Racing

One of the auto world’s craziest and most sought-after records, the Cannonball Run has been broken. The infamous New-York-to-Los-Angeles run that has been the obsession of a subculture of gear heads for more than 50 years now has a new record time, and it was broken by three guys — Arne Toman, Doug Tabbutt, and Berkeley Chadwick — who managed to accomplish the run while driving a heavily modified 2015 Mercedes-AMG E 63, doing so in a staggering time of 27 hours and 25 minutes. That time eclipsed the previous record of 30 hours that was set only six years ago.

Brabham, a name that needs no introduction among motor racing fans, is firmly back where it belongs, on the track. The company stunned us all in 2018 when it pulled the covers off the vicious BT62, a 700 horsepower monster powered by a 5.4-liter naturally aspirated V-8 bound to squash any Porsche 911 GT3 you might encounter at your local track day event. Last month, the BT62 made its racing debut in the Britcar Endurance Championship with a victory at Brands Hatch. Partaking in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is still the target for the Australian motley crew, although it may not happen until 2022.

David Brabham, Sir Jack Brabham’s youngest son, is an established veteran race car driver in his own right. Despite lacking the trifecta of F1 World Driver’s Titles that make his father an all-time great, David is, however, a two-time ALMS champion and has conquered Le Mans outright a decade ago with Peugeot, although his career actually spans three decades. In the past few years, David decided to hang up the helmet and focus on regaining control of the Brabham brand and make something of it. That ’something’ is, for now, the BT62, and it seems like a cracking way to make an entrance in the world of track-bound hypercars.

The Ford Mustang, America’s pony car, grew from being one of the most compact two-door performance cars on sale in the U.S. to looking like an obese coupe brought to its knees by the fuel crisis and the most recent pollution regulations. The change began in 1971 but this is not one of those sluggish, choking ’Stangs. Instead, this is a Kar Kraft-tuned Trans-Am racer complete with a Roush-built 5.75-liter Windsor V-8, a 4.11:1 locked differential, and a very low, plunging nose. It’s an ultra-rare piece of history that, while not particularly successful in competition, proves the ’71-’73 Mustang wasn’t that big of a dud after all.

Sedan racing was big Stateside in the mid-to-late ’60s with the formation of SCCA’s Trans-Am Championship in ’66 drawing on the popularity of the A-Production and B-Production SCCA classes. At the peak of its popularity, the Trans-Am was a bona fide battleground with all the key muscle car makers involved including Chevy, Dodge, Plymouth, Pontiac, and, of course, Ford. However, this Mustang didn’t race in those glory days. It arrived a little too late, after the championship changed its focus from sedans and coupes and onto GT-style cars, following in the footsteps of the increasingly popular IMSA GT Series.

We’ve always wanted, at least once, to own a piece of history. The car shared by Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby throughout the 1966 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a Ford GT40 Mk. II, is such an example. The identical-looking ’continuation’ Ford GT40 Mk. II seen in the recently released ’Ford v. Ferrari’ movie is another.

The good news is you can own the latter and brag that you’ll sit where Christian Bale did during filming. He’s no Ken Miles but he surely played the part convincingly well and all you have to do to get this baby blue 7.0-liter monster is be the highest bidder on lot #R554 during Mecum Auctions’ Kissimmee auction in January. Simple, right?

Peugeot, the proud manufacturer that stopped at nothing to win the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans in the early ’90s and again in the late ’00s and early ’10s, will be back at Le Mans in the summer of 2023 as part of a fully-fledged assault on the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2022 onwards. Peugeot, like Toyota, will compete with a bespoke hybrid hypercar not based on a current production model and the work will be carried out in-house by Peugeot Sport, although it’s believed outside partners such as ORECA could offer some assistance. Peugeot will thus make its debut in the FIA WEC in the third season of the new ’Hypercar’ regulations that come into effect next year for the 2020-2021 season.

