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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Williams sells minority stake to Austrian investor]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/williams-sells-minority-stake-to-austrian-investor/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/williams-sells-minority-stake-to-austrian-investor/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/williams-sells-minority-stake-to-austrian-investor/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hirings-firings/" rel="tag">Hirings/Firings/Layoffs</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/earnings-financials/" rel="tag">Earnings/Financials</a></p><img hspace="4" vspace="4" align="right" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/tw_image_large.jpg" alt="" />With all the money that goes into running an F1 team, and the limited opportunity to make any of it back, we can't see why anyone would view owning a team as a sound investment. Evidently Herr Toto Wollf feels otherwise, as the Austrian financier and gentleman racing driver has acquired a minority interest in Williams Grand Prix Engineering.<br />
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This marks the first time in over 30 years of operations that Frank Williams and Patrick Head, the two team principals, have sold shares to an outside party. For his part, Sir Frank insists that business will carry on as usual, that they're not relinquishing control over the team, and that the sale was simply a way of ensuring the team's financial viability. Tellingly, though, he also indicated that Wolff, some 30 years younger than Williams and Head and the veteran of local rallies and international sportscar racing, could take the reins some day in the future. <br />
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The announcement comes hot on the heels of reports that Renault - once Williams engine partner during its heyday - was <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/19/report-renault-could-sell-40-of-its-f1-team-to-russian-investo/">considering a similar move</a>. Follow the jump to read the official announcement, complete with Toto Wolff's bio.<br />
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[Source: Williams]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/williams-sells-minority-stake-to-austrian-investor/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Williams sells minority stake to Austrian investor</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/williams-sells-minority-stake-to-austrian-investor/">Williams sells minority stake to Austrian investor</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:55:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/williams-sells-minority-stake-to-austrian-investor/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19249573/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/williams-sells-minority-stake-to-austrian-investor/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>chrisian wolff</category><category>ChrisianWolff</category><category>f1</category><category>formula 1</category><category>formula one</category><category>Formula1</category><category>FormulaOne</category><category>frank williams</category><category>FrankWilliams</category><category>patrick head</category><category>PatrickHead</category><category>toto wolff</category><category>TotoWolff</category><category>williams</category><category>williams f1</category><category>williams grand prix engineering</category><category>WilliamsF1</category><category>WilliamsGrandPrixEngineering</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Noah Joseph]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:55:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Williams F1 signs Barrichello and Hulkenberg for 2010]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/williams-f1-signs-barrichello-and-hulkenberg-for-2010/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/williams-f1-signs-barrichello-and-hulkenberg-for-2010/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/williams-f1-signs-barrichello-and-hulkenberg-for-2010/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hirings-firings/" rel="tag">Hirings/Firings/Layoffs</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/williams-fw31/#8"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/williams-hulk-test.jpg" /></a><br />
Nico Hulkenberg tests the Williams-Toyota FW31 - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
The latest piece of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/end-of-year-shuffle-14-formula-one-teams-swap-drivers-for-2010/">the intricate puzzle that is the shake-up in drivers</a> for the 2010 Formula One World Championship has come into play as Williams has confirmed its line-up for next season: Replacing Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima will be Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg.<br />
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Barrichello is a man who needs no introduction. The elder statesman of the paddock, Rubinho has won 11 grands prix and is set to hit the 300 race mark next season with Williams. This year he helped the Brawn GP team seize the constructors' title, after having raced for Jordan (now known as Force India), Stewart (now under the Red Bull banner), Ferrari and Honda.<br />
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Contrasting Barrichello's vast pool of experience, Hulkenberg will be one of the youngest and newest drivers on the grid. The reigning champion of the GP2 Series - whose winners always get F1 contracts the following season - the young German driver has also won the Formula Three Euroseries and the A1GP titles, and has previously served as Williams' official test driver.<br />
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No official word yet on where Rosberg and Nakajima will end up. With Williams <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/f1-teams-play-musical-engines-as-cosworth-emerges-the-favorite-f/">switching to Cosworth power</a> next season, they're under no further obligation to support Toyota's prodigy, who has since been overshadowed by Kamui Kobayashi. Rosberg, meanwhile, has been linked to a drive with either McLaren or Brawn GP for next season.<br />
