MotoX News

Thursday

Bentley Continental GT3 Concept

Bentley has been rumored to be preparing a comeback to the racing circuits for quite some time. Those rumors will be put to rest in just a few hours when the Paris Auto Show opens its doors and we are introduced to the Continental GT3 Concept specially designed for the FIA GT3 European Championship. The future race car will be racing in the 24-hour marathons starting 2013 and will be joining the circuit to tackle the likes of Alpina, Aston Martin, and Porsche.

The Continental GT3 Concept will be based off of the Continental GT Speed. It will be powered by a W12 engine, but unlike the road-going version, it will be much lighter. In fact, the car needs to undergo a significant drop in weight considering its rivals in this category only weigh about 2,755 lbs. By comparison, the standard Continental GT Speed weighs an agonizing 5,478 lbs. The luxury racer will also feature a rear-wheel drive chassis in accordance with the regulations, state-of-the-art motorsport hardware, and a comprehensive aerodynamic package

The vehicle would have to drop all of its luxurious features found in the standard model’s interior and adopt a full race cage and carbon fiber shell seats to participate in these races. The large rear wing and front bumper will be made of carbon fiber and the entire body will consist of lightweight materials.

Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, Bentley?s Chairman and Chief Executive, stated: "The clear message from our customers is that Bentley belongs on the racetrack, and the Continental GT3 is the realisation of a dream we?ve had ever since the launch of the Continental GT. The new GT Speed is the perfect car for us to develop into a racer, and our work so far has shown huge potential. The Continental GT3 is set to show the world what the Continental GT is capable of in its most extreme form, and establishes a solid foundation for Bentley?s long-term motorsport plans."

gallery: 2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed

Bentley Continental GT3 Concept originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 26 September 2012 15:00 EST.

Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/bentley/2012-bentley-continental-gt3-concept-ar135502.html

Sebastien Bourdais Thierry Boutsen Johnny Boyd David Brabham

Wednesday

The Tomaso Files: Summer is Fini edition...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/qBFvubliv7Q/the-tomaso-files-summer-is-fini-edition_17.html

Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot

Guest Blog: Mat Oxley: Rules The Hot Topic In MotoGP

MotoMatters.com is delighted to feature the work of iconic MotoGP writer Mat Oxley. Oxley is a former racer, TT winner and highly respected author of biographies of world champions Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi, and currently writes for Motor Sport Magazine, where he is MotoGP correspondent. We will be featuring sections of Oxley's blogs, posted in full on the Motor Sport Magazine website, over the coming months.

It’s ten days since a potentially thrilling climax to the MotoGP championship disintegrated to the sound of shattered carbon-fibre and a chorus of Spanish expletives. Time for a cool, calm reappraisal of the events.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/rhlMTpKyufs/guest_blog_mat_oxley_rules_the_hot_topic.html

Mark Blundell Raul Boesel Menato Boffa Bob Bondurant

INDYCAR: Power Rankings (Baltimore)

Source: http://www.popoffvalve.com/2012/8/30/3280896/indycar-power-rankings-baltimore

Bob Bondurant Felice Bonetto Jo Bonnier Roberto Bonomi

#77 Fined $5,000

Source: http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2012/06/77-fined-5000.html

Ronnie Bucknum Ivor Bueb Sebastien Buemi Luiz Bueno

Mello Yello to replace Full Throttle as NHRA title sponsor in 2013

It's Kyle Petty flashback time!

Mello Yello, most known in racing circles for its sponsorship of Petty in the then Winston Cup Series in the early 1990s, is returning to racing as the title sponsor of the NHRA pro series in 2013, replacing Full Throttle energy drink.

Both Mello Yello and Full Throttle are owned by Coca-Cola, and while the latter's name was particularly apt for a racing sponsorship, the decision was made to transition toe sponsorship to a different product. Coca-Cola also extended its agreement as title sponsor of the series through 2018.

"The Coca-Cola Company has been a cornerstone of the sport since 2002, and this extension ensures our partnership will continue through at least 2018," NHRA President Tom Compton said in a statement. "Over the past 11 years working with The Coca-Cola Company and the bottlers, we have developed a deep professional and personal relationship. Transitioning to a brand as powerful as Mello Yello is exciting on a number of fronts, and the vision the brand team and the bottlers have shared with us regarding their plans to leverage this sponsorship will provide an extended reach nationwide for the sport of NHRA Drag Racing."

