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Formula 1

Salah satu kereta paling misteri dalam sejarah Porsche ialah 930 TAG Turbo. Lama diselubungi misteri, kewujudan 911 berenjin Formula 1 selama beberapa dekad, dianggap sebagai khabar angin semata-mata. Walau bagaimanapun, legenda itu adalah nyata, dan kini, ia membuat kemunculan semula yang hebat dengan prestasi yang lebih hebat daripada sebelumnya.

Porsche 930 TAG Turbo asal berasal pada tahun 1980-an hasil kerjasama pasukan Formula 1 McLaren dengan Porsche. McLaren, yang ingin bersaing dengan enjin turbo kuat Renault, bekerjasama dengan Porsche untuk membangunkan V6 turbo berkembar 1.5 liter yang unik, berbeza daripada reka bentuk enjin biasa Porsche. Enjin yang dibiayai dan berjenama TAG ini memerlukan platform ujian, yang menjadi 911 Turbo, sekali gus mencipta 930 TAG Turbo.

Dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini, rakan kongsi McLaren, Lanzante, yang terkenal dengan kemenangan Le Mans mereka dengan F1 GTR, memperoleh baki enjin TAG Turbo. Mereka memutuskan untuk mengembangkan legasi 930 TAG Turbo kepada pengeluaran terhad. Versi terbaharu ini, yang dijenamakan semula sebagai Kejohanan TAG, bersedia untuk debut pada Festival Kelajuan Goodwood tahun ini.

Cosworth, dengan kerjasama Lanzante, telah mengolah semula enjin F1 yang digunakan Grand Prix untuk meningkatkan kebolehmanduan di jalan raya. Enjin tersebut kini menampilkan bahagian dalaman baharu, sistem penyejukan yang dipertingkatkan dan pengecas turbo titanium moden. Hasilnya ialah peningkatan kuasa yang ketara daripada 503hp kepada 625hp, dengan enjin mampu berputar sehingga 10,250 rpm. Penjana kuasa ini dipasangkan dengan transmisi manual enam kelajuan yang diubah suai daripada Porsche 993 yang menampilkan nisbah gear yang unik dan membolehkan kereta itu melebihi kelajuan tertinggi 321km/j.

Kejuaraan TAG menawarkan penggunaan gentian karbon secara meluas dalam pembinaannya, menghasilkan bahagian dalam yang dilucutkan yang merangkumi sangkar gulung dan tempat duduk baldi Recaro. Pengubahsuaian ini telah mengurangkan berat kering kereta sebanyak lebih 400kg, menurunkannya kepada 920kg sahaja sambil meningkatkan prestasinya dengan ketara.

Dari segi estetika, TAG Championship memberi penghormatan kepada warisan perlumbaannya dengan isyarat penggayaan yang diilhamkan oleh McLaren MP4/2. Ia menampilkan tayar dan stereng yang bergema dengan reka bentuk kereta Formula 1 yang ikonik, dan liverynya dimodelkan mengikut topi keledar Alain Prost, yang memenangi kejuaraan pemandu pada tahun 1985.

Hanya tiga daripada kereta luar biasa ini akan dihasilkan, masing-masing meraikan satu daripada tiga kemenangan TAG Championship. Memandangkan eksklusiviti dan warisan mereka ia tidak menghairankan bahawa mesin hebat ini mungkin sudah dijual.

The Bugatti Bolide represents a significant departure from the brand’s usual approach, focusing not only on speed but also on circuit dominance and accessibility. Engineered with input from motorsport legend Andy Wallace and incorporating cutting-edge technology, the Bolide invites drivers of all levels to push their limits on the track.

At the heart of the Bolide is Bugatti’s legendary 1,600PS 8.0-litre W16 turbocharged engine, housed within an ultra-lightweight carbon fibre composite monocoque developed with Dallara to meet stringent FIA requirements. The seating position, inspired by extreme race cars, instills confidence and precision in drivers.

The Bolide’s Brembo braking system, developed over two years, matches the performance of top-tier motorsport machinery. Extensive testing and simulation have fine-tuned its aerodynamics, generating significant downforce and ensuring unparalleled traction and grip with all-wheel drive and high-performance tyres.

With a top speed of 380km/h in low-downforce configuration, the Bolide rivals Formula 1 cars on the straights. However, its focus on cornering, traction, and braking makes it perfectly suited to circuit driving, delivering precision and agility through every turn. “The feeling when you come out of a corner, press the throttle, and experience that relentless surge of power is incomparable. You come out of that corner at 100km/h, and from there to 200km/h and then 300km/h is an absolute revelation. In that specific scenario, the Bolide would pull away from a Formula 1 car,” said Bugatti Pilote Officiel and legendary Triple Crown winner, Andy Wallace.

Bugatti’s commitment to quality extends to the Bolide’s interior, offering amenities like air conditioning and ergonomic seating for driver comfort during exhilarating laps.

Having completed its testing phase, the Bugatti Bolide is now ready for series production, with the first customer deliveries expected in the coming months.

Aston Martin bersedia untuk merevolusikan Formula 1 dengan Vantage baharunya, yang direka untuk menerajui kereta F1 sebagai Kereta Keselamatan Rasmi FIA. Vantage berprestasi tinggi ini akan mengetuai kereta Formula 1 pada pusingan formasi di Grand Prix Arab Saudi yang akan datang.

Vantage baharu dilengkapi dengan enjin 4.0 Twin-Turbo V8 buatan tangan, memberikan peningkatan kuasa 30% berbanding pendahulunya. Walaupun prestasinya mengagumkan, tiada pengubahsuaian diperlukan untuk memenuhi peranannya sebagai Kereta Keselamatan FIA.

