GP3 should clash directly amidst the fractioned Formula 3 – beneath that separate sequence operated just about the planet without a single united championship – and swallow the International Formula Master’s sequence demonstrated the previous year. While Mosley’s discredited vision of a low-cost Formula 2 are able to cap annual budgets at 200,000 euros per car (compared to the 800,000 euro worth of the F3 Euroseries), GP3 serves to continue conditions at a low level to the supplementary practical 450,000 euro budget critical in the aforementioned IFM.

Bottom line: there is a war of racing succession prepared on between Mosley and Ecclestone, and racing fans were able to stand to boon out of the competition.

[Source: F1-Live]

Ford has a for a long while history of producing factory-built racers rooted on its common creation cars. Over the beyond one decades, several of persons own hold carried on derived based on data from the Mustang. Since the mid-90s, which has included a good number of functions of Cobra Rs, and today, a couple of variants of the FR500. Later the summer, Ford might revive one more Mustang variant for the original production when the Cobra Jet is reborn. The initial Cobra Jet was put up as a drag racing special in a high-torque long-stroke 428 cu. in. V8. Forty decades later, Ford might be producing a new Cobra Jet presently summer.The new Cobra Jet would be powered by a supercharged 5.4L 32-valve V8 centered on the GT500 engine. This engine, labeled the Romeo 605 by Ford Racing officials, could use an upgraded supercharger as put side by side to the GT500. The car will be able to appear based on what i read in the factory detuned to a mere 400 hp in form to equate NHRA rules. The 605 allows an signal of the real gas possibility of the engine in just tinier tweaks on the competitor. Ford is clearly planning to produce 50 new Cobra Jets at the behest of a handful of dealers, who may end up purchasing all the cars and at that time selling them. The new drag racing specials are possible to be priced at $69,900.

[Source: Ford]

What you see above is the first rendering released of the upcoming spec racer that Ferrari is designing for the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. If it looks familiar to racing fans, it should: the new car is based heavily on the Scuderia Ferrari F2004 grand prix car, which is a good place to start. The F2004 took the checkered flag at a dominant 15 out of 18 races in its epynumerous Formula One season, taking both the world championships (drivers and constructors), making it one of the most successful racing cars of all time.

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Fiat is in attendance the present week at the known Mille Miglia in Brescia, Italy and it brought amongst it a whopper of a pithy car to impress the crowd. On hand is the Fiat 500 Abarth Asetto Corse, a thorough race version of the tiny iconic car this sports a screaming 200-hp turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder which as well produces 220 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed over a six-speed gearbox on its way to a set of 17-inch track grey ultralight racing wheels the completely watch the part. Make no mistake, this is a true race car and a special one-make championship line is making designed so may put it on the a good number of legendary race tracks every where in Europe consequently year. Only 50 should be made, however, so entry is exclusive.

While we do not know the levels yet, your bag of Euros should get you a 500 that is kitted out in on an aerodynamic package the present adds a front spoiler, big rear wing, fender flares at all two corners and two new hood-mounted air intakes to feed the turbo. The interior has been heard stripped to save weight, that now stands at only 2,050 lbs., and a racing roll bar has carried on installed to cover the driver who now sits closer to the core of the car to raise weight distribution and driving feel. The Asetto Corse becomes big Abarth badges all across and a pastel white among red striping livery. The one on hand at the Mille Miglia is No. 00/49 and a pre-production prototype, so there are nonetheless loads left for people who have presistently wanted a 500 race car.

 [Source: World Car Fans, Italiaspeed]

Recent spots for Armor All that feature NASCAR’s perpetually unshaven Tony Stewart almost make one forget what emblem is now placed on the front of his race car. The television commercials show Stewart staring longingly at a shiny Chevrolet Corvette, despite the fact that he now rolls around the track in a bestickered-to-look-like-a Toyota Camry. Even though Stewart’s contract with Joe Gibbs racing extends through 2009; rumor has it that he has been in talks with Haas CNC Racing to put him back behind the bowtie logo by next year. The team gets its Chevy engines and race support through Hendrick Motorsports. There is also an indication that Stewart is interested in a 50-percent stake in the Haas CNC team.

A more controlling team role seems like one that would better suit a vocal driver like Tony Stewart, as he would only have himself to yell at after one of his media outbursts. Plus, any problems with team management would be between he and himself. The situation’s likelihood is still a bit far fetched at this point though, as Joe Gibbs Racing seems unwavering in releasing Tony Stewart from his contract early.
[Source: Star Tribune, Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty]

The Isle of Man credits itself as hosting the world’s oldest races, the Tourist Trophy (TT). The 32-mile long island, located in the Irish Sea (it’s the body of water between the United Kingdom and Ireland), held the first motorcycle and car races back in 1905. Now, for the first time in more than a century, a car sharing the same name as the event has been named the “Official Car” of the event. You guessed it, event organizers have chosen the Audi TT as the “Official Car.” It’s not just any TT that gets the honor — it’s the hot new 265-hp Audi TT-S. Audi will be supplying eight cars for the event at the end of May. Driven by race officials (yes, at non-race speeds), they will help with the course inspection and other logistics during the week-long event. Oh, we should add, it is a motorcycle race. Doh!

[Source: Audi]

Reports are surfacing that the Super Aguri F1 team has been turned away from the Turkish Grand Prix’s paddock. The denial of access occurred because of financial complications. Team supporter Honda contacted Formula One Management and informed the organization that they would not be providing any more assistance to the struggling team. With no one left to pay the bills, Super Aguri was left stranded outside of the track gates.

