Here’s a short film from TeamVodafone about yesterday’s F1/V8 driver swap at Bathurst. It’s a high quality production, too, so make sure you check it out.
[Source: Speedcafe]
Category: McLaren
Today represented a once in a lifetime experience—the chance to witness a Formula One car lapping the legendary Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst. It was a chance the AUSmotive Editor was unwilling to let slip.
Shortly after arriving at the track the 2008-spec McLaren MP4-23 showcar fired into life in its pit garage. It was a sign for me to go to the top of the mountain. The section from the Cutting to Forest Elbow is what makes Mount Panorama so special, and it was here I wanted to see the F1 car in anger.
The Esses proved to be one of the better vantage points and after a bit of a wait Jenson Button finally came out for a single installation lap. There was another slight delay of 10–15 minutes before he came back out to complete his flying laps. Button’s quickest time, recorded unofficially, was 1:48.3—some 18 seconds faster than the current V8 Supercar lap record, coincidentally held by Lowndes.
I felt the sensation of speed would be greater across the top of the Mountain at McPhillamy Park and moved there for the rest of the laps.
When the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 was taken for its first test run the other day, the chaps from Evo magazine were on hand. They filmed this short, but sweet, clip of the GT3 car being driven around Silverstone.
There’s something so right about the brutal efficiency of a purpose-built racecar. The mechanical noises they make are perfect. The video is available after the break, check it out now.
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McLaren MP4-12C GT3 comes to life
In December last year McLaren announced they would be making a return to GT racing. Now that the launch of the MP4-12C road car is out of the way they can focus on the launch of the MP4-12C GT3. And that’s exactly what has transpired when the 12C GT3 was given its first outing last week.
A new company, called McLaren GT, has been set up to coordinate the GT3 program and the initial driving honours were given to Andrew Kirkaldy, McLaren GT Project Manager and Chris Goodwin, McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver.
You’ll be surprised to learn they both think their new racecar is going to be tops.
Andrew Kirkaldy said: “In the first tests, the car is achieving excellent results in many areas including handling, powertrain and other aspects of dynamic performance.”
Steve Sutcliffe from Autocar presents the top five cars from a database of 5000 road tests (video available after the break). On the list they have included an original 1959 Mini, a 1961 Jaguar E Type, a 1981 Golf GTI, a 1994 McLaren F1 and a 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
In the first recap, featuring the Mini, it’s interesting when Sutcliffe includes a couple of lines from the 1959 test; a shame, really, he didn’t do that for the other four cars.
Overall, it seems like a reasonable enough list, if a bit skewed towards British engineering. But, Autocar is a British mag after all. So, what would cars would you put in your top five?
First filed 28 February.
We’re still waiting on CAMS to greenlight the event, but assuming permission is granted, as expected, Craig Lowndes and Jenson Button will be in Bathurst on Tuesday 22 March. They’ll be there, of course, to drive a McLaren F1 car around the famous 6.2km Mount Panorama circuit.
We brought you this news earlier in the month, but after the break you can see the official press release from the Bathurst Regional Council.
The statement details a loose itinerary for the day, being billed as Vodafone’s King of the Mountain Drivers’ Swap, which includes Lowndes and Button swapping their respective racecars for a total of five laps around the mountain. Supposedly three of those laps will be at pace.
Interestingly, the presser below states McLaren will be using an MP4-26, which is their latest 2011 spec machine. Surely not? Usually F1 teams keep a few old chassis operational for promo events, and you’d expect this to be the case here.
If/when this event goes ahead, it’s certainly one that shouldn’t be missed. Two questions remain, then, how many people will turn up to watch an F1 car at Bathurst, and what sort of lap time can Lowndes set?
UPDATE 2 March: Apparently both the Bathurst Regional Council and CAMS are awaiting final details from Vodafone about this event before it can be rubber stamped.
However, Terry Aylett from Bathurst Council has told AUSmotive, “there still doesn’t seem to be any doubt that the permit will be granted.”
While Clive Banfield from CAMS said, “We have agreed in principle to what has been proposed and we can foresee no problems with it provided their [Vodafone’s] documentation confirms that proposal.”
UPDATE 6 March: Thanks to Rocket Rod for posting a tip in the comments section that the F1 event will take place between 10:00am–1:30pm. We’re also hearing that Jenson Button might get a drive of the McLaren F1 car as well. The itinerary would likely be Lowndes in the McLaren, Button in the V8 Supercar; before the pair swap back into their usual modes of transport. There’ll be a reasonable delay in between while the F1 chaps change seats, pedals and so on.
Chris Harris has just filed this new video review of the McLaren MP4-12C. He gave us a teaser a couple of weeks ago after driving the car in Portugal at its official launch. But now he’s driven the car in the UK on familiar roads and, importantly, on a familiar, albeit very wet, track.
Those lucky enough to buy a 12C look like they will be getting something very special indeed.
