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Sabine Schmitz to compete in WTCC race at Nurburgring, hopes for rain

The World Touring Car Championship is set to return to the Nurburgring this year after a 30-year absence. Who better, then, to lead the pack than Sabine Schmitz? One of the most skilled drivers around the Norschleife, 45-year-old Schmitz has been known to compete in the VLN series and in the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring (which she's won twice), and regularly drives tourists on hot laps around the Green Hell. Nobody can drive the circuit better than Schmitz when the rain starts to fall, and fall it often does in the German spring, but she'll have a new challenge on her hands when she makes her WTCC debut in a Chevy Cruze for the Munnich Motorsport team for the German round next month. It'll be interesting to see how Sabine does in the race, given that she has no experience with the vehicle she'll be driving, but has immense knowledge of the notoriously difficult track. She'll have the chance to acclimate a little during the WTCC test session at the 'Ring later this month, and hopes to compete in one of the two races – in Morocco or Hungary – before tackling her home track in unfamiliar machinery. News Source: WTCC via YouTube, BridgeToGantry.comImage Credit: Newspress Celebrities Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Motorsports Chevrolet wtcc

Hertz and GM team up to put 175,000 rental EVs on the road

Hertz and General Motors have announced a significant partnership that will send up to 175,000 electric vehicles into rental fleets across the country. The deal will unfold over the next five years and include vehicles from all GM brands.   The partnership will run through 2027. Hertz estimates that the electric fleet can save as many as 8 billion gasoline-powered miles, removing 1.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions from the air. Hertz says it will invest in becoming the largest renter of EVs in North America and notes that it already has tens of thousands available at 500 locations in 38 states. By the end of 2024, it plans to electrify a quarter of its fleet. Electric rental cars are a great way for travelers wanting to avoid gas, and they make excellent urban commuter cars. Hertz will also likely save a few dollars by avoiding oil changes and other routine maintenance that gas engines need. However, a hidden societal benefit of this deal may come when Hertz’s EV rental customers begin shopping for new cars. Many people are skeptical of EVs for various reasons, including range, charging, ease of operation, and cost. Giving people a low-risk introduction to EVs and the ability to test-drive one without a pressuring salesperson could drive more people to electrics. At the same time, there's also the risk that renters wanting to take their Hertz-GM EV on a road trip into sparsely populated areas may return with charging and range-related horror stories. Hertz currently doesnÂ’t ask what youÂ’re planning to do with your rental, but it does offer a chat service for questions, and range information is presented clearly on each vehicle. Related video: 2023 Cadillac Lyriq walkaround

Callaway rolls out radical Corvette C7 GT3-R at Hockenheim

Leave it to Callaway to take a badass Corvette and make it even more so. Case in point: the new Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R you see here. It made its big debut this past weekend during the season finale for the ADAC GT Masters series at the legendary Hockenheimring – the on-again, off-again home of the German Grand Prix. Why in Germany, you ask? Because that's where Callaway Competition is based. The racing division got its start in Heilbronn as Woeher & Ciccone back in 1985. It joined with US-based Callaway Cars in 1988 to distribute its modified Corvettes in Europe, and branched out into constructing racing cars in 1994. And this is its latest project. Designed in partnership between Callaway Competition in Germany and Canadian designer Paul Deutschman, the new GT3-R replaces the previous C6-based Z06.R GT3. It packs a 6.2-liter V8 pumping 600 horsepower through an X-Trac six-speed sequential gearbox. And as you can see, it sure looks the part. Callaway will be offering the new GT3-R to privateer teams for entry in a variety of racing series around the world. But it'll also be fielding the example you see here, sponsored by Whelen Engineering that – like Callaway Cars – is based in Connecticut. Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R World Debut at Hockenheim October 3, 2015 Hockenheim, Germany – October 3, 2015 – This weekend's ADAC GT Masters Season Finale was the backdrop for the unveiling of Callaway Competition's new Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R. Following a brief presentation to media and invited guests, the successor of the C6-based Callaway Z06.R GT3 was displayed to the public for the first time on October 3, 2015 at the Hockenheimring in Germany. Constructors of GT race cars since 1990 and based in Leingarten Germany, Callaway Competition possesses a wealth of experience, technical know-how and a broad network of specialized professional partners. These elements were crucial to conduct such a large undertaking. After nearly two years of comprehensive planning, intensive development and expert fabrication of vehicle components, Callaway Competition completed the first C7 GT3-R just a few weeks ago. Its striking design comes as a result of the collaboration between Canadian designer Paul Deutschman and team owners Giovanni Ciccone and Ernst Wohr. Mike Gramke, Uwe Hoffmann, Florian Mohring and Andre Zanke were also heavily involved in the vehicle's development.