Motorsport

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 07, 2026

Audi Celebrates Inaugural Fire-Up Of 2026 F1 Car

Audi’s Formula 1 ambitions come to roaring life. As the 2026 Formula 1 season draws nearer, the anticipated debuts of new and returning names to the grid are quickly approaching, and one of the most talked-about ones is that of Audi. The Audi Revolut F1 Team has spent years taking shape, and as its promised 2026 debut rapidly counts down to happening, the team has announced that the official launch will take place in Berlin on January 20. At that launch, the official racing livery of the team will be revealed, but before then, the team has celebrated another milestone: the successful inaugural fire-up of its car. On December 19, the event took place at the team’s facility in Hinwil, Switzerland, and it marked the first time the new Audi Power Unit was run while installed in the chassis, an important stepping stone in bringing the dream of racing on the F1 grid to reality. As 2026 marks major changes for the elite and prestigious motorsport series, the Audi F1 car runs on sustainable fuel that powers a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. In addition, the powertrain also features an Energy Recovery System, which allows the car to recover and use kinetic energy from braking. In total, the estimated power of the new Audi F1 car is over 1,000 horsepower, and that power will be sent through an 8-speed gearbox. As Audi prepares to start racing in F1 this year, the successful first fire-up of its car means that it’s well on its way there. View All Audi For Sale

A white Porsche 911 with number 11 on the side speeds down a dirt road in the East African Safari Classic Rally, kicking up dust and lifting off the ground, surrounded by greenery and a cloudy sky.

By Tyler Rampersaud – December 17, 2025

Jeff Zwart Completes East African Safari Classic Rally In...

Jeff Zwart takes on a unique driving challenge. Conquering Pikes Peak behind the wheel of a Porsche, and being responsible for the iconic Luftgekühlt series, Jeff Zwart has quite the resume at 70 years old. However, there has been a driving challenge that he has wanted to take on for over 50 years, and now, he has. That is the East African Safari Classic Rally, which he has just completed, behind the wheel of a classic Porsche 911. Nine days and over a thousand competitive miles comprised the rally, and the competition involved intense heat, challenging terrain, mud, dust, water, and wildlife to navigate, and Jeff Zwart had an air-cooled Porsche 911 to do it with. Along with his co-driver, Alex Gelsomino, he managed to finish the East African Safari Classic Rally in 17th place. Known as one of the hardest rally events on the globe, the race’s roots trace back to 1953, celebrating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The route crossed Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, and after changing formats over the decades, it was revived in 2003 for classic car enthusiasts, and at the past event, over half of the roughly 60-car field was comprised of classic Porsche 911s. Having dreamed of taking on the classic rally event since he was in high school, Jeff Zwart’s completion of the East African Safari Classic Rally was an incredible milestone moment for a driver with an already incredible career, and what better car to do it with than a classic Porsche 911, an equally historic and impactful sports car legend. View All Porsche 911 For Sale Image Source: Porsche

Ferrari Clinches 2025 World Endurance Championship at Season Finale in Bahrain-4

By Khris Bharath – November 09, 2025

Ferrari Dominates 2025 FIA WEC: Clinches Manufacturers’ a...

