Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Williams aims to restore former glory with new FW34]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/12/williams-aims-to-restore-former-glory-with-new-fw34/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/12/williams-aims-to-restore-former-glory-with-new-fw34/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/12/williams-aims-to-restore-former-glory-with-new-fw34/#commentsFiled under: ,

2012 Williams FW34 F1 racer

If there's ever been an example of a hero fallen from grace, surely it's Williams. Once dominant in Formula 1, it's been relegated to "also ran" status, but the privateer entry is intent on clawing its way back up to the top.

Williams has infused its management, technical staff and its driver roster with fresh blood. It signed a new engine deal with Renault, whose powerplants drove Williams to successive World Championship titles decades ago, and helped Red Bull rule F1 the past two years.

The team unveiled its new challenger at Jerez, where the season got underway with the first test session of the new year. The new FW34 - so named as the 34th grand prix car produced by Frank Williams - wears the lamentable stepped nose, tighter side pods, and tighter rear quarters that are characteristic of all the 2012 F1 cars unveiled so far.

KERS and DRS systems are intended to help the FW34 keep up with the competition, but only time will tell whether drivers Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado will be able to make the most of it and drive Williams back to its former glory.

Williams aims to restore former glory with new FW34 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bruno sennaf1formula 1formula onefw34jerezmaldonadopastor maldonadosennawilliamswilliams f1williams fw34williams-renaultSun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20166585/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/12/williams-aims-to-restore-former-glory-with-new-fw34/20166585/article-detail.xml 20166585 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/webfw34_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/webfw34.jpg <![CDATA[F1 teams wish Robert Kubica a speedy recovery at Jerez test]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/11/f1-teams-wish-robert-kubica-a-speedy-recovery-at-jerez-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/11/f1-teams-wish-robert-kubica-a-speedy-recovery-at-jerez-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/11/f1-teams-wish-robert-kubica-a-speedy-recovery-at-jerez-test/#commentsFiled under: ,

Speedy Recovery, Robert
Speedy Recovery, Robert - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Formula One circus is in Jerez this weekend, testing the latest batch of racecars before the season kicks off next month in Bahrain. But something's missing. Someone actually, and that someone is Robert Kubica.

The Polish driver on the Lotus Renault GP team, as you may have heard, is recovering in the hospital from injuries substained in a rallying accident in Italy that had his car impaled by a roadside guardrail. At the Jerez test his team will be giving a number of drivers - including their own tester Bruno Senna and F1 veteran Nick Heidfeld - a shot at temporarily filling Kubica's seat, but they're not the only ones feeling his absence.

The majority of the teams on the grid have placed special messages of hope for Kubica's recovery somewhere on their cars. Some have placed them on the front wings, some on the sidepods or front keel, while others have placed them on the side of the rear wing. But the message is the same: "Szybkiego powrotu do zdrowia Robert", in his native Polish - speedy recovery, Robert. We've assembled a few close-ups of the messages on the Jerez test cars and placed them for your viewing pleasure in the gallery below, so click on to check 'em out. Thanks for the tip, Arek!


Gallery: Speedy Recovery, Robert - Jerez F1 test


[Source: F1Fanatic]

F1 teams wish Robert Kubica a speedy recovery at Jerez test originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crashf1formula 1formula onejerezkubicalotus renault gprenaultrenault f1robert kubicaspeedy recovery robertSzybkiego powrotu do zdrowia RobertFri, 11 Feb 2011 13:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19839722/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/02/11/f1-teams-wish-robert-kubica-a-speedy-recovery-at-jerez-test/19839722/article-detail.xml 19839722 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/web630-speedyrecoveryrobert_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/web630-speedyrecoveryrobert.jpg <![CDATA[Lotus Renault GP to evaluate Nick Heidfeld in Jerez for Kubica's seat]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/10/lotus-renault-gp-to-evaluate-nick-heidfeld-in-jerez-for-kubicas/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/10/lotus-renault-gp-to-evaluate-nick-heidfeld-in-jerez-for-kubicas/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/10/lotus-renault-gp-to-evaluate-nick-heidfeld-in-jerez-for-kubicas/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld launch the BMW Sauber F1.09
Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld launch the BMW Sauber F1.09

A fast-paced world like Formula One can't afford to sit still, even when one of their own is down. So while Robert Kubica recovers in hospital, his Lotus Renault GP team is facing the tough decision of what to do in the meantime. Kubica's not expected to recover until halfway through the season at best, so they'll need someone to fill in until then.

