Monday, December 31, 2012
The Final Lap Weekly #233 – Top 10 NASCAR Cup Drivers of 2012 / Aric Almirola
SHOW #233 - Guest: Aric Almirola - We countdown the Top 10 Cup Series drivers as voted on by their points (ha ha) plus news of the week. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Toby Christie. Continue reading »
Hudson Stars in the Windy City
Week Seven of the NASCAR iRacing.com Class B Series took sim-racers to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois for the fourth event on mile and a half race tracks this season. 842 iRacers took the green flag last week at Chicago. Ryan Luza (Texas) once again set fast time for the week with a 30.230 second lap time. Points leader Brandon Jerrell (Atlantic) took the second fastest time over Brandon Buie (Atlantic), Joe Holt (Mid-South) and Bill Brown (Florida). In total, 241 drivers took a qualifying time. The weekly Strength of Field race went off once again on Friday night with 28 cars taking the green flag. Luza and Jerrell started on the front row, with Luza leading 68 laps in the 100 lap affair before Tyler D Hudson (Mid-South) made [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/nascar-news/hudson-stars-in-the-windy-city
McLaren reveals 2013 car launch date
McLaren is to unveil its 2013 car on January 31, the team announced on Thursday. The Mercedes-powered MP4-28, which will be driven by Jenson Button and Sergio Perez, will be launched at a currently unspecified location in the United Kingdom. The Woking-based outfit finished third in the constructors' championship last year, despite winning seven races through the efforts of Button and Lewis Hamilton
Name That Shifter, No. 109
It’s Monday, and that means it’s time to present this week’s shifter. You’ll have until mid-day Wednesday to identify the make and model of the vehicle whence this shifter came. The first person to respond correctly in the Backfires section below will win a Save the Manuals button and sticker.* Good luck! (* Offer open [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/pR3DKReJLxM/
2013 Audi S5 3.0T Coupe Instrumented Test: Two Fewer Cylinders, One More Supercharger, No Regrets
When Audi’s S5 coupe debuted for 2008 as the first model built on the company’s B8 architecture, we demonstrated little restraint in praising its sexy sheetmetal and the 4.2-liter V-8 nestled between its front fenders. Styled by Italian-born design chief Walter de’Silva, the S5 and its slightly less potent A5 stablemate ushered in a new [...]
Today’s Headlines
Appeals Panel Kicks PPW Case Back to Trial Court to Resolve One of Four NBBL Assertions (News, Post)
Park Slope Neighbors: The Case Against the Safer PPW We All Enjoy Today Is a Loser (Bklyn Spoke)
The Fare Hike Is Official — Prepare for a $2.50 Base Fare in March (Crain’s)
Young Girl on Brownsville Sidewalk Pinned by [...]
Park Slope Neighbors: The Case Against the Safer PPW We All Enjoy Today Is a Loser (Bklyn Spoke)
The Fare Hike Is Official — Prepare for a $2.50 Base Fare in March (Crain’s)
Young Girl on Brownsville Sidewalk Pinned by [...]
Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/20/todays-headlines-1541/
Mitsubishi Mirage Confirmed for U.S. in Fall 2013—With 1.2-Liter Three-Cylinder!
You should like three-cylinder engines. They’re cool. They’re different. They make thrummy little sounds. And come September, Mitsubishi will become the third automaker currently offering one in the U.S. After picking up some forms from the California Air Resources Board, we spoke to a Mitsubishi staffer, who confirmed that a 1.2-liter three will power the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/T9mtiSKcVi4/
2013 Audi S5 3.0T Coupe Instrumented Test: Two Fewer Cylinders, One More Supercharger, No Regrets
When Audi’s S5 coupe debuted for 2008 as the first model built on the company’s B8 architecture, we demonstrated little restraint in praising its sexy sheetmetal and the 4.2-liter V-8 nestled between its front fenders. Styled by Italian-born design chief Walter de’Silva, the S5 and its slightly less potent A5 stablemate ushered in a new [...]
