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digital monthly magazine 20
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June 2014
NEW WORLD, NEW IDEAS! Citroën C4 Cactus
AROUND THE GLOBE
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CONTENTS
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20
June 2014
4 10 26 4
10
FRONT PAGE Toyota FV2
AUTONEWS
: VIDEO
34
26
MISS OF THE MONTH
34
FOCUS
Rezvani Beast
Citroën Cactus
digital monthly magazine
46 54 46
GLOBAL NEWS New Twingo: Renault DNA 7 Mila Miglia Cadillac Crest
53 AND FROM PAGE 62 54
CLASSIC A touch of class
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FRONT PAGE
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Toyota FV2
A GLIMPSE OF
The FV2 (Fun Vehicle 2) concept car embodies the Toyota’s ‘Fun to Drive’ philosophy in a future world in which vehicle technology has progressed significantly.
F THE FUTURE
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A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE
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he FV2 vehicle enhances the driving experience by connecting both physically and emotionally with the driver, the increasing strength of the bond making it more fun to drive the more it is used. Rather than via a conventional steering wheel, the Toyota FV2 is operated by the driver shifting his or her body to intuitively move the vehicle forwards or backwards, and left and right. Moreover, by using intelligent transport system technology to connect with other vehicles in the area and the local traffic infrastructure, the FV2 provides a wide variety of safety information, including advanced warnings about other vehicles in blind spots at intersections, promoting safer driving. Toyota envisions the FV2 and its owner developing an ever-deepening driver-vehicle relationship similar to the trust and understanding that a rider might develop with a horse. By incorporating technology under development in the Toyota Heart Project, both the driver and the FV2 can grow together. The vehicle uses both voice and image recognition to determine the driver’s mood, accumulated driving history to suggest destinations, and driving technique information to assist the user in developing driving skills. In addition to an Augmented Reality (AR) display in the windshield, the vehicle body colour and exterior display can be changed at will, creating a more intimate relationship between driver and vehicle.
The Toyota Heart Project is a new communication research project developed under the theme ‘Inspiring the Heart, Inspiring You’. Basing its research on a unique, ‘open innovation’ method, the project envisages a future in which, in addition to simply talking and listening, humans and artificial intelligence will be able to engage in emotional communication which includes the use of expressions and gestures, and the recollection of past events. Toyota’s Kirobo and Mirata humanoid communication robots, which incorporate technologies for communication and artificial intelligence, are part of this research project. The FV2’s Augmented Reality windshield display supplements computer-generated data with sensory information received from the user’s environment.
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A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE
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DIMENSIONS (MM) Length 3,000 Width
1,600
Height
990 (sleep mode)
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1,780 (driving mode)
Wheelbase 2,360
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AUTONEWS
June
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AUDI A3 clubsport
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he Audi S3 showcased at Wรถrthersee, swapped its already potent 300PS output for a 525PS and metamorphosing into the A3 clubsport quattro concept. The Audi A3 clubsport quattro concept features a seven speed S tronic transmission with a compact three shaft layout. Compared to the production Audi S3 Saloon, the body has been lowered by 10 mm and spring and damper settings have been adjusted to suit the increased performance. The Audi A3 clubsport quattro concept rides on 9.5 J x 21 wheels shod with size 275/25
R21 tyres. The internally vented front brake discs measure 370 mm in diameter. All four discs are made of carbon fibre ceramic, making them extremely lightweight and abrasion-resistant. When the driver of the Audi A3 clubsport quattro concept applies the brakes at high speed, the air brake is activated. Electronically actuated, the rear segment of the boot raises from its standard spoiler setting to a near-vertical position in the blink of an eye. At 155mph, the air brake reduces the stopping distance by around twelve metres.
AUDI LMX
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new limited edition LMX version of the Audi R8 is the most powerful roadgoing Audi sports car ever made and the first production car to adopt laser high beam lighting as standard. The new 570PS, 198mph R8 LMX will be priced from ÂŁ160,025 in the UK (around 193,000 Euros). The Audi R8 LMX is based on the V10 plus model with its highrevving, mid mounted ten-cylinder engine, double wishbone suspension and ASF (Audi Space Frame) aluminium body. Available exclusively as a coupe with a production run limited to 99 vehicles, and with 540 Nm of torque to complement its 570PS output it will be capable of reaching 62mph from rest in just 3.4 seconds before topping out at 198mph.
With the new laser high beams, one laser module per headlight generates a cone of light with twice the range of the all-LED headlight. Each module comprises four highpower laser diodes. With a diameter of just 300 micrometers, these generate a blue laser beam with a wavelength of 450 nanometers. A phosphor converter transforms this into roadworthy white light with a colour temperature of 5,500 Kelvin – ideal conditions for the human eye that enable the driver to recognise contrast more easily and help prevent fatigue. The laser spot, which is active at speeds of 37mph and above, supplements the LED high beam in the R8 LMX and greatly enhances visibility and safety.
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AUTONEWS
June
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BMW M5 30 Jahre Edition
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o celebrate 30 years of the BMW M5 the German factory has created an exclusive, special-edition of the current, fifth-generation model: BMW M5 30 Jahre Edition (30 years of the M5) will be produced in a limited run of just 300 vehicles worldwide. Developing 600hp and peak torque of 700Nm with its 4.4-litre V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo, this special-edition is the most power-
ful production car in the history of the brand. The M5 30 Jahre Edition sprints from zero to 62mph in 3.9 seconds. The interior of the BMW M5 30 Jahre Edition includes exclusive touches to highlight the anniversary. ‘30 Jahre M5’ lettering on the front door sill finishers, while a plaque bearing ‘30 Jahre M5’ and ‘1/300’ inscription is integrated into the Dark Aluminium Trace interior trim.
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé
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ollowing the launch of the BMW 4 Series Coupé and Convertible, the Gran Coupé is the third model to join the new BMW 4 Series. It has exactly the same dimensions as the two-door coupé: a length of 4,638 millimeters, a width of 1,825 millimeters and a wheelbase of 2,810 millimeters. Up front, both models are identical and share the typical BMW design features. However, the roof of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé is twelve millimeters higher, 112 mm longer and gently stretched allowing it to flow smoothly into the rear quarter panels and boot lid. The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé offers a choice of five powerful engines. The high-end is represented by the 435i’s sixcylinder in-line 3.0-liter petrol engine delivering 225 kW/306 hp.
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AUTONEWS
June
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CADILLAC CTS-V Coupe
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adillac announced production of a limited, special-edition 2015 CTS-V Coupe, marking the last chapter of the current model before the next generation of the V-Series debuts next year. The 2015 CTS-V Coupe will consist of 500 limited-edition cars available during the second half of 2014. The special edition CTS-V Coupe shares the high-performance technology of its predecessors, including Cadillac’s Magnetic Ride Control, Brembo brakes and 556-horsepower (415kW) supercharged V-8 engine.
It features an exclusive Ebony interior with red contrast stitching, Recaro performance seats, metal pedals, Midnight Sapele wood trim, microfiber suede-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, dark-finish V grille, satin graphite wheels and red brake calipers. Pricing begins at $72,195. Exterior color options include Crystal White, Black Diamond ($995) and Phantom Gray. Buyers can opt for either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. A sunroof also is available ($700).
CITROĂ‹N DS 3
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he DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio are receiving further upgrades, including the all-new Active City Brake technology, new Euro6-compliant engines and new personalisation options. The vehicles are gaining new headlights combining LED and Xenon technologies with new sequential indicators. Three LED modules and a Xenon module are used to create a powerful, wide, uniform beam, for greater visibility when driving at night. The headlights also reduce energy consumption by 35% in low-beam mode and by 75% in high-beam. The DS 3 has also been fit with innovative sequential indicators, unique in this class.
DATSUN GO+
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atsun launched its first Datsun car for the Indonesian market, the Datsun GO+. At the inauguration of the new plant in Purwakarta (West Java, Indonesia) Nissan Motor Indonesia also announced that its participation in the Low Cost Green Car has been authorized by the government. Following the requirements of the initiative, the official name of the Datsun brand will be Datsun Nusantara, with Datsun GO+ Panca
as the new model’s official name. The fivedoor, 5+2 MPV Datsun GO+ Panca is powered by a 1.2-liter, 68-horsepower engine paired with a five-speed manual transmission. Starting at 85 million IDR on the road Jakarta, Datsun GO+ Panca will revolutionize the segment with best-in-class roominess, being the only model to offer a spacious and flexible three-row interior at this price.
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June
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DAIHATSU “Smart Selection” and “VS Grade”
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aihatsu has added the Smart Selection, specially equipped vehicles, to five types of its Mini Passenger Vehicle, and the VS grade, specially equipped vehicles, to the Move and Move Conte. Smart Selection vehicles have been added to the following five vehicle types: Mira e:S, Mira Cocoa, Move, Move Conte, and Tanto. Smart Selection vehicles consist of three series: Smart Selection SA, Smart Selection SN, and Smart Selection SA & SN. Smart Selection vehicles offer technologies such as the Smart Assist, a crash-avoidance support system; the Smartphone-Linked Memory Navigation System and the Super UV & IR Cut Glass (front door), which blocks 99% of ultraviolet rays. VS models added to the Move and Move Conte offer features that allow for an improved interior and exterior appeal.
FIAT Punto 2015
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nnovation, technology, safety and driving pleasure are the striking features of the successful Fiat Punto in Brazil. The 2015 model of this popular car brings a younger and comfortable interior design, combined with items of sportiness and refinement usually found in upper segments. New feature include Lane Change: the system triggers the lights five times in the indicated direction and after the maneuver it automatically returns to its initial position. Other upgrades include new interiors and instrument panel for the Attractive and Sporting versions, new 16’’ alloy wheels for the Sporting version and new 15’’ rim caps for the Attractive and Essence models. Fiat Punto 2015 starts at R$ 43,450 (Attractive model).
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AUTONEWS
June
( NISSAN Pulsar
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ulsar is packed with a range of accessible and useful technologies designed to make drivers feel more confident and comfortable. Among the systems offered in the new Pulsar are Forward Emergency Braking, Moving Object Detection, Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Warning. Nissan’s advanced Safety Shield - a suite of systems and technologies that combine to offer a fully comprehensive ‘safety net’ for drivers - is also fully integrated into the Pulsar’s design. The 1.2-litre DIG-T petrol unit has an output of 115PS, while the 1.5-litre dCi generates 110PS and 260Nm of torque. An even more powerful 190PS 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine will join the range early in 2015.
NISSAN 370Z NISMO
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he new 370Z NISMO model features exterior, interior and performance refinements, along with an expanded model selection that includes both 6-speed manual and 7-speed automatic transmissions and a new 370Z NISMO Tech grade. As in previous years, the 2015 370Z NISMO is powered by a potent 350-horsepower 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control. The engine is matched with an exclusive, tuned H-configured exhaust system design, muffler tuning and an opti-
mized calibration is installed to help create 18 horsepower more than a standard 370Z Coupe. Torque is rated at 276 lb-ft. Two transmission choices are offered for the first time on the Z NISMO model. The closeratio 6-speed manual transmission features standard SynchroRev Match, the world’s first synchronized downshift rev matching manual transmission. Newly available is a refined 7-speed automatic with Downshift Rev Matching, Adaptive Shift Control and manual shift mode with paddle shifters.
