MG back in BTCC

Second post of about MG returning to BTCC. What I thought about the news of that MG are returing to BTCC with Triple Eight Race Engineering, Jason plato and Andy Neate.

It was officially announced last Wednesday that Triple Eight will return to Manufacturer status and running a pair of MG6 NGTC's, therefore seeing a return to the BTCC for MG. They also announce that Jason Plato and Andy Neate will be driving the MG6 in NGTC spec.

MG has announced a three-year programme with Triple Eight who have won over 100 races in BTCC with Vauxhall for the past 15 seasons. Now on they will run under the MG KX Momentum Racing banner.




I did predict this that MG are returning to BTCC back in August 2011 either with a works team or private own team. I think overall its great for BTCC with MG returning to the series with the news that Ford are leaving the BTCC going into WTCC with the Focus ST, while Chevrolet are completely focusing on WTCC, however we will see Cruze's and Focus's in BTCC this year with Independent Teams. Sad to see Chevrolet and Ford gone, but MG are back in Touring Cars. The video below is about the exciting news from Jason Plato and Andy Neate discussing about the season ahead.

MG return to BTCC



The last time MG was back in BTCC was in 2001-2008. In 2001 with West Surrey Racing developing the MG ZS in the season finally at Brands Hatch were Vauxhall dominated that season, MG driver Anthony Reid winning one of the two races that weekend with the highlights below to show.

BTCC 2001 were MG won their first win with MG ZS





MG's last BTCC win came in 2006, when Colin Turkington scored two victories for West Surrey Racing-run MG ZS. Hoping for the future that MG wins once again many more times. Good luck.

End of post for now. New one soon. Bye.

MG Modern Motorsport History

With the news that MG are coming back to BTCC, which the next post I will dissuss about the news. But, for now a history of MG modern history from 1985 onwards (by the way there is a lot of MG history before that to find out)with a few YouTube videos to explain better what I am talking about.

In rallying, back in 1985, Austin Rover bring out the MG Metro 6R4 into the World Rally Championship into Group B category. A 4WD 3-litre V6 engine producing 410 bhp for rallying, 250 bhp for Road use.

MG Metro 6R4



The car best result would be its first rally at the RAC Rally in 1985 were it debut, were Tony Pond in the Metro 6R4 finished 3rd behind the debuting Lancia Delta S4s' of Henri Toivonen and Markku Alén.

RAC Rally 1985



Also, in the 2000's MG bought out the MG ZR for British Rally Championship scene to compete in.

MG ZR Rally History



MG's are famous for their British Club Racing scene. Here is a video below of a montage of MG ZR and MGF racing against with each other in different club races.

MG ZR and MGF race history in British Club Racing



MG have their cars in BTCC back in 2001 with West Surrey Racing developing the MG ZS. In 2001 in the season finally at Brands Hatch were Vauxhall dominated that season MG driver Anthony Reid winning one of the two races that weekend.

BTCC 2001 were MG won their first win with MG ZS



Le Mans is also MG raced their too with the MG Sport Lola EX257 for LMP2. Car designed and developed by Lola. MG provided the engine and racing team. MG designed the 2.0 Litre turbocharged Inline-4, which produces approximately 500 hp, MG raced at Le Mans in 2001 and 2002 without no success.

MG Sport Lola EX257



And last year MG renewed its famous sporting heritage by becoming an official sponsor of Le Mans Series Team RLR msport as a sponsor for last years Le Mans Series and possibly this season too.So you gonna see a lot of MG branding on the LMP2 car Lola Judd BMW 3.6 litre V8.

MG Le Mans sponsorship deal



End of post for now. New one soon. Bye.

Red Bull X2010 Gran Turismo 5 (revisited)

Hi again. Third post of this week. Back in 2010, I've wrote a post of the Red Bull X1, which is now called Red Bull X2010, which I found this video on Youtube back then for the Gran Turismo 5 game.



Recently I found this on YouTube. Were you see Gran Turismo Series Producer, Kazunori Yamauchi, and Red Bull Racing Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey discussing about the concept car. While you see the building of the full scale model at the Red Bull Racing Factory with an appearance from Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber in the film. So enjoy.



End of post/blog for now. New one soon. Bye

Toyota back in Le Mans: Toyota TS030 hybrid

Hi again, second post of the week. Last week talked about French car company Peugeot quitting endurance racing for the time being. But, what I did said that Toyota are coming back to endurance racing with a hybrid program. So here it is the Toyota TS030 hybrid.



