All-New Shelby GT500 is the Most Advanced Mustang Ever for Street, Track or Drag Strip
16 Jan 2019 Written by Adam SinclairThe all-new Shelby GT500 – the pinnacle of any pony car ever engineered by Ford Performance – delivers on its heritage with more than 700 horsepower for the quickest street-legal acceleration and most high-performance technology to date ever offered in a Ford Mustang.
“Carroll was always working on the next faster Shelby, I think he would love this Mustang more than any other,” said Jim Farley, Ford president, global markets. “A takedown artist, the new Shelby GT500 will surprise supercar owners with its Ford Performance racing tech, supercharged engine and visceral swagger.”
Arriving this fall to join its Shelby GT350 stablemate, Shelby GT500 is engineered to attack on all fronts. At the drag strip, it’s set to produce a projected 700-plus horsepower via its first-in-class dual-clutch transmission. At the track, performance improves even more thanks to its race-bred chassis, custom Michelin tires and the largest front brake rotors ever available on an American sports coupe. On the street, its menacing aerodynamic design and Ford Performance driver control technologies make every moment behind the wheel even more exhilarating.
Most powerful Ford production car ever
In the process of making the all-new Shelby GT500 the quickest street-legal Mustang ever, Ford Performance created an exclusive powertrain to deliver new levels of power and torque.
“With its supercar-level powertrain, the all-new Shelby GT500 takes the sixth-generation Mustang to a performance level once reserved only for exotics,” said Hermann Salenbauch, global director, Ford Performance vehicle programs. “As a Mustang, it has to be attainable and punch above its weight. To that end, we’ve set a new standard among American performance cars with our most powerful street-legal V8 engine to date, plus the quickest-shifting transmission ever in a Mustang for all-out precision and speed.”
Shelby GT500 starts with a supercharged 5.2-liter aluminum alloy engine built by hand. To keep the intake air cooler and deliver a lower center of gravity, the team inverted a 2.65-liter roots-type supercharger with air-to-liquid intercooler tucked neatly in the V8 engine valley.
Like Shelby GT350, the aluminum alloy block features weight-saving wire-arc cylinder liners and high-flow aluminum cylinder heads, plus larger forged connecting rods, improved lubrication and cooling passages. Beneath that, a structural oil pan adds strength, reduces vibration, and features a patented active baffle system to keep oil where it’s needed.
To channel power and torque to the unique carbon fiber driveshaft, Ford Performance leveraged learnings from the tuning of its Ford GT supercar’s dual-clutch transmission. The team selected a TREMEC® 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, which is capable of shifts in under 100 milliseconds – markedly faster than any manual gearbox. This dual-clutch transmission is designed for a number of drive modes, including normal, weather, sport, drag and track, and activates features like line-lock and launch control through selectable Track Apps.
Next-evolution Mustang performance bred from Ford GT and Mustang GT4
To harness the power and torque of the most powerful Mustang ever made for the street requires cutting-edge active chassis technology, track-bred Michelin tires and Brembo® brakes – all dialed in by Ford Performance.
Shelby GT500 takes advantage of revised suspension geometry, a new electronic power steering unit and lighter-weight coil springs front and rear. Next-generation active MagneRide™ suspension is baked-in, along with the latest in advanced drive mode technologies from Ford Performance. The payoff is the highest-ever lateral acceleration from a Mustang for greater track performance and driver control.
Putting all this chassis hardware to the pavement, custom Ford Performance-spec Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and more aggressive Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires feature unique compounds and tread. To provide track-ready stopping power, massive 16-5-inch (420-millimeter) two-piece rotors are added – the largest of any domestic sports coupe – plus larger, stiffer Brembo six-piston calipers. With 20 percent more swept area than the Shelby GT350’s, these brakes have more than 30 percent additional thermal mass in the front corners.
Two handling packages with increasing levels capability are offered for the all-new Shelby GT500. An available Handling Package includes adjustable strut top mounts and spoiler with Gurney flap. For the truly hardcore, an available Carbon Fiber Track Package features exposed 20-inch carbon fiber wheels with 0.5-inch-wider rear wheels (11.5-inch), custom Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, adjustable exposed carbon fiber GT4 track wing and splitter wickers with integrated dive plane. The rear seat is deleted to reduce weight.
A functional, menacing design tuned with Ford Performance know-how
Thanks to a cross-functional team of designers, Ford Performance engineers and motorsports collaborators, the 2020 Shelby GT500 has functional track-hero looks to match its performance capabilities.
