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Video: Over 100 spectators hurt at Brazilian race as bleachers collapse

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Safety, Videos, South America

Brazilian bleachers collapse injures 100 – Click above to watch video after the jump

According to The Daily Telegraph, over 100 spectators watching a race were injured in Brazil when a section of bleachers collapsed. Around 500 spectators were observing at a drag race in the Brazilian city of Quatro Pontes when the structure gave way. Six people were immediately taken to the hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the incident, and two of those are still in critical condition.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, though structural faults are believed to have been the cause. Click past the jump for a video of the collapse, but be warned, the images may be upsetting for some viewers.

[Source: The Daily Telegraph via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: Over 100 spectators hurt at Brazilian race as bleachers collapse

Video: Over 100 spectators hurt at Brazilian race as bleachers collapse originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carl Edwards, Travis Pastrana will represent U.S. at Race of Champions [w/Video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Racing

Race of Champions 2010 - Travis Pastrana and Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards and Travis Pastrana represent US at ROC 2010 – Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2010 Race of Champions, a motorsports event with global intrigue, is scheduled for November 27-28 and will be held at the ESPRIT arena in Düsseldorf, Germany. There are currently eight confirmed drivers gunning to be the number one worldwide wheelman.

Representing the United States will be 2007 NASCAR Champion Carl Edwards and 11-time X-Games Gold Medalist Travis Pastrana. Edwards ran in the 2008 ROC event along with Tanner Foust, who replaced Patrana after the rally-racer broke his hip a week prior to the event. Pastrana has competed in the Race of Champions as far back as 2005, including a stint in 2006 where he drove every round for the Stars and Stripes. Both Jimmie Johnson and Scott Speed were injured that year with no replacements lined up. Pastrana still managed to come in second that year.

The Race of Champions was started back in 1988 by rally extraordinaire Michèle Mouton and IMP president Frederik Johnsson. The goal was to find out who was the best rally driver, but the competition has expanded to allow competitors from all types of motorsport disciplines. In addition to Pastrana and Edwards, we know that Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, Sébastien Loeb, Sebastian Vettel, Tom Kristensen and Andy Priaulx are all confirmed for the 2010 ROC.

Mark the date on your calendars now because that lineup (plus more drivers to be announced) is sure to provide plenty of breathtaking displays of driving precision, and hit the jump for a video.

Gallery: Race of Champions 2009

[Source: ESPN, Race of Champions]

Continue reading Carl Edwards, Travis Pastrana will represent U.S. at Race of Champions [w/Video]

Carl Edwards, Travis Pastrana will represent U.S. at Race of Champions [w/Video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Road Race Motorsports creates Platinum Edition Suzuki Kizashi

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Suzuki

Road Race Motorsports Platinum Edition Suzuki Kizashi – Click above for high-res image gallery

Road Race Motorsports has given the Suzuki Kizashi not just a boost, but a kick in the pants and elsewhere. Instead of the stock sedan’s 185 horsepower, RRM turbocharged the engine up to 300 hp, adds a sports suspension and sport brakes, along with a choice of bodykits. If 300 ponies is a little more than you’re after, RRM also has a 200-hp package, and the suspension offerings come in Stage 1, 2, and 3.

Our own Jeff Glucker drove it this week and wrote that “the carbon bucket seat was not built for my butt and I was half-assing (literally) in the seat. Thankfully, [the RRm Kizashi] was still easy to drive and predictably more fun than the stock model.” Follow the jump for the press release and check out the high-res images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Road Race Motorsports Platinum Edition Suzuki Kizashi

[Source: Road Race Motorsports]

Continue reading Road Race Motorsports creates Platinum Edition Suzuki Kizashi

Road Race Motorsports creates Platinum Edition Suzuki Kizashi originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Formula 1 expands to 20-race calendar for 2011 as Rome signs on for 2012

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

Is bigger better, or is less more? Chew on that one while the FIA releases the calendar for the 2011 Formula One World Championship. Packed with 20 grands prix, it’s the largest the series has ever seen. And it’s only going to get bigger.

