Category: McLaren

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Formula 1 McLaren News

Lewis Hamilton suffers from burnout

Lewis Hamilton at 2009 Goodwood FoS

Doing a few burnouts at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed is one thing. Doing them in Victoria’s nanny state during Grand Prix week is a different proposition altogether. Just ask 2008 F1 World Champ Lewis Hamilton who was busted fishtailing his Mercedes road car  yesterday evening on Fitzroy Street in St Kilda.

Senior police constable Scott Woodford said the 25-year-old’s car had “accelerated heavily and lost traction to the rear wheels.”

Woodford continued, “It’s fair to say that he was disappointed with the whole incident but I must say he was extremely cooperative throughout.”

Hamilton will be charged with improper use of a motor vehicle and the car will be impounded for 48 hours.

A statement released by McLaren quotes Hamilton as saying, “This evening, I was driving in an over-exuberant manner and, as a result, was stopped by the police. What I did was silly, and I want to apologise for it.”

[Source: ABC | Thanks to Mick for the tip]

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McLaren

Highlights from McLaren Automotive launch

McLaren Automotive launch

If you haven’t read all 30,000+ words from the press release on the McLaren Automotive launch, and who could blame you, then you can watch a four and a half minute highlights package straight after the break. In fact, you’d probably be well advised to watch this, and if any of the MP4-12C‘s technology grabs your fancy you can refer back to the full press release and read some more detail.

For example, the Seamless Shift Gearbox uses a semi-pressed state to prime the transmission prior to its next change, in much the same way a digital SLR camera will auto focus with a light press of the shutter release. Then there’s Brake Steer technology. Not to mention the on-board diagnostics system that can contact McLaren headquarters as soon as a fault arises, and the list goes on.

McLaren has initial plans to set up a dealer network in 19 countries, including Australia. No official pricing on the company’s first model, the MP4-12C, has been announced yet, other than to say the twin-turbo 3.8 litre V8 powered coupé will be priced between £125,000-175,000 (AU$205,000–287,000). Similarly, no official performance figures have been declared, but during the launch Managing Director Antony Sherrif did reveal the 12C’s expected key performance data.

There is little doubt this latest development for the Woking-based company is the realisation of a life goal for Executive Chairman Ron Dennis. He uses the term “pure McLaren” quite a lot when describing the new venture. Dennis is one that often polarises opinion, but, like him or loathe him, you have to admire the drive and passion he has invested in creating Britain’s newest automotive manufacturer.

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McLaren

Jenson Button & Lewis Hamilton test the McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren MP4-12C

Formula One world champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton recently got their hands on a pair of prototype McLaren MP4-12Cs and were given an empty Goodwood track to test the car. With a 3.8 litre V8 ‘M838T’ engine producing 600bhp and an impressive 600Nm of torque, coupled to a, F1-like Seamless Shift Gearbox with seven gears, the lads were sure to have some fun.

Given their current employment status it’s no surprise that Button and Hamilton reckon the 12C is a tidy bit of kit. Jenson exclaims, “I was amazed by the car’s great stability at high speeds. It’s very quick in a straight line, too. In fact, the biggest problem with driving this car on a circuit is that sometimes you forget it’s a road car!”Meanwhile, Lewis says, “The 12C is a real driver’s car; it delivered on all my expectations. The visibility is great from the driver’s seat. You really appreciate that in tight corners. I loved the McLaren F1 when I drove it and, like that car, the huge front windscreen of the 12C allows you to take in all the information needed for perfect lines through apex turns.”

By the time the MP4-12C goes into final production more than 50 engineers will have driven 40-plus development cars in excess of 1,000,000 miles. That’s a lot of testing. Around 12 venues were used for testing, including the Top Gear test track and the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The 12C has also been pushed to extremes of another kind by being tested at temperatures of -50°C and +50°C.

There’s more after the break, including video of Jenson and Lewis at the wheel of the MP4-12C.

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McLaren

McLaren Automotive – The launch of a new car company

McLaren MP4-12C

The live launch of McLaren Automotive has just finished and with it comes a plethora of press material. There is a lot of information included in the official press release, including transcripts from today’s launch. Actually, the amount of material below is overwhelming. I suggest you get yourself a nice warm cuppa and sit yourself down for a while.

However, McLaren is approaching their new sportscar venture, and the MP4-12C, in a methodical and considered way. As such there are numerous interesting factoids below and if you missed the launch I recommend you take in as much of the material as you can.

To close here before making the jump, the 12C is simply the first of McLaren’s new sportscar range. There’s already two other cars undergoing development. No rest for the wicked, hey.

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McLaren

McLaren MP4-12C key performance stats

McLaren MP4-12C

Antony Sheriff, speaking at the launch of McLaren Automotive, has just revealed the key performance data for the company’s new road car, the MP4-12C. Outright acceleration of such a car is a given, as the under 10 second claim for 0-200km/h time suggests. However, take a look at the deceleration numbers. The MP4-12C can come to a complete halt from 200km/h in under five seconds. From 100km/h the 12C can come to a stop in under 30 metres, that’s around seven car lengths. That’s impressive!

