ChampCar sues Legault

You didn't have to be Karnac to see this one coming down the track....

"I hold in my hand the final envelope..... The answer is: "Bernie will yank it.... Bernie will yank it............ and the question reads: "What will Ecclestone threaten to do to Montreal's F1 race if the courts dare rule against Legault?......... May a drum of racing fuel be dumped on your Kalkhoven....."

**********

"Champ Car has filed a lawsuit against Montreal race promoter Normand Legault, charging breech of contract for outstanding sanctioning fee payments related to the 2005 Molson Indy Montreal."

TSN has the full story...

OSCAAR: Biederman race this weekend at Peterborough

PETERBOROUGH, ON – Peterborough Speedway will play host to OSCAAR’s most prestigious race of the 2006 season this Labour Day weekend, Saturday September 2nd .

The high banks of Peterborough Speedway always provides some of the best Outlaw racing throughout the OSCAAR season, and the Don Biederman Memorial 75 lap feature event is guaranteed to provide fast and furious wheel to wheel action that will keep fans on the edge of their seat.

The Don Biederman Memorial pays tribute to the life and legacy of one of Canada’s finest Super Late Model drivers of all time. The familiar 43 was notorious for his winning ways, aggressive style, and his outspoken and cantankerous character. If Don wasn’t thrilling the fans in the stands with his on-track performance, then his off-track antics kept things most exciting. Admired for his passion and dedication to short track racing, Biederman possessed the fire and desire to win every time behind the wheel.

There is no doubt that as a Canadian, Biederman achieved great success in racing the short tracks of Canada, and across the border. During his career he won countless prestigious events and championships. Perhaps his greatest achievement was winning the 1977 Oxford 250 in Oxford, Me., where he beat many of the established NASCAR stars of the day. In 2001, Don Biederman earned one of Canada’s highest honours in racing, as he was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Since the inception of this annual event there have been four different winners of the Don Biederman Memorial. Leading the charge will be three time winner John Fletcher in his JNE Consulting #61. This team is also the current OSCAAR point leader and has a series high of six feature wins in 2006. Second place point man Rob Clarke comes into the 2006 version of the Don Biederman Memorial as a two-time and defending Champion of this event. The #49 Outlaw of Clarke always runs very competitive at Peterborough, as this team picked up the feature win earlier in 2006. Stu Robinson Jr will be returning to Outlaw competition at Peterborough Speedway for the first time in a couple of years. The 2001 winner of the Don Biederman Memorial has teamed up with the #11 Robbins Motorsport team for the remainder of the 2006 season. The only other previous winner of this prestigious event is Dave Taylor who took the win 2000. Dave does not currently pilot a super late model, but can be seen in the pits each and every week.

The 8th Annual Don Biederman Memorial event should prove to be one of the most competitive in recent years. 2006 may be the year that a new name is added to the winners trophy. Leading the charge has to be the #67 of Phil Bullen who is having a break out season in 2006. Drew Spicer has been knocking on the door all year looking for their second OSCAAR feature win. 2006 Rookie of The Year candidate Glenn Watson might surprise everyone and become the first rookie to win this prestigious event. Two previous rookies of the OSCAAR series, Ed Bowlby and TJ Woosley could also play the spoiler role this weekend and pick up their first ever feature win in OSCAAR. Steve Lyons turned a lot of heads in his first ever OSCAAR event leading a large portion of a feature event at Kawartha Speedway a few weeks back, as he could prove to be the Cinderella story of 2006 by taking the win this weekend.

No matter who you cheer for each week, you can be assured that each and every OSCAAR Outlaw driver will be doing their best to honor the memory of the familiar #43 of Don Biederman.

In addition, to 75 laps of awesome Outlaw Super Late Model racing action, Peterborough Speedway and OSCAAR have many added attractions this Saturday September 2nd. The Don Biederman Hall of Fame car will be on display throughout the evening. The OSCAAR Outlaws will be joined by the Hurricane Midgets, Mini-Stocks, Four Funs and a Donut Race. What is a Donut Race you ask?!? Be sure to attend to find out. Bike Races will be held at intermission for the kids. Prior to the feature, OSCAAR will host an autograph session so that you can meet and greet your favorite drivers.

For custom car enthusiasts, Ruckiss Rydez will be presenting the 1st Annual Show N’ Shine, a custom car show specializing in hot rods, imports, trucks and outlaws. Fans will be able to “cruise” the custom car area, and vote for their favorite hot rod.

Be sure to arrive early, as the Outlaws and Peterborough Speedway will be hosting a Pre-Race Corn Roast in honour of all our supporting fans!

All of this exciting entertainment wrapped in one single event – The 8th Annual Don Biederman Memorial! Spectator gates will open at 4:00, with racing action getting underway at 6:00! Admission at the spectator gate as follows: Adults - $18.00, Youth/Seniors - $16.00, Kids 6-11 - $2.00 and Kids Under 6 are Free.

Cayuga... construction on hold for now

Just heard Cayuga Speedway Park president Jerry Santucci on the radio, talking about this weekend's Labour Day Classic Race Weekend at his track. During his conversation, he confirmed that major renovations on the facility will not commence immediately following this weekend's action at the 5/8-mile speedway.

Rather, Santucci said that the track will be open for a full slate of racing under its current configuration in 2007, with the big construction now scheduled to take place in 2008. He cited planning and permit delays for the setback.

2007 Hamann BMW Z4 Roadster Photos

© Source: original article on seriouswheels.com

Is this the new Lancia Delta HPE ?

On the 5th of September Lancia will be announcing its future plans at the Biennale del Cinema di Venezia. And, according to the Autoinsight blog, it will be showing a concept car that anticipates the new Lancia Delta HPE.

The picture above might be a photoshop, but it's fairly plausible. The Lancia Delta HPE should be based on a stretched Fiat Bravo platform and it should be about 4.50 meters long. The engines should include three turbo-charged gasoline engines (1.4 Turbo with 120 and 150 ps, 1.8 Turbo with 190 ps) and two turbo-diesel engines (1.6 with 120 ps and 2.0 with 165 ps).

The new Delta should be on the market by the second half of 2008

© Source: original article on eurocarblog.com

Honda ready to reveal new Type-R

Honda will finally stop teasing us when it unveils the production-ready version of the Civic Type-R at the Paris motor show in September. (It's expected to look very similar to the concept pictured here.)

The 197bhp super-hatch is said to be more refined than its predecessor, but Honda also says it has improved handling and steering responses.

Also making its motor show debut in Paris is the new CR-V SUV.

Tackling the new Land Rover Freelander head on, the CR-V aims to please with a drive that Honda tells us is fine-tuned for on-road dynamics.

A new 2.0-litre petrol engine will be introduced to the CR-V range, while the 2.2-litre turbodiesel unit sees renewed service.

Expect to see both cars on sale in the UK in the early part of 2007.

© Source: original article on topgear

CASCAR: Micks Motorsports and Berkshire unite for Cayuga race

MT. ALBERT, ON (August 30, 2006) – Veteran CASCAR Super Series driver Kerry Micks, driving his 2006 Micks Motorsports Ford, is pleased to announce the associate sponsorship of the Berkshire group of companies for the Labor Day Weekend Classic event at Cayuga Int'l Speedway.

“I am really excited to have Berkshire on board with us for the Cayuga event. It has been a tremendous struggle for our team this season without having major financial backing, but with help from companies like Berkshire, we have managed to run the complete series and stay in the top three,” stated Micks. “This is a new venture for Berkshire and I hope I can make them proud to be a part of our team for this event by taking them to the winner’s circle”.

For two decades, Berkshire has provided its clients with an outstanding level of personalized financial planning service and support. They recognize that different investors have different investment needs and objectives and, as a result they are positioned to offer timely, prudent advice to their clients. Berkshire advisors have access to a broad spectrum of quality investments products offered by a number of strong companies. This allows advisors to design personalized investment portfolios that will assist each client in choosing a secure financial future. To learn more please visit www.berkshire.ca

Cayuga International Speedway is located one kilometer north of Nelles Corners, ON. From the town of Cayuga take Highway 3 west for eight kilometers to Nelles Corners and turn right on Haldimand Road 20.

For information about the Labor Day Weekend Classic at Cayuga International Speedway call (866) 670-1958 or online at www.cayugaracing.com

Micks Motorsports is sponsored by APX Racing Gear and Incentives Inc., Berkshire group of companies, Beyond Digital Imaging, Canadian Detailing Services, Cathcart Trucking, Trailers by Jim Bray and Two-Tyme Recycling & Disposal for the 2006 CASCAR Super Series Racing Championship.

From Bruce Mehlenbacher

Is that Dave Jacombs I hear on the radio???

Tune into Hamilton's Y108 Radio on Thursday morning between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. to hear CASCAR Super Series racer Dave Jacombs, driver of the #88 Lou's BBQ/CPS Flooring Ford Taurus.

To listen over the internet, Click here for the Y108 main page and hit the Listen Live button to hear Dave chat about this weekend's race at Cayuga Int'l Speedway.

Or just click on the microphone to the right >>>>>>

(h/t Linda Jones for the heads-up)

DELAWARE SPEEDWAY ANNOUNCES “RACING WEEKEND IN VEGAS” PRIZE

One lucky racer will leave Delaware saying, "Thank you.... thank you very much...."

