Winners of 2017 24 Heures du Mans

It's that time of the year again when one of summer's biggest endurance racing event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, returns and no matter the current political climate here and globally, this event is here to stay for the most demanding few to take on this legendary endurance match in history and this year feels a bit less livelier than the past few years now that Audi has withdrawn from endurance racing for good, leaving the makes of Toyota and Porsche the only car companies to bring on their LMP1 titans while other teams have their own issues to deal with.

From winners, losers, even the cheaters who never respect the true nature of Le Mans, that means you Corvette Racing, every hour in Le Mans is a story for the drivers and cars themselves and after zero hour, there are some dirt that needs to be shaken off.

With the race well and truly over, time to jot down the winners of this year's Le Mans race...

LMP1 - #2 Porsche LMP Team 919
LMP2 - #38 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca 07 - Gibson
LMGTE Pro - #97 Aston Martin Racing Vantage
LMGTE Am - #84 JMW Motorsport Ferrari 488 GTE

Full results: http://assets.lemans.org/explorer/pdf/courses/2017/24-heures-du-mans/classification/race/24-heures-du-mans-2017-classification-after-24h.pdf

Congratulations to all the winners of this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans!

Subaru WRX STi (VAB) - 2018 facelift

The Subaru WRX STi has been proven to be a track-proven sportscar that works not just for rallycross purposes but also tackling racetracks such as the Nurburgring, just to demonstrate the full capability of Subaru's Symmetrical AWD on and off the road as well as on the track, and for the 2018 minor change, it has elevated further.

2018 Subaru WRX STi

2018 Subaru WRX STi

The new 2018MY Subaru WRX STi has been given a revised front design that brings out the sporty character as Subaru's flagship high-performance sports saloon built for speedo boys from across the globe apart from the revised front face comes with yellow-painted brake calipers reminiscent of the WRX Concept a few years ago. It may not do justice but the new look begs us for more WRX STi action than seeing it by ourselves.

2018 Subaru WRX STi interior

2018 Subaru WRX STi interior

As for the inside, there have been some slight changes around the dashboard, and just by noticing the new, larger high-definition multi-function display, as well as the new auto climate control, it's easier to spot the difference between the old and the new. Also, the revised interior comes with new RECARO sports seats that match the WRX STi's sporty flavor and because speedo boys love a car that has a RECARO on it, this WRX STi is the ultimate expression of a speedo boy's car that they can take it on track days or midnight drives with the other speedo boys.

It still has the same EJ20 BOXER DOHC 16-Valve Dual AVCS Twin Scroll Turbo as the last time, producing 308PS of power, 422Nm of torque, and 9.4km/L of fuel economy while mated exclusively with a 6-speed manual gearbox standard. It also still comes with the Active Torque Vectoring applies brake pressure to the front wheel while the Vehicle Dynamics Control provides more settings such as VDC Normal, Traction, and Off, each providing lesser degrees of system engagement. Easier said than done but the 2018 model comes with retuned suspension as well as its new DCCD AWD System, which now uses electronic control for quicker and smoother response. The yellow brake calipers in question is known as the improved Brembo Performance Brake System with stronger monoblock 6-piston calipers in front, monoblock 2-piston calipers in the rear, and larger, drilled rotors all around for better heat dissipation. It also comes with new brake pads for better-stopping power with a bit more feel.

While designated as a speedo boy's car, the WRX STi can be offered with the Advances Safety Package, which comes with Subaru Rear Vehicle Direction, High Beam Assist, Front and Side View Monitor, as well as headlamps that turn left or right when you turn the steering wheel,

The new 2018 Subaru WRX STi starts at 3,866,400 Yen (tax included) and you can spec it out with optional extras including a rear wing that completes the WRX STi look you expect from Subaru's best.

