DEFENDING Australian Rally Champion Harry Bates swapped the dust for asphalt when he lined up the championship-winning Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Yaris AP4 towards a Porsche Taycan Turbo S and a Holden Commodore ZB Supercar at Albert Park as a part of the 2022 Australian Grand Prix program.
Bates participated within the single-lap MSS Final Safety Pace Comparability problem, which was held on every day of the occasion. Nevertheless, they weren’t dash races, however handicap demonstrations, as a result of, whereas the 200kW+ GR Yaris AP4 can obtain a 185km/h prime pace, Toyota’s rally automotive can be no match for the Porsche and Holden, not to mention when pushed by famend V8 Supercar drivers.
So, given the distinction within the automobiles’ prime speeds, the single-lap MSS Final Safety Pace Comparability problem featured a staggered begin to permit for as-close-as-possible finishes between the automobiles. Bates pulled away first, adopted by 2017 Bathurst 1000 winner Luke Youlden within the Taycan Turbo S and, after one other pause, seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup within the Supercar.
“Because the reigning Australian Rally Champion, TGRA and the GR Yaris AP4 have achieved nice success, establishing themselves because the kings of the dust,” Toyota Australia chief advertising and marketing officer Vin Naidoo stated.
“We (had been) excited to see Harry Bates put the AP4 by its paces on the famed tarmac of Albert Park, in entrance of 1000’s of passionate Method 1 followers.”
In the meantime, Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc and the Scuderia’s Workforce Principal Mattia Binotto unveiled the 812 Competizione – a limited-edition particular collection automotive derived from the Maranello-based model’s 812 Superfast mannequin – at a personal occasion held on the primary day of the Australian Grand Prix weekend.
Powered by a considerably modified naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine that revs to a dizzying 9500rpm, the 812 Competizone produces peak outputs of 610kW and 692Nm; it’s claimed to speed up from 0-100kph in 2.85 seconds, from 0-200 kph of seven.5 seconds and hit a 340km/h prime pace.
In contrast with its Superfast sibling, the 812 Competizione weighs simply 1487kg. It options model 7.0 of Ferrari’s side-slip management traction administration system, which additionally governs its four-wheel steering.
The presentation, which was additionally attended by the president of Ferrari Far East and Center East, Dieter Knechtel, in addition to the president of Ferrari Australasia, Jan Hendrik Voss, happened on the bespoke Casa Ferrari, a multi-storey construct trackside on the Australian Grand Prix.
Lastly, toy-brick firm Lego revealed a life-sized duplicate of the McLaren-Mercedes F1 group’s 2022 race automotive at Albert Park. Assembled by Ryan “The Brickman” McNaught, the automotive (completed in papaya orange) included particulars such a V6 engine with transferring pistons, steering activated from the cockpit, suspension and a differential lock. It required 288,315 blocks, and over 1893 hours to assemble,
The activation complimented the retail availability of the Lego Technic McLaren F1 set, of which the preliminary consignment has, unsurprisingly, been bought out. It’s accessible on-line on backorder, nevertheless.
