Categories
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.

Categories
Seat

El nuevo Seat Leon Cupra R

Seat Leon Cupra R

We first heard of the spiciest Seat Leon, the Cupra R, before last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. It’s pretty much a Spanish Golf with a bunch of chillies stuffed down its trousers. Those chillies are rated at 195kW and ensure the driver will have to keep their wits about them; all that power is put to the road through the front wheels.

Essentially the car uses the same drivetrain found in the Volkswagen Scirocco R and employs a trick electronic diff (XDS) to try and hose down that firecracker of an engine. Apparently the results are “effective yet unobtrusive”.

The Leon Cupra R has just been launched in the UK and their press team have been kind enough to send out a few pics and a brief introductory video. You can see all that for yourself right after the break.

Categories
Audi Honda

The odd couple

Audi R8 V10 v Honda Type R Mugen

Here’s an interesting video comparison from Autocar. On hand is the awesome Audi R8 V10 being pestered by a (UK market only) buzzing Honda Type R Mugen. Now, at £40K the Mugen is no shortcut to cheap thrills by any means. But asking it to keep up with the £100K R8 is a pointless exercise, isn’t it?

Well watch the video to find out. I guess the real point here is, if you had access to both of these cars and a twisty road, you’d most likely want a piece of the action too. A cracking car is a cracking car, doesn’t matter what company it keeps.

[via The German Car Blog]

Categories
Citroen

VIDEO: Citroën C4 MkII

Citroen C4 MkII

Following the first look at the new C4 MkII this morning, Citroën have released this video of the C4 which shows the car from a variety of angles. What do you think? Do you reckon The European would actually buy this one.

Categories
Lamborghini Motorsports

Lamborghini Super Trofeo driver survives horrific crash at Brno

Super Trofeo crash @ Brno

The driver of this Lamborghini Gallardo competing in a Super Trofeo race in Brno yesterday has survived with relatively minor injuries. Unconfirmed reports suggest the lucky driver escaped with a broken arm and first degree burns to his legs. (See update below.)

Such injuries would usually be cause for concern, but take a look at the series of images after the jump and you will understand just how fortunate this guy is to be alive. It’s a sickening crash. Fortunately the impact happened on the main straight and Czech Republic marshalls and safety officers were quickly on the scene.

As well as the images below you can also see a YouTube clip of the accident. More images can be seen by following the source link.

[Source: foltyn.cz | Thanks to Chris for the tip]

UPDATE: Here is a link to an official statement from the Super Trofeo website. It reads, in part: “The driver of car number 22, Giorgio Bartocci, was taken to hospital following an accident at the start of the first race of the weekend.  He remains in intensive care in hospital in Brno, where his condition is currently stable.”

Categories
Porsche

Holy $#!%@!!

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Porsche have done nothing to shy away from the “widowmaker” tag given to their GT2 nameplate. Bearing the extra special annotation of RS, this latest iteration sure to keep even the most talented drivers on their toes. Check out the promo clip after the break.

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Monaco

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

The latest in the Red Bull Racing simulator series sees Mark Webber enjoying the sights of the French Riviera ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix. When in Monte Carlo Mark is impressed by all the big boats, apparently. Here’s to Webber finishing at the head of the field once again—an Aussie win on the famous Monte Carlo streets would be epic!

Categories
Volkswagen

VIDEO: Volkswagen Golf R – Manual v DSG

VW Golf R

Word on the street is the new Volkswagen Golf R will be launched in mid-June. While Australian specs have emerged, there’s still nothing concrete on pricing, other than a hint at an entry level list price of mid-50s.

Should you get the manual or DSG transmission to go with your 188kW/330Nm and trick Haldex all-wheel drive system? I guess it all depends on just how important traffic light grands prix are to you, as opposed to the feeling of having control at all times.

If you’re undecided as to which way to go, below you can see a pretty rudimentary comparison below thanks to Autocar. It’s a bit crude, but the results on the 0-100km/h test are conclusive.

Categories
Audi

VIDEO: Another RS5 review

Audi RS5

Jethro Bovingdon forged his reputation with Evo magazine and then the ill-fated Drivers Republic website. Now, he finds himself on staff at Car magazine and, of more relevance to us right now, he is behind the wheel of the Audi RS5. Check out his video review after the jump.

[Source: Car]

Categories
Ferrari

VIDEO: Behind the wheel of a Ferrari 599 GTO

Ferrari 599 GTO

The Ferrari 599 GTO has been so eagerly anticipated by cashed up buyers that all 599 cars were sold before the car even had its official launch. So, then, videos from motoring journos are likely to be one of the few opportunities availble to try and experience just what it might be like to sit behind the wheel of Ferrari’s newest GTO and imagine what that 500kW 6.0 litre V12 would feel like.

Lucky for us, then, that UK mag Car has done just that and released a video of the 599 GTO lapping the Mugello circuit. You can check it out below after the jump. Let me know what you think. It’s hard to tell if it is the recording, maybe the sound has been muffled, but it seems like a fairly anodyne experience. Of course, I’d be sure to come to a different conclusion if it were me behind the wheel.

UPDATE: Steve Sutcliffe from Autocar has also filed a video review of the 599 GTO. He’s driven the 599XX, too, remember. After watching this second clip—this is more like it!

Categories
Aston Martin

VIDEO: Aston Martin One-77 sighted in London

Aston Martin One-77

This Aston Martin One-77 was recently seen in London’s St James area. It joined a convoy of supercars en route to Silverstone to promote the FIA GT1 Championship. The video clip includes interior shots, as well as views of the car from all angles. Last month the same user who posted this clip to YouTube added another video of a One-77 sitting inside Aston Martin’s Park Lane showroom. Both can be seen below.

Deliveries of the One-77 are not scheduled until mid-year, so this sighting is one of the first on public roads. Powered by a 7.3 litre V12 producing around 520kW (700bhp) Aston’s first proper hyper car will be its quickest model ever capable of top speeds in excess of 350km/h. It will also be one of the company’s most exclusive releases to date, with just 77 models to be made.

[via World Car Fans]

Categories
MINI Challenge

Another MINI Challenge crash at Ipswich 300

Sarah Harley's MINI Challenge racecar crashes into the tyre barrier

The MINI Challenge series has seen another spectacular crash at the Ipswich 300 event held at Queensland Raceway today. Sarah Harley’s car reportedly had a sticking throttle, forcing her car to understeer off the track and into the tyre wall. The impact happened at high speed and she was lucky to walk away with no serious injury.

After the incident Harley was taken to hospital for observation but was soon released. On her return to the track she said, “That was a really big hit this morning and it is a testament to the MINI and its strength that I walked away with just a bit of whiplash. It was scary heading into the tyre wall so fast I kind of tensed up and braced myself. It was a hard impact but all the safety features on the car did their job and officials worked really quickly to help me out of the car and secure the situation.”

News footage of today’s incident from Channel Seven can be seen after the break. The clip also includes a brief interview with Kain Magro, the driver involved in yesterday’s dramatic incident.

In on-track news the round was won by Warren Luff, who was making his MINI Challenge debut. Defending champion Paul Stokell ended the round in second place, while current series leader Chris Alajajian came home in third. A highlights package of this round will air nationally next weekend on the Seven Network (check you local guides for details).

Photos of the two crashes can be seen at the Catch Fence Photos forum.