Chocolate Ferrari F1 Car Must be Eaten

Ferrari has sweetened their Formula One programme by unveiling this chocolate-made life-sized model of the F2008 racing car. Comprised of 2,000kg (4,405 lbs) of chocolate, the “project” began when confectioners melted chocolate a year ago and started making a small version based on a small-scale model of the F2008.

“The project started one year ago, just for fun,” said Luigi Liberti, president of the Scuderia Ferrari Club Napoli, “but then the Club Pasticceri Italiani started to get really enthusiastic and eventually it became a life-sized model.
They started melting the chocolate in 2007, at first copying a small-scale model of the Ferrari F2008, then getting the full scale model done using chocolate imported especially from Belgium.”

Everything on it is edible, everything including the red coating. The car had been on display in Sorrento, hear Naples as a display piece at a Ferrari owners’ party. But today it is being smashed up with hammers so guests can eat it p. For just £12,000/ €15,900 you can have the exact same thing, a year from now!

Melbourne Grand Prix axed

Race fans in Melbourne are in mourning as Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone announced no more races will be held in the city after the contract expires in 2010. The news comes after the government refused to allow a night race, something which Mr. Ecclestone considered non-negotiable. A government spokesman went on record to say "I'm sure Melbourne will survive without a Grand Prix," and that the city "…would be better without it." Last year the race lost an estimated 35 million dollars, and is expected to loose another 40 million this year. Recent reports have suggested that Ecclestone intends to meet with government officials in St. Petersburg about holding a race in Russia, essentially replacing the Melbourne event.

F1 License Plate sold for GBP 440,625

New record

Everybody thought that GBP 331,000 would be the ultimate record for the M1 UK license plate, topping Russian gazillionaire and Chelsea owner Abramovich's GBP 281,000 bid for the VIP1 plate. But today we can officially report a new record, set by Afzal Kahn from Project Kahn who paid an astounding GBP 375,000 for the 'F1' UK number plate (that's GBP 440,625 including taxes, almost 600,000 Euro or USD 875,000).

The F1 number plate was sold by the Essex County Council who has been in possession of the plate ever since 1904. Lord Hanningfield, the current leader of the authority, said: "It will be with some sadness that we will be losing this little piece of Essex history.”

Afzal Kahn, President of Project Kahn, said “I am privileged to have acquired such a prestigious marque. I am extremely happy the money raised from the sale will help improve road safety and through the training of young drivers.”

For now the F1 license plates is used for a Mercedes SLR McLaren, but in a few weeks time it will move to Kahn latest, a Range Rover Cosworth. Stay tuned for that!

Press Release

“F1” Sold!

The UK’s most expensive ever number plate has been sold for £440,625 Inc. The F1 plate, previously owned by Essex County Council has been sold to automotive designer and entrepreneur Afzal Kahn from Project Kahn LTD.

Essex County Council Leader Lord Hanningfield and an Essex advanced trained young driver will hand over the most prized ID in Britain to its new owner on January 21st 2008 at North Weald Airfield, Near Epping, Essex.

The “F1” number plate was sold for £109,625 more than the previous record holder, the “M1” plate, sold at Bonhams recently for £331,000. The record sale also eclipses the sale of VIP 1, reputedly sold to Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich for £285,000.

The money raised from the sale will go to the education and training of young drivers. Hundreds of young and recently passed drivers will be given help to take the Pass Plus test, which gives advanced training in driving techniques. The test, designed by the Driver Standards Agency, gives youngsters knowledge of how to drive on motorways and in poor weather conditions. The test is recognised by many car insurance companies, lowering insurance premiums and also by many employers.

F1 was first registered in the Essex County Register of Motors in 1904 as belonging to the County Surveyor of Essex. It was the official car of the first Chairman of Essex County Council, Andrew Johnston, and has remained in the county council’s possession ever since, having had pride of place on the Chairman’s car until recently when it was replaced with the plate, “ECC1”.

Council Leader - Lord Hanningfield said “It will be with a little sadness that we will be losing this little piece of Essex history but I am pleased to say the money raised will help improve the safety of our roads through the training of young drivers. I believe we have got an excellent for Essex in selling this asset. I congratulate Mr Kahn on his purchase”

Afzal Kahn, President of Project Kahn, said “I am privileged to have acquired such a prestigious marque. I am extremely happy the money raised from the sale will help improve road safety and through the training of young drivers such as James. The training of young drivers is a very important issue and I am privileged to have contributed to such a worthy cause.

“I look forward to The F1 number plate being placed on the groundbreaking Range Rover Cosworth that we will be launching in the coming weeks.”

F1 Spy Gate Man Joins Gigawave for Motorsport Cameras

Gigawave, makers of on-board motor racecar cameras, have hired the main character of F1’s most scandalous story ever. Race and Technical engineer Nigel Stepney, who was fired by the Scuderia Ferrari team for suspicion of sabotage and subsequent uncovering of his involvement in transferring Ferrari secrets to rival McLaren, is the new Director of Race Technologies at Gigawave.

"Gigawave Ltd feels that an engineer of Nigel's calibre and experience can only benefit the business's future technological development," read a statement from the company.

The Tifosi however, have very little to fear from the return of Stepney to motorsport as he will not be in F1 at all. He may though, still be indirectly involved in the success or failure of the team as his new job description suggests.

Massa Receives Unique Fiat 500

120 hp for F1 driver

Yesterday Felipe Massa, number two driver for the Ferrari Scuderia Formula One team, received a unique and very sporty Fiat 500 from his employer. Fiat really tries to take care of their drivers, but as always some (Felipe Massa) have it better than others (Michael Schumacher).

Felipe Massa's new Fiat 500 brings 120 bhp to the road through its fine tuned 1,4 liter engine. His autograph is embossed into the sill scuff plate and the exterior has been personalised with some unique graphic details. The unique Fiat 500 Sport is painted in Pearl White with brown Cordura interior, Skydome sunroof, 16 inch diamond alloy wheels and the customary red brake calipers.

Fiat Powertrain Racing (FPT) have worked their magic on the 1,4 liter 16V engine and raised power to 120 bhp from 100 hp, a little below the 135 hp Fiat 500 Abarth and well below the expected 160-170 hp from the Fiat 500 Abarth SS.

Related entries:

New Fiat 500 In Depth
Fiat 500 - Car of the Year

Toyota TF108 F1 Racecar Unveiled

Ambitious targets

Toyota has not had a very memorable season in 2007, accumulating just 13 points for the team. Ralf Schumacher never produced what was expected of him, and this year he couln't even manage to secure a seat with new entry Force India (previous Spijker F1). Jarno Trulli did a bit better with 8 points thoughout the 2007 season.

Chairman and Team Principal Tadashi Yamashina says: “We are in Formula 1 to win and we want to do that soon. We expect to have a truly competitive car so our drivers should be aiming to finish in the points regularly and challenging for the podium.”

The new 740 hp TF108 Formula car has a few new key features like a longer wheelbase, a major aerodynamic improvement, revised suspension and a new gearbox. Senior General Manager Chassis Pascal Vasselon explains: “The main reason for making the wheelbase longer is to achieve more stability, but secondly we also expect greater aerodynamic development potential, giving our aerodynamicists wider surfaces and more space to play with.” Of course Toyota also has to do without driver aids like traction control and engine braking.

33-year old Jarno Trulli: “I have been giving input into this car since the middle of the 2007 season, helping to develop the car to adapt to the new rules which ban traction control and engine braking. There is quite a big change in terms of electronics this year and I have spent time working with the team on this.”

New to the team Timo Gloc,who was BMW's test driver last season, said: “Even though I have not raced in Formula 1 since 2004, I have tested quite regularly so I expect it will take very little time for me to get back in the groove. I have been lucky enough to race and succeed in several different championships in my career but my goal has always been to become a full-time Formula 1 race driver.”

Third driver for the 2008 season will be the 21-year old rookie Kamui Kobayashi. He said: “Everything is just more extreme and it is a special experience to drive a Formula 1 car. When I moved to Europe to start racing formula cars my ambition was to one day become a Formula 1 driver and it feels great to say I am now a Formula 1 driver.”