Tomorrow, RM Sotheby's will host a sale as part of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which is the finale of this year's Formula 1 World Championship. Considering the venue, it is no surprise that one of the headliners of the auction is a Grand Prix car, and not just any Grand Prix car but a great example of the all-conquering Ferrari F2002. Designed by Ross Brawn and Rory Brawn, it was far more than an evolution of its already very successful predecessors. The F2002 did look similar to the car used in 2001 but it was considerably lighter and also boasted a lower centre of gravity. It was introduced in the third round of the 2002 Formula 1 World Championship and would go on to win 14 of the 15 remaining races that year, making it one of the most successful Grand Prix cars ever. The example consigned to the sale was driven to three victories in 2002 by Michael Schumacher. Its most crucial came at the French Grand Prix where Schumacher clinched the World Championship with six races to spare. It has recently been tested by Michael's son Mick and a part of the proceeds will go to the Keep Fighting Foundation.
Other Grand Prix cars that will cross the block in Abu Dhabi tomorrow are the ex-Michael Schumacher Benetton B192 and the sole surviving Ferrari 126 C2.

A relatively recent trend is that of race-ready supercars that are not built for any particular series but for special track day events. Four of these have been consigned to this weekend's RM Sotheby's Abu Dhabi sale.
The earliest and most valuable is this Ferrari FXX K. Based on the LaFerrari, this track-day machine has a hybrid drivetrain that is good for well over 1,000 bhp. The consigned example has never been used in the dedicated Ferrari Corse Clienti XX Programme, and is estimated to sell for over $4 million.
McLaren have jumped on the same band wagon with 'GTR' versions of their supercars. Entered in the auction are virtually brand-new examples of both the P1 GTR ($2.2 - 2.4 million) and Senna GTR ($1.5 - 1.75 million).
The most recent machine of the four is the mighty Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport. Also with zero miles on the odometer, this particular example is liveried in the legendary Rothmans colours used by the Porsche Group C cars during the 1980s.

This weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the final Formula 1 race of the 2019 season, which also means the end of an era for the team that has been known as Toro Rosso since 2006. While under the same ownership, the team will race under the Alpha Tauri name, which refers to a Red Bull owned clothing label. To mark this occasion, we have taken a closer look at the Toro Rosso STR3 Ferrari, which is by far the most successful car fielded by the team. Introduced partway into the 2008 season, it was a derivative of the Grand Prix racer fielded by Red Bull racing the previous season. The STR3's biggest claim to fame was the victory from pole position in the Italian Grand Prix by Sebastian Vettel, making him the youngest ever Grand Prix winner. The team finished sixth overall that year, which, embarrassingly, was even better than Red Bull Racing.
Before the team morphed into Toro Rosso, it raced as Minardi for just over two decades. The Giancarlo Minardi run squad was not overly successful but did have a fine reputation for introducing young talents to Formula 1. In the the 21 years the team was active, a Minardi only lead a race once. The car used that day was the M189 Ford campaigned during the 1989 season. It was designed by Nigel Couperwaithe, was assisted by Aldo Costa, who would later go on to pen the world championship winning Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix cars. Beautifully restored, we captured this M189 at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed where it was reunited with original driver Pierluigi Martini.

It has been a busy news week and today we round up all the major stories. One of the most interesting is that of a Maserati Mulo or Mule program. The press release comes with four pictures of a camouflaged car that looks suspiciously mid-engined. It serves as a rolling test-bed for an all-new Maserati due to be launched in May of 2020, which will be powered by an engine that is developed in-house.
A mid-engined machine that grabbed our attention from the LA show floor is this Hyundai RM19. It is the latest in a range of show cars from the South Korean manufacturer with a rear wheel drive, mid engine layout. This race-ready machine is based on the company's TCR racer and features a 390 bhp engine that is mated to six-speed sequential gearbox.
Lotus meanwhile, have started testing the upcoming Evija supercar, and released two pictures of the development car wearing a bright yellow camouflage.
Mercedes-Benz have rolled out the high performance and ultra-luxurious versions of the company's latest SUVs in the form of the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+ and Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 4MATIC+, and Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC respectively.
Another show car that broke cover in LA was the all-electric Volkswagen ID Space Vizzion. Whatever you make of the bright white machine, it is definitely refreshing to see an all-new electric car that is not some sort of cross-over or sports utility vehicle.

