35 replies to this topic

[goferrarigo]

Kimi slip reveals Ferrari launch date

Kimi Raikkonen Dec.6 (GMM) Ferrari's 2008 car is to be launched on 7 January, according to an apparent slip-of-the-tongue by new world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

The German magazine Auto Motor und Sport suggests that the Finn mistakenly revealed the information to the media, thinking that his Maranello based employer had already announced the news.

Ferrari's head of track activities Luca Baldisserri had already revealed that the new car, to be an "evolution" of the current F2007, will be tested for the first time at Jerez on 14 January.

Auto Motor und Sport also reports that McLaren intends to have its MP4-23 completed by the first week of January, while Toyota and Williams all want to go to the Jerez test in mid-January with their 2008 cars.

BMW-Sauber will launch the F1.08 on 14 January before testing it at Valencia a day later, while Red Bull has scheduled to have its Adrian Newey-penned RB4 up and running around the same time.

Honda will reportedly present the new RA108 at Valencia on 21 January, while Renault appears headed for a launch in the last week of the month.

Force India, meanwhile, is expected to launch its first formula one campaign under new ownership in Delhi, the Indian capital.

It is believed that Super Aguri and Toro Rosso will begin the 2008 season with their existing cars.

http://www.f1way.com...ari-launch-date

Edited by goferrarigo, 10 December 2007 - 08:02 PM.

[admin]

2008 Launches forum is now available

[aussief1]

admin, on Dec 7 2007, 08:50 AM, said:

2008 Launches forum is now available

Thanks

[goferrarigo]

admin, on Dec 6 2007, 04:50 PM, said:

2008 Launches forum is now available

Thanks for the quick response...

[mikathegreat2]

SA & STR might be screwed if they keep their original cars. Wonder what Force India's car will be like. The McLaren car will be interesting because 1, they'll be at the bakc of the pits & 2, wonder if they'll be bits of Ferrari on it!

[rumblestrip]

mikathegreat2, on Dec 7 2007, 03:16 PM, said:

SA & STR might be screwed if they keep their original cars. Wonder what Force India's car will be like. The McLaren car will be interesting because 1, they'll be at the bakc of the pits & 2, wonder if they'll be bits of Ferrari on it!

While I don't expect any Ferrari bits on the McLaren, it will be interesting to see what effect the pit position has on a top team.

[goferrarigo]

rumblestrip, on Dec 7 2007, 03:46 PM, said:

While I don't expect any Ferrari bits on the McLaren, it will be interesting to see what effect the pit position has on a top team.

Well, with the lack of FA going as well, it could have quite a sizable difference...

[aussief1]

mikathegreat2, on Dec 8 2007, 06:16 AM, said:

SA & STR might be screwed if they keep their original cars. Wonder what Force India's car will be like. The McLaren car will be interesting because 1, they'll be at the bakc of the pits & 2, wonder if they'll be bits of Ferrari on it!

I don't think Force India are planning on launching a entirely new chassis at all, they are going run with the B spec Spyker - Ferrari F8 - Vll chassis that Mike Gascoyne had a major hand in atleast until mid season.

[aussief1]

Quote

McLaren confident ’08 car will be cleared
Friday, 07, December, 2007, 15:35

McLaren remains confident that it will get clearance to race its 2008 car – despite being made to wait until four weeks before the new season as a result of Friday’s World Motor Sport Council ruling.

The WMSC was expected to consider at Friday’s meeting in Monaco whether any Ferrari intellectual property has been incorporated into McLaren’s MP4-23, based on a report submitted by FIA-appointed officials who inspected designs at the team’s Woking factory.

Instead, however, it opted to defer that decision until a new WMSC meeting next February in order to give McLaren, Ferrari and other rival teams the opportunity to respond to the report.

McLaren had hoped to put any questions over the eligibility of its new car to rest and focus exclusively on the 2008 campaign.

But in an official statement it reacted with equanimity to the WMSC’s decision.

