Will Formula 1 really precede with the Bahrain Grand Prix?
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 6th, 2012 | 0 commentsMaurнcio Gugelmin Dan Gurney Hubert Hahne Mike Hailwood Mika Hдkkinen
CUP: Fuel Injection Scrambles Strategies
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 6th, 2012 | 0 commentsBetter fuel mileage will be one of the benefits of NASCAR?s move to fuel-injected engines?
Mike Hailwood Mika Hдkkinen Bruce Halford Jim Hall Duncan Hamilton
Red Bull set to dominate?
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 6th, 2012 | 0 commentsTo some, the decision of Red Bull and Ferrari to pull out of the Formula 1 Teams’ Association, the umbrella group that represents the teams’ interests, could look innocuous enough. In reality it could have far-reaching consequences.
The F1 teams have put a brave public face on it, but behind the scenes there are serious concerns that it could lead to a period of Red Bull domination about which their rivals can do little.
The move by two of F1′s most powerful teams was provoked by continuing distrust about whether all of the competitors were adhering to the terms of a document called the Resource Restriction Agreement.
The RRA sets out limits on the amount of staff, external spend and aerodynamic research teams can employ and covers work on the design of the car – with drivers’ salaries, marketing and engines excluded.
World Champion Sebastian Vettel’s (left) team Red Bull and Michael Schumacher’s (right) former team Ferrari announced that they have quit the Formula One Teams Association (Fota). PHOTO: Getty
It is not a budget cap per se, but it does have the effect of keeping costs under control, to the point that the biggest budgets have dropped from in the region of £300m in 2008 to an estimated £150-200m in 2011.
To cite just one example, the RRA limits the amount of hours a team can dedicate to wind-tunnel testing – a key way of honing an F1 car’s aerodynamics, the single biggest performance differentiator.
And the more wind-tunnel hours you do, the less simulation of aerodynamics on a computer is allowed (and vice versa).
Because there is only so much of this work that a team can do, there is only so much money they can spend.
The problem that has arisen is that some of the teams – led by Ferrari and Mercedes – believe Red Bull have been exceeding these limits since 2010, the first of their two consecutive title-winning years.
Red Bull insist they have always operated within the RRA – and they counter their rivals’ accusations by pointing out that it is easier for an F1 team allied to a car company (as Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren all are) to hide extra work than it is for one that operates in isolation.
A year’s worth of talks to try to reach a compromise agreement with which everyone is happy have come to nothing, leading to a situation where Ferrari and Red Bull have run out of patience. They signalled their intention to quit Fota late on Friday – although they have to give two months’ notice.
Ferrari’s statement was long and detailed, talking about their reluctance at a “difficult decision”, their ongoing commitment to cost-reduction and other changes in F1, and emphasising their own central role in Fota since it was set up in 2008.
Red Bull’s ran to only two sentences: “Red Bull Racing can confirm it has served notice to withdraw from Fota. The team will remain committed to finding a solution regarding cost saving in Formula 1.”
This in itself has led to more suspicion.
It is clear, more than one insider has said, why Ferrari pulled out of Fota – if the organisation could not sort out an RRA, what was the point of it? – but Red Bull’s reasoning was very different.
The implication being that the world champions did not like the RRA because they had no intention of adhering to it. Fota had become an inconvenience.
Red Bull were not available for comment.
This suspicion has been poisoning the atmosphere within F1 all year, despite attempts to reduce it.
As well as the endless meetings aimed at bringing the two warring sides together, there was an investigation in the summer by external consultants into the way the teams were detailing their use of resources.
But while Red Bull believe this effectively cleared them of wrongdoing, their accusers disagree. “The analysis showed more than one concern about what Red Bull were doing,” one insider told me.
The next step, as laid out by the RRA, was for a full audit of the accounts of the team about which there were suspicions – if a certain number of teams wanted this to happen, the accused team had to agree.
But this point was never reached, and after further meetings at the season-closing Brazilian Grand Prix, Ferrari and Red Bull ran out of patience.
So what happens next? Is this the death knell for Fota? Will the departure of Ferrari and Red Bull lead to a domino effect of teams leaving the organisation?
Alternatively, will a rump stick together, recognising that there can still be strength in numbers, not least in the forthcoming negotiations with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone over a new Concorde Agreement, the document which binds the teams, the commercial rights holder and governing body the FIA together?
That may become clearer after a Fota meeting on Tuesday.
More importantly, does this mean the end for resource restrictions in F1 – and will the sport therefore revert to the ‘arms race’ spending that led to the RRA in the first place?
On the face of it, the answer to that is no. The RRA is still technically in force. It is a legally binding document which lasts until at least 2012, or perhaps even 2017 – depending on whom you believe, and which version of the document you are talking about.
