Author: admin

  • F1: Hamilton wins in Canada


    Lewis Hamilton has become the seventh different winner in seven races after tasting victory at today’s Canadian Grand Prix.

    Red Bull Renault’s Sebastian Vettel had started from pole and led during the opening stages, but dropped back to third after Alonso and Hamilton jumped him while he pitted for tyres. Lewis went on to pass the Ferrari on its out lap, grabbing the lead.

    Alonso and Vettel then tried to make it to the end of the race without stopping for fresh rubber – a plan that they paid a high price for. The world champion eventually came in very late, but Alonso stubbornly stayed out until the bitter end. Hamilton’s supersoft tyres saw him take the top step of the podium, with Lotus Renault’s Romain Grosjean securing second and Sergio Perez coming home third in his Sauber Ferrari (both making one-stop strategies work for them). Vettel’s new tyres enabled him to pass Alonso for fourth, with the Spaniard having to settle for fifth.

    It was a grim weekend for Hamilton’s team-mate, Jenson Button, who finished 16th after having to make three stops, while Mercedes GP’s Michael Schumacher was forced to retire after his DRS flap jammed open.

    “I knew this was going to be a tough, tough race but I loved every minute of it. I never had a doubt in my mind that there wasn’t a possibility to win. I was thinking these guys are falling quite far behind, I assume they’re doing a one-stop. So I decided to keep pushing and build a gap,” said the delighted British driver.

    Hamilton now leads the championship on 88 points, just ahead of Alonso and Vettel with 86 and 85 points.
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  • Road & Track drives the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse [video]


    Road & Track’s John Lamm headed over to Spain to sample Bugatti’s 895 kW (1,200 hp) Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse. After spending some time on the road, John took to the banking at a high-speed test track with Pierre Henri Raphanel, the man who piloted a Veyron Super Sport to 431 km/h (267 mph), riding shotgun.
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  • Audi R8 by XXX Performance


    Bochum-based tuning specialist XXX Performance has produced this retina-destroying Audi R8 V10 Coupe, to display its wares.

    Visually the de-badged body wears a vivid ‘bilious green’ wrap with the mirrors and sideblades finished in a contrasting carbon foil. Elsewhere, the grille and tailpipes have been painted black and the headlights tinted. Dropping the R8 to the ground is a H&R coilover kit combined with a G-Ride Airride system, while the arches are filled with unsubtle Oxigin 14-Oxrock alloys. Sized 8.5 and 11 x 20 inches, and wrapped in Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres, the new wheels have received the same foil treatment as the body.

    Moving inside, the cabin has been reupholstered in a mixture of Alacantara and carbon-effect leather, including the rooflining, dashboard, steering wheel and RS seats, with other elements including the armrests finished in genuine carbon fibre.

    Beneath the carbon fibre engine covers XXX has fitted a Capristo exhaust system with Bluetooth-controlled flap, a BMC carbon airbox and recalibrated the 5.2 FSI unit’s ECU to see power rise from 391 kW (525 hp) to 485 kW (650 hp).

    It’s safe to say that you wouldn’t lose it in a car park at night.
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  • Russian RWB Porsche 911 [video]


    There was a time when you’d only ever see an RWB car wearing Japanese plates, but with the company’s creations cropping up in the media more and more often it was only a matter of time before fans from other corners of the globe wanted one in their garage, and this Russian example is the latest. Built for a customer in Moscow by RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF founder Akira Nakai-San, this wide-bodied 964 is the first RWB Porsche in the country and this is how it came about.
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  • Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Matte Edition


    Following on from its recently revealed C 63 AMG model, Mercedes-Benz has added three further products specifically for the Japanese market, with these SLS AMG Matt Editions.

    Available in Roadster form only, the Matte Black Edition is painted in designo Magno Night Black matte paintwork with a contrasting red grille, side fins, filler cap and boot lid badges. Inside, the cabin is trimmed in a mixture of red and black nappa leather on the seats, door panels and dashboard.

    The Matte White Edition can be specified in both Coupe and Roadster guise, and is finished in designo Magno Cashmere White paintwork with black accents and features a porcelain and black interior. All models come equipped with AMG Ride Control suspension, matte black AMG 10-spoke alloy wheels and a performance steering wheel wrapped in Alcantara and leather.

    Starting at ¥ 29,000,000 (€ 289,770) just ten Coupes will be produced, with five of each of the Roadsters being built at a slightly higher price of ¥ 30,000,000 (€ 299,760).
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  • Kelleners Sport KS5-S BMW M5


    Merzig-based tuning specialist Kelleners Sport has revealed its program for the latest BMW M5, named the KS5-S.

    Visually, the aero package includes a lower front spoiler, mirror casings, boot lid spoiler and rear diffuser section – all finished in clear coated carbon fibre, and a pair of sculpted side skirts, while the 20-inch diameter Hamburg alloy wheels have been painted matte black and wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres.

    A remapped engine management system along with the newly developed stainless steel exhaust, culminating in four 90 mm tailpipes, allows the 4.4-litre V8 to produce 492 kW (660 hp) and 790 Nm of torque – up from 418 kW (560 hp) and 680 Nm – and enough for a 330 km/h top speed. The rear silencer features an integrated valve that – depending on engine revs – opens and closes automatically. To comply with noise regulations the valve stays closed on start-up, but begins to open up from 4,000 revs. A more raucous Sound+ version is available for export only.

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