Monday, August 30, 2010

2010 Belgian Grand Prix


PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS

The Belgian Grand Prix
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium;
44 laps; 308.052km;
Weather: Mixed.

Classified:

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1h29m04.268s
2. Webber Red Bull-Renault +1.571
3. Kubica Renault +3.493
4. Massa Ferrari +8.264
5. Sutil Force India-Mercedes +9.094
6. Rosberg Mercedes +12.359
7. Schumacher Mercedes +15.548
8. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari +16.678
9. Petrov Renault +23.851
10. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari +29.457
11. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes +34.831
12. De la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari +36.019
13. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari +39.895
14. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth +1 lap
15. Vettel Red Bull-Renault +1 lap
16. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth +1 lap
17. Di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth +1 lap
18. Glock Virgin-Cosworth +1 lap
19. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth +1 lap
20. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth +2 laps

Fastest lap: Hamilton, 1m49.069s

Not classified/retirements:

Driver Team On lap
Alonso Ferrari 38
Button McLaren-Mercedes 16
Senna HRT-Cosworth 6
Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Lotus Evora Cup Car GT4



Lotus has set about proving that the Evora is more than just a pretty face, just recently putting its Evora Cup GT4 and 2-Eleven GT4 racers through their paces at the infamous Nürburgring and most recently at Laguna Seca. Both cars were hooned 'round the Green Hell by none other than Olie Hancock, the Lotus rookie test driver. The company didn't release any lap times for either car, but we're guessing the two are plenty quick. Lotus has entered the Evora Cup GT4 in the European GT4 Championship, where it will campaign against the best and brightest of the sports car world.

In order to get the car fit for battle, the company trimmed a total of 441 pounds from the car's curb weight, landing the track-going Evora at just 2,623 pounds. Throw in a 360 horsepower V6 and you've got yourself a recipe for tarmac glory.

Meanwhile, a total of four 2-Eleven GT4 racers will be entered into the same championship, two of which will be campaigned by NFS Racing Dubai. The other two will be flying under the Scuderia Giudici banner – the team that currently leads the GT4 Super Sports category.


Original Autoblog Article

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

American Le Mans - Road America 2010

Coverage of ALMS at Road America. THE WHOLE SET.
BMW Rahal Letterman
Porsche GT3
Extreme Sport F430s
Risi and Rahal
Corvette in Distance
M3

Who is the Stig?



Is everything made by Aston Martin better than everything made by Ferrari? Is the Porsche 911 really nothing more than a glorified Volkswagen? Is a three-wheeled Reliant Robin the best possible choice as a replacement for the out-of-service space shuttle? And, finally, Who is the Stig?

These are the ongoing questions asked time and time again by fans of the hit British motoring show Top Gear. And, in the case of the Stig, that topic is also one of Google's most often searched queries. Interestingly enough, those in the know claim they've had the answer for quite some time.

If you don't want the elaborate ruse to be spoiled, stop reading now. Still with us? Okay, good. It's Ben Collins. Allegedly. In this particular case, though, the evidence seems almost indisputable since it comes from financial information obtained from Collins Autosport, Ben Collins' own company.

According to the paperwork, the former Formula Three racing driver had a big increase in pay in 2003, which just so happens to be the first year in which the White Stig took over for the recently deceased Black Stig. That income was reportedly from "driving services provided for the BBC, mainly in the Top Gear programme." So there you go. Mystery solved?

P.S. – Can we get that autobiography already, then?

original autoblog article

Friday, August 20, 2010

CarPorn Friday, Aug 20

Pagani Zonda R - enjoy! Worth watching in HD

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

918 Spyder shows its face



While we've heard rumblings that Porsche was going to show its hot new 918 Spyder Hybrid Concept here at Pebble Beach, it appeared that the car was only going to be shown to a select few at private events scattered around the Monterey Peninsula during the week.

Well, today at the Pebble Beach Lodge, site of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the company surprised us by driving the hybrid supercar up to the concept lawn for all to see – and hear. They did a quick turn around after sitting still for a second and as the V8 rumble died away, the car started moving forward again. A couple of people were taken by surprise as they thought the driver may have forgotten to engage the parking brake, but no, the car had switched over to battery power.

We shot a little video and took a few pics as we pushed through the massive scrum surrounding the car when it finally came to rest. Follow the jump to see the video and click below to see our high-res images.

