2011 World Motorsports Discussion

Since at least a few of us follow F1, I figure it's easier to keep said conversation in one thread so those who do not follow don't need to be bothered.

Looks like Ferrari is using the same glue on their F150 Formula One car that they do in the 458 Italia:



Which might explain Alonso's new eyewear:



In more serious news, Lotus-Renault driver Robert Kubica was seriously injured in a wreck at the Andora Rally and might be out for the entire season:

So after being sued by Ford for calling their 2011 challenger the F150, Ferrari has renamed it the F150 Italia.

While I'm extremely concerned about Robert Kubica's possibly career ending hand injury it looks like this will allow one of my favorites to make yet another comeback as his replacement driver.
Eric Boullier: If Heidfeld performs, we sign him

As for Ford's lawsuit over the F-150 name; as a lifetime Ford fan this is extremely embarrassing and I've let them know they won't enjoy my business as long as they keep behaving like jackasses.

Professor Voodoo wrote:As for Ford's lawsuit over the F-150 name; as a lifetime Ford fan this is extremely embarrassing and I've let them know they won't enjoy my business as long as they keep behaving like jackasses.

Well Ford and Ferrari have bad blood between them since Enzo backed out at the last minite in selling Ferrari to Ford, but yeah, it does sound kinda silly on Ford's part.

Even Kara can tell the difference between an F-150 pickup and an F150 F1 car.

I suggest this be the place for all World Motorsport discussion (not just F1). The World Rally Championship season began today...they're in Sweden this weekend.

Even Kara can tell the difference between an F-150 pickup and an F150 F1 car.

I dare say so...it would be beneath Kara to ride in a vehicle that required her to step up into.

What annoys me the most about the F150 affair is that 99% of Ford F-150 buyers have no idea what a Ferrari F150 is. That 1% that does understand F1 should be insulted that Ford thinks they're dumb enough to get the two confused.

Professor Voodoo wrote:I suggest this be the place for all World Motorsport discussion (not just F1). The World Rally Championship season began today...they're in Sweden this weekend.

Yeah,. I considered doing that, and it makes sense.

Was happy to see SPEED add FIA GT and FIA WTCC to their winter recaps of the BTCC and DTM seasons.

I hope Discover HD Theater stays close to the WRC coverage like they did last year.

Professor Voodoo wrote:

Kiskaloo wrote:Even Kara can tell the difference between an F-150 pickup and an F150 F1 car.

I dare say so...it would be beneath Kara to ride in a vehicle that required her to step up into.

It would also be a bit unladylike for her to swivel in the seat and yell "Geranimo!" before leaping out.

The first World Championship round of 2011 is complete; Results of the Rally Sweden...

(spoiler-hidden because Kisk says it's viewable on Discovery HD)

Spoiler:

Rally Sweden: Overall standings after Stage 22 / Day 3 (Top 20):

1. Mikko Hirvonen Ford Abu Dhabi WRT Fiesta RS WRC 3hours 23mins 56.6secs M
2. Mads Ostberg M-Sport Stobart Ford Fiesta RS WRC 00mins 06.5secs M
3. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford Abu Dhabi WRT Fiesta RS WRC 00mins 34.0secs M
4. Sebastien Ogier Citroen Total WRT DS3 WRC 00mins 47.7secs M
5. Petter Solberg PSWRT Citroen DS3 WRC 01mins 31.6secs A1
6. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT DS3 WRC 02mins 30.3secs M
7. PG Andersson Ford Fiesta RS WRC 06mins 22.0secs A1
8. Kimi Raikkonen ICE 1 Racing Citroen DS3 WRC 07mins 02.3secs M
9. Matt Wilson M-Sport Stobart Ford Fiesta RS WRC 10mins 11.5secs A1
10. Khalid Al-Qassimi Team Abu Dhabi Fiesta RS WRC 10mins 31.1secs A1

American Ken Block finished a respectable 14th...very respectable considering he has little experience in the snow.

I just discovered my favorite motorsport event series will be taking a one year hiatus for 2011 and begin again in 2012.

If you would please pardon me....

boomer_gonz wrote:I just discovered my favorite motorsport event series will be taking a one year hiatus for 2011 and begin again in 2012.

Is it perchance the Red Bull Air Race Series to which you refer?



I agree, it's a shame to see them skip a season (more so for the pilots & teams who now have to find employment for the year). If they really want to build that series they need to keep up fan interest and not break the season-to-season continuity. Frankly, I thought they were doing good...it was exciting and well-packaged for TV. Even people with no interest in other motorsports would sit down and watch when I switched it on aboard ship.