RENAULT
Megane Ranaultsport 275 Trophy
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he new 275 Trophy is the latest in a line of limited edition Megane Renaultsports, which began with the 265 Trophy in 2011 and continued with the Red Bull Racing RB8. The two-litre turbocharged petrol engine consequently boasts 275hp, and peak power is reached at 5,500rpm. At the same time, maximum torque (360Nm) is available across a broad rev-band, from 3,000 to 5,000rpm. Despite this additional power, fuel consumption and emissions have been contained to stand at just 37.7 mpg and 174g of CO2/ km respectively.
SCION FR-S & tC
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he new model year Scion FR-S features enhanced tuning and improved looks while the 2015 tC sports coupe receives new colors and a sporty feature to bring on the summer fun. The 2015 Scion FR-S features better handling and stability thanks to a more rigid front suspension and re-tuning of the rear shock absorbers. The 2015 Scion FR-S MSRP is $24,900 with a six-speed manual transmission or $26,000 with a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Dynamic Rev Management technology.
Inside all 2015 tC vehicles with automatic transmissions drivers will now enjoy steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters to enhance the sporty driving experience. Also for 2015 are two new colors; Cosmic Gray replaces Classic Silver and Super White has been replaced by Blizzard Pearl, which is available for an additional $395 fee. The 2015 Scion tC MSRP is $19,210 with a six-speed manual transmission or $20,360 with a six-speed automatic transmission and Dynamic Rev Management technology.
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June
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SEAT Ibiza CUPSTER
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t the 2014 Wรถrthersee Treffen, SEAT presented a radically open-top vehicle: the Seat Ibiza CUPSTER. A low, wrap-around windscreen and the complete absence of a top provide the CUPSTER, the CUPRA Roadster, with a highly dynamic basis with its 132 kW / 180 PS TSI engine and DSG dual-clutch transmission. Even without roof, the driver and co-driver are well protected thanks to the seating position, which is 80 millimetres lower
than in the series-production car. The steering wheel is clad with an especially sophisticated type of leather. Pure aniline leather is coloured all the way through, without a layer of pigment. There is also no shortage of performance for the CUPSTER, based on the Ibiza CUPRA. A powerful 132 kW / 180 PS are delivered from the 1.4 TSI engine, super-fast gear changes thanks to the DSG transmission and precision sports running gear with 18-inch wheels.
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June
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KODA CitiJet design concept is the result of ŠKODA’s ‘Apprentice Car’ project. Six months in the making, 16 ŠKODA apprentices presented the fruits of their labour to the public for the first time. The ŠKODA CitiJet is a city-convertible based on the ŠKODA Citigo. The exterior features distinctive metallic paintwork in blue/white and racy, blue 16-inch alloy wheels. It also features a hand-made rear spoiler as well as a powerful exhaust with two tailpipes. A 1.0 MPI petrol engine with 55 kW (75 PS) can be found under the bonnet of the vehicle. The seat covers and floor mats have a ‘Sport’ material design. The dashboard is painted white/red. A 300 watt sound system is also fitted. The interior has music-reactive LED lighting.
ŠKODA Yeti Xtreme
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n creating the ŠKODA Yeti Xtreme, ŠKODA designers have converted their successful compact SUV into a particularly sporty and dynamic rally design. The car is powered by a 1.8 112 kW strong TSI engine and features a six-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG). The maximum torque of 250 Nm is achieved between 1,500 and 4,200 rpm. The Yeti Xtreme accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds; its top
speed is 192 km/h. The Yeti Xtreme features special Octavia RS brakes. The matt-grey Yeti stands on 17-inch alloy wheels and large off-road tyres. It features tinted side windows, roof and wheel rim inserts are set off in bright yellow-green. At the front, the brawny athlete has a powerful bumper and a large air intake, along with LED headlights. For robust sporting use, the height of the chassis can be adjusted.
TOYOTA Verso-S
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erso-S’s front face has been upgraded by adding headlights featuring projector technology and LED daytime running lights. Continuing the theme from the front face of the car, the rear features a new light design which, thanks to the adoption of LED lights, benefits from more distinctive contrasts. A new 16” alloy wheel design with 3-D effect has been introduced. And to complement Verso S’ new look, a new trendy bronze metallic paint has been added to the colour palette to replace the current light blue metallic.
Focusing on the interior of the vehicle, VersoS customers now have a choice between a single-tone black interior or a bi-tone brown interior with black seat bolsters.
NEW VOLVO XC 90
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olvo Cars has created a launch programme that will unveil the car from the inside out, meaning that it will start by disclosing the many new interior features of the car and culminate in the full external reveal in August. The new interior is the most luxurious to have been designed for a Volvo, taking its inspiration from the country of Volvo’s birth, Sweden, which has a global reputation for inte-
grating the latest technology with design that is clean, beautiful and crafted from the finest materials. The new XC90’s interior combines materials such as soft leather and wood with handcrafted details including a gear-lever made of crystal glass from Orrefors, the famous Swedish glass maker, and diamondcut controls for the start/stop button and volume control.
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VOLKSWAGEN GTI Roadster
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t the GTI festival at Wörthersee Volkswagen showcased the GTI Roadster, Vision Gran Turismo. It is a Golf GTI show car that was originally created as a purely electronic CGI entity for the Sony PlayStation3 classic “Gran Turismo 6″. The two-seat convertible is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbocharged TSI engine that produces 503 horsepower and 413 poundfeet of torque between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm; from just 2,000 revs, 369 lb-ft of that torque is available. The power of the TSI engine is transferred to the 20-inch wheel-and-tire combination via a seven-speed DSG dualclutch automatic transmission and a 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system. The lightweight,
3133-pound sportscar sprints from 0 to 60 mph in an estimated 3.5 seconds and goes onto a top track speed of 192 mph. The driver and passenger sit in a dual carbonfiber monocoque. The two sides are partitioned by an open bar that ascends from rear to front, with a fire extinguisher beneath it. The GTI Roadster is equipped with two race-style buckets, placed low. The seats and the four-spoke grip steering wheel are covered with Alcantara. Another motorsportstyle feature is the cockpit display mounted directly to the steering column, far ahead of the driver. The steering wheel is mounted on a very long, exposed steering column, which is typical of a race car, too.
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REZVANI BEAST
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REZVANI BEAST
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he California based supercars manufacturer Rezvani recently unveiled its new creation: BEAST. Based on the Ariel Atom this supercar is born on the track and designed for the road and boasts a six-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive layout, and weighs just 1,550 lb.
Thanks in part to its 1,550 lb curb weight, the BEAST 500 can excel from a standstill to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds. The BEAST 300 can reach 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, and it tips the scales at a 1,470 lbs. Power comes from either a 2.0-liter turbocharged, or 2.4-liter supercharged mid-mounted engine that can produce up to 315 and 500 horsepower respectively. Both engines are prepared by Ariel Atom specialists DDM Works of South Carolina. DDM Works president, Dave Michel, provides this overview: “When the engine is built, the block is disassembled, and checked for defects, etc. Then the crank bearing surfaces are polished, the block is cleaned, bored, decked and prepped for the new high-performance parts. The engine is assembled with all new parts — upgraded pistons, forged H beam rods, ARP studs, and optional clutch upgrades — and filled with a break-in oil for the first start. On the 500hp twin charge versions, stock cams are used and stock heads, although the head is disassembled, cleaned, pressure checked, surfaced and put together with new seals. The high-output engine is paired to a limited slip six-speed manual gearbox, and a rear wheel drive layout. All with minimal electronic interference that provides drivers with tactile feedback and extreme response.”
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In it’s purest form, Rezvani BEAST allows the driver to climb into the seat like a pilot getting into a fighter plane. Hinged doors are optional.Â
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EAST’s stunning look was created by renowned automotive designer Samir Sadikhov, known for designs like the Aston Martin DBC and Ferrari Xerzi concepts. Beginning at the low-friction front fascia, the body lines extend out to create a streamlined appearance. Paired to angular rear panels, air flows over the car to provide maximum downforce at high speeds. The BEAST also features a fully removable windshield, a roll cage, and a set of RS05 PUR wheels wrapped in front 235/35/19 and rear 295/30/19 tires.
In order to celebrate Rezvani’s launch of the BEAST, the first two models of the BEAST 300 and BEAST 500 will be offered at a special “Launch Edition” price. For the BEAST 300 Launch Edition, the first two lucky clients will be able to purchase this high-performance roadster for only $99,500 USD. The BEAST 500 Launch Edition begins at $124,900 USD. The MSRP for the standard model begins at $115,000 for the BEAST 300, and $135,000 for the BEAST 500.
BEASTTM 300 SPECIFICATIONS
BEASTTM 500 SPECIFICATIONS
Performance: 0-60 MPH: 2.9 SECONDS Body: Carbon Fiber Composite Engine: Inline DOHC 4 cylinder Supercharged 315 Horsepower @ 8400 RPM 239 ft.lbs Torque @ 7200 RPM Transmission: 6 Speed Close Ratio Manual (with Limited Slip Differential) Dimensions: Weight: 1470 lbs (667 kg) Length: 163.2 inches (4,145 mm) Width: 74.9 inches (1,900 mm) Wheelbase: 92.3 inches (2,345 mm) Height: 38.3 inches (970 mm) Fuel tank capacity: 11 Gallons (42 Liters) Brakes: Alcon 4 Piston Competition Brakes Alcon race brake pads Suspension: Independent forged aluminum with anti-roll bars, front and rear Bilstein 10 way high performance adjustable dampers, front and rear Wheels/Tires: Rear: 19” with 295/30/19 Toyo R888 Front: 19” with 235/35/19 Toyo R888
Performance: 0-60 MPH: 2.7 SECONDS Body: Carbon Fiber Composite Engine: Inline DOHC 4 cylinder Supercharged/Turbocharged 500 Horsepower @ 6350 RPM 427 ft.lbs Torque @ 5950 RPM M62 Supercharger, Garret GTX Turbos Front heat exchanger DDM ECU engine map Engine build with Carillo rods Upgraded ACT clutch and flywheel Transmission: 6 Speed Close Ratio Manual (with Limited Slip Differential) Dimensions: Weight: 1550 lbs (704 kg) Length: 163.2 inches (4,145 mm) Width: 74.9 inches (1,900 mm) Wheelbase: 92.3 inches (2,345 mm) Height: 38.3 inches (970 mm) Fuel tank capacity: 11 Gallons (42 Liters) Brakes : Alcon 4 Piston Competition Brakes Alcon race brake pads Suspension: Independent forged aluminum with anti-roll bars, front and rear Bilstein 10 way high performance adjustable dampers, front and rear Wheels/Tires: Rear: 19” with 295/30/19 Toyo R888 Front: 19” with 235/35/19 Toyo Proxes R888
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CITROﾃ起 C4 CACTUS
NEW WORLD,
The world is changing and so are consumer expectations, shifting at growing speed. And cars? Citroën has an answer to the questions of the day, a real alternative to the compact hatchback: the Citroën C4 CACTUS. In the fiercely competitive C segment with its apparently immutable design cues, the Citroën C4 CACTUS stands apart with a unique design that is both functional and attractive. An original vehicle that meets a specific challenge: to bring customers more of what really matters.
, NEW IDEAS!