Auto Parts Centres (APC) and Delaware Speedway have announced an additional incentive for APC Late Model teams heading into the Great Canadian Race Weekend: A trip to Las Vegas in March of 2007.

One APC Late Model driver who finishes in the top twenty in the APC 300 on Sunday, September 3, will win the trip. In order to determine the winner, a wheel will be spun on the front straightaway just prior to the final 100-lap race. An envelope with a finishing position inside (anywhere from positions 2 through 20) will be “pulled” from wherever the wheel stops spinning. The random number inside that envelope will then be held and, eventually, revealed from the podium at the end of the race. The driver that finishes in that spot will win the trip.

“APC has put together this fantastic trip for our staff, suppliers and customers and we wanted to include our partners at Delaware Speedway,” said Luke Ramsay, Sales Manager and Director of Motorsports with APC and CANUSA. “With everything included in this trip, such as the chartered jet, Havoline hospitality seats at the Nextel Cup event, the stay at the Bellagio and more, this really is a once-in-lifetime opportunity.”

The trip will take place March 9 through 12, 2007 and includes: three nights and four days at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, a round trip flight from Detroit on a chartered jet and private bus and baggage handling.

Friday’s (March 9) activities include dinner at one of the Bellagio’s fine restaurants and reserved seats at the “Show ‘O’” by Cirque Du Soleil. The Saturday includes either a private bus with round-trip transportation to a golf outing at the Desert Pines Golf Club or a 50-minute relaxation massage at the Bellagio Spa. On Sunday, guests will be treated to round-trip private bus to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and access to the Havoline hospitality tent, along with breakfast and lunch. Once at the Speedway, guests will have access to car simulators, a driver appearance and reserved seats for the Nextel Cup race. The return flight to Detroit is Monday, March 12th.

The entire package has a retail value of approximately seven-thousand dollars.

“Spreading the opportunity back through the field adds some incentive to race teams that think they can finish, say, fifteenth, but aren’t sure they can win it,” said Delaware Speedway Race Director Jeff Wilcox. “And holding that winning number until the end of the race adds some mystery. We don’t want the racers to know what position it is because you don’t want to see a guy standing on the brakes on the last lap trying to get back to a certain spot or another guy spinning someone out right at the end because they know what place they have to be in to win the trip. This way, it can be a possible bonus for anyone that finishes somewhere between second and twentieth.”

Sunday’s all-new APC 300 will pay ten-thousand dollars to the winner. The APC Late Model Delaware Speedway track champion (which will be determined earlier in the day in the first of three 100-lap races) will also receive ten-thousand dollars, at the year-end awards dinner. For at least a few teams, it is possible to win each of those pay days, as well as the trip, depending on what number the wheel turns up before the race. Based on a full field, the APC 300 race purse is forty-thousand dollars.
Advanced tickets and weekend passes are available at participating Auto Parts Centre stores, TSC Stores, PartSource on Wharncliffe Road in London or online at http://www.delawarespeedway.com/.

- From Delaware Speedway

ALMS Mosport: Here are some shots of today's Pit Stop Competition at Toronto's Dundas Square, through the lens of our own Rob 'Blurry Shots' Morton

Tickets for this weekend's MOBIL1 presents Labour Day Weekend Grand Prix of Mosport are available here.
For info on the race, visit the Mosport site.

RESCHEDULED: Hindle Canadian Fastest Streetbike Shootout

Hello everyone,

For those who haven't heard, rain has forced the Hindle Canadian Fastest Streetbike Shootout to be rescheduled to Saturday, October 14 at Grand Bend Motorplex.

The entire Hully Gully Summer Sizzler All-bike Drags will be run on this date, including the Kevin Blackmore Memorial Quick 16, Superbike, Street ET and Harley classes.

The rain date will be the next day, Sunday October 15. For more information, visit http://www.grandbendmotorplex.com/ or http://www.canadiandragbike.com/shootout.

Thanks,
Graeme Jones
Organizer,
Hindle Canadian Fastest Streetbike Shootout

CASCAR: Cayuga Int’l Speedway set to host the Labour Day Weekend Classic, featuring the Hot Head Henry 200

TORONTO, ON – For the first time ever, Cayuga Int’l Speedway will be rocking to the sounds of CASCAR racing on the Labour Day long weekend. Sunday afternoon’s ‘Hot Head Henry 200 powered by Griddly Headz’ Super Series race will be the focal point of a busy weekend of motorsports, music and partying at Cayuga Speedway Park.

Prior to that, on Saturday, there will be a pair of 50-lap Super Series Shootout Races, followed by the ‘Texaco Havoline 100’ CASCAR Sportsman Series race. Adding to the atmosphere will be live music concerts at the Campground Pavilion on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

The Hot Head Henry 200 is the ninth CASCAR Super Series race of the season. Following CASCAR’s successful appearance at the Grand Prix de Montreal last weekend, the championship chase has been tightened and shuffled as the series builds towards its conclusion. Young star J.R. Fitzpatrick (Milwaukee Tools Chevy) still leads the points chase, as he has for most of the season, but he is now in the sights of former CASCAR champ Kerry Micks (Cdn. Detailing Svcs. Ford), who has won a pair of races in 2006, including last weekend’s race in Montreal.

This week, Micks installed his race-winning motor from his road course car into his oval car, in hopes of continuing his quest for another CASCAR crown. “We’ve come a long way to get back into this championship,” said Micks, who is just 11 points back of Fitzpatrick with three events remaining on the schedule. “That was a great motor in our car today [in Montreal] and we’re going to switch it over to our oval car for Cayuga. We’ve had a lot of wins at Cayuga and we’re confident that we can go there and do well.”

Fitzpatrick and his teammate Don Thomson Jr. (Home Hardware Chevy) are hoping to rebound from a tough weekend in Montreal, during which both experienced engine failures during qualifying, and had to battle from the back at the start of the race. Fitzpatrick salvaged an eighth-place finish, while Thomson endured more powerplant trouble in the road course event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and came home 13th, dropping him to third in the points.

Over the years, there have been many international racing stars who have taken part in CASCAR races. This weekend at Cayuga, Canadian open-wheel star Patrick Carpentier will be behind the wheel of Dave Jacombs’ #88 Ford Taurus as he makes his stock car debut in the Hot Head Henry 200. The Quebec racer competed in the ChampCar series for eight seasons, as well as in the Indy Racing League. “I am very excited to compete in my first stock car racing event with the CASCAR Super Series,” said Carpentier. “CASCAR is Canada’s top race series… and to race at the legendary Cayuga Speedway makes the opportunity even more exciting.”

CAYUGA NOTEBOOK: Longtime Cayuga Speedway owners Bob & Leone Slack will be honoured prior to racetime on Sunday afternoon. The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame inductees ran the 5/8-mile facility during its glory years, putting Cayuga on the international motorsports map through their creative promotions and hard work… The Canadian Vintage Modifieds will be part of the Labour Day Classic Weekend at Cayuga, with a feature race on Saturday evening… The Campground Pavilion will be busy all weekend. “Red Eye” (Friday), “Ray Lyell and the Storm” (Saturday) and “Good Rockin’ Tonight with a Johnny Cash tribute” (Sunday) will be part of the entertainment, which also includes fireworks… Caledonia, ON resident Ashley Coles will perform the National Anthems on Sunday, prior to the Hot Head Henry 200. Coles made the top 14 in Canadian Idol… Tickets for the weekend are available at www.ticketmaster.ca or through the speedway at (866) 670-1958.


SCHEDULE: Cayuga Labour Day Weekend Classic
Featuring the Hot Head Henry 200 (CASCAR Super Series) and the Texaco Havoline 100 (CASCAR Sportsman Series)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2006

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CASCAR Sportsman Series Practice
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. CASCAR Super Series Practice
5:00 p.m. Sportsman Series Time Trials
6:30 p.m. Super Series Time Trials
7:00 p.m. Canadian Vintage Modified Feature
8:00 p.m. CASCAR Super Series Twin 50 Shootout Races
9:00 p.m. START: SPORTSMAN SERIES ‘TEXACO HAVOLINE 100’ FEATURE

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2006

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. CASCAR Super Series Driver Autograph Session
12:00 p.m. Opening Ceremonies and Driver Introductions
12:30 p.m. Tribute to Bob & Leone Slack
12:50 p.m. National Anthems by Caledonia’s Ashley Coles (Top 14 Canadian Idol)
1:00 p.m. START: HOT HEAD HENRY 200 CASCAR SUPER SERIES RACE


POINT STANDINGS

CASCAR Super Series (As of August 26, 2006 // Top 15): 1. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (1357 pts.); 2. #02 Kerry Micks (1346); 3. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (1324); 4. #22 Scott Steckly (1300); 5. #39 Dave Whitlock (1294); 6. #9 Mark Dilley (1252); 7. #60 Ron Beauchamp (1238); 8. #19 Brad Graham (1223); 9. #17 DJ Kennington (1214); 10. #10 Doug Brown (1205); 11. #25 Jim Lapcevich (1203); 12. #1 Peter Gibbons (1192); 13. #3 Jason Hathaway ® (1154); 14. #11 Ron Van Es (1058); 15. #09 Kent Nuhn (1044)

CASCAR Flo~Pro.Com Western Series (As of August 22, 200 // Top 15): 1. #36 Jim White (1015 pts.); 2. #35 Kevin Dowler (1004); 3. #30 Derek Polack (988); 4. #71 Daryl Harr (957); 5. #6 Todd Nichol (932); 6. #2 Carl Harr (905); 7. #26 Shaun Polack (884); 8. #79 Wade Lee (875); 9. #21 Jason White (865); 10. #86 Shawn Press (836); 11. #24 Scott Dennis (826); 12. #48 Chris Dennis (483); 13. #96 Norm Hunger (478); 14. #87 James Ward (468); 15. #76 Dale Biesick (458)

CASCAR Sportsman Series (As of August 22, 2006 // Top 5): 1. #77 Dion Verhoeven (247 pts.); 2. #81 Shawn McGlynn (237); 3. #32 Mike Alguire (228); 4. #00 Steve Munro (227); 5. #95 Ron Lethbridge (217)

CASCAR ON TV: For information regarding initial airings and replays of Super Series races, please check your local listings or visit http://www.cascar.ca/schedule/tv_schedule.html.