Photo: Subaru Corporation

Volkswagen Arteon

This is Volkswagen's better-looking replacement to the better-looking CC luxury four-door coupe, known as the Arteon, and judging by its status as a cut-price luxury car that you can really buy one for 39,675 Euros plus taxes and fees, think of the Arteon as a cut-price alternative for the Audi A7 without the premium pricing to pay for a Volkswagen like this.

2018 Volkswagen Arteon

2018 Volkswagen Arteon

Compared to the CC it replaces, the brand-new Arteon features a strikingly attractive design that is quite unheard for a Volkswagen. From its coupe-like silhouette, stylish front view, dramatic rear view that is arguably mistaken for the coupes of Mercedes-Benz, and stylish wheel arches, one look at the Arteon and you know that it's luxury from beginning to end, which isn't so bad for a German.

2018 Volkswagen Arteon interior

2018 Volkswagen Arteon interior

On the inside, you get the same level of luxury that you get from the expensive German big threes thanks to its impressive state of the art features such as this digital instrumental panel, heads-up display that displays rather well in its "safe zone", gesture control that mimics the ones from BMW, and an impressive infotainment system fit for yuppies to understand what it is, Tech aside, with those Nappa leather seats as an optional extra, spacious seating at the back despite its sloping roofline, 700-watt Dynaudio Confidence sound system, climate, Air Care Climatronic, and many luxury appointments offered, the Arteon really brings everyone inside in a relaxed state of mind wherever they go, and that's pretty good for a four-cylinder luxury car with the aesthetics of a six. Even though it's a luxury saloon, the Arteon's rear door opens like a sportsback and what's in the boot can carry from 563 to 1,557 litres, which sounds unheard for a luxury saloon.

2018 Volkswagen Arteon

Can't blame on VW but the Arteon, despite its luxury saloon look, really is a four-cylinder car because the engine choices are a 2.0L TSI and a 2.0 TDi engine. The most powerful in the range is the 2.0 TSi 4MOTION with 280PS of power output, 350Nm of torque, and with the 7-speed DSG standard, it does 0-100kph in 5.6 seconds and top speed normally limited to 250kph. Now that's German luxury to you, folks. Meanwhile, the 2.0 TDi with 4.5l/100km of combined fuel economy is the most fuel efficient Arteon offered in the lineup but because VW's amassed with the diesel fiasco, there could be doubts about this variant but it's too early to tell right about now.

Because it runs on VW Group's MQB platform, the Arteon is a no-brainer when it comes to its dynamics and with the 4MOTION four-wheel drive, it feels so good to handle through different road conditions no matter the weather forecast be but on the downside, it's way too grippy for a Volkswagen so in normal conditions, it behaves like a front-wheel drive car, making it just another commoner on the road, and it will only show its four-wheel drive capability when things are about to get wet and wild and if things get rough, better start bring some painkillers while you get there. Despite not adept for sporty driving due to its grippy nature, it's surprisingly smooth and comfortable and this is just another thing you would expect for German engineering like the Arteon. Take things carefully with this car and you can see how civilized the Arteon is as long as you understand how it's made and with a wide array of safety features that adapts to the roads of today, it's clever as well.

Time will tell how people will react on the Arteon on the first time they got their hands on this one but for a clear start, its surprisingly alluring design and luxury car comforts sets this saloon a class apart and while the 4MOTION works rather well in most conditions, its understeering woes can warn drivers to bring as much painkillers as they can before going hard on the corners, but needless to say, the Arteon really fits well for those who can't afford an Audi A7 for the time being and for a company car like this, the Arteon really is a fine art in the making.

Available colors: Pure White, Uranograu, Atlantic Blue Metallic, Chilirot Metallic, Crimson Red Metallic, Kurkumagelb Metallic, Mangangrau Metallic, Pyritsilber Metallic, and Deep Black Perleffekt.

Photo: Volkswagen AG

Doctor Who S10E10

As the crow flies in square circles, the latest episode of Doctor Who Series 10, titled "The Eaters of Light", sees The Doctor and his friends landed and separated on 2nd century Scotland, where a war between two sides became sidetracked by a powerful threat emerging through the darkness.

