Latest news with #Ferrari296GTB
Top Gear
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Nine of the finest six-cylinder performance cars on sale right now
Advertisement Lotus Emira V6 SE (£96,500) The 400bhp Emira is a major swansong for Lotus since it's the last combustion-powered car it'll ever make. Opt for the heartier 3.5-litre six-cylinder supplied by Toyota - shared with the old Evora and Exige models - and you'll snap to 62mph in 4.3s and on to a top speed of 180mph. It lags slightly behind in acceleration, top speed, and torque compared to the AMG four-pot-powered Turbo SE, but the gains include a punchier soundtrack and the option of a six-speed manual. Advertisement - Page continues below Ferrari 296 GTB (£241,500) Many had their reservations about the 296 GTB's hybrid V6 when it launched: could it still excite like mid-engined Ferraris of old? Yes, the world quickly discovered. Ferrari called it a 'piccolo' V12 (or 'little' V12) during development, because the equal-length manifolds and symmetrical firing order combine to create a similar sound to a 12-cylinder. It also punches pretty hard for a six-pot engine, with 819bhp and 546lb ft of torque when combined with an electric motor. The 0-62mph sprint takes just 2.9s and there's a top-end of 205mph. It's currently the eighth-fastest car around the Fiorano test track, with the more hardcore Speciale entering the podium. That's because it gets an extra 49bhp, 60kg less weight and 20 per cent higher downforce at peak speeds. That'll only be sold for a limited amount of time, though. You might like BMW G80 M3 Touring (£91,865) Armed with BMW's 'S58' straight-six, which sends 523bhp and 480lb ft through an eight-speed 'box to all four wheels, the M3 Touring will haul you, your family and your petrified pooch to 62mph in just 3.6s. It won our 'All The Car You'll Ever Need' Award two years ago, too. Advertisement - Page continues below Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio (£86,885) An Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio isn't as rounded or crushingly complete as a BMW M3, if you're the sort of person who likes their infotainment pixel-sharp and snappy. If you crave 'connected services' between your car and smartphone. Whatever they are. But if you're a human being with a soul and want a four-door saloon with gorgeous looks... you can't buy the M3. And if you want a family saloon that's bite-the-back-of-your-hand brilliant to drive, then even today, five years after the Giulia Quadrifoglio came into our lives, you probably can't do better anywhere else. McLaren Artura Spider (£221,500) Hell of an engine, this. The Spider's hybridised 690bhp 3.0-litre V6 weighs just 160kg, 50kg less than the 4.0-litre V8 that's powered most McLarens so far. It's also impressively compact. Rather than a 90-degree V, the cylinders sit at a 120-degree angle, which also reduces pressure losses in the exhaust. The twin turbos sit within the 'hot vee' configuration, which means they can spin faster with helpful consequences for throttle response. That's packed into a deeply impressive car that's easy to drive quickly but with extra layers that reveal themselves the more you push it. We recently had an MC20 in our long-term fleet, and as it turns out, it does the whole 'daily supercar' thing quite well. It's pretty, too, and that clean-sheet 'Nettuno' 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 is positioned at a 90-degree angle, dry-sumped and supported by Formula One-grade pre-chamber combustion for a more efficient burn. The result is 621bhp and 538lb ft, with 0-62mph sorted in under three seconds en route to a 202mph vmax. Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe (£75,660) The first thing you'll note about the hot new CLE 53 is its stance: the brawny bonnet, the slowly descending roofline and those chunky hips are all reminiscent of the old V8-powered C63s. Sadly, the engine isn't the same, though the hearty turbocharged inline-six gets 443bhp and 413lb ft - or an extra 30 torques with overboost engaged. It's not quite as focused and tactile as some of the other bits on this list, sure, but as a mid-range performance car, it's still really rather good. Advertisement - Page continues below BMW G87 M2 Coupe (£67,055) A strange performance car, in that the automatic version might actually be better than the manual. Regardless of which you choose, the rear-drive M2 shares the M3's S58 engine, repurposed here to spin 473bhp at the flywheel. This may also be the last purely petrol-powered M car, and should that end up being the case, it's a wonderful - if a little too mature - swansong. As our Ollie Kew said in his review: 'No other small sporting coupe is as practical, as complete, and in many ways the M2 now asks very serious questions of the M4 itself.' Talk about annoyingly talented younger siblings. Porsche 992.2 911 GT3 (£158,200) The definitive six-cylinder performance car that's shown the way for decades. And so to the current 992.2 GT3: rear-mounted, water-cooled 4.0-litre flat-six which revs to 9,000rpm, and produces 503bhp and 332lb ft. 0-62mph is dealt with in 3.4s and, given enough room, it'll punch its way to 193mph. This engine is the culmination of over six decades of work, and as you'd expect, it's absolutely delicious. Advertisement - Page continues below
