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[2010 F1 cars reportedly set to be unveiled at joint event in Valencia]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/10/2010-f1-cars-reportedly-set-to-be-unveiled-at-joint-event-in-val/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/10/2010-f1-cars-reportedly-set-to-be-unveiled-at-joint-event-in-val/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/10/2010-f1-cars-reportedly-set-to-be-unveiled-at-joint-event-in-val/#commentsFiled under:


BMW Sauber F1.09 unveiled at Valencia - Click above for high-res image gallery

We have to admit, it can get a bit tedious every January when each of the individual teams participating in the Formula One World Championship unveils its car for the upcoming season... one... at... a... time. This year, in fact, a couple of teams opted not to hold official debut events in light of financial restrictions. Seems a little silly to us when you consider how many millions of dollars each team spends every year, but they did it just the same. Next season looks to be even more berserk with an unprecedented 13 teams on the grid, even though three automakers have recently pulled out of the sport. But reports now indicate that rather than taking the wraps off one car at a time, all the teams will get together for one big event and present their cars together.

The debut event, which is shaping up to be an auto show in its own right, is expected to take place in Valencia, Spain, ahead of the first test session of the season. Exact details are being negotiated as we speak by the team principals at the meeting of the Formula One Teams Association in Monaco, where the F1 Business Forum is currently underway. But Brawn/Mercedes GP CEO Nick Fry has already revealed the basics. For our part, we'll look forward to bringing you all the new cars at once next month.

[Source: Autosport]

2010 F1 cars reportedly set to be unveiled at joint event in Valencia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 formula one world championship2010FormulaOneWorldChampionshipf1F1 world championshipF1WorldChampionshipFIAformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnevalenciaThu, 10 Dec 2009 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Silverstone secures the British Grand Prix for the next 17 years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/09/silverstone-secures-the-british-grand-prix-for-the-next-17-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/09/silverstone-secures-the-british-grand-prix-for-the-next-17-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/09/silverstone-secures-the-british-grand-prix-for-the-next-17-years/#commentsFiled under: ,


BRDC President Damon Hill and Silvestone Managing Director Richard Phillips announce the new deal

Following months of negotiations and uncertainty, the British Racing Drivers Club has signed a deal with the FIA and Formula One Management to keep the British Grand Prix at Silverstone for the next seventeen years, starting with next year's race.

The deal is struck for the same amount of time (with a cancellation clause after ten years) that rival circuit Donington Park had signed with Bernie Ecclestone. That deal fell through, however, and Donington has gone into bankruptcy. In order to meet Formula One's demands, Silverstone - which first hosted the event in 1948 and has hosted it every year since 1987 - will undertake a massive renovation project.

Included in the plans are new grandstands, a new paddock area with new pits, and a potential switch to a new track layout. The Arena circuit was carved out of sections of the existing grand prix circuit for use by MotoGP, which will also be racing at Silverstone in the coming year. By containing it within the main area, the Arena circuit offers spectators a better view of the action, and the BRDC (headed by 1996 World Champion Damon Hill) has submitted the layout for FIA approval. Press release after the jump.

[Source: Silverstone]

Continue reading Silverstone secures the British Grand Prix for the next 17 years

Silverstone secures the British Grand Prix for the next 17 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Donkervoort D8 GT(4) endurance racer - Click above for high-res image gallery

While fanatics around the world debate the supremacy of one sportscar over another based on numbers alone, here at Autoblog we postulate that such exotic machinery is only as good as its capacity to transport you to another place, if not in body then in your mind. So bear with us and imagine the following scenario: You're based in Holland. You've created what could be the ultimate neo-Lotus 7, and with it you've already placed in a major racing series. So where do you go next? Why, to Dubai, of course!

We're talking about the Donkervoort D8 GT, undoubtedly one of the most futuristically phallic retro road rockets on the street or track today. We got our first glimpse three years ago, and took a closer look in Geneva back in 2007, before production began last year. The 1400-pound cab-rearward track tool packs an Audi-sourced 1.8-liter turbo four driving 270 horsepower to the rear wheels. That's enough power to sixty in less than four seconds.

