Articles

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Edward Jones – April 04, 2022

DeLorean's New Electric Car Gets Official Reveal Date And...

The legend returns. After a very long break, the DeLorean Motor Company is back with an all-new model. While the vehicle doesn't have a name, we do have a teaser image and the date that we will finally be able to see the new DeLorean car. As far as the image goes, you can see the full-size teaser down below. In it, we see a sliver of the rear with three horizontal stripes of LED lights that make up the taillight. Also, the rear window features louvers just like the original DMC-12. The physical reveal will happen on August 18, 2022, on the prestigious Awards Ramp at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance -- 3 days earlier than previously scheduled (originally scheduled on August 21 on the Concept Lawn). "Excitement is rising like the doors of our iconic sports car, and we are revealing the next generation prototype 3 days earlier than planned on the most prestigious stage at Pebble beach," said Troy Beetz, CMO of DeLorean Motor Company Inc. Be sure to check back with us for more information on the new electric DeLorean as it's released. View All DeLoreans For Sale Image Source: DeLorean

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By Tyler Rampersaud – March 11, 2022

Wiesmann Is Back With A Car Codenamed After 007

It’s been a while since we heard from Wiesmann, but we’re ready to pick up right where we left off. Wiesmann was known for making pure, down-to-earth, powerful, and utterly gorgeous sports cars and convertibles, like the MF3 and GT, with instantly recognizable vintage-inspired looks, irresistible sports car proportions with their long hoods and short rear sections that hearken back to touring cars of old, and BMW-derived engines paired with manual transmissions and rear-wheel drive that make for the purest driving pleasure with no shortcuts and no overcomplications. MUST READ: The Best Investment Supercars You Can Buy Today However, the brand has been dormant for some time, but now they’ve returned and announced that return by posting pictures of a testing car going all out across an icy expanse. It’s called “Project Thunderball,” named after the Sean Connery-era James Bond movie, released in 1965. Wiesmann says that the car is going to be comparable to modern cars while retaining the Wiesmann DNA and that it will be crafted by the same team that Wiesmann cars have before, as the last “truly independent European sports car marque remaining today.” If the car looks anything like the Wiesmanns of the past, which even despite the camouflage, we can see that it does, it will undoubtedly appeal to the same effortless, classic, vintage glamor that its eponymous film embodies, and combining that beauty with the performance and dynamism Wiesmann has always been known for, it’s surely going to be a car fit for a Bond of any era.

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 10, 2022

The New BMW iX5 Hydrogen Is Put To The Test Near The Arct...

The BMW iX5 gets a new letter: H. While much less popular than battery electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars are another very viable way of going about making a car that lacks CO2 emissions. In the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen, the contents of two carbon-fiber, 700-bar hydrogen tanks are converted into electric power, which is then used to move a motor with 170 horsepower. However, power can also be stored in a battery, which receives power from energy recovery or from the fuel cell. When needed the iX5 Hydrogen can produce up to 374 horsepower from the total system. BMW has been testing the iX5 Hydrogen at their testing grounds far north in the Swedish Lapland, and that’s because hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have a unique set of advantages over both gasoline internal combustion engines and battery electric vehicles, and that has everything to do with their ability to perform in the most extreme cold weather. MUST READ: BMW’s New i4 and iX Get A Google Cloud AR Experience Ahead Of US Launch We all know what driving a gasoline car in the cold is like. Starting the car, driving it, and getting heat in the interior is all a struggle, full of discomfort and added aspects to remember and attend to ensure that your car stays in good condition. And the extreme cold isn’t the kindest to batteries, either. From experience with smartphones and other battery-powered devices in our everyday lives, we know that the cold can be tough on batteries when it comes to power consumption, and recharging technology still hasn’t managed to catch up with the speed of pumping gasoline. Hydrogen offers unparalleled performance in these temperatures, with unfazed performance in the extreme weather, and a refueling experience with speed and efficiency more similar to gasoline cars. Along with this, BMW sees the iX5 Hydrogen as an option for those who lack access to electric charging infrastructure, but still want to drive with minimal environmental impact. BMW plans to release a small series of the iX5 Hydrogen later this year and has also announced a commitment to improving hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Source: BMW

By duPont REGISTRY – March 08, 2022

duPont REGISTRY Secures Second and Final Round of Series ...

