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Saturday Morning Motorvation: Onboard Porsche GT3 Zeltner/Zeltner Sachsen Rallye 2013

F1 Canadian Style - A Visitors Guide

  Today was one of the most historic circuits on the F1 season but the next race will be the first chance to see the action here in North American.  In just 14 days, June 6 to 8, the teams will be at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada.

  The circuit was originally constructed in 1978 and has hosted just about every form of motor sports since them.  The layout utilized for F1 is a 4.361 kilometer course with 13 turns.

  Tickets are still available (http://www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca/home) and are anywhere for $45 dollars for a general admission on the practice days to $560 for a three day pass with seating in the Grandstand 1.  Several packages include seating in different locations for the practices and back in the main grandstand for the race but those packages are going quick.  There are also several high end hotels offering room and ticket packages but some of these are well over $2,000.

  At the Monaco Grand Prix, Team Mercedes continued to dominate but the real action was between Lewis Hamilton and Nico  Rosberg.  The tense between the two started during the qualify and a move by Rosberg that prevent Hamilton from completely what was on track to be his fastest lap.  Because of this Rosberg took pole position and Hamilton came in second.  Rosberg ran an error free race and kept the lead from start to finish.  It will be interesting to see how this inter team rivalry continues into Canada.

Saturday Morning Motorvation: McLaren P1 vs. The Nürburgring-Nordschleife

Just to lap in under seven minutes.Great sights and sounds in this one.

Monaco Grand Prix primer

The Monaco Grand Prix has been run since 1929 and is, by far, the most popular on the F1 circuit.  The extravagance of Monaco coupled with the thrill of F1 through the middle of the city of Monte Carlo makes for a very unique and expensive atmosphere. The track layout consists of very tight turns and drastic elevation chances making it one of the most dangerous on the modern F1 schedule despite the slower speeds on the course.  The course itself is 3.340 kilometers long and the cars will complete 78 laps for a total distance of 260.520 kilometers. One of the most dramatic parts of the course is the tunnel, creating blind spots when the drivers eyes are forced to adjust from daylight to darkness and back again. And let's not forget all that beautiful engine noise reverberating through the tunnel.  Just a quick search of youtube will show how popular this tunnel is for super car owners.  Although it's just as dangerous, as can be seen by the recent misplacement of a very expensive car while attempting re-create that exhaust reverberation.  But the sounds will be a bit different this year as the new smaller and quieter F1 engines (1.6-litre V6 turbo engines vice the old V8) this year are so quiet, the announcement speakers are drowning out the engines.
  For those luckily enough to be in Monaco this weekend, getting a good view of the track can prove to be an expensive undertaking.  Almost every balcony of the surrounding buildings will be full of race fans, many of which paid top dollar for the privilege of renting the balcony during the race.  For those enjoying their Memorial Day weekend back in the US, there are a few online and televised viewing options.  Several of the teams will have live streaming coverage from various points but the most comprehensive coverage will be on NBC Sports Network.  Practice #2 aired at 8 am on Thursday morning and qualifying will be at the same time on Saturday.  The live race coverage starts and 7:30 on Sunday with several opportunities to watch re-broadcasts later in the day.
  Lewis Hamilton, who posted the fastest overall time in practice for his Mercedes team, will be the one to watch four.  He has won the last four F1 races and is an obvious favorite to win this weekend as well.  If Hamilton pulls off a five win he will virtually guarantee his overall victory for the season and preventing any excitement for the remaining races.  Despite his successful year, the tight and dangerous track offers plenty of opportunities for any of the teams to seize victory.

When to watch:

Thursday, May 22 - 8:00 a.m. -- Monaco Grand Prix - Practice #2 (NBCSN)
Saturday, May 24 - 8:00 a.m. -- Monaco Grand Prix - Qualifying (NBCSN)
Sunday, May 25 - 7:30 a.m. -- Monaco Grand Prix - Race (NBC)

Saturday Morning Motorvation: Aston Martin One-77

Saturday Morning Motorvation; Racing. Not Posing

Mental Floss - 32 Car Name Meanings

Saturday Morning Motorvation: Porsche Commercial