It’s been nearly a decade since Bentley captured the overall win at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2003, and now the British automaker is in the preparation stages to possibly make a return to racing.

Before you get too excited that the famous marque will once again be campaigning race cars, there is no time-frame set in stone for Bentley’s return. The automaker is currently exploring its options in terms of cars and classes, employing the assistance of long-time motorsports expert Graham Humphrys.

Humphrys is perhaps most well known for his work on the Williams Motorsport BMW V12 LMR that captured the 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours victory, but also has experience at Spice Engineering and Aston Martin. Currently Humphrys is assisting to determine what would be feasible for Bentley, including the possibility of racing in the GT3 category with a Supersports variant of the latest Continental GT model.

Another option it’s considering right now is to wait for the all-new Continental or to produce what Brian Gush, Bentley chassis and powertrain director, calls “a racing sports car with a derivative for the road.” Last year, Gush expressed his desires to bring Bentley back to prototype racing, but admits that the complexity of the 2014 Le Mans rulebook could prevent that from happening.

Regardless, a return to racing by Bentley is extremely likely considering that Wolfgang Durheimer, Bentley CEO, has always favored the idea. Durheimer has even brought up the concept of selling Bentley race cars to customers similar to what Porsche does.

[Source: Autoweek]

We’re getting close and closer to seeing one of the world’s best looking race cars in the flesh soon, as Aston Martin announced that they’ve begun testing their 6.0L V12 racecar with 600-hp.

In fact, the new Vantage GT3 has already logged over 620-miles in shakedown runs, preparing it to take on several race series including the FIA GT3 championships, Blancpain Endurance Series and the VLN Nürburgring Series.

The V12 Vantage GT3 is replacing the outgoing DBRS9 and weighs in at a scant 2,755-lbs. Aston Martin hopes to start delivering the race vehicle to teams in early 2012 with a cost of around half a million big ones.

GALLERY: Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3

We’ve already known that former Formula 1 double world champion Mika Häkkinen will be piloting an SLS AMG GT3, and now we have our first preview of him preparing to get back behind the wheel in a competitive fashion.

It’s been four long years since Mika has raced competitively, so it’s interesting to see how Mercedes-Benz is hyping it up. Really for us, the video is all about staring at the amazingly beautiful SLS AMG GT3 taking laps around a real race track in its full glory. There is seriously very few race cars that rivals the SLS AMG GT3 in the aesthetics department.

Check out the video after the break.

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Former Formula 1 double world champion Mika Häkkinen will return to motor racing, piloting a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 at the 6-hours of Zhuhai on November 13. Representing Customer AMG Sports Team China, Hakkinen will share racing duties with co-drivers, CongFu Cheng and Lance David Arnold.

This is the first time Mika Hakkinen has raced competitively in the last four years, his last one being 2007 DTM season finale at Hockenheim. His return to racing is his way of giving a vote of support, as his superstar appeal and his role as Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador will give the SLS AMG GT3 a huge boost of publicity in its first appearance in China.

Says Mika, “It’s a great honor for me to be able to contest the first SLS AMG GT4 race in China. Although I’ve visited China many times, I’ve never raced there, which is why I’m really looking forward to Zhuhai. It will be a tough race in a competitive field, but I’ll do my best for Customer Sports team AMG. Of course, being a guest driver in such a line-up should be a lot of fun, especially in the SLS AMG GT3. It’s a great customer motorsport vehicle which is both fast and extremely good-looking.”

GALLERY: Mika Hakkinen Mercedes SLS GT3

It’s time to buckle up as Mercedes-Benz‘s  tuner AMG confirms that they are working on three halo projects for their halo SLS AMG.

No greater truth has been spoken than when Head of Vehicle Development at AMG, Tobias Moers, says, “We absolutely have to do a Black Series.” Yet to be officially confirmed, chances are likely that the SLS Black Series will make it to the U.S. market.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for the other two projects. In order to fulfill regulatory homologation requirements, AMG has confirmed a street-going version of the SLS AMG GT3 race car. As its motorsport efforts are focused in Europe, AMG has no plans to bring this hardcore version to other markets.

