Category Archives: Motorsports

The Thrill of Rally Racing

Okay, you know rally racing involves cars and driving them fast. But rally racing is its own animal, more realistic and exciting than just whipping around a round track in laps. Rally racing is a form of auto racing that takes place on usually private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars.

Driving a rally car is an amazing adrenaline pumper. Just watching the sport and cheering on a driver can produce such an amazing adrenaline fix. What makes the experience even more fun, a lot like the car chase in your favorite movie, is that you are not on the side lines jumping and cheering, you’re in it. You’re in the wild, on a probably narrow dirt road, flying over crests, with faith, luck and an imprudent passenger clinging to your side. The perpetual skidding and sliding required to go fast on these loose surfaces-and not just to look fancy – is what gives rally driving its high thrill factor.

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Jeremy Foley Crash at Pikes Peak 2012

Jeremy Foley and his co-driver crashed at this years Pike Peak Hill Climb in the exact same spot that Bobby Regester crashed last year. Checked out both videos, unfortunately Jeremy Foley was not as lucky as Regester and you can tell the crash is more intense. Both Jeremy and his co-driver have been taking to the hospital with serious injuries. Roll cages are a life saver.

Honda & Mugen Build Twin-Turbo CR-Z GT for Super GT

Most hybrids, by nature, are boring. The Honda CR-Z however, speaks to the 12 year-old in all of us, through its sporty shape, and lively driving dynamics. It’s a full-on Prius hybrid, and it’s not what you’d call quick. But it’s tossable nature is much more entertaining than its cross-prefecture rival from Toyota City. And now, Honda has joined forces with its ‘authorized’ tuner, Mugen, to create an exciting hybrid racer for the GT300-Class of Japan’s Super GT. Continue reading »

Audi R18 e-tron Quattro a Closer Look at the Hybrid Race Car

Since its inception the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been the true test of endurance. Races such as the Le Mans and Formula One are the breeding ground for new technology and technology maturation. It is here that we get to see what works, what doesn’t, and what’s reliable. As we begin to learn more and more about the successful advancements, the likelihood that you will see some of these features on cars off the track become more of a reality. Audi is one of the automakers that continues to innovate and remains on the cutting edge. Continue reading »

Gazoo Racing Toyota GT86 Concept takes Class Win at Nurburgring

Gazoo Racing GT86

Gazoo Racing GT86 Concept is already a Proven Performer

 

In case you weren’t aware of the Toyota renegade racing offshoot – Gazoo Racing is about to make their presence known throughout the world. The owner and former chief engineer at Toyota Motors, Hiromu Naruse, has been associated with the development of the 2000GT, Celica, AE86 and the MR2. Mr. Naruse is the driving force and divine inspiration leading the charge in the development of Gazoo’s road and race cars. The GRMN (Gazoo Racing tuned by Meister Naruse or Nurburgring – take your pick) GT86 concept seen in the picture above is their latest foray into racing modification. The Gazoo Racing GT86 Sports FR Concept is fitted with a turbocharger and a supercharger increasing the horsepower by 50% to 320 hp and 310 lb. ft. of torque. This highly enhanced beauty goes from 0 – 60 in 7.7 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 140 mph. Extensive changes were made to the suspension, exhaust system and brakes in order for the extra horsepower to be controlled.

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Nissan Announces New NASA Spec Z Series

Nissan has given 350z track enthusiasts something to get excited about with their recent announcement of their new 350z Spec Racing series sanctioned by NASA (National Auto Sport Association). The NASA Spec Z Class will be open to all 350z models and trims from 2003 – 2008. Of course, as with all other spec series the intention is to create a playing field that fosters close competition, parity, and cost containment. Making it about the drivers as opposed to who has the deepest pockets.

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Mercedes SLS AMG GT3

The Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 is built mainly for competition teams competing under FIA GT3 regulations. You could consider it one of AMG’s flagship vehicles in not only marketing, but demonstrating the racing excellence that’s associated with the AMG brand. At the heart of the AMG GT3 is something very similar to that of the production version. It’s a 6.3-liter V8 engine with a dry sump lubrication system. This dry sump technology enables reliable lubrication, even under the stresses associated with racing. The dry sump also allows for a low installation position of the engine, which is a crucial factor for producing favorable weight distribution. Couple that with its low center of gravity, long wheelbase, wide track, and you can begin to see just how formidable it is on the racing circuit.

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Dodge Viper GTS-R Could Also Make A Return

Dodge Viper Race Return

As was reported awhile back, the Dodge Viper will live on with the next generation model expected to hit the market in 2012. As part of its comeback celebration, Chrysler is reportedly considering entering the new Dodge Viper in the Le Mans series. While not official, strong consideration is being made.

The competition Viper, the Dodge Viper GTS-R, made its initial unveiling in 1995 at Pebble Beach Concours, while eventually making its competitive debut at the 24 hours of Daytona. With development help from Oreca and Reynard Motorsport, a fierce challenger was born. The Viper GTS-R holds three victories in the 24 Hour of Le Mans, along with three victories in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, to go along with various other accolades garnered from competitions around the world.

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BMW M3 DTM completes its roll-out

BMW M3 DTM completes

The DTM project of BMW has literally taken off: On Monday the new BMW M3 DTM, with which the brand will make its comeback to the DTM in 2012, completed its first roll-out on BMW’s own test track in Aschheim. Apart from BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, numerous motorsport division employees attended the roll-out, which marks a milestone in the preparations ahead of the 2012 season. On Friday Marquardt had introduced the BMW M3 DTM to senior BMW Group executives at a separate event in Munich.

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Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA laps the Nurburgring

Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA

Prepare yourselves for 10 minutes of pure Nurburgring bliss. Gazoo Racing takes us onboard their Lexus LFA for an exciting lap around the famed Nurburgring. Coincidently, adding a little more intrigue to the video, are the two Porsche GT3’s that the LFA is trying to chase down.

The Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA is a fully race-prepped vehicle. It’s gutted, features a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic body, and has competed in the official 24 hour Nurburgring event. What’s most impressive, besides the extraordinary sound, is how smooth and effortless the Lexus LFA handles the complex corners. Which is admittedly easy to say outside of the hot seat, but there’s no doubt that the LFA has the goods to hang with the best of them.

Check it out below.

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