Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/ferrari-reshuffle-top-staff-following-abu-dhabi-failure/
Monday, January 31, 2011
Ferrari Reshuffle Top Staff Following Abu Dhabi Failure
Ferrari have reshuffled their senior engineering team following a series of failures that saw them lose the 2010 Formula One World Championship at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. One of the most senior Ferrari members called Fernando Alonso into the pits too early, forcing him to be stuck well down the [...]
'66 Sunbeam Tiger
I decided to build something different from my typical Buicks. My dad had a Sunbeam Alpine when I was a teen and I thought it was a cool car.
I think this fairly accurately represents a '66 Sunbeam Tiger Mk 1A in Orchid Green with a LAT1 option that included a Holley 4bbl carb and aluminum intake.
The kit was pretty poor. There was TONS of flash and the chrome is horrible. This was my first time airbrushing model enamel. The shine is not what I was looking for. Paint is where I struggle the most with my builds. The build is basically box-stock with an emobssing powder flock job on the interior. Looking at these pics I guess I lost a little flock flipping it over and it's on the windshied. I could have cleaned it better!
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/938398.aspx
Skoda to get a rebadged Volkswagen Up! - report
With Skoda sales on the upswing, a new report is indicating the Czechoslovakian brand will get a rebadged version of the Volkswagen Up! / Lupo.Mercedes W02 rendering revealed | 2011 F1 cars
Mercedes have published a rendering of their new 2011 F1 car, the W02.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/1EDscgQJkAE/
F1: Massa promised equal opportunities
Massa promised equal opportunities By Jonathan Noble and Dieter Rencken Friday, January 28th 2011, 13:33 GMT Felipe Massa says he has been given promises by Ferrari management that he is not heading into 2011 just to play a supporting role to team-mate Fernando Alonso. Related posts:- F1: Massa pleased with strong Pirelli start Massa pleased with strong Pirelli start By Edd Straw Friday,...
- F1: Massa: Ferrari cannot dwell on defeat Massa: Ferrari cannot dwell on defeat By Steven English and...
- F1: Massa upbeat about Monaco prospects Massa upbeat about Monaco prospects By Edd Straw and Pablo...
Source: http://doxcar.com/f1-massa-promised-equal-opportunities/
Keith Andrews Elio de Angelis Marco Apicella Mário de Araújo Cabral
Bahrain F1: Live Race Results and Positions after 1st Lap
Sebastian Vettel has started from the Pole Position at the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix but its the Ferrari of Filepe Massa which has taken the lead.
Here are the standings after the 1st lap at Bahrain F1 Grand Prix:
1 VETTEL ? Red Bull
2 ALONSO ? Ferrari
3 MASSA ? Ferrari
4 ROSBERG ? Mercedes
5 HAMILTON ? McLaren
6 [...]
Here are the standings after the 1st lap at Bahrain F1 Grand Prix:
1 VETTEL ? Red Bull
2 ALONSO ? Ferrari
3 MASSA ? Ferrari
4 ROSBERG ? Mercedes
5 HAMILTON ? McLaren
6 [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/formula-f1/~3/RBJWIX-d9BU/
Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh Lucien Bianchi Gino Bianco
F1 gurus lead a revolution in car design
Formula 1 is undergoing a quiet revolution.
In two years' time, the cars that line up on the grid for the start of the 2013 season will be vastly different from those that raced in 2010.
Governing body the FIA has already announced that the current 2.4-litre normally aspirated V8 engines will be replaced by 1.6-litre turbocharged versions with integrated energy recovery systems.
Now, BBC Sport can reveal that, driven by this big change to the engine regulations, the cars will also undergo their own huge revisions.
To the casual observer, they will still look like F1 cars and, importantly, will still go like them. But within the limitations of an open-cockpit, single-seater racing car with exposed wheels, they will be very different from current machines.
Gone will be the huge, snowplough front wings that have been required since the last major change of rules. Gone will be the high, chunky rear wings. Gone, too, will be the high-revving shriek of the engines.
In their place will be a car with much smaller front and rear wings and the much flatter, lower-pitched sound of a lower-revving turbo.
