F1 Teaser: New vs. Old Tech Highlights

Found this article somewhat interesting, as after all Y’all probably know that the biggest ‘Tech gain of 2012 was the oft discussed Coanda effect - you know which ‘Hobbo, aka David Hobbs so brilliantly pointed out to Professor (Steve) Matchett his misses had figured that  out a long time ago when trying to pour some milk into a smaller container; Hya!

This along with the somewhat controversial Mercedes “Double DRS” device seemingly were the major talking points of 2012, so what’ll be this year’s biggest Tech gains? Uhm, somehow I doubt Adrian Newey’s gonna tell us, right?

The Best Technical Innovations of 2012

Meanwhile, I found James Allen’s glimpse into the future 2014 engine change far more intriguing - since it reveals many insights towards the new regulations I wasn’t aware of, i.e.; single tailpipe exhaust, lower fuel capacity and higher KERS output, which Y’all can check it out in;

A Glimpse into how F1 will change in 2014

NBCSN ‘Safety-blitzes Dakar TV Show...

Yeah I know, we’re all supposed to just be focusing upon the happiness of sunny skies, rainbows, bunnies & oh so cute puppy dogs... But I’m getting just a ‘Wee bit peeved over A-L-L of this preachin’ to duh choir bull-hockey...

Said it before and will say it again; I certainly hope the Peacock lite’s atrocious handling of broadcasting the Dakar highlighted coverage in the middle of the night; Err morning isn’t any indication of its true feelings towards motorsports - or how it’ll treat Indy Cars in the coming years, as I find it all to be very ESPN Douche-like! I mean its bad enough that the first two airings began at 2:30AM, then shifted to 2AM and I’ve been playing follow the Dakar around the rosy everyday; BUTT!

Last Wednesday evening I ran across two listed Dakar programs, one at 9:30PM and one at 11PM; Pacific-time respectively; Huh? Otay I’ll check out the early show which gee Wally, guess what? Was interrupted by the new NFL salivating $tar Spangled $undays program which ran 10mins LATE and thus the Dakar was magically captured already in progress, giving a 30-second tease before squeezing in the all important commercial break; WTF? As we missed the entire opening Bikes section as I just sat there shaking my head; SHEISA!

I mean if comca$t committed say half-as-much energy as it does to brainwashing us with its never ending self-promotionalization towards promoting the Indy Car Series; HELL! Say may be 1/5^th, 1/8^th, 10^th or even 16^th? Then “Holy smoke” people might actually tune-in? Or how about at the very least they run at least one motorsports tease for the upcoming F1 & IndyCar seasons during the Dakar coverage which is currently slotted in the same time zones as Jack LaLannne juicers, George Forman grills and Chuck ‘N Christies Totally Fit Jim infomercials are running nonstop...

I mean there’s a pretty strong undercurrent about being all bright ‘N sparkly right now, yet how long did I hear about how miserable the TV ratings were last year and how they need to be fixed, yet it appears NOBODY’s willing to put their money where their mouths are, eh? Oh Never Mind; Ooh! Look at that double rainbow. Uhmmm, sprinkles...

Tragedy Strikes Dakar - Again

Woke up to the news last Thursday morning that two bystanders had been killed when their taxi was struck by a Dakar support vehicle - and a second taxi was involved when trying to avoid the first stricken taxi. No word on if the support vehicle was speeding or not?

Dakar Rally Overshadowed by Accident

Then once again upon waking up last Friday morning I learned of another fatality striking the Dakar Rally, this time involving 25-year old French Motorcyclist Thomas Bourgin who collided with a Chilean police car en route to Stage-7...

French motorcycle rider dies in latest Dakar Rally crash

DAKAR: Some Different Disciplines competing this Year...

So I’ve found the race coverage in the ‘Wee ‘O the night upon NBC Sports Network - with Leigh Diffey hosting the half hour vignettes; CRIKEYS! Thank Goodness I’m not upon the east coast where they’ve been airing at 2-2:30AM ET!

And although I’d already heard the first stage winner’s name plus results via the Minnesota Star, nevertheless I was totally surprised to hear that not only was El Matador back, but had drawn first blood by winning his 25^th Dakar stage overall, as ex-WRC champion Carlos Sainz was back after a one-year retirement, largely due to his past nemesis Nasser Al-Attiyah.

