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Formula 1

F1 winter testing: Barcelona II

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG W06

Formula 1 pre-season testing is all done and the post-rationalising from the teams telling us what a great job they were able to do is well underway. As the saying goes, when the flag drops the bullshit stops and we’ve got less than two weeks until the Australian Grand Prix.

After the break is a list of times for the final four days of testing in Barcelona. Mercedes AMG and Williams shared the spoils with their drivers setting the fastest times across the week.

Nico Rosberg claims the title of fastest man in pre-season with his 1:22.792 lap on day two, a full 1.2 seconds faster than his nearest challenger on the day.

It’s no surprise, then, that reigning constructors’ champions Mercedes AMG look to be the team to beat once again this season.

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Formula 1 McLaren

Fernando Alonso to sit out final Barcelona test

Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso has been released from hospital following his testing accident on Sunday and will continue his recovery at his home in Spain.

McLaren has confirmed Alonso will be absent from the final four days of pre-season testing, which start in Barcelona later today. Reserve driver Kevin Magnussen will step into Alonso’s role.

An earlier statement, which can be read in full after the break, said Alonso’s accident was “caused by the unpredictably gusty winds at that part of the circuit [Turn 3] at that time”.

The statement continues: “We can categorically state that there is no evidence that indicates that Fernando’s car suffered mechanical failure of any kind. We can also confirm that absolutely no loss of aerodynamic pressure was recorded, which fact indicates that the car did not suffer any aerodynamic loss, despite the fact that it was subjected to a significant level of g-force. Finally, we can also disclose that no electrical discharge or irregularity of any kind occurred in the car’s ERS system, either before, during or after the incident.”

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Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo 4C on sale in Australia

Alfa Romeo 4C

If you’re lucky you may have already seen an Alfa Romeo 4C at your local dealer. If not, here’s a bunch of new images that are pretty nice we have to say. Well done and thank you to Alfa Romeo Australia.

Australian pricing and specs have been out for a while (starting from $89,000) so there’s not too many surprises left. However, included after the break are three PDF downloads we reckon fans of this car will like.

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Mercedes-Benz Motorsports

Mercedes-AMG GT3 teased ahead of Geneva debut

Mercedes-AMG GT3

Mercedes-AMG will launch its new GT3 racecar at the Geneva Motor Show (5–15 March). Based on the AMG GT road car, the new customer GT3 machine will replace the successful SLS AMG GT3. The new AMG GT3 will be ready for competition in 2016.

For now we’ve got the image above and a couple of sketches for you to admire.

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Formula 1 McLaren

Fernando Alonso airlifted to hospital

Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso crashed his McLaren-Honda MP4-30 during Formula 1 testing in Barcelona overnight. He was taken to the on-course medical centre and where he conscious and speaking to doctors.

He was airlifted to hospital for precautionary scans and despite suffering no serious injury he remained in care overnight.

“Fernando’s accident was just one of those things that happens in testing,” said Eric Boullier, McLaren Racing director. “Fortunately, he’s fine, but was concussed during the accident, which therefore required an overnight stay in hospital as a precaution. That’s normal practice after a concussion.

“Inevitably, some media reports have sought to exaggerate the severity of the incident—it was just a normal testing accident.”

Statements from McLaren can be read below.

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Formula 1

F1 winter testing: Barcelona I days 2–4

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E23, Barcelona

Lotus can leave the first Barcelona test with bragging rights after Romain Grosjean (1:24.067) set the fastest time of the week overnight. He comfortably outpaced Nico Rosberg (1:24.321) and Daniil Kvyat (1:24.941).

On Saturday Lotus was again the team on top, this time in the hands of Pastor Maldonado (1:24.348), who was also quickest on day 1 in Barcelona. Young punk Max Verstappen (1:24.739) showed the Toro Rosso day care centre that he’s got genuine pace, with a gap over one second back to Lewis Hamilton (1:26.076).

Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo (1:24.574) set the best lap on Friday, narrowly edging out the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen (1:24.584). A touch further back was Felipe Massa (1:24.672).

A full list of times and total laps covered by each driver from the previous three days of testing can be seen below.

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Formula 1

F1 winter testing: Barcelona I day 1

Pastor Maldonado, Lotus E23, Barcelona

Pastor Maldonado has topped the time sheets (1:25.011) on the opening day of testing in Barcelona overnight.

The Lotus driver made good use of his new Mercedes power unit and some fresh soft tyres to set his best lap late in what was quite an exciting day, as far as pre-season testing goes.

Kimi Raikkonen (1:25.167) again kept Ferrari near the pointy end, while Daniel Ricciardo was the third fastest (1:25.547). The top three had a full second clear back to the remaining pack.

“The car felt good today, we got a bit of running done on a few different [tyre] compounds, which was interesting and we got a lot of data, which is always good,” said Daniel. “I think we’re chipping away. We’re definitely making progress but it takes time. However, I think come Melbourne we’ll be there.”

