Sunday, July 6, 2025

F1 2025: Qatar Airways British Grand Prix

Silverstone, the former World War II airfield that transformed into a racing circuit, was the site of the very first Formula One race 75 years ago. It comes alive once again as the celebrations for F1's 75th anniversary continue with the Qatar Airways British Grand Prix. This race has earned its status as an instant classic, even after 75 years.

F1 2025: Qatar Airways British Grand Prix
Image: F1

McLaren has achieved another remarkable feat on home soil, securing a 1-2 finish. Lando Norris celebrated his first victory at his home race, while Oscar Piastri, despite facing penalties, finished in second place. Following them, Nico Hulkenberg made headlines by bringing Sauber its first-ever podium finish, finishing in third place. Other finishers include Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, Alex Albon, Fernando Alonso, and George Russell.

F1's 75th Anniversary celebrations will continue at Spa-Francorchamps for the Moet & Chandon Belgian Grand Prix this July 27, 2025.

FIA World RX 2025: World RX of Sweden

The 2025 FIA World RX Championship continues in Holjes for the World RX of Sweden. Despite the overcast weather, the drivers are hot; they surely know how to bring the fire in Holjes.

FIA World RX 2025: World RX of Sweden
Screengrab from World RX

Johan Kristofferson beats Niclas Gronholm and Timmy Hansen to win the World RX of Sweden amid the inclement weather.

The next event is at Nyirad for the World RX of Hungary this July 19-20, 2025.

DTM 2025: Norisring

The 2025 DTM championship continues at Norisring, a straight-lined racetrack where drivers are going flat out, risking everything to cross the finish line first, making this race an exciting one.

DTM 2025: Norisring
Screengrab from DTM

In another twist of the season, the first race saw Jordan Pepper nabbed his first DTM win, beating the likes of Thomas Preining and Maro Engel. The final race, meanwhile, saw a win for Preining after beating Jack Aitken in a sprint to the finish, while Thierry Vermeulen nabbed his first DTM podium finish by finishing in 3rd place.

After Norisring, Lucas Auer is leading with 109 points, seven points ahead of Thomas Preining and Jordan Pepper.

The next event will be at the Nurburgring GP Circuit this August 7-10, 2025.

Friday, July 4, 2025

Let's Do The News! (July 4, 2025)

            

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has decided to begin the EDSA rehabilitation and implementation of the odd-even scheme next year. According to the DPWH, this is because it is the rainy season in the country, which will be followed by the Christmas rush in the "Ber" months.

- Researchers from the University of the Philippines (UP) have used artificial intelligence (AI) to predict antimicrobial resistance, especially in agricultural environments. In the UP study, researchers used Escherichia coli (E. coli) to test for antimicrobial resistance because it easily develops resistance to antibiotics.

- In a PAGASA weather bulletin, it was stated that light to moderate rains were experienced for three hours in Bataan and Zambales – particularly in San Marcelino, Castillejos, Subic, Olongapo, San Antonio, San Narciso, and San Felipe.

- About 17 volcanic earthquakes were reported around the Kanlaon Volcano within the past 24 hours, according to PHIVOLCS.

- Voluntary repatriation for Filipinos in Israel will continue amid the ceasefire with Iran.

- The US Congress approved the Trump administration's huge spending bill. This comes as President Donald Trump prepares for his 4th of July speech.

- UK MP Zarah Sultana says she's leaving the Labour Party to create a new party alongside Jeremy Corbyn.

- NASCAR driver Daniel Suarez will leave Trackhouse Racing after the 2025 season.

- Felipe Drugovich will make his Formula E debut in Berlin next week as a Mahindra driver, taking over Nyck de Vries, who will be absent from the two-parter while racing in the WEC's 6 Hours of Sao Paulo endurance race.

- The Mercedes-AMG CLA45 Final Edition was unveiled.

- The all-new BMW M2 CS lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7m25.5s.

- The Ariel Atom 4RR has been unveiled. Limited to 25 units, all of which are already sold, it is powered by a Honda-derived 2.0L VTEC Turbo engine tuned to produce 525 bhp, making it the most powerful Atom ever made.

2026 Ariel Atom 4RR

- AOA member Yuna announces her pregnancy.

- US President Donald Trump wants the UFC fight to be held on White House grounds.

- Boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. got arrested by the US ICE and will be deported to Mexico, where he faces organized crime charges.

- Baseball player Luis Ortiz is under investigation by the MLB for gambling, according to reports.

- Actor Michael Madsen has passed away at the age of 67. He was known for his roles in many Quentin Tarantino films, including "Reservoir Dogs". Additionally, he portrayed NSA agent Damian Falco in the 2002 James Bond film "Die Another Day". Madsen also lent his voice to the character Toni Cipriani in the video game "Grand Theft Auto III".

- Veteran showbiz columnist Lolit Solis passed away at the age of 78.

- Willie Revillame confirms his TV5 comeback.

TTFN.

Thursday, July 3, 2025

My FM Log: Spirit of Forza Motorsport - E-Ray and V.Series-R

Since its inception in 2005, the Forza Motorsport franchise has delivered us some of the most amazing vehicles spanning half a century through the world's most demanding racetracks spanning from Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Now it's the turn of the two cover cars that starred in what's known to be the last-ever Forza Motorsport game ever made.


First up, the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, the hybrid version of the eighth-generation Corvette that caused a lot of stir since the advent of the base model. 

