The 2025 season of Muffler Shop Racing is here, bringing three incredible series that combine history, adrenaline, and raw racing skill. From the vintage charm of Formula Junior in The Intake, to the turbocharged power of the Lotus 98T in The Turbo, and the technical precision demanded in The Safety Belt, this year’s lineup promises unforgettable moments on legendary circuits. Buckle up and dive into the details of each series!

The Intake

Reliving the Golden Age of Formula Junior Racing

The Car:
The Alba EV100 DKW (1960) is a quintessential Formula Junior machine. With its Auto Union-DKW engine delivering 86 bhp, it embodies the spirit of lightweight motorsport perfection.

• Engine: Auto Union-DKW, producing 86 bhp at 5200 rpm.
• Torque: 134 Nm, ensuring responsive power delivery and control.
• Weight: A mere 400 kg, giving it a remarkable 0.22 hp/kg power-to-weight ratio.
• Top Speed: 184.7 km/h, perfect for short straights.
• Suspension: Double wishbone with struts, enabling razor-sharp cornering.

The Alba isn’t about brute force—it’s about mastering momentum, precise throttle control, and exploiting its balanced chassis to carve through corners with finesse.

The Tracks:

• 60s Prinzen Park Long: A picturesque parkland circuit with flowing, fast corners and technical sections. The perfect mix of speed and strategy.
• Battenbergring: Known for its challenging elevation changes and tight hairpins, this German gem rewards patience and sharp braking.
• Circuit de Pau-Ville: A stunning French street circuit weaving through the streets of Pau, featuring tight corners, off-camber sections, and rapid changes in elevation.
• Deutschlandring: A high-speed course set against a scenic German backdrop, ideal for testing the Alba’s agility through long straights and sweeping corners.
• Donington Park 1938: Smooth British turns and rhythmic straights demand balance and precision on this vintage circuit.
• Feldbergring: A demanding track through the German countryside, combining undulating terrain with fast straights and technical corners.
• 60s Hockenheimring – National: A condensed layout with quick transitions between acceleration and braking zones.
• Laguna Seca 60s: Home of the Corkscrew, this Californian classic challenges drivers with dramatic elevation shifts and blind apexes.
• Longford 67: A rural Tasmanian masterpiece of high-speed straights, sharp corners, and tricky bridges.
• Meadowdale Raceway: An American circuit combining sweeping high-speed sections with dramatic banked corners.
• 60s Norisring: A historical Nuremberg street circuit with long straights and tight 180-degree hairpins.
• Thomson Road Circuit: Singapore’s tropical backdrop sets the stage for bumpy straights, tight corners, and technical challenges.
• Nordschleife 1967 (Final Round): The infamous Green Hell. Over 22 kilometers of relentless corners, elevation shifts, and iconic sections like Karussell push both driver and car to the limit.

The Monocoque – Season 2

The Lotus 98T: Turbocharged Legends Return

The Car:
The Lotus 98T is a legend of 1980s Formula 1, a car that combined cutting-edge aerodynamics with brutal turbocharged power.

• Engine: Renault EF15, a 1.5L V6 turbocharged monster capable of over 1000 bhp in qualifying trim.
• Weight: Just 540 kg, offering breathtaking acceleration and cornering speeds.
• Top Speed: Exceeding 320 km/h on straights.
• Suspension: Push-rod actuated torsion bars, delivering precise handling even under immense stress.

Mastering the Lotus 98T requires bravery and finesse. The turbo lag is unforgiving, and the car’s immense power demands expert throttle modulation.

The Tracks:

• Brands Hatch – GP: A technical British track with sweeping curves and tricky elevation changes. Paddock Hill Bend is a notorious challenge for any driver.
• Paul Ricard 1988: The long Mistral straight tests the car’s top speed and aerodynamic efficiency, while tight corners demand sharp braking skills.
• Laguna Seca: The legendary Corkscrew is just one of many corners requiring absolute precision on this Californian classic.
• Monaco 1988: The crown jewel of street circuits. Narrow, unforgiving, and breathtakingly beautiful, Monaco demands perfection.
• Monza: Known as the Temple of Speed, Monza’s long straights and tight chicanes reward slipstreaming and precision.
• Adelaide 1988: A challenging street circuit with sharp turns and a mix of high-speed straights and technical corners.
• Spa: Iconic corners like Eau Rouge and Blanchimont make Spa a test of bravery and skill, with high-speed sections adding extra drama.
• Detroit 1988: Bumpy streets and sharp corners make this a true test of suspension tuning and driver endurance.
• Silverstone: Fast, flowing curves like Maggots and Becketts make Silverstone a driver’s favorite.
• Imola 1988: A technical and high-speed challenge, with legendary sections like Acque Minerali.
• Suzuka: A figure-eight layout with flowing S-curves and hairpins, rewarding rhythm and precision.
• Red Bull Ring: High-speed straights and technical braking zones make this Austrian track a thrill to race.

The Safety Belt

Mastering the Balance of the Estonia 21

The Car:
The Estonia 21 is an Eastern European legend, a simple yet capable race car that emphasizes handling over brute speed.

• Engine: 1.3L Lada, producing 130 bhp.
• Weight: 480 kg, offering nimble handling.
• Top Speed: 200 km/h, perfect for short, technical circuits.
• Layout: Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive for exceptional balance and control.

The Estonia 21 thrives on technical tracks, rewarding steady hands and smooth driving.

The Tracks:

• Grobnik: Croatia’s premier circuit, featuring sweeping bends and challenging elevation changes.
• Botniaring: Finland’s technical track demands precision and control.
• Dubai International: A modern circuit with long straights and sharp hairpins under the desert sun.
• Goiânia: A Brazilian circuit with a perfect mix of high-speed sections and smooth curves.
• Goodwood: A historic British track steeped in motorsport heritage, known for its fast corners.
• Vallelunga – Club: A short Italian track with tight corners that reward technical mastery.
• Zwartkops Raceway: A South African gem with a mix of straights and tight corners.
• Mills Metropark: A flowing American track ideal for maintaining momentum.
• Snetterton 200: A balanced mix of fast straights and tight technical sections.
• Grindelwald: A breathtaking Swiss road course through alpine scenery, testing driver focus and endurance.
• Phillip Island: An Australian coastal circuit combining high speeds and sharp corners.
• Zolder: Belgian chicanes and high-speed straights demand precise braking and acceleration.
• Taupo International: A New Zealand circuit with elevation changes and technical challenges, perfect for showcasing the Estonia 21’s balance.