Ferrari has finally broken a 53-year dry spell in the most spectacular fashion. At the 8 Hours of Bahrain, in Sakhir this weekend, the Prancing Horse clinched both the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ titles in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, sealing a season that reestablished Maranello at the top of global endurance racing. Behind the wheel of the #51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P, Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi secured the Drivers’ crown with a fourth-place finish, while their teammates in the #50 car, Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen, finished third. The privateer #83 Ferrari, driven by Yifei Ye, Robert Kubica, and Phil Hanson, came home fifth but still took second in the championship, giving Ferrari a clean sweep of the top three positions in the standings. Ferrari’s return to endurance racing only began three seasons ago in 2023, yet the 499P program has already delivered beyond expectations. The 2025 campaign included wins in Qatar, Imola, and Spa, plus a 1-2-3 sweep at Lusail to open the season. The factory cars scored 245 points, finishing 75 ahead of Toyota, which managed to salvage a Bahrain victory to avoid a winless season for the first time in a decade. For context, this is Ferrari’s first overall endurance world title since 1972, when the 312 P dominated the old World Championship for Makes. It’s also the brand’s first-ever overall Drivers’ title in endurance racing, since that award didn’t exist back in the 1970s. The win raises Ferrari’s endurance total to 24 world titles, with nine outright wins (1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1972, and now 2025). Pier Guidi and Calado now hold four personal championships, adding to their previous GT crowns in 2017, 2021, and 2022. AF Corse’s achievement extends beyond the factory team. The independent #83 squad won the 2025 FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams and a historic win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, giving Ferrari control of both works and customer honors. Even with Toyota’s late rebound and Manthey’s Porsche taking the LMGT3 titles, 2025 belonged to Ferrari. The 499P program not only delivered big, but has also revived the brand’s racing identity, linking its endurance success with its Formula 1 heritage. The last time Ferrari held a world title of any kind was the 2008 F1 Constructors’ crown and the last Drivers' title by Kimi Räikkönen back in 2007. Now, 17 years later, it’s back on top, this time on the global endurance stage. The wider WEC landscape is shifting fast. Porsche Works Drivers won the 2024 FIA WEC, but the factory Porsche Hypercar team will exit the championship, signaling a major realignment among top-tier entrants. However, with the FIA confirming its commitment to the Hypercar platform through 2032, encouraging even more luxury and exotic manufacturers to join Le Mans competition. Aston Martin entered the grid in 2025 as the lone non-hybrid contender, and several new entrants are on the horizon: Genesis in 2026, followed by McLaren and Ford in 2027. View All Ferraris For Sale " width="680"> Images: Ferrari

A grey t-shirt from the F1 collection features an illustration of an Oracle Red Bull Racing car with "YETI" written above in orange, rope-like script.

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 31, 2025

Discover YETI and Oracle Red Bull Racing F1's New Collect...

Keep things cool with YETI x Oracle Red Bull Racing F1! Taking things from the great outdoors trackside to one of motorsports' most thrilling series, YETI just recently teamed up with Oracle Red Bull Racing to help keep things cool in the paddock with an all-new collaboration collection. In the demanding world of Formula 1 racing, aside from speed itself, cooling stands out as one of the most important elements to success on the track. Applying the focus on temperature stability as the engineers and mechanics behind Red Bull's F1 team, YETI proved to be the perfect partner to launch some gear and accessories that shared the same focus. The pieces themselves keep things grounded and wearable. The Cowboy Driver Short Sleeve Tee ($60) has the laid-back energy of a post-race pit crew hangout, while the Road Warrior Mid Pro Trucker Hat ($45) looks just as natural at a campsite as it does in the paddock. The Crossroads 40L Duffel ($230) brings that same Red Bull attitude to any weekend trip, built tough but designed actually to look good doing it. And the Rambler 20 oz Tumbler ($55) with MagSlider lid? That's just YETI doing what YETI does, keeping your drink cool while you pretend you're in the garage during qualifying. Then there's the Tundra 45 Hard Cooler ($375), the heavyweight of the collection. It's the cooler you toss in the back of a truck before a long drive to the track. Like everything in this drop, it wears the Red Bull Racing branding without shouting it. It's thoughtful, purposeful, and clearly built for fans who love the sport but don't necessarily want to wear it head-to-toe. Its a crossover of two worlds that share the same DNA: engineered performance, built to last, and always up for a little adventure. Shop The Collection Our Top Picks YETI x Oracle Red Bull Racing Cowboy Driver T-Shirt Shop Now YETI x Oracle Red Bull Racing Crossroads 40L Travel Duffel Shop Now YETI x Oracle Red Bull Racing Tundra 45 Hard Cooler Shop Now YETI x Oracle Red Bull Racing Trucker Hat Shop Now YETI x Oracle Red Bull Racing Rambler 20oz Tumbler Shop Now Source: YETI

A Formula 1 race underway on a circuit, with a driver on the podium holding a trophy shaped like a bull's head after Verstappen’s Austin win tightens Drivers’ Championship title to 40 points.