And critically - although largely invisible - there will be a shaped underfloor, replacing the flat bottoms that have been on F1 cars since 1983.
The 1982 Ferrari - a 126C2 - also possessed a small front wing
These external changes reflect a major change in the philosophy behind the cars and, as with the turbo engines, it is a case of back to the future. As the 1980s dominate the latest High Street fashions, so F1 is borrowing from technologies last seen then and updating them for the 21st century.
F1 last saw turbo engines in 1988. The last time cars had shaped underbodies was 1982. Those were the days of 'ground effect', when designers created huge amounts of aerodynamic downforce - and high cornering speeds - by accelerating the air under the car through the use of curved underfloors to create a 'venturi effect'. This was enhanced by the use of 'skirts', which sealed the underbody and prevented air leaking out of the sides.
We are not talking about a return to those days but the general principle is the same. Just as the cars in the 1979-82 period had small front and rear wings, so will the cars of 2013 and beyond.
The difference now is that whereas in the late 1970s and early '80s aerodynamics in F1 cars were still relatively in their infancy and designers were simply chasing as much as they could, now they are highly refined. And the men behind the proposed new rules are using the underfloor of the car to create efficient - but strictly limited - downforce.
The FIA recognised that if it was to make such a major change to the cars, it needed to be done as effectively and credibly as possible. So to help draw up the new rules they asked two of the most respected and experienced designers they could find - Patrick Head and Rory Byrne.
Between them, Head, the engineering director of Williams, and Byrne, now retired but formerly of Benetton and Ferrari, have won a total of 17 constructors' titles and 15 drivers' titles. They were first approached by FIA president Jean Todt in March 2010.
Among the provisos Head and Byrne were given were: a) at the very least, make sure the changes did not make overtaking any harder than it already is; and b) make the cars a bit harder to drive - the target being for a driver to be able to be on full throttle for only about 50% of the lap, as opposed to the current average of 70%.
The new regulations are being fine-tuned by FIA race director Charlie Whiting this week before being sent to the 12 F1 teams for analysis. In the new year, they will be critiqued at the sport's Technical Working Group, a group of leading engineers who effectively define the technical rules.
Head says "sure as hell there'll be some small changes" there. The basic philosophy, though, is expected to stay the same, while Head says the shaped underfloor is "inevitable".
"It all starts with the fact that we are only going to have roughly 65% of the amount of fuel, and a (limited) fuel flow rate," he explains. "When you're very limited on fuel, it's very clear you've got to reduce drag enormously. OK, the tyres are a very high proportion of the drag but we decided not to put tiny skinny tyres on it because it's still required to go around corners quickly.
"So the next thing you turn to is the massive rear wing we're running at the moment and as soon as you replace that with a much smaller one, it's 'Oh, we've lost all our downforce, so what can we do?' So inevitably you end up with a shaped underside."
This idea has been around for a long time - as long ago as 1998, when another working group, led by the late Dr Harvey Postlethwaite, also suggested reducing the sizes of front and rear wings and re-introducing shaped underfloors. The idea was canned by then FIA president Max Mosley.
Back then, the motivating factor was to improve the racing. In theory, cars designed this way can follow each other more closely than modern F1 cars.
Currently, drivers experience a severe lack of grip when they get to within about a second of a car in front because the airflow to their cars, particularly over the critical front wing, is badly disturbed.
In theory, with smaller wings and a greater proportion of the total downforce coming from under the car, there is less disturbance in the wake of the car in front, so a following car loses less aerodynamic downforce. It therefore retains more grip, allowing drivers to get closer to the car they want to overtake, making passing easier.
Under these new rules, any benefit to the racing will be secondary. The first goal is improving the cars' efficiency.
But it's just possible that, in chasing a goal that is all about keeping F1 in step with a world of diminishing fossil fuels, the effect will be to make overtaking easier.
Chastened by years of rule changes aimed at making cars more raceable that made no discernible difference, those involved are cagey about that for now. But one senior figure will at least admit the thought is on their minds.
"One of the fundamental parts of this," he said, "was that it wouldn't make it worse. But we do believe that if you can ensure there's less disturbance in the wake, that's good."
