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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
JK Rowling makes rare public appearance at Ascot with doctor husband Neil Murray
JK Rowling and her husband made a rare public appearance today at Royal Ascot. The author, 59, and doctor Neil Murray, were pictured dressed to the nines as they sat in the stands on the fourth day of the prestigious racing event in Berkshire. It's rare for Rowling alone to be seen out in public, but it's even uncommon for her to be joined by Neil, who she has been married to for 23 years. She donned a pale blue dress paired with an extravagant floral fascinator in the same shade and big black sunglasses. Neil sported a black suit and top hat with a pale green waistcoat and a pair of shades. Today at the event, known as the crown jewel of the racing calendar, stylish racegoers put their best foot forward as they braved the sweltering 28C heat. A sea of flamboyant hats and gowns dominated the landscape at the races as revellers prepared for nail-biting action. Racegoers could be seen enjoying a glass of bubbly in the summer sun, as they donned their grandiose and vibrant hats. Royal Ascot was awash with eye-catching hats, vibrant gowns and matching ensembles as glamorous revellers kicked off the weekend early It wasn't long before they started popping open lavish bottles of bubbly and sipping on glasses of champagne and prosecco while soaking in the view of the racecourse Elsewhere eager revellers watched as the jockeys and horses geared up to go head on in several races including the Coronation Stakes and the Commonwealth Cup. Celebrities and royalty alike sat patiently as King Charles III and Queen Camilla kicked off the day arriving in a horse-drawn-landaus. The King and Queen were joined by Camilla's old school friend Lady Cavendish and her husband Lord Cavendish in their coach during the traditional carriage procession along the course. Among the guests travelling in the carriages were the former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad, the Queen's Companion the Marchioness of Lansdowne and musical maestro Lord Lloyd-Webber. Princess Eugene and Zara Tindall were seen beaming as they chatted with His Majesty. Zara donned a chic baby blue pantsuit with a matching hat, while Princess Eugenie wore beige top coupled with a white hat and skirt. Princess Eugenie's mother, Sarah Ferguson, was also present at the prestigious event, wearing a polka dot black and white dress paired with a matching black hat. And while many continued to enjoy the sunshine, the sportsmen and horses geared up as they went head to head in a bid to emerge victorious in their respective races. Time for Sandals bagged the number one position in the Commonwealth Cup, winning the prize for Harry Eustace. Princess Eugenie and her mother Sarah Ferguson share a giggle at Ascot Cosy cousins! Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall affectionately greeted one another upon their arrival at Royal Ascot Zara Tindall performs a curtsy as she greets King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Berkshire event Sarah Ferguson arrives in a polka dot dress on the fourth day of the Royal Ascot today JK Rowling attends the fourth day of the Royal Ascot today as jockeys and horses battle is out for the Commonwealth Cup and Coronation Stakes King Charles III and Queen Camilla kicked off the fourth day arriving in a horse-drawn-landaus King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 20 Venetian Sun ridden by Clifford Lee on their way to winning the Albany Stakes on day four of Royal Ascot Venetian Sun bagged the victory despite Signora being tipped as a favourite to win Time For Sandals ridden by Richard Kingscote won the Commonwealth Cup on day four Richard Kingscote told ITV: 'Since Sir Michael retired it's always been a case of building back up and I was delighted to get such a good ride' Richard Kingscote told ITV: 'Since Sir Michael retired it's always been a case of building back up and I was delighted to get such a good ride. 'She done a spectacular piece of work. Delighted for Harry, he's such a good guy. I'm delighted.' Elsewhere Venetian Sun, ridden, by Clifford Lee, raced away with a win during the Albany Stalkes race. Signora, backed by jockey Ryan Moore, was previously tipped as the favourite to win the race but failed to emerge victorious at 15-8 odds. Winning jockey Lee told ITV: 'When she ran the first time at Carlisle she did it very nicely. 'She was very babyish, wasn't quite switched on, but after that first run she's come on by maybe 20 lbs. We knew at home that we had a very good filly. 'Fingers crossed for the rest of the day. It's not easy – you come here thinking you have a great chance but there are 20 others like that.' Yesterday, some attendees looked rather worse for wear after leaving the venue after Ladies Day on the hottest day of the year so far.
