CARS & RACE GLOBALMAG November

November 2015

37

digital monthly magazine

The Origami Lexus all new cars from Tokyo and Las Vegas

CONTENTS

37

November 2015

13 4 36 4

13

FRONT PAGE The Origami Car

AUTONEWS Tokyo / Las Vegas November

VIDEO

36

MISS OF THE MONTH

46

FOCUS

McLaren 650S Can Am

Mini Clubman

digital monthly magazine

46 62

68

72 62

GLOBAL NEWS

72

CLASSIC

A fortresss on wheels A race like no other

Tradition and innovation

CGM

FRONT PAGE

Lexus UK unveils full-size origami inspired car

THE ORIGAMI Life-size replica of the Lexus IS, crafted from 1,700 fully recyclable laser-cut cardboard sheets has been created as a celebration of the skills of Lexus’s takumi craftsmen and women, capturing the spirit of Creating Amazing in design and engineering.

Build by a five-strong team of professional designers and modellers from UK specialist companies LaserCut Works and Scales and Models and supported by DS Smith (cardboard manufacturers) this unique IS model is powered by an electric motor‌ the Origami Car can be driven!!!

The Origami Car

The Origami Car

There

has never been a Lexus like it: sheet metal, glass and plastics have been set aside for the creation of a one-off life-size model crafted in precision-cut cardboard. The Lexus Origami Car is a faithful replica of the new IS saloon, produced as a celebration of the human craftsmanship skills that go into every car Lexus makes.

The skilled men and women – known as takumi – who work on the Lexus production lines, hone their dexterity skills by learning how to fold paper into an origami model cat, using only their non-dominant hand. The Origami Car takes the spirit of this talent to a far higher level, while also embracing the spirit of Lexus’s Creating Amazing global brand campaign.

The Origami Car has a fully fitted interior, functioning doors, headlights and rolling wheels. Thanks to an electric motor mounted on its steel and aluminium frame, it can even be driven.

In terms of size and complexity, the project was an unprecedented undertaking for LaserCut Works and Scales and Models, UK-based specialist companies with extensive experience in the design and creation of prototypes, architectural models and bespoke commissions.

Ruben Marcos, Scales and Models Company founder and director explained: “This was a very demanding job, with five people involved in the digital design, modelling, laser cutting and assembly. Just like Lexus, we were committed to producing the best possible quality.”

The creative process presented the team with a series of tough challenges: “The seats took a few attempts to get just right and the wheels required a lot of refining. Once we could see the physical pieces taking shape, we could identify where we needed to make improvements – as with anything, there were some elements of trial and error, but as we had all the resources we needed in-house, this made the changes easier to produce.”

Lexus provided the team with a digital 3D model of the IS, which was then divided into a series of principal parts, such as the main body, dashboard, seats and wheels. These were then digitally rendered in 10mm “slices” to provide the two-dimensional profiles needed for the laser cutting of each of the 1,700 sheets of 10mm-thick of cardboard – supplied by packaging experts DS Smith. Each layer was given its own reference number to help ensure it was assembled in the right sequence and the entire assembly was done by hand. A water-based/wood glue was used, which had to be left to set for 10 minutes after each application. Accuracy was vital, as changes couldn’t be made once the glue had dried. In all, the Origami Car took three months to build.

“In effect we created our own vehicle production line,” said Ruben. “There was a lot of repetition in the process and we had to work with military precision, just like the teams that make the real Lexus cars.”

This unique vehicle has been revealed to the public as a star attraction at the Grand Designs Live Show at the NEC in Birmingham, from 8 October.

The Origami Car

CGM

PIC OF THE MONTH

In cooperation with the renowned glassworks Preciosa, Skoda has reinterpreted the details of the Superb

r e b m e v o N AUTONEWS

Autonews

Mazda RX-Vision

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azda unveiled the rotary-powered Mazda RX-VISION sports car concept.

RX-VISION represents a vision of the future for Mazda. A front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car with KODO design-based proportions and powered by the next-generation SKYACTIV-R rotary engine. While mass production is currently on hold, Mazda has never stopped research and development efforts towards the rotary engine. The next rotary engine has been named SKYACTIV-R.

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Lexus LF-FC

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aking center stage in the Lexus booth at the Tokyo Motor Show 2015, Lexus revealed the LF-FC flagship concept. The LFFC features a new styling theme that embodies Lexus’ “L-finesse” design philosophy. The rear is highlighted by striking new taillights that adopt the same floating theme as the DRL. Highlighting the new technology inside the LF-FC is an advanced human machine interface that can be operated by simple hand gestures, without the need to touch a panel or controls. At the heart of the LF-FC is a high output fuel cell power system that energizes the rear wheels, and also sends power to two in-wheel motors in the front, making the LF-FC all-wheel-drive.

BMW M4 GTS

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mw presented the world premiere of the BMW M4 GTS. The special edition is limited to a production run of 700 units and celebrates the 30th anniversary of the BMW M3, which has been in production since 1986. The BMW M4 GTS highlights the innovative talents of the BMW M engineers with trailblazing technologies such as water injection – which increases output significantly to 368 kW/500 hp (fuel consumption: 8.3 l/100 km [34 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions: 194 g/km) – and intelligent lightweight design, which delivers weight-topower ratio of 3.0 kg/hp. Rear lights with OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology make their series-production debut in this sharpest of all BMW M4 variants.

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Nissan

Teatro for Dayz / IDS Concept

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issan Motor exhibited a surprising concept called Teatro for Dayz at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. Teatro for Dayz’s concept is “a clean canvas.” It’s about being able to freely create and share experiences. The interior can be visually altered according to one’s mood, for playing games and surprise friends. Nissan adopted voice control and motion sensors for the air conditioning and audio systems. In drive mode, meters and car navigation data are displayed on the instrument panel. When parked, it all disappears.

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he Nissan IDS Concept integrates advanced vehicle control and safety technologies with cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI). In Manual Drive mode, the driver has control. The linear acceleration and cornering are pure. Yet behind the scenes, the Nissan IDS Concept continues to provide assistance. Sensors continually monitor conditions and assistance is available even while the driver is in control. In the event of imminent danger, Nissan IDS Concept will assist the driver in taking evasive action. Together, we ride is clearly demonstrated in the interior design. “The Nissan IDS Concept has different interiors depending on whether the driver opts for Piloted Drive or Manual Drive. This was something that we thought was absolutely necessary to express our idea of autonomous drive,” says Morita.

Even though it is a hatchback, the Nissan IDS Concept’s long wheelbase enables comfortable seating space for four adults. But the cabin becomes even more spacious when the driver selects Piloted Drive. In this mode, the steering wheel recedes into the center of the instrument panel and a large flat screen comes out. When the driver selects Manual Drive, the roomy interior transforms to put the driver in control.

Yamaha Sports Ride Concept

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his design concept mode takes a uniquely Yamaha approach by putting the involved and active feeling of riding a motorcycle into a vehicle with quintessential sports car

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

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he Clarity Fuel Cell is the world’s first production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle sedan to house the fuel cell stack and drivetrain system under the bonnet. The size of the fuel cell stack and power generation system is reduced by 33 per cent compared to Honda’s previous hydrogen FCV, the FCX Clarity. The fuel cell stack is not only more compact, it also produces a higher output with a maximum fuel cell output of over 100 kW and

proportions. It employs the iStream lightweight process and is designed to express a drivermachine relationship close in feeling to the world of motorcycle riding. a fuel cell stack power density of 3.1 kW/L. Leveraging the high output of the fuel cell stack and the power assist of the lithium-ion battery, the electric motor provides 130kW (177 PS) of output, enabling powerful acceleration and a feeling of smooth acceleration from standstill to maximum speed. Honda has achieved fuel cell vehicle range per full tank of over 700 km (435 miles) all with a short refuelling time of around 3 minutes, providing similar day-today convenience to that of a traditional petrol or diesel powered vehicle. The Clarity Fuel Cell will be commercially available in Japan from early 2016.

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Subaru

VIZIV Future & Impreza 5-Door Concepts

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ubaru unveil two new concept cars at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015. Subaru VIZIV Future Concept is a SUV-type concept model embodying the future vision of car development for that Subaru wants to provide to customers. Along with a package of design features this car gives a look at next-generation technologies.

The Impreza 5-Door Concept is a 5-door style concept model. It takes its inspiration from the design of the next-generation Impreza envisaged in FHI’s Mid-Term Management Vision “Prominence 2020,” as the first Subaru newgeneration model.

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Subaru Forester & WRX STI

ubaru announced an upgraded edition of the Subaru Forester in Japan. The exterior features a redesigned front face, the interior design befits the superior functionality of a true SUV and enhances the feeling of quality. The steering response has been made more linear by modifying the steering-gear ratio, giving the driver a greater feeling of direct control over vehicle movement.

Taking the WRX STI as its base, WRX STI features exclusive engine and suspension tuning as well as distinctive interior and exterior design. Special engine tuning boosts maximum power output to 328 PS. Handling is enhanced by a quick steering-gear ratio of 11:1, the addition of original STI components including a flexible tower bar, DampMatic II front suspension with adjustable damping and front-rear Active Torque Vectoring. The S207 is available in three body colors: WR Blue Pearl, Crystal White Pearl, and Crystal Black Silica. Additionally, a 100-unit limited run of the “NBR Challenge Package Yellow Edition� in vivid Sunrise Yellow will be on offer as a special model. Sales are limited to 400 units.

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Las Vegas 2015

Chevrolet

Silverado 3500HD / COPO Camaro

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nspired by his hit song “Born Free,” musician Kid Rock collaborated with Chevrolet to design a customized 2016 Silverado 3500HD “dually” that celebrates freedom and honors American workers.

Kid Rock’s Silverado features several enhancements, including a custom chrome grille with the Born Free logo and an enlarged Chevy Bowtie emblem, chrome

exhaust stacks and patriotic graphics that flow across the body sides. Additional exterior features include black metallic-flecked paint, 22-inch custom chrome wheels, tinted windows, chrome assist steps and a spray-in bedliner. The Silverado 3500HD, which is powered by the proven Duramax 6.6L turbo-diesel engine and Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission.

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ith assistance from NHRA Camaro Funny Car driver Courtney Force, Chevrolet introduced the Gen Six COPO Camaro. Chevrolet will build 69 COPO Camaro race cars for 2016.

Like the previous editions, the new COPO Camaro is designed for NHRA’s Stock and Super Stock Eliminator classes.

