Tag Archives: trackonly

News

KTM’s 2024 RC 8C Is More Expensive and Exclusive Than Ever

KTM simply unveiled its limited-edition track-only RC 8C race bike. And whereas the producer hasn’t made large modifications when in comparison with the 2023 model, it claims this unit has Moto2 ranges of efficiency. Hot rattling.

There’ll be simply 100 hand-built 2024 RC 8Cs on provide, which is half the quantity in comparison with final yr. And when you want to throw your leg over one, you may must half with $41,499 and get on-line when pre-orders open on March twentieth at 07:00 PDT.

Here’s all the things that you must know.

Track Only

The limited-edition track-only RC 8C was made along with Krämer Motorcycles, identical to the earlier mannequin. And, as you’d anticipate, meaning it comes with all of the observe trimmings like quick-release tank and physique panels, light-weight Dymag wheels, and Pirelli race slicks.

There’s an AIM MXS 1.2 RACE dashboard and knowledge logger with built-in GPS performance to maintain you on prime of your lap occasions, and you may view all related data on the 5-inch TFT display screen. The fortunate few who get to personal considered one of these observe weapons can use AIM RaceStudio to view efficiency metrics and work towards decreasing their lap occasions.

Engine, Chassis, and Brakes

Propelling the RC 8C is similar 889 cc parallel-twin as KTM used within the 2023 mannequin, however the firm states that it has been “up-specced”. We can solely assume that it makes near 140 hp, because the earlier iteration pumped out 135 hp and 72.3 lb-ft of torque. And there is no doubt this might be one of many sweetest-sounding bikes on the observe, because of a racing Akrapovič exhaust.

Housing the engine is a 25CerMo4 metal tubular body, which is wrapped in Carbon Kevlar bodywork, impressed by the KTM RC16. KTM would not listing the curb weight, however the dry weight is simply 308 lbs.

Unsurprisingly, there are WP suspension elements all-round. A 43 mm closed cartridge fork retains issues beneath management on the entrance, whereas a WP APEX PRO 7746 shock with a distant preload adjuster ought to provide simply tunable excessive and low-speed compression and rebound settings on the rear.

Bringing all the things to a halt is a set of MotoGP-derived Brembo 19RCS CORSA CORTA radial grasp brake cylinders. At the entrance, Brembo Stylema calipers grip 290 mm fully-floating discs, whereas a Brembo two-piston caliper works with a 230 mm disc on the rear.

 

Handover Session At Portimão

Anyone who efficiently luggage a 2024 RC 8C might be invited to a handover session at Portimão, Portugal. The journey will embody a personalised observe setup session, non-public dinner, meet and greet, and an unique observe day expertise with “KTM racing royalty”. 

The query I pose is, who amongst us would half with simply north of $40k for this devoted observe machine?

Let us know within the feedback.

Motorsport

The 1,826-HP Bugatti Bolide Will Use Brembo’s Biggest-Ever Carbon Brakes

Bugatti included 21 photos with its current announcement about testing the bonkers track-only Bolide at Imola. They all look gorgeous, however the picture above tells you all it’s worthwhile to know. The Bolide is absurdly quick, and with a gargantuan 1,826 horsepower on faucet, it takes severe braking drive to reel it in.

That stopping energy comes from Brembo, particularly a “carbon-carbon” setup with eight-piston mono-block calipers in entrance and six-piston items on the again, every constituted of nickel-coated aluminum. All 4 clampers grip 15.3-inch carbon discs, although the entrance will get barely thicker pads and rotors. There are additionally 4 pads at every wheel. When you add all of it up, you get the biggest carbon brake system ever created by Brembo.

The outcome, based on Bugatti, is brakes on par with know-how used for LMDh and Formula 1 vehicles.

“Developing the brake system for the Bugatti Bolide was a unique and very exciting challenge for the Performance Division of Brembo, and we are proud of what we achieved,” said Brembo Chief Operating Officer Mario Almondo. “We had to re-engineer the entire system to cope with the incredible yet demanding characteristics and power of the car.”

