VIDEO: Renault Megane RS Trophy�s Record Run at the �Ring

Last week, Renault upped the ante for front-wheel drive models by setting a new lap record at the Nurburgring Nordschleife with its more powerful M�gane Renaultsport Trophy.
The 265-horsepower strong special edition posted a lap time of 8 minutes and 7.97 seconds in the hands of Renault test driver Laurent Hurgon, smashing the previous record for a front-wheel drive model held by the older generation M�gane RS R26.R by nine seconds. Buckle up, sit tight and enjoy the record run in the video after the break.

Renault Sets New N�rburgring Lap Record for a Front-Wheel Drive Car with Megane RS Trophy

Renault has slashed its own longstanding lap record for a front-wheel drive production car at the Nordschleife, which the company held since June 23, 2008, with its new Megane RenaultSport (RS) Trophy special.
The 265-horsepower version of the Megane RS completed a full lap around the N�rburgring racetrack in 8 minutes and 7.97 seconds beating the time of the previous generation M�gane Renaultsport R26.R by 9 seconds. In comparison, the now obsolete 305HP Ford Focus RS posted a lap time of 8 minutes and 26 seconds in the summer of 2009.

SCOOP: New Opel Astra GTC OPC Flogged Around the �Ring

What you see here is a prototype version of the all-new Opel Astra GTC OPC, or as Vauxhall buyers in Britain will come to know it, the upcoming Astra GTC VXR, and it was spotted doing test rounds at the Nurburgring race track.
Having already revealed the mainstream models of the new and rather sporty looking in a VW Scirocco kind of way GTC, the Astra�s engineers turned their focus on the fastest and most powerful version of the series, which will look a lot like the original concept seen at last year�s Paris Motor Show.

Renault Teases More Potent version of Megane RS

One of Europe�s finest hot hatches is about to get better as Renault is readying a new edition of the Megane RS that will be unveiled to the world on June 17, 2011. The French carmaker released a teaser video of the car from the test runs at the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany.
However, that�s about all Renault is willing to reveal for now so we�ll have to wait and see what kind of upgrades the car will feature and if a power boost and / or a weight reduction and chassis enhancements are part of the package.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato: Italian Elegance Meets British Brute Force

Some companies really know how to celebrate. Take AstonMartin and Zagato, for example. The iconic British sports car maker and the legendary Italian coachbuilder will mark the 50th anniversary of their first collaboration with a brand new study.
To honor their first joint project, the 1961 DB4GT Zagato, the two companies developed the Aston Martin V12 Zagato, a race car study that will be unveiled on May 21 at the Villa D'Este Concorsod'Eleganza in Italy, where it will compete against the Ferrari Superamerica 45. But this elegant and dramatic coupe was not built for classy Concours d'Elegance events alone, as it will actually race at the Nurburgring 24 Hour event on June 25-26.

SCOOP: Audi�s �ber R8 GT Spyder Hits the �Ring

There�s a new Audi model coming to town. We�re talking about the 2012 R8 GT Spyder that will make its global premiere at the upcoming 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and which we caught testing in and around the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany. Even though Audi recently teased us with a set of renderings, these are some of the first real life photos of the R8 GT Spyder, which is seen here in prototype guise.

SCOOP: 2012 Bentley Continental GTC Convertible Facelift Spotted Testing at the Nurburgring

We knew that Bentley was working on a revised version of its Continental GTC drop-top model after the introduction of the facelifted Continental GT coupe, and these fresh-from-the-Nurburgring spy shots are here to prove it.
Following the example of its coupe sibling that was unveiled in facelifted form at last year�s Paris Motor Show, the 2012 Conti convertible receives a styling makeover. The changes include newly shaped body panels all around and a more prominent front end with Mulsanne-inspired quad headlamps featuring inner lamps powered by xenon on low beam and LED on high beam.

Lexus CT200h Race Car to Debut at the Nurburgring

The Lexus CT200h compact hybrid will debut in racing car guise at an endurance race this weekend at the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit. Entered by Gazoo Racing, the same organization that races the Lexus LFA, the CT200h will compete in the Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy. Around 200 cars will line up at the start of the six hour-race.

Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition Photographed at its Natural Habitat

Last month we wrote about the Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition, a 210HP version of which only 500 units will be built. Opel had initially released three photos of the new car but now, the German carmaker returns with a bevy of new pictures of its pocket rocket. Naturally, all shots are taken at the Nurburgring racetrack, on the old Nordschleife section as well as on the modern Grand Prix circuit.

Opel didn't offer any new information on the car aside from announcing that the average fuel consumption is 7.6 liters/100 km (30.95 mpg) with corresponding CO2 emissions of 178 grams per kilometer.

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Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition Photographed at its Natural Habitat

Last month we wrote about the Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition, a 210HP version of which only 500 units will be built. Opel had initially released three photos of the new car but now, the German carmaker returns with a bevy of new pictures of its pocket rocket. Naturally, all shots are taken at the Nurburgring racetrack, on the old Nordschleife section as well as on the modern Grand Prix circuit.
Opel didn't offer any new information on the car aside from announcing that the average fuel consumption is 7.6 liters/100 km (30.95 mpg) with corresponding CO2 emissions of 178 grams per kilometer.

Video: Peugeot EX-1�s Record Breaking Run on the Nurburgring

On April 27, 2011, for the first time in the Peugeot�s history, the French car maker set an official lap record on the Nordschleife race track in Germany. And this was no ordinary feat as Peugeot established an electric speed record with a concept model, the EX1 design study, which we first laid eyes upon at last year�s Paris Motor Show.

With St�phane Caillet, driver and tuner-technician from Peugeot�s Research & Development Centre, behind the wheel, the futuristic looking EX1 completed a lap around the Nurburgring in 9 minutes and 1.338 seconds (9:01.338) at an average speed of 138.324 km/h (85.951 mph).

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Video: Peugeot EX-1�s Record Breaking Run on the Nurburgring

On April 27, 2011, for the first time in the Peugeot�s history, the French car maker set an official lap record on the Nordschleife race track in Germany. And this was no ordinary feat as Peugeot established an electric speed record with a concept model, the EX1 design study, which we first laid eyes upon at last year�s Paris Motor Show.
With St�phane Caillet, driver and tuner-technician from Peugeot�s Research & Development Centre, behind the wheel, the futuristic looking EX1 completed a lap around the Nurburgring in 9 minutes and 1.338 seconds (9:01.338) at an average speed of 138.324 km/h (85.951 mph).

2010 Porsche GT3 RS Laps Time at Nurburgring

The new 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS has unofficially lapped Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7min 33sec. That's still significantly slower than the current leaders, which include the Corvette ZR1 (7m26.4s), Gumpert Apollo (7m11.57s), Radical SR8LM (6m48s) and the highly disputed Nissan GT-R (7m27.56s), however, compared to the regular 911 GT3 it is a full seven seconds quicker.

The test driver was not named, however, track conditions were reported as having "some light traffic" and the timer telemetry showed a theoretical best lap of 7m 30s.

It was a year ago Porsche disputed Nissan's claims of achieving 7m 29s with the newly launched Nissan GT-R which was 20 kilos heavier than the 911 Turbo. Porsche officials were baffled as they could only achieve 7m 54s with a GT-R they purchased from the US. Porsche suspected the GT-R had been modified or used other tires. Nissan fired back by releasing photos of the tires used as well as in-car video footage with timer display. Since then Nissan has gone on to better the GT-R's time further with 7m 26.7s.

Lotus Evora 124 to Debut at 2010 Nurburgring 24-hour Race

The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar has been developed from the award-winning Evora road car and is built to FIA regulations and safety standards.

The Type 124 (pronounced One Twenty Four) Endurance Racecar is the next step in the evolution of the Evora. The car will make its 24 hour racing debut at the ADAC N�rburgring 24 Hours which provides a great test for the Evora�s performance, efficiency and durability under tough and demanding endurance race conditions.

At the heart of the Lotus Evora are fundamental racecar elements: mid-engine layout, high-tech and super-stiff extruded and bonded aluminium chassis and very strong lightweight forged aluminium wishbones. All these elements mean that it is a natural evolution from the road going Lotus Evora to a competitive endurance racecar.