Al-Attiyah, the sport’s first Qatari to ever win the prestigious Dakar rally in 2011 after finishing runner-up to his teammate and arch nemesis Sainz in the rally’s closest finish ever has eschewed the contentious relationship with El Hummero, nee Robby ‘Dirtman “Gordoun” (Gordon) in favour of campaigning his own buggy’s, as the 2012 Olympics bronze medal skeet shooter looks to contend for victory once again.

Meanwhile another interesting competitor is four-time gold cup and multiple Olympic medals winning Polish ski jumper Adam Malysz, one of ski jumping’s best athletes ever. As Malysz has moved onto racing cars as a Rally driver and in his sophomore Dakar is aiming to finish in the Top-20 results this year.

Then there’s the unlikely duo of Jan Lammers and Alex Caffi, two ex-Formula 1 drivers both running in the Trucks category this year, as Lammers is probably the better known of these two, having won the 24 Heurs du Mans way back in 1988. While Caffi’s F1 career was short-lived running for the Minnowesque Osella and Scuderia Italia teams before a disastrous stint in the vastly underperforming Footwork-Arrows Porsche.

Meanwhile another ex-WRC piloto, two-time champion Massimo 'Miki' Biasion celebrated his 55^th birthday by notching his second third-place podium in the Trucks category on January 7^th...

More Accolades for COTA?

Spotted this recently on thee Internetz - noting how the Circuit Of the America’s had been nominated for an architecture award...

COTA Tower earns Building Award

GRAND AM: ‘Scots to spoil Brazilian Sports Car invasion?

Read an entertaining article about how the ‘Wee Scots could be set to sweep all three classes this year at Daytona, albeit there’s a Heluva lot more Brazilian’s running this year’s Rolex 24 than Scots.

Scots to Sweep all 3-classes at Daytona?

And although I doubt this will happen, nevertheless you’d have to say that they’ve at least got a very good shot at the overall victory with thee “Scottish Terrier” Alan McNish partnering Ryan “Razzle Dazzle” Dalziel in the No. 2 Starworks riley-Ford DP.

Dalziel named Sports Car Driver of the Year

Meanwhile, on the opening day of the test, the two merging series factions announced a preliminary multiple class structure for the 2014 merged Sports Cars series, which not surprisingly doesn’t include the all conquering P1 category - which has struggled to field multiple challengers for several years now - especially since the Grand Am has spent so much effort upon its flagship Daytona Prototype (DP) class.

Grand Am American Le Mans announce initial unified series structure 

Also, testing results were interesting with AJ Allmendinger leading the way over the two Target cars on Day-1, while a somewhat surprising Dane Cameron in the brand new Team Sahlen Riley-BMW bested the Michael shank Racing duo of Michael Valiante & Allmendinger respectively on Day-2. Final day testing saw Valiante lead the way by posting the tests overall quickest time...

Day-1 saw the defending GT class champion Magnus Racing’s Andy Lally on the point, while my ‘Homeboyz Parkplace Motorsports Porsche 911 driven by Patrick Long was fastest on Day-2 en route to being quickest overall.

Another veteran racer, Shane Lewis was fastest overall in the new GX class - leading the way aboard his No. 16 Porsche Cayman GTR while sharing quickest times with teammate David Donohue; as we’re less than two weeks away from the green flag being unfurled - which Y’all can watch live on SPEED, beginning Saturday Jan 26 at 3PM ET...

Indy Cars Winter beginning to Thaw?

Just spotted the news that the first signs of IndyCar reawakening have occurred, as SPEED’s Marshall Pruett has reported that two of Andretti Autosports crack engineering staff have departed the reigning champions IndyCar squad - with news that the team’s technical director Allen McDonald has returned to Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports and Tino Belli has joined Panther Racing.

Not sure who exactly McDonald was engineering at Mikey’s team, as the report says he returned to Schmidt because he wanted to be more involved in a hands-on engineering role, while Belli seems a bigger loss, having been thee Mayor ‘O Hinchtown’s (James Hinchcliffe) engineer, as Panther seeks to bolster its engineering department.

And I can only speculate, but; Hmm? Perhaps McDonald’s move could have something to do with the team adding a second car for rookie Tristan Vautier? A la Bobby Rahal hiring Eddie Jones to pump up his staff in hopes of running a second entry - but just a guess here folks...