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[Universal Soldiers: F1 aces Raikkonen, Vettel and Kubica lured by rallying]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/22/universal-soldiers-f1-aces-raikkonen-vettel-and-kubica-lured-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/22/universal-soldiers-f1-aces-raikkonen-vettel-and-kubica-lured-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/22/universal-soldiers-f1-aces-raikkonen-vettel-and-kubica-lured-b/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It used to be that a racing driver would pick his form of motorsport at the beginning of his career and stick with it for the duration. Sure, there have been a few notable exceptions - especially among the Finns - but these days, it seems as if the exceptions are gaining on the norm. F1 drivers like Juan Pablo Montoya are moving to NASCAR, WRC aces like Sebastien Loeb and MotoGP champs like Valentio Rossi are trying their hand at F1, while F1 champs like Michael Schumacher are checking out motorbike racing. But the latest trend has a growing number of current, active Formula One drivers contesting rallies on the world stage.

The most notable is Kimi Raikkonen, who has driven a few rallies behind the wheel of his own Punto Abarth. Now that he's looking to sit out of the next F1 season, all indications are that the departing Ferrari driver will find his way into the WRC. While downplaying the lingering prospect of the 2007 Formula One champion racing for the newly-christened Mercedes Grand Prix team next season, his managers are reportedly hard at work to get him a WRC drive for 2010. The most likely scenario would place Raikkonen with Citroen: Both the French rally team and the Finnish driver are sponsored by Red Bull, and the rapprochement could could pave the way for Kimi to return to F1 in 2011 for Red Bull Racing.

Even Red Bull's current F1 ace, Sebastian Vettel, has reportedly expressed interest in trying his hand at rallying, although his team principal is reportedly against the idea. After winning the Nations Cup at the Race of Champions together with Schumacher three years running, the young German has certainly demonstrated the versatility of his talent.

Meanwhile, the highly-rated Robert Kubica is preparing for his second rally since leaving BMW Sauber for the Renault F1 team. After a dismal first attempt, the Pole is set to return to the wheel of a Renaultsport Clio R3 Maxi for the final round of the French Rally Championship at Var next weekend. If Kubica manages to finish this time around, we could yet see more F1 drivers following him onto the rally scene.

[Sources: Autosport and F1-Live | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Universal Soldiers: F1 aces Raikkonen, Vettel and Kubica lured by rallying originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kimikimi raikkonenkimi raikkonen wrcKimiRaikkonenKimiRaikkonenWrckubicaraikkonenrobertrobert kubicarobert kubica rallyrobert kubica renaultRobertKubicaRobertKubicaRallyRobertKubicaRenaultsebastiansebastian vettelsebastian vettel rallysebastian vettel wrcSebastianVettelSebastianVettelRallySebastianVettelWrcvettelSun, 22 Nov 2009 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[End of Year Shuffle: 14 Formula One teams swap drivers for 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/end-of-year-shuffle-14-formula-one-teams-swap-drivers-for-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/end-of-year-shuffle-14-formula-one-teams-swap-drivers-for-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/end-of-year-shuffle-14-formula-one-teams-swap-drivers-for-2010/#commentsFiled under: ,


If you thought the series of driver changes in the middle of this ongoing Formula One season was something, it's nothing compared to the grand game of musical chairs expected to ensue as the season draws to a close. With BMW closing up shop, several new teams joining the grid and at least a couple of former world champions switching teams for next year's championship, we're shaping up for the biggest jumble the F1 circus has seen in years. Follow the jump to see how it's unfolding so far.

[Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Continue reading End of Year Shuffle: 14 Formula One teams swap drivers for 2010

End of Year Shuffle: 14 Formula One teams swap drivers for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 fia formula one world champion2010 formula one2010FiaFormulaOneWorldChampion2010FormulaOneadian sutilAdianSutilalguersuarialonsobarrichellobrawlBrawn GPBrawnGpbuemibuttoncamposcampos metaCamposMetaf1f1 driversF1Driversfelipe massaFelipeMassafernando alonsoFernandoAlonsoFerrarifisichellaformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOneGiancarlo FisichellaGiancarloFisichellaglockgrosjeanheidfeldJaime AlguersuariJaimeAlguersuarijarno trulliJarnoTrullijenson buttonJensonButtonkazuki nakajimaKazukiNakajimakimi raikkonenKimiRaikkonenkubicaliuzziLotuslotus f1LotusF1manormark webberMarkWebbermassamclarennakajimanick heidfeldNickHeidfeldnico rosbergNicoRosbergraikkonenred bullred bull racingRedBullRedBullRacingrobert kubicaRobertKubicaromain grosjeanRomainGrosjeanrosbergrubens barrichelloRubensBarrichelloscuderia toro rossoScuderiaToroRossosebastian vettelSebastianVettelsebastien buemiSebastienBuemisutiltimo glockTimoGlocktonio liuzziTonioLiuzzitoro rossoToroRossotoyotatoyota f1ToyotaF1trullius f1UsF1vettelvitantonio liuzziVitantonioLiuzziwebberwilliamsThu, 08 Oct 2009 09:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Robert Kubica jumps sinking BMW ship to fill Alonso's seat at Renault]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/robert-kubica-jumps-sinking-bmw-ship-to-fill-alonsos-seat-at-re/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/robert-kubica-jumps-sinking-bmw-ship-to-fill-alonsos-seat-at-re/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/robert-kubica-jumps-sinking-bmw-ship-to-fill-alonsos-seat-at-re/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Everything's changing for the Renault F1 team. The team principal has been barred from the sport indefinitely and the technical director has been mercifully banned for five years. They've already booted out their car-crashing, whistle-blowing driver Nelson Piquet Jr. and replaced him with rookie Romain Grosjean. Their star driver, Fernando Alonso, who brought two titles home for the team, is leaving for Ferrari. And they've lost their title sponsor ING. The team has hit just about rock bottom, but now it's time for them to get up and begin rebuilding for next season, counting their lucky stars they've been allowed to participate altogether. And this is their first step.

Following weeks, if not months of speculation, Robert Kubica has been announced to be moving to Renault for next season. The promising Polish driver - who took the checkered flag last year at the Canadian Grand Prix - has been racing for BMW Sauber for the past four seasons since entering Formula One. But now that BMW has pulled the plug, Kubica's headed to the French team.

There's no telling who, at this point, will be driving alongside him next year at Renault, but Grosjean has so far failed to earn his keep. Speculation places his equally talented BMW team-mate Nick Heidfeld alongside him, but nothing's been announced yet. Details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Renault F1 | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Continue reading Robert Kubica jumps sinking BMW ship to fill Alonso's seat at Renault

Robert Kubica jumps sinking BMW ship to fill Alonso's seat at Renault originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnekubicakubica renaultKubicaRenaultrenaultrenault f1RenaultF1robert kubicaRobertKubicaWed, 07 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[KubiKart: F1 driver teams up with Birel for custom line of karts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/kubikart-f1-driver-teams-up-with-birel-for-custom-line-of-karts/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/kubikart-f1-driver-teams-up-with-birel-for-custom-line-of-karts/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/kubikart-f1-driver-teams-up-with-birel-for-custom-line-of-karts/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for a gallery of Kubica's karts

If you want to be world champion, especially a multiple world champion, you're going to need your own line of karts. Schumacher has one. So does Alonso. They've both won the F1 title multiple times, and Robert Kubica would undoubtedly like to join their ranks, so he's teamed up with Italian kart-makers Birel to offer his own special line of equipment.

