Sunday, May 31, 2009

2009 DTM : Gary Paffett wins at EuroSpeedway - Official images included!

2009 DTM Eurospeedway Winner : Gary Paffett - Salzgitter AMG Mercedes

EuroSpeedway Lausitz : May 31, 2009 - Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) has crossed the finish line as the winner of the second DTM season round after 52 laps at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz. The Briton, who started the race from seventh on the grid, made it to the front with consistently fast lap times and a perfect pit stop strategy. For Paffett, it was his eleventh victory in the DTM. Second place at the 3.478 kilometres long track in the Lausitz went to his team-mate Bruno Spengler. The podium was completed by Mattias Ekström (Audi), who had started from pole position. Behind Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz) and Timo Scheider (Audi) in fourth and fifth place, Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz) was the best-placed driver with a year-old car. Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) and Maro Engel (Mercedes-Benz) came home seventh and eighth. An extensive press release will follow shortly.


The Podium : (L-R) Bruno Spengler, Gary Paffett, Mattias Ekström

A good tactic: Gary Paffett wins at EuroSpeedway

Spectators on race weekend: 75.000
Air temperature: 19.6 degrees
Track temperature: 21.7 degrees

With an impeccable tactic and well-timed pit stops, Briton Gary Paffett claimed victory for Mercedes-Benz after 52 laps at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz in the second round of the 2009 DTM. The 28-year old planned his two mandatory pit stops late in laps 24 and 34 and was thus able to extend his lead in first place lap after lap. Second-place went to his team-mate Bruno Spengler from Canada, who also went past Swedish Audi driver Mattias Ekström thanks to late stops. The champion of 2004 and 2007, who had started from pole position, came third in the second DTM race of the year.

“I don’t know what was wrong at Hockenheim, but today, everything was just perfect. Especially the strategy that my team worked out was the key to success. This is going to be a great season. I am already looking forward to Norisring in four weeks’ time”, said Paffett after his eleventh victory in the DTM. For his employer Mercedes-Benz, it was already the 148th race win in the most popular international touring car series. Ekström, who already made his first stop on lap 13 and his second one on lap 22, said about his third place: “I drove a race without any mistakes and still, I wasn’t as fast as the two Mercedes. Of course, when you start from pole, the goal is to win, but we will be faster next time round.”

Last year’s runner-up Paul Di Resta (GB/Mercedes-Benz) finished in fourth place ahead of reigning champion Timo Scheider (Audi). Mercedes-Benz driver Jamie Green from Great Britain ended up sixth as the best-placed driver of a 2008-spec car.

With a great recovery in his AMG-Mercedes C-Class, Ralf Schumacher thrilled the fans in the Lower Lausitz. Having started last, the German made it all the way up into tenth place. The winner of the season opener at Hockenheim, Tom Kristensen (DK) had a rather disappointing weekend. Initially, the Audi driver failed to make it into the second heat of qualifying on Saturday. On Sunday, the 41-year old was involved in many duels and incurred one drive-through penalty and a pit stop time penalty for his manoeuvres. This left Kristensen without a chance of challenging for a top position. After 180.856 kilometres, he finished twelfth.

In the overall standings, champion Scheider is leading with twelve points from Kristensen and Paffett, who have ten points each. The third DTM race weekend of the year will be taking place at the Norisring in Nuremberg from June 26th till 28th.

Mercedes-Benz motorsport director Norbert Haug: “I am surprised that I can speak first. Before the race, I didn’t expect that we would be strong enough to win here today. But this weekend, we were stronger than at Hockenheim. In qualifying, we already had a good strategy. After the last race, Gary was relegated five grid positions and had to start from seventh. From there, he made it onto the podium. Today, it has shown that one can do a good race with used tyres. That was the key to success for us today. We have five cars in the points, all eight drivers among the first eleven and a fastest lap time for Jamie. Today, luck went our way. The next race at Norisring will be another season highlight.”

Audi motorsport director Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: “Throughout the race, we just haven’t been able to match the pace that Mercedes had. With our slight weight disadvantage, we particularly feel the surface here at the EuroSpeedway. Moreover, Ekström and Scheider were all the time in a group where they had to defend their positions. Mercedes was simply strong today. But it will start all over again in the next round at the Norisring. That is what makes this series so exciting.”

2009 DTM Round 2 : EuroSpeedway Lausitz Race Result



























































































Pos

No

Team-Driver

Machine-Yr

Time

GAP

1.

