The Caterham SP300R isn't a Le Mans car, but a very fast track day race car.
The SP300R is a collaboration between Caterham and Lola cars, Lola designed the Caterham SP300R, but Caterham themselves have manufactured the Caterham SP300R.
The Caterham SP300R is based on an aluminium honeycomb tub with a lightweight body, which weights under 550 kg. And at the middle of the car a six-speed gearbox and a supercharged four-cylinder, two-litre Ford engine. Will take the SP300R 0-60mph in around 2.5 seconds and makes 300-330 bhp and a top speed of 180 mph, so basically a mini LMP2 car, which can almost matches any LMP2 car.
Caterham launched the SP300R last year at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, before Caterham was taken over by Team Lotus, which is now called Caterham F1 Team for this season.
Autocar even review the £81,000 Caterham SP300R from a few months back, YouTube video below.
And here is my thought on it, Caterham SP300R and the DeltaWing too. Great cars, but the Deltawing doesn't have any rules goes into any series and the Caterham SP300R is not a LMP2 car at all. How about this why not create a new LMP category below LMP2 called: LMP3.
LMP1 in 2014 will be all petrol/diesel hybrid power cars. While in LMP2 at this moment, there are price capped chassis at €355,000; price capped engines at €75,000. And the car must weight over 900kg with an 5.0 litre V8 or a 3.2 litre turbo V6 approx. creating 450 bhp. There is also a LMPC class, which is one make formula.
So here's my vision of LMP3, Chassis and engine together capped at €150,000. Weights around 600-650kg. The chassis should be anything goes, if he car looks like the Deltawing it doesn't matter race the car. The same thing if it looks like a LMP2 car or a Caterham SP300R too, race the car. Also, the engine should be the same engine like in Moto2, were they use the same engine from Honda, producing the same horsepower in each Moto2 bike. The LMP3 engine should be a four cylinder two litre turbo engine producing 300-330 bhp (he same horsepower as the Deltawing and the Caterham SP300R).
And that is my idea/concept of LMP3 should be liked, because the DeltaWing is a great race car for it's concept at Le Mans this year, the DeltaWing should in a racing series right now. Anyway, end of blog for how, new blog soon, that is all. Bye.
Last year I did a post on Gymkhana Four, and last week I did a post on the preview of Gymkhana Five. And today, DC shoes and Ken Block bring out the new Gymkhana video onto YouTube called: ''GYMKHANA FIVE: ULTIMATE URBAN PLAYGROUND; SAN FRANCISCO" (video below).
It was shot on the streets of San Francisco, California, USA. #GYM5 features a focus on 'fast, raw and precise driving action'. Filmed over four days, were Ken Block used San Francisco as a personal gymkhana playground to film around. Which includes a little cameo from Travis Pastrana, on his dirt-bike. Enjoy the video below.
DC SHOES: KEN BLOCK'S GYMKHANA FIVE: ULTIMATE URBAN PLAYGROUND; SAN FRANCISCO
What I think about it. I personally loved it, better than Gymkhana Four, the best Gymkhana film Ken Block has produced yet. I enjoyed the used of Ken Block hooning around San Francisco. I always likes the skills set in a gymkhana, despite the editing in the footage, and it still edited so well. I enjoyed the aerial shots above as-well, the multiple use of Go-Pro cameras' inside and outside on the Ford Fiesta HFHV, which produces 650 bhp. Also, I enjoy the Matrix style of filming in some shots. Anyway still a great video well done Ken Block for creating it. Gymkhana Six next year will be a touch challenge to created in my opinion.
End of Blog for now, new post soon. That is all. Bye.
This years Le Mans we had the Nissan DeltaWing to create new type of technological experimental racing car. For the 2013 Le Mans 24 hours race, car 56 for the 24 hour race will be GreenGT team will bring out a hydrogen-electric hybrid race car called 'GreenGT H2'.
Basically a hydrogen fuel cell that produces electricity to drive two electric motors which produce around 540 bhp, sitting on a bespoke chassis built by the Welter Racing team. The GreenGT H2 weights 1,240kg and a top speed of 186mph.
