SCHUMI SHAKES DOWN FERRARI 599 GTB HGTE

Michael Schumacher was seen at the Fiorano race track behind the wheel of the new Ferrari 599 GTB that has the Handling GT Evoluzione package. This package was first unveiled at the 2009 Geneva International Motor Show.

What makes this package special is that it lowers the ride, stiffens the damper settings and kicks out a throaty exhaust system. The 20-inch rim has wrapped around it a new tyre compound that gives excellent levels of grip. Differentiating it from the standard car are things like a new front grille and carbon fibre inserts for the interior.

The 7-time Formula One champion did about 20 laps around the circuit and took the 599 GTB HGTE “to its very limits”.

In its factory settings the 599 GTB has a 6.0-litre V12 engine with 463kW and 608Nm of torque. It uses a 6-speed gearbox with paddle shifts.

PEUGEOT PIPS POLE AT LE MANS 24 HOURS

PEUGEOT SAYS: Last night’s thrilling qualifying session saw Team Peugeot Total's Stéphane Sarrazin put the N°8 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Sarrazin/Montagny/Bourdais) at the sharp end of the grid for the Le Mans 24 Hours for the third year in a row. Saturday's race will in fact start with four Peugeot's sitting on the top five places, with the Pescarolo-run N°17 car joining the three factory machines at the top of tonight's order.

For the first time in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours, in its modern-day format at least, teams benefited from just one qualifying session this year in their respective bids to claim first place on Saturday afternoon's grid. But while nobody would shun the honour of starting from pole position, the combined effects of the cancellation of the traditional preliminary test day and the wet conditions which marked the majority of Wednesday evening's free practice meant that teams still had a certain amount of work to get through in dry conditions before being able to think in terms of topping tonight's timesheets.

The principal mission facing the crews of the three Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs during this evening's four-hour run was to gather key information about the different compounds of slicks they have available for this weekend's race, and also to put the finishing touches to the set-ups of their respective machines.

VIDEO: WATCH FIFTH GEAR DRIVE AUDI R8 V10

Audi’s R8 V10 is certainly headed to Mzansi, hopefully by the end of 2009. But this ultra-exclusive sports car will come at a hefty price, about R2 million by our previous estimates. What you get for the 2 bar is a 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 engine making a nice 393kW. The engine is mated to either a 6-speed manual or R Tronic gearbox that help it shoot from 0 – 100km/h in a claimed 3.9 seconds.

IN4RIDE will hopefully get a chance behind the wheel of the mighty R8 V10, all in due course of course. We’ll let you know how it goes. In the meant time have a look at what the Fifth Gear guys were able to do with it. Granted there isn’t much drama (that’s not Tiff Needell or Jason Plato at the wheel) but at least you can enjoy the stark blue colour and that aural drama from the engine.

Click here to view the video.

ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST: MORE DETAILS AVAILABLE

A new Rolls-Royce model simply called the Ghost will start selling at European dealers from the fourth quarter of 2009. The Ghost, which went under the codename RR4, joins an already rich lineup of RR models which are the Phantom, the Drophead and the Phantom Coupe.

"The Ghost will be as refined and as cosseting as anything that this marque has ever produced,” says Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO, Tom Purves. “But it will have a dynamic vitality afforded to it due to the latest technology and engineering techniques. These have been bestowed on this car with the same care and attention as the more traditional materials within.”

Design inspiration comes from the 200EX Concept car (pictured) and will look very much like these pictures you see here. The Ghost shares the same platform as its cousin the BMW 7 Series but has many significant differences to the 7er. It measures 5.4 metres in length, 1.948m in width, 1.550m high and has a wheelbase of 3.295m.

The engine used is a new 6.6-litre turbo V12 that RR says will make over 373kW (500bhp). It is mated to a new 8-speed ZF gearbox that should make things very smooth.

“A Rolls-Royce should be effortless in every way: the way it accelerates, brakes and handles,” Rolls-Royce Engineering Director, Helmut Riedl says. “It should do all of these functions with apparent ease regardless of the complex mechanicals that are working out of sight of the driver and passengers. The driver simply has to point the car in the preferred direction of travel and press the accelerator.”