Driving & Motorsports

List: Top Ten $5K Rallycross Cars

Jeremy Cargill — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:46:45 -0500

Getting involved in rallycross racing doesn’t have to mean being part of a factory-backed team with piles of cash. The Sports Car Club of America offers rallycross racing at very little cost to participants. To get started here are ten cars that fit the bill for $5000 or less.

Abarth 500 R3T Debuts, Lends Name to Upcoming Trophy

John Beltz Snyder — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:04:24 -0500

We love the Fiat 500, so when we saw these photos of the Abarth 500 R3T, our hearts grew a tiny bit.

The 500 R3T debuted at the Sanremo Rally in Italy. It’s 1.4-liter turbocharged engine produces up to 180 horsepower. The car features a six-speed gearbox, adjustable suspension and Brembo disc brakes.

According to the press release, the Abarth 500 R3T will lend its name to a promotional rally trophy next year.

Check out the Abarth 500 R3T above, or scroll down to read the press release.

Abarth 500 for rallies launched in Sanremo
Abarth introduced its latest racing gem at the 51st Sanremo Rally. The new Abarth 500 R3T will lend its name to a promotional rally trophy in 2010, due to join the two track events (European and Italian) planned for the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse.
For Abarth, this marks a return to promotional trophy events, a niche it has made its own for more than thirty years. Since 1977, to be precise, when the first ever Autobianchi A112 Abarth Championship was held, followed by trophies for the Fiat Uno, Uno Turbo, Cinquecento, Seicento, Punto Kit and Super 1600, Stilo, Panda Kit.
The Abarth 500 rally version will be type approved for Group R3T, the category for turbocharged cars up to 1600 cm3 in capacity. This class will be the future of the specialism because it represents a good compromise between car cost and performance. Ideal for private drivers and young people who want to show their worth in a true racing car, capable of outstanding performance by any standard.
The Abarth 500 power unit is 1368 cm3 with a Garret GT 1446 fixed geometry turbocharger capable of delivering a power of 180 hp (132 kw) at 5500 rpm.
The gearbox is sequential, front meshing with 6 speeds and includes a multiplate self-locking differential, twin plate clutch and special half-axles.
Great care has been taken to ensure the suspension can be adjusted to obtain a ride suited to each driver's individual driving style. The racing shock-absorbers are adjustable, with coaxial spring and wheel to alter the ground clearance plus special shims to adjust the caster and camber angles.
The 7” x 17” OZ asphalt rims are designed for 19/62-17 tyres.
The Brembo brakes are all disc, ventilated at the front with 4 callipers, solid disc at the rear with brake distributor and governor. The handbrake is hydraulic.
The Abarth 500 is equipped with a special welded roll-bar integral with the body, the required safety devices and FIA type-approved seats with 6 seat belt anchorage points.
The weight is the lowest set by the regulations for this category: 1080 kg unladen.
Great care has also been taken over the details, beginning with a livery that is most decidedly in keeping with tradition, complemented by a lovingly crafted interior and instruments.
The Abarth promotional trophy regulation and timetable will be circulated in the coming weeks.
Turin, 25th September 2009

Nürburgring Approved: Lotus Evora Type 124

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:08:42 -0500

We've been swooning over the new Lotus Evora for the past few months, and the first round of customers are just starting to take delivery of their cars. And while Lotus' road cars are nothing short of superb, we've seen them crank out some pretty delicious race-ready versions of their products over the years. The Evora follows suit, and we now have a whole set of images and specs about the new Type 124 Evora racer which is built to FIA GT specifications and will make its official debut at next year's 24 Hours of Nürburgring race.

Obviously, the key modifications to make a car track ready are to remove weight and add power. The Type 124 is about 440 pounds lighter than the standard Evora, bringing the car's curb weight to around 2600 pounds. Lotus achieved this by replacing most of the bodywork with carbon composite panels. As for power, the mid-mounted V-6 has been boosted to produce over 400 horsepower and comes with an all-new six-speed sequential gearbox.

We're excited to see this thing take to the track next year. For now, be sure to scroll through the gallery of images and click through the post for the official press release.

Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar

The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar has been developed from the award-winning Evora road car and is built to FIA regulations and safety standards.

The Type 124 (pronounced One Twenty Four) Endurance Racecar is the next step in the evolution of the Evora. The car will make its 24 hour racing debut at the ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours which provides a great test for the Evora's performance, efficiency and durability under tough and demanding endurance race conditions.

At the heart of the Lotus Evora are fundamental racecar elements: mid-engine layout, high-tech and super-stiff extruded and bonded aluminium chassis and very strong lightweight forged aluminium wishbones. All these elements mean that it is a natural evolution from the road going Lotus Evora to a competitive endurance racecar.

From the outset the design team had intentions to take the Evora racing and the chassis was designed with this in mind. Endurance races are the perfect events to showcase the efficiency, handling and durability characteristics that have been fundamental to the concept of the Evora.

The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar has a race-tuned version of the mid-mounted Toyota V6 engine, with power increased to over 400 ps (depending on race regulations). Vehicle mass is expected to be reduced by up to 200 kg, bringing the weight of the racecar to less than 1200 kg (depending on race regulations).

Further changes for the Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar include a six speed sequential paddle shift racing gearbox, full FIA specification roll cage, FIA-compliant 120 litre ATL fuel system, FIA fire extinguisher system, competition carbon fibre rear wing, diffuser and front splitter.

The racecar is fitted with AP Racing 6 piston callipers front and rear, with a race-tuned Bosch ABS system, 4-way adjustable dampers and adjustable anti-roll bars. The racecar runs on 18" rims shod with Pirelli racing slicks and the wheels widths have been increased over the roadcar to 9 ½ J on the front and 11 J on the rear.

The aerodynamically efficient Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar body design, made from lightweight composite and carbon fibre panels, remains predominantly unchanged from the road car, with the only modifications being to the lower sections of the front and rear clamshells and the side sills.

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited, said, "Motorsport has been in our blood ever since our founder, Colin Chapman, built the first Lotus back in 1948. We are proud of our motorsport history, which includes victories in Formula One, Le Mans, saloon car, rally car and sportscar racing around the world; more recently, we won the British GT3 Championship in 2006 with the Lotus Exige. The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar is from the same unique stable and we expect it to be a competitive racecar when we enter various endurance races next year."

Roger Becker, Vehicle Engineering Director for Group Lotus Plc said, "Every Lotus car is designed to be at home on the race track as well as the road, and the Evora is no different. Designed primarily as an everyday road car, the Evora's lightweight and stiff structure, its aerodynamics and performance means that it is perfectly suited to taming race tracks around the world, and we are looking forward to seeing the new Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar line up on the grid for the 2010 season."

