Tag: 2010

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Jaguar Motorsports

Jaguar XKR GT2 prepared for Le Mans

Jaguar XKR GT2

There’s a bit over one week to go until the 2010 Le Mans 24 hour race and the chaps at Jaguar are celebrating their 75th anniversary by entering an XKR GT2.

It is the company’s first appearance at Le Mans for around 20 years and Managing Director, Mike O’Driscoll says, “Motorsport has always been important to Jaguar. Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was a foundation stone in our history and our success in the late 80s and early 90s reinforced our reputation as one of the great sports car manufacturers.

“As we look to the future with our new range of high performance ‘R’-branded cars – the XKR and XFR – we aim to make the Jaguar brand synonymous with motorsports once again. It’s good to be back.”

The XKR GT2 has been prepared by the JaguarRSR team and will be driven by Marc Goossens, Ryan Dalziel and Paul Gentilozzi. Featuring a supercharged 5.0 litre V8 with over 500 horsepower the Jag will be doing its best mixing it with the likes of the BMW M3 GT2 fresh off its Nürburgring 24 hour success.

More after the break.

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Citroen

VIDEO: Citroën C4 MkII

Citroen C4 MkII

Following the first look at the new C4 MkII this morning, Citroën have released this video of the C4 which shows the car from a variety of angles. What do you think? Do you reckon The European would actually buy this one.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber wins Monaco GP

Mark Webber wins 2010 Monaco GP

Mark Webber has driven a masterful race at Monaco to win his second Formula One Grand Prix in as many weekends. After clutching pole position at the death during qualifying he was able to keep his Red Bull machine out of trouble from the start and take the chequered flag unchallenged. This is the first Australian win at Monaco since Sir Jack Brabham’s 1959 breakthrough victory

Several Safety Car periods ensured Mark had to keep his wits about him, but after each green flag he was able to simply drive away with apparent ease. In fact the race almost finished behind the safety car after an incident between Jarno Trulli and Karun Chandok. The tangled mess happened right in front of Webber. The Australian kept his cool and was able to avoid the incident and maintain his lead.

As it was the Safety Car pulled in at the last corner to allow Webber to cross the line at full noise to claim his fourth career victory. Amazingly, Webber now leads the World Championship. Sebastien Vettel finished the race second and joins Webber on 78 points. However, Webber is classified as Championship leader on account of winning two races to Vettel’s one. Pleasingly for Red Bull they are turning their qualifying dominance into race wins.

Robert Kubica finished third in a great result for Renault. Of course, the Red Bull RB6 is powered by Renault engines, thus giving the French company a clean sweep of the podium.

Speaking after the race Webber with a beaming smile declared it was “the greatest day of my life today.” The significance of a Monaco Grand Prix victory on his CV was not lost on Mark who said, “it was a very, very rewarding win, and (I’m) just absolutely elated. To join Aytron Senna and those guys around here, it’s real blue riband event.”

In further good news for Australian motorsport young gun, and Red Bull test driver, Daniel Ricciardo won the Formula Renault 3.5 race at Monaco earlier today.

[Pics: via OneHD]

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Motorsports

2010 Nürburgring 24 hour race

Nurburgring 24 hour race

One of the world’s greatest endurance races is on this weekend—the Nürburgring 24 hour. You can follow the race with live radio, live streaming pictures and twitter updates from drivers and manufacturers—see AUSringers.com for details. There’s even a couple of iPhone Apps available. Also make sure you keep an eye on AUSringers for updates of how the Australian and New Zealand competitors fare during the race.

The race starts at 11pm tomorrow (Australian Eastern time) and, of course, finishes at 11pm Sunday. Just in time to catch the end of the Monaco Grand Prix.

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Volkswagen

2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI

Volkswagen Polo GTI

UPDATE 14 May: A new pic from Wörthersee has been added below. It shows the new Polo GTI wearing 18″ Detroit alloy wheels.

