50th Anniversary of the Mini
Mini's best moment, winning the '64 Monte Carlo Rally
The Mini is an automotive icon with a distinguished history and continuous 50-year production. When released in '59, both the Volkswagen Beetle and Fiat 500 had beat it to market, but the Mini didn't feature their compromising rear-engine layout. Instead, designer Alec Issigonis innovated a front engine/front-wheel drive layout that became a precedent for almost every other compact car to follow.
Although Issigonis never designed the Mini for competition, many specialist competition firms like Downton, Cooper and Speedwell paved the way. Eventually BMC chose Cooper for their official performance variants. Furthermore, the BMC Competition department prepared Morris body shells for their rally cars. One of these, 33EJB, was driven by Patrick Hopkirk and Henry Liddon to win the '64 Monte Carlo Rally. The feat was repeated in 1965 by Timo Mäkinen.
Many companies redeveloped the Mini including Radford who prepared very few cars. They sold a luxury version called the 'de Ville' which had opulent features even if they were at odds with the tiny design. George Harrison's own Mini was outfitted by Radford before the Magical Mystery Tour as was Enzo Ferrari's personal Mini.
When BMW took over the franchise in 2001, the entirely new car was a success. The first of these to be used on the track was the outrageous Qvick Mini S3 which used an M3 engine. BMW released their own Challenge version in 2004 which was completely updated for 2008. Hopefully someone will make an S2000 version suitable for the next Monte now run by the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Manthey Porsche wins Nurburgring 24h
Manthey 911 RSR & 911 Cup
After racing 24 hours on the world's toughest track, Manthey Racing won their forth consecutive Nurburgring victory for Porsche. Their RSR inherited the lead with five hours remaining after Audi LMS #99 slowed with technical difficulties. This let the sister Manthey Racing Cup-S take third place.
With full factory backing, Audi were aiming high. All four R8s finished the race and the one reliable car won the GT3 class. Volkswagen Motorsport also beat much faster entrants with their 2.0-liter Scirocco by finishing 15th overall and first in class.
With the introduction of GT3 and GT4 cars in 2009, the Nurburgring 24h featured many new cars and some old workhorses as well. Almost all the 180 or so entrants are in this week's feature gallery by Dirk de Jager. He visited famous spots like the carousel and Pflanzgarten to capture the cars in the air.
Nurburgring Preview
Lexus sets 8:57
With the Nurburgring 24 less than 24 hours away, now is a good time to preview the race. Remarkably, almost 200 teams will race around the clock on the full 73-turn Nordschleife. All eyes might be on the Monaco GP on Sunday, but the 24 is a much more daring and less covered event. It also gives local and smaller teams a chance to race with the factory big boys.
Earlier today Raeder Automotive set the fastest qualifying time in their Matech Ford GT ahead of many factory teams and some of those with newly prepared cars. There was lots of talk about the four factory Audis, but it's Lexus that gets our immediate attention with their LFA Supercar. Both cars were nearly 20 seconds off pace in rain-soaked practice, but the new livery looks tremendous at speed.
Volkswagen have used the event to launch their Scirocco R road car while the Scirocco GT24-CNG natural gas version will be racing the 24. Even though Subaru officially withdrew from WRC, they have prepared a new factory Impreza WRX STI. Other factory teams include Aston Martin with the Vantage V12, Alpina, Audi and Quasi-factory entries from BMW and Porsche.
All the Cars: Mille Miglia XXVII
Teaching a lesson, 0026M
Since the Mille Miglia was one of the best sports car races in the world, its modern tribute should be equally as impressive. The XXVII edition was held last weekend and it certainly carried on the event in a traditional style. However, the drivers were not out-and-out racing. Instead they were given access to rally on some of the best roads in Italy.
The entry list was purposefully selected to mimic the historic event which included smaller classes, regular production cars and even support vehicles. The resulting 400-place grid was as dynamic as it was impressive. A welcome sight was 0026M, the very same blue Ferrari which won the 1950 Miglia Miglia with race number 724.
Many of the great Italian cars that seldom get shown internationally were also driving. These included multiple OSCA MT4s, Ferrari 750 Monzas, Cisitalia 202s and Fiat 8Vs.
The Mille Miglia was again captured this year by resident photographer Dirk de Jager. He chased the cars from start to finish with some spectacular results.
Tom Kristensen wins DTM
TK running in second at the start.
At last weekend's DTM season opener at Hockenheimring, 'Mr Le Mans' won for Audi infront of 91,000 fans. He was driving the updated 2009 A4 and snatched the lead from Mattias Ekstrom on the last lap.
Audi had more reason to celebrate. They filled the podium, leaving the best placed Mercedes-Benz to fifth overall, some 21 seconds behind the leader. Posterboy Ralf Schumacher has a 2009 C-Class for this season, but finished only 9th yesterday.
Mercedes-Benz have considerable homework to do until the next round in 12 days. The season still has nine more races including international stops at Zandvoort, Brands Hatch, Barcelona and Dijon.
World Record Smashed
0714TR Only Testa Rossa finished in Black
Earlier this morning, RM Auctions fetched $12.2 million USD for this Ferrari Test Rossa at their Leggenda e Passione event. It breaks the world record price for a motorcar at auction which was set at the same event last year for a California Spyder .
