This has been announced today that Adrian Sutil will race with Force India F1 team this season, with means he will teaming up with old team-mate Paul di Resta for this season campaign at Force India.
Although news of the German's appointment broke on Wednesday evening, but the team took until mid-day on Thursday to officially confirm it.
Personally, a good choice for Force India to have the returning Sutil at Force India due to his race experience and they needed an experience driver to help the team to win them sixth in the constructors standing ahead of likes of Williams, Sauber and Toro Rosso. But, as for the decision from the team, personally I felt it took too long to decide who was going to be Paul di Resta this season, it should have been decided over a month ago in my opinion before testing even started.
As for the other driver who was up for the drive Jules Bianchi, rumours that he will bring in V6 Ferrari Turbo engines for 2014 at a discount price to the team if he got the drive for the next two seasons. May not stay at the team this season after today decision as a reserve driver. Personally I feel Jules Bianchi will drive in Formula 1 some day, but not this season.
But, he may get a drive at Marussia this season instead. Because there is rumours that Luiz Razia may be dropped due to bringing in sponsorship though to be planned who have backed off. Rumours that possible replacements, includes Heikki Kovalainen, Jules Bianchi, Narain Karthikeyan (bringing in Tata money), Vitaly Petrov or even been talk of Marussia bringing back former driver Timo Glock, who last month agreed to terminate his contract because the team needed the money from a 'pay-drive'. And since his agreed a deal to race for BMW in the DTM Series, a return by him seems very unlikely.
At least by this post, one problem has been solve. Contractions to Adrian Sutil returning to Formula 1 this season with Force India.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Thursday 28 February 2013
Sunday 24 February 2013
Backfliping with a MINI
Dare devil and some time rally driver Guerlain Chicherit takes a Dakar spec MINI Countryman John Cooper Works rally car on a snowy sking town at Tignes in Eastern France. And take a rally car to do a backflip in the snow, similar which you usually do with a RC toy car. A good Youtube video below of the stunt. Quite bizarre to see, enjoy.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Wednesday 20 February 2013
Lap times doesn't lie
This week will be Formula 1 testing at Barcelona for the second batch of testing for the up and coming Formula 1 season. But, during last weekend episode of Top Gear, Lewis Hamilton was the guest for the F1 Star in a Reasonably Priced Car in the old Suzuki Liana. Lewis has done this segment before back in 2007 when Hamilton done a lap time of 1:44.7, only 0.3 seconds behind The Stig (Ben Collins) in wet & oily conditions.
Five and a bit years later Sebastian Vettel is now the fastest around the Top Gear track in 1:44.0. Until Lewis Hamilton reappear and drove the old Suzuki Liana on a dry track this time, with a lap time of 1:42.9, which is 1.1 seconds faster than the current three times world champion. If lap times doesn't lie that means Hamilton has been a fast drivers for the last four years with poor race cars or Vettel is a slower driver than thought with a very fast race cars, so if Lewis had a faster car, Hamilton would have been a four time world champion already. The next time Top Gear does once again do the F1 Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment for the next series can they bring in Fernando Alonso, lets see who is fastest driver once and for all in todays Formula 1.
(No interview for the recent interview, due to BBC get pissed off when their stuff on YouTube. Sorry.)
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Five and a bit years later Sebastian Vettel is now the fastest around the Top Gear track in 1:44.0. Until Lewis Hamilton reappear and drove the old Suzuki Liana on a dry track this time, with a lap time of 1:42.9, which is 1.1 seconds faster than the current three times world champion. If lap times doesn't lie that means Hamilton has been a fast drivers for the last four years with poor race cars or Vettel is a slower driver than thought with a very fast race cars, so if Lewis had a faster car, Hamilton would have been a four time world champion already. The next time Top Gear does once again do the F1 Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment for the next series can they bring in Fernando Alonso, lets see who is fastest driver once and for all in todays Formula 1.
(No interview for the recent interview, due to BBC get pissed off when their stuff on YouTube. Sorry.)
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Tuesday 19 February 2013
BMW new Z4 GTE ALMS contender
Last week, BMW has unveiled their all new car that will replace the old M3 GT in American Le Mans Series that won the ALMS GT class drivers' title in 2011 and manufacturers' crowns in 2010 and '11 with the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Their 2013 race car will be the all new BMW Z4 GTE, which was revealed at the Daytona International Speedway last week(12/2/13).