Contact CASCAR’s Toronto Office at (416) 531-4714 or visit www.cascar.ca
Prepared by Inside Track Communications. // With files from Cayuga Speedway / Bruce Mehlenbacher

DELAWARE: VANDERWYST TO RETURN FOR GREAT CANADIAN RACE WEEKEND

2005 Track Champion Will Enter Field for Match Race, APC 300

Delaware, ON (August 29, 2006): Pete Vanderwsyt of St. Thomas, the 2005 Delaware Speedway Track Champion, is returning for the “Great Canadian Race Weekend” (September 1, 2 and 3). Vanderwyst has accepted his “Past Champion” provisional to run in Friday’s inaugural “Match Race” and will also compete in the all-new APC 300 on Sunday in a new car built by McColl Racing Enterprises and sponsored by Peterbilt of Ontario.

Asked why he was coming back, Vanderwyst said: “Because it’s Delaware. It’s Labour Day and I want to be a part of it.”

Though Vanderwyst has been registered to run at Delaware Speedway this year, he has competed just once (June 2nd) at his home track this season. He has been busy with a racing schedule that has taken him throughout parts of the United States.

“We’ve been running ASA (American Speed Association) North and M.A.A.R.A. (Mid Atlantic Asphalt Racing Alliance) events,” Vanderwyst said of his 2006 schedule. “We’ve been in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio. It’s been great to see what the competition is like at other tracks.”

The experience has given Vanderwyst some additional perspective. “It was a whole lot more humbling than we ever would have anticipated,” he said. “It’s tough.”

Labour Day will not be a restful weekend for Vanderwyst, who is planning to run the M.A.A.R.A. race at Holland Speedway in New York on Saturday night in addition to competing in the Friday and Sunday events at Delaware.

“Hopefully I get enough sleep,” said Vanderwyst. “After Friday night, we’ll get out the other car and leave home Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. We should get to Holland around 1:00 or 2:00 p.m. We’ll run the 100-lapper there and should be home at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. We’ll get three or four hours of sleep, switch cars again and then it’s back to Delaware.”

Vanderwyst’s return adds to an already deep field that will compete for a $5,000.00 first prize in the Match Race on Friday and $10,000.00 to win on Sunday.

“At the end of the day, Delaware has the best racers in Ontario,” said Vanderwyst. “This is something new for Labour Day and I want to be a part of it.”

Advanced tickets and weekend passes are available at participating Auto Parts Centre stores, TSC Stores, PartSource on Wharncliffe Road in London or online at www.delawarespeedway.com.

From Delaware Speedway

PT is the show

This writer from the National Post gets it.

Paul Tracy is ChampCar. Period.

Without him, there is no show. Without him, no one cares.

Even the fans in Quebec get it. At the start of the weekend, he was as popular as the plague in Montreal. But by the time he was done having fun, he drew the biggest cheers of anyone, on the podium on Monday.

Yes, he inflamatory and controversial.

But the guy is single-handedly keeping the ship afloat.

ChampCar and Bourdais should be kissing PT's feet.

ALSTAR: Weekend Preview

The SHOULDICE STONE ALSTAR SUPER SERIES will honor the 2006 Champion this Labor-Day weekend ,at Steelback Sauble Speedway.

Saturday September 2nd the SHOULDICE ALSTAR Cars starting order will be determined by the qualifying time in the Wayfreight time trial – which will give the ALSTAR drivers their starting positions for the ‘Steelback Twin 50’s’ on the Saturday at the Beach..

Sunday September the 3rd – SHOULDICE ALSTAR drivers will start the ‘STEELBACK 100 Challenge’ by their finishing order of the ‘Steelback Twin 50’s’. Rumour has it there will be some new faces in the series this weekend.

Sunday is the Finale of the 2006 SHOULDICE ALSTAR SUPER SERIES WEEKENDS and virtually it can be anyone’s 2006 championship as there are only 28 points separating the top 10 drivers.

SHOULDICE ALSTAR Series currently top 10 in points:1. #9 Robbie Thompson 2012. #67 Steve Tiemersma 1853. #72 Rob MacDonnell 1834 #1 Dan Delisle 183 5 #82 Jason Shaw 1826 #76 Tyler Williams 1807 #2 Tim Ellis 1808 #38 Kirk Hooker 1789 #7 Derrick Tiemersma 17410 #4 Craig Zurbrigg 173

The 2006 SHOULDICE ALSTAR Drivers Awards Presentation will be immediately following the ‘Steelback 100 Challenge’ on Sunday evening.

For a 2006 SHOULDICE STONE ALSTAR Series registered Drivers List See: http://www.alstarseries.com/ALSTAR_Officia/2006_Registere.html

For more information: http://www.saublespeedway.com/ Home of the SHOULDICE STONE ALSTAR SUPER SERIES: www.alstarseries.com

See you at the Races this weekend.

From the Shouldice ALSTAR Series

ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT: BFGoodrich

BFGoodrich Tires

STICKY POST: This will be the top post until Thursday, Aug. 31. Check below for current news.

SOS: Southern Ontario Sprints Set to Double Up This Weekend

The Southern Ontario Sprints championship will be declared on Friday night, September 8th when the thundering winged warriors invade the Styres Family owned Ohsweken Speedway to close out the 2006 series tour.

With the concept and format established in 2005 to reward the drivers who support the Southern Ontario Sprints club throughout the season, the championship event is closed to anyone who has not run on at least three of the four tracks the series visits during the season. We have thirty-five drivers who have met the criteria during 2006 exclaims SOS President Bill Oldroyd. And there are six additional drivers who can make the list if they participate when the series moves into Brighton Speedway this weekend for a two day Classic . They include Fred Cade; Larry Atkinson; Mark Schulz; Tom Huppunen; Jamie Collard; and Andrew Reaume. They all have competed at two of the four venues.

Those already qualified for the Invitational include Glenn Styres; Bob McDonald; John Riegling; Warren Mahoney; Brad Malloy; John Watson; Tim Zack; Mike Lauterborn; Jim Price; Adam West; Bob Crawford; Ken Swan; Rob Middlemiss; Rick Wilson; Joe Middlemiss; Garry Evans; Fred Pigeon; Rob Pietz; Gary Evans; Craig Downie; Dean Hoffman; Dick Mahoney; Jeff Daniels; James Whittaker; Tim Phillips; Stan Zanchin; John Burbridge; Daryl Turford; Kevin Job; Jim Davies; Brian Lee; April Wilson; Keith Dempster; Jim Porter; and Kyle Patrick.

Going into this weekend s double header at Brighton Speedway Warren Mahoney holds a forty-five point lead over Bob Crawford and fifty-one over Glenn Styres. Rookie of the year contenders Kevin Job and Joe Middlemiss are one hundred sixty-three and one hundred seventy points behind with three events remaining.

For all the latest information be sure to check the official website of the Southern Ontario Sprints at http://www.southernontariosprints.com/ .

From Ken Pelkie, Public Relations

Capital City Speedway: Big show on Sept. 9

From Arnie Malcolm / Capital City Speedway

OTTAWA, ON – Capital City Speedway is proud to announce that on Sept 9th. 2006 they will produce one of the biggest and richest stock car extravaganza’s ever held in this country, and for certain Capital City Speedway.

Besides one of the richest purse’s in Canadian Stock Car history, over $30,000. The event will have something for everyone, including an enduro race, and Trailer Race and to cap it off Monster trucks.

The main attraction for many NASCAR fans will be the 100 lap Late Model Cars, these cars are the same as the cars you watch on TV every Saturday and Sunday from the US. Some of the biggest names in this country’s stock car world will be on hand including Jeff Hanley the son of Legendary Canadian Stock Car Racer Jr. Hanley.

Jeff Hanley is considered by many to be one of this country’s very best drivers, and has proven it with more wins than many to his credit. Other big name drivers include Peterbrough, Ontario’s Derek Lynch, former CASCAR Champion Steve Robblee, as well as many many more.

The $4000.00 to win prize money for the Late Models has brought entries from as far away as Vermont and the ACT Tour as well as Quebec and the Castrol GTX Series. Now add into this some very good local talent who are more than accustomed to the Capital City Speedway Oval, people like Steve Munro, Rick Rump, Dave Rioppelle and a host of others who compete their every Wednesday night during the summer and well you get the picture.

