Lewis Hamilton laying down "off the hook" tracks for his own album? [w/videos]

Formula One racecar driver Sebastian Vettel is diversifying his resume by becoming the Director of Performance for Infiniti, and it also sounds like his rival Lewis Hamilton is also dabbling in some extracurriculars. According to Yahoo!, the 28-year-old Hamilton has apparently been stealing away time in a recording studio to record his own pop music album over the last year. The report, which quotes singer/songwriter Angel, indicates that Hamilton might have a second career waiting for him after racing.

So far, Hamilton and Angel have written about 12 songs across various music genres, and another interesting element to his involvement in the music industry is that his girlfriend, Nicole Scherzinger (above), is the lead singer for the Pussycat Dolls as well as a former judge for the reality singing contest, X-Factor. For those who are interested, it doesn't sound like he's ready to put out an album just yet. For the moment, it appears Hamilton's duties in Austin, Texas will be limited to lapping the Circuit of the Americas rather than the performing on the local music scene.

Us? We're just hoping for an eventual duet with fellow F1 racer and musical hopeful Jacques Villeneuve. Yeah, we went there. In the meantime, we'll have to keep hope alive by watching Hamilton and friends sing Wonderwall by Oasis in one of the videos below.

GRAND-AM, IMSA announce deal to bring DTM racing to US

It won't be until 2015 at the earliest, but the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), Grand-Am and the Internationale Tourenwagen-Rennen have agreed to a licensing and cooperation deal that could bring a version of Germany's DTM series to the US.

When the American Le Mans Series and Grand-Am are officially combined next year, the resulting body will be called United SportsCar Racing (USCR). IMSA will be the sanctioning body for that series, and DTM races could be run as support events. It was also suggested by an ALMS chief that DTM races could be standalone or join NASCAR and IndyCar weekends.

With the so-called DTM America finally agreed to, there is now a way for manufacturers to run the same DTM-type cars in Europe, the US and Japan last year Japan's Super GT series agreed to adopt "the basic technical regulations" of DTM for the GT500 class, the top class in the series. That already puts six manufacturers in play: Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW that run in Germany's DTM and Honda, Nissan and Lexus that run in Super GT. The DTM oversight body has invited American brands to Germany for the opening round of the 2013 season, and will begin actively courting their participation in the US series. Check out the press release from Audi with comments on the deal below.

Chevy offering Camaro rolling chassis for drag racers

There sure has been plenty of drag racing machinery to report about lately from the Chevrolet COPO Camaro to the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, but General Motors has another quarter-mile racer up its sleeve with a new rolling chassis version of the Camaro. While the COPO is a turn-key racecar with a price tag pushing six figures, Chevrolet announced that it is also going to start offering a factory-built Camaro drag car similar to the COPO but stripped of most of the drivetrain components.

With a starting price of $55,000, the Camaro rolling chassis (click above to enlarge) will feature a complete body, race-ready interior including a rollcage, a solid rear axle (without the gearing), racing wheels and Hoosier drag tires, and it will be built at the same Detroit area facility where the COPO Camaro is assembled using mostly production parts. The owner will need to provide an engine (and wiring harness), transmission, driveshaft and rear differential gears (the "third member"), which is all available through the Chevrolet Racing parts catalog.

Chevy will build a limited number of the Camaro rolling chassis, but it isn't clear if production will be as limited as the COPO Camaro's 69-unit run. Scroll down for the official press release.

Hennessey Ford GT sets 267.6-MPH record at Texas Mile [w/videos]

The record-setting Hennessey-powered camouflage Ford GT we showed you at this time last year headed back to the Texas Mile and managed to bring home yet another record. As you may recollect, last year saw Mark Heidraker's machine sprint to a record 257.7 mph thanks to propulsion from its twin-turbo 5.7-liter V8. The big mill sucks down race gas, and this year the creation pulled off a 267.6-mph run over the weekend. That feat set a new record for the event. Something tells us neither Heidraker nor Hennessey are done squeezing more thrust from this machine.

This particular Ford GT has already gone through a number of permutations. Hennessey started by tweaking the factory supercharger set up before abandoning the blower in favor of two turbos. Since then, the crew has poked and prodded it to coerce as much grunt as possible out of the car. We expect Hennessey will probably come out with a video of the record-setting run shortly, but in the meantime, you can see a couple of videos of the car's runs in Texas below (one of which actually captures the record run). Enjoy.

