Le Mans Series 1000km of Silverstone - Part 1

Back to Silverstone and more sportscar racing in the form of the 6th and final round of the Le Mans Series , covering the event for Sportscarpros

Once again its a big event compared to the events that I normally attend

With a busy press centre hosting well attended press conferences

Not to mention a 'tyre war' of sorts

But all expensive and proper equipment, no knockoffs in evidence here

Another attraction was the main support race - the Classic Endurance Racing championship, with a scene from the 1970's as the former Mario Andretti Ferrari 712, driven by Paul Knapfield has a small lead at the end of the Hangar Straight, leading into Stowe corner

Unlike the March 75S which expired on the next lap......

and passed by this stunning Porsche 936

Porsche 911 RSR - still the definition of what a racing Porsche is for many people

BMW M1

Porsche 935

Gulf-Mirage GR7

Lola T294-BMW

Matra 670C, this car and its previous versions won Le Mans overall in 1972, 1973, and 1974,and won the World Sportscar Champion in 1973/4. Sounded immense.....

a bit like this infact


But it retired after leading, after the 712 had led also

The gas turbine powered Howmet TX certainly the most distinctive car on the grid. Click on the wikipedia link, and watch the video below



But there had to be a winner and it was Bobby Rahal in his own Lola T290, a car he drove earlier in his career and now personally owns

More soon

Silverstone Classic 2009

After last year, it was only natural that I would return to the 2009 running of the Silverstone Classic, with the massive mixture of everything from pre war sportscars to SuperTouring, but my main reason for returning was once again - Group C. This time however I was armed with a media pass, as I am now covering events for Sports Car Pros so no standing on tippytoes or dodging bits of fence...

Ive somehow managed to narrow my selection down from over 1500 to just 20, so here goes.

The start of the second Group C race, the opening shot is the start of the first. Quite a feeling to have thousands of horsepower heading straight towards you as you both feel excited at the sight of them and try and fit them all into the frame at the same time!

Its back, the Sauber C9 except this time it was not damaged at the first corner! A stunning car to see aswell as to hear, this vid will give you an idea, not the same car (its a C11 in the video) but they sound alike, with the thundering 5 litre, twin turbo V8





Another big, loud fast V8 - Aston Martin AMR-1, could be heard well before it appeared!

The first Jaguar Group C car, the XJR-5 and the Nissan R88-C

Nissan R91CK, winner of Sundays 30 min sprint race

Onto the World Sportscar Masters and 2 rather dramatic shots from the 90 minute race, above a Ferrari 512s leads a Lola T70 a scene that reminds me of the film Le Mans...

and a flaming Chevron B8

Masters ‘Gentleman Drivers’ GT & Sports Endurance Cars (Pre 66) had this beautiful Corvette Stingray - each car in the race could tell a story and deserved its own photo

Grand Prix Masters (1966 – 1973 GP Cars) - fast and very loud!


Pre 1963 GT Cars, multi million dollar grid, probably the most valuble of the weekend
Ferrari 250 GT SWB Drogo aka The Breadvan

Aston Martin Le Mans Project DP 212
Ferrari 250 SWB
Corvette and Lotus Elite
Under 2 litre touring cars, throwback to the 60's, Lotus Cortinas, BMW 1800's,Alfa Romeo Giulias and Minis. Close and exciting racing, even now

Then onto the 90's, SuperTouring revival

or is it the 70's again? as the Cologne Capri battles the BMW CSL Batmobile

While up the front a more 90's battle goes on!

A great event, think Ill go back in 2010

Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 Part 2

A new for 2009 feature was Import Auto Salon, for import cars, but mainly German and American

'Ed if you could have ONE car tomorrow what would it be?' Ive only 1 answer - BMW M5!

The new Dodge Challenger, even though this 1 had air suspension it was nice
A 1960's Chevy Camaro, with a blown V8, very tidy

A white Maybach Limo, girls in long white dresses, whats not to like

Very cool anime graphics on this Super GT BMW Z4

Not sure if bolt on arches work on the Golf GTi

Back to the Auto Salon....

Top Secret had NOTHING of note, same cars as last year with the exception of a Toyota Celsior, same parts as everyone else, maybe the pinch is starting to affect them. The V12 Supra still attracts the crowds though, even though they failed to crack the 400km/h barrier when the car was shipped to Nardo in Italy last year

Yet another D1GP S15

And another R35, this 1 is from Hasemi Sport, but with nice subtle mods
unlike the awful Branew bodykit design


The Looking Mazda RX-7 , very cool!

Classic Toyota 2000GT - with a RB26, actually it is a 240Z based replica

One of the better of the current crop of different D1 cars,Masayoshi Tokitas Goodyear/Bee*R Toyota Crown, packing a 2JZ transplant for over 650bhp

Amuse R35, one of the most powerful in Japan with over 650 bhp

Alongside some of the other most powerful R35's in Japan