Hyundai ready to jump back into rallying with i20 WRC

At virtually the same moment that it was revealed Hyundai was exiting all motorsports activities here in the States, the Korean automaker was on stage at the Paris Motor Show making a major commitment to one of the most exciting and costliest racing series the globe has to offer, the World Rally Championship. Showing this i20 WRC racecar mockup (note the lack of an interior), Hyundai announced it is poised to return to the gravel-spitting, sideways-sliding yumpfest in short order.

Return, you say? Yes even before its meteoric rise as an automaker, Hyundai was toiling away in the series' F2 class back back in the late 90s. The team then graduated to the premier series in 2000, campaigning an Accent hatchback until 2003, at which point it ceased motorsports activities.

Specs for the rallygoing i20 haven't been disclosed, but in order to meet regulations, this Hyundai will need to rely on a 1.6-liter engine, presumably turbocharged to around 300 horsepower. All-wheel drive and a sequential gearbox are givens as well.

Hyundai has not yet announced when the i20 WRC will compete, nor has the FIA governing body granted it official entry into the series, though one is surely coming.

After a few lean years in terms of manufacturer support, the WRC is poised for a bit of a rebirth, with new teams to be fielded from Mini with its Countryman racer and a Toyota entrant based on its Yaris subcompact.

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PPNMC NOAO is a poorly named but still awesome electric race car [w/video]

It reportedly took Pole Performance Nevers Magny-Cours just six months to develop this electric race car before it set an official record on the Grand Prix track at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in France.

Known as the NOAO, which is supposedly pronounced "Know How," this car boasts twin electric motors capable of pushing out 227 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. There is also a 1,000cc three-cylinder range extender hidden inside to keep its three lithium ion battery packs charged up.

All in, this race-ready machine weighs in at just 2,182 pounds, which isn't particularly heavy considering its two powerplants, three battery packs and all their associated hardware. Check out our live image gallery above and then scroll below to watch a video showing the NOAO recording its record-setting run.

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Hamilton in, Schumacher out at Mercedes F1 in $100M deal

In 1995, a 10-year-old Lewis Hamilton walked up to McLaren team principal Ron Dennis and declared "I want to race for you one day." That fateful moment began a relationship between Hamilton, Dennis, and McLaren which culminated in the 2008 Formula One Championship. A relationship that, at least professionally, has come to an end.

Word from the UK's Telegraph is that Hamilton has left McLaren for the Mercedes-Benz factory team in a three-year deal that could be worth as much as $100 million. The departure of the 27-year-old driver from McLaren marks one of the biggest driver transfers in motorsport in recent memory. Though the German F1 team has won only a single race since returning to the sport in 2010, Hamilton and Mercedes both appear to be betting heavily on the turbocharged 1.6-liter V6 engine specifications for 2014.

The move has major ramifications for both teams. At McLaren, team principal Martin Whitmarsh said they had "no plan B" for their lead driver, however, it has already announced Mexican driver Sergio Perez as Hamilton's replacement in 2013.

The more controversial fallout is that Hamilton now replaces Michael Schumacher for next season. The seven-time World Champion first retired from Ferrari at the end of the 2006 season, returning to the sport in 2010 with Mercedes, where he has struggled. In reaction to the announcement, Schumi said that he would concentrate on the remaining races this season, and that he wished Hamilton well.

Hamilton's recent history with McLaren has been highlighted by salary disputes and comments on team tactics. Telegraph writer Tom Cary openly ponders the influence of XIX Entertainment The London-based firm represents Hamilton, and stands to make more money from the new contract. As for Schumacher, there is no word on his plans after the current Formula 1 season.

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Hyundai pulls out of all motorsports in North America [UPDATE]

Following word from Rhys Millen Racing that its main sponsor, Hyundai, is withdrawing support from its Formula Drift and Global RallyCross Championship campaigns, the Korean automaker has confirmed to Autoblog that it is ceasing all motorsports support programs in North America.

With Hyundai building sales and financial momentum not just in NA but in virtually all markets in which it competes, the timing of the pullout from racing seems curious, but Hyundai reportedly wants to focus on new marketing strategies. Hyundai never really attempted to crack mainline motorsports series here in North America like NASCAR or IndyCar, instead preferring to get a toehold in racing via edgier (and less costly) extreme-sports-style forms of competition like rallycross, hillclimbs and drifting.

Millen's operation says it is looking for new sponsors and partners for next season, but Hyundai's support of the team will evidently remain until the conclusion of its 2012 seasons.

