Autoblog

Autoblog Podcast #271

Dan Roth — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Chevrolet, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Mazda, Ferrari, Celebrities

Top Gear USA joins us, Ferrari F620, Lamborghini Aventador and Land Rover Evoque convertibles

Episode #271 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Tanner Foust, Rutledge Wood, and Adam Ferrara of the History Channel's Top Gear join Chris, Dan and Zach. Topics include the Ferrari F620, Lamborghini Aventador convertible and Land Rover Evoque cabriolet. Your questions and comments power the end of the 'cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #271:

In the Autoblog Garage
2012 Chevrolet Traverse
2012 Range Rover Sport HSE Lux
2012 Mazdaspeed3
Kelderman Ford Super Duty
Jeepneys

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman

Runtime: 01:06:36

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #271

Autoblog Podcast #271 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #271 LIVE with the Top Gear crew!

Dan Roth — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Etc., Crossover, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Ferrari, Celebrities

We record Episode #271 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and we'll be joined by Rutledge Wood, Tanner Foust, and Adam Ferrara from the History Channel's Top Gear USA. You can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below, check out our discussion topics or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #271

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #271 LIVE with the Top Gear crew! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tanner Foust tests Ford Focus ST-R racecar

Zach Bowman — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Etc., Hatchback, Ford, Celebrities, Racing

Few things make us happier than the notion of turn-key race cars. In a world where large corporations are increasingly risk-averse when it comes to their products, we take private glee in knowing that if we had the means, we could go out and buy a ready-for-battle race car straight from Ford. We aren't talking about some high-strung quarter-mile Mustang, either. The Ford Focus ST-R is built for laying waste to your favorite road course as you do battle with the bruisers in the Grand-Am ST and SCCA World Challenge TC series. Now Tanner Foust has set out to give the five-door a quick thrash around Homestead-Miami Speedway.

What did the racer-turned TV personality think? Foust spends plenty of time expounding on the virtues of the Ford Racing program and the importance of having a small-displacement race car in the company's stable. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Tanner Foust tests Ford Focus ST-R racecar

Tanner Foust tests Ford Focus ST-R racecar originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Tanner Foust take the Ford Focus RS500 on a 'Ring fling

Zach Bowman — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Etc., Europe, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Celebrities

Tanner Foust recently saddled up in the Ford Focus RS 500 for a quick blast around the Nürburgring and brought a camera crew along for the ride. We were hoping to watch the hot shoe cane the life out of the 350-horsepower hatchback around the world's most infamous road course. Unfortunately, that's not what we got. Foust appears to have been held up by traffic on more than one occasion, and while he was able to stretch the Focus RS 500 to around 150 mph on at least two occasions, we weren't treated to any nail-biting footage. Well, that's not entirely true. Had we been the motorcycle rider Foust was tailgating, we would have likely found the TV star in the paddock later on and had a few choice words on topics like following distance and contact patch ratio.

Still, Foust has nothing but glowing praise for the hottest Focus of them all despite the vehicle's front-wheel drive tendencies. Hit the jump to check out the clip for yourself.

Continue reading Watch Tanner Foust take the Ford Focus RS500 on a 'Ring fling

Watch Tanner Foust take the Ford Focus RS500 on a 'Ring fling originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear USA extends second season

Chris Shunk — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

The first season of Top Gear USA was a little rough, and the statistical proof of this came in the form of lukewarm ratings. But instead of dumping the show in favor of more Pawn Stars re-runs, The History Channel decided to give the auto-focused program another chance at success. Good thing, too, as the second season of Top Gear USA was more refined, more entertaining and, we're guessing, it brought in more ad dollars. That's because the show's ratings jumped by 30 percent, with the much-sought 25-54 demographic jumping by 35 percent.

Thanks to those 1.9 million average viewers, History decided to extend season two by eight more episodes. Hosts Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust, Rutledge Wood and the crew are already in production, and History tells us the new episodes will feature "more exciting challenges, crazy antics and legendary vehicles."

The extended season will include Adam and Rutledge coming up with dangerous ways to charge an electric vehicle while driving and Tanner heading to England to drive the Noble M600. The show hosts will even whip up some homemade limos out of some funky rides, and use the stretch monstrosities to chauffeur celebrities to the Emmy Awards.

