Audi has announced plans to offer a new, bi-turbo diesel engine on the A6, A6 Allroad and A7 Sportback. It produces 313 PS (230 kW / 309 hp) and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque.
Chris Bristow Peter Broeker Tony Brooks Alan Brown Walt Brown
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Audi introduces new bi-turbo diesel engine
Audi has announced plans to offer a new, bi-turbo diesel engine on the A6, A6 Allroad and A7 Sportback. It produces 313 PS (230 kW / 309 hp) and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque. 
Super Bowl Ad: Hyundai Veloster Turbo can outrun a cheetah
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With all due respect to Audi’s "Vampires" commercial for the S7, the early favorite for funniest auto Super Bowl commercial now belongs to Hyundai and their new ad for the Veloster Turbo.
Titled "Cheetah," the ad features the Veloster Turbo preparing to race a cheetah, considered the fastest animal in the world with a 0-60 mph time of just three seconds. But, apparently there are still some cars that the cheetah can’t outrun and in this particular commercial, it’s the 201-horsepower Veloster Turbo.
As soon as the cheetah realizes that outrunning the Veloster Turbo wasn’t an option, it turns its attention towards its handler. Apparently, the nimble feline wasn’t too enthralled with its handler’s attempt to have it race against the high-powered Hyundai sports hatch.
So as a way of "paying back" the handler’s lack of foresight, the jungle cat decided to chase the dude and jump on him, doing so amidst all the girlish shrieks coming from the petrified handler.
Check out the commercial and prepare to laugh out loud. Repeatedly.
Super Bowl Ad: Hyundai Veloster Turbo can outrun a cheetah originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 30 January 2012 20:00 EST.
Ian Ashley Gerry Ashmore Bill Aston Richard Attwood Manny Ayulo
Subaru Impreza STI 5 doors
Gentlemen, let me show you my finished Impreza of the Aoshima kit. It went together mostly well except of the fitment of the bumpers and sideskirts, somehow they didn't really want to stay in place. Except those not a bad kit. Unfortunately I lost the antenna for the roof, and painted the rear lights and 3rd brakelight a little more vivid. Here are the pics:
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/997158.aspx
Manny Ayulo Luca Badoer Giancarlo Baghetti Julian Bailey Mauro Baldi
Is Raikkonen worth the risk?
Kimi Raikkonen's return to Formula 1 next season creates a field with as much depth of talent as any in the history of the sport.
Six world champions will be on the grid at the start of 2012, with a total of 14 titles between them.
There are also multiple race-winners in Mark Webber and Felipe Massa, plus what I believe are certain future winners in Paul di Resta and Nico Rosberg.
But while Raikkonen's return will add another fascinating thread to an already rich tapestry, will Lotus get the driver they think they are getting?
Kimi Raikkonen left Ferarri and Formula One in 2009 to pursue a career in the World Rally Championship. PHOTO: Getty
There is no doubt that Raikkonen at his best would be a powerful addition to almost any F1 team, but can the 32-year-old reach again the sort of heights that led to victories such as that at the Japanese Grand Prix in 2005, when the Finn claimed victory for McLaren in arguably the greatest race in Formula 1 history?
Having battled up through the field from 17th on the grid, Raikkonen won with a stunningly audacious move at the start of the final lap, overtaking Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella around the outside at 160mph going into the first corner.
Although Raikkonen would go on to win the world title in 2007, the race in Japan was in many ways the pinnacle of his career. He was certainly never as consistently great again as he had been in 2005.
By the end of the 2005 season, it was widely known Raikkonen had signed a contract to move to Ferrari in 2007 as a replacement for Michael Schumacher.
Raikkonen was expected to take over the role of team leader, with Felipe Massa a dutiful number two, but the Finn's performance fell short of what was expected.
His low-key personality was always going to make it difficult to dominate a team in the way Schumacher did - or Fernando Alonso has done at Ferrari in the last two years - but more of a surprise was Massa's ability to match him on the track.
Raikkonen did take the title in his first year at Ferrari - but it was a somewhat fluky win.
Firstly, title rivals McLaren went into meltdown after the partnership between Alonso and rising star Lewis Hamilton soured.
Secondly, Ferrari engineered the victory Raikkonen needed in the decisive final race in Brazil by swapping positions on the track with Massa, who was dominating.
Having won the title, many thought Raikkonen might step up a level in 2008, but Massa became the de facto team leader. This was not what Ferrari expected of Raikkonen, whom they paid a reputed $50m a year, the highest salary in the history of F1.