The racecar is expected to compete in a number of endurance races in 2010/ 2011 forming part of a factory-supported race program. The races that are targeted are: The 2010 ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours (Nürburgring Nordschleife, Germany) in May 2010, Merdeka Millennium 12 Hours (Sepang, Malaysia) in August 2010, BritCar 24 Hours (Silverstone, UK) in October 2010 and the Dubai 24 Hours (Dubai Autodrome, UAE) January 2011.

The Saga of "Our" 24 Hours of LeMons Car

Tom Martin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:09:46 -0500

You may remember a couple months ago, we asked you to give us some ideas for a 24 Hours of LeMons car. In case you missed it, this slightly absurd parody of the French classic, is an endurance race for cars costing $500 or less.

Back then, we had just emptied the Winding Road staff's pocket change into a number 10 business envelope and sent it as our sponsorship package to some hapless college students masquerading as a "race team." We also promised to help by enlisting the crack Winding Road readership in suggesting the perfect car/weapon for trouncing LeMons competitors. In return for all this, they promised to tape a copy of a Winding Road logo somewhere on the car. Here's the report that the team of Cole Wrightson, Jean-Paul Montant, Tom Martin III (son of our Editorial Director), Jason Smart and Victor Borisov gave us on what happened.

(Continue reading below)

With all the clever suggestions of many WR readers in mind (mainly Integras, VWs, RX-7s, and also some big Detroit stuff), we scoured eBay and Craig’s List. We had a few near misses with some MR2s, a Police Interceptor, a Scirocco, and a 300ZX. But every car that looked like it a) ran and b) was less than 70 percent iron oxide, ended up well over our $500 limit. With our mid-July race date fast approaching (and facing the ugly prospect of actually having to prep the car) we finally broke down and bought, via eBay Motors, the first running car we could find within the budget: a 1989 Saab 900. We took a day trip to Vermont to pick it up, praying to LeMons god Jay Lamm the whole way that the car would actually run (not complete fools, we brought a trailer just in case).

Once we got the Saab back to New York, we assessed the damage. The engine appeared to have a 1 inch hole in the side, and be devoid of all fluids. Apparently this is normal for Saabs, because the car actually fired right up and didn't self-destruct instantly. That scare behind us, we quickly had the car stripped of its unimportant bits, including seats, dashboard, climate control, lights and trim. With a proud sense of accomplishment, we went back to our busy lives for a few weeks.

Upon returning to the car, we checked the calendar and noticed that we had less than a week to have our car race-ready. Despite LeMons being a race for virtually worthless rust buckets, a significant investment of time and money is required to meet the safety rules (safety equipment doesn’t count toward your $500).

By the time we had tubes bent for the roll cage and a decent set of tools assembled, it was Thursday morning. Before an 8AM tech inspection on Saturday, we had to hand fit every tube in the cage, fabricate a custom exhaust system (including stylishly roof-mounted muffler), install a six-point harness, remove all the windows and wire an external kill switch. Right on time, the car was completed and loaded onto its trailer at 11:45 Friday evening. We grabbed some late-night pancakes and hit the road, a six hour trek to Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut ahead of us.

Upon arriving at the track we quickly made the not-entirely-unexpected observation that we were the least-prepared, lowest-budget LeMons team in the country. Ridiculously-liveried scrap metal was backed by scores of sizable trailers stocked with tool chests and lots of spare parts.

It took three tries to pass tech inspection, mostly because, being LeMons virgins, we were unaware of the rampant bribery involved with most cars going through tech. We then rolled over to BS inspection. This rather hilarious process of judging a car's value is the main line of defense against cheaters.

White-wig-adorned gentlemen scour every car for signs of valuable parts. Iron-fisted, non-negotiable penalties of 1 lap for every $10 over $500 are doled out to various teams (a few were docked as many as 250 laps). Our car on the other hand, was such a hopeless heap that we could even see the judges thinking about giving us some laps back. Sadly, they didn't.

After a quick and entertaining drivers meeting/lecture from LeMons creator Jay Lamm, we fired up the Saab and Tom headed out on track for the pace laps. When the green flag dropped, a melee of tire smoke, odd engine noises and creative passing instantly broke out. Tom quickly picked up on the LeMons style of racing, which happens to be absolutely brilliant. Ill-handling cars with amateur drivers and a broad spectrum of power and weight give an awesome level of competition, passing and drama.

The track was a small oval with a tight infield road course, meaning powerful American cars could pull out a lead on the banked turn and main straight, but lighter cars like our Saab could out-brake them and pull away through the tight handling section.

Fortunately, the race doesn’t turn into the demolition derby you would expect. Most of this is due to the “stewards,” who crack down on bumping and general poor driving with FIA-rivaling ferocity. The penalties, of course, are rather different from F1. For example, one of our drivers bumped another car and both were called off the track, had their legs duct-taped together and were forced to three-legged race their way to the concessions to buy the staff some burgers. And no one complains like an F1 primadonna because they’re having too much fun.

On the actual racing front, as you might expect, we did not win. The 900 was a surprisingly fast car, and had no signs of the rampant understeer we had expected. During our first two stints we were in the top half of the field and battling for a class victory (LeMons has three, unscientifically assigned classes: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly – you can guess our class). After about two hours of racing however, our engine began its slow decline. The hard driving and warm temperatures caused us to lose compression on cylinder 4 and intermittent ignition problems meant our now underpowered, 3-cylinder car was off track more than it was on for the rest of the race.

As you might expect from such an odd race, the leaderboard was faintly absurd. A Honda Civic from Kielbasa Kids Racing smoked the field by a massive 72 laps and even beat out the Miatas, MR2s, and 300ZXs for fastest lap, meanwhile 2nd, 3rd, and 4th went to Alfa Romeos. Go figure.

F1 Divided: FOTA Plans Break, FIA Threatens Legal Action

Natasha Colah — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:10:05 -0500

Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) announced last week that it is planning to break away from the FIA and start its own racing series as a result of friction between the two organizations.

The eight breakaway teams (Ferrari, McLaren, Toyota, Renault, BMW, Brawn, Red Bull and Toro Rosso) met at Renault's England headquarters and brought out a press release soon after, stating that it has been trying to negotiate with the FIA but that its efforts have been futile. FOTA has proposed a voluntary cost reduction plan for the teams, it has also requested for transparency of governance by the FIA and for the Commercial Rights Holder (Bernie Ecclestone) to fix on one set of rules, among other things. Many teams have also said that Ecclestone has withheld tens of millions of dollars, since 2006.Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna Sports Comapny, Bernie Ecclestone, Sue

In retaliation the FIA has issued a statement stating that it is going to sue the breakaway teams for violations of law and for breaches of contracts. The FIA is particularly upset with Ferrari and has threatened to leave Ferrari out of the 2010 Entry List. This has caused the 2010 Entry List to be stalled and delayed until the FIA and FOTA decide on their next step.

