KENYA’S PREMIER AUTO MAG ISSUE 10 - OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Total Kenya Motorshow A Stunning Variety of Cars
Frankfurt Motorshow Our Top Picks
The Nissan Drive
A Day With the King of Kenyan Roads
2015 Concours d’Elegance MotorSports: WRC Australia and France
| Moto GP: San Marino and Aragon
Dear Reader, Greetings! September has certainly been one of the most packed months for motor related events that we have seen this year yet! With the grand Total Motor Show held after 2 years at the KICC, the classy 45th annual CBA Concours d’Elegance locally. Simultaneously, in the international scene, we had the 65th annual Frankfurt Motor Show, and the overshadowing global news of the VW emissions scandal. This has had a huge effect on millions of vehicles, globally. It is astonishing to think, but the top German car manufacturers having annual revenues of €413 Billion (Kshs 48 Trillion) versus the German federal government’s annual expenditure of €300 Billion (Kshs 35.4 Trillion). The Drive Kenya team is excited to cover all the above events here in this month’s issue. What you can look forward to in the following pages, is the explanation of the VW emissions scandal in our news feature, our Top 10 pick from the Frankfurt Motor Show, an extensive pictorial coverage of the Total Motor Show, the classy annual Concours d’Elegance and more. In addition, we cover the fantastic Nissan Patrol 2015, which we took for a spin at the #NissanPatrolExperience2015_ Kenya. It was a grin-tastic experience driving this car, you can’t help loving this, ‘The Beast’ which is more than a handy competitor to the Toyota Landcruiser and more economical to boot. We feature words of advice on fuel economy from our automotive expert, the Kenya Car Guy, as well as, more child safety tips from Robert Karanja, aka Uncle Bob. Rounding off, is the international Motorsports results, that saw Sebastian Ogier win the WRC title, while Lewis Hamilton is cruising to his 3rd F1 title, to join the likes of Niki Lauda and Sir Jackie Stewart. The real action is in the MotoGP though, where we saw a two horsed race between legend Valentino Rossi and his teammate, Jorge Lorenzo, in what is to be a thrilling finale to the season. We hope you enjoy the ride and give a shout out to our advertisers and support them for supporting this Kenya’s first and only premium auto magazine! Drive Kenya Team.
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Contents REVIEWS & FIRST DRIVES
NEWS & EDITORIALS 5
The News
8
2015 Concours d’Elegance
6
Uncle Bob
12
The Nairobi Total Motorshow
7
The Kenya Car Guy
16
The Frankfurt Motorshow
18
International Motorsport Results
19
Classic Car: The Duesenberg Model J
The Nissan Drive Pg. 14
IN
www.drivekenya.co.ke
THE NEWS
Audi and Skoda Cars fitted with “Defeat Devices” Audi and Czech-based Skoda recently confirmed that up to 3.3m vehicles have been fitted with the “defeat device” software from parent company, VW. Approximately 2.1m Audi’s and 1.2m Skodas are affected. The Audi models affected include, A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, TT, Q3 and Q5, as reported by Reuters. Former chief executive of VW, Martin Winterkorn, will also be investigated over “allegations of fraud in the sale of cars with manipulated emissions data,” said German authorities. The new CEO, Mr. Matthias Mueller, promised a “relentless” investigation, to uncover what went wrong, and Volkswagen has promised to work with German prosecutors on a criminal investigation. Employees in senior R&D roles could be held responsible and be prosecuted for fraud. German authorities also demanded that VW set out a timeline to ensure its diesel cars meet national emission standards, without using cheat technology. Meanwhile, authorities in the EU have urged national governments to conduct their own investigations into the scandal. VW accounts for 1 in 4 new car sales in Western Europe, where more than 50% of motorists have embraced diesel engines, as opposed to under 3% in the U.S.