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2010/12/formula_1_is_undergoing_a_quie.html
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Vettel?s contract
There is some discussion in the media this week about Sebastian Vettel’s contractual status in 2012. To put things into perspective one should know that Vettel has been a Red Bull driver since he was in karting at the age of 12. There was a brief period after he won the Formula BMW Championship that [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/vettels-contract/
Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh Lucien Bianchi
Video: 2012 Nissan GT-R Launch Control in action
Nissan is offering once again the Launch Control system in the 2012 GT-R. This system will help the car to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in an impressive 2.9 seconds. However the new system changes its name into R-Mode Start Function.
In order to use the Launch Control system driver must move the shift lever to the A or M position. Then select R mode with the transmission setup switch and then the R mode with the VDC setup switch. Next depress the brake pedal firmly with your left foot and keep depressing the brake pedal and depress the accelerator pedal quickly to the floor with your right foot while the brake pedal is depressed until the engine speed will increase to approximately 4,000 rpm. Within 3 seconds after depressing the accelerator pedal, release the brake pedal.
Video: 2012 Nissan GT-R Launch Control in action originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 29 January 2011 12:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/video-2012-nissan-gt-r-launch-control-in-action-ar104062.html
Montezemolo urges rethink on testing and engine rules | 2011 F1 season
Luca di Montezemolo says a four-cylinder Ferrari would be "absurd".
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/Lezm0xedWXQ/
Tom Walkinshaw - an obituary
Tom Walkinshaw, who has died of cancer aged 64, was one of the most powerful personalities in motorsport for nearly 30 years and, latterly, an influential figure in English rugby.
Walkinshaw's famous TWR racing team won championships in touring cars and sportscars, as well as claiming the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1988, giving Jaguar its first win in the race for more than 30 years in the process.
But Formula 1, motorsport's pinnacle, proved a tougher challenge. Although the Scot was instrumental in the success of the Benetton team with Michael Schumacher from 1992-4, his attempts to conquer it with his own team eventually led to his downfall and exit from top-level motor racing.
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When Walkinshaw joined Benetton in 1991, after nearly two decades of often controversial successes in touring cars and sportscars, his reputation preceded him.
He was known as an uncompromising and controversial character whose granite jaw reflected his determination - he pushed things to the limit, didn't mind who he upset to get his way and used his imposing physical presence to its full effect.
Walkinshaw was not a tall man but he was immensely broad and stocky, and he was not afraid to employ his physical strength to his own ends.
At a sportscar race once, he sought out a journalist to whose reporting he had taken exception, dragged him across the pit lane and hung him over the pit wall as cars passed by at nearly 200mph while he verbally harangued him.
But Walkinshaw had brains as well as brawn. He was a very competent racing driver in touring cars in the 1970s but he was a far better team boss.
One of the people he employed at Jaguar was Ross Brawn, later to transform Ferrari into the most efficient winning machine in F1 history, but then an ambitious young designer.
Walkinshaw took him on to apply F1 expertise to sportscars and the result was a game-changing car that won the world sportscar championship.
With that conquered, only F1 remained and the flamboyant new Benetton team boss Flavio Briatore, an intimidating character himself, decided that Walkinshaw and Brawn were the men he needed to turn Benetton from also-rans to winners. Walkinshaw was installed as engineering director, Brawn as technical director.
It didn't take long for Walkinshaw's ruthlessness to emerge.
He had witnessed Schumacher's talents driving for Mercedes in sportscars and when the 22-year-old German made an electrifying F1 debut for Jordan at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, Walkinshaw told Briatore this was the driver they needed. By the next race in Italy Schumacher was in the cockpit of a Benetton, the fact that he had binding contract with Jordan a minor inconvenience.
Together, Benetton and Schumacher made a formidable team and success was not long coming - by 1994 they were world champions. But, just as in the other categories in which Walkinshaw had competed, the whiff of controversy followed him to F1.
Benetton were accused of cheating. They were found to have illegal driver-aid software in their cars, but were not punished because the sport's governing body, the FIA, could not prove it had been used. Then, after a refuelling fire during the German Grand Prix, Benetton were found guilty of taking a filter out of their fuel hose without authorisation.
