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Motor Authority - blog Tag: Le Mans

  • Nissan GT-R FIA-GT1 race car to tackle Spa 24 Hours endurance race

    Nissan GT-R FIA-GT1 race car to tackle Spa 24 Hours endurance race July 23rd, 2009 ByJeremy Weber Jeremy Weber, Author, July 23rd, 2009 Jeremy Weber 4 Comments

    Nissan GT-R FIA-GT1 race car to tackle Spa 24 Hours endurance race This coming weekend Nissan will bring its iconic GT-R back to the Spa 24 Hours race in Belgium, the scene of the firm's dominant win in the grueling event back in 1991 with the R32 Skyline GT-R Group A car. Since shakedown in December of 2008, the GT-R has completed over 10,000km of testing, including its pair of appearances in the FIA GT Championship, and is now fully prepared for its biggest challenge of the current season.

    The new car's outings in the European-based GT championship are a precursor to a full assault on the series next season. Its recent entry at the Oschersleben (Germany) FIA GT event was a good simulation for the Spa 24... This coming weekend Nissan will bring its iconic GT-R back to the Spa 24 Hours race in Belgium, the scene of the firm's dominant win in the grueling event back in 1991 with the R32 Skyline GT-R Group A car. Since shakedown in December of 2008, the GT-R has completed over 10,000km of testing, including its pair of appearances in the FIA GT Championship, and is now fully prepared for its biggest challenge of the current season. The new car's outings in the European-based GT championship are a precursor to a full assault on the series next season. Its recent entry at the Oschersleben (Germany) FIA GT event was a good simulation for the Spa 24 Hours and its notoriously changeable weather. Belgium's Circuit de Spa Francorchamps is one of Europe's most venerable racetracks, with a history to match. The Spa 24 Hours was first run just one year after the famous Le Mans 24 Hours got its start, back in 1924. Until 2000, the Spa 24 Hours was a race for touring cars, and made the switch to the more powerful GT category in 2001, since when it has also been a part of the FIA GT Championship. For full details on Nissan’s FIA-spec R35 GT-R GT1 race car, check out our previous story by clicking here.R35 Nissan GT-R FIA-GT1 race car2010 FIA GT1 race cars Read More

  • Porsche bringing collection of legendary 917 race cars to Goodwood

    Porsche bringing collection of legendary 917 race cars to Goodwood July 2nd, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, July 2nd, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 0 Comments

    Porsche bringing collection of legendary 917 race cars to Goodwood The Porsche 917 is one of the most stark raving mad automotive creations ever dreamt up by humanity, offering a performance level that remains as impressive today as it was during the 1970s. That historic car and its success at Le Mans will be playing a central role in Porsche's activities at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend.

    Many variations of the 917 were produced, and in some iterations the car's turbocharged flat-12-cylinder engine generated up to 1,580hp (1,180kW) - enough to rocket the car to 60mph in 2.7 seconds and on to a top speed of more than 240mph (390km/h).

    Alongside the winning cars on display will also be some... The Porsche 917 is one of the most stark raving mad automotive creations ever dreamt up by humanity, offering a performance level that remains as impressive today as it was during the 1970s. That historic car and its success at Le Mans will be playing a central role in Porsche's activities at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. Many variations of the 917 were produced, and in some iterations the car's turbocharged flat-12-cylinder engine generated up to 1,580hp (1,180kW) - enough to rocket the car to 60mph in 2.7 seconds and on to a top speed of more than 240mph (390km/h). Alongside the winning cars on display will also be some of the drivers that took them to victory, including Richard Attwood, former F1 driver and 1970 Le Mans winner for Porsche, driving a 917; sports car racing legend Brian Redman will be behind the wheel of the 917/30 CanAm racer; David Piper, who bought a 917 new from the factory in 1969, will be driving his own car; and Jackie Oliver, who won Le Mans in 1969, will be reunited with an evocative Gulf-liveried 917. Perhaps the most evocative design on a 917 on display at Goodwood this year is a 917/20 Coupe affectionately known as the 'Pink Pig'. It features a pink livery with the German names for various cuts of meat and their outlines all across the bodywork, and was designed largely as an aerodynamic exercise to decrease drag, explaining its somewhat odd-ball looks. The 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed kicks of July 3 and runs through the weekend.Porsche 917s on display at 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed Read More

  • Video: Tag Heuer picks a winner in Hamilton-McQueen 'Duel'

    Video: Tag Heuer picks a winner in Hamilton-McQueen 'Duel' June 26th, 2009 ByJames Martinez James Martinez, Author, June 26th, 2009 James Martinez 0 Comments

    Video: Tag Heuer picks a winner in Hamilton-McQueen 'Duel' The final video in 'The Duel' from watch company Tag Heuer sees F1 champion Lewis Hamilton taking on racer and actor Steve McQueen on the Le Mans track that made McQueen famous. Using editing techniques, the pair is put together on the screen for an impossible race - and a little bad lip syncing.