Peugeot Sport, first with Frenchman Jean Todt at the helm and then with his pal Olivier Quesnel, has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times since it first took part in the French race all the way back in 1926. The company has also enjoyed success as an engine supplier, powering the early Pescarolos as well as the WM P88 Group C car, the fastest car to ever race at Le Mans that reached a top speed of 253 mph in 1988. With almost a century of history at Circuit de la Sarthe by the time Peugeot Sport’s new hypercar will debut in 2022, it’s safe to say the French automaker set its own bar very high for its comeback. In the light of this challenge - one that the French engineers most definitely relish - let’s take a quick look back at Peugeot’s history at Le Mans and in endurance racing as a whole.

In Ford’s attempt to gain even more hype and publicity surrounding the returning Bronco SUV, it surprised a lot of people, ourselves included, by entering a prototype version of the Bronco R racing truck at the legendary Baja 1000 off-road race. Unfortunately, Ford’s best-laid plans for the prototype racer were no match for the excruciating desert trial. The Bronco R not only failed to finish the race, but it suffered one issue after another, ultimately leading it to break down even before it got a sniff of the finish line.

Ken Block is one of the best professional drivers out there. Although he’s been in the business for a long time, it is the Gymkhana video that got him the fame he deserves. Since then, Block has been doing what he does best, only upping the skills each time. All his videos have the oomph and pizzazz that can make you go wow in an instant.

Now, he is back again with another terrifyingly-awesome video that’s titled ‘Climbkhana Two’. In this video, you can see the master rule the Tianmen Mountain in China. But, guess what? It’s not in some sleazy Subaru, as Mr. Block chose the F-150 Hoonitruck this time!! So, are you ready to have your minds blown?

You don’t get to see a Dodge Demon every day. Then again, you don’t get to see it as it stretches its muscles during some good ol’ drag racing in the company of a Toyota Supra, a BMW E30, and Savage Garage’s Ford Raptor. Oh, and this is no prep drag-race, by the way, as the whole scenario unfolds in the desert, between bursting clouds of sand.

Now that we have your attention, get ready to be amazed by the Supra, which proves extremely apt at putting down the power and generating enough grip to shoot ahead of its rivals, literally leaving them behind, choking on its dust.

The 2020 Lamborghini Urus ST-X is a race-spec concept version of the Urus, the company’s first-ever SUV. The concept vehicle previews a full-production SUV designed for a single-brand championship that will debut in 2020 in Europe and the Middle East. Conceived as a new "arrive and drive" experience in Lamborghini’s motorsport program, it will offer customers a complete package including the vehicle and technical support during race weekends.

Yes, the 2020 Urus ST-X will compete in a series very similar to the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, reserved for race-spec Huracan models. Like all other track-bred Lambos, the 2020 Urus ST-X was designed and built by Lamborghini Squadra Corse.

A year after unveiling a tricked-out TRD version of the Avalon, Toyota is back at it with an even more radical setup for its resident full-size four-door sedan. It’s called the Toyota Avalon TRD Pro Concept, and it’s loaded to the brim with track-spec modifications that enhance every detail of the sedan.

From aerodynamic modifications to powertrain enhancements, the Avalon TRD Pro Concept has them all. It’s a fitting homage to TRD’s 40th anniversary, though it would probably be even cooler if Toyota has plans to produce it in some capacity. For now, we can enjoy the Avalon TRD Pro Concept for what it is: a glimpse into what a full-blown, track-spec Toyota Avalon could look like if it was left in the hands of TRD. Maybe someday we can also find out what it feels like to drive.

AS BMW Motorsport continues to expand its reach into providing more affordable ways to enter the world of racing, BMW has introduced the 2020 M2 CS Racing. Replacing the M4 GT4 as the entry-level racecar in the lineup, you’ll have to pony up about $105,000 to get one (€95,000) plus tax, of course. Under the hood sits BMW’s S55 2.9-liter inline-six that can be tuned to deliver anywhere between 280 and 365 horsepower depending on the Balance of Performance classification needed. Maximum torque is rated at 405 pound feet (550 Newton-meters) and is transferred to the wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a mechanical limited-slip differential. This is the same transmission found in the road-going M2 CS, but with different software tuning for quicker and crispier shifts.

