This season is 50th year of McLaren formed. Didn't started to be a Formula 1 until 1966. McLaren have won many Grand Prix wins' and Drivers and Constructor titles'. Also, winning at Indianapolis 500, Can-am Championships, Le Mans wins and so forth. To Celebrate this a top ten best Mclaren race cars that ever made and produce. Starting with Number ten of the top ten is:
Number 10: 1968-69 McLaren M7
Story: Designed by Robin Herd and Gordon Coppuck, the M7 was the first McLaren to be powered by the 3 litre V8 Cosworth DFV engine. This would be team first win in Formula 1 with the M7 in the hands of McLaren founder Bruce McLaren at the 1968 Belgium Grand Prix, while Denny Hulme took another three wins in the McLaren M7 between 1968 an 1969. Which even took Mclaren to second in the Constructors Championship in 1968.
Number 9: 2008 McLaren MP4-23
Story: The McLaren MP4-23 was designed by Neil Oatley, Tim Goss and Paddy Lowe. Underneath the McLaren MP4-23 had a Mercedes 2.4 litre V8. The McLaren MP4-23 took Lewis Hamilton to the 2008 F1 Drivers title, while it took McLaren second in the F1 Constructors' standings. And the McLaren MP4-23 won six races, five for Lewis Hamilton and one for Heikki Kovalainen as-well.
Number 8: 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 7: 1967 McLaren M6A
Story: The first of championship winning race cars from McLaren. Inside the M6A was a 5.9-litre Chevrolet V8 engine. Which, took McLaren to win its first Can-Am championship in the hands of its founder Bruce McLaren back in 1967.
Number 6: 1995 McLaren F1 GTR
Story: Basically the McLaren F1 GTR developed from the McLaren F1 road car. Designed by Gordon Murray, the McLaren F1 GTR had 600 bhp from a BMW 6.1 litre V12. The McLaren F1 GTR was a grand touring race winning machine, winning races in series such as the BPR Global GT Series, FIA GT Championship, JGTC, and British GT Championship. But, It is most famous for its overall victory at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans where Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing team of Yannick Dalmas, Masanori Sekiya and JJ Lehto, won the race overall ahead of faster purpose-built prototypes. Also in that race, four McLaren F1 GTR finished inside the top five after 24 hours as-well(1st-3rd-4th-5th place).
Number 5: 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 4: 1972-76 McLaren M16C
Story: McLaren M16C took McLaren to three Indianapolis 500 wins in 1972 Mark Donohue with Team Penske (M16B). McLaren as a team won in 1974 and 1976 with Johnny Rutherford behind the wheel. Underneath the Mclaren M16C was an Offenhauser straight four, 2.65 litre turbo engine to produce 750 bhp for those three Indy 500 wins in the mid 1970's.
Number 3: 1984-86 McLaren MP4/2
Story: The McLaren MP4/2 took 22 Wins in three seasons in F1, 16 wins for Alain Prost and 6 for Niki Lauda. Also, took two back to back F1 Constructors' titles for Mclaren in 1984 and 1985. And three F1 Drivers' Championships in hands of Niki Lauda in 1984 and Alain Prost in 1985 and 1986. McLaren MP4/2 was designed by John Barnard and had a TAG-Porsche 1.5 litre V6 engine underneath, which produce 850 bhp near the end of 1986 to give the McLaren MP4/2 one of Mclaren's and Formula 1 most successful race car ever.
Number 2: 1968-71 McLaren M8
Story: Possibly the most dominant Can-Am car McLaren have ever produce. Inside in the M8A, M8B, M8D and M8F was a 7-litre engine V8 from Chevrolet. Which took Denny Hulme to the 1968 and 1970 Cam-Am titles, Bruce McLaren to the 1969 title and Peter Revson to the 1971 Cam-Am Championship.
Number 1: 1988 McLaren MP4/4
Story: The McLaren MP4/4 will be possibly the best McLaren car that have been created from the team and possibly the most dominant racing car in Formula 1 history. The McLaren MP4/4 was design by both Steve Nichols and Gordon Murray. The McLaren MP4/4 has the famous Honda 1.5 litre V6 turbo engine underneath the McLaren MP4/4, the last of the turbos in Formula 1 (until next season that is) which produce over 1000 bhp in qualfing and around 790 bhp in race pace. Which, Mclaren took 15 victories from 16 races in 1988, 8 for Ayrton Senna and 7 for Alain Prost, including 10 1-2 finishes, 15 Poles which Senna took 13 poles that season. Finally gives McLaren the Constructors Championship in 1998 and Ayrton Senna to the Drivers Championship in 1988 as-well.
