With recent news that Formula One car designer Gérard Ducarouge (23 October 1941 – 19 February 2015) who passed away on last Thursday after a long battle against illness. Ducarouge worked for a number of teams in his 27 year period in Formula 1, includes Matra, Ligier, Alfa Romeo, Team Lotus, Larrousse and Ligier once again. Winning many races and winning a drivers' and constructors' title in his time in F1.
R.I.P. Gérard Ducarouge (23 October 1941 – 19 February 2015).
So this post is the Gérard Ducarouge race cars (does include other race car that did race outside of Formula 1), starting with Number 6:
Number 6: 1981 Ligier JS17
Story: Ligier JS17 was designed by Gérard Ducarouge and Michel Beaujon. The Ligier JS17 had the Matra 3 litre V12 engine underneath. The Ligier JS17 took Ligier to fourth in the Constructors standings in 1981, almost took Jacques Laffite to the 1981 Drivers' title and took two wins for Jacques Laffite at the Österreichring and Montreal.
Number 5: 1986 Lotus 98T
Story: Lotus 98T was designed by Gérard Ducarouge and Martin Ogilvie. The Lotus 98T had the Renault 1.5 litre V6 turbo engine underneath, which produce over 1200bhp in qualifying and around 800bhp in race pace. The Lotus 98T was dubbed as the fastest Lotus ever! The Lotus 98T took Lotus to third in the Constructors standings in 1986 and took two wins for Ayrton Senna at Jerez and Detroit.
Number 4: 1987 Lotus 99T
Story: Lotus 99T was designed by Gérard Ducarouge and Martin Ogilvie, and was the first Formula 1 and Lotus chassis to be fitted with electronic active suspension. Also, the Lotus 99T had the Honda 1.5 litre V6 turbo engine underneath, which produce over 1000bhp in qualifying and around 790bhp in race pace. The Lotus 99T took Lotus to third in the Constructors standings in 1987 and took two wins for Ayrton Senna at Monaco, Detroit and the final Grand Prix win for Team Lotus.
Number 3: 1979-80 Ligier JS11
Story: The Ligier JS11 was designed by Gérard Ducarouge, Michel Beaujon and Robert Choulet; and was the first ground effect F1 car for the Ligier Team, the Ligier JS11 was powered by the 3 litre V8 Cosworth DFV engine. Overall the Ligier JS11 took five Grand Prix wins between 1979 and 1980, three for Jacques Laffite and one each for Patrick Depailler and Didier Pironi. While the Ligier JS11 took Ligier to third in the Constructors standings in 1979, and second in the the Constructors standings in 1980 the highest for Ligier as a team ever achieved.
Number 2: 1972-74 Matra MS670
Story: Matra MS670 was designed by Gérard Ducarouge and Robert Choulet, the Matra MS670 uses a Matra 3 litre V12 engine and produces over 450bhp. Matra MS670 took three Le Mans victories in a row in 1972, 1973 and 1974. In 1972, Henri Pescarolo and Graham Hill took a Malta one-two in the race. While in 1973 and 1974, Henri Pescarolo and Gérard Larrousse took back to back victories in the Matra MS670B and Matra MS670C. While the Matra MS670 took two World Championship for Makes titles to Matra in 1973 and 1974.
Number 1: 1969 Matra MS80
Story: The Matra MS80 was designed by Gérard Ducarouge and Bernard Boyer, the Matra MS80 was powered by the 3 litre V8 Cosworth DFV engine. Which, took the Matra MS80 to five wins in 1969, all five wins for Jackie Stewart. Which took, Jackie Stewart to the 1969 F1 Drivers' Title, his first of three titles, and Matra to its only Constructors' Championships in 1969.
No word who will partner Will Stevens at Manor this season yet, I will guess that news will follow soon. But this is a great opportunity ahead for Will Stevens for this season.
Meanwhile, Manor F1 Team, also announced that it expects to be ready to compete in the Australian Grand Prix just under two weeks time.
Although Manor could get dispensation to miss the opening rounds of the season, a statement from the team said it currently intended to race in Melbourne in two weeks time. Said it will start the season with a modified 2014 car as an interim measure to suit 2015 rules.
Last week, Oreca revealed their all new-2015 LMP2 contender, which will debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series later this year called the Oreca 05.