Previous reports linked Tonio Liuzzi and Nico Hulkenberg - both of who lost their race seats this season - as potential candidates to take Kubica's place, but the team itself has just confirmed that Nick Heidfeld is to drive the new R31 at the upcoming Jerez test in Spain.

Heidfeld is a German driver who's been in F1 since 1998, driving for such teams as McLaren, Prost, Jordan and Williams. He drove alongside Kubica for four seasons at BMW Sauber from 2006 through 2009. Last season he was contracted to Mercedes GP as a test driver, but was released when Sauber needed a replacement for Pedro de la Rosa. Could he fill the same role for Renault, or will the team promote one of its test drivers to the hot seat instead? Follow the jump for the official statement.

[Source: Lotus Renault GP]

Continue reading Lotus Renault GP to evaluate Nick Heidfeld in Jerez for Kubica's seat

Lotus Renault GP to evaluate Nick Heidfeld in Jerez for Kubica's seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f1formula 1formula oneheidfeldjerezjerez testkubicalotus renault gpnick heidfeldrenaultrenault f1robert kubicaThu, 10 Feb 2011 08:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19837065/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/02/10/lotus-renault-gp-to-evaluate-nick-heidfeld-in-jerez-for-kubicas/19837065/article-detail.xml 19837065 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/kubica-heidfeld_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/kubica-heidfeld.jpg <![CDATA[Moto Dominos: Nine riders go down in Moto2, race restarted [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/06/moto-dominos-nine-riders-go-down-in-moto2-race-restarted-w-vi/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/06/moto-dominos-nine-riders-go-down-in-moto2-race-restarted-w-vi/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/06/moto-dominos-nine-riders-go-down-in-moto2-race-restarted-w-vi/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Moto2 crash at Jerez - Click above to watch the video after the break

The very same properties that make oil perfect for lubricating the high-speed engine internals inside racing vehicles makes it extremely dangerous on the actual racing surface. No shock there... we all know oil is slippery. When racing goes from four wheels to two, though, that slippery surface can have especially disastrous results.

Such was the case last weekend during the Moto2 race at Jerez. A crash that sent Shoya Tomizawa and Simone Corsi to the ground spilled a fair bit of crankcase oil onto the track, which in turn caused a domino-like array of low-slides directly behind. In total nine riders went down in the wake of the spill.

Fortunately, the race was red-flagged and nobody was seriously injured. Dorna safety delegate Franco Uncini reportedly said after the race that the management group would likely make carbon fiber crankcase covers mandatory moving forward to prevent such issues in the future. Check out the video after the break.

[Source: Dailymotion]

Continue reading Moto Dominos: Nine riders go down in Moto2, race restarted [w/video]

Moto Dominos: Nine riders go down in Moto2, race restarted [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 May 2010 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jerezjerez crashjerez moto2 crash videoJerezCrashJerezMoto2CrashVideomoto2moto2 crashmoto2 crash videomoto2 jerezMoto2CrashMoto2CrashVideoMoto2Jerezmotorcyclemotorcycle crashmotorcycle crash videoMotorcycleCrashMotorcycleCrashVideoThu, 06 May 2010 19:39:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19463031/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/06/moto-dominos-nine-riders-go-down-in-moto2-race-restarted-w-vi/19463031/article-detail.xml 19463031 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/moto2-crash_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/moto2-crash.jpg <![CDATA[MotoGP: All out battle at Jerez keeps the 2010 season running full throttle [Spoilers]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/motogp-all-out-battle-at-jerez-keeps-the-2010-season-running-fu/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/motogp-all-out-battle-at-jerez-keeps-the-2010-season-running-fu/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/motogp-all-out-battle-at-jerez-keeps-the-2010-season-running-fu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Final lap battles, changes atop a world championship leader board and a season that's keeping us champing at the bit for each new round. With absolutely no disrespect to cream-colored ponies or crisp apple strudels, we can say with confidence that MotoGP 2010 is delivering a few of our favorite things.

With one swift pass on the inside, Spain's Jorge Lorenzo not only crossed the finish line in first place, but also claimed the same rank in the battle to crown a new world champ. The Spanish round was not characterized by a runaway victory at the hands of the Fiat Yamaha rider, as his Honda-mounted countryman and rival Dani Pedrosa held the top spot most of the race. Lorenzo came from third position passing not only Pedrosa, but also his teammate Valentino Rossi, in the process of hunting down the win. This battle came down to the final lap and involved passing margins that seemed to embody the 'rubbin is racin" philosophy.