Like we said, the first season was pretty average (and sometimes unwatchable), but the second run of shows were far more entertaining. We're thinking that a larger audience can only lead to more investment in the show, which should be a good thing. Hit the jump to read The History Channel press release.

Continue reading Top Gear USA extends second season

Top Gear USA extends second season originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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X Games 17 brings RallyCross to the streets of L.A. [spoilers w/video]

Drew Phillips — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Over the weekend, rally cars took over the streets of downtown Los Angeles to compete in X Games 17. The field of drivers was perhaps the most prestigious yet, with plenty of X Games veterans like Tanner Foust, Travis Pastrana and Brian Deegan facing tough new challengers in the form of Marcus Grönholm, two-time World Champion of the World Rally Championship series and European RallyCross veteran Liam Doran.

The new venue, the third in three years, provided an interesting setting to watch rally cars fly by - traffic whizzed by on the 110 Freeway just a block away - and for the drivers, it was a welcome change to last year's tight and confusing course at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. The venue wasn't ideal for spectators, however, with much of the course hidden from view on the main grandstands. For members of the media such as ourselves, photographing the event was nearly impossible as well, with high fencing blocking nearly every good view.

Even so, the drives put on quite a show for those watching at home on television. With so many talented drivers in so many fast cars, entertaining matchups were inevitable. Click through the jump to read more and watch the wacky action in some X Games-provided videos.

Continue reading X Games 17 brings RallyCross to the streets of L.A. [spoilers w/video]

X Games 17 brings RallyCross to the streets of L.A. [spoilers w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We ride shotgun as Marcus Grönholm practices for X Games 17 [w/video]

Drew Phillips — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Ford, Racing

The El Toro Marine Base in Irvine, CA has become somewhat of a quasi West Coast testing ground for the automotive industry in the past several years. Currently, it's perhaps best known for being the site of the Top Gear USA test track, but we've attended media events, learned how to drift, and watched a variety of manufacturers test out their wares on the military compound's abandoned runways.

Most recently, Ford turned the strips of tarmac into a replica of the X Games 17 RallyCross course and brought out two-time WRC champ Marcus Grönholm and Moto-X-legend-turned-rally-driver Brian Deegan for a practice session ahead of this weekend's main event. Lucky for us, they also asked us to tag along with the enticing offer of a shotgun seat in a 575-horsepower all-wheel drive Fiesta racecar. Count us in.

Click through the jump to continue reading...

Continue reading We ride shotgun as Marcus Grönholm practices for X Games 17 [w/video]

We ride shotgun as Marcus Grönholm practices for X Games 17 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear USA Season 2 Preview, with bonus Stig lap [w/video]

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Celebrities

America's very own version of Top Gear is set to hit airwaves for its second season. A new round of hijinks on the History Channel begins July 24. Seeing as the Top Gear Test Track sits just 15 minutes from your author's house, we thought it might be nice to pop in and pay the guys a visit. We wound up getting more than we bargained for, however, because The Stig was also on set... armed with the keys to a Lotus Evora S.

"Shotgun!"

The hosts could wait, because we had a date with a man/woman/robot known as The Stig. The Top Gear Test Track was clear, our butts were belted into the passenger seat and a solitary thumbs up from the man in white was our clue that this was go time.

Keep reading to learn more about our lap, and the upcoming season of Top Gear.

Continue reading Top Gear USA Season 2 Preview, with bonus Stig lap [w/video]

Top Gear USA Season 2 Preview, with bonus Stig lap [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford launching Octane Academy with Ken Block, Tanner Faust

Zach Bowman — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford

If you're one of the hordes of internet citizens who watch videos of Ken Block, Tanner Foust, Brian Deegan or Vaughn Gittin Jr. perform various acts of insanity from behind the wheel and think you can do better, Ford is giving you the chance to prove it. The automaker has just unveiled its new Octane Academy, which will pair fans up with their favorite maniacal driver for a little on-track training.

If you want a shot at jumping into the fray, all you need to do is work up a video that shows why you're better than the rest and fit for a weekend of challenges. Contest winners will be selected to compete against other horsepower-obsessed entrants before a final champion is selected. Those who beat out the rest on their respective team will take home big prizes, including a specially-designed vehicle penned by Block, Foust, Gittin Jr. or Deegan.

The first camp gets underway in November of 2011, and the contest is currently open and awaiting your video submission. Head over to Octane Academy for more information and check out the video and press release after the jump.