The first-ever Chevrolet Corvette C8 E-Ray rewrote the American sports car's seven-decade history ever since the eighth-generation model, the first mid-engined Corvette, broke cover in 2020. 

The E-Ray features a 6.2L LT2 V8 engine that is mated to an electric drive unit powering both front and rear wheels, making it a four-wheel-drive supercar, a Corvette first. It produces a total power output of 655HP, and while mated with an 8-speed transmission, it has a 0-60mph time of 2.5 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 10.5 seconds. 

The ZER Performance Package comes with high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S ZP summer-only tires as well as chassis tuning and other performance enhancements.


Lastly, the #1 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R, Cadillac's entry to both IMSA's GTP class and the WEC's Hypercar class.

The V-Series.R racing prototype is Cadillac's commitment to the LMDh class and it's made to compete not just in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the new-generation GTP class but also at the WEC's Hypercar class. It was built in cooperation with Dallara.

In compliance with the LMDh standards, the V-Series.R is powered by a 5.5L DOHC V8 Hybrid engine, the only naturally aspirated engine in the GTP class. It has a series-specified 670hp of power output and it is mated to a 7-speed sequential gearbox.

The #01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R used in the IMSA 2023 season was driven by IndyCar veteran Sebastien Bourdais and Renger Van Der Zande.

In the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the #01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R won the Motul Course de Monterey endurance race at Laguna Seca. At the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans, the #01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R finished 4th place, behind the 3rd-placer #02 V-Series.R race car.



For one last drive for the entire Forza franchise, let's bring the final Forza Motorsport game's cover cars to Yas Marina Circuit. It's an appropriate circuit for an appropriate moment because, as they say, it all ends here. For those of us who consider the end of something, I would say that this is the perfect location to say goodbye to the Forza series.

Without further ado, let's roll the tapes.



Like all good F1 drivers, their final lap in Yas Marina really marks the end of an era. I have to be honest with you: As demonstrated with the cover cars of the last-ever Forza Motorsport game, it pains me to say that it really is the end of what's known to be one of the best gaming franchises in the world of Xbox.


From the first Forza Motorsport game launched in 2005 to the last-ever Forza Motorsport game launched in 2023, this two-decade journey became one heck of a ride for Forza fanatics everywhere. Fast cars, challenging tracks, and an ever-growing community that helped mature this franchise.

With the Forza franchise officially no more, let's take a quick moment of silence to be thankful for having one of the longest-running video game franchises in Xbox history.

Thanks for the ride.

Let's Do The News! (July 3, 2025)

           

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Malacanang says the Philippines is ready for any outcome in US tariff negotiations.

- Senator Raffy Tulfo urged the PH Department of Transportation to establish separate ticket lanes and implement a more efficient, digitalized student fare discount system—including beep card integration—to address long queues and accessibility issues at LRT and MRT stations.

- A plane heading to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, made an emergency landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) early Thursday morning due to a reported technical issue.

- UK PM Keir Starmer tells the BBC that Rachel Reeves is doing an excellent job and "will be chancellor for long time to come."

- Hyundai will unveil the first-ever IONIQ 6 N next week.

- Stellantis North America, formerly FCA USA, announced the restart of the SRT high-performance brand.

- Microsoft reportedly slashed some 9K jobs across all departments, of which the Xbox division is expected to comprise around 20%. Forza developer Turn 10 Studios, along with King, ZeniMax, and Raven Software, was affected by the recent job losses.

- Seiyuu Yurika Kubo announces her marriage.

- Yoo Ah In receives a suspended prison sentence as the final verdict of his drug case was reached.

- The third season of Yumi's Cells features an additional cast lineup.

- The Philippines will host the 2027 FIBA Women's Asia Cup.

- Clayton Kershaw became the MLB's 4th lefty with 3,000 strikeouts.

- The judge denies bail to Sean "Diddy" Combs ahead of sentencing after a split verdict.

- Lea Salonga will receive her Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

TTFN.

Jurassic World Rebirth

Universal's Jurassic series returns with an exciting new chapter set in the aftermath of Dominion. Ready for a monster of a new chapter?

Jurassic World: Rebirth
Jurassic World: Rebirth

Jurassic World Rebirth, the newest installment of Universal's Jurassic series, signals the dawn of a new era for this franchise. Featuring a powerhouse cast like Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali, this new movie is set in the aftermath of Dominion. Covert ops expert Zora Bennett, played by Johansson, and her team are exploring hostile environments crawling with genetically-mutated dinosaurs in search of the DNA of the three most colossal creatures in the hopes of saving humanity.

This movie represents a new kind of "dino crisis," as genetically-mutated dinosaurs are now wreaking havoc on land, in the air, and at sea. These new kinds of threats showcase the franchise's new direction while delivering the same primeval terror you would expect from a Jurassic movie. Although deadly at first sight, these monstrous new creatures are soon to become fan favorites, a worthy addition to the franchise's rogue gallery of dinosaurs.

While we can anticipate elements of cooperation, betrayal, suspense, horror, and action in this movie, its captivating storytelling and thrilling moments can leave you on the edge of your seat long after the credits roll. You will truly feel your heart racing as you recall some of the film's most iconic and intense scenes.

This movie is a "monster" of an adventure worthy of the title "Rebirth". Get it? Rebirth. With genetically modified dinosaurs threatening land, air, and sea, this marks the beginning of a new era for the Jurassic franchise.