Ikonick Motors investment closes out the Series A round of financing. Miami, FLORIDA – March 8, 2022: duPont Publishing, Inc. (d/b/a “duPont Registry”), a Motorsport Network company, today announced that it has closed the second and final round of Series A financing, led by entrepreneur and philanthropist Barry L. Skolnick, founder of Ikonick Motors, LLC, home to some of the world’s finest artworks and automobiles. Barry Skolnick said: “duPont Registry is known as the market leader in the luxury automotive marketplace and now, as part of the Motorsport Network portfolio and being able to take advantage of the company’s digital footprint and global reach, there is no doubt in my mind that duPont Registry will achieve great success in leveraging its existing business model to become a world leader in the online marketplace for selling and buying supercars and other luxury autos.” duPont Registry sits at the nexus of Motorsport Network’s Driven Lifestyle division, harnessing in one ecosystem, the culture, community and commerce of the world’s luxury and classic automotive lifestyle. The Driven Lifestyle portfolio features Canossa Events, synonymous with excellence in road touring, and the organizer of 250+ marquee experiences per year for driving enthusiasts. Part of Canossa Events, Cavallino is one of the preeminent media and concours events companies in the world, hosting landmark events for high-end automotive collectors and admirers, such as the Annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic. The Driven Lifestyle portfolio also features FerrariChat, a leading global social platform and the foremost voice for Ferrari owners and enthusiasts, with 20+ years of experience connecting approximately 200K engaged registered members. duPont Registry has been a market leader in the luxury automotive marketplace for over 36 years, dedicated to connecting affluent buyers with high-end exotic cars and luxury auto brands. Motorsport Network will use this second and final tranche of Series A financing to launch duPont Registry’s new business venture of building the most innovative, influential, and sophisticated online marketplace for selling and buying ultra-luxury and exotic automobiles, providing an exceptional experience for the affluent consumer dedicated to a driven lifestyle. duPont Registry is poised to lead the digital transformation of the industry, given the rapidly paced global classic, luxury and exotic car markets and the acceleration of online automotive retailing. Will Chapman, CEO, duPont Registry said: “This second and final round of Series A strategic investment by Ikonick Motors will allow duPont Registry to continue its planned growth trajectory, while at the same time allowing us to work with Barry and his team.” To read all Motorsport Network announcements, please click here.