“With a double front grille opening and 50 percent more cooling pack airflow versus the Shelby GT350, along with the most advanced aero components and downforce we’ve ever offered, every millimeter of Shelby GT500’s fastback design is aimed at improving performance,” said Melvin Betancourt, Ford design manager.
Those large angular grille openings and muscular hood combine for a menacing, aerodynamic-led design inspired by modern fighter jet aircraft. The car’s wider front fenders and stance housing Shelby GT500-specific 20x11-inch wheels proportionally align to its rear fenders that hug up to 20x11.5-inch wheels. A standard new rear spoiler and updated composite materials in the rear diffuser result in added thermal management.
The team leveraged Ford’s motorsports technical center in North Carolina and its windshear rolling wind tunnel – where top-tier racing teams test – to perfect the design of the Shelby GT500. Front fascia openings are more than doubled versus the Shelby GT350, while six heat exchangers are stuffed in to increase cooling pack airflow by more than 50 percent. A massive 31x28-inch louvered hood vent features a removable aluminum rain tray for better air extraction and increased downforce.
More craftsmanship, technology and driver comfort
Shelby GT500’s purpose-built cockpit boasts race-inspired premium materials and unique finishes worthy of its world-class power. Premium touchpoints include an available exposed carbon fiber instrument panel appliqué and new door panel inserts in Dark Slate Miko® suede with accent stitching. Available Recaro racing seats with firm side bolstering and pass-throughs for safety harnesses offer the highest level of performance. For those looking for even greater comfort, power-adjustable seating with Miko suede inserts is offered.
The all-new Shelby GT500 picks up a 12-inch full-color LCD instrument cluster, while a high-performance custom-tuned 12-speaker B&O® Play premium audio system is available. All of this is controlled via an 8-inch SYNC® 3 touch screen featuring SiriusXM and FordPass Connect™.
New colors for 2020 include Red Hot, Twister Orange and Iconic Silver. Painted stripes are available for the all-new Shelby GT500 too.
Building on the legacy of Shelby performance
With a reputation for transforming Ford Mustang into dominant road racing machines, Carroll Shelby, American racer and entrepreneur, took his legendary Mustang GT350 model further in 1967 to craft the first-generation Shelby GT500 with a modified 428-cubic-inch V8 inspired by his team’s 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans.
Carroll Shelby called the original Shelby GT500 “the first real car I’m really proud of.” Today, that legacy continues with the third-generation 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 – the most powerful and most advanced Mustang ever.
Universal Technical Institute's Mooresville campus, NASCAR Technical Institute, offers behind-the-scenes look at opportunities in the skilled trades
16 Jan 2019 Written by Steven B. Wilson
NHRA announces “Unfinished Business” competition featuring Drag Racing legends
16 Jan 2019 Written by Adam Sinclair
INDYCAR Announces ‘Robust’ TV Schedule with Exclusive Partner NBC Sports Group
16 Jan 2019 Written by Adam SinclairEight of this year’s 17 IndyCar Series races will air on NBC, including the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday, September 22. All INDYCAR on-track action will be available through NBC Sports, with nearly 350 hours available between linear television and digital streaming coverage. NBC Sports Gold, NBC Sports’ direct-to-consumer streaming product, will offer a package – INDYCAR Pass – that will feature live IndyCar Series practice and qualifying sessions, same-day race airings and Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires events.
“This will be the most complete and robust season of INDYCAR viewing for our fans,” said Mark Miles, president and CEO of Hulman & Company, which owns INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “Fans can not only see everything that happens on the track, they can see races at their convenience via INDYCAR Pass on the same day, which until now had not been available.”
“As the exclusive home for INDYCAR, NBC Sports will provide fans with more INDYCAR coverage than ever before in 2019,” said Jon Miller, president of programming for NBC Sports and NBCSN. “From centralized, seamless coverage on NBC and NBCSN to unparalleled support surrounding the 103rd Indianapolis 500, one of the most prestigious events in all of sports, NBC Sports will super-serve INDYCAR Nation through its best-in-class television, digital, production and marketing assets.”
Indy cars return to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca after a 15-year absence. The action starts and ends in Monterey with INDYCAR Spring Testing taking place on Friday, February 8, and the season-ending INDYCAR Grand Prix of Monterey scheduled on September 20-22.
INDYCAR Spring Testing will reacquaint teams to the 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course that hosted Indy car racing from 1983 to 2004 with memorable moments that including Alex Zanardi executing “The Pass” on Bryan Herta on the final lap of the 1996 finale, Mario Andretti’s emotional retirement in 1994 and Bobby Rahal winning four consecutive events from 1984 to 1987.
