Video - Super GT Round 2 Okayama review

After Hondas less than perfect debut for the HSV-010 in GT500, how will they get on in Round 2? Also will GT300 ever be a dull race? Watch the video and find out, preferably in full screen/HD mode

Video: Super GT Round 1 Suzuka review

Round 1 from Suzuka, best viewed in fullscreen/HD mode. Few surprises in store!

If only F1 was exciting as this!

Autosport International 2010 - Part 2

Part 2 of Autosport and we arrive in easily the highlight for many of the show - the Live Action Arena. 1 entire hall is transformed into an indoor racetrack for racing and demonstration runs, so tight racing and very noisy! The Fiesta racing was the 1st racing demo out

Followed by the European Drift Championship drifters - Mark Luney, Paul Conlan and Pete Barber

and some close dirtbike racing

Then 5th Gear presenters Tiff Needell and Vicki Butler Henderson doing some semi drifting - Tiff struggled to do competitive drifting way back in 2006 so he might be better next time he fancies a proper go - or not, particularly when he claimed not to be able to turn the traction control off on the Jaguar he is seen driving above.... Vicki was a bit better in her Porsche though!

Then we have the Autograss specials - purpose built chassis, usually motorcycle engine powered so a very high power to weight ratio - so wheelies and the ability to drift almost the entire arena easier than the drift cars almost, although I think the wheelies were more for show, still good to see though!

And close racing, Id love to see these on their natural surface - grass and mud

The Formula Palmer Audi single seaters were good too, plenty of flames, although this,again, might have been done for the show with the cars adjusted to overfuel slightly, but looked good in the dark!

The cars were being driven by the finalists of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award

Pat (on the right, Fiesta) and Liam (on the left,Citroen C4) Doran about to do a rallycross demo - but given these cars are ideal for the slippery surface of the arena (4wd and 600bhp) the show they put on was a little tame compared to what Ive seen them do before, but then again with 17 shows to do over the 4 days of the show and practice sessions, you have to make the cars last

F1 stockcars - big, heavy, fast - and loud with their unsilenced Chevy V8's - always a favourite of mine - you dont just hear them, you feel them

Being RWD with low grip meant they too, were easy to drift around the arena and are full contact racing, so bumping,nudging and pushing is allowed

An original (not a replica) Lancia Stratos, sounded lovely with its raspy Ferrari V6

An original Audi Sport Quattro - driven here by none other than Stig Blomqvist - the original Stig!

And to end, figure of 8 banger racing, the previously made comment regarding 17 shows applies here too, Id say the last show on Sunday was entertaining!

Part 3 soon

Red Mist.........

Keep watching until the end, for once the American commentary is welcomed and necessary!

Time Attack 2009 Round 5 - Snetterton - The Final

The final of the 2009 Time Attack Series took place at Snetterton

Pro/Club Pro/Prototype/Openwheel Class

First in Pro was Phil Glew in the Zen Performane Impreza, setting a time of 1.11.03 which was rain affected but had earlier set the fastest time of the day with 1.09.7

The sole prototype entry, Andy Gallachers AG Motorsport Ford Focus - 4wd, Cosworth engined and almost 700bhp with a partially spaceframed chassis to boot. He set a faster time than Glew in the Superbattle final with 1.10.3 but the car is inegible for points in 2009. Hopefully a few more prototype cars will enter in 2010 to give Andy some competition and the rest of the grid a scare

Second in Pro with 1.11.8 and sealing second in the Pro championship for 2009 was Steve Gugliemi in his Gugliemi Motorsport Elise

Third overall and first in ClubPro was James Nicholls in the Car Planet Racing Evo 6 with a time of 1.11.8, sealing him the ClubPro championship for 2009

Fourth overall was Gareth Lloyd in the second CPR Evo with a time of 1.12.5

Fifth overall was Adrian Smith in the Fensport Celica - 1.14.9

Club Class

First in club class was Russ Paton in the Wallace Performance Evo 6, 1.14.3

Duncan Graham sealed the Club championship with 2nd place, 1.14.9 in his Race Dynamix Impreza. Club Pro promotion for next year hopefully

Third in class, Marcus Webster in his Nissan Skyline R32 GTR

And a few randoms...

Middlehurst R35 GTR - UK built and authorised NISMO Club Sport Package

Richard Jones -Evo 8- Club 4WD - 1.18.2 - 13th overall

David Ward, BMW Mini -Club FF, 1.22.4, 21st overall


Not much info on this Porsche 933 GT3 on the timing sheets :(

Simon Deaton - Evo 8,Club 4WD 1.15.7 - 4th overall

Never mind 'precision driving and stunts' a 5 ton racing truck going around the track is the ultimate half time show

Steve Linton - Supra, Club RWD 1.20.01,16th overall, 3rd in class

Jamie Reynolds,Lotus Elise - Club RWD,1.16.1, 5th overall, 1st in class

So once again its Roger Clark Motorsport that take the overall title in 2009, but not as smoothly as in 2008. Will the opposition finally outclass them in 2010? Who knows.....

Le Mans Series 1000km of Silverstone - Part 2

Part 2 and its onto the 1000km race. A big thanks to Sportscarpros for sorting media access to this 1 for me. The race would last for just over 5 hours and 30mins, plenty of time to visit almost every part of the track and for experimenting with my photos. Here are some observations from the day, far too much to cover, could easily put 4/5 parts to this event

The Kolles Audi R10 TDi at the start, leads the petrol powered chase. The TDi is a clue that this car is diesel powered, yet was still very competitive - Diesel power having several wins at Le Mans now

The race marked the swansong of the GT1 class in the Le Mans Series, but only 3 cars competed,the Larbre Saleen S7-R

The Luc Alphand Corvette C6R -easily the loudest car on track with its rumbling V8

and the Gigawave Aston Martin DBR9, the Aston won this round but the Corvette took the series

Henri Pescarolo looks a bit apprehensive before the start, he should be - his car will be starting at the back, but overtake everyone to lead, then slide down the order with a gearbox problem...

Tomas Enge looks a bit happier, he is on the front row and will end up 3rd

Probably the best known driver in the race today , none other than 1992 F1 World Champion Nigel Mansell, but he is pictured here waiting to go back out on track during the race, as his Ginetta Zytek LMP1 car was in its garage, having a wishbone replaced

The second loudest car after the Corvette, the Drayson Racing GT2 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

The Lola-Aston Martin B09/60, the 007 car is leading the championship and is favourite to win

The Saleen makes a pitstop

and the #007 Aston, typically 5-8 pitstops are needed during the course of the race, more if the car is giving problems. This car finished 3rd overall, but enough to seal the LMP1 championship

The Speedy Racing Sebah Lola Aston Martin LMP1, 2nd overall
008 Aston, 12rd overall

The Team WFR Embassy-Zytek LMP2 car, eventually finishing 14th
The laps tick down, but its not over til its over


The Ibanez - Courage C75 LMP2 car, which placed 17th

The Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 997, 7th in GT2 but enuogh to win the GT2 championship

And the winner overall was the LMP1 Team Oreca Matmut - AIM - completing 195laps - or 1000km in just over 5 hours 30mins.

Ive really enjoyed the 3 sportscar events Ive attended in 2009 and Ill be going to a few more in 2010, bigger and arguably better than the events Ive covered mostly until now!