KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN LAUNCHES LOTUS IN LEBANON

Fresh from the Malaysian Grand Prix, Kimi Räikkönen joined Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar in Beirut last night to celebrate the return of Lotus to Lebanon

The legendary marque is opening a new dealership in Beirut in partnership with leading Lebanese automotive dealer RYMCO and luxury real estate and management company Zardman. Lotus’ acclaimed Evora, Elise and Exige are set to quicken the heartbeat of one of the most exciting cities in the Middle East.

Lotus Cars Lebanon welcomed the 2007 Formula One World Champion to Beirut in style, throwing an exclusive party at the MAD nightclub and toasting the future of Lotus in the region. The ‘Lotus is Back’ event was also attended by a few lucky F1 fans, who got to press up against Lotus’ speediest models.

Kimi Räikkönen, racing driver, Lotus F1 Team: “It was a great first visit to Beirut and a lot of fun to join the Lotus Car Lebanon team and launch the marque here. Lotus is a really special car company with big ambitions and part of that is returning to Formula One, another is spreading the word around the world.”

Dany Bahar, CEO, Group Lotus: “The Middle East is a market of huge potential to Lotus and Beirut is a very strong location for us. There were a lot of competitive bids to host Lotus here, and I am very happy that we’ve agreed to partner with Zardman and RYMCO who I’m confident will represent our brand perfectly and give customers a fantastic experience here in Lebanon. This is an important step in Lotus’ international sales plans.”

Fayez Rasamny, Chairman, Lotus Cars Lebanon: “This is a very exciting night for sports car aficionados in Lebanon, and indeed for racing fans. Thank you to Kimi Räikkönen for his special visit, and thank you to Group Lotus for returning to the region and bringing their wonderful cars. We really wanted to be the ones to bring this legendary automotive brand to Lebanon. The Lebanese are massively into premium sports cars and Lotus’ racing heritage. I’m confident Lotus Cars Lebanon is going to be a huge success."

Source: LotusCar

Video: Interview Kimi Räikkönen at Lotus E20 launch 2012

Source: Nextgen

Q&A with Kimi Räikkönen at the Lotus E20 launch

I think we’ll have a lot of fun in the season ahead and hopefully we will get some good results. I want a strong enough car to challenge for good results

The 2007 Formula 1 World champion talks of his return to the sport with the lotus F1 Team after two years away in the forests and stages of the World Rally championship

Why F1?
Formula 1 is something very special in my racing career, and you always want to race at the toughest level, so Formula 1 is where you want to race if you have a choice.

What do you think of the team now you’ve completed two days testing?
I’m happy with the team, they are very nice people, very easy going and it was nice to work with them for the two days I did in the R30. I think we’ll have a lot of fun in the season ahead and hopefully we will get some good results. I want a strong enough car to challenge for good results.

When did you decide to finish rallying and to go back to Formula 1?
When I did the NASCAR races, I enjoyed the racing and I want to do more racing. I still want to do rally and if I could I’d do them both at the same time – but this isn’t possible. For sure I will do rallying again in the future. I want to do racing as I had a really good time in NASCAR racing against other people and I realised that I was missing this – that’s when I decided that if there was a good chance to return properly that I would do it.

What are your thoughts on how F1 has changed since you last competed?
In 2010 I didn’t really follow Formula 1 but I saw more races last year. It doesn’t really look different, but there is overtaking in some different places where people can just drive past by opening the rear wing and the driver in front has no chance to defend himself – so is this really overtaking? I don’t think it counts all the time. But for sure the show is better. The tyres make a difference too, as there is a big speed difference between when the tyres are new and when the tyres are old. In the old Formula 1, you had to be so much faster than the guy in front of you to have any chance to overtake, but now with the tyres and the DRS, it’s different.

Do you have anything to prove with your return?
I think people expect things from me, but as long as I know that I’m giving 100% and I’m happy with my driving then I’m happy. If those aspects are true and it’s not enough, then it’s not enough.

