Autoblog UK

The motorsport great John Surtees has become the first person to drive a sports car through the channel tunnel during a charity stunt. The drive was one of the events celebrating the 15th anniversary of the tunnel's opening.

The 1964 Formula 1 winner, who is still the only person to have claimed world records on both 2 and 4 wheels, drove an electric powered Ginetta G50 EV through the 31-mile tunnel.

He didn't break any speed records this time though as he had to stick to the 50km/h speed limit.

What didn't help with keeping a good time was also his constant stopping to have a closer look at the tunnel, which he called "a tremendous engineering feat".

"You certainly wouldn't want to be subject to any claustrophobic feelings down there.The tunnel is very small in parts," added the 75-year-old after eventually resurfacing in Coquelles, France.

Mattias Ekström reigns supreme. In the final of the Race of Champions tournament at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing, the Swedish DTM driver defeated seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher 2-0. After finishing behind him in 2007, Schumacher lost for the second time in the final against Ekström. The 31-year-old Swede had his first win in 2006 at the Stade de France in Paris and then won again the following year at London's Wembley Stadium. In the semi-final scrap between the two German drivers, Schumacher came home ahead of Sebastian Vettel, with whom he had clinched the Nations Cup on the previous day. In the second semi-final, Ekström defeated reigning Formula One World Champion Jenson Button.

Because of the traditionally high number of arrests for public order offences at the legendary Bathurst 1000 event, the local authorities in this part of New South Wales (Australia) have imposed an alcohol limit. Each adult visitor is permitted to consume no more than 24 'stubbies' of full-strength beer or 36 of Lite. Alternatively, they can down four litres of wine. Drinking beer or wine in combination is strictly prohibited. 500 officials will be on hand to ensure a peaceful weekend at the Mount Panorama venue. When you look at these figures, though, you wonder what the average consumption has been in previous years.

The Goodwood Revival is a nostalgic trip back to the 1950s and 1960s. Between 18th and 20th September, 134,000 people turned up at the West Sussex estate of the Earl of March to enjoy this annual festival. The event is to racing drivers what Wimbledon is to tennis players and Ascot to jockeys. Although competitive races are no longer staged at Goodwood, no other motorsport venue can compare for razzamatazz or eccentricity.

The Revival ranks alongside the Le Mans Classic and the Mille Miglia in the racing panoply. It's not just the more than 400 racing cars from the 1948 to 1966 era that make this is a star occasion but the visitors themselves. Many of them turn up in period costume consisting of Tweed jackets, knickerbockers, cocktail dresses, petticoats and – in particular – hats from the Fifties and Sixties.

For many years, Pebble Beach has been a festival of the vanities, not just because of the fancy entry price of almost 200 US dollars, but rather because of the range of valuable models from years gone by on display there. The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is the most world's most famous beauty contest for prestigious classic cars. It takes place annually at the Pebble Beach Golf Club near Monterey in California. The venue for the 59th such event will once again be the 18th fairway. You can admire some of the 'little beauties' in the photo gallery below.

The Jaguar XJ was first launched onto the market in 1968. Now it's not just Jaguar fans who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new model. Today, 9th July, the car is being presented to the press and public for the first time. You also have the opportunity to sign a purchase order for delivery in early 2010. The new version has little in common with the typical 1968 Jaguar look, though certain features have been carried across. The new Jag is to have aluminium bodywork, a luxury so far only available from Audi. In a few more hours, all will be revealed...

Here's a lesson for the motor manufacturers - be wary who you lend your cars to.

Hannu Mikkola drove a Ford Escort MkI 16,000 miles to win the 1970 London-Mexico World Cup Rally in 1970. Sure, it got some dents and bruises along the way but it still reached its destination and the Finn was reacquainted with the car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend to give it a run out up the hillclimb.

The final day at Goodwood once again provided some spectacular sights. Jubilees and centenaries were also prominent on the agenda, with Bugatti, Audi, Morgan, Mini and the Daytona International Speedway all celebrating one round-numbered birthday or another. The remarkable aspect of this event staged in the grounds of the stately home of Goodwood is the proximity of the fans who have free access to the paddock where they can get up close to their two-legged (and four-wheeled) idols. We've compiled a third photo gallery for anyone who missed out on Sunday's action.

Many motor manufacturers are taking the opportunity of the Goodwood Festival of Speed to showcase both their current and their classic models. And there are also plenty of driver celebrities on the invitation list: Jackie Stewart, Mick Doohan, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastien Loeb, Jackie Ickx, Eddie Irvine and Stirling Moss are just a few of the big names expected to attend. We have put together some pictures from the second day of the festival in the gallery below.

On 11th June 2009 in New York, a number of rare pieces belonging to film legend Steve McQueen will be auctioned. At the Antiquorum Important Collectors' Wristwatches Auction, McQueen's legendary chronograph, Monaco, will go under the hammer. He wore this watch whilst making Le Mans, the film about racing drivers, in 1971.The Monaco chronograph by Tag Heuer was brought out in 1969 to mark the Monaco Grand Prix. It features a square case, gleaming blue dial, white totalisers and red chronograph pointer. Tag Heuer recently reissued the chronograph on its 40th anniversary, in honour of Steve McQueen. Shortly after filming Le Mans, McQueen gave the watch to his financial adviser at the time, as a gift. It is estimated that the watch could fetch between 10,000 und 20,000 US dollars. Given McQueen's large fan base, this figure could actually be considerably higher.