15 days 16 hours 6 minutes and 04 seconds

I'm not sure if it took 15 days, 16 hours, 6 minutes and 04 seconds to assemble this Peugeot 307 WRC. Perhaps that included the 35 hour week and a couple of strikes. In any case, eleven days after completion Marcus Gronholm and Timo Rautiainen drove this very car to a win at the 2004 Rally of Finland.

(video: Peugeot Sport)

Nice doggie

A cool ad



After the jump a number of other interesting BMW ads from other markets

Because it's Thanksgiving

and for no other particular reason....time to replay the best commercial ever made. 

Enjoy and happy Thanksgiving from the Axis....and Shell

back

Old school mit Walter

It may not be as slick as a Nissan GT-R or as fast as a GT2 but this lap with Walter Röhrl in a 1975 Porsche Carrera 3.0 RS is fully worth your next eight minutes and 20 seconds or so.

Love the sound and how you can hear every throttle nuance in the wonderfully analog car. The run at top speed though the world's tightest pit lane gets extra bonus points...as does his missing a gear after Wehrseifen (someone correct me if I got that wrong), he's human!

(kueke.com)

Find the video after the jump

Are those side pipes on your Prius..

...or are you just happy to see me?






And here is the rest of it.

M Power

BMW called, they want their trophies back!

More pictures of the awesome BMW e92 M3 GTR after the jump...





PRESS RELEASE:

BMW of North America, LLC and Rahal Letterman Racing have named Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand as the first two drivers of the new M3s for BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team in the 2009 American Le Mans Series. In choosing Auberlen and Hand, BMW of North America has picked two of the most successful BMW drivers in the world and two of the most familiar names to M3 racing fans here in North America.


Auberlen, 40, of Redondo Beach, CA first drove for BMW of North America in 1996 when he joined the previous M3 racing program, then in its second year of competition. Auberlen would go on to become the team’s most successful driver, winning driver titles in both 1997 and 2004. When he takes the green flag at Sebring International Raceway for the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 21, Auberlen will have the distinction of having raced every generation of BMW M3 campaigned by BMW of North America.


Hand, 29, of Sacramento, CA joined the previous M3 racing program in 2004 and raced through the 2006 season. Coming from a background in open wheel racing, Hand quickly adapted to the M3 and endurance racing. He drove to five wins and 17 podium finishes for BMW of North America in three seasons, many of those races partnered with Auberlen.

“BMW of North America is very pleased to have Bill and Joey on the team,” said Martin Birkmann, BMW of North America Motorsport Manager. “Their experience with setup, GT racing and their raw speed will support the competitiveness of BMW’s GT2 campaign in the ALMS. I have known both of them for many years, and besides being fast, they’re both a lot of fun to work with. I am looking forward to seeing them pedal our newest BMW M3 racer.”

“My emotions are really high. I feel like I am going back home to my family. To be a part of racing at the level that BMW brings is a dream for any driver,” said Bill Auberlen. “I am really looking forward to being teamed up again with Joey. It’ll be exciting to be on a team headed by a legend and racing icon like Bobby Rahal. I am really looking forward to 2009.”

“I’m very excited to be back in the BMW family and to be driving a BMW M3 again. I built quite a fan base within the BMW community and I can’t wait to put on a show for them again,” added Joey Hand. “I am looking forward to working with a top-notch team such as Rahal Letterman Racing. Bobby helped me earlier in my career so we have a good relationship. I can’t wait to get started!”

Since the program’s announcement in February 2008, the ALMS BMW M3 has been developed and tested by BMW Motorsport in Europe. This month begins the official handoff to BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team with two more tests in the United States.

“If you are going to start a new BMW team in the United States, it is nearly impossible to find a pair of drivers with more success or more experience with BMWs than Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand,” said Rahal Letterman Racing’s Bobby Rahal. “Bill is one of the most successful American sedan drivers of the decade and Joey has more than displayed his ability to run right with him, so we expect this driver pairing to be a strong one for the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team.”

Four test days are scheduled for November 19-20 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, GA, and Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, FL on Nov. 24-25. The tests will see BMW Motorsport drivers Jorg Muller, Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus behind the wheel of the test car.



Birkmann continues, “Key BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team personnel have been involved in the European testing, but now the two November tests will see them take a larger role. BMW of North America is confident that when our complete team and new M3s arrive at the track early next year we will have built a solid foundation for success.”

