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Motor Authority - blog Tag: FIA

  • Nissan GT-R FIA-GT1 race car to tackle Spa 24 Hours endurance race

    Nissan GT-R FIA-GT1 race car to tackle Spa 24 Hours endurance race July 23rd, 2009 ByJeremy Weber Jeremy Weber, Author, July 23rd, 2009 Jeremy Weber 4 Comments

    Nissan GT-R FIA-GT1 race car to tackle Spa 24 Hours endurance race This coming weekend Nissan will bring its iconic GT-R back to the Spa 24 Hours race in Belgium, the scene of the firm's dominant win in the grueling event back in 1991 with the R32 Skyline GT-R Group A car. Since shakedown in December of 2008, the GT-R has completed over 10,000km of testing, including its pair of appearances in the FIA GT Championship, and is now fully prepared for its biggest challenge of the current season.

    The new car's outings in the European-based GT championship are a precursor to a full assault on the series next season. Its recent entry at the Oschersleben (Germany) FIA GT event was a good simulation for the Spa 24... This coming weekend Nissan will bring its iconic GT-R back to the Spa 24 Hours race in Belgium, the scene of the firm's dominant win in the grueling event back in 1991 with the R32 Skyline GT-R Group A car. Since shakedown in December of 2008, the GT-R has completed over 10,000km of testing, including its pair of appearances in the FIA GT Championship, and is now fully prepared for its biggest challenge of the current season. The new car's outings in the European-based GT championship are a precursor to a full assault on the series next season. Its recent entry at the Oschersleben (Germany) FIA GT event was a good simulation for the Spa 24 Hours and its notoriously changeable weather. Belgium's Circuit de Spa Francorchamps is one of Europe's most venerable racetracks, with a history to match. The Spa 24 Hours was first run just one year after the famous Le Mans 24 Hours got its start, back in 1924. Until 2000, the Spa 24 Hours was a race for touring cars, and made the switch to the more powerful GT category in 2001, since when it has also been a part of the FIA GT Championship. For full details on Nissan’s FIA-spec R35 GT-R GT1 race car, check out our previous story by clicking here.R35 Nissan GT-R FIA-GT1 race car2010 FIA GT1 race cars Read More

  • No F1 breakaway series, Mosley to step down

    No F1 breakaway series, Mosley to step down June 24th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 24th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 2 Comments

    No F1 breakaway series, Mosley to step down Max Mosley will step down as FIA president later this year, as formula one's political crisis involving eight rebel teams' threat to set up a breakaway championship ended on Wednesday. Hopes that the Paris meeting of the World Motor Sport Council would be the scene for a resolution were proven correct, after 69-year-old Mosley emerged and told reporters "there will be no split".

    "We have agreed to a reduction of costs," said the FIA president, following a lengthy dispute about his proposed budget cap, governance style, and ultimately his very presence at the head of the sport's ruling authority. "There will be one F1 championship but the... Max Mosley will step down as FIA president later this year, as formula one's political crisis involving eight rebel teams' threat to set up a breakaway championship ended on Wednesday. Hopes that the Paris meeting of the World Motor Sport Council would be the scene for a resolution were proven correct, after 69-year-old Mosley emerged and told reporters "there will be no split". "We have agreed to a reduction of costs," said the FIA president, following a lengthy dispute about his proposed budget cap, governance style, and ultimately his very presence at the head of the sport's ruling authority. "There will be one F1 championship but the objective is to get back to the spending levels of the early 90s within two years," he said on Wednesday. As for his earlier claim that he will not be deciding to step aside in the midst of a crisis, he added: "I will not be up for re-election now we have peace." F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone was also in Paris and said he was "very happy that common sense has prevailed". Read More

  • Mosley could be out of a job this week as FOTA preps breakaway

    Mosley could be out of a job this week as FOTA preps breakaway June 23rd, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 23rd, 2009 Kenneth Hall 0 Comments

    Mosley could be out of a job this week as FOTA preps breakaway On Thursday of this week, FOTA plans to speed up preparations for next year's breakaway world championship.

