F1: Comeback Collapse Rumors Motivate Schumi

As he heads into the fifth race of the 2010 season rumors are dogging Michael Schumacher...

SPEED Staff / GMM  |  Posted May 03, 2010   GMM Newswire

Speculation about Michael Schumacher's mood continues to rise, but the seven time world champion insists he is "extremely motivated" ahead of the fifth race of his 2010 comeback.

After three years of retirement, the 41-year-old German has been consistently outpaced by his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg so far in 2010, but will have a car with a longer wheelbase in Spain that should better suit his driving style.

"When he has that (revised car) I think we will have to reassess the whole story," commented former triple world champion Sir Jackie Stewart.

"If he then doesn't deliver, then I think he has a problem," added the Scot.

70-year-old Stewart thinks part of Schumacher's problem will be reassessing his desire to honor the full three years of his new contract.

"You know, I don't think he should have retired when he did in 2006 because I don't think it was out of his system," he said. "This might take it out of his system."

Schumacher's old title rival of the 90s, Damon Hill, is not ruling out that "the old Schumacher magic" could soon return.

"Is it still there?" he told the Daily Mail, whose headline accuses Mercedes of "wasting money" on Schumacher.

"I'm sure that's a question Michael will be asking himself -- and it's one that is starting to become valid after four races," added Hill.

In an official Mercedes press release, Schumacher played down the likely effect of the car upgrades for Barcelona but sounded bullish about his own outlook.

Team boss Ross Brawn also said the German is "determined to succeed" despite the setbacks so far.

Added Schumacher: "Our step forward in Barcelona will be bigger than you can make at each race during the flyaways but it would not be realistic to expect us to suddenly be competing right at the front," he said.

"However the good news is that after three years away, I am feeling extremely motivated. So I am clearly ready to take this challenge," added the record winner of 91 Grands Prix.

Source :formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-comeback-collapse-rumors-motivate-schumi/

GT: VW TDI Cup VIR Diaries

Welcome to the first installment of post-race Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup diaries written by the young men and women competing in the series.

Media Release  |  Posted May 03, 2010   Charlotte, NC

(Welcome to the first installment of post-race reflections written for SPEEDtv.com by the young men and women who are pursuing their dreams of motor racing stardom by taking the first step in the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup. This first entry comes after Round 1 at Virginia International Raceway.)

Ryan Ellis

Wow, what a great weekend! This is my second Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup season and I have to say, coming to the season-opener this past weekend at VIR was a totally different experience than it was last year. 

Ellis enjoys his time on the podium. (VW TDI Cup)

This year, I know the instructors and I know the cars, so it was like coming back to my second home. The rookies are getting used the every single detail of the Series and I just had to knock a little dust off – it was completely different from last year. I felt a bit like an “upperclassman” on the first day of school! Plus, I was racing in my home state of Virginia, which always helps your confidence level because it adds that level of familiarity that puts you at ease a bit.

Last season it was tough for me to get excited, I went to the track and wasn’t achieving the results I wanted. I wasn’t running up front and I never finished higher than seventh. It was such a new experience for me to not be doing well. 

To come out this past weekend for the double header at VIRginia International Raceway and win both races and both poles was fantastic. That second race was really exciting – it was the closest, cleanest race that I can ever remember running.

Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle and I were racing hard all day and we were right on each other at every turn. He drove me as clean as could be and I have to say, it was very intense. We swapped the lead a couple times and I was able to make a last-lap pass to take the checkered at the end. I felt like I truly earned the win and that victory coupled with mine on Saturday marked my first two Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup victories. After that, I’m definitely starting the year with a lot of confidence, which is a fantastic feeling.

This season is a totally different ballgame for me – I know what these cars can do and I feel a lot more comfortable behind the wheel. I’m really excited that the 2010 season is underway and I can’t wait to head to New Jersey Motorsports Park on May 9.

Justine Jackson

This weekend at VIRginia International Raceway was my first time racing in a car after 6½ years of kart racing. It was such an awesome experience both on and off track. My dad and I got to the track on Friday afternoon, got fitted in my Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup car. Once I got in, I had to put the seat position at its maximum height and I still had to use 4 sponges so I could see! 