The new car has been developed from BMW's successful Z4 GT3 contender at BMW Motorsport in Munich and will use the old M3 GT BMW 4 litre V8. The Z4 GTE will also race on Michelin tyres rather than the Dunlops on which the old M3 ran for the last few seasons in ALMS. The Z4 GTE tested for the first time in mid-January and will make its race debut at the Sebring 12 Hours ALMS opener in a few weeks time.
BMW and RLL have also announced the driver pairings for the ALMS campaign, Bill Auberlen and Maxime Martin in #55 car; and Joey Hand and John Edwards will alternate with Dirk Muller in the #56 car. Also, Jorg Muller and Uwe Alzen will be the third drivers in the two cars for the Sebring and Petit Le Mans rounds.
But, unlike the Ferrari 458 Italia GT2, Aston Martin Vantage GTE, Porsche 991 RSR, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R and the SRT Viper GTS-R which will be at Le mans doing the 24 hour race later in the season. The BMW Z4 GTE however will not be racing at Le mans this year. Which will be a shame not to, anyway the Z4 GTE will be racing at American Le Mans Series that is for sure this season. A race winning BMW? time will tell.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
The new car has been developed from BMW's successful Z4 GT3 contender at BMW Motorsport in Munich and will use the old M3 GT BMW 4 litre V8. The Z4 GTE will also race on Michelin tyres rather than the Dunlops on which the old M3 ran for the last few seasons in ALMS. The Z4 GTE tested for the first time in mid-January and will make its race debut at the Sebring 12 Hours ALMS opener in a few weeks time.
BMW and RLL have also announced the driver pairings for the ALMS campaign, Bill Auberlen and Maxime Martin in #55 car; and Joey Hand and John Edwards will alternate with Dirk Muller in the #56 car. Also, Jorg Muller and Uwe Alzen will be the third drivers in the two cars for the Sebring and Petit Le Mans rounds.
But, unlike the Ferrari 458 Italia GT2, Aston Martin Vantage GTE, Porsche 991 RSR, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R and the SRT Viper GTS-R which will be at Le mans doing the 24 hour race later in the season. The BMW Z4 GTE however will not be racing at Le mans this year. Which will be a shame not to, anyway the Z4 GTE will be racing at American Le Mans Series that is for sure this season. A race winning BMW? time will tell.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Monday 11 February 2013
WRC Round 2 recap
Recap of the last round of WRC from this weekends Round 2 of Rally Sweden.
This weekends was the second round of the World Rally Championship at the Rally Sweden (7th-10th February) was won by surprise winner Sébastien Ogier in the works Volkswagen Polo R WRC and first win for Volkswagenin the WRC since 1987. Meanwhile Sébastien Loeb finished second in the works Citroën DS3 WRC, Loeb was over 41 seconds behind Ogier at the end. Meanwhile, Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team leader Mads Østberg, finished in third place in the Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Østberg was 84 seconds behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won by Yazeed Al-Rajhi in his Yazeed Racing backed Ford Fiesta RRC. Yazeed Al-Rajhi finished in tenth place overall, he was only 16 and half minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Highlights of the rally bellow, enjoy.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
This weekends was the second round of the World Rally Championship at the Rally Sweden (7th-10th February) was won by surprise winner Sébastien Ogier in the works Volkswagen Polo R WRC and first win for Volkswagenin the WRC since 1987. Meanwhile Sébastien Loeb finished second in the works Citroën DS3 WRC, Loeb was over 41 seconds behind Ogier at the end. Meanwhile, Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team leader Mads Østberg, finished in third place in the Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Østberg was 84 seconds behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won by Yazeed Al-Rajhi in his Yazeed Racing backed Ford Fiesta RRC. Yazeed Al-Rajhi finished in tenth place overall, he was only 16 and half minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Highlights of the rally bellow, enjoy.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Friday 8 February 2013
Viper back at Le Mans this season
Last season, the (I don't care they don't like it, but it's always called Dodge Viper in my opion)Viper returns back into endurance racing with the all new Viper, with a little help from Riley Technologies to develop and race the new SRT Viper GTS-R with a two car effot in ALMS from the end of last season. This season they will still continue racing the Viper in ALMS, also its has been announce that the Viper GTS-R will be back in Le Mans 24 hours. Which means they will face compertition in LMGTE Pro class against the likes of Ferrari 458 Italia GT2's, Aston Martin Vantage GTE's, Porsche 991 RSR and old rivals Corvette with the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R.
