Autoblog

Mini working up new John Cooper Works GP edition

Noah Joseph — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

The Mini faithful fondly remember the John Cooper Works GP (pictured above). Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2006, the GP edition was the fastest version of the first-gen Mini hatchback. It packed 218 horsepower, 180 pound-feet of torque, a beefier suspension and - thanks to the removal of the back seats and air-conditioning - 88 fewer pounds to motivate. The result was a 6.5-second sprint to 60 and a 146-mph top speed. Only 444 examples were made available shortly before the second-gen Mini was introduced.

Now, word on the street is that Mini is preparing a new GP version. Few details are available at this point, but considering that the current JCW packs 208 hp from its 1.6-liter turbo four, we ought to be looking at 220 horses or more in the new GP. To make things simpler, in fact, Mini could be preparing to shoe-horn in the engine being developed for the JCW Countryman, which is expected to pack more power than the JCW hatchback in order to get its heftier curb weight moving.

Given that the previous GP edition was a two-seat affair, we can't help but wonder if Mini will turn to the new Coupe for this GP. But for now, we'll just have to sit tight and see what the Anglo-German automaker has in store for its most hard-core fanatics.

Mini working up new John Cooper Works GP edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Sebastian Vettel's virtual tour of the Korean Grand Prix

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, South Korea

Sebastian Vettel laps the Korean F1 circuit - Click above to watch video after the jump

Karun Chandhok was the first driver to lap the track that will be used for this month's Korean Grand Prix. Now Sebastian Vettel has gotten his turn. On this go-round, it sounds like the track is still so slippery that revs were a bigger issue than anything else.

With the same camera angle as Chandhok's run, there isn't much more to see. The track is further along than a month ago, but it's still not going to be pretty for the folks who make the journey into the South Korean bush to watch it live. While we figure out how to say "cat fight" and "ghost town" in Korean, you can entertain yourselves with the video after the jump.

[Source: Red Bull]

Continue reading Video: Sebastian Vettel's virtual tour of the Korean Grand Prix

Video: Sebastian Vettel's virtual tour of the Korean Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 German Grand Prix: Tussles, team orders and tire wear [SPOILERS]

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:04:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

2010 German Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Formula One World Championship passed the halfway point with the British Grand Prix two weeks ago, and while Red Bull and McLaren have been the teams to beat of late, several others are showing signs of marked improvement, Ferrari being but one of them. Heading into qualifying for the German Grand Prix, the Maranello squad was telling anyone who would listen that they were in it to the very end. After all, the Scuderia had taken the top step of the podium in the first round of the season and Fernando Alonso was fifth in the drivers' standings.

Of course, there were still two Red Bull drivers and two McLaren drivers ahead of him, none of whom are mailing it in for the remaining nine races. Vettel, Hamilton and Button have each racked up two wins in 2010, and last week's victor, Mark Webber, has posted three. If Ferrari, and Alonso in particular, were going to get back into the hunt, they needed a great showing in Hockenheim. There was good news for the tifosi: Fernando was quickest through much of practice heading into the Sunday feature. Would his speed hold through qualifying? And would Ferrari truly take that big step everyone has been anticipating? Follow the jump to read how things went down.

Gallery: 2010 German Grand Prix

[Images: Matthias Schrader, Martin Meissner, Michael Probst, Jens Meyer, /AP | Guillaume Baptiste/AFP/Getty Images]

Continue reading 2010 German Grand Prix: Tussles, team orders and tire wear [SPOILERS]

2010 German Grand Prix: Tussles, team orders and tire wear [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 British Grand Prix: Favoritism stokes rivalry in "the Arena" [SPOILERS]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:34:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

2010 British Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

A Formula One World Championship without a British Grand Prix would be almost unthinkable. After all, England claims the mantle of the series' birthplace, and its GP (along with Italy's) stands as the longest-running in motor racing.

Despite all the history, this year's British Grand Prix almost didn't happen at all. At least, that's what Bernie Ecclestone might have had us believe. Amidst declining conditions at Silverstone, which first hosted the race in 1948 and has held it exclusively since '87, the contract almost went back to Brands Hatch (the track that alternated with Silverstone from '63 to '86). When that deal fell apart, Silverstone and its owner, the British Racing Drivers Club, sprung into action and implemented the first in a series of comprehensive renovations aimed at bringing the age-old circuit up to spec.

The result was a contract for hosting the British GP for the next seventeen years and a new layout dubbed "the Arena". After all the renovations, the negotiations and rivalry, the circus rolled into town and raced on the new track this weekend. Follow the jump to read how it went.

Gallery: 2010 British Grand Prix

Continue reading 2010 British Grand Prix: Favoritism stokes rivalry in "the Arena" [SPOILERS]

2010 British Grand Prix: Favoritism stokes rivalry in "the Arena" [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Turkish Grand Prix: Good things come to those who wait [SPOILERS]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 30 May 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

2010 Turkish Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

That a driver's chief rival is his teammate is one of the most pervasive and enduring truisms in grand prix racing. And lest we forget, constant reminders of this accelerate into view throughout the season. This one especially.

Whether the rivalry is between McLaren's "dream team" of World Champions; the returning champion and his young wingman at Mercedes; the ascendant frontrunners at Red Bull; or the hot-blooded duo at Ferrari, we're certainly not lacking for examples, without even dipping into the deep well of motor racing history. This weekend's Turkish Grand Prix was certainly no exception. Follow the jump to see what we mean.

Gallery: 2010 Turkish Grand Prix

Continue reading 2010 Turkish Grand Prix: Good things come to those who wait [SPOILERS]

2010 Turkish Grand Prix: Good things come to those who wait [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 May 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rossi and Stoner agree on one thing: Champs call for earlier start in Qatar

Devon Brozek — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Motorcycle, Middle East, Racing

Few duos in history have offered up more raw two-wheeled entertainment than that of Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi. Up to this point we are only sure that they ever agreed on one topic, that is, who should pass the checkered flag first. Each man would resoundingly agree that they, individually, deserve that honor.

Believe it or not, the battling duo has come together, united in purpose, to lobby for an earlier start at the Losail International Circuit's "night race." The event, held in Doha, Qatar, will mark the official kick-off of the 2010 Moto GP schedule. Traditionally, the Losail event barely squeezes into it's scheduled date, with a start time of 11pm. Is this just because track management is so proud of those awesome lights? Dorna, which promotes Moto GP events, has several good reasons to host the race at its scheduled time. First, daytime temperatures in Qatar can be so brutal that they would make T.E. Lawrence blush, and second, the time slot allows the race to be broadcast live during prime viewing hours in Europe and acceptable hours in the U.S.

The argument from the riders is that the primetime slot is just too late. At this time of night, temperatures in the desert begin to take drastic swings, adding complexity to tire choice as grip rapidly changes along with those temperatures. Are there valid concerns here? It would seem so - amidst a recent test session at Losail, not one but three premier riders hit the tarmac later in the evening, all within moments of one another. If any one, or in this case two, people had a chance to change the GP schedule, we would put our money on the Rossi-Stoner alliance. But this close to the race, it remains to be seen if their collectively high-pitched voices will make it to any listening ears. Either way, if you missed the point, did we mention Moto GP is starting again? What was it they were worried about?

[Source: Asphalt & Rubber]

Rossi and Stoner agree on one thing: Champs call for earlier start in Qatar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canadian GP back on F1 calendar through 2014

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:18:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Canada

It's official, Formula 1 and Montreal are in love again. Bernie Ecclestone's supersonic price increases in 2008 drove the Canadian venue (and North America entirely) off the map in 2009. It was the first time in three decades that the F1 club didn't visit Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and by the end of this summer, everyone was highly motivated to get it back.

When Ecclestone's original demand of $175 million Canadian ($165M U.S.) over five years became $75 million Canadian, ($71M U.S.), the Montreal, Quebec, and Canadian governments got together to split the cost three ways. When the government's commitment to spend such an amount on a sporting event was questioned, Quebec's minister of finance replied that the GP will cost Quebec $4 million but return $10 million to its coffers alone. On top of that, Ecclestone promised them 30% of ticket sales every year, which, for a hugely popular grand prix, should be a substantial number. Vive le Montreal GP and June 13, 2010! Thanks to everyone who submitted tips

[Source: F1 Live | Photo credit: Vinod Sankar via CC2.0]

Canadian GP back on F1 calendar through 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SPOILER ALERT: Reversals of Fortune at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix

Noah Joseph — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:07:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

2009 Belgian Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

You asked for it, you got it, racing fans. For decades, Formula One has been dominated by a handful of teams. The world titles have been shared between Ferrari, McLaren, Renault (formerly known as Benetton) and Williams since 1984. And the fans complained: Not enough competition. The small teams stand no chance of winning. Bigger budgets mean bigger trophy cases. And so on and so forth. Well this season has certainly shaken things up. Teams that were once relegated to the back of the field have been winning races, while that quartet of formerly elite teams has been scrambling to keep up. But while Jenson Button and Brawn GP's dominance at the start of the season came as a huge, almost entirely unprecedented surprise to everyone inside or outside the world of grand prix racing, nobody could have anticipated what happened this weekend.

Those who tuned in on Saturday for the qualifying sessions at the Belgian Grand Prix were shocked to find Giancarlo Fisichella and his Force India car sitting on pole. Yes, Force India. The team that never scored a single point, never crossed under the checkered flag in any position better than ninth, and seems to retire from as many races as it finishes. Behind him on the starting grid came fellow Italian Jarno Trulli in his Toyota, followed by BMW's Nick Heidfeld. The big names, meanwhile, were scattered down the order: Rubens Barrichello, fresh off his victory in Valencia, qualified fourth. Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen, sixth. Red Bull's pair of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber - the main challengers to Brawn's title lead - placed eighth and ninth, while defending champion Lewis Hamilton, two-time world champ Fernando Alonso and title leader Jenson Button qualified twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth, respectively. That's one heck of a messed-up starting grid, especially on a circuit as universally loved by the drivers as Spa Francorchamps. But how the race would unfold would prove just as surprising. Follow the jump to read on.

Gallery: 2009 Belgian Grand Prix

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: Reversals of Fortune at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix

SPOILER ALERT: Reversals of Fortune at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: F1 reunites as Max Mosely reportedly forced to quit F1

Chris Paukert — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:47:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

After all of this year's soap opera stories in Formula One, it appears there will be a unified championship series next year after all. According to The Times UK, controversial F1 boss Max Mosley has been "forced into a humiliating climbdown as president of the FIA," and his reign is over effective today.

Apparently, with the Formula One Teams Association's (FOTA) plan to build its own breakaway series and take most of its highest-profile (and highest-dollar) draws away with it, the FIA realized that something had to be done. Eight teams, including Ferrari, McLaren, BMW Sauber, and Brawn GP had pulled out of the series over concerns relating to a new £40m budget cap (around $66m USD).

With Mosley's departure effective immediately, F1 teams and the sanctioning body have agreed to cost cuts with the goal of getting spending outlays back down to the that of the early Nineties within two years.

Mosley has agreed to end his 16 year term at the FIA and not seek re-election to another office.

[Source: Times UK | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]

BREAKING: F1 reunites as Max Mosely reportedly forced to quit F1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 Spanish Grand Prix: How the Mighty Have Fallen [SPOILER ALERT]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 10 May 2009 13:53:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

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

Those who tuned in on Saturday for the qualifying session at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix would not have been surprised by the top three: Brawn's Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello took first and third on the starting grid, respectively, sandwiching Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in second. No big surprise there - after dominating the first four rounds of the season, these three drivers hold the top three spots in the standings, after all. But coming in right behind them was a daunting wild card in Felipe Massa, who took fourth place on the grid. Of course only in this topsy-turvy season could Ferrari's golden boy, runner-up in last year's championship, be considered a wild card. Call it a sign of the times. But would Massa be able to turn around his dismal fortunes, take on the erstwhile underdogs and restore the Scuderia to its rightful place in the winner's circle? Follow the jump to find out.

Gallery: 2009 Spanish Grand Prix

Continue reading 2009 Spanish Grand Prix: How the Mighty Have Fallen [SPOILER ALERT]

2009 Spanish Grand Prix: How the Mighty Have Fallen [SPOILER ALERT] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 May 2009 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Your Formula 1 season has officially begun, Brawn GP in the lead

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Australia

It seems like F1 has been suffering the wrong kind of turmoil for the past few years: big and little teams failing; espionage; driver spats; owner-and-FIA spats; record penalties and fines; sex scandals; and regulations being changed like diapers - just to name a few things. The 2009 season has started off in a bit of turmoil as well, with six teams' car designs protested against.

But all of that has been overshadowed by the right kind of turmoil, which happened during qualifying for the Australian GP. Jensen Button and Rubens Barrichello fought it out for the front row, with Button taking pole position on the last possible lap of qualifying, Vettel in the Red Bull taking third. And Button didn't just get pole, he slapped a leash on it and took it home: Rubens is three tenths behind, Vettel more than a half second.

And the big boys? Massa and Raikkonen are 6th and 8th for Ferrari, Kovaleinen in 12th and Hamilton at the back of the grid because of a gearbox change, where he'll join both Toyota cars, which were disqualified for flexing rear wings. When the lights go out at 3 a.m. EST, we could see the beginning of a most thrilling season.

[Source: F1 Live]

Your Formula 1 season has officially begun, Brawn GP in the lead originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Three-Way Title Race comes to a close at Brazilian Grand Prix

Noah Joseph — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 15:09:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Fans had been looking forward to it for years, and now it's come to a close. For 2007, Formula One stepped out of the dominating shadow of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, the first season since his retirement, and came to today's final race of the season in a close three-way battle between Ferrari's "iceman" Kimi Raikonnen and McLaren's feuding fraternity of defending champion Fernando Alonso and amazing rookie Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari's brave Brazilian Felipe Massa having fell out of contention earlier in the season.

The 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix was a thrilling end to a thrilling season and a gripping race in its own rite. SPOILER ALERT: Follow the jump to find out who won the race, who took the title and how it all went down.

Continue reading Three-Way Title Race comes to a close at Brazilian Grand Prix

Three-Way Title Race comes to a close at Brazilian Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Oct 2007 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari and A1GP sign six-year deal, announce new A2GP series

Noah Joseph — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari

Following the news that Ferrari was in discussions with A1GP, the international racing series has announced that the two racing outfits have signed a six-year contract with Maranello. The terms of the agreement have Ferrari supplying the V8 engines for all the national teams competing in the series starting the season after next, when the current deal with Lola and Zytek expires. In addition to powering the new cars, Ferrari will also consult on the design of the chassis, which will be built by an as-yet undisclosed third party.

The deal gives Ferrari a de facto feeder series of its own, not unlike Formula BMW and the GP2 series owned by Renault principal Flavio Briatore. A1GP chairman Tony Teixeira also announced the formation of a second, lower-rung regional series to be called A2GP - taking a possible similar relationship as the Atlantic series to Champ Cars - with which Ferrari will also collaborate, supplying detuned versions of the engine. The deal should give Ferrari a place to field up-and-coming younger drivers and bring in extra revenue, while lending the open-wheel series added prestige on the world motorsports stage.

Teixeira also confirmed earlier speculation that, after bowing out of the Spyker purchase, he is considering buying into Scuderia Toro Rosso. The Italian F1 team, currently owned by Red Bull and former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger, scored impressive fourth and sixth places in last weekend's Chinese Grand Prix.

[Source: Autosport and A1GP]

Ferrari and A1GP sign six-year deal, announce new A2GP series originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari negotiating engine deal with A1GP

Noah Joseph — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari

Ferrari is apparently running out of F1 teams to supply with engines, so it's looking to other racing series altogether for new customers. For the current season, the Maranello-based team had to have the rules bent so that they could supply their engines to not one but two additional teams on the grid (Spyker and Toro Rosso). No wonder then that half of the cars that finished in the points at this past weekend's penultimate Chinese Grand Prix were powered by Ferrari.

Like other single-seater racing series, A1GP, the self-described "world cup of motorsport", uses the same chassis and engines for all the teams. Lola and Zytek have been supplying the cars and power respectively, but with contracts up for renewal, rumors started to fly when Ferrari's sporting director Stefano Domenicali was seen at Silverstone during an A1GP test session. Ferrari has now confirmed that they're in negotiations with the series' organizers.

Rumor has it that the engine deal isn't the only thing A1GP chief Tony Teixeira is discussing with Ferrari, as insiders tip the South African businessman as a potential partner in Scuderia Toro Rosso, which would effectively become Ferrari's B-squad in the developing "super team" saga.

[Sources: F1i.com and autosport]

Ferrari negotiating engine deal with A1GP originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kubica survives crash at 75 G

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

The boffins have broken down the data from BMW Sauber F1 driver Robert Kubica's crash at the Montreal Grand Prix. If the shunt itself wasn't eye-popping enough, it turns out that Kubica hit the wall nearly head on at 142.6 mph and endured a 75 G impact. And he made it out with nothing more than a slight concussion and a sprained ankle. That's what a survival cell, crash box, HANS system, helmet, and 1,000 pieces of carbon fiber, Kevlar, metal, and honeycomb can do for you when they work perfectly. In a burst of German understatement, the BMW Sauber technical director said they were "very content about the behavior of the chassis as survival cell." Throttle-by-wire is great, but we need a whole lot more of that kind of tech to trickle down ASAP.