A total of 23 cars are currently expected to take part in INDYCAR Spring Testing with drivers from Team Penske, Andretti Autosport, Chip Ganassi Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Carlin Motorsport, Dale Coyne Racing, Juncos Racing and Michael Shank Racing. The day full of on-track action will begin at 8:30 a.m.
The public is able to attend INDYCAR Spring Testing for $20 at the admissions checkpoint or $10 if they have purchased tickets for the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Monterey. Admission is free for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Season Ticket holders and children 15 years old and under. “Monterey Speed Week” combination packages for IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on September 13-15 and INDYCAR Grand Prix of Monterey on September 20-22. Tickets for both events can be purchased by visiting www.WeatherTechRaceway.com or by calling 831-242-8200.
Following is the complete 2019 IndyCar Series television race schedule with air times (all Eastern). Times are subject to change.
Date: Race/Track, Network, Time (ET)
Sunday, March 10: Streets of St. Petersburg, NBCSN, 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 24: Circuit of the Americas, NBCSN, 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 7: Barber Motorsports Park, NBCSN, 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 14: Streets of Long Beach, NBCSN, 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 11: Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, NBC, 3 p.m.
Sunday, May 26: Indianapolis 500, NBC, 11 a.m.
Saturday, June 1: Raceway at Belle Isle Park/Detroit, NBC, 3 p.m.
Sunday, June 2: Raceway at Belle Isle Park/Detroit, NBC, 3 p.m.
Saturday, June 8: Texas Motor Speedway, NBCSN, 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 23: Road America, NBC, noon
Sunday, July 14: Streets of Toronto, NBCSN, 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 20: Iowa Speedway, NBCSN, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 28: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, NBC, 3 p.m.
Sunday, August 18: Pocono Raceway, NBCSN, 2 p.m.
Saturday, August 24: Gateway Motorsports Park, NBCSN, 8 p.m.
Sunday, September 1: Portland International Raceway, NBC, 3 p.m.
Sunday, September 22: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, NBC, 2:30 p.m.
One of Rallycross’ most renowned teams, Hansen Motorsport, will participate in the brand-new GRC Europe Series. Run by 14-time European Rallycross Champion Kenneth Hansen, the team will be fielding his sons Timmy, World Championship runner-up in 2015, and Kevin, FIA European Rallycross Champion 2016 and FIA Rookie of the Year.
The Swedes have been in Rallycross since the late 1980ies, competing in the FIA European Championship with Ford and Citroen. From 2014 onward, Hansen was Peugeot Sport’s official partner in the World Championship as Team Peugeot Hansen, winning the FIA World Rallycross Championship for Teams in 2015.
Timmy said: "I am very happy and excited about joining GRC Europe in 2019. The cars will be fast and the calendar features iconic circuits. I can't wait for the season to begin. I want to thank Max (Pucher, Series CEO) for taking the initiative to launch GRC Europe, a high profile championship with a vision to take Rallycross back to its roots. It is exactly, what our sport needs right now.”
His younger brother Kevin is also ready to fight for Silverware saying: “I am young, I am fast and I am hungry for success. I am eager to show my true potential and get back to the Victory Lane. Big thanks to Max for giving me this amazing opportunity in GRC Europe!"
Team principal Kenneth Hansen commented: "One can only be impressed by the passion and commitment with which Max (Pucher) has embraced the big challenge of pushing GRC Europe through to reality. Having both Timmy and Kevin compete for the full season feels right and motivating, because Rallycross is where we belong. The vibe GRC Europe has approaching its premiere, is the kind of spirit we like. Rallycross is excitement, thrill, and nerves, extreme and never ever boring – these values we have found in GRC Europe. We think that Kevin and Timmy will love racing there!"
Naturally, GRC Europe CEO Max J. Pucher was all smiles. “Hansen Motorsport has been fighting at the top of our sport for nearly three decades now. We have a great driver line-up in the works, but it’s an honour and a highly positive omen that Hansen Motorsport with Timmy and Kevin are the first team to sign up for our 2019 championship.”
The 2019 GRC Europe season will take off at the Dreux Circuit, France, on June 29/30. All events will be televised live on Eurosport and streamed live on Eurosport Player.