And to many more years of winning form Mclaren to come.
End of blog for now, new post soon, bye.
Today post is a 2013 F1 preview, all the teams and drivers. Also, predicting this seasons Championship winners and Australian Grand Prix predictions as-well. Starting of with last year constructors champions Red Bull Racing:
Red Bull: the team to beat for drivers constructors championship this year. Sebastian Vettel needs to defend his title for a forth year. But, Mark Webber needs to challenge for the title and take it away from Vettel and to stay at Red Bull for 2014, if not it could be his last season at Red Bull.
Ferrari: looks much of a stronger car this season compared to 2012 car, Fernando Alonso is strong favourite for the Drivers world championship, Another big season for Felipe Massa either a make or brake year to stay at Ferrari too, even in F1 as-well.
McLaren: first season without Lewis Hamilton, how much of an impact will the team miss Hamilton skills? time will tell. Both Jenson Button and Sergio Perez have been fast in testing. But, McLaren needs to bring a fast car throughout the season to beat the likes of Ferrari and Red Bull this season to win championships, if not it could be a hard season ahead for McLaren.
Lotus: looks fast in testing, Kimi Raikkonen looks curtain to challenge for the world drivers championship and win a few races this year. Meanwhile Romain Grosjean is fast in testing, needs to prove it in race pace and finish races in strong positions. If Lotus is fast in races throughout the season, Lotus could beat Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes to third or even second place in the constructors.
Mercedes: look fast in testing, but needs to show in races and if so third in constructors is a strong possibility. Nico Rosberg looks fast in testing. New challenge ahead for Lewis Hamilton, the drivers championship will be a touch challenge to achieve, but race wins look possible.
Sauber: looks fast in testing, will they bring it to races once again this season. Esteban Gutierrez has got nothing to lose as a rookie his season. Nico Hulkenberg now the team leader and looks faster than his team-mate in testing.
Force India: Paul di Resta stays, Adrian Sutil returns to Force India. Looks fast in testing, can they match it race pace against the likes of Sauber, Williams and Toro Rosso to finish in sixth place in the constructors standings this season.
Williams: Valtteri Bottas in, kept Pastor Maldonado for another season. Won a race from last season, can't see them win this season. But, Williams needs to target of top six in the constructors standings will be the challenge this season.
Toro Rosso: Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne stays in the team for 2013. It's a make or brake year for both Ricciardo and Vergne. If the car is there, a top six target in the constructors standings could happen. If that target doesn't meet, both drivers could be in the firing line.
Caterham: two inexperience drivers at the team this season of Charles Pic and rookie Giedo van der Garde. Top ten in the constructors standings must be the target this season ahead of Marussia once again.
Marussia: financial questions above the team since the start of testing, which means dropping Timo Glock from his contract. Which place two rookies in the team of Max Chilton and Jules Bianchi. However the car is faster than Caterham in testing, top ten in the constructors standings is the target this season.
So predictions time, Who gonna win the world drivers championship this season? My prediction is Fernando Alonso for his third world drivers championships. Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen will be touch challengers for this years title. It will be another close drivers championship once again this year in my opinion.
Constructors title: either Red Bull or Ferrari I probably predict Ferrai to win the constructors championships. I think Red Bull will be a close second in the constructors championship. But, I doubt that Mercedes, McLaren or Lotus will be challenging the top two for all season pace.
Predictions for this weekends Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne. For the win I predict Fernando Alonso for the race win in the Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton second in the Mercedes and Sebastian Vettel third in the Red Bull. Don't forget Mark Webber, Felipe Massa, Nico Rosberg, Mclaren drivers and the Lotus drivers either for the race for a podium postion.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Recap of the last round of WRC from this weekends Round 3 of Rally Mexico.
