MARSH RACING GROUP

Evander Klum asked:


In this year’s Indianapolis 500, which will he held on May 27, car race fans will contend against each other and test their knowledge on racing.

The Indy 500 Play Action is being launched in cooperation with WIBC 1070 AM and 97.1 HANK FM. The radio station is the broadcast home of IMS in Indianapolis.

The Indy 500 grants race car fanatics the privilege to answer trivia questions and make fearless forecasts with their cell phones during this year’s Pole Day, Miller Lite Carb Day and Race Day. The fans can therefore participate at home or in the venue of the world’s largest one-day sporting event. And good news is that there will be more than one winner in this first-ever live contest that features mobile technology.

Joie Chitwood, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President and Chief Operating Office, said the Indy 500 Play Action is a modern way to engage the society of race enthusiasts to mobile technology, as it brings more excitement and an innovative kind of contest. He further said Play Action is an excellent match for the Indy 500 for it has been about competition and technology rolled into one since its existence in 1911.

This is the maiden affair that Play Action will be used at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or during an Indy Car Series event. The technology has been used with the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association games through the Toronto Raptors, and the Skins Game in golf.

Tom Severino, Emmis Vice President/General Manager, said Indianapolis 500 fanatics have another avenue for their passion. According to him, whether they are listening to the event on WIBC 1070 AM, 97.1 HANK FM or any other confederate of the IMS Radio Network, or watching the events from the Speedway, Indy fans with a U.S. mobile device have the opportunity to compete against fellow buff.

Today’s generation has really made a huge impact on the events in the community. The Indy 500 games will be made available to T-Mobile, Nextel, Cingular, Sprint, Verizon, Boost Mobile and Alltel subscribers in the United States and Canada. Registration may be done on line or through the use of their mobile device.

The game runs this way: On each of the three days, 10 questions will be asked. And a winner will be chosen each day. Race enthusiasts will be further attracted to join because of the cool prizes that include ticket packages to next year’s Indianapolis 500, bronze & silver badge credentials for track access next May, and an autographed checkered flag by this year’s race winner.

With $20 as the initial price, tickets for the Indy 500 can be ordered on line or through calling IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or at the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Race enthusiasts expect excellent and top of the line race cars with excellent parts such as BM launch control, lots of fun, excitement and additional knowledge on the race day.

Amelia Stenson asked:


South African motor racing was given a long overdue shot in the arm last month when the world class Kyalami Race track hosted the A1GP for the first time. Long discarded as a preferred international venue for the really big league of motor racing, Formula One, Kyalami proved to both its detractors and supporters that it is indeed ready to host the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and the rest of the F1 racing daredevils.

Kyalami rises to the deafening sound of A1 racing

Right up until 1985, when South Africa’s entrenched apartheid policies raised the ire of the racing fraternity, Kyalami was the venue of the elite South African Grand Prix, but since then the deafening noise on the track has been silenced.

The 4,26km Midrand track did not belie its name (meaning “My Home” in Zulu) when teams from all over the globe took part in the A1GP. Even Brazil’s favourite racing son, Felipe Massa, was on hand at the anti-clockwise track to give his A1 compatriot a couple of tips before the race.

Although South Africa had to acquiesce to the flair and sheer velocity of Team Netherlands on the day, it was a heavenly and historic moment for auto racing in South Africa.

Formula Vee National Champs at the Phakisa Freeway soon

The incumbent king of the national Formula Vee championship, Dennis Johns, is back on home turf in an attempt to defend his title and there is an entire harem of consummate drivers out there to test the young man’s nerves and skill.

Formula Vee is the baby brother of motor sport, with the class based on the precocious and enduring 1963 VW Beetle. Although the likes of Barrichello and Button may well scoff at the lowly and inexpensive formula, it has proved to have tremendous stamina in the popularity stakes of both drivers and its ever-growing fan base.

The national championship takes place at the Phakisa Freeway on March 14, a track that has often been likened to the hugely acclaimed Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada. The Free State track is rated as one of the safest circuits on the GP tour and MotoGP, organisers of the World Grand Prix circuit, believe it is a superb venue and one of the best in the world – yet another accolade for the resurgent South African auto-racing sector.

Apart from the signature race, fans are in for a dynamic mix of single seater, sports, GT and saloon racing including



Historic saloon cars

Historic sports and GT cars

Formula GTi & 250cc Super Karts

Club championship events for Formula Libre single-seaters & Marque cars

Anthony Fontanelle asked:


Volkswagen AG will be testing the waters in North America by introducing a fresh racing series in 2008. The racing event will highlight better fuel mileage protection of air quality.