The Oreca 05, is the successor to the Oreca 03 LMP2 car, and is based off from the Oreca designed Rebellion R-One LMP1 car.
KCMG Team will campaign the new Oreca 05 in the FIA WEC series, while Thiriet by TDS Racing Team will contest the Oreca 05 in the ELMS series, as-well as this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
Other additional customer teams are expected later in the year and next season, while both teams will be powered by the Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 engine underneath.
While the new Oreca 05 is expected to make its public on-track debut during the ELMS official pre-season test at Paul Ricard next month.
The Manor F1 Team has agreed a deal to use old Ferrari engines this year it was confirmed yesterday (20/02/15), as work continues on trying to get back on to the grid.
Following the news from Thursday, that Manor F1 Team is coming out of administration, the team's chiefs are continuing to put together deals that they need for a return. A key thing is to overcome was agreeing an engine deal, with Ferrari one of the main creditors left when Manor went into administration last year. However, at the Barcelona F1 test, Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene revealed that verbal agreement had been reached for the Maranello outfit to supply year-old engines in 2015.
Manor has been working to get a 2015-spec car ready in time for before the third round of the 2015 F1 season at the Chinese Grand Prix in mid-April, and thus claim the valuable prize money which it won last season for finishing ninth in the constructors' championship.
Manor F1 Team's hopes of returning to the Formula 1 grid have received another boost after their administrators agreed to bring the company out of administration it was confirmed yesterday (19/2/15).
The team, which ran under Marussia last season, went into administration last October after missing the final three races of the year. Manor's hopes of returning to the sport appeared to suffer a setback when Force India voted against a concession that would have allowed the team to run a modified 2014-spec car to start the season. But the sport's governing body the FIA said last week that it would keep the entry list open as long as possible to give the team, which has already paid its entry fee, the best chance of making it onto the grid.
Manor has been working to get a 2015-spec car ready in time for before the Chinese Grand Prix in mid-April, and thus claim the valuable prize money which it won last season for finishing ninth in the constructors' championship. News that the team has entered an arrangement called a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), which has involved restructuring its financial debt, means the team now has a platform to allow it to continue in Formula 1.
Lets hope Manor will be on the F1 grid in 2015 after getting out of administration.
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 (12th-15th February) that was won by current WRC champion Sébastien Ogier in the works Volkswagen Polo R WRC. While, Thierry Neuville finished second in the works Hyundai i20 WRC, Neuville was 6 seconds behind Ogier at the end. Meanwhile, Andreas Mikkelsen finished third in the other works Volkswagen Polo R WRC, Mikkelsen was 40 seconds behind Ogier at the end.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won by Drive DMACK driver Jari Ketomaa in his Ford Fiesta R5. Jari Ketomaa finished in fourteenth place overall, he was over 9 minutes minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
While in WRC-3 class (Group R1, R2 and R3 cars) that was won by Printsport driver Ole Christian Veiby in his Citroën DS3 R3T. Ole Christian Veiby finished in twenty-second place overall, he was over 20 minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
With Formula 1 first race of this season just over a months time. This post is the top six 2010's Formula 1 cars of all time, similar posts to the top six 1950's,1960's,1970's,1980's,1990's, and 2000s Formula 1 cars post from the last 18 months. So starting with number six:
Number 6: 2011 McLaren MP4-26
Story: The McLaren MP4-26 was designed by Paddy Lowe and Tim Goss. Underneath the McLaren MP4-26 was powered by the Mercedes 2.4 litre V8 engine. The McLaren MP4-26 took McLaren to second place in the 2011 F1 Constructors' standings. The McLaren MP4-26 won six races, three for Lewis Hamilton and three for Jenson Button as-well.
Number 5: 2012 Ferrari F2012
Story: The Ferrari F2012 was designed by Pat Fry and Nicholas Tombazis. Underneath the Ferrari F2012 was powered by the Ferrari 2.4 litre V8 engine. The Ferrari F2012 almost took Fernando Alonso to the 2012 F1 Drivers title but lost the title by 3 points, while the Ferrari F2012 took Ferrari to second place in the 2012 F1 Constructors' standings. The Ferrari F2012 won three races, all three for Fernando Alonso.
