Ignition Weekly #6

ISSUE_006

Page 12

MAY 11TH

May 11, 2013

EDITOR’S COMMENTS

Up in yah

O

grill

ne of the wonderful things about being digital is the ability to publish freely, however we should still strive for consistency. How crazy would it be to come back to your favourite hang-out and find they’ve picked up and moved? Therefore I must apologise about last week as we missed our Monday publication date. That was intentional, as the editorial decision was made to revert back to our original date Wednesdays. What happened next will shock you.

Just kidding. Like a car, it was a ten dollar part that brought everything to a halt. A small problem meant we not only missed Wednesday, but we weren’t able to inform you all of the switch. So why the change? The truth of the matter is that most automotive happenings in Jamaica take place on a weekend. For the past several of them it’s been keeping our crack team busy, to the point of cracking. With back to back events we don’t have the time to publication to generate the level of content we should. We’re not the pictures for pictures sake kinda folks, our words have to do the visuals justice. Moving back to mid week gives us the time to recover and gather all the information we need to keep Ignition pushing along the quality train.

If you’ve visited out Facebook page you’ll notice that we’ve added the interactive PDF download links. Previously, this format was only available to those on our mailing list. The change has been implemented for two reasons, to make it widely available as possible, and because we know not everyone has the same e-mailbox size. Instead of a big file that might get refused on size, now it’s a handy link you can just click to download virus free. Just make sure the email is from us and not some phishing/ scam email.

One more for the digital road. Read on. ignitionweeklyja@gmail.com

INSIDE

Skunk Nation -

3

Just Chill with coolant -

7

TEST DRIVE: Tata Nano -

8

Bolt under cover -

12

INTERNATIONAL

New racer from SEAT - 2

15

May 11, 2013

LOCAL

Y

ou’ve probably seen this sticker all over the place. It was probably attached to some lowered, outlandish coloured sports car with a loud exhaust system cruising around. It used to piss you off, but now you’re filled with envy how that particular ride clearly represents the personality of the individual that owns it, while you’re stuck with whatever the factory and dealer gave you. That’s the meaning behind that sticker as per the founders of Kingston car club Skunk Nation, Nick Lue, Eddie Bond, and Stephen Wong.

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May 11, 2013

LOCAL

Over the past two years these three men have taken their passion for cars and the underground tuner/modification scene to the next level. Their love for cars has pushed what was once considered a nuisance to being one of the hottest trends around. After staging one of the largest tuner shows last year, they’re returning in July with something even bigger, another Import Tuner Night under the banner of Uniting the Streets. In between that they’ve managed to expand their brand into corporate Jamaica, their vehicular style now everywhere and in demand. With the next show on its way they kicked it off with a mini link-up earlier this year at the newly renovated Mary Brown’s Corner Texaco, where Ignition caught up with them.

NAME: Nick Lue TITLE: The father of Skunk Nation CAR: 1995 Honda Civic Hatchback DID YOU THINK SKUNK NATION WOULD BE THIS BIG? No, I never thought we’d become what we are today. We’re a symbol for all the another car clubs and what can be achieved if you love something. Right now, Skunk Nation is growing by the minute through our Facebook page, which is sponsored by Tropical Battery and Castrol Motor Oil. Our show Import Tuner Night: Uniting the Streets is drawing international attention. We also have a whole bunch of other stuff planned for this year, a Miss Skunk Nation, a clothing line, and charity events.

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF SKUNK NATION? I’m never outside Skunk Nation. I’m always skunking. (laughs) IF YOU DIDN’T OWN THE HONDA CIVIC, WHAT WOULD YOU DRIVE? I would want the granddaddy of all Japanese Imports, Godzilla himself the R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MONEY NO OBJECT CAR? That would be the Lexus LF-A. Love the way that car looks and sounds.

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May 11, 2013

LOCAL NAME: Stephen Wong TITLE: The Son of Skunk Nation CAR: 2006 Honda Ridgeline DID YOU THINK SKUNK NATION WOULD BE THIS BIG? No, I didn’t think it would get this big either. I was surprised when people started to take to it, but our continued success is due to good management. We were able to recognise what was happening and combine our skills to keep it going. We kinda stabilize each other and that works wonders when we have to make big decisions.

