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MINI Challenge Motorsports News

Grant Denyer monstered by big truck

Grant DenyerMINI CHALLENGE driver and Seven Network personality Grant Denyer recently suffered a back injury when a monster truck drive went, well, a bit wrong. Denyer has been driving the big rig for Clive Featherby for the last six months, just one of the many motoring events Denyer participates in. The incident happened at the NSW Monster Truck Championships held at the Dapto showgrounds last weekend. Fortunately, Grant Denyer’s crash was not serious and although he did spend a night in hospital under observation, he is expected to make a full recovery.

Speaking of the moments after the accident Featherby said, “At least Grant’s in one piece thank goodness. Even before the ambulance arrived he was telling me he wanted to drive the truck again when he got better.”

Denyer currently holds a slender lead in the inaugural series of the Australian MINI CHALLENGE. He has a heavy schedule planned at the next round of racing which coincides with the Super Cheap Auto 1000 at Bathurst on 12 October. We wish Grant a quick and speedy recovery.

Messages of support can be left for Grant at the Aussie MINI CHALLENGE Army on Facebook.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Thanks to Lee for sending this in.)

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Fifth Gear Volkswagen

Fifth Gear – Series 14, Episode 6

Volkswagen Australia, are you watching! Even Tom Ford, all the way over in England, knows the deal—bring the Scirocco to Australia in place of the three door Golf GTI. While GTI production is in limbo prior to the launch of the MkVI model the case for the Scirocco is even stronger. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

So we know how Episode 6 started, read on to see what else the Fifth Gear had in store.

Continue reading “Fifth Gear – Series 14, Episode 6”
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MINI Challenge

2008 MINI Challenge – Round 5 wrap up

2008 MINI Challenge - Round 5

Jason Bargwanna’s recent dominance of the 2008 MINI CHALLENGE continued in Round 5 with the former Bathurst champion taking a clean sweep of all three races. Bargwanna started Race 1 on pole and never looked back. Nathan Geier was equally as consistent starting the first race from P2 on the grid and finishing all three races in second place. Geier was desperately close to ending Jason Bargwanna’s dream run, finishing the last race less than two tenths of a second behind, in the closest finish of the series to date.

That left third place the only position changing hands throughout the meet. Todd Fiore was third in Race 1, ahead of brother Paul and Jason Bargwanna’s cousin Scott. Neil McFadyen crossed the line in position three for the second race, with the Fiore brothers close behind. The final podium place for Race 3 was claimed by Paul Fiore, with McFadyen and Paul Stokell finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

Continue reading “2008 MINI Challenge – Round 5 wrap up”
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Honda Motorsports

Ricardo Patrese gets his wife talking dirty

Ricardo Patrese, former Formula 1 driver, thought it might be a nice idea to take his wife for a nice Sunday drive. They were in a small Japanese hatchback on a quiet road with no traffic. Isn’t that nice.

Fortunately, for your viewing pleasure, Mrs Patrese wasn’t so keen on Ricardo’s driving style. Okay, so the quiet road was the Jerez circuit in Spain, and the hatchback was a Civic Type R. Of course, old racers never die, they just do it faster. I don’t speak Italian, but I know the odd swear word or two, haha.

This clip is a great laugh and the look of horror on Mrs Patrese’s face is beautifully contrasted by Ricardo’s ice cool demeanour. Enjoy!

Source: The Ricardo Patrese blog via autoblog

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News Top Gear Australia

Sneak peek at Top Gear Australia launch

Top Gear Australia

Last week SBS launched Top Gear Australia to the country’s media. Unfortunately, I was busy that day and couldn’t make it, haha. You can catch a few highlights from this SBS video and read a few more details at CarAdvice. Don’t forget, there’s just over two weeks until Top Gear Australia makes its television premiere on Monday 29 September.

Source: autoblog

Categories
Lamborghini

I owe you a 10 second car

…so here it is.

A twin turbo Lamborghini Gallardo, with a dyno-proven 765kW/1099Nm at the wheels, no less. The car was built by Underground Racing in North Carolina. The Gallardo only tells half the story about what these guys can do, so check out their website for more of their custom projects.

Source: autoblog

Categories
MINI MINI Challenge News

Australian MINI CHALLENGE under new management

MINI CHALLENGEGood news from the world of the Australian MINI CHALLENGE today with confirmation of a new management team securing the future of the series. Toleman Motorsport has been given the seal of approval from MINI Australia and CAMS to act as Category Management Agency for the rest of the year. All racing dates and television schedules will remain as advertised. Further highlighting the future of the MINI CHALLENGE is word that plans for the 2009 calendar are in full swing with seven rounds already locked in as negotiations continue.

