CARS GLOBALMAG + RACE GLOBALMAG April 2014

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digital monthly magazine

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18 April 2014

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“APRIL’S NEW CARS!” New Porsche Cayman & Boxster

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CONTENTS

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April 2014

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FRONT PAGE Passo Corto

AUTONEWS Autonews April

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26

MISS OF THE MONTH

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FOCUS

Triango

Porsche Boxster & Cayman GTS

digital monthly magazine

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48

54 42

GLOBAL NEWS Q by Aston Martin Get a grip : VIDEO Start play!

AND FROM PAGE

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CLASSIC Boca Raton Concourse

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FRONT PAGE

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PASSOCORTO

Istituto Europeo di Design of Turin attended the International Geneva Motor Show with a two-seater concept created by the Master in Transportation Design in collaboration with the Hyundai Design Center Europe

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PASSOCORTO

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assoCorto has a very sporty profile. A concept car with a technical but evocative name, intentionally requested to be in Italian by the Hyundai Design Center Europe as a tribute to the Made in Italy design that is studied at the IED. The Korean car manufacturer gave to the Institute a design brief with its target potential customers being those born between the eighties and the early years of this millennium: the young people who are always connected, those of 2.0, known as generation Y. This very target market also includes the students on the Master’s asked by Hyundai to draw and design “the car of their dreams”, one that would be top of their list for buying and driving. The car designers therefore put themselves into the shoes of automotive professionals and also the potential purchasers of their own design. This is how the PassoCorto was created, in a year - 2014 - that, in addition to the tenth full scale model, will also see the Institute celebrate 20 years of the Transportation Design course and 25 years of activity in the region.

PassoCorto (length 4100mm - width 1880mm - height 1160mm – wheelbase 2450mm) whose name itself already expresses all the character of the car, recalling its compactness and lightness - is a two-seater sports car with rear-mid engine. The interiors are designed to have two cockpits with integrated instruments clearly divided by passenger and driver; the seat is optically connected to the dashboard and the backrest is cut directly out of special niches in the frame.

PassoCorto stems from an idea by: Eren Birben (Turkey); Ke Wang (China); Marco Gianotti (Italy) and Chaitnaya Nitin Pise (India). The following people worked on the project: Varun Awale (India); Giresh Baraya (India); Stefan Bordignon (Brazil); Doosung Jeon (Korea); Tank Harshad (India); Siddharth Prakash (India); Madhavendra Singh (India); Denis Tarelkin (Russia); Arthur Godfrey Mugisha Tumushime (Zimbabwe); Abdul Sater Wafai (Syria); Lei Zhang (China) and Andrea Zuanni (Italy). The Master of Arts in Transportation Design - work experience IED Turin is coordinated by: Luca Borgogno, Lead Designer Pininfarina with the collaboration of Alberto Filosi; Luca Dazzan; Alessandro Belosio and Matteo Krzanowzky, IED lecturers.

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PASSOCORTO

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The Schools are flanked

by IED Research Centre, the place where school meets the enterprise and research meets experimentation. Since its foundation in 1975, IED Research Centre has defined a new model of operations that adapts to the evolution in markets and firms’ ever-changing needs.

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PASSOCORTO

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For more than forty years, Istituto Europeo di Design has been operating in the fields of education and research in the disciplines of design, fashion, visual arts and communication.

Since 2011 Management Lab has been added to these disciplines and represents a new school for the creative businesses that will implement the didactic of the entire Group with its contents.

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he model was designed to have a carbon fibre monocoque chassis, thereby ensuring the car is as light as possible (the target weight was 840 kg). On the road, it would be powered by a 4 cylinder inline bi-turbo engine (1600 cc) of 270 CV. In general, the concept lines are dictated by the wheel arches, which simulate crab claws and envelop the extremely streamlined central volume of the bonnet and the cab. The front and rear are completed with significant aerodynamic elements, while the roof has a graphical setting that integrates the engine air inlets while a video camera acts as a rear view mirror and records high resolution videos to be shared with fiends on the web.

The exhaust pipes, which come out of the top part of the car, allow for a “clean” rear and are a characterising element of the design of the whole car. The livery dazzles in orange, which is reminiscent of the 1970s sports car traditions that made the history of great Italian car makers.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the director Riccardo Balbo - says Thomas Bürkle, Chief Designer Hyundai Europe Design Center - the management of IED and especially to the students of the Master Course. The cooperation between our Design Center and IED was very inspiring and fruitful. The PassoCorto is a dream coming true and fulfills the high expectations we had at the beginning of the project. The result is of such an high standard that I can say that the Hyundai badge sits proudly on the bonnet of this exciting sports car!”

IED collaborated with Hyundai seeking to focus as much as possible on the emotional factor linked to the passion for cars. The client’s role was crucial both in the approach to the project and in managing to stimulate the students, reawakening in them real and tangible passions, which often seemed sedated by their digital experiences. Even in the design modus operandi, Hyundai insisted on returning to more traditional methods, giving great importance to manual design and clay modelling. 3D digital was used only and exclusively for the full scale development of the chosen model.

PassoCorto is the work of sixteen students on the Master’s course coordinated by Luca

Borgogno, Lead Designer Pininfarina. The concept is the result of a process marked by various assessment stages, simulating a real working situation. All the students submitted their own proposal; the two that were best able to respond to the initial brief were selected and “merged” together into the final version which combines approximately 70% of one proposal and 30% of the other. The entire class in fact created a core working team in order to create a well-integrated model of the two final versions in line with the concepts expressed by the scale models, completing as a group the full scale concept.

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AUTONEWS

Preview

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BMW X4

t 184.3 inches (4,680 mm) in length, it is 0.6 inches (14 mm) longer than the X3, but is also 1.5 inches (37 mm) lower (height: 63.9 in./1,624 mm). The large air intakes positioned on the outer edges of the front fascia and the precise character lines in the front apron lend the X4 a more muscular appearance. Available M Sport brings the outstanding dynamics of the BMW X4 into greater focus. One element of M Sport is the M Ae-

rodynamics package, which gives the BMW X4 a particularly striking appearance.

In the US, the X4 will be offered with a choice of two TwinPower Turbo engines. The X4 xDrive28i, with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $45,625 will feature BMW’s 240 horsepower 2.0-liter four cylinder while the top-of-line X4 xDrive35i, with an MSRP of $48,925 will feature BMW’s venerable 300 horsepower 3.0-liter inline six. Both models include an 8-speed Steptronic sport automatic transmission with shift paddles as well as xDrive, BMW’s intelligent all-wheel drive system.

BMW M4 Convertible The 2015 BMW M4 Convertible is powered by the same BMW M TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter inline-six as its siblings. That engine produces 425 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque and can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed M-DCT transmission.

The hardtop of the BMW M4 Convertible fea-

tures a number of design improvements that reduce noise levels for a much quieter interior ambience. When the top is up, the luggage compartment has a volume of 13.0 cu. ft.

(370 liters) – that is 0.7 cu. ft. (20 liters) more than available in the BMW M3 Convertible.

A flat and level storage area can be utilized when the backrest of the rear bench seat is folded down. The all-new BMW M4 Convertible will arrive in showrooms later in the year to join the M4 Coupe and M3 Sedan.

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AUTO NEWS April

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HYUNDAI New Sonata

Preview

LINCOLN MKC

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he new model is 35 millimeters longer and 30 millimeters wider than the previous generation Sonata, delivering a marginal increase in exterior size but worthwhile gains in internal volume.

Advanced suspension design and active safety features such as Blind Spot Detection, Lane Departure Warning System and Advanced Smart Cruise Control, ensure a safe driving experience.

A range of MPi and GDi engines deliver maximum drivability in all driving conditions, thanks to improvements that mean plentiful torque and power available across a wider range of engine speeds. While the all-new Sonata is equipped with 2.0 CVVL, 2.4 GDi, 2.0 LPi for the Korean market, variations will vary, depending on each market.

The car is scheduled to be launched outside Korea in the second half of this year.

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he Lincoln MKC will arrive with an available 285-horsepower turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine and Lincoln’s standard push-button gear shift controlling the automatic transmission. Other available features include park out assist, Vista Roof, 19-inch wheels, voice-activated navigation and a hands-free wraparound liftgate. Available Lincoln-exclusive Deepsoft Bridge of Weir leather highlights the premium materials.

MKC also introduces Approach Detection, which senses when an owner is near and responds by illuminating “welcome mats” on the ground next to both front doors. Headlamps, taillamps and door handles also glow with soft lighting tuned to complement the vehicle’s exterior color.

CHEVROLET Captiva

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hevrolet Thailand launched the latest version of the Chevrolet Captiva.

The new Captiva comes with Passive Entry Passive Start, a feature that allows the driver to unlock the doors and start the engine by being in-range of the Captiva’s sensors.

On the exterior, Captiva has a redesigned front bumper with more elegant fog-light covers. The rear bumper is redesigned with integrated, stylized chrome exhaust tips and new rear light clusters.

CHRYSLER 2015 Chrysler 200

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he 2015 Chrysler 200 debuts the exterior design featuring the new “face” of the Chrysler brand – a thoughtful crafted interior and an exceptional driving experien-

The new Captiva offers a choice of two powertrains. The E85-capable 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with double overhead camshafts, 16 valves and Double Continuously Variable Cam-Phasing delivers 168 hp of power and 229 Nm of torque. Captiva is the first in its class to offer E85 capability. Also available is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with DOHC, 16 valves and a high-pressure common-rail fuel delivery system capable of 360 Nm of torque and 163 hp of power.

ce complements of the Alfa Romeo-based chassis. The grille and headlamps are integrated for the first time and the updated Chrysler badge has an emphasis on the wing, which is more defined. The all-new 2015 Chrysler 200 is the world’s first mid-size sedan to feature a nine-speed automatic transmission, which comes standard.

Two engine choices power the all-new 2015 Chrysler 200 sedan. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 generates a best-in-class 295 horsepower as well as 262 lb.-ft. of torque. The new Tigershark 2.4-liter MultiAir2 four-cylinder engine produces 184 horsepower, 173 lb.ft. of torque and delivers excellent estimated fuel economy of 35 mpg highway.

U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price is $21,700 (excluding $995 destination).

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AUTO NEWS April

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DODGE 2014 Dodge Journey SE

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CITROËN DS3 Cabrio Racing

que than the standard THP 155 unit on which it is based. 0-62mph is achieved in just 6.5 seconds and, where it is safe and legal, the model has a top speed of 145mph. Striking to look at, DS3 Cabrio Racing sets itself apart with sports detailing and a dynamic colour scheme, offset by hints of carbon fibre.

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he Citroën DS3 Cabrio Racing is on sale.

