Race track

my mount is the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Edition 507. It’s the last of the current C Series master-blasters and the last to run without turbocharging.

Driving a convertible in Siberia in sub-zero temperatures -- with the top down -- may not be everyone's idea of fun. But that's where Mazda decided to host a test drive to remind us that the MX-5 is still the world's most popular roadster, with almost 1 million sold.An all-new Mazda MX-5 -- to be jointly developed with Alfa Romeo -- is still at least two years away, so in the meantime Mazda is keen for the world to know the current model is still young at heart even though it is getting on a bit in car terms. Which is why we are standing on an ice lake near Yekaterinburg, about 400km north of the Kazakhstan border.Mazda invited two dozen motoring writers from nine countries to defend their nation's honour by having a hack at an ice lake instead of a keyboard. This is the fifth such event in as many years and the stakes are high -- in the minds of those behind the wheel.Day one and the boys are in a huddle discussing strategy in military detail. Who's going to do what, and what the others are likely to do at every point in the race. It would have been a little easier to take seriously if we weren't still in Mascot. The plane hasn't even pushed back yet. Competitive? Much?Day two and we've ducked into Moscow between flights (the domestic and international terminals are at opposite sides of the city) standing in a big red square with lots of walls, statues and a building called the Kremlin.Surrounded by this almost magical yet historical place, the emotion is overwhelming: word has come through that those Cheating Rusky Bastards have practiced driving on snow. "What, you mean apart from their entire driving lives," I offer. The group goes silent, the guide says something about the old buildings with the shiny bulbs on top.But we're still in a huddle as if it's half time in a State of Origin that NSW has a chance to win. History can wait. We were about to make our own, apparently, it was only a matter of choosing the theme tune: "Eye of the Tiger" or "Simply the Best"?Day three we finally get to inspect the pitch. WTF? They've included Mazda3 hatchbacks in the event for the first time, as well as the MX-5s.The thought of driving a car that people actually buy (the Mazda3 was Australia's top-selling car for two of the past three years and finished second last year) in order to qualify for the MX-5 race horrifies some of the group.One of our team starts sledging one of the Poms and says something about cricket. I don't watch cricket but the last significant Australia-versus-England sporting moment I can remember involved a football, a man called Jonny Wilkinson, and his left foot.After the first practice session it became apparent that the three Russian teams have professional race drivers masquerading as motoring writers (as opposed to us motoring writers masquerading as race drivers).At this point, to confirm everyone's bonafides, I quietly suggest that the organisers force all competitors to write a road test, to see who can torture the most cliches like they're running out of fashion.Alas, my heart sank when I saw our Russian rivals doing work on their laptop computers between practice sessions. They were hacks just like us, dammit.After qualifying third out of nine cars our only hope for a victory was to do a Bradbury: drive at eight-tenths and hope they stick it into a snow bank.After some daring first lap driving from the first of our four drivers, and an ability to make the MX-5 much wider than it really is for several laps thereafter, we had somehow found ourselves in the lead.After a friendly nudge from one of the gun Russian drivers we slipped to second, but managed to regain first place after a slick pit-stop. Soon after, we learned to be careful what you wish for, because a Mazda did indeed end up in a snow bank. But it was ours.Truth be known, it was a miracle it didn't happen to all of us on every single corner. The ice was so slippery we could barely stand on it without breaking a hip, two wrists and a collar bone. After our car was plucked from the snow by a tractor we made another pit-stop and got going again.It was then my turn to add to our team's misery. The safety car came out in front of me even though we were not in the lead (in fact, we were in the opposite of the lead).So although it is protocol for safety cars to drive slowly in front of the lead car and let the rest of the field pass, we got to trundle around behind a Mazda CX-5 with flashing lights to avoid a collision we never got to see -- and lost so much time we may as well have been in a different zone.So I was delighted when it was time to hand the car over to a colleague for the final fling. The only thing that could possibly brighten our day is if we could beat the other Australian car being shared by two journos and two Mazda executives.After some daring driving from our man on a mission and some gentlemanly driving from the Mazda suit behind the wheel of the other MX-5, we ended up in front of the Other Aussie Team despite our significant setbacks.By the end of the two-hour race, the Russians deservedly scored a one-two-three clean-sweep, something the organisers may have suspected for they pre-ordered trophies for fourth, fifth and sixth positions under the guise of a "Nation's Cup".Although we ranked fifth -- or second, depending on how you measure it -- finishing in the middle the field never felt so good. If only the sweet taste of our 'victory' didn't taste like yellow snow. Russian champagne really is an acquired taste. Especially when it's in your eyes.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