Alpine unveils N36 LMP2 car that will race in 24 Hours of Le Mans

This is the Alpine LMP2 competitor you'll see contesting European endurance races this year, including The 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. Parent company Renault showed off the N36 racer at its atelier in Paris, the blue and orange a switch from the yellow, black and white livery Alpine wore last time it was seen in Le Mans way back in 1978 when it won the race.

The team will be run by Signatech-Nissan and the chassis will be powered by a Nissan engine. Nelson Panciatici and Pierre Ragues will contest World Endurance Championship rounds throughout the year, they'll be joined by endurance and IndyCar veteran Tristan Gommendy for Le Mans and Paul-Loup Chatin as the team's reserve driver.

The Alpine N36 will get into its first test this week at Paul Ricard, then experience its first racing miles at the European Le Mans Series round at Silverstone on April 13. The press release below has the full scoop, the photos above have the past and present in high-res glory.

Watch how Corvette Racing's new collision-avoidance radar system works

When it comes to technology used in racecars, we generally expect it to trickle down to production cars, not the other way around. Well, Pratt & Miller has developed a new rear-facing radar that operates in a similar fashion to what we're used to in modern blind spot detection systems, only it is also capable of tracking cars as they approach and relaying vital information to the driver via a large display screen.

The innovative radar system debuted at last weekend's 12 Hours of Sebring for Corvette Racing, and this system makes perfect sense for endurance races like this since the cars sometimes have to drive through the night and in poor weather conditions.

The radar can detect cars even with poor visibility, and uses easy-to-distinguish symbols for the driver to identify.

"The system uses a rear-facing radar sensor to track up to 32 objects, and runs on a custom-built Linux PC with a Core i3 CPU," said Chris Hammond, Embedded Systems Engineer for Pratt & Miller. "With a momentary glance the driver knows how many cars are following, how far back each one is, their closing speeds, and whether or not they are probably a faster class."

Displayed in the image above, the radar can detect cars even with poor visibility, and uses easy-to-distinguish symbols for the driver to identify. The solid green marker indicates a car has been detected at a safe distance, while the yellow marker shows a car that is even closer; the line through this symbol means that the car is approaching at a higher rate of speed, which could indicate a faster class of car such as when a Prototype passes a GT car in the American Le Mans Series. The symbols turn red when the car is very close, and a large arrow flashes to either side when the car is being overtaken. There is also a line graph at the side of the screen to give an estimate of how many seconds back the cars are.

Currently, Hammond says that Pratt & Miller is the only company to have a system like this used for racing, and it plans on selling the technology to other teams in the future although a price has not been set.

There are a couple videos posted below showing the system in action. The first one is a shot purely from the radar (so it has no audio) but shows a detailed look at how it all works. The second video is a point-of-view shot from Corvette Racing's Tommy Milner, and it shows how the driver uses the system in real time.

2014 Ford Cobra Jet announced with new colors, parachute mount

Ford's drag-strip-ready Mustang Cobra Jet is back for 2014, and it's sporting a few changes to make it even better both in competition and while sitting still. Rolling off the assembly line ready for duty in the NHRA Stock or Super Stock classes, production of the 2014 Cobra Jet is limited to just 50 units.

Racing upgrades for 2014 include the addition of a new three-speed transmission and a parachute mount, and while these will make the car better in the quarter mile, the Cobra Jet's new colors will make it look better tearing down the track. Buyers can now get their racecars painted up in Gotta Have-It Green or a custom, Cobra Jet-exclusive matte black hue. Ford and Ford Racing have already teamed up to make this an incredible factory drag racer with a full rollcage, massive Hoosier slicks, a race-tuned suspension setup and a supercharged 5.0-liter V8. Now, if only wheelie bars came standard...

Unlike the confusing third-party ordering system announced for the COPO Camaro, all you need to snatch up a 2014 Cobra Jet is $97,990 and good timing (as the cars will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis). Ordering opens up next month with production commencing in July. Check out the press release below.

Lamborghini Super Trofeo one-make racing series coming to America

Starting in June, racing fans in North America will have another way to get their fix. Lamborghini is bringing its Super Trofeo series to the US and Canada in a "long-term" deal that kicks off in a six-race season this year and should bring some extra excitement to the newly formed United SportCar Racing series in coming years.

The inaugural Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America race will be held at Mid-Ohio on June 15 and 16 with most of the rounds running alongside Grand-Am, International Motor Sport Association and American Le Mans Series races; the season finale will be held at the Indy Car event at Fontana, California on October 18 and 19. More importantly, the winners of each round will compete in a world final at a race in Italy against winner from the Super Trofeo races in Europe and Asia.

