absorbed what an incredible start he had to his career in 2007.
The thing I say most to my wife is "savour it" and I'll be the same with my children. I think that's the most important lesson a person can learn.
It was John Lennon who said "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans" and you, me, Vettel, everyone should avoid that at all costs. Life is too short - so savour it.
And on that front I'm happy to report that, having been just feet from him as he won title number two, Vettel is well aware of his achievements and just how lucky he is.
Whether you like him as a driver or not, he is very impressive as a person. Without naming names, there are a number of drivers who not only are reluctant to speak to the media, but, even worse, are quite dismissive or condescending.
I guess that the F1 paddock is just a snapshot of everyday life and so therefore it is to be expected, even if some might consider it unforgivable.
However, you can trust me when I tell you that Vettel is as impressive as anyone who currently drives an F1 car, for all the right reasons. He is approachable, accessible and, most importantly, genuine.
Those who have known him for a while say he's always been the same and so credit to his parents for bringing up a person who realises that being the fastest driver in the world is just a phase. World champion isn't who Vettel is; it's a title he wears.
On Sunday he talked about when he retires in many, many years, and he is already aware that even he doesn't possess the talent of immortality among his many skills.
When the fawning has died down, the trophies have become tarnished and the attention has turned to someone younger and faster, the man left behind is what matters. On that score, Vettel is also a champion.
My highlight of this whole trip was the F1 Forum after the Japanese Grand Prix. I remember a few grumbles at the start of the year about the new-look forum, where we move around the pit lane rather that sit in a motorhome by a big TV. Well, Japan - or Monaco - this year, are exactly why we don't do that anymore. To be in the heart of that drama, the celebrations, the rare display of emotions in the scientific world of F1 is great to see.
I loved Japan, particularly the racing history it has seen. The past couple of weeks I've been out running the tracks with a couple of members of the BBC production team, producer Tom Gent and video editor Robin Nurse.
It was great fun, particulary Japan, where we pointed out where Nigel Mansell had a couple of big accidents, and stopped at the exact places where Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost had their famous incidents.
Those are just a few examples where, in those moments, the people involved thought of nothing but what had just happened on track.
It would have been all-consuming, no time to stop and appreciate the moment. Yet suddenly, here we are 20 years later. The bodywork has long been swept up, the tears of joy and happiness have dried, and all we, and they, have left are our memories and Murray Walker's wonderful voice.
With that in mind - and particularly having seen the sad events in Las Vegas on Sunday that led to the death of British driver Dan Wheldon - whatever you are up to this week, wherever in the world you are, my only advice to you is very simple - savour it.
Lotus Exige R-GT Rally gets first track test
After making its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show this past September, Lotus Motorsport has taken the Exige R-GT, the Rally version of the new Exige S, out of the nest so it can spread it wings for the first time. 
Audi confirms new A3 and R8 e-Tron for 2012
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Audi is prepping the automotive industry for the next year with a new documents detailing its future plans. The first item on the agenda are plans to invest a total of ?13 billion, in new products and technologies, as well as in expanding its sites by 2016.
"To maintain our profitable growth, we will step up investment spending on new products," said Axel Strotbek, Member of the Board of Management for Finance and Organization at AUDI AG. "The Audi Group plans to invest over ? 2 billion annually in new products and technologies."
In their immediate future, Audi will be putting their new A8 hybrid on sale, which will then be followed by the launch of the Audi A3. Of course, the most awaited model is the R8 e-Tron which will be unveiled at the end of 2012. When the new R8 e-Tron is released, it will make Audi the first premium manufacturer to bring an all-electric sports car onto the market in a small series.
Audi confirms new A3 and R8 e-Tron for 2012 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 28 December 2011 09:00 EST.