Benetton's 1994 pit fire led to the end of Walkinshaw's career with the team
They blamed it on a "junior member of staff", but the rumour was that Walkinshaw had authorised it.
Benetton agreed with the FIA to part company with certain unidentified staff as an act of good faith. It was an open secret that a deal had been brokered behind closed doors that Walkinshaw would leave the company at the end of the year.
He moved first to run Benetton-linked Ligier, before in early 1996 taking over Arrows.
Such was the regard in which Walkinshaw was held that he was expected to make a success of a team that had never won a race in its 20-year history.
He pulled off a coup by convincing world champion Damon Hill to join the team for 1997 but the car was uncompetitive. Hill took a somewhat freak second place in Hungary but left the team at the end of the year.
From then on, it was largely all downhill, despite a few flashes of hope, namely when investment bank Morgan Grenfell bought into the team in 1998 and Walkinshaw signed a high-profile sponsorship deal with mobile phone network Orange in 2000.
Generally, his Arrows years were a struggle against the odds, and they ended in 2002 with the ignominy of a High Court battle with Morgan Grenfell and a damning judgement, in which Mr Justice Lightman described proposals Walkinshaw had made trying to ensure the survival of the team as "underhand and improper, indeed downright dishonest".
Why did it go wrong for him in F1?
Some said Walkinshaw too often had his eye off the ball, concentrating on his other business interests, such as his TWR engineering group and Gloucester Rugby Club, to the detriment of his F1 team.
Walkinshaw found money and new partners hard to come by, despite his long history in the car and motorsport industries - or perhaps because of it, some believed.
Walkinshaw was a hard-nosed businessman and sportsman, always viewed as the ultimate survivor, the man who could be guaranteed to pull off the last-minute saving deal.
But his failure with Arrows spelt the end of his association with top-level motorsport, although he did continue to run a touring car team in Australia.
He turned his business acumen and tough negotiating skills to a new role in rugby.
Related or not, the collapse of Arrows coincided with Walkinshaw's tenure as chairman of Premier Rugby, the top-flight clubs' umbrella body, from 1998-2002.
Later, he led the clubs' team negotiating with the Rugby Football Union over the release of England players, the details of which are now enshrined in an eight-year agreement that has largely ended what for a while were very bitter wrangles over the management of the men playing for the national side.
As chairman of Gloucester, he is remembered fondly for pumping in lots of money and keeping the team at the forefront of the game, even if he never quite achieved his ambitions either domestically or in Europe.
Walkinshaw was a complex figure who aroused mixed emotions but, although he had a dark side, plenty of people will remember him as a warm-hearted and generous man.
BBC F1 analyst Martin Brundle, whose long relationship with Walkinshaw included winning Le Mans and the world sportscar title, says: "He was a mentor to me.
"I wrote to him and asked him for a drive when he didn't know me from Adam and he gave me a chance. If he hadn't done that, I'd still be selling Toyotas in West Norfolk, for sure. He was an entrepreneurial racer and a great tactician."
And Hill, now president of the British Racing Drivers' Club that owns Silverstone, adds: "He was a very big-hearted guy who put everything he had into motor racing in all its forms. He loved motorsport and he liked business, too.
"Tom had competitive spirit and there were a lot of good things about him. He genuinely wanted to compete. He wanted things to turn out right.
"I certainly believed in Tom and his sincere desire to build a team. But it didn't work out.
"He was a major player in motorsport for a long time and that will be his testimony."
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2010/12/tom_walkinshaw_who_has_died.html
Why Michael Schumacher Could Win The 2011 World Championship
Michael Schumacher?s 2010 comeback was somewhat abortive.� The results, the driving standard and the overtakes were well below par for the former champion.� He even let his team mate beat him for the first time in his career.� So why can Schumacher, the fallen Ferrari hero, win the world championship for an 8th time? It?s [...]
Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Montezemolo urges rethink on testing and engine rules | 2011 F1 season
Luca di Montezemolo says a four-cylinder Ferrari would be "absurd".