How well do you know your new team-mate, Romain Grosjean?
I think we will have a good relationship. I met him before Christmas and I raced against him in 2009. He seems a very nice and normal guy, so I don’t see any problems there.

Source: LotusRenaultGP

Video: Amazing F1 stuff - Lotus E20 Launch

Lotus F1 Team is pround to unveil the E20



Source: lrgptv

Force India VJM05 breaks cover at Silverstone

Sahara Force India unveiled its 2012 challenger today as Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg pulled the covers off the VJM05 at Silverstone. They were joined by reserve driver, Jules Bianchi, as the team’s new car was presented for the first time.

The VJM05 is the second car to be created under the watch of Technical Director, Andrew Green, as the team seeks to build on its on its sixth place finish in the constructors’ championship and take the fight to the teams that lie ahead.

“We have set our sights on challenging for fifth place,” explained Team Principal and Managing Director, Dr. Vijay Mallya. “To do so we will need to begin the new campaign by delivering the kind of form we showed in the second half of 2011. I believe this is a realistic goal and that we have the talent and determination to realise these ambitions.”

Chief Operating Officer, Otmar Szafnauer, echoed those sentiments as he praised the team’s efforts to develop the VJM05: “The new car has come together nicely over the winter. We don’t know what our competitors have done, but we’ve made some gains over the winter and believe we’re in reasonable shape. It’s going to be difficult in the midfield, but our focus is on starting strongly and improving our position from last season.”

Summing up the approach to 2012, Andrew Green added: “The car looks more refined; a lot racier and a lot more purposeful. You can start to see the aerodynamic concepts coming through now. It looks quite a bit different to the previous years, and so far the performance in the tunnel has been encouraging.”

The drivers were delighted to get their first glimpse of the new car and set out their hopes for the season ahead:

Paul Di Resta: “Seeing the new car built and complete for the first time is always an exciting moment. It’s when you realise that all the waiting is finally over and the season is beginning for real. I’ve had a good winter and I’ve recharged my batteries, but now I’m fully focussed on 2012 and looking forward to the start of testing. There’s a really positive feeling in the team, good stability and hopefully we can pick up where we left off at the end of last year.”

Nico Hulkenberg: “I saw the new car in the wind tunnel a few times and followed its progress during the winter. It looks aggressive and fast, but we won’t know where we stand until we get out there and compete against the others. Preparations for the new season have been full-on with simulator sessions and lots of fitness training. I feel ready to get back to racing and I’m excited to find out what the new car feels like next week.”

Source: YallaF1

Ferrari launch 'aggressive' F2012

In another dramatic sign of the times, Ferrari have launched their radical 2012 charger - the F2012

Though hailed as an 'aggressive' car, attention is bound to be focused on another, rather ugly, 'boxer's nose' and radical front-end design.

Having been forced by snowy weather to cancel their plan to launch their new car in front of an invited audience, Ferrari instead took the wraps off online, with the 'Scuderia Ferrari 2012 single-seater' unveiled on the team's website.

"We know the future of the company depends on what we do here today," said team boss Stefano Domenicali. No pressure then.

The car was unveiled by drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa and, according to first impressions, is far closer in look to the Caterham CT01 than the relatively-conventional McLaren.

"This is something that was part of my dreams, I really trust the team and the new car," said Massa. "It looks really, really aggressive."

That's one way of putting it.

The car's most distinctive feature is another 'boxer's nose', with the car a radical departure from Ferrari's designs of the recent past. It can't, however, be described as a pretty car. With the sharply-stepped nose, in layman's terms, perched on front-wing tusks, it is certainly an attention-grabbing challenger, however.

Looking ahead to the new season, Alonso remarked: "We have to be resolute and positive for the season ahead. We have to fight for the title."

Meanwhile, speaking on a weblink, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo repeated his demand for the under-pressure Massa, who has just a single year remaining on his contract, to improve his performances this season.

"He knows as much as we know that he has to do something great, something better after a not-so-positive season," announced the typically-forthright di Montezemolo. "We are offering him the best conditions to do a great job."