All competitors will be piloting specially prepared Gallardo LP 570-4 racecars featuring 570-horsepower V10 engines and paired with all-wheel drive. Scroll down for the Lamborghini press release, which gives the full six-race schedule.

Glickenhaus confirms new sports car in development for 2015 Geneva reveal

James Glickenhaus and his Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus team will have a new model ready for the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Codenamed the P33, not many details are known about the car, but the post in FerrariChat.com says that it will be much smaller than the Glickenhaus P 4/5 (shown above) with a size closer to the Dino Competizone.

The limited available information about the car indicates that the P33 will be crafted from carbon fiber, giving it a 1,600-pound curb weight, with a body that will have a "three-wing design." Planned as a one-off model, the P33 will be powered by a twin-turbo V6 putting out close to 500 horsepower.

Race Recap: 2013 Twelve Hours of Sebring, cakewalk up front, grindfest out back [w/spoilers]

This year's 12 Hours of Sebring wasn't exactly a foregone conclusion because we're still talking about racing, and anything can happen when the speeds are as high as the adrenaline and the desire. But we're still talking about Audi bringing it's two top-spec racers and its huge budget and its nearly neurotic attention to detail to a race that it uses as a test bed for The 24 Hours of Le Mans and as a way to open the endurance racing season with a victory.

Besides, 12 hours is a long time, especially at Sebring, and things didn't go all Audi's way. On top of that, although it was a pretty quiet race, behind the Audis things got even grimier, with plenty of battles, plenty of mechanical issues, and the new BMW Z4 GTE and Viper GTS-R being race tested. Oh, and that brand new chromed-out DeltaWing...

Recap: 2013 Australian Formula One Grand Prix is all about the rubber [w/spoilers]

A pre-season full of talking points was swapped for a brand-new set of talking points after the running of the opening grand prix of the 2013 Formula One season. The consistency of the regulations from last year to this year and the triplicate dominance of Infiniti Red Bull Racing meant that no one would have been that surprised if the relative order of things remained the same. But teams found so many ways to switch things up that, in typical pre-season fashion, no one was ready to make any bets on in-season performance, and a couple of surprising players suffered the ignominy of getting it really wrong: McLaren knew it was in trouble from the very first test, while Williams drivers applauded their car as the best in years, only to have Pastor Maldonado call it "undriveable" on the very first day of practice in Melbourne.

And then there were those Pirellis, the Italian company talking up the fact that its super soft tires would only go off so quickly that it would force teams to pit at least twice during the race.
Even then, no one could have seen the first round of pit stops beginning on Lap 5.

Nevertheless, someone had to win the 58-lap race and that someone did it in what is becoming his usual style.

Notes from Day One of the 2013 Twelve Hours of Sebring

The 61st edition of The 12 Hours of Sebring is on, and Autoblog has come to central Florida with Audi to feast on jumbo boiled peanuts, pickled eggs and the final race for the LMP1 class at the oldest road course in North America. As Audi has been doing for more than a decade now, it's brought its latest endurance race car, the 2013-spec R18 etron quattro, to Sebring to begin testing for Le Mans.

Why the commitment to Sebring? Audi Sport executives have repeatedly called Sebring "punishing," "extremely demanding" and "one of the toughest tracks in the world." It is a 3.47-mile circuit that, in places, feels like it was made from the leftover bits of other circuits. Doing the 12-hour distance in Florida is thought to be a good start on lasting the 24-hour distance in France, and we can't think it a coincidence that Audi has won ten times here in the last 13 years and 11 times in Gaul.

Where there's rhyme and victory there is reason. We think we found a few of them on our first day where preparation, technology, fastidious attention to detail and sweat fit right in with swamp cabbage...

Watch this Audi RS6 go 208 mph... on ice

In and effort to promote the high-speed grip of its new Hakkapeliitta 8 winter tire, Nokian threw a set of its new rubber on a race-prepped Audi RS6 and got moving very, very quickly. In fact, on March 9 on top of the very frozen Gulf of Bothinia near Oulu, Finland, Nokian's test driver Janne Laitinen set a new world record for the fastest speed recorded driving on ice. If you'll recall, this isn't the first time that Audi and Nokian have played this game, either.

Using the guidelines set forth by the Guinness Book of World Records for such things, Laitinen averaged 208.602 miles per hour (335.713 kilometers per hour) over the course of two runs on natural, untreated ice. Another constraint is that the ice speed record must be done using commercial available tires, which is obviously great PR for the new Hakkapeliitas. The press release doesn't make any mention of how the RS6 was prepared to reach such high velocities, but the images of the car make it clear that this is no stock machine. Scroll on below to see the impressive video evidence of the Audi's record run.