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
How AI and cloud technology are reengineering Formula One racing
As you watch your favorite F1 drivers tear around the MSC Cruises Austrian GP this weekend — or maybe catch the much-hyped Hollywood flick starring Brad Pitt — know that technology is helping to drive the performance of Formula One racing. To help collect, analyze and deliver valuable insights to racing teams, every F1 car houses about 300 sensors, which generate an incredible 1.1 million telemetry data points per second, transmitted from the cars to the pits, in real-time. For the past seven years, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been a key technology partner of the Formula One organization, leveraging its AI and cloud platforms to help process and interpret all this data from F1 vehicles. Not bad for a 75-year-old sport that originally relied solely upon one tool for decades: a stopwatch. 'Today, there's copious amounts of data collected, and so artificial intelligence and machine learning are key to make sense of it all,' explains Julie Souza, who leads AWS for sports. 'Shaving off milliseconds can make a huge difference on the track, such as finding you're over-rotating a particular lug nut, which may cause instability in the engine; and so a team like Scuderia Ferrari (an official AWS team partner since 2021) can glean very useful information to help with race strategy that was previously unmeasurable,' adds Souza. 'That's just one small example of the incredible amount of data analyzed at high speeds.' Interestingly, with Formula One, aerodynamics data analysis has even yielded changes in car design. Called 'Computational Fluid Dynamics,' simulations ran in the cloud analyze fluid flow around the car, and found that trailing cars required much more force to overtake. And so, this data led to changes in body design in 2022 that saw more than 30 percent more overtakes, much to the delight of F1 fans, no doubt. Yours truly had a small taste of race car data collection and analytics, as I recently drove a Ferrari 296 GTB on a track in Fiorano, Italy, ahead of catching an F1 Grand Prix practice race. An engineer walked me through my telemetry data following several laps. How'd I do? I'll stick to writing articles. Data drives fan engagement, too Sports and racing fans, it seems, are hungry for more information. 'Over the past few years, we've seen fans are more connected and engaged to their favorite sports when there is more data and deep insights, which helps them better understand and appreciate what they're watching,' says Souza. Technology allows fans to curate their own viewing experience in a way that's highly personal to them,' says Souza. 'What's interesting to me may not be relevant to you, and so data is unlocking true personalization, for a more engaging experience.' For example, Souza says today's sports broadcasts and apps can be highly customized — and will be even more so in the near future. 'You can choose different angles and audio feeds, maybe buy tickets to an upcoming game or a jersey of your favorite player, follow a fantasy team or place a bet, chat with friends, or have Uber Eats deliver you something 20 minutes into a game.' This personalization is paying off, according to Souza, highlighting the success of the partnership with Bundesliga that has returned a 68 percent increase in fan engagement on its data-heavy app, and 60 percent longer session times. 'I always say if you feel smart about what you're watching, you'll probably watch more of it.' AWS has partnerships with other sports leagues, such as the NHL, NFL, PGA Tour and Germany's Bundesliga soccer league. Amazon says soccer matches produce 3.6 million points of data per game. Tech for broadcasters Not only has technology changed how Formula One delivers F1 races to fans — streaming over various platforms and often with interactive elements, such as selecting specific camera views — it also helps broadcasters deliver a richer experience for viewers. 