Midway through 2009, they'd had enough and decided to terminate his contract a year before it ran out. After paying Raikkonen at least a full year's retainer not to drive for them in 2010, Ferrari took on Alonso in his place, despite not knowing whether Massa would make a full recovery from an accident in Hungary that left him with a fractured skull and forced him to miss the rest of the season.
The difference between the relative performances of Alonso and Raikkonen at Ferrari could barely be more stark. Whereas Raikkonen had been evenly matched with Massa, Alonso has destroyed the Brazilian in the last two seasons.
So many questions arise from this comparison.
Was Raikkonen never as good as some thought he was and Alonso simply in a different league? Has Massa been affected by his accident in 2009 in a way neither he nor Ferrari are either aware of or will admit?
Was Raikkonen increasingly demotivated at Ferrari and therefore performing under-par? Was his legendary 'partying' affecting his driving? (There is a famous YouTube film of him falling off the roof of a boat with a drink in his hand and landing on the deck on his head)
Has Massa been unable to cope alongside the dominant personality of Alonso, but was able to give his best alongside Raikkonen, a man who paid no attention to 'working the team' and simply believed his job was to get in the car and drive?
So damaged had Raikkonen's reputation been by events at Ferrari in the last five years that any return to F1, after a humbling couple of years in world rallying, was never going to be with a top team.
There are too many other good drivers out there, without Raikkonen's baggage, for that to happen. So Raikkonen finds himself in a midfield team struggling to rebuild itself and a long way from finding the form that took Alonso to his two titles in 2005-6.
In theory, Raikkonen could be just what Lotus need. If he returns fully committed, as he says he will, with a raised tolerance of all the things he grew to detest about F1 - the media and PR work - he could be a valuable addition.
But will that motivation remain once the reality of midfield life hits him, when he realises just how much of a struggle he is in for, how far away he is from the top teams where he used to reside?
And will he really help the team progress? On that subject, there's a joke doing the rounds. It's set in the Lotus engineering office at a race some time in 2012. It goes like this: "How was the car, Kimi?" "Good." "How was the car, Vitaly [Petrov]?" "Good." "OK. Debrief over."
On the other hand, put yourself in the shoes of Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez and team boss Eric Boullier. Robert Kubica, who any team would want if he was fit, is still months away from being able to drive an F1 car again - and may never be able to do so.
Having ruled out Rubens Barrichello because there are too many questions about his age - he is now 39 - and motivation, your driver choices are Petrov, Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean. Good, solid drivers all - and Senna, particularly, has shown these last few races that he has potential.
But then you remember Suzuka 2005 and other great drives. You remember Raikkonen's championship challenges in 2003 and 2005; his clinical, error-free consistency; how he was always at his best on the great 'drivers' circuits'; the way he grabbed victory by the throat in Belgium in 2009, the only race that year where Ferrari had any chance of a win.
You remember that great drivers just make things happen and you think what Raikkonen could do in your car, how much of a difference he could make.
Then it becomes easier to see why you might take the risk.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/11/is_raikkonen_worth_the_risk.html
Pedro Diniz Duke Dinsmore Frank Dochnal Jose Dolhem Martin Donnelly
Monday, 30 January 2012
Tesla Model X teased ahead of February unveiling
Tesla are gearing up for the reveal of the new Model X Crossover and we are now able to bring you a first teaser image of the model. CEO Elon Musk recently announced on Twitter that it is scheduled to be launched on February 9th. 
Chris Amon Bob Anderson Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti
Chevrolet Camaro Signature Series by Lingenfelter
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Noted Chevrolet Camaro tuner, Lingenfelter, has never been bashful about its tuning programs for the American muscle car. That’s why these guys have come up with a pair of new tuning works for the Camaro as part of their Signature Series.
The first of these packages is the Signature Series 1, which features exterior upgrades, including a new hood, a modified grille, a new front spoiler, extended side skirts, a trunk-mounted spoiler, and a new set of 20" alloy wheels. As for the interior, the Camaro Signature Series 1 package comes with some fresh embroidered seats, aluminum pedals, and just to be sure that you’re owning one of these special edition bad boys, there’s also an individually-numbered plaque.