Continue reading Ford launching Octane Academy with Ken Block, Tanner Faust

Ford launching Octane Academy with Ken Block, Tanner Faust originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. Top Gear returns July 24

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

The Fourth of July is right around the corner, which means fireworks, alcohol-fueled patriotism and dogs hiding under beds. July also holds another day on the calender that's cause for celebration, at least for fans of U.S. Top Gear. Tanner Foust, Adam Ferrara and Rutledge Wood are back for season two, which premieres July 24 at 10pm EST on the History Channel.

We fully expect the comment section below to be filled with folks on both sides of the fence. Some of you are ready to support the show, others wrote it off before episode one even aired, and many are caught somewhere in the middle.

We're already hearing rumblings that the hosts are feeling much more comfortable with their chemistry this season and that the entire TG USA team is feeling more confident about the shows they are about to deliver, but the proof will be in this season's pudding.

U.S. Top Gear returns July 24 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch the near-disaster Hot Wheels world record practice jump you've never seen

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Celebrities, Specialty

Tanner Foust's near-disaster Hot Wheels jump - Click above to watch the video after the break

If you were tuned in to the Indy 500 this year, you probably saw Tanner Foust, also known as the rather ambiguous Yellow Driver, set a new world record by flying 332 feet through the air from ramp-to-ramp in a custom-made pickup truck. This Hot Wheels-sponsored event was a pretty spectacular feat, and it went off without a hitch.

Well, at least the actual, official record-setting jump went off without a hitch.

As you'll see in the video after the break, not all of Foust's practice runs were nailed with such grace and perfection. As a matter of fact, at least one of them nearly sent both truck and driver end-over-end. We'd say equal parts of luck, driver skill and safety precautions ended up keeping Foust and the specially prepared truck from an impromptu test of the roll cage.

See for yourself in the video after the break.

Continue reading Watch the near-disaster Hot Wheels world record practice jump you've never seen

Watch the near-disaster Hot Wheels world record practice jump you've never seen originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tanner Foust completes record-setting Team Hot Wheels jump at Indy 500

Alex Nunez — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:55:00 EST

Team Hot Wheels' "Fearless at the 500" record jump attempt - Click above for high-res image gallery

Prior to the start of today's Indy 500, fans finally got to see the long-awaited Team Hot Wheels world-record jump attempt. The mystery "Yellow Driver" piloted specially-prepared truck down the 90-foot ramp that had been under construction in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's infield over the last several weeks. The neat gimmick behind Hot Wheels' "Fearless at the 500" event was that the launch ramp itself was built to simulate that orange track we all grew up with, hung from a giant 10-story door. Talk about pandering to a guy's inner child...

Anyhow, the stunt itself was a success, and fans at the Brickyard watched the truck sail, ramp-to-ramp, 332 feet through the air, setting a world record for four-wheeled vehicles in the process. Upon landing, the mystery driver doffed his helmet to reveal himself as American Top Gear host Tanner Foust. If you want to see the jump yourselves, be advised that ABC will air the stunt at 3:30 PM Eastern time today, following the conclusion of its Indy 500 race coverage. Check out the first few photos from the event below, and follow the jump for the press release.

UPDATE: Video of the jump now added after the break as well.

Gallery: Team Hot Wheels "Fearless at the 500" Jump

Continue reading Tanner Foust completes record-setting Team Hot Wheels jump at Indy 500

Tanner Foust completes record-setting Team Hot Wheels jump at Indy 500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 May 2011 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ken Block battles Tanner Foust in DiRT 3 Gymkhana battle

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 12 May 2011 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Toys/Games

DiRT 3 pits Foust and Block in a Gymkhana showdown - Click above to watch video after the jump

The launch of DiRT 3 is nearly here. You can pick up a copy of the Gymkhana-friendly game on May 24th, but since we're not quite there yet, Codemasters is more than happy to show off this new video, tantalizing us until the day we can finally plunk down cash for our very own copy.

Like we've seen in the past, this latest clip features a virtual Ken Block sliding his perfectly pixelated Ford Fiesta through a make-shift course. This time around, however, Block is joined by Tanner Foust and his equally impressive Rallycross-ready Fiesta.

The last time these two met in real life, Foust wound up beating Block at his own game. Now he's in Block's game, and we can't wait to take each car out for a few (thousand) laps of virtual tire destruction. Click past the jump to watch the clip.