Volkswagen have published a new press release ahead of the European sales launch of its new Polo GTI. There’s nothing really new in there from the info released prior to the Geneva Motor Show. There is some extra eye candy, though, in the form of new photos in Volkswagen’s familiar Tornado Red colour. These complement the Candy White images from the Geneva info quite nicely.

Basic specs of the Polo GTI are listed below, with more detail given after the jump in the official release.

New Polo GTI

  • Engine: 1.4 litre TSI (twincharged)
  • Power/torque: 132kW/250Nm*
  • Transmission: 7-speed DSG
  • Kerb weight: 1194kg*
  • 0-100km/h: 6.9 seconds
  • Top speed: 229km/h
  • Fuel consumption: 5.9l/100km
  • CO2 emissions: 139g/km
  • Wheels: 7×17” Denver alloys, fitted with 215/40 tyres
  • Optional equipment includes: bi-xenon headlights with cornering feature, LED daytime running lights, panoramic sunroof

*The torque figure is not listed in the information below, but is available in this Technical Data PDF (64kb). Kerb weight has also increased by 10kg over previously released information.

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Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2010 Spanish Grand Prix in pictures

2010 Spanish Grand Prix

Still got a big grin on your face after Mark Webber’s win last night? I know I do. These pics will help relive the moment. It’s great to see an Aussie dominate the F1 field like Webber did in Barcelona. Hopefully it won’t be too long until we see fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo join Webber on the grid, too.

A gallery of 55 images from Red Bull Racing is available below.

UPDATE 11 May: Over 40 new images from Ferrari, Force India, McLaren, Mercedes GP, Renault and Williams have now been added.

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Audi

Audi A1 “motto vehicles” to debut at Wörthersee

Audi A1

Audi will be showcasing their Wörthersee Tour this weekend with seven customised A1 “motto vehicles”. The distinct models include Follow Me, FC Bayern, Competition Kit, Hot Rod, Fashion, Pickerljäger and Wasserwacht.

We got an insight into the Competition Kit motto vehicle back in March thanks to a YouTube clip from Audi tv. The customised vehicles are on show to promote the various ways A1 owners can individualise their cars through special paint schemes and adhesive films.

Images of all seven cars can be seen below, along with a detailed press release outlining Audi’s display at Wörthersee.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber wins Spanish GP

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber has capped off a totally dominant weekend in the most perfect way by winning the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix in Barcelona. The Australian posted the quickest times in all three qualifying sessions yesterday to claim pole position and he had no equal during today’s race, leading from start to finish.

Webber set numerous fastest laps during the Grand Prix and won by 24 seconds over Fernando Alonso. Webber’s Red Bull Racing teammate Sebastien Vettel suffered braking issues late in the race and was forced to drive conservatively to nurse his car across the finish line. Vettel managed to hold on for third place more than 50 seconds behind Webber.

There was drama late in the race when second placed Lewis Hamilton suffered a left front puncture with less than two laps to go. On the previous lap Hamilton had set the fastest time for the race (1:24.357), but the incident forced him off the track and into a tyre barrier. The parochial Spanish crowd cheered mightily as Alonso inherited his  former teammate’s second place position.

Speaking after the race Webber acknowledged the efforts of his team, “The team have just been incredible the week. Collectively, Renault and Red Bull, everyone just put a huge effort in—the driver did a little bit of his work as well—in the end it was a fantastic result and I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Webber’s third career GP victory and his first for 2010 moves him into fourth place in the title race. He now has 53 points, 17 behind current leader and defending champion Jenson Button.

The F1 circus back up immediately for next weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix and if Webber and Red Bull can continue their qualifying supremacy they should be well placed to register consecutive Grand Prix victories.

Stay tuned for a picture gallery of the Spanish Grand Prix to be added in the next 24 hours.

