Audi A5 DTM renderings

Funny how that on the day BMW took the wraps of its M3 DTM Concept, Audi also decided to issue some preliminary details about its 2012 DTM challenger. Very coincidental, indeed…



But it’s not as if Audi even has a car to show yet, because the new A5-based racer won’t have its public debut until September’s Frankfurt International Motor Show. So, all there is to look at for the time being are a few ‘concept study’ sketches.

The A5 DTM, which has an internal codename of ‘R17’, replaces the four-door A4 that Audi currently uses in the championship. And like other DTM competitors, it won’t have much in common with its road-going equivalent.



Its bodyshell, for example, will be built from carbon fibre with a hefty steel safety cage. Revised regulations for next season mean that driver safety standards are to be improved further, especially in the areas of side impact protection and fire suppression systems. Other changes include fewer permitted aerodynamic components on the car, although the rear wing will actually be larger.



One element that is going to be carried over from the A4 DTM is the powertrain, which comprises a V8 engine producing around 450 bhp (340 kW / 460 PS) and a six-speed gearbox.



Related post:

BMW M3 DTM Concept

BMW M3 DTM Concept

Ahead of a keenly anticipated return to the DTM in 2012, BMW has unveiled its M3 DTM Concept Car.

During a launch event held at the BMW Welt facility in Munich, it was announced that three teams - BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG - will be campaigning the cars next season.



Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus were also confirmed as the first two drivers, although it has yet to be decided which teams they’ll be allocated to.

Three-time World Touring Car Champion Priaulx said, “The DTM will be a big challenge for us all. Together with BMW, I have celebrated success in many different disciplines and behind the wheel of some fantastic racing cars in recent years. I am more than confident that this will also be the case in the DTM. The BMW M3 DTM looks fantastic. I can hardly wait to get to know the car better in the coming tests, to contribute to its development, and ultimately to sit in the cockpit for the first DTM race in 2012.”



Powered by a V8 engine producing around 473 bhp (353 kW / 480 PS), the M3 DTM should be able to accelerate from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in about three seconds, before going on to a top speed of 186 mph (300 km/h).

Related post:

Audi A5 DTM renderings

Turbo cars lead BTCC

The 2011 British Touring Car Championship is now already midway through its season.



So far, it has been rather dominated by the contentious issue of performance parity between the turbocharged and normally-aspirated cars, although another boost reduction introduced for the most recent round at Croft seems to have helped a lot.



That said, the championship table remains dominated by cars running NGTC engines, with sixth-place Jason Plato in his Chevrolet Cruze seemingly the only non-turbo entrant with any realistic prospect of taking the title.

Chevrolet Cruze Super 2000

The series now takes its long summer break, with the next event taking place at Snetterton on 7th August.

2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship: Standings After Five Rounds
Pos.	Driver	Team	Car	Points
1	Matt Neal	Honda Racing Team	Honda Civic	140
2	Mat Jackson	Airwaves Racing	Ford Focus	131
3	Gordon Shedden	Honda Racing Team	Honda Civic	120
4	Andrew Jordan	Pirtek Racing	Vauxhall Vectra	111
5	James Nash	888 Racing with Collins Contractors	Vauxhall Vectra	104
6	Jason Plato	Silverline Chevrolet	Chevrolet Cruze	100
7	Robert Collard	WSR	BMW 320si	66
8	Tom Chilton	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus	64
9	Alex MacDowall	Silverline Chevrolet	Chevrolet Cruze	47
10	Paul O’Neill	GoMobileUK.com with tech-Speed	Chevrolet Cruze	32
11	Tom Boardman	Special Tuning Racing	Seat Leon	31
12	Nick Foster	WSR	BMW 320si	27
13	Tony Gilham	888 Racing with Collins Contractors	Vauxhall Vectra	12
14	Jeff Smith	Pirtek Racing	Vauxhall Vectra	12
15	Tom Onslow-Cole	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus	10
16	Andy Neate	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus	9
17	David Newsham	Geoff Steel Racing	BMW 320si	9
18	Lea Wood	Central Group Racing	Honda Integra	4
19	Liam Griffin	Airwaves Racing	Ford Focus	2
20	Rob Austin	Rob Austin Racing	Audi A4	0
21	Frank Wrathall	Dynojet	Toyota Avensis	0
22	David Pinkney	Rob Austin Racing	Audi A4	0
23	John George	GoMobileUK.com with tech-Speed	Chevrolet Cruze	0
24	Daniel Welch	Welch Automotive	Proton Gen-2	0
25	Tony Hughes	Speedworks Motorsport	Toyota Avensis	0
26	Chris James	Team ES Racing.com	Chevrolet Lacetti	0
27	Shaun Hollamby	AmD Milltek Racing.com	Volkswagen Golf	0

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2011 BTCC entries

Snetterton corner names

Audi takes Le Mans pole

The grid for 2011’s Le Mans 24 Hours will see an all-Audi front row.



Both R18 TDI Audi Sport Team Joest entries managed to just better the times set by any of the Peugeots, surely their greatest rivals for the race.

Indeed, the first seven spots are occupied by either an R18 TDI or a 908, both of which are diesel-powered. That dominance would suggest that efforts by race organisers, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, to equalise performance between petrol and diesel cars hasn’t been successful.

2011 24 Heures Du Mans - Qualification
Pos.	Race No.	Team	Drivers	Car	Class	Time
1	2	Audi Sport Team Joest	M. Fassler / A. Lotterer / B. Treluyer	Audi R18 TDI	LM P1	3:25.738
2	1	Audi Sport Team Joest	T. Bernhard / R. Dumas / M. Rockenfeller	Audi R18 TDI	LM P1	3:25.799
3	9	Team Peugeot Total	P. Lamy / S. Bourdais / S. Pagenaud	Peugeot 908	LM P1	3:26.010
4	8	Peugeot Sport Total	F. Montagny / S. Sarrazin / N. Minassian	Peugeot 908	LM P1	3:26.156
5	3	Audi Sport North America	R. Capello / T. Kristensen / A. McNish	Audi R18 TDI	LM P1	3:26.165
6	7	Peugeot Sport Total	M. Gene / A. Wurz / A. Davidson	Peugeot 908	LM P1	3:26.272
7	10	Team Oreca Matmut	N. Lapierre / L. Duval / O. Panis	Peugeot 908 HDI-FAP	LM P1	3:30.084
8	12	Rebellion Racing	N. Jani / N. Prost / J. Bleekemolen	Lola B 10/60 Coupe-Toyota	LM P1	3:32.883
9	16	Pescarolo Team	E. Collard / C. Tinseau / J. Jousse	Pescarolo Judd	LM P1	3:33.066
10	13	Rebellion Racing	A. Belicchi / J. Boullion / G. Smith	Lola B 10/60 Coupe-Toyota	LM P1	3:34.573
11	15	Oak Racing	T. Monteiro / G. Moreau / P. Ragues	Oak Pescarolo-Judd	LM P1	3:34.933
12	22	Kronos Racing	V. Ickx / M. Martin / B. Leinders	Lola Aston Martin	LM P1	3:36.551
13	20	Quifel-Asm Team	M. Amaral / O. Pla / W. Hughes	Zytek 09 SC	LM P1	3:37.393
14	26	Signatech Nissan	F. Mailleux / L. Ordoñez / S. Ayari	Oreca 03-Nissan	LM P2	3:41.458
15	24	Oak Racing	J. Nicolet / R. Hein / J. Yvon	Oak Pescarolo-Judd	LM P1	3:41.908
16	42	Strakka Racing	N. Leventis / D. Watts / J. Kane	Honda Performance Development Arx 01	LM P2	3:42.615
17	48	Team Oreca Matmut	A. Premat / D. Hallyday / D. Kraihamer	Oreca 03-Nissan	LM P2	3:43.098
18	39	Pecom Racing	L. Perez-Companc / M. Russo / P. Kaffer	Lola B11/40-Judd BMW	LM P2	3:43.223
19	49	Oak Racing	S. Nakano / N. De Crem / J. Charouz	Oak Pescarolo-BMW	LM P2	3:43.479
20	41	Greaves Motorsport	K. Ojjeh / O. Lombard / T. Kimber-Smith	Zytek Nissan	LM P2	3:43.802
21	40	Race Performance	M. Frey / R. Meichtry / M. Rostan	Oreca 03-Judd BMW	LM P2	3:44.294
22	007	Aston Martin Racing	C. Klien / S. Mucke / D. Turner	Aston Martin AMR-One	LM P1	3:45.918
23	36	RML	T. Erdos / M. Newton / B. Collins	Honda Performance Development Arx 01	LM P2	3:47.308
24	5	Hope Racing	S. Zacchia / J. Lammers / C. Elgaard	Oreca Swiss Hy Tech-Hybrid	LM P1	3:47.691
25	009	Aston Martin Racing	A. Fernandez / A. Meyrick / H. Primat	Aston Martin AMR-One	LM P1	3:48.355
26	44	Extreme Limite AM Paris	F. Rosier / P. Haezebrouck / J. De Fournoux	Norma M200P-Judd BMW	LM P2	3:48.420
27	35	Oak Racing	A. Barlesi / F. Da Rocha / P. Lafargue	Oak Pescarolo-Judd BMW	LM P2	3:48.665
28	33	Level 5 Motorsports	S. Tucker / C. Bouchut / J. Barbosa	Lola Coupe-Honda Performance Development	LM P2	3:48.863
29	55	BMW Motorsport	A. Farfus / J. Muller / D. Werner	BMW M3 GT	LM GTE Pro	3:57.592
30	51	AF Corse Srl	G. Fisichella / G. Bruni / T. Vilander	Ferrari 458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	3:58.040