In the mean time, FOTA has started talks with Carmelo Ezpeleta, whose Dorna Sports company is in charge of Moto GP, and who would be capable and experienced in managing a new racing series.

For more information about FOTA’s breakaway ideas, scroll down and read their press release.

Date: 18 June, 2009

FOTA UNITED ON THE FUTURE

Silverstone, 18 June 2009 - Since the formation of FOTA last September the teams have worked together and sought to engage the FIA and commercial rights holder, to develop and improve the sport.

Unprecedented worldwide financial turmoil has inevitably placed great challenges before the F1 community. FOTA is proud that it has achieved the most substantial measures to reduce costs in the history of our sport.

In particular the manufacturer teams have provided assistance to the independent teams, a number of which would probably not be in the sport today without the FOTA initiatives. The FOTA teams have further agreed upon a substantial voluntary cost reduction that provides a sustainable model for the future.

Following these efforts all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial rights holder that they are willing to commit until the end of 2012.

The FIA and the commercial rights holder have campaigned to divide FOTA.

The wishes of the majority of the teams are ignored. Furthermore, tens of millions of dollars have been withheld from many teams by the commercial rights holder, going back as far as 2006.

Despite this and the uncompromising environment, FOTA has genuinely sought compromise.

It has become clear however, that the teams cannot continue to compromise on the fundamental values of the sport and have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 World Championship.

These teams therefore have no alternative other than to commence the preparation for a new Championship which reflects the values of its participants and partners. This series will have transparent governance, one set of regulations, encourage more entrants and listen to the wishes of the fans, including offering lower prices for spectators worldwide, partners and other important stakeholders.

The major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and companies historically associated with the highest level of motorsport will all feature in this new series.

Ford Fiesta Rallycross Cars to Race at Pike's Peak

John Beltz Snyder — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:31:30 -0500

The Olsberg Motor Sport Evolution team from Sweden will be driving two Ford Fiestas in this year's Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb on July 19.

Americans eager to catch a glimpse of the Fiesta before it officially hits American soil can watch as the cars attempt to break the 10-minute mark in the annual race, which takes place outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The vehicles, which have been modified for rallycross, each have a 2.0-liter Duratec Ford engine putting over 800 horsepower through an all-wheel-drive system.

The consumer version of the Ford Fiesta will launch in the U.S. in 2010.

The Pike’s Peak race dates back to 1916, when a Ford vehicle nicknamed “Tin Lizzy” took the first victory there.

The official press release follows after the jump.

FORD FIESTA RALLYCROSS CARS TO MAKE U.S. DEBUT AT PIKE’S PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB

DEARBORN, Mich., May 27 – The new Ford Fiesta may not be hitting the streets of America officially until next year, but high-performance motorsport examples of the car will make their U.S. racing debut this summer when the Olsberg Motor Sport Evolution team from Sweden, managed by Andreas Eriksson, brings two new Fiesta Rallycross cars to compete in the annual Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado on July 19.

“The new Fiesta is an engaging, fun to drive car that is off to a very successful start in Europe and Asia,” said Jim Farley, Group Vice President, Ford Global Marketing and Communications. “Thanks to Andreas Eriksson, we’re able to introduce the Fiesta to racing fans in the U.S. ahead of its launch in 2010.”

The Pike's Peak International Hill Climb dates back to 1916, and is the second oldest motor sports event in America, taking its name from the famous mountain peak that towers above Colorado Springs in the Rocky Mountains and is often referred to as 'The Race to the Clouds.”

Ford cars have been at Pike’s Peak since the very first race in 1916, when four Ford-powered cars competed. In 1922, Ford scored its first victory when Noel Bullock took his 179ci, OHV, 50 hp Ford Special, nicknamed “Tin Lizzy” by the other competitors, to a surprise victory in the time of 19:50.9.

The two Fiestas will be driven by Eriksson and rally legend Marcus Grönholm in the ‘Unlimited Class’ at Pike’s Peak, in an attempt to be the first team to break the 10-minute mark over the 12.4-mile, 156-turn pavement and gravel course.

Andreas Eriksson, 35, is a four-time Swedish rally champion, with multiple Rallycross victories, and Marcus Grönholm, 41, is one of World Rallying’s greatest drivers, with two world championships and 30 WRC victories on his resume.

“We’re pleased to have a top independent team like Olsbergs MSE coming to the U.S. with their Fiesta Rallycross cars to take on the challenge of Pike’s Peak,” said Brian Wolfe, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “This will be a great chance for enthusiasts here to see in this unique setting what a lot of the rest of the world is already talking about – that the Fiesta is a great road car and a great race car.”

Ford Motor Company's director of Global Motorsport Business Development, Jost Capito, said: "The Pike's Peak event is another step forward for the new Ford Fiesta as a core vehicle in Ford's future global motorsport aspirations. We're looking forward to seeing Andreas and Marcus in action on this unique event."

After finishing second in the Swedish championship last year, Olsberg’s MSE team debuted its new Fiesta Rallycross car for this season's Swedish and European Rallycross championships, and it scored its first victory in just its second European championship event in Portugal this past month.

The Olsbergs MSE Fiesta Rallycross car is based on both the Fiesta hatchback model road cars. The all-wheel-drive Fiestas are powered by a 2.0-liter Duratec Ford engine capable of more than 800 horsepower.

The Fiesta Rallycross car's suspension system is the result of collaboration between Olsbergs Motor Sport Evolution, Öhlins and Ford of Europe's Team RS engineers, who are responsible for Ford’s FIA World Rally Championship program.

“We worked night and day all winter to get the Fiesta ready on time for the European championships, and it was great to see it score a hard-earned victory in Portugal at the start of May,” said Eriksson. “We are excited to be bringing the car to Pike’s Peak and to be able to see what it can do in such a unique competition. It’s a legendary event, and we’ve already been there to take a look at the challenge we will face. I’m convinced we’ll be a top contender to break the 10-minute mark and give the Fiesta a proper racing debut in the U.S.”

Ford Racing North America, although not directly involved in the project, will assist the team with logistical support while it is in America.

New Fiesta in Rallying

The Ford Fiesta will be Ford Motor Company’s main competition vehicle for rallying in the coming years.

Ford has a long and distinguished history in the FIA WRC (World Rally Championship), the toughest competition in motorsport for production-based cars. The series covers 12 three-day rallies across three continents, with competitors driving flat out on roads ranging from smooth asphalt to rutted, boulder-strewn tracks in conditions ranging from -25°C to 40°C.

