Peter Brock 05 RIP

It is sad to see that my favorite Australian motor racer Peter Brock has passed on after a vehicle accident. Brock was participating in a rally in Western Australia when he lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree.

I always enjoyed watching Brock kick ass in the 05 Holden's at Bathurst.

Peter Brock's adoption of the number 05 was to highlight the Victorian Governments 05 blood alcohol limit to the public. So from 1975, Brock maintained 05 as his car number even when as Australian Touring Car Champion, he was entitled to use the number one.

He raced Fords for a short period and also raced Volvo, but he will best be remembered as the King of Mount Panarama in the 05 Holden's.

One word.... Bugger.

The guy was a legend.

BMW Z10 supercar

BMW'’s last supercar was the M1 back in 1979. That car was the first car produced by BMW Motorsport, which makes the M badged cars like M3, M5 and M6. The BMW M1 had a 3.5 litre inline 6 24 valve engine that made 277hp at 6500rpm and 324Nm of torque at 5000rpm. Tuned versions could make up to 850hp. This engine also powered the first generation M5 and M6 vehicles.

Now with it's involvement with F1, BMW naturally would like to do what the other car manufacturers in F1 are doing, and make a Supercar. Toyota has it'’s Lexus LF-A and Honda has it's new NSX coming out soon, not to mention Ferrari and McLaren Mercedes. BMW'’s new Supercar is expected to be called the Z10. BMW has set development targets for the Z10 to be a rear/mid-engine Supercar powered by a V10. The V10 would be likely a tuned up version of the advanced M5 V10 5 litre engine that won the 2005 Engine of the Year award. Targeted performance figures are 550hp and a curb weight of 1200kg which gives the car a power to weight ratio of 458bhp per ton. The V10 is likely to make 550hp in the M6CSL which may or may not be made shortly, so expect even better performance from the Z10.

The Z10 looks very Ferrari esk in this photo. I would go as far as saying that the Z10 is a spectacular looking automobile, and if built it will certainly have fantastic build quality, performance and reliability.

BMW what are you waiting for?

2007 BMW X5

BMW has taken the liberty of releasing a new 2007 X5. It has improved it's good looks from the previous model and has a host of great new features and technology.

The engines boast more power, and use less fuel thanks to lighter materials, smarter technology and seven years of diligence.

The new inline six cylinder engine generates 260 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque, while the eight cylinder, 4.8-liter engine offers 350 hp and 350 lb-ft torque. The six cylinder was previously rather underpowered, so the new engine is going to make it a swift performer.

For the first time, the all new X5 offers the convenience of a third row seat, which is really a must in the USA in this day and age. The interior offers more cargo space than the previous generation and a wealth of premium features. Enjoy ventilated leather seats with 20-way adjustments and 10 interior fans to keep you cool and comfortable. Cup holders large enough for any appetite. (BMW has not been very good at cup holders up to date)

BMW has even added the option of a rearview camera to make backing up extra safe.

This vehicle is going to sell very well. I am wondering what the new version of the hi-po 4.8is will be? Maybe they will shoehorn the Alpina supercharged V8 into it at 500hp for humor?

2009 Chevrolet Camaro

It has been announced by GM CEO Rick Wagoner that Chevrolet will bring back the iconic muscle car the Camaro in 2009.

I hope that the car will be similar to the spectacular concept vehicle I viewed at the LA auto show earlier this year. Initial production will begin at the end of 2008, and retail sales will start in the first quarter of 2009.

I am guessing that the car will be powered by a 5.7 V8 similar to that of the standard Corvette available now. Hopefully Chevrolet make use of the 505hp V8 from the Corvette ZO6 in the Camaro possibly as the SS model.... This Camaro is very good looking, and with the right technology and power to weight ratio it will sell very well.

Chevrolet stopped producing the fast and sleek car in the 2002 model year after a run that began in 1967.