Grand-Am, ALMS merger results in new United SportsCar Racing series

After the merger between Grand-Am and the American Le Mans Series was announced last year, a contest was held to name the new combined series, and that new name is now officially the United SportCar Racing series. This new branding will take place at the start of the 2014 season beginning with the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Fans of the American Le Mans Series are probably losing the most in this new series. Not only is the ALMS name (along with the connection to the 24 Hours of Le Mans) going away, but the more exciting P1 prototype class is also being dropped. In the new United SportCar Racing series, the new Prototype class will consist of Daytona Prototypes, ALMS P2 cars and the DeltaWing (including a new closed-cockpit version). The ALMS GT class will be renamed GT Le Mans (GTLM), while GT Daytona (GTD) will combine the current Grand-Am GT class and the ALMS' GTC cars. The Prototype Challenge (PC) and GX classes will both carry over unchanged from Grand-Am and ALMS, respectively.

DeltaWing shines up nice for 2013 ALMS season

Returning for its sophomore season, numerous changes have been made to the DeltaWing racecar not the least of which is the fact that it is no longer associated with Nissan but the most significant update could be a remedy to one of the car's biggest criticisms, its color. In the car's inaugural season, it was reported that other drivers on the track simply couldn't see the racecar, which, due to a combination of its narrow, low-slung stance and its matte black paint scheme, resulted in an early departure from the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a spectacular crash at Petite Le Mans. Rather than redesigning the entire car, though, the DeltaWing team is hoping that a new livery, consisting of a flashy chrome body with red decals, will alleviate some of the visibility problems.

The bright, reflective surface is the polar opposite of the previous livery, and the red accents include the mirrors, trio of rear fins and the DeltaWing name along the side of the car, which replaces the Nissan logo. This chrome, Nissan-less DeltaWing will make it racing debut in less than two weeks at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and Speed TV is also reporting that the closed-cockpit version of the racecar will debut for the ALMS race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in May.

Porsche 911 GT3 wows the crowds in Geneva [w/video]

Porsche has a long and storied history of taking its range-topping 911 sportscar racing, with an enviable record of achievements in tow. The latest machine with which the automaker will take to the track can be seen above: the fifth-generation 2014 911 GT3.

With 475 horsepower strumming through the 3.8-liter six-cylinder boxer engine, this is the pinnacle of naturally aspirated performance from Porsche. It can go from 0 to 60 in just 3.3 seconds, hit a top speed of 195 miles per hour and has lapped the Nrburgring Nordschleife in less than seven and a half minutes.

A dual-clutch PDK transmission (no standard manual gearbox will be offered) with shorter gearing than lesser 911 models sends power to the rear wheels. Providing forward motion isn't the only thing those rear wheels will be doing Porsche says the 2014 911 GT3 is fitted with the manufacturer's first active rear-wheel steering.

Exterior modifications include unique front and rear fascias, a massive rear wing and a body that's 1.7 inches wider than the regular Carrera to cover the massively wide 20-inch rear wheels. Scroll down below for the official release info from Porsche, but not before scrolling through our high-res gallery of live images above.

UPDATE: Porsche has released its first video of the 911 GT3 catch it by scrolling below.

Mini celebrates racing success with John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Dakar Winner 2013

French drivers Stphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret drove a Mini Countryman to a class win at this year's Dakar Rally, and to commemorate their win, Mini has introduced a limited-volume car that will only be sold in France. The Mini John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Dakar Winner 2013 might be a mouthful to say, but it's a fitting tribute to Peterhansel's eleventh Dakar win as this Countryman is painted to look like the rally car and only 11 will be sold in the Peterhansel's home country.

Sporting a similar green-over-matte-black paint scheme as the Dakar Countryman, the JCW Countryman ALL4 Dakar Winner 2013 also adds green accents to the full-length top and side stripes, the side marker lights and also contrasting stitching inside the cabin. Adding to the car's rally look, this special edition will also include the racers' number card on the front doors, Dakar decals on the front and rear and Peterhansel's signature on the hood. Grille-mounted rally lights, bright red brake calipers and unique 19-inch wheels with dark-painted inserts finish off the exterior design.

Wiesmann GT MF4-CS offers track-ready forbidden fruit, par excellence

Wiesmann has long been forbidden fruit of the very tastiest variety for car fans here in the US, and the boutique German sports car maker continues to concoct varieties of its GT that we long to drive. For this year's Geneva show, that means this flaming orange Wiesmann GT MF4-CS.

