Tag: track

Austin F1 track location revealed

Filed under: Motorsports

Back in May, Formula One Group CEO Bernie Ecclestone announced that the racing organization had secured a deal with the city of Austin, Texas to bring the series to America for 10 years. All of that sounded great to American racing fans, but there have been lingering questions as to whether it was possible to get the city ready for F1 by 2012, which is when the contract is scheduled to go into effect.

At least one piece of the puzzle is now resolved as the location for the future track has been revealed at a press conference today in Austin. A total of 900 acres is said to be available at a site in southeastern Travis County, most of which had previously been set aside for a planned subdivision called Wandering Creek.

At this point, officials for the proposed track hope to have permits in hand and work beginning on the site in December. Says Bobby Epstein, an investor in Wandering Creek, “I’m elated and hope this all comes to fruition… I’m highly optimistic that all the moving parts will come together.”

According to News 8 in Austin, Red McCombs, founder of the McCombs Automotive Group and former owner of the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Vikings, is backing the project, which he is reportedly calling “Speed City.” Want to see the proposed site for yourself? Click here for a Google Map of the location, which coincidentally enough (or not) is fortuitously close to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

[Source: Statesman, News 8]

Austin F1 track location revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Bugatti Veyron SS takes on Top Gear test track at hands of the Stig

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Bugatti

The Stig takes on the Bugatti Veyron SS – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Recently, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport made headlines by setting a new land speed record, hitting 267.81 miles per hour out on Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track. It may be the fastest production car ever built, but straight-line speed isn’t everything, you know. Just ask the Top Gear boys – the standard-spec Bugatti Veyron may be an insanely fast machine, but out on the test track, it failed to earn first (or even second or third) place honors.

Naturally, it didn’t take long for Top Gear to get the new Veyron SS in the hands of its tame racing driver, The Stig. Captain Slow may have managed the top-rung Bugatti up to 259.11 mph, but how does it fare on the track? Does it take the first place spot, or merely fall somewhere near the top? Hit the jump to watch the video of Stiggy’s power lap and find out for yourself.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sports land speed record

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Bugatti Veyron SS takes on Top Gear test track at hands of the Stig

Video: Bugatti Veyron SS takes on Top Gear test track at hands of the Stig originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Contrary to rumors, Toyota FT-86 development on track, expected Nov. 2011

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Japan, Toyota, Rumormill

Toyota FT-86 G Sports Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to 7Tune, Toyota recently held at shindig in Japan for select scribes in order to get some things straight about its Toyota G’s performance vehicles. Naturally, talk quickly turned to the FT-86 (or FR-S) Although it was reported two months ago that the much-anticipated sports coupe would be delayed until 2013 for design and powerplant reasons, the Toyota engineers at the event reportedly attested that “the car is on schedule” and still has a planned release date of November 2011.

Clarity on the lineup was offered as well: Three spec levels will be available with at least two engines, and the mid-range model is expected to run around 2.5 million yen ($28,500 USD). Further, it appears that a turbocharged variant will take the top slot. According to 7Tune, none of those engines will be a hybrid – that tech is being reserved for a different sporty product.

If there’s any news from the event that makes us as excited as word that we might see the car next year, it’s the head of the sports division saying that “because of Toyota’s connection with Subaru, there was no way that the car wasn’t going to be great.” We hope he knows what he’s talking about. Top tip, Andrew!

Gallery: Toyota G Sports Series

[Source: 7Tune]

Report: Contrary to rumors, Toyota FT-86 development on track, expected Nov. 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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