Update 14 in Forza Motorsport (Xbox Series X|S) showcased two heavy-hitting bowties for grabs; a #77 Beretta Trans Am and the Hennessey Exorcist. Now that I got my hands on these two, let's have a word with them.
Let's begin with the #77 Beretta Trans Am that I won from the American Thunder Tour until the December 25, 2024 deadline.
The #77 Beretta Trans Am was a race car used in the SCCA Trans Am Championship during the 1988 racing season. It was one of the notable entries of that period, driven by Scott Pruett for the Roush Racing team.
Built on a modified Beretta production car chassis, it was powered by a 4.5L V6 engine producing 515HP of power, crucial for the high-speed nature of Trans Am racing. It even featured custom body modifications for improved aerodynamics, including a large rear wing and other race-specific adjustments to improve downforce and handling.
While the #77 Beretta didn't dominate the series, it was a significant entry, with Scott Pruett consistently competing at a high level. The car's performance that year was notable for its reliability and speed, making it a strong contender in many races.
Now, let's get to know about the Hennessey Exorcist, a heavily-tuned Camaro that I won from this update's Open Class Tour until the December 11, 2024 deadline.
Using the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as its foundation, Hennessey has transformed the ZL1 into a thousand-horsepower sleeper car known as the Demon Slayer.
At first glance, it appears to be a standard ZL1, with most interior and exterior features, including the steering and braking systems, remaining unchanged. However, Hennessey has significantly increased the ZL1's power by enhancing its supercharged 6.2L V8 engine, allowing it to produce an impressive 1,000 horsepower and 883lb-ft of torque. This makes it more powerful than the Challenger Demon and noticeably louder.
Now that I got to know more about these two bowties, let's take a quick drive around Lime Rock Park to prove their worth. Roll the tapes...
As some guy said, "bowties are cool." Do you agree? What do you think of the #77 Beretta Trans Am and the Hennessey Exorcist?
The prize car for clearing the Mustang Tour in Forza Motorsport (Xbox Series X|S) before the November 27, 2024 deadline is another of the professionally-tuned sixth-generation Mustangs featured in the world of Forza; the Saleen S302 Black Label.
Based on the facelifted sixth-generation Ford Mustang, the Saleen S302 Black Label is the top-tier variant that enhances the capabilities of the standard Mustang.
For this model, Saleen has equipped the base Mustang's 5.0L V8 engine with a 2.6L screw-type supercharger and an intercooler system, featuring a 103mm throttle body that generates 12 psi of boost. It also includes 47 lb fuel injectors, a cold air induction system, a retuned ECU, and a Saleen-tuned exhaust system. By Saleen's standards, the Black Label boasts an impressive 340 horsepower increase over the standard V8-powered Mustang, all while maintaining Ford's full warranty.
To see how capable this near-800HP 'Stang by Saleen is, I return to Laguna Seca for a one-lap drive. Let's roll the tape.
My personal best in Seca in this car is 1m45.020s. Not quick as such but it proved its worth as one of the most formidable tuned 6th-gen Mustangs on the road and track.
As the world grapples with the aftermath of Donald Trump's return to the White House after his electoral comeback victory, the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season concludes in Phoenix, Arizona. The top contenders—Logano, Reddick, Blaney, and Byron—are set to compete for the championship title. The question remains: who will be crowned the champion?
As the green flag waved, the final race of the season is underway. As Stage 1 belongs to Joey Logano, the second stage saw the unexpected; the Pace Car crashed into the barrels at the beginning of the pit road, triggering a red flag on Lap 64. As the race resumed, Stage 2 went to Ryan Blaney. As the final stage of the season kicked in, Lap 250 saw Zane Smith wrecked. Lap 259 resumption, it didn't take long before Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney clashed for the title.
Image: NASCAR
After an intense final matchup between the two Penske drivers, Joey Logano has emerged as the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.
Congratulations to Logano on his recent title!