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[Source: Williams]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/williams-f1-signs-barrichello-and-hulkenberg-for-2010/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Williams F1 signs Barrichello and Hulkenberg for 2010</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/williams-f1-signs-barrichello-and-hulkenberg-for-2010/">Williams F1 signs Barrichello and Hulkenberg for 2010</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:40:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/williams-f1-signs-barrichello-and-hulkenberg-for-2010/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19218727/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/williams-f1-signs-barrichello-and-hulkenberg-for-2010/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>att williams</category><category>AttWilliams</category><category>barrichello</category><category>f1</category><category>formula 1</category><category>formula one</category><category>Formula1</category><category>FormulaOne</category><category>hulkenberg</category><category>nico hulkenberg</category><category>NicoHulkenberg</category><category>rubens barrichello</category><category>RubensBarrichello</category><category>williams</category><category>williams-cosworth</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Noah Joseph]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:40:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sir Frank Williams praises fire fighters for saving factory]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/sir-frank-williams-praises-fire-fighters-for-saving-factory/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/sir-frank-williams-praises-fire-fighters-for-saving-factory/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/sir-frank-williams-praises-fire-fighters-for-saving-factory/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/police-emergency/" rel="tag">Police/Emergency</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/uk/" rel="tag">UK</a></p><a href="http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/091025001048.shtml"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/williams-f1.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
Since falling from its glory days of yore - when it won nine constructors championships an seven drivers titles - the Williams F1 team has been desperate to light a fire under its drivers and engineers to get back to its winning form. But we don't think this is what Frank Williams and his deputy Patrick Head had in mind.<br />
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This past summer the team's factory in Grove, England, caught on fire, threatening the staff, the facility and the cars on premises. The fire started when a machine in the metal department malfunctioned. Local fire fighters arrived at the scene and extinguished the blaze, saving one and all.<br />
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Sir Frank was so grateful that he made a donation to the Fire Fighters Charity and brought the brigade back to the repaired factory this week for an inside tour. You know, just in case being a fire fighter wasn't cool enough already.<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/091025001048.shtml">F1-Live</a> | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/sir-frank-williams-praises-fire-fighters-for-saving-factory/">Sir Frank Williams praises fire fighters for saving factory</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:28:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/091025001048.shtml>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/sir-frank-williams-praises-fire-fighters-for-saving-factory/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19209557/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/sir-frank-williams-praises-fire-fighters-for-saving-factory/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>factory fire</category><category>FactoryFire</category><category>fire</category><category>frank williams</category><category>FrankWilliams</category><category>sir frank williams</category><category>SirFrankWilliams</category><category>williams</category><category>williams f1</category><category>WilliamsF1</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Noah Joseph]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:28:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[End of Year Shuffle: 14 Formula One teams swap drivers for 2010]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/end-of-year-shuffle-14-formula-one-teams-swap-drivers-for-2010/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/end-of-year-shuffle-14-formula-one-teams-swap-drivers-for-2010/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/end-of-year-shuffle-14-formula-one-teams-swap-drivers-for-2010/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hirings-firings/" rel="tag">Hirings/Firings/Layoffs</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/end-of-year-shuffle-14-formula-one-teams-swap-drivers-for-2010/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/f12009drivergroupportrait.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
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.<br />
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[Image: Clive Mason/Getty]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/end-of-year-shuffle-14-formula-one-teams-swap-drivers-for-2010/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>End of Year Shuffle: 14 Formula One teams swap drivers for 2010</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/end-of-year-shuffle-14-formula-one-teams-swap-drivers-for-2010/">End of Year Shuffle: 14 Formula One teams swap drivers for 2010</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:28:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/end-of-year-shuffle-14-formula-one-teams-swap-drivers-for-2010/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19187686/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/end-of-year-shuffle-14-formula-one-teams-swap-drivers-for-2010/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2010 fia formula one world champion</category><category>2010 formula one</category><category>2010FiaFormulaOneWorldChampion</category><category>2010FormulaOne</category><category>adian sutil</category><category>AdianSutil</category><category>alguersuari</category><category>alonso</category><category>barrichello</category><category>brawl</category><category>Brawn GP</category><category>BrawnGp</category><category>buemi</category><category>button</category><category>campos</category><category>campos meta</category><category>CamposMeta</category><category>f1</category><category>f1 drivers</category><category>F1Drivers</category><category>felipe massa</category><category>FelipeMassa</category><category>fernando alonso</category><category>FernandoAlonso</category><category>Ferrari</category><category>fisichella</category><category>formula 1</category><category>formula one</category><category>Formula1</category><category>FormulaOne</category><category>Giancarlo