31	56	BMW Motorsport	A. Priaulx / D. Muller / J. Hand	BMW M3 GT	LM GTE Pro	3:58.426
32	74	Corvette Racing	O. Gavin / J. Magnussen / R. Westbrook	Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1	LM GTE Pro	3:59.519
33	89	Hankook-Team Farnbacher	D. Farnbacher / A. Simonsen / L. Keen	Ferrari 458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	3:59.519
34	73	Corvette Racing	A. Garcia / T. Milner / O. Beretta	Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1	LM GTE Pro	3:59.633
35	77	Team Felbermayr-Proton	M. Lieb / R. Lietz / W. Henzler	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	3:59.662
36	59	Luxury Racing	S. Ortelli / F. Makowiecki / J. Melo	Ferrari 458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	3:59.901
37	75	Prospeed Competition	M. Goossens / M. Holzer / J. Van Lagen	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	3:59.962
38	79	Jota	S. Dolan / S. Hancock / C. Buncombe	Aston Martin Vantage	LM GTE Pro	4:00.747
39	66	JMW Motorsport	R. Bell / T. Sugden / X. Maassen	Ferrari 458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	4:00.890
40	80	Flying Lizard Motorsports	J. Bergmeister / P. Long / L. Luhr	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	4:01.024
41	58	Luxury Racing	A. Beltoise / F. Jakubowski / P. Thiriet	Ferrari 458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	4:01.176
42	61	AF Corse SRL	P. Perazzini / M. Cioci / S. Breslin	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	4:01.282
43	88	Team Felbermayr-Proton	B. Miller / N. Tandy / A. Al-Faisal	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	4:01.752 33
44	71	AF Corse	R. Kauffman / M. Waltrip / R. Aguas	Ferrari 458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	4:02.216
45	76	Imsa Performance Matmut	P. Pilet / R. Narac / N. Armindo	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	4:02.548
46	63	Proton Competition	C. Ried / H. Felbermayr Jr. / H. Felbermayr	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Am	4:03.532
47	81	Flying Lizard Motorsports	S. Neiman / D. Law / S. Pumpelly	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Am	4:03.648
48	70	Larbre Competition	C. Bourret / P. Gibon / J. Belloc	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Am	4:03.918
49	83	JMB Racing	M. Rodrigues / J. Menahem / N. Marroc	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	4:04.640
50	60	Gulf AMR Middle East	F. Giroix / R. Goethe / M. Wainwright	Aston Martin Vantage	LM GTE Am	4:04.825
51	57	Krohn Racing	T. Krohn / N. Jonsson / M. Rugolo	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	4:05.211
52	50	Larbre Competition	P. Bornhanuser / J. Canal / G. Gardel	Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1	LM GTE Am	4:05.955
53	62	CRS Racing	P. Ehret / S. Lynn / R. Wills	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	4:07.236
54	65	Lotus Jetalliance	J. Rossiter / J. Mowlem / J. Hirschi	Lotus Evora	LM GTE Pro	4:07.465
55	68	Robertson Racing LLC	D. Robertson / A. Robertson / D. Murry	Ford GT-Doran	LM GTE Am	4:08.208
56	64	Lotus Jetalliance	O. Slingerland / M. Rich / J. Hartshorne	Lotus Evora	LM GTE Pro	4:12.569

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200 mph Škoda Octavia vRS

Škoda UK is to enter a highly-tuned Octavia vRS at August’s Bonneville Speed Week. Running in the 2.0 litre production car class, the aim is to hit 200 mph (322 km/h) across the salt flats.