Continue reading Ken Block battles Tanner Foust in DiRT 3 Gymkhana battle

Ken Block battles Tanner Foust in DiRT 3 Gymkhana battle originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 May 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rally Cross to be held outside on streets of LA for X Games 17

Chris Shunk — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

X Games 16 SuperRally - Click above for high-res image gallery

RallyCross and the X Games were made for one another, and X Games 17 will feature one of the coolest tracks ever. The games, which will run from July 28 through July 31, will include a first-ever rally street circuit in downtown Los Angeles.

Three-time rally gold medalist and Top Gear U.S. host Tanner Foust sounds pretty excited about the development, and we can't blame him. "Being in the car, ripping through streets, cranking the handbrake through intersections while door-to-door and jumping next to buildings is going to be truly epic! I can't wait!"

We're guessing ESPN can't wait either, as the shots from the competition will likely be awe-inspiring. And the sports news network will have the event very well covered, with 25 hours of high definition coverage and another 18 hours of 3D coverage.

And, of course, the X Games wouldn't be the X Games without dirt bikes, so you can expect plenty of Enduro X coverage. There will also be eight new Moto X competitions, which will take place inside The STAPLES Center. Sounds like a good time. Hit the jump to read over the ESPN press release, and check out our high-res image galleries below for some of the rally action from last year.

Gallery: X Games 16 Rally Car Racing

Gallery: X Games 16 SuperRally

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Motor World Hype]

Continue reading Rally Cross to be held outside on streets of LA for X Games 17

Rally Cross to be held outside on streets of LA for X Games 17 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tanner Foust signs multi-year racing deal with Ford

Aaron Richardson — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford, Off-Road, Racing

Tanner Foust Ford Fiesta jump - Click above for high-res version

Tanner Foust has carved out a place for himself in motorsports lore as a preternaturally talented drifter and rally racer. Partnered with Ford, Foust has raced in both the European RallyCross Championship and the brand-new Global RallyCross Championship, and dominated ESPN's X-Games. Now, Foust has made the partnership last by signing a multi-year contract to drive for Ford.

Foust's new long-term deal has him at the wheel of his familiar Rockstar Energy-sponsored 2011 Ford Fiesta in both the European RallyCross Championship and the inaugural season of the Global RallyCross Championship. Foust is also headed to X-Games 17 in July to defend his double gold-medal run from last year and his title as the most-decorated rally driver in X-Games history.

As well as his role as Ford's RallyCross and X-Games pilot, Foust is bringing his talent and fame along to help launch the 2012 Ford Focus ST, Dearborn's upcoming 2.0-liter EcoBoost-powered hot hatch.

Gallery: Tanner Foust Ford Fiesta jump

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Tanner Foust signs multi-year racing deal with Ford

Tanner Foust signs multi-year racing deal with Ford originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spoiler Alert: Global RallyCross Championship starts with a bang [w/video]

Drew Phillips — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

Global RallyCross Championship at Irwindale Speedway - Click above for high-res image gallery

Former World Rally Championship title-holder Marcus Grönholm dominated the first-ever Global RallyCross Championship event this past weekend at Irwindale Speedway, first winning the head-to-head SuperRally competition on Friday and following it up with a dominating performance in the multi-car RallyCross event on Saturday.

Formula Drift retiree and Top Gear USA host Tanner Foust also had a strong performance, finishing in second behind Grönholm in both events with the same Ford Fiesta that he drove to a double gold medal in the X Games 16.

Complete event coverage of the Global RallyCross Championship is set to air on ESPN2 on April 17, but until then you can check out our gallery of Friday's action below or follow the jump to watch a video of Grönholm's victory in the final SuperRally race.

Gallery: Global RallyCross Championship at Irwindale Speedway

Continue reading Spoiler Alert: Global RallyCross Championship starts with a bang [w/video]

Spoiler Alert: Global RallyCross Championship starts with a bang [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Formula Drift UAE Invitational in Abu Dhabi 2011

Michael Harley — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:08:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Specialty, Middle East, Racing

Formula Drift in Abu Dhabi - Click above for high-res image gallery

After wrapping up the 2010 Formula Drift season (Vaughn Gittin Jr. took the podium, with Tanner Foust and Ryan Tuerck second and third overall), a handful of selected professional drifters loaded their cars into steel 40-foot containers and shipped them to the Middle East for the inaugural Formula Drift UAE Invitational in Abu Dhabi.