The first ever all-diesel powered racing series will hit the tracks in 2008 with the formation of the Jetta TDI Cup, sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Pro Racing department, said Motorsport. The idea of showcasing the power and performance of its new clean diesel technology is even unique to the German automaker.

Part of VW’s goal is for the young racers to develop their skills and move up the motorsport ladder. It means that the 2008 winner cannot race in the series in the future. However, if one does not win, they can run up to a maximum of three years but they have to go through the screening process and qualify for the new series held annually.

Being active in auto racing is not unique however, and with their past performances, the automaker is prepared to take on their new challenge. In Europe, Asia and Africa, VW is one of the top manufacturers with drivers who chase for the popular VW Cup.

According to the reports, the newest series will have 30 Jetta TDIs ready for the 2008 competition. All will be prepared identically for the aspiring drivers who wish to take on the challenge next year, racing clean diesel powered racing machines. The prize at the end of the season will see two of the drivers participate in Germany at the season finale for the VW Polo Cup series.

“The Jetta TDI Cup racing series will celebrate Volkswagen’s diesel technology and heritage in motorsports as good, clean fun,” said Stefan Jacoby, CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “Not only will the young drivers gain real-life track experience in a factory-prepared race vehicle, it will allow them to develop their own mindset of today’s clean diesel technology, and foster increased awareness of its advantages in this new era of environmental sensitivity.”

At the SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV, SCCA Pro Racing’s president and CEO Robert Wildberger has this to say: “With the Jetta TDI Cup, Volkswagen has created an amazing platform to develop young drivers and expand their knowledge about clean and quiet diesel technology. We look forward to the series in hopes that it will attract more attention to the drivers and advantages of diesel power.”

The prowess of VW Jetta parts cannot be overemphasized. Improving the car’s power is a 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine which will power the Jetta TDI race cars. All will have ABS racing brakes, a six-speed double-clutch DSG transmission, and a fully independent racing suspension along with the required cockpit safety requirements.

So who will race in the upcoming series? Knowing that there are many young racers aged 16 to 26 who would grab the rare chance, VW will accept applications to find the 40 drivers. There will only be 30 starters but ten will be held in reserve. Qualifying will take place to know the lucky 40.

VW has the dates set for the qualifying sessions in March with the first race event set for April 26 to 27 next year. Prospective drivers will not to bother about the sponsors; the German automaker will take care of the matter.

RyanThomas asked:


It is widely known that Nissan is in the auto industry a long time and through the years, Nissan has introduced some of the most memorable auto models. These vehicles are now being showcased at the company’s auto museum in Tokyo.

The Ginza Gallery as it is called is located right in the middle of Tokyo’s shopping and business district. It combines the heritage of Nissan and the new auto models in its showroom. Unlike many auto museums, the Ginza Gallery is open to the public and is conveniently located in front of Nissan’s headquarters in the said city.

One of the vehicles on the gallery is the Nissan X-Trail - the compact crossover SUV that Nissan sells in the United States auto market. Its presence at the museum is proof that the gallery not only displays classic cars but also the new vehicles that Nissan produces. The X-Trail’s direct competitors are the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V. The X-Trail is assembled at Nissan’s facility in the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

A classic Nissan car displayed at the museum is the Fairlady. The roadster is considered as one of the best looking convertibles of its time. The Fairlady is the direct ancestor of the Z car which Nissan is known for. It was first produced by the car manufacturer in 1959 and was discontinued in 1970. Throughout its stint in the market, Nissan produced 40,000 units of the roadster. The Fairlady badge though is not used in other markets. Instead, it was marketed under the Datsun Sports name. The popularity of the Fairlady is due to the fact that they are a cheaper alternative to European sports cars.

Another classic Nissan car at the Ginza gallery is the 2000 GTX. The Skyline 2000 GTX benefited from the success of the Fairlady in the sense that the capability of the company to produce high performance vehicles is already made known to the car buying public. The 2000 GTX is rated to have a top speed of 120 miles per hour. The reputation and the power of the 2000 GTX made it a big success since like the Fairlady, it is competitively priced. In fact, the 2000 GTX is used by celebrity racing enthusiasts.

