Norwegian WRC racing driver Mads Østberg has enjoyed a bit of success in his World Rally Championship career but as it is with all athletes, practice makes perfect so a little snowy stunt driving is practically training. Record-breaking is just a bonus.

Setting a new bar for himself, and the world, Østberg completed a world record snow jump at the “DC All in Trysil” event, a winter extreme sports festival held last weekend at Trysil, Norway, sponsored by DC Shoes.

Østberg took three attempts, leaping off a snowy ramp in his WRC Ford Fiesta, the first of which saw him barely clear the landing ramp. His second jump was cleaner but not quite record-worthy. Finally on the third try he cleared 50 meters (164 feet). Spectacular as it is to watch, the jump isn’t “official” and won’t be recorded in the Guiness Book of World Records.

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This weekend’s Melbourne GP kicks off the 2012 Formula 1 season. After the third session of qualifying, Michael Schumacher displayed a return to form, qualifying 4th, well ahead of his teammate for Mercedes GP Nico Rosberg. Unfortunately, Schumacher’s Mercedes lost power out of turn 1 of the tenth lap, forcing an early retirement on an otherwise rapid display of performance.

Despite coming short at Melbourne this weekend, Michael Schumacher has enjoyed a remarkably long F1 career of more than 2 decades, and has officially broken and currently holds many records. According to the official Formula 1 website, Michael Schumacher is “statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen.” Schumacher has earned 7 driver’s championships, the most race victories, the most fastest laps, the most pole positions, the most points scored, and the most races won in a single season. In 2002, Schumacher became the only driver in Formula 1 history to finish in the top three in every single race of the season.

Michael Schumacher’s success all began when he joined the Benetton-Ford race team. What’s more, 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of a landmark year, the season where Michael Schumacher earned his first podium and scored his first victory in 1992 with Team Benetton. Coincidentally, racing fans can now own a piece of history: the 1992 season Benetton F1 car is now available for sale.

Nissan has just announced its official partnership with the bizarre yet impressive DeltaWing project, with plans to take the fighter-jet styled race car to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.

Using a unique layout with the two forward wheels located next to each other in a center section, rather than at the outer corners, the driver sits almost over the rear axle with a rear-mounted engine. That engine, developed by Nissan is a turbocharged and direct-injection 1.6-liter 4-cylidner that produces around 300 hp. While half the weight of a typical Le Mans prototype, it’s expected to have lap times roughly between those of the LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes due to its light weight and aerodynamics.

“As motor racing rulebooks have become tighter over time, racing cars look more and more similar and the technology used has had less and less relevance to road car development. Nissan DeltaWing aims to change that…” said Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. “Nissan DeltaWing embodies a vast number of highly-innovative ideas that we can learn from. At the same time, our engineering resources and commitment to fuel efficiency leadership via our PureDrive strategy will help develop DeltaWing into a testbed of innovation for Nissan”.

Designed by Ben Bowlby, other contributors to the project include Don Panoz, Dan Gurney, Michelin Tyres North America and Highcroft Racing.

Set to take to the race track at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 16-17, the DeltaWing will be piloted by British driver Marino Franchitti and current FIA GT1 World Champion, and Nissan driver, Michael Krumm. The car won’t be competing for points, or the overall title, however, and will race as an experimental prototype wearing the number O.

Until then, the nagging question of the DeltaWing has been: can it turn? A valid point considering its lop-sided looks; for the answer, watch the video below.

GALLERY: Nissan DeltaWing

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People often say, “The more things change, the more things stay the same.” However, in the case of the Porsche 911, it would be fair to say the proverb in reverse, “the more things stay the same, the more they change.” While Porsche had stuck with a rear engine layout for its flagship sports car, traditional Porsche enthusiasts began to feel betrayed as the 911 continued to evolve.

A little more than ten years ago, Porsche introduced an all-new water-cooled engine or the 911. Next, the 911 later received direct-injection and a dual-clutch paddle-shift gearbox. Project manager of the new Porsche 911 Michael Schätzle even expressed the possibility of an end to the manual transmission altogether.