Red Horse Racing Signs John Wes Townley
John Wes Townley (Zaxby's) - Photo Credit: Andy Lyons / Getty ImagesZaxby’s Serving Primary Sponsorship on No. 7 Toyota Tundra MOORESVILLE, NC (DECEMBER 18, 2012) - After closing out the organization’s most successful season to date, Red Horse Racing has signed John Wes Townley to join the team in 2013. Townley is slated to drive...more»
The post Red Horse Racing Signs John Wes Townley appeared first on Catchfence.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/catchfence/~3/Aiz0hIVP1ro/
Michael Schumacher: 2012 in quotes
The 2012 Formula 1 campaign was the best of Michael Schumacher's three comeback seasons in terms of his performance level, but was dogged by bad luck and unreliability. Among the highlights of the campaign were a 'pole position' in Monaco, a podium in Valencia and the tributes paid as he announced his second retirement. But during the year he also made the headlines for different reasons, including some high-profile mistakes
Capirossi: ’12 tyres made MotoGP safer
Loris Capirossi believes the tyre changes he recommended and Bridgestone implemented over 2012 have helped make MotoGP safer.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Symonds’ return a boost for Marussia
Timo Glock expects Pat Symonds' clearance to return to the Formula 1 paddock in 2013 to be a major boost to Marussia. Symonds was banned from F1 in the wake of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix scandal, in which he was one of those held responsible for Nelson Piquet being asked to deliberately crash his Renault to trigger a safety car that would help team-mate Fernando Alonso win . Although not permitted to attend grands prix in that period, Symonds was given clearance to work as a consultant to F1 teams - a role he has performed for Marussia.
Grosjean: Lotus will be stronger in 2013
Romain Grosjean sees no reason why his Lotus team cannot enjoy a much stronger season next year after a promising showing during 2012. Lotus managed to raise its game this year in comparison with 2011, when it scored 73 points on its way to a distant fifth place in the standings. In 2012, however, the team managed 303 points, including one victory and 10 podium finishes
The NBBL Files: Bike Lane Opponents Knew Their Lawsuit Lacked Merit
Editor’s note: With yesterday’s appellate ruling prolonging the Prospect Park West case, Streetsblog is running a refresher on the how the well-connected gang of bike lane opponents waged their assault against a popular and effective street safety project. This is the second installment from the six-part NBBL Files. It’s the one that revealed the bike lane [...]
Force India aims for fifth for 2013
Force India will not be satisfied if it starts the season with anything less than the fifth quickest car in the field in 2013.
MOUNTAIN VIEW RACING TEAM REPORT NHRA Nationals
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Another final round for Nobile in Las Vegas LAS VEGAS (October 29) - still one week shy of his 21st birthday, Mountain View Racing Pro Stock driver Vincent Nobile has never...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2012/10/mountain_view_racing_team.php
Brooklyn CB 1 Committee OKs West Street Greenway, Borinquen Place Plans
Last night, Brooklyn Community Board 1′s transportation committee voted 3-0 in favor of a preliminary design for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway’s first capital project on West Street in Greenpoint, and, in a separate 3-0 vote, endorsed pedestrian safety improvements for Borinquen Place in Williamsburg. These projects will bring major improvements for biking and walking on these two [...]
Saturday, December 29, 2012
2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix preview
Yas Marina Circuit facts & stats The ultra-modern Yas Marina circuit hosts round 18 of the 2012 world championship. The track is located on a man-made island on the eastern side of Abu Dhabi and it's one of five anti-clockwise...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2012/10/2012_abu_dhabi_grand_prix.php
Masters clash for European F3
The FIA has produced a revised calendar for the 2013 European Formula 3 championship that leaves its Norisring round clashing with the one-off F3 Masters event at Zandvoort. Recent changes to the Formula 1 schedule led to the German Grand Prix running on the same date as the DTM's high-profile Norisring street race on July 7
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/masters-clash-for-european-f3
INDYCAR: Top 10 Stories Of 2012
Marshall Pruett tears through a packed season of IndyCar stories and themes to pick his Top 10 and assembles an amusing list of honorable mentions.
Source: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-top-10-stories-of-2012/
2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix preview
Yas Marina Circuit facts & stats The ultra-modern Yas Marina circuit hosts round 18 of the 2012 world championship. The track is located on a man-made island on the eastern side of Abu Dhabi and it's one of five anti-clockwise...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2012/10/2012_abu_dhabi_grand_prix.php
Grosjean attitude key to Lotus deal
Romain Grosjean's acceptance that he needed to change his ways in Formula 1 was a key factor in helping him convince his Lotus chiefs to keep him for next year, AUTOSPORT has learned. Team principal Eric Boullier has revealed that Grosjean's on-track incidents had weighed heavy in the team's decision about his future - but that the French driver's willingness to learn and improve helped convince it that he was worth sticking with.
Today’s Headlines
Appeals Panel Kicks PPW Case Back to Trial Court to Resolve One of Four NBBL Assertions (News, Post)
Park Slope Neighbors: The Case Against the Safer PPW We All Enjoy Today Is a Loser (Bklyn Spoke)
The Fare Hike Is Official — Prepare for a $2.50 Base Fare in March (Crain’s)
Young Girl on Brownsville Sidewalk Pinned by [...]
