Sport Car: Lotus Sport Exige GT3

Sport Car Lotus Sport Exige GT3 Black Color

The prototype Lotus Sport Exige GT3 race car was unveiled at the annual FIA GT Championship presentation ceremony outside the world famous Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco 2nd December 2005th The next day (2 December 2005), the first test vehicle was held at high speed Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in Southern France under FIA supervision, the first phase of the Lotus Sport Exige GT3 becoming eligible for FIA GT3 competition. This latest FIA series, which will begin in 2006, has been racing cars that have the same power and weight, and that has direct lineage to their road going versions.

Lotus Sport Exige GT3 participants developed the Lotus Sport, the performance arm Lotus Cars and is derived from the standard Lotus Exige coupé model. Weighing about 750 kg, it stays true to "performance through light weight" core Lotus philosophy. The car uses a race prepared 1.8 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i engine with a Roots-type supercharger and air-to-air intercooler that uses Lotus T4e Engine Control Unit to produce 285 hp (289 hp) at 7800 rpm. This gives an impressive power to weight ratio of 380 hp / tonne or 2.6 kg / hp.

After a brief shakedown program Lotus test track at Hethel, factory test driver Gavan Kershaw conducted a final set of chassis tires on the wet morning session at Paul Ricard official FIA test. What followed was a trip to slick tires on the track by FIA nominated test driver drying Christophe Bouchut.

Sport Car Lotus Sport Exige GT3 Back

Commenting on the encouraging test, Chris Arnold, General Manager of Lotus Sport, explained: "We were delighted to attend the official FIA tests. Since the car was still on the drawing board two months ago, it's a fantastic achievement for the full build-in such a short time. We knew this test would be a first test for the car at the spot, and I am very pleased with the results. Our winter development program began testing the tunnel just before Christmas followed by further work in preparation for the next FIA test in March. "

FIA announced five races of the European Championship for the new GT3 class with rounds in the UK, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy. Various national GT Championships are also considering modifications to its regulations to include GT3 class.

Sport Car Lotus Sport Exige GT3 Turing

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Massa targets return at home GP

Massa continues to make a good recovery from his injuries at home in Brazil

Felipe Massa has told Brazilian television he hopes to return to racing at the Brazilian Grand Prix on 18 October, Autosport magazine reports.

The Ferrari driver, 28, is recovering at home after suffering severe head injuries in a crash during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"I cannot wait to race again, I hope I can do the Brazilian Grand Prix," he told television channel Globo.

"But it's for the doctors to say. I have to show I can be ready."

Massa's accident, which occurred on 25 July, happened after a spring from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car hit his helmet.

He was travelling at more than 160mph when the object hit him, but pressure on the brakes reduced his speed to about 60mph when he hit the tyre wall.

At first the injuries were described as "life-threatening", and there were fears for his eye sight.

Former Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher was set to come out of retirement to deputise for his friend while he recovered, before a neck injury put paid to the German's comeback plan.

Since then, Massa has made a good recovery and is now back home recuperating.

He will have to undergo a rigorous medical examination at the hands of the International Motorsport Federation (FIA) and also specialist eye check-up before he is allowed behind the wheel of an F1 car.

"I think I am going to do some laps in a go-kart beforehand," Massa added.

"Then I will go to the FIA to do the examinations and get the authorisation to come back to racing."

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Williams blocks Michael Schumacher's Plans to Test Car Ahead of F1 Return

Michael Schumacher's bid to step up his comeback by testing Ferrari's current car has been blocked by Formula One rivals Williams.

Ferrari last week wrote to the other nine Formula One teams and the FIA requesting Schumacher be granted a day at the wheel of the F60 ahead of the German legend's return to racing at the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23.

Under current regulations in-season testing is banned, but Schumacher hasn't raced since his retirement in 2006, so Ferrari were hoping the seven-time world champion, who is standing in for Felipe Massa after the Brazilian's horrific crash in Hungary, would be allowed to practise.

Out of courtesy, the other seven members of the Formula One Teams' Association – McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso – gave Schumacher and Ferrari the green light.

Williams, however, see no reason why Schumacher should be given special dispensation, citing the recent arrival of 19-year-old rookie Jaime Alguersuari into F1.

"While we welcome Michael Schumacher back to Formula One, the fact is any form of in-season circuit testing is strictly prohibited, a regulation clearly laid out by the FIA and adhered to by all of the teams," said Williams in a statement.

"It was for this reason Alguersuari, who drove an F1 car for the first time in Hungary, did not have the opportunity to familiarise himself with the Toro Rosso before he made his race debut.

"Williams sees no distinction between Alguersuari's situation and Schumacher's and feels any deviation from the rule would create a precedent for the future.

"For the sake of consistency and fairness, therefore, we oppose Ferrari's proposal to test ahead of the European Grand Prix."

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GreenGT: The Future Of Racing

Good news has been showering the world of the Le Mans GT Racing. With the apparent misunderstandings between several Formula 1 owners and the sport’s governing body, the FIA, some teams are threatening to move to Le Mans, including F1’s oldest citizen, Ferrari. While the racing gene will still be in man’s blood, the type of cars he’ll be racing with is still in doubt. The GreenGT electric racer, however, keeps the future of racing safe. This EV has been certified by the FIA and will sport a carbon fiber chassis with a composite body. It will be powered by a pair of water-cooled 100 kW electric motors delivering up to 450 horsepower. Jolting the electric motors are lithium-ion batteries that could be recharged by the solar cells on the body. The car will weigh just under 1900 lbs and is touted to reach a top speed of 171 mph. News that 22 units will be available to the eco-conscious public with a racing heart just made the GreenGT an even sweeter car.