Fisichella</category><category>GiancarloFisichella</category><category>glock</category><category>grosjean</category><category>heidfeld</category><category>Jaime Alguersuari</category><category>JaimeAlguersuari</category><category>jarno trulli</category><category>JarnoTrulli</category><category>jenson button</category><category>JensonButton</category><category>kazuki nakajima</category><category>KazukiNakajima</category><category>kimi raikkonen</category><category>KimiRaikkonen</category><category>kubica</category><category>liuzzi</category><category>Lotus</category><category>lotus f1</category><category>LotusF1</category><category>manor</category><category>mark webber</category><category>MarkWebber</category><category>massa</category><category>mclaren</category><category>nakajima</category><category>nick heidfeld</category><category>NickHeidfeld</category><category>nico rosberg</category><category>NicoRosberg</category><category>raikkonen</category><category>red bull</category><category>red bull racing</category><category>RedBull</category><category>RedBullRacing</category><category>robert kubica</category><category>RobertKubica</category><category>romain grosjean</category><category>RomainGrosjean</category><category>rosberg</category><category>rubens barrichello</category><category>RubensBarrichello</category><category>scuderia toro rosso</category><category>ScuderiaToroRosso</category><category>sebastian vettel</category><category>SebastianVettel</category><category>sebastien buemi</category><category>SebastienBuemi</category><category>sutil</category><category>timo glock</category><category>TimoGlock</category><category>tonio liuzzi</category><category>TonioLiuzzi</category><category>toro rosso</category><category>ToroRosso</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota f1</category><category>ToyotaF1</category><category>trulli</category><category>us f1</category><category>UsF1</category><category>vettel</category><category>vitantonio liuzzi</category><category>VitantonioLiuzzi</category><category>webber</category><category>williams</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Noah Joseph]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:28:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Spoiler Alert: 2009 Monaco Grand Prix recap]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/26/spoiler-alert-2009-monaco-grand-prix-recap/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/26/spoiler-alert-2009-monaco-grand-prix-recap/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/26/spoiler-alert-2009-monaco-grand-prix-recap/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/mercedes-benz/" rel="tag">Mercedes-Benz</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ferrari/" rel="tag">Ferrari</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/renault/" rel="tag">Renault</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-monaco-grand-prix/2034471/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/monaco2009005_opt.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><small> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">2009 Monaco Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery</span></small> <br /></div>
<br />Another race, another week of wondering whether the other Formula 1 teams would make enough progress to catch Brawn GP. Saturday's qualifying session for the Monaco Grand Prix looked pretty familiar, save for a sorely missed flash of red on the front row. This week's top three? Not surprisingly, Brawn's Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello bracketing Ferrari's former champion, Kimi Raikkonen. Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was fourth, with last year's runner-up, Felipe Massa fifth in the other Ferrari. Massa had shown the updated F60's potential by qualifying fourth last time out in Spain, but it was refreshing to see both Ferraris in the front three rows for a change. Would KERS help Kimi grab the lead going into turn one? Would Brawn show any chinks in its previously impervious armor? Would Vettel somehow get through to bring Red Bull its second victory of the season? Follow the jump to find out.<br /><br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-monaco-grand-prix/low/">2009 Monaco Grand Prix</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-monaco-grand-prix/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/monaco2009000_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-monaco-grand-prix/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/monaco2009001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-monaco-grand-prix/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/monaco2009002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-monaco-grand-prix/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/monaco2009003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-monaco-grand-prix/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/monaco2009004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/26/spoiler-alert-2009-monaco-grand-prix-recap/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Spoiler Alert: 2009 Monaco Grand Prix recap</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/26/spoiler-alert-2009-monaco-grand-prix-recap/">Spoiler Alert: 2009 Monaco Grand Prix recap</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 26 May 2009 08:59:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/26/spoiler-alert-2009-monaco-grand-prix-recap/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1555846/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/26/spoiler-alert-2009-monaco-grand-prix-recap/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>bmw</category><category>brawn</category><category>brawn gp</category><category>BrawnGp</category><category>featured</category><category>ferrari</category><category>force india</category><category>ForceIndia</category><category>formula 1</category><category>formula one</category><category>Formula1</category><category>FormulaOne</category><category>forumla 1</category><category>Forumla1</category><category>mclaren</category><category>mclaren-mercedes</category><category>monaco</category><category>monaco gp</category><category>monaco grand prix</category><category>MonacoGp</category><category>MonacoGrandPrix</category><category>monte carlo</category><category>MonteCarlo</category><category>red bull</category><category>RedBull</category><category>renault</category><category>toro rosso</category><category>ToroRosso</category><category>toyota</category><category>williams</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Filipponio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2009 08:59:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[F1 Diffuser Saga Defused: Court of Appeal rules in favor of Brawn, et al.]