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/Lezm0xedWXQ/
Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews Elio de Angelis
Porsche CEO reveals new details about future lineup
Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller has revealed new details about several upcoming models. Full coverage insideTIRES
LOOKIN FOR A SET OF 4 AMT BF GOODRICH RADIAL T/A TIRES 1/24 1/25 SCALE.OR COULD USE THE WHEELS AND TIRES FROM MONOGRAM'S 1978 EL CAMINO.WILLIING TO PAY FOR THE POSTAGE AND POSSIBLY TRADE.
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/937668.aspx
Friday, January 28, 2011
Fernando Alonso drives first laps in the Ferrari F150 | 2011 F1 testing
Pictures of Fernando Alonso's first run in the Ferrari F150 at Fiorano.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/XGRZ25hO4aA/
F3: Rosenqvist joins Mucke in Euro F3
Rosenqvist joins Mucke in Euro F3 By Matt Beer Friday, January 28th 2011, 18:44 GMT Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist will move up from German Formula 3 to the F3 Euro Series with Mucke Motorsport this year. Related posts:- GP3: Van der Zande joins Mucke for 2010 Van der Zande joins Mucke for 2010 By Glenn Freeman...
- F3: Euro F3 expects bigger grids Euro F3 expects bigger grids By Matt Beer Wednesday, December...
- GP3: Mucke signs Melker for GP3 Mucke signs Melker for GP3 By Steven English Thursday, February...
Source: http://doxcar.com/f3-rosenqvist-joins-mucke-in-euro-f3/
Bob Anderson Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti
Noble M600 announced for April launch
After a number of setbacks, Noble has announced the M600 will be launched in April.Bahrain F1 GP 2010 Live on BBC TV: Start Time
BBC will telecast the live coverage of the Bahrain F1 GP 2010 including the practice session, qualifying session on Friday and Saturday respectively for all viewers in the UK. We will keep giving you live F1 updates from the coverage. The BBC Red Button has announced the following start time for the live coverage of [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/formula-f1/~3/PnrpijZvw_g/
2012 Mercedes C63 AMG facelift leaked
Someone in Germany should check the plumbing as the 2012 Mercedes C63 AMG has been leaked for a second time.Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels Edgar Barth Giorgio Bassi
Best Babes in Formula One (F1) Grand Prix: Pictures, Photos
Women have always been one of the major attractions of Formula 1. The glamour that women bring to this motor sport is wilder than most of the things that you can imagine.
credit: jiazi
When you go to watch any In. These sexy women make the sport popular and far more interesting than any other sport that [...]
credit: jiazi
When you go to watch any In. These sexy women make the sport popular and far more interesting than any other sport that [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/formula-f1/~3/JtNj8l_88d4/
How Williams triumphed in the face of adversity
Sir Frank Williams, who has been given the 2010 Helen Rollason award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity, has never seen his disability as an excuse not to succeed at the very highest level.
The owner of the Williams Formula 1 team has been a quadriplegic since breaking his neck in a car crash in March 1986 but he has continued to oversee his company with evangelical zeal and commitment. In fact its biggest successes came after his life-changing accident.
Williams does not so much love Formula 1 as he is consumed by it. He still goes into the factory seven days a week, with Christmas Day his only time off. And his ability to carry on regardless, resolutely refusing to let his disability affect his day-to-day work, continues to humble those who know him.
When Williams suffered his injury, at the age of 43, doctors pointed out to those close to him that, based on the examples of other people with similar problems, he would be lucky to live another 10 years.
Nearly 25 years later, Williams continues to attend most of the races in an increasingly marathon F1 calendar, and remains one of the most widely respected men in the sport.
His attitude to his disability is simple - it's his own fault he ended up that way so he had better just get on with it.
If he ever felt differently, there is no evidence for it.
In her brilliant book about Frank, his wife Ginny gives an eye-opening account of the days after the accident.
Williams was a very active man and a keen runner but even when his life was still in danger immediately afterwards, he never - not even to his wife - betrayed any sense of self-pity, depression or any of the other emotions that might be expected of someone in his situation.
He talks about it very little, and simply says to Ginny that they have had several good years of one kind of life together and now they just have to get used to a different one.
