Automotive Press

New Event in the Motoring Calendar. ‘Boom Banger Rally’ takes off

2013-05-22T19:26:00.001+01:00

On 28 June 2013 a 3-day, 1000 mile ‘Boom Banger Rally’ sets off across France. Organised by Army Cadet Force Officer and Businessman Jamie Storey, it is billed as ‘the challenge of taking a car which has seen better days on a journey across Europe to fulfill its destiny’. The event begins in Rouen and follows a route that takes in France, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco, finishing in Nice.

“After successfully completing two banger rallies in the past I wanted to have a go at organising my own” said Jamie. “In 2008 it was the Mongol Rally which involved taking a car under 1000cc more than 8000 miles to Ulaan Baatar the Capital of Mongolia. Now it’s the time of taking a car on its last legs on one last great adventure on the roads of Europe”.

For a limited time only, registration is just £150 per team who need a car worth less than £250 to take to the start-line. There will be some fun and interesting challenges to complete along the way too!

Teams must embrace the request for ‘pimped’ cars and fancy dress and will be competing fiercely for the first prize of £1000, plus the all important trophy and medals. For further information about the Boom Banger Rally go to www.boombangerrally.co.uk

Jané's Smart Phone Technology Could Save Babies' Lives

2013-05-22T19:19:00.003+01:00

Child car safety seat manufacturer Jané is using digital technology to help keep children safer when travelling in cars.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, a staggering 70% of child car seats are incorrectly fitted, putting a large number of babies and young children at greater risk in the event of an accident or evasive action needing to be taken by the driver.

But now Jané (pronounced Han-ay) has decided to tackle this alarming problem by adding QR codes to its child car seats. When scanned with a smart phone the QR codes, positioned on the side of the seat, reveal a video fitting guide along with additional information about the seat.

Child car seat experts from consumer magazine Which? say that most parents struggle when it comes to fitting child car seats correctly. In their investigation into Child Car Seat Retailer Advice, they found that staff in almost half the stores visited did not know how to install child car seats correctly.

David McCullough, spokesperson for Jané, explains why he thinks that QR codes are so important: "There is no doubt that many people find fitting a car seat daunting. These interactive QR codes are a real step forward in helping to educate the consumer about installing child safety seats correctly and could well help to save lives."

UK and Ireland distributor for Jané, Johnston Prams, www.johnstonprams.co.uk

Mercedes-Benz S-Class – perfect automobile design in each generation

2013-05-22T18:46:00.001+01:00

Every generation of the S-Class with its unique design harmoniously brings the strengths and values of the Mercedes-Benz brand to the forefront. The design idiom, the aesthetics and the solid manufacture of these exclusive range-topping luxury saloons are thus the standard bearers of the Stuttgart-based vehicle manufacturer and even set the standards for the entire automotive segment.

The S-Class has been the excellent leitmotif of Mercedes-Benz design, particularly since the 1950s. The stylists have maintained a constant balance between innovative ideas and an organic shaping on the basis of the long tradition of this model series: typical stylistic elements help to maintain a kinship of shape. This Mercedes-Benz design philosophy is the foundation of a holistic process. It ensures that an S-Class can be instantly recognised as a member of this exclusive model series family.

Vehicle design at the level of the S-Class has a commitment both to brand identity and to realising technical innovations in a series production car. Time and again, pioneering innovations have premiered in the S-Class and have then had an effect on design in general. This ranges from passive safety to optimised fuel consumption and to new interfaces between man and machine. The major dialogues of each epoch affect the stylistics of a new model generation, but conversely it is the design of an S-Class that always has an effect on the design idiom of its epoch. Also, some important impulses have come from history. Back in the early 20th century, the Mercedes top class and luxury segment cars were already setting design trends.

The birth of a new design idiom from the spirit of post-war reconstruction

The more recent tradition of today’s S-Class began in 1951 with the 220 (W 187) and 300 (W 186) models. Front wings with integrated round headlamps set the W 187 clearly apart from the tradition of the pre-war years. Even more marked was the move towards the shape of the Mercedes-Benz 300, with its representative design being characterised by clear lines.

In 1954, the “Pontoon” saloons of the Mercedes-Benz luxury class marked the final step towards modern-day cars: even the W 180 model series with its self-supporting body in so-called “three box” design which sees the vehicle divided into three distinct parts: the front end, the passenger section, and the rear end. This created a generous amount of space with low weight and good aerodynamics.

Safety as a design aim

The luxury class saloons presented in 1959 were given the name “Tailfin” because of the characteristic fin-like markers at the rear known as “Peilstege” (something like “bearing bars”). The body design of the W 111/112 model series were influenced first and foremost by thoughts of car safety: it was the first series production car worldwide to be fitted with a safety body. The Mercedes-Benz engineer Béla Barényi developed the idea of the safety body with a fixed shape passenger cabin and crumple zones, and manufactured it as a series production model. Another design highlight of the W 111/112 model series are the vertical main headlamps.

At the 1965 Frankfurt on the Main International Motor Show (IAA), the W 108/109 model series with their markedly clear lines were premiered. For the first time, the Mercedes-Benz luxury class was given a design entirely its own, whereas in the previous series there had still been a close proximity to the cars of the upper medium-size category.

The first S-Class

In 1972, Mercedes-Benz presented the luxury saloon cars of the 116 model series, which were the first to bear the official S-Class name. The design with horizontal main headlamps was dominated by a modern wedge shape with a low waistline, but it also included a stylistic bridge to tradition. The design elements which most affect safety included for example new wind guides on the A-pillars and dirt-resistant tail lights.

In 1979, the characteristic of the new S-Class 126 model series was modern practicality: new plastic-coated bumpers integrated into the front and rear aprons replaced the classic chrome ones. Broad plastic protective strips at the sides took up the motif and joined the design into one harmonious whole. The innovative body design lowered fuel consumption, reduced the danger of injury to pedestrians and protected the car body from minor damage.

Again with the claim of providing the very best in car construction, in 1991, the S-Class of the 140 model series came onto the market. At first its voluminous appearance raised mixed echoes from experts and the public, particularly in Europe. Soon, however, the achievement of the timeless design, combining size, power and safety with elegance and poise gained worldwide acceptance.

The design of the new millennium

In 1998, Mercedes-Benz presented the S-Class of the 220 model series. With somewhat more curved lines than its predecessor and all in all an almost dainty appearance, it once again set standards for the design of large cars. The powerfully tautened bodywork made this S-Class one of the most streamlined series production cars in the world. A new feature was the close co-operation between the design divisions for the exterior and the interior when the vehicle interior was being planned.

The extensive range of electronic driving assistance systems affected the interior design. Whereas in 1994, in the 140 model series, the change caused by the display of the PARKTRONIC ultrasonic parking aid was relatively small, in 1998 COMAND, the innovative cockpit management and data system made a lasting change to the interior of the 220 model series. With COMAND the driver was able to operate a number of new and additional comfort functions via a central control panel.

The next S-Class (model series 221) celebrated its premiere in 2005. Clear lines and smooth surfaces contrasted with the dynamically swept front, the distinctive wheel arches and characteristic projection headlamps. At the same time, certain classic form elements such as the typical Mercedes-Benz face entrenched this S-Class in the model series tradition.

With the “Aesthetics S” sculpture in autumn 2012 at the Paris Auto Salon, the Mercedes-Benz designers provided an exciting taster of the design of the upcoming S-Class from the model series 222. This will appear in 2013 and will fit smoothly into the great Mercedes-Benz design tradition of the luxury and top class vehicles.

1,000 miles of fascination: The BMW 328 in the Mille Miglia 2013. BMW Group Classic results.

2013-05-22T18:42:00.000+01:00

75 years after its debut in the legendary Mille Miglia endurance road race, the BMW 328 has now completed the latest edition of this tradition-steeped reliability trial in similarly impressive style. In signing up a total of nine BMW 328 models for this year’s event, BMW Group Classic once again demonstrated the close ties that bind the BMW brand to the Mille Miglia. All the examples of this historic sports car that lined up at the start of the world’s most celebrated classic event made it to the finish, displaying the same reliability that had helped the BMW 328 on its way to class victory in its spectacular premiere back in 1938. To the applause of countless spectators, the BMW Group Classic contingent reached the start/finish point in the north Italian town of Brescia after completing all three challenging competition stages without any technical hitches.

“To witness the BMW 328 on this highly traditional route is a fascinating experience every time,” commented Dr Ralf Rodepeter, Director BMW Museum and BMW Group Classic Marketing. “The thought of those 1,000 miles being clocked up non-stop and at top speed 75 years ago commands the utmost respect from any motor racing fan following this event. We are very proud to be able to present in such authentic form today the vehicles that achieved those feats all that time ago.”

It is the gearbox of the historic BMW 328, above all, that has to survive extraordinary loads during the Mille Miglia. That is why all the competing BMW 328 models were equipped with a faithful reconstruction of the original transmission – a recent addition to the BMW Group Classic range. This elaborately manufactured replica was developed in close collaboration with the FIA, the world motoring governing body, and FIVA, the world governing body for historic vehicles. As such it is an authentic replacement for the gearbox of the 1930s sports car classic. At the 2013 Mille Miglia, the new transmission provided persuasive evidence of its reliability.

The Mille Miglia was first held in 1927 and was soon rated as the world’s greatest motor sport challenge. Up until 1957, the cars drove on public highways and narrow urban streets, and partly also along unsurfaced roads. For racing drivers such as Tazio Nuvolari, Stirling Moss, Rudolf Caracciola, Juan Manuel Fangio and Fritz Huschke von Hanstein, the Mille Miglia became a spectacular stage, while car companies who acquitted themselves well in the race were able to demonstrate the prowess of their products in conspicuous style.

