Aston Martin was able to nail down a 1-2-3 finish at last weekend's Nurburgring 1000km, putting them securely into first place in the LMS. ('LeMans Series', the European equivalent to the ALMS,) Good thing Speedtv.com reports on these things, because they definitely DO NOT broadcast them on television. Why not? Chalk it up to economics, blame it on NASCAR fever that doesn't really exist, whatever the case the average racing fan gets gypped.

A Ginetta-Zytek 09S took the LMP2 crown, being run by the Quifel-ASM Team. GT1 became a battle of attrition, the Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R and Larbre Competition Saleen S7-R leading most of the race, both cars retiring with mechanical issues. This delivered the win to Larbre’s Roland Berville, Sebastien Dumez and Laurent Groppi; piloting another S7R. GT2 went to Team Felbermayr Proton’s Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz in their Porsche GT3.

Heres hoping Speed decides to broadcast this exciting series, along with many others they choose to overlook because of advertising concerns . . . ihk . . .

Full race coverage can be found at Speedtv.com

Russian Car Kitsch: From Russiablog.org: "The war in Chechnya is dragging on after twelve years and 18 year old drafted soldiers are still dying on a daily basis; Russian pensioners are saving money by not buying toilet paper, and 80% of the population is barely making the living. But it’s not the same in Moscow. The hot new trend of the season is “airbrushing”". . .

So, that's kind of depressing, but the pictures of Dali-Clocks on Alfa hoods are pretty priceless . . .

The Good: Everything about the Ford F-150 Raptor makes me happy. Long-Travel suspension? Check. Huge, CORR-style fender flares? Check. 310 bhp V8, soon to upgraded to 400? Check. Skid plates, unique and strangely attractive grille, vicious rubber and a composed on-road ride? Check, Check, Check, and Check. I've always liked Chevy trucks but this thing is just too good to be believed. It looks like it wants to eat babies without going way overboard (ala SuperSwampers, stupid brush guard, TruckNutz) and apparently the thing is beyond capable. Even though I don't currently have any reason to own one, I'm sure I could make something up.

How could this package get better? The current 5.4 liter mill will be joined by a 6.2 liter option by the end of the year. This thing is so serious it comes with a little red stripe dead at the center of the steering wheel's rim. Use it to make sure your tires are pointing arrow straight when that lurid power-slide gets away from you. Heh, that is the sort of thing that makes a pseudo race-dork like me sweat in his sleep. Edmunds Inside Line has a great image gallery. See the video after the jump from Motor Trend. Anyone want to inform me what dictionary the word "Heavy-Dutyized" comes from?...

As the final Cash For Clunkers results poured in from dealerships across the country, many participants have developed a case of buyer's remorse.

CNW Purchase Path, of Bandon, Oregon, conducted a survey among 1,000 Cash for Clunkers participants. Of the the thousand polled, 17 percent reported "serious doubts that they should have made the new-vehicle acquisition."

The main reason, obviously, is the new $300 bill showing up every month. Apparently some people didn't take into account the fact that they would have to pay for most of that shiny new Focus Coupe. Shoulduh bought a 20 year old BMW, which probably has all the same options (minus that infernal 'Sync' system), is rear-drive, fairly efficient, has huge aftermarket support and receive no bill every month. I'm just sayin' . . .

Source: Edmunds Inside Line

I promise I will not ride Jeremy Clarkson's coattails on a weekly basis. Even though I'll read his column every week, I leave it up to you do do the same. Sometimes however, the jerk is just so achingly eloquent that I feel like it's my holy duty to bring Mr. Clarkson and his articles to your attention. This is one such time. I give you a quote, and then a link, and I hope you are bright enough to devote five minutes of your Big Mac-gobbling day to read it. If not, well, you're a dummie and I hate you.

Per Clarkson: "Not once did the car pitch or lurch. There was never a shimmy from the rear or a squeal from the tyres. We just went up that smooth, brilliant road with the roof down and me looking at the stars flying by as though we were on the Starship Enterprise’s observation deck. It was, I think, the most enjoyable drive of my life: to be in a car that good, with its V10 bark echoing off the limestone and a bit of Steely Dan on the stereo, doing about a million with a man who truly knows what he’s doing at the wheel. This is what those of a Guardian disposition don’t understand: that a car can be a tool but it can also be so much more. It can be a heart-starter, it can be a drug, it can be a piece of art, it can stir your soul and it can get you from Marbella to Ronda before the bar closes."

