Autoblog

Trailer for Battle Cross gymkhana series on Speed released

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:31:00 EST

Blame it on our Rust Belt sensibilities, but we can't think of anything cooler than rally cars racing full-bore around a steel mill. The video after the jump is about as heavy metal as it gets, and the gritty action is coming to your television in a new Speed TV series called Battle Cross. The steel mill pilot shown here - airs on November 17 at 10 pm Eastern. That's this Thursday, kids, so set your DVR now, or ask your parents for permission to stay up late.

This first episode features 2011 Rally America Champion David Higgins driving against Subaru Rally Team USA teammate Dave Mirra. The competition is a two-round affair, the first a standard fastest-time-wins, autocross-style challenge, while the second is a judged "freestyle session." Think: figure skating - but with sequins and feathers replaced by popping wastegates and two-foot wings.

A whole host of other names are attached to the series. Rally driver Andrew Comrie-Picard and Stacy Keibler, she of WWE and girlfriend of George Clooney fame, will co-host the show. Drifting star Samuel Hubinette and rally driver Stephan Verdier will serve as judges. Battle Cross is produced by The Fast and the Furious director Rob Cohen, so if nothing else, we can at least expect it to look great.

If you miss the premiere, Battle Cross will be rebroadcast on Nov. 18 at 1:00 am EST and 10:00 am EST, and Nov. 20 at 2:30 pm EST. Click through the jump to see the trailer.

Continue reading Trailer for Battle Cross gymkhana series on Speed released

Trailer for Battle Cross gymkhana series on Speed released originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru releases "Gunning for Gold" mini-doc on Rally America Championship

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Subaru

Though Subaru no longer competes in the World Rally Championship, the automaker is still quite active in other forms of rallying. In fact, Subaru Rally Team USA recently captured the 2011 Rally America championship with driver David Higgins at the helm. That marks the sixth time in seven years that a Subaru has been the ultimate Rally America machine.

Subaru created a mini documentary to highlight the 2011 run to the podium. It's called "Gunning for Gold," and it features both Higgins and teammate Dave Mirra discussing their cars and the season. Stay flat over the jump, and check out the clip.

Continue reading Subaru releases "Gunning for Gold" mini-doc on Rally America Championship

Subaru releases "Gunning for Gold" mini-doc on Rally America Championship originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru's reborn rally team beaten by privateer at season-opening Sno*Drift [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Hatchback, Subaru, Racing

Sno Drift Rally - Click above to watch the video after the jump

After losing both Ken Block and Travis Pastrana last year, Subaru's American rally efforts are undergoing a bit of rebuilding. The factory-backed Pleiades team took to the stages for the first time this season at Sno*Drift 2011 in Atlanta, Michigan, and despite a solid effort, driver Dave Mirra found himself three minutes and 53.1 seconds behind the father and son team of Travis and Terry Hanson in their 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Their win made United States rallying history as the duo became the first Super Production class effort to win a National Rally America event.

Day one saw Sno*Drift favorites Antoine L'Estage and David Higgins both forced to retire, leaving the Hanson duo to widen the gap between themselves and their closest competitors. Mirra, meanwhile, was handicapped by a tire puncture that saw the factory Subaru team fall all the way to fifth place before clawing its way back to take the silver.

The Hanson team was joined on the podium by Joseph Burke, another Super Production class contender. Burke was last year's Rookie of the Year, and managed to give Mirra a solid fight for second place despite limited experience on snow and ice. Hit the jump for an excellent recap video.

[Source: Rally-America]

Continue reading Subaru's reborn rally team beaten by privateer at season-opening Sno*Drift [w/video]

Subaru's reborn rally team beaten by privateer at season-opening Sno*Drift [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Time lapse build of Subaru rally car over 800 hours

Drew Phillips — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Subaru

Click above to view video after the jump

It's no secret that running a motorsports team is a lot of work, but probably most of us don't know how much time and effort it really takes. Just building the race cars can take hundreds of man hours, as evidenced by this stop-motion video created by the U.S. Subaru rally team. Starting with a stock 2008 WRX STI, the team strips the car down to its frame by removing the engine, drivetrain, interior and even the windshield. The complete transformation takes an amazing 800 hours of labor. Knowing that makes us cringe even more when we see one roll end over end. Follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading VIDEO: Time lapse build of Subaru rally car over 800 hours

VIDEO: Time lapse build of Subaru rally car over 800 hours originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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