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Steering wheel of Bentley Continental GT3 for Pikes Peak Hill Climb can also be used for sim racing (w/VIDEO)

Racing simulators are very realistic today, certainly a very, very big difference from the cartoon-like VGA displays of the early programs. And not only is the imagery photorealistic but even the hardware is sophisticated to replicate driving sensations as closely as possible.

Now, for even greater realism, Bentley and Fanatec have co-developed a unique steering wheel that can be used for both real and virtual motor racing. The wheel was designed specifically for the Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak challenge car, crafted from lightweight carbonfibre and magnesium alloy. The quick release system meets FIA standards, allowing it to connect to a real car and compatible FANATEC wheel bases.

For racing as well as display
It’s the first steering wheel of its kind to be actually used in a racing car, making it a highly desirable accessory for gamers. When not being used for driving a real Bentley or one in the virtual world, the steering wheel can be detached and displayed on a wall or desk, proudly posed on a special mount. If you need to take it around, a robust hard travelling case is also provided.

Powered by a USB connection, the wheel can be displayed as a clock inspired by the traditional timepiece found in the Continental GT. It can also replay preloaded race telemetry from famous laps, showing pedal and steering inputs, gear changes, G-meter, and a track map. The centre of the GT3 steering wheel houses a circular digital display that offers the driver vital telemetry and information about their performance. Exclusive Bentley design details include signature knurling on the rotary encoders.

Full functionality for racing car
Other key features include a forged carbonfibre display bezel, two 7-way FunkySwitch directional sticks with encoder functionality, a pair of aluminium thumbwheels with optical encoders, and four magnetic paddles – two for gearshifting and two auxiliaries, based on the design of the Continental GT road car.

More realism for gaming enthusiasts
“Our detailed collaboration with Fanatec, the world leader in gaming hardware, has repurposed the steering wheel from the Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak car for virtual use. There cannot be a more realistic way for gaming enthusiasts to experience the thrill of driving one of our fastest ever vehicles, from home,” said Paul Williams, Director of Motorsport at Bentley Motors, and a keen sim racer himself.

Fanatec has not mentioned the price for this steering wheel although it may be among the more expensive ones available. Prices in its wide range start from 100 euros and go up to 1,800 euros (about RM500 to RM8,900).

Aiming for a new record at Pikes Peak
Bentley will be entering the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb again this week. It already holds the course record for the fastest production SUV, set by a Bentayga in 2018, and the production car class, set the following year in a Continental GT.

This year’s competition car is a specially developed Continental GT3 car with a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-litre V8 engine producing more than 750 bhp and 1000 Nm of torque. Designed to run on renewable synthetic fuel, it will attempt to set a new record for a production-based racing vehicle. To achieve this, the car will have to complete the climb of around 1,500 metres along a distance of almost 20 kms at an average speed of more than 125 km/h to cross the finish line in less than 9 minutes and 36 seconds.

Bentley aiming for a third record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this month with Continental GT3

Even after you recover from COVID-19 infection, your quality of life may be affected and you may suffer for a long period after that. So it’s best to avoid being infected by taking the necessary measures to protect yourself as well as others, and get vaccinated as well.

Formula E Rounds 8 & 9 – Puebla ePrix sees Edoardo Mortara extend lead to 10 points

With a new circuit in Mexico for the eighth and ninth rounds of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the playing field was levelled a bit for all participants. Though it was the sixth time since the series’ inception that Mexico was a venue, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in the capital city was not used. This time, the Autodromo Miguel E. Abed in Puebla, about 100 kms from Mexico City, was used instead. The reason for this change of circuit is because parts of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez are still being used as a hospital for COVID-19 patients during the current pandemic.

Coming out of the weekend, the happiest driver was Edoardo Mortara of ROKiT Venturi Racing who collected a win for the second time in his Formula E career. Mortara’s victory came after mastering the strategy with the challenging ATTACK MODE activation zone to control the race from the lead.

Mortara moves into the lead
The victory sees Mortara jump to the top of the Drivers’ standings from eighth in the table, the Swiss-Italian now sitting 10 points clear of Robin Frijns (Envision Virgin Racing). Pascal Wehrlein, who rebounded from the day before, took second position to boost TAG Heuer Porsche team’s standing in the championship.