If that doesn't stir your soul then either you're dead or illiterate. Period. The entire article can be enjoyed at The Times Online

Anarchy and violence are interrupting production at a Mitsubishi-owned auto plant in Venezuela. There have been two deaths caused by angry laborer riots.

The Japanese firm said the decision came in response to "indiscipline, anarchy and violence".

The factory, in the Eastern Venezuelan city of Barcelona, also produces vehicles for Hyundai. Forced nationalisation of many private companies under the Hugo Chavez leftist-newspeak-commie government was another factor in the decision, although Mitsubishi said the plant may reopen if "peace and discipline" return.

This story can be found at BBC News

Last week we reported on the constant struggle to own the 'production' lap record at the Nurburgring. Here is a video of the lap in question: A Hyabusa-engined Radical SR8LM screaming around the 'Ring, driven by the narrator, Michael Vargers. Bon-appetite!

Kinetic Energy Recovery systems were a hot topic before the 2009 F1 season got under way. Every team wanted the advantage of extra horsepower, but the drawbacks associated with the system proved to be insurmountable for most teams. BMW-Sauber went so far as to run KERS on Nick Hiedfeld's F109 chassis but not on Robert Kubica's car. Kubica you see, is not the size of a jockey, like most F1 drivers, and it was determined that managing weight distribution would be to difficult with him in the car. Kubica is a measly inch taller and fifteen pounds heavier than Hiedfeld. In a Formula one car that could be considered the difference between a thimble and an elephant.

The schedule for the 2010 Formula One season was confirmed yesterday. As per the demands of most of the major teams, Formula One will return to North America next year. Most the manufacturer-based teams (Ferrari, Mclaren-Mercedes, Toyota) consider North America to be their most important consumer market. They certainly sell more passenger cars in the United States, for more money, than any other country.

After the debacle that was the 2005 US Grand Prix, interest in F1 supposedly waned in our country. The race was canceled after 2007, and the Canadian Grand Prix canceled after last year. (Robert Kubica won that race, bringing the only win to the BMW-Sauber team. I was pleased).

The F1 circus is going to return to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Contrary to popular rumor the European Grand Prix will be held on the Valencia street circuit, as it was last week. Eh, this track makes for a boring race, but hey, they have a bridge!

Personal beefs aside, the race schedule increases to 18 races from the 17 races scheduled this season. For more info you can visit Speedtv.com.

. . . All of my wildest dreams are coming true. Last week, Autoshopper reported that Peugeot and ORECA will both contest the Petit LeMans this year, with no immediate word from Audi. Well, that word has been given; Audi will campaign two R15 Diesels in this years Petit.

Following this announcement, the LMP1 field is now so populated with awesome cars and teams that I don't think I can stand it (I'm excited; can you tell?). Along with Team Joest Audi, LMP1 will feature both Peugeot 908s, ORECA's Courage-derived prototype, De Ferran and Patron/Highcroft Acura ARX-02s, as well as the Intersport Lola, the Zytek Hybrid prototype, and several other private entries. Somebody pinch me, I'm dreaming.

Joining the LMP1 fracas are the LMP2 cars, BP Lola/Mazda coupes, as well as the Fernandez Acura ARX-01b. I've already gushed wildly about the GT2 class, featuring BMW, Corvette, Porsche, Ferrari, Panoz, the Robinson Ford GT, and many others. This is literally shaping up to be the best Sports Car race, on American soil, ever. If you'll excuse me, I have to go hyperventilate into this paper bag for a minute . . . I wonder if this ridiculous 'Joker Smilex' grin will ever leave my face?

The next round of the American Le Mans Series is the Mobil 1 Presents Grand Prix of Mosport at 3:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 30. The race will air live on SPEED.

The ALMS release can be found here, on americanlemans.com