The second package, predictably called the Signature Series 2, is a lot more notable because on top of the aesthetic goodies it also comes with level 2 graphics, a set of exclusive 20" Lingenfelter forged alloy wheels, a Pedders performance suspension, Brembo brake calipers and rotors, and a Corsa stainless exhaust system. But the meal ticket of the Stage 2 upgrade is the massive performance juice up, highlighted by a Magnusson TVS2300 supercharger, a high-flow intake, and enlarged fuel injectors. The resulting engine upheaval takes the Camaro’s output all the way up to a in impressive 600 horsepower, an increase from the muscle car’s standard 426 horsepower and 420 lb/ft of torque output.
Chevrolet Camaro Signature Series by Lingenfelter originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 30 January 2012 13:00 EST.
Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews Elio de Angelis
Polishing
I have seen models with no paint but the original plastic has a shine. How is this done and what about shining any body putty that has been applied? Thanks for your advice.
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/996725.aspx
JeanPierre Beltoise Olivier Beretta Allen Berg Georges Berger Gerhard Berger
Clear Bedfloor
Hello everyone.I'm in the process of building a lowrider C-10 pick-up.I have scratchbuilt a whole new frame and an airride set-up for the rear.I want to put a clear bedfloor in the bed to shot off my work.Does anyone know what I can use to make this dream a reality?I don't have a LHS and I am short on time and money to finish this build.If someone could suhhest something I might have laying around my house or my bench I'd really appreciate it.Here is a shot on what's left of the bed of the truck and part of the frame and suspension.
Like I said I'd really appreciate an ideas anyone has.
Thanx in advance,
Jeremy
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/997617.aspx
Johnny Claes David Clapham Jim Clark† Kevin Cogan Peter Collins
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Jake Humphrey's season review
I should have known what to expect from this season when we went on air for the first time in Australia back in March.
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel went on to win the race in Melbourne without really breaking a sweat, while expert pundit David Coulthard ended up with cake on his face during the post-race F1 Forum thanks to a very over-excited world champion.
Dominance and madness in one go.
Since then, Vettel has won almost every race, while we've had masses of fun and games on camera as we traversed the globe. I have plenty of highlights from a season that has been, without question, the most rewarding of my three years. At the same time, it has been one of the most difficult and surreal. But more of that later...
First the fun! One of the things I've loved about the coverage we've provided since 2009 has been the genuine human emotion that only live sport can deliver. The F1 Forum, in particular, has given us a chance to see a side to the sport that was previously hidden, usually because all the TV crews had long since stopped work.
A stand-out moment for me occurred in the F1 Forum after the Monaco GP. We headed up to the Red Bull Barge - or the 'float-a-home' as it's nicknamed - where the team were celebrating their second successive win in the race.
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First, Vettel went into the pool, followed by various Red Bull team members, making it inevitable that Eddie Jordan would join them. I must confess that, as I challenged Eddie to go and grab the race winner, I knew he was likely to end up in the drink... and that's precisely what happened. EJ losing his glasses and proceeding to do duck-dive after duck-dive to retrieve them will live with me forever. All on live TV, let me remind you.
We then got a glimpse of just how brave the strong, fearless, race-winning F1 star DC really is. As soon as it looked like he would be the next one to get a soaking, he suddenly grabbed both his mic and the nearest railing for dear life. Cries of "No, I'm wearing white jeans!" and "No, I'm holding a microphone!" fell on deaf ears.
We often see drivers wearing race suits, helmets on their heads, wrapped inside a shell of carbon fibre. We never really get to know the human being behind the mask. I hope that, as the year progressed, you have felt you've got to know the likes of Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber as never before.
After the careers they've had and the success and the riches that have come their way, it would be very easy for Eddie and DC to not bother going the extra-mile for the good of the coverage, too. Yet they have. Early starts, late finishes, being asked to do ludicrous things and always buying into it... they've done it all. In fact, EJ refusing to go on the Abu Dhabi rollercoaster was just about the only time he has said 'no' in three years!
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I remember heading to a shopping centre in India to film a Bollywood opening to a show. When the nearby Metallica gig was cancelled, 40,000 very unhappy heavy metal fans suddenly surrounded the car. It was a little scary until EJ decided to engage them in conversation to find out what was going on. Moment defused!
That first trip to India was fascinating. I found it particularly difficult and struggled on a daily basis with the contrast between the glitz and glamour of F1 and a country with such obvious socio-economic issues. It was hard to see the poverty as we headed to the track every day, then watch million-pound cars going round in circles. I sincerely hope that F1 makes a concerted effort to give something back to India in the coming years.
