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Month: February 2023

Newsletter 59 – FERRARI SF-23

The Ferrari SF-23

F1 car on black background

Ferrari’s 2023 Formula 1 Challenger may look like a natural development of the previous year’s fast but underperforming car, but the team describes it as a complete redesign. There are major aerodynamic and mechanical changes to improve performance and achieve the characteristics the team needs.

The new car is designed around more vertical downforce, adapting further to the new rules that came in last year, and also suspension changes that have been made to improve the aero and give the team more set-up options.

It’s impossible, at this stage, to say if Ferrari have achieved its objectives, but given the speed of last year’s car an improved version of its visually distinctive concept, combined with a reliable power unit package, it could be enough to make Ferrari a genuine Championship contender. 

The Ferrari sf-23 follows the same aerodynamic template of the 2022 car, rather than going with the trend of others in copying Red Bull’s design. The radiator intake and the undercut at the front corner of the side pod have been optimized but have not significantly changed.

2 red car pieces

 

Ferrari has compacted the side pod under the radiator inlets and extended the upper shoulder, moving some of the radiator area upwards and rearwards to create that space.

two red f1 cars

All of that coupled with the vortex shedding front Wing slot Gap separators, suggests they are trying to feed the inlets more aggressively than before.

two silver grids

The radiator rearrangement is not so extensive however, as to require the rear exit cooling cannons, seen on Red Bull last year and many others this year.

red bull logo

The side pod front corner undercuts are a bit more aesthetically pleasing than last year. It’s not quite as vertical, which will be more sympathetic to airflow direction changes.

Shell logo red car

The SF-23 also retains a distinctive scallop shape of the top surface of the side pods. The top surface shape is not quite as dramatic as last year, the exit louvers just beyond the top section of the radiator will improve the efficiency of the cooling in this area.

rayban logo

The front suspension is a pushrod configuration, where the wishbone pickups mount to the chassis. There’s a small amount of anti-lift to help support the front of the car and reduce the ride height change, under braking loads. The steering track rod is low down Infront of, but slightly higher than the forward leg of the lower front Wishbone.

car with yellow circle

What also stands out is the amount of unpainted carbon fibre on a few of the surfaces, to save a few crucial grams of weight. That shows the 798-kilo minimum weight limit is still very difficult to hit.

ceva logo 

Given last year’s engine problems, new Ferrari team principal Frederick Vasseur has declared reliability to be the top priority for 2023, above even strategic improvements and gains on tyre management.

Ferrari already had potentially the most potent engine in F1 last year. If its reliability problems have been solved it will finally be able to make the most of that performance, with an improved version of a concept that proved stunningly fast last year and better reliability, Ferrari could be a formidable team in 2023, that’s why there’s a real sense of optimism at Ferrari

forza ferrari

If you enjoyed this article read our Formula 1 rant here.

Buy a car with Cryptocurrency

Buy a car with Cryptocurrency

The future is here! We live in a world that is digital and automated. Development in this sector shows no signs of slowing down, in fact, it is growing at a record pace. People are talking to automated bots more than their partners, demonstrated recently when Open AI’s ChatGPT registered 1 million users in 5 days, a feat that took Netflix, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram months to achieve. Savvy tech entrepreneurs understand the power of networks and the universal power of blockchain technology, and the term Bitcoin is amongst the top 100 Google searches for 2022.

We have all heard of “cryptocurrency” or “crypto” by now. Be it on the news, around the braai, or in a conversation with your local barista. If you have not, where have you been hiding? It is said that there is not one industry that Blockchain technology will not completely disrupt, or at least dramatically expand and enhance.
But, what is it? What problems will it solve? What are some of the real use cases, and how can it be used in the real world?
Can you realistically use it as a means of exchange? Perhaps even
buy a car with cryptocurrency or some other tangible asset, and if so, what is the process?