By Khris Bharath – October 20, 2025

Verstappen’s Austin Win Tightens Drivers’ Championship Ti...

Packed with tension, drama, and a resurgent Max Verstappen who refuses to let go of his championship dreams in 2025, Austin delivered another action-packed weekend of Formula 1 from the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). But before Sunday even began, the story of the weekend had already taken shape with McLaren, losing both cars in the sprint race after a double incident on Saturday, scoring no points. It comes just weeks after the team from Woking sealed the Constructors’ Championship in Singapore. Starting on pole, by turn one, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen did what he does best: control the start, shut the door, and dictate the race. Behind him, Charles Leclerc pulled off one of the best starts of the season, capitalizing on soft tires to slot into second before losing ground to an increasingly confident Lando Norris. But one of the biggest moments of the race was Lando reclaiming second from Leclerc. The Monagasque still salvaged a podium by the time the chequered flag fell, finishing third. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, finished just off the podium in fourth. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FORMULA 1® (@f1) Both Ferrari drivers were optimistic going into the race weekend. The other McLaren with Oscar Piastri was only able to manage fifth, Russel in sixth for Mercedes, Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull in seventh, Nico Hülkenberg in eighth for Sauber, Oliver Bearman in ninth for HAAS, and Alonso in his Aston Martin, taking the final point and wrapping up 10th. The only DNF was Carlos Sainz, who, until his contact with Kimi Antonelli, was having a great weekend. The celebrity turnout over the weekend in Austin was as strong as ever and included the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Jay Leno, Joe Rogan, Adele and Brad Pitt. In other news, F1 also confirmed that the U.S. Grand Prix will stay at COTA through 2034. Miami also has an extension until 2041. Off-track, the weekend brought huge news for fans in the U.S., as Apple is taking over the broadcast rights next season, replacing ESPN, in 2026, a year where an American team is also set to join the F1 grid next season with Cadillac joining. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FORMULA 1® (@f1) Verstappen’s fifth title isn’t guaranteed just yet, but it’s clear he’s on a mission with five more races to go, including one in Las Vegas (November 20-22), until the season finale in Abu Dhabi. But after his back-to-back wins in Austin, he’s now within striking distance of a fifth World Drivers’ Championship, cutting the deficit to the championship leader Oscar Piastri by 64 points from 104 points to just 40. Image Source: @Formula1

Two people wearing red Ferrari team shirts; one adjusts a black cowboy hat and sunglasses, the other speaks into a microphone during an interview.

By Khris Bharath – October 17, 2025

Austin Awaits: Leclerc and Hamilton Set the Tone Ahead of...