The show car features a Red Hot exterior color with Courtney Force-signature graphics and red-accented grille trim.

Under its carbon fiber high-rise hood is a concept 350 racing engine with a Whipple 2.9L supercharger. The car’s exterior

cues also include wheelie bars and a parachute, along with Goodyear racing tires mounted on Weld lightweight racing wheels. When it comes to horsepower, racers can select from a variety of supercharged and naturally aspirated LS- and LT-family engines based on their intended NHRA Stock and Super Stock classes, including a supercharged 350 (5.7L), a naturally aspirated 427 (7.0L) engine and an all-new LT-based 376 (6.2L) engine. The engines are backed by a racing-prepped Turbo 400 three-speed automatic transmission.

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Mopar

Chrysler

300 Super S

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he bold persona of the customized Chrysler 300 Super S begins with a concept, aggressive front fascia.

More than 300 unique “Easter eggs” are hidden on the Matte Black grille, where miniature Mopar “M” letters, painted Dark Hyper Black low gloss, dot the entire grille.

The lowered body is planted on concept Mopar 22-inch wheels at the front and rear.

Beneath the 300 Super S hood the 5.7-liter HEMI engine is beefed up with Mopar Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 Upgrade Kits.

Mopar

Dodge Challenger GT AWD Concept & Charger GLH Concept

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t’s V-8 muscle with all-wheel drive. It is a one-of-a-kind, year-round muscle car bulging out with Mopar’s concept wide body kit and its massive wheel flares housing concept Mopar five-spoke wheels: 20-inch x 10-inch on the front and 20-inch x 11-inch on the rear. The vehicle’s 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine uses an AWD package to power all four wheels, paired with an eight-speed transmission. The 5.7-liter engine is upgraded with the Scat Pack 3 Per-

formance Kit, which delivers a boost of up to 75 more horsepower and an additional 44 lb.-ft. of torque.

For the Dodge Charger Deep Stage 3, Mopar injected up to 75 additional horsepower with the Mopar Scat Pack 3 Kit and then for good measure bolted on a selection of production and concept Mopar products to create a completely original, performance-driven version of the world’s only four-door muscle car.

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Mopar

Fiat

500X Chicane

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he Fiat 500X Chicane is a streettuner vehicle with a concept Mopar fascia, body cladding and concept oversized 20-inch two-tone Satin Black and Gloss Black wheels. The pop of the gloss Competition Blue exterior is accented with a concept Chicane bodyside stripe and concept Gloss Black paint on the roof. Mopar pulls from its more than 100 genuine accessories designed especially for the Fiat 500X to customize the Chicane’s cockpit. It is powered by a 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai Adventuremobile

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ubbed the “Adventuremobile,” the vehicle blends Hyundai’s new crossover platform with a passion for the great outdoors, perfect for the weekend getaway. The “Adventuremobile” obvious addition is a Treeline Tamarack roof-top tent, with ample room to sleep two campers, and Goal Zero solar panels to power all of their accessories. The exterior has been beefed up with the addition of an Aries bull bar and side steps, Rigid Industries LED lights, and the vehicle has been finished in a BASF army green paint scheme by Strasse Sport.

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Kia

Forte Koup Mud Bogger

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ia returns to SEMA embracing the spirit of adventure found on the open road with six highly customized, hand-built concepts, each showcasing unique geographic regions found throughout the country. The Forte Koup Mud Bogger represents the adventurous American South. To further accommodate the massive wheel and tire combo, the fenders and side skirts were modified and custom riveted fender flares added. A panoramic roof with a vinyl pushback top gives way to the stripped-down interior where the carpet has been removed and the entire floor is lined with Line-X protective coating.

Mazda

MX-5 Spyder & Speedster

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azda revealed two lightweight design concepts at the SEMA Show, based on its 2016 MX-5 Miata: the MX-5 Spyder and MX-5 Speedster.

MX-5 Spyder is a sophisticated interpretation of the classic vintage roadster, which is designed to accentuate the open-air experience. Its bikini top was developed by ASC – American Sunroof Corporation with the fabric supplied by Haartz.

MX-5 Speedster was built with custom 16-inch RAYS Extreme Gram Lights wheels, benefitting MX-5 with less unsprung weight. MX-5 Speedster finished in a new concept color called Blue Ether.

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Mopar

Ram Rebel X

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he unique dark Copper exterior extends to the functional sport performance hood, accented with a Matte Black graphic trimmed with a Mopar Blue tracer. Mopar wheel flares extend over the 35-inch Toyo tires, which wrap around 17-inch cast-aluminum beadlock wheels that equip the 1500 Rebel for rumbles over off-road terrain. The Ram Rebel X, powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI engine, is also tuned up. A Mopar 5.7-liter cold-air intake, cat-back exhaust and exhaust tips, fed by an active Ram Air duct, enhance the performance capabilities, with a concept air ride suspension smoothing out the ride.

Volkswagen Jetta GLI 2.0T MOMO Edition

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n the 2016 VW Jetta GLI 2.0T MOMO Edition the 19 x 8.5�

MOMO Revenge wheels fill the GLI fenders perfectly. The wheels are fitted with 235/35 ZR19 Pirelli P Zero highperformance tires.

The powerful 210hp 2.0T four-cylinder engine benefits from improved breathing and a refined, sporty sound thanks to a

stainless steel cat-back exhaust from Milltek Sport.

There is an addition of a vehicle information display in the driver’s side air vent.

Produced by P3 Cars, the display shows everything from turbo boost and exhaust gas temperature, to a 0-60mph timer, coolant temperature, throttle position, outside temperature, speed and more.

Autonews NOVEMBER

TATA BOLT

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he new Tata Bolt hatch and sedan have arrived in South Africa, sporting stylish designs and packed with segment first connectivity technology. The Tata Bolt comes standard with the Revotron 1.2L Turbocharged Multi-point Fuel Injection petrol engine. The Multi-Drive mode functiona-

lity is one of the key innovations in the Tata Bolt. The ‘Multi-Drive’ technology enables switching between the default, ECO and CITY mode. The Bolt hatchback starting retail price is R132 995 Incl. VAT, while the Bolt sedan starting retail price is R142 995 Incl. VAT.

MINI

CONVERTIBLE

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rand new features in the MINI Convertible include a fully electric roof that is quieter and smoother than the previous model, a fully integrated rollover protection system and more rear space than ever before.

A new exterior and interior design ensures the new MINI Convertible is unmistakably MINI, whilst showcasing a blend of sporting flair and elegant dynamism.

The latest generation of EU6-compliant engines are installed under the bonnet. The petrol engines inside MINI Cooper Converti-

ble and MINI Cooper S Convertible – 1.5-litre three-cylinder and 2.0-litre four-cylinder respectively – feature turbocharging, direct fuel injection with centrally positioned injectors, variable camshaft control on the intake and exhaust side (double VANOS) and fully variable VALVETRONIC valve control technology. On the 1.5-litre diesel threecylinder engine in the MINI Cooper D Convertible, there is turbocharging with variable intake geometry and common rail direct injection.

Autonews NOVEMBER

PORSCHE MACAN GTS

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ased on the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in the Macan S, the Macan GTS incorporates hardware changes and a unique engine calibration to allow the engine to develop 360 hp at 6000 rpm and 369 lb.-ft. of torque between a broad 16504000 rpm. The rest of the all-wheel-drive powertrain matches up to the Macan Turbo; Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch

transmission is combined with Porsche’s Traction Management system (PTM) that actuates an electro-hydraulic, multi-plate clutch to variably engage the front axle depending on traction needs. All told, this powertrain package accelerates the Macan GTS to 60 mph in as little as 4.8s in conjunction with the optional Sport Chrono Package and up to a top track speed of 159 mph.

SUZUKI

MIGHTY DECK, IGNIS, AIR TRISER

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he Mighty Deck is a new, fun-oriented minicar with a canvas top and an open load deck that can be repositioned for diverse purposes. A wide-ranging functionality including an automatic raise/lower function for the open deck accommodates lifestyle situations ranging from daily life to leisure.

The Ignis shows how a high eye point and plenty of ground clearance ensure day to day

convenience. A compact, visually striking body and a simple, highly practical interior design highlight the Ignis’s credentials in the compact crossover genre.

The Air Triser is a new-concept three-row compact minivan within a manageable body size, it offers a cabin where roominess and smart seat configurability embody the concept of a private lounge.

CGM

MISS OF THE MONTH

JUST 50 EX

McLaren 650S CAN-AM

XAMPLES‌

650S Can-Am celebrates the 50th anniversary of the inaugural Can-Am racing season.

Unique design created by the bespoke division of McLaren and inspired by the McLaren Can-Am racers of the 1960s.

McLaren 650S CAN-AM

McLaren

established itself throughout the 1960s and 70s as a world-beating force in one of the most extreme forms of motorsport, Can-Am, winning five consecutive championships between 1967 and 1971. In honour of the 50th anniversary of the 1966 inaugural season, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has created the limited production 650S Can-Am which takes its inspiration from the race cars of this golden age of motorsport. The 650S Can-Am can be commissioned now priced at £255,850 with deliveries set to commence in the spring of 2016, 50 years on from the first race at Mont Tremblant, Canada. Just 50 examples will be produced globally, all based on the 650S Spider.

The Can-Am series, or Canadian-American Challenge Cup, was a no-holdsbarred battle of power and speed around some of the most iconic circuits in North America and Canada. It attracted the best drivers of the time including Graham Hill, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, Denny Hulme, Chris Amon and, of course, Bruce McLaren. The championship started in 1966, only a year after Bruce McLaren Motor Racing was established and in the series that followed, the young Kiwi became one of most successful names in the sport.

Key to the success of the McLaren Can-Am racers was the use of the latest technologies and materials. This principle is carried through to today’s 650S CanAm. Where lightweight materials such as aluminium and mallite were used in the construction of yesterday’s racers, the modern-day celebration features extensive carbon fibre not least in the construc-

tion of its lightweight MonoCell chassis. A carbon fibre retractable hard top features for the first time while further carbon fibre is used for the bonnet, Airbrake, front splitter, rear bumper centre, door blades and 650S Can-Am branded sill cover. MSO has also created a unique set of lightweight forged alloy wheels inspired by those of the 1960s racers with a gloss-black finish on each of the five spokes and a diamond cut rim. Held in place by titanium bolts, the wheels are shod with Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres. Carbon ceramic brakes with black painted callipers are standard equipment.

