Motorsport

Watch 1980 Toyota Hilux Pickup With 1 Million Miles Go Off-Roading

The Toyota Hilux has a reputation for impressive durability. However, the brand never used that moniker in the United States for its truck. It was simply the Toyota Pickup there until the Tacma arrived. This one from 1980 has racked up a million miles, despite lots of off-road abuse like competing in rallies.

Things didn’t start well for this Pickup. Just two weeks after taking delivery in 1980, the owner crashed into an MG Midget. He repaired the truck and also added a roll cage to the cab, which voided the warranty.

The body has a beautiful patina. There are bits of rust, and the paint is flaking off to expose the previous colors underneath. A piece of tubular metal replaces the rear bumper.

The interior looks far worse. Only the necessary items are left. There is no headliner or carpets. Holes in the floor pan let you see through the driver-side footwell. The door panels are gone, too. There’s also exposed wiring. The original Toyota CB radio on the center stack is a neat touch.

Under the hood, the original 20R 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine is gone, and the 22R 2.4-liter four-cylinder replaces it. The owner kept the stock powerplant for around 400,000 miles but upgraded to the larger one for more power. A five-speed manual replaced the four-speed at the same time.

The owner wasn’t afraid to abuse his Pickup. In addition to competing in rallies, he also did jumps with it. Over the years, the springs, shocks, hubs, and other suspension pieces have also required replacement.

According to the owner, this truck lasted so long because it was easy to fix. So when something inevitably breaks, he can repair the problem.

There are many stories about high-running Toyotas. For example, we previously wrote about the owner of a 2008 Tacoma with over 1.52 million miles. It had an engine swap at 880,000 miles and needed a torque converter at 1.3 million miles. The owner drove about 500 miles a day delivering the nuclear medicine necessary for PET scans.

Toyota even bought a 2007 Tundra with over a million miles from an owner. The company analyzed the truck when developing the 2022 Tundra. The evaluation was allegedly part of the reason for making the new model’s bed more durable.

Toyota recently launched the 2024 Tacoma as the latest in the long line going back to the Pickup in the United States. We look forward to seeing whether the new one turns out to be as durable as previous iterations. The standard powertrain is now a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque or 270 hp and 310 lb-ft in some trims. The I-Force Max variant is a hybrid-assisted version making 326 hp and 465 lb-ft.

Take a tour of the 2024 Tacoma:

Motorsport

Ford Supports Team Rubicon with Vehicle Donation and $2.5M Contribution

When natural disasters occur, Team Rubicon, an organization led by veterans, mobilizes to assist affected communities worldwide. In a generous gesture, Ford has donated 17 vehicles and contributed $2.5 million to this cause. These vehicles include the F-150 XL PowerBoost hybrid, F-350 Super Duty trucks equipped with Ford’s 2.0-kW Pro Power Onboard system, F-150 Lightning Pro trucks, and Broncos with the Sasquatch package to access remote areas.

Overall, Ford and its charitable Ford Fund group have invested $5.8 million in Team Rubicon, establishing the initiative named “Team Rubicon Powered By Ford”. This collaboration will enable Team Rubicon volunteers to carry out their crucial work effectively.


Motorsport

2024 Skoda Kodiaq SUV Spotted Testing at the Nurburgring

Skoda is set to unveil the next-generation Kodiaq SUV later this year. Despite already teasing the model, development work is still ongoing. Recently, a new set of spy photos captured the redesigned vehicle being put through its paces at the Nurburgring race track.

The Kodiaq is seen here still wrapped in tight-fitting, full-body camouflage. Although the coverings prevent us from seeing the finer design details, these will likely be revealed during the official debut. The three-row SUV appears to have similar proportions and grille to its predecessor. However, its headlights showcase a new design, while the front bumper features tall vertical intakes positioned towards the outer edges.


Motorsport

600-HP Toyota Supra Takes on 700-HP Nissan Silvia S15 in Drag Race

In a thrilling battle of modified Japanese sports coupes, a modern Toyota Supra goes head-to-head with a late 1990s and early 2000s S15 Nissan Silvia.