Auto Blog
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
11 Cars That Need To Be Added To Gran Turismo 7 ASAP
One of the best of its kind As a loyal and avid fanatic of the Gran Turismo racing video game franchise, having played the legendary driving simulator since the release of its second instalment way back in 1999, it's a video game that holds a dear place deep within my heart. Even today, Gran Turismo 7 remains one of the only video games I still play, and is one of my favorite racing games of all time. 0:07 / 0:09 2025 Ford Maverick: 4 reasons to love it, 2 reasons to think twice Watch More Despite the commendable achievements and my lengthy seat time in other racing games such as Forza Motorsport, Forza Horizon, Test Drive Unlimited 2, Need For Speed instalments, Assetto Corsa, , Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition, Midnight Club: LA, Driver San Fransisco, and many more, no racing game has ever captivated my attention as much as Gran Turismo 7 has. With its immersive attention to detail, gorgeous visuals, well-curated track selection and vibrant car list, it's the only game that can truly scratch my itch to go for a drive as much as actually heading out for a drive–something I am extremely gracious to have discovered considering how expensive gas and insurance can be. Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept — Source: Genesis Polyphony Digital released Gran Turismo 7 way back in 2022, and with consistent free updates being rolled out on an almost-monthly basis, its car list is ever-growing. Despite this, many longtime fans of the iconic franchise remain vocal that the game's vehicle selection lacks the diversity found in past Gran Turismo instalments. In Gran Turismo 6, Polyphony's developers employed a two-tier model system, including 'detailed cars' and 'simple cars,' which allowed the game to feature over 1,200 unique vehicles, compared to just over 400 vehicles contained within Gran Turismo 7. Although Polyphony made the intentional and frankly commendable decision to drop 'standard cars' from the game in an effort to provide more focused attention to detail for the vehicles that are included and to maximize beautification, many of the 'detailed cars' from Gran Turismo 6 are still missing from the franchise's seventh and most recent instalment, despite having high-quality models and brand licensing rights. Although there are more than just fifteen examples of 'detailed cars' in GT6 that didn't make the cut for GT7, the following fifteen cars are the ones we miss the most, in no particular order. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. 1. 2004 Honda Integra Type R (DC5) Packing 217 horsepower made from a naturally-aspirated K20A 2.0-liter four-cylinder with an 8,400 rpm redline, it's genuinely surprising that the 2004 Integra Type R has yet to see the light of day in Gran Turismo 7, especially considering the massive popularity of the Integra Type R's previous generation within the game. Despite its front-wheel drive mechanicals, the Integra Type R earned its reputation for its rear-wheel drive-esque handling dynamics, light and balanced weight, and its sprightly, high-revving powertrain. 2. 2006 Honda S2000 (AP2) Although you'll be able to find the 1999 Honda S2000 (AP1) occasionally in Gran Turismo 7's used car dealership, the updated, larger-displacement 2006 Honda S2000 (AP2) is absent in the game, despite its availability as a 'detailed car' in Gran Turismo 6. With a 2.2-liter displacement, the AP2 Honda S2000 drops its redline from 9,000 rpm to just 8,000 rpm, but packs 235 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque beneath its bonnet. Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission, making a perfect platform to toss around a truck in Gran Turismo or to modify into a precision track machine. 3. 2011 Jaguar XKR-S With a fierce, growling supercharged 5.0-liter V8 under the hood producing up to 542 horsepower, the 2011 Jaguar XKR-S is a serious high-performance machine that even gives far more expensive Aston Martins a run for their money. Thankfully, for now, the Jaguar F-Type R satiates our thirst for supercharged V8 Jaguar goodness in Gran Turismo 7, but we think the hardened, track-focused XKR-S would look fantastic alongside its baby brother in GT7's lauded photo mode. 4. 2009 Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce With its screaming, 661-horsepower naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12, the 2009 Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce seems like it would be an ideal addition to Gran Turismo 7. Although the game features the standard variant of the Lamborghini Murcielago and the SuperVeloce variant of the more recent Aventador, the striking hues of the Murcielago SV's vibrant paint colours and the polarizing screech of its high-strung V12 are sorely missed. 5. 2007 Lexus IS F The 2007 Lexus IS F is what happens when you cross precision Japanese engineering with the brute force of a V8 muscle car and the agile dynamics of a compact sport sedan. A cult classic in its own right, powered by a naturally-aspirated, 416-horsepower 5.0-liter V8, paired with rear-wheel drive, seems like the perfect recipe for an in-game BMW M3 fighter. 