Held around the rugged combat tank testing ranges at Bovington UK, the Seth Stephens Enduro was run as a fitting tribute to the Poole based marine who tragically lost his life in Afghanistan this summer. Corporal Seth Stephens is thought to have been a member of the UK's elite "Special Boat Service" – the Royal Marines’ equivalent of the SAS. He was killed in southern Afghanistan on July 1st... [read more]
The SBS have their top security base at Royal Marines Hamworthy, and their work in combat zones is shrouded in secrecy. Stephens was a keen enduro rider and was a member of the Royal Marines Poole Enduro Club. 130 riders from across the South gathered to pay their respects with a minutes silence prior to the start of the 3 hour "Hare and Hounds" type event.
Victory around the gruelling six mile course went to Nick Life from Totnes in Devon.
Photo & Editorial: Neil Tozer
11.29.2010
EVENTS // ENDURO TRIBUTE TO FALLEN HERO
11.28.2010
PHOTO GALLERY // SUPER GT @ FUJI SPEEDWAY (PART TWO)
Featured below is part two of Masaaki Kitagawa's photo collection from the ninth and final round of the 2010 AUTOBACS Super GT Series at the Fuji International Speedway. Follow the link for a look... [read more]
Photo(s): Masaaki Kitagawa
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey
EYE CANDY // AIRBORNE @ THE GERMAN GP
Thought you guys might enjoy this shot of James Hunt taken at the 1975 German Grand Prix. Hunt, who was driving a Heskesh-Ford 308B, retired after only ten laps when a wheel came off. Of the 24 cars that qualified for the race, only ten managed to finish, with Carlos Reutemann collecting the win in his Brabham-Ford, followed shortly thereafter by Jacques Laffite (who started from 15th) and Niki Lauda // [comment]
PHOTO GALLERY // SUPER GT @ FUJI SPEEDWAY (PART ONE)
Two weeks ago, ColdTrackDays correspondent, Masaaki Kitagawa, visited the Fuji International Speedway for the ninth and final round of the 2010 AUTOBACS Super GT Series. The event, which was a non-championship round, saw both the GT300 and GT500 classes compete on the 2.835 mile circuit. And while no championship points were awarded, the action on track was as fierce as ever.
Follow the link for a handful of images... [read more]
Photo: Masaaki Kitagawa
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey
VIDEO // MOTORSPORT - EVERY SECOND COUNTS
For those of you that didn't see this video posted to the ColdTrackDays Facebook page, check out this wonderful collection of motorsport footage uploaded by antti2phoenixbird. The video, which includes footage of everything from Formula One and MotoGP to the Dakar Rally and the World Rally Championship, also includes a handful of quotes from some of racings greatest participants // [comment]
TRIVIA // WHO, WHEN AND WHERE?
With the weekend drawing to a close I thought we'd post a trivia question for Monday morning consumption. And while it seems obvious that this is the Tyrrell P34 six-wheeler, the questions is - who is driving, what circuit are they on and when was this photo taken? Follow the link and post your answer in our comment section. First person with the correct answer wins some CTD schwag. Good luck! // [comment]
VIDEO // JEFF ZWART'S PRE-PPIHC PORSCHE PRACTICE
Jeff Zwart, a commercial film director from Woody Creek, Colorado, drove a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the 2WD Time Attack class at this years Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Zwart, who had technical support from Porsche Motorsport North America and Pirelli Tires, did a bit of testing before hand and has since released this video from his shakedown run on the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation east of San Diego // [comment]
11.22.2010
VIDEO // RHYS MILLEN'S CLIMB ATTACK BRAZIL TEASER
Check out this teaser for a forthcoming film featuring Rhys Millen and his 750 horsepower RMR Hyundai Genesis Coupe. The video, which was shot by DC Chavez using a Canon 5D Mk II, Contour HD 1080P, Contour GPS and HVX200, will highlight Millen's drive up the side of Serra Do Rio Do Rastro in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Stay tuned, as the video is scheduled to be released on Thanksgiving // [comment]
PHOTO GALLERY // FORMULA NIPPON @ FUJI SPEEDWAY
Last weekend the Formula Nippon series ran alongside the AUTOBACS Super GT Series at the Fuji International Speedway. ColdTrackDays correspondent, Masaaki Kitagawa, was trackside all weekend and was able to send us a handful of images from the eighth and final round of the championship.