From the outset the design team had intentions to take the Evora racing and the chassis was designed with this in mind. Endurance races are the perfect events to showcase the efficiency, handling and durability characteristics that have been fundamental to the concept of the Evora.

The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar has a race-tuned version of the mid-mounted Toyota V6 engine, with power increased to over 400 ps (depending on race regulations). Vehicle mass is expected to be reduced by up to 200 kg, bringing the weight of the racecar to less than 1200 kg (depending on race regulations).



Further changes for the Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar include a six speed sequential paddle shift racing gearbox, full FIA specification roll cage, FIA-compliant 120 litre ATL fuel system, FIA fire extinguisher system, competition carbon fibre rear wing, diffuser and front splitter.

The racecar is fitted with AP Racing 6 piston callipers front and rear, with a race-tuned Bosch ABS system, 4-way adjustable dampers and adjustable anti-roll bars. The racecar runs on 18? rims shod with Pirelli racing slicks and the wheels widths have been increased over the roadcar to 9 � J on the front and 11 J on the rear.

The aerodynamically efficient Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar body design, made from lightweight composite and carbon fibre panels, remains predominantly unchanged from the road car, with the only modifications being to the lower sections of the front and rear clamshells and the side sills.

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited, said, �Motorsport has been in our blood ever since our founder, Colin Chapman, built the first Lotus back in 1948. We are proud of our motorsport history, which includes victories in Formula One, Le Mans, saloon car, rally car and sportscar racing around the world; more recently, we won the British GT3 Championship in 2006 with the Lotus Exige. The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar is from the same unique stable and we expect it to be a competitive racecar when we enter various endurance races next year.�

Roger Becker, Vehicle Engineering Director for Group Lotus Plc said, �Every Lotus car is designed to be at home on the race track as well as the road, and the Evora is no different. Designed primarily as an everyday road car, the Evora�s lightweight and stiff structure, its aerodynamics and performance means that it is perfectly suited to taming race tracks around the world, and we are looking forward to seeing the new Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar line up on the grid for the 2010 season.�

The racecar is expected to compete in a number of endurance races in 2010/ 2011 forming part of a factory-supported race program. The races that are targeted are: The 2010 ADAC N�rburgring 24 Hours (N�rburgring Nordschleife, Germany) in May 2010, Merdeka Millennium 12 Hours (Sepang, Malaysia) in August 2010, BritCar 24 Hours (Silverstone, UK) in October 2010 and the Dubai 24 Hours (Dubai Autodrome, UAE) January 2011.

Devon GTX Nurburgring Record

This is the Devon GTX. An all-new American supercar that is due to be unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d�Elegance in California this weekend. It�s purpose? To dethrone the Radical SR8 Supersport�s production-car record at the Nurburgring. It has been spotted at the Nordshcleife with endurance racer Justin Bell - son of Le Mans hero Derek - behind the wheel. Not much is available on the technology under the car but reports suggests that its V10 powerplant will produce around 650bhp and that a significant amounts of carbon-fiber will be employed around the car.

According to our source, chasing the Radical�s �Ring record is still a long ways away as the GTX can apparently only lap California�s Laguna Seca circuit one tenth of a second faster than a Viper ACR. To put that into a �Ring context, the ACR managed to lap the Nordschleife in 7min 22sec, so Devon�s target of 6min 55sec looks like a tough task for now.



On top of that, Devon could be facing an even lower lap-time target, as Radical is heading back to the Nurburgring with the SR8LM, a significantly updated version of its SR8, with the aim of beating the 380bhp SR8 Supersport�s time that it set back in 2005.

�It�s several years since we last went for the record, and we�ve carried out a huge amount of development work on the SR8 in the meantime,� said Radical�s Mick Hyde. �The aerodynamics have been considerably improved, now creating more downforce and less drag. The new-for-2009 chassis is much safer having passed the FIA production sports car crash tests, and the engine is also improved, producing 460bhp and driving through our in-house designed six-speed transmission.�

Behind the wheel of the Radical will be Dutch sports car racer Michael Vergers. Watch this space this weekend as we bring you all the details of the Devon GTX.





Source: Pistonheads