If you’ve been tracking the current Formula One season’s back-and-forth drama over the past 18 races, you know that The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin (round 19) promises to turn up the wick as part of F1’s growing American trilogy: Miami in May, Austin now, and Las Vegas closing out the year in November. McLaren has already sealed the Constructors’ crown in Singapore, but the Drivers’ fight is still alive, with only 22 points separating Oscar Piastri (336 points) and Lando Norris (314 points) ahead of an action-packed Sprint race weekend ahead of us. Austin marks the start of the final six rounds, and every lap of this Sprint weekend will count. Only one practice session on Friday, then straight into qualifying and parc fermé, preparation matters more than ever, and that’s exactly where Ferrari hopes to strike back. Leclerc, who turned 28 on Thursday, celebrated in Ferrari’s hospitality suite before getting back to business. Leclerc insists there’s more performance in the SF-25 than results have shown. “It’s not in my nature nor the team’s to ever give up. We’ll give it our all until the last lap of the last race, and I believe that even from the poor weekends, there’s something to learn. I also think the car’s potential is greater than it’s looked recently, and even though our rivals have undoubtedly made progress in terms of competitiveness, I’m convinced that if we manage to put everything together, a good result is within our reach.” As last year's race winner, he’s banking on preparation to pay off under the Sprint structure. “We’ll only have one free practice session, so those who have prepared best at the factory could have an advantage, and in the past, there have been times when we were the best prepared. If that’s the case here, it’ll be important to make the most of that opportunity.” That confidence ties back to Maranello’s factory simulations, which could play a bigger role than usual this weekend. Leclerc also referenced next year’s new technical cycle, signaling his intent to stay with Ferrari through the 2026 regulation shift. “There are a lot of rumours, but the truth is the same as I’ve always said, I’m in love with Ferrari, I want to win with the Scuderia, he said. Hamilton, on the other hand, looked relaxed as ever. The seven-time champion has always had a special connection with COTA. “This is my favorite weekend of the season,” he said during the FIA press conference. “The people, the food, the music, it feels like home.” The circuit has been kind to him, too, with five career wins in Austin since 2012. But Hamilton’s attention is firmly on the final six races of the season. “I think it’s important to stay focused and ensure we improve and learn all the time. Of course there are rumours flying around, but we just need to concentrate on what we have to do and I will be giving my all in the last six races. After Singapore, we had a meeting to analyse everything about the weekend. I think that even from that race there were a few positive insights to take away and if we can make good use of what we learned, we will get better results. Everyone at the track really wants a good result for the sake of all those working like crazy back in the factory. They really deserve it.” said Hamilton. Heat is the big headliner going into race weekend in Austin, which, for teams, combines with Pirelli’s Texas two-step, a compound jump to C1, C2, and C3. The gap between hard and medium is roughly a second per lap, pushing strategy toward a two-stopper if degradation spikes. Virtual Safety Cars are common here, and the two pit windows, which are around Lap 15 to 22 and again near Lap 34 to 40, could decide everything. Ferrari arrives at the U.S. Grand Prix sitting third in the Constructors’ standings with 298 points, behind McLaren (650 points) and Mercedes (325 points). Leclerc is currently fifth in the Drivers’ standings with 173 points, while Hamilton sits close behind in sixth with 125. Both need strong finishes in Austin to keep Ferrari’s momentum alive in the final stages of the 2025 season. For the fans, it’s a weekend where Texas heat, strategy chaos, and title tension will come together. View All Ferraris For Sale Images: Ferrari

Racing teams and cars are stationed in the pit lane under a large Rolex clock and signage at Petit Le Mans, capturing the excitement of the motorsport event.

