Following the official release of pics and info, Toyota has published a new promo video of its 147kW/205Nm rear-wheel drive GT 86. Check it out after the break.
Categories
Year: 2011
Categories
Worldwide premiere of RHD 991 Porsche 911
Porsche has a long and proud history in Australia. Indeed, Australia’s first Porsche dealer, Norman Hamilton, encouraged and helped pay for Porsche to make the first ever right-hand drive model after coming to a handshake deal with Dr Ferdinand Porsche.
It’s fitting, then, that the worldwide debut of a right-hand drive 991 Porsche 911 took place in Melbourne at an invitation only event on the weekend held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Porsche in Australia.
The car shown above, a 3.8 litre Carrera S, will remain in the country ahead of the first batch of new 911 deliveries expected in March 2012. Start saving, you only have until then to get your $230K together if you want to be one of the first to get your hands on a new 911.
While there’s no official press material as yet, we can thank AUSmotive reader Wayne for sending in these exclusive pics. Nice to see the Carrera GT is still in the country too.
Following news of Mark Webber’s win at the 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix early this morning we can now bring you the final post-race press conference for 2011.
Some minor housekeeping before we start. The one-two placing for Red Bull sees them finish the constructors’ championship on an even 650 points. They enjoy a massive margin back to McLaren (497), with Ferrari (375) and Mercedes (165) the only other teams to make triple figures.
For the drivers, Vettel ended his stellar 2011 with 390 points. Jenson Button (270) was the best of the rest, followed by Mark Webber (258), Frenando Alonso (257) and Lewis Hamilton (227).
Back to Brazil, Australia finished first and last, with young Daniel Ricciardo finishing in twentieth position. The only minor highlight, if at all, was that he did finish ahead of his HRT teammate following Liuzzi’s retirement on lap 62. You couldn’t say the West Australian has set the world alight in his six months in F1. Of course, he is trying to make do with the worst car on the grid and there have been some bright moments.
Let’s hope he’s done enough to secure a drive in 2012. Toro Rosso looms as his best bet, but who knows what the merry circus of Formula One will deliver between now and next March when racing resumes in Melbourne.
[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]
In a dominant season for Red Bull Racing Mark Webber has broken through for his first win of the year in the season’s final race. This is Webber’s second win in Brazil and is the first grand prix he was won more than once. His seventh career win marks the end of a long drought for Webber who hasn’t won a race since Hungary in August last year. As you can see above, it also marks the return of the Leaping Webber!
Both Red Bulls started from the front row and held their positions into the first corner; Vettel’s getaway was cleaner than Mark’s, who had to battle hard to stay in second place. The race settled into an early rhythm with Vettel establishing a comfortable three second lead over Webber.
The two Red Bulls were dominant and there was no genuine threat from behind. However, Vettel soon encountered gearbox issues and Webber was able to overtake for the lead on lap 29, where he stayed for the rest of the race. In the end, Webber enjoyed a 16.9 second margin back to his teammate.
Vettel had enough pace to protect second place, thanks in part to a squabble for third place behind him. Jenson Button finally came out on top in his fight with Alonso to grab the final podium position.
[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]
Categories
Mark Webber wins a prize!
Despite watching his Red Bull Racing teammate Sebastian Vettel virtually win races at will this year, Mark Webber has finally won something. Sadly for him it’s not another Formula One race (fingers crossed for tonight in Brazil). With six fastest laps to his name, the 35-year-old Australian has had his name engraved on the DHL Fastest Lap Award trophy.
Mark set the quickest laps in Malaysia, China, Turkey, Monaco, Belgium and Abu Dhabi. Next best were Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel. Each with three fastest laps apiece.
Without a win to his name so far this year this must be a bitter sweet award for Mark. It’s also worth noting that Mark was quickest in three of the first four races, when he was, apparently, struggling most to cope with the new Pirelli tyres.
UPDATE 28 November: Make that seven fastest laps for the year to Mark, following his success in Brazil.
Categories
Toyota GT 86 revealed
Toyota is the first to break with official images and information for the Toybaru sports car. The production model is called the GT 86 and, like the concept model, the name pays respect to the AE86 Corolla.
Interestingly the press release from Toyota Australia refers the car as simply the “86â€, saying that’s what the car will be referred to in Japan. It would seem, then, the Celica nameplate won’t be reborn down under; looks like we’ll be running with 86.
We’re told the GT 86 is lightweight, but oddly, no official weight has been specified just yet. Maybe they’re keeping that for the impending public reveal at the Tokyo Motor Show. [Ed: We’ve since discovered the standard kerbweight is 1180kg.] We can tell you the GT 86 has a 53:47 front–rear weight distribution.
Toyota has confirmed the engine spec of the 2.0 litre D-4S boxer engine will be 147kW/205Nm, which is just what we were expecting. Manual and automatic transmissions will be offered, both 6-speed. Of course, power is sent to the rear wheels only.
Thankfully, the more extreme elements of the styling shown in the concept car have been tamed for production spec. But, in doing so, has Toyota taken it a step too far? The ‘look at me’ lighting details have made way for a ‘yes, I think you’ve seen me before’ treatment.