The latest announcement from Porsche board member Bernhard Maier plays with the idea of a hybrid drivetrain 911. Sure to rock a few boats, Maier said, “If the environmental agencies ask us to change our sports cars in terms of power trains, then we will do it.” Maier is addressing the upcoming emissions and efficiency regulations in the United State as well as Europe. Sports car makers like Porsche will likely have a more difficult time meeting these standards, which could result to heavy fines in the future.

Porsche has been engaged in hybrid technology since the development of its radical Porsche 918 hybrid supercar concept and its 911 GT3 R hybrid race car (above). Having competed in a series of endurance races and steadily accumulating racing success, the GT3 R hybrid can help Porsche sell a hybrid system to even the most traditional of Porsche purists by providing the technology with a dash of genuine motorsport pedigree.

At the Geneva Motor Show, Maier gave a response to the recent engine downsizing trend as well. According to Maier, Porsche is not considering downsizing the 911 to a 4-cylinder engine regardless of regulations. A four-cylinder 911 is absolutely not a part of the brand’s forecast.

GALLERY: Porsche 911 GT3 R hybrid 2.o

[Porsche: MotorAuthority]

Infiniti has officially confirmed the production of its new FX Sebastian Vettel special edition sport-luxury crossover. 

Ceremoniously named after Formula 1‘s youngest two-time world champion, the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel project was a collaborative effort between Infiniti’s top designers and engineers and Red Bull Racing personnel and Vettel himself.

In their mission to create the best FX ever, the team at Red Bull Racing shipped an RB7 Formula 1 race car all the way to Japan to provide Infiniti with aero inspiration. The result is a significantly more aggressive FX that sits 0.8 inches lower than the standard issue and generous use of carbon fiber for its rear wing,  splitter, rear diffusers, sills, Essence concept inspired grille, and mirror covers. This helped the FX shed more than 100 lbs.

Under the hood, the special FX receives 414-hp from its FX50S 5.0-liter V8 powerplant. This is enough to launch the Infiniti to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds and reach the maximum top speed of 186 mph.

Unfortunately, this super-FX will be exclusively offered for Europe and the Middle East only and only 200 units will be produced. As Formula 1 is a less popular sport in North America, the Vettel name isn’t as exciting to U.S. consumers.

GALLERY: Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel special edition

[Source: WorldCarFans]

Nissan executive vice president of engineering Andy Palmer has announced no plans of fielding an LMP1 race car for the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in the foreseeable future. For now, Nissan will remain committed to its production-based LMP2 entries, jumping into battle starting next week at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Expect its main LMP2 class competitors to include Honda, Lotus, and Judd-engined entries throughout the season. What’s more, Nissan is prepared to field 11 of the registered 18 LMP2 racing cars to make it on the grid of the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In evaluating the endurance racing landscape, Palmer explained, “We’ve no plans to do LMP1. The hybrid moves in that class are interesting, but there’s no link back for us to a diesel hybrid. The rules would have to open up to make petrol hybrid competitive and relevant to make it really interesting.”

Andy Palmer’s assessment seems quite accurate. Toyota initially announced two innovative TS030 petrol hybrid LMP1 entries for Le Mans this year, but the Japanese automaker was quickly answered with the unveiling of the diesel-hybrid R18 e-tron Quattro from Audi, the reigning Le Mans champions. The governing body of Le Mans, Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), are working to further modify regulations to make petrol engines more relevant and competitive.

Andy Palmer also hinted to other innovative racing projects for Nissan in the near future. In regards to questions about Nissan’s future projects, Palmer answered, “Something crazy. Whatever we decide to do, we like to win. Look at LMP2, GT3 and Super GT. The issue is linking that winning back to the brand, which is why we’ve starting our NISMO road car project.”

In terms of alternative energy motorsports, Palmer finds electric-powered competition more relevant than hybrid racing. “We think the possibilities are very interesting. Zero emission racing could take place indoors or in the heart of a city, so we’re looking at that.” Madison Square Garden Grand Prix, anyone?