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF SKUNK NATION? Well honestly, I’m never out of Skunk Nation because I keep them going mechanically. I’m the Operations Manager at SpeedShop, which takes care of a lot of the Skunk Nation vehicles. If I’m not working on a Skunk Nation car, I’m hanging out with Craig (Nick’s older brother), or Nick.

They’re pretty much family.

IF YOU DIDN’T OWN THE RIDGELINE, WHAT WOULD YOU DRIVE? I’m not sure they could survive without me driving that pick-up because I’m always hauling stuff for them. (laughs) I’d have to say the Lancer Evolution X. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MONEY NO OBJECT CAR? The new BMW M5. Twin-turbo V8 power, hands down FTW.

5

May 11, 2013

LOCAL NAME: Eddie Bond TITLE: The Holy Ghost of Skunk Nation (completing the trinity of equal leadership of SN) CAR: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII DID YOU THINK SKUNK NATION WOULD BE THIS BIG? Absolutely not. I think we got this big because we have genuine love for what we’re doing and the people around us can see that. We’re not milking this for money, or just following a trend. Others see us with our cars and how we express ourselves through them. It’s not always about the biggest, the best, the loudest, or the fastest. It’s just about loving your car. I’m just taking the success we have right now, day by day, and at some point I think Skunk Nation will become an international brand. We already have a following in the main Jamaican centres like Miami and New York.

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF SKUNK NATION? Unlike Nick, I’m not skunking every day. (laughs) I’m usually at work at my business. In my free time I kick back with my friends and family.

IF YOU DIDN’T OWN THE EVOLUTION VIII, WHAT WOULD YOU DRIVE? I’d go Euro, a BMW 335i. Love the styling on it.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MONEY NO OBJECT CAR? I’d buy the best of the best, Bugatti Veyron. (starts singing Ace Hood’s Bugatti)

6

May 11, 2013

DO-IT-YOURSELF

Just

Chill I

f Motor Oil is thought of as the blood of an engine, the coolant can best be called its sweat.

While engines don’t have pores to push water out onto its surface like our bodies do to our skin, it does need to stay cool. An engine creates a lot wasted heat, over seventy percent in fact. This heat radiates outwards through the combustion chambers into the surrounding metals. Oil does have some cooling function, but it cannot handle the job alone, that’s the task of coolant.

a particular engine. There are three main types Hybrid, OAT, and Si-OAT. The first is a mix of both organic and inorganic material, often silicates, that stops radiator corrosion. OAT based coolants use organic salt to stop the same problem, but without silicates.

The last of the three is the actual hybrid combining all the positives of both silicate-based and silicate-free coolants.

Since coolants can cause engine damage by either rusting away engine parts, or creating debris that reduces the effectiveness of the cooling system, it’s best to do the following things:

It’s pushed through the engine by the water pump, controlled by a thermostat that then releases the fluid into the radiator which reduces the temperature via exposure with outside air. Air is pushed or pulled through the radiator by a fan before re-entering the engine to start the process all over again.

Sounds like a simple job for water. It’s not. Fluids have a freezing and boiling temperature. Given the environmental issues that coolant may experience it could be detrimental by either freezing solid or not providing the temperature regulation an engine needs by boiling away. The other problem with plain water is its corrosive nature when in contact with metal.

To counter this coolant is a mixture of water and inhibitors that stabilize its temperature usage range while making sure it doesn’t rust away the delicate parts it comes in contact with. Most people would be familiar with the different coolant types based on their colour, but this isn’t a guarantee that it’s the correct one for

Never mix coolants, especially with water. When topping up make sure to use the same type, if not the same exact brand as directed in the user manual. If you have to change types then make sure to flush the system as the different coolants can counteract or weaken each other.

Coolant should be changed on average, every three years with a full system flush. However see what the OEM recommendations are first before attempting to do so.

Try to stick with coolants recommended by the manufacturer. Many modern engines are made up of various alloys or rubber components that only the automaker has tested how they will react with various coolant formulations. Choose the wrong one and engine damage could be possible.

