ERA R4D - The Autobiography of R4D, by J. Mac Hulbert (2)

ERA: The Autobiography of R4D, Great Cars Series

September 13, 2016 Michael Carnell Comments Off

The famous cars made by ERA (English Racing Automobiles) epitomize British motor racing during the 1930s and have a very special place in the affections of patriotic enthusiasts. To honor those cars, J. Mac Hulbert has put together “ERA: The Autobiography of R4D” which is being published by Porter Press. This magnificent book tells the story of a uniquely historic example that has competed almost without a break for 80 years and achieved innumerable successes. R4D was campaigned extensively before and after the Second World War by Raymond Mays, the leading light of the ERA company, before passing through a succession of subsequent owners who have kept this famous car at the forefront of competition to the present day. The extraordinary life of R4D, a formidably powerful and charismatic racing car, is told in fascinating detail in this long-awaited book. […]

McLaren takes double British GT victory at Donington season finale

McLaren Take Double British GT Victory

September 12, 2016 Staff Comments Off

The drive by McLaren GT Factory Driver Rob Bell to the flag headlined a clean sweep in the GT3 and GT4 classes for McLaren GT customer team Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse in the 2016 British GT Championship season finale at Donington Park. The result marked the first win of the season for the 650S GT3 in the championship and the second for the 570S GT4, concluding a highly successful developmental season for the newest model. The second consecutive victory for Haggerty and Mitchell saw the pair claim second in the British GT4 Drivers championship – Silver and third overall in the British GT4 Drivers championship. A strong weekend in Austria also saw three examples of the 650S GT3 lined up in the International GT Open at the Red Bull Ring run by customer teams Balfe Motorsport and Garage 59, with […]

The Panasonic Jaguar Racing I-TYPE Formula E Car 1

Jaguar Returns to Racing with I-TYPE

September 8, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Jaguar today takes the wraps off its new electric motorsport future, revealing its Formula E team’s official name, vision, title sponsor, driver line-up and electric racing livery. From this October, Panasonic Jaguar Racing will compete in the third FIA Formula E season with the first all-electric Jaguar racing car in history: the I-TYPE 1. At the launch event at the Jaguar Collections Centre, the new I-TYPE 1 made a dramatic debut driven by the team’s official reserve driver Ho-Pin Tung and outlining the brands commitment to ‘Race To Innovate’ – a mission to change the perception of electric vehicles, to develop new electric technology and to inspire future generations.

From granny’s shopper to fire-breathing classic racer – the British Motor Heritage Austin A40 - BMH British Motor Heritage Austin A4

BMH Combining Classic Motorsport with University Training

August 31, 2016 Staff Comments Off

For the last 10 years, British Motor Heritage (BMH) MD, John Yea, has ably campaigned an FIA-compliant MGB in a variety of classic motorsport formulae. What’s particularly noteworthy about the car is that it was created around one of BMH’s authentic replacement bodyshells and that its build team included an undergraduate student from Oxford Brookes University.

MINI Challenge Joins British GT Championship in 2017

August 31, 2016 Staff Comments Off

MINI Challenge will join the British GT Championship for the first time next year, cementing its place as one of Europe’s fastest-growing single-make racing championship. The news marks the biggest step yet for the popular championship and follows a recent agreement between MINI Challenge and MINI UK which will see the brand provide increased support through the 2017 race season.

Aston Martin Racing Heads to Mexico

August 30, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Aston Martin Racing returns to the track this week, as the FIA World Endurance Championship heads to Mexico for its inaugural visit to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City. Despite stormy conditions forecast for this week’s round of the WEC, the team will be hoping for smooth sailing following its double podium success last time out at the Nürburgring.

The world's fastest Triumph - the Triumph Infor Rocket Streamline

Triumph Motorcycles Confirms September Date for Record Attempt

August 24, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Following a successful practice session at the Bonneville Salt Flats, achieving a speed of 274.2 mph to become the world’s fastest ever Triumph, Triumph Motorcycles has confirmed the attempt to set a new outright motorcycle Land Speed World Record will take place mid-September, 2016, weather permitting. Piloted by TT star Guy Martin the Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner will return to the famous Bonneville salt flats and attempt to beat the current 376.8mph record speed on an 11 mile-long course. Despite having a good course surface for testing the team felt that the salt wasn’t yet fully capable of supporting a top-speed streamliner run. In consultation with FIM course manager Mike Cook the team are targeting the September dates as the best possible opportunity for the optimal course conditions required for the record attempt.

