As a result of the absolute domination of the Mercedes-Benz team, Formula 1 has suffered from predictability during the last couple of seasons. A subtle rule change and a much improved Honda engine seems to have levelled the playing field. This resulted a truly spectacular season opening, Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday. Lewis Hamilton had to pull out all the stops to clinch what was far from a predictable victory in the new W12 E-Performance. Strictly speaking, it is not a new car at all as the regulations have limited the development work that could be done. Carried over from last year were the chassis and gearbox but the W12 does benefit from a new engine. Further changes were also made to the aerodynamics to meet ensure the car meets the revised regulations intended to reduce overall downforce. Judging from the Bahrain qualifying and race, the 2021 seasons will most definitely not be boring or predictable.
One team that did not even opt to use the two available development tokens is Haas F1. The VF-21 used at Bahrain is little more than a repainted VF-20 with only the necessary changes made to meet the regulations. The American team have opted to use all of their precious resources for the development of the 2022 car, all but giving up on the 2021 season.
For enthusiasts of modern high performance sports cars, Bonhams will host the dedicated Supercars on Sunset sale on April 10th. Among the cars already consigned are a pair of limited production McLarens; a Senna and an Elva. Like so many recent high-end cars that end up on the auction block, both cars are only delivery miles only.

As announced a week ago, Bentley have revealed the all-new Speed version of the Continental GT on Wednesday. According to the British manufacturer it is the most dynamic road car produced in the company's 101-year history. It features a 650 bhp version of the familiar W12 engine and benefits from the much better balanced chassis of the third generation Continental GT. The Continental GT Speed can sprint to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 335 km/h.
German BMW specialists Alpina have worked their magic on the 8-Series to create the new B8 Gran Coupe. It is powered by a reworked version of the familiar twin-turbo V8 that produces a hefty 612 bhp. Like all Alpinas, the B8 Gran Coupe combines tarmac shattering performance with opulent luxury inside the cabin.
Ahead of the competition debut later this year, BMW continue the development of the M4 GT3. As can be seen in the new images revealed this week, it is undergoing an extensive testing program in Spain with the car being run side-by-side with the current generation M6 GT3.
We also take a look back today by highlighting this Spice SE90C that was raced in Group C and GTP events between 1991 and 1993. Still actively campaigned in historic events, SE90C-020 is seen during several outings at Spa and Paul Ricard.

Aston Martin's return to Formula 1 will definitely not go unnoticed. In addition to the two Grand Prix cars fielded by the British manufacturer, Aston Martin will also supply a fleet of safety cars for every other race. To further mark the occasion, a new range-topping Vantage F1 has also been developed. It is the most hardcore version of the Vantage yet and it is the first created under the guidance of new Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers. The Vantage F1 features a more powerful engine but also a revised chassis and further improved aerodynamics. Due to be ready for delivery from May, the F1 will be available as both a Coupe and a Roadster.
Aston Martin's most recent competition efforts have mainly been in GT racing, both running a works effort and building cars for customers. Among the latter is this Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 that was raced during the 2010 Le Mans Series and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It famously raced at Le Mans and during the second half of the season with a striking Dunlop 'art car' livery. Today, chassis GT2/006 is owned by a German enthusiast, who uses it for historic racing.

This week, both Pagani and McLaren have released track-day specials. From the Italian company comes this Huayra R. Based on the road going Huayra, this limited-production model is powered by naturally aspirated V12 provided by HWA. Mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox, this high-revving engine is presumably a further development of the howling V12 that also powers the Zonda R. In addition to the bespoke engine, the Huayra R also boasts an aggressive aerodynamics package with a full width rear wing. Production is limited to 30 examples and the price is set at €2.6 million excluding taxes.
McLaren Customer Racing have taken the best of the GT3 competition car and fitted the unrestricted engine of the road car to create the 720 GT3X track-day machine. The result is a hardcore, stripped down racing car with the full 720 hp of the production twin-turbo V8 available. The 720S GT3X is available from all eleven official McLaren Motorsports official retailers.