This week's Top Gear moment of Zen, episode 4

Top Gear Moment of Zen: Episode Four



Back

Top Gear's influence.

Check out this commercial for BMW Performance Parts,  it could be a segment on Top Gear.  Dramatic sky, abandoned airfield, a drag race, jump cuts, stop frames and trick composite shots, all that's missing are three dudes and a Der Stig. 

Oddly though, one crucial element has been left out: no sideways, smoking tire action...lawyers?






And here is the rest of it.

The truth about the Nissan GT-R

I hope you have read Drivers Republic latest "issue".  They got to do the comparison we all would like to do and concluded that, essentially, Porsche was right when they claimed something was odd about Nissan's Nürburgring lap times. Chris Harris is a good driver, probably better than most auto journalists so his impressions have more weight with us.  When he says there may have been 15 seconds more in the GT-R but certainly not 30,  it's believable.

Of course the counter argument will be that the condition for the Nissan driver's run were different, it was much warmer, it was dryer, better driver etcetera  so,  I imagine this will not put anything to rest.

Axis recommends you read the article and while you are at it subscribe to Drivers Republic.

Here is the GT2 lap,  the GT-R's lap is after the jump.

Making a case for RWD rally cars.

You may have seen the clip from last week's episode of TopGear where James May gets driven around Finnish forests by Mikka Hakkinen in his Mercedes 190 16v rally car. No offense to Scooby and Evo owners but that just looks right. Maybe a way to bring the WRC back to life would be to have only two driven wheels....

Also Axis fully endorses a mandatory six hours of skid pad for anyone getting a drivers license! That is fantastic..


Top Gear - Mika Hakkinen



back

So what do you think of the Panamera?

It will certainly stand out from the competition...more details after the jump.


( pictures via Autotelegraaf.nl)

It sounds fantastic even puttering along...




Robo-translation from Dutch
All details Porsche Panamera

WEISSACH -- A tight years before the first real Gran Turismo Porsche dealer in the state, and is already the first photos and technical details published. Porsche has long occupied the Panamera to the attention without actually showing the car. But Maserati competitor earlier this year has been the Quattroporte gefacelift and brings his Aston Martin sports sedan (Rapide) also the end of next year, so the Germans hope that potential buyers of their choice models that may go now reconsider after seeing the Panamera.

Actually, the first data and photographs of the new Porsche Panamera until Monday morning 'out' may come, but the German Auto, Motor & Sport has all the details prematurely, so that also Auto Telegraaf now has the freedom to the beautiful German sports limousine for them.

Unlike said the Briton, an Italian and a German vijfdeurs hatchback (Porsche says' four '), so with large, high-opening, tailgate. The line game stems from the desire to look like a coupe Panamera to show, but the convenience and comfort of a Gran Turismo to offer. The Porsche Panamera praised for its interior space and large, flexible to use luggage. If working title is the term 'Space Coupe "used. That says a lot.

Four occupants should look like a monarch can sit in, says Porsche. In the interior are four separate, fully electrically adjustable seats. Between the two front seats and between the rear console furniture is made with delivery room. If only one in his class. The Germans also see BMW 7 Series, Bentley Continental, Audi A8 and Mercedes S-Class drivers namely as potential buyers. Therefore, the hatchback with 450 liters of large luggage also folded down the rear seats of handrails. By addition to the rear mounted rolhoes (in America, the car hoedenplank a strange enough) to take an extra large luggage arises of up to about 1500 liters. Several golf bags including trolleys can easily be included.

With a length of 4.97 meters, a width of 1.93 meters and height of 1.42 meters, the race car shorter and lower, but wider than all other competitors. The wheelbase of less than sport limousine weighing two tonnes is 2.92 meters. Relatively short, what good maneuverability at needed. Draft Baas Michael Mauer, the exterior appearance a real Porsche given. The oval light units are higher than the tapering bonnet and the rear wheel arches are widely expanded. The fastest variant gets angled outlet end (double either side), another bumper with 'floating' clignoteurs and a larger air intake, so we fell during the presentation at the headquarters of Porsche. The cW value of 0.29 is very low for such type of car. For additional stability at high speed, a height and in width (only Panamera Turbo) up automatically klappende / rear spoiler off.

