Audi R8 LMS

Well, as mentioned earlier 31st March is a special day for me, in particular this year. So I bought this beauty just for today... revealing the #97 R8 LMS which SOLD out by minichamps before released. The 2009 Nurburgring 24 HR runner up... the debut of the R8 LMS, team Abt Sportsline secured the win in the GT3 category right away and finished runner-up in the overall rankings.

C8 Spyder GT2R

I'm sure everyone know the Dutch sport car maker Spyker...I just can't stop adding the C8 Spyder GT2R car into my GT2 collection. The #85 C8 Spyder GT2R factory team car had done a remarkable job last year at Le Mans 24 Hr last year, where they grabbed fourth position in GT2 class (just missed the podium place to all the Ferrari F430s).

Some introduction about  the Spyker Squadron:

Spyker Squadron was founded in 2001 to underwrite the performance of the highly exclusive hand-build Spyker sports cars. Spyker Squadron is a dedicated team consisting of engineers, drivers and supporting personnel that develops, builds, supports the Spyker GT2 race cars. The team is based in Zeewolde, the Netherlands, where it has a high-tech workshop to support their operations. 

 All technical developments, from chassis design to assembling the V8 engines, are done in-house and only the best components are used in the Spyker race cars. Selected components are build to specification by our hi-tech partners and assembled in the Spyker factory.

During the races a team of about 25 engineers and mechanics support Spyker's race operations on location. The specialists who actually developed and built the GT2 race cars all have a specific role in the Squadron Team. This makes Spyker unique and proves Spyker Squadron's commitment to further improve the car.

APR Toyota Corolla Axio GT300 2009 #74

Another TRD developed machine...

Revealing the much anticipated TRD developed (further modified by APR) race car the Toyota Corolla Axio GT300. This is not an average Toyota Corolla that you own or normally seen on street. It's power by 2GR-FSE water-cooled V6 (without any turbos) engine that capable to punch out more than 300 ps.

Well, I knew Ebbro going to produce this model one day (since the Axio was introduced to Super GT last year). So it's consider dream come true after waited for nearly 1 year for this car. There you go...

Raising the curtain of 2010 Super GT season

Last week we have seen an action packed Formula 1 season opener at Bahrain. Unlike 2009 season, the return of Michael Schumacer has brought enormous of attraction to it. So the 2010 F1 is the best ever with 4 former champions Alonso, Button, Hamilton, Schumacher battling for glory...

So this weekend is the season opener of one of my favorite GT championship, the Japan's Super GT. I can't wait to see another close battle among the big boys again.

Honda NSX-GT, had withdrawn from the series as of the final round of last season. To succeed NSX's glorious footprint, Honda is fielding their first FR (Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive) layout SUPER GT machine, HSV-010 GT, this season. The car has demonstrated its outstanding potential in the corners at pre-season tests and gave shivers to the rivals. First objective for any of the Honda teams must be to complete a debut-win at Honda's home track, Suzuka. With newly enforced drivers line-up.

Nissan GT-Rs are running with their new engine. Having an over-sized 4.5-liter engine that exceeded regulated displacement last year, GT-R had to carry handicap weight throughout the whole season, but the new engine complies with the 3.4-liter displacement regulation and matches up with its two rivals. Without the handicap weight on the NISSAN cars, it is now a true head-to-head battle for the technology side too. Stumbling at the opening round last season and eventually losing the title owing partly to that, it must had been such a bitter season for No.23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Satoshi Motoyama/Benoit Treluyer). For being a works team, winning the title is an absolute must, so they must be keened and committed to win the upcoming race.

Contrarily, no prominent changes are seen on the 2009 champion car LEXUS SC430. The 2010 car has gone under a normal evolution from last year, but the team structure as well as drivers line-up stay the same. Nevertheless, maturity level may be a step or even two steps ahead of the rivals. Maturity could become a huge advantage especially in the first half of the season where initial problems frequently occur. Defending champion No.1 PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 (Juichi Wakisaka/Andre Lotterer) and last year's Suzuka (Rd.2) winner, No.38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 (Yuji Tachikawa/Richard Lyons), should be the two main teams of the fleet, but No.6 ENEOS SC430 (Ito/ Bjorn Wirdheim) , with Daisuke Ito going into his third year after moving to LEXUS, and the winner of last year's Pokka GT (Rd.6 Suzuka), No.35 MJ KRAFT SC430 (Hiroaki Ishiura/Kazuya Oshima), should be kept under the watch-out list also.

While in GT300 the defending champion Weds Sport IS350 (Manabu Orido/Tatsuya Kataoka) and other major players like No.7 M7 MUTIARA MOTORS AMEMIYA SGC 7 (Nobuteru Taniguchi/Ryo Orime) and No.43 ARTA Garaiya (Morio Nitta/Shinichi Takagi). No.2 APPLE K-ONE SHIDEN (Hiroki Katoh/Hiroshi Hamaguchi) looked strong at the official test held on March 5th and 6th. Team's ace driver remained to be Katoh, but he is now partnering with Hamaguchi, a SUPER GT rookie.

Some of my pass seasons GT300 cars...

2009 GT300 Champion #19 Wedsport IS350

2007 overall GT300 Champion #101 APR MRS

The retired 2007 #77 Cusco Subaru WRX

#66 Triple A Lamborghini Gallardo that race in 2007 GT300 class

Still going strong #43 Arta Garaiya.

Nissan GT-R Spec V

The Nissan GT-R Spec V is the first factory special edition to come from Nissan Japan. While the GT-R Spec V does not add a whole lot performance-wise to standard GT-R cars, its powerful styling enhancements, weight savings and trick high gear boost controller should ensure every unit will be snapped up by the Nissan devout in Japan.

The 2010 GT-R Spec V carries the same engine as other GT-R cars, though a boost controller is added which provides additional torque in high gear to pass that imported Corvette ZR1 on the highway, or the Nurburgring. Operated via a button on the dash, the extra boost engages for 80 seconds, then disengages on its own, presumably to save load on the engine.

Other Spec V performance extras include a high-flow titanium exhaust, adjustable more-aggressive Bilstein shocks and carbon-ceramic composite Brembo brakes front and rear.

The GT-R SpecV is also equipped with lightweight, racing-style forged aluminium wheels that were developed for this model and have been sold by Nissan Motorsports International (NISMO) since September 2008. The lighter unsprung weight provided by the new wheels, together with the enhanced braking capability, an exclusive suspension and high-grip tyres, combine to deliver the SpecV’s exceptional performance.

GT-R SpecV Vs 430 Scuderia

Ferrari 430 Scuderia

Got this car few months back, but never snap photos and post them on my blog. In fact I've forgotten I got one till I clean my room recently and noticed the red hot Ferrari 430 Scuderia parked in my drawer for almost 4 months....