Prospective buyers will need to move fast though, as the ultralimited production run of just 100 examples worldwide is going fast.

Building on the acclaimed work with DS3 WRC and DS3 Racing, Citroën Racing has developed the refined DS3 Cabrio to create a limited edition that combines sporting performance, dynamic styling and the pleasure of topdown driving.

Under the bonnet, DS3 Cabrio Racing’s 207hp four-cylinder 1.6-litre THP engine – the same as in DS3 Racing – delivers 30% more power and 15% more tor-

he new Dodge Journey SE V-6 AWD is generously equipped with standard features such as 17-inch wheels, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), seven airbags, 4.3-inch touchscreen Uconnect Media Center, Keyless Enter ‘n Go with push-button start.

The 2014 Dodge Journey with available seven-passenger seating now offers the Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine and all-wheel drive (AWD) on SE models for, with a U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $24,895 (excluding $995 destination). The Dodge Journey SE V-6 AWD makes all-wheel drive more accessible within the Journey lineup by $1,800 compared to the SXT model. The 2014 Dodge Journey SE V-6 AWD is already available in dealerships across the United States.

ERMINI SEIOTTOSEI

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n order to breathe fresh life into the legendary Italian “Barchettas”, Ermini unveiled a world preview of its new prototype Seiottosei at the Geneva Motor Show. The constructive philosophy of the entire car is a combination between technology and the finest craft-making techniques.

The refined electric welded space frame, absolutely of racing nature (integrated with the engine and gearbox), weighs less than 40 kg. In order to create it, Ermini has worked very closely with racing factory Osella for more than three years, summing up the best racing experiences in over forty years on circuits around the world. As a result, the Seiottosei weighs less than seven hundred kilos and thanks to its 320 HP engine its power-to-weight ratio is just above 2 kg/hp.

The desire to create a truly unique and exclusive product has, however, led the designer, Giulio Cappellini, to design the soft and sinuous curves of this original car. A master of design, who has never been in the automobile business, hence not influenced by it, who has designed the Seiottosei starting from the simple concept of “beauty”. To do so, Ermini has created the “aesthetic” part of the hand-hammered all-aluminum body. All this has made it possible to create shapes that are unknown to today’s market as they are very difficult to achieve with conventional production processes.

The bodywork (which functions with flows of air to give lift to the car itself and to improve channelling of the cooling air to the engine and brakes) is made of carbon fibre. Finally the Renault 2.0 turbo engine, set up by LRM Motors, is expected to offer unexpected driving emotions to lucky owner of this little jewel.

TECHNICAL SHEET Engineered Designed Chassis: Wheelbase: Track: Width: Length: Suspensions:

Engine:

Gearbox:

Breaking system:

Coachwork:

Wheels: Tyres:

Weight: Performance: Acceleration:

by Osella

by Giulio Cappellini Trellis/ steel tubing and carbon panels 2.600 mm 1.625 mm (front) – 1.595 mm (rear) 1.850 mm 4.120 mm front and rear-­wheel suspensions “push road”, double triangles Renault F4RT RS-­4 cylinders 16 valve 1.998cc (320CV) Sadev six speed sequential + reverse, double-­disc clutch Brembo with self-­ventilating brake disk rotors Two-­seater type “Barchetta”, aluminium and carbon fibre OZ Racing – front 7,5/17, rear 8,5/17 Toyo R888 front 215/45-­17, rear 245/40-­17 686 Kg 270 Km/h (speed limit device) 0-­100Km/h estimated in less than 3,5 sec.

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AUTO NEWS April

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FORD Everest Concept

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ord showcased the new Ford Everest Concept at the Bangkok International Auto Show. The ASEAN debut of the Ford Everest Concept follows its global reveal in Sydney in August 2013. The Ford Everest Concept is a strong precursor to a vehicle that will meet the needs of customers in ASEAN markets.

It builds upon key Ford design cues, combi-

ning sleekness and refinement with bold and rugged technical details. Created by Ford’s regional design and product development team in Australia, the Ford Everest Concept is the latest proof point of Ford’s regional design and engineering capabilities, as it creates world-class vehicles for markets in Asia Pacific and around the world.

HENNESSEY Venom GT “World Fastest Edition”

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ennessey Performance is building a limited run of World’s Fastest Edition Venom GTs to celebrate the company’s recent top speed run of 270.4 mph, which was set at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in February.

The World’s Fastest Edition also alludes to the Venom’s 0-300 km/h Guinness World Record. Its 7.0-liter twin-turbo V8 makes 1244 bhp and with only 2743 lb. to accelerate (that’s 1244 kg, hitting the 1 bhp/kg mark), the Venom GT is not only the fastest series-

produced road car; it’s also the quickest. It holds the Guinness World Record for standing-start acceleration, rocketing from rest to 300 km/h (186 mph) in just 13.63 seconds.

Lightweight aluminum construction, carbonfiber bodywork and featherweight carbonceramic brakes all make this extraordinary power/weight ratio possible.

Just three World’s Fastest Edition cars are being built and have already been sold at a price of $1.25 million U.S.

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AUTO NEWS April

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HONDA City

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he 2014 Honda City shown at the Bangkok Motor Show measures 4.4 meters in length. This compact car, debuting in Thailand, features a 1.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine producing 117 PS at 6,000 rpm and 146 Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm. The engine can be coupled both with a 5-speed manual gearbox or an automatic transmission. 6 airbags, Vehicle Stability Assistant, a 7-inch touch screen and voice activated controls complete the most important features.

HONDA NSX Prototype

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he NSX supercar, powered by an innovative three-motor Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, and set for launch in 2015, will take centre stage at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (27-29 June).

The car will be powered by a mid-mounted, direct-injected next-generation longitudinally placed twin-turbo V6 engine mated to Honda’s

Preview Sport Hybrid SH-AWD. Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is an all-new, three-motor high-performance hybrid system that combines torque vectoring all-wheel drive with advanced hybrid efficiency through the use of three electric motors – one motor integrated with the V6 engine and its all-new dual-clutch transmission (DCT) driving the rear wheels, and two motors driving the front wheels.

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AUTO NEWS April

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MERCEDES-BENZ S 63 AMG

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he new S 63 AMG Coupé is the latest addition to the Mercedes-AMG model range.

As the most powerful member of the BlueDIRECT engine family, the AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine is a good example of power and efficiency. It boasts an output of 585 hp and 900 Nm of torque. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission combines

perfectly with the V8 biturbo engine. And there is a world first in the shape of the curve tilting function, part of the MAGIC BODY CONTROL suspension system, to further enhance both driving pleasure and comfort. The S 63 AMG Coupé will have its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show with market launch at the end of the year.

Preview

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AUTO NEWS April

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MG MG6

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he MG marque celebrates a move into Thailand as the iconic British automotive manufacturer displayed UK designed and engineered MG6 models at the Bangkok International Motor Show.

Since 2008, MG Motor UK has been owned

by Chinese automotive giant, SAIC Motor.

President of SAIC Motor, Mr. Wu Huan said: “The public debut of the MG6 in Thailand is

the opportunity for the Thai market to see the new MG6 before it arrives on Thai roads. All nine cars on display were built locally at the production facility in Rayong province.�

In the UK, sales of MG6 GT and Magnette variants are set to improve in 2014 thanks to the decrease in CO2 emissions for Diesel variants (from 139g/Km to 129g/Km) making the model a viable fleet option for the first time.

PEUGEOT 308 SW

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he New 308 SW is now available to order with the announcement of full pricing and specifications, in readiness for the European launch and first customer deliveries from June 2014.

From launch the new 308 SW will be available with three petrol and five HDi diesel engines, all offering good fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. The new 308 is the first Peugeot car to benefit from an innovative three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine the PureTech 1.2-litre e-THP with a choice of

110 or 130bhp. Also available will be BlueHDi models, including a segment-leading engine with emissions of just 82g/km in the Hatchback and 85g/km in the SW, plus next generation six-speed automatic gearboxes.

Starting price is ÂŁ16,845 in the UK.

TOYOTA

Fortuner TRD Sportivo

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oyota showcased the Toyota Fortuner TRD Sportivo at the Bangkok Motor Show.

The TRD pack adds a sporty body kit and several interior enhancements to the SUV. A new bumper, side skirts, hood scoop, new alloy wheels and TRD Sportivo body graphics are some of the highlights of the Sportivo pack.

Three engine will be available in Thailand: a 3.0-liter four-cylinder diesel producing 171

hp at 3,600 rpm and 360 Nm of torque (2WD and 4WD available). The 2.7-liter petrol engine produces 160 hp at 5,200 rpm and 241 Nm of torque at 3,800 rpm. The Fortuner 2.7 is sold in a single 2WD AT trim. The base Toyota Fortuner uses a 2.5-liter diesel engine which develops 144 hp at 3,400 rpm and 343 Nm of torque between 1,600-2,800 rpm.

It is available with a manual and automatic transmission, but only in 2WD. CGM

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MISS OF THE MONTH

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TRIANGO REVELATION CONCEPT 3D rendering made by Péter Pados

The name derives from the word ‘triangle’ because this motif can be found in numerous places on the car

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TRIANGO REVELATION CONCEPT

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The project of this supercar begun in 2008 by an Hungarian designer and an Hungarian contractor. The exterior and interior design is by Jakus Tamรกs (http://jakusadesign.com).

The car itself is a super-car concept, which is now stepping out of the virtual space into the construction phase

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TRIANGO REVELATION CONCEPT

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The construction of the car is being made in Hungary and when the car will be finished it will represent the first Hungarian sport car. Designs are already being made for various model versions and types as the engine will be a V8 twin-turbo custom made delivering around 1000 Hp at 10,000 rpm. Among the main characteristics the car will feature a complete cruise computer, automatic start and full rear wheel direction

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TRIANGO REVELATION CONCEPT

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The entire car and the interior will be “handmade�, build by using exclusive and unique materials. Only 12 pieces of this beast will be manufactured by Urban Motorsport

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FOCUS

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UPRATED ENGINES Two new Porsche models with higher performance: Boxster GTS and Cayman GTS. Top mid-engine sports models with more powerful engines and adaptive chassis.

These two new models (that will be launched from May 2014) are the first mid-engine two-seaters from Porsche to be certified according to the Euro 6 standard

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BOXTER & CAYMAN

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he two most powerful and fastest midengine sports models from Porsche are ready and raring to go: with uprated engines and excellent PASM chassis the Boxster GTS and Cayman GTS set new benchmarks for sportiness in their segment.

The independent front and a modified rear end, blackened bi-xenon headlights – with the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) as standard – and exterior lettering in silky black gloss are subtle yet unmistakable features of the new top models. The name says it all: at Porsche “GTS” stands for Gran Turismo Sport and has promised outstanding Porsche performance ever since the legen-

dary 904 Carrera GTS dating back to 1963.