10

Salzgitter AMG Mercedes-

Gary Paffett (GBR)

Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Klasse-09

1:10:01.572

0.0

2.

9

Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG-

Bruno Spengler (CAN)

Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Klasse-09

1:10:02.687

01.115

3.

5

Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline-

Mattias Ekström (SWE)

AUDI A4 DTM-09

1:10:15.800

14.228

4.

3

AMG Mercedes-

Paul Di Resta (GBR)

AMG Mercedes C-Klasse-09

1:10:16.706

15.134

5.

1

Audi Sport Team Abt-

Timo Scheider (GER)

AUDI A4 DTM-09

1:10:17.327

15.755

6.

7

Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes-

Jamie Green (GBR)

Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Klasse-08

1:10:17.898

16.326

7.

11

Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes-

Jamie Green (GBR)

AUDI A4 DTM-08

1:10:32.744

31.172

8.

16

GQ AMG Mercedes-

Maro Engel (GER)

GQ AMG Mercedes C-Klasse-08

1:10:43.118

41.546

9.

17

stern AMG Mercedes-

Mathias Lauda (AUT)

stern AMG Mercedes C-Klasse-08

1:10:51.540

49.968

10.

4

Trilux AMG Mercedes-

Ralf Schumacher (GER)

Trilux AMG Mercedes C-Klasse-09

1:10:52.224

50.652

















































































Driver's Championship after 2 rounds
Pos.
Driver - Nationality
R1
R2

Total

1
Timo Scheider / GER
8
4
12
2
Tom Kristensen / DEN
10
-
10
3
Gary Paffett / GBR
-
10
10
4
Paul Di Resta / GBR
4
5
9
5
Bruno Spengler / CAN
0
8
8
6
Mattias Ekström / SWE
2
6
8
7
Oliver Jarvis / GBR
-
6
6
8
Markus Winkelhock / GER
5
-
5
9
Jamie Green / GBR
1
3
4
10
Maro Engel / GER
3
1
4
11
Mike Rockenfeller / GER
-
2
2





























































Team Championship after 2 rounds
Pos.
Team
R1
R2

Total

1
Audi Sport Team Abt
18
4
22
2
Salzgitter / Mercedes-Benz Ba
-
18
18
3
Trilux AMG Mercedes
4
5
9
4
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline
2
6
8
5
Audi Sport Team Rosberg
5
2
7
6
Audi Sport Team Phoenix
6
-
6
7
GQ / stern AMG Mercedes
3
1
4
8
TV Spielfim / Junge Sterne AM
1
3
4


Images : 2009 DTM : Round 2 EuroSpeedway Lausitz Hi-light images











[Source : DTM Official, AUDI, DAIMLER]

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Gronholm goes after Pike’s Peak record with 800 hp Fiesta

New Ford Fiesta Rally Cross

Double World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm will attempt to set a new record time for the Pike’s Peak International hill climb on 19 July in a four-wheel drive, 800 horsepower Ford Fiesta.


Marcus Gronholm - Andreas Eriksson

The Finn, 41, will be one half of a two car team entered by the Swedish Rallycross outfit Olsberg Motor Sport Evolution. The other car will be driven by the team’s owner, four-time Swedish rally champion Andreas Eriksson, 35.

The Pike's Peak International Hill Climb dates back to 1916 and is the second oldest motor sports event in America. It takes its name from the famous mountain peak that towers above Colorado Springs in the Rocky Mountains and is often referred to as 'The Race to the Clouds'.


Over the years the event has proved a popular attraction for stars of the WRC. In 1985 Audi Quattro driver Michele Mouton became the first woman to win it, while in 1988 Ari Vatanen and Juha Kankkunen famously took a one-two victory with Peugeot.

Two new Fiesta Rallycross cars will be driven in the ‘Unlimited Class’ at Pike’s Peak, in an attempt to be the first team to break the 10-minute mark over the 12.4-mile, 156-turn asphalt and gravel course. The existing record - 10min 01.41sec - was set in 2007 by former Suzuki World Rally Team boss, Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima driving a 3.6 litre twin turbo Suzuki XL-7.


The Olsbergs MSE Fiesta Rallycross car is powered by a 2.0-litre Duratec Ford engine capable of more than 800 horsepower.

“We are excited to be bringing the car to Pike’s Peak and to be able to see what it can do in such a unique competition,” said Eriksson. “It’s a legendary event, and we’ve already been there to take a look at the challenge we will face. I’m convinced we’ll be a top contender to break the 10-minute mark.