By Edward Jones – March 01, 2022

duPont REGISTRY Secures Strategic Investment

Victor M. Gómez III commits to make a significant investment in Series A round of financing. Miami, FLORIDA – March , 2022: duPont Publishing, Inc. (d/b/a “duPont Registry”), a Motorsport Network company, today announced that it has closed a Series A round of financing, led by a strategic investor, Victor M. Gómez, III. Mr. Gómez is the founder of Gómez Hermanos Kennedy, LLC, one of the largest luxury car dealer networks in the Americas, who has operated authorized dealerships for brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Porsche, Audi, Maserati, Land Rover, and Jaguar, among others. Victor M. Gómez III said: “I have been following duPont Registry for decades and there is no better or bigger name in the luxury car marketplace. In combination with Motorsport Network and its technical capabilities and global reach, with approximately 62 million active monthly users, I’m sure we will take this business to the next level.” duPont Registry has been a market leader in the luxury automotive marketplace for over 36 years, dedicated to connecting affluent buyers with high-end exotic cars and luxury brands. With this initial round of strategic financing, Motorsport Network will further extend and grow duPont Registry’s leadership position as the most influential, innovative, and sophisticated ultra-luxury automotive marketplace, providing an exceptional experience for the affluent consumer dedicated to a driven lifestyle. With the fast-growing global classic, luxury, and exotic car markets and the acceleration of automotive digital retailing, duPont Registry is poised to lead the digital transformation of the industry. duPont Registry sits at the nexus of Motorsport Network’s Driven Lifestyle division, harnessing in one ecosystem, the culture, community, and commerce of the world’s luxury and classic automotive lifestyle. The Driven Lifestyle portfolio features Canossa Events, synonymous with excellence in road touring, and the organizer of 250 marquee experiences per year for driving enthusiasts. Part of Canossa Events, Cavallino is one of the preeminent media and concours events companies in the world, hosting landmark events for high-end automotive collectors and admirers, such as the Annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic. The Driven Lifestyle portfolio also features FerrariChat a leading global social platform and the foremost voice for Ferrari owners and enthusiasts, with 20 years of experience connecting approximately 200K engaged registered members. Will Chapman, CEO, duPont Registry said: “Welcoming the Gómez Family as our partners is a testament to the growth potential of this industry. Their extensive knowledge and unparalleled reputation in the ultra-luxury and exotic automobile space, along with their deep understanding of the affluent automotive consumer, will drive tremendous value in our development of new products, services, and experiences.” Oliver Ciesla, CEO, Motorsport Network said: “We see a huge potential to quickly grow our Driven Lifestyle division by integrating its activities into Motorsport Network’s advanced digital platform and by expanding internationally. Victor’s experience and support will accelerate our plans to build the leading online marketplace for selling and buying supercars. I very much look forward to our cooperation. A warm welcome to Motorsport Network.” For additional information: James Allen, jallen@motorsport.com  About duPont Registry For over 36 years duPont Registry has been the premier exotic and luxury automotive marketplace destination for buyers and sellers of fine automobiles. It connects millions of buyers and sellers across the globe. As part of the Motorsport Network portfolio, under the Driven Lifestyle division, duPont Registry will use the advanced technology capabilities and global reach of the parent company to further extend its leadership position as the most influential, innovative, and sophisticated ultra-luxury and exotic automotive marketplace. duPont Registry’s brand authority, publication, and digital properties lead the luxury automotive marketplace with an impressive reach of nearly 10 million followers on social media. About Motorsport Network Every month approximately 62 million dedicated users visit a Motorsport Network digital property, to buy, to learn, to be entertained, or simply to feed their passion for cars and racing. We sit at the heart of the Racing and Automotive industries and provide authoritative thought leadership as well as unique experiences to our customers. We take them on a customer journey that encompasses news and insights, events, tickets, games, and eSports, so we leverage the network effect to add value to their experience.  