With the new two-seaters Porsche is renewing its commitment to authentic sports cars for both the racetrack and everyday use.

The six-cylinder boxer engines fitted in the new top models are based on the 3.4-litre engines from the Boxster S and Cayman S respectively. Thanks to optimised fine tuning they now deliver an additional 15 hp (11 kW).

This means that the Boxster GTS now has an output of 330 hp (243 kW), whilst the Cayman GTS delivers 340 hp (250 kW). The torque has also increased by ten newton metres in each model.

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BOXER & CAYMAN

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hat’s more, the Sport Chrono package is a standard feature in both midengine sports cars. This means that in conjunction with the optional Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) and the active Sport Plus button, the Boxster GTS sprints from 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, whilst the Cayman GTS is even a tenth of a second faster. Both vehicles therefore set new reference values.

As regards the maximum speed – measured with the standard manual six-speed transmission – the Boxster is the first of the new premium roadsters to top the 280 km/h mark, achieving a speed of 281 km/h. At 285 km/h the sports coupé is even faster.

The new top models are the first mid-engine two-seaters from Porsche to be certified according to the Euro 6 standard, and with this measuring method they achieve an overall fuel consumption with PDK of 8.2 l/100 km (9.0 l/100 km with manual transmission).

The Boxster GTS and Cayman GTS combine top driving dynamics with the typical Porsche spread with undiminished ride comfort and exclusive features. For example, the combination of PASM and the Sport Chrono package as standard enables the driver to switch

between progressive sportiness on the one hand and long-distance comfort on the other hand at the press of a button. The tyres measuring 235/35 at the front and 265/35 at the rear on 20-inch Carrera S-wheels provide the perfect setup for both. Both two-seaters come with sports seats and leather interiors as standard. Like other GTS models from Porsche they are refined with Alcantara elements.

With the new models Porsche is now extending the GTS principle to the Boxster and Cayman. Like the Cayenne GTS and Panamera GTS, these are extremely sporty top models that stand for superior driving dynamics in their segment. The combination of letters originates from the 904 Carrera GTS, a race car dating back to 1963 that could also be registered for use on public roads.

In the 1980s and 1990s the 924 GTS and 928 GTS cultivated this principle. It was reborn in 2007 in the form of the Cayenne GTS, and was subsequently also implemented in the 911 series and the Panamera.

The new models will be launched from May 2014. With country-specific equipment and VAT the Boxster GTS costs Euro 69,949 and the Cayman GTS costs Euro 73,757 in Germany.

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Boxster GTS: Fuel consumption urban 12.7 – 11.4 l/100 km; extra-urban 7.1 – 6.3 l/100 km; combined 9.0 – 8.2 l/100 km; CO2 emissions 211 – 190 g/km; efficiency classes: G, F** Cayman GTS: Fuel consumption urban 12.7 – 11.4 l/100 km; extra-urban 7.1 – 6.3 l/100 km; combined 9.0 – 8.2 l/100 km; CO2 emissions 211 – 190 g/km; efficiency classes: G, F**

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Aston Martin recently presented its most compelling bespoke sports car creations to date, courtesy of its increasingly popular tailor-made personalisation service: Q by Aston Martin Q Lounge will be the blueprint for bespoke specification rooms in selected Aston Martin dealerships around the world

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he concept of Q by Aston Martin is as simple as it is ambitious: customers engaging with the service are encouraged to challenge the team to make their automotive dreams reality.

From the simplest colour or trim amendment to wildly ambitious one-off car commissions such as last year’s CC100 Speedster Concept – which began life as a pure concept but, thanks to the Q by Aston Martin team, ended the year as a brace of tailor-made cars for Aston Martin enthusiasts – the personalisation service is inspiring its customers to let their imaginations soar.

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Q

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Aston Martin has launched the company’s first ice driving program in North America, hosted at Crested Butte, Colorado providing customers with the ultimate driving experience against a stunning mountainous backdrop.

Offering customers the opportunity to experience the full potential of the Aston Martin range and hone their driving skills, the new On Ice program took place in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains in a unique setting, with an ice track custom built for the occasion as illustrated in a new film from the event, released today.

Comprising a braking/cornering exercise loop, slalom, skid pad and full circuit, the bespoke Aston Martin track was especially constructed for the occasion over the last four months. Under expert tuition, participants were guided through the facility, embarking upon a series of braking, cornering and handling exercises before putting their skills to the test on a mile-long frozen road course.

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eneral Manager of VIP and Q by Aston Martin Sales, Dr Matthew Bennett, explained: “The service is a natural extension of what many of our customers have expected of us for many years.

The process of creating and specifying a new Aston Martin can take some time – time that our customers rightly expect to savour.

What Q by Aston Martin adds to that already exciting process is the freedom to think beyond specification sheets and options lists – to challenge the designers and engineers here at Gaydon to use their talents to produce something truly remarkable, and unique.”

Aston Martin Design Director, Marek Reichman, and his team are intimately involved in the personalisation process. He explained: “Q by Aston Martin is really all about freedom. The freedom to work with us here at our Gaydon headquarters to create something really special. Something that uniquely demonstrates a customer’s attitude, their personality and their taste. My team and I are excited to be leading the design inspiration innate in this service and, working closely with the engineering and manufacturing teams, and their suppliers worldwide, to be helping to deliver levels of personalisation that have not been widely available before.”

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GLOBAL NEWS

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GET A GRIP Tire grip, braking capability require action to prevent wheels rotating in tires

Pictures Š General Motors

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GET A GRIP

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hile running fast laps at several of the country’s most challenging tracks, Camaro Z/28 engineers noticed the tires were providing so much traction and the brakes so much stopping force that the wheels rotated inside the tire – an unexpected challenge that required fast thinking.

“We were told to build a fast car – said Mark Stielow, Camaro Z/28 program manager and pro-touring expert – we knew on Day One we’d need to bring some of the best suppliers onboard to make it happen.”

The suppliers included Pirelli and its P Zero™

Trofeo R tires and Brembo for carbon-ceramic brake rotors. The Trofeo R tires have a track-oriented tread design and compound that, together with the carbon-ceramic rotors, help the Z/28 achieve up to 1.5 g in deceleration force.

It was a perfect combination, but engineers quickly found that when the Z/28’s capability was tested, the wheels were rotating – slipping – inside the tires. They sought the root of the problem by marking one of the Pirelli P Zero™ Trofeo R tires at the beginning of a lap with a chalk line relative to the valve

stem on the wheel. At the end of the lap, they recorded where the chalk line ended up and noticed the tire had rotated at least a full 360 degrees from where they started.

Racers use an abrasive paint around the bead of the wheel, where the tire meets the rim, to combat the problem on race cars. The Z/28’s engineers tried it, but it wasn’t strong enough to prevent the slippage, so other approaches were tried. Finally, they tried media blasting, which involves shooting a gritty material through an air gun at the wheel’s surface, adding texture to the paint for the tire to

grip. “Media-blasting the wheel created an extremely aggressive grit on the rim, which finally got the tire to hold” said Stielow.

Along with the tires and brakes, some of the tire slip can also be attributed to the 7.0L LS7 engine helping spin the wheels with an SAEcertified 505 horsepower (376 kW) and 481 lb-ft of torque (652 Nm). While going around corners, the helical-gear limited-slip rear differential also sends power to the wheels so well that differences in tire slip can be observed from side to side on the rear axle. The 2014 Camaro Z/28 arrives in dealerships this spring.

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GLOBAL NEWS

( © Ford Motor Company

START PLAY! A new pinball game from Stern Pinball, featuring the all new Ford Mustang and celebrating 50 years of the original pony car debuted at the Chicago Auto Show

T

he all-new Ford Mustang headlines a trio of new pony car-themed pinball games revealed at the Chicago Auto Show.

Crafted by Chicago’s own Stern Pinball, the Mustang-inspired games combine two prime examples of 20th century American pop culture – the coin-operated pinball machine and the original pony car. “For five decades, Mustang has represented some of the best of American culture, inspiring a feeling of freedom and independence for people around the world - said Steve Ling, Ford car marketing manager - we’re excited to have Stern Pinball join us here in its hometown of Chicago with its brand-new games featuring Mustang.”

Stern is introducing three new Mustang-themed games this spring featuring cabinet and backboard artwork that pay tribute to 50 years of Mustang. The pro-level machines, de-

signed for arcades and other public spaces, feature Mustangs from the past five decades. The more feature-rich premium edition focuses on Mustang Boss 302, Boss 351 and Boss 429 of 1969 to 1971 and 2012 to 2013.

Stern Pinball is one of many companies producing officially licensed products to celebrate 50 years of Mustang. A special limitededition model signed by the game designer features the 1965 original and the all-new 2015 Mustang. Both premium and limitededition games feature genuine chrome Mustang badges on the speaker grilles.

“The first car I ever bought was a 1970 Mustang Sportroof with a 302, and I’m currently restoring a 1969 Mach 1 - said George Gomez, executive vice president for game design, Stern Pinball - in designing these new games, we wanted to celebrate the freedom and fun of driving Mustang.”

The games incorporate a mix of classic pinball play features and modern technology to let players “go racing” with some of the greatest Mustangs of all time, and even build up a dream collection as they progress.

Different interactive sections of the playfield and sequences of shots let players go drag racing, rallying, drifting and road racing in pursuit of a high score. For example, hitting specific targets with the ball enables gear shifting, and subsequent hits activate going up or down through the gears. The games feature video displays in the backboard and real Mustang sounds, giving players the visceral experience of driving Mustang.

Chicago is the spiritual home of the classic coin-operated pinball machine. The modern games were developed in the city in the 1920s and 1930s by companies such as Bally, Gottlieb and Williams as an evolution of 18th century French parlor games. Over time, designers added a wide array of features to enhance gameplay, and incorporated pop culture themes from movies, television, music and comic books – the same mediums that often incorporate Mustang. Pinball pioneer Harry Williams said: “The ball is wild!”

“The beauty of pinball is that there is no set outcome, and it can’t be programmed like a video game - said Gary Stern, founder of Stern Pinball - that makes pinball a perfect match for Mustang, taking drivers anywhere they want to go.”

The very first Mustang-themed pinball game was introduced in 1964, the same year as the car, by the nowdefunct Chica-

The all-new 2015 Mustang is the most advanced version yet of the iconic pony car. The sleek new design of Mustang fastback and convertible is backed up by world-class performance from a range of available engines, including a new turbocharged EcoBoost® 2.3- liter and an upgraded 5.0-liter V8 with more than 420 horsepower. A custom 2014 Ford Mustang GT starring in the new movie, “Need for Speed,” will be auctioned off for charity by Ford Motor Company at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction on April 12.

go Coin Company. Unfortunately, all of the other great Chicago pinball companies succumbed to the challenge of the video game business. Stern has committed to creating great games that remain true to what made pinball fun in the first place, while incorporating modern design and mechanical systems to challenge players.