Personally, GreenGT team got a big ask to replicate and go further what DeltaWing done this year at Le Mans. The looks of the GreenGT H2 looks like something I have designed in a 3D animation programme. But, the Delta was an one off looking car that look so different and it can race with the likes of LMP2 cars and at the end of the day made an impression to motor racing fans and what a concept a racing car can be. The GreenGT H2 hydrogen fuel powered electric motors is a step forward in motorsport racing, if the technology side does works. It could change people mind-set of what it can do. Look at Audi for example, can you imagine them winning Le Mans with a diesel engine seven years back and making diesel engines cool and effective. So good-luck to GreenGT with their H2 for 2013 at Le Mans.
Below here is there GreenGT LMPH2 car that went around the Le Mans track as a demo run back in 2011. The LMPH2 have the same hydrogen fuel cell that produces electricity to drive two electric motors tech, instead the was around 400 bhp. Enjoy.
Also, the car did a demo run at Pau street track too back in 2011. Enjoy.
End of post/blog for now, That is all. Bye.
Post 200 and 2012 British Grand Prix Review the ninth race of the F1 season at Silverstone, and thoughts on the race and the late show from Mark Webber. And a few classic Eddie Jordan moments.
Good points
- Red Bull (Mark Webber won the British Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel finished 3rd)
- Ferrari (Fernando Alonso finished 2nd, Filipe Massa finished 4th)
- Lotus F1 Team(Kimi Räikkönen finished 5th fastest lap of the race, Romain Grosjean finished 6th, despite changing a front nose on the second lap)
- Bruno Senna (finished 9th)
Also to mention the British fans (that's includes me), despite it was raining throughout on Friday and Saturday and dry on Sunny on race day. 120,000 British fans are the best fans around the world.
Bad points
- McLaren (Jenson Button finished 10th, Lewis Hamilton finished 8th)
- Pastor Maldonado (collision with Sergio Perez at Brooklands on lap 14, back to the pits for repairs and finished 16th a lap down)
- Sauber (Sergio Perez DNF Collision with Maldonado, Kamui Kobayashi braked too late during one of his pitstops and knocked down three mechanics with the right side of his car. finished 11th )
- Nico Rosberg (finished 15th)
- Force India (Nico Hülkenberg finished 12th, would have finished 9th but a late error at Copse on lap 49 cost him points, Paul di Resta DNF, Collision damage with Grosjean on the first lap of the race)
- Vitaly Petrov (DNS, Engine)
I thought it wasn't the best British Grand Prix ever, but the last ten laps may disagree. With ten laps to go, Fernando Alonso pulled out over a five-second lead over Mark Webber, on the last stint Alonso used the Pirelli's soft tyre compounds and Webber was on the Pirelli's hard compounds. Alonso used the hard tyres for the first two stints and on the final stint to try the softs, and could not keep up his previous pace. Webber caught Alonso rapidly and was behind him with seven laps to go. Then on lap 48 out of 52, Webber pass Alonso at Brooklands for the lead of the race and the win. Webber is now 13 points behind Alonso. Next stop Hockenheim in two weeks time.
In Post 100, I put in a Youtube video into the post on were Sebastian Vettel would like to sign were he souldn't onto one of Eddie Jordan's shirt for charity. And for the last four years, Eddie Jordan hasn't swear on national TV, until now:
Also, Eddie Jordan dropped a £50 note during the qualifing session too:
End of post for now, new post soon. That is all. Bye.
Thoughts on María de Villota testing crash instance from early on the week and aftermath and what's next for Maria.
On Tuesday (3/7/12) morning at Duxford Aerodrome, Marussia F1 test rider Maria de Villota was involved in a testing accident at the Duxford Aerodrome while doing straight line testing, preparation for the this weekend British Grand Prix. Her car collided with a stationary truck at the end of a test run when it had just returned to the service area. Eye witnesses estimated the car was travelling at between 30 and 40mph (50 and 65kmh) when it crashed. It took an hour for her to be removed from the car and she was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridgeshire, with life-threatening head and facial injuries. She was later reported to be conscious. The following day, Marussia team principal John Booth stated that de Villota remained in a "critical but stable" condition in hospital and had lost her right eye.