It's the last two letters of that name that are the most stirring, as they signify that this is the raciest-yet "Clubsport" version of the GT. With just 25 examples being built worldwide, the GT MF4-CS wraps a sparse interior with the same lascivious bodywork that we've come to expect from Wiesmann. The cockpit has shed such niceties as navigation, air conditioning and even a radio, in search of a lower curb weight (down to 2,976 pounds, unladen). The interior also features an integrated roll cage, racing seats and a fire extinguisher, so it's ultimate track aspirations should be clear from the first time you get behind the wheel.

As ever, the motive force of this Wiesmann comes courtesy of a BMW engine and gearbox; in this case its front-mounted, naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter V8 making 420 horsepower, and connected to your choice of a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Wiesmann specifies a top speed of 182 miles per hour, and a 0-62 mph sprint of 4.4 seconds. Further, large, 275-section rear rubber (245 at the front) on 19-inch wheels and a locking differential should help to keep all of that power flowing to the tarmac.

You'll find a full press release regarding the Wiesmann GT MF4-CS as you continue on below, and galleries of both live and stock images for your happy browsing, as well.

Carlsson SLK 340 Judd is winged up for hill climb glory

Carlsson has been expertly tuning Mercedes-Benz products for more than 20 years now, but we can't say as we remember the outfit turning out anything quite so racy as this SLK 340 Judd that it has brought along to the Geneva Motor Show this year.

This SLK is meant for competition, obviously, and Carlsson has already booked the car to race in several hill climb events in the E1 category. The purpose-built racer should have a fighting chance to do well in said races, with a shape vetted in wind tunnel testing for maximum downforce, the SLK uses a carbon-fiber bodyshell to help achieve a curb weight of just about 1,720 pounds.

The featherweight SLK's name comes from its 3.4-liter V8 engine, which churns out a wicked 610 horsepower to go with its 317 pound-feet of torque. A Hewland transmission with paddle shift operation manages all of the thrust.

In addition to the European hill climbs on the docket, Carlsson intends on dicing with the likes of Hyundai and Suzuki in this year's Pikes Peak race. We look forward to seeing the SLK on that famous run, to be sure. Find a bit more information about the Carlsson SLK 340 Judd in the official press release below.

2013 Honda Civic WTCC is ready for racing

Drumming up a little excitement for the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship, Honda brought its new Civic WTCC car to the bright lights of Geneva for all to see. Honda joined WTCC late last year entering the final three races. The racing outfit will run this year's entire 12-round season, which kicks off later this month in Italy.

In the off-season, Honda made a few updates to its WTCC entry including better aerodynamics, improved suspension and braking and numerous engine and turbo enhancements. Two teams will field the new Civic racecar in this year's season: Honda Racing Team JAS and a private team from Hungary, Zeng Motorsport.

Fans of the WTCC in the US will be pleased to know that series makes a return visit to Sonoma Raceway on September 8 for the Race of the United States.

Sbarro Ract' E.V. isn't electric, could be very fast

The Espera Sbarro Montbliard School of Design has followed up its 137-horsepower Intencity EV concept and 360-hp V8-powered Eight concept with this, the Ract' E.V. Note the periods between the "e" and the "v" this isn't an electric vehicle, it's an "Ecological Vehicle" with a hybrid powertrain.

In back, underneath the reptilian-scale-like cover, is a Peugeot-sourced V6 with 210 horsepower that turns the rear wheels. Turning the front wheels are two DC brushless motors that are each worth 100kW and 553 pound-feet of torque. They get juice from a 24-kWh battery pack and combined grunt is said to be 484 hp.

Rumor is that it took the students just 13 weeks to get it all together and that the two-seater coupe actually runs, something we haven't seen the other two concepts do. We'll find out soon enough since they have plans to run the Ract' E.V. in the 14th Monte Carlo Rallye of New Energies later this month. There are a few more details in the press release below to go with the high-res gallery above.

Opel Adam R2 Rally Car is a plucky little bruiser

If there's anything more entertaining than watching a B-segment car bash its way through the woods, we don't want to know about it. Good for us, then, that Opel revealed a competition version of its Adam at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

The Adam R2 Rally Concept is designed to conform to FIA R2 regulations and boasts a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 185 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. While technically a concept, Opel says it will work to homologate the hatch. Once done, buyers will be able to compete in any number of international rally events.

