This week’s Last Lap is full of more motorsport-related goodness that blooms like the spring flowers in May. From a colorful McLaren to a lap of Donnington there should be something here that will make you smile. As usual I feature some cool in-car videos and some fantastic vintage race cars that are up for auction. Enjoy!
McLaren Explores the Psychology of Color
The exhibit is now over but Motortrend wrote a fascinating article titled McLaren Explores the Psychology of Color With a Sultry Artura where the supercar maker collaborated with abstract resin artist Nat Bowen for an interesting take on a McLaren Artura. “My goal was to provide a truly immersive experience and transport the visitors into a meditative state away from everyday distraction, as well as allow them to further explore and develop their relationship with colour,” says Bowen.
A Lap of Donington Park GP Aboard a Radical SR3
The Robb Report Takes Ferrari’s First V-6-Powered Production Car For a Drive
The Robb Report took an 819 hp Ferrari 296 Gran Turismo Berlinetta for a test drive and clearly liked what they drove. “Yet the 819 hp Ferrari 296 Gran Turismo Berlinetta (GTB)—not just the marque’s first V-6-powered production car, but a plug-in hybrid V-6 production car—is a cracking start to a new age. More than that, it’s a revelation, and not only because of the way it inhales sections of track like a far heavier-breathing beast.”
The Sights and Sounds of HMSA’s Historic GTP at Long Beach
Marshall Pruett captures the sights and sounds of glorious vintage cars racing around the Long Beach street circuit in southern California.
Now This is a Wild Looking Race Car!
In Autosport’s “The weird and wonderful of club motorsport this week” they showcase this fascinating race car, Rob Hall’s Shrike P15, which took a Sports 2000 victory at Silverstone last weekend. Even the name sounds cool!
Laps for Laguna Is Coming Soon
Laps for Laguna, a charity charity race weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, a vintage race joint venture of the Classic Sports Racing Group and the Laguna Seca Raceway Foundation 501(c)(3) nonprofit is coming May 21-22, 2022. Featuring a number of activities both on and off the track, the weekend aims to race funds for capital improvements to Laguna Seca Raceway that will benefit both participants and spectators. You can find more information about the Laguna Seca Raceway Foundation here.
Ferrari’s Seven Best Concept Cars
Here are some pretty wild Ferraris that never made it past the concept stage.
A Mini JCW Running on the National layout of Dubai Autodrome
Here is some fun footage of Rob Barff driving a lap of the National layout of Dubai Autodrome in the MINI JCW.
Auction & Sales News
Daytona-winning Jaguar and More Featured at RM Sotheby’s Monaco Auction
This 1988 Jaguar XJR-9, chassis 388, which won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1990 is one of the lots at the upcoming RM Sotheby’s Monaco Auction on May 14. According to Vintage Motorsport: “The third of three cars constructed for the 1988 IMSA GT Championship, it was run by Tom Walkinshaw Racing and is the only remaining example of XJR-9s purpose-built for IMSA. Prior to its most famous victory in 1990, chassis 388 enjoyed two highly successful seasons. Predominantly in the hands of Davy Jones and Jan Lammers, the car achieved four podium finishes and never finished a race outside of the top seven, a superb achievement that helped the Jaguar team secure third place in the IMSA constructor’s championship, stamping its authority in both IMSA and Group C racing.”
Last of the Ferrari 340 MM
RM Sotheby’s will also offer the last of 10 Ferrari 340 MM models ever built at its Monaco sale on May 14. The 1953 340 MM Spider by Vignale was raced extensively between 1953-54 and won the Phil Hill Cup at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Watch a short video of the car above and find details on all RM Sotheby’s Monaco lots here.
Passion for the Drive: The Cars of Jim Taylor
Broad Arrow Auctions has announced the single owner offering auction of Mr. Jim Taylor, taking place this 14-15 October in his hometown of Gloversville, located a short distance from Albany, New York. “The grouping of more than 120-motor cars represents one of the finest assemblages of European, British, and American sports and vintage cars including an impressive selection of Allard, Alvis, Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Cunningham, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, and Shelby motor cars. Perhaps even more impressively is just how many of Mr. Taylor’s cars have been rallied and shown around the world.”
This 1982 Porsche 911SC Raced in the Dakar Classic, and Is Ready to Return
On May 13, Bonhams comes to Monaco with its Les Grandes Marques à Monaco auction at the Fairmont, Monte Carlo. The lots crossing the block will include a number of rare Bugattis, Ferraris and Porsches, among those a 959, 993 GT2 and 2016 911 R. But the most eye-catching Porsche is a 1982 911SC rally car wearing full Rothmans livery in tribute to Porsche’s winning entries in both the 1984 and ’86 editions of the renowned Paris-Dakar Rally. According to the Robb Report: “The radical all-wheel-drive Porsches were equipped to conquer one of the most grueling courses in the history of motorsport. Traversing the European continent and onto the African continent, the cars and their drivers endured the harshest of conditions as they sped for the finish line in Dakar, Senegal. In 2008, the race moved to South America and stayed there until 2019. Since then, the contest, renamed “the Dakar Rally,” has been held in Saudi Arabia. Drawing its inspiration from the original, and happening on the same route as the modern Dakar, the Dakar Classic is a two-week event for vintage cars that challenges drivers, navigators and machines alike.”
Ever Wanted to Own an Audi R18 E-tron Quattro?
It’s not often that you get a chance to purchase an original FIA World Endurance Championship LMP1 car, but there is now a rare opportunity to own an Audi R18 e-tron Quattro, as raced by Lucas di Grassi, Loïc Duval, and Oliver Jarvis. Up for sale is the 416 chassis, as raced in the FIA WEC by Audi Sport Team Joest, the car entered the three races in the 2015 season, the 6 Hours of Fuji, 6 Hours of Shanghai, and the 6 Hours of Bahrain where it finished fourth, fourth, and sixth. The price is not listed, but it is estimated that the 2014 model cost around £24m, so this Audi will not be a cheap purchase, but for those interested to find out more about the car, you can get in touch with the company selling the car here.
The 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona That Was the First Car to Top 200 MPH Is Heading to Auction.
Buddy Baker’s 1969 Dodge Hemi Charger Daytona was the first stock car to hit 200 MPH, and now the race car will hit the block at Mecum Auction’s Indy 2022 sale next month. According the The Robb Report, the race car, which is currently owned by legendary NASCAR crew chief Ray Everham, played a vital role in motorsports history and is exactly the kind of vehicle serious collectors want in their garage.
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.