Overall, though, the GT 86 is a welcome addition to the Toyota lineup. The next question now is, will the reality match the hype?
Press information from Australia and the UK, along with a photo gallery for you after the break.
UPDATE 28 November: Toyota Australia has confirmed with AUSmotive the car will be marketed locally as the 86. Further detail on price and specification will be available closer to the Australian launch in mid-2012.
Well he’s done it. Sebastian Vettel claimed pole position over night at the 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix and now holds the outright record for the most number of pole positions in a single season. He has started from P1 15 times this year, one better than Nigel Mansell’s 1992 record.
Vettel (1:11.918) was made to earn his record with Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber (1:12.099) alongside in P2. Completing a top three we’ve seen a few times already this year was Jenson Button (1:12.283) for McLaren.
The post-quali press conference below includes some good material about tomorrow’s race, and the possibility of rain, as well as the three guys reflecting on the career of Rubens Barrichello. Rumours are around suggesting Rubens may not get a drive with Williams in 2012, so will this be his last ever race?
Daniel Ricciardo has pressure of his own to secure a drive for the 2012 season and he’ll be happy that he has qualified ahead of the two Virgins, but dissatisfied to behind his HRT teammate Tonio Liuzzi. Here’s hoping Daniel can put in a strong race tomorrow and that we may see him in a Toro Rosso next year.
[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images & Vodafone McLaren Mercedes]
Officially there is still ongoing doubt over the future of the 2012 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. Bobby Epstein, founding partner of Circuit of The Americas, has responded to Bernie Ecclestone’s ultimatum from last week by returning serve with a Thanksgiving statement claiming they have the money Bernie craves and are ready to pay. Well, almost.
Epstein is entering a game with Ecclestone and as history shows there’s usually only one winner in any games involving Bernie. In his statement Epstein says, “We have been ready to send Mr Ecclestone a sanctioning fee check for some time now.
“He hasn’t received it yet because the new contract presented to us two weeks ago contained unrealistic and unfeasible demands. We have signed and returned a contract similar to what we anticipated receiving. This race should be a reality, but if we are going to make the 2012 race date, we must receive a countersignature in the coming few days. We believe the teams, fans, sponsors and local business share our enthusiasm and hope that their voices will be heard.”
So there Bernie, you’ve been told! The reply from the F1 supremo will likely be firm, forthright and put an end to any doubts. Watch this space.
[Source: F1US | Pic: Sutton Images]
The 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix is the final race in what are now very long Formula One seasons. Making things difficult for us here in Australia is the Monday 3am (AEDT) start time.
With the championship already safely wrapped up for Vettel and Red Bull Racing, viewer numbers will probably be quite low. Which is a bit of a shame as the Interlagos circuit, with its rise and fall, is quite a nice track. Here’s a couple of videos to show you around the 4.3km circuit. First up is Dave Robson, McLaren race engineer, talking us through a lap on their simulator. Decent YouTube clips can be hard to find, so we’ve had to back to around 2007 for the second clip with onboard footage from a Ferrari.
Of course, Mark Webber claimed his second Grand Prix victory in Brazil back in 2009. Can he repeat that success and claim something in what has been a disappointing year for him results wise.
We love the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 and we love it when there’s a video review to watch. We also love it if that review is filed by someone as capable as Tiff Needell from UK motoring program Fifth Gear. He might be a bit OTT at times, but the bloke can drive. So, off to a wet and slippery Cadwell Park he goes. Enjoy!
Categories
McLaren opens new Production Centre
McLaren Automotive officially opened its new Production Centre in Surrey last week. The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, was on hand to do the ribbon cutting. The Production Centre sits alongside the McLaren Technology Centre, which opened in 2004 and is the home of their Formula One team.
As to be expected the new production facility is slick, shiny and it probably would be clean enough to eat your meals off the floor as a part-built MP4-12C whirs by.
After the break there’s a couple of videos from McLaren, the first gives a brief looks inside the Production Centre while the second has highlights from the official opening and interviews with Ron Dennis, Executive Chairman and Antony Sheriff, McLaren Automotive Managing Director.
Categories
Ogier signs with Volkswagen WRC team
French duo Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia have quickly moved on from the disappointment of their dismissal from the Citroën WRC team by signing a three-year deal with Volkswagen Motorsport.
The pair will spend 2012 fine tuning the Polo R WRC in preparation for Volkswagen’s debut WRC season in 2013. With seven WRC victories under their belts Ogier and Ingrassia have that classic blend of youth and experience and their signing represents a strong show of faith for the start up VW team.
Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management for the Development Division spoke with enthusiasm at the news, “I am very happy about Sébastian Ogier and Julien Ingrassia joining us. Both of them are important pieces of the puzzle on our way towards building a successful team in the World Rally Championship. It is also a mark of confidence for our team if such a strong pairing opts for a new team in the WRC that is still in the process of being developed.â€
There’s more from Volkswagen Motorsport after the break, including pics and video highlights from the announcement.