GALLERY: Nissan LMP2

[Source: Auto Car]

If there’s an age old adage in motorsports, then it has got to be “racing improves the breed.” This idea is particularly close to Audi‘s heart, as the German automaker has participated in decades of racing and development for its Quattro all-wheel-drive technology.

This year, Audi will field a pair of R18 e-tron Quattro cars which will compete in a series of endurance races including the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. The added e-tron designation on the new R18 refers to an all-new hybrid system for Audi’s LMP1 racer. Featuring a V6 TDI diesel powerplant sending 510-hp to the rear wheels and an additional pair of electric motors to motivate the front, the R18 e-tron Quattro is, without a doubt, one of the most technologically advanced racing cars in the world.

Dodge‘s performance department, SRT, announced its 2013 Dodge Charger will be revealed during next week’s Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A little more than a week ago, the first images of the new race car leaked from Penske Racing.

Thanks to a 2010 NASCAR summit held with all four participating automakers, the series decided racing cars should carry a brand identity and look more similar to their production versions. Because of this, the new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2013 Dodge Charger race car will look much closer in line and design language to the standard production Charger. According to SRT president and CEO Ralph Gilles, “The fans were like, ‘Hallelujah, finally the race cars look a lot like the cars I can buy and drive.’”

While the new 2013 Dodge Charger Sprint Cup car gets revealed next week, Penske Racing is currently the only team to field Dodge cars for the 2012 racing series and had just announced the end of its contract with Dodge after 2012 and a new partnership with Ford for 2013. Naturally, this threatens the chances of seeing the new Charger sprint car race next year

Despite the uncertainties, Penske Racing is actively participating in testing and development for the Charger. Penske Nationwide driver Sam Hornish Jr. was the first to test the new race car and said, “The car looks the best out of any of the new cars, that’s for sure. Nice sharp lines and you can see a lot of the street car in the race car. It brings the Charger’s identity back onto the racetrack.”

Look out for the new 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dodge Charger at the upcoming Kobalt Tols 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It will be unveiled at the Neon Garage before the race begins.

GALLERY: 2013 Dodge Charger Sprint Cup Car

Audi reveals the homologated Audi A5 DTM race car today as the automaker from Ingolstadt makes its final racing preparations before the season debut at the Hockenheimring.

Details are limited on the new race car as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have all been testing in top-secret conditions for the past several weeks. Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich said, “More than ever before, even the minutest detail will count this year in DTM. Obviously you want to keep the things you’ve worked out over the past few months under wraps for as long as possible.”

So far, we do know that Audi has submitted its relevant design drawings, CAD data, descriptions and photographs to Deuscher Motor Sport Bund (DMSB), all of which have been approved for homologation yesterday, March 1.

For the new DTM racing season, regulations have imposed further restrictions on aerodynamics to shake up the playing field. Despite the rule changes, Audi has consistently come out as the trendsetter in racing innovations for the past couple of years. No doubt, the Audi engineers still believe they’ve delivered some interesting ideas into their new A5 race car.

As of now, a released image of a camouflaged A5 DTM have effectively disguised new aero elements but some changes can still be identified. LED daytime running lights from a production A5, a single-frame radiator grill, air intakes, and the canards on the side dominate the front end. Heat extracting vents can also be seen on the hood. If squinting hard enough, one would notice the complex aero management across the lower third of the vehicle flanks. Finally, the rear section shows a tall swan-neck spoiler as well as a massive diffuser stretching out.

According to Audi factory driver Filipe Albuquerque, the new changes resulted to dramatic improvements. “I expected quite a bit of it, but I wouldn’t have thought that the step would be so big. Particularly in fast turns, the new A5 DTM handles like a formula car. Truly fascinating! I think I’d have to readjust quite a bit if I switched back to the old A4 DTM.”

The days that remain before the Hockenheim season opener will be dedicated to fine-tuning the A5 DTM and maximizing its racing potential. Look for it testing at Valencia from March 20 to 22 before the Hockenheimring event on April 29, 2012.

With the recent announcement by Audi that it will enter a hybrid diesel R18 race car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this season, Toyota is not going to have an easy time trying to take the checkered flag.

