Official Photos: Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept

Maserati has released the details of its new race car concept, the GranTurismo MC Corse. Developed by Maserati Racing Department engineers, the track-bound GranTurismo MC Concept is based on Maserati's flagship GranTurismo S. It comes with an upgraded engine along with a new intake system, catalytic converters and a center-exit exhaust enabling it to make 450 hp of power. Other modifications include an aero kit, 18-inch lightweight alloys, upgraded suspension and brake components and a FIA-approved rollcage.

Photo Gallery: Maserati GranTurismo MC Corse Concept High-Res Pictures.

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Audi Reconstructs 1939 Auto Union "Silver Arrow" Type D

Audi Tradition is marking this year's Festival of Speed at Goodwood, England (July 11 to 13, 2008) with a world debut. At the largest classic car racing event in the world, the Ingolstadt company will be taking the wraps off an absolutely authentic reconstruction of the original Auto Union "Silverarrow" Type D Dual Compressor from 1939.

Construction of this racing car, the original version of which won two Grand Prix races at the hands of H.P. Müller and Tazio Nuvolari, took four years. The "Silverarrow" will be taken on its maiden drive by Nick Mason, the Pink Floyd drummer, in front of some 150,000 spectators at Goodwood.

The Auto Union Type D that is about to make its debut will be the last "Silverarrow" replica to be commissioned by Audi Tradition. Thomas Frank, Head of Audi Tradition, continued: "Our Auto Union Type D from 1938, which to a very large extent is made from original parts and has been exhibited at racetracks for a number of years, will go on display in the Audi museum mobile in the medium term. One reason for this decision is that we need to avoid it being damaged. The new replica will take its place. We will thus still be able to give people the extraordinary experience of witnessing this car in action."




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Toyota TRD Aurion Pro-FX Launched

Toyota unveiled the TRD Aurion Pro-Factory Xtreme (Pro-FX) drag car at Willowbank Raceway in Queensland ahead of its debut outing at the biggest event in Australian drag racing, the 2008 Winter nationals.

Run by former Australian champion Tony Wedlock and his Ultimate Motorsport team, the TRD Aurion Pro-FX has a top speed of more than 350km/h. Powered by a turbocharged six-cylinder Toyota engine, the TRD Aurion Pro-FX produces 1300kW and launches from 0-100km/h in less than one second. Wedlock will debut the car at this weekend’s Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) Winternationals - the headline event of the 2008 Australian season.

Source: TheyReviewed

Audi R10 TDI To Use Bio-Fuel At 2008 Le Mans

Audi R10 TDI using biofuel for the first time
* World premiere at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
* New: Shell V-Power Diesel race fuel with GTL and BTL
* Synthetic diesel fuel reduces emission of CO2
* British ace Allan McNish bids for glory

Ingolstadt – World premiere in motorsport: At the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours on 14/15 June, the three Audi R10 TDI prototypes entered by Audi Sport Team Joest will race for the first time with the next generation of Biofuel manufactured from Biowaste and promising a reduction in the emission of CO2 by almost 90 per cent when compared with traditional diesel. Britain's Allan McNish will race an Audi bidding for glory in a race he won 10 years ago.

Audi fields the 650-hp plus R10 TDI, which has already won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, in sportscar races since 2006. Shell V-Power Diesel race fuel produced by development partner Shell has been used since the very beginning. It's a particularly powerful and efficient synthetic fuel which is created from Natural Gas in a process called Gas To Liquids (GTL). Fuels with these components are already available at the pumps.

For the third appearance of the Audi R10 TDI at Le Mans, a small amount of Biofuel of the next generation is mixed for the first time with the previously well-proven GTL components: BTL (Biomass To Liquids), as it is officially called, is extracted from Biowaste that is unfit for use in foodstuffs, for example from waste wood. BTL promises a reduction in the amount of CO2 emission by almost 90 per cent compared to traditional diesel.

Although they are manufactured from different raw materials, the two alternative fuels BTL and GTL are practically Sulphur free and odourless. They combine quality and efficient combustion with reduced exhaust emissions.

"Audi voiced its support early for the use of next generation Biofuels at Le Mans," explains Michael Dick, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG with responsibility for Technical Development. "It underlines our philosophy that we view Le Mans as a tough test field for new technologies which will be available at a later date in production cars for our customers. The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) provides the opportunity to use alternative drive concepts and fuels, which we exploit to the full."

The V12 TDI known for its efficiency and fitted to the Audi R10 TDI has already been tested successfully with the new fuel on the dynamometer and during tests. The first public appearance follows this coming Sunday (1 June) at the official test day at Le Mans. It traditionally provides teams with the only opportunity to test on the 13.629-kilometre circuit of Le Mans before the race.

Practice is on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. All three cars of Audi Sport Team Joest and all nine drivers will be in action.
Source: TheyReviewed

Source: TheyReviewed

Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 Debuts At Wörther Lake

World premiere of the Scirocco GT24 with 325 PS.
Wolfsburg, 22 May 2008 - Volkswagen will present the world premiere of a 239 kW (325 PS) version of the new Scirocco today at the legendary GTI Meet at Wörther Lake. For two days later, a team of legendary drivers will start the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in the sports version of the Scirocco. Thus, the new Scirocco will be in the spotlight at two cult events for car enthusiasts at the same time.