With the D8 GT, the Dutch manufacturer has already taken second place in the FIA GT4 European Cup, and it is now heading to its first 24-hour race at the Dubai Autodrome on the shores of the Persian Gulf. To prepare for the event, Donkervoort has tweaked the fuel system, the brakes, the aerodynamics, the carbon-fiber sandwich panels and aluminum chassis to create the D8 GT(4). The results ought to be interesting as the 24 Hours of Dubai kicks off in mid-January, but you can check it out now in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.


Gallery: 2010 Donkervoort D8 GT endurance racer


[Source: Donkervoort]

Continue reading Donkervoort tweaks the D8 GT for 24-hour race debut in Dubai

Donkervoort tweaks the D8 GT for 24-hour race debut in Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After months in limbo, the FIA has released a short statement to announce that it has approved the Sauber F1 team - formerly owned by BMW - to fill Toyota's vacant spot on the grid for next year's F1 championship.

The announcement puts an end to a long period of uncertainty for the Swiss team that started when BMW announced it would withdraw its support. A deal was then penned with a shady investment firm known as Qadbak. But after Qadbak emerged as little more than a shell company for a convicted fraudster, the team's founder and namesake Peter Sauber negotiated a deal to buy the team back from the departing Bavarian automaker.

BMW motorsport chief Mario Thiessen - who supervised the company's F1 participation from providing engines to Williams through its purchase of Sauber - has announced that he'll remain with BMW and not leave with Sauber, leaving old Peter in charge.

The newly independent team has reportedly negotiated a deal to run Ferrari engines next season, an arrangement that powered Sauber F1 cars for eight years, rebadged as Petronas under the sponsor's name. Reports also suggest that Giancarlo Fisichella - who raced for Sauber in 2004 alongside Felipe Massa - could drive for the team once again in parallel to his Ferrari test duties.

A revised entry list is expected within the next few days. Follow the jump for the FIA's official announcement.

[Source: FIA | Image: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images]

Continue reading FIA gives Sauber the green light to fill Toyota's slot

FIA gives Sauber the green light to fill Toyota's slot originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmw sauberbmw-sauberBmwSauberf1fiaformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnepeter sauberPeterSaubersaubersauber-ferrarisauber-petronasTue, 08 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumormill: Volkswagen ponders becoming F1 engine supplier in 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/rumormill-volkswagen-ponders-becoming-f1-engine-supplier-in-201/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/rumormill-volkswagen-ponders-becoming-f1-engine-supplier-in-201/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/rumormill-volkswagen-ponders-becoming-f1-engine-supplier-in-201/#commentsFiled under: ,



There have been rumblings about VW getting into F1 by signing up with a specific team, but the chatter was always quashed. This time, reports suggest that VW is actively talking up the idea of getting into Formula 1 after 2012, but as an engine supplier to multiple teams. Hans-Joachim Stuck, VW's motorsports head, said with the way F1 engine regulations are going -- especially with costs and the potential of the "world engine" -- it could be the perfect opportunity for VW to start pumping out powerplants.

While future F1 regulations are still undefined, and VW's eventual entry into the series is by no means guaranteed, it's clear that VW's looking for ways to show off its engineering chops and get its name onto tracks. Stuck recently visited a NASCAR race and spoke about the company looking to get into the GrandAm series, and perhaps IndyCar.

Interestingly, the very conditions that Stuck sees as favorable for VW's entry are the ones that a number of F1 teams and fans are, at best, ambivalent about: substantially lower costs, spec engines, and more than 24 teams on the grid. With a new FIA president, what F1 is going to look like after 2012 is almost completely unknown. Hat tip to Stefano

[Source: Autosport]

Rumormill: Volkswagen ponders becoming F1 engine supplier in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f1fiaformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnevolkswagenvwSun, 29 Nov 2009 12:19:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Court rejects rejected F1 team]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/report-court-rejects-rejected-f1-team/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/report-court-rejects-rejected-f1-team/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/report-court-rejects-rejected-f1-team/#commentsFiled under: ,



Hell hath no fury like a racing team scorned. Among the dozen teams that lodged bids this year to join the F1 grid for 2010 was N.Technology. The racing outfit is known to some European fans as the squad that fielded race-prepped Alfas in various touring car series (pictured above), but its bid was ultimately rejected by the FIA in favor of Campos, Manor and USF1, Lotus joining the roster in BMW's stead after N.Technology had withdrawn its bid.

