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Formula One - Drivers And Constructors

Since 1984 Formula One teams have been required to build the chassis in which they compete, and consequently the terms "team" and "constructor" are more or less interchangeable. This requirement distinguishes the sport from series such as IRL, Champ Cars, and NASCAR, which allow teams to purchase chassis, and "spec series" such as GP2, which require all cars be kept to an identical specification. In its early years, Formula One teams sometimes also built their engines, though this became less common with the increased involvement of major car manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Toyota, and Honda, whose large budgets rendered privately built engines less competitive (and redundant). Early manufacturer involvement came in the form of a "factory team" (that is, one owned and staffed by a major car company), such as those of Alfa Romeo, Ferrari (FIAT) or Renault. Companies such as Climax, Repco, Cosworth, Hart, Judd and Supertec, which had no direct team affiliation, often sold engines to teams who could not afford to manufacture them. As the manufacturers' deep pockets and engineering ability took over, almost all engines are now produced by major manufacturers. After having virtually disappeared by the early 1980s, factory teams made a comeback in the 1990s and 2000s, and now form half the grid with Toyota, Ferrari (FIAT), Honda, Renault and BMW either setting up their own teams or buying out existing ones. Mercedes-Benz (DaimlerChrysler) owns 40% of the McLaren team and manufactures the team's engines. Commercial engine supplier Cosworth exited the sport at the end of 2006. Thus all the teams will run on factory supplied engines from 2007. The sport's 1950 debut season saw eighteen teams compete, but due to high costs many dropped out quickly. In fact, such was the scarcity of competitive cars for much of the first decade of Formula One that Formula Two cars were admitted to fill the grids. Ferrari is the only still-active team which competed in 1950, and as of 2006 eleven teams remain on the grid, each fielding two cars. Although teams rarely disclose information about their budgets, it is estimated that they range from US$66 million to US$400 million each. Entering a new team in the Formula One World Championship requires a £25 million (about US$47 million) up-front payment to the FIA, which is then repaid to the team over the course of the season. As a consequence, constructors desiring to enter Formula One often prefer to buy an existing team: B.A.R.'s purchase of Tyrrell and Midland's purchase of Jordan allowed both of these teams to sidestep the large deposit. Each car is assigned a number. The previous season's World Drivers' Champion is designated number 1, with his teammate given number 2. Numbers are then assigned according to each team's position in the previous season's World Constructors' Championship. There have been exceptions to this rule, such as in 1993 and 1994, when the current World Drivers' Champion (Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost, respectively) was no longer competing in Formula One. In this case the drivers for the team of the previous year's champion are given numbers 0 (Damon Hill, on both occasions) and 2 (Prost himself and Ayrton Senna - replaced after his death by David Coulthard and occasionally Nigel Mansell - respectively). The number 13 has not been used since 1974, before which it was occasionally assigned at the discretion of individual race organizers. Before 1996, only the world championship winning driver and his team generally swapped numbers with the previous champion – the remainder held their numbers from prior years, as they had been originally set at the start of the 1974 season. For many years, for example, Ferrari held numbers 27 & 28, regardless of their finishing position in the world championship. As privateer teams quickly folded in the early 1990s, numbers were frequently shuffled around, until the current system was adopted in 1996. Michael Schumacher holds the record for having won the most Drivers' Championships (seven) and Ferrari holds the record for having won the most Constructors' Championships (fourteen). Jochen Rindt became the only posthumous World Champion after a fatal accident at the 1970 Italian Grand Prix.

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What Makes Sports Car Popular To Car Enthusiasts?

