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McLaren

McLaren 650S Coupé officially previewed

McLaren 650S Coupe

McLaren has reacted to leaked images of the new 650S by giving us a handful of images and a few details to go with. This comment from the press release pretty much sums up the current approach: “Performance figures will be confirmed ahead of the Geneva Show but will improve on the already rapid 12C which continues on sale.”

We do know that there will be a Spider version with a metal folding roof added to the range later this year and that the car has a M838T twin turbo V8 engine producing 650hp, but that’s about it in terms of hard facts.

There’s been tweaks to the aero package and the P1-inspired front-end is said to provide more downforce with improved turn-in. While the active aero systems have been enhanced also. The aero brake will now function when required, rather than simply during braking as with the 12C.

Model specific lightweight forged alloys are wrapped in “MC1” branded Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.

“We are always seeking to innovate, to be the class leaders, to bring new technologies and thinking to market,” explains Mike Flewitt, McLaren Automotive CEO. “That’s our Formula 1 heritage shining through.

“Everything we’ve learnt from the 12C and the McLaren P1 has gone into the design and development of the McLaren 650S.”

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Audi Video

A look inside Audi Sport’s storage facility

Inside Audi's storage facility

Last month Chris Harris gave us a brief history of Audi’s quattro legacy. Drive continues its Inside Quattro series with JF Musial taking a visit to Audi Sport’s storage facility which is not accessible to the public. This video is the result.

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Formula 1 Video

Transforming Albert Park into an F1 circuit

Australian Grand Prix teaser

The official YouTube channel for the Australian Grand Prix has released this teaser video showing some of the stats involved when transforming Albert Park from tranquil green open spaces into an FIA approved Formula 1 circuit.

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Chevrolet Holden Motorsports Oh the humanity

VIDEO: Chevrolet SS Pace Car lights my fire

Chevrolet SS safety car

The 2014 NASCAR season has begun with the bizarre sight of the Chevrolet SS (née Commodore SS) Pace Car catching fire while it was leading the field around Daytona International Raceway.

“Tower, we’re on fire,” came the confirmation from Brett Bodine behind the wheel of the flaming Pace Car.

Feeling a bit sorry for the Pace Car, and perhaps Holden’s plight, racing legend Dale Earnhardt Jr came to the Chevy’s defence: “I guess it was the batteries in the back for the lights, because cars just don’t catch on fire like that,” Earnhardt said.

“It was pretty weird.”

A faulty battery pack to power the safety lights has been blamed for the fire.

The light-hearted incident was best summed up by Brad Keselowski who was the driver behind the Pace Car at the time: “When you think you’ve seen it all, then you see that!

“That was an interesting one; I just saw the whole back of the car on fire. I thought it was a race car, and then someone said it was the pace car and I just started laughing.”

You can see video of the incident after the break.

[Source: SB Nation]

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Formula 1 McLaren

McLaren MP4-29 infographic

2014 McLaren MP4-29

McLaren Racing has been kind enough to share with the world an infographic which takes us through some of the key changes for the 2014 F1 season and, of course, its MP4-29 racecar.

Check it out after the break.

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McLaren

McLaren 650S gets the leaky treatment

McLaren 650S

Apparently the McLaren 650S has been presented to a private audience and these grainy leaked images are the dregs left for the common man like you and me. That’s until the 650S is revealed at Geneva next month.

Based on the 12C, the 650S has, as its name suggests, an engine producing 650PS (478kW). It’s the familiar twin-turbo 3.8 litre V8, of course.

From the back there’s no mistaking the car’s 12C roots, but up front it’s a slightly uneasy amalgam of a P1 front on a 12C back. A bit like a pantomime creature with a horse’s head and a donkey’s arse.

That mix of 12C and P1 will continue with lighter seats from the P1 helping to reduce weight along with a few software tweaks to the suspension and transmission likely to have been inspired by the all-conquering P1.

[Source: Autocar]

UPDATE: Now with video (see below).

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Toyota WEC

Toyota Racing shuffles 2014 WEC driver line ups

2014 Toyota TS040 Hybrid

The official entry for the Le Mans 24 Hours 2014 brings confirmation of a minor change to the driver line ups for Toyota Racing.

In effect Nico Lapierre and Stephane Sarrazin have swapped seats. Which means Toyota’s final pairings for the 2014 WEC season will be Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima in the #7 TS040 Hybrid, while Anthony Davidson, Nicolas Lapierre and Sébastien Buemi will race in the #8 car.

The 2014-spec TS040 Hybrid will be revealed at the first WEC test session on 28–29 March. The big news is the TS040 now had power being sent to all four wheels, with electric power at both axles, in conjunction with a V8 petrol engine at the rear.

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Porsche WEC

“Porsche Team” confirms WEC LMP1 entry

Porsche 919 hybrid

At the ACO’s 2014 season launch last week Porsche officially confirmed its eagerly awaited return to top flight endurance racing in the LMP1 category.