Bernd Mayländer, Pemandu Kereta Keselamatan FIA, memuji pengendalian dan kuasa Vantage yang penting untuk penggunaan pantas dan selamat di landasan. Di bahagian dalam, Vantage Safety Car menampilkan sistem canggih seperti Pole Position Seats dan konsol tengah yang ditempah khas dengan suis FIA, semuanya disiapkan sebagai penghormatan kepada legasi perlumbaan Aston Martin dengan kemasan Lime Essence.

Kereta Keselamatan Vantage istimewa ini, bersama-sama Kereta Perubatan DBX707, akan tampil di Grand Prix Arab Saudi, menggunakan warna Aston Martin Racing Green untuk dipadankan dengan kereta Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team.

American racing legend Michael Andretti’s quest to enter Formula 1 as the Andretti Cadillac F1 team by 2025 or 2026 has been a tumultuous one. Despite securing a powerful partnership with General Motors, Andretti’s endeavours have faced resistance from existing Formula 1 teams. The latest development reveals that Formula 1 management went so far as to ask General Motors to consider partnering with someone other than Andretti.

Andretti Global, in a partnership with Cadillac, presented its ambitions to join Formula 1 earlier this year. While the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), the governing body of Formula 1, approved Andretti Global’s application, the final decision rests with Formula One Group, owned by Liberty Media. This decision has stirred controversy and raised questions about the sport’s willingness to welcome new entrants.

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At the recent Japanese Grand Prix, McLaren made waves in the motorsport world by announcing a significant development role for Ryo Hirakawa, a successful Toyota factory driver known for his 24 Hours of Le Mans triumph in 2022. This move has deepened the collaboration between McLaren and Toyota, fuelling speculation about Toyota’s potential reentry into Formula 1.

McLaren and Toyota have a longstanding relationship, primarily revolving around wind tunnel access in Cologne. While McLaren now operates its wind tunnel in Woking, they are strengthening their ties through Hirakawa’s career development.

At 29 years old, Hirakawa is not in the typical age bracket for Formula 1 prospects. However, he will have the opportunity to use McLaren’s simulator next year and even test their 2021 car—an unusual chance usually reserved for prospective F1 race drivers.

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American racing icon Michael Andretti has taken a significant step forward in his ambitious endeavour to establish a Formula One team. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) confirmed on Monday that Andretti has successfully met all the required criteria to expand the premier motorsports series to 11 teams.

This FIA approval, while pivotal, does not guarantee a two-car team for Andretti. His team, Andretti Global, in partnership with Cadillac, must now demonstrate their commercial value to F1 rights holder Liberty Media and existing teams. The existing teams, though not having a vote on expanding the grid, have voiced strong opposition to expanding the 20-car grid.

This initiative marks a significant chapter in Andretti’s three-year pursuit to resurrect the revered Andretti name in Formula One. Michael’s father, Mario Andretti, famously won the F1 championship in 1978, and Michael himself participated in 13 races during the 1993 season.

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V10 engines were last used in the championship in 2006, just before the FIA outlawed them. Teams shifted to V8 engines from 2007 through 2013, and starting in 2014, they have been using the modern 1.6-litre V6 hybrid engines.

F1

To comply with the FIA’s directive that all championships attain carbon neutrality by 2030, Formula 1 will employ “drop-in” 100% sustainable fuels in 2026.

The head of Red Bull Racing offered his opinions on Honda’s return, pointing out that the company had momentarily departed Formula One in 2020 as they switched their attention away from internal combustion engines.

The hybrid technology used in Formula 1 will continue to be used through the end of the decade despite persistent criticism from drivers and fans. A chance for change was offered by the revised power unit requirements for 2026, but the governing board decided to continue with a modified version of the current V6 hybrid power unit.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, two prominent Formula 1 drivers, have voiced their concerns about the increasing weight of Formula 1 cars and the apparent contradiction with the sport’s sustainability initiatives.

Leclerc expressed his dissatisfaction with heavier cars, stating that he doesn’t favor their handling characteristics. He mentioned that he had the opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car from 2003, and he could feel the significant difference in weight compared to modern cars. Lighter cars tend to handle more responsively and can be more agile, which can be preferred by drivers who prioritize handling and performance.

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Following a 4-week break, the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship returns for the fourth round in at the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan. This is the seventh time that Azerbaijan is having a F1 round since the first one in 2016, which was actually the European Grand Prix. The 2020 round had to be  cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This weekend’s racing will also see the first of six Sprint races for 2023, as well as mark the debut of a new standalone Sprint format, including a Sprint Shootout qualifying session. The objective of this new format is to separate the Sprint and the GP more distinctively, increasing the level of intensity across the weekend and encourage the drivers to push harder.

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Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes will expire at the end of 2023 and a new agreement has not yet been reached. Both Lewis and team principal Toto Wolff stated their desire to continue working together.

A prized position will become available if Hamilton decides to part ways with Mercedes after winning six world championships in a successful tenure with the Silver Arrows.

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With no rain likely, the Australian GP was expected to have just one stop for most teams, with tyres switched from starting mediums to hards. The first cars were expected to start coming in around lap 15 of the 58-laps of the Albert Park Street Circuit,

Max Verstappen rocketed off from his pole position, but Mercedes-AMG’S George Russell was close as Turn 1 came up and got through the turn first. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton also moved forward together and somehow, after getting ahead of the Aston Martin driver, Hamilton also slipped past Verstappen.

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