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CITROËN C4 CACTUS
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o solve the equation, Citroën has adopted an original approach: place greater emphasis on what really matters to customers and adopt technological innovations reflecting decisive choices in design, comfort, convenience and running costs: • Airbump, an innovation by Citroën. Useful, attractive and customisable, this graphic feature enhances vehicle design while protecting the bodywork. • A fully digital, intuitive interface and airy, connected driving position with controls grouped around a 7-inch touch screen, fitted as standard. • Wide sofa-style seats at the front. • Front passenger airbag transferred to the roof (Airbag In Roof technology), a world exclusive that creates more room and storage space for the front passenger. • A panoramic glazed roof with advanced heat protection to let the light in while protecting passengers from the heat. By combining an optimised platform with efficient latest-generation engines, Citroën has been able to reduce the weight of its new vehicle by 200 kg compared with a Citroën C4. The result is driveability and low fuel consumption (just 82g of CO2/km or 3.1l/100 km for the diesel version and less than 100g of CO2/km for the petrol version). The C4 CACTUS is equipped with a latestgeneration engines. Already compliant with future Euro 6 standards the PureTech petrol and BlueHDi diesel engines are extremely cost effective to run and feature fuel saving innovations like low friction diamondlike component coatings and Stop & Start technology.
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You can choose between the 3-cylinder, 1.2 litre PureTech VTi 82, turbocharged e-THP 110 PureTech with direct injection and dual variable valve timing, or the BlueHDi 100 diesel. Design More design means reconciling looks and function, identifying the ideal volumes and extending the pursuit of efficiency to the slightest detail. The Citroën C4 CACTUS has unique styling that is both memorable and easy to identify, like all the cars that have made their mark on their times. A design that features: • pure, smooth surfaces, • flowing lines with no aggressive edges, • a floating quarter-light and roof,
• a high-tech light signature with daytime-running LED lights and headlights built into the Airbump, • visual features that each highlight a given function (protection with the Airbumps and wheel arches, transport with the roof bars, and light with the large panoramic glazed roof and advanced heat protection). The proportions of the C4 CACTUS are optimised for styling, space and driving comfort: • a 2.60m wheelbase (equivalent to a Citroën C4) placing the emphasis on space, • the dimensions of a compact hatchback (length: 4.16m, width: 1.73m), • an ideal profile in terms of styling with 1/3 glazed areas and 2/3 side panels.
• optimised height of just 1.48m for improved aerodynamics, • shorter overhangs placing the wheels in the four corners. Airbump Airbump sum up the fundamental purpose of design: to combine style and function. Fitted on the sides and bumpers of the Citroën C4 CACTUS, they add graphic structure to the pure, smooth lines. Available in four colours (Black, Grey, Dune and Chocolate), they can be matched with the ten body colours and three choices of interior ambience (Ambiance Stone Grey, Pack Habana Inside and Pack Purple Inside) to offer a wide range of possibilities for customisation
Above all, they provide real day-to-day protection. The supple TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) skin comprises air capsules to absorb impacts. The Airbump require no specific maintenance and directly contribute to cutting vehicle servicing and repair costs. This attractive, functional innovation makes city driving a more relaxing experience. Comfort The first way to increase comfort is to free up space for the driver and passengers. To declutter the cabin for a friendlier, more relaxed ambience. The low dashboard with its horizontal lines creates more space for the front passenger, with generous, easily accessible storage.
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his result was obtained by adopting a fully digital interface and optimising the driving position layout: • passenger airbag transferred to the roof (Airbag In Roof technology) and deployed over the length of the windscreen, rather than in the dashboard as usual, • control buttons replaced by a 7-inch touch screen grouping all vehicle functions (air conditioning, media, navigation, parameters, telephone and driving aids), • conventional instrument cluster replaced by a digital screen, • on versions with the ETG clutchless gearbox, the conventional gearlever is replaced by the “Easy Push” system. This simplified control function comprises a “D,N,R” selection knob on the lower fascia and steering-wheel paddles for changing gears manually.
The wide front seats also reap the benefits of this new architectural approach, with a sofa-style design for a more comfortable, user-friendly ambience. At the rear, passenger knee room is similar to that on the Citroën C4. For an equivalent wheelbase, the Citroën C4 CACTUS provides the same amount of space for more compact exterior dimensions. It is just 4.16m long, for easy driving and handling in the city. It also provides generous boot capacity of 358 litres. The second way to enhance comfort is through the ambience, which should be both relaxed and elegant. The clean design lines of the cabin showcase the interior styling. The overall effect suggests the theme of travel, with a nod to the world of luggage design: • door handles that take the form of leather straps, bringing to mind luggage trunks, and a storage compartment with hinge fittings and a pattern in relief on the top part of the dashboard,
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• seat upholstery, door trim and dashboard in a choice of three colours: Ambiance Stone Grey, Pack Purple Inside and Pack Habana Inside. More useful technology Easy to use, connected and accessible to all, the technologies featured on the Citroën C4 CACTUS focus on motorists’ real needs. Fitted as standard, a 7-inch touch screen with seven sensitive buttons, gives access to a full range of modern vehicle functions (depending on version): • automatic air conditioning, • media (including the digital radio, audio streaming, connection of mobile appliances, and functions to store music and display photos), • navigation (perspective view of maps,
speed limit display, taking account of traffic conditions and enabling you to select the most fuel-efficient route), • driving aids (display of reversing camera, Park Assist, programmable speed limiter-cruise control), • a telephone (hands-free function via the Bluetooth connection, directory access, display of profile photos and double call management), • connected services (Citroën Multicity Connect portal via a 3G connection), • parameter settings (including an interactive onboard manual). All these controls are grouped on a single screen in order to be continuously available. The Citroën C4 CACTUS can also be connected to the Citroën Multicity Connect ap-
plication portal, controlled from the 7-inch touch screen with a 3G connection. A range of apps designed for the road make life easier for both driver and passengers: • use the “Fuel” app to find the nearest and/or cheapest service station; • look for a hotel or restaurant with the “Yellow Pages” or “Trip Advisor” apps; • check the “Michelin Traffic” app for traffic information • or the “Coyote” app for alerts on highrisk zones. All these applications are fully integrated with the driving interface. They can thus take account of all vehicle-related information (position, speed, route, fuel level, etc.) to provide the right information at the right time and anticipate driver needs in all circumstances.
100% useful driving aids For a more relaxed drive, the Citroën C4 CACTUS features a range of driving aids selected to make life easier for the driver: • for easy parking, the Park Assist system helps to find a parking space and carries out parking manoeuvres automatically when a suitable space has been found. The driver need only operate the accelerator and brake, • the reversing camera makes light work of parking manoeuvres with the image displayed by the touch screen, • hill-start assist keeps the vehicle steady for two seconds on a slope. It lets you start up again easily on slopes with a gradient of over 3% without the vehicle slipping back when you release the brake pedal • static cornering lights provide an addi-
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CITROËN C4 CACTUS
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tional beam of light to light up the inside of bends and improve visibility and safety at corners and junctions • the Citroën eTouch service includes a localised emergency and assistance call system, depending on the country. These two free 24/7 services rely on an integrated SIM card. In the event of an incident or accident, they ensure that the emergency services can locate and reach the vehicle promptly. Onboard comfort with a large panoramic sunroof featuring advanced heat protection, designed to filter incoming light and to keep the heat out. With properties similar to category 4 sunglasses, it provides effective protection from UV rays. Excellent light, heat and acoustic protection make it unnecessary to fit a blind. This reduces vehicle weight by 6kg and also improves weight distribution, lowering the centre of gravity for an improved ride. Driving comfort with “Magic Wash”, a simple, ingenious innovation that does away with problems of visibility when washing the windscreen. The windscreen washer nozzles are built into the tips of the wipers and release just a small quantity of fluid. This maintains visibility during washing while also halving the quantity of fluid required compared with a conventional system. Optimised cost of ownership Deliver more of what is really important for customers while remaining affordable. To solve this equation Citroën adopted a pragmatic approach. A vehicle budget includes not only the purchasing price but also the running costs (fuel, servicing, etc.). Citroën’s objective is therefore to bring customers a pertinent response to each issue. Adopting an approach similar to mobile pho-
ne call plans, Citroën brings C4 CACTUS customers a range of purchasing solutions in the form of a monthly flat-rate or mileage-based payment, depending on the country. This service, which is the first of its kind on the market, covers all expenditure other than fuel during the period of agreement: financing, insurance and servicing. For a fixed monthly payment, customers can select vehicle trim (equipment, engines, etc.) and the level of service they require without exceeding their budget (type of coverage, all-in or mileage based, etc.). Cutting fuel consumption To reduce fuel consumption without using costly technologies, it is important to increase efficiency and do away with the superfluous. By making the vehicle lighter, Citroën has been able to adopt smaller latest-generation engines. This has the advantage of cutting fuel consumption while maintaining driveability. The vehicle weighs 965 kg, 200 kg less overall than a Citroën C4. This reduction was achieved through decisive choices: • a compact, lightweight platform, • small latest-generation engines meeting the future Euro6 standard (PureTech petrol and BlueHDi diesel with the Stop & Start system), • high-performance materials: very high yield-strength steel, aluminium for the bonnet and front and rear beams. • weight-reducing features: aluminium bonnet, pop-out rear windows (-11 kg), and single-piece folding rear bench. (-6 kg). As a result, the Citroën C4 CACTUS is available in a petrol version emitting less than100g of CO2/km and a diesel version emitting a mere 82g of CO2/km for fuel consumption of just 3.1l/100 km.
CGM
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GLOBAL NEWS
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BORN FROM RENAULT’S DNA
Csaba Wittinger, the original designer of New Twingo, talks about the inspirations that drew his pencil on the tablet and how this brand-new city car inherits Renault’s DNA.
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BORN FROM RENAULT’S DNA
( What were the inspirations for New Twingo ? Instead of taking only inspiration just from Twingo, we went further and I was inspired by the Renault 5 and especially the R5 Turbo. Could you tell us a little bit more about the R5 Turbo inspiration ? I think Renault has been one of the great actors in the city car segment for a long time. Not only with the R5 or Twingo. It started much earlier. Just about the rear engine, let me mention the 4CV, or R8-R10 which were the last rear engined Renault car in big series. All those cars were really important and I would say “iconic cars” in the history of Renault brand. How does New Twingo have Renault DNA? Renault is a brand that was never scared of trying new things. You can do things no one would ever expect. Take the R5 for instance. It’s a classic front-engine car. But for racing reasons, Renault decided to create a rearengine version, which became an unlimited tool for the race (same goes for Clio V6 actually). Renault was one of the first carmakers to create super cars from its range. You also designed Twin Run revealed one year ago. There was an obvious link with R5 in this concept car. What elements did you take from the R5 Turbo for the New Twingo? The most obvious is the theme on the body side to recall the widened body of the R5 Turbo and of course the tailgate. The angle is very close to the R5. We also integrated the tail lamps in a way pretty similar to recreate the expression of the extractors that used to be on the rally car.
