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Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2011 Brazlian GP: Qualifying press conference

2011 Brazilian Grand Prix

Well he’s done it. Sebastian Vettel claimed pole position over night at the 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix and now holds the outright record for the most number of pole positions in a single season. He has started from P1 15 times this year, one better than Nigel Mansell’s 1992 record.

Vettel (1:11.918) was made to earn his record with Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber (1:12.099) alongside in P2. Completing a top three we’ve seen a few times already this year was Jenson Button (1:12.283) for McLaren.

The post-quali press conference below includes some good material about tomorrow’s race, and the possibility of rain, as well as the three guys reflecting on the career of Rubens Barrichello. Rumours are around suggesting Rubens may not get a drive with Williams in 2012, so will this be his last ever race?

Daniel Ricciardo has pressure of his own to secure a drive for the 2012 season and he’ll be happy that he has qualified ahead of the two Virgins, but dissatisfied to behind his HRT teammate Tonio Liuzzi. Here’s hoping Daniel can put in a strong race tomorrow and that we may see him in a Toro Rosso next year.

[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images & Vodafone McLaren Mercedes]

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Formula 1

COTA puts 2012 USGP ball back in Bernie’s court

Circuit of the Americas

Officially there is still ongoing doubt over the future of the 2012 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. Bobby Epstein, founding partner of Circuit of The Americas, has responded to Bernie Ecclestone’s ultimatum from last week by returning serve with a Thanksgiving statement claiming they have the money Bernie craves and are ready to pay. Well, almost.

Epstein is entering a game with Ecclestone and as history shows there’s usually only one winner in any games involving Bernie. In his statement Epstein says, “We have been ready to send Mr Ecclestone a sanctioning fee check for some time now.

“He hasn’t received it yet because the new contract presented to us two weeks ago contained unrealistic and unfeasible demands. We have signed and returned a contract similar to what we anticipated receiving. This race should be a reality, but if we are going to make the 2012 race date, we must receive a countersignature in the coming few days. We believe the teams, fans, sponsors and local business share our enthusiasm and hope that their voices will be heard.”

So there Bernie, you’ve been told! The reply from the F1 supremo will likely be firm, forthright and put an end to any doubts. Watch this space.

[Source: F1US | Pic: Sutton Images]

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Formula 1 McLaren

2011 Brazilian GP: Take a lap around Interlagos

The 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix is the final race in what are now very long Formula One seasons. Making things difficult for us here in Australia is the Monday 3am (AEDT) start time.

With the championship already safely wrapped up for Vettel and Red Bull Racing, viewer numbers will probably be quite low. Which is a bit of a shame as the Interlagos circuit, with its rise and fall, is quite a nice track. Here’s a couple of videos to show you around the 4.3km circuit. First up is Dave Robson, McLaren race engineer, talking us through a lap on their simulator. Decent YouTube clips can be hard to find, so we’ve had to back to around 2007 for the second clip with onboard footage from a Ferrari.

Of course, Mark Webber claimed his second Grand Prix victory in Brazil back in 2009. Can he repeat that success and claim something in what has been a disappointing year for him results wise.

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Fifth Gear Porsche

Tiff Needell reviews the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

We love the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 and we love it when there’s a video review to watch. We also love it if that review is filed by someone as capable as Tiff Needell from UK motoring program Fifth Gear. He might be a bit OTT at times, but the bloke can drive. So, off to a wet and slippery Cadwell Park he goes. Enjoy!

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McLaren

McLaren opens new Production Centre

McLaren Production Centre

McLaren Automotive officially opened its new Production Centre in Surrey last week. The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, was on hand to do the ribbon cutting. The Production Centre sits alongside the McLaren Technology Centre, which opened in 2004 and is the home of their Formula One team.

As to be expected the new production facility is slick, shiny and it probably would be clean enough to eat your meals off the floor as a part-built MP4-12C whirs by.

After the break there’s a couple of videos from McLaren, the first gives a brief looks inside the Production Centre while the second has highlights from the official opening and interviews with Ron Dennis, Executive Chairman and Antony Sheriff, McLaren Automotive Managing Director.

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Volkswagen WRC

Ogier signs with Volkswagen WRC team

Sebastien Ogier & Julien Ingrassia, Volkswagen Motorsport

French duo Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia have quickly moved on from the disappointment of their dismissal from the Citroën WRC team by signing a three-year deal with Volkswagen Motorsport.