We use our in-house technology and modern data tools to continuously test, learn, and improve. Our processes, content creation, and products are constantly evolving to better serve our audience, clients, and partners. About Víctor M. Gómez, III and the Gómez family Since 1949, the Gómez family name has represented part of what is the automotive industry in Puerto Rico, becoming the oldest and most experienced company in the automotive industry. The last name “Gómez” has become synonymous with quality and reliability. Today, the legacy continues with the fourth generation of leaders taking on new challenges. To read all Motorsport Network announcements, please click here. FORWARD-LOOKING AND OTHER CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Words such as "continue," "will," "may," "could," "should," "expect," "expected," "plans," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, many of which are generally outside the control of Motorsport Network, LLC (the "Company") and are difficult to predict. Accordingly, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any forward-looking statement and readers should not rely on any forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning, among other things: (i) the Company’s expectation to further extend and grow duPont Registry’s leadership position as the most influential, innovative, and sophisticated ultra-luxury and exotic automotive marketplace, providing an exceptional experience for the affluent consumer dedicated to a driven lifestyle and that with the fast-growing global classic, luxury and exotic car markets and the acceleration of automotive digital retailing, duPont Registry is poised to lead the digital transformation of the industry; (ii) in combination with Motorsport Network and its technical capabilities and global reach, the Company’s expectation to take the duPont Registry business to the next level; (iii) the Company’s expectation that the Gómez Family’s extensive knowledge and unparalleled reputation in the ultra-luxury automobile space, along with their deep understanding of the affluent automotive consumer, will drive tremendous value in the Company’s creation of new products, services and experiences and the Company’s expectation to launch such products, services and experiences in the near future; (iv) the Company’s expectation that as part of the Motorsport Network portfolio, under the Driven Lifestyle division, duPont Registry will use the advanced technology capabilities and global reach of the parent company to further extend its leadership position as the most influential, innovative, and sophisticated ultra-luxury and exotic automotive marketplace; and (v) the Company’s expectation of having a huge potential to quickly grow our Driven Lifestyle division by integrating its activities into Motorsport Network’s advanced digital platform and by expanding internationally and its belief that Mr. Gómez’ experience and support will accelerate the Company’s plans to build the leading online marketplace for selling and buying supercars. The Company's actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements for a number of reasons, such as due to: (i) the Company experiencing difficulties, delays or less than expected results in achieving the Company’s growth plans, objectives and expectations, such as due to a slower than anticipated economic recovery, higher than expected inflation, interest rates, unemployment and/or labor participation rates; (ii) the Company’s inability, in whole or in part, to continue to execute its business strategies and plans, such as due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its variants, related lockdowns and mandates or for other reasons; (iii) the Company experiencing difficulties and/or delays in enhancing its new products, services and experiences that could negatively impact its future development plans, such as due to difficulties or delays in launching new products, services and experiences, higher than anticipated costs incurred in developing, launching and continuing to enhance and improve such new products, services and experiences and/or less than anticipated consumer acceptance of the Company’s new products, services and experiences and/or difficulties, delays in or unanticipated events that may impact the timing and scope of new products, services and experiences, such as due to higher than anticipated expenses, operating costs, transaction costs and/or actual or contingent liabilities; adverse effects of increased competition; and/or unanticipated changes in consumer behavior, including as a result of general economic factors, such as increased inflation; (iv) the Company experiencing difficulties, delays or other disruptions in successfully realizing its expected benefits from synergizing and optimizing the relationship between Motorsport Network and duPont Registry, such as due to unexpected internet outages, server downtime, other technology-related problems, the unavailability of technical personnel, cybersecurity related issues, computer hacking or other reasons; and/or (v) the Company experiencing difficulties, delays or less than expected results in achieving the Company’s plans to quickly grow its Driven Lifestyle division, such as due to difficulties or delays in integrating the division into Motorsport Network’s platform, and/or due to less than anticipated benefits from its association with Mr. Gómez. Factors other than those referred to above could also cause the Company’s results to differ materially from expected results. The Company assumes no obligation, and it specifically disclaims any intention or obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as expressly required by law. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s plans and expectations as of any subsequent date. Additionally, the business and financial materials and any other statement or disclosure on, or made available through, the Company’s websites or any other websites referenced or linked to this press release shall not be incorporated by reference into this press release.