What is your first R5 Turbo memory? The very first one was probably a miniature car my brother had. In Hungary, where I’m from, it was a very popular racing car. I was a kid at that time. This rally car was so strong, extreme and beautiful at the same time, it sure influenced me, until today. I loved watching Jean Ragnotti drive it. I was so proud last year when he drove Twin’Run and liked it! As a rally driver, he instantly made the connection with his former R5 Turbo. For me it’s a great achievement, and it would make me so proud if this Twingo goes into history as being a heir to the R5 Turbo. What was the link between R5 and Twingo ? If you think about the R5, it was very affordable, it was a very well-known compact-car produced in high numbers. This car has been a milestone in Renault history to make a new kind of cars with a face expression and strong personality. Twingo I was the first heir to the R5. The New Twingo has been taking in that rich heritage and is just continuing the story. What would you say to people about an eventual link with Fiat 500 ? It comes from the silhouette which was determined by the choice of the platform and the rear engine architecture. Except from that, you can’t point out anything that would be similar. We have a short overhang and
large wheelbase which allowed us to have real rear doors. I had the chance to play with the angle of the tailgate which makes this car iconic, coming from the R5. As a designer, was the rear engine architecture a challenge or an opportunity? This was a great opportunity for us to design something completely new. It’s always very exciting for a designer to try something else and explore new solutions. We were able to put the wheels in the corners and shorten the over-hangs. This gave us the possibility to have a spectacular turning circle of 8,65 meter which is really useful in the daily use of a city-car. Were there a lot of changes since your first drawing? The final car is pretty close from my original idea and I’m proud of that. Why did your project “win” the internal competition to design New Twingo? Laurens [van den Acker, Senior VP, Design] was the first to believe in my idea, to keep inspirations from the R5 Turbo. I think I was lucky, because he really liked it and trusted me from the beginning. In fact this New Twingo is neither a Twingo I nor a R5 Turbo revival, although it was inspired by both. It’s just a real Renault! CGM
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GLOBAL NEWS
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AROUND THE WO
ORLD
CARS GLOBALMAG is thrilled to be “Official Media Partner” of the event and will follow the entire tour of the Great Wall off-road cars The stages of 7milamiglialontano “Around the World” 12 June / 15 July 2014 => Italy – Kazakhstan 15 July / 15 August 2014 => Kazakhstan – China 15 September / 20 October 2014 => Alaska – Guatemala 25 October / 23 November 2014 => Guatemala – Bolivia 23 November – 28 December 2014 =>Bolivia- Argentina 10 February / 20 March 2015 => South Africa – Etiopia 20 March / 1 May 2015 => Etiopia- Italy
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AROUND THE WORLD
THE RAID’S CARS SPECIFICATIONS Great Wall Steed 5 Lenght: 5040 mm Width: 1800 mm Height: 1730 mm Wheelbase: 3050 mm Min. ground clearance: 194 mm Front/rear approach angle: 30/24° Capacity: 1000 kg Fuel tank capacity: 70 l Engines: 2,4 Euro 5 petrol engine Engine capacity: 2 378 cc Maximum power: 122 bhp Maximum torque: 200 Nm Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 12,7 s Maximum speed: 160 km/h Average consumption: 11,5 l/100 km Diesel, 4-cylinder common-rail turbo-compressor with intercooler Engine capacity: 1 996 cc Maximum power: 139 bhp Maximum torque: 305 Nm Acceleration 0-100 km / h: 12,5 s Maximum speed: 160 km/h Average consumption: 8,6 l/100 km Great Wall H6 Lenght: 4640 mm Width: 1825 mm Height: 1745 mm Wheelbase: 2680 mm Min. ground clearance: 180 mm Front / rear angle of approach: 26/22° Capacity: 808 kg Fuel tank capacity: 58 l Engine common-rail turbo diesel Engine capacity: 1996 cc Maximum power: 143 bhp Maximum torque: 310 Nm Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 11.2 s Maximum speed: 180 km/h Average consumption: 6.8 l/100 km
( 7milamiglialontano “Around the World” is the third stage of a journey started in 2009 and continued in 2012. It’s not just an adventure, a showdown or an organizational challenge, it is also an original way of looking at the world. Split into seven different stages, 7milamiglialontano “Around the World” is a world tour that will begin on June 15 from Italy, a journey of more than 7 thousand miles where 7 different crews will drive Great Wall off-road cars. The purpose of the adventure is to raise funds for several charity organizations and is important to underline that the team will be back in Italy in May 2015, when the EXPO 2015 will be inaugurated in Milan. A year-long commitment awaits the participants, an inspired journey aroused by the will of meeting new realities and directed to humanitarian aid and raising of ethics, aesthetics and consciousness in travelling as well as the ecological awareness of the environment. CGM
Cadillac Crest Evolves
“Longer, lower, leaner. Ongoing evolution of Art & Science, the new Caddilac Crest begins to appear in productions in the second half of 2014”. Cadillac is this year introducing an evolution of the historic Cadillac Crest, a revision in synch with new products such as the awardwinning 2014 CTS and 2015 ATS Coupe. The new Cadillac Crest will begin appearing on vehicles in the second half of 2014. The unmistakable Cadillac Crest has a heritage of evolution, marking new eras. Cadillac’s product and design advances are moving the brand forward. The Cadillac Crest evolves now to reflect this growth, just as it has for more than 111 years. Sleeker and streamlined, the revised Crest first appeared on the Elmiraj concept in 2013. “The Crest remains a consistent symbol of Cadillac and our core values - said Andrew Smith, Cadillac executive design director this new Crest matches the lower, longer, le-
aner mantra of our current car designs, and reflects the evolution of our Art and Science philosophy.” Accompanied over the years by a crown, chevron or laurel wreath, the Crest has been the central aspect of Cadillac heraldry throughout the brand’s history. It was last revised in 1999. The latest update sharpens the focus on the Crest. Cadillac’s characteristic script lettering remains. “Our goal was to evolve the emblem design to integrate with the new vehicle form while maintaining the core graphic elements that preserve its strong brand recognition - Smith said - this resulted in retaining the iconic ‘crest’ shape and color palette with geometric grid from the original Cadillac family ‘coat of arms.’” CGM
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CLASSIC
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Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014
A TOUCH OF CLASS
The jury presented this year’s Trofeo BMW Group for “Best of Show” to the Maserati 450 S from 1956. The winner of the public vote, and therefore the recipient of the Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este, was an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS from 1931. In the Concept Cars and Prototypes category, the Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award went to the Maserati “Alfieri”. It was very difficult to chose just a few pictures … Enjoy the glamour of Villa d’Este!
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A TOUCH OF CLASS
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Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS – 1931
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Maserati 450 S – 1956
ver three days, the parkland of Villa d’Este and the adjacent Villa Erba on the banks of Lake Como provided a magnificent backdrop for the historically rich and highly exclusive line-up of historic cars and motorcycles. The spectacular parades of competition models and array of special exhibitions shone a bright spotlight on the elegance and aesthetic appeal of classic vehicles, once again drawing attention to prominent milestones in design and technological development. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este eloquently reprised its role as an exclusive stage for two and four-wheeled rarities that capture the imagination with their flawless condition and fascinating backstories. Warm, summery temperatures greeted the thousands of visitors who came on Saturday and Sunday to track the progress of both the Concorso di Motociclette and the parade of historic competition cars, helping to turn the battle for the favour of jury and public alike into a highly atmospheric occasion.
Jaguar XK 120 – 1952
Rolls Royce Phantom I – 1928
Packard 640 Custom Height – 1929
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A TOUCH OF CLASS
Ferrari 500 TRC – 1957
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A TOUCH OF CLASS
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World premiere at Villa d’Este 2014 for a very special concept: the MINI Superleggera™ Vision. This exclusive interpretation of an open-top two-seater was created by MINI and Touring Superleggera, the tradition-steeped design and coach building house based in Milan. The MINI Superleggera™ Vision is on the one hand a classic roadster, a compact and agile two-seater, expressing the most minimalist and emotional style of motoring; and on the other hand its electric drivetrain gives the car distinctly modern driving dynamics. In collaboration with MINI, Touring Superleggera™ has designed and built an elaborately crafted, unique model which blends the tradition of classic coachwork construction with the MINI’s authentic British styling to create timeless aesthetic appeal.
Ferrari 212 Inter 1951
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mong the other highlights of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 were the special exhibitions laid on for the 110th anniversary of British luxury car brand RollsRoyce and the centenary of Italian sports car maker Maserati. The two landmarks were also celebrated with special categories of competition for the two marques. Hailed as class winners by the jury were the Rolls-Royce Phantom II Boat Tail from 1934 and the Maserati V4 Sport, a Zagato-designed spider from 1929. This was the tenth Concorso d’Eleganza to be co-hosted by BMW Group Classic and the Villa d’Este luxury hotel. A glittering support programme headed “The Great Gatsby” saw the organisers harking back to the Roaring Twenties and the roots of the event’s “Days of Elegance”. 85 years ago a beauty contest for cars took place here for the first time, and today the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este bridges the past, the present and the future of vehicle aesthetics. Nowhere is this role more clearly expressed than in the visionary designs included in the Concept Cars and Prototypes competition. This year, moreover, the BMW Group presented a couple of attention-grabbing concept studies out of competition: the BMW Vision Future Luxury (already presented in the may CGM issue) and the MINI SuperleggeraTM Vision study car, that fuses British heritage and Italian flair into a recipe for concentrated driving fun and pure emotionality. CGM
Rolls Royce Phantom II - 1934
Lancia Astura Type 233 – 1936
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PIC OF THE MONTH
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Clerkenwell Design Week 2014: a preview concept of a bespoke installation, created in in collaboration with event partner Foscarini, and inspired by the new Jaguar F-TYPE CoupĂŠ sports car.
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June 2014
LE MANS... OF COURSE!
STADIUM SUPER TRUCKS NEW ZELAND CROWN RANGE
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PIC OF THE MONTH
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The Crown Range, New Zealand. 47 corners, 1076 metres elevation, 10.4km long. Mike Whiddett pulls sixth gear along the Crown Terrace and winds the Mazda RX7’s 750 horsepower engine out to its redline. He hits 232km/h before slowing, fleetingly pulling on the handbrake to lock the rear wheels before stomping back on the accelerator. The tyres erupt back into a spinning frenzy; black marks the bitumen. This is drifting nirvana in its purest form.
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66 78 82
FRONT PAGE Stadium Truck PADDOCK MIX ENDURANCE Le Mans... of course!
106
FORMULA 1 Enrico’s Notebook
108
SPECIAL Indianapolis VS Montecarlo
124
NASCAR WHELEN EURO SERIES A huge potential
134
DRAG NHRA Pro Stock & Funny Car
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: Rolex / Jad Sherif
FRONT PAGE
THE
PIN
JUM
NG TRUC
KS!
THE JUMPING TRUCKS!
SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road Presented by TRAXXAS features identically prepared high-horsepower trucks, the Stadium SUPER Trucks, that produce 600 horsepower with an V-8 engine generating speeds upwards of 130 miles per hour. The series was founded in 2013 by former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Robby Gordon. The races feature man-made ramps set up in strategic locations throughout each road course which allow the trucks to fly through the air nearly 20 feet off the ground and hundreds of feet down course. In the following pages some of the most exciting pictures of the first part of the season. Apdaly Lopez
PIT STOP This year the Stadium SUPER Trucks will hold their races during IndyCar weekends, X Games at Austin (Texas) and other large events across the United States and Canada. The field of drivers “jumping around� with these trucks include famous names like series founder Robby Gordon, Arie Luyendyk Jr., EJ Viso and Olympic snowboarder Nick Baumgartner.
THE JUMPING TRUCKS!
Sheldon Creed and Gavin Harlien
PJ Jones
PIT STOP Unlike most other racing series, debris, and even the occasional rolled-over truck, doesn’t normally bring out a full-course caution. If determined by USAC that all competitors and spectators are outside of harm’s way, racing will continue and a local caution will be displayed to identify the issue.
THE JUMPING TRUCKS!