UPDATE: Porsche has revealed that the 918 Spyder actually made its driving debut a couple days earlier on a closed road in Monterey. The company kept the drive a secret, though produced a nice video of their own that really shows off how the car sounds under its own power. Added after the jump.

Original Autoblog Article

Countdown to Motion: Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Drives.
from TangentVector on Vimeo.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

US Top Gear Update



Jalopnik recently interviewed the US Top Gear crew.

You've seen the trailer, now hear the stars of American version of Top Gear give Jalopnik some dirt on the upcoming show in an exclusive interview, including how two of them nearly died in the backseat of a Camry.

Top Gear is popular in America... or at least the British version is. This latest show will be the third attempt at bringing the show to audiences in the U.S. and it comes after NBC declined to produce the Adam Carolla-helmed version.

We spoke with the new Top Gear cast last Friday, before the trailer was released. Adam Ferrara, Rutledge Wood and Tanner Foust were crowded around a phone in a room in the Hilton. The chumminess on display in the trailer was noticeable in the phone conversation, but it wasn't quite as romantic and it didn't sound like they were wearing matching plaid shirts. A rep for the show later explained that trailer was cut for the Hollywood press, not car guys, so they picked a clip that showcased their chemistry.

Much of the discussion revolved around cars and adventures, with Ferrara summing up most of their stunts so far as "Foolhardy, stupid, but fun."

Those beater cars captured by Jalopnik readers filming earlier this year were part of a "Moonshiner's Challenge" previewed in the first trailer, which has the hosts battling in cars they bought for under $1,000 dollars. As with the British version, the producers seem to delight in making the hosts uncomfortable.

Wood says the piloting the T-Bird Turbo Coupe "was like driving in an ant bed for days."

But that's not the only challenge. On the phone the cast made reference to a more adventures, including a trip to Alaska.

"Tonight, the three of us are flying to Alaska. We've heard things like 'grizzly bears,'" says Ferrara. "We'll be camping for three nights, not just staged camping and (then) run off to the Radisson. We've heard thing like 'salmon suit' - like a suit made out of salmon fillets."

They've also transformed cars into paintball war machines.

"Since the Humvee's gone, we thought 'What could we make to replace it?' says Ferrara, who came up with the idea for the stunt and picked an appropriately awesome, bloated 70's El Camino, while Wood selected a salvaged Del Sol "because they're cheap, and you could hide guns on them."

Foust jokingly complained most of the ideas were created by producers sitting inside an office in Santa Monica, shipping the instructions to cast and crew who had to pull them off without serious bodily harm.

"We almost died the other day," Wood blurts out before asking the spokesperson for History, "Can we talk about that?"

"We decided to take the most boring car in America, the Toyota Camry, and we thought how could we make it more fun, and we realized it would be if we weren't driving it," says Wood.

So they created a remote-control Camry and strapped themselves into the backseat with someone else driving them. According to the cast, the battery cables connected to the actuators and controllers suddenly became detached, leaving the car unmanned with Ferrara and Wood in the backseat.

"We get about 30 yards and the car takes off, and now that the battery is off, the actuators can't release off the gas," says Wood. "We're flying off the road towards some trees and we make it about three inches from the tree and we stop...and then the car starts rolling backwards. There was a cliff. A gentle cliff, but there was vegetation. We'd have to tell people we died in a Camry."

Foust's above joke aside, the new Top Gear isn't just about beaters (although it seems to be the favorite topic of the hosts). As with the original, there will be car tests. We've already seen the hosts driving a Dodge Viper, Hyundai Genesis, Porsche Panamera, two Lamborghinis, a Mitsubishi EVO X and a Morgan.

They also hinted at a few head-to-heads including a BMW X6 against a Honda Crosstour and a Nissan Cube against Kia Soul, although neither sounds particularly exciting.

Both the presence of sunlight and the absence of English accents is a bit jarring to fans of the original, but the hosts also see this as a positive. Their show is different, even if it uses a similar format, because of their personalities.

"Adam's a muscle car guy... and Rutledge hits the heart of NASCAR and the south," explains Foust, who seems to represent everything else and prods Wood by pointing out "His people usually have fewer teeth than fingers."

The show will debut sometime in the fourth quarter of this year on History, which means they'll be shooting in studio in the next few months. They'll also be attempting the power tests, though no one will confirm or deny the existence of an American Stig.

