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Formula Drift UAE Invitational in Abu Dhabi 2011

Filed under: Motorsports, Specialty, Middle East, Racing

Formula Drift UAE Invitational

Formula Drift in Abu Dhabi – Click above for high-res image gallery

After wrapping up the 2010 Formula Drift season (Vaughn Gittin Jr. took the podium, with Tanner Foust and Ryan Tuerck second and third overall), a handful of selected professional drifters loaded their cars into steel 40-foot containers and shipped them to the Middle East for the inaugural Formula Drift UAE Invitational in Abu Dhabi.

While the locals in that part of the world aren’t strangers to wild car antics (as evident from those popular, yet crazy Middle East YouTube videos), the Invitational was formatted to introduce the locals to professional drifting – in a safe and controlled manner. The chosen venue was the new Yas Marina Circuit, designed and built for Formula One (interestingly enough, the Formula Drift guys were the first to every lay “drifting” rubber down on its fresh surface).

In addition to the main event, there was a media day (with ride-alongs), a karting competition (Tanner Foust set the all-time lap record), a visit to Ferrari World and a drag competition with locals. And, to help the local competitors, Tony Brakohiapa and Michael Essa taught drifting techniques to ten drivers from the local SSK Drift Club (four were eventually chosen to participate in demo during the main event).

The next stop for drivers Chris Forsberg, Tanner Foust, Michael Essa, Tony Brakohiapa, Fredric Aasbo, Mike Whiddett and Daijiro Yoshihara is the Qatar Racing Club in Doha, Qatar, for the inaugural Formula Drift Global Challenge on March 18, 2011.

Gallery: Formula Drift in Abu Dhabi 2011

Formula Drift in Abu Dhabi 2011 The cars of Formula Drift

[Source: Formula Drift]

Formula Drift UAE Invitational in Abu Dhabi 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: How to make a Red Bull RB7 Formula One racecar

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Humor, Racing

red bull rb7 comes to life

How to build a Red Bull RB7 – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Red Bull RB7 Formula One racecar is a screaming, rubber-footed example of why paying attention in math and science class can lead to a fun career. It’s a carbon-fiber and aluminum rocketship propelled by a Renault V8 that’s limited to 18,000 rpm. Designing and building the RB7 is a complicated matter, and the crew at Red Bull has prepared a film that explains the process.

Instead of taking the overly technical route, the Red Bull boys have gone a bit “old-tyme.” Their film manages to be entertaining and interesting, which is usually a hard task to accomplish with something like this. Click past the jump to watch a Red Bull RB7 come to life using the technology of tomorrow… today!

[Source: Red Bull Racing via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: How to make a Red Bull RB7 Formula One racecar

Video: How to make a Red Bull RB7 Formula One racecar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hispania Racing Team F111 debut rounds out Formula 1 preseason

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

2011 HRT F111

2011 HRT F111 – Click above for high-res image gallery

We know this looks like an F1 car. But you know what it actually is? It’s the end of the beginning. Because after Ferrari, Lotus, Renault, Sauber, Mercedes, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Williams, McLaren, Virgin and Force India all unveiled their new Formula 1 cars for the 2011 championship, Hispania Racing Team has joined the action with the F111, marking the end of the preseason debuts.

The new car bears all the hallmarks of the new F1 regulations, but the first thing you’re likely to notice is its livery. With little in the way of sponsors, HRT brought in Daniel Simon – the former VW Group designer responsible for, among other things, the light-cycles in Tron: Legacy – to pen the car’s dynamic paint scheme. The result is considerably more attractive than last year’s gray car, leaving open spots for future sponsors (currently held by “this could be you” and “your logo here” lettering). Simon’s Cosmic Motors design firm gets its own logo on the sidepod wing plates, joined only by Tata Motors, which came to the team with Narain Karthikeyan.

The Indian driver, who once raced for Jordan way back in 2005, returns just in time for this year’s inaugural Indian Grand Prix. However, after showing Bruno Senna the door, HRT is the last outfit that still needs to confirm its second driver. This is business as usual for HRT, which last year used four different drivers: Karun Chandhok, Bruno Senna, Sakon Yamamoto and Christian Klien, none of whom scored a single point in the 2010 car. Can Karthikeyan and his to-be-announced wingman do better? Well, when you’re at rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up. Details are in the press release after the jump, with high-res images in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Hispania Racing Team F111

[Source: Hispania Racing Team]

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Hispania Racing Team F111 debut rounds out Formula 1 preseason originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Williams FW33 Formula 1 car unveiled, IPO confirmed

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

2011 Williams-Cosworth FW33

2011 Williams-Cosworth FW33 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Williams joined the cadre of Formula 1 teams testing and revealing their 2011 challengers at the Valencia test session, pulling the wraps off the new FW33.