Williams's partner, the team's director of engineering Patrick Head, says: "I'm sure Frank had some terrible moments thinking about the change in his life but he's never been one to sit around and be sorry for himself.
"Frank has always been very pragmatic about 'what is the problem and how can I deal with it' and applied that to himself and his injury.
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"His enthusiasm and positive attitude always overcome any difficulties he has."
This is the approach Williams has applied to his disabilities ever since.
Looking back, he says in his clipped manner: "I've had a wonderful life; wouldn't dream of changing anything, truthfully."
Williams suffered his injuries when he crashed his hire car while racing his driver Nelson Piquet to the airport after a pre-season test in the south of France.
He discusses the accident now with the same detachment he displayed in recovering from it.
"The car banged over a few times and I'm ashamed to say it was either the sixth or seventh rollover accident I'd had in my life," he says.
"I remember the sharp pain in my neck. I thought: 'Wow, rolling over isn't supposed to hurt that much.' The car finished upside down and I tried to reach for the safety belt to get myself out and I couldn't do it.
"I knew I was going to have the big one but I couldn't slow myself down."
The first few months after his accident he spent focusing on getting into a condition that would allow him to get back to attending races.
"He runs himself with military precision," says Head, "and once he'd found out what the things were that would cause him problems, he adapted his lifestyle to give himself the best opportunities. He's very disciplined about that sort of thing - it's remarkable what he has done since then.
"Frank's always been quite private in his own emotions and in control of his interactions with other people. Once we'd got used to the fact that he wasn't the same person he was before, that he was in a wheelchair, things just sort of carried on as normal."
Stopping competing in F1 never occurred to Williams.
"The thought of retiring or selling the team never crossed my mind," Williams says, "and I also suppose recognised subconsciously it would be a great daily antidote for the difficulties I would find myself in. It's a fantastic job, a very exciting business, highly competitive, always something to worry about, which can be quite healthy, actually."
At the time of his accident, his team were about to embark on one of several periods in which they have dominated the sport.
But success was a long time in coming. Getting to the top of F1 was famously a struggle - Williams operated his team out of a phone box at one stage in the early 1970s, so tight had money become. Once he had achieved success, though, he did not let it go for a very long time, regardless of the misfortune that was to befall him.
The turning point was joining forces with Head, whose first car for the team in 1978 established them as serious contenders for the first time.
In 1979, they missed out on the title only through poor reliability and an eccentric scoring system. But they made no mistake in 1980, with Australian Alan Jones romping to the championship.
They remained more or less at the top of F1 from then until Williams's accident, just missing out on the drivers' title in 1986 but winning it in 1987. But when at the end of that year they lost their supply deal with Honda, producer of the best F1 engines, people wondered whether, with the boss in a wheelchair, they would cope.
That was counting without the incredible commitment and desire of this remarkable man.
Williams and Head have formed a formidable partnership for the last 30 years
Before long, Williams had replaced Honda with Renault, and the team went on to its greatest successes - particularly the 1992 and 1993 seasons, when a car bristling with technology such as active suspension brushed the opposition aside with Nigel Mansell and then Alain Prost at the wheel.
The team have variously dominated F1 in the early 1980s, the mid-'80s, and the early to mid-'90s, winning drivers' titles with many famous names - Jones, Keke Rosberg, Piquet, Mansell, Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve, along with nine constructors' championships.
They have also provided the platform for some of the sport's most brilliant engineers to make their names - among them Adrian Newey, now in charge of design at world champions Red Bull, and Ross Brawn, who ran Ferrari's technical department in their dominant period with Michael Schumacher and now boss of the Mercedes team.
But there have been dark times, too - particularly the death of Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix only three races into his Williams career.
It remains one of William's greatest regrets: "I felt that we had been given a great responsibility providing him with a car, and we let him down."
The last few years have seen Williams slip from competitiveness. They have not won a world title since Villeneuve's in 1997 and not taken the chequered flag since the final race of the 2004 season.
And for the first time there have recently been signs that the 68-year-old Williams is slowing down a little.
