Wow. Porsche 918 RSR is sex on wheels. Clean, green, sex.

Breaking news from the Detroit auto show today. Porsche unveiled an amazingly well kept secret: the brand spankin new Porsche 918 RSR.

read more about it below.

Save the Ring! Here's how

We all know about the Nurburgring; after all it's only one of the greatest race-circuits ever conceived by man.

What you may not know is that it is in significant danger of being lost.

What's happened is the German government as well as a group of private investors has been attempting to turn the 'Ring into a Huge theme park. This was done based on false visitor statistics claiming millions of visitors a year when the truth is that Nurburgring is a ghost town most of the time. Once promised as private investment, it is now based on a debt of 350+ million EUR public money. With all that debt, it's in major danger of caving in on itself.

On top of that dozens of events are planned every year at Nurburgring, none of them having to do with Motorsports

As the official Save The Ring page says, what needs to be done is:

What needs to be done?

• Seperate Nordschleife from ring park.
• Let  the Nürburgring be used for motorsport.
• Value the great heritage and tradition, rather than roller coasters.

How can you help to Save The Ring?

• Tell your friends and spread the word, join us on Facebook (30.000 supporters in 3 weeks!)
• Keep yourself informed and question the official Nürburgring (= Lindner/Richter) communication.
• NEW: Sign the Online Petition drected to the European Commission (2.000 signatures in 2 days!)
• Write to European Commissioner Joaquín Almunia (joaquin.almunia [at] ec.europa.eu).
• When visiting the Ring, support local family businesses.
• Help to raise our voice, contribute ideas and actions, let's save the 'Ring!

This is a cause worth fighting for if you ask me.

Sources: Save The Ring & Save The Ring Facebook

New Pagani teaser shows absolutely nothing

You've heard about it, I've got it. The old Pagani C9 has a real name now.

It's called the "Huayra" (pronounced "Paganini HYAAAR!" according to no one but me) which is something in some old language which means wind; which is consistent with Pagani's past history of car names.

Personally, I think it's ugly as sin.

Here ya go!



pics in the link

More shots of the Ferrari 612 Successor

Okay first things first, DON'T SUE ME AUTOBLOG! I DIDN'T MEAN NO HARM!!

Now that I've go that out of the way; obviously the folks over at Autoblog have managed to get some actually decent shots of the new Ferrari test mule. This thing has been talked about for almost a year now. 

The new Ferrari 612 successor is rumored to be All-wheel drive, a first for the prancing horse. Also, the design is allowing for a hybrid drivetrain sometime in the future, most likely based off the Hy-KERS concept if you ask me. It's also going to retains its 2+2 configuration as well as its front-mounted V12. Though it'll be adopting direct-injection and a lot more horses, 600+ so they say. Also a dual-clutch gearbox will be bolted on to bring the car into the new decade.

What's really got people wondering is if it's a coupe or a hatchback. Spyshots would suggest hatchback but is  it legit or just a clever guise on Ferrari's part?

more pics in the link.

Source: Autobots (Autoblog)

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Johnny O'Connell trading in his Corvette for a flashy, pimpin, old man Caddy

When Mr. Johnny O announced he was leaving the keys to the 'vette behind to pursue a new career with the returning Cadillac racing team, I wasn't sure what to expect. I've really been praying that his new ride will be as bomb-tastic as the mighty C6R. Turns out, all my prayers were answered.

Click something down here to see pics and stuff.

"You watch Formula One? You elitist..."

So back from my hiatus, might as well start with a bang. Ready for some blasphemy?

It's pretty well known that I've been a Formula One fan for, long enough to matter; I remember the day's when nobody watched F1 because we all knew Schumacher would just win.. so since '04? Those were the days when it the sport was really evolving, from a men and machines being pushed to the edge of insanity, to a political battleground.

