HRT Formula 1 Team incorporates Kyocera Document Solutions as its Official Supplier through a collaboration agreement for the 2012 season. The Spanish team will count on Kyocera’s services, which include needs for management and printing of documents, both at the team’s permanent offices in the Caja Mágica and at the mobile offices that travel throughout the world during the Formula 1 season.

Kyocera Document Solutions has a vast experience in the sporting world and, even more so, in the motorsport one, since it’s responsible for the management and printing of documents at the F1 and MotoGP Grands Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya, Valencia Street Circuit and Motorland Aragón. At all of these Kyocera offers high quality devices and services that adapt to the rigurous demands that any F1 Grand Prix has, meeting the demands of the media office and the organization at the circuit itself, including a permanent 24-hour service.

The ceramic components of Kyocera are not only integrated in our printing devices, giving them a greater durability and resistence, but they are also present in many other industries, such as some F1 cars where there are parts incorporating Kyocera’s ceramic components that have to cope with extreme temperatures.

HRT Formula 1 Team continues to progress firmly towards its objective of consolidating itself and growing and it now takes another step forward thanks to the partnership with the multinational Japanese company Kyocera. It’s another support for the young Spanish outfit who, thanks to the seriousness and hard work that it proves day by day, has more national and international companies willing to back HRT, contributing to its consolidation and progress in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Óscar Sánchez, KYOCERA Document Solutions General Manager: “A team such as HRT Formula 1 Team needs to be backed by the most advanced and reliable technology during the most demanding of championships. Kyocera has the latest printing machinery and a highly experimented staff, which makes us a leader in offering documentary services at any sporting events”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal HRT Formula 1 Team: “Count on a renowned multinational company as Kyocera is amongst our partners gives us a confidence and calmness of great value for our day to day work. That calmness enables us to focus on pure competition aspects knowing that our backs are covered. Our needs in terms of printing, copying and scanning are high because the engineering, operations, marketing and communications departments are continuously putting the machines to the test and it is of vital importance that this work is not interrupted. In Formula 1 you work to the limit and Kyocera gives us the support and confidence needed to be able to do it”.

ABOUT KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS

KYOCERA Document Solutions is one of the world’s leading management solutions and document printing companies in the world. With a staff of almost 15,000 employees, its range of products and services includes ECOSYS printers, reliable multifunction printers, high-quality printer supplies, an array of software solutions and managed document services. KYOCERA Document Solutions offers innovative products built with long lasting components. Its clients benefit from the market’s lowest total cost of property and from the highest efficiency in any working environment. Its portfolio of solutions and its managed document services contribute not only to reduce the environmental impact but also to improve the efficiency and reliability of business.

The Spanish windscreen repair and replacement company and HRT Formula 1 Team have signed a collaboration deal for Cristalbox to become a new sponsor of the Spanish outfit for 2012. Cristalbox, who have already been linked with the motorsport world for a few years, have decided to extend this link and have taken a step into Formula 1 alongside HRT Formula 1 Team, with the objective of supporting the Spanish team’s project in the pinnacle of world motorsport.

The deal with which Cristalbox joins the team as a sponsor has a one year duration and the glass repair company has bolstered its commitment to HRT’s project by completing a spectacular glazing job at the new Caja Mágica headquarters in Madrid. The creation of a curtain wall at the team’s workshop supposed the installation of more than 25,000 kilogrammes of specially fabricated glass and will enable the team to make the most of the sunlight and environmental conditions.

Just like the conditioning of the other project areas at the Caja Mágica facilities, the installation and reinforcement of the curtain wall has been completed in under a month, thus proving the capacity of the Spanish company to expand its services.

Javier Celaya, Cristalbox General Manager: “A passion for cars is in the genes, the DNA, of our brand and top level competition reflects the essence of Cristalbox’s values: precision, speed, safety, resistance, reliability…From an advertising point of view, after two years sponsoring Formula 1 broadcasts, this was the logical evolution: to form a part of the competition. With HRT we can support a credible Spanish project in the pinnacle of motorsport and strengthen the reach of our brand to our targets”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, HRT Team Principal: “Formula 1 is all about technology and speed, two basic principles which we share with Cristalbox. They are a leading company in our country and we’re proud that they decided to fully submerge in Formula 1 alongside us and fully back our project. I want to thank them for the trust they have put in us and also for the extraordinary efficiency with which they have completed the structure and glazing of the workshop area in our new headquarters at the Caja Mágica. It was a structural and temporal task and they passed it with flying colours. We hope to overcome many other tasks alongside them this year”.

