We’ve been following Toyota‘s Avensis BTCC Race Cars for quite some time now, and we’re happy to report that they’ve publicly debuted ahead of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship begins. Both Dynojet Racing’s and Hughes Motorsport/Speedworks’ Avensis were on display for the public and the media at Silverstone.

Unfortunately for both teams, both race cars experienced technical difficulties that restricted comprehensive testing on the track. Reports from Toyota are that the cars ran into power steering and fuel pump issues, but both teams are optimistic that the cars will be competitive come race day.

Regardless, it’s nice to see the cars out in public. A compact Toyota has never looked so cool.

GALLERY: Toyota Avensis BTCC Race Cars

What you’re looking at might be the most badass Toyota in existence right now. The Toyota Avensis BTCC bears a resemblance to the dowdy, Euro-market family sedan, but rest assured that these cars can positively rip it up on the track.

The Avensis BTCC, which will compete in the British Touring Car Championship, will also form the basis for the Next Generation Tour Car, which will see a shared set of components, including  front and rear suspension sub-frames, gearboxes, brakes and electronics, to both bring down costs and make racing more competitive.

Gallery: Toyota Avensis BTCC

While there was much anticipation for the debut of Toyota’s Avensis BTCC Touring Car last October, the project was delayed. Now we’ve received word that it will be making its debut on April 3rd at the Dunlop MSA BTCC event in Brands Hatch in the UK.

The Avensis is still being built by GPR Motorsport and they have announced that two teams have committed to running the Avensis in the BTCC series: Dynojet and Speedworks.

Currently the Avensis is at the MIRA aerodynamic facility in the UK going thorough wind tunnel testing. In order to get a credible baseline to compare to their race car, a factory Avensis was used, giving the team plenty of data in order to fine-tune the aerodynamics of the race car.

A few more renderings can be found below, but we’d really like to see more of this machine in the sheet metal.

GALLERY: Toyota Avensis BTCC Touring Car

[Source: Worldcarfans]

Over a decade has passed since the last time an Audi vehicle graced the presence of a BTCC race. Rob Austin Racing however is changing all of that in 2011, campaigning two Audi A4 in the famous racing series. Rob Austin Racing has already ordered two Audi A4 Next Generation Touring Cars (NGTC) from GPR Motorsport Ltd and they will be delivered in March of 2011.

Rob Austin Racing is still in talks for potential drivers and sponsors, with hopes of solidifying everything by January for a formal announcement. The photo above is just a rough render, but we’re just super excited that Audi will be represented out at BTCC.

[Source: Rob Austin Racing]

Volvo is set to enter the World Touring Car Championship in 2011, and while the brand isn’t normally associated with motorsports, the Volvo 850 wagon had a previous campaign in the British Touring Car Championship, where it was famous for being a station wagon, and having a penchant for going up on three wheels.

Now, Volvo is planning to return to touring cars with a WTCC entry based on the S60. A successful season in the Swedish Touring Car Championship spurred Volvo on to the idea of taking their race program to the rest of Europe, and with top rivals SEAT and BMW scaling back their efforts, we’d say that the Swedes have a decent shot of winning.

[Source: Volvo]

Hit the jump to see the official press release

Swedish Champions!

Volvo Polestar won the STCC Team Championship title. The green C30 is now Volvos most successful race car to date.

In front of over 30,000 spectators at Mantorp Park, Volvo and Polestar secured the 2010 STCC Team Championship title after a must-do win through Tommy Rustad in the second heat. Robert Dahlgren made the podium too with a second place finish in the first heat. This was enough to put Dahlgren in an overall second place in this year’s STCC driver’s championship to go along with his Scandinavian title for drivers he claimed just two weeks ago.

Four out of five possible titles the last two years

The ethanol powered Volvo C30 DRIVe STCC car has now secured the top spot as Volvos most successful race car to date. Developed locally with Polestar, the car begun claiming poles and victories already in its maiden season in 2008. In the last two STCC-seasons, the car has claimed 70% of all poles, 40% of all race wins, two STCC Team titles, one STCC Drivers title and one Scandinavian Drivers title.