Further unique features inspired by the iconic Can-Am racers include carbon fibre louvered front wings and a new quad-exit, polished stainless steel exhaust system.

The louvres are designed to reduce pressure over the front wheels and increase downforce, while the four circular tailpipes at the rear of the car housed within a new visual carbon fibre rear grille echo the aggressive and purposeful throttle trumpets of the historic models. They also provide the 650S Can-Am with a unique soundtrack. Like the 650S Spider, this limited production model features the awardwinning 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 which produces 650PS (641bhp) and 678Nm (500 lb ft) of torque. Performance and economy figures are just as exhilarating: zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint takes a mere three seconds and its top speed is 204 mph (329 km/h).

The 650S Can-Am is offered in three bold colours. The launch colour, Mars Red, is directly inspired by the M1B raced by Bruce McLaren and his teammate Chris Amon in the debut season. The second colour,

Papaya Spark, is a modern and metallic take on the famous Can-Am racing McLaren Orange. The final option is Onyx Black which is similar to the base colour used by many of the McLaren customer teams in the later seasons. Each is additionally available with a corresponding racing livery to give an even closer visual association with the historic Can-Am series.

Inside, the standard sports seats are upholstered with leather and Alcantara which complement the exterior. Carbon fibre naturally features extensively throughout the cabin while a further bespoke Can-Am touch is the unique dedication plaque on the driver’s door.

Commenting on the 650S Can-Am, Paul Mackenzie, Executive Director of McLaren Special Operations explains: “Can-Am racing is a major part of McLaren heritage, and this latest model from MSO pays homage to the cars and the racers who played a key role in making the championship such a spectacle during the 1960s and 70s. The championship was a true test of the engineering ability, driving talent and bravery of Bruce and his teammates, which led them to secure five consecutive championships. The 650S Can-Am is a modern day interpretation with a mixture of functional design features taken from the all-conquering models, combined with the lightest and most pioneering materials available, as was the case with the race cars. The extensive use of lightweight visual carbon fibre, including for the retractable hard top, adds to car’s dramatic appearance and with the roof down, drivers are treated to a stirring V8 soundtrack just as Bruce and his teammates enjoyed.”

McLaren 650S CAN-AM

McLaren 650S CAN-AM

McLaren 650S CAN-AM

McLaren has pioneered the use of carbon fibre in vehicle production over the past 30 years, and since introducing a carbon chassis into racing and road cars with the 1981 McLaren MP4/1 and 1993 McLaren F1 respectively, McLaren has not built a car without a carbon fibre chassis.

CGM

FOCUS

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The new MINI Clubman

UNIQUE BLEND The new model offers the highest level of everyday practicality, long distance suitability, versatility and ride comfort ever seen in a MINI. With four doors and the characteristic split doors at the rear, five fully-fledged seats and a generously sized, versatile interior, the new MINI Clubman meets all the requirements of the compact class in terms of functionality offering driving fun and premium charisma

New MINI Clubman

The The optional MINI Driving Modes are activated by means of a rotary switch at the base of the gear or selector lever. In addition to the standard MID mode there is a choice of SPORT and GREEN mode. In SPORT mode, the accelerator pedal characteristic curve and steering are switched to a sporty set-up, as are the shift times in cars fitted with Steptronic transmission.

In GREEN mode, a more relaxed and also more fuel-efficient driving style is supported by intelligent control of energy and climate management as well as by means of systems such as shift point display.

new MINI Clubman introduces a contemporary interpretation of the tradition-steeped shooting brake concept. This genre of vehicle - especially popular in the country in which MINI originated, the UK - combines sporty style with functionality and is reflected in design by means of a stretched silhouette, a long roof line and a steep rear.

For the first time, the new MINI Clubman combines the characteristic brand interpretation of this concept with the functional qualities of a modern automobile in the compact segment. With a length of 4 253 millimetres, a width of 1 800 millimetres and a height of 1 441 millimetres, it has distinctive proportions that make it unique within both the brand’s model program and the compact segment as a whole. The wheelbase measures 2 670 millimetres, while the track width is 1 564 millimetres at the front and 1 565 millimetres at the rear. These dimensions provide the ideal basis for a stylish, individual and exclusive appearance, agile driving properties and thanks to clever space utilisation in typical MINI style – a roomy interior as well.

The aerodynamic properties of the new MINI Clubman are optimised by means of precisely conceived air ducting elements which are now applied to a model of the British brand for the first time. The so-called Air Curtains consist of narrow, vertically arranged openings in the outer sections of the lower air inlet. From here, air is selectively channelled around the wheel arches. It flows along the wheels with much reduced turbulence, escaping once again through Air Breathers in the rear section of the side panels. A model-specific roof spoiler also helps reduce aerodynamic drag.

New MINI Clubman

Four non-metallic and eight metallic paint finishes are available for the body of the MINI Clubman at market launch.

The program also includes Melting Silver metallic and Pure Burgundy metallic for the first time, as well as the MINI Yours paint finish Lapisluxury Blue.

The roof and exterior mirror caps can be finished in a contrasting colour - white, silver and black - as an option and at no extra cost. Individual accents include white or black bonnet stripes and Chrome Line for the exterior.

New MINI Clubman

Arch-shaped turn indicators are positioned in the lower section of the headlamps.

In the standard version, both the daytime driving light and the parking light are generated by the additional lighting units integrated in the front apron. The optional fog lamps are also positioned here.

The split doors with their striking metal surround are the most striking feature at the rear of the new MINI Clubman. The central bar between the glass sections of the two side-opening wings is significantly narrower than in the predecessor model, thereby optimising the view to the rear.

The split doors are opened by means of a dual-section door handle finished in chrome. The likewise newly designed, horizontally oriented rear lights are integrated in the wing doors and have chrome surrounds. Additional lights arranged below the doors perform a signalling function when the split doors are open.

Five fully-fledged seats, convenient access, plenty of freedom to move for all occupants and a versatile luggage compartment are the salient features of the MINI Clubman as it advances into the premium compact segment. A clear signal of the more sophisticated character of the MINI Clubman is its exceptionally wide instrument panel with cockpit facia frame.

This design feature is also echoed in the door trim panels and centre console. Below the air outlets there is a horizontal decorative strip which lends additional emphasis to the width of the interior.

The central instrument typical of the brand is integrated in the instrument panel of the new MINI Clubman in espe-

cially harmonious style. Fitted either with a two-colour 2.7-inch display or a 6.5 or 8.8-inch colour screen, depending on equipment features, it serves as a display for vehicle, infotainment, phone and navigation functions and has an LED ring surround which can optionally respond to the current situation on the road and to specific operating procedures by means of an interactive lighting display. The selection and control of all functions is facilitated by a Controller in the centre console which comes in conjunction with the Radio MINI Visual Boost, the MINI navigation system or the MINI navigation system Professional.

The functional character and long-distance suitability of the new MINI Clubman is enhanced by its many storage facilities, a large glove compartment, storage compartments in the split doors and door pockets which can hold one-litre drink bottles.

When all five seats are in use, the luggage compartment has a volume of 360 litres.

For the launch of the new MINI Clubman there are three petrol engines and three diesel engines of the latest generation to choose from with three and four cylinders respectively as well as MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology. All motorisations meet the EU6 exhaust emission standard.

New MINI Clubman

Market launch of the new MINI Clubman provides six engine variants (combined fuel consumption: 6.2 – 3.8 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 144 – 99 g/km): • Petrol and diesel engines of the new generation with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology; • MINI One D Clubman with 3-cylinder diesel engine (85 kW/116 hp); • premiere for 4-cylinder diesel engines with 110 kW/150 hp in the MINI Cooper D Clubman and 140 kW/190 hp in the MINI Cooper SD Clubman; • 3-cylinder petrol engines in the MINI One Clubman (75 kW/102 hp) and in the MINI Cooper Clubman (100 kW/136 hp); • MINI Cooper S Clubman with 141 kW/192 hp 4-cylinder petrol engine.

All engine variants of the new MINI Clubman are fitted as standard with a 6-speed transmission of the latest generation, characterised by low weight, a high level of internal efficiency and shift comfort optimised by means of carbon fibre friction linings for the synchroniser rings. A gear sensor also enables active engine speed adaptation for especially sporty shifting when accelerating and increased comfort when shifting down. The 4-cylinder engines in the models MINI Cooper S Clubman, MINI Cooper SD Clubman and MINI Cooper D Clubman can be optionally combined with an 8-speed Steptronic transmission. This automatic transmission type is available in a MINI for the first time, providing an even more favourable basis for efficient, comfortable and sporty driving due to a broader gear spread and smaller engine speed steps. For all other models, an optional 6-speed Steptronic transmission of the latest generation is available.

New MINI Clubman

The large track width and long wheelbase of the MINI Clubman benefit the modelspecific design of the suspension. What is more, new development of all front axle parts has resulted in optimisation of kinematics and component stiffness. The car’s weight has been reduced by the use of aluminium swivel bearings as well as front axle supports and wishbones in highly rigid steel. The particularly stiff wheel suspension on the rear axle also enhances the agile handling properties of the MINI Clubman.

In addition, spatial economy is achieved by the separate arrangement of springs and dampers, impacting positively on the room available at the rear and in the luggage compartment. The new MINI Cooper S Clubman and the MINI Cooper SD Clubman are fitted as standard with 17-inch light alloy wheels. All other models come with 16-inch light alloy wheels as standard. The range of special equipment features additional light alloy wheels sized 17 to 19 inches.

The lightweight construction ensures safety, agility and acoustic comfort by means of a torsionally stiff, rigid but also weightoptimised body structure. Highly resilient load-bearing structures, deformation zones in optimum design and an extremely stable passenger cell provide an excellent basis for keeping impact energy away from passengers and ensuring maximum occupant protection.

The integrated MINI safety concept also includes a standard fitting of six airbags, three-point automatic belts on all seats including belt tensioners and adaptive belt force limiters at the front and ISOFIX children’s seat attachments at the rear Tyre pressure display for each individual wheel is also included as standard.

The driver assistance systems optionally available for the MINI Clubman enable selective optimisation of comfort, driving fun and safety. They include Park Distance Control with sensors at front and rear, a rear view camera, the Parking Assistant which helps the driver select and use parking spaces parallel to the road, and a cruise control with brake function.