Hugo Boss is getting some of the best value for money as a formula one sponsor, a leading sponsorship consultancy firm has found.

The evaluation by Cologne based Sport Und Markt compared brand awareness versus the amount spent by F1 sponsors in 2010.

The result showed that fashion brand Hugo Boss, a long-time McLaren sponsor, had among the most efficient investments in F1, reaching 4.9 million people for its $3.1 million annual spend.

The very best however was Hewlett-Packard, reaching 6.6 million people by spending just $1.5 million for its minor Renault branding.

Allianz comes in at 11th place, Puma 14th and Mercedes-Benz far behind in 23rd, because each person reached cost the German marque a considerable $4.78.

Also struggling for sponsorship efficiency is DHL, one of F1′s official partners, ranking 32nd with its $10 million annually buying recognition among only 300,000 people.

A spokeswoman insisted to German business newspaper Handelsblatt: “This long-term partnership is for us one of the most powerful marketing platforms.”

The Williams-racing start in Qatar an initiative to make the roads safer – it is the first of its kind in the region
The Williams team is expanding its efforts to make the road safer. Together with the Qatar National Bank (QNB), the largest private bank in Qatar and the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) will start the team some safety campaigns to alert the population in Qatar on the dangers in traffic. One wants to move 25,000 residents to more cautious and forward-looking driving style.

Some team members of the racing team will hold lectures in schools and universities. QSTP will promote road safety through simulators, developed in the Williams factory and used for driving instruction, training and education are. The initiative in Qatar as well as other programs will run from Williams, including the partnership with DEKRA in Germany: The Williams program focuses on energy efficiency, education and road safety.

The campaign is the first of its kind in the region. It is intended to encompass all stages of life, not just the current driver, but also the future. As an incentive, a Williams-powered car in different places will be issued.
TMS

Polyphony Digtial has today fully revealed the “X1 Prototype”, a project in conjunction with Red Bull Racing.

All races that exist in today’s world are restricted by regulations. However the X1 is a machine born from a fantastic “what if” dream of Polyphony; “What would the fastest racing car on Earth, free of any and all regulations look like?”

Initially the X1 prototype was a single seater, canopied prototype wing car with covered front wheels. The performance brought about by the 1500ps direct injection V6 Twin Turbo would have been spectacular as is, with a top speed of 400km/h and a maximum lateral acceleration of 6G. But this concept showed an even greater advancement through the help of Red Bull Racing, who became a partner in this project.

Red Bull Racing’s chief technical officer, the genius aerodynamicist Adrian Newey proposed that “Fan Car” technology, a dream that he had held to himself over the years be added to the X1 Prototype.

A “fan car” is a vehicle having a fan mechanism which forces the air out from underneath the car, to reduce air pressure under the car’s floor. The resulting suction draws the car to the ground surface and creates a massive amount of downforce. And because it can create downforce regardless of the vehicle’s current speed, it dramatically raises it’s cornering speed even in low speed corners.

The incredible ability of fan cars has already been proven in history. The Chaparral 2J fan car entered in the 1970 Can-Nam series was so fast that it was banned after just 1 season. Even in the F1, the BT46B fan car entered in 1978 by Brabham dominated the opening round of the series with extreme speed, and was banned just after that single race.

With this proposal from Mr. Newey, the machine was transformed with a large fan added to the rear end of the body. With additional advice regarding the shapes of the front and rear wings and rear diffuser, its aerodynamics became even further refined. As a result, the X1 prototype attained an astonishing level of performance, reaching a top speed of over 450km/h, with a maximum lateral acceleration reaching up to 8.75G. This is a performance level that is at the very limits of what a normal human body can withstand.

The driver who performed the shakedown test of the machine in Gran Turismo 5, was the world famous Sebastian Vettel. In his very first run on the Suzuka Circuit, he shortened the record time of the course by over 20 seconds. And in the test drive on the Nurburgring GP Course, he marked a record time of 1 minute 4 seconds, drawing out the incredible potential of the X1 Prototype.

