Categories
MINI WRC

MINI WRC Team: Ready to go

MINI WRC

This time next week we’ll be reflecting on the return of MINI to the world rally stage at Rally d’Italia. Can drivers Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke make an impression in the John Cooper Works WRC?

Dave Richards, Team Principal, seems quietly confident, “The MINI has performed better than we dared hope in testing and the S2000 car’s debut in Portugal was very encouraging. However, we are all too aware of the challenges ahead of us and take nothing for granted, but whatever the outcome, Sardinia will be an historic event for the entire team and everyone who has supported us to get this far.”

After the break you can see the team’s latest video and press release.

Categories
Formula 1

Mark Webber’s career path to Formula One

Mark Webber's career path

A few days ago Mark Webber used his twitter account to share a fascinating insight into his formative years. It was created back in 1995 and showed a three-pronged pathway to reach Formula One. The plan showed Webber could achieve his ultimate goal by basing himself in Asia, Europe or the United States. History tells us that Webber took the conventional European approach and that he did indeed reach his aim for an F1 career, albeit one year later than planned.

In the spirit of Webber’s “Aussie Grit” we’ve dug up a couple of YouTube clips featuring two of Mark’s standout F1 highlights. The first is from his debut race at the 2002 Australian Grand Prix, the second shows Webber talking us through the final lap of his maiden victory at the 2009 German Grand Prix.

Categories
Formula 1 News

Village Cinemas confirm August debut for Senna

Senna: The movie

Village Cinemas have confirmed with an AUSmotive reader that Senna is currently scheduled to premiere on their screens on Thursday 11 August. Previous word from Manish Pandey, the film’s writer, advised the documentary would debut in Australia on Thursday 21 July.

The note from Village indicates the dates are set by the distributor, and if we hear anything new we’ll share it with you as soon as we can.

[Thanks to David for the tip]

Categories
Porsche Video

There’s no replacement for displacement

Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Chris Harris from Evo magazine has a strong relationship with Porsche which has enabled him great access to Andreas Preuninger, Head of GT Cars. Using that relationship Harris recorded this interview with Preuninger in which the pair discuss the finer points of the limited edition 911 GT3 RS 4.0. It’s a good insight and details some of the modifications that are likely to ensure the RS 4.0 takes its place among the more revered Porsche RS model ever made.

[Thanks to Tim for the tip]

Categories
Motorsports

Great balls of fire!

V8 Supercar driver Karl Reindler has walked away from this astonishing crash with nothing more than second degree burns to his hands. The incident happened at Barbagallo Raceway this morning after Reindler stalled his car on the starting grid and was hit from behind by Steve Owen, who also escaped without serious injury.

Speaking after the accident Reindler said, “I loaded the clutch up and it stalled. I had my foot all the way down; I didn’t even release the clutch. I couldn’t get it going at all. There’s nothing I could do.

“Before I knew it I saw flames inside the car. I guess I panicked and tried to get out as quick as I could. My body’s fine, it’s just my hands.”

[Source: Speedcafe]

UPDATE: New video has been added above which shows Channel 7 pitlane reporter Mark Larkham inspecting the burnt wreckage of Reindler’s car. Replays and subsequent commentary from Neil Crompton and Mark Skaife follows. After the break you can see footage of the incident as it happened.

Categories
Audi Motorsports

Lowndes and Luff on track for Nürburgring 24 hour drive

Audi R8 LMS

The Nürburgring 24 hour race is one of motorsport’s toughest challenges. Earlier this year V8 Supercar drivers Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff got a small taste of what it might be like by driving a factory-backed Audi R8 LMS in the Bathurst 12 hour.

Many Australians have competed at the Nürburgring 24 hour race. Indeed, in days gone by it was as simple as coughing up the cash, packing your car into a container and rocking up to the track. You used to see well-prepped, but outclassed, decade-old Mitsubishi Mirages sharing the track with the latest factory-supported Porsche 911 RSRs.

Rule changes have put an end to such mechanical mismatches, and in further moves to usher the race to a more professional era, drivers now have to compete in at least one four-hour VLN enduro on the Nordschleife before being eligible for the more demanding 24 hour event.

As a result Lowndes and Luff will be heading to the Germany later this month to complete their qualification drive at the VLN race to be held on 28 May.

Scheduling will likely mean the lads will have to wait until 2012 before they can race in the Nürburgring 24 hour enduro. Lowndes hopes to race at the Ring next year, ahead of achieving a further goal to race at Le Mans.

