Category: News

I reckon at the top of the stairway to heaven this would be one of the cars in the garage. The car in question, of course, is a McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’. Just 10 were made for competition in the 1997 FIA GT season and the example pictured above could be yours. That’s right, even before you get to heaven.

I can’t read Japanese, but I’m guessing the website advertising this motoring royalty is saying “konichiwa, if sir has to ask, then sir can’t afford it”, or something like that. Ooh, it makes me wonder.

I’m not sure about you, but I didn’t win the $90M lotto draw, so I won’t be buying my stairway to heaven just yet.

[Source: Top Gear]

Free car shows at Melbourne’s Federation Square will become a regular sight with Shannons announcing a series of events running until the lead up to Christmas.

The Fed Square Car Club Showcase supported by Shannons will be held on the last Sunday of each month. The first event with a display of fabulous sporting cars from the 1920s and 1930s by the Vintage Drivers Club is scheduled for this Sunday (28 June). Next month around 50 Porsches from all eras will be on display (26 July) .

“This is an exciting concept which we really believe will catch the public’s imagination,” said Shannons reprasentative, Richard Sanders.

“We’re excited about working in with Federation Square, as each display will get a huge audience – both of enthusiasts and city visitors lucky enough to be in the area on each Sunday.”

The events are held in conjunction with a number of car clubs and future displays will showcase a huge variety of cars from the Thunderbird Owners Club of Australia (30 August), the Volkswagen Club of Victoria (27 September), the Triumph Sports Owners Association of Victoria (25 October) and the (Ford) Capri Car Club (29 November).

More detail can be read after the jump.

Audi’s recent honour roll at Le Mans is mighty impressive. They have won eight of the last nine races. Or, to put it another way, Audi has won every Le Mans 24 hour race in the 2000s, except for 2003. Audi’s current streak stands at five successive wins. No pressure, then, for the drivers of the new R15 TDI and their crew.

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the R15 does indeed look up to the task. At its first major race meet, the Sebring 12 hour, the R15 won in style, setting a new laps record for the enduro.

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport, is confident of further success, while remaining cautious of rival teams, “The target is clear: We want to carry on where we left off in the previous years and continue our winning streak at Le Mans. We have a new car, the Audi R15 TDI, and were successful immediately with this car in its first race at Sebring. We know, however, that our competitors have improved in many aspects compared to the previous years and therefore expect possibly the toughest Le Mans race that we have ever contested.”

Eight-time race winner Tom Kristensen will be in the #1 car and is expecting a tough race, “We had a fantastic race with the new Audi R15 TDI against strong competition at Sebring in March. We’ve been working hard ever since, but have also been given 30 kilograms additional weight. We had to extend our test program because of this – one reason was to be absolutely sure we were on the safe side despite the higher weight. Another was obviously to optimize the car so that we could run as long as possible on a single set of tires despite the weight. Last year’s race was a genuine classic. Our lap times were not the quickest, but we won thanks to good team work and efficiency. We hope to close this performance gap with the R15 TDI. We want to exert pressure on the Peugeot team, which also never rests, just like Aston Martin and the other opponents. We are well prepared. I’m really looking forward to competing in the world’s greatest and fastest long-distance race and to be in the thick of the tough competition. I think we can expect a fantastic race.”

Peugeot have already attempted an overtaking move before the race has even begun by lodging a protest against the R15’s front wing. At this stage, with the R15 passing scrutineering at bpth Sebring and at Le Mans earlier this week, it would appear there’s not much to the French rival’s enquiry. But, as with any such matter in motorsport—watch this space!

More R15 pics and plenty of guff from the Audi PR crew can be viewed after the jump.