'Tracks can be six kilometers in length, and so the action is happening in a wide expanse and at the same time, and so data collected and packaged by AWS helps producers tell the story about what's going on,' says Adrian De Luca, Director of Cloud Acceleration at AWS, for Asia Pacific and Japan. Car telemetry can also inform broadcast producers on what may happen next, so they can prep videos and graphics for viewers. 'Data can be predictive, such as when an overtake might be expected,' adds De Luca. 'Data is collected as the cars are going by, via beacons placed every 150 to 200 meters or so, that collect telemetry of all 20 cars, which is then sent to F1's headquarters in Biggin Hill.' De Luca says more than 500 terabytes of data is collected each race weekend. Tech is helping broadcasters in other ways. NHL and AWS delivered the first cloud-based broadcast in March 2024, delivering high-quality and personalized live games with minimum onsite gear, and cutting CO2 emissions by more than 2 metric tonnes. Tech can also help unlock previously unviewed coverage. While recorded, Souza says only 15 percent of PGA Tour's 30,000-plus shots during a tournament are televised. A customized app can deliver the remaining 85 percent, and with AI-produced commentary in multiple languages. For safety's sake, too Sensors, coupled with AI and machine learning and cloud processing, is also being leveraged for greater safety of players. In the NFL, where about 500 million points of data is collected per week, data helps identify players that are at risk of injury, and helps coaches and owners make impactful changes. This resulted in 700 fewer missed games in this last season, says Souza. 'It's a win-win-win, as top players want to be on the field, as do the team owners who spent a lot of money on them, and fans want to see their favorite players.' Another case for data analysis in the NFL: Instead of all players wearing the same helmets, sensors identified that players in different positions were hit differently. As a result, today there are eight position helmet shapes to reduce the odds of head injuries, such as concussions. Whether it's crossing the endzone or the finish line, tech is unlocking deeper experiences for athletes, fans and broadcasters alike.
CNN
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘A deal I couldn't pass up': Teacher sells LeBron rookie card to Tom Brady for $250K after finishing third at Fanatics Games
In a weekend filled with star power, sports challenges and high-dollar prizes, one Philadelphia high school teacher stood tall among sports legends. Matt Dennish, a teacher at Red Lion Area High School, finished third in the first-of-its-kind Fanatics Games, held during Fanatics Fest at New York City's Javits Center. The sports collecting event, created by Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, drew more than 125,000 fans and this year featured a groundbreaking 'pros vs. joes' format. Fifty athletes and celebrities were pitted against 50 hand-selected fans in a multi-event skills showdown with nearly $2 million in prizes up for grabs. While NFL legend Tom Brady took home first place and $1 million, and UFC champion Justin Gaethje claimed second and drove off in a 2025 Ferrari 296 GTB, it was Dennish who ultimately walked away with one of the most memorable moments of the weekend. Dennish earned a rare 2003-04 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor LeBron James rookie card for his third-place finish. But during the award ceremony, Brady stunned the crowd by offering to buy the card on the spot — for $250,000 in cash, from his own prize stack. 'Backstage, I was talking to Tom,' Dennish told CNN Sports. 'I was able to meet him before going out, and he had asked me if I was a collector, and I said no. I had no idea he was going to make a deal on stage. I thought he was just having conversations.' Brady's offer was encouraged by fellow celebrity competitor Kevin Hart, who jumped in during the exchange and helped close the deal. 'Luckily, Kevin Hart stepped in, kind of was on my side, and said: 'I'll take over, I'll make you a good deal,'' Dennish said. 'And I had Justin sitting beside me, the second-place winner, and he got my ear open. 'He said: 'You're taking this deal?' I said: 'I don't know, I guess I have to see what it is.' And it just all happened so fast.' 'When I heard the number, I said: 'All right, I know the value of that card that was advertised, so it was a deal I couldn't pass up.'' Rubin himself counted out the cash live on stage, and his private security team delivered it to Dennish's Philadelphia home the following day. Brady also threw in a signed card and jersey to sweeten the deal. The Fanatics Games tested participants across eight sports-themed events, including quarterback accuracy, basketball shooting, soccer goal-scoring, puck shooting, UFC striking power, WWE-style entrances and a golf simulator challenge. Each competitor accumulated points throughout the three-day event, with referees scoring performances live on the Fanatics Fest main floor. Dennish made his biggest mark in the MLB pitching accuracy challenge — which he won outright over all 100 participants. 