The new Mac is a sell out, already! Official performance specs for the McLaren MP4-12C were only released last week, and the car is yet to actually go on sale anywhere in the world. However, it’s being reported that the initial allocation of 12Cs for Australia have already been sold. There’s still a few weeks to go until official pricing is announced, let alone a local launch. And the wait list is fast heading towards 18 months.
It’s expected the Australian pricing for the McLaren MP4-12C will be around $500K, or around the price of a small hatchback less than a Ferrari 458 Italia. Go Auto is reporting more than 30 buyers have placed deposits with local McLaren Automotive dealer Trivett. That’s enough sales to exhaust Australia’s initial 2011 allocation, due for delivery in October, and means half of the 2012 inventory has been sold as well.
McLaren Automotive’s regional director for the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, Ian Gorsuch is rapt with the take up of the 12C down under and said, “Effectively for much the same price as the opposition, you’re getting a car with far better performance and far better useability but also more exclusivity, because we will not produce the same amount as Ferrari. We purposefully want to produce less cars – that’s our business model.”
Based on current demand Gorsuch expects the full 2012 allocation for the Australian market to be sold out soon too. Best get in touch with Trivett today, then!
[Source: Go Auto]
Exciting news for Australian motorsport fans with news that Bathurst Regional Council has approved plans to allow Craig Lowndes to drive a McLaren Formula One car around the famous Mount Panorama circuit. The promo event is a tie in with Vodafone, sponsors of the McLaren F1 team and 888 Racing.
Lowndes, defending Bathurst 1000 winner, has already had a new Bathurst experience in 2011 following his efforts with Audi in the 12 hour race. And while driving around the mountain in a factory-backed R8 LMS GT3 would have been a lot of fun for Lowndes, it’s safe to say piloting an F1 car at Bathurst will be nigh in impossible to beat.
Final details of the event are yet to be confirmed, but it’s also understood 2009 F1 world champ Jenson Button will be involved, prompting speculation he will drive a Holden V8 Supercar around the 6.2km circuit.
The logistics of getting an F1 car around the tighter and steeper sections of the circuit will be intriguing to say the least. Imagining the sight of an F1 car ripping it up through the cutting, along McPhillamy Park, Skyline and down through the Dipper and Esses is mouth watering.
Lowndes has said he would “be very disappointed” if he cannot break his V8 Supercar lap record of 2:06.801 in the F1 car.
We’ll update you with firm details as they come to hand.
[Source: FoxSports | Thanks to David & Wayne for the tips]
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McLaren MP4-12C video reviews
First posted 15 February.
When the McLaren MP4-12C was launched to the world’s media in Portugal last month, well, it was only 30 of the world’s media. An exclusive and lucky bunch of motoring hacks to be sure.
That means there’s going to be a lot of shouting going on from those 30 saying “I was there too”. Which also means there’s going to be lots of review floating about in the coming days. Even the March 2011 edition of Wheels magazine proudly features the 12C on its cover.
So we’ll be adding any video reviews we stumble across to this article starting with the thoughts of Car magazine’s Chris Chilton. If you see a review of the 12C you’d like added below, just leave the URL in the comments section.
Videos from Motor Trend, Road & Track and Evo have also been added.
UPDATE 16 Feb: A slightly odd and anonymous video has been posted to YouTube (you can watch it below) showing an MP4-12C in a drag race against a Ferrari 458 and a Porsche 911 Turbo. It’s clearly obvious what will happen next, we’re just wondering where this clip was sourced. An inside hatchet job maybe?
UPDATE 17 Feb: Steve Sutcliffe from Autocar has chimed in with his thoughts. And with 2000 miles in the car over road and race track he’s formed a well developed opinion.
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VIDEO: McLaren MP4-12C at Portimao
The McLaren MP4-12C recently had its global media launch at the Portimao Circuit in Portugal. Supporting the written and pictorial material from McLaren are these three videos.
The first concentrates on the performance of the 12C, the second includes highlights from the media driving the car while the final clip shows how McLaren Automotive have used the company’s Formula One simulator to help develop the new road car.
McLaren has officially lifted the wraps of its new MP4-12C supercar. There’s a monster press release available after the break, but to get to the point the key performance numbers are listed below:
- Engine: 3799cc V8 twin turbo
- Valvetrain: 32-valve, DOHC, dual VVT
- Transmission: 7 Speed SSG with Pre-Cog
- Power: 600PS (592bhp) at 7,000 rpm
- Torque: 600Nm between 3,000 – 7,000 rpm
- Dry weight (with lightweight options): 1301kgs
- 0 – 100kph in 3.3s (3.1s with optional Corsa tyres)
- 0 – 200kph in 9.1s (8.9s on optional Corsa tyres)
- Top speed: 330kph (205mph)
- 1/4 mile: 10.9s @ 135 mph
Perhaps the most impressive thing you will read about the 12C in coming days comes courtesy of Chris Harris from Evo, “It’s faster than a Ferrari 458 Italia, has more useable performance, rides better, has more mechanical grip.”
UPDATE: Autoblog has a great in-depth review of the MP4-12C, it’s well worth a read.