Everyone loves a winner, but the British love British winner more than anyone else. Thankfully, for them, Lewis Hamilton came up trumps at Silverstone and gave the likes of David Croft and countless others cause for unabated nationalism.
I’m not sure us Aussies would be as bad if Daniel ever wins in Melbourne.
“It’s difficult not to get wrapped up in the noise… It is so beautiful.”
Not much more needs to be said about this Ferrari 312PB featured by Petrolicious. The car in question, powered by a glorious 3.0 litre DOHC V12, was made in 1972 and is one of the last sportscar prototypes made by Ferrari before the company began to concentrate its motorsport activities more heavily on Formula 1.
The 312PB won at some of the world’s most noted racetracks, including Brands Hatch, Daytona and the Nürburgring. It was driven by racing luminaries such as Mario Andretti, Jacky Ickx, Ronnie Peterson, Brian Redman, Clay Regazzoni, Carlos Reutemann and even Australia’s own Tim Schenken.
And now, this example, is brought to us as a flash of brilliance in a desolate California landscape.
Isn’t this just stunning! It’s the latest one-off creation from Ferrari and it’s called the F12 TRS. Based on the awesome F12 berlinetta the TRS cost the owner a reported US$4.2 million.
The car was first shown at last weekend’s Ferrari Cavalcade event in Sicily, which looks like it attracts the who’s who of the tifosi.
The F12 TRS is powered by the same V12 from the berlinetta and has the same 740CV (544kW) on tap. It sees off all standing start acceleration times with a minimum of fuss and can reach 200km/h in only 8.5 seconds.
The open top styling is based on the 1957 250 Testa Rossa and we think it looks sensational! There’s a brief press release after the break, which is followed with a series of unofficial videos and happy snaps.
Nico Rosberg was the first to spray champagne at the revamped Red Bull Ring after he won the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix. It seems fans, teams and anyone connected to the race has been drinking Didi’s kool-aid, because they can’t stop saying how much they love this place. We’ve even assembled our biggest gallery of the year so far to remind you of what went down in Spielberg.
For some time now there’s been talk Ferrari could join the resurgent LMP1 category in the World Endurance Championship. For one thing this would ensure Porsche has a harder time claiming outright victory at Le Mans. But also Ferrari is often at loggerheads with Formula 1 authorities as both parties throw their weight around to get what they want.
Then we had Fernando Alonso on hand at Le Mans over the weekend to give the endurance classic its official start and, hey presto, Ferrari is about to quit F1. Or so a few rumours suggested.
Not so fast kiddies! This is Ferrari’s official statement of rebuttal:
Some elements of the media have suggested Ferrari would quit Formula 1 to concentrate on the Le Mans 24 Hours and Endurance racing. This is a bit of a stretch based on President Luca di Montezemolo reiterating that Formula 1 needs to evolve and renew itself, while also admitting that there is a unique attraction to the 24 Hour race.
To say that after 2020, Ferrari could quit Formula 1 to concentrate on Le Mans and the Endurance championship takes his words to extremes. Plus of course, there’s nothing to stop Ferrari upping the ante and competing in both disciplines. So it’s just pure speculation.
Brembo has produced this video giving us a closer look at the sophisticated braking system used on the Ferrari F14 T. With the revised regulations in Formula 1 this year the braking system takes on a new level of importance and this animation should help give you a better understanding of what does what.
DAN IS THE MAN!
It’s always special when we can bring you a pictorial update of an Aussie winning a Formula 1 Grand Prix. It’s been a while between drinks, but let’s hope we see a lot more of young Daniel on the top step.
Based on the F12 Berlinetta this one-off SP America is the latest model from Ferrari’s Special Projects division. Special Projects is a bespoke skunkworks for the rich and famous and includes clients such as Eric Clapton.
Not much is known about this car, other than the fact it exists and, as you might expect, it features custom bodywork. If Ferrari comes up trumps with an official statement we’ll be sure to let you know.
[Source: Motor Authority]
Direct from the cashed up streets of Monte Carlo we bring you the best pics we could get our grubby hands on. So, go and get yourself a coffee, sit back and relive the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix.
Fernando Alonso is going to start the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours. No, he hasn’t been released to compete in the race itself, rather he will be the ceremonial flag waver to indicate the start of the endurance classic.
Automobile Club de l’Ouest invited Fernando along in recognition of Ferrari’s past history at Le Mans and perhaps to increase interest of a return to the main LMP1 class from Maranello.
“I am very happy to have been chosen to start this race, because it is one of a handful of races that has defined the history of motor sport,” Alonso explained.
“I’m keen to check out the details on this type of car. In Formula 1, we have also entered the hybrid era and I am curious to find out more about the working methods and technology involved in this series.”
Here’s your pictorial fix from the Spanish Grand Prix. You’ll get to see all sorts of things after the break, so long as all sorts of things are quality Formula 1 photos from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last weekend. There’s over 90 images so take your time and be sure to enjoy them all.
Nigel Stepney, the key figure in the 2007 Formula 1 spygate ordeal, was killed on Friday after being hit by a truck on a British motorway.
Stepney had stopped his vehicle on the hard shoulder and had stepped out of the car before being hit. A statement from Kent Police reads:
For reasons yet to be established, the man appears to have entered the carriageway and was then in a collision with an articulated goods vehicle. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Ferrari’s Technical Director Ross Brawn left the team at the end of 2006 and Stepney, formerly Ferrari’s Race and Test Technical Manager, had publicly declared his dissatisfaction with the role he was given after the team restructured its operations ahead of the 2007 season.
Stepney was later found guilty of leaking 780 pages of confidential information to his friend Michael Coughlan then the chief designer at McLaren. Copies of the documents were made by Coughlan’s wife at a copy centre. Staff from the copy centre thought something wasn’t right and contacted Ferrari and formal investigations began. Stepney was handed a 20 month sentence by an Italian court, although he did not serve any jail time. He didn’t work in F1 again.
Since 2010 Stepney had been working as the Race Team Manager and Technical Director for JRM who compete in endurance racing, including the LMP1, GT1 and GT3 categories. A team statement can be read after the break.
Stepney started in F1 in the late 1970s with the Shadow team and made his name at Lotus working alongside Ayrton Senna in the mid-1980s. He was later part of the Ferrari dream team, along with Brawn, Rory Byrne and Michael Schumacher, who combined to end Ferrari long championship drought before dominating the sport in the 2000s.