Super GT 2010 Round 8 @ Motegi: A New Champion is Crowned and its Powered by VTEC

The 2010 Super GT season came to a close at the Twin Ring Motegi race track. Round 7 at Fuji Speedway could not take place due to a devastating tsunami and mud slides that wiped out major roads around the circuit area. A special Fuji Event will take place later this year as a big thank you to all the fans for their support.

Which brings us to Round 8. Both the GT500 and GT300 championships were still up for grabs, in what has to be the most tightly contested season in the history of the series. The Weider Honda HSV-10 led the GT500 class by a single point over the charging Eneos Lexus SC430. The drama began as the green light fell down on the race, with the Eneos SC430 being given a 20 second penalty stop for passing a red light as it exited the pits on its way to the starting grid. This made the Eneos team’s chances to win the GT500 class almost impossible and relieved a lot of the pressure on the Weider team. Or so we thought. The Honda would battle the Petronas Tom’s SC430 for the entire second half of the race, in one of the most exciting duels in recent Super GT memory. The Weider team drivers, knowing that a 2nd place finish would secure the 2010 title, were in full attack mode. Both cars bumped each other on a number of occasions, which resulted in Weider team orders being given to make sure they finished the race and not end up in the gravel. In the end, the HSV-10 made one last run at the finish line, but the Tom’s SC430 held off for the win. Even still, this was enough to give Honda and Team Weider both the Drivers and Manufacturers Championship. A huge accomplishment for Honda’s new machine in its first year of competition against the proven SC430 and the mighty GT-R.

The chase for the GT300 title was also up for grabs by the fan favorite Corolla Axio APR GT and the Tomica Z. And just like in the GT500 class, another early incident would play a huge part in deciding the new GT300 champion. On the third turn of the first lap the Corolla Axio ran off course and into the gravel, signaling the end of their season and championship hopes. This gave the Tomica Z full advantage, as the bright orange Nissan dominated the entire race without any challengers, taking the win for the day and the GT300 championship.

It was the culmination of one of the most exciting seasons ever for Super GT and even the previous JGTC series. In the GT500 class, the dominant GT-Rs and SC430 proved strong all season, but inevitable dethroned by the new Honda HSV-10. A car that was sent to rest before being released to the world as the next NSX, only to show once again that when it comes to world-class racing, just like past Formula 1, when Honda aims to create a powerful RWD car, it tends to surpass the expectations of not only its competition, but of its own designers as well. We just hope that Honda hears the prayers of their fans and finally decide to release an iteration of this car in future production form.

And in the GT300 class, fan favorite team RE Amemiya could not find their groove all season, giving way once again to Nissan and its iconic Z to take this years championship. 2011 might be a little bit of the same. But then again, as we reported months earlier, rumor has it that Honda is planning to enter the GT300 class with none other than the new CRZ, but in RWD format. Can Honda replicate this years magic in the GT500 class with their new sport-hybrid? We shall see.

Thanks goes to all the teams and sponsors for making this the most exciting seasons yet. And thank you, the fans, for all of your support.

See you next time!!

Inside Line Test the New 2011 Subaru WRX Sedan

While we wait patiently for the in-house battle that will be the 2011 STI Sedan vs STI Hatchback, the guys over at Inside Line got their hands on the standard 2011 WRX Sedan and put it through its paces. How does the new sedan fare vs the old model with the new Subaru suspension and widebody track? Click the video below to find out.

Source: http://www.insideline.com/

Travis Pastrana Sets Record at Mt. Washington Auto Road

While the automotive monsters of the world like the Nissan GT-R, Pagani Zonda R and the entire stable from Porsche tackle the legendary Nurburgring track to see who is the fastest on the asphalt. There was another all-together different road that was being tormented by a different type of machine. This time it was the Mt. Washington Auto Road. The car, a WRC spec Subaru STi. The driver, none other than X Games gold medalist Travis Pastrana.

A record that stood for 12 years was broken by Pastrana this week. This monster of a course, which features over 100 turns, a one-mile unpaved section with a climb from a base of 1,527 feet up to the summit, 6,288 feet above sea level, was tamed by Pastrana and his STi in a blistering time of 6 minutes and 49.11 seconds. For the record, Pastrana’s lap was 20 seconds faster than the previous 12-year-old record.

For those who do not know Travis Pastrana, he started out as a young phenom riding dirt bikes. He splashed on to the extream sports scene at the X Games, where he won numerous medals during dirt trick competitions. When Rally was announced for the X Games and Pastrana was on the list of drivers in its inaugural run, many in the extream sports world questioned how this young kid ,who seemed to be fused to his bike, would do driving a rally car. The answer that Pastrana gave them can be seen below.

US Spec Subaru STi 2011 tested. Prices announced.

So, do you want the Sedan….

or the Hatch?

That is the choice that for some reason the heads at Subaru decided to give us for the 2011 model year. The US Spec STi will get the same 2.5l Flat 4 Cyl, still producing 305HP and 290 lbs of torque. But that’s where the similarities between 2010 and 2011 car end.

The front and rear spring rates are increased 16 percent and 53 percent, while antiroll bars are increased to 21mm front and 19mm rear, each 1mm larger than in the 2010 WRX STI. Ride height has also been lowered by 5mm, which looks even more dramatic with the new exterior styling that makes the 2011 STi look a lot lower to the ground then it actually is.

Some editors are calling this the best handling Subaru ever. Something that has always been an advantage for Mitsubishi’s Evo, with it’s magical AWD system. Subaru engineers choose to tuned the suspension, rather than their AWD, to increase the cornering potential of the new STi. (Check the new STi on the Nurburgring on the site)

This is where things get a bit tricky for the hopeful buyer. You can have your choice of a new 2011 STi Sedan starting at $34,700 or the Hatch model for $36,720. Why the premium for the Hatch model you say, which even has the same engine? Well the Sedan has new, lighter Enkei wheels compared to the 2010 model. However, the Hatch now comes standard with Forged BBS wheels, which were a $2k option the for the 2010 model.

Now since you might want those BBS wheels anyway, the issue still remains. To Sedan and or to Hatch?

That is the Question.

Around the Ring: Subaru tackles the Nurburgring with the new 2011 STi Sedan

 

And just as the news broke out that Subaru might be releasing 2 different powered STis comes this video of 4 time WRC Champion Tommi Makinen behind the wheel of the 2011 STi Sedan. At 7:55:00 flat it is the fastest production time clocked in any production STi at the famous German track. See the video below and hear the STi growl at Makinen to keep up.