The intense action at the Jerez circuit adds fuel to an already burning fire of possibilities for the 2010 MotoGP season. Once again, Nickey Hayden fell just short of the podium in fourth position besting his Ducati teammate Casey Stoner, who claimed the final place in the top five. Stay tuned as the drama unfolds, and yes, we are officially hooked.

[Image: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images]

MotoGP: All out battle at Jerez keeps the 2010 season running full throttle [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dani pedrosaDaniPedrosaducatifiat yamahaFiatYamahagrand prixGrandPrixjerezjorge lorenzoJorgeLorenzomotomoto gpmotogpmotogp jerezmotogp jerez 2010MotoGP10motogp2010MotogpJerezMotogpJerez2010motorcyclemotorcyclesMotorcyle racingMotorcyleRacingmotorsportsNicky HaydenNickyHaydenPedrosaRound two moto gpRoundTwoMotoGpValentinovalentino rossiValentino-RossiValentinoRossiMon, 03 May 2010 18:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19461908/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/03/motogp-all-out-battle-at-jerez-keeps-the-2010-season-running-fu/19461908/article-detail.xml 19461908 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/motogp-jerez_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/motogp-jerez.jpg <![CDATA[Schumacher gets back on track testing a GP2 prototype]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/16/schumacher-gets-back-on-track-testing-a-gp2-prototype/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/16/schumacher-gets-back-on-track-testing-a-gp2-prototype/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/16/schumacher-gets-back-on-track-testing-a-gp2-prototype/#commentsFiled under:

Michael Schumacher
Schumacher GP2 test at Jerez - Click above for high-res image gallery

Driving a formula racing car might seem like second nature for a driver like Michael Schumacher, but like a great many things in life, if you don't use it, you lose it. So the seven-time World Champion has been eager to get back behind the wheel. Trouble is, there's a test ban in place in Formula One. The solution? The next best thing: a GP2 car.

Over the past few days, the returning champion has been at the Jerez track in Spain driving a developmental test car for the GP2 Series, fielded by the Super Nova team. For Schumacher, it's an opportunity to get some valuable seat time in a competitive single-seater ahead of his highly anticipated return to F1 with Mercedes. For GP2, it's a chance to test a number of new components and chassis set-up arrangements at the hand of a seasoned pro before the season kicks off.

So how has Schumi been doing? Spectacularly, of course. Despite a damp surface, he's been less than a second off the fastest time ever set by a GP2 car around the track, and this is only his first time driving one. There have been some reports that Michael's injured neck - which kept him from filling in for Felipe Massa last season - has been giving him some trouble, but so far it seems to be holding up just fine. Check out the mega gallery of high-resolution images below for a closer look.


Gallery: Schumacher GP2 test at Jerez


[Source: GP2]

Schumacher gets back on track testing a GP2 prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gp2gp2 seriesGp2Seriesjerezmichael schumacherMichaelSchumacherschumacherschumiSat, 16 Jan 2010 15:55:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19316936/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/01/16/schumacher-gets-back-on-track-testing-a-gp2-prototype/19316936/article-detail.xml 19316936 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/schumi-gp2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/schumi-gp2.jpg <![CDATA[Star Search: Fresh talent descends on Jerez for F1 mega test]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/12/star-search-fresh-talent-descends-on-jerez-for-f1-mega-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/12/star-search-fresh-talent-descends-on-jerez-for-f1-mega-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/12/star-search-fresh-talent-descends-on-jerez-for-f1-mega-test/#commentsFiled under: ,

Youngsters invade F1 test at Jerez
F1 Young Drivers Test at Jerez - Click above for high-res image gallery

The biggest football fans don't just watch the NFL. They're watching college football too. If not because they say it's a better spectacle, then simply to see the future pros who'll ultimately be drafted by NFL teams.

Formula racing works the same way. (Well, sorta.) There are countless feeder series staged every year around the world, and most of the drivers in them are hoping for their shot at the big leagues. But with championships split between so many series - from Formula Renault to GP2 and from Indy Lights to Formula 2 - it can be a bit much to follow.

Fortunately this year in the off-season, all the returning F1 teams came together for one massive test at the Jerez track in Spain. There they put the latest crop of up-and-coming talent to the test. Follow the jump to read how it unfolded.