Yet, for the timebeing at least, it's the team's new car that is the centre of attention at Maranello. With the unveiling endorsing reports last week in Italy that Ferrari's latest creation was not a looker, the team will be hoping that beauty is no barometer of speed.

"I am sure our car will be winning right from the beginning," declared Stefano Domenicali in confident fashion. "We have learned many lessons from the past, and taken some difficult decisions. But I am sure all our efforts will be represented with this car.

"From a technical point of view, we have many novelties in terms of mechanics and also the shape of the car. We wanted continuity here, and hopefully we will reach the right performance."

Now for the hard work - with the car set to be put through its pace for the first time in Jerez next week.

"We have only 12 days to work on the car and achieve reliability, and also test the new tyres that have been given to us by Pirelli," added Domenicali.

Source: SkySports

New Ferrari launch cancelled because of snow

Maranello, 2 February – There was no let up from the snow last night, which continued to fall on Maranello and the surrounding area and the situation does not appear to be changing this morning. The forecast is still bad both in terms of predictions of more snow fall and of a further drop in temperature.

Therefore, the decision has been taken to cancel the presentation ceremony for the new car, which was to have taken place at 10.30 tomorrow. The decision was taken because of the weather conditions and because of the difficulties that would have faced the 300 or so people due to attend from the team partners, the authorities and representatives of the media in their attempts to get to Maranello.

Photographs and all technical information relating to the car, along with exclusive interviews, will be available to all on www.ferrarif1.com.

Source: Ferrari.com

McLaren team reveal new car for 2012 Formula 1 season

McLaren have unveiled the car Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button hope will win one of them the drivers' title

Hamilton described the MP4-27, unveiled at the team's Surrey base, as "the finest-looking car we've had for some time".

The car features a notably tightly packaged rear end, after the fashion of the Red Bull that has dominated Formula 1 for the last two seasons.

"We're excited. I'm sure every team is a little apprehensive," Button said.

Among other notable features, the car does not have the platypus-style nose that is expected to feature on many designs this year as a result of a change in the rules requiring a lower nose height.

Lewis Hamilton won the drivers' world title in a McLaren in 2008, with Jenson Button winning the championship in a Brawn a year later.

But Red Bull have won the last two constructors' championship, with Sebastian Vettel securing the drivers' title in both seasons .

McLaren have not won the constructors' title since 1998.

Button added: "This is a beautiful car - many you will see will not be.

"There are some good rule changes giving the engineers and aerodynamicists something to really think about.

"Everyone seems positive, we will see how it is when we get out on to the track."

McLaren have also abandoned the distinctive L-shaped sidepods that distinguished the 2011 car, reverting to a more conventional shape.

Hamilton said: "The back of the car is much neater, it's much tighter. The focus was on getting it as tight as possible for aerodynamics.

"It's about dropping drag and we have tried to get as much downforce back as possible with the banning of the blown diffuser [where teams directed exhaust gases along the rear floor of the car even when the driver was off the throttle]."

He said that the rule change had made an obvious difference to the way the car feels, having already driven it in the team's simulator.

Hamilton added: "It's a lot trickier to drive now than it was but I'm sure, as we get into the season, we'll get that back."

Both men said they were looking forward to the challenge of the new season, which features six world champions for the first time in F1 history.

Kimi Raikkonen has returned to F1 with the Lotus team after two years in rallying, to join fellow champions Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton and Button.

"We love to have the competition and we love to have the great drivers out there," Hamilton said. "We hope there are no world champions added to [the list].

"It's great for the fans and the sport and hopefully we'll be able to put on a good show. We do have a good looking car and, when a car looks good, it generally is good."

Asked who the drivers expected McLaren's main competition to be, Button said: "The Red Bulls will be strong, they're not going to suddenly build a bad car after winning the championship for the last two years.

"Do we know where we stand? No, but the important thing is we focus on our own work in testing and in Melbourne we will find out where we are compared to our competitors."

Hamilton added: "Last year we were the team closest to the Red Bulls, that's comforting, and we improved a lot too. If we can start the season better than last year then we will put good building blocks down.