The standard trim of the new MINI Clubman includes such features as electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, air conditioning, a rain sensor with automatic driving lights control, the MINI Radio including AUX-IN socket and USB interface as well as a Bluetooth hands-free phone facility. A wide range of high-end options in the areas of comfort, functionality and individuality are available to allow drivers to match the car precisely to their own personal style. In addition to a 2-zone automatic air conditioning, a seat heating for driver and front passenger and a visibility package including windscreen heating, there is also a panorama glass roof with a glass surface measuring 120 centimetres in length.

The option MINI Connected is also available in conjunction with the Radio MINI Visual Boost or a navigation system. It offers extensive integration of smartphones in the car, allowing the use of internet-based services in the areas of infotainment, communication and driver experience. The MINI Connected XL option available in combination with the MINI navigation system Professional also comprises the Journey Mate function including innovative functions for trip preparation and support as well as Real Time Traffic Radar with highly precise, up-to-date traffic information.

New MINI Clubman

MINI Connected in-car infotainment program offers Call and MINI TeleServices available for use with permanently installed SIM card; wide range of functions and the opportunity for ongoing expansion due to apps that allow integration in the car via smartphone; exclusive MINI functions such as Mission Control, Dynamic Music, Driving Excitement and MINIMALISM Analyser; MINI Connected XL Journey Mate with Real Time Traffic Information; online connection also allows the use of social networks such as Twitter, foursquare and Glympse, the reception of RSS news feeds and entertainment programs.

New MINI Clubman

The new MINI Clubman also offers numerous features that appear in an automobile of the brand for the first time for increased driving fun, comfort and safety. These include the electric parking brake, the electrical seat adjustment function available as a special equipment feature and the option MINI Yours Interior Styles with backlit door bezels. The MINI Excitement Package comprises LED interior and ambient lighting as well as a projection of the MINI logo onto the ground from the exterior mirror on the driver’s side when the car is opened and closed.

NEW MINI CLUBMAN TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Length: 4 253 millimetres Width: 1 800 millimetres Height: 1 441 millimetres Wheelbase: 2 670 millimetres

CGM

GLOBAL NEWS

The New Range Rover Sentinel

Based on the luxurious Range Rover Autobiography the Range Rover Sentinel is the first armoured Land Rover to be fully engineered by Special Vehicle Operations.

Aimed primarily at export markets and built to special order with indicative pricing of â‚Ź400,000

New Range Rover Sentinel

Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true ‘breadth of capability’ across the model range. Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque each define the world’s 4x4 sectors, with 80% of this model range exported to over 170 countries.

The

new Range Rover Sentinel is the first luxury armoured vehicle to be fully engineered by Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations, (SVO) hand built at its Oxford Road facility, providing the highest levels of protection an SUV can offer against a wide variety of attacks.

The Sentinel is based on the standard wheelbase Range Rover Autobiography. It delivers the supreme comfort, command driving position and all-terrain capability of the Range Rover, while providing peace of mind thanks to outstanding occupant protection and, outwardly, looking identical to the standard model.

This mobile fortress is designed to withstand the most damaging and targeted of threats including penetration by 7.62mm high velocity, armour piercing incendiary bullets. This exceptional vehicle delivers lateral protection against up to 15kg Trinitrotoluene (TNT) blasts and defence against DM51 grenade explosions from both beneath the floor and above the roof.

At its core is a specially-developed sixpiece armoured passenger cell, made of super-high-strength steel, providing world-class protection from attack. The standard glass has been replaced by multi-laminated armour privacy glass of optical quality, providing excellent clarity for the driver and occupants, while also delivering bullet protection.

The Range Rover Sentinel is fully certified to VR8 standard against ballistic threats by QinetiQ®, an independent organisation that was formerly part of the British Government’s Defence Establishment Research Agency.

John Edwards, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations, said: “The Range Rover Sentinel is one of the most extraordinary Range Rovers ever produced. It has been expertly engineered by Special Vehicle Operations to provide class leading levels of protection to occupants against extreme attack, whilst retaining the Range Rover’s luxury and refinement with off road capability.”

Sentinel retains the plentiful legroom of the standard model that comfortably seats two full-size adults in the rear. A payload of up to 650kg can be carried thanks to revised Dynamic Stability Control and Ride Stability Control systems.

The Command Driving Position found in all Range Rover vehicles remains, giving the driver a clear and unobscured view of the surroundings, particularly useful in the event of an attack.

The suspension has been up-rated to ensure Range Rover’s legendary ride comfort and handling are retained, yet still delivers precise on-road dynamics to allow occupants to escape attack.

The Sentinel has undergone the same testing as a standard production vehicle and retains the outstanding off-road capability for which Land Rover is famous.

The Sentinel has an anti-tamper exhaust, a self-sealing fuel tank, auxiliary back-up battery and a split charging system. The 100mm opening in the driver’s window for document delivery ensures the vehicle is secure. The load space features anti-smash protective glass ensuring the cabin remains a safe house. When it is time to leave in a hurry, run flat inserts in the tyres – fitted to special 20-inch split rim alloy wheels

New Range Rover Sentinel

– allow the vehicle to be driven even if the tyres are deflated. This system ensures that however determined the attack, the Range Rover Sentinel can use the considerable performance of its 340PS 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol engine in conjunction with a specially-calibrated ZF 8-speed automatic transmission to escape. In addition, 380mm front and 365mm rear ventilated disc brakes, both with high-density pads, ensure impressive stopping power when needed.

If the worst happens and the main doors are blocked by an accident or an attack, occupants can leave the vehicle via the Emergency Escape System behind the rear seats. Despite this special security feature, the basic design is uncompromised and the Range Rover Sentinel is still equipped with the elegant split-level tailgate of the standard production vehicle.

Optional protection features include under floor and under bonnet fire suppression systems, a customer configurable siren system, emergency service lights and an external speaker system to address people outside the vehicle from the safety of the cabin. The Range Rover Sentinel is unmatched in capability and protection by any third-party conversion.

Externally, it is discreet and almost identical in appearance to the vehicle from which it is derived, with few visual clues as to what lies beneath the skin. A full driver-training programme is also provided to ensure drivers are capable of handling the vehicle to maximum effect in the most challenging circumstances.

Despite the huge levels of security offered by the vehicle’s armour and oc-

Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations has the responsibility within Special Operations to create a range of high performance production models for both Jaguar and Land Rover, vehicle personalisation products and low volume, high value Limited Edition models for both brands.

cupant protection systems, the Range Rover Sentinel remains a Range Rover to the core. It delivers the same exceptional levels of luxury ride and comfort as a conventional Range Rover Autobiography. Customers can still choose from an extensive range of exterior paint colours; and Ebony, Ivory or Dark Cherry interior colour ways with leather headlining an option. A range of bespoke options is available on request.

Standard Range Rover features such as Blind Spot Monitoring, Closing Vehicle Sensing and Surround Camera Security incorporating T-junction view also lend themselves perfectly to the duties this very special Range Rover is designed to perform.

The Range Rover Sentinel is fully EU Homologated, available in the UK, Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East with VR8 level certification.

Available to order from the beginning of September 2015, the Range Rover Sentinel has a guide price from under €400,000 and benefits from a three-year, 50,000-mile warranty. Additional global aftersales support includes scheduled visits each year by a specialised technician.

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GLOBAL NEWS

480km desert sprint with Bentley Boy Steven Kane at the wheel

NO OTHER

R

Continental GT V8 S Convertible races train from Riyadh to Damman Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was hottest place on earth during challenge Race commemorates legendary Bentley ‘Blue Train’ run of 1930

A race like no other

Eighty-five

years after three-time Le Mans winner Captain Woolf Barnato famously raced the ‘Blue Train’ from Cannes to Calais, modern day Bentley Boy, Steven Kane, has reinvigorated the legendary spirit in a tense four-hour 14 minute sprint against Saudi Arabia’s only desert passenger train.

The dune train takes a 480 km route from Riyadh – deep in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula – to Damman on the Arabian Gulf. The new Continental GT V8 S Convertible raced this unique locomotive on August 15th across the scorched, baren landscape and won, with six minutes to spare.

Bentley Team M-Sport driver, Steven Kane, said: “Four hours is the same time as a stint at Le Mans. But this was far more stressful. The heat, the conditions, not knowing where the train was, while driving within the limits of the country’s regulations. It was a race like no other. I hope Barnato would be proud.”

CGM

CLASSIC

A full-circle event for the pleasure of enthusiasts with the most beautiful cars of the past and present reunited on a single stage

TRADITION

&INNOVATION

Auto e Moto d’Epoca has become both the point of reference for automotive innovation in Italy and the most important Classic market on the old Continent

Tradition & innovation

Tradition & innovation

Tradition & innovation

Tradition & innovation

For

years the sensation of change has been in the air, but the 32nd edition marked the transition: Auto e Moto d’Epoca has become the first car show in Italy, with all the latest of the automobile Market and the top of the line of Heritage in Europe.

The in Padua event has been a success from all points of view and sets a new standard of quality. “But the greatest result,” - said organizer Mario Carlo Baccaglini “is the excitement of visitors in front of the gorgeous cars.”

At 10am on Sunday morning, spectators surpassed the 2014 number. “The setting of Padua brings together the automotive enthusiasts in the name of passion. The automotive world that has many faces and one great soul.”

It was undoubtedly the most beautiful edition in its history of over thirty years.

Padua is the Show where visitors can see in person the most beautiful cars ever built and lose themselves in the layers of heritage that fuel the emotions of millions of car lovers the world over.

Over 4,000 cars were there for sale among which you can find that of your dreams, Clubs and historical Registers, one of a kind models in the world, specialized artisans and dealers who define the meaning of Heritage in a spectrum that goes from the Old timers to accessories,

vintage clothing and objects tied to travel, completing the immersion in the world of automotive culture.

This year the protagonists were the Ferraris, in a complete panorama of the rearing horses: the elegant Gran Turismo from the Sixties; the super sports cars of the Eighties like the Ferrari Testarossa and the F40; the 8-cylinder Berlinettas from the 308 to the more recent 348 and 355.

Even Porsche lovers enjoyed Auto e Moto d’Epoca as a true gallery of marvels with the rarest and most sought-after models: starting with one of the 170 existing 911 turbo S from 1997 alongside the 911 2000 from 1965, the 911 1973 model 2.4 T, the 911 3000 SC from 1983, the 996 GT3 RS and the Turbo 33 1986.

There were more car previews, more Vintage cars, hundreds of Ferraris, top brands, dealers, exhibitors, meetings and even more visitors: at 10am Sunday morning 80.000 people!