It was good to chat that weekend to Rowan Atkinson. But after creating such genius TV as Blackadder, it's sad to think he's globally famous as Mr Bean! Great he could join us on the show, though. To have 'George McCartney' (copyright E Jordan) with us in Abu Dhabi was also special. The only reason McCartney and Atkinson came to chat to us was because of Eddie. It's amazing the power he actually wields!
At this point, let me congratulate Eddie on raising more than £100,000 for Children In Need with his signed Indian GP shirt. He forced all the drivers to sign it, as well as Bernie Ecclestone and Macca.
DC has also really come into his own this year. Whether he's taking on Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button in a pit-stop challenge or on a jet-ski, he's become a credible, eloquent and respected pundit. Added to that, he knows how it feels to win races, fight for titles and drive contemporary F1 machinery.
Jake Humphrey and Eddie Jordan meet Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney. Photo: Getty
He's also rather naughty, using his weekly track guides to educate Sergio Perez about the perks of being an F1 driver, to tell Vettel about the German-speaking films he watched as a kid, or to make Karun Chandhok, who was busy minding his own business by cycling the track, re-enact Hamilton's crash with Webber in Singapore.
I'd just like to say how much I've loved working with both EJ and DC over the past three years. It's rare to find three people who just seem to click, but we have and it's been an incredibly rewarding time.
Despite Vettel being so dominant, I've really enjoyed the racing in 2011.
The new DRS overtaking aid on the cars has been toyed with by the FIA during the year but I think they've generally got the balance right now after the slightly embarrassing overtaking-laden Turkish Grand Prix.
What has really got me excited this year, though, have been the Pirelli tyres. Yes, the teams have worked really hard to nullify the effects of marginal tyres, but they have still added to the spectacle. Next year, Pirelli will be even smarter and more aggressive with tyre choice, so I think the tyres will really ask questions of the strategies that teams employ. If they get it right, Pirelli could again be the difference between a good season and a great season in 2012.
And what about my classic moments of 2011? Well, Canada stands out. We had international pop star Rihanna trying out Hamilton's car, DC demonstrating his knowledge of ornithology and Star Wars creator George Lucas chatting to us in the garage... all while a race should have been taking place!
When the racing eventually started, it didn't disappoint, did it? Button was incredible that day and I'd like to extend my thanks to him and all the other drivers who have made themselves so accessible this season.
The F1 Forum has been a magnet for race winners, from Vettel in tears as he watched our 'back-to-back champions' tape, to EJ, DC, Martin Brundle and me leaning over flight cases and around photographers in an attempt to get to Hamilton after his race win in Abu Dhabi. All great times.
It's worth pointing out that the drivers are not obliged to join us live pre-race, before or after qualifying, or on the F1 Forum. They choose to do it, which I think speaks volumes for both our coverage and about the drivers themselves. Thanks, guys.
After all that fun over the last eight months, we get to take a breath, grab a winter holiday, then do it all over again come March 2012. So what can you expect from the BBC next year and how will we make a very different season just as interesting to watch?
Well, the first thing to say is that EVERY race will be on the BBC.
I know you guys want live F1 but you will still get plenty of racing to watch - and often at much better times. Australia, Japan and Malaysia, for example, are races that take place in the early hours in the United Kingdom but we will show almost the whole race at 2pm. As well as that, the programme will be two hours long, so there will be plenty of action and reaction. For non-live races that are run at lunchtime in the UK, you can now enjoy a Sunday out, get home for 5.30pm and have 90 minutes of F1 in a peak-time slot.
The highlights will not just be a few token laps edited together either. We're talking extended, comprehensive highlights to really tell the story of the grand prix.
I can also reveal that the BBC presentation team will be at all the races, so the guys and I will be interviewing drivers, bringing you the usual banter and hosting the show in the way you've come to expect since 2009. So expect F1 Forums and the usual 60-minute build-up for live races. Plus we will have in-depth analysis from DC and others, as well as stacks of driver interviews for the highlights races.
Yes, it's a shame we haven't got 100% live F1. As a fan, I would dearly love to host every race live and you can only imagine how hard and uncertain it has been for all of us since Hungary, when the new rights deal was announced.
The team works so hard to make F1 a success on the BBC and it hurts that, after all that effort we've put in, things have changed. But the BBC has backed us with great on-air times and, as I have said, will be sending us to every race, while the usual back-room talent will be making every show special.
