Hungaroring is the next stop for the F1 2024 season with the Hungarian Grand Prix. No IT outage can stop this race from delivering another turning point of this season.
Image: Formula 1
The Hungarian Grand Prix was one for the books. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri stole the show with a win over teammate Lando Norris. I guess you could say he got what he deserved. Norris showed true sportsmanship by letting Piastri take the lead with two laps left. Max Verstappen slipped off the track with seven laps to go, and that’s all it took for McLaren to make history. Lewis Hamilton rounded out the podium in third place. This season is heating up!
The next race will be at Spa-Francorchamps for the Rolex Belgian Grand Prix this July 28th.
The 2024 World Rally Championship season continues with the first-ever Tet Rally Latvia, which is based in Liepāja. Despite the recent IT outage that plagued the world, that didn't stop the WRC from hosting a landmark new event in Latvia.
Screengrab from WRC
Toyota Gazoo Racing's Kalle Rovanpera made headlines as the first-ever winner of the Tet Rally Latvia. He finished the race at 39.2 seconds quicker than second-place finisher Sebastien Ogier. It's a 1-2 finish for Toyota Gazoo Racing. Hyundai driver Ott Tanak rounds out the podium in third place.
The 2024 World Rally Championship season continues for the Secto Rally Finland from 1 - 4 August.
The recent IT outage may have plagued the world, but the Panasonic Air Conditioning Sydney SuperNight leg of the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship proceeded as scheduled. It's a two-part after-hour clash as drivers fight through the competition and the darkness. This unique event allows fans to experience the thrill of Supercars racing under the lights.
Screengrab from Supercars
This two-part race weekend became the weekend Mustang fans will remember as Chaz Mostert in his #25 Mobil1 Optus Racing Mustang Supercar dominated the entire race weekend in style. The first part saw a full Mustang sweep with him the winner, Matthew Payne the 2nd-placer, and Thomas Randle the 3rd-placer. In the final part, although Will Brown spoiled the Mustang party with a third-place finish, victory goes to Chaz while Cam Waters finished 2nd.
After Sydney, Brown is leading with 1746 points, Chaz Mostert is in 2nd place with 1641 points, and Broc Feeney is in 3rd with 1593 points.
The next event is the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint this August 16-18, 2024.
The streets of St. Louis, Missouri is the next stop for the 2024 Formula DRIFT Pro Championship with CROSSROADS. Even with the recent IT outage that plagued the world, that didn't stop them from delivering the most intense summer drifting action.
The drivers pushed their cars to the limit as they drifted around the tight corners of the World Wide Technology Raceway. There are plenty of close calls, smoking tires, and incredible displays of skill.
Screengrab from Formula Drift
As Frederic Aasbo settles for third place, Irishman James Deane in his AutoZone Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD beats Japanese drifter Hiroya Minowa in his Enjuku Racing / Cusco / Jerry Yang Racing Toyota GT86 by unanimous decision.
The next event is at Seattle's Evergreen Speedway for THROWDOWN this August 9-10, 2024.
- The MMDA is establishing re-routing plans across Quezon City for this Monday's SONA of PH President Bongbong Marcos.
- COMELEC Chairman George Garcia is preparing a possible case against those who accused him of bribery.
- Sonny Angara has formally sat as the PH Department of Education's secretary and he's recommending replacements for those who resigned from the organization.
- A magnitude 7.4 quake hits Chile.
- The UK COVID inquiry report reveals that the British government and devolved nations "failed their citizens" with COVID causing more deaths than it should have. "The UK was ill-prepared for dealing with the whole system civil emergency of a pandemic - let alone the coronavirus pandemic that actually struck". Covid inquiry chair Baroness Hallett says there were "serious errors on the part of the state".
- Police have been deployed to Harehills in Leeds after disorder broke out. A police car was flipped over and a bus set alight during what West Yorkshire Police has described as a "serious disorder incident".
- Ursula von der Leyen secured five more years in the European Union's top job after a secret ballot in the European Parliament.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that working with Donald Trump, should he win the November presidential elections in the US, is hard work "but we are hard workers".
- Donald Trump delivered his first speech at the Republican convention since surviving last weekend's assassination attempt. "I had God on my side" - Donald Trump tells Republican convention crowd he narrowly avoided death when a gunman opened fire at the rally.
- Kevin Magnussen announced his leave from Haas after the end of the F1 '24 season.
- The Nissan Note Aura Nismo received a minor change for the 2025 model year with the addition of the 4WD model.
2025 Nissan Note Aura Nismo
- Dark Horse Comics says it won't accept AI Art and supports "human creative professionals" in the works it publishes.
- The live-action Halo TV series was canceled on Paramount+ after two seasons.
- Veteran comedian Bob Newhart passed away at the age of 94.
- ICYMI: P-pop boy group SB19 wins Nick Kids Choice Awards' Favorite Asian Act.
The Porsche Taycan revolutionized the company behind the legendary 911 and others with its all-electric powertrain and became the starting point for Porsche's road to electrification. Here in Forza Horizon 5, I sample two versions of the said electric car.
