Official: Toyota to field GT 86 pair at the Nurburgring 24 - could WRC be far behind? [w/video]

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Toyota GT 86 Gazoo Racing racecar

You don't build a chassis as superbly balanced and capable as that which underpins the Subaru BRZ, Toyota GT 86 and Scion FR-S without taking it racing. Fortunately the Japanese auto marques involved have plenty of competition spirit coursing through their veins, and are already gearing up to take the nimble little sportscar racing at events around the world.

Subaru recently unveiled the GT300 racing version of the BRZ which it will be fielding in Japan's SuperGT series, and now Toyota is following suit with the announcement that it will be bringing not one, but two examples of its GT 86 to the Nürburgring to compete in the grueling 24-hour race there next month. The pair of cars - whose level of modification remains unclear - will be fielded by the company's own Gazoo Racing team alongside one Lexus LFA.

Toyota's racing plans for the GT 86 extend beyond the 'Ring, however, as it has revealed a program to support privateer teams fielding the car domestically in both the Super Taikyu Endurance Series and All-Japan Rally Championship. The latter announcement crucially comes at a time when rumors have resurfaced of Toyota preparing to re-enter the World Rally Championship - a series which the Japanese automaker dominated in the 1990s with four Drivers' Championships and three Constructors' Championships.

The company shut down its WRC operation to branch into Formula One, but now that its F1 program is long gone, could the time be right for Toyota's return to the pinnacle of rallying? Only time will tell, but for now you can scope out the press release and video footage by scrolling below to see what Toyota has in store in the short run.

Continue reading Toyota to field GT 86 pair at the Nurburgring 24 - could WRC be far behind? [w/video]

Toyota to field GT 86 pair at the Nurburgring 24 - could WRC be far behind? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Radisys unveils 'first' ruggedized Core i7 COM Express module

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Houston Chronicle journalists honored with state awards

Chronicle journalists receive honors in state competition Houston Chronicle reporter Terri Langford was named Star Reporter of the Year and photographer Smiley Pool was named Star Photographer of the Year, the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors announced this weekend at its annual meeting. Texas APME joins the Headliners Foundation of Texas in honoring the best journalism in the state among newspapers, college publications and Spanish-language publications. Langford was also named the Headliners Reporter of the Year, an award for which the Star Reporter of the Year winners in each division compete. The Chronicle also received six other first-place awards: Susan Carroll for her work on the federal immigration agency. The Chronicle's Spanish language newspaper La Voz won two first-place awards: The newspaper also placed second in online, and third in community service for its annual Goodfellows stories and in the team effort category for coverage of the Texas drought. The Dallas Morning News was named newspaper of the year, and the Austin American Statesman was selected online newspaper of the year. Other awards received by Chronicle staff members include: Chronicle staff (Texans blog), second. Chronicle reporter Kiah Collier placed first in business reporting for her work while at the San Angleo Standard-Times.

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3 unaccounted for after Navy fighter jet crashes into apartments

By the CNN Wire Staff
April 7, 2012 -- Updated 1005 GMT (1805 HKT)
"I work right across the street from the apartment complex," iReporter Chris Johnson said. "As soon as I saw the smoke, I ran out and took pictures before the police showed up." The jet hit the Mayfair Mews Apartment complex in Virginia Beach, according to U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell's office, whose district includes Virginia Beach."I work right across the street from the apartment complex," iReporter Chris Johnson said. "As soon as I saw the smoke, I ran out and took pictures before the police showed up." The jet hit the Mayfair Mews Apartment complex in Virginia Beach, according to U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell's office, whose district includes Virginia Beach.
Fire erupts at the apartments. Virginia Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Riley said five buildings were heavily damaged, and first responders are going to have to do a detailed search of those buildings for people.Fire erupts at the apartments. Virginia Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Riley said five buildings were heavily damaged, and first responders are going to have to do a detailed search of those buildings for people.
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Navy jet crashes into apartments
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STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Rescuers are trying to find three people still unaccounted for, an official says
  • The crash of the F/A-18 is under investigation, the Navy says
  • The jet's dumping of fuel was an indication of a problem, a Navy official says

CNN affiliates WTKR, WAVY and WVEC have more on the story.

(CNN) -- Rescue workers in Virginia were trying to locate three people still unaccounted for Saturday, a day after a Navy fighter jet crashed into apartment buildings in Virginia Beach, authorities said.

At least seven people were injured when the fighter jet experienced a "catastrophic mechanical malfunction" during takeoff Friday, raining jet fuel over the military community of Virginia Beach before its fiery crash that damaged five apartment buildings, according to residents and Navy officials.

There were no immediate reports of fatalities, though authorities were searching for the three people, Riley said.

The jet carried a student pilot in the front seat and an experienced instructor behind him, and the dumping of jet fuel was "one of the indications that there was a mechanical malfunction," Navy Capt. Mark Weisgerber told reporters.

The crash is under investigation, he said.

Jet crash pilot's seat found in tree

The two-seat F/A-18 jet landed eerily upright in flames in a courtyard surrounded by the five apartment buildings that were suddenly set afire.

Once the five apartment buildings were doused with water and the courtyard was coated with a foam, rescue crews began a grim, detailed search through the charred hulks to look for any residents injured or killed, Virginia Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Riley said.

No one has been reported missing, but rescue crews used a checklist of occupants in the buildings in an effort to account for all residents, Riley said.

By late Friday, rescue crews completed 95% of a search of the buildings, he said.

"If there is anybody there, chances of survivability would be low," Riley told reporters.

The two pilots ejected safely, the Navy said. Resident Pat Kavanaugh told CNN affiliate WTKR that he and others found one of them still strapped to his seat with cuts to his face. Kavanaugh said he was on his couch when he heard a loud boom and was startled to see a parachute hanging from the building.

In shock, the pilot apologized for his jet crashing into the apartment complex, and residents pulled him safely away from the fiery crash zone, said Kavanaugh, a retired rescue worker.

The two pilots, a Virginia Beach police officer, an EMS volunteer and three other people were treated for injuries at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. One of the pilots was admitted, while the other six patients were released, the hospital's website said.

Both pilots, who live in Virginia Beach, are "doing well, and they suffered minor injuries," Weisgerber said.

The jet, which was not carrying live ordnance, was part of a training squadron at Naval Air Station Oceana, the Navy and Federal Aviation Administration said. It crashed 2.2 miles from the runway, a senior Defense Department official told CNN.

Eyewitnesses and residents described their community -- so accustomed to military planes taking off near their homes -- suddenly taking a surreal turn for the worse when the jet fell out of the sky and spewed its fuel, a possible maneuver to minimize the inevitable fire upon crashing.

One ejection seat shell ripped through an oak tree and crashed into a condo fence, and the other seat shell landed next door, suggesting that the two Navy pilots ejected at a low altitude, another resident, Keith Gutkowski, told CNN.

Colby Smith told CNN affiliate WVEX that he was in his bathroom when he felt his "whole house shaking." Then he looked out his bedroom window and "saw nothing but red, just red and orange flashing. And just a crackling noise. I was like, 'What is that?' " he said.

Smith said he ran outside, saw a friend and eventually spotted a pilot who was "laying there" and bleeding. He said he and several others then picked up the pilot and carried him to safety. It wasn't immediately clear Friday whether the pilot was the same one that Kavanaugh assisted.

CNN's Michael Martinez, Barbara Starr, Greg Botelho, Mike Ahlers and Sandra Endo contributed to this report.

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