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CLASSIC

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Elegance un

by Niccolò Gargiulo

nder the sun!

The eighth annual Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance, held in Febraury at the Boca Raton Resort & Club (Florida), showcased an amazing display of unique classic cars and motorcycles and, as a charity event, it raised $1 million dollars for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County

(

BOCA RATON

( 1911 Packard 30

1952 Muntz Jet - Best in Class One Off’s and Limited Production

More than 4,000 guests from around the world experienced the automotive showcase featuring cars and motorcycles from a wide range of time periods.

An expert panel of judges were responsible for selecting the finest vintage, antique, classic and exotic vehicles based on period, presentation and cleanliness.

1958 Cadillac Fleetwood - Best in Class Preservation

1947 Bentley Mark VI - People’s Choice Award

1935 Desoto Airflow

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BOCA RATON

1953 MG TD Sport Speciale Best in Class One Off’s and Limited Production

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Best in Show Automobile was awarded to the 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special for The Premier Collection

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BOCA RATON

1931 Duesenberg J-104

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1928 Rolls-Royce Torpedo

1974 De Tomaso Pantera GTS

1935 Mercedes-Benz 130H Saloon Best in Class Mercedes Classic Pre-War Closed

1953 Glasspar G-2 Roadster

CGM

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PIC OF THE MONTH

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Ford is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its Australian invention of the iconic ute.

In mid-1933 the managing director of the Ford Motor Company of Australia, Hubert French, received a letter from a farmer’s wife in Gippsland, Victoria. She wrote: “My husband and I can’t afford a car and a truck but we need a car to go to church on Sunday and a truck to take the pigs to market on Monday. Can you help?”

French passed the letter on to a young design engineer, Lewis Bandt. Where Bandt’s design differed was that he developed his Ford utility as a coupe (two-passenger, steel-paneled, glass-windowed car) with an integrated steel-paneled load carrying section at the rear.

#

2

April 2014

THE THRILL OF NASCAR IN EUROPE!

( CONTENTS

66 70

FRONT PAGE A jump to the Green Hell PADDOCK MIX

76

FORMULA 1 Enrico’s notepad I mean ...

90

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series

96

INDYCAR The Double The Fast Nine Shootout

110

WORLD ENDURANCE How do you prepare?

Ford back to win

120

INTERVIEW Gimme a chance RACE GLOBALMAG is an extra issue of digital monthly magazine CARS GLOBALMAG. Chief Editor: Vittorio Gargiulo All rights reserved. All materials present in this magazine including, but not limited to texts, photographs, illustrations, video clips and other materials are protected by copyrights and/or other intellectual property.

The material and content provided in this application is for your personal, non-commercial use only, and you agree not to distribute, copy, extract or commercially exploit such material. You further agree not to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, modify, adapt, translate, prepare derivative works from this magazine.

Cover photo: Stephane Azemard

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PIC OF THE MONTH

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Asian Elephant Luke trumpets his approval of the special 426 HEMI 50th anniversary paint scheme Matt Hagan will carry later this year on his Don Schumacher Racing Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car.

FRONT PAGE

A JUMP

THE GRE © Courtesy of Red Bull Content Pool

Extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner to drive at N端rburgring 24 Hours

P INTO

EEN HELL

FelixBaumgartner

Following his stratosphere jump in 2012, extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner is tackling his next big challenge on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. The Austrian will obtain a racing license and become a race driver with the Audi race experience team on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

The Audi race experience makes it possible for Audi’s customers with sporting ambitions to enter racing. But never before has the program, which the Audi driving experience has been running since 2010, had as prominent a driver as this one. “It’s fantastic that we’re cooperating with Felix Baumgartner this year - says Klaus Demel, the head of the Audi driving experience - as an extreme athlete, Felix Baumgartner has been thrilling millions of fans around the world with his daring actions that combine ingenuity and exceptional technical demands. Now we’re familiarizing him with our sport, offer him a professional environment with our team, and are very excited about this new, joint challenge.”

As a guest entrant, Baumgartner has been gathering some racing experience in recent years during

occasional runs in the one-make cups of the Volkswagen Group.

The big difference in the 2014 season: the Audi R8 LMS ultra provides him with a 570 hp GT3 race car. The 44-year-old is actually completing an extensive preparation program before competing in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring on June 21/22, 2014.

His team-mates are equally prominent: the five-time Le Mans winner Frank Biela, the three-time Le Mans winner Marco Werner as well as the GT and sports car pro Pierre Kaffer will be his colleagues in the cockpit.

“This task is totally exciting and I’m looking forward to driving races in an Audi - says Felix Baumgartner - during initial tests in the road-going Audi R8 I got to know the Nürburgring, and in the Audi R8 LMS ultra I’ve clocked a few kilometers on various tracks as well. I regard this task as one of the major projects in my life. The environment is perfect, the atmosphere is fantastic, and I feel really well taken care of by the Audi race experience. But it’s also clear that I’m basically starting from scratch because this sport is new for me.”

Former professional rally driver Josef ‘Sepp’ Haider, now the Audi race experience’s sporting director, is one of the instructors of his Austrian compatriot: “Felix is approaching his new task in exactly the manner that is the hallmark of a pro.

He’s eager to learn, has good judgment of the physical conditions, and is totally motivated. All team members have come to respect him in the initial tests.

I’m very much looking forward to our joint journey.”

The team will be fielding another R8 LMS ultra in the 24hour race. The drivers of this car have already been confirmed. Already last year, Dominique Bastien, Rahel Frey and Christian Bollrath formed a team. Christiaan Frankenhout will be supporting the Audi race experience as a driver for the first time.

RGM

PADDOCK MIX BMW Motorsport introduces new junior programme The promotion of promising and talented young drivers enjoys a long tradition at BMW Motorsport, which is set to continue in 2014 with the BMW Motorsport Junior Programme.

The focus is on GT and touring car drivers of at least 18 years of age and in possession of a licence to race on the iconic Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE). This licence is important, as outings in the BMW M235i Racing Cup class of the VLN Endurance Championship will form an integral part of the comprehensive training programme. At three races, the VLN provides participants with a prominent stage, on which to gain experience at the wheel of the newly-developed, entry-level BMW M235i Racing, in a professional team, and on the demanding Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

As well as starts in the VLN, test drives in Formula BMW FB02 racing cars and intensive theory courses dealing with fitness and PR are planned, as are mental and simulator training.

“This re-alignment allows us to underline our focus on production-based motor racing and to shift our traditional promotion of junior drivers to the field of GT and touring car racing - said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt - in singleseater racing our concept has borne fruit for decades through Formula BMW and the Formula BMW Talent Cup, paving the way for successful motor racing careers for drivers like Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg and Nico Hülkenberg. The tradition of supporting young touring car drivers stretches back as far as the 1970s, when the BMW Junior Team made a name for itself.”

Once they have gained initial valuable experience in GT and touring car racing, BMW Motorsport intends to cautiously promote the most impressive youngsters into higher classes. For example, starts in a GT4 category are planned for the second year. In their third season, the strongest participants would ideally be ready to test themselves against the opposition in an international GT3 class.

SsangYong to launch a Pick Up racing series in New Zealand Opening event of SsangYong Actyon Racing series was held in Auckland on March 23 hosted by V8 SuperTourers New Zealand and SsangYong New Zealand,, the official distributor of SsangYong in New Zealand.

With 4 Actyon Sports racing cars demonstrated for 8 laps, it was the first time to be on display and there will be more exposure at various events before its official racing series kick-off in Taupo on September 7, 2014.

Ssangyong Actyon Racing (SAR) is a three year series that will run as major support to NZ’s motor racing category, the BNT V8 SuperTourers.

SAR will be a controlled category, so all 30 racing pick-ups will be exactly the same spec, no variations – so it will come down to driver ability on race day.

COUNT DOWN TO THE MEXICAN 1000 The surge of interest in vintage off-road motorsports is at an all-time high, and has been sparked in large measure by NORRA’s annual Baja rally. NORRA expects a record number of entries for their fifth annual Mexican 1000. Currently more than 130 teams from all around the United States and Mexico have pre-registered for the rally with many more expected. NORRA is preparing to host a unique field of sedans, trucks, buggies, motorcycles and ATV/UTVs this year’s four-day, trans-Baja rally, which is scheduled for May 10-14 from Ensenada to San Jose Del Cabo.

Known as the “Happiest Race on Earth,” the General Tire NORRA Mexican 1000 places a strong emphasis on creating a fun, competitive on-and off-road stage rally through Baja. An important component to that objective is a healthy dose

of hospitality that celebrates the event’s unique nature and helps foster camaraderie among its competitors. The Mexican 1000 rally’s growing reputation as one of the world’s most enjoyable and accessible motorsports adventures has sparked an enthusiastic response by veteran and rookie racers looking to enjoy the General Tire Mexican 1000’s special atmosphere.

With pre-registration for the 2014 General Tire NORRA Mexican 1000 going strong, BILSTEIN recently announced a renewed partnership as the “Official Shock Absorber” of the National Off Road Racing Association (NORRA), the event’s organizing body.

Audi to attack international GT series Prosperia C. Abt Racing is returning to Germany’s top-caliber GT series with three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars as the title defender. Fabian Hamprecht is sharing carnumber 26 with the Dane Nicky Thiim, last year’s winner of the Nürburgring 24 Hours and Supercup winner. The three-time Supercup winner René Rast and the South African Kelvin van der Linde, who decided the VW Scirocco R-Cup in his favor last year, are competing in car number 27. Car number 28 is shared

by GT Sprint International Series Champion Thomas Schöffler and Markus Winkelhock, a previous winner of the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Following the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, Phoenix Racing is another Audi team to have submitted its nomination for the Blancpain Sprint Series. The two former GT1 World Champions Marc Basseng and Markus Winkelhock, who won the Nürburgring 24 Hours with Audi Sport Team Phoenix in 2012, will each be driving an R8. Basseng’s partner in car number 5 will be the 17-year-old junior British driver Alessandro Latif. Winkelhock will be sharing the cockpit with

the seasoned Austrian campaigner Niki MayrMelnhof, who has previously won a 12-hour race in the R8 LMS. Audi Team Hitotsuyama will be competing with support by Audi Japan in the Japanese Super GT racing series for the first time.

