Sébastien Loeb is currently doing Round 4 at WRC in Portugal for Citroen. While in Paul Ricard, in southern France for Round 1 of the European Le Mans Series Championship, where Sébastien Loeb will debut his own Racing Team, which is called "Sébastien Loeb Racing". They will contest the LMP2 class with a possibility of doing the LMPC class as well this season.
They will contest this season with a 2012 spec Oreca 03 chassis with a 4.5L Nissan V8 engine in the car. Nicolas Marroc, Nicolas Minassian and Stéphane Sarrazin will be the drivers this season, with a possibility of Sébastien Loeb driving the car, when a round of the WRC isn't on the same weekend, like this weekend. Images below of the 2012 livery and the race car.
End of blog for how, new blog soon, that is all. Bye.
Status Grand Prix, who have previously won A1GP championship with A1 Team Ireland franchise back in 2008/09 season and currently doing the GP3 Series in recent times including this season. But for this season they will also go into endurance racing this season in European Le Mans Series Championship in LMP2 class, starting with this weekends first round at Paul Ricard, in southern France. With a 2012 spec Lola B12/80 coupe with a Judd 3.6L V8 engine with Alexander Sims, Yelmer Buurman and Dean Stirling as drivers.
The Silverstone-based team will do this seasons European Le Mans Series Championship and a possibility of doing Le Mans 24 hour race later in the middle of June. Then a possibility of doing FIA World Endurance Championship in 2013.
End of blog for how, new blog soon, that is all. Bye.
Second post of the F1 season. A quick review of the race, thoughts on the race which includes Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez race performances.
Good points
Fernando Alonso (started from 8th to finish to win)
Sergio Pérez (finished 2nd, impressive throughout the race)
Mark Webber (finished 4th)
Kimi Räikkönen (finished 5th, fastest lap)
Bruno Senna (finished 6th)
Force India (Paul di Resta finished 7th, Nico Hülkenberg finished 9th)
Jean-Éric Vergne (finished 8th)
Vitaly Petrov (finished 16th, ahead of team mate Heikki Kovalainen in the race)
Timo Glock (finished 17th, a lap down from the leaders and ahead of Heikki Kovalainen in the Caterham)
Bad points
Mercedes GP (Michael Schumacher finished 10th but, qualified 3rd spun out by Romain Grosjean on the first lap of the race, Nico Rosberg finished 13th)
Sebastian Vettel (finished 11th with a late puncture in the race have contact against the front wing of Narain Karthikeyan)
Jenson Button (finished 14th, On lap 15 made contact with Narain Karthikeyan, forcing him to pit to change the front wing)
Filipe Massa (finished 15th, another poor performance)
Pastor Maldonado (DNF, could have finished 9th place with two and a laps to go, but his Renault V8 blow up)
Kamui Kobayashi (DNF, Brakes)
Romain Grosjean (another DNF, spun out on third lap)
Overall, I thought it was great race to watch and an exciting one too, you didn't know who was gonna to win until the checkered flag who was gonna to win it, that is what great about F1.
I felt the Fernando Alonso win was much more a great driving performance rather than a great car performance from starting 8th place to winning the race itself. But, I felt the car was poor in the dry, but good enough to win in the wet an a great driving performance from Alonso to make Ferrari first race win of the season. The Alonso win itself was very similar to Michael Suchumacher first Ferrari win back in 1996 in a heavy rained Barcelona track. A very poor car underneath but, a very talented race driver in the rain to win the race itself.
But, I was really impress by Sergio Perez pace throughout the race. Felt Perez could have won the race right at the end. But, never did due to Perez didn't change to slicks two laps after Alonso did 15 laps from the end. After that Perez consistently cut down on Alonso's lead but an error late in the race ensured that he remain in second place. I don't even believe any suggestions that Ferrari have ordered Sauber team letting Perez not attack Fernando Alonso for victory. I believe it was a rookie error from the Mexican at the end of the day.
Also, I believe that Sergio Perez will be a Ferrari F1 driver by next year, if not early, if Ferrari are really fed by Filipe Massa performances this year and they don't improve, Ferrari can possibly do it this season.