Doctor Who S10E10

Sidetracked, Bill ended up at the hands of the Ninth Roman Legion while The Doctor and Nardole ended up with the Picts. As a powerful threat emerges through the darkness, the gang are finding their way to reunite themselves while having both factions work together to stop this powerful threat. That really is a history-changing moment ever witnessed and just like last time, how the episode ends is a major surprise for the viewers who witnessed this episode from start to finish.

The two-part Series 10 starts next week and you will witness familiar threats returning for The Doctor's biggest threat ever witnessed. But in the meantime, the latest DW Fan Show webcast had a word with Rebecca Benson, who guested in this episode as Kar in this week's episode.

NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW:

ARMS

Nintendo's first-ever fighting game made specifically for the brand-new Switch, called ARMS, rewrites everything they think about fighting games and with the newest addition to the Nintendo family takes advantage of the new JoyCon peripheral, having just one pair isn't enough because you're going to need more to deliver its party piece for the newest Nintendo fighting game.

ARMS

ARMS, so what is ARMS? Nintendo calls it "the first fighting game of its kind" and players are ready to fight like never before as they can fight as different cast of fighters, including Spring Man and Ribbon Girl, and equip them with numerous kinds of ARMS that can turn the tide of the battle. They can only bring three different ARMS to a match and can be swapped during rounds and take note, each ARMS have different attributes such as fire, lightning, or wind. They will have to charge them up during a match and unleash its massive firepower to blow the competition away. Best of all, you can either collect new ones or upgrade existing ones. This means that ARMS isn't just a fighting game because it takes strategy to master different kinds of characters and ARMS to take on skilled players worldwide in various battle modes and show them who's the boss.

In ARMS, you can fight against other players in either 1 vs. 1, 2 vs. 2, or different kinds of games such as volleyball, basketball, target shooting, and many more. Or, you can get to know more about the characters in Grand Prix mode where players take on seven levels of difficulty and 10 matches each to prove that they deserve the title. In terms of playing online, they can either fight for fun in Party Match or fight for real in Ranked Match.

Just to take note, before the Switch's paid online subscription kicks off next year, best to play its online features at no cost for such a limited time, just so you can understand its online multiplayer gameplay better before you're going to charge some to play multiplayer online.

As a game made specifically for the Switch, ARMS offers different play styles but most importantly is using a pair of JoyCons courtesy of the Thumbs-up Grip because with the pair set, players can punch, move, grab, guard, or unleash Rush attacks by the way you move those JoyCons. In addition to the Thumbs-up Grip, ARMS allows players to play the game in various play styles depending on the controllers and layouts.

So, what can I say about ARMS? Taking advantage of the Nintendo Switch, this game is all about taking on all-comers wherever you go and because you are going to need a pair of JoyCons to unleash the ultimate ARMS experience, you should need some more to bring out its party piece because ARMS is more than just a fighting game, it's a party game where you can spend your time with your mates punching each other for the win and that really is the party piece ARMS is all about. Best of all, it's a fun, family-friendly alternative to those hard hitting fighting games your big bro and big sis are familiar with so you can challenge your whole family with the game of ARMS, making it the perfect family night idea after a long, strenuous day. Like I said, it really is a party piece and kudos to Nintendo to create a fun fighting game for all ages to enjoy anyway they like.

Disney-Pixar's Cars 3

Lightning McQueen returns for the biggest race for this life as the third installment of Disney-Pixar's Cars film is finally on the grid in time for race weekend and for this film, McQueen is trying to settle the score against newer and modernized racecars, including his most fearsome foe yet, Jackson Storm.

