Consigned to the upcoming RM Sotheby's Monterey sale are a pair of interesting former works cars. Due to cross the block is this AC Shelby Cobra, which is one of three examples built to the so-called Sebring specifications, which included the 289 V8 and rack-and-pinion steering. It was raced by Bob Bondurant and Ken Miles with considerable success for Shelby American. Since 1968, the ex-works Cobra has had just two owners. It is now estimated to sell for $3.75 - $4.25 million.
Also consigned is this Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza, which is offered from the estate of historic racer Peter Giddings. It is based on the car that won the 1932 Mille Miglia and was later crashed. The car was not rebuilt until the late 1980s and chassis 2111037 has since been regularly shown and raced by its successive owners.
Following the highly acclaimed Coupe, McLaren have now revealed the 765LT Spider. The latest addition to the 'Long Tail' line-up, it is lighter, more powerful and aerodynamically more advanced than the 720S that it has been based on. The 765LT Spider is limited to just 765 examples and the allotment for 2021 has already been sold out.

The latest Monterey car week catalog to be released is for the Gooding Pebble Beach Auctions. One of the absolute headliners is this Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder Competizione, which features a truly distinct Italian tricolore livery. It was sold to an Italian gentleman racer with a hot engine and other competition features and was raced with considerable success. It was repainted silver in 1960 and chassis 1235GT was not re-painted in its original colours until 2017. It is estimated to sell for $10 - $12 million.
Another exquisite racer consigned to the sale is this Bugatti Type 35B. A successful works racer, it was later also owned by Louis Chiron. In a single family ownership for nearly 50 years between 1952 and 2000, it has had only two additional owners since and is now expected to sell for over $3.5 million.
Of similar value is this Maserati 200 Si, which was sold to its first owner through Carroll Shelby's Maserati agency. Raced with some success in Florida, chassis 2423 has been regularly raced in historic events from the late 1970s.
One of the most iconic Porsches is the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 and this Lightweight model is also consigned to the Pebble Beach Auctions. Sold new to Italy, it has been in French ownership for most of its life. It was sold to the current custodian at the Pebble Beach Auctions in 2015 and 911 360 1193 will be cross the block again in three week's time.

Ahead of the competition debut in January of 2022, Audi have revealed further details of their new Dakar racer, which is dubbed the RS Q e-tron. It features an all-electric drive train with separate motors for the front and rear axles. The combined maximum output of the two motors is 670 bhp. Due to the relatively long stages and absence of charging stations in the desert, the RS Q e-tron is also equipped with a TFSI petrol engine, which serves as a generator. Based on the competition engine previously used in Audi's DTM cars, it will run at its optimal rev-band to optimise its performance and limit its emissions. According to Audi, the RS Q e-tron is not only intended as a means of winning the Dakar Rally but also serves as a technology platform.
Another new Audi due to hit the track in 2022 is the second evolution of the R8 LMS GT3 racer. It is a subtle refinement of the highly successful competition car. It features upgrades to the aerodynamics, engine characteristics, air condition, suspension and traction control. The R8 LMS Evo II can be acquired as a complete car but Audi will also offer upgrade kits for existing customers.

During the upcoming Monterey car week in August, the three major international auction houses will stage a flagship sale. First up is Bonhams, whose auction is traditionally part of The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering. As part of today's preview of the 139-lot sale, we take a look at two headliners. The most evocative is no doubt this Ford Mk IV. It is the ninth of ten chassis built in period and was originally completed as a Can-Am car after the Le Mans program had been curtailed. In more recent years, it was restored to represent the Le Mans winning Mk IV configuration.
Also expected to sell for in excess of $3 million is this lovely Mercedes-Benz 680 S. Among the first in the line of legendary supercharged road and competition cars produced by the German manufacturer, chassis 35920 is offered from a single family ownership of 57 years. It has been cherished throughout its life and has recently been re-painted in a single-hue black that complements the understated lines of the Glaser bodywork.
Audi have revealed the latest RS 3 model in Sedan and Sportback versions. While it uses only a slightly massaged version of the familiar 394 bhp turbocharged five-cylinder engine, the latest incarnation of the high performance machine features a drift mode and can be specified with carbon-ceramic brakes.
Inspired by the successful Abarth engined Formula 4 cars, the Italian manufacturer conceived this limited production F595. The very hot hatch features a 165 bhp version of the familiar T-Jet engine that also powers the Tatuus F4 machines. Abarth also offers the F595 with the Cabriolet bodystyle.

During this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, RM Sotheby's will offer this McLaren MP4-25 Mercedes in a dedicated auction. Raced both by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button during the 2010 season, it was driven to victory by the former at the Turkish Grand Prix. According to RM Sotheby's, chassis MP4-25A-01 is the first Lewis Hamilton Grand Prix winner driven offered in a public sale. The pre-sale estimate is GBP 3.6 - 5 million.
On Monday, Artcurial will stage their annual Monaco sale. Among the headliners is this Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8. This rare competition car is one of just two that were originally finished in black. It was raced in period by Peter Revson and after many years was sold to France. Chassis 911 360 0940 is now estimated to sell for €1.5 - €1.8 million. Another highlight in Monday's sale is this Lamborghini Miura. Many of the current supercar buyers should take note as this Miura actually covered 8,000 km during its first year alone. Since 1969, 3333 has had just three owners and still retains its original interior.
Aston Martin have released further details of the upcoming mid-engined Valhalla sports car. Gone is the bespoke V6 engine, and instead it will be powered by a Mercedes-AMG sourced twin turbo V8, which is combined with two electric motors. The drivetrain is good for a combined 937 bhp and can propel the Valhalla to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds.
Last week, Ford and M-Sport revealed the development prototype of the Puma that is due to be raced in the 2022 World Rally Championship. Built to the new Rally1 regulations, it will feature a hybrid drivetrain.

Already postponed from last year, the Le Mans Classic was once again cancelled this year. Organiser Peter Auto made the most of the dates available and staged the Historic Racing by Peter Auto meeting instead. This was run on the permanent Le Mans Bugatti circuit, which made it a more viable event regardless of the travel restrictions and other health issues the world currently faces. It proved a great idea as over 200 competition cars, spread over nine grids were out on track during the weekend. They faced changeable conditions that pushed many drivers to the maximum of their abilities but fortunately, there were no serious incidents. Among the highlights was the two-hour Sixties' Endurance race with a capacity grid and the two Endurance Racing Legends heats that featured an eclectic mix of 1990s and 2000s sports prototypes and GT racers.
Our photographers were on hand to capture the event from start to finish. The results is this race-by-race 220-shot gallery, which serves to illustrate our concise report.

Italian sports car manufacturer Lamborghini will bid farewell to the Aventador with the LP780-4 Ultimae that is available in limited numbers as both a Coupe and a Roadster. Specifically for the final edition, the naturally aspirated V12 has been further tuned to produce 780 hp, which is transferred to all four wheels. Only 350 examples of the Coupe and 250 examples of the Roadster will be built before the replacement comes along.
BMW have taken the camouflage off the new G42-generation of the 2-Series Coupe. The range will be topped by this M240i xDrive, which is powered by a 382 hp version of the now familiar turbocharged straight-six engine. Compared to the outgoing model, the new M240i is slightly longer and wider, and also marginally lower.
At this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed, this Aston Martin DB5 Convertible will be one of the star lots of the Bonhams auction. Rare in its own right, this example was originally owned by actor Peter Sellers and then spent many decades in the ownership of the Earl of Snowdon. The striking DB5 Convertible is estimated to sell for GBP 1.3 - 1.7 million.

Ahead of the official launch later this week at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Lotus have taken the wraps off the highly anticipated Emira. Replacing the Elise and Exige, it represents the first all-new regular Lotus production car since the original Elise was introduced back in the 1990s. The compact sports car has a bonded aluminium monocoque and will be powered by either the familiar Toyota supercharged V6 or a four-cylinder Mercedes-AMG engine that has been tuned for this purpose in-house by Lotus engineers. Available with a manual, dual-clutch or conventional automatic, the lightest version tips the scales at just 1,405 kg. The launch edition will feature the Toyota engine and the AMG-engined version of the Emira will be available in the summer of 2022.
Another major unveiling was that of the new Peugeot Le Mans racer, which will be dubbed the 9X8 Hypercar. It is powered by a sophisticated petrol-hybrid drivetrain that includes a twin-turbo V6 internal combustion engine. Much more interesting is the radical aerodynamics package, which is a fascinating interpretation of the relatively liberal regulations. A flat floor is no longer mandatory, which allows for ground effect aerodynamics to the extent that Peugeot Sport engineers did not feel the need to fit the car with a conventional rear wing. This fact alone makes the 9X8 Hypercar the most interesting sports racer on the grid in 2022. The new Peugeot will be tested for the first time before the end of the year and should make its competition debut some time in 2022, which may or not be at Le Mans.

The Gooding Pebble Beach Auctions are set to be very interesting judging from the latest consignments. Among them are three competition cars from the 1960s and 1970s. The earliest and rarest of the trio is this Ford GT40 built by Alan Mann Racing to Lightweight specifications. Used only briefly in period, the aluminium bodied AM GT-1 has been with the same owner since the early 1980s. Fully restored, it is now estimated to sell for $7 - $9 million.
Also included are a pair of Porsche racers that predominantly saw action in the United States. Delivered new to Brumos Racing, this Porsche 934½ was extensively raced for many years. It has now only just been restored to its original configuration and colours. Also sporting a legendary livery of that era is this 935 K3, which was campaigned by Interscope Racing. Chassis 000 0027 has also seen regular action in the hands of the current owner on both sides of the Atlantic. It has a pre-sale estimate of $2.5 - $3 million.
A Porsche of a slightly different order is the newly announced Cayenne Turbo GT. It is catered to customers, who feel the Cayenne Turbo is a little to mundane and that it could really use a 631 bhp version of the twin-turbo V8 engine.
Volvo is a moving in a slightly different direction, which is underlined by the Concept Recharge. It was developed to demonstrate the Swedish manufacturer's desire to increase the range and charge times of future electric vehicles.