The second round had started with Nissan’s Oliver Rowland making a strong start Nissan. While he sped ahead, Mortara out-braked Wehrlein around the outside, as Jake Dennis (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) duelled with Jean-Eric Vergne into the first bend.

Punching through the thin air (due to the high altitude of the location), Rowland gradually started to open up a gap, the Brit unfazed as he kicked up dirt after running slightly wide at the tricky Turn 7. Climbing up from 14^th on the starting grid, Alexander Sims (Mahindra Racing) rounded out an action-packed second lap by running past both Sam Bird (Jaguar Racing) and Tom Blomqvist (NIO 333).

ATTACK MODE
As always, ATTACK MODE proved to play an important role in shaking up the lead group. Wehrlein dived to activate the first of his two power boosts and Rowland immediately followed the German. Tactically shadowing the Porsche driver’s moves to take his second and final ATTACK MODE in quick succession. With the ATTACK MODE zone open, Rowland took an early move to claim his extra 35kW of power on lap 4. The British driver immediately took advantage of the extra boost of speed to squeeze past Dennis into Turn 1.

Further down the field, there was drama on lap 8 as early season leader Nyck de Vries (Mercedes-EQ) had to crawl back to the pits with a tyre puncture following a collision with Lucas di Grassi. The Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler driver punting the rear left of the Dutchman’s Silver Arrow after immediately challenging on the exit of the ATTACK MODE activation zone.

Turn 7 saw a hard scrap between Sebastien Buemi and Bird running side-by-side into the right hander, with Di Grassi behind running out of room ploughing into the back of the Jaguar and forcing it into the side of Buemi’s Nissan.

Pascal Wehrlein’s missed chance
The battle for second started to get hot under the Mexican sun, with Wehrlein on a charge and right up to the rear diffuser of Rowland’s car. A mistake from the Nissan driver clipping the wall in the middle complex allowed Wehrlein to capitalise and move past Rowland. Clear of Rowland, Wehrlein set his sights on Mortara in the lead. The German driving with the bit between his teeth, lapping nearly a second quicker than the Swiss-Italian.

Rounding out a difficult weekend in Mexico after a DNF in Round 8, two-time champion and Rome race winner, Jean-Eric Vergne spun out of fifth position, losing two places in the process and then a few corners later Maximilian Guenther (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) picked off the Frenchman for seventh.

After a mistake running just slightly wide at Turn 7, Wehrlein handed a strong advantage to Mortara heading into the final laps with the Venturi driver making the most and picking up a gap on the German.

In a perfectly played 45 minutes plus one lap, Mortara crossed the line to take the second win of his Formula E career. After a strong drive Wehrlein rebounded from Round 8 to end second with rookie Cassidy rounding out the podium with a debut rostrum finish.

The result sees Mortara become the eighth different winner in 9 races and leave Mexico with a 10-point lead at the summit of the Drivers’ World Championship with Mercedes-EQ leading the Teams’ World Championship by 3 points. The next venue is in New York City and will also be a 2-round affair on July 10 and July 11.

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F1/Round 7: Highlights & Provisional Results For 2021 French Grand Prix

Max Verstappen had a great start but the Red Bull driver was too eager to get the lead that he went miscalculated the first two turns, and Lewis Hamilton was ready to slip past right away.

Within 5 laps, the Mercedes-AMG driver was able to start stretching the gap with Verstappen. Valtteri Bottas was almost 4 seconds behind the leader, watching out for Sergio Perez in his mirrors.

Hamilton, however, was not having an easy run on a track suited for the Silver Arrows. His rear tyres were losing grip and he was uncomfortable with the situation, along with winds blowing along the track.

While Pierre Gasly was duelling with Sergio Perez, while Daniel Ricciardo was looking for a way past Fernando Alonso. Further back, Kimi Raikkonen did well to bring his Alfa Romeo up 3 places.

Other drivers were also having concerns about their tyres, which was understandable after what had happened in Baku with two cars having tyre failures. Pirelli said its investigations did not find the tyres to be at fault and suggested the pressures were the issue.

On lap 13, as Alonso was watching Ricciardo, Lando Norris closed in and got past. The sudden move distracted the Alpine driver and suddenly, both of the McLarens were ahead of him.