“This is a very proud moment for everyone at Volvo and Polestar. We have achieved this because the C30 is a very good car to begin with and because we have worked as a team and kept pushing forward both when challenged and when successful” said Derek Crabb, Volvo Cars Motorsport Director.

STCC and WTCC in 2011

Volvo and Polestar are now busy preparing for next season which actually starts in less than a month. Polestar will participate in the World Touring Car Championship in Okayama, Japan on October 31. This race is an introduction to the full 2011 WTCC season Volvo recently requested Polestar to do in order to evaluate the series. Parallel, Volvo and Polestar is also set to defend and chase new STCC titles in 2011.

Toyota has continued to expand its current involvement in all forms of motorsports with the release of this Toyota Avensis Next Generation Touring Car concept rendering. Already under construction, Toyota plans on having GPR Motorsports in Buckingham debut this vehicle at the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship’s final round.

Knowing that new BTCC rules are on the horizon for 2011, GPR Motorsports is currently building the donor car and bodyshell towards the new 2011 specifications. And when it finally makes its debut on October 9-10th, James Thompson, a two-time BTCC double champion, will be behind the wheel.

We look forward to the debut of this 300-hp, FWD Avensis, as Toyota has been doing fairly exciting things in racing recently.

GALLERY: Toyota Avensis Next Generation Touring Car

[Source: WorldCarFans]

Best known for modifying Land Rover and Jaguar models, German tuner Arden has decided to try its hand at MINI. Arden isn’t exactly unfamiliar with the brand, however, as the new model, the 40th Anniversary MINI Equipe, was built to celebrate 40 years since an Arden-prepped MINI won the British Touring Car Championship.

Outside the car is mostly untouched with just a few updates in the form of stainless steel and chrome grilles. Inside the MINI gets a serious makeover with a two-tone leather package, Alcantara on the dash and stainless steel Arden pedals.

Not to neglect the performance aspect, Arden reprogrammed the ECU, added a larger and more efficient intercooler and threw on an exhaust, bumping output from 172hp and 177 ft-lbs of torque to 212hp and 214 ft-lbs of torque.

To help out int he handling department the modified MINI Cooper S gets a reworked suspension setup that sits 30 mm (roughly 1-inch) lower than stock. Also included are a set of light weight 18×8-inch wheels, which weight just 14.3-lbs each. And inside those front wheels is an impressive braking setup with massive six-piston calipers.

Arden will make just 40 versions of the MINI Equipe.

GALLERY: Arden MINI Equipe

Official release after the jump:

Arden goes MINI. As a tribute to the legendary victory of the Equipe Arden 1969 Arden created the 40th Anniversary MINI Equipe 2009 as a limited release for the lovers of high quality materials, technical innovations and racing tradition. 40 pieces signed by Jochen Arden will be manufactured in artisanal tradition of automobile passion. Each Arden MINI Equipe is unique, each piece a collector’s item.

The dash board, seats and doors completely enclosed in leather combine sportiness and luxury. The new Arden 2-Tone Design extends over each interior element. Besides hand-stitched and newly revised casings the MINI offers also new approaches in terms of performance and exterior design. Handmade stainless steel and chrome grille adorn the front and rear of the smallest Arden. Extremely light 6.9 kilograms Arden Gram-light aluminum wheels in 8Jx18Zoll provide the necessary grip and reduce the vehicle weight by a few kilograms. The engine also received a manual work-over. The revised engine electronics, a new intercooler and a complete stainless steel exhaust system with racing catalytic converters give the MINI a performance gain of approximately 50nm and 40PS. A nice side effect is the robust sound which clearly says, I am more than a standard MINI.

To keep the performance on track, there is a special Arden sport suspension which lowers the vehicle’s height and focus for about 30mm. High-performance 6-piston brakes at the front axle, guarantee for the necessary delay and remain stable and dosable even after a long, hard and resistant strain.

With the Arden Mini Equipe we offer a complete vehicle in the premium segment with luxury genes that in terms of exclusivity, comfort and sportiness leaves no wishes unfulfilled.

In order to fulfill your dreams, you can call our team for an individual consultation or a quote. Please, visit us in Krefeld and experience the Arden Mini Equipe feeling!

Arden – Automobile passion since 1972