lap Archives | Page 2 of 2

Car and Driver returns to VIR for Lightning Lap No. 5 [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Videos

Car and Driver 2011 Lightning Lap

Car and Driver presents Lightning Lap No. 5 – Click above for high-res image gallery

The annual Lightning Lap roundup from Car and Driver is easily one of our favorite car magazine features of any of the past five years, and this year’s extravaganza at Virginia International Raceway delivers once again. The five classes in the throwdown represent vehicles under $30,000, $30k to $60k, $60,000 to $120,000, $120k to $240k and the elusive “and up” category. C/D asked manufacturers to supply production vehicles that come equipped with the most track-ready options that any Tom, Dick and Harry can get straight from the factory, including uprated tires, brakes and sporting suspensions. The goal? To find out what production car is the quickest around VIR’s challenging roadcourse.

After the jump are video summaries of the LL2 and LL3 competitions. The LL2 class features dream matchups of the Ford Mustang GT, Lexus LS-F, Shelby Mustang GT500, Mazda RX8 R3, Mitsubishi EVO and Subaru WRX STI. The LL3 class features the Jaguar XFR, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, Lotus Evora, Mercedes E63 AMG and Porsche Boxster Spyder.

We won’t reveal any winners here, but you can find out the LL2 and LL3 champs by hitting the jump. Heck, one LL3 car would have also won the LL4 class, so we’re talking serious speed here. There aren’t many better ways to spend eight minutes of your life, but if you’ve got an hour or two to kill, head over to C/D’s website for all five Lightning Lap summaries, plus a bunch of individual laps and summaries from past Lightning Laps.

Gallery: Car and Driver’s 2011 Lightning Lap

[Source: Car and Driver I Images: Marc Urbano]

Continue reading Car and Driver returns to VIR for Lightning Lap No. 5 [w/video]

Car and Driver returns to VIR for Lightning Lap No. 5 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Car and Driver returns to VIR for Lightning Lap No. 5 [w/video]”

Video: Opening lap crash at 2010 Bathurst race

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Australia, Racing

Fabien Coulthard Bathurst 1000 Crash

Fabien Coulthard crashes out of the Bathurst 1000 – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Australian Supercar Bathurst 1000 has grown a reputation for being an all-out slugfest between two camps: those loyal to the Holden banner and those who eat, sleep and breathe Ford blue. While the racers are knocking fenders on track, spectators are typically knocking back beers by the truckload and locking horns to defend their respective brands. In all, the event makes Daytona look like a kiddie carnival ride. This past weekend’s Bathurst got off on a scary foot with a spectacular single-car accident in the first lap.

Judging from this YouTube video, it looks like Fabien Coulthard, who started in the 21st position on the grid, blew the left rear tire on his Holden Commodore. The resulting loss of control sent the driver off track, and his touring car hit a sand trap sideways at considerable speed. The result was the kind of pirouetting explosion of sheetmetal that we haven’t seen for a good while. Thankfully, Coulthard was able to hop out of the remains of his racer and give the crowd a hearty thumbs-up. Hit the jump to see the action for yourself. Thanks to everyone for the tips.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Opening lap crash at 2010 Bathurst race

Video: Opening lap crash at 2010 Bathurst race originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Opening lap crash at 2010 Bathurst race”

Video: Austin GP lap rendered and run

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos

Click above to view the video after the jump

A sample lap has been rendered of the track in Austin, Texas that’s set to host the U.S. Grand Prix come 2012. Another Hermann Tilke-designed layout, the 3.4-mile circuit has 20 corners and plenty of elevation change; in fact, in some areas it looks more like a Disney ride than a venue for driving upwards of 200 mph. Since we’re going to lose some European races to make room for the USGP, we hope it’s good. Check it out for yourself after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Austin GP lap rendered and run

Video: Austin GP lap rendered and run originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Austin GP lap rendered and run”

FIM e-Power 2010: Last lap lead change at Mazda Raceway

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle, Electric, Racing

Michael Czysz at the FIM e-Power International Championship at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

In racing, planning is everything. This point was proven once again as the bright yellow (Flying Banana, if you will) race machine from Lightning Motors held the lead of the e-Power International Championship until the very last few hundred feet. And then ran out of juice.

Sadly, for Lightning Motors at least, this slight miscalculation allowed the Flying Banana to be passed literally just feet ahead of the finish line by Michael Czysz, who took the win mounted on his own MotoCzysz E1pc electric race bike. For those keeping track, Czysz was 6.7 seconds behind at the start of the last lap.

Michael Barnes took second place on the Lightning Motors machine, followed by Thijs de Ridder aboard the Crystalite bike. Our congratulations to all of the riders!

Gallery: e-Power International Championship at Mazda Raceway

FIM e-Power 2010: Last lap lead change at Mazda Raceway originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “FIM e-Power 2010: Last lap lead change at Mazda Raceway”