Remarkably, the car’s 2.0 TSI engine remains unaltered, although the standard turbocharger has been replaced with an upgraded Garret G05 item that can handle 28 psi of boost. Running on high octane race fuel, the result is an output of around 590 bhp (440 kW / 600 PS) - about three times that of the stock Octavia vRS.



Various pieces of safety equipment have been installed, including fire extinguishers, a roll cage and a parachute. The rear brakes, however, are obviously redundant as they’re missing from the spec sheet.



Other modifications are there solely to improve the Octavia’s aerodynamics, and therefore top speed. The ride height is lowered by 80 mm, disc wheel covers are fitted and anything extraneous such as the door mirrors has been thrown away.



The 200 mph attempt is being made to celebrate ten years of vRS performance models. Like all other Bonneville competitors, the Škoda will travel along a nine-mile straight course, of which a mile in the middle is timed.



One thing that the project highlights is the standard Octavia vRS chassis could easily handle more than its current 197 bhp (147 kW / 200 PS).



Assuming all goes well, maybe Škoda should congratulate itself by producing a celebratory showroom model using either the 236 bhp (177 kW / 240 PS) 2.0 litre engine from the Seat Leon Cupra, or even the 266 bhp (198 kW / 270 PS) version from the Volkswagen Golf R?

Technical Specifications	Škoda Octavia vRS (Bonneville Special)	Škoda Octavia vRS (Production version)
Performance
Max speed	200 mph + (322 km/h +)	149 mph (240 km/h)
Acceleration 0 - 62 mph (100 km/h)	TBC	7.2 secs
Power	550 - 600 PS	200 PS
Max. torque	450 Nm at 6,000 - 7,700 rpm	280 Nm at 1,700 - 5,000 rpm
Fuel consumption	TBC	36.7 mpg (7.7 l/100km) combined
CO2 emissions	TBC	180 g/km
Engine
Type	TSI, traverse-mounted	TSI, traverse-mounted
Capacity	1,984 cc	1,984 cc
Bore x stroke	82.5 mm x 92.8 mm	82.5 mm x 92.8 mm
Valves per cylinder	4	4
Fuelling	Direct fuel injection	Direct fuel injection
Compression ratio	9.6:1	9.6:1
Turbo	Garret G05 65 mm twin blade billet cut compressor wheel with ported intake housing and TIAL exhaust housing with 40 mm external waste gate and 55 mm blow-off valve	Stock Škoda IHI turbo with internal recirculation valve mounted on cast exhaust manifold
Boost pressure	26 - 28 psi	18 - 20 psi
Fuel type	120 RON high octane race control fuel with water methanol injection	95 RON unleaded petrol
Engine management	Stock Škoda engine control unit with REVO Technik software and AIM data logging	Stock Škoda engine control unit
Transmission
Gearbox	Six-speed Octavia GreenLine II manual transmission, fully synchronised with direct gearshift and GripperDiff Limited Slip Differential	Six-speed manual transmission
Clutch	Hydraulically-activated single plate four-pad sintered clutch with single mass flywheel	Hydraulically-activated single-plate dry clutch with diaphragm spring, asbestos-free coating
Chassis
Front axle / rear axle	McPherson axle with independent multi-link suspension	McPherson axle with the bottom triangular control arms and independent multi-link suspension with one longitudinal and two cross arms and torsion stabiliser
Suspension	K+W coilovers two-way adjustable with anti-roll bar removed. Ride height of 50 mm (subframe from floor)	Coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, rear springs located outside the shock absorbers (gas shock absorbers in rear)
Front brakes	Škoda Octavia GreenLine front discs and calipers for reduced drag	Disc brakes with hollow discs, internal cooling and single-piston floating calliper
Rear brakes	None	Disc brakes with full discs and single-piston floating callipers
Wheels	Škoda GreenLine 15” steel wheels	18” Neptune alloys
Tyres	Goodyear Eagle Land Speed Tyres	7.5J x 18” 225/40 R18 92Y
Dimensions
Kerb weight	1,450 kg	1,395 kg
Total weight	2,000 kg	1,950 kg
Ground clearance	50 mm	128 mm

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2012 WRC calendar revised

The FIA World Motor Sport Council has agreed the venues and dates for the 2012 World Rally Championship.