6. 2010 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Using a recipe akin to that of the timelessly iconic Shelby Cobra, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage stuffs a massive, 6.0-liter V12 into a small sports car chassis originally designed for a much smaller, 4.3-liter V8. With supercar-like horsepower and agile dynamics, the V12 Vantage can be quite a handful on a racetrack–exactly what longtime Gran Turismo players pine for. Sure, calculated and tame racing cars offer drivers precision tools for record lap times, but sometimes players just want something unhinged to challenge their own abilities. We'd love to see this hardcore machine in Gran Turismo 7 soon. 7. 2007 Mazda MX-5 Roadster RS (NC) The inclusion of the ever-iconic Mazda MX-5 in the Gran Turismo franchise seems inevitable, but Gran Turismo 7 seems to lack many variants of the MX-5 that seem like no-brainers to add into the game. Without the MX-5's second, NB generation, without the latest, ND-generation MX-5's 2.0-liter powered variant, and without the MX-5's third, NC generation, MX-5 buyers get the short end of the stick when they power up their PlayStations. 8. 2008 Audi RS 6 Avant One of the most insane performance station wagons of all time, the 2008 Audi RS 6 Avant saw a twin-turbocharged, 5.0-liter V10 shoehorned into the front of a luxurious family estate car. With the recent additions of other family-friendly vehicles such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota C-HR, and the Mazda CX-30, one would think that a 580-horsepower, turbocharged V10-powered station wagon would be a better fit for a racing game franchise that wants to include family cars. Only time will tell if we'll ever see this monster in another Gran Turismo game. 9. 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG A favourite amongst AMG fanatics, the naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8-powered 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG seems like it should be an obvious addition to Gran Turismo 7, combining the brute force of a 451-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 with the oversteer-happy dynamics of the W204-generation Mercedes C-Class. Perhaps one day we'll be blessed with this brute in the virtual world of Gran Turismo once again, or better yet, the ferocious C63 AMG Black Series coupe. 10. 2008 BMW M5 (E60) Something of a high-water mark for the performance sedan, the 2008 BMW M5 paired a mid-size executive sedan with a high-strung, 500-horsepower, naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V10 and rear-wheel drive. Although the BMW M5 (E60) came equipped with BMW's notoriously finicky SMG-II sequential transmission, North American buyers had the option for a more traditional six-speed manual transmission–a recipe that resulted in one of the most beloved sport sedans of all time, and its appreciating market values are beginning to reflect this feat. Please, Polyphony, hear our cries, and bless us with this true God amongst mere sport sedan mongrels. 11. 2006 Ferrari 599 A Pininfarina-penned masterpiece, Ferrari's 599 GTB is a fine example of the Italian legacy marque's excellence in crafting extraordinarily beautiful V12-powered Grand Tourers. And, well, isn't that precisely what Gran Turismo is all about? Although the gorgeous Ferrari F12 has been included in GT7 since day one, and the polarizing 812 Superfast recently made its in-game debut last month with the game's most recent update, we'd love to see the 599 included to further complete the Ferrari V12 Grand Tourer lineage in the racing game. Final thoughts As Polyphony Digital rolls out occasional updates containing oddball vehicles like kei trucks and mundane crossovers like the Toyota C-HR and Honda CR-V, fans are left wondering why we're given access to hybrid SUVs and diesel-powered Unimogs when iconic performance cars like the ones mentioned here are being withheld. Hopefully, Polyphony Digital will hear our cries and grant us more performance-oriented modern classics instead of dull crossovers and other vehicles that seem genuinely out of place in a game that brands itself as the ultimate racing simulator. About the Author Cole Attisha View Profile
Top Gear
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Here are a pro driver's tips for surviving the Nürburgring 24 Hours
Interview Overtake quickly, avoid eating a currywurst beforehand and hope for luck. Lots of luck Skip 15 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Sven Mueller is a 33-year-old, Mainz-born racing driver who was competing in karts from the age when most of us were still in nappies. He then traded paint in both Formula 4 and 3, before signing as a Porsche works driver and racking up a string of trophies - including the 2016 Porsche Supercup and Carrera Cup. He's also done a fair bit of racing in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), which comprises various four, six and 12-hour races at the Green Hell. He's won multiple events over the last three years, priming him to take on the infamous Nürburgring 24 Hours this weekend. Advertisement - Page continues below