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 – 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

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

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

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

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 15, 2025

F1 Celebrates 75th Anniversary At Monterey Motorsports Re...

At this year’s Monterey Motorsports Reunion, the legacy of F1 takes the spotlight. Formula 1 is having an exciting year in 2025. A film starring Brad Pitt that tells a captivating story surrounding the prestige and mystique of the racing series has just been released, Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated racing debut with Scuderia Ferrari has officially begun, and the legendary racing series is celebrating its 75th anniversary, representing one of the most intense racing stages in the world for three quarters of a century. Having spent the last 75 years pushing the racing world to new heights and influencing the highest echelon of roadgoing performance cars, as well, Formula 1’s rich legacy and heritage is being celebrated across the automotive world this year, including during one of the most anticipated and prestigious times on the automotive calendar: Monterey Car Week. Packed with exclusive events and stunning displays on California’s gorgeous Monterey Peninsula, Car Week is full of all kinds of automotive excellence, and the racing world is the focus of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The event brings a performance and track-focused edge to the Monterey Car Week event lineup, and this year, Formula 1 is using the Monterey Motorsports Reunion as a venue to celebrate the milestone anniversary. Legendary F1 cars will be present at the event, including 25 authentic F1 cars from the 1966-1985 non-turbo era, which are set to race daily in the Mario Andretti Trophy race. In additoin, 30 rarely seen F1 cars from private collections and museums will be at the event, in order to showcase the historical journey that F1 has taken. With 75 years of history as one of the greatest names in racing, Formula 1 is set to wow guests of this year’s Monterey Motorsports Festival. View All Exotic Cars For Sale

By Khris Bharath – June 27, 2025

New Record: 4-Door EV From Smartphone Brand Outguns Hyper...

If the name ‘Xiaomi’ doesn’t ring any bells, you’re not alone. However, in China, they are an engineering giant and a household name, manufacturing everything from smartphones to household appliances. Often touted as the Apple of Asia, the company, like so many others, decided to enter the fiercely competitive car space and compete in the world’s largest automotive market, China. But unlike so many other startups that have failed (there were more than 600 automotive startups in China at one point), Xiaomi has recently been making waves not just domestically, but on the international stage. Its very first product, the all-electric four-door SU7 sport sedan, was announced back in December 2023. While many called it a Taycan knock-off, when you look at the performance numbers and the price point at which it is being offered, it becomes hard to ignore, and as a result, it now outsells the Tesla Model 3 in China. Ford CEO Jim Farley famously has a Xiaomi SU7. Now that you have some context, let's get back to why the brand now has the automotive world’s attention. Meet the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Prototype, the all-electric sedan that just got around the Nürburgring in " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen> minutes, setting a new prototype lap record. This makes it the fourth fastest car to ever lap the Nordschleife, with only the 919 Hybrid Evo (5:19.546), the Volkswagen ID.R (6:05.336), and the 1983 Porsche 956K (6:11.13), being quicker around the 12.92-mile (20.8 kilometer) circuit. Now, this isn’t the first time that Xiaomi has attempted a record. Back in 2024, a stripped-down pre-production SU7 Ultra prototype recorded an unofficial time of 6:46.87; quick, but controversial. This time, they’re back under official conditions and have managed to slash nearly 24 seconds off that run. Also, if you keep tabs on production car lap records at the ring at all, the SU7’s time is quicker than the $2.7 million Mercedes-AMG One’s record time of 6:29.029. So while the Mercedes hypercar is street-legal, and the SU7 Ultra-prototype isn’t, the Chinese EV still shares much of its architecture with the production car. But with a time of " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>as of June 11, 2025, the standard road-going SU7 is officially the fastest production EV around the ‘Ring, beating the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT’s 7:07.55. As for performance, the all-carbon Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Prototype is powered by a tri-motor drivetrain that draws power from a 93.7 kWh battery pack for a combined 1,548 horsepower and 1,405 pound-feet of torque. 0-62 mph comes up in 1.97 seconds, and the top speed is rated at 217 mph. Tipping the scales at 4,188 pounds, the SU7 Ultra Prototype is capable of producing 4,728 pounds of downforce at speed. To celebrate this achievement, Xiaomi will offer 100 examples of a Nürburgring Limited Edition SU7 Ultra, costing 814,900 yuan (~$114,000). Now that is a bargain and a fraction of the cost of what you’d pay for a typical record-breaking hypercar. Sure, Xiaomi and other automakers like Nio or Denza, from China may not have the pedigree of most legacy automakers, but what they’ve managed to achieve in such a short span of time is commendable. Source: Xiaomi, Nürburgring