The announcement was made in Indianapolis, site of the traditional Labor Day Weekend U.S. Nationals and included the announcement of the series' 2013 schedule.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/mello-yello-replace-full-throttle-nhra-title-sponsor-024809640--nascar.html

Martin Donnelly Carlo Abate George Abecassis Kenny Acheson

Tuesday

Chase Watch: Chasers take the top seven spots at New Hampshire

In the season's first race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the 12 Chase drivers all finished in the top 13. On Sunday, the second race of the Chase, the stranglehold at the front of the field loosened just a little bit.

This time, all 12 Chase drivers finished in the top 18, including in the first seven positions. However, six of those seven drivers at the front were the top six entering Sunday's race. And the drivers that finished in 17th and 18th were Greg Biffle and Martin Truex Jr., who were in 8th and 9th place after Chicago, respectively.

So that means the Chase right now is essentially divided into a top half and a bottom half. None of the bottom half are out of it by any stretch of the imagination, but if the drivers in that top half continue to clog the top 10, well, there won't be any room to make up any ground.

1. Jimmie Johnson 2096 points, (2nd place on Sunday): Johnson did exactly what he needed to do to blunt Hamlin's gain from Sunday's victory, finishing second and getting a lap led bonus point. He's at the top of the heap heading into Dover, where he's won four of the last seven races.

2. Brad Keselowski, 2095 points, (6th place): Yeah, Keselowski lost the points lead to Johnson, but crew chief Paul Wolfe's decision to take two tires on the team's final pit stop meant that the the team went from 10th to fourth after the stops cycled through. It's a decision that could loom large later in the year.

3. Denny Hamlin 2089 points, (1st place): With Sunday's win, Hamlin gained eight points and one spot in the standings on the points lead. Now, his next task is to maintain the gap between he and Johnson at Dover, where Hamlin's last three finishes are 16th, 18th and 19th.

4. Tony Stewart, 2086 points (7th place): After starting third, Smoke darted to the lead early, but faded to the back of the top 10 after the race's competition caution at lap 40. He crept back into the top 5 for a few brief moments and made up two spots after pitting during the race's final caution flag.

5. Kasey Kahne, 2081 points (5th place): Kahne finished a spot ahead of where he qualified and almost exactly where he ran most of the day. It was an appropriate result and enough to maintain his gap to first place.

6. Clint Bowyer, 2081 points (4th place): Rawhide's car went from too loose to too tight over the course of the race and felt he didn't have enough rear grip to contend for the win. But like Kahne, he hung around the top five all day and stayed tied with him.

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr, 2070 points (13th place): Junior ran around the back of the top 20 for most of the day and was close to going a lap down when two of the race's debris cautions came. Like Keselowski, Junior and Letarte took two tires on the final green flag, which gave Junior a couple spots of track position.

8. Kevin Harvick, 2065 points (11th place): Harvick was solidly around 10th for most of the day, typically a "good points day." However, it's notsomuch of one when you lose seven points to the points lead.

9. Biffle, 2063 points (18th place): Where were the Roush cars? Biffle wasn't a factor all day, though the racing that he had with Truex late in Sunday's race was some of the closest and most compelling all day.

10. Truex, 2062 points (17th place): Truex hung around with teammate Bowyer for the early stages of the race, but faded late. And it was a costly fade too, as Truex lost 13 points to the top spot.

11. Matt Kenseth, 2061 points (14th place): Flatline's Zestfully clean car was Zestfully not in contention for the win. He stayed out to lead a lap during two green flag pit stop cycles. Woo!