The technology is brand new, just as the platform for excluding the Panamera is developed. Has been selected for electronic air suspension with rear axle and a differential lock. Rear is standard, but optional four available. For the drive concerns known gasoline. The V-shape built power comes from the Cayenne. In all cases, of course, with direct (DFI) injection. The basic version is called simply "Panamera" and has an atmospheric 3.6-liter V6, good for 300 hp. Porsche linking the block to a six-speed manual, but the optional in 200 milliseconds switching PDK transmission with double 'wet' link. In addition, two 4.8-liter V8 engine, the Panamera S 'and' Panamera Turbo 'successively with 400 hp and (estimated) 500 hp. The strongest variant has four ex-factory, which in the other types is available at additional cost. A V6-hybrid variant with additional electric motor between the engine and gearbox (350 hp total) follow at a later stage, while a diesel version, absolutely no''says chef Wolfgang Dürheimer development in conversation with Auto Telegraaf at the earliest (for) presentations of the Panamera.
Porsche, which in four years preferably one billion euros invested in the project, produces the Panamera in Leipzig, in the same band as the Cayenne. Like that model Volkswagen provides for the construction of the coach. The Germans are based on an annual sales of 20,000 units, of which 20% of the Panamera Turbo model. The break-even point is already at 12,000 units. If the larger question that the production, then the manufacturer to the output without additional investment to increase to more than 50,000 pieces. The cars are divided equally between the United States, Europe and Asia. The first, the S and Turbo. Later arrives the V6 version, and the Panmera Hybrid

The best lap CG never did at VIR: Porsche 997 GT2 2:06

CG was at VIR yesterday and set us this video illustrating Traqmate Studio's "Theoretical Best Lap" feature. The software will take the video from your session's best segments and paste them together. (which is why you see cars appear and disappear!)

You are riding in a Porsche 997 GT2 and CG reported the track was very cold and grip was marginal. He also is not a fan of the OEM version of the Michelin Pilot Cup tires. The car still needs sorting as it understeers too much in the slower turns. However power is certainly is not lacking when he can put it down, I see a 156 mph (251km/h) on the main straight. That's about 20 mph faster than Stee's old e46 M3. His actual times Friday were in the 2:07 range.

Below is a graph comparing speeds between different cars and track days at VIR:

Red and Blue: CG GT2 (2:07s)

Black: Matt Becker (Lotus test driver/engineer) in CG's Exige S 2:11.9

Green: CG Exige S 2:13

Cyan: Stee M3 2:17

As CG commented (having been in the car with him) Becker is still the king of the "esses" his speed through that tricky section is just phenomenal.



You can see this video on your iPhone at this LINK
for other smartphones, choose this other LINK
when prompted choose "feed me Axis"




Back to the main page

Axis Makes the News!

A newspaper in Vancouver BC carried our "Driver jumps under the hood" story. How cool is that?

Thanks David for sending us the scan!



FLickr



And here is the rest of it.

Bicycling is WAY more dangerous than F1: Webber hit by SUV

Creepy irony about race drivers getting hit by cars while riding bicycles . I guess Red Bull driver Mark Webber is luckier than Bob Wollek but was seriously injured when he was hit head on by a Nissan SUV while riding in a charity event in Australia.

Here are some news accounts:

ABC Australia

Webber seriously injured in bike accident


Mark Webber is airlifted to hospital in Hobart after being hit by a car. (ABC TV)

Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber has been airlifted to hospital in Hobart after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle in his own charity event in Tasmania.

Webber was taken to Royal Hobart Hospital by helicopter from Fortescue Bay on the Tasman Peninsula after colliding head-on with a car during the mountain bike leg of the Webber Challenge.

Rescuers say Webber has a broken leg, but is in a stable condition.

A member of the rescue team, Sergeant Damien Bidgood, said the incident appears to have been an unfortunate accident.

"Basically Mark was riding down the Fortescue Road and he's had an accident running into a car coming the other way and basically broken his lower leg," he said.

Webber Challenge media manager Nancy Cook says Webber is disappointed his race has been ended by an accident.

"Mark's been involved in a minor accident, he's fine," she said.

"He's being treated, he's really disappointed that he's not going to be able to continue but he's well and being looked after."

The incident could see Webber out of action for at least six weeks.

