All posts tagged rally
Mini Countryman Dakar: Mini All4 ready
The Mini Countryman Dakar model by X-Raid is already up for one of the world’s most gruelling endurance races. The Countryman model was earmarked for the World Rally Championship just a couple of months after it was released, and X-Raid then decided to take it to the famous Dakar, with this livery unlikely to go unnoticed across South America next year.
Prepared in near record time, the Mini Countryman Dakar is a turbo-diesel model with the engine used from the BMW X3CC, which X-Raid has used in previous cross country world racing titles. The unit has 315 hp and about 700 Nm of torque. The Mini has been preferred over the BMW for its more compact stature, lower centre of gravity and shorter wheelbase. The car has been trusted to Guerlain Chicherit and co-driver Michel Périn, and we can’t wait to see how they fare in January.
Mini Countryman Dakar All4 rally
Source | X-Raid via Autoblog.com
Mini Countryman WRC live at 2010 Paris Motor Show
The Mini Countryman WRC model is live at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, not only introducing the competition version of the new Mini compact SUV but also marking Mini’s return to rally car racing. The Countryman WRC has been developed by Prodrive and is equipped with a 1.6-litre turbo engine with all-wheel-drive. The WRC model will debut in some competitions in 2011, with full participation in the championship in 2012.
The Paris show has also proved an important opportunity for Mini to announce the initial interest and future popularity of its Countryman model. Perhaps considered a risky straying from the well-developed Mini niche, the Countryman is proving to appeal to customers who have traditionally been outside that niche but are attracted by the Mini brand. Specifically, Mini has announced that all models planned for production until February 2011 have been sold and so we can wait for more news about production increases in the new year.
Continue reading: Mini Countryman WRC live at 2010 Paris Motor Show
Volkswagen Cup Scirocco R rally pics
These pictures show the new Volkswagen Scirocco R rally car debuting at the WRC in the Germany Rally. The Cup Scirocco can run off bio natural gas and when it does, it emits 80 percent less CO2. The Cup Scirocco R is equipped with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Compressed Natural Gas engine which has 220 hp and 275 Nm of torque.
The Volkswagen Cup Scirocco R was driven by Carlos Sainz and Nasser Al-Attiyah as a course-opener during the rally. These pictures show how impressive the Scirocco R in its rally form must be. Not to mention the landscape - check out the vineyards in the background!
Mini rally history video: Countryman takes on the WRC
As Mini takes its new Countryman model into the World Rally Championship with Prodrive, here’s a video on the history of Mini in rallying. It’s the seventh episode in the “WRC Access All Areas” series, and shows Mini in rallies of the 1960’s. Mini’s roots in rallying lie in its classic and small Cooper model, competing across all surfaces and enjoying much success despite its size.
In fact, seeing this video you might wonder why it’s taken Mini to get to the Countryman model before re-entering the championship. Hopefully the new compact crossover/SUV will prove it’s not just a trendy attempt to expand Mini’s participation in other segments. It’s not a lot to go by, but as we learned from the AutoExpress test drive, the Countryman still drives like a Mini should. With that and Prodrive’s experience, we could be looking at an exciting start for Mini in the WRC.
Audi A1 competition kit pics and video
Here’s a look at the new Audi A1 competition kit which has been created in honour of some of the more legendary episodes in Audi racing, for example Walter Rohrl’s Pikes Peak campaign with the Audi Quattro Sport S1. If the A1 competition kit hasn’t already, it should really consider a career in rally car driving, if a hot sports version that goes beyond the level of aesthetic is produced.
The A1 competition kit uses the livery of Audi’s racing days in a complete accessory package which also includes ornamental touches to the air intakes, internal colour trim on the central console, door handles and external rear vision mirrors. Specially branded floor mats and sports steering wheel, gear lever and hand brake in red leather complete the look. To examine this A1 sports model more closely, check out the video after the jump.
