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[Kia Forte Koup going racing in 2010 Grand-Am Koni Challenge series]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/03/kia-forte-koup-going-racing-in-2010-grand-am-koni-challenge-seri/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/03/kia-forte-koup-going-racing-in-2010-grand-am-koni-challenge-seri/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/03/kia-forte-koup-going-racing-in-2010-grand-am-koni-challenge-seri/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Kia Forte Koup Grand-Am racer - Click above for high-res image gallery

For the first time in its history in the U.S. market, Kia is going racing in 2010. Kia announced today at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas that it has partnered with the Kinetic Group to build and compete with a pair of new Forte Koups in the 2010 Grand-Am Koni Challenge series. The Koups will be driven by Andy Lally and Nic Jönsson in the Street Tuner class of the Koni Challenge. Kia says it chose the Kinetic Group for its experience working in NASCAR, ALMS, IndyCar and, of course, the Koni Challenge.

The front-wheel-drive Kias are based on the production Forte Koup and will be running against the likes of the Mazda MX-5, Honda Civic Si and MINI Cooper. The Kias will make their debut January 8-10 at the Grand-Am test days at Daytona and then really hit the track in anger at the end of the month for the season opener as part of the Daytona 24 Hours weekend. Will the little two-door from South Korea have the racing chops to hang with other, more experienced production-based racers? Time will tell, but it's great to see Kia hop into motorsports with both feet and choose a series where its actual cars have the potential to shine.


Gallery: Kia Forte Koup Grand-Am Koni Challenge


[Source: Kia]

Continue reading Kia Forte Koup going racing in 2010 Grand-Am Koni Challenge series

Kia Forte Koup going racing in 2010 Grand-Am Koni Challenge series originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forteforte koupForteKoupgrand amGrand Am racinggrand am seriesgrand americanGrandAmGrandAmericanGrandAmRacingGrandAmSerieskiaKia ForteKia Forte Koupkia forte koup racingKiaForteKiaForteKoupKiaForteKoupRacingkinetic groupKineticGroupKONI ChallengeKoniChallengekoupsemasema 2009sema showSema2009SemaShowTue, 03 Nov 2009 14:10:00 EST<![CDATA[[Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights: April 22-23]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/25/not-tivosafe-motorsports-highlights-april-22-23/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/25/not-tivosafe-motorsports-highlights-april-22-23/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/25/not-tivosafe-motorsports-highlights-april-22-23/#commentsFiled under:


Quite a weekend! Ferrari returns, a new Nextel Cup points leader, a wild sports car race, a ton of motorcycle road racing, and some fence-climbing in Japan.

Formula 1:
At the front of the field, the San Marino Grand Prix was a mirror-image of last year's race, this time with Michael Schumacher holding off Fernando Alonso instead of the other way around. Schumacher's victory capped a great weekend for the tifosi, with Felipe Massa redeeming himself for his miscues in previous races with a fourth place finish, and Michael qualfying on the pole. Alonso continued to build his championship lead with his second-place finish, and Juan Pablo Montoya brought his McLaren home in third. Full weekend coverage here. [Photo courtesy of Ferrari]

More after the jump.

Continue reading [Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights: April 22-23

[Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights: April 22-23 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Apr 2006 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alex JobAlexJobamaama superbikeBen SpiesBenSpiesCastronevesf1Felipe MassaFelipeMassaFernando AlonsoFernandoAlonsoFerrariformula 1Formula1grand amgrand americanHarvickirlJuan Pablo MantoyaJuanPabloMantoyaKanaanMcLarenMoteginascarNextelnextel cupPorscheRolexrolex sports carSan marinoSanMarinoSchumacherScott PruettScottPruettTifosiTivoTony CorserTony StewartTonyCorserTonyStewartworld superbikeTue, 25 Apr 2006 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorsports this weekend: April 22-23]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/21/motorsports-this-weekend-april-22-23/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/21/motorsports-this-weekend-april-22-23/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/21/motorsports-this-weekend-april-22-23/#commentsFiled under:



A busy weekend coming up. U.S. TV coverage is shown (all times Eastern).

Formula 1:
The San Marino Grand Prix is underway at Imola, with Fernando Alonso (shown above at Imola) topping the time charts after Friday's very dusty practice sessions. Paddock talk at Imola suggests that the coveted 12th (and final) F1 franchise has been awarded to Prodrive. Recall that Prodrive boss David Richards ran the B.A.R.-Honda team until recently. [Photo: Renault F1 Team]

Sunday, CBS 1pm ET

More motorsports after the jump...