The squad will be fielding an Audi R8 LMS ultra in the GT 300 class of Japan’s leading sports car series. Richard Lyons and Tomonobu Fujii are sharing the cockpit. The 34-year-old Northern Irishman Lyons was the overall Super GT winner in 2004 and drove an R8 LMS ultra in Japan in the past two years. The 33-year-old Japanese Fujii already has a title win with Audi under his belt, having won the 2011 Super Taikyu Series in the R8 LMS.

PADDOCK MIX

T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship Stuart Oliver wins T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship 2014, India’s first truck racing championship. The series concluded in grand style with an action-packed 45 minute final race with Stuart Oliver on the top Tata Motors, the largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in India, introduced this popular sport to India as T1 Truck Racing Championship, marking yet another pioneering effort by Tata Motors. 12 Prima Race trucks competed against each other for the top spot. The trucks are modified based on the BTRA guidelines and has been certified by FMSCI after having undergone stringent security check-ups.

To make these Prima trucks fit for racing, guidelines from British Truck Racing Association were followed and subsequently 22 key modifications were made to meet a mix of safety and performance needs for the Truck Racing environment. Some of the changes made are on fuel tank, brake cooling system, propeller shaft guards, racing seats and safety belts, exhaust,

steering wheel etc. The Prima truck used as race truck is a 4038.S model with massive power output of 370 BHP @ 2100 RPM and a top speed of 110 Km/h.

The massive and powerful Tata Prima trucks proved to be a treat for motorsports fanatics in an intense race that witnessed a lot of edge-ofthe-seats overtaking and high speed corner action. The debut season of the Championship on India’s F1 track, Buddh International Circuit, witnessed an audience of over 25000 screaming enthusiasts who cheered on the speeding Prima trucks.

The T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship comprised two races, a 5-lap Sprint Race and a 15-lap Main Race, with the Champion Award granted to the winning driver on the basis on combined points from both the races. The Team Championship was awarded on the basis of the combined scores of the two drivers of the respective teams from both the races.

The series used12 heavily-modified Tata Prima beasts driven by experienced international drivers. The sight of these mega trucks racing with each other was enough to set any motorsports enthusiasts pulse racing.

Stuart Oliver, T1 Prima Truck Racing Champion 2014 said: “It was an amazing experience. The track is beautiful and trucks were performing great. I am thrilled to have won the first ever Truck racing championship in India, among the enthusiastic crowd who were cheering each time we drove past the grand stand. I see a lot of potential of this sport here and would love to come back and race again.”

Commenting on the successful weekend, Mr. Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director - Commercial Business Unit, Tata Motors said: “We have had a tremendous day here for the truck racing with a really pumped-up atmosphere and we have been delighted by the response received for the launch of our debut truck racing event.

Tata Prima trucks proved their racing prowess and build quality in this high intensity race. We

are extremely delighted with the performance of T1 teams and drivers who have been supportive throughout the event. We would like to congratulate the winning team, sponsors and all participants for making this first of its kind, debut racing event, a historic day.”

Besides the winning drivers, there were top British truck racing drivers, including Brian Burt, Dave Jenkins, Paul McCumisky, James Horne, Simon Ashley Reid, Richard Collett, Steven Powell, Steven Thomas and Graham Powell, showcased their driving skills during the event.

The spectacle, the first-ever truck racing championship held in India, will certainly mark another small step forward for Indian motorsport as the country increasingly asserts itself on the global motor-racing stage.

PADDOCK MIX Hans Weijs jr. (NED) and Björn Degandt (BEL) Volkswagen Polo

Tour Natal The Tour Natal, first round of the 2014 S. African Rally Championship, is always a rough and tough event and this year’s was no exception.

In the end it was a dominant performance by Toyota with Poulter and Coetzee leading throughout the event, winning seven of the 14 special stages and finishing 43,9 sec ahead of Fekken/ Swan on a similar Toyota yaris S2000.

Third, 1 min 36 sec behind the winners, was the visiting Dutch/Belgian combination of Hans Weijs Jnr and Bjorn Degandt (Volkswagen Sasolracing Polo), who won stage 11 AS Their team-mates Henk Lategan/Pierre Arries (ZA/ZA) finished the season opener in fifth place.

Mahindra wins the 2014 Desert Storm Mahindra blazed a historic trail in the Thar Desert at the 12th edition of Desert Storm. Team Mahindra Adventure’s Super XUV500 finished fastest and became the overall champions of Desert Storm 2014.

After the recent string of wins at the Indian National Rally Championship SUV category (INSUVRC), the Super XUV500 proved its mettle yet again when it finished 1st in the Xtreme category of Desert Storm 2014. Driven by multi-time Desert Storm winner Sunny Sidhu and PVS Murthy, the Super XUV500 proved that whatever maybe the terrain, the cheetah is the fastest!

Super XUV500 created history by becoming the first ever diesel vehicle to win the Desert Storm rally.

Commenting on the success of the XUV500, Mr. Vivek Nayer, Chief Marketing Officer, Mahindra Automotive Division said: “After annihilating the competition at the INSUVRC, with this spectacular win at the Desert Storm 2014 the cheetah inspired Super XUV500 has unmistakably marked its territory in the extreme rally-raid format in India. The Super XUV500 is on a winning streak and will continue to create history and make & break records in times to come. We dedicate this unprecedented win to millions of

FINAL RESULTS

Sunny Sidhu / P.V.S. Murthy (Mahindra Adventure) 12:47:42 Sandeep Sharma / Varun Davessar (Team Thunderbolt) 13:08:20 Amarjeet Pal Buwal / Nakul Mendiratta (Team Thunderbolt) 13:13.34 Lohitt Urs / K. Kumar (Mahindra Adventure) 13:18:35

Mahindra customers & fans across the nation ”.

The Desert Storm is one of the toughest and most popular rallies in the country given the conditions, tough stages and spectacular terrain ranging from desert stretches and vast salt flats to dirt tracks. This year the rally route ran for over 3000 km. across locations like Sadarseher, Bikaner, Jaisalmer & Jaipur. In all there were 55 teams in Xtreme category, 30 teams in Ndure and 20 teams in Xplore category.

WTCC: ready for an exciting season Twenty-two cars have been entered in the 2014 FIA World Touring Car Championship on a full season basis.

The largest contingent is formed by the sixteen of the new TC1 vehicles: four Honda Civics, three Citroën C-Elysées, three LADA Grantas and six Chevrolet RML Cruzes.

An additional Citroën, for Ma Qing Hua, will be entered for five events later in the season.

Six cars have been entered in the TC2 class by Liqui Moly Team Engstler (2 BMWs), Campos Racing (3 SEATs) and Nika Racing.

Team Engstler and Campos Racing are due to communicate their full line up of drivers in the next days, while Nika Racing will announce later the driver’s name and the model of the car they will run Onyx Race Engineering informed the FIA that they have been forced to give up on their plan to compete in the championship in 2014.

The first event will be held (12-13 April) on the Moulay El Hassan Circuit, in the Southern outskirts of Marrakeck (Morocco) in the Adgal district, along the route OurikaOukaimden.

Scirocco R-Cup China

William Lok has won the season opener in the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup China. The racing driver from Hong Kong dominated the race weekend in Zhuhai at will. He led both qualifying sessions to take pole position and crossed the finishing line in first place in each of the two races. In the first race he finished 12.5 second ahead of Kevin Tse and around 15 seconds ahead of David Lau. It was much closer in the second race: Lok clinched victory by a margin of exactly 0.087 seconds ahead of Naomi Schiff and Lau was third. In the overall classification Lok now has a sizeable lead with 40 points ahead of Lau (24 points) and Tse (15 points). The next race weekend of the Scirocco R-Cup China will be staged from 23 to 25 May in Shanghai.

RGM

FORMULA 1

ENRICO’S NOTEBOOK www.enricozanarini.com

Enrico Zanarini is one of the most expert and successful managers of the Formula 1circus.

Since the mid 80s he’s playing a primary role in the paddock by supporting the career of drivers as Eddie Irvine, Giancarlo Fisichella, Vitantonio Liuzzi just to mention a few.

Enrico also manages the activity of important sponsors as he’s at the head of one of the main international sport/ management agency.

He has recently started writing his reflections about Formula 1 on his own blog and he has also accepted to publish the more interesting thoughts on RACE GLOBALMAG. We are happy to host his “behind the scenes” insights and truly free point of view, even if sometimes these don’t perfectly match the RGM point of view.

27 March 2014

You ng gu ns ru n free...

Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso

(Getty Images Red Bull Content Pool)

I am looking forward to watching the race this week end. Sepang is a very demanding circuit for F.1 machinery. Lots of variables are put under stress: engines (oops power units I should say), brakes, physical conditions of the drivers and the threat from the local weather, always around the corner. However my favorite topic to follow in this Malaysian Grand Prix will be the performance of the young drivers of late generation: Ricciardo, Bottas, Magnussen and Kvyat. They did extremely well in Australia and showed no fear on the day of their real debut, giving some food for thoughts to their more experienced colleagues. I remember the first time of Mika Hakkinen in the McLaren alongside Ayrton Senna at Estoril in 1993, I was there.

The young Finn qualified better than the three times brazilian world champion in his debut in a competitive car and from that moment onwards he let the motor sport world know that a star was born. And so, how many stars are born in the 2014 F.1 firmament? Ricciardo? My pick for sure and Magnussen to follow. It is good to see McLaren putting so much faith into young drivers: Hakkinen, Hamilton, Magnussen... Ron Dennis has never been too shy to offer a seat to youngsters who deserved to drive in the top formula and he got his money back when they eventually took the world title. Another Team who should be respected for such a strategic attitude is Red Bull/Dr. Marko for their insight in spotting Vettel and Ricciardo: well done ! And Ferrari? ...I believe they missed an opportunity not giving Hulkenberg a proper go, but never say never...

30 March

A P anzer story‌ So it was, Mercedes one-two and it makes it a good story. It took the silver arrowed cars 60 years to score first and second past the finish line and this result alone must give them the honors they deserve. A faultless week end and Kevin Magnussen, McLaren

a full dominance of the sport. What more can

FORMULA UNO Niki and Toto ask for? A superb hat trick by Hamilton: pole, victory and fastest lap. Who can stop the Briton now?

Rosberg is the name that comes to mind. Nico is the only driver in the field who has identical ammunitions to Lewis and the resulting competition with his teammate must be the only hope red Bull and Ferrari have to catch up with the German rivals in a short time. You may think that it is far too early into the championship to look at team strategies and whom should the Teams declare as the supremo leader, however I say that Red Bull have already made up their mind. Ricciardo made a great move at the start of the Malaysian GP, but has found himself with zero points again at the end of the race.