Another classic model showcased at Nissan’s auto museum is the Nissan Silvia introduced in 1964. The sport coupe debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show that year and is known to be hand-built and based on the Fairlady. The fact that every Nissan Silvia was hand-built made the coupe an expensive one. From 1964 to 1968 when production was discontinued, there were 554 units of this car that was produced. Most of these cars were sold in Japan while 49 units where exported to Australia and ten more were sent to other parts of the world.

While production for the vehicle was discontinued in 1968, the Silvia will return once again to Nissan’s lineup in 1974 and was once again discontinued in 2002. In its first stint in the market, the Silvia did not attract much attention from car buyers, but in its revival in the 1970s, its popularity took off giving Nissan’s S chassis its place in the annals of the auto industry.

Another classic car displayed at the museum is the Datsun Cherry. The car family is the first Nissan vehicle to use a front-wheel drive configuration. The subcompact car is later named as the Nissan Pulsar although in some markets, it is still called the Cherry. Like its contemporaries in Datsun’s lineup, it is also engineered to be a fast car. In fact, a coupe version of the Cherry made appearances in the Japanese race circuit in the early 1970s.

Another classic model in display at the museum is the Nissan Laurel which was introduced by the company in 1968. It was intended to fill the gap between the Bluebird and the Nissan Cedric during that time. The Laurel is only marketed in select Asian and European car markets. Through its stint in Nissan’s lineup, the Laurel underwent ten generation of redesigns. Unlike the Cherry, the Laurel used the rear-wheel drive configuration.

The last vehicle on display at the museum is the Nissan Cedric. The Cedric was first introduced in 1960 and remains in Nissan’s lineup to this day making it one of Nissan’s longest running models. The Cedric is a large luxury car and is easily recognizable as a Nissan car. Its present model uses the same design concepts used by other Nissan cars from the nose, fender, Nissan door handles, and rear bumper.

Dwyane Thomas asked:


The inaugural F1 race which took place in Melbourne, Australia over the weekend has proved to be quite a race for the reigning world champion Fernando Alonso and teammate Lewis Hamilton who finished second and fourth respectively. The F1 race was also a great opportunity for Mercedes-Benz to show the world the outstanding performance of its vehicles and that includes displaying how durable the Mercedes auto parts and accessories are like Mercedes Benz car cover which are perfect for protecting Mercedes vehicles.

From the start of the race, the duo managed to maintain their positions at the head of the pack until Alonso dropped back to fourth by the first corner while Hamilton moved into third following BMW’s Nick Heidfeld and former McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen.

It was only on the 14th lap that Heidfeld entered the pits for the first time giving Lewis and Fernando the opportunity to move into second and third spots. Kimi entered the pits on the 19th lap which allows the McLaren Mercedes duo to up another spot. After the 22 and 23 laps, Alonso and Lewis entered their pits for the first time and resuming their former positions as third and second respectively.

Then on lap 42 Kimi made his second pit stop, giving Lewis the chance to take the lead, unfortunately a lapped car slowed his speed enabling Fernando to close the gap between himself and his teammate. Lap 43 came and Lewis has to make a pit stop, Fernando has taken advantage of this to gain back the lead until he pitted two laps after. When he gets back on the race, Alonso was already accelerating to second place ahead of his teammate Lewis and trailing behind Kimi. These positions were maintained through the end of the race.

The F1 Race in Melbourne ended remarkably for the Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes better than their performance last year.

Here are some of the comments during the race (source emercedesbenz.com):

—–Fernando Alonso: “What a great way to start the season and my career as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver. Of course it’s always better to win but Kimi was a little bit quicker than us today, but we scored the maximum points that were possible, and I’m really pleased. My start was a bit strange with both BMWs being very quick off the line, and I was so busy defending my line from Heidfeld on the outside that it was not possible for me to defend the corner. I was then behind the Lewis for a while and was just focusing on keeping up with him and sometimes dropping back to allow the car to cool down. I took second after the second pitstop as I was able to stay out for an additional two laps. Originally it was meant to be one lap but because I was behind Lewis I managed to save enough fuel for one more lap. Both of the Bridgestone Potenza tyre options worked well. We will now continue to work hard to give us the best opportunity to beat Ferrari at the Malaysian Grand Prix.”