The Toyota Supra is equipped with a stock 3.0-liter inline-six engine but has been upgraded with a new turbo, downpipes, and exhaust. An ECU tune maximizes the modifications, resulting in a remarkable increase in horsepower to around 600, compared to the stock 382 hp. These modifications cost approximately $7,640 (6,000 pounds).

The Nissan Silvia owner, on the other hand, has invested at least $102,000 (80,000 pounds) in modifying the car. The engine has been overhauled to a larger 2.2-liter displacement from the stock 2.0 liters, and a massive turbo has been added. As a result, the Japanese coupe now produces about 700 hp, significantly more than the factory’s 247 hp.

The competition begins with heads-up drag races. The Toyota Supra is equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the Nissan Silvia has a traditional manual transmission. Launching the Silvia properly proves challenging, giving the Supra an advantage in these races.

Next, they race from a roll, eliminating the launching skill factor. The first run starts from 30 miles per hour in second gear. Initially, the two cars are neck-and-neck, but the Silvia quickly builds enough boost and takes the lead.

They repeat the race at 50 mph in third gear. The Silvia’s engine takes a little longer to spool up the necessary boost, but it ultimately secures another victory.

The final race sees both cars in their top gear. Although the acceleration is relatively slow, the Silvia manages to boost its turbo first and emerges victorious.

In other news, there are rumors suggesting that Nissan plans to revive the Silvia name for an electric sports car, set to arrive in 2025. However, no further details are currently available.

The Nissan Silvia has historically been positioned as a performance car towards the lower end of Nissan’s lineup. Models like the Z and Skyline GT-R offer higher performance but at a higher price point. It can be compared to the Toyota Celica, where buyers had the option to upgrade to a Supra for greater power.

BMW

BMW M Motorsport News, 20th June 2023.

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:

“Once again, we can look back on plenty of exciting races with superb successes for the BMW M Motorsport teams in Europe, Asia and North America. Be it in the BMW M4 GT3, the BMW M4 GT4, the BMW M2 CS Racing, or other BMW M racing cars – they secured wins and podiums around the world. Congratulations to the Walkenhorst Motorsport team, who clinched the fourth win in the fourth race for the BMW M4 GT3 on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. In the ADAC GT Masters, Schubert Motorsport got the season underway with a podium, and FK Performance Motorsport made an impressive debut in the series. Dan Harper and Century Motorsport celebrated another podium in the British GT Championship, and BMW Italia Ceccato Racing enjoyed success at the 12H Monza. The races of the various series at the VIRginia International Raceway were also a great deal of fun, with the podiums for the BMW M4 GT3 through BimmerWorld, ST Racing and Turner Motorsport, as well as the dominant successes in GT4 America and TC America. Our BMW M4 GT4 was also unbeatable in France. And there were further successes in real-world and virtual racing. Congratulations to all the teams and drivers!”

—

Top topics in this newsletter:

– Walkenhorst Motorsport celebrates overall win in NLS 4.

– Schubert Motorsport gets the 2023 season of the ADAC GT Masters underway with a podium.

– BMW M Motorsport teams secure wins and podiums in Virginia.

– Further podium finishes for the BMW M4 GT3 in the British GT Championship and at the 12H Monza.

– BMW M4 GT4 wins in the GT World Challenge Asia and GT4 France.

—

NLS 4: Walkenhorst Motorsport celebrates clear win on the Nordschleife.

Four races and four wins for the BMW M4 GT3 is the current state of play for the BMW M Motorsport teams in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS). After a long break, the season resumed with race number four on Saturday, and after four hours Walkenhorst Motorsport celebrated their second NLS overall win of the year. Jakub Giermaziak (POL) and Christian Krognes (NOR) started the race from second on the grid in the #34 BMW M4 GT3. The duo took the lead in the second hour of racing and when they crossed the finish line, Giermaziak / Krognes had a lead of more than two minutes over their closest rivals. Giermaziak previously celebrated overall victory with the #34 at the beginning of April, when he shared the cockpit with BMW M works driver Jesse Krohn (FIN).