The TS030 will make its race debut in round two of the WEC at Spa for 6 Heures de Spa-Francorchamps race on May 5th. Created by the Cologne-based Toyota Motorsport GmbH squad, which was formally the old Toyota Formula one team, which has developed the new car. They've perviously develop the old Toyota Corolla and Celica WRC carsback in the 1980-1990's. Also, develop Toyota's endurance cars, last one they built was the GT-One, back in 1998-99 before they concentrated on the Formula 1 challenge for the last 10 years.

The TS030's powertrain is based around an all-new 3.4-litre normally-aspirated V8, that uses super-capacitors instead of batteries to store energy from its regenerative braking system similar thing as KERs system in F1. This will carry a maximum of 500kJ of energy can be recovered, but it can only be deployed through one axle. So they're testing at Paul Ricard Circuit in South France to decided were the system will be in the front or the rear of the car ready to race.

Toyota’s driver line-up for the first TS030 will be Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima for the race at Spa and the rest of the season. There will be a second TS030 at Le Mans and onwards. So below some YouTube videos of the car tsting at Paul Ricard with Alex Wurz testing in the car with one of the videos so enjoy.





For my opinion about the story I think its great to see Toyota back in endurance racing. Could they challenge Audi at Le Mans? who knows, its gonna be a tough challenge for Toyota to win Le Mans this year.

Anyway. End of post for now. New post soon. That is all. Bye.

Kimi back in a F1 car (well sort of)

First post of the week and starting off this week with Kimi Raikkonen. Kimi is back in a Formula 1 car for the first time in over two years at Valencia race track yesterday, despite testing starts in two weeks time.

This is due to he was driving a two year old Renault Formula 1 car (more likely a 2009 race car, no 2010 style f-duct on the car with the footage I've seen yesterday) with Pirelli demo tyres, this is just to re-learn a Formula 1 car and learn Pirelli tyres, which he hasn't used yet in his F1 career. Anyway enjoying seeing Kimi Raikkonen back into a Formula One car. Footage below on Kimi re-debuting back into F1. Enjoy.



End of post/blog for now. New one soon. Bye

Daker Rally 2012 and 2012 Dubai 24 hour winners

Hi again, third post of the week talking about Daker Rally 2012 and 2012 Dubai 24 Hour race.

Stéphane Peterhansel wins this years Dakar Rally for the car class for the tenth time (four times in car class, six times in bike class) in his Mini All 4 Racing (A beefed up version of the Mini Coutrymen) 41 minutes ahead of team Nani Roma in his Mini as-well.

The two week Rally started in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina on New Years Day, crossing to Chile and finally ending in Peru two weeks after. So here is the final recap of the rally below.



While in Dubai for the Dubai 24 hour race Khaled al Qubaisi, Sean Edwards, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Thomas Jäger in their Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 car won this years Dubai 24 hour race, which also includes a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG 1-2-3 ahead of BMW Z4's. Here's the review below.



While here's some footage of the winning team Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon, doing a pit-stop in the race.



End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.

Peugeot out of endurance racing with immediate effect

Hi again I didn't except this news of that Peugeot, two times Le Mans winner and five times WRC Manufacturer winners has announced that it will end its endurance racing programme with immediate effect. The French brand had been Audi's main contender in sportscar racing since 2007, will be leaving its sport car program. Due to its difficult economic environment at this moment of time in declining car sales.

Peugeot won their second Le Mans victory in 2009 in their 908 Diesel prototype, while last year it won the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup title ahead of the series' transformation into the World Endurance Championship status this year, which had been expected to see another season-long battle between Audi and Peugeot, but its not going to happen.

Quite shocking news today, In my opinion. It might also add fuel to the fire as to what happens to PSAs OTHER racing programme in the future such as Citroen in WRC and Peugeot in IRC. Is it a sad thing that Peugeot are out of WES? Yes, I think 908 is better than Audi R18 diesel prototype despite it didn't won the Le Mans 24 hours race last year. I think may take them 5-10 years for Peugeot to come back into endurance racing again or even WRC. I hope we still see some privately own 908s at Le Mans this year to fight against Audis. You have to remember that Toyota is returning to endurance racing with their new LMP1 petrol hybrid programme but will not contest a full campaign this year, while Porsche's will not hit the track until 2014. So short term will be bleak. But, long term it will be stronger in my opinion.

