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[motorsport] Dakar 2023: Al-Attiyah stays in front, more drama for Audi on Stage 7
With the stage for bikes and quads cancelled due to weather conditions, Al-Attiyah had to open the road in the 333km special between Riyadh and Al Duwadimi in his Toyota Hilux. Carrying a lead of more than an hour into the day, and with external assistance prohibited as part of the ‘marathon’ rules that cover both stages 7 and 8, the Qatari driver played it safe in his bid to defend his ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Al-Attiyah apologises for "reacting harshly" to Audi Dakar power boost
The FIA World Rally-Raid Championship’s Committee announced a change in the Balance of Performance on Wednesday to give cars in the T1.U class for prototype cars using renewable energies – which includes Audi’s RS Q e-tron E2 – an extra 8kW, which is believed to be worth 11bhp. Al-Attiyah was outraged by the measure, however, and appeared to accuse the organisation of favouritism on ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Stewart-Haas Racing adds familiar faces to 2023 crew chief lineup
Chad Johnston, who previously worked at SHR as crew chief for team co-owner Tony Stewart in 2014 and 2015, returns this season as the crew chief for new SHR Cup driver Ryan Preece and the No. 41 Ford team. In 2016, Johnston moved to the former Chip Ganassi Racing and served as crew chief to driver Kyle Larson and the duo won five races together in five seasons. Johnston returned to the Truck ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Dakar 2023: Al-Attiyah in command as disaster strikes Audi on Stage 6
Toyota’s Al-Attiyah and Peterhansel fought tooth and nail for much of the shortened 358km special between Ha’il and Riyadh, with Peterhansel reversing Al-Attiyah’s early advantage to grab the lead at the second checkpoint. Peterhansel had built a buffer of well over a minute after crossing the timing mark at 207km, but disaster struck just minutes later when his Audi RS Q e-tron was ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] WRC retires #43 in tribute to late Ken Block
Block famously run under #43 throughout a career that included 25 starts in rallying's top tier, where he recorded a best result of seventh at Rally Mexico in 2013. He died on 3 January from injuries sustained in a snowmobile incident. The American, who shot to fame thanks to his hit Youtube Gymkhana video series, also used the number when competing in the US Rally Championship, Global ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Greensmith joins Toksport for 2023 WRC2 campaign
Greensmith will return to the WRC2 class this season after a three-year stint driving for M-Sport Ford's top-flight WRC team. The 26-year-old's move to the WRC2 arrives after a deal couldn't be reached to stay at M-Sport for 2023, ending an eight-year partnership in the process. The Ford team will field only two full-time entries in the WRC this year for Ott Tanak and Pierre-Louis Loubet. As ...Keep readingView the full article
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[foxsports]
John Hunter Nemechek won't abandon aggressive style in return to Xfinity Series
John Hunter Nemechek won seven truck series races over the past two seasons with an aggressive style that has hampered him at times. View the full article
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[motorsport] Dakar 2023: Al-Attiyah triumphs on Stage 5 to open up lead
The Toyota driver was furious at a Balance of Performance tweak which gave cars in the T1.U class using renewable energies – effectively main rivals Audi – an additional 8kW which equates to 11bhp ahead of Thursday's stage, stating it would "kill the race early". But on the 373km sand and dune-covered stage, the second loop around Ha'il, the defending Dakar Rally champion saw off ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Jordan Anderson Racing adds second NASCAR Xfinity team
Jeb Burton and Parker Retzlaff have been named as the drivers. Last season, the team ran the full season with Myatt Snider in the No. 31 Chevrolet. He ended the year 18th in points with one top-five and four top-tens. Burton, the son of former Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton, has 109 in NASCAR's secondary division with 13 top-fives and 31 top-tens. He will drive the No. 27 car at JAR. The ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Al-Attiyah furious at Audi Dakar power boost: “Thank you for killing the race early”
The FIA World Rally-Raid Championship’s Committee announced an immediate change in the Balance of Performance to give cars in the T1.U class for prototype cars using renewable energies – which includes Audi’s RS Q e-tron E2 – an extra 8kW, which is believed to be worth 11bhp. A statement read: “Following the data analysis of the vehicles entered in the T1.U and T1+ categories on the ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Dakar 2023: Al-Attiyah extends lead as Loeb beats Peterhansel to Stage 4 win