The last time any Vipers' was in the famous Le Mans 24 hour race, was back in the late 90's and early 2000s when Viper won GTS class at Le Mans 24 hour races three times in a row in 1998, 99 and 2000.
Personally, no surprise of the news that the Viper GTS-R is returning to Le Mans this year to do the 24 Hours race. But the question when it comes to mid June, could Viper wins its class? time will tell with that answer. Anyway great to see the Viper back at Le Mans.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
The last time any Vipers' was in the famous Le Mans 24 hour race, was back in the late 90's and early 2000s when Viper won GTS class at Le Mans 24 hour races three times in a row in 1998, 99 and 2000.
Personally, no surprise of the news that the Viper GTS-R is returning to Le Mans this year to do the 24 Hours race. But the question when it comes to mid June, could Viper wins its class? time will tell with that answer. Anyway great to see the Viper back at Le Mans.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Thursday 7 February 2013
Confirmed: Luiz Razia driving for Marussia this season, Giedo van der Garde driving for Caterham this season and rumours at Force India too
Yesterday, Marussia has announced that 2012 GP2 runner up Luiz Razia will line up alongside Max Chilton on the 2013 grid in the Murussia F1 team. Razia replaces Timo Glock who should have been their lead driver for this season, until his contract was cancelled two weeks ago. It will mean that the team will be fielding two rookies, with no Grand Prix starts between them.
Like I said a few weeks back, I would have gone for race experience driver at Marussia rather than Razia to be honest. But, the Brazilian GP2 race winner had been strongly rumoured as the team’s second driver for a few weeks though, so good luck to Luiz Razia driving at Marussia this season.
Meanwhile last week, it was confirmed that Caterham has choose Giedo van der Garde as their second driver, which means he will be team-mates to Charles Pic's this season. Which ends the hopes of the former Caterham drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov getting a 2013 drive in Formula 1.
It was over a month a go that was more than curtain that Heikki Kovalainen has not offered a new contract at Caterham this season. While, Vitaly Petrov could have got the remaining seat at Caterham, more than likely he has lost sponsorship from Russia, which possibly cost him a drive in Formula 1 this season. But personally, this possibly be a good thing for both drivers, they could try different series such as DTM, FIA WEC and have an opportunity to win races in those series or even be a test driver in one of the top teams (recently confirmed a few weeks back Pedro de la Rosa is a Ferrari test driver for the team).
And as for Giedo van der Garde, same as Luiz Razia in the perous paragraphs, good luck to his new challenge at Caterham this season.
Which means it leaves only one seat on the Formula 1 grid for this season at Force India, where the identity of Paul di Resta’s team mate is due to be announced within two weeks time. Jules Bianchi and Adrian Sutil remain the front runners for the drive, with the possibly that Jules Bianchi will bring in V6 Ferrari Turbo engines for 2014 at a discount price to the team if he stay at the team for the next two seasons rather than Adrian Sutil who will possibly bring in sponsorship from Germany. But, personally if I was team boss at Force India I would go with former Sauber F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi, due to mainly his race experience and talent, also his six million pound sponsorship which has been rumoured with.
But, time will tell who's on the grid for 2013 in a few weeks time in Melbourne for the first race of the season.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Like I said a few weeks back, I would have gone for race experience driver at Marussia rather than Razia to be honest. But, the Brazilian GP2 race winner had been strongly rumoured as the team’s second driver for a few weeks though, so good luck to Luiz Razia driving at Marussia this season.
Meanwhile last week, it was confirmed that Caterham has choose Giedo van der Garde as their second driver, which means he will be team-mates to Charles Pic's this season. Which ends the hopes of the former Caterham drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov getting a 2013 drive in Formula 1.
It was over a month a go that was more than curtain that Heikki Kovalainen has not offered a new contract at Caterham this season. While, Vitaly Petrov could have got the remaining seat at Caterham, more than likely he has lost sponsorship from Russia, which possibly cost him a drive in Formula 1 this season. But personally, this possibly be a good thing for both drivers, they could try different series such as DTM, FIA WEC and have an opportunity to win races in those series or even be a test driver in one of the top teams (recently confirmed a few weeks back Pedro de la Rosa is a Ferrari test driver for the team).
