Monterey Historic Races to feature Toyota/Lexus
August 16th, 2006
As the presenting sponsor of this year’s Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races, Toyota Motor is going all out to bring its motorsports efforts in front of U.S. fans, with the centerpiece of its involvement demonstration runs and paddock displays featuring this year’s TF106 Formula 1 car. (Although Toyota isn’t talking about it, fans expect the car to set a new lap record for Laguna Seca. Could be challenging on the notoriously dusty track – we’ll have to wait and see.)
Mazda Tests RX-8 Reliability For Third Time At 24-hour Endurance Race
August 16th, 2006
The Mazda RX-8’s reliability has taken a beating as of late, what with the leaked video and various reports of squeeky brakes, flooding and even failing engines in hot climates. The RX-8, however, shouldn’t be written off just yet.
You should know that the four-door sports car has competed in and completed two 24-hour endurance races and has been entered in its third, the Silverstone Britcar 24 Hour Endurance Race, which takes place on September 9th and 10th.
Mazda will be entering three cars in the Silverstone race that have been modified only to meet racing safety requirements and are otherwise stock, including their 1.3-liter RENESIS rotary engine.
Mazda began endurance racing the RX-8 back in 2004 when it set 40 records with two cars that drove more than 3,100 miles in 24 hours at average speeds of 132 and 134 mph.
The Mazda RX-8’s reliability has taken a beating as of late, what with the leaked video and various reports of squeeky brakes, flooding and even failing engines in hot climates. The RX-8, however, shouldn’t be written off just yet.
You should know that the four-door sports car has competed in and completed two 24-hour endurance races and has been entered in its third, the Silverstone Britcar 24 Hour Endurance Race, which takes place on September 9th and 10th.
Mazda will be entering three cars in the Silverstone race that have been modified only to meet racing safety requirements and are otherwise stock, including their 1.3-liter RENESIS rotary engine.
New Nascar Movie, Talladega Nights
June 30th, 2006
While Days of Thunder and Driven taught us what happens when Hollywood tries to take automobile racing seriously, it appears that the upcoming Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby will be funny in the intentional way.
Will Ferrell plays Ricky Bobby, a dominant NASCAR driver “who could only count to number one”. The “big hairy American winning machine” is accustomed to placing first, with his childhood friend Cal (played by Days of Thunder vet John C. Reilly) close behind him. However, things get tough when a leg-shaving French Formula One driver (Sacha Baron Cohen, best known to most of us as Ali G) challenges him for the top spot. The trailer reveals plenty of spoofing on previous racing movies, and we’re betting that the combination of Ferrell and Cohen will produce comedic gold.