Kenya’s Premier Auto Mag
VW Emission Scandal It is a story that has been dominating the headlines globally and a bitter pill to swallow for the world’s largest car manufacturer, Volkswagen, and for Germany as a whole, where 20% of the country’s GDP is linked to car manufacturing, and 1 in 7 jobs related to the car sector. So what happened? VW recently apologized for creating a software, that deliberately tampers with its TDI Diesel engines, to cheat emissions testing protocols developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The scandal came to light when third party tests were carried out by the International Council on Clean Transport (ICCT), whilst driving from the U.S. cities of San Diego, to Seattle versus the control case of testing the vehicles on a “rolling road” or a lab dynamometer. The ICCT tested the VW Jetta TDI, the Passat TDI and the BMW X5 xDrive 35d in both conditions. On the rolling road, all cars produced normal results, but on the aforementioned road, the Passat produced emissions 5-20 times the legal limit for NOx. The Jetta produced 15-35 times the U.S. legal limit for NOx, while the X5’s emissions were within legal limits. Further tests were then carried out by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the EPA & VW themselves, with similar results. Finally, the EPA was not buying VW’s discrepancy story, and VW admitted belatedly, that it had installed “defeat devices” which “reduces the effectiveness of the emission controls system.” All this led to the explosive public announcement by the EPA, which resulted in a monumental meltdown of VW shares by 35%, in the span of a few days and the loss of its CEO. An estimated 11 million cars worldwide are affected by the “defeat devices”. Affected models on VW include, the 2009-2015 range of the Jetta TDI, Passat TDI, Golf TDI, Jetta Sportwagen TDI, and Beetle TDI. As a result, VW could face an estimated fine of $18 Billion by the U.S. So far, Volkswagen said that
October/November 2015
it was setting aside, the equivalent of $7.3 billion to pay for the fallout, according to a Bloomberg report. So what is the proposed solution? VW has two options for the fix. It can either change the engine software, which will significantly limit engine power output and reduce fuel economy, or, install urea treatment systems, which will not only require significant vehicle modification by cutting into the trunk or hatch cargo space, but will also cost VW thousands of dollars per car. Obviously, neither of these is really a great solution for VW or for owners.
Kshs 3.85 Billion Worth Cars Destroyed For New Bond Movie According to Britain’s Daily Mail, the new James Bond movie, ‘Spectre’, saw the destruction of £24 million worth of vehicles. These included seven specially designed Aston Martin DB10 sports cars. A Land Rover belonging to one of the film’s villains, was also destroyed for a key action scene, involving a collision with an airplane, piloted by Bond. “We set the record for smashing up cars on Spectre,” Gary Powell, Spectre’s chief stunt coordinator, told the newspaper. “In Rome, we wrecked, worth millions of pounds’. They were going into the Vatican at top speeds of 110mph. We shot one entire night for four seconds of the film.” The Rome scene is set against the backdrop of the Vatican, the Colosseum and the famous Ponte Sisto bridge on the Tiber river.
DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 5
Safety First! What should I look for in a booster seat? By Uncle Bob
All booster seats now on the market meet the relevant Government’s (US, EU, Australia) stringent crash- and firesafety standards, so any seat you buy new is technically safe. (The same isn’t true for secondhand seats or seats purchased more than a few years ago, which may have been designed to meet outdated standards or been recalled for safety violations.) But even if a booster seat itself meets the Government’s standards, it can still present safety problems if it’s installed or used incorrectly. The safest seat, therefore, is the one that best fits your child and your car and is easiest for you to use. If your child weighs less than 18 kilograms, consider using a combination car seat and booster seat. These come with a removable five-point harness that’s similar to those used in regular car seats. This is considered the safest type of harness because the straps restrain your child at both the shoulders and hips, distributing the force of a collision to the strongest parts of the body. For the best protection, you’ll want to use the harness as long as possible, so choose a seat that has several harness-strap height settings, especially if your child is tall. Stay away from older combination or convertible seats that use plastic tray bars or T-shaped shields, since they distribute the force of a collision to the belly, one of your child’s most vulnerable areas. In addition to being less safe than a seat with a five-point harness, these seats are also less comfortable for many kids. If your child is on the chubby side, for instance, the plastic tray or shield may press on his thighs or squeeze his tummy. And if he’s tall, you may have trouble getting the tray or shield comfortably over his head. When your child grows too tall for a combination car seat and booster seat (when his shoulders are above the seat’s top set of harness-strap slots), you can remove the harness and use the seat to boost his height while he’s buckled in with your car’s lap-and-shoulder belts. Or you can go straight to a simple booster seat.
6 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
About the author: Uncle Bob is Kenya’s leading child safety expert and has been working with Parents’ to ensure that children who travel in cars are safely secured in an appropriate car seat. Uncle Bob also trains parents on how to properly install and use their childrens’ car seats. You can learn more about Uncle Bob from the following links: Website: www.unclebobs.co.ke Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UncleBobsStrollers
Each month, our car guy gives you solutions to the problems you face with your car.
