As predicted from the pervious post I've posted, has been announced this morning that Williams F1 Team has signed a long-term engine partnership with with Mercedes to supply the team their new 1.6 litre V6 turbo engines from the start of the 2014 F1 season. However, Williams will design and manufacture its own transmission.
In my opinion, this is no major surprise that the news has happen today. As this has been rumoured for the past week that Williams will be swapping over from Renault to Mercedes-Benz from the 2014 onwards.
This is a very good deal for Williams, as I believe the long-term deal with Mercedes is good as they haven't had a long-term engine deal with any Manufacture since the BMW days. This is a good deal for Williams for a few seasons to come.
It has been confirmed this week that Toro Rosso will be powered by Renault engines from the 2014 Formula 1 season onwards, both parties announced at a press conference hours before last weekends Monaco Grand Prix. Toro Rosso is supplied by Ferrari this season, but will switch to the French manufacturer for the start of the new turbocharged V6 era. This means both Red Bull and Toro Rosso teams will be using the same Renault turbo engines for 2014 onwards.
In my opinion, this is no major surprise that the news has happen. As this has been rumoured for a few months now that Toro Rosso will be swapping over to Renault from the 2014 onwards.
This week won't be the last of the engine deals, as rumours strongly suggest that Marussia is said to be close to a deal with Ferrari engines for the 2014 season onwards swapping from Cosworth engines. While, strong rumours also suggest that Williams may swap over from Renault engines to Mercedes turbo engines for 2014 onwards. As Mercedes turbo engines are suppose to be much cheaper than the turbo Renault engines as rumours suggests around €7million cheaper they're offering for 2014, so don't be surprise if this deal does happen before the British Grand Prix.
Round six of the F1 season, a quick review of the Monaco Grand Prix, and thoughts on the race itself.
Good points
Mercedes (Nico Rosberg pole, lights to win finish; Lewis Hamilton finished 4th)
Red Bull (Sebastian Vettel finished 2nd and fastest lap; Mark Webber finished 3rd)
Force India (Adrian Sutil, finished 5th; Paul di Resta, finished 9th)
Jenson Button (finished 6th)
Jean-Éric Vergne (finished 8th)
Max Chilton (finished 14th, ahead of Giedo van der Garde)
Bad points
Lotus F1 Team (Kimi Räikkönen finished 10th, collision with Sergio Pérez, which caused him to change tyres at the end of the race; Romain Grosjean DNF, suspension, collision with Daniel Ricciardo)
Sergio Pérez (DNF, suspension, collision damage with Kimi Räikkönen at the end of the race)
Filipe Massa (DNF, accident)
Daniel Ricciardo (DNF, collision with Romain Grosjean)
Jules Bianchi (DNF, Brakes)
Pastor Maldonado (DNF, collision with Max Chilton, which caused him crashed him into the barriers, which caused a red flag during the race)
Charles Pic (DNF, Engine)
The race itself was a very good race to watch, despite the red flag for Pastor Maldonado crash into the barriers in the middle of the race. But, all in all a great race win for Nico Rosberg at the Monaco Grand Prix, pole to win to take his second race win of his career in his Mercedes. Making Nico Rosberg the first ever father and son race winners (Keke Rosberg won at Monaco in 1983 with Williams) at the Monaco Grand Prix. Also, the first Grand Prix win for Mercedes as a manufacture at the Principality as-well.
Meanwhile, both Red Bull drivers of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber finished second and third place to complete the podium positions for this years' Monaco Grand Prix.
Next stop Montreal in two weeks time for the Canadian Grand Prix.
The 2013 Indy 500 Post Review and highlights of the race. This years Indianapolis 500 winner is none other than fans favourite Tony Kanaan. The KV Racing Technology driver took the lead for the final time when he passed Ryan Hunter-Reay on a restart with three laps left to run.
The KV Racing Technology driver took the lead for the final time when he passed Ryan Hunter-Reay on a restart with three laps left to run. Ryan Hunter-Reay could not reply back when former Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti crashed and immediately brought the yellows back out. The final laps were completed under caution to give Tony Kanaan his first ever Indianapolis 500 win.
Meanwhile second, third and forth place was Andretti Autosport team-mates Carlos Munoz, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Mario Andretti.
