Last weekend was the annual 24 hours of Spa race (27-28th July). The HTP Mercedes team with a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 race car of Maximilian Buhk, Maximilian Götz and Bernd Schneider (he has also won this years Dubai 24 Hours race and the Nürburgring 24 hours race too) came out on top to win this years 24 hours of Spa race in 564 laps in total.
While the Manthey Racing team came in second place in their Porsche 997 GT3-R with team of Patrick Pilet, Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz as drivers.
While the Belgian Audi Club WRT team came in third place in their Audi R8 LMS ultra GT3 with André Lotterer, Christopher Mies and Frank Stippler as drivers, they were six laps behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hours race.
End of blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Round ten of the F1 season, a quick review of the Hungarian Grand Prix, and thoughts on the race itself and rumours of Fernando Alonso might be teaming up with Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull next season.
Good points
- Lewis Hamilton (pole to finished with a race win)
- Lotus (Kimi Räikkönen, finished 2nd; Romain Grosjean, finished 6th, despite a drive through penalty)
- Red Bull Racing (Sebastian Vettel, finished 3rd; Mark Webber, finished 4th)
- Pastor Maldonado (finished 10th, first points of the season for Williams)
- Giedo van der Garde (finished 14th, ahead of Caterham team-mate Charles Pic and Marussia drivers)
Bad points
- Nico Rosberg (DNF, Engine)
- Esteban Gutiérrez (DNF, Transmission)
- Valtteri Bottas (DNF, Engine)
- Force India (Paul di Resta, DNF, Hydraulics; Adrian Sutil, DNF, Hydraulics, on his 100th Grand Prix)
The race itself was a very good race to watch. And for the first time this season a race win for Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes. Also, his first win with Mercedes, fist time for a Brit to win in a Mercedes F1 car since Stirling Moss won at the British Grand Prix, at Aintree in 1955. Also, a well earned win for the former world champion in the Mercedes.
Meanwhile, Kimi Räikkönen finished in second place in the Lotus, on a two-stop strategy. While current F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel finished in third place, in his Red Bull.
And now with Sebastian Vettel was leading the drivers championship with 34 points ahead after the Nürburgring round, and now after the Hungaroring, his ahead of Kimi Räikkönen with 38 points. Despite, he only finished in third place in the race, Fernando Alonso is third in the standings with 39 points behind Vettel. While former champions Lewis Hamilton is only 48 points behind behind Vettel in the drivers standings with nine races to go. Can Hamilton, Räikkönen and Alonso can still catch up in the drivers championship and still win it? Only a little bit of luck is needed in my opinion. Remember last season Vettel was 42 points behind Alonso at this time to win his third title.
So is it Sebastian Vettel's championship for the taking, time will tell.
And speaking of Sebastian Vettel, there have been rumours at this weekends Hungarian Grand Prix that Fernando Alonso has approached Red Bull about moving there for next season, as sources say Alonso's manager has told Red Bull the Spaniard is potentially available to partner the current world champion.
In my opinion, I don't think this will ever happen as this is more of a red herring and maybe a signal from Alonso to tell Ferrari make a faster car or else I am leaving after the 2014 season. As I reckoned it will be either Kimi Räikkönen or Toro Rosso driver Daniel Ricciardo to be Sebastian Vettel team-mate next season. As I think Alonso and Vettel would be another Prost and Senna in the making, and that didn't happy ended well either.
So next stop, is round eleven for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps in four weeks time.
End of blog for how, new post soon. Bye.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring, near Budapest.
And so predictions for the race itself, Kimi Raikkonen for the win in his Lotus, Lewis Hamilton second in his Mercedes, and Nico Rosberg third in the other Mercedes. Don't forget the Red Bull drivers, McLaren drivers, Ferrari drivers and Romain Grosjean either for a podium place as-well.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Yesterday was a very surprising news that came out, that the Austrian Grand Prix will return to the Formula 1 calendar next season, with an agreement being reached for a race to be staged at the Red Bull Ring (formerly known as the A1-Ring).
In an agreement by Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz and Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, the venue is expected to be given a slot on the first weekend of July, would more than likely placing the race between the British and German Grands Prixs' in 2014.