This concludes the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series. We look forward to seeing you in Daytona next year!
The Ford Mustang Boss 302 is undoubtedly one of the most successful muscle car racers in history, and this #15 Trans Am competitor is proof. Having won this car in Forza Motorsport's Update 13 Open Class Tour, the first of the game's Year 2 roadmap, it's time to get to know this motorsport legend.
The Mustang Boss 302 was built to directly respond to the Trans-Am racing. It was built to compete against Chevrolet's Camaro Z/28 and its racing program for the Boss 302 was spearheaded by Bud Moore Engineering and Carroll Shelby.
Driven by Parnelli Jones and George Follmer, the Boss 302 Mustang showcased successive results in the 1970 Trans-Am series. Such performance secured Ford the Manufacturers Championship, and Jones, its driver, was coronated the 1970 Trans-Am champion.
With a quick introduction done, it's time to take this #15 Mustang Boss 302 Trans Am racer on a quick lap across Laguna Seca, the track where two Boss 302s crossed the checkered flag and got away without facing disqualification due to not having SCCA emblems on it.
It's a true story because instead of facing disqualification along with its Javelin and Barracuda competitors, the chief steward gave them a warning saying they would fine them if these cars didn't have the required banners while heading to Dallas for their next race.
Long story short but you get the point. Anyway, let's roll the tape.
I did it in 1m49.930s. Not as quick as what the drivers did but it's worth reliving the moment.
Martinsville Speedway is the penultimate battleground of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series with the Xfinity 500. With Logano and Reddick claiming their spot for the Championship 4, which of the final two will be bound for Phoenix?
As the green flag waved, the penultimate showdown of the season begins. Stage 1 saw Christopher Bell spinning on Lap 77 on turn 2 and got Corey LaJoie in that mess.
As Chase Elliott wins Stage 1, Stage 2 saw Daniel Suarez wrecks in turn 2 from 14th after contact from Daniel Hemric who was hit from behind by Austin Cindric on Lap 145 followed by a Lap 158 spin by Harrison Burton after being nudged by Carson Hocevar, Denny Hamlin's bad restart on Lap 165, Martin Truex Jr spinning on Lap 184, and a Lap 196 mess triggered by Carson Hocevar.
With Brad Keselowski winning Stage 2, the final stage saw a Lap 398 disaster for Hocevar followed by Kyle Busch's loose tire on Lap 407.
Screengrab from NASCAR
After a chaotic fight in Martinsville, Ryan Blaney wins the Xfinity 500 of the NASCAR Cup Series! He and William Byron complete the Championship 4!
Logano, Reddick, Blaney, and Byron. The final four contenders are now Phoenix-bound. The question is, who will be crowned the champion?
Don't miss the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship this November 10, 2024.
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continue with the Straight Talk Wireless 400. With Joey Logano earning the right to be in the Championship 4 last week, who's next?
As the green flag waved, the fight for the Championship 4 continued. The first stage saw an opening disaster when Justin Haley spun in Turn 1, triggering a multi-car mess with Harrison Burton getting some damage from the wall. It was followed by Kyle Larson getting into the wall on Lap 47 after a flat right rear tire went down. As Tyler Reddick wins Stage 1, Denny Hamlin wins Stage 2. In the final stage, Ty Gibbs sent Justin Haley spinning on Lap 187, followed by Kyle Larson on Lap 255.
Screengrab from NASCAR
Tyler Reddick wins the Straight Talk Wireless 400 of the NASCAR Cup Series, earning the right to be in the Championship 4!
The next race is at Martinsville for the Xfinity 500 this November 3, 2024. Who will make it to Phoenix for the finale? Watch for it!
As Texas witnessed a Formula 1 race that rocked the world, Las Vegas witnessed a NASCAR race as the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continued with the South Point 400. The last spurt to Phoenix begins.