In a move that will delight many fans, the Monte Carlo Rally is to be included on the calendar for the first time since 2008, having spent the past three seasons as a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Could 2012 see a Mini win the Monte Carlo Rally for the first time since 1967?

Italy is also in, but the intended event in Abu Dhabi has been abandoned because its business plan did not get the required approval.

FIA 2012 World Rally Championship
Round	Date	Country
1	22/01	Monte Carlo
2	12/02	Sweden
3	11/03	Mexico
4	01/04	Portugal
5	29/04	Argentina
6	27/05 (or 03/06)*	Greece
7	24/06	New Zealand
8	05/08	Finland
9	26/08	Germany
10	16/09	Great Britain
11	07/10	France
12	October*	Italy
13	04/11	Spain
* Dates to be confirmed.
Dates shown are the Sunday of each rally weekend.

In a change to the regulations, a form of qualifying is going to be introduced from the beginning of next year. The shakedown times set by all Priority 1 and 2 crews will be used to determine the day one running order, with the fastest competitors allowed to choose their start positions.



This should help get around the current problem where the first to set off are often at a disadvantage - especially on gravel stages - because they sweep a clearer path for subsequent cars, who then benefit from the extra grip and so gain extra speed.



Related post:

2012 WRC calendar

Honda unveils NSF250R

Honda Racing Corporation has revealed its NSF250R at the Circuit de Catalunya. The brand new racer has been built to compete in Moto3, the class for four-stroke, 250 cc machines that replaces the current two-stroke 125 cc category from next season.

The NSF250R’s engine is a single cylinder unit, which is tilted back 15 degrees in the bike to help concentrate mass and improve stability. Producing 47.6 bhp (35.5 kW / 48.2 PS) at 13,000 rpm, it features double overhead camshafts plus titanium intake and exhaust valves. Drive is via a six-speed, cassette type gearbox.



Both the aluminium frame and suspension geometry are based on those of the RS125R, although efforts have been made to improve torsional rigidity. This has been necessary to combat the extra bulk of the four-stroke motor, with modifications including the fitment of a revised swing arm. Kerb weight, ready to ride, is 84 kg (185 lbs).



Customer teams will be able to buy the NSF250R at a confirmed price of €23,600. That’s around £21,000 or US$34,500 at today’s exchange rates.



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Dacia Duster No Limit

Dacia has unveiled the Duster No Limit, a one-off version of the Romanian firm’s off-roader that has been created for one purpose: to win the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on Sunday, June 26.



Because it will be competing in the PPIHC ‘Unlimited’ class - where there’s no minimum weight rule, no limit on engine capacity or output and anything goes regarding aerodynamics and transmissions -  the competition Dacia shares nothing with its showroom equivalent except a silhouette.

Developed with the help of Renault Sport Technologies, the Duster No Limit features a mid-mounted 3.8 litre V6 engine from the Nissan GT-R beneath its glass-fibre bodywork. Built by specialists Sodemo, it pumps out around 838 bhp (625 kW / 850 PS) which is then fed to the wheels via a Sadev six-speed sequential gearbox.



And it’ll need all that power too, as the 12.42 mile (19.98 km) course finishes at the 14,110 foot (4,300 metre) summit of Pikes Peak. That kind of altitude is reckoned to reduce engine outputs by 30%.



Driving the Dacia Duster No Limit at Pikes Peak will be Frenchman Jean-Philippe Dayraut.



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Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Fifty years after the DB4GT Zagato, and following in the wheel tracks of several subsequent collaborations with the Italian design house, Aston Martin has unveiled the new V12 Zagato concept.

Its debut will be at the Villa D'Este Concours on 21st May 2011, which takes place near Lake Como in Italy. Aston Martin is going to use the occasion to ‘gauge customer interest’, despite already confirming that a strictly limited run of cars will be built.



But the V12 Zagato isn’t just going to be a road car. In the tradition of previous Aston Martin Zagatos a race programme is planned, starting off with the four hour VLN Nürburgring race on 28th May 2011, and then followed by a 24 hour event at the same venue on 25th and 26th June 2011.