In addition to joining Formula 1, Alpine will also step up to the top tier 'Hypercar' class in this year's FIA World Endurance Championship. Replacing the A470 LMP2 car will be the A480 that was launched yesterday. Just like the LMP2 car raced as an Alpine during the last couple of seasons, the new A480 is based on an Oreca design. In fact, the car was derived from the Oreca built Rebellion that last raced in 2020 at Le Mans. Not built to the new Hypercar regulations, the Gibson V8 engined machine is a grandfathered LMP1 racer. Alpine will field a single A480 this season, while the French manufacturer is developing a proper Hypercar.
The first Alpine to fight for outright victories at Le Mans was the A220 of 1968. Powered by a bespoke, three-litre V8 engine, it was not quite as fast or reliable as the rivals from Porsche and Ferrari. To mark Alpine's return to the top tier class at Le Mans, we have taken a renewed look at the eighth and final A220 produced. It was not raced in period but as can be seen in our gallery, it has been regularly campaigned in historic events.
Ahead of the official launch next week, Bentley Motors have revealed a first glimpse of the range-topping Speed version of the new Continental GT. More information will follow on March 23rd.

This weekend, 2021 Formula 1 cars hit the track for the first time for an official timed session during the curtailed three-day test in Bahrain. It is hard to really see what is going on, especially when looking just at the lap times. What is more important, especially this year, is track time and particularly the Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin teams were well down on the lap chart.
Both racking up an impressive amount of laps and setting the absolute fastest time of the weekend was the Red Bull RB16B Honda. It is clear that the Austrian-owned team both managed to get to grasps with the revised aerodynamic regulations and that engine partner Honda pulled out all the stops for what will be the Japanese manufacturer's final year in the sport. It was Max Verstappen who clocked the fastest time of the weekend in the RB16B, and he may very well finally be able to break the Mercedes-Benz stranglehold on Formula 1.
Perhaps quite surprisingly, the one Mercedes-Benz team that looked the most consistent was McLaren with their MCL35M. This is most definitely unexpected as it is the team's first outing with the Mercedes-Benz engine after having used Renault power during the last three seasons. There is also some controversy surrounding the MCL35M as it features a trick diffuser that may very well be a very creative workaround of the revised aero regulations.
Another car that grabbed our attention was the Alpine A521. This was not just for its striking French blue livery but also for the revised cooling architecture. Compared to the outgoing Renault, Alpine's first F1 racer is based on, it features slimmer side-pods in search of an even cleaner airflow. This was achieved by moving some of the cooling elements to the area on top and behind of the engine. The bulkier air-box used to clear the radiators on the A521 does have some similarities to the mighty air-box fitted on the Ligier JS5 of the 1970s.

In order to get a proper attendance, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been postponed to August. At the sharp end of the grid there will be a new 'Hypercar' class this year. The first manufacturer to commit to the class was Glickenhaus and their SCG 007 has hit the track for its first tests during the last week. The all-new American racing car combines a chassis developed by Podium Engineering in Italy, with aerodynamics honed by the Sauber wind tunnel in Switzerland and a bespoke twin-turbo V8 engine built by Pipo Moteurs in France. Two examples of the striking SCG 007 will be raced at Le Mans with the help of Team Joest while a third can be made available to a customer if a spot opens up on the Le Mans entry list. First up is the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship opening round at Spa Francorchamps.
Yesterday, Ferrari revealed the SF21 Formula 1 car. The Italian team comes off one of its worst seasons in thirty years and is hampered by the limited development agreed to in the regulations after the COVID-affected 2020 season. As a result, the SF21 is a development of last year's machine. Most of the development 'tokens' have been spent on the rear end with revisions made to the suspension, bodywork and gearbox casing. Significantly down on power last year, the Ferrari hybrid V6 drivetrain has also been reworked to hopefully bring it back up to par with the dominant Mercedes-Benz power unit. Spanish racer Carlos Sainz Jr joins the Scuderia, replacing Sebastian Vettel, who moved to the Aston Martin team.