"The idea isn't that we fill a role, there's no Jezza, no Captain Slow," says Wood before pointing out "but there's no Route 66 in the UK."

There's still a lot they have to prove, and the hosts are aware of this fact as they've confessed to reading the comments on Jalopnik and other sites. On the other hand, American automotive television is defined by Motorweek, which is unwatchable by anyone not on a slow morphine drip.

EXTRA: Alex Roy and J.F. talk about Top Gear on the Road Testament

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Infiniti Performance Line



The much-rumored Infiniti Performance Line launched today with the Infiniti IPL G Coupe, a slightly more aggressive version of the standard G37S with a tweaked 348 hp V6 and "lets go racing" look. But will it please the Infiniti enthusiast?

Our dreams of a twin-turbocharged AMG-slaying Infiniti were for naught, as Infiniti seems interested in upping its fun quotiant by just a few degrees. It'll feel faster, thanks to a new dual exhaust replacing the old Y-pipe and a tweaked engine management system designed to let the horsepower top out at 7,400 rpm. As for being any faster, the moderate power boost (16 hp and 6 lb-ft) isn't going to send anyone to the 'Ring breaking records, but this doesn't seem to be the goal.

Anyone who complains about this not being an M3 is missing the point almost as much as someone saying it is. With a close-ratio 6-speed manual with a short-throw shifter and a "sport-tuned suspension" this may finally unshackle what is a competent but restrained luxury coupe. The G37S coupe is a fine car, but it's lacked an aggressive character you can find in its competitors.

Performance specs to come, but the real challenge will be if it feels right.


Original Jalopnik Article

Monday, August 9, 2010

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Leo at Lime Rock ALMS

Leo Parente of fastlanedaily visits BMW at the ALMS Lime Rock race.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Tom Cruise: The Race Car Driver?

Jalopnik looks at Tom's brief attempt at becoming a race car driver. His amazingly fast time at the Top Gear track seems to make a lot of sense now.

Tom Cruise's crazed two-wheels-off-the-ground record-setting lap around British motoring show Top Gear's track wasn't a surprise to those who've seen him race. One of Cruise's driving instructors gave us an exclusive look into his terrifying, short-lived, and accident-prone racing career.

There once was a handsome, well-loved actor who turned the driving lessons he picked up in preparation for a racing film into an impressive career in racing. That man was Paul Newman. In the late 80s Newman partnered with his old friend Datsun/Nissan guru Bob Sharp to campaign race-prepped Nissan 300ZXs in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) competitions.

One of their drivers in the SCCA GT-3 class was a young pre-Days of Thunder Tom Cruise, who was apparently interested in turning his acting fame into racing accolades a la Newman. Unfortunately, according to Roger French, an SCCA regional champion, any natural talent Cruise might possess was overwhelmed by his aggressive attitude.

French was at the old Bryar Motorsports Park, now the site of the New Hampshire International Speedway, when Bob Sharp approached him and asked if he'd seen Cruise race and to ask him what he thought.

"Doesn't look too good," French said.


FULL ARTICLE

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

The Smoking Tire: 458 Italia

Matt Farah drives the new Ferrari 458.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Top Gear: Season 15, Episode 6


The Last episode of the season unfortunately.
- Jeremy drives the 458 Italia
- Old British Sports Car Challenge
- Star: Jeff Goldblum

torrent here in 720p

or go to finalgear.com

Top Gear will be back sometime in the fall. Still awaiting more info on US Top Gear.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

2010 Hungarian Grand Prix


Analysis
WINNERS
Webber - beats Vettel, gets 4th win this season
Alonso - gets 2nd
Petrov - wants to keep his job, showed at this race
Hulkenburg - outpaces Barrichello
De La Rosa - first points
Kobayashi - comes for 23rd to 9th
Barrichello - fight at the end with Schumacher meant a lot

LOSERS
McLaren - Button doesnt do anything, Hamilton has engine problems
Vettel - Drops to 3rd and get drive thru penalty
Force India - Force India who?
Kubica - unlucky
Shumacher - gets 10 spot Spa penalty for dangerous maneuvers on Barrichello
Rosberg - promising but unfortunate as wheel flies off
Massa - had every oppurtunity to show up Alonso but did not

full results