Remember back in 1985, Ferrari sacked René Arnoux after the first race of the season and replace him with Stefan Johansson. Also, at the end of 1991 season when Alain Prost publicly criticising Ferrari at Japanese Grand Prix, he described his car's handling as worse than "a truck". Ferrari terminated Prost's contract before the end of the season, with a year left in his contract too.
Also, in the race, I was impress by Bruno Senna, Paul di Resta and Jean-Éric Vergne driving performances. With Bruno Senna finishing in sixth, Paul di Resta finishing in seventh and Vergne finishing in eighth. Next stop China in a few weeks time.
End of blog for how, new blog soon, that is all. Bye.
Rubens Barrichello new racing challenge starts today at St. Petersburg in Miami. Since Rubens have leafed Formula 1 at the end of last season, this will be the first season since 1992 Rubens's isn't in Formula 1. But, he will began a new challenge in his racing career in IndyCar Series, teaming up with KV Racing Technology, with Chevrolet Turbo V6s with E. J. Viso and Tony Kanaan as team mates. So good luck to Rubens in your new adventure, he will be starting 13th place in his first race at Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Below, onboard footage of Rubens testing with his new Dallara DW12 Chevrolet at Sebring race track in early February. Enjoy.
This race will be the first IndyCar event since Dan Wheldon was killed in an accident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October 2011. It will also be the first race run with the new Dallara chassis, which Wheldon was helping to develop and is named "DW12" in his honour.
Also, 2012 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg the first time since the end of the 2005 season that Honda will not be IndyCar's only engine supplier. Chevrolet re-enters Indy racing for the first time since that season and Judd under the Lotus name will be the third supplier, with their new 2.4l turbocharged V6s.
As the title says a 12 Hours of Sebring Review of the race. Round 1 for both 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship and American Le Mans Series seasons at the Sebring International Raceway. Audi Sport Team Joest team won the race overall and WEC LMP1 class in their R18 TDi with drivers Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello ahead of Audi teams of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Loïc Duval to make an Audi one-two. While Starworks Motorsport in their HPD ARX-03b Honda 2.8l Turbo V6, came third and won their WEC LMP2 class of Ryan Dalziel, Enzo Potolicchio and Stéphane Sarrazin finished 3rd.
There is a very good YouTube video about the race from the Drive crew, presented by Leo Parente at the 2012 12 Hours of Sebring. Interviews with FIA President Jean Todt, Tom Kristensen, Karun Chandhok and many more interviews. Race car action from the race aswell to enjoy. Great video to enjoy.
WEC GTE Pro class was won by AF Course team in their Ferrari 458 GTC with Andrea Bertolini, Olivier Beretta, Marco Ciocithey driving at the wheel finished 20th overall. While in WEC GTE Am class was won by Team Felbermayr-Proton team in their Porsche 997 GT3-RSR with Christian Ried, Gianluca Roda, Paolo Ruberti driivng at the wheel finished 29th overall.
Footage below of the Larbre Competition squad, who are a two car team in GTE Am class this seasons WEC. In car 70 driving the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R are Pascal Gibon, Christophe Bourret and Jean-Philippe Belloc. Getting ready for qualifying for the race. Car 70 was a lap down from the winners in GTE Am class finishing second in class, finishing 29th overall.
While on the ALMS side of things. In P1(LMP1) Dyson Racing Team driving the Lola B12/60, Mazda 2.0l four cylinder Turbo and drivers of Chris Dyson, Guy Smith and Steven Kane won P1 class and finished 8th overall. While in P2(LMP2) Level 5 Motorsports in HPD ARX-03b Honda 2.8l Turbo V6 won the class with Scott Tucker, João Barbosa and Christophe Bouchut and finished 4th overall. In PC class (LMPC) CORE Autosport team with E. J. Viso, Alex Popow and Burt Frisselle won the class and finished 12th overall. In GTC class (GTE Am) was won by Alex Job Racing in their Porsche 997 GT3 Cup with Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell and Dion von Moltke finished 33rd overall.
While in GT class (GTE pro), was a battle to end between car 56 of BMW Team RLL in their BMW M3 GT2 with Dirk Müller, Joey Hand and Jonathan Summerton and car 71 of GTE pro class team of AF Corse in their Ferrari 458 GTC with Andrea Bertolini, Olivier Beretta and Marco Cioci were car 56 of M3 GT2 won the GT class and the top GT car in the race to were they finished in 18th overall. Another Youtube video below of the climax.