    According to strong speculation, the timing of the meeting has been planned to occur immediately after Wednesday's World Motor Sport Council summit.

    Rumors indicate that a vote could be proposed to oust FIA president Max Mosley - or minimally reduce his power - thus potentially ending the standoff with the rebel teams.

    It has emerged that the FOTA bosses met on Sunday morning in the Renault motor home, where it was decided that it would be unanimously declared that no peace deal with Mosley is being sought.

    It was directly... On Thursday of this week, FOTA plans to speed up preparations for next year's breakaway world championship. According to strong speculation, the timing of the meeting has been planned to occur immediately after Wednesday's World Motor Sport Council summit. Rumors indicate that a vote could be proposed to oust FIA president Max Mosley - or minimally reduce his power - thus potentially ending the standoff with the rebel teams. It has emerged that the FOTA bosses met on Sunday morning in the Renault motor home, where it was decided that it would be unanimously declared that no peace deal with Mosley is being sought. It was directly contradictory to Mosley's parallel suggestion that a deal is close, which according to another rumour was spurred on by pressure from F1 owner CVC's lawyers about the damaging nature of the political chaos. "We have taken our decision and that's it. There is nothing more to discuss," Renault's Briatore was quoted as saying by the Spanish press. "The FIA closed the door on us. We decided to do our own championship. There are no negotiations," he said, adding on Sunday that details of the new series will begin to be set in stone "next week". "I am not interested in what Mosley says. It is not our business any more," said Briatore. In Italy's Tuttosport, Ferrari president and FOTA chairman Luca di Montezemolo indicated he is looking forward to the breakaway. "In November 2007, Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen won the formula one world championship because there were clear rules and it was possible. No longer," said the Italian. Montezemolo will attend Wednesday's FIA summit. Read More

  • McLaren boss says breakaway will quash F1 while Mosley appears unconcerned

    McLaren boss says breakaway will quash F1 while Mosley appears unconcerned June 19th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 19th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 0 Comments

    McLaren boss says breakaway will quash F1 while Mosley appears unconcerned One way or another, it appears that the core teams of what has been Formula 1 for the past 50 years will be racing against each other next year. McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh thinks the recognition will follow the teams, while FIA president Max Mosley thinks the team will be forced to return when they fail to setup their own series.

    The two contradictory viewpoints arise out of the same set of facts: a dispute over the state of the proposed 2010 funding and technical regulations, and the way in which they were proposed and approved. The ongoing struggle at the heart of the matter has even gone to court.

    The FIA president predicts an... One way or another, it appears that the core teams of what has been Formula 1 for the past 50 years will be racing against each other next year. McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh thinks the recognition will follow the teams, while FIA president Max Mosley thinks the team will be forced to return when they fail to setup their own series. The two contradictory viewpoints arise out of the same set of facts: a dispute over the state of the proposed 2010 funding and technical regulations, and the way in which they were proposed and approved. The ongoing struggle at the heart of the matter has even gone to court. The FIA president predicts an eventual compromise, but acknowledged that it may not be found until early in 2010. "They (FOTA) can't afford not to run in the championship and we would be very reluctant to have a championship without them," Mosley told the BBC. The 69-year-old suspects some of the manufacturer-backed teams can afford to take such a hard line because "some of them will disappear" whether there is a solution or not. "I think we'll probably lose one or two, maybe even three manufacturer teams," said Mosley. "As for the great traditional teams, and I would include Ferrari, they need to be there and they will be there. It will get sorted out," he added. He believes some figures are hoping to gain control of the governance and income of the sport but that ultimately the plans for an alternate series are not serious. "Eventually they will recognize that it can't happen and it will all come back together," said Mosley. "Everybody can take a tremendously strong position; I could say that I'm going to win some great sporting event in 2010, but until you actually get there, you can boast all you like. Whitmarsh on the other hand is certain that the FOTA-backed startup championship is the one that will ultimately shine through. "I don't think there will be two premier racing championships," he told the BBC. "All I can say is that there will be a championship next year and that the major names that have historically been involved in motor racing will be racing together and I think that will be recognized as the major championship." Read More