7

May 11, 2013

May 11, 2013

J

oe Ferreira of Metis Motors believes now is the right time for the Tata Nano. Not sold outside of its home country of India he’s put his faith in Jamaica to change that trend. While India does boast a vibrant economy, the vast majority of the country is still what one would consider third world. With a poor road network, much like our own, even more rugged terrain, and a monsoon season, our small Caribbean island should be a cakewalk for the world’s cheapest car.

TEST DRIVE In all honesty the Nano is more than enough machine for most. What Metis Motors must overcome is the local distaste for anything that has the word ‘cheapest’ attached to it. The Nano will succeed based on attitudes towards it more than any technical shortcoming. Is it the greatest car around? No, but it’s surprisingly a lot better than rivals higher up the price chain from established brands.

Do Jamaicans have the right to be skeptical of cheap Asian cars? They do, given the hordes of substandard automotive machines that have been dumped on us. Horror stories of poor performance, bad quality and next to nothing parts support have put the Jamaican car buyer in safe mode. Better to spend extra on a stripped down version of a brand-name midsized sedan than take a chance on a cheap automobile that claims to be fully loaded.

Does the Nano buck that trend? I think it does, because it wasn’t born out of the need to make money. Imperfect as it may be, the Nano springs forth from the heart of Ratan Tata who created the car in 2003 to help pull his nation out of the automotive dark ages. It had to be a safe,

comfortable, cost-effective alternative to the motorcycle.

A real car, as he would eventually tell his engineers.

Why all the back story? As you experience the Tata Nano every nut and bolt is engrained with that history.

Its egg-like shape is calculated to generate as much interior space as possible, while keeping it aerodynamic for fuel efficiency. Even better the shape endows the Nano with character, a rare trait in a car at this price point. It gets more attractive based on which colour that’s eventually chosen, and to quote several female bystanders, it looked cute.

The exterior panels share the same quality as its rivals. The gaps aren’t the tightest, but they don’t look like a tired underpaid machine operator who just came to work after a late night drinking binge pressed them out. There is also a bit of a sporty nature given by the side vents behind the rear doors. Those would lead to one of the several things I eventually discovered about the Nano.

Everything seemed solid enough. Once the doors open that’s when the magic happens. Despite its miniscule di-

mensions the interior is large based on two main design features, the wheels are all the way at the ends of the chassis and the engine is mounted to the rear under the back seat. This meant there was plenty room for my two leggy female passengers, sizeable male associate and camera gear.

Settling in, there isn’t a whole bunch of extras beyond all you need for driving, seats, space, and a willing motor. I was given the LX trim that has all the options as standard over the base model. The cars imported are also the upgraded 2.0 editions that Tata re-engineered under the claims that the car’s electrical system presented a fire hazard. Rated at 624cc the 2-cylinder engine puts out only 38bhp. It had a little trick that became obvious as my trek began on Constant Spring Road.

The centre-mounted speedometer pointed out the 120km/h top speed. At 100km/h began the red zone to keep the engine out of. There is no rpm gauge. Between 50km/h and 70km/h was the green zone. The green indicated the peak powerband of the engine. Keep it there

and regardless if you’re on the flat or on a hill the car will not struggle, even with the air conditioning on. Why? The Nano’s little motor is a two-stroke unit, much like a motorcycle, and as anyone who’s ever driven a go-kart will tell you the key to speed is stay in the powerband. This is made more than possible by the gearing of the four-speed manual gearbox.

Our destination was Strawberry Hill, and with four full-grown adults the Nano showed no signs of stress.

The drive was also testing the air conditioning and the handling. As the engine is under the back seat, storage space is limited to a shallow shelf. I wouldn’t recommend putting ice cream on top of it due to the heat. The engine’s efforts were clearly being felt inside the cabin and augmented by the afternoon sun. I decided to turn the AC up to full. Problem solved as all my passengers remarked how much cooler they felt. There didn’t appear to be any impact on engine speed as well.

The handling

The world’s cheapest car is now available in Jamaica.

flavour

Indian

8

9

May 11, 2013

TEST DRIVE The tiny two-stroke engine is located below the rear seats and accessed through a removeable panel in the trunk.

