Sport Car Lux

2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am

2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am

2011 for a private test session at Florida's Daytona International Speedway, the 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am will be back in action on 26 and 27 July, after making its track debut at home in Fiorano, completing nearly 50 test laps. Based on Ferrari's European GT3 racecar and co-developed with Michelotto Automobili. MARANELLO, Italy — Ferrari will take the still-evolving Grand Am racing version of its 458 Italia to the Daytona International Speedway early next week, as the Italian automaker continues to develop the 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am ahead of its anticipated entry next year in the 2012 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am

“We are pleased with the performance of the 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am,” commented Antonello Coletta, Head of Ferrari Corse Clienti. “Especially when one considers the fact that, after its shakedown in Fiorano, this is its first real test. It has definitely passed the exam and over two days, we completed around 90 laps with any particular reliability problems. Hard to judge its speed, given that we were the only car on track and had no reference point for the times. However, at the moment, this is not a main concern as our primary interest is in evaluating the behavior of the 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am in the light of the various modifications made to it, to conform to the series regulations."

2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am

The Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale owned Ferrari F458 Italia was built specifically for Rolex Sports Car Series competition and completed 174 trouble-free laps at competitive speeds during a two-day session at Daytona International Speedway. "Today was a tremendous improvement over yesterday," said Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale team principal Ronnie Vogel. "We've got good feelings about the 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am, and the drivers were very comfortable out there. We had a great time, and now we're really looking forward to the 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona."

2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am

"We're planning to run two cars in the Rolex 24, and hoping to take delivery of the second car very soon," Vogel said. "We're also working on our driver lineups for the Rolex 24 and next season, and that's being ironed out now."

2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am

The 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am is built to match the American regulations and is therefore different to the European car, especially in that it develops 500 horsepower and has less efficient aerodynamics than the GT version. It is also fitted with a 48 mm restrictor and maximum revs are 8000. Significant modifications have been made to the braking system, as the car has neither ABS nor traction control.

2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am

The 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am is fitted with tyres from Continental, the sole supplier to the series, featuring a very hard compound, again to conform with the series regulations. On its shakedown today, it completed a good number of trouble-free laps, 45 to be precise in the hands of Maurizio Mediani and Jaime Melo, as they took turns at the wheel.

2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am

Daytona recalls many memories of past Ferrari victories in the famous 24 Hour race, the company having close links with this important event. In fact, Ferrari has taken part in 47 of these endurance races, winning five of them outright as well as taking 15 class wins.

2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am

2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am is a highly innovative cars and sporty, therefore, has a lot of people who can not wait to see the appearance of the Ferrari 458 Italian Grand Am anymore. With a design that has been designed with advanced concepts, will make the 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am became more interesting and cool.

Video: BMW Alpina B6 GT3 Flies Over Safety Barriers and Crashes Onto Concrete Wall

The spectators at last weekend’s ADAC GT Masters championship at the Nürburgring witnessed a horrific crash involving Alex Plenagl and his BMW Alpina B6 GT3 racecar when the driver lost control of the vehicle and strayed off the course at a high speed.
Plenagl’s Alpina flew over the safety barriers, passed through a BMW sign and crashed onto the concrete wall.

2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars

Rookie luxury automobile designer and manufacturer, McLaren GT, unveiled the 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars and plans to the high-performance sports car market and the supercar automobile arena for a 2011 development programme, a new race car manufacturer which brings together the expertise of McLaren Racing, McLaren Automotive and CRS Racing.

2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars

The new 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars will be the first McLaren car built for FIA GT series racing since the McLaren F1 GTR finished production in 1997. The 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars is based on the new MP4-12C high-performance sports car and a team of engineers, designers and test drivers with vast experience in Formula 1 and GT racing has been assembled to undertake the process of adapting the carbon chassis-based 12C to racing specification.

2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars

Emerging from a strategic tie-up with Mercedes-Benz that brought the limited production SLR McLaren sports cars between 2003-2009, McLaren GT has now developed its own flagship high-octane sports car scheduled to be launched in time for 2011 GT3 season—and rightfully so, given the long and illustrious race car pedigree quintessential to the McLaren brand. But the design, engineering and testing team at McLaren GT are not resting on their Laurels by keeping to their comprehensive development program so that the 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars meets the discerning standards of the most formidable race car connoisseur.