Cryptocurrency is a term used to describe a form of “digital currency”. It relies on a combination of technologies for it to operate i.e. as a means of exchange, a reward, or store of value across the digital world.
Another word that gets thrown around is “decentralized”, meaning no central authorities like governments and banks can control cryptocurrency. Each cryptocurrency is built on its own peer-to-peer (P2P) network which means that the computers on the network follow a list of protocols on which transactions are validated and stored on a distributed ledger (the official term for this is the blockchain).
This allows people to have total control of their money with zero involvement from centralized authorities. It makes cryptocurrency borderless and permissionless. In certain countries, cryptocurrency is now considered a financial asset that is allowed to be held as an alternative investment.

This begs the question of a use case for crypto. Can you use crypto in the real world? The answer is yes, you can! Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto’s whitepaper for the cryptocurrency describes it as:

“…electronic cash that would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution.”

If we can translate that, it would mean:

“Allowing digital transactions using digital money around the world with another person without the need for a bank.”

Now that you can transact digitally using a digital currency, how do you do it? It’s as easy as downloading and registering a free crypto wallet on trading platforms such as Altcoin Trader, Luno or VALR, available on the App Store or Play Store. You will then need to sign up and follow a KYC/FICA process which will require you to send through some documentation. The next step would be to deposit any fiat value into your wallet. It can be done by electronic bank transfer or credit card payment. Once the funds reflect in your wallet, follow the instructions provided to purchase the amount of cryptocurrency you would like. This “crypto” will then be stored securely in your wallet.

CONGRATULATIONS! You are now part of the cool kids’ crypto club and have digital money to spend.

cryptocurrency cell phone

So how can we use this in the real world? As mass adoption of the technology occurs, many online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores now accept payments in crypto through payment service gateways and providers for their goods and services. This allows you to purchase anything from your weekly groceries, to space travel tickets and even the latest and greatest PC gaming computers. NEWS Flash, you can now even use it to buy tangible assets, like luxury watches, boats, cars and even property.

Luxury cars are a great example of how to spend your crypto profits in the real world. Buying a “Lambo” with crypto has become an internet meme across forums and social media.
In 2017, American Entrepreneur Peter Saddington became the first person ever to buy a $200,000 2015 Lamborghini Huracan for 45 bitcoins. Saddington stated that he bought the 45 bitcoins for $115 back in 2011. Ever since then, articles have been published across the internet about crypto holders using their profits to buy luxury cars.

But it is possible to buy a car with cryptocurrency in South Africa?

Ferris Cars are proud to be the first South African car dealership to publicly and directly accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment for a car.
In April 2021, Ferris Cars sold a 2012 Red Ferrari California for 2.08 bitcoins and has since helped numerous fintech-savvy crypto holders buy cars with digital currency.

Buy a car with Cryptocurrency


Ferris Cars provide a facility that enables a crypto holder to purchase any physical asset through their crypto payment portal. The facility is FIC sanctioned, safe, secure and includes no transaction fees.
Ferris Cars currently accept BTC, USDT, xZAR, or any altcoin on the Ethereum blockchain.

The payment facility to buy a car with cryptocurrency includes a 3-step process.

  1. Identify your dream car at Ferris Cars, or any other dealership or private seller.
  2. Request a written quotation/OTP from the salesperson. Email this quotation/OTP to info@ferriscars.com along with your invoicing details.
  3. Go to www.ferriscars.com/cryptopayments. Identify the cryptocurrency that you want to use. Speak to a Ferris Cars representative to verify the correct ZAR transaction value. Send the equivalent cryptocurrency value to the wallet address provided.

Once the payment is verified on the blockchain, take delivery and drive away in your next car, bought with crypto.

This facility allows you to purchase any vehicle or luxury asset in South Africa, or even from anywhere in the world as long as the correct commercial documentation is in place. From boats, planes, cars, bakkies and just about any tangible assets from any dealership, broker or private seller.Ferris Cars have been successful at helping numerous fintech-savvy investors and crypto holders to buy a car with cryptocurrency.