After a lengthy stretch out of the cockpit, Jackson got up to speed in impressive fashion. (VW TDI Cup)

Once we got fitted and our equipment was organized, we had a track walk. My goal for the weekend was to get comfortable in the car and I did just that! Throughout my time on track I improved my lap times from 14s off of the fastest driver in practice 1 to 2.5s off of the fastest lap in Race 2! I was pretty happy with those results, especially considering it was my first-ever race in a car!

I haven’t had this much fun racing in a long time! The driver coaches Jan Heylen, Andy Lee, Ryan Arciero and Mark Miller were so helpful in my on track progress and I had a blast working with them. 

The Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup is all about driver development and throughout the weekend we were given our data from each track session along with the fastest driver’s data so that we could pinpoint exactly where we were losing time. This for me, aside from being on track, is the one of the best aspects of this Series and I continually improved because of it. I was also able to wear my driving suit for the first time, another highpoint of the weekend! 

Another bonus was that I also got to spend a lot of time with my dad, something I don’t get to do too often because I am away at school in North Carolina while my family lives in Jamaica. 

Despite some disappointing results, the weekend was by far my best racing weekend as a whole. A big thank you to my sponsors Project Podium, Jetcon Corporation, the support of the Helle Nice Foundation and my Heavenly Father, without whom none of this would be possible! I’m hoping for another great race in New Jersey and I can’t wait to get back in my car! 

While I can’t wait to get back in the car, I do have to get through one more week of classes, four final exams next week and packing up everything to leave school for the summer! I think the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup race at New Jersey Motorsports Park on May 9 will be a great way to start my summer!

Jake Thompson

I’m returning to the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup for the second year, and it was great to be back among so many familiar faces last weekend. Last season provided a lot of unknowns and this year was like coming back to a bunch of old friends.

A dislocated shoulder didn't slow Thompson from returning to action on Sunday. (VW TDI Cup)

It was an interesting weekend for me and when I left the track on Sunday, I think I was somewhat relieved to be heading out. I usually never want to leave a racetrack, but this weekend I was ready to get out of there!

One of the reasons was that I think I put a lot of pressure on myself to win at VIRginia International Raceway – I won there last season as a rookie, so I had very high expectations going into the weekend. 

I had a DNF during the first race, which I was clearly disappointed about. Then to add insult to injury, as I was getting out of the car I bent my arm in an awkward way and dislocated my shoulder! The good news was that the Volkswagen community is very close-knit and I had tons of people advising me on how to treat it overnight. I got some advice that I thought was solid and I put myself back in a position to race again on Sunday.

My shoulder was definitely tender and I wasn’t sure how it was going to hold up until we hit the track for our parade lap. Everything felt fine during pre-race and I knew I’d be good to go for the event. Fortunately, I had a solid race and was able to bring my car home in third place, which considering the previous events felt like a victory!

Coming back to the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup for a second year, I have my sights on one thing – winning the Championship, so being able to earn some solid points really helped a lot. Ryan (Ellis) did an amazing job all weekend, but I’m definitely in a good position with eight races remaining. I think we’ll be fine heading into New Jersey this weekend. 

Source : auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/gt-vw-cup-vir-diaries/

Harley-Davidson XR1200 monster bike

Posted on 04.23.2010 13:26 by Maxx Biker

Harley-Davidson designed and built the XR1200 as their very first roadster in an attempt to appeal to younger riders as well. The plan sounded good in theory and if they offered plenty of customization possibilities, the bike qualified as a success. Said and done. But I guess that nobody really thought at doing something like this. Why not when the Harley-Davidson XR1200 monster bike looks like one of the best ways to shake the stress away.

What’s best, this impressive motorcycle offers the unique opportunity of seeing a car crushed by a motorcycle and not the other way around. Revenge looks good!

source:http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/index162.html

Honda 3R-C concept

Honda's new 3R-C concept, a single seat battery-powered electric vehicle, is set to make its world debut at the Geneva motor show next week. It will take center stage at the stand alongside the EV-N show car, U3-X electric personal mobility vehicle and the FCX Clarity, the Japanese automaker's fuel-cell electric vehicle.