The event will also include all the regular class’s that compete regularly as well as a Canadian Regional Qualifier event for Lengends (dwarf cars) which here to see’s competitors competing unheard of prize money ($1500. to win).

And that’s not all, as the day which will go well into the night will finish off with a 100 lap enduro and a trailer race as well as a number of visits by the Monster Trucks. This is with out question the largest undertaking for a stock car event ever at the speedway and if this summers support for Nascar Style Stock car racing is any indication this event should be a MONSTER, well what you know lets say we call it ‘MONSTER JAM ONE.

Gates open Saturday at 12:00 the action will be non stop will into the evening for more information visit http://www.capitalcityspeedway.ca/

2007 Chevrolet Tahoe Concept by Chip Foose

(from GM Press Release) Chevrolet will demonstrate that “yellow is the new black” when it comes to style at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), Thursday, August 31. As the “official vehicle” of the VMAs, Chevrolet will provide a customized fleet of 60 E85 compatible SUVs to transport talent to the Awards telecast at Radio City Music Hall and provide production support in and around New York City.

Chevrolet and MTV are partnering around the 2006 VMAs to help educate viewers on E85 ethanol technology in an effort to raise awareness about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and curbing dependence on fossil fuels. The specialty fleet will be branded to promote the show as well as GM’s Flex Fuel technology, which is at the center of a “Live Green, Go Yellow” initiative. This marks the first time a manufacturer has provided a fleet of E85 vehicles that have been customized specific to a major awards show.

“Going green never looked so good,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. “The 2006 MTV Video Music Awards is a great opportunity for us to showcase our Flex Fuel, E85 ethanol-compatible vehicles, as well as spread the word about Chevrolet’s product portfolio that boasts nine out of 10 cars with over 30 mpg fuel economy.”

In addition to the Fleet of Chevy Flex Fuel vehicles, a one-of-a-kind “pimped out” 2007 Chevy Tahoe Concept will make its red carpet debut at the VMAs. The Concept vehicle, which was designed by award-winning automotive designer Chip Foose and Unique Performance Concepts, will transport a celebrity to the awards show.

Chevrolet has also designed a multiplatform program centered around the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards to include: the branded fleet, customized Tahoe Concept, in-program content (Chevy will present the pre-show “Top of the Rock” concert and provide the “Chevy Fly-Cam” with aerial shots of red carpet arrivals) and on-line/off-line advertising.

New creative was designed to pump up awareness about Chevrolet’s line-up of fuel-saving vehicles. Television ad spots themed in tandem with a recently-launched web site – reduceuruse.com – are tagged “How would you spend your time away from the pump?”

The web site invites consumers to upload consumer generated video of unique activities they would enjoy if they did not have to spend as much time at the gas station “fueling up.” Humorous postings to date include a man watering his garden while dressed in a Speedo, a giant bouncy ball clash and an electronic football enthusiast. Each video clip can be further shared on consumers’ MySpace pages, blogs and beyond. Reduceuruse.com is also an informational resource about Chevy vehicles and fuel efficiency, including the nine out of 10 Chevy cars that have an EPA estimated 30 or more highway MPG.

The “MTV Video Music Awards Chevy E85” vehicles will consist of 2007-model year Chevrolets, including the Tahoe, Avalanche and Suburban. The lightly-customized fleet is highlighted by a custom billet grille, 2006 MTV Video Music Awards badging, Chevy Accessory Wheels equipped with Goodyear Eagle tires and chrome center caps, bright kit running boards (Tahoes only), and a special cover trailer hitch receiver (Tahoes and Suburbans only).

The interiors of the fleet vehicles exude quality, precision and comfort. Features (varying among models) include OnStar, XM Radio, CD/MP3-compatible audio systems, a Rearview camera system, Touch-screen navigation system, DVD rear-seat entertainment system with an 8-inch screen, Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist, industry-exclusive power-release fold-and-tumble second-row seat, heated first- and second-row seats and more. Under the hoods, a powerful factory-issued next generation Vortec 5.3L V-8 engine delivers segment-leading horsepower (320 hp/340 lb.-ft. torque) and the segment’s leading fuel economy combined with E85 ethanol compatibility.

The fleet will run on E85 ethanol. Sprague Energy will supply E85 to the New York City Department of Sanitation where GM will refuel for the VMAs. E85 is not currently available to the public in New York, and later this month GM and the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition plan to announce new station openings supporting E85 and GM Flex Fuel vehicles.

The “MTV Video Music Awards Chevy E85” vehicles will be available for sale after the awards show at Chevrolet dealerships in the New York area. A commemorative plaque will accompany each sale.

The Tahoe Concept showcases classic Foose details, including a black powder-coated billet grille with the legendary Chevy bowtie at the center. Foose lowered its stance and gave it a two-tone paint scheme of silver birch (upper portion) and black (lower portion) with a thin Tangier orange stripe along the top of the door cladding that wraps around the vehicle. Exterior touches include Foose badging, dual stainless steel exhaust tips, chrome side molding, and more. Inside, a stainless instrument panel shines, while the Foose logo is stitched into the headrests and stamped onto the doorsill plates.

Chip Foose, star of the TV series “Overhaulin,” who has numerous awards to his credit including the 2005 Riddler Award at Detroit’s Autorama, was inducted into the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame in 2003, and in 1997 became the youngest member ever inducted into the Hot Rod Hall of Fame. His storied career began under his father’s design tutelage and by age 12, Foose already had five years experience and had also painted his first car. With his father and Project Design he helped design and build street rods, customs, studio vehicles and show cars for films such as Blade Runner, Robo Cop and Gone in 60 Seconds.

The 2006 MTV Video Music Awards will be held on August 31, 2006 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The show will be available to a potential viewing audience of more than 1.3 billion people via MTV’s global network of 50 channels reaching 481.5 million households around the world as well as through syndication. Its convergent and original online programming will reach the entire interactive community, via MTV’s 43 Web sites around the world.

© Source: original article on seriouswheels.com

Lexus gears up for Paris show

Forget the claims of rival luxury cars having more technology than it took to send a man to the Moon, the new Lexus LS range could send a whole tribe to far end of the galaxy.

The LS makes its European debut at the Paris motor show in September, where we'll get a butcher's at the LS460 and also the LS600h hybrid model.

High on the LS's agenda is safety, with an Advanced Obstacle Detection System than can pick up on potential dangers ahead.

The Emergency Steering Assist speeds up the steering's response if it senses a sudden input from the driver.

Then there's the Driver Monitoring System to help keep the driver's eyes on the road.

Put all this together and you have the Lexus Pre-Crash Safety package, which also predicts if an accident is unavoidable and puts the headrests in the optimum position to reduce whiplash.

It also activates all of the above systems to help the driver avoid the accident if at all possible.

One small step for Lexus, one giant leap for driver-kind.

© Source: original article on topgear

NASCAR coming to Montreal

Based on the comments by NASCAR's Richard Buck, it's a matter of 'when' and not 'if' NASCAR will announce that it's coming to Montreal next summer with its touring Busch Series.

(h/t Bourque)

F1 releases 2007 schedule

Whew.... it looks like Canada avoided the shakedown list this time around.

The official F1 site has the story of how San Marino and European GPs have been dropped from the schedule. We wonder what someone will have to cough up to get the race in that big gap between Bahrain and Spain?

Here's the 17-race schedule as released today:

Australia March 18
Malaysia April 08
Bahrain April 15
Spain May 13
Monaco May 27
Canada June 10
United States June 17
France July 01
United Kingdom July 08
Germany July 22
Hungary August 05
Turkey August 26
Italy September 09
Belgium September 16
China September 30
Japan October 07
Brazil October 21

Look out NASCAR.... rocket powered plane races set to take over ???

CNN's Money site has a story about a racing league whose founder thinks it could be a $150 million/year business by 2010. The rocket powered planes will go 250 mph and will compete 2,000 feet off the ground. I wouldn't want to pay for the stadium.

2006 Peugeot 207 RCup

(from Peugeot) Superlatively modelled by the Peugeot Style Centre’s team, the 207 RCup reflects, with even more intensity, the aesthetics and natural dynamism of the 207 series. Sleek, elegant curves, combined with perfect proportions and balance, make the 207 RCup a truly extraordinary sports car. This version features a future rally version (Super 2000 range)

Specifications:

Engine: 2 liter DOHC 4 cylinder Weight
Aspiration: natural Torque
HP : 280 hp @ 8500 rpm HP/Weight
HP/Liter : 140 hp per liter

© Source: original article on seriouswheels.com

IHRA Moves World Nationals to Mansfield Motorsports Speedway

State-of-the-art facility to be constructed adjacent to NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series track

NORWALK, Ohio (August 28, 2006) – The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announced today a multi-year agreement with Mansfield Motorsports Speedway to host the World Nationals, the drag racing event formerly held in Norwalk, Ohio. One of the finest half-mile asphalt oval race tracks in the country, Mansfield Motorsports Speedway is home to a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, and will begin construction of a world class drag racing venue to be built on the grounds.

“Moving the World Nationals to the state-of-the-art facility Mansfield Motorsports Speedway is constructing takes the event and IHRA to the next level,” said IHRA President Aaron Polburn. “We’ve had major success in Ohio throughout the years, and without a doubt, Mansfield will continue IHRA’s dominance in the state.

