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Audi Bathurst 12 Hour

Don’t forget the Audi R8 LMS at Bathurst this weekend

Audi R8 LMS

We’ve already brought you the news that Craig Lowndes, five-time winner of the Bathurst 1000, will be racing an Audi R8 LMS at the Bathurst 12 hour race this year. Just like the cars above which filled the first four positions on the grid at last year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race. In case you may have missed the news first time around, Audi has just sent out a new press release.

Lowndes will be joined by Warren Luff and Mark Eddy in the #7 Team Joest entry, which will be boasting green and gold Australian themed paintwork for the race.

Further showcasing the wonderful support from Audi Motorsport they will be bringing another R8 LMS from their overseas base. Car #8 will be driven by Germans Marc Basseng and Christopher Mies as well as Hong Kong-based Briton, Darryl O’Young.

Follow all the action via the official race website.

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Formula 1

Toro Rosso unveils 2011 F1 car

Toro Rosso STR6 launch

Toro Rosso has also joined in the fun at Valencia today by showing off its new STR6. Obvious pant scheme differences aside, the STR6 doesn’t seem to share too much with its RB7 cross-garage cousin.

More pics and tech specs after the break. The 2011 Toro Rosso press kit is available HERE (864kb PDF).

[Pics: Toro Rosso/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes GP unveils 2011 F1 car

Mercedes GP W02

The wraps have come of the new Mercedes GP W02, although, for now, this is the only pic we have. From the cars we have seen so far the W02 has the least conventional front nose, while still being quite high like the others.

Last year was a less than optimum performance from what was essentially the reigning Constructors’ champion. This year, though, Ross Brawn is hopeful they will enjoy better days in 2011, “The concept development for the MGP W02 started early and we have set challenging targets for the design, combined with a robust plan to ensure that the pace of development can continue throughout the long 2011 season.

“We have two excellent drivers in Michael and Nico, both of whom capable of winning races in a good car, and we look forward to seeing them push each other and the development of the new Silver Arrow during the season.

“We want to be setting the standard right from the start but if we are not, we will respond very strongly to get ourselves into the game. Everyone is excitedly waiting to see what the new season will reveal.”

UPDATE: New pics added below.

[Pics: Mercedes GP & Daimler AG]

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Formula 1

Williams unveils 2011 F1 car

Williams FW33 preview

Williams F1 will be running at Valencia later today with an interim livery. Under those temporary clothes, though, will be the new FW33, which you see here.

There’s been no firm date given for the new livery reveal, or a reason as to why it has been held back. No doubt it will be tied to a sponsorship arrangement.

More details when available.

UPDATE: Details on the FW33 launch are now available on the Williams F1 website. Tech specs have been added below.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing unveils 2011 F1 car

Red Bull Racing RB7 preview

Red Bull Racing has just unveiled its new RB7 racecar at Valencia. For now, there’s just a few studio pics. Once their media portal has been updated with images from Valencia and press releases we’ll have the material here for you.

For now, you can view the above image as a 4000px mega image, while the following pics can be viewed at 2000px. Simply click on the images to launch the larger sizing.

UPDATE: Launch pics and RB7 tech specs have been added below. The 2011 Red Bull Racing press pack can be downloaded HERE (4mb PDF).

[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing shows how to make a modern F1 car

Images of the new Red Bull Racing RB7 aren’t too far away now. While you’re waiting check out this lighthearted video from Red Bull explaining how they go, go, go about making a Formula One car.

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes GP previews the W02

MercedesGP W02

First filed 31 January.

Mercedes GP has released this teaser image of its new W02 Formula One car ahead of the official launch. The MGP W02 will be revealed ahead of tomorrow’s first day of winter testing at Valencia.

This pic follows the release of the Ferrari F150, the only other F1 car shown to date, and it looks like a high nose cone is the new black for F1 cars in 2011. Especially when you compare the digital image above with pics of last year’s MGP W01.

More when it comes to hand.

UPDATE 1 February: You can now access the above image in 2000px sizing. The full reveal of the W02 isn’t too far away, so stay tuned tonight for further updates.

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Lamborghini Motor Shows

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Bicolore

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Bicolore

This is the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Bicolore, a special edition model revealed at the Qatar Motor Show last week. It’s destined for Euro markets, as well as our very own Asia-Pacific market. North American will get the car also, but only in 560-2 rear-wheel drive only specification.