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/the-f1-diffuser-saga-defused-court-of-appeal-rules-in-favor-of/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/the-f1-diffuser-saga-defused-court-of-appeal-rules-in-favor-of/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/the-f1-diffuser-saga-defused-court-of-appeal-rules-in-favor-of/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/mercedes-benz/" rel="tag">Mercedes-Benz</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ferrari/" rel="tag">Ferrari</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/renault/" rel="tag">Renault</a></p><a href="http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090415111338.shtml"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/diffuser_decision2.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<div align="center"><em><strong><small>Brawn GP diffuser as seen by the competition</small></strong></em><br /></div>
<br />The FIA International Court of Appeal has just ruled that the "<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/rumormill-f1-diffuser-decision-will-favor-brawn-williams-toyo/">Diffuser 3</a>" can continue on with their current shapely backsides, much to the chagrin of Formula 1 competitor Ferrari (among others). The Court had met in Paris to respond to a challenge issued by Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault, which questioned whether or not the rear diffusers being used by Toyota, Williams and Brawn met the regulations.<br /><br />From the beginning of the season, the established front-runners have been amazed at the pace of those teams. Much of that pace has been attributed to a rear diffuser that seemed in theory to deviate from the straight-topped one the rules stipulated (which the rest of the field is using).<br /><br />The other teams interpreted the 2009 rules one way and the Diffuser 3 adherents read the regulations differently. With the new ruling, it looks like the rest of the field will be playing catchup, and the V-shaped upper panel is sure to pop up on the rest of the cars very soon. Whether or not it will have an impact on the standings remains to be seen, as Brawn for one has proven to be a well-run operation with a strong engine and re-energized drivers.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090415111338.shtml">F1-Live</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/the-f1-diffuser-saga-defused-court-of-appeal-rules-in-favor-of/">F1 Diffuser Saga Defused: Court of Appeal rules in favor of Brawn, et al.</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:29:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/the-f1-diffuser-saga-defused-court-of-appeal-rules-in-favor-of/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1517764/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/the-f1-diffuser-saga-defused-court-of-appeal-rules-in-favor-of/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>brawn</category><category>brawn gp</category><category>BrawnGp</category><category>breaking</category><category>breaking news</category><category>breakingnews</category><category>diffuser</category><category>diffusers</category><category>f1</category><category>FIA</category><category>formula 1</category><category>formula one</category><category>Formula1</category><category>FormulaOne</category><category>mclaren</category><category>red bull</category><category>RedBull</category><category>toyota</category><category>williams</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Filipponio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:29:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rumormill: Pending F1 diffuser decision will favor Brawn, Williams, Toyota]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/rumormill-f1-diffuser-decision-will-favor-brawn-williams-toyo/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/rumormill-f1-diffuser-decision-will-favor-brawn-williams-toyo/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/rumormill-f1-diffuser-decision-will-favor-brawn-williams-toyo/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a></p><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-1169765/Championship-leader-Button-told-Brawn-car-legal.html?ITO=1490"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/diffuser_decision2.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Formula 1 so far this year has probably provided a lot more excitement than anyone expected, and in a change from the usual, this time a lot of it is good. The two races so far have seen a heap of on-track passing - and not just of backmarkers - as well as an inversion of the standings: McLaren and Ferrari near at the bottom, Brawn (n&eacute;e Honda) and Toyota are at the top. <br /><br />Much of that has been credited to the diffusers that the Brawn (above) and Toyota teams are using, which, along with the Williams diffuser, have been challenged as illegal by the other teams. Today, the FIA Court of Appeal will hear arguments for and against the diffuser design and a decision is due Wednesday. It is being reported already by <em>The Daily Mail</em>, however, that the court of appeal will declare the diffusers legal, not wanting to contradict the FIA stewards in Australia and Malaysia, as well as the FIA race director Charlie Whiting.<br /><br />Ross Brawn has been called out specifically by both Bernie Ecclestone and Renault's Flavio Briatore because he is the technical representative for the Formula One Teams Alliance. Both accused him in a roundabout way of using the rules to his advantage from his privileged position and leaving the others in the dust. In reply, Brawn said "I did explain that I felt we should have a different set of rules to simplify what needed to be done. I offered them, and they were rejected. We needed to clean the rules up, but nobody was interested. They're interested now."