It even looked like there might be a one-two result for Walkenhorst Motorsport. Thomas Neubauer (FRA), Niklas Krütten (GER) and Dylan Pereira (LUX) in the #35 BMW M4 GT3 were in second place behind their team-mates temporarily, but then an accident forced them towards the back of the field, and they ended up being classified as Did Not Finish.

In addition to the overall win, and thereby victory in the SP9 Pro category of Walkenhorst Motorsport, the BMW M Motorsport teams claimed a further seven class wins in the fourth NLS race of the season. Walkenhorst Motorsport also won the SP10 class with the #191 BMW M4 GT4. Aris Balanian (BEL), Florian Weber (GER) and Ace Robey (USA) shared the cockpit. Two class wins went to Adrenalin Motorsport Team Motec. In the strong field in the VT2-R+4WD category, Daniel Zils, Oskar Sandberg, and Philipp Leisen (all GER) won once again in the #1 BMW 330i. Their team-mates Sven Markert, Nils Steinberg, and Yannick Fübrich (all GER) secured first place in the BMW M240i class with the #650 BMW M240i Racing. Victory in the BMW M2 CS category went to the two Swedes, Peter Larsen and Johan Rosen in the #884 BMW M2 CS Racing. In the V4 class it was Jürgen Huber, Oliver Frisse and Danny Brink (all GER) who won in the #702 BMW 325i of QTQ-Raceperformance. The #250 BMW 325i of Serge van Vooren and Christian Schotte (both GER) won the SP4 class, and in the H4 category, Bernd Kleeschulte (GER) was victorious in the #600 BMW M3 E92 GTR.

—

ADAC GT Masters: Schubert Motorsport gets new season underway with a podium.

The Schubert Motorsport team started the 2023 season of the ADAC GT Masters with a podium finish. The season opener was held at Hockenheim (GER). In the first of the two races, Edoardo Coseteng (PHI) and Ben Green (GBR) in the #20 BMW M4 GT3 moved their way up the field from eighth on the grid into second place to make it onto the podium. They crossed the finish line in fourth place in race two.

The FK Performance Motorsport team made its ADAC GT Masters debut at Hockenheim and was up there at the front from the start. In the first race, Kim-Luis Schramm (GER) and Igor Walilko (POL) in the #10 BMW M4 GT3 were in the lead for much of the race. However, a safety car period and a turbulent final phase saw the duo drop down the field and end up narrowly missing out on a spot on the podium in fourth place. The duo finished the second race in eighth place.

—

GT World Challenge America: BMW M Motorsport teams bag podiums in Virginia.

The Fanatec GT World Challenge America stopped off at the VIRginia International Raceway (USA) at the weekend, and the BMW M Motorsport teams picked up podiums. In race one on Saturday, Chandler Hull and Bill Auberlen (both USA) in the BimmerWorld #94 BMW M4 GT3 finished in second place on the overall podium, which was also equal to second place in the Pro class. In the ST Racing #38 BMW M4 GT3, Samantha Tan (CAN) teamed up with BMW M works driver Neil Verhagen (USA). The new pairing had plenty of reason to celebrate in Virginia; they moved up six places in race one to cross the finish line in fourth place in the overall ranking. This was second place in the Pro-Am class and the first podium for ST Racing in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America.

Verhagen and Tan levelled up in the second race on Sunday. This time they also finished on the overall podium and got second place in the race classification as well as second place in the Pro-Am class again. Verhagen also set the fastest race lap. Hull and Auberlen were also up there fighting for the win, but a penalty for speeding in the pit lane pushed them back down into ninth place (fifth place in the Pro class).

Robby Foley and Vincent Barletta (both USA) competed in the #96 BMW M4 GT3 of Turner Motorsport in Virginia. They finished in P13 and P10 (eighth and fifth in the Pro-Am class).

—

British GT Championship: Dan Harper and Century Motorsport on the podium at Snetterton.