The Red Bull Ring was close to making a return as a replacement for the postponed Grand Prix in New Jersey, but it was too late at the time to place the race in 2013 season.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Review of the round nine of the 2013 MotoGP season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey in California, USA. This race will be only for the MotoGP class, as Moto2 and Moto3 does not race at Laguna Seca.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Repsol Honda rider and current Moto2 Champion Marc Marquez on his works Honda RC213V, to give his third race win of the season. Second place was LCR Honda MotoGP rider Stefan Bradl on his satellite spec Honda RC213V, Bradl was over two seconds behind Marquez at the end. While, third place was Yamaha Factory Racing rider and former seven times MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi in his works Yamaha YZR-M1, Rossi was over four seconds behind Marquez at the end of the race.
While, current MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo and former points leader Dani Pedorsa did race after-all, after two different heavy crashes in practice for last weekends German Grand Prix. Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedorsa finished in fifth place on his works Honda RC213V, Pedrosa was over nine seconds behind team-mate Marquez at the end of the race. While Jorge Lorenzo finished in sixth place on his works Yamaha YZR-M1, Lorenzo was over twelve seconds behind Marquez at the end of the race. So great performances from both riders.
In CRT class (Claiming Rule Teams, street bike engines rather than non prototype engines), the Avintia Blusens Aspar rider Héctor Barberá won CRT class and finished 10th overall in his FTR (Kawasaki engine), he was over a minute behind Marquez at the end. As for CRT class regular race winner Aleix Espargaró crashed out the race early on, his first DNF of the season.
Meanwhile, former MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden last week announced that he will be leaving Ducati at the end of the 2013 MotoGP season, with the outfit opting not to extend his contract. There has been recent rumours that Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Cal Crutchlow could be on a works Ducati rider next season by a few sources.
And finally, there were some sad news during the Supersport World Championship race at Moscow Raceway in Russia yeaterday, as Italian rider Andrea Antonelli died in a crash in the race. The Kawasaki rider fell on the back straight in torrential rain and was hit by fellow Italian Lorenzo Zanetti's Honda. He suffered head trauma and later succumbed to his injuries. He was 25. Condolences goes out to Andrea Antonelli family and close friends.
Motorsport is dangerous sport. No matter if its Go-Karting, motorbikes, Formula 1, Indy Car, Endurance Racing or any kind of Motorsport is dangerous, but motorsport can be safer between tracks, fans, specators, tracks marshells, people in pits, cars and drivers too.
R.I.P. Andrea Antonelli (17 January, 1988 – July 21, 2013
Back in early April, the Rush trailers has appeared on the internet. The Film won't come out until mid-September, that will be based on the 1976 Formula One season and the rivalry between drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Directed by Ron Howard. Actor, Chris Hemsworth will play 1976 F1 World Champion James Hunt. Actor, Daniel Brühl will play former Ferrari driver and three times F1 World Champion Niki Lauda. And actress, Olivia Wilde will play as Suzy Miller, James Hunt's former wife at that period.
With two months to go until the film comes out, there is a third new Rush trailer appeared on the internet with more added dialogue from the main characters. My only problem is that the score below is quite poor for a trailer, but a part from that the trailer is quite good.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
This is possibly McLaren worse start to a Grand Prix season since the 2009 F1 season with just 49 points so far after last weekends German Grand Prix. So this post is the top six worse McLaren F1 cars ever! Starting with number 6:
Number 6: 2009 McLaren MP4-24
Story: 2009 McLaren MP4-24 was designed bydesigned by Paddy Lowe, Neil Oatley, Pat Fry and Doug McKiernan, the McLaren MP4-24 had the 2.4 litre Mercedes-Benz V8 engine underneath. McLaren MP4-24 was a very slow car during the first half on 2009, didn't pick up pace until the second half of 2009, when Lewis Hamilton took only two race wins at the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Singapore Grand Prix in that season. But the team only took 71 points to take 3rd place in the constructors championship.