And Just like last year with 34 different lead changes, which was all-time record for the Indianapolis 500. This year the record was beaten with 68 lead changes in the 500. Highlights of the Indy 500 below via Youtube from ESPN. Enjoy.
Last weekend’s Nürburgring 24 Hours was won by Black Falcon racing team in their Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 race car, giving Mercedes-Benz their first ever Nurburgirng 24 hours race win overall. The team of Bernd Schneider, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Sean Edwards and Nicki Thiim took the overall victory, winning the 24 hour race by over two and a half mintues ahead of second place.
With the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend. It has been 20 years today of Ayrton Senna winning his last of his Monaco Grand Prix wins' in his McLaren MP4/8. So basically, this post is just Ayrton Senna's six grand prix wins at the Principality, all of them with either video highlights of the race or the last few laps of each race below. So enjoy the footage from each year. And so starting of with 1987...
This weekend is the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix on the streets of Monte Carlo. So predictions for the race itself, Fernando Alonso for the win in his Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen second in his Lotus and Nico Rosberg third in the Mercedes. Don't forget Red Bull drivers, McLaren drivers, Force India drivers, Filipe Massa, Romain Grosjean, and Lewis Hamilton either for a podium place.
This weekends is the famous Indianapolis 500. Last Saturday was Pole Day was for this weekends Indianapolis 500. And the big surprise was Ed Carpenter Racing owner/driver Ed Carpenter will start on pole. While, Andretti Autosport team-mates Carlos Munoz (another big surprise in qualifying too) and Mario Andretti will start on the front row for the race to make a Chevrolet 1-2-3 front row for qualifying. Also Chevrolet made it ten Chevy engine backed drivers inside the top ten (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10) for qualifying for this weekends race as-well. YouTube video below from Indycar Series own channel from the top three from qualifying.
So predictions for the Indianapolis 500 this weekend, for the win another I am going to pick a surprise, and it would be none other than AJ Allmendinger in his Penske. Second place for for EJ Viso in his Andretti, and third place for Ryan Hunter-Reay in his Andretti.
Review of the round four of the 2013 MotoGP season at Le Mans Bugatti track in Le Mans, in central France.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Repsol Honda Team rider Dani Pedorsa, in his works Honda RC213V, and won the race in wet conditions. Second place was Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Cal Crutchlow on his satellite spec Yamaha YZR-M1, Crutchlow was under 5 seconds behind Pedorsa at the end. While, third place was Pedrosa's team-mate and 2012 Moto2 Champion Marc Márquez in his works Honda RC213V, he was nearly 7 seconds behind Pedorsa at the end.
In CRT class (Claiming Rule Teams, street bike engines rather than non prototype engines), the Power Electronics Aspar rider Aleix Espargaró won CRT class and finished 13th overall in his ART (Aprilia), he was over 84 seconds behind Pedorsa at the end.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-four 600 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Marc VDS Racing Team rider Scott Redding on the Kalex, to give his first ever Moto2 race win. Second was the other Marc VDS Racing Team rider Mika Kallio on the Kalex, he was over a second behind team-mate Redding at the end. While, third was Desguaces La Torre Maptaq rider Xavier Siméon on the Kalex, he was also over a second behind Redding at the end of the race.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Team Calvo rider Maverick Viñales on the KTM. Second was Estrella Galicia rider Álex Rins on the KTM, he was over a second behind Viñales at the end of the race. While, third was was Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Luis Salom on the KTM, he was also over a second behind Viñales at the end of the race.
Honda has confirmed this morning (Thursday 16th May) that it will return to Formula 1 in 2015 as engine supplier to McLaren. First time Honda are back in F1 since 2008 after the Japanese company had its own team between 2006 and 2008, but during that time, it managed just one win in that period.
It has been strongly rumoured that Honda has been known to have been in talks with McLaren for a few months to returned to Formula 1 with McLaren and has already made progress with its all-new 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 Formula 1 engine, working out of its R&D facility in Tochigi, Japan.
Also, Honda will also supply to a second team on their return to the sport and the rumours are that Sauber is top of Honda's list.
Honda previously supplied McLaren with engines from 1988-1992, winning both the drivers' and constructors' championship four times in a row. Which includes, three drivers titles for Ayrton Senna and one drivers title for Alain Prost.