Trunk space in the front is limited by the spare tyre.

took a while to get used to, through no fault of the Nano. It was more a question of driver experience and expectations. My hesitation came because all cars in this bracket are front-wheel drive and twitchy since they tend to have bodies that are tall and narrow with short wheelbases.

The Nano is the complete opposite. Having the drivetrain under the rear seats puts the weight lower in the chassis. The positioning of the wheels enhances stability making full use of the entire contact patch from the small tyres.

The car is also rear-wheel drive. Since the front wheels are unfettered by the usual tasks of turning and providing power at the same time annoying understeer isn’t an issue unless really pushed to do so. In the average situation the Nano just grips and goes.

It also inspires confidence due to its size.

It can still be driven at ten-tenths and leave enough room for the largest SUV possible coming in the other lane.

The ample ride height and suspension made quick work of the roughest road sections and we arrived at our destination no more bothered than when we had first entered the car. I stopped for a while to give everyone a rest to soak up the scenery and grab my shots. As beautiful as it was, conversation never deviated far from the Nano. It was soon time to go which left the only thing I hadn’t tested yet, the four drum brakes. Downhill, it again amazed. The weight balance meant they were more than enough to stop the 635kg Nano.

The test drive brought out the best in the Tata Nano, but the car did have some shortcomings. Metis Motors has driven the Nano to the far reaches of the island given its excellent fuel economy, but I was unable to find a comfortable driving position due to the seats. Maybe driving in India is laid back. Not for me. I quietly had two of my friends, of differing physical builds, try it as well and they had the same problem.

10

The seats weren’t able to move full upright and were a bit too soft.

While the AC kept the heat away, it couldn’t stop the noise from the engine. The Nano didn’t sound like a lawnmower, but two-stroke motors tend to be a bit rough. The rear shelf was little help, however Metis Motors promised this would be addressed with better sound insulation material for the Jamaican market.

Also forget about rims and tyres. You’re pretty much tied into what the dealer has due to their unique size and design. They’re a teninch package with the rims having a three-lug pattern. Upgrading the wheels could potentially have a negative impact since the clearances in the front wheel wells are so close.

Lastly, there is the concern of the safety minded. The Nano handles great. Its dimensions make accident avoidance a matter of the skill of the driver and while it did pass the euroNCAP tests there isn’t the battery of alphabet soup driver aids electronics. No ABS and traction control are available. This might turn off paranoid parents or the sheepish driver. In the Nano’s defense its 120km/h top speed isn’t fast enough to get anyone into trouble.

The day in the Nano was one of experiencing something different from what was expected. In the end it ticked all the right boxes for reliable cost-effective transportation, and then some. If you’re looking for a first car for young driver that has to travel short distances, or a second car to run around the city then the Nano should be put on that shopping list. Its fuel mileage is next to none with Kingston to Montego Bay on $820.

If you never leave the Kingston/St Andrew area you’ll never have to worry about filling up for weeks. As a long distance option, it can be done. Nanos have been driven to the Himalayas.

However, I’m not 100 percent convinced it’s a country run kind of machine.

Despite the tyre size, the weight distribution uses all the available contact patch for good handling. Replacement and upgrades might be a challenge due to the unique bolt pattern and size.

Driving the Nano is simple, keep it in the green for maximum power and fuel efficiency.

For the sake of your ears avoid the red.

May 11, 2013

TEST DRIVE

The Tata Nano, ready to conquer Jamaica with its excellent price and unbeatable fuel economy numbers.

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May 11, 2013

LOCAL

Trackforstara track star

Usain Bolt’s one-of-a-kind 2013 R35 Nissan GT-R, waits paitiently to be unvieled last Sunday at the University of West Indies Mona Bowl.

U

sain Bolt and the R35 Nissan GT-R have a lot in common than being world record holders in their individual right.

While Bolt continues to be the world’s fastest man, capturing that title multiple times over his career, the GT-R has held the production car lap record at the ultimate proving grounds, the Nurburgring. Now these superstars of their respective genres have been brought together

by Nissan, as on May 5 Bolt was presented a one-off 2013 R35 GT-R due to his mantle of Nissan’s Director of Excitement.

