Maserati Gran Tourismo MC Trofeo GT4

Mark Klenin, Maserati Gran Tourismo MC Trofeo, Sonoma 2016, Pirelli World Challenge.

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For more photos of the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge, click on this link.

Maserati, Modena, Italy.  This car is the racing version of the road going Gran Tourismo S and was designed for a 2010 one-make series.  It has a 4.7 litre V8 488 bhp engine powering its steel chassis and carbon fibre body.  The body has been lightened and given more aerodynamic aids compared to the base road car.  The windscreen and windows are all lightweight lexan.  The one make series ended with the 2015 championship.  Since then the cars have been raced in GT4 spec in series such as the Pirelli World Challenge and the European GT4 championship.  In GT4 spec the power is reduced to 430bhp.  A beautiful car like almost all Maseratis. 

Cadillac ATS-VR GT3

Johnny O'Connell, Cadillac ATS-VR GT3 winning at Sonoma 2016 in the Pirelli World Challenge.

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For more photos of GT cars at Sonoma in 2016, click on this link. 

Cadillac, GM, New York, USA.  In Europe we know Cadillac as a luxury car maker but in the USA they have had a successful racing program for many years.  The ATS model is a compact luxury sedan that has been in production since 2013.  For the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge Cadillac has built a FIA GT3 version of the ATS-V coupe powered by a 3.6 litre twin-turbocharged V6 producing 600hp.  Cadillac have chosen to built a GT3 model for the first time so that they can if they wish sell and race versions of this car worldwide and thus build the brand.  The body is a production one but with reinforcement and a safety cage.  There is also the addition of an aero package to add downforce.   Top speed is around 170mph. Johnny O'Connell won the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge GT class in this car and came fourth in 2016.  His team mate, Michael Cooper came third in 2016. Between them they have nine victories.  

KTM X-Bow GT4

Martin Barkey, KTM X-Bow GT4, Sonoma 2016, Pirelli World Challenge.

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For more photos of Sonoma GT racing in 2016, click on this link.

KTM, Graz, Austria.   KTM is a motor cycle manufacturer whose first  four wheel model was the spartan, lightweight and technologically advanced X-Bow. Together with Reiter Engineering they have produced a GT4 version of the car for racing.  It has a 4 cylinder 2 litre 335hp VW/Audi engine and an aerodynamic lightweight body and chassis.  Compared to the street legal X-Bow there is much more bodywork on the GT4 version. The car won the Pirelli World Challenge GTS class in 2016 driven by Brett Sandberg who had 3 victories over the year.

2015 Chevrolet SS Generation 6 NASCAR

Kyle Larson & Paul Menard at Sonoma 2015, Chevrolet SS Nascar Generation 6

The Generation 6 NASCAR.  This is the Chevrolet SS version which is rear wheel drive and powered by a fuel injected small block V8 Chevrolet engine and looking like the road going Chevrolet SS on the outside.

2015 Toyota Camry NASCAR

Kyle Busch, 1ère place à Sonoma NASCAR 2015 dans une Toyota Camry.

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Mon astuce pour faire des belles photos.
Ne pas oublier de prendre une photo de la voiture gagnante.

Top photo tip.
Don't forget to take a photo of the winning car; very frustrating if you don't!