Citing irregularities in the selection process, N.Technology and its parent company MSC Organization Ltd. (itself an organizing body responsible for the International Formula Master feeder series) sued the FIA in French courts. According to the plaintiffs, the FIA only selected teams that were willing to use the Cosworth engine package which the governing body commissioned. N.Technology wasn't interested, while the teams that were selected all agreed to use Cosworth power.

Unfortunately for N.Technology and MSC, the French courts didn't see things their way, and rejected the rejected entry's claims. Some people just can't win.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Bryn Lennon/Getty]

REPORT: Court rejects rejected F1 team originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 FIA GT Championship at Silverstone - Click above for a high-res image gallery

After a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council earlier this month, the FIA GT Championship has announced the expansion of the racing series for next year that includes more races and international locations. The 2010 schedule features four additional races and venues on five different continents, making the battle for the GT1 title a true world championship. United Arab Emirates, South Africa, China, Brazil, and Canada will all host races along withtraditional locations like Silverstone, Paul Ricard, Brno, and Spa.

In addition to the new schedule, the racing series also announced a change in direction for the GT1 category that will now focus more on privateer teams to encourage competition and reduce costs. The GT2 and GT3 classes will remain European-only series with an emphasis on semi-pro or amateur drivers and teams. Follow the jump for the full 2010 FIA GT schedule.


Gallery: FIA GT Silverstone 2009



[Source: FIA GT]

Continue reading FIA GT1 Championship goes global for 2010

FIA GT1 Championship goes global for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 FIA GT1 World Championship2010FiaGt1WorldChampionshipFIAFIA GTFIA GT1 World ChampionshipFIA GT2 European ChampionshipFIA GT3 European ChampionshipFiaGtFiaGt1WorldChampionshipFiaGt2EuropeanChampionshipFiaGt3EuropeanChampionshipFri, 30 Oct 2009 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Next Stop, Le Mans: FIA reportedly puts the brakes on Sebastien Loeb's grand prix debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/next-stop-le-mans-fia-puts-the-brakes-on-sebastien-loebs-gran/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/next-stop-le-mans-fia-puts-the-brakes-on-sebastien-loebs-gran/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/next-stop-le-mans-fia-puts-the-brakes-on-sebastien-loebs-gran/#commentsFiled under: ,


What do you do after making it to the pinnacle of rallying and winning a record-shattering six consecutive world championships? Anything you want - or so you'd think - but Sebastien Loeb is running into some roadblocks that appear to have derailed his plans to try his hand at Formula One.

The French rally ace who recently secured his sixth WRC title in a row was tipped to potentially drive for Scuderia Toro Rosso at the upcoming F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi. Considering that the team is owned by the same company that sponsors Loeb's Citroën rally car, and that the outfit seems to almost exclusively employ drivers named Sebastien (to say nothing of the championship already having concluded), it all seemed entirely likely. But despite having participated in a number of test sessions, the FIA has reportedly deemed the 35-year-old driver unsuitable for F1 racing, refusing to grant him the Superlicense needed to compete.

So what's next on Loeb's plate? Although he's recently been linked with a drive for USF1, Loeb realizes he probably won't get another shot at F1 at this point in his career. But he isn't done with circuit racing altogether. Having scored an impressive podium finish at Le Mans in 2006 for the Pescarolo team and tested the Peugeot 908 LMP1 (run by the same automaker as his rally team) a couple of times already, the champ is looking at potentially joining the Peugeot Le Mans team again in the near future.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty/Red Bull Racing]

Next Stop, Le Mans: FIA reportedly puts the brakes on Sebastien Loeb's grand prix debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jean Todt, the Frenchman who has led championship-winning teams in WRC, Paris-Dakar, Le Mans, and Formula 1, has been elected to head the FIA. He succeeds the long-serving and highly controversial Max Mosley, who agreed to step down earlier this year as part of the agreement to prevent a rival manufacturer-led championship series. Todt won the vote by 149-35, defeating Ari Vatanen -- the same Vatanen who won those four consecutive Paris-Dakar races for Todt's Peugeot team.

Todt assumes his position with the platform of "constructive change," at the same time as he praised "the extraordinary achievements of Max Mosley's 16 years as President of the FIA in both sport and mobility." He will not only have the backing of the FIA representatives, but the list of candidates that he put forth and that were all, to a man, elected as well.