The one-off GT-R features a gold paint job shared with only one other GT-R, and a combination of options only for its owner.

Bolt addressing the media, and expressing his gratitude to Nissan for the gift of the special GT-R.

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The crew from Fidelity Motors that made it all happen, share a moment with Olympian Usain Bolt.

May 11, 2013

LOCAL The presentation of this unique gift showed extensive efforts between Nissan, Nissan Latin America and local dealers Fidelity Motors as the custom built car was shipped from Japan to be given to him in Jamaica at Bolt’s training grounds at the University of the West Indies’ Mona Bowl.

The small gathering was limited to special guests from Nissan, the Usain Bolt Foundation and the press. The keys were handed to him by Jose Román, Vice President of Nissan Latin America and Caribbean, to which Bolt was very grateful.

The gift GT-R came to life when Nissan auctioned off a Premium edition GT-R with the special Bolt Gold paint scheme in early 2012 for the Usain Bolt Foundation.

Enamoured by the colour he would be eventually fly to Japan that October to set the specifications for the customized R35 GT-R he collected last Sunday afternoon.

Bolt’s own car is combination of options that will never be put together on another car from Nissan.

Based on the Japanese market only Egoist 2013 R35 GT-R the car given to Bolt has the custom Bolt Gold paint scheme shared only with the auctioned GT-R. In a nod to the GT-R’s history, it wears the badge Bolt Spec in homage to the famous V-Spec and Nür Spec of past models in the font used for the Egoist trim. The inte-

The rear spoiler is painted to match the body.

While the Egoist badge now says ‘Spec Bolt’.

The Hyper-Titanium wheels have been given a tinge of gold to match the car.

The hand-built engine has been re-tuned to work on 96RON fuel.

The interior is pure opulence with ruhr white leather even down to the door sills.

The huge exhaust system is made of titanium.

rior is plush leather in Ruhr White mixed in with some carbonfibre elements. The rear spoiler is the same colour as the body and the 10-spoke RAYS aluminium forged wheels have had their hyper-titanium colour-coat matched to that of the body. The titanium theme continues with the intimidating exhaust system peeking out from the rear diffuser. Performance-wise the 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo engine has been retuned at factory to operate on 96RON. The suspension has been tuned to suit Bolt’s needs. As the Egoist isn’t available outside of Japan, the gauges, navigation system and operational language have been set to English.

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May 11, 2013

INTERNATIONAL

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo

Cost Innovation, will be appointed Executive Vice President of Mazda, Assistant to the President, in charge of Oversight of Operations in the Americas and Corporate Planning Domain.

All changes will be ratified as of the completion of the 147th General Shareholders’ Meeting on June 25 and the subsequent Meeting of the Board of Directors.

Mazda Motor Corp. Senior Managing Executive Officer Masamichi Kogai (left) announces plans Thursday in Hiroshima for him to replace President Takashi Yamanouchi (right).

John Lennon’s ride for sale Ferrari cuts production, ups jobs

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has announced that the company will limit production at Maranello to “less than 7,000 cars”, at a special press conference held at the company’s factory. He said that the move was vital to ensure the exclusivity of the brand.

During the press conference Di Montezemolo also outlined the future of the company and ruled out the possibility of them adding a niche or SUV model to the range in the future.

Ferrari will be adding 250 jobs at its factory this year but this workforce will largely be responsible for manufacturing and developing the range of Maserati engines for the Quattroporte - including both the V6 and V8 versions. This will take place in a new area of the plant, which features much more automation than the traditional engine line.

The company plans to shift sales away from Europe over the next four

years, but intends to grow sales in the US ahead of increasing production for China. A two per cent increase in sales is planned in Asia but a ten per cent increase will be aimed at in America.

Mazda has new President

Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that Masamichi Kogai will be named President and Chief Executive Officer, effective June 25, 2013. Kogai will succeed Takashi Yamanouchi, who remains Chairman of the Board.

Seita Kanai, formerly Executive Vice President in charge of promoting Mono Tsukuri Innovation, Brand Enhancement and Quality Assurance, will be promoted to Vice Chairman of the Board.