By Khris Bharath – June 16, 2025

Ferrari Clinches Historic Third Straight Victory At Le Ma...

Under the June summer skies and in front of a record 332,000 spectators, Ferrari took its third consecutive victory at the gruelling 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Giallo Modena liveried (#83) 499P, fielded by privateer squad AF Corse, outpaced its factory-backed contemporaries and took the top step of the podium, with a trio of drivers who are now firmly in the history books: Poland’s Robert Kubica, Britain’s Phil Hanson, and China’s Yifei Ye. Le Mans 2025: Porsche Closes In, But Ferrari’s (#83) Holds Its Nerve Kubica, who is a one-time Formula 1 winner, drove a staggering 43 percent of the race distance, including an unplanned five-stint finale. It was redemption for the Pole, who saw a throttle sensor deny him victory back in 2021 on the final lap, when racing in the LMP2 class. While he finished runner-up in 2022 and 2023, this year Kubica managed to control the race pace and traffic. For teammate Ye, the win was historic, as he became the first Chinese driver to do so, while for Hanson, it marked a return to the top, after his LMP2 Class win from 2020. Starting from 13th on the Hypercar grid, the yellow-liveried Ferrari wasn’t one of the favorites going into race weekend. They faced stiff competition from seasoned factory teams. The (#05) Porsche was quick to take the lead from Cadillac in the opening stints. The drama unfolded throughout the night on the nearly 8.5-mile circuit, with several close calls, punctures, retirements, and the flashing lights of Hypercars screaming past LMP2 and LMGT3 class cars down the Mulsanne straight. However, the following day, it was Kubica at the wheel of (#83) Ferrari AF Corse 499P who was 14.084 seconds clear of (#06) Porsche Penske 963 when the chequered flag fell. The hard-charging Porsche nearly upset Ferrari’s weekend. After being disqualified from qualifying, the (#06) Porsche 963 that started last, surged past the field over 387 laps with Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and Matt Campbell demonstrating tremendous perseverance. Meanwhile, the Ferrari works teams, winners in 2023 (#51) and 2024 (#50), were forced into support roles following a series of penalties and a costly spin by Alessandro Pier Guidi. Despite this, (#51) secured third in the Hypercar class with teammates Antonio Giovinazzi and James Calado, tightening Ferrari’s grip on the World Endurance Championship. (#50) Ferrari AF Corse in fourth and (#12) Cadillac Hertz Jota round up the top five in the Hypercar Class. The Prancing Horse now leads the manufacturer’s standings with 202 points, more than double Toyota’s tally. Elsewhere, heartbreak defined the LMP2 finale. A late penalty robbed Inter (#43) Europol Competition of what appeared to be a certain win for (#48) ORECA-Gibson, which was leading the LMP2 class. Inter Europol received a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane, which handed the advantage to Estaban Masson’s VDS Panis car; however, it faltered in the final 20 minutes of the race, owing to a mechanical issue. Nick Yelloly in the (#43) eventually took the lead and swept through, giving the Polish team its second win in three years. In LMGT3, it was Porsche that was the dominant force once again. Manthey Racing, the German marque’s racing partner from the Nürburgring, claimed back-to-back victories with Richard Lietz, Ryan Hardwick, and Riccardo Pera taking top honors in the (#92) demonstrating Porsche’s supremacy in GT racing. Ferrari’s Triumphant Comeback At Le Mans Is A Historic One This triumph adds a new chapter in Ferrari’s long-standing history at Le Mans. The Italian marque first conquered the French classic back in 1949 with Luigi Chinetti and Lord Selsdon with the wheel of a 166MM, jumpstarting a golden age for Ferrari’s motorsport legacy. But Ferrari’s most dominant stint at Le Mans would come the following decade, where it won for six consecutive years between 1960 and 1965 with the iconic 250 LM. It was also the last Ferrari to win outright, as the Italian sports car maker withdrew from top-level endurance racing for nearly five decades as the rule changes that favored Ford’s dominant GT40s in the mid-to-late ‘60s. Ferrari shifted its attention and began to focus on Formula and production-based racing, But in 2023, Ferrari finally returned to Le Mans with the 499P in the Hypercar class, taking the win at the centenary edition of Le Mans, followed by another win in 2024. The win in 2025 makes it Ferrari’s third consecutive win, a feat. Not achieved since the 1960s, granting the Italian automaker the rare right to retain the winner’s trophy permanently. Other manufacturers that have three-consecutive Le Mans victories to their name include Bentley (1927–1930), Alfa Romeo (1931–1934), Jaguar (1955–1957), Ford (1966–1969), Porsche (1981–1987), Audi (2000–2002) and Toyota (2018–2020). While the competition will be back next year, vying for a win at Le Mans, 2025 belongs to Ferrari. Catch the full highlights below. " width="680"> Source: Ferrari, Porsche, FIA WEC