Mobile: +254 733 666 597 - E-mail: info@kenyacarguy.com With the rising price of fuel this month, we asked Kenya Car Guy, if he could give us any tips on how to make our fuel go a few extra miles. Within a few minutes, he gave us some of the best ways to save fuel and reduce our driving cost. This is what he had to share: 1. Keep tyres properly inflated.
3. Get back to nature.
You can improve your fuel economy up to 3.3% by keeping your tyres inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tyres can lower fuel economy by 0.3% for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tyres. Properly inflated tyres are safer and last longer. The proper tyre pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver’s side door jamb or the glove box and also in the vehicle’s manual. Do not use maximum pressure, printed on the sidewall of the tyre.
Consider shutting off the air conditioner, opening the windows and enjoying the breeze. It may be slightly warmer, but at lower speeds, you will save fuel. That said, at higher speeds, the A/C may be more efficient because of the wind resistance, from open windows and the sunroof.
2. Change the way in which you drive. Many people burn much more fuel than they have to. By making a few small adjustments in the way you drive, you can see considerable fuel savings. Most vehicles today are set to achieve optimal fuel economy around 85km/h. If you drive too fast or too slow, you will not be able to maximize your fuel savings. Also, do not accelerate or brake too hard - this is very hard on fuel economy.
4. Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned. Getting a tune-up, fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test, can improve its fuel economy by an average of 4%, though results vary, based on the kind and quality of repair. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by, as much as 40%.
To send in your questions to the Kenya Car Guy Contact: info@drivekenya.co.ke
DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 7
The Concours d’Elegance 2015 Finally, the Concours is here, and Drive Kenya was having a blast amidst the fair like atmosphere and beautiful classics on display. The sun was out on this, the most elegant event in the Kenyan motoring scene, and we were excited to see what the 45th annual Concours d’Elegance had in store for us. Although the event had a cloudy start, by midday, the Ngong racecourse was sun drenched, with an estimated 11,000 people expected to visit! Apart from the vehicles, the event is characterized by good food, free flowing beer, fashionably clan ladies and a fun section for the kiddies. This year the Concours was jointly organized by the Commercial Bank of Africa and the Alfa Romeo Owner’s Club. The Concours d’Elegance has been recognized and sanctioned by FIM Africa since 2006, and this year saaw 115 entrants. This year also saw a record of 24 entries from outside Kenya, with participants from Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Africa. This event is split into two categories: cars and bikes. With the car category further split into 14 classes depending on engine size, rally spec, convertibles and vehicles manufactured prior to 1940. The bike section is split into 9 classes depending on engine size, street motorcycles, trail & enduro motorcycles and competition motorcycles. The point scoring system used by the judges in the car category, involves the assessment of 6 different criteria which include: the underside of the vehicle, the external finish, the interior & boot, the engine & engine compartment, road worthiness and age of vehicle. The bikes on the other hand, are judged according to 5 different criteria: the external finish, the engine & mechanical components, the trim, the roadworthiness of the bike and the age factor. This year the overall winner in the automobile category was Phoenix Aviation’s 1928 Ford Model A Tudor, and over in the motorcycle category, Sati’s Classics won with the 1925 DKW. Both are perennial past winners in the Concours d’Elegance.
Talk to us today to find our more. GA Insurance House, Ralph Bunche Road | Mombasa Kisumu | Westlands Call: 0786 555555, (020) 2711633/4, 0736 711633, 0721 677273 Email: insure@gakenya.com | Online: www.gakenya.com
TOTAL MOTORSHOW
2015
12 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
After all the buzz, the Total Motor Show was finally upon us. Held in conjunction with the Kenya Motor Institute, at the KICC grounds, this show saw over 120 exhibitors and was bursting at the seams! The turn up was huge, ranging from car dealers, car parts, car accessories, heavy duty commercial vehicles, tyre companies and lubricants. An estimated 30,000 visitors were expected over the 3 days of the show. We found getting into the show quite a task, first, with finding a parking spot and later, the long queues that ensued
at the entrance to the main exhibition hall. The event genuinely needed a bigger space to host participants and visitors! Once inside, however, the process was relatively smooth and cordial, with a number of delightful vehicles on display such as the Jaguar F-Type, the Camaro, the Range Rover SVR and the Mercedes C-Class and some heavy duty big weights like JCB to greet us at the entrance. We are featuring some of Drive Kenya’s favorite pictorial highlights, for those who missed out on this monumental event.
DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 13
The Nissan Drive
“
“
The seventh generation Patrol is the greatest advancement in 4x4 history - a formidable presence in the African off-road vehicle landscape with the intelligence to adapt to any terrain and instant power on command.
14 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
The team at Nissan Kenya made our earlier wish in the year come true, with an extensive on and off road test of their 2015 Nissan Patrol. What an impressive vehicle the Patrol is! It might look big and bulky, but with a 5.6-Litre V8 under the hood, it produces effortless power. We felt like we were sitting in the cabin of an airplane - bumps, potholes, steep declines & ascents and rainforests were, but a mere child’s play for the car, Nissan Kenya called, ‘The Beast’. Our day out with Nissan Kenya starting off at the Tribe Hotel, is now under Crown Motors Group Ltd, the appointed distributor and seller of all Nissan brands in Kenya. The Nissan team, in conjunction with their South African compatriots, had shipped in 5 brand new Patrols for us journalists, from various media houses, to enjoy. Alongside us journalists, two Kenyan Motorsports legends were also at hand, to test the Patrol - Carl “Flash” Tundo and Tim Jessop. Between them, they won three Kenya National Rally Championships and have four Safari Rally wins. “The seventh generation Patrol is the greatest advancement in 4x4 history - a formidable presence on the African off-road vehicle landscape, with the intelligence to adapt to any terrain and instant power on command,” said Solomon Osundwa, managing director of Nissan Kenya. “From the very beginning, the Nissan Patrol has been synonymous with power, with each new model, employing advanced technologies that enhance, both, on and off-road performance to unsurpassable levels.” After an overview of the Nissan Patrol instructions, formalities and a good breakfast, we stepped into our Patrols were ready to roll, all the way to the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort and Eburru Rainforest, about a 90km drive from Nairobi. The Patrol has an instantaneous acceleration and the growl of the engine, as it unleashes 560Nm of torque, making us feel on top of the world! Not to mention that overtaking, was a piece of cake.
The drive towards the Great Rift Valley was very pleasurable, indeed! This Patrol is built towards SUV perfection. The interior of the vehicle is comfortable, with PLENTY of leg room. The Patrol can accomodate 7 people with the sound system covering all the way to the very back of the vehicle.Knobs and settings are easy enough to understand, with the setting for all types of terrain, making it the most perfect vehicle for off road drives. There are even two LCD entertainment screens in the backseat, to keep the kiddies occupied, while you grin and drive as ‘King of the road’! The real fun started when we got a chance to go for a 14km run off-road drive experiencing this car revelling in all the elements. The ALL MODE 4x4 system utilises advanced electronics, to ensure that, no matter how severe the driving conditions are, the Patrol will be able to grip the road at all times, by transferring drive between the wheels and axles, while the Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC) system offers 4-wheel independent suspension. Working with the chassis and body frame, the system maximises the suspension stroke on off-road running and prevents roll angle, to maintain flat riding with high damping force, on cornering to ensure a sweet and smooth ride. After a hearty stopover and lunch at the beautiful Great Rift Valley Golf Resort, we came together to do another drive into the Eburru Rainforest, to experience first-hand, the hill descent and hill ascent capabilities of the Patrol. Nissan Kenya had set up a circuit for us to test, and the Patrol passed with flying colours. The Hill Descent Control (HDC) assists the driver down a steep or slippery slope, at a constant slow speed, without the need for braking, enabling him to concentrate on handling the vehicle. In addition, the Helical Limited Slip Differential (LSD) and Rear Differential Lock allows the driver, at the click of a button, to maintain momentum, even on slippery slopes or roads, when a wheel is spinning or slipping. The Hill Start Assist (HSA) function is very useful when the driver encounters a steep incline. HSA applies brake pressure for two seconds after the driver releases the brake pedal, to avoid any roll back, before moving forward. With this technology, the driver has a sense of security on a slope, particularly in sandy or gravel conditions. After testing the off-road circuit for a few laps, we proceeded to drive through the Eburru rainforest for more refreshments, in the heart of what seemed like a pre-historic jungle, ‘What a treat’! After this, we turned around and headed back to the Tribe Hotel in Nairobi, confident in the extraordinary off-road capabilities of the Patrol and savouring its on-road comfort and power! As Nissan put it, the Patrol is ‘Built for Africa’.
DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 15
THE
FRANKFURT MOTORSHOW Audi R8 V10 plus The new R8 V10 plus sports carbon fiber spoilers, wings, grille inserts and some mean looking black wheels. The R8 shares a platform with the Lamborghini Hurácan and delivers a stunning 610-hp. Ignore the weird looking Nardo Gray paint which had reviewers griping, and you have the closest you can get to a German supercar.
Lamborghini Hurácan Spyder The Hurácan Spyder is the natural successor of the Gallardo Spyder, and this open air variant of the Hurácan has a 5.2-liter V10 engine, that lashes out at 602-hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox that results in a 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds and an incredible top speed of north of 320km/h! The power retracting roof can open in just 17 seconds.
S63 Convertible AMG Cabriolet Mercedes has at last dropped the hood on its top of the range model, and the 3-layered canvas roof can be lowered in 20 seconds. The new S-Class Cabriolet will feature a 9-speed automatic transmission on the S550 model, and a 7-speed AMG speed shift transmission on the S63 AMG. The Cabriolet also has Mercedes’ popular air scarf neck-warming system, as well as the thermotronic climate control system, to preserve the ideal driving temperature.
Brabus G850 4x42 Based on the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, the insanely awesome BRABUS 850 6.0 Biturbo sets a whole new benchmark for off-road vehicles. The enlarged 6.0-litre V8 biturbo engine produces a staggering 838-hp and an incredulous 1,069 lb-ft of torque! The top speed on this monster is 260km/h and the 0-100km/h mark is achieved in a scarcely believable 4.0 seconds.
Rolls Royce Dawn The new addition to the Rolls Royce family is simply stunning with a cabin quality that is exceptional, with a ride that is refined for silent cruising. Rolls Royce believes that this is their quietest car yet, though you would expect that of a vehicle, that costs the equivalent of a townhouse in leafy Karen. The engine is sourced from the Ghost and has a 6.6-litre turbo V12.
16 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
Porsche Mission E Porsche Mission E concept car is probably being designed to compete with Tesla in the near future. The Mission E features a unique 800-volt electric drive system, that allows for an 80% charge in 15 minutes, which equates to 400km of driving. Caveat? There are no existing 800-volt charging stations anywhere. The vehicle uses 2 permanent magnet synchronous motors that generate more than 600-hp. This technology was developed for the 24 Hours Le Mans.
Jaguar F-Pace Jaguar have unveiled their new SUV, the F-Pace, after 2 years of teasing. This stylish new SUV with a luxury interior, is designed to slot in between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport. The F-Pace will be available in petrol and diesel variants, and a rear-wheel drive version will be available as well. The F-Pace should hit car showrooms in April 2016.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Alfa Romeo fans can rejoice! The new Giulia is not only beautiful, but performs exceptionally well. The Giulia is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 turbo engine and can hit 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds. Infact, this red-hot saloon car, has set a new record for saloons at the Nurburgring’s fearsome Nordschleife circuit in just 7:39.0. The Giulia is designed to compete with the M3, RS4 and the C63 AMG.
Ferrari 488 Spyder The trend seems to be towards the colour blue and convertibles at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The 488 Spyder has a retractable hardtop roof that takes 14 seconds to expose one to the elements, and it sports a 661-hp twin turbo V8 engine, which is the same as the 488GTB.
Bentley Bentayga Bentley has some pretty bold claims with Bentayga, which it calls, “The most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world!” Bentley is trying to capture the ultra SUV market above the Range Rover. The Bentayga has a 0-97km/h time of just 4.0 seconds, eclipsing the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. It also has a W12 twin-turbo engine, mated with an 8-speed automatic engine that produces 600-hp and 664 lb-ft of torque.
DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 17
Moto GP San Marino
Aragon
Spain’s Marc Marquez won a scintillating San Marino MotoGP at Misano, the home circuit for current championship leader Valentino Rossi, in a race that was greatly influenced by the changing weather, that forced most drivers into a two pit-stop strategy. Marquez made the critical decision to switch quickly to slick tyres, just as the circuit started to dry, to hand himself a sharp advantage over the rest. “The asphalt is new here and very dark, so it was hard to tell if it was dry or wet. It was really difficult out there, but we made the right decision with the tyres”, said the Spaniard, later. For the first time since 1979, the podium saw two British riders, Yamaha’s Bradley Smith who finished second, and Honda’s Scott Redding who claimed a remarkable and commendable third.
