Motorsports
Report: Dodge Debuts 640-hp Viper ACR-X to Run in New Viper Cup Spec Series
In an effort to keep the Viper name alive after the iconic sports car is discontinued next year, Dodge has announced the introduction of the 2010 Viper SRT10 ACR-X track car, while simultaneously launching a new Dodge Viper Cup spec series. The Viper ACR-X is a combination of the ACR street-legal but track capable machine,…
Video: Robby Gordon’s Baja 1,000 Race and Off-Road Championship Documented in 10 Webisodes
NASCAR and off-road racer Robby Gordon’s push for the SCORE championship in the annual Baja 1000 race is the focus of a new series of webisodes launched by one of the legendary racer’s sponsors MagnaFlow. Over the course of 10 weeks, MagnaFlow will release a new part in the 10-part “14 Hours To A Championship”…
Breaking: Danica Patrick Headed to NASCAR After All
After much speculation that IRL star Danica Patrick would enter NASCAR for the 2010 season, the hopes of those wanting to see the racing diva behind the wheel of a stock car seemed dashed when her IRL schedule was confirmed. But now it appears as though Patrick will also race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series…
Report: Volkswagen’s Motorsport Boss Denies NASCAR Talks, But Rumors Persist
Of all the high profile individuals to attend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finale this past weekend at Homestead in Miami, none have created a buzz like the appearance of legendary race car driver and head of Volkswagen’s motorsports department Hans-Joachim Stuck. His attendance at the race and meetings with series officials has obviously led…
Report: Hummer Trumps Toyota at Baja 1000
Toyota was all ready to create a little positive marketing for itself by entering its new 2010 4Runner in the grueling Baja 1000 race. The only problem is, Hummer also signed up and decided to spoil all the fun. Both the 4Runner, piloted by a host of drivers, including Ivan “Ironman” Stewart, a 22-time Baja…
Report: Ferrari P4/5 Competizione Won’t be Enzo-Based
We recently reported that his uber-richness, James Glickenhaus, had confirmed that he and several partners were going to build P4/5 Competizione race car to enter in endurance racing events. The P4/5 name comes from the P4/5 vehicle that was custom built for Glickenhaus by Ferrari design house Pininfarina, based on an Enzo and inspired by…
Report: Porsche Launches 480-hp GT3 R Race Car
Sometimes we wonder if Porsche builds more different versions of race cars than street cars. It only makes sense though, as the automaker’s impressive 911s (and other models) all get their road-hugging abilities from the company’s track expertise. Today Porsche is introducing the new 911 GT3 R, which is designed to run in the FIA…
Breaking: Ferrari P4/5 Competizione Confirmed
James Glickenhaus, the man behind the coachbuilt Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5, has confirmed that he will build a race version of the car to compete in endurance racing. The P4/5, which debuted at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, is a one-off rebodied Ferrari Enzo, built by the Pininfarina design house to look like the famous…
Report: Mercedes Dumps McLaren, Buys Brawn
As rumored, Mercedes-Benz has decided to part ways with McLaren after 15 years as partners in Formula 1, opting instead to buy a majority stake in the Brawn GP team. The new team, named Mercedes Grand Prix, will run in the 2010 F1 season, keeping much of the Brawn team, including team principal Ross Brawn….