12. Jeff Gordon, 2051 points (3rd place): Here starts Gordon's march back into title contention! What? He only made up two points on the points lead? Yeah, it stings when the guy you're trying to make up acres of space on finishes second.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/chase-watch-chasers-top-seven-spots-hampshire-222246634--nascar.html

Ivan Capelli Piero Carini Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti

Monday

Power Rankings: The Hamster Dance continues

The race is done, and that means it's time for Power Rankings. Each week throughout the season, we'll size up who's rising and who's falling, based on current standings, behind-the-scenes changes, expected staying power, recent history and general gut feelings. It is not scientific, nor is it meant to be. And remember, whoever your favorite driver is, we're biased against him and like someone else better. We continue with a guy who's on a roll leading into the Chase:

1.� Denny Hamlin: Is Denny the championship favorite heading into the Chase? Nope, but then, anybody who says they can pick the champion at this point, especially after last year, is either lying or they're in on the fabled NASCAR conspiracy. (Speaking of which: go to Vegas and throw a few bucks on Truex. Trust me.)�Last week: 1.

2. Jeff Gordon: Problem with being a critic in NASCAR is that there comes a time when you'll have to eat your words. All season long, people have been dogging Gordon's chances, and here he is finishing the regular season 3-2-2. Crow is delicious with a few drops of Tabasco sauce. Last week: 3.

3. Jimmie Johnson: As journalists, or whatever passes for one, we're expected to root for the story, not the individual. And of the 12 drivers racing in the Chase, about 11 of them would be a better story than Jimmie Johnson winning. That said, we're also expected not to be complete idiots. (Granted, we often fall short.) And for that reason, it's tough to pick against the 48. Sorry. Last week: 4.

4. Brad Keselowski: Where do you see Keselowski falling in this year's Chase? He's the kind of guy who could throw together a couple wins and really scare some people. Plus, I really want to see him trash-talking during those infamous Homestead joint press conferences.�Last week: 2.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: It never fails to buoy my spirit when Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes the lead and his fans go absolutely batcrap insane in the stands. I mean, these people love Dale Junior more than you love anything in your life. It's nice to see people happy. If he does win the championship, however, I'm sure I'll regret saying all this.� Last week: 7.

6. Greg Biffle: Has there ever been a regular-season leader so overlooked in the playoffs?�I am hereby starting a campaign for the next 10 weeks of the Chase: WHY NOT BIFFLE? Let's see if we can use a little social media joy to get him to respond. Post it on Facebook, use #whynotbiffle on Twitter. Time to mobilize, Biffle Nation!�Last week: 6.

7. Clint Bowyer: Ol' Rawhide had that nine-spot locked down in these rankings for so long we started mistaking him for Marcos Ambrose! Ha ha! Anyway, you've got to love Bowyer making such a turnaround (literally) at Richmond, and the fact that Juan Pablo Montoya knocked him out of the Chase last year has to make this even sweeter. Last week: 9.

8. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex isn't quite in the happy-to-be-here class, but I would be a lot higher on him if he'd won a race along the way. Something about the Chase clocks the top guys into a higher gear. You don't want them to get too far ahead of you, or your Chase will be over before you leave Chicago. Last week: 5.

9. Tony Stewart: I really would love to accompany Tony Stewart to someplace out of his comfort zone, like a kid's birthday party. He'd either charm the heck out of everyone there, or he'd be throwing cake and inspiring the kids to riot within minutes. Probably both. Point being ... ? Oh, right. You never know quite what you're getting with Stewart, so it's best to just hope he doesn't destroy everything around you as he rolls through your life.� Last week: 11.

10. Matt Kenseth: I don't have much to write about Matt Kenseth this week. I really don't. I wish I did, but he wasn't particularly outstanding at any facet of the NASCAR game this week. That's OK, it happens. We all have weeks where we just sort of let it roll and don't really make much of an impact ... oh, hey, we've got enough here.�Last week: 10.

11. Kasey Kahne: Whatcha thinking about Kasey's chances? He's one of the few guys I think could sneak up on the field, running well and then winning a key race or two to stay in the conversation through into November. He'd be fun to see as a champion, if only because watching crazy cougars chase him is more fun than watching JK Simmons in those Farmers ads.� Last week: 8.

12. Kevin Harvick: All right, FINE, I guess we have to put Harvick in here because he made the Chase. We don't really use Nationwide races in our factoring here (or maybe we do; rules tend to change when we feel like it). But Harvick has been a Nationwide beast of late. Plus, he said that fatherhood hadn't softened him; he still wants to punch Kyle Busch in the face. Good quote, that. Last week: NR.