This weekends was the second round of the World Rally Championship at the Rally Mexico (7th-10th March) was won by Sébastien Ogier. Meanwhile, Mikko Hirvonen finished second in the works Citroën DS3 WRC, Hirvonen was three and a half minutes behind Ogier at the end. Meanwhile, Qatar World Rally Team driver Thierry Neuville, finished in third place in the Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Neuville was under four and a half minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Also, mention to Ken Block in his Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta RS WRC finished 9th in last years rally. This year Ken Block finished in 7th place, could have finished in the top six at the end of the last day, never-less his best result in the WRC. Despite, this could be his only WRC outing this season.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won by Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari in his Seashore Qatar World Rally Team backed Ford Fiesta RRC. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari finished in twelfth place overall, he was over 30 minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Highlights of the rally bellow, enjoy.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Despite, Nissan, Dan Gurney's All American Racers, Highcroft Racing and Michelin have pulled out of the DeltaWing project this season. The DeltaWing will still be racing in the American Le Mans series this season with the Panoz Motorsports team.
The DeltaWing will do most rounds of the American Le Mans series this season, minus the street rounds in the series. The DeltaWing will use a new engine after Nissan pulled out the project. The new engine is the Mazda 1.9 lite in-line four turbo which will be producing 345 brake horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, meaning it is also more powerful than the old Nissan engine. While, Michelin have pulled out the project, Bridgestone have replace them as the tyre suppler they will use this season. Also, the DelatWing will jump into the (LM)P1 category this season as-well.
As for drivers Andy Meyrick and Olivier Pla will do most rounds this season, and Johnny O'Connell will be their third driver in 12 hour/1000km rounds when needed. Starting of with the 12 Hours of Sebring in two weeks time.
Good luck to the DeltaWing team for this season. As this is the most imaginative car for many years, impress a lot of people from last year.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Despite, Robert Kubica didn't got a drive in DTM this season. It has been confirmed this morning that that Robert Kubica will return to action this season with an entry into the WRC-2 category of the World Rally Championship.
The former BMW Sauber and Renault driver will join the series in Rally Portugal next month having agreed terms on a deal with Citroen that will see do seven WRC rounds this year at the wheel of a new Citroen DS3 RRC.
The former grand prix winner will begin his season with the European Rally Championship's Rally Canary Islands on March 21-23 before starting his WRC2 programme at Rally Portugal on April 11-14.
Personally, this is good news for the former Renault driver as this is another big step back into motor-racing since his big accident in February 2011, were he was heavily injured in a crash on the first stage of the Ronde di Andora rally near Genoa in Italy, were Kubica heavily injured his right arm, hand and leg. Also, I would have liked him be in DTM this season with Mercedes instead of WRC-2, but this is still good news for the former grand prix winner today nonetheless.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Usually with the words Gymkhana and Hooning, usually you associate with Ken Block, Ford Fiesta and Subaru Impreza. But, this time the words Audi and Timo Scheider are now associate with Gymkhana and Hooning. Audi created a new ninety-five second video below of double DTM champion Timo Scheider driving/hooning a 4WD 252 bhp Audi A1 Quattro by going to building site which they're bulding the new world's largest used car centre in Munich, Germany and causing havoc.
Enjoy the video of Audi way of Gymkhana.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Rumours yesterday that Luiz Razia may be dropped from Marussia despite not driving a grand prix for them due to sponsorship though to be planned who have backed off. Rumours have become true as it was confirmed yesterday (1/3/13) that Luiz Razia losses his Marussia drive. And now has been replace by former Force India reserve driver and current Ferrari development driver Jules Bianchi, who will be Max Chilton team-mate at Murussia this season.
Luiz Razia suppose to drive at Marussia this season after the team terminated Timo Glock's contract because the team needed the money from a 'pay-drive'. And since his agreed a deal to race for BMW in the DTM Series. But, after a few weeks that Luiz Razia deal has been agreed, but the deal has been dropped due to sponsors from Brazil have let him down. Jules Bianchi has stepped in a bit of sponsorship from France and Italy, also a strong possibility of V6 Ferrari Turbo engines for 2014 at a discount price replacing Cosworth, who are more than likely to leave the sport after this season.
Gutted for Luiz Razia losing his drive due to his sponsors with two weeks before the season to start. As for Jules Bianchi, good luck driving at Marussia this season, at least he proved me wrong in the last 24 hours. Because, I predicted he won't be driving in F1 in 2013, I got that prediction wrong already in 2013.
Now bring on the new Formula 1 season. End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