With ten positions grid penalty in Bahrain, the Aussie should fall further back and for this he will be soon relegated as RBR’s number two. Ferrari are less cynical but equally aware of the suckling opportunity. Alonso was quicker than Kimi again even without making a not so blazing start. Fernando shows to be interpreting his F14T to a tee, able to squeeze every available tenth out of it. Raikkonen, on the contrary, is still too shy to make a notable move, confined to the back of the field, anonymous. I say give Ferrari two more races with identical leitmotif and the Maranello hierarchies will be firm in place. It is my opinion that Formula One is not made to pair two stars under the same roof. Amazingly enough this is the biggest threat Mercedes are facing now.

4 April

A C l a ir e l esson Claire Williams is a young lady with a tough job, made it tougher by the recent Team order row. It is never so easy to go out in the press and say that you have made a mistake.

If you carry a family name such as Williams, more so. If you are Frank’s daughter even more. Yet Claire did it and made our sport proud. Formula one has been at the centre of some negative debate recently. The drastic change of rules have monopolized the attention of the media who have spared no time to criticize this epic evolution. In the middle of such a controversy Claire’s gesture is a breath of fresh air. I have met many Team principals in my 22 year old career as a F.1 driver manager, not many would have acted with such an integrity, chapeau.

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

RGM

FORMULA UNO

I MEAN...

“I probably speak for all of us that last year’s car felt better, it was perhaps a little bit nicer to drive, when we had lots more downforce. But that was a car that was in the fourth year of its evolution. Now we’re in a new phase and it’s just something that just takes some time to get used to. The sound, for example, is not as impressive as what we had in the past but once you get all the cars on the track, on the grid, I’m pretty sure it will be impressive for the fans still”.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Melbourne 13/03/14 “For sure, working with the car is the same and everything, similar things. It depends which team you are with but the idea, the working is the same but it’s very different the way... outside, the way they talk, they are much more quiet. The Italians, they cannot talk without shaking their hands. I am like that because I am from Brazil as well, so for sure it’s a big change for me.

I’m trying to learn everything quickly, changing some names as well, understanding the way they talk as well, because I never lived in England, so that’s also new for me. But it’s nice, it’s a nice experience as well, but definitely the mentality is pretty different”.

Felipe Massa, Williams, Melbourne 13/03/14

FORMULA UNO

“Both of the drivers (Hamilton and Rosberg) know each other for quite a long time, they have been teammates before – back in karting – and we got caught out by surprise last year in Malaysia and we don’t want this to happen again. It’s just very good discussions we had. They’re not only very talented and fast but also very intelligent. They treat each other in a very fair way.

We went through some of scenarios and I think we’re in a good place”.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal, Melbourne 14/03/14 “Personally I like the sound of the engines, but then I love Formula One and I love watching cars go round a racetrack. I think people will pretty quickly get used to what Formula One engines sound like. We’ve had so many changes over so many decades of motor racing and you very quickly forget what a previous engine sounds like and I think people just want to see a good race on Sunday and I think that as long as we can deliver that then I think that any issues that perhaps... or contentious conversations around that may fade away”.

Claire Williams, Williams team Principal, Melbourne 14/03/14 “First of all I think I have to say it’s great to be back in Formula One. I think after one break doing like GT… I think definitely I enjoyed GT but Formula One is one of the top categories and I also think I was missing the development and of course racing with the top drivers, which I think is one of the most exciting times, so I’m very happy to be back”.

Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham, Sepang 27/03/14 “Yeah, the cars have quite a bit less downforce than last year so you’re sliding a bit more, with more engine power also it makes it a bit more tricky, but I like it. I really think the cars are good fun to drive. I hope it looked good from outside I think we made an exciting race with the new cars, new engines, so I think it’s good”.

Valtteri Bottas, Williams, Sepang 27/03/14

FORMULA UNO “I don’t think it’s awfully different as a driver, to compare last year’s cars to this year’s. Obviously there are some small detailed issues but it’s the bigger issues that make a difference for me, just to be in a different team. Every team feels a bit different, different cars. It doesn’t really change an awful lot as a driver”.

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, Sepang 27/03/14 “I understand that it’s interesting to make comparisons and that, and even I find it interesting. After Australia, I read that he (his father Keke) also won the first time... at the first Australian GP, 29 years ago. It’s fun to read those things but I really don’t think about that. I don’t compare.

I’m proud of what my father achieved but I’m just focused on my job and getting the most out of it”.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, Sepang 27/03/14 “Regarding the young people, you can attract the young people if you have a local hero. I remember when I came to Germany in the ‘80s, no-one was interested in Formula One. Absolutely no-one. And then Michael came and then everybody was interested in Formula One. You could see it on the kart tracks. Many, many kart tracks were built up. The same with Poland when Kubica came into Formula One. I think this is decisive.

You need a local hero and then the young people are always interested in Formula One”.

Franz Tost, Toro Rosso Team Principal, Sepang 28/03/14 “STILL I RISE it’s what I have tattooed on my back so I just added it to the helmet design and I think the metaphor is just that regardless of what difficulties you go through, you still rise above it. That’s really something my Dad has always enforced in me. We’ve had so many ups and downs throughout our lives and our careers, as everyone has, but he would always ‘say just rise above it’ and do your talking on track. I had a difficult time in the last race and that’s what I did today, so I feel quite good about it”.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, Sepang 30/03/14

© Ferrari

© Getty Images Red Bull Content Pool

FORMULA UNO

© McLaren

“I’ve learned a lot along the way, as you can imagine, racing for 14 years in Formula One. The thing that surprises me is how quickly it goes by. Fifty races ago I was in Hungary, celebrating my 200thgrand prix, which I won by the way! So, it’s amazing how time flies. You really do have to enjoy every moment of it as much as you can. For me, being 14 years in the sport, I still feel like I have more to learn. I’m definitely not the perfect driver yet, and I never will be, but there is always still more to learn”.

Jenson BUTTON, McLaren, Bahrain 03/04/2014

© Getty Images Red Bull Content Pool

“Some things have caused discussion. Always when things are different there are some people that appreciate them in different ways. I just find it exciting. I love the technology. One of the great things about Formula One as a sport is that it’s not just about the athlete – the driver – it’s also about the car and the technology and that. Our fans like that richness in the sport. So I hope they also appreciate what’s been done on the cars and it’s sort of relevance to the future in the automotive industry generally. It’s very exciting. What we’ve seen in the past two races is that it, for me, hasn’t affected the racing and the demands made on the driver. That to me seems very normal”.

Paddy Lowe, Mercedes, Bahrain 04/04/2014 “From a sporting point of view, to me, efficiency, strategy etc, economy of driving, is very well placed for sportscars, which is a slightly different way of going racing. Formula One should be about excitement. It should be about man and machine performing at its maximum every single lap”.

Adrian Newey, Red Bull Technical Director, Bahrain 04/04/2014

FORMULA UNO

© Force India

“I think as a business we ought to focus on the positives and I think that the technology that we’re employing in Formula One now is impressive. The road car industry – rightly or wrongly – has to hit CO2 per kilometre targets and those are very difficult targets to meet. And they will have to employ technologies such as we are using in Formula One. So we are moving things forward, we are more relevant than we used to be and I think that’s very important”.

Pat Symonds, WIlliams Grand Prix, Bahrain 04/04/2014 “Today is one of the greatest days in the history of our team. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s very satisfying to see Sahara Force India back on the podium after so many near misses in recent years. We have a great driver line-up and today we saw both Checo and Nico at their best as they battled for a place on the podium”.

Vijay Mallya, Force IndiaTeam Principal, Bahrain 06/04/2014 “To be pushing flat out for ten laps… it was an exceptional race, I think, to be able to have that. Me and Nico haven’t had a race like that since back in our karting days. I did think today, I was just saying to him today, there was a race we did years ago in… I don’t know what year it was, in karting, our first race together. He was leading the whole way and in the last lap I overtook him and won the race. I thought today for sure he’s going to do the same to me, and get me back.

That’s what was going through my head”.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Bahrain 06/04/2014

Š Force India

RGM

SPECIAL

2014 CALENDAR April 12-13 - Valencia, Spain June 7-8 - Brands Hatch, Great Britain July 5-6 - Tours Speedway, France July 19-20 - Nurburgring, Germany gione, Italy September 20-21 - SEMI-FINALS - Ma France October 12-13 - FINALS - Le Mans,

THE THRILL AND EXCITEMENT OF NASCAR IN EUROPE!

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Pictures: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

NASCAR in Europe

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series was founded in 2008 by Team FJ, a Motorsport company based in Blois.

It was named NASCAR official Series in January 2012 thanks to a long-term partnership signed with NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) and Whelen Engineering as title sponsor of the Series.

The season is made up of 24 races, equally split among Elite1 and Elite 2 division, on some of the best European tracks.

NASCAR in Europe

PIT STOP ANDER VILARINO WENT BACK-TO-BACK IN 2013 After dominating the first part of the 2013 season, Ander Vilarino administered his advantage to clinch his second consecutive ELITE 1 Division title in a thrilling finale in Le Mans, beating his arch-rival Frederic Gabillon by just 4 points.

Vilarino will be back in 2014 to try to win a third NASCAR Champion ring in a row and will also race in K&N Pro Series East in the U.S. at Watkins Glen in August. His TFT teammate Anthony Gandon won the Open Division title after a season-long, hard fought battle with Australian Josh Burdon.

NASCAR in Europe

Team FJ introduced a stunning innovation on July 7-8, 2012 by organizing the first NASCAR Touring Series race on an oval track in Europe. An half-mile circuit was built in the centre of Tours (France) with an all new 9° banking, identical to the one in place at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series car is built around a NASCAR tubular frame, specially engineered to pass FIA crash tests. It weights 1210 kilos and is equipped with a 5.7 liters Chevrolet V8 (with outputting 400 HP) and a 4 speeds gearbox. Grip is granted by 4 pur-

PIT STOP TWO DIVISIONS, 24 RACES, DOOR-TO-DOOR RACING The 80+ drivers enter 2 different championships according to their past achievements and experience. The main division, called ELITE 1, is leaded by top international drivers classified as Gold but also welcome Silver or Bronze drivers. The ELITE 2 division is restricted to drivers classified Silver or Bronze, making it the ideal place to start from for young talents mixing with experienced national drivers. A car races in both divisions, with an ELITE 1 and an ELITE 2 drivers sharing the seat ….and the costs, during the weekends, for a total track time exceeding the 4-hour mark.

pose-designed Michelin tires that have to last a full race weekend, made of two qualifying sessions and four 30-minutes races. The fiber-glass body can reproduce car models from the 3 manufacturers competing in NASCAR: Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota.

With four races in two days, these 400 HP V8 monsters are sure to provide thrilling bumper-to-bumper racing and a lot of family fun around the track.

