GT-R Returns To Super GT And Dominates
For those not yet suffering from overexposure to the new GT-R, here's some more. Yes, they're as bad-ass as they look. The GT500 GT-Rs are currently (and most likely will remain) the most highly developed R35s ever. The new cars made their official debut at the Suzuka Circuit for the opening round of the '08 Super GT series. As impressive as the Fairlady Z has performed for the last four seasons, die-hard fans have been longing for the return of their beloved GT-R. They weren't disappointed.
The Nismo team cars seen here occupied the top of the scoring charts from the weekend's first practice session. The red-and-silver beasts went on to qualify first and second, with the familiar blue Calsonic GT-R in the third grid position. While the rest of the field was never that far behind, the only real competition in the race was between the two Nismo cars. The sole pass between them came on Matsataka Tanagida's out lap just after a driver change. His teammate, Satoshi Motoyama, dove under him in the famous Spoon Corner and never relinquished the lead.
Sharing driving duties with Motoyama was Benoit Treluyer, who had previously won in the Skyline GT-R's final appearance at the close of the 2003 season. Helping drive the new car to victory in its debut race made him an instant hero to GT-R fanatics everywhere. Without TV coverage, it's tough to follow the series from here in the States. More info and updates can be found at SuperGT.net.
The damage seen here was the result of Rob Huff's shunt during qualifying for round one at the Curitiba circuit in Brazil. Amazingly, the team managed to repair the damage for the race. This put Huff into a position to be punted out of sixth place by Larini on lap two. The melee knocked both cars back to middle of the pack, where they were hammered into submission. All three cars DNF'd in round one.
Our Boy Ken Block Lands Top Spot At 100 Acre Wood Rally
Good things happen in threes, at least if you're rally driver Ken Block and co-driver Alessandro Gelsomino (you remember Ken, we cheated him from victory in the April 2008 issue's cover story -AH). For the third straight year, the duo took top honors at round two of the Rally America Championship Series, the 100 Acre Wood Rally, based in Salem, Missouri. Together, they finished just over a minute ahead of Subaru Rally Team USA teammates Travis Pastrana and Derek Ringer.
Block and Gelsomino took nine stage wins out of 14. Their average speed was a healthy 62.6mph on roads covered with snow and ice-without studded tires. For Gelsimino, the rally marked his 100th start. The pair now have a points lead in the series.
Most teams running the Rally America Championship are shooting for an entry into this summer's X Games 14. With the results of the first two rounds flip-flopped, there are no clear favorites yet. With nearly two months before the next round at Olympia, Washington, teams will have plenty of time to knock out the body panels and dial in their programs.
WTCC Chevy Cobalts Collect Each Other In Brazil
Actually, the GM model campaigning in this year's World Touring Car Championship is the Cobalt's European cousin, the Chevrolet Lacetti. The three-car team has some highly qualified drivers, including ex-Ferrari Formula One driver Nicola Larini, and Alain Menu, two-time BTCC champion and three-time runner-up during the Super Touring era.
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