As the green flag waved, the first of three fights for the Championship 4 has begun. Stage 1 saw Daniel Hemric collide with Austin Dillon on Lap 64. As Tyler Reddick won Stage 1, Stage 2 saw Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Elliott make contact, triggering a multi-car mess that sent Tyler Reddick flipping. As Christopher Bell won Stage 2, the final stage saw Ty Gibbs spinning on Lap 194.
Screengrab from NASCAR
After madness in Sin City, Joey Logano wins the South Point 400 of the NASCAR Cup Series! He earned the right to be in the Championship 4.
The next race is at Homestead-Miami for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 this October 27th, 2024.
Who will be eliminated? The fight for the Final 8 in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs ends in Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Bank of America ROVAL 400. Time to find out who's in and out.
As the green flag waved, the elimination match in Charlotte began. As Tyler Reddic won Stage 1, Stage 2 saw Chase Briscoe lose a right rear on Lap 35 and forced him to pit. With Stage 2 belonging to Alex Bowman, the final stage saw Ross Chastain spin on Lap 56 followed by Austin Dillon losing his left front tire on Lap 81.
Screengrab from NASCAR
After an intense elimination fight in Charlotte, Kyle Larson won the Bank of America ROVAL 400 of the NASCAR Cup Series! Due to a breach in weight rules, Alex Bowman was disqualified, joining Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, and Chase Briscoe on the list of drivers eliminated from the playoffs.
The Final 8 is set and the fight for the Championship 4 has begun. Who will survive and make it to the finale in Phoenix? The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs will continue in Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the South Point 400 this Sunday, October 20th, 2024.
The Dodge Viper is the first road car powered by a V10 engine, but the Lamborghini Huracan is the last to have one. With the V10 engine officially laid to rest, it's time for a ten-cylinder salute with the first and the last to have the glorious engine that made such a glorious noise.
Here they are, the first-generation Dodge Viper and the Lamborghini Huracan on Gran Turismo 7, two sports cars that made their mark in the history of the ten-cylinder engine. Before having our last words with these ten-cylinder marvels, let's get to know them first.
Let's begin with the first-generation Dodge Viper, the SR model. The Dodge Viper was first conceived as a concept car in 1989. It was intended to be a modern interpretation of the legendary Shelby Cobra. The first-generation Viper was introduced in 1991 as the RT/10 roadster and was later joined by the hardtop GTS variant.
Now, let's get to know the Lamborghini Huracan, the last V10-powered road car. Launched in 2014, the Lamborghini Huracan is the successor of the Gallardo. It was named after a Mayan god. It was powered by a 5.2L V10 engine developing 602HP of power and when mated to a double-clutch gearbox derived from the Audi R8 as well as its 4WD system, it has a top speed of 202mph. The Lamborghini Huracan has gone through numerous updates over its near-decade lifespan and the STJ is in its final form with only 10 built and sold.
With their quick introduction done, it's time to drive these V10-powered road cars around Tsukuba Circuit just like the good old days. Obviously, the Viper came at a time when cars were fitted with ABS and Traction Control but being an all-American sports car, it eschews such driving aids in favor of total control from the driver. The Huracan, meanwhile, is all about relying on 2010s technology derived from its big brother, the V12-powered Aventador, but with a double-clutch gearbox to match its V10 performance.
Anyway, no time to mince more words. It's time to have a quick time attack with these two ten-cylinder legends. Roll the tape.
And now, the results...
Viper GTS '02 - 1m06.025s
Huracan - 1m02.212s
Even though the Huracan trumped the Viper by around four seconds, the results didn't matter because what mattered was that they'd fulfilled the V10 engine's dying wish, giving these two the biggest send-off to the greatest high-performance engine of all time.
From the Dodge Viper to the Lamborghini Huracan, the V10 engine powered some of the most iconic cars of our time. Now that it's permanently gone, nothing will ever be the same.
GOODBYE FOREVER, V10 ENGINE. You made us proud and loud.