Created by European designers working at Honda's Research and Design facility in Milan, the three-wheeled 3R-C concept envisions a future minimal urban transport vehicle for one person. The battery electric drivetrain is mounted low in the three wheeled chassis, keeping the center of gravity low and improving stability.

With a clear canopy that doubles as a protective windshield and covers the driver's seat while the vehicle is parked, the 3R-C's designers also created a flexible cover that surrounds the upper torso to reduce exposure and improve comfort. The three-wheeled concept also features a 'safety shell' seat with high sides – to reduce the threat from side impact – and a lockable storage area ahead of the driver.

Related Article: Design Review: Honda EV-N concept source :http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/home/new_cars/page/?portal:componentId=2738&portal:type=action&portal:isSecure=false

Peugeot Hoggar

Peugeot has unveiled the Hoggar, the French automaker's first pickup truck.

Taking its name from Peugeot's 2003 concept car, the Hoggar was designed in Brazil for the Brazilian market. The truck has been conceived and adapted to the local clientele's expectations, the automaker claims, and is intended for a 'mainly male customer base who are looking for a versatile vehicle with a distinctive style'.

The Hoggar is based on the 206 platform and features a load volume of 1151 liters and a payload of up to 742kg. This makes the new vehicle vastly more versatile than the 207 available in European markets. The cockpit, however, is standard 207 fare, with a simple, functional design.

Peugeot will launch the Hoggar in Brazil on 15 May, where it will join other variants in the 207 range. It will be available in three trim levels and be powered by 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter four cylinder engines.

Related Articles: Peugeot 207- Geneva 2006 Peugeot Hoggar concept - Geneva 2003

source :http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/home/new_cars/page/?portal:componentId=2738&portal:type=action&portal:isSecure=false

SAIC Leaf concept

The Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) will unveil this futuristic concept at next week's Beijing motor show. Called the Leaf, the new concept has no relation to Nissan's concept car shown in Tokyo last year. It is a much more fanciful two-seat concept car whose design is entirely open to the elements, and it also features a slew of environmentally-friendly technologies. Incorporating both solar and wind harnessing addendums, the Leaf features innovative carbon capturing bodywork that can absorb CO2 and emit oxygen, as plants do during photosynthesis. The Chinese automaker claims that because of this feat, the car actually has negative emissions.

The Leaf sources power mainly through photovoltaic cells within its leaf-shaped roof (these position themselves toward the sun to garner the most energy) while mini turbines within the wheels use the passing wind to generate electricity and store it in its battery pack, supplementing power for the microbial fuel cell.

We'll bring you more details on the concept live from Auto China 2010 next week.

source:http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/home/new_cars/page/?portal:componentId=2738&portal:type=action&portal:isSecure=false

2011 Fiat 500 caught testing in the USA

Posted on 04.25.2010 13:23 by Philippe Daix

Our readers are always on the lookout for cool cars even very early in the morning. James, just caught 2 Fiat 500s testing in Charlotte, MI. Both cars are tagged in Michigan with manufacturer plates, so no doubt those are official testers. Aside of the two tone white and black matte paint, both cars seems to be ready for the US launch later this year. The Fiat 500 will very likely be the first Fiat to be introduced to the US market. Keep in mind that the Italian car maker only took over Chrysler last year. Will they actually be able to launch this Fiat in 2010, that remain to be seen.

Anyways, back on the pictures, the only visible difference between those two seems to be the front bumper trim, one chrome and one painted and as you can see there is a piece of tape on the corner, may be for some park assist system testing. Let us know if you can find others! On the back you can see that the rear hatch still got the wide European plate enclosure, so we expect this gap to be filled with some ’bumperette’ similar to the one seen on the rear bumper of Porsche 911’s. As for the parking sensor speculation, we can only see a backup camera but no sensor in the bumpers.

Our reader was daring enough to get closer and take a snap of the interior. The cars were equipped with a computer system on the passenger side for data collection, but aside of that, everything seems to be ready for production and without any camouflage at all. The first car was a manual, the other appeared to be an automatic.

