The Turn from Hell

Zolder, Belgium turn one in the rain.

And before you start thinking it's just the wacky racers in the big rigs, wait until 3:05 seconds in this clip, everything from Smarts to Artegas are falling off!

(extra bonus points for the guy in the Smart using his rear hatch as an aero device!)

(Huib van den Nulft)
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GULF!

Celebrate one of the most iconic race liveries in the history of racing with a photo gallery curated for us by our friend Drew from MotoringConBrio.com, a site you must visit if you like fine car photography.

MCB was also kind enough to run a profile article on Axis recently....like I said they have impeccable taste! :)
You can find the article HERE and the photo gallery after the jump.

Mini Countryman WRC testing video

I wonder about Mini/ prodrive choosing the Countryman the platform for its WRC car, the bodyshell seems awfully big and very tall compared to the competition. The final bodywork has not been shown yet but I imagine it will take some special wizardry to keep the center of gravity low in that bus!

Here the WRC Countryman is filmed testing in Portugal, wrung out by Estonian ex WRC driver and ex Subaru test driver Markko Martin.




(YouTube/SergioAfonso21)

Home

Heavy Hitter

Everyone photographed this F10 2012 BMW M5 tearing around the Nürburgring fog recently, the fifth version of the original super saloon looks much less controversial that outgoing e60 but is likely to be the heaviest M5 yet, well over the e60's 4016lbs kerb weight. The current F10 550 sedan declares 4376 lbs, we can't imagine the M5 will weigh much less.

The question is, does it matter and will anyone care?

It does not matter: in the past couple of years we have seen that surprising performance can be engineered into behemoths, the M5 will be miles faster and nicer to drive than the 5000lbs plus X6M while using a similar power train ( will we see the first 4wd M sedan btw?)

Nobody will care:... except the fellas changing tires and brake pads on the Ring Taxis because nobody in their right mind will track these things.

So the new M5 will happily continue the tradition of spanking AMGs while not looking as ridiculous as Panameras. Win WIn.

Check out an interview with the the Head of the MDivision, Kay Segler, over to Bimmerfile for some thoughts about weight.

David Murry Track Days at VIR

Call this a blatant plug if you want, we don't care, Dave Murry is a friend of Group 52 and any friend of Group 52 is a friend of ours.

David Murry Track Days promises the same open track, for advanced drives only experience as G52 but at the lower latitudes of Virginia International Raceway and with the added bonus of access to instruction from Murry, a racer with almost 30 years experience. The next event is October 13-14. Please go.

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Monza Pit Lane Incident

There was a scary incident where a HRT radio tech who had come onto the hot pit are to check faulty equipment on Sakon Yamamoto's car and was not able to get out of the way of the car as it left. The pit lane was closed as he was taken to the hospital for a check up.


(how long before this one gets pulled?)

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