Unsurprisingly for a Zagato creation, the looks are arguably more challenging than those of a series production Aston Martin.



Even Marek Reichman, Director of Design at Aston Martin, described it as ‘an elegant yet brutal design which reflects the great balance between race performance and pure Aston Martin style. The original DB4GT Zagato was a true icon, powerful and graceful; the new design is a true representation of the spirit of DB4GT Zagato. The muscular organic forms define the thoroughbred nature of the car's racing credentials.’



Regardless of whether the styling divides opinion, there’s no disputing the craftsmanship that has gone into building the car. Sitting atop the bonded aluminium structure (borrowed from the V12 Vantage) is a handmade aluminium body, assembled using traditional techniques. The front wings, for example, are each made from seven separate pieces of metal, while the roof panel alone uses five pieces.



No word on prices yet, but that probably won’t be of much concern to prospective owners.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato (Endurance Race Specification)
Body
Type	Two door, two seat coupe
Chassis	Bonded aluminium structure
Body	Hand crafted aluminium
Roll cage	FIA compliant; steel
Fuel system	120 litre endurance racing fuel tank
Suspension	All-round independent double wishbone with fully adjustable Multimatic DSSV dampers
Front brakes	Ventilated floating grooved discs with 6 piston callipers
Rear brakes	Ventilated floating grooved discs with 4 piston callipers
Engine
Type	All alloy, quad overhead cam 48-valve 5,935 cc V12
Location	Front mid-mounted
Power	510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS)
Torque	570 Nm (420 lb/ft)
Compression ratio	10.9:1
Transmission
Drive	Rear-wheel drive; limited slip differential; magnesium alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
Gearbox	Six-speed automated manual gearbox with auto shift manual / select shift manual (ASM / SSM) electric hydraulic control system; rear-mid mounted
Clutch	Twin plate competition

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Yamaha reveals 50th livery

The Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bikes of Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies are set to change colour, albeit temporarily.



Replacing the usual blue and white paintjob will be a red and white design that marks Yamaha Factory Racing’s fifty years in World Championship Grand Prix racing.

Fans will get a chance to see the celebratory livery at two rounds only, the Assen TT on 25th June and Laguna Seca on 24th July.



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Volkswagen to enter WRC

Volkswagen has confirmed that it will be contesting the World Rally Championship from 2013. The announcement was made in Olbia - just ahead of the Rally d'Italia Sardegna - where a concept version of the firm’s Polo R WRC was also revealed.

A fourth manufacturer is good news for the series, and the arrival of Volkswagen Motorsport should provide some added competition for the existing entries from Ford, Citroën and newcomers Mini.



The catalyst for the WRC’s revitalisation has undoubtedly been new cost-saving regulations, introduced at the start of this season.

Like its rivals, the Polo R WRC will be powered by a 1.6 litre, turbocharged petrol engine with direct injection producing around 295 bhp (220 kW / 300 PS) and 350 Nm (258 lb/ft) of torque. Featuring all-wheel drive, bodywork alterations and various aerodynamic aids, the end package is going to have to comply with the minimum weight limit of 1,200 kilograms (2,645 lbs).



Although the car is just a concept at the moment, work on the first prototypes is planned to commence later this year ahead of a testing programme in 2012.

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Nissan Leaf Nismo RC

Nissan has teamed up with Nismo, its in-house motorsport specialists, to produce a mid-motored, rear-wheel drive Racing Competition version of the Leaf.

During the transformation the rear doors have gone, the interior has been stripped out and a huge driver-adjustable wing has been bolted on to the back.



In fact, the bodywork is completely different, now featuring a carbon fibre monocoque with removable front and rear sections that gives a 40% weight saving. It’s also 350 mm (13.8 inches) lower, 170 mm (6.7 inches) wider and the wheelbase is 99 mm (3.9 inches) shorter. Overall length is virtually unchanged, though.



Although the powertrain has moved to the middle of the car, it produces the same 107 bhp (80 kW / 108 PS) as the standard Leaf and the lithium-ion battery pack is unchanged. Although the top speed is still just over 90 mph (145 km/h), tweaks have resulted in a much reduced 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 6.85 seconds.