"We have the fastest rate of development, so that should give us a strong position to start the season."

Team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: "It will be close, it's a massively competitive championship. No-one in my view is going to run away with it.

"We don't like losing, coming second in the last two years has been frustrating.

"We want to win races and world championships. We have two great racing drivers, everyone can see the chemistry between them but they want to beat each other.

"There are some very strong competitors out there but we are feeling at the moment as if we are in a good place and we're looking forward to getting to Melbourne and competing for championships."

Source: BBC Sports

Williams FW34 to be launched at Jerez

Williams announced today that they will be unveiling their 2012 Formula 1 challenger, the Williams-Renault FW34, on the morning of the first day of official pre-season testing at Jerez de la Frontera.

The team announced in a brief statement: “The Williams F1 Team will present its 2012 Williams-Renault FW34 on Tuesday 7 February at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain. The car will be rolled out of the garage for a photocall with drivers Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna between 0830 and 0840.”

The team will be embarking on their 34th year in Formula 1, having competed in 558 races during this time and in the process notched up 113 race victories, nine constructors’ titles, and seven drivers’ championships.

Last year was their worst season to date, finishing ninth in the title championship standings, with a mere five points to their credit.

Apart from Toro Rosso, the Grive based team will be fielding the least experienced (combined) driver line-up on the grid with Maldonado and Senna.

Source: YallaF1

Lotus reveals 2012 car launch date

The team will unveil its 2012 challenger on February 5 & 6

Lotus F1 announced that it will unveil its 2012 contender via its new website on Sunday 5th February at 17h00 CET. The unveiling will also mark the launch of the team’s new website.

Furthermore, an event will be held on Monday 6th February, 13H00 local time, in the paddock of the Circuito de Jerez (Spain). This will be followed by a press conference with Kimi Räikkönen, Romain Grosjean, Technical Director James Allison, and Team Principal / Managing Director Eric Boullier.

Media will be able to see the 2012 car on track with Kimi Räikkönen at the wheel on the same day from 14H00 local time.

The event in Jerez will take place in the specially-built Lotus F1 Team dome structure situated in the car park area within the paddock.

The team’s provisional winter testing programme is as follows (subject to changes):

JEREZ; 7 – 10 February:
07 February: Kimi Räikkönen
08 February: Kimi Räikkönen
09 February: Romain Grosjean
10 February: Romain Grosjean

BARCELONA; 21 – 24 February:
21 February: Romain Grosjean
22 February: Romain Grosjean
23 February: Kimi Räikkönen
24 February: Kimi Räikkönen

BARCELONA; 1 – 4 March:
01 March: Romain Grosjean
02 March: Romain Grosjean
03 March: Kimi Räikkönen
04 March: Kimi Räikkönen

Source: NextgenAuto

Photos: Jenson & Lewis join Ron Dennis for launch of retail network

McLaren Automotive opened the doors to its first dedicated McLaren retailer, McLaren London, with a star-studded celebration at its One Hyde Park, Knightsbridge location on June 21. By the end of 2011, McLaren will have 35 bespoke retailers in 19 countries worldwide. All have been carefully selected by McLaren to offer the best in customer sales and service for a range of high-performance sports cars, beginning with the ground-breaking McLaren MP4-12C.

The opening, hosted by our drivers, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, together with McLaren Group and McLaren Automotive Executive Chairman, Ron Dennis, celebrated ‘Defining Moments in Time’.

Recognizing the launch of the global network of McLaren car retailers, and the arrival of the first ‘pure’ McLaren sports car, the event also presented past McLaren track successes with iconic trophies and two of Lewis Hamilton’s race-winning Formula 1 cars









Source: Facebook

Virgin Racing fighting talk at MVR-02 launch 2011

Timo Glock and Jerome d'Ambrosio at the launch with the new Virgin Racing MVR-02

The now partially Marussia-owned team launched the MVR-02 at the BBC television centre in London.

Marussia Virgin Racing’s new CEO, Andy Webb did not beat around the bush regarding the team’s goals, “Firstly, this team has serious ambitions and we have a clear plan towards being able to compete at the front of the grid.”