The BMW 328 was first assigned this task in the year 1938. From the word go, the teams driving a BMW 328 scored a clean sweep of first to fourth places in the 2.0-litre category. Thanks to its reliability, efficiency, low weight and outstanding handling characteristics, the Mille Miglia novice also managed to leave most of the far more powerful sports cars trailing far behind. In the end, the British team of Fane/Williams not only secured a class win but also finished in eighth place overall. Two years on, BMW would celebrate outright victory: driving the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupé, Fritz Huschke von Hanstein and Walter Bäumer completed the Mille Miglia 1940 as overall winners.

Memories of the achievements and triumphs of the past are revived each year in what has since 1977 been staged as a 1,000-mile reliability and regularity trial. This year’s route, which the organisers measured out at exactly 1,555.24 kilometres (966.38 miles), took its cue from its historic predecessor. After the start in Brescia, the first stage led to Ferrara. The following day the route continued via Ravenna and San Marino to Rome, where the BMW 328 models among a field of some 400 contestants received a rapturous welcome in front of the Castel Sant’Angelo. On the final and longest stage, the historic automobiles passed through cities such as Siena and Florence before arriving back at the finish point in Brescia.

Alongside five original BMW 328 production models, the BMW Group Classic line-up included four highly exclusive one-offs. Among them was the winning car of 1940, the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupé, which was this year piloted to the finish by Hanns Werner Wirth and co-driver Christian Geistdörfer. The BMW 328 MM Roadster, which came third in 1940, again made an eye-catching appearance in the 1,000-mile round trip. A further blast from the past came in the shape of the 1937 BMW 328 Berlin-Rome Touring Roadster, while the compelling vintage fleet was rounded off by the BMW 328 Kamm Coupé, whose aerodynamically honed lightweight body still bears eloquent witness today to the engineering skills of a bygone era.

The results of the BMW Group Classic teams at the Mille Miglia 2013:

Position	Start no.	Driver/Co-driver	Vehicle
10	118	Hanns Werner Wirth / Christian Geistdörfer	BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupé
68	128	Frank B. Meyer / Moritz Müller	BMW 328
93	116	Reiner Feurer / Ralph Körfgen	BMW 328 MM Roadster
132	126	Nicolas Peter / Pascal Grizot	BMW 328
133	105	Hans-Joachim Bender / Peter Mülder	BMW 328
134	137	Erich Ebner von Eschenbach / Oliver Bäte	BMW 328
144	121	Franz Jung / Achille D’Avanzo	BMW 328
148	102	Tim Abbott / Colin Montgomerie	BMW 328 Berlin-Rom Touring Roadster
200	129	Babette Albrecht / Florian Zimmermann	BMW 328 Kamm Coupé

Audi pilot project: Pay for parking wirelessly in Ingolstadt

2013-05-22T18:38:00.000+01:00

Audi is extending its Audi connect services, thus further promoting networking between car, driver and infrastructure. The trial phase for “Audi connect wireless payment” is currently getting underway in Ingolstadt. The solution allows drivers to conveniently pay for parking from their car.

It tends to be the small tasks that cause the greatest inconvenience on a daily basis – the cumbersome task of paying for parking, for instance: Developers were dissatisfied that drivers have to firstly collect a parking ticket, and then go looking for a ticket machine later.
The new “Audi connect wireless payment” convenience service can now provide a solution to this problem. In a wide-ranging pilot which is now being launched in Ingolstadt, the new technology will first be tested and the acceptance of the service proven in practice over the next few months. Up to 13,000 cars will participate. The aim is to integrate wireless payment as an Audi connect service in the car in the future, along the lines of the customer-friendly navigation service with Google Earth and Google Street View that is already available now.
During the trial phase, the parking facilities and the car communicate with each other via an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) transmitter. For this purpose, a wireless transponder is mounted on the inside of the car windshield. The parking lot user must register for the service once via an online portal using the car’s transmitter number.
The Ingolstadt Economic Development Agency (IFG Ingolstadt) provides this service. It operates nine parking lots and underground parking garages in the city, with a total of 6,200 spaces and 21 entrances and exits.
The trial participants will receive a monthly bill from IFG detailing any parking charges incurred. The amount is then debited from the user’s account by means of a direct debit mandate.
All Audi employees who lease a new car in the coming months are able to participate at the start of the trial. When the car is handed over, they receive the “Audi connect wireless payment starter kit”, including a wireless tag. All parking lot users in Ingolstadt will be able to reap the benefits of the new system by the end of this year.
Audi continues to work on car-to-X communicationThe premium brand Audi is committed to constantly expanding the range of services available to customers and to developing additional innovative services in the future. Audi connect denotes all services and applications that connect Audi models to their driver, the infrastructure and other cars. The entire model range also offers numerous web-based services.

CADILLAC DESIGN: HOW FASHION INFLUENCED XTS INTERIOR

2013-05-22T18:32:00.002+01:00

The 2013 Cadillac XTS offers the first look at the next generation of interior design for the brand. Yet, designers of the large luxury sedan looked to the fast-paced and often-changing fashion and home furnishings industries for inspiration when conceptualizing the car's interior finishes.
The cut-and-sew treatment of leather in the interior of the XTS, for example, is one element designers borrowed from fashion. They studied how the industry chooses leathers for handbags and shoes to design the XTS's interior in a way that would be an extension of products with which luxury consumer already interact.
"As automotive designers we can draw parallels, especially from luxury fashion, in the way materials like leather are selected and treated," said Erin Crossley, a design manager who helped style the XTS's interior. "We applied small details, such as stitching touches, from fashion to deliver a refined interior with finishes that a customer can appreciate for its attention to detail."
While automotive interiors do not change with the seasons as in fashion, the use of premium materials is a key component to crafting a durable and chic product.
The XTS Platinum edition features Opus full-leather seats with an exclusive treatment that emits subtle hints of purple through mini-perforated inserts. Opus leather is the highest-quality leather sourced for Cadillac and has a limited finishing and light embossed grain to help maintain a soft feel. A purple stitching around the interior's trim areas helps bring out the unique finish of the leather-appointed areas. XTS Platinum also has a leather-wrapped steering wheel, front dash, door trim top pad and center console.
"With the XTS we really looked for soft and supple leathers and used pops of color to add an element of contrast and drama," said Crossley. "We used really fine grains in order to see the richness of the natural material and also make sure it feels high end to the touch."
Since its launch, the XTS has been recognized by several industry experts for its design and performance. Cadillac today was officially presented with a Ward's 10 Best Interiors award for the 2013 XTS.
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and advanced technology. More information on Cadillac can be found at media.cadillac.com.

MONACO GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT GUIDE

2013-05-22T18:30:00.000+01:00

This street circuit is extremely tight and twisty, rendering overtaking almost impossible. It also has the biggest elevations of any grand prix circuit. The cars power up the Beau Rivage to Casino Square and then wind their way back down through the famous hairpin section. There is very little grip, so soft tires and the highest possible downforce setting are the order of the day. Most corners are taken in first or second gear, requiring teams to install low ratios.
The most challenging corners are Turn 1, Sainte Devote, where drivers are greeted with an Armco barrier if they turn in just 1km/h too fast. It's easy to miss the braking point as the entrance to the corner is so bumpy. Massenet, at the crest of the Beau Rivage, is blind on entry, and often the scene of pile-ups. The Hairpin – the most famous turn in F1 – is also the slowest and requires full lock and gentle throttle application. The Tunnel - the only one in F1 - really is a shock to the eyes as drivers plunge in and out of darkness; the sound as the engine noise bounces off the walls is incredible. The chicane at the Swimming Pool really does defy physics as the cars bounce across its curbs.
This circuit requires 100 percent concentration from all the drivers, as the slightest mistake could ruin their weekend. After qualifying, the drivers' eyes appear to be on stalks.
Local start time: 14h00
Number of laps: 78
Circuit length: 3.340km
Race distance: 260.520km
Grand prix debut: 1929
Lap record: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari, 2004), 1:14.439
2012 QUALIFYING:
1) Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) – started with grid penalty
2) Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
3) Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
10) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 RACE RESULTS:
1) Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2) Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
3) Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
4) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)

SRT VIPER SET FOR RETURN TO THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS

2013-05-22T18:28:00.001+01:00

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s oldest active sports car race. The first event was held in 1923 and for driver and machine, it’s the ultimate test of speed, efficiency and endurance. Participation is by invitation only as the Automobile Club de I ‘Quest (ACO) selects the 56 entries. The 81st edition is set for June 22-23 at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.

Two identically prepared SRT Viper GTS-Rs will return to the Le Mans stage for the first time since finishing one-two in the GTS class three consecutive years – 1998-2000. SRT Motorsports accepted an invitation in February from ACO to field the two-car team in the LM GTE Pro class.

“Racing is a cornerstone of Viper’s illustrious history,” said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer – (SRT) Street and Racing Technology Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. “Le Mans is a world stage. The GTS-R has enjoyed great success at Le Mans in the past and we’re excited to start a new chapter of Viper racing at that historic venue.”

The festive atmosphere and famous location of the semi-permanent race course southwest of Paris is a perfect international stage for the SRT brand.