Starting earlier and ending later than the season currently underway, the 2011 calendar starts in Bahrain next March and ends in Brazil late November, a position which Interlagos regains from Abu Dhabi, which in turn moves to the second-to-last position after two years as the season closer. Near the end of the season in late October will be the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, still subject to homologation of the new circuit. Malaysia and China, Spain and Monaco, Germany and Hungary, and Japan and Korea will each be back-to-back.

Meanwhile, a new, five-year contract was signed at Monza this past weekend to hold a grand prix on the streets of Rome, scene of the Shell commercial pictured above and a Renault F1 roadshow exhibit in 2005. The new race could come as soon as the 2012 season, pending European approval. The race is set to run in addition to – not instead of – the Italian Grand Prix, which will continue to be held at Monza. The last time Italy hosted two grands prix was in 2006, which featured the final running of the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola.

The United States Grand Prix is set to race in Austin, Texas, also in 2012. However, neither the Chinese, Japanese nor Turkish grands prix are currently contracted beyond next season.

[Sources: Autosport, F1-Live]

Formula 1 expands to 20-race calendar for 2011 as Rome signs on for 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Korean International Circuit lapped ahead of October F1 race

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, South Korea

Karun Chandhok does laps of the Korean GP circuit – Click above to watch video after the jump

Just six weeks remain until the Korean Grand Prix takes place on October 24. The track itself is only barely ready and the surrounding infrastructure is nowhere near ready, but that didn’t stop Karun Chandhok from running a few fast laps. On leave from HRT F1 for a few races, Chandhok piloted a Red Bull on grooved tires through the dusty 3.49-mile circuit. It looks a lot more exciting on paper than it does behind the wheel – save for the massive straight – but hopefully the championship battle will provide enough excitement on its own. Follow the jump for the video.

[Source: ESPN F1]

Continue reading Video: Korean International Circuit lapped ahead of October F1 race

Video: Korean International Circuit lapped ahead of October F1 race originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Trans-Am race cars battle it out at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Videos, Ford, Racing

1969 Ford Boss 302 Team Shelby Trans-Am Mustang – Click above to watch the video after the jump

One of our favorite events from the Monterey car week earlier this month was watching the field of 44 Trans-Am race cars tear it up at the Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The sights and sounds of classic Mustangs, Camaros and Challengers battling it out on the track just like they did in the late ’60s and early ’70s was something we’ll never forget.

The eventual winner of that race was a 1969 Boss 302 Mustang (which is now up for sale) owned and driven by Laguna Seca veteran Bruce Canepa, who has put up a video of his victory. The video shows that the win wasn’t easy, as he traded places with a 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A and a 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 multiple times. You can watch the entire race in the embedded video after the jump, and be sure to turn up your speakers.

Gallery: 1969 Ford Boss 302 Team Shelby Trans-Am Mustang

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Trans-Am race cars battle it out at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Video: Trans-Am race cars battle it out at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Race the Base fundraising event pits supercars against military jets

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Canada

Supercars and airstrips go together like Corvettes and gold chains. There are simply few other locations on this blue marble we call Earth that allow owners to legally and somewhat safely tickle the upper limits of their speedometers. That’s exactly why Zahir Rana, the owner of ZR Auto, has organized a charity event to allow supercar owners to have their time on the tarmac at the Canadian Forces Base in Cold Lake, Alberta. For the low, low price of $1,500 per car and $500 per passenger, drivers can ratchet their exotics all the way up to 185 mph or better.

There will even an exhibition in which Rana will put his twin-turbo, 860-horsepower Ferrari Enzo toe-to-toe with a CF-18 Hornet fighter jet, but the best part is that every last dollar will go to four charities. The Military Families Support Society, Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, Bonnyville Health Foundation and Hearts for Healthcare will all benefit from the Race the Base event. There are only 100 slots available, so if you happen to own a car worth wringing out and have $1,500 Canadian burning a hole in your pocket, head over to the ZR Auto site for more information.