PIT STOP The Championship is based off an accumulation of points throughout the 13 events that make up the 2014 season: points are awarded to a maximum of 15 places for the overall results of the main event. Points are also awarded for the quickest lap in qualifying and for the driver who leads the most laps in the race.
THE JUMPING TRUCKS!
Robby Gordon
Nick Vanis
PIT STOP A full course competition caution usually occurs approximately half-way in each race to allow the field to tighten up for a sprint to the finish. Should a full-course caution be necessary prior to halfway, it will serve as the completion caution. The initial start of the race will be a standing start with five rows of two, and any restarts during the race will be double-file rolling restarts.
THE JUMPING TRUCKS!
Robby Gordon, winner of the race at Long Beach with EJ Viso and Sheldon Creed
SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road 2014 schedule March 29-30 April 13 May 23 May 30/June 1 June 8 July 19-20 September 19-20 September 21 November 7
St. Petersburg, Florida Long Beach, California Indianapolis, Indiana Detroit, Michigan Austin, Texas Toronto, Ontario Costa Mesa, California San Diego, California Las Vegas, Nevada
PIT STOP No spotters allowed. USAC and race control can communicate with all drivers over one frequency and no spotters are permitted. Therefore, if one driver receives a message from USAC, all drivers receive the same message. Drivers are unable to radio back to race control and are expected to comply with all directives without the benefit of debate.
RGM
PADDOCK MIX
News from Mazda Mazda announced the latest addition to its driver development program with a partnership with iRacing. Mazda Motorsports has more than 9,000 club racers in the U.S., most of who race MX-5 Miatas. iRacing has more than 50,000 members worldwide, many who have ‘virtually raced’ a Mazda MX-5 Cup car. This newly formed partnership enables the best iRacing online racers in North America a chance to race an actual Mazda MX-5 Cup car the following year. iRacing competitors competing in the 2014 iRacing MX-5 Cup season will be eligible to compete in the annual Mazda Club Racing Shootout held each fall. The shootout winner earns a Mazda Motorsports scholarship for the following year’s Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich Tires. Complete details are posted at iRacing.com John Doonan, Director of Motorsports for Mazda North American Operations noted: “As racers know, iRacing is more than a game. It is an amazing simulation tool for a driver to learn new
tracks and keep in top mental shape away from the track. We’re thrilled that we can further expand our driver support program to include even more potential champions.” Commemorating the model’s 25th anniversary, Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that it will partner with the UK’s JOTA Sport to enter a Mazda MX-5 (known as Mazda Roadster in Japan) in the 24 Hours Nurburgring endurance race taking place in Germany on June 21 and 22, 2014. Mazda has commissioned JOTA Sport to prepare the vehicle and manage the race team. The team of four drivers includes Stefan Johansson, who knows endurance racing inside out and has an outstanding track record as a driver for Mazdaspeed at 24 Hours of Le Mans; Wolfgang Kaufmann, who has an intimate knowledge of the Nurburgring circuit; Owen Mildenhall, a journalist who has raced the Mazda MX-5 in a variety of competitions throughout England; and Teruaki Kato, winner of Japan’s Roadster Party Race.
PEDRO PIQUET ON THE LEAD! Another Piquet is on the way to carry on the family racing dynasty. Pedro Piquet (son of former Formula 1 World Champion) is leading the 2014 Brazilian F.3 Championship after four rounds (Taruma, Santa Curz, Brasilia and Sao Paulo). The next meeting is provided in Curituba on the last July week end. General standing after 4 rounds (8 races) 1º Pedro Piquet – 109 3º Lukas Moraes – 56 5º Rapahel Raucci – 42 7º Leonardo de Souza -27 9º Sergio Sette Câmara – 6
2º Bruno Etman – 74 4º Artur Fortunato – 46 6º Renan Guerra – 27 8º Arthur Oliveira – 9 10º Fernando Croce – 3
Photo courtesy of formula3brasil.com / Duda Bairros/Vicar
Honda to power Formula Lites Honda Performance Development is pleased that it has been selected to supply Honda’s production 2.4-liter, four-cylinder Honda K24 engine to power the new Formula Lites chassis being produced by Crawford Composites for a new racing series promoted by High Performance Group. Formula Lites is a new professional racing series, headed by motorsports veteran and HPG principals Dennis McCormack and Ryan Arciero, and sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. Scheduled to launch at select events in 2014, with a full schedule of events planned for 2015, the series is aimed at developing young, professional drivers. “We couldn’t be more impressed with this Formula Lites car and their plans for the series,” said Jeff Barrow, HPD manager, commercial motorsports. “In working with HPG and Crawford Composites, it was their goal to keep costs down and reliability up. I’m happy to say that our production Honda K24 engine will meet their requirements for cost and reliability, and at the same time provide great power to this fantastic looking car. I would expect that many of our current Honda Racing Line participants would love to get behind the wheel of one!”
Created by a design team led by Crawford Composite’s Andy Scriven at the company’s Denver, N.C. headquarters, the Formula Lites carbon composite chassis is built to current FIA Formula 3 technical regulations, including state-of-the-art electronics and an in-house designed paddleshift transmission system. “Crawford Composites is absolutely delighted to have one of our long-standing partners, Honda Performance Development, providing the engines for the new Crawford FL15,” said Max Crawford, president of Crawford Composites. “HPD produces some of the top engines in motorsports, and their long-standing commitment to auto racing has been tremendous. Together, the Crawford FL15 will be exceptionally affordable and, at the same time, a high tech vehicle enabling young drivers to continue to elevate their racing skills in the new Formula Lites series.” Series organizer High Performance Group is headed by racing veteran Dennis McCormack. More information on the Formula Lites Series and the Crawford FL15 can be found at www.formulalites.com
PADDOCK MIX FIA World Rallycross Championship BAKKERUD WINS WORLD RX AT LYDDEN HILL DRIVER POINTS AFTER ROUND 2
1. Andreas Bakkerud 2. Petter Solberg 3. Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinen 4. Reinis Nitiss 5. Anton Marklund 6. Robin Larsson 7. Timmy Hansen 8. Timur Timerzyanov 9. Koen Pauwels 10. Andrew Jordan
points 49 46 44 43 26 25 20 19 17 17
TEAM POINTS AFTER ROUND 2 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Ford Olsbergs MSE driver Andreas Bakkerud won the AUTOSPORT World RX of Great Britain, round two of the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy, after a near perfect run at Lydden Hill race circuit on 25 May. Robin Larsson claimed the runner’s-up spot in his Audi A1 Supercar, with Britain’s Andrew Jordan ending the event third in front of a delighted home crowd. A record number of cars descended on the Kentbased circuit over the last May weekend including 37 flame-spitting Supercars, and a full class of TouringCar and Super1600 cars plus the supporting RX Lites Cup. Wildcard entrants Tanner Foust – a two-time Formula Drift Champion – and reigning British Touring Car Champion Andrew Jordan were also part of the stellar line-up, with both drivers reaching the Supercar final alongside Bakkerud, Larsson, Petter Solberg and Topi Heikkinen.
Ford Olsbergs MSE points 92 Volkswagen Marklund 70 PSRX 55 Team Peugeot-Hansen 39 Albatec Racing 14 Monster Energy World RX Team 0
After two heat victories and the final race win, Russia’s Sergej Zagumennov took his second Super1600 victory in a row and now leads the Super1600 category by nine points. Second place was awarded to Ulrik Linnemann, with Kasparas Navickas taking the third step of the podium. In the TouringCar category, Daniel Lundh clinched the victory in a Volvo C30. Anders Braten – who worked with Petter Solberg in his workshop in Torsby over the winter – took second, with Tom Daniel Tanevik third. Mitchell DeJong made a sensational debut in round two of the RX Lites Cup, a support category of World RX. The 16-year-old American won two of the heats, and had a dominant final race to finish his first race on European soil top of the class. Round three of the Championship, World RX of Norway, will take place at Hell from 14-15 June.
+30% TV AUDIENCE FOR WTCC ROUNDS The FIA World Touring Car Championship 2014 is off to a record-breaking start in terms of TV audience on WTCC home fan channel Eurosport. Figures for the first four rounds of the season released today by Eurosport show increases of average audience for live races on Eurosport channels over 30% with respect to last year’s opening rounds, for an average reach of 9 million viewers per round. The average live audience of the races has also grown significantly: +20 % for Marrakech, +23% for Paul Ricard (compared to Monza last year) and +49% for Hungaroring. Even the Slovakia Ring round, despite being amputated of Race 2, which had to be cancelled because of weather conditions, saw an increase of 24% in reach and only a marginal drop (-8%) in live following, which was obviously limited to Race 1. Commenting the Eurosport audience report, Eurosport Events COO Francois Ribeiro said: “We are extremely pleased with these figures. On a pan-European basis over 59 countries,
Eurosport channel is a trustworthy barometer of WTCC popularity year on year. The WTCC fan community is just growing: introduction of new TC1 cars and new entrants improved the show and raised more media attention. We did not lose our DNA: real cars, real racing, bumper to bumper, sprint races. Cars just look greater, faster, more muscled. We feel encouraged to continue offering a better show to viewers. Spectators’ attendance and digital traffic are also up 30%. We will carry-on promoting WTCC aggressively to keep momentum up to Macau”. “Eurosport Events managed to organize free to air domestic coverage across 80% of WTCC events in 2014”, Ribeiro added, “We have good reasons to believe that overall TV distribution will also go over 557 million viewers measured last year by Repucom.”
Caterham Cars celebrates race series in Taiwan
Caterham’s global dealer network has expanded once more after the launch of a brand new Caterham Cars showroom (OMA Caterham)Taichung, Taiwan, on 17th May. The British sportscar manufacturer also launched a 22-car one-make race series for the market to complement its new retail sales hub. The Taiwanese dealership purchased 22 Caterham Superlight R300s to race in two one-make race series; the Taiwan Speed Festival (TSF) and
the Options Cup (OTGP). The race series format will mirror that of the UK championship. OMA Caterham also runs a Caterham SP/300.R racer in Class A of the national OTGP Option Cup GT Challenge where it currently holds third place in the championship. Graham Macdonald, Caterham Group CEO, commented “It’s a pleasure to be here in Taiwan opening this fantastic showroom. It’s clear that OMA are passionate about Caterham and understand its pure sportscar heritage. Customers will experience something truly unique putting the Seven through its paces on the Penbay International Circuit – it’s the best way to showcase the car’s legendary handling.” RGM
ENDURANCE
LE MANS… OF COURSE!
Twenty-four hours of tense, highly competitive driving flat-out. That’s the challenge of Le Mans, which is why it’s universally regarded as one of the world’s toughest motor races. Rain or shine, day or night, there’s no let-up for the drivers; they drive every single lap on the limit. First held in 1923, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the greatest
56 cars, representing 13 countries, have been invited by event organizers and founders of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest to contest the 2014 edition, taking place on 14-15 June.
of all motor sport endurance races, has always been won by the team demonstrating the finest combination of endurance, reliability and speed in their vehicle, together with personal passion, determination and stamina. Legendary in its own right, the race has made icons of cars and drivers.