Dropping out of the rankings: Kyle Busch, of course.�

The Mark Martin Lucky Dog: We were going to give this to Mark Martin yet again, but he's run well enough to earn its entire title. So we give it to Jeff Burton, who deserves it for his strong Richmond performance. Don't go measuring yourself for the 31 just yet, Austin Dillon.

The Carl Edwards DNF: Kyle Busch. Seriously, this had to be one of the most disappointing races of his life. The wild card, and an entry into the Chase, was there for the taking and things fell apart.

All right, your turn. Fire away, friends.

Fantasy Football video from Yahoo! Sports:

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/power-rankings-hamster-dance-continues-002606556--nascar.html

Jimmy Davies Colin Davis Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz

Drivers react to new rules changes dictating rear steering

This week, NASCAR issued new rules (or, if you prefer, "clarifications") regarding bushings in the rear suspension that gave drivers the ability to manipulate the rear handling of their cars. Both the reasons behind, and the potential effects of, the rule change were a topic of conversation at Richmond International Raceway on Friday.

In easy terms: NASCAR has decreed that the tiny sleeves that allow the car's rear arms to move may now be no longer than a quarter of an inch. Hendrick teams had been making the sleeves of softer material, giving the driver more control over the car's movements. Brad Keselowski, among others, has criticized the engineering maneuver, but until now, it was perfectly within bounds.

The timing is curious (and, for Hendrick conspiracy theorists, problematic): making a change in the first race of the Chase is a recipe for controversy, at the least. Still, there's doubt as to how much of an effect the change will have.

[What to watch for: Federated Auto Parts 400]

"It probably won't change a lot," Matt Kenseth said on Friday. "Everybody was kind of on to what they were doing anyway. For me, it might make it better because it didn't seem like we had it quite nailed down like the other guys did."

Jimmie Johnson, as expected, had a slightly different view: "I think NASCAR made it known that they are just putting parameters on what is going on," he said. "There is no change ... The field migrates quickly in certain directions, and I think NASCAR is just making sure that people understand the parameters so they can regulate in post-race and find ways to make sure no one is going above and beyond."

And Jeff Gordon? The man whose interests depend on getting that extra edge noted that he is, indeed, trying to get that extra edge: "When you watch on TV and see the cars skewed, running sideways down the straightaways, it's pretty obvious what everybody is trying to do," he said. "Everybody is trying to get as much downforce in the car as possible. And every time NASCAR comes up with a rule, you go, OK, how do we get around the rule? I feel like that's what everybody is doing, and our guys have done a lot of work in that area to gain that advantage and I give them all the credit in the world."

However, Gordon was quick to point out that this wasn't anything done without NASCAR's knowledge: "When we presented it to NASCAR for approval, they didn't act like it was something they had never seen before," he said. "I don't even think we were the first ones to do it."

And, naturally, where one team goes, others will follow. "We all started working on it once we saw what they were doing," said Kyle Busch. "It's follow the leader. You really don't have many secrets here in the garage area very long. We started going to work on those kind of things, too, and trying to manipulate some of the same things they were doing."

The effects of the change will depend on exactly how reliant each team was on the bushings' benefits. Like everything else in the Chase, it'll be a wait-and-see situation.

Baseball video from Yahoo! Sports:

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/drivers-react-rules-changes-dictating-rear-steering-175258683--nascar.html

Manny Ayulo Luca Badoer Giancarlo Baghetti Julian Bailey

2012 Portimao World Supersport QP1 Results: Lowes Leads Cluzel

Sam Lowes swaps top places from this morning with fellow PTR rider Jules Cluzel as the two maintain their dominance.

Results:

Race Details

Round Number:

2012

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/KIvqMenfTUI/2012_portimao_world_supersport_qp1_resul.html

Stefan Bellof Paul Belmondo Tom Belso JeanPierre Beltoise

Almirola and Ambrose?s teams swap crews for final 10 races

Richard Petty Motorsports announced Monday that it would be swapping the crews for it's No. 43 team of Aric Almirola and No. 9 team of Marcos Ambrose for the remainder of the season.