Park Slope Neighbors: The Case Against the Safer PPW We All Enjoy Today Is a Loser (Bklyn Spoke)
The Fare Hike Is Official — Prepare for a $2.50 Base Fare in March (Crain’s)
Young Girl on Brownsville Sidewalk Pinned by [...]
Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/20/todays-headlines-1541/
Now Available on iRacing: McLaren MP4-12C GT3
The world’s most advanced GT race car is now available on iRacing. That’s right. The McLaren MP4 12C GT3, with its 3.8 liter V8 twin turbo, carbon MonoCell chassis and its state-of-the-art aero package, will soon be competing on iRacing. Why spend £310,000 for a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 when you can park one in your (virtual) garage and race it on the great tracks of iRacing for just $11.95. If you’re already an iRacing member, click here to order a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 of your very own . . . in your choice of color(s)! If you’re not an iRacer, what are you waiting for? Click here to take advantage of iRacing’s 1/2-off membership offer and start testing your McLaren today!
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/now-available-on-iracing-mclaren-mp4-12c-gt3
Barrichello leaves IndyCar for V8
Rubens Barrichello has announced that he will leave IndyCar to race in Brazil's Stock Car V8 series in 2013. The most experienced driver in Formula 1 history had been expected to make the switch after contesting several late-season rounds of his national tin-top championship
Friday, December 28, 2012
The Dale Jr. Foundation Continues Fundraising Success in 2012
The Dale Jr FoundationMOORESVILLE, N.C. (Dec. 20, 2012) – The Dale Jr. Foundation (TDJF) announced today the successful conclusion to its year-long fundraising efforts, which raised more than $280,000 to benefit non-profit organizations and charities on a national scale. TDJF utilized a trio of major initiatives to raise the funds, including the “Driven to Give” event, the...more»
The post The Dale Jr. Foundation Continues Fundraising Success in 2012 appeared first on Catchfence.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/catchfence/~3/qw4RFq8Hprc/
NASCAR Royal Purple 300 Schedule for March 24, 2012 (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
The NASCAR Royal Purple 300 race is scheduled for Mar. 24, 2012, at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Qualifications will be at 1:30 p.m. EST with the actual race planned for 5 p.m. EST on Mar. 24. In 2011, Kyle Busch won the Royal Purple 300 while Carl Edwards was the pole...
Bouffier gets Citroen for Monte
2011 Monte Carlo Rally winner Bryan Bouffier will make his first World Rally Championship start in a top-class car in next month's Monaco event. Bouffier won the Monte when it was part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge two years ago. The rally moved back to the WRC this season
Firestone Racing Continuing as IZOD IndyCar Series Tire Supplier through 2018
Firestone RacingNASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 21, 2012) – Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (Bridgestone Americas) and INDYCAR announced today that Bridgestone Americas’ Firestone brand will remain the sole tire supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series through the 2018 race season. “Firestone performance and safety have been synonymous with IndyCar racing for more than 100 years,” said...more»
The post Firestone Racing Continuing as IZOD IndyCar Series Tire Supplier through 2018 appeared first on Catchfence.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/catchfence/~3/WLMVT3CI_4w/
Toyota Previews Furia Concept in Fiery Video [2013 Detroit Auto Show]
Toyota has announced that it is bringing a sedan concept called the Furia to the 2013 Detroit auto show. The company also released a brief teaser video of the car that’s much spicier than anything we’ve come to expect from Toyota. (It is filled with shooting balls of flame and glowing embers floating in the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/Lu4BTrLl0Bk/
Video: 2014 Porsche Cayman promo video hits the web
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Porsche, Luxury
Don't know how we missed this, but you don't have to play around with the 2014 Porsche Cayman configurator to see the new coupe in action; Porsche has given us more than two beautiful minutes of Cayman footage to enjoy.
The partners in the on-screen tango are the 275-horsepower base Cayman and the 325-hp Cayman S. If you like to keep track of such things, the former starts at $52,600, the latter at $63,800, plus $950 destination for each. Watching a video like the one below, however, is free.
Continue reading 2014 Porsche Cayman promo video hits the web
2014 Porsche Cayman promo video hits the web originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/28/2014-porsche-cayman-promo-video-hits-the-web/
Mark Martin’s Plans for His Twitter Hacker: NASCAR Fan View (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
Mark Martin has revealed his plans to get revenge on the person who hacked his Twitter account and changed the name to Epic Swag. Although Mark Martin has been able to recover his account, he plans to use Epic Swag as his name on the No.
Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 164: 2013 Mazdaspeed 3
On Tuesday, we posted an audio recording of a mystery car’s exhaust note. To hear it again, click play below. No one correctly identified this week’s sound; one commenter came close, guessing that the exhaust note belonged to a base Mazda 3 with an automatic transmission. In fact, this week’s exhaust note is from that [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/Eat-ru2Zw9U/
Jim Brennan Reintroduces $4.5 Billion Bond Measure for Transit and Roads
When New Yorkers go to the polls less than a year from now, they’ll definitely be voting for a new mayor, and they might also be voting for billions in state-backed transportation funding, if a measure put forward by Assembly Member James Brennan clears Albany.
The second time around: Assembly Member James Brennan wants to put [...]
The second time around: Assembly Member James Brennan wants to put [...]
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Review: 2012 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab 4x4
Filed under: Truck, Nissan, New Car Reviews
The Right-Sized Truck Shows Its Age
Sometime during the mid '90s, the Big Three stepped up the fullsize truck arms race in a serious way. While Chrysler, Ford and General Motors had always fought tooth and nail for every last possible customer, suddenly trucks began evolving into more than just utilitarian work horses. While the old payload and towing one-upmanship continued in earnest, pickup design began swelling with broad grilles, massive wheels and flanks to match. Option sheets suddenly glittered with choices previously confined to luxury vehicles, and MSRPs began covering wide territory as base models got cheaper and upper trims explored new fiscal heights.
With all of Detroit's resources going to the fullsize game, domestic midsize entries like the Ford Ranger, Dodge Dakota, GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado were left to rot on the vine. After all, why would buyers want to pony up equivalent cash for a less capable truck? Because, as the 2012 Nissan Frontier quietly reminds us, getting a job done is never about having the biggest tool. It's about having the one that's right for the task at hand.
Continue reading 2012 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab 4x4
2012 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab 4x4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/2012-nissan-frontier-crew-cab-4x4-review/
Webb returns to FR3.5 with Fortec
Oliver Webb will return to Formula Renault 3.5 in 2013 with Fortec, the team that took Robin Frijns to this year's crown. Webb raced in the series with Pons last season, before moving to America to contest Indy Lights with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. The 21-year-old Briton spent three years with Fortec in Formula Renault UK and British Formula 3 from 2008 to '10
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/webb-returns-to-fr3-5-with-fortec
McLaren Reveals More Details on Production P1 Supercar at Private Event
McLaren recently held a private event in New York to show off its new P1 supercar, and the company snuck in a few new details about its F1 successor. The event was first covered by Carscoop, based on video of the New York event from YouTube user Speedracer38. Besides noting that the car at the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/53isO6lXIsM/
Pesek secures Ioda MotoGP CRT ride
Lukas Pesek will make his MotoGP debut on Ioda's second Suter-BMW CRT entry in 2013. The 27-year-old Czech rider was a 125cc frontrunner in the mid-2000s, with fourth in the '07 championship his career highlight. He last raced at world championship level in Moto2 in 2010, and has since been limited to partial programmes in Spanish and German domestic series and a brief World Supersport appearance
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/motorcycles/motogp/pesek-secures-ioda-motogp-crt-ride
Decorps Takes Road America Thriller
In a scintillating sixth round of the iRacing.com Road Pro Series, David Decorps edged-out the competition to claim his first win of the season at Road America in the Williams-Toyota FW31. The 47 lap online race around the 4.04 mile circuit proved to be a chess match of strategies, with the 28 car field employing varying fuel tactics. After posting a pole-winning time of 1:34.174, Mogar DG Filho led the field to the first corner. Although the Brazilian maintained his position at the front, fellow front-row starter Richie Stanaway dropped positions like a stone. Winner of the two most recent iRPS events, Stanaway struggled to get away from the line and dropped to seventh by the time he’d completed the first few turns of the race. It was now up [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/decorps-takes-road-america-thriller
Fernando Alonso: 2012 in quotes
Many have hailed Fernando Alonso as the driver of the 2012 Formula 1 season, taking a car that was demonstrably not the fastest to within a few points of the world championship. His three victories in the Malaysian, European and German Grands Prix helped him to a 40-point lead at one point, but he wasn't quite able to hold off the charging Sebastian Vettel late on
No full-time V8 seat for Murphy
Four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Greg Murphy will not compete in V8 Supercars full-time in 2013.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/no-full-time-v8-seat-for-murphy
Alonso flawless in 2012 – Webber
Mark Webber believes Fernando Alonso produced a flawless season in 2012 as he tried to fend off the Australian's Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel for the Formula 1 world championship.