The trade-off for that extra acceleration is range, as the Nismo RC has an anticipated running time of only twenty minutes. Not a lot, then, but it should be sufficient for a short race.



The Nisan Leaf Nismo RC is set to make its debut at the New York International Auto Show on 20th April. It will then go on to make demonstration appearances at motorsport events throughout this year. Beyond that, Nissan is exploring the possibility of a zero emissions race series.



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2012 WRC calendar

5 June 2011 Update:

The FIA has revised the 2012 WRC calendar.

For details, please click here.

The World Motor Sport Council has agreed a calendar for the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship. Next year will see a reduction in the number of events, down from thirteen to twelve.





Out go the Jordanian, Italian and Australian rallies, while rounds in Abu Dhabi and New Zealand join the series. Rally Sweden becomes a joint Sweden-Norway event, and Rally Argentina is going to be long distance.



The inclusion of Great Britain and Abu Dhabi on the schedule is subject to the FIA approving those events’ business plans and rally formats.



Dates have yet to be confirmed, as the series organisers sensibly want to avoid any clashes with Formula 1 races.



List of 2012 World Rally Championship events, in alphabetical order:



· Abu Dhabi

· Argentina

· Finland

· France

· Great Britain

· Germany

· Greece

· Mexico

· New Zealand

· Portugal

· Spain

· Sweden - Norway

Aston Martin Vantage GT3

Aston Martin Racing is replacing its DBRS9 racer with the brand new Vantage GT3. Based on the V12 Vantage road car, the plan is to develop and build ten customer cars in time for a competition debut next season.

Target figures for the GT3’s dry-sump 6.0 litre engine are 600 bhp (447 kW / 608 PS) and 700 Nm (516 lb/ft) of torque. By comparison, the standard V12 Vantage manages with 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS) and 570 Nm (420 lb/ft).



But that doesn’t tell the whole story, as the extra output will be complemented by a weight reduction from 1,680 kg (3,704 lbs) to 1,250 kg (2,755 lbs).



Drive will be via a semi-automatic paddle shift Xtrac transmission, and the Vantage GT3 is going to get bespoke traction control and anti-lock braking systems.



John Gaw, Aston Martin Racing Managing Director, said: “The DBRS9 has been a very successful GT3 racing car and, despite being more than six years old, is still competitive today. However, the competition has moved on and we needed to create a new car that combines our six years’ experience in this category with the latest race technology to continue Aston Martin’s success in GT3 for many years to come.”



And he’s correct about the increased competition - since the introduction of the DBRS9, the class has seen the arrival of cars such as the McLaren MP4-12C GT3, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 and the recently upgraded BMW Z4 GT3.

MotoGP heading to Texas

Dorna Sports, organiser of MotoGP, has announced that the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas will be hosting a round of the championship from 2013. A ten-year contract has been agreed, which also encompasses the Moto2 and Moto3 race categories.



The Hermann Tilke designed track must be impressing the right people. Still under construction, it first hit the headlines last year when Formula 1 announced it would be using the Texas venue for the United States Grand Prix. That’s also a ten-year deal, starting from next year.

A key feature of the 3.4 mile long circuit is the substantial change in elevation, while the layout is said to have been inspired by various classic tracks. With a capacity of 120,000, there should be plenty of room for spectators.



The Circuit of the Americas race means that the United States could have three MotoGP rounds - assuming, of course, that Laguna Seca and Indianapolis remain on the calendar beyond 2012.



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Building F1 circuits

Mini WRC Team launched

The Mini WRC Team has been officially launched, ahead of a limited campaign in this year’s FIA World Rally Championship.

As previously announced, the pair of Mini Countryman John Cooper Works WRC cars will be crewed by Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle and Dani Sordo / Carlos del Barrio. Their first outing is going to be May’s Rally d’Italia Sardegna, the fifth event in the 2011 WRC calendar. A further five rounds are due to be contested this year, before the team commits to a full WRC programme in 2012.



Developed by Prodrive, customer versions of the Countryman rally car will also be made available to private teams in either S2000 or full WRC specification.