  • Formula One Teams Association announces breakaway series for 2010

    Formula One Teams Association announces breakaway series for 2010 June 18th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 18th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 1 Comment

    Formula One Teams Association announces breakaway series for 2010 As evening fell at Silverstone on Thursday, Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) bosses headed out onto the A43 bound for Renault's nearby Enstone headquarters. After deliberating for hours, the team body has since released a statement that all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial rights holder that they are willing to commit until the end of 2012.

    However, FOTA also acknowledges that the wishes of the majority of the teams have been ignored. The team body is not willing to compromise on the fundamental values of the sport and have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 World Championship.... As evening fell at Silverstone on Thursday, Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) bosses headed out onto the A43 bound for Renault's nearby Enstone headquarters. After deliberating for hours, the team body has since released a statement that all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial rights holder that they are willing to commit until the end of 2012. However, FOTA also acknowledges that the wishes of the majority of the teams have been ignored. The team body is not willing to compromise on the fundamental values of the sport and have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 World Championship. Furthermore, tens of millions of dollars have been withheld from many teams by the commercial rights holder, going back as far as 2006. Instead, FOTA has confirmed that it plans to commence preparations for a new Championship, which it describes as reflecting the values of its participants and partners. This series will have transparent governance, one set of regulations, encourage more entrants and listen to the wishes of the fans, including offering lower prices for spectators worldwide, partners and other important stakeholders. Importantly, the major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and companies historically associated with the highest level of motorsport will all feature in this new series. As for the 2010 F1 season, only McLaren, BMW, Renault, Toyota and Brawn are listed as provisional on the initial FIA entry list, as Ferrari and Red Bull's two teams are bound to compete according to (albeit disputed) existing agreements. Read More

  • McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' privateer race car up for sale

    McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' privateer race car up for sale June 16th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 16th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 0 Comments

    McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' privateer race car up for sale The McLaren F1 was so far ahead of its time in terms of performance that it redefined the meaning of the term 'supercar'. But even during its production run, there was a faster variant, limited in production but now up for sale from a private collection in Japan.

    Built for racing, the F1 GTR competed in the BPR Global GT Series, now known as the FIA GT Championship. The car ran for three years from 1995-1997, with 9 built the first two years and ten the final year. In 1997, the car weighed about 2,000lb (910kg) and generated a conservative 600hp (447kW) from its de-stroked 6.0L version of the F1's 60-degree V12.

    The example on sale at ... The McLaren F1 was so far ahead of its time in terms of performance that it redefined the meaning of the term 'supercar'. But even during its production run, there was a faster variant, limited in production but now up for sale from a private collection in Japan. Built for racing, the F1 GTR competed in the BPR Global GT Series, now known as the FIA GT Championship. The car ran for three years from 1995-1997, with 9 built the first two years and ten the final year. In 1997, the car weighed about 2,000lb (910kg) and generated a conservative 600hp (447kW) from its de-stroked 6.0L version of the F1's 60-degree V12. The example on sale at Bingosports in Tokyo, Japan claims to be chassis #28R, the very last of the cars built. Chassis #28R was originally #27R, but was damaged and remade into a spare car that later raced at the tail end of the inaugural season of the FIA GT Championship. Little else is known about the car or the sale, aside from its Gulf Oil livery and its 'Longtail' longer rear wing section, a change in the aero for 1997 designed to get more grip over the rear wheels. A standard road-going McLaren F1 recently went for $4 million at auction, and it's possible that this racing example could fetch even more. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the romantic racing history some might wish for. To see the car in more detail, head on over to the Japanese sale site.McLaren F1 GTR Chassis #28R Read More

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