Motor Authority - blog Tag: Schumacher

Less than two weeks after shocking the F1 world with his comeback plan, Michael Schumacher shocked the sport's inhabitants again on Tuesday by calling it off. The 40-year-old German crashed a German Superbike during testing in February, but until now the details of his injury were not known.

"It was the most serious accident in Michael's motorsport career," his manager Willi Weber told the German news agency DPA on Tuesday. Schumacher later revealed on his website that the crash had caused fractures in the area of his head and neck.

But the sceptics also had a voice on Tuesday, one writing in Britain's Guardian newspaper that "only Michael...

Less than two weeks after shocking the F1 world with his comeback plan, Michael Schumacher shocked the sport's inhabitants again on Tuesday by calling it off. The 40-year-old German crashed a German Superbike during testing in February, but until now the details of his injury were not known. "It was the most serious accident in Michael's motorsport career," his manager Willi Weber told the German news agency DPA on Tuesday. Schumacher later revealed on his website that the crash had caused fractures in the area of his head and neck. But the sceptics also had a voice on Tuesday, one writing in Britain's Guardian newspaper that "only Michael Schumacher knows if the biggest hurt during a comeback would have been to his neck or his pride". Schumacher's younger brother Ralf hit back in the pages of Bild newspaper: "Fractures in the vertebrate are not something to be dismissed lightly." The seven time world champion's decision also moved the conversation on to the next replacement for injured Felipe Massa: 38-year-old Italian Luca Badoer, who has been Ferrari's test driver for more than a decade. Carlos Gracia, president of the Spanish motor racing federation, slammed the Maranello team's decision to overlook its other tester, Spaniard Marc Gene. "It's an absurdity by the management of Ferrari," he said in the sports newspaper Marca. "Gene is better prepared and has just won the 24 hours of Le Mans." Eddie Jordan believes the Schumacher news might compel Ferrari chiefs to try to bring forward Fernando Alonso's expected move to the Italian team. "My information is that Alonso is going to Ferrari next year," the former eponymous team owner is quoted as saying by The Sun in Britain. "Why don't they bring it forward? If I was Ferrari that is what I would try to do." Read More

Michael Schumacher was unmasked as the BBC car programme Top Gear's mysterious 'The Stig' on tonight’s episode of the long-running show. The enigmatic white-overalled, gloved and helmeted figure, who for years has anonymously tested cars for the TV show, appeared on the floor of the British programme after breaking its test-track record at the wheel of the Ferrari FXX supercar.

Asked by host Jeremy Clarkson to take off his helmet, The Stig reluctantly obliged, revealing F1's now 40-year-old seven time world champion Schumacher. Clarkson jokingly asked the famous German what his name was before he became famous as The Stig, but... Michael Schumacher was unmasked as the BBC car programme Top Gear's mysterious 'The Stig' on tonight’s episode of the long-running show. The enigmatic white-overalled, gloved and helmeted figure, who for years has anonymously tested cars for the TV show, appeared on the floor of the British programme after breaking its test-track record at the wheel of the Ferrari FXX supercar. Asked by host Jeremy Clarkson to take off his helmet, The Stig reluctantly obliged, revealing F1's now 40-year-old seven time world champion Schumacher. Clarkson jokingly asked the famous German what his name was before he became famous as The Stig, but Schumacher answered: "You have to have some secrets". However, the true identity of The Stig was unmasked by the press earlier this year as 33-year-old Ben Collins, although the speculation was not confirmed by the BBC and it remains rumoured that the character is actually played by multiple drivers. A spokesman for the British broadcaster, meanwhile, confirmed that Schumacher was The Stig for the Ferrari segment, but that otherwise the truth would remain "a mystery”. Read More

It's not everyday you get to see a hot lap with one of the best drivers ever to have lived, and it's definitely not everyday that it's done in a street-legal supercar. But today is that day.

The Ferrar 430 Scuderia piloted by Michael Schumacher in this clip is based on the F430, but further developed for the track. Schumacher himself had a hand in its development as part of his role at Ferrari.

This isn't the first time a video of Schumacher lapping a 430 around an Italian track has surfaced, however. Last year, Schumi tackled the famous Fiorano test track in the wet in a 430 Scuderia as well.Ferrari 430 ScuderiaMichael Schumacher laps... It's not everyday you get to see a hot lap with one of the best drivers ever to have lived, and it's definitely not everyday that it's done in a street-legal supercar. But today is that day. The Ferrar 430 Scuderia piloted by Michael Schumacher in this clip is based on the F430, but further developed for the track. Schumacher himself had a hand in its development as part of his role at Ferrari. This isn't the first time a video of Schumacher lapping a 430 around an Italian track has surfaced, however. Last year, Schumi tackled the famous Fiorano test track in the wet in a 430 Scuderia as well.Ferrari 430 ScuderiaMichael Schumacher laps Mugello in a Ferrari 430 Scuderia Read More

Ferrari plans to launch an updated version of its official website this Sunday to coincide with the season opener for the 2009 F1 series. The site – www.ferrari.com - has been completely revamped and now offers users, whether they’re clients, car nuts, or motor racing fans, a behind the scenes look at the world that is Ferrari, as well as plenty of other unique experiences.

