Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain and Brazil. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately ¼ mile to 2.66 miles (about 400 meters to 4.2 kilometres) in length, but are also raced on road courses.

Richard Hammond and James May try their hands at recreating James Bond stunts…using cars as darts and a caravan as the bullseye. Yes. See it to believe it.

Formula One is widely considered to be the pinnacle of motorsports, with the F1 Drivers' Championship being one of, and the oldest among, only three World Championships awarded each year by the FIA (the others being the World Touring Car Championship and the World Rally Championship).

The mid-mounted 5.2L V12 is the focus of the update. The new engine features FSI direct-injection technology, a 12.5:1 compression ratio and develops 552hp and 398lb-ft of torque, 32hp and 23lb-ft more than the current 5.0L mill.

The Roadster version of the Murciélago will offer an uprated 6.5 litre V12 engine that produces 650 hp (478 kW) along with permanent four-wheel drive: hence the model’s LP 650-4 moniker. With 660 Nm of torque, top performance is at 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in 3.4 seconds. The top speed is around 330 Km/h (205mph).

Touring car racing is a style of road racing that is run with production derived race cars. It often features exciting, full-contact racing due to the small speed differentials and large grids.

The Lamborghini Murciélago is one of the most extraordinary super sports cars of all time. Automobili Lamborghini has now expanded its model range with a new, exceptionally purist and even more extreme top model – the Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is even more powerful, lighter and faster than the Murciélago LP 640. With the output of the 6.5 liter V12 increased to 670 hp and a weight reduction of 100 kg (220 lbs), the Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 2.3 kg (5.1 lbs) per hp.

This exclusive model is the fruit of an innovative collaboration between Gianni Versace SpA and the prestigious luxury sports car works at Sant'Agata Bolognese. Working directly with Maison Versace's designers, the specialists responsible for Lamborghini's "ad personam" (personalisation) programme have created a model offering significant enhancements to the interior fittings of the standard Murcielago LP 640.

The best-known variety of single-seater racing, Formula One, involves an annual World Championship for drivers and constructors of around 18 races a year featuring major international car and engine manufacturers, and independent constructors, such as Ferrari, McLaren, Williams, BMW Sauber, Toyota, Honda, Renault, Red Bull Racing

There are many fascinating automobiles money can buy but its spectacular design, its uncompromising high-performance concept and its limited edition of just eleven cars make the new NOVITEC TuLesto the most exclusive high-end sports car in the world.

Students at colleges and universities can also take part in single seater racing through the Formula SAE competition, which involves designing and building a single seater car in a multidisciplinary team, and racing it at the competition. This also develops other soft skills such as teamwork whilst promoting motorsport and engineering.

The Perana Z-one is the product of a vision born in the hearts of a collection of motoring enthusiasts and signals the first collaboration between Zagato, the renowned Milanese Coachbuilders, with a South African Vehicle Manufacturer, Perana Performance Group. Following in the footsteps of Zagato's long tradition of designing some of the most beautiful sports cars made in the last century, the Perana Z-one is no mere dream car.

Single-seater (open-wheel) racing is a popular form of motorsport, with cars designed specifically for high-speed racing. The wheels are not covered, and the cars often have aerofoil wings front and rear to produce downforce and enhance adhesion to the track.

From the production of the first model in 1974, the 911 Turbo has never hidden its intent. The newest model continues this tradition with a design that is singularly powerful. Like the turbochargers under its skin, the body of the 911 Turbo is a model of aerodynamic control. The bodys aerodynamic profile has been painstakingly tested to create positive downforce at the rear, without speed-robbing drag. The drag coefficient is remarkably low at just 0.31.

Ronn Motor Company is blending the world of exotic performance cars with eco friendly fuel solutions with its first car, the Scorpion. Exclusive styling and uncompromising performance engineering will deliver the ultimate driving and ownership experience.

There are other categories of single-seater racing, including kart racing, which employs a small, low-cost machine on small tracks. Many of the current top drivers began their careers in karts.

The "RK Coupe" is based on the current Cayman S chassis from Porsche, and like the RK Spyder is built by the Italian Coach Builder "Studiotorino" owned by Alfredo & Maria Paola Stola. The "RK Coupe" will be limited to 49 vehicles and will also be available to the US market.

With auto construction and racing dominated by France, the French automobile club ACF staged a number of major international races, usually from or to Paris, connecting with another major city in Europe or France.

