All posts by Francis Mitterrand

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Red Bull Hangar-7 Reopens with Star-Studded Motorsport Extravaganza

The iconic Red Bull Hangar-7 at Salzburg Airport roared back to life with a grand reopening celebration that blurred the lines between motorsport, aviation, and performance art. Leading the charge was none other than four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, who electrified fans by piloting the championship-winning RB8 down the airport runway in a stunning display of speed, skill, and spectacle.

For the first time ever, the runway at Salzburg Airport was transformed into a motorsport arena, setting the stage for a jaw-dropping live performance. Verstappen wasn’t alone—joining him were legends and rising stars from across the motorsport spectrum, including MotoGP veteran Dani Pedrosa, Dakar Rally ace Daniel Sanders, and NASCAR talent Connor Zilisch.

The show featured an adrenaline-pumping mix of drag races, high-octane tire-smoking donuts, and tightly choreographed stunts. Machines like the WRC M-Sport Ford Puma, the fearsome Dakar Ford Raptor T1+, and KTM’s blistering MotoGP bike screamed down the strip in a celebration of mechanical might.

“This place feels like home,” Verstappen remarked. “There’s always something exciting happening here—planes, cars, helicopters. Motorsports and sports in general come together in such a cool way at Hangar-7. The drag race was a highlight for me—different machines, different disciplines, one strip of tarmac. Amazing!”

The reopening event wasn’t just about horsepower. It paid homage to Red Bull’s multidisciplinary spirit, featuring stunning aerial stunts by the Flying Bulls, immersive musical acts, and dazzling showcases of human athleticism. From the gravity-defying moves of street trials legend Danny MacAskill to the flair of freestyle tennis pro Stefan Bojić, the entertainment spanned far beyond the track.

Live performances from Red Bull athlete and slalom skier Lucas Braathen and Keinemusik’s DJ Rampa set the mood, while British singer and DJ John Newman brought the night to a euphoric close with a high-energy outdoor concert against the breathtaking backdrop of Hangar-7.

Red Bull Hangar-7 has always defied categorization. Originally envisioned by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz as a fusion of art, aviation, and culinary brilliance, the venue continues to serve as a cultural landmark. The reopening reaffirmed its status—not just as a hangar, but as a canvas for creativity, adrenaline, and bold ideas.

With the thundering engines now quieted and the tire smoke settled, one thing is clear: Hangar-7 is back, and it’s more vibrant, more daring, and more inspiring than ever.

Source: Hangar-7

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Red Bull Hangar-7 Reopens with Star-Studded Motorsport Extravaganza
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HWA Confirms 2026 Nürburgring 24h Entry with 190E EVO Restomod

HWA, the performance engineering firm renowned for its deep motorsport heritage, has officially confirmed its entry into the 2026 edition of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with its modernized tribute to a motorsport icon—the HWA EVO.

Based on the legendary Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo II, the HWA EVO is a restomod masterpiece that blends classic DTM styling with cutting-edge engineering. Now, the company has adapted its road-legal version for full competition duty on one of the world’s toughest tracks: the Nürburgring Nordschleife, also known as the “Green Hell.”

“Motorsport is in our DNA, and therefore in the DNA of the HWA EVO,” said Martin Marx, CEO of HWA AG, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to high-performance racing.

Two race-prepped HWA EVOs will compete in the SP-X class—a category reserved for unique or experimental vehicles. While the EVO already boasted formidable specifications, the race versions have undergone significant upgrades in performance, safety, and weight optimization.

Under the hood, the EVO features a 3.0-liter Mercedes V6 engine, likely the 24-valve M276 with a dry sump system, tuned to deliver over 450 horsepower. Despite modern comforts in the road version, the track variant has been trimmed down to just 1,350 kilograms.

Stopping power is handled by high-performance six-piston caliper brakes, while the car’s DTM-inspired suspension and aerodynamic enhancements—including flared wheel arches and a prominent rear wing—echo the visual aggression of the original 190E Evo II. That car famously clinched the 1992 DTM championship, ending BMW’s dominance with the E30 M3.

Lending their extensive racing expertise to the development of the race car are former DTM stars Roland Asch and Klaus Ludwig, who played crucial roles in Mercedes-Benz’s racing success during the golden era of touring car competition.

As the motorsport world looks ahead to 2026, anticipation is mounting to see if the HWA EVO can live up to its illustrious roots and carve a new legacy on the Nürburgring.

Source: HWA

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HWA Confirms 2026 Nürburgring 24h Entry with 190E EVO Restomod
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Tesla Launches Robotaxi Service in Austin with Limited Availability

Tesla officially kicked off its highly anticipated robotaxi service in Austin on Sunday, June 22, marking a major milestone in the company’s push toward autonomous urban mobility. However, the launch came with significant limitations, raising questions about how close Tesla truly is to a driverless future.

Despite previous promises by Tesla CEO Elon Musk that the service would be fully autonomous, the current version still requires human oversight. Each robotaxi ride includes a “safety monitor”—a Tesla employee seated in the front passenger seat who can intervene in the event of a system failure or dangerous situation. The vehicles are also supported by remote drivers and, at times, escorted by additional staff.

Unlike other companies that deploy human supervisors only during the testing phase, Tesla’s approach blends commercial operation with safety monitoring, signaling that the service may still be in a transitional phase.

For now, the robotaxi service remains exclusive and invitation-only. Tesla has extended invitations primarily to hand-picked influencers and supporters of the brand, sparking criticism over the objectivity of early feedback. The company has not disclosed when, or if, the service will open to the broader public.

Tesla’s self-driving fleet currently consists of 10 to 20 modified Model Y vehicles. These vehicles operate only within a limited area of Austin that Tesla has heavily mapped. Operations are restricted to a specific timeframe—6 a.m. to midnight—and pause during adverse weather conditions. The vehicles also avoid highways, airports, and complicated intersections, which experts say are some of the most challenging scenarios for autonomous systems to handle.

The robotaxi program does not yet include the much-hyped Cybercab, Tesla’s next-generation autonomous vehicle concept unveiled last year. That vehicle isn’t expected to hit public roads until at least 2026.

While the rollout signals a step forward in Tesla’s long-term vision, critics say the company’s slow pace and reliance on human oversight contrast sharply with Musk’s bold claims about full autonomy. As competitors in the autonomous vehicle space—such as Waymo and Cruise—face their own growing pains, Tesla’s cautious approach in Austin may reflect both the promise and the persistent challenges of making robotaxis a real-world reality.

Source: Reuters