“Racing is a big part of everything that SRT does,” said Beth Paretta, Director of Marketing and Operations – SRT Brand and Motorsports. “Racing is in our name – Street and Racing Technology – so the line is very blurred between what we do on the road and what we do on the track. We’ve enjoyed some past success at Le Mans, so you want to not only show well, but also run competitively on the track. The whole motorsports world is watching and it’s extremely exciting for us to be part of it and a big challenge to do well.”

Viper’s success in motorsports has served as a symbol to owners, the brand and even the company itself.

“Having the Viper return as a flagship, American sports car in general and SRT being elevated to a separate brand within Chrysler Group, it’s very symbolic for the company as a whole given the challenges we’re faced over the last four years,” said Paretta. “It was like a beacon while they were going through the darkest days of the company, when you weren’t even sure if the company was going to exist. You had this wonderful network and group of owners who were so passionate and loved this car so much because of the community and the friends that they’ve made just by owning this special car. So the idea that it could have gone away was very sad for them. The fact that it survived is something that a lot of people rally around and are so happy and rightfully emotional about because it’s such a big part of their lives.

“Just a few short years ago, there was a question about our existence as a company. So after a few years of hard work, not only did we survive but we’re thriving. This SRT Motorsports effort is a symbol for the whole company – showing that we did fight back and we’re going to be fighting in a very real sense on the track.”

The Viper hasn’t been on the Le Mans stage since 2000 but Paretta and the SRT Motorsports team have a good idea what to expect. They attended the race last year to formulate a plan should an invitation come.

“We went to do some research should we ever get back on the track at Le Mans and were astounded by the interest shown by the amount of fans who lined up and waited to simply get a glimpse of our SRT Viper GTS-R show car and take photos.” said Paretta. People came wearing all sorts of jackets, both Viper jackets and competitor jackets and it was interesting too that they very much crave to see this American rivalry between the brands; they take such pleasure in watching them kind of duke it out on the track. There are Viper Clubs that are very strong in Europe. They travel great distances to see races and they’ll travel great distances to be together for activities such as road rallies and track days. The Viper Nation is truly a global entity.”

Although Le Mans was the target, the SRT Motorsports team is somewhat surprised it came so soon. “The goal was to get to Le Mans but none of us thought that we’d get there our first year out, honestly,” continued Paretta. “We’re not taking any minute of it for granted because of the process of either qualifying or getting invited. Because we had a short year last year, we had to rely on a direct invitation. You can see how hard everybody is working, putting their heart and soul into this because to be there is just amazing.”

It wasn’t until August last year that the SRT Viper GTS-R made its official return to the track, competing in the American Le Mans Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. While Le Mans is the biggest global race, Paretta quickly points out the importance of competing here at home.

“The American Le Mans Series and what will be United SportsCar Racing (the name of the consolidation of the two main North America sports car racing entities – ALMS and Grand-AM Road Racing) is the premiere sports car racing in North America. The North American market is very important,” Paretta commented. “That’s why a lot of the European brands choose the American Le Mans Series and Grand-Am Road Racing to showcase their cars in the GT Class.”

“We know this program is very important to SRT owners around the world. At every race, whether it’s in the American Le Mans Series or at Le Mans itself, we have owner experiences where they can be with our team for the weekend to enjoy a true VIP experience. Owners get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s going on, meet the drivers and ask questions of the engineers. Hopefully, we’ll continue to go to Le Mans for many years to come but as a sports-car fan, if you can make the trip even once, it’s worth it.”

It’s difficult to overlook Viper’s previous success at Le Mans but SRT Racing Manager Gary Johnson points out the competition has changed since that last visit.

“The rules have changed over the years but we’re going with the same commitment to do our best,” said Johnson. “Our plan is to be as competitive as we can and see what happens at the end. I think it’s a dream come true for anybody that’s been involved in motorsports as the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the pinnacle of sports car racing.”

Johnson is fully engaged in the process, even to the point of dreaming about the event. “It’s kind of funny,” he said. “I’ve been having dreams about Le Mans ever since we talked about getting invited. It’s just one dream that keeps repeating in my head. I’m thinking about it 24 hours a day I guess.”

From the SRT brand team to engineering, the perception of Le Mans is the same – the ultimate test.

“It means a lot to our customers because the racing pedigree of the car can largely be determined with this one annual race,” said Russ Ruedisueli, Head of SRT Motorsports Engineering – Chrysler Group LLC. “For our engineering team, it’s the ultimate endurance test to see how well we’ve developed the cars and seeing how they perform over 24 hours.”

“Everybody on the current team realizes our past success and how Viper teams before us have set a high standard. We can’t help but have that in the back of all of our minds, so we’ll work as hard as ever to hopefully live up to that same standard.”

SRT Motorsports has partnered with Riley Technologies, based in Mooresville, N.C., on the design-and-build process of the SRT Viper GTS-Rs. The two cars competed in four ALMS races in 2012 in preparation of the full 2013 season. In the first three races this year, the No. 91 has recorded three consecutive top-five finishes including a podium – third – at Long Beach. The driver stable includes Marc Goossens, Dominik Farnbacher, Jonathan Bomarito and Kuno Wittmer. They are joined by Tommy Kendall and Ryan Dalziel for the endurance events.

The Viper’s successful racing heritage began in 1996 with its first racing entry, the original GTS-R, which earned five international GT championships and the 1997 to 1999 FIA GT championships in addition to the three consecutive one-two finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTS class.

TOP NORTH AMERICAN TEAMS HEADING TO SUSQUEHANNOCK TRAIL PERFORMANCE RALLY

2013-05-22T18:27:00.001+01:00

North America’s best rally racing teams returns to the Waste Management Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally®, presented by Citizen's & Northern Bank, (STPR) for the fourth round of the Rally American National Championship in Wellsboro, Penn. on May 31-June 1.
The STPR Rally is the longest and oldest continuously running stage rally in the continental U.S. and will feature two full days of racing near Wellsboro, Penn and at the Tioga County Fairground super special stages. The event will cover over 100 miles of competition roads and fans will get plenty of opportunities to meet their favorite drivers and watch all the action.
Once again the STPR Rally will host Friday and Saturday’s Parc Expose at “The Green” in downtown Wellsboro where fans can pick up event information and take pictures of the cars before teams travel to the stages. Friday evening fans can catch two stages at the Tioga County Fairgrounds beginning at 7:00 pm ET.
On Saturday more viewing options are available near Germania, PA before ending the competition at the Tioga County Fairgrounds for another super special stage at 8:00pm ET. Download a free spectator guide: CLICK HERE.
STPR regularly draws the top rally teams from the United States, Canada and abroad who enjoy putting their skills to the extreme test of performance rally. Competitors from the worldwide professional rally community are also found at this premier event.
Current Rally America National Championship points leaders David Higgins and Craig Drew are fresh from winning the last two rounds at the 100 Wood and Oregon Trail Rally. The duo hailing from Wales, UK seek to extend their win streak at STPR as they attempt to lock up their third Rally America title.
Internet gymkhana sensation and Hoonigan Racing driver, Ken Block with co-driver Alex Gelsomino, assumed second place in the standings following the last round and are expected to push hard at STPR to make ground on Higgins.
Indonesian newcomer, Rifat Sungkar, impressed in his America debut at the Oregon Trail Rally by taking third place overall. Sungkar confirmed that he will stay in his Open Class Mitsubishi EVO X and will be an instant podium contender despite never having raced at STPR before.
The STPR Rally will prove to be a redefining event for the Super Production Class teams. Current class leaders, Evan Cline and Jake Blattner, will not contest the event which leaves their position vulnerable to a second place David Sterckx and Karen Jankowski. Sterckx has recently gained momentum after winning the class at the Oregon Trail Rally, and a win at STPR could give Sterckx his first ever class lead.
The Two-Wheel Drive Class (2WD) was dominated by Scion Racing’s Andrew Comrie-Picard and Jeremy Wimpey at the beginning of the season, but Australian newcomers Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Smyth snatched the class win at the Oregon Trail Rally. Reeves impressed by winning by at least 3 minutes over second place finisher, Dillon Van Way, and placed fifth overall.
Comrie-Picard continues to lead the 2WD standings and managed to overcome a number of mechanical problems to place third at Oregon, but he is most certainly eyeing STPR to reestablish his dominance for a hard push to potentially secure his first 2WD title.
Behind Comrie-Picard more 2WD drivers are in position to leap-frog over each other as only second place through fourth place is separated by a spread of four points. Unfortunately, 2012 Rookie of the Year’s Edward McNelly plans to skip STPR in favor of the next round, the New England Forest Rally, leaving fellow rivals Chris Greenhouse and Dillon Van Way an opportunity to add more valuable points.
Rally America is proudly supported by Subaru of America, Ford Racing, VP Racing Fuels, Honda Development Research, GrimmSpeed, Exedy Racing Clutches and Teleblend.

MONACO GP – THE GREAT F1 ANACHRONISM

2013-05-22T18:25:00.003+01:00

Formula 1 will be free of controversy, Ferraris will be painted yellow with purple spots and hell will freeze over – all these things are more likely to happen than the Monaco Grand Prix losing its place on the championship calendar. The event is an anachronism but that only adds to its charm and helps cement its place as one of the three most famous motor races in the world, alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the Le Mans 24 Hours. One of the clichés about the event held in this fairytale Principality – and there are plenty of them - is that the race itself is a dull procession, but that hasn’t been the case in recent years. The format is unique in many ways, starting with the fact that, while all other Grands Prix have to be run over a minimum distance of 305 kilometres, the Monaco race makes do with 260 and even so, the race has often been stopped before full distance, when it has timed out at the two hour limit.