The question is whether Vatanen's defeat is also a blow to a higher grade of motorsports management. Vatanen felt the FIA needed a thorough overhaul -- perhaps one of the reasons he didn't muster many votes, since many of the people he needed to win were the same ones who might be purged if he did. Mosley's reign could be considered highly successful overall; we will find out if Todt can continue the growth without the gaffes, clashes, and egoistic explosions.

[Source: The Associated Press]

Todt elected FIA president originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The World Motor Sports Council took only 90 minutes to reach a verdict in the case of Crashgate - wherein former driver Nelson Piquet, Jr. intentionally chucked his car into the wall at last year's Singapore GP to hand the win to Renault teammate Fernando Alonso. Realizing that Renault was contrite and that the company's disappearance from F1 would be bad for a lot of people, the WSMC handed the company a two-year suspended sentence. If Renault - and its people - keep clean until the end of 2011, it will be free and clear again. As usual in these cases, Renault F1 will also be making "a significant contribution" to racing safety projects.

As for team head Flavio Briatore (above), he couldn't even go down shooting. Having walked away from Renault and not in attendance at the WSMC hearing, all of the doors to FIA-sanctioned motorsport were closed behind him. Not only is he barred "for an unlimited period," from any kind of involvement in any race series or team, no driver "who is associated (through a management contract or otherwise) with Mr. Briatore," can get a Superlicense. We guess that mean's he's left to hang his head at his Billionaire's Club... or with his model wife... or on his yacht...

Pat Symonds, Renault's executive director of engineering, fared a little better, getting only a five-year ban. It appears the difference is that Symonds admitted participation in the "conspiracy," while Briatore still denies he had anything to do with it. We wouldn't be surprised to see Symonds in racing again, but perhaps not on the wall in F1 even after the five years is up. Piquet was given immunity for his help with the investigation, but his career has probably been given a terminal blow to the head. Alonso was found not to have known anything about the plot, which cynics, like Nelson Piquet, Sr. have found hard to believe, but this could clear the way for Alonso to potentially head to Ferrari without issue. Hat tip to Bertland!

[Source: Formula 1.com | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]

BREAKING: Renault F1 placed on suspended two-year, Briatore banned indefinitely? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flavio Briatore might have wished that he had been a little kinder to client and former Renault F1 driver Nelson Piquet. After Piquet was sacked for non-performance following the Hungarian Grand Prix this year, he sought revenge by saying that Briatore and team engineering director Pat Symonds instructed him to crash during last year's Singapore GP. The crash, done correctly, would cause the safety car to come out, and that would give teammate Fernando Alonso the best chance of winning the race.

Piquet crashed, the safety car came out, and Alonso won the race. It's been reported that at least one driver thought the crash was suspect, and Williams' Patrick Head said Piquet confessed to a journalist after the race that he crashed on purpose. Piquet's motivation was to keep his Renault seat for 2009. Not having done that, he's got little left to lose... well, other than his career or the chance that any other team will hire him...

Based on evidence gathered, the FIA called Renault to account for its actions during the Singapore GP to the World Motorsport Council. The team hadn't been found guilty, but leaks indicated that the affair was looking suspect. Perhaps hoping to save the team from suffering over the actions of just two men, Briatore and Symonds have departed in what looks remarkably like a Ron Dennis move after McLaren's Australian GP debacle. Renault's only statement on the matter, before Monday's WSMC meeting, said that "The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix." For all kinds of reasons, happy and tragic, on the track and off, this has been the most intriguing F1 season in years.

[Source: F1 Live | Image Source: Mark Thompson/Getty]

BREAKING: Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds leave Renault F1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nelsinho Piquet at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix

The FIA is always sticking its nose around, sniffing around for some trouble. So, when the motorsport governing body opened a new investigation into the Renault F1 team, frankly we weren't all that surprised or interested. The probe centered around claims that the team instructed its since-departed driver Nelson Piquet, Jr. to crash on purpose at the Singapore Grand Prix last year in order to help his wing-man Fernando Alonso win the race.