Radar units are normally fitted to the front of luxury cars to maintain a safe distance with the traffic ahead when the cruise control is activated. But the boffins at German technology company Bosch came up with the idea to move the radar unit to the rear of race cars to improve safety in endurance races where the vehicles have vastly different speeds.The Fiat 500 Abarth -- the smallest and slowest car in the 50-car field at this Sunday’s Bathurst 12-Hour race -- will be equipped with a Bosch radar mounted on the hatchback that warns the driver of cars approaching from behind. A screen on the dash shows which direction the car is likely to be overtaken on, by flashing an arrow.It is only the second use in the world of the technology, which debuted in the LeMans 24 Hour race last year. The specially-built race-ready Fiat 500 Abarth has a top speed of about 220km/h on Conrod Straight, but the front-running Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Mercedes-Benzes, Audis and Porsches are all capable of reaching over 300km/h and lap faster than a V8 Supercar.“With a closing speed of between 80 and 100km/h our drivers need all the help they can get,” said veteran motorsport manager Alan Heaphy, who has turned his expertise to the pint-sized Italian cars after years of managing teams in V8 Supercars, production cars and tarmac rally events.The two-car Fiat team has calculated that its cars will be lapped every five laps by the front-runners, which will average out to being overtaken every six seconds over the course of the race. Inside the cockpit, the team has also fitted an ultra-wide view mirror used in V8 Supercars.Leading drivers have welcomed the addition of the technology but many believe their faster cars will be so quick that the feisty Fiat will be overtaken before the driver even realises it.“The closing speeds at Bathurst are going to be phenomenal and, of course, the (Fiat) driver is going to be looking ahead at the racing line, not always looking at the mirror,” said Audi R8 driver Warren Luff, who is one of more than half-a-dozen race V8 Supercar drivers moonlighting at the event. “But of course anything to make the racing safer and give the driver as much warning as possible is a good thing.”IN THE THICK OF ITCarsguide’s Joshua Dowling and Paul Gover will have a driver’s view of this year’s Bathurst 12-Hour -- and what it’s like to be overtaken approximately 7000 times -- sharing driving duties in the Fiat 500 Abarth. Full report next week.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

Ticket holders who have a Ferrari Paddock Pass will be among the first people in the Southern Hemisphere to calp eyes on the limited edition model in the flesh. LaFerrari is the company's first hybrid and boasts the highest power output of any Ferrari yet  but uses 40 per cent less fuel.Its mid rear mounted 6.3-litre V12 engine produces 588kW at 9000 revs and 700Nm of torque at 6750 revs. It is supplemented by a 120kW KERS unit that delivers short bursts of extra power. Combined output is 708kW and 900Nm. Drive is to the rear wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.LaFerrari has a top speed of more than 370 km/h and can blast from o to 100 km/h in under three seconds, 200 km/h (124 mph) in under seven seconds. Ferrari claims the car has lapped its Fiorano Test Circuit in under 1 minute and 20 seconds which is faster than any other road-legal car that Ferrari has ever produced.Watch Alonso takes us for a spin in the Ferrari flagship LaFerrari.The car is equipped with carbon-ceramic Brembo discs on the front and rear and is fitted with the 265/30 19s at the front and 345/30 20s down the back. LaFerrari uses a carbon fibre monocoque structure developed by Ferrari's F1 technical director Rory Byrne, with 27 percent more torsional rigidity and 22 percent more beam stiffness than the famed Enzo.The car has a double wishbone suspension in the front and a multi-link suspension in the rear. EF1-Trac F1 electronic traction control is integrated with the hybrid system, along with an E-Diff 3 third generation electronic differential and SCM-E Frs magnetorheological damping with twin solenoids (Al-Ni tube), and active aerodynamics to enable maximum performance.The La Ferrari is built in a limited edition, and the one arriving in Sydney is among just 499 vehicles worldwide. "We are very proud to be able to showcase this phenomenal car at Ferrari Racing Days both for fans and owners to see?" Ferrari Australasia's CEO, Herbert Appleroth, said. 