“Monaco is a very special track, completely different to all the other venues we race on,” says Felipe Massa and the Scuderia Ferrari driver ought to know, as he is a resident of the Principality, which means the street circuit is part of his daily life. “Everywhere, you are really close to the edge of the track to the guard rails and you have to drive on the limit but not the slightest bit over it, because the smallest mistake is severely punished in Monaco. It is such a special circuit and I get a great feeling from racing there.”

Of the current driver line-up, only Button, Webber and the Scuderia’s Alonso have raced at Monaco more often than Felipe, so the Brazilian has got an intimate knowledge of the track’s secrets. “I don’t think one part of the circuit is particularly more difficult than another,” he maintains. “Every corner is difficult and a big challenge, so in order to get a perfect lap here, you must drive every turn at a hundred percent. At some tracks, if you make a little mistake at one corner, you can make up for it elsewhere on the lap, but in Monaco, the slightest error at one point and you will lose a lot of lap time and that’s what makes it a fantastic place to drive.”

In 2008 on Saturday afternoon in Monaco, Felipe flew to pole position at the race where a good grid position is more important than at any other venue. “Being on pole in Monaco was a fantastic feeling. I had a great car in 2008 and I was also fighting for the win, but unfortunately the race was run in the rain that year and so many things happened that in the end I was third. Back then, the cars had more downforce than the current machines, but I don’t think the fact we have less downforce now changes our approach to the race. In ‘09 and 2010 we had less, but now the situation is much closer. I think we are going to have a lot of fun driving in Monaco this weekend, partly because this year’s car, the F138, is much more stable.”

The Monaco event defies convention in so many ways, with its unique timetable with practice taking place on Thursday and Saturday and its facilities, which although modernised in recent years, wouldn’t pass muster at any newly built circuit. The race also defies the usual conventions regarding strategy. As before, Pirelli will bring its Soft and Supersoft tyres and we are unlikely to see more than two tyre changes per driver in the race, with just one being a preferred strategy if the tyres can do it. Unlike other tracks where you can change tyres when the first set shows sign of wear and then use the KERS and DRS to blast past slower cars on older tyres, that is not so easy on these tight city streets, so choosing the very best moment to make the switch and avoid traffic is the most important call of the whole weekend. This is not something that can be planned in advance as it depends so much on track position in the actual race. Something else you are unlikely to do in Monaco is go from the fifth row at the start to third at the chequered flag, so Saturday afternoon’s qualifying takes on the level of important it had in the “old days.” Fifth row to third is precisely what Felipe did two weeks ago in Barcelona and the Brazilian was delighted with his performance at the Catalan track. “Going from ninth on the grid to end up on the podium in third place was a great achievement for the whole team, for me and for Fernando winning the race,” he recalls. “I was not happy with losing three places on the grid after qualifying, but I had a really great race, during which I managed to overtake many cars on track. We have to make it our target to fight for the podium at every race and of course, what I really want is to get a win soon.”

Why not this weekend?

KIA RACING TAKES SECOND AT INAUGURAL CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS PIRELLI WORLD CHALLENGE EVENT

2013-05-22T18:24:00.001+01:00

Like a bull rider in a Texas rodeo, Mark Wilkins grabbed the reins of his No. 38 turbocharged Optima and rode it to a well-deserved and hard-fought second-place finish Sunday in Round Five of the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) at the world-renowned Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. The relentless Texas heat wreaked havoc on drivers and tires alike, but Wilkins managed the race well from the driver’s seat and held off Jack Baldwin’s hard-charging Porsche Cayman S for the second step on the podium after a late caution flag bunched up the field of 51 cars with less than 10 minutes to go.
“It was a great weekend for Kia Racing. To grab our first podium of the year feels darn good. The Kinetic crew did an awesome job preparing the No. 38 Optima, and the adjustments they made for Sunday’s race paid dividends,” said Wilkins, who had never driven COTA until this weekend. “We learned a lot from Round Four on Saturday about tire wear, so on Sunday we focused on being patient and more consistent with the car. The Optima performs so well that, naturally, you want to push it, but we had to make sure we had traction left at the end of the race, and I think our results show that we did a good job of tire management on Sunday.”
Wilkins’ podium finish moved him up from fourth to third in the Driver Championship as the series turns to another doubleheader weekend in Detroit at the end of May.
Teammate Nic Jönsson drove his No. 36 turbocharged Optima to fifth place in Round Four on Saturday, following fourth-placed Wilkins across the line. Kia Racing’s momentum continued into Sunday, with the Optimas running third and fourth throughout much of Round Five’s 50-minute contest. With a little over 10 minutes remaining, however, a full-course caution bunched up the field, and on the ensuing restart, Jönsson made heavy contact with the second-place Camaro heading up the hill into turn one. The jarring hit broke the front-right suspension and brake rotor, and Jönsson subsequently collided with the race-leading Camaro, damaging his own car to such an extent that he was unable to continue. Jönsson was credited with a 22nd-place finish and slipped to ninth in the Driver Championship.
“We had a really good car Sunday, and after the caution flag, I felt like we had something for the GTS leaders; I had been saving the tires for the end and this was my chance to make a move,” said Jönsson, who was running third at the time of the incident. “I had a run on the second-place car heading up the hill, but everyone is battling for every inch of race track out there and we just got together. Once that happened, I lost my brakes and couldn’t avoid further contact. It’s unfortunate I collected Lawson while he was in the lead.”
Kia Motors America remains third in the Manufacturer point standings following COTA as the PWC series now turns to the Motor City on May 31-June 2 for Rounds Six and Seven.
Televised coverage of Rounds Four and Five from Circuit of the Americas is scheduled to air Sunday, June 16 at 5 p.m. ET on the NBC Sports Network. Race fans can always tune in online for live race coverage at www.world-challengetv.com, and catch the latest news and updates from the track at http://www.facebook.com/kiaracing%20 and can follow the team on Twitter at @KiaRacing.

USUALLY IN THE RED IN MONACO

2013-05-22T18:22:00.003+01:00

It’s been many, too many years since the roulette wheel has stopped on Red in Monte Carlo. The last time a Ferrari won the Monaco Grand Prix was back in 2001, when Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello secured an amazing one-two. Since then, no Ferrari has been first past the chequered flag, even in those years when Maranello’s technical superiority seemed beyond doubt, such as 2002 and 2004.

However, there have been plenty of podium finishes in the past eleven years, with two second places and six thirds, but very often, something happened over the course of the weekend to see the chances of victory evaporate. For example, how can one forget Fernando Alonso’s accident in Saturday morning’s free practice in 2010? The Spaniard was flying that weekend, however he ended up in the barriers at the start of the session: it seemed innocuous enough, but once the car was back in the pits, it was found that the chassis was damaged beyond repair and would have to be changed. The Spaniard was therefore unable to take part in qualifying and the next day produced a spirited climb up the order, which took him from a pit lane start to sixth at the flag. A similar performance, which ended with a result one place better than that, was produced by Michael Schumacher in 2006. The German also started from pit lane, after being sent to the bottom of the qualifying time sheet following the famous incident at Rascasse. He fought his way back to fifth behind the man who was his Ferrari team-mate for so many years, Rubens Barrichello.

Taking pole at Monaco usually means the win is in your sights, as indeed has happened in 26 of the 59 races held in the Principality to date. From 2004 to 2012, the pole man only failed to win once and if further evidence of Ferrari’s lack of success in this race is needed, the exception that proved the rule was provided by Felipe Massa who, on the Saturday in 2008, produced a fantastic lap at what can now be considered his second home race. The next day, the race started in the wet, but things did not go as planned and furthermore, the gods of fortune concentrated on helping the Brazilian’s main rival for the title, Lewis Hamilton, as much as possible, with the Englishman winning the day. Felipe finished third, just as he had done the previous year.

All this means that the Scuderia has a total of eight wins in the Monaco Grand Prix. Apart from the first one, with Maurice Trintignant in 1955, all the others are bunched together in two clearly defined cycles in the history of the team. From 1975 to 1981, Ferrari won four times: twice with Niki Lauda (1975 and 1976,) once with Jody Scheckter (1979) and once with Gilles Villeneuve (1981.) Sixteen years would go by before a Prancing Horse triumphed in the Principality again: in 1997, Schumacher took the first of his three Monegasque wins at the wheel of a Ferrari. Then in 1999 he headed a one-two with Eddie Irvine and in 2001 came the aforementioned double with Rubens Barrichello. Strangely, only one of these eight wins, Lauda’s second, came in a year that was an even number: given this is 2013, maybe it’s time to cross our fingers!

THE 2014 BMW M5 AND BMW M6 COMPETITION PACKAGE

2013-05-22T18:20:00.001+01:00

They are high-performance sports cars, each with an individual character and all sharing superior performance attributes with an incomparable driving experience. In the BMW M5 and the BMW M6 Coupe, BMW M6 Convertible and BMW M6 Gran Coupe models, race track technology is brought to the road. For generations, each model has joined race-bred chassis components and Olympic levels of power with linear control which can only be developed through years of laps around the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife in the Eiffel Mountains. Now, on 2014 M5 and M6 models, BMW M GmbH will offer a new Competition Package as an option for the four most powerful automobiles in the BMW portfolio. Pricing will be announced closer to the August on-sale date.
The essential BMW M5 and M6 models are driven by a 4.4-liter V-8 engine with patented M TwinPower Turbo technology and a peak output of 560 hp in standard form. This power is managed through the standard 7-speed M Dual-Clutch Transmission (M-DCT) or optional 6-speed manual transmission (North America only), Active M Differential at the rear axle, and aluminum-intensive suspension, all of which are precisely tuned to perfect harmony by BMW M’s 41 years of race-bred experience.