Jorge Lorenzo secured a crucial win at the Aragon MotoGP, his 31st overall MotoGP win, that saw him take the lead from pole-sitter, Marquez, at the first corner and hold on to that lead till the end. This enabled the 28-year old Lorenzo to move to, within 14 points of Valentino Rossi, at the top of the overall leadership standings, after Rossi finished third in the race. Rossi and Honda’s Dani Pedrosa had a thrilling battle for second place on the last lap, passing each other several times. In the end, Pedrosa managed to cross the finish line in front of Rossi. Pedrosa later commented, “It was great to come out in front after a battle like that,” while Rossi said, “I tried everything on that last lap but he was strong, he was motivated”. Defending MotoGP champion, Marc Marquez, crashed out for the 5th time in fourteen races, on just the second lap, as he pushed too hard to retake the race lead from Lorenzo. Marquez was in the middle of a fast turn to the left, when he lost control and went down sliding across the track. Lorenzo commented at the end of the race, “It was very hard to stay in front, so, when I saw that Marc had crashed, I started breathing a little easier. He was doing all he could to stay close, and I think he ended forcing too much.” Meanwhile, Marquez was quoted as saying, “I made a mistake and lost the front. It was my fault and I apologize. When a season is not going well for you, nothing goes your way, and it seems that this season, we are finding things hard.” Marquez is now 79 points behind championship leader Rossi.
Even though Redding had a dirt slip, he simply got up and pushed his bike back on to the track, despite the marshals trying to hold him back. “It was an incredible race and the adrenaline was through the roof. We took a lot of risks and we got some rewards”, said the 22-year old Redding, after the race. Valentino Rossi was leading the race with 7 laps to go, but left the switch from wet tyres to slicks too late which saw him get relegated to fifth. He still managed to extend his lead atop the championship standings to 23 points over teammate Jorge Lorenzo, who crashed out during the race. Marquez now sits 63 points behind Rossi, with just 5 races to go in the season.
Results 1.
Marc Marquez
SPA
Honda
48’23.819
1.
Jorge Lorenzo
SPA
Yamaha
41’44.933
2
Bradley Smith
GBR
Yamaha
+7.288
2
Dani Pedrosa
SPA
Honda
+2.683
3
Scott Redding
GBR
Honda
+18.793
3
Valentino Rossi
ITA
Yamaha
+2.773
4
Loris Baz
FRA
Yamaha
+26.427
4
Andrea Iannone
ITA
Ducati
+7.858
5
Valentino Rossi
ITA
Yamaha
+33.196
5
Andrea Dovizioso
ITA
Ducati
+24.322
6
Danilo Petrucci
ITA
Ducati
+35.087
6
Aleix Espargaro
SPA
Suzuki
+24.829
7
Andrea Iannone
ITA
Ducati
+36.527
7
Cal Crutchlow
GBR
Honda
+25.367
8
Andrea Dovizioso
ITA
Ducati
+37.434
8
Bradley Smith
GBR
Yamaha
+25.503
9
Dani Pedrosa
SPA
Honda
+39.516
9
Pol Espargaro
SPA
Yamaha
+26.452
10
Aleix Espargaro
SPA
Suzuki
+39.692
10
Yonny Hernandez
COL
Ducati
+43.889
18 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
Flickr.com/The Henry Ford
The Duesenberg Model J The Duesenberg Model J was a luxury automobile, made by American manufacturer Duesenberg, that was intended to compete against the luxury Marquee European names of that time, such as, Hispano-Suiza, Isotta-Fraschini, MercedesBenz and Rolls-Royce. It was introduced in 1928 in the US, a time known as the roaring twenties, epitomized by the book, ‘The Great Gatsby’. Symbolically the goal of the owner, E.L. Cord, was to build the biggest, fastest and most expensive car in the world. The Duesenberg Model J had a 7-liter straight-eight cylinder engine, with two optional supercharger models, the SJ and the SSJ. The engine was first mated with a 4-speed gearbox, which was later changed to a 3-speed manual transmission. The Model J made its debut at the NY Car Show of 1928 and was launched in Europe at the Salon de l’automobile de Paris in 1929. The normal Model J had a power output of 265-
hp, while the supercharged versions generated 320-hp. The Duesy had a top speed of 192km/h. It was a custom amongst the luxury car brands of that time, that only the chassis and engine were displayed, as the interior and body of the car would be custom-made by an experienced coachbuilder to the owner’s specifications. A completed base model could cost anywhere between $13,000 - $19,000, a staggering sum for that time. The Duesy was notably driven by the gangster Al Capone, as well as a long list of Hollywood celebrities and European nobility of that time. At one point in 1935, a supercharged version of the Duesy, called the ‘Mormon Meteor’, held the one hour record (247.79 km/h) and 24 hour record (218.18 km/h) for average top vehicle speed. In total, some 481 Model J’s were produced between 1928 and 1937, of which, about 378 of them survive. The expression, “It’s a Duesy,” was created in reference to the Model J.