In November 2009, he and Head sold 10% of the company to Austrian businessman Toto Wolff, with the two men's own shareholdings reducing proportionately from 65% (Williams) and 35% (Head).
And last summer, Williams handed his role as chairman responsible for the day-to-day running of the team to Adam Parr, with Williams remaining as team principal and Head still in charge of the technical side.
When he made the announcement, Williams emphasised that while he was planning for succession, he was certainly not retiring.
As Williams's current lead F1 driver, the veteran Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, says: "I've never met anyone with so much passion for motor racing - it's truly amazing."
So much passion, indeed, that when he had to make a decision a few years ago between building a wind tunnel that would help make the cars go faster and keeping the private plane that allowed him to attend the farthest-flung races, he chose the wind tunnel.
Williams's voice is quieter now - talking is uncomfortable for him, as a result of his disability - and his eyes a little more watery. But a few minutes in his company leaves you in no doubt that his team's current lack of success pains him greatly, and that he is as committed as ever to getting them back to the top of F1.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2010/12/frank_williams_honoured_for_ac.html
Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews
Need a taillight panel....please
I am in need of the clear taillight panel for the TAMIYA 300zx model. If your not sure which kit it is.....just google it. I have the red one with the t-tops. I did have the tailight panel....but well, it kinda bit the dust. The model is done except for that. I plan on entering it in box stock competition, or i would just make my own. I can trade something for it, or just pay for it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/937846.aspx
JeanPierre Beltoise Olivier Beretta Allen Berg Georges Berger
Thursday, January 27, 2011
FIA announces new F1 rules
Teams will no longer be punished for using team orders, the FIA has announced.
Ferrari were found guilty of using team orders last season during the German Grand Prix when Felipe Massa was instructed to let his team-mate Fernando Alonso pass him.
Alonso was in the running for the world drivers' championship and picked up more points over his rivals when he was allowed to pass his Brazilian team-mate.
The World Motor ...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/mWzBIvD3BvU/fia-announces-new-f1-rules
Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews
Pagani Huayra officially revealed
After a flurry of leaks, Pagani has officially unveiled the Huayra ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/QfuKiEONnl8/pagani-huayra-officially-revealed
Team order rule needs a re-think
 Jean Todt arives for Wednesday's hearing |
?Whether you are for or against team orders, if the FIA could not back up its own rules and nail a competitor in a blatant case such as this the rule really does need reviewing. Perhaps Ferrari?s thinly-veiled threat to take the matter to the civil courts if they were punished too harshly scared the governing body, who as much as admitted the flimsiness of its rule."Paul Weaver, reporting for the Guardian in Monza, was in favour of the ruling which keeps alive Ferrari?s slim chances in an enthralling championship.
?The World Motor Sport Council was right not to ruin a compelling Formula One season by taking away the 25 points Alonso collected in Germany. That would have put him out of the five-man title race. But the council was widely expected to increase the fine and possibly deduct points from the team, as opposed to the individual. In the end, it could be argued that common sense prevailed. But the decision will dismay those who were upset by the way Ferrari handled the situation as much as anything else.?The Daily Mail's Jonathan McEvoy expressed outrage at the FIA tearing up its own rule book by allowing Ferrari to escape unpunished.
"Although the race stewards fined them �65,000 for giving team orders in July, the FIA World Motor Sport Council, to whom the matter was referred, decided not to impose any further punishment. It leaves the sport's rulers open to derision. It was, after all, their rule they undermined. In a statement, the WMSC said the regulation banning team orders 'should be reviewed'."
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/team_order_rule_needs_a_rethin_1.php
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
D?Ambrosio Confirmed As Marussia Virgin Driver For 2011
Jerome D’Ambrosio has been confirmed as the second driver at the Marussia Virgin Racing team for the 2011 season. The Belgian driver, who tested with both Virgin and Renault at the recent rookie tests in Abu Dhabi, will take over the race seat from ousted 2010 driver Lucas di Grassi. �D’Ambrosio clearly did enough to [...]
Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2010/12/22/dambrosio-confirmed-as-marussia-virgin-driver-for-2011/
Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia
F1: Di Resta ?well prepared? for F1 race seat
Di Resta 'well prepared' for F1 race seat By Simon Strang Wednesday, January 26th 2011, 15:23 GMT Paul di Resta believes he is prepared as he can be to make his grand prix debut with Force India in Bahrain on March 13. The 24-year-old Scot has finally been confirmed alongside Adrian Sutil in Force India's race line-up, after a year serving in the team's test and reserve role - a position that has now been filled by Williams refugee Nico Hulkenberg. And having taken part in several Friday practice sessions as well as 'young driver' tests for the team, di Resta feels he is well placed to take advantage of his chance in F1. Related posts:- F1: Di Resta eyes race seat after DTM title Di Resta eyes race seat after DTM title By Pablo...
- F1: Di Resta confident of future race deal Di Resta confident of future race deal By Glenn Freeman...
- F1: Di Resta eager to get more running Di Resta eager to get more running By Jonathan Noble...
Source: http://doxcar.com/f1-di-resta-well-prepared-for-f1-race-seat/
Michael Waltrip to honor Dale Earnhardt at Daytona 500 on 10th anniversary of death
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Michael Waltrip will drive a primarily black No. 15 Toyota in the Daytona 500, the same number he drove to victory in the 2001 race that was marred by the death of car owner and friend Dale Earnhardt. Related posts:- Dale Earnhardt Jr. to drive No. 3 in Nationwide at Daytona to honor father CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr...
- Michael Waltrip says 2011 Daytona 500 will be his last race DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Michael Waltrip wants to make the...
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. defends decision to drive No. 3 car at Daytona RICHMOND, Va. ...
Hamilton decision-making under the microscope
 Lewis Hamilton has come in for criticism |
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/hamilton_decisionmaking_under_1.php
Gribkowsky faces damages claim
Gerhard Gribkowsky, the former banker suspected of receiving $50m from someone involved in Formula 1, is facing a new problem. His former employer BayernLB has decided to launch a legal action to claim damages of $270 million relating to the bank’s takeover of the Austrian bank Hypo Alpe Adria. Gribkowsky was the bank’s chief risk [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/gribkowsky-faces-damages-claim/
HRT plan to introduce 2011 car at Bahrain test | 2011 F1 season
HRT say they will use their 2011 car, dubbed the F111, for the first time at the Bahrain test.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/4ZlfwWb6DwI/
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Bahrain F1 Grand Prix 2010 Live Saturday Qualifying Results
It was Sebastian Vettel who powered his way to take the pole position in Bahrain F1 Grand Prix 2010 here in Sakhir, Bahrain. During the Saturday Q1 and Q2 Qualifying Sessions, Vettel took his 6th career pole position in the very first Grand Prix of 2010 in Bahrain. His teammate, Mark Webber will start from [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/formula-f1/~3/ByiEDfsm0Xg/
Top Gear spotted...in Albania?
The blokes over at Top Gear are starting to make a habit of being spotted in obscure settings all over the world. Guess they?re really taking advantage of all those frequent flyer miles, eh?
A little over a month ago during their taping of the show?s Christmas Special, the whole crew of Top Gear was spotted in Israel sporting their own versions of custom drop-top roadsters on their way to meeting the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. We all know how that turned out.
This time around, the troika of Clarkson, Hammond, and May have been spotted in Albania. That?s right. Albania.We can only assume that the three chaps were taping an episode of the show in the country, after word leaked courtesy of Albarent, a local rental agency that was responsible for their transportation. According to Albarent, as soon as the hosts and the crew arrived at Tirana Airport, the rental agency went ahead and picked them before driving them to Saranda on the ?Albanian Riviera? with a rental fleet including a Mercedes S350 VIP-LOUNGE, Hyundai H-1 VIP-LOUNGE 11+1 Minibus, and an IRISBUS IVECO Tourist Class 19+1 Minibus. Wow, that’s quite a motley crew.
Unfortunately, details as to what happened on their Albanian adventure have been kept under wraps. For us to find out, we?re going to have to tune in to the show, which quite frankly, we?ve never had a problem doing.
Top Gear spotted...in Albania? originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 25 January 2011 14:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/top-gear-spottedin-albania-ar103980.html
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