On Friday, the 2021 Formula 1 season will kick off with the official three-day test in Bahrain. Accordingly, we begin the week with a closer look at three historic Grand Prix cars that we saw in action during the truncated 2020 historic racing season. The most interesting of the trio is this Brabham BT49D Cosworth. This is the eighteenth and final example of the World Championship winning BT49 built by Brabham. It was raced only once in period but for many years held the distinction of being the only BT49 not owned by former Brabham supremo Bernie Ecclestone. In 2005, chassis BT49D/18 was driven to the Historic Formula One Championship and today, it is part of a Belgian historic racer's formidable stable.
Not quite as successful is this Ensign N179 Cosworth. Fielded throughout the 1979 season, it only made the grid four times and in races could do no better than thirteenth. As can be seen in our gallery, the N179 does give the owner an entry for all the major events like the Monaco Historic Grand Prix.
In the year that Nelson Piquet drove the BT49 to the World Championship, Williams fielded the FW07C of which the final example is featured today. It was raced by Carlos Reutemann and Keke Rosberg with a third as the best result. Retained by Williams for many years, chassis FW07C/17 is now a front runner in historic racing.
The Williams due to make its on-track debut at Bahrain is the FW43B. As the name suggests, it is an evolution of the car fielded last year due the development limitations agreed to for this year. Just like in 2020, Williams will use the hugely potent Mercedes-Benz power unit.

In place of the annual auction at the Grand Palais in Paris during the Retromobile week, British auctioneer Bonhams are now staging the online only Les Gandes Marques du Monde a Paris sale. Bidding has already opened and lots will start to close on Wednesday, March 10th. There is an eclectic mix of cars on offer including a pair of ever striking Lancia Deltas. The most recent is this Delta HF Integrale Evo, which is a prime example of the Italian company's homologation specials. This particular car was one of 295 built of the limited edition 'Giallo Ferrari' version and crucially has had only two owners from new. Accordingly, Bonhams expect the Evo to sell for in excess of €75,000.
What the road going Deltas served to homologate were the all-conquering Group A rally cars. One of these, a 1989 eight-valve HF Integrale has also been consigned to the sale. A former works car, this example competed in the 1989 edition of the demanding East African Safari Rally and has been restored with the full Safari Rally kit. The Martini liveried machine last changed hands in 1995 and should now fetch around €250,000.
Earlier this week, the new named Aston Martin F1 team revealed the AMR21 Grand Prix car. Finished in a striking green livery is the first Formula 1 car to wear the Aston Martin badge in 61 years. As Racing Point, the team was a winner last year and it can rank among its drivers is four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel, so there is every chance Aston Martin's second attempt at F1 will be more successful.
Following the teasers released last month, Porsche have properly introduced the Taycan Cross Turismo. As with the original version, the new shooting brake model range will be topped by the Turbo S version, which has as much as 751 bhp on tap in 'overboost' mode during launch control.

Formula 1's class of 2021 has been further expanded today with two of the most highly anticipated new cars of the year. First up is the Alpine A521, which is an evolution of the 2020 Renault Grand Prix car. Like the previous Renaults, the first ever Alpine to race in Formula 1 is a collaboration of the chassis arm in Enstone, England and the engine factory in Viry-Chatillon, France. With development limited by the special regulations for 2021 and the team keeping most new parts under wraps, the key news of today's A521 launch was the new red, white and blue livery. This is set to be one of the most striking on the grid this year. Also of note is that two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso will return for his third spell with the team.
Defending World Champions Mercedes-Benz will field this W12 E Performance in 2021. The car utilises the chassis of last year's title winning W11 with the team deciding to use the available development tokens for aerodynamics. Again little was visible on the renders of the W12 released. The livery features some subtle changes and includes the AMG logo instead of the three-pointed star logos that dominated the colour-scheme in 2020. Underneath the skin, there is a substantially improved engine that should cure the reliability issues that dogged the Mercedes-engined teams several times last year.
There will be no hiding for the teams once testing starts in Bahrain next week, so you can expect further updates after the cars have hit the track.