Vittorio Brambilla Toni Branca Gianfranco Brancatelli Eric Brandon
F1 2011 Teams and Drivers
| Full Name | Red Bull Racing | Seasons | 6 |
| Principal | Christian Horner | Races | 107 |
| Nationality | Austria | Wins | 15 |
| Engine | Renault | Championships | 1 |
| Chassis | RB7 | ||
  | |||
| Sebastian Vettel (GER) | Mark Webber (AUS) | ||
 | Seasons 4 Races 62 Wins 10 C'ships 1 |  | Seasons 9 Races 159 Wins 6 C'ships 0 |
| Full Name | Vodafone McLaren Mercedes | Seasons | 45 |
| Principal | Martin Whitmarsh | Races | 684 |
| Nationality | Great Britain | Wins | 168 |
| Engine | Mercedes | Championships | 8 |
| Chassis | MP4-26 | ||
  | |||
| Lewis Hamilton (GBR) | Jenson Button (GBR) | ||
 | Seasons 4 Races 71 Wins 14 C'ships 1 |  | Seasons 11 Races 191 Wins 9 C'ships 1 |
| Full Name | Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro | Seasons | 61 |
| Principal | Stefano Domenicali | Races | 812 |
| Nationality | Italy | Wins | 215 |
| Engine | Ferrari | Championships | 16 |
| Chassis | F150 | ||
  | |||
| Fernando Alonso (ESP) | Felipe Massa (BRA) | ||
 | Seasons 9 Races 159 Wins 26 C'ships 2 |  | Seasons 8 Races 135 Wins 11 C'ships 0 |
| Full Name | Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team | Seasons | 3 |
| Principal | Ross Brawn | Races | 30 |
| Nationality | Germany | Wins | 9 |
| Engine | Mercedes | Championships | 0 |
| Chassis | MGP W02 | ||
  | |||
| Michael Schumacher (GER) | Nico Rosberg (GER) | ||
 | Seasons 17 Races 269 Wins 91 C'ships 7 |  | Seasons 5 Races 89 Wins 0 C'ships 0 |
| Full Name | Lotus Renault GP Team | Seasons | 18 |
| Principal | Eric Boullier | Races | 281 |
| Nationality | France | Wins | 35 |
| Engine | Renault | Championships | 2 |
| Chassis | R31 | ||
  | |||
| Robert Kubica (POL) | Vitaly Petrov (RUS) | ||
 | Seasons 5 Races 76 Wins 1 C'ships 0 |  | Seasons 1 Races 19 Wins 0 C'ships 0 |
| Full Name | AT&T Williams | Seasons | 35 |
| Principal | Frank Williams | Races | 554 |
| Nationality | Great Britain | Wins | 113 |
| Engine | Cosworth | Championships | 9 |
| Chassis | FW33 | ||
  | |||
| Rubens Barrichello (BRA) | Pastor Maldonado (VEN) | ||
 | Seasons 18 Races 307 Wins 11 C'ships 0 |  | |
| Full Name | Force India F1 Team | Seasons | 3 |
| Principal | Vijay Mallya | Races | 53 |
| Nationality | India | Wins | 0 |
| Engine | Mercedes | Championships | 0 |
| Chassis | VJM04 | ||
  | |||
| Adrian Sutil (GER) | Paul di Resta (GBR) | ||
 | Seasons 4 Races 71 Wins 0 C'ships 0 |  | |
| Full Name | Sauber F1 Team | Seasons | 13 |
| Principal | Peter Sauber | Races | 216 |
| Nationality | Switzerland | Wins | 0 |
| Engine | Ferrari | Championships | 0 |
| Chassis | C30 | ||
  | |||
| Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) | Sergio Perez (MEX) | ||
 | Seasons 2 Races 21 Wins 0 C'ships 0 |  | |
| Full Name | Scuderia Toro Rosso | Seasons | 5 |
| Principal | Franz Tost | Races | 88 |
| Nationality | Italy | Wins | 1 |
| Engine | Ferrari | Championships | 0 |
| Chassis | STR6 | ||
  | |||
| Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) | S�bastien Buemi (SUI) | ||
 | Seasons 2 Races 27 Wins 0 C'ships 0 |  | Seasons 2 Races 36 Wins 0 C'ships 0 |
| Full Name | Lotus Racing | Seasons | 38 |
| Principal | Tony Fernandes | Races | 509 |
| Nationality | Malaysia | Wins | 79 |
| Engine | Renault | Championships | 7 |
| Chassis | TL11 | ||
  | |||
| Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) | Jarno Trulli (ITA) | ||
 | Seasons 4 Races 71 Wins 1 C'ships 0 |  | Seasons 14 Races 238 Wins 1 C'ships 0 |
| Full Name | HRT F1 Team | Seasons | 1 |
| Principal | Colin Kolles | Races | 18 |
| Nationality | Spain | Wins | 0 |
| Engine | Cosworth | Championships | 0 |
| Chassis | F111 | ||
  | |||
| Narain Karthikeyan (IND) | TBA | ||
 | Seasons 1 Races 19 Wins 0 C'ships 0 | | |
| Full Name | Marussia Virgin Racing | Seasons | 1 |
| Principal | John Booth | Races | 18 |
| Nationality | Great Britain | Wins | 0 |
| Engine | Cosworth | Championships | 0 |
| Chassis | MVR-02 | ||
  | |||
| Timo Glock (GER) | Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL) | ||
 | Seasons 4 Races 56 Wins 0 C'ships 0 |  | |
