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By admin, December 18, 2009 12:49 am

In order to win races and keep a competitive edge, F1 engines must be uniquely designed to provide maximum performance with greatest longevity. Historically, engines that were built for F1 racing were not built to last much longer than a single race. Today, FIA regulations stipulations require engines to not fall apart never to be used again. However, even with all the technology available to racing teams, engine failure is the most common reason cars are sidelined.

The specifications as well as the standards for F1 engines have changed many times since F1 races first began. One hundred bhp per litre was the expected output of a F1 engine over fifty years ago. Some fluctuations in output occurred since then. Now, the standard output is closer to 300 bhp per litre using a 2.4 litre V8 engine. Engines today can use 650 litres of air per second. In a race, the modern engine will use about 75 litres for each 100 kilometers.

It’s tempting to think that regular car engines bare any resemblance to the modern day F1 engine. Unfortunately, regular cars aren’t capable of the same speed with typical car engines. Since reducing drag is a very important part of this sport, engines are built much smaller than normal car engines. Formula one engines also take up less space.

Gearboxes are another feature attached to F1 engines. The gears are typically housed behind the steering wheel to make driving a lot less taxing for the driver in terms of his attention. Seven speed gearboxes are most common now. Transmissions on an F1 engine are connected straight to the engine and utilize electronic controls.

The type of energy, or fuel, that’s put into an engine isn’t really an important factor for F1 engines. In fact, normal gasoline is used on the track to refuel cars. The gasoline is similar to that bought at a local gas station. The only time fuel really becomes an important part of an F1 engines’ life is during diagnostics. Mechanics on a team look in the leftover fuel and oil left in the engine to see what metals appear there. This demonstrates the rate of which the engine is being worn.

The FIA, standing for Federation of International Automobiles, in an effort to curb illegal rigging of F1 engines, has put in place penalties for those who create expensive, wear and tare engines. Since 2005, the FIA has will give a penalty of ten places in a race if a teams’ engine fails to make it through two grand prix.

The modern F1 engine is an amazing piece of machinery. With almost 5,000 parts composing the whole engine, it’s not hard to see how expensive one really is. The speed and power that race cars are able to achieve are due in part to the 20,000 revolutions that the engine can make every minute. Formula one engines have come a long way and with their continuing evolutions, so too will evolve the sport closed track racing.

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By admin, November 19, 2009 1:01 am

Formula One racing is a challenging sport for both teams and drivers. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) sets demanding standards for this motor sport. These rules make it the most challenging and safest racing competition in the world.

In the past Formula One racing consisted of both private teams and corporate teams. The increasing cost of meeting the strict FIA rules combined with the dominance of teams owned by leading automobile manufacturers has forced most of the private racing teams to withdraw from Formula One racing. The only new teams to join the Formula One racing program in recent years have all been owned by automotive manufacturers.

Today four teams dominate Formula One racing: McLaren-Mercedes, Ferrari, BMW and Renault.

The McLaren-Mercedes team is based in Woking, UK. The team has been competing since 1966 and has won eight Formula One World Championships. The McLaren-Mercedes racecars feature a Mercedes-Benz FO 108T engine. Driving for McLaren-Mercedes are Lewis Hamilton and Fernado Alonso. Lewis Hamilton, from England, has entered a total of seven Grand Prix. He has not yet won a World Championship for Formula One racing. Spanish driver Fernado Alonso has entered over 95 Grand Prix races and has won two World Championships.

Based in Maranello, Italy, team Ferrari has been competing in Formula One racing since 1950. Ferrari has won fourteen World Championships. Ferrari utilizes a 056 engine in the team’s 2007 racecars. Brazilian native Felipe Massa has entered a total of 78 Formula One racing Grand Prix but has not yet won a World Championship. The 2006 Formula One racing season was Massa’s first with Ferrari. He is considered a rising star in the Formula One racing circuit. Massa’s teammate driver is Kimi Raikkonen of Finland. 2007 is Raikkonen’s first season with Ferrari but he has entered 112 Grand Prix during his Formula One racing career. His failure to win a World Championship is blamed on equipment performance rather than his driving ability.

Team BMW Sauber has dual home bases in Munich, Germany and Hinwil, Switzerland. Former team principal Peter Sauber stepped down after the team takeover by BMW in 2006. The team, which has been competing in Formula One racing since 1993 has not won a World Championship. For the 2007 Formula One racing season the team’s cars are equipped with a BMW P86/7 engine. Neither Nick Heidfeld nor Robert Kubica, the team’s two drivers, have ever won a World Championship. Heidfeld, a German, is more experienced, having entered 124 Grand Prix. Kubica is the first Polish driver to compete in Formula One racing. While he is an experienced test driver, Kubica has only entered 12 Grand Prix during his career.

Enstone, England is the home base for the Renault team. Renault has won two World Championships since it began competing in Formula One racing in 1977. For 2007 Renault is using the RS27 engine for Formula One racing competition. Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen is a relative newcomer in Formula One racing having entered only 7 Grand Prix. His more experienced teammate, Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, brings the experience of 186 Grand Prix to the 2007 season but neither has won a Formula One World Championship.

