Top 10 Supercars of 2010
Supercar of the Year: Bugatti Veyron SS
There is no doubt that the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport is the 2010 supercar of the year (SCOTY). As the ultimate Veyron and the fastest, most expensive automobile on the planet, it sets the bar extremely high for the future.
Despite following a recessive year, many of the major manufacturers didn't hold back. We even saw some intriguing start-ups such as the Arash AF10, Transstar Dagger, Amoritz, Revenge Verde and the Vorax V10.
As a caveat, we should mention this list is restricted to road-cars or concept cars which were launched this year and at least appeared at one show. Deciding factors included style, performance and impact on the market:
1. Bugatti 16/4 Veyron Super Sport (267 MPH, incredible CF work)
2. Ferrari 599 GTO (sold out before launch, legendary history)
3. Porsche 918 Spyder(incredible style, possible production)
4. Hennessey Venom GT (all the right hallmarks for performance)
5. Koenigsegg Agera (ultimate CCX)
6. Lamborghini Sesto Elemento (radical, ultralight CF monocoque)
7. Pagani Zonda Tricolore (Frecce Tricolori for the road)
8. Jaguar C-X75 (XJ220 successor)
9. Alfa Romeo Pandion(wildest concept this year & it drives)
10. Porsche 911 GT2 RS (it was this or the Superleggera)
McLaren MP4-12C hits GT3
McLaren's new GT3 Contender
McLaren have finally announced a motor sport version of their capable MP4-12C. Built to GT3 specifications, it will face a wide-array of existing supercars on the track including the upcoming 458.
McLaren will likely use 2011 as a development season and sell a competitive package to customer teams in 2012. The new car features an updated aerodynamics package with a large rear wing and prominent fender flares.
This year we visited the opening round of the GT3 championship at Silverstone. Prospeed Competition Porsche beat Callaway's Corvette by just 10 points to take the 2010 Team's Championship. For the upcoming 2011 season, there are planned stops in both Russia and China.
Tom Walkinshaw Remembered
TWR-tuned XJ220
Last weekend Tom Walkinshaw passed away at the age of 63 and we lost another great figure in motor sport. Founder of TWR and a successful Touring Car driver, Walkinshaw was also an active race car manufacturer from the 1980s to the mid 1990s.
As early as 1984, TWR began their extensive partnership with Jaguar to produce Touring and Group-C cars. This resulted in two overall wins at Le Mans and three World Sportscar Championships. One of the cars that achieved this success was the 1988 Jaguar XJR-9LM.
TWR also made some of Britain's best supercars. They developed the Jaguar XJ220 and a TWR version. Furthermore they founded Jaguar Sports which produced the XJR-15. Around the same period Walkinshaw became engineering director of the Benetton F1 team and won the 1994 Formula One World Championship with Michael Schumacher behind the wheel.
Remembering Jacques Swaters
275 GTB Competizione Speciale at Pebble Beach
Former racing driver, team owner of Ecurie Francorchamps and pillar of the Ferrari community, Jacques Swaters has past away at the age of 84 in Belgium.
Ecurie Francorchamps was established primarily for racing Ferraris in sports car racing and grand prix from 1952 until 1954. Later, he started Garage Francorchamps, a Ferrari dealership that featured his impressive collection including 0064M, a gorgeous two-tone 166 MM Barchetta.
No doubt, the yellow Ferraris of Jacques Swaters have shaped Supercars.net, especially the 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione Speciale. With it, Ecurie Francorchamps won their class at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans. Belgian photographer Dirk de Jager ran into many more of the team's old cars at the 2006 Brussels Retro Festival.
Audis V6-Powered LMP1 Coupe
The new face of Audi motorsport
For the upcoming 2011 season Audi have prepared the R18: an all-new LMP1 coupe with a diesel V6 engine.
Beaten by Peugeot this year, Audi have probably spared little expense to win the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans and beat Ferraris score of nine overall victories.
Audi failed to mention the electronics system in their 2011 contender which for the first time could include energy recovery as part of the ACO's continued focus on the environment.
BMW M Coupé plus 2 new Mustangs
BMW M Coupé beside the original M3
After numerous teasers and press handouts, BMW have finally released their M Coupé based on the 1 series platform. With the sDrive35is engine, this '1er' outperforms the outgoing 3rd generation M3 and underlines how much progress BMW has made.
Ford saved two new racing cars for the Performance Racing Industry show in Florida. Big news is the return of the Cobra Jet which will be built strictly as a track day drag unit. Also on display is a version of the BOSS 302 which is slightly modified for SCCA's Pro Racing World Challenge and NASA's American Iron Racing.
Ferrari 458 GT2
458 Testing on Fiorano
Today the first image is being revealed of the Ferrari's new GT2 contender. Meant to replace the outgoing 430, this will be Ferrari's main hope at beating Porsche and Corvette in ALMS, FIA-sanctioned races and at Le Mans.
The outgoing Ferrari 430 has had an extended service with Ferrari which began in the 2006 season. Probably a high-point for the model came at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans when the Risi Competizione car placed first in GT2. Risi and other teams such as AF Corse and CRS Racing are probably looking at the new 458 development with a keen eye.
The Lingenfelter Collection
Modern Cars in the Collection
Today we can present the supercar collection from Lingenfelter Motor Sports. Centered on Corvettes, the facility has over 150 cars from all walks of postwar motoring performance. Our gallery has almost all the cars that were on display this summer.
Sometimes known as the 'Sultan of Michigan', Ken Lingenfelter has assembled the collection in Michigan as a complement to Lingenfelter Performance Engineering based out of Decatur, Indiana. Both facilities pay tribute to the late John Lingenfelter who founded the company and was very active in NHRA drag racing. Some of the fastest Corvettes were produced by John and are now on display in the collection.
Last week we focused in on the 1953 McCulloch Supercharged Corvette and our newest gallery now shows more unique cars such as the 2002 Lingenfelter C5R 427 Twin Turbo and a 1976 Greenwood GT Corvette. More modern cars such as the Reventon and Bugatti see regular use on the roads of Michigan.
Finali Mondiali Ferrari
599FXX Program at Valencia
Ferrari's passion and the passion for Ferrari can be best seen at the Finali Mondiali. It brings together Ferrari's personalities and motor sports programs with a rich connection to heritage.
This year Valencia hosted the finals which included the final round of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo as well as Corse Clienti laps, a Ferrari Historic Race, parade laps, F1 demonstrations and a gala night. One impressive sight was 19 cars from the 599XX program.
2010 wasn't particularly kind to Ferrari. They missed the F1 Championship by a few points and failed to secure enough wins in the Le Mans Series, ALMS or the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Maybe 2011 might be more successful with the expected launch of the 458 GT2/GT3 contenders.