The fight for the final 8 in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs heads to Talladega for the YellaWood 500.
As the green flag waved, the action in Dega began. Stage 1 saw Daniel Suarez spinning on Lap 13. As Chris Buescher won Stage 1, Stage 2 saw Alex Bowman making contact with Ryan Blaney as Austin Cindric won this stage. In the finale, here comes The Big One on Lap 185 as Brad Keselowski sent Austin Cindric spinning, triggering a multi-car disaster that triggered the red flag. After several moments of clearing up debris from the 25-car disaster, overtime kicks in and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is in the lead.
Screengrab from NASCAR
At a rate of .006 seconds, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who is not in the playoffs, wins the YellaWood 500 of the NASCAR Cup Series. Following the recent results in Dega, William Byron earned his right to be in the Final 8.
Who will be eliminated? Find out as the fight for the Final 8 in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs will continue in Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Bank of America ROVAL 400 this Sunday, October 13, 2024.
With 12 playoff contenders remaining, the fight for the final 8 is now on as the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continue with Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet in Kansas Speedway.
As the green flag waved, the fight for the final 8 is officially on. The first stage saw Kyle Larson blow a right rear tire and crash on Lap 20. As William Byron won Stage 1, Stage 2 saw Erik Jones spinning on Lap 99 followed by Daniel Hemric's Lap 145 disaster, a Lap 149 trouble for both John Hunter Nemechek and Justin Haley, and a Lap 158 disaster when Austin Cindric got spun following his clash with Kyle Busch. As Alex Bowman won Stage 2, the final stage saw Kyle Busch spinning on Lap 237 following his clash with Chase Briscoe followed by Todd Gilliand sent Carson Hocevar spinning on Lap 244.
Screengrab from NASCAR
Sadly, another non-playoff driver spoiled the playoff fight as Ross Chastain won the Hollywood Casino 400 of the NASCAR Cup Series.
The fight for the final 8 continues in Talladega Superspeedway for the YellaWood 500 this October 6th, 2024.
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continue with the Bass Pro Shops Night Race in Bristol. Who will make it to the Final 12? Who will be eliminated? It's time to find out who rises and who falls.
As the green flag waved, the first playoff elimination round is underway. The first stage saw Johh Hunter Nemechek spin with a flat tire on Lap 5. As Kyle Larson wins Stage 1, Stage 2 saw Harrison Burton behind the wall with a power steering issue on Lap 236 followed by Joey Logano spinning on Turn 2 during Lap 243. As Kyle Larson wins Stage 2, the final stage saw Corey LaJoie's accident on the backstretch after being hit by Josh Berry on Lap 329.
Image: NASCAR
After a night in Bristol, Kyle Larson wins the Bass Pro Shops Night Race of the NASCAR Cup Series! Ty Gibbs, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., and Harrison Burton are officially eliminated from the playoffs.
With 12 playoff contenders remaining, the fight for the final 8 is now on as the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continue with Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet in Kansas Speedway this September 29th, 2024.
The fight for the Final 12 in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continues this weekend at Watkins Glen International in New York for the Go Bowling at The Glen. Joey Logano earned his spot in the playoffs at Atlanta. Who will be next to qualify?
As the green flag waved, Part 2 of 3 of the fight for the Final 12 in New York begins with a disaster when Kyle Busch spins in the inner loop after contact with Corey LaJoie. As Martin Truex Jr. won Stage 1, Stage 2 saw Daniel Suarez spinning in turn 6 on Lap 38, and with Ross Chastain winning Stage 2, the final stage saw Denny Hamlin crash on Lap 47 following a NASCAR sandwich with Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski, debris from Harrison Burton on Lap 80, and four laps later, disaster for Brad Keselowski and William Byron, triggering overtime.
Screengrab from NASCAR
Sadly, no playoff contender secured a spot in the playoffs after the Go Bowling at The Glen race. The winner was Chris Buescher, who is not a playoff contender.
