With Formula 1 returning to testing once again at Bahrain this week for the last tests before the first race in three weekes time. This post is the top six 1990's Formula 1 cars of all time, similar post to the top six 1980's Formula 1 cars from a few months back, and the top six 1970's Formula 1 cars post from last week. So starting with number six:
Number 6: 1994 Benetton B194
Story: Benetton B194 was designed by Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn. The Benetton B194 was powered by the 3.5 litre Ford Zetec-RV8 engine (produced by Cosworth, but badged as a Ford). The Benetton B194 won eight grand prix wins, all 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: 1999 Ferrari F399
Story: Ferrari F399 was designed by Rory Byrne. The Ferrari F399 was powered by the 3 litre V10 Ferrari engine. The Ferrari F399 won six grand prix wins, two wins for Michael Schumacher and four wins for Eddie Irvine, Eddie Irvine almost took the 1999 F1 World Drivers' Championship. But lost the championship to Mika Hakkinen by only two points. Michael Schumacher would have the championship, but a racing accident at Silverstone cost him the chance of winning the Drivers' Championship.But, it took Ferrari to its first F1 Constructors' Championship in 16 years.
Number 4: 1998 McLaren MP4-13
Story: The last time McLaren have won the F1 Constructors championship was with this car the McLaren MP4-13. This was Adrian Newey first F1 car design since leaving Williams at the start of 1997 season. The car had a Mercedes 3.0 litre V10 underneath. It won the F1 constructors championship in 1998. Also, David Coulthard won a grand prix in that car and Mika Hakkinen won eight grand prixs that season to concluded with the 1998 F1 drivers championship for Hakkinen.
Number 3: 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 2: 1991-92 McLaren MP4/6
Story: The McLaren MP4/6 was designed by Neil Oatley. The McLaren MP4/6 had the all new Honda 3.5 litre V12. The McLaren MP4/6 took eight Grand Prix wins in 1991, seven for Ayrton Senna and one for Gerhard Berger. Also, McLaren MP4/6 took the 1991 constructors' title for McLaren in 1991 and the drivers' title for Ayrton Senna in 1991, and Ayrton Senna's last of his drivers' titles as-well.
Number 1: 1992 Williams FW14B
Story: 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.
End of blog for now, new post soon, bye.
It was also announce yesterday (20/2/14) that former Caterham driver Charles Pic will be Lotus F1 Team's test and reserve driver during the 2014 season.
Pic made his grand prix debut with Marussia in 2012 and was driving for Caterham last season, after two seasons competing in the GP2 Series. Lotus also confirmed that reserve and development duo Nicolas Prost and Marco Sørensen have extended their ties with the team.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Lotus F1 Team has confirmed on Thursday (20/2/14) that they will continue using Renault 1.6-litre V6 power unit until 2018 season on a multi-year deal that will see it continue to make use of Renault's full powertrain, which includes engine, gearbox and energy recovery systems.
In my opinion, this is no major surprise that the team will continue using Renault engines. As the Enstone-based outfit has a long history with Renault having used the French manufacturer's engines since 1995 in Benetton guise (expect between 1998-2000 as Renault left Formula 1, and the old Renault engines was re-named as Playlife engines) when Renault owned the team between 2002-2009, Genii owned team since 2010, and as of Lotus since 2012.
End of blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
The French prosecutor investigating Michael Schumacher's skiing accident says he has found no evidence of wrongdoing and has closed the probe.
Patrick Quincy said that the markers and information given at the Meribel resort where the accident happened conformed to French laws.
The 45-year-old has been in intensive care since the incident on 29 December.
He was skiing off-piste when he fell and hit his head on a rock.
Investigators found that the rock which caused him to fall was 10.4m (34 feet) away from the rock on which he hit his head.
Both the rocks were more than 4m from the edge of the piste.
The seven-time world racing champion remains in hospital in Grenoble.
His spokeswoman said on 30 January that the medical team were reducing his sedation to prepare to gradually bring him out of a coma.
With Formula 1 return to testing at Bahrain this week, and the first race will start under a months time. This post is the top six 1970's Formula 1 cars of all time, similar post to the top six 1980's Formula 1 cars post from a few months back. So starting with number six:
Number 6: 1974-75 Brabham BT44
Story: The Brabham BT44 was designed by Gordon Murray, the Brabham BT44 was powered by the 3 litre V8 Cosworth DFV engine. Brabham BT44 took five victories between 1974 and 1975, four for Carlos Reutemann and one for Carlos Pace. Although the Brabham BT44 never took a drivers' championship in those two seasons. It did took Brabham to second place in the Constructors championship in the 1975 season behind Ferrari in the standings.
Number 5: 1971-72 Tyrrell 003
Story: The Tyrrell 003 was designed by Derek Gardner, the Tyrrell 003 was powered by the 3 litre V8 Cosworth DFV engine. Which, took the Tyrrell 003 to eight wins inbetween 1971 and 72, all eight wins for Jackie Stewart. Which took, Jackie Stewart to the 1971 F1 Drivers' Title, his second of three titles, and Tyrrell to its only Constructors' Championships in 1971.