Thanks James for the tip.

source:http://www.topspeed.com/

VINTAGE: Unusual Bugatti With Bertelli Body

British colonel drove bare chassis 1937 Type 57 from Molsheim to England to get custom coachwork.

Posted April 23, 2010 Goodwood (GB)

Up until 1934, there was a separate Bugatti model for almost every body type. To cut costs Ettore Bugatti decided to design one chassis that would be available with various body styles. Most of them were to be designed and constructed in the Bugatti factory.

Ettore's son, Jean Bugatti, was put in charge of the new model's design team. He was just 23 years old when the Type 57 project started in 1932.

The touring body was fabricated by Bertelli of Feltham after a design by the British owner's brother. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

Extremely expensive models such as the Type 41 Royale and the Type 50 had not been a success for Bugatti.

With that kept in mind, Jean Bugatti designed a much smaller engine for the Type 57 than found in the Type 50 it replaced.

The prototype engine displaced 2.8 liters, which was about half that of Type 50's.

The new engine was equipped with double overhead camshafts, similar in construction to those found on the Type 50 and Type 59 racer.

The production engine displaced just under 3.3 liters and produced 135 horsepower in naturally aspirated form.

In the first models, the engine was directly bolted onto chassis, which added to the rigidity of the ladder frame.

A second series was introduced in 1936 that featured a strengthened chassis because the engine was now mounted on rubber bushings.

When Ettore Bugatti saw the prototype's independent front suspension, he immediately ordered the installation of a solid axle, which was used in every other production Bugatti.

Friction dampers were fitted on the first batch of cars; later models were fitted with telescopic shock absorbers.

At its launch, four body types were available for the Type 57.

Three of these were named after mountain peaks in the Alps; the four-seater, two-door Ventoux; the four-door Galibier; and the two-door Stelvio convertible.

Unlike the other bodies, the Stelvio body type was designed and built by French coach-builder Gangloff.

The fourth body was dubbed Atalante and was the two-seater coupe variant.

With a price twice as high as that of the least expensive Type 57, the Atalante was the most exclusive body of the lot.

Its characteristic features were the 'kidney shaped' side windows and the split rear window.

For the sportier clients, two improvements were added to the Type 57 line-up in 1936.

First off was the addition of a supercharger that boosted the power to 160 horsepower from 135.

Secondly, a shorter and lower S variant was launched, equipped with more-powerful versions of the naturally aspirated and supercharged engines.

Production of the S lasted just three years, but the regular'Type 57 and 57 C lasted up until the outbreak of the Second World War.

In total, 546 Type 57s and 96 57Cs were built. This Type 57 was built specifically for Col. G. M. Giles, the founder of the British Bugatti club. For the 1935 Tourist Trophy at Dundrod, he had the car fitted with a high-compression engine that reportedly produced 148 horsepower.

Giles collected the car, his 10th Bugatti, at the factory in Molsheim.

Despite being a bare chassis only with no body whatsoever, he drove it back to England on public roads.

The Type 57 TT was subsequently fitted with a Tourer body by Bertelli of Feltham following a design of Col.

Giles' brother, Eric. Affectionately known as Terese, the car was driven to an impressive third overall and second in class at the TT by another great Bugatti aficionado, Earl Howe. Col. Giles held onto the unique TT Bugatti until 1939.

and it has since changed hands only twice.

The last time was in 2004 when the owner of 50 years consigned it to Bonhams for its annual Goodwood Festival of Speed auction.

Still in very original condition, chassis 57316 sold for an impressive £430,500.

The car has since been shown at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed and a few months later at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, celebrating Bugatti's centenary at both occasions.

It will be out again this year for the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.

source :automotive.speedtv.com/article/vintage-unusual-bugatti-fitted-with-bertelli-body/#googtrans/en/ar

AMA SX: Back On The Left Coast

The Western Region AMA Supercross Lites stars are back in action this weekend following an extended break.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: The AMA Supercross race from Seattle will air on SPEED at 6:00pm EST on Sunday, April 25, immediately following coverage of the Lites race at 5:00pm EST.