In the pure NASCAR tradition, race fans can get closer to the action than ever and feel the unique in Europe paddock atmosphere thanks to drivers, teams and cars always available for the spectators.

The series attracts drivers from all over the world. 14 countries were represented on the grid in 2013: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Spain, United States Of America, France, India, Italy, Luxemburg, Philippines, Great Britain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The new season promises to be even more exciting and more global with a strong driver’s squad ready to fight on track for the win and take the first step towards becoming a NASCAR star in the United States.

Ander Vilarino will be back to target an historic three-peat,

but he will face a stronger-thanever opposition. Back will also be Frederic Gabillon and Yann Zimmer, respectively second and third in the 2013 season, but a long list of prestigious drivers have already publicly confirmed their presence: Christophe Bouchut, Eddie Cheever III, Fabrizio Del Monte, Borja Garcia, Kevin Gilardoni, Victor Gonzalez Jr., Victor Guerin, Anthony Kumpen, Andrea Larini, Mathias Lauda and Bert Longin are only a few of the many drivers that will aim at European NASCAR crown.

RGM

PIT STOP AMERICAN-THEMED EVENTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series offers USA-themed events like the successful Brands-Hatch Speedfest, attracting thousands of fans with all sorts of family entertainments, all tied with the american culture: american cars displays, gadgets, monster trucks, american football teams, cheerleaders, barbecue contests, memorabilia‌

Busch’s Indianapolis 500 entry ‘a dream come true’

Kurt Busch is one step closer to achieving the goal of running the Indy 500. The 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will join Andretti Autosport for the 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 25. He’ll also seek to become the fourth driver to “do the double” by competing in the Coca-Cola 600 in Concord, N.C.

“To attempt ‘The Double’ is a tremendous challenge, and we’re looking forward to watching Kurt accomplish the feat this May.” said Derrick Walker, INDYCAR President of Competition and Operations.

The last driver to attempt The Double was Robby Gordon in 2004.

Gordon, who in 2002 and ‘03 raced in both events, started the ‘04

ELBUOD EHT

Indy 500 but left at the first red flag (rain) for North Carolina. Jaques Lazier finished the race for Gordon. John Andretti (1994) and Tony Stewart (1999 and 2001) also raced in both events. Stewart is the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles - finishing sixth at Indianapolis and third at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

INDYCAR

Pictures courtesy of NASCAR

“I want to pop quiz everyone who did The Double to learn as much as I can to just be able to anticipate what’s next and have things checked off your list so that you’re mentally prepared – Kurt Busch

said - I have to thank Stewart Haas Racing for giving me the chance to fulfill this dream, to challenge myself in motorsports and to do something special in this day and age.”

Busch, 35, said the opportunity “is a dream come true: “My dad, a Mac Tools distributor, and I would go to car shows and see Indy cars and he’d say, ‘This is about as close as you’ll ever get to one of these things’ because it was so far removed from what we could dream as a small blue-collar family from Las Vegas - Busch said - it’s just the different opportunities that have come up in motorsports (that have led me) to this biggest moment outside of stock cars. It was a talk over dinner with his agent, John Caponigro - one night on ‘what if?’ and now it’s all becoming a reality for me to drive in the Indy 500 with Andretti. I went once to watch the ‘500’ with Roger Penske when I first signed a contract with him to drive stock cars.

To feel it, to experience it, I’m going to actually revert back to that to try to block out some of the emotional excitement of what it means to be part of the ‘500.’

To drive in it this year, nothing is going to compare, nothing can prepare or get me ready when they drop that green flag and 33 of us rush into Turn 1.”

INDYCAR The 2013 Indy 500 winning arrival of Tony Kanaan (Photo Forrest Mellot)

Busch tested an Andretti Autosport car at the Speedway last May, his second time in an Indy car: “That was a whole kid in a candy store moment of experiencing an open-wheel car at 220 mph - he said - you can definitely get a different appreciation for the track and its heritage with an open-wheel car versus a stock car that I’ve done the last 15 years there. It got my mind going and my juices flowing on ‘I want to do this.’ The adrenaline and excitement was there, but last year just didn’t seem like the right timing. Now 11 months of chewing on the fat and working on the details, I’m more excited than ever to do this.”

(Photo Doug Mathews)

PIT STOP

Qualifications are May 17-18, with final practice on Carburetion Day May 23. Busch said a testing plan interspersed in the NASCAR schedule to “get up to speed” with teammates Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Carlos Munoz is being drafted.

“It’s going to be a steady progression that I have to follow Andretti Autosport’s lead - he said - we have a full-blown test program to be the best-prepared we can for the Month of May. I will be a rookie, but I bring a lot of oval experience in and we’ll see how we can blend that in. It’s about absorbing as much as I can and chewing on it the right way. Sam Hornish Jr., who was a teammate of mine at Penske Racing, I mentored him as much as I could on the stock car side.

Don’t think I’m not going to call him and try to get that favor back.”

RGM

From 1961 to 1973, the Indy 500 and World 600 (as the Coca-Cola 600 was formerly known) were held on separate days, allowing drivers to attempt to race in both events.

Among the drivers who raced in both races the same year: 1967: The World 600 is held on Sunday, May 28, and the Indy 500 is scheduled for Tuesday, May 30. Cale Yarborough becomes the first driver to compete in both races in the same year. He finished 41st at Charlotte and 17th at Indy.

1968: The World 600 is held on Sunday, May 26, and the Indy 500 is held Thursday, May 30. Jerry Grant becomes the second driver to compete in both races in the same year. He finished 12th at Charlotte and 23rd at Indy.

1969: The World 600 is held on Sunday, May 25, and the Indy 500 is held Friday, May 30.

NASCAR driver Lee Roy Yarbrough won the race at Charlotte, and at Indy, he finished 23rd.

1970: The World 600 is held on Sunday, May 24, and the Indy 500 is held Saturday, May 30.

NASCAR driver Donnie Allison won the race at Charlotte, and finished fourth at Indy.

To date, it is the best combined performance for both races. Lee Roy Yarbrough also competed in both events. He finished 29th at Charlotte and 19th at Indy.

1971: Memorial Day is moved to Monday, and the Indy 500 is held Saturday, May 29.

The World 600 is held the next day. NASCAR driver Donnie Allison finished sixth at Indy on Saturday, and finished second at the race at Charlotte.

1979: NASCAR regular Neil Bonnett entered at Indy looking to qualify. He was up to speed, however, he suffered a blown engine on the morning of pole qualifying. The following weekend, rain complicated his schedule, and he decided to withdraw from Indy.

Format changes enhance battle to qualify for Indianapolis 500

THE FAST NINE SHOOTOUT

A new qualifying format will be in place to set the 33-car starting lineup for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

Qualifying will be enhanced with three sessions of time trials over two days, with the goal of increasing entertainment value, fan attendance and TV viewership for the 2014 qualifying weekend on May 17-18, 2014.

The format is as follows: • SATURDAY, MAY 17 - The fastest 33 cars compose the starting field (but not starting positions).

- All entries are guaranteed at least one four-lap attempt to qualify.

- The fastest nine entries advance to the Fast Nine Shootout.

PIT STOP toric race Eighteen drivers have won the his ly Helio from the pole position, most recent 9. Rick Castroneves (in the picture) in 200 times at Mears, who earned the pole six r races Indianapolis, won three of his fou ars (1979, from the top starting position. Me 80) com1981) and Johnny Rutherford (19 tches in bined for the lone three-year stre which the pole sitter won the race.

indianapolis 500 Will Power opened the 2014 season with a dramatic victory in St. Petersburg Š General Motors

Š General Motors

• SUNDAY, MAY 18 - Saturday times are erased and entries 10-33 must complete another four-lap attempt to determine their starting position in order of the slowest to fastest from Saturday times.

• FAST NINE SHOOTOUT, SUNDAY, MAY 18 - Each entry will receive one fourlap attempt in the order of the slowest to the fastest from Saturday times. Aggregate times will determine the Verizon P1 Award winner and top three rows.

Qualifying results on Saturday and Sunday will include new points incentives still to be announced. Practice sessions before time trials commence are scheduled both days.

CGM

indianapolis 500

2013 poleman at Indy 500 Ed Carpenter

Mark Miles, CEO, Hulman Motorsports commented: “What this is about for us is that we have a desire to give fans more opportunities to see IndyCar drivers on the track when there’s a lot at stake, not just with practice, but where they are out there with putting it on the line in a way that matters. Saturday will determine who will get into the Indianapolis 500 race, and Sunday will determine where the cars who got into the race will start on the grid for the race itself.

These two days will culminate, lead up to, the setting of the first three rows and the positions in the first three rows and who will start the race in the pole position.”

The Fast Nine Shootout was introduced in 2010 as part of time trials. Ed Carpenter claimed the pole last May with a four-lap average speed of 228.762 mph, becoming the first team owner/driver since 1975 to earn the coveted No. 1 starting position: “You have to take big risks when you’re taking

a run at the pole or trying to get into the shootout - said Carpenter, who recorded a fast lap of 229.347 mph during his final run we’re always at the limit of what our cars have and never more so than qualifying at Indianapolis.

The driver has to be perfect to execute a pole-type run and doing it while the car is right on the edge of its capabilities. It’s extremely stressful and challenging and then rewarding when it goes well. It’s definitely one of the hardest things we do all year long if not the hardest.”

RGM

ENDURANCE

R E W O P D R FO E S T A N I W TO

After more than 40 years Ford was back to victory lane at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

R BACK EBRING

SEBRING 12 Hours Top 3 rd) 1 - Pruett/Rojas/Franchitti (Riley-Fo X03B) 2 - Sharp/Dalziel/Brabham (HPD AR e-Corvette) 3 - Barbosa/Fittipaldi/Bourdais (Coyot

Fordpower Pruett, Rojas, Franchitti (Ford EcoBoost/Riley) Photo Rolex / Stephane Cooper

On one of the most storied and demanding racetracks in the United States, the Roush Yates-prepped twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 propelled the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Riley prototype to overall victory (the first overall victory for Ford at Sebring since 1969) with drivers Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Marino Franchitti.

After a disappointing Daytona 24 Hours, the win at Sebring had an important meaning for everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing, particularly for the drivers: “To rebound from Daytona like this, and to bring Chip the victory in his first Sebring 12 Hours, and to follow cars

like the GT40 for Ford, is an … exciting day” Franchitti said.

“It’s incredible - Pruett said - after all those victories you hope to get, this was still one on my bucket list. I’ve won here in class but never won overall. It’s even more exciting to win it overall, and to win it for Ford both times. I can’t say enough about the Ganassi group. We all worked together as a team and kept digging.”

The overall Sebring win, at only the second round of the new series, demonstrates that the partnership between the teams, Ford and Roush Yates is already a winning one.