Bugatti not too long ago took the Bolide to Imola – formally referred to as the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari – to conduct wet-weather testing. The notion of driving a 3,200-pound automotive able to over 1,800 horsepower within the rain feels like sheer insanity, however Bugatti is nothing if not persistent in evaluating its excessive machine in all climates. First revealed in 2020, we have watched the Bolide wow spectators at snazzy car shows, race up the hill at Goodwood, and we even spied it without any body panels.

The final we heard, buyer deliveries of the Bolide have been to start early this yr, or proper round now. Bugatti’s newest announcement would not supply any perception as to precisely when homeowners will start receiving their vehicles. It’s not like 1000’s of individuals are ready on it, although – solely 40 shall be made, every with a price ticket of roughly $4 million.

News

Ferrari 296 Challenge: A 690bhp V6 Customer Racer

Ferrari has introduced the 296 Challenge, a track-only version of the 296 GTB, which sets a new record by opting for a pure-petrol V6 engine with 690bhp, excluding the hybrid system.

The car was presented at the 2023 Ferrari Finali event, in celebration of Ferrari’s motorsport participation. It is the latest addition to the series of Ferraris exclusively designed for the customer-only championship racing title, the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli. Notably, it is the first six-cylinder car to compete in this championship.

The 296 Challenge, priced at €318,000 (£276,851) before taxes, is the ninth racer developed for the series, replacing the V8-powered 488 Challenge.

Andrea Mladosic, the head of Ferrari Challenge, described it as a “giant leap from the analogical to the digital era.” The car will make its debut in the 2024 season of the Ferrari Challenge, with the first race scheduled for April in North America, followed by Europe in May.

The 296 Challenge dispenses with the electrified powertrain of the 296 GTB and instead utilizes a race-modified version of the standard car’s 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine. Notably, this is the first time a Ferrari race car outside of Formula 1 has employed a V6 engine since the 1960s.

The engine generates a total output of 690bhp, which is claimed to set a new power record for Ferrari’s racing series. The torque rating is 545lb ft.

When asked about the decision to exclude the hybrid component from the engine, Manuela Cecconi, Ferrari’s non-homologated vehicle leader, explained, “We de-hybridized in favor of weight reduction and ease of use on the track.”

Ferrari states that removing the hybrid system has led to a weight reduction of 140kg, resulting in a total weight of 1330kg for the 296 Challenge.

The use of carbon fiber has also contributed to the weight reduction. Cecconi emphasized that carbon fiber is utilized only “where there is a clear difference in structure, performance, and weight.”

News

Maserati MCXtrema: £936,000 track car revealed with 730bhp

Maserati has unveiled its most powerful model to date, a track-only supercar with 730bhp and a weight of 1300kg.

Named the MCXtrema, this car is based on the Maserati MC20 and is considered the spiritual successor to the iconic Maserati MC12 racer from the early 2000s.

The MCXtrema is a reflection of Maserati’s desire to create a racing car that honors its legacy while setting the pace for the future of the brand.

This track car features aerodynamically designed bodywork with a focus on downforce and a futuristic cockpit. Only 62 units of the MCXtrema will be produced, and they are all already sold at a price of £963,000 each, after tax. For comparison, a standard MC20 starts at £197,994.

Unveiled at The Quail during Monterey Car Week, this Italian-made super-sports car sports a significantly redesigned exterior and improved underpinnings compared to the standard MC20.

One of the primary reasons for the visual changes is the increase in downforce. The new design includes large airflow scoops on the bonnet in the shape of the Maserati trident badge, prominent front and rear diffusers, and a massive adjustable spoiler.

To cool its 3.0-litre V6 Nettuno engine, which is the same engine found in the MC20, the MCXtrema features a large roof-mounted scoop connected to the spoiler through a shark fin. Additionally, two new turbochargers and increased airflow push the power from 621bhp to an impressive 730bhp. This power is delivered to the rear 18-inch wheels through a six-speed sequential racing gearbox.

