Browsing Tag

le mans

Life-sized 1:1 scale of an Aston Martin DBR1…some assembly required!

August 13, 2012 By steve In Motoring

Sorry ladies, I’ve got a feeling that only the boys reading are going to really “get” this one.

What you see here is a 1:1 scale of a real life car that once upon a time won the legendary Le Mans 24 hour GP. The fact that it’s your chance to own a life-sized replica of an Aston Martin, well that’s just gravy.

The Aston Martin DBR1 took Carroll Shelby (that’s the man behind the Cobra Shelby) and Roy Salvadori (that’s some other Italian guy) to victory in the 1959 Le Mans GP, and that was back in the day when it was all about racing skill and not at all about racing technology.

There is only one of these going on auction during Goodwood Revival weekend at a staggering price of £20,000-£30,000.

Actually it is 6.35 meters wide and 3.30 meters tall parts tree with all the handmade pieces you would need if you ever did decide to make it.

It comes with a DBR1 bodyshell, as well as accurately upholstered seats, four 16-inch wire wheels with Aston Martin knock-offs, a Mota Lita steering wheel and a cap signed by the two drivers.

Some pics below of the kit and the beautiful car it’s based on.

via AutoBlog

Audi win Le Mans 24 hour…in a hybrid

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June 18, 2012 By steve In Motoring

That’s right tofu tyrants, the argument for hybrid technology just got a lot stronger thanks to Audi taking a full podium at the Le Mans 24 hour race in their Audi R18 e-tron quattro.

In front of 200 000 spectators, Audi proved themselves to be the quickest and most reliable vehicles in the race.

“With the e-tron quattro in combination with ultra-lightweight design, we put a completely new technology on the grid and immediately won with it – this cannot be taken for granted by any means, particularly here at Le Mans” said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG.

The Audi R18 e-tron quattro is an all-wheel drive car in which the conventional drive system is intelligently combined with an electrically driven axle. Audi is already testing this technology in production vehicles in which the drive shaft is replaced by electric cables.

The future is electric. Good or bad? Comment below!

Nissan Juke Nismo…fresh out of the Le Mans bakery

June 13, 2012 By steve In Motoring

Nissan’s new production model, shelved for release and sale in Europe in 2013, has just been announced at the Le Mans warm-up party.

And as the Le Mans weekend rolls around, this car is going to have it’s work cut out for it as it’s sharing the stadium with the quirky Deltawing and the feisty Juke R.

Since they helped invent the compact crossover segment in 2010, Nissan’s new Nismo feels quite at home extending the Japanese manufacturers range to include an enhanced tuned-up version of its 1.6-litre direct injection turbocharged petrol engine, inspired by the one installed in Nissan’s revolutionary DeltaWing Le Mans race car.

Throw in some stiffened suspension settings and new steering modifications for sportier direct handling and improved traction control, and you’ve got some potent potential.

What else has Nismo, the sports arm of Nissan done lately? How about inventing the world’s first all-electric racing car which made the first run in front of the public at last year’s Le Mans 24h event? Decent!