Continue reading Motorsports this weekend: April 22-23

Motorsports this weekend: April 22-23 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Apr 2006 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amaama superbikef1formula 1Formula1grand americanindycarirlnascarnextel cuprolex sports carsuperbikeworld superbikeFri, 21 Apr 2006 18:33:00 EST<![CDATA[[Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights April 8-9]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/10/not-tivosafe-motorsports-highlights-april-8-9/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/10/not-tivosafe-motorsports-highlights-april-8-9/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/10/not-tivosafe-motorsports-highlights-april-8-9/#commentsFiled under:

NASCAR:
Kasey Kahne started on the pole and won going away Sunday to cap a perfect weekend in Texas, becoming the 11th winner in as many races in the 2006 Nextel Cup series. Kahne's Dodge finished five seconds clear of Matt Kenseth's second-place Ford. A brace of Chevy's driven by Tony stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five. Full coverage here.

MotoGP:
Yamaha pilot Valentino Rossi (pictured) was back on top again at the Grand Prix of Qatar, coming from seventh on the grid to win by almost a second over Honda's Nicky Hayden. Ducati's Loris Capirossi's third place finish puts him firmly in the lead for the championship with two races in the books. Lots more information here.

More after the jump...

Continue reading [Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights April 8-9

[Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights April 8-9 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Apr 2006 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champ carChampCargrand amgrand americanmotogpnascarrolex sports carwrcMon, 10 Apr 2006 16:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorsports this Weekend: April 8-9]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/07/motorsports-this-weekend-april-8-9/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/07/motorsports-this-weekend-april-8-9/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/07/motorsports-this-weekend-april-8-9/#commentsFiled under:

Champ Car World Series:
The Champ Cars are in Long Beach for their season-opener this weekend. Interesting storylines include Newman/Haas driver Sebastian Bourdais, who is going for his third consecutive championship, and RuSport's Justin Wilson, who should join Forsythe Racing's Paul Tracy as a regular front-runner this year. More info here.

NBC, Sunday 4pm

Rolex Sports Car Series:
The Daytona Prototypes will experience their first-ever street race this weekend, joining Champ Car in Long Beach. Patrick Long has set the pace in early practice with his Porsche/Crawford (pictured). Given this series prediliction for door-banging, we can expect a very eventful Long Beach debut for the prototypes.

SPEED Channel, Saturday 9pm ET (delayed)

More racing after the jump...

Continue reading Motorsports this Weekend: April 8-9

Motorsports this Weekend: April 8-9 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Apr 2006 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champ cardtmgrand amgrand americanGrandAmericanmotogpnascarrolex serieswrcFri, 07 Apr 2006 16:23:00 EST<![CDATA[[Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights: March 25-26]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/28/not-tivosafe-motorsports-highlights-march-25-26/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/28/not-tivosafe-motorsports-highlights-march-25-26/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/28/not-tivosafe-motorsports-highlights-march-25-26/#commentsFiled under:

It was a weekend marred by tragedy in motorsports, with the deaths of co-driver Joerg Bastuck in the Rally Catalunya and rookie Paul Dana in the Toyota 300 Indycar race in Florida casting a shadow over the sport.

WRC: Sebastien Loeb made it two in a row, following up his win in Rally Mexico with a victory across the pond in Spain's Catalunya Rally. Loeb (shown at right) finished with 48 seconds in hand over Kronos/Citroen teammate (and local hero) Dani Sordo. Ford's Marcus Gronholm captured the last step on the podium, after charging back from 10th place following engine problems on Friday. Full rally coverage here.

Loeb leads the championship by 9 points over Gronholm.

More weekend highlights after the jump...

Continue reading [Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights: March 25-26

[Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights: March 25-26 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Mar 2006 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>grand americanindy carindycarirlmotogpnascarrolex sports car serieswrcTue, 28 Mar 2006 16:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorsports this weekend: March 25-26]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/24/motorsports-this-weekend-march-25-26/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/24/motorsports-this-weekend-march-25-26/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/24/motorsports-this-weekend-march-25-26/#commentsFiled under:

While Formula 1 takes a break ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, this weekend sees the start of the Indy Racing League and MotoGP seasons, and a return to action for the World Rally Championship series.

North American TV coverage is shown where available (all times Eastern).

IRL:
Toyota may have dropped out of the IRL engine business, but the company is still sponsoring the opening race of the 2006 season, the Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In Friday practice, 2005 champion Dan Wheldon topped the charts at 215.56 mph.

The story of the weekend will be the debut of young Marco Andretti (pictured during Friday practice). The third-generation Indy Car driver has some pretty good coaches in attendance at Homestead, including father and team owner Michael Andretti, and grandfather Mario.

ABC, Sunday 3:30pm ET.

[More after the jump]

Continue reading Motorsports this weekend: March 25-26

Motorsports this weekend: March 25-26 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Mar 2006 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>grand americanirlmotogpnascarnascar bristolrolex sports carwrcFri, 24 Mar 2006 16:38:00 EST