LE MANS… OF COURSE
Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1
“The fascination exerted by the 24 Heures du Mans is greater than ever before. It’s the guarantee of an event in which this year, more than ever before, technological innovations, respect for sustainable development, top level sport and immense popularity combine,” explains Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO. This classic of its sport has made legends of drivers, marques and even landmarks on the 13.629km combination of racetrack and public road that forms the Circuit de la Sarthe. “I love racing at Le Mans,” says record nine-time winner Tom Kristensen. “It’s the jewel in the crown of any racing season; it’s where the most energy goes. Wherever I go in the world, people know about the 24 Hours of Le Mans; I can always start a conversation about it.” One of the key features of this year’s 82nd edition of the race sees new regulations governing fuel efficiency. Reducing carbon footprint is a fundamental part of the organisers’ pursuit of sustainable development. At the 2014 race, LM P1 teams will have to drive according to a fuel consumption limit per lap, a measure embraced by those taking part even
LE MANS… OF COURSE
PIT STOP
Member of the Executive Board, Research and Development, at Porsche AG Wolfgang Hatz: “Porsche is part of Le Mans, and Le Mans is part of Porsche. They fit together. Nevertheless, no one makes these kind of investments due to nostalgia; they have to pay off in the future. As far as I can remember, there was never a regulation that gave the engineers so much freedom and required so much innovation. The obligation towards producing a hybrid and the efficiency formula represent revolutionary challenges. I am proud that our engineers ventured the furthest of any. Ultimately, Porsche customers will benefit from this.”
© Rolex/ Stephan Cooper
LE MANS… OF COURSE
PIT STOP The 24 Heures du Mans is contested on the 13.629 km Circuit de la Sarthe, located in western France. With its combination of road and racetrack, it is one of the fastest motor circuits in the world, with prototype cars reaching close to 340 kilometres (211 miles) per hour on the fastest sections. While the race is about endurance, speed remains a key component. In the 1970s, top speeds reached an extraordinary 396 km per hour (246 mph). The delicate balance between the organizer’s adjustments and ever-evolving car technology is highlighted by progress in lap times. The fastest in-race lap of 3:19.074 (average speed of 246.463 km/h), set in 2010 on the current circuit configuration and distance all but matches the absolute in-race lap record of 3:18.400 (244.387 km/h) recorded in 1971, over a slightly shorter course that still incorporated an uninterrupted 5.8km (3.7 mile) long straight: the Ligne Droite des Hunaudières, also known as the Mulsanne Straight.
Toyota TS040 LMP1
if it adds an extra layer of complexity for engineers and drivers alike. The line-up of manufacturers and drivers is impressive. Defending champions Audi will have three R18 e-tron quattros on the start line and face stiff competition from 2013 rivals Toyota (whose two car driver line-up includes two-time race winner Alexander Wurz and Anthony Davidson) and from Porsche (featuring Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard and former Formula 1 star Mark Webber in its two car team), returning to LM P1 after a 14year hiatus. Despite Audi’s recent domination of the race, Porsche still holds the record number of overall wins for any manufacturer:16. Kristensen will line up for Audi with Brazilian Lucas di Grassi and Frenchman Loïc Duval (holder of the fastest 24 Heures du Mans lap, recorded in 2010). The Audi team roster also includes two-time 24 Heures du Mans champion Marcel Fässler of Switzerland. As is tradition, the event’s amateur drivers comprise an eclectic list of characters who have carved their mark in other walks of life but whose passion for mo-
LE MANS… OF COURSE © Rolex/ Jad Sherif
PIT STOP Based in Le Mans, France, and founded in 1906, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) has been a fundamental part of the motor sports landscape for more than a century. Its primary functions are the organization of races and the active promotion and implementation of road safety measures. The ACO is also engaged in developing technical regulations governing the quantity of energy available to each car, a cornerstone of its sustainable development philosophy. In its founding year, the club launched the very first automobile Grand Prix, and, in 1923, it created the 24 Heures du Mans.
PIT STOP Lucas di Grassi, AUDI driver: “As drivers, we’ve got to use a different driving style. We’ve got to drive fast as well as in an energyefficient way. We spent a lot of time on improving our driving technique and to adapt it to the requirements imposed by the regulations. As a team, we found very efficient solutions. Plus: it makes sense to be energy-efficient. Our car consumes 30 percent less while achieving a similar lap time. That’s positive for the sport and makes additional demands on our driving skills”.
LE MANS… OF COURSE
Audi R18 e-tron Quattro LMP1
tor sport is undiminished. American television star Patrick Dempsey again competes in the LM GTE Amateur class where he will share the start grid with one of France’s most famous footballers. Fabien Barthez was goalkeeper when Les Bleus won the FIFA World Cup in 1998. With the 2014 World Cup in Brazil commencing shortly before the 2014 24 Heures du Mans, it represents poignant sporting symmetry. RGM
PIT STOP After the racing festival in the French Sarthe department the World Endurance Championship is taking a three-month summer break, and then it will leave Europe for the rest of the season. The programme includes five more six-hour races: USA (Austin, 20 September), Japan (Fuji, 12 October), China (Shanghai, 2 November), Bahrain (Sakhir, 15 November) and Brazil (Sao Paulo, 30 November).
ENDURANCE
MILESTONES FOR THE 24 HEURES DU MANS Le Mans 2010
1906: Creation of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest in Le Mans. Designed to serve the needs of all public motorists, the Club organizes the inaugural French Grand Prix. 1923: First edition of the 24 Heures du Mans is held on 26-27 May. A total of 33 cars start and only three abandon the race. Frenchmen André Lagache and René Léonard win the race, completing 128 laps and over 2,209 km at an average speed of 92.06 km/h. The 1956 and 1968 editions are the only others to not take place in June.
1930: Bentley wins for the fifth time, and the “Bentley Boys” become part of the legend. Woolf Barnato from Great Britain is the first driver to win the race three times, while French nationals Marguerite Mareuse and Odette Siko go down in history as the first women to compete, finishing 7th overall. 1940-1948: Races are cancelled during World War II. 1949: The post-war return of 24-hour racing witnesses the first Ferrari victory.
1955: An accident in the early hours of the race, between Frenchman Pierre Levegh and British driver Lance Macklin, sends debris into the grandstands and results in one of motor sport’s worst tragedies. About 80 spectators lose their lives and hundreds are injured. The incident marks a major turning point in race safety across the sport. 1966: Ferrari had won the 24 Heures du Mans nine times since 1949 and had been undefeated from 1960 to 1965. Ford puts an end to the domination, with two cars crossing the finish line almost simultaneously. The rules stipulate that only one car can win, and #2 is declared the winner. Having begun the race in 4th place on the grid, it is deemed to have driven 20 metres further than #1, which started in 2nd place. This finish remains the closest in the event’s history. 1967: For the very first time the 24 Heures du Mans welcomes over 300,000 spectators to watch Ford and Ferrari battle it out at the Circuit de la Sarthe. For the first time the overall race distance covers more than 5,000 km and is marked by what remains the only all-American Le Mans victory, won in an American-built car (Ford Mark IV), prepared by an American team (Shelby-American Inc.) and driven by American drivers Dan Gurney and A. J. Foyt. 1970: This edition is marked by the first victory for Porsche with drivers Hans Herrmann
Hans Herrmann
from Germany and Richard Attwood from Great Britain, and the making of the iconic film Le Mans, starring Steve McQueen. Porsche would go on to win the race a further 15 times over the next 28 years. Hans Herrmann: “I lost to Jacky Ickx in 1969 after we’d spent the last hour and a half overtaking each other several times each lap. In 1970, Ferdinand Piëch ensured that we had a good chance to go for the win with a more powerful engine. Being able to win just a year after losing by a hair’s breadth was, of course, very special. It was also the first overall victory for Porsche – and it was my last race. I announced my retirement from racing after that. I had promised my wife. She had started to press me a year or two before, because of the many friends we had lost. And I knew it myself: there was no reason I should have all the luck, and at some point my luck might run out. It was very moving that all of these factors came together in 1970. I don’t remember if I shed any tears or not. But I certainly could have – I’m pretty emotional.”
LE MANS… OF COURSE
Richard Attwood
Richard Attwood: “We won under odd circumstances. In February, Helmuth Bott, who was then board member for development, asked me what car I wanted for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I told him three things: First, I wanted the 4.5-litre 12-cylinder instead of the 5-litre engine, which I thought was less reliable. Second, I wanted the ‘Kurzheck’ (short-tail) version of the 917 because the long-tail version was so fidgety. Third, I wanted Hans Herrmann as my partner, because he knew how you have to pace yourself with the material to get through the long race. I got everything. And then we qualified in 15th. At that moment I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life. We wouldn’t stand a chance against the 5-litre engines. We weren’t competitive and could only hope that the cars in front of us would have problems. And that’s exactly what happened.” 1971: Organizers abandon the Le Mansstyle start, where drivers run to their cars at the drop of the green flag, in favour of a safer flying start. Gijs van Lennep: “My first overall victory was, of course, unforgettable.
Gijs van Lennep
Helmut Marko and I were driving a Porsche 917 Kurzheck. We found out only later that it had a superlight magnesium tubular frame. They didn’t want to make us nervous. Le Mans is special and exhilarating. To win there is beyond comparison. But more than the victory, another image from 1971 has burned its way into my memory. Even now, I frequently see the image before me. It was night and I was driving down the Mulsanne straight at over 350 km/h. And then I saw a fire. Fuel was running over the track. A burning car from one of the smaller classes had – luckily for me – already come to a stop at the edge of the track, and fortunately at the moment I wasn’t battling it out with someone or lapping another car. I saw the yellow flags and drove past the accident at walking speed.” 1977: Jacky Ickx: “After three hours we thought we’d lost the race. My Porsche 936 was out, and I joined up with Jürgen Barth and Hurley Haywood. But they were having trouble as well. We were in 42nd place. I still can’t get my head around what happened next. It was this euphoric state. I drove the whole
time, winning the race by a margin of one lap in a Joest Porsche TWR WSC-95. 1998: The 16th victory by a Porsche. The marque remains the most successful manufacturer in the history of the 24 Heures du Mans. 1999: French driver Henri Pescarolo, a four-time winner (1972-73-74-84), retires after a record 33 starts. Jacky Ickx
night through at top speed, always at the limit. In rain and fog. I just got faster and faster. 42nd, 35th, 28th, 20th, ninth, sixth, fifth. Everyone felt that we could achieve the unimaginable. Jürgen and Hurley drove faster than ever, and the mechanics did an incredible job. I didn’t feel tired at all. Then we took the lead. On Sunday morning I was totally spent. In the end, Jürgen hauled the 936 across the line with only five cylinders. I wouldn’t have been able to. There are a lot of great stories about a lot of races. But 1977 stands out. That was a oncein-a-lifetime thing. Races like that have made Porsche a legend.” 1982: Jacky Ickx wins the race for the 6th time, an all-time record until Danish driver Tom Kristensen secures his own seventh win in 2005. 1988: Roger Dorchy, driving the WM Secateva P88, establishes a speed record of 405 km/h on the Mulsanne Straight. In 1990, two chicanes are introduced on the 5.8-km section. 1997: Danish driver and Rolex Testimonee Tom Kristensen races at Le Mans for the first
2005: The Audi R8 wins at Le Mans for the fifth time, and driver Tom Kristensen becomes Le Mans’ most decorated driver with a seventh win. 2006: The first Le Mans victory for a diesel engine with the Audi R10 driven by German drivers Frank Biela and Marco Werner, and Italian Emanuele Pirro. 2008: The edition is marked by a record eighth victory for Tom Kristensen. 2010: The fastest lap time on the current 13.629 km track configuration is set by Loïc Duval (France) driving a Peugeot 908 HDi FAP: 3:19.074 at an average speed of 246.463 km/h. 2012: A hybrid car adds its name to the list of winners with the Audi R18 e-tron Quattro, with Swiss driver Marcel Fässler, German André Lotterer and Frenchman Benoît Tréluyer behind the wheel. 2013: On 90th anniversary of the first race, Tom Kristensen wins the 24 Heures du Mans for a record ninth time. RGM
ENDURANCE
Tom Kristensen is the most successful driver in the history of the 24 Heures du Mans. Here he describes the defining moments and anecdotes behind each triumph, from his debut victory in 1997 to an emotionally testing ninth success in 2013
THE MAKING OF A LE MANS LEGEND
1997 – Victory #1 – ‘The foundation’
2000 – Victory #2 – ‘My best ever decision in motorsport’
Team: Co-drivers:
Team: Co-drivers:
Joest Racing/ TWR Porsche WSC-95 Michele Alboreto & Stefan Johansson
Kristensen’s first 24 Heures du Mans finished victorious. A startling result considering that his appearance at the race had been confirmed less than one week ahead of the event. Before the 3pm Saturday start, he had completed a mere 17 laps of the circuit, barely knew the TWR Porsche WSC-95 or his fellow drivers. Ominously, in the days leading up to the race, he drove his hire car into a gravel trap while familiarizing himself with the track. Despite this lack of Le Mans experience, he took to the race immediately and unnervingly, breaking the course lap record and helping his one-car team win by an impressive 25-lap margin. A close duel with the works’ Porsche had characterized the first 20 hours of the race. Feeling at ease in his new surroundings and with his new teammates helped. “They never gave me any advice. They made it clear they respected me and gave me a lot of confidence, saying they had seen me do well in the Formula 3000 and during my career in Japan. To win in my first race and come out with a lap record has become the foundation for my time at Le Mans.”