First, thoughts out to María de Villota and her family at this time. Secondly, It seams it was a complete freak accident what happen on Tuesday, how did it crashed into a stationary truck I do not know. I do feel sorry that she lost her right eye.
Would she gone onto the race in Formula 1 without the accident, no, not talented enough to made it. But what's her future, let say she gets a glass eye put in, can she still race in different racing series or does she retires from motor racing. For example Alex Zanardi, back in 2001 Zanardi lost both of his legs when he suffered a violent accident at the Lausitzring in Germany for a Indy Car race event, crashing into Alex Tagliani which was one of the most worst race accident I have ever seen my life.
And Zanardi returned to racing back in 2004 with a full season in FIA World Touring Car Championship for BMW Team Italy-Spain between 2004 and 2009, even winning a few races in that series. Even this year, his representing Italy at the 2012 London Summer Paralympics in handbiking, a form of paralympic cycling, with the stated goal of representing his country and going for gold.
Another example would be former Formula 1 driver and Le mans winner Johnny Herbert, back in 1988, in an International Formula 3000 race at Brands Hatch. He was caught up in a major accident in the race, badly breaking his legs in a fearsome impact with the barriers. It was an act of huge bravery that saw him back in a racing car at the beginning of 1989, despite the fact he could barely walk. Even more remarkable, he was in Formula 1, scoring points on his debut in Brazil driving for the Benetton team (now Lotus F1 Team) even winning three grand prix's and winning an Le Mans 24 hours race with Mazda back in 1991.
One example, that we don't know what's going to happen is Robert Kubica with the rally crash back in 2011, were his injured his right arm, right hand and right leg. I don't know he will ever come back into Formula 1 driving an F1 car.
And finally this a good example with Fillipe Massa 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, Massa was struck on the helmet by a suspension spring that had fallen from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn, on a high-speed part of the track. He subsequently crashed head-on into a tyre barrier. He had to underwent surgery in the area surrounding his left eye. His condition was initially described as "life-threatening but stable", but improved rapidly. Didn't drive for Ferrari for the rest of the 2009 season. But, came back for the 2010 season.
But, for now hope for a speedy recovery for María de Villota. When you have the whole Formula 1 pit lane behind Maria giving support is a good thing. At the end of the day, she didn't deserved to have her right eye gone. Bye.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, were eight Formula one teams (Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes AMG, Lotus F1 Team, Force India, Williams, Caterham, Marussia) is their home grand prix. So predictions for the race itself, a home race win I predict for Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren, Sebastian Vettel second in his Red Bull and Fernando Alonso third in the Ferrari. Don't forget Mark Webber, Jenson Button, Pastor Maldonado, Sergio Perez, Paul di Resta, the two Lotus F1 Team drivers and two Mercedes AMG drivers as-well for a podium place too.
Also, I do predict as-well that it's gonna to rain throughout this weekend too. End of post for now. New post soon. That is all. Bye.
For almost the last 10 years on and off, there been reports and rumours that London could have its own grand prix inside the Capital City. But, every time its just pie in the sky thinking. But, last week Mclaren's sponsor Santander and Bernie Ecclestone have launched a bid to add a London street circuit to the Formula 1 calendar. The idea is a 3.2mile floodlit track around Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, The Ritz, The London Eye and Trafalgar Square passing these London landmarks at speeds around 180 miles per an hour. Even Santander promoted a 3D video with Hamilton and Button taking about the track below and how cool going to be.
Even a rumour that Bernie Ecclestone could put up £35m of his own money to pay for promoting the grand prix itself. But personally, until I see it for real, its still pie in the sky thinking to be frank.
Even another rumour two weeks back, that a second Grand Prix held in London at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London. The track would run around the Olympic Park and into the stadium with speeds of 200mph around the Olympic Park, I think this is more pie in the sky thinking and pigs might fly theory on-top.
With these two race tracks they will not happen in my opinion, just concepts. Any British Grand Prix this weekend. End of post for now. New post soon. That is all. Bye.