Who will make it to the Final 12? Who will be eliminated? Find out as the playoffs continue with the Bass Pro Shops Night Race in Bristol this Saturday, September 21st, 2024.
Is Alex Palou the 2024 season winner? The final race of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series, the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville Superspeedway will decide if Palou is this season's champion or not.
As the green flag waved, the final race of the 2024 season commenced and Josef Newgarden's making bold moves against Kyle Kirkwood on the opening laps. As Will Power's title fight got jeopardized due to problems with his lap belts on Lap 13, caution was triggered on Lap 56 when Felix Rosenqvist collided with the wall following a loose left front tire.
Lap 68 restart, with Newgarden leading, Colton Herta is on the hunt. Lap 89 saw Katherine Legge slip off the track, triggering the second caution of the race. Come Lap 135, Marcus Ericsson collided with the wall.
As the race restarted on Lap 147, Pato O'Ward was leading while David Malukas and Josef Newgarden were hunting him down. With the race having five laps to go, Colton Herta slipped into the lead.
Image: IndyCar
In the final race of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series, Colton Herta won the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, followed by Pato O'Ward and Josef Newgarden. However, despite finishing in 11th place, Alex Palou was crowned the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series champion, his third title.
Congratulations to Alex Palou for his third IndyCar championship title!
This concludes the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series. See you next season!
When the Toyota GR86 and the second-generation Subaru BRZ were launched in 2021, they were expected to be the stars of the show. However, the Japanese arrival of the Chevrolet Corvette C8 stole their thunder and went on to win Japan's Performance Car of the Year award. Why?
That's an interesting but silly question. Why did the C8 Corvette win the award that was supposed to be for the second-generation ToyoBaru twin coupes? Before that, let's have a quick re-introduction of these cars.
The Toyota GR86 and the second-generation Subaru BRZ were unveiled in 2021. They are built on an improved version of the signature platform, with upgraded suspension and chassis for better cornering and traction. The flat-4 engine has been increased from 2.0L to 2.4L, resulting in more horsepower and torque.
The eighth-generation Corvette is no longer the Corvette the world knows. For the first time in its history, it's been morphed into a mid-engined supercar, a move that displeased most Corvette purists. Being the first production mid-engined car from General Motors, the C8 Corvette is powered by an all-new 6.2L LT2 V8 engine with 495HP of power and 470lb-ft of torque. Mated to a Corvette-first 8-speed Double Clutch Gearbox, it does 0-100kph in 2.9 seconds and flat-out in 312kph. It features a brand-new Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 which reads the road every millisecond and adapts in about 10 to 15 milliseconds, as well as double wishbone suspension with height adjustable capability.
The Chevrolet C8 Corvette defeated the second-generation Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 to become the 2021-2022 Japan Performance Car of the Year, the first for an American-made car to win the title.
With Horizon Mexico's smallest circuit track set in the town of Guanajuato becoming my laboratory, the second-generation ToyoBaru coupe twins joined forces to battle against the C8 Corvette. The question is, will they beat the mid-engined American monster machine? Let's roll the tape.
And here are the results...
BRZ ZD8 - 1m00.077s
GR86 - 59.526s
C8 Corvette - 55.005s
The C8 Corvette massively defeated the second-generation ToyoBaru twin coupes with such margins. It's no wonder the Japanese motoring press turned their faces away from them in favor of the Corvette.
Despite being defeated by the Chevrolet C8 Corvette in the title of 2021 Japan's Performance Car of the Year Award, both the GR86 and the BRZ are still one of the best sports cars of the early 2020s because of their affordability, accessible dynamics, and limitless tuning possibilities to turn these reasonably fast cars around. Speaking of which, it's time to reward the ToyoBaru twins for the hard work they've done today. In the spirit of Let's ¡Go!, how about a little Making Drama to spice things up? But first...