End of post for now. New post soon. That is all. Bye.

Bruno Senna joining WilliamsF1 this season, what does it mean?

Hi again, hopefully I have a few posts this week. Starting of with the news the second driver at Williams this year. I thought it would be either Rubens Barrichello or Adrian Sutil. But, it was non other than Bruno Senna. Comfirmed for 2012 season, last time the Senna name was in Formula 1 at Williams, was the late Ayrton Senna back in 1994.

Bruno Senna positives he will brings in sponsorship from Brazil (Senna was reported to bring €14 million in sponsorship into the team sponsors such as Gillette and Embratel money came with Senna last season at Lotus Renault). I feel his a talent driver to be in Formula 1. But his Minuses, apart from Monza and India race pace last season wasn't impressive at Lotus Renault. But he hasn't have the proper chance in his F1 career, such as no testing with HRT before the first race in 2010 in that season or no development with the car, while in 2011 coming in the middle of the season at Lotus Renault replacing Nick Hiedfied. So with testing and development of the car it should be Bruno Senna time. But personally its a make or break year for both Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado this season.

Here the interview he done for WilliamsF1 TV.



With their former driver Rubens Barrichello is it end of an era of his F1 career with not geting the Williams drive this year? Sadly I think his time is up. But, I think some of the over 37s F1 drivers club should leave F1 too in my opinion. I am not ageist but I feel new should talent come into F1, or drivers are that talent need to be in F1 now.

Anyway, end of post for now. New post soon. That is all. Bye.

This there a Problem at Williams?

Third blog of the week. As I say on the title of the post This there a Problem at Williams? There have been a few thing came out the past week:

1. Williams stalwart Patrick Head, one of the Formula 1 paddock's best known figures, has decided to move away from the sport after the end of the 2011 campaign. Been in F1 with Williams since 1977, switches from his current role as director of engineering to assume responsibilities with the company's booming hybrid business.

2. Williams have lost their main sponsor for this season AT&T have not renew their contract with Williams. However rumours has it that Williams will have new sponsors within the next few weeks, possibly what I heard with some Qatar based sponsors.

3. Williams haven't confirmed their second driver yet. Pastor Maldonado has been confirmed as a driver for this season (more of his sponsorship money rather than talent from last season results) Valtteri Bottas will be the reversed driver and drive in most of the Friday morning practice sessions for this season.

The first two points I mentions, there really ain't a problem with Patrick Head will be one of F1's greats of designing the famous Williams F1 cars in past (best of the Williams cars been associated with Head between 1979-1997). He will be missed at Williams I'm sure. Sponsorship not a problem, heard that AT&T bring in £5m a season, so some sponsors will pack up the baton with that point sorted. Third point is the problem who is Williams second driver for this season. The four main drivers competing for the remainder seat at Williams this season are Adrain Sutil, Bruno Senna, Vitaly Petrov and Rubens Barrichello. I'm going to talk about each drivers positives and negatives they will bring to the team.

Adrain Sutil brings good results at Force India last season (remember the Brazilian Grand Prix last season, one of Sutil best races in his career), he also brings sponsorship from Medion. Minuses for Sutil, possibly the talent driver in the sport who could not get a drive for this season dues to higher pay driver in a seat that should not be in either or experience drivers who over an age of 38 shouldn't be in F1 this season. Maybe a test driver this season and might have to wait for a drive in the 2013 season.

Bruno Senna positives brings in sponsorship from Brazil (Gillette money came with Senna last season at Lotus Renault) a talent driver too. Minuses, apart from Monza and India last season hasn't been impressive in his F1 career so far.

The other LRGP refugee Vitaly Petrov, positive money from Russia (Sponsorship from Lada cars). Minuses, can be a talented driver when the car this there (for example last year at Melbourne), when the car is not there (last year race at Singapore), Petrov is not that fast altogether.

While Rubens Barrichello minuses are his results last season, only two 9th places all season. The big positive for Barrichello is his race pace, experience of developing a car. Also brining in Renault engines this season. So they need a experience driver for this.

So If I was Frank WIlliams for 2012 would be Adrian Sutil and Bruno Senna, the reason would have been Talent and bringing in sponsorship. But, they already sign Pastor Maldonado for this season due to his Venezuelan sponsorship (PDVSA). So the second driver I pick would be Sutil. But the most likely happening due to sponsorship that doesn't need to bring in a driver and his experience of developing a Formula 1 car and a change of engines as-well for this season too will be Rubens Barrichello.