By Motorsport Network – February 28, 2022

IndyCar and Motorsport Network Reveal Largest Ever Global...

Over 53,000 fans responded to Motorsport Network-hosted Global INDYCAR Fan Survey, conducted by Nielsen Sport. INDYCAR’s fans share an overall favorable opinion of the current state of sport – approving of its “competitive” and “exciting” product. St. Petersburg (February 25, 2022) – INDYCAR and Motorsport Network today announced the key findings of the 2022 Global INDYCAR Fan Survey. Launched in January, the Global INDYCAR Fan Survey was commissioned by INDYCAR, hosted by Motorsport Network, and analyzed by Nielsen Sports, the global information, data, and measurement experts. Conducted in 11 languages across the Motorsport.com platform and receiving feedback from over 53,000 fans in 147 countries, the survey revealed that INDYCAR has maintained a loyal and approving fanbase while growing its ranks among younger and more diverse demographics in recent years. Big Machine Music City Grand Prix (Image Source: IndyCar) Unsurprisingly, while the U.S. comprised 56% of the survey responses, the top 5 countries also included France, the U.K., Japan, and Canada, suggesting growth in interest internationally for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. This growth reflects an expanding and more diverse audience, highlighted by 37% of respondents under 35 years of age and 12.2% of respondents identifying as female. This is the second-highest female participation rate for a survey fielded by Motorsport Network of a global racing series. “INDYCAR is growing – at a historic and rapid pace,” said Mark Miles, President, and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corporation. “Our product is viewed as competitive and exciting, and just as we’ve attracted new and talented drivers to our field, we’ve also seen admirable success in attracting new devotees to our ranks. As we embark upon a consequential and marquee year for INDYCAR, we’re tremendously encouraged by the picture the Global INDYCAR Fan Survey provides and remain confident that the future is bright for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and its stars.” Overall fan approval of the racing product is very high. INDYCAR’s top 5 attributes, as reflected by the survey, are: “competitive,” “exciting,” “entertaining,” “growing” and “dangerous,” with over 80% of the respondents viewing INDYCAR as “competitive.” Findings from the Motorsport Network INDYCAR Global Fan Survey indicate fans want to watch races live, predominantly on TV. Most INDYCAR consumers are now watching races via a combination of cable and streaming platforms, with the latter now surpassing free-to-air viewing. Paywalls remain a concern of some fans in specific markets, potentially lowering access to live races. Social media has become the leading platform for non-race weekend content for all fans and the main source of all INDYCAR content for those among the under-35 set. Fans watch the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. (Image Source: IndyCar) Based on survey respondents, esports are increasingly relevant to INDYCAR fans, with nearly half partaking in gaming weekly. This number rises to 85% among 16-24-year-olds and 70% among 25-34-year-olds, suggesting a robust audience for the upcoming release of an INDYCAR-centric video game title. “It has been fascinating to work on this largest-ever Global INDYCAR Fan survey and the inescapable conclusion is that fans believe that INDYCAR is a series on its way up,” said James Allen, President of Motorsport Network. “INDYCAR is the pre-eminent single-seater racing championship in North America, but it has long had a following in other continents due to prominent international drivers racing there. Today, the international make-up of the grid is reflected in the survey findings, with a strong geographical spread outside of North America. "While the series has its loyal followers in the older age groups, particularly in the U.S., INDYCAR will be studying closely the data on its new, younger, and female fans internationally. Thanks to the internet and social media giving easy access to rich content, anyone anywhere can become an INDYCAR fan today. And gaming and esports are clearly going to play a significant role in the future. It will be fascinating to see how the trends develop over the next few years.” Despite the COVID pandemic, there is still a strong desire to attend races live. Over 80% of respondents expressed the desire to attend a race live, while nearly 50% of respondents indicated that they have attended a race live in the past 5 years. One of the biggest factors cited as preventing live race attendance is the inability to attend a local race for fans, especially outside North America. From an ecological standpoint, younger fans place higher importance on green initiatives in motorsport, and while most were satisfied with what INDYCAR is doing to be greener, over 20% of female fans believe INDYCAR should be doing more on the sustainability front. Helio Castroneves during Indianapolis 500. (Image Source: IndyCar) “Off the back of the success of the Formula 1 fan survey, it has been a pleasure to be involved in another global motorsport survey with Motorsport Network. Our partnership not only delivers interesting insight on various motorsport disciplines but also actionable fan opinions that can help a series grow and evolve in a way that appeals to fans old and new. I look forward to running our next survey with Motorsport Network to unearth more insightful opinions from our vast global motorsport fan base,” said Nigel Geach, Senior Vice President, Global Motorsport, Nielsen Sports. The survey findings were revealed at the opening round of the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season today and included the size and demographics of the sport’s audience, fan disposition and attitudes towards the sport, their affinity for INDYCAR races, teams, drivers, and their consumption of racing as remote and live audiences. Additional key findings from the 2022 INDYCAR Global Fan Survey include:Venues and Competition The top 5 most important races for fans are the Indianapolis 500, Long Beach, Road America, Laguna Seca, and St. Petersburg. INDYCAR fans are happy with the mix of tracks (street, road & oval) and believe they provide the best test of a driver’s talent, and they also feel the sport is healthier now than 3 years ago, featuring the right balance of sport and entertainment. For the future fans want INDYCAR to: Feature multiple suppliers in key category areas Maintain the Indy 500 as a double points event Minimize stewarding interference and let drivers race Manage team operating costs and prioritize close racing over technical innovation Fans are strongly against changing race formats and show little appetite for qualifying modifications. Top Teams, Drivers, and Races Nearly 80% of fans support a number of Teams and Drivers. Younger fans aged under 24 are more likely to follow a single driver. Fans in South and Central America and Asia-Pacific are more than twice as likely to follow a favorite driver. Team Penske was voted as the overall favorite team with 19% of votes, followed by Andretti Autosport and Arrow McLaren SP, who were tied at second, each with 17% of votes, to round out the top 3 teams. Romain Grosjean was voted the survey’s most popular INDYCAR driver with 32% of fans placing him in their Top 3 and nearly 12% of fans ranking him their favorite driver. Pato O’Ward was second with a particularly high young fan voting and voted number one by female fans. The third was Helio Castroneves, followed by Scott Dixon. Alexander Rossi was the top-ranked U.S. driver who was voted fifth overall. The top 5 most attended races are the Indianapolis 500 (58.8%), Indianapolis Road Course (31.3%), Mid Ohio (19.0%), Road America (16.8%), and St. Petersburg (15.0%) Additional Findings For the complete survey, you can download the PDF https://global-indycar-fan-survey-2022.motorsport.com.