Dakar legend Stephane Peterhansel led across the opening 282km of Wednesday’s 425km special, finding better speed and rhythm with his Audi RS Q e-tron E2 over the sand and dune terrain after heavy rain on Tuesday, but he was reeled in by Loeb over the gravel and rocky landscape that ended the stage. The nine-time World Rally champion officially took the lead on the stage at the 327km ...Keep readingView the full article
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Ford F-150 | GD15 | GRID Off-Road
Whether you’re gearing up for an overloading weekend trip or simply hitting the pavement for your daily commute, our GRID Off-Road GD15 wheels will make sure you do it in style. As a popular off-road rim style for many, the GD15 features custom backspacing/offset and a vehicle-specific bolt pattern and center bore. This means the wheel is blank and specifically manufactured for the vehicle it will adorn. Available in 17×9 and 20×9 sizes, you can opt for three different finishes: Gloss Black w/ Milled Accents, Matte Bronze w/ Matte Black and Matte Black w/ Double Dark Tint. For this SEMA project Ford F-150, the truck benefits from some GD15s in a Matte Black w/ Double Dark Tint finish as it sits ready for outdoor adventures. These off-road truck rims give the Ford a prominent stance prepared for the open road and beyond. The F-150 was showcased in the Rhino-Rack booth at the 2022 SEMA show, where visitors saw the impressive beast up close. Other mods featured on the truck include upgrades from ArmordilloUSA, Toyo Tires, R1 Concepts, HiLift Jacks, Magnaflow, IVD Suspension and Injen Technology. If you’d like a similar off-road wheel setup, reach us at sales@grid-offroad.com to locate a GRID dealer near you! View the full article
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[motorsport] Sainz angry after Dakar disaster that will keep him “awake at night”
The Spaniard, who is bidding for his fourth victory in the Rally-Raid classic, lost a huge amount of time to his rivals after he was forced to stop twice for problems with his Audi RS Q e-tron E2. He started the 467km special between Alula and Ha'il with an advantage of 2m12s over reigning champion Nasser Al-Attiyah of Toyota, with both drivers having scored one stage win apiece during the ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Dakar 2023, Stage 3: Al-Attiyah takes lead, nightmare for Sainz
Sainz arrived at the 467km special between Alula and Ha'il with a small advantage of 2m12s over reigning champion Al-Attiyah, with both drivers having scored one stage win apiece during the opening two days of action in Saudi Arabia. But the Spaniard received a big hit to his hopes of adding a fifth Dakar win to his CV when his Audi RS Q e-tron E2 broke down 213km into the stage with problems ...Keep readingView the full article
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[autosport] The rise and fall of Britain’s flawed NASCAR imitation
Stamp, stamp, clap. Stamp, stamp, clap. When the public address system at Rockingham Motor Speedway near Corby blared out We Will Rock You by Queen in the early 2000s, it spelled doubly good news. Firstly, spectators sitting in the chilly grandstands could start to get circulation back into their feet. Second, it signalled that an ASCAR race was about to begin. The largely unimaginative ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Dakar 2023: Al-Attiyah closes on Sainz with Stage 2 win, Loeb suffers punctures
Toyota's Al-Attiyah overturned a 1m34s deficit to Erik van Loon on the final split of the 430km Sea Camp to Alula stage, the fourth-longest stage of the 2023 Dakar, to win Monday's contest by 14s from the Overdrive entrant. The stage win promoted the Qatari driver and co-driver Mathieu Baumel to second place, 2m12s behind Audi's Sainz in the overall classification. Sainz was first on the ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Dakar 2023, Stage 1: Sainz leads from Loeb, Al-Attiyah struggles
It was Sainz’s teammate Mattias Ekstrom who led the majority of the 367km special near Sea Camp in Saudi Arabia, the former DTM ace grabbing the lead at the first checkpoint and steadily building his advantage from there on. But the complexion of the stage changed completely between the final two checkpoints, with Sainz producing a heroic effort to jump from fourth - and more than two minutes ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Sainz “not going to answer Al-Attiyah” over Dakar Rally comments