Personally I think this is good news for Honda, for McLaren, and for Formula 1. For start good news for Honda, with an all-new 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engine which the rules will be more efficient than pervious V8's, a 30% increase in fuel efficiency, which means more greener to the environment, and which means more engine manufactures' coming into Formula 1 (even rumours of a return of Toyota as an engine manufacture with Williams in 2015?). Good for McLaren, as it there will be a fully works team once again, as the team hasn't been a full works team since 2009 after Mercedes bought Brawn GP. And finally it's good for Formula 1 overall, as a new manufacture comes into (or returns to) Formula 1, as it would be four engine manufactures for 2015 (the others ar Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault).
As I hope Mclaren and Honda succeed well in 2015, as we could see once again history repeating itself like it was 1988? When McLaren and Honda won their first Drivers' and Constructors' titles together in their first season together, winning with a curtain Brazilian called Ayrton Senna.
McLaren Honda two names back together for 2015 and onwards.
Round five of the F1 season, and a quick review of the Spanish Grand Prix, thoughts on the race itself.
Good points
Ferrari (Fernando Alonso, race win on his home grand prix; Filipe Massa finished 3rd, first podium of the season)
Kimi Räikkönen (finished 2nd)
Paul di Resta (finished 7th)
Daniel Ricciardo (finished 10th)
Charles Pic (finished 17th, ahead of Marussia drivers)
Bad points
Lewis Hamilton (finished 12th, started from second, tyre problems throughout the race)
Adrian Sutil (finished 13th, brake problems in the pit-lane which cost him posts in the early part of the race)
Nico Hülkenberg (finisehd 15th, after collision with Vergne in the pit-lane, which caused him to have a 10 second stop go penalty)
Jean-Éric Vergne (DNF, Puncture Damage after collision with Hülkenberg in the pit-lane,)
Giedo van der Garde (DNF, Wheel)
Romain Grosjean (DNF, Suspension)
The race itself was a very good race to watch. A great race win for Fernando Alonso at his home Grand Prix to win to take his second race win of the season, and his 32nd race win. Making Alonso the forth highest in the all time race wins, beating Nigel Mansell's 31 wins. He is now only behind Micheal Schumacher (91 wins record), Alain Prost (51 wins) and Ayrton Senna (41 wins) in the winners list.
While Kimi Räikkönen once again finishing in second place in his Lotus, while Filipe Massa finished in third place to give his first podium finish of the season.
As the title says BT Sport has secured exclusive rights to broadcast MotoGP races, along with feeder categories Moto2 and Moto 3, from the 2014 season onwards. The initial five-year deal signals the end of the championship's association with the BBC and Eurosport.
Running through to at least the 2018 campaign, all practice sessions, qualifying sessions and races will be shown live by BT. Which means to say there is no MotoGP on terrestrial Television starting from next season onwards.
So here's my rant, for starters I am not going to rant on BBC and Eurosport on this post, because it was the end of their contracts at the end of 2013 for both companies, as it's not in their control.
But, I am going to rant on Dorna Sports, the promoters of MotoGP giving the deal to BT in the first place, it will be free of charge to broadband customers but for the rest of us it will be an extra £15 per month for their channels. No terrestrial deal in place, I think this is a complete bad deal for the viewers who cannot afford BT Sport, I doubt that viewing figures will be even a 1/20th of a fraction of what the BBC or Eurosport has combined for the last few years. I believe that Dorna/MotoGP have alienated your audience for the next five years giving the live and exclusive rights to BT, take the cash and don't really think about making motorcycling racing easily accessible to the general public. If I was Dorna I would get some sort of terrestrial deal to the BBC (similar deal the BBC got with F1), if you haven't burned your bridges with the Beeb yet that is.
Final thoughts are this, BT sport is a luxury product just as the same as Sky, who owns the F1 rights, is a luxury product (paying £50 per month for their Sky sports package) paying £65 per month for those two products don't make sense in a rescission world we live in. And to the likes of Jake Humphrey, and Cal Crutchlow on twitter this afternoon saying it's still Free, Free to whom, who is not a broadband customers of BT perhaps. A bad day for any Motorcycling fan. End of Rant.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix Predictions at Circuit de Catalunya, on the outskirts of Barcelona. I predict that Kimi Räikkönen for the win in his Lotus, Fernando Alonso second in the Ferrari and third place for Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull. Don't forget Mark Webber, Romain Grosjean, the two McLaren drivers, two Mercedes drivers, or the two Force India drivers either for a podium as-well.
