A Game from Christmas Past- NASCAR Racing 2003 Season

It’s that time of the year again where everyone gets festive and watches that awful adaptation of A Christmas Carol. However, this year I thought why not put a “twist” on the idea (for all of those Dickens fans out there) and turn it into a game I loved, a game I love and a game I am almost sure I will love. Starting in traditional fashion let’s take a step back in time to 2003. The year in which the first Call Of Duty was released along with The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker. But for Sim-Racers it could have been the most iconic year in the whole of the genre. Papyrus released Nascar Racing 2003. It was the NASCAR sim for the season including all the cars, tracks and the ability to use a wheel with force feedback! Whilst this all seems pretty ordinary, there are several things which makes this game unique. For those of you who have never played it but passionate fans of iRacing, I do reccommend picking it up as it is made by the same company (just under a different name after the company split) and carries a lot of the same traits. It’s almost like NASCAR 2003 is the infant child and iRacing is that child all grown up.

The Force Feedback for a game so old is pretty good, it’s not too heavy so you feel like you’re driving a truck and doesn’t have a ON/OFF switch and that’s it. (like some sims at the time). The controls are very customisable which makes it even better for the NASCAR enthusiast who wants to find the perfect setup. Talking of setups, you can customise just about everything on the car that you could expect to customise in iRacing. Again this will make fans very happy. Every slight adjustment affects the handling and speed of the car which again for its time is brilliant. Which brings me on to the physics. In my opinion these are very hard to get right, you don’t want to feel like you’re driving a weightless blob but also not like you’re driving a tank. Again this title delivers and can even rival those of the early Sim Bin titles. One key feature for me was the AI. The AI in the game are very smart, responsive and very..very..clean. Now that’s great but what makes NASCAR so different as a sport is the amount of wrecks and unpredictability. So, how did Papyrus bring this into the game? Easy, edit the AI yourself. By going into one of the files in the root folder, you can customise amounts of mechanical failures, aggression, drafting distance and much more. Meaning you could either set up a demolition derby, a realistic race, or a gentleman’s race with no incidents for 200 laps! This made it perfect for every player so that they find their comfort zone or will even branch out to try something new. There were and still are many good times to be had messing around with the AI settings.

The graphics are also excellent and in my opinion are almost up to scratch with those from rFactor. There is a lot of customisation and again you get that sesne of iRacing blood coursing through its veins with the way it looks. The cars look brilliant and at the start of a race you can even see the white stripes on the tires from being fresh out of the paddock which is a really nice feature. The scenery is very well crafted and changes from track to track which again adds a sense of it being an official title. But perhaps one of the best features of this long lost treasure is the community. It is still extremely strong and every year there are 2 or 3 mods for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series. Bringing you all the cars, liveries, tracks to what seems to be an outdated title. But it works beautifully. For NASCAR fans outside of the USA who do not have a region free console or do not want to spend endless hours on the internet looking for a way to get Eutechnyx’ latest console title it is perfect. You get all the drivers, teams and liveries put into a game where you can customise just about every characteristic of the AI. There is even an option in the game for an Opponent Manager. This effectively is a simple version of the .ini file and you can model each opponent as to what their real life counterpart is doing. So if you wanted to see Trevor Bayne at the front of the field (like myself) then you can boost his stats up which for the time is a fantastic feature. It also carries more similarities to iRacing than first thought. The spotter feeds you the same information, and even the F1, F2 and F3 buttons bring up the Session info, Standings and Fuel! Overall NASCAR Racing 2003 is a fantastic title, and if you never had the chance to play it then you are truly missing out. Endless mods and endless fun for a game which was way ahead of its time. You still find yourself playing through season after season and not many games give you that burning passion to play it after a long day when they’re 9 years old. But how does it compare to the Game of Christmas Present? Liam Jenkins

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From Cobra to Viper :- Santino heads to the Elimination Chamber

Friday night Smackdown has thrown up one of the biggest shocks of 2012. Santino Marella, somebody who is constantly making errors and being overlooked by the WWE Universe due to his comedic nature, is heading into one of the most brutal matches in WWE history.