Ford has competed in the WRC since 1999 with the Focus RS World Rally Car and won back-to-back manufacturers' world titles in 2006 and 2007. The Focus has claimed 37 rally victories in that period, the latest coming just last weekend when BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally team claimed a one-two finish in Rally d'Italia Sardegna in Italy.

The current generation of World Rally Cars will be replaced by a 'Super 2000' formula by the start of the 2011 season. In April, M-Sport, the team that oversees Ford’s efforts in the World Rally Championship, announced it was developing the Ford Fiesta Super 2000 rally car.

In addition, an all-new Ford Fiesta R2 rally car, based on the top-selling Ford Fiesta road car launched last year, was unveiled last week at the Rally d'Italia Sardegna. Designed to replace the successful Fiesta ST rally car, the new vehicle is targeted at competitors in the popular Fiesta SportTrophy series, as well as in regional rally championships.

The Fiesta SportTrophy, launched in 2006, is a one-make championship aimed at career-minded young drivers and pure enthusiasts alike. More than 10 countries host national championships, with a top level international series linked to the World Rally Championship calendar.

The all-new Fiesta R2 conforms to the latest FIA regulations and will satisfy strong customer demand for an exciting yet affordable point of entry into rallying.

The five-speed Fiesta R2 rally car is based on the Ford Fiesta Sport (Zetec S in the UK and Ireland) using the 1.6L Ti-Vct 120PS (1598cc) base engine as in regular production. It is built from a standard conversion kit developed by M-Sport.

Fiesta Movement in North America

Although the Fiesta production vehicle isn’t slated to go on sale in the United States until 2010, 100 of the stylish European cars are already in North America in the hands of 100 chosen Fiesta Movement “agents” that are a diverse group of individuals reflective of the Internet’s social media community.

The 100 young trendsetters are driving and living with their Fiestas for six months, traveling as “agents” on special “missions,” and are documenting their experiences through a variety of social media sites, including Twitter, Flickr, Facebook and YouTube.

The “missions” are designed to be fun, take the “agents” to new places and let them experience new things – all while driving the new European Ford Fiesta and providing feedback to Ford on the product.

Early feedback has been extremely positive, and now there will be a chance for motorsport fans to take early interest in the Fiesta at the famous Colorado event.

Follow the Fiesta Movement at: www.fiestamovement.com<http://www.fiestamovement.com/>.

About Fiesta

In Europe, the Fiesta name has long been synonymous with outstanding driving quality, design and value. The all-new Ford Fiesta is taking that three-decade heritage to U.S. consumers for the first time.

The Fiesta already is a hit in Europe and Asia, where it went on sale last year and earlier this year, respectively. The all-new Fiesta is the fastest-selling Fiesta model ever in Europe, helping boost Ford of Europe’s market share in April. In April alone, 43,000 new Fiestas were sold, with more than 151,000 delivered to customers since the start of the year. Fiesta also is Ford of Europe’s best-selling model in April and year-to-date.

In 2010, the Fiesta will be produced at plants in Germany, Spain, Mexico, Thailand and China for sale in markets around the world. The Fiesta for the North American market will be built at Ford’s assembly plant in Cuautitlan, Mexico.

###

First Look: Maserati GranTurismo MC

John Beltz Snyder — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:32:19 -0500

Today, Maserati announced it would debut the new Maserati GranTurismo MC during the FIA GT Media Days at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. The GranTurismo MC is based on the Maserati GranTurismo S, and the Concept debuted last September at Monza in Italy, and appeared at the Paris Motor Show. It features a 4.5-liter V-8 engine, of which the output has not yet been disclosed.

Maserati will sell a limited series of the GranTurismo MC, beginning in October, for drivers who wish to race in the 2010 GT4 European Cup and the national series. The price should be around 135,000 Euros, the current equivalent of almost $181,000 U.S.

View the Maserati GranTurismo MC in the gallery above, or scroll down to read the official press release.

OFFICIAL DEBUT OF
THE NEW MASERATI GRANTURISMO MC

Le Castellet (F), 6 April 2009 - The new Maserati GranTurismo MC will be officially unveiled during the FIA GT "Media Days" at the Paul Ricard circuit. The new model is an offshoot of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept introduced last September in Monza and based on the Maserati GranTurismo S road version, with electro-actuated gearbox system.

On 17 and 18 March the car participated in the "Balance of performance", two days of practices organized by SRO at the Paul Ricard circuit in order to analyze and balance the performance of the models that will be racing in the GT4 European Cup.

A Maserati GranTurismo MC entered by a private team is to participate in some GT4 European Cup events during the second half of this season.

A limited series of the Maserati GranTurismo MC produced for gentlemen drivers who wish to race in the 2010 GT4 European Cup and the national series, will be on sale as of October 2009. The indicative price is 135,000 Euro + VAT. The cars will be sold directly through Maserati Corse.

In 2010 Maserati intends to once again organize a European single-make cup race. The cars participating in this Cup shall naturally present specifications that will set them apart from the GT4-version Maserati GranTurismo MCs.

Maserati chose to create a model with GT4 features because GT4 is the category with the closest links to production models. There is a niche of GranTurismo road car owners who love racing and want to be able to test their mettle on a track driving a racing version of the same model they own.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC is the result of a development work carried out during many test sessions that started in the Summer of 2008.

Various drivers have taken turns developing the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept from which the Maserati GranTurismo MC stemmed. With their strong professional and racing background, each and every one of them contributed to the creation of the final version.

The predominant part of the fine-tuning work was conducted by Andrea Bertolini, official Maserati tester as well as incumbent FIA GT Champion at the wheel of the MC12.

Bertolini worked together with Thomas Cremonini, Maserati series production tester, and Vitaphone Racing Team teammate Michael Bartels, also 2008 FIA GT champion.

During the most recent tests, the Maserati GranTurismo MC with GT4 specs was also tested by former F.1 driver Ivan Capelli.

With the creation of the Maserati GranTurismo MC, the tradition of the Trident logo car manufacturer who remains loyal to its origins - those of a company founded in 1914 to tune and subsequently build racecars - lives on.

The Maserati list of wins is abundant and it includes a two consecutive wins at the famous Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and in 1940, with Wilbur Shaw at the wheel of the 8CTF "Boyle Special". This year is the 70th anniversary of that first success.

Juan Manuel Fangio won two F1 world titles in 1954 and in 1957 at the wheel of a Maserati 250F.
In the 1950s and 1960s cars with the Trident logo won a good many Endurance races, while the last victory in a Formula 1 GP was clinched by Pedro Rodriguez on a Cooper-Maserati in 1967.