By Charles Bradley – June 13, 2025

FIA WEC Commits To Hypercar Platform Through 2032, More L...

The golden age of endurance racing isn’t just back, it’s here to stay. The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) has confirmed that its wildly successful top-tier Hypercar class will remain the sport’s pinnacle platform through at least the end of the 2032 season. For collectors, luxury automakers, and the motorsport-curious elite, this signals long-term stability around sports car racing’s most prestigious stage – the 24 Hours of Le Mans – to showcase the pinnacle of automotive passion and performance. Introduced in 2021 as a replacement for the outgoing LMP1 class, the Hypercar regulations – allowing for both Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) and Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) specifications – have rewritten the rules of engagement in global sports car racing. What began with just three manufacturers has exploded into a full-blown renaissance, with eight different OEMs currently on the grid: Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche, and Toyota. Meantime, Acura and Lamborghini race in America’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship that uses the same rules set, a global strategic alliance that has also been extended through 2032. And the momentum isn’t slowing down. Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis will join the WEC’s Hypercar ranks in 2026, followed by two blue-chip names with immense motorsport pedigree – Ford and McLaren – in 2027. What makes the Hypercar formula so enticing to ultra-luxury and performance brands isn’t just the prestige of Le Mans, it’s the balance of freedom and control. The regulations are deliberately open in aesthetic and aerodynamic design, encouraging brands to inject identity, drama, and heritage into their race cars. Yet these freedoms are underpinned by strict cost controls and homologation rules that prevent runaway spending. The result is a formula that’s not just competitive, but compelling. The cars are fast, beautiful, and unmistakably linked to their road-going cousins – critical for brands where image and exclusivity matter as much as lap times. Balance of Performance regulates the competition, allowing for various specifications of powertrains and hybrid systems to compete on a playing field that’s levelled by scientific formulas that constantly adjusts as the racecars evolve. With the homologation cycle now extended from 2029 to 2032, the FIA and the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) have delivered something rare in motorsport: certainty. This allows current participants to continue refining their platforms while giving new entrants enough runway to develop competitive, brand-aligned programs from the ground up. For marques like Formula 1 World Championship leaders McLaren – whose just-announced Hypercar will feature a twin-turbo V6 developed in-house and run in collaboration with United Autosports – this timeline should ensure a competitive debut in 2027 and a multi-year window to prove their mettle at Le Mans and beyond. In today’s luxury landscape, motorsport is no longer just about trophies. It’s a marketing platform, a design laboratory, and a narrative engine. The Hypercar category offers a front-row seat at the intersection of engineering, art, and ambition. For buyers and collectors, it also offers the ultimate provenance: race-bred technology and brand authenticity forged on the world’s most demanding tracks. The WEC’s environmental credentials are growing as well. With recent certifications including ISO 20121:2024 and FIA 3* Environmental Accreditation, the championship aligns with broader sustainability trends in the luxury and automotive sectors – further reinforcing its appeal to modern buyers and investors. As the calendar continues to draw crowds at iconic venues like Spa, Imola, Interlagos, and Fuji, and of course, the 24 Hours of Le Mans (set for June 13-14 in 2026), the FIA WEC's future looks brighter than ever. With a grid stacked with the most desirable badges on Earth and a ruleset that blends style, substance, and sustainability, endurance racing is once again the proving ground for the world’s most elite automotive brands. And now, thanks to this regulatory extension, the Hypercar era is no longer a foundation – it’s all set to become a shimmering skyscraper. Source: WEC