That said, the Japanese automaker has been rigorously testing its entry, the TS030, a gasoline electric prototype designed to showcase Toyota’s leadership in hybrid technology.

In addition to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Toyota has announced it will also compete with the car in the World Endurance Championship series.

For a behind the scenes look at testing of the TS030 watch the video below:

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Involved in racing since 1972, Roger Penske has fielded many cars of different makes in his NASCAR efforts.

First entering the sport with a red, white and blue AMC Matador for Mark Donohue in 1972, Roger Penske has since fielded Chevrolets, Mercuries, and Pontiacs. From 1995 through 2002, Penske raced with Ford. Finally, from 2003 on, Penske formed an alliance with Dodge.

For 2013, Penske made the announcement that it will return to Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. According to Penske and Ford Racing’s Jamie Allison, the deal already underwent several months of negotiation. Allison called the deal a “historic day” for Ford Racing.

For Roger Penske, this new arrangement with Ford gives the team a chance to “make sure [they] can beat any team in NASCAR in the future.” What’s more, this new alliance is also meant to allow Penske Racing to take on the Ford Roush Fenway Racing Team head-to-head rather than entering as the black sheep Dodge team. Currently, Penske’s two-car effort is the only Dodge team in the series. In a year, there will only be three manufacturers in NASCAR: Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota.

Roger Penske continued, “When we weighted the plus and minus of opportunities, it was apparent to us we need to win NASCAR Sprint Cup championships. We’ve been trying to do it alone. But having the opportunity to benchmark with someone like Roush, who has been world class as we saw with the performance last week with Kenseth (winner of 2012 Daytona 500) and how good their cars are, we felt it was time to evaluate other options.”

At the moment, Penske would not commit to running his own engine department and will receive their engines from Roush Yates Engines instead, something other Ford teams are also doing. Although Roger Penske has about 70 employees in his engine department, the team believes in taking advantage of the shared engine information with Roush during practice and testing sessions.

As for Chrysler Group motorsport division CEO Ralph Gilles, he wished Penske all the success and pledged company support for Penske’s efforts to win races and championships this season. Gilles spoke in behalf of Dodge, “Our motorsports involvement isn’t limited to NASCAR. We do value our NASCAR program and will be evaluating the opportunities available moving forward. As those opportunities materialize, we’ll reveal our 2013 plans, not only in NASCAR but in other forms of motorsports,” he said.

GALLERY: 2013 Ford Fusion NASCAR

[Sourc: ESPN]

Despite the dramatic explosion, folks didn’t seem to care very much for this year’s Daytona 500.

After experiencing the first-ever rain postponed race at Daytona, the event itself took a while to get started after a multi-car wreck on the first lap and then another two hour delay when Juan Pablo Montoya collided with a jet turbine track dryer, erupting into flames. Eventually, Matt Kenseth crossed the finish line to win the race.

Despite the multiple unforeseen surprises, or because of them, the 2012 Daytona 500 pulled a TV rating of 8.0, the race’s second lowest TV rating since 1995. According to Fox Sports, more than 11 hours of live coverage was provided over the span of three days. An average of 13.7 million viewers tuned in to watch the race, significantly lower than last year’s 15.6 million viewers.

In 1995, The Daytona 500 drew 11.4 million viewers for a rating of 7.8. The lowest TV rating since 1995 goes to 2010, when Fox only drew 13.3 million viewers for a rating of 7.7. Finally, the title for the highest rating belongs to the 2006 event, when NBC drew 19.4 million viewers and earned itself a rating of 11.3.

[Source: Inside Line]

One special Mitsubishi i-MiEV city electric car gets pumped up with performance enhancers as the Japanese automaker prepares to enter an all-electric race car into the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Details are limited for now, but Mitsubishi says the new i-MiEV hill climb prototype will be based upon many of the same production model components. However, judging from the illustrations, “production based” is loosely interpreted. Designed with a center single-seat driving position, the rendered i-MiEV hill climb prototype is significantly wider and more aerodynamically stylized than the standard road car.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be held on July 8th and the specialized i-MiEV will be piloted by Hiroshi Masuoka, a two time Dakar Rally winner in 2002 and 2003 behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Pajero.