Competition Package: New for 2014.
The Competition Package boosts output by 15 hp / 11 kW to 575 hp / 423 kW (preliminary) in the high-revving V-8 engine with M TwinPower turbo technology that powers the BMW M5, BMW M6 Coupe, BMW M6 Convertible and BMW M6 Gran Coupe models. At the same time, the developers at BMW M have extensively tuned the chassis set-up. Along with new coil springs and damper calibrations, anti-sway bars have also been stiffened. For the BMW M5, these adjustments have resulted in a lowering of the car by around 10 millimeters, which lowers the center of gravity (CG) and roll center. The potential inherent in the rear axle design – based on the race-derived principle of the rear axle subframe being rigidly bolted to the body – and the even more precisely calibrated bushings for the front axle are exploited with the Competition Package.
On all models except M6 Convertible, 0.1 seconds are shaved from the standstill to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint time and 0.2 seconds from the zero to 200 km/h (0-124 mph) sprint. Cornering dynamics and tractability are also enhanced – something noticeable in everyday driving but best experienced on the race track. In particular in conjunction with the optional M Carbon Ceramic Brake system available on the M5 and M6, all the driving dynamics attributes associated with BMW M automobiles are experienced at the highest level.
The Active M Differential on the final drive – standard on all M5 and M6 models – receives a unique tune when the Competition Package is specified, resulting in further-improved traction. The new rack-and-pinion steering with the M-specific Servotronic variable assist function, moreover, has more-direct programming to enable firm and secure contact with the road while further increasing the agility of the vehicle during cornering.
Beyond these enhancements, the M chassis control system has been adapted to the Competition Package suspension profile. With the Competition Package, the M Dynamic Mode (MDM) of DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) is re-mapped for even sportier handling characteristics and higher thresholds of intervention. The Competition Package additionally includes unique 20-inch M light-alloy wheels along with a sport exhaust system featuring M quad tailpipes finished in Black Chrome that lend an unmistakable look and the sound to the car.

NEW SEASON, NEW RACE TRUCK FOR RENAULT TRUCKS-MKR TECHNOLOGY

2013-05-22T18:17:00.001+01:00

The new race truck for Renault Trucks-MKR Technology was unveiled at the first race of the 2013 FIA European Truck Racing Championship. Launched in Misano, Italy, the design is in line with new range which the manufacturer will reveal in Lyon on 11 June. Bruno Blin, President of Renault Trucks, attended the launch and this was followed by Adam Lacko securing a second place finish for the team.
The curtains on the Renault Trucks-MKR Technology paddock remained closed until after the press conference on 17 May. These were only lifted once Bruno Blin and Mario Kress, Director of MKR Technology, had completed their duties.
Created by the Renault Trucks Hall of Design, Hervé Bertrand, Design Director of Renault Trucks, explained: “We wanted to emphasise Renault Trucks visual distinctiveness with this design bymaking these racing trucks consistent with our future range.” He continued: “It is only logical for the spirit and visual language of the racing trucks to be reflected in our future models.”
On the track, Adam Lacko achieved a podium finish in the last race of the weekend. With teammate Markus Bösiger, they are prepared for a season which is sure to bring excitement and many battles along the way as Renault Trucks-MKR Technology aim to retain the title of European Team Champions.
The next race is at Navarra, Spain, on 1 and 2 June.

2013 FIA European Truck Racing Championship Calendar

Date	Location	Country
1 and 2 June	Navarra	Spain
15 and 16 June	Nogaro	France
6 and 7 July	Spielberg	Austria
13 and 14 July	Nürburgring	Germany
27 and 28 July	Smolensk	Russia
31 August and 1 September	Most	Czech Republic
21 and 22 September	Zolder	Belgium
5 and 6 October	Jarama	Spain
12 and 13 October	Le Mans	France

THE SPIRIT OF LE MANS COMES TO HISTORICS

2013-05-22T18:14:00.002+01:00

Le Mans in the 50s comes alive in a superb and highly-affordable recreation of the legendary Jaguar D-Type, offered at auction by Historics on June 1
The legendary Jaguar D-Type is responsible for securing some of Jaguar’s most celebrated victories, including outright Le Mans 24-Hour victories on three consecutive years, in 1955, 1956 and 1957.
Inevitably, examples of this supremely effective racing car are now highly-prized items with a stout, seven figure ticket price to match.
However, for an authentic flavour of the D-Type at a fraction of the cost, a superb recreation - presented in the guise of the works car - OKV 3 - that competed at Le Mans and won at the Reims 12-hour race in 1954 - is set to attract significant interest when it comes to sale at Historics at Brooklands major summer auction on Saturday, June 1, with an estimate of £39,000- £45,000.
Built by one of the UK’s leading Jaguar specialists, Revival Motorsport, in 1969, this D-Type Recreation has superb stature and offers an impressive specification. At its heart is a fully-rebuilt and balanced 4.2 litre straight-six Jaguar powerplant, featuring a lightened flywheel, triple Weber carburettors, competition electric fuel pump and electronic ignition, giving the car excellent performance, with a chassis and suspension tuned to match.
The 1954 flowing, short nose bobtail bodywork design has been re-created, incorporating the single door and screen layout of the original D-Type on which it is based. The coachwork has been finished to the highest standard in a colour that replicates the original, and includes painted racing roundels. Close attention to detail continues with the correct style handles, bonnet straps and wheels, complemented within the interior by replica instruments, leather seats and Wilton carpet.
So confident is the vendor in the sheer quality of the car that it will be offered at Historics with a 12-month unconditional warranty within the UK.
Ready for the road, this outstanding recreation of the Jaguar D-Type represents a rare opportunity to acquire a heartfelt and spirited recreation of a truly iconic motoring legend.
Viewing of this, and all 100+ consigned cars, 80+ classic motorcycles and automobilia is at Historics at Brooklands, near Weybridge, Surrey on Friday 31^st May from 10.00am with the auction on the following day, Saturday 1^st June.
For more information call 01753 639170, email: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk for the full consignment list.

NEW FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM STARS AT CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

2013-05-22T18:12:00.000+01:00

Movie fans at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival will once again be able to watch the cream of independent film as the Ford-supported “Cannes in a Van” team hits the streets in their Transit Custom movie theatre.
Powered by Ford for a second year, and featuring the new Transit Custom as their support vehicle, the film enthusiasts behind Cannes in a Van will champion independent film at an expanded range of festivals and events in 2013, including the spectacular annual Van d’Or Film Awards in September.
The Cannes in a Van programme kicks off with its annual visit to the glamorous Cannes Film Festival, where the Ford Transit will enable film fans to view screenings of independent movies. These include the 2012 Van d'Or Awards winners and nominees while the van is parked on the Boulevard de la Croisette near the festival site in Cannes.
Andy Greenhouse, Cannes in a Van co-founder, said: “Inspired independent productions like ‘82’ and ‘Taking Life’ made our 2012 Awards a special occasion, and it’s a real privilege to take films like these down to Cannes and give them much-needed exposure within the festival. We’re also really excited to have the new Transit Custom as our home for the sixth year of Cannes in a Van.”
Following its 2013 pilgrimage to Cannes this month, the Ford Transit Custom – complete with its signature yellow and orange design – will support a variety of other film festivals and ‘pop-up’ events in Europe. The year culminates with the international Van d’Or Awards for independent film which will be held in September in London.
The Cannes in a Van team’s long-wheelbase Ford Transit Custom has been specially prepared for its role as a four-wheeled film festival, featuring a 55-inch plasma screen in the load area to display the films. To help movie goers locate the vehicle, roof-mounted advertising panels have been created, which are fixed to the Transit Custom’s unique integrated roof rack system.
Winner of International Van of the Year 2013 and the first vehicle in its segment to achieve a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating, the all-new Ford Transit Custom offers class-leading load-carrying ability, best-in-class fuel economy, and advanced Ford vehicle technologies including Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance, Rear View Camera and Lane Keeping Alert.

VAUXHALL RETURNS TO MOTORSPORT!

2013-05-22T18:09:00.001+01:00

It’s been nearly four years since Vauxhall withdrew from BTCC, but just to prove that the company still supports British motorsport, it’s entered a completely standard Astra VXR in the 2013 MSA Hillclimb Leaders Championship – and it’s already turning into a giant-killer.
Driven by motoring journalists David Finlay and Alisdair Suttie, with Simon Hucknall, Vauxhall’s PR Manager in reserve, the Astra is running joint seventh overall out of a 34-strong field after just three rounds. Since the championship started the completely standard Astra VXR came within six tenths of beating a 425PS Sierra Cosworth at Prescott, and set a new class record at a damp Harewood, with Finlay and Suttie coming first and second respectively ahead of a Porsche 911.
While the Astra is only a 1998cc car, because it’s turbocharged it has to compete in an over-2000cc class. What’s more, its rivals in the Road-Going Series Production Cars class can be modified to produce more power, whereas the Astra has to remain stock.
Why? The Scottish-based media duo were keen to prove that their Astra could ‘win on Sunday and commute on Monday’, so it not only had to be competitive on track, but also comfortable and reliable on the road; unlike many of its rivals the car is driven to all meetings and has already racked up 2,500 miles in the last month between Scotland and England.
‘We wanted to prove that motorsport doesn’t have to cost a fortune, if you choose the right car and the right championship,’ said David. ‘Apart from the timing strut and stickers, our press Astra VXR is as it came off the line, and that means it’s tractable, durable and a perfect companion for some of the long journeys from Scotland to the southern-English tracks.’
Alisdair added: ‘What sets it apart on the track is the way it feeds 280PS and 400 Newtons of torque through its mechanical limited slip diff. The traction out of tight bends is truly impressive and is scoring us a big advantage over more powerful cars.’
Vauxhall launched the Astra VXR last year, when it instantly became not only the most powerful car in its class, but also one with the highest specific torque output. The VXR’s chassis is equally competitive, with a mechanical limited-slip differential, HiPerStrut front suspension, and bespoke brakes, spring and damper settings. Prices start at £27,010 on the road.
‘Vauxhall is pleased to support David and Alisdair in this year’s Leaders Championship,’ said Simon Hucknall, PR Manager for Vauxhall & Vx Motorsports. ‘I think their sights were set quite low before Round One, but already they’ve exceeded everyone’s expectations on track, while enjoying the reliability and comfort of the car on the road. Vauxhall wishes them all the best for the next 11 rounds!’
The Astra will be competing at the next MSA Hillclimb Leaders Championship round at Gurston Down in Wiltshire (http://www.gurstondown.org/calendar/) on Sunday, May 26, with practice on Saturday, May 25.
Full details of the Avon Tyres/TTC Group MSA Hillclimb Leaders Championship can be found at http://www.britishhillclimb.co.uk/.

