Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[2010 Mazda3 makes racing debut at SPEED World Challenge finale]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/13/2010-mazda3-makes-racing-debut-at-speed-world-challenge-finale/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/13/2010-mazda3-makes-racing-debut-at-speed-world-challenge-finale/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/13/2010-mazda3-makes-racing-debut-at-speed-world-challenge-finale/#commentsFiled under: ,


2010 Tri-Point Motorsports Mazda3 World Challenge Racecar - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2010 Mazda3 made its motorsports debut this past weekend on its home track, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca at the final race of the 2009 SPEED World Challenge season. The car was developed and built by Tri-Point Motorsports, which has been running Mazdas in the series since 2001. The team has raced a trio of Mazda6s for the past few season, even capturing the Touring Car title in 2007 with Jeff Altenburg behind the wheel.

Mazda hasn't released any official details on the car quite yet, but a company representative told us that the race was less about going fast and was more of a "public test" to give the car some much needed track time. In fact, the car was completed just before the race and didn't even get its sponsor decals until the second practice day. Even so, rookie driver Eric Foss managed to qualify in 12th and zoom-zoomed his way to a respectable 11th place in Sunday's race. Check out our photos of new Mazda3 racecar - which looks extraordinarily happy to be on track - in the high-res gallery below.


Gallery: 2010 Tri-Point Mazda3 World Challenge Racecar


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

2010 Mazda3 makes racing debut at SPEED World Challenge finale originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Mazda32010 Tri-Point Mazda32010Mazda32010Tri-pointMazda3Mazdamazda 3Mazda3SPEED World ChallengeSPEED World Challenge TouringSpeedWorldChallengeSpeedWorldChallengeTouringTri-Point Mazda3Tri-Point MotorsportsTri-pointMazda3Tri-pointMotorsportsTue, 13 Oct 2009 18:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford Mustang captures Grand-Am Koni Challenge and SPEED World Challenge titles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/ford-mustang-captures-grand-am-koni-challenge-and-speed-world-ch/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/ford-mustang-captures-grand-am-koni-challenge-and-speed-world-ch/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/ford-mustang-captures-grand-am-koni-challenge-and-speed-world-ch/#commentsFiled under: ,


2009 SPEED World Challenge GT at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Click above for a high-res image gallery

With various racing series coming to a close this month, the Mustang has proven its worth on track by bringing home two major road racing championships. This past weekend Brandon Davis secured the 2009 SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT title in only his second season with a fourth place finish at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Davis, who was racing in the new 2010 ACS Mustang that debuted a few weeks earlier at Road Atlanta, only needed to finish in eighth place to guarantee the championship and beat out Porsche driver James Sofronas.

In the Grand-Am Koni Challenge series, the Mustang FR500C also captured not only the driver title, but also the team and manufacturers' championships for the second straight year. Rehagen Racing sat atop the driver and team points lead with a sixth place finish at Virginia International Raceway, and the win by JBS Motorsports helped put Ford just one point ahead of BMW in the manufacturers' standings. Mustangs won five races during the 2009 season and finished on the podium eight out of eleven races.

We didn't make it out to VIR for the Koni Challenge race, but we were on hand at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to watch the SPEED World Challenge race with cameras at the ready. Check out the high-res gallery below, or tune into SPEED TV on November 3 at 2:00 pm EST to watch the race yourself. If you're down with spoilers, follow the jump for the official press release that reveals all the winners for each race and class.


Gallery: 2009 SPEED World Challenge GT at Laguna Seca


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Ford Racing, World-Challenge.com]

Continue reading Ford Mustang captures Grand-Am Koni Challenge and SPEED World Challenge titles

Ford Mustang captures Grand-Am Koni Challenge and SPEED World Challenge titles originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 SPEED World Challenge2009SpeedWorldChallenge2010 Ford Mustang2010FordMustangACS Ford MustangAcsFordMustangBrandon DavisBrandonDavisFordFord MustangFordMustangMazda Raceway Laguna SecaMazdaRacewayLagunaSecaMustangSPEED World ChallengeSPEED World Challenge GTSpeedWorldChallengeSpeedWorldChallengeGtMon, 12 Oct 2009 18:27:00 EST<![CDATA[SPOILER ALERT: SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT at Long Beach]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-scca-speed-world-challenge-gt-at-long-beach/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-scca-speed-world-challenge-gt-at-long-beach/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-scca-speed-world-challenge-gt-at-long-beach/#commentsFiled under:


Click above for a high-res gallery of the SCCA Speed World Challenge GT race on the streets of Long Beach

While not as high profile as IndyCar or ALMS, the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Series offers just as much motorsports excitement as the featured races - maybe even more. For the Long Beach event, the busy schedule only allows for the GT class to participate (the Touring class runs a separate race at Mosport in May). Even still, that includes a full field of Chevrolet Corvettes, Porsche 911s, Ford Mustangs, Dodge Vipers, and more.