Here's hoping the organizers get things together for 2012.

Thank you voodoo and yes I am.

I had heard about it and caught it on TV from time to time, but it wasn't until I actually caught my first show in SF back in 2005 that I was hooked and have caught the US show every year.

The speed of Nascar with the excitement of Formula 1; to me it was something that I couldn't believe nobody had thought of yet. And even despite the "safe factor", I like most patrons went "Awe!!!!!!" when the officials banned 'buzzing' the audience and made it a disqualification offense.

To this day my best memory is seeing a qualifier in San Diego and this one pilot (sorry I forget his name) was flying this old EA300 (I am such a technophile) and I guess he took the a pylon crossover too long and tried to make up time by taking the next one super hard. Not sure if it was the shear G's in which he took it or if the poor unlucky bastard just happened to catch a nasty sudden crosswind, but the tail of his plane just folded(at least from my POV) in on itself shearing the tail end completely away from the rest of the fuselage sending the cockpit end tumbling into the water. He was okay though.

On the upside, he cleared the pylon.

Due to instability within the country, the Grand Prix of Bahrain has been cancelled. The Grand Prix of Australia will now open the 2011 season.

Kiskaloo wrote:Due to instability within the country, the Grand Prix of Bahrain has been cancelled. The Grand Prix of Australia will now open the 2011 season.

You really can't blame them but 2 more weeks of withdrawals are going to be rough.

This March seems to be a bad month for cancellations; the Osaka Sumo tournament has been called off as well (the first Basho cancellation since the war) amidst a match fixing scandal.

From canon Chapter 75...


A spring has apparently fallen off the culprit's vehicle, which can only mean one thing: Giacomo Dante is really Rubens Barrichello!

(only a Formula One fan would get this reference)

How do they ship the grand prix cars to all the races, is it by boat or do they fly them?

crazyidiot78 wrote:How do they ship the grand prix cars to all the races, is it by boat or do they fly them?

For the non-European rounds they all go by air...the schedule is too tight to wait for seagoing vessels.
Article by DHL
A "fly-away" race typically involves 300 tons of equipment in 35 cargo containers...the equivalent of 5 747's full of gear.

For the rounds "at home" in Europe the circus is moved around by an armada of tractor trailers & motor homes. VIP's travel by air...at the 1995 Belgian Grand Prix I counted at least 37 helicopters at the race.

Sea cargo is used for the "fly-away" races, but it is sent off literally months in advance to make sure it gets there. The cars and more time-sensitive items are shipped via air.

Results of the Rally Mexico

Spoiler:

Rally Mexico: Overall standings after Stage 22 / Day 3:

1. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT DS3 WRC 3hours 53mins 17.0secs M
2. Mikko Hirvonen Ford Abu Dhabi WRT Fiesta RS WRC 01mins 38.4secs M
3. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford Abu Dhabi WRT Fiesta RS WRC 02mins 23.9secs M
4. Petter Solberg PSWRT Citroen DS3 WRC 07mins 18.4secs M
5. Mads Ostberg M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC 08mins 43.5secs M
6. Henning Solberg M-Sport Stobart Ford Fiesta RS WRC 09mins 50.0secs M
7. Nasser Al-Attiyah Ford Fiesta S2000 13mins 21.5secs S
8. Martin Prokop Ford Fiesta S2000 13mins 35.0secs S
9. Juho Hanninen Skoda Fabia S2000 14mins 48.7secs S
10. Federico Villagra Munchis Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC 48mins 17.2secs M

Citroen's #2 driver Sebastien Ogier gave a gift to everyone behind when he crashed out of the lead with only two stages to go.

In spite of high hopes on this event American Ken Block had a miserable rally with electrical problems on stages 1 & 8, as well as a lost wheel on stage 16. He is still credited with 13th place.

For some reason Discovery HD Theatre is not showing the races as of yet. I hope it's not like 2009 where they didn't run them until the Fall.

Misfortune continues for American WRC hopeful Ken Block. In the shakedown run for this weekends Rally de Portugul he clipped a rock and destroyed his only Ford Fiesta.

Block & his co-driver Alex Gelsomino were both uninjured but they will miss the round.

*UPDATE*
Video of Block's accident...more dramatic than I'd imagined.

Discovery HD Theatre is starting their 2011 WRC coverage on April 3rd with Rally Sweden.

Okay, logging my picks for the Australian GP at the last possible minute...