Disney-Pixar's Cars 3

As this year's Piston Cup now features next-generation racing cars, including the likes of newcomer Storm (played by Armie Hammer) himself, everything McQueen (played by Owen Wilson) know about the sport he loves will forever change following his sudden downfall during a race. Reluctant to end his long-running career in racing, McQueen seeks advice to an aspiring race technician known as Cruz Ramirez (played by Cristela Alonzo). Sharing common goals, they set off on a cross-country trip to regain his damaged morale. During their cross-country trip, McQueen will later do something that he never done before; go on a demolition derby. That sounds scary but if he really want to defeat Storm, he has no choice trying it out before returning to the circuit to settle the scores and finish what he started.

In addition to Wilson, Hammer, and Alonzo donning voices, Cars 3 brings back Larry The Cable Guy as Tow Mater, Bonnie Hunt as Sally, Cheech Marin as Ramone, Michael Wallis as Sheriff, and Paul Dooley as Sarge, among many others.

Past Cars installments have been proven to be a family-friendly alternative to some car action films we are familiar with but for Cars 3, it finally shows its darker side to McQueen's tale and if by "darker", it really is because with all the intense rivalry, the demolition derby, and what's happening to Lightning McQueen, this film finally came to its senses and you can really feel the rage boiling through its storyline that sets them apart from the past installments. While this film boils the fire within, there's still some sense of humor that makes Cars 3 a fun film for the whole family and there are some life lessons to be learned while trying to relate this film to their daily lives; rivalry, defiance, determination, and the moxie to overcome all odds in darkest of times.

Finally, Disney and Pixar landed on the master stroke with Cars 3 and while this is not ideally the best car movie to watch for car enthusiasts like you and I due to its cartoonish nature, its fiery storytelling, memorable cast of characters, and its classic Disney chemistry will make this another instant classic from the wonderful world of Disney.

My rating: 4.4 out of 5.

Let's Do The News! (June 16, 2017)

- The Department of Health announces decline in number of Dengue cases during the commemoration of ASEAN Dengue Day. DOH Sec. Paulyn Ubial said the agency has recorded 35,973 dengue cases nationwide from January until May 20, 2017 and 207 casualties. That's less than the 52,780 cases of the same months last year.

- The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 has resumed its normal operation after it underwent inspection due to the problem in its axles.

- Parts of Luzon experienced hailstorms following the thunderstorm advisory released by PAGASA. This rare weather phenomenon was experienced around 4PM Thursday in some areas in Quezon City and Nueva Ecija.

- US President Donald Trump's efforts to pressure people to tell the world that he is not under investigation has itself put him under investigation for obstruction of justice as the Special Counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia's role in last year's elections and interviewing senior intelligence officials to determine whether Trump attempted to obstruct justice.

- The second round of the Nuclear Disarmament Talks by the UN General Assembly has began with the draft resolution as the basis for their legally-binding treaty that will ban nuclear weapons once and for all. Members are expected to finalize the treaty by the 7th of July.

- Australian comedienne Rebel Wilson won the defamation suit against a global magazine publisher after the Victorian Supreme Court found a series of articles alleging she was a serial liar had damaged her career, according to reports.

- Floyd Mayweather Jr. agrees to take on MMA lightweight champion Conor McGregor for a boxing match at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, on the 26th of August.

- Lexus's CT hybrid hatchback has been given another minor change for the 2018 model year and it adds Lexus Safety System +.



- The fourth Yo-Kai Watch film has officially unveiled and its title is Yo-kai Watch Shadowside: Oni-ō no Fukkatsu. Coming in cinemas this December 16, this fourth Yo-Kai Watch film is set thirty years after the main story and it will feature three new human characters bearing Yo-Kai Watches and new forms from your favorite Yo-Kai characters to expect in the film while dealing with the new storyline that involves saving the world from an imminent danger.



- Reports told that Konami is blacklisting former employees in the Japanese video game industry. Reports cited a staffing agency employee as a source, saying that the employee alerts gaming companies if a potential hire is a former Konami employee, due to Konami allegedly filing complains against companies that hire its former employees.

