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Coming to America

Formula One racing returns to the States in 2012, and F1 champ Lewis Hamilton just might be the reason you watch

There are no rules in race-car driving explicitly stating that Americans must have names like Mario Andretti, or that Formula One cars (the fastest, most sophisticated non-moon-mission machines on earth) must be made by guys called Ferrari, or that drivers must look quite so sleek as Lewis Hamilton—but isn't it warming when clichés bear out?

F1 series champion at 23, serial dater of pop princesses and beauty queens, and collector of a paycheck that leaves Jeter's in the rearview, Hamilton, now 27, is the readily conceived picture of an international sporting icon. Even as younger drivers (namely Germany's relentless Sebastian Vettel) have roadblocked his once certain-seeming dominance, the Brit is still the racer most likely to facilitate an American embrace when F1 attempts to (hopefully, finally) burrow into the U.S. Beginning next fall in Austin and adding a second stop in 2013 just across the Hudson from Manhattan, F1 is aiming for a double shot of Grand Prix spectacle for the decade to come. But the concern lingers: What has to happen for American fans to, as Hamilton puts it, "catch the bug"?

"It's really a matter of getting the car in front of people," he says. "Once you hear it and see it, feel the noise—then maybe they'll turn out for a race." And while it's kind of funny to imagine Monaco-style vanity-glam in a place like Texas, F1 does seem to offer the politically blue sports fan an alternative to NASCAR's aggressively red racing. "I don't quite know how F1 will play in Oklahoma and places like that, but every time I'm in California, I swear more people recognize me—genuine fans," Hamilton says. "I love it in the States. The roads are big, the food is big. If it was possible to be in L.A. and still live my racing life, I would move now." Speaking of which: Hollywood's not a bad place from which to start reaching that new American audience. "Sylvester Stallone did a racing movie, didn't he? Not one of his best," Hamilton says, laughing. "I'd love to hear any ideas." Screenwriters: Green light, go.

GQ Magazine

Santana 2000. Desta vez, a Volkswagen foi além da imaginação.

Tiff Needell drives Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

O Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 é a evolução final do 997. Possui um motor boxer 4.0 com seis cilindros, que usa o comando de válvulas do RSR, e com isso é capaz de produzir 493 CV a 8.250 RPM e 460 Nm de torque a 5.750 RPM. O desenvolvimento do chassis foi sob influência do GT2 RS e de outros 911 RS.

Alguns apêndices foram adicionados na frente do veículo, para incremento da pressão aerodinâmica. O carro pesa 1.370 kg, e somente 600 carros serão construídos. A aceleração de zero a 100 km/h é feita em 3,9 segundos, e a velocidade máxima é estimada em 311 km/h.

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Se o calendário da Pirelli não faz o seu estilo, o Berner Women Calendar pode fazer mais seu tipo, pois junta as duas maiores paixões de muitos homens: mulheres e carros. Como se não bastasse, uma das modelos que estão presentes nos ensaios fotográficos é Doreen Seidel, que foi Playmate of the Year da Playboy alemã em 2008 e disputou a ADAC Cruze Cup em 2011.

As fotos do calendário da Berner foram tiradas no Hockenheimring e na pista da Callaway Competition. O fotógrafo Christian Holzknecht, de Los Angeles, cuidou dos cenários dos ensaios fotográficos.

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Caterham cria campeonato de Kart

Depois de Tony Fernandes comprar a Caterham, com o intuito de rebatizar sua equipe de Fórmula 1, para diferenciá-lo da Lotus, de Banny Bahar, o também dono da Air Asia anuncia que criará seu próprio campeonato de Kart, visando produzir talentos para a categoria máxima do automobilismo.

Com o início das atividades previsto para 2013, o campeonato de Kart de Tony Fernandes usará karts produzidos pela própria Caterham, aproveitando-se da experiência de 26 anos em campeonatos monomarca. A marca de automóveis diz que a sua categoria permitirá àqueles que tiverem as melhores performances uma ascensão a categorias maiores, oferecendo uma oportunidade para disputar os campeonatos monomarca Caterham Seven e Caterham SP/300.R, além de possível progressão à GP2 e Fórmula 1.

"Construímos uma forte reputação para prover maior valor ao dinheiro no esporte a motor. O campeonato de Kart da Caterham visa aqueles que querem construir uma carreira no automobilismo, mas o mais importante é atender aos pais e jovens que gostariam de apenas competir em um campeonato de Kart acessível, o que para muitos ainda é um sonho inalcançável", disse Simon Lambert, diretor da Caterham Motorsport.

Para mais informações, acesse o link http://life.caterham.co.uk/motorsport/caterham-karting-series.

CATERHAM REVEALS AMBITIONS FOR KARTING SERIES

Caterham Cars today reveals plans to add to its well-established motorsport operation, with new ambitions in the karting category.

Thanks to the new Caterham F1 Team and Caterham Racing GP2 squad, the famous British sportscar maker has already made radical extensions to its successful Seven racing formulae.

Now, the introduction of a Caterham Motorsport-run karting championship in 2013, with Caterham's own designed and developed kart, will provide young drivers with the opportunity to take their first steps in a career in which it will be possible to progress from grassroots racing to the pinnacle of global motorsport.

The organisation of Caterham karting will benefit from the firm's 26 years of experience in running low-cost, high-value one-make race championships.

Caterham Motorsport Manager, Simon Lambert, said: "We've built a strong reputation for providing terrific value for money in motorsport through great cars and a playing field so even you could put a spirit level on it.

"Now we'd like to use this wealth of knowledge and expertise in karting by establishing a cost-effective series that will combine fun, technology and great competition elements that we think are beginning to be overlooked in kart racing.

"With progression possible through the Caterham 'ladder' right through to F1, Caterham karting will appeal to those looking to make a career in motorsport but, more importantly, our aim is to target the mass-market of parents and youngsters who would like to race in a competitive and yet affordable karting series which, until now, might have been an unachievable dream. Caterham is determined to make motorsport accessible to everyone."

Caterham Motorsport established its first one-make championship for the legendary Seven in 1986 and now its UK operation alone features five fully-subscribed series, including the renowned Academy, which is unique in having created almost 1,000 brand new racing drivers since its inception in 1995.

Last year, the Company also unveiled its first sports prototype racer, the SP/300.R, designed to provide an extension for members of the Seven racing fraternity who wish to progress into higher-level sportscar competition. The SP/300.R will star in its own one-make championship starting next season.

More details about the kart series will be revealed in due course throughout 2012.

Please visit http://www.caterham.co.uk or call 01883 333 700 for more information.

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