While we’re unlikely to see the Jaguar brand on a Formula 1 car anytime soon, Williams has stated that after its collaboration on the Jaguar C-X75 Concept, it would like to develop the relationship further, becoming Jaguar’s official racing arm. Autocar reports that Williams chairman Adam Parr says: “We would like to become the competition and sporting side of Jaguar.”

The Jaguar C-X75 set the supercar world aflutter when it appeared as a concept at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and since then it has been under development with Williams. The kinetic energy recovery system could have great potential and while Williams isn’t saying much about the technology being built around the C-X75, we’re lead to believe exciting innovations are on the way.

According to Parr from Williams, the C-X75 is set to be the world’s most environmentally friendly supercar, and with racing potential to meet future regulations, it’s a tantalising idea which is becoming reality. Parr says: “We are concentrating on a downsized internal combustion engine combined with some pretty amazing kinetic energy-recovery systems.

“The C-X75 is not a Le Mans car, of course. But Jaguar had a tremendous record at Le Mans. I think you can say that competition and high-performance cars is an area where Jaguar are keen to develop their brand.” How much do you like the sound of that?

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According to reports from the Italian press, the Fiat Group could be considering a completely new management of Ferrari, separate from the rest of the group’s automotive activities. Similar to the recent separation of Fiat Industrial, apparently plans are being considered to place Ferrari under Exor management.

Exor is the investment arm of the Agnelli family and with a 30 percent Fiat stake is also the largest shareholder in the group. Ferrari is not 100 percent owned by Fiat though, with 10 percent of shares owned by Piero Ferrari - any new deal would required his approval. This news follows recent rumours of a Formula 1 takeover bid from Exor and News Corp, with Ferrari being mentioned in the F1 flurry last week.

The car manufacturer has said that it isn’t directly involved in any takeover bid of the F1 sport, but it would be difficult to distance itself if Exor were to reveal its hand - or if Exor were to take control of Ferrari itself. Removing Ferrari from the Fiat stable and placing it under completely separate control would drastically reduce the value of the Fiat Group, particularly as it moves to an even closer partnership with Chrysler. Recently Sergio Marchionne, Fiat CEO, estimated Ferrari’s value to be at five billion euros.

Source | IlSole24Ore via Autoblog.it

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Rosberg and Schumacher have that love-hate relationship which seems to go with so many Formula 1 teams and in other motorsports, too. The rivalry is being played up by Mercedes in a series of videos, with the first depicting a jovial competition over the size of champagne bottles.

This latest is a bit more bizarre, with Rosberg and Schumacher coming to the rescue of a pregnant woman about to give birth who must choose between the two to get to hospital. The videos are in contrast to the initial flop of the Mercedes Formula 1 season so we’ll see whether the company can’t save the day with these amusing videos at least.

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This video on developing the McLaren MP4-12C is the first in a series on how the MP4-12C was built. This one focuses on the initial testing and development phases, using a Formula 1 simulator and meeting the McLaren test driver. We get an idea of the testing procedure, in Bahrain and at the Arctic Circle, and see track drives at the Nurburgring together with daily rambles around the highways and byways of the UK.

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The McLaren P11 could be called the McLaren MP4-12C on its 2009 Frankfurt motor show debut next week. The Times has revealed that the presentation of the supercar is only the start in the creation of a new global brand of supercars.

As the name would suggest, the McLaren “P11″ is inspired by the MP4-12 Formula 1 car of 1997. It was a legendary year for the brand, winning the F1 and bringing the “silver arrow” back to icon status.

The MP4-12C name is set to acknowledge the partnership with Mercedes both in the past, and also with this new McLaren P11 model. With a couple of Formula 1/supercar touches such as gullwing doors, the MP4-12C will be powered by a V8 engine with a seven-speed gearbox and self-adjusting suspension.

The new model is set to be the first in three models to be released, with McLaren aiming for yearly production of 4,000 models, selling 1,000 in the first year. The other models to be introduced prior to 2015 will be entry-level models competing with the Porsche 911 and then filling the gap left by the Carrera GT, discontinued by Porsche. We’ll be waiting for next week’s Frankfurt show to get the details.

Source | The Times via Autoblog

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Ross Brawn is set to auction some of the historic pieces from the old Honda Formula 1 team. And in another act of liquidity, it appears Renault has also taken a similar decision. But there’s a catch: none of the models will be sold as whole cars, with only single components being available.

At the next Silverstone Classic Race Meeting Ross Brawn will sell the chassis of the BAR and Honda, which partecipated in F1 seasons from 2001 to 2006. And for the joy of fans, the prices are not stratospheric, with the 2001 BAR apparently up for grabs at 8,000 euros. As far as decorative pieces go, it’s not bad memorabilia.

The only dissatisfaction is likely to be for Brawn, as the auction proceeds will be far inferior to the 20 million pounds that the team has lost for the rights to the Honda name, and therefore revenue, that haven’t been recognised.

At the Silverstone GP Renault is to promoted a similar initiative, with chassis, engines and other components of F1 that have participated in the British gran prix up for sale. It looks like the right time to be collecting bits and pieces of memorabilia.

Source | PistonHeads

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All these lovely F1 cars were present at the Geneva show, from vintage F1 models to modern examples. If you’re an F1 fan, there’s nothing better than comparing models to see developments in technology and aerodynamics, from Honda in 1984 to Jaguar.

Continue reading: F1 models at Geneva

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In conjunction with the presentation of the new Toyota Formula 1 single seater for 2009, Toyota has released the first shots of the new car, along with this curious, fast-forwarded video of the construction of the Toyota F1.

The video re-traces the assembly of the TF109 in all its production phases, until ready for the track. If only it were really that fast!

Source | Jalopnik

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