By lap 18, with Norris following him like a wingman, Ricciardo prepared to challenge Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari driver headed into the pits. His move started the ball rolling for other drivers to come in for a change of tyres as well.

Hamilton came in on lap 20 and although his stop took 2.2 seconds, it was enough time for Verstappen to overtake even though the Red Bull driver had pitted one lap earlier. Perez had inherited the lead nut had to surrender it by lap 25 to come in.

At least 5 drivers, including both those in the Aston Martin team, had started with hard compounds and were still running on them after 27 laps.

With both the two frontrunners on fresh tyres, Hamilton was keeping the pressure on Verstappen who was expressing concern that he could not keep the Mercedes-AMG driver from passing for too long. 2o laps remained.

By lap 33, the Red Bull team brought their man in and put on a set of mediums, sending him back out into fourth position and 15 second hehind Hamilton who was in the lead. Bottas was trailing 3 seconds behind and waiting to get new tyres as well.

Perez, who was ahead of Verstappen, dutifully moved aside to let his team mate pass in pursuit of Bottas. With fresh tyres, the Red Bulls could push as hard as they needed to in the remaining laps.

On lap 40, radio problems seemed to plague both Hamilton and Verstappen, the latter having been communicating intermittently since the race started.

Bottas was doing his best to prevent Verstappen from getting past but his tyres were going fast, and Hamilton could not afford to have the Dutchman on his tail as his tyres were also going.

With 5 laps remaining, Hamilton was doing his best to preserve his tyres and it didn’t help that he hit a kerb as well. Bottas had no choice but to let Verstappen pass (and then Perez) and the gap with Hamilton closed to less than 3 seconds.

As the two leaders approached the chicane, Verstappen got DRS and overtook Hamilton who could not do anything because of his degraded tyres. Once past, it took just a burst of speed and it was a Red Bull across the finish line first.

Safari Rally Kenya to run next week after an absence of 19 years from WRC (w/VIDEO)

Next week, the Safari Rally in Kenya takes place as the sixth round of the 2021 World Rally Championship (WRC). First held in 1953, the Safari Rally became part of the WRC calendar from the inaugural season of the championship in 1973 until 2002, after which it was excluded due to financial and organisational issues. It was to have been run again last year but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented it from being run. Although excluded from being in the WRC, the Safari Rally remained part of the African Rally Championship.

The Safari Rally earned a reputation as the toughest event on the calendar, with a route covering enormous distances in tough conditions characterised by high temperatures and dust. Top factory teams sent drivers like Bjorn Waldegard, Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola, Michele Mouton and many others in legendary rallycars like the Audi Quattro, Toyota Celica TwinCam Turbo, Nissan 240 RS, Datsun Violet, with the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo dominant in the 2000s.

For its return, the format of the event will be closer to a typical WRC round but teams and drivers can still expect an extremely demanding rally, with rough and rocky roads as well as the potential for unpredictable weather.

*The Group B Celica Twin Cam Turbo won the Safari Rally three years in a row.*

*The Mitsubishi Lancer was also well known in the earlier years of the Safari Rally and also in the 2000s when the EVO model won year after year.*

320 kms of stages over 3 days
Safari Rally Kenya 2021, as the event is officially known, will have 18 stages and a total of 320.19 competitive kilometres. The rally will start from the capital city of Nairobi with an opening Super Special Stage in nearby Kasarani. The rest of the rally takes place around Naivasha, with Friday featuring a trio of stages on the Navaisha lake’s southern shores to all be run twice. Saturday’s format is the same but takes place further north near Lake Elmenteita. A total of 5 stages brings the rally to a close on Sunday, with the ‘Hells Gate’ test to host the deciding Wolf Power Stage.

Current generation has no Safari experience
The current generation of WRC drivers have never had Safari Rally experience so it will be a new challenge for them, even for 7-time World Champion Sebastien Ogier who heads the standings after winning the Rally Italia Sardegna. It will also be the first time the Toyota Yaris WRC is entering an event in Africa.