The GR86, for the first time in Horizon Mexico, is donning the role of Himitsu no AiPri's main character, Himari Aozora. Suits her personality. As for the BRZ...
My BRZ is donning the role of Himitsu no AiPri's other main character, Mitsuki Hosihkawa. When you look at them, they remind you of the two heroines from "Himitsu no AiPri" who are known for their idol activities across the metaverse. Today is "AiPriVerse Day!"
With the ToyoBaru twins versed in, the GR86 will battle against the competition in a neon-packed EventLab creation called "Neon City Race". At the same time, the BRZ takes on what's known to be an EventLab re-enactment of Malaysia's Genting Highlands, where the mountain roads evoke the drivers' Initial D fantasies. As MC AIMU would say, "AiPriVerse Day!"
Who performed better? Himari or Mitsuki?
The GR86 and BRZ are the fruits of the wonderful collaboration between Toyota and Subaru. These two cars are fit to take on the bold challenges of the Reiwa era. These cars may not live forever in the age of electrification, but the 86 and the BRZ have created an impressive legacy that will be remembered forever for many generations.
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are underway, with the first round kicking off at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400. The Final 16 drivers will clash to advance to the Final 12.
Screengrab from NASCAR
As the green flag waved, the first playoff match of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series has officially begun. The first stage saw a fiery incident on Lap 57 when Kyle Larson got loose and hit the outside wall, collecting Chase Briscoe into the mess.
As Ryan Blaney wins Stage 1 under caution, Stage 2 gets even messy with the caution-triggering debris on Lap 115 followed by Justin Haley getting penalized for blocking and forcing Tyler Reddick below the double white line.
As Austin Cindric wins Stage 2, the final stage saw John Hunter Nemechek spinning on Lap 176, a multi-car incident on Lap 206 that got Chris Buescher, Ryan Blaney, and Martin Truex Jr. involved, a sign falls off the fence onto the track on Lap 251, and a collision mess between Noah Gragson and playoff contender Harrison Burton on Lap 260 that triggered the overtime.
After a chaotic first fight for the playoffs, Joey Logano earned his spot in the Final 12 as he won the Quaker State 400 of the NASCAR Cup Series!
The fight for the Final 12 continues with the Go Bowling at The Glen this September 15th, 2024.
The third-generation Dodge Durango is the last Dodge powered by the HEMI V8 engine. Stellantis' scorched earth policy has led to the extinction of the V8 engine from its stable.
The Dodge Durango Hellcat that I won from the High-Performance Dailies Hot Season Playlist reminds me that it ain't over until it's fully over.
So, what's it all about the most powerful Durango that ever existed?
The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is the most powerful production seven-seater SUV ever. It was unveiled during the COVID lockdown. It has the same 6.2L HEMI V8 engine as the Challenger and Charger Hellcats, which produces 710 horsepower and 645 lb.-ft. of torque. This enables it to go from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 180 mph.
The Durango SRT Hellcat is available only for the 2021 model year but demand prompted to return it for the 2023 model year. As Dodge ended production of the third-generation Challenger and the upcoming Charger not having a V8 engine, the third-generation Durango is the last in the Dodge lineup to have a V8 engine.
Let's give the last V8-powered Dodge a proper send-off by tackling the last of the four new sprint races added to the update; the Cloverleaf Sprint. Roll the tape.
Statement, made.
The third-generation Dodge Durango proved that the "Sports" word in the Sports Utility Vehicle term means a lot, delivering sportscar-like performance with multipurpose capability. With the Hellcat, this is literally the king of high-performance SUVs. Europeans can fudge themselves whenever they see one.
Because of Stellantis' scorched earth policy to get rid of V8 engines from its stable, it really is the Last Call for Dodge's last V8-powered vehicle. Sad to see Dodge removing the V8 engine that made them a force to be reckoned with as demonstrated by the Charger Hellcat Redeye and the Challenger Demon but the Brotherhood of Muscle will be forever remembered.