M-Sport to help develop Bentley GT3
Bentley has entered into a technical partnership with M-Sport to develop its new Continental GT3 racer. Ford's long-term partner in the World Rally Championship has been signed up as Bentley gears up to enter the GT3 arena at the end of the 2013 season. M-Sport will "assist with the design of specialist components and offer focused technical expertise during the development of the programme", according to a statement from Bentley.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/m-sport-to-help-develop-bentley-gt3
Experience Conquers Monster Mile
The roller coaster named Dover International Speedway played host to Week Seven of the NASCAR iRacing.com Class A Series (NiCAS), and much like the blistering speeds, the point totals were staggering. Despite the track’s relatively short length of one mile, Dover more than makes up for it with banking. The twenty four degrees of banking is one of the most extreme numbers of any tracks, including tracks twice the size. As if the stadium like high banked track wasn’t odd enough, in 1995 the surface was changed from asphalt to concrete, further baffling drivers and teams. With all the oddities unique to Dover, common knowledge would lead people to believe that experience would prevail when the 750+ horsepower Chevrolet Impalas took to the concrete surface for 110 laps. That common [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/all-news/experience-conquers-monster-mile
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
VINTAGE: Ultra-Low Mileage 1967 GT500 Offered At Barrett-Jackson
The Shelby Mustang powered by a 428cid V8 is an all-original survivor driven less than 10,000 miles.
Source: http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/vintage-ultra-low-mileage-gt500-offered-at-barrett-jackson/
Pic: No pressure to score in 2013
Charles Pic does not believe his Caterham team is under pressure to score its first point in the 2013 season as long as it improves over last season's performance. The team has finished 10th in the constructors' championship in the three years it has been in Formula 1, beating fellow new teams Marussia and HRT since the 2010 season.
Brooklyn CB 1 Committee OKs West Street Greenway, Borinquen Place Plans
Last night, Brooklyn Community Board 1′s transportation committee voted 3-0 in favor of a preliminary design for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway’s first capital project on West Street in Greenpoint, and, in a separate 3-0 vote, endorsed pedestrian safety improvements for Borinquen Place in Williamsburg. These projects will bring major improvements for biking and walking on these two [...]
Rossi, Lorenzo ‘will not stay friends’
Motorcycle racing legend Giacomo Agostini believes it is inevitable that Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi will renew hostilities over the course of the 2013 MotoGP season. The 15-time world champion paralleled the pair's relationship as team-mates to his own experiences with the likes of Mike Hailwood and Phil Read, saying it would be 'impossible' for them to remain amicable for the entire season. Ex-Yamaha boss Masao Furusawa recently warned the pair's renewed relationship could be unmanageable , although Lorenzo insisted that there would be no repeat of the wall which divided the Yamaha garage in 2010
The Physics Of: Oversteer (Sometimes, Too Much Slip Angle Is Just Enough)
Technically speaking, oversteer means that a car’s rear tires are operating at a greater slip angle than the front tires, i.e., they’re working harder. In real-world terms, it means the tail of the car is sliding sideways. Holding the car in this dynamic state results in a glorious drift. Failing to hold it usually ends with [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/9y2MaEbfQLs/the-physics-of-oversteer-feature
The Dale Jr. Foundation Continues Fundraising Success in 2012
The Dale Jr FoundationMOORESVILLE, N.C. (Dec. 20, 2012) – The Dale Jr. Foundation (TDJF) announced today the successful conclusion to its year-long fundraising efforts, which raised more than $280,000 to benefit non-profit organizations and charities on a national scale. TDJF utilized a trio of major initiatives to raise the funds, including the “Driven to Give” event, the...more»
The post The Dale Jr. Foundation Continues Fundraising Success in 2012 appeared first on Catchfence.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/catchfence/~3/qw4RFq8Hprc/
Sources Say Ford to Reveal 2015 F-150 Concept in Detroit [2013 Detroit Auto Show]
The full-size pickup market is about to be turned upside down. Competition in the next 12 to 24 months will be fierce. Nissan and Toyota each have redesigned pickups on the horizon. Chevrolet and GMC recently unveiled the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and the GMC Sierra 1500, respectively, and GM’s new mid-sized pickups—the Colorado and the Canyon—will take aim [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/k4Kshzr5NvU/
Loeb tests McLaren GT3 at Navarra
Nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb shook down the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 that he will race next year at the Navarra circuit on Tuesday. The Frenchman, who will only take part in four WRC events in 2013 , will race the McLaren in the GT Sprint Series, the championship replacing the GT1 World Championship. Loeb had already driven the car - run by Von Ryan Racing - at this year's French GT Tour final at the Paul Ricard circuit (pictured).