In theory, if Red Bull’s rivals feel that they are breaking the RRA, they can sue them. If that sounds unlikely, one insider I spoke to for this article raised it as a possibility.
Equally, though, Red Bull and Ferrari are due to meet the other members of F1′s big four – McLaren and Mercedes – next week to discuss resource restriction and how to move forward on it.
That hardly sounds like the actions of a group of people on the verge of legal action.
In public, everyone in F1 says they want to avoid a return to unrestricted spending.
One of the main reasons for this is that (effectively) unrestricted money is no longer available to top F1 teams – the effects of the credit crunch have reached even this notoriously expensive sport’s rarefied climes.
Many of the smaller teams are living hand-to-mouth to a degree, with only the top four existing in relative comfort.
But even they have limitations on what they can spend.
McLaren are a private team who have to live within the budget they can raise from sponsorship and other commercial partnerships.
Mercedes, huge car company though it may be, has set clear limits on the amount of money its team can spend.
Even Ferrari, who 10 years ago could effectively spend what they wanted, now have to be careful with money.
But Red Bull are different, or so their rivals believe.
Team principal Christian Horner insists they have far from the biggest budget in F1 – he ranks them about third or fourth.
But his rivals raise their eyebrows at that, pointing out that Red Bull is worth billions and that the soft-drinks company is weathering the global economic downturn well by comparison with car companies and traditional corporate giants. In that sense, their rivals say, they really can spend what they want.
So whether founded on reality or not, and whether the accusation at its heart contains any truth, the fear at the heart of F1 is quite simple.
If Red Bull, despite the RRA, are prepared to spend what they want, as well as having the best designer in Adrian Newey and arguably the best driver in Sebastian Vettel, who can stop them dominating for years to come?
Mika Hдkkinen Bruce Halford Jim Hall Duncan Hamilton Lewis Hamilton
Caption this: Kevin Harvick
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 6th, 2012 | 0 commentsNarain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama Ken Kavanagh Rupert Keegan Eddie Keizan
Huet Brothers Coupe proposal is a modern day classic
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 5th, 2012 | 0 comments
The phrase “modern day classic” is generally used to describe a film post 1970 that is widely considered to be very original, and as a result, very influential.
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Video: Hyundai i30 commercial previews upcoming Elantra five-door
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 5th, 2012 | 0 commentsFiled under: Budget, Europe, Videos, Hatchback, Hyundai, UK
Based on the can’t-make-enough status of the Hyundai Elantra, the public hasn’t gotten tired of Hyundai’s “fluidic sculpture” design theme. Based on this commercial for the Hyundai i30, we admit that we haven’t either. The five-door sold in Europe and based on the Kia Cee’d platform shows us what we can generally expect from the upcoming Elantra Touring replacement.
The last Elantra wagon didn’t get big play here three years ago, but neither the Elantra nor Hyundai were in the position they’re in now. In Europe, the i30 five-door will get a choice of four engines and three transmissions, but we shouldn’t expect to be so spoiled for choice. Follow the jump to see the video.
Continue reading Hyundai i30 commercial previews upcoming Elantra five-door
Hyundai i30 commercial previews upcoming Elantra five-door originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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MINI Cooper Convertible Highgate special edition announced
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 5th, 2012 | 0 comments
MINI has unveiled the Cooper Convertible Highgate special edition. It features unique styling and a luxurious interior.
Aldo Gordini Horace Gould Jean Marc Gounon Emmanuel de Graffenried Lucas di Grassi
Kentucky Speedway to Place Single Race Tickets on Sale Feb. 8 and Change Cooler Policy
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 5th, 2012 | 0 commentsKentucky Speedway LogoCustomers will be able to carry coolers containing snacks, unopened soft drinks and water to their seats for the first time in speedway history. Single-race tickets for five NASCAR events including the June 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ?Quaker State 400? go on sale at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8, atwww.kentuckyspeedway.com, 888-652-7223 and Kentucky Speedway…more»
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House GOP Moves to Decimate Dedicated Transit Funding
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 5th, 2012 | 0 commentsIn a move that should dispel any remaining thoughts that the House transportation bill [PDF] will ever be signed into law, the Ways and Means Committee announced today that they will try to forbid gas tax revenue from funding transit.
House Ways and Means chair Dave Camp (R-MI) and Speaker John Boehner. Photo: Talking Points Memo
The [...]
Oswald Karch Narain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama Ken Kavanagh Rupert Keegan
2012 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 4th, 2012 | 0 comments
Ukyo Katayama Ken Kavanagh Rupert Keegan Eddie Keizan Al Keller
2012 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 4th, 2012 | 0 comments
Paul Goldsmith Josй Froilбn Gonzбlez Oscar Gonzбlez Aldo Gordini Horace Gould
Allisons deliver 1-2 punch in '92 Daytona 500
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 4th, 2012 | 0 commentsMatthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte
F1 2011 Launch Catch Up ? McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Sauber, Toro Rosso, Renault?
