Categories
Formula 1 News Red Bull Racing

Webber to headline Top Gear Festival Sydney

2012 Japanese Grand Prix

Mark Webber and Red Bull Racing will be the headline act at next year’s Top Gear Festival to be held at Sydney Motorsport Park (9–10 March 2013).

It will be the first time an F1 car has been driven at the venue and Mark is pretty keen to get out there and strut his stuff, just a week before the 2013 F1 season kicks off.

“Obviously it’s a pleasure to be part of the Top Gear Festival in Sydney and give Aussie motorsport fans another chance to see top motorsport cars in action. I’m really looking forward to being in front of my home crowd, especially just before the Australian GP. It’ll be a great way to start the 2013 F1 season,” said Webber.
General admission tickets are $79 (adult) or $29 (child) and go on sale on Monday 12 November. Family tickets are also available.

[Source: Top Gear Festival | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Motorsports Porsche

Porsche says goodbye to 911 GT3 RSR (997)

2012 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

Ongoing development of the 997-based 911 GT3 RSR you see above has been ceased in order to make way for a 991-based replacement, due in 2014. The 2012-spec RSR will still be supported by Porsche for teams choosing to race it next year.

Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche Motorsport worldwide, recently announced the news, and explained the rationale behind the move: “Just like our recent Porsche RS Spyder program, we must appreciate the success of our racecars during their product cycle, but move on to new models when it is time to do so.

“The venerable Porsche 911 GT3 RSR has provided our Porsche customer teams with numerous wins and championships, and will remain competitive in 2013. Porsche will support the customer teams which continue to race that car, but the time has come and we now must focus our research and engineering development efforts on its successor.

“The new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR is slated to make its North American debut in 2014.”

[Source: racer.com]

Categories
MINI

The four-door MINI out scaring the children

MINI Traveller prototype

If only this was a photo of a MINI in a Halloween costume. Alas it is a genuine four-door MINI hardtop, codenamed F55 and possibly called the Traveller. It’s based on the third-gen F56 platform and is scheduled for release shortly after the next-gen two-door MINI.

The F55 has shorter front doors to make room for the conventionally opening rear doors. The wheelbase is a tad longer and it is, in our opinion, another example of BMW watering down the MINI brand.

Others may argue that it’s a bona fide attempt to overcome criticisms the MINI is too small and that this four-door model will appeal to a broader market (read ignorant US buyers). Firstly, isn’t that the same argument used in support of the Countryman. Secondly, isn’t part of the appeal of the MINI that it deliberately doesn’t suit all buyers?

Anyway with up to 10 separate models to carry a MINI badge in future we suppose we’ll just have to get used to the ongoing mainstreaming of MINI.

[Source: MotoringFile | Pic: Gmotors]

Categories
Motorsports Nissan Video

The most exciting racing car in 30 years?

Chris Harris drives the Nissan DeltaWing

Chris Harris has been lucky enough to drive the Nissan DeltaWing. We’re lucky enough that he’s been able to share that experience with us in his latest video.

As is often the case with Harris’ videos the detail is where the real joy is found. Of course, the driving scenes are what we all want to see and here him describe. But his chat with the DeltaWing’s designer, Ben Bowlby, gives us a genuine insight into how the car works.

As an aside, how good does the Road Atlanta circuit look. Chicanes, rises, falls with a flowing mix of low and high speed corners. Wish it was 15,000km closer.

Continue reading “The most exciting racing car in 30 years?”
Categories
Formula 1 Toro Rosso

Ricciardo and Vergne get another year

Toro Rosso re-signs Ricciardo and Vergne

Two more seats for the 2013 F1 season have been locked in with word from Toro Rosso overnight confirming they will retain their current driver line up of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

The 23-year-old Australian, who has scored nine points so far this year, is looking forward to building on a solid, if unspectacular, year. “There are big expectations for next year and I’m ready and willing to fulfil them. I feel I have been growing and developing as a driver and my approach to the technical side of the sport has also progressed this year, so I am sure that will serve me well in my second season with Toro Rosso,” Ricciardo said.

The 22-year-old Frenchman, generally out qualified by his teammate, but having scored 12 points sounds almost relieved at the news. “I am really happy about this great news. Thank you Toro Rosso and thank you Red Bull, who have backed me since the early days of my career. It has been a difficult season and, as a rookie, I have learned a lot, thanks to the support I got and the excellent relationship I have enjoyed with all the guys. I feel much stronger now and I know I have become a better driver over the course of the season,” Vergne said.

[Pic: Toro Rosso/Getty Images]

Continue reading “Ricciardo and Vergne get another year”
Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Take a 360 degree ride with Sebastien Buemi

Sebastien Buemi 360 degree onboard camera

Red Bull Racing and Norwegian company Making View have joined forces to produce this unique 360° onbard video. Sebastien Buemi is at the wheel, driving around the Rudskogen Motorsenter circuit in Norway.

The ViewCam system allows you to choose the camera angle. Check it out after the break. It’s pretty cool!

[via F1fanatic]

Continue reading “Take a 360 degree ride with Sebastien Buemi”
Categories
Motorsports Porsche Video

VIDEO: 16 minutes of fury!

Porsche 911 GT3 at Rallye Deutschland

Here is what can only be described as an extraordinary ride through the vineyards of Rally Deutschland. Your car is a Porsche 911 GT3 and your crew is Ruben Zeltner (driver) and Helmar Hinneberg (navigator).

Strap yourself in and get ready for 16 minutes of pure adrenalin. It takes enough concentration just to watch the video, imagine the efforts required to drive this stage, with its mix of almost motionless first gear hairpins and fully committed top gear straights.