Mueller will be representing Falken Motorsports - you know, the team Irish drift sensation James Deane burns rubber for - and he'll be seated in a Porsche 911 992 GT3 R. Its water-cooled flat-six gains carbon manifolds, butterfly intakes and a tweaked central exhaust, sending its output up to 558bhp. It's also supported by a bespoke traction control system and a motorsport-grade carbon fibre clutch. It all sounds very dandy. But behind the no-doubt brilliant engineering, just how daunting is the N24 for the person in the seat? Over to you, Mueller. You might like SM: Yes. The track itself is difficult, but you also need to manage traffic and keep the level of risk as low as possible to survive. As for the car, there's so much elevation change and kerb riding. To complete 24 hours without stopping or having a technical issue, it's why we do so much preparation with the NLS races. And that's before we even mention the weather: it's 25 degrees and sunshine at one end, and it could be a hailstorm at the other. Finishing is such a huge achievement in itself. You aren't just combating tiredness and avoiding costly errors, but you need luck. Without luck, you won't win the N24. Back in 2019, I was leading the race with three hours to go, and then I had a differential issue, caused by some debris puncturing a tyre. A tiny bit of debris on the track. It goes to show the fine margins in winning or losing at the Nürburgring. Advertisement - Page continues below It's one of the biggest talking points at the 'Ring, because you can gain or lose as much as 20 seconds sometimes, depending on holdups. You have to get past as quickly as possible. You cannot wait one or two kilometres until there's a long straight, because there are far too many cars on the track, of different classes and strengths, so you're never far from traffic. At the end of every corner, you have to choose if you're going to go right or left and stick to your decision. It also helps that when your teammates come in, they give you some idea about which cars on the field are willing to let you go past and which aren't. Some drivers are on their own without any guidance, and therefore cannot look into their mirrors regularly. You sort of just have to go for it and hope the approaching car doesn't close the door. But the issue here is that if you're too pushy, you've got a high risk of damaging the car. You need to be strong enough to survive, but not aggressive enough to crash. Because if you're quick for four or five hours straight, and then you lose five minutes in the pits because of an issue, your position is gone. Just how bad is visibility at night? Really poor, as you can imagine. We're lucky with the 911, because Porsche lights tend to be good. Other drivers in the paddock sometimes say that, if they've got a Porsche behind, it blinds them. To get around this, some manufacturers tape up the back screen of the car so that lights and flashes from obstacles behind don't affect them as much. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. There are so many elevation changes and blind corners, and light obviously cannot go past the apex and the exit of a corner, so that's why having good vision and a comfortable line of sight is so important. Another issue a lot of people don't realise is the smoke. When we go past BBQ sections such as Brunnchen, it's very thick and you think it might be a patch of fog. How do you prepare yourself for a stint? I don't have any weird rituals, if that's what you mean. I look at the onboard video of whichever teammate is currently racing, and assess all the circumstances: how are the conditions? How is the field spread out? Where could we gain time? Are there any particular wet spots to be aware of? Doing this makes me feel ready and helps me understand how I can just head right out and be as quick as I can be. If I can assess these things before getting in the car, then it's just a matter of acclimatising to the tyres and level of grip. OK, no weird rituals. Any weird foods then? You can't have a currywurst two minutes before a stint, that's for sure. Jokes aside, nutrition is important. We have plain water supplies in the car, a litre's worth to last us for a stint, and that's more than enough. You can't just drink when you want either; it's only when you get up to certain sections that aren't as technical or corner-heavy. Put us in your shoes: how does a flat-out lap feel? Your heart rate goes up like crazy as soon as you set off. Within two or three kilometres, you're reminded why the 'Ring is the best track in the world. The corners come at you thick and fast, the forest is right up against you, and you're constantly trying to calculate how to overtake people and push the car to go faster. Eventually, you settle into a rhythm and start to flow. Your pace is consistent, and each corner comes together beautifully, one after another. There's no feeling quite like it in this world when that happens. Images: Falken Motorsport
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Suffolk teen bike racer dreams of podium win at Snetterton