“I believe this rally will be very different from anything I have done before. We’ve heard a lot that we are going to have to set our targets a little differently. The way we drive nowadays in the WRC is by really pushing the limits all of the time. But when we go to Kenya, it will be much more about trying to survive the rally without trouble. I think it can be interesting to have a challenge like this during the year. It has been hard to know what is the right way to prepare, so I think the drivers will probably have to adapt a bit during the rally, but the recce will certainly be important to understand what is ahead of us,” Ogier said.

Competing in the WRC2 category with a Hyundai R5 (below), Oliver Solberg (above right) is not only one of the youngest competitors in the event but his father, Petter (left) also took part in the Safari Rally on several occasions in earlier years.

Very young and very old drivers
For one of the entrants – Oliver Solberg – taking part in the rally will be following his father’s participation in 1999. Peter’s father, Petter Solberg, took part in a Ford Focus WRC and was one of the youngest in the manufacturers’ team line-up then – finishing a credible fifth. He later took part in the event with the Subaru team. At 19, Oliver is one of the youngest drivers taking part and will compete in the WRC2 class with a Hyundai R5.

There will also be a 91-year old driver from Poland – Sobieslow Zasada. Active in the sport in the 1960s and 1970, he finished second in the 1972 event (driving a Porsche 911S) and last took part in the Safari Rally in 1997. For this 2021 event, he will be in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 run by M-Sport Poland.

One of the participants taking part is Sobieslow Zasada from Poland (above left). He was 41 years old when he was second in the Safari Rally in 1971 in a Porsche 911S and this year, at the age of 91, he will be driving a Ford Fiesta WRC in the event.

The entry list has 58 drivers, 34 of them Kenyans. All the three factory teams in Rally1 cars – Toyota GAZOO Racing, Ford M-Sport, and Hyundai Motorsport – will be present, while there will be 11 of the second-tier Rally2 machines.

“It will be an interesting Safari Rally especially on how the old and the young will perform,” said Phineas Kimathi, WRC Safari Rally CEO, adding that Toyota Kenya has provided two Hilux trucks for use as Zero Vehicles which examine each stage before the competitors start.

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F1/Round 7: Preview & Starting Grid For 2021 French Grand Prix

Race starts at 3 pm in France/9 pm in Malaysia

Historically, the French Grand Prix has been one of the regular rounds of the Formula 1 World Championship since 1950 and, apart from 1955, was in every year’s calendar until 2008. Then there was s 10-year break and it was reintroduced in 2018. This year should be the 62^nd running of the French GP but it is the 61^st because the event had to be cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Paul Ricard Circuit at Le Castellet has hosted the French GP 16 times since 1971, with six other circuits used on other occasions. It is a ‘traditional’ type of circuit, which is a change from the street circuits of the last two rounds in Baku and Monaco. Most of the long track has been resurfaced for F1’s return this year, and many of the corners have been very subtly reprofiled.

About the coloured stripes
The coloured stripes at Paul Ricard aren’t just for show: they make up a high-grip asphalt run-off system that replaces traditional gravel traps. Both colours use a mix of asphalt and tungsten to create an abrasive surface that helps slow the cars down if they go off track. However, the abrasion level is different, depending on the colour. The ‘Blue Zone’ isn’t as abrasive and is only mildly punishing, but the ‘Red Zone’ – close to the barriers – is much more abrasive and effective at slowing down the cars.

According to Pirelli, the tyre suppliers for F1, there are varied characteristics of the track but tyre degradation is generally low. However, Turn 13 is particularly demanding in terms of continuous energy demands on the tyre, as is the Signes corner after the Mistral straight.

“We’re back to the combination of tyres used for the first two races of this year, right in the middle of the range. This is the most versatile combination, well suited to a wide variety of different demands, and this is also what makes it a good match for the Paul Ricard circuit, which contains an interesting mix of corners,” said Mario Isola, Head of F1 and Car Racing at Pirelli.

He noted that the winning strategy in the 2019 race was a one-stopper, from medium to hard. This was adopted by all the podium finishers, with all but seven of the drivers starting the race on the medium tyre.

Finding the balance between speed and agility
The 5.8-km layout of the circuit presents a strong challenge for teams to find the optimum set-up. With high-speed straights and the fast Signes Corner at the end of the Mistral Straight, as well as the complexes of low and medium-speed corners at the end of sectors 1 and 3, the choice of downforce is not easy. The teams will have to carefully balance outright speed with agility through the corners.