“This is a beautiful track, a true showcase of what a respected motorsports facility should look like,” said Polburn. “The attention to detail the track owner put into this facility is comparable to the finest racetracks in America. If you like US 131 Motorsports Park, with its impeccable design and construction, you’re going to love Mansfield Motorsports Speedway.”

The track, located in Mansfield, Ohio, in the north-central part of the state, between its NASCAR event, Hooters Pro Cup event and other significant races, will have nearly 350,000 spectators through the gates by the end of 2006. Mansfield is located within an hour from Cleveland, Columbus, Akron and Canton, all major Ohio markets.

“Of all the aspects that make this facility great, it’s our location,” said Mansfield Motorsports Speedway owner Mike Dzurilla. “We’re midway between Cleveland and Columbus, located 10 minutes from downtown Mansfield and close to a major highway. We’ll have no curfew and plenty of parking and camping.”

Topography surveys have been done on the grounds of Mansfield Motorsports Speedway and architects and engineers are in the midst of mapping out the details for the facility. While it will be a new drag strip, the infrastructure necessary for the operational functioning of running a race are already in place with the circle track.

“We have a staff of people here that are customer-service oriented towards racers, sponsors, sanctioning bodies and fans. In addition, the city of Mansfield is a major supporter of this facility,” said Dzurilla. “This part of the U.S. is IHRA country. We’ll make the racers feel welcome and give them a facility they can call home.

“With the addition of the drag strip, we’ll now have a true motorsports park in Ohio,” added Dzurilla.

The architects designing the drag strip at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway have built several various motorsports facilities, including US 131 Motorsports Park in Grand Rapids, Mich., home to IHRA’s Torco Northern Nationals. IHRA and Mansfield Motorsports Speedway officials will announce the date of the event upon confirming construction details.

“We’ll be getting a construction timeline within the next ten days and that will determine whether we can add this to the 2007 or 2008 schedule, although everyone’s goal is 2007,” added Polburn.

The track is located at 100 Crall Road, across from Lahm Municipal Airport, which boasts one of the largest runways in Ohio. For more information on Mansfield Motorsports Speedway, log onto www.mansfield-speedway.com or call (419) 525-RACE.

GREAT CANADIAN RACE WEEKEND STARTS FRIDAY

Delaware, ON (August 28, 2006): Delaware Speedway’s annual “Great Canadian Race Weekend” is this Friday through Sunday, September 1, 2 and 3. The three-day auto racing showcase will be highlighted by two first-time events, the inaugural APC Late Model “Match Race” (Friday) and the all-new format for the APC 300 (Sunday).

The weekend also will see three of Delaware Speedway’s 2006 track champions crowned, with the season finales set for the Challenger Motor Freight Truck division, Kendall Motor Oil Street Stocks and APC Late Models. The APC Enduro class will have a turn in the spotlight as well, with their second annual “All-Star Race” on Saturday night.

Friday’s race program begins at 8:00 p.m. (spectator gates open at 6:00 p.m) and includes the APC Late Model “Match Race,” the Challenger Motor Freight Trucks and a “King of the Hill” Spectator’s race.
The Match Race is a first-time, one-of-a-kind event that will put the top Late Model drivers in a tournament-style bracket that will run through one-on-one eliminations until just two cars are left for the right to race each other for a $5,000.00 grand prize. The idea for the event came from the “Duel of the Decade”, a race that featured Canadian racing legends Junior Hanley and Don Beiderman as the only two drivers on the track.

The Challenger Motor Freight Truck division will run its final race of 2006 on Friday. Heading into the night, the top four drivers are separated by just 20 points. Paul Fothergill of London, a two-time former Truck division champion, has the overall lead. Todd Powell of Mt. Brydges is 8 points behind in second, followed by Darrell Porter of Dorchester (11 points back) and Matt Robblee, also of Dorchester (20 points behind, in fourth).

On Saturday, racing begins at 7:00 p.m. (spectator gates open at 5:00 p.m.). The top 40 APC Enduro competitors will race for the second-straight year in a weekly event format, their “All-Star” race (normally, the APC Enduro class features approximately 80 cars on the track at once for 250 laps with no caution flags).

The 2005 version of the race was a highlight of the schedule, as the Enduro drivers brought their brand of four and five-wide racing to the Labour Day Weekend. Jeff Coward of Komoka is the defending race winner. Steve Smith of Arkona is the current APC Enduro points leader.

The Kendall Motor Oil Street Stock division will settle its championship Saturday night. Former champion Ray Morneau of Windsor carries the points lead into the weekend. He is 22 points ahead of Komoka’s Duane Manning, who has piloted the late Dave Lawrence’s number ‘28’ since Lawrence’s passing in June. Jamie Ramsay of St. Thomas is third, 31 points behind Morneau.

For the POWERADE Modified division, this weekend is their second-last race of the year. Barry Newman of Springfield holds the points lead by 16 over Mark Watson of St. Thomas (second place) and 28 over the 7-time champion, Jamie Cox of Dorchester. Both Friday and Saturday are sponsored by C.A.W. Locals 1001, 88 and 302.

The Sunday event, sponsored by Auto Parts Centres and CANUSA Automotive Warehousing, will be run in a “Triple-100” format, featuring the top Late Model talent from around Ontario and beyond. After time trial qualifying at 1:30 p.m. (spectator gates open at 12:00 p.m.), the first 100-lap race will feature Delaware Speedway “regulars”, and will settle the Delaware track championship.

Scott Lindsay of St. Marys leads the track driver points by 16 over Ron Sheridan of Strathroy. D.J. Kennington’s car (number ‘3’, owned by Ron O’Brien of Crediton) leads the owner points (Sean Dupuis of LaSalle drove the car for one event while Kennington was away at another event) by just 3 over Lindsay.

Point fund money goes to the number (i.e., owner points), and with a $10,000.00 first-prize point fund at stake, Lindsay faces having to gain back those three points to get both the driver trophy and the money. That is, if he can hold off Sheridan in the process. Kennington can not win the driver title, but could secure the owner points championship – and the top prize money – for his car owner.

The second 100-lap race will be the “Weekend Warrior Series Open”, and will showcase a number of top Late Model drivers from around Ontario and beyond. Among those who have tentatively committed to compete are former Alstar Series champions Kirk Hooker of Chatham and 2005 WWS champion (and former Alstar Series champion), Tom Walters of Barrie.

Each of the first two 100-lap races will qualify drivers for the finale, a 100-lap showdown that will pay $10,000.00 to the winner. The implications for a driver such as Scott Lindsay or Ron Sheridan are enormous: if either could somehow overtake the number ‘3’ car in the owner points in the first race and then win the finale, there is a potential $20,000.00 up for grabs in one day ($10,000.00 for the track owner championship and $10,000.00 to win the APC 300).

Kennington and his car owner (Ron O’Brien) could also amass the same large payday if the ‘3’ car finishes on top in owner points and if it can win the final race on Sunday.

Advanced tickets and weekend passes are available at participating Auto Parts Centre stores, TSC Stores, PartSource on Wharncliffe Road in London or online at www.delawarespeedway.com.

For more information on event formats contact: Jeff Wilcox, Delaware Speedway Race Director (519) 652-5068 ext. 203 or jeff@delawarespeedway.com

CASCAR: Bourque Reels In Another Top-12 At Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

OTTAWA, ONT. (August 27, 2006) - - In his final CASCAR race of the 2006 season, Pierre Bourque headed to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a track named after the famous Canadian Formula One driver who was killed at the wheel of his Ferrari at the 1982 Belgium Grand Prix, looking to enhance his racing resume with his first career top-ten finish.

“I am really looking forward to competing at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve", said Bourque before arriving at the track, "the track is a challenging mix of ultra-high speed straightaways and tight moderate-speed corners. The cars roar up to 165 mph down the straights before we have to brake hard and throw the car into the tight corners, a major test of both man and machinery.”

The weekend started off well for the only full-time Canadian NASCAR driver, putting his No. 29 Driving.Ca Canada.Com Working.Com Dose.ca Dodge Charger 14th of 24 cars on the starting grid.

The CASCAR 100 was a smooth race for Bourque. Using veteran-like patience, Bourque used the race not only as another learning experience, but a race to perfect his technique in the twists and turns that characterize a road course.

The Ottawa, Ontario native brought home his machine 12th in the final rundown, beating 12 other competitors to the line, including five-time and reigning CASCAR champion Don Thompson.

Earlier this season, Bourque also collected a 12th place CASCAR finish in the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres.
“Not a bad finish today, but I am still chasing that elusive top-ten finish in my first ever-stock car racing season, and the first season back in the cockpit of any race car since 1989. I would like to thank the entire Whitlock Motorsports team for its tireless efforts to put me in a strong car this season. We’ve had some great runs and I’m looking forward to a stronger 2007 season.”

DRIVING.CA leaped over from the Busch East Series and play the primary sponsorship role last weekend. DRIVING.CA is Canada's premier one-stop resource for automotive listings and consumer information.
In addition, CANADA.COM, Canada's leading destination for news and information, WORKING.COM, one of North America's top career sites, and DOSE.CA, a cool site that caters to hip Canadian urbanites coast- to-coast, also served as secondary sponsors on Bourque’s machine in Montreal.