With the demise of Sherrin Motorsport, subsidary company Motorsport Event Management (MEM) was forced to put the management rights for the MINI CHALLENGE up for sale last May.

Toleman Motosport is headed by Ted Toleman who was the person responsible for giving Ayrton Senna his start in Formula 1. Toleman’s last Grand Prix was Australia’s first, Adelaide 1985. It’s great to see Australia’s MINI CHALLENGE series in good hands and I’m sure all fans of the series will be looking forward to racing this weekend for Round 5 at Phillip Island, including live action from Race 3 to be broadcast on Channel 7 on Sunday (check your local guides).

For the full details on the Toleman Motorsport news the press release from MINI CHALLENGE has been included below. Don’t forget, you can keep up to date with the series and its personalties by joining the Aussie MINI CHALLENGE Army on facebook.

Continue reading “Australian MINI CHALLENGE under new management”
Categories
Volkswagen

autocar.co.uk drives Golf VI

2009 Volkswagen Golf VI

In Iceland for the official Golf VI launch autocar.co.uk has filed a brief review of a 2.0 TDI Golf VI, with DSG transmission. Here’s a few snippets:

  • “It’s quiet – exceptionally quiet, in fact. VW engineers have been through the old Mk5 Golf design aiming to make a major leap forward in refinement. There’s no doubt that they’ve succeeded.”
  • “VW has thrown the works at it, in its goal to make the VW Golf as refined as a car from the class above.”
  • “The Mk6 – in non GTI form at least – becomes the most refined and upmarket feeling car in this sector.”

Read the autocar.co.uk article in full for more detail.

Categories
Renault

Renault Megane III revealed

Renault Megane III

Like Volkswagen’s recent release of Golf VI information, internet leaks from last week have forced Renault’s hand into releasing images of their new Mégane III prior to the official launch at next month’s Paris Motor Show. On sale in Europe from this November, the new Mégane will have all the usual advancements in safety and interior comfort. The engine range will also be upgraded. By the time the full model rollout is complete in 2010 there will be six different body variations. No signs yet as to what Renaultsport has in mind for the Mégane III, but you can bet it will pack a punch severe enough to have its rivals second guessing.

Overall the new Mégane is certainly less controversial looking than the previous model, with this new design having a more mature edge. Internally, the Mégane III also has gown up somewhat. Let’s hope the materials used have also taken a step forward.

More pics and Renault’s presss release below.

Continue reading “Renault Megane III revealed”
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Fifth Gear

Fifth Gear – Season 14, Episode 5

The shootout saw Jason Plato in a Lexus IS-F with Tiff Needell in a BMW M3 saloon. The Bimmer was quicker round the track. Just. But no surprise that the Toyota felt softer and more distant. Tom pitted the new Subaru Forester against a Land Rover Freelander II. He reckoned the Forester was tinny and under powered. He wasn’t much of a fan of the auto transmission either. A weclome addition to the cast this week was the Nissan GT-R and the Porsche 911 Turbo. Oh yeah, and Bruno Senna. Fittingly, he was fanging the cars around a wet track in conditions that his uncle would have loved (see clip above). I say, flick Tiff and replace him with Bruno.

Vicki filed a report from a tribute to Colin McRae which saw 1086 Impreza WRXs spell out his name. She also got a fang in McRae’s 1996 WRC winning car. Very tidy indeed! Tom had a go in the Dodge Challenger SRT8. I have to say it looks pretty damn good—for an American coupé. Vicki got the keys to a Vauxhall Astra VXR Nürburgring and a Ford Focus ST (XR5 to us Aussies). Geez, they cram a lot into these episodes. Plato finished the show with John Prescott in a racing Jaguar XK-R. The first three episodes of this series were a bit testing at times, but the last couplf have been much better.

Categories
MINI

MINI John Cooper Works now in showrooms

MINI John Cooper Works

The MINI John Cooper Works can now be seen in a MINI showrooms. AUSmotive has already tested the JCW and if you missed our Drive Thru review, make sure you have a read. In the meantime, there’s some press blurb below. I reckon this quote from Justin Hocevar, National Manager, MINI hits on a great selling feature, “The MINI John Cooper Works … powered by the very same engine that is used in the MINI CHALLENGE race series.”

Continue reading “MINI John Cooper Works now in showrooms”
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Volkswagen

Volkswagen prepares for Golf VI launch

Volkswagen Golf VI

While official images and details of the new model Golf have been released, the official launch of the Golf VI is yet to come. Volkswagen has chosen the unique Icelandic landscape for the launch venue and some great spy shots of the preparations have been posted on Golf Mk6.com … click here to check them out.