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 14, 2025

Behind The Scenes Of Petit Le Mans With Rolex

Rolex gave us the chance to immerse ourselves in the world of Petit Le Mans. One of the oldest traditions in motorsport, endurance racing has been one of the most revered challenges to take place behind the wheel of an automobile for over a hundred years, almost as long as the production automobile has been in existence. For many of the decades that endurance racing has defined the pinnacle of motorsport, Rolex has been a close partner with the races and the people that bring them to life. Now, with an expanded partnership between Rolex and IMSA, we got the opportunity to attend the 2025 Petit Le Mans race, and our experience was as deep a dive as anyone could get into the world of endurance. Our experience started before race day, with two hot laps giving us a thorough impression of the legendary Road Atlanta circuit, and a personal feel for the thrill of its dramatic elevation changes and challenging corners. We were at the mercy of two professional drivers, who took us on hot laps in the Lexus IS 500 sports sedan, and the Ford Mustang GTD, the new racing-ready, ultra-premium performance-oriented take on the legendary Ford Mustang. With hot laps out of the way, we then had the privilege to speak with some of the teams, including the Whelen Cadillac team that would end up winning the race, where we learned about the intense depth of strategy and intense work it takes not only to race in endurance, but also win. Crew members tirelessly worked to assemble and set up the car for qualifying while we talked, and we learned about the immense amount of data that the teams and IMSA use to optimize their cars, as well as ensure safety and fair competition on the track. The V-Series.R we stood next to featured two O2 sensors: one for the team, and one for IMSA, and miles of fiber are laid throughout the track to transmit data between the teams and IMSA, offering precise information about the cars for the teams and for race control. Next it was race day, and during the fan walk, spectators had the opportunity to get right up to cars and drivers before the race began. We had the opportunity to see one of the very unfortunate but real moments in endurance racing only minutes after the green flag was waved: a crash took multiple GTD cars out of the race. However, the passion and energy refused to die down for fans, teams, crew members, and staff running the race, as the atmosphere remained electric throuhgout the day and night. The race sold out of tickets, and traffic stretched a mile away from the track in each direction. We also had the chance to talk to Scott Pruett, one of endurance racing’s most legendary drivers who now works with IMSA race control. He wore a special Rolex watch to Petit Le Mans, which was the season finale for the nearly year-long IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2025. The watch, nearly 40 years old, is one that Pruett purchased as a gift for himself to celebrate a victory in IROC. His immense driving experience, as well as rich racing experience of other race control personnel helps IMSA ensure that the rules, and calls race control makes during the race, strike a balance of entertainment, safety, and fair competition. John Doonan, the president of IMSA, provided insight on the rich legacy of endurance racing, including how celebrated drivers come to IMSA from other racing series across the globe in order to compete in the IMSA arena and race on some of the world’s most iconic tracks, Road Atlanta especially included. Doonan has his own personal history with the racing world, visiting tracks during his childhood and falling in love with motorsport leading up to his career today. As night fell, the track lit up with the headlights of race cars (some of which only had one working), as well as with campfires lit by fans who camped at the track for the race weekend. A tour gave us views from the iconic Spectator Hill, as well as of some of the most exciting corners on the course: the esses, turns 6 and 7, and the 10a and 10b chicane. Anticipation grew as the race drew to a close, with Cadillac Whelen winning the race overall, and Porsche winning the championship titles throughout the GTP class. With an experience seeing an endurance race as closely as someone could get without participating in it, our time at the 2025 Petit Le Mans was not only a chance to witness one of the most exciting races on IMSA’s annual calendar and its season finale, but also a chance to gain an amazingly deep understanding of endurance racing and the labor of love that is motorsport, with one of the sport’s most dedicated, iconic, and committed partners: Rolex. Image Source: IMSA

Two vintage race cars—a green-orange Mazda and a blue Nissan—celebrate Japanese Motorsports Heritage as they speed past a green Rolex ad at the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.

By Charles Bradley – September 04, 2025

2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion to Honor Japanese...

Monterey Car Week’s premier vintage racing event will showcase iconic Japanese cars and motorcycles next year. Following a record-setting 2025 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion last month, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has announced that Japanese motorsports heritage will be the featured theme for the 2026 edition, scheduled for Aug. 12-15. The celebration will bring together an extraordinary lineup of machines from Japan’s greatest racing moments, featuring marques including Mazda, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, Mitsubishi, and Yamaha. The showcase will span decades and disciplines, highlighting achievements across Formula 1, INDYCAR, NASCAR, endurance racing, sportscar racing, off-road, rally, drifting, motorcycles, and more. “As a Japanese driver, it is an honor to see Japan’s racing heritage recognized as the featured marque at Monterey’s historic reunion,” said two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Takuma Sato, who attended the announcement after driving Nigel Mansell’s 1986 Honda-powered Williams FW11 during on-track demonstration laps. “Japanese cars and motorcycles have long carried the spirit of innovation and passion onto racetracks worldwide, and I am proud to see this legacy celebrated on such a prestigious stage.” April Henderson, director of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, echoed the excitement: “Japanese racers and car makers have helped deliver some of the most memorable cars and moments in motorsports history. We can’t wait to celebrate these iconic machines and their incredible stories next year,” she said. Widely regarded as the crown jewel of vintage racing during Monterey Car Week, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion has celebrated more than 50 years of authentic, period-correct racing. The annual exhibition not only pays homage to motorsport’s greatest eras but also offers a rare opportunity to witness legendary racing cars and motorcycles at speed on the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca circuit. Tickets for the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will go on sale later this year. View All Exotic Cars For Sale Image Source: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Close-up view of the GMR‑001 Hypercar’s V8 Twin-Turbo engine, showcasing carbon fiber components, wiring, and hoses—embodying Genesis Magma Racing performance.

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 28, 2025

Watch The First Fire-Up of Genesis Magma Racing's V8 Twin...