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/loeb-tests-mclaren-gt3-at-navarra
Priaulx certain of stronger 2013
Andy Priaulx is certain that the lessons learnt in his maiden DTM campaign this year can make him a much stronger competitor next year. Priaulx scored points in four of the 10 races in 2012 on his way to 13th in the championship
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/miscellaneous/dtm/priaulx-certain-of-stronger-2013
SEB, WEB AND SEB RED BULL RACING'S 2012 DRIVER LINE-UP
Red Bull Racing Thursday 5 January 2012 Red Bull Racing is pleased to confirm that Sébastien Buemi will continue his relationship with Red Bull as Red Bull Racing's test and reserve driver for 2012. The 23-year-old joins Sebastian Vettel and...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2012/01/seb_web_and_seb_red_bull.php
Fiat Confirms 500X Crossover and New Jeep Model to be Produced in Italy
Production on the long-rumored Fiat 500X crossover and an unnamed new Jeep model will begin in 2014 at Fiat’s Melfi, Italy, plant, it was announced this week. Both models will make use of the Fiat Group’s Small Wide platform—first introduced to the world underneath the 500L—which will require a €1-billion retooling of the Italian production [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/QhwdPbj5tOQ/
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Ogier downplays 2013 favourite tag
Sebastien Ogier has downplayed suggestions that he will start the 2013 WRC season as one of the favourites for the title. Ogier will lead Volkswagen's assault on the WRC in the German car maker's first full season with the Polo R WRC
SEB, WEB AND SEB RED BULL RACING'S 2012 DRIVER LINE-UP
Red Bull Racing Thursday 5 January 2012 Red Bull Racing is pleased to confirm that Sébastien Buemi will continue his relationship with Red Bull as Red Bull Racing's test and reserve driver for 2012. The 23-year-old joins Sebastian Vettel and...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2012/01/seb_web_and_seb_red_bull.php
Caterham ‘must not settle for 10th’
Caterham boss Cyril Abiteboul says the team can no longer be satisfied with being the best of the newer Formula 1 squads in the 2013 season. Caterham has finished in 10th position in its three years of existence since joining the grid for the start of the 2010 season, but this season failed to achieve its target of fighting in the midfield.
Greg Biffle Plays Limo Chauffeur at Roush Fenway Racing’s Company Party
Biffle and Roush Fenway Spread Holiday Cheer CONCORD, N.C. (Dec. 13, 2012) – Tis the season to spread some holiday cheer and no one is better apt to accomplish that than Roush Fenway driver Greg Biffle. Biffle recently offered his services as a chauffeur to drive a lucky Roush Fenway employee to-and-from the company Holiday … Continue reading »
Grosjean knows he must raise his game
Romain Grosjean has accepted that he has to shoulder the full responsibility for making sure he does a better job in wheel-to-wheel combat next year. After Lotus proved its faith in the Frenchman by handing him a fresh contract for 2013 , Grosjean says that a big focus for his winter preparations is on overcoming the kind of troubles that marred his 2012 campaign .
Firestone Racing Continuing as IZOD IndyCar Series Tire Supplier through 2018
Firestone RacingNASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 21, 2012) – Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (Bridgestone Americas) and INDYCAR announced today that Bridgestone Americas’ Firestone brand will remain the sole tire supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series through the 2018 race season. “Firestone performance and safety have been synonymous with IndyCar racing for more than 100 years,” said...more»
The post Firestone Racing Continuing as IZOD IndyCar Series Tire Supplier through 2018 appeared first on Catchfence.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/catchfence/~3/WLMVT3CI_4w/
F1 needs ‘more modern’ management
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has suggested that the time has come for new younger management to take over the running of Formula 1.
John Phillips: Discussing Lincoln with Ford Marketing Chief Jim Farley
As you read this, Lincoln should be launching its Max Wolff–designed 2013 MKZ, accompanied by much chanting of the marketing slogans “Reimagined” and “Now it gets interesting.” Yeah, well, unless it isn’t and doesn’t. Which is what will happen if, in this context, “interesting” is merely what ensues when your spouse dons mauve flamenco tights [...]
Monday, December 24, 2012
Aaron Robinson: The Exquisite, Expensive Hobby of Writing Car Books
The line for the omelet bar at any auto-media breakfast almost always includes a few published authors. Many of my colleagues in the press have tried their hand at writing books about cars, car companies, car culture, or car people. As we butter our crumpets, they often encourage me to do the same, but with [...]
