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[2009 Race of Champions heads to Beijing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/2009-race-of-champions-heads-to-beijing/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/2009-race-of-champions-heads-to-beijing/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/2009-race-of-champions-heads-to-beijing/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2008 Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium - Click above for high-res image gallery

Most of this year's major motorsport series are winding to a close. Champions are being crowned. Teams are preparing for next year. You know what that means: it's time for the Race of Champions.

The international event has been held for the past twenty years, and it always offers a real spectacle as some of the world's best drivers compete for top honors. And this year figures to be no different. Held for the first time outside of Europe at the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing, the 2009 Race of Champions is set to take place next week, packed with an all-star roster.

Among those taking part this year will be newly-crowned Formula One World Champion Jenson Button, seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, recently retired F1 stalwart David Coulthard and rising star Sebastian Vettel. Although six-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb - who won the RoC last year and twice before that - has apparently opted to sit this one out, perennial runner-up Mikko Hirvonen will be competing, along with Audi's multiple Le Mans winners Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro; touring car champions Andy Priaulx, Mattias Ekstrom, Jamie Whincup and Yvan Muller; Dakar winner Giniel deVilliers, Monegasque single-seat racer Clivio Piccione and Australian bike racer Mick Doohan. And finally, these United States will be represented by two of our very finest showmen, Travis Pastrana and Tanner Foust.

This year, the champions will be competing for bragging rights behind the wheels of such varied machinery as the Ford Focus WRC, Volkswagen Scirocco, KTM X-Bow, Solution F Prototype Opel touring car and three different specially-equipped sprint cars. Tune in on Tuesday, November 3 - just two days after the 2009 Formula One World Championship wraps up in Abu Dhabi - for the results.


Gallery: 2008 Race of Champions


[Source: Race of Champions | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]

2009 Race of Champions heads to Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 race of champions2009RaceOfChampionsbeijingbirds nestBirdsNestClivio PiccioneClivioPiccioneDavid CoulthardDavidCoulthardEmanuele PirroEmanuelePirroGiniel deVilliersGinielDevilliersJenson ButtonJensonButtonMichael SchumacherMichaelSchumacherMike DoohanMikeDoohanMikko HirvonenMikkoHirvonenrace of championsRaceOfChampionsrocSebastian VettelSebastianVettelSebastien LoebSebastienLoebTanner FaustTannerFaustTom KristensenTomKristensenTravis PastranaTravisPastranaThu, 29 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tom Kristensen, Audi win DTM opener at Hockenheim]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/19/tom-kristensen-audi-win-dtm-opener-at-hockenheim/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/19/tom-kristensen-audi-win-dtm-opener-at-hockenheim/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/19/tom-kristensen-audi-win-dtm-opener-at-hockenheim/#commentsFiled under: ,


2009 Hockenheim DTM race - click above for a high-res gallery

In news that we almost forgot, Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) series kicked off the 2009 season this past weekend at the Hockenheim circuit, marking the 100th race since the series' reincarnation back in 2000.

Audi, which fielded a record 12 cars, were dominant in both qualifying and in the race, with Mattias Ekström setting a new track record on his way to capturing pole and Tom Kristensen winning his fourth DTM race. This was Audi's 49th victory in the series, and the 30th for the ABT Sportline team for which Kristensen drives. If widebody sedans and carbon fiber winglets are your thing, then check out the high-res gallery below.


Gallery: 2009 Hockenheim DTM Race

Tom Kristensen, Audi win DTM opener at Hockenheim originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 May 2009 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 Hockenheim DTM2009HockenheimDtmAudiDTMTom KristensenTomKristensenTue, 19 May 2009 02:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Audi R15 wins debut at 12 Hours of Sebring]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/22/audi-r15-wins-debut-at-12-hours-of-sebring/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/22/audi-r15-wins-debut-at-12-hours-of-sebring/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/22/audi-r15-wins-debut-at-12-hours-of-sebring/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2009 12 Hours of Sebring - Click above for high-res image gallery

The R8, the R10 and now the R15. Each of Audi's last three prototype Le Mans race cars have won their race debut, with the latest R15 recording its first victory yesterday at the 57th 12 Hours of Sebring. The winning #2 R15 was driving by Audi's dream team of Allan McNish, Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen. Of course, Audi's win did not come easy in the top tier Le Mans P1 class. Peugeot was right there the whole time with its pair of diesel-powered 908 HDi cars, swapping the lead with Audi a total of 23 times. In fact, both teams remained on the same lap with each other throughout the entire 12-hour race.