Photo of Mark receiving the Parish award from Chris Meyers (head of MGVR)

Mark Brandow Awarded Bill Parish Master of Speed Deception Award

August 18, 2016 Staff Comments Off

This just in from Greg Prehodka MG Vintage Racers. I just wanted to let you know that annual awarding of the MG Vintage Racers’ “Bill Parish Master of Speed Deception Award” that Ford Heacock of Heacock Classic Car Insurance established with MGVR years ago in Bill’s memory, continues! There have been so many deserving recipients of this award over the years! At the MGVR “Focus Event” at Waterford Hills, Michigan the end of July, MG racer Mark Brandow was awarded it as the MG racer “Having the most fun!” Mark’s MG vintage racing goes back to the 70’s, and he was a founding member of MGVR in 1981. He races both an MGTC and an MGA, and lives in Minnesota . Mark always has a smile on his face, helps other MG racers, and has great MG spirit! I’m sure if […]

Morgan AR Motorsport Challenge 2016 – Silverstone National

August 10, 2016 Staff Comments Off

After a brief summer break and a trip to Angelsey for the Morgan Challenge, it was back to Silverstone for the third time in the 2016 season. This visit would see the 35 car grid compete on the National Circuit as part of the Bentley Drivers Meeting. A highlight of the calendar, the Bentley Drivers Club meet is always well attended from both the Bentley and Morgan communities, and demonstrates some of the most prestigious Bentleys throughout the history of their company. For many years the Morgan Challenge has featured as part of the BDC meeting, and for 2016 the weather had been ordered, with beautiful sunshine engulfing the home of British motorsport. As the cars assembled for qualifying it was a welcomed return to the challenge series for accomplished drivers Olly Bryant and Will Plant in their Plus 8s. […]

The world's fastest Triumph - the Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner

Triumph Infor Rocket Becomes World’s Fastest Triumph

August 10, 2016 Staff Comments Off

The Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner has become the world’s fastest ever Triumph by achieving a speed of 274.2 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats on 8 August, 2016. Piloted by TT legend Guy Martin, the streamliner smashed the previous official Triumph record that stood at 245.667 mph as well as the unofficial Triumph Record of 264mph, both set by Bob Leppan, in the Gyronaut X-1. Near perfect conditions greeted the team on the final day of the team’s land speed practice week. With confidence high after a successful number of days running on the salt at Bonneville the team’s goal for the day with the Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner was the Triumph record.

Silverstone Classic Races to Be Broadcast on ITV4

August 8, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Highlights of this year’s record-breaking, all-action Silverstone Classic will be screened to terrestrial television audiences in the UK later this week. A special one-hour programme will be aired on ITV4 at the peak viewing time of nine o’clock (21.00hrs) on the evening of Thursday 11 August, with repeats broadcast at 10am on the morning of Sunday 14 August and, again at five o’clock (17.00hrs) on the afternoon of the following Tuesday 16 August. With so much to see and do over the full three days at the world’s busiest motor sport meeting, there is far too much action, excitement and entertainment to squeeze into one hour-long show. Even so, it is a show that no lovers of classic cars or fans of historic motor sport will want to miss regardless of whether they were among the 100,000 visitors attending this […]

McLaren 570S GT4 development season reaches new high

McLaren 570S GT4 Snags Important Win at Snetterton

August 8, 2016 Staff Comments Off

The #59 McLaren 570S GT4 run by customer team Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse scored victory over the weekend at Snetterton, the penultimate round of the 2016 British GT Championship. After several strong performances in the season to-date – including consecutive pole positions at the previous two rounds – the result marks the debut victory for the track-dedicated Sports Series model which is still in its development season. The young driver pairing of Sandy Mitchell and Ciaran Haggerty combined to complete a stunning drive after a strong qualifying saw them qualify P3 in the first race of the weekend. The charge to the front of the pack was aided by a rapid stop from the Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse pitcrew, which vaulted the car into the lead when Haggerty climbed aboard. From there, the young Scot ran a solid stint, defending […]

The first ever car built using graphene has been unveiled in Manchester

BAC Unveils Graphene Bodied Car

August 6, 2016 Staff Comments Off

British carmaker BAC (Briggs Automotive Company) has unveiled the first car in the world to be built using graphene at the Science in the City festival in Manchester. Graphene, a revolutionary new substance first developed at the University of Manchester, is a form of carbon just one atom thick. However, it is 100 times stronger than steel, and can conduct heat and electricity efficiently, although nearly transparent.