Akira Marumoto, formerly Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer in charge of Corporate Planning, Profit Control, Product Strategy, Corporate Brand Enhancement and

Offered for sale by Bonhams with its original DUL 4C registration restored by the DVLA, this matching-numbers motor car is one of only 500 of its type built and is estimated to fetch between £180,000 and £220,000 at the auction. It’s offered for sale along with an extensive history file documenting its provenance and restoration, which also includes correspondence with British musician John Lennon.

The Beatles singer, by then a father to 22-month-old Julian by his first wife Cynthia, strolled out to inspect cars after the news that he had passed his driving test made headlines across the country. He eventually purchased this right-hand drive Ferrari 330GT 2+2 Coupé finished in Azzuro blue paint, with a blue interior, priced at £6,500 (equivalent to just over £110,000 in today’s money).

Lennon owned the Ferrari for the best part of three years – until October 1967 – covering more than 20,000 miles.

By the late 1980s, this special car was with the famous Modena Ferrari dealership, from where it was acquired by its current owner. Painted red and

separated from its number plate, it was then lovingly restored to its original specification.

New Corolla to match concept car

Toyota will launch the 2014 Corolla later this year, and Car and Driver magazine was able to uncover some information thanks to someone at a Toyota dealer in Kansas who has seen the car, as well as its order guide, though the dealer’s site has since removed its original posting.

The first glimpse of the next-generation Corolla’s design was at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, where Toyota unveiled the sporty and aggressive Furia concept. C/D says that the production car should have a couple of Furia bits mixed in with a huge helping of Camry-inspired styling.

The 2014 Corolla will reportedly continue to use a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, though the mill has been massaged a bit, adding Toyota’s Valvematic continuously variable valve timing. A four-speed automatic will be offered in the base model and six-speed manual transmission. Higher trim levels can be had with a CVT. Both engine output and fuel economy numbers should improve slightly over the 2013 model. Currently, the Corolla produces 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque, and achieves 27/34 miles per gallon (city/highway) with the fivespeed manual.Trim levels will now be called base, LE, S and Eco. Improvements have been made to the materials and equipment offered inside the cabin. Softex leather will be available for 2014, as will a push-button start and a navigation system.

Toyota has not confirmed any of this information, but official details on the fully freshened Corolla should soon be available.

The Ferrari formerly owned by John Lennon has been restored and put up for sale.

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May 11, 2013

INTERNATIONAL The brand new Leon Cup Racer is way more aggressive in appearance that the old model.

SEAT introduces Leon Cup Racer

With the brand new Leon Cup Racer, SEAT is stating its unequivocal commitment to motorsport and to customer racing teams at the legendary GTI Wörthersee meet in the Austrian region of Kärnten.

The Cup Racer, which is based on the five-door Leon and painted in metallic matte grey with orange accents, cuts a visually stunning figure. Its incredibly powerful stance on 18-inch racing wheels comes from a track that is 40 cm wider than that of the series production model.

The new front end is laid out for optimum aerodynamic efficiency and maximum airflow to the engine and brake system, while the mighty wheel arches with their openings on the trailing edge aid the cooling effect on the four-piston brake system. The sills are heavily flared and, together with the front spoiler, the smooth under body, the rear diffuser and the two-phase roof spoiler mounted on a support, achieve maximum down force for high-speed cornering.

The interior of the Leon Cup Racer is also ready for the track. Systematic weight reduction and a carefully minimalist approach define the inside of the car, which is protected by a high-strength roll cage. The bucket seat with HANS head-protection system also offers optimum safety.

It is upholstered with specially developed leather that is exceptionally good at regulating moisture.

The base form of the production Leon cockpit is retained, although the car’s driver information and controls are concentrated firmly on the multi-function steering wheel and the high-resolution TFT display behind it, ensuring that the driver always maintains maximum control over his racing machine.

Power comes from a two-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged engine. It boasts a maximum output of 330 PS and maximum torque of 350 Nm. Power transmission to the front axle is handled by a sixspeed DSG dual-clutch gearbox controlled from the steering wheel and an electronically controlled differential lock. A special variant of the Cup Racer for endurance racing can be equipped with a sequential racing transmission with a shift lever on the centre console and a mechanical differential lock.