All four new sponsors are part of Canwest-Global, Canada's largest media company, with interests in television, radio, newspapers and the internet. All four back Bourque’s NASCAR Busch East season, last weekend’s CASCAR race, and his periodic forays into ARCA.Full Metals Minerals and Pollara Strategic Public Opinion who have been with the Ottawa, Ontario native since his racing inception this season also supported Bourque’s racing effort last weekend as associate sponsors.

"It was another Canadian race and we had a lot of great sponsor from this region. It’s important for me not only as a driver but as a representative to yield the best finish possible. We had a great weekend, we qualified solid and put another competitive finish together. I am looking forward to the remainder of our racing season together.”

Reflecting on his performance from Saturday, Bourque spent Sunday with his family at home, a rare occurrence during this busy racing season.

Bourque will return to the ARCA RE/MAX Series for an open-test Tuesday at Chicagoland Speedway gaining additional Superspeedway experience behind the wheel of a 3400 pound stock car.

“I’m looking forward to getting back into the ARCA seat with Andy Hillenburg's Fast track Racing Team,” he said. “We finished 21st at Nashville in my first Superspeedway race a couple weeks ago and that was an accomplishment in itself. The ARCA RE/MAX Series is a very intense and competitive series. I’m looking to get my feet wet around the 1.5- mile Speedway, but clock off some decent lap times."

Following the test, Bourque will turn his concentration towards the NASCAR Busch East Series, his biggest racing project of the season. The series returns to action after a three-week break from competition at New Hampshire International Speedway on September 15.

For the first time this season, Bourque will return to a track he’s seen before. “We’re looking for our first top-ten at NHIS. It’s a great track filled by the best of the NASCAR Busch and Nextel Cup Series, we’re looking forward to running strong in front of a big crowd.”

Currently, Bourque and the Fast Track Racing team lock the 17th position in the point standings, but feel a top-15 in reachable. “We only have a few races remaining in the season and we hope to turn up the wick and go out with a bang. This has been a great learning year for everyone, we hope the rest of the season will bring good fortunate and solid finishes.”

For further in site on Canwest-Global and its associates please log onto //www.Driving.Ca, www.Canada.com, www.Working.com and www.Dose.Ca // For more information on Full Metals Minerals, please visit http:// www.fullmetalminerals.com // For additional input on Pollara Strategic Public Opinion, please logon to www.pollara.ca // To learn more about Pierre Bourque please click onto www.pierrebourque.com

###
Prepared by Chris Knight

Derhaag Motorsports: Fellows & Ruhlman take on Infineon

Sonoma, Calif. (Aug. 28, 2006) – Ron Fellows and Randy Ruhlman took on the hilly road course at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California on Saturday, August 26th against a full field of 26 Daytona Prototype and 14 GT cars. The #40 Preformed Line Products Pontiac Riley ended the day in fourteenth, after losing a lap early after they were forced to pit a second time to retighten the driver safety harnesses. With twelve cars managing to stay on the lead lap of the 99-lap, 250-mile race, the fourteenth place finish was a disappointing, but respectable, showing for the Derhaag Motorsports Daytona Prototype at the 2.52-mile Infineon Raceway.

The #40 Preformed Line Products car was able to move up from the twenty-first starting spot, but it proved to be a difficult task for both drivers. Randy Ruhlman brought the car through traffic after a good start, and began the move forward in the opening laps of the race. But, the car quickly began to loose its grip on the track, making progress slow. Fellows took over at the first pit stop and, while he too had a fast early stint in the car, he encountered the same handling difficulties with the car.

Immediately after the pit stop, Fellows had his hands full trying to keep from being overtaken by the leaders. The first pit stop sent him out with loose and tangled safety harnesses, and he was forced to come back in to have them tightened while still under caution. The team did an excellent job of fixing the problem and getting the car back out before the pace car came around. Unfortunately before Fellows had any chance to catch up to the field, the green flag came back out and the leaders were quickly challenging to put the #40 car a lap down. Fellows held them off for numerous laps, but eventually the car lost its only lap of the race. With twelve cars on the lead lap the chances of making it into the top ten became slim and the car finished immediately behind the #60 MSR car of Oswaldo Negri and the #39 Crown Royal car of Fittipaldi and Cheever.

"We've been fighting this car all weekend. Infineon is a really difficult track. The conditions change dramatically here from session to session depending on the sun and temperature, so getting a good read and set up is always hard. The car felt great in the opening laps of the race, but it just deteriorate pretty fast for me. As it got a bit cooler and later in the race, it might have been a bit better for Ron for awhile, but overall neither of us was happy with the handling on the long runs," said Ruhlman after the race.

For this weekend's Grand American race, both Fellows and Ruhlman brought a wealth of experience to the road course at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. Fellows and Ruhlman both ran sedans in the Trans-Am Series at the track, while Fellows recently competed here in June at the NEXTEL Cup Dodge/SaveMart 350, as well as in American LeMans. Randy Ruhlman began his driving career here and has extensive experience and numerous sedan victories at Infineon Raceway.

Fellows is recognized the world over as one of road racing’s most accomplished and talented drivers. A factory Chevrolet driver, Fellows is currently a Championship favorite in the American LeMans Series GTS Corvette. An overall winner at the Daytona24 and at the 24 Hours of LeMans, the Canadian driver has wins in Trans-Am and ALMS, as well as NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck series. Ron is a regular driver in NASCAR, in both the BUSCH and NEXTEL Cup Series on the road courses, and recently ran Watkins Glen and Infineon in the NEXTEL Cup Series.

Ruhlman was named the 2005 BBS "Most Improved Driver of the Year", won the 2005 Cleveland Grand Prix Trans-Am race and Long Beach Grand Prix, and was runner up for the 2005 Trans-Am Drivers' Championship. Ruhlman makes the record books as fourth in Top Ten finishes in Trans-Am history. Ruhlman from Greensboro, NC has been a professional race car driver since his Rookie year in Trans-Am in 1990 and has extensive racing experience, predominantly in road racing in the Trans-Am Series, as well as in IMSA, ASA and the NASCAR short track series.

The teams head immediately to the Salt Lake City, Utah area and the final race of the 2006 season. The Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve Discount Tire Sunchaser at Miller Motorsports Park gets underway on Saturday, September 2nd at noon MT for a nine-hour race. Ruhlman will be paired up with his co-driver from Watkins Glen, Paul Dallenbach, and Canadian sedan and Formula car Champion Kenny Wilden. That race begins at noon on Saturday, September 2nd and will be broadcast LIVE on SPEED.

The Derhaag Motorsports Pontiac Riley carries primary sponsorship from Preformed Line Products with additional sponsorship logos of Coyote Closures®, Park Place Ltd, KeyBank and McDonald Financial Group.

Preformed Line Products (PLP) is an international manufacturer and supplier of hardware and support systems for the communications and energy industries. Products include the COYOTE® Closure and GUY-GRIP® Dead-End used in the telecommunications, cable and energy industries. Manufacturing facilities are located worldwide in the USA, Canada, China, Brazil, Mexico, England, Spain, South Africa, Australia and Thailand.

Cleveland-based KeyCorp is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $92 billion. Key companies provide investment management, retail and commercial banking, consumer finance, and investment banking products and services to individuals and companies throughout the United States and, for certain businesses, internationally.
McDonald Financial Group offers comprehensive financial services to affluent individuals from 87 offices in 15 states. As part of Cleveland-based KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY), McDonald Financial Group combines the capabilities of McDonald Investments Inc.'s Private Client Group, member NASD/NYSE/SIPC, and Key PrivateBank. McDonald Financial Group offers banking, estate planning, financial planning, retirement planning, brokerage, trust, individual asset management, insurance advice and services, and charitable giving counsel.

# # #

From Cristi Brumm

CASCAR: Mark Dilley seventh in Montreal’s CASCAR 100

BARRIE, ON – On Saturday afternoon in Montreal, Dodge-sponsored Charger driver Mark Dilley scored a solid seventh-place finish in the CASCAR 100 at the legendary Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course.

The #9 Dodge / Mobil1 / Exide / Leland / Avenue MotorWorks / CRS Dodge Charger qualified 13th for the 23-lap chase around the 13-turn, 4.359 km course, and steadily progressed through the pack after hooking up with his Whitlock Motorsports teammate, Dave Whitlock, as they have done on several occasions throughout the course of the 2006 Super Series season.

By lap 19, the #9 Dodge-sponsored Charger was up to sixth-place. However, with three laps to go, Whitlock was able to edge past Dilley, nudging him to seventh, where he would finish the race.

Following the event, Dilley was pleased with his race, as well as the venue. “I really enjoyed the track; it’s a nice facility. Dave [Whitlock] and I had a lot of fun racing against each other out there. Our two cars are so close, it seems like all year we’ve ended up in the same place on the track, running with each other. He’s a great teammate and an excellent driver, so we have a good time racing against one another. We seem to be around fifth to eighth on the road courses, which is very respectable considering the talented road racers we have in the series.”

Dilley was equally enthused about the exposure he and his sponsors gained by being a part of another of Canada’s top motorsports weekends. “There were a lot of people here who enjoyed the show that we put on. The exposure here was excellent for our sponsors and CASCAR. Combine that with a seventh-place result and it was a successful outing. We look forward to coming back again.”