Known simply as “Porsche Team”, two 919 Hybrids will be entered which will carry the numbers 14 and 20. The drivers assigned as the official entrants are former Le Mans winners Romain Dumas (#14) and Timo Bernhard (#20).

Porsche is yet to rubber stamp the driver lineups for each car, but earlier reports suggest Marc Lieb and Neel Jani will join Romain Dumas, leaving Mark Webber and Brendon Hartley to partner with Timo Bernhard.

Quietly buried in the press release below is confirmation from Porsche the 919 will be powered by a “small capacity” supercharged V4 engine at the rear and an electric motor driving the front wheels. These will be complemented by two energy recovery systems.

Defending its 2013 Le Mans victory in the GTE Pro class Porsche Team Manthey will return with a pair of 911 RSRs which have been revised for the 2014 season. The changes obviously worked too judging by Porsche’s recent class win at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

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Motorsports WEC

Le Mans 24 Hours 2014 launched with new logo

Le Mans 24 hours logo

Like Formula 1 the 24 Hours of Le Mans is entering a new era thanks to a series of new regulations. The ACO has taken the opportunity to rebrand the race with a new logo and slight reordering of the official name to be called the Le Mans 24 Hours.

At the same event the official entries for the 2014 race (14–15 June) were announced. You can see more in the videos and text below.

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Oh the humanity Porsche

2014 Porsche 911 GT3 lights my fire

991 Porsche 911 GT3

We don’t like bringing you this story. Not one little bit. You see, to us, the Porsche 911 GT3 is one of our most yearned for cars. To see one go up in flames like this makes us rather sad.

The loss happened near St Gallen in Switzerland and the key paragraph of the official Police report (translated) reads:

A Porsche GT3 drove on the A1 highway towards St.Gallen. When the driver perceived strange noises from the engine area, he left the highway. On the Wilerstrasse the driver stopped the car. He saw leaking oil and smoke is in the rear engine. A short time later the Porsche caught fire. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The cause of the fire will be investigated by the Forensic Science Service of the Canton of St. Gallen police.

Worse, other reports of similar 991 GT3 fires indicate this isn’t an isolated case, with as many as five other incidents occurring in recent weeks.

There’s also talk that deliveries of 2014 911 GT3s have been stopped by Porsche while they investigate the problem. As far as we’re aware Porsche is yet to confirm or comment on this matter, but we’ll let you know if we hear any more.

[Source: Axis of Oversteer | Thanks to John for the tip]

UPDATE 20 Feb: Porsche will recall all MY14 GT3s for inspection.

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BMW

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer revealed

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer

BMW’s first foray into front-wheel drive production is upon us with official details for the 2 Series Active Tourer being released today.

First shown in concept form around 18 months or so it’s a bit of a surprise (to us) to see the car has been handed a 2 Series badge, instead of the adopting 1 Series nomenclature.

For 2 Series Active Tourer, read Mercedes-Benz B Class. This is no surprise because until now BMW had no model to compete with the mid-size Benz for people who buy on badge and not much else.

In the back of the F45 you’ve got 468 litres of luggage space to play with, expandable to 1510 litres with the rear seats folded down. BMW has grabbed a range of three and four cylinder engines from its rack to power the Active Tourer and all are turbocharged, fuel efficient and meet EU6 standards.

And for the BMW customers who understand what front-wheel drive means the brainwashing has commenced:

The front drive axle in the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer has undergone extensive fine-tuning, ensuring that it endows the car with optimum driving dynamics and wonderfully precise steering feedback. The electromechanical steering and the system’s functional arrangement combine to produce a driving sensation that is devoid of interfering torque steer.

Come to think of it, will any buyers who know what the acronym FWD means want this model anyway? We suggest those most likely to buy the 2 Series Active Tourer have made their decision by the time they get to the BMW acronym.

That said, it’s a smart looking car, it will drive well and should be pretty well built. And for a lot of people that’s all they want in a car.

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Formula 1

Williams Martini Racing to become reality?

Martini-Brabham at 1975 Dutch Grand Prix

One of the world’s greatest motorsport liveries looks set for a revival with word Martini is tipped to become the title sponsor for the Williams F1 Team.

Apparently Martini looked at deals with other F1 teams, including Ferrari and McLaren, but the carrot of full naming rights dangled by Williams seems to have done the trick.

Nothing official has been announced yet but confirmation is expected after a Williams shirt was briefly published on an F1 merchandise website.

Martini’s last exposure in F1 was from 2006–08 when they had a minor placement on Ferrari’s car. However, full naming rights brings hope we’ll get something more akin the the Martini Brabham pictured above during the 1975 Dutch Grand Prix.

Williams will launch their racing livery before the Australian Grand Prix which is just over four weeks away. They will no doubt appreciate the heightened anticipation that launch will now bring.

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Martini]

UPDATE 7 March: See the new Williams Martini Racing livery here.

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