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 4th, 2012 | 0 commentsCatching up on the launches in one mega post. Here in you’ll find quick interviews with senior members of the team and photos from the Red Bull, Sauber, Renault Lotus, Toro Rosso, Mercedes and McLaren launches. Apologies for being somewhat late, the whole blog isn’t running at full power until the season starts again. Red [...]
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Addng Photos
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 3rd, 2012 | 0 comments(Please visit the site to view this media)
Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals Paul Goldsmith Josй Froilбn Gonzбlez
Euronova returns to Auto GP in 2012
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 3rd, 2012 | 0 commentsEuronova Racing has announced its return to Auto GP this season. The team, founded by former International F3000 champion Vincenzo Sospiri, competed in Auto GP’s maiden season in 2010, winning the inaugural race at Brno with Luca Filippi at the wheel. In addition to Filippi, Euronova has previously nurtured Formula 1 drivers Vitaly Petrov and Jerome D’Ambrosio.
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2013 Mercedes A-Class caught completely undisguised [video]
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 3rd, 2012 | 0 comments
Dutch cycling club OGOTT caught the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class completely undisguised during a cycling tour on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.
Georges Grignard Bobby Grim Romain Grosjean Olivier Grouillard Brian Gubby
Bahrain isn’t in the script
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 3rd, 2012 | 0 commentsMax Jean Stefan Johansson Eddie Johnson Leslie Johnson Bruce Johnstone
2012 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 2nd, 2012 | 0 comments
David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch
McLaren MP4-27 Formula 1 Race Car
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 2nd, 2012 | 0 comments
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McLaren has unveiled their new MP4-27 Formula 1 Race Car that will be used during the 2012 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. This year, the car will be driven by the two world champions: Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.
The new MP4-27 is a natural evolution of last year?s six-race-winning car, but it has received a number of modifications in order to comply with the new FIA regulations. The 2012 chassis has been substantially revised from the ground-up, with all major systems updated or re-designed for the new season. The racing car has also received more tightly waisted rear bodywork, developed to improve flow to the rear of the car, and a revised cooling system, which re-directs the gearbox oil-cooler. The U-shaped sidepods from last year’s model have also been re-designed due to the new exhaust regulations.
The McLaren MP4-27 Formula 1 Race Car will begin testing on Tuesday February 7th, 2012 at Spain?s Circuito de Jerez with Jenson Button behind the wheel.
McLaren MP4-27 Formula 1 Race Car originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 1 February 2012 18:00 EST.
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Robert Kubica Hospitalised Following Rally Accident
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 2nd, 2012 | 0 commentsUPDATE ON KUBICA’s CONDITION: http://wp.me/p3uiu-11K Renault Lotus F1 driver Robert Kubica has been airlifted to hospital following a car accident while competing on a rally. The incident, described as a high speed accident, left the Pole injured and he had to be airlifted to hospital. His co-driver Jakub Gerber was uninjured in the incident. While [...]
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Warren Edges Buchberger for Truck Title
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 2nd, 2012 | 0 comments2011 NiSWC champion Adds NASCAR iRacing.com Class C Series Crown to His Trophy Case In the span of seven days, Alex Warren went from winning the NASCAR iRacing.com Pro Series championship to having to battle fellow Pro pilot Brandon Buchberger down to the wire in the NASCAR iRacing Class C Series (NiCCS). The duel was just that, close enough that it came down to the final laps of the season and when the points were tallied, it was Warren and his Core Pipe/GSRacing.net sponsored team who came out on top after the grueling twelve week season ? by one point. Week Eleven saw the series convene at the Tricky Triangle, formally known as Pocono Raceway. Warren finished atop the standings for the week and gained 13 points on his nearest [...]
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2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series Spied, Looks Seriously Bad-Ass
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 2nd, 2012 | 0 commentsUpdate 2/11: We?ve again captured the SLS Black, this time wearing more production-ready bodywork. Check out the new photos in the gallery. Keep Reading: 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series Spy Photos – Future Cars
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Racing legend Foyt forced to skip Rolex 24 at Daytona
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 1st, 2012 | 0 commentsLeslie Johnson Bruce Johnstone Alan Jones Tom Jones Juan Jover
This Week: Help Choose Bike-Share Locations in CB 4
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 1st, 2012 | 0 commentsThe big activity on the livable streets calendar this week — and perhaps for weeks to come — is bike-share station selection. The first local workshop, hosted by Manhattan Community Board 4 and West Side elected officials, will begin to determine where stations will be located in Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea. One of the major [...]
2012 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on Feb 1st, 2012 | 0 comments
Toyota Kimmy Z Line Designs Toyota Parker Kligerman Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota
