Porsche Announces It Will Build 911 Carrera 4 GTS

Porsche, whose favorite hobby is finding more ways to splice the 911 lineup, has split off yet a new thread: the 911 Carerra 4 GTS. We thought that the recently-released GT3 RS 4.0 would be the last variant of the current 911 generation, but apparently we overlooked that the marketplace was clamoring for a GTS [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/wMwX_au15aM/

Christian Goethals Paul Goldsmith José Froilán González Oscar González Aldo Gordini

Mazda 787B restored, returning to Le Mans for 20th anniversary of win

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Mazda 787B restored and returning to Le Mans
Mazda 787B restored and returning to Le Mans - Click above for high-res image gallery

In 1991, Mazda became the first and to this day only Japanese automaker to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans using the 787B you see above. It was also the first and only rotary-powered car to ever win the grueling French endurance race.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of that Le Mans win, and to celebrate that victory, Mazda has restored the original winning 787B and been invited by the event organizers to drive it on the Circuit de la Sarth just a few hours before this year's 79th running of the race.

The 787B is powered by a four-rotor rotary engine producing 700 horsepower, though it was said to be capable of a maximum power output of 900 hp. Even after 20 years, it could probably keep up with today's crop of Le Mans prototype cars.

We don't know yet who will be driving the 787B on June 11, but the man who drove the car across the finish line 20 years earlier, Johnny Herbert, will be on hand, and we're sure he'd be happy to help out if asked.

Check out the amazing gallery of the Mazda team testing the 787B after its recent restoration, and follow the jump for two amazing audio clips of its engine.

Continue reading Mazda 787B restored, returning to Le Mans for 20th anniversary of win

Mazda 787B restored, returning to Le Mans for 20th anniversary of win originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 May 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/20/mazda-787b-restored-returning-to-le-mans-for-20th-anniversary-o/

Mack Hellings Brian Henton Johnny Herbert Al Herman Hans Herrmann

Barrichello: No points raises pressure

Rubens Barrichello believes the lack of point-scoring finishes this season has put his Williams team under pressure. The Grove-based squad is enduring its worst ever start to a season, having failed to score any points in the first four races of the year

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/barrichello-no-points-raises-pressure/

Emmanuel de Graffenried Lucas di Grassi Cecil Green Keith Greene Masten Gregory

Exclusive: Amazing Scion FR-S Soapbox car ready to roll in Red Bull race this weekend

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Scion FR-S Soapbox Derby Car
Scion FR-S Soapbox Derby Car - Click above for image gallery

Remember the good old days when you and your dad spent countless hours in a dimly-lit garage to piece together an old ramshackle Soapbox Derby car for an upcoming downhill race? It probably was constructed out of ancient materials, rocked wagon wheels and had a cable brake that may or may not have stopped you before kissing something solid. Well, my friends, just like the rapture of tomorrow, those days are over.

Scion FR-S Soapbox Derby CarRenowned concept car builder Five:Axis is ready to throw down with a truly outstanding build for an upcoming Soapbox Derby. Being put together by Red Bull, this ain't your regular Soapbox Derby, and this certainly ain't your average backyard special. This is a custom one-off fiberglass micro-body based on the super stylish Scion FR-S Concept unveiled at the New York Auto Show in April. Since Five:Axis is well intertwined with Toyota, Lexus and Scion, it looks like they got some design studio CAD files to design the shell and the same slinky red metallic paint that the FR-S was wearing for its first stage appearance.

Think the underpinnings are still '50s Soapbox technology? You couldn't be further off because the custom aluminum space frame features a TEIN coilover suspension and Wilwood disc brakes. But all that technology isn't going to be worth jack if there isn't a ringer behind the wheel. The Five:Axis Scion FR-S will be piloted by none other than Dai Yoshihara, the Formula D drifter who slides the Falken Tire Nissan 240SX. Dai knows a thing or two about grip as well since he also competes in the Redline Time Attack Tuner Car Championship in an imported Civic Type R.

However, at this point we're not sure what part of Dai's expertise is really applicable for the upcoming Redbull Soapbox derby race. The only race on the calendar in the U.S. this year, it's slated to be held tomorrow, May 21 at 5th & Grand in downtown LA and promises to be nothing like what you might envision a traditional Soapbox derby to be. There are sharp 90-degree turns, NASCAR-style banks and myriad of sweet jumps. Although it appears the Five:Axis build will hold together during the abuse, we are not sure that Dai's run will be crash or injury free.

Amazing Scion FR-S Soapbox car ready to roll in Red Bull race this weekend originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 May 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/20/amazing-scion-fr-s-soapbox-car-ready-to-roll-in-red-bull-race-th/

Tom Jones Juan Jover Oswald Karch Narain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama

Browns Stomps Stafford

The iRacing.com Street Stock Series completed Week Two of twelve this past week as the sim racers took to the Stafford Motor Speedway for some classic New England short track racing. Weekly High Strength of Field Mike McKinney (Illinois) won the race of the week which saw a 3560 Strength of Field (SoF).  McKinney was able to dominate the race, leading all 40 laps on his way to a 1.346 second win over Bill Brown (Florida).  Chris Hughson (New York) took a break from road racing to bring his skills to the oval side and scored a third place finish in the week?s highest SoF event.  Andrew Williams (Northwest) and Robert Williams8 (Northwest) completed the top five for the highest SoF race of Week Two. Weekly Standings Brown was the [...]

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/browns-stomps-stafford/

Roberto Guerrero Maurício Gugelmin Dan Gurney Hubert Hahne Mike Hailwood

With One Month Left In Session, Advocates Push For Transit Funding Lockbox

Assembly Member Jim Brennan makes the case for protecting dedicated transit funds from raids. Senator Marty Golden stands behind him to the left and TWU Local 100 President John Samuelson is on the far right. Photo: Noah Kazis Momentum is growing in the push to protect dedicated MTA funds from Albany’s predations, but with only one [...]

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2011/05/19/with-one-month-left-in-session-advocates-push-for-transit-funding-lockbox/

Mack Hellings Brian Henton Johnny Herbert Al Herman Hans Herrmann