<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-1169765/Championship-leader-Button-told-Brawn-car-legal.html?ITO=1490">The Daily Mail</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/rumormill-f1-diffuser-decision-will-favor-brawn-williams-toyo/">Rumormill: Pending F1 diffuser decision will favor Brawn, Williams, Toyota</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:40:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-1169765/Championship-leader-Button-told-Brawn-car-legal.html?ITO=1490>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/rumormill-f1-diffuser-decision-will-favor-brawn-williams-toyo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1516259/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/rumormill-f1-diffuser-decision-will-favor-brawn-williams-toyo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>brawn</category><category>brawn motorsports</category><category>BrawnMotorsports</category><category>Briatore</category><category>diffuser</category><category>Ecclestone</category><category>f1</category><category>fia</category><category>formula 1</category><category>formula one</category><category>Formula1</category><category>FormulaOne</category><category>fota</category><category>mclaren</category><category>motorsports</category><category>toyota</category><category>williams</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jonathon Ramsey]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:40:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dark Horse: Williams-Toyota FW31 unveiled in Portugal]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/dark-horse-williams-toyota-fw31-unveiled-in-portugal/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/dark-horse-williams-toyota-fw31-unveiled-in-portugal/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/dark-horse-williams-toyota-fw31-unveiled-in-portugal/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/williams-fw31/1302954/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/fw31-web.jpg" alt="" /></a><em><strong><br /><small></small></strong><small></small></em>
<div align="center"><small><em><strong>Click on the image above for a high-res gallery of the new Williams FW31</strong></em><br /></small></div>
<small></small> <br />It's been a long time since Williams stood atop the Formula 1 world, but back when they were, nobody could take them down. They've won seven drivers' championships, with such pilots as Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Jacques Villeneuve and Ayrton Senna - and taken nine constructors' championships just to wash 'em down. But that was a long time ago, and since then the team has fallen far from the top. Could this be the year they come back?<br /><br />With F1's technical regulations turned all topsy-turvy for 2009, Williams was the first to start preparing. They're also the only team to go with a mechanical Kinetic Energy Recovery System, opting for a flywheel to store recovered braking energy instead of the battery-based systems developed by the other teams. The flywheel is installed in the new FW31, powered by a Toyota engine and unveiled at the new Algarve circuit in Portugal, where several other teams - including Renault - came to test out their new gear. Test driver Nico Hulkenberg was behind the wheel, soon to be joined by lead drivers Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima, who remain with the team for 2009. Check out the new Williams FW31 - wearing interim dark blue livery for the off-season - in the gallery below.<br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/williams-fw31/low/">Williams FW31</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/williams-fw31/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/_o9t1644_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/williams-fw31/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/_y2z1983_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/williams-fw31/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/dg0_8768_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/williams-fw31/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/dg0_8773_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/williams-fw31/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/dg0_8776_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: Williams F1]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/dark-horse-williams-toyota-fw31-unveiled-in-portugal/">Dark Horse: Williams-Toyota FW31 unveiled in Portugal</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/dark-horse-williams-toyota-fw31-unveiled-in-portugal/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1433630/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/dark-horse-williams-toyota-fw31-unveiled-in-portugal/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2009 formula one</category><category>2009FormulaOne</category><category>att williams f1</category><category>AttWilliamsF1</category><category>F1</category><category>Formula 1</category><category>Formula One</category><category>Formula1</category><category>FormulaOne</category><category>fw31</category><category>williams</category><category>williams f1</category><category>williams fw31</category><category>williams grand prix</category><category>williams toyota</category><category>williams-toyota</category><category>WilliamsF1</category><category>WilliamsFw31</category><category>WilliamsGrandPrix</category><category>WilliamsToyota</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Noah Joseph]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:58:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[KERS gets Formula 1 green light for 2009]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/kers-gets-formula-1-green-light-for-2009/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/kers-gets-formula-1-green-light-for-2009/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/kers-gets-formula-1-green-light-for-2009/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/green/" rel="tag">Green</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/honda/" rel="tag">Honda</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/renault/" rel="tag">Renault</a></p><img width="450" height="390" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/kers-rend.jpg" /><br /><br />Despite some serious reservations regarding the safety and high cost of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System <br />(<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/kers/">KERS</a>), the hybrid system has received the green light for introduction into the 2009 Formula 1 season. After BMW and Renault had some, uh, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/video-shocking-see-f1-mechanic-getting-zapped-by-kers-system/">issues</a> with KERS, Renault called a meeting to discuss whether the new flywheel-based system should be <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/video-shocking-see-f1-mechanic-getting-zapped-by-kers-system/">postponed</a> until 2010. BMW Sauber, Honda Racing and Williams are apparently feeling confident enough in their own systems to resist the delay. Because F1 rules dictate that a consensus must be reached to change the previous ruling, F1 cars in 2009 will run with the new drivetrain. The only thing which could still hold back the new technology would be if the teams were unable to guarantee the safety of their systems, and this seems unlikely given that Honda has already completed a successful track test last week.