Mini Hummers

Your on your way out to the golf course and decide to take a laid back round and decide to take a golf cart to save those legs from all those up hill climbs. Golf carts have been used for that general purpose without and fulfilling need for the status quo, until now.
This year two gentlemen Dominik Jackson (British Racing Driver) and Chris Kirk signed the GM rights for Europe and Russia after the Hummers while Dominik was racing in the USA. They have obtained huge interest from the film industry, promotional companies, marketing executives, land owners, holiday resorts and celebrities.
Here is a sample of some of their 'Golf Carts'
The Hummer H2




And yes this IS a golf cart
Roaster


For further specs and gallary click here

Jenson Button wins in Hungary

After 113 Grand Prix starts Englishman Jenson Button with Honda finally wins a race.

Congratulations.... Well deserved.

Both Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher had to retire from todays race, along with Kimi who started from pole position in Hungary....

A magnificent race indeed.

Villeneuve off to NASCAR in 2007?

It is rumored that BMW F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve could be heading for NASCAR next year. This was recently reported in the Journal de Montreal newspaper. The story suggested that Villeneuve has already signed a pre contract with a NASCAR team conditional on him not finding an F1 drive. He would spend one season racing in the Busch Series and then move into the Nextel Cup in 2008. The existence of a deal has been denied by Villeneuve, but it is clear that there is contact with NASCAR teams.

It has been said before, but with what is happening in Hungary at the moment with the 3rd driver replacing Jacques, there seems to be very little chance of Villeneuve returning to F1 again.

This would really boost the ratings of NASCAR with Juan Pablo Montoya already confirmed with Ganassi NASCAR next year. Nothing like seeing Jacques and JPM wheel to wheel.

Plus the money is very good in NASCAR and you can race well into your 40's.

Way to go I guess, although F1 wont be the same without Villeneuve and Montoya.

2006 Ferrari P 4/5 by Pininfarina

As if it leaped out of the pages of a futuristic comic book, Ferrari bring us the 2006 p 4/5 obviously based on the enzo and is the only one to be produced for owner James Glickenhaus. It will be have its world debut in just under a months time at pepple beach Concours d'Elegance where more information will be made available other than it being a V12 $3m vehilce.

Porsche Carrera GT1

This is an idea of what the supposed upcoming Bugatti Veyron beating Porsche GT1 might look like. If it gets the green light it expect to see it around 2009. The GT1 is expected to be a 950bhp street legal version of Porsche's future Le Mans racer. The beast is expected to use the Carrera GT's carbon fiber frame with a new nose and tail. The GT1's top speed should be about 254 mph, 2 mph more than the Veyron.

No one except people at Porsche knows whether the GT1's powerplant will be a turbocharged version of the Carrera GT's V10 or a bored out, twin turbo version of the Cayenne S's V8, or something else. It seems likely that Porsche wants to take the podium of fastest car from the Bugatti Veyron. I wait the outcome.

2007 Holden Commodore VE

Holden has unveiled the all new VE Commodore range. The car is the first vehicle based on GM's Zeta global rear wheel drive platform designed by Holden for use in GM vehicles. There is a strong likelihood of it underpinning the new Chevrolet Camaro. Holden's sports performance hero SS model and prestige leader Calais were chosen to debut VE Commodore at an event in Melbourne. Holden also used the event to introduce its new V Series (reminiscent of Cadillac), enabling the company to offer extra variants under the SS and Calais nameplates as well as special edition models. Details and gallery after the jump.

The 2006 Holden Commodore range is as follows:

Omega (new) 3.6L V6, peak power 241 hp (180kW), peak torque 330Nm, four-speed automatic

Berlina 3.6L V6, peak power 241 hp (180kW), peak torque 330Nm, four-speed automatic; 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic

SV6 3.6L V6, peak power 262 hp (195kW), peak torque 340Nm, five-speed automatic or six-speed manual

SS 6.0L V8, peak power 362 hp (270kW), peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic, six-speed manual

SS V (new) - 6.0L V8, peak power 362 hp (270kW), peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic, six-speed manual

Calais 3.6L V6, peak power 262 hp (195kW), peak torque 340Nm, five-speed automatic; 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic

Calais V (new) 3.6L V6, peak power 262 hp (195kW), peak torque 340Nm, five-speed automatic; 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic

Now with 362 hp in the good old SS and Calais, I am very intersted to see if HSV will be able to use the 505HP engine used in the magnificent Chevrolet Corvette ZO6 for one of it's next releases?

