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Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

Adrian Newey: 2012 F1 world drivers champion?

Adrian Newey at the 2012 Indian Grand Prix

Far be it for us to come to the defence of wünderkind Sebastian Vettel, but recent comments from Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have a certain stench about them.

After qualifying for the Indian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso said: “Clearly, finishing ahead of Red Bull is our aim, but today it was impossible to fight them, at least in qualifying: when we had a similar car, it was possible to fight with Vettel and we have even been ahead of them, but now we are fighting against Newey and, at the moment we cannot match him…

“I hope I can soon have a more competitive car to try and fight them on equal terms on Saturday and not just on Sunday.”

After the race Lewis Hamilton said: “Seeing Sebastian dominate the last few races doesn’t come as a surprise… They seem to have a great capacity to improve the car. Adrian is just a genius. I can’t even imagine what he’s doing. He is a one-off.

“I’ve seen their speed—there was no way I could compete with that. Even if I drive at 200 per cent and crash, I can’t match it.”

Mind games, sour grapes or miserable excuses? A combination of all three perhaps. Such comments aren’t exactly a ringing endorsement for Mark Webber, either.

It’s true, of course, that superior machinery is usually behind a champion driver. It’s been that way for almost every F1 world champion in recent memory.

But any F1 car, no matter how good or bad, still needs to be driven.

Still, let’s see if the FIA will break with tradition and award the drivers’ championship to the best engineer for a change. As, by their own admission, that’s what Alonso and Hamilton need to win a world title.

[Source: Ferrari, The Sun via Bleacher Report | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Caterham F1 in pictures Ferrari Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Toro Rosso

2012 Indian Grand Prix in pictures

2012 Indian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel’s seemingly unstoppable march to a record-breaking third world championship continued at the 2012 Indian Grand Prix. Reliving the young German’s latest step in pictorial form are these 103 photos we’ve gathered together for you.

You may recall that most of the field completed the race using a one-stop tyre strategy. Think back to some of our other F1 in pictures galleries and the rubber marbles you see scattered off the racing line. There was no such sight at the Buddh International Circuit on the weekend.

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Motorsports Nissan

2013 Nissan Altima V8 Supercar revealed

2013 Nissan Altima V8 Supercar

Nissan Australia and Kelly Racing today unveiled their 2013 Altima V8 Supercar for the first time. It marks a quantum shift for the V8 Supercars category as it moves into the Car of the Future era.

Nissan’s latest Aussie touring car is based on the Altima sedan, revealed in New York earlier this year. The road going model will also be sold locally, with its market launch expected in the latter half of 2013.

The Altima V8 Supercar will use a modified 5.0 litre version of Nissan’s 5.6 litre VK56DE engine, which has its production roots in the new Patrol to be launched in Australia early next year. The VK56DE has also been used to great effect in the FIA GT1 category by JRM Racing, playing a big role in the GT-R winning the GT1 championship in 2011.

Speaking at today’s launch Rick Kelly, Kelly Racing’s Commercial Director, said the lure of factory-backing was key to their decision to partner with Nissan. He’ll be pleased also to have the might of Nissan’s motorsport arm, NISMO, on his side.

“2013 will be the first time in my career that I will be a factory driver and it’s a responsibility that I am not taking lightly,” Rick Kelly said. “Our entire team is working harder than ever to ensure that we rise to another level as we transform into Nissan Motorsport for next season. This is the most exciting time in our sport for two decades and it is amazing to think that our team is at the forefront of this change.”

Nissan Australia Managing Director and CEO William F Peffer Jr has big expectations and will be keen for a quick return on his investment. He was also on hand at today’s launch and is happy to see Nissan back in Australia’s premier motorsport category.

“This is a proud day for Nissan and a significant occasion for the sport of V8 Supercars,” said Peffer. “Unveiling our Nissan Altima V8 Supercar, the first new V8 Supercar model in two decades, brings Nissan’s special brand of ‘Innovation and Excitement’ to the V8 Supercars Championship.”

We’ll admit that we’ve been a little cold on the whole Car of the Future direction in the past. But watching the live stream of today’s launch rekindled our memories of the Nissan GT-R and its success from the early 1990s.

Kelly Racing—or more correctly, Nissan Motorsport—will line up at next year’s first race, the Clipsal 500 on the first weekend in March, with four cars hoping that a new era of success awaits.

We wish them well.

Christian Hartung was on hand at the launch today for AUSmtoive and his pics along with Nissan Australia’s full press release can be seen after the break.

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Motorsports Nissan

Watch Nissan reveal their 2013 V8 Supercar

2013 Nissan Altima V8 Supercar

Very soon Nissan Australia and Kelly Racing will unveil have just unveiled their 2013 Altima V8 Supercar. The launch was brodcast live via YouTube and we’ll be back later today with more info and pictures.

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Formula 1 Lotus

Kimi Raikkonen on Lotus and 2013

Kimi Raikkonen

If you missed the news last night, Kimi Raikkonen has re-signed with the Lotus F1 Team for the 2013 season. The team has since released this short Q&A interview with Kimi.

In typically laconic fashion, Kimi explained his new deal by saying, “Well the team did not need to tie me up and blackmail me.”

You can read the full interview after the break.

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Audi Motorsports

Audi crowned 2012 World Endurance Champions

Audi, 2012 World Endurance Champions

Following the final WEC race in Shanghai on the weekend Audi is now telling the world all about their latest world titles. There’s no surprise that Audi won the inaugural WEC constructors’ title, that was wrapped up in August, but the drivers’ championship was only settled in China.

The double points win at Le Mans by Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer gave them the edge over their Audi teammates to claim the honour of being the first drivers crowned World Endurance Champions.