A sight we won't be seeing anytime soon, Randy Orton out of action

      After Teddy Long broke the news that hot pick to win the chamber in Milwaukee Randy Orton is unable to compete not only that night but on Sunday, he had to find a replacement. With the fans still in shock and devistation that the fan favourite had been removed from the matchup, the general manager had a suprise in store. A good old fashioned battle royal to determine the sixth spot in the chamber.
   As the majority of the roster were in the ring at the same time, nobody would really pick the Italian for the win. With superstars such as Drew Mclintyre and Ezekiel Jackson, not to mention Laurinitus's assistant David Otunga all in the mix.
   But as time drew on and more shocks occurred, there was one name still in the mix with four men remaining.Drew, Ezekiel,David and suprisingly Marella. Santino seemed to just prance around the ring until the very end where by some miracle he eliminated Mclintyre and the powerhouse that is Jackson!
    With just Otunga left in the ring and constantly beating down the underdog who was being chanted by a strong crowd, all their hopes lay on Santino. Out of nowhere he went on a complete rampage but missed the diving cobra. With Otunga showboating and looking to win the match he went to throw Santino over the ropes. But again suprising millions, the Italian somehow managed to reverse it and win the matchup.
     The crowd were on their feet as he danced around the ring knowing he has a one in six chance of becoming World Heavyweight champion this Sunday.

The five men he will face however will all be looking to do the same thing. The Big Show and The Great Khali, two giants of the sport in quite literal terms plus Chody Rodes and Wade Barret will be hungry for a victory and to win Daniel Bryan's title.

  But could we see another suprise? All this will be revealed this Sunday!

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Is it time for the FIA to 'buckle” their ideas up? :- Are the drivers safe in todays cars?

Motorsport , the meaning of living on the edge. Driving at ridiculously high speeds around some of the most fantastic circuits in the world, but people don't see how dangerous it really can be.  Every week thousands of people attend races , wether it be Formula 1 NASCAR or even a local karting event. In addition to the millions watching at home , motorsport is one of the most widely viewed sports in the world and is one of the remaining sports to make a bugetable profit every year. So with all of this profit , why can't they Improve safety?

           One of the main reasons why the fans love Motorsport is because of that unpredictability , that anything could happen , the excitement of crashes and daring overtaking moves. But is it safe enough? Are the drivers safe within their cockpits? This is what this article is going to look at.

       There have been numerous incidents over the past few years which have given us reason to question the drivers safety but none more so than the catastrophic deaths of Marco Simoncelli and Dan Wheldon.

Dan Wheldon with his son holding the Indy 500 Trophy.

    Marcon Simoncelli was just 24 years of age and a tipped future Moto GP champion when the unthinkable happened. He was flung from his bike and his helmet flew off of his head. As he skidded across the track he made contact with Collin Edwards and Valentino Rossi. He died in hospital later that day. His death shocked the teams , riders and fans alike and will leave and unremovable mark on the motorsport industry.

     In the same week british Indy Car driver Dan Wheldon also passed away at the Las Vegas motor speedway. During a 15 car pile up , the british superstar was launched off of a fellow racer at 200mph! He then flew into the safety fence and his car burst into a ball of flames. He died later in hospital.

    Two deaths in the same week. Two young superstars who died doing what they loved doing. But could this have been avoided?

Felipe after his huge crash in 2009

If you compare the safety of closed cockpit cars to that of open wheelers , it's easy to see that the closed ones are a lot more safer due to having a lot more protection. GT cars use cockpit racing , which basically means the driver has a roof over his head and will be much safer if he were to have an accident. The engine is also further away from the driver so if there was a fire he would be safer. But the GT cars are not nearly as quick as the Formula 1 cars , so what would you rather...speed and excitement...or better safety for the drivers? However , if you make motorsport more safe , will that eliminate an audience and take away that thrill and unpredictability for which it has become famous for? If you ask some fans what makes Formula 1 so exciting , they may say something like “ the excitement and unpredictability knowing anything could happen and the risk of death just adds to the thrill ride.”

One of the major factors affecting the development of safety is money. Although the FIA make a lot of money every year , the smaller teams within different leagues would struggle as they would rather spend money developing their car. For instance ,whilst Ferrari would be quite happy to spend on enhancing safety as it won't affect their budget ,Teams like HRT may not have the funds.

Could Open wheelers learn a thing or two?

     One way of making sure that the drivers are safe is to make sure the engine is as far away from the driver as possible or if that can't be done then put suitable protection around it. This would

prevent the drivers from being in danger if a fuel fire takes place. However this is not as easy to do in series like Moto GP due to the fact the riders are on bikes.

     

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An old partnership , new name :- The Senna name returns home

The names Senna and Williams go together like Biscuits and Tea. Nearly 20 years later the two names are reunited. But in the form of Ayrtons nephew Bruno. It has been confirmed that Williams have signed the young Brazilian for the 2012 season which means Formula 1 legend and fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello is currently without a drive for next season.
          This is huge for not only Bruno but for Formula 1 in general. To see those two names together again is fantastic and I think it's the right decision. If they signed Rubens it may be a risk as he is nearing the end of his career and is not at his best anymore. But Bruno is up and coming and after some impressive performances for Renault last season he has a lot to show to the team. Of course everybody would love to see Rubens racing but the only other option at the moment is HRT. But we will have to wait and see what the future has in store.
       Senna has made some brilliant performances throughout his career so far including a victory at Monaco in GP2 which was very special. Plus with age on his side , Williams have time to nurture his skills and develop them to make him a serious competitor.
            Rubens has one option left for a full time seat and that would be to partner Pedro De La Rosa at HRT. With the team yet to confirm their second driver and Rubens posting on twitter that his future is "wide open" it may not be over for the fan favourite.
             2012 was already shaping up to be a season to remember , but now it has become even more interesting and we haven't even hit pre-season testing yet!
       