Alain Prost drives Dacia Duster on ice
This video shows the French Formula One driver at the wheel of the new Dacia Duster crossover, rally driving the new car for its market debut. The Dacia Duster in the video has been designed for driving on ice and there’s plenty of sliding and drifting for the rev heads among you. The Dacia Duster is a low cost model based on the Nissan Qashqai and you can get a closer look of its style in this video.
Renault Twingo RS light gives life to Twingo R1 and R2 rally versions
Renault will present the Twingo RS Light special version with reduced weight, which will become the basis of the rally versions of the car. The Renault Twingo RS Light has no air conditioning, additional air bags and other accessories which make it lighter and bring the price down to about 14,500 euros.
The R1 and R2 rally versions will be developed from the Renault Sport Light and will be ready in March next year. The R1 has a rally kit costing 10,000 euros and has a shorter shift, roll bar and some mechanical touch-ups to reach 140 hp. The R2 will have sequential Sadev five-speed shift, ZF autobloc differential, Marelli electronics, Ohlins shock absorbers, larger brakes and a 160 hp engine. This kit costs about 30,000 euros and the Twingo R2 will debut in December at the Monza Rally in Italy.
Source | Autosprint via Autoblog.it
Renault Megane RS track presentation video
Here’s the presentation video of the Renault Megane RS from the Ascari Race Resort. The driver in the video is Emmanuel Guigou, French rally champion for 2007 and 2008 and he really shows just how this hot hatch can be driven.
Citroen DS3 rally spy shots
Here are some pics of the Citroen DS3 rally version testing to meet current guidelines for manufacturers under new WRC regulations for 2011. The DS3 R3 will be equipped with a 1.6-litre turbo engine, and you can see all the racing touch-ups required with internal roll-bar, lowered skirts, racing wheels and tyres, and large front air intake.
The Citroen DS3 will enter the R3T category where it should cross swords with the Abarth 500 R3T. We can’t wait for more details and official pics of this Citreon DS3 rally, and hope to see it churning up some dirt on the rally circuit in the future.
Source | AutoInternationaal and LeBlogAuto
Ken Block drives the Subaru Impreza
Ken Block and the Subaru Impreza look like quite a lethal combination in this video. In a display of pure Impreza acrobatics, we see the Subaru Impreza STI prepared by Crowford at 566 hp in a little industrial set rally car drive. With plenty of wheel spin and drifting going on, the top-notch video editing is part of the package. It looks like hard work though…
Ferrari and Citroen all-in-one: Nimik builds a Citroen 2CV van on Ferrari F355
The Italian company Nimik has produced an original remake of the Citroen 2CV van, once sold in Italy as the “Acadiane”. The Nimik name established itself in the rally sector for having participated in various races with Citroen models.
To honour the French brand, the Nimik Rally Team decided to assemble by hand a personalised 2CV van based on a Ferrari F355. Originally used as a team and promotion vehicle, Nimil took its creation to the My Special Car Show in Rimini. In the video above you can see how they managed to transform a Ferrari into a Citroen 2CV van…. or vice versa. If you wanted to buy this vehicle, it will cost you around 180,000 euros. Originality, it seems, has its price.
Citroen 2CV powered by Ferrari
Continue reading: Ferrari and Citroen all-in-one: Nimik builds a Citroen 2CV van on Ferrari F355
Lancia Delta Martini Racing
This image comes from the Netherlands and is of a new Lancia Delta in Martini Racing colours, the same livery as the celebrated ancestor, which dominated WRC rally championships from 1987 to 1992. This is a real photo and not a reconstruction, and we like the final result.
The rear wing is missing, but the alloy wheels are fully present, making us nostalgic for the time when the Delta name sparkled on the list of Lancia’s offering. The six world championships made Italians proud of their brand, and this image re-lives a dream.
Source | Autoblog.nl
Follow us
Advertising
Are you interested in advertising on eurocarblog?
Advertise on Blogo.it.
eurocarblog is part of the Blogo.it network of blogs. Contacts About us.
© 2005-2010 Blogo.it, P. IVA 04699900967, some rights reserved under a Creative Commons license.