But Audi need only look to the fact that Toyota won three out of the season’s eight races, including the final two rounds at Fuji and Shanghai, to realise that 2013 will be a much harder fought contest.

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Volkswagen

Herbie goes back to the future

Volkswagen Beetle 53 Edition

Volkswagen will introduce a special Herbie-inspired 53 Edition of its latest Beetle. For now it appears the model will only be offered for sale in Spain.

As you’d expect the latest ‘Love Bug’ features blue and red decals over a white body and the the number 53 proudly displayed on the bonnet and rear hatch. Beetle 53 badging also appears internally.

Engine options start with a 77kW 1.2 litre TSI engine and a 1.6 litre TDI also offering 77kW. Volkswagen’s latest 2.0 TDI, developing 103kW, tops the 53 Edition range, which is priced from €22,090.

Oh, if you’re wondering, the ‘Escarabajo’ badging on the back, simply translates from Spanish into English as ‘Beetle’.

[Source: Autoblog.es via WCF]

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Formula 1 Lotus

Kimi Raikkonen re-signs with Lotus for 2013

Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen has quietly worked his way into third place in the F1 drivers’ championship. He’s the only driver in the top seven who hasn’t won a race. It’s a great result for consistency. But wins are what F1 is all about and it’s how drivers are judged.

So, the 33-year-old Finn will be happy that he has secured another year with Lotus in a bid to chase that elusive return to the victory dais for both himself and his team. “Continuing with the team was an obvious choice for me and I’m looking forward to making another step forward together next year,” he said.

Kimi’s boss, Eric Boullier, also recognised his driver is due some reward for effort. “Kimi has made an exceptional comeback to Formula 1,” enthused Boullier. “From the first time he sat in the car this year it was clear he had lost none of his pace or technical feedback and we have been rewarded by a focused and motivated driver all season.

“It was a natural conclusion for us to confirm that we will be harnessing his abilities for next season.”

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Ferrari

Ferrari F12 berlinetta – Australian pricing

Ferrari F12berlinetta

Ahead of its 2013 Australian release a stunning Ferrari F12 berlinetta has been doing the rounds, having been previewed already in Melbourne and Sydney, with Perth to follow next week. If you’d like to buy one you’ll need—make sure you’re sitting down—$691,100 plus on road costs. Yikes!

It’s the most powerful road car Ferrari has ever made, thanks to its 6262cc V12 engine, producing 544kW at 8500rpm and 690Nm of torque at 6000rpm. And we think it looks tops.

And for those worried that the purchase price is a bit steep, there’s already an 18 month waiting list. Local deliveries are expected to commence in the middle of next year.

To help celebrate the Australian launch of the F12 berlinetta we’ve assembled 50 photos from Ferrari’s archives for you. Of course, all are available in 2000px sizing by simply click on the pics.

Pro tip: There’s a $70 million OzLotto draw on tomorrow night. But we’ve already bought the winning ticket, so our advice is to save yourself the hassle!

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Motorsports Skoda

Chris Atkinson wins 2012 APRC title

Chris Atkinson, Team MRF Skoda

When he’s not playing in the WRC big league, Chris Atkinson competes for Team MRF Skoda in the FIA’s Asia-Pacific Rally Championship. By finishing the China Rally in second place on the weekend ‘Atko’ secured enough points to claim the 2012 title.

“This is our first overall victory in this championship, and it’s a great success for all of us,” said Atkinson. “The past years have shown how difficult it is to succeed here, and it was a big challenge for us to make it this year. I’d like to thank all the guys for providing excellent support and preparing my car absolutely perfectly.”

We pass on our congratulations to Atkinson for his 2012 championship. A clear improvement from 2011 when he finished second to Alister McRae.

[Source: WRC | Pic: Skoda.com.au]

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen’s budget brand likely

Volkswagen budget brand confirmed

Over recent weeks rumours of a budget brand to be created by Volkswagen have emerged. That talk has now been given credibility thanks to Volkswagen’s R&D boss, Ulrich Hackenberg.

Speaking to Autocar, Hackenberg admitted to “following the Dacia story very intensely”. Dacia is owned by Renault and is perhaps best known for the light-hearted jokes made at its expense by James May on Top Gear. However, it turns out the brand is kicking goals with increasing sales.

Hackenberg hasn’t missed the opportunity a budget brand presents, either. “There is now a big segment growing below us,” he said.

“In China for example, we’re selling cars for less than ever for €8000 but there are brands selling for €6000. It makes sense to rival these brands, we’re analysing it and pre-thinking it.”

It would appear that any Volkswagen sub-brand would likely use recently retired model lines as a basis, thereby ensuring costs can be minimised. “We have technology that has been invested in and improved over time, and it is easy to share costs with parts that are already available,” Hackenberg explained.

While acknowledging the success of Dacia, Hackenberg hinted Volkswagen would have eyes on a much bigger prize. “Dacia is not in big markets like China, so there is a lot of space to grow more,” he said.

[Source: Autocar]

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Ferrari Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

2012 Indian GP: Post-race press conference

2012 Indian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel’s second win in a row at the Indian Grand Prix has made him pretty popular with the 1.3 billion locals. His answer to the question about what is unique in India compared to the others countries F1 races in will also help boost his popularity.

Speaking of popularity, we don’t really want to make Martin Brundle’s head too big, but his debut on the podium to conduct the post-race interviews was first-class. From afar the podium interviews have looked like an ill-conceived idea carried out quite poorly at times. Over time they have improved and if we can get decent questions race after race, like we saw from Brundle, then perhaps the fans at the racetrack and at home can both benefit.

The other point of note we learned from the presser is that Mark Webber’s KERS started playing silly buggers around one-third race distance.

[Pic: Ferrari]

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