By Csaba Daradics
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GM also took the opportunity to re-confirm Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim as the pilots of the two cars that will be entered in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT series for the 2011 season. The first track tests are scheduled to begin in late January, at Sebring International Raceway, while the season will kick off on March 25-27 in St. Petersburg, Florida. No tech specs have been released.
By Csaba Daradics
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Source URL: https://autocarsnews-guides.blogspot.com/search/label/Racing
However, we're happy to report that the build is still underway. And there’s more: thanks to an update on a dedicated Facebook page, we can show you pictures depicting key moments of the assembly, available after the jump.
The P4/5 Competizione still has a long way to go until it’ll be capable of challenging other renowned racecars, but the featured images are impressive nevertheless.
Engineers made no compromises using carbon fiber for the entire body. Other bits and pieces are also visible, such as the roll-cage, pedals, brakes, various suspension elements and wheels.
As of yet, it’s unknown what Ferrari engine the racecar will use, but it has been revealed that the underpinnings are sourced from an F430 Scuderia.
By Csaba Daradics
Source: Facebook , Via: Autoblog
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Source URL: https://autocarsnews-guides.blogspot.com/search/label/Racing
Modified by Icelandic 4x4 conversion specialist, Arctic Trucks, the Toyotas completed the month-long round-trip measuring 4,600 km (2,858 miles) with the highest average speed and recorded the lowest average consumption among comparable vehicles.
Operating in temperatures between -40 and -56 Celsius (-40/-68.8 F), the Japanese trucks averaged 4.7 US mpg (50 lt/100 km). This might not seem like an incredible feat, but the stock 3.0-liter diesel engines ran round-the-clock on less energy-efficient Jet 1A fuel and had to power extra heating systems as well.
In the end, the average mpg was 5 to 8 times lower than what tracked vehicles usually achieve, which significantly reduced fuel costs and permitted the team to use just one refueling point. And this is important, given that one barrel of oil can cost as much as US $10,000 in Antarctica.
The expedition’s team members also praised the maximum payload capacity of 1.5 tons and towing capacity of 3 tons, allowing them to carry plenty of equipment and spare parts, alongside the 1,280 liters (338 gallons) of fuel per unit.
Upgrades made to the trucks included the incorporation of a crane (to lift heavy equipment and the fuel barrels), converting the diesel engines to run on jet fuel and fitting them with additional lubrication, heavily modifying the suspension, crawler gears, crevasse protection and the aforementioned extra heating system.
Last but not least, every Hilux ran on extra-large tires, only inflated to just 20 psi for better weight distribution on the perilous sastrugi terrain.
Scroll down to watch the Toyota pickup trucks in a similar expedition that took place last year in the video below.
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In today's world of motorsports, much to the delight of fans, it's the norm to have one or more cameras fitted in the car or even in the driver's helmet. But that wasn't the case back in the 1950's, so we were quite surprised to discover such a video featuring the five-time Formula 1 World Champion and one of the greatest pilots of all time, Juan Manuel Fangio. A moment of coolness follows in the film after the break, with Fangio driving the Maserati 250F racecar at the Modena Aero-Autodrome.
By Csaba Daradics
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The McLaren F1 GTR was a very successful racecar, taking the checkered flag at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on its debut, so the bar has been set pretty high for the new car. Nevertheless, featuring an advanced one-piece carbon fiber chassis and finely tuned aerodynamic body, the MP4-12C should provide an excellent starting point for the development of the race version.
“The 12C’s architecture and design was always aimed at high-performance and ease of maintenance - two key criteria for potential customers. Combine that with the vast amount of racing experience in our automotive team, and CRS Racing’s specialist development experience, and the 12C GT3 should be an exciting proposition for the top teams planning to race in GT3 from 2012”, said Martin Whitmarsh, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team Principal.
As part of the development process, McLaren and CRS Racing will enter 12C GT3 prototypes in select European GT races next year. Further details about the racing program are also going to be announced in 2011. Potential clients can register their interest at "www.mclarengt.com."
By Csaba Daradics
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From this, you deduce that your chances of getting behind a £149,000+ (US$235,450) Lamborghini Gallardo are about as good as bedding Natalie Portman. What is a poor boy to do?
Well, I have good news my (imaginary) friend! Silverstone Circuit, home of the British Grand Prix, is now offering a £99 (US$156 or €133) Supercar Thrill package that lets you take the wheel of a Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Ferrari or Lotus for a few hot laps around the famous circuit. There's also a limited offer on a Lamborghini Thrill package for December 19 only with a discount that brings the price down to £60 or US$95 / €80.
And that’s not all. You’ll also get tips from Silverstone’s very own racing experts, professional photography of your driving antics and a certificate that you can hang up on your wall. And it’s available to anyone who’s able to fork up the cash, not just those poncy weekend track jockeys in their souped up Golf GTIs.
Your day starts with a briefing whereby a professional racing instructor takes you through the basics of track driving including how to identify the racing line, how to corner correctly and how to anticipate and compensate for oversteer and understeer.
You’ll then put it all into practice on the track, with your professional co-driver egging you on the whole time. It’s surely one of those things you buy for a friend or relative and then end up keeping for yourself.
The Supercar Thrill package is just one of several “experiences” Silverstone is offering including rally days and the chance to get behind the wheel of a “baby F1” car (kind of like go-karting for big boys), all of which can be found on the circuit’s official website.
By Tristan Hankins
Silverstone Experience Links: Supercar Thrill and Lamborghini Thrill
Photos: Silverstone Experience, Videos: Youtube, Via: Independent
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“Returning to racing in the SCCA World Challenge is a great way to demonstrate the performance and capability of the CTS-V Coupe,” said Don Butler, vice president for Cadillac marketing. “The racecars in this series are production based, which allows us to validate our performance against the best of our competitors on the track, and not just the showroom.”
The Detroit-based company will prepare two teams for the upcoming SCCA World Challenge GT Class with a racecar based on the production CTS-V Coupe. The first event of the series will take place on March 25-27 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The first event in the SCCA World Challenge is. Johnny O’Connell, a three-time GT1 champion in the America Le Mans Series, and Andy Pilgrim, who won the 2005 SCCA World Challenge GT class in a Cadillac, will be behind the wheel of the CTS-V racecars.
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Source URL: https://autocarsnews-guides.blogspot.com/search/label/Racing