So far, Opel has built 40 of the machines for competition in France in Germany, and the whole lot has been sold already. There's no word on how much the production models will cost buyers when the bow, but you can check out the full Opel release below for more information.

McLaren F1 LM proves the P1 has the best genes

The McLaren F1 is 20-year-old exotic that was the most expensive production car in the world when it went on sale for 540,000 pounds. That's about $810,000 US at current rates; in 1995, however, while the pound-to-dollar exchange rate was about the same as today, the automotive world hadn't got used to there being a new million-dollar car announced or launched every quarter.

McLaren brought the production prototype of the F1 LM to the Geneva Motor Show to offer another look at what was. This was tester for the production version of the Le Mans-winning F1 GTR, of which five would be built. It carried over the race car's aero accoutrements like the wing and extra venting but shed the restrictor, making 680 horsepower from the 6.1-liter BMW V12 the standard F1 made 627 hp.

Twenty years is a long time to be put on a pedestal, but the innovation and the results prove it still belongs there. We'll find out this year if the P1 has the right to join it.

Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Scion FR-S [w/video]

Toyota has been hosting its Pro/Celebrity race at the Toyota Grand Prix on Long Beach since 1977. The charity event, which has raised millions of dollars over the years, traditionally pits Hollywood celebrities against professional athletes (including race car drivers) on the full Grand Prix course in modified street vehicles. The short, sprint-style race is popular with the crowds as the amateur drivers race uninhibited the result is an action-packed event with plenty of excitement and automotive... er... carnage.

Over the decades, the drivers have raced a variety of Toyota products including last year's front-wheel-drive Scion tC. But this year, Toyota announced at the Chicago Auto Show that the new rear-wheel-drive Scion FR-S would be stepping up to the plate. The good news only became better when Toyota Motorsports invited us out to Southern California's Willow Springs Raceway (the same circuit where the drivers train and practice) to be one of the first behind the wheel.

Driving Notes:

• Transforming a stock Scion FR-S into one of two-dozen hand-built race cars is a tedious project that begins with gutting the interior. A steel roll cage is welded in place, and then most everything (including the headliner) goes back in with a few exceptions. The audio system, cup holders and passenger-side vent are removed, as are all of the airbags. A pair of five-point Simpson racing harnesses are bolted in place and fitted through the stock seats. The radio panel is replaced with a panel only containing a fire extinguisher pull lever, the windshield wipers are deactivated (to prevent inadvertent activation) and the removed vent becomes a master kill switch. A window net is fitted on the driver's side, and knee bolsters are installed on the door and on the side of the center console (anyone who has ever raced will consider the foam pads a gift from the heavens).
• The four-cylinder Subaru-sourced Boxer engine, left displacing 2.0-liters, receives a new performance intake and TRD stainless-steel exhaust for better breathing (one catalytic converter is removed and some of the baffles are eliminated to increase the exhaust note). Radiator fluid, a slippery bane if leaked on track surfaces, is replaced with water and Water Wetter (a chemical that improves heat transfer properties). Burning unleaded racing fuel, the engine develops about 210 horsepower. The six-speed manual gearbox retains the same ratios, but a Centerforce single disc racing clutch ensures longevity through the abuse.
• TRD Racing coil-over shocks and springs are fitted and supplemented with TRD sway bars. Special lower control arms, anodized blue at the rear, allow 2.5 degrees of negative camber at all four corners. The stock front calipers and rotors are tossed and replaced with four-piston calipers over floating rotors (surprisingly, the rear calipers and rotors remain stock) and the factory pads are upgraded with Hawk Performance DTC60 racing pads. The new rolling gear is TRD-sourced 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Bridgestone RE-11 summer tires (225/40R18).
• While it sounded much more aggressive than stock, the exhaust note was loud and booming (easily permeating the shell of my full face helmet). On a positive note, it allowed me to hear the changing pitch of the engine as it climbed towards redline. Even so, I hit the rev limiter and fuel cutoff more often than not in my early laps (a red blinking light alters the driver of his/her ineptness) before consciously short-shifting at 6,500 rpm in my later laps. Rather than rely on the engine's meager torque (about 160 pound-feet) pulling a taller gear, I shifted frequently more than a dozen times on each lap to keep the power flowing. As is the case with the lightweight Mazda MX-5 Miata, the FR-S is a momentum car.
• I found the handling and overall dynamics significantly improved over the stock model. The chassis felt light and agile in response to steering inputs, and the various suspension upgrades meant most of the understeer was gone too (also evident by the minimal scrub on the front tires). The Scion coupe never felt anything but very well balanced. (Note: stability and traction control have been re-programmed to default to OFF the opposite of what they normally do upon engine start.) Putting the tires exactly where I wanted them was a no-brainer, and the fade-free brakes easily reigned things in and saved me when I overcooked more than a few corners. If asked to sum up how the FR-S race car felt on the circuit, I'd say moderately powered, responsive, predictable and very entertaining.
• The 2013 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Scion FR-S is what happens when a very good sports coupe turns great at the skilled hands of a factory-supported team. If these two dozen Long Beach race cars are indicative of what a future Spec FR-S series holds in store, I'll be one of the first standing in line.

Watch NASCAR racer Brad Keselowski do a burnout... in a hotel conference room

A vast majority of hotels frown upon smoking inside the building these days, but Brad Keselowski doesn't follow the rules. During his introduction at the 2013 MiilerCoors Distribution Convention, the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion smoked the tires of his Miller-sponsored Ford Fusion stock car, adding a pair of thick, black stripes to the carpeting of the Marriott World Center's conference room.

This definitely isn't a high-quality video, but it's the perfect vantage point to watch Keselowski lay down some rubber and receive a well-deserved standing ovation after pulling up in front of the crowd. Check out the short-but-sweet video posted below.

Renault taking Alpine endurance racing, enters 24 Hours of Le Mans

Renault isn't letting up with the return of its Alpine brand. After announcing a partnership with Caterham to bring a new Alpine to market by 2015 (now expected by 2016), the French firm has announced it is taking Alpine racing again in the European Le Mans Series this year and that includes The 24 Hours of Le Mans.

It has been 35 years since Alpine last competed in Le Mans, when it won the race outright and dropped the mic as it left the pits, never to return. Before that, in the 11 years it campaigned in the most famous endurance race on the planet from 1963 to 1978, it took seven class wins.

Caterham won't be involved with the race team, however; that will be an effort spearheaded by the Signatech-Nissan team that has been running GT Academy winners in LMS racing. Alpine is preparing an LMP2 chassis that will get a 500-horsepower Nissan engine for this year's championship, with the first two named drivers being Nelson Panciatici (above right) and Pierre Ragues (above left). The third driver for Le Mans will be announced later this month when the racer is launched at the Le Castellet race track in southern France.

The press release below has more details, and prepare yourself now for a chant that hasn't been heard since Valry Giscard d'Estaing was president of the republic: "Allez Alpine!"

Conn. Senator Murphy urges NASCAR to reconsider NRA race sponsorship [w/poll]

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy wants NASCAR officials to reconsider calling one of the sport's upcoming events, the NRA 500. Murphy, who has helmed the conversation on gun control in the US since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut last December, sent a letter to NASCAR officials asking them to reconsider the move. According to reports, the senator addressed his correspondence to Brian France, chairman and CEO of NASCAR, saying the National Rifle Association has placed itself at odds with both "the overwhelming majority of the American people, and even their own members" over the "proper response" to the tragic school shooting.

NASCAR, it should be noted, honored the victims of the Connecticut shooting with a special green-and-white car at the Daytona 500. The machine's livery featured a green Sandy Hook ribbon, along with instructions on how to donate to funds set up for victims. In his letter, Murphy said, "I believe it would be imprudent for NASCAR to step into such a heated political debate and take sides in this debate by allowing the NRA the title role in the race." The NRA 500 is set to take place April 13.

Meanwhile, Texas Motorspeedway president Eddie Gossage insists the naming has less to do with politics and more to do with sports marketing, and NASCAR has said race sponsorships are agreements between the track and the sponsor, though technically the race organization can approve or reject those agreements.

What do you think, should NASCAR reconsider its sponsorship with the NRA? Vote in our poll and have your say in Comments.

Watch some crazy uphill sand drag action in the UAE

At this point, we've all seen videos depicting the insanity of Middle Eastern sand dune climbs. The clips that make their way to the Western world often include some sort of terrifying nose-over-tail tumble from the top, but this latest clip gives us a glimpse at exactly what sort of machine is required to run up a massive pile of sand at high speeds. Expect turbos. Lots and lots of massive turbos. This particular competition features three classes: V6 Manual, V6 Automatic and V8, and as you'd expect with any high-horsepower event, there's as much mechanical failure as actual success.

The video below features an extensive pit walk with plenty of lingering shots inside some of the most ludicrous engine bays we've ever laid eyes upon. The actual racing gets going around the five-minute mark, and we can't help bet feel there's more than a passing resemblance between this sport and a good old-fashioned tractor pull. Check it out below.

