A lot of sports-people are funded by the government, but most are involved in amateur sports (eg. gymnastics), not professional ones. Anyway, good luck to Lopez, he is quite a handy driver.

By the way, I've started up the F1 Race Manager browser game subleague for this season. Go to this thread for details: http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?t=65571

In 2010, we continue our proud tradition of kicking buttocks in the F1 Race Manager browser game.

Game: http://www.f1racemanager.com

This year's subleague: LiveForSpeed 2010
Subleague password: bf1ftw

To join:

1. Point your browser to www.f1racemanager.com
   
2. If you are already a member, sign in. If you are not a member, register -- it's free.
   
3. Click on "Edit Profile".
   
4. Scroll down to "Change Subleague".
   
5. Type our subleague name, LiveForSpeed 2010 into the "Private subleague name" field.
   
6. Type our subleague password, bf1ftw into the "Private subleague password" field.
   
7. Click the "change subleague" button.

To edit your team:

• Click "Edit Team".
  
• Choose your driver, and your engine, chassis, and fuel suppliers.
  
• Your initial budget is only 100,000 credits. Use it wisely.
  
• You have until one hour prior to the start of qualifying to edit your team. Your team is editable between race weekends.
  
• Take note of your "personal broker fee". This is the percentage amount that will be deducted from the sale of a driver/chassis/engine/fuel. The more successful you are, the greater this fee will be.
  
• You cannot choose two identical drivers.
  

Live for Speed participants have won the two previous Subleague Challenges (ie. competition between subleagues for the highest amount of points) in 2008 and 2009. We can do it again in 2010! As a bonus, the top 6 players in the winning subleague gets a "signed" (it's not really signed) F1 cap!

Last edited by samjh, Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:01.

Alright, I'll take it up.

If the competition is to continue this season, will a new subleague need to be made, or can we continue with the previous one?

Looks shiny, silver, and very Mercedes-Benz.

I'm having difficulty accepting Schumacher in a non-red racing suit, though.

Ahem: http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?t=65304

I think it sounds fantastic. Formula Nippon 3.4L V8 engine, but detuned to produce only 500BHP nominal power. Great!

Interesting to see that Ralph Firman has been partnered with Yuji Ide to drive one of those cars. Looks like Ide's embarrassment in F1 didn't affect his career too badly, then.

Quote from tristancliffe :

I think it's more likely that the Brawn and Force India cars spent time modelling the wings/bodywork is yaw conditions and with steering applied, as well as using initial flow that wasn't perfectly laminar. The Ferrari was probably more optimised for laminar flow...

I think in Brawn's case, they could very well have relied more on under-body aero than wings, keeping in mind that Ross Brawn was the one who saw the DDD loop-hole first. He might have wanted to exploit it as much as possible. I have noticed that the Toyota cars were very good at close-quarters racing, and they were also one of the "Diffuser Three".

As for Force India, I think they just had an extremely well-balanced chassis design with relatively weak but less-sensitive aero. Sutil's big slide gave me a strong impression that the car was easy to handle on the limit.

Eh? Turbulent air causes drag. Designing cars to produce maximum turbulence won't protect them from being overtaken. If anything, it will make them more vulnerable to overtakes, especially on long straights.

Quote from ATC Quicksilver :

I always thought they missed an opportunity to be sponsored by Tesco, the advert would have been perfect, just have a Ferrari blast through checkouts and scan at a few million quid.

I always hoped someone would do a gag about that. Place a huge laser price scanner on the starting-lights lattice-work. When a Ferrari whizzes past, the speakers blast out a freaking loud "BLIP", and big electronic signboard flashes up "$15,000,000".

Quote from zeromussov :

New Ferrari livery:

Finally, no more barcodes.

Source: http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=21372

Quote :

Honda has finally revealed official details and pics of the HSV-10 GT, its new Super GT racer - the car that was originally destined to become the road-going replacement for the NSX.

Climate change panic and the small matter of a global economic meltdown put paid to the new NSX, leaving this as that car's only 'living' relative.

Power comes from a Mugen-assembled engined V8 originally designed for Formula Nippon single-seaters, the body is built by Japanese racing specialists Dome, and the whole thing has been designed by Honda's in-house R&D team.