“But the only real result that includes all the others - explains Baccaglini - Is to see the delight of fans in front of the beautiful cars. No matter whether Ferrari or Topolino. What matters is the excitement that they offer. Padua is a fair dedicated to people who love cars. It is built for them and grows for them. This edition rewards us for all the efforts made to grow with each passing year.”

CGM

globalmag

November 2015

Photo by Masayuki Kuodo & Larry Chen

RACEGM

# 21

!

TOKYO DRIFT

and much more...

PIC OF THE MONTH

Caca Bueno drives during the Round 10 of the Brazilian Stock Car Series 2015 in Curitiba, Brazil on October 18 PHOTO: Bruno Terena/Red Bull Content Pool

CONTENTS FRONT PAGE

Tokyo Drift

VIDEO

RALLY

The perfect season

CLASSIC RACE

The realization of a dream

WTCC

Tour de France style

SPECIAL

Bathurst 1000: a unique event

INTERVIEW

Adam Małysz: I’can’t fully explain it…

PORTRAIT Porsche

driver Patrick Pilet

PADDOCK MIX

VIDEO

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, noncommercial 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.

FRONT PAGE

Tokyo Drift 2015: Daigo Saito Wins At D1 Tokyo & Unveils His Drift Lamborghini Murcielago

THE ULTIM

DAIGO SAITO: “It’s different from timed competitions like road racing; drifting is a sport where people judge the driver’s technique by watching the movements of the car, so I think it’s much easier for people watching to get a sense of the intensity of it”

Photo by Masayuki Kuodo & Larry Chen

MATE FIGHT

THE ULTIMATE FIGHT

Vaughn Gittin Jr (Ford Mustang)

THE ULTIMATE FIGHT

It’s fair to say Daigo Saito and D1 have shared some pivotal moments in drift over the course of his illustrious career. This weekend in Odaiba, Japan for Round 6 of D1, he once again laid down another marker for the global drift community with not only the win but, but by introducing the wildest drift competition car to the world.

Whilst the secret was out a few weeks prior, come the moment that Daigo unveiled his brand new whip, a snarling beast of a Lamborghini Murcielago, it was a true moment in time for the sport and the wider scene. The custom build and fearsome stance that Liberty Walk oversaw, that turned the Italian supercar into a rear wheel drive weapon of a drift competition machine, is nothing short of a game-changer.

Making its debut at D1, Daigo hard parked the ‘Lambo for Saturday’s heats and opted for his championship car to do battle in the main event. Charging as hard as you’d expect from the multiple champion, he picked his way through his battles and was unmatched all day: walking away with the top prize.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHT

Daigo Saito (Nissan)

PIT STOP Daigo Saito: “I met Kato-san from Liberty Walk at last year’s SEMA show, we became instant friends, and started talking about building a Lamborghini drift car right then and there. We got the car in our shop in January of this year. The hardest part of the production process was the fact that, of course, no one has ever done this before. It’s a totally new experiment, so without any template to follow, we had to think about and build all of the necessary parts from scratch. It took a lot of time and a lot of work.”

Accompanying Daigo all weekend was long-term D1 icon Vaughn Gittin Jnr. Having last made an appearance in the Japanese series in 2009 it was a huge occasion for the decorated American drift ace who brought his RTR Mustang for all out attack. A highlight for the thousands lining the track was no doubt Vaughn and Daigo rubbing panels in their exhibition heat with Daigo now at the wheel of his Murcielago.

If the gods of drift have it their way this weekend’s encounter on the Odaiba asphalt will not be the last we’ll see of the two legends, and their frankly outrageous horsepower, together.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHT

Daigo Saito

Vaughn Gittin Jr

THE ULTIMATE FIGHT

PIT STOP Daigo Saito: “The engine and the transmission of my Lambo are genuine, but other than the engine, the transmission and the frame, we’re building everything ourselves.”

Daigo Saito (Lamborghini Murcielago)

PIT STOP SAITO’S LAMBORGHINI MURCIÉLAGO (2002) TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Engine: 6.2 / NA / 650hp / RWD Transmission: 6 speed CPU: HKS f-con v pro x 2 Clutch: OS Giken Arm: Ikeya Formula Suspension: Ikeya Formula Aero: Liberty Walk Wheel: Prodrive Brake: CSD Sheet: Bride Tire: Achilles

RGM

RALLY

Subaru driver David Higgins completes perfect undefeated season with victory at Lake Superior Performance Rally!

THE PERF

Subaru Rally Team USA driver David Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew capped an extraordinary season by winning the 2015 Lake Superior Performance Rally to complete the first undefeated ‘perfect season’ in U.S. rallying since 1987. The win officially netted Higgins fifth straight Driver’s Title in the Rally America National Championship

FECT SEASON

THE PERFECT SEASON

THE PERFECT SEASON

THE PERFECT SEASON

THE PERFECT SEASON

THE PERFECT SEASON

THE PERFECT SEASON

THE PERFECT SEASON

From left: Craig Drew, John Buffum and David Higgins at LSPR

“It was hell of a long weekend,” Higgins said, at the podium celebration. “It is amazing to do what we have done, but you can only do it with a great team that we have. Craig (Drew) has been awesome as always and we have been on a good winning streak for a long time, but this one was special. Stages were in good condition and for us the big task was to bring it home.”

The last perfect undefeated season in U.S. rallying was achieved 28 years ago by John Buffum, an 11-time national champion.

Buffum is now the Team Manager for Subaru Rally Team USA and was on hand to help celebrate with Higgins on Saturday. On the challenge of achieving a perfect season Buffum commented; “It is definitely difficult

to achieve a perfect season, obviously it has not been done for a long time. It takes not only a skilled driver and navigator, but a reliable car. It also takes a great team. All of those things came together for David and Craig this year and it is cool to see it and be part of it.”

“The team’s result this season is simply impressive,” stated Rob Weir, Subaru Motorsports Marketing Manager. “They began the season with an all-new rally car, and despite adversity from the competition, mechanical setbacks, and Mother Nature, were able to claim the top of the podium at every round. We couldn’t ask for more from Higgins, Drew, and the entire staff at Vermont SportsCar this season.”

David Higgins at the Lake Superior Performance Rally

RGM

RACE CLASSIC

Exactly 50 years ago Honda won the first Grand Prix of long F.1 adventure

This article is just a part of the full story of the Honda entrance in Formula 1, that is available at http://world.honda.com/history/

THE REALIZATION OF A DREAM In May 1962, Hideo Sugiura, quality manager at Saitama Honda Factory, received an unofficial order from Yoshihito Kudo, director of the research center, “We are planning to compete in F-1. I want you to oversee the project.” The resulting exchange was a rather interesting one… “What is F-1?” asked Sugiura

THE REALIZATION OF A DREAM

This conversation is just an example of how foreign a concept F-1, or Formula One, was to Honda’s employees at that time. What little information available to them came from the 2.5-liter British F.1 machine, the Cooper Climax, which the research center had obtained six month earlier.

Honda’s entry in F-1 was announced in January 1964. Ever since the company had won an overall victory at the Isle of Man TT Race, one of motorcycling’s most prominent races, there had been great anticipation concerning Honda’s possible move into car racing. Particularly, the employees of the research center were confident that there was no race that could not be won with their technology.

At that tima Honda was the youngest car manufacturer in Japan. It was none other than Soichiro Honda who decided to compete in F.1, before any

other manufacturer in the country. Mr. Honda’s passion had been evident since March of 1954, when the company announced its entry into TT motorcycle racing.

“Since childhood,” he once said, “my dream was to become a champion in world automobile racing with a machine I had made myself.” Thus, Honda once again took the fateful first step toward the realization of a dream, this time in the world of cars.

Only a small number of engineers were assembled to handle the F.1 project at first, most of whom had been involved in motorcycle events only. Therefore, to conduct the necessary research and development experienced engineers were hired, and young employees fresh out of college were recruited to provide much needed manpower. The new R&D team was led by the company founder.

“The target for horsepower was decided by Mr. Honda himself,” recalls Akio Okudaira, who was in charge of engine performance. “Whether that horsepower could be achieved was not the question.

He just told us we must produce this much power in order to win. For example, the code name for the engine, RA270, was assigned by Mr. Honda, who probably wanted to remind us that the engine had to produce 270 horsepower.”

The drafting of detailed layouts for the prototype RA270 engine was started in August 1962, and by June of the following year the team was ready to test its performance. Their prototype F.1 car, which, like the Cooper Climax on which it was modeled, was covered with a steel space frame, was tested in Arakawa on February 6, 1964.

Mr. Honda and Yoshio Nakamura, assistant director of the research center (later becoming the first F.1 team manager), drove the metallic-gold car two laps around the course. The RA270 recorded 8,500 rpm in fifth gear, with a maximum speed of 175 km per hour. The following week, on February 13, the RA270 tested at 210 horsepower with 11,800 rpm, exceeding the 200 horsepower mark for the first time.

Fujiya Maruno, an engine design engineer who witnessed the test, made this entry in his notebook: “The Old Man is happy.”

“The Old Man (Soichiro) had been racking his brains. He used to come to the design room and tell us we should do this and do that before going home.

Then, he would come back the following morning

THE REALIZATION OF A DREAM and ask us what had happened. Of course, by that time he had a different, better idea with him. He wasn’t getting enough sleep, either. It was like that for a long time, so it was no wonder he was so happy that day,” says Maruno.

The test car’s chassis was built at the research center, but the center also had to devote its resources toward the development of passenger vehicles.

Nakamura discussed the matter with Mr. Honda, and it was decided that they would build only the engine and have European teams use it in their own chassis designs. Nakamura flew to Europe in summer 1963, visiting several F.1 teams and promoting Honda’s engine.

Finally, Lotus was selected to be their partner.

However, in January 1964, when they were ready to ship the engine, the partnership collapsed due to a situation that had arisen on the Lotus side.

Honda had to build the chassis by itself after all.

Of course, they were plagued with problems, from design and materials to parts and components, since the company had relatively little experience in auto manufacturing, not to mention racing machines. Each day, their designs were changed following rebuttals by the shouting Mr. Honda.

All these efforts, however, were rewarded when the first race-ready F.1 machine, the RA271, was finally completed. The body was painted ivory white, and the front nose donned a vivid red circle symbolizing the Japanese flag.