GALLERY: Mitsubishi i-MiEV Hill Climb Prototype

[Source: Carscoop]

When Toyota revealed its TS030 LMP hybrid, the Japanese automaker had its targets sighted onto the reigning diesel Audi R18. However, the R18 is proving to be a fast moving target. Earlier this month, Audi announced that it will field two innovative diesel-hybrid LMP1 cars for the first time in its team of four at the 2012 24 hours of Le Mans.

These are the first images of the 2012 Audi R18 e-tron Quattro LMP1 race car. While its exterior looks very much alike the race car that participated last year, the hardware underneath has been vastly redesigned. The new R18 will continue the use of the V6 TDI diesel engine (rated at 510-hp), but will mate it to Audi’s regenerating brake energy technology and an all-wheel-drive drivetrain. Rather than the use of a battery pack, the R18 e-tron Quattro is able to store energy from braking forces into the flywheel, where the electricity can then be used to power the two electric motors at the front wheels. Moreover, the added weight of the complex hybrid system will be neutralized by a carbon-fiber gearbox housing designed to be as light as possible. This is the first time a carbon-fiber gearbox housing will be used in endurance racing.

Although Audi is going to field two hybrid prototype racers, the German automaker does not intend to soley rely on the new technology for  a win. For that, the team still believes last year’s R18 TDI will be more reliable for the job. Audi will get to face off against the Toyota TS030 throughout the racing season. Time will tell which prototype reigns supreme.

GALLERY: Audi R18 e-tron Quattro

Weeks ago, we mentioned Ayrton Senna’s original 1991 Championship season racing suit and racing helmet were placed for auction at the Race Retro Sale of the Silverstone Auction held in the UK.

Initial estimates for the rare racing memorabilia speculated a handsom $66,000 for the helmet and $31,000 for the suit.

GALLERY: Ayrton Senna Helmet and Racing Suit

Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard is currently working on Rush, a movie depicting the fierce Formula 1 rivalry between racing driver James Hunt and Niki Lauda for the 1976 Driver’s Championship title. Starring Chris Hemsworth (Thor, The Avengers) as Hunt and Daniel Bruhl (Bourne Ultimatum, Inglourious Basterds) as Lauda, the film is currently being shot in Europe and is expected to reach theaters in 2013.

While a year is a long wait, thankfully Ron Howard has been sharing Rush‘s production progress via his Twitter account. Pictures tweeted include prep work on the set, Olivia Wilde in vintage Gucci, hospital sets, pit garage sets, shots of the Nürburgring, as well as the cars that will be used in the film. Among the movie cars is a gorgeous McLaren M23 replica.

Clearly enthusiastic about his new project, Ron Howard does not claim to be a Formula 1 fan. In fact, Howard only discovered its appeal from Peter Morgan’s script. “These are fascinating characters– ballsy, masculine guys. It was a very dangerous era in racing, and here are two absolute individuals at the height of their powers. It makes for great drama and very exciting action. I wasn’t a die-hard Formula 1 fan before I read Peter’s script, but I’ve been immersing myself in this world. I think the excitement I feel as a fresh convert may be infectious.”

Check out the many pictures Ron Howard has shared after the jump. Also, click on the video for an interview with Howard on Rush. Continue Reading…

Gumpert, the serious German supercar-maker with the funny name, has confirmed the unveiling of two new vehicles at the upcoming 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Releasing its first teaser last November, we expect to see an official unveiling of the new production version Gumpert Tornante.

As for the second Gumpert, the stylized Discove”R” found on the latest teaser image hints at a special R version of the hardcore Apollo sports car. The current top-of-the-line Apollo S produces 800-hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. Rocketing past 60 mph in under three seconds, the Apollo S reaches 223 mph. Assuming the R designation stands for “Race,” the latest Apollo should promise even more speed and violence. Moreover, the ultimate Apollo R would also make a fitting swan song before Gumpert officially releases its next model, the Tornante.