Number 4: 2010 McLaren MP4-25
Story: McLaren MP4-25 was designed by Paddy Lowe, Neil Oatley, Tim Goss and Doug McKiernan. Underneath the McLaren MP4-25 was powered by the Mercedes 2.4 litre V8 engine. The McLaren MP4-26 took McLaren to second place in the 2010 F1 Constructors' standings. The McLaren MP4-25 won five races, three for Lewis Hamilton and two for Jenson Button as-well.
Number 3: 2010 Red Bull RB6
Story: The Red Bull RB6 was designed by Adrian Newey, Rob Marshall and Peter Prodromou. The Red Bull RB6 was powered by the Renault 2.4 litre V8. The Red Bull RB6 took Red Bull the 2010 F1 Constructors' Championship and nine wins altogether in 2010 to give Red Bull their first Constructors' title, were Mark Webber took four wins that season. While, Sebastian Vettel took five wins and his first F1 Drivers' Championship title as-well.
Number 2: 2013 Red Bull RB9
Story: The Red Bull RB9 was designed by Adrian Newey, Rob Marshall and Peter Prodromou. The Red Bull RB9 was powered by the Renault 2.4 litre V8. The Red Bull RB9 took Sebastian Vettel to the 2013 F1 Drivers title, while it took Red Bull to the 2013 F1 Constructors' championship. And the Red Bull RB9 won thirteen races, all thirteen wins for Sebastian Vettel, which includes nine race wins in a row by the end off 2013.
Number 1: 2014 Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid
Story: Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid was designed by Aldo Costa. The Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid was powered by the all new Mercedes 1.6 litre turbo hybrid power-unit. The Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid won sixteen Grand Prix wins, which includes eleven one–two finishes, five wins for Nico Rosberg and thirteen wins for Lewis Hamilton, giving Lewis Hamilton his second F1 Drivers' title and Mercedes first Constructors' title as a constructor to win the Constructors' championship in 2014. The Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid is one of the most dominant race cars in the history of Formula One.
Next 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, Daniel Ricciardo was the guest for the F1 Star in a Reasonably Priced Car in the old Suzuki Liana.
Currently, Lewis Hamilton is the fastest around the Top Gear track in 1:42.9. Until Daniel Ricciardo appear and drove the old Suzuki Liana on a dry track, with a lap time of 1:42.2, which is seven tenths of a second faster than the current world champion. If lap times doesn't lie that means Ricciardo has been a fast drivers than Hamilton and Vettel, and that should be bright for the Red Bull driver.
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.
Caterham F1 Team look set to close down after failing to find a buyer before the start of the 2015 season on Thursday (5/2/15). It will be more than likely the first F1 team to close down since HRT in late-2012.
The team was handed over to administration in last October, as the team has debts of around £16 million, missed both United States and Brazil, while the team attend Abu Dhabi Grand Prix via a Crowdfunding scheme. Attempts were made to find a buyer to save Caterham but with no conclusion. Administrators Smith & Williamson have instructed auctioneers Wyles Hardy & Co to realise the assets of the Caterham Formula One team via a series of auctions in March, April and May.
Personally, I think this is sad news for Formula 1. Because you've got a team leaving F1 that means we're down to 18 (20) drivers, 9 (10) teams not a lot of opportunity for drivers and mechanics now with the grid reduced. Also, I believe most of the F1 fans do love the underdog teams, which includes myself with the teams like Minardi, Super Aguri and Manor. However, I believe that Engavest who was the consortium of Swiss and Middle Eastern investors bought the team from previous owner Tony Fernandes and Tony Fernandes himself are to blame for the demise and closure of Caterham.
Meanwhile, Manor's administrators announced that the former Marussia F1 Team will come out of administration on 19th February 2015 it was confirmed on Wednesday (4/2/15) and will plan to enter the 2015 Formula One season under the name Manor F1 Team with John Booth and Graeme Lowdon running the team with new investment. However, on Thursday (5/2/15), the team's request to compete in the 2015 season using 2014 chassis was declined by the other Formula One teams, mainly blocked by Force India. And with no time building a new car for the 2015 rules it maybe the end for Manor as-well.