Number 5: 2004 McLaren MP4-19
Story: McLaren MP4-19 was designed by designed by Adrian Newey, the McLaren MP4-24 had the 3 litre Mercedes-Benz V10 engine underneath. Just like McLaren MP4-24 before, McLaren MP4-19 was a very slow car and unreliable during the first half on 2004, didn't pick up pace until the second half of 2004, when Kimi Räikkönen only took one race victory at the Belgian Grand Prix in that season. But the team only took 59 points to take 5th place in the constructors championship.
Number 4: 1996 McLaren MP4/11
Story: McLaren MP4/11 was designed by Neil Oatley, the McLaren MP4/11 had the 3 litre Mercedes-Benz V10 engine underneath. The McLaren MP4/11 only managed 6 podiums in 1996, which includes a second place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix with David Coulthard behind the wheel. To give McLaren only 49 points to take 4th place in the constructors championship. The McLaren MP4/11 wasn't a fast car, but the MP4/11 was a reliable car nonetheless.
Number 3: 1979/1980 McLaren M29
Story: McLaren M29 was designed by designed by Gordon Coppuck, the McLaren M29 had the 3 litre Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine underneath. To give McLaren only 7 points in 1979 to give them 15 points (the other points came from the old McLaren M28) and 7th place in the constructors championship in 1979. While in 1980 season the M29 took McLaren to 9th place in the constructors championship and only 11 points. The car wasn't fast, didn't qualified a few times in that period and finally a very unreliable race car as-well despite it had Patrick Tambay, John Watson and Alain Prost behind the wheel.
Number 2: 1994 McLaren MP4/9
Story: McLaren MP4/9 was designed by Neil Oatley, the McLaren MP4/9 had the 3.5 litre Peugout V10 engine underneath. The McLaren MP4/9 only managed 8 podiums in 1994, which includes two second place finishes one each for Mika Häkkinen at the Belgian Grand Prix and at the Monaco Grand Prix with Martin Brundle. McLaren MP4/9 only took 42 points in that season, so the McLaren MP4/9 wasn't that fast than pervious McLarens', and very unreliable as-well.
Number 1: 1995 McLaren MP4/10
Story:McLaren MP4/10 was designed by Neil Oatley, the McLaren MP4/10 had the 3 litre Mercedes-Benz V10 engine underneath. The McLaren MP4/10 only managed two second place finishes for Mika Häkkinen in 1995 at the Italian and Japanese Grand Prix.
But the Mclaren MP4/10 did cause Nigel Mansell to quit from Formula 1 altogether as he was unable to fit properly in the narrow cockpit, and he was forced to miss the first two races of the season whilst a wider monocoque was built. His racing return lasted just two further Grands Prix before he left altogether, disgusted with the car's poor performance.
So the McLaren MP4/10 only took 30 points that season, the McLaren MP4/10 wasn't a fast Mclaren at all and was much more of very unreliable McLaren then the pervious McLaren MP4/9. To give the 1995 McLaren MP4/10 the worse McLaren F1 car ever!
End of blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
It has been confirmed this morning that Marussia will be powered by Ferrari turbo engines from the 2014 Formula 1 season onwards. Marussia is currently supplied by Cosworth this season, as Cosworth is leaving Formula 1 at the end of the season, so the team needed a new engine supplier for 2014, so that means Ferrari will be their new engine supplier for the 2014 season.
In my opinion, this is no major surprise that the news has happen. As this has been rumoured since the start of the season that Marussia will be swapping over to Ferrari V6 turbo engines from the 2014 onwards. Also, having Ferrari junior driver Jules Bianchi at the team this season as one of their drivers helped the team even more to have Ferrari V6 turbo engine deal for next season as-well.
End of blog for how, new post soon. Bye.
Review of the round eight of the 2013 MotoGP season at the Sachsenring, in Eastern Germany for the German round of the MotoGP season.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Repsol Honda rider and current Moto2 Champion Marc Marquez on his works Honda RC213V, to give his second race win of the season. Second place was Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Cal Crutchlow on his satellite spec Yamaha YZR-M1, Crutchlow was over one and a half second behind Marquez at the end. While, third place was Yamaha Factory Racing rider and former seven times MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi in his works Yamaha YZR-M1, Rossi was over nine seconds behind Marquez at the end of the race.