BMW M works driver Dan Harper (GBR) was in action in the British GT Championship once again at the weekend. He and his team-mate Darren Leung (GBR) had further reason to celebrate at Snetterton (GBR) where the duo bagged another spot on the podium in the #91 Century Motorsport BMW M4 GT3. Harper and Leung finished in second place on the podium in the first of the two races. “Darren drove into P2 in a superb first stint and after we dropped down a few places during a pit stop I gave it my all to regain the position. I saw where we were quicker, could move back up the field, and bring the podium home,” reported Harper after the race. Harper and Leung finished race two in fifth place.

Their Century Motorsport team-mates in the BMW M4 GT4 also joined in the podium celebrations at Snetterton. In race one, Michael Johnston and Chris Salkeld (both GBR) finished third in their class in the #14 car, with Carl Cavers and Lewis Plato (both GBR) in the #22 right behind them in fourth place. In race two, Cavers/Plato finished fourth in their class again, while Johnston/Salkeld crossed the finish line in eighth place this time of asking.

—

24H Series: Class podium for BMW Italia Ceccato Racing at 12H Monza.

The 24H Series headed to Monza, Italy for the fifth race event of the season where BMW Italia Ceccato Racing enjoyed success at the 12H Monza. The #15 BMW M4 GT3 had the three Brazilians Leo Sanchez, Atila Abreu and William Freire at the wheel. The trio celebrated second place on the podium in the GT3-AM class in the two-part twelve-hour race. They finished in an outstanding fourth place in the overall rankings.

—

GT World Challenge Asia: BMW M Team Studie with GT4 class win at Fuji.

At the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia race weekend at Fuji (JPN), BMW M Team Studie claimed a class win in the GT4 category. In the first of the two races, Masaki Kano and Manabu Orido (both JPN) in the #50 BMW M4 GT4 of YZ RACING with BMW Team Studie crossed the finish line as winners in their class. They were not classified in race two.

In the #5 BMW M4 GT3 of PLUS by BMW Team Studie, Tomohide Yamaguchi and Seiji Ara (both JPN) took to the Fuji track. They finished in fifth place overall in the second race. They retired from race one.

—

GT / GT4 / TC America: BMW M Motorsport Teams with back-to-back successes.

In the GT America, GT4 America and TC America races that were held at the VIRginia International Raceway (USA) at the weekend, the BMW M Motorsport teams celebrated back-to-back successes once again.

In the GT America, Vincent Barletta (USA) in the Turner Motorsport #96 BMW M4 GT3 finished third on the podium in race one. He crossed the finish line in eighth place in the second race.

The BMW M4 GT4 dominated the GT4 America in Virginia at the weekend. In the first race, the BMW racers brought home a top-four lock-out. Kevin Boehm and Kenton Koch (both USA) won the thrilling race in the #92 BMW M4 GT4 of Random Vandals Racing. That also saw them win the Silver class. Second place went to the #51 car of Auto Technic Racing, with Zac Anderson and John Dubets (both USA) at the wheel. The #82 and #36 BMW M4 GT4 of BimmerWorld crossed the finish line in third and fourth place. James Walker Junior and Tyler McQuarrie (both USA) in the #82 also got the win in the Pro-Am standings, while James Clay and Charlie Postins (both USA) in the #36 won the Am category.

In the second GT4 America race, Anderson and Dubets secured the overall win and first place in the Silver classification. Boehm and Koch crossed the finish line in second place this time of asking to complete the one-two finish for the BMW M4 GT4. There were also further class wins for Walker Junior / McQuarrie in the Pro-Am standings and Clay / Postins in the Am category.

In TC America, it was Maddie Aust (USA)’s weekend. In the first of the two races, she celebrated her first TC America victory in the #9 BMW M2 CS Racing of Fast Track Racing. She repeated that success in the second race when she was the first to cross the finish line once again. The first race, which was characterized by a dramatic final phase, ended being a top-four lock-out for the BMW M2 CS Racing. In second place behind Aust was her team-mate Adam Gleason (USA). This was his first podium finish in the series. Joseph Catania (USA / Rigid Speed Company) finished third, Colin Garrett (USA / Rooster Hall Racing), who was spun around by a competitor in the battle for P1 on the final lap, crossed the finish line in fourth place. In race two, second and third place behind winner Aust went to Garrett and Lucas Catania (USA / Rigid Speed Company).

