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Formula 1

Double points fiasco likely to be dropped in 2015

2014 Brazilian Grand Prix

This time next week we’ll know who the 2014 Formula 1 world champion is. Will it be Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg? And, importantly, will the whacky novelty of the double points on offer be the deciding factor?

For a number of reasons, please, let’s hope that’s not the case. As it turns out even Bernie Ecclestone, the man behind this oddball idea, seems to think the novelty has a bleak future. Of course, he won’t admit the idea was a mistake, instead he calls the teams “bloody idiots” for not embracing three races of double points pandemonium.

“One race is stupid but imagine if it was the last three races,” he told The Independent. “It means that somebody would have to have a 150-point advantage minimum to be sure they will win. The teams have not accepted it because they are bloody idiots. They are all mechanics. They think of their team in the short term.

“I’m not going to  propose the three races again. I’m going to let them get on with it. I don’t know what we’re going to do next year.”

I know Bernie, let’s drop this batshit crazy idea of yours and be done with it!

[Source: The Independent]

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Formula 1 Motorsports Video

The ultimate track day weapon

2001 Arrows A22 F1 car

If you want to be king of the mountain at your next track day then you really need to get your hands on a Formula 1 car. Even a shit one like the 13-year-old Arrows A22 will leave you looking like a driving god, as this video shows!

Just be prepared to slow down for unsuspecting drivers who, just a nano second ago, had no idea you were approaching them and about to fly by.

[Thanks to Wayne for the tip]

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Audi Porsche Toyota WEC

2014 6 Hours of Bahrain in pictures

2014 6 Hours of Bahrain

Toyota capped off a weekend of mixed results with champagne for both cars at the WEC 6 Hours of Bahrain yesterday. The #7 TS040 driven by Mike Conway, Stephane Sarrazin and Alexander Wurz won the race. It’s the first win for the #7 car this year and Toyota’s fifth race win for the season.

However, the glory went to Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi in the #8 car, who finished well down in P11 after suffering alternator problems. Despite this they’ve done enough to wrap up the WEC drivers’ championship. With just one round to go Toyota Racing remains favourites to secure the manufacturers’ title for the first time as well.

Porsche also enjoyed a first this season, by seeing its two cars finish on the podium. The #14 919 once again started from pole position and enjoyed a reasonably smooth run. The #20 car had a scrappy day but the lack of major dramas meant they could get a valuable third place.

Audi had a pretty horrible weekend with major work required before taking the track aftrer discovering damage to the monocoques of both cars. In that respect they did very well to get out and compete and remain relatively competitive.

Yet, for the first time in the short history of the new World Endurance Championship format Audi is in danger of losing its world championship status. The team is 40 points behind Toyota with only one race left on the calendar, the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo later this month.

2014 6 Hours of Bahrain – top 6

  1. Conway/Sarrazin/Wurz (#7 Toyota) – 195 laps in 6h 00m 18.056s
  2. Dumas/Jani/Lieb (#14 Porsche) + 50.460s
  3. Bernhard/Hartley/Webber (#20 Porsche) + 57.268s
  4. Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (#2 Audi) – 1 lap
  5. Di Grassi/Duval/Kristensen (#1 Audi) – 2 laps
  6. Belicchi/Kraihamer/Leimer (#13 Rebellion-Toyota) – 7 laps
Continue reading “2014 6 Hours of Bahrain in pictures”
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Audi Porsche Toyota WEC

2014 6 Hours of Shanghai in pictures

2014 6 Hours of Shanghai

Strap yourself into the AUSmotive time machine and tavel to China with us to look back at the WEC 6 Hours of Shanghai.

Held across the first weekend in November Toyota’s late season form continued securing a one-two victory and edging closer to drivers’ and manufacturers’ championship success.

Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi consolidated their lead in the drivers’ championship by winning the race in the #8 TSo40 and enjoyed a comfortable 72 second margin ahead of their teammates in the #7  sister car.

Porsche had to make do with P3 and might have hoped for more after the #14 919 started from pole and early on both cars headed the field until tyre dramas cost the #20 car any chance of a decent result. In the end Webber and his mates had to make do with sixth.