Stay tuned for more Gumpert information as we draw closer to the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

GALLERY: Gumpert 2012 Geneva Auto Show

Lotus has announced it will unveil a “special edition of a special edition” Evora at the upcoming 2012 Geneva Auto Show. Specific details haven’t yet been released, but it’s believed the car will be a Team Lotus F1 version of the Evora GTE.

Now photos of what is believed to be that exact car have now hit the net. Taken at a recent Lotus test event at the Jerez circuit in Spain the livery design bears a striking resemblance towards the Lotus Motorsports and Alex Job Racing GTE competing in the American Le Mans Series.

While the Evora S makes 345 hp from a supercharged 3.5-liter V6, the GTE ups the power rating to 444-hp while shedding more than 230 pounds. The quickest street Lotus ever, the Evora GTE looks fast even when standing still with its new Team Lotus F1 livery.

Stay tuned to what Lotus has in store at the upcoming 2012 Geneva Auto Show, as a rumored Evora convertible will also bow at the show.

GALLERY: F1-Inspired Lotus Evora GTE Special Edition

[Source: Caradisiac via Carscoop]

Dominating Le Mans during the 1920′s with its powerful, rugged, and reliable Bentley Blower, the British automaker from Crewe established itself as one of the earliest names in motorsports.

This June, Bonhams’ Goodwood will offer a rare red 1929-32′Bentley 4 1/2-Liter for auction. According to experts, the Bentley is expected to reach bids as high as $6.3 million, potentially making this example the most valuable Bentley in the world. In 2004, a 1930 Bentley Speed Six Tourer was sold for $5.1 million.

Previously owned by watchmaker George Daniels, who passed away last year, the Bentley 4 1/2-Liter  as well as Daniels’ six other cars and two motorcycles will be featured as the highlights of Bonhams. According to Bonhams, Daniels once wrote in a statement, “For all its inconvenience, (the Bentley) is a most exhilarating car to drive both on the road and track.”

The red supercharged Bentley was originally raced and owned by Sir Henry “Tiger Tim” Birkin. Described as a British racing folk hero, Birkin set the Brooklands Outer Circuit Lap record at 137 mph in 1931.

GALLERY: 1929-32′ Bentley 4 1/2-Litre

When thinking about ultra-exclusive cars, the complexity and the time-consuming build process of the hyper-exotic Bugatti Veyron comes to mind. Only about 80 Bugatti Veyrons are produced each year.

However, the world’s most expensive automobile is not necessarily the most exclusive. The Mosler MT900S Photon beats it with only one unit to be produced for 2012.

Complementing its exclusivity are its performance figures. Weighing in at a miniscule sub-2,500 pounds, the supercar produces 535-hp from its 7-liter V8 engine, and is capable of reaching 60 mph in less than three seconds as well as a top speed well over 200 mph.

While the Mosler street-legal racing car has preserved an exterior design more than a decade old, the new Photon features the latest aero enhancements to keep its appearance current. While the 2012 Mosler MT900S Photon is all but called for, you may still contact Jacob Mosler at 561-818-4039 to be placed on the list. Prices for the Mosler Photon begin at $479,000.

GALLERY: Mosler MT900S Photon

Lotus is preparing for the Geneva debut of its latest Lotus Evora GTE with Formula 1 Champion Kimi Raikkonen in tow.

While specs and information on the new Team Lotus F1 inspired sports car are limited, the Evora GTE concept revealed last year is already a winner in the looks department. Last year, our editor-in-chief Colum Wood got to experience the Evora GTE first hand when it unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and said the “Lotus Evora GTE Road Car concept makes the Porsche GT3 look like a chick car.”

A blend between a standard Evora and the GTE-class racing cars, the road-going Evora GTE not only produces 420-hp, but also dropped some 165 pounds from the standard model. Now with the new F1 tie-in, we should expect unique racing livery and extra hardware to deliver a more focused driving experience.

Look out for its official debut on March 6th at the Geneva Motor Show.