Watch an Ariel Atom receive a pit stop in the middle of London traffic

Just how quick can a pit crew from the Ariel AtomCup swap out a set of tires? Quicker than the span of your standard stop light. One crew set out to prove just that by serving up a full changeover at a downtown London intersection. The team not only manages a complete pit stop ( minus fuel, of course), but they do it with plenty of time to spare and under the watchful eye of a transfixed public. From jack up to jack down, the whole affair takes about 30 seconds.

As you may recall, the AtomCup is the only race series built around the now-legendary open-wheel machine. The series takes place at eight tracks in the United Kingdom, with racers campaigning Cup Spec Atom racers. While the car is technically road legal, the series doesn't allow owners to race their own cars in competition. You can find out more about the event here, and be sure to check out the pit stop video below.

2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series [w/video]

Now Even Sharper Than The Razor's Edge



There have been five Black Series models since the Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG Black Series introduced itself to European audiences in 2006. Following that, the Black Series club has hosted appearances by the 2008 CLK63 AMG Black Series, the 2009 SL65 AMG Black Series and last year's 2013 C63 AMG Black Series. The sixth member of the group is one we would have thought already was a Black Series car in its standard guise. Right out of the box, the SLS AMG is loud, frenetic, cozy, boisterous and frightfully easy to oversteer. How much more Black did it need to get?

Quite a bit so, apparently. The SLS AMG Black Series has lost weight, gained power and been refitted with upgrades and aero bits from front to rear. If you liked the way it looked before, you'll probably be an even bigger fan of this one. If you thought it looked ungainly, well, this one should stay even further away from pageants. Regardless of where you come down this is the best SLS AMG variant we've driven.

Polestar says goodbye to Volvo C30 in video tribute

The Volvo C30 was put to its eternal bed a few months ago, but the tuners at Polestar have a little more eulogizing to do. The Swedish house of speed that has raced and reworked the little hatch since its introduction in 2006 wants the world to know what they've been through together, so it has encapsulated seven years of around-the-world action into three minutes and 28 seconds of track footage and champagne.

We're still waiting on word of a replacement for the funny little hatch, and while we lament what could have been, the video below proves that the C30 provided plenty of thrills for those outside of the US. And as you can read in our recent review of the Polestar-enhanced road-going C30, it provided a decent amount of fun for those of us in the States, as well.

Amelia Island 2013: 50 years of the Ferrari-slaying Ford GT40

Originally developed with the sole purpose of being a Ferrari rival to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Ford GT40 became a prominent racing machine in the 1960s in both Europe and the US. Not wanting to leave such an important car out of the fun, the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance also took time out from its other celebrations to recognize the 50-year anniversary of the GT40.

Over its short lifespan, the GT40 was offered in a handful of configurations, but the classic short-tailed (Mk I and Mk II) bodystyles were well represented... especially in Gulf livery. James Glickenhaus (of Ferrari P4/5 fame) had his bright yellow Mk IV in the field, and there were several others in this bodystyle, including one that has seen plenty of time on the track judging by its chipped-up nose.

As a fitting statement for the car's lengthy racing history, GT40 Chassis Number 1075 won this year's Concours de Sport award. This car took home the checkered flag at Le Mans in 1968 and 1969, and racked up a total of six wins in just 11 races.

2014 Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 Cup step out early

Though Porsche won't be feeding us the full 911 enchilada until tomorrow's Geneva-based festivities, we have managed to scare up some official images of the 2014 911 GT3, as well as the all-new 911 GT3 Cup. As Porsche is celebrating 50 years of the 911, we anticipate a good day for great cars.

The new GT3 looks every bit the proper successor to the racy 911 nameplate, with a fixed rear wing large enough to serve cocktails on, a curvaceous body kit and 20-inch wheels that offer a dominating on-road stance. It's a good bet that Porsche will have coaxed something like 450 horsepower from the naturally aspirated, 3.8-liter flat-six engine that hangs over the car's rear axle. Rumor has it that the new GT3 will be PDK-only, as well. Nothing official from Porsche on that front, yet, but we're hoping it's incorrect.

Should the mental quickness and imposing wingery of the standard GT3 not be enough for you, future racecar driver, Porsche is also bringing a GT3 Cup car to Geneva. The German automaker has given just a few scant details about this Cup car 460 hp on tap, a production run of just 2,400 units including three images of the kitted out racer. Certainly more and finer details will emerge, when Porsche shines the spotlights on its new 911s tomorrow.