In 2004 Maserati Corse started racing again internationally in the FIA GT Championship featuring the MC12; it achieved three victories at the prestigious Spa 24 Hours (2005, 2006, and 2008 Vitaphone Racing Team) and no less than ten absolute titles:

- Three FIA GT Drivers Championships in 2006 (Michael Bartels/Andrea Bertolini), in 2007 (Thomas Biagi) and in 2008 (Michael Bartels/Andrea Bertolini)

- Four FIA GT Teams Championships in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 (Vitaphone Racing Team)

- Two FIA GT Manufacturers Cups in 2005 and 2007

- One Citation Cup for gentlemen drivers in 2007 (Ben Aucott).

Race have always been the most demanding test-bench for all cars. Traditionally, reliability and performance are checked on track. It is in races that new technologies and materials are tested. And it is on the circuit that Maserati has decided to raise the much praised-sporty verve of its Maserati GranTurismo S to even higher levels to create the Maserati GranTurismo MC.

GRANTURISMO MC - TECH. SPEC.
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT

Width

1914,0 mm

Lenght

4935,3 mm

Height

1300,0 mm

Overhang front

930,5 mm

Overhang rear

1064,1 mm

Wheelbase

2940,7 mm

Front track

1618,4 mm

Rear Track

1580,7 mm

Weight

< 1400 Kg

Weight distribution

51,3 front / 48,7 rear

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION

Engine

Displacement

4,691 cc

Maximum power

Maximum torque

Weight/power ratio

<4.6 Kg/KW (<3.4 Kg/HP)

Ignition

Bosch - digital system

Air intake

Double cone racing type filter

Exhaust system

Racing type with removable catalyzers

Lubrication

Wet sump

Gearbox

Rear, longitudinal gearbox, with transaxle scheme.
6 gears + reverse, syncromesh.
Electrohydraulic activation, with paddles shift

CHASSIS AND BODYWORK

Bodywork

Carbon fiber

Windows

Windscreen, rear and side windows in Lexan.

Chassis

Steel with welded integral rollcage structure, FIA approved.

Interior

Backward-set driving position, with racing seat, dashboard and console in carbon fiber throughout.
6-points seat-belt compatible with HANS protection system.

Electrical system

Specific, with data acquisition system integrated in the dashboard.

Fuel tank

120 L, with carbon safety structure, FIA approved.

Brakes

Racing system without ABS, with steel discs:
Front disc: 380 mm
Rear disc: 326 mm
Front caliper: 6 pistons
Rear caliper: 4 pistons

Wheels

Front: 11''x18''
Rear: 11''x18''

Tyres

Front: 305/645/18
Rear: 305/680/18

Shock absorbers

Carbon fiber

Aston Martin Debuts LMP1 for Le Mans Series

John Beltz Snyder — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:57:13 -0500

Aston Martin announced yesterday the debut of its factory entry in the Le Mans Series. The Aston Martin LMP1 car, pictured above, will make its entrance in Barcelona in the 1000 kilometers of Catalunya.

The new car has been tested very little, so the beginning of the Le Mans Series will be the team’s chance to truly test the LMP1 in preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

Scroll down for the official press release from Aston Martin.

ASTON MARTIN RACING SET FOR BARCELONA DEBUT

Gaydon, 31 March, 2009. The Aston Martin Racing team is set to make its debut in the premier class of the Le Mans Series this weekend, with a two-car factory entry in the 1000 kilometres of Catalunya: the opening round of the LMS.

The two cars – numbered 007 and 009 – will be driven by Jan Charouz (CZ), Tomas
Enge (CZ) and Stefan Mucke (DE) (007) and Harold Primat (CH), Miguel Ramos (PT) and Darren Turner (GB) (009).

Aston Martin Racing will compete in the entire Le Mans Series for the first time this season with the new Aston Martin LMP1 car, as well as the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

Barcelona, the opening race of the five-round LMS, is a technical circuit that tests every aspect of a car and driver’s performance: one of the reasons why it is a popular Formula 1 testing venue as well as the home of the Spanish Grand Prix.

For Aston Martin Racing, Barcelona marks the first step of a steep learning curve. With just one official pre-season test at Paul Ricard behind the team, the new LMP1 car is lacking in track mileage and the objective in Spain will be primarily to develop the car. The driver line-up includes two new faces; Harold Primat and Miguel Ramos, with the rest of the drivers all having formed part of the factory squad in the past.

Aston Martin Racing will face strong and experienced opposition at Barcelona, including a number of diesel-powered cars that have recently dominated the series.
With 11 cars entered in the top LMP1 category and 15 cars in LMP2, the action is sure to be frenetic throughout the 215 laps – which equate to 1000.82 kilometres of the Spanish circuit.

After qualifying on Saturday afternoon, the race will get underway with a rolling start at 11:30 on Sunday and it is expected to finish at around 17:30. The two blue and orange Aston Martin Racing cars will take to the track for the first time on Friday afternoon, for the first of two free practice sessions prior to qualifying.

Aston Martin Racing Team Principal George Howard-Chappell commented: “The first race of the new season is in many ways the most exciting one of all, because nobody really knows where they are relative to their rivals.

“From our point of view, we’re as well prepared as we’ll ever be although there’s a lot of work still ahead. With our programme only confirmed quite late in the day, we’ve had to do an awful lot in a very short space of time, so I’d like to thank everybody in the team for their hard work and dedication that has brought us up to this point. I’m sure it’s going to be a very interesting race at Barcelona, and it’s impossible really to predict what might happen.”

Aston Martin Racing will host a media ‘Meet and Greet’ at Barcelona, in the team’s
hospitality unit in the paddock from 17:00-18:00 on Saturday 4 April. All accredited media are welcome.

-ends-

Audi R15 TDI Wins At 12 Hours Of Sebring

Steven J. Ewing — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:53:44 -0500

Once again, Audi proved that their clean diesel technology can indeed prevail in the racing circuit. Their new R15 Le Mans car dominated at the 12 Hours of Sebring race, coming in a whopping 22 seconds ahead of the runner-up Peugeot.

The 12 Hours Of Sebring marks the first race for Audi's new R15, which continues on the success of previous R8 and R10 Le Mans cars. However, this is not to say that Peugeot didn't put up a good fight with its diesel-powered 908 HDi cars. In fact, the Audi and Peugeot swapped lead places a total of twenty-three times before the R15 finally took the first place finish.

Click through the post to see the official breakdown of the final times.