Rossion Automotive proudly announces the worldwide debut of their new supercar, the Rossion Q1. The move into production for the Rossion Q1 began after 1G Racing acquired both the intellectual and design rights for the Noble M400 and M12 platforms earlier this year in February. While further stressing the performance aspects that made Noble platforms such a startling success, the new Rossion Q1 incorporates dramatic design and a comfortably refined interior to create a versatile supercar that mesmerizes on the road as easily as on the track.

Simbol Design designed the Lavazza GTX supercar using their 30 year road and racing automotive experience. On the road since May of 2006, and after about 30.000 kms of tests, Simbol reached speeds of about 320 kms/h with excellent stability and braking in every condition. This result, combined with the overwhelming interest achieved throughout the world, has led to development of the GTX with modified design and improved performance.

In 2009, the FIA Formula Two Championship brought about the revival of the F2 series. Domestic, or country-specific series include Formula Three, Formula Renault, Formula Ford with the leading introductory series being Formula BMW.

After holding the “World’s Fastest Production Car” for the past year, the Shelby SuperCars’ Ultimate Aero is receiving several refinements for the 2009 model year. The SSC engineering team equipped the 2009 Ultimate Aero with a 15% increase in horsepower, a revamped front fascia design, and an array of important interior upgrades. The most substantial change is an SSC‐designed, 1‐piece billet aluminum engine block. A milestone for the limited‐production automobile manufacturer, the new block improves structural integrity and oiling capabilities allowing SSC to boost the power output to 1287 horsepower while improving durability.

The first regular auto racing venue was Nice, France, run in late March 1897 as a "Speed Week." To fill out the schedule, most types of racing event were invented here, including the first hill climb (Nice - La Turbie) and a sprint that was, in spirit, the first drag race.

The Tramontana embodies a revolutionary concept that incorporates technical precision, personalized design, and superior craftsmanship. The ultimate vehicle of desire, emotion, and excitement, modelled on the streamlined curves of the Costa Brava's winds... a timeless work of art.

The Veritas RS III – The first monocoque will be made in a series of max 30 cars beginning in 2008; facelifts are planned annually from 2009. In 2009, Veritas will also make a hardtop Coupé version of the two-seater RS III. Pure passion. Absolute dedication. And the unalterable belief in authentic and uncompromising motor racing. This is the stuff of automobile legends. And why they remain unforgettable.

In North America, the cars used in the National Championship (currently the IndyCar Series, and previously CART) have traditionally been similar though less sophisticated than F1 cars, with more restrictions on technology aimed at controlling costs.

It’s raw power is supplied from a 7 litre V8 engine with both a supercharger and a turbo. The Zenvo ST1 develops 1104 BHP of power which is controlled at the flick of a switch. Producing a massive 1.430 NM of torque which is put to ground via a 6 speed gearbox, variable suspension and custom wheels. Zenvo goes 0 to 100 in an impressive 3 seconds.

Filming of the series went ahead at Dunsfold in May despite not having a permit to do so, with a revamped studio set, a new car for the "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" segment, and the inclusion of one of Hammond's dogs, named "Top Gear Dog", in a few studio and film segments of that series.

Campaign girls in other countries are generally looked down upon as the occupation is regarded as "low profile" or disgraceful. However, in Japan, race queens have a higher profile and are regarded as idols varying only by the motor sport event they appear in.

A perfect mix between apparently opposite worlds such as craftmanship and modern technology, including technical partnerships at international level, Faralli & Mazzanti is proud to announce the first car entirely designed and developed in-house: Vulca. The name, as per Faralli & Mazzanti tradition, is inspired by the Etruscan world.

New segments were also added, including "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car", "The Cool Wall", "Car News", "Power Laps", and one-off features such as races, competitions and the frequent destruction of caravans.

The Clipsal 500 Adelaide was attended by a massive 291,400 in 2008. The largest crowd for a domestic motorsport event in Australia. It is almost normal for the current event to set a new attendance record over the previous year. The event also features a concert every night, air displays, amusements and social attractions that bring in spectators from Adelaide, interstate and overseas.

Top Gear uses a temporary racing circuit which was designed for the show by Lotus and is laid out on parts of Dunsfold's runways and taxiways. A large hangar is used for studio recording with a standing audience who apply to the BBC for free tickets, albeit with an estimated 2–3 year waiting list. The show is estimated to have 350 million viewers worldwide.