Number 4: 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 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 wins for 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: 1975-80 Ferrari 312T
Story: Possibly the most dominating Ferrari Formula One race car ever in Ferrari's history. The Ferrari 312T (also named as Ferrari 312T2, Ferrari 312T3, Ferrari 312T4, and Ferrari 312T5 ) was designed by Mauro Forghieri, the Ferrari 312T was powered by the 3 litre Ferrari Flat-12 engine. The Ferrari 312T took 27 victories between 1975 and 1980, four for Gilles Villeneuve, and three wins for Jody Scheckter, five wins for Carlos Reutemann, thirteen wins for Niki Lauda, two wins for Clay Regazzoni. Four Constructors' Championships in 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1979. And finally three Drivers' Championships for Niki Lauda in 1975 and 1977, and for Jody Scheckter in 1979.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
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 (5th-8th February) was won by surprise winner Jari-Matti Latvala in the works Volkswagen Polo R WRC. Meanwhile, team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen finished second in the other works Volkswagen Polo R WRC, Mikkelsen was over 53 seconds behind Latvala at the end. Meanwhile, Mads Østberg, finished in third place in the works Citroën DS3 WRC. Østberg was 59 seconds behind Latvala 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 Karl Kruuda in his Karl Kruuda backed Ford Fiesta S2000. Karl Kruuda finished in eleventh place overall, he was only 14 minutes behind Latvala at the end of the rally.
Highlights of the rally bellow, enjoy.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
This year is 30th year of Prodrive formed. Prodrive are most noticeably to Touring Cars with Ford, Rally Cars with Subaru and Mini, and most recently success in sportscar racing, with recently success with Aston martin in World Endurance Series.
To Celebrate this a top six Prodrive Race/Rally Cars that ever made and produce from Prodrive. Starting with Number six of the top six is:
Number 6: 2003 Impreza WRC 2003
Story: The Impreza WRC 2003 took four WRC wins in 2003 WRC season in the hands of Petter Solberg. And took Petter Solberg to the WRC Drivers titles in 2003 ahead of Sebastien Loeb by one point.
Number 5: 1999-2000 Ford Mondeo
Story: Prodrive replaced West Surrey Racing as Ford's works British Touring Car Championship team dubbed "Ford Team Mondeo". Designed by Prodrive themselves, Ford and Prodrive only managed one win for the Mondeo in 1999. Then in 2000, eleven wins overall, Touring Teams Champions, Manufacturers Champions, and British Touring Car Champion for Alain Menu too. Also, this was the last of the winning cars that won in the Supertouring car era too.
Number 4: 1997 Impreza WRC 97
Story: Replaced the old Group A Subaru Impreza 555 back in 1997. This was the first rally car to use the new WRC regulations back in 1997. The Impreza WRC 97 took eight WRC wins in 1997 WRC season in the hands of Colin McRae, Kenneth Eriksson and Piero Liatti. And almost took Colin McRae to the WRC Drivers titles in 1997, lost the title to Tommi Mäkinen by just one point. But, the Impreza WRC 97 did took Subaru to the 1997 WRC Manufactures title ahead of Mitsubishi and Ford.
Number 3: 2002-2004 Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello
Story: In 2001, Prodrive built racing customer versions of the Ferrari 550 for various sports car series and especially the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, although this brought the Ferrari name into the sport, the cars would be built entirely by Prodrive without any support from the Ferrari factory. Named the Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello, underneath it used a Ferrari 5.9 litre V12 that produce 600 bhp. It took Tomáš Enge, Peter Kox and Jamie Davies to tenth overall at the 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans and took GTS class win at Le Mans that year.
Number 2: 1993-1996 Subaru Impreza 555
Story: Replaced the old Legacy RS back in 1993. Subaru Impreza 555 was designed for Group A rally rules. In those years it took eleven WRC wins in three and a half seasons altogether in the WRC in the hands of Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz. And took Colin McRae to the WRC Drivers titles in 1995 ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz. Also, the Subaru Impreza 555 did took Subaru to two WRC Manufacture titles in 1995 and 1996.
Number 1: 2005-2008 Aston Martin DBR9
Story: In 2005, Prodrive built the works racing versions of the Aston Martin DB9 for various sports car series and especially to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and return the Aston Martin brand back to winning ways in numerous sport-car series throughout the years. Named the Aston Martin DBR9, underneath it used an Aston Martin 6 litre V12 that produce 600 bhp. It took David Brabham, Darren Turner, and Rickard Rydell to fifth overall at the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans and took GT1 class win at Le Mans that year. And then at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans, it took David Brabham, Antonio GarcÃa and Darren Turner to thirteeth overall at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans and took GT1 class win at Le Mans that year. To give the Aston Martin DBR9 the best Prodrive Race/Rally car ever built.
And to many more years of Prodrive to come. Happy 30th Prodrive.
End of blog for now, new post soon, bye.
It was confirmed on Wednesday (29/1/14) that former Lotus F1 Team Principal Eric Boullier has joined McLaren as their position of racing director.
No surprise with the news, as this was expected from last week, when Boullier quit Lotus.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Doctors treating injured former Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher are reducing his sedation to prepare to bring him out of a coma, his manager says (30/1/14).
This step will allow the "waking up process" to start, Sabine Kehm said in a statement.
But bringing the seven-times champion out of the coma "could take a long time", she added.
Schumacher suffered a severe head injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps on 29 December.
He was put into a medically induced coma by his doctors at a clinic in Grenoble following operations to remove blood clots from his brain.
Doctors have kept the former world champion asleep to help reduce the swelling.
Ms Kehm was approached by the media for comment on Schumacher's condition on Wednesday - exactly a month after his crash. She said then that his condition remained "stable".
In her statement on Thursday, she said it had been agreed to communicate details of his sedation "only once this process was consolidated".
The statement again included an appeal by Schumacher's family for privacy for them and for his doctors, while at the same time expressing "sincere appreciation for the worldwide sympathy".
At his bedside since the accident, the family have received hundreds of letters and gifts from around the world.
Earlier this month, investigators probing the accident said Schumacher had been going at the speed of "a very good skier" at the time of his crash in the resort of Meribel.
He had been skiing 8m off-piste when he fell and hit a rock, investigators said.
Experts reconstructed events leading up to the crash after examining Schumacher's skiing equipment and viewing footage filmed on a camera attached to his helmet.