Time will tell for Williams for sponsorship and drivers in the next few weeks time.
So the question: This there a problem at Wiliams? No, not in my opinion, just need to pick their second driver for this season.

Anyway, end of Post for now. New post soon. That is all. Bye.

Fantasy F1 team thirteen: Benetton F1

Hi again. Second post of the week. Last year I did a post about Fantasy F1 team thirteen about Chip Ganassi Racing. So I am doing post about Fantasy F1 team thirteen on Benetton F1. Some YouTube videos below on early days on Benetton with Martin Brundle and Michael Schumacher.





I writing this on a train from London a couple of weeks back, while in London I found a Benetton store, remembering the old Benetton F1 Team, when they was in Formula 1 buying out the old Toleman team. In Benetton time they won two drivers championship with Michael Schumacher in 1994 and 1995, a constructors championship in 1995. Then the team was bought by Renault in 2000, which is now Lotus Renault GP. And my theory will be what if? ... If Benetton was the thirteen team in Formula one?

So this is a fantasy, so Benetton wouldn't be in Formula one until 2014 when possibility of the engines reducing from the 2.4 litre V8s to 1.6 litre, V6 turbos and other brand new rules. My thoughts will be:

•Time to build a team?
•Budget?
•Are they going to build their own chassis or are manufacture going to build the chassis?
•Drivetrain (engine)?
•Sponsors?
•Drivers?
•End of first season?

First of all you need time, to build the right team. Such as chassis, drivetrain, people, base ( based either in Italy or England) contracts and so forth. You need time to build a Formula 1, need more time to preperate such as a new team like Team Lotus in 2010 (six months to get ready). So a new team to get ready for a first season you need more than 24 months. So the FIA needs to confirm this team in Feb 2012, to get ready for the 2014 season. You will also bring in Flavio Briatore to mange the team of his past experience with the team (bringing in Michael Schumacher into the Team, two drivers championship Schumacher in 1994 and 1995 while managing the team in that period, a constructors championship in 1995 too)

Second is budget, a team like Virgin Racing had the budget in the range of £40million. While a established team such as Williams has a budget around £65million. So for a team like Benetton need a budget of £55-60million will be good for a first season to compete with.

Next is chassis, for Formula one they could goto Dallara chassis or Lola to build the chassis. But, for Benetton I guess they will build their own chassis for this.

Engine deal could a mind-field in this part. With the 1.6 litre V6 turbo coming in for 2014, it could be any guess. Return of BMW (if they ever come back), Renault or Cosworth. So more than likely a Renault 1.6 litre V6 turbo in the back of the car.

Sponsors, in the past Benetton bought into Formula 1 sponsors such as: Camel, Mildseven, FedEx, Vodafone and so forth, even Benetton sponsoring themselves through the 1980's. So with Benetton who knows they will bring in.

Drivers, there is a lot of drivers for this bit. In the past Benetton usually have talented in that team such as Gerhard Berger, Thierry Boutsen, Alessandro Nannini, Johnny Herbert, Teo Fabi, Giancarlo Fisichella so forth. So which of today would have drive for Benetton, possibly Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi just for experience reasons.

So with a budget of £55-60million, own chassis based in England, Renault V6 turbo engines, big sponsors, Sutil and Luizzi as drivers. So the end of debut season my fantasy prediction: possibly a few points for Sutil and Luizzi. And a top 10 in the constructors championship for Benetton Formula 1, it wouldn't be like bringing in a F1 team in the early 90's like Jordan for example (5th in Constructors Championship in their first season of F1). Due to budget, knowledge and technology main reasons you won't see this again.

Now focusing onto their second season into Formula one for Benetton, focusing getting top 10 finishing more constantly. Maybe we will do this again so. Bye for now.

Benetton B192 - twenty years on

Happy new year folks, first Monday of 2012, first post of 2012 lets start. The first two post will be a Benetton fell to the blog, second post will be a Fantasy team thirteen later in the week, about that team.



But for now its been 20 years this year coming up in August that Michael Schumacher won his first ever Formula 1 race at Spa. So I found on YouTube, former F1 driver Martin Brundle driving a 1992 Benetton Ford B192, driving around Silverstone, it was his team-mate car that year were Brundle himself was Schumacher's team mate in 1992. So Enjoy the footage folks.



New post soon. That is all. Bye.