BMW E30 M3 a racing legend

Sport Evolution (aka Evo III) model

Year 1986 has to be the sacrosanct year for the BMW aficionados as it marked the beginning of a legend that stood the test of time until the present day. The M3 badge makes its presence felt all thanks to Munich's racing aspiration. The venerable badge gestation was instigated by the E30 generation as a homologation special for entry to Touring Car racing, where it would lock horns with the likes of the W201 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3/16V in the DTM series.

Available either in 2-door coupe or convertible form, the E30 M3 was a star machinery, with notable accolades including winning the 1987 World Touring Car Championship drivers title, Top Sports Cars of the 1980s awarded by Sports Car International in 2004 and the "5 greatest drivers cars of all time" under Automobile Magazine 25 Greatest Cars of All Time. 

To keep the car competitive in racing and adapt to homologation rule changes, special editions model were produced. Due to the homologation rules roughly stating that the race version must reflect the road-going version, special editions model were rolled off the assembly line where the differences between standard M3 and special editions model include more power out of the stonking S14 engine, improved aerodynamics, lighter weight and bigger wheels. The special editions model were christened Evo II and Evo III (Sport Evolution).

 

It all started with the Evo II available in 1988. The latter retained the 2.3 litre S14 naturally aspirated 4 pot from the standard M3, albeit with a bump in power from 197 hp to 217 hp thanks to higher compression ratio, revised intake camshaft profile and improved exhaust camshaft timing. The wheels had also grown in size (16 x 7.5 inches), weight had been shed off thanks to lighter bootlid, and front splitter and rear spoiler took care of the aero department. Only 500 Evo II models were available.

                                                            S14 Evo III Screamer

In 1990, the more potent Evo III, or Sport Evolution, hit the scene with a larger 2.5 litre S14 4 pot which boosted output from 217 hp to 235 hp with higher lift intake and exhaust camshaft fitted.

Adjustable front splitter and rear wing were fitted and the front foglights had been replaced by brake ducts. Only 600 examples were made.

Thanks to the special editions model, the E30 M3 gained entry to the Touring Car racing and performed impeccably. The car had to its name 2 European Touring Car Championship titles, 2 British Touring Car Championship titles, 4 Italia Superturismo Championship titles and 2 DTM titles.

Apart from Touring Car racing, the E30 M3 also partook in rally racing, clinching victory in the 1987 Tour de Corse driven by Bernard Beguin and the 1990 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship driven by Bertie Fisher.

Given the number of accolades in the bag, the E30 M3 has to be among the most competitive racing machine to have ever graced a race track.  

Ferrari 488 Challenge replaces Ferrari 458 Challenge EVO

Source: https://twitter.com/FerrariRaces/status/804846713454415872

Old cars will eventually be replaced by new cars. The same rule applies to race car. Meet the new Ferrari 488 Challenge, the successor to the outgoing 458 Challenge EVO in conjunction with the 25th anniversary since the inception of Ferrari's Challenge series in 1992. The new race car was presented during the Finali Mondiali which took place in Daytona, USA.

Unlike the 458 Challenge EVO, the 488 Challenge will introduce turbocharging for the first time in the brand's one-make race series. The engine is directly derived from the production car's 661 hp 3.9 litre twin turbo V8, which won the 2016 International Engine of the Year Award. Ferrari further enhanced the 488 Challenge's aero and chassis which, together with the engine's unique race-optimised engine mapping, smashed the 458 Challenge EVO's Fiorano lap record by a second, now standing at 1:15.5.

The gear ratio for the proprietary F1 dual clutch transmission has been shortened, which will see improvement in acceleration. Shorter gearing aside, the transmission also employs "racing shift strategy" which (whatever it means) enables a blistering 6 seconds acceleration from dead stop all the way to maximum rpm in 4th gear.  

The marque's Side Slip Angle Control system is making its debut in the Challenge series. The system works in conjunction with the traction control, electronic differential and adaptive damper to improve lateral acceleration. This should theoretically endow the 488 Challenge with competitive edge around bends.

Aerodynamic has also been given a good tweak. To improve air flow over the radiators and reduce drag during racing conditions, Ferrari revised the front radiator layout, inverting the rake so it's inclined towards the rear. The front bumper features more aggressive splitter and flicks for more downforce and equalise load between the front and rear. Hot air flow from the radiator is directed rearwards thanks to the triple vents and integrated flaps on the front bonnet. A large rear wing has been added to double the downforce generated.

Out goes the old car, in goes the new car with new goodies. Hope this will spice up the next season of the Ferrari's Challenge Series!

Information Source: http://races.ferrari.com/en/finalimondiali2016/news/ferrari-unveils-488-challenge-world-finals-daytona/

Honda NSX GT to terrorise Super GT

Source: Honda

It seems like Honda is not ceasing to produce more racing version of their NSX supercar. After the introduction of the NSX GT3 and the quad electric motor NSX Pikes Peak, Honda has rolled out their Super GT challenger, the NSX GT. 

Just like the NSX GT3, the NSX GT ditches the road-going version's Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) and 9-speed dual clutch automatic for rear-wheel drive and 6-speed sequential racing transmission. The difference though lies in the engine specs. Where the NSX GT3 retains the 3.5 litre twin turbo V6, the NSX GT makes do with a 2.0 litre turbo 4 cylinder projected to output around 600 horsepower.

Will Honda continue to spawn more racey NSX? This writer wonders if an LM GTE NSX is secretly being planned for future introduction?  

Volkswagen officially withdrawing from FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

Source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/126936

So it is then. Volkswagen has called it a day to their FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) participation, after sister brand, Audi, officially ended their participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Le Mans racing to focus more on developing electric cars technology with Formula E Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport next year (though they have not quitted DTM German Touring Car racing). 

Blame that on Dieselgate. With mounting calls for buyback and increasing fines worth billions of dollars, it just does not make sense financially to continue funding the brand's racing programme. 

Frank Welsch, Volkswagen's board member overseeing technical development, hinted on the brand's electrification alternative, "With the upcoming expansion in electrification of our vehicle range we must focus all our efforts on important future technologies".

Could this be hinting at Volkswagen's participation in Formula E, following Audi's footsteps?