Autoblog

15-year-old wins IMSA series in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Noah Joseph — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Professional racing drivers keep getting younger and younger. Every year, Formula One, for example, seems to crown a new record holder for the youngest race winner in grand prix history, and almost as often, a younger-than-ever world champion. But this story takes the cake.

Madison Snow, you see, is only 15 years old. Too young, in other words, to get a driver's license. But when he does, he'll already be an old hand behind the wheel. That's because he just clinched the Gold Cup in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge. Behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, no less - and that's no easy car to control.

In fact he didn't just win the title, he dominated it: The series isn't even over yet, but after finishing second this week at Laguna Seca, he's so far in the lead that he's already got the championship in the bag and can "just have fun" at the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta next week. That would be enough to make any mother proud, but we have a feeling Madison's mom Melanie Snow - a past series champ herself, class winner at Sebring and part of the first all-woman team in the American Le Mans Series - must be beaming.

15-year-old wins IMSA series in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve Millen returns home to tackle Targa New Zealand [w/Video]

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Nissan, Racing

The STILLEN GT-R tearing up the New Zealand countryside - Click above to watch video after the jump

Any discussion involving one's favorite racer invariably includes names like Senna, Schumacher, Earnhardt and Andretti. But one name that doesn't come up often enough is Steve Millen. Though brother Rod, a legend in his own right, and nephew Rhys get a lot of ink, it's Steve that deserves some time in the spotlight.

Steve Millen has raced a slew of different vehicles in a variety of motorsports, beginning in 1969 when he took up hill climbing before quickly moving over to a Formula Ford car and after that, rally-racing. During the '80s, Millen switched to stadium trucks where he was the 1986, 1988 and 1989 Mickey Thompson Off-Road Grand Prix National champion. In the process, he also found time to win two Indy Lights races during the inaugural season in 1986. But all that racing is peanuts compared to what Steve got himself into in 1990.

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Continue reading Steve Millen returns home to tackle Targa New Zealand [w/Video]

Steve Millen returns home to tackle Targa New Zealand [w/Video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Taming the Bull: IMSA Lamborghini Gallardo GTV

Noah Joseph — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:57:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Supercars, Lamborghini

Click above to view the IMSA Gallardo GTV in high resolution

Tuning a Lamborghini is a risky endeavor. The supercars that roll out of the factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese already tread the narrow line between the sexy and the obscene, but the bulk of the mod-jobs we've seen run over that line with considerable ferocity and just keep on accelerating. German tuning house IMSA's take on the latest Gallardo LP560-4 is, by comparison, a breath of fresh air.

As you can see, exterior modifications have been kept tastefully restrained. A new front apron, fender flairs, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear wing are all crafted out of carbon fiber. IMSA has also fitted a custom adjustable suspension, split-spoke alloys hiding eight-piston brake calipers up front and six-pot grippers out back, while under the rear glass, IMSA has squeezed an extra 40 ponies out of the Gallardo's 560-horsepower 5.2-liter V10, giving the GTV a revised output of 600. Nothing radical, but then the stock Gallardo is radical enough as it is.

[Source: IMSA]

Taming the Bull: IMSA Lamborghini Gallardo GTV originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IMSA makes the Murcielago LP640 Spyder even more outrageous

Drew Phillips — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Supercars, Lamborghini

Click above for high-res gallery of the IMSA Murcielago Spyder

Not many cars can compete with the Lamborghini Murcielago Spyder's ability to attract attention. With 640 horsepower on tap, not many cars can keep up with it either. Even German tuner IMSA questioned whether the car could be improved, but, of course, that didn't stop them from trying. They have developed an engine package that pumps the V12 up to 708 horsepower, knocking off a tenth in the sprint to 60 mph and raising top speed to 217 mph. IMSA adds its GTR widebody kit as well that includes a new front bumper, side skirts with widened intakes, a carbon fiber diffuser and rear spoiler. Inside, the carbon fiber and leather seats have been color-matched to the exterior. It's not necessarily everyone's taste, but it is wickedly fast and sure to attract attention. Full details are in the press release after the jump, and plenty of high resolution photos are in the gallery below.

Gallery: IMSA Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Spyder

[Source: IMSA via SeriousWheels.com]

Continue reading IMSA makes the Murcielago LP640 Spyder even more outrageous

IMSA makes the Murcielago LP640 Spyder even more outrageous originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: BMW M1

Noah Joseph — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Videos, Supercars, BMW

BMW's performance division has made such a name for itself that the letter M has become synonymous with high-performance German sedans and coupes. But the vehicle that started it all was about as Italian as any Teutonic sports car could ever be: a low-slung, mid-engined machine designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign and built in cooperation with Lamborghini as a homologation special.