    The first video invited the viewer to guess whether the 'icon', Steve McQueen, or the 'virtuoso', Lewis Hamilton would win. This final video answers the question, though considering that McQueen is driving his 1970 Porsche 908 and Lewis Hamilton is in his modern-day Formula 1 car, you might think that the contest was over before it started. But... The final video in 'The Duel' from watch company Tag Heuer sees F1 champion Lewis Hamilton taking on racer and actor Steve McQueen on the Le Mans track that made McQueen famous. Using editing techniques, the pair is put together on the screen for an impossible race - and a little bad lip syncing. The first video invited the viewer to guess whether the 'icon', Steve McQueen, or the 'virtuoso', Lewis Hamilton would win. This final video answers the question, though considering that McQueen is driving his 1970 Porsche 908 and Lewis Hamilton is in his modern-day Formula 1 car, you might think that the contest was over before it started. But thanks to the magic of the movies, McQueen and Hamilton slug it out wheel-to-wheel. Three lucky winners who guessed the right outcome at TAG Heuer's site each received their choice of a Monaco watch, a signed Lewis Hamilton helmet or - for the truly adventurous - their very own test drive in a Formula 1 race car. Check out the video to see if your pick was the winner.TAG Heuer's 'The Duel' ends in photo finish Read More

  • 40th anniversary Tag Heuer Monaco LS celebrates Le Mans

    40th anniversary Tag Heuer Monaco LS celebrates Le Mans June 25th, 2009 ByJeremy Weber Jeremy Weber, Author, June 25th, 2009 Jeremy Weber 0 Comments

    40th anniversary Tag Heuer Monaco LS celebrates Le Mans To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Monaco watch, Tag Heuer last month released a slightly updated version of the original watch worn, and personally endorsed, by Steve McQueen who made it famous in the movie ‘Le Mans’. In March, the watchmaker revealed a concept watch to celebrate the legendary French endurance race, and now a revised Monaco, dubbed the LS, is the latest to commemorate the McQueen-Le Mans combination.

    As it is with legends, there is always a story behind it. The Le Mans movie recounts the story of two teams competing in one of the world’s most difficult endurance races. Striving for the utmost... To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Monaco watch, Tag Heuer last month released a slightly updated version of the original watch worn, and personally endorsed, by Steve McQueen who made it famous in the movie ‘Le Mans’. In March, the watchmaker revealed a concept watch to celebrate the legendary French endurance race, and now a revised Monaco, dubbed the LS, is the latest to commemorate the McQueen-Le Mans combination. As it is with legends, there is always a story behind it. The Le Mans movie recounts the story of two teams competing in one of the world’s most difficult endurance races. Striving for the utmost accuracy in portraying race car driver Michael Delaney, Steve McQueen consulted his friend, Grand Prix champion and TAG Heuer ambassador Jo Siffert. At McQueen’s request, Siffert lent the actor his white racing suit, which was adorned with a “Chronograph Heuer” crest over the right breast. To complete the look, McQueen opted to wear in the film the brand’s new Monaco automatic Calibre 11. Since then, the model has been referred to as the ‘McQueen Monaco’. The new model, as a successor to that original watch, is appropriately named the Monaco LS Chronograph Calibre 12. The movement is a basic Dubois Depraz calibre, which gives the LS its name - the Linear System means the second is indicated by a linear window at the 3 o'clock position. An angled window at 12 o'clock shows the current date, as well as the previous and next day. These windows, combined with the chronograph hour and minute subdials placed at 6 and 9 o'clock, respectively, complete the provocative look of the Monaco LS. The 40th anniversary chronograph is delivered in a special box and accompanied by both a black alligator and stainless steel strap. For more on Tag Heuer's association with Le Mans and Steve McQueen, checkout the watchmaker's film entitled 'The Duel', featuring Lewis Hamilton. Read More

  • GTbyCitroen concept hits the streets of London

    GTbyCitroen concept hits the streets of London June 23rd, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 23rd, 2009 Kenneth Hall 4 Comments

    GTbyCitroen concept hits the streets of London At last year's Paris Motor Show, Citroen stunned the audience with a dramatically styled supercar dubbed the GTbyCitroen. A few months later, the company revealed it would produce a limited run of the cars. And in May Citroen revealed that the low-slung and futuristic vehicle would be tackling some of motorsport's most prestigious events this summer. The third and final stop left on the schedule is the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which runs July 3-5 at the legendary British locale. In the lead up to the event, the striking concept car has hit the streets of London.