Hyundai will continue motorsports programs elsewhere in the world indeed, is debuting a new i20 racecar concept at today's Paris Motor Show with which it plans to return to the World Rally Championship, a series it exited back in 2003.


UPDATE: Hyundai spokesperson Jim Trainor has provided us with the following statement:

"Hyundai Motor America has made a decision to step back and re-evaluate its motorsports strategy in order to determine what is best for the brand following the conclusion of the 2012 Global Rallycross and Formula Drift seasons. We are also reconsidering our continued involvement in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, having achieved the world record in a Hyundai Genesis Coupe this year."

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Hyundai pulls out of all motorsports in North America

Following word from Rhys Millen Racing that its main sponsor, Hyundai, is withdrawing support from its Formula Drift and Global RallyCross Championship campaigns, the Korean automaker has confirmed to Autoblog that it is ceasing all motorsports support programs in North America.

With Hyundai building sales and financial momentum not just in NA but in virtually all markets in which it competes, the timing of the pullout from racing seems curious, but Hyundai reportedly wants to focus on new marketing strategies. Hyundai never really attempted to crack mainline motorsports series here in North America like NASCAR or IndyCar, instead preferring to get a toehold in racing via edgier (and less costly) extreme-sports-style forms of competition like rallycross, hillclimbs and drifting.

Millen's operation says it is looking for new sponsors and partners for next season, but Hyundai's support of the team will evidently remain until the conclusion of its 2012 seasons.

Hyundai will continue motorsports programs elsewhere in the world indeed, is debuting a new i20 racePGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3RoZWJlc3RjYXJpbnRoZXdvcmxkei5ibG9nc3BvdC5jb20vDSIgdGFyZ2V0PSJfYmxhbmsiIHJlbD0ibm9mb2xsb3ciPmNhcjwvYT4= concept at today's Paris Motor Show with which it plans to return to the World Rally Championship, a series it exited back in 2003.

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Bentley unveils Continental GT3 racer [w/video]

Ten years after unveiling the concept car that ultimately became the Bentley Continental GT, the iconic British company is back at the Paris Motor Show, with another high-performance "concept" car. The newest member of the Bentley family, this Continental GT3 is a concept in name only, as the company is explicit about the fact that its debut marks a return to motorsports for the brand.

The last time we saw the flying B on a racecar, it was when Bentley was claiming honors at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2003. The GT3 seeks to take up that mantle, as well as the storied history of road-going Bentleys being transformed into competent racing machines.

Though technical details are nonexistent in the Bentley press release, the company has given us something to work with, in terms of the racecar that will ultimately result from this program. The GT3 will, naturally, build on the very strong performance of the Continental GT Speed, adding a rear-drive chassis, a massive aero package (the wing seen here in no joke) and "state-of-the-art motorsport hardware."

Bentley's return to the track isn't so far off, either. The company claims that the FIA supported racer will be in the pits by the end of 2013; capable of competing in multiple series and events, including endurance racing. If the final product doesn't end up at Le Mans, we'll eat our hat.

Pictures of this Bentley beast not enough for you? Well, follow this link for a Continental GT3 video, you speed freak.

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Ecclestone claims contract torn up for Grand Prix of America

Another day, another drama with Bernie Ecclestone at the center. This time, it appears that the the Formula One CEO and the series' top brass have "torn up" the contract for New Jersey's Grand Prix of America. In a new report from The Guardian, Ecclestone claims that the race's organizers have missed deadlines, leading to the scrapping of the race.

The main concern since the announcement of the New Jersey race in October of last year has been its financials that is, the ability for event organizers to raise the necessary funds to put on the race. While construction has begun on the circuit, a motorsports industry insider told the Guardian in the report, "pricing for sponsorship etc. is unrealistic and not obtainable in the current market."

Such high pricing could be motivated by the massive fees associated with hosting an F1 race. The ten-year contract for Grand Prix of America would have been for 150 million ($193.9 million USD) and an annual estimated fee of 15 million ($19.3 million). The 2013 provisional calendar for F1 showed the New Jersey race as subject to confirmation, and a lack of commitment to the race may have also scared away sponsors.

The Guardian says dissolution of the contract is a "big blow to F1." Ecclestone is reportedly moving on, looking for new suitors including a GP in Mexico. Ecclestone tells the Guardian, "After Mexico, we want to go to South Africa."

The Grand Prix of America, which was to take place on a 3.2-mile street course on the New Jersey side of the Hudson river was set for June of 2013. It appears that now that the United States Grand Prix is locked in for in Austin, Texas, New Jersey may well be passed over altogether.

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