[Source: ZR Auto via The Vancouver Sun]

Race the Base fundraising event pits supercars against military jets originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: At least 8 dead in California 200 off-road race tragedy

Filed under: Motorsports

Crash at California 200 off-road race

Crash at California 200 off-road race – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Associated Press is reporting that eight people are dead after an off-road racing truck hit spectators near the start of the California 200 off-road race Saturday evening. Witnesses say the truck had just completed a jump called “the rockpile” that occurs about two miles from the start of the race when it lost control, struck spectators and came to a rest on its roof. Six people died at the scene, two others after being airlifted to the Loma Linda University Medical Center and 12 others were injured. It reportedly took rescue vehicles and helicopters a half hour to reach scene, during which time spectators tried to help the injured. Witnesses say the driver of the truck, who remains unidentified, had to flee the scene after some spectators became hostile and began to throw rocks at him. [UPDATE: Reports of the driver being pelted with rocks have not been verified, with some witnesses claiming it never happened.]

The California 200 is a 200-mile off-road race that occurs in the Mojave Desert close to the city of Lucerne Valley, just 100 miles away from Los Angeles. As with most off-road races of this type, there are no barriers separating spectators from race vehicles that can rocket by at near triple-digit speeds while facing obstacles like jumps that are designed to get all four wheels off the ground.

While the California Highway Patrol normally does not investigate crashes at organized motorsport events, AP reports that the CHP has taken the lead on this one due to its “scope”. The Federal Bureau of Land Management is also assisting. At this point, it’s not known what caused the driver of the truck to lose control, though we expect that and the driver’s identity to be revealed in due time.

The families of the victims will be in our thoughts as we try to process this tragedy, and we’ll let you know as soon as more information is available.

UPDATE: The non-profit organization FAST-aid is accepting donations to assist families of the victims. 100% of the donations will go to assist the families, which is pretty great.

UPDATE 2: Video news reports added after the jump from local news station, plus a CNN video that shows how close spectators may have been to the track.

Gallery: Crash at California 200 off-road race

Crash at California 200 off-road race

[Source: Associated Press]

Continue reading BREAKING: At least 8 dead in California 200 off-road race tragedy

BREAKING: At least 8 dead in California 200 off-road race tragedy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tivo Alert: Mid-Ohio ALMS race to be shown Sunday as 90 minute docu-drama

Filed under: Motorsports

Last week’s American Le Mans Series race at Mid-Ohio was a nail-biter right down to the checkered flag with lots of action in each of the four classes. Unfortunately, the race wasn’t shown live on TV… though it was streamed over the interwebz. If you missed the action the first time around, you can catch yourself up this Sunday in an interesting new way.

Intersport Productions, the creators of one of the greatest racing films ever, Truth in 24, has applied its skills to the Mid-Ohio footage. The cameras were rolling throughout the weekend and the editors have spent this week putting together a 90-minute special that apparently goes beyond just the race to tell a narrative about the whole process of competition. The docu-drama, called Road Warriors, will air this Sunday, August 15, at 12:30pm EDT on CBS.

Gallery: American Le Mans Series Mid-Ohio 2010

[Source: American Le Mans Series]

Tivo Alert: Mid-Ohio ALMS race to be shown Sunday as 90 minute docu-drama originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Corvette Racing Episode 7 – Le Mans pre-race activities

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Chevrolet

Corvette Racing drivers in the Le Mans parade – Click above to watch video after the jump

After reviewing this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans in the previous episode of the Corvette Racing video series, the latest installment looks at the off-track activities that preceded the race. Once the cars and drivers have established their place on the starting grid, they’re able to take a short break from competition to interact with the fans – especially the rabid Danish crowd that showed up to cheer on Jan Magnussen. Judging from the narration, you’d think that eight overall victories at the Circuit de la Sarthe aren’t enough for Tom Kristensen to gain any attention from his countrymen. (If you’ve seen Truth in 24, however, you know full well that the Danes treat TK like a rock star, too.)

Apparently the narrator missed the memo from the marketing department about referring to Chevrolet as Chevy. Rather than vuvuzelas, Le Mans fans prefer to express their enthusiasm using air horns, so the Corvette crew brought a very special one of their own this year. Wanna see? Then check out video after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Corvette Racing Episode 7 – Le Mans pre-race activities

Video: Corvette Racing Episode 7 – Le Mans pre-race activities originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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