[Source: Autosport]

Kubica survives crash at 75 G originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SPOILER ALERT: Ups and Downs at Brazilian GP season closer

Noah Joseph — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 15:36:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

The 2006 Formula One season came down to a nail-biting final race in Sao Paulo, Brazil today, as hometown hero Felipe Massa sailed to the checkered flag and reigning champion Fernando Alonso claimed his second consecutive title with a comfortable second place podium finish.

Despite having dominated in the practice sessions on Friday and Saturday, retiring legend Michael Schumacher had to start the race from tenth position, as his team-mate Felipe started from pole. Things then went further downhill for Michael as he blew out a tire and limped back to the pits, then got back out on the course to fight all the way up to fourth place from twentieth. Renault reduced the revs on Alonso's car after Schumacher's blow-out to ensure he would finish in the points and secure the championship (Michael would have had to have won the race and Alonso to have earned no points for the German to win the title over the Spaniard). A smiling Jenson Button took third place on the podium.

With a Ferrari 1-4 and a Renault 2-6, the French team also secured the constructor's championship. That didn't seem to upset Massa too much, though, as the jubilant driver - wearing a special racing suit in his national colors - became the first Brazilian driver to win the Brazilian Grand Prix since Ayrton Senna. Felipe described the victory as the happiest day of his life.

Next season will see Massa stay with Ferrari to be joined by Kimi Raikkonen, whose place at McLaren will be taken by the champion Alonso, as Michael Schumacher retires after narrowly missing the shot at his eighth world championship. This was one of the most exciting seasons in recent history, and while Michael will be missed, the next should be even more gripping as the sport steps out from under the dominant figure's shadow.

SPOILER ALERT: Ups and Downs at Brazilian GP season closer originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Oct 2006 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sheikh-up in A1 GP ownership

Noah Joseph — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 09:23:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Earnings/Financials

The A1 Grand Prix World Cup of Motorsport is in the process of being sold to a consortium of investment firms. Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, literally the biggest name in racing and the founder of the series, is selling all his stock in A1GP for an as-yet undisclosed cash (yes, we said cash) sum.

Maktoum will step down as head of A1GP and a new chairman and director will be named, after which the Maktoum will be focusing his attention on his "other business interests".

The announcement comes at the start of A1GP's second season, currently kicking off at the historic Zandvoort track in Holland. The multi-million dollar transaction will be completed within a month's time, in advance of an anticipated IPO.

The it's-a-small-world-afterall racing series was Maktoum's brainchild, but his departure is expected to help the series grow from a fledgling start-up to a permanent part of international motorsports.

[Source: A1GP.com]

Sheikh-up in A1 GP ownership originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Oct 2006 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MINI GP sells out fast

John Neff — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 14:11:00 EST

The limited edition model MINI GP has already sold out before the first one has been delivered to a customer. All 444 units that MINI UK was allotted were snatched up, and the company is now negotiating with other countries and has acquired an additional 15 to sell, of which only ten are left. BMW/MINI planned to build only 2000 models of this MINI Cooper S with the factory-installed John Cooper Works GP Kit, but may think twice considering the car is selling out like a World Cup match.

The MINI GP is the fastest production money of all time thanks to its 218 bhp supercharged engine and various weight saving accoutrements. 0-62 mph occurs under 6.5 seconds later and the little hot hatch reaches terminal velocity at 146 mph. All of the add ons are reportedly worth about 10,000 ($18,440 USD), while the car itself goes for 22,000 ($40,568 USD).

[Source: NewCarNet]

MINI GP sells out fast originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jun 2006 14:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is BMW working on a Grand Prix motorcycle?

Eric Bryant — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 18:06:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, BMW

Unlike BMW automobiles, Bavarian motorcycles carry a rather stodgy reputation. Basically, they're the two-wheeled equivalent of Red Wing work boots - comfortable and well-suited to all-day wear, but not necessarily ideal for track use. Ever since BMW dominated the rather obscure World Sidecar Championship some thirty-plus years ago, on-road victories by factory-supported machines has been virtually non-existent.

This may be about to change, however, as rider Jeremy McWilliams has been spotting testing what is said to be a 990cc GP bike. The cycle's speed are said to not be competitive with the current frontrunners, and it's just as well since the engine size limit drops to 800cc after next season. This leaves BMW's intentions a bit unclear - is this simply a science project, a step towards an effort in 2008, or will the boys from Munich actually field a ride this year or next?

Regardless of the timetable, a GP entry would go a long ways towards establishing BMW as a bona fide contender in the sport bike arena.

[Source: Motorcycle News]

Is BMW working on a Grand Prix motorcycle? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jun 2006 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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