He added, “The team’s racing aspirations are underpinned by Marussia’s ambitious plans to position itself firmly on the worldwide automotive radar and we look forward to a great deal of exciting collaboration between the two programmes.”

The MVR-02, with a notably lower nose than many of the other single seaters unveiled already this year, has once again been designed solely and uniquely with the aid of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) rather than a wind tunnel.

But rumours the MVR-02′s exhaust outlets might be similar to Renault’s radical front-exiting solution proved wide of the mark.

Hot on the heels of today’s launch of the MVR-02 – Marussia Virgin Racing’s challenger for the forthcoming Formula One season – the team’s 2011 driver line-up of Timo Glock and Jerome D’Ambrosio revealed their excitement about the new season and the progress made by the team over the winter months.

Timo Glock will be the first to get behind the wheel of the new car during the first two days of the four day programme, while Jerome D’Ambrosio will get his first run in the new MVR-02 for the final two days of testing in the south of Spain.

Timo Glock
“Today is a very special day for everybody in the team. It’s a moment we’ve all been working very hard for, and to be able to be here at the second car launch for the team is something very special. Everyone is really looking forward to our second season in Formula One. Having waited so long to see the MVR-02 come to life, I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the new car at the test in Jerez. Getting to grips with the new Pirelli tyres will continue to be an interesting challenge, following on from our first two tests with the PZeros in Abu Dhabi last year and in Valencia last week. I’m really looking forward to putting the first kilometres on the car and getting down to business preparing for what should be a very positive season for us.”

Jerome D’Ambrosio
“I couldn’t be more excited. I have finally seen the first Formula One car I will race in and it’s fantastic. This is a really special day and I can’t wait to drive the new car for the first time later this week. The team has really done a great job, and now we have to keep pushing hard and begin to understand how the new car works. Personally, I have done a great deal of work to get myself into the best physical and mental shape and I’m ready to start racing. I really can’t wait to drive the MVR-02.”

Source: YallaF1

Photos: McLaren MP4-26 launch at Berlin 2011

McLaren MP4-26 launch in Berlin Today!

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McLaren reveal their MP4-26 at Berlin launch 2011

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button with the new McLaren MP4-26 at the Berlin launch

In a unique event attended by hundreds of fans, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes this morning brought together members of the public to construct and reveal its new MP4-26 chassis, the team’s challenger for the 2011 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

Revealed at Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz, the famous public space that sits on the fringe of the old Berlin Wall, the car was built up by dozens of Vodafone competition-winners, fans and customers carrying components into the arena, where the new chassis was gradually pieced together in front of a huge crowd.

This culminated in our race drivers – 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton and 2009 world champion Jenson Button – assembling the very final pieces to reveal the completed racecar.

Looking radically different from last year’s race-winning chassis, MP4-26 features a range of aerodynamic features designed to take advantage of new rules significantly limiting the amount of downforce that can be derived from the car’s underbody.

These most notably include distinctive U-shaped sidepods – to feed air more efficiently to the car’s rear-end – and an electronically adjustable rear-wing system, introduced for 2011 to increase the potential for overtaking.

Beneath the skin, the car houses an all-new electric hybrid system. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, along with our engine partners Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines, became the first-ever Formula 1 team to win a grand prix using a hybrid device in 2009, and this new system is expected to further refine that race-winning package.

The team continues for 2011 with the proven driver pairing of world champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. Between them, they helped Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to five grands prix victories, three one-two results and second overall in the 2010 constructors’ championship.

Following today’s launch, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ Gary Paffett will shake down MP4-26 during a private session at the Idiada Proving Ground in Spain on Tuesday February 8 before the team begins track testing at the Circuito de Jerez on Thursday February 10.

Lewis Hamilton:
“It’s great to see how many fans braved the Berlin weather to come to today’s event. I hope it’s been an exciting day for everyone: I think people saw a unique way of revealing our 2010 car, something that’s never been done before. I hope the car proves just as innovative once we take to the track next week.