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A walk in the park :- How the opening round of the season shapes the championship

24 drivers , 20 circuits , 12 teams , One winner. But it all begins at round one. Melbourne. In previous years it has seen many moments which define the modern era , new hopes rise whilst others simply fade. But people don't realise how crucial a good performance in Australia really is.

Jenson flies through Albert Park to pick up his first victory since 2006

Hamilton and Kubica in a drag race towards turn one

               There are 20 rounds this year but if you can get early points in the bank , it alleviates the pressure which is destined to mount during the closing stages of the season. It is also the first opportunity both teams and drivers get to see what their rivals have brought to the track. Just look back to 2009. Brawn GP , a team which was formed at the last minute out of the remains of a dying Honda team. Yet through all of the financial troubles , Jenson Button still claimed victory and the championship for that matter.
          Melbourne has always thrown up some unthinkable results and brilliant driving. It also helps rookies experience what it's like to compete with a full field of 24 of the most elite drivers in the world. They can feed off of their teammates or perhaps previous champions.
         Lewis Hamilton is a fine example when he made his debut with Mclaren back in 2007. Feeding off of the vibes from Alonso , Lewis managed to create a start like something our of a hollywood movie. Edging out life long rival Robert Kubica and getting passed his teammate all in one corner! First impressions are key and he paved his way into greatness. 
     In conclusion Melbourne is very much the first step on the journey to greatness , we could see another Vettel dominant performance or perhaps the "Iceman" could take the world by storm. In this unpredictable sport all we can do is simply wait and see what lies ahead of us at Albert Park.
                
           

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Ferrari on track for the title :- Is 2012 the beginning of a new era?

Last season Ferrari didn't exactly get off to the best of starts after struggling with the new Pirelli tyres. Trailing behind fellow contenders Red Bull and Mclaren , they were playing catchup for the first half of the season and struggling to finish on the podium. However whilst one driver improved , the other simply could not produce the standard needed to win a title.
   Fernando Alonso steadily improved throughout the season showing that Ferrari can still win claiming victory at Silverstone and producing some of the most spectacular drives of his career carving his way through the field on several occasions. It is easy to see that since his last title in 2006 , The spaniards form has not dropped and he is still a worthy contender given the right car. Think back to 2009 when Renault had a horrible car to start with and he still drove to a pole position in Hungary.
     His fellow racer Felipe Massa however has done the opposite. Since a down to the wire title battle with Hamilton in 2008 Massa has never been able to create that form that he once had. Then after missing half of the 2009 season due to being hit in the head with a part of Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP , he again hasn't delivered the form needed to take Ferrari to the top. He has shown sparks of talent like in Bahrain 2010 and beating Fernando to a podium in Australia. But in 2011 it was a different story. He was constantly outclassed by Alonso , scoring less than 50% of the spaniards total points and failed to score a single podium,
      But there could be hope. In a recent interview Massa told Autosport "I want to be as competitive as possible, to win as man races as possible and fight for the championship as I have done many times in the past."
   With this motivation if Massa can carry this throughout the season and support Alonso to score maximum points for the team then perhaps it could be the year of the prancing horse. As long as Alonso holds his form and pushes the car way over the limit as per usual and Massa can finish as high as possible then we could see a title fight. 
   A good example of a supporting role is Mark Webber for Red Bull. While Vettel is winning as much as he can , Mark constantly tucks in behind to secure a high finishing position maybe even challenge for the win and the tilte. Of course there will always be competitiveness (think back to Turkey 2010) but overall the gameplan works.

   But with the future of Felipe uncertain , he has to perform this season above and beyond standards to secure his drive for 2013. We will see what happens as the season unfolds nothing is certain and it's impossible to predict results. But if Ferrari get it right , we could see the duo at the front of the grid very soon.

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Lucky for some it's 21 :- What does 2012 hold for Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne?