Early in his career, the Polish driver was the official pilot for the Birel factory team, which gave him his leg up into the world of motor racing. He's come a long way since, climbing all the way up to Formula One with a shot at winning the title one day, but fast as he is, he's not so quick to abandon his roots. To that end, he's both launching his own RK karting line with Birel, and managing a team of aspiring drivers in the top level of world karting competition. We're sure to see some serious up-and-coming talent rising out of the initiative, but by then Kubica hopes to have made his mark in Formula One. Follow the jump for the full press release, and check out the images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Birel RK karts by Robert Kubica



[Source: Birel]

Continue reading KubiKart: F1 driver teams up with Birel for custom line of karts

KubiKart: F1 driver teams up with Birel for custom line of karts originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birelbirel kartbirel rkBirelKartBirelRkbmw sauberBmwSauberkartkartingkubicakubica kartKubicaKartrkrobert kubicaRobertKubicaMon, 05 Jan 2009 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Ferrari wants Alonso and Kubica for 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/14/report-ferrari-wants-alonso-and-kubica-for-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/14/report-ferrari-wants-alonso-and-kubica-for-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/14/report-ferrari-wants-alonso-and-kubica-for-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


With both Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa contracted with Ferrari through next year, reports are circulating that the Scuderia may bring on board both Fernando Alonso and Robert Kubica for 2010.

After Kimi and Felipe, and with Lewis Hamilton firmly in place at McLaren, the pairing of Alonso and Kubica in Maranello would provide a formidable team against the rest of the field. Alonso, of course, is a two-time world champion and one of the only drivers to repeatedly beat Schumacher to the title, while Kubica has proven himself a competent driver of the highest degree. Whether the reports are accurate, and whether Ferrari would just dump Kimi and Felipe like that remains to be seen.

[Source: Tuttosport via Axis of Oversteer, Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty]

Report: Ferrari wants Alonso and Kubica for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Go to any restaurant in Los Angeles and you're likely to find a few waiters looking for an opportunity to make it in Hollywood. Head to a major racetrack in Europe - and many other parts of the world - and you'll find dozens of aspiring drivers hoping for a shot at F1. But whereas Formula 3 used to be the one way in, various single-seat racing series have popped up in the last few years, giving more drivers the opportunity to compete, to win, and to ultimately demonstrate their aptitude behind the wheel.

Recent cases like Lewis Hamilton's notwithstanding, most drivers enter the circus with a test seat, maybe for a team further down the field in the hope of moving their way up to a competitive race seat. Since taking over Sauber, BMW's Formula One team has been performing admirably, and though its talented race drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld, who both made their way up the ranks themselves, are staying in their seats for next season, BMW's test driver Timo Glock, fresh from his title win on the GP2 circuit, is all but signed to move to a race seat for Toyota (or possibly Williams, which gets its engines from the Japanese giant). So team principal Mario Theisen has drawn up a short list to make the leap up from the bush leagues. While it may not be as exciting as speculating on McLaren's replacement for Alonso or where he'll go next season, these selections tend to be fairly secretive - that's why we speculate - but for this seat we've got a rare glimpse into the process.

Aside from title winner Glock, GP2 gave good exposure to several other competitive drivers this season, and Theisen is considering several, including Adam Carroll, won two GP2 races this season, 2007 British F3 champ Marko Asmer, and 2006 German Formula BMW champion Christian Vietoris. Joining them on the shortlist is Nico Hulkenberg, who is managed by Schumacher's agent Wili Weber - which already tells you he's a hot shoe - and has worked his way up through A1GP where he took the title for Team Germany this year. BMW Sauber is a team known to have an eye for talent, so whoever they pick, pay attention, because you're likely to see him dicing it up for podiums and championship points in a few years from now.

[Source: F1-Live]

BMW searches for next big name in racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwdriverf1glockheidfeldkubicasaubertestvettelFri, 26 Oct 2007 08:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Kubica's Kanadian Krash -- Now in 3-D]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/09/kubicas-kanadian-krash-now-in-3d/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/09/kubicas-kanadian-krash-now-in-3d/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/09/kubicas-kanadian-krash-now-in-3d/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Spectators, commentators and fans all feared the worst when BMW Sauber's star driver Robert Kubica hit the wall at the end of the hairpin at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on St. Helen's Island in Montreal during this year's Canadian Grand Prix. But as we all know, the Polish driver suffered only a concussion and a sprained ankle, despite the high speeds, high G's and hard impact of the crash. Now he's back in the cockpit, sticking it to everyone this side of Ferrari and McLaren, defending champions Renault included. (Thank God for carbon fiber, eh Robbie?)

