Swedish designer Bo Zolland from Vizualtech has sent us a series of renderings demonstrating a Volvo C30 racecar that could potentially compete in the DTM or the Le Mans endurance series. "The idea was to create a Diesel or 'green' racing car with low emissions and high output, combined with nasty looks," said Zolland. Check out the rest of the illustrations right after the jump and tell us what you think.Source: Vizualtech
British sportscar manufacturer Aston Martin has set its eyes for an outright victory at this year's Le Mans 24 hour race that will be held over the weekend of 13-14 June, 2009. Aston Martin will return to La Sarthe with two Works LMP1 cars bearing the characteristic blue and orange livery of Gulf Oil. Currently under development, the LMP1 will be based on the 2008 Charouz Racing System Lola equipped with the same production-based Aston Martin V12 engine which, last year, helped Aston Martin secure its second successive Le Mans GT1 title with the DBR9."2009 is a hugely significant year for Aston Martin at Le Mans and the challenge of reclaiming victory in this famous race for Aston Martin and Great Britain was simply too great to ignore," said Aston Martin Chairman, David Richards.
"However, we do not underestimate the task. While we have won the GT1 class for the last two years, competing against the proven speed and endurance of the diesel-powered cars with all their years of winning the prototype class, will be a massive undertaking. Nonetheless, I see this as a great opportunity to showcase the ingenuity of British engineering talent," Richards added.
In addition to the Le Mans 24 hour race, Aston Martin's race team will also compete throughout the year in the Le Mans Series (LMS), which opens with the 1000 km de Catalunya on the 5th of April.
The most powerful race-spec 911, the GT3 RSR which is designed to compete in the GT2 class at international long distance races, has received a series of modifications for the 2009 model year. The updated 911 GT3 RSR features a more aerodynamic body, a larger capacity boxer engine as well as upgrades in the interior.In the 2009 model, the capacity of the six-cylinder boxer engine has been increased from 3.8 to 4.0-litres delivering around 450HP at 7,800 rpm and a maximum torque of 430 Nm at 7,250 rpm. Power is driven to the rear wheels through a sequential six-speed gearbox. Other mechanical changes include the weight-optimised brake system and the lighter wiring harness.
On the outside, the most distinguishing feature of the new GT3 RSR is the redesigned front-end with large air outlets on the front hood. Furthermore, Porsche optimized the GT3 RSR's underbody aerodynamics while the rear wing now features a wider adjustment range.
The 2009 911 GT3 RSR's cockpit boasts a new multi-function display located above the dashboard that tells the driver when it's the right time to change gears. Another new feature is the programmable multi-function, onboard supply system control device that gives racing teams the choice of many individual functions. One of these is the infinitely adjustable blinking frequency of the lights in the front apron, which helps to recognize race cars when they enter the pits in the dark.
The price of the updated 911 GT3 RSR has been set at �380,000 -around $490,000 US with the current exchanges rates- plus VAT specific to each country.
Technical Description Porsche GT3 RSR (2009) Engine: 
At the Detroit Show, Jaguar revealed a specially modified XFR prototype that recorded a top speed of 225.7 mph (363.2 km/h) during a secret speed trial at the iconic Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah last November. The XFR prototype beat Jaguar's previous speed record of 217.1mph (349.4 km/h) that had been set back in 1992 by the XJ220. The man behind the wheel of the fastest Jag ever was Paul Gentilozzi, owner of Rocketsports Racing who led the Jaguar XKR to five series victories between 2001 and 2006 in the Trans Am series in the USA.Jaguar said that prototype model was equipped with a slightly more powerful version of the standard XFR's 5.0-liter V8 with additional horsepower being liberated by a remapped ECU, a modified air intake and exhaust system and revised supercharger settings. It was also fitted with minor aerodynamic and safety modifications that were made to meet the requirements for a Bonneville run. According to the British automaker, no internal engine components were changed and the six-speed automatic transmission was standard, including the gear ratios.
Toyota's contender for the 2009 Formula 1 World Championship, the new TF109, broke cover today at the Japanese team's Cologne headquarters in Germany. Designed and engineered in line with new FIA regulations, the TF109 racer is distinguished by the new wings that are wider and lower at the front and, narrower and smaller at the back. Furthermore, the F1 racer does not feature any aerodynamic add-on devices, such as winglets, as they have been banned, while for the first time in 12 years, slick tires - Bridgestone Potenza - will be used.For the 2009 F1 Season, Toyota's driver line-up will continue with Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock and "third driver" Kamui Kobayashi.
During the presentation, Panasonic Toyota Team president John Howitt said: "After eight years in Formula 1 we have gained a huge amount of knowledge and improved considerably. We are hungry to win and ready to win, there should be no doubt about that. The new regulations pose an extra challenge, but at the same time offer an opportunity. We have everything we need to win, some exceptionally talented people and a huge motivation to succeed, so now it is down to us to actually make it happen."
Toyota TF109 outline technical specifications
Length/height/width (mm) | 4,636/950/1,800 | |
Weight � inc. driver and camera (kg) | 605 | |
Monocoque | Moulded carbon fibre | |
Suspension | Carbon fibre double wishbones with carbon fibre trackrod and pushrod | |
Dampers | Penske | |
Wheels | BBS forged magnesium | |
Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza | |
Brakes | Toyota/Brembo | |
Transmission | 7-speed, plus reverse | |
Engine | Configuration | V8 |
Capacity (cc) | 2,398 | |
Max. rpm | 18,000 (FIA limit) | |
Max. power (bhp) | 740 (approx.) | |
| Valve actuation | Pneumatic |
| Throttle actuation | Hydraulic |
In late November, Porsche officially opened its new Driving Experience Centre adjacent to the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in Northamptonshire, England. The Centre offers a variety of track configurations and surface conditions on which drivers can check out the potential of all Porsche road cars. In this video, one of the Porsche Driving Consultants takes a lap at the facilities of the German firm's centre, including the low friction circuit, the ice hill, the kick plate, the handling circuit and the off-road course.
As the global economic recession deepens, automakers around the world are either canceling or pulling out from all sorts of competitions. Land Rover said today that it will cancel the Land Rover G4 Challenge programme in order to focus more on product launches in 2009. The G4 Challenge that started in 2003 as the spiritual successor to the Camel Trophy, was recognized as the one of the world's top off-road driving and adventure events. It was held every two years with national selection events taking place in 18 countries around the globe.
"Given the severity of the global economic downturn and trading conditions, we need to make some tough decisions and that means prioritizing our budgets on new product launches," said Phil Popham, Managing Director Land Rover.
"We are disappointed for the competitors who have shown so much commitment and put tremendous effort into succeeding as representatives of their nation. We have and will continue to take swift and decisive actions for the benefit of the business; unfortunately that means the Land Rover G4 Challenge has to come to an early close," he added.
It's a sad day for rally fans like ourselves today as Subaru has announced its decision to withdraw from the World Rally Championship at the end of the year because of the financial crisis. "This sudden decision was made in response to the widespread economic downturn that is affecting the entire automotive industry," Subaru said in a statement. The announcement comes only a day after Suzuki said that it won't compete in the 2009 WRC for the same exact reasons.The Prodrive-run Subaru team was one of the biggest players in the WRC the past two decades during which it won six World Rally Championship titles. Commenting on Subaru's decision, Prodrive chairman, David Richards, said: "Subaru's departure from the World Rally Championship is a great loss as it is one of the sport's icons. The Subaru World Rally Team has created true champions such as Colin McRae and Richard Burns and its absence will be felt by many the world over. Although this decision closes a significant chapter in Prodrive's history, our focus now turns to the future."
Those who believed that the glamorous world of Formula One motor racing would remain immune from the global economic were apparently mistaken. On Friday, 5 December, Honda CEO and President Takeo Fukui announced the company's withdrawal from all Formula One activities, making 2008 the last season of participation. The Japanese automaker blamed the world economic crisis for plans its decision to quit and, as Fukui revealed, to sell the F1 team."This difficult decision has been made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry, brought on by the sub-prime problem in the United States, the deepening credit crisis and the sudden contraction of the world economies," said Honda president Takeo Fukui.
"We will enter into consultation with the associates of Honda Racing F1 Team and its engine supplier Honda Racing Development regarding the future of the two companies. This will include offering the team for sale," he added.
Honda's somewhat shocking withdrawal from the F1 championship also leaves its two star drivers, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, without a team for the 2009, with only a few seats still available for the season.
Sporting its new 2009 racing livery, the new racing version of the Chevrolet Cruze that will compete in the 2009 World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) made its first public appearance at the 33rd Bologna Motor Show in Italy. The Cruze WTCC is currently undergoing a testing and development program in the hands of Chevrolet Europe's three WTCC drivers, Rob Huff, Nicola Larini and Alain Menu. The first time that we will see the Cruze WTCC in action will be on the opening round of the championship, 7-8 March 2009 in Curitiba, Brazil.
"The Bologna Motor Show is one of the most festive car events in Europe," said Eric Neve, Manager Motorsport at Chevrolet Europe. "We could not think of a better place to say goodbye to the Lacetti, which will be racing here (at the show race on 8 December) for the last time and give a warm welcome to new Cruze WTCC. The new race livery really encapsulates everything which Chevrolet is about: it is fresh, colorful, exciting, and out-of-the box."
The GT3 race version of the Audi R8 called LMS made its first public appearance at this week's Essen Motorshow in Germany. Audi's first-ever racing sports car that has been developed specifically for customer use will available from autumn 2009 for a proposed price of �262,000 (plus tax) which comes to around $332,000 U.S. with the current exchange rates. The Audi R8 LMS is powered by a mid-mounted 500HP plus V10 engine hooked up to a newly developed six-speed sequential sports gearbox. Given that the GT3 regulations prohibit the use of four-wheel drive, Audi's race-spec supercar comes with a rear-wheel-drive powertrain.The new Audi R8 LMS will be seen in action on the race track during the 2009 season with up to eight customer cars competing in different European race series and in the 24-hour race at the N�rburgring, for which Audi Sport will develop an endurance version of the R8 LMS. The German automaker itself does not plan to enter any races with the new GT3 car.
German automaker Audi, announced today that it will stage the world premiere of the motorsport version of the R8 at the Essen Motor Show that runs from November 28 to December 7. The 500HP-plus, rear-wheel-drive Audi R8 GT3 is destined for track use in various national and international race series around the world. Power will be transmitted to the rear wheels through a newly developed six-speed sequential sports gearbox while the R8 GT3's suspension will mostly use components from the production model. For those interested, the R8 GT3 will be available for order from autumn 2009.
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