Author: Liam

Categories
Volkswagen

All-wheel drive über GTI gets sign off

Uber Golf GTI believed to source engine from Audi TS

News reports today suggest a TTS powered über Golf GTI, with all-wheel drive, has been signed off by Volkswagen HQ. In further confirmation of progress on this highly anticipated model it has been revealed that the new range topping GTI will not sport R20 badging, as previously suggested.

Speaking to carsales.com.au, Dirk Hussman, Golf line marketing executive, said “We have debated R20 (badging). But we are agreed it doesn’t shape up against the R32 badge it will replace.”

I guess that means we have to run with GTI-R label once again, as believed to be the case when news of the über GTI first surfaced last August.

Audi’s TTS has a 200kW turbocharged 2-litre TFSI engine and while one may expect that Volkswagen would tune down the engine in deference to Audi’s position higher up the food chain, hope has been given to Volkswagen loyalists with Hussman suggesting the car may have “between 260–280hp” (195–210kW).

In further news, Dirk Hussman said an uprated Edition 35 front-wheel drive GTI would be released in 2011 to mark the 35th anniversary of the Golf performance icon. However, seeing as Australia didn’t see either the 25th Anniversary GTI, or the Edition 30, we can probably shelve any thoughts of that model coming down under.

[Source: carsales.com.au | Thanks to Wayne for the tip.]

Categories
BMW Formula 1 Motorsports

Stoner wins 135i BMW Sauber F1 Edition

Casey Stoner and his new BMW 135i Coupe

Casey Stoner had a very productive weekend winning himself a very tasty bit of BMW kit in the form of a limited release 135i Coupé known as the BMW Sauber F1 Edition. He won the car by virtue of topping the time sheets in the MotoGP ‘BMW M Award’ qualifying shootout at the Jerez circuit in Spain.

Stoner’s time of 1:38.646s was 0.719 seconds faster than the next best time, which was set by Valentino Rossi. Both men are enjoying a productive preseason and are looking forward to the first race of the MotoGP season which will take place in Qatar (10-12 April).

At the end of the year the ‘BMW M Award’ will see a BMW M3 go to the rider with the best qualifying times throughout the 2009 season.

Details of the 135i BMW Sauber F1 Edition are scarce—is it just a few stickers, of have the Sauber lads had a decent old tinker under the skin? I can tell you that only 135 of the cars have been made, which, coincidentally matches the number of points the BMW Sauber team scored during the 2008 F1 season. I’m, on the lookout for information, but if you hear of anything please post it in the comments section below.

[Source: MotoGP.com | Thanks to Sean for the tip.]

Categories
BMW Formula 1 Motorsports News

Ultimate Speed Comparison: 135i v V8 Supercar v BMW Sauber F1

BMW 135i at the 2009 Australian Grand Prix

The Australian Grand Prix has been run and won. This means the Ultimate Speed Comparison exhibition races between a BMW135i, V8 Supercar and BMW Sauber F1 car have been held.

The cars took to the track on five occasions, the first was a practice session, with four handicap races following. Unfortunately no footage from any of the races made it on to Australian television screens over the weekend. With any luck something will turn up in the coming weeks.

We can, however, report on the results of the four races, courtesy of NatSoft. In the practice session Paul Gover driving the BMW 135i Coupé posted a lap of 2:37.39, the Sprint Gas V8 of Greg Murphy lapped the circuit in 2:06.51, while Christian Klien in the BMW Sauber F1 completed the distance in 1:46.37.

Based on the results of the practice lap the 135i Coupé was given a 75 second headstart, with the V8 Supercar given 42 seconds grace. Results of the four races can be accessed by following the links below.

Race 1: 1st – Sprint Gas V8, 2nd – 135i Coupé, 3rd – BMW Sauber F1
Race 2: 1st – 135i Coupé, 2nd – BMW Sauber F1, 3rd – Sprint Gas V8
Race 3: 1st – BMW Sauber F1, 2nd – 135i Coupé, 3rd – Sprint Gas V8
Race 4: 1st – Sprint Gas V8, 2nd – 135i Coupé, 3rd – BMW Sauber F1

If you hear of any footage of this going to air, please drop a line in the comments section below.

[Thanks to MickyD for the image.]

UPDATE 2 April: For more pics check this 1addicts post.

Categories
Audi

Fourtitude: Audi S5 v Ur-Quattro

Fourtitude Audi S5 v Ur-Quattro

If you enjoyed AUSmotive’s Past Master piece on Audi’s seminal Ur-Quattro, then you will most likely get a kick out of this seemingly odd comparison by US Audi specialist website Fourtitude.com.

I say odd because the automotive industry has moved leaps and bounds in the 27 years that separate the release dates of the two cars. Not to mention that US-spec UR-Quattro’s were dumbed down by the tune of 40bhp in order to meet emissions targets. Forget those finer details, however, and enjoy the article for what it is, an appreciation of two fine cars from Ingolstadt. There’s an extensive photo gallery too.

[Source: Fourtitude]

Categories
BMW

More BMW Z2 Roadster rumours

Possible BMW Z2 Roadster

There’s more BMW Z2 Roadster rumours coming out of Germany, with Auto Bild claiming BMW has signed off on the project.

The Z2 would be built on the next generation 1 Series and an official concept could be revealed as early as September at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

Expect a raft of hybrid or even electric motorised power plants. These would be offered in conjunction with regular petrol engines, likely to be turbocharged four cylinders.