This is the dream of the fastest racing car on land, brought to life through the collaboration between Polyphony and Red Bull. Witness for yourself the power of the X1 through the in-game “X1 Challenge”, the first driving lesson ever in Gran Turismo to be performed by a top professional driver.

Adrian Newey, Chief Technical Officer at Red Bull Racing

The results were thrilling. X1 is about evolution. Delivering the optimum combination of tested technologies in a single integrated design. This would be the future of racing were we not bound by regulations, but one that is achievable today. And as Sebastian has shown, it is about devastating speed coupled with real handling control. Today thanks to PlayStation®3 and Gran Turismo we can test drive the future.

Kazunori Yamauchi, President, Polyphony Digital Inc and creator of the Gran Turismo series

X1 sees the marriage of virtual and real worlds as we explore the boundaries of our technology and aesthetic senses. The X1 Prototype Project has been motivated by curiosity and passion, powerful forces that brought together the best the world has to offer in design, physics simulation, racing car product technology and driving.

X1 Downforce Specifications

Lets try calculating the cornering G’s of the X1 at 300km/h from the total tire load and coefficient of friction for the tires.

The total load on the X1′s tires at 300km/h is 1142.7kgf at the front tires, and 1432kgf at the rear tires. The coefficient of friction for the tires isμ=1.97. From these conditions, the maximum cornering force that the tires can exhibit can be determined to be 5073kgf. Dividing this by the wet weight of the X1 of 615kg comes to be 8.25, which is the maximum cornering G of the X1.

8.25G greatly exceeds the G’s felt during the launch of the Space Shuttle, and is roughly the same as that of a jet fighter plane at full afterburner. It is a figure at the very limits of what a human body can withstand.

Test Calculation: Cornering G at 300km/h
Total Tire Load: 2575.6kgf (Front Wheel 1142.7kgf+Rear Wheel 1432.9kgf)
Coefficient of Friction of Tires: μ=1.97 (baseμ=2.16, model calculates an efficiency reduction to 91.5% under high load)
Cornering force that can be exhibited by tires: 5073.9kgf
Cornering G: 8.25G (= 5073.9kgf / 615kg)

Read more: http://www.worldcarfans.com/110102929262/red-bull-x1-prototype-revealed-for-gran-turismo-5-video#ixzz13tUTExBi

Norbert Haug has quietly praised Ferrari’s strategy in integrating a blown diffuser on its 2010 car.

Mercedes, McLaren and Renault have all had problems with the Red Bull-like layout at recent races.

But Ferrari, now the closest team in terms of pace to the championship leaders, introduced its version in several phases, beginning at Valencia in June.

Even in Hungary last weekend, the troublesomely hot exhaust gases were only being blown over the top of the Ferrari diffuser, with the full effect to only be seen at the next race at Spa.

“Perhaps it was not a bad decision of Ferrari’s not to rush,” Mercedes’ Haug is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

Meanwhile, Robert Kubica denied that Renault’s 2010 car is still suffering from a loss of engine power due to its initial blown floor efforts.

“This is now fixed,” the Pole said.  “We are back at our old efficiency.”

Force India has become the latest team to commit to using KERS in 2011.

When the energy-recovery systems were first permitted by the technical regulations last year, the Silverstone based team opted not to use the technology.

But for 2011, the FOTA gentleman’s ban on the systems will lapse, and the efficiency of KERS will improve due to the increase in the minimum car/driver weight by 20kg.

Moreover, the interaction of KERS with the car’s weight distribution will also be negated in 2011, due to the introduction of a mandatory 46:54 ratio.

“There is no other option than to go with KERS,” Force India’s chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

However, Auto Motor und Sport said it is not clear if independent teams Sauber and Toro Rosso will use KERS next year, adding that all three new teams will probably not race the systems.

Teams not developing their own KERS systems for 2011 will be able to buy a supply for 1 million euros, while a 5 million euro per team development cap applies.

Red Bull can avoid the alleged detriment of engine performance been good. But team boss Christian Horner is not sure whether this can succeed again in 2011. His team will also start next year with Renault engines. “According to studies, we have three percent less power,” Horner says to ‘Autosport’ to compare the engines of Renault and Mercedes top of the class.