2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren Group Chief Executive Officer said: "McLaren has racing in its blood and it was a natural step to take our MP4-12C road car and turn it into the most reliable, efficient and easy to drive GT3 car. Every car on the grid will have its performance balanced by race rules, meaning our objective must be to select a technical specification that ensures any driver is able to access the 12C GT3's performance limit with ease. "We have worked with CRS Racing to ensure the 12C's design and development programme is as close as possible to one McLaren Racing would employ in developing a Formula 1 car. The team at CRS is well qualified to shape decisions in this area as they have an outstanding record in racing GT3 cars, and understand what is required to be successful in that level of competitive motorsport.

2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars

"In return, McLaren Racing is able to bring new levels of technology to GT3 racing. No other GT3 car in 2012 will be supplied with a road-car carbon chassis, or a steering wheel and other associated technology from a Formula 1 car. "The 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars will be supplied with the 12C's carbon MonoCell and the same steering wheel design employed by Lewis Hamilton in his MP4-24 Formula 1 car. Plus, we are working closely with Formula 1 suppliers past and present: Akebono, Mobil 1, McLaren Electronic Systems, Ricardo and Michelin for example. This blend of road car and Formula 1 technology and experience will be a great advantage to anyone racing a 12C GT3 in 2012."

2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars

The simple beauty of the McLaren MP4-12C supercar is romantically fitted for auto racing. Built around the same MonoCell chassis as the street version, the GT3 version of the 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars utilizes the lightweight but enduring construction produced through Resin Transfer Molding. Doors to the race-purpose, driver-oriented interior proceeds to rise in the same majestic style as the exotic production car. With only minor aerodynamic additions under the GT3 category rules, the race-fitted MP4-12C exterior has been modified with exclusive carbon fiber pieces. A front splitter underneath special front fender louvers, rear diffuser and door blade are all unique touches to the 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars.

2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars

Though the 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars is already a tempting high-performance creation for the street, the vehicle vital mechanicals require an entire refitting to meet the rigors of auto racing. To best suit the GT3 class rules, engine power from the MP4-12C GT3’s energetic 3.8 liter twin-turbocharged powerplant has been reduced by almost 100 horsepower. Producing roughly 592 horsepower, engineers of the detuned 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars are actually excited to see how the produced-based mechanics will perform in race competition.

2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars is a special 6-speed sequential transmission. Weighing 80 kilograms (just under 176.4 pounds) than the street version‘s 7-speed gearbox, the special sports car transmission is developed by the reputable hands of Ricardo. A diverse British-based engineering firm with history going back to 1927, Ricardo other contributions to motorsports includes co-development of the Xtrac used by Formula 1 teams. Completing the performance trim of the race car, Akebono-supplied brake calipers and Michelin tires are fitted to the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 supercar.

2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars

This performance-balanced light-weight race car is innovative in engineering design specs: 12 C GT3 (de-tuned to 500 PS providing maximum power) and a 3.8-liter twin turbochargers ‘M838T’ McLaren V8 engine (with a power output of up to 493 HP) defined by a TAG-400 self-contained compact engine system and data logger for race cars designed and produced by McLaren Electronic Systems. To date, initial demands for the first 20 McLaren GT3 units exceed earlier expectations. CRS Racing will build, sell and support the GT3 cars 12C in close collaboration with McLaren. Leicestershire-based racing team has a strong pedigree in GT racing in Le Mans Series, FIA GT Championship, the International GT Open and the British GT Championship. CRS also run two successful single-seater team: in Formula Renault UK Championship and as Atech CRS in Series GP3.

Costs of racing

I was reading the article in Mens Journal about Eric Bana, and his track time with his Porsche.

he states that it's $2400 for tires, 10 thou wear and tear, and 20-30 thou for the rweekend racing.

Now those are probably Australian Dollars, not Euro Dollars, or US dollars... but that is ex - pen - sive

online version http://www.mensjournal.com/eric-bana-at-155-mph

Eric Bana is recognizeable for the role in the new Star Trek movie as the bad guy, but you really will enjoy his documentary on his fix up of his Ford XB Falcon Coupe (same as Mad Max's car) "Love the Beast" http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/02/eric-bana-love-beast-actor-eric-bana.html which is available on instant download on Netflix http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Love_the_Beast/70117051?trkid=2692263#height2225

Corvettes at Le Mans, recently discovered and digitized color 8mm home movie from the late 1950s, and a Shell gas station at minute 1:55

Found on the Jalopy Journal http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=11755

The crash compilation video of the week, wow, some of these drivers didn't survive

Found on http://carrosehistorias.blogspot.com

1 of 3 1923 500cc Indian road race motorcycles built for the Isle of Mann races, original "as raced" condition

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car

BMW announces 2011 BMW Sport Cars 1-Series M Coupe Safety Car for the Moto GP event Panamera announced that 2011 Porsche Panamera Turbo Safety Car will be used as the safety car, but this time in the 2011 American Le Mans Series. The 2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car is obviously based on the most powerful version Turbo model powered by 4.8-liter V8 twin-turbo engine, which offers a total of 500 hp. 2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car expect a number of changes to the specifications that define the racing series to watch.

