Search the Community

G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com Season 3 Formula E Racing - New Look! Season 3 of Formula E racing is getting close and with that a new look for the race cars has emerged. Initially all that the Formula E racing was willing to release is the above photo. Yet only 24hrs later the Mahindra Racing Team unveiled their new ride via Twitter. Dilbagh Gill Tweet This now is being called the speed racer nose, as the car behind this front wing is essentially the same from last season. The front end nose was designed to give the E-Cars a more aggressive look with the same down force. Thoughts?

http://www.fiaformulae.com/en.aspx Is the competition any good? It's basically F1-ish cars but with electric engines. I haven't had the chance to watch any races yet but it does sound interesting. I wonder how the cars compare with F1cars.

The rumors seemed to be right on the money as Ford announced this morning that it would make a return to Le Mans next year with the GT supercar competing in the LM GTE class. This is one way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ford’s historic 1966 overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, the GT will not only compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The blue oval announced a racing program that will compete in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship with a two-team, four-car effort. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will be handling the program. Drivers for the effort will be announced at a later time. Ford says the race version of the GT boasts a number of innovations that “will not only make it competitive in LM GTE Pro,” but also “provide benefits to each vehicle in the Ford lineup.” Such innovations include “state-of-the-art aerodynamics to deliver outstanding levels of downforce for improved stability with minimal drag, advanced lightweight composites featuring carbon fiber for an exceptionally rigid but light chassis, and the power and efficiency of EcoBoost technology.” “When the GT40 competed at Le Mans in the 1960s, Henry Ford II sought to prove Ford could beat endurance racing’s most legendary manufacturers. We are still extremely proud of having won this iconic race four times in a row, and that same spirit that drove the innovation behind the first Ford GT still drives us today,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Company. The race version of the GT will make its debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona next January. Source: Ford Press Release is on Page 2 JUN 12, 2015 | LE MANS, FRANCE FORD RETURNING TO LE MANS IN 2016 WITH ALL-NEW FORD GT, MARKING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1966 VICTORY Ford returns to Le Mans in 2016 with the all-new Ford GT supercar to compete in LM GTE Pro class, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Ford’s 1966 overall victory All-new Ford factory program to compete in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship with a two-team, four-car effort – operated by Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Ford GT is company’s showcase for aerodynamics and lightweight carbon fiber construction, along with new twin-turbocharged Ford EcoBoost® V6 – most powerful EcoBoost production engine ever Ford announced today it is returning to one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world with its new Ford GT race car, based on the all-new ultra-high-performance supercar that goes on sale next year. The Ford GT race car will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – referred to by many as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency – starting next year. Revealed today at the famous circuit in Le Mans, France, Ford GT will compete in the Le Mans GT Endurance class for professional teams and drivers (LM GTE Pro). The new race car – a further proof point of Ford innovation – is based on the all-new Ford GT supercar unveiled in January. Both the production car and race car will arrive in 2016 to mark the 50th anniversary of Ford GT race cars placing 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford went on to repeat its victory at Le Mans in 1967, 1968 and 1969. “When the GT40 competed at Le Mans in the 1960s, Henry Ford II sought to prove Ford could beat endurance racing’s most legendary manufacturers,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. “We are still extremely proud of having won this iconic race four times in a row, and that same spirit that drove the innovation behind the first Ford GT still drives us today.” The new Ford GT race car will run the full 2016 schedules of the FIA World Endurance Championship and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, making its competition debut in January 2016 in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Florida. The two Ford teams will be operated by Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS). Both series teams intend to compete with a four-car effort at Le Mans. Drivers will be announced later. The all-new Ford GT serves as the pinnacle product of the new Ford Performance group, a division dedicated to providing innovation through performance. Set to deliver more than 12 new performance vehicles by 2020, Ford Performance will leverage its racing efforts and expertise to speed innovations on dedicated performance models and performance parts in order to more quickly iterate the latest technologies that can ultimately be applied to the full Ford vehicle lineup. The performance segment is a growing business for Ford, as the company recognizes its customers’ desire for vehicles that offer excellent fuel economy, leading technology and a great driving experience. The Ford Performance lineup includes Ford GT, Focus RS, F-150 Raptor, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R, Focus ST and Fiesta ST. “Ford remains focused on three priorities globally – accelerating our One Ford plan, delivering product excellence with passion and driving innovation in every part of our business,” said Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company president and CEO. “All three came together to create the new Ford GT. We also know from our rich history in motorsports that world-class competition is a great incubator for even further product innovation.” The Ford GT race car features a number of innovations Ford believes will not only make it competitive in LM GTE Pro, but ultimately positioned to provide benefits to each vehicle in the Ford lineup. These include state-of-the-art aerodynamics to deliver outstanding levels of downforce for improved stability with minimal drag, advanced lightweight composites featuring carbon fiber for an exceptionally rigid but light chassis, and the power and efficiency of EcoBoost technology. “As we developed the Ford GT, from the outset, we wanted to ensure we had a car that has what it takes to return Ford to the world of GT racing,” said Raj Nair, Ford Motor Company group vice president, Global Product Development and chief technical officer. “We believe the Ford GT’s advances in aerodynamics, light-weighting and EcoBoost power will make for a compelling race car that can once again compete on a global stage.” Joining Ford in this project are Multimatic Motorsports, Roush Yates Engines, Castrol, Michelin, Forza Motorsport, Sparco, Brembo and CGRFS. The race car has undergone extensive design and testing within Ford and Multimatic, with CGRFS providing input into the development. Roush Yates is supporting development of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 – the most powerful EcoBoost production engine ever. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine debuted in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship in 2014. Since then, Ford, with CGRFS, has captured significant overall wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Rolex 24 At Daytona. Besides great success in sports cars, Ganassi race teams achieved major victories in the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Indianapolis 500. “We’ve won races and championships, but we’ve never run Le Mans,” said team owner Chip Ganassi. “When presented the opportunity to compete with the all-new Ford GT on the world’s biggest sports car stage, and on the 50th anniversary of one of the most storied victories in racing history, how could any race team not want to be part of that? Will it be a challenge? Absolutely, but we couldn’t be with a better partner than Ford.” View full article

I figured I would just start one thread and just post to it on the Fridays I remember. I see I only posted one previous #RacingFriday thread with Ken Gushi & Tyler McQuarrie so if the admins don't mind merging it would be cool. So, anyway, onto today's post. In the video below you can see a near miss at 140mph. The driver exhibits some real skill but, as far as I can tell, he's an amateur (he may want to reconsider that). The video hosted at the link is a trimmed version of the good parts but I also include the link to the full You Tube video where the driver gives his POV.

Raw video footage of a Formula D practice run featuring Ken Gushi in his GReddy Racing Scion FRS against Tyler McQuarrie. Check it out here: http://blog.rvinyl.com/2015/05/15/racingfriday-ken-gushi-door-vs-tyler-mcquarrie/

The Civic Si Coupe doesn’t get the respect it deserves but this one street racecould change that. In today’s #RacingFriday video, we see that the BMW E90 is smoked by the sleeper Civic SI Coupe. What makes it even more interesting is that both cars are supposedly stock so the only real options that are left are the following: 1. The Honda Civic Si is a superior machine 2. The driver of the BMW should be ashamed of himself What do you guys think? Check out the video and let us know: https://rvinyl.wistia.com/medias/xx2q7gyr9m