'I played until sixth grade,' he said. 'My grandfather, he played a little bit of minor leagues, so really big fans of baseball, Philadelphia Phillies fans, and my dad's really passionate about it.' He added that once he learned he'd been selected to compete, he got to work quickly. 'I went to the gym three days in a row, and my brother sat at the other end of the gym and I just got some tosses trying to get the feel back. It is pretty natural, but you know, when it comes down to the pressure of the event, you never know how you're gonna perform.' Dennish earned his spot in the competition by submitting a two-minute video showcasing his athletic skills — including footage of him sinking a once-in-a-lifetime shot. 'Last year, I'm a Philadelphia Sixers season ticket holder and had the opportunity to shoot a half-court shot and I made it. So I definitely put that in there. I think that might have helped a little bit.' As for what he plans to do with his $250,000? 'I am someone who doesn't really spend a whole lot, so it will probably be saved for the most part,' he said. 'Maybe buy a couple of little things here and there, but don't want to go crazy with it. I know it's not gonna last forever.' The money might not be life-changing, but Dennish knows he'll be walking into a very different classroom come fall. 'After that half-court shot, I got quite a bit of attention,' Dennish said. 'I didn't think that was gonna get out. It's kind of the same as this. I didn't think, unless I did place, that anybody would really know I competed in this. 'With all the attention that this event gets and Michael Rubin's phenomenal hosting and promoting and everything, footage is everywhere,' he added. 'So it is going to be a challenge going back and having to answer a lot of questions, but it'll be enjoyable, and there's a lot of teachable moments from this event.'
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Top contenders to watch in the $1M Fanatics Games
Fanatics is hosting its first-ever Fanatics Games at the 2025 Fanatics Fest, and the odds aren't exactly in favor of the collectors. While it would be a storybook moment to see a fan take down some of the greatest athletes of all time, collecting cardboard takes a very different mental and physical toll than playing professional sports — not to mention a different diet. The top prize is a staggering $1 million, with second place receiving a 2025 Ferrari 296 GTB, and third place walking away with a LeBron James rookie gold refractor card valued at approximately $250,000. Before we get into who might win this thing, let's talk about who has absolutely no shot. This isn't a knock on the fans and collectors competing — it's a nod to the level of greatness involved in the event. There is a zero percent chance a collector or fan finishes anywhere near the podium. Call it a bold take if you want, but when the competitions include a three-point contest, QB accuracy challenge, and even a WWE-style entrance — and you're going up against the GOATs of their respective sports — the average Joe doesn't stand a chance. Advertisement As for the celebrity pool? Let's be real — Druski, Kai Cenat, Gillie, Kevin Costner (legend, but he's 70), Sketch, and DJ Khaled aren't sniffing the top three either. Now let's get to the sleepers — the under-the-radar names who could actually take this thing home. Yes, beat some of the greatest athletes of all time. First up: IShowSpeed Laugh all you want, but the kid is pure chaos in the best way. He's got the energy, the athleticism, and the unpredictability to shock the field. My top categories for him? Soccer and WWE entrance — he's built for spectacle, and this stage might be where he explodes. Advertisement Second: Julian Edelman He's not the biggest name in the lineup, but he might be the grittiest. A multi-sport athlete who thrives on pressure and wins off straight hustle. Don't let the retired dad look fool you — the man has rings for a reason. Never underestimate the heart of a champion. And third: CJ Stroud Now, some would argue he shouldn't even be on a sleeper list — he could flat-out win this thing. He's dangerous in anything involving a ball. But while his football and basketball skills are top-tier, I worry about how he'll stack up in the more offbeat events. Still, CJ is a competitor through and through. He won't go down easy. Advertisement Now, here are the top five — based on purely