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MINI Challenge

2010 MINI Challenge – Round 3, Queensland Raceway

2010 MINI Challenge - Australia

At the end of an action packed Round 3 Chris Alajajian still leads the 2010 Australian MINI Challenge. But he didn’t have it all his own way. A qualifying infringement cost Alajajian points and sent him to the back of the grid for Race 1.

Alajajian made good progress in the opening race to finish in sixth place. Defending MINI Challenge champion Paul Stokell crossed the line first, but it was that spectacular accident from Kain Magro that grabbed the headlines and made news clips around the world. Magro’s car rolled seven times, leaping into the crowd on its journey. Amazingly just two spectators suffered minor injuries. Magro also walked away from the crash unscathed.

The second race returned to normal on track action and was won by a fast charging Alajajian. Race 3 was red flagged following Sarah Harvey’s rollover. It happened on the same corner as Magro’s crash the previous day. Despite heavy contact with the tyre wall, Harvey suffered no serious injury. These MINI Challenge racecars are tough little buggers it would seem.

Races 3 and 4 were both won by Alajajian, with Warren Luff and Stokell sharing the podium. In fact, Luff and Stokell finished in the top three placings for all four races over the weekend. Even though Luff didn’t win a race, his consistency and Alajajian’s lost qualifying points ensured Luff claimed the round win. Stokell finished the round in second place and in the process moved up the points table from fifth to second, cutting Alajajian’s overall series lead by four points.

Television highlights, driver quotes and the current championship table can all be seen after the jump.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Barcelona

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber is back in his fancy Red Bull Racing computer game thingy. This time he’s giving us a preview of what to expect from this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix. Well, apart from lots of fans for Fernando and a tough race for car and driver.

You can see the video below after the break.

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Lamborghini Porsche Targa Tasmania

Targa Tasmania 2010 update – Day 5

Jason White, Lamborghini Gallardo

Jason White driving a Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Strada has held on to claim the 2010 Targa Tasmania trophy. It is his second Targa victory and he finished 1 minute 5 seconds ahead of Ray Vandersee in a Skelta G Force. In third place was 2009 winner Tony Quinn driving a Nissan GTR.

The Classic competition was won by Rex Broadbent in his 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS.

A full list of category and class winners is available HERE. Tonight’s local Tasmanian news bulletin can be seen after the jump. Congratulations to all teams, crews and officials for their part in another successful Targa Tasmania. Next year’s event will be a massive one, it will be the 20th anniversary of Australia’s most prestigious tarmac rally.

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Targa Tasmania

Targa Tasmania 2010 update – Days 3 & 4

Steve Glenney crashes out in his Mazda RX-8 SP

Targa Tasmania competitors have just set off on the final day of competition. Wet and windy conditions are expected for the race into Hobart. Jason White in a Lamborghini Gallardo continues to lead the field, but as you can see from the pic above it hasn’t been plain sailing for those chasing him.

On Day 3 Steve Glenney was in second position when he crashed out, involved in a three car accident. Nobody was seriously hurt, but Glenney’s Mazda RX-8 SP was in no fit state to continue. Ray Vandersee in the Skelta G Force has taken advantage of Glenney’s demise to assume a comfortable second position. Although, his car had a full engine change in Strahan overnight and he will have his fingers crossed that there are no gremlins to be found during today’s final stages.

Last year’s winner Tony Quinn in a Nissan GTR is third, 2 minutes 16 seconds behind the Australian-built Skelta. Former Targa West winner Steve Jones, also in a Nissan GTR, sits in fourth. While the Vandenberg brothers, in a Mitsubishi Evo IX, have moved ahead of Jim Richards into fifth place.

For now, though, the Whites hold a 1 minute 9 second advantage over Vandersee. They’ll be hoping they don’t follow the path of fellow Gallardo driver Kevin Weeks who last year took a slender lead into the final day before suffering a bad crash on a downhill section of the Queenstown stage.

You can keep an eye on results in all categories on the Targa Tasmania results website. News bulletins from Legs 3 and 4 can be seen after the jump.

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