It’s essentially a regular Gallardo LP 560-4 with a fancy paint job. Featuring distinctive black detailing both inside and out, including the Noctis Black gloss roof, you can get your Bicolore in a choice of five colours: Giallo Midas, Arancio Borealis, Grigio Telesto, Bianco Monocerus and Blu Caelum. Or yellow, orange (as featured here), dark grey, white and blue.

We’ll take ours in white or dark grey thanks.

More pics and press release after the break.

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Formula 1 News

Senna movie wins award at Sundance Film Festival

Senna: The movie

The feature-length documentary about Ayrton Senna has won the World Cinema Audience Award (Documentary) at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

The doco has been earning rave reviews from fans of F1 around the globe. Jonathon Noble, F1 writer for Autosport said in his review of the film, “Sitting there transfixed, I experienced almost every emotion under the sun and was left mentally shattered by the end. From laughter and smiling at one moment, I went on a journey that pushed me through intense pride, excitement, fear and also sadness.”

After hearing news of the award Manish Pandey, one of the film’s writers, had this to say on twitter, “Thanks for all your support for Senna film. We’ve made so many friends along the way and all the kind words created good karma!”

An Australian release date for the documentary is yet to be confirmed, although we suspect it won’t be until the latter half of the year. If that changes we shall let you know.

In the meantime you can find out more by visiting the film’s official website. An international trailer of the movie can also be seen after the break.

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Formula 1 Renault

Lotus Renault GP unveils 2011 F1 car

Lotus Renault GP R31

The newly branded Lotus Renault GP team was the third outfit to show off its 2011 car at Valencia on the eve of official testing. The R31 was presented to the media throng by drivers Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov.

Full quotes and press texts are available after the break. However, with the new adjustable rear wings being such an integral feature of the 2011 cars, we thought it pertinent to highlight some quotes from Lotus Renault GP Technical Director, James Allison:

“It’s true to say that the car has been designed in an ambitious manner and a quick glance at the layout will confirm that its entire concept differs considerably, not just from last year’s car, but from any car this team has ever produced. Those changes represent our attempt to extract the absolute maximum aerodynamic performance from the regulations, which have changed quite significantly for this year, and to further develop the concept of using the exhausts to blow the floor.

“Every team will be looking for a wing that delivers the optimum compromise of downforce in the corners, while shedding the maximum drag down the straights – the better your wing can do that, the better your lap time will be in qualifying and the more competitive you will be in racing conditions. In terms of how powerful it is, the gains from adjusting the rear wing will be more significant than the gains we saw last year using f-ducts. But, like the f-duct, it’s far from straightforward aerodynamically and we’ve spent a great deal of time in CFD and the wind tunnel to make sure our concept delivers the best compromise.”

More after the break.

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Formula 1

Sauber unveils 2011 F1 car

Sauber C30

Sauber Motorsports has just unveiled its C30 Formula One car in Valencia ahead of tomorrow’s opening test day. On hand for the ceremonial cover removing duties were Team Principal, Peter Sauber and drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez.

After the withdrawal of BMW’s support before the 2010 season last year was a lean one for Sauber. However, with Ferrari power the potential is there for solid results. Something Peter Sauber is hoping for in 2011, “We want to finish in the points regularly and clearly improve our position.

“We implemented some well-considered structural changes. The appointment of James Key as technical director already bore fruit last season, and he is now in charge of development of the Sauber C30-Ferrari. At the same time, we have managed to secure our business foundation for the 2011 season. In these economically straitened times that is something we can be proud of too.”

Indeed, the C30 has a lot more sponsorship on its predominantly white shell that the C29 did. There’s still plenty of real estate left, though.

As for all teams, the switch to Pirelli tyres and dramatic changes to the aerodynamic regulations, bring with it some extra challenges this season. James Key explains, “Since some of the changes decreed by the regulations – particularly regarding the tyres – can only be analysed out on track, it was important for us to build, firstly, a fundamentally predictable car and, secondly, one that would provide sufficient flexibility to respond to ongoing findings at the track and during further development stages.”

There’s more pics after the break, including some nice detail shots.

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Porsche

From road to racing

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is essentially a racecar for the road. At least, that’s what the marketing men from Zuffenhausen would have you believe. So, how close is the GT3 RS to the 911 GT3 Cup in reality?

Autocar had a crack at explaining it to us late last year. Now Porsche UK has had a turn, as well. The clip above was released earlier in the month as part of Porsche’s display at Autosport International.

[Thanks to Richard for the tip]