But first, a quick refresher on the Porsche Taycan. The Taycan, Porsche’s first fully electric sports saloon, is a true revolution. It’s a sign of a new era for the company behind the legendary 911, among others. This car is an amazing testament to Porsche’s engineering capabilities. The Taycan Turbo S variant can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in under three seconds and has a unique electric drivetrain with 800V system voltage and 93.4 kWh Performance Battery Plus. The Taycan is also equipped with a wide range of networked chassis systems that keep it sporty and comfortable.
A year after the saloon version was sold, the Cross Turismo joined the lineup. You know, the one that I won from the Modern Horizons Hot Season Playlist. The Cross Turismo features the same bits and bobs from its saloon version but is now in jacked-up shooting brake packaging. The most powerful version, the Turbo S, has 460kW of power output but when over-boost kicks in, it generates up to 560kW of power, delivering a 0-100kph time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 250kph, slower than its sedan equivalent. Range? It's up to 419km per WLTP standards.
Both the Taycan and the Taycan Cross Turismo were concepts turned real and had the same performance. The question is, which Taycan is the best? The saloon or the Cross Turismo? To find out, I went to the main festival stage to conduct this experiment. Roll the tape.
And now the results...
Taycan - 1m00.460s
Taycan CT - 1m01.044s
A close shave as expected but the saloon came up on top.
Saloon or Cross Turismo, it makes no difference which Taycan you're on because, with the Taycan, Porsche's road to electrification goes full circle and the hype is real. Electric power just got manly and dangerous. This is Soul, Electrified.
EPILOGUE
Showing respect to the first-ever Porsche Taycan, it's time for the saloon version to do a one-car show but first...
A dab of Angel's Breath and the Taycan's feeling angelic for all the wrong reasons. Still, the scent of Angel's Breath is lovely and nostalgic just like a stack of Mod magazines from my youth. Let's go, Mikan.
With the scent of Angel's Breath lingering, Mikan the Taycan is prepared to take on today's Making Drama; a storm drain setting curated by a certain EventLab pro.
Making Drama, switch on!
The scent of Angel's Breath may be gone but my little angel skewered through the storm drain like an idol possessed.
The Porsche Taycan is a truly revolutionary vehicle. The electric powertrain is impressive, the performance is incredible, and it's both stylish and comfortable. Plus, it's fun to drive! It's no wonder that it's one of the most popular new cars on the market. It's a testament to Porsche's engineering prowess that they were able to create an electric car that doesn't sacrifice any of the things that make a Porsche a Porsche. I predict that the Taycan will be one of the most iconic cars of the decade.
First made a worldwide premiere at the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon, the Lexus LBX Morizo RR is now a living thing, and with prices starting at 6.5 million Japanese Yen plus additional costs, you can now have an LBX that is as good as a Toyota GR Yaris but with extra doors for your buddies.
2025 Lexus LBX Morizo RR
The first-ever Lexus LBX Morizo RR is the result of what happens when a regular Lexus baby crossover watches too much shonen anime content and goes over 9000 if you know what I'm saying. Metaphors aside, the naming is proof that this hi-performance compact is the handwork of Morizo, former Toyota boss Akio Toyoda's nickname.
2025 Lexus LBX Morizo RR
2025 Lexus LBX Morizo RR interior
Although it looks and feels just like a normal LBX, the sporty aerodynamics and the sports seats up front are proof that this is no ordinary LBX. This is basically a glorified Toyota GR Yaris with two extra doors for everybody. Want to know the kicker? A random 100 customers will have a chance to personalize their own interiors courtesy of the Bespoke Build variant with eight seat colors, three seatbelt colors, and three stitching offered for its 100 randomly chosen potential customers. Yes. Randomly chosen because of the lottery system implemented just like the Toyota GR Corolla a while back.
Powering the LBX Morizo RR is the same G16E-GTS 1.6L 3-cylinder intercooler turbo engine that powers the recently facelifted GR Yaris, producing 304PS power output and 400Nm of torque. In addition to the 8-speed Direct Automatic Transmission, which debuted on the GR Yaris minor change, the LBX Morizo RR is the first Lexus to be mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Yes. The first-ever Lexus with a stick shift. How about that? Don't say anything.
Being pleased about the Lexus-first manual gearbox implemented on this crossover, the LBX Morizo RR accommodates its electronically controlled full-time AWD driveline with the suspension layout of the AWD version of the base LBX, which is MacPherson struts in front and a double wishbone arrangement at the rear. Thanks to the dynamics inherited from the facelifted Toyota GR Yaris, the Lexus LBX Morizo RR is well-prepared to tear through asphalt or dirt if you're into that.
At long last, there is now a Lexus that is worth addictive to drive in GR Yaris-sized chunks, and with the Lexus-first manual gearbox, the Lexus LBX Morizo RR is too awesome to be missed. This is your newest JDM favorite.
Available Colors: White Nova Glass Flake & Black, Heat Blue Contrast Layering & Black, Red Spinel & Black, Sonic Chrome & Black, and Graphite Black Glass Flake.
