While at the Toyota/Lexus HQ in Sydney we spotted a curious line up of hybrid race cars. It turns out Lexus organized a celebrity race before this year's Australian Formula 1 race in Melbourne using a series of race prepped CT200hs. Ex-Westlife singer Brian McFadden had a slight mishap in one of the two races and ended up against the wall bruising his car's front end. Looks like the car took the hit pretty well! After seeing all these CT's with roll-cages and race livery I started to wonder when we will be seeing tuners in Japan beginning to modify this all-new hatchback. I'm sure there will be quite a few at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon.
-Dino Dalle Carbonare
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Tuning a Hybrid?are u sure?If its destined to be an eco car from scratch whats the point of racing it?Seems kinda g*y tho,plus that "Brian McFadden" name on the windscreen didnt help either (reminds me of one of the boys from Westlife LOL) anyhow it looks pretty convincing to be a tuner car.
I remember this road working back at TMCA ... miss that place and all its goodness. Did they let you guys into the TCAMS section?
the cars were built in Canberra at Neil Bates' work shop. who was the driver of the Notaras Motersport evo at the World time attack just gone by!
battle scars.. i'd still drive looking like this. - as for Brian, this is the norm. he's quite 'mishappy' as a rule. - Thanks for the pic.
@spooneyKL; did you read the paragraph about the car at all?
@spooneyKL
"that "Brian McFadden" name on the windscreen didnt help either (reminds me of one of the boys from Westlife LOL)"
Did you not read the article?
"Ex-Westlife singer Brian McFadden had a slight mishap"
dumbass. However I will agree I also would want to keep hybrids well away from tuning as possible. It's an A to B car, not an economic Japanese car with potential. And A to B car only. Keep the awesome tuning for the awesome cars and let the dirty hippies have these.
Haha spooneyKL!!! Brian McFadden IS from Westlife!!!
SpooneyKL - That car was driven by Brian McFadden, former from Westlife! LOL Yes, one and the same! He lives here now, married an Aussie singer then divorced. Now works in the TV industry here.
Spooney,
-Mini was intended to be an eco car and walked all over the rally stages.
-Diesel trains are Hybrids in a way and they aren't exactly short of performance.
-Formula 1 cars are to some extent even hybrids.
Nothing wrong with hybrid race cars or race cars based on eco models.
These cars were SOO slow around the circuit in Melbourne.. I'll be surprised if you see any at TAS11!
TAS12 I should say..
celebrity races equals hilarious and unforgettable moments.
I was surprised when u said 'Ex-Westlife singer Brian McFadden' haha
I watched these at the GP, I must say no only were they terribly slow, the sound of that CVT gearbox would cause anyone with an interest in tuning cars cry themselfs to sleep (of wich i did) lexus touted the car as sporty and exciting, well i call it ugly slow overpriced and characterless.
what a hideous piece of automotive boringness.
@Luke @Twisties
maybe if you both re-read spooneys comment you will see he did read the article and was blatantly being sarcastic.
Jezza said:
@Luke @Twisties
maybe if you both re-read spooneys comment you will see he did read the article and was blatantly being sarcastic.
Thank god someone did understand what i was trying to say..cheers jezza!
He only crashed because the CVT gearbox hypnotised him into a deeeeep sleeeeeeeep....
theres one of these at the lexus dealer in maroochydore (queensland, AUS) the driver was james matherson, i dont think theres any scatches/dints on this one!
That celebrity race was SOOO boring. Watched it from the stands wishing they used Minis. There wasn't even the tire squeal as the swarm of cars buzzed past. Just about fell asleep. And the LFA that proceeded them to the grid didn't even give it any stick