PIT STOP The Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup is the endurance competition that rewards the top performing teams, manufacturers and drivers in the four longest races in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

The unique competition awards points at different segments in each of the four races.

So far the Action Express Racing’s No. 5 team (Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi and Sebastien Bourdais) resulted to be the most fast and consistent team, sitting on top the Patrón Endurance Cup P-class standings after the Daytona Rolex 24 and the Sebring 12 Hours.

The No. 54 CORE Autosport team is off to an impressive start in the PC class this season, sweeping the first two events at Daytona and Sebring while winning each of the first two rounds of the Cup. In the GTLM class, No. 911 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR (Richard Lietz, Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy ) holds a one-point lead, over the No. 4 Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R despite failing to receive more than the minimum two points in any of the three segments at Sebring.

The No. 555 Ferrari 458 Italia (after winning Daytona under the Level% label they scored a second place in Sebring under the AIM Autosport banner) leads the Patrón Endurance Cup standings in GTD, 12 points behind is the No. 44 Porsche 911 GT America of Magnus Racing.

The Patrón Endurance Cup continues with the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on June 29, and the Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda on Oct. 4.

Bennet – Braun (Oreca FLM 09)

FORDPOWER

PIT STOP BMW 3.0 CSL #25 Wins Again

The BMW 3.0 CSL Group 4 race car that won the 1975 12 Hours of Sebring wins Best-inClass at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

The 3.0 CSL race cars were the first cars to be developed under the then-new BMW Motorsport GmbH subsidiary, established in 1972 and led by Jochen Neerpasch. They were also the first to sport the new official colors of BMW Motorsport—red, purple and blue. Based on the production 3.0 CS coupe, the aluminum skinned CSL (L = lightweight) homologation special, nicknamed the ‘Batmobile’ by its fans, formed the basis for an assault on Group 2 through Group 5 European touring car racing that would make it one of the most successful production racers of all time.

The class-winning 3.0 CSL was one of a group

of five chassis campaigned by BMW of North America in the 1975 and 1976 IMSA Camel GT Series in Group 4 specifications. Campaigned under the racing numbers #24 and #25, the CSL enjoyed considerable success winning at Sebring, Riverside, Laguna Seca, Daytona and Talladega in 1975. Several iconic drivers were involved in the American success of the CSL’s, including Brian Redman, Hans Stuck, Sam Posey, Ronnie Peterson, Dieter Quester, Benny Parsons, Peter Gregg and David Hobbs.

This car, sporting race number 25, is part of the BMW of North America Classic collection and is configured as it raced and won at the 1975 running of the 12 Hours of Sebring with drivers Brian Redman, Hans Stuck, Sam Posey and Alan Moffat.

“It is an amazing feeling - said Dave Simon, Ford Racing Engine Engineering Manager - I think the last 10 laps of that race were the most stressful 10 laps of a race I’ve ever had to live through. There’s a ton of hard work and a lot of people that went into making this victory happen. All the guys at Ford Motor Company, everyone at Ford Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing and Roush Yates – it’s just a huge sense of pride to be in victory lane in Sebring.” It was Franchitti who piloted the 01 car across the finish line in his te-

am’s first-ever appearance at the legendary endurance race. Second overall was the HPD ARX-03b/Honda prototype driven by Scott Sharp, Ryan Dalziel and David Brabham while the Daytona 24 Hours winners Sebastien Bourdais, Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi finished third on their Corvette DP. RGM Pruett, Rojas, Franchitti (Ford EcoBoost/Riley) Photo Rolex / Stephane Cooper

ENDURANCE

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR LONG ENDURANCE RACES?

by Niccolò Gargiulo

Twenty-four hours of tense, highly competitive driving flat-out. That’s the challenge of Le Mans, Daytona, Spa, Nurburgring…. which is why endurance races are universally regarded as a sharp and hard challenge. Rain or sunshine, day or night, there’s no let-up for the drivers; they drive every single lap to the limit.

“I was like a kid in a candy store: full of adrenalin, wanting to see, wanting to learn, wanting to do everything I could to improve” reflects Tom on his first 24 Heures du Mans. At the FIA World Endurance Championship season opener event in Silverstone (20 April), you’ll be at the wheel of car number ‘1’ together with your World Championship winning teammate Loïc Duval and your new teammate Lucas di Grassi. You’ll be the hunted: is that a good feeling?

“It’s the best feeling we could wish for. At the same time, it’ll kick off a season that promises to become a real thriller. Toyota has always been a strong opponent, now Porsche will be an additional rival. The new regulations have reset all the clocks to zero. I can hardly wait for the action to start at Silverstone…”

The Danish Tom Kristensen is the most successful driver in the 90year history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s most famous endurance race. Since winning the race at his first try in 1997, the Danish driver has notched up other eight victories elevating him to iconic status.

When it comes to motorsport there are always some skeptics that dare to say that driving a racecar is not a real athletic sport, it’s just sitting in a car and steering a wheel. But try say this to a driver and you’ll be surprised at how much he will be able to talk to you about all the fitness and strength needed to compensate the frequent lateral g-force and decelerations.

ENDURANCE

Looking back on the passion, dedication and commitment that have been at the forefront of his success, Kristensen reveals here 10 ingredients that make a great endurance driver.

And what’s more, every type of racing has its own different kind of preparation, requiring a mental focus like no other sport. In endurance races fitness and focus have to be there as long as 24 hours with no time for distractions.

“It starts way back - says Italian Max Angelelli, multiple Grand Am champion - During the winter you take on a different type of training, a specific training. We are talking about long races where, even if there is a very high-level of competition, there is no sprint or rush when you’re in the car. In fact you sit in the car for a long period of time and you have to be prepared to face a double or triple stint if the teams asks you to do so.

You then have to be mentally prepared for these types of races. I personally try to detach myself as much as possible from the race. As soon as I step out of the car, I isolate myself in the motorhome.

I try not to spend too much time in the pits following the race, some other drivers do that, but

I have learned to disappear after my stint and I reappear only when it’s time for me to be in the car again.”

On her side Katherine Legge underlines the planning aspects: “I wish you could store up sleep! If you could sleep for a few days before the race it would be great, but it doesn’t work like that. I think it’s more of a recovery thing afterwards. I mean, you are always training and you’ve been doing it over the years and it builds up a sort of immunity, so you have a natural level of fitness and strength. So if you take that out of the equation, you want to make sure you eat right and that you are mentally prepared and organized because there’s nothing that wears

you up more than being disorganized and not having a plan. So in the end you make sure you’ve done everything right and just suck it up at 3 in the morning.”

RGM

INTERVIEW

Anytime I go onto the track I give it all and try to do the best possible

GIMME A What is racing if not a virus? A good one, of course, and a genetic one, passed on generation after generation, from father to son.

The Blake family is definitely affected by this virus. This racing family from Oklahoma can count

among its ranks the inventor of the Chili Bowl, Emmet, not exactly a “Mr. Nobody”. Then there is Blake, his grandson, who is carrying on the family’s racing tradition, and is doing pretty well, since this year, in January, when he won

CHANCE

by Roberto del Papa

his fifth Tulsa Shootout. 2014 is a new beginning for Blake, the year in which things get serious and he has to take the step from the regional series to the grand stage of the ASCS National Tour, the third national series sponsored by

Lucas Oil. Unfortunately, though, he had to skip the Chili Bowl due to a fractured elbow, but he made clear that we will soon hear about him and that we can count on him to drive everything with four wheels!

HAHNBLACK

xxx

Let’s start from the Chili Bowl week. You missed it because of a broken elbow, how tough was seeing your teammates running at your home event without you on track?

“It was definitely tough being at the track and not being able to wheel the car I spent the last month building but I couldn’t have picked a better replacement driver.”

Last January at the Tulsa Shootout you earned your third Golden Driller in the last four years, for a total of five, can we call you the ‘Shootout King’? It was an impressive achievement!

“It is a great achievement but I wouldn’t consider myself the king.

We just had a lot of luck and everything panned out perfectly.

We were consistent and I also had the best crew chief by my side for all of the wins, my dad, Tom Hahn.”

Finally you’ll jump into the ASCS National tour after many years of regional racing. What are your expectations?

“I’ve set some goals for 2014 the main one being to finish in the top 10 in points standings. Other is to just make as many laps with the big guys like Jason Johnson and Johnny Herrera. I think us running the whole national tour is going to teach our entire race team what it takes to be in the front every weekend.”

Harli White (see the RACEGM March issue), your substitute at the Chili, will run in the national tour too, her presence will be an extra motivation to do well?

“I wouldn’t say extra motivation because anytime I go onto the track I give it all and try to do the best possible. Once we are on the track it’s just another name.

And I’ve also raced with Harli for about the last 4 or 5 years and we have a good friendship off the track too.”

Yours is a racing-based family.

Your grandfather Emmett is in charge of the series and your dad Tom is your crew chief. Is it a natural fit for a sooner state young racing-lover to become a dirt oval racer?

“I’d say it’s a pretty good fit especially with my background, my grandpa grew up racing then when

Do you prefer winged or non winged car? What’s the difference between one and another?

“If I had to pick one to race for the rest of my career it would be non wing cars. The only way to explain it is that non wing cars are a lot closer to the edge of out of control. But with a winged car you have to be more consistent and you can’t make a lot of mistakes and still be fast.”

my dad was about 18 he was able to pilot an old super modified and the rest is history.”

How important is for you to be part of the Hard Eight Racing family? It looks like a good band of folks… They were good at the Chili.

“It’s something I’d love to be part of as long as possible. They are such good people and are providing me with an amazing opportunity.”

For many decades sprint car racing was one of the best paths to IndyCar racing. Have you ever considered a switch to automobiles racing like Indy or stock cars?

“Yes I would love to get the chance in an Indy car or stock car.

Anything with 4 wheels and seatbelts, count me in!”

Who’s Blake when he’s not at the races?

“I’m just like every other teenager. I graduated high school last year. I’m taking this year off so I can concentrate on racing the whole national tour. I spend my week days at the race shop prepping the cars.”

If you got a call to race in both World of Outlaws or USAC, which series would you choose? How different are they?

“I’d pick USAC because it’s a non wing sprint car series. They are similar but so different at the same time. They both are 410ci sized engines but World of Outlaws are winged sprints.”

With the kind collaboration of www.motorsportrants.com

RGM

& DON’T MISS OUR MAY ISSUE!

CARS GLOBALMAG

automotive digital/magazine published by Doppiovù Press sas Lesmo (Italy) info@carsgm.com www.carsgm.com

Monza (Italy) Court Registration nr. 17/2012 of the November 2nd 2012

Chief Editor Vittorio Gargiulo Editorial coordinator Niccolò Gargiulo

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