The swaps include crew chiefs, as Mike Ford moves to the No. 9 and Todd Parrott moves atop Almirola's box.

"We're continuing to make improvements at Richard Petty Motorsports and we've added talented people to our organization this season," RPM director of competition Sammy Johns said in a release. "This move is to make sure that we are using that talent to the fullest to get the best results for our teams each weekend. We feel this adjustment will strengthen the organization, allow us to continue to compete for wins and ultimately challenge for championships."

Ford was Denny Hamlin's crew chief in 2011, and replaced Greg Erwin as Almirola's crew chief after the first nine races of the season. Almirola's highest finish in the 17 races they were together was a 6th place finish at Dover.

Ambrose and Parrott have won the last two Watkins Glen races and had eight top 10s in 26 races this season. Ambrose is currently 15th in the points standings.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/almirola-ambrose-teams-swap-crews-final-10-races-004942740--nascar.html

Kevin Cogan Peter Collins Bernard Collomb Alberto Colombo

Cool, canny Alonso seems to have all the answers

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/07/cool_canny_alonso_looks_diffic.html

Frank Dochnal Jose Dolhem Martin Donnelly Carlo Abate

Sunday

Singapore Grand Prix FP3 Roundup: Vettel On Top Again

Sebastian Vettel made it a clean sweep of Practice sessions, as he went fastest in FP3 at the Marina Bay Circuit. The German, who topped FP1 and FP2, notched a quickest time of 1.47.947, as the RB8 looks to be the car to beat. Lewis Hamilton came in 0.325 seconds behind his rival, with leader [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/9omqYTRZURk/singapore-grand-prix-fp3-roundup-vettel-on-top-again

Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot

INDYCAR: The Long and Twisty Sonoma edition

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/wk991ta1Qgc/indycar-long-and-twisty-sonoma-edition.html

Walt Brown Warwick Brown Adolf Brudes Martin Brundle

Martin Truex and NAPA re-up with MWR for three more years

Though he was scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season, Martin Truex Jr. wasn't mentioned as a candidate to switch teams for the 2013 season. Why? Because it was a safe assumption that Truex would be staying with Michael Waltrip Racing, as both parties made it clear that they preferred to keep their partnership intact.

On Friday, that assumption became the official truth, as MWR announced that Truex, along with sponsor NAPA Auto Parts, had signed on for three years.

"Re-signing Martin was huge for us," Waltrip said in a release. "We've given him competitive race cars and engines this year and he's been able to showcase his talent. Where I am most proud of Martin is off the track. He has dedicated himself to be a leader in our organization and has accepted his role as an ambassador for our sponsors. His work with NAPA, Toyota, AAA, along with his foundation work, has shown his maturity as a person and he makes me proud."

Truex is currently fifth in the points standings and can clinch his first Chase berth with MWR with 14th-place finish Sunday night at Atlanta. In his first two years at MWR, Truex finished 22nd and 18th in the points standings. Teammate Clint Bowyer, who came to MWR from Richard Childress Racing before 2012, is also poised to make the Chase as well.

NAPA's extension with the team includes all 36 Sprint Cup Series points races, and in this current period of rising competition costs and a sagging economy, will continue to be one of the only companies to sponsor the entire season. (MWR also had sponsor 5-HOUR Energy expand its sponsorship for all but one of Bowyer's 2012 races earlier in the season.)

There's no word if there are any provisions in the new NAPA contract that prohibit commercials featuring Michael Waltrip booty shakes.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/martin-truex-napa-mwr-three-more-years-221110280--nascar.html

Eric Brandon Don Branson Tom Bridger Tony Brise

Could Their Dreams Turn To Nightmares In Singapore?

Since making its first appearance in Formula One in 2008, the Singapore Grand Prix has always seemed to court controversy, whether it has been the infamous ‘Crashgate’ from 2008, or simply the scene of a crucial moment in deciding the race for the title, the almost infamous night race, has left an early mark on [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/njHXGcpSpq8/could-their-dreams-turn-to-nightmares-in-singapore

Felice Bonetto Jo Bonnier Roberto Bonomi Juan Manuel Bordeu