JAGUAR-INSPIRED ARTWORK UNVEILED AT CLERKENWELL DESIGN WEEK

2013-05-22T18:06:00.001+01:00

IN BRIEF

Stunning new art installation, inspired by Jaguar design, takes pride of place at Clerkenwell Design Week (21-23 May 2013)
Installation created by Royal College of Art (RCA) students in conjunction with Jaguar Advanced Design
Winning design chosen from nine exceptional entries submitted by RCA students to Jaguar Advanced Design
Producing the art installation pushed the students’ creativity and introduced them to the complex processes involved in bringing ideas to life within a global design studio

IN DETAIL
(Whitley, Coventry, 21 May 2013) A stunning new art installation, inspired by Jaguar design and created by Royal College of Art students Ewan Gallimore and Claire Miller, was unveiled to an exclusive audience at the opening of the Clerkenwell Design Week, which runs in London from 21–23 May 2013.
The installation was created by RCA students in association with Jaguar’s Advance Design team in Whitley, Coventry, using many of the technologies and facilities employed in the creation of Jaguar concept cars and production designs.
Jaguar, which is the primary sponsor of Clerkenwell Design Week, approached both the MA. Vehicle Design and MA. Textile Design Departments of the Royal College of Art with a brief to create a joint exterior and interior form study which expresses their vision of future Jaguar Design Language in either a sports or luxury context.
Teams comprised of students from both vehicle design and textile design backgrounds were asked to consider the proportions, surfacing, line interactions and aesthetic beauty when expressing their vision of Jaguar’s future design language.
In the end, nine different teams each presented their outstanding proposals and after much deliberation on the part of the Jaguar Advance Design team, the submission of Ewan Gallimore and Claire Miller eventually emerged as the favourite.
According to Ewan and Claire, “Jaguar has a long history of ground-breaking design so we knew we needed to create something truly special to catch the eye of Jaguar Advanced Design Director, Julian Thomson. We began the project by looking at light, specifically the way the light falls within the space at Clerkenwell. We thought about how our form could accentuate this light and convey volume through its use of materials and our knowledge of how these materials react with one another.
“Our form relates to the Jaguar brand through its sculptural volumes, bespoke materials and visual lightness. These elements helped us to create a sculpture that aimed to display a seamless transition between interior and exterior space.”
In addition to pushing their creative boundaries, the students were also able to experience the tight schedules and strict deadlines that are part of working in a global design studio. The students had just two weeks to conceive and present their design proposals and within three days of announcing the winning submission, Ewan and Claire were in the Jaguar Advanced Design studio meeting the design team, and discussing how best to proceed with the development of their installation before handing over to digital modeling in preparation for manufacture.
Julian Thomson, Jaguar Advanced Design Director said: “Jaguar enjoys a successful relationship with the Royal College of Art and several Jaguar Designers, including myself and Ian Callum, are RCA Alumni.
“This has been a fantastic opportunity to once again work with the best car design students in the world and challenge both ourselves and the students with a view on how expressive Jaguar design can become in the future.”

AUDI CUSTOMERS PASS TOUGH EIFEL TEST

2013-05-22T18:02:00.000+01:00

The customer teams of last year’s winner Audi experienced one of the toughest events of the Nürburgring 24 Hours this year. Heavy rain forced race control during the night to interrupt the race for more than nine hours. Numerous accidents caused a treacherous mix of oil, mud and rain water on the track. Three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars had accidents in these critical conditions and retired. In the end, Marcel Fässler/Mike Rockenfeller/Frank Stippler/Markus Winkelhock (CH/D/D/D) in fifth place were the best Audi drivers.

For the first time since the 24-hour Nürburgring debut of the racing version of the R8 in May 2009, there was no trophy for the GT sports car. Four times in succession, the R8 LMS won the GT3 class. In addition, Audi celebrated overall victory a year ago. Following this factory-backed commitment, customer teams exclusively relied on the most recent evolution of the R8 LMS ultra. Five teams put eight race cars on the grid. Frank Stippler (D) started the race weekend for Phoenix Racing by setting the best time in qualifying. From grid position one, last year’s winner in car number 4 took the lead at the beginning of the race. Subsequently, the local hero from Bad Münstereifel, who was nominated for two cars, concentrated on his stints in car number 1, the R8 LMS ultra of G-Drive Racing by Phoenix.

Stippler with his team-mates Marcel Fässler, Markus Winkelhock and Mike Rockenfeller, who had directly arrived from Brands Hatch where he won a DTM round, was initially running among the top three teams. Due to an exchange of the oxygen sensor, car number 1 dropped to tenth place on Sunday night. Up to the interruption of the race the team had recovered to fourth place. On Monday, the quartet defended its position in the fiercely competitive field of the front runners as rain was repeatedly setting in again. In the end, they finished in fifth place.

Several Audi customers got to experience the trickiness of the conditions that prevailed after the race was interrupted. Michael Ammermüller (D) was fortunate when after an excursion only the tie rod on his number 4 Audi had to be exchanged. Consequently, together with Ferdinand and Johannes Stuck (A), he managed the leap onto position eight. One position behind them, Frank Biela/Christer Jöns/Luca Ludwig/Roman Rusinov (D/D/D/RUS) in the second car of G-Drive Racing by Phoenix reached the finish.

Almost simultaneously with Ammermüller, Laurens Vanthoor (B) had slipped into the guard rails on an oil leak. The suspension of his number 29 Audi of the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT was too heavily damaged for a repair. Around 80 minutes later, Christian Mamerow (D) was struck by misfortune. At the ‘Schwedenkreuz’ he got off track on a slippery spot. He destroyed the suspension of his number 2 R8 LMS ultra so that Prosperia C. Abt Team Mamerow retired.

Car number 14 of the Audi race experience experienced a smaller accident as well on lapping a rival but Pierre Ehret (D) was able to continue to drive. Piloted by other enthusiastic customers and several professional drivers, the two R8 LMS ultra cars of the Audi race experience otherwise completed their laps in a commanding manner and in the end took positions 18 and 28.

“I’ve never experienced such a tough event of the 24-hour race since the R8 started running here,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Still, our customers demonstrated a great fighting spirit. Our congratulations today go to those who finished the race and of course to the overall winners of Mercedes-Benz. I’m sure that our customers will attack again at Spa in July at the next 24-hour race.”

Romolo Liebchen, Head of Customer Sport at quattro GmbH, commented, “Every string comes to an end. Since May 2012, the R8 has won four 24-hour races – at the Nürburgring, at Spa, at Zolder plus the class victory at Daytona in January. That the R8 LMS ultra is a reliable and fast endurance race car we saw nonetheless at the Nürburgring in the fierce competition of more than 30 GT3 race cars. Together with our customers, we’re already looking forward to the next challenges.”

Race results

1. Edwards/Bleekemolen/Schneider/Thiim (Mercedes), 88 laps
2. Buurman/Göransson/Martin/Piccini (BMW) +2m 39.7s
3. Bastian/Graf/Jäger/Seyffarth (Mercedes) – 1 lap
4. Arnold/Jäger/Roloff/Seyffarth (Mercedes) – 1 lap
5. Fässler/Rockenfeller/Stippler/Winkelhock (Audi R8 LMS ultra) – 1 lap
6. Adorf/Hürtgen/Klingmann/Tomczyk (BMW) – 1 lap
7. Bernhard/Dumas/Lieb/Luhr (Porsche) – 1 lap
8. Ammermüller/Stippler/Stuck/Stuck (Audi R8 LMS ultra) – 2 laps
9. Biela/Jöns/Ludwig/Rusinov (Audi R8 LMS ultra) – 2 laps
10. Lamy/Mücke/Simonsen/Turner (Aston Martin) – 2 laps
18. Bastien/Frey/Werner/Yoong (Audi R8 LMS ultra) – 6 laps
28. Bollrath/Ehret/Saurenmann/Werner (Audi R8 LMS ultra) – 8 laps

