Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[SPOILER ALERT: Hopes and Dreams at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/07/spoiler-alert-hopes-and-dreams-at-the-2009-turkish-grand-prix/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/07/spoiler-alert-hopes-and-dreams-at-the-2009-turkish-grand-prix/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/07/spoiler-alert-hopes-and-dreams-at-the-2009-turkish-grand-prix/#commentsFiled under:


2009 Turkish Grand Prix - Click above for a high-res image gallery

With the established teams still threatening to walk and new teams lining up by the dozen, nothing could have better characterized Formula One's transition from old to new better than the move from the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago to the Turkish Grand Prix this weekend. While the Monaco race - held on the streets of Monte Carlo, with its close proximities and timeless seaside city-scape - remains one of the sport's oldest venues, the race in Turkey - at the new-school Istanbul Park Circuit, characterized by wide run-offs and state-of-the-art accommodations - is one of its youngest.

First held in 2005, the Turkish Grand Prix has been won the past three years running by the same driver: Ferrari's Felipe Massa, the young Brazilian who narrowly lost out on the driver's crown last year to Lewis Hamilton. Surely Ferrari's golden boy was eager to extend his domination at the Ottoman autodrom, but would he and his Maranello squad be able to translate the marked improvement which they displayed in Monte Carlo just a fortnight ago into a return to winning form in Istanbul? Follow the jump to find out.


Gallery: 2009 Turkish Grand Prix

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: Hopes and Dreams at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix

SPOILER ALERT: Hopes and Dreams at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 formula one2009 turkish gp2009 turkish grand prix2009FormulaOne2009TurkishGp2009TurkishGrandPrixf1fiafia formula one world championshipFiaFormulaOneWorldChampionshipformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOneistanbulistanbul circuitistanbul parkistanbul park circuitIstanbulCircuitIstanbulParkIstanbulParkCircuitturkeyturkey f1TurkeyF1turkish gpturkish grand prixTurkishGpTurkishGrandPrixSun, 07 Jun 2009 14:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Vintage Bentleys rally Europe right]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/16/vintage-bentleys-rally-europe-right/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/16/vintage-bentleys-rally-europe-right/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/16/vintage-bentleys-rally-europe-right/#commentsFiled under: ,

When Bentley wants to open a new showroom, they don't do it by half measures. In honor of Istanbul, Turkey's first Bentley dealer on the Bosporus, the marque is putting on a 2,500-mile rally from London to Turkey. Called the Bentley Calista Rally -- because it ends at the Calista Luxury Resort in Belek -- seven Bentley Speed Sixes and seven Bentley 4.5-liters will make the trek across The Continent.

The participants are invited members of the Benjafield's Racing Club, which was founded by Bentley Boy Dudley Benjafield. Back when W.O. Bentley was making what Ettore Bugatti called "the world's fastest lorries," the group of men who were winning races like the 24 Hours of LeMans and beating trains from Calais to London were called the Bentley Boys. In that spirit and in their honor, the ten-country Calista Rally will combine some of the world's most wonderful engines with some of Europe's most wonderful destinations. We're sure Walter Owen would be proud.

[Source: Winding Road]

Vintage Bentleys rally Europe right originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 May 2007 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybosphorusboyscalistaistanbulrallysevensixspeedturkeyWed, 16 May 2007 15:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Focus fighter from Fiat: the Linea]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/20/focus-fighter-from-the-french-the-new-fiat-linea/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/20/focus-fighter-from-the-french-the-new-fiat-linea/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/20/focus-fighter-from-the-french-the-new-fiat-linea/#commentsFiled under: ,


click on image to enlarge

Fiat has unveiled a C-segment, midsize sedan it hopes will take cars like the Ford Focus and Renault Megane to the mat in Europe and elsewhere across the oceans. Called the Linea, the sedan looks larger than a Euro Focus four-door, about the size of a Pontiac G6. It's built, however, off of the smaller Grande Punto's platform with a half meter extra in length thanks to a longer wheelbase and a more generous rear overhang that contributes to a 17.65 cubic foot trunk. The car will debut at the Instanbul Motor Show early next month, which is fitting since it was developed through a joint venture between Fiat and TOFAS, the Turkish Automotive Factory, Inc., and will be built at the joint venture's plant in Bursa, Turkey. The Linea will go on sale in the second half of 2007 in European and non-European countries, though for now the U.K. will be excluded. No word on what powerplants will be offered with the Linea, either.

You'll find Fiat's full press release after the jump...

[Source: Fiat]

Continue reading Focus fighter from Fiat: the Linea

Focus fighter from Fiat: the Linea originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c-segmentfiatistanbullineaturkeyturkishFri, 20 Oct 2006 10:23:00 EST<![CDATA[International incident takes place on Turkish F1 podium]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/30/international-incident-takes-place-on-turkish-f1-podium/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/30/international-incident-takes-place-on-turkish-f1-podium/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/30/international-incident-takes-place-on-turkish-f1-podium/#commentsFiled under:



The FIA is incensed after a game of political subterfuge played out on the podium last Sunday at the Turkish Grand Prix in Instanbul. Felipe Massa, the winner of the race, was presented his trophy by Mehmet Ali Talat, introduced by announcers as the President of the Northern Turkish Republic of Cyprus. Problem is, no such country exists except in the eyes of Turkey. The geographic area to which the the man's title refers is a part of Cyprus, the Mediterranean island nation over which Greece and Turkey have been fighting for decades.

Murat Yalicintas, head of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, admits that his organization delayed telling the FIA who the podium presenter would be in order to sneak their guy on the stand. For their efforts, the FIA is considering dropping the Turkish GP from next year's schedule, as well as canceling Turkey's round of the World Rally Championship. Lesson learned: it doesn't pay to mess with the FIA.

Thanks for the tip, Noah!

[Source: Planet-F1]

International incident takes place on Turkish F1 podium originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Aug 2006 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CyprusF1Felipe MassaFelipeMassaFIAGreeceGreekIstanbulTurkeyTurkish GPTurkish Grand PrixTurkishGpTurkishGrandPrixWed, 30 Aug 2006 11:34:00 EST