1. (2) Allan McNish, Scotland; Rinaldo Capello, Italy; Tom Kristensen, Denmark; Audi R15 TDI (1, P1), 383.
2. (5) Franck Montagny, Brignoles France; Sebastien Bourdais, France; Stephane Sarrazin, France; Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (2, P1), 383.
3. (4) Mike Rockenfeller, Germany; Marco Werner, Germany; Lucas Luhr, Germany; Audi R15 TDI (3, P1), 381.
4. (7) Luis Diaz, Mexico; Adrian Fernandez, Mexico; Acura ARX-01B (1, P2), 360.
5. (3) Pedro Lamy, Lisbon Portugal; Christian Klien, Austria; Nicolas Minassian, England; Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (4, P1), 356.
6. (12) Jan Magnussen, Denmark; Antonio Garcia, Spain; Johnny O'Connell, Flowery Branch, GA; Corvette C6.R (1, GT1), 349.
7. (11) Oliver Gavin, England; Olivier Beretta, Monaco; Marcel Fässler, Switzerland; Corvette C6.R (2, GT1), 348.
8. (27) Mika Salo, Finland; Jaime Melo, Brazil; Pierre Kaffer, Germany; Ferrari F430 GT (1, GT2), 332.
9. (15) Gianmaria Bruni, Italy; Mathias Russo, Argentina; Luis Companc, Argentina; Ferrari 430 GT (2, GT2), 330.
10. (17) Dominik Farnbacher, Germany; Ian James, England; Panoz Esperante GTLM Ford (3, GT2), 329.
11. (14) Jörg Bergmeister, Germany; Patrick Long, Oak Park, CA; Marc Lieb, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (4, GT2), 326.
12. (24) Seth Neiman, Burlingame, CA; Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, CA; Darren Law, Phoenix, AZ; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (5, GT2), 326.
13. (23) Nic Jonsson, Sweden; Eric van de Poele, Belgium; Tracy Krohn, Houston, TX; Ferrari F430 GT (6, GT2), 325.
14. (16) David Murry, Cumming, GA; Andrea Robertson, Ray, MI; David Robertson, Ray, MI; Doran Ford GT MK 7 (7, GT2), 303.
15. (6) David Brabham, Australia; Scott Sharp, Jupiter, FL; Dario Franchitti, Scotland; Acura ARX-02a (5, P1), 302, Drive line.
16. (13) Dirk Werner, Germany; Richard Lietz, Austria; Wolf Henzler, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (8, GT2), 274.
17. (19) Joel Feinberg, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Chris Hall, Daytona, FL; Ritchie Holt, Davie, FL; Dodge Viper Comp Coupe (9, GT2), 251, Clutch.
18. (1) Gil de Ferran, Brazil; Simon Pagenaud, France; Scott Dixon, New Zealand; Acura ARX-02a (6, P1), 246, Mechanical.
19. (20) Robert Bell, UK; Paul Drayson, London, UK; Jonny Cocker, UK; Aston Martin Vantage GT2 (10, GT2), 204, Engine.
20. (9) Chris McMurry, Phoenix, AZ; Tony Burgess, Canada; Bryan Willman, Kirkland, WA; Lola B06/10 AER (7, P1), 151, Electrical.
21. (10) Butch Leitzinger, State College, PA; Marino Franchitti, Scotland; Ben Devlin, England; Lola B09 86 Mazda (2, P2), 149, Mechanical.
22. (26) Dirk Müller, Germany; Tom Milner, Leesburg, VA; BMW E92 M3 (11, GT2), 140.
23. (8) Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY; Guy Smith, England; Andy Lally, New York, NY; Lola B09 86 Mazda (3, P2), 127, Mechanical.
24. (22) Lou Gigliotti, Dallas, TX; Eric Curran, Easthampton, MA; Lucas Molo, Brazil; Chevrolet Riley Corvette C6 (12, GT2), 89, Mechanical.
25. (25) Clint Field, Dublin, OH; Chapman Ducote, Miami, FL; Jon Field, Dublin, OH; Lola B06/10 AER (8, P1), 77.
26. (18) Bill Auberlen, Hermosa Beach, CA; Joey Hand, Sacramento, CA; BMW E92 M3 (13, GT2), 27, Mechanical.
27. (21) Nicky Pastorelli, Netherlands; Hans Stuck, Germany; Johannes Stuck, Austria; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (14, GT2), 0, Withdrawn.
28. (28) Richard Westbrook, England; Marc Basseng, Germany; Lance David, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (15, GT2), 0, Withdrawn.

Motorsports Preview: 12 Hours Of Sebring Takes Place Tomorrow!

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:32:24 -0500

The 2009 American Le Mans series kicks off this weekend with the 12 Hours Of Sebring race. Qualifying sessions were held earlier this week and Scott Dixon of De Ferran Motorsports managed to secure the pole position for Acura driving the new ARX-02A, managing to beat out the new Audi R15 and the Peugeot 908 HDi.

Of course, the Audi R15 will be the big news of Sebring this year. Can Audi once again prove that TDI diesel power can dominate in motorsports? We'll have to wait until we get the official results from Saturday's race to see.

Race start is at 10:35am eastern on Speed Channel.

Geneva 2009: BMW Alpina B6 GT3

John Beltz Snyder — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:15:34 -0600

Alpina unveiled its BMW B6 GT3 in Geneva, which it intends to race in the FIA European GT3 championship. It houses a 4.4-liter V8 engine capable of 530 horsepower and 535 pound-feet of torque. Plus, it just looks mean.

We voted it Most Desirable Car To Drive of the Day.

Click through the gallery above, or scroll down for the press release, in which Alpina calls out the Nürburgring.

Successfully Launched: The ALPINA B6 GT3

After a 20-year hiatus, ALPINA celebrate their return to racing with the BMW ALPINA B6 GT3, to compete in the FIA European GT3 championship. Based on the BMW 6 Series, ALPINA have developed a competitive weapon for touring-car racing that will be offered to clients, collectors and race teams alike. Furious forward pace is provided by the 4.4-litre V8 with radial compressor, taken from the BMW ALPINA B6 S. It yields 530 horsepower and 725Nm of torque.

At the end of January, upon completion of the first BMW ALPINA B6 GT3, the roll-out of B6 GT3 took place.

The race car debuted in freezing temperatures, yet mastered its first 300km brilliantly.

ALPINA will field two race cars in the FIA GT3 European Championship. Race cars are planned for customer race teams, and will compete in the FIA GT3 European Championship, as well as in national GT3 races in Belgium, Brazil, Germany, England, France and Italy. The VLN-sanctioned endurance series at the Nürburgring is also planned, as well as selected 24-hour endurance races.

Let's all get excited about a spectacular race car and an thrilling season!

Brit Website Dedicated Exclusively to Heads-Up Racing of Flathead-Powered Hot Rods...Seriously

Seyth Miersma — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:09:48 -0600

Geneva 2009: Fioravanti FL1 Concept Extends Beyond the Car and into the Future of Formula One

John Beltz Snyder — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:07:26 -0600

Italian design company Fioravanti came to Geneva this year with its concept Formula One car, the FL1. With this year’s vehicle, Fioravanti wanted to build a car that not only adheres to current F1 regulations, but also presupposes future regulations, such as limiting turbulence, that would make for more overtaking in the sport. The idea is that if F1 was full of cars like the FL1, the race would be more exciting, and, therefore, more marketable.

The compact, aerodynamic FL1 was designed to house a 1.8-liter turbocharged engine. The Kinetic Energy Recovery System would also help to reduce fuel consumption. The front and rear wings are integrated into the body to provide down force and lessen aerodynamic drag at the wheels.

In keeping with the concept of the vehicle, Fioravanti suggests the return of active suspension use, and enacting a regulation that minimizes turbulence ten meters behind a vehicle.

Scroll down for the official press release.

GENEVE March 3rd 2009

LF1

Fioravanti is a means of transport design company, mainly involved in the automobile field, which is recognized for its "out-of-the-box" thinking.

Thanks to this characteristic combined with the strong passion of its personnel, for the 79° edition of the Gèneve International Motor Show, Fioravanti deals with the topic of Formula 1.

Since we think that in a period of heavy economic crisis, in particular for the automotive world, also the Formula 1 has to be reviewed in its principle. Creating more connection between the F.1 research the road cars production, making the races more interesting with more overtaking manoeuvres still maintaining the Grand Prix a the top of the media global events.

LF1 wants only to be an AUSPICE for a future Formula 1 regulation, based on more general simplicity, with it Fioravanti shows one of the possible solutions.

MECHANIC & COMPONENTS

The vehicle has been designed referring to the next 1.800 cc. turbo engines as recently proposed for the 2012 regulations. With this has been possible to define a very compact bodywork with less aerodynamic drag and turbulences.

Radiators and intercoolers are designed with forced air using fans in order to reduce the front wheels drag.

18” rims and tyres with dimensions more similar to the road and racing GT cars, allowing the use of braking systems similar to the ones utilized in the high performance road cars.

Advanced use of the K.E.R.S., as in the production cars, more eco-oriented for fuel
consumption saving.

AERODYNAMIC

This topic over the years has became more and more relevant in Formula 1, affecting performances, costs, racing and the aesthetic.

The inspiring principle of the project has been the reduction of the aerodynamic drag and turbulences. This goal has been reached taking advantage of the ground effect in an innovative manner, removing the wings as not integrated bodywork elements.

The shape of the central body is characterized from lift-down force ratio close to zero.

The front wing is integrated in the front end and contributes at the same time for the down force and for the reduction of the front wheels drag thanks to the side fairings.

The rear wing, with quite big dimension, is integrated in the bottom of the vehicle generating consistent down force.

In order to give an optimal ground effect and to keep the vehicle with a constant distance from the ground , we propose a return of the active suspensions use, widely utilized in the production cars.

The C.F.D. (Computer Fluid Dynamic) study has confirmed that, with a measurement done at 10 meters from the back of the car, the degree of the turbulences generated by the aerodynamic drag is very low. Considering the above it could be possible to suggest, at regulation level, the check of the drag energy and degree of turbulence in a transversal section positioned 10 meters from the rear of the car.

This could allow drivers to do more overtaking in all the circuits, giving them the possibility to decide, more than today, when and how to overtake, allowing battles between several cars and driving tactics that emphasize the driver talent.

Dimensions: length 4.200 mm. height 950 mm.
Width 1.820 mm. wheelbase 2.800 mm.

Thanks for their collaboration to: Magneti Marelli, Brembo, Pirelli, Ansys, Coggiola

The Cars of 2009 Formula One Racing

John Beltz Snyder — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:56:44 -0600

In anticipation of the first Formula One race of the 2009 season (ING Australian Grand Prix) approaching on March 29 in Melbourne, Australia, we bring you a collection of the cars you will be watching this year. Not yet revealed are Force India's VJM-02 (Mercedes engine) and Toro Rosso's STR4 (Ferrari engine). The Honda car, of course, is also not pictured as the team's fate is still up in the air.

Click through the gallery above to see the machines Formula One teams will be racing.

Audi to Pull Out of ALMS for 2009

John Beltz Snyder — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:27:45 -0600

Audi announced today that its factory team will not participate in the American Le Mans Series in 2009. The Audi factory team, which has dominated the series since it joined in 2000, will take the opportunity to create a more formidable presence in the European arena, particularly the 24-Hours of Le Mans race, with its newly developed R15 sport prototype (rendering pictured above).

Though some may see this as a symptom of economic difficulties, for Audi motorsport and American race fans, the hand that taketh away also giveth. The Audi R15 sport prototype will premiere at the 12-hour race in Sebring, Florida on March 21, 2009. The company will also make the new R8 LMS available for customer use in the GT3 class. Americans can look forward to a different ALMS, as well as the hope of still seeing Audis driven by the capable hands of non-factory teams.

Scroll down to read the complete press release.

Audi Adjusts its U.S., European Motorsports Activities for 2009

- The focus will be Europe’s DTM series, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and customer sport programs
- No activities in the 2009 American Le Mans Series

INGOLSTADT, Germany, Dec 5, 2008 - Audi announced it will concentrate its motorsports efforts for 2009 on the new R15 TDI sport prototype for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, the re-worked race touring car A4 for the DTM circuit and the newly developed R8 LMS for customer use in the GT3 class. Audi also said it will not be represented by its factory team, Audi Sport North America, in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in 2009.

Audi entered the American Le Mans Series in the year 2000 and has been instrumental in building up this championship series ever since. The championship has become one of the most fascinating motorsport series with a growing fan base. The ALMS is recognized internationally and is regarded as the world’s best sports car championship.

“The decision to withdraw was a very difficult one for these reasons. Furthermore, with the Champion racing team we had a partner that operates at the highest level. The extraordinary dedication and precision of Team Champion was the key to Audi’s victories over the last few years in America. ” said Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, the head of Audi Motorsport, in relating the difficult decision by Audi AG to call off ALMS participation next year. “We achieved an unprecedented winning series together. Since the 2000 season Audi has won the LMP1 title nine-times in succession in this high-caliber sports car championship. Our brand dominated the circuit last season by taking seven wins in eleven races.”

Dr. Ullrich also noted how technology developed for Audi’s racing efforts in ALMS and elsewhere is turning into benefits for U.S. consumers. “TDI Technology in racing supported the market launch of Audi TDI Technology in the U.S. perfectly”; he said.

While Audi AG plans to concentrate its factory involvement at European venues throughout the 2009 season in these economically tough times, American fans of Audi motorsports will be treated to a premiere: The all-new Audi R15 TDI sports prototype will make its debut March 21, 2009 during the 12-hour race at Sebring, Fla. This international racing classic, which will be contested by Audi Sport Team Joest, is traditionally regarded as excellent preparation and a final test-race for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. At the same time, the race at Sebring with its special demands made of man and machine guarantees excellent motorsports competition.