- Toyota's 86 sports coupe set a new drifting world record of 165.04km, verified by the Guinness World Record.

- Check out the first trailer for the movie Goodbye Christopher Robin, hitting theaters this fall (October 13).

Forza Horizon 3: Driving Miss Sally

Oh yeah, since Cars 3 is just around us, this week's Forzathon stars the car that inspired Sally from the movie, the 996-spec Porsche 911, in GT3 guise for the driver who demands more 911s like this.



Designed for the traditionalists, the 996-spec Porsche 911 GT3 balances its track-honed capabilities with practicality fit for normal use, although practicality isn't best sums it up for the GT3. Under the hood lies the legendary 3.6L flat-six engine producing 380HP of power and 285lb-ft of torque while mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. It does 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds and onwards to 190mph (306kph). Contributing to this 911 GT3 is weight-saving measures resulted to its 3,043lbs of weight as well as streamlining of the car's body that provides better aerodynamics precise enough to cool its brakes.



Okay, enough rambling about the 996-spec 911 GT3 right now, let's take it to Hot Wheels Thrilltopia to see if this is a great Porsche 911 during the time Bush ruined the world or else I should start calling it Sally. You know, from Cars.



With that performance like this, I should rule out calling you Sally because you really are one of the best Porsches ever made from the last decade.

Forza Horizon 3: A real American Le Mans hero

Le Mans weekend is upon us and it might be the ideal time to take a trip back memory lane on the real American hero that trumped Ferrari in their own game five decades ago. This is the Ford GT40, a real American Le Mans hero.



More specifically, it's the GT40 Mk.II that deserved the credit of Henry Ford's ambition to create a car that will humiliate Enzo Ferrari in Le Mans and it did with a crushing 1-2-3 finishing blow at the 1966 Le Mans endurance race. If it weren't for the likes of Carroll Shelby, the 7.0L V8 engine producing 485HP of power, the 4-speed gearbox made specifically for this engine, and the other American and European heroes involved in the development of the Mk.II GT40, Ford wouldn't succeed in the fight against Ferrari 50 years ago and because of the success of the GT40, the Americans are now part of the battle for global motorsport dominance.

Looking back fifty years ago and witnessing history repeated with the modern Ford GT, it's fair to say that the legendary Ford GT40 is too legendary to be forgotten by many car enthusiasts and its importance in America's involvement in motorsport-inspired the American Big Three to do the same in various motorsports no matter how good or bad they perform. I may be awestruck by the remarkable achievement Ford has ever done to create a racing machine that can beat Ferrari in Le Mans but this is no time to ramble more about it because...



...it's time to call on other drivers who have taste among vintage racers and see if the Ford GT40 lives up to its legend while donning a racing livery familiar to petrolheads and historians alike because this car isn't about being born for history. It was born to MAKE history. A real history maker, get it?



Even in the Australian fantasy land, this GT40 sure knows how to make history just like what it did back in 1966 at Le Mans. Man, it's great to be a Le Mans fan of some sort and I've never felt so pumped up getting ready to witness this weekend's Le Mans.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Detainee Warmbier released on humanitarian grounds

North Korea says they released American citizen Otto Warmbier on "humanitarian ground" after he had been held prisoner for 17 months.

Warmbier, 22, a University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was medically evacuated to the United States on Wednesday. His family said he arrived in a state of coma.

His release came after Joseph Yun, the U.S. State Department’s special envoy on North Korea, traveled to Pyongyang and demanded Warmbier’s release on “humanitarian grounds,” capping a flurry of secret diplomatic contacts, a U.S. official said.

Warmbier was detained in January of last year and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in March last year for trying to steal an item with a propaganda slogan, according to North Korean media.

Reports quoted a senior US official as saying Washington recently received intel that Warmbier had been repeatedly beaten in custody. His family said they were told by N. Korean officials that Warmbier fell ill from botulism some time after last year's trial and lapsed into a coma after taking a sleeping pill, according to reports.

