SUPER GT 2017 FINALE

Twin Ring Motegi is the final destination of this season of the Autobacs Super GT Championship and in this final leg of the season, one of the young upstarts of the GT500 season became a clear winner while in the GT300 class, it's everybody's race to the very end.

Since this is the final race of the season, they want to make it special by inviting three DTM machines for a special presentation between Germany's DTM and Japan's Super GT, it's Axis Powers all over again. After that special presentation, the big finale kicks in and this finale will truly decide the match.

Let's watch the highlight;

At the end of the final race of the season, the winners go to the #23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R driven by Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli for the GT500 class and the #65 LEON CVSTOS AMG driven by Haruki Kurosawa and Naoya Gamou for the GT300.



However, the winners of the 2017 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Championship are the #37 KeePer TOM'S LC500 driven by Ryo Hirakawa and Nick Cassidy for the GT500 class and the #4 GOODSMILE HATSUNE MIKU AMG driven by Nobuteru Taniguchi and Tatsuya Kataoka.

The Lexus LC may have been new to the market but in the Super GT Championship, this young jumpstart cannot be underestimated especially when it belongs to the winning time while for the folks behind GOOD SMILE RACING, what a way to celebrate Hatsune Miku's 10th anniversary with a title win even though they never won every single race in this season.

And that is the end of the 2017 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Championship. See you next year!

Getting to know about Dubai's craziest lifestyle

Ah, Dubai, one of the biggest cities in the Middle East and a paradise for the rich and famous. Where water fountains taste like Perrier water, you can withdraw gold from an ATM, sportscars reining over the streets, limousines as buses, helicopters as taxis, and everything their hearts desire. It really is a billionaires' paradise and if you are one of the super wealthy few, chances are you are one of the people who are spending their time at this desert megapolis where everyone can be the envy of everyone.

A certain someone e-mailed me about the secrets of Dubai's opulent wealth from supercars to the outrageous private plate market no one saw it coming. So, what's it all about this billionaires' paradise and why everyone's spending their astronomical budget to almost everything this oasis has?

From a barren desert to the home of thr world's tallest building, Dubai bears 40% of the world's gold trade in 2013, which weighs more than 354 elephants, and such wealth is caused by its booming oil economy which has enough capacity to fill 4.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools per day. Dubai's founding father, Sheikh Rashid, once said “My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son drives a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride a camel”. Of course, with Dubai's in a middle of an energy strife, he tried so hard to build Dubai into the megapolis we are familiar with with infrastructures like Port Rashid, Al Shindagha Tunnel, Jebal Ali Port, Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Drydocks, making Dubai the regional hub for trade.

Even though it faced the worst of times, especially the 2008 world financial crisis, Dubai still has a bright future in the world economy and because it was one of the driving forces of the gold trade, looks like they're really onto something here.

As we all know, the Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest building which stands at 828 meters (2,716.5 feet) tall when it was coronated in 2010 but for the current Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, there are bigger plans for this paradise as this city is working on a mega project that will exceed Burj Khalifa. Known as "The Tower", it will be the centerpiece of the 3.7 square mile Dubai Creek redevlopment project and it will be "a notch taller" than the Burj Khalifa. It is expected to finish before the 2020 Dubai World Expo. With stuff like these, no wonder everybody in Dubai is throwing astronomical amounts of cash for big things no one ever imagined!

Then, there was the private plate market and for the rich boys of Dubai, a single or a double digit number plates are a status symbol and they are slapped through their luxury cars and exotics just to show the world who's the king of the road. According to sources, the most expensive number plate sales are;

• VIP 1 - 400,000 US Dollars / 300,000 GBP
• M1 - 440,000 US Dollars / 330,000 GBP
• F1 - 580,000 US Dollars / 440,000 GBP
• 5 - around 5.7 million US Dollars / 4.3 million GBP
• D 5 - around 8.7 million US Dollars / 6.6 million GBP
• 1 - around 9.6 million US Dollars / 7.25 million GBP

Of course, the license plate bearing 1 remains the most expensive private license plate of all time when Saeed Al Khouri payed 52.2 million Dirhams (around 9.6 million US Dollars or 7.25 million GBP) for the number "1" plate in Abu Dhabi in 2008 and most of the proceeds going to charity. That's how private plates in Dubai are for. For ordinary people, a license plate is just a license plate but for the Arab rich boys, they're investments as much as expensive silverware in the fancy kitchen at a fancy mansion.