Follow the jump to continue reading Autoblog's run down of the 57th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Gallery: 12 Hours of Sebring - 2009


[Source: AmericanLeMans.com]

Continue reading Audi R15 wins debut at 12 Hours of Sebring

Audi R15 wins debut at 12 Hours of Sebring originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12 hours of sebring12HoursOfSebringallan mcnishAllanMcnishaudiaudi r15AudiR15breakingdindo capelloDindoCapellopeugeotpeugeot 908 hdipeugeot908hdir15tom kristensenTomKristensenSun, 22 Mar 2009 02:41:00 EST<![CDATA[REVIEW: Audi & NFL Films find <i>Truth in 24</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/13/review-audi-and-nfl-films-find-i-truth-in-24-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/13/review-audi-and-nfl-films-find-i-truth-in-24-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/13/review-audi-and-nfl-films-find-i-truth-in-24-i/#commentsFiled under:



With most sports documentaries, you know how the story's going to end before you even sit down. That knowledge doesn't make Truth in 24 any less fascinating, dramatic, or exciting. The story of Audi's 2008 effort at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Truth in 24 provides a very rare glimpse behind the scenes as Audi Motorsport prepares for, competes in, and ultimately wins the world's most famous endurance race. Audi went to NFL Films to make the movie, and director Keith Crossrow has applied that outfit's uniquely compelling storytelling ability to motor racing -- a sport he was largely unfamiliar with by his own admission. The results, fortunately, make for one Hell of a watch.

Continue reading REVIEW: Audi & NFL Films find Truth in 24

REVIEW: Audi & NFL Films find Truth in 24 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allan mcnishAllanMcnishdindo capelloDindoCapellohowden haynesHowdenHaynesmovie reviewMovieReviewnfl filmsNflFilmstom kristensenTomKristensentruth in 24TruthIn24Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Have your kid join Team Bentley for Halloween!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/31/have-your-kid-join-team-bentley-for-halloween/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/31/have-your-kid-join-team-bentley-for-halloween/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/31/have-your-kid-join-team-bentley-for-halloween/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Tonight, when you're out and about chaperoning the kids as they try to obtain every last piece of Halloween candy in a 13-mile radius, you're likely to see a number of costumes, ranging from the adorable to the completely scary. Automotive-related costumes are usually not something you see a lot of, save for maybe one of the Disney/Pixar Cars getups. Well, enthusiast dads can now dress Junior up in something a little more impressive. The Team Bentley play suit shown above is part of the automaker's Autumn 2007 collection of lifestyle accessories. It's available at the Bentley Collection online store for £55.28 (plus VAT and shipping), and it is fully awesome. We imagine the "trick or treat" dialogue with the neighbors going something like this:

Kid: "Trick or treat!"

Neighbor: "Whoa! Look at that. And who are you?"

Kid: "I'm Tom Kristensen!"

If your neighbors know who Tom Kristensen is, you clearly have cool neighbors. If they know that your kid is actually dressed as Tom K. circa 2003, we want to know if there are any houses available where you live.

[Source: Bentley Collection]

Continue reading Have your kid join Team Bentley for Halloween!

Have your kid join Team Bentley for Halloween! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2003team bentleyteam bentley play suitTeamBentleyTeamBentleyPlaySuittom kristensenTomKristensenWed, 31 Oct 2007 09:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Audi running in front at Sebring... again]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/13/audi-running-in-front-at-sebring-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/13/audi-running-in-front-at-sebring-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/13/audi-running-in-front-at-sebring-again/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click on the photo for a high-res gallery of the 2007 Audi R10 TDi

See that? It's the rear end of a 2007 Audi R10 diesel-powered ALMS racer. The 2007 American LeMans Series kicks off this weekend with the storied Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, and judging from the first day of test sessions on Monday, this view will become quite familiar to the rest of the field.

During the first day of test sessions yesterday, one of Audi's new drivers, Tom Kristensen, beat his teammate's record setting qualifying lap from last year by a full 0.7 seconds, while fellow teammate Emanuele Pirro was just behind and almost a second ahead of the fastest LMP2 Porsche of Andy Wallace.

Last year, Audi's pair of diesel-powered R10s were unbeatable, reaching the highest platform of the podium in each one of the eight races the cars contested, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the only race of the eight not part of the ALMS Series.

[Source: American LeMans Series]

Gallery: 2007 Audi R10 TDi

Audi running in front at Sebring... again originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12 Hours of Sebring12HoursOfSebring2007Emanuele PirroEmanuelePirroR10SebringTom KristensenTomKristensenTue, 13 Mar 2007 13:56:00 EST