—

GT4 France: Double win for L’Espace Bienvenue in Dijon.

There was no getting past Benjamin Lessennes (BEL) and Ricardo van der Ende (NED) at the third GT4 France race weekend in Dijon (FRA). The duo was dominant in the #17 BMW M4 GT4 of the L’Espace Bienvenue team and secured the overall win in both races. That saw them also get both class wins in the Silver category. In addition, the VSF Sport – Amplitude Automobiles team in the #41 BMW M4 GT4 finished in second place in the Pro-Am classification in the first race.

—

BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy: Double victory for Luigi Ferrara in Vallelunga.

The second round of the 2023 BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy was held in Vallelunga (ITA). The man of the weekend was Luigi Ferrara (ITA) from Team V-Action by Nanni Nember. He was unbeatable in his #1 BMW M2 CS Racing and secured victory in both races, each with a significant lead. In the first of the two races, Jody Vullo (ITA) and Steven Giacon (ITA) also took second and third place on the podium. In race two, the podium spots behind Ferrara went to Marco Zanasi (ITA) and Lorenzo Marcucci (ITA). In the championship standings, Ferrara leads ahead of Vullo and Zanasi.

—

Sim Racing: Successful Weekend for BMW SIM Teams on Assetto Corsa Competizione and iRacing.

The BMW sim racing teams enjoyed a successful weekend. In the Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports powered by Mobileye, hosted on Assetto Corsa Competizione, BMW M Team BS+COMPETITION celebrated their first podium finish in the second race. The driver trio of Nils Naujoks, Gregor Schill and Arthur Kammerer (all GER) moved up from fifth on the grid into second place during the nine-hour race on the virtual Kyalami (RSA) track. Victory went to the Williams Esports team in the #66 Audi.

In the Silver class in the race, BMW Romania Team West Competition Racing finished in 14th place with drivers Sebastian Apostol (ROM), Marco Jonkers (NED), Victor Nicolae (ROM) and Andrei Miclea (ROM).

The special Six Hours of the Glen event, part of the VCO Grand Slam, was held at the same time on the iRacing platform. The highlight here was the Redline BMW SIM team’s victory in the GTP class at the virtual Watkins Glen (USA). Diogo Pinto (POR) and Chris Lulham (GBR) drove the BMW M Hybrid V8 with car #20 to a convincing win. Their team-mates Enzo Bonito (ITA) and Luke Bennett (GBR) in car #69 secured second place to clinch an impressive Redline one-two finish. Also contesting the GTP class was the BMW Bank team represented by Pedro Sanchez (ESP) and Nathan Lewis (USA), however, an accident forced the duo to retire.

The Redline team with Gianni Vecchio (ITA), Ole Steinbraten (NOR) and Josh Thompson (GBR) were also convincing in the GTD class and got the win there as well with the BMW M4 GT3. BMW M Team BS+COMPETITION finished in sixth place with Felix Quirmbach (GER) and Elias Raikaa (FIN).

—

BTCC: Three Races, Three BMW Wins at Oulton Park.

BMW drivers celebrated a perfect weekend in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Oulton Park. The outcome of the fifth race weekend of the season was three races, three wins. It all started with race one, in which Jake Hill (GBR) of Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport claimed the win. In race two, Hill clinched the brace by winning again. The third race made it a triple win for the BMW 330e M Sport. This time it was Colin Turkington (GBR) of Team BMW who celebrated victory. Hill finished the race in second place, followed by Adam Morgan (GBR) in third place, also of Team BMW.

Motorsport

Former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn Files Lawsuit, Seeking Over $1 Billion in Damages

Carlos Ghosn, the former CEO of Nissan, has filed a lawsuit in Lebanon against his previous employer, seeking more than $1 billion in damages. The lawsuit accuses Nissan, two other companies, and 12 individuals of defamation, fabricating evidence, and other offenses. Ghosn is specifically asking for $558 million in lost compensation and costs, as well as $500 million in punitive damages.