The only mid-engine BMW ever made, the roadgoing M1 featured the naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter 279hp twin-cam six later used in the 635CSi and M5. Like a great many short-lived supercars, we have homologation regulations to thank for the M1's existence: 456 examples were built between 1978 and 1981 in order to qualify for Group 5 competition.

Although the turbocharged 850-horsepower version was never a great success in Group 5 racing, it was later entered in the Procar series in support of Formula One races in the late seventies, in which a Marlboro-sponsored Niki Lauda took the title in 1979. The M1 went on to win the IMSA GTO title in 1981.

Follow the jump to check out the video action.

[Source: Carscoop]

Continue reading VIDEO: BMW M1

VIDEO: BMW M1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IMSA creates carbon fiber body kit for Lamborghini LP640

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Supercars, Lamborghini

Some people just can't leave exotic-enough alone, and IMSA is all too happy to help out - sometimes to unfortunate ends. The firm has had its hand in developing aero parts for both the Lamborghini Gallardo coupe and spyder, and has now put the larger, more powerful Murcielago LP640 under the knife. The result is the rolling anathema you see above, which eschews the clean lines of the Murcie in favor of excessive excess.

The carbon fiber body kit can be had either unpainted or color matched, and includes a new front clip, additional air ducting, a new rear diffuser, rear spoiler and fender flares that bring the track out an additional 70 mm in total. If money, and taste, is no object, IMSA is taking orders now and will begin manufacturing parts for the base Murcielago in the future.

[Source: Carscoop]

IMSA creates carbon fiber body kit for Lamborghini LP640 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car Costume: Audi 90 Quattro becomes Audi 90 IMSA GTO

Dan Roth — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:08:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Europe, Audi

Old Audis are cool, and old racing Audis are even cooler. A Swedish Audi fanatic seems to think so, too, and has gone to extreme lengths to transform a workaday Audi 90 into the IMSA GTO version of that car. Not wanting to go the stripe-and-bodykit route, this Audi's flares were painstakingly constructed from many pieces of metal, intricately tacked into place. Replica body pieces like splitters were created in composite after measurements of an original car were taken, and the authentically nutty looking rims are custom-modified VW pieces. The doors still open, despite 8 additional inches of width, and the amount of work that went into the body modifications is truly incredible. It looks like a scale model was built first, and once the form was perfected, it was "blown up" to the actual car - we don't know Svenska, and translators aren't terribly useful. Motivation is provided by an A8's 4.2 liter V8, which must make the replica pretty zippy, but probably not as fast as those IMSA cars were. Still, though, it's a hell of a thing to see lurking in your rearview, and the handiwork is truly impressive. We see the most insane stuff coming out of Sweden - must be something in the ~~water~~ aquavit. AudiMotorSport's got galleries of the build here.

[Source: AudiMotorSport.se via German Car Scene]

Car Costume: Audi 90 Quattro becomes Audi 90 IMSA GTO originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2007 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IMSA follows up GTV with Gallardo-based Spyder

Alex Nunez — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Europe, Supercars, Lamborghini

Click for a high-res gallery of 14 photos

German tuner IMSA (not to be confused with this IMSA) established itself as a serious player with its rather splendid Lamborghini Gallardo-based GTV. The trick Lambo was tuned to produce 610 horsepower, and its tastefully-done widebody kit and bespoke wheel package made it look every bit the the supercar the new juice underhood indicated it was.

Since all the engine modifications in place on the GTV work just as well on the Gallardo Spyder, IMSA went ahead and applied them. Enter the IMSA Spyder, which produces the same 610 horsepower as its hard-topped sibling. The suspension and AWD system has been recalibrated to handle the monstrous power in such a manner that the Spyder is perfectly usable as a daily driver (not that we'd know firsthand, but we'll take IMSA's word for it). In addition to the updated power and look, the interior of the car can be completely customized to suit the owner's taste. Hey, we'll happily roll with just the engine and suspension tuning. You know -- eschew the (very sweet) widebody kit and just keep the Gallardo looking like a "sleeper." If that's even possible...

IMSA's press release is posted after the jump, and you can feast your eyes on 14 high-res shots in the gallery.

Gallery: IMSA Spyder