This week, Nissan has unveiled their all new car LMP1 for this seasons FIA World Endurance Championship season, and it will race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans later this season, and their first LMP1 race car since 1998. Their 2015 race car will be the all new Nissan GT-R LM Nismo, which was revealed during the Super Bowl on Sunday (1/2/15). As the GT-R LM Nismo will have mould-breaking front-engined, front-wheel-drive design, the first time that LMP1 had a front engine race car since the Panoz LMP01 Evo back in 2003.
The new car will use Nissan built 3 litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine underneath (claimed to develop about 550bhp), and will use the highest sub-class of hybrid power, eight megajoules to be released over a lap of Le Mans (700 bhp), which gives overall power of the GT-R LM Nismo will have an incredible 1,250 bhp!.
The reason for the front-engined, front-wheel-drive design is according to Nissan the front-engined concept has allowed to move the weight bias forward in order to maximise traction which the 3.0 litre twin-turbo will go down, while the electric motors in the rear will power the rear tyres, which basically means the GT-R LM Nismo is actually a four-wheel-drive race car.
The GT-R LM NISMO will also race on Michelin tyres, 14 inch's wide at the front, and 9 inch's wide tyres at the rear; and according to Nissan 'This is due to the way that mass is distributed in the car'.
The GT-R LM Nismo will make its race debut at the 6 Hours of Silverstone at Silverstone of the FIA World Endurance Championship opener in over two months time.
The only driver that Nissan has been announced so far is Marc Gene, the former Minardi and Williams F1 driver who won at Le Mans with Peugeot back in 2009. He brings much needed experience and a level head for Nissan.
Its a brave decision that Nissan will try front-engined, front-wheel-drive design in their new GT-R LM Nismo race car. Will it succeeded? time will tell for Nissan.
With the news of Sebastian Vettel is leaving Red Bull at the end of last season and moving to Ferrari this season. This post is the Top Ten Formula 1 driver/constructor domination. Rules are simple each driver must race with the team at least for six seasons in their career and at least win a drivers' title with the team itself.
Starting with number 10:
Number 10: Nelson Piquet/Brabham 1978-1985 Story: After four Grand Prixs at Ensign and BS Fabrications. Piquet moved to Brabham in the final race of the 1978 season and follow by seven more seasons at Brabham. In 1981, Piquet took his first drivers' title. And then again in 1983, took his second F1 drivers' title with Brabham. And then two more seasons at Brabham, Piquet moved on to Williams in 1986. Overall, Piquet took thirteen Grand Prix wins, and two drivers' titles in the Nelson Piquet/Brabham era.
Number 9: Fernando Alonso/Renault 2003-2006, 2008-2009 Story: After a season at Minardi. Alonso moved over to Renault in 2002 as their test driver and promoted as one of their drivers in 2003. Which include a Grand Prix victory in 2003, becoming the youngest driver to win a Grand Prix in the sports history. Then in 2005, Alonso became the youngest F1 world champion in the sport's history and then repeated again in 2006. In 2007 Alonso moved on to McLaren in 2007, then return to Renault in 2008, with two more Grnad Prix wins. Then in 2010, Alonso moved to Ferrari to finish off his Renault career. Overall, Alonso took seventeen Grand Prix wins, two constructors' titles, and two drivers' titles in the Fernando Alonso/Renault era.
Number 8: Mika Hakkinen/McLaren 1993-2001 Story: After two seasons at the original Team Lotus. Hakkinen moved over to Mclaren in 1993 as their test driver until Michael Andretti was sacked after the Italian Grand Prix that season. In 1998, Hakkinen took his first drivers' titles and then repeated again in 1999. Mika Hakkinen retired after the 2001 season with nine seasons at McLaren. Overall, Hakkinen took twenty Grand Prix wins, a constructors' titles, and two drivers' titles in the Mika Hakkinen/McLaren era.
Number 7: Lewis Hamilton/McLaren 2007-2012 Story: Lewis Hamilton made his F1 Grand Prix debut with McLaren in 2007. He almost won the Drivers' title in 2007, despite only one DNF that season, only losing the championship by a single point. Then in 2008 winning the Drivers' title by a point. After four more seasons at McLaren, Hamilton moved on to Mercedes in 2013. Overall, Hamilton took twenty-one Grand Prix wins, a drivers' title in the Lewis Hamilton/McLaren era.