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 09, 2025

Ram Announces 2026 Return To NASCAR After Reviving HEMI V8s

Ram enters a new motorsport era. The cherished Ram nameplate of American trucks is entering a new chapter, as Stellantis has confirmed that for the 2026 model year, the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine is returning to the Ram 1500 as a result of overwhelming customer demand. Coinciding with the exciting announcement for automotive enthusiasts is the announcement that a new chapter is opening for the Ram brand in the motorsport world, as Ram is returning to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2026. The brand is returning to the iconic American motorsport series after a thirteen-year hiatus, amidst a flurry of 25 product launches in 18 months. Launched with the reveal of the new Ram 1500 NASCAR Concept and a “Ramdemption” campaign, the return to NASCAR is a symbolic celebration of the revival of Ram’s V8-powered truck lineup, with a legacy that includes vehicles like the Ram TRX and the Ram SRT-10, which set a 2004 Guinness World Record at the time as the world’s fastest production truck, with a top speed of nearly 155 mph. The concept race truck, shown off in a two-tone livery comprised of Gloss Black and Molten Red, brandishes a prized V8 engine under the hood, with the ability to rev to an incredible 9,000 rpm. After announcing the return of V8 power to its production truck lineup, Ram is ready to take on one of the most iconic stages in American motorsport with its V8 revival in the form of Ram’s return to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2026, marking a new era for a legendary truck nameplate. View All Ram Trucks For Sale " width="680"> Image Source: Stellantis

By Jordan Aquistapace – May 20, 2025

How To Buy: Charles Leclerc's Limited-Edition Monaco Gran...

Charles Leclerc returns to Monaco in style. Considered a fan favorite and the face of Scuderia Ferrari both on and off the race track, Charles Leclerc has certainly cemented himself in the upper echelon of Formula 1 racing at only 27 years old. With eight Grand Prix wins and a runner-up standing in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 2022, Leclerc's calm composure behind the wheel and competitive spirit prove to be the secret recipe for success in Scuderia Ferrari's paddock this year. Among all things automotive, Charles also stands out as a stylish, fashion-forward driver who seems to have all the latest trends inside his wardrobe. Celebrating his triumphant return home to Monaco after winning last year's Grand Prix, PUMA Motorsport and Charles Leclerc have teamed up to release a special, limited-edition hat. The Charles Leclerc Special Edition Monaco Hat is a subtle nod to the Ferrari driver's roots in the streets of Monte Carlo. Designed in white with light blue striping, the colorway feels like a tribute to the Mediterranean backdrop of the Monaco Grand Prix. The details are clean, the design feels personal, and while it fits into any F1 collection, it's understated enough to wear casually. It's available in limited numbers through PUMA and Ferrari stores, as well as online. For those who follow Leclerc or just have an appreciation for the tradition and atmosphere of Monaco race weekend, it's an easy way to mark the moment. Shop Now Source: PUMA

Motorsport

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe