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http://dai.ly/x1zbesd Porsche is making its comeback at the top flight of endurance racing - the 24 Hours of Le Mans - which will take place in less than 24 hours. From the series of qualification for the big race, it seems that the Stuttgart marque is all set and ready, and will start off tomorrow from the 2nd and 4th position. However, they will not have it easy, with Toyota setting good pace throughout the practice and qualifying sessions with the TS040 Hybrids, which is starting from pole and 3rd position tomorrow. There is also no doubt that Audi, the winner for the past four seasons, will go all out to retain its crown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zyf2W1aOWs Not too long ago, Porsche unveiled the car that will mark its return to the top flight of endurance racing - the 919 Hybrid. Surprisingly, the race car did not bear the iconic flat-six or a V8 engine - but rather a relatively smallish 2.0-litre V4. Recently, the 919 was caught testing - and how it sounded surprises all that were present. We bet you will too after watching the video above.

Back in 2011, Porsche announced that it will return to contest at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014. Fast forward three years, and here we have the full details of the race car that is going to shoulder the marque's return to top tier endurance racing. The objective was clear for Porsche: to return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and attempt at an overall win once more, like what it did in the years before. Audi is closing in with 12 wins, and has already beaten the Stuttgart marque in terms of hit rate (Audi claimed 12 victories in just 14 ventures). And with a 16-year absence at the top tier fight at the Le Mans, it is high time for Porsche to make a comeback. Just a few days back, Porsche finally unveiled its contender at the Geneva Motor Show. The 919 Hybrid. It has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that revs to 9,000rpm, coupled with a hybrid powerpack that harnesses energy from two sources. The first is a 'convention' electric system that converts kinetic energy to electric energy during braking. The second recovers thermal energy from exhaust gases, which uses an electric generator powered by the exhaust gas stream. Of course, the 919s aren't alone on the field. Porsche will also send its latest RSR racer, based on the 991 gen 911, to the race track. Together, the 919 Hybrid and 911 RSR will contest in not just Le Mans, but also the 2014 season of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The 911 RSR has already scored a few medals under its belt. On its debut at Le Mans last year, the RSR scored a 1-2 win in the GT Class. 2014 has also started on a high for the RSR, claiming top honours in its class in the 24 Hours of Daytona. The 2014 season of WEC will begin at Silverstone in Great Britain on 20th April. The season's highlight, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will follow in June.

A fatal accident at the 24 Hours of Le Mans claimed the life of 34-year old Aston Martin driver, Allan Simonsen. Competing for the seventh time in the event, Simonsen spun his No. 95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE at the Tertre Rouge corner and hit the crash barriers. The car lost traction on a curb, causing the back of the car to slide to the left before flicking back the other way and sending the car into the guardrail. In a statement, Aston Martin Racing Managing Director John Gaw said, "On behalf of all of us at Aston Martin Racing, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the individuals, and families whose friends or loved ones were involved in today's terrible tragedy." Simonsen's death was the first such racing incident during a 24 Hours of Le Mans race since Jo Gartner was killed in 1986. Simonsen began his career in karting before moving to cars in 1999, winning the Danish Formula Ford Championship.

[extract] Every now and then, there will be an automotive ornament or accessory that will amaze us and I believe that this is one of them. What you see here is 1:1 scale model of the Aston Martin