The final three weeks of the Monster Energy Supercross season are upon us and while that typically means that the Supercross class title is coming down to the wire, it also signifies the return of the Supercross Lites Western Regional Championship. In most years, the Western Region greatly overshadows its East Coast counterparts. However, this season the East riders set the bar for competition pretty high. While Christophe Pourcel practically walked away with his second consecutive title, it was rookie riders Justin Barcia, Blake Baggett, and Dean Wilson who in a sense stole the show. Each youngster performed beyond their expectations and showed that they will be surefire threats to the championship in years to come. If it wasn’t for an extended delay in reentering the States following the Toronto round, Wilson might have very well become the third rookie winner of the eight-race season, which would have established a record for first time winners in a single Lites championship. With the nine-week break finally coming to an end, the Left Coasters have a lot to live up to beginning this weekend. Unlike the youth-dominated East Regional, the West has been a showcase for experienced riders. Since it’s been a while, I’d thought I’d take a look at the riders of the Western Regional Championship to help refresh not only myself of who will hit the track this weekend in Seattle, but you as well. This season, the West Coast has been a stage for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Jake Weimer’s dominance. The Idaho native has been stellar this season, winning four races en route one of the most dominant starts to the season ever. He continues to develop as a rider and this year has asserted himself as a premier competitor in the Lites class, across both regions.

source :moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sx-back-on-the-left-coast/

Beginners Guide to Formula 1

Introduction to Formula 1

Formula 1 has few rivals as a global sporting spectacle. It provides excitement, glamour and dramatic action as the sport’s top teams and drivers all compete to be crowned as the best in the world. With over 350 million people in 200 countries watching each of the championship’s races, Formula 1 is the world’s biggest annual sport. The aim of the sport is to race your car around the circuit (or track) quicker than your fellow competitors over a pre-set distance. The winner is deemed the driver who finishes first, past the infamous checkered-flag! However, winning a 'Grand Prix', (a Formula 1 race), is very much a team effort, and is down to a number of contributory factors; - The skill of the driver - based on his judgment, courage and technical knowledge of the car. - The speed and reliability of the car - motor manufacturers and independent constructors use their skills to pioneer new technologies to make their cars faster and more reliable than their competitors, to help the driver win his race. - Tactics. Both the driver and the team will choose tactics for a race which they believe will increase their chances of winning. These tactics can range from tires the car is fitted with, to reactionary tactics the drivers will make during the race.

What makes up a Formula 1 Team?

Formula 1 racing combines cutting edge technology with the skill of the sportsman (i.e. the driver), the engineers and pit crew. In its truest sense - man meets machine. Because of this unique partnership there are a number of components that make up a Formula 1 team. The basics are as follows;

The Driver An important member of the team, who helps steer cars and spray Champagne (when necessary)!

The Car Each car is built by a 'Constructor' who generally comprises of an engine manufacturer, a private technical team (i.e. Williams) who specialize in the sport of Formula 1 and a sponsor. The competition amongst the constructors is massive - as being able to build the quickest, safest and most reliable car, some argue, will get you a championship winning driver.

The Tires Each constructor will make decisions about their race tires which will contribute to the winning formula of a fast car. Tires are chosen dependant on the weather conditions, and have been known to influence the outcome of the race.

What happens at a Grand Prix?

Qualifying and the Starting Grid Each Grand Prix is raced on a Sunday, however there are 3 qualifying sessions on the Saturday prior to the Race to determine where the drivers start on the 'starting grid'. The aim of all drivers is to get up as high as they can on the starting grid - which will give you a better start to the race than those drivers behind.

1st Qualifying Session: Each driver will race one lap. The outcome of this qualifying lap will determine who races in the 2nd qualifying session. The slowest 8 drivers will start the race in the last 8 positions, with the fastest starting in 16th position.

2nd Qualifying Session: The remaining drivers will drive another qualifying lap, with the slowest 8 again being eliminated. They will then start the race in the next 8 positions, with the fastest driver starting in 11th.