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car used safety car, which will be specifically used for the 2011 American Le Mans Series (ALMS). The car is based on the Porsche Cayenne Turbo has a base 4.8-liter twin-turbo V8 with 500 hp (368 kW) and 700 nm (516 lb-ft) between 2250 and 4500rpm. All that power is needed to keep pace on the track. 2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car from 0 to 60 km in 3.3 seconds and 100 mph in just 8.2 seconds. Quarter mile in 11.7 seconds back down to 192 km / h (119 mph). The top speed is 303 km / h (188 mph), which is very good for large four-door coupe.

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car

The 500-horsepower, twin-turbocharged, all-wheel drive Panamera Turbo provides Porsche performance and quality, as well as a level of comfort absent among true high-performance cars. All U.S. Panamera models feature a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch gearbox delivering a dynamic driving experience, ultrafast gearshifts without the slightest interruption of engine power, a very high level of comfort for four, and outstanding fuel efficiency when compared to a conventional automatic transmission.

The Panamera is the first premium car with an automatically shifting double-clutch transmission to feature an engine start/stop system. It saves fuel and reduces emissions by turning the engine off when it is not needed, such as sitting at a stop light. All engines have advanced and fuel-efficient Direct Fuel Injection (DFI), as well.

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car

"The Porsche Panamera gives us an official safety car unmatched in motorsports," Ed Triolo, ALMS VP of Marketing and Brand Development said. "This reinforces the commitment and partnership between the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and Porsche, one of the world’s greatest sports cars that has had extraordinary success in the ALMS and IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama. It is a perfect fit."

Then not only the Panamera is a safety car, second car would be used of the Porsche Cayenne. That will always be ready as the Emergency Response vehicle, and will always stand-by to deal with any difficulties that occurred in Le mans series racing this year. As was stated by the organizers of racing series, when choosing a car, they proceeded from the fact that the Porsche Panamera – is one of the best sports cars in the world. Also, two ALMS Porsche Cayenne Emergency Response Vehicles are on standby in case there are no problems on any of the games this season. No further details of the specific vehicles, but the company release more details soon.

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car

Honda Indy Toronto - roundup going into 2011

Paul Tracy's latest ups and downs has seen him leave his KV Racing Technology team (Tony Kanaan takes over) and hired by Dreyer and Reinbold Racing with a run in the Indy 500 and some believe that he may race in the Toronto and Edmonton Indys.

The downs for Paul (pictured at top: Paul on the right, with Helio Castroneves on the left) included the difficulty in finding the large bucks sponsorship needed for the price of admission into the very expensive race series. I want to see the bad boy running the track and also raising everyone's temperatures off the track (like Ontario/Tracy vs Quebec/Tagliani - I just hope he doesn't end up trashing his car.

Another driver I am looking forward to seeing out on the track is of course the famous and beautiful Danica Patrick shown above at the 2010 Toronto Street Party signing autographs. I think it is great that several ladies are part of the IndyCar Series and doing so well in it - here is Simona de Silvestro entering the pits at the 2010 Honda Indy Toronto.

The Honda Indy Toronto owners - Green Savoree Racing Promotions, have also purchased the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and School. This increases their holdings with along with the Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg. It's always good when the promoters are growing. They say “Properties like Mid-Ohio don’t come on the market every day,” said Green Savoree Co-Owner, President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Savoree. “It was a great opportunity to invest in a property with a great history and tradition that, like us, has deep roots in sports car and Indy car racing. It was also a chance to extend our relationship with Honda, which is a longtime partner of Mid-Ohio and our other properties.”

It will be interesting to see if the September 17 Indy Japan 300 ends up being run with the extreme damage and hardship the people of Japan have had to endure with the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant problems - especially since IndyCar intends to drop the Japanese race after the 2011 season. Japan was where Danica won the 2008 race.

IndyCar Lights driver James Hinchcliffe from Toronto (and Canadian Driver of the Year) has started the transition to IndyCar and hopefully the Canadian will run and place near the top of the series in his first season.

