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McLaren

McLaren MP4-12C goes off chasing Ring record

McLaren MP4-12C

Word on the street, via Bridge to Gantry, says the McLaren MP4-12C had a bit of an off at the end of an industry pool testing day last week. Apparently the 12C went out at the end of the session, with the track to itself and a TV crew in chopper chasing overhead, indicating a possible lap record attempt.

The feisty Mac had almost completed its lap when it went past the tourist entry gates at full noise on the Döttinger Höhe straight. Moments later, however, tyre screeches were heard and some nasty impact sounds were also reported.

Soon after, a covered recovery truck was seen on track, presumably to collect the wreckage. Unsurprisingly McLaren has yet to confirm the incident and it’s not clear how badly damaged the car was, or if the driver sustained any injuries, but we hope all is okay and the Mac is back on track soon.

[Source: Bridge to Gantry]

Categories
Lamborghini

Lamborghini Aventador aims for Melbourne

Lamborghini Aventador

Good news for Lambo fans with word coming through form the Australian International Motor Show confirming the Aventador LP700-4 will be on display in Melbourne later this year.

Andrew Smith, managing director of Lamborghini Melbourne, has recently driven the car and is naturally singing its praises, “The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 is two generations ahead in terms of design and technology.

“Its performance is simply astonishing and is unrivalled in the super sports car arena.

“The Aventador looks amazing in photographs, but this is nothing to seeing it in person. I’m sure the visitors to the Australian International Motor Show are going to love it.”

So there you have it. The motor show opens in Melbourne at 6pm on Friday 1 July and runs until Sunday 10 July.

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BMW

Is BMW considering new “M-One” supercar?

BMW Z5 rendering

The illustration above is not an official rendering from BMW, rather a concept dreamed up by a coupe of talented Turkish designers named İsmet Çevik and Fatih Tezel. Their work was seen on Carscoop in January and at the time it was little more than fantasy. Now, it seems, the young Turks were actually onto something.

Word from regular forum poster and BMW insider Scott27 suggests BMW are indeed considering a new supercar to compete with the Audi R8, Ferrari 458 Italia, McLaren MP4-12C and their ilk. Internally known as the “M-One” the new creation would be built on a unique chassis.

The M-One is currently at sketch stage only, so technical details and visual styling cues remain up in the air. However, it would make sense if BMW referenced the M1 Hommage.

Assuming the project is approved beyond its current stage, we should expect to see the M-One in 2015.

[Source: German Car Forum & BimmerPost]

Categories
Aston Martin

Aston V12 Zagato: The Rapture in full voice

As we know the gorgeous and curvaceous Aston Martin V12 Zagato was given its first public showing at the Villa D’Este Concours last weekend. Prominent YouTuber Marchettino was on hand to capture some of the action. Here, we can see and hear The Rapture in full voice. The end of the world has actually happened; don’t believe the nay sayers. The V12 has summoned the final judgement and we are now living in a new parallel universe where horsepower is king. Long live the king!

[Source: YouTube]

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F1 in pictures Formula 1 Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2011 Spanish Grand Prix in pictures

2011 Spanish Grand Prix

Despite being teased by our own Mark Webber when he scored pole position, the Spanish GP ended up being yet another Sebastian Vettel victory. That’s four from five races for the 2010 champ and history suggests that impressive start is already enough to put Vettel at almost unbackable odds to make it a second world crown.

As usual there’s some great pics from the latest race and there’s a couple of shots where you can see how dramatic the marbles are with the new Pirelli tyres.

We’re already in another Grand Prix week with the classic Monaco GP just a few days away. Can Mark match his unstoppable performance from 2010, or is he fast becoming a broken man with shattered confidence?

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Formula 1 Renault

Robert Kubica likely to miss entire F1 season

Robert Kubica

When we last spoke about Robert Kubica we had the positive news that he had been released from hospital and his recovery was going well. That said, it’s probably no surprise to learn Kubica is not expected to race in Formula One this year.

Speaking to Spanish media at last weekend’s Grand Prix, Gerard Lopez, Renault F1 chief, said, “We will probably manage for (Kubica) to do a Friday session at some point in the year but for sure his return this season will not be possible.”

Lopez continued by suggesting Kubica’s future return to F1 is no certainty, “Robert has survived an impressive accident and now he has to do the hardest thing, to recover fully, which is something that nobody knows whether he will succeed. Not him, nor the doctors, nor us.”

Whatever the case may be, we wish Kubica the best for his recovery and hope to see him in a Formula One car as soon as possible.

[Source: Reuters UK | Pic: Lotus Renault GP/LAT]

Categories
Audi

Audi S1 to be powered by new 1.6 litre turbo

Audi S1 prototype

World Car Fans brings word the upcoming Audi S1 could be powered by a new 1.6 litre turbo engine. We already know the S1 will use a quattro all-wheel drive system, but this is the first time we’ve heard detailed speculation on engine configuration. Ensuring the S1 lives up to its S badging it’s expected the new 1.6T will pack a 160kW+ punch. That’s around 220bhp in the old money.