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69689">autosport.com</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/kers-gets-formula-1-green-light-for-2009/">KERS gets Formula 1 green light for 2009</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:33:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69689>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/kers-gets-formula-1-green-light-for-2009/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1276446/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/kers-gets-formula-1-green-light-for-2009/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>bmw sauber</category><category>BmwSauber</category><category>f1 hybrid</category><category>F1Hybrid</category><category>formula one hybrid</category><category>FormulaOneHybrid</category><category>honda racing</category><category>HondaRacing</category><category>kers</category><category>kinetic energy recov...</category><category>KineticEnergyRecov...</category><category>williams</category><category>williams f1</category><category>williams racing</category><category>williams-f1</category><category>WilliamsF1</category><category>WilliamsRacing</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeremy Korzeniewski]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:33:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Williams FW30 breaks through the fog]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/williams-fw30-breaks-through-the-fog/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/williams-fw30-breaks-through-the-fog/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/williams-fw30-breaks-through-the-fog/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a></p><em><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/williams-fw30-1/600568/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/79145544_op.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />click above for more high-res pics of the Williams FW30</em><br />
<p> </p>
<p>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 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/06/ferrari-unveils-f2008-formula-one-race-car/">Ferrari</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/07/mercedes-benz-reveals-vodafone-mclaren-mp4-23-for-2008-f1-season/">McLaren</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/10/toyota-f1-pins-its-hopes-on-new-tf108/">Toyota</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/14/meanwhile-in-munich-bmw-sauber-unveils-the-f1-08/">BMW Sauber</a>, 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. </p>
<p>But while the team isn't holding an official unveiling, it has whipped up<a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/64663"> six special paint schemes</a> to celebrate its milestones this year. (We doubt any of them will be as cool as <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/10/aston-martin-racing-unveils-gulf-livery-for-dbr9s/">Aston Martin's new-old Gulf livery</a>, but hopefully they'll be better than <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/10/joy-to-the-world-honda-f1-ditches-globe-livery/">Honda's tree-hugging paint scheme</a>.) 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. </p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>[Source: Autosport, Photo by DIEGO TUSON/AFP/Getty]</p>
<p><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/williams-fw30-1/low/">Williams FW30</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/williams-fw30-1/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/79145304_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/williams-fw30-1/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/79145345_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/williams-fw30-1/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/79145544_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><strong><br /></strong></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/williams-fw30-breaks-through-the-fog/">Williams FW30 breaks through the fog</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:41:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64769>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/williams-fw30-breaks-through-the-fog/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1092044/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/williams-fw30-breaks-through-the-fog/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>anniversary</category><category>celebrate</category><category>circuit</category><category>debut</category><category>fog</category><category>fw30</category><category>jerez</category><category>track</category><category>unveil</category><category>valencia</category><category>williams</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Noah Joseph]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:41:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Eye on the Prize: Williams opts against big unveiling for new car]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/02/eye-on-the-prize-williams-opts-against-big-unveiling-for-new-ca/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/02/eye-on-the-prize-williams-opts-against-big-unveiling-for-new-ca/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/02/eye-on-the-prize-williams-opts-against-big-unveiling-for-new-ca/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a></p><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-williams-f1-car/555108/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/78303160_opt.jpg"  alt="" /></a><br /><em>Williams tests its new car at Jerez on December 7 (click to enlarge)<br /></em></p>
<p>After <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/28/mclaren-to-launch-2008-f1-challenger-the-day-after-ferrari/">McLaren decided to hold an official unveiling of its new car</a> after all, another British grand prix team has decided against it. Hard at work on the new FW30, Williams F1 has opted instead to focus on the car's development rather than making a big spectacle, as is expected of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/25/ferrari-f2008-to-kick-off-f1-launches/">most of its rivals</a>.</p>
<p>Show or no show, you have to admire Williams' dedication to getting back to the top. The team is entering its 30th season in F1, but while it was once a championship-winning team - it has taken the constructors' title nine times and the driver's crown seven - Williams hasn't won either since Jacques Villeneuve in 1997. Since then, the team has gone downhill, having to resort to buying customer engines after longtime engine partner Renault left F1 (only to return years later with its own team), and again after <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2005/11/15/bmw-sauber-f1-team-now-official/">BMW defected to Sauber</a>.</p>
