The New Ferrari F2007

To the untrained eye and to the enthusiasts that are not mechanically minded, the new F2007 Ferrari or as the project was known, the 658, does not look all that different to its predecessor. But as the professionals know, it is all in the small details. And it is those unnoticeable changes that makes all the difference in a Formula One performance car.

Although Scuderia Ferrari has revealed the new car, there are a few photographic angles, such as the rear, that are missing. But it is also expected that the Ferrari team would like there to be a few surprises, as in this business, competition is tough and secrecy is the name of the game.

What is known about the new car is that the design has been modified and is different in many ways. Opposed to the 248 F1, the F2007 has a longer wheelbase and the front suspension has been changed. Due to the changes in the body, other parts of the car, such as the air intake for the engine, cooling systems and radiator exits have been adjusted. Aerodynamics is always the most important factor when designing and creating a car, and again the team has remained with carbon fibre for the gearbox housing, which has also been shaped a little differently to fit the narrower rear, and includes a seven speed gearbox, plus reverse.

The side-pods of the F2007 Ferrari have also been revised and the car weighs approximately ten kilograms more than the 248 F1 did, to meet the standard safety requirements. The engine has also been modified and has slight changes made to it.

It is still the 056 engine but revisions have been made to exhaust chambers, pistons, valves and combustion chamber. In a general overview of the new Ferrari F2007, the car is 4545 mm in length, 1769 mm in width and together with the driver, water and lubricants, that car will weigh 600 kilograms. The engine will have total weight of 95 kilograms and have eight cylinders and thirty-two valves. The new and improved pistons will be able to handle 19 000 rpm and many hours have been dedicated to the control and safety of the car.

The new red force on the track will also have a few advertising changes, such as Vodafone being replaced by Italia Telecom sponsored Alice. But it is not the look of the car that Formula One enthusiasts and fans will be looking out for, but its performance on the circuit.

Famous NASCAR Faces

Wood Brothers is one of the best known families in all of NASCAR racing and inspires awe in everyone who follows NASCAR. Glen Wood is head of the Wood family, and yes he was a top NASCAR driver himself. The team is certainly a big name on the NACAR circuit today, but Glen had to claw his way up the NASCAR ranks the hard way. He turned to NASCAR as a business after he won many accolades and driven on most of the top tracks including at Daytona.

The Wood Brothers have been as much of a commercial success on the NASCAR circuit, as Glen was as a driver in his personal capacity. Glen has built up his machines and drivers with the same dedication which he showed behind the wheels. Drivers from the pits of the Wood Brothers have distinguished themselves as some of the best the sport has ever seen.

Many members of the Wood family have played important roles in the team’s NASCAR victories. There seems to be something special in their genes for auto racing! Leonard Wood has not been a driver, and has preferred to remain behind the scenes. He has specialized in speedy pit service, and has fine engineering knowledge of engines. Leonard is Glen’s brother. You may not have seen him, or even may not have heard of him before, but you can be certain that he must have had a big hand in each event for which you admire the Wood Brothers!

A new generation of Woods has taken charge of NASCAR racing. Both of Glen’s sons are actively involved in the sport, and his daughter has a support role as well. The children pay more attention to the marketing and finance aspects of NASCAR racing than their father ever did, but fortunately they have kept the high technical standards which marked the Wood Brothers from the inception.

Ford has a close association with the Wood Brothers, and it has been a relationship that has helped both sides! The Wood Brothers also work actively with the U.S. Air Force, helping to attract recruits from the vast NASCAR fan community. No wonder that this team so scorches the U.S. auto racing scene!

NASCAR Sponsorship Secrets

You may not know the exact amount a company pays to have their brand blazoned on your favorite NASCAR car hoods and bodies, but you must be aware that it is worth millions of dollars! NASCAR has set a new trend in global sponsorship with respect to the amounts of money it attracts from sponsors.

Top brand owners have lined up at NASCAR doors to add substantially to the funds they make available for auto racing. The sport’s following is an obvious draw, and it is a growing trend as well! NASCAR does it bit by ensuring transparency in how sponsorship funds are used. Drivers, owners, and the sponsors have all to be kept happy, just as spectator satisfaction is also a must. NASCAR, over the fast five decades, has built up a well-honed system of keeping everyone happy, and the dollars keep rolling in faster than anyone can count them!

NASCAR sponsorship comes from two basic sources: one is from car manufacturers and from companies that make products and services related to automobiles and to driving. The other source type is from business categories that have nothing to do with auto racing. Why do they invest such huge funds in a matter which should be none of their concern? Who makes such decisions? The surprising answer is that you Mr. or Ms. Consumers are kings! All spectators have decisive roles in determining the dimensions and distribution of sponsorship, because it is your wallet which companies want! Sponsors depend on market surveys, so you may not always be conscious of how the process works, but no one will put money in to NASCAR without your say.

Automobile manufacturers have it easy because they have to back teams and events which will show their stock cars in best light. Your behavior at auto show rooms will be affected by what you see at NASCAR-no one can fight that! NASCAR performance determines not just how many cars a company sells, but the process they can command. It is the same with trucks! Things are different if you sell pizza, fashion ware, or lifestyle goods. Brand owners cannot be bothered with who wins at NASCAR. They may not even be auto racing enthusiasts! However, the million dollar question is who is your favorite team? That is why some teams flounder in NASCAR while their peers roll in dollars! So please use your ‘vote’ and let manufacturers and service providers know which is your favorite NASCAR team. Also, back sponsors who support your NASCAR team, by using their products and services as far as possible. Exercise your power, boss!

Lewis Hamilton, Laureus Award Nominee

The new and talented rookie driver for the respected Formula 1 Grand Prix Racing Team, McLaren, has not finished stunning the world. Born Lewis Carl Hamilton on 7 January 1985, in England, he has had racing in his blood since he could remember. His dedication to the sport, including winning the 2006 GP2 championship title and securing 15 wins out of 20 races in 2005 during the F3 series, has secured him a future on the circuit he has dreamed of all his life.

The announcement, to confirm Hamilton as being the second driver in the 2007 Formula One season, came from McLaren in November 2006. Driving as the teammate to legendary driver, Fernando Alonso, is every 21 year olds dream, and most certainly the reason that Lewis Hamilton has thrown himself into his new career with enthusiasm and passion. Lewis has also written his name into the history books, by become the very first black driver on the Formula One circuit.

To add to his record-breaking career and historical milestones, Lewis Hamilton has also been nominated for the prestigious Laureus Award, along side sporting legends such as Michael Schumacher and Tiger Woods, who have also been nominated. Being amongst the six nominees for the ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ Award, is certainly just as rewarding as making it into the McLaren team. The awards ceremony for the Laureus Awards will be held in Barcelona on 2 April 2007, where Hamilton will be rubbing shoulders with all the nominated sporting greats from across the world.

The Laureus Award is a global award that was created to award sportsmen, to unite the various different sports and organizations and to highlight the influence that sport has on the community and addresses issues of importance through the support of the sporting community. Nominees for the different categories are selected by journalists from all over the world and are then presented to a panel of jury members. The jury is made up of 43 people who are all legends in the sporting world, and through them, the winners are selected. To be nominated for this award is an achievement on its own.