Fancy living aside, Dubai is the home of the supercars, so much, even the Dubai police are adding supercars to their fleets such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, even Bugattis! The vast fleet of superfast pursuit vehicles make the world's police force look like child's play and just imagine if you were being chased by those just like in the Need For Speed games.

Apart from that, Dubai is home of the world's biggest showrooms of luxury vehicles. Last year, Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Bentley opened their biggest car dealerships in Dubai and with that kind of level, no car dealership we're familiar with comes close when it comes to its level of awesomeness Dubai's luxury car dealerships possess.

For petrolheads, Dubai is considered their home because with their astronomical wealth, they can afford big garages to store their cars as if they were toys and apart from exotics, they even possess legendary machines as well as the rarest of them all like someone who possess the ultra-rare Sergio sportscar, a car that was named in honor of Sergio Pininfarina. They even possess vintage classics like in the case of Hamad Bin Hamdan al Nahyan, the Rainbow Shiekh who possesses legendaries like the Ford Model T that was restored to mint condition.

Ask everyone where they will spend outrageous amounts of money for gold, cars, even everyday objects that will shun everyone on sight, it has to be Dubai because with all the extravagant stuff only the rich and famous can lavish on, especially the fat man who controls out lives, it's hard to say that no other city that has the craziest ideas and the craziest lifestyles more than this Arab town and we are getting salivated to visit this place someday, just to get a taste of what bigshots do in Dubai.

URL: https://absolutereg.co.uk/news/dubai-opulent-supercars-the-100m-private-plate-market

Forza Motorsport 7: Continental Crush

Continuing on getting to know about Forza Motorsport 7's hero car, the all-new 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS, it's time to see if the new king of the Ring takes on the world's best sports cars.



Here I am in Yas Marina Circuit, which is located at Abu Dhabi's Yas Island, where the Porsche's new hero car is ready to take on the world's greatest heroes representing parts of the world. In the American side, there's the Chevrolet Corvette C7 Z06, and in the Asian side, the Nissan GT-R.





It's great to gather three of the world's best sportscars for an epic clash of the titans right here in the land of the supercars and because Yas Marina is the ideal venue to settle the scores between the world's greatest hero cars, I think I'm onto something here but first, let's get to understand these two machines.

When I first encountered the seventh-generation Corvette, I always hated it for political reasons but hey, as the C7 Corvette continues to expand in different configurations, I'm starting to become a fan of this generation. In fact, my favorite C7 Corvette variant, the one that won my heart, is the Z06. With bits and bobs inspired from the C7.R racing machine as well as its supercharged V8 engine that makes it the most powerful Corvette ever made, it's no wonder the Z06 transformed the Corvette from a muscle car into a half-decent supercar that can slap the faces of every European it come across with. It may still scary to drive like most rear-wheel drive cars, it maybe as harsh as a Ferrari, and it can be very tricky to recover, but by having fun, this kind of Corvette can really enslave the driver by making it drive some more and that is why it became my favorite variant of this generation.

The R35 Nissan GT-R has been with us for ten years now and with this latest version, I'm starting to think that age hasn't slow Godzilla down to its last breath and when you think about it, it's starting to lose all that inner monster as it ages. In fact, the once invincible machine has became vulnerable of getting beaten up by more modern machines, even electrics, and favorability aside, it's starting to wane off so quickly. Aging aside, I still appreciate this machine because even though it's getting older and older, it's still trying very hard to become the ideal supercar for all drivers until the day comes it undergoes metamorphosis. Infinite metamorphosis, of course.







Anyway, this is no time to be sentimental with these machines because it's time to settle these three automotive titans in the biggest clash of all. The battle between the three sportscar titans will decide which is the Supreme One of today's era. It's time to decide who flies or falls from grace. Ready? It's on, ladies and gentlemen!



And now, the results are in.

