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[Comeback Special: Grand Prix Masters series to return this fall]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/02/comeback-special-grand-prix-masters-series-to-return-this-fall/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/02/comeback-special-grand-prix-masters-series-to-return-this-fall/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/02/comeback-special-grand-prix-masters-series-to-return-this-fall/#commentsFiled under: ,


While the irony of a comeback for a racing series of retired drivers themselves making a comeback has not escaped us, we're actually excited by the prospect of the Grand Prix Masters resuming its race schedule.

The racing league ran a few races back in 2005-2006, when big names like Nigel Mansell and Emerson Fittipaldi - both of which hold F1 and CART titles - competed against each other and other retired drivers in their 40s, 50s and 60s on identical machinery. The series folded, however, after running only three races. A group of new investors, however, has purchased the fleet of 15 cars - specially built by Delta Motorsport based on Reynard 2000-spec Champ Cars powered by 650-hp Cosworth-based 3.5-liter V8s - and is planning on re-launching the series in September or October 2008, apparently under the modified F1 Masters name. Among the drivers interested is Jacques Villeneuve, who is likewise a CART and F1 champ, but at 37 is substantially younger than those who raced in the previous GP Masters series and far more recently retired (or was forced into retirement) from racing. But the prospect of seeing Villeneuve going head-to-head with drivers of different eras has us fantasizing on dream-team draft levels.

[Source: AutoWeek, Photo by Clive Mason/Getty]

Comeback Special: Grand Prix Masters series to return this fall originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 May 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former two-time Formula 1 champion and Indy 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi has announced he will come out of retirement to test the new car being built by Ferrari for the A1 Grand Prix. The 60-year-old Fittipaldi, who is currently the head of A1 Team Brazil, never drove for Ferrari (he won his F1 titles with Lotus and McLaren) but is excited about getting seat time in a single-seater powered by the Prancing Horse. He also has high hopes that bringing Ferrari to the A1 GP will increase people's awareness of the racing series. "The Ferrari name alone is incredible and people are going to give A1GP more respect and we are going to be much bigger," he stated. Fittipaldi admitted that he has no intention of racing the car in the series, and will limit his time behind the wheel to purely testing. Follow the jump for the press release.

[Source: A1 Grand Prix]

Continue reading 60-year-old Fittipaldi to test Ferrari-powered A1 GP race car

60-year-old Fittipaldi to test Ferrari-powered A1 GP race car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's another big gallery of pics from Goodwood. This time we're posting images of the various open-wheel racers that haven't been seen elsewhere in our galleries. Think Indy, vintage sports car, A1GP, and the like. A lot of highlights in this group: The 1933 Napier-Railton that was driven by Rowan Atkinson on Sunday, the "Blitzen Benz" that sounded like a biplane, Arie Luyendyk driving Emerson Fittipaldi's 1990 Penske-Ilmor PC-19, Sir Jackie Stewart driving the 1966 Lola-Ford T90 he drove in the 1967 Indy 500, and Al Unser, Sr. right next to him in a similar car. The most bizarre car in the group had to be the 1960 Milliken MX1 Camber Car. Driven by its 90-something designer and namesake, William Milliken, it really wowed the crowd with its 45-degree splayed motorcycle wheels. We swore it had already been pranged in the paddock when we first saw it emerge onto the track.

Gallery: 2007 Goodwood Festival of Speed: Open-wheel racers



All photos (C) 2007 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

2007 Goodwood Festival of Speed: Open-wheel racers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goodwood has been an incredible experience and we hope you have enjoyed the coverage as much as we've enjoyed providing it. One of the numerous highlights for us was undoubtedly the Formula 1 cars; from those outrageous beasts of the '30s and '40s, through the mid-engine revolution, and on up to the technically-packed computers on wheels we have today. Friday and Saturday they had a relatively dry track to play with, and most of them seemed to be taking advantage of the conditions. Sunday's rains meant it was a bit trickier to put together a quick time, but it provided a chance for many drivers to just put on a good show for the fans.

And the drivers themselves were a big part of the show. From Sir Stirling Moss, John Surtees, Sir Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill, and Emerson Fittipaldi, to Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, David Coulthard and Anthony Davidson, it was a pretty impressive list. And sometimes the pairings were just magical, as when Damon Hill found himself behind the wheel of one of his father Graham's old single-seaters. As cool as it was to see the older legends in action, the real thrill comes from having so many current drivers and cars on hand.

Davidson drove the 1987 Williams-Honda FW11B that Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet won the championship with. Ferrari had cars from 1960, '68, '93, '98, 2000 and 2006. Honda brought their latest car, the Earth-decorated RA107, in which Christien Klien took on the driving duties until Jenson Button showed up. McLaren-Mercedes, Red Bull, Toyota, and Williams-Toyota all brought out '06 or '07 cars as well. Because the competition was getting a little beyond the safety measures at the event, these cars weren't timed, but drivers like Coulthard and Hamilton really showed what the cars could do. Long burnouts while waving seemed to warm the hearts of the soaked crowd. Some drivers stayed for autographs, but with a race next week and all that rain still coming down, it was understandable that most could only be there for a short time.

Gallery: Goodwood Festival of Speed: Formula One



All photos (C) 2007 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

2007 Goodwood Festival of Speed: Formula One originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Anthony DavidsonAnthonyDavidsonDamon HillDamonHillDavid CoulthardDavidCoulthardEmerson FittipaldiEmersonFittipaldiF1featuredFestival of SpeedFestivalOfSpeedFormula 1Formula OneFormula1FormulaOneGoodwoodJenson ButtonJensonButtonLewis HamiltonLewisHamiltonSir Jackie StewartSir Stirling MossSirJackieStewartSirStirlingMossMon, 25 Jun 2007 20:09:00 EST<![CDATA[American Eddie Cheever wins wet, wild GP Masters U.K. event]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/14/american-eddie-cheever-wins-wet-wild-gp-masters-u-k-event/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/14/american-eddie-cheever-wins-wet-wild-gp-masters-u-k-event/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/14/american-eddie-cheever-wins-wet-wild-gp-masters-u-k-event/#commentsFiled under:



Nothing like rain, 650 hp and open-wheel racecars with no traction control to test a race driver, and that was exactly the combination delivered by Sunday's GP Masters of Great Britain event at Silverstone. In the end, Eddie Cheever prevailed, bringing home his first GP Masters victory, ahead of Belgium's Eric Van de Poele and Germany's Christian Danner. Austria's Has Stuck and Italy's Alex Caffi rounded out the top five.

The GP Masters series is analogous to golfing's 'Seniors Tour,' bringing back some of Formula 1's famous names for head to head, no holds barred competition in equally-prepared open-wheeled racecars designed to emphasize the skill of the driver. In addition to this weekend's top five, series competitors include the likes of Nigel Mansell, Emerson Fittipaldi, Riccardo Patrese, and Alain Prost.

A post-race quote from Christian Danner Sunday says it all, "It's easy to overtake in these cars. There are no pitstops, no traction control, no tactics - it's just your right foot that matters and that's why this series is so good."

It's still early days for the GP Masters series, but here's hoping it becomes a fixture on the world motorsports scene. The series' next event is in South Africa in November.

[Source: GP Masters]

American Eddie Cheever wins wet, wild GP Masters U.K. event originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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