The 45-year-old will tackle the 12-hour sports car endurance race aboard the No. 99 Lamborghini Gallardo LP520 with long-time friend Peter Hill and gentleman racer Simon Middleton.The Hollywood actor has raced in the Bathurst enduro twice - leading the race in 2011 before his co-driver crashed out - and is excited to be back behind the wheel at the legendary Mount Panorama."I can't wait to get back to the circuit," the man behind the movie Love the Beast said on Tuesday. "The car is fantastic to drive, and the thought of competing once again with a couple of mates at this event is very exciting. I am thrilled that my calendar has allowed me to once again test myself at one of the worlds most demanding circuits."The car is the same one Bana tweeted about at a track day late last year, which led to he and former Formula 1 racer Mark Webber putting together plans to race together in next year's Bathurst 12 Hour.This time around Bana's car won't be a contender for outright honours, their 2008-model Lamborghini competing in Class B while a host of international and local sports car stars race for the win in Class A. "We are there to have some serious fun among an incredible line up of International A-Level Endurance Teams and Drivers."Read the full story at Fox Sports.No such thing as a bad day at @PICircuit, 2008 spec GT3 Lambo, time for another #Bathurst12hour ?? pic.twitter.com/W0eBGWpS7q— Eric Bana (@EricBana67) November 8, 2013

We've seen some strange and violent examples of road rage -- and many of them from Russia, the source of this video footage. But this is one of the most bizarre outbursts yet, starting with a Toyota Camry and Mazda MPV -- usually the choices of very sensible citizens -- in a high-speed chase.The two cars continue jousting with each other along the way until Toyota performs a sideswipe that punts the Mazda off the road and into a ditch. And then the action takes a on truly comedic flavour, turning into a slapstick fight with a knife against a shovel.  It looks like we're going to see blood when the Toyota driver appears with the knife, but the shovel-wielding Mazda owner is more than his clumsy match.After Toyota man has a pratfall off the Mazda's roof, there's some more jousting and argy-bargy -- and the whole episode ends thankfully without serious injury to anything but pride.Watch the car crash ends in slap and shovel fight video on our desktop site.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Renault has taken the humble Scalextric set from the loungeroom floor to the streets of London with their latest video, pitting two electric Zoes against each other in a life-size slot car battle.The French brand set up a 3km long track for the video, made up of  570 upscaled Scalextric track pieces, with corners and crossovers, but stopped short of a loop-the-loop.Instead, the track weaved its way past several London landmarks including the London Eye, Westminster Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, Embankment and The Strand, across Waterloo Bridge, the BFI London IMAX cinema before finishing alongside the River Thames.The track-modified cars were controlled by competition winners aboard a helicopter hovering overhead, and Renault claims the little electric hatches are ideal for the purpose with their instant torque and 4 second 0-50km/h acceleration. Watch the Renault Zoe Scalextric track video here.   This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn

The Australian car manufacturing industry is on the brink of collapse as Toyota warns that the future of its Melbourne operations will be under threat if a cost-cutting deal is rejected by unions and Holden appears certain to close its Adelaide car plant.Toyota warned yesterday that a no vote on a union workplace agreement would send "a very strong message to our parent company that we are not serious about transforming our business"."This will put our ability to continue building cars in Australia at serious risk," a spokeswoman said. She said a decision was due next year on the next-generation Camry and the company's export program. The warning from Toyota came as Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss wrote to Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux to demand that GM Holden "immediately provide a clear explanation of its future intentions and explain what its plans are for its Australian operations".Joe Hockey also demanded clarity from Holden, telling parliament it must "come clean" with the Australian people. "Either you are here, or you're not," the Treasurer said.He said there was no shortage of money being directed to the automotive industry, with net combined assistance in 2011 at $1.1 billion or $48,000 an employee. Many other companies would like to be able to remit Australian taxpayer funds back to their head offices "in Detroit, London, Tokyo or anywhere else", Mr Hockey added."We have put another billion dollars on the table from 2015," he said. "A hell of a lot of industries in Australia would love to get the assistance the automotive industry is getting." Motor-industry insiders said Holden felt "bullied and hectored" by the government intervention, which had sealed its fate, suggesting it gave Holden little choice but to bring on a closure announcement.They warned this could jeopardise 50,000 jobs because the closure of Holden would almost certainly lead to Toyota following suit. The ultimatum from the government to Holden came hours after Mr Devereux told a Productivity Commission inquiry in Melbourne that "there's been no decision made at this point".The commission's interim report on car industry assistance is due at the end of next week. Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane is planning to use to its release to make a statement of good faith to the carmaker to encourage it to await the release of the final report early next year.Mr Macfarlane accused Labor of politicising the issue and risking a "self-fulfilling prophecy". "I am not for a moment going to take any criticism from those opposite that the Coalition is anything but totally committed to the car industry and its future in Australia," he said.Mr Devereux refused to speculate on the timeframe for Holden's parent company to make a decision about its Australian production, amid speculation it will shut down its plants from 2016. "Where possible and where feasible, the general philosophy of our company is to build where we sell," he said. "We have continued over the years to make the case to our parent (company) that we want to continue to build things in this country."Holden had recently made an average profit of $50m a year, while receiving an average $180m of support in various forms from Australian taxpayers "which we take very very seriously". He spoke of government support as an investment in local jobs and economies with significant flow-on effects. "The budgetary cost, I think, of losing this industry would dwarf the cost of keeping it," Mr Devereux said. "The business case for having an auto industry is something that is understood all around the world."It costs General Motors an extra $3750 a car to build vehicles in Australia compared with other plants in the region. Productivity Commissioner Philip Weickhardt said simple arithmetic suggested workers would need to be paid "virtually nothing" to close the gap."There is a gap," Mr Devereux agreed. "I don't suggest we are asking to close that gap to zero. We need a public/private partnership over the long term to be able to be relatively competitive and to have GM be able to do what it wants to do, which is build where we sell."Mr Truss, in his letter, said Mr Devereux's comments "failed to provide a commitment that Holdenwill remain in Australia well into the future...Instead, your comments merely confirmed that a decision to end manufacturing in Australia remains a live option and has not been ruled out."The opposition's industry spokesman, Kim Carr, said there was "a very real threat that the Abbott government's inaction and downright hostility to the automotive industry will force Holden out of Australia and cause the entire industry to fail...This government has no comprehension of the social and economic catastrophe that would result if automotive manufacturing collapses."He accused Mr Truss and Mr Hockey of taking an "an extraordinarily cavalier attitude". In parliament, Mr Hockey warned the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union over the Toyota negotiations. "If you really care about the motor vehicle industry, I say to the Labor Party: ring up your good mates at the AMWU and tell them to recommend to the workers at Toyota that they should accept the deal offered by Toyota on Friday," the Treasurer said.He said Toyota had an additional cost of manufacturing in Australia of $2800 a vehicle. Toyota needed to get the deal through so it could say to its Japanese parent in good faith, "the workers of Australia really do want a manufacturing business". Toyota issued a blunt threat to its Australian workforce that a vote against a proposed industrial package would risk local operations.Employees are to vote on Friday on the measures, which would scrap some decades-old allowances. Toyota has described the measures in the agreement as urgently needed to remain productive. A spokeswoman said AMWU encouragement of a "no" vote was disappointing -- Toyota was doing everything possible to secure its employees' future and it expected union support for that. AMWU vehicle division national secretary Dave Smith said Toyota was using strongarm tactics.Pic Jon Kudelka 

Newly-retired Formula 1 driver Mark Webber says he'll contest his first Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race in 2015, sharing his Porsche with Australian movie star Eric Bana. Barely two days after his final F1 grand prix in Brazil, Webber revealed his intention to compete in Australia's longest motor race via Twitter on Tuesday.Asked by a fan whether he will be driving for Porsche at the growing sportscar race at Bathurst's Mount Panorama track in February next year, Webber replied on Twitter: "15 with @EricBana67 @jamestomkins65" Bana responded "Sounds like a plan".It is likely the 37-year-old Webber will drive a Porsche 911 GT3 at the sportscar endurance event, having just signed with the German sports car maker.Bana, best known for his roles in Chopper, Black Hawk Down, Hulk, Munich and Troy, is a renowned car enthusiast, producing and starring in the feature-length documentary "Love the Beast".He has previously raced in the Bathurst 12 Hour as well as the Targa Tasmania rallies and the Porsche GT3 challenge.Webber quit Formula 1 after 12 seasons in the category to switch to sports car racing with German manufacturer Porsche.The Australian will link up with his new team in January and is yet to reveal his 2014 schedule, but has confirmed he will be attending the Australian F1 Grand Prix on Porsche's behalf.The Bathurst 12 Hour has been rapidly building its reputation internationally, with exotic sportscars from Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes and Audi contesting this year's race.www.heraldsun.com.au 

It was a dream come true. The opportunity to drive a supercar on one of the most famous race tracks in the world. We're talking about Fuji Speedway in Japan and of course Japan's very own supercar.