Ex-Colin McRae MG Metro 6R4 on eBay

August 4, 2016 Staff Comments Off

How about an eBay auction for a truly legendary piece of British auto racing history? Yes, the actual MG Metro 6R4 once owned by none other than the late, great Colin McRae is up for an offer of a mere £350,000 – about $460,000 as of today’s exchange rate. This car has been part of a doctor’s private collection for many years. It has the original V5 document verifying Colin Steele McRae as a previous owner. For your winning money, you can have one of Group B’s most boxy – and crazy – icons. 6 stands for the number of cylinders, R for rear-engined and 4 for four-wheel drive. All you need to know is it’s probably the hottest of hot hatches. Inferno levels of hot, actually. This one is in full rally trim, so has over 400bhp. The Metro is rare in being […]

McLaren 650S GT3 fights hard in the Total 24 Hours of Spa

McLaren 650S GT3 in Action on Two Continents

August 1, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Seven examples of the McLaren 650S GT3 were in action over the weekend, taking part in the Total 24 Hours of Spa and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course round of the Pirelli World Challenge. As a result of the challenging weekend, McLaren GT associated drivers and customer teams now lead the points tallies in seven of the standings associated with the two championships, including McLaren leading the Pirelli World Challenge Manufacturer Championship.

Triumph Motorcycle confirms new World Land Speed Record attempt

Triumph Motorcycles to Attempt Land Speed Record

August 1, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Triumph Motorcycles, the iconic British motorcycle brand, has confirmed that it will return to the legendary salt flats of Bonneville, USA, in August 2016 to break the motorcycle world land speed record. Triumph’s aim is to exceed the current record that stands at 376.363 mph, using its purpose built 1,000 bhp Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner. Riding the purpose-built Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner over the measured mile will be Isle of Man TT racer and multiple speed record holder Guy Martin. Title partner for Triumph’s 2016 record attempt will be global cloud applications provider Infor with further support from iconic clothing brand Belstaff.

E-Type Club’s Round Britain Coastal Drive

July 28, 2016 Staff 2

The E-type Club’s ROUND BRITAIN COASTAL DRIVE, supporting Prostate Cancer UK is really gathering momentum. Over 100 Jaguar E-types have already booked for one or more of the 18 daily stages around the coastal roads of Great Britain. One of those is Formula 1 legend Ross Brawn who masterminded Michael Schumacher’s seven World Championships. Brawn has a fantastic collection of cars, reflecting his time with Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar, including a pair of stunning E-types.

VotW – Unipower GT

July 27, 2016 Michael Carnell 2

Our video this week is of a rarely heard of, and even less seen, Mini-based beast, the Unipower GT. Not a kit, but a true production sports car in the vein of TVR and Marcos. To quote Wikipedia, because I honestly didn’t know much about the cars… The Unipower GT was a British specialist sports car first shown at the January 1966 Racing Car Show, and produced by truck maker Universal Power Drives Ltd in Perivale, Middlesex and later by U.W.F. Automotive in London until production ceased in early 1970, by which time around 71 cars are believed to have been made, including about 15 built by U.W.F. Originally the brainchild of Ernie Unger and Attila sports racing car designer Val Dare Bryan in the early 1960s the design of Unipower GT was actually said to have been penned by […]

Aston Martin Racing tastes victory at FIA WEC 6 Hours of Nürburgring

Aston Martin Reach Podium at 6 Hours of Nürburgring

July 25, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Aston Martin Racing has achieved double podium success at the 6 Hours of Nürburgring, taking victory in the GTE Am class and 3rd in GTE Pro. With conditions remaining dry throughout the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the trio of Paul Dalla Lana (C), Pedro Lamy (P) and Mathias Lauda (A) drove a faultless race to bring their V8 Vantage GTE home in 1st.

RAC Woodcote Trophy Competitors Celebrate 10th Anniversary

RAC Woodcote Trophy 10th Anniversary

July 22, 2016 Staff Comments Off

A host of competitors past and present, race organisers and sponsors gathered on Wednesday night in the company of Sir Stirling and Lady Moss at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall to celebrate the 10thanniversary of the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy race series. Launched in 2006, the Royal Automobile Club and Motor Racing Legends conceived a race series for genuine, pre-1956 sports-racers, to be called the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy. 10 years on – this highly respected race series is still going strong.