2 years ago Trevor Bayne was seemingly unknown to the world of Motorsport.
  In 2010 he competed in the Texas 500 for the Wood Brothers team. He started 26th and finished in a creditable 17th position. So with his name starting to be heard among teams and fans alike , in 2011 he had to make an impression.
      He stayed with the the Wood Brothers and entered the most prestigious event in NASCAR. The Daytona 500. If there was ever a stage to make a name for yourself this was it. And he succeded. The 20 year old in just his second race and the day before his birthday became the winner of the Daytona 500. His name was being spoke of all around the world. He was in constant interviews and being praised by the fans.
             But after that the question was could he repeat such a performance or was it just a one off? In race 2 of the season Bayne could only manage a disheartening 40th place. But every driver has bad days and people had to remember he was just 21 years of age.
     In the aftermath of the Samsung 500 , Bayne was hospitalized with a spider bite. He was released on the Wednesday and still raced at Talledega showing his racing spirit and passion for his job. However the illness caught up with him after Nashville and he was   back in hospital for 5 weeks!                                    
   Overall 2011 was a topsy turvy season for the hotshot. He has been at the very highest of points and the lowest. But in his debut season he has shocked crowds , taken a win at one of the most renowned events in motorsport , fought off an illness to compete and made some fantastic overtaking moves.
            In 2012 the focus needs to be consistency. He has to constantly be at his best and stay out of trouble and that will come in time. Right now he needs to keep his head focused on testing and getting the car ready for Daytona. Who knows , maybe he could repeat last  years result and produce many more. All he needs to do is keep calm and steer clear of incidents. If he can learn this within the 2012 season , we could see a new major contender for the Sprint Cup!

           

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The "Perth"ect start :- Daniel Ricciardo looks to impress in 2012

Daniel Ricciardo beyond a shadow of a doubt has impressed many throughout his motorsport career. Many will know him as driving for HRT from Silverstone onwards last year but there are things people don't know about this talented young man which could propel him to new heights.
   
   The 22 year old started his open wheeler career in 2006.He finished third overall in the Formula BMW Asia series taking 12 podiums and two wins. From then on he was a force to be reckoned with as he continued to succeed. In 2008 he became the Formula Renault 2.0 WEC champion after a dominant display consisting of 8 wins and 11 podiums!
       
He then made the move to the British Formula 3 championship where he dominated showing a style of driving unseen before in the series. He finished with 6 wins and 12 podiums!

One year later the young Australian desired to follow in fellow Aussie Mark Webbers footsteps by testing for Red Bull before heading to a permanent Test Driver role at Toro Rosso.
    This will be his first full season and he wants to show the world what he can do. With Toro Rosso being linked directly to Red Bull , it is a fantastic time to make a good impression.
     
Plus with an unclear long term future for Mark Webber , the 2011 constructors champions may very well be keeping an eye on the young hotshot.
     
If you look back to 2008 it was Sebastian Vettel in this position and it came to Monza and he shocked the world with a win. Now he is among the elite as a double world champion. The future is not set in stone and we could well be looking at a future world champion. However we will have to wait until Melbourne , to see how he performs.
         

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Chancing on Ice :- Kubica's injury woes

The rumours and speculation of Robert Kubica making a return to Formula 1 in the 2012 season have been cast under a huge shadow. The poles right leg has suffered yet another injury.
    Robert has been reported to have fallen over on the ice near his home in Italy and although the 27 year old underdog has not released anything as of yet , the BBC have claimed that Kubica has yet again fractured his right tibia. The report suggests a metal screw be inserted into the ankle followed by 6 weeks in plaster.

     But what does this mean for the 2012 season? Well it looks almost certain that the polish sensation will not be making his F1 return this season as Renault of course have Raikkonen and Grosjean lined up and with his rehab program lasting a huge amount of time and only two race seats left , (Williams and HRT) It would be the right decision to wait until the end of the season and see what happens then.
    There have been rumours that the 2008 Canadian GP winner could be on his way to Ferrari in 2013 to replace Felipe Massa. But for now that is just speculation. All we know is 2012 does not seem like a possibility however miracles do happen and I would like to wish Robert a speedy recovery.

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Will the Iceman freeze or set Formula 1 on fire?

With a new Formula 1 season on the horizon , I thought it would be a good time to evaluate the rookies who have entered the world of the most glamorous sport on the planet. The biggest shock is Kimi making his return. Now obviously this man is no rookie but it will be his first time racing in a Formula 1 car since 2009! Although he has recently tested the 2010 Renault , it will not be the same as racing a field of 24 experienced drivers including some of the greatest names to grace this generation. Kimi is well known for keeping his "cool" and is one of the strangest characters I have seen , he manages to somehow keep composure in the toughest situations yet be so cold but humorous in interviews. All this adds up to make one exceptional driver. The question is , can the newly branded Lotus build a championship winning car? All of this will be evaluated in the coming blogs.

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