In qualifying on Saturday, World Challenge veteran Randy Pobst took the pole in his all-wheel-drive Volvo S60, his first in the series in five years. However, new controversial rules dictate a post-qualifying coin flip in which the polesitter calls heads or tails, determining whether he keeps his position or inverts the top five spots. Probst lost the coin toss, putting Mike Davis' Mustang at the front of the pack for the standing start of the race. Follow the jump to see who came out on top, and browse through our live photos in the high-res gallery below.


Gallery: 2009 SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT at Long Beach


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT at Long Beach

SPOILER ALERT: SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT at Long Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Long Beach Grand PrixLongBeachGrandPrixRandy pobstRandyPobstsccaSPEED World ChallengeSPEED World Challenge GTSPEED World Challenge Long BeachSpeedWorldChallengeSpeedWorldChallengeGtSpeedWorldChallengeLongBeachMon, 20 Apr 2009 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Lexus IS 350 to take on SPEED World Challenge GT]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/18/lexus-is-f-to-take-on-speed-world-challenge-gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/18/lexus-is-f-to-take-on-speed-world-challenge-gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/18/lexus-is-f-to-take-on-speed-world-challenge-gt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There hasn't been any news on a Lexus racecar since we heard rumors that the IS-F racer, unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, was really a reskinned 2004 Opel Vectra DTM. While Lexus might not be supporting a factory-backed motorsports program for the IS, that doesn't mean that privateer teams can't develop a car on their own. DRC Motorsports has done just that and has built two IS 350 racecars that will compete in the GT class of the SPEED World Challenge. Dubbed the IS GTF, it will be sporting a 4.7-liter V8 putting out 510 horsepower and attached to six-speed sequential transmission. The first car will make its debut this weekend at Mid Ohio with Jeff Altenburg, last year's SWC Touring Car champion, behind the wheel, and the second car, driven by Robb Holland, is scheduled to make its maiden run the following race at Road America. Both cars are scheduled to run the remainder of the race season. If you want to watch the new IS GTF in action, SPEED will be airing the race on Thursday, July 24 at 1:00pm (EDT) following the Touring Car race.

[Source: my.IS]

Lexus IS 350 to take on SPEED World Challenge GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DRC MotorsportsDrcMotorsportsJeff AltenburgJeffAltenburgLexusLexus IS350LexusIs350Robb HollandRobbHollandSPEED World ChallengeSPEED World Challenge GTSpeedWorldChallengeSpeedWorldChallengeGtFri, 18 Jul 2008 10:31:00 EST<![CDATA[LA 2007: Mitsubishi to tackle touring car with WORKS-prepared Lancer race car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/16/la-2007-mitsubishi-to-tackle-touring-car-with-works-prepared-la/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/16/la-2007-mitsubishi-to-tackle-touring-car-with-works-prepared-la/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/16/la-2007-mitsubishi-to-tackle-touring-car-with-works-prepared-la/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mitsubishi will no longer be absent from the starting grid of the SCCA Speed World Challenge with the new WORKS-prepared SWC Lancer race car. The tuning company that specializes in tweaking EVOs, in a partnership with Mitsubishi North America, will be hitting the racetracks next year against Mazda, BMW, Audi, and more with two-time U.S. Touring Car champion David Brown behind the wheel. The car received new front and rear coilovers, two-piece rotors with Brembo calipers, a racing clutch and flywheel, and a fully built Mitsubishi inline-4 among other racing necessities. Pending its final homologation, it will race the full 2008 season in the Touring Car class. Follow the jump for the full details in the press release.

[Source: WORKS]

Continue reading LA 2007: Mitsubishi to tackle touring car with WORKS-prepared Lancer race car

LA 2007: Mitsubishi to tackle touring car with WORKS-prepared Lancer race car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA 2007La2007speed gtspeed world challengeSpeedGtSpeedWorldChallengeWORKSworks mitsubishiworks mitsubishi evolutionworks mitsubishi race carworks race teamWorksMitsubishiWorksMitsubishiEvolutionWorksMitsubishiRaceCarWorksRaceTeamFri, 16 Nov 2007 16:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Cadillac CTS-V race car goes out on top]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/23/cadillac-cts-v-race-car-goes-out-on-top/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/23/cadillac-cts-v-race-car-goes-out-on-top/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/23/cadillac-cts-v-race-car-goes-out-on-top/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above image to view more photos of the 2007 Cadillac CTS-V race car

Andy Pilgrim won his second race of 2007 this past weekend to secure Cadillac a Manufacturers Championship of the SCCA Speed World Challenge. Pilgrim started second in the race behind polesitter and points leader Randy Pobst, but took the lead on lap 21 eventually won by just under two seconds. Fellow team drivers Lawson Aschenbach and Ron Fellows finished sixth and seventh, respectively. Cadillac finished the season with 71 points followed by Porsche with 60, Chevrolet with 50, and Dodge with 24.