Source: Reuters

Let's Do The News! (June 15, 2017)

- The Philippine military states that they've arrested one of the members of the IS-backed Maute group. Mohammad Noaim Maute was arrested at a checkpoint near the coastal city of Cagayan de Oro just after dawn, said Lt Col Jo-Ar Herrera, a military spokesman.

- Meanwhile, two relatives of the Maute brothers were killed in an ambush in Lanao Del Sur last week. The victims were identified as Aliasgar Maute, and his brother Zulkifli Maute.  The two were arrested together with the ‘Maute Matriarch’, Farhana.

- The man suspected of opening fire on Republican lawmakers during a game of baseball on Wednesday raged against US President Donald Trump on social media and idolized Bernie Sanders, who he saw as the only politician who understood the working class. The suspect identified as James T. Hodgkinson from St. Louis, Belleville, Illinois. Records showed he was a 66-year-old home inspector. He died from injuries sustained in a shoot-out with Capitol Hill police who were at the scene in Alexandria, Virginia.

- The Philippine Embassy to London confirmed that a Filipino baby was one of the victims in the Grenfell Tower fire in West London. According to the Consul General, the infant was seven months-old and inhaled some smoke from the fire, causing it to feel light-hearted.

- Audi's R8 V10 Spyder now comes with the more powerful plus variant with 610HP from its 5.2L V10 engine.



- The new Jaguar XF Sportbrake was unveiled, adding some extra boot space to the second-generation Jaguar XF.



- The McLaren 570S is now available in the new open-top Spider variant.



- Konami's Metal Gear Survive game reportedly delayed to Early 2018.

- Check out the intro sequence for the upcoming Disney's DuckTales reboot series, premiering with a one-hour special this August 12, followed by the series premiere of two new episodes on the 23rd of September on Disney XD.

#DuckTales takes flight with a one-hour television movie to be presented for 24 consecutive hours on Saturday, 8/12, followed by the series debut of two new episodes on Saturday, 9/23 on #DisneyXD.

A post shared by DisneyChannelPR (@disneychannelpr) on Jun 14, 2017 at 9:30am PDT

TTFN!!!

Torchwood: torchwood_cascade_CDRIP.tor

Big Finish Productions continues to unearth some of the hidden Torchwood archives that never saw the light of day as full-cast audio drama CDs so fans of the hit Doctor Who spinoff can get the same experience as they got from the hit BBC TV series. 2017 promises to bring more Torchwood audio dramas as part of their ongoing efforts to celebrate Torchwood's 10th anniversary since October 2006.

Torchwood: torchwood_cascade_CDRIP.tor

Fans of the hit BBC TV Series already got hooked on the untold case of computer genius Toshiko Sato (played by Naoko Mori) back in the Zone 10 audio drama last year and now, Tosh returns for another untold case which now involves...the deadly consequences of online piracy.

Since the emergence of the internet, online piracy became a rampant outbreak in the digital world and to date, more and more people are illegally downloading movies, music, games, even TV shows, on the internet. In the case of Torchwood operative Toshiko Sato, unauthorized online piracy DO come with a deadly price which involves the lives of whoever downloaded something illegally.

This dystopian take on online piracy is something the fans should be worrying about and in torchwood_cascade_CDRIP.tor, this terrifying addition to Big Finish's Torchwood audio drama CD lineup will shock everyone with its dark, twisted, and dystopic taste with a fair lesson to learn about illegal downloads and its deadly consequences. While this installment terrifies the listeners about the consequences of online piracy, the classic Torchwood recipe continues to flow in every chapter of this installment with all the explosive thrills, spills, and chills in store for Tosh and the other characters, bringing torchwood_cascade_CDRIP.tor a must-listen for Torchwood fans.

While this story delivers a much scary take on a rampant internet trend, all the classic Tosh action is embodied in this audio drama that you can only expect from the world according to Torchwood.