An aspiring MotoGP racer who broke his leg in an 80mph (129kph) crash at his home race last year said he was back at the same track for "revenge". Charlie Huntingford, 16, from Debenham, Suffolk, is aiming for his first career podium at Snetterton, Norfolk, over the weekend. He has raced in the MotoGP feeder series and the British Talent Cup, and said he could reach up to 170mph on faster tracks. Huntingford, who got up at 05:00 to train, said it would be a "dream" to make the podium. "This time last year, unfortunately, I broke my leg, but up to that point, I was doing really well - I was top five and then in second just before the injury," he said."Going into Snetterton, I really want to kick-start my season, get a bit of revenge on the track that caught me out last year." He continued: "We go up to 140mph and then on the faster track day bikes 170mph, which to the normal person seems absolutely absurd." Huntingford is currently studying for his GCSEs, but said he remained focused on all things two wheels. He added: "I've been racing since I was seven years old, so it's just normal. It's embedded in my DNA. All I think about is motorbikes."When sat in an exam this morning, all I could think about was getting out on my bike this afternoon. Everything I focus on is racing, pushbikes, anything with two wheels". Huntingford is managed by dad, Simon, who juggled the fear of watching his son hurtle around a track approaching 170mph, whilst also critiquing and analysing Charlie's performance. He told the BBC: "I respect him as a rider, and hopefully he respects me as a team manager, but I have to be a dad when it needs that emotional support. "When your son's that passionate about something and he's good at it, why would you stop him? Huntingford added: "Some people say how alike we are because we just spend so much time together." Team Huntingford is aiming for a maiden podium, which Huntingford said would be "awesome", while his dad added that there "would be tears".Huntingford said: "It would mean the world, especially as I got injured there last year, so I'm really hungry for it. I'm going to do it". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Herald
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Regional action set to light up PE Oval Track Raceway
The fourth round of the DO4SA Regional Dirt Oval Championship takes place on Saturday evening at PE Oval Track Raceway (PEOTR), situated on Mission Road in the Greenbushes area. The championship that comprises six rounds and sees races taking place at both PEOTR and Victory Raceway in Walmer is building to an exciting climax. In the 1600 Stock Class, Pieta de Lange has emerged as the man to beat with a healthy 74-point lead over Deon Kretzmann, with Ruben Barnard in third a further 12 points adrift. Reghardt Joubert, 16, who is the current SA3, is in fourth place, a further 13 points behind Barnard. Also enjoying a relatively comfortable lead in the 1660 Modified Saloon Class is East London's Marthinus Muller, who has a 45-point lead over local PEOTR favourites, brother and sister Jason Drake and Charne' Schuin. Schuin is just three points behind Drake in third place, with Nadia Rautenbach in fourth place, 27 points adrift of Schuin. The 2.1 Modified Class is a closer affair with the ever-consistent Malcolm Els leading the charge with a 25-point lead over Rimon Landman, who is just nine points ahead of Kean Barnard, who is third, with Dawid Grundlingh in fourth, 25 points behind Barnard. The Hot Rod class has an interesting battle brewing between upcoming young superstar Kiaan Aylward and legendary racer Piet 'Piet Skiet' Scheepers. Aylward leads the championship by 78 points with Ludolf Olckers sitting in third, 15 behind Scheepers and Annuschke Landman in fourth, 18 back. Danie de Vos has a big lead in the Heavy Metal Class with a 94-point advantage over Joshua Sletcher in second and David Victor 47 points behind in third, and in the American Saloon Class, Rohan van Vuuren has got better and better as the season has progressed. He leads from Juan Roesstorff by a mere seven points, with PEOTR club chair Wayne Holland trailing by 38 points in third with lady driver Ruzanne Jansen in fourth, 18 behind. Saturday's event is also the fifth round of the PEOTR Club Championship, which includes the Classic 6 class as well as the Development class for newcomers to the sport. The Classic 6s is a close affair upfront with just 15 points separating the top three with Jabe de Kock leading, Michael Kruger in second and Jonathan van Vuuren in third. In the Development Class, Justin Fourie leads Quade de Lange by 40 with Renaldo Jonck in a distant third place, trailing by 138. The gates to PEOTR open at 12.30pm with racing set to start at 5pm. Upcoming events: June 21: EP Off-Road championship round 2 at Innibos Lapa; Regional round 4 of Dirt Oval Racing at PE Oval Track Raceway; Algoa Kart Club round 4 of regional & club championship; Rover Motorcycle Club – Supercross June 27-28: ROK Karting Nationals at Algoa Kart Club. June 28: Rover Motorcycle Club Navigational Enduro round 3 July 5: Algoa Motorsport Club – Main Circuit racing round 4; Dirt Oval Racing at Victory Raceway, club championship round 6 July 18: National Extreme Festival, East London Grand Prix Circuit. The Herald