A preliminary price for the Leon Cup Racer has already been defined – the version with DSG transmission will cost €70,000 (excl. VAT), while the endurance version with a sequential transmission and mechanical differential lock is priced at €95,000 (also excl. VAT).

What F1 drivers get paid

The annual list of F1 salaries has again been published, and while Fernando Alonso remains top, he has now been joined by Lewis Hamilton. Jenson Button meanwhile remains third, taking home €16 million, while triple F1 world champion, Sebastian Vettel has got an increase and now earns €12 million with Red Bull, €1 million a year more than Nico Rosberg and €2 million a year more than Mark Webber.

Felipe Massa has had a pay cut, reduced from €10 million a year to €6 million, while Kimi Raikkonen seems to be a relative bargain for Lotus on only €3 million a year (€2 million less than the figure quoted in 2012), although it is rumoured his pot is boosted substantially according to how he performs and how many points he scores.

Further back, Sergio Perez is now earning three times more than last year following his move to McLaren, with the Woking-based team paying him €1.5 million a season. Romain Grosjean, Nico Hulkenberg and Pastor Maldonado are the only other drivers said to be in the €1 million a year bracket, with Valtteri Bottas on €600,000, ahead of Jules Bianchi and Adrian Sutil on €500,000 apiece.

Drivers: 1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari

€20m

= Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

€20m

3. Jenson Button

McLaren-Mercedes €16m

4. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing

€12m

5. Nico Rosberg

Mercedes

€11m

6. Mark Webber

Red Bull Racing

€10m

7. Felipe Massa

Ferrari

€6m

8. Kimi Raikkonen

Lotus F1 Team

€3m

9. Sergio Perez

McLaren-Mercedes €1.5m

10. Romain Grosjean Lotus F1 Team

€1m

= Pastor Maldonado Williams

€1m

= Nico Hulkenberg

Sauber

€1m

13. Valtteri Bottas

Williams

€600,000

14. Jules Bianchi

Marussia

€500,000

= Adrian Sutil

Force India F1

€500,000

16. Paul di Resta

Force India F1

€400,000

= Daniel Ricciardo

Scuderia Toro Rosso €400,000

= Jean-Eric Vergne

Scuderia Toro Rosso €400,000

19. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber

€200,000

20. Charles Pic

Caterham

€150,000

= Giedo van der Garde Caterham

€150,000

= Max Chilton

€150,000

Marussia

Farfus wins DTM season opener

Augusto Farfus led home a BMW 1-2 ahead of teammate Dirk Werner in an action packed DTM season opener at Hockenheim.

Farfus, who ran second for most of the opening stint behind pole-sitter Timo Scheider, took the opportunity to pit for fresh rubber - under safety car conditions triggered by Adrien Tambay’s fiery exit from the race on lap 7 - after passing Scheider for the lead on lap 6.

The Brazilian then gradually saw the race come back to him as he began to pick off the other drivers who took varying tyre strategies.

The RBM run driver was then able to cruise home to a five-second win ahead of Werner, who produced one of the standout performances of the day after reaching the second step of the rostrum all the way from 20th on the grid, the German’s best DTM result to date.

Christian Vietoris took the final step on the podium ahead of his HWA elder-statesman Gary Paffett, who had an eventful run to fourth position after holding off a three-car onslaught behind him led by defending champion Bruno Spengler in a solid if unspectacular fifth on his first race in the number 1 car.

Scheider eventually ended the day sixth after the Audi drivers race was compromised by the safety car in the opening laps, dropping down the field in the opening pit-stop melee.

Joey Hand came home in a credible seventh ahead of Audi’s Mike Rockenefeller in eighth while Marco Wittmann and Roberto Mehri both scored points for the first time in their DTM careers in ninth and tenth.

DTM debutant Pascal Wehrlein can count himself unlucky not to have scored points on his first outing after the young German, who led most of the first half of the race, was able to go 25-laps on the option tyre.

F1 refugee Timo Glock retired from his first DTM race. The German had run as high as second but a loose nut following his opening pit-stop put the MTEK man out of the race.

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