That means the Audis filled positions four and five. The R18 hasn’t enjoyed much success since winning Le Mans and you sense Audi will have to come up with a great car in 2015 to maintain its recent dominace.

2014 6 Hours of Shanghai – top 6

  1. Buemi/Davidson (#8 Toyota) – 188 laps in 6h 01m 15.319s
  2. Nakajima/Sarrazin/Wurz (#7 Toyota) + 1m 12.564s
  3. Dumas/Jani/Lieb (#14 Porsche) – 1 lap
  4. Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (#2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro) – 1 lap
  5. Di Grassi/Duval/Kristensen (#1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro) – 1 lap
  6. Bernhard/Hartley/Webber (#20 Porsche) – 2 laps

Now, get ready for our time machine to bring you back to the present where we’ll have a 6 Hours of Bahrain up date for you real soon!

Continue reading “2014 6 Hours of Shanghai in pictures”
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Lamborghini

Lamborghini earns the wrath of Harris

Lamborghini Aventador

First it was Ferrari, now it is Lamborghini who has ruffled the feathers of Chris Harris. In the first post-announcement edition of his weekly column over at Jalopnik he has taken aim at Lambo—in particular the Aventador—fired and made sure he’s got the attention he needs to grab eyeballs:

Lamborghini has lost the plot. It has become the purveyor of jewelry. Its cars exist to be seen and heard; not driven. Style has superseded substance. Their natural habitat has now been reduced to revving when stationary on the King’s Road in London—not Imola or the Futa pass or Valentino Balbone scorching the back- pistas of Modena, but with some mindless billionaire’s offspring pushing the right pedal to get himself seen on some equally mindless YouTube channel. Never has a car brand skulked so far from the origins that defined its past greatness. Typing that makes me so sad.

And that’s only a small portion of Harris’ rant!

We all have brands to manage and, if we’re to believe Harris, his brand as a fiercely independent and respected motoring hack is at its zenith; Lamborghini’s reputation on the other hand is at its nadir.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Categories
Formula 1 Honda McLaren

McLaren-Honda era restarts today

2015 Honda F1 engine

The first tangible steps in the new McLaren-Honda era will take place later today when the team completes a filming day at Silverstone. Confirmed via twitter McLaren will run an MP4-29H1x1 alongside two classic McLaren-Honda F1 cars.

Under Formula 1 regulations the team can run up to 100km as part of its filming days. McLaren is yet to announce its driver pairing for next year and neither Jenson Button nor Kevin Magnussen will be at the wheel. Today’s driving duties will be carried out by Oliver Turvey and Stoffel Vandoorn.

Silverstone’s grand prix circuit is 5.9klm long so McLaren will only get around 16 laps to play with. No doubt there’ll be plenty of pretty pictures and glowing words to follow, which we will share with if we can.

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Volkswagen WRC

Volkswagen concerned about 2015 Polo R WRC

2014 WRC Rally France

The Volkswagen Polo R WRC has taken the rally world by storm. Since making its debut in Monte Carlo last year it has won 20 out of 24 rallies entered. Even with the resources Volkswagen is throwing behind its WRC team, that’s quite a remarkable achievement.

Heading into the 2015 season you’d think Volkswagen Motorsport would be confident its dominance can continue. According to Volkswagen technical chief Francois-Xavier Demaison that’s not the case at all.

“I am more nervous with the new car,” revealed Demaison. “When we started with the current car, we did not really have pressure—we had a three-year plan to be champions.

“The idea was to do the first car and then make a second step to improve it, but when we see the results we had with this car… it’s a bit more complicated now!

“We have to be better or at least as good. It’s really hard for us for next year.”

Perhaps adding to Demaison’s concerns is the fact Hyundai will have an all-new i20 WRC next season, whereas Volkswagen will be racing an evolution of the current car with up to 80% of the 2014 championship winning Polo R WRC to be kept.