“These are about 30-35 hp, which may account for duchaus four tenths per lap. As long as we have not rehearsed on independent test facilities, we can not say exactly,” said Horner. He added: “We hear Ross Brawn often talk about weight, focus or efficiency of cooling. The more power you, the more heat is also generated. You have to see it holistically. When can the aerodynamic rules little room, then the motor an important factor. ”
Horner himself is now sorry to have to bring the subject motor alignment always on the table. “In the regulations it is not clearly defined, that is the problem.” The Red Bull team boss wants to know his words understood nich as criticism of Renault. “We have a great relationship with Renault. Unfortunately, the product is frozen in the development, at the same time remains of course the deficit.”

“Mercedes has made clear that they will serve no other team, so we must find other ways for the coming season to establish a healthy balance,” said Horner. “It is not good if one engine is significantly superior to all others.” The Renault engine but also have advantages: “It is compact, a good machine – just like the Ferrari. But lack of PS-figures can not be offset by other things.”

Ferrari has confirmed that a new exhaust system is among the changes to its 2010 car to debut on the streets of Valencia this weekend.

It has been reported that the revised F10, tested by Fernando Alonso at Fiorano and seen on a fan video posted on the internet, features a Red Bull-like layout for the exhausts.

Ferrari also revealed that test driver Marc Gene was at the wheel of the car for an aerodynamic test at Vairano last week.

The low-mounted exhausts, located directly ahead of the double diffuser, are tipped to slice up to half a second off laptimes.

Maranello based Ferrari on Tuesday confirmed that the Valencia upgrade includes “several modifications and updates”, although “not quite as far-reaching or extensive as (the) reports have suggested!”

The team said: “The most significant feature is a new configuration for the exhaust system, aimed at improving the aerodynamic efficiency of the car.”
(GMM)

After the not very successful weekend in Canada is at Renault in reparations from Valencia. Then do it in Montreal, failed to make ground on Mercedes, but considers the silver arrows were not even going, it will run better in Spain. The R30 has been upgraded to catch up in the Spanish port city with new parts. Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov, who won there in GP2 already are confident at least for the weekend.

Kubica looks at the layout of lines similar to Montreal. “The biggest difference between the two circuits makes the asphalt. In Montreal, the new pavement proved to be extremely slippery. In this regard, should the tar in Valencia offer a higher level and play for us in the cards – even if the playing field equal for all” believes the poles, the speculation with a higher grip levels: “It is also in Spain, at a road course, we count on Friday again with low grip, in the course of the weekend but should be always better – especially in the framework more racing series at the Start walking with their tire wear should also create a firmer track. ”
Both Kubica and Petrov swarm in contrast to their colleagues about Valencia. “I was not only because of my GP2 victory of good memories of Valencia. I know the track inside out in terms of braking points, racing line, which curbs you can run over any problems and how the tires will behave in the race. Of course, that is in a Formula 1 all represent something different. But my starting point will be better than in Canada, “says the young Russian.

His Polish team-mate, it looks like this: “I know that many drivers assess this differently, but for me, I can say I like the track. The mixture of street circuit and a modern Grand Prix circuit makes the thing from my point of view so interesting. The basic layout reminiscent of the many rather slow corners at the Grand Prix of Canada. As in Montreal, it is in Valencia in the first place on a high braking stability and traction for accelerating out – and this should be our Renault R30. ”
Aerodynamics important than in Canada

However in Valencia, aerodynamics more into play, so Kubica: “We will go with a higher degree of aerodynamic downforce at the start than in Canada, yet comes to the aerodynamic efficiency is very important: As many as four times per round, we penetrate into very high speed ranges before. ” Petrov for the beloved Valencia comes after the disappointment of Canada just right. The Russian said, however, that he has learned from the weekend in his teaching overseas.
“First of all, I am of course aware that I have undermined during the race bug”, there are self-critical and Petrov said: “At the start I have made too much risk when I saw the grass beside the track in line with my incorporated. They paid off Unfortunately not, instead I was given a drive-through penalty. However, it was important to finish the race and collect more information – especially about the handling of the tires in different conditions. This experience I will help in the future, in certain situations better . respond ”

The focus at Renault but at the moment the duel with Mercedes. The French want to finish the season fail before the silver arrows. 29 points separate the two teams currently work from each other. For Kubica, the distance “to the stables, which are currently at the top is not so huge. But we must still make up a lot of ground. And so we will only succeed if we continue to work full steam ahead and improve ourselves constantly.”