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Flickr.com/ Stephen Ross
Singapore F1 Under the lights of the Singapore F1’s Marina Bay circuit, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, won his third race of the season. He led the race in dominant fashion from start to finish. This was his fourth overall win in Singapore and the 42nd of his illustrious career. This race saw Vettal overtake Ayrton Senna (41), into third place in the all-time list, behind Michael Schumacher (91) and Alain Prost (51). The race was fairly disappointing overall and was overshadowed by a man walking on the track on the 37th lap of the 61 lap race. It was the second track invasion this season that raised a safety uproar. It also led to the introduction of the safety car for the second time during the race. Daniel Ricciardo, who finished second, thought that the interruption had damaged his slim chances of victory. “I was tempted to swerve and clip him,” he said, jokingly. Jenson Button shared his thoughts as well, “A Formula One circuit is a very safe environment for a F1 car. We have done so well in terms of making the car stronger and making the circuit safer, but there’s a human being on the track – he’s obviously a bit of a nutcase; who walks on to an F1 circuit? You wouldn’t walk on to a motorway!” Getting back to the race, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished third, and was followed by Nico Rosberg of Mercedes, who cut back 12 points of Lewis Hamilton’s overall lead to 43 points. Hamilton had a disappointing race as he started the race on fifth, but was unable to make much progress up the field, then on lap 26, he suddenly lost power and quickly collapsed. He eventually retired after telling his team to let 20 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
him come in, “Guys, we could be killing the engine here. Why don’t we save it? I’m just going farther and farther back.” Hamilton’s car was later reported to have a faulty pedal. On a light note, Vettel celebrated his victory in Singapore with such enthusiasm and energy that he later said that, the champagne had hit him more than he thought.
media.daimler.com
Suzuka F1 Lewis Hamilton produced a masterclass at the sun-kissed Suzuka track in Japan, to clinch his eighth win of the season and come closer to winning his third F1 title. At the start of the race, Hamilton seemed to have a battle ahead of him, as he qualified in second place behind Mercedes teammate and championship rival, Nico Rosberg. Hamilton, who made light work of Rosberg, by overtaking him on just the second turn, had a dismal performance a week before, in Singapore, was in fine form for his 41st career win. This saw him move alongside the late legend, Ayrton Senna, in terms of all time wins. Hamilton said, “For me to come to a race where I used to love watching Ayrton drive and to match his wins - I can’t really describe. It does not feel real at the moment.” He added, “It was important to strike back. The Ferraris were incredibly quick in the last race. We did not bring our A-game, so we had to really take a step back in these last few days and make sure we brought it here.”
reference to Formula One’s feeder series, when 17-year old Max Verstappen passed him on the main straight, Alonso yelled out, “GP2 engine! GP2. Arggh!” It was a stinging public rebuke of the Honda engine. Valtteri Bottas finished fifth in his Williams, while his teammate Felipe Massa banged wheels on the run down, to turn one with Daniel Ricciardo. Subsequently, both suffered punctures and spent the remainder of the race at the back of the field. Nico Hulkenberg finished sixth for Force India.