Number 6: Jim Clark/Team Lotus 1960-1968 Story: Jim Clark made his F1 Grand Prix debut with the original Team Lotus part-way through the 1960 season. Clark took his first drivers' title in 1963. And then in 1965, took his second F1 drivers' title. Which includes in 1965 a Indianapolis 500 victory with Lotus once again. Clark took his final Grand Prix win in 1968, at the South African Grand Prix. On 7 April 1968, Clark died in a racing accident at Hockenheimring, in Germany racing a Formula Two race, for Team Lotus. Jim Clark is the only driver in this list that only drive for one team in his career and its the original Team Lotus. Overall, Clark took twenty-five Grand Prix wins, three constructors' titles, and two drivers' titles in the Jim Clark/Team Lotus era.
Number 5: Nigel Mansell/Williams 1985-1988, 1991-1992, 1994 Story: After four and a half seasons at the original Team Lotus. Mansell moved to Williams in 1985 and nearly took his first drivers' title in 1986 season and losing the championship by a single point. Mansell moved to Ferrari after four seasons at Williams. And after two seasons at Ferrari, Mansell returns to Williams in 1991, which he took his only F1 drivers' title in a dominating season in 1992.
In 1993, Mansell left Williams to join the Newman/Haas CART team in 1993 and became the only driver in history to hold both the Formula One and CART championships at the same time, because when he won the 1993 CART championship he was still the reigning F1 world champion, with the 1993 F1 championship not yet having been decided.
In 1994 Mansell made a Formula One comeback with Williams, After the untimely death of Ayrton Senna, replacing David Coulthard for the French Grand Prix and the last three races of the season. Mansell took his final Grand Prix victory in Adelaide. Then Mansell moved to McLaren in 1995. Overall, Nigel Mansell took twenty-eight Grand Prix wins, four constructors' titles, and one drivers' titles in the Mansell/Williams era.
Number 4: Alain Prost/McLaren 1980, 1984-1989 Story: After three seasons at Renault and a debut season at McLaren. Prost return to McLaren in 1984, and just missed out the drivers' title just by half a point to then team-mate Niki Lauda. Then in 1985 Prost took his first drivers' title and repeated again in 1986. And got his third drivers' title with McLaren in 1989. After that Prost moved on to Ferrari. Then return to McLaren after his retirement in 1994, working as a technical advisor for three more seasons, sometimes as a test driver. Overall, Alain Prost took thirty Grand Prix wins, four constructors' titles, and three drivers' titles in the Alain Prost/McLaren era.
Number 3: Ayrton Senna/McLaren 1988-1993 Story: After three seasons at the original Team Lotus. Senna moved over to McLaren in 1988 and took his first drivers' title in that same season. Then in 1990 Senna took his second drivers' title and repeated again in 1991 to took his third drivers' title for McLaren. After two more seasons at McLaren, Senna moved on to Williams. Overall, Ayrton Senna took thirty-five Grand Prix wins, four constructors' titles, and three drivers' titles in the Ayrton Senna/McLaren era.
Number 2: Sebastian Vettel/Red Bull 2009-2014 Story: After a season and a half at Toro Rosso. Vettel moved over to Red Bull Racing in 2009 and the rest is history. Then in 2010 Vettel became the youngest F1 world champion in the sport's history. Which he continued in 2011, 2012 and 2013 to collect three more drivers' titles, which includes four back to back constructors championships for Red Bull. Overall, Sebastian Vettel took thirty-eight Grand Prix wins, four constructors' titles, and four drivers' titles in the Sebastian Vettel/Red Bull era.
Number 1: Michael Schumacher/Ferrari 1996-2006 Story: After winning two drivers' titles in four and a half seasons with Benetton in 1994 and 1995. Schumacher then moved to Ferrari in 1996. Almost won the drivers' title in 1997, then almost again in 1998. Then in 2000 won his third drivers' title and Ferrari's first for over 20 years since 1979. Which he continued in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 to collect four more drivers' titles, which includes six back to back constructors championships for Ferrari. Retiring at the end of the 2006 F1 season after eleven seasons at Ferrari. Overall, Michael Schumacher took seventy-two Grand Prix wins, six constructors' titles, and five drivers' titles in the Michael Schumacher/Ferrari era.