"Race queen" (レースクイーン ,rēsu kuīn?) is a Japanese term for a type of promotional model found as part of a pit crew in certain kinds of motor racing, such as F1 races. The equivalent British term is "Pit babe". The first usage of promotional models in motor races was during the late 1960s when model Rosa Ogawa (小川ローザ) was brought in to represent the race winners.

For 2009, the Dodge Viper SRT10 offers the outrageous power expected, with an 8.4-liter 600-horsepower (450 kW) V-10 engine contributing to blistering acceleration (0-60 mph in less than four seconds, 0-100-0 mph in the low 12-second range), setting an American sports car benchmark. A dramatic hood featuring a larger, more efficient hood scoop for air induction and functional hood louvers to facilitate a greater cooling effect enhance Viper’s bold, aggressive looks. Viper design hallmarks, including deep-cut side scallops, swept-back fenders, lowered hood lines and the signature Dodge crosshair grille remain.

Jeremy Clarkson, who helped the original series reach its peak in the 1990s, along with producer Andy Wilman, successfully pitched a new format for Top Gear to the BBC, reversing a previous decision to cancel the show in 2001.

The Clipsal 500 is an annual racing carnival for Touring Cars held in the east end of Adelaide on a shortened form of the Adelaide Street Circuit, the former Australian Grand Prix track. The event is named for naming rights sponsor Clipsal Electronics.

Chevrolet officially announced the 2009 Corvette ZR1 - an American supercar that brings the technology and engineering refinement of carbon-fiber, ceramics and electronics together in a distinctive design. "Chevrolet's goal with the new ZR1 is to show what an American supercar can deliver, at a price that trumps exotics that cost two, three or four times as much - and does so with exceptional driveability," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager.

Paddock girls (or umbrella girls) is a term that has been used in professional motorcycle racing for many years. It refers to females employed to hold umbrellas above racers to protect them from the sun. "Paddock" refers to a pen where racehorses are saddled and paraded before a race.

Top Gear is a BAFTA, multi-NTA and International Emmy Award-winning BBC television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style.

During two days in September 2003, a new legend was born with the reveal of the new Ascari KZ1 at Race Resort Ascari in Southern Spain, the world's first Race Resort. The guests exclusively invited to this spectacular introduction experienced something that all car lovers around the world dream of. Who would not revel at the chance of getting behind the wheel of such an elegant and powerful machine? The Ascari KZ1 was designed and developed to achieve supercar performance with a race-bred aerodynamic package, whilst also incorporating a carbon fibre chassis and body, and using technology which is employed by many of today's leading Formula 1 and Sports car teams.

The Australian Grand Prix is a Formula One race that is part of the annual Formula One championship season. It is held at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park in Melbourne.

Developed by engineers that helped deliver the iconic McLaren F1, the Caparo T1 is a new uncompromised and unconstrained sports car that sets new boundaries in performance, driver experience and enjoyment. The Caparo T1 has an unrivalled, extremely high speed dynamic performance envelope.

Paddock girls (or umbrella girls) is a term that has been used in professional motorcycle racing for many years. It refers to females employed to hold umbrellas above racers to protect them from the sun. "Paddock" refers to a pen where racehorses are saddled and paraded before a race.

Top Gear is a BAFTA, multi-NTA and International Emmy Award-winning BBC television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style.

The Continental Supersports is the fastest and most powerful Bentley ever. It is the extreme Bentley, a muscular two-seater that delivers supercar performance and a highly focused driving experience. The Supersports is also the first Bentley capable of running on both petrol (gasoline) and biofuel, pioneering the use of FlexFuel technology in the luxury sector. This represents stage one of the company’s commitment to make its complete model range compatible with renewable fuels by 2012.

A promotional model is a person hired to drive consumer demand for a product, service, brand, or concept by directly interacting with consumers. A promotional model can be female or male, and typically is attractive in physical appearance.

Aston Martin has released a snapshot of the stunning new One-77; the ultimate creative interpretation of the renowned British marque. One-77 fuses advanced technology with stunning Aston Martin design to create possibly the world’s most desirable automotive art form. Based on a sophisticated carbon fibre chassis with a handcrafted aluminium body, this 7.0 litre V12 super car will deliver exhilarating performance for a strictly limited number of discerning customers.

Drifting (ドリフト走行 ,dorifuto sōkō?) refers to a driving technique and to a motor sport where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while preserving vehicle control and a high exit speed.

First run episodes are broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two. Top Gear is also shown on Dave, BBC America, Special Broadcasting Service in Australia, and a number of other television channels around the world.