“I head into 2011 in a relaxed but determined frame of mind. I’ve spared nothing during my winter fitness preparations and, in many ways, I feel as fit, focused and refreshed as I did ahead of my first season in Formula 1 in 2007.

“Having spent the past few weeks talking with our designers and engineers, I feel extremely happy that we’ve created a car that will once again allow us to fight at the front.

“This will be my fifth season in Formula 1. I’m an experienced driver now, and I’ve won the world championship, scored lots of pole positions and taken many race wins. So my aim for this year is to ensure that everything comes together in the best possible way and that, like last year, I’m able to fight for the title right down to the final race.

“Of course, Jenson and I will be racing alongside three fellow world champions in 2011, and that’s a testament to the strength of Formula 1 right now. It’s incredibly hard to say who’ll be up at the front, but I’m an absolute racer and I’m looking forward to some fantastic, close racing and another thrilling conclusion to the season – hopefully with a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver on top!”

Jenson Button
“It’s strange to think that this is only the start of my second season at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, because I’ve felt so comfortable since joining the team last January.

“Even so, I’d still consider 2010 something of a building year, albeit, with two victories, a pretty solid one! For the new season, I’ve not only got a year’s Vodafone McLaren Mercedes experience under my belt, but I’ve also been able to offer input into the design and development of the new car – something that I was naturally unable to do last year.

“Now I really feel I know how Vodafone McLaren Mercedes goes racing, and I’ll be driving a car that’s been fully developed around Lewis and myself – that’s a very empowering feeling.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to drive the new car for the first time. Our pre-season simulations suggests that the new Pirelli tyres should be well-suited to my particular driving style, so I’m hopeful of being able to derive a good advantage from the tyres during the races.

“Today really marks the beginning of our 2011 season after what seems a very long time away from the track. It’s been a really exciting event for all the fans who attended, and now I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of MP4-26 for the first time next week.”

Martin Whitmarsh – Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“I think today’s innovative launch demonstrates the enthusiasm within Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to engage the general public; to show them that our sport is intense and exciting, and that we’re very keen to showcase Formula 1 to the wider world.

“Through the efforts of FOTA, we really want broaden the sport’s appeal while also introducing innovative and energy-conscious new ideas that will simultaneously improve racing and help generate new technologies within the motor industry.

“I’m hopeful that Formula 1 stands poised on the cusp of an incredible new era.

“With Lewis and Jenson, we have two of the most exciting, charismatic and high-profile personalities in the sport, and the whole team feels a powerful sense of responsibility to provide them with the very best machinery with which to showcase their very evident talents to the world.

“The MP4-26 is the result of an incredible amount of hard work, innovative thinking and dynamic teamwork. Under the leadership of Paddy Lowe [technical director], Tim Goss [engineering director] and Neil Oatley [director of design and development programmes], our design department is more integrated than ever: in fact, I’m particularly proud of the contributions made by our project engineers, many of whom have taken on leadership roles for the very first time and who had worked so well together to create this very striking and individual-looking car.

“While we’re all hopeful of once more adding to our tremendous record in Formula 1, this sport is so unpredictable and finely pitched at the moment that it’s impossible accurately to forecast the state of play until the season starts next month. That’s a tantalising prospect for Formula 1’s many millions of existing fans – and, I hope, something that will attract many millions more by the end of what looks set to be an absolutely fantastic year.”

Morten Lundal – Group Chief Commercial Officer, Vodafone
“We were delighted to see Vodafone customers playing a part in the innovative launch event for the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-26 car, presenting parts of the car to the team mechanics as it was assembled and revealed for the first time today in Berlin – a real ‘power to you’ experience. As part of our 2011 Formula One plans, Vodafone will be developing many similar events that engage and empower fans, our customers and the wider public to really get close to the Formula One action – making it more accessible and inclusive for all. We wish the team and drivers, Lewis and Jenson, all the best for a successful season ahead.”

Source: YallaF1

Räikkönen ill - couldn't attend the press conference of his own team

Kimi Räikkönen couldn't attend the exhibition in Helsinki on Thursday due to illness. They had arranged the press conference of their Ice One Racing -motocross-team to be held there.