Follow the link for a look... [read more]
Photo(s): Masaaki Kitagawa
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey
SUPER GT // 2010 JAF GRAND PRIX & FUJI SPRINT CUP
ColdTrackDays correspondent, Masaaki Kitagawa, spent last weekend at the Fuji Speedway for this years JAF Grand Prix and Fuji Sprint Cup. Finishing first in the GT500 class was the #38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 of Richard Lyons (above), while Shinichi Takagi took the win in the GT300 class driving the #43 ARTA Garaiya.
Follow the link for complete results... [read more]
2010 JAF Grand Prix and Fuji Sprint Cup // Complete Results
GT500 Class:
1 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 Richard Lyons 1'33.475
2 35 MJ KRAFT SC430 Hiroaki Ishiura 1'33.511
3 12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R Ronnie Quintarelli 1'33.536
4 18 Weider HSV-010 Loic Duval 1'33.662
5 1 PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 Andre Lotterer 1'33.672
6 6 ENEOS SC430 Bjorn Wirdheim 1'33.772
7 100 RAYBRIG HSV-010 Naoki Yamamoto 1'33.842
8 24 HIS ADVAN KONDO GT-R Hironobu Yasuda
9 17 KEIHIN HSV-010 Koudai Tsukakoshi 1'34.011
10 32 EPSON HSV-010 Yuhki Nakayama 1'34.145
11 39 DENSO DUNLOP SARD SC430 Andre Couto 1'34.260
12 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R Benoit Treluyer 1'34.565
13 8 ARTA HSV-010 Yuji Ide 1'34.572
GT300 Class:
1 43 ARTA Garaiya Shinichi Takagi 1'42.559
2 74 COROLLA Axio apr GT Yuji Kunimoto 1'43.282
3 11 JIMGAINER DIXCEL DUNLOP F430 Katsuyuki Hiranaka 1'43.328
4 9 911GT3R Porsche Japan Hideto Yasuoka 1'43.571
5 66 triple a Vantage GT2 Hiroki Yoshimoto 1'43.731
6 46 UP START MOLA Z Tsubasa Abe 1'43.770
7 3 TOMICA Z Kazuki Hoshino 1'43.822
8 19 WedsSport IS350 Tatsuya Kataoka 1'44.017
9 87 JLOC Lamborghini RG-3 Yuya Sakamoto 1'44.033
10 7 M7 MUTIARA MOTORS AMEMIYA SGC 7 Ryo Orime 1'44.139
11 26 CINE CITTA' TAISAN PORSCHE Masayuki Ueda 1'44.178
12 25 ZENT Porsche RSR Akihiro Tsuzuki 1'44.255
13 86 JLOC Lamborghini RG-3 Yuhi Sekiguchi 1'44.264
14 31 MAGICAL CARBON apr Axio Kosuke Matsuura 1'44.282
15 33 HANKOOK PORSCHE Tomonobu Fujii 1'44.390
16 27 NAC EISEICOM LMP Ferrari Hiroshi Koizumi 1'44.566
17 88 RIRE Lamborghini RG-3 Atsushi Yogo 1'44.660
18 5 MACH GOGOGO SHAKEN408R Tetsuji Tamanaka 1'44.665
19 62 R&D SPORT LEGACY B4 Tetsuya Yamano 1'44.883
20 51 Sabelt CINE CITTA' TAISAN PORSCHE Yuya Sakamoto 1'45.020
21 365 365 ThunderAsia MT900M Keita Sawa 1'45.892
22 2 Apple·K-one·Shiden Kazuho Takahashi 1'46.424
Photo: Masaaki Kitagawa
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey
NEWS // FORD UNVEILS FOCUS RACE CAR CONCEPT
During last weeks L.A. Auto Show, Ford unveiled a race ready version of their new economy coupe, the Focus Race Car Concept. Powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, the forthcoming Focus Race package will feature AST performance coil-over adjustable dampers, anthracite 18-inch wheels and Hoosier race tires. Additional upgrades will include sway bars from Ford Racing with adjustable end links and front brakes with 320-millimeter two-piece rotors and race pads. Open the doors and you’ll find a full FIA-certified roll cage, along with Recaro seats and six-point racing harnesses.