So, too, is the news that Sheriff just confirmed the MP4-12C will be coming to Australia.

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McLaren

McLaren Automotive launch

McLaren MP4-12C

According to Autocar McLaren Automotive will announce its future plans at 9:30pm tonight (AEDT). It is understood a production ready MP4-12C road car will be on show. Lewis Hamilton will also be in attendance to flash his pearly whites and tell us how great this new road car is. You can watch the streamed event live via the Autocar website on the link below.

[Source: Autocar]

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Formula 1 McLaren

McLaren F1 launches new website

McLaren launches new website

McLaren have just launched their new website for the 2010 Formula One season. As you would expect there’s lots of bells and whistles, perfectly placed logos and a general order about the way things are done.

There’s some good info on the team’s 2010 challenger, the MP4-25, as well as the drivers, reigning World Champion Jenson Button and former champ Lewis Hamilton.

One item really worth checking out during the year is the McLaren Race 1.0b feature that will provide fans with live GPS-supported coverage of qualifying and races. Telemetry and commentary will also be available. Sounds very much worth a look when the F1 circus hits the track in Bahrain. Not long to go now!

[Source: mclaren.com]

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McLaren

Inside look: McLaren’s XP files

McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren Automotive have given us another insight into the development of their upcoming MP4-12C road car. Due for release in 2011, this is the second behind the scenes look from McLaren and follows November’s update.

In this latest clip (available after the jump) two XP Beta-phase prototypes are shown driving in Spain on public roads near Tarragona and at the Applus IDIADA test facility.

The interaction between McLaren and its audience is to be commended. However, it does paint a rather large target on the back of the MP4-12C. Will the car live up to its growing hype?  We shall have to wait and see…

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Formula 1 McLaren

Button fastest at Jerez

Jenson Button, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

Jenson Button saved his best for the last day of pre-season testing at Jerez when he became the first and only driver to break the 1:19 barrier. Button’s time of 1:18.871 was four tenths quicker than the previous best lap set by Mark Webber on day three. Robert Kubica (Renault, 1:19.114) and Kamui Kobayashi (BMW Sauber, 1:19.188) also bettered Webber’s best lap on day four.

A full list of times is available after the jump. The final pre-season test window opens at Barcelona on Thursday night (Australian time). It will run over four days, ending on Sunday 28 February. The first race of the 2010 Formula One season is at Bahrain on 14 March.

[Source: Formula1.com]

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Formula 1 McLaren

McLaren unveils 2010 F1 car

McLaren MP4-25 launch

Last night Vodafone McLaren Mercedes launched their 2010 Formula One racecar, the MP4-25. The event was covered live on McLaren’s website and if you missed it you can see some highlights jump. The clip features brief interviews with drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, as well as team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

Aside from Michael Schumacher the McLaren story for 2010 is one of the most eagerly anticipated. How will Jenson Button go now that he has moved into Lewis’ digs? Can the two work together in harmony. For now, both men are talking up their friendship. Let’s wait and see if they’re still singing from the same hymn sheet on 14 November after the last race of the year in Abu Dhabi.

For more on the MP4-25 check out McLaren’s online press pack.

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McLaren

Jay Leno gives McLaren MP4-12C thumbs up

Jay Leno in the McLaren MP4-12C

Top Gear fans will recall Jay Leno was in Britain earlier this year waxing lyrical with Jeremy Clarkson. It seems while he was at the Top Gear test track he also got some time inside a McLaren MP4-12C. As one might expect, this encouraged Leno to wax lyrical some more. This time about the new McLaren supercar, as his article for The Times reveals, “Being in the McLaren made me feel like, if Colin Chapman, the Lotus founder, were still alive, I was in a car he would have made.”

He continues, “It felt extremely nimble, precise and accurate. All the things a Lotus is famous for but in a package that is uniquely McLaren. I love the fact it has fought tooth and nail to get every ounce of weight out of this car and under 3,000lb (1.3 tons). It’s a revelation in this day and age.”

Take the jump now to see video of Jay’s joyride.

[Source: TimesOnline]

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Formula 1 McLaren

And in other news, Button has signed with McLaren

Button to McLaren

Given yesterday’s news, multiple reports tonight claiming Jenson Button has indeed signed with McLaren come as no surprise.

Button will hope he can maintain the image above and stay ahead of his new teammate and 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton. But, word on the interwebz suggests that Button is making a terrible mistake and will not be able hold a candle to the talents of Lewis Hamilton.

Whatever the case may be, you can bet the big winner out of this will be the sport’s rights holder Bernie Ecclestone who will be loving the hype generated by this news. Perhaps, the losers out of a Hamilton-Button driver pairing are the fans in countries like Australia who take the television feed and race commentary of BBC’s F1 coverage. Brundle and Legard are likely to be totally insufferable in describing the efforts of the McLaren duo.

[Source: BBC]

UPDATE: McLaren have confirmed the Button signing, you can read their press release below.

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