Tag: Nurburgring

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Lamborghini

Lamborghini Jota prototype spied at Nürburgring

Lamborghini Jota prototype

Lamborghini has been teasing us lately with some rather esoteric photographs that don’t really say anything. It’s a good thing, then, that Pistonspy was on the ball to capture some images of the new Lamborghini Jota.

It’s understood the Jota will be the new Murcielago replacement and that will be powered by a 7.0 litre V12 spreading the hypercar word to the tune of 700hp (520kW). Lamborghini recently published a statement that reads in part, “The key factor in terms of better handling and acceleration, meaning more immediate pleasure in driving, is the power-to-weight ratio.”

That means this new Jota thingy should really get down and boogie thanks to a lighter shell. With any luck we’ll be seeing some fancy new pics in the very near future. There’s heaps of pics at Pistonspy, too, so make sure you take a closer look.

[Pics: Pistonspy]

Categories
BMW

BMW M5 prototype filmed during Nürburgring testing

BMW F10 M5 prototype

Fresh video of an F10-based BMW M5 being thrashed around the Nürburgring has emerged. The new M5 will ditch the delightful old V10 in favour of a twin turbo 4.4 litre bent eight. A V8 from Munich should sound good, right? Well, not yet it doesn’t. Not in this test mule anyway.

It’s expected we’ll get to see an M5 concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March next year, before the production-ready version makes its first public appearance at the Frankfurt show about 12 months from now.

There’s two clips after the jump, the first released in the last day or so, the second from back in April, which also features an M3 GTS. Now that’s what a German V8 should sound like!

[Source: 5post | Thanks to Richard & John for the tips]

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Pagani

Pagani Zonda R – Nürburgring record lap

Pagani Zonda R

Pagani have just published a YouTube clip showing the Zonda R “record” lap of the Nürburgring. It’s a great lap to watch, too. The car is just so stable, there is no discernable body roll and the way the Zonda R gathers speed is mind blowing. But for a couple of missed gears, most notably on the climb out of Ex-Mühle, a 6:46 time may have been possible.

Click on the image above to watch the clip over at AUSringers.com.

Categories
BMW Motorsports

The power of M

BMW E30 M3

A few days ago BMW celebrated the 25th anniversary of the mighty M3. They did so with a press release and a gallery of photos. Perhaps this video of a race-prepped E30 M3 lapping the Ring in under 7 minutes 40 seconds might have been a more fitting tribute.

[Thanks to Chris for the tip]

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Aston Martin

Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420

Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420

Aston Martin have just taken the wraps of their latest special edition V8 Vantage. It’s called the N420; that’s N for Nürburgring and 420 for the number of horses under the bonnet.

The Vantage has a proud record of racing at the Nürburgring 24 hour race. An Aston Martin Vantage has raced at the Ring every year since making its debut in 2006. Perhaps the most famous of these cars is the one called “Rose” which was the first Vantage to pop its Ring cherry. That car has completed thousands of racing miles over a number of years. A great advertisement for Aston, supported ably up by the appearance of CEO Ulrich Bez in the race seat as well.

So, this N420 thing, what’s it all about? In addition to the 420hp on offer from the 4.7 litre V8 there is the choice of 6-speed transmissions in traditional manual or Sportshift auto configuration. Weight has been reduced by 27kg, too, which is a nice touch. But that won’t really stand out at the Country Club, so Aston have obliged by throwing bits of carbon fibre trim on the outside. Optional “Race Collection” paint schemes will also give you bragging rights at the 19th hole. Other minor styling updates have also been introduced.

Perhaps one of the better introductions is the addition of a revised sports exhaust system. Aston say this “delivers a suitably rousing soundtrack”. The V8 Vantage already sounded sublime and if they have found a way to improve on that exhaust note then they’ve done a cracking job.

More after the break.

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Motorsports Porsche

Behind the scenes with the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Porsche GT3 R Hybrid

Here is a real treat for you, Autocar have just posted a video of Steve Sutcliffe driving the Porsche GT3 R Hybrid. This is the same car that very nearly won the demanding Nürburgring 24 hour race at its first attempt.

In his written review Sutcliffe says driving the GT3 R Hybrid is, “Quite spooky, incredibly efficient but also just very, very exciting to use. When you press the magic button for the first time it actually feels a bit like a cheat, the rush of extra acceleration comes at you that fast. But when you get used to the way it works – the way it can alter not just your speed along a straight but also the handling balance mid corner even – the hybrid GT3 R is quite clearly a highly significant piece of kit; the beginning of a brand new era.”

Piers Ward from TopGear.com has also had a drive in the GT3 R Hybrid. Here’s a bit of what he had to say, “This thing is utterly brilliant. It’s not about chasing fuel figures or CO2, it’s about trying to maximise performance.

“By the end of three braking zones, the flywheel is fully re-charged. The weirdest part of the whole thing is the noise is makes as it’s getting charged up – like a hoover on speed, whirring away frantically.”

In closing his review Sutcliffe says, “hybrid power is not the future for companies like Porsche and cars like the 911, it is the present. Not so much the end of the road for high performance cars, but the beginning of a brand new chapter.

Take the jump to watch the Autocar clip.

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Categories
News

Zonda R for Ring record

Zonda R

News has come through from evo that the Zonda R has claimed a new Nürburgring Nordschleife lap “record”. A bit like the sub-7 minute time posted by the Ferrari 599XX, though, it’s hard to know where to pigeon hole the Zonda R as it’s not a road legal car. Maybe just stick it in the bleeding fast category then, because its reported time of 6 minutes 47 seconds is bloody quick.

Quicker than the Ferrari (6:58), of course, but also quicker than the Radical SR8LM (6:48). Marc Basseng, the man at the wheel of the Zonda R, reckons there is more time to be found, as well.

Video of the lap will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

[Source: evo | Pic: frozenspeed]

Categories
Audi

Audi RS3 looks certain after new prototype images emerge

Audi RS3 prototype
Audi RS3 prototype

After endless teasing, it now appears certain that Audi will make an RS3 hyper hatch following the sighting of this test mule at the Nürburgring recently. If the deep TT RS inspired front grille wasn’t enough of a giveaway, then take a peak at the back of the car. There you will see the possibility of a high-mount air brake. In the lower valance you can see a crude cut-out on the right hand side likely to house one of the twin exhaust tips featured in Audi RS models.

There doesn’t seem to be much else in terms of pure speculation about the RS3 just yet, but expect more news to filter out soon. We can only assume an RS3 would be powered by the cracking 2.5 litre five cylinder from the TT RS. It’s also interesting to note the supposed RS3 mules spotted to date have all been five door Sportback versions. With talk the next RS4 could return to an Avant only layout, perhaps we can begin to assume the RS3 will not be available in three door coupé form.

There’s some good pics available over at Autoblog, so make sure you pop on over for a squiz.

[Source: Autoblog]

Categories
News

Behind the scenes with Subaru at the Nürburgring

Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Following the earlier news about the Subaru Impreza WRX STI here is a behind the scenes look at Subaru’s time at the Nürburgring. The clip runs for just under four minutes and gives a bit more insight into the STI sedan setting a new Nürburgring record for a four-door car.

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Categories
Subaru

Subaru Impreza WRX STI sedan sets Nürburgring record

Subaru Impreza WRX STI sedan

Subaru brings us news that Tommi Mäkinen has driven an MY11 Impreza WRX STI sedan around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes 55 seconds. Which is a new (unofficial) lap record for a four door car, beating the previous best time of the Cadillac CTS-V by four seconds.

Speaking after the lap Mäkinen said, “The car was controllable with precise and faithful handling even on tricky corners. I could easily predict the car’s behaviour. That is exactly what Subaru is offering: confidence.”

Interestingly, the same car was seen at the Ring a few days before the record was set (16 April 2010) by Dale from Bridge to Gantry.

A couple of extra pics can be seen after the jump, along with the all important video. Slightly better quality footage is available direct from the Subaru Global website as well.

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Motorsports Porsche

The ultimate “run what you brung” weapon?

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Driving your own car to a track day and home again after a couple of hours track time is one thing. But imagine driving from Stuttgart to Nürburg where upon arrival you spend 24 hours thrashing the car around the Green Hell in a race with around 200 other cars. At the end of that you pack up your things and head back to Stuttgart as if this was all in a day’s work.

That scenario is pretty much what happened with the #11 Porsche 911 GT3 RS at the Nürburgring 24 hour race this year. Driven by Roland Asch, Patrick Simon, Horst von Saurma and Chris Harris the GT3 RS started the race from 42nd position and finished in 13th place outright. The team completed 145 laps, nine behind the eventual race winner.

Asch says the car ran like a dream, “As planned, we replaced the front brakes during the race. But other than that, the mechanics concentrated on refuelling, tyre changes and cleaning the windows during the pit stops. The car ran like clockwork.”

More from Porsche after the break. Extra pictures from the race can be seen HERE.

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Lotus Motorsports Video

Green hell

Green hell

Ever wondered what you would do if your car caught fire and you didn’t know until it was almost too late. Imagine some Benny Hill music with this clip from last weekend’s Nürburgring 24 hour race and you could almost consider it amusing at first. That is, until you put yourself in the shoes of the driver, Evo journo Richard Green. This is one lucky escape and thankfully Green suffered no lasting effects from his dramas. The same can’t be said for the Lotus Exige, though, which ended up a molten mess.

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