[Source : FORD, WRC]

Mercedes-Benz Bike Sports Selection 2009/2010: New, exclusive bikes from Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz Mountainbike

STUTTGART : May 29, 2009 - Mercedes-Benz has presented a new collection of exclusive bikes with an outstanding level of technical features. In addition to the Mountainbike and the racing bike, which are limited editions to a particularly high technical standard, the Foldingbike impresses with its unique fold-down technology. Mercedes-Benz has also carefully updated its tried-and-tested bike models, with several detailed improvements. This means that for its bike collection, Mercedes-Benz offers the same outstanding level of quality as for its premium automobiles.


The Foldingbike is a real gem in technical terms. It features a patented folding mechanism that impresses by being particularly easy to operate. Folding and unfolding the bike takes only a few seconds, and no tools are required.
The cleverly designed mechanical system allows two different folded positions:
  • In the Shuttle position the frame is folded together, but the bike can still be pushed and steered - ideal for easy carriage using public transport.
  • When completely folded down, the Mercedes-Benz Foldingbike requires very little space indeed. In this position it only measures 80x80x35 cm, enabling it to be stowed in the high-quality carrying bag which is also supplied. Accordingly the bike can be easily accommodated in the car boot, camper van, office or yacht as a constant companion.
The folding frame of aluminium has a suspension travel of 40 mm at both front and rear, and this is adjustable for individual riding comfort. A Shimano 8-speed derailleur gear makes for relaxed cycling, while disc brakes ensure a high level of safety. A side stand, protective metal cover and a variable luggage rack make this extraordinary bike outstanding for day-to-day use. The new Mercedes-Benz Foldingbike is available in silver or white, and costs 1699 Euro.
Mountainbike All Mountain Limited 2009

Even the roughest tracks and off-road biking adventures are sheer pleasure with the new Mountainbike from Mercedes-Benz. Limited to a worldwide edition of 100 examples, this bike is emphatically a high-end product. The lightweight, fully sprung aluminium frame in an exclusive MB design has a suspension travel of 125 mm at the rear and 120 mm at the front. The suspension fork features a lockout function and remote steering.
The Mountainbike also shines with top-class components such as the SRAM X.9/X.0 27-speed gears, Truvativ NOIR carbon-fibre pedals, Avid Elixier CR disc brakes and a set of DT Swiss X 1800 wheels. This high-tech bike is supplied with a damper pump, and is available in three frame sizes in matt black/matt white at a price of 3999 Euro.

Limited racing bike 2009
This new, competition-standard racing bike tips the scales at only 6.9 kg, and is available from Mercedes-Benz 2009 as a limited edition of 100 for particularly dedicated and demanding sports cyclists. Its outstanding attributes are based on the very best components available in the market: high-end carbon-fibre frame, Carbotec monocoque carbon-fibre fork, SRAM RED 20-speed gears, SRAM RED carbon-fibre pedals and a set of DT Swiss RR 1450 "mon chasseral" RWS wheels in white. This extraordinary racing bike is available in five frame sizes in carbon/white/red, and costs 4999 Euro.

Fitnessbike 2009
Mercedes-Benz has made detailed improvements to its well-proven Fitnessbike, which is available in Sport or Comfort editions (Comfort has a low crossbar) and in several frame sizes. From now on, frame size XL is also available. The high-grade components include an aluminium frame in an exclusive MB design - now in white, absolutely the height of fashion - a suspension fork with a travel of 80 mm and a lockout function, SRAM X.5 27-speed gears and disc brakes at front and rear. The Fitnessbike costs 1099 Euro.

Trekkingbike 2009
Matching the new E-Class, a classic in the Mercedes-Benz bike collection has a trendy copper brown metallic/white paint finish this year, and is now also available in XL size for the larger bike enthusiasts among Mercedes-Benz customers: the Trekkingbike. Its improved features include a trekking frame of aluminium in an exclusive MB design, available in four sizes as either a Sport or Comfort edition, a suspension fork with a travel of 80 mm and a lockout function, SRAM X.5 27-speed gears, disc brakes with an integral immobiliser on the front wheel, a high-quality touring kit which includes a Shimano hub dynamo, Busch & Müller lights, a metal protective cover and a Topeak luggage rack. Price: 1349 Euro.
For both small and adult bike enthusiasts, Mercedes-Benz also continues to offer the Kidsbike for 299 Euro and the highly successful Mountainbike for 2790 Euro. All these bikes are available from Mercedes-Benz dealers.

Bike clothing 2009
The Mercedes-Benz collection of clothing specifically tailored for biking fun is also new. It is made from practical, breathable, fast-drying and skin-friendly materials. The trousers have separate bike panties with high-quality, sewn-in seat padding for first-class saddle comfort.

Images : 2009 Mercedes-Benz Sportbikes










[Source : DAIMLER]

Audi A4 2.0 TDI e: Audi Unleashes the Most Efficient Standard-Size Sedan

2009 AUDI A4 2.0 TDI e
  • The new diesel-powered Audi A4 consumes a mere 4.6 l/100 km (51.13 US mpg)
  • Emissions of just 119 grams of CO2 per kilometer (191.51 g/mile)
  • Market launch in early June at a price of 30,800 euros
  • A4 Avant also available as an ‘e’ model
INGOLSTADT : May 29, 2009 - Audi will soon launch the most efficient standard-size sedan. The Audi A4 2.0 TDI e will be available at dealerships starting in early June. Equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, this sedan sips 4.6 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (51.13 miles per U.S. gallon). It consequently emits a mere 119 grams of CO2 per kilometer (191.51 grams per mile): the best value of any vehicle in its class. “Efficiency is standard in every Audi. The A4 2.0 TDI e is particularly persuasive proof that efficiency, outstanding performance, comfort and driving enjoyment are not mutually exclusive,” says Michael Dick, Board of Management Member for Technical Development at AUDI AG. This ‘e’ model develops an output of 136 bhp (100 kW); it reaches 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 9.5 seconds and swiftly tops out at 215 km/h (133.59 mph). The sedan can be ordered now and costs 30,800 euros. This remarkably efficient A4 is also available as an Avant.



The combined impact of several features facilitates the vehicle’s increased efficiency. The standard start-stop system is especially effective during city driving. As soon as the vehicle comes to a stop, the shift lever is in neutral, and the driver removes his or her foot from the clutch pedal, the system turns the engine off. The engine then turns back on as soon as the clutch pedal is depressed.

The start-stop system functions extremely quietly, smoothly, and quickly. While the driver is stepping on the clutch pedal to shift into first gear, the engine instantaneously returns to its idle speed. In the standardized driving cycle, the start-stop system reduces fuel consumption by some 0.2 liters/100 km, which equates to about 5 grams CO2/km (8.05 g/mile).


Furthermore, this ‘e’ model features a 6-speed manual transmission with a final-drive ratio higher by five percent — enabling a reduction in engine speed in each of the six gears. The engine-management system has also been modified for maximum efficiency. The fuel-saving low-resistance tires (205/60 R 16) improve rolling resistance and are exclusive to the A4 model line’s ‘e’ model. Standard equipment also includes the recovery of braking energy. Aided by intelligent alternator regulation, this system converts surplus kinetic energy to electrical energy during a vehicle’s braking phases. This electrical energy is temporarily stored in the electrical system’s battery. When the vehicle resumes acceleration, the battery supplies this stored energy to the vehicle’s network — reducing the load on the alternator and thus saving fuel.

An on-board computer with efficiency program is also part of the standard-equipment package. The driver information system with gearshift indicator and efficiency-data display notifies the driver when it is sensible to shift gears to conserve fuel. The on-board computer displays all fuel-efficiency data on the center screen. These recommendations enable drivers to conserve fuel to the tune of 30 percent — simply by modifying their particular driving habits. Audi’s efficiency program continuously analyzes the vehicle’s energy consumption and gives the driver situation-specific advice on how to optimize fuel efficiency based on the given driving situation or driving style.

The A4 2.0 TDI e also consumes less fuel thanks to enhanced aerodynamics made possible by additional aerodynamic-drag optimizations such as an underbody trim panel, the partially enclosed radiator grille, and the reduction in ride height of 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) facilitated by the sports chassis.

The A4 2.0 TDI e is also available as an Avant. Its combined fuel consumption amounts to just 4.9 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (48.00 miles per U.S. gallon). This Avant consequently emits 129 grams of CO2 per kilometer (207.61 grams per mile). The basic price for the Avant is 32,800 euros.

Images : 2009 AUDI A4 2.0 TDI e


[Source : AUDI]