Speaking to the media, including Motorsport.com, shortly before the Dakar began with Saturday’s Prologue stage, Audi ace Sainz said he did not want to comment on the words of Toyota rival Al-Attiyah, who claimed Sainz “always tries to complain about a lot of things”. Audi’s hybrid-electric RS Q e-tron E2 will be at least 100kg heavier than its petrol-powered rivals in the German ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Dakar 2023: Ekstrom fastest as Audi tops Prologue
The 45th edition of Dakar kicked off on New Year’s Eve with a short 13km timed run on the shores of Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, with the entire section designed around the Sea Camp that also serves as the first bivouac of the rally. Although there was little opportunity to gain time on rivals, the Prologue was fairly significant as it helps determine the starting order for the first stage proper ...Keep readingView the full article
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10 Must-Have Accessories To Personalize Your Jeep
Use Jeep accessories to upgrade the look of your ride and showcase your personal style. Many stylish accessories also add protection and improve functionality. Whether you want to make a dramatic or subtle change to the exterior or interior of your Jeep, you’ll find an array of possibilities. Try out these 10 must-have accessories to personalize your Jeep. 1. Headlights Changing your headlights can offer some of the most benefits of any modification you can make to your Jeep. LED headlights require less energy to run, helping to make the most of your Jeep’s battery. You’ll get a better field of vision with improved lighting. Today’s range of headlights makes it easy to upgrade your Jeep’s style. Whether you want the fresh look from halo headlights or fun and unexpected accents with RGB-colored headlights, install new headlights for a distinctive look. 2. Taillight Guards At the other end of your Jeep, consider installing taillight guards to add protection and style to your rig. Made with durable materials such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel, this modification is built to last. Taillight guards come in a variety of styles. One popular option is the simple cage or metal bar design. Another option is to apply taillight guards that depict interesting scenes, such as the silhouette of a Jeep climbing over an obstacle with mountains in the distance. Whatever look you choose, taillight guards will ensure your rig looks as good from behind as it does from the front. 3. Foot Pegs If you like to off-road with your doors off, foot pegs are a must-have accessory to personalize your Jeep. And with an easy-to-install design, adding this accessory is a no-brainer. Since foot pegs are located on the outside of your vehicle, look for anti-slip and anti-corrosive features. Foot pegs can also be tube shaped or flat and rectangular. For added style, consider getting foot pegs that feature an image or lettering. Install the foot pegs on either side of your Jeep. Then on your next trip, you can stretch out and place your left foot on the foot peg, and your front passenger can do the same for their right foot. You’ll both enjoy the extra space. 4. Side Mirrors Side mirrors are another accessory to have on hand if you like driving with your doors off. Riding in your Jeep isn’t only about the trail ahead, so you’re going to need side mirrors. Aftermarket side mirrors can also enlarge your field of vision, making driving and off-roading safer and more fun. Consider installing side mirrors with a simple matte black design or mirrors that house LED lights for even better visibility. 5. Fender Flares Surrounding the wheel well, the fender prevents the rotating tire from throwing dirt, liquid, and other debris into the air, protecting your Jeep and surrounding vehicles from damage. But sometimes, regular fenders just aren’t enough. If you’ve installed a lift kit, you’ll probably need fender flares, too. And even if you haven’t raised your Jeep, this modification is a great way to give your rig a rugged upgrade. 6. Rock Lights Install RGB LED rock lights in your Jeep’s wheel wells for an eye-catching feature. If you go off-roading at night, these lights can illuminate obstacles near the rig. And for all other times, rock lights make it more fun to cruise around. Glowing from the vehicle’s underbody, the light pods give your Jeep a dramatic, sleek style. With this accessory, you can change the look of your Jeep in the blink of an eye every time you feel like it. Control the colors, strobing effect, and brightness of the rock lights with a simple app. 7. Fuel Tank Cover Looking for a subtle change? Maybe you want to start modifying your Jeep in little ways, or maybe you’ve done a lot and want to look after the smaller details now. If so, you might like to install a new fuel tank cover. After a simple installation, your rig can sport a gas cap cover with a black powder coating and an anti-corrosion finish. Or maybe you’d prefer to add a textured look and go for a carbon fiber finish. Whatever it is, every time you fuel up for your next journey, you’ll be glad you made the change. 