Driver aids include ABS and stability control, but they can be disabled if you determine them unnecessary. Delivery of the M2 CS Racing should begin sometime in mid-2020 but it’s already been thoroughly tested at Miramas in France and Portimao in Portugal. With all of this in mind, we thought the M2 CS Racing would make a great wallpaper candidate, so we’ve added a few desktop wallpapers for you to choose from down below.

"This is David vs. Goliath vs. Goliath," said leading actor Christian Bale that plays veteran sports car racing ace Ken Miles in the upcoming ’Ford v. Ferrari’ movie that’ll park in a cinema near you from November 15. It’s a story about racing as much as it is a story about business affairs that become personal and about what you can achieve if you’re willing to throw infinite amounts of cash at a problem. It’s the story about Ford’s first outright success in the 24 Hours of Le Mans that ended a six-year winning spree for Scuderia Ferrari.

’Ford v. Ferrari’ (or ’Le Mans ’66’ in Europe and other places) is the first movie to take us back to Le Mans since 2003’s Michel Vaillant. Those scenic country roads in France that play host to the most famous sports car endurance race in the world over a weekend in June were first showcased to moviegoers almost 50 years ago when Steve McQueen put his fortune and reputation on the line to create ’Le Mans’. ’Ford v. Ferrari’ looks at the 1966 edition of the race but you can’t tell that by looking at the recently released IMAX poster. So, why are Bale and co-star Matt Damon seen propped up against a weird-looking Ford GT40?

The 2020 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak is the fourth-generation drag car based on FCA’s two-door muscle car. Based on the modern Challenger, like all its predecessors since 2008, it features drag-specific upgrades and its certified for NHRA and NMCA competitions. In short, it’s a turnkey package that turns the streetable Challenger into an ideal dragster for both amateur and professional racers. Let’s find out what’s new for the 2020 model year in the review below.

The 2020 Ford Bronco R is a concept vehicle that Ford created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first-gen Bronco’s historic Baja 1000 win from 1969. Unveiled ahead of the 2019 SEMA Show, it’s the first real life incarnation of the modern Bronco and it previews a production crossover that will arrive in 2020.

The 2020 Bronco R was unveiled alongside the first-gen Bronco that Rod Hall and Larry Minor drove to an overall win 50 years ago at the 1969 Baja 1000. It features a similar livery, so it makes it easier to draw a design parallel between the two. The concept is fully functional and will be used as a test bed for the Bronco’s production drivetrain. The 2020 Bronco R will also be raced by Shelby Hall, the granddaughter of the late Rod Hall, at the 2019 Baja 1000.

The 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 is a speed demon in itself but here comes the Shelby GT500 Dragon Snake, a vehicle that Shelby says it designed and developed for blistering performance on the drag strip. The GT500 Dragon Snake packs north of 800 horsepower, is said to be lighter than the regular GT500, and it also puts the power down more efficiently thanks to a retuned transmission and other bits and bobs.

We know the 2020 Shelby GT500 is theoretically capable of blazing from naught to 60 miles per hour in 3.3 seconds and run the quarter mile in 10.7 seconds. Car and Driver, however, estimates that under normal conditions, on regular pavement (i.e. in the absence of a drag race-prepped surface), the Shelby GT500 will need 3.5 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour and about 11 seconds to clear the quarter mile. So, we must ask: can the new 2020 GT500 Dragon Snake accelerate to 60 miles per hour in less than three seconds and match the Demon’s 2.3-second 0-60 sprint? Let’s find out.

