Honda NSX and Lexus LF-CC Lined for Japan Super GT 2014

Two contenders for Japan Super GT 2014 were lined up today at Suzuka Circuit, respectively Honda and Lexus with their NSX and LF-CC. Both will compete in GT500 class, which means according to the Japan Automobile Federation, will be powered by 2.0L in-line 4 cylinder with force induction. Honda has confirmed NSX will feature hybrid powertrain system while there is no news yet on Lexus.

Lexus LF-CC will take the baton from the long-serving SC430, which gave Lexus 2 titles in 2006 and 2009.

Several more photos of Honda NSX Concept GT can be found after the jump.

Proton wins S-WRC category in Rally of Sweden

PROTON rallied to its first ever victory in the 2012 FIA Super World Rally Championship (S-WRC) with Per Gunnar Andersson claiming a dominant drive in the Satria Neo S2000 to finish more than three minutes clear of his nearest rival in Rally Sweden.

Andersson finished the 24 special stages 3 minutes 35 seconds ahead of Ford’s Craig Breen and 4 minutes 49 seconds in front of Skoda’s Pontus Tideman. He was also placed 12th overall ahead of some of the main World Rally Championship (WRC) competitors en route to clinching his third successive win at his Swedish home event.

Andersson and co-driver Emil Axelsson led the S-WRC class from start to finish, making the most of local knowledge, experience and a competitive package to steer the Satria Neo S2000 to victory in the snowy, icy and cold conditions of the Swedish countryside.

“What a phenomenal weekend it has been and a well deserved victory for PROTON after only two rounds of the S-WRC. We knew that we had a very competitive car at the very start of the season in Monte Carlo and we have proven just that in Sweden. The Satria Neo S2000 was dominant throughout the weekend,” said Andersson, who looks back on what could have possibly been two victories in two rounds (of the Championship) for PROTON had it not been for an engine fire three stages to the finish at the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally.

Rally Sweden attracted the participation of 85 entries and covered a competitive distance of 360km over four days. 

“Andersson drove a dominant rally to make an impactful introduction for PROTON in Sweden and the World Rally Championship circuit, underlining both the team and brand’s commitment to excel,” said John D. Chacko, PROTON’s Director of Group Marketing, Branding and Motorsports.

Victory in Sweden promotes PROTON to officially joining not only the ranks of rally’s elite, but is its first in the European hemisphere since the Satria Neo S2000 made its competition debut in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in 2009. PROTON’s best finish up until now had been second place at the 2009 IRC Rally of Scotland, although the Satria Neo S2000 did go on to dominate and win the 2011 Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) driver’s and manufacturer’s titles. 

“It has been an incredible journey to get here (victory for PROTON). As we celebrate this moment, I assure you that development work continues to ensure that the Satria Neo S2000 enhances its competitiveness throughout the season. It is still too early in the season and there is still plenty to be done to if Andersson is to make a strong bid for this year’s S-WRC title,” said Datuk Abdul Razak Dawood, the Head of Proton Motorsports.

With Monte Carlo and Sweden now over, PROTON is due to compete in another three of the seven S-WRC rounds in 2012.

Source: Proton press release.

Toyota returned to Le Mans with TS030 Hybrid LMP1

Toyota will compete in 2012 Le Mans with its new TS030 Hybrid LMP1 racer. Sets to compete with the dominant diesel challenger such as Audi, as Peugeot has already departed, Toyota has banked its hope on what it dubbed as THS-R ( Toyota Hybrid System - Racing), essentially a 3.4L naturally-aspirated V8 hooked to a Nisshinbo hybrid system that does away without batteries.

The deletion of the battery systems were replaced by capacitors that performed as a storage medium.  Whereas the 3.4L 90deg V8 engine sits midship in the carbon fibre LMP1 chassis developed by Toyota Motorsport GmbH driving the rear wheel, Toyota is yet to decide whether the hybrid system will power either front or rear wheel. The regulation stipulated the allowance of an all-wheel-drive, but both end can't be driven simultaneously. 

The racecar is 4,650mm long, 2,000mm wide and 1,030mm tall. The V8 engine channelled its drive to the rear wheel via a 6 speed sequential gearbox made with aluminium casing. Independent double-wishbones suspension with push-rod activation torsion bar spring suspended the car on its 18" rims.

Toyota has confirmed that they will field two TS030 at Le Mans this year. The first car will be driven a combo of Kazuki Nakajima, Alex Wurz and Nicolas Lapierre. The car will make it debut in 6 hours Spa Endurance championship. The drivers of the second for the Le Mans are to be confirmed at  a later date. For more technical information on the Toyota TS030, head to Mulsanne Corner Le Mans. More photos of the TS030 after the jump.

PETRONAS discontinued its partnership with Yamaha

The three-year relationship between Yamaha and PETRONAS has been brought to the end, as Yamaha MotoGP squad move into the 2012 season. The Malaysia's giant oil and gas company  joined force with the MotoGP team back in 2009, when they enjoy immediate success when Valentino Rossi took his seventh title with the team that year, and due to excellent rides of team mate Jorge Lorenzo, the team was crowned constructor champion too.

PETRONAS became the prominent sponsor in 2011 after FIAT left at the end of 2010 from its position as title sponsor. In 2010, Yamaha once again triumphed the rider championship courtesy of its rider Jorge Lorenzo.

The partnership on MotoGP front started in 2009 when both parties signed a 3-year deal. The strategic partnership was a continuation from their 8 years collaboration in Asia-Pasific motorcyle championship. The new partnership at that time aimed, among others to enable the development of Yamahalube engine oil into South-East Asean region. For PETRONAS, the collaboration will enable it to continue building the position of its international lubrication business with globally successful manufacturer.

Read after the jump for comments from both Yamaha and PETRONAS.

Proton on track for APRC driver championship

Proton's Alister McRae finished third in last weekend Hokkaido APRC Rally in Japan. The leg was won by the Gaurav Gill in his Mitsubishi EVO X., and second place gone to reigning champion Katsuhiko Taguchi in his . Third on the podium is McRae with his, and our beloved, PROTON Satria Neo S2000.

It was three way battle for driver championship leading towards Japan rally last weekend, with Christ Atkinson leading the championship with 109 points, followed by Alister McRae in second and Gaurav Gill in running in third. The first two leading drivers are driving, well, Proton Satria Neo S2000.