With more and more businesses accepting crypto for goods and services, there is more confidence in digital currency. The future is here, and it consists of a digital and decentralized world where potential is only limited by your imagination.

Wheres Lambo

monkeys

Newsletter 58: FERRARI – A LE MANS HISTORY?

FERRARI – A LE MANS HISTORY?

Ferrari officially announced recently, that they are returning to the World Endurance Championships in 2023, in sports car prototype racing , which includes the 24hr Le Mans hyper-car class.

Le Mans car
As 2023 is upon us, and another golden era of endurance racing is around the corner, we thought it a good idea to look back at the history of Ferrari at Le Mans.
This year, Ferrari, with their brand new 499p hyper-car will make an effort to dominate the top tier contesters and aim to win the most coveted price, the 24 hours of Le Mans.
Ferrari began competing in endurance racing in 1949, the company was just 2 years old and Enzo Ferrari was in his early 50’s.
It traces his roots back to 1929, when Enzo founded the Scuderia Ferrari Racing Team, under the banner of Alfa Romea, for whom he  worked.
They had many racing successes between the two World Wars, although the team, and cars, were branded Alfa Romeao, in cars like the 8C-2300 and Tipo B.

two old cars
Endurance racing rules, at that time, stated that only two drivers were allowed to drive the car for the duration of the 24hr race.
There was no rule as to the length of each drivers stint, however.
It wasn’t until 1977 when the rule was significantly changed to allow three drivers and with specific time restrictions.
After the end of World War 2, Enzo was out of contractual obligations with Alfa, and wanted to compete in long distance and endurance races, under the newly formed Ferrari Name.
He kicked off his dreams of winning with the 166mm Barchetta, in 1948.
The 166 was first entered in the most famous long-distance race of the time, the Mille Miglia, a 1000 mile race around the towns of northern Italy.

one old red carFerrari had their first overall win at Le Mans, with the 166, in 1949.
The car was raced by Luigi Chinetti and Peter Michell- Thomson.
The formation of the World Sports Car Championship in 1953 changed the motorsport landscape forever.
Teams like Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar began to enter multiple factory backed cars (or works cars) to compete for overall wins.
The next win for Ferrari, came in 1954.
The car was the 375 Plus, driven by Jose Froila n Gonza lez and Maurice Trintignant.

two red cars for Le Mans

In 1958, Olivier Gendebien and Phil Hill delivered Ferraris next win in the 250TR58.

two racing cars
Ferrari lost out in 1959 to the Ecurie Ecosse team, fielding a Jaguar D-Type driven by Ivor Bueb and Ron Flockhart.

one black Le Mans car
Ferrari bounced back in 1960, winning that year and the next 5, in cars such as the Ferrari 330 TR/LM Spyder, 250 P, 275 P and the iconic 250 LM.

three red vehicles
1966 saw the start of the infamous battle with Ford and their GT40.

a drawing of a car
Ford would go on to win the next 3 years in succession and Ferrari sadly pulled the plug on the works team in 1973.
Many privately entered Ferrari’s have won multiple WEC races but the pinnacle “24hr Le Mans overall race win” has since eluded them.

a collage of Le Mans cars
In late 2022, Ferrari also debuted the 296GT3 to replace the 488 GTE race car, although this is only likely to compete in in the 2024 season.

a beautiful red Ferrari
Ferrari has had multiple successes with the current GTE car in the WEC, but despite that, they had not claimed an overall victory at Le Mans, for over 50 years.
Ferrari is one of the top three manufacturers in the world to hold multiple Le Mans Overall victories. Porsche remains number one, with 19 wins, and Audi is second with 13 overall wins.
Ferrari currently has 9 overall wins, ending after 16 years when Ford killed their dominant run in 1966.
So, to 2023. Ferrari have now launched and entered their first works team car since 1965, the 499P, and just like in the 60’, their aim is to re-establish the famous prancing horse as the team to beat.

three red racing cars

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