Thanks so much for your support, loyalty and viewership over the last three years. I promise you that, if you stick with the BBC, we won't disappoint in 2012. I am personally driven to make next year's coverage even better than ever before.
Have a great winter and I look forward to you getting a lie-in before I welcome you to the Australian Grand Prix in less than four months.
All the best,
Jake
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jakehumphrey/2011/11/jake_humphreys_2011_season_rev.html
Alberto Ascari Peter Ashdown Ian Ashley Gerry Ashmore Bill Aston
Caterham finally confirms Leafield factory move
Caterham has finally confirmed that it will move its racing operations to Leafield, the former home of the Arrows and Super Aguri teams. It will also build a road car facility on the same site. The team had already announced … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/01/18/caterham-finally-confirms-leafield-factory-move/
Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison Fernando Alonso
Lexus LF-LC concept - A detailed look [video]
The Lexus LF-LC Concept has received a lot of positive reaction, therefore we are pleased to bring you this video which gives a behind the scenes look at the model's development. 
Don Branson Tom Bridger Tony Brise Chris Bristow Peter Broeker
Ala-Kart builds
Just got a kit and am very excited to get started. Its not the old 2 car kit just the new one. I searched Ala-Kart and have read all thru the forum about the hood and undersized motor but I dont think I care, the acticles from the rebuild shop that re-did the car in 2006-08 seem to like the new changes in the kit. Other things are much better such as the front & rear suspension and decals.
The one thing I am most courious about is the sides of the bed. I got some gold foil but the bed sides are partially hidden under the rear fenders, it will hide the bed sides when it will be installed. Have you guys cut out the rear fender supports when building. I have 30-40 pictures of the car and the wall under the fender exposes the bed side. I also have the pics Brizo's shop took while re-assembling the truck.
I havent start anything yet - finishing a 37 Ford sedan right now. Should start by weeks end.
What I would be interested to see is your builds and here any comments about assembling the kit. Nothing recent is on the forum.
I build mostly 20"s - 30"s fords and all the El Camino's (and a few others)
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/935301.aspx
Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris Francois Cevert Eugene Chaboud
Obama's Chrysler 300C on eBay for $1 million
It sounds insane to ask for a cool million bucks for a 2005 Chrysler 300C, but in reality when the previous owner is the President of the United States of America, anything is possible. 
Antonio Creus Larry Crockett Tony Crook Art Cross Geoff Crossley
Saturday, 28 January 2012
My first posting
G'day all. As this is my first attempt, a bit of detail about myself. I live in Brisbane, Australia and have been modelling for about three years. This is after building and flying model aircraft but age and old bones caught up with me. My love of cars started with muscle cars but I have moved to anything old from my life time.
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/998889.aspx
George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard Piers Courage Chris Craft
Porsche 911 Turbo to get new tri-turbo system
The Porsche 911 Turbo currently employs a 3.8-litre, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine with a twin-turbo, but according to a report by Autocar they are set to upgrade it to a tri-turbo induction system. 
David Coulthard Piers Courage Chris Craft Jim Crawford Ray Crawford
Protests raise fresh concerns over Bahrain GP
Fresh doubts have emerged about the viability of this year's Bahrain Grand Prix after a human rights group in the Gulf kingdom called on the Formula 1 teams to boycott the race in the wake of continuing civil unrest.
It is the first public intervention by an interested party on the subject of the wisdom of holding the race since F1's governing body the FIA confirmed Bahrain's place on the 2012 calendar last month.
Bahrain's inclusion on the official schedule raised eyebrows. That's because unrest continues there, despite pledges by the ruling royal family to increase human rights and democratic representation in an attempt to move on from the disturbances that led to the cancellation of last year's race.
The call for a boycott - by the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) - became public two days after police were accused of beating a leading opposition activist on the back, neck and head at a rally on Friday.
Bahrain's Sakir International Circuit has not had a Grand Prix since 2010. Photo: Getty
That man was the vice-president of the BCHR, Nabeel Rajab, who also happens to be the man who gave the interview calling for the boycott of the race.
Rajab told a leading Arab business magazine: "We will campaign for... drivers and teams to boycott. The government wants Formula 1 to tell the outside world that everything is back to normal.
"Formula 1, if they come, they are helping the government to say [it is normal]. We would prefer it if they didn't take part. I am sure the drivers and teams respect human rights."