Review of the round three of the 2013 MotoGP season at Jerez, in southern Spain.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Repsol Honda Team rider Dani Pedorsa, in his works works Honda RC213V. Second was his team-mate and 2012 Moto2 Champion Marc Márquez in his works Honda RC213V, he got second place on the last lap, on the final corner ahead of current MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo. Márquez was over 2 and a half seconds behind Pedorsa at the end, to give Honda another one-two race finish. While, third was Yamaha Factory Racing rider and current MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo in his works Yamaha YZR-M1, he was over 5 seconds behind Pedorsa at the end.
In CRT class (Claiming Rule Teams,street bike engines rather than non prototype engines), the Power Electronics Aspar rider Aleix Espargaró won CRT class and finished 9th overall in his ART (Aprilia), he was under 44 seconds behind Pedorsa at the end.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-four 600 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Tuenti HP 40 rider Esteve Rabat on the Kalex. Second was Marc VDS Racing Team rider of Scott Redding on the Kalex, he was over 4 seconds behind Rabat at the end. While, third was the second Tuenti HP 40 rider Pol Espargaró on the Kalex, he was over 7 seconds behind team-mate Rabat at the end of the race.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Team Calvo rider Maverick Viñales on the KTM. Second was Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Luis Salom on the KTM, he was over 2 tenths of a second behind Viñales at the end of the race. While, third was Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3 rider Jonas Folger on the Kalex-KTM, he was 4 and a half seconds behind Viñales at the end of the race.
Review of Round two of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship at Spa-Francorchamps. Audi Sport Team Joest team won the race overall and WEC LMP1 class too of André Lotterer, Marcel Fässler and Benoît Tréluyerto in their Audi R18 e-tron quattro. While, the second Audi of Allan McNish, Loïc Duval and Tom Kristensen took second place in their Audi R18 e-tron quattro. Meanwhile, third place was the third Audi of Marc Gené, Oliver Jarvis and Lucas di Grassi in their long wheel spec Audi R18 e-tron quattro to make an Audi R18 one-two-three in the six hour race.
In LMP2 class, the PeCom Racing team of Luís Pérez Companc, Pierre Kaffer and Nicolas Minassian in their Oreca 03 with a Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 engine won in LMP2 class and 8th overall. While in GTE Pro class, was won by AF Corse team of Gianmaria Bruni and Giancarlo Fisichella won in their Ferrari 458 Italia GT2, finished 15th overall as-well. While in GTE Am class, was won by 8 Star Motorsports team of Enzo Potolicchio, Rui Águas and Matteo Malucelli in their Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 and finished 21st overall.
Highlights of the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps below, enjoy.
Next Stop 24 Hours of Le Mans in mid June for round three of the FIA World Endurance Championship. End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Last weekend was round five of the World Rally Championship at the Rally Argentina (1st-4th May) was won by current WRC champion Sébastien Loeb in the works Citroën DS3 WRC, to win the rally overall. While, WRC championship leader Sébastien Ogier finished in second place in the works Volkswagen Polo R WRC. Ogier was under a minute behind Loeb at the end. Meanwhile, Jari-Matti Latvala, finished in third place in the other works Volkswagen Polo R WRC. Latvala was two minutes behind Loeb 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 Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari in his Seashore Qatar Rally Team backed Ford Fiesta RRC. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari finished in thirteenth place overall, he was only 32 and half minutes behind Loeb at the end of the rally.
With the strong possibility that it is Cosworth last season in Formula 1. As it is more than curtin that they are not producing a Cosworth 1.6 litre V6 turbo for the new rules in 2014. This post will be Top six Cosworth F1 race cars that have been in Formula 1.
Starting with Number 6:
Number 6: 1994 Benetton B194 Story: Benetton B194 was designed by Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn. Instead of the famous Cosworth DFV 3 litre V8 underneath, the Benetton B194 had the 3.5 litre Ford Zetec-RV8 engine (produced by Cosworth but badged as a Ford). The Benetton B194 won eight grand prix wins, eight wins for Michael Schumacher and took Michael Schumacher to the 1994 F1 World Drivers' Championship and Michael Schumacher first of seven F1 World Drivers' Championships. Also, it took Benetton to second in the F1 constructors standings.