Pesek secures Ioda MotoGP CRT ride
Lukas Pesek will make his MotoGP debut on Ioda's second Suter-BMW CRT entry in 2013. The 27-year-old Czech rider was a 125cc frontrunner in the mid-2000s, with fourth in the '07 championship his career highlight. He last raced at world championship level in Moto2 in 2010, and has since been limited to partial programmes in Spanish and German domestic series and a brief World Supersport appearance
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/motorcycles/motogp/pesek-secures-ioda-motogp-crt-ride
Sims joins Hexis for Blancpain
Former McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winner Alexander Sims will team up fellow factory McLaren driver Alvaro Parente for an assault on next year's Blancpain Endurance Series. Sims and Parente will partner 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship runner-up Stef Dusseldorp aboard a Hexis Racing McLaren MP4-12C
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/sims-joins-hexis-for-blancpain
SPEED Kicks Off 2013 Sprint Cup Series Season with 21 Hours of Live Testing from Daytona
Fans watch testing from the Sprint Fan Zone during Daytona Preseason Thunder at Daytona International Speedway on Jan. 12, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Fla. - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCARSPEED AND SPEED.COM OFFER LIVE, MULTI-PLATFORM COVERAGE OF ENTIRE THREE-DAY PRESEASON THUNDER TEST SESSION In just three short weeks, SPEED and SPEED.com will be live from...more»
The post SPEED Kicks Off 2013 Sprint Cup Series Season with 21 Hours of Live Testing from Daytona appeared first on Catchfence.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/catchfence/~3/4KaQepOMe6U/
Grosjean knows he must raise his game
Romain Grosjean has accepted that he has to shoulder the full responsibility for making sure he does a better job in wheel-to-wheel combat next year. After Lotus proved its faith in the Frenchman by handing him a fresh contract for 2013 , Grosjean says that a big focus for his winter preparations is on overcoming the kind of troubles that marred his 2012 campaign .
Button expected McLaren vs Lotus fight
Jenson Button admits he expected a McLaren versus Lotus title fight early in the 2012 Formula 1 season. The Briton says he was convinced his team was set to win the championship after its strong start, and saw Lotus as a stronger threat than Red Bull. McLaren ultimately finished third in the constructors' standings, between Ferrari and Lotus, as Red Bull swept to the title.
Chilton seals 2013 Marussia F1 drive
Max Chilton will make his Formula 1 debut next year after securing the second race seat at Marussia.
2013 Chrysler 300 Motown Edition: Detroit Music Heritage Looks Good [2013 Detroit Auto Show]
Chrysler’s ad campaigns of late have focused closely on the connection its cars have to the city of Detroit, and now the company is introducing a special-edition 300 that comes with its hometown’s vibes baked right in. Literally. The 2013 Chrysler 300 Motown edition’s style bumps to the tune of the music it is named [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/NJ5wB-622kY/
Online Find Of The Day: 1992 Italdesign Aztec Barchetta is street-legal awesomeness
Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Europe, Audi, Specialty, Design/Style, Lancia
Where do concepts go when their auto show circuit life is over? For many, it's off to the scrap heap, while others manage to find their way into various automotive museums and private collections. Yet it is a select few that enjoy the honor of actually being driven on open roads. What you see here is the latter.
In 1988, design house Italdesign brought its wildly futuristic Aztec Barchetta concept to the Turin Motor Show. Visually, there were a lot of things going on here with the design, including spacecraft-styled rear quarter panels, see-through doors and a bold dual cockpit design. The body was constructed out of aluminum, Kevlar and carbon fiber. Additionally, the coupe features an intercom so the driver and passenger can hold conversations at speed.
While the styling is fit for an auto show floor, the mechanicals are borrowed from some of Europe's rallying greats, including the 250-horsepower five-cylinder of the Audi Quattro and a transmission borrowed from the Lancia Integrale's parts bin.
Yet you'll deduce from the 1992 model year on our headline that this isn't the same car that premiered in Turin in 1988. That's right, this is a street-legal production car. As the story goes, Myakawa, a Japanese industrial corporation, bought the rights to the concept and had German-based Audi tuner, Motoren-Tecknik-Mayer (better known as MTM) produce the Aztec Barchetta in very limited numbers. The first one built performed exhibition laps at the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix, and the originals sold for hundreds of thousands when new.
Very few were made (estimates vary wildly, from 15 to 50), with this model being assembled in EU spec. The seller, Specialized Vehicle Solutions, Ltd. of Manchester, England, is offering this silver example with just 75 miles on the odometer, though the listing doesn't disclose how much it's asking to digital tire-kickers.