The first attempt was the German Grand Prix held in August 1964 and the selected driver was the American Ronnie Bucknam. Regrettably, the RA271 crashed out of this highly anticipated debut race, only three laps before it was to cross the finish line. However, the car was running in ninth position when it retired, and it gave great confidence to the team after a disappointing qualifying round in which the RA271 could not complete a single lap. That year, the RA271 competed in three races, but ended up retiring in all of them. The team’s staff was not at all pessimistic about its performance or prospects, though. Instead, the thinking was on how to make use of the knowledge acquired from those three races, and apply it to the next season.

In 1965 Honda decided to compete in Formula 2 in addition to F.1. The F.2 engine design team was led by Tadashi Kume and Nobuhiko Kawamoto (both future company presidents), with the final engine scheduled to be supplied to Jack Brabham’s team. Ron Tauranac took charge of the chassis design. Little did they know that they were soon to experience a painful season in both events.

The losses kept coming in F.2. The team spent night after sleepless night trying to figure out what had gone wrong. If they could not clearly explain the reason, Mr. Honda would shower them with his merciless “You, stupid!”.

Their F.1 work focused on improving the RA271 that they had raced the previous season.

Accordingly, its chassis material was changed from duralumin to corrosive-resistant aluminum alloy, and the overall weight was reduced with the engine and other components adopting lightweight materials and designs. They also signed a second driver, Ritchie Ginther, and sought his advice on how to improve the car.

Five races later, they were still struggling. Ginther had completed just two races, and his best result was just sixth place. Back at the research center, the homebound team members had been encamped for two months, trying to improve the engine’s cooling performance while lowering its center of gravity for enhanced handling. With all these efforts, however, both machines retired with engine problems in the subsequent Italian Grand Prix. At the U.S. Grand Prix, a large leaf got sucked onto the radiator of one machine, causing its engine to overheat. It seemed the team was simply unable to score a victory.

The last race of the Grand Prix season, held in Mexico, took place on a circuit 2,000 meters above sea level. It was there that the drivers were faced with conditions that did not exist at any other Grand Prix circuit, meaning the thin atmosphere of a 2,000 meter elevation. However, in this environment Honda’s fuel-injection mechanism worked very effectively, and on October 24, 1965, Ginther’s RA272 immediately leaped to the front of the pack, where it stayed until the finish. Honda

had at last won its first Grand Prix, a feat that had come just two years after the team’s F.1 debut.

The victory gave ample proof that Honda’s engine and chassis technologies were world-class.

“Although the carriers are different, the technologies remain the same. When I began to think that way, I became much more confident,” recalls Shinichi Koike, the team’s mechanic. “I usually worry about loose bolts and the like whenever our machines are positioned on the starting grid. But in that race I was sure we’d done everything right. When I saw our machine turn the last corner in first place, I couldn’t keep from trembling.”

Soichiro gave a press conference after receiving the news of his team’s victory at the Mexican Grand Prix. “Ever since we first decided to build cars we

have worked hard and been willing to take the most difficult path,” he said. “Now we must study the reasons why we lose, and do the same when we win, so that we can use that knowledge to improve the quality of our cars and make them safer for our customers. That’s our duty. Once we had established our goal, we decided to choose the most difficult path to get there. This is why we entered the Grand Prix series. We will therefore not be content with this victory alone. We will study why we won and aggressively apply those winning technologies to new cars.”

Pictures courtesy of Hondanews.com

RGM

WTCC

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WTCC TO PROPOSE INNOVATIVE FORMAT TO ENHANCE PROFILE OF MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

Tour De TEAMS OF THREE DRIVERS FROM EACH REGISTERED MAKE TO CHASE EXTRA CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS WITH THE “MANUFACTURERS AGAINST THE CLOCK (MAC3)” TO TAKE PLACE STRAIGHT AFTER QUALIFYING Q3. WTTC PROMOTER INSPIRED BY MEDIA-FRIENDLY TEAM TRIAL FORMAT FROM CYCLING AND TOUR DE FRANCE LEGEND GREG LEMOND BACKS THIS EXCITING INITIATIVE

Photo Antonin Grenier/DPPI - Vincent Curutchet/ DPPI

e FrancE

e l y St

TOUR DE FRANCE

TOUR DE FRANCE

WTCC promoter Eurosport Events recently announced that Tour de France-style team time trials will be contested at every round of next year’s FIA World Touring Car Championship in a first for global motorsport.

The new format was approved by the FIA Touring Car Commission at its last meeting and will now follow the usual FIA approval procedure for inclusion in the WTCC Sporting Regulations for 2016.

‘Manufacturers Against the Clock’ (MAC3) will put team competition to the fore at each WTCC event in 2016 with extensive live broadcasting and live streaming on Eurosport and through a live world feed.

The WTCC’s registered car makes will nominate three drivers to take part in MAC3, which will take place straight after the completion of Qualifying Q3. They will score points towards their WTCC Manufacturers’ Championship totals and benefit from an extended live broadcasting, live streaming and digital coverage package to drive more value to the Manufacturers’ Championship, while offering new story-telling opportunities. And this is how it works: The clock starts when the first of three 1. cars from a manufacturer ‘team’ crosses the starting line from a standing start, and stops as soon as the last car has completed the required number of laps Nürburgring Nordschleife this 2. willAtbetheone lap. For all other circuits a minimum distance of 10 kilometres must be covered

3.

4.

5.

The fastest team of three will win MAC3 at each event and score 10 points towards the WTCC Manufacturers’ Championship. The second best manufacturer will earn eight points and so on until all points are allocated (on a scale of 10-8-6-3-2-1) Although parc fermé will be operational between the finish of Qualifying Q3 and the start of MAC3, cars can be refuelled and fitted with a new set of tyres Manufacturer teams will contest MAC3 in reverse championship order to heighten the drama and create an even bigger buzz

François Ribeiro (Head of Eurosport Events) says about MAC3: “Every manufacturer competing in FIA world championships will tell you that the most important title to bring home is the manufacturers’ world title. Paradoxically, the drivers’ title always gets the most media exposure. MAC3 is designed to promote the WTCC Manufacturers’ Championship title in a different way and widen its appeal so that it becomes a bit more than the addition of the two best results from the drivers in each race, and a points classification at the end of each race.”

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

“MAC3 will drive more value to WTCC factory teams, it will enhance the spectators’ experience after Qualifying, it will increase broadcast

TOUR DE FRANCE

volume, it will offer new stories to media and will introduce a true collective effort parameter into the WTCC Manufacturers’ Championship title, which is a very positive value for a brand.

It will require teams to line up three good and consistent drivers who will have to drive together and help each other, straight after they’ve given a very individual effort in Qualifying. It will be interesting to follow the dynamic within each factory team. There have been many occasions when we have witnessed driving mistakes in Q3. If a selected driver is over-driving in MAC3, he will penalise the entire team. If the drivers are running too far apart from each other, they will be too conservative. The closer they are to each other, the risk of a collision increases. I am curious to see what strategy car manufacturers will deploy on each circuit, especially on fast circuits such as the Nürburgring Nordschleife, and to see how drivers will execute strategies.

We have creative ideas to bring this on-air in a very innovative way.”

force MAC3 on our teams. We explained to them the benefits, involved the FIA at a very early stage, and experienced a rather positive level of openness from them in return. We will need to be effective in the way we film and communicate on MAC3 to clearly explain how it works, but I feel the risk was much higher to bring WTCC to the Nordschleife as part of Nürburgring 24 Hours!”

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII MAC3 IS NOT OPEN TO ALL WTCC DRIVERS. WHY NOT?

“MAC3 intends to raise the value of the WTCC Manufacturers’ title, so it will be restricted to manufacturers registered with the FIA for the WTCC. Still, factory teams will have the opportunity to appoint any driver they want, official or privateer, as long as they drive for the same brand. Nothing would prevent Citroën Racing from offering that opportunity to its privateer driver Mehdi Bennani at his home race in Marrakech, for example.”

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IS IT RISKY TO BLEND A CONCEPT FROM CYCLING WITH MOTORSPORT?

“Eurosport Events is, at the same time, a promoter and a broadcaster. This is a good position to be in to innovate new formats and deliver a good experience to fans and viewers.

Back in 2009, Eurosport Events sat down around the table with experts from alpine skiing and cycling to define how live broadcasting of rallying on a large scale could work and it worked very well on Rallye Monte-Carlo. There is nothing wrong with taking risks. We did not

ARE YOU NOT JUST INCREASING THE COSTS OF COMPETING IN THE WTCC?

“You are right, it will modestly cost each manufacturer a set of new tyres, a few litres of fuel and bit of testing to dress rehearse their strategy. In return we will increase the duration of the WTCC TV world feed by 20 per cent for each event and introduce something totally new to motorsport, which will create its own interest to spectators and viewers. I think it should be a good investment.”

TOUR DE FRANCE

PIT STOP IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WTCC Technical regulations were also refined to define the minimum technical requirements for touring cars entering WTCC events. These cars will be defined in two levels, both positioned below the WTCC Super 2000 cars: • TCN1 – comparable to cars in BTCC • TCN2 – comparable to cars in TCR international series In addition, TCN2 cars will now be eligible to enter the FIA European Touring Car Championship.

RGM

SPECIAL

VUE Images / Red Bull Content Pool

V8 SUPERCARS events have usually plenty of action and excitement. Enjoy this PHOTO GALLERY of the Bathurst 1000, one of the most iconic Australian motorsport events, held on October 11 on the extreme difficult circuit of Mount panorama

BATHURST 1000

Craig Lowndes and Steve Richards Holden leading the group in front of the other Holden of Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell

Photo HRT Team

Craig Lowndes

BATHURST 1000

Jack Perkins - Russell Ingall (Holden)

VUE Images / Red Bull Content Pool

BATHURST 1000

Photo HRT Team

VUE Images / Red Bull Content Pool

VUE Images / Red Bull Content Pool

BATHURST 1000

Garth Tander - Warren Luff (Holden)

Jack Perkins - Russell Ingall (Holden)

Nissan Altima V8 (James Moffat - Taz Douglas)

Photo HRT Team

BATHURST 1000

BATHURST 1000

THE V8 SUPERCAR GENERAL STANDING WHIT JUST 4 RACES TO THE END OF THE SEASON Pos. Driver

Car

Points

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2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

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Pepsi Max Crew / Ford Falcon FG X Red Bull Racing Australia / Holden Commodore VF The Bottle-O Racing Team / Ford Falcon FG Pepsi Max Crew / Ford Falcon FG X Freightliner Racing / Holden Commodore VF Holden Racing Team / Holden Commodore VF Team Darrell Lea STIX / Holden Commodore VF Red Bull Racing Australia / Holden Commodore VF Wilson Security Racing GRM / Volvo S60 Nissan Motorsport / Nissan Altima

2491 2092 2059 2017 1934 1892 1800 1688 1434 1415

Mark Winterbottom Craig Lowndes David Reynolds Chaz Mostert Fabian Coulthard Garth Tander Shane van Gisbergen Jamie Whincup Scott McLaughlin Rick Kelly

RGM

INTERVIEW

Photo by Kin Marcin/Red Bull Content Pool

Adam Małysz

I CAN’T FULLY

EXPLAIN IT A ski-jumping legend turned rally driver, Adam Małysz is gearing up for his fifth participation in the Rally Dakar.