Unlike rival team Lotus Renault GP, which unveiled its new livery before rolling out the new F1 car, Williams opted once again to run its new car at the test sessions in plain dark blue paint with minimal sponsor logos. The independent racing team is sticking with Cosworth power for 2011, but despite having developed a flywheel-based KERS apparatus for 2009 (which it never actually ran, but was supplied to Porsche’s hybrid GT3), Williams F1 switched to a new battery-based system that it ran for the first time at Valencia.

Otherwise, the Williams-Cosworth FW33 follows the same general idea as most of its Formula 1 rivals: a high nose with a sculpted engine cover and side pods. Rubens Barrichello returns to the wheel alongside newcomer (and reigning GP2 champion) Pastor Maldonado.

In a related development, Williams announced its plans to proceed with the previously reported IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, floating a little over a quarter of the shares while ensuring that Frank Williams remains controlling shareholder and team principal for years to come. Follow the jump for more details on the new FW33 Formula 1 racer and check out the high-resolution images of the car on track in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Williams-Cosworth FW33

[Source: Williams F1]

Continue reading Williams FW33 Formula 1 car unveiled, IPO confirmed

Williams FW33 Formula 1 car unveiled, IPO confirmed originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 14:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Radical new McLaren MP4-26 Formula 1 car unveiled in Berlin

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

2011 McLaren MP4-26

2011 McLaren MP4-26 – Click above for high-res image gallery

While rival Formula 1 teams unveiled their new 2011 challengers at or before the recently test session at Valencia, McLaren opted to run its 2010 F1 car instead. The reason? Ostensibly to focus on the varied effects the new Pirelli tires. This week in Berlin, however, the British Formula 1 outfit joined the field and took the wraps off its new racer, the MP4-26, revealing a number of innovative and radical design elements.

In the German capital, the team rolled out the car in pieces and put it together in front of the gathered crowd (not unlike the funny Vodafone video starring Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton). McLaren used a plastic engine and exhaust system so as not to reveal all their secrets, but what we do know is that MP4-26 F1 car features a longer-than-usual wheelbase, an even higher nosecone than its rivals, and odd U-shaped sidepods. That last feature is designed to channel cleaner air to the new rear wing in an effort to regain downforce lost from the regulatory elimination of the double diffuser.

The MP4-26 is also the first McLaren Formula 1 car designed to accomodate Jenson Button’s taller frame, since last year’s racer was largely finalized before his release from Brawn GP. McLaren remains secretive on the rest of the design, releasing only the handful of images you can see in the gallery below. Has McLaren got enough tricks up its sleeve to drive Button or Hamilton to another title? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Gallery: 2011 McLaren MP4-26

[Source: McLaren]

Radical new McLaren MP4-26 Formula 1 car unveiled in Berlin originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Formula One drivers loathe technology creep

Filed under: Motorsports, Technology, Racing

2010 Red Bull Racing RB6

Are Formula One cars getting too sophisticated? A handful of drivers think so… and they’re beginning to speak out about the technology creep invading their vehicles. A modern F1 car utilizes aerodynamics that are adjustable on the fly and a steering wheel fitted with more buttons than Jenson’s last family reunion.

Mark Webber of Red Bull Racing feels that driving his car is akin to jailbreaking a phone. The drivers need 100% of their focus on the race, and pushing a button to adjust the rear spoiler can take away from that. Weber isn’t alone with these feelings as Rubens Barichello and Nico Rosberg have expressed similar sentiments.

Driving a Forumla One car is one of the most demanding jobs on the planet. It takes levels of concentration far above what the average person expands on another round of Angry Birds. Adding greater levels of sophistication and complexity sounds like it makes the already difficult task of keeping the machine on the road that much harder.

[Source: Crunch Gear]

Formula One drivers loathe technology creep originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari’s Montezemolo blasts “pathetic” four-cylinder engine formula?

Filed under: Motorsports, Technology, Ferrari

Ferrari's Luca di Montezemolo

Cylinders have been dropping off Formula One engines like limbs off the leprous over the past several years. Where twelve cylinders once ran soon became ten, then eight for the current formula and plans are now set to switch to just four by 2013. And Luca di Montezemolo, for one, is not happy.