[Source: Auto Bild via BimmerFile]

Categories
Formula 1

Button wins Australian Grand Prix for BrawnGP

Jenson Button wins 2009 Australian Grand Prix
Jenson Button wins 2009 Australian Grand Prix

Jenson Button has claimed a fairy tale victory for BrawnGP in their debut race at the 2009 Australian Grand Prix. Completing the dream start for F1’s newest team was a late race crash between Red Bull Racing’s Sebastien Vettel and BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica, gifting second place to Rubens Barichello. The one-two podium finish for the BrawnGP cars follows their front row qualifying positions and is an astonishing result for a team that is barely three weeks old.

Toyota’s Jarno Trulli claimed third place, another remarkable result after starting the race from pit lane. (See below!)

Barichello, though, could consider himself the luckiest driver on the podium after a poor start shortly before crashing into Australia’s Mark Webber. The local hero was able to continue, but his chances were dashed after suffering damage to his car’s body work courtesy of Barichello’s contact. Rubens wasn’t done yet, as he also made unncessary contact with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikonnen. Lady luck, then, was clearly shining on the BrawnGP team in Melbourne.

However, Button’s second Formula One race win remains under a cloud of controversy due to “diffuser-gate“. The race results will not be ratified until the outcome of an FIA hearing to be held on 14 April is announced. Read more on this story at the BBC website.

UPDATE: Jarno Trulli has been given a 25 second penalty for overtaking under Safety Car conditions. This puts Trulli back to 12th place and moves Lewis Hamilton up to third.
[Source: Formula1.com]

Categories
MINI Challenge

2009 MINI CHALLENGE – Round 1, Race 3

Paul Stokell has topped off a near perfect weekend by winning Race 3 in the MINI CHALLENGE earlier today. Gary Young also completed a solid race weekend by finishing second, with Chris Alajajian crossing the line in third.

Stokell now leads the series with 144 points, ahead of Gary Young (129pts) and Andrew Mill (98pts). A full points table can be viewed on the Natsoft website.

Stay tuned for a full round wrap up in the next day or so. In the meantime you can watch these two clips featuring all of today’s Race 3 action.

Continue reading “2009 MINI CHALLENGE – Round 1, Race 3”
Categories
BMW Formula 1

BMW Sauber F1 Australian Grand Prix preview

A brief clip from BMW-web.tv featuring Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld chatting about today’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Kubica showed good pace in qualifying and will start on the second row from fourth position. While Heidfeld has been bumped up to ninth place, courtesy of Toyota’s cars being sent to the back of the grid due to technical breaches.

Categories
Formula 1 News

Mark Webber talks about his recovery from injury

Mark Webber talks to BBC

Mark Webber has done exceedingly well just to get himself to the starting grid of this weekend’s Grand Prix. In this interview with the BBC Webber reveals that his injuries sustained in the Mark Webber Challenge last year were worse than first thought. In addition to his broken leg, Webber also fractured his shoulder.

In the clip on the BBC website you can see the lengths the Australian went to in order to speed up his recovery. Webber had regular sessions in a cryogenic chamber at temperatures of up to (or down to) -130°C. That’s bloody cold!

The treatment seems to have worked well for Webber who posted very competitive times during practice and qualifying yesterday. He will start today’s race from eighth on the grid.

[Source: BBC | Jalopnik ]

Continue reading “Mark Webber talks about his recovery from injury”
Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari.com website launches

Ferrari.com

The Prancing Horse has a new website (or it will when the northern hemisphere ticks over to 29 March). In typical Ferrari fashion, the launch of Ferrari.com ties in with the opening race of the Formula One season here in Australia.

The new website has all the bells and whistles and from the stills provided looks like offering hours of entertainment to the world’s tifosi.

Check out the press statement and more images below.

Continue reading “Ferrari.com website launches”
Categories
MINI Challenge

2009 MINI CHALLENGE – Round 1, Race 2

DecoRug Racing - Paul Stokell

After two strong performances Paul Stokell is best placed to claim the Round 1 honours in the 2009 MINI CHALLENGE series.

Stokell won a shortened first race by 1.6 seconds from Chris Alajajian, with Nathan Caratti in third (full results HERE). The race was reduced from 6 to 3 laps due to the event schedule running over time.

Race 2, a top 6 reverse grid start, was won by Gary Young with Stokell chasing hard just 0.6 seconds behind. Nathan Geier took third place to claim his first podium for season 2009 (full results HERE). The full broadcast of Race 2 can be viewed after the jump.

Race 3 will be broadcast live on Channel Ten tomorrow from 12:40pm.

Continue reading “2009 MINI CHALLENGE – Round 1, Race 2”
Categories
Formula 1

It’s a Virgin one-two grid at Australian Grand Prix

Rubens Barichello lines up on P2 for the 2009 Australian Grand Prix

Brawn GP have brought their strong pre-season testing form to Melbourne. The front row for tomorrow’s race will be an all Brawn GP affair. Teammates Jenson Button and Rubens Barichello traded fastest lap times throughout qualifying before the Briton claimed pole position.

In further good news to Formula One’s newest team, a new sponsorship deal has been announced with Virgin.

Team Principal Ross Brawn said, “On behalf of the Brawn GP team, we are delighted to have signed a partnership agreement with Sir Richard and Virgin in Melbourne today. An exciting debut race weekend for our team has become even more important as we have secured our second commercial agreement of the season. We look forward to working closely with the Virgin Group and sharing our on-track successes.”

The cars had minimal Virgin branding during qualifying and rumour has it the cars are getting a lick of paint as we speak and may well take to the grid tomorrow in full Virgin clothing.

The full grid for the 2009 Australian Grand Prix can be viewed at Formula1.com.

UPDATE 29 March: As you can see above from the image of Rubens Barichello lining up on the grid, the Brawn GP cars are still in their predominantly white livery. So, if we don’t see a new look next weekend in Malaysia, then expect a new lick of paint for China (17-19 April).

Continue reading “It’s a Virgin one-two grid at Australian Grand Prix”