The Mark Webber challenge is a 250-kilometre multi-sport event across Tasmania which sees competitors mountain bike, kayak and trek a daily course to raise funds for charity.


Fox claims more severe injuries



HOBART, Australia (AP) - Formula One driver Mark Webber broke bones in his arms and legs after being hit by a car during a charity multi-sport race, police said.

Webber, who drives for F1's Red Bull team, was cycling along a road near Port Arthur in the southeast of the island state of Tasmania when he and a four-wheel drive vehicle collided, Tasmania Police Sgt. Jon Ford said.

Ford said the Australian driver was competing in his own charity event, the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge, a 175-mile challenge using mountain bikes, kayaks and trekking, when the accident happened.

"As a result of the collision, the rider, Mark Webber, suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries," Ford said. "He was attended at the scene by paramedics attached to the event before being airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital."

Ford said the event was being raced on open public roads and it was not known whether the stage along that road was cordoned off specifically for the racers.

The challenge, first staged in 2003, is scheduled to end Sunday in Hobart.

Red Bull has already begun its testing program ahead of the 2009 F1 season, but Saturday's accident is likely to have a major impact on Webber's preparation for the season, which begins in March.

Finally let's try some FXX...

Let's conclude this week with yet another of Manuma's rides, again the track is Imola.  In the end what can you say about this clip? Just listen to that sound.  You are riding in the Ferrari FXX Evoluzione you saw shredding rubber earlier this week, it is just awesome. The lap times in the video are about 10 seconds faster than the GT2 on the same track.

And while he may enjoy a bit of an unfair advantage because of the toys at his disposal and with all due respect to our other candidates, we just have to declare Manuma our 2008 Axis Tracktard of the Year. It's both a rarity and a joy to see such cars flogged as if they were spec Miatas and let's face it, a well driven FXX pretty much assures you win the track day world championship!

So congratulations Manuma, thank you for the videos and thrills ...keep them coming.  If we figure out how to make an Axis Stig bobble head trophy we'll send one to you.

Oh one thing...If I can get a track ride in the FXX I will personally fly to Italy (with my helmet) and aim your camera properly!

Give this new player a try, it has a very cool feature: unlike others, it can be streamed on iPhones! Check it out on your iPhone at this LINK and where it says "stream me a user" enter "Axis".
Other smartphones can connect at this LINK
Give us some feedback on the quality.


Back

Sliders... the UK tracktard's revenge

We would be remiss, in this Tracktard of The Year week, to leave out out old friend Dale Lomas. Check out these two videos, you don't need big horsepower, you just need a slimy track, a balance solid axle car like the Alfa75 and a healthy dose of talent.
Dale does the 'ring drifting what, 85% of the corners? Might actually be more. It's impressive to say the least.
Living in Nürburg does have its advantages!

On a side note, Because of the recent Vimeo ban, this is the last Vimeo sourced clip we can feature, for the simple reason that we can't see them, even if they are embedded in another site. This post was prepared before Axis was declared persona non grata.


Nürburgring Nordschleife. Drifting. from MrBTG on Vimeo.


Onboard Nordschleife Drift lap. from MrBTG on Vimeo.



Dale says

"For anybody (un)lucky enough to sit passenger in my little Alfa, this video will come as no great surprise. For those who haven't been privy to the controllabiltiy and deftness of the little 75, let this be a lesson..."

F1 2009...

Maybe they should have headlights too.
back to main page

Enzo Shake and Bake

A classic in fabulously dooshy driving, again from out tracktad friend Manuma. Out of the Porsche GT2 and into an Enzo Ferrari, that's how my track days go too....in my dreams anyway.

So once again, same track (Imola) and a couple of hugely entertaining laps along what may have been a worried passenger. "Everything OK? please don't barf in the Enzo". Manuma commeted on his video below, maybe he'll chip in and tell us if there was any clean up involved.

By the way, that's a 400 km/h speedometer on the Enzo and it looks like he's reaching something like 260 km/h at the end of the front straight, that's 161mph....nice!

Listen to how squeaky and rattly the Enzo is, I kind of like that about it.

Video after the jump



And here is the rest of it.

Now let's add two turbos to that: Porsche GT2 track video.

You have enjoyed Zampa's Porsche 996 GT3 video below, now let's switch to the next generation of flattened VW Beetle, the 997.