I have always liked the Commodore, the VE looks particularly good, although the rear end might take a week or two to get used too....... Roll them out Holden.

2008 Mercedes Benz CL

The new 2008 Mercedes Benz CL is going to be technologically advanced, but that is not going to make it a great looking car. Mercedes has been doing well lately with the new models, but I am not quite convinced the this CL600 pictured. Expect 388hp out of the CL550 and 514hp out of the twin turbo CL600. What do you think?

New Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 Edition:

A little known fact about this thoroughbred is what/where the 722 came from. Its in reference to two parts the first being a homage by Mercedes-Benz to Stirling Moss and co-driver Denis Jenkinson for their 'unforgetable' victory in a Mercedez-Benz 300 SLR with the starting number 722 which represents secondly the start time of 07:22hrs at the Mille Miglia in 1955. The Special Edition also marked the foundation of the worlwide SLR Club at the Paul Ricard Circuit in Le Castellet located in Southern France and has kept in line with the wishes of enthusiast drivers whom collection exotic expensive sports cars.

The SLR722 has a modified front spoler with an air splitter and rear diffuser to better improve not only the on road contact but over all aerodynamics when it reaches the high end speeds. Managed by a sophisticated suspension system that includes a stiffer damper configuration, larger brake disc's, all to handle a supercharged 5.5ltr V8 engine hand built to deliver 650bhp creating an unmistakable V8 Sound & reaching a top speed of 209mph succeeding the previous at 207mph record. The sporty interior includes bucket sports seats upholstered in leather/alcantara (provides lateral support) and hunting leather lining on the steering wheel for more grip .

The new super sports car will go in sale as of July 11th 2006

Juan Pablo Montoya to NASCAR

Rob Good: I am disappointed to learn that Formula 1 will be losing one of my favorite drivers to NASCAR next year. Juan Pablo Montoya has secured a deal to drive for his former boss Chip Ganassi in NASCAR for the 2007 season, and may even be in #42 car sometime this year after the F1 season is finished.

Montoya’s only stock-car experience came in June 2003 when he and four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon “exchanged” race cars for an exhibition at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Montoya drove Gordon’s Chevrolet while Gordon took a spin in Montoya’s F1 car.

Juan Pablo's switch to NASCAR comes on the heels of reports that former Formula 1 World Champion and another of my favourite F1 drivers Jacques Villeneuve, an Indianapolis 500-winner himself, has expressed interest in driving in the series. Both the newly-married Villeneuve and Montoya are at the end of their current F1 team contracts with the conclusion of the present year's campaign. Most veteran observors did not feel Montoya was being courted to continue at McLaren/Mercedes with reigning F1 champ Fernando Alonso coming to the team in 2007. imagine Jacques and JPM in the same NASCAR team.....


2007 is going to be an interesting year in motorsport that is for sure.


Good luck to him.

BMW M6 convertible

BMW M GmbH follows its tradition of producing ultra-performance luxury vehicles by introducing its latest variant, the new BMW M6 Convertible.

The BMW M6 Convertible is a unique performer featuring the internationally acclaimed engine of the year, the 5.0-litre V10, which produces an awesome 373 kW (507 bhp) and maximum torque of 520 Nm. With a suspension developed for supreme dynamics and a Sequential M Gearbox (SMG) complete with Drivelogic, this ultimate power unit turns the latest product from BMW M into an open sports car able to accelerate to 100km/h (62mph) in just 4.8 seconds.

That my friends is faster than the Lamborghini Countach most of us dreamed about as youngsters, and all with the roof off...... What a beast of a car.

I expect the price to be in excess of $110,000 plus markup in USA.....

Ramp up production and get them out fast BMW.

I wonder what BMW M have up their sleeve for the next car?