The Ferrari chief, whose company builds twelve- and eight-cylinder engines for its road car division, has emerged as a leading figure in opposition to the new regulations. And while he reportedly initially said his disappointment would not turn to interference, the powerful former founding president of the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) has now said he’s looking for allies among other team leaders and engine suppliers to push back the implementation of the new turbo four regulations.

He may, according to reports, find an ally in Norbert Haug. The Mercedes-Benz motorsports chief notes that the current V8 engines are relatively low in cost as it is, not to mention the fact that starting a new engine design from scratch – no matter how cost-effective it might be in isolation – will still cost more than continuing with the same engines already in place.

Are Luca and Norbert right? Is the FIA throwing the baby out with the proverbial bathwater in implementing the new regulations? Or will turbo fours bring only good things to the world’s grand prix circuits? Share your thoughts in Comments.

[Source: ESPN | Image: Giuseppe Carace/AFP/Getty]

Ferrari’s Montezemolo blasts “pathetic” four-cylinder engine formula? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Formula One goes with 1.6-litre four-cylinder power

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

BMW M12 F1 Engine

Soon we can all say goodbye to the high-revving V8s currently shrieking their way around the world’s Formula One circuits. F1 has officially enacted new rules that require all teams to run a new turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine design by 2013. In addition, the maximum engine speed will be reduced from the current 18,000 rpm to a maximum of 12,000 rpm.

All told, the changes are expected to allow the vehicles to use around 35 percent less fuel than the outgoing eight-pots, even while churning out very similar power numbers. While neither the FIA nor F1 organizers are willing to throw out any solid numbers, there is word that the engines will use high-pressure gasoline injectors that can dump fuel into the combustion chamber at up to 7,251 psi.

Atomization? Yeah, it looks like they’ve got that covered.

Interestingly enough, F1 is also moving to limit the number of engines (again) that a team can use during a season. Right now, the rules allow for a stable of eight engines, though by 2013, that number will drop to five before falling to four soon after. That would mean on top of nabbing better fuel economy and yielding high power, the new lumps will need to be stout enough to take the abuse of multiple races without popping. Here’s to the future. Thanks for the tip, Franz!

[Source: Formula 1]

Officially Official: Formula One goes with 1.6-litre four-cylinder power originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: White Lake Formula 1 Ring slot car track

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games

White Lake Formula 1

White Lake F1 Ring slot car track – Click above to watch video after the jump

Ah, enthusiasts. Damn the torpedoes, time and money; when the dedicated maven decides to make something of his own, he doesn’t just do it a little. Hence, when James-Michael Gregory Harlan of Pontiac, Michigan wanted a slot car track as long as his name, he made it himself and called it the White Lake Formula 1 Ring.

An exhibit designer by trade, Harlan brought his massive skills to the endeavor by creating a track he believes “comprised many of the challenges one might encounter on a modern F1 circuit.” Hermann Tilke should take notes. The track itself is CNC routed on the AC2car system that lets two cars run on the same slot – giving racers a chance to pass each other using the lane changers.

Built in a 20-square-foot space, the ring is 1/32-scale, the lap is 145 feet long, and it features 19 turns and 2.5 feet of elevation change. Surrounding it is a hand-built and painted environment that includes pit lanes, a helipad and crane, bleachers and viewing towers, and lights for night racing. It comes as no surprise that he’s been working on it for years. You can see the fruits of his labor in the video after the jump and the gallery of high-res photos below. Once you’re done with those, be sure to check out even more pics on Flickr.

Gallery: James-Michael Harlan’s White Lake F1 slot car ring

[Source: WLF1 Ring]

Continue reading Video: White Lake Formula 1 Ring slot car track

Video: White Lake Formula 1 Ring slot car track originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Porsche coming back to Formula 1

Filed under: Motorsports, Porsche

Porsche logo

Porsche is engaged in roundtable discussions about re-entering Formula 1. The Stuttgart automaker has been in and out of Formula 1 for decades, and now with Volkswagen making noises about entering various racing series like NASCAR, it appears all that’s left to be decided is which manufacturer will go where. The latest pie to be split has an LMP1 car on one side and an F1 car on the other, with Audi and Porsche holding the forks. Audi has already said it doesn’t fit with Formula 1, leaving Porsche as the de facto F1 entrant.

Porsche’s current racing involvement is mainly through customer programs, so this move (should it happen) would mark a return to full-on heavy duty factory involvement. VW has been in talks with the FIA about providing a so-called “world engine” for F1, but it’s unclear whether Porsche’s involvement would hinge on that coming to pass or if the automaker would make an engine regardless. The Williams F1 team’s overtures to VW could provide another point of entry to the pinnacle of motorsport.

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Porsche coming back to Formula 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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