First and foremost is a new feature called the Maranello Experience, which allows you to take a virtual tour of the entire Ferrari complex in Italy. You enter through the historic gate on Via Abetone, as you would in reality, and then move on to the various... Ferrari plans to launch an updated version of its official website this Sunday to coincide with the season opener for the 2009 F1 series. The site – www.ferrari.com - has been completely revamped and now offers users, whether they’re clients, car nuts, or motor racing fans, a behind the scenes look at the world that is Ferrari, as well as plenty of other unique experiences. First and foremost is a new feature called the Maranello Experience, which allows you to take a virtual tour of the entire Ferrari complex in Italy. You enter through the historic gate on Via Abetone, as you would in reality, and then move on to the various new production areas. There are 360-degree images and video clips of each building as well as dedicated explanatory text explaining the significance behind each dwelling. Head over to the GT & Sport cars section and you will be able to view all of the cars in the current range, which you can then explore, zooming in on details of the exteriors and interiors of each model. We’ve already seen a preview of this feature, which was set up for the F430 Scuderia and showed off the car’s cabin. The site will also allow you a chance to personalize your favorite model by choosing from a range of optional extras and colors. After that, all that remains is to turn the virtual key and listen to the sound of the engine before heading out for a test drive at Mugello. This is probably the best feature of the new site as it allows you to compare your driving skills with those of Michael Schumacher, as well as get some handy tips. Other sections include live updates of all the F1 news, including how the drivers are feeling and what they are doing through their personal blogs. During races, the site will also feature a virtual pit area where you can watch all the action as well as consult the telemetry readings coming in from each car - not a bad way to spend your Sunday.Official Ferrari virtual gateway Read More

Five-time World Rally Championship (WRC) winner Sebastien Loeb won today’s 'Race of Champions', held in London's Wembley Stadium. Loeb managed to beat out a veritable who's who of motorsport drivers to come away with the trophy, including seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher.

While Schumacher was taken out early on in the event, Loeb faced a tough battle from F1 driver David Coulthard in the finals. With a best-of-three format for the final, Frenchman Loeb took the honors in the first race to put the pressure on the newly retired F1 driver. Coulthard responded in spectacular fashion, giving the massive British crowd hope of a... Five-time World Rally Championship (WRC) winner Sebastien Loeb won today’s 'Race of Champions', held in London's Wembley Stadium. Loeb managed to beat out a veritable who's who of motorsport drivers to come away with the trophy, including seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher. While Schumacher was taken out early on in the event, Loeb faced a tough battle from F1 driver David Coulthard in the finals. With a best-of-three format for the final, Frenchman Loeb took the honors in the first race to put the pressure on the newly retired F1 driver. Coulthard responded in spectacular fashion, giving the massive British crowd hope of a home victory by piloting to victory in the second heat, driving the KTM X-Bow. In the end, a nail-biting finish resulted in Loeb taking the honors by just 0.3 seconds, giving him his third Race of Champions victory. Loeb commented after the race that "when you are on the start line, you want to win, but with this event there is not too much pressure. It’s a very tight track and you have to give everything you can." The track that Loeb is referring to is a tight and twisty, temporary tarmac track constructed atop of Wembley’s famous pitch. Meanwhile Schumacher, the seven-time F1 champion, performed flawlessly in the earlier Nations Cup events to regain the title for Germany, but was knocked out of the first round of the driver’s event after a mistake. American NASCAR driver Carl Edwards managed to make it to the semifinals of the Race of Champions, and even managed to beat out Schumacher in a head-to-head race. “That was a dream, and that alone was worth the whole trip,” Edwards said.2008 Race of Champions Read More

Last November we first reported that Michael Schumacher, along with a handful of other sporting celebrities, would lend his name to a multi-million dollar skyscraper project to be built in the United Arab Emirates. We can now report that the project has been fully signed off and construction for the new tower, to be called ‘Michael Schumacher World Champion Tower’, will commence towards the end of the year in Abu Dhabi.

The Abu Dhabi tower is just the first of seven Michael Schumacher World Champion Towers to be developed across the world – each representing one of the German driver’s F1 world championship titles.... Last November we first reported that Michael Schumacher, along with a handful of other sporting celebrities, would lend his name to a multi-million dollar skyscraper project to be built in the United Arab Emirates. We can now report that the project has been fully signed off and construction for the new tower, to be called ‘Michael Schumacher World Champion Tower’, will commence towards the end of the year in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi tower is just the first of seven Michael Schumacher World Champion Towers to be developed across the world – each representing one of the German driver’s F1 world championship titles. Last year Schumacher signed a deal with German developer ACI Real Estate to use his name for a tower in Dubai. No other locations have been revealed yet. The Abu Dhabi tower will stand 240m tall, have 60 floors and a total of 40 apartments. It will also integrate a residential wharf and be located on its own unique island, reports Gulf News. The tower is being developed by the Marasi Real Estate Group for an estimated $140 million. According to a company spokesman, the apartments on the first floor will be the most expensive as they come with their own private marina berths of which there will be 30 all up. The pricing structure will be finalized at the end of the year and construction is expected to take three years. German tennis legend Boris Becker will also lend his name to another ACI project, as well as Niki Lauda who already has a pair of towers named after him in Dubai. Via: Autoblog.nlMichael Schumacher World Champion Tower Abu Dhabi Read More