And as for Giedo van der Garde, same as Luiz Razia in the perous paragraphs, good luck to his new challenge at Caterham this season.
Which means it leaves only one seat on the Formula 1 grid for this season at Force India, where the identity of Paul di Resta’s team mate is due to be announced within two weeks time. Jules Bianchi and Adrian Sutil remain the front runners for the drive, with the possibly that Jules Bianchi will bring in V6 Ferrari Turbo engines for 2014 at a discount price to the team if he stay at the team for the next two seasons rather than Adrian Sutil who will possibly bring in sponsorship from Germany. But, personally if I was team boss at Force India I would go with former Sauber F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi, due to mainly his race experience and talent, also his six million pound sponsorship which has been rumoured with.
But, time will tell who's on the grid for 2013 in a few weeks time in Melbourne for the first race of the season.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Tuesday 5 February 2013
Bruno Senna out of F1, in with Aston Martin's GTE program for Le Mans and WEC this season
Former Williams and Renault Formula 1 driver Bruno Senna will race for Aston Martin in this year's World Endurance Championship. The former GP2 series runner up will race one of the Aston Martin Vantage V8 GTEs in the GTE Pro class with the full championship in the FIA World Endurance Championship, which including the Le Mans 24 Hours in mid June. This will be the first time Senna contested the Le Mans 24 hour race with ORECA back in 2009.
This deal rules Bruno Senna out of contention for the remaining seats on the F1 grid. Which, he had recently been linked to a Force India drive.
Senna will share the Gulf-liveried Vantage V8 with fellow Aston Martin Racing newcomer Frederic Makowiecki in all of the rounds in this seasons FIA World Endurance Championship, while Rob Bell will join them as the third driver for Le Mans and the Spa 6 Hours. Also, Bruno Senna will race the Aston for the first time at next month's Sebring 12 Hours alongside team regulars Darren Turner and Stefan Mücke.
What I seen in the forums that Bruno Senna was never really a fast Formula 1, if he had got the drive at Force India would have been a totally bad decision. Personally, I disagree with all this. Bruno Senna was a fast enough driver to be in Formula 1 as it is, would have been a reliable option for Force India if he was signed. But, I doubt he would have been a fast enough driver for a top four team in my opinion. Anyway, good luck to Bruno Senna at his new challenge at Aston Martin this season. And hopes he win a few class wins with the Vantage V8 this season.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
This deal rules Bruno Senna out of contention for the remaining seats on the F1 grid. Which, he had recently been linked to a Force India drive.
Senna will share the Gulf-liveried Vantage V8 with fellow Aston Martin Racing newcomer Frederic Makowiecki in all of the rounds in this seasons FIA World Endurance Championship, while Rob Bell will join them as the third driver for Le Mans and the Spa 6 Hours. Also, Bruno Senna will race the Aston for the first time at next month's Sebring 12 Hours alongside team regulars Darren Turner and Stefan Mücke.
What I seen in the forums that Bruno Senna was never really a fast Formula 1, if he had got the drive at Force India would have been a totally bad decision. Personally, I disagree with all this. Bruno Senna was a fast enough driver to be in Formula 1 as it is, would have been a reliable option for Force India if he was signed. But, I doubt he would have been a fast enough driver for a top four team in my opinion. Anyway, good luck to Bruno Senna at his new challenge at Aston Martin this season. And hopes he win a few class wins with the Vantage V8 this season.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Monday 4 February 2013
Top six Peugeot rally cars
Later this season, Peugeot will bring out the Peugeot 208 R5 for Group R rules and the car will enter all new WRC 2 championship and other rally championships that will use Group R rules. That means to say, Peugeot will be rallying in the WRC for the first time since 2006. So this post will be top six Peugeot rally cars starting with Number 6:
Number 6: Peugeot 306 Maxi
Story: Front wheel drive, 300 bhp, the Peugeot 306 Maxi usually seen on tarmac rallies. When on tarmac in the WRC, usually with some good results from the Peugeot 306 Maxi, two third places in 1997 with Gilles Panizzi and a second place in 1998 Tour de Corse in the hands of François Delecour beating the four wheel drive WRC cars.
Number 5: Peugeot 307 WRC
Story: Replaced the old Peugeot 206 WRC back in 2004. Peugeot 307 WRC only did three seasons in the WRC. Peugeot 307 WRC only won three WRC wins, all of them with Marcus Grönholm.