According to their press release, Ford has teamed up with a number of professional racing teams to develop its Focus Race The car's first appearance in competition will be at the 2011 British Touring Car Championship, but it will also race in the China Touring Car Championship and at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in Germany.
Follow the link for the official press release... [read more]
New Focus Race Car Concept: L.A. Auto Show debut for Ford's next global touring race car
* Focus race car concept by Ford Racing makes its global debut at the 2010 Los Angeles International Auto Show
* Powered by a 2.0-liter Ford EcoBoost™ turbo engine, the Focus race car concept is built to compete in global road and touring car racing
* All-new Focus, Ford's latest offering, will be raced by touring car teams globally, building on Ford's history in engineering race-ready platforms. First race appearance for the car is anticipated to be in the 2011 British Touring Car Championship
* Focus race car concept hints at future potential as Ford coordinates with and provides technical support to private race teams around the world to develop one common race car capable of winning major touring car categories
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17, 2010 – Ford Motor Company is putting racing on the map at the
2010 Los Angeles International Auto Show with the debut of the Focus race car concept, demonstrating future potential for the all-new 2012 Ford Focus to compete in road and touring car championships with teams around the world.
The Focus race car concept is a dramatic example of Ford's global approach to product development and builds on the company's comprehensive approach to leveraging its global product platforms.
This race car concept, powered by the sophisticated 2.0-liter Ford EcoBoost I-4 engine, is the first to benefit from a collaborative effort between Ford and race teams around the world that have already built and raced successful Focus race cars. The Focus race car concept has been based around rules governing circuit racing in the United States and beyond.
"This teamwork has resulted in a global racing platform using a common Focus body and a safety cage built to FIA regulations – a competitive platform that can be tailored for regional competition, based on different rules," said Jost Capito, director of Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsport Business Development. "By leveraging our collective experience and Ford technology worldwide, this approach parallels our global dedication to the Focus production car and specifically its exciting performance derivative, the new Focus ST, to deliver a competitive race car that can be campaigned around the world."
Using the all-new Focus as its base, the Focus race car concept features AST performance coil-over adjustable dampers, Ford Racing upgraded sway bars with adjustable end links and front brakes with 320-millimeter two-piece rotors and race pads. The Anthracite 18-inch wheels and Hoosier race tires put the finishing touches on the exterior.
In addition to the FIA Super 2000 regulations roll cage, interior components include a Recaro® racing seat, AIM MXL Pista data system and AIM SmartyCam. Ford Racing fire suppression system and Ford Racing six-point safety harness round out the modifications that bring the car from street-spec to race-ready.
"There has been tremendous interest from the racing world in the new Focus, and it's the perfect fit for a global touring car," said Capito. "Even more, by working with professional private race teams, we're ensuring Focus has the support it needs to compete and win around the world."
Benefits will stretch beyond the track
Professional private race teams are partnering with Ford to develop common technical specifications for the race car, which will conform to FIA Super 2000 regulations with potential to adopt to other regulations.
The teams are being brought together by Ford to harness their strengths and define roles for the development of the race car. Ford will also support the race teams by providing data, advanced engineering tools, state-of-the-art testing facilities and production parts, resulting in teams racing more competitive cars that are developed with greater efficiency.
"Ford's commitment to using motorsports to influence high-performance vehicles will be highly evident, as the development of the Focus touring car will also provide valuable input as we develop the upcoming Focus ST production car," said Capito. "It's very similar to how the Mustang team was able to apply learnings from the Ford Racing Boss 302R to the 2012 Mustang Boss 302."
The first race appearance for the Focus is targeted for the 2011 British Touring Car Championship. Globally, the race car has the potential to run in many national and regional championships, such as the China Touring Car Championship and 24-hour endurance races like the classic Nürburgring in Germany.
Images and Info: Autoblog
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey
