On lap two of the 2011 Malaysian GP, MotoGP rising star Marco Simoncelli met a fatal accident while battling with Alvaro Bautista for fourth position. Simoncelli lost control of his Gresini Honda and inevitably veered across the track at turn 11, straight into the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi. Both riders collided with Simoncelli, knocking his helmet off in the process. As Simoncelli lay motionless on the track, the race was immediately red-flagged.Edwards likewise fell but escaped serious injury, while Rossi managed to stay on his bike and return to the pits. The 24-year old Italian rider was taken by ambulance to the Sepang circuit's medical center, but at 4:56 pm local time Simoncelli sadly succumbed to his injuries.
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Motorsports
19 October 2011
Toyota marks return to Le Mans in 2012
Words by Christopher Kho
After a 13 year absence, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) have announced that they will finally make a return to the Circuit de la Sarthe in 2012. Competing with a gasoline-electric hybrid LMP1, Toyota is entering their prototype in the inaugural season of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) World Endurance Championship. Although Toyota might not have intentions to contest in all of the series' rounds, winning the Le Mans 24 Hours is certainly on the top of their priority list.
The LMP project will most likely be headed by Cologne-based Toyota Motorsport GmbH, the same people behind the Panasonic Formula 1 team and the Toyota GT-One (codenamed TS020) - the Japanese giant's last attempt at Le Mans in 1999. With over four decades of experience, eight of which were spent in Formula 1, they should have no trouble taking on Peugeot and the unstoppable Audi's. It'll be quite interesting though how the petrol-electric hybrid will fair up against the more popular turbo-diesels.
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Motorsports
Photos courtesy of Indycar Series and Sam Schmidt Motorsports
On lap 11 of the inaugural IZOD IndyCar World Championships held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway last October 16, 2011, 15 cars were involved in a terrifying fiery pile up which forced officials to red flag the race. Paul Tracy, Buddy Rice, Alex Lloyd, E.J. Viso, Charlie Kimball, Timas Scheckter, Jay Howard, Wade Cunningham, James Jakes, and Vitor Meira all climbed out of their mangled vehicles relatively unscathed. Will Power, Pippa Mann, and JR Hildebrand, on the other hand, were brought to the hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Sadly, the 200 lap race turned mournful as quickly as it started when IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard announced two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Daniel Clive “Dan” Wheldon from Emberton, England, who was driving the No. 77 Bowers & Wilkins race car for Sam Schmidt Motorsports, was pronounced dead after succumbing to injuries suffered in the crash.
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Motorsports
04 October 2011
City Kart Racing pulls a fast one at the 6th leg of the 2011 Petron Karting Super Series
At the 6th leg of the 2011 Petron Karting Super Series, City Karting Racing's young talent Tai Zulberti finished on the top spot of the podium after a phenomenal drive from 11th on the starting grid. Held last September 24 and 25, the cadet karts reached speeds in excess of 90km/h on the West Course of the Clark International Speedway (CIS) in Pampanga.
Team spirits were high that weekend as both team drivers Jacob Chamness and Tai Zulberti were excited and prepped up for the races to come. Months of preparation finally paid off when Zulberti clocked the fastest lap in the time trials. But as the first race got underway, disaster struck Zulberti when his kart grinds to a halt. And despite the marshall's best efforts to restart his engine, he was left no other choice but to sit the race out on the grass. The early retirement meant that he would have to start the second race from the back of the grid in 11th.
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Motorsports
30 September 2011
Thompson ends 2011 Japanese F3 season with highs and lows
Gary Thompson finally put a close to his 2011 Japanese Formula 3 season last weekend at Sportsland Sugo. As one of his favorites tracks on the calendar, the rising Irish driver came to the fast and flowing Sugo circuit with high hopes. A small mistake on his final qualifying run left Thompson in fifth position - not bad at all on a grid where the top six drivers were only separated by a mere 0.2 seconds. Fortunately, his lightning fast starts catapulted him from fifth to challenge for second by the first corner. Although unable to make the move stick, he slotted cleanly into third and maintained the position to the chequered flag on a circuit short on overtaking opportunities. Finishing on the National Class podium on Saturday's race, Thompson's fortunes sadly turned for the worse with a string of misfortunes on Sunday.
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Motorsports
28 September 2011
TRS fills your need for speed at the TRS Raceday on October 2
Tuason Racing School, the first and longest running professional racing school in the country, gives speed freaks three treats in one day. Head on over to the Clark International Speedway on October 2, 2011 for TRS Ford Fiesta Cup, Speedlab Invitational Drag Race, and the BMW Club Castrol Trackday.The TRS Ford Fiesta Cup is a grassroots circuit car program aimed to provide a cost-effective entry point and training ground into car racing. This year's series will have 13 drivers composed of top teams and privateers from in and around the region. Among the youngest drivers on the grid will be 13 year old Karting Champion Basti Escalante in the Smart Bro Rocket car and 20 year old Yvana Carangan on board the Smart Insurance Car Pro racecar. Foreign drivers too join in the fray with Guam National Eric Choi, Indian National Manikandan Cr, and German Stefan Wolf piloting the Smart Netphone, Castrol Edge Titanium, and Häfele livery Fiestas. Other entries include Manuel Dizon in the Coke Zero racecar and 2010 C! Top Driver Challenge winner Paolo Bringas.
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Motorsports
27 September 2011
Formula Ford's all-new 2012 racer gets a radical EcoBoost
Words by Christopher Kho | Photos courtesy of the Ford Motor Company
In its entire 44-year history, Formula Ford finally received its most radical revolution yet as the 2012-spec machine rolls out into daylight for the very first time at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. You see, the single-seaters used in competition today have been largely unchanged in the last 20 odd years and are in dire need of an upgrade - both in shape and safety. Thus, to bring the latest Formula Ford racer up to par with Formula 1 and Formula 3, its bodywork is injected with the blue oval brand's kinetic design philosophy and fitted on an updated chassis that meets stringent FIA safety standards. Looks like the new generation of Formula Ford's are ready to race into the future.
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Motorsports
23 September 2011
Gary Thompson confident to end 2011 season in style at Sugo
After a typhoon ended his chances of reeling in the National Class points lead at Suzuka, Gary Thompson is hoping to end the 2011 Japanese Formula 3 season in style at Sportsland Sugo. The up-and-coming single-seater star is looking forward to his return at Sugo this weekend, September 24 and 25, for the final three races of this year's championship. Regarded as one of the most demanding circuits on the Japanese F3 calendar, the 3.74 kilometer high-speed track is amongst Thompson's favorites, making it the perfect venue for the young 19-year-old to end his season on a high note. His strong performance there in 2010 certainly gives an indication that the Aviation Display and Cebu Pacific Air-backed Dubliner will be amongst the frontrunners for victory this weekend.
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Motorsports