AMG’s third project, and perhaps its most ambitious of all, is to bring the SLS E-Cell electric sports car to market by 2012 as a 2013 model.What makes the project so ambitious is that it will not have the handbuilt V8 that AMG is famous for. Instead, the SLS E-Cell will take on electric motors and a battery cell that will add another thousand pounds to the car’s curb weight. In order to manage the issue, weight saving measures were taken to lighten the SLS elsewhere in order to bring the weight difference from the standard model down to a more manageable 200 odd pounds. Tobias Moer assures us that the lower center of gravity benefited from the battery will alleviate the handling shortcomings caused by the extra heft. Power is taken just as seriously, as the electric motors produce an estimated 525 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque.

Unfortunately, chances are slim for the SLS E-Cell to make it into the American market as well. Mercedes-Benz is concerned that the cost to certify the car for the United States wouldn’t make financial sense given the SLS E-cell’s production volume will be extremely low.

Tobias Moers adds, “AMG does not do money losing projects. We can’t afford to.”

GALLERY: Mercedes SLS AMG GT3

[Source: Motortrend]

McLaren is planning to build a full model range of super car and sports cars for consumers. Currently, there are at least four more models in the design and development pipeline. The new cars include the current MP4-12C, a hypercar (codename P12), built to take on the new Lamborghini Aventador, and a successor to the famous McLaren F1. The P12 model is expected to produce around 800-hp and its weight will be similar to the MP4-12C. The British automaker will also be building a cheaper sports car (codename P13) to take on the non-turbo Porsche 911.

The full model lineup is part of a plan to sell 4,000 cars a year, with roughly 1300 MP4-12C models, 2,500 P13 cars and roughly 200 P12s.

All of the vehicles will, however, be “true McLarens,” said McLaren managing director Antony Sheriff. “Whatever we do will be based on carbon. It will have performance and handling that’s the best of its segment.”

All of the new models will receive the MP4-12C’s carbon-fiber monocell tub. This piece forms the central structure of the sports car including the front bulkhead, sills, floor, and rear bulkhead. The monocell tub is made of some 25 pieces of dry carbon fiber matting in single large tool while resin is injected.

McLaren is likely to unveil the P12 within a year and a half, and the P13 will be seen within two and a half years. The British automaker will also build a convertible version of the MP4-12C, but there is no confirmation on a release date.

GALLERY: MP4-12C

[Source: Motor Trend]

Happening right now out in Cologne, Germany is Gamescom, the world’s largest trade fair and event for video games and entertainment. And with all the passionate automotive enthusiasts in Germany, it’s no surprise that Sony wanted to make a statement in their booth by teaming up with Audi to show off a whole new way to play Gran Turismo 5. Custom built by quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm, the PlayStation Racing Simulator that’s currently setup at the booth is a full-on carbon-black Audi R8 LMS imitation race car.

The cockpit features the same bucket seat that one would find in the GT3 car, while they’ve added an additional one for a passenger to spectate. The roll cage has been simplified to make it easier to get in and out of the simulator, but players get to hold onto an authentic race steering wheel that’s been hooked up to the PlayStation 3 and enjoys full Dolby Surround Sound as they power their way through twists and turns.

What puts it altogether though are the pneumatic cylinders located where the race car’s suspension would be. This allows the virtual racer to really feel the physics of driving while in the cockpit of the simulator. That means they feel every bit of the centrifugal forces while cornering, braking and accelerating. According to reports, it took Audi and Sony six weeks to assemble the entire unit, far longer than it takes to build a real car.

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is the most successful race car the German automaker has ever offered. Porsche has sold 2,200 GT3 Cup units and is the most popular choice amongst racing teams all over the world.The GT3 Cup currently competes in 19 Porsche brand trophy series worldwide and runs in various GT race series and at long distance events. The GT3 Cup is based on the lighweight 997 911 GT3 RS sports car and features a 100-liter FT3 safety fuel tank.

The tank is now suitable for an even wider range of endurance races thanks to the increased capacity. Power levels remain almost identical to that of the GT3 RS with 450-hp and a racing exhaust system. Different rims are available to suit several different types of racing and blade-type anti-roll bars are standard at the front and rear of the car with seven adjustable positions.

Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes are also featured on the 911 Cup, that reduce the weight of the car by approximately 20 kilograms. Inside the cockpit, the controls for the info display are positioned on the steering wheel which contains six switches.

The GT3 Cup will be delivered to racing teams in September for 2012 and 2013 racing seasons, and will cost 161,750 Euros ($230,235).

