Ken Block’s Gymkhana Five video will be released on YouTube in two weeks and via his twitter feed has brought this short teaser to our attention. We reckon there might be one or two more teasers to follow before the eventual launch.
For now we have to make do with Ken burning it up on a barge in the middle of San Francisco bay.
It’s taken us a while to get to this video from Drive, which takes us inside the Koenigsegg factory in Angelholm, Sweden. But it has definitely been worth the wait and we’re sure you’ll agree.
While Ron Dennis would probably have heart palpitations that the factory is not fastidiously spotless or organised, we think he’d get off on Christan von Koenigsegg explaining the finer details of carbon fibre production. Not to mention the detailed explanation of how the door hinges work and why they were created.
In fact, if you love cars and don’t come away from this video without a man crush on von Koenisegg then you must sell whatever machinery you love and trade it in for a beige Corolla.
Oh, one more thing, in the video von Koenigsegg makes mention of “the record”. If you need a reminder of what that is all about, click here.
It’s hard to believe that it is 15 years ago since Martin Brundle broadcast his first pre-race grid walk at a Formula One Grand Prix. His debut stroll down the grid took place at the 1997 British GP, when he was working for ITV. A total of 260 races have gone by since then.
Promoted by Brundle’s own twitter feed, here is the footage from that first walk down the Silverstone starting grid.
Last week we brought you the early thoughts of the motoring press on the latest version of the Audi RS4. Now it’s the turn of Chris Harris in video form, who has just filed his online review for Drive following the European press launch.
Harris starts by going back to the B5 RS4, then the B7 model, before seeing how the new B8 RS4 sits alongside those that have gone before it. We think he should have included the RS2 Avant as well—the true origin of the RS4—but can understand why he didn’t.
We get presented with a great sense of what the earlier RS4s did well and what they did poorly. Indeed, for a while there, we see Harris performing the role of used car salesman rather well. Similarly, a wide range of feedback is given by Harris on the new car. Again, negative aspects are balanced with positive thoughts. In the true sense of the word, this is a great review.
However, adding further modern day context, Harris brought along a fourth estate to the party. Watch and enjoy!
For more extensive thoughts from Harris on the RS4, check in to PistonHeads.
Here is a pretty nasty video of a chap called James Greenwood killing Bambi in his Crovette Z06 at a track day in West Virginia. Neither of them had a chance really. The clip itself is not over the top with Bambi’s blood and guts, but if you’re the queasy type we suggest don’t take the jump to see what happens next.
[Source: Autoblog]
BMW has seen fit to use its M6 Coupé and Convertible to tackle one of life’s great debates: blonde v brunette. To be honest the clip is a little bit naff, but take a look and see what you think. Which one would you choose?
Last weekend, while we were busy watching the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the lads from Top Gear were doing a live show in Durban, South Africa. One of the star attractions was a loop the loop stunt called the “Deadly 720â€. That’s 720 degrees, which means two circular loops completed in a trick four-wheeled buggy thing.
It’s kind of like Hot Wheels tricks for grown ups. We’ve got the video for you after the break, so go on, watch it now and relive your youth!
The official Sydney Motorsport Park twitter feed brings our attention to a new outright lap record for the recently extended 4.5km Long Circuit. F3 driver Nathan Gotch from the AGI Sport team is the man at the wheel and you can join him after the break to relive the new 1:49.4 benchmark.
When Chris Harris makes a statement like “This might just be the best day of my working life,” you know he must have done something special. Thing is, though, he did not drive a single car in his latest piece for Drive.
We’ll not spoil it for you, the category tag has given you a clue and if you know your stuff you’ll recognise the bloke behind the wheel in the image above. And that’s just a taster.
It’s a great vid this one, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t thank Pirelli for creating the opportunity for it to happen.
[Thanks to Stephen for the tip]
How are your parking skills ladies and gents? More specifically, what are you like at sliding into your parallel park with the aid of your hand brake?
Check out this video from MINI after the break and see if you reckon you can top 15cm. If you can you could have a Guiness World Record all to yourself.
If you ever needed a reminder of how far the sport of Formula One has come since its inception this highlights video from the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix would be a pretty good place to start.
The race was won by the unheralded Ferrari driver Maurice Trintignant. It’s also notable for being the last race for F1 legend Alberto Ascari; he was killed a few days later in a testing accident at Monza.
In the 1950s the Monaco street circuit was a bit different to the course Mark Webber won on last weekend. La Rascasse didn’t exist, for example, and the tunnel was much shorter, to name two of the changes.
Check out the video after the break, we’re sure you’ll get a kick out of it.
[via Motor Sport Retro]
Let’s get one thing straight, Mercedes-Benz G Wagens are cool. Slightly odd, but cool. Why? Well, they just are.
So, what happens when you stuff a 544hp 5.5 litre twin-turbo V8 under the bonnet? Thankfully Chris Harris and Harry Metcalfe are on hand to find out.
Videos from both men can be seen after the break; they bring you 20 minutes of evaluation. Of course, neither take the G63 AMG off-road, instead they attack some twisties and wreak some havoc on the Autobahn.
Well, not much else about these cars, especially with that engine, makes a lot of sense. We think Metcalfe sums it up best with these two comments:
“God, it could understeer for Germany.”
“It’s not really a car, it’s a toy. And it’s a very, very good toy.”