Spoiler:

Obviously Vettel has to be the favorite but life's no fun unless you pick a longshot. I think the learning curve with the new Pirelli rubber will define the race.

If degradation proves predictable it should advantage Alonso and his Ferrari strategic department. They suffered an uncharacteristic hiccup at Abu Dhabi last year...don't count on that happening too often.

If the tire degradation is not so predictable I pick Jenson Button...he's probably the smoothest driver in the field and that could give him the edge if these tires start falling apart. He's also terrific at this track.

Posted here because it's an F1 commercial:

Spoiler:

Would have been funnier if it has been Vettel and not Hakkinen.

Kiskaloo wrote:Would have been funnier if it has been Vettel and not Hakkinen.

Well, I doubt Renault would have been too happy about their World Champion appearing in Benz commercial!

Just got back from Melbourne and i gota say the race was not all that exciting. I am a Vettel fan so i'm happy he won i guess. I was standing at turn 9 if anyone can be botherd to pick me out of the massive crowd

Volcrim wrote: I was standing at turn 9 if anyone can be botherd to pick me out of the massive crowd

Time to get the HD signal for F1 races...hold up a big sign for us next time!

Professor Voodoo wrote:

Volcrim wrote: I was standing at turn 9 if anyone can be botherd to pick me out of the massive crowd

Time to get the HD signal for F1 races...hold up a big sign for us next time!

Fortunately SPEED is carrying the HD feed.

I'm surprised its only come in HD this year. Its so nice to see the little details on the cars

Professor Voodoo wrote:The first World Championship round of 2011 is complete; Results of the Rally Sweden...

Just finished the Rally coverage. Those new cars sure are a handful, between their smaller size and loss of so many of the electronic driver aids.

Lots of surprises: Loeb never recovering from road sweeping duties on Day 1. The amazing drive of Mads Ostberg. Petter Solberg having his competition driving license suspended and his co-driver having to take the wheel for the last stage.

I like the new coverage format this year, as well. In addition to the three "daily overviews", they show the entire "Power Stage" run.

Although the new Mini Clubman has yet to make its World Championship debut it's already experiencing some success on National level rallies.


Andrea Navarra gives MINI its first win on Italy's Rally dell'Adriatico.

Yeah I was surprised not to see it in Sweden. Any word on when it will appear?

Kiskaloo wrote:Yeah I was surprised not to see it in Sweden. Any word on when it will appear?

They're starting with a partial schedule in 2011 (like Citroen did back in 2001-02) with a full effort in 2012.

The BMW powered Mini should debut at the Rally d'Italia-Sardegna this May. David Richards' ProDrive (same team that ran Subaru's WRC effort & Aston Martin's Le Mans return) is the factory squad with Dani Sordo & Kris Meeke...plus single car satellite teams from Motorsport Italia & Brazil World rally team.

Gotta say it... when Mark Webber decides he has something to prove, he's an absolutely incredible driver.

Alfisti wrote:Gotta say it... when Mark Webber decides he has something to prove, he's an absolutely incredible driver.

18th to third...I agree; that's one of the most impressive drives I've ever seen.

Consistant finishes in the points even when luck isn't on his side make a difference at the end of the year as well. This drive shows he's still a legitimate contender for the World Championship.

On the other side of the coin, Jenson Button has to get this rounds award for stopping in the wrong pit box.

Yeah, China was the best race of the season, to be sure. It looked like Vettel lost his KERS, but Lewis should not have been that fast so I think something else was wrong with Vettel's car since Webber didn't have KERS most of the race and it didn't hamper his ability to dispatch cars whose KERS systems were working.

Need to get Kara one of those Chinese Grid Girl outfits.

---

WRC Rally Portugal was evidently history-making in the closeness of the finish based on SPEED's info crawler, so looking forward to seeing that in a couple of weeks (Rally Mexico coverage is today on Discovery HD Theater).

I have watched the race in China, too and in german television they said that Vettel had some problems with his tires at the end of the race. So I think that this was his problem...

st_frantic wrote:I have watched the race in China, too and in german television they said that Vettel had some problems with his tires at the end of the race. So I think that this was his problem...

Vettel gambled on a 2-stop strategy...Hamilton made 3 tire stops and that strategy paid off.

Kiskaloo wrote:WRC Rally Portugal was evidently history-making in the closeness of the finish

I dare say that was the Jordan Rally. I won't give away the results since you still have the chance to watch it but the margin of victory was 0.2 seconds.

