inpitlane.com » Sports & GT

IT’S OFFICIAL: NISSSAN JOIN V8 SUPERCARS (now we can all get some sleep)

Brett Ramsey — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:44:03 +0000

TOYOTA TESTS TERRIFIC TS030

Brett Ramsey — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:50:12 +0000

TOYOTA Racing has completed a successful first full test of the new TS030 HYBRID car which will compete in the LMP1 category in selected races of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The team spent three days at the Paul Ricard circuit in southern France for the first full test of the TS030 HYBRID, following a three-day roll-out at the same circuit earlier this month. Using the a configuration of the track which includes the complete Mistral Straight, all three race drivers - Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima - had the opportunity to test the new car, which features the THS-R (TOYOTA HYBRID System - Racing) power-train. The test programme built on the positive work already achieved during the TS030 HYBRID’s roll-out, when systems checks and basic set-up analysis was carried out.

MELBOURNE TO FOCUS ON AUSSIE AFTERMARKET

Brett Ramsey — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:05:17 +0000

A heightened commercial focus on Australia’s leading edge aftermarket performance, racing and tuning products will highlight an expanded 2012 Australian Automotive Week, to be held in Melbourne from 11 to 18 March. Supported by the Victorian Government, the 2012 Australian Automotive Week will include a new program to showcase Australian designed and manufactured high performance accessories, [...]

BOWE TESTS BATHURST BEAST

Brett Ramsey — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:47:56 +0000

Australian Touring Car Legend John Bowe has had his first taste of the Ferrari power he hopes will take him to victory in the upcoming Bathurst 12 hour race.

Bowe took to the wheel of the Il Bello Rosso 458 GT3 at the Phillip Island circuit in warm and fine conditions, the multiple Aussie Champ delighted at what he'd seen so far.

“It’s incredibly impressive, with massive amount of grip compared to the Mustang so really, it’s like ‘wow’!" he said.

Bowe, who has previously raced an early model Ferrari in the days of The Nations Cup, said that there was considerable difference between the Italian supercars then and now.

“The 458 has a much nicer gear change than the previous Ferrari, a nicer brake feel, and it’s got a lot more gizmos to work around, and so far I’ve only done a very limited amount which lends to a lot more to come."

DALLARA’S NEW F3 CHALLENGER

Brett Ramsey — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:14:01 +0000

Italian racing car manufacturer Dallara have unveiled their new Formula Three challenger for 2012. The new Dallara F312, currently on display at the Autosport Show in Birmingham, is the result of a fundamental rethinking of the aerodynamics and the key mechanical components. According to Dallara the F312 is a hugely important car charged with upholding the winning tradition of decades of world-wide Formula 3 competition. The Main New Features of the Car are:

DUBAI 24 SET TO ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

Brett Ramsey — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:46:51 +0000

All the transport containers have been placed in the paddock of the Dubai Autodrome, all the drivers and team members are flying in from all over the world: this week, the 2012 motor racing season officially gets underway with the seventh running of the Dunlop 24H DUBAI, No less than 20 car brands will be present on the grid for this year?s Dunlop 24H DUBAI, the first international endurance race of the year for GTs, touring cars and 24H specials.

AND A BRAND NEW LAMBORGHINI

Brett Ramsey — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:49:53 +0000

Reiter Engineering have continued their association with Italian Manufacturer Lamborghini with a major upgrade to their Gallardo LP 600 GT3. The focus of the upgrade is to improve the suitability of the car for endurance events like the upcoming Bathurst 12 hour race and the increasingly popular Blanpain series. “”Our customers and ourselves proved already, that the [...]

REITER ROCKS WITH RAD CAMARO

Brett Ramsey — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:03:59 +0000

International GT racing will see a spectacular and powerful package in 2012. The German company SARENI United is now offering the newly designed Camaro GT. The US car will make an impression on racing tracks all around the world with its 800 Nm from up to 650 HP. The power is transmitted to the rear tyres from a 7.9 litre eight-cylinder (V8) by a newly designed HOLINGER gear box. The HOLINGER speed shift system with paddle shifts on the steering wheel is extremely light, weighing only 37 kg, shifts gears very fast and is designed for high torque. The US engine developer KATECH received clear specifications: close-to-production, low cost, service performance of 10,000 km and maximum power. The car was developed under the direction of Reiter Engineering in Germany. Founder and owner Hans Reiter got the idea when he went to the USA in 2010. “I was immediately fascinated by the design. The Camaro is a real men’s car, a muscle car, it is designed to be on a race track”, says Hans Reiter who founded SARENI United especially for this project.

JUNCADELLA DELIGHTS IN MACAU

Brett Ramsey — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 02:17:52 +0000

Spanish driver Daniel Juncadella has won the biggest event of his career so far with victory in the Macau F3 Grand Prix on Sunday. Juncadella was running fourth early in the race but a safety car restart on lap five, moved the young Spanish driver into position to challenge for the lead. He took the top place from pole-sitter Marco Wittmann after another safety car restart on lap 10. From there, Juncadella extended his advantage over second placed Felipe Nasr of Brazil, until a third and final safety car period on the penultimate lap guaranteed him the victory. “I didn’t really expect to win but this feeling is amazing,” said the Prema driver. “I still can’t believe it. On the last lap when we were behind the safety car, I have never cried that much in my life.” Wittmann, who had started from pole position and had built up a 2.7 seconds advantage before the second safety car period, dropped down to fifth at one stage after being overtaken at the restart – he recovered to finish third.

PEUGEOT ON TOP AGAIN IN ZHUHAI LE MANS FINAL

Brett Ramsey — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 11:29:05 +0000

<strong>Peugeot have kept their recent edge on Audi alaive with a one, two in qulifying for tomorrow's 6 hour race at Zuhai in China.</strong> Anthony Davidson set a fast lap of 1:22;038 to edge out team-mate Stephane Sarrazin and the Audi pair of Tom Kristensen and Macel Fassler. Neel Jarni in the rebellion Toyota was the quickest of the petrol cars in fourth place just ahead of the Oak Pescarolo Judd of Neel Jarni. Stefan Mucke had a dissapointing run in the Aston Martin and will start back in seventh place.