[via Bridge to Gantry]

Continue reading “VIDEO: 16 minutes of fury!”
Categories
Aston Martin

Aston proves ‘Cynical’ tag with V12 mooted

Aston Martin Cygnet

We hate the Aston Martin Cygnet. So much so we choose to refer to it as the Cynical. Our thoughts have been proved correct, too, with word Aston Martin is prepared to stuff a 6.0 litre V12 into its tiny bonnet if enough idiots are prepared to cough up the cash.

Remind us, what was the point of this car again?

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz offers A45 AMG joyrides

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG prototype

The new Mercedes-Benz A Class is already a pleasing departure from conservatism for the three-pointed star. Handing the model over to its AMG skunkworks even more so. Reports say the A45 AMG will boast 350hp and a Haldex all-wheel drive system. But is it any good?

Piers Ward from Top Gear has been lucky enough to ride shotgun in an A45 prototype with Tobias Moers, AMG’s development boss. Ward said: “For starters, it sounds awesome. The typical AMG-burble is there when you lift off, and there’s no four-cylinder drone at any point. Hard-edged, enthusiastic. Good, in other words. Its 2.0-litre engine is pretty luridly turbocharged, ending up at 350bhp and 331lb ft (the figures are unconfirmed at the moment). Moers is also proud of the fuel consumption, which he says is about 40mpg, again unconfirmed.”

Apparently we can also expect two further AMG models to spawn from the A Class platform. Namely a CLA (refer to the F800 concept) and wagon/shooting brake variant.

Auto Express has also spent some time with Moers and are quoting the AMG man as saying: “Our target is to sell it for less than €50,000. We want it to cost slightly less than the Audi RS3.”

Moers goes on to tease us by suggesting the A45 AMG is better than a 1M around the Nürburgring. “We’ve been timing the A45 around the Nurburgring and the BMW 1 Series M Coupe was our benchmark,” he said. “Let’s just say we’re extremely happy with our work.”

We also expect Chris Harris may chime in soon with his opinion. We’ll let you know if he does.

[Source: Top Gear & Auto Express | Thanks to Adam for the tip]

Categories
Formula 1

Sauber signs Nico Hulkenberg for 2013

Nico Hulkenberg

While the top three teams, four if you’re being kind and including Mercedes AMG, have all signed off on their driver contracts for 2013 there’s still some movement to be had in the mid pack. As such we bring you word that 25-year-old German Nico Hulkenberg will be moving to Sauber from Force India next year.

In an official team statement Hulkenberg said: “I’m really looking forward to working with the Sauber F1 Team. It’s a well-placed team and very competitive. Plus it’s a team in which young drivers have repeatedly delivered exceptional performances. I would like to take up that baton.”

Meanwhile, Force India boss, Vijay Mallya, is being very courteous to his departing charge. “It has been a pleasure to have Nico with us for the last couple of years,” he told Sky Sports.

“We would like to thank him for all his hard work and wish him well for the future. With three races remaining this season, we know Nico will remain totally committed and continue to deliver his best performances for the team.”

Sauber is yet to offer Kamui Kobayashi a contract and say their second driver for the 2013 will be announced at a later date.

[Pic: Sahara Force India Formula One Team]

Continue reading “Sauber signs Nico Hulkenberg for 2013”
Categories
Lamborghini

Administrators claim Lamborghini Sydney stock

Lamborghini at the 2012 Australian International Motor Show

This Lamborghini Gallardo, recently on display at the Australian International Motor Show, is just one of the models reported to have been claimed by receivers Hall Chadwick after Global Automotive Holdings, the parent company of Lamborghini Sydney, went into receivership.

The company’s register on the ASIC website shows  administrators were appointed to Global Automotive Holdings on 26 October, a couple of days before the motor show closed. Drive.com.au reports that Hall Chadwick agreed not to take possession of the two Gallardos on display until AIMS was over.

We understand Lamborghini Sydney has no direct link to Lamborghini and no other dealerships in Australia will be affected. An unnamed Lamborghini source said, ‘‘Global Automotive Holdings shareholders are experiencing personal and unspecified financial issues… With dealers in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, Automobili Lamborghini remains committed to the Australian market customers.”

The spectacular Sesto Elemento on display in Sydney remains property of Automobili Lamborghini, while the Aventador, used in The Dark Knight Rises, will make its way back to Warner Brothers in California.

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Categories
Mazda

Wankels at the ready, the RX-7 is coming back!

Mazda 16X rotary engine

The demise of the rotary engine we wrote about just a few months ago is already over, The Motor Report states. After speaking to Nobuhiro Yamamoto, program manager of the MX-5, TMR says a new generation RX-7 awaits and the return of the much loved Mazda icon has been confirmed.

But you’ll have to wait until 2017 for the next-gen RX-7, which will base its engine on the Renesis 16X first revealed in 2007. The 1.6 litre rotary will be normally aspirated to begin with, although Yamamoto hasn’t ruled out turbocharging at a later date. In normally aspirated form, peak power could be as high as 220kW and will be tuned for linear power delivery and sharp throttle response.

The chassis for the RX-7 will be an adaptation of MX-5 architecture, allowing for an increase in size over Mazda’s small sports car. Yamamoto also revealed aluminium body panels will help reach a target weight of around 1250kg, nominating the Toyota 86 as a rough guide.

Pricing for the 2017 RX-7 is expected to sit in the premium category above the Nissan 370Z, for example.

[Source: The Motor Report]