Mercedes GP (Michael Schumacher DNF, Nico Rosberg finished 12th)
Williams (Bruno Senna DNF, Pastor Maldonado DNF crashed out on the last lap in 6th place)
HRT (Pedro de la Rosa DNQ, Narain Karthikeyan DNQ)
Overall, I thought it was great race to watch (if you got the money to watch it on Sky that is, shame the deal is split between with the Beeb now). I felt McLaren had a strong weekend throughout from start to finish to have Lewis Hamilton on pole and Jenson Button winning the race itself. The only thing was disappointing was Lewis Hamilton's second pit stop were he lost out to Sebsatian Vettel to second place in race to miss out a McLaren one-two.
Also, mention to Red Bull Racing race-pace too, Both Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel qualified 5th and 6th. While in the race Vettel finished 2nd in the race, while Webber was challenging with Hamilton for third in the race. So don't count out Red Bull for this season.
And a quick mention to Pastor Maldonado, impressive in the race, could have finished 6th right behind Fernando Alonso, until the last lap were he crashed out. Sad he didn't collect the points for Williams team. But, nevertheless an impressive weekend from the Venezuelan.
So this weekends Malaysia Grand Prix at Sepang. Predictions for the race: Red Bull one - two, Sebastian Vettel ahead of Mark Webber and Jenson Button third. Don't forget Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Mercedes GP drivers or the Lotus drivers as well.
End of blog for how, new blog soon, that is all. Bye.
F1 Australian Grand Prix Review post tomorrow. But, today post is the latest rounds of World Rally Championship and Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
But first, last weekends World Rally Championship round at Rally Mexico. Third round of this seasons championship (8–11 March) won by Sébastien Loeb in his Citroen DS3, 42 seconds ahead of team-mate Mikko in the other works Citreon. While Petter Solberg finished third in his works Ford Fiesta. While his works Ford team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala crashed out of the rally with three stages to go. Also, mention to Ken Block in his Monster Energy Ford Fiesta finished 9th with his limited schedule for this season WRC championship. Highlights bellow, enjoy.
While in this weekends IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) Round 2 at Rally Islas Canarias Trofeo El Corte Inglés (Canary Islands, 15-17 March) Won by works Škoda driver Jan Kopecký in his Škoda Fabia S2000, 28 seconds ahead of current IRC Champion Andreas Mikkelsen in his Škoda for a Škoda one-two, despite he was 3.6-second lead into the final stage were his Fabia developed a misfire on the very last stage to give the win to Kopecký. While, Luis Monzón finished third in his Peugeot 207 S2000 car.
This post is about British Racing Green Livery History via a Top Gear clip from 2005, when Richard Hamilton explains the creation of British Racing Green.
Speaking of Lotus in a pervious post before this Team Lotus/Group Lotus in the past ran in British Racing Green. Examples below such as the 1956 Lotus Eleven
1966 Lotus 30
1997 Lotus Elise GT1.
1968 Lotus 49
1992 Lotus 102D
Other teams used British Racing Green liveries as well, such as Brabham with the 1967 Brabham BT24.
A replica of 1958 F1 car Vanwell VW5.
BRM with the 1966 BRM P83.
Aston Martin in the past with the DBR9 back in 2005.
Bentley in the past, such as the Bentley Speed 8 for Le Mans in 2003.
Don't forget Jaguar in Formula 1 with the Jaguar R2 in Monaco 2001 with Eddie Irvine.
And in Le Mans too with the Jaguar D-Type in 1956.
Don't forget today with Caterham F1 team with the CT01 in British Racing Green livery.
Anyway, end of post for now, new one soon. That is all. Bye.
Hi again. Third post of the week. Sebring 12 hour this weekend of round 1 of the new FIA World Endurance Championship. Lotus will be in LMP2 class with their own Lola B12/80 under the Lotus banner. German Team Kodewa, which ran the HRT Formula 1 operations in 2010-11 will run the car. The car will be powered by Lotus-badged Judd V8s developed by Engine Developments, which is also building the Lotus's IndyCar engine. With Thomas Holzer, Luca Moro and Mirco Shultis driving the car this season, and a possibility of second Lotus Lola B12/80 at Le mans latter in the year.