The Pole is certainly top-motivated: “If it goes for me, after we beat everybody, not just Mercedes.” The new parts on the R30 will bring about change. “I wonder how much the car improved and if I need to adjust my driving style,” said Petrov, who also assesses other strong teams, “In Montréal Force India was very fast. We must see that we can beat them . In addition, enjoys the duel with Mercedes currently the highest priority for our team. “

Robert Kubica has admitted he is worried about whether Renault is fully prepared to perform on the streets of Monaco this weekend.

The Pole, who switched to the Enstone based team following three and a half years at BMW, said he has always enjoyed a specific bodywork package for the unique street layout.

“Unfortunately we don’t have a specific downforce level for here,” he revealed to reporters on Wednesday.

“Normally from the past I was used to having some different wings with more downforce.

“Drag and efficiency is not so important here in Monaco, but we will be using practically the same wings as all year, so we will have to see if our downforce level is good for here,” he added.

The 25-year-old is currently eighth in the drivers’ championship, having finished four of the five races so far in the points.

(GMM)

May 3 (GMM)  One of James Key’s first tasks as technical director will be to oversee a “small restructuring” of the struggling Sauber team.

In the wake of former owner BMW’s departure and founder Peter Sauber’s return as privateer, the Hinwil based squad has struggled notably with the pace and reliability of the C29.

Key, newly arrived in long time technical director Willy Rampf’s wake, said on Monday he has completed his initial analysis after switching from Force India.

“It requires a slightly new approach to the way certain areas work to make better use of the size the team is now,” he said.

“In the short term there is going to be a small restructuring within the technical group, which I have just started instigating.

“This should allow the team to be more in tune with the smaller organisation it is now, particularly in terms of the efficiency of its operation,” added Key.

May 3 (GMM)  Volkswagen is interested in formula one but has no intention of launching a Mercedes-like works team.

That is the latest message given by Hans-Joachim Stuck, a former grand prix driver and now the motor sport representative of the German carmaker giant.

“It is clear that we are looking at formula one,” he is quoted as saying by Sport Bild magazine.

“We are waiting for the FIA’s decision in respect of the use of a world engine for formula one.  If there is (a world engine) we will discuss whether to build it for formula one,” added Stuck.

He clarified that VW would only be an engine supplier and not have “our own team like Mercedes”.

The ‘world engine’ concept – with possible deployment across various motor racing categories – has been touted by the FIA.

But regarding a new engine formula for 2013, the current discussions in F1 are about the likelihood of a 1.5 litre turbocharged 4-cylinder and a powerful KERS.

It is believed that the world engine concept is not popular among F1′s existing manufacturers.

While pushing for smaller engines for 2013, the FIA is also keen to improve the fuel efficiency of the current 2.4 litre V8 designs.

Ferrari’s former engine boss Gilles Simon, now working with the FIA, said in the latest edition of In Motion magazine that F1 should “push forward with fuel efficiency”.

“If, as an engine engineer, I am given a maximum fuel load, I will try to give the driver the maximum horsepower possible, building the most efficient engine I can,” he said.

Simon added that the FIA wants “to try to adapt the rules we have in the run-up to the new engine formula”.

Mar.24 (GMM-YF1) According to rumours from the Melbourne pitlane on Wednesday, Sauber is ready to test an initial version of the controversial McLaren-style knee-activated air inlet system.

The innovation, where air is allowed to pass through the car and onto the rear wing by the movement of the drivers’ knee, was declared legal on McLaren’s MP4-25 in Bahrain two weeks ago.

Basically, the system works by ’stalling’ the efficiency of the downforce-producing rear wing, thereby producing more straight-line speed when the car is not cornering.

McLaren had spent some time pioneering the system, so it is a surprise that Sauber has so quickly readied a version for its Ferrari-powered C29.

It is believed the Swiss team has not decided whether to actually run the system in Melbourne this weekend.

Asked by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, technical boss Willy Rampf said: “Ask me (about it) on Friday.”

It is likely Mercedes will be among the next F1 teams to also introduce the inlet system.

“We had an idea that they (McLaren) were doing it — we didn’t understand how they were doing it,” said team boss Ross Brawn. “But now we do.”