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Nissan unveils Altima-based V8 Supercars [w/videos]

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Videos, Nissan, Australia, Racing

Good as it is, when we think about the Nissan Altima, the words "V8" or "supercar" are not in our vernacular, but Nissan Motorsports is looking to change all that. After unveiling the race version of its Altima sedan intended for the Australian V8 Supercars series back in October, the four race teams and their cars were revealed yesterday ahead of a preseason test session this weekend.

Two of the Altima racecars will be sponsored by Jack Daniels while the other two will wear Norton (as in Norton Anti-Virus) black-and-yellow livery. The season officially kicks off on March 1, and we'll get to see the V8-powered Altima on US soil from May 17-19 when the V8 Supercars series hits the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Scroll down to watch a couple videos and a press release issued for the team introductions.

Continue reading Nissan unveils Altima-based V8 Supercars [w/videos]

Nissan unveils Altima-based V8 Supercars [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aussie Ford FG01 V8 Supercar unveiled

Alex Nunez — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Ford, Australia

Click above for a high res gallery of the new FG01 racing car

Just as civilian Ford Falcon drivers have a new ride in which to roll, the racers who pilot the competition version of the sedan in Australia's V8 Supercar series now have an FG Falcon to call their own. The FG01 V8 Supercar will be officially unveiled at this weekend's race in Melbourne, where it'll entertain with some demo laps and then reside in the pits. According to Ford, the race car was designed to maximize driver safety while minimizing teams' operating, maintenance, and repair costs. Best of all, unlike the "stock" cars run in our various NASCAR series, Australia's V8 supercars actually bear more than a passing resemblance to their production counterparts -- four doors and all. There's no mistaking the fact that this car is derived from the Falcon XR8. Plus, it has a Giant Effing Wing that makes the apparatus hung off of some Pikes Peak hillclimb cars look like the ducktail on a '73 Carrera RS. Awesome. The FG01 will go into battle against its Holden counterparts next season.

Gallery: Ford FG01 V8 Supercar

[Source: Ford Racing Australia]

Continue reading Aussie Ford FG01 V8 Supercar unveiled

Aussie Ford FG01 V8 Supercar unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Racing V8s at Queensland Raceway

Dane Muldoon — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 16:24:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ford, GM, First Drives

Click on the image for a gallery of high-res images of the V8 race cars at the Queensland Raceway.

Recently, I was lucky enough to take a spin around the Queensland Raceway in a V8 race car courtesy of a Christmas present from my lovely wife. The Queensland Raceway is west of Brisbane and hosts a number of high profile events during the year, including Round Seven of the V8 Supercar Championship, Champ Car Racing and drift competitions. For me though, it was all about the V8 Race Experience, where you get suited up and jump behind the wheel of a V8 race car for either five or eight laps of the circuit. Let me just say at the outset that I've never driven a car on a race track before, so the nerves were peaking from the moment I started the drive out to the track.

Upon arrival and after all the usual paperwork was out of the way, the head instructor took us through a tutorial to teach us some of the basics of driving a race car on a race track:

First of all, it's nothing like driving a street car on the road
You have to follow the racing line, which involves using the entire expanse of the road
Different types of corners require different strategies to wring the most speed out of them
Accelerate out of the apex of the corner
You brake not only to reduce speed but also to shift the weight of the vehicle from the back of the car to the front of the car, and importantly, over the front wheels
Brake 10 percent to start shifting the weight then 100 percent to really slow down the car before a tight corner
On this track in these cars you only use third and fourth gear
Hold the accelerator flat to get the highest speed on the straight

Continue reading after the jump.

Continue reading Racing V8s at Queensland Raceway

Racing V8s at Queensland Raceway originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Mar 2007 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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