Famous for their sports cars, British manufacturer Aston Martin have now revealed the long awaited DBX Sports Utility Vehicle. Instantly recognisable as an Aston Martin, it is built on a bonded aluminium monocoque and features a 543 bhp version of the now familiar twin-turbo V8. Through a nine-speed automatic gearbox, this four-litre engine drives all four wheels. Priced at £158,000 in Great Britain, the DBX is expected to arrive at the first customers in the second quarter of 2020.
One of the most spectacular cars unveiled at this week's Los Angeles Auto Show is this Karma SC2 Concept. The two-seater coupe has a dramatic exterior with a pair of massive scissor doors but it is what is underneath the bodywork that makes the car particularly interesting. The SC2's all-electric drivetrain is good 1,100 bhp and a mind-boggling 14,000 Nm of torque at peak power.
Another all-electric machine to break cover in LA is the Sportback version of the recently introduced Audi e-tron. The four door 'coupe' is presumably aimed at customers who would like an e-tron but don't particularly care for the additional luggage space a conventional SUV body offers. Rival BMW are also ramping up their electric offerings and this week offered a first glimpse of the upcoming i4. The all-electric machine can be fitted with a rear-mounted motor that is good for 523 bhp.
An altogether more conventional machine that grabbed headlines in LA is the Lexus LC 500 Convertible. Like the highly acclaimed coupe, the drop-top LC 500 features a naturally aspirated V8, which in this application is good for 471 horses, all of which are sent to the rear wheels.

British auctioneer Bonhams have been adding new consignments to their headlining Bond Street Sale scheduled for December 7th. One of the most interesting of these is a very rare Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight that has not changed hands since 1965. It was originally raced by Phil Scragg in select events and was then briefly owned by its second custodian before it was acquired by the late Malcolm Cramp. While the interior survived in original condition, the body has been repainted and the engine was rebuilt in the 2010s. This very rare, three owner machine is offered without a reserve and is estimated to sell for £2-3 million.
Using one of the company's most famous badges, Ford will enter the popular electric market with the Mustang Mach-E. It is an interesting choice of model name as the first all-electric Ford is an SUV. It does feature cues of the more familiar two-door Mustang and in GT trim will have performance to match. The Mach-E will be available with a choice of motor configurations, starting with the 332 bhp entry level model. This should hit the showroom floor late in 2020 as a 2021 model.
Peugeot, meanwhile, have released the successor to the popular 208 R2 entry level rally car in the form of the 208 Rally 4. It is powered by a high performance version of the road car's three-cylinder engine, which produces an impressive 208bhp. The Rally 4 is due to break cover at this weekend's Rallye du Var and deliveries to customers should start early next year.

At a dedicated client event held in the Italian capital, Ferrari revealed the all-new and appropriately named Roma. According to Ferrari, it is a 2+ Coupe but no pictures were released of what exactly is found behind the front seats. It is powered by the familiar twin-turbo V8 that produces 611 bhp in this configuration. The engine is mated to the same eight-speed automatic gearbox that was first seen on the SF90 Stradale. Arguably one of the best looking Ferraris of recent years, the Roma should hit the streets next year.
Based on the fifth generation A8 introduced a few years ago, Audi have now created the range-topping S8. It is also fitted with a twin-turbo V8 mated to an eight-speed gearbox. For this application, Audi's four-litre engine produces 563 bhp. Needless to say, the S8 will be blisteringly fast but it is also the most luxurious of the high performance 'S' models.
Over the weekend, history was made at Brands Hatch as David Brabham and Will Powell scored a debut victory with the BT62 Competition. The racing version of the highly acclaimed BT62 was restricted to just 60% throttle to level the playing field but still took a victory at the two-hour Britcar race.

McLaren have released the latest model in their top-of-the-line 'Ultimate' range. Dubbed the Elva, it harks back at the earliest McLaren sports racers like the M1A of which the versions earmarked for customers were built by specialist manufacturer Elva. Derived from the Senna and Senna GTR, the Elva features a striking roadster design. Lightweight was the key word and amenities like a radio are not fitted while an actual windshield is available as an option. To provide some creature comfort McLaren have created a sophisticated airflow system dubbed the Active Air Management System. This creates a bubble of calm air around the car's occupants by channeling air through and then out of the nose just ahead of the cockpit at high speed. Like the Senna, it is based on, the Elva features a version of the familiar twin turbo V8 engine that produces around 800 bhp. The first Elvas will run off the McLaren line in the second half of 2020 and production is strictly limited to 399 examples.