Number 5: 1978-79 Lotus 79 Story: The Lotus 79 was the first F1 car to take full advantage of ground effects aerodynamics, pioneered in its immediate predecessor, the Lotus 78 which started the ground effect movement. Had the famous Cosworth DFV 3 litre V8 underneath the Lotus 79. The Lotus 79 took six grand prix wins, It took a race win for Ronnie Peterson and five wins for Mario Andretti. To give Mario Andretti the 1978 F1 drivers championship and the F1 constructors championship for Team Lotus, Colin Chapman's and Team Lotus's last divers and constructors championships.
Number 4: 1979-82 Williams FW07 Story: Williams FW07 was designed by Patrick Head and Neil Oatley, the Williams FW07 had the 3 litre Cosworth DFV engine to give Williams two F1 Constructors titles in 1980 and 1981. Also took Alan Jones to the 1980 F1 World Drivers' Championship which is Williams team's first divers and constructors championships as a team. Williams FW07 took 15 race wins overall, eleven wins for Alan Jones, a race win for Clay Regazzoni, and three race wins for Carlos Reutemann in those three and a bit seasons in Formula 1.
Number 3: 1973-77 McLaren M23 Story: The McLaren M23 took McLaren to their first Drivers' and Constructors' tiles in Formula 1. Designed by Gordon Coppuck, with input from John Barnard, the McLaren M23 had the 3 litre Cosworth DFV engine to give McLaren the F1 Constructors championship in 1974. Also, Emerson Fittipaldi to his second F1 drivers title in 1974. While, McLaren M23 took James Hunt to his 1976 Drivers championship as-well. McLaren M23 took 16 race wins overall, two for Denny Hulme, two for Peter Revson, one for Jochen Mass, five for Emerson Fittipaldi and six for James Hunt in those four and half years in Formula 1.
Number 2: 1970-75 Lotus 72 Story: The Lotus 72 was yet another innovative design by Colin Chapman featuring inboard brakes, side mounted radiators in sidepods, as opposed to the nose mounted radiators which had been commonplace since the 1950s and an overhead air intake. The Cosworth DFV 3 litre V8 underneath the Lotus 72. Which took the Lotus 72 to 20 wins, four for wins Jochen Rindt, seven wins for Ronnie Peterson and nine wins for Emerson Fittipaldi. Which also, gives Jochen Rindt the 1970 F1 drivers title, Emerson Fittipaldi the 1972 F1 drivers title and Team Lotus the 1970, 1972 and 1973 F1 constructors titles. The Lotus 72 continue winning races until 1974 and kept on racing till 1975.
Number 1: 1967-70 Lotus 49 Story: The Lotus 49 was the first F1 car to be powered by the now-famous Cosworth DFV 3 litre V8 engine after Chapman convinced Ford to build an F1 powerplant with the help from Cosworth. The Lotus 49 was designed around the Cosworth DFV engine and was the first successful Formula One car to feature the engine as a structural member of the chassis. Jim Clark won on the car's debut in 1967, and it would also provide him with the last win of his career in 1968. Graham Hill went on to win the 1968 F1 drivers title and the constructors championship as-well for Team Lotus that year. The Lotus 49 continued winning races until 1970 were it took 12 wins in that period, five wins for Jim Clark, four wins for Graham Hill, a race win for Jo Siffert, and two wins for Jochen Rindt. To give the best F1 Cosworth powered race car in this list.
Its has been 19 years today, that Ayrton Senna has past away from us (read previous post). So we've got to celebrate Senna life, never forget Ayrton's achievements in Formula 1.
Two years back, I did a post on one of Senna best race's at Monaco in 1984, were he finished second place in an under-powered Toleman. Last year, I wrote about his race win at Phoenix in USA back in 1990 in his McLaren. This year another Great Ayrton Senna race win from the 1986 season, round two at Jerez in Spain, were Senna in his Lotus Renault 98T (the most powerful Lotus ever) won the race ahead of Nigel Mansell's Williams by just 0.010 of a second! (Below, video of the race) Possibly some of Senna's best defence driving to keep hold of that win at the end of the race.