24-HOURS OF NÜRBURGRING: VICTORY FOR BLACK FALCON AMG CUSTOMER TEAM - FIRST OVERALL VICTORY FOR SLS AMG GT3

2013-05-22T17:57:00.001+01:00

Mercedes-Benz and AMG today secured the first overall win in the 24-Hours of Nürburgring. Bearing starting number 9, Black Falcon with Bernd Schneider (Germany), Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands), Sean Edwards (GB) and Nicki Thiim (Denmark) went from sixth position on the grid to finish the legendary endurance race 2:39 minutes ahead of the second placed car after 88 laps. This historic overall victory in the legendary endurance classic in the Eifel represents the first success for Mercedes-Benz.
Record-breaking five-time DTM champion Bernd Schneider had a largely trouble-free race in the SLS AMG GT3 Black Falcon– an excursion off track on Monday morning ended without drama. The victory was rounded off by positions three and four for ROWE RACING.
Thomas Jäger was a double entrant, taking the cockpit in two SLS AMG GT3s prepared by ROWE RACING. In Gullwing #22, the former DTM driver, along with Klaus Graf, Jan Seyffarth and Nico Bastian (all Germany), came home in third place overall. Jäger, at the wheel of car number 23, aided by team-mates Lance David Arnold, Alexander Roloff and Jan Seyffarth (all Germany), finally took the chequered flag in fourth place.
Alexander Böhm, Black Falcon General Manager: “The ultra-reliable SLS AMG GT3 was once again the cornerstone for this historic victory. All the drivers did a great job – we were really fast, especially in the wet. A big thank you to all team members!”
Hans-Peter Naundorf, ROWE RACING Team Manager: “I am extremely pleased with securing P3 and P4 with #22 and #23, especially as we were forced to retire last year while in the lead. My thanks go to all drivers and team members. Congratulations to the winning team, Black Falcon.”
Uli Fritz, Head of AMG Customer Sports: “We were not among the favourites to win, as we are not a works team but simply a customer outfit. We are very excited about this historic success. So far in 2013, we have won every major endurance race with the SLS AMG GT3 – in January, the Dubai (UAE) 24-hour race, in February, the Bathurst 12-Hours (Australia) and now the legendary 24- hour race here at the Nürburgring. My congratulations go to all AMG customer teams, and many thanks to tyre partner Dunlop for the excellent manner in which they have supported our team.”
Ola Kaellenius, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “A great success for our customer teams Black Falcon and ROWE RACING. I am very pleased that we have succeeded at only the third attempt in taking the top spot in the SLS AMG GT3. This victory is the best confirmation of our customer sports programme.”
Toto Wolff, Head of Motorsport at Mercedes-Benz: “This victory in the 24- hour race at the Nürburgring is the just reward for the loyalty of our customer teams. Mercedes-Benz has a magnificent tradition in endurance racing that stretches back as far as the 1950s. The Nürburgring has always had a great importance and symbolic meaning for Mercedes-Benz, because this is where the legend of the Silver Arrow was born, so it is all the more gratifying to witness the success here today of the AMG customer teams. The Mercedes-Benz name stands for performance, quality and reliability – which are the perfect prerequisites for winning such a tough race on the most demanding racetrack in the world. I extend my congratulations to our customer teams, Black Falcon and ROWE RACING. Credit is also due to Mercedes-AMG for their outstanding support without which this success could not have been achieved.”
Bernd Schneider, Black Falcon, # 9: “Our car was super to drive, especially in the wet, and even while the surface was drying out, we were always up with the leading group. I’ve attempted the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring on several previous occasions, but this is the first time I’ve ever crossed the finish line. My congratulations and thanks go to the whole team. The guys at Black Falcon did a great job.”
Thomas Jäger, ROWE RACING, # 22: “Once again, we have seen what a fabulous car the SLS AMG GT3 is to drive, even under these very difficult conditions here at the Nürburgring. Our third and fourth place finishes represent a great team result for ROWE RACING, and obviously I’m delighted for the guys at Black Falcon on their historic victory.”
Lance David Arnold, ROWE RACING, # 23: “I’m very pleased that I was able to finish fourth on my very first outing for the AMG customer team ROWE RACING. This was very tough race, not least because of the heavy rain and the constantly changing conditions. I’d like to express my gratitude and congratulations to the whole team.”
Seven SLS AMG GT3s in 24-hour race at Nürburgring
There were no fewer than seven SLS AMG GT3s contesting the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. Car number 63 entered by Black Falcon and driven by Vimal Mehta (IND), Kaled al Qubaisi (UAE), Daniel Keilwitz and Christian Bracke (both GER) finished in 19th position. Number 125 (ROWE RACING) with Michael Zehe, Reinhold Renger, Marko Hartung and Mark Bullit (all GER) sharing the cockpit crossed the line in P27. Car number 10, also entered by Black Falcon and driven by Andrii Lebed (UKR), Andreas Simonsen (SWE), Dennis Rostek (GER) and Hari Proczyk (AUT), spent much of the race under repair and eventually finished in 130th position. The ROWE RACING number 21 driven by Marko Hartung, Kenneth Heyer, Roland Rehfeld and Christan Hohenadel (all GER) had to retire from the race after an accident.

“ELLO, ELLO, ELLO. WHAT ‘AVE WE HERE THEN?”

2013-05-22T17:55:00.000+01:00

Triumph TR4 ex police car makes for an arresting lot at Historics at Brooklands auction on June 1.
One of only a small number of Triumph TR4 police cars commissioned into service will go on sale next month at Historics’ Brooklands-based auction. 4100 HJ is a rare and exceptional example supplied as new to Southend-on-Sea County Borough Constabulary in May 1962. Eventually retired from service, the car was last sold to a vendor in 1991 who took the decision to restore it to its original police specification.
The original car, which could reach a top speed in excess of 100 mph, was supplied with a specification including Pye radio, Winkworth bell, air horns, windscreen mounted hand operated lamp, front and rear police signs and a rear stop sign. So detailed was the recent restoration, that where special equipment was missing, items were sourced with the assistance of members of Police Car UK.
4100 HJ has undoubtedly seen some action as recollections from retired Superintendent Bill Burles of Southend-on-Sea Constabulary suggest. Having allocated it the task of ‘fast pursuit car’ he recalls that it went out on two shifts a day, seven days a week, clocking up approximately 1000 miles a week. Officers invariably drove the car with the top down and always wore their helmets with chin straps in place.
Since its restoration, this rare and beautiful police car has been maintained to the highest standards and is sold with a history file containing some interesting documentation including a copy of ‘ Advanced Driving Explained’ by Inspector W.H Jobson, price one shilling and sixpence, with a picture of 4100 HJ on the cover.
Testament to the scarcity value of the police TR4 is that Vanguard Models have produced 1500 limited ‘Special Edition’ models based on this actual car with the number plate 4100 HJ, one of which comes with the car.
With its unique history and exemplary condition, Historics expects strong interest from enthusiasts and collectors alike, with the car anticipated to achieve a price in the region of £35,000 - £40,000.
The Triumph TR4 police car is one of over 100 fine classic motor cars and 100 classic motorcycles that will be presented for sale by Historics at Brooklands on Saturday June 1, 2013.
For more information call 0800 988 3838, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk.

RENAULT UNVEILS LIMITED EDITION MEGANE RENAULTSPORT RED BULL RACING RB8

2013-05-22T17:52:00.001+01:00

Renault and Red Bull Racing celebrate their third Formula 1 Constructors’ world title with limited edition Mégane Renaultsport Red Bull Racing RB8
New flagship Megane Renaultsport takes its inspiration from Red Bull Racing’s Formula 1 identity featuring an exclusive Twilight Blue finish with Platinum Grey detail
Additional equipment includes Red Bull Racing branding, Recaro seats, R-Link multimedia and TomTom Live navigation system, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres (from the 265 Trophy), plus the latest Version 2.0 of the on-board R.S. Monitor
Rarity guaranteed with only 30 destined for UK – ordering will open mid-June, with pricing confirmed closer to launch

The Mégane Renaultsport is widely acclaimed by many as the benchmark hot hatch, but on the off chance it isn’t quite exclusive enough for some, then Renault has the answer with the launch of a new limited edition, the Mégane Renaultsport Red Bull Racing RB8. In fact, exclusivity is virtually guaranteed with a batch of just 30 destined for our shores.
Exclusive looks - the result of combined inputs from Renault and Red Bull Racing design teams
The exclusive Twilight Blue finish takes its inspiration directly from the race team’s famous colours, while Red Bull Racing graphics at the rear and on the sides are further tell-tale hallmarks of this limited edition car. In addition to its sporty credentials, it stands out as particularly elegant, too, thanks to exterior Platinum Grey details (F1 blade, door handles, door mirror housing and rear lip spoiler) which contrast with the striking Twilight Blue paintwork. Last but not least, a monochrome laurel on the rear side windows celebrates the team’s 2012 Constructors’ world title.
Inside, the new limited edition version comes with a number of exclusive features, including Red Bull Racing branding on the numbered aluminium kickplates and carpet mats. The same logo appears on the headrests of the Recaro seats which are trimmed in a new leather/fabric upholstery.

Looking to break records? Mégane Renaultsport Red Bull Racing RB8 is shod as standard with the same Bridgestone tyres that helped Mégane Renaultsport 265 Trophy to establish a new lap record for the Nürburgring. These high-performance tyres are fitted to exclusive 19-inch black ‘Steev’ wheels with platinum rims.