Swiss racing car manufacturer really came to the fore with the Mercedes-Benz engined Group C cars that were raced from the mid-1980s. Today we take a look at two particularly interesting examples of these V8-engined machines. First up is the second Sauber C8 built, which is also the second ever Sauber powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine. These early Sauber Mercedes racers used the single cam version of the M117 V8 engine, equipped with a pair of turbochargers. The featured example scored a break through victory at the 1986 Nurburgring 1000 km and was later also campaigned by a privateer. Now in Danish hands, it has been meticulously restored and has returned to the track.
Also due to take to the track in historic Group C racing is this Sauber Mercedes C9. The C9 was a further development of the C8 and thanks to additional backing from Mercedes-Benz proved more competitive. Among the most crucial changes was the use of a new twin-cam version of the twin-turbo V8, which was used from the 1989 season onwards. It was hugely successful, winning the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Sports Car Championship. The chassis highlighted today was used in testing only as was retained by Peter Sauber himself for many years. Now in private hands, it was demonstrated at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and is due to start racing from the start of the next season.
Also due out in 2020 is the heavily revised Hyundai i20 R5 '20. It is based on the junior category rally car introduced back in 2016 but boasts the biggest single upgrade since the original launch. All key areas, engine, chassis and aerodynamics have been addressed to ensure the i20 R5 '20 will be as competitive as its predecessor.

To celebrate Ferrari Friday we today take a look at a pair of very rare examples built by the Italian manufacturer. The earliest of the pair is one of three Ferrari 166 Inters clothed by Stabilimenti Farina with a Cabriolet body. The featured example had a distinct raked grille and an abundance of chrome trim. It was ordered by a Swiss Grand Prix driver but eventually ended up on a scrapyard. It was saved but the body was lost. A recent and very comprehensive restoration has brought the unique Stabilimenti Farina Cabriolet back to its original form. Chassis 0063S made its post restoration debut this summer at the Chantilly Arts & Elegance.
Californian auctioneer Gooding & Co. have announced the first lots of their Scottsdale Auctions. Leading the way is this Ferrari 500 Superfast, which was originally sold to an Italian customer. Having spent most of its life in the United States and Germany, it was recently restored and fully certified by Ferrari Classiche. Chassis 6305SF is estimated to sell for in excess of $2.5 million.

Following in the footsteps of the limited production RWS built a few years ago, Audi have now created the R8 V10 RWD, which is available in Coupe or Spyder configurations. Like the name suggests, this version of the R8 is rear-wheel drive only. Thanks to removal of the all-wheel drive related components the RWD is 65kg and 55kg lighter respectively than the quattro versions of the Coupe and Spyder. Deliveries of the RWD Coupe and RWD Spyder will start in the spring of 2020.
Together with the road-going rear-wheel drive R8, Audi have also announced an updated version of the R8 LMS GT4. Among the most notable changes are the addition of adjustable ABS and traction control systems. Adjustments can be made by the driver directly on the new steering wheel, which was originally developed for the GT2 version of the R8 LMS. The R8 LMS GT4 should hit racing tracks around the world from the start of the 2020 season onwards.
At the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show, BMW will reveal the CS, or Club Sport version of the M2. It was developed alongside a racing version of the M2 and is powered by a 444hp version of the 'S55' twin-turbocharged, six-cylinder engine. The M2 CS can be ordered with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic gearbox.

Later this month, RM Sotheby's will host the company's first ever Abu Dhabi auction during the Grand Prix weekend. Among the first cars added to the lot list are the three 1990s machines highlighted today.
The most recent is a great specimen of the limited production Lamborghini Diablo GT. Launched in 1999, this was effectively a racing Diablo for the road. As a result, it was only street legal in Europe. One of the very last built, the example on offer was originally delivered to an enthusiast in Moscow. It was consigned with just 6,600km on the odometer.
Although based on a production car, this Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 is a fully fledged competition car. It was campaigned in the 1993 ADAC GT Cup before being sold to Japan. It has recently been refurbished by Freisinger Motorsport and is another low mileage example.
Considering the venue, it is only fitting that Grand Prix cars are also on offer and among them is this Benetton B192. It was raced by Michael Schumacher three times in 1992, finishing fourth once and then third in the other two outings. It then served as a spare four times. Campaigned in the late 1990s in the BOSS GP series, chassis B192-06 is still very much 'on the button'.

We have a soft spot for the original Viper GT racers and today we have highlighted this GTS-R, which we recently spotted at the Dix Mille Tours. This car was originally raced by the works backed Viper Team Oreca in the FIA GT Championship in 1999. It was subsequently also raced at Daytona and won the FFSA Championship twice. Chassis C20 has been restored to its original livery and was also campaigned at Le Mans and Spa last year.
With the BT62 Competition, Brabham have created the third version of the highly acclaimed V8-engined supercar. As the name suggests, in this configuration, the BT62 can compete in races. The first example will debut at next weekend's Britcar race at Brands Hatch. Customer deliveries of the BT62 Competition will start in early in 2020.
At the recent Tokyo Motor Show, several Japanese manufacturers have introduced sophisticated show cars. One of the finest was this Lexus LF-30, which uses wheel mounted electric motors. The stylish coupe has a combined output of 536bhp and 700Nm of torque. Also on show was this Mitsubishi Mi-Tech Concept, which is hybrid vehicle that uses a turbine to generate power for the electric motors.