Now, however, the probe appears to be deepening as the FIA claims to have discovered "other issues above and beyond Singapore" during their investigation into Renault's alleged wrongdoing. In a recurrence of the "Stepney-gate" investigations held during his brief but highly controversial tenure at McLaren, Alonso was reportedly questioned at length by the FIA's lawyers, along with technical chief Pat Symonds and team principal Flavio Briatore, to name just a few of the most prominent team figures implicated.

The team is naturally denying any wrongdoing, and tellingly, several individuals who've since left the team, including former engine chief Denis Chevrier and former test driver Franck Montagny, have expressed serious doubt that Renault was up to any underhanded business. For our part, we have a feeling this isn't the last we've heard over what we'll tentatively refer to as "Renault-gate."

[Source: F1-Live]

FIA digging for dirt in Renault F1 investigation originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's anything but business as usual this year in Formula One, and this past week has been no exception, with one team scrambling to secure its future, another receiving the go-ahead to continue racing, and others re-submitting applications in the hope of joining the grid for next year.

First up is BMW, which announced it would be withdrawing its support from the Sauber team at the end of this year. After the team's eponymous founder failed to put the cash together to buy his team back from the Bavarians, the outfit is going ahead with its program to launch successive updates to its current car for Valencia this coming weekend and Singapore later this season in to demonstrate its capabilities in the hope of finding a new buyer before the season's out.

The FIA isn't holding its breath, however, and has informed seven outfits that submitted so-far unsuccessful bids to participate in F1 next season that there'll be another spot opening up on the grid for next year. In addition to BMW Sauber, reports suggest that Epsilon Euskadi and Prodrive are vying for the spot.

Meanwhile the Renault team has been given the green light to race at Valencia after successfully appealing the ban imposed on the team at the last grand prix for a loose wheel nut. The team will have to pay a $50,000 fine, whiole newcomer Romain Grosjean is confirmed to replace Nelsinho Piquet and partner Fernando Alonso.

As for Felipe Massa, the injured Ferrari driver currently recovering, the latest reports indicate that while he could be ready as soon as the Italian Grand Prix - the home race for his team - he'll more likely wait until the later race in his home country of Brazil to make his comeback.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty]

F1 Updates: BMW seeks new buyer, FIA re-opens selection process, Renault granted appeal, etc. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Those who bemoan modern Formula One settling its rivalries in the courtroom instead of on the race track have another set of examples to bring up at the pub as news emerges of the settlement of two lawsuits related to the top-tier racing series have emerged over the course of the weekend.

In one case, Scuderia Toro Rosso and its dejected driver Sebastien Bourdais reportedly settled a dispute of the premature termination of the contract between the two parties. When the team fired Bourdais in favor of Jamie Alguersuari, Bourdais proclaimed that he was looking into legal recourse against the team. Reports now indicate that the two parties settled out of court, with STR reportedly paying Bourdais salary plus damages in the amount of $2.1 million. Speculation is rising that the French driver will return to racing in the U.S., where he racked up an unprecedented four consecutive Champ Car titles before his ill-fated move to Formula One.

Meanwhile, departing FIA president Max Mosley has reportedly settled his case against German newspaper Bild over the publication of his sordid sex scandal for which he sued the publisher for $2.35 million. According to reports, Mosley and Bild settled for $290,000 which will be distributed to two charities, as well as the publication of an interview to clear the record. The settlement follows the $100,000 in damages and $760,000 in legal fees awarded last year to Mosley from the News of the World, the British tabloid which originally broke the story.

[Sources: F1-Live and GrandPrix.com | Image: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty]

Max Mosley, Sebastien Bourdais settle individual lawsuits originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No one could have predicted what has happened so far in the Formula 1 this year. Brawn GP, a team that didn't even exist a few weeks before the season started, dominated the first half of the season, Jenson Button, who scored just three points in 2008, has won six of the first seven races, and the Formula One Teams Association threatened to leave and start their own series. Oh, did we mention Michael Schumacher is coming back to the series?

It appears that along with Lewis Hamilton's and McLaren's return to form in Hungary, normalcy has also come in the form of an amended Concorde Agreement that was approved by the World Motor Sport Council and the FIA late Friday night. The new contract between the F1 teams and CVC Capital, which is the commercial rights holder for the series, determines how revenue is distributed and sets the sporting and technical regulations through December 31, 2012.