8. Grille Insert Add grille inserts to highlight your Jeep’s grille, a key component of the brand’s legendary design. Grille inserts also shield your radiator from contact with rocks, dirt, and other debris from the road or trail. Screen-printed grille inserts feature images. If you want to showcase your patriotism on your quintessentially American vehicle, consider adding patriotic imagery to the grille. Or if you want a more subtle accessory, get a matte or glossy black grille insert. The honeycomb mesh design will give the grille a unique industrial touch. 9. Grille If you want your Jeep to stand out, install a new grille. Perhaps more than any other Jeep accessory, the range of possibilities means you are sure to find a grille style that fits your taste. A new grille will give your rig a new face. Angular geometry gives your Jeep a more chiseled look. If you want your Jeep to have a more aggressive look, a new grille can turn the headlights into the popular angry-eye design. Grilles can also come with built-in color or amber lights. And for a more comprehensive change, you can buy a grille and headlight combo. 10. Interior Trim Kit If you want to add personality to the interior of your Jeep, go beyond hanging decorative stuff on your rearview mirror. An interior trim kit transforms the look of your cabin. Made from high-quality ABS plastic, it’s easy to place the trim along your door handles, air outlets, steering wheel handle, and center console. Choose from red, black, or silver trim to accentuate your dashboard. It’s easy to install a trim kit to refresh your vehicle interior. And if your rig has some scratches, the trim will help make your Jeep feel new again. If you’re ready to add style and personality to your Jeep, shop with AM Off-Road. We carry a selection of Jeep Gladiator aftermarket accessories that upgrade the interior or exterior of your rig. Shop today!
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[motorsport] Latvala: Toyota cannot afford to relax heading into 2023 WRC season
The Japanese brand proved a dominant force this year, winning seven of the 13 events as Kalle Rovanpera and Jonne Halttunen claimed the drivers’ and co-drivers’ crowns, while Toyota sealed a sixth WRC manufacturers’ title. The GR Yaris emerged as the fastest and most reliable of the all-new Rally1 cars, but its dominance began to wane as Hyundai became stronger in the second half of the ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Al-Attiyah: Audi Dakar rival Sainz ‘complains about a lot of things’
After making a stage-winning debut last year, Audi’s hybrid-electric RS Q e-tron E2 will be at least 100kg heavier than its direct rivals in the German manufacturer’s second outing in Saudi Arabia. Event organiser ASO revised the technical regulations for this edition of the Dakar, which starts on Saturday, with the minimum weight of hybrid or electric cars entered in the T1U division ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] FIA content after first year of WRC Rally1 regulations
The WRC underwent its biggest sweep of rule changes for a generation leading to all-new hybrid powered cars. Introducing a bespoke 100kW hybrid unit to the cars was among a myriad changes to the regulations as the WRC introduced tougher spaceframe chassis, while the effectiveness of aerodynamics was reduced by around 15%. Trick centre differentials were also removed in favour of a simpler ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] M-Sport will "have to up our game" in 2023 WRC for Tanak
The British squad endured a difficult 2022 campaign as the team fell behind its WRC rivals, recording only one victory and a total of three podiums across 13 events with its Ford Puma Rally1. However, M-Sport has reshuffled its pack for 2023, signing 2019 world champion Tanak to lead its attack alongside Pierre-Louis Loubet, who has received a promotion to a full-time seat after an impressive ...Keep readingView the full article
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[motorsport] Argentine driver Baltazar Leguizamon hopes to make NASCAR debut in 2023
There have been several international drivers who have successfully raced in recent years in NASCAR, the most prominent cases being those of Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. and Mexican Daniel Suárez, the latter being the 2016 champion of the Xfinity Series and became a first-time winner the Cup Series this past season. Read Also: The record NASCAR's Watkins ...Keep readingView the full article