Mini Countryman John Cooper Works WRC 2011
Engine
Type	Four-cylinder, direct injection petrol, turbocharged
Capacity	1,600 cc
Power	Over 300 bhp (223 kW / 304 PS)
Torque	Over 400 Nm (295 lb/ft)
Maximum turbo boost	2.5 bar (absolute)
Transmission
Gearbox	Sequential Xtrac 6-speed
Drive	Permanent four-wheel drive
Chassis
Brakes	AP Racing, four piston, gravel 300mm / tarmac 355 mm (front and rear)
Suspension	Prodrive Öhlins Macpherson strut, 3-way adjustable dampers (front and rear)
Dimensions
Length	4,110 mm
Width	1,820 mm
Weight	1,200 kg (FIA minimum weight)

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Mini Countryman WRC

Mini to compete in WRC

Updated BMW Z4 GT3

BMW Motorsport has tweaked its Z4 GT3 racer for the 2011 season.

Following a successful competition debut last year, the modifications have focussed on improving the car’s aerodynamics. Other big changes include the fitment of an updated electronic management system for the 4.4 litre V8 engine, a new control unit for the actuators and the move to a two-paddle gearshift.



Available now to privateer race teams, the Z4 GT3 costs €315,000 plus VAT (around £278,500 or US $456,250 at today’s exchange rates). There’s still no sign of a street legal version, unfortunately.



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BMW Z4 GT3

Final 2011 ILMC venue

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup organiser, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, has now confirmed that the Zhuhai International Circuit will host the Chinese round of the series.



Built in 1996, Zhuhai is in Guangdong Province close to Hong Kong and Macao. Perhaps the choice of venue isn’t too much of a surprise considering it was the location for the final event in last year’s inaugural ILMC.



However, it seems that there was impressively stiff competition from Shanghai this time around - so much so that the ACO is now talking about having two Chinese races in 2012.



Meanwhile, the Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours race will now take place on Saturday 7th May, not Sunday 8th May as previously advised.

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup 2011
Round	Event	Country	Date
1	Sebring 12 Hours	USA	19th March
2	Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours	Belgium	7th May
3	Le Mans 24 Hours	France	11th - 12th June
4	Imola 6 Hours	Italy	3rd July
5	Silverstone 6 Hours	UK	11th September
6	Petit Le Mans (Road Atlanta)	USA	1st October
7	Zhuhai 6 Hours	China	12th November

Pirelli F1 tyre colours

Pirelli, sole Formula 1 tyre supplier for the next three seasons, is colour-coding the ‘Pirelli’ and ‘PZero’ sidewall logos so that spectators can determine what compounds are being used.

The colours chosen are:

· Wet – Orange

· Intermediate – Light blue

· Supersoft – Red

· Soft – Yellow

· Medium – White

· Hard – Silver



At first sight, it appears that it’s going to be difficult to tell some of the types apart, with silver and white in particular being hard to distinguish.



However, the rules stipulate that only two compounds of dry weather tyre can be used at each round, designated ‘prime’ and ‘option’. Pirelli’s cunning plan is that there will always be at least one step between the different tyre specifications on offer.



So, that means all the teams will have a combination of either Medium (white) and Supersoft (red) rubber available to them, or - as is the case for the three opening events in Australia, Malaysia and China - Hard (silver) and Soft (yellow). That ploy should encourage some interesting strategic race decisions, as well as averting any potential identification problems.



As per last season, each driver must use both nominated types of dry tyre during a dry race in order to be included in the results. If a dry race is suspended following an incident and cannot be restarted, a 30 second penalty will be added to a driver’s time if only one variety was used.



Also available at every round of the championship will be the Wet (orange) and Intermediate (light blue) compounds, in case of rain.



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Avensis NGTC racers debut

The two Toyota Avensis racers that’ll be competing in the 2011 British Touring Car Championship have been shown off for the first time.



Both were built by GPR Motorsport in accordance with the new Next Generation Touring Car regulations. Series organisers have introduced these to help keep costs down, primarily through the use of standardised components and robust two-litre turbocharged engines developing around 300 bhp (223 kW / 304 PS).

Car #11 will be run by Dynojet Racing for driver Frank Wrathall, the reigning Ginetta G50 Cup champion. However, as his Avensis hasn’t done any test miles yet, the team faces a challenge to get everything fettled before the first race on the 3rd of April at Brands Hatch.

Speedworks Motorsport meanwhile is looking after the #50 Avensis of Tony Hughes, another ex-Ginetta competitor. Although his pre-season preparations are a little more advanced, teething problems such as fuel and power steering pump failures have slowed progress.



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