Mercedes AMG CLK-GTR

To sight this car would be amazing, to view it up close and personal would be a greater achievment, to sit inside this marvel would be a crowning joy, Getting it to work... Priceless.
Newly produced as the worlds most expensive production car at $1.7m ($2.7m kiwi dollars) it overshadows the Bugatti Veyron in cost but not in operational performance. There are only a very small select view that will ever be built and one such current owner in Los Angelas, a car dealer and former ferrari employee is quoted as saying that he couldn't get it 10 blocks down the road before it broke down. If your pockets are deep the car is expected to sell between NZD$2.3m & NZD$3.0m

story here

Rumor has it in the F1 paddock

Rumor has it that McLaren F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya will leave the team at the end of this season. There is no rumor of where he might go. He is a great driver, and I'd like to think that he would retain a drive for 2007.
It also seems that another rumor is that Kimi has signed for Ferrari.... If that is the case then who will be driving with current world Champion Fernando Alonso at Mclaren next year?

Prodrive P2

This car is a virtual rocket. It was designed and built by Dave Richards (ex F1 team boss) company Prodrive which is currently involved in Rallying, and soon to be involved in F1 again.

The car will go from 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds, and will top out at 174mph.... It is powered by a 345bhp Subaru WRX STI engine and according to Jeremy Clarkson, it handles amazingly. In fact it sticks to the tar so much that poor Jeremy had to stop too be ill. This car should be built, but it looks like Prodrive is just teasing us.... It will change the British motor market for ever if it is built, especially at 45,000 pounds.

Check this out

CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet as driven by Mika Hakkinen

Let me first say that Mika rocks. He is the F1 world champion from 1998 and 1999. I personally saw him 5 feet in front of me in Auckland during the first Americas Cup parties. I bet he could still hop in a F1 car and kick most everyones ass, but alas we will probably never get a chance to see that again.

Anyways he has the priviledge of driving for his personal car, along with Juan Pablo Montoya, a Mercedes Benz CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet. This car is powered 428 KW / 582 HP supercharged AMG V8 that propels this car from 0-100kph in 4.0 seconds. It zooms to a top speed of 300kph, although I am not sure that Mika could do that on the streets on Monaco these days.

This car is also the fastest 4 seat cabriolet in the world, although I do know of someone that has come close in a M3 convertible with the roof down at 155mph(250kph), but lets leave that at that.

Quite simply. AMG will make 100 of these cars for 277,820 Euros, so if you want to cruise like Mika, you'd better hurry along and get one now.

2007 Shelby Mustang GT500 and GT-H

Shelby GT500
This is the first time in 35 years that a legit Ford Shelby has been produced. This car is going on sale soon and on 91 octane fuel with it's 8.4:1 compression ratio, the Shelby will blip out 500hp and 480 lb.-ft. of torque. The 07 Shelby is powered by a 5409cc dohc supercharged V8 engine, and will zip from 0 - 60 MPH in 4.7 seconds, o - 100 in 10.7 and the 1/4 mile in 13.1 seconds. Not bad for $41,325 US.

Get this..... Shelby are also producing 500 Ford Mustang Shelby GT-H (H for Hertz). The cars will be only available to rent through Hertz in USA for $100 per day.... Another collectors item in the works. The GT-H will be powered by a 4.6 V8 with 325 Hp, which is a 25hp increase over the standard 4.6 Mustang.

Shelby GT-H (photo courtesy of Shelby)

Gibbs Quadski

It looks like Alan Gibbs has pulled another cool vehicle out of his hat. London based Gibbs Technologies is about to release the Quadski...It is a 4wd farm bike that also doubles as a jet ski. It will do 72kph on land and will take you across water for about 2 hours. No talk on price yet, but bring it on Alan.

NZ Herald story here

2006 Maserati MC12 Corsa

While only available to Maserati customers, they will only be able to use this car on open track days. This is a $1.7 million supercar that built as a track version of the MC12 road car and mixed with a little from the GT1 side of powerbuilt supercars.
This enables the owner to push their car to the extreame on the track without the obvious obstables found on the open road ie. other drivers, some traveling in the opposite direction. The engine is a 756bhp V12 will find its home in only one of twelve that will be built

Schumacher pulls a swifty in Monaco?