Here the Polish athlete speaks to the Newsroom about this second career – and the challenges that come with it

ADAM MaLysz

Lukasz Nazdraczew/Red Bull Content Pool

GEPA pictures/Red Bull Content Pool

The four-time Olympic medalist with 92 podiums and 198 top-ten finishes, Małysz retired from skijumping in 2010… only to qualify for his rally driver license a year later. They cal him “The Polish Eagle” and in 2012, he entered the Dakar for the first time, finishing 38th with codriver Rafal Micha. In 2013, he took 15th and in 2014, 13th. His car caught fire in 2015, forcing him to withdraw from the race. Now back on track, Małysz is gearing up for the 2016 edition of the Dakar – starting in just over two months in South America.

YOU WENT FROM SKI-JUMPING TO RALLY DRIVING – WHY THAT SECOND CAREER, AND WHY THAT SPORT IN PARTICULAR? “When I decided to end my skijumping career I knew that staying

at home was not for me. I hate doing nothing. At the same time I couldn’t even imagine my life without sport. And I’ve always been interested in motorsports.

I had an off-road car and I was taking it for a spin in the mountains from time to time. It was my way of releasing stress and I really enjoyed it. At one point I got a specific offer from a man representing a rally team. I decided it would be great to make one of my biggest dreams come true and live such an adventure.”

HOW DO YOU USE POSSIBLE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BOTH SPORTS TO IMPROVE YOUR DRIVING PERFORMANCES? “It’s hard to compare skijumping with rally raids. During a jump, an athlete has to be fully focused just for a moment.

In case of rallies, on those long special stages, it’s necessary to maintain high-level focus for many hours, sometimes even for days. From time to time I take advantage of the knowledge gained during my previous career – when I have to learn something new for example. Then some of the ski-jumping techniques come in handy.”

ADAM MaLysz

WHY DOES THE DAKAR SEEM TO ATTRACT ATHLETES COMING FROM ALL SORTS OF BACKGROUNDS, LIKE LUC ALPHAND AND YOU?

valuable as well, not to mention success in the overall standings of the series.”

“I can’t fully explain it.

Maybe it has something to do with the challenges people who are used to competitions have to face, or want to take up. It’s hard to suddenly stop preparing for something, stop working on a specific task. Obviously, there’s something magical and legendary about the Dakar. Taking part in that event involves making a dream come true, and finishing this rally is a reason to be proud.”

YOU’RE GEARING UP FOR YOUR FIFTH DAKAR PARTICIPATION AFTER MAKING HUGE PROGRESS THEN WITHDRAWING WHEN YOUR CAR CAUGHT FIRE EARLIER THIS YEAR. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE 2016 EDITION?

YOU’VE KNOWN SUCH SUCCESS ON SKIS – WHAT WOULD SUCCESS IN A CAR LOOK LIKE?

Photo by Kin Marcin/Red Bull Content Pool

“It would definitely be winning the Dakar. Every Cross-Country Rally World Cup victory would be

“We would like to take a place in the top 10.”

WHAT WAS YOUR VIEW OF THE DAKAR BEFORE FIRST ENTERING IT AND HOW HAS THIS EVOLVED AS YOU STARTED RACING IT? “I knew from the TV coverage and some stories I read that it was something extremely difficult. I watched exhausted drivers and machines reaching breaking point after many hours of racing. Turned out it was even worse in practice. Surviving this marathon is a great feat.

Fortunately, I’m a determined guy so I told myself that I could do it, even if I had to eat sand.

With time, day by day, I started to get used to the rally rhythm and I kind of adapted.”

Photo by Kin Marcin/Red Bull Content Pool

RGM

PORTRAIT

Porsche driver Patrick Pilet

I couldn’t image anything better‌

PORSCHE DRIVER PATRICK PILET For the greatest day of his career, Patrick Pilet might have hoped for better weather.

At Petit Le Mans in the US (October 3rd), the skies opened up and it poured. Despite umbrellas and plastic rain capes, the fans around the track were soaked to the skin.

But perhaps this was precisely the extreme conditions that the Frenchman needed to clinch the most important success in his career until now, just five days before his 34th birthday on 8 October: the first overall victory for Porsche at the most important North American long distance race alongside Daytona and Sebring. And the

championship title in the strongly represented GTLM class of the United SportsCar Championship, in which the works teams of Porsche, BMW, Corvette and Ferrari fight for the crown of sports car manufacturers.

“At such a race it is important that you’re ready to take responsibility even under extremely difficult conditions.

That’s exactly what I did today,” he said after the podium ceremony, soaking wet from rain and champagne. “This success was only made possible because everyone in the team went to their limit. I’m delighted that our huge effort has been rewarded in this way.”

There was never any doubt about the league of the race driver Patrick Pilet, even before his Petit Le Mans feat. “His will to win, his precision and his ability to finish a race without making the slightest error convince me in every aspect. He fully deserves the champion title,” says Head of Porsche Motorsport Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser about the “extraordinary race driver”. As far as his teammate Nick Tandy is concerned, Patrick Pilet is “one of the fastest people I’ve ever shared a 911 cockpit with”, one that doesn’t shy away from risks and also someone who doesn’t make mistakes even in extreme conditions.

In the words he spoke after his victory on Saturday, Patrick Pilet expressed two traits that make him a world class driver, above and beyond his exceptional talent and mental strength.

The first is that he is always incredibly focussed on the task at hand, he works meticulously with big ambitions and a healthy aggressiveness. At the same time, when the work is done, he knows how to relax and always makes it look effortless to positively

PORSCHE DRIVER PATRICK PILET influence the team and get them onside. For a sportsman who needs a good team to be able to win, these are the best prerequisites.

Viewed in this light, Patrick Pilet, who is married to the TV journalist Guenaelle Longy, does not quite match the idea that most people have about the French. The Laissez-faire attitude of letting things take their natural course, which is said to be typical in many of his compatriots, is something he only permits when the job is done. And this is why he doesn’t switch off when he climbs out of the car. He always remains factual and brings things down to the point, says programme manager Steffen Höllwarth, and uses the race in Watkins Glen as an example: “It had rained there and we had to start from the back of the grid as well. Within the first lap, Patrick had overtaken almost the entire field and when we told him what his advantage was over the radio, he said we should just leave him to do his work and promptly added another 40 seconds to his margin.”

Patrick Pilet, who seems to be completely at one with the 911 RSR, is without doubt one of the most popular pilots in the paddock. His smile and his laid-back manner are contagious,

his piercing blue eyes inspire confidence. He is the kind of man a protective mother would allow to take her adolescent daughter to the cinema. In fact, in his spare time he enjoys watching movies, and he tackles the greens and fairways of golf courses as meticulously as his race outings. In the small town of Auch in the southwest of France where he was born, there is no shortage of sporting role models. His home town produced talented rugby players, as well as the world pentathlon champion Joel Bouzou, and not surprisingly several professional cyclists.

But that wasn’t what Patrick Pilet wanted: “I always wanted to be a race driver.”

He has fulfilled this dream. After some years of learning his trade in a kart, he won the Formula France in 2001 and the Formula Renault in 2004. In 2007 he netted overall victory in the Porsche Carrera Cup France.

The following year he was signed on as a works driver. His first outing was the

PORSCHE DRIVER PATRICK PILET 2008 Daytona 24 Hours. When he first encountered the famous Daytona International Speedway, still somewhat intimidated by this new world, he was asked by the heads at Porsche Motorsport why he wanted to race. His answer: “Because I want to win.�

He turned these words into deeds: with Porsche he celebrated victories in very different race series, from the International GT Open to the American Le Mans Series. In the Sports Car

World Championship WEC, he won the Shanghai race and clinched second place four times. One of his greatest successes was class victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2014. Once again, he was supported in the cockpit by his teammate and close friend Nick Tandy.

As a team player, he immediately felt at home at Porsche. “Porsche is my second family,” he says.

“I couldn’t image anything better than to race for Porsche.” And he is not just paying lip service with these words.

In addition to his duties as a factory pilot, he also looks

after talented youngsters in the French Carrera Cup, for whom he is a mentor and role model.

He has demonstrated how much one can learn in the Porsche makes cups and how they can take the necessary talent and determination to launch their career.

He has waited long for his first title in an important sports car race series like the United SportsCar Championship. When he then achieved this feat with an emphatic overall win at Petit Le Mans, just one small thing was missing for complete happiness.

“It’s a shame that Nick couldn’t have become champion with me.

We’re a team and I would have loved to share this success with him,” he said. “But unfortunately he missed two races with me, but he has a good excuse: he was busy clinching the 17th overall victory for Porsche at the 24 Hours of Le Man.”

RGM

PADDOCK MIX

An enriched programme for the Euro Renault 2.0 From 2016, Renault Sport will put the accent on the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and the Renault Sport Trophy. With 45 years of detecting motor racing prospects, the Formula Renault 2.0 will be consolidated to affirm its status as the series of reference in the world of feeder categories, while also continuing to offer competitors the best material to learn their skills and attractive prize packages for progressing over the long term.

With eight drivers still in contention going into the final meeting, the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 confirms its position as one of the most competitive categories. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile recognizes the qualities of the discipline by attributing 10 points to the laureates

of the various European series’. So that budding champions can run dual programmes and accumulate up to half the needed points for a Super License, Renault Sport has worked with the promotors of the ALPS and NEC to avoid date conflicts.

At the conclusion of the 2016 season, the top three in the general classification will be awarded 150,000€, 100,000€ and 50,000€ to help them to move up to the next level. The top rookie (a driver having competed in less than three meetings in Formula Renault 2.0 before January 1st), will also receive 100,000€ of assistance if he or she wishes to compete in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 in 2017.