Unfortunately, as every season progresses, the latter becomes more and more prevalent over the former. Why? Well, if you ask me a lot of it has to do with this rich asshole:

Yes, Bernie Ecclestone, head of the FOM, yes that is a real picture of him (no it's not) holding a the world encrusted with gold in his hands.. damn elitist.

After the 2009 season, I stopped watching Formula One because, it kinda started to suck. The FIA really turned the tables on the teams, changing all kinds-o-regulations and such. Perhaps coincidently, or maybe not, Both Honda and Toyota pulled their F1 teams of the grid because it was just too much money.

Two of the biggest automotive manufacturers in the world, both with incredibly rich & successful motorsport histories pulled out because it was too much money. What the hell?

It's well known that F1 is the most expensive sport in the the world, with billions and billions of dollars poured into the sport every season. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? In my opinion, its great in the sense that it is also the most prestigious form of motorsport and it's the pinnacle of racing and "automotive" technology; but its not so great in the sense that a lot of the money spent doesn't go to those things. 

I don't know exact numbers, but from what I understand more money goes into just politics then anything. It's not just the teams, its the everyone involved in the sport. Here is a number I do know, the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang cost the owners $45.7 million dollars, U.S. Dollars. In fact, just to be registered as a potential Grand Prix circuit costs upwards of $5 million. Consequently, most track cant front the cost, in fact Spa-Francorchamps might not be back on the F1 calendar after 2011 due to a $9 million debt. China and Turkey are in the same boat.

Where does all this money go? It shouldn't cost that much to host a race?

On top of that, according to some 2003 numbers, F1 teams spent a whopping  $2,141,100,000. with the top teams spending more then 11 times the lower teams. Interesting isn't it. To me it seems like it's just a competition to who can spend the most money thereby winning the most races; even former FIA President agrees.

Like I mentioned earlier, this is great because teams are spending a lot of that on research and development which trickles down to their production vehicle, right? Maybe not, teams are pumping millions and millions of dollars into technology that will probably never make it onto any road-going vehicle. Think about it, how many cars are going to have engines that rev to 19000 RPM, and $40,000 steering wheels? On top of that millions of dollars are spent on running model shops and huge wind-tunnels 24/7. All of that provides for fascinating things like the F-duct, wing stalling, deflecting front wings.. etc. But nobody besides an engineer cares, the average race fan just wants to watch some good racing. wind-tunnels and multi-million dollar budgets don't effect viewing pleasure.

With all that money, I have often times found myself far more fascinated by more grassroots racing. ALMS, Rolex, SCCA, they have all managed to steer clear of all the bullshit. Without all that, it's still some of the most exciting racing in the world if you ask me.

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A video showing the days of when real men raced.

It seems like a lot of race fans these days have nearly forgotten the days of the Group B racing. Though it was only a short 4 years of racing history, it seems that once someone has discovered the magic, they're addicted. Group B racing is truly captivating to all ages.

It was a period when giants roamed the earth. From 1982 to 1986, people cheered on the likes of Lancia, Audi, Renault, and Peugeot pound the roads at triple digit speeds. Even the greats like Ferrari and Porsche, companies comfortable sticking to the asphalt, put their names on the line with legends such as the 288 GTO and 959. These cars were monsters, lightweight, fire-breathing (farting) monsters that sounded as though the devil himself had put his soul into these cars.


Accidents were far too common with these behemoths; consequently, the FIA banned Group B cars in 1986. Still, forever in our hearts will these have a spot.




Source: YouTube

American Top Gear: my personal analysis

So when I first heard that there was going to be an American version of what is arguably the greatest TV series to ever have graced my television, I have to admit, I was skeptical. Nevertheless, maybe it was still worth giving a chance.

And my conclusion is:

It's shit!! Good shit, but shit nonetheless.

Just hear me out on this. What makes the BBC's Top Gear so great? In my opinion, its a combination of excellent artistic taste, great camera work, awesome cars, creative challenges, and of course, last but not least the graceful/hilarious presence of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. With all those attributes, it makes the show enjoyable to anyone. Whether or not the viewer is a gear-head or not, it's irrelevant; the show is enjoyable to all viewers. You can just have a laugh at it or be enthralled by it even if you know absolutely nothing about cars. In the end thats why so many people love it, so how does the American broadcast differ?

We'll all the attributes that the British broadcast that I listed above, the American show lacks. 

First off, the hosts; I freakin hate that Adam Ferrera guy, him and his tough-guy, Brooklyn/New Jowsey accent drive me up the wall. He tries hard to be funny and it's obvious, thereby killing it. It's also clear he know little to nothing about cars.

Second is Rutledge Wood, I'm not really sure what to think of this guy considering how he's a redneck hipster but if I had to put a finger on it, I would say I like him, in a platonic way of course. He's actually pretty funny. What I do know about him, is that he's actually a racing analyst for SpeedTV; this gives him some cool points.

Of course that leaves us with Tanner Foust. This guy has loads of respect from me as far as motorsports is concerned. In all honesty, this guy has more driving skill then all three of the British host do combined. He is incredibly well recognized and very successful in the motorsports world. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean he is a good show host. Everything he says, it seems like he's just reading of a teleprompter. 

The show itself just isn't that good when it is in a side-by-side comparison with the BBC broadcast. The challenges seem all too familiar and the cars are kinda lame, the most exciting was when they had Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4. Finally, why the hell cant they keep the camera straight? It's hella annoying when all every shot seems like it was taken in the middle of a war. 

The big star in a little car: lame. Why do they need a Stig when they have Tanner Foust? 

All in all, I think the show would be a lot better if it wasn't called "Top Gear". It doesn't live up the expectations of being called that. Sure its probably a lot better then Motorweek but so is watching grass grow. I'll just say its the best American Car Show for now.

Rant end.

Merry Christmas, here's a treat for your eyes and ears.

TURN IT UP!!!




Shown here is the fantastic Aston Martin V12 Vantage. This beast is large and in charge, loud and proud thanks to its 6.0-liter V12 cranking out 510 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. The exact same powerplant; the 6.0-liter unit can be found in the DB9, Rapide, DBS and even the amazinginly gorgeous One-77, and it's also the hamster wheel that powers the Lola-Aston Martin B09/60, better known as the Aston Martin DBR1-2 LMP1 racecar.

Now, the V12 Vantage is certainly an impressive car, however the DBR1-2's power tuned in to around 650 hp for its track day fun. That 140-hp raise is means a lot more when you factor in the weight difference between the two cars – the V12 Vantage weighs 3,700 pounds and the DBR1-2 comes in at just 2,000 pounds.

Source: Aston Martin via YouTube

Virgin Racing and Lotus Renault GP fill in their seats for the 2011 F1 season

As the very last few days of the 2010 calender year are winding down, some of the last seats in Formula One are getting filled.

After whats been a crazy time for Lotus Renault GP, they have some of their drivers selected; Russian driver Vitaly Petrov will stay with the team alongside Robert Kubica for another two years. 


Marussia Virgin Racing, formerly known an just Virgin Racing has also filled us in on who's going to be driving for them. Timo Glock is set to stay with the team. Alongside Glock, Jerome d'Ambrosio is set to fill in the second seat. The Belgian driver won the International Formula Master in 2007 and placed second in the GP2 Asia Series in 2008as well as 2009. As a former Renault reserve driver, d'Ambrosio will replace Lucas di Grassi.


Ironically, di Grassi made some sound in the community by taking the checkered flag at Felipe Massa's charity karting ahead of none other then Massa himself. Kinda makes you wonder if Virgin is really doing the right thing. 


With this news, theres still another 6 seats to be filled for the 2011 season. We'll try to keep you posted on what else is going on before then. The first race is set for March 13 in Bahrain.


Source: Lotus, Virgin Racing via Autoblog