15279 TBTCelebrating20yearsofworld recordhistorywiththeVolkswagenW12Nard

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 24, 2022

Volkswagen Celebrates The 20th Anniversary Of The W12 Nar...

This anniversary doesn’t just celebrate Volkswagen’s victory 20 years ago, it also celebrates how far they have come since. The Volkswagen W12 Concept Coupe was the first foray into Volkswagen’s then-experimental “W” engine, which we have since come to see in Audis, Bentleys, Volkswagens, and most famously the revolutionary Bugatti hypercars, which to this day use the W engine to change the automotive world. Along with cars like the Audi Rosemeyer and the Bentley Hunaudières, the Volkswagen W12 Concept Coupe was a daring, experimental concept car that served as a trailblazer for the entire Volkswagen Group’s design and engineering for the 21st century, and the knowledge gained from those cars went on to be used to create some of the most incredible cars of all time. However, the Volkswagen W12 has a legacy of its own. MUST READ: Replacement For Bugatti Chiron Will Have A Combustion Engine In 2001, Volkswagen gave the W12 the responsibility of attempting a 24-hour speed record at Nardò. The original concept was improved to the tune of a 6-liter engine, 591 horsepower, and a 0-60 time of just 3.5 seconds. Volkswagen broke the record with an average of 183.5 mph over the 24 hours, proving the W12 to the world. However, the team at Volkswagen weren’t done quite yet. On February 23, 2002, just four months after the first record was broken in October 2001, the Volkswagen W12 Nardò had a second try at the world record, and it was broken yet again with an average of 200.6 miles per hour over 4,809 miles covered. And while this is an amazing achievement for Volkswagen on its own, the W engine went on to break all kinds of world records, and to this day in cars like the Bugatti Veyron, Chiron, Bolide, Divo, and more, continues to be one of the greatest powertrains in the world. Source: Volkswagen

By Edward Jones – February 22, 2022

Master & Dynamic MG20 Wireless Gaming Headphones Review: ...