Audi Sport Team Joest/ Audi R8 Frank Biela & Emanuele Pirro
Kristensen was to learn the harsher realities of Le Mans in 1998 and particularly in 1999, failing to finish the race on both occasions. Kristensen returned, refocused, for 2000. In late 1999, he had made a decision that would define his career. “I was invited to Dr Ullrich’s office and we immediately had a good feeling, good eye contact and the chemistry was straight away there. I felt at home from day one. Teamwork is a process that never stops. You always have to work at it and optimize things, but joining in with some people I knew from 1997, combined with Audi’s hunger to go into sports car racing, which for them was completely new, was my best ever decision in motor sport.” A choice immediately vindicated with victory in the 2000 race, marking the start of a period of domination for both the German manufacturer and the Danish driver.
THE MAKING OF A LE MANS LEGEND
2001 – Victory #3 – ‘Like sitting in a bath tub’ Team: Audi Sport Team Joest/ Audi R8 Co-drivers: Frank Biela & Emanuele Pirro The 2001 Le Mans was both emotionally charged and physically draining. Kristensen lost his good friend and 1997 teammate Michele Alboreto in an
accident seven weeks before Le Mans. The race itself was gruelling. Sixtime race winner Jacky Ickx commented he had never ever seen so much rain during a 24 Heures du Mans weekend. “Mentally it was incredibly hard due to visibility, aquaplaning and the rain, which was horrendous. In terms of drivability, it was the most difficult race I have ever done at Le Mans, until 2013. It was localized
rain, so you were never on the right tyres. The whole track was soaking. You had no friction coming out of the corners. In third or fourth gear, you were aquaplaning and then, if you went a little bit faster, you couldn’t see anything, sometimes a GT car was parked ahead. Following the safety car was like sitting in a bath tub – there was so much rain, it filled the monocoque!”
Victory was a true team affair. The critical decision to change a malfunctioning gearbox was made and then rapidly executed in a little over five minutes. It proved the difference between success and failure. “The whole team means a lot at Le Mans.”
THE MAKING OF A LE MANS LEGEND
2002 – Victory #4 – ‘Real man’s corners’
2003 – Victory #5 – ‘Sharing a very fast race car’
Team: Co-drivers:
Team: Co-drivers:
Audi Sport Team Joest/ Audi R8 Frank Biela & Emanuele Pirro
It was in the Porsche corner that the defining moment of the 2002 race occurred. Close to midnight, Kristensen suffered a front right tyre explosion. It risked compromising the entire race. Pieces of tyre went everywhere, shattering parts of the carbon fibre body. Travelling back to the pits on three wheels, he feared the worst. Once again, the pit crew worked their magic. The car was returned to the track in minutes and went on to win the race. “I view the right side of the car and close to one and a half metres was missing behind the front right wheel. I call for the engineer and asked: ‘How could you let us drive with that?’ He replied immediately: ‘It was not missing so much at midnight’.” Kristensen, together with co-drivers Biela and Pirro, made history, becoming the first driver line-up to ever win the 24 Heures du Mans three times in a row.
Team Bentley/ Bentley Speed 8 Rinaldo Capello & Guy Smith
The Audi factory team didn’t compete in the 2003 race and Kristensen joined the British contingent at Bentley. A new relationship was to start, the first of eight 24 Heures du Mans with Italian Rinaldo ‘Dindo’ Capello. “You need to have a very good working relationship with your fellow drivers. You are sharing a very fast race car and it’s a compromise from the pedals, from the steering to the seat, from the ergonomics to the set-up which has to keep in mind the circuit, the weather, the competition.” The 2003 Le Mans proved one of Kristensen’s more straightforward races. An impressive, almost mind-blowing, lap in pre-test set the scene. The car spent a mere 28 minutes in the pits during the race. “That year the car gelled with me. I was really motivated and on top of my game.”
2004 – Victory #6 – ‘Expect the unexpected. Be alert’ Team: Co-drivers:
Audi Sport Japan Team Goh/ Audi R8 Seiji Ara & Rinaldo Capello
With Audi Sport Japan a year later, the 2004 race was a battle against adversity. Kristensen found himself a lap down early in the race. “Dindo went off, we had some problems with the brakes within the first hour on the Dunlop chicane. What I take from
that year is that Le Mans is really a race where you never give up. With three hours gone, nobody was thinking it was finished. It is a long race, even when you know there’s just four hours to go, which is still two Formula 1® races, you know how much can happen there. You go in disciplined to never give up, wherever you are.” The team’s experience, combined with the rapid extinguishing of a pit lane fire, made the difference. The margin of victory was a mere 41 seconds. A fifth successive win ensued for Kristensen.
THE MAKING OF A LE MANS LEGEND
2005 – Victory #7 – ‘ The greatest respect’
2008 – Victory #8 – ‘Humans beat the machines’
Team: ADT Champion Racing / Audi R8 Co-drivers: JJ Lehto & Marco Werner
Team: Co-drivers:
The year 2005 was always going to be a unique, pressured year, providing Kristensen with a first opportunity to better his childhood hero Ickx’s long-standing record of six 24 Heures du Mans victories. Despite “Le Mans being the race which motivates me the most”, Kristensen insists he has never put extra pressure on himself over breaking records. “When I’m in the environment, I don’t think about records. Of course, I am aware of it from the outside, as the press ask me more about that. 2005 is the year that I remember Jacky Ickx calling me a few minutes before the end of the race and leaving a message on my answering machine which I heard only hours later, maybe a day later. He told me that he was sitting, opening a bottle of champagne and toasting me. He was one of my childhood heroes. To have him call me is the greatest respect I believe a driver can ever receive. I was in tears when I called him back.”
Audi Sport North America/ Audi R10 TDI Rinaldo Capello & Allan McNish
In 2008, a resurgent Peugeot started as favourite for the crown. “We were underdogs, we could not win, they could only lose. It was the feeling everyone had before the race, we didn’t want to accept that and we knew we had to push the maximum from the beginning to the end.” In the early dry conditions, the gap between Audi and Peugeot increasingly widened. The signs for Kristensen were not good. Then Mother Nature intervened. By nightfall and with the arrival of the rain, the playing field changed. Peugeot made mistakes; Audi constantly took calculated risks, especially in terms of tyres. “We could not have won this race under normal circumstances and I am sure Peugeot would accept that. That’s really when you think you are part of the best team in the world.” On crossing the line, Kristensen immediately radioed engineer Howden Haynes, thanking him for some inspired tyre choices. “That race, as a team, as mechanics, as drivers, as a whole group of people, and as Dindo remarked ‘we can say it was the year when the humans beat the machines’.”
2013 – Victory #9 – ‘Waterfall of emotions’ Team: Co-drivers:
Audi Sport Team Joest/ Audi r18 e-tron quattro Loïc Duval & Allan McNish
The years 2009 to 2012 marked Kristensen’s longest 24 Heures du Mans drought. While Audi continued to dominate, misfortune characterized the Dane’s performances. The 2013 race was to prove his most emotionally difficult. Having lost his mother in 2011 and his father earlier in 2013, “my biggest inspiration, critic, motivation ever since I was born at his gas station in Denmark”, the race itself was to reserve tragedy as well.
Kristensen’s fellow Dane, Allan Simonsen, a familiar and friendly face in the paddock, lost his life early in the race. Kristensen was warming up for his stint at the time. The shock was brutal, equalled only by the determination which followed “to focus and to do what I needed to do. It not only had to be won for my Dad, but it certainly had to be won for Allan. There was no way back.” Persistent, local rain dominated the race. Toyota were strong and adept at playing the mighty underdog. “On the podium, I had so many feelings. It was a waterfall of emotions from everywhere: sad, proud, relieved, thankful - there is a lot of things when you go into a race like that.” RGM Pictures © Rolex/ Jad Sherif
FORMULA 1
ENRICO’S NOTEBOOK www.enricozanarini.com
12 May 2014
Lewis or not Lewis And that is the REAL question. Is there any other topic worth mentioning after the devastating supremacy shown by Mercedes and its principal interpreter in yesterday’s Spanish GP? This championship is already marked as a private affair between Lewis and Nico and a solo triumphant march by the three pointed star. The alternative is to start to get excited to watch the race for third place in the Driver’s
or wonder who will finish second best in the Constructor’s. Have you ever discussed about place getters instead of winners? A little boring isn’t it? Well let’s get used to it, because this is what you will hear from now until the Abu Dhabi GP. On sunday I was invited to speak to a small audience in Barcelona, just before the start of the race. I enjoy that part of my job as I have a chance to speak in front of a live audience and to immediately drag hope and expectations out of them. I like to talk about F.1 as much I I love to write my blog. After my speech, my presentation and a short video, I did not see many happy faces when I predicted Hamilton to win over Rosberg. I went on and suggested that Ricciardo would come third, but got a little reaction. Finally, I started to give more hope to Ferrari than anybody else in the paddock would, by awarding Alonso of fourth place. Suddenly I started to get more interesting comments and captive questions. The audience came alive and wondering why Ferrari was so far back, asking more queries to me than Fernando did when he met Mattiacci for the first time. This is what people want, I said to myself, they want Ferrari to win. For this we stay with Shakespeare but will switch from Hamlet to….. A Midsummer Night’s Dream !!
RGM
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.
SPECIAL PROBABLY THE TWO MOST POPULAR RACES OF THE WORLD
Can you imagine something more different? On the same Sunday in May the Indianapolis 500 and the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Montecarlo celebrated their “ceremony”… to be both loved…
O L R A C E T N S V O M Y IND
CLOSE FIGTH
INDY vs MONTECARLO
CORNERS
ENJOY!