GALLERY: Lotus Evora GTE

After recently announcing plans that it would once again return to challenge for the title in the British Touring Car Championship, Honda has now released the first photos of the car it intends to do so in.

The Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) Civic is based on the European Civic hatchback model (not on our new 2012 Civic model) and is hitting the track for its first public test today at Brands Hatch in the UK.

“This is the first opportunity we have had to get behind the wheel to really see what the car has got. The team are really pleased with the results from the test at MIRA last week and I can’t wait to finally start putting the car through its paces,” said triple-BTCC champion Matt Neal. “It will be interesting to see how the car performs, but I’m optimistic that we’ll walk away from today confident we have a championship winning car.”

The first race of the British Touring Car Championship will take place at Brand’s Hatch on April 1st.

Last December, an auction provided a rare opportunity for racing fans and cinema buffs to bid on Steve McQueen’s original Gulf livery racing suit worn in the movie “Le Mans.” In case you missed out or couldn’t afford the $800,000 price tag, a new opportunity to own a piece of motorsport history has arisen.

Thanks to Asif Kapadia’s successful documentary that revived Ayrton Senna awareness, and even mania, there’s a growing market for Senna related racing memorabilia. Up for auction at the Race Retro Sale of the Silverstone Auction in the UK are Ayrton Senna’s original 1991 Championship season Shoei full face helmet and racing suit.

The racing helmet bears Senna’s signature and is instantly recognizable by the Brazilian color theme adorned with Nacional, Boss, Marlboro, and Honda stickers, as well as a McLaren International authentication certificate. This special championship season Senna helmet is projected to sell for a staggering $66,000.

Senna’s race suit features the Brazilian flag as well as his name embroidered along the belt. Experts estimate that the race suit will sell for more than $31,000.

Despite the astronomical price tags, wealthy bidders may consider the helmet and suit a bargain considering Steve McQueen’s “Le Mans” racing suit went for more than $800,000.

The auction will take place on February 25th in the U.K.

GALLERY: Ayrton Senna Racing Helmet and Race Suit

A dream team of ten engineers and tech experts have assembled at the UK-based Lola-Drayson to develop an extremely innovative all-electric race car. This electricity powered car is aiming at a top speed of 320 km/h or 200mph. While that seems like an astronomical number, this actually isn’t the ultimate goal of the electric racer.

According to Paul Drayson, the leader of the Lola-Drayson consortium, “Don’t judge electric cars by what you are seeing on the street right now.” The team’s mission is to fine-tune a number of electric vehicle technologies and innovations with the intent to eventually trickle the technology to road vehicles.

The first of the innovations is BAE System’s radical “structural battery” technology, which allows for a car’s carbon fiber bodywork and panels to act as batteries. Chief designer at Lola Cars explains, “They are made out of honeycombs of carbon fibre filled with a solution that gives them the energy storage capacity of a battery. Their advantage is they can form any shape.” If structural battery can be optimally and practically applied, then it is feasible for a vehicle’s entire surface to act as battery cells.

Next, Multimatic of Rockingham, UK, has created new energy absorption technology that makes use of the up-down movement of a vehicles suspension to charge a capacitor. This energy can then be intelligently released as means of vehicle propulsion or to simply power other electronic devices within the car. An active aero surface that moves to create downforce from energy drawn from the suspension is one of the many ideas that the team is researching.

Finally, the London-based Halo Inductive Power Transfer division of the digital wireless telecommunications giant Qualcomm is creating new ways to charge main batteries. HaloIPT developed a doormat-sized platform package packed with coils. One of the platforms will be installed in the vehicle while the other will be embedded into the road. Power can then be transferred from one pad to the other as the vehicle passes over via an electromagnetic induction. A HaloIPT spokesman promises this technology to be 92 percent efficient.

Paul Drayson is looking to implement HaloIPT’s technology into racetracks across the world so that EV racers can charge wirelessly on the track during the races. If this idea takes off, infrastructure could be completley revolutionized for our roads. Drayson said ambitiously, “The new generation of technology we are showcasing in electric racing will amaze people when it gets on the road.”

[Source: NewScientist]