A little jealous of what Jay Leno was allowed to do recently with AMG? It’s OK, we were too. But now AMG is offering what are being called ‘Emotion Tours’ to satisfy those who want to visit AMG’s factory and enjoy a few lifestyle events surrounded by some of the Mercedes performance brand’s best vehicles. If you’re a hardcore Mercedes-Benz fanatic, or looking to cross another item off your bucket list – you know, the one where you want to drive a SLS AMG GT3 on the track – then AMG’s Emotion Tours are for you.

The tours can range from a day through AMG’s factory and Performance Studio in Affalterbach while enjoying a standard AMG automobile for around $530, or for a little over $810 you’ll be able to enjoy guided test drives behind the wheel of the infamous SLS AMG.

Then there are the lifestyle tours which include guided test drives in various AMG vehicles while enjoying wine and fine dining, or touring through Montreux and enjoying the famous Garden Party and Jazz Festival on Lake Geneva. Or there’s the golf tour where you’ll enjoy nine holes in Munich. Race junkies can take part in the Tour DTM, where they’ll be able to witness DTM racing up-close and personal.

Those with big wallets can take part in other tours including the Masters SLS AMG experience, which will eventually graduate you into campaigning a full blown SLS AMG GT3 race car on the track against others. Definitely a great way to enjoy the sights and sounds of Europe.

[Source: AMG]

The McLaren MP4-12C GT3 will make its first official public appearance at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, taking place from June 30th to July 3rd.

The GT3 will differ from the MP4-12C through aerodynamic performance upgrades including a front radiator, which increases the maximum ambient temperature at which the car can run. Other upgrades include a new gearbox cooler mounted on the rear aerodeck. A new front splitter will also be fitted to the GT3 along with a door blade, rear wing, diffuser and louvres in the front fenders. These components will be produced entirely from carbon fibre by McLaren Racing.

Only 20 of these cars will be delivered to private GT3 racing teams in Europe for 2012. The GT3 will also feature Formula 1 derived technologies including the same steering wheel design used by Lewis Hamilton in his MP4-24 Formula 1 car. Respected Formula 1 suppliers such as Akebono, Mobil 1, McLaren Electronic Systems, Ricardo and Michelin are working to create race car specification technology superior to the GT3 competition in 2012.

Andrew Kirkaldy from McLaren GT explained that: “The reaction to the 12C GT3 at the circuits we have visited has been phenomenal. I can’t wait to see how it goes down at Goodwood this weekend.”

“CRS Racing was clearly excited to be confirmed as partner in this project as we were only too aware of McLaren’s short, but unbelievable GT history with the F1. But the anticipation amongst circuit owners and race teams to McLaren’s return to GT racing has still surprised us.  I’m delighted that we have the opportunity to drive the 12C GT3 up the hill at Goodwood and raise the interest even further” said Andrew Kirkaldy.

Drivers accompanying the GT3 at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed include Andrew Kirkaldy, 2010 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver Oliver Turvey, and McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C GT3

Those with a little less than half a million lying around and looking to compete in some GT3-class racing can now get their hands on BMW’s Z4 GT3 race car. After its successful victory in Dubai’s 24 Hours race, BMW did some more testing and aerodynamic tweaking prior to allowing customers to order their own 2011 GT3 competitor race car.

While most of the Z4 retains its overall stock body and shape, the curves have clearly been enhanced with a much wider stance along with a plethora of aerodynamic tweaks for the track. Under the hood, the standard Z4 powerplant has been tossed aside for the more potent M3′s V8. A six-speed paddle-shifted sequential transmission is mated to the 4.4-liter V8.

The race car is now available for ordering from BMW Motorsport Distribution at $454,500 or so.

Official press release available after the break.

GALLERY: 2011 BMW Z4 GT3

You will never be able to buy one off the showroom floor, but that shouldn’t stop you from drooling over the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, a race version of Mercedes’ most extreme sports car.

At a sticker price of $430,000, the GT3 version is the psychotic sibling of the standard car, and only a shadow of a similarity remains. The necessary add-ons like a rear wing, center-lock wheels, widened carbon fiber bodywork and all the safety equipment needed to go racing are in place, not to mention a new 6-speed sequential gearbox and a cool air-jack system that negates the need for a hand operated unit.

The video doesn’t show too much of the car’s capabilities, but we do get some great audio of the SLS AMG’s NASCAR-like exhaust note. Expect to see this at racetracks far and wide, but never bearing a license plate.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

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