Pics Aplenty: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor at Baja 1000 like a pig in mud

We recently told you how the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor fared competing in the Baja 1000. The Blue Oval's new super duper off-roader finished third in the Class 8 division, which is impressive considering it was built for the lower level Stock Full class in which it couldn't compete this time because the production version is not yet for sale. We've gone for a ride in the Raptor through the deserts of Nevada, but after looking through the gallery below, our experience probably wasn't as much fun as piloting the truck through 631 miles of the Baja Desert. Clearly the Raptor's first foray into competitive motorsports involved spending a lot of time with all four wheels either off the ground or in water up to its lug nuts. Check out the gallery below for more action shots of the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor doing what it was designed for.

Audi Releases Race-Ready, GT3-Spec R8 Racer

Alongside the Le Mans-winning R10 TDI at the Essen Motor Show, Audi unveiled a turn-key race variant of the sublime R8. This is the first program of its kind from Audi and a natural evolution of its motorsports division. Bearing the project name “R16,” this R8 conforms to GT3 regulations allowing entry in a wide range of racing events. A V-10 sits foward of the rear axle and routes 500-plus horsepower to the rear wheels through a new six-speed sequential gearbox. While the exterior receives deep aerodynamic modifications, Audi claims that a majority of off-the-production-line-parts were used for the suspension. You can expect a positively Spartan interior. At €262,000 (or $332,923) the price of entry for the R8 sits a bit lower than, say, a €349,800 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. But will the R8 provide enough competition? We’ll see as teams adopt the new race car for the 2009 season. Be sure to check out a YouTube video provided by Audi of the R8 GT3 racer in action.

Great Moments in Motorsports: Adventures in throttle cable replacement

From our friends at the Axis of Oversteer comes a story of determination, fortitude, and a healthy dose of Darwinian law.

With less than a mile left in a stage of the Ralley de Serrians in France, the throttle cable in our hero's Renault finally gives up the ghost. Does he give up? No! Does the team try to push their way to the finish? Hell no! The driver tells his co-pilot to man the wheel while he hops into the engine bay, pulls the hood over himself and then manually controls the throttle cable bracket to a heroic finish. The picture above speaks for itself, but the video after the jump tells the whole tale.

[Source: Axis of Oversteer]