Riku Kuvaja assured MTV3 that Räikkönen will participate in rally Sweden although he is sick now.

Räikkönen's team will start in motocross WC-serie in MX1- and MX2 -classes this year. The team will use Kawasaki bikes.

Kimi Räikkönen's own motives for starting the team are human and come from his own heart.

- I have always wanted to drive motocross more than anything else. When I was a kid it was my dream. The idea of my own team has been born during the years, Räikkönen told.

Ice One Racing motocross-team's team manager is 7-time world champion in enduro, Kari Tiainen, who will take the team's two young bikers up to the top of the world. Räikkönen and Tiainen who both are the most successful motorsportmen in Finland want to contribute in this way by lifting up young Finnish talents. The team has their training center in Spain and they will start on February 13th with an international training race and their serie begins on April 10th from Bulgaria, Sevlievo.

The bikers in the team, Toni Eriksson (MX1) and Ludde Söderberg (MX2), are top names in Finland despite their young age and are both champions in their own class. The boys' goal is also clear.

- We go to the world championship serie for points and we want to be in the top. We are working for that, Söderberg said.

Ice One Racing team also has a junior team where 6 young bikers will drive in different series in Finland's Cup.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole

Video: All about the Ferrari F150

Source: NextgenAuto

The Launch of the Teams Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso 2011

Source: RedBullRacing

Scuderia Toro Rosso launches in Valencia

Shortly after 9 o’clock this morning, in the pit lane at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit, Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi pulled the wraps off the STR 6, the car with which Scuderia Toro Rosso will tackle the 2011 Formula 1 World Championship.

While the livery featuring the famous red bull remains pretty much the same, underneath the paintwork, the STR6 is radically different to its predecessor.

This year’s design is possibly less conservative than in 2010 and naturally takes into account the requirements set out in the technical regulation changes, such as the banning of double diffusers, blown rear wings and adjustable front wings, to be replaced with the arrival of adjustable rear wings and the return, after a one year break, of KERS.

The Joy of Six

This will be the sixth year that Scuderia Toro Rosso competes in the Formula 1 World Championship, since the team was created with a view to finding two extra cockpits for the stars of the future coming through the ranks of the Red Bull Junior Driver Programme. Six years down the road, that is very much the team’s raison d’etre, with Sebastien Buemi still among the youngest men on the grid, while his team-mate, Jaime Alguersuari only turns 21 a few days before the second Grand Prix of this season. Still on the school front, the team will be squeezing a third driver into the cockpit at most of the races, as Red Bull junior, Daniel Ricciardo will be taking on the role of “Friday driver,” standing in for one of our drivers in turn for Free Practice 1. Why are we so keen on this teaching role? Maybe the words Sebastian Vettel, World Champion are explanation enough.

On the commercial front, we can look forward to a second year of support from Money Service Group, while on the technical front, 2011 is the second year that Scuderia Toro Rosso will have designed its car totally in-house, in Faenza and in our Bicester (UK) wind tunnel facility. This year’s design is possibly less conservative than in 2010 and naturally takes into account the requirements set out in the technical regulation changes, such as the banning of double diffusers, blown rear wings and adjustable front wings, to be replaced with the arrival of adjustable rear wings and the return, after a one year break, of KERS.

Toro Rosso did not use the Kinetic Energy Recovery System in 2009 and this year we hope to enjoy the advantage of using the one evolved by our engine supplier Ferrari, who made good use of the power boosting system two years ago. It will of course be linked to the very same specification 056 V8 engine as used by the other F1 entrant that calls itself a “Scuderia,” albeit with a prancing horse in its livery, rather than a toro. So there are plenty of unknown factors going into 2011, including a new tyre supplier, Pirelli. So that’s an Italian tyre supplier, a car designed and built in Italy, under the supervision of an Italian technical director, running an Italian engine with three drivers who can speak Italian. “Non può che essere un buon segno, che ne dici,” as they say in Faenza.

Source: NextgenAuto

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