I've put in some serious hours with the headphones and will continue to do so. For around the past three months, I've had the pleasure of using the new Master & Dynamic MG20 Wireless Gaming Headphones and it's been absolutely wonderful. From the sound to the feel and even their appearance, the MG20s have blown me away in more ways than one. First, let's get started with the build of these headphones. Thanks to the padded Alcantara headband and insanely light magnesium ear cups, I rarely notice that these are on my head. I've gone hours with my MG20 headphones on and didn't experience any discomfort, which is a hard feat for many headphones. And I wasn't just wearing the MG20s when I was gaming, but also when I was doing chores or out for a walk. But the versatility of the Master & Dynamic MG20s is for later. When it comes to sound quality, Master & Dynamic are... masters. The MG20s are no exception. When gaming, the 7.1 surround sound that pumps through the 50mm Beryllium-coated drivers is downright epic. When I was playing a shooter like Call of Duty: Warzone, I could hear footsteps and gunfire and knew exactly where they were coming from. For the times I was playing Forza Horizon 5, the engine notes coming from the cars were mesmerizing and background sounds from incoming storms were perfectly distinct. Honestly, I've never had such an immersive gaming experience. Being gaming headphones, the MG20s come with a detachable boom mic that captures voice wonderfully. Even if you didn't have the boom mic attached, there are onboard microphones that also offer amazing voice quality for calls. In terms of setup, whether you're on a PC or Playstation, these can be used as your new gaming headphones easily thanks to the low-latency adapter that can be plugged into a USB port. Seriously, it's as easy as just plugging in the adapter and you're good to go. The ability to swap between systems this easily was more than welcome, especially considering the hoops I've had to jump through with past gaming headphones. The new Master & Dynamic MG20 headphones are also for more than just gaming, and that's all thanks to the knowledge and experience that's backing them. While I thought I'd be using them solely for gaming, I found myself removing the detachable boom mic and using the MG20s as my go-to Bluetooth headphones on a daily basis. For most, gaming headphones are used solely for intense gaming but being able to use the MG20s when just listening to music whether at work or at home was the cherry-on-top. And with up to 22 hours of battery life, I was able to daily these headphones on a regular basis without having to worry about them dying on me. Using the MG20s on a daily basis has also led me to appreciate the layout of the buttons. Controlling the sound and mic volume is done with separate wheels, while the power and 7.1 surround sound can be controlled with buttons. There's also a dedicated button for controlling music and a voice assistant. When it comes to muting the mic, all you have to do is press the mic volume wheel and the inobtrusive light on the boom mic will shine red to let you know your voice isn't coming through. Altogether, I have more than enjoyed my time with the Master & Dynamic MG20 headphones. Not only have they leveled up my gaming experience, they offer up a versatile and luxurious headphone experience that no other brand can offer. You can purchase a pair for yourself by clicking the button below. They're available in either Galactic White or Black Onyx and are priced at $449. Shop Now " width="680">

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 15, 2022

Williams Racing Unveils Its New Livery For The 2022 Formu...

A new look for the Williams Racing F1 Team. The Williams Racing Team continues its long-standing journey into the wonderful world of Formula 1 with the 2022 season rapidly approaching. Its rich heritage as a pioneer in the sport dates back to 1977 when the team was originally founded by former team owner Frank Williams and automotive engineer Patrick Head. Williams Racing is proud to unveil its new livery for 2022, featuring a vibrant blue finish that blends the classic and modern aspects of the team. MUST-READ: AlphaTauri Showcases New Livery in AT03 Video Reveal As part of its new design, Williams Racing also incorporated an atheistically-pleasing diamond pattern that embodies the exciting new era of the brand. Subtle hints of red are also included in the new livery to pay homage to its proud British heritage. The all-new Williams Racing Formula 1 livery for the 2022 season is set to attack the circuit with 1st place as its destination. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury gear releases and Formula 1 racing news. Source: Williams Racing

By Jonathan Noble of Motorsport.com – February 14, 2022

AlphaTauri Showcases New Livery in AT03 Video Reveal

This article originally appeared on Motorsport.com. AlphaTauri has revealed its tweaked 2022 Formula 1 livery as it released a video rendering of its AT03 on Monday. The new car will not be properly seen in public until next week's first pre-season test at Barcelona in Spain, with the team only offering a concept version in a promotional video that was closely tied-in with the AlphaTauri fashion brand. While the details of the car shown in the video were limited, they did show off the tweaked new blue-and-white colour scheme, plus an aggressive undercut sidepod solution. AlphaTauri is coming off the back of its most successful season in F1 to date, having scored 142 points last year as it finished sixth in the constructors' championship. The team is retaining its driver line-up of Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda, and will run rebadged Honda engines now that the Japanese car manufacturer has left F1. Gasly said he was eager to try out the new AT03. "This year sees a huge change to the car as, due to the new regulations, the look and design is completely different, so the team has had to start from a clean sheet of paper," he said. "We won't know the true performance of the AT03 until we get it out on track at pre-season testing in Barcelona but so far, I think it looks great and I am very excited to get this new season started." Team boss Franz Tost hoped that the team's efforts on its 2022 car would pay off with even better form in the season ahead. "I am excited to finally reveal what our 2022 Formula 1 car will look like," he said. "It is a completely new era for F1 and we hope that this package will be very strong, following last year's success. Once again, we have worked closely with AlphaTauri to launch our new car and I think we've managed to deliver something very special." Like sister team Red Bull, the AlphaTauri does not feature direct Honda branding, but does feature the logo of the Honda Racing Corporation division that is now looking after its F1 involvement.

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