After the race, Cadillac announced that this would be the brand's last season in the series, at least for a while. "With the second-generation CTS-V still a year away from its introduction, we'll close this chapter of Cadillac in racing and explore future opportunities to showcase the performance of the Cadillac portfolio," he said. They referred to the current car as the "first generation", so we can only hope that this means that a second generation will follow.

Cadillac ends its dominant four-year run in the Speed World Challenge as the most successful team during that time. CTS-V drivers racked up twelve wins, the most of any manufacturer, as well as two manufacturer championships.

[Source: GM]

Gallery: 2007 Cadillac CTS-V race car

Continue reading Cadillac CTS-V race car goes out on top

Cadillac CTS-V race car goes out on top originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CadillacCadillac CTS-VCadillac CTS-V race carCadillac CTSVCadillacCts-vCadillacCts-vRaceCarCadillacCtsvlaguna secaLagunaSecaspeed world challengeSpeedWorldChallengeTue, 23 Oct 2007 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Out of sorts: Race team's transporter stolen, 2 cars missing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/21/out-of-sorts-race-teams-transporter-stolen-2-cars-missing/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/21/out-of-sorts-race-teams-transporter-stolen-2-cars-missing/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/21/out-of-sorts-race-teams-transporter-stolen-2-cars-missing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Sorted Performance had its Speed World Challenge racing season come to an abrupt halt earlier this week when its transporter consisting of a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 dually and 48-foot Gooseneck Haulmark Edge triple axle trailer were stolen from a Hampton Inn parking lot in Livonia, MI. Team manager Ken Grammer was transporting both of the team's Grand Touring Class Dodge SRT-4 race cars at the time, along with all the spare parts available for the cars. Today it was learned that the truck has been recovered in Detroit and sustained some damage, though not as much as the trailer, which was also found in Detroit burnt to a crisp. The two SRT-4 race cars, one driven by team owner Hal Brown and the other by current Rookie of the Year points leader Stan Wilson, are still missing. The racing community has its feelers out for the cars, as their parts are very specific and should be easy to spot should the thieves attempt to sell them.

You can view all the currently available info on the situation in this thread on the SCCA Pro Racing forums, and please keep your eyes open if you live in the Detroit area. Hopefully these two race cars can be found in good shape thanks to the collective effort of a concerned auto and racing community. Sorted Performance was looking forward to the next round of the series at the 2007 Grand Prix of Toronto. With any luck, Hal and Stan will be behind the wheels of their SRT-4s by then.

Thanks for the tip, Joe!

[Source: SCCA Pro Racing forums]

Out of sorts: Race team's transporter stolen, 2 cars missing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dodge SRT-4DodgeSrt-4grand theft autoGrandTheftAutohal brownHalBrownSCCA Pro RacingSccaProRacingsorted performanceSortedPerformanceSpeed World ChallengeSpeedWorldChallengestan wilsonStanWilsonstolentheftThu, 21 Jun 2007 15:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Gallery: Long Beach GP weekend round-up]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/16/gallery-long-beach-gp-weekend-round-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/16/gallery-long-beach-gp-weekend-round-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/16/gallery-long-beach-gp-weekend-round-up/#commentsFiled under:



We present you with another big gallery of photos from the weekend's activities in Long Beach. Besides the Champ Cars, ALMS, and Toyota Pro/Celebrity races we've already covered, the Long Beach GP hosted Formula D, Champ Car Atlantics, and Speed World Challenge GT racing. We were there on Friday during practice and captured some images to share with all of you. Next year we hope to get an earlier start to secure some credentials so we can get access to pit lane and head-on shots along the fence line. But for now we have these tower shots and some random pics from around the grounds.

Right on the water, with the Queen Mary and various cruise and cargo ships in the distance, there is a definite charm to this temporary street course that has hosted Formula 1, CART, Trans-Am, Can-Am, Rolex and ALMS over its 33-year history. Close to Hollywood, this is the racing event most likely to attract celebrities on the Champ Car schedule. Between practice sessions and races, fans had a lot of other things to keep them occupied. Minardi has a special two-seat formula car that allows passengers to experience 180-mph thrills, for just $10,000 a go. There are also rides and vendor booths everywhere, making the place feel like a community carnival as much as a racetrack.