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Canadian Tour Car Championship racing will be back and those large NASCAR stock cars fill up the track pretty fast. And Ferrari Challenge anyone?

After a rocky period several years ago when the ownership of the Grand Prix and later the Indy seemed to burn and churn, the last several years has seen a steady improvement each year. Free Fridays is a fantastic way to get people in to see the excitement of the high performance race cars. It will soon be time to sit in the warm sun, watch the cars burn around the track and enjoy some cold barley pops.

Toronto Honda Indy start/finish line.

The MotoGP Cars Guards

MotoGP racing season will begin today at the Losail, Qatar. In addition to presenting the most prestigious motor race in the world, today the car guards MotoGP will show teeth.

To race this season, the BMW 1 Series M Coupe will serve as MotoGP Safety Car. Although no BMW motorcycles that participated in this prestigious motor racing stage, BMW's involvement in providing MotoGP Safety Car has entered the season to 13.

This car is shown in the official qualifying session that was held yesterday (19 / 3). Well, because this is the car motors tight guard, then the attribute yng pinned in this car was certainly different from the BMW 1 Series M Coupe on the market.

A more sporty body kit presented starting from the front bumper, side skirts to the rear bumper. Hood of the BMW 1 Series M Coupe is now using a new hood from carbon fiber material that has air vents. Rear spoiler has also been adjusted to provide the necessary downforce.

Not only look sporty, this car exhaust sound too mengelegar titanium muffler thanks to the application that will provide sound appealing to the audience.

For the legs, the BMW that was escorting the MotoGP since 1999, this gives a special suspensions for BMW 1 Series M Coupe is combined with the tire tread 19 inch striped, 255/35 front and 285/30 at the rear with six-piston fixed brake -calliper.

There were eight vehicles that BMW is prepared to support the world championships in the current race season. In addition to the BMW 1 Series M Coupe is BMW X6 BMW M and M3 are prepared as MotoGP Safety Car reserves.

New video of Burt, set to Billy Idol's song "Speed"

Warning, this isn't a censored video. Early race cars didn't have roll bars, safety fuel cells, or safety gear... guys raced, and sometimes died.

this video is a compilation of crashes, and unlike todays videos of incredibly designed race cars, the roadsters and early racecars in this video didn't have many features that could save the lives of the drivers. No padded dashes, no airbags, no steering wheels that will bend and are concave so you don't get the column through your sternum, no roll cages or tops of any kind to keep the driver in during rollovers, no seat belts, and nothing like a crumple zone.

I'm posting this video because it's just as important to show the deadly reality of the origins of racing as it is the glamour of the modern victories... you may comprehend present design better if you know the primitive designs of the past, and that guys died before changes were made to make racing safer. Earnhardt was the last driver to die in NASCAR. They made improvements in several ways so another driver will live through the circumstances that killed him.

Hoep you aren't bummed out about watching this video, but it's rare to see real racing video from before WW2

Killed Myself When I Was Young from http://ralfbecker.com/

Miramar Speed Circuit, cart racing 5 minutes of exhilaration for 25 bucks, and worth it. Trouble is, you'll want to do it again.

The above shows a guy spun around, and the guy standig is trying to get everyone sorted out without any one crashing into each other

http://www.miramarspeedcircuit.com/ for all the info, but important to know is that it's one block North of Miramar Rd, closer to interstate 15 than the 805, East of the pyramid and West of Camino Ruiz. Take Cabot from Miramar Rd or Miralani from Camino Ruiz

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2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am

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Video: Guess What Scared a 1,200 HP Bugatti Veyron Super Sport at Goodwood…

Video: BMW Alpina B6 GT3 Flies Over Safety Barriers and Crashes Onto Concrete Wall

2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars

Costs of racing

Corvettes at Le Mans, recently discovered and digitized color 8mm home movie from the late 1950s, and a Shell gas station at minute 1:55

The crash compilation video of the week, wow, some of these drivers didn't survive

1 of 3 1923 500cc Indian road race motorcycles built for the Isle of Mann races, original "as raced" condition

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Panamera Turbo Safety Car

Honda Indy Toronto - roundup going into 2011

The MotoGP Cars Guards

New video of Burt, set to Billy Idol's song "Speed"

Warning, this isn't a censored video. Early race cars didn't have roll bars, safety fuel cells, or safety gear... guys raced, and sometimes died.

Miramar Speed Circuit, cart racing 5 minutes of exhilaration for 25 bucks, and worth it. Trouble is, you'll want to do it again.

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