Volkswagen is presenting the racing version of the Scirocco GT24 at Wörther Lake in a world premiere. "This car doesn't need to be driven to look fast. The Scirocco GT24 with the blue-white finish sits so low on its extended wheel wells that a hand will not fit between the wheel arch and the tyre. Yet the race car remains unmistakeably a Scirocco from every angle. Just even wider, even longer and even lower," says Volkswagen Chairman for Development Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, who will not be passing up the opportunity to sit behind the wheel in the race in the Eiffel.

The 325 PS Scirocco will also be driven during the race by legendary drivers like rally world champion Carlos Sainz and Hans-Joachim Stuck, three-time winner of the 24-hour Nürburgring race. Incidentally, "Striezel" Stuck won the very first 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 1970. Now, thirty-eight years later, the Scirocco GT24 is competing. It draws its power from only two litres displacement: the 16-valve direct injection engine with a turbocharger and intercooler delivers its maximum torque of 340 Newton metres beginning from only 2,100 rpm. Gear changes are executed by a dual clutch gearbox (DSG), which is also available for the production model.

The idea of an affordable dream car was born in the 70s with the first Scirocco. The success of this two-seat sport coupe continued for nearly 20 years, during which time more than 360,000 Sciroccos were built. The enthusiasm for this car has been uninterrupted since Volkswagen presented the new version of the Scirocco at this year's Geneva Motor Show.

Source: TheyReviewed

Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 Photos & Pictures

Subaru Impreza WRC2008 To Debut In Greece

The Subaru World Rally Team and STi has confirmed the launch of its new Impreza World Rally Car. The Impreza WRC2008 will make its debut on the seventh round of this year’s WRC, the Acropolis Rally of Greece, spanning from May 29 to June 1, 2008. Subaru will reveal all the tech details during an official launch on May 28th, in Athens, Greece.

Described by Subaru as ‘the most radically different Subaru World Rally Car in 15 years’, the new Impreza WRC2008 rocket will be driven by Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson at the Acropolis Rally. The car was first introduced at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show and now comes with a radically new styling but retains the Subaru horizontally-opposed turbocharged engine mated to Symmetrical AWD.

“We are very excited to be able to launch the all-new Impreza WRC2008 ahead of schedule” said David Richards, Subaru World Rally Team principal. “It is testament to the dedication and commitment of the team behind the scenes in the UK and at STi in Japan. Just as the latest Impreza road car represents a new era for Subaru so the WRC2008 represents a new era for all of us at the Subaru World Rally Team and I am confident that we will arrive in Greece able to fight competitively.”

Subaru had won the FIA WRC manufacturers’ title for the year 1995, 1996 and 1997 and their last WRC rally success came way back in 2005 at Mexico. Now by replacing its old work-horse, the WRC2007 with WRC2008, Subaru is again entering the ring to try an undo the damage done due to its string of failures in last few years at WRC. We wish them success.

Source: CarNoise

Gumpert Apollo Hybrid Enters Nurburgring 24-hour Race

The car is the Gumpert Apollo supercar and it will contest this year’s endurance challenge with former F1 driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Dirk Muller taking turns behind the wheel. Instead of the normal car's Audi 4.2-liter twin-turbo with 650 HP, the racer gets a 3.3-liter V8 with something like 630-HP, in addition to a 100kW electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. The 190 kilos of batteries will be recharged by application of the brakes,..

The electric system recharged the 190kg battery array through application of the brakes. Charge status and battery performance is relayed via satellite to the pit garage. The electrics were clearly working tonight as HH drove to the barrier in complete silence.

Source: TheyReviewed

Mazda3 MPS To Rally At Targa Tasmania

Mazda Motorsport Australia is using the hot hatch Mazdaspeed3 (called Mazda3 MPS there)at the tarmac-based rally known as the Targa Tasmania. This will be the eighth race for Mazda and the second for the MPS rally car. The MPS develops 255 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, with power transferred to the road via a standard six-speed manual transmission. It weighs 3,093 pounds and uses 320mm (12.6 inch) ventilated brakes in front and 280mm (11.0 inch) solid discs in the rear.

Built under the watchful eye of Mazda Motorsport chief Allan Horsley, the 190kW Mazda3 MPS front-wheel-drive hot hatches will contest the event's 2WD Showroom competition, travelling 2000km over five gruelling days of competition. Targa Tasmania's racing regulations require that the Mazda 3 MPS rally car remain essentially standard. That means both cars are competing with standard audio equipment, power windows and carpets and upholstery intact. This makes it a bit more comfortable for Alister McRae and his co-driver.

necessary safety equipment fitted on the Mazda includs a PCD roll cage, racing seats, five-point harnesses and a fire extinguisher, but the performance modifications are kept to a minimum. The MPS is equipped with upgraded springs and struts, brake pads, a new steering wheel, navigation equipment, cat-back exhaust (cats are still fitted), some additional ducting to cool off the brakes and a revised ECU. Among the competitors in the "Showroom 2WD" class are a Mazda 3 diesel, a Peugeot 206 GTi 180, a Fiat Punto Sport and a Toyota TRD Aurion.

Mazdaspeed3 (Mazda3 MPS) Photo Gallery