<p>Last season Williams placed a respectable fourth in the constructors' championship, behind Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Renault, beating out its engine provider, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/31/toyota-hq-gives-until-2010-to-improve-f1-team/">Toyota's own (considerably better-funded) works team</a>, in the process. Having failed to finish grands prix four times in 2007, Williams plans on improving its reliability in pursuit of an even better 2008 on a path back to the top. As for the new FW30, racing fans will have to check out the off-season test sessions for a glimpse of what the once-famous Williams engineers have been working on before the season kicks off on March 16 in Australia.</p>
<p>[Source: Autosport]<br /></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/02/eye-on-the-prize-williams-opts-against-big-unveiling-for-new-ca/">Eye on the Prize: Williams opts against big unveiling for new car</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:35:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64503>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/02/eye-on-the-prize-williams-opts-against-big-unveiling-for-new-ca/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1075646/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/02/eye-on-the-prize-williams-opts-against-big-unveiling-for-new-ca/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>f1</category><category>launch</category><category>unveiling</category><category>williams</category><category>williams FW30</category><category>WilliamsFw30</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Noah Joseph]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:35:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[FIA rejects McLaren appeal, confirms Raikkonen's title]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/fia-rejects-mclaren-appeal-confirms-raikkonens-title/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/fia-rejects-mclaren-appeal-confirms-raikkonens-title/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/fia-rejects-mclaren-appeal-confirms-raikkonens-title/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a></p><a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63994"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/11/fia250.jpg" /></a>Kimi Raikkonen and the boys at Ferrari can breathe a sigh of relief, as their <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/21/three-way-title-race-comes-to-a-close-at-brazilian-grand-prix/">championship</a> has been formally confirmed by the FIA. The title was <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/22/raikonens-f1-title-questioned-then-confirmed-mclaren-to-appea/">appealed</a> by the incredibly sore losers at McLaren, who insisted that because of a temperature irregularity in the fuel in BMW's and Williams' cars at the season closer in Brazil, those four cars should have been disqualified, thereby catapulting McLaren's Lewis Hamilton to the championship. (Yeah, they were serious.)<br /><br />Hamilton, it should be noted, stated that he didn't want to win the championship that way. And nobody else wanted him too, either. Even F1 supremo <a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63923">Bernie Ecclestone threatened to quit</a> the sport if the FIA took the title away from Raikkonen and awarded it to Hamilton over the technicality.<br /><br />The ruling was issued by a specially-convened panel of the FIA's International Court of Appeal, presided over by a Czech motorsport judge and three others from the United States, Greece and Portugal. The court, which heard testimonies from BMW, Williams and McLaren, convened in London instead of the FIA's headquarters in Paris due to traffic issues in the French capital.<br /><br />Our take: Rules are rules, but if the FIA had stripped Raikkonen of his title, it would have been bad for him, bad for Hamilton, bad for F1 and bad for motorsports. We'll be waiting for Ron Dennis to find a way to <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/22/mcscapegoat-ron-dennis-blames-internet-media-for-losing-f1-titl/">blame us</a> for this, too.<br /><br />Full statement from the FIA after the jump.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/fia-rejects-mclaren-appeal-confirms-raikkonens-title/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>FIA rejects McLaren appeal, confirms Raikkonen's title</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/fia-rejects-mclaren-appeal-confirms-raikkonens-title/">FIA rejects McLaren appeal, confirms Raikkonen's title</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:41:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63994>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/fia-rejects-mclaren-appeal-confirms-raikkonens-title/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1042661/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/fia-rejects-mclaren-appeal-confirms-raikkonens-title/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>appeal</category><category>court</category><category>decision</category><category>f1</category><category>fia</category><category>formula</category><category>fuel</category><category>international</category><category>mclaren</category><category>one</category><category>raikkonen</category><category>ruling</category><category>sauber</category><category>temperature</category><category>williams</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Noah Joseph]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:41:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lexus F1? Easier than you might think]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/06/lexus-f1-easier-than-you-might-think/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/06/lexus-f1-easier-than-you-might-think/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/06/lexus-f1-easier-than-you-might-think/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/marketing-advertising/" rel="tag">Marketing/Advertising</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/lexus/" rel="tag">Lexus</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><p><a href="http://www.f1i.com/content/view/5663/32/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/11/lexuslfsh_14.jpg" alt="" id="vimage_1" /></a>According to the latest reports, we may see the Lexus emblem on Formula One cars in the near future. Parent company Toyota, of course, is already in F1 with its own team, which won't be re-branding as Lexus. Nor would a Lexus team be established to compete with Toyota's, which, with budgets in the tens of millions of dollars, would be sheer lunacy. The possibility grows out of Toyota's client engine supplier deal with Williams.F1. </p>