Spec fans can dribble over the finer points of the HSV-10 GTs technical attributes below, while everyone can enjoy the pictures...

Honda HSV-010 GT
Specifications and performance characteristics

Length x Width x Height (m): 4.675 x 2.000 x (not disclosed)
Wheelbase (m): 2.700
Vehicle weight (kg): 1,100 or more
Engine name: HR10EG
Configuration: Liquid-cooled, naturally aspirated, longitudinal V8
V angle (°): 90
Valve train: Gear-driven DOHC: 2 intake and 2 exhaust valves per cylinder
Displacement (cm3): 3,397
Bore x stroke (mm): 93.0 x 62.5
Compression ratio: (Not disclosed)
Maximum output: 500hp or more
Maximum torque(N-m): 392 or more (290lb ft)
Throttle control system: Mechanical
Fuel supply system: Programmed fuel injection system (Honda PGM-FI)
Fuel: Lead-free premium gasoline
Lubrication: Dry sump
Transmission mechanism: Constant mesh
Transmission shifting method: Steering paddle shifter
Steering system mechanism: Rack and pinion system with electric power steering (EPS)
Tyres: Front 330/40R18, Rear 330/45R17
Brake type and mechanism: Hydraulic ventilated disc system
Suspension system: Double wishbone
Stabilizer: Torsion bar

Video (must listen to audio!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCqY-vAX4EA

What a mighty car! So, will it kill the Gozilla (ie. Nissan GTR) in the Super GT series? How "sexy" -- in automobile terms -- is it?

Quote from lamerr :

Britain's biggest banks use astrology to play the markets
http://www.newsmonster.co.uk/p ... -to-play-the-markets.html

They obviously didn't see the global financial crisis coming on.

Quote from pearcy_2k7 :

I think rules in LFS are alot stricter than in real life, you can get away with things in real life that you can't in LFS.

In real life, you can't get away with death.

Quote from BreadC :

"Mine's bigger"

Quote from ACCAkut :

Knock knock whos there?:faint2:

:duck: :wtf2:

Imagine trying to explain that to the insurance company.

INSURANCE: Acme Insurance, my name is Jane, how can I help you?

HOME OWNER: Hi. I need to - er - make a claim for damages to my house.

INSURANCE: Do you have you policy number?

HOME OWNER: Yeah, it's ABC123456. My name is Bob Jones.

INSURANCE: Thank you, Mr Jones. What kind of damage is it?

HOME OWNER: Well, it's a bit - er - unusual. Basically, a car went through it.

INSURANCE: A car went through it?

HOME OWNER: Yeah, there was a rally car. It apparently came off the road, and went through one side of the house.

INSURANCE: .....

HOME OWNER: Fair bit of damage, you know. You could probably imagine... car, lodged in the wall, and all that jazz.

INSURANCE: Umm. Yes, I can imagine that would be pretty big.

HOME OWNER: Yeah, well... I need to get it fixed, because you know, that side of the house has been totalled. There's just a big honking hole there. And you know, it's winter... pretty cold at night.

Quote from ATC Quicksilver :

What makes TAG Heuer special? - "It’s ok"

My favourite!

Quote from Mustafur :

being able to match loeb is all the character WRC needs.

WANTED: Rally Driver

The world's leading rally competition, the World Rally Championship, is seeking drivers for the 2011 season. If you believe you have what it takes to become a WORLD RALLY DRIVER, click the "Apply" button below.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

• A road driving license.
  
• A national rally license with a proven ability to succeed in national or international rally events.

ADVANTAGEOUS:

• Fluency in the English language.
  
• Good grooming and fresh breath.
  
• Ability to read a map, operate a radio, and perform basic automobile repairs.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT:
All applicants MUST pass a personality test. The following criteria must be satisfied for your application to be considered.

• Maintain a completely neutral facial expression at all times when describing high-speed, near-death experiences.
  
• Speak in short bursts of fast speech, punctuated by "ehhhh".
  
• When answering interview questions, grimace and shrug the shoulders at a rate of twice per sentence spoken.
  
• Only one hand gesture is permitted: arms held approximately horizontal to the ground, palms facing upward, accompanied by random waving motions. The use of any other hand gestures will result in immediate disqualification.
  
• The applicant must be physically incapable of smiling.