F1 a side because they own 25% of the team itself. Here is my problem with Lotus LMP2 car? Why? Why are they doing this? Why are they not developing their own LMP2 (which they were going to do two years ago what I heard, 3d image below) car instead of using a Lola B12/80 in the past lotus them-self build their own race cars. Why are they branding the engines a Lotus engine (same with Indy Car Series with Lotus Turbo V6s) which are basically Judd engines. They never did this before with Cosworths, Fords and so forth with their own racing cars, why doing it now. This is really pissing me off, big-time with the brand. Believe me I would have a go if Porsche or Ferrari did the same thing too if this was happening.
I just wish Lotus will develop their own cars, don't branded the engine as their own when it is not. Just like the images below of the Lotus Eleven, Lotus 30 and Lotus Elise GT1. That is my beef with this story folks.
End of post for now. New post soon with a bit of less grumpiness. That is all. Bye.
Today post is a 2012 F1 preview, prediction via by tweeting. Also predicting this seasons Championship winners and Australian Grand Prix predictions as-well.
So I've done a 2012 F1 preview, prediction via by tweeting with each team preview with a tweet or two on Twitter. This week on my Twitter site JHonMotorsport, this will be interesting to write about each team. An idea what I done, an image below willl help what I did.
So, starting off with Red Bull Racing.
Red Bull: the team to beat for drivers & constructors championship this year. Vettel needs to defend his title for a third year. but, Webber needs to challenge for the title and take it away from Vettel and to stay at Red Bull for 2013.
McLaren: could be Hamilton last season at McLaren? Hamilton needs to step up from last season nightmare year too. This is Button year to win another title or is another title for Hamilton. McLaren needs to bring a fast car throughout the season to do so to beat Red Bull this year.
Ferrari: could this be the worse Ferrari F1 car in 20 years I wonder? very ugly car to look at too! Alonso will be a more than likely the bread winner for the team this year. A big year for Massa either a make or brake year to stay at Ferrari too, even in F1 as-well.
Mercedes: look fast in testing, 3rd in constructors is a possibility, make or brake year for Rosberg, this it the last year of M. Schumacher career I wonder?
Lotus: Raikkonen back, Grosjean in, Looks very fast in testing, I can see Raikkonen winning a few races this year, Grosjean is fast in testing, If Lotus is fast in races, Lotus could beat Ferrari & Mercedes to third in the constructors.
Force India: di Resta stayed, Hulkenberg in, Sutil out. Looks fast in testing, can they match Mercedes & Lotus throughout the season?
Sauber: Kept Perez & Kobayashi for this season. Looks fast in testing, will they bring it to races. But, can they fight for 6th place in the constructors.
STR: Buemi & Alguersuari out, Ricciardo & Vergne in for 2012. fast car this year, can they fight higher in the constructors this year? 6th place maybe?
Williams: back with Renault engines for first time in 15 years. Barrichello out, B. Senna in, kept Maldonado. Terrible 2011 for Williams needs a better season for 2012. Make or brake year for both B. Senna and Maldonado this season.
Caterham F1: Renault engines Red Bull gearbox and kers too. Kept Kovalainen, bring in Petrov this season replacing Trulli. Points this season for Caterham F1 finally?
HRT: same questions as Marussia but minus the kers (they got kers this season). Kept Karthikeyan for this season, bring in de la Rosa to help with development of the car. Could be an interesting season ahead for HRT.
Marussia: limited testing with old car, no testing with new car, no kers, financial questions above the team, touch few races ahead for both Glock and Pic for the start of the season.
So predictions time, Who gonna win the world drivers championship? My prediction is Sebastian Vettel for a third world drivers championships. Mark Webber, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen will be touch challengers for Vettels title. It will be a close drivers championship this year in my opinion.
Constructors title: either Red Bull or McLaren, I probably predict Red Bull to win the constructors championships for a third time. I think McLaren will be a close second in the constructors championship. But, I doubt that Mercedes, Ferrari or Renault will be challenging the top two for all season pace.