Looking back at his four-race road course program for 2006, the #9 Dodge / Mobil1 / Exide / Leland / Avenue MotorWorks / CRS Dodge Charger driver has recorded three positive results, including a pair of seventh-place finishes (Montreal & Edmonton) and a fifth (Trois-Rivieres).

Following eight points races in 2006, the #9 Dodge-sponsored Charger is currently sixth overall in the Super Series points chase. The tour concludes with three consecutive oval races, starting with this weekend’s event at the 5/8-mile Cayuga Int’l Speedway, near Hamilton, ON.

Dilley continued, “Looking ahead, our goal is to get on the podium a few times. We have never been really strong at St-Eustache (Sept. 9), but we’re confident about putting together a few strong runs at Cayuga (Sept. 3) and Kawartha (Sept. 17) to have a strong finish to the season.”

MONTREAL RACE NOTES: CASCAR’s inaugural appearance as part of the G.P. de Montreal ChampCar race weekend was a great success. The 24-car CASCAR Super Series field put on a flawless performance, featuring a caution-less main event on Saturday afternoon at le Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Former CASCAR champion Kerry Micks edged ahead of Robin Buck to take the checkered flag at the end of the 23 lap CASCAR 100 by less than 2/10ths of a second. Dodge Charger driver Scott Steckly ran a solid race to take the third and final podium spot.


Prepared by Inside Track Communications // For more information about the #9 Dodge team and its sponsors, visit www.whitlockmotorsports.com For more on CASCAR, including complete race results, reports, point standings, event schedules and upcoming broadcast times for Super Series races on SPORTSNET, see www.cascar.ca

MONTREAL: Underway after soggy Sunday

The G.P. de Montreal ChampCar race is underway following Sunday's monsoon. It remains to be seen if Paul Tracy will put Sebastien Bourdais into a headlock and powerslam him into the ground.

For the record, I think PT is hilarious. As many races as Bourdais wins, no one buys tickets to watch an emotionless Borg. Tracy IS the show. He knows it. He having fun.... as he fills the stands.

In other Montreal notes, the CASCAR race in Montreal was outstanding. Great action and no cautions. In the wake of their stellar performance, I wouldn't be surprised to hear NASCAR announce their Busch race at the facility about three minutes after today's ChampCar race is done.

Speaking of the CASCAR race, Kerry Micks and Robin Buck put on a great show at the front and there was incredible action throughout the field. There was more on-track passing in that race than they've had in a five years of F1 and ChampCar races at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

If there was a blemish regarding CASCAR at Montreal, it involved the realization that the event sponsor (go-racing.ca) was a bust. To further muddy the waters, the individual fronting the travel site wasn't who he said he was. The police were taking statements in the pits on Saturday, trying to determine the extent of the damage, which left the series and one team smarting in their wallets.

2006 Lotus Exige 265E

(from Lotus Press Release) The Lotus Exige 265E – the most powerful road version of the Lotus Exige ever – and it runs on environmentally friendly Bio Fuel !

Lotus Engineering, the engineering consultancy division of Group Lotus Plc has developed a
bio-ethanol E85 version of the Lotus Exige.

The research vehicle is a true Lotus (it weighs just 930 kg unladen) and is called the Lotus Exige 265E. 265 indicates the approximate horsepower and is consistent with the naming strategy of other one-off and limited run Lotus variants such as the Lotus Sport Exige 240R; the E indicates the environmentally favourable bio-ethanol E85 fuel (85% ethanol alcohol and 15% petrol / gasoline) that powers this extremely high performing sportscar.

Key to this performance is a slightly modified version of the 2ZZ VVTL-i supercharged and intercooled high revving 4-cylinder engine from the standard Lotus Exige S. This now gives an estimated set of performance figures that would thrash the majority of “Super-Unleaded” performance cars: 0-60 mph in 3.88 seconds, 0-100 mph in 9.2 seconds and a top speed of 158 mph! In fact, the Lotus Exige 265E is probably the world’s quickest road-legal E85 bio-ethanol car.

Key changes have been made to the fuel system, the engine calibration and the four fuel injectors mounted on the inlet manifold have been enlarged. Two additional fuel injectors have been fitted at the supercharger inlet to increase the amount of fuel being injected in to the engine under higher engine loads and to further cool the charge air prior to combustion.

© Source: original article on seriouswheels.com

2006 Volkswagen IROC Concept

(from Volkswagen Press Release) Comeback of a successful idea: 33 years ago at the international Motor Show in Geneva Volkswagen presented a sensational coupe. It was compact, distinctive, agile, spacious and affordable. Volkswagen called it the Scirocco. The car struck the nerve of the times: More than half a million first generation Sciroccos were produced worldwide. Turning point: In August 2006 the largest car maker in Europe is showing the reinterpretation of the successful Scirocco idea in a world premiere – the Iroc concept.

New VW sports car design: Like the first Scirocco with its visual straightforwardness the Iroc also marks a stylistic turning point through its progressively designed radiator grill and a distinctive sensuality of forms. The concept of both Volkswagens is closely related, even though the vehicles are separated by over three decades: The first generation Scirocco was an attainable dream car for many people. Because the Scirocco was an automotive superstar of the 70’s, styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro and equipped with four full-fledged seats, a proper trunk, large hatchback and a lot of self-esteem. The Iroc concept takes up this fascinating idea again.

Purebred sports car instead of a classic coupe: However, in contrast to the original Scirocco the Iroc is no classic coupe, but a progressively designed sports car with an extremely long roof and a comparatively steep rear end. This has two advantages. Firstly: The Iroc features sharp proportions. Especially when viewed from behind it becomes immediately apparent that this long roof together with side window sections is situated on very broad and powerful shoulders. The Iroc thus achieves a waist of flawless sports car theory. Secondly: The Iroc also has room in back for two adults and ample luggage. On balance the provocatively designed Iroc combines a high degree of suitability for daily use, pure driving fun and expressive design into a Volkswagen that as a possible series-production vehicle will also be very attractively positioned in terms of price.

Viper green meets dark carbon: The Iroc concept exhibits numerous subtleties in detail. Paint example: Although anything but retro styled, the green used is an homage to the first generation Scirocco for which this exact shade of color was especially typical starting with the 1976 model. Then as now it’s called “viper green metallic”. This glaring green of the Iroc is especially effective in combination with the high contrast black shades of the concept. Carbon example: The central roof element is composed of dark tinted glass; this element is supported by a structure covered with carbon. An integrated lengthwise support is also a part of these materials. The side sills of the Iroc also have a carbon surface. The structure of the sill visible from outside continues seamlessly into the interior.

Sexy dimensions: With its short overhangs the Iroc efficiently utilizes a wheelbase of 2,680 mm for the space provided inside. The concept is 1,400 mm high, 4,240 mm long and 1,800 mm wide. The light-alloy rims specially designed for the Iroc and 235 tires are implemented in 19 inch size.

Twincharger and DSG: The Iroc is powered by a TSI engine, referred to in-house as a Twincharger. Shifting tasks are handled by the DSG direct shift gearbox. About the Twincharger: First employed in the Golf GT in 2006, TSI engines are currently the most efficient four-cylinder gasoline engines in the world. The combination of compressor and turbocharger shows the path to the future. The compressor compensates for the typical powering up weaknesses of turbo-only gasoline engines at low rpms. The turbocharger in contrast packs a mighty punch at higher revs. The combination of both superchargers in large-volume production engines is the only one of its kind in the world. The TSI version used in the concept achieves 155 kW / 210 hp. In principle, a large range of supercharged engines are conceivable for the Iroc that could start significantly under 110 kW / 150 hp. But there’s one thing every engine theoretically employed in the Iroc has to guarantee: Driving fun.

© Source: original article on seriouswheels.com

Saab revamps its 9-3

Saab is cleaning up its insides, but this isn't some dubious detox diet, just a gentle restyle of the 9-3's dashboard and driver environment.

New clean-cut styling has been ushered in, framed by a matt chrome line running around the main binnacle.

The heating, ventilation and stereo controls now use rotary dials to cut down on the number of individual buttons.

There's also a new information display housed in the speedo, while steering wheel-mounted controls work a variety of functions.

There are no changes to the exterior of the Saab 9-3 range, other than the addition of three new paint colour options, and prices remain unaltered.

© Source: original article on topgear.com

CASCAR: Kerry Micks wins inaugural CASCAR 100 Super Series race at the G.P. de Montréal

MONTREAL, QC – Veteran stock car competitor Kerry Micks became the first two-time CASCAR Super Series winner of the 2006 season when he won the inaugural CASCAR 100 at the G.P. de Montreal on Saturday afternoon. The Canadian Detailing Services Ford Taurus driver started on the pole and came out on the winning end of a race-long, back-and-forth battle with Lou’s / CPS Ford driver Robin Buck. Micks’ other victory of the campaign took place in mid-June at Mosport Int’l Raceway.

Micks, who hails from Mt. Albert, Ont. started on the pole for the 23-lap race around the 13-turn, 4.359 km Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course and led the first 11 laps before slipping in the hairpin turn (turn 10), opening the door for Buck to take the lead. Both drivers have multiple CASCAR road course wins to their credit and it wasn’t long before Micks had recovered from his miscue and was all over the Campbellville, Ont. racer as they left the rest of the 24-car field behind.