While, current MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo and points leader Dani Pedorsa didn't race the German Grand Prix due to two different heavy crashes in practice for the race. Jorge Lorenzo will not race in Laguna Seca for next weeks race. While Dani Pedorsa is 50/50 if his going to race at Laguna Seca
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 8th overall in his ART (Aprilia), he was over 30 seconds behind Marquez at the end.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-four 600 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Aspar Team Moto2 rider Jordi Torres on the Suter. Second was NGM Mobile Racing rider Simone Corsi on the Speed Up, he was over two seconds behind Torres at the end. While, third was Tuenti HP 40 rider Pol Espargaró on the Kalex, he was over two and a half seconds behind Torres at the end of the race.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Estrella Galicia rider Álex Rins on the KTM. Second was Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Luis Salom on the KTM, he was just twenty three-hundredths of a second behind Rins at the end of the race. While, third was was Team Calvo rider Maverick Viñales on the KTM, he was twenty four-hundredths of a second behind Rins at the end of the race.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Round nine of the F1 season, a quick review of the German Grand Prix, and thoughts on the race itself.
Good points
- Sebastian Vettel (started second to finish with a race win at his home Grand Prix)
- Lotus (Kimi Raikkonen, finished 2nd; Romain Grosjean, finished 3rd)
- Fernando Alonso (finished 4th)
- McLaren (Jenson Button, finished 6th; Sergio Pérez finished 8th)
- Nico Hülkenberg (finished 10th)
- Charles Pic (finished 17th, ahead of Caterham team-mate Giedo van der Garde and Max Chilton)
Bad points
- Williams (Pastor Maldonado, finished 15th; Valtteri Bottas, finished 16th, a right front wheel gun both cost Pastor Maldonado Valtteri Bottas and points this race)
- Jules Bianchi (DNF, Engine)
- Jean-Éric Vergne (DNF, Hydraulics)
- Felipe Massa (DNF, Spin)
If a Grand Prix was similar or déjà vu from another Grand Prix, this race would be similar to the Bahrain Grand Prix early on the season in my opinion. As this was a mildly easy race win for the current F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, to take his forth race win of the season, after passing pole sitter Lewis Hamilton on the first lap of the race to take the win, despite a late charge from Kimi Raikkonen.
Meanwhile, Kimi Räikkönen finishing in second place despite a possibly race win at the end. While Romain Grosjean finished in third place, one of his best race performances of the season.
Next stop the Hungarian Grand Prix in three weeks time.
End of blog for how, new post soon. Bye.
Last weekend was the annual Pikes Peak International Hillclimb event on June 30, and nine times WRC Champion Sébastien Loeb took victory in the unlimited class and broke the course record by 1 minute and 40 seconds of a time of 8:13.878 in his 875 bhp, 3.2 litre V6 twin turbo Peugeot 208 T16.
The 8:13.878 record breaker at Pikes Peak below to enjoy.
End of blog for how, new post soon. Bye.
To Celebrate Williams F1 Team 600th Grand Prix that just past last weekends British Grand Prix. To celebrate this, this post is the top six best Williams F1 cars ever! Starting with number 6:
Number 6: 1996 Williams FW19
Story: The FW19 was designed by Adrian Newey and Patrick Head. The FW19 was powered by a 3.0 litre Renault V10 engine. The FW19 took Williams the 1997 F1 constructors championship were Heinz-Harald Frentzen took a grand Prix win at the San Marino Grand Prix that season. While, Jacques Villeneuve took seven wins and the 1997 F1 drivers championship title as-well.
Number 5: 1996 Williams FW18
Story: The FW18 was designed by Adrian Newey and Patrick Head. The FW18 was powered by a 3.0 litre Renault V10 engine. The FW18 took Williams the 1996 F1 constructors championship were Jacques Villeneuve took four wins that season. While, Damon Hill took eight wins and the 1996 F1 drivers championship title as-well, making Damon Hill the first son of a World Champion to become a Champion himself.