Few details were given about the specifics of the agreement (though they should be released shortly on the FIA's website), but it has been announced that the teams agreed to restrict resources as an alternative form of cost cutting to budget capping. The only team yet to sign the agreement is BMW-Sauber, the principals of which have already announced that they will exit the series at season's end. According to the FIA, the team has until Wednesday to sign the agreement to allow a new operator of the team to race in the series next year.

[Source: F1-Live | Image: Shaun Curry/Getty]

REPORT: FIA accepts amended Concorde Agreement, F1 dispute draws to a close originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In a development mirroring countless racing movies, Felipe Massa's doctors say that the injured driver is showing progress in his recovery, but that he may never race again. The Brazilian pilot, who narrowly missed winning the title last year, was knocked unconscious on Saturday by a loose component off the car of fellow countryman Rubens Barrichello - who coincidentally used to hold Massa's seat at Ferrari - and taken to the hospital in Budapest. Although Massa's injuries are no longer considered life-threatening and he was reportedly able to move limbs according to doctors' instructions, severe damage to his left eye could spell the end of his career.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo visited Massa at the hospital together with team principal Stefano Domenicali, who will stay with Massa's family - including his pregnant wife - another day while doctors determine how much longer he should stay at the Hungarian military facility before being moved closer to home. While Felipe's projected recovery time remains unclear at this point, it looks like he will be out for at least the rest of the season, meaning that the Scuderia will need to find someone suitable to fill his seat. The last time Ferrari had to temporarily replace an injured driver was ten years ago when Michael Schumacher broke his leg at Silverstone. The team then elected to bring in Mika Salo, who supported team-mate Eddie Irvine in securing the constructors' championship for the team, rather than promoting one of its veteran test drivers.

Massa's injuries follow hot on the heels of the Henry Surtees incident that saw the son of former world champion John Surtees killed in a Formula 2 race a week ago, throwing the FIA into action to prevent further incidents. The Renault team was handed a one-race suspension as a penalty for a stray wheel that broke loose from Fernando Alonso's F1 car on Sunday and bounced dangerously down the track on the thirteenth lap of this past weekend's race. The FIA ruled that the team should have alerted its driver to the improperly secured wheel nut, and will subsequently have to sit out the upcoming European Grand Prix at Valencia, considered a home race for the penalized two-time world champion.

UPDATE: We've added a gallery of images taken during and after the incident, though should warn you that the gallery includes a shot of Massa after the accident occurred. It is not for the faint of heart, so don't look if you can't stomach seeing injuries well.


Gallery: Felipe Massa crash at Hungarian GP



[Sources: Boston Globe and New York Times | Image: MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty]

REPORTS: Massa recovering but may never race again, Renault suspended for safety infraction [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reiter Engineering LP670 R-SV -- Click above for high-res image gallery

Reiter Engineering used last weekend's 24 Hours of Spa race to reveal its Murcielago LP670 R-SV, a GT1 race-ready version of the already hardened LP 670-4 SV. The box-stock Lambo already shed 220 pounds compared to its non SV brethren, weighing in at 3,451 pounds. The Reiter racer, stripped of any non-essentials and with a body rendered entirely in carbon fiber, drops further 921 pounds to weigh in at just 2,530 pounds (1,150 kg).

Reiter is hoping the car will be one of the six allowable brands chosen for next year's FIA GT World Championship. You can read the press release on the taurean missile after the jump, and check out the gallery of high-res photos below.


Gallery: Reiter Engineering LP670 R-SV


[Source: Reiter Engineering]

Continue reading Reiter Engineering unveils Lamborghini Murcielago LP670 R-SV at Spa

Reiter Engineering unveils Lamborghini Murcielago LP670 R-SV at Spa originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You didn't seriously think that the race to succeed Max Mosley as FIA president would be entirely clean, did you? The head office of the international automobile federation has been the subject of more controversy than a G8 meeting, so it only stands to reason that the campaign to fill its vacancy would follow suit. And here's the first blood.