It seems that 7 times F1 world champion Michael Schumacher has caused controversy upon messing up the qualifying, by having a bizarre virtually impossible crash, while in poll position for tomorrows race in Monaco. It seems that both Alonso and Webber were behind Schumacher on flying laps that were quicker than him when Schumacher made a sudden move and stalled on the track without damaging his car. This brought out the yellow flags and the flying laps by the others were not valid. Therefore Michael Schumacher held onto pole. Jacques Villeneuve has lashed out at Schumacher mentioning that anyone who would have such lack of control of his F1 car to get in such a position does not deserve a F1 superlicense. Jacques said that he wouldn't even expect that sort of driving from Ide who was recently dropped from Super Agri and had his super license taken away. Michael Schumacher has been known to pull dodgy tactics in the past......

DO you think Michael purposely caused the incident? I wouldn't be surprised.



UPDATE: Naughty Schumacher sent to back of the grid. News here

Pontiac Firebird Trans am 2008

This is a great looking car that could well me made alongside the 2008 Camaro. I would guess that if it is released, it may well have some movie companies thinking about writing another Smokey and the Bandit movie.

I expect at least 400 hp and 0-60 in 5.3 or less.

Photo from autospies.

2007 Aston Martin DBS

Martin, Aston Martin....

Aston Martin will again be the flag ship vehicle of England's top secret agent James Bond 007 in the november release "Casino Royale". As a quick summary, we first saw Mr. Bond drive the Aston Martin DB5 in the movie Goldfinger that was pretty much the original car that featured a few additional extra's. The last movie starring Pierce Brosnan, Die another day, showed the Vanquish which was built on the DB7 platform and was the bridging vehicle to the brillent DB9.
In the first few Pierce Brosnan movies he was driving BMW's but while I do have a serious passion for them the Aston Martin brand is a singular class on its own.

(less just forgive them for being owned by Ford though)

2006 Caterham Superlight R400

In the tradition of designing race cars for the road this new superlight R400 takes its original design from the C400 via the rover k-series. The British sportscar maker Caterham has released its new model that can do a standing jump from 0-100kph in 3.8 seconds from its 210bhp at 7600rpm. That is equivalent to 400bhp per ton and 150 lb-ft of torque at 6300rpm kept ridgid by its substantial 14% increased torional rigidity making it corner and handle better than before. The 2.0ltr inline-4 has a top speed of 140MPH(225kph) and is housed by a new chassis from a new supplier who apply sophisticated new laser cutting and robot technology

2007 BMW 3 series coupe

The new BMW 3 series coupe is about to be released. The flagship coupe at this stage before the 414 hp M3 is released, will be the twin-turbo direct injection 335i with inline six-cylinder engine and 306 hp and 300 lb-ft +/- of torque. BMW's magnificant xDrive all-wheel drive system will available for the first time as an option on the coupe.

The power and torque of the twin turbo 335i result in outstanding performance. The 335i Coupe accelerates from 0 – 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds, or 0-100kph in about 5.5. Top speed is 150 mph, when equipped with sport package.

I expect to see this new BMW 3 series coupe on these shore in September. I expect it to be a great seller for BMW.... I simply love turbo cars. Audi has dropped them, Mercedes uses a few of them, but it looks like BMW is making the investment in turbo's and I hope that there are more to come.

Sourced from autospies.com and bmwusa.com

2006 Caparo T1

Well tickle me silly if this isn't the closest you can get to F1 racing on an open road. I know your looking at the pictures going Hmmmm looks ineresting well to wet your appetite take a review of these stats.
0-60mph in 2.5 seconds flat from a supercharged V8 using engineered lightwieght materials makes the power to weight ratio to 1,000 bhp per tonne and all at the cost of 215k euro's. Furthermore to add is that while it can reach 0-60mph in 2/5 seconds, it can reach 0-100mph in 5 seconds but can the brake 0-100-0 in under ten seconds making it the worlds accelerating and braking road car in the world. Stat's also show that the car pulls 3g's in cornering making it incrediably fast around courners with cornering abilities taken from le mans prototype vehicles.

Ethanol as an oil alternative?