One potential life vest has already been thrown to the Japanese team by German engineering firm Weigl Group. However, their contribution would not be enough to fully support race operations. The Super Best Friends need more investors to jump aboard in order to make it through the end of the season, let alone the next race.

[Source: Speed TV, Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty]

Today’s reminder of how much more awesome the Euro-market Ford Focus is than our own comes from Ford UK, where the latest, greatest Focus ST goes on sale starting Thursday. As you’re probably well aware, in ST trim the newly-restyled Euro Focus gets the once-over from Ford Europe’s in-house tuning arm, TeamRS. The standard engine is replaced by a turbocharged 2.5L five-banger underhood that’s good for 225 PS (around 223 hp), is mated to a six-speed stick, and lets the Focus ST do 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.8 seconds. According to Ford, the new ST also lapped the Nordschleife in 8:35. The exterior is dressed up with 18-inch wheels, the expected body kit and available racing stripes. Inside, the proper cockpit gets a push-button starter and Recaro seating. Depending on the ST trim level selected (there are three) and available options chosen, you can add all manner of comfort and convenience features to the spiffy-looking pocket rocket. Even Bluetooth… but not SYNC. Something tells us the Brits aren’t crying in their beers over this.

Yes, we know that the next-gen Focus will be global and that the U.S. will share the same car sold in Europe. No, that doesn’t make looking at this any easier in the meantime. Ford’s official missive is pasted after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

Formula One is fast, and fast is dangerous. That’s the assumption formed on the basis of decades of fatal crashes in the sport when the slow advancement of safety measures couldn’t keep up with the ever-increasing speeds of grand prix racing. But those assumptions and those safety measures were again put to the test this weekend in Spain, where McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen crashed at 220 km/h (137mph) into a wall of tires, resulting in an estimated impact force of 26 Gs. The crash, which occurred on the 22nd lap of the race, was attributed to a wheel/tire malfunction, and Kovalainen is expected to return in two weeks to race in Turkey.

As jarring as it was, Heikki’s crash was only one of the many times the safety car was deployed in a race that was dominated by the color yellow of the caution flag. The next most dominant color at Catalunya, however, was surely red, as Ferrari dominated the race virtually from start to finish, with Kimi Raikkonen sailing to an easy checkered flag with his team mate Felipe Massa close behind. Towards the end of the race, Kovalainen’s teammate Lewis Hamilton was closing in on Massa, but ended up taking the third step on the podium, giving defending champion Raikkonen a commanding nine point lead over Hamilton. The perfect finish for Ferrari likewise gave the team a commanding lead in the constructors’ championship, leading 47 to BMW Sauber’s 35 and McLaren’s 34. BMW, which entered the race with the lead for the constructors’ title, didn’t fair as well as hoped, with Kubica finishing an admirable fourth while his teammate Heidfeld came in outside the points in 9th after suffering a drive-through penalty. However, that wasn’t nearly as bad as second-tier rival Renault did under the Spanish sun, with neither local hero Fernando Alonso nor his teammate Nelsinho Piquet completing the race. All in all, a shocking nine drivers retired before the last lap, including Nico Rosberg (Williams), Rubens Barrichello (Honda), Adrian Sutil (Force India), Anthony Davidson (Super Aguri), both the Toro Rosso drivers (Bourdais and Vettel) in addition to the Renaults and the aforementioned Kovalainen.

Follow the jump for the full results, current standings after four rounds of the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship and a video of Kovalainen’s crash.
2008 Spanish Grand Prix

1. Raikkonen Ferrari
2. Massa Ferrari
3. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
4. Kubica BMW Sauber
5. Webber Red Bull-Renault
6. Button Honda
7. Nakajima Williams-Toyota
8. Trulli Toyota
9. Heidfeld BMW Sauber
10. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari
11. Glock Toyota
12. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault
13. Sato Super Aguri-Honda

Fastest lap: Raikkonen, 1:21.670

Not classified/retirements:
Rosberg Williams-Toyota
Alonso Renault
Barrichello Honda
Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes
Davidson Super Aguri-Honda
Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari
Piquet Renault
Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari
Sutil Force India-Ferrari
World Championship standings
(after four rounds)

Drivers:
1. Raikkonen 29
2. Hamilton 20
3. Kubica 19
4. Massa 18
5. Heidfeld 16
6. Kovalainen 14
7. Trulli 9
8. Webber 8
9. Rosberg 7
10. Alonso 6
11. Nakajima 5
12. Button 3
13. Bourdais 2

Constructors
1. Ferrari 47
2. BMW Sauber 35
3. McLaren-Mercedes 34
4. Williams-Toyota 12
5. Toyota 9
6. Red Bull-Renault 8
7. Renault 6
8. Honda 3
9. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 2

[Source: Autosport]

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Motorsport is a game of inches and tenths. A few inches here and a few tenths of a second there can mean the difference between spectacle and tragedy. Case in point: Team ORECA driver Stephane Ortelli’s horrifying crash during today’s Le Mans Series race at Monza. Ortelli, driving the ORECA Courage LC70-Judd, lost control of the car, which spun off the pavement and onto the grass. The prototype then became airborne, barely missing Allan McNish in the Audi R10 TDI. And then things got really ugly. The Courage touched back down and went into a series of cartwheels, shedding bodywork all over the place before crashing into the wall and landing right-side up. Ortelli suffered a broken ankle, but Team ORECA reports he is otherwise in good health. As you’ll see in the video, things could have been a whole lot worse. You know. A few inches here, a few tenths there…

We wish him a speedy recovery.
[Sources: Maximum Motorsport, Crash.net]