GT2 RS - 2:29.267
Z06 - 2:33.872
GT-R - 2:37.796



It turns out that Germany has trumped Japan and America when it comes to create the most track-capable sportscars on the planet and because the 911 GT2 RS is the King of the Ring, it beats just about everything the world throws at it. Big or small, if its on the 911 GT2 RS's crosshairs, it's going to destroy everything in sight and I have to congratulate Porsche for a job well done to create a new class of track-focused sportscars and as a reward for their job well done...





I hereby appoint you, the 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS, to be my noble knight for my everyday adventures on the world's best racetracks. Well, I guess that's it but you get the point.

Let's Do The News! (November 11, 2017)

- President Rodrigo Duterte and US President Donald Trump met for the first time at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam. The spokesperson said that their meeting was "short but was was warm and cordial". According to him, Trump told Duterte to meet themselves tomorrow as he is going to Manila for the ASEAN Summit for his final leg of his Asian tour.

- Meanwhile, controversial Myanmar State Conselor Aung San Suu Kyi has arrived in Manila for the ASEAN Summit despite international concern over the humanitarian crisis in northern Rakhine State.

- A certain rights watchdog reacts to President Duterte's plot to hold human rights summit in the Philippines as he complained about being singled out by the international community for drug-related killings and abuses.

- Nissan's Infiniti showcased the updated QX80 flagship SUV ahead of its Dubai Motor Show premiere. Drawing inspirations from the QX80 Monograph Concept, this latest minor change features a new front face, new headlights, new air intakes, new front fender vents, new tailights, new rear bumber, and new wheels.



- With Opel/Vauxhall now part of Groupe PSA, the car company will use the new parent company's platforms beginning in 2024.

- There's more hope to come for the Nintendo Switch as CAPCOM reportedly working on a new Gyakuten Saiban game and other titles for the Switch while Bandai Namco will reveal three Switch-exclusive titles next year.

TTFN!!!

THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS STARLIGHT MASTER 14 Jounetsu Fun Fanfare

THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS STARLIGHT MASTER 14
Jounetsu Fun Fanfare

How's your day been progressing, Cinderella Girls fans? Busy playing with your Starlight Stage game all week long? If you are, guess what, the 14th installment of the STARLIGHT MASTER CD range has arrived and this calls for a fanfare!

For the 14th installment, the Starlight Stage song receiving the M@STER VERSION treatment is Jounetsu Fun Funfare and it was performed by Mio Honda (CV: Sayuri Hara), Akane Hino (CV: Chinatsu Akasaki), and Aiko Takamori (CV: Yuki Kaneko). If you enjoyed playing this song from DEBUT to MASTER difficulty, it's time to celebrate with the full version of this song because you're going to listen to this song all day and all night as a token of appreciation to the song as played in the game. In addition, there are two new songs you are looking forward to listen to such as サイキック! ぱーりーないと☆ by Yuko Hori (CV: Eri Suzuki) and Nocturne by Kaede Takagaki (CV: Saori Hayami), Mizuki Kawashima (CV: Nao Toyama), Ryo Matsunaga (CV: Haruka Chisuga), Kanade Hayami (CV: Yuko Iida), and Minami Nitta (CV: Aya Suzaki).

Be sure to enjoy this latest installment as well as the other past installments recently released and be sure keep playing THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls Starlight Stage app game because you can expect more new songs to come in the coming weeks!

TRACK LISTINGS:

01 情熱ファンファンファーレ (M@STER VERSION)

02 サイキック! ぱーりーないと☆

03 Nocturne

04 情熱ファンファンファーレ (M@STER VERSION) オリジナル・カラオケ

05 サイキック! ぱーりーないと☆ オリジナル・カラオケ

06 Nocturne オリジナル・カラオケ

07 情熱ファンファンファーレ (GAME VERSION)

Murder on the Orient Express

If you are a big fan of the Agatha Christie novels, you may have heard that one of her famous works has adapted to a movie and this mystery suspense movie keeps moviegoers guessing to the very end while answering the most complicating question of all; who's behind the Murder on the Orient Express?

Murder on the Orient Express

This movie adaptation of one of Agatha Christie's famous novels stays true to the one it's based upon and in this story, it's about a train ride through Europe turned into a murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. With thirteen passengers stranded on a train where everyone's a suspect, one man races against time to solve the puzzle before one of them gets murdered. This film features a powerhouse cast that brings life to this suspense flick such as Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley and Josh Gad.