Gallery: F1 Young Driver Test, Jerez, December 2009

Continue reading Star Search: Fresh talent descends on Jerez for F1 mega test

Star Search: Fresh talent descends on Jerez for F1 mega test originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alexander RossiAlexanderRossiAndy SoucekAndySoucekBertrand BaguetteBertrandBaguetteBrendon HartleyBrendonHartleycircuito jerezCircuitoJerezDaniel RicciardoDaniel ZampieriDanielRicciardoDanielZampieriEsteban GutierrezEstebanGutierrezf1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOneGary PaffettGaryPaffettHo-Pin TungHo-pinTungjerezJR HildebrandJrHildebrandJules BianchiJulesBianchiLucas Di GrassiLucasDiGrassiMarco ZipoliMarcoZipoliMarcus EricssonMarcusEricssonMike ConwayMikeConwayMirko BortolottiMirkoBortolottiNico HulkenbergNicoHulkenbergOliver TurveyOliverTurveyPablo Sanchez LopezPabloSanchezLopezPaul Di RestaPaulDiRestayoung driver testyoung driversYoungDriversYoungDriverTestSat, 12 Dec 2009 09:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19267413/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/12/12/star-search-fresh-talent-descends-on-jerez-for-f1-mega-test/19267413/article-detail.xml 19267413 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/web_jerez-garage_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/web_jerez-garage.jpg <![CDATA[Williams FW30 breaks through the fog]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/williams-fw30-breaks-through-the-fog/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/williams-fw30-breaks-through-the-fog/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/williams-fw30-breaks-through-the-fog/#commentsFiled under:


click above for more high-res pics of the Williams FW30

Things have gotten a bit foggy over at Williams F1. The once front-running, championship-winning grand prix team has landed on tough times. This year the team opted against holding a glitzy unveiling event like those held recently by Ferrari, McLaren, Toyota and BMW Sauber, and instead focused its energies on developing its new car, the FW30. It seemed like a strange choice for the team that will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and during the season will mark its 500th grand prix and 50,000th racing lap.

But while the team isn't holding an official unveiling, it has whipped up six special paint schemes to celebrate its milestones this year. (We doubt any of them will be as cool as Aston Martin's new-old Gulf livery, but hopefully they'll be better than Honda's tree-hugging paint scheme.) The first time the motorsport press got a glimpse of the new FW30 was yesterday at the Valencia track where the new car was being put through its paces.

Renault was also supposed to take out the R28, the new chariot it has developed for returning former champion Fernando Alonso, but the fog kept them indoors. Honda is scheduled to unveil its new car later this week, as well. Williams, for its part, is hoping the new FW30, powered under contract by Toyota and driven by Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima, will perform and be reliable enough to get it back on the track to its former winning form.

[Source: Autosport, Photo by DIEGO TUSON/AFP/Getty]

Gallery: Williams FW30


Williams FW30 breaks through the fog originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycelebratecircuitdebutfogfw30jereztrackunveilvalenciawilliamsTue, 22 Jan 2008 10:41:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1092044/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/01/22/williams-fw30-breaks-through-the-fog/1092044/article-detail.xml 1092044 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/79145544_op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/79145544_op.jpg <![CDATA[Marco Andretti to test-drive in F1]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/11/marco-andretti-to-test-drive-in-f1/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/11/marco-andretti-to-test-drive-in-f1/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/11/marco-andretti-to-test-drive-in-f1/#commentsFiled under: ,

Marco is set to become the third Andretti to get behind the wheel of an F1 car as he heads to the Jerez test track on Friday. The son of former McLaren driver Michael Andretti and grandson of the legendary F1 champ Mario Andretti, Marco has become a rising star in motorsports, named IRL rookie of the year.

Marco will test for Honda, whose engines power the Indy car he races. But that doesn't mean he'll be making the jump to F1 quite so quickly. He's contracted to Andretti Green Racing for the next two seasons, though somehow we can't imagine his dad holding him to it if Marco had a shot at moving up to the big leagues. But at 19, the youngest race winner in IRL history (short as it is), Marco's got plenty of time to dominate in Indy cars before switching to F1.

Still, just the idea of a third-generation Andretti coming anywhere near Formula One is an exciting notion. With Scott Speed just barely getting by in a back-marker team, F1 struggling to thrive with the US audience, and Honda competing with Toyota for the mantle of "most American" of Japanese carmakers, an exciting American driver behind the wheel of a Honda F1 car could be just what the doctor ordered.

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

Marco Andretti to test-drive in F1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Dec 2006 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrettif1hondajerezmarcotestMon, 11 Dec 2006 10:39:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/716350/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/12/11/marco-andretti-to-test-drive-in-f1/716350/article-detail.xml 716350 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/12/marco-an_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/12/marco-an.jpg -1 2