The pair will spend 2012 fine tuning the Polo R WRC in preparation for Volkswagen’s debut WRC season in 2013. With seven WRC victories under their belts Ogier and Ingrassia have that classic blend of youth and experience and their signing represents a strong show of faith for the start up VW team.

Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management for the Development Division spoke with enthusiasm at the news, “I am very happy about Sébastian Ogier and Julien Ingrassia joining us. Both of them are important pieces of the puzzle on our way towards building a successful team in the World Rally Championship. It is also a mark of confidence for our team if such a strong pairing opts for a new team in the WRC that is still in the process of being developed.”

There’s more from Volkswagen Motorsport after the break, including pics and video highlights from the announcement.

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Categories
Porsche

Chris Harris reviews 991 Porsche 911

991 Porscje 911 reviewd by Chris Harris

Following his teaser we shared with you the other day, Chris Harris is back with his full review of the new 991 Porsche 911.

How the world has turned when Harris says it feels like Porsche has nicked the gearbox from the Nissan GT-R and placed it in their hero car. But what of the new electric steering, the longer wheelbase and so on. Have they affected the key handling attributes of the 911 beyond recognition?

Check the video after the break to find out.

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Toyota

Toyota FT-86 tease continues

Toyota FT-86 promo video

We’re around one week away from the official reveal of the Toyota FT-86 and this official promo has been published to help build the mood. Equal parts nostalgia and modern technology it’s clear Toyota wants its Toybaru sports car to build on a legacy of cars that have long been missing from Toyota’s model range.

While only a brief glimpse of the FT-86 is given towards the end of the clip, it’s interesting to see the Toyota–Subaru collaboration so overtly recognised as it is on the engine cover shown in the image above.

Will the final production version so proudly boast the names of the two manufacturers? We’ll find out in a week’s time.

You can watch the video in full after the break.

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Categories
Porsche

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet revealed

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

Porsche has just revealed pictures and basic information on its new 911 Carrera Cabriolet. Obvious exception aside, the Cabrio is basically a carbon copy of the 911 Coupé. The engine and gearbox options are the same, which means a 257kW 3.4 litre engine for the Carrera Cabriolet and the 294kW 3.8 litre unit for the Carrera S Cabriolet.

A 7-speed manual gearbox is standard, while a 7-speed PDK can also be had. The soft-top roof has been used for its lightweight properties and when it is up it retains the profile of the Coupé.

The 911 Cabrio goes on sale in Europe next March, expect Australian sales to follow shortly after.

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Categories
Lamborghini

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder

We thought the Super Trofeo Stradale was going to be the last iteration in the successful Gallardo model range for Lamborghini. But they have managed to squeeze out another one with the LP 550-2 Spyder.

The key is in the 550-2 model designation, that’s 550hp from the well loved 5.2 litre V10 and a 2 for rear-wheel drive. Surely this is the last new Gallardo? If so, it’s a great note to go out on.

Imagine yourself with the top down, an empty stretch of winding blacktop ahead and a glorious Lambo V10 wailing behind your ears, the love of your life beside you; could life be any better?

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Categories
Volkswagen

“The future is diesel and all-wheel drive”

Volkswagen Golf R

The top brass from Volkswagen performance arm, R GmbH, say “The future is diesel and all-wheel drive.” Sure, in current day context that makes perfect sense for a Touareg R, for example. But would punters really cough up for a diesel powered hot hatch, such as the Golf R?

Well, as Jeremy Clarkson recently showed, there’s no reason a diesel cannot be a barrel of fun. Certainly, the in-gear acceleration of diesels can be a real laugh.

More pleasingly, though, is the claim of Ulrich Riestenpatt gt. Richter, General Manager of Volkswagen R GmbH, that sending a car on a diet has many benefits, including fuel efficiency. “You can get the same efficiency [as a hybrid] by dropping 100 kilos,” he said. Expect more use of aluminium and, possibly, carbon fibre body panels in future, then.

[Source: Autoblog]

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BMW

Clarkson gives BMW early Christmas present

Jeremy Clarkson, Powered Up

In his latest DVD, Powered Up, Jeremy Clarkson has given a big present to BMW, just in time for Christmas too. As is to be expected he has assembled a stunning array of machinery for his latest production. The Ferrari FF, Nissan GT-R and McLaren MP4-12C, among others, were on hand to win Jeremy’s heart and mind.

But in naming what he reckons is the best and most fun cars of 2011 he ignored all of that exotica and went straight to the heart of Munich. According to Clarkson the 535d Touring is the best car of the year and the 1 Series M Coupé is the most fun. Check the video after the break to find out his reasons.

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