While the locals in that part of the world aren't strangers to wild car antics (as evident from those popular, yet crazy Middle East YouTube videos), the Invitational was formatted to introduce the locals to professional drifting - in a safe and controlled manner. The chosen venue was the new Yas Marina Circuit, designed and built for Formula One (interestingly enough, the Formula Drift guys were the first to every lay "drifting" rubber down on its fresh surface).

In addition to the main event, there was a media day (with ride-alongs), a karting competition (Tanner Foust set the all-time lap record), a visit to Ferrari World and a drag competition with locals. And, to help the local competitors, Tony Brakohiapa and Michael Essa taught drifting techniques to ten drivers from the local SSK Drift Club (four were eventually chosen to participate in demo during the main event).

The next stop for drivers Chris Forsberg, Tanner Foust, Michael Essa, Tony Brakohiapa, Fredric Aasbo, Mike Whiddett and Daijiro Yoshihara is the Qatar Racing Club in Doha, Qatar, for the inaugural Formula Drift Global Challenge on March 18, 2011.

Gallery: Formula Drift in Abu Dhabi 2011

Photos copyright (C)2011 Formula Drift / Ashley Glover / Nick Richards

[Source: Formula Drift]

Formula Drift UAE Invitational in Abu Dhabi 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Tanner Foust and Justin Bell set Focus Global Test Drive benchmark time... sort of.

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Ford, Humor

Justin Bell and Tanner Foust team up for a lap in a Focus - Click above to watch video after the jump

Martin and Lewis. Farley and Spade. Frost and Pegg. Bell and Foust? Are Justin Bell and Tanner Foust the next great comedy duo? No. However, the two can drive around a track very quickly. Though their styles may differ, they have teamed up to set a baseline run in a 2012 Focus for Ford's Global Test Drive Event.

Bell is a GT2 Champion and veteran of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Tanner Foust is a champion drifter, X-Games gold medalist and overseas Rallycross rookie. The two can drive a car to say the least. Can they work together to put down a solid lap time with the 2012 Focus? Click past the jump to find out.

[Source: Ford via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Tanner Foust and Justin Bell set Focus Global Test Drive benchmark time... sort of.

Video: Tanner Foust and Justin Bell set Focus Global Test Drive benchmark time... sort of. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear picked up for second season, Tanner Foust trading drifting focus for rallycross

Zach Bowman — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Celebrities, Humor

Don't look for Tanner Foust to be hanging around the Formula Drift circuit next year. The master of all things sideways has announced that he'll be taking a break from the action next season to focus on other exploits. Namely, those include Foust's television work and a greater involvement in Rallycross. Fans will remember that Foust has been campaigning heavily in Formula Drift for seven years now, and the venue helped make the man a household name - at least among the speed-obsessed of the world. Now he's off to tackle other exploits.

The largest of those will be a greater involvement in Top Gear USA. The History Channel has announced that the American version of the ever-popular UK show will stick around for a second season, and as such, Foust will need to be on hand to drive flooded Pontiac Fieros and tolerate Rutledge Wood.

Foust still plans to show up at the Formula Drift invitational at the Yas Marina Formula One circuit at the end of this month. Hit the jump for the full press release.

[Sources: Tanner Foust Racing, Jalopnik]

Continue reading Top Gear picked up for second season, Tanner Foust trading drifting focus for rallycross

Top Gear picked up for second season, Tanner Foust trading drifting focus for rallycross originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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James May explains why he already hates the hosts of Top Gear USA

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

James May hates Tanner Foust, Rutledge Wood and Adam Ferrara. Before you Top Gear USA haters get too excited at that last sentence, let us explain further. James May hates the Top Gear USA presenters... because he believes they are destined for greatness.

Why exactly does he feel this way? Because of their names. May believes he's "lumbered with a single-syllable surname evoking a popular bank holiday," while Foust's name suggests he can do things with a car that others only dream about - and he really can.

Rutledge Wood, meanwhile, has a name that leads May to believe he should be the next great American novelist, and Adam Ferrara is one letter away from being a child of Enzo.

Whatever May thinks, his discussion of America's Top Gear and its hosts is a great read. We're not saying his insight will cause you to give Tanner, Rutledge and Adam a bit of a break for the first few years... but it might have you questioning your hate, just for a moment.

[Source: The Telegraph]

James May explains why he already hates the hosts of Top Gear USA originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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