Of the remaining seven Formula One racing teams for the 2007 season, only Williams-Toyota, Toyota and Red Bull-Renault are considered serious competition

Winning a World Championship in Formula One racing is dependent upon the right mixture of excellent equipment and skillful drivers. The competition is fierce. Finding the right combination is the difference between a win and second place. These teams are ready to go.

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By admin, November 17, 2009 11:49 pm

Spectators at Formula One racing events notice race marshals using flags to send messages to the drivers. The marshals, positioned around the track, each have ten different flags. Today the flags serve an information source for spectators. Modern Formula One racing speeds make it difficult for drivers to be aware of the flags and react in a timely manner. Technological innovations now allow each Formula One racing cockpit to be equipped with a GPS marshalling system that displays the flag color when the driver is passing the relevant track location.

Formula One racing flags follow a pattern. Many of the flags are common to most auto racing events and familiar to the general public. Others are specific to Formula One racing.

The black and white checkered flag is perhaps the best known of all racing flags. The checkered flag indicates the finish of a session or race. During qualifying and practice sessions the flag is waved when the allotted time has elapsed. At the end of a Formula One racing event the checkered flag is waved first at the winner and then at all following cars so that they understand that the race has been completed.

The red flag is also used to indicate the end of a Formula One racing session. The waving of a red flag indicates that the session has ended early, generally as a result of poor track conditions or because of an accident.

The yellow and red striped flag informs drivers of adverse track conditions, such as oil or water on the track. It also may indicate debris on the track.

Marshals may wave either one or two solid yellow flags in Formula One racing. A single yellow flag warns drivers to slow down. Overtaking is not permitted. The yellow flag indicates a problem ahead, often a stranded car. Two yellow flags are waved at once to indicate an even greater danger ahead and that vehicles may be required to stop. A single yellow flag along with the SC sign indicates to drivers that the safety car will be entering the track.

When a slow moving vehicle has entered the track in Formula One racing the marshals wave a white flag, indicating that a reduction in speed is necessary.

The green flag is waved as a message that the track has been cleared and the race may resume full speed.

In Formula One racing the blue flag serves as a warning signal to a driver that a faster car is approaching. The driver is required to allow the faster car to pass. A driver that fails to allow the faster car to pass after passing three blue flags may be penalized.

Formula One racing also uses flags to communicate to drivers regarding their status.

A half black, half white flag is used in conjunction with a sign indicating a specific car number. Formula One racing uses this signal to inform a driver that his behavior is unacceptable. If the behavior continues the driver will be disqualified.

A solid black flag accompanied by a car number sign notifies a driver that he has been disqualified and must return to his pit within the next lap.

The final flag used by Formula One racing marshals is a black flag with an orange circle in the center. This flag is waved to tell a driver that a vehicle mechanical problem has been detected. The driver must return the car to the pit.

Flags allow Formula One racing spectators to easily follow the flow of a Formula One racing event.

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By admin, October 20, 2009 12:01 am

Formula One racing, often referred to as Grand Prix racing, is the top class of motor sports in the world. Most commonly it is abbreviated as F1 racing. The title Formula One racing refers to the rules, or “formula” that all cars and participants in Formula One racing must follow. These strict rules make Formula One racing the most competitive of all motor sports.

Formula One racing developed out of the early 1900s European Grand Prix racing. Early Grand Prix racing had a “formula” of rules for drivers and their vehicles. Following World War II an even stricter formula was developed. This new formula was referred to as Formula One, indicating that it was number one as far as being the most challenging set of rules to follow. The first Formula One World Championship race was held in England in 1950. Italian Giuseppe Farina holds the title of First World Champion Formula One driver. He won driving an Alfa Romeo. Formula One World Championships are now awarded in two divisions, one for the driver and one for the constructor, or builder, of the racecar.

Europe is home to Formula One racing. Over the years the Formula One racing venues have expanded around the globe. The circuit now includes races in Bahrain, Shanghai and Fiji as well as the more traditional locations of Monte Carlo and Magny-Cours. Less than half of the 2007 season Formula One races will be held in Europe. The Formula One racing season lasts from March through October each year.

Typically Formula One racing circuits consist of at least one straight stretch of road. This stretch is home to the starting grid for the race. The remainder of the track contains a series of curves and turns. Most of the races are run in a clockwise direction. Multiple laps of the circuit are required to complete the race. The 305-kilometer Formula One race takes 1 to 2 hours to complete. Currently Grand Prix Formula One races are held on circuits specifically designed for Formula One racing. Formula One racing continues to be held on street circuits including Montreal, Melbourne and the Circuit de Monaco. Street courses are popular but are not considered to meet the high safety standards required for Formula One racing.

Formula One racecars are built following strict standards for weight, safety and design. The cars used for Formula One racing are a cross between modern automotive design and the aerodynamic feature of a jet airplane. Formula One racing reaches speeds of over 220 miles per hour. Because the cars are designed to be lightweight their aerodynamics are designed to create a downforce that holds them to the pavement. Despite the advanced design, Formula One racing relies on fuel nearly identical to regular automotive gasoline.

Formula One racing draws fans from around the world. Television broadcasting of Formula One racing reaches over 200 countries and millions of viewers. This surge in race fans has made Formula One racing popular with sponsors who view their investment in the racing teams as a marketing/merchandising expense.

Formula One racing sets the standard for motor sports. It has a long history and continues to grow and change as the sport evolves.