theoretical odds. No sportsbooks, no analytics, just vibes, gut instinct, and a lot of common sense. At -20,000: LeBron James. The only thing stopping LeBron from winning this is if he decides not to try. Yes, he's 40 now — but he's still the greatest athlete of all time. The real question isn't if he'll win, it's how the Fanatics Games will impact his legacy. Some are already saying a win here gives him an edge over Jordan. If he pulls this off, it's another accolade to add to the GOAT debate — and one MJ will never have. At -15,000: Tom Brady Some might say these odds are too generous. Brady's a multi-sport monster — football, basketball, golf, even baseball — and he might just be the most competitive person in the entire event. And that's saying something. The man doesn't show up to participate, he shows up to win. It wouldn't shock me one bit if he walks away from this with $1 million and yet another trophy to stuff in that already overcrowded case. Advertisement At -100: Travis Hunter A steep drop from the top two, but make no mistake — Travis Hunter is built for this. Arguably the most athletic person in the entire competition, he already dominates on both sides of the football field. If there's any event that requires raw explosiveness or versatility, he's a serious threat. Honestly, if the Fanatics Games included bass fishing, his odds might be even better. Sleeper pick? Maybe. But don't be shocked if he finishes on top. At +250: Peyton Manning This one might raise some eyebrows — but don't sleep on the Sheriff. The Manning family tree is loaded with athleticism, and Peyton's skills go well beyond the gridiron. If he locks in on golf and football — which he absolutely should — he could be the surprise of the tournament. He may not be the youngest in the field, but don't be shocked if he schools the competition and leaves with more than just laughs. We might just witness an old man's masterclass. At +300: Joe Burrow Joey B might just be the best value pick in this entire theoretical odds game. Cool, calm, and unbothered by pressure — the man does everything with a quiet confidence and a little extra swagger. Don't be surprised if he casually drops top scores while looking like he barely broke a sweat. He's got the skills, the poise, and most importantly, the people behind him. The crowd will certainly be rooting for Joey Brrr. Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
Irish Independent
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Supercars making their way to Kerry as part of special charity road trip
The organisers of the Bumblebee 1000 Supercar charity road run have scheduled the event for June 13 to 15. The three-day trip begins in Dublin on Friday, June 13. The convoy will make its way through Kildare, Tipperary, and Limerick before reaching its day one finish line at the Neil Armstrong Way in Tralee. The supercars are expected to arrive in Tralee at 4pm on Friday, marking the end of the first leg of the journey. Newly crowned Kerry Rose Laura Daly and Mayor of Tralee Mikey Sheehy will be on hand to meet the drivers on their arrival into Tralee, where a spectacular show is promised and timed to coincide with he opening events of the Féile na mBláth festival taking place in the town park the same weekend. The road trip will feature over 100 supercars. These include the Italian Ferrari SF90, which has a twin-turbo V8 engine producing 986bhp. Also expected is the Ferrari 296 GTB, which features a twin-turbo V6 engine and generates 819 bhp. There will be a selection of Lamborghinis taking part, including Huracáns and the track-inspired STO, plus Aventadors and the super rare SVJ model. Ireland's only 2025 Bentley Continental GT Mulliner will be there, alongside German sports cars, including plenty of Porsches like the GT3 RS, and a range of BMW M cars. Participants will then travel to Killarney for their overnight stay at the Hotel Europe. All money raised from the 'Talladega Nights' Road Trip will go to Little Blue Heroes. This charity is run by An Garda Síochána and provides support for sick children. To date, Bumblebee 1000 has raised over €608,649 for this charity. On Saturday, June 14, the convoy will go on traverse the Ring of Kerry, with a fuel stop in Cahersiveen and lunch in Sneem, before arriving at the Lewis Road Car Park in Killarney at approximately 3pm. Sunday, June 15, will see the cars depart from the Europe Hotel in Killarney, heading through Cork before finishing in Portlaoise. The event is made possible with support from the Tralee Municipal District Office, Kerry County Council, Tralee Chamber Alliance, Kerry Motor Club and Mikey Sheehy, Mayor of Tralee. Further details about the event can be found on or through their social media channels.