“McLaren acknowledges the World Motor Sport Council’s announcement to defer its decision regarding the team’s 2008 car to an extraordinary general meeting to be held on Thursday 14th February 2008 in Paris,” the statement said.

“From the very beginning McLaren has provided the FIA with full access and complete cooperation, and remains confident no confidential information has been incorporated within the team’s 2007 and 2008 cars.”

Source: http://www.itv-f1.co...spx?PO_ID=41412

[goferrarigo]

aussief1, on Dec 7 2007, 07:59 PM, said:

I don't think Force India are planning on launching a entirely new chassis at all, they are going run with the B spec Spyker - Ferrari F8 - Vll chassis that Mike Gascoyne had a major hand in atleast until mid season.

I think he meant on the livery side...

[aussief1]

goferrarigo, on Dec 8 2007, 01:51 PM, said:

I think he meant on the livery side...

Maybe

[goferrarigo]

Quote

The Enstone based team's 2008 car will be launched at Renault's corporate communications headquarters in Paris on 31 January, a week after the R28 is tested for the first time in Spain, Renault also revealed.

http://www.f1way.com...piquet-for-2008

Edited by goferrarigo, 10 December 2007 - 08:01 PM.

[aussief1]

Honda are set to launch their RA108 at their Brackley factory on the 29th January 2008.

http://www.totalf1.c...p?newsid=239531

[aussief1]

Ferrari to launch new car on January 6
Thursday, 20, December, 2007, 11:36  

Ferrari has revealed that it will launch its 2008 car at its Fiorano test track on January 6.

The Italian squad will therefore be the first of the 11 Formula 1 teams to unveil its 2008 challenger, which is expected to be an evolution of the F2007 that gave Ferrari the drivers’ and constructors’ world titles.

The car will be presented to the world’s media before making its track debut at Jerez the following week.

Ferrari CEO Jean Todt divulged the date in a meeting with Italian journalists at Maranello.

Todt will hand over the reins of Ferrari’s F1 team to Stefano Domenicali on January 1, and said he would be making only occasional visits to grands prix in 2008.

“I won’t attend the launch on January 6, as I’m returning from a holiday in Malaysia the day after,” he was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

“As for the races, I will go once in a while.”

Source: http://www.itv-f1.co...spx?PO_ID=41491

[aussief1]

Red Bull Racing confirm '08 car launch date

By Jonathan Noble Friday, December 21st 2007, 15:38 GMT

Red Bull Racing have announced they will launch their car at Jerez in Spain on January 16.

The RB4 will be unveiled at the open Formula One test, where Ferrari are also expected to run their 2008 car for the first time.

Red Bull Racing revealed the details of their launch with a time-lapse video of their factory on Youtube, which ended with the words: "Red Bull Racing have been working day and night to bring you the RB4."

Source: autosport.com

Youtube Link:

Edited by aussief1, 21 December 2007 - 10:03 PM.

[aussief1]

Stuttgart launch for new McLaren
Friday, 28, December, 2007, 01:10  

McLaren has decided to hold a launch event for its 2008 car after all, having previously indicated it would do without an official presentation.

The team will unveil its MP4-23 challenger at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart on January 7 – the day after arch-rival Ferrari takes the wraps off its new car at its Fiorano test track in Italy.

When it announced its ’08 driver line-up earlier this month, it said it had “no plans for a launch presentation” and would roll out the MP4-23 at an exclusive test at Jerez during the second week of January.

The test debut is now expected to come the day after the Stuttgart launch.

Source: http://www.totalf1.c...p?newsid=239762

[Silver_Arrows]

Curious turnaround that, wonder why they changed their minds :/

[aussief1]

Silver_Arrows, on Dec 29 2007, 02:50 AM, said:

Curious turnaround that, wonder why they changed their minds :/

I think having the launch at the Mercedes - Benz museum shows that Mercedes - Benz are commited to McLaren and the sport after the mess that was the 2007 season. That's my take on things anyway.

