Porsche Speedster 356 New 56, 57 58, 59 on 2040-cars

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The mid-engine Porsche backstory

As an automaker's identity evolves over years, its signature becomes defined by any number of factors - heritage (Mercedes-Benz), image (Lamborghini), or market share (Toyota). In the case of Porsche, it was an engineering quirk that forged the German company's most enduring character trait.
Porsche would not have survived - let alone, thrived - in today's saturated landscape had it not been for the 911, and that slope-tailed sports car wouldn't have sprung to life without its predecessor, the 356. While phenomenal success of those rear-engine icons built the company, forays into the mid-engine configuration have played a significant part in establishing the brand's identity.
The Mid-Engine Prototype Of Ferry Porsche's Dreams

Porsche drivers escape this horrific VIR crash unscathed

There is no doubting the fact that it takes nerves of steel to be a racecar driver, but the same can also be said for motorsports photographers. Case in point: The American Le Mans Series Oak Tree Grand Prix at the Virginia International Raceway where two Porsche 911 racecars crash hard into the tire barrier, but the dedicated cameraman stays with the shot - diving away only at the last second just as the battered No. 31 car (shown above) comes to rest atop the tire barriers just feet from where he was standing.
The crash occurred when the two Porsches charged hard into a corner. Judging by the video, the white No. 48 car appears to not see the orange No. 31 and the two cars make contact, skidding off track hitting the tire barriers at a high rate of speed. Both drivers walked away from the frightening crash, but the video - posted below - shows just how bad things could have been. Hopefully the close call will serve as a lesson for the woman standing in the track marshal's post who has her back to the racing as the two cars barrel directly toward her.

The pre-race and first in-race report from Le Mans

The 2013, 90th anniversary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has begun, tragedy marking the opening laps with the death of Allan Simonsen. We're at the track now as a guest of Audi and plan to stay through the evening, and even we haven't been able to find out what caused the accident - the only video is from just after the incident, and beyond the statement from ACO there's been no more news. The Aston Martin in the LM GTE Am class and its all-Danish drivers had taken pole in its class and was one of the favorites to win.
The pre-race report will come first, and even thought we can't spoil the race because we're only five hours into it at the time of writing, we'll put all of the news at the end in case you don't even want the updates.
Or you can go straight to the high-res galleries above.