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Shell Ultimate Automotive Enthusiast contest returns to send winner to Barrett-Jackson and Maranello

The first Shell V-Power Ultimate Enthusiast contest was held last year and sent finalists to a VIP experience at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, while the grand prize winner went to Maranello, Italy for some intimate time with Ferrari. The Dutch member of the seven sisters is doing it again this year: from now until September 17 anyone who wants a chance to live the same adventure can submit stories and photos that prove why they're the ultimate enthusiast.
Among the judging panel will be Roger Penske, Craig Jackson of Barrett-Jackson, drag racer Don Prudhomme, Tony Marini of Hot August Nights, Car and Driver chief Eddie Alterman, Road & Track honcho Larry Webster and last year's contest winner Harold Craige (pictured above with his wife at Fiorano).
Anyone in the US is welcome to submit. Three finalists will be flown to Scottsdale for a three-day VIP tour of Barrett-Jackson's January action, and they'll get a year's worth of V-Power premium gasoline. The grand prize winner will be announced in Arizona, and that person will get a week in Italy to explore the Ferrari factory complex and drive one of the company cars on the Fiorano track. Having been to the Maranello factory ourselves, we can attest that it's a bucket-list item for anyone who truly digs cars.

First Ferrari LaFerrari hits the auction block

If you haven't laid down your $1.4 million to be one of 499 people to own the new Ferrari LaFerrari by now, then you're already too late. Fortunately, Ferrari's new hybrid supercar has just been listed by German auction site SEMCO Gmbh, meaning that you still have a shot at owning one, but it'll cost you - dearly.
With just 124 miles on the odometer, this particular LaFerrari is being listed at 2.38 million euros - more than $3.2 million USD. But hey, at least that includes the Value Added Tax, eh? If the seller manages to command that asking price, it would be an incredible return on investment every bit as fast as the car itself, which in case your mind needs refreshing, is very fast indeed. Top Speed? Try 217 miles per hour and a 0-60 time of under three seconds.

Race Recap: 2014 British F1 Grand Prix readjusts the balance of power

Qualifying for the British Formula One Grand Prix was just as much a surprise for fans as it was for teams. Certain team weather radar displays didn't accurately pinpoint storm systems over the track, and in the case of at least two teams, the lack of data was compounded by poor decision making. That's how both Ferraris and both Williams got kicked out of qualifying in Q3 - the drivers already on track took advantage of a dry spell between rains, but Ferrari and Williams waited too long to get back out, and by the time they did it had started raining again.
Rain-induced bewilderment hit the front of the field as well. When all appeared resolved in Q3 but the clock hadn't yet run down to zero, drivers including Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo pulled into the pits thinking the day was done. However, a drying last sector of the Silverstone circuit meant the drivers still out could suddenly improve their times by four seconds in just that sector. When the bell tolled, those who fought to the last were those who lined up first: Nico Rosberg in the first Mercedes AMG Petronas, Sebastian Vettel in the first Infiniti Red Bull Racing, Jenson Button in the McLaren, Nico Hülkenberg in the first Force India and Kevin Magnussen in the second McLaren.
Hamilton had fallen all the way to sixth on the grid, a mortifying blow to his race and his championship challenge. He was followed by Sergio Perez in the second Force India, Ricciardo in the second Infiniti Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso teammates Daniil Kvyat and Jean-Eric Vergne completing the top ten.