The film is pretty much pleasant at first, meaning there's nothing special about it, but when the suspense kicks in right in the middle of the film, Murder on the Orient Express is starting to unravel its frightening pace as a murder mystery flick that stresses the moviegoers into thinking who's behind it and suspense aside, this is probably worth a ride to experience the tense moments of the film to the very end where everything's come full circle. Start guess what you want because when this film progresses, you are one close away to know the truth and if you had enjoyed it, you'd probably start talking about what you like the most about this film.

My rating: 3.8 out of 5.

Need For Speed Payback

EA's street racing franchise is back with a vengeance and a bang as the latest Need For Speed installment is an all-or-nothing gamble of the maddest racers ever assembled to claim what's rightfully theirs. So, let's fill in more on the most explosive installment in the Need For Speed franchise.

Need For Speed Payback (PS4)

Need For Speed Payback (XBOX One)

There is not much reason why this latest installment is called NEED FOR SPEED PAYBACK but I suspect the producers behind the Need For Speed franchise became very angry over the past year. Is it because with Porsche and EA called a divorce and ended up in different racing games? Whatever that is, the producers became apoplectic with anger because of Porsche, they made this for one purpose; revenge.

Yes. Revenge. In NFS Payback, you revolve the tale of three drivers; Ty, Jess, and Mac, as they will gain vengeance against The House, a shadowy organization that controls Fortune Valley's cities, criminals, and cops. These three drivers feature different ways to experience NFS Payback like for instance, Ty prefers racing, Jess is a getaway driver, and Mac tries to impress everyone with his drift and offroading skills. Whatever driving style they're doing, they have one thing in common; to bring The House down to its knees.

As you focus on the story missions, you need to do some things to progress towards your ultimate objective. Take on against Fortune Valley's best street racers in Street Leagues, outrun the cops, those are the usual stuff you should do as you progress through the story and if you need a break, you can always take on optional races to earn some cash and upgrades for your car. If you are confident with your driving abilities, you can place your bet before the race. If you win, you'll earn big, but lose, you will pay a painful price. And with Autolog back, every day's a gamble in Fortune Valley as you are taking on friends and rivals for a spot at rankings.

Payback features a wide selection of cars ranging from tuners, muscles, and exotics, and each car works well in different events such as street racing, drag racing, offroading, escaping the cops, or drifting. It takes knowledge to understand your dream ride's potential but if you need to flex your muscles, you need to modify your ride inside and out. From performance upgrades, wheels, tires, bodykits, even the exterior design of course, every car is a work of art if you put your mind and muscle over it.

Also keep an eye out of derelicts as it scattered across different parts of Fortune Valley. If you found it, Rav will tell you the parts you'll need to complete it. Of course, as you race, you will receive clues on the parts you'll need for your Derelict you're working on. As you found all the parts, the Derelict is restored to its former glory and you can assign which class suits best like for instance, you want the S30Z to become a drag racer or the Chevy Bel Air as an offroader. Be wary though that once picked, it will set to stone and if you believe you made a mistake, don't worry because the revived Derelict can now be available to purchase at the dealership.

As your car collection grows, you'd better need some garages because having a single garage in the beginning is not enough. As you progress, you can purchase different garages to expand your collection and if you bought all five garages, you can keep as many cars if you want. Pretty neat, isn't it?

Oh, and did I mention that the new F90 BMW M5 makes its first appearance exclusively on NFS Payback? Yes, really. NFS Payback grants players the keys to the next-generation BMW M5. With its turbocharged V8 engine that produces 600PS of power and M xDrive that makes it behave like two cars, put this new M5 to your advantage as you race towards the streets of Fortune Valley. You're going to need it.

So, thoughts about the newest Need For Speed game? Well, with the producers desperately seeking revenge against game makers stealing away their Porsches, they tried so hard to make a game that behaves like a brutal regime of a foreign nation but it's not quite as bellicose as they hoped for and even though it's not as engaging as other racing games, it's still worth trying. From races to getaways, every inch of gameplay is unique and every single way and this is worth a thriller you're going to get hooked on. It may not be enough to launch provocations against the opposition but NFS Payback is one of the reasons why we all love the Need For Speed games to the end.