On lap 17, Micks dove underneath Buck in turn 10 and was able to pull in front on the exit from the tricky corner. From there, the lead duo posted furious lap times, almost two seconds quicker than their rivals. On the last lap, Buck mounted one last challenge, pressuring Micks to go across the final chicane. The final few hundred metres came down to a drag race between the pair, which Micks was able to win by a nose. His margin of victory at the checkered flag was less than two-tenths of a second.

Third-place in the CASCAR 100 went to ERB Dodge Charger driver Scott Steckly, of Milverton, Ont. Steckly cruised in third through the entire race, finishing comfortably ahead of Jim Lapcevich (EMCEA Transport / Tim Hortons Chevy) and DJ Kennington (Castrol Dodge Charger), who were fourth and fifth, respectively.

The points chase was tightened in Montreal as Fitzpatrick Motorsports teammates J.R. Fitzpatrick and Don Thomson – who entered the race ‘one-two’ in the standings – experienced trouble in qualifying for the CASCAR 100. Both drivers suffered engine failures during the Saturday morning time trial session and were forced to start at the back in the feature race. Fitzpatrick (Milwaukee Tools Chevy) was the Fast Eddie Hard Charger of the race, climbing to eighth at the finish, while Thomson (Home Hardware Chevy) endured more power trouble during the 23-lap chase and came home 13th, the last car on the lead lap.

Heading to next weekend’s Labour Day Weekend event at Cayuga Speedway, Fitzpatrick now leads Micks by just 11 points, with Thomson 22 markers back of Micks.

POINT STANDINGS (UNOFFICIAL as of August 26, 2006, after 8 events): 1. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (1357 pts.); 2. #02 Kerry Micks (1346); 3. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (1324); 4. #22 Scott Steckly (1300); 5. #39 Dave Whitlock (1294); 6. #9 Mark Dilley (1252); 7. #60 Ron Beauchamp (1238); 8. #19 Brad Graham (1223); 9. #17 DJ Kennington (1214); 10. #10 Doug Brown (1205); 11. #25 Jim Lapcevich (1203); 12. #1 Peter Gibbons (1192); 13. #3 Jason Hathaway ® (1154); 14. #11 Ron Van Es (1058); 15. #09 Kent Nuhn (1044)

CASCAR ON TV: For information regarding initial airings and replays of Super Series races, please check your local listings or visit http://www.cascar.ca/schedule/tv_schedule.html.

CASCAR Super Series
RESULTS: CASCAR 100
Round #8 // August 26, 2006 // Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Montreal, Quebec // 13-turn, 4.359 km road course
FIN. ST. # DRIVER (HOMETOWN) SPONSOR(S) / MAKE LAPS
1 1 02 Kerry Micks (Mt. Albert, ON) Cdn. Detailing Services Ford Taurus 23
2 2 88 Robin Buck (Campbellville, ON) Lou's BBQ / CPS Flooring Ford Taurus 23
3 3 22 Scott Steckly (Milverton, ON) ERB / AW Millwrights Dodge Charger 23
4 9 25 Jim Lapcevich (Hamilton, ON) EMCEA Transport / Tim Hortons Chevrolet Monte Carlo 23
5 12 17 DJ Kennington (St. Thomas, ON) Castrol Dodge Charger 23
6 7 39 Dave Whitlock (Wyoming, ON) NTN Bower / Griddly Headz / NMT Dodge Charger 23
7 11 9 Mark Dilley (Barrie, ON) Dodge / Mobil 1 / Exide / Leland / Avenue M.W. / CRS Dodge Charger 23
8 22 84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (Ayr, ON) Milwaukee Tools Chevrolet Monte Carlo 23
9 4 60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Windsor, ON) MOPAR / Mobil1 / Exide / Chrysler Jeep Dodge Svc. Dodge Charger 23
10 6 23 Jeff Lapcevich (Caistor Centre, ON) Tim Hortons / EMCEA Transport / Carhartt Chevrolet Monte Carlo 23
11 8 75 Kenny Habul (Etobicoke, ON) Hot Wheels / Variety Village Chevrolet Monte Carlo 23
12 14 29 Pierre Bourque (Ottawa, ON) ® Driving.ca / Canada.com / Working.com / Pollara Dodge Charger 23
13 23 4 Don Thomson Jr. (Hamilton, ON) Home Hardware Chevrolet Monte Carlo 23
14 15 10 Doug Brown (Brantford, ON) NAPA / AUTOPRO Chevrolet Monte Carlo 22
15 24 33 Bertrand Godin (St-Hyacinthe, QC) ® Mid-America Chevrolet Monte Carlo 22
16 21 71 Bryan Cathcart (Peterborough, ON) Mid-America Chevrolet Monte Carlo 22
17 19 09 Kent Nuhn (Williamsford, ON) ® Nuhn Motorsports Pontiac Grand Prix 22
18 13 19 Brad Graham (Glencoe, ON) Challenger Motor Freight / Logel’s Dodge Charger 21
19 17 6 J.F. Dumoulin (Trois-Rivieres, QC) ® Summum Dodge Charger 20
20 18 82 Dave Connelly (Arnprior, ON) Maple Leaf Foods / Vector Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20
21 20 12 Richard Durivage (Montreal, QC) MIAPOXY Chevrolet Monte Carlo 19
22 5 1 Peter Gibbons (Stouffville, ON) Canadian Tire / Monroe Brakes Chevrolet Monte Carlo 17
23 10 3 Jason Hathaway (Appin, ON) ® Snap-On Tools / Arctic Cat / Super 8 Dodge Charger 10
24 16 11 Ron Van Es (Smithville, ON) Star Van Systems Chevrolet Monte Carlo 5


POLESITTER: #02 Mark Dilley (1 minute and 48.984 seconds) // TIME OF RACE: 42 minutes and 39 seconds // AVERAGE SPEED: 141.032 km/h // MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.171 seconds // CAUTIONS: None // LAP LEADERS: #02 Kerry Micks (1-11), #88 Robin Buck (12-17), #02 Kerry Micks (18-23) // GOODYEAR BELTS & HOSES FASTEST LAP: #88 Robin Buck (1 minute and 49.992 seconds) // FAST EDDIE HARD CHARGER: #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (14 positions)

® after the hometown denotes Rookie contender.



Contact CASCAR’s Toronto Office at (416) 531-4714 or visit www.cascar.ca
Prepared by Inside Track Communications.

CASCAR 100: Montreal

Quick results: 1. #02 Kerry Micks, 2. #88 Robin Buck, 3. #22 Scott Steckly, 4. #25 Jim Lapcevich, 5. #17 DJ Kennington, 6. #39 Dave Whitlock, 7. #9 Mark Dilley, 8. #84 J.R Fitzpatrick, 9. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr., 10. #23 Jeff Lapcevich

... More to come

CASCAR 100: Montreal qualifying

MONTREAL, QC - Kerry Micks set the fastest time during qualifying for Saturday afternoon's CASCAR 100 at the GP de Montreal.

The Ford driver lapped the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course in 1 minute and 48.984 seconds.

Robin Buck will start second in the #88 Lou's BBQ Ford.

Points leader J.R. Fitzpatrick was third fastest, but lost his motor and will start at the back.

His Fitzpatrick Motorsports teammate Don Thomson (2nd in points) also experienced a motor failure and will join Fitzpatrick at the back for the start of the race, with a motor loaned to him by Peter Gibbons.

The CASCAR 100 starts at 4 p.m.

STARTING ORDER (top 15): 1. Kerry Micks 2. Robin Buck 3. Scott Steckly 4. Ron Beauchamp 5. Peter Gibbons 6. Jeff Lapcevich 7. Dave Whitlock 8. Kenny Habul 9. Jim Lapcevich 10. Jason Hathaway 11. Mark Dilley 12. DJ Kennington 13. Brad Graham 14. Pierre Bourque 15. Doug Brown

2007 Strosek Nissan 350Z

(from Strosek) What began as a development project for Nissan at the start of the nineties--the Strosek 300Z was the result of this cooperation--we have now extended with the Strosek 350Z.

The Nissan 350Z naturally has a clear, reduced design with a crisp, sporty appearance. It was a very special challenge for us to not only retain these attributes but to also reinforce them with a pure, highly functional aerodynamics program.

The Strosek 350Z is a truly super sports car which immediately appeals with its futuristic form. The concept works just as well on the race track as on the road thanks to the aerodynamics optimized in the wind tunnel. Through the clearly structured design elements, the vehicle has the character of a high class architecture and at the same time the powerful dymanics of an extreme sportsman.

© Source: original article on seriouswheels.com

New V8 diesel for Range Rover Sport

Prepare to see more queues outside your local Range Rover dealer with the launch of the Sport TDV8 model.

Keen students of Range Rover nomenclature will correctly surmise that is a turbodiesel V8 model.

The 3.6-litre V8 engine packs 268bhp and a tarmac-trembling 472lb ft of torque to bridge the gap between the TDV6 and petrol V8 models very effectively.

Capable of a reasonable 25.5mpg combined economy, the TDV8 will also see the Sport from 0-60mph in 8.6 seconds and on to an electronically strangled top speed of 130mph.

A six-speed automatic gearbox is standard, as is full-time four-wheel drive.

The TDV8 comes with a specification similar to the Supercharged's, which means 19in alloy wheels and leather seats.

Prices will be announced at the Paris motor show in September.

© Source: original article on topgear