Ari Vatanen, the former rally champion and European parliamentarian running for the position, has accused the FIA of financially supporting the campaign of his rival Jean Todt. The former Ferrari chief has already received the support of outgoing president Max Mosley, but Vatanen pointed towards flights paid for by the federation's non-profit wing, the FIA Foundation, as evidence of favoritism. The FIA Foundation in turn says that Todt was merely accompanying his partner, actress Michelle Yoeh, in her work as a goodwill ambassador for the foundation's road safety campaign, and rebuked Vatanen for politicizing the project and tarnishing the NGO's reputation.

One way or another, it's clear that the campaign will be a heated one, and if Vatanen wins, he'll have some diplomacy work on his hands to patch things up with the non-profit branch of the organization over which he'll be presiding. Follow the jump to read the full letter from the chairman of the FIA Foundation.

[Source: FIA Foundation via Autosport | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]

Continue reading First Blood: Controversy heats up in FIA presidential campaign

First Blood: Controversy heats up in FIA presidential campaign originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ari vatanenAriVatanencampaignfederation internationale de lautomobileFederationInternationaleDeLautomobilefiafia foundationfia presidentFiaFoundationFiaPresidentjean todtJeanTodttodtvatanenThu, 23 Jul 2009 08:33:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Former Ferrari chief Jean Todt confirms candidacy for FIA president]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/report-former-ferrari-chief-jean-todt-confirms-candidacy-for-fi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/report-former-ferrari-chief-jean-todt-confirms-candidacy-for-fi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/report-former-ferrari-chief-jean-todt-confirms-candidacy-for-fi/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The heat is on as former Ferrari chief executive Jean Todt has reportedly confirmed his candidacy for FIA president. The Frenchman has been touted as a potential head of the international motorsport governing body and automobile federation for years, with rumors intensifying following his resignation from the top spot at Ferrari over a year ago. However, reports now indicate that the renowned racing strategist will stand for the office to replace the departing Max Mosley.

Todt has a wealth of experience in a variety of motorsport disciplines. After a brief career as a rally co-pilot, Todt went on to head up Peugeot's racing program, bringing the French automaker titles at Le Mans, Dakar and the World Rally Championship. He then went on to head the Scuderia Ferrari F1 team, orchestrating an unprecedented winning streak together with Michael Schumacher and Ross Brawn. Todt was eventually named chief executive of the entire Ferrari operation, a post from which he stepped down last year, while retaining certain influential positions for Ferrari including his seat on the FIA World Motorsport Council.

The son of a Holocaust survivor, Todt's family history appears at odds with Mosley's, to say nothing of Bernie Ecclestone's recent comments. But that didn't stop Mosley from endorsing Todt (or Todt from accepting Mosley's endorsement) as his successor when he finally announcing his intention yesterday not to seek re-election this coming October.

Todt has already assembled part of his 22-member slate, including New Zealand's Brian Gibbons and Britain's Graham Stoker as vice-presidents and American Nick Shaw, current FIA deputy president, to preside over the FIA Senate. He'll be running against Ari Vatanen, a former Dakar and World Rally Champion and current member of the European Parliament.

[Source: BBC | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

REPORT: Former Ferrari chief Jean Todt confirms candidacy for FIA president originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could the end finally be at hand for the Max Mosley/Formula One soap opera? The embattled FIA president has apparently backed away from potential threats to seek a sixth term in office after all, instead deciding to endorse Jean Todt, team principal for Ferrari's F1 team. The announcement came as part of a letter sent Wednesday to all FIA member clubs.

The missive quotes Mosley as saying:
"Extremely grateful though I am for all the letters, e-mails and messages I have received, I have decided to reconfirm my decision. I will not be a candidate in October... To continue now would greatly complicate my domestic arrangement and be inconsistent with my obligations to my family, particularly after our recent loss. Also, I have felt for some time that I would like to work less. After all, I will be 70 next year."
Despite not seeking re-election after 16 years, Mosley will apparently still maintain a seat on the FIA Senate.

For his part, Todt, 63, has not yet indicated that he is interested in running for the position, but if he decides to do so, he will be campaigning against ex World Rally champion Ari Vatanen, 57, who reportedly announced his candidacy last week. Check out a copy of Mosely's letter to FIA members after the jump.

[Source: Telegraph UK | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Continue reading Mosley reportedly says he won't seek sixth term as FIA President. Again. Finally.

Mosley reportedly says he won't seek sixth term as FIA President. Again. Finally. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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