    The result of a unique partnership between Citroen and Polyphony Digital... At last year's Paris Motor Show, Citroen stunned the audience with a dramatically styled supercar dubbed the GTbyCitroen. A few months later, the company revealed it would produce a limited run of the cars. And in May Citroen revealed that the low-slung and futuristic vehicle would be tackling some of motorsport's most prestigious events this summer. The third and final stop left on the schedule is the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which runs July 3-5 at the legendary British locale. In the lead up to the event, the striking concept car has hit the streets of London. The result of a unique partnership between Citroen and Polyphony Digital Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony, creators of the Gran Turismo game series, the concept measures nearly five metres long and just over a metre high. As part of its London tour, the virtual-turned-reality supercar swapped pixels for Piccadilly as it swept through the world famous circus, toured Regent Street, rounded Trafalgar Square and cruised down the Mall past Buckingham Palace. At next month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the GTbyCitroen will participate in the event’s hill climb as part of the Sunday Times Supercar Run. The famous 1.16-mile dash hosts some of the world’s most incredible cars, both past and present, each year. But the GTbyCitroen ought to be used to sharing tarmac with the biggest names in the business by now. The concept’s styling is characterized by a large wraparound windscreen which flows into the roof and on into the rear mobile airfoil. The dynamic supercar effect is further enhanced by wide air intakes, a flat underside, rear air-diffuser, clear-cut horizontal headlamps, gullwing doors and diamond-effect 21in aluminum wheels. Last month the car also participated in the 24 Hours Nurburgring race in which it took a single 'lap of honor' around the circuit. It was also on display at the Polyphony stand during the event. Then earlier this month it joined a line of other supercars at Le Mans for the 'Grande Parade des Pilotes', a presentation of the 150 drivers and 50 teams taking part in the actual competitive portion of the 24-hour event race weekend. Despite all the pomp and circumstance, however, there's still no clear roadmap from Citroen on when the supercar will make it to its limited production run. Perhaps an announcement could be due at Goodwood, but we'll have to wait and see.Citroen GT Concept car at Paris Motor Show Read More

  • Le Mans issues open invitation to F1 manufacturers

    Le Mans issues open invitation to F1 manufacturers June 11th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 11th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 5 Comments

    Le Mans issues open invitation to F1 manufacturers It's no secret that the current manufacturers teams in Formula 1 aren't happy with the plans Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone have laid out for 2010 and beyond. Some, including Ferrari, are threatening to pull out of the series altogether - and the organizers behind the 24 Hours of Le Mans are ready to bring them on board.

    Remy Brouard, general manager of Automobile CLub de l'Ouest (ACO), the organization behind the legendary Le Mans endurance race, said he would welcome as many teams as F1 can give. "There is no ideal figure, the more the better. They are welcome here. If they want to make proposals, we will listen," Brouard told Autosport... It's no secret that the current manufacturers teams in Formula 1 aren't happy with the plans Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone have laid out for 2010 and beyond. Some, including Ferrari, are threatening to pull out of the series altogether - and the organizers behind the 24 Hours of Le Mans are ready to bring them on board. Remy Brouard, general manager of Automobile CLub de l'Ouest (ACO), the organization behind the legendary Le Mans endurance race, said he would welcome as many teams as F1 can give. "There is no ideal figure, the more the better. They are welcome here. If they want to make proposals, we will listen," Brouard told Autosport. A fracture at such a base level in Formula 1 could spell disaster for the series, much as the division between IRL and CART in American open-wheeled racing led to a poorer image and smaller fan base for both series. The two leagues have since unified, but the damage done during their years at odds should serve as a cautionary tale for F1. Whatever the outcome for the 2010 F1 season, however, it would be interesting to see some of the top-tier manufacturers take on Le Mans once again, and set about creating new legends the way only endurance racing can.2009 Aston Martin LMP1 Le Mans race carAudi R15 TDI Le Mans Prototype race car Read More

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