Same track, Imola and we ride this time with Manuma in his Porsche 997 GT2. This is the same car our own CG has and aside from massively more power, the 997 has a better suspension setup (stock) and is easier to drive at the limit than the 996.

We are not sure what if any modifications this GT2 has or if it's been aligned any particular way, we do know it is wearing Pirelli Corsa.

The GT2 is a massive 7 to 8 seconds faster on this track than the 996 GT3 and it does it with a lot less drama. Most of the advantage comes on the straights with the big turbo just destroying the GT3 on the uphill sections. If you are familiar with the corners at Imola, the 996 can just about hang to Tosa but on the run up to Piratella and later from Acque Minerali to the Variante Alta...well it's all over, ciao!

The 997 seems to be more balanced mid corner with possibly a touch of understeer.

In the video below I have combined the two laps. After the jump, you can see the original GT2 video, three laps of which the first is the fastest and well, it gets more sideways and hooliganistic from there. Again, nice car control from our Italian tracktard friends!

Tomorrow we switch to a red car on the same track...

We do sideways here

Let's ride along for a lap of the "Circuito Enzo e Dino Ferrari" in Imola, Italy in Zampa's tail happy Porsche 996 GT3.

Our friend does a great job carrying speed though the many left-right chicanes. For sure he would be severely reprimanded at Porsche Club of America's track days where our own CG was once sternly scolded by a PCA official with a "we don't do sideways here" warning!

Zampa tell us he was on Michelin Pilot Sport Cups that day. Tomorrow we will show you a lap on the same track but with a 997 GT2. It will be a good illustration of what about 200 extra horsepower can accomplish.

For now enjoy this ride on this fantastic track, as you will see Zampa is quite comfortable with high speed oversteer.

The data system he is using is from RaceChrono a system which uses a GPS enabled smartphone and the overlay done with RaceChrono2AVI which Zampa describes as "the poor man's Trackvision"!





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Bickering Barrichello: when #2s attack!

"The public does not know the half of what happened to me at Ferrari" declared possible retiree Honda driver Rubens Barrichello at a recent gala event in San Paolo, Brazil. " Perhaps one day, when the time is right they might read the truth in a book."

Barrichello always complained behind the scene about getting a raw deal at Maranello during the Schumacher years. But Rubiñho, who was the first Brazilian in a top team after Senna, just sounds like he resents what Massa accomplished at Ferrari this past season. Massa started the season as a clear #2 to the then World Champion Raikkonen.

Rubens has been on a roll: he also intimated Schumacher is a bad father for spending so much time away from home testing bikes and Ferraris and recently led a "Schumacher is gay" chant, drunk at a Brazilian disco while celebrating with an embarrased Felipe Massa. "The only reason I'm not world Champion is because he did not let me".


Michael Shumacher for his part has responded "You cannot make someone slower though osmosis, if he is fast, he is fast. Then he will be number one." Schumacher suspects the reason behind the attacks is a need for attention, Barrichello who is 36 and scored few points this past season wants to keep driving in Formula 1 and nobody seems to be in a big hurry to renew his contract at the moment.

read more (in German) on Express

Evo Donuts...Ferrari FXX Evo that is

It's going to be a great week on Axis, we just got a fresh set of videos from our friends Zampa and Manuma in Italy to share.

By the end of the week we will likely crown the first recipient of the extremely coveted Axis Tracktard of the Year Award™, ...but we're getting ahead of ourselves.

Stay with us as we will show you exceptional track videos from a Porsche GT3, a GT2, an Enzo Ferrari and finally some new FXX Evolution videos.

Let me just give you a little taste after the jump. Please, before you do anything, turn up the volume to 11!





Keep in mind this is the EVO version of the Ferrari FXX. It is powered by a 6.2 liter normally aspirated V12 which is nominally rated for 860HP @9500 rpm. Improved aero adds 25% more downforce over the "garden variety" FXX.

Tomorrow join us as we ride with Zampa bitchslapping a slippery GT3 around the Imola Grand Prix track, don't miss it!

The Origin of the Species

The phenomenal response to the post-Darwinian antics of that determined French Rallyiste had me wondering...is engine bay driving a prerequisite part of the rally driver's skill set?

Apparently so, here is Juha Kankkunen at some point during the 80's or early 90's.