F1, then, appears headed for another long-running saga over whether the Bahrain race can go ahead this year - just as in 2011, when it was four months between the outbreak of civil unrest and the race finally being cancelled.
During that time, it became clear that F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone was keen for the event to take place, despite the concerns of many both inside and outside the sport that holding a race would send the wrong message.
Those concerns remain alive today.
Ecclestone was unavailable for comment, but I understand he and the FIA are still determined to hold this year's race.
At the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix six weeks ago, he told BBC Sport: "It's on the calendar. We'll be there. Unless something terrible happens to stop us."
Asked if he had any concerns about the race becoming a magnet for problems in the kingdom, he said: "No, I don't see that."
On Monday, the race organisers insisted the race should go ahead, pointing out that the government had already started down the path to reform and insisting that the race was "supported by an overwhelming majority of people from all sections of society in Bahrain and represents a symbol of national unity".
But within F1 teams, there are murmurings of unease. No-one will publicly comment on the situation, let alone call for the race to be boycotted, but some insiders do believe there is a strong chance the race will be called off.
For the teams and other stakeholders in F1, such as sponsors and suppliers, it is not so much a question of the lack of human rights in Bahrain per se. After all, it is far from the only grand prix venue where there are concerns on that subject; indeed, very few countries have blemish-free records.
Nor, assuming the situation in Bahrain does not escalate, does it seem there is a serious concern that the safety of personnel who would attend the race would be threatened.
Of greater relevance is the effect going there could have on the organisations involved.
The big problem with Bahrain is that the race is so closely tied to the royal family - particularly the crown prince, the King's son. So it will inevitably become a target for protests - as has now happened with Bahrain Human Rights Watch linking the two things directly.
Last year, the opposition declared a "day of rage" for the date of the race, and some in F1 say they expect a similar thing to happen imminently for race day this year - 22 April.
Once human rights groups have linked the race to the problems in the country, it becomes very uncomfortable for the major global companies in F1 to be associated with it. For them, it would directly contradict with their global social responsibility programmes, which have become so important to many international companies.
This is one of the main reasons the situation came to a head last year. While the teams were careful to say nothing along these lines publicly, several of them let it be known privately to Ecclestone and the FIA that either they or their sponsors were not happy about attending the race.
Among those with the biggest concerns were Mercedes - which runs its own team as well as supplying engines to McLaren and Force India - and F1's only tyre supplier, Pirelli. Neither was available for comment on Monday.
I'm told, though, that these two, among others, remain concerned about holding a race in 2012. If Mercedes were to decide not to go, that would mean a grid shorn of six of its 24 cars. If Pirelli followed suit, no-one could race.
It is unlikely to come to that, of course.
One insider said that, of those with the power to do so, no-one wants to call the race off, as whoever does will be out of pocket.
If Ecclestone or the FIA jump first, the Bahrainis don't have to pay their race fee, whereas if the Bahrainis themselves decide to call the race off, F1 gets to keep the cash. And when it is a reputed �25m you're talking about, that's a serious consideration, whoever you are.
Last year, it was Bahrain who ultimately made the call - after it became clear that there was a serious threat of a boycott if they did not.
Will it get that far this time? No-one knows, but Ecclestone is unlikely to be in any hurry to move the situation along.
What would you do if trouble did flare up in February or March, I asked him in Brazil.
"I'd wait and see what happened and then decide," he replied. "Up to now they [the Bahrain royal family] have done everything they said they were going to do."
The next two months are likely to be a game of brinksmanship over who blinks first, with quiet diplomacy taking place behind the scenes. Whatever solution is found is unlikely to be a quick one.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/01/protests_raise_fresh_concerns.html
Pablo Birger Art Bisch Harry Blanchard Michael Bleekemolen Alex Blignaut
Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 production process overview [video]
Mercedes has released a new video which shows the production of the SLS AMG GT3. 
Bill Cantrell Ivan Capelli Piero Carini Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti
Friday, 27 January 2012
F1 2011 Launch Catch Up ? McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Sauber, Toro Rosso, Renault?
Catching up on the launches in one mega post. �Here in you’ll find quick interviews with senior members of the team and photos from the Red Bull, Sauber, Renault Lotus, Toro Rosso, Mercedes and McLaren launches. Apologies for being somewhat late, the whole blog isn’t running at full power until the season starts again. Red [...]
Tony Brooks Alan Brown Walt Brown Warwick Brown Adolf Brudes
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