Also quoted, from an earlier Audi press release, “an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch located in front of the rear axle for an optimized distribution of weight.”

If Audi can nail the suspension tuning and offer up a well sorted hot hatch they might have a winner on their hands. At the very least the MINI John Cooper Works will have a fierce rival in the premium hatch segment. Perhaps BMW may see if they can squeeze their own All4 all-wheel drive technology into the MINI hardtop as well. Happy times!

[Source: World Car Fans]

Categories
Fiat WRC

Is Fiat the next manufacturer to join the WRC?

Abarth 500 esseesse

The resurgence in manufacturer support for the WRC could be set to take another step with word coming Fiat is keen to join the sport. The Italian auto giant would likely use its performance Abarth brand with a view to start racing in 2013 or 2014.

Already competing in lower level rally competitions such as the IRC, it’s expected Abarth would upgrade its current Punto S2000 to WRC spec. Although, it would be nice to see a Fiat 500-based machine in action.

It will be great news for WRC if this rumour comes to fruition and follows the recent additions of MINI and Volkswagen to the series.

[Source: Autoblog]

Categories
BMW

BMW 328 Hommage

BMW 328 Hommage

This striking creation is called the BMW 328 Hommage, a concept vehicle made to honour the 75th anniversary of the original BMW 328. It was revealed at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este last weekend. We think it looks fantastic.

Pleasingly, it has been built following the lightweight principles of its forebear and power comes via a 3.0 litre inline six cylinder. Classic BMW in all senses.

There’s an initial press release after the break along with a few pics. We’ll be back later to add more images for you to admire.

UPDATE 4 June: 34 new pics added below.

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Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2011 Spanish Grand Prix: Post-race press conference

2011 Spanish GP

Sebastian Vettel has once again exerted his dominance on the 2011 Formula One season by winning his fourth race of the year at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing dynamo, now holding a 41 point lead in the title race, held off the fast charging McLaren of Lewis Hamilton, while Jenson Button used pit strategy to claim the final podium position.

Mark Webber, full of hope after qualifying on pole, quickly found himself in third place after the first corner with both Red Bulls swamped by the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso, who led the race in the opening stages.

Vettel, unable to pass Alonso on track, made a successful undercut move by pitting early and managing to stay ahead of Alonso after his first stop. Webber was not able to match his Red Bull teammate in that regard and spent a fair portion of the first half of the race staring at the back of Alonso’s Ferrari.

Webber stayed out longer on his third set of tyres and managed to stay ahead of Alonso after his final stop to finish fourth. Alonso then fell right off the pace and was ultimately lapped by Vettel and Hamilton.

Meanwhile the McLarens just went about their duty and pocketed valuable constructors’ points. Button made the most of a poor start which saw him as low as tenth on the first lap. Electing to stop just three times for tyres, as opposed to four like the other front runners, Button was able to overtake Webber and Alonso before going on to claim a comfortable third place.

You can read what the first three placegetters had to say after the race in the press conference transcript after the break.

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

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Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2011 Spanish Grand Prix: Post-qualifying press conference

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

Below you can read the transcript from the post-quali press conference at the 2011 Spanish Grand Prix. Mark Webber will have gained a lot of confidence in beating his teammate to P1 for tonight’s race. As usual, though, he’s not getting too carried away.

“It was nice to get a clean lap and get a reasonable lap time down. You never know if it was quite enough but today it was. Obviously Seb did not have the smoothest of days so that can happen. I have had plenty of those. That’s the way it goes sometimes,” explained Webber.

“We are both on the front row so great for the team. We didn’t bring any developments here but we just brought the new spark plugs but it seems like everything is working in the right direction. The guys have done a great job at the factory. Again it is a credit to all the team. We can get very, very blasé with these type of performances but it is down to a lot of hard work from everyone at Milton Keynes and also Renault, endless effort from them as well at Viry.”

Including Mark’s win from pole in 2010, the last 10 drivers to start the race from P1 at Barcelona have gone on to win. Best of luck to Mark tonight in turning it up to 11.

[Pics: Red Bull Racing/Getty Images]

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Categories
Formula 1

Charlie Whiting explains FIA stance on off-throttle exhaust gasses

Lotus Renault GP R31

The FIA has taken the interesting move to publish a Q&A interview with Charlie Whiting, Formula One Race Director, where the subject of the impending changes for off-throttle exhaust gasses is discussed.

To be honest the FIA’s position still seems murky to us. If the off-throttle engine mapping is illegal, then surely it’s illegal and not “quite benign” or “becoming worse and worse”, as has been described.

Also mentioned is the use of the Drag Reduction System (DRS), in particular, its use at Monaco next weekend and the planned dual-zones for the Canadian Grand Prix.

You can read the full press release from the FIA after the break.

[Pic: Lotus Renault GP/LAT]

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