D'Ambrosio wins in Marrakesh with dramatic last lap dash as BMW pair collide
16 Jan 2019 Written by Adam Sinclair
Tommy Hayden Named Director of Racing Operations for Estenson Racing
16 Jan 2019 Written by Adam SinclairEstenson Racing is pleased to welcome Tommy Hayden as its Director of Racing Operations. Hayden brings with him a wealth of experience in the motorcycle racing world, and he is a key addition to the rapidly-growing team. In his new position, Hayden will oversee the team’s race operations, including everything from the nuts and bolts of the team, to the marketing efforts with sponsor relations and sponsorship development.
"I have become more and more excited about this project every day that has passed since making the decision to join Estenson Racing,” said Hayden. “To think back over the years on everything I have been involved with in the motorcycle racing industry and now for it to come full circle back to flat track where it all started, it puts a smile on my face. With a five-rider team, it is going to be a big project to get the infrastructure built and everything put together in the short amount of time before the first race in Daytona, but I am confident that we will show up there ready to compete at a high level."
The eldest brother of the well-known Hayden family, Tommy has been involved in racing his entire life. In addition to two AMA Supersport Championships (2004-2005), Hayden amassed 34 wins in the U.S. National road racing championship (now MotoAmerica), eight of which were in the Superbike series. More recently, Hayden was the Global Road Racing Manager for Monster Energy.
“I’m so excited to have Tommy on board,” said Tim Estenson, team owner of Estenson Racing. “After working together for a couple of weeks, I’ve already elevated his role to Director of Race Operations. It all came together for me from the understanding of his history as a successful racer and his background with marketing and sales, it made sense to make him the manager of the whole program.”
For 2019, Estenson Racing has more than doubled in size with five riders and plans to compete in all three classes of American Flat Track. With its partnership with Attack Performance, Estenson Racing will make its first foray into MotoAmerica with JD Beach in Superbike.
The 2019 Dakar quest of David Bensadoun and his co-driver Patrick Beaulé of the ALDO Racing Team, is over. The difficult terrain and multiple traps set for the 41st edition of the rally-raid were some of the most brutal ever seen. Adding to this was the fact that ALDO Racing was breaking in their new car, which was twice afflicted by mechanical woes. These afflictions are no fault of South African car manufacturer Century Racing, as the car spent too much time on the ocean blue travelling from South Africa to America, then a return trip from America to Asia for participation in the Silk Way Rally, that did not materialize. Finally, a trip to France before the last ocean cruise to Peru. The moist ocean air will have done most of the work to corrode the ignition distributor. The corrosion eventually caused the team's retirement on Day 3.
"Unfortunately, we had major electrical/fuelling problems starting at race kilometre 50 of Special Stage 3 and when we entered the dunes at kilometre 60, it just got worse," said David Bensadoun. "Engine power kept cutting out. We tore the car apart looking for the problem but could not immediately find the source".
30th in the car class prior to their retirement
Starting from Lima in 66th position in the car class, ALDO Racing lost six spots when they reached Pisco at the end of the first Special Stage. On day 2, the Canadian team made a giant leap, jumping to 38th position in class after checking in correctly at the eight Way Points on its way to San Juan de Marcona. After clocking in on Way Point 2 on Day 3, Bensadoun and Beaulé were 30th in class before encountering the problem that led to their retirement.
Because this Dakar is so tough on the cars, event organizers allowed participants who had retired from the rally in the first week, to re-enter the race after rest day on Saturday, January 12. Well rested, David and Patrick were back on the road on Sunday for a semi-marathon race with its own standings.
Dakar, Take 2
The ALDO Racing CR6 was back on the sandy trails of Peru to compete in the second half of the Dakar.
"We entered Special Sector 6 at 1 p.m. on Sunday and had a clutch failure in the Tanaka desert around 2 p.m.," continued Bensadoun. "With the help of our team, we removed the transmission and replaced the broken clutch pressure plate. We then had to navigate our way out of the desert in pitch black around 9:30 p.m.! Because of the crazy dunes and soft sand, it took us two hours to drive four kilometres in the dark before reaching a highway. Since we received help from our crew, we knew we would be excluded.
"We wanted adventure and we got it. It's always sad to be out but we have new stories to tell and we feel we tried everything to stay in. The Dakar is always tough, but this year's edition is just brutal."
The 2019 Dakar continues until Thursday, January 17 when a festive crowd in the Capital City of Lima will acclaim the grand winners. Until then, fans can still follow the Dakar Rally live onhttps://gaps.dakar.com/2019/dakar/aso/ukie.
The participation of ALDO Racing in the Dakar 2019 is the result of a partnership with the ALDO Group, E.F. Walters, Stingray, SAJO, Vitesse Transport Corporation, the OEC Group and Fesh-Fesh Investments.