—-Lewis Hamilton: “I’m absolutely ecstatic – today’s result is more than I ever dreamed of achieving on my Grand Prix debut. A big thank you to the team who have worked so hard during the winter to make sure I was as prepared as I possible could be. I made a good start but the BMWs were quick off the line and Kubica managed to get past. There was no room on the inside so I got on the left and managed to outbrake both Kubica and Fernando coming into the first corner to take third. The race was intense, and I was working very hard. I made a few mistakes but nothing major and really enjoyed myself. It was great to lead the race for a few laps, but I knew it was only a temporary thing. Fernando got past me in the second pitstop as he was able to stay out a bit longer and I lost some time behind backmarkers. We now have a lot of work ahead of us with the Malaysia test and the rest of the season, but there is no doubt that we can build from what has been achieved today.”

—-Ron Dennis, Team Principal: “Of course as always we came to Australia to win but a somewhat unexpected strategy adopted by BMW was very disruptive to our race. Following Heidfeld’s first pitstop the gap was just too big to realistically close it and the additional range from our strategy was subsequently wasted. Both drivers did an excellent job giving us a narrow lead in the Constructors’ Championship. A special thank you to the test team and the workforce back at the McLaren Technology Centre who have worked so hard during the winter and contributed so much to the faultless reliability that we have enjoyed throughout the weekend. The coming Malaysian test should give us every opportunity to further improve the competitiveness of our cars.”

—-Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “The season started well with Fernando and Lewis scoring 14 points out of 18 possible on their debut race for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. Fernando showed with his performance exactly why he is the double world champion whilst Lewis made a perfect start to his Grand Prix career and proved absolutely worthy of the confidence we have had in him for the past ten years. Although we still have to work hard to further improve our technical package, we showed today that throughout the winter we have made improvements. We will now focus on the Malaysia test and are looking forward to the next race. Thanks to everybody in the team in Woking, Brixworth and Stuttgart, all their efforts will pay off.”

Victor Epand asked:


There are many different kinds of magazines catering to different communities world wide. Magazines are basically reading material carefully and meticulously compiled to meet the requirements of a particular target segment in society. There are sports magazines, science magazines, dedicated business magazines and magazines that cater to the world of car and automobile enthusiasts.

Magazines on automobiles are magazines with dedicated news and reports on automobiles and the concerned industry operating from around the world. Magazines on automobiles feature new cars being marketed, tests carried out on certain new launches within the industry and dedicated and unbiased comparisons, which describe advantages and disadvantages of similar models.

Auto Magazines also offer:

Reviews on future model speculations from one or different companies. This enables the car and automobile enthusiasts to consider options before indulging in a purchase or sale.

Comparisons in the price ranges offered by the various segments of the industry, to assist car enthusiasts to plan and deliberate on a purchase or sale.

Confidential information from within the various companies that form an integrated part of the automobile industry. This enables co operators to be better informed about happenings from within the industry. It also gives the readers the opportunity to guage the future market of a particular car or model.

Spyshots or pictures of camouflaged models tested by automakers to fuel the enthusiasm of automobile racing fans world wide. This feature enables car enthusiasts to take a sneak peek at the models and cars yet to be launched.

Modified automobile reviews that make available information on the salient features incorporated post launch, to increase sales and offer real value for the hard earned money spent. These reviews help car company owners and agents, as well as readers who are contemplating investment within the industry.

Lists of new models marketed by the different automobile companies and the pre launch and market prices and details. This is very helpful to regular investors within the industry.

Specifications and ratings of the automobiles by a dedicated board that assesses the automobiles on the basis of past records and upgraded features and road worthiness. These assessments are vital to investors and the businessmen from the industry itself.

Used car advertisements for the buyers who wish to indulge in the ownership of cars, without having to dole out the high launch and market prices. Second hand or used cars offer the layman an opportunity for mobility, without getting cheated after doling out the payment.

Auto racing news and reviews on the events planned within the industry and by sponsors from around the world.

Some of the notable Magazines on automobiles include:

Auto Bild, Auto Week, Auto Car, Auto Revue, Automobile Magazine, Avtomanija, Car and Driver, Car, Road and Track, Street Machine, Top Gear, Motor Trend, Auto Trader

The Magazines on automobiles are targeted at fulfilling the need for information of dedicated readers on investments that are probably second only to real estate.

Kraig Johanssen asked:


The Motorsports world welcomes any driver with enthusiasm, knowledge and commitment to race.

Kevin Lacroix is the newest driver of Brooks Associates Racing. He started competing in the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda last weekend and will again be competing at the Mazda Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland presented by Joe’s Sports wherein he will drive the #10 Uni-Select car.

This 18-year-old French Canadian racer since he was a kid was already into the open wheel fast track. At the age of 7, he already started his career in karting where he was chosen by one of the highest ranking officers of “Stars of Karting.”