Genesis makes its next leap forward with its entry into motorsports. Many people think motorsport success comes down to the driver alone, but that’s only part of the story. Behind every race-winning car is a team of engineers, specialists, and technicians working together to create a track competitor worthy and able to take on the grueling conditions of racing. The team at Genesis Magma Racing is giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the development of its GMR 001 Hypercar and the team responsible for its upcoming debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2026 and the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2027. The Genesis GMR-001 hypercar just crossed a huge milestone in its development journey. On July 9th, the very first chassis (GMR 001) roared to life with a smooth and successful engine fire-up in Le Castellet, France. The fire-up happened right on schedule and marked a major step forward in Genesis Magma Racing’s goal of joining the grid next year. The car is being built at Oreca’s workshop near Circuit Paul Ricard, where expert techs from both Oreca and Genesis Magma Racing have been hands-on throughout the build. With the V8 twin-turbo engine now installed and tested, the project is heading into its final stages before the car hits the track for the first time in August. This development car will handle testing tasks through the rest of 2025, so getting everything right is crucial. Along with firing up the engine, the team successfully tested the hybrid system by charging the batteries and sending energy to the rear driveshafts, simulating how it’ll all work on the racetrack. Engine development started in June 2024 at Hyundai Motorsport’s Powertrain Department, drawing inspiration from their championship-winning World Rally Championship program. After the first engine fire-up in February, engineers spent months pushing it through extensive dyno tests to validate all performance and efficiency simulations. With the powertrain now fitted into the chassis and working exactly as planned, the countdown begins for the first real-world test sessions. View All Genesis For Sale " width="680"> Source: Genesis Magma Racing

Top: Uniformed personnel stand in formation with flags and a car inside a hangar, aircraft in background—possibly at San Diego Naval Base. Bottom left: Fighter jets soar. Bottom right: People view a coastal map, hinting at plans for 2026.

By Khris Bharath – July 24, 2025

Top Gun x Days of Thunder: NASCAR To Race At San Diego Na...

In a move that no one saw coming, NASCAR will be turning Naval Base Coronado into a full-blown racetrack for Father’s Day weekend, 2026. That’s right, from June 19 to 21 in summer next year, stock cars will tear across an active military base down in San Diego, in what is shaping up to be one of the most patriotic, cinematic race weekends in NASCAR history. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, as this once-in-a-generation event also coincides with the Navy’s and the U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations. The racing lineup? Nothing short of impressive. As a fan, you can expect all three premier NASCAR divisions, i.e., Craftsman Trucks, Xfinity Series, and the Cup Series, going full throttle on a custom hybrid circuit . Picture V8s tearing past hangars, downtown San Diego in the distance, Point Loma rising behind the coastline, and Navy warships lining the harbor, providing a spectacular backdrop for the race. So, how did this event come to be? " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>, NASCAR’s executive VP and chief innovation officer, the idea began as a moonshot, and after years of pushing boundaries with races inside stadiums like the LA Coliseum and downtown street circuits like Chicago, the league’s next big leap has to be bold: race at a military base. Coronado, the birth place of U.S. Naval Aviation with its panoramic views, urban access, and strong military ties, became the obvious choice. NASCAR spent two years planning, collaborating closely with iRacing to design and test the layout virtually, and working hand-in-hand with Navy leadership to bring the vision to life. While the exact track layout remains under wraps until this fall, officials hint at a unique course with “neighborhoods” where fans can explore more of the facility, some along the base, others near tarmac zones with views of aircraft carriers, military aircraft (hopefully some F/A-18 Super Hornets are in station), and the open SoCal water. One minute you’re hearing the scream of stock cars, the next you’re staring out at Coronado’s breathtaking horizon city skyline to one side, battleships to the other. The fan experience will be immersive, patriotic, and unlike anything else in motorsport. Tickets officially go on sale this fall, but deposits are already being accepted at NASCARSanDiego.com. Friday will kick off with a Military Day featuring service members front and center, followed by two days of racing open to all. Expect NASCAR at Coronado to be loud, fast, and unforgettable; a celebration of speed, service, and the American spirit. " width="680"> Source: NASCAR

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