Welcome Connoisseur.

A note from the Editor - As the selector of the articles I am starting to realise that, after twenty episodes, I getting a little bored with the rigidity of spending every Sunday writing this for the passed twenty weeks, so I have decided that this is the end of Season One.

Moving forward I think Connoisseur may change how it is delivered. It may just become a monthly newsletter or a ‘special occasion’ one with random delivery rates when something interesting comes out, it will become something that I can fit around all my other creative projects. Like most things, grand ideas require great quality, effort and resources, but as an individual you can only squeeze so much energy out before you start to lose passion.

Bye for now, Rick.

Be a Connoisseur!

Porsche Hypercar - Mission X

Marking its 75th anniversary, Porsche revealed a remarkable gift to itself: the Mission X concept, an all-electric hypercar displayed at their Zuffenhausen museum. With aspirations to become the quickest production vehicle to complete a lap at the Nurburgring, it offers more than mere record-breaking ambition.

Although Porsche has not officially announced a production version, the likelihood seems promising. CEO Oliver Blume hinted at "good opportunities," indicating a final decision is due soon.

The hypercar, succeeding the iconic 959, Carrera GT, and 918 Spyder, boasts an all-electric powertrain. However, Porsche remains tight-lipped about its power output, with estimates suggesting around 1,700 bhp. The only disclosed detail is an impressive power-to-weight ratio of at least one horsepower per kilogram. While performance specifics are yet unofficial, whispers suggest a 0-60 mph sprint under two seconds, and a top speed surpassing 200 mph.

The Rabbit Hole

Pagani Story

The video below is the reason for this post, I have followed Pagani since the Zonda came out and I did not actually realise some of his story, mainly as the cars were more important to me. If you understand the artist though, you often understand the art…and that is what this video brings.

Well worth a watch.

The Rabbit Hole

Mercedes Vision One-Eleven

In 1969, Mercedes-Benz made waves with the revolutionary C111 concept car, a model that tested the waters for Wankel rotary engines, diesel and turbocharging. Now, Mercedes aims to recapture this innovative spirit with the Vision One-Eleven concept. This design updates the sleek aesthetic of the C111 for the modern era, boasting a "One-Bow" design language that results in an impressive sculpted body. It features transformative light panels and gullwing doors which seamlessly blend with the windows.

Inside, the vehicle is equally striking, sporting silver diamond-stitched upholstery and a pixelated screen stretching across the cabin. Under the bonnet, Mercedes incorporates axial-flux motors provided by YASA, a British firm now under their ownership. While there's no confirmation that the One-Eleven will go into production, one can anticipate features from this concept car to permeate future Mercedes models.

The Rabbit Hole

Formula One

Canada

A damp start to the weekend resulted in an unusual qualifying session with several cars out of their expected places. Notably, Perez in the Red Bull and both Ferraris were affected. Haas managed to get Hulkenberg to second on the front row, albeit temporarily, until he received a penalty for not slowing under yellow flags, demoting him to 5th.

Spoilers beyond this point.

Verstappen maintained a commanding lead throughout the race, securing his tenth consecutive Grand Prix victory - an outcome that wasn't exactly unexpected.

Trailing him, Alonso successfully fended off a hard-charging Lewis Hamilton. Although Hamilton had initially surged ahead of Alonso at the start, he was later overtaken by the Aston Martin using DRS. After pitting for Medium tyres, Hamilton pursued Alonso, who was grappling with a brake issue. Fortunately for Alonso, he had sufficient lead to keep Hamilton at bay.

Verstappen, Alonso, and Hamilton constituted the top three. They were trailed by the two Ferraris, who capitalised on a unique tyre strategy, leapfrogging those in their way to the top three. For a change, Ferrari made a good call, despite their poor decisions on Saturday that resulted in 4th and 5th placements.

The only genuine racing excitement was delivered by Lando Norris, who overtook numerous competitors. However, due to "unsporting behaviour" for slowing the pack to double-stack the cars in the pits, he was penalised five seconds, finishing 13th. Nevertheless, he offered the most trackside entertainment.

Next Race - Austria 30th Jun - 02nd Jul

30th Jun - Practice 1 - 12:30

30th Jun - Qualifying - 16:00

01st Jul - Sprint Shootout - 11:00

01st Jul - Sprint - 15:30

02nd Jul - Grand Prix - 14:00

Whats-The-Fuss

Other dates for your diary:

Atlantic Road Trip - 30 June– 09 July

Silverstone Grand Prix - 7– 9 July 

Goodwood Festival of Speed - 13 – 16 July

Goodwood Revival - 8 –10 Sept