Polestar Cyan Racing and Volvo in the WTCC Polestar Cyan Racing will enter the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2016 with two Volvo S60 Polestar race cars as start of a multi-year programme. ”We have chosen the FIA WTCC as our global motorsport platform as it combines the cutting edge technology of our Volvo cars with exciting racing all over the world. The championship enables us to further develop our technology and utilise development from the racing circuits directly to our products for performance oriented Volvo customers,” said Niels Möller, COO of Polestar, the Volvo Cars Performance Brand.

The announcement comes on the day 30 years after Volvo Cars claimed the 1985 European Touring Car Championship title with the iconic Volvo 240 Turbo. Fast-forward to 2016 and Polestar Cyan Racing will carry the legacy to a new challenge, by taking on the world title with the brand new Volvo S60 Polestar TC1 race car.

On the drivers side we have to note that Reigning STCC champion Thed Björk, three-time STCC champion Fredrik Ekblom and multiple STCC race winner Robert Dahlgren are part of the development work of the WTCC programme.

PADDOCK MIX Bentley GT3 wins Blancpain & Asia GT titles

The Bentley Continental GT3 has won its first major race car championship, as customer team Bentley Team HTP took the Blancpain Sprint Series drivers title following a pole position and two race victories at the final round at Zandvoorton October 11.

Just two years after the Bentley Continental GT3 was launched, drivers Maxi Buhk (DE) and Vincent Abril (MO) fought off stiff competition from the 2014 championship-winning Audi, to take one of the most sought-after titles in GT3 racing.

Bentley Team Absolute has taken the GT Asia Series teams’ title with its trio of Bentley Continental GT3s, after a strong season that ended with a pole position, race win and podium in the series finale in Thailand.

“To have two championship titles on two continents after just two years of competing is a huge success for the Bentley Continental GT3,” commented Bentley’s Director of Motorsport Brian Gush. “Bentley Team Absolute has done a fantastic job representing our brand in Asia and they fully deserve this title.

Congratulations to everyone involved.”

PADDOCK MIX

Paul Miller Racin g to join Lamborghini The Lamborghini Huracán GT3 program continues to progress toward its first season in North America with the addition of Paul Miller Racing to its customer team lineup.

Paul Miller Racing has confirmed its intent to participate in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the GT Daytona (GTD) class. This addition comes after Super Trofeo teams Change Racing, O’Gara Motorsport and Konrad Motorsport announced their intent to race the Huracán GT3 in North America.

“We are excited to add Paul Miller Racing to our Lamborghini lineup for 2016,” Automobili Lamborghini Head of Motorsport Giorgio San-

na said. “The GT3 is the pinnacle of our racing strategy and we expect a team with their experience and success in North American sportscar racing, along with our other customer teams, to raise the level of competition and elevate Lamborghini Squadra Corse in North America.”

Team Owner Paul Miller has a wealth of experience as a driver and owner. He competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times and in the 24 Hours At Daytona nine times, topping the GTO class in 1988 at Daytona. This experience has translated to continued team success, including two top-three GTD finishes in the last two years.

Scandinavias won both Abarth Trophies The Swede Niklas Lilja (Abarth 695 Assetto Corse Evoluzione) won the Trofeo Abarth Selenia Europe 2015, while Finnish Juuso Pajuranta is the conqueror of the AciSport Selenia Italy National Trophy. Both series have been decided in the last round of the season held at the “Marco Simoncelli” World Circuit of Misano Adriatico, which saw the Italian Cosimo Barberini dominate both races.

Sweden also won in the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse category of the Trofeo Abarth Selenia Europe, thanks to Joakim Darbom, while Italian Franco Cimarelli has achieved the final success within the AciSport Abarth Selenia Italy National Trophy.

Pigot sets plans for 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series Spencer Pigot’s meteoric rise to the Verizon IndyCar Series is similar to that of Graham Rahal. In 2016, the drivers will form an allAmerican lineup at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The 2015 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires champion, Pigot will contest at least three rounds of the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule with RLL alongside Rahal, who finished a career-best fourth in this year’s championship.

Pigot’s Indy Lights title came with a $1 million Mazda Road to Indy scholarship that was applied to the partnership with the team co-owned by Bobby Rahal, David Letterman and Mike Lanigan. Pigot’s initial schedule includes the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 13, the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 14 and the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 29. Pigot and the team are working to extend the number of races if sponsorship can be secured.

PADDOCK MIX Super GT 300 class title for Nissan

The newNissan GT-R NISMO GT3 won its second GT championship title in as many months when the Gainer Tanax GT-R team secured the GT300 class championship at the penultimate round of Japan’s Super GT series in Autopolis Sunday November the first.

Drivers Andre Couto and Katsumasa Chiyo produced a breathtaking performance

Pizzitola: “Hard to believe!”

as they battled through from 14th on the grid to take second place at the chequered flag.

They were more than 40s ahead of the thirdplace BMW Z4 of Jorg Müller and Seija Ara at the finish. Finishing second gave the Gainer Tanax GT-R enough championship points to secure the GT300 Teams’ crown with one race remaining.

At the conclusion of a rain soaked season finale, Andrea Pizzitola became the first driver to win the Renault Sport Trophy Elite title. The 23year old from Montpellier scored his first major championship and hopes to win more. In November, he will try to earn a drive in Super GT with the official Nismo team and make the most of the opportunity to become a professional.

Now that he has his first crown, Andrea Pizzitola can focus on the next stage: the driver selection for the official Nismo team with a drive in Super GT on offer. The Frenchman also had the chance to meet Nismo President, Shoichi Miyatani, who made a special trip to Jerez to symbolically hand him his driver suit in the team’s colour scheme.

“I am extremely excited about the idea of participating in this shootout with Nismo. This price provided incredible motivation. I am a driver, and I want to live my passion. I think I made a good first impression and I hope it continues.

The goal is simple: to once again be the best to prove what I can do.”

Photo Skoda Auto

Skoda Fabia R5 delights on its Chinese debut The new ŠKODA Fabia R5 celebrated a triumphant debut in China, the most important market in the world. Thousands of delighted fans celebrated ŠKODA works duo Pontus Tidemand/Emil Axelsson’s (S/S) commanding win in the new rally car at the China Rally Longyou.

With best times on all 13 stages, the ŠKODA Fabia R5 showed its enormous potential at the season highlight in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) - and that was despite the most adverse of track conditions. With a perfect record of six wins in all six races of the season, ŠKODA celebrates the title treble in the prestigious continental championship.

PADDOCK MIX

Comini vs Oriola The two races at Chang International Circuit in Buriram that inaugurated the era of international car racing in Thailand were a success, and delivered results that leave the battle for the first TCR International Series title as open and excited as possible.

Macau will see a grand finale, with Stefano Comini and Pepe Oriola separated by only two points, and Jordi Gené still in contention a further 32 points adrift.

In Buriram, Oriola and Comini took a win apiece, in a weekend that saw the SEAT cars dominate their rivals, with the Craft-Bamboo Lukoil team posting a 1-2-3 in Race 1 (Oriola, Gené and Afanasyev), and Target Competition signing a 1-2 in Race 2 with Comini and Hezemans. The young Dutchman shone and brilliantly took his first TCR podium, after an epic duel with Oriola.

The two SEAT teams will fight in Macau for the Teams’ title as well, as Craft-Bamboo Lukoil has only 13 points of advantage on Target Competion.

It was a weekend to forget for the Honda, Volkswagen, Opel and Subaru cars, all victims of technical issues or race incidents; notably Gianni Morbidelli was inflicted a drive-through for jump-start in Race 1 and was stopped by an engine failure in Race 2, his hopes to stay in contention for the title washed away.

Two young Thai drivers drew attention in front of their home crowd, as Munkong Sathienthirakul (Craft-Bamboo) and Tin Sritrai (Asia Racing Team) shared victories in TCR Asia. And on the podium they proudly sported the King’s portrait.

The TCR International Series will resume on 19 to 22 November at Macau, for its maiden season’s final.

Photo INDYCAR

Legendary 100th Running of Indianapolis 500 Mile Race set for May 29 INDYCAR’s 2016 Schedule

INDYCAR recently announced the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule, a 16-race season - anchored by the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race - that spans five weeks longer than last season and features new events in Phoenix, Road America and Boston. INDYCAR has experienced a 38 percent growth in both television ratings and viewership over the past

two years with longstanding TV partners ABC and NBCSN and the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season is poised to capitalize and build upon that momentum.

The most diverse schedule in motorsports features five races on oval tracks, five on permanent road courses and six on temporary street circuits.

PADDOCK MIX

O’Young turns in the drive of his life to be champion

After a drama-filled opening race on the GT Asia Series’ debut at the impressive Buriram United International Circuit in Thailand (October 24/25), the scene was set for an epic battle for the 2015 title, with the two title combatants lined up side-by-side for the final race of the season, matched on points.

The big discussion point ahead of the final 60-minute race of the year, was what would happen at turn one, with many drivers up and down pit lane suggesting that would be key to the result.

Ultimately, that theory proved correct, and whilst turn one was trouble free, it laid the foundations for Englishman Daniel Lloyd to hand Craft-Bamboo team-mate Darryl O’Young an opportunity he was not soon going to relinquish, the Hong Kong driver going on to claim his fourth victory of the year, and with it, the coveted 2015 GT Asia Series title.

2015 GT Asia Series Championship points GT3 Class 1. Darryl O’Young (155-points), 2. Adderly Fong/Keita Sawa (151), 3. Anthony Liu/Davide Rizzo (134) 4. Piti Bhirom Bhakdi (104), 5. Duncan Tappy (96), 6. Carlo Van Dam (94), 7. Daniel Lloyd (92), 8. Hiroshi Hamaguchi (79), 9. Mok Weng Sun (76), 10. Richard Lyons/Frank Yu (72).

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PADDOCK MIX

F.1? Not an impossibility…

For Oliver Rowland, 2015 was all about the records: most victories, podiums and points in a season in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series and an unprecedented run of 20 consecutive top ten finishes! At 23-years of age, the Racing Steps Foundation backed Englishman has done it all in the categories organized by Renault Sport Technologies and now hopes to have a chance at the next level.

“I’d like to thank Renault for the five years with them - said Oliver - Including the last four

in the World Series by Renault. I debuted in Formula Renault 2.0 before stepping up to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. It is a first-rate driver development academy and I don’t think there is a better school to progress as a driver.

And nothing of what I have said can match the accomplishments some of the former drivers have done today. I must still remain patient to know about my future, but F1 is not an impossibility.”

RGM

globalmag

& RACEGM

xx

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