3rd Qualifying Session: The remaining 10 drivers will then drive a 3rd and final qualifying lap to determine the top 10 positions on the grid - the fastest taking pole. If two or more drivers set the same time in any of the qualifying sessions their starting positions will be based on who set the time first.

The Starting Grid The starting grid is a staggered row of two cars with 8m between the cars. The order of the starting grid is dictated by the qualifying times achieved in the Saturday qualifying sessions - fastest being pole position and slowest at the back of the grid.

The Race The Grand Prix races over the course of the season will have varying lengths, which are roughly around 300km.

Pit Stops Pit stops usually form part of the race tactics - the time saved in pit stops can frequently win races. The three key reasons a driver will make a pit stop will be to a) change tires b) repair damage to the wings or bodywork. Pit stops can be a very exciting element of a Grand Prix, as each constructor's set of mechanics race to service their drivers quicker than the competition.

How are Real Life Points Generated?

Driver's Championship The top 10 drivers score points in the following way; 1st: 25 points 2nd: 18 points 3rd: 15 points 4th: 12 points 5th: 10 points 6th: 8 points 7th: 6 points 8th: 4 point 9th: 2 point 10th: 1 point

Constructor's Championship Each constructor can have up to 2 cars racing at a Grand Prix. Constructors are awarded points based on the finishing placing of both cars. The points scoring is the same as that allocated to drivers, as follows; 1st: 25 points 2nd: 18 points 3rd: 15 points 4th: 12 points 5th: 10 points 6th: 8 points 7th: 6 points 8th: 4 point 9th: 2 point 10th: 1 point The overall championship winners are deemed to be the driver or constructor who has amassed the most amount of points over the season.

Engine Championship There is a great deal of competition between the engine manufacturers who supply the engines to the Formula 1 cars - which evolves into the unofficial 'Engine Championship'.

source: gpedition.speedfantasyracing.com

F1: Stefan GP Says It Will Bid For Entry Slot Stefan GP will rise again in 2011...

Stefan GP’s website has woken up after several weeks of inactivity and announced that the team is to bid for a 2011 entry slot. Toyota made it clear some time ago that it would have nothing more to do with the project so it’s not clear yet what technical support the team will have. Stefan has also announced the creation of the ‘Stefan Technology Park,’ where the team will be based. The facility will include a race circuit that supposedly will be of F1 standard, although its proposed 3.5km length makes that sound a little ambitious. Stefan have bizarrely also added pictures of 12 drivers it talked to about possible seats for 2010, and while most names were in the public domain, others probably won't be very happy to have been unmasked in this way. The team’s statement reads as follows: “AMCO Corporation and its owner Zoran Stefanovic have today signed an agreement with the Mayor of Stara Pazova, located 25km from Belgrade, Serbia, to build the STEFAN TECHNOLOGY PARK . This will include a racing circuit suitable for the competition of Formula One, and a technical complex that will serve as STEFAN GRAND PRIX’s team headquarters upon completion in two years time. “'I think this is an excellent development for our team, Stara Pazova city, region and country,' Mr Stefanovic said today. 'This is proof that we want to put ourselves on the map as a serious hi-tech company, and that we are serious about competing in Formula One for the long term.' “'Bearing in mind that we will soon be on a par with top teams, in terms of facilities and organization, as Stefan Technology Park looking to be compared with them, we expect many positive improvements in the future,' concluded Stefanovic. “StefanGP would also like to officially announce our bid for the FIA 2011 Formula One World Championship.” Elsewhere on his website, Stefanovic quotes Sir Winston Churchill as an inspiration: "A great man by the name of Sir Winston Churchill once said something that I try to implant into the minds of the people in my team. It's something along the lines of: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP! In the last almost 12 months you were all witnesses of the fact that I strongly stand behind my beliefs. "I still believe that F1 would be a much more interesting competition with SGP, and my team and I feel like the battle is just starting. We want to be a part of F1 for both the long and short term future, and I hope that we will finally have the success we deserve. "This quality is shared by every person who has changed the world. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP! Thank you for supporting us, and I hope to see you at GP soon! Best Regards, Zoran Stefanovic"

source:formula- ne.speedtv.com