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BMW announce it will quit Formula One at the end of 2009 season

Already hit by the departure of Honda, Formula One suffered another blow on Wednesday as BMW confirmed it would be quitting the sport at the end of the season.

"The BMW Group will not continue its Formula One campaign after the end of the 2009 season,'' BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer said.

"Of course, this was a difficult decision for us, but it's a resolute step in view of our company's strategic realignment,'' he said.

"Premium will be increasingly defined in terms of sustainability and environmental compatibility. This is an area in which we want to remain in the lead.

"We are continually reviewing all projects and initiatives to check them for future viability and sustainability.

"Our Formula One campaign is thus less a key promoter for us.''

While rumours of the possible departures of Renault and Toyota have been flying around the paddock all season, that of BMW comes as a surprise.

And it had looked as if the sport's future was assured when the FIA, motor racing's governing body, announced the completion of negotiations between the FOA (Formula One administration) and the 13 teams who will race in 2010.

It had been thought that this Concorde Agreement, meant to link the two sides until 2012, also included the BMW Sauber team.

The FIA said however they regretted the German team's decision and hoped the sport had seen the last departure of a major manufacturer.

"The FIA regrets the announcement of BMW's intended withdrawal from Formula One but is not surprised by it,'' the FIA said in a statement.

"It has been clear for some time that motor sport cannot ignore the world economic crisis.

"Car manufacturers cannot be expected to continue to pour large sums of money into Formula One when their survival depends on redundancies, plant closures and the support of the taxpayer.''

BMW have been badly hit by the current economic crisis with profits tumbling by 89.5 percent in 2008 compared to 2007, and group sales dropping 19.5 percent in the first half of 2009.

It is also believed the company found it hard to justify spending on Formula One following a poor campaign with drivers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica scoring just eight points this season to leave the team eighth in the nine-team constructors' championship.

BMW arrived in Formula One in 2000 and in 2005 took over the Swiss team Sauber, to become the BMW Sauber stable which now employs 730 people.

Its only Grand Prix win as BMW Sauber came when Kubica won in Canada in 2008, while he also achieved the team's only pole position in Bahrain, also in 2008.

The team finished third last season behind Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes.

Meanwhile, the FIA said they hoped there would be no more departures from the sport.

"This is why the FIA prepared regulations to reduce costs drastically,'' the FIA said.

"These measures were needed to alleviate the pressure on manufacturers following Honda's withdrawal, but also to make it possible for new teams to enter.

"Had these regulations not been so strongly opposed by a number of team principals, the withdrawal of BMW and further such announcements in the future might have been avoided.

"Nevertheless, as a result of a sustained cost-cutting campaign by the FIA, new measures are in the process of being agreed which should make it easier for new teams to enter and enable existing ones to participate on much-reduced budgets.

"Hopefully it will be enough to prevent further withdrawals and provide a solid foundation for Formula One.''

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Bumper entry for Neste Oil Rally Finland

A season record 124 crews are on the seeded entry list for the Neste Oil Rally Finland, round nine of the 2009 FIA World Rally Championship, which gets underway on Thursday 30 July.

The number of cars comfortably exceeds the 75 which took the start of Rally Portugal - the second most popular event of the season so far.

Rally Finland's bumper entry includes 18 World Rally cars, the complete Junior World Championship field, the five Pirelli Star drivers and nine Fiesta Sporting Trophy international entrants. Drivers representing 25 different nationalities are taking part.

In the WRC competition all four manufacturer teams have registered. Topping the seeded entry list is Finn Mikko Hirvonen of the BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team. He and his compatriot Jari-Matti Latvala are the team's two point's nominated drivers, while Khalid Al Qassimi will drive a third Ford Focus RS WRC for the squad.

The manufacturers' championship leading Citroen Total team will run C4 World Rally Cars for its two drivers Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo, while the French firm’s Junior team will run three more - two for nominated points scorers Sebastien Ogier and Evgeny Novikov and a third for Conrad Rautenbach.

The Ford powered Stobart VK M-Sport squad will run Focus RS WRCs for regular drivers Matthew Wilson and Henning Solberg.

Two Finnish drivers have been drafted into the Munchi's Ford Team for the rally. Full time driver Federico Villagra and one of the stars of last year's event, Matti Rantanen, are points nominated, while Mattias Therman will drive a third car.

Norwegians Petter Solberg (Citroen Xsara) and Mads Ostberg (Subaru Impreza WRC) are the two highest seeded privateer drivers. Meanwhile a handful of local drivers are also contesting the WRC class in privately entered cars and could well surprise a few of the full time WRC stars. Watch out for Jari Ketomaa (Subaru Impreza) Jukka Ketomaki (Skoda Octavia) and Jouni Arolainen (Ford Focus).

Rally Finland counts as the seventh, and penultimate, round of the Junior World Rally Championship and is one of only two rounds this year (like Italy) to have attracted entries from all of the registered drivers. Ten drivers are chasing J-WRC points in Finland, including a "Wild Card" entry for Finn Kalle Pinomaki. There are also nine Ford Fiesta Sport Trophy International contestants and five FIA Pirelli Star Drivers, headed by local favourite Jarkko Nikara

The highest profile guest driver in Finland is Ferrari Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen who will make his make his debut at World Championship level.

Like on his earlier rally outings the Finn will be driving an Abarth Grande Punto Super 2000 and will be co-driven by Kaj Lindstrom. Further spice to the production category will be come from Anton Alen (son of Finnish WRC legend Markku) in another Abarth Super 2000 and last year's P-WRC class winner Juho Hanninen in a Skoda Fabia S2000.

Estonian Urmo Aava will make his WRC return after his last outing on Rally Norway in February. In Finland he will drive a privately entered two-wheel drive Honda Civic Type-R R3.

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