INDY vs MONTECARLO
FANS
FROM THE ROOF
INDY vs MONTECARLO
GRASS
GRAND STANDS
INDY vs MONTECARLO
NATURE
PARTY
INDY vs MONTECARLO
SKYLINE
INDY vs MONTECARLO
SPEED
WALL & RAIL
INDY vs MONTECARLO
WIDTH
WINNER
We thank for the pictures: Media Ferrari, Media Force India F1, Honda Racing HP, Indycar, Lotus F1 Team Latphoto, McLaren Mediacentre, Mercedes-Amg-F1, Media Sauber F1 Team, Red Bull Contentpool, Williams F1 Press
RGM
NASCAR WHELEN EURO SERIES
Coming from a family with a long racing tradition dating back to the 70’s, Jerome Galpin and his family-run Team FJ founded the championship now known as the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in 2009 and from then on, the growth rate of his creature has been unbelievable. It became an official NASCAR Series in 2012 and reached a long-term agreement with title sponsor Whelen Engineering in 2013, constantly expanding the grid and quickly becoming one of the most interesting championships in Europe. The level of the competition is also raising at an impressive rate, but the journey is just at the beginning, says to the President-CEO of the official NASCAR Series in Europe.
Jerome Galpin and his wife Anne, the real “engine” of the NWES.
AH
Interview with Jerome Galpin, the “engine” of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
HUGE POTENTIAL
Pictures: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard
A HUGE POTENTIAL A field growing every year more competitive “There has been a great evolution in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. It is about attraction and development: we are growing at a fast pace and therefore attracting more and more professional teams and drivers. Everything is going in the right direction and in my mind we are ahead of schedule, but there is still a lot to do. We are doing good, but com-
paring ourselves with our model, which is the American NASCAR, I think we haven’t even covered 25% of the way: the Series has definitely a huge potential.” Attracting drivers from all over the world “We have more and more requests coming from all over the world. This year there is a new team from Brazil and another one from the US, founded by Puerto Rican NASCAR
driver Victor Gonzalez Jr.. In the past we had drivers from India and Australia and various other countries. I think that the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is the right place to start in NASCAR for drivers with a ‘European’ motorsport culture – which widely affirmed in Asia, in the Middle East and in South America – because it is the perfect bridge between the NASCAR way of racing and the rest of the world”.
Playing a key role in the NASCAR ladder “ Our goal and our role is to prepare our drivers to race in NASCAR in the US, both young drivers wanting to start a career there and expert drivers willing to re-route their career in NASCAR. We also offer a very effective cost/benefits ratio, which is really attractive for teams and drivers. The global vision, as expressed by Steve O’Donnell – NASCAR’s Executive
A HUGE POTENTIAL
PIT STOP ing since The Galpin family is involved in rac 1991. The the 70’s and founded Team FJ in operanow company quickly expanded and ance car tes in various fields, from perform am FJ is dealing to events organization. “Te pany. My a racing oriented, family-run com y and we whole family works in the compan do. We’re are all passionate about what we , all of us: not businessmen, we are racers employemy parents, my sisters and all our ents and es. It started in the 70’s with my par all about I spent my whole life in racing. It’s ething in passion: our goal is to build som racing, the best Series in Europe.”
A HUGE POTENTIAL Vice President of Racing Operations – is the same adopted by the NBA: bring competitors from all over the world to compete against the best American protagonists. The NBA has a great championship in the US, but if you take a look at how many non-American players there were 15 years ago compared with today, there is a huge difference.”
Building NASCAR events in Europe “The keyword in our events is ‘fun’. Everything is designed to entertain fans coming to our races. We want them to meet our drivers and teams, to be close to the action and enjoy a lot of family fun on and around the track. The protagonists of our events are not isolated in the paddock, they interact with fans, everybody at the
track feels they share the same passion for this sport. Thanks to NASCAR we have the best model in the world to take inspiration from: we make this sport for the fans. A lot of people says this right now, but I think that only NASCAR really delivers it.� Relationship with NASCAR “NASCAR is a family and we are
part of the family. They support us and help us a lot at each and every level of the organization, either on the competition side, on the technical side, in marketing, communication or with the media. We have a great relationship with everybody in the NASCAR organization and they are all great people, very helpful in every aspect of the process. For
A HUGE POTENTIAL
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,
every question we have, there is somebody at NASCAR assisting us. We also constantly receive an amazing support from Whelen Engineering: they are very motivated and they’re not only our title sponsor but they’re fully involved in the championship and its growth. We feel blessed to have such great partners and we are proud of this long-term project aiming to establish the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series as a premium Series in Europe.” Oval racing in Europe “We made something really special in Tours, where we now have a true half-mile banked short-track in downtown, which is something completely unbelievable. Our weekend there on July 5-6 will be huge and we consider it the ‘Daytona 500’ of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Se-
ries. Of course, we will try to have more ovals in the calendar and there are two or three really good facilities in Europe that could welcome our series, but we are also open to discuss any opportunity to build another oval track like we did in Tours.” Future developments for the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series “We want to continue growing and we want an American-themed event in each European country. In the coming years we will probably try to add more events to the calendar but it’s very important for us to contain costs. We are right now the most cost-effective Series in Europe and we want to keep it that way. Each event will not cost more, but we’ll try to add more events.” RGM
DRAG
WHAT A
DART!
Coughlin scores his first 2014 win for the Dodge Dart at the NHRA Southern Nationals
2014 NHRA Points Standings (Following Atlanta NHRA Southern Nationals RACE FINAL) PRO STOCK (season wins in parentheses) 1. Erica Enders Stevens 2. Jason Line 3. Allen Johnson / Dodge Dart 4. Shane Gray 5. Jeg Coughlin Jr. / Dodge Dart 6. Vincent Nobile 7. Dave Connolly 8. V. Gaines / Dodge Dart 9. Chris McGaha 10. Jimmy Alund
624 (2) 514 (1) 509 (2) 468 457 448 406 372 344 282 (1)
FUNNY CAR (season wins in parentheses) 1. Robert Hight 730 (4) 2. John Force 524 (1) 3. Alexis DeJoria 472 (2) 4. Ron Capps – Dodge Charger R/T 430 5. Del Worsham 400 6. Tommy Johnson Jr. / Dodge Charger R/T 380 7t. Jack Beckman / Dodge Charger R/T 369 7t. Courtney Force 369 9. Matt Hagan / Dodge Charger R/T 368 10. Tim Wilkerson 329
After winning the 2013 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Pro Stock Championship, Jeg Coughlin Jr. was back in the winner’s circle for his first win of the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing series season aboard the Mopar/JEGS.com Dodge Dart at the rain delayed 34th annual Nationals near Atlan-
ta, Georgia, on Monday 19 May. The victory at Atlanta Dragway was the 57th of Coughlin’s illustrious Pro Stock career and the second for the Dodge Dart, which made its debut earlier this season at Gainesville with a win by Johnson & Johnson HEMI®-powered teammate Allen Johnson.
WHAT A DART! “Congratulations to Jeg Coughlin Jr. on taking Mopar to the winner’s circle in Atlanta for his first win of the year and a second win for the new Dodge Dart.” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar. “After earning consecutive NHRA Pro Stock world titles in 2012 and 2013, our Mopar championship drivers Allen Johnson and Jeg Coughlin Jr. have set expectations even higher for this new season. We’re excited for this win as it also helps celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary 426 race HEMI engine while we work to defend our championships this year amid some very tough competition.” Coughlin earned the win by defeating rival Greg Anderson following stellar 0.010 and 0.002-second reaction times by both competitors. The HEMI engine powered the five-time champion to a 6.558-se-
cond elapsed time run (211.63 mph) to edge his opponent’s 6.588-second e.t (212.13 mph) for half a car-length advantage at the finish line. “Winning the championship was fantastic, and we really felt like we had a ton of momentum coming into 2014,” Coughlin said. “We’ve been hit and miss a little this year with both cars, and both cars were a little sluggish here at the start. Our teams did one heck of a job to rebound this weekend. We made some good calls, and it was great to get our first win of the season. This year we’ve been through some pitfalls and we wanted to pull our hair out, but as a team we said we need to be patient, we need to double-check each other, and we need to do as good a job as we can getting this car to go straight and be as efficient as it can, and results like today would have the opportunity to happen.” The national event was plagued by intermittent weather delays, included an eight hour wait on Sunday, and despite efforts to overcome difficult track conditions caused by the rain, led to the eventual postponement of activities to the following day. The challenges amplified by the everchanging track conditions became the canvas for some difficult and sometimes dramatic attempts throughout the weekend to make it
down the track unscathed by Mopar drivers in both Pro Stock and Funny Car categories. Coughlin’s drive to the winner’s circle was the one redeeming moment of the extended weekend for Mopar after some atypical qualifying passes by both the Mopar/JEGS.com and “Magneti Marelli” Dodge Dart entries put them eighth and ninth respectively on the eliminations ladder. That put the teammates in the unfortunate position of not only facing each other in the opening round, but also being the first pair to put the rain battered track to the test. “We put ourselves in that position by qualifying badly,” said Johnson whose disappointment with his loss and the difficulties both drivers encountered throughout the weekend was tempered upon seeing improvement with Coughlin’s Dodge Dart in the quarterfinals upset of No.1 qualifier Erica Enders-Stevens. “The conditions leading up to eliminations were just not very compatible with our new motor combination, but the track finally to us and we kept thrashing at it after each run,” Johnson said. “We have a veteran team that just keeps digging no matter what. I kept telling Jeg ‘We’ll get it. We’ll get it.’ and we did and it worked out and we have something to start with next weekend in Topeka.” The difficult track conditions
PIT STOP Mopar’s commitment to professional motorsports competition was established in the 1950s when a partnership ignited with drag racing pioneer Don Garlits, resulting in the breaking of numerous speed and performance barriers in HEMI®-powered vehicles over the next several decades. In 2014, Mopar celebrates the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the GEN III 426 Race HEMI® and looks to defend backto-back NHRA World Championship titles (2012-2013) in the Pro Stock class and battle for another Funny Car World Championship after wins in 2011-2012. While Mopar remains involved in a various professional motorsports series, it continues to honor its roots by being a proud supporter of amateur racing within the NHRA with its sponsorship of the HEMI Challenge and Mopar Sportsman Cup.
WHAT A DART!
claimed V. Gaines and his HEMIpowered Dodge Dart as victims with loss of traction in the first round battle against Rodger Brogden. In Funny Car, the Don Schumacher Racing Dodge Charger R/T entries of Matt Hagan and Ron Capps had some positives to tout. Hagan had his best starting position of the year by qualifying his Mopar Express Lane Dodge fourth, earned four valuable bonus points
for his efforts, and advanced to the semifinal round where he then fell to Courtney Force. “I feel like our car is turning the corner and it couldn’t have happened at a better time as we’re going into back to back to back races.” said an optimistic Hagan. “We soaked up some points this weekend and built a lot of confidence along the way so I’m looking forward to Topeka.”
Mopar teammate Capps advanced to his fourth semifinal elimination round of the year and was able to move up a spot to fourth in the Funny Car points standings. But the DSR team also saw their fair share of adversity this weekend. Jack Beckman recovered from a final qualifying run that saw an engine explosion destroy the body of his Dodge Charger R/T and seeded
him 10th to set him up for a first round loss against Capps. Tommy Johnson Jr. also had a strong backfire cause minor damage to his Mopar in the first round then, in a quarterfinal match-up with Hagan, he emerged unhurt but shaken by a dramatic explosion that blew the Funny Car body off the chassis and into the air like confetti. RGM
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