Online Find Of The Day: 1992 Italdesign Aztec Barchetta is street-legal awesomeness originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/online-find-of-the-day-1992-italdesign-aztec-barchetta-is-stree/
They Spin and Hightower Wins
Week Seven of the NASCAR iRacing.com Class C Series (fixed setup) made a trip to the Iowa Speedway for some online racing at one of NASCAR’s finest racing venues. Almost 1,550 sim racers attempted at least one race during the seven days of racing, but as with most competitive events, there can only be one number one. This week’s high Strength of Field event was one for the ages. It involved beating, banging, crashing, and an unlikely winner. What more can you ask for in a race? As the classic racing phrase states, “It doesn’t matter how many laps you lead if you don’t lead the last one.” That held a solid truth during this week’s 4035 Strength of Field as race winner Jordan Hightower (Mid-South) led only one lap [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/they-spin-and-hightower-wins
Name That Shifter, No. 107: 2012 Mazda 5 Sport
On Monday, we presented this week’s shifter and asked you to identify the make and model of the vehicle whence it came. We had figured this week’s shifter might be harder to place on account of its relative rarity; despite sharing its shift knob design with most every other six-speed Mazda, manual-equipped Mazda 5 mini-minivans [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/F8V5sAd6Vjg/
Sunday, December 23, 2012
GP3 to race in Abu Dhabi in 2013
GP3 will race in Abu Dhabi for the first time in 2013, with the Yas Marina circuit hosting the season finale. Series organisers revealed the calendar for next year on Wednesday, featuring seven Formula 1 support rounds and an unconfirmed standalone race on June 14-16
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/gp3-to-race-in-abu-dhabi-in-2013
Alonso flawless in 2012 – Webber
Mark Webber believes Fernando Alonso produced a flawless season in 2012 as he tried to fend off the Australian's Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel for the Formula 1 world championship.
Exclusive: Why the 38-mpg 2014 Mazda6 is on dealer lots, but you can't drive it
Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Mazda, Diesel
If you stop by your local Mazda dealer this month, with any luck, you'll see the much-anticipated 2014 Mazda6 parked in the showroom - there are already a few hundred of them out there. That's quite an accomplishment in light of the fact that it isn't even calendar year 2013. The move is part of a strategic decision by the Japanese automaker, which is hoping to capitalize on holiday showroom traffic. (The last five days of the year are typically among the busiest dealer days all year).
If you happen to spy the rakish sedan, you may notice something missing - a window sticker. That's because Mazda (like other automakers) can't legally display the Monroney on a 2014 model year vehicle until January 1, 2013. According to Autoblog sources, Mazda dealers are legally prohibited from letting you test drive until the start of 2013, so it's more of a sneak preview than anything else. Even so, we reckon shoppers will be impressed when they finally get a look at those window stickers - Mazda hasn't announced fuel economy figures yet, but Autoblog has learned that the 2014 model will carry a pair of impressive numbers: EPA estimates of 27 miles per gallon in the city and 38 mpg on the highway using regular gas.
Those figures mirror that of the CVT-equipped 2013 Nissan Altima, but with a bit more power - the document cites figures of 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque from the 2.5-liter Skyactiv four cylinder - figures that are down slightly from the 189 hp and 189 lb-ft overseas example we drove in October. Unlike the Nissan and many of its competitors, the engine can be paired with the buyer's choice of either a six-speed manual gearbox or automatic. Other key rivals, including the Honda Accord, Kia Optima and Toyota Camry fall short of the Mazda's economy numbers, though the Kia does offer a bit more power at 200 hp/186 lb-ft.Mazda dealers are legally prohibited from letting you test drive until the start of 2013, so it's more of a sneak preview than anything else.
The 2014 Mazda6 fuel economy figures come courtesy of a "Display Vehicle Playbook" dealer document obtained by Autoblog from an anonymous source. A word of advice - don't bother trying to cajole your local salesman into an early sale or test drive. Those same dealer materials spell out in no uncertain terms that "there are SIGNIFICANT financial penalties that may be incurred should the vehicle be operated or driven prior to final invoice." Final invoices will be issued by Mazda district managers just before the car goes on sale January 2.
Unlike its rivals, however, the Mazda6 will only launch with one engine - there is no uplevel V6 or turbocharged gas I4 in the cards. However, Mazda has already confirmed a 2.2-liter Skyactiv turbodiesel powerplant, which is mentioned in the document as having "late 2013 availability." No fuel economy or power estimates are provided.
Company officials have confirmed to Autoblog that its dealers still have a substantial inventory of 2013 Mazda6 models on lots - around 7,000 units, or about a 100-day supply. With the much more advanced new model already on many lots - set to carry similar pricing - selling through the outgoing model is likely to be a challenge met only with substantial incentives.
Why the 38-mpg 2014 Mazda6 is on dealer lots, but you can't drive it originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/why-the-38-mpg-2014-mazda6-is-on-dealer-lots-but-you-cant-driv/
The Physics Of: Oversteer (Sometimes, Too Much Slip Angle Is Just Enough)
Technically speaking, oversteer means that a car’s rear tires are operating at a greater slip angle than the front tires, i.e., they’re working harder. In real-world terms, it means the tail of the car is sliding sideways. Holding the car in this dynamic state results in a glorious drift. Failing to hold it usually ends with [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/9y2MaEbfQLs/the-physics-of-oversteer-feature
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