Of all the tracks being used this year, Paul Ricard has the highest average track temperature (50°C) and second-highest maximum track temperature (55°C). This means the teams will want to ensure that the brakes can cool quickly and Brembo supplies six different front disc solutions. There is the medium cooling option with 800 holes, high cooling with 1,250 holes and very high cooling with 1,480 holes. Each of these then offers a sub-option with a process on the outer diameter – the so-called groove.

In the case of very high cooling, the holes are arranged in seven different rows; in the intermediate case in six rows; and the other case in four rows. They measure 2.5 mm in diameter each and are precision-machined individually. It takes 12-14 hours to punch all the holes on a single disc. The mechanical component tolerance is only four hundredths.

Championship positions
With Lewis Hamilton having lost his chance to collect any points in the previous round, and Max Verstappen having been forced out due to tyre failure, the difference between the two divers remains slim with the Dutchman just 4 points ahead of the reigning World Champion. Sergio Perez’ first win of the season in Baku has elevated him to third place with 69 points, 3 points ahead of Land Norris.

While Verstappen didn’t collect points for Red Bull Racing in the last round, the 25 points Perez collected for his win have extended the team’s lead to 26 points from Mercedes-AMG. McLaren and Ferrari are just 2 points apart, and the same for Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda and the Aston Martin Cognizant team.

Russian Cyclocar flying car to use cyclic propellers and hybrid powerplant (w/VIDEO)

Although there have been prototypes of flying cars for many decades, it’s only in the past few years that the idea has become a more serious venture. Even Audi and Porsche have, with aerospace partners, looked into developing vehicles that can fly as well as be driven along roads. In many cases, it appears that the potential usage is not for personal, individual transport but as taxis or transporters.

At the Russian Academy of Sciences, a flying car project is now underway under the framework of the Foundation for Advanced Research ‘Cyclone’. The project, undertaken by the academy’s Siberian branch of the Institute of Thermophysics, is for the development of an aeromobile called the Cyclocar.

Cyclic propellers and hybrid powerplant
The method of lifting the vehicle off the ground uses cyclic propellers which are powered by electric motors from a sequential hybrid powerplant with a petrol combustion engine or a turboshaft engine employing a gas turbine.

The advantages of using cyclical propellers are fast control of the thrust vector through 360 degrees, low noise level, and compactness. A cyclic propulsion device is one of the most complex aerodynamic devices to design but scientists and engineers of the Novosibirsk Institute of Thermophysics have been able to solutions to the inherent problems.

During the first stage of work, ground tests of a cyclic propeller with a diameter of 1.5 metres were carried out. The results obtained during the tests on traction and consumed electric power fully confirmed the viability of the concept for powering the Cyclocar.

As the pictures show, the cyclic propellers will be installed at the side of the body with their frames. Special attention is being given to the design of the propeller frames to prevent people from being close to them while they are spinning as well as to resist damage from foreign objects.

More compact than a helicopter
The dimensions are 6.2 metres in length and 6 metres in width. Besides the compact dimensions in comparison with helicopters, a useful capability is landing on an inclined surface (up to 30 degrees) and docking against vertical surfaces like buildings.

The Cyclocar is expected to be able to take a payload of 600 kgs with 6 persons on board. Its maximum speed will be up to 250 km/h and it will have a flying range of up to 500 kms. The present layout has boarding from both sides as well as the rear where there is a ramp that can be lowered at any angle. The interior configuration can be varied to carry long items or even medical modules for use in disaster areas.

Like driving a modern car
The designers expect that operating the Cyclocar will be no more difficult than driving a modern car. It can be flown by the operator on board or remotely controlled, with the possibility of being used like a drone. The pilot-operator can, if needed, use manual control or automatic control, depending on the situation.

The next phase will see prototypes being built for flight tests and a fully functional Cyclocar is expected to be ready for production in 2024. The vehicle is intended for use by the military rather than the civilian sector.

*The Audi Air Taxi developed in collaboration with ItalDesign and Airbus, was shown in 2018.*

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Steering wheel of Bentley Continental GT3 for Pikes Peak Hill Climb can also be used for sim racing (w/VIDEO)

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