Rosberg dropped to fourth when he was overtaken by Hamilton, as he fell off the track in an attempt to retain his lead, but he clawed his way back to second position, after emerging ahead of Vettel, at the final round of pit stops, for the eighth Mercedes one-two of the season. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel finished in third place, while his teammate Kimi Raikkonen finished in fourth place. McLaren-Honda had a dismal race once again, with both, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Buttonfinishing, one lap down on Hamilton. Alonso was furious at his team, “I am getting passed down the straight like a GP2!” he exclaimed in DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 21
Red Bull media
WRC Australia Sébastien Ogier claimed his third consecutive FIA World Rally Championship title with victory, at Coates Hire Rally Australia on Sunday. His seventh win of the season enabled the Frenchman to enter an exclusive club of multiple title winners. He joins Sébastien Loeb (nine), Juha Kankkunen (four) and Tommi Mäkinen (four), as the only drivers with more than two titles to their name. Ogier won the final seven speed tests of the three-day gravel road event in New South Wales, to climb from fourth to first and defeat Volkswagen Polo R team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala, by 12.3sec. Kris Meeke finished third, a further 20.3sec behind. “It’s an amazing season, the best I have ever done! No mistakes, so many great performances, and this one is, once again, a very high one. It’s the most difficult rally to open the road and still we managed to win. It’s the perfect way to get my third title,” said Ogier. Ogier had the worst conditions of the frontrunners for the opening two days, sweeping gravel from the roads, to leave a cleaner and faster line for those behind. He still snatched the lead from Meeke in Saturday night stage and was unmatched through Sunday’s five tests. Volkswagen’s 1-2 secured a third manufacturers’ crown for the German squad, but there was a late scare for Latvala, as he finished the penultimate stage with an alternator warning 22 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
light, flashing in the cockpit. He fitted a new belt to clinch the runners-up spot. Meeke admitted that he had no answer to the pace of the Polo Rs on Sunday. Having started just three-tenths of a second behind Ogier, courtesy of better road conditions, in the opening two legs, he quickly fell back and looked set, to concede third to Andreas Mikkelsen. However, Mikkelsen checked in to Sunday’s mid-leg service late and a 10sec penalty gave Meeke the breathing space he needed in Citroën’s DS 3. He eventually finished 5.9sec ahead of the Norwegian, to end a depressing sequence of results. New Zealand’s Hayden Paddon finished fifth in a Hyundai i20, to the delight of his army of fans, who journeyed across the Tasman Sea to cheer him on. He was 16.5sec behind Mikkelsen after briefly flirting with the lead battle on Saturday morning. Ott Tänak was sixth, despite a noisy transmission in his Ford Fiesta RS, heading Hyundai duo Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo in seventh and eighth. Sordo led for the first three stages on Friday, before brake problems delayed the Spaniard. Elfyn Evans struggled for confidence throughout and ended a disappointing weekend in ninth, in his Fiesta RS, with WRC 2 winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah 10th. Source: Red Bull Content Pool.
Red Bull media
WRC France Twelve months after scoring his maiden asphalt WRC victory in France, Jari-Matti Latvala returned to repeat the feat on Sunday afternoon.
His victory was especially sweet after a heavy accident during his team’s pre-event test forced his German squad to halt its preparations.
While last year’s success came in the country’s Alsace region, today’s victory in the Tour de Corse – Rallye de France was in Corsica as the event returned to the FIA World Rally Championship for the first time since 2008.
Evans led until he was overhauled by Latvala on Saturday’s final stage and started today with a 28.8sec advantage over Mikkelsen. The Volkswagen driver was on course to snatch second midway through the final stage before a late push in the last few kilometres kept Evans ahead.
Latvala became only the second Finn to win the Mediterranean island rally, following Markku Alén’s victories in 1983 and 1984. After taking the lead near the end of Saturday’s second leg, he pulled clear in today’s three speed tests to win by 43.1sec in a Volkswagen Polo R. Surprise early leader Elfyn Evans withstood a late challenge from Andreas Mikkelsen to secure a career-best second in a Ford Fiesta RS by 3.2sec. Torrential rain and resulting flood damage forced the cancellation of two of the nine special stages. The twisty and narrow asphalt mountain roads were treacherously slimy after the storms and survival through Friday’s opening leg was the sole aim of many. “We’ve not had to push to the maximum at any point, but it was a faultless drive in difficult conditions. After winning last year, I have now done it again in Corsica and it’s important for me to show I can be competitive on all surfaces,” said Latvala.
Kris Meeke kept out of trouble to retain fourth in Citroën’s DS 3, ahead of Hayden Paddon. The Kiwi belied his lack of asphalt experience to climb from 15th following Friday’s opening stage to demote Mads Østberg in the penultimate stage and claim fifth in a Hyundai i20. Dani Sordo gained four places today to finish seventh as he continued his recovery from Friday’s puncture, with the Fiesta RS cars of Bryan Bouffier, Stéphane Sarrazin and Ott Tänak completing the leaderboard. Robert Kubica restarted after Saturday’s puncture-induced retirement and claimed two bonus points after finishing second in the live TV Power Stage. The championship heads to Rally RACC Catalunya - Costa Daurada in Spain for the penultimate round on 22 - 25 October, the only mixed surface event of the season. Source: Red Bull Content Pool.
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