Advanced on-board technology : Renault R-Link and Renaultsport Monitor 2.0
This limited edition version marks the availability of the built-in, connected R-Link multimedia tablet for the Mégane Renaultsport range. The system’s six functions (navigation, telephony, multimedia, vehicle, systems and R-Link Store applications catalogue) are controlled using either the touch screen display, the voice command function or the joystick situated on the centre console.
Along with R-Link, there is now also the 2.0 version of Renaultsport Monitor which fans of sporty driving will particularly appreciate. Owners will no longer need to choose between using the navigation or on-board telemetry systems thanks to the fact that the TomTom Live navigation system is built-in.
New for Renaultsport Monitor 2.0

A new, more user-friendly and intuitive interface which uses R-Link’s seven-inch colour display
GPS tracked lap timing
Special Red Bull Racing home page
Certain information displayed in 3D form
Data can be saved on a USB dongle
Plus the usual real-time access to power output data, 0-62 mph times, G-Force diagram, etc.

A Mégane Renaultsport first and foremost
The limited edition version packs the same fundamental features as Mégane Renaultsport 265 Cup, including stiffer springs, dampers, anti-roll bar, limited slip differential, grooved discs with Brembo callipers and the potent two-litre-turbocharged 265hp engine with Stop&Start and trademark Renaultsport technologies.
The limited edition Mégane Renaultsport Red Bull Racing RB8 will be available until 30 September 2013. UK pricing will be made public closer to official launch.

ASTON MARTIN CELEBRATES CENTENARY AT NÜRBURGRING 24 HOURS

2013-05-22T17:50:00.000+01:00

Aston Martin’s weekend of centenary celebrations at the ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours (N24) concluded this evening (Monday 20 May) with a thrilling top-ten result for its Bilstein-liveried V12 Vantage GT3 and a historic finish for its unique Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S in one of the most grueling 24-hour races in recent years.
In a weekend that started with the British luxury sports car maker entering the history books with a zero CO₂ emissions hydrogen-powered qualifying lap, the brand also hosted a 100-plus car parade lap of the famous 25 km Nordschleife, led by CEO Dr Ulrich Bez in the stunning CC100 Speedster Concept and motorsport legend Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel of the 1959 1000 km of Nürburgring race-winning DBR1.
For the race, Aston Martin Racing works driver Pedro Lamy (PT) qualified the Bilstein V12 Vantage GT3 in second position overall. The five-time N24 winner set a blistering time of 8:18.362, stopping the clock just 1.1 seconds behind the pole position winner.
After taking the race lead in the second hour Lamy‘s team-mates Darren Turner (GB), Stefan Mücke (D) and Allan Simonsen (DN) each led at points as the rain and fog worsened until, finally, the event was red flagged at 22:30 hrs.
The green flag finally waved again at 08:00 hrs today (Monday 20 May) with Aston Martin Racing still leading the race. In persistently wet conditions, the drivers struggled for grip and the V12 Vantage GT3 gradually lost its advantage over its rivals. A brush with the barriers in the difficult early laps affected the car’s handling for the remainder of the race, curtailing any chance to push hard in the improving conditions. Thereafter, the team wisely settled for a safe finish and was delighted to bring the car home in tenth place overall.
John Gaw, Team Principal at Aston Martin Racing comments: “The team did a fantastic job this weekend and we couldn’t have done it without our partners from Bilstein.
“Our car performed perfectly on the Michelin slicks and, in the dry, we recorded some of the very fastest lap times of the race. In the wet we struggled with grip, but this is something we will work on together ahead of next year’s race.”
Darren Turner adds: “Wow, another amazing Nürburgring 24 Hours! As ever, it’s been a whole host of ups and down. It was a great job by Pedro in qualifying and to lead the race up until the red flag was very exciting and showed exactly what the Vantage GT3 can achieve.
“Coming back next year we need to work on our wet weather pace but, overall, I’m very proud of the team. As always, it’s been a pleasure to drive with Pedro, Stefan and Allan and the boys did a great job in our pit stops.”
Alongside the Vantage GT3 charger Aston Martin’s mould-breaking Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S – designed and built with the support of hydrogen specialists Alset Global and based on the manufacturer’s new four-door, four-seat sports GT – achieved its ambitious goal of completing the world-famous 24-hour race.
“This is a historic day for two reasons,” explains Jose Ignacio Calindo, CEO of Alset Global. “Besides being the first hydrogen-powered race car to compete and undertake zero CO₂ emissions laps in an international event, it has showcased the most practical technology available to fundamentally address the challenge of global emissions without disrupting the automotive industry.”
The #005 V12 Vantage, which encountered a minor electrical issue in the first few hours of the race, charged on through the second section putting in consistently quick laps in the close-to-production specification car. However, its charge was not enough to make up the lost time and the team finished fifth in class.
Also in the SP8 class the #006 V8 Vantage, driven by Aston Martin customers, celebrated a great third in class and a podium finish following a clean run of faultless racing throughout the weekend. The four drivers were awarded with their third place trophies at a ceremony this evening.
David King, Head of Motorsport at Aston Martin, comments: “The Nürburgring is a place Aston Martin holds close and it seemed fitting to mark our centenary year with a host of powerful and emotive celebrations.
“First and foremost, however, it was about the race and it was our ambition to bring all of our cars home safely for the eighth successive year. To achieve a top ten finish with the Vantage GT3 is a fantastic achievement, especially given the extremely tough conditions.
“We are also proud to have given our 300-plus VIP guests and our many thousands of fans something really special to celebrate.
“As always the team has done a perfect job, our partners have been incredible and we hope to come back next year even stronger to continue our campaign to win the Nürburgring 24 Hours.”
Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez, who drove several stints in the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S over the course of the race, said: “This year’s race here at Nürburgring has been a celebration of all the things that Aston Martin stands for: power, people and dedication!
“Record-breaking hydrogen success incorporating the very latest V12 engine technology, a race-leading performance for the GT3, strong laps from the V12 Vantage and the global unveiling of the stunning CC100 Speedster Concept – created in the spirit of our most famous race car ever, the classic DBR1 – have ensured Aston Martin is once again taking a leading role here.
“Our centenary celebrations continue, of course, and now we look forward to more success on track at Le Mans.”
Aston Martin will next race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, which Aston Martin Racing is currently leading with its #97 Vantage GTE.

BMH ANNOUNCES RUNS OF REPLACEMENT BODYSHELLS FOR MGB, MIDGET & MINI, AND FIRST ALLOY PANELS FOR MGB

2013-05-22T17:47:00.002+01:00

Bodyshells
Amazingly, this year is the 25th anniversary of the introduction of British Motor Heritage’s (BMH’s) replacement bodyshell for the ubiquitous MGB. As originally supplied, the product was only available minus the bolt-on front wings, doors, bonnet and bootlid. However the accurate addition of these parts proved too much for the average enthusiast, so fully fitted shells became the standard sales option, and BMH nowadays offers a comprehensive range of no less than 12 roadster and 10 GT variants.
It has already manufactured one run of MGB bodies this year, however, there is still time to place an order for the next one, the results of which will be delivered in October. The company is also laying down a batch of MG Midget shells for August delivery, orders for which are now required urgently and, as this is a bi-annual production, there will not be another opportunity to purchase until 2015! Finally, two batches of Mini bodyshells are being created too, one for May delivery and one for December distribution.
Alloy panels
And now for something completely different! After much planning,
BMH has taken the plunge and produced some aluminium skin panels for the MGB – products that should be of particular interest to the racing fraternity. The first sets of aluminium door skins are now in stock and priced at £145 each (inc VAT). The part numbers are HMP113207 for the lefthand one and HMP113208 for the right.
The company has also manufactured some aluminium boot skins priced at £185 each (inc VAT). They are available direct from BMH by phoning +44 (0)1993 707200, through the internet from www.motoringclassics.co.uk, or from any British Motor Heritage Approved Specialist, details of which can be found at www.bmh-ltd.com.

CLASSICS RACE AWAY AT SILVERSTONE SALE

2013-05-22T17:46:00.001+01:00

A rare 1968 barn find Maserati Ghibli selling for a stunning £31,625, more than double its pre-sale estimate, was just one of 38 amazing cars to find new homes at the Silverstone Auctions hosted, International Trophy Sale.
In total, 62 percent of the 61 lots were successfully hammered away for a premium inclusive total of more than £900,000.
But it wasn’t just the Ghibli which exceeded pre-sale expectations. Other cars to sell for more than their upper estimates included a 1968 Ford Mustang 390 Bullitt, selling for £56,900, a striking 1986 Ferrari Testarossa, fetching £68,660, a unique 1975 Maserati Merak by Saurer, which was hammered away for £45,700, and a diminutive 1961 BMW Isetta 300, which sold for £21,850.
“This was our first sale of 2013 at Silverstone so it’s terrific to mark our return in such an emphatic manner,” comments Nick Whale, managing director, Silverstone Auctions. “The collection we pulled together not only looked superb, but lots were sensibly guided which was reflected in these great results.”
Indeed, other notable lots included a 1964 Ferrari 330GT Series 1, which sold for £89,380, a 1971 Porsche 911 2.2S, which fetched £82,100 and a 1967 Karmann Ghia ‘Razor Edge’, selling for £26,450.
Two wheel fans were also well catered for, with both Ducati motorcycles on offer successfully sold. The first, a 2009 1098R Monoposto sold for £11,500, while a 2008 Monster S4RS was snapped up for just over £5,175.
“Once again, we’ve managed to achieve some excellent returns for our vendors,” added Nick. “And with just 50 spaces available for our next sale at the Silverstone Classic on 27^th July, I’d urge anyone considering entering a consignment to contact our team as soon as possible.”
Anyone wishing to discuss an entry into the Silverstone Classic Sale can contact Silverstone Auctions on 01926 691141 or visit www.silverstoneauctions.com for more information.