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  • Juan Manuel Fangio’s W196 sells for £17.5m at auction

    Juan Manuel Fangio’s W196 sells for £17.5m at auction

    Juan Manuel Fangio’s 1954 Mercedes W196 sold for a world record auction price of £17.5m at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

    The previous auction record of £11m ($16.7m) was paid for a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa in 2011. After commission and taxes are added, the sale of the W196 reaches a total of £19.6m.

    Juan Manuel Fangio’s W196 went up for auction after being found in a warehouse earlier this year. Initial estimates expected the car to sell for around £5m.

    Juan Manuel Fangio circa 1952Racing historian Doug Nye described it as “a beautiful survivor” when it was discovered. He told Eurosport, “The first time I saw this car I needed oxygen; it’s landmark technology and it was driven by a landmark driver. Some people think it looks grotty – that’s not the point – the really rare cars today are the unrestored ones. Every car that’s restored has lost a part of its history because it’s been obliterated by repainting or by rebuilding. Nothing’s been obliterated on this; it’s just a beautiful survivor.”

    In the W196 Juan Manuel Fangio won the 1954 German and Swiss grands prix and secured the second of his five world championships.

     

  • Red Bull exploring Pirelli tyre test options

    Red Bull exploring Pirelli tyre test options

    Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, has said that the team is exploring the option of carrying out a Pirelli tyre test.

    This follows the International Tribunal’s ruling on the Mercedes tyre test where it has been made clear that running a 2013 car is perfectly legal as long as plans are communicated to and approved by the FIA.

    None of the teams have agreed to run a current car but Red Bull seems open to completing a test running a 2011 car, similar to the test carried out by Ferrari for Pirelli in Barcelona earlier this year.

    Horner told Sporting Life, “We will see, it is something we have to discuss with Pirelli”.

    When asked about what the importance would be to Pirelli, Horner replied: “That is for them to judge, what they need and what they require from testing. Whatever happens it has to be done transparently. We don’t want people sneaking off behind closed doors – and wearing nondescript helmets.”

    Pirelli motorsport director, Paul Hembery.Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery says that Pirelli will continue to push to use current (2013) cars. He told ESPN, “We’re asking for [a 2013 car]. We’ve got a couple of teams maybe interested in running a 2011 car and doing 1000km, which is good, but I think the big thing is we’d like to get the 2013 car run.”

  • Video: Cutaway Insights – Episode 9: F1 Security Data Recorder (SDR) – Sauber F1 Team

    Video: Cutaway Insights – Episode 9: F1 Security Data Recorder (SDR) – Sauber F1 Team

    In this episode of the Sauber F1 Team’s Cutaway Insights series, Matt Morris (Chief Designer for the C32) shows you the F1 Security Data Recorder (SDR). FIA is planning to introduce a new g-force sensor for 2014 which will be placed in the drivers’ earpieces. This will be in addition to the SDR and will more accurately measure the forces actually acting on the drivers and, in particular, their heads. Enjoy the video!

  • Video – Alonso drives the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta around Nordschleife for an interview

    Video – Alonso drives the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta around Nordschleife for an interview

    Doing interviews is probably not a driver’s favourite pastime, but when it involves grabbing a steering wheel and putting the pedal to the metal to unleash the sort of power which is almost on a par with that of a Formula 1 car, then this actually becomes a pleasure.

    Watch Fernando Alonso take the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta around Nordschleife while he chats to German TV in a most interesting interview.

  • Sauber will run Hulkenberg at the Young Driver Test

    Sauber will run Hulkenberg at the Young Driver Test

    The FIA’s decision to allow race drivers to take part in the upcoming Young Driver Test in order to test the new Pirelli tyres has seen quite a few teams opting to make use of the opportunity to run their regular drivers.

    Sauber have announced the they will run Nico Hulkenberg along with reserve driver Robert Frinjs and Japanese driver Kimiya Sato at the 17-19 July test.

    Hulkenberg will be testing on the Thursday afternoon with Frinjs getting track action in the morning as well as on Wednesday. Kimiya Sato will take the C32 around Silverstone on the Friday.

    Sauber have also confirmed that they will be bringing a new upgrade package to the Young Driver Test.

     

  • Lotus will run Kimi Raikkonen at the Young Driver Test

    Lotus will run Kimi Raikkonen at the Young Driver Test

    Lotus has announced that Kimi Raikkonen will run in the Young Driver Test at Silverstone next week.

    The test runs from 17-19 July and Raikkonen will run on the final day to test Pirelli’s new tyres.

    On the preceding two days Lotus has announced they will run Nicholas Prost and Davide Valsecchi.

    Lotus team principal Eric Boullier said that the team is happy with the feedback they get from Prost and Valsecchi, both having tested for Lotus before.

    Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1 TeamBoullier said, “By running Nicolas and Davide we are giving them both invaluable experience and also gaining great feedback, as we’ve previously seen what they can do in the car and appreciate the valuable information they give us. It’s also a fabulous second opportunity for all Formula 1 fans to come and see the teams in action at Silverstone.”

    He further commented, “It’s great timing for us to have this season’s Young Driver Test scheduled in the middle of the year as it allows us to evaluate more of the new parts we have for the E21 as the championship battle intensifies. Remarkably, the UK has been having some notably good weather recently so we’re looking forward to getting some good running across the three days.”

     

  • TOONED McLaren’s 50th Anniversary – Part 1: A night to remember

    TOONED McLaren’s 50th Anniversary – Part 1: A night to remember

    In the latest episode of McLaren’s TOONED, Jenson Button, Sergio Perez, and Professor M, voiced by Alexander Armstrong, are gathered at the McLaren Technology Centre to celebrate McLaren’s 50th anniversary when the mystery guest arrives …

  • F1 Video – Bruce McLaren’s 1929 Austin 7

    F1 Video – Bruce McLaren’s 1929 Austin 7

    Going back to the beginning of McLaren’s history – here’s a look at the car that started it all – Bruce McLaren’s 1929 Austin 7. This is the car that Bruce McLaren learned to drive in and went racing in for the very first time. Bruce McLaren also achieved his very first race win in this car at the tender age of 15.

     

     

  • Broadcast crews banned from pitlanes during all F1 sessions

    Broadcast crews banned from pitlanes during all F1 sessions

    Formula One broadcast personnel and camera crews have been banned from the pit lanes at all circuits, during all sessions – including practice sessions, qualifying and the race.

    This follows an FIA announcement yesterday in which the FIA stipulated that they would be clamping down on safety in the pit lanes following the incident at the German Grand Prix where Mark Webber’s loose tyre hit FOM cameraman Paul Allen, breaking his ribs and collar bone.

    The FIA have since their statement, sent an email to all TV crews and media that they will now be banned from the pit lane going forward.

    The FIA statement, released last night read as follows:

    Following a pit lane incident at last weekend’s German Grand Prix, the FIA has decided to take steps to increase F1 safety and is to institute an immediate ban on anyone other than event marshals and team personnel being present in pit lane during races and grand prix qualifying sessions. Access for approved media will be confined to the pit wall.

    Pit lane drama at German GRand PrixLast weekend’s incident at the Nürburgring occurred when, following a pit stop, a wheel became detached from the Red Bull Racing car of Mark Webber as he made his way towards the pit lane exit. The loose wheel struck a television cameraman who was hospitalised as a result. He is expected to make a full recovery.

    In order to reduce the risk of similar accidents in the future, the FIA, on the initiative of its President, Jean Todt, will be seeking to make changes to the Formula One Sporting Regulations. In order to effect this, the FIA today informed teams that the approval of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) will immediately be sought for two changes to the Sporting Regulations. Both of these changes have already been approved for 2014. However, for safety reasons, the WMSC will be asked to approve their immediate implementation. The changes are:

    1)    Article 23.11*, which will now require all team personnel working on a car during a pit stop to wear head protection.

    2)    Article 30.12**, which will provide for a reduction of the pit lane speed limit during races from 100km/h to 80km/h (with the exception of Melbourne, Monaco and Singapore, where due to track configuration the limit remains at 60km/h). 

    Finally, in relation to the incident at the German Grand Prix, the FIA is expecting a written report from Red Bull Racing tomorrow. This will also be shared with the other teams in order to help improve pit lane safety.

    *        23.11        Team personnel are only allowed in the pit lane immediately before they are required to work on a car and must withdraw as soon as the work is complete. All team personnel carrying out any work on a car during a race pit stop must be wearing head protection.

    **        30.12        A speed limit of 80km/h will be imposed in the pit lane during the whole Event. However, this limit may be amended by the stewards following a recommendation from the FIA F1 safety delegate. Any team whose driver exceeds the limit during any practice session will be fined €100 for each km/h above the limit, up to a maximum of €1000. However, in accordance with Article 18.1 the stewards may inflict an additional penalty if they suspect a driver was speeding in order to gain any sort of advantage. During the race the stewards may impose either of the penalties under Article 16.3a) or b) on any driver who exceeds the limit.

     

  • Video: Pirelli’s Paul Hembery Reacts to Hamiltons Comments

    Video: Pirelli’s Paul Hembery Reacts to Hamiltons Comments

    Pirelli Motorsport Director, Paul Hembery reacts to Lewis Hamilton’s comments about the tyres at the German Grand Prix