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Driving ambition: MF put NASCAR star Matt Kenseth behind the wheel to get the inside track on four cars

Men's Fitness, March, 2004 by Jon Finkel

YOU WORRY ABOUT your athletic performance. You obsess over performance in the bedroom. But what about in the garage? Why not hold your otherwise flaccid automobile to those same rigid standards? We sent four sports cars to a North Carolina racetrack and then handed the keys to Matt Kenseth, the winner of NASCAR's 2003 Winston Cup, to give them a test.

MAZDA RX-8

Kenseth says: "The car runs real well at a high rpm. It really takes off at 5,500 rpm and handles well. Most street cars roll around a little when you take them on a track because they're made for a smooth ride, but this one has a pretty stiff suspension. I also like when you sit down low and get a good view of the gauges, like in here."

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SUBARU WRN STi

Kenseth says: "Incredibly, a lot of the interior is laid out in the same way as my race ear. It's familiar. I like that. The throttle was responsive, even when I downshifted hard in the corners. It was also quiet in the cockpit, that is, until I gave the stereo a test drive--Metallica. It was like the band was riding shotgun. Awesome."

MINI COOPERS, JOHN COOPER WORKS PACKAGE

Kenseth says: "This is a neat little car. It's got toggle switches for everything, like a race car. The window is pitched for ward, giving a great view of the road, and the steering wheel is heavy. You can feel the tires on the road--perfect for precision control."

FORD GT

Kenseth says: "This is a true race car. We're right on the ground, which is where you need to be. The gauges are laid out perfectly, and the seats are deep and the gear shift is high. The engine sounds great, and I like how you can feel the car flatten to the ground as you pick up speed. The aerodynamics of a high-performance machine like this are important. The pickup is just like a race car--it eases from first to third no problem, and it takes the turns well."

Driving ambition: MF put NASCAR star Matt Kenseth behind the wheel to get the inside track on four cars

Men's Fitness, March, 2004 by Jon Finkel

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