The mere hood configuration of the Lancia Delta Integrale makes the exercise that much more complex yet, nothing stops rally drivers...nothing!

Determination...or Darwin?

Let me set the scene: France, Rallye de Serrians, a Renault... The driver takes to the course...he bounces off the rev limiter, the navigator honks his ludicrous horn...more rev limiter abuse then, disaster. The car is dead by the side of the road.

What happens next is the stuff of legend, check it out. After the jump, pictures and the explanation.

Maserati MC12 Nürburgring lap.

Third in the Supercarmovies.com/Black Falcon/EVO Supertest laps series, after the Enzo Ferrari (great except for shocks which gave up halfway through the lap) and the Koenigsegg CCX (Heavy, soft and I think they crashed it too...).

Now it time for the Maserati MC12, a car somewhere between and Enzo and an FXX. Produced in less numbers than the Ferrari it is a rare sight and fairly absurd as a "road car" but the only car among the ones tested with a racing pedigree. Let's see how if worked on the Nordschleife .

Video HERE

After the jump I added a couple of behind the scenes YouTube clips shot as the tests were happening. Recognize a familiar car pulling into the parking lot behind the mega cars?






Here

A proposal to make autocross more exciting...

Seriously, people would be lining up to get that "moving cone" work assignment... and that's a way more interesting "Chicago box" than I have ever seen!

Let's face it, autocross is not much of a spectator sport, I can guarantee you that if the SCCA instituted a "moving Segway" cone, TV millions would be pouring in. Imagine: "On this week's course we put a celebrity on a reasonable priced Segway". The possibilities are endless.

From Ken Block and 0-60 Mag




Read more about it on 0-60Mag

You can't afford One and all 77 are sold anyway

Slick yet I can't help but wonder if they will come with a Volvo key
New video after the jump

What's My Line: Thunderbolt Edition.

I truly enjoyed New Jersey Motorsport Park's Thunderbolt track. It has a bit of everything and it's not a track that is much more fun if you have a monster horsepower car.

As it's a rather new track I though I would do a track guide like I did for Monticello. Keep in mind this is MY line and lines are like..... everyone has one. To that effect I would encourage you to share your own version.

The line I describe is not the strict "driving school", safe line, please keep that in mind. It is always useful to learn the official version first before you start exploring what might work best for you and your setup. Safety first, don't forget. As coveted as th title may be, there is no sponsorship deal for the Track Day World Champion.

After the jump you will find a video of three laps, each faster than the previous, from my last session on Sunday. My fastest time over three days and I had a passenger with me, guess I need a little more work down there! To my chagrin I was not able to fully destroy my now ancient v710's which though certainly heat-cycle'd out, stubbornly refuse to chord or become fully gripless. Amazing tire in my opinion, now I'll have feel bad about buying a new set come next spring.

You can download my Traqmate file HERE.
And if you are a sick bastard you can download Stee Traqmate file for the Cayenne Turbo which he ended up running HERE



For the Video ->
PDA and NASA put on a great show, we had open track, NASA races (Congratulations Spencer Lo-Buk Anderson for your third in the Honda Challenge Championship!) HPDE, demo rides...and a beyond awesome BBQ. Joe Cassella truly threw the gauntlet down on NASA Mid-Atlantic with that feast!

Great way to end the season.



(Additional pictures by The Dough)


more pictures at TrackTime Photos.

Gone Fishing....

Axis still at the track having fun...


(amazing picture from bimmers.no)

Thunderbolt!

We're probably the last people in the whole of the North East to finally get to New Jersey Motorsport Park's Thunderbolt track, better late than never I guess. I'm at the track all week end with NASA and PDA trying to destroy what is left of my remaining Kumho 710's. I chrded the fronts at Monticello a few weeks back but I had one more pair of used fronts in the garage, left over from last season. Waste not want not, the Freep would say. In fact, new tires would help a lot on this track and its long, long corners.

For now just a quick video of a couple of laps from Friday's open track day, more during the week after I come back.



.

Keonigsegg CCX Nürburgring lap

The third installment of the Nürburgring Supertest is now up at Supercarmovies.com.   After the Ferrari Enzo it's now time for the Koenigsegg to go after the lap record...  