The extreme look of the MCXtrema is enhanced by its low nose with slim LED lights, integrated race twin exhausts, and a large bonnet-mounted emblem. The car also features new double-wishbone suspension, track-tuned four-way racing dampers, springs, and an anti-roll bar, all of which are fully adjustable.

Motorsport

Maserati Unveils New Track Car MCXtrema, Set to Debut on August 18

Maserati has finally revealed the name of its upcoming track-only version of the MC20. Previously known as Project24, it is now officially called MCXtrema.

If you’re not familiar with Project24, that’s understandable. It was introduced in July 2022 through a series of renderings showcasing a heavily modified MC20 with additional aerodynamic features and an increase in power. Maserati originally stated that Project24 would have 740 horsepower, but with the announcement of MCXtrema, we now know that it will produce 730 hp.

While we have seen renderings of the car, Maserati is still keeping most details under wraps. The official unveiling of the MCXtrema will take place on August 18 during Monterey Car Week at The Quail event. Maserati has also confirmed that only 62 units of the car will be built, and all of them have already been sold.

This high demand is not surprising considering Maserati’s previous announcement that buyers will have various customization options available to them. Additionally, Maserati has stated that each car will be unique, meaning no two MCXtrema models will be identical. It’s safe to assume that all 62 cars were spoken for well in advance of the official announcement.


News

New 2024 Ferrari SF90 XX: A Powerful Racer for the Road

The 2024 Ferrari SF90 XX is a plug-in hybrid flagship that incorporates all the technical features typically found in a track-only XX car, according to Enrico Galliera, the marketing and commercial head of Ferrari. The car includes the lightest seats ever fitted in a Ferrari, resulting in a 10kg weight reduction compared to the conventional SF90 Stradale. The SF90 XX Spider weighs 1660kg.

Ferrari hasn’t revealed the lap time achieved by the SF90 XX around Fiorano, but Galliera stated that the performance improvement compared to the regular SF90 is substantial. As a result, Ferrari plans to hold a dedicated announcement event later this year. The regular SF90 currently holds the record for road cars at the circuit, completing a lap in 1:19.00.

The starting price for the SF90 XX was €770,000 (£660,000) for the Stradale coupe and €850,000 (£730,000) for the Spider. However, all 1398 units (799 Stradales and 599 Spiders) have already been sold to Ferrari’s most loyal clients. Deliveries of the Stradale will begin in the second quarter of 2024, followed by the Spider in the final quarter of next year.

SF90 XX: A Surprise Addition

Ferrari originally did not plan to develop a more focused version of the SF90, as they believed they had already pushed the limits of available technology during its development. According to Galliera, it typically takes a year to develop a new product, and the same was true for this car.

He stated, “The project was even more complex than usual because when we conceived the SF90, we didn’t anticipate creating an evolution of it. That’s why we call it a supercar. Normally, a supercar aims to achieve the highest level of technology at that moment. Thus, improving the SF90 further, considering its existing performance, was not an easy task. So, essentially, it took the same amount of time, but the effort was tremendous.”

Motorsport

Bugatti Expanding Molsheim Headquarters as it Prepares for New Models

Bugatti is getting ready for a new chapter by expanding its headquarters in Molsheim. The French luxury carmaker has recently introduced the Mistral roadster and the track-only Bolide as a farewell to the quad-turbo W16 engine, with limited production of 99 roofless hypercars and 40 extreme models. After these models, Bugatti will move on to an undisclosed engine. To support the introduction of these new models, Bugatti is adding a new two-story facility to its existing headquarters.

The expansion project will cover an area of 2,120 square meters (22,819 square feet) and aims to be operational by the second half of next year. Besides accommodating the launch of the new Mistral and Bolide, the expanded headquarters will also pave the way for future models that Bugatti is planning beyond the era of the Chiron. While details about these forthcoming models are scarce, Bugatti promises they will be “performance-defining automobiles.”

In line with the upcoming changes, Bugatti has ambitious plans to expand its workforce by more than 50 percent by the end of 2027. This strategic personnel expansion is part of Bugatti’s preparation for the new era in collaboration with Rimac, which will see the two combining their expertise in the development of cutting-edge hypercars.