Click one of the images below to go to our gallery. We also had one of our readers pass along a link to his own gallery of incredible shots from Saturday. Make sure you check them out. Thanks for sharing them, Mark!

Gallery: 2007 Long Beach GP weekend

Gallery: Long Beach GP weekend round-up originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Champ CarChampCarFormula AtlanticFormula DFormulaAtlanticFormulaDLong Beach Grand PrixLongBeachGrandPrixMinardiSpeed World ChallengeSpeedWorldChallengeThe Queen MaryTheQueenMaryMon, 16 Apr 2007 12:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Volvo beats Viper, Cadillac for SPEED GT win]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/05/volvo-beats-viper-cadillac-for-speed-gt-win/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/05/volvo-beats-viper-cadillac-for-speed-gt-win/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/05/volvo-beats-viper-cadillac-for-speed-gt-win/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Let's face it - fairly or not, Volvos have been type-cast as safe, solid and somewhat uninspired family cars. Well here's one Volvo that could go a long way to changing that image! The At Speed Motorsports Volvo S60R, driven by Michael Galati, powered to a dominating win in this weekend's SPEED World Challenge GT class race at Mosport International Raceway, finishing at the head of a pack of Cadillacs, Vipers, Corvettes, Porsches and even an Aston Martin. The win marks the first for the hard-working At Speed team in two seasons of campaigning the AWD Volvo.

Galati used the Volvo's AWD to good effect in the rainy race at Mosport, earning the B&M "Coolest Move of the Race" award right at the drop of the green flag by catapulting from fifth on the grid to lead the field into the first turn. Galati, a five-time SWC champion, nearly lapped the entire field by the end of the race, with only Tommy Archer's Dodge Viper remaining on the lead lap at the finish. Ron Fellows' Cadillac CTS-V finished third, after starting from the pole.

[Source: SCCA Pro Racing/SPEED World Challenge]

Volvo beats Viper, Cadillac for SPEED GT win originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mosports60rspeed world challengeSpeedWorldChallengevolvo s60rTue, 05 Sep 2006 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Cadillac CTS-V racer promotes XBOX tie-in this weekend]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/20/cadillac-cts-v-racer-promotes-xbox-tie-in-this-weekend/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/20/cadillac-cts-v-racer-promotes-xbox-tie-in-this-weekend/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/20/cadillac-cts-v-racer-promotes-xbox-tie-in-this-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Cadillac CTS-V racer in Project Gotham Racing livery
Last month, Cadillac announced its relationship with Microsoft's XBOX in the form of a downloadable expansion pack for the console's Project Gotham Racing 3 game. Gamers were given the ability to add three of Caddy's V-Series cars to the already-impressive group of rides included with the game.

This coming weekend, that relationship is going to get some high-profile exposure as the #16 CTS-V SPEED GT racing car will sport a new PGR-themed livery for the Speed World Challenge race at Infineon Raceway. Cadillac is pulling out all the stops to make sure the car does well, as Corvette Racing's Johnny O'Connell will strap in behind the wheel. O'Connell, who along with teammate Ron Fellows has won his last five ALMS races at Infineon, will see if he can work his magic with the Cadillac and finish atop the podium. Reigining SPEED GT champ and Cadillac teammate Andy Pilgrim will join O'Connell on the circuit in the #1 car.

The SPEED GT race is part of this weekend's NASCAR Nextel Cup festivities at Infineon, so a huge crowd and equally huge exposure for the Caddy/XBOX relationship are all but guaranteed.

(Photo, press release after the jump)

[Source: GM]

Continue reading Cadillac CTS-V racer promotes XBOX tie-in this weekend

Cadillac CTS-V racer promotes XBOX tie-in this weekend originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jun 2006 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andy PilgrimAndyPilgrimCadillac CTS-VCadillac XBOXCadillac XBOX 360CadillacCts-vCadillacXboxCadillacXbox360cts-v pgrcts-v race carcts-v racing carCTS-V SPEED GTCts-vPgrCts-vRaceCarCts-vRacingCarCts-vSpeedGtInfineon RacewayInfineonRacewayJohnny O'ConnellJohnnyO'connellNASCAR infineonNascarInfineonPGRPGR3Project Gotham RacingProject Gotham Racing 3ProjectGothamRacingProjectGothamRacing3Speed GT SeriesSpeed World ChallengeSpeedGtSeriesSpeedWorldChallengexboxxbox360Tue, 20 Jun 2006 16:34:00 EST