To apply, press the "Apply" button below, or write to:
Entries Officer
World Rally Championship Commission
Federation Internationale de L’Automobile
8, Place de la Concorde
75008 Paris
France

Quote from zeugnimod :

Found this in the related videos and I LOL'd. Read the description first.

ROFLMAO!

Ahem @ Fisichella's parking.

Here's a video of Ken Block and Chris Atkinson driving the car:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQgmdHzqtqA

Team O'Neil's Rally School also has an 1980s Audi Quattro! Mmmmmm.

Quote from dungbeetle :

lol

OK. One of the main protagonists who was part of the team at the time of the incident and was involved it it's inception, later confessed.

Seriously though, I thought the main reason for Flavio's appeal was simply that the FIA didn't have the power to issue him with a lifetime ban, whatever the verdict.

Off the mark on both of your paragraphs.

Firstly, Symonds did not confess to the allegation. As I said before, he contradicted the FIA's version of the story. It wasn't a confession.

Secondly, the court's decision was based on two issues: whether the FIA had the authority to ban Flav and Pat, and the conflict of interest between the WMSC, Max Mosley, and Flav. The court found that the FIA didn't have the authority to ban Flav or Pat because they were not holders of an FIA license, and that the WMSC operated under a conflict of interest due to the prior history of conflict between Mosley and Flav.

To summarise: the FIA acted outside of its authority, and the WMSC was potentially corrupted by Mosley. Therefore, punishment revoked.

Quote from lizardfolk :

Watch George Lucas try to make that turn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0glaUrFZCg

He's no Anakin Skywalker, that's for sure.

Slightly different but: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqWk1zSHx9g
Looks pretty insane after about 0:40.

Quote from Luke.S :

the focus rs is an english ford you fool. American fords are crappy. English fords are good.

England, the finest producer of motor vehicles outside of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Sweden...

Quote from dungbeetle :

Pat Symonds' admission

"The FIA has released a letter written by Symonds, and addressed to the Council, which was read out during the meeting in mitigation.

Symonds wrote: 'I was the one who, when the idea was first suggested to me by Nelson Piquet Jr, should have dismissed it immediately.

'It is to my eternal regret and shame that I did not do so. I can only say that I did it out of a misguided devotion to my team, and not for any personal gain whatsoever."

Nope, still not a confession to what was alleged by the FIA.

Symonds merely expressed his regret that he didn't shoot the idea down when Piquet suggested it. But that wasn't the allegation made against him. The allegation was that Symonds and Briatore made the suggestion to Piquet and forced him to crash.

When one person states his or her version of the truth which doesn't agree with another's version of the truth, it is a contradiction, not a confession.

It might seem like I'm splitting hairs, and some people will find it frustrating. But when an entity is supposed to administer justice, it should do so fairly and thoroughly. It's about time the FIA's kangaroo court copped a dose of "epic fail". I would have preferred someone like Ron Dennis to take them on, but Flav will have to do.

Last edited by samjh, Thu, 7 Jan 2010 03:27.

Quote from dungbeetle :

So, sounds like the FIA were attempting to act on principle (or on a personal vendetta, according to Flavio) rather than in strict accordance with the rule book.

You'd have thought there was a line in the rule book somewhere saying "Thou shalt not conspire to crash thy car deliberately", wouldn't you?

Although obviously difficult to enforce due to the burden of proof, one assumes there is no such a rule, as proof wasn't even needed in this case; Renault confessed.

Renault did NOT confess! Renault simply chose not to contest the allegations, which is not the same thing as a confession.

The way I see it is that Renault chose not to raise a defence purely to save their own ass. Flav (and Pat) was scape-goated.

Keep in mind that the allegations were never proven. The evidence was never cross-examined by Renault, Flav, or Pat, and the hearings were not conducted by a legitimate judicial authority.

If the allegations were true, then I'd be disappointed that Flav was able to get away with his cheating. But whatever the facts, the case should have been handled properly. It wasn't. When freed from Renault's control, Flav took the matter to a higher authority and won. If the FIA had conducted themselves properly in the first place, then this would not have been necessary.

Quote from BlueFlame :

He drove all of 2009

I think Stonedome was talking about WRC. Kimi entered the Rally of Finland and was running 4th in the GrpN/IRC class before crashing out.