OT: Racing 2012 (Spoiler Alert)

[Rodster]

Getting this thread off to a start, looks like the boys from Maranello are pretty confident they've solved all their problems. The 2012 Ferrari according to Di Montezemolo and Domenicali will be radically different to the 2011. Right now everyone at Ferrari including Capt. Morgan is excited about the new car which supposedly launches Feb. 3rd.

One problem: Haven't we heard this the last 2 years?

[pk500]

Ferrari is talking pure Parmesan sh*t.

The days of radical innovation are long gone in F1. Teams lack the courage to take bold, new directions, and the FIA bans any technology that gives one team a significant advantage.

Williams' walrus-tusk front wing and Brawn's double diffuser are the only significant technological innovations of the last decade that I can remember. The walrus wing concept was a failure, scuttled by midseason, and the FIA eventually banned the double diffuser.

[Rodster]

According to the Ferrari top brass, this years Ferrari is a real ugly duckling or as Adam likes to call it a minger.

It also appears "reactive ride height" is the new vogue this year, started by Lotus and now Ferrari and the other teams are rushing to get their systems approved by the FIA.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96952

[pk500]

Nice to see a smaller team create an innovation that makes the big boys sweat.

[Rodster]

Isn't Lotus the former Renault team?

[pk500]

Isn't Lotus the former Renault team?

Yes. A shell of it.

Lotus-Renault is nowhere near one of the Big Three.

[fsquid]

Is Ken Block not doing WRC anymore?

[pk500]

Is Ken Block not doing WRC anymore?

Limited schedule. He's cutting back to concentrate more on Global RallyCross races, which use rally cars in traditional head-to-head races instead of racing against the clock.

Block was getting close to scoring points in the WRC last year. But I don't think he's good enough to compete with the Loebs, Hirvonens, Latvalas and Ogiers of the world.

The dude can probably make more money focusing on Global RallyCross and Gymkhana than trying to topple those titans in WRC.

[fsquid]

he got some points at the end of last season which led me to think maybe he was starting to get it. Never thought he'd be a top 10 guy, but it was nice to have an American in there.

[fsquid]

anyone seen if any American TV outlet picked up the WRC TV rights. Discovery HD Theater has not updated their page from 2011, so I'm thinking it might not be on there naymore.

[pk500]

anyone seen if any American TV outlet picked up the WRC TV rights. Discovery HD Theater has not updated their page from 2011, so I'm thinking it might not be on there naymore.

I've seen nothing. But PM me for information on how to get the Eurosport feed either live or as a file to watch at will.

[F308GTB]

According to the Ferrari top brass, this years Ferrari is a real ugly duckling or as Adam likes to call it a minger.

It also appears "reactive ride height" is the new vogue this year, started by Lotus and now Ferrari and the other teams are rushing to get their systems approved by the FIA.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96952

Just means the FIA will change the regulations so that no one can use it.

[Gurantsu]

Anyone else getting excited for the Daytona 24 Hours this year? Lots of really cool things this year; Hurley Haywoods 40th(!) and probably last run, the new cars (Corvette DP, Viper, Audi, Ferrari), lots of talent coming in for the 50th running, plus flag to flag coverage on Speed (although the night section will be on the web, however will still have an announcing team). Looks like it will be a great race.

EDIT: And I forgot to mention for PK... Paul Tracey will be driving!

[pk500]

The Rolex 24 always is a good race because it's the only event in North American motorsports that unites drivers from different disciplines of the sport.

Grant, I'm glad Tracy is running. I have nothing against Paul. He was a hell of a driver 10 years ago. Now he's more style than speed, but he could become a good sports car driver and prolong his career.

[DChaps]

I am also excited for this years Rolex 24.

I just read that Peugeot has pulled out of LeMans. That really sucks as the Audi/Peugeot competition has been fun the last few years.

PS - Paul, could you PM me your WRC coverage magic? I am so longing for the WRC of just 10 years or so ago, but every year once Monte Carlo starts up I get excited again, even if only briefly. We should get a DIRT 3 Monte Carlo rally going in honor of the start of the 2012 racing season.

[Gurantsu]

I'm glad Tracy is running. I have nothing against Paul. He was a hell of a driver 10 years ago. Now he's more style than speed, but he could become a good sports car driver and prolong his career.

I always thought so too. His aggressive style is probably more suited to cars with fenders!

On another note, finally had the chance to watch Senna. What a fantastic movie, even my wife watched some of it (a HUGE thing for her to watch anything racing.) Prost does come off as an ass through much of it, but it's tough to tell if he was actually a jerk or just a guy who understood the way F1 worked and used it to his best advantage.

[Rodster]

Well this didn't take long.

Formula 1 teams have been told by the FIA that reactive ride height systems will be banned for the 2012 season

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97127

Also, it looks like Valencia might get dropped as they can't afford the cost for the event and want to restructure the contract. Good luck with that. I'm sure Bernie will be happy to take their default money and give the race to someone else.

[DChaps]

The 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona starts in just 2 1/2 hours 3:30pm EST. Coverage on Speed begins at 2:30pm EST. 60 car field, only 14 of which are Daytona Prototypes.

Rolex 24 Resource Guide:
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ ... urce-guide

Qualifying Results:
http://www.grand-am.com/schedule/result ... 8&sid=2394

[Gurantsu]

Got the TV on now, and have barricaded myself up in the man cave.

I plan on staying up here all night to watch as much as I can. Looking forward to the new cars and the new battles that develop. Really interested in how the Viper does. (To quote Al Bundy: "It has a name that bespeaks power... Dodge.)

This is like the Super Bowl for me, loving every minute. Someday I'll get down there to watch it.

So many great drivers too. I'll be rooting for the Suntrust guys, but still hoping McNish and Negri do well too. And also rooting for Dempsey in GT; he may be a big Hollywood guy, but takes his racing dead serious and does it the right way.

And hey, what could be cooler than having a member of AC/DC racing?

[pk500]

Dempsey also is a SUPER guy. Very humble, very normal. Easy to support.

[Gurantsu]

I may have an opportunity to meet with him next year at NJMP, fingers crossed.

And I just have to say, that Audi GT car is badass.

[Gurantsu]

And I have to say I've never been a big Michael Waltrip fan, but I've grown to like him quite a bit since he's started doing the road racing. He has a very amusing and intelligent insight into the racing.

[Gurantsu]

AAARRRRRGGHHH!! Crappy race for the SunTrust guys, especially with 23 hours to go. Still, you couldn't write a script like this, endurance racing is a soap opera on wheels.

[Gurantsu]

My friends brothers old team is leading, so I like that. And again I say, that Audi is awesome.

[Gurantsu]

And my Suntrust team is out for good. Ugh, not a good start to the season.

Still, I'll be up up all night watching as much as I can. My son and daughter both want to camp out up here with me, so I'll pull out the futon. I'm a lucky SOB!