[Source: Autosport]

Categories
Bathurst 12 Hour Bentley

David Brabham to join Bentley at Bathurst

Flying B Bentley Continental GT3

David Brabham will join Flying B Racing at next year’s Bathurst 12 Hour. The three times Le Mans winner will drive a Bentley Continental GT3 alongside John Bowe and Peter Edwards.

“When the team rang to ask if I wanted to join them to race at the Bathurst 12 hour next year, I thought a Christmas present had come early,” Brabham said.

“I have wanted to do this race for the last few years, but just couldn’t manage it, now I can and I am so excited to be racing in a Bentley with Flying B Racing. I was second for Bentley at Le Mans in 2003 so I have a great relationship with them and to race for last year’s winning team gives me an excellent chance to win what has now become a truly international event.

“It has been pleasing to see this race grow in stature over the years and the competition there will be a fantastic challenge to overcome. I can’t wait.

Flying B Racing is an offshoot of Maranello Motorsport, the team who prepped this year’s winning Ferrari 458 Italia GT3. The Flying B Bentley Continental GT3 made its race debut last weekend at the Highlands 101 race in New Zealand, completing 55 laps of the 101 lap event before retiring with mechanical issues.

[Source: Brabham | Pic: Facebook]

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Motorsports News

Ghosts on the wall at 380 Montague Street

380 Montague Street, Albert Park

Jack Brabham, Juan Manuel Fangio and Paul Frere. They’re some pretty ace names to have signed on your garage wall, don’t you think! And there’s more too:

Not only is this double fronted Victorian one of Albert Park’s last opportunities to capture a residence of such pure potential, this remarkable property is made even more memorable by its accompanying c1891 stables – formerly part of the Morris Dairy, since 1974 a motoring enthusiast’s dream retreat. Winners of twelve Formula One world championships, including Fangio, Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart and Alan Jones have visited and signed the walls of this evocative structure. Also adorning the walls are nineteen signatures of famous motoring identities including Tony Gaze, the first Australian Grand Prix driver, Stirling Moss, Gigi Villoresi, Piero Taruffi and Sandro Munari.

Yes, the stables/garage form part of a property currently for sale in Albert Park, Melbourne. There’s a very real chance, too, that this motorsport history will be lost forever and knocked over in the name of progress.

On the very remote chance you know any more about this building, please drop us a comment or two below.

[Thanks to Paul for the tip]

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

2014 Brazilian Grand Prix in pictures

2014 Brazilian Grand Prix

Nico Rosberg’s win at the 2014 Brazilian Grand Prix will give his confidence a nice boost going into the title deciding double points bonanza in Abu Dhabi.

Wouldn’t it be the ultimate troll on British F1 fans if Nico could beat Lewis Hamilton to the title with four fewer race wins!

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Peugeot Video

Is the original always the best?

Peugeot 205 GTi

Here’s two versions of the original 205 GTi commercial that we think has been trashed by the 208 GTi update. Take a look and let us know if you like Peugeot’s old stuff better than their new stuff.

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MINI

Sadly the MINI JCW bodykit has been spied

MINI Cooper S with JCW bodykit

We really want to like the new MINI. But we’re finding it pretty hard to do, visually anyway. Yes, it drives well, but its looks aren’t getting any better. In the past the John Cooper Works bodykit (aka JCW aero kit) has made a nice visual improvement over the regular Cooper S bodywork.

But not anymore.

That guppy mouth front-end is just so cumbersome and clunky that even the work experience kid would be ashamed. It had better have some pretty solid wind tunnel numbers behind it, otherwise we cannot see how on earth it ever got signed off. It is hideous!

We got a preview with the JCW concept late last year. Alas, it seems they were serious. Yes, it will look that bad.

In more positive news the MINI JCW should be online for us all to see sometime next month, before making a physical debut at Detroit in early January. That’s when we’ll learn how much power BMW will let MINI play with now that the Cooper S range employs 2.0 litre turbo engines.

The tip is around 170kW/345Nm. If nothing else it will be better to read about the next JCW than it will be to look at.

[Source: MotoringFile | Thanks to Andrew for the tip]