This remarkable value was nearly eclipsed by a Ferrari 350 Can Am that didn't meet its reserve at 7.5 million euros. RM described it as a 330 P4, which can lead to confusion since factory converted the P4 engine and body into Can-Am specification in 1967.
Mecum Auctions in Indianapolis unfortunately failed to sell their coveted Cobra Daytona Coupe on Friday. The Auctioneer started at 20 million, but the bidding failed to get above $6,800,000 USD and the reserve was not reached. One of the top sellers was this Shelby King Cobra that won the Riverside Times GP in 1964.
Auction Action
America's Crown Jewel: CSX2601
Typically the top blue-chip cars have been reserved for private sales, but this week might be the turning point. In the next few days we will see undoubtedly the world's best supercars offered in a public setting. First and foremost is CSX2601, a car described by Pete Brock as the best Cobra Daytona of them all. ABC news called it 'number 26' and quoted 10-12 million. We will find out the real value on May 15th when Dana Mecum will auction it in Indianapolis with a live stream online.
By now, Leggenda e Passione is synonymous with Ferraris and Fiorano. RM Auctions has assembled probably their best collection yet with a 250 Testa Rossa being the absolute star of the auction. They will also sell the Schermerhorn Collection with some of the very first Ferrari road cars. This gives us a great chance to review both the 166 Inter and 195 Inter before they go over the block on the 17th.
Finally, Bonhams & Brooks will stage their annual Monaco Auction on the 18th. Among a Miura SV, Porsche 959 and Ferrari 333SP, we pick this Ermini 357. It's our first Ermini on supercars.net and also the most desirable one having raced at the 1955 and 1956 Mille Miglia.
1000kms of SPA
Pegeot leads from front row
Out of the Ardenne mountains near the Belgium/German border, SPA Francorchamps held its historic 1000 kms today. Predictably, Peugeot was at the front for both the the start and finish of the race. Not only were they winning, but also preparing and practicing for Le Mans since the usual Test Day was canceled this year.
Not just limited to the 1000kms, the weekend included Classic Endurance Series (CES), British Gt Championship and Belgium GT Championship races. Highlights included a 935 Moby Dick and a factory-run Ginetta G50 powered by a Zytek ZG348 V8.
Making its debut at SPA, the Reiter Gallardo LP560 competed against three Porsches and seven Ferraris. It was well off pace for most of the weekend, but probably has lots more development potential to come. This and more can be found our SPA 1000 feature gallery by Dirk de Jager.
New Lingenfelter, DTM's 2009 Cars
A modern Yenko?
Today's top story comes from Lingenfelter who have announced a new range of upgrades for the Camaro SS. The top model comes with twin turbochagers and and a built-up LS7 V8 from the Corvette Z06. Hopefully at least one brave customer will take the plunge and order one.
The last remaining series to start in 2009 is the DTM in Germany. Only Audi & AMG are in the series making it very hotly contested. Ralf Schumacher describes it as ''the best touring car series in the world. Here we fight hard for every metre and every tenth of a second.'' Today we have the 2009 Audi A4 DTM R14 plus and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG DTM that will debut at the first race in 10 days at Hockenheim.
Next we have an odd, but inspiring rat rod from Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth called the Orbitron. It was recently restored by Galpin Auto Sports and debuted at the 2009 Amelia Island Concours. Another car to recently surface was the Jaguar XKR-S GT3 at last weekend's Silverstone event.
FIAGT at Silverstone
Fischer Racing and Prospeed Competition Collide!
Known as the Supercar Showdown, Silverstone opened the sports car season this weekend with the first rounds of GT1, GT2, GT3 and GT4 championships. Like every year, it was full of racing debuts and new liveries.
The historic Tourist Trophy was reserved for the GT1 class which was won by Wendlinger and Sharp in the K plus K Motorsports Saleen S7R. Many eyes were on the new Nissan GT-R, but it was completely off pace all weekend and didn't finish Sunday's race.
GT3 was another great show with new cars from Ferrari, Morgan, Alpina, Audi and Jaguar. Surprisingly Morgan won both races of the weekend with their new Aero Super Sport. Audi took 2nd and 3rd on the second race which filled the podium with entirely new cars.
Broken down by class, all the cars from Silverstone can be found in this week's spectacular gallery by local Ilya Holt. Enjoy.
Three Musketeers
Spain's next best thing.
GTA motors is set to become one of the few manufacturers to produce a sports car in Spain. Their aggressive Spano supercar uses a 850 bhp V10 and GTA claims it will reach 100 kph in only 2.9 seconds. Styling elements incorporate a round C-pillar with a completely glass roof.
Today GM has also reused their old Grand Sport name for a new package of LS3 Corvettes. With upgraded brakes and exhaust they still have nothing on original Grand Sport released in '63.
Our final car comes from G-Power who have taken the BMW V10 to the next level. With twin superchargers they hope to eventually reach 900 bhp. Their new M6 Hurricane CS is still only realized in photoshop but looks to be the kind of kit suited for Dubai.