[Silver_Arrows]

I never honestly expected Mercedes to leave them anyways, their corporate ties to the McLaren group are too big.

My personal opinion is this... Due to the spygate fine, McLaren where canning the launch to save a bit of money, however Mercedes offered to bankroll the launch and hold it in their museum to generate a bit more publicity for themselves

[aussief1]

Silver_Arrows, on Dec 30 2007, 06:18 AM, said:

I never honestly expected Mercedes to leave them anyways, their corporate ties to the McLaren group are too big.

No, neither did I they have far too much invested in the team. But having the launch at the Mercedes museum does show unity.

[aussief1]

Williams opt against official car launch

By Jonathan Noble Wednesday, January 2nd 2008, 14:22 GMT

Williams have decided against holding an official launch event this year, as they focus their efforts on returning to the front of the Formula One grid in 2008.

After an encouraging campaign last year, where the team erased the memories of their difficult time in 2006 to finish fourth in the constructors' championship, they are hoping to make further progress with their FW30 in the forthcoming season.

However, despite the high hopes with the new car, the team have opted against holding an official launch presentation for the new machine.

Although no specific reason has been specified for that move, it is thought that with the Grove-based outfit enjoying sponsorship and technical stability, and having already confirmed their driver line-up of Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima, it was felt there was little to gain from holding a big launch event.

Technical director Sam Michael told autosport.com at the end of last year that he felt Williams had regained their respect in 2007 thanks to improved reliability, as they eyed another step forward in 2008.

"The year was all about doing what we did," he said. "Our target was to restore our respect and make sure our reliability was strong.

"It wasn't perfect, as we had four DNFs in the whole year that were caused by mechanical failures, so our target is to get that to zero because that is what you need to win the world championship.

"There are still things to work on and make better as well as performance. But, having that good strong base of reliability helps you enormously to develop your performance because everyone is focused on making the car go faster.

"I would say as far as our goals for 2007 are concerned, we achieved them. And our goal is to make the next step up for 2008."


Source: www.autosport.com

[Rainmaster]

aussief1, on Dec 29 2007, 02:02 AM, said:

I think having the launch at the Mercedes - Benz museum shows that Mercedes - Benz are commited to McLaren and the sport after the mess that was the 2007 season. That's my take on things anyway.

I totally agree, nice little move by Mercedes to show their support.

[aussief1]

McLaren look set to have two MP4 - 23's available from the very first test in Jerez on Tuesday.

[Sato]

That's pretty unusual, isn't it? Don't they usually only just have finished building 1 for launch and first test?

[mikathegreat2]

Luckily I gots a little pressie of autosport magazine! You should see the new Honda car, just pure championship white with only a Honda badge at the front   !

[Kerry]

I can't wait to see the pics of the new cars.

[Rainmaster]

Kerry, on Jan 6 2008, 01:55 AM, said:

I can't wait to see the pics of the new cars.

Welcome to the forums Kerry
I can't wait to see them either, and I can't wait for the new season to start.

[aussief1]

Sato, on Jan 5 2008, 01:56 PM, said:

That's pretty unusual, isn't it? Don't they usually only just have finished building 1 for launch and first test?

Yeah normally the second chassis comes on board a week or two later. McLaren are well advanced by having two chassis available form the start. Double the feedback double the early development pace. Good work McLaren.

It will be interesting to see how many other teams that launch early January have two chassis ready for action.

Kerry, on Jan 6 2008, 11:55 AM, said:

I can't wait to see the pics of the new cars.

Me too!!! The F2008 is hours away!!!!!

Welcome to the forum Kerry. Good to have another Australian on the forum

Edited by aussief1, 06 January 2008 - 12:09 PM.

[bathurst1000]

does anybody have the exact time before the F2008 is launched?

[c21]

bathurst1000, on Jan 6 2008, 02:22 PM, said:

does anybody have the exact time before the F2008 is launched?

I think its 3 PM local time, so in an hour and a half