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: 1986-87 Williams FW11
Story: The Williams FW11 was designed by Patrick Head and Frank Dernie for the 1986 and 87 F1 seasons. The FW11 had the Honda 1.5 litre V6 turbo engine underneath, which produce over 1000 bhp in qualifying and around 790 bhp in race pace. The Williams FW11 took two F1 Constructor titles' in 1986 and 1987 and a F1 drivers' title for Nelson Piquet as-well. The Williams FW11 took eighteen Grand Prix wins' in those two season. Seven wins' for Nelson Piquet and eleven wins' for Nigel Mansell.
Number 2: 1993 Williams FW15C
Story: The FW15C was designed by Adrian Newey and Patrick Head. The FW15C was powered by a 3.5 litre V10 Renault engine, the Williams FW15C was the most technically sophisticated car on the grid in 1993. The FW15C featured a semi automatic gearbox, active suspension, traction control and for a brief period anti-lock brakes which took Williams fifteen poles, ten grand prix wins that season and a F1 constructors championship as-well. Which, Damon Hill took two poles and three grand prix wins. While, Alain Prost took thirteen poles and seven grand prix wins to concluded with the 1993 F1 drivers championship for Alain Prost to take his forth and final F1 drivers' title.
Number 1: 1992 Williams FW14B
Story: This is possibly the best F1 car that Williams has ever raced in their 600 Grand Prix history. The FW14B was designed by Adrian Newey and Patrick Head. The FW14B was powered by a 3.5 litre V10 Renault engine, the Williams FW14B was the most technically sophisticated car on the grid in 1992. By 1992 the FW14B featured a semi automatic gearbox, active suspension, traction control and for a brief period anti-lock brakes which took Williams fifteen poles, ten grand prix wins that season and a F1 constructors championship as-well. Which, Riccardo Patrese took a pole and a grand prix win. While, Nigel Mansell took fourteen poles and nine grand prix wins to concluded with the 1992 F1 drivers championship for Nigel Mansell and his only one as-well.
To give this 1992 Williams FW14B the best Williams F1 car ever! And many 600 Grand Prixs more.
End of blog for how, new post soon. Bye.
A quick review of yesterdays British Grand Prix, a few thoughts on the race itself and predictions for this weekends German Grand Prix.
Good points
- Mercedes AMG (Nico Rosberg race win; Lewis Hamilton finished 4th despite having a massive puncture down the Wellington straight on lap 8)
- Mark Webber (finished 2nd, despite a first lap off by Romain Grosjean which put him back to 15th place at one point)
- Fernando Alonso (finished 3rd)
- Force India (Adrian Sutil finished in 7th; Paul di Resta, finished in 9th, despite being put on the back of the grid after qualifying, because of a underweight car)
- Daniel Ricciardo (finished 8th)
- Nico Hülkenberg (finished 10th)
- Charles Pic (finished 15th, ahead of his team-mate and Marussia drivers)
Bad points
- Sebastian Vettel (DNF, Gearbox)
- McLaren (Jenson Button, finished 13th; Sergio Pérez DNF, Puncture)
- Romain Grosjean (DNF Gearbox)
- Jean-Éric Vergne (DNF, Puncture)
Overall, I thought it was a good race to watch. But, the race was ruined in my opinion by tyres and Pirelli, as Pirelli medium left rear tyre was the problem as Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa and Jean-Éric Vergne had left rear tyre blow outs in four laps of each other. And possibly cost Lewis Hamilton a home Grand Prix win. This come weeks after the Tyre-gate problems with Mercedes. Even Lewis Hamilton has even stated that is getting too unsafe to drive these F1 cars with the current Pirelli tyres.
Also, it's Pirelli's final year of their F1 contract and they have not yet re-sign a new contract yet with the FIA. With the next few weeks coming up needs to put up or possibly leave Formula 1.
After Lewis Hamilton huge tyre blow up Sebastian Vettel leads the British Grand Prix, until lap 41 when Sebastian Vettel's gearbox give up on his Red Bull to give his first DNF of the season. And give the race win to Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes, to give him his second race win of the season.
And so to this weekends German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring and predictions for the race. Lewis Hamilton for the win in the Mercedes, second place for in the other Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg and finally third place for Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari. Don't forget Red Bull drivers, Lotus drivers, Force India drivers or Filipe Massa either for a podium place.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