Over the past three decades Brazil has worked to create a viable alternative to gasoline. With its sugarcane-based fuel, the nation may become energy independent this year. Brazil’s ethanol program, which originated in the 1970s in response to the uncertainties of the oil market, has enjoyed intermittent success. Still, many Brazilians are driving “flexible fuel” cars that run on either ethanol or gasoline and allow the consumer to fill up with whichever option is cheaper – often ethanol. Countries with large fuel bills such as India and China are following Brazil’s progress closely.

The US is taking small steps towards the use of ethanol, but its process, relying on corn, is lengthier and more expensive. In addition, countries such as Japan and Sweden are importing ethanol from Brazil to help fulfill their environmental obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Running cars on carbohydrates instead of fossil fuels may not be a new idea, and ethanol has drawbacks such as high water content can damage engine parts over the long term, and ethanol burns at a higher temp to conventional oil based petrolium therefore creating starting problems in the morning if the temp is cool. The thing is that ethanol offers an attractive alternative as oil prices climb, and it is possible to make the stuff from pretty much anything that you can brew alcohol out of.

New Zealand / USA does not grow sugarcane to my knowledge, therefore the corn option seems to be the best bet although sugarcane based Ethanol is more potent than corn based ethanol. Brazil has got to the point now that they can get about 6000 liters of ethanol from 2.5 acres of land. When they started in 1975 with their project that was at 2500 liters. Brazil is the world leader in this technology. I think that they are going to reap their rewards from now on as the really have everything covered from spending money in their own country to power their vehicles, to excess power generation created by the ethanol plants which in turn sell the power to the local grid..... All very self sufficient.

I think that NZ should take advantage of Brazils knowledge and start producing Ethanol in NZ to subsidise our dependence on international oil. The other option is to do as Sweden and Japan is doing and importing Brazilian Ethanol for the time being until an infastructure can be created. It is not going to be difficult to get flex fuel vehicles produced for the NZ market, and hey.... It is green and good for the environment.

Time that someone within the governement looks into this.

Mercedes Benz E63

Mercedes-AMG presented the E 63 AMG for the first time at the New York International Auto Show today. Powered by the new, naturally aspirated AMG V8-engine, which develops a maximum output of 378 kW/514 hp and a maximum torque of 630 newton metres from a displacement of 6.3 litres, the E 63 AMG is the most powerful E-Class of all time.
This car / beast is available as a stationwagon and a sedan.

The 6.3 litre engine was developed completely independently by AMG, this hot V8 engine is the world’s only power unit to combine the high revving concept with a large displacement so they say. The result is around 20 percent more torque than from comparable engines in this output class. In line with Mercedes AMG tradition, the new powerpack is hand-built in the AMG engine workshops on the "one man, one engine" principle. Thus equipped, the E 63 AMG Saloon accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds (Stationwagon: 4.6 s). The maximum speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h, although I am sure you could get over 300kph out of her if there was not limiter.

This will be a smoking hot vehicle. I just hope that the electronics don't ruin the drive.

2006 Indy 500

This year the presence of a racing legend will grace the event at this years Indy 500 which brings in the contradiction being that this racing legend made his make on two wheels as opposed to four and whats even more out of the ordinary taking into account this calibre event is that this remarkable sportsperson raced without a motor, infact he 'was' the motor.

I'm talking about 7 times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong whom will be driving the pace car to lead this years feild into the 90th year of Indianapolis 500. Armstrong will be driving the 505bhp corvette Z06

F1 update pre Australia.

It has been an exciting change in Formula one so far this year. The qualifying is very interesting, the new V8's are getting through the teething problems, and hasn't Nico Rosberg with Williams been rather impressive setting the fastest lap during a race on his maiden outing in a F1 car?

The first two races have been dominated by 05 Champions Renault with both Alonso and Fisi taking the top step on the podium each. McLaren have been a bit down so far this season, but I am predicting that the Australian GP in Melbourne will bring them to light. Kimi and Juan Pablo are wanting the spotlight, as is Jenson Button of Honda.

Ferrari and Michael Schumacher took the # 2 place on the podium in Bahrain which was the best result for them since Indy 05 which was a bit of a farce. The improvement looks to be there with Ferrari, so keep an eye on them. Massa is proving to be a rather good match for Schumacher.