The excitement came from a minor coming together with Felipe Nasr (Sauber) and Susie Wolff (Williams). In the morning session Nasr had shown good pace, heading the field, but that all came undone after he ran into the back of Wolff’s car. The damage was minor and both drivers were able to get back on track later in the day.

Lewis Hamilton set the slowest time of the day and ended his running early due to illness. The world champion completed only 11 laps and his departure meant that reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein was quickly recalled from his loan spell with Force India. Wehrlein was able to complete 48 laps in the W06, after putting in 32 laps for Force India earlier in the day.

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McLaren Motorsports Random wallpapers

1995 McLaren F1 GTR #06R

McLaren F1 GTR

This is the 1995 McLaren F1 GTR, chassis #06R, and it is the inspiration for the livery of the just revealed P1 GTR. Driven by a team of Derek Bell, his son Justin Bell and Andy Wallace car #51 finished third in the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans.

McLaren gave us these pics as part of the press release for the P1 GTR and we thought the mighty F1 GTR deserved a post all to itself. So here you are, don’t forget to click on each photo to load its 2560px mega image.

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McLaren

McLaren P1 GTR revealed

McLaren P1 GTR

This is the McLaren P1 GTR and as long as your arse is pointing to the ground you will want one!

The hybrid powertrain of the track-only P1 GTR produces a combined power output of 1000PS (735kW) and has been significantly uprated. Further, unnecessary parts for road use have been removed to help save weight. The 3.8 litre twin turbo V8 offers 800PS (588kW) which is complemented by the 200PS (147kW) electric motor.

To improve the already sublime handling the front track is 80mm wider than the road-going McLaren P1â„¢ and it sits 50mm lower to the ground. The P1 GTR rides on 19″ wheels wrapped in super sticky Pirelli tyres.

Silverstone and the Circuit de Catalunya are the first two locations named for the driver program where, thanks to your extremely fat wallet—it’ll cost around US$3 million—you’ll get to see what it’s like to be Pastor Maldonado and get treated like a racing driver. But, please, whatever you do, don’t bin your P1 GTR.

The P1 GTR will make its full debut at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

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Aston Martin

VIDEO: A look at the Aston Martin Vantage GT3

Aston Martin Vantage GT3

Here’s a couple of independent videos that give us a closer look at the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3. The first video is from Autocar and features Marek Reichman, Aston’s design director, while the second is from Xcar and doesn’t.

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Aston Martin

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 special edition previewed

Aston Martin Vantage GT3

Aston Martin has released images of its limited-edition road-going Vantage GT3. Full details are being held back for now, but we know the 6.0 litre V12 will be good for around 600hp and the kerb weight will be close to 1565kg, some 100kg less than a V12 Vantage S.

Only 100 Vantage GT3s will be made and we reckon if the market reacts well, and why wouldn’t it, that Aston could consider making a GT3 a permanent part of future model lines.

The bodykit and massive rear wing is a little OTT for an Aston, but falls in line with what you’d expect from a model wearing a GT3 badge. Because racecar.

Some of the race-inspired handiwork under the bonnet includes magnesium inlet manifolds and a full titanium exhaust system. That aggressive body work goes to town on carbon fibre use. Further, the roof can be optioned in carbon fibre and if you want to keep adding less weight a polycarbonate rear window is waiting for your cash.

Inside, as you’d expect, you can’t see anything else for the carbon fibre. There’s some alcantara fabric for good measure, all of which results in one very desirable Vantage. Is there any other kind?

UPDATE: New pics added.

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Audi

An early look at the all-new Audi R8 V10 Plus

Audi R8 Mk2

Jethro Bovingdon from Evo is fresh from a shotgun ride in an all-new Audi R8 V10 around the gorgeous Ascari race resort. Here’s a few of this thoughts, but be sure to follow the source link below for the full yarn, which is well worth the read:

First the basics. The new R8 will be launched in two variants, the V10 and V10 Plus models. The familiar and (praise be) naturally-aspirated 5.2-litre V10 has 533bhp and 398lb ft in the base model, which is 15bhp and 7lb ft more than previously. The big news is the V10 Plus, though.

There’s a bigger jump between the V10 and V10 Plus for this new generation – both statistically and in concept. It’s still a daily useable car, says Audi, but think of it more like the old limited-edition and more focussed R8 GT. The engine in the Plus produces 602bhp and 413lb ft and revs to 8850rpm…

…the R8 Plus feels wickedly fast around Ascari, sounds incredible and seems to have retained the creamy fluidity of old. Let’s hope it’s not just the supremely smooth driver [Frank Stippler] masking the real foibles… but I doubt it. Stippler says the last test was 3-weeks straight at the Nürburging doing 1000-kilometres per day. ‘The lap time is fast. In the range of 10-16 seconds faster than the old car,’ he says. In Sport Auto’s Supertest the previous R8 V10 Plus managed a 7:45 in very cold conditions so we should see the new car dip below 7:30. One thing’s for sure… we can’t wait to try it on the road.

[Source: Evo]