[Source: Speedcafe]

Categories
Formula 1

Grand Prix: The Killer Years

Grand Prix - The Killing Years

Today, May the first, is the anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death. Yesterday, it was Roland Ratzenberger’s anniversary. He also lost his life at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. That was 17 years ago and, thankfully, no further lives have been lost in Formula One since that devastating weekend.

Consider the impact those deaths had on the sport and the subsequent safety measures that have affected virtually all categories of motor racing hence. The now widespread use of the HANS device is perhaps the best example.

Now, imagine an era when, in F1 alone, multiple fatalaties were witnessed virtually every year. Then the impact was left on the families and friends of those who died; talk of improving safety was for chickens.

Categories
BMW

BMW M Festival in June to debut two models

BMW Concept M5

In an interview on the BMW M-Power website Dominique Gargiulo, head of marketing for M automobiles at BMW GmbH, brings word the upcoming M Festival, to be held during the Nürburgring 24 hour race weekend in late June, will provide a chance for them to show off a couple of new cars.

Gargiulo states, “we will be taking the opportunity to exclusively present two brand-new M automobiles for the very first time – for the enjoyment of our most faithful customers and fans.”

The reveal is scheduled for the Friday evening prior to the race start. Educated speculation leads us to believe the two cars will be a lightweight CSL-inspired M3 EVO saloon and a production-ready M5, which has only been shown in “concept” form to date.

The Nürburgring 24 hour race is already a great landmark on the motoring calendar, and now it looks like there’s even more to look forward to.

[Source: M-Power]

Categories
Porsche

OFFICIAL: Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

First filed 28 April.

Porsche has today released official info on the 911 GT3 RS 4.0—it’s been the worst kept secret around—and it will be limited to only 600 cars worldwide. With a 4.0 litre flat six engine sporting a crankshaft from the RSR racecar the GT3 RS 4.0 has 368kW (500PS).

Available only in white or black, performance from the sub 1400kg supercar is brisk, as you’d expect. Indeed, Porsche reckon the RS 4.0 can lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes 27 seconds.

Plastic windows, carbon fibre reinforced body panels and a lack of interior equipment help keep the weight down. A few suspension components from the GT2 RS have been re-used, as well, with an aim to sharpen this GT3 RS even further than the now old 3.8 litre RS.

Porsche claim this is the ultimate RS model, but the lack of carbon ceramic brakes as standard equipment means there is still room for improvement insofar as the ultimate track components go. With an asking price of €50K more than the RS 3.8 you’d reckon Porsche could have coughed up for the ultimate brakes.

We’d still say yes, of course, but perhaps this RS 4.0 can be described as being a bit of a parts bin run-out model, rather than a pure disciple of RS ideals.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0—basic specs

  • Engine: 4.0 litre flat six
  • Power: 368kW (500hp) @ 8250rpm
  • Torque: 450Nm @ 5750rpm
  • Weight: 1360kg (inc tank of fuel)
  • 0-100km/h: 3.9s
  • 0-200km/h: under 12s

The official press release from Porsche AG and all the pics released to date are available below.

UPDATE 1 May: Porsche Cars Australia tell us that less than 10 911 GT3 RS 4.0 models will be finding their way down under. Those lucky enough to be on the exclusive list will be asked to part with $409,100 plus on road costs.

Categories
BMW

BMW M5 Touring rendered

BMW M5 Touring rendering

Okay, it is purple and therefore a little bit ghastly—okay, a lot ghastly—but we do applaud Roger Lighterness for his unofficial rendering of the F10 BMW M5 Touring. We can only assume BMW will make an estate version of their new M5 and, if they do, we’ll be wishing one was ready and waiting in the garage at AUSmotive HQ.

[Source: 5Post]

Categories
Lamborghini Video

Lamborghini Aventador hits YouTube – Part 2

Lamborghini Aventador

The Lamborghini Aventador will soon be doing the press rounds and reviews should be coming our way shortly. In the meantime, Lamborghini here’s another collection of YouTube clips, starting with a pair of 700hp beasts driving around Rome and in the countryside.

The Rome video is all romance and drama, the countryside clip, though, is where it’s at. At least it should have been. The driving footage is not that great and the soundtrack is not of V12 roaring, but orchestras dominating. Shame really.

Thankfully, the official Aventador commercial, also shown below, goes part way to showing the car off more appropriately. But, producers take note, we want to here that 6.5 litre V12 at maximum revs; is it that hard to work out?!

Categories
Porsche

VIDEO: Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Andreas Preuninger, Head of GT Cars, makes an appearance in this official promo from Porsche to announce the limited edition 911 GT3 RS 4.0. Herr Preuninger reckons, “this might be the best RS we ever make.”