Kiskaloo wrote:WRC Rally Portugal was evidently history-making in the closeness of the finish

I dare say that was the Jordan Rally. I won't give away the results since you still have the chance to watch it but the margin of victory was 0.2 seconds.[/quote]

It's okay. I already know who won from the SPEED crawl. Thankfully, I usually forget by the time they show the event.

Something new from MINI...

...not only are they launching a WRC effort but the company is doing the Dakar as well. Here's Stephane Peterhansel testing the car before the Silk Road Rally in China.

Question is; since BMW owns MINI does this mean an end to the X-series Dakar effort? It doesn't make much sense to keep both teams and compete against themselves.

Tony Fernandez's Team Lotus Enterprise has purchased Caterham Cars and there are rumors they will re-brand their Team Lotus Formula One team as "Caterham F1". There is already a URL live - http://caterhamformula1.com/ - but no idea if it's official or a squatter.

I just wonder would Fernandez be allowed to change the team name? Or does it require the other teams approval?

And if he does change it, does he lose what he gained under the current name? As I recall, Sauber had to race as BMW Sauber Ferrari last season because if they dropped the BMW from their title, they would have lost all the monies and other things they'd secured while the BMW factory team.

For me (and a few others out there), its that time of year again. Culinating with the end of the race on May 29 (Sunday), May is a wicked month for competition with time trails entries, Mechanics Contests, and even Car Contests. The hardest is the Time Trails, where some 40 - 50 CART/RL and even F1 Drivers complete for a 1 in 33 position with the fastest times of 3 laps in the series.

Its May. Its the Indy 500. Ladies and Gentlemen! Start Your Engines!
http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/eventinfo/35391-Schedule/

---

Predictions? Well, I hope Heli Castroneves wins his 4th Indy Race, making him only the 4th person to do so. Dario Franchitti won the race last year and if he wins again, he would be with 3 race wins, tie with Helio and be only of 1 of current drivers that could wind 4 races in a future race. This would be interesting indeed.

Everything else I will leave with the experts:
http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/news/show/42474-predictions-for-the-izod-indycar-series-at-indy/

(flips to SPEED to see what's on)

The Bubba Burger 250?

Really?

NASCAR really has taken over American motorsports...

Hey... were it not for Bubba Burgers, I'd likely have starved, my first three months in Savannah. Cheap, fast, and easy to tinker with. Perfect!

Good news from the World Rally front; Volkswagen has confirmed they are preparing an entry for 2013.

2-time World Champion Carlos Sainz will assist with development.

Professor Voodoo wrote:Good news from the World Rally front; Volkswagen has confirmed they are preparing an entry for 2013.

2-time World Champion Carlos Sainz will assist with development.

Is that the Rabbit or the Golf?

ElfenMagix wrote:

Professor Voodoo wrote:Good news from the World Rally front; Volkswagen has confirmed they are preparing an entry for 2013.

2-time World Champion Carlos Sainz will assist with development.

Is that the Rabbit or the Golf?

its the Polo,its a slightly smaller car than the Golf,i own one

Awinnell wrote:its the Polo,its a slightly smaller car than the Golf,i own one

Jezza: "One of those horrible, eco, Volkswagen Blumotion things?"

Kiskaloo wrote:

Awinnell wrote:its the Polo,its a slightly smaller car than the Golf,i own one

Jezza: "One of those horrible, eco, Volkswagen Blumotion things?"

that one or mine ? mines the 4 cylinder TSI,which is the most powerful one apart from the GTI version,which i didn't get because its £8000 more for an extra 35hp ! and the fittings are a lot more basic and i like aircon and a decent sound system !

Awinnell wrote:

Kiskaloo wrote:

Awinnell wrote:its the Polo,its a slightly smaller car than the Golf,i own one

Jezza: "One of those horrible, eco, Volkswagen Blumotion things?"

that one or mine ? mines the 4 cylinder TSI,which is the most powerful one apart from the GTI version,which i didn't get because its £8000 more for an extra 35hp ! and the fittings are a lot more basic and i like aircon and a decent sound system !

James: "No, the wretched little three-cylinder model."

ElfenMagix wrote:
Its May. Its the Indy 500. Ladies and Gentlemen! Start Your Engines!

Announced today; the pace car driver will be someone who already knows his way around the Speedway.
http://www.crash.net/indycar/news/168981/1/aj_foyt_to_drive_indy_500_pace_car.html
With luck he probably won't even punch someone in the pit area like the old days.

Solid Turkish GP today and GP2 was the usual mayhem-fest.