Number 4: Peugeot 207 S2000
Story: Produced for S2000 rules, the Peugeot 207 S2000 took 23 IRC wins, and took Peugeot to three IRC Drivers' titles with Enrique García Ojeda winning the 2007 IRC Drivers' Championship, Nicolas Vouilloz the 2008 IRC Drivers Championship and Kris Meeke the 2009 IRC Drivers Championship. Also, took Peugeot the 2009 Manufactures championship as-well.
Number 3: Peugeot 405 Turbo 16 GR
Story: The evolution of the Group B favourite the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16. In 1988, Ari Vatanen set a new record in the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb with the Peugeot 405 Turbo 16 GR. Also, two more Paris Dakar rallies wins with Ari Vatanen in 1989 and 1990.
Number 2: Peugeot 206 WRC
Story: Debut back in 1999. Took 24 WRC wins in five seasons altogether in the WRC in the hands of Marcus Grönholm, Gilles Panizzi, Harri Rovanperä and Didier Auriol. The Peugeot 206 WRC did took Peugeot to three WRC Manufacture titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. And Marcus Grönholm took two WRC Drivers' titles in 2000 and 2002.
Number 1: Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
Story: The Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 is possibly the best rally car Peugeot has ever created. Produced for Group B rules, the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 produces 197 bhp in street form. But, in Group B rally form the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 produces over 450 bhp with a mid-engine Peugeot 1.8 litre in-line 4-cylinder turbo. Took 16 WRC wins, two WRC Manufacture titles in 1985 and 1986. And two WRC Drivers' titles with Timo Salonen in 1985 and Juha Kankkunen in 1986. After that Group B was cancelled at the end of 1986. And after that was finished, Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 won two Paris Dakar Rallies with Ari Vatanen in 1987 and Juha Kankkunen in 1988.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Number 6: Peugeot 306 Maxi
Story: Front wheel drive, 300 bhp, the Peugeot 306 Maxi usually seen on tarmac rallies. When on tarmac in the WRC, usually with some good results from the Peugeot 306 Maxi, two third places in 1997 with Gilles Panizzi and a second place in 1998 Tour de Corse in the hands of François Delecour beating the four wheel drive WRC cars.
Number 5: Peugeot 307 WRC
Story: Replaced the old Peugeot 206 WRC back in 2004. Peugeot 307 WRC only did three seasons in the WRC. Peugeot 307 WRC only won three WRC wins, all of them with Marcus Grönholm.
Number 4: Peugeot 207 S2000
Story: Produced for S2000 rules, the Peugeot 207 S2000 took 23 IRC wins, and took Peugeot to three IRC Drivers' titles with Enrique García Ojeda winning the 2007 IRC Drivers' Championship, Nicolas Vouilloz the 2008 IRC Drivers Championship and Kris Meeke the 2009 IRC Drivers Championship. Also, took Peugeot the 2009 Manufactures championship as-well.
Number 3: Peugeot 405 Turbo 16 GR
Story: The evolution of the Group B favourite the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16. In 1988, Ari Vatanen set a new record in the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb with the Peugeot 405 Turbo 16 GR. Also, two more Paris Dakar rallies wins with Ari Vatanen in 1989 and 1990.
Number 2: Peugeot 206 WRC
Story: Debut back in 1999. Took 24 WRC wins in five seasons altogether in the WRC in the hands of Marcus Grönholm, Gilles Panizzi, Harri Rovanperä and Didier Auriol. The Peugeot 206 WRC did took Peugeot to three WRC Manufacture titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. And Marcus Grönholm took two WRC Drivers' titles in 2000 and 2002.
Number 1: Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
Story: The Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 is possibly the best rally car Peugeot has ever created. Produced for Group B rules, the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 produces 197 bhp in street form. But, in Group B rally form the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 produces over 450 bhp with a mid-engine Peugeot 1.8 litre in-line 4-cylinder turbo. Took 16 WRC wins, two WRC Manufacture titles in 1985 and 1986. And two WRC Drivers' titles with Timo Salonen in 1985 and Juha Kankkunen in 1986. After that Group B was cancelled at the end of 1986. And after that was finished, Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 won two Paris Dakar Rallies with Ari Vatanen in 1987 and Juha Kankkunen in 1988.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
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