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Motorsport Book Review

When Sex Was Safe (And Motor Racing Bloody Dangerous) Motorsport Book Review

August 9, 2024, 12 pm by David Arnouts

The Beauty of Motorsports If striking-images and compelling stories of motorsports history interests you, Automobilist’s book, “When Sex Was Safe (and Motor Racing Bloody Dangerous)” is a required purchase. For Jan Rambousek and Petr Milerski, running a successful ad agency out of Prague, Czech Republic wasn’t enough. Working with clients and automakers was enjoyable but confining and hardly fulfilling. Their desired focus lay in making a difference. Tying that with their passion for motorsports would be tricky. By utilizing their technical innovations with blind determination to forgo the short-term, they create truly unique and inspiring creations. “Our mission is to …

Ford Unveils Next Chapter Of GT Performance With Track Only 2020 GT MK II [Videos]

July 5, 2019, 10 pm by Carl Malek

When we last checked in on Ford’s upcoming variant of its GT supercar, it was via a shadowy teaser image that gave few answers, and left us asking a lot of questions on what exactly Ford was up to? Fast forward to today’s unveiling at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the blue oval has unveiled the next evolution of GT performance which it calls “the ultimate GT” offering. Dubbed the GT Mk II, it embraces this fresh start in earnest by throwing out any intent of being a road legal offering (though we suspect that won’t stop some of …

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2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster Premiere + Colorizer

February 13, 2019, 4 pmAugust 15, 2015, 10 am by Tom Burkart

The new SV Roadster broke cover yesterday at the Quail — with the special bodywork, cabin and mechanical upgrades even more stunning on the open variant! The SV sports new carbon-fiber aero vanes and special venting details on all sides. As it stands even next to the new Pirelli Aventador in white for the bearded announcement, the SV is a comprehensive makeover for the design of the Aventador. The big question for an SV Roadster was how Lambo would handle the unique SV engine cover design for the targa. The results are better than ever imagined: structural and artful painted …

Updated With Video + 40 New Pics – 2015 Mercedes-AMG GT3

February 17, 2019, 7 pmMarch 5, 2015, 6 pm by Tom Burkart

WWwwwwwoooowwwww. Did you watch the video above!? Incredible pace and thundering sound from this new AMG GT3. 2015 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Geneva Reveal Selected image credits: http://blog.mercedes-benz-passion.com PREVIOUS First off, Mercedes-AMG has been remarkably kind with the name of its new racecar: just called the AMG GT3. Versus the AMG GT GT3, the simple moniker is very nice indeed. Besides that generosity, the AMG GT3 is a totally brutal racecar. Running the previous SLS GT3’s 6.2-liter V8 versus the new twin-turbo powertrain in the production car, the AMG GT3 is nonetheless comprehensively overhauled for the needs of FIA GT3-class …

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2015 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Racecar Revealed Wearing 300SL-Inspired Vertical Grille Slats

February 17, 2019, 7 pmFebruary 26, 2015, 7 pm by Tom Burkart

First off, Mercedes-AMG has been remarkably kind with the name of its new racecar: just called the AMG GT3. Versus the AMG GT GT3, the simple moniker is very nice indeed. Besides that generosity, the AMG GT3 is a totally brutal racecar. Running the previous SLS GT3’s 6.2-liter V8 versus the new twin-turbo powertrain in the production car, the AMG GT3 is nonetheless comprehensively overhauled for the needs of FIA GT3-class racing. These GT3 specials are interesting to watch race because they are all genuine production platforms, upgraded for racing. No other class or series is as faithful to original …

2015 KTM X-Bow GTR Is Reskinned and GT4-Ready To Race via Reiter Engineering

February 17, 2019, 7 pmFebruary 17, 2015, 1 pm by Tom Burkart

KTM’s branch-out from its motorcycle core with the X-Bow has created a rapid and fierce bunch of loyalists on and off the racetracks of the world. A simple idea of a carbon-fiber tub, mid-engine dynamics and deconstructed and minimalist panels was such a revolution six years ago — yet today is almost the global supercar template. From the X-Bow — pronounced CrossBow — came the X-Bow GT and the latest one-make race series, increases to 400-plus horsepower, and even a windshield for those days when you can drive without a race helmet. The next step for the X-Bow takes the …

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Racing Icons – 1991 Mazda 787B LMP1 Winner + Rotary Engine Timeline

February 17, 2019, 7 pmDecember 26, 2014, 9 pm by Tom Burkart

Wondered where the ‘LM55’ name of the new Mazda Vision Gran Turismo came from? That was the racing number of the LeMans-winning Mazda 787B from the 1991 LeMans. The only Asian brand to ever win overall via the LMP1 class, this is a story of a racing achievement that still irks powerhouse Toyota, Nissan and Honda to this very day. The 787B is also perhaps the ultimate evolution of the rotary engine — since its evolution beginning in 1588 as chronocles below. Reaching such heights as winning LeMans was an epic moment for rotary power, and conincided with the …

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Video Ride-Along with Velocity Motorsports AMP Taxi! Lexus IS-F Trio Teaches Track Layout

February 17, 2019, 8 pmAugust 23, 2014, 3 pm by Tom Burkart

Just as the Nurburgring has the BMW M5 ‘Ring Taxi’ — the AMP has the Lexus IS-F three-pack from Velocity Motorsports. Atlanta Motorsports Park is a brand-new track about 30 minutes outside of Atlanta. Combining huge elevation change and sharp, Tilke-designed bends — the AMP track is not easy to learn quickly. A four-seat supercar is therefore critical to show rookies the lay of the land — both where to go fast and where to ease up. And where to hit the brakes hard at the end of the zero-visibility straight-away! The Lexus IS-F is obviously a favorite around here, …

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World Debut in 55 Photos – 2015 Lamborghini Huracan LP 620-2 Super Trofeo

February 17, 2019, 8 pmAugust 20, 2014, 10 am by Tom Burkart

Shortly after the wraps came off this all-new Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo for the first time at The Quail on Friday, we shook hands with the always-handsome CEO Stephan Winkelmann. Mr. Winkelmann was fresh from taking perhaps 20 photos with admiring fans in front of the latest hypercar masterpiece from Sant’Agata when the lightbulb of an idea hit me. I instantly shared the thought with Mr. Winkelmann and earned a rare smile and laugh from the global automotive superstar: “You should release a pop song! A dance mix for the club, with engines revving and all the names of various …

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1973 Porsche 911 Lightweight Carbon Widebody by DP Motorsport – 310HP for Only 2,000-lbs!

February 17, 2019, 8 pmJuly 15, 2014, 5 pm by Tom Burkart

Designed as (something of a) cross between a 964 911 Turbo and the Porsche 959 Aero prototype – this one-off by DP Motorsports is absolutely exquisite. Called the “Consistent Lightweight,” the car has been completely overhauled into a gorgeous track racer with nearly double its factory power, but hundreds of pounds less weight. Nearly all the steel bodywork of the original car is replaced by carbon-fiber, with mechanical upgrades in the suspension, grip and brake departments to keep the pace with the newly-potent boxer engine in back. From any concours to any pit lane … anywhere on Earth — this …

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2014 Nissan NC2020 VGT In 12 New Photos Ahead of Goodwood Display Tomorrow

February 17, 2019, 8 pmJune 26, 2014, 3 pm by Tom Burkart

Update2 – June 26, 2014 The concept model of the spell-binding Nissan NC2020 Vision Gran Turismo is set for display this weekend at the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed. Being up close and personal with the NC2020 VGT will be a visual feast for showgoers, to be sure! Ahead of seeing the NC2020 out in the sun of Lord March’s estate, Nissan has released another photo set of the car for those of us who are thousands of miles from Goodwood. Hopefully some real photos of the machine in the sunlight, on the grass from Nissan in the next …

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2014 Nissan GT1 Concept Details Revealed – NC2020 Vision Gran Turismo

February 17, 2019, 8 pmJune 16, 2014, 3 pm by Tom Burkart

2014 Nissan GT1 Concept Details Revealed – NC2020 Vision Gran Turismo Update1 – June 16, 2014 The details are out! But they are not complete yet – no specs accompany this brief. Stay tuned. Last week’s teaser image created quite a media buzz, with everyone speculating left and right about this machine as ‘the next GT-R’ in headlines. It is tempting to do! These ideas are seriously fresh,and these three more high-res angles confirm it is a front-midship design. That was not certain from the front three-quarter teaser last week. DESIGN BRIEF Low-drag but high-downforce. The design is so aero-focused …

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Update1 – 2014 Nissan ZEOD RC LeMans In Detail + 80 Photos

February 17, 2019, 8 pmJune 14, 2014, 2 pm by Tom Burkart

Ask and ye shall receive? Only last week, we lamented the lack of angles of the ZEOD RC versus the flawless 29 angles of the car’s potent 1.5-liter, 400HP turbo triple, which both propels the car and charges the batteries (we think.) 2014 Nissan ZEOD RC LeMans Well, the strip-tease continues for the ZEOD RC. The latest batch of info from Nissan’s UK-based Le Mans operation shows the real-life racer in much more detail. (Just kidding — looks like we just did not look hard enough for images. This release is tagged October 21st, 2013.) Nissan’s hybrid-electric Garage56 experimental entry …

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2014 Nissan GT1 Vision GranTurismo Concept? Mysterious Teaser Shows Hypercar Proto

February 17, 2019, 8 pmJune 10, 2014, 3 pm by Tom Burkart

Nissan GT1 Vision GranTurismo What is this high-performance creature!? I almost fell out of my chair when I saw this photo on Nissan’s press site today. The car could be dubbed the GT1 or perhaps the NC2020 — short for Nissan Concept 2020, we imagine. Nothing is certain. The only word is that Nissan will tell us more next Monday, June 16th. Our hunch is that this might be the next installment of the Vision GranTurismo concept car series – liket he VW Vision GTI Roadster and dozens of other custom machines made for GT6 drivers. This would make sense …

2014 Nissan Lannia Concept Shows No Tailpipes – May Preview Next Leaf EV

February 17, 2019, 8 pmMay 15, 2014, 1 pm by Tom Burkart

Surely, Tom, you must just have meant to say “No tailpipe emissions…?” Nope. No tailpipes whatsoever on this Beijing 2014 concept car from Nissan. It is quite pretty and unique from all sides, and has instant allure and attractiveness. This is all a good sign for Nissan in China, where local teams have played a critical part in the Lannia’s design and development. The only angle that proves this is not a sports car is the rear three-quarter, which brings things back down to Earth with a pretty eco-minded appearance. The lack of tailpipes, overall size match, and EV aspirations …

1963 Corvette GS Chaparral by Dick Coup at National Corvette Museum

February 17, 2019, 9 pmFebruary 13, 2014, 2 pm by Tom Burkart

The Corvette Museum faced a big setback this week: a giant sinkhole under the museum’s grand pavilion caved in, taking eight Corvettes into the deep soil underneath in the process. Bowling Green is quite nearby to Mammoth Cave, and the geology of the region is tricky to build on. So, is it curtains for this Bowling Green landmark just before the huge 20th-anniversary celebration this fall? Absolutely not. First off, the Corvette Museum owns hundreds of acres of land. The new motorsports park across the road has plenty of room for a ne location, or the current spot could simply …