Michèle Mouton’s Audi Quattro Sport can be Yours! (Sorta)

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:52:52 -0600

Those drivers with dreams of being a rally titan should pay special attention to this eBay Motors find, despite a set of rather daunting circumstances for potential customers in the U.S. A Dutch seller has created what appears to be—based on the rather skimpy selection of low-res images—a fairly flawless replica of the Audi Club Quattro Sport that was campaigned in 1980 by the likes of Michèle Mouton in the World Rally Championship.

Assembled from three donor Audis to, “Get the lines correct, windshield angles correct and all the measurements of the bodyshell accurate to the original,” the car is actually propelled by the not insignificant 4.2-liter V-8 from an S4. Sounds pretty good right? The only real problems are the car’s location (a town called Veghel in the Netherlands), the rather steep price ($69,000 buy it now), and the fact that the auction is ending in about 30 minutes at the time of this writing. Fast action required!

+ eBay Motors: 1980 Audi GT

Spy Shot: Audi R8 GT3 Spied Testing at the Nürburgring

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:08:55 -0600

Introduced to the world this past August, it seems that Audi and racing team ABT Sportsline are spending some time at the Nürburgring with this, supremely wild R8 GT3.

The hugely winged and kitted R8 is said to have been fitted to the requirements of a GT3 race car, meaning that all of its 500 horsepower is directed to the rear wheels only—as four-wheel drive isn’t permitted in the formula. That prodigious shove from the V-10 engine is handled through a six-speed sequential gearbox. We’ve heard rumors that the racy R8 was clearing the ‘Ring in laps of around eight minutes, forty seconds, which isn’t bad considering the recently rainy driving conditions.

Have a closer look at the super R8 GT3 in our gallery above, or scroll down below to read a few words penned by the spy shooter himself.

Audi has been at the Nürburgring with their race partners ABT testing the R8 GT3 racecar this week. First introduced in August this year, this R8 will be a racecar for the GT3 class and therefore send all the power of that 500+ horsepower strong V10 to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox. For those who are not familiar with the regulation in the GT3 class, four-wheel drive is not allowed in that class.

Most testing was done by Audis factory driver Frank Biela, also known for winning the 24 hour race at Le Mans five times. All times with Audi.

ABT Sportsline is responsible for the Audi DTM racecars.

Volkswagen's Contender: the Touareg V12 TDI Race Truck

Hardy Shen — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:05:08 -0600

In order to compete in the 634-mile-long 41st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race, Volkswagen seemingly forged, machined, and filed away at a giant block of steel until the Touareg TDI Trophy Truck was born. To be unveiled at the L.A Auto Show, and christened with the name Touareg, the only similarities the truck has with its road-going relative are its four wheels and its name. Knowing that, it would certainly be quite a blunder to take this beast of a machine lightly.

A 5.5-liter V-12 clean turbo diesel engine growls somewhere underneath its sharp and cutting exterior and is able to produce 550 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque. And will need every bit of that power considering it weighs in at a massive 5650 pounds. Hopefully, its Xtrac six-speed sequential transmission will be able to hold up to that combo.

+ Carscoop: VW To Unveil Touareg V12 TDI Race Truck at L.A. Show

KTM X-Bow Joins the 2008 Race of Champions

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:55:51 -0600

With participants hailing from Formula 1, NASCAR, the World Touring Car Championship, the World Rally Championship, and more, the Race of Champions is a pretty impressive spectacle. The event challenges drivers, usually splint into teams representing the drivers’ country of origin, to navigate the super tight confines of a road course, shoehorned onto a stadium field. The ROC found a new home at Wembley Stadium last winter, and will take place there again this year.

Adding a bit of excitement to the proceedings this go-round, the wide swath of racers will be piloting the hardcore KTM X-Bow. The newly debuted track demon would seem to be a natural choice for the tight confines of Wembley, and one that has got the drivers talking already.

Longtime F1 driver David Coulthard is excited to trade in his standard racecar confines for a night with the X-Bow, calling the car “ingenious” and adding, “I think it looks absolutely stunning – I can hardly wait to get behind the wheel in December.”

The ROC is set to go off on December 13th this year, though it remains to be seen if U.S. motorsports fans will get a broadcast.

KTM X-BOW SELECTED FOR THE RACE OF CHAMPIONS

The stunning KTM X-Bow has been selected for the “Race of Champions”, the crowning finale of the motorsport year, which takes place at Wembley Stadium in December.

The minimalist Austrian sportscar was launched in the summer of 2008 to critical acclaim. It’s inclusion in the annual Race of Champions was announced by event organisers Michel Mouton and Fredrik Johnsson on 7 November.

“The X-Bow is an exciting new sportscar, it looks completely unlike anything else,” explained Fredrik Johnsson, President of Race of Champions organiser, IMP. “I’m particularly delighted to welcome KTM to our event, as I think being able to actually see the drivers at work in the car will add a new element to The Race of Champions.”

The Race of Champions, taking place on 13 and 14 December, brings together some of the world’s best drivers for head-to-head motorsport competition on a bespoke track at the wheel of a variety of cars. Already confirmed for this year’s event are a number of stars from Formula One, the World Touring Car Championship, the World Rally Championship and the World Superbike Championship. Further participants will be announced over the coming weeks.

“This is really an ingenious car concept,” said David Coulthard, one of 2008’s Formula One stars confirmed for the event. “I think it looks absolutely stunning – I can hardly wait to get behind the wheel in December.”

Mr. Werner Wilhelm, KTM Sportcar CEO, is delighted with the inclusion of X-Bow in this year’s Race of Champions. “To be a part of this event is a really exciting for KTM and it backs up our company ethos of ‘Ready to Race.’ We are confident that the X-Bow will provide a lot of fun for both drivers and fans!”

Track Day Ugly: The Fuoss 01

Hardy Shen — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:49:24 -0500

Following the recent trend of designers imagining up individualized track-day cars, Dieter Fuoss thought that he would show the world his own version—set to be released for the public in early 2009. The Fuoss 01, weighing in at just 661 pounds, is definitely one of the lighter lightweights. It is powered by a 400cc Suzuki engine capable of a wholesome 42 horses, with a 5-speed sequential gearbox to transfer the power to the wheels. Although the speed tops out at around 91 miles per hour, hitting that kind of speed while sitting low in such a tiny, light car will be saved for those that have enough courage, or at least a lack of sense.

Sadly, it won't come with any sort of top for rainy days but at least the interior is rainproof. So for those who don't mind shelling out $37,000, and maybe getting a little wet, this is could be the car for you. As a bonus, the Fuoss 01 will even do 47 miles per gallon, though most likely when it isn't being thrashed around on the track.

+ Motor Authority: Fuoss 01 hits the track in early 2009