The Swedish Supercar has a lot of show (and 914 hp) ...but does it go?

let's find out

click HERE

1970's Racing

James Eli, an Axis reader surprised us with this fantastic set of pictures from his archives.   I love the picture of the F1 gearset, thrown in a box with reference numbers taped to the lid.  Of the Kramer Porsche steering wheel, nattily personalized.  The Renault Turbo Formula 1 cockpit with its single gauge.

Here is just a taste, take a look at the whole collection by  clicking HERE  

Thanks James!  (and yes,  that is Bernie Ecclestone!)

Mercedes 600 Pullman.  West 56th Street, NYC by AC
Want to contribute your picture to the Axis Picture Of the Day?  e-mail it! 

See some past P.O.D.'s here

As the Roundel Turns

Automotive news meets TMZ in Germany. A soap opera worthy plot involving one of the world's richest women, a seedy Swiss gigolo and his mafioso partner...Blackmail, movies, revenge, greed and, for good measure, nazis!

At 46, Suzanne Klatten, is the richest woman in Germany with a personal fortune estimates by Forbes at $13.2 Billon (or 7.8 billion depending on who's counting and when.). "Lady BMW" as some in the press have dubbed the daughter of Herbert Quantd, had an extramarital affair with a seedy Swiss, improbably named Helg Sgarbi (top right in the rogue's gallery below). Sgarbi and his partner film everything and blackmail Klatten who apparently paid 7.5 millon Euros for their silence. But then they got more greedy demanded 49 millon Euros and she turned them in.
Now there will be a public trial the notoriously private Quandt family must be dreading and that, with a suggestion that the whole plot was not greed but revenge for Nazi era slave labor (yeah...that's the ticket!) the world's media is sure to have field day!

There are a number of version of this story, the juiciest reading is certainly from the UK's Independent

"...The story of their incredible swindle, and how greed got the better of them, first emerged in Italy in June with Mr Barretta’s arrest. At the time the name of their alleged victim was kept out of the media. But now that she has been revealed as BMW heiress Susanne Klatten, the richest woman in Germany, the story has taken on a new dimension.

And not only because of the stratospheric wealth of Ms Klatten, and the hole the affair has punched in the privacy of one of Germany’s most discreet business dynasties. But also because Helg Sgarbi – if leaks from the interrogation of his partner are to be believed – was much more than just a staggeringly effective extortioner. He is also said to be a man bent on exacting revenge for the crimes of BMW against his father, a Polish Jew and, during the war, a slave labourer in a BMW factory. The group made munitions, aero engines and batteries for U-boats and V2 rockets. If it is true, as alleged, that Mr Sgarbi bedded Ms Klatten in posh hotels in Monte Carlo, Munich and elsewhere, he was sleeping with the enemy, with a cruel vendetta in mind..."

Home

Oolala!

..lalalalalala... put your beret on, light the Gauloises and enjoy!

Video by "Rallyman69"

Oolalalalá

Top Gear Moment of Zen, Season12

Top Gear Moment of Zen: Season 12

The Cruel Internets, Brazilian Edition.

Post them is you got them! (post link in comments and I'll add then to the main post)

Two Champions.

Thing is, in sports somebody has to win and somebody has to come in second so, congratulations to Lewis Hamilton and McLaren for the Driver's Championship and Ferrari for the constructor's title.

But I would make the case the correct outcome should have been the reverse, Massa and Mclaren.   Hamilton's title was built on his own talent of course, but also very much on Ferrari's mistakes. Mclaren gave him a car which never failed and the benefit of unchallenged number one status.  Even so, I think it would be fair to say Ferrari lost the title for Massa rather than that Hamilton beat him.  Massa had more race wins, more fast laps and just one less pole.  Crucially, it was mechanical failures and that clown moment in Singapore which cost him the title. Mclaren as a team were essentially perfect and without question deserved the constructor's championship more than Ferrari this year.

Everyone naturally will be gushing about Hamilton so indulge me if I spend a few words for Massa, up to now the Rodney Dangerfield of Formula one. 

We've been hard on Massa and at times deservedly but Felipe finally got his respect.  He's not the slick driver with the immense natural talent, he did not have the benefit of a planned career and a top team his first time out, he spent time as a test driver and he's the guy who works hard and learned to develop his skills. This makes him a more sympathetic character.

