Just like Peugeot with the Peugeot 208 R5 and just like M-Sport/Ford with the M-Sport Ford Fiesta R5. Citroen recently announced that they will build a new rally car for Group R rules for the new WRC-2 class for 2014. They will be building a new rally car for Group R called Citroen DS3 R5.
Based on the Citroen DS3 road car. The 2014 Citroen DS3 R5 Rally Car was launch just before this weekends Rally de Portugal for the forth round of the WRC. The DS3 R5 has a 1.6 litre 4-cylinders turbo engine that produces around 260 bhp and top speed around the 155 mph mark.
During watching the WTCC last weekend round in Morocco on Eurosport, Lotus driver and 2007 F1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen was advertising the new Renault Megane for Renault. And the typical Kimi Raikkonen comedy.
Also, Kimi advertise a few months back for a Finnish Clothing company called Makia Clothing with another funny advert from the iceman. And a good way on getting a Formula 1 world champion to do an ad for you.
It's been 20 years today since Ayrton Senna's first lap at a damp/wet/dry Donnington Park. Started from forth place on the grid behind Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher. Then on the first lap, blocked by Michael Schumacher, which Karl Wendlinger overtake for forth place. After that Magic!, passing Karl Wendlinger, Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill and Alain Prost on the first lap right before the Melbourne loop, on a wet Donnington track to give Senna one of the best opening laps in history! As this Youtube video below shows.
Despite he was in an underpowered McLaren MP4/8 (had a non-works Ford V8, which had 100 bhp less than the Williams FW15C Renault V10 engine at that period) won the European Grand Prix, at Donnington Park, in wet/damp/dry conditions. And Senna was over a minute ahead of Damon Hill and lapping the rest of the field as-well. That was a great of a driver Senna is.
Finally, the Rush trailer has appeared on the internet. The Film won't come out until mid-September, 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.
Enjoy the trailer below. I am looking forward when the film comes out in mid-September.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit, on the outskirts of Shanghai.
And so predictions for the race itself, and surprise surprise Sebastian Vettel for the win once again in his Red Bull, Fernando Alonso second in his Ferrari and third for Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes. Don't forget Mark Webber, Felipe Massa, Nico Rosberg, the two McLaren drivers or the two Lotus drivers either for a podium place as-well.
Review of the first round of the 2013 MotoGP season at Losail, Doha in Qatar for MotoGP's only night race of the season. And for this season, all MotoGP classes are reviewed (MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3).
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Yamaha Factory Racing rider and current MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo in a pole to lights win in his works Yamaha YZR-M1. Second place was the returning Yamaha Factory Racing rider Valentino Rossi in his works Yamaha YZR-M1 to give Yamaha an one-two race finish, he was only under 6 seconds behind Lorenzo at the end. While, third was Repsol Honda Team rider and MotoGP rookie and 2012 Moto2 Champion Marc Márquez in his works Honda RC213V, he was over 6 seconds behind Lorenzo at the end.
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 11th overall in his ART (Aprilia), he was under 50 seconds behind Lorenzo at the end.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-four 600 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Tuenti HP 40 rider Pol Espargaró on the Kalex. Second was Marc VDS Racing Team rider of Scott Redding on the Kalex, he was only under a second behind Espargaró at the end. While, third was Italtrans Racing Team rider Takaaki Nakagami on the Kalex, he was 12 seconds behind Espargaró at the end of the race.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Luis Salom on the KTM. Second was Team Calvo rider Maverick Viñales on the KTM, he was only 41 hundredths of a second behind Salom at the end of the race. While, third was Estrella Galicia rider Álex Rins on the KTM, he was only 42 hundredths of a second behind Salom at the end of the race.
It is more than likely then ever now that Honda will return to Formula 1 for the 2015 season, as an engine supplier with McLaren in 2015 with an all new Honda 1.6 litre Turbo V6s'(very strong possibility that deal is already been signed). This post will be Top six Honda F1 race cars that have been in Formula 1.
Starting with Number 6:
Number 6: 2004 BAR 006
Story: BAR 006 was designed by Geoff Willis, The BAR 006 used the Honda 3 litre V10 producing around 900 bhp. Wasn't a race winner on this list. But, Jenson Button took three second place finishes (Imola, Monaco and Shanghai). Also, the BAR 006 took the team to second place in the Constructor standings in 2004.
Number 5: 1967 Honda RA300 (Lola T130)
Story: Based on a previous Lola T90 that won the 1966 Indianapolis 500. The chassis was designed by Lola, Lola called it T130. But, really it raced as the Honda RA300 because Honda was the constructor. This collaboration resulted in the machine being quickly dubbed the "Hondola" by the motorsports press in 1967. Also, the Honda RA300 underneath had a Honda 3 litre V12 producing over 400 bhp. Only raced for four Grand Prixs, won on its debut race with 1964 F1 world champion John Surtees driving the car at the 1967 Italian Grand Prix. Honda's first Grand Prix win and Lola's only Formula 1 win and took Honda to forth in the Constructors standings in 1967.
Number 4: 1987 Lotus 99T
Story: Lotus 99T was designed by Gérard Ducarouge and the first Formula 1 and Lotus chassis to be fitted with electronic active suspension. Also, the Lotus 99T 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 Lotus 99T took to Lotus to third in the Constructors standings in 1987 and took two wins for Ayrton Senna at Monaco, Detroit and the final Grand prix win for Team Lotus.
Number 3: 1989-90 McLaren MP4/5
Story: The McLaren MP4/5 was designed by Gordon Murray, Steve Nichols and Neil Oatley. And it's the first of the non turbo Honda F1 cars, the MP4/5 had the Honda 3.5 litre V10 producing around 680 bhp. The McLaren MP4/5 took two constructor titles' in 1989 and 1990 and two drivers titles' with Alain Prost in 1989, and with Ayrton Senna in 1990. Sixteen Grand Prix wins in those two seasons, four for Alain Prost and twelve for Ayrton Senna and controversy in-between those two drivers.
Number 2: 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 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 qualifying and around 790 bhp in race pace. Which, McLaren took fifteen victories from sixteen races in 1988, eight for Ayrton Senna and seven for Alain Prost, including ten 1-2 finishes, fifteen Poles which Senna took thirteen poles that season. Finally gives McLaren the Constructors Championship in 1998 and Ayrton Senna to the Drivers Championship in 1988 as-well.