The techies over at RTL, the German network that broadcasts the Formula One events, put together this three-dimensional re-creation of the crash, complete with some Matrix-style viewing-angle sweeps. The action is slowed down so you can better see what happened, which makes it all too easy to forget the enormous speeds at which the crash occurred.

Unfortunately, whoever posted it up on YouTube decided to mix in a typically poor soundtrack, but since the original was without sound anyway, offended parties can feel free to turn down the volume completely.

Thanks to everyone who wrote in with the info!
Video after the jump.

[Source: RTL via YouTube]

Continue reading Kubica's Kanadian Krash -- Now in 3-D

Kubica's Kanadian Krash -- Now in 3-D originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3Danimatedbmwcanadiancomputercrashf1formulagrandkubicaprixrobertsaubersimulatedvideoMon, 09 Jul 2007 19:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Kubica survives crash at 75 G]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/21/kubica-survives-crash-at-75-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/21/kubica-survives-crash-at-75-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/21/kubica-survives-crash-at-75-g/#commentsFiled under:

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crashf1gpkubicamontrealsauberThu, 21 Jun 2007 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[New view of Kubica crash as F1 goes after YouTube clips]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/12/new-view-of-kubica-crash-as-f1-goes-after-youtube-clips/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/12/new-view-of-kubica-crash-as-f1-goes-after-youtube-clips/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/12/new-view-of-kubica-crash-as-f1-goes-after-youtube-clips/#commentsFiled under: ,



New video has emerged of Robert Kubica's shocking crash at Sunday's Montreal GP in which the 22-year-old Pole cheated death after hitting a barrier at 170 mph. This time around the camera is positioned at the opposite end of the hairpin from previous clips, and shows just how fast Toyota's Jarno Trulli and Kubica were going right before the impact.

You'd think after a crash like that Kubica's racing days would be over. Well, we're glad to report that he was released from the hospital the next day with only a slight concussion and a sprained ankle. We're told his first words to the doctor were "Can I race?", and that he even drove himself home after being given the a-OK.

Clips of the crash started showing up on YouTube within minutes and now Formula One management has started forcing YouTube to remove the offending material, which it claims violate copyright agreements. Fortunately, the opposite view of the crash we have after the jump appears to be taken by someone not affiliated with F1, and it remains on the video sharing site for now. Check it out after the jump.

Thanks for the tip, Keith!

[Source: F1Fanatic.co.uk]

Continue reading New view of Kubica crash as F1 goes after YouTube clips

New view of Kubica crash as F1 goes after YouTube clips originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crashF1Kubicakubica crashKubicaCrashMontreal F1 2007Montreal Kubica crashMontrealF12007MontrealKubicaCrashTue, 12 Jun 2007 13:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Pole Position: yet another new F1 track?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/20/pole-position-yet-another-new-f1-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/20/pole-position-yet-another-new-f1-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/20/pole-position-yet-another-new-f1-track/#commentsFiled under: ,

Saying "Polish Grand Prix" sounds like the start of a joke, but unlike the halfhearted efforts underway in Bulgaria, the Poles might be serious. F1 fever appears to be sweeping the Eastern European country as their first F1 driver Robert Kubica has been shining as a rising star.

The target location is the Baltic seaside port city of Gdansk, a regional capital with a population of around one million and ever-increasing transcontinental accessibility. The track would be built on a 450-acre site six miles outside the city, formerly known as Danzig. The mayor is proposing a $200 million investment to build the track and its accompanying facilities, which should be more than enough to construct a thoroughly modern and comprehensive potential host site for a grand prix.

The sport's recent shift away from the predominance of European races could hurt Poland's chances, but the prospect of opening up the former Soviet bloc to F1 could be enough to make the Pole position a compelling case.

Related posts:

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

Pole Position: yet another new F1 track? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danzigf1gdanskgrand prixGrandPrixkubicapolandWed, 20 Sep 2006 19:25:00 EST