There are certain things that arouse the emotional bond between the sports car and the auto fanatics. Driving excitement and appearance are that sets the sports car apart from all the rest. The sports cars appearance is important especially to men; making the one reason the sports car is so popular. Sports car enthusiasts bond with each other in clubs, talking, and exchanging ideas. They spend a substantial amount of spare time engrossed with their sports car. There is in fact, something in sports cars that causes drivers to have a unique attraction and attachment to vehicles, making them very popular among the many vehicles on the market. Others say that sports cars are toys for the “big boys”. Studies do show that sports cars are a popular hobby of many men and they often occupy the time, as well as the hearts, of many fans. Here are reasons why they are popular: 1. Sports cars are popular because they are symbolic. Sports cars are considered a source independence or freedom. Drivers are no more hindered by the limitations and inadequacy of conventional cars and are able to have a flexible and free life maneuvering and tackling elements on the road with ease. This perception of freedom makes the sports car popular. 2. Sports cars are popular because of their “innovative technology”. People are attracted to technological progress; sports cars are a moving combination of technical and mechanical expertise. Sports cars are considered by auto fans to be a complete package of technological advancement; from compact but robust engines to aerodynamic tailoring, sport cars symbolize the frontier of industrial design. 3. Sports cars are popular because of their capability to respond or counter the driver. Sports cars are sold, as surveys show, as extremely driver-responsive cars. The driver is has the complete control. 4. Sports cars are popular because they appeal to the driver’s desire of combining power and speed on the road. While others look for performance, others desire a distinct design, and still others want both. Without any doubt, the sports car comes in a package that can match the consumers’ needs and wants. Whatever one’s reason for possessing a sports car, it does not really matter; what matters is, if it’s the car that you want, and you can well afford it, then it should be what you are driving. Visit us.

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How To Choose A Spacious Car!

Have you ever felt that your little car can no longer handle your ever growing family members? Have you ever thought of getting a new, bigger, more spacious car? If so, then this article will show you how to choose the perfect spacious car for your family! First off, the choice for a more spacious family vehicle is usually between a sport utility vehicle (SUV) and a minivan. Both offer flexible passenger and cargo areas, comfortable seating for five to eight persons, and rear-seat entertainment systems.

So, what type of car should you choose? To come up with the right choice, you need to look at how the vehicle’s styling, fuel economy, passenger and cargo space, towing capacity, and safety will suit your family’s needs and lifestyle. Passenger & Cargo Space - Sport utility vehicles and minivans have comparable passenger and cargo space, but the roomy interiors of a minivan can be a delight to young kids. Unlike SUVs, minivans also have a low step-in height, so they’re easier for kids to climb into. Minivans’ large picture windows afford young passengers a better view of the passing scenery, therefore keeping your impatient young ones amused for a good part of the ride. Fuel Consumption - Minivans give better mileage than SUVs, which have a reputation for being gas guzzlers. If you want to squeeze more miles out of the gasoline tank, then a minivan would make a more economic choice than an SUV. Other ownership costs, such as maintenance and insurance, also tend to be higher for SUVs than minivans. Unless you’re willing to pay the price for being cool and stylish, the practical minivan is the way to go. Style - More than a matter of need, a vehicle’s styling is a matter of personal preference. The SUV usually wins out over the minivan when it comes to appearance. With its rugged, sporty styling, an SUV oozes urban cool, unlike the minivan, which is perpetually associated with soccer moms and suburban neighborhood carpools. Most men would recoil at the thought of driving a minivan, so if your husband would be sharing driving duties, you might have to talk it out with him. Towing Capacity - If you own a boat and like to take the entire brood for weekend sailing retreats, then an SUV would make an appropriate choice. SUVs have superior towing capacities, enabling them to pull practically anything between a trailer and a small boat. Otherwise, if you’re only schlepping groceries and your kid’s soccer team, then there’s no reason to overlook the minivan. Safety - Although both have comparable safety features, SUVs have a higher rollover risk than minivans. SUV devotees counter this by pointing out that rollovers account for only three percent of all traffic accidents and claiming that SUVs offer excellent passenger protection in two-car collisions. It remains to be seen whether this supposed collision safety factor outweighs the risk of rollovers. If the threat of rollover accidents keeps you awake at night, then a minivan could give you a little peace of mind. Choosing the perfect spacious car for your family involves carefully evaluating the above features and choosing what’s best for everyone. By doing your homework, you’ll save yourself from ever facing buyer’s remorse when buying your next family car!