 

I came across this moment at the end of the race today I thought was emblematic: it's Massa's race engineer Rob Smedley, emotional and no doubt wondering what could have been. Smedley was a key to Massa's success this year, an expert in telemetry interpretation it was him who would convince Felipe that certain corners might be taken faster and that the car could be pushed further. Part friend, part psychologist, Massa's success would have been very much his as well,  who can say if Massa will ever be in this position again?

Maybe cheesy to say but in the end, as fans, we all won: for the second year in a row we've had a nail biter of epic proportions.  I think this added another ten years to Bernie Ecclestone's life he must be so happy. 

By one point on the last corner of the last race...you can't make this stuff up.  

Felipe last lap in Brazil

( Thank you all for your comments after the race,  and I do mean all of you,  it's great you participate and make these pages more interesting and alive!)

Live comments...

Leave a comment...if you can stand it! here we go!




And here is the rest of it.

A Ferrari - Renault swap?

If Felipe Massa does not pull off the miracle and with public opinion clamoring for a change is it possible that Ferrari might swap ex world champions with Renault? 

Spanish press wishful thinking from today's AS but they point out that Alonso is still not scheduled for the first event of the 2009 season, the November 17 test in Barcellona and anything, they say, is still possible.

Original article->

Una derrota de Massa acerca a Alonso a Ferrari
Un cataclismo le ayudaría a vestir de rojo en 2009 en lugar de Kimi. Se podría incluso anunciar su continuidad en Renault y verse un trueque posterior con Raikkonen

Carlos Miquel | 02/11/2008

Hoy acaba el Mundial y comienza otro campeonato, el de la recta final del futuro de Fernando Alonso. Pese a las apariencias, Ferrari puede saltar la banca después del GP de Brasil, y decirle a Kimi Raikkonen que no quiere contar con sus servicios. Y para que eso se produzca, una derrota de Massa frente a Hamilton puede ser determinante. Con la opinión pública a favor, Luca di Montezemolo tendría mucha más facilidad para dar el golpe de estado que necesita para adelantar la nueva era del asturiano, que tarde o temprano terminará en la escudería de Maranello.

El ovetense sigue aún sin pronunciarse y puede ser así hasta mediados de noviembre. La pretemporada 2009 comienza el 17 de noviembre en Barcelona y Renault, como el resto de equipos, tiene previsto comenzar allí la preparación invernal. La estrella española sabe que para entonces ya debe estar trabajando para una escudería. Su actual equipo sigue siendo su destino más probable, pero todo es posible. Para esas pruebas de Barcelona hay tres pilotos previstos, Lucas di Grassi (que también lo hará con Honda), Nelson Piquet y Romain Grosjean. No aparece por ninguna parte el asturiano, y desde fuentes cercanas al equipo se habla de que la tardanza de la confirmación del bicampeón se debe a la indecisión sobre el segundo piloto.

Es Ferrari quien tiene la llave. A priori lo que debemos ver después de Brasil es la confirmación del ovetense con su actual equipo y que siga otro año. Sin embargo, podría llegar a anunciarse incluso su continuidad en Renault y que termine finalmente corriendo en 2009 para la escudería italiana.

Si a Kimi le dicen que no quieren contar con él en Maranello, es bastante posible un trueque posterior con el finlandés, que se pasaría a Renault. Siempre que Raikkonen quiera, Briatore recibiría a otro campeón con los brazos abiertos. En cualquier caso, la victoria de Felipe Massa podría abortarlo todo..

La Torcida Brasileira

I have never seen or better, heard, anything like this. A crowd that can drown out a Formula 1 car.

Listen to this nat sound clip of Felipe Massa's perfect last qualifying lap and the final minute and twenty seconds of qualifying...it's amazing.

Massa and Ferrari did what they had to do. The plan is for Massa to get away and get clear with Raikkonen watching his back. Hamilton is risking, I put him on about the same fuel as Raikkonen, perhaps one lap more but he is behind Trulli and in front of Alonso. All he has to do is finish fifth, seemingly an easy task but while he is fond of invoking Senna's ghost, I would guess Ayrton would rather have a Brazilian win the championship! Whatever the result, it will be an incredibly exciting race up until the last lap!

Brazil Qualifying, Live

Last qualifying session of the season. As usual, an alternative to your local broadcaster. No guarantees the feed will be up but if it is, you will find it after the jump. Leave a message if you do see it.