VIDEO: Finnish Rally Car Crash Compliation
As a people the Finns love Rally car racing. They love watching it (especially when they’re watching famous native drivers like Marcus Grönholm or Tommi Mäkinen) and they love to get involved. They particularly like to drive… and crash. The above YouTube video compilation is made up entirely of Finnish rally car drivers slamming into…
Report: Toyota to Race 2010 4Runner in Baja 1000
Toyota has announced that the all-new fifth-generation 2010 4Runner will compete in the grueling off-road Baja 1000 race. The truck will compete in the “Stock mini” class, meaning that it will receive minor modifications in order to compete. Toyota isn’t fooling around either and has hired Ivan “Ironman” Stewart, a 22-time Baa winner and member…
SEMA 2009: 2010 Cobra Jet Mustang Debuts at Aftermarket Expo in Las Vegas
After the success of Ford’s 2008 Mustang Cobra Jet, Ford announced at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show the return of the car for 2010. In a “SEMA Special” silver with a charcoal Cobra Jet graphics package, the new turnkey race car is ready for NHRA competition. “The 2008 Cobra Jet was a…
SEMA 2009: Hankook Tire Formula Drift Camaro SS Debuts in Vegas
One of the many Camaros on display at the 2009 SEMA Show is the Formula Drift Camaro SS. Sponsored by Hankook Tire and displayed prominently at the General Motors booth, the car was built by BR Racing, Luke Lonberger and Conrad Grunewald Racing and will compete in next year’s Formula D drift championship piloted by…
Report: Dodge Officially Unveils Challenger for NASCAR Nationwide Series With Two Car Penske Team
Dodge has officially unveiled its 2010 Challenger NASCAR racer (at least from one angle) with an announcement that it will field a two car team in next year’s Nationwide Series, run by Penske Racing. “As the performance brand of our new company, we are excited to expand our relationship with Penske Racing and introduce the…
Report: Acura NSX Gets Forced Retirement from Japan’s Super GT Series
Honda has just announced that due to a rule change for the 2010 Super GT Series, the NSX won’t be returning next year. The rules strictly state that all GT500 Class cars must be front-engine and rear-wheel drive. The NSX, of course, being mid-engined, does not qualify. While the NSX hasn’t been built since 2005,…
Report: Acura Headed to 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010
An Acura will run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year. British Strakka Racing intends to compete with the car, in the Europe Le Mans Series, including at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, with an Acura ARX-01b prototype that it is currently in the process of buying from the Lowe’s Fernandez…
Report: Lotus Unveils F1 Wind Tunnel Test Car, Announces Plans for 2010 Season
Lotus is set to return to Formula 1 next year and with a dedicated group of followers and the media circus that surrounds any British F1 team, the company has released some of its plans and ambitions for the 2010 season, along with the first full-sized wind tunnel model. Lotus F1 Racing Chief Technical Officer…
Report: Subaru Stunt Driver Ken Block Headed to WRC in a Ford
American stunt driver and Subaru USA Rally America driver Ken Block (left) is close to getting the call to the big leagues. AutoSport is reporting that Block is close to a deal with Ford that would seem him driving in the World Rally Championship (WRC), the world’s premiere rally car racing series. The deal will…
Report: Ford Unveils NASCAR Nationwide Series Mustang Race Car
Ford has officially unveiled the first of the 2010 Mustang race cars that will join the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The car was revealed at Roush Fenway Racing headquarters in Concord, N.C., which it was also announced that 2008 Truck Series Rookie of the Year Colin Braun would drive the No. 16 Con-way Freight Mustang. The…
Report: Volkswagen considering Formula One
Volkswagen may enter Formula One racing if the International Automobile Federation (FIA) is successful in cutting costs in the world’s premiere auto racing series. “Today, it costs well over a hundred million Euros to take part in F1,” Reinhold Carl, managing director of Audi Singapore, told Singapore paper The Straits Times. “If the cost is…
Report: Glickenhaus Planning Ferrari P4/5 Race Car
James Glickenhaus, the man behind the coachbuilt Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5, has commented that he is looking into building a race version of the car to compete in endurance racing. The P4/5, which debuted at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, is a one-off rebodied Ferrari Enzo, built by the Pininfarina design house to look like…
Frankfurt 2009: Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racer
Lotus displayed its Evora Type 124 endurance racer at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The Type 124 (the 124 was the next number in line in Lotus’ naming sequence, but coincidentally, the 24 also represents 24 hour endurance racing) will make its racing debut at the 2010 Nürburgring 24 Hours in May. Lotus engineers tuned the…
Report: Lotus Builds ‘Type 124’ Racing Edition of New Evora Model
Lotus is on a motorsports roll as of late, releasing racing versions of the Elise, Exige 260 and now this, the company’s flagship Evora model. Called the Type 124, this race-prepped Evora gets a 400hp version of the Toyota Camry’s V6 motor, mated to a six-speed sequential transmission. The Lotus mantra is to build fast…
Report: Lexus LF-A Race Car Makes Surprise Appearance at Pebble Beach
Battered and bruised, Lexus had on display one of the two LF-A race cars that competed at this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hour race. We’re left to assume this isn’t the model that caught fire during the grueling endurance car race. The showing of the car is surprising considering Lexus didn’t exactly hang with the best….