<p>When BMW bought the Sauber team, Williams lost its engine partner and switched to Cosworth. But for the next season and beyond, Williams will be using Toyota power. Some of the suits in Tokyo see this as a ripe opportunity to promote Lexus, rather than double Toyota's brand presence on the grid. Considering that Lexus, once focused almost entirely on the American market, has recently been expanding globally, and that their products have been getting sportier (especially with the anticipated arrival of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/13/spy-shots-lexus-lf-a/">LFA</a>), such an arrangement could work out perfectly. However, Toyota F1 bosses John Howett and Tsutomu Tomita reportedly aren't sold on the idea, so don't expect to see Sir Frank being driven around in an <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/19/japanese-market-lexus-ls460-boasts-a-host-of-worlds-firsts/">LS460</a> just yet.</p>
<p>Whether the Williams-Lexus deal ends up taking shape or not, it lends to speculation over similar arrangements with other teams. Could <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/31/nissan-to-join-f1-in-2008/">Nissan's reported entry into F1</a> be a simple re-branding exercise on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/01/renault-and-ferrari-give-red-bull-wings/">Renault's new deal with Red Bull</a>? Could Scuderia Toro Rosso or <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/30/ferrari-goes-dutch-engine-deal-with-spyker-mf1/">Spyker</a> be labeled with Fiat, Alfa Romeo or Maserati power? Whether they know it or not, Toyota may be blazing a trail for a new branding trend that would see more marques represented in F1 then ever before anticipated, all with minimal investment. </p>
<p>[Source: <a href="http://www.f1i.com/content/view/5663/32/">F1i</a>]</p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/06/lexus-f1-easier-than-you-might-think/">Lexus F1? Easier than you might think</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 06 Nov 2006 10:37:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/06/lexus-f1-easier-than-you-might-think/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/696446/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/06/lexus-f1-easier-than-you-might-think/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>1</category><category>engine</category><category>f1</category><category>formula</category><category>lexus</category><category>one</category><category>toyota</category><category>williams</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Noah Joseph]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 06 Nov 2006 10:37:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Sultan's secret 1995 Ferrari FX]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/10/the-sultans-secret-1995-ferrari-fx/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/10/the-sultans-secret-1995-ferrari-fx/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/10/the-sultans-secret-1995-ferrari-fx/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/conceptcars/" rel="tag">Concept Cars</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/supercars/" rel="tag">Supercars</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ferrari/" rel="tag">Ferrari</a></p><br /><a href="http://www.supercars.net/cars/3597.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/10/fx.png" id="vimage_1" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Richard Owen of Supercars.net recently visited the <a href="http://www.marconimuseum.org/">Marconi Museum</a> in Tustin, California and discovered one of its hidden gems, a Sultan of Brunei custom Ferrari FX. Richard explains the history of this technological tour de force and gives us some insight into the bizarre story of the Sultan and his massive collection of one-offs, custom-builts, exotics and supercars that numbered in the thousands. The whole collection was estimated to have cost some $28 billion. This particular jewel started life as a Ferrari 512M but was so extensively modified that the new FX nomenclature was used. And being the Sultan, this is just number four of seven nearly identical models he had commissioned. Pininfarina redesigned the body and the Williams F1 crew was tabbed to do some mechanical tweaking. <br /><br />The cars started life at Pininfarina where the new aluminum and carbon fiber bodies were mated to a 512M platform. The Sultan's brother, Prince Jefri, then took the car to Williams where it was fitted with a sequential gearbox similar to their Formula 1 unit. But this car never finished the cycle. The Sultan's buying days had come to an abrupt halt while the car was still at Williams and that's where Dick Marconi came in. The sole dark blue FX in the bunch, it was purchased by Herbalife founder, ex-boxer and sometime racer, Dick Marconi, for his Southern California museum. And there it sits for anyone to see. Check out supercars.net for more photos and details. And if you're ever in Southern California, make sure you stop by the Marconi Museum. All Museum donations go to support the Marconi Foundation for Kids, which provides funds to at risk youth.<br /><br />[Source: Supercars.net]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/10/the-sultans-secret-1995-ferrari-fx/">The Sultan's secret 1995 Ferrari FX</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:26:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.supercars.net/cars/3597.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/10/the-sultans-secret-1995-ferrari-fx/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/682439/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/10/the-sultans-secret-1995-ferrari-fx/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Dick Marconi</category><category>DickMarconi</category><category>F1</category><category>Ferrari FX</category><category>FerrariFx</category><category>Marconi Foundation</category><category>Marconi Museum</category><category>MarconiFoundation</category><category>MarconiMuseum</category><category>paddle shifter</category><category>PaddleShifter</category><category>Sultan of Brunei</category><category>SultanOfBrunei</category><category>Testarossa</category><category>Williams</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Filipponio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:26:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>