Lamborghini’s Squadra Corse racing division is about to unleash its second bespoke model. Following last year’s introduction of the SC18 Alston, Squadra Corse is working on a track-only suspercar. It’s also based on the Aventador and the first teaser gives us a glimpse at some of the details.

You may not know it upon first glance, but this is the new-for-2020 Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo. Yes, Ferrari decided against building a GT3-spec F8 Tributo, and instead, Michelotto was tasked with updating the 488 GT3.Over 18,000 hours of calculations and CFD simulations went into it, and it now has a longer wheelbase following in the footsteps of the GTE car. Power stays at about 500-550 horsepower as per GT3 regulations, but the car will now be faster in the corners and more stable. Ferrari was also thoughtful enough to include an ’Endurance’ package that works hand in hand with the new ECU, supposedly making the car more reliable and smoother.

Look across Ferrari’s fence and into Mercedes-AMG’s yard, and you’ll see the comprehensively updated AMG GT-based GT3 car. You can’t miss that humongous, viperfish-like grille in the front in much the same way you can’t overlook the overhauled Porsche 911 GT3.R. That one, while still an offspring of the 991 generation, is a different beast from the original unveiled in 2015. But Ferrari isn’t one to bankroll a new racing car that easily. So, Ferrari Corse Clienti customers will have to make do with this. It should be good since Russian squad SMP Racing almost won the European Blancpain Endurance Cup this year with the old car, but just how well will it measure up against its competition?

In order to even begin understanding what to expect from the upcoming track-only Aventador, we must first look at Lamborghini’s supercar roster from two standpoints: one of them relates to Sant’Agata Bolognese’s road-going cars over the years, while the other has to do with its race cars currently involved in various motorsport competitions around the world.

Lamborghini Squadra Corse already released a CGI-filled teaser video that drops small hints at its upcoming track-only beast under the “purest track experience” punchline. Join us as we try to anticipate what can such a car deliver in terms of performance, especially acceleration and top speed...

The first-generation Ford Fiesta was of paramount importance for the Blue Oval. But with all the optimism in the world, nobody at Ford would have imagined that their globally-sold, fuel-efficient subcompact car would live to hide a Subaru engine where its trunk was originally supposed to be or bang mid-nine-second quarter-mile runs. Case in point: Chris Todd’s Mk1 Ford Fiesta.

Porsche returns to single-seater racing after a +30-year hiatus this year as it embarks on a new adventure in Formula E, the world’s top EV racing series. The factory-backed Tag Heuer Porsche Formula E team will field a pair of Porsche 99X Electric cars for Messrs Neel Jani and Andre Lotterer, both formerly part of the company’s LMP1 program. Expect to see this 335-horsepower red, white, and black beast battle at the sharp end of the field in the 2019-2020 season that’ll kick-off later this year.

Porsche halted its involvement in the FIA World Endurance Championship, where it raced in the top-flight LMP1 class with a pair of hybridized 1,000-horsepower prototypes, to race in Formula E. The German automaker will thus move forward in its quest towards electrification by competing in the first all-electric racing series in the world with a car powered by a 900-volt battery, just like the 2021 Taycan sedan. But you’d rather see Batman ride in this low-flying spacecraft than the Taycan and that’s why Porsche hopes to garner a new, younger, and tech-savvy crowd through its participation in the eco-friendly championship.

Petrolhead or no petrolhead, you simply can’t say no to a video of a 1979 Porsche 911 Carrera RS ripping through a picturesque rally stage that runs through a lot of farmland and forest areas in Germany. And you might be surprised, but the lightweight sports car can hold its own in front of more modern, turbocharged AWD cars.

Hyundai is one of the top players in the TCR category of touring car racing. The most popular category in the world of tin tops can be seen in action almost anywhere in the world, including Stateside, and now an electric series seems more tangible than ever. Hyundai released the Veloster N E-TCR to go alongside Cupra’s E-TCR racer. The Hyundai features four electric motors, all in the back, and a 65-kWh battery package.