In late 2018, Ghosn was arrested by Japanese authorities on charges of underreporting his compensation and financial misconduct. He has consistently denied these charges. In late 2019, Ghosn managed to escape house arrest and fled the country in a box, eventually finding refuge in Lebanon, which does not extradite its citizens. However, he still has pending criminal charges in Japan. Nissan has also filed a lawsuit against Ghosn for monetary damages.

Carlos Ghosn was initially hired by Renault in 1996 to restructure the French automaker. Three years later, Renault and Nissan formed a partnership to share resources and reduce costs. Ghosn played a crucial role in turning around Nissan as the chief operating officer in 1999 and eventually became the CEO of both Nissan and Renault in 2001. Mitsubishi joined the alliance in 2017.

Even though Ghosn has been absent from Nissan for several years, his presence continues to be a source of trouble for the company. In 2022, the Japanese Financial Services Agency fined Nissan 200 million yen ($1.4 million) for Ghosn’s alleged misconduct, which was reported by the company in 2019. With this new lawsuit, it is likely that the legal battle between Ghosn and Nissan will prolong for years to come.

Since his escape, Ghosn has not held back in his criticism of his former employer. He referred to Renault-Nissan as “small and fragile” and criticized the company’s lack of vision in its electrification strategy.

In early 2023, Nissan announced an updated roadmap, revealing its plans to introduce 27 new electrified models and 19 new EVs by 2030. The company aims for up to 98% of its sales to be electrified in Europe by 2026 and 40% in the US by the end of the decade.

Motorsport

2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R Unofficially Revealed In New Spy Photos

New spy photos have emerged, giving us an unofficial look at the 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R. Despite its stealthy appearance, this updated model features distinctive styling tweaks that set it apart from its predecessor. Spotted near Ford’s global headquarters in Dearborn, the truck caught the attention of our vigilant spy photographers.

Unlike the current Raptor R model available for purchase, this upcoming 2024 version boasts noticeable design changes. While Ford has previously teased a facelift for the 2024 F-150, this is our first unobstructed view of the truck. Interestingly, Ford boldly advertises this particular truck as a Raptor R.


Motorsport

Bentley Batur Completes Development, Gears Up For Production Start

The Bentley Batur, which made its debut in August 2022, has finished its on-road development phase. The British luxury brand can now begin production of 18 models for its customers.

Prior to the production phase, Bentley conducted extensive testing with two pre-production Baturs. These vehicles underwent real-world testing, covering a total of 18,641 miles, and were evaluated for a combined period of 58 weeks. Car Zero, one of the pre-production models, featured a lively Purple Sector body with a Gloss Dark Titanium grille adorned with Black Crystal elements. As for Car Zero-Zero, it sported a Marina Teal body and was specifically utilized for development in Europe and high-speed driving on closed circuits.


Motorsport

Mercedes-AMG G63 Transforms into an Extended and Lifted Overlanding Truck

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class hasn’t been a popular choice for overlanding camper equipment, until now. Pit26 Motorsports, a distributor of suspension and performance parts for the G-Class in the US, has recognized the great potential of the boxy SUV and created an overlanding machine based on the range-topping AMG G63 version.

This particular vehicle, built for a client with a passion for outdoor living and exploring, takes the form of a pickup truck with extra space for overlanding gear. The wheelbase has been extended by nearly 20 inches, and the suspension with portal axles has been lifted by about 5.9 inches.


Motorsport

Subaru Developing EyeSight Safety Technology for Manual Transmission Vehicles

While driving a sports car with a manual transmission is an unmatched experience, these configurations often have limitations when it comes to driver assist systems. Subaru has announced that it is currently working on integrating its EyeSight family of safety technologies into models equipped with manual transmissions.

In an official press release, the Japanese automaker confirms that it is adapting EyeSight to suit the driving and operating characteristics of vehicles with manual transmissions. Once the development work is complete, the system will be able to function in various conditions and provide critical assistance to the driver, similar to how EyeSight operates in vehicles with automatic transmissions.


Exit mobile version