Honda is showing some potential too, although it looks like Reubens is being out shone by Button. I think that like Jacques Villeneuve, Reubens likes the car set up perfectly then he can bolt on up the standings. Looks like Honda need to move quickly in setting up Reubens car.

I am really hoping that Jacques Villeneuve can pull something out of the hat this year, it is possible although BMW seem to be a little down on power at this stage. His performance in Malaysa was rather impressive, but he is on the same engine for Melbourne, so he may be a bit light on the throttle during practice and at the beginning of the race. Time will tell, but I know that Jacques still has it in him.

So watch the race this weekend. It is a pity that Murray Walker turned down the opportunity to do the commentary for the Australian race. But he will be there as a Honda representative, so he may pop up sometime during the race. I hope so.


Nico Rosberg of Williams Cosworth F1

F1 season 2006.... Start your engines

The 2006 F1 season is about to start with the first race in Bahrain this weekend. Current world champ Fernando Alonso is tipped to be challenging the podium along with Kimi Raikkonen, former and 7 times world champ Michael Schumacher, and expect good results from Button and Barrichello of Honda.

The season is going to be interesting with tyre changes allowed and new v8 engines replacing the v10's with exception of Torro Rosso, which will be using the rev limited V10. Maybe just maybe Toro Rosso will be in the position to get some reasonable results in the first couple of races with new drivers Liuzzi, and Scott Speed of USA.
Speed with his apt last name will be the first American on the f1 grid since 1993.

BMW took over Sauber, and dumped Williams or visa-versa. Red Bull took over Minardi and is now called Scuderia Toro Rossa. Honda brought out BAR, and now is just Honda. Midland took over Jordan. Super Agri is running old 2002 Arrows chassis and is a new team with Honda support, and Williams is partnered with Cosworth.

There is plenty of driver changes and the qualifying format has changed, so I am predicting that 2006 is going to be one of the most interesting seasons since..... last year. I can't wait to get up in the middle of the night to watch races on the speed channel. I'd like to attend either Indy or Montreal this year...?

2006 Porsche Sportec SPR1

Do you feel the need for speed?

Try this on for size, this porsche does 0-100(60mph) in 2.9 seconds, using its twin-tubro flat 6 with a top speed around 380km's. If they strip it down like the GT3 then who know's where this might go.

I find the braking distance of 60-0mph to be shorter than 36 meteres to be very impressive for that power displacement.

AMG CLK63 F1 safety car

Now this is a beast of a car....In its debut year 2006, the brand-new CLK 63 AMG will debut as the official FIA safety car for the 2006 Formula 1 season. With its 354 kW/481 hp AMG normally aspirated 6.3-litre V8 engine, its modified brakes, suspension, cooling and exhaust system, and an extensive package of lightweight components, the fast-paced coupé is well prepared for its responsible role on the Formula 1 racing circuits. The first outing for the CLK 63 AMG safety car will be at the Bahrain Grand Prix (March 9 to 12, 2006)...

Just for the record I am hoping BMW and Jacques manage to pull a few pleasant surprises and podiums this year in F1.

The CLK 63 AMG safety car will be piloted by former DTM driver Bernd Mayländer, what an exciting job that would be.... I have never seen a pace car spin off, but that would certainly create something to talk about.

Anyways look for a road version of this massively powered coupe in dealerships soon.

2006 Saab Aero X Concept

The most obvious and most striing feature to this Saab is that there are no doors or better to note, absolutely no windshield pillars. This is all due to the new concept of incorporating a cockpit canopy similar to those found on fighter jets.
This then allows the driver to a full 180 degree un impeded view allowing increased vision and response performance.

The Twin turbo 400bhp Biopower V6 fuelled completely by Ethanol which safer on the environment by cutting down the carbon monoxide emmissions. I personally feel that this car has several future implications yet some refinement maybe be necessary to meet consumer interest. But I do like the canopy idea allowing better line of sight into tight corners, especially when off road. Not that you'd see this car on the WRC rally scene any time soon.