Caterham Launch Caterham is the only team so far to unveil their 2012 challenger. They appear to be taking some design cues from Red Bull with their engine cowling, which isn’t too unexpected since RBR were indomitable last year and since Caterham is using RBR’s KERS system and gearbox. What immediately stands out is Caterham’s solution to the FIA’s new regulations on the nose. First, the nose had to be higher this year, also there are regulations calling for different heights for the top surface of the nose and the…
Read MoreTag: 2012
Episode 122 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin the Paddock Crew as they review the biggest rally of the year in Monte Carlo. Sebastien Loeb starts off the 2012 campaign strong but MINI proves despite controversy, they are still a team to be reckoned with. The Rally America championship kicks off this weekend with the Sno*Drift event in Michigan. We also briefly talk Le Mans and the effect that Peugeot pulling out will have on the WEC. We proceed to IndyCar and give a “here is where we are now” segment. Formula 1…
Read MoreIndyCar – Crying Wolf
For the past couple of years now, there has been much hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth by the team owners about the cost of racing, how bad the economy is, and how they might not be able to make it if the league decides to [insert change to status-quo here]. The new chassis was due to be released originally in 2011, but foot-dragging and cost complaints pushed that process back to process back a year. We looked forward to having chassis competition again, but fear that the costs would escalate…
Read MoreRally America – Sno*Drift Rally Teaser Video
Star Mazda – Veach Clinches Formula Car Challenge Winter Series Title
Today was the Zach Veach show at the Auto Club Speedway on the final day of the Formula Car Challenge Presented by Goodyear Winter Series. For the first race of the day, the National Race, he had secured pole position following yesterday’s rain-soaked qualifying session, but he would have to start at the back of the grid for the final Regional Race as result of his DNF. You can read about Saturday’s events here. The National Race went as anticipated given Zach’s pace yesterday, and his performance at Infineon. He…
Read MoreWRC – MINI Final Day from Monte Carlo
Monaco, 22nd January 2012. The MINI WRC Team concluded the fifth and final day of the Monte Carlo Rally by bringing Dani Sordo (ES) and Carlos del Barrio (ES) and Pierre Campana (FR) and Sabrina de Castelli (FR) to the finish on the principality’s harbourside second and seventh respectively. This was only the team’s seventh FIA World Rally Championship event, but it was the third podium for the Spanish crew. The sun was shining and the roads were dry for the final stage of the rally – the 5.16 kilometre…
Read MoreWRC – Petter Slapped With the Infamous Article 151c
Ford’s new (or should that really be returning) factory driver for 2012, former World Champion Petter Solberg, has done it again. He was busted for speeding on his way back to the service park after the last competitive stage of Rallye Monte-Carlo. Apparently frustrated by a slower car in front of him, he accelerated to 106 kph (66 mph) while in a 50 kph (31 mph) zone. Not only that, passed the car on a stretch where there was a solid center line. It means the same thing there as…
Read MoreStar Mazda – Formula Car Challenge Winning Streak Shorts Out for Veach
Andretti Autosport’s Star Mazda driver, Zach Veach, came to the Auto Club Speedway for the final three rounds of the Formula Car Challenge Presented by Goodyear Winter Series with an 11-point lead having won the first two rounds held at Infineon Raceway from pole position. Veach picked up where he left off in Sonoma by taking pole again for both the regional and national races, this time on the rain-soaked road course at Fontana. Rain has never bothered the young racer, quite the contrary, he enjoys it. “I have always…
Read MoreRally – WRC Promotion Contract: How It All Went Wrong
At the beginning of this month, the World Rally Championship was thrown into enormous turmoil after the FIA prematurely terminated its contract with promotor North One Sport. The sequence of events that lead up to this is rather convoluted, but let’s see if we can’t untangle the mess that ended up with the premier rally series in the world, the WRC, making its triumphant return to the premier rally in the world, the Rallye Monte-Carlo. Arrival of North One Sport and Convers Sports Initiatives In 2009, North One Sport, a…
Read MoreStar Mazda – Team Pelfry Expands to Three Cars with Petri Suvanto
Team Pelfrey had an outstanding inaugural season in the 2011 Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear with Connor De Phillippi and Nick Andries who finished 2nd and 3rd in the season championship, respectively. Now, they’re expanding their operations to a three-car effort for 2012 and have come loaded for bear in seeking the series championship. Earlier this off-season, the team signed Jack Hawksworth and Gustavo Menezes. Gustavo joined us for Episode 120 of the OpenPaddock Podcast to discuss his signing and expectations for 2012. Today, the team announced the signing…
Read More