Because the official was impressed by his performance, he was granted a scholarship at the BMW racing school in Spain. For the first time, he competed there in open wheel at age of 16 and quickly gained six podiums and four victories. He successfully ranked second in the Formula BMW American Championship and, take note of this, finished in the top five ten times in fourteen races. Amazing, is it not. At the age of 17, he competed in Star Mazda where he placed second at the end of the Championship.

John Brooks, the team owner of Brooks Associates Racing, said that they were able to test with Kevin for two days last week at Firebird. He commented that it was a bit surprising from Montreal for the young driver who immediately gained quick times. He added that Kevin vividly depicts a rising star and an added strength to the ChampCar Atlantic series. The team was definitely extremely pleased to have him.

Kevin said that he felt glad and lucky being a part of a competitive team. He was optimistic that even they did not have the pre-season testing; their team is going to be competitive once they work together. He considered their 2-day practice at Firebird an enough effort for them to get some podiums and the grand prix for this season.

For the balance of the season, Kevin replaced Joe D’Agostino. The team owner said that Joe’s budget was not sufficient this time so he was not able to continue. Nonetheless, John hopes for Joe’s running again in the later part of this season for he is a committed young driver whose future in Motosports in trending is good.

About Mazda and its Auto Racing

Mazda Motor Corporation is the sponsor of the Star Mazda Championship. Aside from manufacturing quality auto part such as Mazda tail lights, the company is also known in the world of auto racing.

In the field of racing, Mazda is successful with two-rotor, three-rotor, and four-rotor cars. Private racers have also had considerable success with stock and modified Mazda cars with Wankel engines.

Mazda’s competition in race started on October 20, 1968. This was when two Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S coupes entered the 84 hour ultra endurance race in Marathon de la Route at Nürburgring. One car finished as the fourth placer and the other broke an axle after 81 hours.

Jim Brown asked:


Some people believe that the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing has organized its racing events to provide some of the best NASCAR racing excitement that any fan could ever possibly hope to have in a lifetime. Some of the racing events that are organized involve truck racing, but by far, the stock car races in the Winston Cup challenge are NASCAR racing choices that are truly fine.

People can choose to visit the NASCAR Racing Museum and see the history of NASCAR in living color. The entire facility is designed to look like a NASCAR racetrack and fans are definitely thrilled beyond belief from the second they enter this prestigious facility. The fans see NASCAR racing memorabilia at its best and get to see the automobile that was driven by the Winston Cup leader.

Some fans think that a particular racetrack provides some of the finest NASCAR racing in the world. The entire complement of race cars are true exhibits of the quality and craftsmanship that go into making the NASCAR racing machine that circles the racetrack during racing season. As the rows of cars build with each lap, some fans agree that nothing in life could ever replace the thrill of all that excitement.

There is some NASCAR racing fans that are totally devoted to the colorful graphics on certain race cars. They think that when they see their favorite colors in the pole position, that they are experiencing some of the finest accomplishments that their NASCAR driver has shown to them thus far in his racing career. When that driver goes on to win the race, they will definitely think that they had a chance to see NASCAR racing at its very best.

The devotion that fans display week after week is evidence of their love for NASCAR racing. Even if a driver they admire has a bad week and fails to qualify for a race due to engine or mechanical failures, these fans still stand true and back their driver because they think that he is definitely the best driver in NASCAR history, just not that week.

Feel confident though that those fans will return the following week to see the finest racing done by their driver and they will look for them in the winners circle at the end of the race. If they fail to see them in the winner’s circle, you can be sure that they will be able to find an image of the driver attached to some memorable Nascar souvenir that will serve to remind fans of the marvelous time that they had at one of the finest stock car races in the world.

Robert asked:


ng is a past time that many men and women enjoy. There are many different types of drag racing that people participate in. Some forms of the sport are done the right way and other forms are not. Perhaps you’ve seen some of the movies on television that glorify illegal drag racing and the revved-up engines in the fancy sports cars that are used for these back roads, high stakes races. Although television tends to make things more glorious from a Hollywood-type perspective, the truth is that drag racing is not for everyone, particularly when it comes to the kind of races that are held in a devil-may-care scenario. Auto racing has been around for about as long as cars have been in existence. For many, nothing compares to the excitement of going to the race track and watching their favorite driver zoom around the track, lap after lap and cross the finish line first. This is a great pastime for fans, whether they have the opportunity to go to the track and watch the race live or witness it on television. Drag racing is a form of auto racing that takes the sport to the next level. Many drivers who participate in drag racing say that the races give them a rush of adrenaline just by virtue of how much power is under their foot and how much speed they can push their cars to go before having to hit the brembo brakes. The differences between drag racing and traditional auto circuit racing are quite clear to those who enjoy either one or the other. For those who appreciate drag racing, there is no need to explain the difference. For those who are unclear, drag racing isn’t for everyone. Advocates for drag racing suggest that it is an excellent way to demonstrate prowess behind the wheel as well as acumen under the hood, especially when it comes to brake pads. Those who are against drag racing use the arguments that they are dangerous and cause many people to lose life and limb while engaged in such high speed “antics”. The bottom line about drag racing is that while there are no requirements for skill, particularly with respect to being able to handle a vehicle at high speed, clearly drag racing is not for everyone. The true sport of drag racing, when practiced legally still carries some risk with it, but it is done in the proper area and according to certain guidelines. This keeps the sport of drag racing safe for fans that are watching and safer than street drag racing for the drivers who participate. The best and safest way to practice and enjoy drag racing is when and where it’s done legally. Illegal drag racing not only poses a driving hazard to those behind the wheel but to witnesses that may be injured by a car gone out of control. There are many professional drag races that can be enjoyed on television and in person.

Anthony Fontanelle asked:


McLaren Mercedes phenomenal Formula One drivers - consisting of Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Mika Häkkinen - star in a new TV commercial that stresses the German company’s passion for action-thirsty adventures.

The Mercedes Benz thermostat reflects a rising temperature but racing aficionados can pretty much handle the heat. Every second of the 60-second television ad is full of passion at Mercedes. It will be aired next weekend to coincide with Formula One races.

As reported by the Auto Spectator, the new Mercedes-Benz TV commercial reveal that Alonso and Hamilton have got racing in their blood. In a series of thrilling scenes, it becomes clear that they see themselves as friendly rivals not only on the race track but also at a hotel reception desk, at a gym, and in a sauna.

In the commercial, which will be aired starting next Saturday on the most famous public and private TV channels in Germany, Spain, and the UK, Mercedes-Benz demonstrates that the fascination of auto racing is based not only on fighting spirit but also a large dose of playful fun.

A sneak preview of the McLaren television commercial will be made on Friday, July 20, at www.mercedes-benz.tv, the company’s Internet TV. There, the visitor can take a look at the full length McLaren commercial, and visitors can be replayed at any time via video on demand.

“The idea for this commercial originated in our brand philosophy,” said Dr. Olaf Göttgens, the Vice President for Brand Communications at Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars. “After all, motor sports are deeply rooted in the history of Mercedes-Benz, and today they’re still an essential element of our brand’s fascination. Motor sports embody the passion that characterizes Mercedes-Benz.”

The television commercial shows the two McLaren Formula One drivers engaging in a ‘fierce daily competition,’ the Auto Spectator continued. “In the spot, the current Formula One front-runner, Hamilton, wins a race just seconds ahead of the current second-place driver, Alonso. He celebrates his triumph while he’s still sitting in the cockpit, with a broad grin and a wave of his hand.”

But only a short time later, as the McLaren racers are driving back to their hotel on board a Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG and a CLK 63 AMG Black Series, Hamilton is temporarily distracted by a gorgeous passerby. Alonso quickly takes advantage of the plight and leaves his flabbergasted teammate behind at a traffic light. Despite the blistering heat and their exhaustion in the sauna, each of them want to be the winner, the report continued.

“Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have a passion for auto racing,” said Norbert Haug, the head of Mercedes-Benz motorsports. “Both of them are ambitious, focused, and competitive. They cultivate a healthy sense of rivalry and appreciate and respect each other very much. Of course this is obvious on the race track, and it was evident while we were shooting the new TV commercial, too. In spite of the time pressure and their lack of familiarity with the TV medium, they really enjoyed the shoot. Mika Häkkinen, who has won the Formula One championship twice, has been in commercials before, and he’s as cool and appealing as ever this time around.”

In the end, the driver who grabs the spotlight is the legendary Mika Häkkinen. The Finn flaunts his know-how about everything there is to know about saunas and Finnish delight. The phenomenal Formula One drivers end the commercial by flaunting their pearly whites… even if they are just at a sauna.

More of Mercedes action is expected on the track. McLaren is leading the constructors’ and drivers’ championship and it will be radiating much of the passion in the upcoming races.