Predictions for Australian Grand Prix: I think Kimi Raikkonen will win the race on his return to the sport, Jenson Button second and Nico Rosberg third. Don't forget Vettel, Webber, Massa, Alonso, M. Schumacher, Grosjean and Hamilton as well for the race.
First post for a week. This week a few F1 posts coming up includes an F1 preview via Twitter. Which including in the post predictions for this season ahead and Australian Grand Prix predictions too. That will come later in the week.
But, for moment some Formula 1 footage inside of the new Mercedes AMG F1 car of Nico Rosberg driving around Silverstone for a shakedown in eye-view form (well almost in eye-view, the camera is on Nico crash helmet). But, still some great footage on a F1 car going around speeds over 190mph. Enjoy.
Hello, sixth post of the week and this week, Audi has revived a new hybrid of KERs/diesel LMP1 challenger for the FIA World Endurance Championship called R18 e-tron quattro.
Audi called it R18 e-tron quattro because it will have 3.7l V6 turbo diesel in the rear of the car and at the front axle a KERs flywheel has been developed by Williams Hybrid Power, which also produced the unit in the Porsche's 911 GT3-R Hybrid which we seen at Nurburgring 24 Hour race, so basically a 4WD LMP1 for the first time in Le Mans history.
The new Audi R18 e-tron quattro will not race until the second round of the WEC at Spa. Therefore, R18 TDI will be used for round 1 of FIA World Endurance Championship at the Sebring 12 Hours on March 17 when Audi will enters three LMP1 cars.
But, for this years 24 Hours of Le Mans Audi will have four R18s for the race itself, two light-wight R18 ultra's and two Audi R18 e-tron quattro in June.
For my opinion about the story I think its great to see Audi bringing in a hybrid power diesel to WEC this year. Could they win with the Audi R18 e-tron quattro at Le Mans? who knows, its gonna be a touch challenge Audi to win Le Mans this year. Remember, Audi was the first diesel powered car to win at Le Mans. Anyway, video below of the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro with more information on the car.
End of post for now. New post soon. That is all. Bye.
Hi again, fifth post of the week. Tomorrow I am going to writing a post on the new R18 e-tron quattro. For now HPD ARX-03a Le Mans car.
JRM Racing, winners of last year's FIA GT1 World Championship with Nissan GT-R and last years Le Mans Series LMP2 team Strakka Racing will jump up to LMP1 this sseason for the new FIA World Endurance Championship to drive the new HPD ARX-03a race car.
Both British teams will be driving the new HPD ARX-03a, which is basally a Honda Performance Development Le Mans car for this seasons FIA World Endurance Championship. Under the HPD ARX-03a will carry a mid-engine Honda V8, 3.4 litre for this season.
As for drivers, Jonny Kane, Nick Leventis and Danny Watts will be driving for Strakka Racing for an all British line-up this season. As for JRM team they will have David Brabham, Karun Chandhok and Peter Dumbreck driving the other HPD ARX-03a car for this seasons World Endurance Championship.
And the video below is a 3D rendering of the HPD ARX-03a in Strakka Racing colours.
While, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing will race the new HPD ARX-03a for American Le Mans Series this season. Youtube video below with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing drivers Klaus Graf, Lucas Luhr and Simon Pagenaud talking about the new HPD ARX-03a.
Anyway, end of post for now, new one soon. That is all. Bye.
Hi again, forth post of the week and the latest rounds of Rally America and Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
But first, last weeks Rally America round at the 100 Acre Wood Rally. Second round of this seasons championship won by Ken Block in his 2012 Ford Fiesta H.F.H.V, Monster Rally Team. Half minute ahead of David Higgins in his 2012 Subaru WRX STI, Subaru Rally Team USA. The current Champion is leading the championship so far this season. While former Champion Antoine L'Estage in his 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X retired from the rally. Here some highlights from this years 100 Acre Wood Rally below. Enjoy.
While in IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) Round 1 at Rally Sata das Açores on the outskirts of Portugal. Won by current IRC Champion Andreas Mikkelsen in his Škoda Fabia S2000, 25 seconds ahead of 2010 Champion Juho Hänninen in his Škoda for a Škoda one-two. While, Bryan Bouffier finished third in his Peugeot 207 S2000. Highlights below to enjoy.
